ALICIA HEWITT’S JOURNEY FROM APPRENTICE TO 25-YEAR-OLD MD
LAYING DOWN THE LAW THE DECADE-LONG ASCENT OF MD LAW INTO THE HEART OF THINGS SHEFFIELD HOSPITALS CHARITY’S CHIEF EXEC ON THEIR BIG MOVE
INNOVATION EQUALS IMPACT
CASLA'S UNIQUE APPROACH TO B2B MARKETING
PLUS… NEWS, INTERVIEWS, APPOINTMENTS, EXPERT ADVICE AND MORE
30: POWER MOVES
In the latest unLTD Business Podcast episode, James Marriott interviews Alicia Hewitt, the 25-year-old managing director of Secure Power. Alicia's inspirational journey began as an apprentice straight out of school, eventually leading her to the helm of a company specialising in power supplies for a wide range of clients.
12: MAKING WAVES
Independent business hub Leah’s Yard opens this month. We’ve got the all-important opening dates and news of an award-winning podcast company that’ll be taking up residence in the building.
20: LIGHTBULB MOMENT
For this month’s business origins story, Richard Costeloe explains the process behind starting his own B2B marketing agency, Casla, driven by a desire for creative freedom and to implement his marketing vision based on empathy and transparency.
36: LAYING DOWN THE LAW
As MD Law nears its ten-year anniversary, the Sheffield-based firm looks back on its evolution from a small insolvency team to becoming a major regional player in commercial litigation and corporate law.
52: DESIGN FOR LIFE
Following an exciting rebrand, unLTD spoke with South Yorkshire graphic designer James Lowe about career choices, inspirations and what his new collaborative venture is all about…
EDITORIAL
EDITOR
Joe Food
Joe@unltdbusiness.com
ONLINE EDITOR
Ash Birch
Ash@unltdbusiness.com
COLUMN EDITOR
Welcome, readers, to the latest issue of unLTD magazine – your monthly roundup of happenings in the South Yorkshire business scene.
So, what’s new at HQ? Audiophiles will be pleased to know that after a brief hiatus, the unLTD Business Podcast is back! In the return episode, host James Marriott chats with Alicia Hewitt, the 25-year-old Managing Director of Secure Power, about her remarkable journey from school leaver to the helm of a thriving business. You can listen to this episode and many more inspiring interviews with local business leaders on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or read the full interview in print on page 30.
In other exciting news, we're gearing up for our inaugural business expo at the Magna Centre on Wednesday, 2 October. With a fantastic lineup of South Yorkshire businesses, it's set to be one of the busiest networking events of the year. There’s still time to book a stand, so if you're interested, check out the latest expo update on page 14.
As always, the unLTD team has been out and about visiting a variety of local businesses, uncovering the stories of the people behind the companies. I had the pleasure of visiting the stunning Grade II listed Broom Hall House to meet the MD Law team, who are soon celebrating a decade in business (page 36). I also met Richard and Millie from the up-and-coming marketing agency Casla (page 20), while my colleague Ash has been finding out about the innovative office and co-working spaces by Desk Space (page 40) and the 65-year-old abrasive materials firm Surface Prep (page 48).
Along with updates on the latest developments in the business scene, interviews with key figures and informed opinions on a range of topics, you’ll find that this issue of unLTD is packed with plenty of content to peruse at your leisure.
Joseph Food, Editor.
Holly Dibden holly@unltdbusiness.com
VIDEO CONTENT CREATOR
Lizzy Capps lizzy@unltdbusiness.com
DESIGN
Marc Barker
ADVERTISING
Phil Turner
phil@unltdbusiness.com 07979 498 034
Nick Hallam nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk 07843 483536
FINANCE
Lis Ellis accounts@ exposedmagazine.co.uk
CONTRIBUTORS
Dan Bumby
Steve Brown
Ruby Deakin
Wendy Ward
Jill White
unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1B Rialto, 2 Kelham Island Sq., Kelham Riverside, Sheffield S3 8SD
The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout unLTD is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media Ltd cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific listings.
The second round of applications is now open for the ReNew Sheffield business grant scheme, offering grants of up to £35,000 to independent businesses who want to transform empty shops and underused spaces...
The ReNew project is part of Sheffield City Council’s successful bid for £15.8m of funding from the Future High Street Fund (FHSF). This national government fund was set up to revitalise and reshape UK high streets.
Supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), the University of Sheffield, and other partners, the Sheffield Future High Street Fund Team is delivering a programme of transformational projects across Fargate and Chapel Walk to regenerate and reinvent the area as a thriving social hub.
ReNew contributes to this vision by awarding grants directly to businesses looking to occupy empty units in and around Fargate. Complementing the larger-scale FHSF masterplan, the successful ReNew funded projects will help to lower vacancy rates, increase footfall and improve the vibrancy of the area. They will also create opportunities and jobs for the people of Sheffield.
The programme is a capital grant scheme and businesses can apply for funding of up to £35,000 towards agreed fit-out costs such as: architectural/design fees, preparing the site for construction works, checks and surveys, labour costs etc.
Eligible businesses will receive the grant once project costs are paid, and valid proof is provided of that payment in the form of invoices and bank statements. Businesses must be able to pay project costs in full before receiving the agreed grant contribution.
Submissions will be evaluated against fixed criteria to
FOR YOUR BUSINESS TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR SUPPORT, ALL THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS MUST BE TRUE:
You must be an independent business in the retail, leisure, entertainment, recreation, creative, hospitality or food and drink sector
Your business must not be in financial difficulty
You can show that your project is financially viable and that grant support is needed to make it happen
Your business has received less than £315,000 of state aid/subsidy (minus the grant amount applied for) over the current and previous two consecutive fiscal years
You can secure a commercial lease on a vacant unit in the ReNew Sheffield Zone and intend to occupy it continuously for at least one year
Your proposed schedule of works will be completed and all expenditure incurred, before the end of March 2025
You should read these statements together with the full eligibility guidance and terms and conditions.
Businesses are to be aware that they won’t be eligible for this grant if they have received previous funding from this scheme.
Visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/business for all info
determine which have the greatest potential to deliver a viable, sustainable project that will contribute to the wider aspirations for the Fargate area.
You can also contact us to discuss your project and enquire whether you’re eligible.
For more information visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/ business or call 0114 224 5000
You don’t need to board the Eurostar to Paris to enjoy the perfect croissant…in fact, you probably don’t need to venture much further than Abbeydale Road.
Sheffield’s Forge Bakehouse, which produces its acclaimed range of breads and pastries from its bakery in Abbeydale, has won a place in the finals of the Isigny Sainte-Mère Best Croissant UK 2024 competition.
A lineup of 20 finalists will have the chance to demonstrate what makes the perfect French classic café treat in the contest on September 26th.
The finalists will need to present 20 freshly baked croissants - made using Isigny 1909 pastry butter - at London’s celebrated Savoy Hotel by 10am on the day of the contest.
A panel of specialist judges will judge the croissants on shape, regularity and volume, colour and pastry development, texture and taste.
“We are delighted that our croissants have made it all the way to the final of this prestigious national competition,” said Forge Bakehouse Liva Guest.
“Our bakehouse team take enormous pride in creating a range of outstanding cakes and pastries and it means so much to us that their dedication and enthusiasm has been recognised.
“To be one of just 20 finalists from bakeries all over the country is an enormous accolade and something we are all incredibly proud of.”
The Bakehouse offers an acclaimed range of artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and savouries, available in the shops as well as for weddings, corporate events, markets and meetings.
The Forge Bakehouse cafés are also known for their coffee and tea selection, with a team of experienced baristas regularly introducing new offerings.
New savoury items like the melted cheese croissant have increased the brand’s popularity as both a dine-in and take-out destination.
Forge Bakehouse has shops and cafés in Abbeydale, Beauchief, Lodge Moor, Dronfield, Chesterfield and Sheffield Station. They also suppliy pastries and breads to True North Brew Co’s Forum Kitchen and Bar at Devonshire Green in Sheffield city centre.
The second phase of Park Hill in Sheffield has been named among the winners of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ National Awards for 2024. Built in 1961, Park Hill is a Brutalist, concrete icon and the largest listed building in Europe, which became known for its ‘streets in the sky’.
The relaxed ‘speakeasy’ style Governor Gupta restaurant has taken up residency on the rooftop of Radisson Blu Hotel, Sheffield. The space has comfy booths and outdoor seating overlooking the Peace Gardens and Town Hall. Open to the public and hotel guests, the menu offers classic Indian snacks and flavours alongside tandoor chophouse specialties and handcrafted cocktails.
The iconic Grade II Listed Norfolk Street building has been awarded a £650,000 Future High Streets Fund grant that will help increase accessibility and improve facilities for visitors. Following the appointment of project contractors Messenger, work is under way, with a schedule that should see the main part of the project complete by November.
The Peak District National Park is proud to announce it is joining other UK national parks to become the first national park in the world to sign up to the UN-backed Race to Zero pledge. Race to Zero is a global campaign rallying organisations and individuals to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030.
Three academics from the University of Sheffield have been elected Fellows of the British Academy - the highest honour bestowed by the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. Professor Daniel Goodley, Professor Helen Kennedy and Dr David McCallam have been elected in recognition of their work that represents the very best of the UK’s humanities and social sciences research.
Some of the city’s largest employers are backing a project that enables young people who require a higher level of support to get experience of the world of work.
Amey, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield City Council have signed up to The Sheffield College’s supported internship programme.
The scheme provides part-time industry placements with local employers to help students develop employability skills and become more confident and independent. Students on the programme are supported by a college job coach as they work towards developing the skills valued by employers.
Now the first group of young people to successfully complete the scheme, which began at the start of this academic year, have been celebrated.
Students, their families, staff and employers attended the Supported Internship Graduation Ceremony at City Campus, Granville Road, on 24th June 2024.
Rachael Dickens, Academy Director for Pre-Technical and Skills for Living and Work, The Sheffield College, said: “Supported internships help young people who require a higher level of support to gain the life and work skills to succeed in the workplace.
Student Chishimba Chikwa, 20, has completed a fivemonth part-time supported internship with the Linen Services Team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Chishimba, who spoke about his experiences at the Supported Internship Graduation Ceremony, has worked alongside staff at the Northern General operating the folding and ironing machines, and sorting washed and dried laundry.
Praised for being a dedicated, hardworking student with exceptional attendance and manners, Chishimba also recently won the Inclusion Student of the Year accolade at the college’s Student Celebration Awards 2024.
Chishimba said: “The best thing about the placement is meeting the incredible staff and working on the machines.
“It has helped me to become confident looking for a job and meeting new people. The most important skills that I have developed are communication skills.”
Andrew Jones, Facilities Director, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to be backing the supported internships scheme.
“As well as helping young people to develop their work and employability skills and experience, it also provides us with valuable new members of our workforce and perhaps some future employees."
With Jill White of Andy Hanselman Consulting
The dreaded Covid clipped my wings for the first half of the month and as a result meant I missed the very fabulous Chris Hanson from Blend Kitchen at Harthill Carnival, rumour has it I missed a treat!
I recovered (well nearly) to catch the inaugural Congregate event at Trafalgar Warehouse.. and congregate they did! Bravo to Sheffield Chamber and Sheffield Property Association for a brilliant night!
A teeny setback meant our own July 3D Connect event was quickly shunted to Blend Culinary Foundation at Cambridge Street Collective. Big shout out to Niki Baker for hosting us so wonderfully. What a find. You really must go check it out.
Future Leah's Yard tenants, Ian Procter, Gina O'Brien and Max Scotford gave us a superb insight into just how special Leah's Yard is going to be. 24th August is the grand opening day, a date for the diary!
Continuing to celebrate 'All things Sheffield' next day was Cambridge Street Collective, Locksley Gin, Yorkshire Artspace exhibition launch and finally dinner on the terrace at Radisson Blu.
Chariots of Fire Gala Performance at Sheffield Theatres to round off the month.
What a show!
What a month!
Follow Jill at uk.linkedin.com/in/jilltywhite or find Andy Hanselman Consulting at andyhanselman.com.
Thornbridge & Co has announced they will be opening a new site just across from Sheffield Town Hall as part of the new developments taking place throughout Sheffield City Centre.
“The Fargate” is going to be one of Sheffield’s most prominent pubs. With over £1M of investment on the new
bespoke interior according to Director Jamie Hawksworth.
“It’s going to be a wonderful showcase for The Brewery, with beers to be served over a beautiful polished oak island bar surrounded by hand crafted oak panelling and leather banquet seating. We think it will be a great boost to the work already being done to rejuvenate Sheffield City
Centre. Work is expected to start on the fit-out later this year with an opening date yet to be announced.” Jamie continues.
Fellow Director, Simon Webster commented further:
“We have been working with Sheffield City Council for over a year in identifying this site and then working together to offer outdoor seating
as part of the new Fargate development. The views from both inside and out of this prestigious building will add to the customer experience. Thornbridge & Co is delighted to be able to invest in Sheffield City Centre and is delighted to be part of the new development of Fargate and create a gateway to Heart of The City.”
ASM Global has been announced as the new operator of Sheffield City Hall, as of January 2025. Last year, Sheffield City Council revealed that the city’s leisure and entertainment venues were set to receive £117 million of investment including rebuilds of some of the city’s most popular leisure centres and improvements to Sheffield’s Arena and City Hall.
Earlier this year, ASM Global were announced as the new operator for Utilita Arena Sheffield and now have also been selected as the successful bidder and the new operator of the venue.
Sheffield City Hall and the Utilita Arena Sheffield will join ASM Global’s network
of more than 350 venues, which collectively host 20,000 events and welcome 164 million guests every year.
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “ASM Global have a worldclass reputation within the venue and entertainment industry, and I am delighted that they have been announced as the new operator for the Sheffield City Hall, which is central to Sheffield’s cultural and civic life.
“I am confident that both Sheffield City Hall and the Utilita Arena Sheffield are in great hands with ASM Global, and that this new investment will help our fantastic Sheffield venues compete on the global stage.”
Since it first opened in 1932, the Grade II listed City Hall has provided a home to many local and community events and hosted big names in music from Elton John to The Beatles.
Chris Bray, President of ASM Global Europe, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to operate Sheffield City Hall – a truly beautiful and unique venue steeped in heritage.
“Sheffield’s rich culture and phenomenal music talent are recognised far and wide, and working with Sheffield City Council we have exciting plans to evolve and transform the city’s live entertainment experience for both residents and visitors, delivering content that is nothing short of world leading.”
Award-winning podcast company Persephonica is moving its headquarters to the Steel Xity, as part of its plans to create a groundbreaking podcasting hub in the North of England.
The company has been celebrated for its acclaimed podcasts like ‘Miss Me?’ with Lily Allen & Miquita Oliver, and ‘Political Currency’ with George Osborn and Ed Balls, as well as hosting podcast festival Crossed Wires in Sheffield earlier this year.
Its headquarters will be one of many new organisations moving into Leah’s Yard in the city centre, a former industrial workshop on Cambridge Street that will open its doors on Saturday 24th August.
CEO of Persephonica, Dino Sofos, said: “This is a huge boost for creativity in the North. We are very excited about starting a new chapter for British podcasting in this buzzing, creative and diverse city.”
Dino and co-founder Tom O’Hara, both Sheffield natives, are passionate about
increasing socio-economic diversity in the media. As part of this, moving away from its previous HQ in London will mean some of the country’s biggest podcast shows can now be made and produced in Sheffield.
“Talented people from lower income backgrounds often struggle to get a foot on the ladder in the media because they can’t afford to do free work experience or freelance on low wages while paying high rents in London,” Dino added. “It means people growing up in the South East have an unfair advantage at securing interesting and influential media jobs. The best way to change the status quo is to create more opportunities outside the capital.”
Persephonica is also committed to developing a new pool of podcasting
talent in the region and will partner with local colleges and universities to generate new training opportunities and internships.
Dino explained: “Thanks to its abundance of worldclass journalism and media courses, South Yorkshire is full of people with huge
potential to become the future stars of the podcasting industry.”
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard praised the return of the podcasting pioneers to the city: “I’m delighted to see Persephonica move into Leah’s Yard in Sheffield’s new Heart of the City.
A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS GONE INTO MAKING THIS HOTEL A REALITY AND I’M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF SHEFFIELD COUNCIL, QUEENSBERRY, AND THE WHOLE PROJECT TEAM
A multi-award-winning company with an audience of millions across all its productions choosing to relocate here shows that new, energetic and creative businesses share our confidence in the future of South Yorkshire. I look forward to working with the Persephonica team as they go from strength to strength.”
To keep up to date with Persephonica’s latest activities, follow them on socials @persephonicahq.
We're counting down the days until Leah's Yard opens its doors this month, with local businesses breathing new life into one of Sheffield's most iconic locations.
Back in November, local legend Pete McKee was the first tenant to be announced, and will be moving his Sharrow Vale gallery to its new home in Leah's Yard. Pete celebrated the transformation of the ever-evolving city: "I wanted to move to the city centre to help be a part of our beautiful city's new beginning." Award-winning beer shop Hop Hideout will also be moving in, transitioning from a pop-up stall and food court vendor to a brick-andmortar location in the heart of the city. As one of the UK's first 'drink in' beer shops, Hop Hideout's tasting room will allow customers to sample their enormous range of quality drinks.
Also setting up shop will be houseplant specialist Gravel Pit, offering a variety of botanical supplies as well as showcasing prints, sculptures and original artwork by creators from Sheffield and beyond. In addition, sustainable flower business Roots and Bloom is committed to providing beautiful alternatives to imported bouquets, sourcing their flowers locally and ensuring all products are plastic and chemical-free.
Moving its hand-curated collection to the yard is independent bookshop
La Biblioteka. 'Bean-to-bar' craft chocolate company Bullion Chocolate will be setting up its own Chocolate Bar for one of Sheffield's most inspiring chocolate-tasting experiences. The shop will boast Bullion's award-winning, high-quality drinking chocolate, which is entirely customisable, and freshly made sandwiches will also be available during the day.
Owners of Knab Farm Shop Ian and Mary are expanding their business to the Mesters' Market in Leah's Yard, offering the very best locally-made food and drink. Next door, The Yard Gallery will showcase artwork and creativity from exclusively local artists, with sale profits going on to help fund new talent from across Sheffield.
Businesses Hatch Product Design and James Morris Design have teamed up to share the yard's upstairs space, specialising in a range of different disciplines but united by their passion for design and quality products. Newly announced is Kelham Barber, who will be opening their second location amongst the yard's tight-knit network of small businesses.
Softshell jackets are a great all-rounder for all business types – perfect for chilly mornings and nipping between work appointments. Branding space is practically unlimited, so showing off your logo will be a doddle. Most softshells can either be printed or embroidered depending on your budget.
This is very much a ‘how long is a piece of string’ type question, but we have budget and premium softshell jacket options ranging from £15-£50.
Our top pick would be the Tern Softshell by ORN Workwear (starting from £29). It is a 3-layer jacket that keeps you warm and dry with added breathability. Available in men’s and ladies’ sizes, there’s a good choice of colours to suit your company’s branding. It features an adjustable cuff design, three external pockets all with zip closure, an internal mobile phone and twin pen pocket, and an elasticated hem with side adjust.
Head to www. wedoworkwear. com or scan the QR code.
The unLTD Business Expo has announced that the event will begin with a Breakfast Panel debate about the new powers the Mayoral Combined Authority is likely to benefit from in light of the new Labour Government. It's another reason to get your tickets booked asap...
As well as this news, we recently confirmed that business coaches Andy Hanselman and John Asquith will both be hosting sessions at the event, so it's set to be a 'mustattend' event for businesses across the region. Keep an eye on our LinkedIn for more news & updates.
It's a brand new event for companies in the South Yorkshire region to promote their business, raise brand awareness, increase sales and network. Based in the Magna Centre in Rotherham, it’s just ten minutes from Sheffield city centre and will showcase the vibrant, forward-thinking business community in the region. As an exhibitor, you will have a full day to showcase your business, make new contacts and network. The expo is a fantastic opportunity for you to interact with potential clients, customers, suppliers, industry professionals and the public. As an attendee you can book your FREE place to visit the expo at any time from 10am until 3.30pm. Make the most of your day and meet
many excellent local exhibitors. You will have a great opportunity to engage in networking, learn about new products and services and make informed purchasing decisions.
October 2, 2024 10am-3.30pm
WHERE IS IT?
Magna Centre, Magna Way, Templeborough, Rotherham S60 1FD
HOW DO I BOOK?
Visit expo.unltdbusiness.com or email phil@unltdbusiness.com
HOW MUCH IS IT?
STAND PRICES:
• £350 for a 2m x 2m stand
• £625 for a 4m x 2m stand
• Stands include a table and table cloth and breakfast for two people.
• Extra breakfasts can be ordered for £3.50 per person.
• Lunch bags can be ordered for £7.50 per person.
• Access to power £25 per stand
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, EMAIL PHIL@UNLTDBUSINESS. COM
The unLTD Business Expo is organised by the team behind unLTD Business Magazine and the unLTD Business Awards as well as the organisers of the Chesterfield Business Expo.
Simon Coy is a full-time, experienced event organiser. He has been hosting networking events for over eight years and is currently host of one of the largest monthly business networking lunches in Birmingham as well as organising the bi-annual Chesterfield Business Expo.
PHIL TURNER
Phil heads up Blind Mice Media Ltd, publishers of unLTD Business Magazine and Exposed Magazine. He has run his own publishing company for 21 years and organises a range of networking events in the region as well as the annual unLTD Business Awards.
ALREADY ATTENDING THE EXPO ARE:
• Action Coach
• Acumen Safety
• AG Group
• AHJ Wills & Estates Ltd
• Andy File Associates
• Andy Hanselman
• Arca Technology
• Arden Winch & Co Ltd
• B Animated
• B and B
• Banner Jones
• Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber
• Bhayani Law
• Business Enterprise Fund
• BusinessWise Accountancy and Tax
• Clea digital
• Cloud-Busting
• Crowne Plaza
• Crystal Clean
• Dawson Radford Solicitors
• Doyle Security
• ESP Projects
• Eurosafe
• Expedia TAAP
• Fenti
• Gala Technology
• GC Education and Skills
• Glu Recruit
• Gravitate
• Hydra Creative
• Ikeos
• IOL Marketing
• James Lowe Design
• Latus Group
• MGRW
• MILLGATE
• MTec Digital
• OEC Sheffield
• Open House Pictures
• Price Linsey
• Rolley Ltd
• Rotherham Hospice
• Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO)
• Sevenhills
• Sheaf Design Works
• Shef Utd
• Simoda
• Start Financial Planning
• UK Export Finance
• Valley Marketing
• Visualised It
• Weston Park Cancer Charity
• Whyy Change
• Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Printing methods like screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) and heat transfer offer vibrant, detailed designs ideal for lightweight fabrics and complex patterns, though they may fade over time with washing. Embroidery involves stitching threads directly into fabric, resulting in a textured, professional look with limited colours, and is highly durable, making it perfect for thicker fabrics, logos and simpler designs. Your choice should depend on fabric type, design complexity and durability needs – all things we’d be happy to advise you on!
THE TERM ‘WORKWEAR’ CAN COVER A HUGE RANGE OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS. Businesses wear branded clothing to promote their brand. Workwear can cover a broad range of items: specialist safety clothing such as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and fire-retardant clothing; corporate wear like shirts for office settings; hospitality uniforms such as aprons, polos and chefswear; healthcare clothing – generally tunics, tabards or scrubs; activewear for sports-related businesses; schoolwear such as uniforms and school bags; and promotional clothing for events and marketing campaigns.
SUPPLY CHAIN RELIABILITY CAN BE TRICKY!
runs smoothly. We hear some horror stories of companies waiting months to receive their workwear! Our standard lead time on branded items is just five days and plain stock can even arrive with you next day.
Sure, when it comes to a beanie hat maybe, but when working with such a wide range of workwear brands and different styles of garments the sizes can be a bit all over the place. Thankfully brands these days offer great size ranges, some offering from XS up to 8XL. There are lots of choice for male and female fitting garments and in the corporate sector shirts that come in classic, tailored and slim fits. We offer free samples for your team to try on so you can be sure they will be a perfect fit.
A reliable supply chain is crucial to maintaining inventory levels and meeting customer demand. Knowing the best suppliers for high-quality materials and having backup suppliers can prevent delays and ensure that production 2 3 5
Demand for certain types of workwear fluctuates with the seasons – like insulated jackets in winter or breathable fabrics in summer. Keeping your team cool or warm depending on our ‘beautiful British weather’ can be tricky. Making sure you deal with an expert that has knowledge of different fabrics and material weights will mean your team are comfortable when carrying out their daily tasks.
Sheffield-based business We Do Workwear supply highquality, customisable workwear to all types of business sectors. Find out more at www.wedoworkwear.com.
• Do you have the knowledge to gain ISO certification, but not the time?
• Are you struggling to know where to start?
At Glade we can take the worries of certification away with our tailor-made service to help you through the process.
ISO certification can be a big lever to winning new business, and you often need it if you are tendering for contracts, especially for government organisations, utilities companies and major industrial supply chains. The journey to certification might seem daunting but Glade Consulting can help you complete it smoothly.
Rather than simply achieving ISO, we aim to help you implement a system that benefits your whole business; this might include ISO9001 (Quality), ISO14001 (Environment), ISO27001 (Information Security) or ISO45001 (Health and Safety). If you require additional standards just ask.
With experience in operations and sales across a range of sectors, such as construction, fire and security, service industries and renewables, Glade Consulting Services take a pragmatic approach to ISO certification – one that fits in with your business. Call Now
Tel: 0114 398 4123 www.gladecs.co.uk enquiries@gladecs.co.uk
It was in 2021 that Richard Costeloe took the decision to set up Casla, his own B2B Marketing agency. “I suppose it was mostly about wanting the freedom to try things out and do things the way I believed they should be done,” he explains. “I remember creating a website domain, and even though that doesn’t seem like a big commitment on the outside, it felt like the first real step to starting my own company.”
Based at 32 Eyre Street in Sheffield city centre, one of Casla’s core values is the emphasis on creating value in their marketing work. “We’re a B2B marketing agency that helps businesses selling complex and expensive products or services to other businesses,” Richard says. “Most agencies see marketing as just a means to get new customers, but we believe marketing should be good, enjoyable, valuable and helpful in itself.”
Casla’s approach to outbound marketing exemplifies this philosophy. Millie, who heads up content at the agency, shares: “We do outbound marketing thoughtfully and with empathy. For instance, we tailor LinkedIn InMail messages to the recipient’s location or industry, adding an important personal touch. We also send carefully crafted letters and make calls designed to be a pleasant experience, not just generic outreach.”
Richard adds: “Outbound marketing can be done poorly, where people buy data and spam potential clients. We avoid that by not purchasing any personal data and focusing on genuine connections. This approach reflects our values and helps create a better experience for everyone involved.”
Since its inception, there have been several key milestones that signify the business’ growth. “Hiring our first employees, setting up a pension scheme and getting our own workspace were all big moments,” Richard recalls. “Moving from hot desking in a coworking space to having our own office gave us a dedicated space to grow and collaborate more effectively.”
Beyond outbound marketing, Casla now offers a range of services including digital marketing, content creation and social media management – all sides of the business they are looking to grow. These efforts are integrated with their outbound campaigns to provide a comprehensive marketing strategy.
When it comes to staff culture, creating a positive working environment is another priority for the team. “We’ve created a really nice space to work in. It’s important for us that everyone feels they can express themselves and contribute meaningfully,” says Millie. “We focus on transparency, especially regarding finances and operations, which helps build trust and a positive culture.”
Richard also emphasises the importance of diversity in their hiring practices. “We have an open hiring policy, welcoming people from a range of industry backgrounds, not just B2B marketing experience. This diversity brings different perspectives, which is
WE’VE CREATED A REALLY NICE SPACE TO WORK IN. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US THAT EVERYONE FEELS THEY CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY, WE FOCUS ON TRANSPARENCY, ESPECIALLY REGARDING FINANCES AND OPERATIONS, WHICH HELPS BUILD TRUST AND A POSITIVE CULTURE.”
invaluable in marketing. Good marketing disrupts the norm, and having a team with a variety of experience and ideas helps us achieve that.”
Looking ahead, Casla is hosting its first B2B marketing event at Marmadukes on Cambridge Street on the evening of 12 September. “It’s an opportunity to bring people together, share insights and foster a sense of community,” Richard says. “While most of our clients are currently based in London, we want to support and grow with businesses in our region. We’re on a big push to get ourselves more involved in the local Sheffield business scene. Funnily enough, sometimes agencies can let things slip when it comes to marketing themselves. It’s a bit like the saying, ‘the cobbler always wears the worst shoes’ – so we want to make sure we don’t make that mistake.”
Casla’s journey from a spark of ambition to a thriving B2B marketing agency illustrates the power of transparency, empathy and a commitment to doing things differently. As they continue to grow and expand their services, Richard and his team remain dedicated to making those meaningful connections and providing valuable experiences for their clients and staff alike.
“Fundamentally, I wanted to create a place where people, including myself, could express themselves freely,” he reflects. “The desire to create something from scratch and believe in its potential was a big driving force for me. I think we’ve achieved that and there’s hopefully plenty to come in the future.”
Web: www.casla.agency
Contact: hello@casla.agency
Office: 3rd Floor, 32 Eyre St, Sheffield, S1 4QZ
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/casla-agency
Mettle is a weightlifting, strength and fitness club based in Sheffield. But it is also so much more than that, which is why, during mettle’s hour of need, Sheffield-based e-commerce sportswear company Kitlocker.com came to their aid...
The club is dedicated to building healthier, happier, and stronger communities through lifting. It offers a variety of programmes such as Olympic Weightlifting, Girl Strong, youth sessions and Strength & Fitness, all aimed at developing fitness, strength, and confidence.
Driven by community, mettle not only provides training and coaching but also promotes positive change and social responsibility. It believes in the power of support and provides opportunities for people to get involved, with a particular focus on helping the next generation succeed.
Through its initiatives and training programmes, mettle strives to transform young lives for the better and lift communities to new levels of health and happiness.
Founder Dave Hembrough started his strength and conditioning career in performance sport, delivering to the top teams at Sheffield Hallam University. This included the high performing volleyball team that featured Kitlocker. com founders Mike and Tom. Dave then continued his work in volleyball by delivering to the England volleyball team, along with other world champions and Olympians before moving into community sport and health. But the early friendship with Mike and Tom continued through the years and now combines their strengths to maximise impact in the community.
Back in 2020, the pandemic brought crisis to
many community sports clubs and mettle was not immune. Unable to use its indoor facility, it was forced to move sessions to parks and car parks to continue its programmes. However, this was clearly not a long-term solution as summer departed and the weather deteriorated, leaving the future of the club in serious doubt.
Keen to offer a helping hand, Kitlocker.com opened their doors to mettle and provided a safe and warm space to continue delivering sessions. Without this, mettle’s programmes and the amazing community that had been built over years would have ground to a halt.
Mike Kent, Kitlocker. com Co-founder said: “My co-founder Tom and I have had a strong relationship with mettle’s founder Dave
for almost two decades, pre-dating the birth of Kitlocker.com. His passion for what he does, and the benefits mettle brings to the community are plain to see. When we heard that they were struggling to find a home during the pandemic it was a no-brainer for us to offer a space.
“It’s been amazing to see the club grow and develop since they moved in with us and we’re very proud to have played a small part in helping them to achieve that. I also know that many of our employees (including myself) really enjoy using mettle’s facilities and it has turned into a real perk of the job for our staff.
“Sheffield has always been a city of sport and community. This is a perfect example of that.”
Dave Hemborough,
mettle Founder and Head Coach added: “There’s a great synergy between Kitlocker.com’s brand and mettle’s vision. It’s a great relationship, where we offer Kitlocker.com staff training and exercise space in the mornings and the lunch times where they’re working, and then we use the facility evenings or weekends.
“It not only provides mettle with the space, but also provides Kitlocker.com with additional security by having people on site during evenings and weekends. Kitlocker.com gives mettle a great space for our members to train and exercise and get fitter and connect with each other. In an operative business that’s successful and growing, we’re really pleased to be there.”
BY STEVE BROWN, MD, FLUIDONE BUSINESS IT - SHEFFIELD
In the ever-evolving landscape of IT infrastructure, businesses are increasingly evaluating the pros and cons of hosted infrastructure and colocation versus cloud solutions. Both approaches have their merits, but the cloud often emerges as the superior choice due to its cost-efficiency, scalability, and flexibility.
Hosted Infrastructure and Colocation:
Hosted infrastructure involves renting physical or virtual servers and storage space in a data centre from a service provider. This model provides control over hardware and configurations without the significant upfront costs. Colocation, on the other hand, allows businesses to place their own hardware in a third-party data centre, providing security and power redundancies without the need to maintain a facility. However, while these may be fixed and forecastable costs, these solutions can be expensive and inflexible, with charges escalating as businesses grow and their infrastructure needs evolve.
Cloud Solutions:
Cloud offerings such as Microsoft Azure and AWS provide an alternate set of features and benefits. By leveraging cloud infrastructure, businesses can significantly reduce their capital expenditure and operational costs. The cloud offers on-demand resources, allowing companies to scale their usage up or down based on current needs. This flexibility can lead to cost savings and ensures that businesses are not paying for unused capacity.
However, this sometimes comes with a negative reputation of unmetered costs and unpredictable spending as the solution flexes.
Our Thoughts:
While there is a place for hosting and colocation, we’re frequently finding appropriate solutions for our customers with the Cloud alternatives. We recently had a customer that was spending £30,000 per month on hosted infrastructure. By transitioning to a cloud-
based solution, they managed to reduce their monthly expenditure to £13,000. This substantial saving (57%) was achieved through the elimination of unnecessary hardware costs and the adoption of a pay-as-you-go model that aligns with their actual usage. Additionally, the cloud provided enhanced agility, enabling the company to quickly respond to market changes and scale their operations efficiently.
The good news is, we’re here to discuss your
business’ specific needs with you. So, while hosted infrastructure or colocation might be your preferred route, we can explore both of those and cloud solutions to be sure you get the most suitable solution that is cost-effective and as scalable and flexible as you need to facilitate your operational efficiencies.
To discuss your business’ infrastructure needs, contact us today on 0114 292 3800 or email sheffieldenquiries@ fluidone.com.
Applications for the increased incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice are now open. The team at First Intuition tell unLTD readers more.
Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement in April, employers will receive £3,000 for eligible apprentices of any age who start employment from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. You can apply for incentive payments for these apprentices from 1 June 2021 to 30 November 2021.
The incentive payment is in addition to the £1,000 employers already receive for hiring an apprentice:
• Aged 16 to 18 or
• Under 25 with an education, health, and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority.
Apprentices will have an additional two months after the deadline of 30 September 2021 (until 30 November 2021) to start their training programme – this is to allow for probationary periods and sign-up processes to occur.
Furthermore, employers will also receive a National Insurance exemption if the apprentice is aged under 25 and a 95 per cent subsidy of the training costs (if not paying via the apprenticeship levy). Levy
paying employers can utilise their levy pots.
Applications for the increased incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice are now open.
Level 2, 3, 4 and 7
Apprenticeship schemes for the AAT, ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW,
CTA and ATT Qualifications are covered for the incentive payment.
If you are looking to recruit an apprentice into your Finance Team, then we can help. Contact Sheffield@fi.co.uk for more info.
The Accountancy Employers Guide
Trainees and new staff need as much support as possible to ease them into work over the next year.
The Accountancy Employers Guide provides links to relevant resources on trainee recruitment, onboarding, pre-start resources, employability skills, apprenticeship incentives, employer events, and hot topics.
The Accountancy Employers Guide is now available to access for free at www.firstintuition.co.uk/fihub/ accountancy-employers-guide/
BIDBI, the eco-friendly promotional printing experts, are expanding beyond the world of textile promotion to bring their clients a new range of non-textile products.
Since 2007, BIDBI has successfully offered Fairtrade and Organic Cotton tote bags to clients all over the world, working with brands big and small across many industries. For the first time in BIDBI’s history, they will be offering ethically sourced, eco-friendly branded products such as water bottles, travel mugs, notebooks, notepads, and pens under the Sustainable Life by BIDBI range.
All products offered by BIDBI have been handpicked because of their sustainability and ecocredentials. The products in the Sustainable Life by BIDBI range meet the high standards set by the audits and credentials that BIDBI has attained from Fairtrade and SEDEX.
The new range has been in development for some time and is positioned to
offer green-alternative promotional products that are made of high-quality sustainable materials. When they work with their clients, BIDBI wants to be confident that their products can be fully traced back to their origins, adding validity to
the credentials.
Helen, BIDBI’s Commercial Manager, praised Sustainable Life by BIDBI: “The entire BIDBI team has really pulled together to get Sustainable Life off the ground and in front of
I’M IN AND OUT OF MEETINGS EVERY DAY, SO I NEED SOMETHING TO WRITE MY CHICKEN SCRATCHES ON. I CAN’T ALWAYS READ MY OWN WRITING, BUT TAKING SOMETHING WITH ME THAT ADVERTISES OUR BRAND DOES THE SELLING FOR ME!”
WORKING IN MARKETING COMES WITH LONG DAYS, AND I NEED MY COFFEE! MY TRAVEL MUG KEEPS MY COFFEE HOT FOR UP TO 18 HOURS, WHICH IS ALMOST ENOUGH TIME TO STAY ON TOP OF THINGS.”
our clients and alongside our existing ranges of promotional textiles products. A key factor that needs to be considered when introducing any new product at BIDBI is to ensure full visibility of where the materials are sourced, how they are made, how they are reviewed for quality, and shipped to us before we print on them for our clients. All of the Sustainable Life by BIDBI products tick all of those boxes and all future products and collections will meet those same criteria.”
To enquire about Fairtrade and Organic Cotton tote bags, the Sustainable Life by BIDBI range, or for any other promotional product enquiries, please visit www. bidbi.co.uk.
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IN THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE UNLTD BUSINESS PODCAST, HOST JAMES MARRIOTT SAT DOWN WITH ALICIA HEWITT, THE DYNAMIC 25-YEAR-OLD MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SECURE POWER. ALICIA’S CAREER TRAJECTORY IS RELATIVELY UNCONVENTIONAL, STARTING OUT AS AN APPRENTICE AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL AND RISING TO THE TOP OF A COMPANY THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES (UPS) TO A DIVERSE RANGE OF CLIENTS.
PICTURES: MARC BARKER
First of all, could you introduce yourself?
I’m Alicia Hewitt, 25 years old, and the managing director here at Secure Power.
My role is to oversee the operation of the business: the day-to-day running, sales, finance, service, engineering – the whole area.
That’s a lot of responsibility! What does the business do?
We provide uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to any business and any individual. That could range from a server cabinet in a commercial property, hospitals for lighting or power for schools. Anything, really, that needs backup power.
It’s interesting we’re recording this today of all days, where there just happens to be a worldwide IT outage. I was a bit late getting here because I had issues with a parking app that wouldn’t work. I couldn’t pay for my eggs in Morrisons this morning. A slightly different issue, but a reminder that we’re all a bit vulnerable to this.
Yes, I think every business has a standard continuity plan, but within that plan often sits backup power. The method of working from home is now very prevalent too, so this also means you need backup power, even down to the Under Desk PDU (Power Distribution Unit), which has backup power within that.
What kind of businesses do Secure Power work with?
Normally it’s B2B (Business-to-business). So,
IT resellers, large end-users, a whole range. Nobody can be without power now, so we have a whole range of customer bases.
Do these places use the stuff that you put in? As in, does it sit there never to be needed or have they had situations where the work you’ve done for them has come into its own?
UPS is very good at its job, and especially the monitoring side of things. So, you might get an email at three in the morning that you’ve had a power outage, but the UPS has done its job and sorted it, so there’s not really any cause for concern. We have a huge service arm of the business, where our engineers go out to the site, they maintain the UPSs, they do battery impedance testing, black start testing if they need to with the customer. The support is there if the customer needs it. What we offer is so broad, but we know it’s also very crucial, so the emphasis on support has to be there.
I’d like to dig a little into your story, and your journey – it’s not the typical route. Would you care to tell us what led you to this position?
I’ll start right at the beginning, always the best place! I left school knowing I didn’t want to stay in education. It wasn’t really me; I wasn’t academic. Numbers, words? I was average, not great. I knew the apprentice route was for me, so I left school, and the next working week I started a job. I was
doing admin, helping out with accounts, all the day-to-day things that needed assisting. I was there for about a year, and then I decided I was ready for a new challenge and a new career. I wanted some progression, as I’ve always been very ambitious. Always looking for the next thing – whether that’s good or bad, I’m not too sure! I started here at Secure Power just under nine years ago as an apprentice, and I did my Level Three in Business Admin. Then I think I just saw green lights – I took every opportunity that came up. Maintenance, project managing, sales, order processing, finance, quoting – all of it, really. Inevitably this got me into the role I have now as managing director. The journey has been quite crazy in the past nine years or so!
It’s inspiring hearing people talk of a journey that is not the norm. It’s probably not unusual to hear people in the position you’re in say they didn’t get on that much with school. I had a conversation this morning with someone about the school system being a bit weird. The way job interviews work is weird too, like how you’ve got this one moment in time to prove whether you’re good at something. It feels like some bits of the system are further behind, and some people could be good at a job but never get the opportunity to do it because they don’t tick that box at that moment in time. How have you seen the business change in your time here?
When I started there were only about eight people in situ at the time. Everything else was subcontracting in terms of engineering, and then over time, we’re now a team of 24. We decided to change the way the service division worked, getting more involved in hiring our own engineers – that was a big step for us. The right step, at the right time. A lot of how the business is run now focuses on processes, which makes us a lot more efficient than we were before. That then means we’re in a position where we can hire more effectively. As you mentioned earlier, when you interview, it is often that the right thing is said at the right time. And I think that’s really tricky, because everyone says things when they think it’s right and it comes down to how the other person interprets that. One area in which we introduced a process was interviewing. Each individual that came in for an interview got the opportunity to understand the business rather than focus on selling themselves. They needed to understand whether the business was for them, as well as the other way around.
You mentioned you’d gone from eight to twenty-four colleagues in the time you’ve worked there. Are any of those eight still there now?
Yeah! I think four or five of us are still here. They’ve done remarkably well, now in managerial roles. They have set amazing examples for new people coming into the business and we drive that culture side. We like to keep it light-hearted. We know there’s a business to run and we have targets to achieve, and we all want to do really
well, but at the same time, culturally we have to understand that that’s what makes everything tick.
What is it like managing the people who you used to look up to in the business?
That’s been a really challenging point internally for me, navigating conversations that need to be had, and setting some boundaries that probably weren’t there before but very much need to be there now. We’re very much on a journey of growth. Certain areas need to be solid, we need to follow criteria, so having those conversations in the right manner and right environments was tough, but I’m definitely glad I took control and had those conversations.
Do you feel there are elements of your leadership style influenced by your journey in how you got to where you are now?
I think it’d be hard for that not to happen. I’m a very ambitious person, so if there’s an individual in the business who wants to have a career and a journey, I’m very much on board with that. I’ll do what we can as a business to make sure it’s beneficial to both parties. I am so proud of the business and the people within it.
You’re in a really unique position to inspire not just younger generations but also the wider business community, due to your journey
coming directly from school. What kind of stuff do you do within the industry and business community to help explain that story?
What’s interesting to me is that, only in the last two months or so, I think I’ve acknowledged the journey that I’ve been on. I think in the past five years or so, I’ve been laser-focused on how the business operates, making it profitable, driving the business forward, so I’ve not acknowledged what’s been happening. An area I want to focus on is younger people and inspiring that generation. I love Sheffield. I find it so warm, the community in Sheffield is unbelievable. I’m so grateful for all the businesses that help us. A lot of what I’ve achieved in the past 12 months wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the support of a lot of local businesses and local individuals.
We spoke briefly about schools. What would you like to see changed in the system that could help people realise their potential and their dreams?
That’s a big question. What I will say is that I’m not sure youngsters, teenagers, or young adults get their knowledge of owning a home, understanding tax, wage slips, even going to the doctors and dentist from school. I don’t think people have any experience of that. I think that should be taught. I bought my first house when I was 18, and I had no idea; I’d never spoken to a solicitor before, I didn’t know what the land registry was, but I knew that’s what I wanted. I think that if people were educated at a younger age in these sorts of things, or had access to the information that they need, I think that would drive some internal ambition for them. They’d be able to go, ‘No, I can do that, I just need to understand how to do it.’ One thing I often say is, ‘We’ll deal with it.’ No matter at work or at home – and it drives my husband mad – I’m always saying, ‘We’ll deal with it’.
That’s a great ethos. Your business has allowed you to thrive. What could other businesses learn from yours?
I think the understanding of what the individuals are trying to achieve themselves. We do monthly one-to-ones, hold position contracts for progression. That comes from communication. Asking the right questions at the right time, getting the right response back, and that comes from an open culture. Giving people the opportunity to say where they’re wanting to go helps businesses massively. Especially business leaders, because it can be lonely at the top sometimes – you’ve got a lot to deal with, you’re not necessarily involved in the day-today which, for me, is exactly what I used to do. It was a big step to let go of that. Having a strong management team is a great factor, and being open and able to have the right conversations is key.
WE LIKE TO KEEP IT LIGHTHEARTED. WE KNOW THERE’S A BUSINESS TO RUN AND WE HAVE TARGETS TO ACHIEVE, AND WE ALL WANT TO DO REALLY WELL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, CULTURALLY WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT’S WHAT MAKES EVERYTHING TICK.”
As managing director now, looking back over the last nine years, is there anything you’d have done differently?
Right now, I’d say no, because I’m a big believer of whatever steps you took got you to where you are right now. Do I think that my internal brain could have been more focused or less nervous? Maybe. In certain situations, 100%. But that comes with time and confidence. The last eight years have been unknown at every step. I’ve not really got anyone to relate to at any point of my journey in life, so I’ve had to navigate that path on my own. But no, otherwise, I wouldn’t change anything. There’s a reason we’re all sat where we are now and that’s due to what’s happened previously.
You spoke of green lights before. What comes next now?
Green lights. That’s all I can see. The business is in a very good place where we have such a solid foundation that anything that comes up, we can handle. We’re full of ambition, from top to bottom. I’m excited to see what is to come in the next few years. If people want to find out more about the business, where should they look? You can find us on LinkedIn, our website, or even give us a ring! We always like to have a chat.
SCAN HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S UNLTD PODCAST
As MD Law approaches the ten-year mark in business, the Sheffieldbased firm reflects on its growth from a relatively small insolvency team to a prominent player in commercial litigation and corporate law. Last month, unLTD paid the partners a visit to delve into the company's origins, growth and future aspirations, discussing their distinctive approach and client-focused ethos.
MD Law was founded by Matthew Dixon, Neil Kelly and Carl Jones, who left their positions at HLW Keeble Hawson in 2015. “We were essentially the insolvency team within the Sheffield office of that firm,” recalls Matthew, “and we all had a background in commercial litigation too, so we started building on those elements.” They moved to their current premises – the striking Grade-II listed Broom Hall house in S10 – and got to work on their vision of creating a streamlined, client-centred practice.
“We tried to run everything as slim as we could,” Neil adds. “We trimmed off all the fat and excess you have in a big firm, making it a really streamlined organisation with cloudbased computing, ready for remote working before we knew we needed to be.”
The early days were strenuous but rewarding. They launched themselves into the challenge at hand, taking care of regulatory matters and IT needs themselves, laying solid foundations for the future. “It was about being in charge of our own destiny,” says Neil.
One of the first significant milestones was turning on the computers and receiving their first job on the first day. The team gradually expanded, bringing in new members and trainees – the latter being an important step for the company’s self-sufficiency moving forward. “Starting to train our own staff was a big step,” notes Neil. “We wanted to develop a team that could grow with us.”
Fellow partner Kelly Wharin joined in 2018 with over a decade of litigation experience, marking the beginning of significant growth for the firm. This expansion continued in 2021 with
the establishment of a corporate department led by James Burdekin. “That was a key milestone for us, expanding from our original work area of insolvency and litigation to adding the corporate team,” Neil highlights. This move signalled a new phase of growth, allowing MD Law to offer a broader range of services.
MD Law’s ethos has always been about delivering high-quality work while understanding their clients’ businesses. “We want to be flexible so that we can do work we might have previously had to turn away; and when we get that work, we ensure we do a good job – that’s the most straightforward way to build a good reputation,” Neil explains. Building trust and giving face time to clients has been paramount to offering a personalised, thorough service. “It’s all based upon personal relationships and relationships with other parties we’ve done work with. A key thing for us is trust – knowing you’re going to do what you say you’ll do for the price you say you’ll do it,” Matthew emphasises.
By choosing MD Law, you’re guaranteed to have a partner working on your case, and each brings their own unique areas of expertise, contributing to a diverse offering. Neil, who qualified in 2008, specialises in contentious and non-contentious insolvency, shareholder disputes and construction work. James, on the other hand, focuses on corporate transactions, particularly Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), which have grown hugely in popularity over recent years.
Carl, who qualified in 2013, specialises almost exclusively in contentious insolvency and also
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Interior Design & Build specialists.
appears as a part-time judge. Kelly qualified in 2007 and is a partner in the Dispute Resolution team, which leaves Matthew to focus on overall management while straddling both insolvency and litigation work.
MD Law prides itself on training and retaining its staff, a commitment seen as a key factor in the firm’s future growth “We’ve had five trainees qualify with us in the last 10 years and offered all five roles as newlyqualified solicitors,” Matthew proudly notes. “It’s about creating an environment where they want to stay and build their careers.”
The legal industry has seen significant changes over the years, and MD Law has adapted accordingly. The rise of litigation funders, for instance, has impacted how insolvency claims are pursued. “We’ve seen more claims pursued out of insolvencies due to a bigger market of people willing to pay for them,” Matthew explains.
The consolidation of practices in the insolvency market has also been notable. “Our client pool is smaller but consists of bigger firms,” adds Neil. This trend reflects a broader shift in the legal market, with fewer mid-tier firms or High Street law firms and more large practices. “It’s not necessarily a challenge but just how the market is. We
took that step early and were doing the right thing at the right time in that respect.”
Looking ahead, MD Law aims to continue moving forward in its aim to becoming a full-service commercial practice. “We’ve taken big steps towards that with our commercial property offering, which is being looked after by Howard Wade, who joined us a consultant in 2022,” Neil shares. They also putting plans in motion to add employment and HR services to their portfolio while building up the expertise of their junior and senior staff.
Rounding off the interview, we touch upon their commitment to supporting local businesses. “We’ve worked on a number of significant local projects, like the rescue of Forge Bakehouse, who are now thriving,” Neil highlights. Their involvement in such projects underscores their dedication to the Sheffield community and their role in its economic development.
As MD Law celebrates its first decade, there’s a clear sense of pride in its growth so far and the team is viewing the future with optimism. “There’s always plenty of work to be done, and we’ll roll up our sleeves and get on with it,” says Matthew. With plans for further expansion and a continued focus on their core values, the company looks set to continue its development for years to come. www.mdlaw.co.uk
STARTING TO TRAIN OUR OWN STAFF WAS A BIG STEP. WE WANTED TO DEVELOP A TEAM THAT COULD GROW WITH US.
MD Law provides expert legal services in insolvency, dispute resolution, corporate and commercial matters to clients nationwide.
Originally starting out with a focus on co-working, Desk Space has since expanded to multiple offices across two locations in Sheffield and now specialises in offering both private office spaces and coworking options. We spoke to its co-founders, Amy Milchard and Neil Roberts, to find out more about their flexible options and what sets them apart as landlords...
Hi guys. Can you start by telling me a little bit about Desk Space?
Neil: Desk Space was born out of a need to optimise the space we had available. In 2018, we leased the entire 4-story Hope Works building, which includes four private offices. My main business, Just Telecom, was growing, but we had more space than we needed. To make the most of it, we transformed one floor into a coworking office and launched the getdesk.space domain— thus, Desk Space was created.
Amy: Desk Space started as a little co working side hobby project to share a bit upstairs space in one of the offices that we had. In the beginning, there were three of us and, mostly over visits to the pub, we all thought it would be a good idea to make it official and make it a proper business. We then expanded into more rooms in the same building on Mowbray Street, with the plan to attract more tech-led businesses. We also took on another building on West Bar, which was a set of old cottages with work units. A completely different vibe from Mowbray Street, but we loved it and made it into a mixture of co-working and office space. This was all pre-COVID, so it sounded quite innovative and unique at the time.
Was there a lot of interest in co-working spaces at that time?
N: Interest in coworking spaces has grown significantly since then, but at the time, we quickly filled our available space. This success led us to expand locally, where we discovered the charm of our West Bar location. Unlike the modern Hope Works building, West Bar is a pre-Victorian gem, with its own unique character.
Renovating the Grade II listed building to meet modern commercial standards was a labour of love. If the walls could talk, they’d surely have some fascinating stories to tell.
A: We brought it up to a level where it would be attractive, but, technically, we had no one in there when we got into lockdown. We did keep everybody who was in Hope Works; I think partly because we didn’t charge them any rent. Most of those are still with us now, so it obviously worked.
Were you worried when the lockdowns started?
N: Absolutely. West Bar had just opened in December 2019, and within a few months, we were forced to close due to the lockdowns. However, we found a small lifeline during this period by collaborating with Sheffield University to provide office space for a limited number of PhD students.
A: It was looking like it could take a different direction at that point. We were going to try and venture out a little bit more into the technology side of it. But things changed and it was hard in the sense that we didn’t know when it was going to stop and if you’ve got people on rolling contracts, you’re not making any money when no one’s using the space. I think we all knew it was still going to be really desirable at the end of it and we knew that the world of work was changing so actually the further lockdown went on, the more confident we were that actually that is going to be a better solution, and we had it ready and waiting.
At Secure Power, we ensure your power supply never lets you down. Specialising in UPS and backup solutions, we keep your operations running smoothly even during outages. With over a decade of experience, we provide tailored solutions and expert maintenance. Stay powered with Secure Power!
YOU CAN DROP IN AND DROP OUT, USE IT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT, BUT WE KEEP IT DEDICATED AND WE DON’T DO HOT DESKING SO PEOPLE CAN LEAVE THEIR THINGS AND MAKE IT REALLY FEEL LIKE THEIR OWN SPACE
Did lockdown actually help the progress of the business?
N: Lockdown certainly disrupted our coworking operations. The shift to remote work became the norm, and many businesses embraced working from home. As a result, when restrictions eased, we found that many people chose to continue working from home. This led us to pivot our strategy by focusing more on private office spaces while still offering coworking options.
A: We have a lot of individuals who are actually employed and work remotely because employers realised that if you want the best talent, you’re not restricted to your own locality anymore. That doesn’t necessarily mean people are happy to be stuck at home working all the time; people want that differentiation. People miss their colleagues and the work environment, so if you can replicate that, it definitely helps.
What makes it different from other coworking spaces?
A: We just keep it simple. It’s low commitment. It’s very easy on the budget as well as easy on the arrangements. You can drop in and drop out, use it as much as you want, but we keep it dedicated and we don’t
do hot desking so people can leave their things and make it really feel like their own space and get to know everyone else. We don’t try and pretend we’re going to have a prosecco bar. We don’t try and do too much because we’re in Kelham Island and that’s our biggest plus. We also have a car park at Mowbray Street, which is a big benefit in Kelham Island”.
N: Our offering stands out because it’s both cost-effective and transparent, with no hidden charges. We provide flexible terms, with coworking spaces available on a 30-day rolling basis. We aim to be the place where businesses can start and grow. For example, one of our clients has expanded over the past four years, moving from a small to a medium to a large office as their team has grown. Just by being a community, and with online chat available every day, we’ve seen collabs between the businesses here, research projects develop, social time become a regular Friday lunch event, as well as people getting involved with KINCA events and most recently Sheffield Business Runners!
What are your plans for the future of Desk Space?
A: We might consider another venue in the future. We did think about going slightly outside of Sheffield at one point, but I think if we do it now, we'd be more interested in doing something in Sheffield, and maybe slightly more towards the city centre, just to get more of a presence there. Again, it would be something small. We're not going to try and compete with the bigger spaces because it's not really what we're about.
N: We’ve already expanded to multiple
offices across two locations. While the income from coworking can be higher when at full capacity, the increase in competition has made it challenging to maintain that level. As a result, we’ve already transitioned a significant portion of our space back to private offices and this is the future we’ve set for the business.
Desk Space’s standard rate is £125 per month for a dedicated desk, which is exclusively yours on a 30-day rolling term. This price includes all bills, secure 24/7 access, fast internet, and weekly cleaning. Additionally, at their Hope Works location, they offer parking—a rare commodity in Kelham Island. Head to getdesk. space to find out more.
and support your business next level!
Funding and support take your business the next level! Funding and support to take your business to the next level!
Funding and support to take your business to the next level! Sheffield
Business Sheffield
Got big ideas for your business? Business Sheffield can help make them happen!
and support your business next level!
Want to take your business to the next level?
Is underutilised space or wasted time and materials holding you back? Want to grow, become more streamlined or make your business management processes more efficient?
You could get expert support to:
• develop ways to drive your business forward
• apply for funding to make them happen
• measure their effect
£1.2m has already been awarded to 140 businesses and the remaining £500,000 must be committed before the end of this year.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, they’re offering expert support and grants to help businesses find creative solutions to challenges and achieve their goals quicker. And it couldn’t be easier to apply – we also supply a Productivity Advisor to help complete the application!
Digital Innovation Grants
You could get a grant of between £2,500 and £5,000
• This grant can pay for half of your project; your business will need to pay for the other half itself
Productivity Grants
• You can get a grant of between £2,500 and £12,499
• In total, your project can’t cost more than £125,000
• Your business must be able to pay at least the same amount as your grant towards your project
To start your application head to: www.sheffield.gov.uk/business/business-productivity-and-digitisationgrant-scheme
Call us on 0114 224 5000 or email businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk
Airmaster successfully completed the installation of air conditioning over two floors at BOC in Brinsworth, Rotherham.
The project was handed over with a user demonstration, O&M manual and commissioning certificates for ease of future maintenance and referencing.
They installed multiple inverter-driven R32 cassette DX split systems. These cassettes were placed in the ceiling grid within the offices, training rooms and cellular spaces to provide independent heating or cooling for the area where the user is working via a wall-mounted remote controller.
The R32 systems installed offers a lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) compared to comparable R410a VRF systems. 675 compared to 2088, which means it has al lower potential to contribute to climate change making it a more sustainable choice.
Remote controllers were installed for each system to provide independent heating or cooling for the area where the user is working.
The project was handed over with a user demonstration, O&M manual and commissioning certificates for ease of future maintenance and referencing.
The installation included all interconnecting containment, refrigerant pipework, thermal insulation, controls wiring and condensate drainage. The condensers for the systems were located externally at the rear ground level of the building for ease of servicing.
The R32 systems installed offer a lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) compared to comparable R410a VRF systems—675 compared to 2088—which means they have a lower potential to contribute to climate change, making them a more sustainable choice.
“The DL Company offered a professional installation to a high standard. The initial proposal helped demonstrate layout options. The level of detail for the costs allowed confidence in the proposal and final cost structures. Value was at the heart of the design, delivered on time and to budget. We would recommend DL for further schemes.”
SALLY WILLIAMS, HEAD OF FINANCE, BOC LIMITED, A LINDE COMPANY
“The DL company offered a professional installation to a high standard. The initial proposal helped demonstrate layout options. The level of detail for the costs allowed confidence on the proposal and final cost structures. Value was at the heart of the design, delivered on time and to budget. We would recommend DL for further
After recently celebrating 65 years of trading in Sheffield, Hodge Clemco, a supplier and manufacturer of abrasive blasting equipment and abrasives, is set for a full rebranding to SurfacePrep following a buyout three years ago. UnLTD spoke to Louise Cranstone-Spooner, Marketing Manager at SurfacePrep UK, to discuss the history of the business, recent changes and their important green initiatives...
Hi Louise. Can you start by telling me a little bit about who SurfacePrep is?
SurfacePrep started in the US and acquired lots of other companies within the surface preparation industry. In the US, they have about 50 companies under the SurfacePrep umbrella. They’re also in Canada, but here in the UK, about three years ago, they bought Sheffield’s Hodge Clemco, which is where we are now, alongside companies in Manchester, Washington and Birmingham. Over the last two years, it’s been about building it all and now it’s about rebranding all the companies to SurfacePrep.
Hodge Clemco has been long established in Sheffield. Can you give us a little bit of the company’s history?
Hodge Clemco started in 1959, and it was originally based across the road before eventually moving here. They started out doing what they do now, which is essentially manufacturing blasting equipment. We don’t do any blasting, so we wouldn’t come on-site and do your blasting for you, but we will give you everything to be able to do that; from the machine to the abrasive, to the training and servicing, we’d give you everything you need to complete that process.
What has changed for the business since SurfacePrep took over?
Not much, in terms of what we do. Prior to being bought out by SurfacePrep three years ago, Hodge was part of a different group of companies. When SurfacePrep bought Hodge as an abrasive blasting manufacturing company, they also bought a blasting equipment hire company and two other companies that were mainly powder and paint solutions; spray booths, powder coating systems, conveyor systems, so anything to do with that side of the business. What they’ve got in the UK now is a full surface preparation through to surface finishing operation.
The slogan that we have here in the UK is a total service solution provider so we can do everything in this big loop for all those three areas, from you buying it, servicing it, maintaining it, refurbishing it, to recycling and starting again.
For the uninitiated, explain what abrasive blasting is.
Abrasive blasting can be used for two purposes: either to remove something from a surface like paint or any other coating, or you can do it to create a surface finish that you might want, so it can be used for aesthetic purposes, or it can be to remove. The other thing you can do is finish the surface to a certain grade. If you were painting something again, you might need it to a certain level and finish to be able to apply the coat you want on top.
People often refer to it as sandblasting, but you shouldn’t because if you blast with sand, it can give you silicosis, so it’s actually been illegal to blast with sand since the 1950s. Instead, abrasives are used, and here in Sheffield, we also sell a whole range of abrasives. If you get to a roundabout and you see the red grip strips, that’s our abrasive that goes into that, or we’ll sell it to customers to put in resin so you can put it on a resin drive, and things like that.
The machines you sell are for the purposes of abrasive blasting. What sort of clients are you selling to?
It can be anything really. You get people from a guy in his shed to large, well-known companies that you would have heard of. It could be something as big as taking the surface down on an aeroplane, to some guy who’s blasting his car door that he’s renovating.
There are lots of different variations of what we sell, from large blast rooms to cabinets and portable blast machines, a lot of the machines are manufactured on-site, in Sheffield.
What’s the main selling point for you compared to competitors?
The main selling point for us is that we’re a total service solution provider, and that we can do everything for you enabling us to deliver results beyond the surface.
How many people do you employ?
Throughout the whole of the UK, it’s around 100 people. In Sheffield, it’s around 70, so the majority of the company in the UK is based in Sheffield. There’s either a contingency who’ve been here forever, or there’s a few of us who’ve been here a couple of years. But that’s mainly because people have retired from the business. There’s a guy who’s due to retire at Christmas, and he’s been here 36 years. He was the Managing Director and he’s looking forward to his retirement now. There’s a lot of people like that.
Why do you think that is?
It’s not a family company, because it’s run by an American company, but it has that kind of feel. For me, and I’ve been here two years, everyone was so friendly when I joined. You go around to get introduced to these people who have been here for 20 or 30 years and you’re like, what?
We are a recruitment agency and consultancy that specialises in People and Talent Strategy. Based in Sheffield, and working across the region, we work with our clients to both attract and retain talent.
We are a recruitment agency and consultancy that specialises in People and Talent Strategy Based in Sheffield, and working across the region, we work with our clients to both attract and retain talent
Our mission is to assist organisations in growing diverse and motivated teams, within inclusive and effective environments
Our mission is to assist organisations in growing diverse and motivated teams, within inclusive and effective environments.
We
We
Because you don’t hear that anymore?
The reason that a lot of us have come in is either because of the development of the company or to replace somebody who’s been here a long time and is retiring. But it does have a nice, friendly feel about the place. It doesn’t matter what your problem is, you can go to anyone, and if they know about it, they’ll help you. If they don’t, they’ll point you to the person who does. It’s like a little community people have been really supportive. I’m enjoying it. I love it here.
How have the changes introduced by SurfacePrep gone down with the people who have been there for so long?
As you’d probably expect, there was some getting used to it, but I think we’re getting to a point now where everybody genuinely is relaxed, and they’re on board now. You can see a lot more cohesion between the four businesses. It benefits us because it gives the business in the UK the whole scope of the surface preparation and finishing industry rather than just being one area of it in Sheffield. That’s also better for the customer as we’re getting the teams from across the country working together on quotes for customers.
Aside from the blending of the four businesses under one banner, what other changes have been implemented?
One of the big things that we’ve started doing is really looking at ways we can recycle the abrasives and stop them from going to landfill. We can collect pretty much any abrasive that we sell and take it to a recycling centre, where they will repurpose it and recycle it back out. As long as it doesn’t contain any contaminant or hazardous stuff, they can recycle it and we can put it into other products.
It’s becoming a big thing as it saves companies money because if they sent that abrasive to landfill, there’s a fee, whereas they’re incentivized to recycle, so there is a benefit for the company as well as for the environment.
hodgeclemco.co.uk
1959 ==– HODGE CLEMCO INCORPORATED
Part of the 100-year-old Samuel Hodge Group, a diverse engineering group founded around the marine industry. Products such as Contractor, Craftsman, JBlast and Clemco have become trade names for quality and reliability.
2008 – WOLVERHAMPTON ABRASIVES
We acquire full share stake in Wolverhampton Abrasives. This gives our customers a one-stop solution for abrasive materials and equipment, backed by our engineering team.
2008 – NEW ENVIRACLEAN SYSTEMS
Fixed installation abrasive systems developed in response to changing markets. Prestigious installations for the Ministry of Defence and Rolls Royce.
2008 – PREMIER EQUIPMENT SERVICES ACQUISITION
We acquire Premier Equipment Services, adding the IBIX range of ultra-portable blast machines and a low-cost range of airless paint pumps to our product range.
2015 – MAC’ANTS ABRASIVES ACQUISITION
We acquire Mac’Ants, a supplier of blasting and abrasive materials. Our range expands to include aluminium oxides, garnet, sponge, and plastic abrasive media.
2019 – NEW ABRASIVE FACILITY
We unveil a brand-new abrasive facility in Yorkshire. This investment expands our ability to manufacture and hold the best stock of abrasive materials in the UK.
2020 – MASON MORLEY ACQUISITION
We acquire the assets of Mason Morley following their company closure. This adds an extensive portfolio of spray and abrasive blasting equipment to our product range.
PRESENT – SURFACEPREP
Hodge Clemco joins the SurfacePrep group of companies. SurfacePrep has nearly fifty facilities and hundreds of experts across the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.
Following a rebrand, unLTD spoke with James Lowe about his long and fruitful career in the world of graphic design and what his new collaborative venture Lowe&Co is all about…
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do… I’m James Lowe. I’ve been a graphic designer since 2008 and I’ve been self-employed since 2012. I really like to go further, look deeper, and find meaning in things - so that the work I produce resonates with its intended audience.
How did you get into graphic design?
Going back to my early school days, I always had a flair for Art and Design. After university I shelved my design aspirations and worked in call centres. After a year or so, I started putting a portfolio together and managed to bag a parttime job at a small web design company based in Kelham Island. Mostly, it was making tea and doing admin, but they’d let me have a go at some project work from time to time. This gradually became more frequent, until I was their sole in-house designer. I’m still very grateful for that opportunity, as it gave me the opportunity to be an actual designer in an actual company working for actual clients!
So, freelance seemed like the next best step?
Around 2012, I started to get itchy feet. My grandad passed away that year and left me a small inheritance. This was the safety net I needed to make the leap into the unknown.
I spent the first year or so scratching away at local leads that came from friends and family. My first proper paid gig was designing an issue of Exposed magazine in 2013. My next main job came from a Sheffield-based design agency called Peter & Paul, who needed some freelance support. This arrangement ended up lasting 5 years and really helped me get my feet under the table as a trusted designer in Sheffield.
At the same time, I did some agency-based freelance work with the likes of Jaywing and The Cafeteria. I also managed to work with some great clients of my own, like Sheffield DocFest, Crafts Council, The Children’s Hospital Charity, National Videogame Museum and Sheffield United FC to name a few.
Any favourite projects you’ve worked on to date?
My work with Sheffield DocFest has been my longest-lasting project to date. Apart from 2021, I have designed their catalogue and most other public-facing deliverables every year since 2015. The work is intense, and the deadlines are tight, but seeing the work go up all over the city and watching people from all over the world interact with my design work is always a satisfying experience – the people are great too.
Are you working on anything exciting at the minute?
I’m currently working on a collaborative visual
communication project for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We’re trying to make important and hard-to-digest information more accessible and appealing to users of the service. These things typically tend to be dry and unappealing. Pages and pages of technical text are not always what a person needs when they’re going through a stressful time. We don’t think it has to be that way. A human tone of voice, calming visuals and friendly typography can go a long way.
What inspired you to start Lowe&Co?
Lowe&Co is my latest venture. I’m trying to slowly move away from being a freelancer for other design agencies and move towards gaining more of my own clients – and the kinds of clients that I really want to work with.
Starting a fully formed agency is daunting and expensive and I’m not quite there just yet. Lowe&Co is more of a collaborative of creative and technical minds, each with years of experience. Between us, we can offer the same level of service as most agencies and always get the right people on the job without the need for expensive overheads.
Our services aren’t just limited to graphic design – collaborators have experience within several fields, including copywriting, illustration, research, web development, photography, animation and music composition. I figured that I’d never be able to wear all these hats on my own, so collaboration seemed like a logical step forward.
What do you see for the future of Lowe&Co?
I’d like Lowe&Co to move towards working primarily for clients within the arts, health and charity sectors, as well as some forward-thinking not-for-profits. I’m a firm believer that design can help to change the world for the better –but working for huge international corporations just won’t do that. There are a handful of designers and agencies that are well-known and respected for doing great work for well-meaning organisations, and I hope to be included in that list one day.
Right now, I’m looking to broaden my horizons and work with as many new people and organisations as possible. I’m looking for interesting and challenging projects – bland brands that need a hand. Clients that want to be pushed and who acknowledge that they don’t know the answers. If your brand needs some help, I’d love to have a chat and see how Lowe&Co can help.
For more information or to see some previous work, visit www.loweandco.uk or for enquiries email james@loweandco.uk.
In a move set to propel innovation and growth of early-stage companies, Sheffield Technology Parks (STP) and University of Sheffield are teaming up to build new lab spaces in the city centre.
This collaboration comes after University of Sheffield is once again recognised as one of the top institutions in England for developing intellectual property (IP) and commercialising research, typically as spinout companies, according to the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) published in 2023.
Over the past four years, company founders at the University of Sheffield have outpaced even Oxford - when benchmarked for the size of university - in producing spinouts, with 22 companies emerging since 2020. These range from gene therapy startups like Crucible Therapeutics, AI firms such as Opteran, life sciences enterprises like Evolutor, and software companies like FourJaw Manufacturing.
Despite this success, a critical challenge has been the shortage of suitable space for these innovative startups in the city.
Through this new partnership, STP - already home to several University spinouts like Evolutor, Aegiq, and BOW - has received University funding to transform a corridor of five spaces into labs designed to accommodate University spinouts and organically grown science-based businesses.
The impact of STP’s support of sci-tech spinouts is already evident and the University is also committed to supporting its spinouts to embed in the regional ecosystem. This has led to Evolutor, a biomanufacturing spinout, securing a bespoke labspace, allowing them to pursue growth plans and recruit Pippa Sinclair, a former PhD student from the University of Oxford, who relocated to Sheffield for the opportunity.
Examples like this underscore how better infrastructure for science-led businesses can attract
highly skilled professionals to the city, generating higher-salaried jobs and contributing to the local economy. The financial boost provided through this partnership will help bring these goals to fruition far sooner.
“As a small economic development organisation we’ve worked hard to accommodate early stage life science businesses, but struggled to afford the expensive kit required by lab users and relied on them sourcing their own kit,” explains Tom Wolfenden, CEO of STP.
“This often means spending thousands of their initial investment which could have been put to better use.”
“With this funding partnership we’re pleased to now offer fully kitted labs enabling smoother entry and faster growth for the businesses, predominantly spinouts but also available to anyone with a good idea.”
The bigger picture
Local stakeholders, founders,
and investors want to grow innovation-led, scalable businesses in Sheffield city centre. However, the lack of suitable clustering, incubation, and scale-up space for deeptech, med-tech, and life-science companies has hindered these ambitions.
Andy Hogben, Head of Commercialisation at University of Sheffield, adds: “We need more commercial space in the city centre to help Sheffield capture the potential jobs created by innovation-led, scalable businesses. We’re really pleased to partner with STP to create a small number of labs and we hope it boosts confidence that these companies will be part of our future city centre growth.”
The new lab spaces at STP are part of the broader spatial and economic concept - known as the Sheffield Innovation Spine - to link the infrastructure required to grow knowledge-led businesses in the city centre, forming a natural route from University of Sheffield’s campus to West Bar Square and capitalising on existing developments of Kelham Island and Castlegate through to Sheffield Hallam University.
Partnerships like this one will be crucial to securing the success of innovation-led businesses, as well as the economic growth of our city.
www.shefftechparks.com
Translink Corporate Finance UK announce five senior promotions across the firm
Translink Corporate Finance UK is delighted to announce a raft of promotions across its Yorkshire offices following a period of significant growth.
Joe Briggs, Will Sykes and Luke Harrower have all been promoted to M&A Manager and Mathew Oldfield and Josh McCorrie have been promoted to Transaction Services Manager and Assistant Manager respectively.
Will Sykes, Translink UK M&A Manager, said: “Translink really cares about developing team members and provides a platform for everyone to progress within the firm. I have been fortunate to work with a great team, both domestically and internationally.”
Kevin Davies, Translink Corporate Finance UK Partner, said: “On behalf of the firm, I would like to congratulate everyone who has received a promotion. Each marks well-earned recognition for their hard work and commitment to going above and beyond.”
Translink Corporate Finance has seven offices in the UK - Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leicester, London, and Nottingham. For more info visit translinkcf.com.
Experienced company leader and operations manager, Brent Woods has joined Sheffield Technology Parks as the Head of Operations.
Brent has nearly 30 years’ experience heading up organisations in the creative and technology sectors. Former CEO of The Media Centre in Huddersfield, he also spent a decade at the helm of Sheffield’s DocFest during which he carved out an international reputation for the festival and its host city.
Sheffield Technology Parks (STP), established more than 35 years ago, sits at the heart of the city’s innovative startup scene. A non-profit organisation, STP combines work and meeting spaces, business incubation, scale-up support, networking and social events for Sheffield’s innovators.
Brent comments: “What’s exciting about joining Sheffield Technology Parks is the opportunity to bring fresh
perspectives and innovative approaches to further enhance our offerings. It’s about ensuring that everyone who visits, works with, or is part of STP has the best possible experience.
“I really wanted to be working in and contributing to Sheffield and its growth, so I think I’ve landed in the perfect spot.”
To find out more about Sheffield Technology Parks, visit www. shefftechparks.com.
South Yorkshire IT and VoIP Provider Jibba Jabba recruit Rich Davies as Director
Leading South Yorkshire IT and VoIP provider Jibba Jabba is delighted to announce the new appointment of Director, Rich Davies.
Rich’s appointment comes after the Doncaster-based company has experienced a period of significant growth and new client wins.
Joining the firm with more than 30 years’ experience across several professional services sectors, Rich joins as Director where he will be responsible for developing and executing a business development strategy, building long-lasting relationships with local organisations and utilising his networking skills to develop the company’s reputation.
Rich says: “I am genuinely excited to start my new role at Jibba Jabba. It’s an honour to be a part of an organisation that is truly
going places and has an exciting future ahead of it.”
Jibba Jabba provide leading IT and telecoms support and solutions for businesses across Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Leeds and London. For more info head to jibbavoip.com
Sheffield Theatres has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Newman as the next Artistic Director.
Elizabeth joins from Pitlochry Festival Theatre, where she has been Artistic Director since 2018.
During her tenure the theatre was nominated for Best Theatre in the UK at The Stage Awards and established collaborations with theatre companies including the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, HOME Manchester and Capital Theatres.
A multi-award-winning theatre director, Elizabeth has directed over one hundred theatre productions all over the UK. A champion of new writing, her work has been acknowledged by the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.
Elizabeth said: “I am absolutely thrilled to join Sheffield Theatres as their new Artistic Director. Collaborating with Tom Bird, Bookey Oshin, and the entire talented team in Sheffield is a dream come true.
“Sheffield is a cultural hub where creativity thrives and flourishes, and I am eager to contribute to the dynamic arts scene within which Sheffield Theatres sits. I am deeply honoured and cannot wait to embark on this exciting journey.”
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Steel Cactus, a leading industrial recruitment firm based in Sheffield, has recently announced the appointment of Dean Plumb as their new Business Development Manager.
Dean brings 24 years of extensive experience in the recruitment industry, having previously worked with various agencies where he held several roles, including managing teams and serving in directorial positions. Steel Cactus expect this wealth of experience will make him a valuable new asset to their team.
Dean expressed his enthusiasm for joining Steel Cactus and reuniting with Simon Gillott, a colleague he has worked with for over four years at a previous company. Dean said: “It was an exciting opportunity to join Simon again. We spoke about it, and it was the right time for a new and exciting challenge for me.”
His role at Steel Cactus will focus on business development, which the business believe will be a critical function for the company’s growth. His primary responsibilities initially will be networking, finding new business opportunities and expanding the company’s client base.
Dean emphasised the importance of being attentive in recruitment, stating: “Listening is the most important thing for me. Listening to what businesses and clients need ensures that you match their requirements with what you provide.”
Despite being new to the team, having joined in late July, Dean is already settling in well and actively engaging with potential clients. His proactive approach and dedication are evident as he navigates his new role and starts to make a significant impact.
The decision to join Steel Cactus was strongly influenced by his professional relationship with Simon. “We get on really well and have always kept in touch,” explained Dean.
Steel Cactus is confident that the appointment will drive the company’s growth and strengthen its position in a competitive recruitment industry market. His wealth of experience and proven track record in business development will undoubtedly contribute to the firm’s success.
For more recruitment services or more information visit steelcactus.co.uk.
This month, unLTD’s Holly Dibden heard from the Chief Executive of Sheffield Hospitals Charity (SHC), Beth Crackles. They met at the ever-impressive Cambridge Street Collective, fittingly located next to Leah’s Yard, which SHC are moving into next month.
Joined by gaffer Phil Turner, we spoke over coffee on a busy Thursday lunch, about Beth’s impact so far, health inequalities and what’s to come for SHC…
“I guess it’s a weird story” Beth tells us when asked how she started out in the charity sector; “I grew up on a riding school which was the local Riding for the Disabled Association centre, so from a really young age I was surrounded by people from different walks of life and always fundraising.”
Beth grew up near Selby and attributes her values and work ethic to her countryside environment, surrounded by animals and hard-working parents who ran their own businesses.
After a degree in Equine Science, moving to London and completing a marketing diploma and MSc in charity management, Beth found her feet in business planning and strategy. “From RNIB, I went to Friends of the Earth, developing
fundraising products from scratch and working on corporate partnerships, a huge learning experience.”
After becoming a mother and relocating to Sheffield, Beth’s now been in her Chief Exec role for a year.
It’s fair to say that this is a new era for SHC, in her brief time Beth has already shifted the charity’s trajectory, driving forward with structural and organisational changes. “I went off my experience and led with developing a new strategy; the rest will fall from that.”
Then came the decision to physically move the charity’s premises. In September, SHC will relocate from the Northern General Hospital to Leah’s Yard in The Heart of the City, a move which Beth believes is integral for the charity’s growth. “Positioning us physically within the city is important in terms of being able to be active, it gives us a presence
in a really cool space and a platform to connect and develop.”
An important part of SHC is that supporting Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT (five hospitals, 40 community settings) and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS FT (mental health, learning difficulties and other specialist services) means that it has the largest healthcare remit of any charity in the City. 21,000 NHS staff caring for two million patients each year. Whereas other charities typically focus on one specific issue or demographic, SHC helps to improve the lives of many people across Sheffield, whether it be patients and their families or the NHS staff who take care of them. From welcoming babies into the world on the Jessop Wing, to supporting cancer care at Weston Park, or receiving specialist care at the Royal Hallamshire, Charles Clifford Dental or the Northern General, its support touches us all.
As a charity for the hospitals of Sheffield and the people they serve, deciding who and where to support might seem like an overwhelming task, yet Beth sees this as a positive; “We must be all things for all people because that’s what the NHS is.”
Part of having a good strategy means getting SHC funding priorities straight, not only supporting the staff, patients and families, but also focusing on what matters most and campaigns that touch our community.
Going forward, Beth says the charity will be focusing on fundraising for dementia, as well as highlighting and helping reduce the health inequalities in Sheffield. This is an important area, as from the start to the end of the number 83 bus route, life expectancy drops by a whopping 10 years.
To help shape this campaign, Dr Bola Owolabi has joined the charity as an Ambassador for Tackling Health Inequalities.
Dr Bola is hugely influential as NHS England’s lead for health inequalities and has been proactive in what interventions are needed to start the change in our communities.
It’s clear that Beth’s fresh perspective has brought new ideas and a cleaner focus. SHC would have ticked on regardless, but by appointing a Chief Exec
like Beth, using strategy, planning and forging solid corporate relationships, turnover targets can be increased. A bigger picture makes for bigger goals; “We’re not the obvious choice at the moment, but we have an ambition to be one of the major charities in the city.”
What comes across most in our interview is Beth’s unwavering excitement and determination to make a change in her role. It’s clear why she was selected for the Chief Exec job. Towards the end of our meeting, she passionately makes the case that: “This isn’t just cute fundraising, this is a really big deal and SHC has the potential to drive changes to improve healthcare in Sheffield.”
One year in, Beth’s certainly made an entrance, and while there may yet be a few bumps in the road, it’s obvious that she’s cultivating a modern charity, that’s efficient and direct, with the main goal to help ensure the best healthcare for all of us.
For more information visit
It is estimated that more than 100,000 people in the UK are currently trapped in modern slavery.
In his home country of Iran, Armin Taghipour, was a highly successful chef working at some of the country’s top restaurants. He rose to national fame when he appeared on reality TV series Dastpokht, (Iranian MasterChef). With TV fame came brand deals and job offers, one which he accepted for Head Chef at an independent hotel in the UK.
Unfortunately, upon arrival in the UK, Armin found himself being exploited, bullied and emotionally abused by his new employer.
Armin has now partnered with Sheffield-based modern slavery charity Causeway, to produce a film sharing his story, highlighting that modern slavery can happen to anybody.
Armin says of his experience: “I was made to work from 7am until 10pm, 7
days a week. She paid me for my first two weeks in the job, but then she wouldn’t pay me. I had no money to live on, and she knew this.”
In what Causeway say is a common situation, Armin’s employer provided him with his work visa, accommodation and food. This put Armin in a particularly vulnerable position with everything
reliant on his employer. Eventually the situation led to Armin developing mental health problems.
“I didn’t know what to do. I had nowhere to go. I started getting lots of fears and anxieties. It was like mental pain for me, like I was losing my personality.” Armin said.
Whenever Armin did
try to speak up for better treatment, his employer threatened to have him deported. “I didn’t know anything about this country or the law, and my employer took advantage of that.”
Citizens Advice advised Armin to make a complaint to the police. From there he was referred into the government’s National Referral Mechanism, who referred him on for modern slavery support.
After receiving modern slavery support, Armin has recently been able to move out of his safehouse to live independently in the community. He has also received a new skilled working visa and is now determined to find safe employment and rebuild his dreams and career.
For more information or support please email ifl@ wearecauseway.org.uk or visit www.wearecauseway. org.uk.
St Luke’s Hospice is set to launch its most ambitious retail project to date: The city’s first charity department store!
St Luke’s is proud to unveil plans for an 8,500 sq. ft department store at the Kilner Way Retail Park in Wadsley Bridge.
Opening this Autumn, the shop will offer a wide variety of pre-loved goods for the cost-conscious sustainable shopper, creating a go-to destination for everything pre-loved.
“Shopping pre-loved with St Luke’s Kilner Way is win, win, win – it’s good for the environment, good for your wallet and great for St Luke’s, enabling us to continue our support for around 1,800 patients every year, as well as their families and carers.
“Our retail chain raises an incredible £3million each year towards our patient care costs, transforming supporters pre-loved items into tailored care and support for those affected by terminal illness in Sheffield.”
If you are interested in becoming a Kilner Way volunteer, please visit stlukeshospice.org.uk/volunteer, call 0114 235 7639 or email volunteer@ hospicesheffield.co.uk.
On 3rd August local lad Rich Stoodley set off on a ‘journey of a lifetime’, cycling 5000 miles to raise money for The Children’s Hospital Charity.
A keen cyclist, Rich - or “Rapid Rich” as he has always been known - will travel across the USA. He is taking on the challenge solo - going coast to coast from New York to San Francisco.
Rich said: “It's probably a daft thing to do at 63, but you never know what is around the corner, so ‘Don't Dream – DO’, that's my motto.”
“My inspiration comes from the fact that many people, young and old, find themselves with medical conditions that change their lives. This Ride is to support those people, and if others want to help me get to the end, then there will be no better reminder and encouragement to help me cover those gruelling miles than the 'ping' of another kind donation notification on my phone.”
To donate and find out more about Rapid Rich’ Challenge, visit his page: https://tinyurl.com/mry2xw52
Summer weather has finally arrived and we are managing project delivery with volunteer and staff holidays as well as trying to get some R&R ourselves - aren’t we? There is never a quiet time in the not-for-profit sector - beneficiaries always need our support, but without us being refreshed and rested ourselves, we can’t help others. Have you taken your annual leave this year yet? - A full two weeks away from your organisation is beneficial. Can you hand over the reins to someone you can trust to keep things going?
It’s imperative that you are at full strength to cope with the next season of activity, perhaps even scaling
back operations in your absence, but making sure that you can recharge with self-care, so that your oxygen mask is fitted before anyone else gets theirs on!
Volunteers and staff must be those you can rely on in these times when you need to step away, so ensure you have recruited the right people that you can trust to keep things going whilst you are taking time out. Burnout is a killer and stress in the workplace is a slippery slope to mistakes happening, affecting your service users directly. Robust recruitment and volunteering strategies are imperative to protecting your organisation in holiday times and all times.
This month, unLTD’s Holly Dibden spoke with trustee Paul from Sheffield-based and volunteer-srun charity No Panic, who offer drop-in peer support groups to anyone with depression, anxiety or low mood.
Tell us about your organisation and what you do…
We are No Panic Sheffield; we’ve run mental health peer support groups for 18+ for 15 years. We offer weekly in-person and online support groups, as well as monthly social events. Our groups are a mix of psychoeducation, a social space and to normalise talking about mental health. They are drop-in, small, friendly and safe groups.
What inspired the start of No Panic?
Initially, No Panic Sheffield was part of an NHS-funded drive to create a group to support individuals experiencing mental health problems. A primary aim was that it would eventually be peer-led which it has been for many years. It was inspired by the idea of having accessible help with psychoeducation that didn’t need to be booked onto. For individuals to share coping strategies, normalise difficult conversations and for socialising as well. We also wanted to offer the groups at convenient times
with no waiting lists or pressure to attend.
What does No Panic mean to your group members?
A safe space where people can relate, share and learn from each other. Anxiety is a life-changing and debilitating condition that people need help for as soon as possible, and peer support groups can help that. Members can find support among individuals
experiencing similar problems.
When and how can people access the groups?
To join or refer someone, head to our website nopanicsheffield.org/joinrefer. On Wednesdays, we offer a group in-person 6:30-8:30pm, at Sheffield Flourish or online at the same time via a zoom link. Thursday’s session is in person 10am-12pm, at Unit 4, SODIT, SYAC building. We also have monthly socials which are usually scenic park walks in Sheffield which we put details of on our social media.
How can people donate or help the charity?
Any donations please make to No Panic Sheffield,
Cooperative Bank, 08-92-99 and account number 65442645. We are a micro-charity with 100% volunteers, we run on grants and donations. The last financial year we had £1,100 income and £1,100 expenditure, so any donations would be greatly received. £20 allows us to run one session!
No Panic are looking for new Trustees to help the organisation fulfil its charitable administrative obligations as well as oversee and inspire their volunteers. To become a trustee or volunteer, to donate, join or refer someone, you can email nopanicsheffvol@ gmail.com or visit nopanicsheffield.org.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES WORLDWIDE USE TUFCOT® MATERIALS IN HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS.
THE 6 BENEFITS OF USING TUFCOT® COMPOSITE MATERIALS OVER CONVENTIONAL METALS AND OTHER COMPOSITE BEARING MATERIALS ARE...
Tucot® composite bearing materials offer inherently low coefficients of friction across the range, even under dry running conditions and this can be further modified with the use of additives to suit the application.
Tufcot® standard materials, such as Tufcot T100 Marine or T100G, offer friction coefficients as low as 0.13. Our XPL materials give friction as low as 0.04.
Low friction reduces power requirements in mechanical systems and contributes to a longer bearing life.
Water absorption and subsequent swell can be considered negligible for Tufcot® materials. This is one reason why Tufcot® T100 Marine has gained approval from ABS, Bureau Veritas, DNV, Lloyd’s Register and RINA for marine applications such as rudder and water lubricated propeller shaft bearings.
Dimensional stability in fluids means that the machined sizes of Tufcot® bearings are maintained and allows more accurate control of running clearances.
Tufcot® bearings can be fitted in several different ways. The most common method is using interference with the housing which can be achieved with either a press fit or a freeze fit using liquid nitrogen. Even very large bearings can be freeze fitted and Tufcot® material suffers no detrimental effects from being chilled down.
Tufcot® can also be bonded using adhesives or can be fitted using mechanical fastenings.
The resins and fabrics that form Tufcot® composite materials contribute to the self-lubricating properties, and solid lubricants such as graphite or molybdenum disulphide enhance these properties. As Tufcot bearings slowly wear, the release of lubricants ensures continued self-lubrication throughout the bearing life.
In many cases, no additional lubrication from oil, grease or water is required. Eliminating additional lubrication means that automatic systems or schedules are no longer required and removes the risk of lubricants contaminating the environment.
Tufcot® materials can operate at high loads, and they behave elastically. Beyond their elastic limit, Tufcot® materials do not suffer from permanent deformation, so high edge-loading, temporary overload, impact, or emergency loads which would normally damage metallic bearings can be accommodated.
All of this with a mass approximately one-sixth of the equivalent bronze or steel component.
This lower mass introduces further advantages such as helping to reduce power requirements in mechanical systems, lowering logistic costs and simplifying installation.
Where the application of Tufcot® materials can eliminate additional lubrication, automatic systems or maintenance checks are no longer required. Solid lubricants throughout the material mean that there is no risk of lubricant starvation, even in demanding applications such as mining and construction.
In addition, the low wear of Tufcot® bearing materials means a longer bearing life and intervals between servicing of machinery and equipment can be extended.
Phishing might sound like a peaceful day by the river, but in cybercrime, it’s a murky swamp of unseen dangers. Cybercriminals cast their lines through emails, texts, and social media messages, reeling in unsuspecting victims—and they’re catching plenty. In this article, we’ll explain phishing, delve into its history, and teach you how to prevent it.
BY CHARLOTTE GARNER, MARKETING INTERN AND BRYN HAWKINS, CYBER SECURITY SPECIALIST.
The Phishy Business of Cybercrime
But what is Phishing? Well, Phishing is the act of sending deceptive communications to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. You know the drill: you get an email from “Your Bank” with an alarming subject line; “URGENT: Your Account Has Been Compromised!” and a link that promises to set everything right. Click that link, and you might as well hand over your keys and wallet to a pickpocket. But how did this all start?
The Evolution of Phishing: Amateur Scams to Sophisticated Schemes
In the “good” old days, phishing emails were laughably bad, riddled with spelling errors and sent from email addresses claiming to be royalty. Surprisingly, many people fell for them. However, phishing schemes have become frighteningly sophisticated over the years. In 2018, phishing was responsible for 90% of data breaches. By 2021, the number of detected phishing sites exceeded 2 million annually. Fast forward to 2023, phishing scams accounted for over
80% of reported security incidents, according to KnowBe4. Cybercriminals now craft messages that mimic real companies with logos and proper grammar, making these slick operations more West End production than primary school play.
KnowBe4 to the Rescue: Because Ignorance Isn’t Bliss Enter KnowBe4, our choice in Cyber Security training. They’ve made it their mission to educate the masses about phishing and cybercrime. Their approach is simple yet effective: train people to spot phishing attempts before they click. KnowBe4 offers a plethora of resources, from webinars to whitepapers, all designed to make you a cyber-savvy individual who wouldn’t dream of clicking on a dodgy link.
The Numbers Game: Why Cybercrime is on the Rise Now, let’s throw some stats at you because nothing says “wake up” like a barrage of numbers. Phishing attacks have been on the rise,
and it’s not just because cybercriminals are bored. The world is more connected than ever, and with great connectivity comes great responsibility—or, in the case of cybercriminals, great opportunity.
Every year, billions (yes, billions) of phishing emails are sent. With Google alone blocking around 100 million phishing emails daily, suggesting the sheer scale of these attacks. The success rate might be low, but when you’re casting such a wide net, you’re bound to catch a few. And the consequences? Financial loss, identity theft, and compromised business operations.
Simoda: Your Partner in Cyber Defence
At Simoda, we’re not just standing on the sidelines, we’re in the trenches with you, armed with the latest in cyber defence technology and a team of experts who can sniff out a phishing attempt faster than you can say “dodgy email”. We partner with KnowBe4 to ensure that our
clients are not only protected but also educated. After all, the best defence is a good offence, and a well-informed workforce is a formidable barrier against cybercrime.
What You Can Do
Let’s be real. Most companies have tiny cyber departments, sometimes just one person! As much as we’d love to think they’re cyber superheroes, they need to eat, sleep, and take holidays. They simply can’t guard the business 24/7. The most effective and affordable solution is partnering with companies who specialise in Cyber Security. This ensures your entire workforce is educated, not just the cyber team. That’s our specialty at Simoda, and we highly recommend it to any business wary of phishing.
There you have it—tips to keep cyber sharks at bay. Stay alert, stay informed, and if in doubt, reach out. Simoda’s here to protect you against the cyber world. Until next time, stay safe online, and remember: if it looks phishy, it probably is.
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Local businesses have laid out their priorities for South Yorkshire’s city centres…
In a recent survey conducted by the regional Chambers of Commerce in Doncaster, Sheffield, and Barnsley & Rotherham, South Yorkshire businesses have highlighted cleanliness, safety and the quality of retail as the top priorities for their local urban centres. The Town and City Centre Survey, which ran from mid-May through early June, provided a platform for businesses to express their views on their nearest civic centre, identifying both strengths and areas requiring significant investment.
The survey results reveal a strong attachment from businesses to their local civic centres, which are seen as crucial to the regional economy. A significant 73% of respondents reported visiting their nearest town or city centre at least monthly. These urban centres are recognised for their roles in generating tourism, attracting investors, retaining young talent and fostering civic pride.
Despite this appreciation, there is a notable divide in confidence about the future of these centres. Only a third of firms are optimistic about the next five years, indicating a need for targeted improvements to boost confidence and investment.
Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, commented on the findings: “It is heartening to see that businesses believe in the importance of their local civic centres, evidenced by their frequent visits. However, the survey also highlighted deepseated issues. Less than 15% of firms rated the cleanliness, retail offer, and safety of their nearest civic centre positively, underscoring the need for these areas to be prioritised.”
Louisa Harrison-Walker, Chief Executive of Sheffield
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasised the value of the survey insights: “These insights are crucial for understanding what works well and what needs improvement in our civic centres. We will use these findings to advocate for necessary changes and ensure the voices of local businesses are heard by those with the power to effect change. Continued support and collaboration on improvements to our civic centres are vital for the region’s prosperity.”
The sentiment was echoed by Dan Fell, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber, who connected the survey results with the Doncaster ’35 document. “The future prosperity of Doncaster City Centre is a major focus of our manifesto. By 2035, we aim for it to be a vibrant, welcoming hub that attracts young talent and visitors. Addressing basic hygiene factors like safety
and cleanliness is essential for achieving this vision. We are committed to working with public sector partners to ensure local business priorities are understood and addressed.”
The survey also contributed to the nationwide Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), including standard questions about general business conditions and the wider economy. The region-specific insights, however, shed light on the unique challenges and opportunities in South Yorkshire.
The highest-rated attributes of South Yorkshire’s urban cores were access by foot/cycle, car, and public transport. Conversely, cleanliness, safety and the retail offer were the lowest-rated attributes and identified as top priorities for investment. Only 39% of respondents are confident their nearest town or city centre will improve in the next five years, while almost 33%
are not, with the remainder undecided. A significant 86% believe that their town or city centre is important for attracting investors to the region.
Businesses also indicated that the most attractive features of other urban cores around the country include eating and drinking, events and activities, and retail. These preferences highlight the potential areas for improvement that could enhance the appeal of South Yorkshire’s civic centres.
The region-specific results are available for view by scanning the QR code on this page, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to foster thriving urban centres and business communties in South Yorkshire.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO FIND OUT MORE
