unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #45 by unLTD magazine

DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 45 | FREE | UNLTDBUSINESS.COM

SKY’S THE LIMIT Architect David Cross shares his inspiration for creating a new generation of homes in South Yorkshire and beyond.

SHEFFIELD

BUSINESS

AWARDS

READY FOR THE BIG NIGHT!

CHARILTAYKES SNOWF

P U T H G LI THE CITY

FINANCE OUTLOOK FOR 2022 ● NEW IMPETUS FOR MARKETING MEET-UP ● APPOINTMENTS

Ambitious Plans. Made Together. Working with partners to shape the region Working with organisations and individuals across South Yorkshire we’ve created the Made Together programme: a major University of Sheffield regeneration initiative with a dedicated team of staff and a clear brief to do four things: make our region healthier, greener, more vibrant and innovative for all.

#MadeTogether

Sheffield.ac.uk/madetogether madetogether@sheffield.ac.uk

Through Made Together, we’re giving businesses the edge by: • Providing access to innovation-led facilities and expertise • Attracting major inward investment • Investing in talent to release the power of people

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Space to work and play at Park Hill Opportunities for a variety of workspaces, retail and leisure space Get in touch to find out more 0333 666 0000 space@urbansplash.co.uk

Welcome to a company that cares. Every time you do business with us, we give 2.5% of our turnover to charities close to our heart. THE UK’S LEADING SPECIALISTS IN: • R&D TA X R E L I E F • PAT E N T B OX • C A P I TA L A L L O WA N C E S • C R E AT I V E I N D U S T R I E S TA X R E L I E F S

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CONTENTS

INSIDE... 8-13: News A round-up of latest news from our region including updates from the University of Sheffield and Dentech Connect. 15-17: Appointments Tips for how you can spruce up your CV from Glu Recruit plus the latest career moves. @UNLTDBUSINESS

21: Finance Outlook How are the city’s firms coping post lockdown? Two insolvency experts have their say. 26-27: Entrepreneur Support Helen Williams from HEW says mentoring students and young people pays dividends in the long run.

29: Tech Our columnist gives his top five tips for tech gifts this Christmas. 36-41: Cover Story Reaching for the Sky. This month we speak to architect David Cross about some of his latest projects. 48-59: Sheffield Business Awards The shortlist is in! Who will be the winners on the big night? 74-75: Sheffield DM The return of the popular marketing meet-up has been a huge success both in person and online.

EVERYTHING ELSE: 19: The Diary 25: Legal Matters 35: Equality in STEM 43: Podcast Spotlight 45: Sheffield Chamber 60-63: Jill’s Greatest Hits 77: Your Pitch 81: Cloud Accounting 87-88: Charity

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UNLTD BUSINESS UNLTDBUSINESS

LET'S LOOK FORWARD TO 2022 WITH OPTIMISM Well, here we are. Another year is almost consigned to the history books. And what a year it has been. If we thought 2020 was bizarre, then arguably 2021 was even crazier. Slowly but surely, normality returned but even now, as we look towards Christmas and the new year, there are rumblings of further health measures that not only impair our freedoms but hamper businesses, particularly in the leisure and hospitality sectors. With unLTD based in the heart of Sheffield, we have seen the city slowly come back to life. Over the past couple of months, especially with the double graduation at Sheffield Hallam University, you’d be hard-pressed to see how life is in any way different from, say, the autumn of 2019. Let’s hope that the government holds its nerve, directs resources where they are most needed, and allows businesses to make their own decisions. Onto what’s in this issue. This month we have a brilliant feature with one of the city’s bestknown architects David Cross. David speaks with unLTD’s Matt Holmes about how his upbringing in a terraced house in Birdwell, Barnsley, shaped his views of how we live. His Sky House developments are popping up across our area, most notably at Waverley and Oughtibridge. We also provide a preview of the Sheffield Business Awards, which take place this month. The awards are being hosted by unLTD in partnership with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, and we have been delighted by a near-record number of entries. It is sure to be a great night, and we’ll provide complete reports of winners both online and in January’s issue. Merry Christmas, everyone!

EDITORIAL Richard Fidler richard@unltdbusiness.com editorial@unltdbusiness.com General hello@unltdbusiness.com 0114 252 7760 ADVERTISING Dan Laver dan@unltdbusiness.com 07867 313995 Phil Turner phil@unltdbusiness.com 07979 498034 General advertising@unltdbusiness.com FINANCE Michael Johnson accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Simon Garlick CONTRIBUTORS Beth Burley Marc Barker Chris Coates Sophie Coburn Ryan Daniels Jo Davison Matt Holmes Dax Keeling James Marriott

Rachel Measures Pam Murrell Bronte Saulle Raj & Fiona Shah Jill Theobald Susan Waple Wendy Ward Helen Williams James Yates

unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1B Rialto, 2 Kelham Island Sq., Kelham Riverside, Sheffield S3 8SD and HRM PR | Creative Unit 1A Speedwell Works, Sidney Street, Sheffield S1 4RG The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and HRM 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 and HRM cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific listings.

AGENDA NEWS

University of Sheffield ranked among world’s best for arts and humanities The University of Sheffield has been ranked 67th out of more than 600 universities worldwide for teaching and research in the arts and humanities, according to the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject published on 3 November. Professor Susan Fitzmaurice, vice-president for arts and humanities at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am proud that the arts and humanities have maintained our global standing at a time of considerable challenge throughout society. This success is thanks to the vigour, vitality and resilience of our staff and students. “As we look for a way out of the pandemic, the arts and humanities are more important than ever. Some of the biggest challenges we are facing across the UK and the rest of the world have human behaviour at their heart. The arts and humanities play a crucial role in helping us understand this.” Sheffield’s arts and humanities faculty is renowned for its learning and teaching practices and its extensive engagement with communities throughout the South Yorkshire region and the rest of the world. The faculty has a track record for research excellence that attracts students from all over the globe. For more information visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/artshumanities

LOCAL FOUNDATION AIMS TO HELP BLACK YOUNG PEOPLE ACCESS FURTHER EDUCATION Five local community members have launched a Foundation aimed to increase the number of young people accessing further education. The Sheffield Black Foundation uses donations, ranging from £1, either as a one-off donation or a regular standing order, to create a fund which will be awarded to young men and women from the Black community. Awards will be available to those aged 16 - 25, who are experiencing financial hardship whilst trying to access college, undergraduate studies at university, or training courses. The awards which range

from £200 - £500, will be made to qualifying members of the Black community following an application and selection process. The Foundation’s transparent quarterly communications will show the amounts raised and any awards made. “The idea was born from a discussion with a friend last year,” said Shane Spence, Chair of the Foundation. “We discussed what we could do locally at a grass roots level to support and raise aspirations throughout our community. Looking at the disadvantages and under-representation of Black people in further education, I came up with the

idea of a self-managed fund, taking inspiration from the Sheffield 500 Together project.” The Foundation is managed by a Board of five: Shane Spence, Dave Campbell, Carol Whiteley, Wayne Reid and Yvonne Witter, who are actively involved in community and national initiatives. For further information on the Sheffield Black Foundation, visit www. sheffieldblackfoundation. com or email: blacksheffieldfoundation@ gmail.com or follow us on social media at @SheffieldBlackFoundation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

CLEANPOWERHYDROGENSETTOBE AT FOREFRONT OF NET ZERO TARGET Doncaster Central MP Dame Rosie Winterton has praised local firm Clean Power Hydrogen after visiting its new facility. The visit coincided with the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association’s Road to COP26 initiative campaign to promote the ‘Best of British’ companies and technologies that will be at the forefront of

decarbonising our planet. Dame Rosie said: “My visit to the new Clean Power Hydrogen facility in Parkside Business Park was enlightening and educational and I was deeply impressed by CPH2’s innovation and progress in creating an important part of the solution to our reliance on carbon intensive sources of energy.”

Clean Power Hydrogen (“CPH2”) is a leading developer of Membrane-Free Electrolysers™ designed to produce green hydrogen and pure oxygen in a simple, safe, sustainable manner and at any scale. Jon Duffy, CEO CPH2 said: “Green hydrogen is vital to the UK reaching its net-zero carbon target.”

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AGENDA

HALLAM HELPS DEVELOP NEW TENNIS RACKET THAT COULD TRANSFORM THE SPORT

New owner takes over at Rotherham day nursery

Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) have pioneered a new type of tennis racket which includes a unique material that could boost player performance and confidence. The design has been developed by Andy Alderson, Professor of smart materials and structures in the Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI) at SHU and tennis racket technology expert Dr Tom Allen from Manchester Metropolitan University, in partnership with Austrian sport equipment company Head Sport GmbH. The racket contains auxetic material which, unlike conventional material, has the unique property of becoming thicker when stretched and thinner when

Northfield Under 5’s Day Nursery in Wickersley has been acquired by The Little Sports Group (LSG) in a transaction arranged by the childcare business transfer specialist Abacus Day Nursery Sales. LSG, under its chief executive, Craig Brennan, bought the business from its founder, John Armstrong, and has taken over the lease on the premises from which it operates. squashed. When incorporated into the racket material, it provides a number of benefits including energy absorption and vibration damping. It is the first time that a tennis manufacturer has used auxetic material within a racket. Andy Alderson said: “At

Sheffield Hallam, our vision is to transform lives through applied research, and this is an example of how the work we do in the Industry and Innovation Research Institute is delivering research excellence and meeting the development needs of industry.”

THE SOUTH PAVILLION AT WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE SET FOR A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Funding of £542,500 from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund will pay for vital roof repairs to the South Pavillion at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham. The work will also repair the guttering and stonework so the building can be made

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water-tight. Its weather vane will be restored and regilded to match the lustre of the newly-refurbished vane on the North Pavilion. The mansion’s 606 feet Palladian East front has pavilions at each end. Both were found to be in dire need

of major roof repairs. Rain had penetrated for decades and the buildings were deteriorating. Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust CEO, Sarah McLeod, explained: “The first grant we received from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund threw us a much-needed lifeline in the pandemic. We were able to finish repairs to the most vulnerable areas of the Mansion's roof and carry out vital repairs to the North Pavilion, keeping heritage craftsmen in work. “Finding out that we can now keep the South Pavilion safe is very welcome news.” The grant has been awarded by Historic England from the second round of the Heritage Stimulus Fund, which is part of the Culture Recovery Fund.

CRAIG BRENNAN

Mr Armstrong, who has retired following the sale, initially established the business as a pre-school in 1993, and expanded it to provide a full day care offering in 2013. Following the acquisition, LSG plans to carry out some renovation of the Northfield Under 5’s premises and expects to rebrand the business at some point. Craig Brennan said: “It had to be rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, it had to have a good staff team with management in place, and it had to offer good outdoor space, because we think it is really important to provide that for children. Getting active and being outside will be a big focus for all our settings, in addition to providing outstanding EYFS curriculum and care.” Corporate legal advice was provided by JMW Solicitors, while the property element of the transaction was handled by John Galvin of Clifford Johnston & Co Solicitors.

AGENDA NEWS

WAYNE SABLES

Art installation is Right Up Our Street for viewing on film A major new art installation for Doncaster town centre has been edited into a short film so it is available to a wider audience. Doncaster is one of the best places in the country to see a murmuration of starlings, the celebrated mass flight of birds that creates extraordinary patterns in the autumn sky. And it’s that unique natural phenomenon that award-winning film maker and multi media specialist Wayne Sables has captured in a new work for Doncaster community arts group Right Up Our Street. Central to the commission is a six-foot starling sculpture that was placed in the grounds of Doncaster Minster last month. Wayne used projection mapping techniques to bring the sculpture to life in a programme of sound and colour. He said: “Doncaster is a major location for these incredible flights of starlings and I thought that was a great metaphor for many of the things I feel about the town because those birds are showing what a true spirit of community is all about.” Wayne has filmed the installation and edited it into a short film that will be available to view throughout December by visiting: waynesablesproject.co.uk

LUKE DENMAN

HOMEWORKERS SET FOR BOOST FROM DONCASTER WI-FI SPECIALISTS DENTECH Dentech Connect provides home workers, landlords, students and ‘staycationers’ with superfast 4G Wi-Fi without any tie-ins (or hidden fees). Flexibility is paramount, and the demand for reliable, faster, and more widely available broadband is a top priority for a variety of businesses, professionals, and families. Luke Denman, managing director, at Dentech Connect said: “With 60 per cent of the UK now working from home, a fast, secure and flexible broadband package should be available to us all and with our

no contract package, there’s no hefty fee for cancelling or switching mid-contract, you can pause or cancel at any time.” “The difference in our broadband offer compared to other companies is our use of 4G, it means you don’t need a landline and you are guaranteed superfast WI-FI speeds. Our Dentech Connect package really is an easy-in, easy-out service with no hassle. There are no long-term contracts, just a transparent 30 days rolling contract.” Luke adds: “This is great, because it means hybrid

workers, short term letters, landlords or even those caravanning in the UK, can have superfast and reliable broadband wherever they are and for whatever their specific needs.” If you would like to know more about Dentech Connect’s no hassle, no contract, added value internet connection package, contact them on 0114 331 0101 or hello@dentechconnect. org.uk Learn more about this, and other connectivity services on the new Dentech Connect website: www.dentechconnect.org.uk

Fond farewell as top nurse announces retirement Tracey Wrench, the Executive Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals and Deputy Chief Executive, will leave Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) in March. Tracey, of St Johns, Wakefield, joined RDaSH from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust where she held the roles of Executive Director of Nursing and Quality and latterly, Chief Nurse and Chief Operating Officer. She had also previously worked for RDaSH.

TRACEY WRENCH

Work is already underway to seek a new Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals. Tracey said: “I’ve loved my two-and-a-half-years at

RDaSH in my current role. The Trust has a strong team of dedicated nurses and allied health professionals, as well as a whole host of other staff, who all work incredibly hard to deliver the best care possible for patients. I’ll be sad to go.” Kathryn Singh, Chief Executive of RDaSH, said: “We will all miss Tracey for her excellent leadership and dedication to the Trust. I want to say a huge thank you to her for everything she has done for the Trust, for our patients and our staff over the last couple of years.”

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AGENDA

CHARITIES COMBINE FOR WRITING WORKSHOP TO AID ISOLATED OLDER PEOPLE

University makes global pledge to take climate action

Dozens of stories are set to brighten the days of isolated older people, thanks to a partnership between two much loved South Yorkshire charities. Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) teamed up with literacy charity, Grimm & Co, to stage a free creative writing workshop last month for older children, in a bid to get 11 to 14 year olds to write tales to be sent to older individuals. Tammy Wilson, who manages the pen pal scheme at SCCCC, said: “When the pandemic hit, we were really concerned that our service users would be lonelier than ever. That is why we established the pen pal scheme.

Sheffield Hallam University has joined a global campaign to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Sheffield Hallam is one of more than 1,000 universities and colleges from 68 countries to join the United Nations Race to Zero campaign and pledge to half their emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. The University’s own target is to deliver net zero on direct emissions by 2030. Sheffield Hallam has a comprehensive environmental plan, with a range of initiatives already underway, including active travel campaigns and transforming energy use through smarter more efficient buildings. Newly approved plans for the development of the University’s city campus include the latest technology and measures to make the new buildings zero carbon ready and reduce environmental impact during construction.

“We thought it would be fantastic to get young people involved and send something different to an isolated older person.” Grimm & Co champions the writer in every child and aims to change lives, one story at a time. Louise Trelor, Founder of Grimm and Co, said: "We are

so pleased to have teamed up with SCCCC to provide a bit of story magic for the older community in Rotherham and Sheffield." To write to an older person via SCCCC, send stories to Pen Pal Scheme, SCCCC, Unit 19 President Buildings, Savile Street East, S4 7UQ.

Funding available for South Yorkshire businesses to switch to low carbon Small businesses in Sheffield will benefit from a new Low Carbon Business Support Project, which is offering help identifying, funding, and implementing measures to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The project will be delivered in South Yorkshire and is part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund (part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020). Running until June 2023, the £2.3m funding will support over 250 enterprises with the aim to reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHG) equivalent to 450 tonnes of CO2, while increasing long-term profitability for businesses. Businesses will have access to free energy audits to identify improvements such as low-energy lighting systems or improvements to heating, 1-1 support from specialist

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Growth plans heat up following buyout of Airflow

business advisors and lowcarbon grants to part-fund the improvements. Councillor Paul Turpin, executive member for inclusive economy, jobs and skills at Sheffield City Council, said: “As world-leaders meet to discuss climate change at COP26, we know that many small businesses face barriers

in reducing their carbon emissions. “This new project will offer dedicated help, advice and practical support to help businesses understand their impact on the environment, making improvements more efficiently and profitably – encouraging resilience and growth in our local economy.”

Two employees from Sheffield-based Airflow World Group Ltd, who have worked for the industrial oven manufacturer for a total of 35 years, have completed a management buyout. Samantha HancockRidge and Gary Clark have purchased the company from Nigel and Elaine Sharp. Airflow has been trading from its 30,000 square foot modern manufacturing unit on Underhill Lane in Sheffield since 1985. Samantha and Gary were advised by Hentons Corporate Finance. The vendors were advised by Taylor and Emmet Solicitors.

AGENDA NEWS Historic Leah’s Yard given green light by planners Proposals to revive historic Leah’s Yard on Cambridge Street and create a social hub for creative independent businesses have been approved by the Local Planning Authority. Submitted in July by Sheffield City Council and its Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry, the plans are all part of Sheffield’s transformational Heart of the City development scheme.

Leah’s Yard has been listed on Historic England’s ‘Building at Risk’ register but now the approved plans, designed by architect FCBStudios, will be refurbished into a bustling central public courtyard surrounded by boutique shops. The venue will be run by Tom Wolfenden, CEO of SSPCo, and James O’Hara of the Rockingham Group. The duo plan to transform the space into an experienceled destination for local independent retailers and businesses, creative workshops, and social events. Councillor Mazher Iqbal, executive member for City Futures: Development, Culture and Regeneration, said: “These plans enable us to futureproof a key heritage asset for decades to come, and deliver a modern offer that befits an important city centre like ours.”

SHEFFIELD HALLAM HOSTS REGION’S LARGEST IN-PERSON GRADUATION FOR CLASS OF '20/'21 A double-header of ceremonies has seen more than 15,000 students graduate in-person from Sheffield Hallam University this month, the largest convocation in the region. Around 54,000 guests also attended the events, bringing approximately 6,000 visitors to Sheffield each graduation day. The ceremonies were held over three weeks at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre from Monday 1 November to Friday 19 November. The bumper graduation is due to the cancellation of ceremonies in 2020 meaning two years’ worth of ceremonies needed to take place. Over 90 per cent of graduands indicated across multiple surveys that they were ‘very strongly’ in favour of in-person graduation this year. Professor Sir Chris Husbands,

LEFT TO RIGHT: LUCY PEARCE, MOWADA AGEEL AND BITA ASGARI OF THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CLASS OF 2021

Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “After the challenges of the last 18 months, it was wonderful to celebrate our graduates’ success at Ponds Forge last month. Throughout the pandemic our students have demonstrated incredible

resilience, determination and adaptability, completing their studies in the most difficult of times. They should all be enormously proud of their achievements – I know I am and I am delighted they got to mark their success in front of their friends and family.”

Global accelerator Transform SY arrives in South Yorkshire Exciting new programme, Transform SY, which is designed to support tech entrepreneurs will form part of the ambitious TEAM SY project – a joint initiative between Capital Enterprise (a non-profit organisation striving to make the UK the best place to start a business) and Barnsley Council. Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through TEAM SY and in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and UKSE, TEAM SY will accelerate the development and market-

making of a regional tech ecosystem. The programme aims to support 60 businesses and will be delivered by Entrepreneurial Spark, one of the first accelerators established in the United Kingdom back in 2012. The target is to build a cohort of start-ups that represent South Yorkshire as a whole, with the diversity of skills, ages, ethnicity, and socio-economic background from across the region. Mike Stephens, CEO of Entrepreneurial Spark, said: “South Yorkshire has been

my home for many years, so I am delighted to be able to bring Entrepreneurial Spark to the region. Having worked with SMEs here for over 10 years I have met some fantastic entrepreneurs, and this is a great opportunity to unearth more of them from communities throughout South Yorkshire.” Applications close on Friday 17 December and the programme will commence on Monday 10 January 2022. Find out more by visiting: entrepreneurial-spark.com

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AGENDA PROPERTY NEWS

REDBRIK TAKE HOME THE GOLD Redbrik was named in the Best Estate Agent Guide for the fifth consecutive year, taking home the Gold Award for their sales and lettings service. The leading Yorkshire and Derbyshire estate agents were presented with the award following a rigorous judging process, including mystery shopping. Redbrik’s managing director, Mark Ross, said: “Being named in the Best Estate Agent Guide five years in a row is fantastic and a huge achievement for us all. “Our entire team works incredibly hard to provide the best service for every client, and this award showcases that dedication.” Additionally, Sheffieldbased company Vouch was named as the Best (Large) Supplier at the EA Masters. Part of the Goodlord group, Vouch provides an online service, digitising referencing. Simon Tillyer, managing director of Vouch, said: “It’s been a challenging year for everybody in our industry, so

THE REDBRIK TEAM CELEBRATE THEIR GOLD AWARD WIN WITH DAME SARAH STOREY, FAR LEFT

it’s wonderful to see that the hard work and dedication of my team is reflected in the quality of the services we are

able to provide. We can’t wait to see Vouch listed in the 2022 Best Estate Agent Guide in the new year.”

The annual EA Masters event was held on Wednesday November 3 at Evolution London.

Planning secured for older persons’ independent living Peak Architects has received planning consent on a large-scale older persons’ independent living project in south-east Sheffield. The scheme comprises a mix of one and two bed apartments to address the provision of older persons’ independent living accommodation (OPIL). The designs for all 141 apartments ensure the scheme is environmentally sustainable with future proofed adaptability built in. The proposed development follows a fabric first approach, resulting in increased levels of insulation and air tightness throughout - over and

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above the national building regulation requirements. The apartments will be built to a high standard, with high thermal performance to reduce energy bills and lifetime home features, enabling any required future adaptations to be

incorporated easily and at low cost. Each property also benefits from good natural daylight levels, sound insulation and private amenity space. The project also incorporates the creation of both indoor and outdoor social and

communal spaces. These include a community hall for programmed activities and a café with a south facing courtyard for both residents and the wider community. Peak Architects’ director Patrick Arends said: “The Newstead development is well positioned to further build a sense of community within and across the wider neighbourhood. We hope that our proposal for this largescale development will create high quality homes through the provision of adaptable dwellings which, in turn, will give longevity and comfortable living for generations to come.”

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NEW YEAR, NEW JOB? • Include your references. Available on request is pretty standard and fine if you don’t want to name anyone specifically, however, consider including specific requests from past employers. • Ensure your CV is formatted and readable – no crazy fonts, size 10-12 text and use headings.

‘Tis the season to… prepare for the New Year job rush! January is typically a mad time when it comes to job hunting. Businesses will be planning to freshen their team, move in new directions, and create new roles, and candidates will be using the Christmas break to assess their career options. But why wait until January? If your current role isn’t giving you that Christmas feeling anymore and you have exhausted all your options of staying in your job, why not get a head start on your competition and start preparing for your job search now?

Write an engaging cover letter Your cover letter is a great way to highlight your interest in the role and demonstrate your suitability to separate you from other applicants. It’s important that it’s personal to you and shows the prospective employer your specific skills and experience that make you the perfect candidate for the job. A well written cover letter will help secure interviews, even if at times your CV lacks experience. It’s your opportunity to impress an employer and make a positive impact before they even get to your CV.

Rob Shaw, managing director of Glu Recruit, offers some pointers on how to steal a march… Decide what you want What is your job search criteria? Spend some time deciding what you want out of a new role. Do you want full time, part time, hybrid, or remote working? What industry do you want to work in? What is your expected salary? What benefits are important to you? Making a realistic decision on these questions can help shape your search and match you with potential employers.

Get your CV up to date We have many tips on how to create an eye-catching CV on our website, but here’s a few essentials: • Make sure your CV is no longer than 2-3 sides of A4. • Include your full name, contact email, address, and mobile number at the top of your CV.

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ROB SHAW, MD OF GLU RECRUIT

• Start with a brief introduction to yourself – keep it simple and highlight specific skills the job advert mentions. Employers will scan this first so make sure it stands out. • Highlight your key career achievements. • Include your work experience, starting with your most recent role. Make sure you include dates, employer names and your job titles. Use bullet points to highlight your

Speak to an expert That’s where Glu Recruit come in! We only work with employers and candidates who we know and can advise properly. After all, this is your job we’re talking about.

key responsibilities and transferable skills. • Highlight your skills and achievements and relate them to the job description. • Add your education, but keep it brief to your grades and subject titles. • Let your personality shine! Who are you? What do you enjoy doing? Show that you are an interesting person who could bring a new dynamic to the business and the team.

Our recruitment consultants are fully committed to helping our candidates find their dream roles. Contact us today on 0114 321 1873 or hello@ glurecruit.co.uk to see how we can help kickstart your job search in 2022.

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ABOUT GLU RECRUIT Glu Recruit are a full-service recruitment agency established in 2016. We specialise in temporary, permanent, contract and graduate recruitment – offering a tailored solution from entry level to senior management and board level spanning your entire organisation.

As an independent recruitment agency, we focus on the long-term stick of the placement. Whether you’re a candidate looking to make a career move, or an employer looking to add to your team, our thorough and proactive recruitment and retention service ensures you are well looked after! Call: 0114 321 1873 Email: hello@glurecruit.co.uk www.glurecruit.co.uk

Role: Social Media Manager Salary: £28k-£32k depending on experience Location: Sheffield – Hybrid / Remote Sector: Web agency Role: Business Development Manager Salary: £30k-£35k + uncapped commission Location: South Yorkshire / Nationwide Sector: Advertising Role: 2nd Line Service Engineer Salary: £23k Location: Sheffield Sector: IT

DESIGN CONSULTANCY AIMING HIGH WITH APPOINTMENTS A recent £750,000 investment into Sheffield-based product design consultancy, AME Group, has enabled the design side of the business to make two key appointments. Aaron Seager, previous sales manager of Pudseybased health communication experts, Luto, joins AME Group as commercial manager and David Pass as industrial designer. Aaron’s sales and communications experience will play a pivotal role in presenting the team’s diverse skill set to the UK’s bluechip companies, SMEs and to the ever-growing startup community. David has over 11 years of

AARON SEAGER, LEFT WITH DAVID PASS

design experience and six years as a visiting lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, where he passed on vital STEM skills to future generations. AME Group’s design manager, Tim Stern, said: “Both Aaron and

David’s personalities and temperaments fit into our company culture perfectly. Their skills not only compliment what AME already has in place but empower us to take our offering to the next level.”

The Curve bolsters team with director appointment Software development and technology consultancy The Curve has made an appointment to its senior management team. Andrew Sherwin, boasts more than 18 years’ sector experience, joins from global decision augmentation company Signal Ai, having previously worked in business growth and client care roles with companies like Barclays, Novartis and RBS Bank.

Joining The Curve’s senior management team Andrew will work to expand the current national offering to clients in a range of sectors including financial services. Sheffield-based The Curve, which has more than quadrupled in size five-fold since it was first established in 2019, has continued to secure both public and private sector contracts throughout the pandemic.

ANDREW SHERWIN

Boost for PR agency as Beth and James are rewarded Full service Sheffield PR and creative agency HRM has appointed a new account executive and made an internal promotion after a series of client wins. Sheffield Hallam University public relations graduate Beth Burley, 22, has joined the team as an account executive and will work across the firm’s growing client base as well as providing editorial for unLTD magazine. And James Martin, 31, has been promoted from junior designer to senior designer to recognise his contribution to the firm’s work with several professional services clients. Chief executive Richard Fidler said: “Beth has already made a tremendous impact since she joined us earlier this autumn and I’m especially pleased to reward James who has been key to attracting design clients on a permanent basis.” HRM is enjoying continued success having moved up 11 places to 31st in the Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies.

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BIG AMBITIONS FOR NEW TEAM MEMBERS AT JIRAFFE AND JENX Sheffield-based postural support specialist, Jenx, and its UK distribution division, Jiraffe, have been working with Big Ambitions to relaunch the careers of three individuals who’d been overlooked by employers due to their health conditions. Rhys Owen, 29, unemployed on and off for almost five years, was referred to Big Ambitions, a community interest company based in Yorkshire who help people find work and improve their mental health, for employment support. Previously employed as a Foundry Operative, Jamie Bedford, 37, was affected by a long-time health condition and employers struggled to understand

CLARE ROBERTSON

LEFT TO RIGHT: WAYNE CRAPPER, RHYS OWEN JAMIE BEDFORD

his requirements. During this period Big Ambitions helped prepare Jamie for an interview as Jiraffe’s new Office Administrator. Another success story, Wayne Crapper, 57, was unemployed for eight months until he was introduced to

Big Ambitions, who matched Wayne’s skills with Jenx. Kirsten Johnston from Jiraffe, said: “It’s been such a positive experience working with Big Ambitions and we couldn’t be happier with these new additions to our team.”

BHP investing in ‘partners of the future’ with 34 trainees Accountancy firm BHP has welcomed 20 graduates, 11 trainees and three placements to its growing team. The new starters are joining all departments of the business including Tax, Corporate Finance, Audit and Financial Planning. Lisa Leighton, Joint Managing Partner at BHP, said: “We have a real focus on training, mentoring, qualifications and career progression. “The last 18 months have been challenging for young people in a number of ways, and we want to offer standout career opportunities in a happy, inspiring workplace. “We’re very proud of our yearly intake of new starters – it’s an opportunity for us to support young people and our

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Full circle for Clare as she returns to Thornbury Hospital Circle Health Group, the UK’s largest private hospital group, have appointed Clare Robertson as Sales and Marketing Manager at Sheffield’s Thornbury Hospital in Fulwood, a role she is returning to, having previously worked at Thornbury over 10 years ago in Business Development. The 77-bed private hospital treats both private and NHS patients and is undergoing significant investment since becoming part of Circle Health Group who were recently awarded Health Investor’s Private Hospital Group of the Year. Clare said: “It’s an exciting time to be back at Thornbury Hospital as we integrate with Circle Health Group and it’s been lovely to re-connect with colleagues old and new. I’m looking forward to being part of the amazing team at Thornbury.”

LISA LEIGHTON

local economy but also inject fresh enthusiasm and ideas into our business. “This signifies our longterm commitment to bringing

through our own partners of the future and it is one of the most exciting parts of the year, we can’t wait to get to know everyone.”

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Tell us your news by emailing: editorial@ unltdbusiness.com

Part-Time Online Mental Health First Aid Courses • A flexible way to gain the qualification that lasts for 3 years • 2-hour sessions take place over 4 weeks • Choose from Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday sessions • Group booking discounts available • Accredited by Public Health England • Youth Mental Health courses also available Training a Mental Health First Aider can help reduce staff absence, increase wellbeing and give you the security of knowing that mental ill health can be identified at an early stage with your team signposted to effective support. Jo Roy is an experienced MHFA Instructor having delivered over 50 courses online with consistent feedback scores of 100%

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THE DIARY BY RICHARD FIDLER

Our editor says the graduations at Sheffield Hallam University were a source of joy

Good luck to our Jill and Si! unLTD has come a long way over the past four years and behind every single issue – until now – was our feature writer Jill Theobald and designer Simon Waller. Both have been driving forces at changing the way business news, feature and comment has been presented in South Yorkshire.

THE CITY OF RESILIENCE One of the most pleasing aspects of this year has been the renaissance of Sheffield city centre as more and more people returned to work and study. In the dark days of January to April, when the harshest aspects of Lockdown were upon us, there was very little activity to speak of but life has slowly returned and never more so was this true than during Sheffield Hallam University’s double graduation for the classes of 2020 and 2021. The graduation with its tag line of ‘We are the class of resilience’ could speak for us all with how we’ve had to grind our way through the past two years. So, on my daily lunch time walks around the Cultural Industries Quarter where our unLTD and HRM headquarters

are based, it was great to see the smiling faces of young people who were finally able to share with friends and family their achievements from their hard work. I’ve long been a romantic about my home city. Being born and bred in Sheffield I’d like to think I’ve never taken it for granted. Being heavily involved in sport I’ve always enjoyed the thought of elite sportsmen and women making the city their home with training bases at the English Institute of Sport, iceSheffield or Ponds Forge. For every Jessica Ennis-Hill, who is a Sheffielder from birth, there is an Anthony Joshua, who resides here when training for his next world title bout. And it’s the same with students. Thousands flock

to Sheffield from all over the world and many remain here to work, put down roots and start a family. Some, like me, stay in their home city at one of the two excellent universities to further their education. The graduation and the upcoming festivities for Christmas are two lights at the end of what has been a very weird year. Resilience has been the name of the game for so many people. I think only in years to come will we totally understand the trauma caused by the lockdowns and various tier systems as well as mask mandates for children barely old enough to understand the reasons why. Let 2021 end in style and may we look forward to a year where we only have to host ONE graduation!

This month, from page 60, Jill takes us through her favourite interviews during the previous 44 editions of this magazine. There are some great memories and you could always guarantee that the subject of Jill’s articles would be profiled as much away from their business as in it.

On a personal note I just want to thank them both for their outstanding work on unLTD and as colleagues at HRM PR & Creative. Good luck in your new ventures and we’ll try to keep our standards high on the unLTD business platforms.

Got views of your own? Let me know: richard@unltdbusiness.com LinkedIn: Richard Fidler

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FINANCE OUTLOOK

FEWER RED FLAGS BUT RESERVES RUN LOW Two established Sheffield business recovery and insolvency firms have published contrasting statements on the outlook for the city’s businesses. Here unLTD's Chris Coates takes a look at the figures... The number of financially struggling businesses in Sheffield and across the UK economy fell sharply in the third quarter of this year, according to the latest Red Flag Alert data published by business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor. The figures for the three months to September 2021 showed a 12 per cent decline in the number of distressed businesses in Sheffield compared to the previous quarter, largely due to the relaxation of COVID regulations this summer. However, there had been a two per cent year-on-year rise in the number of distressed companies, compared with the third quarter of last year before the second national lockdown was imposed in November. The new data reveals that a total of 4,100 Sheffield firms were displaying symptoms of early-stage or ‘significant’ financial distress in the three months to September, down from 4,700 businesses at the end of June this year. Significant distress refers to companies that have financial problems such as

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KRIS WIGFIELD

having minor county court judgements of less than £5,000 filed against them. Kris Wigfield, managing partner at Begbies Traynor in Sheffield, said: “It’s encouraging to see levels of distress falling since the previous quarter, showing that many businesses in Sheffield and across the country are benefiting from the easing of COVID restrictions. “While we all hope post-pandemic economic recovery is on the cards, the worry is that too many small businesses will go under before the Government

RYAN HOLDSWORTH

addresses the serious logistical issues resulting from Brexit and COVID. As ever, small businesses that are struggling financially should seek professional help now before their situation becomes more serious.” Despite these signs of recovery, many businesses are now operating on just a threemonth reserve as the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact the commercial world. Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 36 per cent of businesses who have not

permanently stopped trading have cash reserves of three months or less available to continue trading. “Businesses that have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic may well have dipped into their reserve funds in a bid to keep afloat,” said Ryan Holdsworth, of Sheffield business turnaround and insolvency practice Graywoods. “Other businesses who may have taken advantage of Government support such as bounce back loans are seeing these must be repaid and this is another burden on their already delicate cash flow position. “Just as important, there are signs of much more activity from HMRC, who may have taken a more lenient approach at the height of lockdown but are now looking to recover any taxes that are outstanding. “And don’t forget that anybody who took advantage of one of the grants being offered during lockdown will also be having to pay tax on that sum, just one more burden that might not have seemed important at the time.”

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FINANCIAL HEALTH BY RAJ AND FIONA SHAH OF BLUE WEALTH CAPITAL

Our columnists on protecting your hard-earned wealth with a bespoke estate plan

I HAVE A WILL. GREAT, BUT DO YOU HAVE AN ESTATE PLAN? In our last article we asked whether this is the most important question: “Do you know more or less what would happen to your family financially if you didn’t wake up tomorrow?” and we suggested that you revisited your life insurance plan. Or made one if you don’t have one. Regular readers of our column will know that a successful investment strategy is always driven by a well thought out plan, not simply speculation. And one of the most important parts of any financial plan is a comprehensive, bespoke estate plan. A good estate plan consists of much more than a will and lasting powers of attorney. Good estate planning is designed to transfer the greatest amount of financial assets with the smallest tax liability possible to your intended beneficiaries and is one of the fundamental components of a true and effective financial plan and ongoing strategy.

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Comprehensive and thorough estate planning, when explored fully and tailored to your individual situation extends even further. It provides invaluable protection for your hard-earned wealth against potential threats from erosion by taxation, inflation, long-term care assessment, inheritance tax, co-habitation and re-marriage.

launching comprehensive estate planning as a standalone service in 2022.

Not new to us Together, we have over fifty years financial and legal experience therefore this area of planning is not new to us. In fact, we have been providing this service to our clients via our sister company for some time now. The events of the last few years and many conversations with our friends and clients have made us realise that everyone should be able to benefit from having a complete and comprehensive estate plan, which is vital for the preservation and protection of your hard -earned wealth. We are therefore proud to be

How does it benefit me? Once you have completed a short questionnaire, you will be provided with a complementary estate planning report detailing the steps you can take towards a more whole and impermeable estate plan. This will help to protect not only your financial wealth but also your intended beneficiaries.

What is it? Our new service is an insightful and informative process designed to support and guide you as you consider crucial estate planning questions and prepare to pass on your financial legacy.

Why now? The pandemic has, for many of us, brought the adequacy of our financial planning strategies sharply into focus. Now more than ever, individuals and families across the UK are identifying a very real need to

assess their financial situation and take clear and decisive steps towards securing their wealth for themselves and the generations that follow. We guarantee that this will be one of the simplest investments you will ever make and one which your future self will thank you for. We welcome you to sit down with a high quality financial and estate planner early in the New Year. Amid all the time and energy that we spend on our investment portfolios it shouldn’t be difficult to do this. Raj Shah is founder of Blue Wealth Capital and has been shortlisted for Financial Planner of the Year and Investment Adviser of the Year. Raj can be reached at: raj@bluewealthcapital.com Fiona Shah is operations director at Blue Wealth Capital. Fiona can be reached at: office@ bluewealthcapital.com www.bluewealthcapital.com

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LEGAL MATTERS

BY DAX KEELING, BELL & BUXTON INCORPORATING IRONMONGER CURTIS Employment solicitor Dax considers the implications of hybrid working

HYBRID WORKING: THE NEW NORMAL? Hybrid working is the term used to describe an employee who is splitting their time between the office and their home. Due to the pandemic this way of working has been a feature of most people’s working lives over the past year or so. The number of workers in the UK working entirely from home was relatively low before the pandemic. However, the numbers are now likely to grow, as employers reconsider their operating models. This article considers some of the legal and practical implications that an employer will need to consider when engaging homeworkers or hybrid workers. Working from home has advantages and disadvantages for both employers and employees. Advantages Most employees will view the option to work from home as a benefit, but there are also potential advantages for employers. These include: • Reduced overhead costs • Increased productivity e.g. due to reduced travelling times • Better motivation e.g. some employees work better at home

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• Skills retention e.g. employees with families will value the flexibility homeworking provides • Recruitment e.g. employers that allow homeworking will have access to a wider geographical talent pool • Team flexibility • Technological competency, as homeworkers are more likely to rely on technology in order to carry out their role • Resilience, employers that are embracing homeworking and hybrid working may be better able to withstand disruptions such as transport problems, adverse weather conditions etc Disadvantages However, there are also reasons why an employer may be reluctant to embrace homeworking or hybrid working: • Culture e.g. potential damage to team working and company culture • Collaboration e.g. reduced face-to-face collaboration among colleagues which is important for employee social interaction and wellbeing • Management and oversight e.g. managers may not be able to support employees

to the same degree • Learning and development e.g. reduced on-the-job learning and training opportunities for junior or less experienced employees • Technology e.g. employers may become overly dependent on technology • Productivity e.g. employers will be reliant to a large degree on trust and may fear that some employees will not perform. • Data security e.g. increased risk of confidential information, data security and data protection breaches. • Inclusivity e.g. employers may face challenges ensuring inclusivity and participation with a remote workforce • Mental health e.g. employees working from home may experience loneliness and boredom, feel alienated from their organisation and may find it more difficult to separate work life from home life For employees, there can be various benefits to working from home: an improved work-life balance, less time and expense spent commuting, greater autonomy and more time for personal

commitments such as dependants and other nonwork pursuits. Legal and practical considerations There are several legal and practical issues that employers should consider when employing homeworkers and hybrid workers: • Reporting and appraisals • Data protection: employers will need to take appropriate measures to prevent any data protection breaches from arising. • Health and safety: employers will need to consider their statutory health and safety obligations and decide what measures need to be put in place, including conducting risk assessments. • Computers and display screen equipment: e.g. identifying and reducing any health and safety risks. • Insurance: any equipment provided by the employer will need to be covered by insurance. If you would like to speak to Dax Keeling about homeworking or hybrid working, please contact him on 0114 220 2172 or d.keeling@bellbuxton.co.uk

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ENTREPRENEURSUPPORT BY HELEN WILLIAMS, HELPING ENTREPRENEURS WIN

KICKSTART YOUR

BUSINESS Our columnist Helen Williams of Helping Entrepreneurs Win says mentoring students and young people pays dividends in the long term as we provide vital experience to the next generation of business leaders. Expansion, delegation of tasks, entrusting others, recruiting, training, networking, building new products, pitching for new contracts, delivering day to day, improving processes, implementing systems. The list goes on and as many of you will know and appreciate, it’s all part of the process if you want to grow and develop your business and

professional performance. To assist with our growth here at HEW, especially with regards to extra hands on deck and the growth of the back of house support team we have partnered with the Employer Engagement and Higher Skills Teams at The Sheffield College. Our ever-evolving partnership has allowed us to provide work experience placements with students as well as engage government

led employment placements via the Kickstart scheme. This is where the real magic happens in terms of alignment. Lauren and I both had experience at college and university with different chosen paths at that point in terms of time in education before entering the world of employment. However, the time in higher and further education was still painful and

challenging for the both of us. I always say I wish I had a me in my life back then who could advise, steer, provide inspiration and help nurture the skills needed at this valuable time in life. I remember not knowing what direction I wanted to go in and then when I did leave university, I graduated over qualified and under experienced despite having part time jobs and

For more info on how coaching with HEW can help you and your business please visit

HELPINGENTREPRENEURSWIN.COM

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volunteering where I could. We feel growth in business but growth is painful for students and young adults too. And this is what is often forgotten or misunderstood. Lauren and I totally appreciate it from both sides of the coin. Mix in a couple of decades that have passed since we were in the same shoes, a huge surge forward of the digital world and a pandemic leading to further remote working than ever and do we really appreciate the growing pains these students and young adults are experiencing?! I wholeheartedly see this as a winning formula for all parties. It is a collective community responsibility to ensure

the future generations are equipped for employment fully, with education, experience and a toolkit of skills to boot. We are a small cog in this wheel creating a small yet impactful dent in this responsibility. As businesses and employers we are looking for growth and additional resource to assist with every growing to do lists and plans, and students and young adults who are entering into employment, they are looking for someone to give them an opportunity and help them learn more and be more in a professional environment. It really is like a piece of music that everyone can play and enjoy for us, as this in

essence is what we offer a business; we help individuals and business owners grow and develop to have more and be more. Learnings about not only business procedures, project and task management and deliverables around KPIs happen as standard but with the added bonus of learning indirectly (and directly where applicable) about mindset, skillset, behaviours and etiquette. Valuable skills of the intangible variety for anyone’s repertoire. As a business does it take time, effort and patience? Yes of course it does. Buckets of it. But business is built on these credentials isn’t it?

All manners of growth does, especially when it comes to additional resource, team members and recruitment. I personally see it as a full circle of what we are about, believing in people, showing integrity, providing opportunity and helping others grow. Some people need a kickstart, some people need a jumpstart, but one thing is for sure – we all collectively want the same thing, and that is to grow and achieve. #togetherwewin To book a consultation call with Helen or fellow HEW business coach Lauren Brady please visit the website at helpingentrepreneurswin.com

Or email

helen@helpingentrepreneurswin.com

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Your IT is our priority We’re a bunch of Yorkshire lads and lasses that love IT. Our expert team takes away the headaches and eases the burden of technology on your business, leaving you free to focus on what really matters. Put simply, we make things uncomplicated. IT Support | Security | Cloud CRM & ERP | Telephony | Consultancy

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Our UHY teams are committed to helping you prosper Everybody working at UHY understands that in order to help our clients prosper we need to take a solutions-focused approach throughout our engagements. We will work collaboratively with you to determine what prosperity means for you, and will find commercially viable outcomes and solutions to help you achieve that. Our services include: • Accounting and auditing • Business advisory • Compliance • Corporate finance • Payroll - including PAYE, NIC and CIS • Personal and corporate tax • Service charge audits • Services to international businesses • Turnaround and recovery • VAT advice and planning

Andrew Hulse Managing partner t: +44 114 262 9280 e: a.hulse@uhy-uk.com www.uhy-uk.com Helping you prosper

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HIGHLANDER

Highlander's James Yates gives us his best five tech gifts for Christmas

TOP 5 TECH GIFTS THIS CHRISTMAS Tech features heavily each year in the ‘most wanted’ Christmas gift lists and has now infiltrated everything from children’s toys to fashion as well as the obvious consoles that have always enjoyed additional hype at this time of year. I’ve picked out my top five gifts for budgets of all sizes and for kids big and small! I’ve also broken them down by the categories they sit in, which is another indication of just how much tech has spread across our daily lives. Best Wearable Fitness trackers and smart watches now account for a huge share of the consumer tech market, and it doesn’t show any sign of slowing with new entrants to the market and more and more features being added each year. It would be easy for me to opt for the ubiquitous Apple Watch Series 7 which is indeed impressive but instead I’m plumping for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. This Android device is packed full of

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biometric sensors and health tracking features including measures for body fat, track workouts and sleep. With a price tag of around £269 it’s well worth a look for those not already sworn to the flag of Apple. Best Gaming Console First, I should probably wish you luck! Despite the fact both the PS5 and Xbox Series X were launched in 2020, they remain incredibly short in supply. This is in part due to demand but mainly due to a global components constraint that has led to shortages across IT. My pick should you be fortunate enough to lay your hands on one is the Xbox. Backward compatible with all your existing games and with an expanding catalogue of fantastic titles, at around £450 it’s hard to beat. Best Webcam Probably one that falls into the category of practical rather than desirable, webcams sales have gone through the roof

since the pandemic forced most of us to work from home and spend endless hours on Zoom and Teams meetings. Many bought in haste however or used integrated webcams on laptops that don’t deliver on sound or image as required. The Logitech C920 excels in both with clever features such as face tracking to ensure you’re always in frame and automatic focusing and colour balance. It’s more than a stocking filler at around £60, but could prove a popular gift for those with a ‘new normal’ that still includes home working. Best Item Tracker Another area that has seen significant growth is item tracking. Apple’s AirTag makes a great accompaniment to your iPhone using ultrawideband technology and provides turn-by-turn directions to your stuff, aided by handy vibrations as you get closer. With a 4-pack available for around £90 I think it makes a great gift for those people in

your life who are constantly asking ‘have you seen my…’ Best Smart Display My final choice for this year’s must have tech items is a smart display. If you’ve never heard of ‘Alexa’ then this is probably the wrong article for you but for everyone else, you’ll realise how much of our daily lives these devices have become part of. Much as the smartphone cannibalised the PC and laptop market by giving us a computer in our pocket, smart devices have rolled Bluetooth speakers, DAB radios, alarms, digital photo frames (remember them?!) and much more into one sleek device. My choice is the Amazon Echo Show 8 at around £120 which is packed full of features and has an upgraded processor and 13mp camera. Its capabilities and uses are seemingly endless and once you’ve made the jump, you’ll wonder how you managed without one in your life before. That, or you’ll instantly regret it if you have kids of a certain age like me!

We’d like to wish you a...

Wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! Do you want to work with us in 2022? Then get in touch... 0114 2509 578 hello@hydracreative.com

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1-3-DS Hydra UnLtd Ad December.indd 1

19/11/2021 15:43

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PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRESS BY RYAN DANIELS OF HYDRA CREATIVE Our columnist on a successful, and lucky, 13th year for his business

WHAT A GREAT YEAR! From toilet roll shortages to our England team reaching the Euros final, 2021 has been a whirlwind for all of us here in the UK, but as the year ends it’s good to look back and think about those moments that have been great! – and here at Hydra Creative, we have had plenty of great moments! Each member of the Hydra team has worked especially hard this year, and we have had some incredibly successful campaigns and partnerships, including three of Sheffield's finest sports teams. We kicked off the year in January with an exciting client win, the world's first football club, Sheffield FC. The football team enlisted our SEO experts, to help them kickstart their Google search rankings, which has stemmed exceptional results. In July, we started our partnership with England's first women's basketball team, Sheffield Hatters. We

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have worked closely with the charity to update and revamp the Sheffield Hatters logo to better represent their 60th year as a team. Alongside the new logo, our design team have also created a new sponsorship brochure for the club. We are currently in the process of designing a brand-new Sheffield Hatters website, which will launch in the new year. Our most recent partnership has us teaming up with the Sheffield Steelers, who are celebrating their 30th year as a team this year. The partnership has seen our Hydra branding feature around the Sheffield Arena, on the team's kit, and online through the Steelers’ social media platforms! We have loved supporting all three teams in 2021 and cannot wait to see what they all achieve in 2022! An additional achievement is our award nominations with Sheffield Business Awards

2021. We have been nominated in not one but two categories this year. We would like to say congratulations to M&T Haylage and South Yorkshire TravelMaster who collaborated with us on these projects. Further to the company’s success, we have welcomed seven new members of staff, Hannah, and Jana our studio assistants, Alex and Jess our account managers, Tyler who is a Multimedia Designer, Izzy a graduate designer, and Wes an experienced web developer. It’s heartening that we are in a position to take on new local talent, they’re all highly creative and committed professionals with a huge passion for their specialisms. They are a fantastic addition to our team. Overall, 2021 has been a successful year here at Hydra Creative, and to celebrate this we have launched our brand-new website. The new site showcases our work from

both previous and ongoing clients – you can even look at the ‘about us’ section to see photos of the team and get to know us better. Head over to the new site, see the services that we offer and get in touch if you think we can help! As well as our new website, we are additionally celebrating our 13th birthday! 13 years of helping businesses achieve their goals, 13 years of growing a successful digital agency, and 13 years of working hard as a team. Thirteen, unlucky for some, not for Hydra Creative. Hydra Creative is an awardwinning digital agency specialising in bespoke website and software solutions. Get in touch with their team of experts to kick off your Digital Grants application. hello@hydracreative.com www.hydracreative.com

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SKILLS

SKILLS 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.

BOSSES CAN HELP TRAINEESHIP TEENS MAKE A FRESH START Businesses are urged to give pandemic-hit teens a chance to reset their futures through life-shaping work placements. Students not only lost time in the classroom and struggled to study at home – they missed out on the customary work experience placements which help prepare them for employment. Many are now finding even the lowest rung of the career ladder out of reach. The Source Skills Academy is a Sheffield charity which exists to get people into jobs and upskill the employed. It has moved swiftly to expand its Traineeship programme, which has been changing the lives of jobless 16-18s for over four years. There will now be four of the educational programmes a year, with places for 20 on each. Over 18 weeks, tutors

to us with zero knowledge of the workplace and it was very evident.” “We are looking for quality placements in customer service, warehousing and admin with companies across the SCR – Rotherham and Sheffield in particular.” Employers get support from SOURCE TRAINEE TURNED APPRENTICE ANEEKA The Source. A risk assessment ZARAR, LEFT WITH YAB LTD MANAGER LAURA ELSE is created, tutors have regular contact with managers and companies could just find a young person who has lost their perfect new apprentice. help students prepare for their way, they transform “Some trainees go on to work, building confidence, themselves.” college or find jobs, but many improving Maths and Trainees have 110 hours of aim for apprenticeships; English skills, helping them work experience with local bosses can get to know gain qualifications and a employers over 10 weeks. trainees on placement with professional attitude. “A good placement is vital. It them and evaluate how they “Our Traineeships are even makes a huge difference to their would fit into their business more crucial now. Teens who confidence and communication. long-term,” said Chloe. have not done well at school The next Traineeship course get the chance to make a new They develop a firmer idea of their career path and aim is in February. Contact Sophie. start,” said Chloe Granger, higher, having discovered their Short@thesourceacademy. traineeships delivery team worth,” said Chloe. org.uk 0114 263569 for a place, manager. “This year’s cohort came or to offer work experience. “When you show faith in

JOB SUCCESS FOR ROTHERHAM TRAINEE ANEEKA ZARAR Aneeka Zarar, 18, from Rotherham, impressed managers at Yorkshire Accommodation Bureau Ltd in Rotherham so much, they set her on as an admin apprentice when she qualified from her Traineeship with The Source a year ago.

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“We got to know Aneeka well during her Traineeship work placement with us and knew she had the skills to become part of our team. We were very pleased to set her on as our apprentice and help kickstart her working life,” said manager Laura Else.

How to contact us over festive break The Source will close for Christmas and New Year at 5.30pm on Tuesday, December 21, re-opening at 8am on Tuesday, January 4. During this period you can still apply for apprenticeship vacancies advertised on our website at thesourceacademy. co.uk/vacancies or email us

about any of our services using our Contact Us page thesourceacademy.co.uk/ contact All enquiries will be responded to on January 4. We wish our customers a Merry Christmas and look forward to supporting you in 2022 and beyond.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION 31st December 2021, 7pm - 1am Delicious buffet & disco | Tapton’s quiz of the year | Glass of prosecco at midnight

£25.00 for adults £15.00 for kids

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Saturday 22nd January 2022, 6.30pm - 1am £43.95 per person For more details or to book your place, call 0114 266 0051 or email enquiries@taptonhall.com

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This Christmas we are celebrating 21 years of The Jessop Wing helping to deliver the most precious gift of all.

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ADVERTORIAL Q&A COLUMN

FEMALE ROLE MODELS PROMOTING EQUALITY IN STEM

Our Mission: To attract and retain women in STEM careers in South and West Yorkshire

PAM MURRELL CHIEF EXECUTIVE,

CAST METALS FEDERATION What is your current role? Chief executive of the Cast Metals Federation, CMF – the Trade Association for the UK castings and foundry industry. What does that involve on a day-to-day basis? My role is to ensure we support our members, providing relevant information and data, arranging networking meetings, events and representing the industry. I spend a lot of time visiting companies, writing news items and reports, arranging surveys as well as convening and chairing meetings. The role is varied which makes it very interesting as there are always new challenges. How did you get started working in STEM? I first took up a project researcher role at an independent research and consultancy organisation before working on several technical consultancy projects. I then moved into work with Membership Organisations,

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initially as the technical officer at a professional body in the engineering sector, before becoming the chief executive. What qualifications did you take or gain along the way? At school I liked lots of subjects, but preferred short answers to writing essays! So I opted for science A levels and then did a BSc Degree in Metallurgy & Materials at University. After an exchange year in France, I took up a research assistant role at Cranfield University on an industrially sponsored project, which also led to me being able to complete a PhD (Doctorate). This was a test of tenacity in the end, but I don’t regret making the effort and I think being able to use the title Dr has given me a degree of additional credibility when meeting new people from industry. Why do you love working in STEM? Being involved in engineering and manufacturing is rewarding as it relates very

closely to the real world – making the things that we use in everyday life. Currently, there is a real focus on sustainability and the drive to net zero, so this is going to be very important work to be involved with. There is an international community in the castings sector which provides lots of opportunities to travel and attend international events. What challenges have you faced in your career? And how have you overcome them? I am fairly pragmatic and look for the positives, rather than get too distracted by challenges or obstacles. I was made redundant when my children were young, which was worrying, knowing that I only wanted to work parttime, which I did for 10 years, earning little more than the cost of my childcare initially, but taking the long view that I was keeping my hand-in and making connections, and then, in time, I could increase my hours.

What advice would you offer for someone joining the STEM sectors? I would just say to enjoy it, be professional and retain your sense of humour. What do we need to do as an industry to attract and keep more women in STEM? More visibility for those in the sector would be a positive. I look for opportunities to invite women onto our Councils, but this is not easy when there are so few to call upon. We should ensure any young women feel they can have support, if indeed they feel that they need it. For the full article please visit our blog at: equalityinstem.org.uk/blog

COVER STORY

REACHING

FOR THE

SKY Founder of South Yorkshire housebuilders Sky House David Cross talks to Matt Holmes about reinventing the traditional back-to-back house, and how to make it work in an environmentally conscious 21st century.

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COVER STORY If you are familiar with the Sheffield built-environment scene, then you will most definitely have heard of this month’s cover star. When I sat down for a chat with David Cross, who has a career spanning over 20 years in the city, my aim of the conversation was to dig deeper into his mission of creating high-density houses within urban areas via his company Sky House Co and to find out who they are, what they stand for and what they have achieved so far. “I grew up in a terrace house in Birdwell in Barnsley,” David tells me, “I loved living in that house. We had a piece of land we would play on called ‘The Triangle’ where we would climb trees, and we played squash against a house wall in the launderette car park. There were lanes behind the houses for the carts to drop off coal in the olden days, and they were all car-free zones. I have really fond memories of living in a terraced house.” You can hear from the way David speaks about his childhood growing up in Birdwell that he believes in the romanticism of living in a close-knit community. So, inspired by his own experiences and by the

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housing that used to be seen throughout the city he wanted to reinvent the back-to-back house and remove the stigma attached to them. At one stage the name “Backback” was being toyed with for the project, however, it didn’t evoke the same grandeur that “Sky House” does, which itself comes from the large floor to ceiling windows featured within the houses, bathing rooms in natural light. It hasn’t been an easy journey, however. The idea of Sky House was born during the 2008 recession with the vision of creating quality, gentle urban density.

I grew up in a terrace house in Birdwell in Barnsley – I loved living in that house.

It took five years to buy the land for Sky House’s first development in Waverley before any diggers were even in the ground, and then disaster struck. David jokingly recites, “One of my friends has always said overnight successes usually take ten years. “We make no excuses that our first project at Waverley was difficult because the builder went into administration halfway through the project. We had to pick up the pieces and finish the project causing delays. We learned a lot from that, which is when we decided to bring everything in-house.” Not long after the builders went into administration did COVID-19 hit, and we all know the impact that had on businesses across the globe. However, it gave David and the Sky House Co team a lot of thinking time. Who did they want to be and where did they want to go? I asked David if it gave him chance to consider his approach. He said: “I’m not the kind of person who believes in serendipity, things happen sometimes. We agreed as a board we wanted to be a housebuilder rather than a developer.

Made Different.

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COVER STORY “Bring everything in-house, control the process, the inputs, the outputs, and if it wasn’t for COVID we probably never would have done that.” Now they have their own in-house construction team, customer service and sales team and two architects within the business. From the inception when it was just David and his partners Philip Prince and Ian Bower, they are now a 25 strong team with their own offices that when you come in you find jigsaws for your kids and independent bio-wines from Starmore Boss and beers from local independent breweries for the adults. Of course, Sky House wouldn’t exist without David. So where did his journey as architect and housebuilder begin? “I always wanted to be an architect from being a little boy,” he said. “My dad used to have a haulage business and I would sit in his cab driving up and down the country pointing at houses, and somehow along that journey I became fascinated with them.” He became a residential architect working in various agencies in South and West Yorkshire when just two years after qualifying he knew he wanted to do it his way and set up his own practice in 2003. However, there was still frustration with clients, and he was never interested in the signature showy architecture of luxury housing. His passion has always been with the idea of macro housing and how it can solve real housing problems, creating ‘Grand Designs’ style architecture for the average working person. His vision has certainly become reality when he took the step to give Sky House Co his full attention. The figures make for impressive reading. With 44 homes completed at their first Waverley site, a further 44 on their second, seven at Fox Valley due to be finished early in the new year, planning going in for 106 houses at Waverley Central and there is a further 40 at Oughtibridge Mill.

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I always wanted to be an architect from being a little boy. The latter includes the exciting conversion of the old mill into a foodhall to be operated by the Milestone Group, the geniuses behind Kelham Island’s Cutlery Works. In the city centre, they are building Sky House Devonshire Quarter, which is what Sky House was always intended to do, bringing different types of housing into the city centre. David tells me how they allow residents to echo the words of the famous Mars slogan: “Work, rest, play”, all without being car dependent. This leads us onto the allimportant green credentials of Sky House. It’s easy to throw words around that give the impression of being an environmentally conscious business, but Sky House can back them up with solid evidence. All projects under construction and in the future are to be carbon neutral down to the materials that are used, the fuel and the labour which is all done to offset their carbon footprint. Ahead of 2025 regulation changes, they are working on zero gas solutions, air source heat pumps and heat recovery, solar panels, sustainable urban drainage, and electric vehicle charging. In line with their corporate social responsibility, David tells me how Sky House uses local materials where possible, not only supporting their eco goals but supporting local businesses too. The materials themselves are quality and robust and Sky House has achieved BOPAS accreditation, the self-governing industry

COVER STORY

THE SKY HOUSE DEVELOPMENT

body for modular builds. He says that when it comes to durability, houses should be able to age as well as a traditional Victorian terrace would. He says how they should pass the ‘scooter test’, recalling how his son would ‘bomb’ around the garden, and if it were to dent the cladding on the outside and it was discontinued or discoloured etc. then it doesn’t pass the test. The future of Sky House looks bright. With £69 million worth of sales on-site and a further £196 million of projects in the future, David says that as a Barnsley lad he would love to see Sky House take shape in his home town, as well as in Doncaster – completing South Yorkshire. Then they could take it even further afield from there. He tells me how one day he hopes for there to be a Sky House factory, manufacturing all the modular builds themselves. David said: “I think it would be lovely to see the brand become a national household name and I don’t see any reason why we can’t. I’m an

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COVER STORY

architect, not a construction expert in the sense that what we are now is a construction firm or a housebuilder. So, we’ve managed to bring in some really great people.” He is emphatic in how he speaks about the people that make up Sky House from staff to partners, and how without them the business simply wouldn’t be where it is right now. He mentions Duncan Armstrong-Payne from Harworth Group who sold the land for Waverley 1, 2 and the soon to be Waverley Central. Homes England provided funding and are a great example of a government initiative. For the Oughtibridge deal Barratt, David Wilson Homes and CEG. David mentions his former practice CODA as Sky House’s ‘favourite architects’, and their fantastic structural engineers Eastwood and Partners. He says that their chosen estate agents Redbrik have been great, and a shout out to Skratch Design and DED for all branding and web content. The hard work of all

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involved is paying off in terms of recognition too, with awards and nominations rolling in. Sky House Co received nominations for Waverley Phase 1 in the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards and in the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence. Oughtibridge Mill went the whole way and won Deal of the Year alongside partners David Wilson Homes, Barratt Homes and CEG at the Yorkshire Residential Property Awards as well as winning Residential Development of the Year (fewer than 50 homes) at the Insider Property Industry Awards Yorkshire. David tells me how everything they do within the business is with an awardwinning mentality: “We want to win awards for everything we do, it’s the mindset of being brilliant at what we do. I say it to the team all the time, is it awardwinning brickwork? Is it an award-winning roof? Is it awardwinning customer service?” Over the last 12 months, they have invested heavily in integrating technology to

I think it would be lovely to see the brand become a national household name and I don’t see any reason why we can’t.

help run the business, making the process tech-driven from day one. There is an online customer service portal where buyers can report defects and issues, syncing with their CRM system and they use construction management software where teams can upload health and safety issues, progress photos and upload contracts. When David began his career in 1999, it was a turning point in the residential revolution for the North as people returned to living in cities. He likes to think Sky House is a continuation of that revolution: “We think we are revolutionising the mass housebuilder market. We’ve carved a place in the volume housebuilding sector by being a niche housebuilder, and that’s kind of our mantra.” Sky House has gone from a start-up to a £35million per annum business, and from 2022 they look to grow to deliver 150-200 homes per year. Take a look for yourself at Sky House: sky-house.co

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PODCAST

SPEAK EASY

WITH THESE TIPS... And how can businesses in Sheffield do their bit to give back and help their local community? James Marriott finds out on this month’s unLTD podcast. Sheffield Business Together is a unique scheme – almost a matchmaking service – where charities and organisations in need are partnered with local businesses who can help them. It’s so simple, but so important. On this month’s podcast, we chat to two of the people

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behind the project – Louisa Harrison-Walker and Carolynn McConnell – to find out more, including some of the work they’ve already done and how businesses can get involved. The Power of Prep The majority of podcasts nowadays are interview shows, and so I wrote a blog article recently

about how to be a great podcast interviewer. Personally I think it’s easier than people expect. An interview is essentially just a conversation and we’re having those all day every day, aren’t we? But there are some really useful tips and tricks which will help you get the absolute best out of an interview – too many to copy here, but I’d like to share one with you that I think is super important. Prepare your questions in advance. Yes, you want an interview to be natural, and you might go off on tangents. But that means LISTENING to your guest, and you can’t do that if you’re busy worrying about what to ask next. So have a list of questions and then you can give your guest your full attention. You can pick up on something they say, or stick to the list if not. You might only ask the first question you’ve prepared, and that’s fine. I promise you will be a better interviewer by spending that bit of time preparing in advance.

Podcast Spotlight Content 360 is a new show all about getting the most out of the content you produce for your business or personal brand. It’s a podcast I know well because I’m one of the hosts! I bring my knowledge and experience of audio to the table alongside Talisa, who specialises in written content and social media, and Josh, who is a videographer.

Our first two episodes explored how to get the best out of LinkedIn, and examined the topic of short-form videos. We’ve got big plans for future topics and deep dives, along with some great guests further down the line. You can find it by searching for Content 360 in your podcast app or heading to content360.fm

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ADVERTORIAL

LOTS TO CELEBRATE IN 2021

FOR SHEFFIELD CHAMBER Sheffield Chamber of Commerce recently marked the end of its 163rd year at its AGM… And there was a lot to celebrate. Over the past 12 months the Chamber team have been working hard to lay the foundations for our vision – to see Sheffield as the best place in the UK to run a successful and sustainable business. What have we done over the last 12 months to lead the way in making this happen? First – our people. We have strengthened our Board with five new non-executive directors, including an international representative from Canada, who are all working hard and looking after our strategic direction. We have become a two-hub organisation with modern new offices in the city centre,

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whilst retaining support for our international members in Attercliffe. The Chamber team itself has changed too; this month we are set to welcome new members to our organisation, who are joining us to transform our training, events and digital programmes. And finally, we are also delighted to welcome our new 114th President, Karen Mosley whose focus over the next year can be defined by one word – skills. Second – working together. Over the last year, there has been some amazing collaborative work done with local partners. We have helped to attract over £1m of funding to support skills and employment across the region. We are working closely with Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Business Together and Sheffield Hallam University to

deliver a suite of projects for schools and colleges within the Community Renewal Fund. We are also working collaboratively with the other South Yorkshire Chambers on the Skills Trailblazer project that is funded by the Department for Education. In addition, we successfully delivered a Brexit Support Project for the Sheffield City Region and Sheffield Council. Third – supporting our local communities. We are very proud of the partnership with Sheffield Business Together, launched earlier this year. This partnership allows private sector companies and members to collaborate to tackle key social issues in Sheffield. Some successful initiatives include: providing careers advice and guidance in schools across Sheffield that need it the most, helping to tackle environmental issues like pollution around primary schools, as well as supporting initiatives such as Sheffield’s

first ever Afro Caribbean market and the opening of an early years’ nursery in Shirecliffe. With our foundations in place, the new year is set to be exciting. Our members are at the heart of everything we do. As we enter 2022, we are looking at the services and support we provide. And the question and conversations we want to have with our members, is what you need and want from your Chamber and your membership? What’s missing? How can we further support you? Have an idea or want a conversation? Let us know. Email us at membership@scci.org.uk.

ADVERTORIAL

STARTING-UP IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY During Global Entrepreneur Week in November, Business & IP Centre South Yorkshire was delighted to open their doors to host Start-up Day 2021.

This year, the annual UK-wide event, led by the British Library’s Business & IP Centre and supported by Santander, was inspired by COP26 and the brought sustainability in business to the fore. The day delivered a broad programme of activities and conversations designed to support and motivate those in, or looking to start a business, to take action to incorporate sustainability into their day to day and to make changes in the way that they operate. Introducing the day, Councillor Paul Turpin, Green Party, Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Jobs and Skills reminded us how successful Sheffield is at supporting start-up business, with “start-up businesses in Sheffield more likely to succeed than in any other core city” and highlighting that if we all make small changes together, we can make a huge difference.

The morning focussed on sustainability in business, with Hellen Stirling-Baker, local entrepreneur and owner of Small Stuff, an eco-friendly children’s lifestyle store, starting the first of three sessions. Hellen shared her journey of how she embedded sustainability into the ethos of her business from the beginning and the steps she’s taking to continue to move forward with sustainability at the heart of her business, by gaining a Planet Mark sustainability certification, amongst others. Roger Wareing, Independent Sustainability & Business Improvement Consultant and Sheffield Sustainability Network committee member, followed with a practical discussion on how businesses can work to embed sustainability and the benefits of doing so.

He highlighted that whilst this is a global problem, a business can look realistically at what they can do to change and break it down in to manageable chunks. Roger also introduced the Sheffield Sustainability Network, a platform in which local businesses and non-profit organisations can support each other in their goal of becoming more sustainable. The SSN proves the true essence of Sheffield people and businesses getting together and wanting to support each other. It’s not just start-up and small businesses that are responsible for making changes though, sustainability needs to be taken seriously at all levels, and Sheffield is leading the way. The city has recently been named at the UK’s most sustainable city and it cannot go unmentioned that some of the biggest

organisations in Sheffield have responsible business and sustainability as a core part of their agenda. Jake Wilson, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce & Industry, led an inspiring panel event with Andrew Cameron (Intelligent Facilities Solutions), Kayleigh Thompson (Professional Energy Purchasing), Chris Sorsby (Vitritech) and Rob Cole (Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens) offering some key takeaways and insights of what their businesses are doing to make a positive impact. By being disruptive, giving more than you take and putting the pressure on globally, you can be part of the solution. You need to seek to understand what it is you are creating, be that pollution, a heavy carbon footprint or similar, before you can look to start making positive changes.

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ADVERTORIAL

After a delightful locally sourced lunch from PJ Taste, Nick Partridge, head of library services, Sheffield City Council, introduced the afternoon by shining a light on the Business & IP Centre, and the work they are doing to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses. Many business owners may not have thought that they have intellectual property that they need to protect, and Suzy Cornwell, BIPC information specialist, highlighted why it’s important to consider an intellectual property strategy for your business. “Only 5 per cent of businesses have an IP strategy…creating a strategy will give you a process to identify your IP, protect yourself and increase revenue streams.” Highlighting why market research should ever be underestimated, Andy Bunn of Business Sheffield followed with a session on top tips of starting a business with market research, and how the BIPC can help you with your market research and business information needs. He said: “Having a greater understanding of your marketplace from the very start will enable you to create

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a sound business strategy to establish and grow your brand into one that’s better than the competition.” BIPC South Yorkshire provides free access to over £5m worth of online market reports, up to date research and business databases and Sarah Hogan, BIPC information specialist, rounded off an informative and engaging day, by hosting an interactive session on how to use the free resources in the BIPC for market reach, demonstrating our most popular databases including Mintel, IBISWorld, Fame and Grantfinder. She said: “Our library has always had business information resources. The difference today is that we now have a wealth of digital resources that you can access here at the Business & IP Centre, for free.” Over 40 businesses and individuals attended the event at Sheffield Central Library and the BIPC are looking forward to welcoming and supporting many more! To

find out about their upcoming events, workshops and oneto-one’s visit Eventbrite, or to drop into Sheffield Central Library to visit the Centre and find out more!

Social Media: Twitter: @BIPCSouthYorks Instagram: @BIPCSouthYorks LinkedIn: bipcsouthyorkshire

Events: bit.ly/BIPCSheffEvents Email: bipcsheffield@ sheffield.gov.uk

SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS

SHEFFIELD

BUSINESS

AWARDS After two long years the Sheffield Business Awards are back! And this month we will find out who have won the prizes at the most prestigious ceremony in the city.

We’re proud to say The Sheffield Business Awards are organised by unLTD Business in partnership with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by CMS. They will take place on December 9 at Peddlar Market’s well-known venue 92 Burton Road in Kelham Island.

Taking the mic is Paul Sinha from TV quiz show ‘The Chase’ who will guide us through 14 awards, which sees some new categories in among the traditional ones. It should be a fantastic night, not least for those shortlisted and the companies who will deservedly walk away with a trophy.

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SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE This award recognises an organisation that excels in offering the most comprehensive work environment, either through the implementation of a learning and development culture, staff incentive schemes, recognition/remuneration and retention packages or health and wellbeing initiatives. B Braun Medical UK Evoluted HLM Architects Ltd

ANDREW HARTLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMERCIAL AND OPERATIONS AT THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE

NOCN Group “We are delighted to sponsor this category given our strong impact on the local economy as a leading education and training provider. At The Sheffield College, we teach and train 14,000 young people and adults a year equipping them with the qualifications and skills they need to go further in their careers and transforming lives through learning. We work with around 2,700 employers in Sheffield and beyond. Our training enables employers to address skills gaps, accelerate business performance and boost competitiveness and growth.”

Ash Young, Evoluted managing director

ASH YOUNG, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF EVOLUTED

Andrew Hartley, The Sheffield College

SME OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY SHORTS

This award recognises a Small or Medium Business employing up to 100 full-time members of staff and not exceeding a £25 million annual turnover that has achieved consistent growth backed by a strong financial performance.

Open to organisations employing over 100 full-time members of staff and/or an annual turnover of +£25 million, this award will go to a business that has achieved consistent growth backed by a strong financial performance.

Castings Technology International Ltd

CC33 FS Limited

DeeperThanBlue

MattressOnline.co.uk Ltd

Gradconsult

Shakespeare Martineau

YesTax

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“We were keen to sponsor the Social Impact Award because we’re passionate about supporting our local community, so helping to recognise the hard work of an incredible business that is doing just that was very important to us. The competition was tough this year, with all of the entries blowing us away. Every business that made the shortlist truly represents the best of Sheffield, so we are very excited for the winner to be announced on the night. Seeing the amazing impact that some of the businesses have made was also wonderful, and makes us proud to be part of such a great city! Every applicant deserves recognition for everything they’ve achieved this year, but we believe the winning business will be the one that shows uniqueness, creativity, and innovation in the way they strive to make a positive impact on Sheffield.”

SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD – BEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT / CHARITY / SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SPONSORED BY EVOLUTED This award recognises a notfor-profit organisation, charity or social enterprise that has significantly contributed towards social impact in Sheffield. Age UK Sheffield Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care Sheffield Futures Sheffield United Community Foundation

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY BUSINESS SHEFFIELD This award recognises a business that has been created since January 1, 2020 during the pandemic and has become successful in its own right, or has achieved a significant breakthrough in its sector during a very difficult time to start a business. Entrants, from across our area, had to demonstrate in their application success in any of the following areas, such as sales, market share, international trade, and job creation. Carmats.co.uk Dynamic Engrave & Print Ltd Parkwood Springs Simoda Ltd

Business Awards

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Thank you to all our sponsors With your support Sheffield business is the winner

Business Sheffield

sheffieldbusinessawards.org.uk unLTDbusiness.com

SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS “Reading the success stories about these start-up businesses is nothing short of inspirational! We work with start-up businesses on a daily basis, many of whom aren’t sure whether they should give it a go. It’s incredible to be able to point them in the direction of these real life examples of perseverance and gumption shown from Sheffield businesses, and the incredible success they have had. It was an honour to be a part of the judging panel for this award – all worthy winners in my eyes.” Sophie Heaton, BIPC South Yorkshire

THE ABOVE AND BEYONDER – BEST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMPANY SPONSORED BY HALLAM FM Entrants must outline how they have shown excellence in their specific sector and show how they have planned for future growth. This is an award all about delighting customers.

SOPHIE HEATON OF BIPC SOUTH YORKSHIRE

ActionCOACH Sheffield Highlander Computing Solutions Resolve IT Solutions Ltd Shakespeare Martineau

THE AUTOMATOR – BEST TECHNOLOGY COMPANY SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD This award recognises a public or private sector entrant for the most outstanding digital technology company. Airship Apex Mobiletech (UK) Ltd Sport:80 Tutorful

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“Working with partners, the University of Sheffield has created the Made Together programme, a landmark collaboration with four ambitions: to make the region healthier, more vibrant, more sustainable and more innovative. Digital technology plays a vital role across multiple strands of this activity; that’s why the University is proud to sponsor ‘The Automator – Best Technology Company’ at this year’s Sheffield Business Awards. We’re a region of pioneers and together we can nurture the conditions for more breakthroughs and support innovation-led industries to flourish across the region.

JIM LITSTER Digital transformation opens up incredible opportunities. Here at the University of Sheffield collaborations with industry partners, such as Siemens, are

driving cutting edge digital innovations and providing links to the local supply chain and skills base. Facilities such as the Faculty of Engineering’s recently announced Materials Made Smarter Centre provide a pipeline of future digital technologies in order to boost UK manufacturing productivity. The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is leading the way in digital manufacturing, working alongside companies to develop new products and services.” Jim Litster, Interim Vice-President and Head of Engineering at the University of Sheffield

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25% DISCOUNT OFF ANY SERVICE CC33 is delighted to announce an exclusive offer which is open to Sheffield Chamber of Commerce members and any business with an S postcode. The firm is offering a huge 25% discount off any service.

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SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS THE BRAND BUILDER – MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSORED BY CITY TAXIS This award recognises an organisation which has delivered a marketing campaign that has made a true impact and breakthrough. Businesses and organisations must showcase how their creative work has led directly to improved business performance and recognition for their product or client. Airship Carmats.co.uk Hydra Creative Ltd Vivid Creative “Having undergone a comprehensive rebrand two years ago, the “Brand Builder” Award was close to the heart of many at Team City Taxis who were involved in the process. We understand the hard work and dedication it takes for a business to build their brand, particular over the past 18 months where many businesses suffered at the hands of COVID-19. It’s amazing to see so many fantastic local businesses apply for this award, from various backgrounds and industries, different campaign delivery methods and budgets, with a vast range of innovative ideas that have had a real impact on both

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ARNIE SINGH, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CITY TAXIS

their business and the local community. We’re very excited to be supporting the Sheffield Business Awards again this year and to see how this year’s event has evolved with a fresh new format. We wish all the shortlisted business the best of luck and cannot wait to see who successfully scoops up The Brand Builder – Marketing Campaign of the Year Award.”

Arnie Singh, Managing Director of City Taxis

THE GLOBAL PLAYER – BEST EXPORTER SPONSORED BY GRIPPLE This award recognises the strength and expertise of the region’s importers and exporters. Entrants for this award must stand out from the crowd on the international stage and

demonstrate that they have generated significant and/ or sustained growth in their international activity and/or presence. Corrosion Resistant Materials Ltd Iceotope Technologies Ltd Loadhog Ltd NOCN Group

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SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS THE PLANET SAVER SPONSORED BY STONEACRE This award recognises a company or product which is leading the way in creating a sustainable environment for all and really putting Sheffield on the map. The product or company will not only address a need but also seize an opportunity to create a new market or industry. BIDBI Intelligent Facility Solutions Ltd Regather Sustainable Kitchens

THE INNOVATOR SPONSORED BY BARNSLEY COLLEGE This award identifies and rewards the company which has launched the most innovative new product/ service or who may have built or embraced new technology to drive their company forward over the last 12 months. Judges considered all aspects of an innovative new product/ service, its USP, the potential for growth/competition and profitability. Champion Health City Grab Ltd Environmental Monitoring Solutions Ltd Zen Green Stage Ltd

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DAVE AKEROYD, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTIVITY AT BARNSLEY COLLEGE

“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Barnsley College. We transform lives, and transforming lives is the bedrock of the best innovation, which is why we are proudly sponsoring the Innovator award. Over the past two years, invention has been at the forefront of so many new and existing businesses as we all grappled with dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous challenges we were collectively faced with every day.

Many of the entries for the Innovator award were born out of the pandemic and the impact it had on all of our lives. Whether it’s a new lifeline for businesses to reach customers; clever ways of remote working; or ways of keeping us safer and healthier, all the entries highlight determination to overcome problems, and keep going in the face of the biggest challenges.” Dave Akeroyd, Deputy Principal Development & Productivity at Barnsley College

THE JOYMAKER – BEST HOSPITALITY, RETAIL AND LEISURE BUSINESS SPONSORED BY BUSINESS SHEFFIELD This award recognises an independent business that has contributed to hospitality, retail or leisure during the most difficult time for these sectors. Jessica Flinn Designs Ltd National Videogame Museum Tramlines Events Ltd Two Thirds Beer Co

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SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS THE SHEFFIELD MAKER – MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY WAKE SMITH SOLICITORS This award recognises a company that demonstrates an efficient and innovative approach to manufacturing. Exhibiting growth, improved commercial performance, increased market share and operational effectiveness. Baldwin & Francis Goral & Son Ltd Robert Sorby Ltd Up North Cabinet Makers Ltd. “Sheffield has a long established manufacturing heritage and is still widely regarded as the gold standard in the sector, from new start-ups and SMEs to large, world-class companies leading the way in advanced manufacturing. The Sheffield Maker Manufacturing Company of the Year Award exists to encourage, benchmark and celebrate manufacturing excellence, whatever a company’s maturity, with all sizes and sectors being recognised. Working with manufacturers across the region, Wake Smith Solicitors is proud to sponsor this award

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JOHN BADDELEY, CHAIRMAN OF WAKE SMITH SOLICITORS

for the 14th year and support and champion the sector over the past 12 months. The award acknowledges the incredible agility, adaptability and resilience that has been shown, while highlighting there is no shortage of manufacturing

quality and achievements. The winner of this award will, of course, show excellence in manufacturing. They will demonstrate they are meeting, and exceeding their clients’ briefs and expectations, and those of end-users, through efficient

and innovative approaches to manufacturing, growth, improved commercial performance, increased market share and operational effectiveness.” John Baddeley, chairman, Wake Smith Solicitors

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SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS THE VISIONARY – CREATIVE IMPACT AWARD SPONSORED BY MATTRESS ONLINE This award recognises a business specialising in creative services such as design, marketing, publishing, film, architecture and the arts, that can showcase how their creative work has led directly to improved business performance. Entries were welcome from all firms, whether in-house or agency. Fab Events & Marketing Strategies Hydra Creative Ltd LensGo Visual Media Open House Pictures “As CEO of a business that constantly strives to be creative in working practices, I wanted to

STEVE ADAMS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MATTRESS ONLINE

sponsor the award to see the wider contribution that’s happening in and around the region. As an entrepreneur I was keen to judge this field and to give credit to the many creative firms that are working hard and

may have faced challenges over the last 18 months. During the judging process I was impressed by the submissions. In a winner I’d expect to see vision, adaptability and impact – the numbers and profits

are important – as is sheer determination and hard work with a creative flair that stands apart.” Steve Adams, Mattress Online, chief executive

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AWARDS VISIT SHEFFIELDBUSINESSAWARDS.ORG.UK

Business Awards

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

2021

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FEATURE

SIX OF THE BEST Three years. Forty-four magazines. A lot of shorthand – and more recently – Zoom recordings. In her final article, our outgoing feature writer Jill Theobald looks back at just a few of her favourite interviews during her time on unLTD – as well as her highlights for 2021.

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FEATURE I have interviewed many of the region’s leading businessmen and women over the last three years so writing one final feature picking my favourite articles has been a tough task. And the main reason for that is the whole ethos behind unLTD. When former HRM MD Martin Ross, CEO Richard Fidler, and lead designer and head of creative Simon Waller got chatting to Exposed head honcho and Meze Publishing MD Phil Turner about the concept of a new business magazine for South Yorkshire the premise was always about positivity. unLTD has proudly showcased our area and its strengths, skills and the superstar staff behind the

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companies and organisations driving the area forward. It has been a joy to work on the magazine the last three years – especially with the addition of design and branding guru Simon Garlick and head of sales superstar Dan Laver joining the unbelievably talented unLTD team, to boot. And it has been a pleasure and a privilege to interview the leading figures behind a whole host of sectors from insurance with Actus founders Sam Leeder and Paul Taylor to finance with Raj and Fiona Shah, the husband-and-wife team behind Blue Wealth. I even got to walk around the multimillion-pound Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park in Rotherham while it was being constructed to interview cover star Julie Dalton, MD of the family-run firm. Every story was

about the person behind the business, their motivations, and goals, and I’d like to thank each one.

They will be massive jobs, but I am prepared to invest the time for the longer-term rewards. “All of this takes me back sadly to what happened, but I invariably look back now and view it as the best and worst day of my life, and I see an incredible journey. If I hadn’t had that experience, I wouldn’t be sat here today with my own business.”

JILL THOMAS, FUTURE LIFE WEALTH MANAGEMENT FOUNDER I was immensely privileged to be the one to share Jill Thomas’ emotional and engaging back story, revealing how she tackled personal challenges and escaped Thailand during the tsunami in 2004. Back in October 2020 via Zoom and in her own personal and powerful words, Jill shared how she used those traumatic experiences to empower herself and become a successful business owner (following a recession) – and why she was encouraging wannabe entrepreneurs to follow her lead, and their dreams, despite the challenges of COVID-19. Jill said: “We work with a variety of different people and organisations but am proud to say we will tackle the hard stuff. If you play in a little pond with everyone else not much changes. Go into the deeper waters where it’s a bit choppy, it can be more difficult to secure business and also clients are likely to be more demanding, but that’s where the richer pickings are. “I learned to go out into the deeper water very early on – interesting I am using that terminology with what I’ve been through. But just today three new enquiries have come in.

JAMIE HINTON, RAZOR CEO AND CO-FOUNDER Aged 16, Jamie Hinton built his first car in the summer holidays. Today, his tech company is working with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) whose members include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and McLaren Automotive. Just last month Razor won Small Tech Company of the Year in the Prolific North Awards. In July last year I caught up with Jamie to talk about how passion and practice grew Razor from a back-bedroom firm to winning a place on the AMRC’s million-pound digital framework – and the region’s ‘humble brilliance’ pre- and post-pandemic. Jamie told me: “One of the key things I have to emphasise – we do AI, automation and machine learning but we’re always about amplifying what people can do, not replacing them. “It’s about taking away mundane things that are not the best thing for a human being to be doing for their mental health. “They should be doing things that are forward-moving, so we’re supercharging what businesses can do. It’s almost like a bionic suit – we want to make you superhuman!”

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FEATURE in the US, Adam told me: “As someone who is always looking at urban areas and how we can improve these, the differences are obviously huge, and it’s in the attitude. America is very much a ‘go get it’ kind of a place. The UK is increasingly, but Sheffield has always tended to be a bit embarrassed – we’re happy with what we’ve got. “The associated phrase is ‘Be reyt’ – but for me, while that’s cute and comforting, it’s not good enough for the city. Being reyt is being average, not striving for the best and at Urbana we want to turn ‘be reyt’ into ‘be great’!”

LOUISA HARRISON-WALKER, BENCHMARK MD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHEFFIELD CHAMBER Louisa’s story was a must-read for all SME owners as the lessons she learned after losing a dear friend forced her to ‘reset’ and ‘reboot’ to re-focus her time and energies – which had far-reaching benefits for her business, too. Over a coffee in October 2019, she told me how self-care and re-evaluation of work/life priorities during a period of poor mental health helped her ‘reset’– and boosted her business. Louisa said: “I’m a high energy person and was always doing everything at full pelt and trying to be all things to all people. I thought that was sustainable – it isn’t. “I went to a retreat in York for five days – it was basically a way to re-set and reboot…Life is so busy and noisy, and we all wear so many so many hats – the retreat was a time to take all of the hats off and just be me. “The biggest thing for me was giving myself permission to look after myself. I had always prioritised my kids, the business, and my team first. I needed time to switch off – to update my anti-virus software!”

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2021: MY TOP THREE

ADAM MURRAY, URBANA TOWN PLANNING FOUNDER With rising staff and client numbers, an office in London and operating nationwide, Adam told me all about the firm’s plans for the city’s future development – and why Sheffield must not settle for ‘reyt’ and instead strive for ‘great’. Back in April I loved my Zoom chat with Adam and his enthusiasm and plans for his home city were inspiring. Plus, he inadvertently came up with the headline (‘Be Reyt? No, be great!’) for me! Talking about living and working

ANDY SLATER, REYT GOOD ILLUSTRATION FOUNDER Artist Andy Slater was my first cover story interview ‘IRL’ this year and as a big fan of the Sheffield art scene, it was doubly exciting to visit him in his studio. Andy talked about combining the creative and commercial sides of running a business and why art is proving to be a real draw when it comes to the city’s cultural offering. “Growing up … music was more of my inspiration back then and it was more of the creative outlet in Sheffield, too, compared with art. “That’s changing now – if you asked most people in Sheffield ‘who are your favourite local artists?’ most would

be able to name two or three. That wasn’t the case ten to 15 years ago – but if you’d said name five Sheffield bands they probably could have. “I think art has almost caught up with music now in terms of the city’s cultural offering, if not over-taking it.”

HARRY BLISS, CHAMPION HEALTH CEO AND CO-FOUNDER My last interview for unLTD and last month’s cover star, Harry told me how he has built up his workplace wellbeing platform to build up awareness of physical and mental health issues – and society’s resilience. We chatted about how in the last few years employers’ attitudes to health in the workplace had undergone a ‘huge change’ – and how the tragic suicide of his friend and mentor while suffering from extreme stress magnified his mission for engaging and inclusive workplace wellbeing. “It turned from something I wanted to work on, to something I needed to work on – there was a different fire in my belly from that point onwards. “And that’s what we have always kept in mind – that impact of why we do what we do, and our focus is how we can support people, like James, whilst they’re well to continue to thrive personally and professionally.”

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ADVERTORIAL

SAVE THE FORESTS:

PRINT MORE Unless you’ve been hiding out in another galaxy, it must be obvious to all of us by now that we are living through the biggest challenge facing humanity, namely climate change and the impact we humans are having on global warming.

What the recent COP26 conference in Glasgow highlighted is how difficult it is for world leaders to agree and act on this matter. So it’s vital that as individuals and the business community, we come together to both limit and ultimately reduce our collective carbon emissions. Northend, a full-service print business serving a national customer base that’s been operating in the city since 1889, is part of a dynamic printing sector that has been championing this need to work together to reduce the impact on the environment. When it comes to sustainability of print and paper it’s important to separate the facts from the myths. The European paper industry is a world leader when it comes

to sustainably sourced raw materials, renewable energy and recycling rates. In 2020, a total of 56 million tonnes of paper was collected and recycled – a recycling rate of 74 per cent, which is approaching the estimated practical maximum of 78 per cent. Paper cannot be recycled indefinitely as the fibres get too short and worn out to be useful in creating a new sheet of paper. The cycle must be constantly refilled with new, strong virgin fibres from sustainably managed forests. And that’s a key point – forests, when managed sustainably, play an indispensable role in climate and biodiversity protection. Between 2005 and 2020, European forests grew by more than 36,000 square

miles – that’s an area bigger than Scotland*. Several schemes exist to ensure forests are sustainably managed, with the most recognised one for us in the UK being the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The objectives of FSC (and other schemes) are to ensure that forests are certified to credible, independent verified standards of responsible forest management. This includes having a robust chain of custody in place to track wood and wood fibre production through every step of the supply chain, from forest to end-user including us at Northend. As we are a part of the FCS chain of custody, printed matter originating from the factory can carry the FSC logo if our customers wish to add it to their brand credentials.

‘Go Paperless’, ‘Go Green’ and ‘Save Trees’ are common messages as many organisations encourage their customers to switch to electronic transactions and communications. However, we believe print cannot be beaten for attractiveness, impact and sustainability, from newspapers to magazines, photocopies to leaflets and letters to boxes. To find out more about how to use print effectively and sustainably as part of your marketing mix, give us a call on 0114 250 0331 and share in the FSC chain of custody so that your customers know your brand is using paper from sustainably managed forests.

*(FAO data, 2005-2020).

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ADVERTORIAL

REBRAND STORES UP

A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE A refresh or a new brand isn’t something firms consider lightly. However, working with an agency experienced in taking you through every stage makes the whole process much easier. Here we look at how fenti helped a fellow Sheffield firm.

How do you know when it’s time to refresh your brand? A common reason is inconsistency. When you realise several customer touchpoints – physical and digital brand contact points – were overlooked during the last brand update. Ben Ellis, operations manager of Prodek Design and Storage Systems Ltd., discovered inconsistent legacy branding across multiple Prodek touchpoints. “In late 2019, we were working on a strategy to build on successes in new sectors we had targeted,” says Ben. “Frustratingly, we had three different logo designs across our branding. I knew marketing needed to be a key part of the plan going forward.” The racking and storage experts, established in 1993, are known for their Made in Sheffield mezzanine floors and cantilever vehicle racks. Prodek storage solutions transform how businesses use one of their most valuable assets, space. “I just so happened to get in contact with Ben, being a fellow Sheffield Chamber member, to see if he needed help with marketing. It seemed I called at precisely the right time!” said Mark Shipley, managing director of fenti Digital Marketing. This chance call was the start of a fruitful relationship between the two companies.

At the time, Prodek were on the cusp of a sustained period of growth. Recognising the need to capitalise on their foothold in evolving sectors, Prodek embarked on a bold new marketing strategy. A complete rebrand. To reflect the ambitions and capabilities of Prodek, fenti designed a brand-new logo. To achieve the paragon of logo design, longevity, and recognisability, fenti designed the new logo to transition the brand and propel it towards its future as industry leader. Moving from a text-only logo, fenti introduced a design with a distinct colour palette, and graphics to subtly reflect the nature of Prodek’s services. “Once we developed the colour palette, typeface, and

logo for Prodek, we updated branding at every touchpoint. This is one of the best parts of my job, creating and nurturing a brand, seeing it evolve with the clients’ ambitions,” said Elaine Shipley, creative director at fenti Digital Marketing. The next step in Prodek’s marketing strategy was a new website. Websites can get to a point where, without regular maintenance, they can be difficult to update and restrict the depth and breadth of content that an engaging user experience requires. “The pandemic came along with a slew of challenges but thankfully, we easily adapted and were able to continue supporting our clients through some of the toughest trading

conditions they have ever encountered,” said Mark from fenti. Work continued to nurture Prodek’s new brand throughout lockdown as more traditional sales and marketing tactics took a backseat to digital marketing. The redeveloped website was launched in 2021 with new text, images, video, and a new, more user-friendly structure. The site was rebuilt using WordPress, the world’s most popular content management system. WordPress is favoured by fenti web developers for its ease of use for clients. “We don’t want to ‘lock’ clients in with custom, inhouse website software. When we build a site, the client can update it themselves, take it to another agency, or ask us to manage it for them. It’s fair and it’s one of the reasons why clients stay with us for the long term,” said Mark. Even with the new brand and website complete, work continues to establish Prodek as the industry leader. Prodek have a consistent and recognisable brand name which is performing beyond expectation. While the team may feel they are busy enough, fenti are busy expanding Prodek’s reach to new industries. Mark said: “We have a strong focus on SEO at fenti. The user experience and technical elements are tightly intertwined within Google

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ADVERTORIAL

algorithms, which the team collaborate on to continually develop. It’s very satisfying to see the website your team created move up the rankings and deliver those all-important leads.” The future is full of possibilities for Prodek. Growth industries like e-commerce flourish and need Prodek’s expertise to make the most of existing business premises or fully kit out a new venture. The beauty of having an out-sourced marketing department, is that you have a team brimming with skills at your fingertips. An opportunity is never missed, and you can rest assured that your brand will always look its very best. “fenti have transformed the look of Prodek into something that reflects who we are and how we want the business to develop. I was concerned a complete rebrand might be a lot of hassle – I’m very busy running the company – but it was easy. I’m pleased to say it’s all been really successful. fenti function as our marketing team, which gives me time to focus on business operations,” said Ben Ellis.

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SOUTH YORKSHIRE

MAKING NET ZERO A REALITY BY 2040 IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE With COP26 still fresh in our minds, the global climate summit demonstrated how important it is that we all work together to reduce carbon emissions, says Richard Sulley, net zero project director at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Although the summit focused on achieving net zero on a global level, here in South Yorkshire we have a part to play too. Sheffield was recently recognised as the UK’s most sustainable city and we must build on this to ensure that we can meet net zero. This is where we achieve a net balance by reducing the greenhouse gases we emit and increasing the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere through improved land management and technological solutions. The Mayor, Mayoral Combined Authority and LEP have a shared purpose to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire and our Energy Strategy outlines how our region could achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years before the goal set by Government. The Strategy will need collaboration between businesses, universities and the South Yorkshire community. It shows how we will need to ensure no new homes use fossil fuels by 2025, and that we need to have a zero-emission public transport fleet by 2035 amongst numerous other schemes which will need to be implemented. Challenges There are several challenges that include looking at ways that we can help the estimated 52,000 of South Yorkshire’s businesses which

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the decarbonisation of the electricity grid, with big strides made in the transition from coal-fired power stations and increased availability of grid scale renewables.

RICHARD SULLEY

are not actively improving their energy efficiency. All local businesses will need to drive forward with plans to achieve net-zero within their own organisations if we are to meet our collective aims. Another area to be addressed is the level of carbon emissions from vehicles and public transport, which as well as having a climate impact are also a significant contributor to localised air pollution. You may have seen our Active Travel Commissioner Dame Sarah Storey

Low carbon opportunities The low carbon economy, which is projected to grow four times faster than the wider UK economy, represents significant growth potential for our region. It will open up many jobs too – our aim is to create 3,500 roles and training opportunities in the low carbon/renewable energy sector. South Yorkshire has businesses and institutions who are globally recognised for their technical expertise and innovation. We maximise our strengths when we bring those elements together, such as in the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Advanced Manufacturing Park. championing sustainable We have existing modes of travel and her aim is businesses and research that South Yorkshire will have institutes involved in many more than 1,000km of cycling aspects of the low-carbon and walking routes in the transition from green region over the next 20 years. hydrogen production, through Our aim in the next few years to offshore wind, batteries and is to cut car journeys by at least Nuclear power. This positions a quarter in South Yorkshire. us in an area where we can not Only 20 per cent of only fulfil our decarbonisation electricity consumed in South needs with the region but Yorkshire is generated here, also sell those skills and but that does not remove technologies throughout the our obligation to use this as UK and globally. sparingly as possible. Most of the carbon reduction For more information visit we have seen as a region southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/ and nation has come from explore/green-campaign

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INTELLIGENT STORAGE

HELPS CONTINUED GROWTH IN E-COMMERCE SECTOR 2021 has been a busy year for Prodek design and storage systems. Operations manager Ben Ellis tells unLTD how the rise of e-commerce has forced distributors to rethink how they extract maximum revenue per square metre. “It’s been one of the busiest 12 months Prodek has seen in its 28-year history. Demand for our storage design and installation services has been unprecedented. Of course, the whole team is relieved and delighted to have made it through the last year with a consistently healthy order book,” said Ben. Growth in the UK e-commerce sector shows

no signs of slowing. The expanding sector is driving demand for new warehouse fit-outs and redesigning storage in existing premises. The aim is to eke out maximum profit from every inch of warehouse capacity. “Warehousing is expensive and the demands that multichannel selling place on distribution has been the catalyst for a complete rethink

of warehouse operations,” explained Ben. Prodek design and install a comprehensive range of commercial and industrial storage solutions. From warehouse racking and mezzanine floors to office partitions and refurbishments, Prodek offer a one-stop-shop to any business redefining how they use their premises. “The demand for our

services is not just because we offer superb products and a team of highly skilled engineers. Our clients also prefer the speed and ease of dealing with a single contractor. It can cut a project completion time in half.” Prodek designers and engineers have completed a series of impressive, largescale installations during 2021. One service in high demand

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ADVERTORIAL is their Made in Sheffield mezzanine floors. “The beauty of a mezzanine installation is that we create one or two additional floors within a warehouse or manufacturing plant, complete with racking and office space, whatever the client wants the extra space for.” Prodek mezzanines are popping up in warehouses across Sheffield City Region, and beyond, in addition to some well-known Sheffield gyms and chocolatiers. Built as a freestanding structure, mezzanines are installed as a single or multi-tier structure, able to support a phenomenal mass of machinery and stock. “Our engineers are regulars at Gripple and Loadhog. Both companies are known for their forward-thinking approach, and they certainly understand the value of well-designed, fully utilised space.” Pallet racking is never out of demand for Prodek, and 2021 has seen a sharp rise in demand for adjustable and drive-in pallet racking. Loadhog have experienced phenomenal growth over the past three years, requiring expertly designed, perfectfit storage to support their international distribution operation.

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“When our engineers make a site visit, the aim is to gain a deep understanding of how a business operates now, and its future infrastructure needs. We get the full backstage tour from some of the region’s most successful businesses – storage can be a lot more exciting than you might think!” Another growing sector Prodek have been busy transforming, is the vehicle reclamation and green parts industry. Widely considered to be a more sustainable supply chain in the car repair industry, vehicle recyclers need specialist, heavy-duty storage to meet the demands of their growing sector. “CarRax is our flagship Made in Sheffield product

and designed specifically for vehicle recyclers. It’s another product which takes stock off the ground and makes full use of vertical storage space, which is frequently underutilised.” A CarRax installation is an impressive sight. They can be spotted in and around South Yorkshire; towering cantilever structures supporting five cars on each side. Many of Prodek’s latest CarRax projects have been installed within a warehouse, rather than the traditional outdoor storage yard. “Vehicle recyclers, known as breakers, run demanding e-commerce operations. We have constructed indoor storage facilities to house

over 1,000 premium vehicles, completely filling a warehouse to the rafters.” The challenge for a vehicle recycler is to maintain the quality of their vast quantities of stocks, while facilitating fast and efficient stock handling. A car door panel ordered by a bodyshop for a repair job, for instance, will need to be delivered on a next day service and be received in as close to pristine condition as possible. Any unexpected damage to the panel results in several hours of additional work for the bodyshop, additional cost, and a delay for the car owner. It seems that for Prodek, demands for intelligent storage solutions are universal. When a sector experiences growth, storage demands grow. When a sector sees a downturn, the need to maximise existing premises and revenue per square metre, grows too. Ben concluded: “We have had a phenomenal year. Whether we are supporting the expansion of a growth sector or improving the storage capabilities of a steady sector, like timber merchants, the demand for our services shows no signs of slowing. We are very fortunate to be in this position.”

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ADVERTORIAL

COLLEGE STUDENTS LAUNCH THEIR OWN LANDSCAPING BUSINESS Barnsley College Horticulture students, Jonathan Carter and Finlay Green, have turned their gardening hobby into a career with the support of iTrust, the College’s business start-up programme designed exclusively for students. Jonathan and Finlay have always had a keen interest in the gardening and landscaping industry and decided to study Level 2 Horticulture at College to further their knowledge and skills within the sector. Whilst doing the course, they decided to take their love for gardening even further and launch their own business, All Seasons. After four months, their blooming business has 13 customers and they have recently signed an agreement with a private nursery and two estate agents that they will visit monthly for general garden maintenance and perform duties including grass cutting; flower, shrub and small tree planting; turfing; and lawn care. Jonathan and Finlay have worked with the College’s Enterprise department to create a full business plan and learn more about approaching people on social media. Barnsley College’s Enterprise department is home to the iTrust initiative, a joint venture between the College, Barnsley Chronicle and The Business Village, which supports students interested in starting up a

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JONATHAN CARTER, LEFT, WITH FINLAY GREEN

business in Barnsley. Students who choose to receive support from iTrust will have access to an array of information and guidance such as mentoring from industry specialists and local businesses and financial investments. As part of the programme, Jonathan and Finlay are due to receive a grant of up to £250 each. This will allow them to purchase full personal protective equipment, business insurance and new gardening equipment so

they can grow their business and offer a wider range of landscaping works. Jonathan said: “I have always had a huge interest in the gardening and landscaping industry and I really enjoyed gaining more knowledge and experience through my College lessons. As soon as I decided I wanted to turn this interest into a career, I visited the Enterprise department and I can’t recommend them enough; they provide so much

support to those wanting to launch their own business. I’m looking forward to receiving my grant as this new equipment will enable me to provide a wider range of services to my customers and, hopefully, lead to increased profit!” Finlay added: “I have been interested in horticulture since an early age when I would garden with my grandad. My journey with the College’s Enterprise department has been fantastic, they are all so friendly and helpful and they have made sure I understand as many aspects of running a business as I can.” Jess Widdowson, Enterprise Team Leader at the College, added: “Barnsley College is committed to transforming the lives of students, staff and communities and we have been thrilled to support Jonathan and Finlay on their entrepreneurial journey.” It’s not too late to study at Barnsley College! They offer everything so you can be anything. To find out more about any of the courses on offer, visit www.barnsley.ac.uk, call 01226 216 123 or email info@ barnsley.ac.uk.

FEATURE

THE RETURN OF

SHEFFIELD DM Digital marketing agency Evoluted has adapted every element of working life to the ‘new normal’ and made sure that its digital marketing meet-up, Sheffield DM, will never have to cancel an event again.

Sheffield DM has had a complete turnaround since the pandemic hit and has gone above and beyond to future proof itself by taking on a hybrid way of holding events. The free digital marketing meetups started off as a niche Sheffield based networking event three years ago with a small audience each time. The number of people at each event grew slightly as word got around about the fantastic guest speakers but it wasn’t until the pandemic put the brakes on gatherings that Sheffield DM was given the opportunity to reach a wider audience. Due to COVID-19, the faceto-face events came to a halt and the event was held online. Surprisingly, this accelerated the quantity of individuals wanting access to the event, allowing the popularity of the

meet up to expand far greater than expected. The new hybrid approach is a perfect merger of face-to-face and online meetups, allowing people to attend in person, or allowing them to tune in from the comfort of their own homes. Giorgio Cassella, marketing director at Evoluted, said: “The north was lacking an event like Sheffield DM which is why we wanted to fill the gap and provide something for those who were really interested in the digital marketing field. “The opportunity to hold the Sheffield DM events in person as well as online has completely transformed the popularity of the event and exceeded our expectations. “We can now reach people internationally and have grown the value of Sheffield DM beyond the local area, which is

what we have always wanted for the event. “Our three-year anniversary at The Workstation Creative Lounge in November was a huge success and a perfect example of how well hybrid events can work when executed correctly. We wanted to provide our online audience the same experience they would receive if they had attended the faceto-face event and the whole evening went better than we could have imagined.” The team plan is to continue to hold a bi-monthly hybrid Sheffield DM events for as long as possible to allow them to keep growing and reach as many people as possible until they become a staple of the national digital community. Each event offers new guest speakers who specialise across all areas of digital marketing including SEO, paid media,

PR, customer experience and more, providing something interesting for everyone. It isn’t just Sheffield DM that has adapted to the new way of working, Evoluted as a whole has gone from strength to strength since the beginning of the pandemic, using the time as an opportunity to flourish as a business and transform its working culture. For most businesses, the pandemic was an increasingly daunting period with a multitude of issues arising every day. However, for Evoluted, the pandemic allowed it to assist and work with an influx of companies in need of immediate digital transformation. Providing digital solutions to develop companies through driving growth and nurturing start-up and small businesses has always been in the DNA

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FEATURE

SHEFFIELD DM IS DELIVERED BY THE AWARD WINNING TEAM AT EVOLUTED, PICTURED HERE WITH COMEDIAN ROB BECKETT, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: AMBER MUKERKER, TOM BEE, LIAM WHEELER, JEN PENALUNA & DECLAN REILLY

of Evoluted. However, as Evoluted has grown it can now focus on working with further developed companies that know where they want their businesses to go. Company culture and how to provide for its employees is something that Evoluted prides itself on. Over the last 12 months, the company has brought in an array of new initiatives to make working life the best it can be for their team. From allowing staff to work completely remotely, to offering regular mental health support sessions, all these extra benefits have shaped Evoluted into the company it is today. Managing director, Ash Young, said: “From the beginning of Evoluted, our core values have centred around ‘people over profits’. Without

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our amazing team, there would be no company at all so providing for our staff is at the forefront of our priorities. “We want to be the best possible agency we can be and in order to retain and recruit the best, you must invest in them. Our long-term goal is to always have staff leave us in a better position to what they joined us, and we can only do that if we support and train them up to the best of our abilities. “People now come to us during interviews and tell us the great things they have heard about our working culture and how we take care of our employees, which for us is such a massive compliment and just goes to show that our dedication to our staff has transformed the way in which people view Evoluted as a whole.”

From the beginning of Evoluted, our core values have centred around ‘people over profits’.

The hard work and transformation of the Evoluted team has not just been recognised internally. Over recent months, Evoluted has prioritised putting itself forward for multiple awards to allow the whole team to be recognised by an external source. This has resulted in winning a variety of awards such as the Prolific North Best Independent Agency of the year award and even the Best Large Integrated Agency at the UK Search Awards, all of which have pushed Evoluted to continue to thrive as an agency. To sign up to the next Sheffield DM event visit: sheffielddm. co.uk/#next_event To read about previous Sheffield DMs visit: sheffielddm.co.uk/blog

YOUR PITCH

MAKE DOUGH Juan Miguel tells unLTD all about Element Society’s new pizzeria, Make Dough, and how it’s ‘a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved in, learning life skills’. Tell us about your business – sell yourself! My name is Juan Miguel, and I am the manager for Element Society’s new and exciting pizzeria, ‘Make Dough’. I was born in Guatemala, Central America, and moved to the UK in 1993. I became restaurant manager for the popular La Vaca steakhouse in Broomhill, then bought their sister restaurant, Chile Peppers Home Catering. Element is a not-for-profit organisation based in Sheffield that has supported almost 5,000 young people to volunteer 200,000 hours. What gave you the idea for your business? We are launching a new, innovative pizzeria, providing an excellent service which is run by young people looking for industry experience. We will be serving high quality pizzas made with the finest ingredients sourced from local producers. This project is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved in, learning life skills which will build their confidence. There are many key components to setting up a business, such as finance, marketing and customer service, so even if young people aren't interested in making pizzas, they can find their own role within the business to best fit their skill set. The revenue we generate from Make Dough will contribute to the everyday running of Element Society, so we can do more exciting youthled projects.

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Grant funding has secured us a mobile pizza oven, so we are currently reaching out to pubs and venues in and around the Sheffield area that would be interested in collaborating with us. The idea is to set up a pop-up operation which will cater to a wide range of customers. Once partnerships have been established, we want to run these three or four nights per week and weekends by appointment, giving us the opportunity to get our brand out there, with the long-term goal being to find a fixed location in the city centre.

We will be serving high quality pizzas made with the finest ingredients sourced from local producers.

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them? Make Dough welcomes enquiries from private or corporate customers, offers of business mentorship and still has a few roles for young people to fill through the Kickstart scheme. Speak to your job coach or local job centre about how to apply for a Kickstart place. How can people get in touch with you? Call Element on 0114 2999 210 or email juan.f@ elementsociety.co.uk for Make Dough enquiries.

TALK CLUB

Health Coordinator, Josh Blunkett, said: “We hope Talk Club will be a weekly space that men can come to and receive support, listen to others, and talk about how they’re feeling.” “This session can provide a massive weight oﬀ people’s shoulders, and hopefully leave them feeling much better as a result. This is a fantastic, essential initiative and we look forward to opening the doors to all.”

Our Health & Wellbeing team at Sheﬃeld United Community Foundation have launched the latest addition to our Mental Health Support programme in Men’s “Talk Club”. The weekly session provides a safe space for men aged 18+ to share feelings, listen and meet like-minded people to help improve mental health and reduce the risk of suicide amongst men. Suicide in the UK is the biggest killer of men aged under 45, with an average of 12 men taking their own lives every day.

Talk Club is FREE and takes place every Wednesday, 6-8pm at the Blades Family Hub, which is located on John Street at Bramall Lane. If you’re interested in coming along or know someone who might want to, simply turn up on the day or you can email Josh Blunkett at health@sufc-community.co.uk for more information.

ADVERTORIAL

MAKE SPACE FOR 2022 With so many organisations looking to maximise space in the workplace as they make changes moving into a fresh year, Emma Skelton of Sheffield’s document management specialists Russell Richardson is advising companies to take a look around and see if valuable space can be opened up by outsourcing records storage. Business premises have changed a lot during 2021. Some of us have found that we need more space, some of us have found that remote working has allowed them to downsize their offices. With so many people self-storing and managing document archives in house, here’s our top five reasons to consider outsourcing records managements to the experts. • Create valuable space. An obvious one, but an important reason none the less. Space is valuable and businesses usually have numerous other things they could do with the room used for storage. It’s amazing how many companies are paying a premium for office space and filling rooms with boxes of records. A company specialising in records management will maximise every inch of their storage facility. By doing this, prices are kept low and are usually much more cost effective than using your own space. • Stay in control. Physically handing over records doesn’t mean that

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non-compliance. Hours of valuable time is often wasted searching for records, updating systems, processes and lists. Using a records management company helps to keep everything in order and under control. By providing destruction dates, records are not stored longer than necessary for both compliance and financial reasons. you have to hand over control. A decent records management company will have invested in software and scanning systems that allow customers complete visibility and control of their records via a customer portal. Through the system, customers should be able to see the location of records at any given time and request retrievals and destructions.

management company should have invested in the most suitable security for their facility and security check all their staff. It’s not just about the physical security, keeping records off site eliminates the risk of insider threats, one of the hardest data protection issues for companies to defend against.

• Improve security. Outsourcing puts the onus of keeping records safe on to the records management company. As with the tracking and barcoding software, a good records

• Save time and improve efficiency. Many companies managing their records in house work from spreadsheets or use old processes that can leave them open to error and

• All the above = large financial savings! Time, space and efficiency all add up to more money for any business with data protection compliance eliminating the risk of a hefty ICO fine! For more details on document archiving and records management services from Russell Richardson, visit www.russellrichardson.co.uk or contact 0114 251 8141.

Get in Touch:

0114 236 9640

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ADVERTORIAL

DIGITAL SHIFT SEES CLOUD SPECIALIST APPOINTED AT HENTONS A digital projects manager has been appointed at Yorkshire-based chartered accountancy and business advisory firm, Hentons, in response to a 600 per cent increase in the number of clients moving to cloud accountancy services in the last two years.

Robyn Jones is a cloud accountancy specialist with more than seven years’ industry experience. She heads all digital services at Hentons, which has been recognised as one of the top three large firms in the UK by leading cloud-based software firm, Xero. Partner, Tim Baum-Dixon, who is head of digital at Hentons, said: “Our shift to digital accounting began in 2015, and our business and clients have really embraced the change. With dedicated digital teams, we have led the way in terms of innovation and Robyn’s appointment will ensure even more clients benefit from the cost and time savings, as well as the invaluable business insights, that cloud accounting provides.” Robyn said: “Digital accounting increases the profitability of businesses and Hentons has everything in place to ensure it is at the forefront of Making Tax Digital. In-order to run an efficient bookkeeping facility within any business, cloud software to store and process data is essential.

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early adopters and those that resist change, and my role is to ensure everyone moves to the cloud because they can see the value in it – not just because they have to.” Currently all VAT registered businesses must submit returns digitally. As of April 6 2023, HMRC aims to implement Making Tax Digital for self-assessment, and by 2026 Making Tax Digital will become mandatory for corporation tax purposes. Tim added: “Robyn is a forward-thinking professional who will ensure all clients are not just compliant, but that they can access a full suite of digital finance functions and business insights from anywhere in the world that will ultimately support business growth.”

ROBYN JONES

“Time previously wasted on manual bookkeeping, excel spreadsheets and piles of paperwork can now be utilised in better ways. By automating invoices and receipts through cloud software and the introduction of open banking, clients can save time. Software

packages such as Xero and Dext help streamline and automate internal bookkeeping functions and ultimately provide invaluable data and insight into the real time finances of a business. “As with all technological change there will always be

0114 246 1722 info@hentons.com www.hentons.com

Don’t let a virus ruin another Christmas An increase in online activity in the run-up to Christmas is the perfect breeding ground for cyber-criminals. Protect your business from breaches this year with our cutting-edge IT security solutions.

ADVERTORIAL

s BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

IS KEY TO CONTINUED FOUR TREES GROWTH Starting a business in 2020 may not have seemed like an ideal year; there were plenty of challenges and uncertainty which put many people off the idea. But it was not enough to dissuade Four Trees Lettings. The team saw there was a gap in the market, which they had the expertise to fill, and so they set out to create an ethical social lettings agency to benefit the clients of Nomad Opening Doors charity. Not only did Four Trees Lettings launch successfully, but they weathered the storms of uncertainly and ongoing restrictions over the past 18 months. Now, as they finish celebrating their first year in business, they have their sights set on expansion. Up to now, Four Trees Lettings has focused on HMO (house in multiple occupation) properties and shared accommodation. However, Four Trees Lettings will also be taking on private landlords and tenants from across the rental market to create a new arm which will

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deal not just with HMOs, but one and two-bedroom flats and family homes in all areas of Sheffield. The reasons are two-fold. Firstly, Four Trees Lettings’ successful relationship with its current landlords means it can offer its expert management services to its landlords’ entire portfolios. And secondly, Four Trees Lettings’ client group is expanding with the demand for properties beyond HMOs also growing. Four Trees Lettings want to be the agency which supports its clients for years and builds long-term relationships with tenants. This means not only helping Nomad clients to find suitable accommodation in the private sector in shared housing, but supporting them on their journey to financial independence and family living. With this ready

supply of loyal tenants, Four Trees Lettings is confident it will continue to deliver its outstanding service and occupancy rates in this new field. This new challenge, of course, means new staff and the organisation is in the process of recruiting two members to join the growing team. A part time administration assistant will come on board first, to support the team through this expansion, followed swiftly by a lettings negotiator, who will be responsible for reaching out to new landlords, who are looking for a management company with a difference. Chief executive Steve Rundell said: “It’s a very exciting time. We hoped Four Trees Lettings would be a success, but to reach a point where we need additional staff in just 18 months is fantastic.

“The social lettings side of the business is in constant demand, with hundreds of referrals every year. We want to take the success we’ve built on and engage new areas of the housing market, building relationships with new landlords and offering our tenants a lettings agency for life.” Landlords who have property in Sheffield and are looking for a lettings agency with a difference should contact Four Trees Lettings on 0114 321 0262 or visit FourTreeLettingsAgency.co.uk for details about Four Trees’ services and management packages.

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SNOWFLAKES SET TO

LIGHT UP THE CITY FOR SHEFFIELD CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Each year Sheffield Children’s Hospital is lit up with sparkling snowflakes sponsored by generous businesses, schools, community groups and individuals. Over the past seven years, the display has raised over £1million for the hospital.

From the beginning of this month, The Children’s Hospital Charity’s snowflakes are back and will light up the side of Sheffield Children’s. But this year they have spread even further, lighting up other sites around the region including Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield Children’s offsite facilities Becton and Ryegate, Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre, St John’s Church at Owlerton, Homes by Holmes in Chesterfield and the Alhambra Shopping Centre in Barnsley. unLTD chatted to Sophie Coburn, corporate partnerships officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, who is one the team behind the snowflakes.

What is your role at The Children’s Hospital Charity? I am the corporate partnerships officer at the charity, but at Christmas I am also the Chief

Elf responsible for organising the snowflake display, I have been affectionately nicknamed Snowphie by the team because of this! I have worked at the charity for over three years and I absolutely love it – seeing the difference the charity makes to the hospital is so rewarding. We bet the display takes some organising! What does it involve getting all those snowflakes up there? This year, thanks to the amazing businesses,

individuals, schools and everyone who have sponsored one we have over 450 snowflakes across all the sites. We install the snowflakes over different dates throughout November with support from businesses, Fizzco and Elev8 and the Sheffield Children’s Estates team. Without them it really wouldn’t be possible. We also build a lot of the snowflakes ourselves with help from volunteers. Last year a team of Lloyds (is this the bank or the pharmacy?)

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ADVERTORIAL

THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARITY’S SNOWFLAKES AT CRYSTAL PEAKS

MEET SNOWPHIE, AKA SOPHIE COBURN, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS OFFICER AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CHARITY

volunteers helped us to build lots of them, even taking the snowflakes home to their own homes to do them! I never thought I’d be able to rope light a snowflake, but that sums this job up. Every day is different and I am always learning something new. What does sponsoring a snowflake entail? Snowflake sponsorship starts from £600 and there are small, medium and large sizes available. Sponsors see their name next to a twinkling

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snowflake showcasing their business name for everyone to see. They are also invited to the switch on to see the lights turned on. How do the snowflakes support Sheffield Children’s? Over the past seven years the snowflake displays have helped to fund specialist equipment and new facilities at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Last year’s display raised over £300,000 towards the refurbishment of our Cancer

and Leukaemia Ward at the hospital. This year the money raised through the snowflakes will go towards our appeal to build a helipad on the roof of the hospital and expand our Emergency Department. Every penny raised through snowflake sponsorship really does make a big impact.

after Christmas for everyone to enjoy.

When will the snowflakes be switched on? The snowflakes will all be on from the beginning of December and will be on until

To find out more about the work of The Children’s Hospital Charity and the famous snowflake display please visit www.tchc.org.uk

If anyone wants to book their snowflake for next year how do they do that? Bookings for snowflakes 2022 are now open! If anyone would like to book a snowflake please e-mail snowflakes@tchc.org.uk for more information.

CHARITY PROFILE