unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #59

DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING

WE TALK POWERLIFTING WITH LOCAL SUCCESS STORY SBD PLUS... NEWS, APPOINTMENTS, FESTIVAL OF THE OUTDOORS, EXHIBITION GUIDE & MORE...

CLEAN AIR ZONE

WE DEBATE THE PROS & CONS IN IT

TOGETHER

HIGHLANDER MD STEVE BROWN ON THEIR POSITIVE COMPANY

CULTURE

FEELING KURIOUS?

INSIDE THE SHEFFIELD CREATIVE SPACE

Looking for a Private Venue

Wow

VIP BOXES

Contents

20: CLEAN AIR ZONE

City Taxi's Paul Gosney and RBH Properties' Jeremy Hughes debate the pros and cons of the new Clean Air Zone that comes to Sheffield this month...

42: FEEL SO HIGH

Highlander MD Steve Brown explains how having the right company culture has helped his business bloom over the last 30 years...

59: MAKE THE MOST OUT OF BUSINESS EXHIBITIONS

With EXPO season in full swing, Zoe Wadsworth tells unLTD how to make sure you get value for money by making your time at exhibitions work best for your business...

AIRPORT INQUIRY SHOULD PAVE WAY FOR FUTURE

An inquiry into Peel Group's decision to close Doncaster Sheffield Airport may have come too late to save the local travel hub, but the hope is it will lead to a new way of running key infrastructural projects of this kind.

Despite their best efforts, local authorities were ultimately powerless to prevent its closure, and thus the Inquiry will look at whether new powers, policies or laws are needed to protect similar future projects.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “What happened to our airport should never have been allowed, and yet we did not have the ability to stop it from happening. We were at the mercy of a private company over whom we had no control, and a government in London who refused to intervene. That simply can’t be allowed to happen again."

EDITORIAL EDITOR

Joe Food

Joe@unltdbusiness.com

ONLINE EDITOR

Ash Birch

Ash@unltdbusiness.com

FEATURE WRITER

Katie Fisher

DESIGN

Paul Cocker

ADVERTISING

Phil Turner phil@unltdbusiness.com

07979 498 034

Nick Hallam nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk

07843 483536

FINANCE

Lis Ellis accounts@ exposedmagazine.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Timm Cleasby

Jackie Cook

Jo Davison

Andy Froggat

Paul Gosney

Brendan Hall

Jeremy Hughes

Daniel Lowe

Katie Nash

Ian Proctor

Alex Ross

Zoe Wadsworth

Amy Ward

Wendy Ward

Jill White

unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd

Unit 1B Rialto, 2 Kelham Island Sq., Kelham Riverside, Sheffield S3 8SD

62: HAVE LUNCH WITH...

unLTD Editor Joe Food joins True North Brew Co's corporate sales and events manager, Laura O'Brien, to talk about the incredble rise of the company and what makes a successful hospitality venue...

The hope is that the lessons learned will not just inform these kind of key decisions in this region but across the country - and it's clear that this is a situation that can never be repeated.

The Mayor is right, local businesses and the wider community need to have a greater stake in these kinds of investments to ensure that we are not left in this situation again.

The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout unLTD is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media Ltd cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific listings.

Agenda

REPORT FINDS SHEFFIELD’S ECONOMOMIC GROWTH FASTER THAN ALL OTHER YORKSHIRE CITIES

The Irwin Mitchell City Tracker has been produced by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and examines 50 locations across the UK, forecasting future growth in terms of gross value added (GVA) and employment.

The report, which estimates that the UK entered into a recession in the second half of 2022, expects economic growth to resume in the second half of 2023.

Charlotte Rees-John, partner and head of Irwin Mitchell’s consumer sector, said: “Last year presented numerous challenges and the downward pressure on spending activity, which continues to be concentrated in the consumer sector, looks set to continue throughout the first half of 2023.

“The consumer sector has however been one of the most resilient, agile and innovative sectors in recent times and those businesses that succeed during 2023 will be in a very strong position to take advantage of a more stable economic environment in 2024.”

According to the research, Sheffield’s economy is predicted to be 0.5 per cent larger in Q4 2023 than it was at the end of last year.

Startups.co.uk’s annual ranking of the top cities in the UK, outside of London, to start a business has named Sheffield in the top spot.

The most exhaustive research project of its kind measures against 42 research categories, covering everything from digital infrastructure to high street funding, using this information to determine the best overall city for start-ups to thrive in.

Sheffield has been revealed as the overall winner, thanks to the city’s strong performance across many of the research areas. The Steel City impressed with its low cost of living, large working population and fantastic

transport links. The city performed well in multiple categories, making the top 10 in four out of the five main research categories, including second for business support and third for talent. In their conclusions, Startups.co.uk said:

“Sheffield City Region boasts an impressive business profile and is home to world-class brands, including Boeing and HSBC.

“The city is also famous for its Innovation District. This globally significant centre for innovation and translational research spans over 20,000 acres and is a major driver of growth in the north of England and across the UK.”

SHEFFIELD NAMED TOP UK CITY TO START A BUSINESS AWARD-WINNING IT SERVICE PROVIDER NAMED NEW CHAMBER PATRON

Balliante, a leading Rotherham-based IT provider recently upgraded their existing membership to become further involved with Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber as the latest Patron.

Winner of the 2022 Network Server Specialists of the Year, Balliante joins an exclusive group of businesses that have a key partnership with Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. With offices in South Yorkshire and a support team based in the UK, Balliante offers several services including IT Support, Website

design and Hosting solutions to a variety of businesses throughout the region.

Shane Young, Head of Commercial & Partnerships commented; “It is fantastic to see a young and dynamic business in Balliante sign up to the Chamber as our latest Patron. The team at Balliante are impressive in their pursuit of the highest standards in the latest IT practices and their support to users by utilising a technologyfocused approach, which means they make the choices that are right for your business and are not just centred around sales. We

Harry Bliss, co-founder and CEO of Startups-100 business, Champion Health, told startups.co.uk that without Sheffield’s business support and talent pool, Champion Health would not exist.

Adding: “It’s here that I first founded the business, sought investment and – of course – gained investment from a fantastic local techfor-good incubator named TwinklHive.

“There’s [also] a strong tech scene – no doubt helped by excellent local universities and courses. And with many professionals being priced out of cities like London, I think Sheffield is becoming a more attractive proposition for young talent.”

look forward to working with Balliante.”

Craig Boddy, Balliante Managing Director said; “One of the first business decisions we chose to do, way back when we were just starting out and operating out of a spare bedroom, was to join Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. “

LEVELLING UP LET DOWN FOR SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEWS IN BRIEF

lost 15% of its bus network, whilst places like London and the southeast see theirs grow yet continue to receive levelling up funding.

“We asked the government for money to fix our buses. Whilst we got nothing, Broxbourne is getting a new skate park and Canterbury Castle is getting a facelift.

Sales Geek are now a Skillsbank approved provider.

Commenting on the news that South Yorkshire’s bid for money to fix its public transport system had lost out in the second round of Levelling Up fund money, South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “This is deeply disappointing for South Yorkshire, and just the latest example of how the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ mission isn’t working.

“While I’m happy for communities who have been successful in getting funding, Yorkshire as a whole got half the money that London and the south-east received and yet, £20m of the money for Yorkshire has gone to the Prime Minister’s own constituency.

“This latest let-down is an attack on our local ambition to fix our public transport network; it comes at a time where South Yorkshire has

“In its 12 ‘Levelling Up Missions’ the government promised us a ‘London-style transport network’ by 2030. That’s just over 360 weeks away and yet, here we are, losing out on ‘Levelling Up’ transport funding for a third time.

“Government need to devolve budgets and powers if we’re truly going to see levelling up happen. We know what works best for South Yorkshire better than anyone and with the right tools and resources we could transform our broken public transport network. Instead, we have to go through the ridiculous process of government pitting regions against each other, all competing for pots of money from Westminster. You can’t level up through competition.

“It’s not fair and it’s not working. I’m not surprised the Tories want to stop using the phrase Levelling Up – because they know that since the last election, regional inequality has actually got worse.”

The industry leading Sales Geek can now help your business access funding for your investment in your business to drive business resilience and sales growth.

Sheffield-based kitchen appliance suppliers KitchenEx have partnered with award-winning digital agency The SEO Works, to manage the paid advertising efforts for their ILVE UK website. The countdown is on for acclaimed bar-andrestaurant, The Botanist, to open its doors at The Glass Works square in Barnsley.

Cocktail lovers will be able to get their hands on the venue’s famous innovative drinks from Monday 27th February.

CHAMBERS CALL ON GOVERNMENT NOT TO ‘LEVEL DOWN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE’

The South Yorkshire Infrastructure Survey, powered by the Quarterly Economic Survey for Q4 2022, revealed damning results for the state of the region’s infrastructure. The survey found that respondents had most commonly experienced delays/ issues as a result of the road network (53%), followed by the rail network (33%), with the most commonlycited business impacts resulting from infrastructure issues being increased direct travel costs (42%), increased costs of products/services (31%) and

loss of business opportunity/client dissatisfaction (25%).

On the publication of the survey, the CEOs of Barnsley & Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield Chambers of Commerce said in a joint statement: “This has been another challenging quarter for the UK economy. Our survey captures the reality of this in South Yorkshire. As in other regions, most of the indicators are not pointing in the direction we would like, and there seems to be no let-up in the post-pandemic, post-Brexit recruitment

challenges facing our firms. Many of our businesses are finding it tough.

“As Chambers, we will continue to advocate for more support from government policy where it’s necessary – for instance in maintaining support on energy bills beyond the current package for those who need it most.

“We’ll also be working with Chambers across northern England to campaign for infrastructure funding that matches our economic potential."

ACTUS INSURANCE LAUNCHES NEW RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION

Stocksbridge-based Actus Insurance launch new business venture Actus Risk Management in partnership with Louise Turner this month. The business will offer a wide range of Risk Management solutions including HR consultancy, Health and Safety support and Management Training to companies throughout Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.

Having run a successful Insurance brokerage for five years, Sam and Paul have always been keen to launch a Risk Management division to provide further support for clients and the new partnership with Louise has allowed the launch of this exciting new division. Louise has worked within Risk Management and specifically HR for the past 14 years. Having achieved her MBA and Chartered membership through CIPD Louise has provided HR support and management training for companies of many sizes and in a broad range of industries.

Louise told us: “Having worked with both Sam and Paul earlier in my career, when the opportunity arose for me to partner with them we were all excited about what the future could hold.” Actus will work with businesses, predominantly SMEs, that don’t have the in-house capability to deal with

all their HR issues. They plan to tailor services on a case-by-case basis, depending on what the business requires, existing knowledge, and inhouse capability.

Louise explained: “We take the time to really understand our clients’ business and the objectives they want to achieve. Employees are a company’s best asset and by ensuring managers are confident and empowered to make the right HR decision, we can ensure the business achieves its aims.”

Sam continued: “We will ensure all your HR documentation is up to date with the latest employment legislation and allows the business to take the right action when it needs to take it. This includes everything from contracts of employment, it’s to staff handbooks and the policies you need within your business. We offer both over-thetelephone and onsite support, so that matters can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.”

In addition to HR consultancy, the Risk Management division will be offering a wide range of management training courses to ensure managers are upskilled to understand how best to achieve business objectives. Amongst other elements, the training includes appraisal training, how to run an

effective disciplinary procedure and how to manage staff absence.

Louise is also accredited to deliver a range of Mental Health First Aid Training. Louise explained: "Mental health is something that we all have, it’s as important as our physical health and companies are now taking a greater focus on how to protect employees’ mental health and wellbeing while they are at work. It’s imperative we upskill our leaders, so they know how best to support employees experiencing poor mental health and how to have conversations around mental health with confidence. We offer both open courses and ones delivered on-site within your business so we can ensure we deliver the training which is right for your organisation.”

There are exciting growth plans for the Risk Management division at Actus with plans in place to launch the Health and Safety consultancy service in the coming months.

Sam said: “Having worked in HR for most of her career and running her own successful HR consultancy business, Louise brings a wealth of experience to Actus and it’s through this partnership we are excited to launch this new service and grow the Actus brand even further.”

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

How next month’s Festival of the Outdoors celebrates Sheffield’s sense of adventure and the many local businesses inspired by it…

Sheffield is a place where nature and culture intertwines, where people and peaks unite to revel in the joys of ‘The Outdoor City’. Taking place throughout March, The Festival of the Outdoors brings together a whole host of events and activities celebrating nature and adventure on our doorstep.

Mark Mobbs, marketing manager at Sheffield City Council, explained the inspiration behind the event: “Sheffield has the highest percentage green space of any city in the world, but as England’s fourth largest city with over 600,000 people and a rich cultural heritage, we are also a thriving and dynamic place with loads going on.

“The Outdoor City tries to embody the fact we have nature and culture hand in hand, and the Festival of the Outdoors is our way of showcasing that uniqueness as spring opens the outdoors up to us all. It’s amazing that we have all these incredible events, from the international to the local community level, and all we are doing is trying to promote them to a wider audience to help those independent businesses and showcase why Sheffield is such a great place to live, work or visit.”

On top of the eight headliners, the festival will feature various family, specialist and cultural events to get involved in across the whole of the month: skateboard jams down at Castlegate, forest bathing in Graves Park, introductory mountain bike sessions across the Western Moors of Sheffield and guided city centre tours exploring Sheffield’s political past – that’s just a small taste of what you can get stuck into. While high participation rates in outdoor activity – particularly for walking, running and cycling – has clear positive impacts for health and social wellbeing, Sheffield’s reputation at The Outdoor City also provides a welcome boost for business and the local economy, whether that’s through creating jobs, attracting people to come and live in the city or generating footfall for businesses during events that fall under The Outdoor City banner.

For example, Sheffield is known as the UK’s ‘Climbing Capital’ with an estimated 10,000 climbers living in the city, some of whom have moved here specifically to indulge their love of the sport. Graeme Alderson, cofounder of Climbing Works on Little London Road, tells us that he was one such pilgrim.

“I came here for university, but really, I came here to go climbing! For decades now Sheffield has had a great climbing scene and attending university was a great way of exploring it. There’s a large number of high-standard climbers who’ve moved here for climbing, just as the three directors of Climbing Works did.”

Climbing Works opened in 2006, then offering the biggest bouldering wall in Europe, and has since gone on to host their annual Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF), bringing experienced climbers from across the world to the city. Not only does it continue to ensure Sheffield remains firmly on the map when it comes to climbing credentials, it means international visitors can get a taste of Steel City hospitality, too.

“The other year we had some Japanese and American climbers come over, so we made sure to look after them properly. On the Friday night before the CWIF we’ll take a lot of attendees out for a meal, and we’ve had some climbers express interest in coming back to visit Kasmiri Aroma!”

Another headline event taking place next month is Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF), which brings 100 of the best new adventure, travel and extreme sports films from around the world to the big screen in Sheffield. Partnering with Showroom Cinema, and often a number of other venues across Sheffield centre, the events draws large crowds of festival-

goers to town and partners with local outdoor businesses to promote how people can get involved on their doorstep.

After a tricky couple of years due to the pandemic, the festival is now back to full strength and founder Matt Heason is feeling positive about its future. “These stories are actually of interest to everybody,” says Matt. “The Made In Sheffield has been a really strong category; we’ve got the whole Made In Sheffield Climb Films screening, so it would be nice to think that ShAFF is instrumental in helping push forward that agenda and take it even further. We’ve also got a relationship with Sheffield Hallam University and their film course. If the film course could start attracting adventure filmmakers from around the country to come to Sheffield to study and submit their films to ShAFF, that would be a nice story.”

So, from film festivals and live showcases of climbing brilliance, to outdoor independent markets like Pollen and the opportunity to learn about (and enjoy a pint in!) heritage pubs on guided walks during Sheffield Beer Week, the Festival of the Outdoors perfectly encapsulates the varied potential of The Outdoor City brand: how environment and economy can work hand in hand towards a more prosperous future. For a full list of FOTO events, head to www.welcometosheffield.co.uk.

Charity

AIMS TO RAISE £2K FOR YOUNG LIVES VS CANCER AT RUNNING LONDON MARATHON

One of Logica Digital’s Directors, Amy Ward, has challenged herself to run the London Marathon in April, and cross a big task off her bucket list.

As well as a huge personal challenge, she has pledged to raise £2,000 for Young Lives Vs Cancer, along with her best friend of over 15 years, Emma Wilkinson, who has first-hand experience with childhood cancer. At only 6 months old, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and underwent extensive chemotherapy until she was 18 months old. Young Lives Vs Cancer provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to help children with cancer and their families cope with it and get the most out of life.

justgiving.com/fundraising/ amy-ward43

AWARD-WINNING SHEFFIELD RECRUITMENT CONSULTANCY CHOOSE SCCCC AS CHARITY PARTNER

Sheffield-based recruitment consultancy, Benchmark have chosen older peoples charity SCCCC as their charity partner.

Rebecca (Becca) Morris, Director of Benchmark first heard of SCCCC after hearing a speech by the charity CEO Mark Storey, she was moved by the cause.

“I immediately wanted to find out more about the charity. Mark had me in tears when highlighting the number of isolated older people living in

our community. The statistic is horrifying!”

Since this first encounter, Becca has continued to support SCCCC in several ways, including becoming a volunteer on the Good Neighbours Scheme befriending service.

“I couldn’t wait to get signed up as a volunteer and start visiting an older person. The older generation gets forgotten sometimes. We have an ageing population and services do not always

provide the support they need. Isolation is a growing problem; people can become stuck within four walls with few people to talk to.

“I chose SCCCC as Benchmark’s charity partner to get involved with their day-to-day service provision and fundraising activities and to help shout about the good they do and get more people involved. I have supported SCCCC with their recruitment campaigns to find great employees for

their organisation as well as support the Hospital to Home scheme during the ambulance strikes to allow people to be discharged from hospital.’

SCCCC CEO Mark Storey said; “We are proud to be charity partners with Becca, she has already given so much to support isolated and vulnerable older people as well as to us as an organisation. We are looking forward to working together in the future.”

THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARITY ‘DELIGHTED’ TO ANNOUNCE FOUR NEW AMBASSADORS

A FRESH PAIR OF EYES...

The charity welcomes Chris Millard, Managing Director of Emprise Group which comprises The R66T Academy and The Barmy Army; Shane Beard, CEO of Sheffield’s independent commercial boutique gym group Firehouse Fitness; karting champion Rowan Campbell-Pilling; and Britain’s Got Talent star Maxwell Thorpe. Charity Ambassadors are a group of people who have committed to raising awareness of Sheffield Children’s Hospital in their highly-specialist fields. They have pledged to utilise their expertise and enthusiasm to support our upcoming events and fundraising efforts.

All four of the new ambassadors are Sheffield born and bred and they all have a personal connection to the hospital, making it a

cause close to all their hearts.

Chris Millard, who lives in Greenhill, says: “I am over the moon to become an ambassador for the wonderful Sheffield Children’s Hospital. I owe my life to this amazing place and I’m so delighted to support the cause in this way.”

As a child, Chris received lifesaving care at the hospital, so it’s particularly special for him to be able to give back in this way, to help raise the profile of Sheffield Children’s and the service provided to his family.

“I am keen and committed to amplifying the integral support that the charity gives to the children of Sheffield and the surrounding areas,” says Chris. “I’m particularly excited to share their work and get involved in any way I can.”

Have you got together with your Trustees, Directors and operational staff to audit your funding over the last 12 months? Have you looked at which applications for funding worked? Do you currently have a funding deficit or are reserves above your policy minimum? Have you an understanding of what is required for the next 12 months and how this is going to be secured for the next 12 months? Have you researched every possible potential funding source? Have you considered business sponsorship or CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)? Do you have enough volunteers to carry out the delivery this year? Will your community events meet your fundraising targets? It is useful to understand

how your funders perceive you? How could you be more fundable? Maybe devise some audit research questionnaires?

Having a fresh pair of eyes on funding is very useful - perhaps ask a Trustee or a nonoperational Director to undertake this work – or ask me? It’s something that I can do from the outside looking in and recommend useful ways of working differently maybe?

Know what funds need raising, know what you want to deliver for your beneficiaries and where this money will come from, then you will have the basis of a funding strategy to work with all year and measure you successes by at the end of the year.

MEET BHAYANI RECRUITMENT’S NEW HEAD OF RECRUITMENT

Appointments CHATSWORTH HOUSE TRUST ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR

Jane Marriott has been appointed to the new role of Director of Chatsworth House Trust.

Bhayani Recruitment are thrilled to announce the expansion of their team with the addition of our new Head of Recruitment, Zoe Johnson. Zoe has worked within the HR & Recruitment industry for over 14 years, in both agency and inhouse roles. Zoe has not only been the recruiter, she has also been the client, which means she is not your typical recruiter. Zoe prides herself on offering an honest, consultative recruitment service, ensuring that client and candidate service is paramount throughout the process.

A spokesperson for Bhayani said: “With Zoe on board, Bhayani is well-positioned to continue our rapid growth alongside our sister company, Bhayani HR & Employment Law and provide exceptional recruitment services to our clients.

“We are excited to welcome Zoe to the Bhayani team and look forward to working with her to take our recruitment services to the next level.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte Swinhoe has joined Bhayani Law as Charity Engagement Partner. Her role will include work with the sector to ensure they get the most of out of the firm’s HR legal and recruitment services. Charlotte will develop sector specific events, training and charity giving initiatives through the firm’s commitment of 10% of profits being redirected to charities.

Jane has recently started in her new position following a successful six-year tenure as Director of Harewood House Trust, during which time she oversaw a significant increase in charitable income and visitor engagement with this historic country house in West Yorkshire.

Speaking of her appointment, Jane Marriott, Director of Chatsworth House Trust, said: “Chatsworth has a great reputation, with an outstanding collection of art, established learning programme and strong exhibitions that together represent a visitor offering to rival any national institution in the UK. Chatsworth also has an incredible reach with more than 600,000 annual visitors, meaning there is huge potential to engage with, and have a positive impact on, a wide and diverse audience.

NEW PRESIDENT OF BARNSLEY & ROTHERHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCED

At the recent Annual General Meeting, held at the new Barnsley College Business Centre, Matthew Stephens of Castlebray Services, was appointed the new President of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce.

A leading regional figure in property and regeneration development, Matthew Stephens has played an active role in delivering and leading redevelopment across the Barnsley and Rotherham region, most notably the flagship Gateway Plaza development in Barnsley town centre.

Speaking of his appointment at the AGM, Matthew said “I am very proud to be announced as President of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and I am honoured that the board has trusted me with this esteemed position.

“I am acutely aware of the important role that the Chamber plays for its members across the Barnsley, Rotherham and wider South Yorkshire region, and the variety of businesses our Chamber represents.”

BARNSLEY & ROTHERHAM CHAMBER NAMES CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S SUCCESSOR

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce has announced Carrie Sudbury, as successor to Chief Executive Andrew Denniff, as part of the organisation’s future plans.

She will take up her new role next year, ensuring a smooth transitional period, ahead of the planned retirement of outgoing CEO Andrew Denniff, in June.

Carrie will become just the third Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber and the first woman in the role, following the merger between the two town Chambers in 2007.

Reflecting on her appointment, Carrie Sudbury said; “Chambers of Commerce are imperative in representing, supporting, and helping businesses to overcome the challenges they face. Being appointed as Chief Executive is an incredible honour, and I am looking forward to building on the success Andrew has delivered, by helping Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber to play a vital role in developing a strong local economy.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP APPOINTS NEW CHAIR

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined

Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have announced Richard Stubbs as the new LEP Chair.

Richard Stubbs takes over from Lucy Nickson, who has served as South Yorkshire LEP Board Interim Chair since January 2022. The LEP is responsible for representing private-sector businesses and setting the strategic direction for economic growth in South Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Richard is a highly valued member of the LEP board and we are delighted to see him taking up the position as Chair.

Richard Stubbs added: “It’s a great honour to be appointed as Chair of South Yorkshire LEP. I am looking forward to continuing the work we’ve already been doing to make a positive impact in the local economy and community. At this time of many economic challenges, the LEP has an important role in supporting our businesses and people and I’m committed to looking at innovative ways in which we can work even more closely with partners to transform our region for the benefit of all.”

RESOLVE EMPLOYS CYBER SECURITY CONSULTANT

SHEFFIELD CHURCHES ANNOUNCE FIRST EQUALITY PRACTITIONER

In response to the significant threat cyberattacks hold for businesses, Resolve has added a cyber security consultant to its ranks of IT engineers. The IT support company – that has been providing award winning service for nearly 20 years – promoted Matt Wornes from technical specialist to the new senior role, offering organisations the opportunity to entrust their security to a technical expert.

Loma Jones joined SCCCC as their inaugural Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead Practitioner at the end of 2022. Her mission is to capitalise on the warm, caring, peoplefocused ethos at SCCCC and ensure these supportive, free services are accessible. She wants to welcome new service users and volunteers and to hear from them about how best they can serve their community’s cultural needs.

She is keen to showcase that SCCCC is a welcoming space for LGBT+ people and people of all ethnicities and religions.

Commercial Director, Jude Coulthard says the new role will be of considerable benefit to customers, adding: “Our customers can focus on running their businesses knowing that the threat of attack is significantly reduced, and their cyber security defences have increased. Cyber-attacks can be very costly; by making use of our in-house resources, customers can mitigate this risk.”

Agenda: Appointments

FIRST INTUITION EXPAND CLIENT TEAM

Yorkshire-based skills provider

First Intuition Yorkshire are heading into 2023 with an even larger Client Team, welcoming Natalie Stevenson and Olivia Buckley to the group.

Managing Director Lucy Parr said: “People are at the heart of everything we do, having the right team in place to ensure this continues is vital. I am delighted to have a team with the wealth of experience needed to deliver excellence.

“With well over 100 years combined experience is Accountancy, Education and Training, our team are well placed to share our insight and knowledge and to advise and help shape training programmes for organisations across Yorkshire and Humber.”

First Intuition’s Yorkshire training

centres in Leeds and Sheffield have a dedicated team of Business Development and Client Liaison Managers. Their role is to ensure that new and existing clients receive an excellent level of service, are provided with unbiased and honest advice, and given up to date information through regular communication.

First Intuition offers students outstanding teaching and apprenticeship programme support whilst studying for their professional Accountancy and Taxation qualifications. Equally important to them, is that the external support to clients is just as good.

If you would like to speak to one of the team about training members of your own team you can e-mail leeds@fi.co.uk or sheffield@ fi.co.uk

Business Law Partners: Charles B Neal, Alex Ross and Matthew Rodgers

YOU ONLY KNOW IF...

YOU'RE A PUB LANDLORD 5 THINGS

Conor Smith from your friendly local Irish boozer The Dog & Partridge talks us through the trials and tribulations of landlord life.

1

There is sod all iron in that well-known stout from Dublin

Sorry, but there isn’t. We’re talking about 0.3mg per pint. You’d have to drink a huge amount to reach the recommended amount of iron daily. Lads, that’d be 29 pints a day; ladies, 49 pints. It’s possible that might be more than is good for you! 2

3

It’s a chameleon life

How to be all things to all people, eh? One minute you’re a shoulder to cry on, the next a passport witness, followed swiftly by a party planner, a beer encyclopaedia, a financial adviser(!), a relationship counsellor and, of course, a dispenser of delicious, refreshing booze.

It’s a vocation not a job

If you’re think we’re in it for the money, you haven’t been paying attention! To sum it up, we do it because we love seeing people enjoying themselves and making memories. 4

Whiskey is good for you (kind It’s basically concentrated beer, so all the good stuff without the extra water!

Sort of. Mark Twain said it best when he said: “An Irishman’s stomach is lined with copper, and the beer corrodes it. But whiskey polishes the copper and is the saving of him.” That said, always enjoy safely and responsibly; it needs to be respected as well as relished.

5

Publicans drink tea too You better believe it. We occasionally have to let some blood get in our veins, so it’s not just a beer stream.

You can catch Conor pulling a mighty fine pint of Guinness (amongst plenty of good real ale and craft options) at The Dog, which also knocks out lovely homemade scran and boasts one of the finest snugs in the Steel City.

Be sure to pay them a visit at: 56 Trippet Lane, S1 4EL. @dogandpartridgesheffield

Photo: Ross Jarman

Agenda: For&Against

ALL UP IN THE AIR?

Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone will go live from Monday 27th February 2023, meaning that the city centre and inner ring road will become a chargeable zone for the most polluting heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), vans, buses, coaches and taxis. The CAZ has divided opinion across the region: praise from those who see it as a significant step towards clean air in Sheffield, and opposition from people who feel it could negatively impact local businesses and increase traffic congestion elsewhere.

For our inaugural ‘For and Against’ feature, unLTD gets contrasting sides of the argument from two local people...

force the drivers, who are self-employed, to all buy compliant cars for when that expires.

Paul Gosney, Business Development Director at City Taxis

We do over 100,000 journeys a week in and around Sheffield. As such, most of our cars are compliant [meeting required emission standards], but some of them aren’t and not all our drivers can necessarily afford a new car. There’s been a temporary exemption on Hackney Carriages, but we can’t

Hackney carriages are an important part of our business, they carry a lot of patients to and from hospitals. Trying to get to the Children’s Hospital, Weston Park Hospital or the Hallamshire Hospital without touching the ring road is almost impossible. That’s going to have a knock-on effect: it’ll congest urban areas that will be used as a detour – places like Sharrow Vale, Endcliffe, Ecclesall, Walkley, Crookes, Fulwood – and that’s going to put more miles on the journeys, which will lead to longer waiting times and more expensive prices for people paying the fares.

You’ve also got to think

about what happens to the air quality in the areas that will become congested as a result of deliberately avoiding the CAZ – isn’t it just shifting the pollution around?

Ultimately, we want a clean-air zone – but not just inside a city centre ring road, we want clean air across Sheffield’s wider region and across the whole UK. However, there’s got to be some flexibility that can accommodate some essential taxi journeys: hospital visits, patient transport, OAPS and schoolchildren who need a taxi to take them to school. So, in a nutshell, we’re all for clean air. But there needs to be provisions made for drivers so they can do their jobs without being penalised and so fares don’t

increase for the customers. We also have taxi drivers who work for City Grab, a local delivery service, and they pick up orders from restaurants in the city centre. They’ll be charged for that, whereas big corporations like Deliveroo and JustEat are considered private cars so avoid a charge. That doesn’t seem fair to me and has a negative impact on local trade, as well as penalising people and customers during what is already a difficult time economically.

Sheffield's largest private hore company, City Taxis, named the sixth largest fleet in UK and Ireland by Taxi Summit, is the eighth regional hub of the Veezu group.

Jeremy Hughes, Director at RBH Properties

Firstly, I think it’s important to remember that this is not a unique idea created by Sheffield’s leaders. Sheffield is one of the biggest cities in the UK, and as such, has been instructed by Government to implement a Clean Air Zone (CAZ). Our business, RBH, is headquartered in Portsmouth, where we already have a CAZ in place. While there were some teething problems, like most things, it has very quickly become the norm and businesses and residents have now adapted. The global picture at play is well known. Millions of people suffer premature death due to air pollution levels and our environment is quickly being irreparably damaged. Here in the UK, the main source of air pollution comes directly from transport. So local authorities, businesses, and all of us as individuals, need to start making difficult decisions to protect the environment and future generations. This is exactly what we have done on Pennine Five. We made the bold decision to repurpose the existing buildings rather than razing them to the ground and starting again. Is that the easiest and most profitable thing to do? No, probably not. But this approach has saved vast amounts of embodied carbon and also mitigates the carbon dioxide that would be produced by the construction of a brandnew development.

By introducing a CAZ in Sheffield City Centre, we can reduce the health impacts of air pollution, provide a more appealing environment, and accelerate the move to electric vehicles, assisting the transition to a low carbon future.

To be clear, cars still have a role in the future of Sheffield City Centre. Indeed, we have a large car park at Pennine Five. However, we are completely modernising the infrastructure so that, over time, it can provide 100% EV facilities, as well as creating a new 280-space cycle hub –encouraging more people to make the switch to electric vehicles and bikes. Sheffield is Europe’s greenest city. That is its true USP and one of the major reasons companies like ours invest heavily in this great city. Let’s ensure we keep it that way!

EAR TO THE GROUND

Jill White, who runs Andy Hanselman Consulting with her husband, has made a career of helping entrepreneurs get off the ground as well as helping businesses grow and develop. She’s also one of the best connected people in the region, so each month we hear from her about where’s she’s been, who’s she’s met and what’s gripped her most in the last 28 days…

New Year, New Plans.Well, my 2023 plan is to slow down a little but of course, it never quite happens that way and January was no exception…First up I was thrilled to be asked by the current Master Cutler Julie Kenny (only the second ever female Master Cutler in almost 400 years), to attend The Cutler’s Hall for a discussion about inclusivity and diversity and about ‘Being a Woman in a Cutler’s World’. It was a fascinating discussion and great to be in the company of approximately 25 other women, young, old, manufacturers, non-manufacturers all keen to contribute and join the challenge of increasing women and diversity into ‘The Hall’.

Then, it was a real contrast, off to Gulliver’s Valley the very next day for the launch of Rotherham Children’s Capital of Culture. Yes, that’s right! And wow, what a showcase. Skateboards, Hip Hop, BMX Bikes, music, dance, poetry, rap… and all by young people. A world first for Rotherham in 2025. Watch this space!

Then onto our very own 3D Connect Network. A packed full room at Westfield Health with a super panel comprising of Louisa Harrison-Walker from Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Jack Kidder from Henry Boot, Lynette

Parkes from Westfield Health, and David Cross from Sky-House sharing their thoughts and aspirations for 2023. A great start to our 3D Connect year; the next one is at Sheffield College on 23rd Feb where we’ll be focusing on Higher Skills, Higher Growth.

Finally, off to Whitley Hall for the South Yorkshire Women Angels/ Supporting Female Entrepreneurs lunch. And what an eye opener that was! 25 switched on female founders, investors and advisors in one room… and only three I knew! I’m losing my touch. Huge thanks to Jordan Dargue from North Invest for the invite and great to see where this one goes.

Ooh and now a late addition. I was very fortunate to be invited to the Lunar New Year celebrations hosted by Kelvin Quick and Jerry Cheung at China Red Restaurant. Oh what a feast! Superb hospitality, attentive customer service and such fabulous entertainment provided by the Sheffield Lion Dance Team. I was told by my table companion, Dr Panni Poh Yoke Loh that this is the year of the Water Rabbit and it’s all about HOPE.

I sincerely hope it’s a good one for you. ‘Kung Hei Fat Choy.’

Follow Jill at uk.linkedin.com/in/jilltywhite or find Andy Hanselman Consulting at andyhanselman.com.

RBH Properties are currently injecting a new lease of life into the former HSBC headquarters in Sheffield. The Pennine Five refurbishment is one of the largest commercial projects outside of London.

Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria

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A SOURCE FOR GOOD SPANNING TWO DECADES

The Source Skills Academy celebrates 20 years of getting people into work, nurturing talent and building businesses

After two decades of improving lives and skills – and helping local businesses grow – The Source Skills Academy has much to shout about in its 20th year of upskilling the Sheffield City Region. A registered charity which reinvests its profits to create a self-sustaining organisation that supports the local community, The Source launched in February 2003, with MP David Blunkett cutting the ribbon to set the Meadowhall Way academy on its important journey.

The academy swiftly made an impact on communities across the region, connecting people in disadvantaged towns and villages to new opportunities, supporting local businesses, and encouraging inward investment. It went on to forge strong connections with local schools and colleges, local councils, charities, and organisations such as Job Centre Plus, as well as becoming an important contributor to regional, social and

economic regeneration strategies. Businesses large and small have partnered with The Source and strengthened their workforces, from multi-national corporations to leading local lights such as award-winning ASSEAL in Rotherham and B.Braun Medical in Chapeltown, and new startups like Sheffield’s Cloud9 Fulfilment.

Tricia Smith, The Source’s CEO, says that “having an enjoyable job gives people a sense of worth. In turn, this helps businesses to drive the local economy. Over 20 years, we have amassed unbeatable skills and have built a deep understanding of what employers need and what helps communities thrive.

“We have helped to transform the lives of more than 10,000 people: 5,642 apprentices have gained qualifications; 4,099 workers have been upskilled; and 531 NEETs who didn’t achieve at school or college are thriving after being made ‘work ready’ via our Traineeships scheme.

“Our success rates have consistently exceeded national averages and we start our anniversary year at the top of our game. Last year we achieved our best-ever outcomes with 78.8% of learners completing their apprenticeships, an 11% improvement on previous years. Of those achievers, 78% gained Distinctions.

“In addition, we received an Ofsted rating of Good and added to many years of award wins. One learner won Best Intermediate Apprentice in Yorkshire and the Humber, two

won at the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber awards, and apprentices and businesses we support won seven of the 13 categories at the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards. We are building on this success with bold future plans to be announced in the summer.”

Anniversary events kick off during National Apprenticeship Week (Feb 6th – 12th) with The Source’s first Apprenticeship Awards. On February 10th – N.A.W Celebration Day – 64 past achievers will gather at the academy to receive certificates for their accomplishments. Best Intermediate, Advanced and Higher Apprentices, Best Digital Marketing Apprentices, and Best Healthcare Apprentices will be announced. A special award for Resilience will be made in memory of Stephanie Scothorn, The Source’s popular tutor, who died aged 55 in December 2022.

FOCUS SPONSORED BY THE SOURCE SKILLS ACADEMY

The Source Skills Academy in Sheffield is passionate about bringing out the best in people. It has been helping businesses to increase the talents of their teams since 2003 and is proud to sponsor Skills Focus, a monthly spotlight on training and apprenticeship news and funding to help you develop your staff.

LOOKING FOR SOME LEGAL INSIGHT? BELL & BUXTON ARE HERE TO HELP.

The simple way to avoid shareholder disputes

When you set up a company, you need to register your business. This could be as a sole trader, limited company, or partnership. Most limited companies are limited by shares: i.e. owned by shareholders who have certain rights.

Companies that are limited by shares need to complete a Statement of Capital; this is a declaration to the government of the total number of shares the business has, the name and addresses of the shareholders, and the share value.

The requirement to provide a Statement of Capital was introduced on the 1st of October 2009 when the Companies Act 2006 came into full effect, and Companies House Form IN01 should be completed during the company

formation process.

Companies limited by shares must also include a Statement of Capital as part of their annual confirmation statement and whenever new shares are issued, bought back by the company, or changed in any way. This keeps Companies House up to date. Where a company has several shareholders, it’s wise to set up a Shareholder Agreement.

This is a legal contract between all the shareholder parties that lays out how they will work together. It is not compulsory to set this up, but it helps protect the investments made by the shareholders to the company and establishes good relationships and practices.

Shareholder disputes can be costly and, without an agreement in place,

partners could be powerless and vulnerable. It provides protection for each shareholder’s assets from potential legal action taken by fellow shareholders and should help to resolve problems before they become too big to handle and start affecting the business.

A Shareholder Agreement would usually cover the following:

How the business is to operate

Shareholder rights

Responsibilities and obligations

Liabilities

Restrictive covenants

What would happen, for example, if a shareholder decided to pull out?

If there was no Shareholder Agreement in place, that shareholder could sell their

shares to anyone, which may not be in the best interests of the company and could be someone the other shareholders do not know. A Shareholder Agreement can also outline how directors in the company are appointed. As solicitors we spend time assisting shareholders who have got into disagreements with each other. These situations are obviously more complicated, expensive, and time-consuming to resolve where there is no Shareholder Agreement in place.

The setting up of a Shareholder Agreement will help avoid any disputes, setting out the relevant processes and procedures, and providing clear, written guidance from the outset to help keep things on an even keel.

ALEX ROSS - BELL & BUXTON

NEW HOME, SAME CODA

CODA Studios have made the move to Sheffield city centre.

After more than a decade based in Kelham Island, we have now relocated our head office to the heart of Sheffield.

You can find us at: Sellers Wheel, 151 Arundel St Sheffield City Centre S1 2NU3 Sheffield station – 5 minutes’ walk

“As our business has continued to grow, we became increasingly aware of the fact that we needed a new head office space in which we could take CODA to the next level.”

Matt Bowker, Managing Director

ANDY FROGGATT – ROYSTON PARKIN

THE PROS AND CONS OF NEW BUSINESS STRUCTURES

Looking at setting up a new business? Not sure whether to be a sole trader (self-employed) or use a limited company? This extract from our 2022/23 New Business start-up kit offers background information. There are lots of options, so consider your individual circumstances carefully.

Limited Company

A company must be formally incorporated with a written constitution in the form of a Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation, so there is an initial setup cost. Companies are governed by the Companies Acts. A company must keep accounting records; have the accounts audited; file accounts and an Confirmation Statement with the Registrar of Companies (this information is available to the public) and keep Statutory Books showing details of shareholders and directors. Companies may have greater borrowing potential. They can use current assets as security by creating a floating charge.

Tax is payable on directors’ remuneration paid via PAYE on the 19th of the following month. Tax is paid by shareholders on dividends under the self-assessment rules, although the first £2,000 of dividends are tax free each year. Unless profits exceed £1,500,000, corporation tax is payable nine months after the yearend.

First year losses in a company can only be carried forward to set against future profits.

The corporation tax rate is currently 19% irrespective of the level of company profits. The main rate will be increased to 25% from 1 April 2023 where profits exceed £250,000 a year.

From that date the 19%

rate would only apply to profits up to £50,000 a year with a marginal rate of 26.5% for profits between the two new thresholds. If you have connected limited companies with “common ownership and control” you only have one £50,000 profit threshold, so two connected companies can make £25,000 profit each to pay 19% Corporation Tax. There is both employers’ and employees’ national insurance payable on directors’ salaries and bonuses. The NI charge is greater than that paid by a sole trader/partner, but there is no NI charge on dividends. There is also a £5,000 Employment Allowance to set off against employers NIC although that is not available where the total employers NIC liability exceeds £100,000 and where the director is the only employee.

Where the business owner is both a shareholder and a director, they only pay tax personally on what they draw out of the company. Many director shareholders pay themselves a low salary to minimise national insurance and extract the bulk of their income by paying themselves dividends.

Sole Trader/Partnership

There are no formation costs, but a written partnership agreement is advised. Sole traders and partnerships are not required by law to have

annual accounts nor to file accounts for inspection. However, annual accounts are necessary for the HM Revenue and Customs tax returns.

Sole traders and partners are unrestricted in the amount and purpose of borrowings but cannot create floating charges.

For a sole trader or partnership, tax is generally paid by instalments on the 31 January in the tax year and the 31 July following the tax year.

Start-up losses generated by a sole trader or a partner in the first four tax years can be set against other income of the year or carried back to the three previous tax years, potentially resulting in a tax refund.

Profits are taxed at 20% on taxable income up to £37,700 for 2022/23 and

40% thereafter with a 45% rate on income over £150,000. The Finance Act 2021 has frozen the personal allowance and income tax thresholds until 2025/26.

A partner/sole trader will pay Class 2 NI of £3.15 p.w. (2022/23) and Class 4 NI dependent on the level of profits: 10.25% on profits between £11,908 and £50,270 and 3.25% thereafter. This includes the 1.25% health and social care levy for 2022/23.

Sole traders and partners are taxed on their share of business profits irrespective of the amount that they draw out of their business. Consequently, they are less able to control the level of their taxable income compared to a director/ shareholder of their own company.

CHARLIE NUNN

Tell us about your company:

I am an up-close mentalist, which is a magician who specialises in mind reading. I perform at weddings, corporate parties, and private events, which involves going from group to group or table to table, reading and influencing the thoughts of willing participants. I’m sure a lot of questions spring to mind about how this is done and maybe even a few doubts that it would work with you, but you’ll just have to experience it for yourself and find out!

When did you decide to start up on your own and what inspired you?

Other performers such as Derren Brown have inspired me to learn magic and I considered being a magician for about seven years. I only performed socially, and even then I really needed a push to do so as I was very shy. When I first saw the reactions I could get from performing the simplest feats of magic, I was hooked immediately and wanted more.

Just before the pandemic I decided to try and make performing my full-time job, as it was the only thing I could genuinely see myself doing for the rest of my working life. During the lockdowns, I attempted a few online shows but am now back to live performances.

How has Launchpad helped you?

I am still very introverted, so I really needed something to boost my confidence. The wisdom and passion of the Launchpad team helped give me the motivation I needed to get started and, most importantly, pointed me in the right direction. It may or may not surprise you to hear that for me, the hardest part of entertaining a room full of people was not the mind reading, but actually getting the gig to begin with.

ADVISOR STATEMENT FROM TEAH LEWIS, PRINCE’S TRUST

Charlie used his Test My Business Idea grant from Prince’s Trust to work with another established mentalist, who taught him more skills based on the tricks and services he can offer while also providing specific marketing and branding support within the industry. Charlie has stayed committed to his Enterprise support and has now been able to move onto working with a business mentor. I wish him the best of luck in the future.

What are your hopes and aims for your business?

As simple as it sounds, my main goal for my business is to make it my full-time job. Performing is hard to get into and I still have a day job; after graduating from university I looked for work but found it incredibly difficult to secure good employment, like many others in my position. I hope to feel confident enough to quit one day and only read minds for a living.

Find out more by contacting Charlie Nunn on info@ charliemindreader.com and 07772 538839.

Starting and growing a business is not easy and that’s why the Launchpad programme was created. Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and our partners means there is no cost to the entrepreneur, so we can get straight to work on turning those dreams into reality. Stop dreaming and do it. Contact us for information now on 03330 00 00 39 or email growthhub@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk.

The up-close mentalist shares his journey into performing and how Launchapd helped him find confidence and contacts

SHOW OF STRENGTH

Award-winning, premium strength sports brand SBD Apparel marks ten years of trading this March and as a measure of the success they’ve achieved over that period they can now be found in around a quarter of the countries you might find on a strongman’s atlas stone.

Ahead of their milestone anniversary, UnLTD’s Ash Birch caught up with SBD’s William Islip and Luke Brocklehurst to find out how they became one of the heavyweights of strength sports and helped lift the industry to new heights…

If, like me, your knowledge of the world of strength sports and its related apparel extends as far as flicking over to Channel 5 during the post-Christmas perineum and listening to presenter James Richardson drown you in puns, while great hulking men impressively man-handle massive boulders for the title of World’s Strongest Man, you’d be forgiven for only knowing the brand SBD as the main sponsor of your favourite festive viewing.

Despite having their logo emblazoned across the whopping real estate of every athlete who competes in WSM’s chest, you’d also be forgiven for being ignorant to

the fact that SBD is actually based right here in our region. That’s right, the world leader in strength sport apparel actually manufacture and despatch the majority of their highquality products from their base in Catcliffe, Rotherham, a far cry from WSM’s sun-kissed California residency.

Incredibly, from a couple of units on an industrial business park, SBD have become synonymous with elite strength sports; making, selling and marketing everything from their OG knee sleeves, to their innovative powerlifting belts. Their success can be measured in line with the rise of the sports they support, and as a result, like the

Picture right: Tom Stoltman, SBD athlete and World's Strongest Man

bulging muscles of a strong man, they are bursting out of their current home. In order to meet this high demand, later in the year they move into an all-new, state of the art manufacturing and office space, complete with ‘creative campus’, gym, and fully funded onsite staff catering. Ahead of the big move, and for this month’s cover feature, we headed down to the current SBD offices for a natter with SBD Commercial Director William Islip, who previously worked for NatWest as a chartered banker, and Brand Director Luke Brocklehurst, who recently returned to the UK after a 12-year hiatus in Australia, where, as Creative Director for the regions largest sports retailer, he worked with eminent sports brands like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour to name a few.

William and Luke both joined the company within the last 15 months, but despite being relative newcomers to the business, they both talk passionately about their experiences with SBD and were happy to fill us in on the potted history and humble beginnings of the brand.

“Our founder, Ben Banks, was a powerlifter at a very high level,” explains Luke, “He was training under a railway arch in Peckham and suffered with tendinitis in his knees because of the cold. All of the medical supports that were available on the market at the time were predominantly cheap imports and he would blow through them because of his intense training and competing regime.

“Rather than accept his fate,

he got his problem-solving hat on and started to think about how he could create something better. That’s how he met Rob Smith, who is Head of Manufacturing here.

“Rob’s family’s company Namron made high-grade neoprene for the medical and aeronautics industry and they discussed how that technology could work for a knee sleeve initially, and it went from there. At the time, Ben was working in finance, but was also thinking of potential business ventures that he would also be passionate about, and the two worlds coalesced and became what SBD is today.”

William added: “If you speak to Ben, he’s more excited today than he’s probably ever been. As he’s built the business, he’s also built the management team, that Luke and I are a part of. We’re presented with a lot of opportunities and now, for the first time, we can pursue a lot of those opportunities, where previously there wasn’t always capacity.

“The business is quite unique in what we do. We work with some very well-known athletes all around the world.”

Approved by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) in 2013, the SBD knee sleeves made their competition debut at the 2013 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championship in Russia.

Immediately seen as a game changer by elite athletes and coaches alike, demand skyrocketed, and SBD began distributing to Finland, USA, Canada, Norway, Australia and Russia that same year. Then 2016 saw the launch of the SBD belt which, with its patented adjustable lever technology, soon became one of the brand’s flagship products and is now ubiquitous in powerlifting and strongman.

SBD sponsor over 130 athletes worldwide, across the sports of powerlifting, strongman, weightlifting and CrossFit, and include ‘The Mountain’ from Games of Thrones, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, and reigning World’s Strongest Man, Scotland’s Tom Stoltman on their roster.

As well as sponsoring Tom ‘The Albatross’ Stoltman and many of the WSM competitors, they

are also the headline sponsor for the whole competition, and also recently signed an exclusive partnership with the International Powerlifting Federation and the European Powerlifting Federation until 2029, allowing them to be the sole partner for clothing and supports at powerlifting events around the world.

Luke said: “One of the secret’s to SBD’s success, I believe, is the culture. Genuine passion for what we’re working to accomplish is writ large across all areas of the business, not least amongst our community of elite athletes. All our athletes are genuinely invested in the

brand and it’s a true partnership built on a mutual love of the sport”.

“Ben was super excited when Kimberly Walford became the first athlete to start using the kit, over in the US, and it’s grown and grown to the point where we’re working with the best athletes in strength around the world. I mean, it’s incredible.”

William added: “We began predominantly as a powerlifting company, but strongman came into the business when Ben spotted an opportunity with the World’s Strongest Man. That’s televised in over 90 countries around the world, but despite

that exposure the athletes were not being supported with equipment at the time.

“Filling that gap helped us by providing a huge amount of marketing and brand awareness, because being involved in the World’s Strongest Man is headline grabbing. People in the UK can relate to it because it’s part of many people’s Christmas traditions.

“The athletes that we’re working with are breaking world records wearing our stuff, so it’s got to be of a standard to enable them to do just that. Our price point is at the higher

end of the market. We are a premium, high-quality brand, and customers expect that, not just in our product, but in their customer experience as well, and that’s something that we work very hard on.

“These people are working incredibly hard, training day in day out, and we want to give them products that are going to get them to where they want to go.”

To ensure that quality, all of SBD’s products are made in England, which means they have full control over the design, material selection, and construction, ensuring superior

quality in each of its products. William tells us: “We’re proud to make all our products within the UK, with the vast majority of them made here in South Yorkshire. That’s something that we want to retain.”

Luke adds: “That decision obviously has the advantage of supporting the local area and the British economy, but Ben is absolutely obsessive over quality and it also ensures we retain that mark of quality. We’ve got 20 People in quality control alone, handling each and every single product, and that’s something we’re never willing to compromise on.

“Inferior brands just go for a cash grab. They import and badge generic gear that falls apart after a few uses - that’s not what SBD is about. We’re obsessive about strength sports and want to share that obsession with like-minded people by giving them the gear they need to smash their goals.”

SBD supports those athletes and weightlifting enthusiasts with a range of five strength products, including sleeves, belts and clothing, with plans to bring more products to market this year, aimed specifically at the powerlifting community.

Back in 2013, SBD launched its first knee sleeve, which is now relied on by athletes around the world, but an equally positive story is the creation of their powerlifting belts in 2016, which have fast become SBD’s flagship product, thanks to the innovative design of its buckle.

Luke tells us more: “We’re a founder-led organisation and Ben’s dad actually machined the first buckles for the belts. It’s a unique design, because in the past, you had to literally unscrew the buckle to make the adjustments, which isn’t practical in the slightest.”

“With this in mind, Ben made some sketches for his dad, who’s a precision tool maker, and between them they designed what we see today. We still have the original in the office, which is going to end up in our museum over the road.”

‘Over the road’ is a rather modest way of addressing what is actually a very overt show of strength on the company’s part. Later this year, they move into a brand new 100,000 sq ft premises on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, thanks

Picture left: Tiffany Chapon, SBD athlete and two-time World Champion, European Champion and World Record Holder. Middle: Amanda Lawrence, SBD athlete and three time World Champion and World Record Holder. Right: Emil Norling, SBD athlete, World Champion and three time European Champion.

COVER STORY

to a £1.5m Business Investment Fund grant from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority into the modern production facility and the investment of over £10m themselves.

The new facility is expected to create 270 new jobs within three years and will enable the company to bring its existing buildings together to operate from one single site, whilst quadrupling its floor space and increasing current output capacity by up to eight times.

“We’re really looking forward to moving into the new headquarters this year.” Says William, “We want to attract the best talent so, as well as a modern factory environment, the building will have its own gym and leisure facilities and a creative centre for staff. We will be recruiting heavily this year and are working closely with local colleges and universities as well as launching our learning and development programmes.”

“We can see growth everywhere. The sports are growing very, very fast. Part of that is because people are focusing more on health and wellbeing and lifting weights in the

Sheffield Powerlifting Championships 2023

Oval Hall | Sheffield City Hall | Saturday, 25 March 2023 | £41.50 - £181.95

Launched in partnership with the International Powerlifting Federation, Sheffield 2023 will showcase the stars of the sport in a high-profile event with the largest prize fund in powerlifting history.

The event is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, bringing together 12 men and 12 women to battle it out for world records and the title of champion of champions.

Speaking about the event, SBD Commercial Director William Islip said: “This is our opportunity to create a powerlifting event and showcase to the world how we believe an event should be showcased, trying to raise the bar in professionalism.

“The really interesting thing about the event is that the athletes will be rewarded based on the percentage gain against the world record in their weight class, encouraging athletes to attempt records and get paid higher. The prize pool is £365,000, which is a gamechanger in the sport!”

Intended as a celebration of the sport and its history, Sheffield 2023 will see fierce competition and world records fall.

gym. When I was at university, you could go out and have a few drinks and food and it cost you not much more than a tenner, now it could cost you £100!

“People, instead of that, are now going to the gym. They might start lifting weights and think, actually, I can compete at this and that’s weightlifting, that’s powerlifting, it could be strongman competitions. The health and wellbeing focus is supporting the growth of the sports around the world.”

Luke added: “Powerlifting and Weightlifting isn’t just for teenagers that want to get stacked - there are holistic benefits to strength training and it’s for all ages. If you play any sport then strength and conditioning is going to improve performance and in general it’s great for mobility and overall health.”

With the big move on the horizon, more products pending, and more events across all their sports, SBD are a South Yorkshire success story that just keeps on going from strength to strength.

SBD ‘DELIGHTED’ WITH DL FIT-OUT AT ALL-NEW MANUFACTURING FACILITY

Strength sports brand SBD Apparel have seen huge growth in recent years, and key to their expansion plans is a multi-million-pound move into an all-new manufacturing facility, in the Advanced Manufacturing Park. The new site, which can be found behind McLaren, is set on two floors and has been expertly fitted out by Sheffieldbased office refurb specialists, The DL Company.

Talking of working with SBD, The DL Company Managing Director, Daniel Lowe said: “SBD are a great company to work with and for. This was our second fit-out for them, having been chosen to provide their first Sheffield office and warehouse, six-years ago, they came back to us when they were ready to create their new, much larger version.

“Given the keys to the building at Handover, we altered two floors of their offices to give them a ‘Creative Centre’ on one floor, in addition to general office space and a fully functioning catering kitchen and canteen, for staff to enjoy breakfast and lunch.

“A lot of time was taken to create the Creative Centre, where we incorporated collaboration booths, a presentation space, mobile shelving and a large open area for breakout. The diversity of the space allowed us to have fun with the ideas and create forward thinking areas for people to work.

“As a leading worldwide brand in sportswear it was important to create a space that employees and athletes would be proud to call home, as they continue their expansion in the coming years. A great success story for the local area and a pleasure to be a small part of that development.”

SBD CEO Benjamin Banks added: “We are delighted with the space that The DL Company have created for us, and we have been very proud to the reactions of visitors seeing it for the first time.

“Throughout the process we have had excellent communication and we felt well-supported in developing our plans, finalising layouts, and selecting furniture and finishes. The end result is exactly what we had envisaged.”

HOW AN INCLUSIVE CULTURE ATTRACTS TOP TALENT

Shakespeare Martineau legal director Kerry Russell – who setup the firm’s internal diversity network, More in Common, in 2017, and is a member of IP Ability and a founding member of Midlands Ability – discusses the importance of building diverse teams and an inclusive culture.

Creating diverse teams and an inclusive culture enables employees to feel included, which means they are likely to be more engaged. This sense of belonging breeds an atmosphere of trust as well as loyalty, which fosters multiple benefits for the workplace.

People are multifaceted and unique beings; a combination of their identities and experiences builds a diverse team, which enables a business to gain access to fresh insights and new perspectives.

Becoming a diverse and inclusive workplace is not just the right thing to do – it is also the smart thing to do commercially. Improving the employee experience builds loyalty and engagement, and diversity of ideas ensures greater reflection of

your customer base, as well as new ways of tackling issues or connecting with clients.

Consciously writing recruitment adverts with inclusion in mind and placing them in a variety of sources means you will be recruiting from a much larger talent pool, increasing your chances of finding the best hire and the right person for the role who is at the top of their game. Research also suggests that employers who go above and beyond to make adjustments after hiring someone with a disability are more likely to retain those employees as they appreciate these important adaptations.

You will notice the benefits to your bottom line too – engaged employees tend to go the extra mile for their

organisation, which creates a ripple effect on profitability, morale and retention. Harvard Business Review research reported that diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets, which, in turn, yields higher and stronger financial performance.

Finally, if you begin to work with people who are different to you – in terms of age, race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and national origin – you will be creating a business that better reflects society. This gives rise to innovation: diverse teams are able to use their different backgrounds, life experiences and viewpoints to come up with more creative ideas and ways to solve problems.

At Shakespeare Martineau, our people

and their individuality are what makes us who we are and enable our business to thrive. Our culture is built on recognising and celebrating our differences and individual strengths, learning about what makes us each unique and ensuring we can all be ourselves at work.

It is never too late to start being more inclusive and bring in positive change via a trusting culture. Perhaps some employers feel like they are too far behind and the fear of getting it wrong can stop them in their tracks. But as long as you are open to learning, willing to adapt and wanting to have those conversations, you’re in a good place to start reaping those commercial and wellbeing benefits.

IN TOGETHER

Established in 1995 as a retail shop on Glossop Road, Highlander began to forge its path in IT by selling PCs to students and businesses at a time when pen and paper was still the norm. They moved into business-to-business sales as the digital age began to take hold, and gradually those customers asked for Highlander’s support to help their new systems run smoothly.

Around 2010, Highlander started to grow its small team with the addition of talented salespeople, which led to the development of its national hardware selling business alongside the existing local IT support. Today, they are also picking up support contracts with multi-national companies who like their friendly, helpful approach to IT: Highlander is

IT

now working across the UK and into Europe too.

The key to the company’s success is twofold: great systems and great people. “We’ve always been a peoplefirst company,” says Highlander’s managing director Steve Brown. “Most managed service providers (MSPs) will provide the same essentials as us, but what makes a massive difference at Highlander is that you’ve got staff who have been here a long time, are skilled, care about what we do, and will stay on the phone or onsite to go that extra mile until the problems are fixed.” This commitment from not just management but every member of staff has been built by a family feel, underpinned by systems that work for everyone. “From day one, you get

unLTD takes a closer look at how Highlander’s company culture has led them through nearly 30 years of business success in a rapidly changing industry.

all your training and full inductions, from IT systems to security and a proper ‘meet the team’, so straight away you know what you’re doing and feel part of the business,” explains Steve. “We know when to have fun and we know how to treat each other – we certainly aren’t a ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ firm – and everything we do is about quality, care, and achieving the highest standards. We’re in it together, and we’re in it for the long term!”

Highlander has excellent staff retention rates; people come for the ‘feel’ of the business and stay for everything else the company offers too. 39% have stayed for over 10 years, and 23% for over 15, with eight members of staff clocking in at over 20 years. When they moved into the current premises at Shepcote Office Village, an Office Team was created to help put rules and expectations in place from the ground up, so good practices are largely self-managed. There is now a Health & Wellbeing Team made up of recruits from each department who manage many initiatives, from the weekly running

IT HOUSEKEEPING: 4 THINGS YOU SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW

Review regularly. IT is such an important business tool, yet many businesses don’t spend the time discussing, reviewing and analysing with their IT department or provider to develop new ideas and time-saving efficiencies.

Train your staff. This should cover not only the systems that they use, but how to use them securely. Software like KnowBe4 can help with this situation – we use it ourselves!

Update your overall security. Ask for ways to beef this up and for checks to be conducted. The hackers won’t stop hacking, and the security to keep them out must move just as fast.

Check out your Comms and be aware of ‘the big switch off’. ISDN and PSTN are being phased out this year, so don’t be left behind and ask your provider if you are covered.

club which encourages staff to look after their health on company time, to persuading the directors that a state-of-the-art arcade machine is required for “team morale”!

Chairman Richard Field – OBE and former Master Cutler – is the inspiration behind Highlander’s five core values: care, dedication, professionalism, respect, and trust. Steve Brown credits working with Richard for being able to instill these values right through the team: “He’ll always ask what’s in it for our staff and how we can improve things for them, whether that’s leadership opportunities, development, or wellbeing: it’s not just about the salaries but what you do for people. Basically, we try to run the business in the way we’d want to be treated ourselves.”

The only way to translate these values to the customer is by employing good people on the front line, Steve notes, something Highlander have become experts at. Consistently achieving top net promoter scores, their customer feedback consistently describes

staff as “friendly, knowledgeable, reassuring, efficient and talented.”

The Helpdesk Team are equipped with up-to-date training that covers technical know-how and positive commercial attitudes, enabling them to resolve around 93% of incoming issues at ‘first line level’. Encouraging figures like these are shared in Highlander’s Friday morning CommCell: a weekly round-up of good news, thanks, and PCRLs alongside spotlighting a team member to help the 70+ members of staff get to know each other better. From achieving the highest ISO standards to finishing the week on a high, Highlander’s dual focus on secure systems and looking after staff have seen them conquer the challenges of keeping up with a dynamic and ever-evolving IT sector over the past two decades. By staying true to their South Yorkshire roots and family values, they are here to stay throughout the digital age and beyond.

2023’s Top Tech Trends Revealed

Highlander’s Steve Brown, the Sheffield-based IT company’s managing director with more than 20 years of experience in the sector, talks us through trends in tech for the new year.

Coming out at the top, with little surprise, are Cyber Security, The Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and general ‘Digital Transformation’ which you can read more about below. Most experts are also expecting an increase in spend on IT by organisations in 2023. This could be due to our increasing reliance on digital solutions, particularly now hybrid working is the norm and many of us use online platforms to communicate and access information from outside the office.

Cyber Security – how individuals and organisations reduce the risk of cyber attacks – is of course hugely important for businesses already and continues to be a hot topic in 2023. From personal devices to online services, we all need to protect our sensitive data from theft or damage by investing in the right cyber security. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of connected sensors and infrastructure that can collect data on everything from household heating to traffic jams on city streets, like your smart thermostat that tracks energy consumption, or a smartwatch with its sophisticated sensors for monitoring various health indicators.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer the preserve of sci-fi movies, with accessible options beginning to crop up in our workplaces. Current projects at Highlander include: Working with a steel company to provide real-time location of materials and asset tracking, as well as

preventative maintenance monitoring on key machinery Assisting an engineering business with their energy monitoring and preventative maintenance Stock location and work flow monitoring for a warehousing and distribution centre

You may be surprised to learn that Highlander’s most recent article for unLTD was written by ChatGPT, the chatbot launched late last year which is capable of providing detailed responses and articulate answers on a wide range of topics. This kind of technology can save businesses time and money, becoming a new team member that can contribute ideas, drafts and data. More to come to on that in future editions!

Digital Transformation is an ongoing trend as more organisations digitise their products, services or operations. This shift towards digital technology can help businesses with improving customer experience, change management, cloud migration and more. It’s an important one to stay on top of, ensuring your business stays competitive and adaptable.

We also expect to see a big push on sustainable IT this year. This could mean increasing the energy efficiency of IT services, using technologies like traceability, analytics, emissions management software and AI to keep track of our impacts, and helping customers achieve their own sustainability objectives, which can all provide new avenues for growth too.

Whatever your focus in 2023, keep these tech trends in mind to stay ahead of the curve!

The Kurious is a production studio, co-working space and creative collective driven by the desire to make and tell great stories through all forms of media. Whether designing a brand from the ground up, creating marketing content, producing award winning films and documentaries, developing a TV series or pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling through ground-breaking, immersive digital experiences, we can do it all from our purpose-built home in the heart of Sheffield. contact enquiries@kuriousarts.co.uk

We are currently offering a special two week introductory trial with no commitment for anyone interested in joining the co-working community here.

FEELING KURIOUS?

unLTD shines a light on

The Kurious – a Sheffield-based creative production studio, post facility and creative collective driven by the desire to make and tell great stories.

Whether designing a brand from the ground up, creating marketing content, producing awardwinning films and documentaries, developing a TV series or pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling through groundbreaking, immersive digital experiences, The Kurious can do it all from our purpose-built home in the heart of Sheffield.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer, shall we?

THE KOLLECTIVE

The Kurious represents directors, producers, screenwriters, creative technologists, digital experience designers, animators, content creators, branding specialists and creatives of all kinds. Their wider alliance includes events creators and coordinators alongside incredible interactive designers harnessing technology to deliver unique and compelling audience engagement projects, pulling from a highly experienced team available to view on their website (the-kurious.com).

PRODUCTION SPACE

There are two production spaces at The Kurious currently used by TV shows, film productions, photoshoots and workshops, so if you are looking for a permanent set up to rent, somewhere to hold classes, writers’ rooms, recording sessions, gallery space or even set up a store, you can get in touch via enquiries@kuriousarts.co.uk for a quote.

OFFICE SPACE/GAMING AREA

There is one office remaining to rent out in The Kurious, but they are also currently focusing on a gaming setup with top spec PCs and e-sports equipment – looking to be filled by developers or local gaming brands who would gain access to use all of the facilities.

MEMBERSHIP/CO-WORKING

Our co-working memberships gives people access to all The Kurious has to offer including what is one of the most vibrant and creative work areas in Sheffield. Ranging from a single day to a full membership, there is something for everyone to be able to afford – whether you are self-employed, a start-up or small business, they have you covered. Boxout?

How to get in touch:

Email: enquiries@kuriousarts. co.uk

Phone: 07854 067 123

Website: the-kurious.com

Address: Level 1, Kollider building, Castle House, Castle Street, Sheffield S3 8LS

GROWING TOGETHER

When you’re leading an SME — juggling the demands of the job while taking ultimate responsibility for the business — it can make all the difference to be able to speak to peers and experts in the field.

That’s why a new network of SME leaders is proving popular in our region. It was developed as part of the Help to Grow: Management Course at Sheffield Business School, which has provided leadership training for over 90 SME leaders in the past year, from a range of diverse sectors including construction,

Do you own a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) or lead a team in an SME, but struggle to find the time to speak to other senior leaders or business owners in a similar position? If this is you, then the Help to Grow: Management Course, delivered by Sheffield Business School, can help. unLTD found out more about the 90% government funded course…

engineering, professional services and hospitality.

SME leaders on the course find that, despite coming from different sectors, many of the challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs are the same. And they have particularly enjoyed building a network with other SME leaders — sharing experiences, bouncing ideas around, and generally supporting each other.

WHAT IS HELP TO GROW: MANAGEMENT?

Help to Grow: Management is delivered by Sheffield Business School, which is accredited

by the Small Business Charter. Delivered by development consultants and business experts, it’s a practical course that includes online and faceto-face sessions alongside peer support and one-to-one mentoring.

It’s 90% funded by the government, and has been designed to allow SME leaders to complete it alongside fulltime work.

As a small business leader, you develop your strategic skills to increase your business’s longterm productivity, resilience and capacity to innovate.

You’ll also develop a bespoke

of SME leaders said they would recommend the programme to another business leader.

OVER 90%*

growth action plan for your organisation, to help achieve your long-term vision and strategic goals. At the end of the course you automatically join a growing alumni network with over 90 SME leaders from almost 30 different sectors who have completed the Help to Grow: Management Course.

THE BENEFITS OF NETWORKING

SME leaders who take part in the course often say the networking and mentoring elements are the most beneficial. You join a national network of alumni from the course, as well as building connections with local SMEs in your region. You are given a named point of contact at Sheffield Hallam, who can provide any further support your business may require, whether it’s further funded programmes, student or academic

support, or research opportunities.

As part of the network, you’re also invited to local events shaped by the issues and themes SME leaders are facing. For example, last September

Matt Phelan, co-founder at the Happiness Index, delivered a talk on the value of employee wellbeing for sustained growth.

The benefits of the course and being part of the network can be seen by the national statistics. Over 90% of SME leaders surveyed said they would recommend the programme to another business leader, and over 90% were satisfied with how the programme was delivered.*

As well as all the events and resources available, you also meet like-minded SME leaders who can support you and share ideas as you grow your business.

‘IT WAS REALLY VALUABLE TO GAIN SUPPORT FROM A PEER GROUP.’

Zoë Loveday is the managing director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens. She completed the course and joined the Alumni Network in 2022. Here’s what she said about it.

‘A key element of the course was meeting other business leaders. Impostor syndrome is widespread in business, and it can hold people back from being confident in their decisions. Women especially have to challenge the assumptions made against them.

‘So it was really valuable to be able to share experiences with a peer group and gain support from each other. The mentor programme was incredible, and I’ve stayed in touch with my mentor since the course.

‘I have made several friends and lucrative network links. As a business we are keen to promote and support other independent businesses, and create an atmosphere of synergy and cohesiveness in the local community.’

JOIN OUR NETWORK

Want to meet other local business leaders? If you’re a senior leader in an SME employing 5 to 249 people, find out how you can sign up for Help to Grow: Management.

It’s 90% funded by the government, and 94% of attendees say it helped clarify their leadership style to support growth in their business.*

And you’ll automatically join our Alumni Network, gaining the peer support our members value so much.

Go to shu.ac.uk/ help-to-grow

The mentor programme was incredible, and I’ve stayed in touch with my mentor since the course.

*From a survey of participants taken in November 2021.

*End of Year 1 Help to Grow Management Evaluation report, due to be published in early 2023. Year one completion survey response rate ~27%

INNOVATION NETWORK SOUTH YORKSHIRE: “THE TIME IS NOW”

Previously MD Club, the recently relaunched Innovation Network South Yorkshire is looking for businesses and organisations to join its network.

The partnership between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University delivers free-to-attend events and activities that welcome South Yorkshire’s academics and industry to engage with each other and build links with both Sheffield Universities. The Innovation Network is a forum for thought leaders to innovate, share ideas and drive future collaborations, to support economic growth across the region. To find out more about what’s in the pipeline, unLTD spoke to Yasmin Knight, Assistant Director, Partnerships and Regional Engagement & Head of Regional Engagement at the University of Sheffield, and Alex Prince, Head of Innovation Services at Sheffield Hallam University.

How did the idea for the Innovation Network come about?

Alex: The Innovation Network has been around in its previous form since 2015. The two universities came together thinking about how we could collaborate to form links with the region’s businesses, so the original idea was to provide a forum for our academic colleagues, business leaders and innovation leaders to come together and share ideas, to ultimately help the region’s economy to grow and prosper.

Yasmin: As Alex said, it’s been in existence for some time, but we’re in the process of relaunching and refreshing it

based on the feedback we’ve had from people who’ve been part of the Network for the last few years. It’s also about responding to the future and what partners are telling us that they want from the universities.

Alex: We’re relaunching the Innovation Network to broaden the scope and open it to organisations beyond local businesses. When it comes to the innovation space, there’s a plethora of other organisations, bodies and actors, so we want to make it clear that anyone who’d like to participate would be welcome to do so.

What are the benefits of the two universities working together on this?

Alex: The two universities have a long history of collaborating together. We are both naturally collaborative as academic institutions, so there’s a lot of overlap there, but we also have a great interest in helping the region’s businesses to have as many opportunities as possible to flourish and thrive. There’s a whole range of things that we work with businesses on – collaborative research, mentoring, student placements and employment are just a few examples.

The Sheffield Innovation Programme has been running for around six and a half years now – that’s a collaboration from both universities to allow businesses to access academic expertise.

Yasmin: Another example of this is the South Yorkshire

Sustainability Centre – which is a partnership between the two universities, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and a whole range of private, voluntary and community sector organisations – bringing together all the actors who can help the region towards achieving its net zero goal.

South Yorkshire has two fantastic universities that are totally complementary; both really feel a deep sense of responsibility for our region. As such, reinvigorating the Innovation Network comes at a really exciting time for South Yorkshire – the time is now and this is an opportunity both universities are really keen to lean into.

What types of businesses and organisations would benefit from getting involved?

Yasmin: Traditionally, we have focused on the local industrial business base. However, what we are trying to do now is make the Network much more inclusive to recognise that innovation is happening across multiple sectors, multiple agencies, and we want to harness that to make sure there is the opportunity for everybody to learn from each other.

What can people expect from the upcoming events?

Alex: We’ve always tried to keep the events varied, particularly in terms of where they are and how they function as not everyone responds to the same environment or venue. We’ve tended to think about where the challenges and opportunities for the business space are, then brought in either individual expert speakers or panels on those topics to give as much value as possible to people attending the sessions. There’s always an element of networking; peer support is an important thing and always relevant to these events. We’ve also run summer socials as a celebration of activity, and I don’t see any reason why we won’t continue to do that this year.

Yasmin: The summer socials are really well attended and even at the main networking events there are splinter groups who might peel off and go to the pub afterwards to continue discussions. That’s a perfectly natural way to continue the ideas discussed at the events and forge new collaborations moving forward!

How can the Innovation Network South Yorkshire offer support in the face of challenges facing the region’s business community today?

Yasmin: I think there’s a basic answer to that, which is the benefit of getting people together and talking to discuss solving these problems. That’s a starting point. Then when you bring in expertise and diverse, innovative minds, you tend to find effective solutions.

Alex: That nods back towards the inclusive nature of what we’re trying to achieve here, a broad spectrum of people with different perspectives is key. It’s also important to say

that while this is the two Sheffield universities putting this together, we want this to appeal to businesses across the whole of South Yorkshire.

Yasmin: Across the universities, we’ve got a team who are embedded in networks across the region and can facilitate introductions to other partners across the region. The events are free to attend and everybody is welcome!

The Innovation Network South Yorkshire launch event will take place at Millennium Galleries, 15 March, 4pm-7pm. More information can be found at www. innovationnetwork.org.uk.

Yasmin Knight and Alex Prince

INNOVATION NETWORK: CASE STUDY

Innovative partnerships between Sheffield’s universities and businesses

GROWING TOGETHER

Just a small selection of businesses and organisations who have benefited from partnering with Sheffield’s universities.

Transferring knowledge and strengthening steel with Tinsley Bridge

Tinsley Bridge Ltd, a Sheffield manufacturing company, partnered with Sheffield Hallam University to undertake a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to further develop, design and manufacture torsion bars using the latest developments in ultra-high-strength steel. The newly developed innovative products have several competitive advantages across a wide range of sectors including defence, automotive and rail.

University of Sheffield students support the development of a city-centre music hub

Harmony Works, a music education hub for young people in the making is being supported by the University of Sheffield School of Architecture. The students’ research and design support enabled Sheffield Music Academy and Sheffield Music Hubs to visualise how Grade II listed Canada House could be revitalised and position the Board to submit a bid to National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Chocolate to be treasured: NCEFE helps Bullion Chocolate plan for business innovation and growth Bullion Chocolate sought consultancy expertise through the Sheffield Innovation Programme to advance the packaging and wrapping process of their chocolate. Working with Sheffield Hallam’s National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering, they identified ways to refine each step of the production process and as a result, staff methods and approaches have been harmonised.

Innovation Network supports Grobotic in research, funding and productivity for a greener future Grobotic Systems, a science research company that develops plant-growing chambers, attended an Innovation Network event that led to various University of Sheffield business support programmes. Grobotic received research help from Masters students and fullyfunded interns, and now partners with the University to continue developing its innovative technology and skills.

Helping Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens grow their network and business

Zoë Loveday, Managing Director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens, joined the Help to Grow: Management Course led by Sheffield Hallam University to build on her previous leadership experience. Through the course, she was able to become part of a growing network of supportive SME leaders across the region, create lucrative links and benefit from a personalised mentor programme.

Magnomatics:

From University spin-out to ongoing partnership

Originally a spin-out from the Univeristy of Sheffield, engineering business Magnomatics now partners with the University to continue to develop its innovative technology and develop its skills. The partnership enables Magnomatics to access facilities and equipment, expertise through sponsorship of PhDs and students and funding opportunities to remain a world leader in their technology.

• We invest time searching for the best talent using our database and various job boards - which allows clients to focus their time on their business

• Our sector knowledge from our combined 130 years recruitment experience is invaluable

• We always deliver a personal touch

• No upfront costs - we only charge when we successfully fill your role

• We work in partnership alongside clients and candidates to fully understand their needs

• As a business we have organically grown alongside our clients and we have fantastic client retention

• Transparency is the key to our agency - we focus on maintaining frequent, honest and upfront conversations with our clients and candidates so we can work collaboratively.

• We don’t claim or try to be an expert at every job role, but we are an expert in working with our clients and candidates

• We listen and make sure we ask all the right questions

AOB: Your Pitch

ANDY FROGGATT – ROYSTON PARKIN

HELLO SOCIAL AVENUE

Abbie and David Coslett and a team of dedicated freelancers together make up exciting new venture Hello Social Avenue. They care about generating actual results and taking the guesswork out of marketing so you can grow your business. We found out more...

Tell us about your business – sell yourselves!

Most businesses struggle with getting real measurable results from their marketing, we create a plan that you can track, so it delivers an ROI and builds your brand. Do you find it hard to develop a marketing plan? Struggle to get enough leads in your business or feel like the content you create doesn’t deliver results?

If your answer to any of these questions is YES, then we’re the perfect fit for you. At Hello Social Avenue we make marketing simple; it's just what we do.

After years of working in the industry with small businesses, we decided to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. We’re currently working with leading companies in the bridal, hospitality and coaching industries, hoping to make an impact in Derbyshire and beyond.

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

If you’ve been in business for a few years and hit static growth, then speaking to us could transform your business. If you’re an owneroperator or you’ve got a small or a large team, we can help all sizes of businesses strategically

hit their sales targets. For readers of this magazine, we are gifting a complimentary ‘Step Up’ 1-2-1 marketing session with us, designed to help kickstart the growth of your business. You will learn how to start generating leads to increase your profits using the proven '1 Page Marketing Plan' by Allan Dib and 'They Ask, You Answer' formula by Marcus Sheridan.

How can people get in touch with you?

To book your complimentary 1-2-1 marketing session with us, please email david@ hellosocialavenue.com with the subject ‘STEP UP’ or visit our website hellosocialavenue.com and book online.

AOB: FOCUS BOOTHS BY THE DL COMPANY

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

The workplace is no different and now it’s about choice: where and how do you want to work? The conventional idea of sitting at a desk all day is changing.

We have to meet people in person, via video meetings, using the phone – all demand our time and there’s a need to create the space to allow us to maximise those opportunities. There’s a whole host of furniture that can create areas for people to

maximise their potential and spend quality time in the office and with colleagues.

In a post-pandemic world and with the evolution of technology, this mix is what people want when leaving the comforts of home.

It fosters the sense of identity within a business, as well as allowing people to be an individual in the way they interface with the workplace. We’re all special don’t forget!

Here at DL we can create that identity and culture within your firm, bringing energy and dynamism that can be created from the physical and aesthetic change that focus booths can bring.

Contact us today for a free consultation – no matter how large or small your change, we can make it happen.

Power and data added to provide connectivity.

Multiple shapes and styles available.

Full, freestanding meeting rooms and pods.

Built-in to provide extra acoustic privacy.

Vast choice of fabrics to create colour and depth.

Tables within, can be height adjustable with certain types. Simple, moveable space.

TV monitors to maintain virtual relationships within the office.

AOB: Exhibitions

ZOE WADSWORTH - ASK OE

With exhibitions and events coming thick and fast, we asked business consultant and Ask Zoe

EXHIBITIONS: MAKE THEM PROFITABLE

Since the events sector has been able to open its doors again in 2021, there has been an influx of exhibitions taking place not just for business but also for recreation and special occasions too.

However, the biggest problem still exists when it comes to exhibitions for exhibitors – how do I make time out of the business more profitable? Because it’s not just the expense of the stand it is also the time out of the business it takes for preparation, delivery and follow up. Although for social events, the guests are there for recreational purposes, for exhibitors it is always about meeting existing clients and recruiting new ones; to add profit to the bottom line of their businesses and increase business exposure.

This applies for any business no matter your product or service, as the benefit of attending an exhibition or attending as an exhibitor should provide one of the following six benefits:

1. Increase Brand Awareness

2. Increase Visibility

3. Attract New Clients

4. Retain Existing Clients

5. Add in Corporate Responsibility for the business and your marketing.

6. Sales on The Day.

Here are three top tips on how you can use your time at an exhibition to add more profitability and growth to your business.

Networking: Utilities your time to network with other exhibitors along with attendees. Make the time to attend each stand of interest that could be a potential client, collaborator, opportunity or introduction. Our top tip is to do this prior to the event in terms of picking out who you wish to speak with and then making time on the day prior for set up or day off; to introduce yourself and the intention of your visit to their stand.

Call To Action: Call to actions on the day are normally under utilities as if you can keep the attendee on the stall for more than 3 minutes then they are more than likely to welcome an opportunity for an appointment after the event, so it is super important to engage with each attendee but also ask for the business or appointment.

Supplies and Resources: Do your research prior to the event and think of how you want your stand to look and what do you wish to offer to engage with as many visitors as possible, in the most productive and cost effective way for your business.

You can find more of Zoe’s insight via the resource tab on her website: askzoe.co.uk. Or you can book in a discovery session to gain maximum return from your investment: calendly.com/askzoe/45mindiscovery

founder, Zoe Wadsworth, how you can make your exhibition profitable…

AMY WARD FROM LOGICA 5 MINS WITH

For the vast majority of South Yorkshire businesses, high-quality digital marketing is more than just nice to have – it’s a must-have. We grabbed five minutes with Sheffield-based digital marketers Logica’s Amy Ward, to find out the new rules of digital marketing in 2023…

What do today’s B2B buyers want?

It’s a complicated question. But getting it right is essential for selling to a business audience in today’s market, so how do you create value for today’s B2B buyer, and what strategies do you need to use?

Creating value for changing B2B buyer needs. The way B2B buyers research, compare and buy has drastically changed in the last five years. The days when buyers would simply talk to a sales rep or speak to suppliers at an event are over.

Most buyers now start their purchase journey online and you could say the B2B buying experience is trending towards a more consumer-based approach. Buyers conduct their own research before making a purchase. So, what are the strategies you need to engage today’s buyers?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

When customers research products or services online, they often turn to

search engines, such as Google. So, SEO helps you to make sure your brand is found when they’re searching and drive traffic to your website that you can convert into sales. SEO is the backbone of a successful digital marketing strategy.

Content marketing

Customers want to find information about specific topics, products and services. So, a content marketing strategy can help you to engage with potential customers. Match the content you produce to the intent of your customers and match each stage of the customer journey.

Buyers are more likely to purchase from brands with an authoritative, trustworthy and reliable voice. Hence, you have a higher chance of converting a prospect who has engaged with your content and remembers it - because it was helpful.

Social media

Social media is critical for boosting

your reputation, building trust and increasing sales. It’s a great way to promote your brand, build brand awareness, drive traffic and drive sales.

PPC (Paid Search)

PPC provides a way to drive traffic to your website and only pay when someone clicks through. For B2B, it allows you to target your budget towards those who show an intent to buy.

The goal of your ad is to lead searchers to click on your website and take valuable action, such as purchasing a product.

Staying ahead of how buyers are changing and knowing what they expect can help you to meet their expectations with your digital marketing activity and deliver results for your business.

If you’d like to know more, why not request a free digital marketing audit for your business? Just drop us an email at hello@logica-digital.co.uk

AOB: HAVE LUNCH WITH... LAURA O’BRIEN

NORTHERN HOSPITALITY

unLTD’s Joseph Food grabs a bite with Laura O’Brien, Corporate Sales and Events Manager at True North Brew Co.

When it comes to the Sheffield food and drink scene, True North Brew Co is nothing short of a household name – and, if you’re not familiar with the parent company itself, you’ll certainly be aware of at least some of their 12 venues spread across Sheffield and Barnsley.

The company can today list some of the city’s favourite pubs and bars on their impressive roster – including the likes of The Broadfield, Common Room and Riverside Kelham – but it all started with The Forum back in 1992, which is where I met Laura last month for a chat about her role and the growth of True North as a business.

“Before coming to True North, I was working in events management for a hotel chain,” Laura told me. “But it was fairly rigid and felt like being a small cog in a big wheel. Since coming here five years ago, I’ve felt like my voice is a bit louder and there’s the opportunity to do more things that I want to do.”

Laura tells me that her main remit is looking after corporate enquiries and events at True North’s city centre sites, especially the everpopular Forum and Common Room, which usually have more than enough going on to keep her busy!

She said: “An average morning might be responding to incoming enquiries about our spaces, planning meetings and checking in with venues to make sure they’re aware of what’s coming up eventswise. The phones are pretty much going constantly - every single enquiry across all the sites comes to us until midday, so there’s plenty to deal with!”

It’s unsurprising to hear that it’s a busy office. True North Brew Co is one of the city’s great success stories, and in the last five years

alone has taken on five new pubs: The Horse & Jockey, The Old Grindstone, The Milton Arms and The Waggon & Horses.

When asked why the company seems to have such a knack for churning out winners, she puts a good chunk of it down to the Steel City’s love for supporting local.

“People like independent businesses, especially here in Sheffield. The good thing about this company is there are 12 venues but every single one is different. Each place offers something another doesn’t and they have their own communities surrounding them. It isn’t a case of one size fits all: each general manager has their way of doing things, they’re given that flexibility, and every venue has developed its own character.” The ability to be versatile in what they offer – especially during these trying economic times – is another reason why Laura feels True North has continued to excel, particularly when it comes to corporate sales and events.

“Of course, you’ve got set packages but it’s important to explore options with all customers and have the flexibility to fit something around their budgets. That’s something we try to do, and nine times out of ten we can accommodate the customer in what they’re looking for.”

Last year saw the 30th year anniversary of True North, celebrated in style with live events, limited edition produce and a memorable Eldon Street party. There are no plans on slowing down, however, and Laura says that 2023 is set to be another busy year. “As well as our popular live music festivals like Oakstock, Crownfest, Jockfest and Crookes-chella, we’ve decided to branch out into other things like comedy nights with top headliners, drag nights at The Forum, as well as quiz nights and the usual offers on food and drink. It’s all about trying new things and reaching more people.”

To find out more about what True North can offer your business, head to: www.truenorthbrewco.uk.

A GRILLED-OUT LUNCH

Now coming into its 31st year, The Forum has seen it all: iconic DJs passing through (Toddla T cut his teeth there), legendary parties galore and plenty of unforgettable summer sessions on its famed terrace.

And while there’s still plenty of party life left in the old dog, during the day it’s just as ideal a location for a relaxed brunch or laidback lunch – nicely supplemented by great coffee, a tempting selection of beverages and a broad menu that can cater to all tastes. There’s everything from sourdough toast to flame-grilled burgers, hefty burritos to stonebaked pizza. You can go down the tapas route with small plates or just share a massive bowl of dirty nachos because, frankly, sometimes that’s all you need.

A recent addition to the menu is their rotisserie selection, from which you select a main cooked and smoked on their new firepit grill and served with two sides of your choice (£17.50).

I opted for the tandoori chicken with

dirty rice and house fries. Let me tell you: they do not skimp on the portions here – the large, juicy tandoori chicken was bursting with flavour (savoury with a hint of sweetness) and came with generous amounts of moreish fries and rice.

Laura went for the brunchy option –sourdough toast with halloumi, red pepper and scrambled eggs (priced at a quite reasonable £7.25, considering the going rate for brunch dishes these days). It took just a few bites before it was declared delectable, going on to remark that she might have just found a new go-to for Forum-based business lunches.

Location is one thing, but it’s the airy open layout, attentive staff and a regularly updated menu of indulgent winners that keeps The Forum a foodie hotspot in Sheffield city centre – whether that’s for an early morning caffeine kick, on-the-go brunches or an evening treat.

Long may it continue, we say…

Internet Marketing Platinum deliver the Edge on all things video!

A Barnsley based digital marketing and video production company is launching a new brand which capitalises on the growing market for video content.

Internet Marketing Platinum Ltd, founded by Michael Greenwood, is a one-stop digital marketing shop which helps businesses to grow. The company delivers marketing strategies to solve problems such as lack of brand awareness, leads and sales. Services include work on marketing funnels to create targeted content, along with video production, video marketing and website design.

“Many businesses are good at what they do but need support to become visible online,” says Michael. “I help them by creating strategies for joined-up content.”

Over the years, Internet Marketing Platinum Ltd has evolved to keep up to date with digital marketing trends, including video production. To cater for this growing demand, Michael has created a sister brand, Edge Video Marketing, specialising in video strategy and production.

“Video is growing in popularity and more marketing managers are now including it in their mix. But it’s still in its infancy and it can be difficult to know where to start if you have no prior experience,” explains Michael. The new brand feeds into existing digital marketing strategy, supporting businesses to reach their goals by improving SEO and creating lead generation to grow the business.

Michael first became involved with The Business Village in 2009 when he joined the Genesis programme. It provided him with business support and shared office space during the early stages of his company. “The programme started me on this path and gave me exposure to a world where anything is possible. My belief is that the environment we spend time in is important. Basing myself

in The Business Village meant being surrounded by people with a similar mindset.”

After completing the Genesis programme, Michael became a Business Village tenant. The 24/7 access to office space and free parking onsite are huge benefits. But the icing on the cake is the business support and community. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without the community and business referrals from The Business Village. The Business Development Manager, Kevin Steel, referred me for the Net Zero Accelerator project, and I love being able to pass ideas back and forth with other tenants.”

Michael now has high growth ambitions for his businesses. The new brand will offer idea generation and video packages for businesses, and there are also plans for video live streaming, including filming and live editing of

podcasts.

“Edge Video Marketing will produce video content for websites, social media, and advertising. It will include videos for brand messaging, testimonials, social media, drone aerial footage, and more. Watch this space, there are lots of new and exciting things coming!”

To contact Michael:

Phone: 01226 337 386

Email: info@

internetmarketingplatinum.com

LinkedIn: Michael J Greenwood

To find out more about The Business Village head to:

www.business-village.co.uk or contact Business Development Manager Kevin Steel on 01226 249590 / 07970 930560 or via www.business-village. co.uk/staff/kevin-steel

THE HOME OF BUSINESS IN BARNSLEY

We provide small businesses with a supportive environment that nurtures business growth with our wide range of meeting and office space in Barnsley.

YEAR END FINANCIAL PLANNING 2022/23

Another challenging year has passed but although 2022 has ended, the tax year continues, gifting three key months in which to review your finances before several important changes come into play.

To help you focus on the issues, SMH Financial Services has produced a guide to Year End Financial Planning 2022/23, bringing you essential guidance for your year-end financial planning.

After a particularly turbulent second half of 2022, with multiple prime ministers and chancellors, the fallout has brought far-reaching implications for individuals and businesses. Be it through taxes, pensions, or investments, the changes introduced by the government for 2023/24 will impact all of us.

Coupled with the rising cost of living and high inflation, the reduced (and in some cases frozen) tax thresholds make judicious tax planning before 6 April 2023 even more important than usual.

We can help you navigate these complexities and hurdles, keeping your personal finances on track.

Our guide to Year End Financial Planning 2022/23 will assist you

in making sure you maximise your allowances and reliefs to reduce your tax bill.

The guide offers practical, concise steps you can take across key issues, such as:

• Income tax-saving for couples

• Tax-efficient investments

• Pensions planning

• Directors, employees and the selfemployed

• Capital gains tax planning

• Inheritance tax planning

• Charitable giving

We hope our guide gives you some ideas for how to make the most of your finances for the end of the tax year. If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on 0114 266 4432 or info@smh.group

Don’t forget – if you don’t use some of your tax allowances before 6 April 2023, you lose them!

Proud to be a part of:

Scan here to download your guide to Year End Financial Planning2022/23.

NEW RECRUITS HELP EXPAND SMH FINANCIAL SERVICES AS CLIENT DEMAND GROWS

SMH Financial Services, a leading financial advisory firm based in Sheffield, is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its growing team. As demand for their services continues to increase in 2023, James Hargreaves and Thomas Connor have joined the company as Financial Planning Manager and Financial Planning Assistant respectively.

Part of the SMH Group of companies, SMH Financial Services has been providing tailored financial advice for pensions, wealth management, tax planning, and assurance to clients across their offices in Yorkshire and Derbyshire since 2015.

The company’s focus on delivering personalised financial solutions has led to a growing client base, making the recruitment of James and Thomas a strategic move to

meet the increasing demand. James Hargreaves, Financial Planning Manager, comments: “After becoming a fully qualified Financial Adviser in November 2019, I’m now at a stage in my career where I want to utilise my experience to add further expertise to the existing team and help build on the current client base. I will be working to ensure that the Financial Services Team has a key presence in all the regional SMH Group offices.”

Thomas Connor, Financial Planning Assistant, adds: “I’m delighted to join SMH Financial Services and will be providing support to both the advisers and the advisory team within the office. This is my first job since graduating from university with a BA(Hons) degree in Accounting & Finance, and I have high aspirations to become more proficient as my knowledge of the role increases. I’m

looking forward to working towards my CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning exams in the upcoming years to keep the team working at its current high standard.”

Simon Turner, Chartered Financial Planner at SMH Financial Services, comments: “We are thrilled to welcome James and Thomas to our team. James expertise and experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow and meet the increasing demand for our services. We are confident that they will play a vital role in helping us to continue delivering exceptional financial advice to our clients.”

The addition of James and Thomas to the team at SMH Financial Services is a significant step in the company’s ongoing expansion, as we look forward to continued success in the future.

PEOPLE POWER

Firstly, a belated happy New Year to everyone out there! Let’s hope 2023 is good to you all.

In this latest article for unLTD, I wanted to talk you through my last few weeks of 2022, explaining why I would like to forget December but can’t.

I will start at the back-end of November. Everything from a Simoda point of view was looking good, the forecast was on point and the challenges we were facing were more bumps in the road than scaling Everest. However, from a personal point of view, it was a stressful time for me and my wife as my father in law Malcolm was in hospital undergoing stem cell treatment. We needed some time away but struggled to find it, and with Malcolm

in hospital we couldn’t do it. However, he insisted we take a break, he wouldn’t take no for an answer, so for the fist time since starting the business, me and my wife booked a week away in sunny Tenerife –somewhere we have been lots of times and really enjoy.

During our time away, Malcolm took a turn for the worse and was moved onto the ICU at the Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. We came home early, but unfortunately we lost Malcolm on the 4th December. He was a great bloke and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. I spent the next five days comforting the family after this awful news, until Friday 9th when we had our Simoda Christmas party. We didn’t have a full complement of staff because a few

With 75% of the workforce struck down with winter flu, December posed some huge challenges for the team at Simoda. However, despite the odds faced, MD Daniel Bumby describes how a skeleton staff rallied to make it their best performing month of the year.

were off with the winter flu, but it was a great night.

After the hangover had cleared, I started to feel ill with what I will describe as some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt. It turns out I had started with an abscess in my mouth which affected my right eye – I looked like I have been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. I started to feel a little better before I got hit with the winter flu. This hit me hard, really hard. I couldn’t pick my head off the pillow and every part of my skin was hurting. At one point I even watched This Morning and Loose Women because I didn’t have the energy to get the remote control two metres away.

During all of this, the Simoda team were falling like flies and we were operating with 25% of our staff. Of course, with only one out four staff operational you would expect that we would achieve 25% of our forecast. On the contrary, December has been our best month ever – and I couldn’t be more proud.

Everyone has dug in, everyone has gone the extra mile and customers were our priority. The main lesson I have learned during this awful time is that everyone in our fantastic business is brilliant and I can fully rely on them. As a business leader, it is very hard to switch off and know that everything will be ok without you. Yes, I have come back to a monumental amount of emails and actions but – wow! Words really can’t describe how proud I am of our team and how they stepped up.

I know that I am biased, but if you are looking for an IT partner who demonstrate the right values and have a team of committed people, then you can’t go far wrong talking to us.

Daniel Bumby

A proud MD of a fantastic company

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL

unLTD speaks to Katie Ash from Banner Jones about the importance of reviewing and understanding your contracts of employment…

Employment relationships in the modern working world are vast and varied: from workers, to employees, to consultants, to freelancers. On top of this, businesses operate at all times of day and night, many internationally, and following Covid-19, there is an ever-increasing ability for many individuals to work anywhere in the world.

There have never been more types of employment law relationships and making sure that there is a written document setting out the obligations and expectations of the ‘employer’ and the individual has never been more important.

Whilst there is an obligation to provide a simple statement of the main terms and conditions on day one of the employment relationship, this only covers the mandatory information that must be provided, and the basic rights and obligations of the parties.

We find that many employers we advise either don’t have their contracts reviewed often enough or come to us having used a template that they had as an employee in a former life or which has been given to them by a mate. These contracts were not drafted for their business

and often haven’t been reviewed for a very long time. They don’t take account of any changes to legislation, how their business operates and what their working practices are, nor do they take account of developments in best practice. Very often, they don’t understand all of the clauses and what rights or obligations they place upon them. Simply put, the contract isn’t right for them or their business. We help our clients ensure that they understand what their rights and obligations are under the contract from the outset of the relationship, particularly in relation to their rights and obligations on termination of the relationship and/or in the event of a dispute; as unfortunately, this is the time when we find that the contract is given the most attention!

We would recommend undertaking a review of your contracts of employment, and other terms of engagement, at least every 12 months to ensure that they are legally compliant and working for you and your business.

Some of the areas that need careful consideration are:

Notice from the Employee – The Employment Rights Act 1996 only entitles an employer to

receive 1 weeks’ notice from an employee wishing to terminate their employment. If you want more notice as an employer, you need to specify this.

Post Termination Restrictions – once employment ends, if you want to try to prevent a former employee setting up in competition with you, then you need to set this out in writing – and get the employee to sign the agreement.

Deductions from Wages – the Employment Rights Act 1996 only permits deductions in certain specified circumstances. If an employer wants the right to deduct for damage or negligence caused by an employee, then they need to ensure that this is covered in the written agreement.

Home Working – It’s important to set out what is expected from the employee in terms of attendance at the office and/or working time. Other things to consider are insurance, health and safety, data protection, access to the employee’s property and who is providing what in terms of equipment.

For further information or assistance, you’ll find Banner Jones at: www. bannerjones.co.uk // 0114 275 5266

BOOK TO VISIT

www.getuptospeed.org.uk/book-to-attend/ SCAN TO BOOK SCAN TO BOOK

This live event will introduce, inform and inspire students, parents and teachers about the world of work in the Science, Technology, Engineering & Manufacturing (STEM) sectors.

BOOK TO EXHIBIT

This event gives companies the opportunity to showcase their services whilst helping to address the skills gap in STEM-related industries.

• Over 4100 visitors booked to attend

• Over 70 schools booked to attend

www.getuptospeed.org.uk/book-to-exhibit/ WATCH HERE!

IAN PROCTOR 5 MINS WITH

FROM THE SHEFFIELD HAMPER COMPANY

We grabbed five with Ian Proctor, owner of Knab Farm Shop, to discuss The Sheffield Hamper Company – a new venture which brings together produce from some of the city’s finest artisans and makers.

I was inspired to start my business by… 18 months ago, I took redundancy from The University of Sheffield and together with my partner bought Knab Farm Shop. Since owning the shop, we have tripled the number of suppliers with an S postcode to almost 60. It was by becoming aware of the amazing suppliers in the region that led to the creation of The Sheffield Hamper Company. You will see from the website that we have curated a number of different hampers with names like ‘Look After Thisen’, ‘Put Tha Feet Up’, ‘The Full Monty’ and of course, “Homage to Hendo’s”, to name but a few. We did a soft launch before Christmas; the hampers were very well received with requests to ship to all corners of the UK.

My favourite thing about running my business is…

Being inspired by the quality of what is being produced in this region – we really do have some fantastic artisan

producers. As someone born and bred here, I'm really proud to be supporting local businesses and making people aware of what the region has to offer.

The four words that describe my business are…

Sheffield in a box!

The best advice I ever got was… Have a plan.

The advice you'd give to a start up…

It’s not the worst advice, but as a sixth former, the teachers called me a “young entrepreneur” because I started and ran a school tuck shop… it just took me almost 40 years to actually become an entrepreneur! But that is also due to my partner giving me the confidence to do it. So my advice is... be brave, don’t wait 40 years to follow your dream!

The main challenges facing my industry are…

The current difficulties faced by the food industry are well documented. These are felt more acutely by small independent producers, which for us was part of the motivation of working with our region’s small artisan producers as a means of expanding their reach.

In five years’ time I expect my business… We believe the hampers make perfect gifts all year round, will appeal to businesses for corporate gifting, would make great welcome boxes in local holiday rentals – and you tell me a Sheffield ex-pat that wouldn’t love to receive one through the post! So, in five years’ time we expect the hamper business to have grown substantially, and you never know we may well be conquering a few other cities!

You can browse their selection of hampers (or design your own!) at www. sheffieldhampercompany.co.uk.

OLIVIA TATE

This month’s Side Hustle is a great example of using your passion to not only showcase your own abilities but those of others too: in this case, the wealth of female talent in the creative industry throughout Sheffield and the North of England.

Meet 22-year-old Olivia Tate from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She’s an independent illustrator studying at Sheffield Hallam University, currently on an enterprise year which she’s using to work on her freelance illustration business and build a network of creatives. Olivia’s work predominantly focuses on female empowerment and feminist issues. One of her key aims is to open up conversations around related topics such as mental health, body positivity and self-love through her illustrations, which she sells in merchandise on her website. As you might expect, International Women’s Day is always an important event in Olivia’s calendar. This year, it falls on a Wednesday – 8th March 2023 is the date for your diaries – and to coincide with this as well as celebrating the wealth of female talent in the creative industry across Sheffield and the North of England, Olivia has organised an International Women’s Day themed pop-up shop in Sheffield that will run in the city centre next month.

The pop-up shop will feature a selection of handmade products and artwork from some of the brightest female talent in the region. Olivia’s sister, local musician and feminist artist Delilah Bon, will also support the event. The shop will be located on Howard Street Sheffield, open from 10am-5pm on the 8th-11th March. Events like these are so important to showcasing local talent and need your support, so if you’re looking for a splash of creativity and empowerment next month, don’t forget to pop along!

For more information about the event please visit oliviatatedesign.co.uk/ apply

Contact Olivia on social media @olivia_tatedesign or by email on oliviatatedesigns@outlook.com

IF YOU HAVE A SIDE HUSTLE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE, LET US KNOW! GET IN TOUCH AT: EDITORIAL@ UNLTDBUSINESS.COM

THIS IS THE END

BREAKING NEWS...

CITY TAXIS JOINS FORCES WITH VEEZU

Sheffield’s most established private hire operator, City Taxis, has joined forces with Veezu, the UK’s leading data-driven tech-enabled mobility platform to the private hire sector.

The acquisition is an exciting opportunity for City to offer an improved private hire experience for driver-partners and their passengers. Passengers can still book rides with City Taxis on their free booking app or using the usual City Taxis’ phone numbers. The same friendly City driver-partners will continue to pick up passengers in a City Taxis branded vehicle and take them safely to their destination with the same fares paid as usual.

Launched in 2013, Veezu invest heavily in technology and infrastructure to ensure regional brands like City Taxis remain at the heart of the community, without needing to sacrifice anything in terms of the passenger experience.

Arnie Singh, Managing Director of City Taxis, said: “City Taxis has grown from a small family-run business with 34 cars to a business with access to more than 2,000 driver-partners. We help move millions of people each year, and I am humbled to have played a vital role in this growth.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey so far, from staff and driverpartners to businesses and riders.

“We are incredibly enthusiastic about what joining Veezu means for City Taxis moving forward. I am confident that joining a larger business with a hyper-local focus will help to keep local taxi companies in demand without compromising on technology or service levels.”

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