unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #49

APRIL 2022 | ISSUE 49 | FREE | UNLTDBUSINESS.COM

Faith Nicholson from Annie Jude’s tells us why now is the time to support your local high streets

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APPOINTMENTS ● UNLTD PODCAST ● EQUALITY IN STEM ● YOUR PITCH

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The “new normal”- how to recruit, retain and develop top finance talent The “new normal” for employers is one that is currently facing uncertainty and a number of challenges.

Many can struggle to recruit, retain and develop their staff in a highly competitive market. Finance departments across South Yorkshire have certainly not been exempt.

First Intuition and Pratap Partnership have partnered together to host a breakfast seminar and networking opportunity for finance and HR leaders to look at;

● L&D opportunities that employers can provide to continue to develop and retain the best talent post-qualification ● What can employers do to update and improve their recruitment strategies for the “new normal”?

OUR TWO SPEAKERS ARE; Gareth John – Gareth is one of the founders and owners of First Intuition and has been training AAT, ICAEW, ACCA and CIMA accountancy trainees for 25 years. More recently he has been heavily involved in the national roll-out of accountancy apprenticeship programmes and talks regularly to regulators such as ESFA and DfE. He is a Council member of the ICAEW and a Regional Council member of the CBI. He is involved in a variety of skills and people working groups and taskforces, and runs regular speaker events for employers looking at issues such as recruitment and retention of qualified accountants and engagement with schools and colleges. He is a driving force behind First Intuition’s current development of PostQualification Education programmes covering Digital Technologies, Data Analytics and Leadership & Management.

Nik Pratap – Partner of one of the leading financial recruitment businesses across Yorkshire and one of the most influential figures in the sector. Nik is an alumni of PwC Sheffield and the former National Director of an international recruitment business. He sits on the Remuneration and Appointments Committee of the Recruitment & Employment Committee (REC) and was recently highly commended by them as Recruitment Business Leader of the Year for 2021.

The event will be held at First Intuition’s offices in Sheffield City Centre.

For more details and to book your place scan this code We hope that you are able to join us…..

15:12

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WEDNESDAY

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Jenny is a professional and versatile vocalist, and though rooted in jazz and popular music she effortlessly moves between many genres and styles. Her Band features some of the North’s finest jazz musicians. Playing arrangements of jazz standards, Jenny presents a varied set of hard swing and Latin American influenced jazz.

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BOB LUDLAM BAND

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THE BIG EASY

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Playing old-fashioned jazz and swing, from Louis Armstrong to Frank Sinatra this group of musicians bring a real sense of fun to the party. Easy improvisation and spontaneity gets everyone singing and dancing and the skilful and accomplished musicians convey their own enjoyment in every tune.

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This no-nonsense music will get your toes tapping and onto the dance floor without question.

Sheffield’s most loved, long standing swing band. Their music often crosses the genre divide simply because they are so interesting musically. Influences of Hot Club, 40’s swing, Blue note Soul and Sinatra often with Latin rhythms gives them an edge.

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CONTENTS

STORY: SHOP LOCAL, HOW TO HELP YOUR HIGH STREET 37 COVER

DANNY TOMALIN TALKS SHEFFIELD BUSINESS EXTREME SPORTS APPS 62 2021 26 AWARDS

FOCUS ON: SHEFFIELD BUSINESS UKRAINE CRISIS 68 2021 26 AWARDS 6

OPEN HOUSE: ON WORKING SHEFFIELD BUSINESS WITH A LOCAL INSTITUTION 66 2021 26 AWARDS

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CONTENTS

INSIDE...

8-13: News A round-up of the latest news from our region including updates from AME Group, Sheffield Hallam University, and The SEO Works.

15-17: Appointments A major restructure for Brewster Partners plus the latest career moves. @UNLTDBUSINESS

42-43: Shop Local Details on the redevelopment of the Coach House in Hillsborough Park.

UNLTD BUSINESS UNLTDBUSINESS

SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL AREA 45: Your Pitch Find out more about Up North Cabinet Makers and the furniture they produce.

56-59: REVCO Emma Chidlaw from Revco opens up about the challenges of balancing being a mum with running a business.

60: Five Minutes With Michelle Slater from Charge Ur Vehicle answers our questions.

EVERYTHING ELSE: 19: Equality in Stem 29: Highlander 31: The Source 49: unLTD Podcast 75: South Yorkshire Police 89-90: Charity

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How often do you use your local independent shops?

The pandemic drew people back to their local High Street, and Sheffield City Council’s Shop Local campaign is aiming to keep up that momentum.

Our cover star Faith Nicholson tells the heartwarming story of how she was inspired to open her own shop by her late mum after starting cross-stitching as a hobby during lockdown.

We also hear from four other shop owners across the city, from bakeries to cosmetic suppliers, on their stories and the importance of shopping local to help small Sheffield businesses thrive.

We have plenty more for you too including Emma Chidlaw from embroidery company Revco, who opens up about the challenges of being a woman in business and how she juggles running a company with being a mum-of-four.

There is a focus on the support local businesses have given to help the people of Ukraine, including ways you can get involved.

We also catch up with Danny Tomalin from sports app creator REYT about his love of skating and why the company’s home had to be Sheffield.

There is more useful insight from our columnists, who share help and advice on everything from commercial disputes and cyber security to business coaching and growing your business online.

It’s an exciting month for the unLTD team as our first social of 2022 is taking place on Thursday April 7 at The Furnace in Sheffield. If you’re reading this and you missed it, fear not – the next one is on May 16.

EDITORIAL Editoral editorial@unltdbusiness.com General hello@unltdbusiness.com 0114 252 7760 ADVERTISING Dan Laver dan@unltdbusiness.com 07867 313995 Phil Turner phil@unltdbusiness.com 07979 498034 General advertising@unltdbusiness.com FINANCE Lis Ellis accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Marc Barker CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Rowley Beth Burley Chris Coates Jackie Cook Jo Davison Matt Holmes Dax Keeling

Dan Laver Sam Leeder Brogan Maguire Jade March James Marriott Rachel Measures Wendy Ward

unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1B Rialto, 2 Kelham Island Sq., Kelham Riverside, Sheffield S3 8SD and HRM PR | Creative Unit 1A Speedwell Works, Sidney Street, Sheffield S1 4RG The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and HRM and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout unLTD is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media Ltd and HRM cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific listings.

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AGENDA NEWS South Yorkshire physiotherapy service to help tackle loneliness in the community A mobile physiotherapy clinic that specialises in home visits and regular group sessions for the over 65s is on track for further expansion thanks to demand from clients impacted by mobility and injury issues that have worsened as a result of the pandemic.

Based in Whiston, Rotherham, Village Physio was founded by husbandand-wife entrepreneurs Animesh Sundas (chartered physiotherapist) and Samantha Logan (business director), pictured below.

Three months after its launch, they are looking to expand their services to offer baby yoga to bring together different age groups across the community.

To facilitate the expansion Samantha and Animesh received funding from UKSE - a business that invests in steel areas across the UK – which was used to invest in a professional website, logo, uniforms, and more.

UKSE also provides loan and equity finance of up to £1m to existing companies which are growing, particularly those creating jobs – for further information please contact the team on 0800 915 1188.

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SIX-FIGURE INVESTMENT ENABLES NEW ERA OF PRODUCT DESIGN

BIILD TEAM LEFT TO RIGHT: TIM STERN, AARON SEAGER, DAVID PASS, BEN WILKINSON, JOHN GREENWOOD

Thanks to a previous six-figure investment, Sheffield’s AME Group has launched its new product development brand, biild, with vital insight into consumer behaviour, as new data reveals a different approach to product design is needed with 3 in 4 UK adults preferring longlasting products.

New product development consultancy, biild, questioned UK adults about their understanding and interest in

purpose-led products, which was defined in the survey as a product with a core mission of solving a wider problem, meeting a need in society, or addressing the planet’s energy and climate crisis.

The survey explored which product features were most relevant to consumers across the UK and what prices people would be willing to pay, and discovered: ● 3 in 4 adults want longlasting and easily repairable products.

74per cent of adults are willing to pay 10.6 per cent above the average price for purpose-led products. ● 32 per cent of consumers trust small brands to keep their purpose and sustainable promises compared to big brands.

Find out more about the product development consultancy, biild, on their new website: www.biild.co.uk See data from the survey here: https://tinyurl. com/52v98dhu ●

ROTHERHAM BUSINESS SHOWCASE AIMS TO HELP SMES ACROSS SOUTH YORKSHIRE A group of six experienced SME business owners and advisors have come together to host The Rotherham Business Showcase event, a one-stop shop for moving the local business community forward in 2022.

The event was held at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham on the March 31, intended to be both informative and supportive to inspire business owners to unlock their barriers to growth, whilst offering the

opportunity to network and exhibit with other like-minded local talented professionals.

In a season of continuing uncertainty for business owners, the event aimed to answer questions related to new employment legislation, recruitment, HR, health & safety, business growth/ planning, IT, and marketing.

All ticket sale proceeds will go to the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) with Special Guest and CALM

representative Mike McCarthy on hand to facilitate the day.

Mike said: “There are incredible businesses doing truly amazing work across South Yorkshire. I’ve seen first-hand just how, with the right support and encouragement, business owners can prosper. When that happens, the whole region benefits as companies grow, create new jobs and contribute towards building a stronger local and regional economy.”

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AGENDA

LEFT TO RIGHT: WAKE SMITH SOLICITORS TOM WEIGHTMAN AND SUZANNE WILLIAMSON.

Wake Smith helps bring hottest yoga craze to Sheffield

PICTURED: VICE-CHANCELLOR PROFESSOR SIR CHRIS HUSBANDS, HALLAM STUDENTS JADE TICKLE, ARCHIE WORDSWORTH AND DANIEL CRUSH, DIRECTOR OF ESTATES DAN LADBURY AND SU PRESIDENT PRAISE ISHOLA.

BREAKING NEW GROUND ON SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY’S CITY CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT Key figures from South Yorkshire visited Sheffield Hallam University to mark the start of construction work on the first phase of the University’s city campus development.

Representatives from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Sheffield City Council visited the construction site adjacent to Howard Street leading up from Sheffield Train Station, which will provide a key gateway to the city centre.

The development will see

the construction of three new buildings around a public green space. The buildings will provide exceptional teaching and learning facilities for students and staff as well as use the latest technology and sustainability solutions to make them zero carbon ready.

The creation of a green public space will provide a heart for the campus, with more than 400 square meters of new greenery and spaces for up to 150 people to sit and relax. It will complement the extensive work being

undertaken by partners to develop the Heart of the City.

Delivering phase one of the campus plan, significantly improving part of Sheffield city centre, is one of the University’s key commitments in its Civic University Agreement. This includes a commitment to work with local partners to ensure plans maximise the benefits for Sheffield and the wider region.

The first phase of the development is due to be completed in Spring 2024.

Yorkshire’s workplace wellbeing champions crowned at national awards Three prizes were given out to Yorkshire-based companies with Best Wellbeing Initiative going to Humberside Police, Best Financial Initiative to Yorkshire Building Society and Best Physical Initiative to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

The Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards were founded last year by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards team and industry

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specialists Wellity Global to recognise the inspiring response of employers to the ongoing wellbeing and mental health crisis amongst the working population.

The final was held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London and hosted by Wynne Evans, who also interviewed Frank Bruno MBE live on stage.

The Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards is one of several series run by the Great British Entrepreneur

Awards founders, who were blown away by the huge number of applications they received in its inaugural year.

Yorkshire & Humbersidebased winners Best Financial Wellbeing Initiative Yorkshire Building Society Best Physical Initiative Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Best Mental Initiative Humberside Police

Europe’s largest yoga business Hotpod Yoga is available in Sheffield featuring yoga in a heated 37-degree pod complete with lights, music and fragrance.

Suzanne Williamson has taken a 10-year lease on a prominent ground floor unit at The Tower on Furnival Square with the help of Sheffield’s Wake Smith Solicitors and fitted out the premises for classes with her team.

Suzanne said: “My background is in hospitality and fitness, and I am looking forward to combining these worlds and welcoming everybody to Hotpod Yoga Sheffield.”

The concept is to immerse yourself inside a pod with a temperature of 37 degrees through the Vinyasa Flow style of yoga which synchronises movement and breath, to work the body and calm the mind. This is complemented with special purple lighting, urban-chill beats and fragrance to awaken the senses.

Hotpod was started in 2013 and has become Europe’s largest yoga business with more than 100,000 people immersing themselves in a Hotpod class at one of more than 50 locations in eight countries around the world.

For your business legal needs call Wake Smith Solicitors: 0114 266 6660.

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AGENDA NEWS The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce welcome three new patrons Three new patrons, Freeths, SEO Works and Highlander Computing Solutions, have been welcomed to The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce this month.

Freeths, a top 50 commercial law firm, has had an office in Sheffield for ten years and is committed to the region.

John May, managing partner for Freeths, said: “Our lawyers have been supporting local education and commerce for ten years, therefore becoming Patrons is a natural progression of our commitment to the city.”

Highlander provide solutions in all things IT. Emma-Jane Wright, marketing manager of Sheffield Chamber, said: “We are delighted Highlander has upgraded their membership to Patronage level. Our core values are so similar.

We both love Sheffield, and love to support the amazing businesses that call this city their home.”

SEO Works has strong roots in Sheffield, having been founded there over a decade ago and holding its HQ in the city centre ever since.

Ben Foster, managing director, said: “We’re proud to be from Sheffield, which is becoming a real digital hub. Sheffield is so important to us as a business, as are Sheffield businesses. It’s an honour to become Patrons of the Chamber, and we look forward to what’s in store.”

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NORTHERN COLLEGE MAKES A KNIGHT OF FOOD WASTE Northern College, South Yorkshire, has partnered with Surplus to Purpose and Thomas Franks to help drive forward the food waste revolution by feeding bellies and not bins.

The College hosted a medieval banquet at Wentworth Castle in Barnsley on March 4 2022 designed to prevent edible nutritious food waste from being thrown away. This marks the start of an exciting new partnership and is the first of a series of events.

The next events are open to the wider public. They will run on the evening of May 20 and

15 July. Tickets are expected to run out quickly.

The nutritious food at the event was cooked by guest chef Adam Smith, CEO of Surplus to Purpose and founder of the award-winning global phenomenon The Real Junk Food Project (TRJFP).

Adam was joined by

Frank Bothwell, founder of international catering company Thomas Franks. The catering company works with Adam Smith to turn surplus food into meals to feed communities.

Northern College supports individuals to re-enter education to progress, get a new job or change careers. Set in acres of stunning National Trust gardens, it is the ideal spot for people to concentrate on their studies and change their lives.

Full details are on the Northern College website at www.northern.ac.uk or telephone us on 01226 776000.

Feeding the world without costing the earth Researchers from the University of Sheffield’s Institute for Sustainable Food hosted national discussions about the sustainability of global food systems at the Royal Society in London.

Key figures from the Institute, along with keynote speaker Professor Guy Poppy, director of UKRI's ‘Transforming UK food systems' programme and

former chief scientific adviser to the Food Standards Agency, will present how we can make changes to ensure our agri-food systems are more sustainable, and develop the innovations that will allow us to live within the limits of the natural world.

Creating a more sustainable, more resilient, and healthier food system should be a priority for all.

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AGENDA

SEASONS RESTAURANT OPENS IN WICKERSLEY A new restaurant has opened in the heart of Wickersley, Rotherham.

Seasons Restaurant, which occupies the former Smiths Butchers, deli and tattoo parlour units on Bawtry Road adjacent to The Courtyard Wine Bar and Bistro, opened its doors to the public on Thursday, March 17.

Spread across two floors, the eatery will focus on fine dining, using the best seasonal produce, as well as offering a relaxed environment.

A great culinary team has already been assembled for Seasons, with head chef Mark Jones taking the lead on creating the seasonal menu alongside consultant chef Nick Wilkes and an experienced front of house team.

Owner Martin Green said: “We are excited to bring something different to Wickersley and offer a fantastic fine dining experience.

“We are working with the best ingredients, creating incredible dishes and our interior is nothing like you’ve seen before. Our investment in creating Seasons is reflected in the quality of the food and

the décor. It absolutely has the wow factor on every level.”

The restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday each week.

To book a table, visit: https:// bit.ly/35hg7oJ

Sheffield Technology Parks partners with The Sheffield College Tom Wolfenden, CEO, and Rose Tran, incubator manager, of Sheffield Technology parks have signed up to mentor young people at The Sheffield College on an ongoing basis.

They will help students complete the Start-Up Business Hub Programme at the College, which equips them with the skills to develop their entrepreneurial ideas.

Five groups will be selected to present their ideas to a panel of business experts in a Dragons’ Den style event at Sheffield Technology Parks.

The winning student from each cohort will receive £1000 worth of credit for STP services

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TOM WOLFENDEN AND ROSE TRAN OF SHEFFIELD TECHNOLOGY PARKS including co-working and meeting rooms. They will also receive mentoring and peer support through Sheffield Technology Parks’ Cooper

Project for six months.

The Start Up Business Hub Programme lasts 10 weeks with the next group starting on March 28th, 2022.

Sixty places are available annually comprising two cohorts of upto 30 students who start the programme at different points during a year.

Students apply to take part in the programme as an additional option, and they complete it alongside their main college course.

Students are supported with business ideas generation, planning, sales and marketing strategies, networking and pitching their idea for investment.

Award win for Banner Jones’ Employment Law team The Employment Law team at leading regional law firm Banner Jones Solicitors has been recognised for displaying an innovative and flexible approach to changes in the legal market at this year’s Sheffield Law Society annual awards.

The accolade was announced at a ‘sold out’ awards ceremony, held at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Sheffield on Friday 25th February; bringing together the region’s legal community to recognise and celebrate its achievements.

The Banner Jones Employment Law team independently ranked as one of the ‘Three Best Rated Employment Solicitors in Sheffield’ assisting individuals and businesses across all areas of employment law.

The department helped their clients tackle the challenges brought about by the lockdowns and a countrywide shift to remote working by launching a range of flexible appointment types, free informative webinars, free training support and guides on key topics.

Banner Jones’ chief executive Simon Wright, said: “The Sheffield & District Law Society is the professional association for solicitors practising in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, and the surrounding areas. The annual awards are their way of celebrating the legal industry in our region and we are absolutely delighted to have received such a prestigious award, particularly given the calibre of firms represented.”

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AGENDA NEWS Business Productivity Programme helps Blake UK tune in to a new phase of growth A family-run manufacturing company, which has served Sheffield for over 50 years, is hoping to tune in to a new growth phase after securing grant funding from the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme.

After a business seminar presentation, managing director Paul Blake decided to approach Business Sheffield for support. Paul applied to the Business Productivity Grant Programme for help to make the entire company paperless.

Working with key account manager Andrew Sorsby, he secured a match-funded grant, which has been used to purchase new equipment to improve the company’s manufacturing process. At the same time, the company’s computer systems were upgraded, vastly improving the company’s manufacturing process and stock level monitoring.

As a direct result of the support received from the Business Productivity Grant, Blake UK has successfully eliminated substantial amounts of waste – and costs.

The introduction of a paperless order processing system, as well as consolidating and streamlining processes elsewhere within the company’s manufacturing, warehousing, and sales operations, has helped Blake UK to save the business approximately 16 hours per month, as well as a further 24 hours per month because of the improved management processes.

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BARNSLEY & ROTHERHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CELEBRATE IWD Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber Of Commerce hosted their annual International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8th, joined by members and guests from a diverse set of regional businesses, including their newest Patrons, KCM Waste Management.

The lunch at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham, hosted each year by the Chamber, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.

Here in South Yorkshire, the headline speaker was HM Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire Professor Dame

Hilary Chapman DBE. Dame Hilary began and ended her main NHS career in Sheffield, retiring three years ago as chief nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; she now works as an independent professional consultant.

Attending their first International Women’s Day Event as Patrons, KCM’s

Hannah Baker said: “After celebrating our 35 years in business, we felt it was the perfect time to become a Patron of Rotherham & Barnsley Chamber of Commerce. We have enjoyed working with the Chamber over the past couple of years and look forward to building on our working relationships across the region".

Collection points filled to the brim thanks to appeal by Barnsley man THOUSANDS of boxes of donations have left collection points ‘bursting at the seams’ thanks to an appeal for Ukrainian refugees instigated by a Barnsley man with Polish heritage.

Barnsley has donated more than 6,000 boxes of essentials to be transported to Poland so far - where Ukrainian refugees have been flocking in their thousands.

Since businessman Henryk Matysiak first put out the feelers for setting up a collection less than two weeks ago, a main organising group of around ten members and 200+ volunteers have stepped up to help.

Henryk has aunties, uncles, and cousins in Poland - a

connection that inspired him to spearhead the collection.

The 59-year-old exfirefighter of Hunters Avenue in Pogmoor has said he is ‘overwhelmed’ at the amount of support that has flooded in in such a short space of time.

Henryk said: “The number of local businesses and people who have offered their help and are acting as collection points is unbelievable, it really has been an overwhelming amount of support.”

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

AGENDA PROPERTY NEWS

SHEFFIELD ARCHITECTURE FIRM GAINS RIBA CHARTERED STATUS The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has recognised Sheffield’s Planning & Design Practice as a RIBA Chartered architectural practice.

The RIBA is considered one of the world’s most prestigious and influential architecture organisations and recognises about 3,800 UK-based practices. Its objective is to champion excellence, as the independent body for architecture. RIBA Chartered practices are the only architectural practices endorsed and promoted by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The accreditation signifies to clients, employees and the wider industry that Planning and Design Practice is committed to excellence. The team is led by Lindsay Cruddas, a RIBA accredited Specialist Conservation Architect, of which there are currently only 141 in the country. Joining Lindsay are Senior Architect Siegfried Doering (Dipl.-Ing. Architecture, AKH, ARB, RIBA) and Project Architect Manik

BESPOKE NEW HOME, DARLEY DALE, MATLOCK

Karunaratne (BA (Hons), MArch (Leicester), ARB).

Since being founded in 2002 Planning & Design Practice Ltd has earnt an excellent reputation for winning approvals and for creating attractive and viable

proposals. Comprising RTPI Chartered town planners and RIBA Chartered Architects the company has generated over £200m of uplift in land values for clients through its consents and proposals. The architectural side of the business boasts

true international expertise having worked on large scale projects across Europe and the United States as well as in the UK. The company can design award-winning proposals for a wide range of clients across the country.

Two-storey extensions could help to tackle UK’s housing crisis Extending buildings upwards could help to tackle the UK’s housing crisis and meet netzero commitments, according to new research from the University of Sheffield.

A study led by Charles Gillott, a Grantham Scholar in the University’s Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, has revealed how the strategy could provide an extra 175,000 homes in one city alone - a plan that could be rolled out across the country to help bring down house prices, reduce carbon emissions and meet

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government housing targets.

With house prices rising to a record high during the pandemic and the demand for housing growing rapidly, the government has increased housing targets for England’s 20 biggest cities by 35 per cent.

In Sheffield, the 35 per cent uplift has increased housing targets to 55,000 homes, with the local council planning to create 20,000 of these within the city centre. They hope that this will meet housing demand whilst boosting high street trade and supporting city-

centre businesses.

The study from the University of Sheffield analysed building data from a geographic information system.

It was found that vertically extending suitable premises by just one or two storeys could provide 175,000 new homes in Sheffield alone.

Extending buildings vertically would help to cut carbon emissions as more buildings would be redeveloped, rather than demolished and replaced with new ones.

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PROPERTY

HLM SUPPORTS UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD WITH NEW SOCIAL SCIENCES BUILDING HLM Architects, who this year are celebrating 40 years in Sheffield, are supporting the University of Sheffield’s agenda as a sustainable, world-class organisation.

The university’s flagship 17,000m² Social Sciences building on Whitham Road aims to meet the future growth demands of the faculty up to 2035, through creating a world class, sustainable building that reflects the faculty’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

Once complete, the new building will provide shared facilities for the whole faculty as well as bespoke accommodation for the departments of sociological studies, economics and politics. This will bring together major research centres across the faculty to encourage collaborative working and help

address key global challenges.

Achieving a BREEAM Outstanding rating, the building design includes ground source heating, photovoltaic panels, low water fittings and high thermal mass to reduce its energy use. It has blue roofs and rain gardens as part of a sustainable drainage scheme which will also enhance the biodiversity of the site. It has been praised for its positive contribution to both economic and social sustainability which includes the creation of a neighbourhood pocket park, cafe and flexible facilities that can be used by the local community.

Ben Carrack (right), project associate at HLM Architects said: “I have been fortunate to be involved with a number of significant projects for the University such as The Arts Tower and The Transformer projects, with the current Social Sciences

Now

Then

building being the latest in our ongoing relationship.

“Not only does the project fulfil a major element of the University's overall masterplan, the completed building and surrounding landscape works will become a real asset to the wider Sheffield community. It’s a privilege to be involved in such a prestigious project, right on our doorstep.”

Love

Celebrating 40 years Reyt good times in S h e ff i e l d s i n c e 1 9 8 1

L e t ’ s Ta l k A b o u t Making Better Places.

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AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS HAPPY NEW (FINANCIAL) YEAR! SPONSORED BY

Rob Shaw, managing director at Glu Recruit, looks at how increased costs will affect businesses as the soaring cost of living is set to bite.

Whilst we associate April with Easter, springtime, and new beginnings, it also signifies the start of the new tax year (starting 6th April). This comes with new financial measures that employers and employees need to be aware of.

National Minimum Wage (NMW) The NMW will rise by 82p per hour in April, amounting to an overall increase of over £1,000 for the average worker.

There are, however, differing rates depending on age, so businesses will need to ensure they are paying the going rate.

The new rates are as follows: ● Apprentices: £4.81 an hour ● 16-17 year-olds: £4.81 an hour ● 18-20 year-olds: £6.83 an hour ● 21-22 year-olds: £9.18 an hour ● 23 and over: £9.50 an hour (National Living Wage) Wages in general We’ve seen an overall increase in wages over the past 12 months, largely due to the power shift from employer to employee because of the pandemic.

Some businesses have resorted to paying over market value to keep their valued employees happy, which in turn means candidates who are actively seeking a new role are able to demand more.

Remember, an increase in salary also means an increase in other associated costs of employment, such as pension contributions, insurance, expenses, employee benefits and tax.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

Increase in National Insurance Coupled with the rise in wages, employers and employees are facing a tax hike as National Insurance contributions rise.

Employees will have less take-home pay, and businesses’ employer contributions will increase too - both incurring a 1.25 per cent increase. A double whammy for businesses already affected by the NMW increase.

Cost of living Households will be feeling the pinch of increased food, fuel, and energy costs, but so will businesses.

The energy price cap is increasing by over 50 per cent which will affect anyone with an office or production facility, and there has been a significant rise in fuel costs which will affect businesses who run fleet transport or company cars.

The gradual increase in interest rates stands at 0.75 per cent but is also expected to rise further affecting mortgages, loans, and financing.

important. You need to be competitive to attract the best possible candidates while being realistic.

Glu Recruit can add value to your recruitment and retention process through their new ‘Value Your Vacancy’ tool. Scan the QR code to see where to pitch your vacancies and start budgeting now.

Value your vacancy The need to recruit is stronger than ever as job vacancies hit a record high. With businesses facing increased costs, pitching vacancy salaries correctly is

15

AGENDA APPOINTMENTS

CURRENT VACANCIES

ABOUT GLU RECRUIT Glu Recruit are a full-service recruitment agency established in 2016.

We specialise in temporary, permanent, contract and graduate recruitment – offering a tailored solution from entry level to senior management and board level spanning your entire organisation.

As an independent recruitment agency, we focus on the long-term stick of the placement. Whether you’re a candidate looking to make a career move, or an employer looking to add to your team, our thorough and proactive recruitment and retention service ensures you are well looked after!

Call: 0114 321 1873 Email: hello@glurecruit.co.uk www.glurecruit.co.uk

Role: Social Media & Digital Marketing Executive Salary: Up to £24,000 per annum Sector: Marketing agency Location: Sheffield Role: Sales Support Manager Salary: £25,000-£30,000 per annum Sector: Manufacturing Location: Sheffield Role: Estimator Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum Sector: Electrical Engineering Location: Sheffield

TWO NEW MANAGING PARTNERS AS PART OF BREWSTER PARTNERS RESTRUCTURE A MAJOR restructure for Sheffield based recruitment specialist Brewster Partners has included two important internal promotions.

Brewster Partners has been established in the region for over a decade, providing recruitment and talent acquisition across the UK. The company’s specialisms cover Accountancy and Finance, Office Support, Charity and Not-for-Profit, Manufacturing and Operations as well as Leadership and Management search.

The start of 2022 saw the company move to new

PETE SHILLITO

premises at Cubo, the multiuse centre in Carver Street at the heart of Sheffield city centre.

And along with that move came promotions for Paula Barber and Pete Shillito, who have now both been made

PAULA BARBER

managing partner.

Paula, who joined Brewster Partners to launch the company’s Charity and Notfor-Profit division, has more than a decade of recruitment experience in Executive Search and Senior Finance.

Raffina by Reece Elliott appoints general manager and sous chef Raffina by Reece Elliott has appointed general manager Josh Barnsley, who brings over ten years of experience in the hospitality industry and sousc hef Jamie Fullen, who boasts more than eight years of culinary experience.

As the restaurant’s new general manager, Josh will oversee the operations and processes, ensure a high

16

JAMIE FULLEN & JOSH BARNSLEY

standard of customer service, and maintain the restaurant’s general day-to-day running.

Jamie Fullen said: “When I heard about Reece’s new venture with Raffina, I knew I wanted to be involved. Reece is so passionate about serving the very best food, and it is inspiring to be a part of the same venture.

Book for a refined, relaxed experience at Raffina by Reece Elliott here: www. raffina.co.uk/reece-elliott

BHP expands its Audit team with new director appointment BHP has strengthened its Audit team with the addition of a new director.

Audit director Abdullah Daji joins BHP’s Cleckheaton office after ten years with one of the Big 4 accounting firms. With extensive experience in providing audit and assurance services to a range of large and small, public, and privatelyowned businesses across the UK, Abdullah will take on responsibility for audit engagement.

Abdullah said: “I’m excited to build on the growth that BHP has experienced over the last few years. They’re positioned well in the marketplace and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Hamish Morrison, BHP joint managing partner, said: “Abdullah is a key appointment for our Audit team. He brings a wealth of experience to the firm, and both our staff and our clients will benefit from his enthusiasm.”

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

AGENDA SPONSORED BY

David Robinson promoted to tax partner at Shorts

DOUBLE PROMOTIONS AT URBANA Sheffield and London based town planning consultancy Urbana have made two key promotions, further bolstering their team.

Progressing from the position of senior urbanist, Chloe Parmenter has become the first female associate within the business, made more timely with it occurring within Women’s History Month.

Mark Boyd, who has been with Urbana since its inception as an urbanist, has progressed to senior urbanist.

On her promotion, Chloe said: “I am so excited to become an associate within Urbana and to enhance my role here, tabling urbanist ideas among the industry.

Since joining the business

in 2021 we have gone from strength to strength, building a formidable team and this is only set to continue.”

Mark added: “We take a less traditional approach at Urbana, ensuring quality urbanism is at the heart of everything we do, something I will continue to champion in my new role as senior urbanist.”

GLU’S NEW RECRUITS, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SALLY TAYLOR, OLIVER RACE AND LAUREN ROBINSON

New team members for Glu Recruit as ‘year of growth’ continues Glu Recruit, the South Yorkshire based specialist recruitment consultancy, has added three new members to their team as they continue their ‘year of growth’ to meet the increasing recruitment requirements of businesses across the Sheffield City Region.

Sally Taylor joins as team leader to head up the

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permanent recruitment division, alongside recruitment consultant, Lauren Robinson, whilst Oliver Race bolsters the business development team after joining as strategic partnerships executive.

Following a strong start to the year, Glu is gearing up as demand for talent continues to rise.

Rob Shaw, managing

director of Glu Recruit comments: “We always try to be ahead of the curve at Glu Recruit by planning, so with our predictions for further business growth in 2022 we want to make sure we have the best resources available within our team to capitalise on this.”

Find out more here: www. glurecruit.co.uk/about-us/

Shorts are delighted to announce the promotion of David Robinson to the position of tax partner.

David will join Chris Chambers and Scott Burkinshaw in leading the firm’s tax offering and will divide his time working across the firm’s Sheffield and Chesterfield offices.

An experienced chartered tax adviser, David joined Shorts in 2015 as senior tax manager and was promoted to director in 2018. The promotion to partner recognises David’s continued commitment to growing the department.

David will advise his clients on all areas of UK taxation with a particular focus on transactional work, including acquisitions & disposals, corporate reconstructions, and advising international businesses on their expansion into the UK. Going forward, he will take a more active role in the leadership and strategy of the firm.

Contact Shorts on info@ shorts.uk.com or by calling 0114 2671617 or 01246 559955.

DO YOU HAVE A NEW STARTER?

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

17

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Q&A COLUMN

FEMALE ROLE MODELS PROMOTING EQUALITY IN STEM

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

JILL WOOD MANAGING DIRECTOR

OF SIGNUM FACILITIES MANAGEMENT What is your current role?

I am managing director of Signum Facilities Management based in Doncaster.

six months soon turned into years. I quickly realised that no two days are the same and I was hooked!

What does that involve, look like on a day-to-day basis?

There isn’t a typical day in facilities management, but one of my main tasks is to ensure that the team are happy and have everything that they need to fulfil their jobs.

Business development and ensuring that we are on track to meet our targets is a large part of my day whether that is sales activity, reviewing forecasts, key account meetings or on-site checking progress.

What qualifications did you take or gain along the way?

I have a NEBOSH qualification and took a BIFM (now IWFM) course in understanding facilities management in my early career. However, essentially it has been my hard work, a questioning mind and determination that has got Signum to where it is today.

I am also a firm believer in CPD and investing in your own professional development so am always looking for ways to build on my knowledge and skill in STEM and the facilities management sector in particular.

How did you get started working in STEM? To be honest it chose me really!

I had been working in the NHS for a number of years mainly in governance and performance when an opportunity came up for a six-month secondment as facilities manager for the first tranche of PFI health centres in the area. It sounded interesting, so I applied and was successful,

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Why do you love working in STEM? Every day is a school day! I love a challenge and no two days are the same. There are so many transferrable skills that are utilised in STEM from project management to problem

solving and customer service, for me it’s a sector that has it all.

What challenges have you faced in your career? And how have you overcome them?

Personally, being taken seriously as a woman in a male dominated sector when I first stepped into STEM was a constant battle. There was almost a ‘don’t worry your pretty little head about that’ mentality in meetings and anyone who knows me will know that just spurred me on to prove a point – women are capable and deserving of any seat at the table.

What advice would you offer for someone joining the STEM sectors?

Listen and learn, there are fantastic learning opportunities around now from apprenticeships and degrees, but the knowledge gained from peers is invaluable. Don’t be afraid to try something new – I took a step from a role in NHS governance and performance as a secondment and have

never looked back. Every day is a challenge, and the rewards are too.

What do we need to do as an industry to attract and keep more women in STEM? The number of women has increased in STEM careers and that is refreshing but we need to shout about the pathways that are available to our future workforce. We need more interactions not only at a secondary education level but also primary – this is where we dream of what we want to be when we grow up and where we can influence hearts and minds as positive role models. We need to give girls the courage and confidence to step into STEM and see just how rewarding it can be.

19

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where all Partners are recommended by the Legal 500.

AGENDA

LEGAL MATTERS

BY DAX KEELING, BELL & BUXTON INCORPORATING IRONMONGER CURTIS Dax explains what the new fixed recoverable legal costs will mean for you

gers

LEGAL COSTS – ALL CHANGE I have been a Solicitor for 20 years and have worked on countless commercial disputes in that time, of varying values and complexity. Later this year we are likely to see the biggest practical change to that area of law since I qualified. As the change relates to costs recovery in legal cases, it will have a huge impact on clients as well as law firms.

There is already a fixed recoverable costs regime in place for the majority of personal injury claims, but no such cap is in place for most commercial disputes. The general rule is that the winner of a case gets most - rarely all -

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of their legal costs paid by the loser, based on what the court thinks is reasonable.

It is often an unwelcome discovery for a client to find that the legal costs they have to spend on legal representation end up being surprisingly high. I often warn clients that if they aren’t careful, the issue of costs will become more important than the dispute itself. The level of costs in a dispute can be a step into the unknown.

This may be about to change. Fixed recoverable legal costs are to be introduced for a wide range of commercial disputes, expected to take effect from October 2022. Whereas now

you start a case not knowing what will happen in respect of your legal costs at the end, in future the amount of legal costs that the winner can recover from the loser will be fixed in advance by court rules and will depend on the stage of legal proceedings you were at when the dispute settled, and the complexity and value of the case.

Fixed recoverable costs will offer certainty on the costs a client could hope to recover - or pay out - in a case. It is expected it will help a client to better understand the financial worth of pursuing or defending a case.

It will be interesting though to see how the new costs

regime impacts on the costs the client pays to its lawyer.

The new system is designed to apply to cases with a value of up to £100,000 (described as “simpler cases”, rather surprisingly to this provincial, simple solicitor).

The fact is that some cases, whatever their financial value, are not simple cases at all. The fixed recoverable costs regime will probably work well in cases which are genuinely simple but in more complex cases fixed recoverable costs won’t scratch the surface of the work that will need to be carried out. The client and lawyer will have to be very clear from the off where they stand on costs.

21

AGENDA

ENTREPRENEURSUPPORT

BY HELEN WILLIAMS, HELPING ENTREPRENEURS WIN

POSITIVE OUTCOMES Coaching is such a personal thing.

Everyone comes from a different starting block and what they want to achieve and what is important along the way can be very different from one person to the next. The commonality is that everyone wants to make positive changes to experience positive outcomes.

Here at HEW, it is our obligation to make this happen and our job to help you win in whatever way that looks and feels to you.

‘I NOW KNOW MY WORTH’

Self-worth comes into play in everything we do… or don’t do.

It encompasses what we think of ourselves, how we perceive others think of us, those awkward conversations where you stay quiet, those occasions where we feel undervalued in the workplace and those times we are left with low self-esteem and low confidence from not being proud of who you are and what value you bring to those around you in life and business.

We look at #youfirst in everything we do, because low self-worth is represented in all your actions and behaviours without you even realising it.

It especially shows up in business relationships, contracts and fees time and time again, and once this is appreciated those feelings of being undervalued and taken for granted will never appear again!

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

HELPINGENTREPRENEURSWIN.COM

22

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AGENDA

‘I ALWAYS WONDER WHAT HELEN WOULD SAY OR DO AND THIS HELPS ME FIND THE ANSWER’

We help you tune into your own self-awareness and provide tools for you to proactively be able to coach yourself. This at first will present itself as the coach’s voice in your head which over time changes to your own voice becoming the all-impor tant leveller, motivator and controller as you learn about your mindset and how to recognise and support yourself with cheerleading tactics rather than allowing the inner critic and imposter to take up camp.

‘I WISH I HAD STARTED SOONER’

‘I AM BEING MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE’

Coaching provides you with a third party to whom you become accountable. Our sessions are set out to be progressive, which sets a productive pace and creates a sustainable level of momentum.

One of the main issues that our clients have is around time and their management of it. Clients come to us wanting results and we ourselves are highly results driven.

Results don’t come off the back of wishful thinking - they come off the back of effective application. We make work fun again, we remind you of what’s important, how to reduce unnecessary white noise and distractions and we align everything back to your goals and milestones throughout the year.

Realisation is huge around what you are capable of.

Once you open the gates to your potential and get hooked on the momentum of your ability and apparent results, it’s difficult not to kick yourself and reflect on hindsight.

However, there is no point in being too stuck on hindsight as the key here is getting started, irrelevant of when… there is no perfect timing, there is only right now.

‘THANK YOU FOR BEING SO KIND AND UNDERSTANDING’

We are coaches not sergeant majors. We are empaths and understand people, sometimes better than they understand themselves at first!

Kindness, compassion and understanding will always come into play. We are in your corner in the times when it feels like the lights are out, and we help you turn the light on in order for you to be confident and empowered with what you do.

There is time for a boot and time for a supportive arm – we provide both as and when required.

Or email

helen@helpingentrepreneurswin.com

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23

Getting you results

through online lead and sales generation.

Paid Search Paid Social Media Display Marketing Digital Marketing Reporting Local Marketing SEO Content Strategy Organic Social Media hello@logica-digital.co.uk 0114 551 1534

DIGITAL

DIGITAL MARKETING

BY MARK SKINNER

Our columnist shares an insight into how to grow your business online

STAY AHEAD WITH YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT Logica Digital help businesses grow by optimising their online lead generation and sales activities. Mark Skinner, director, explains the importance of digital marketing for your business.

Why is digital marketing crucial for business success?

It doesn’t matter whether you’re running a multimillion-pound business or a small/local business, digital marketing should be something you’re investing in.

If you don’t have a digital marketing strategy, you could be missing out on potential target customers who have no way to find your brand, products, or services online but who are searching for exactly what you can offer.

Here are four reasons why digital marketing is essential for your business:

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1

Your customers are online In January 2022, it was reported that 58.4 per cent of internet users purchased a product or service online (Smart Insights).

Modern customers are using online methods to research so if you’re not utilising digital marketing channels, you could be missing out on opportunities to reach more customers.

Being visible when potential customers are searching online is essential for engaging with them and influencing their purchase decisions by providing valuable information. You need to deliver content in their moments of need through SEO, social media, and paid search.

2

Attract more qualified leads When you run a traditional advert, you have limited control over who will see it. You can make an educated guess based on the demographic of a neighbourhood (billboards) or

typical viewers (television) but it’s usually a shot in the dark.

Digital marketing allows you to target a specific audience and provide personalised messaging. Social media advertising allows you to target your audience based on factors such as age, location, interests, and behaviours so you know who is likely to see your ads, where they will see them and when. This means that the people who see them are more likely to be interested in what you’re offering and, as a result, more likely to click through or make a purchase.

3

Compete with bigger brands If you run a small business, it’s difficult to get your brand seen and to compete with large brands that have millions to spend on adverts and huge campaigns.

Digital marketing provides plenty of opportunities to compete with your larger

competitors. For example, finding keywords with lower competition and creating optimised content will allow you to appear above your competitors.

You can track and measure your success, so you’ll know exactly what your return on investment is for a particular campaign.

4

Measure ROI Digital marketing allows you to see how you’re spending your budget, what’s working, what isn’t and the returns you’ve received for a particular campaign. You can see the immediate results of your campaigns so you can manage them in real-time to make sure they’re as effective as possible.

Contact us to learn more on the importance of digital marketing for your business: 0114 551 9092 / hello@logicadigital.co.uk

25

We are a Yorkshire based Specialist Business Consultancy & Training Provider Implementing Business Support Interventions to Facilitate Change Our Business Consultants will drive empowerment and help your team gain and retain the knowledge needed to grow. Our approach focuses on the following services:

Strategy

Environmental, Sustainability & NetZero

HR Services

ISO System Implementation

Sales Process Design

Health & Safety

Lean Implementation

Marketing

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Leadership & Management Development

For more information, please contact:

email: enquiries@brookconsult.co.uk telephone: 01226 240 435 visit: www.brookconsult.co.uk The Business Village, Innovation Way, Wilthorpe, Barnsley, S75 1JL

AGENDA

ABY ANDREW HELPING HAND ROWLEY OF BROOK CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS Andrew explains the bespoke support service the company offers

SUPPORT BESPOKE TO YOUR BUSINESS Business support and compliance manager at Brook Corporate Developments, Andrew Rowley, explains the bespoke support service the company offers and one business which has benefited.

If you approach us at Brook seeking some support for your business, the likelihood is that I will be one of the first people you come into contact with.

Regardless of the level or type of support a business needs, we always have a business support manager who remains a constant part of the process and acts as a point of contact at all times. You may work with several different trainers or consultants, but our team of business support managers will be there to oversee the entire process.

Most businesses come to us having already identified a need, but we will work with them to put together a package

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of support that is overseen by our Business Support Managers. We don’t follow a specific formula or template – the diagnostic work we do at an early stage allows us to flush out what a business’s need is, and we then write a proposal of how we think we can help them which is completely bespoke to that business.

A key aspect of our consultancy work is to integrate ourselves within the business – we don’t just want to be seen as an external provider.

We firmly consider ourselves as an extension of all the businesses we work with, and that relationship doesn’t just end when their requirements are met either. A key part of my role is to maintain regular contact with clients to ensure that the systems we have put in place are working as they should, or that any further training needs they have

identified can be delivered.

A great example of the way we work is the support we have recently been providing for a large Yorkshire-based manufacturing organisation.

The company had seen extensive changes to its management structure and came to us looking for supervisory training.

As we do with all new clients, I went out to visit the business and they talked me through the story of the company and the changes that had been made recently. These conversations led me to realise that in fact, the company would benefit more from audit training than supervisory training. We then ran a fiveday course with some of the company’s staff to give them the audit training they needed, which was a much smaller undertaking for the company.

It is very easy for consultancy

firms like ours to deliver what the client claims they need, but what sets us apart at Brook is that we don’t just go into a business, deliver a service they think they need and then leave.

We do our own audit and make recommendations for what we think they need, and that can sometimes be to our detriment in terms of the level of business we are getting from them, but we are a proud believer in integrity and providing as much or as little support as our clients need from us.

To book a consultation with Brook Corporate Developments, visit enquiries@brookconsult.co.uk or call 01226 240435.

27

Your IT is our priority We’re a bunch of Yorkshire lads and lasses that love IT. Our expert team takes away the headaches and eases the burden of technology on your business, leaving you free to focus on what really matters.

Put simply, we make things uncomplicated.

IT Support | Security | Cloud CRM & ERP | Telephony | Consultancy

We have an exclusive offer for unLTD readers!

We’re happy to announce that the first 10 qualifying readers will receive a free trial of KnowBe4 (subject to T&C's). To be in with a chance, email enquiries@highlanderuk.com and use the code UNLTDKNOWBE4FREE in the subject line.

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Bookings for Private and Shared Party Nights

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Systems House, Shepcote Office Village 333 Shepcote Lane, Sheffield S9 1TG T: 0114 292 3800 E: hello@highlanderuk.com

DIGITAL

HIGHLANDER

Highlander’s Owen Hanley explains the concept of social engineering

SOCIAL ENGINEERING – SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT IT? Social engineering is not a new BSc degree course, nor is it the process of growing your popularity on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

It is in fact something that every business needs to be aware of and has most likely already been subjected to - the art of manipulating, influencing, or deceiving you to gain control over your computer system. The hacker might use the phone, email, snail mail or direct contact to gain illegal access. Phishing, spear phishing, and CEO fraud are all examples.

IT security isn’t anything new and any responsible business should have already deployed hardware and software solutions to try to combat the ever-growing threat. However, unless staff themselves are trained and aware of the potential threats, companies are still at great risk of being breached.

With over 90 per cent of all breaches starting with an email and only 3 per cent of email attacks being reported

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

it’s, without doubt, the most cyber-risk any business carries.

The consequences can be costly or at worst fatal with recent research in the US showing that 60 per cent of small businesses close within 6 months of being hacked.

Highlander has partnered with the cyber security firm, KnowBe4, to enable your employees to make smarter security decisions, every day.

We aim to turn your biggest risk to your cyber security into your greatest asset, human firewalls.

Included in a low cost per user/per month model comes on-demand web-based training combined with unlimited simulated social engineering attacks through email, phone, and text.

Importantly the intention

isn’t to catch, or single employees out but instead to educate and empower them. By simulating attacks in a controlled environment, businesses can teach their staff what to look out for in future and what appropriate action should be taken.

Individual training plans can be set up, tailored to specific types of attack or departments such as finance that are increasing the subject of hackers' focus. The results that can be expected from rolling out end-user security training, as can be seen from the infographic below, are dramatic.

Insurance companies now expect businesses to provide cybersecurity training/phishing simulations to their employees,

We have an exclusive offer for unLTD readers! We’re happy to announce that the first 10 qualifying readers will receive a free trial of KnowBe4 (subject to T&C's). To be in with a chance, email enquiries@highlanderuk.com and use the code UNLTDKNOWBE4FREE in the subject line.

and failure to do so could result in any potential claims not being honoured.

Furthermore, under GDPR (remember that?!), it is mandatory to implement a security awareness training program that trains staff on the risks related to personal information that is processed, stored, or transmitted by companies, as well as the employees’ responsibility to ensure data protection.

We never seek to use scare tactics to persuade clients to adopt technology or invest in new infrastructure, but the cyber security threat is a clear and increasing danger. The old adage of prevention being better or cheaper than the cure is very apt in this case, and supporting employees to become the last line of defence could be the difference between success and failure.

If you’d like to learn more or see a demo of the KnowBe4 platform, please get in touch and our security specialists will be happy to guide you through the options.

29

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SKILLS

SKILLS FOCUS

SPONSORED BY THE SOURCE SKILLS ACADEMY The Source Skills Academy in Sheffield is passionate about bringing out the best in people.

It has been helping businesses to increase the talents of their teams since 2003 and is proud to sponsor Skills Focus, a monthly spotlight on training and apprenticeship news and funding to help you develop your staff.

WE ARE HELPING TOWN’S YOUNG THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT CAREERS IN THE ARTS Can’t sing, don’t dance, but would love a career in the world of arts, culture and entertainment?

No problem - meet Naomi, Niamh, Lisa, Phoebe, Armani, Aisha and Mya, trainee youth leaders on a mission to help Rotherham’s youth discover career opportunities in the industry.

They are part of the Sense of Place Project being run by The Source Skills Academy, one of eight organisations getting 55 young people upskilled so they can lead the way as the town becomes the UK’s first Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025.

In 2025 cultural events will celebrate the town’s identity.

But town leaders also want to open young residents’ eyes to the vast range of jobs in the arts and culture sector and help them gain key skills.

The Source’s director of quality, curriculum and innovation, Natalie Doherty, was a professional dancer before moving on to teach performance and therapy arts.

She said: “We are passionate about education and training and very proud to help raise Rotherham’s profile and guide its young people into arts sector jobs.

“It’s not all about being a performer. The industry couldn’t function without people qualified in business, management, administration

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SENSE OF PLACE TRAINEES. BOTTOM L-R NAOMI, AISHA AND ARMANI . TOP L-R PHOEBE, LISA AND MYA

and finance.”

The Source’s Sense of Place, funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund, is led by youth worker and former American footballer Dannielle Nixon, who had to change her life after breaking her back aged 22.

She went to study sports development at Sheffield Hallam University.

Danielle is training her team of seven to become youth project workers who will enthuse young people to feel part of the Children’s Capital of Culture.

She said: “We are already starting to build people-power and local pride through our project.

“Initially when we ask young people what they think of Rotherham, they talk about what they feel it lacks. Then they acknowledge that its strong community, and the support and the people they have here, make it a good place to live.”

Sense Of Place features three projects.

At career planning sessions running in schools until June, pupils can gain information on apprenticeship and training qualifications which can lead to arts sector jobs.

An arts competition has also been thrown open to schools and community groups.

Entrants have a £200

budget alongside the help of The Source’s seven trainees, and the prize is £500 plus a day in the arts industry.

In addition, information and guidance sessions are being staged in Rotherham libraries until May to raise awareness of the Children’s Capital of Culture project and help with mental health awareness, stress management, problemsolving and building resilience.

Attendees can also learn interview skills and how to create CVs. Contact The Source Academy on 0114 263 5600 to find out more.

31

CITY TAXIS

TRAVEL IN STYLE unLTD's Phil Turner tries out City Taxis’ long-distance executive vehicle service, City Connect, and discovers why they are much more than just a local taxi service.

City Connect is the new premium travel service from City Taxis – and is ideal for business and personal use. It utilises high end, executive vehicles ranging from Mercedes S-Class to Tesla Electric to Mercedes V-Class for group bookings.

Passengers are invited to travel in optimum comfort and safety on their next longdistance business trip or airport transfers, with services available in Sheffield, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Derby, making it ideal for travelling to the airport for business or attending out of town meetings.

Sharing their satisfaction with the new service, previous customers said: “Thank you so much! My mum’s driver was awesome and that

car! Thanks so much, my mum said she felt like royalty.”

“Travelling with Connect was an excellent, comfortable, polite and friendly experience.”

“Top service from you guys today. I really appreciate your help with the airport transfers!”

“I was that impressed by last night’s ride home I’ve decided against booking the airport parking. Instead I’m getting this beautiful car and lovely driver to take me there.”

“Using City Connect took all the stress out of the start of our holiday and getting to the airport. The vehicle was high end and spotless, the driver

was super helpful and it saves time as well as the cost and stress of parking somewhere that is usually a bus ride away from the actual departure lounge. I would definitely recommend it.”

Business accounts are available, with services including meet and greet at the airport and preallocated drivers to guarantee stress-free experience, as well as the opportunity to book executive travel for your clients and minibuses for events and group travel.

With restrictions now lifted on entry to the UK, now is the perfect time to look at returning to business trips abroad, or

Where to next?

Whether you’re whisking the kids away for Easter or planning a spring break for two, let City Connect take the stress out of airport transfers and parking.

City Connect host a range of executive class vehicles including Mercedes S-Class, Tesla Electric and Mercedes V-Class people carriers.

Get in touch with our team for a competitive quote connect@citytaxis.com

maybe even a last-minute Easter getaway, and why not travel in style with City Taxis new City Connect service.

To request a journey, email our dedicated booking team on connect@citytaxis.com or call 03301 220 045. More info can be found on our website: city-connect.co.uk.

WORKWEAR

WORKWEAR SPOTLIGHT… Sheffield-based custom clothing and promo merchandise company Direct Print has you covered for all your workwear needs with these exclusive offers….

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Created from 50/50 poly/cotton, this polo comes in sizes XS - 8XL to cater to all work team sizes and 11 popular colour ways. Priced from £5.10 each these are superb value for money. Ask us to print or embroider your logo for increased brand awareness.

Get 10% off by scanning the QR code and using code UNLTD22 at checkout!

For the retail sector…

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Looking for a little more luxury?

Check out these heavyweight hoodies by Eco brand Stanley/ Stella. Providing 350gsm of pure heaven, these double-layer hoods with premium brushed fleece and kangaroo pocket are guaranteed to keep you and your colleagues cosy.

Crafted from 85 per cent organic ringspun combed cotton and 15 per cent recycled polyester, these garments are not only eco conscious but vegan approved too! We can customise with embroidery or our water based printed transfers for a soft, eco finish.

Don’t just take our word for it, the team over at Gravitate Accounting love these hoodies!

Get 10% off by scanning the QR code and using code UNLTD22 at checkout!

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Keep your sales team looking the top of their game in these premium soft-shell jackets. Ventilation panels under the arms will keep you cool when out on the road whilst zipped pockets keep your work valuables safe.

The Bionic-Finish Eco provides high water and wind resistance in an ecological way. Available in stylish mens and ladies sizes ranging from XS - 4XL and a choice of five luxurious colours. Don’t forget we can embroider your logo onto them too!

Get 10% off by scanning the QR code and using code UNLTD22 at checkout!

STILL UNSURE? ASK US TO SEE A FREE SAMPLE! EMAIL SALES@DPPUK.CO.UK OR CALL 0114 398 9454.

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COVER STORY

shop local Shopping locally is growing ever more important. Sheffield City Council is running a new Shop Local initiative to encourage the people of Sheffield to invest in their local businesses and high streets. But what do local business people think of this? We asked five high street shop owners to give us their thoughts.

It’s been an exceptionally challenging winter for high street businesses. As the arrival of spring and the removal of COVID-19 restrictions hopefully begin to bring more people back to the high street, Sheffield City Council wants to get more people thinking about shopping locally and say thank you to businesses for their hard work keeping people safe and the economy going through such unprecedented times.

Shopping locally is a huge part of this. It is choosing to buy your food, clothing, and other day-to-day items from a local business instead of investing in larger retailers who likely have massive franchises. These local businesses are vital for communities, often providing everything you might ever want or need to buy but in a

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more eco-friendly and ethical way, frequently with higher quality or fresher products.

Local businesses desperately need our support.

As part of this, Sheffield City Council’s business support arm, Business Sheffield, have a team of six business information officers on the high streets of Sheffield (all 40 of them!).

The team are helping local shops with everything from cashflow to shop layouts, increasing footfall to social media support. Using their connections to colleagues at the council, they can assist with queries on things like licensing or street cleaning.

They have also commissioned four local artists to create a tote bag.

The bags will be inspired by Sheffield and themed around shopping locally. They will be distributed across high-street

businesses to stimulate trade, showcase businesses as part of a broader high street community, and remind customers to take pride in shopping locally.

Esther Morrison, business info officer and food consultant, said: “Sheffield’s neighbourhood high streets are home to a wealth of independent food spaces to chill, delis to delight, zero waste shops to reduce plastic, market traders providing street food, food halls tapping into local breweries and distilleries, and restaurants worth crossing the city for (and making a fantastic weekend break too!).

“When you find a hidden gem in Sheffield, tell the world! If you pick up something tasty and local at a market,

grab their card and hand it to your local independent shop. If you visit an area of the city for the first time and eat something the city should know about, Google review it!

If you meet somebody whose cooking is so delicious that they could make a living from it…call Business Sheffield and help them start that journey.”

Find out more about Business Sheffield and their tote bags at www.welcometosheffield. co.uk/business (find the officers in the Meet our team section) or call Business Sheffield 01142245000.

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COVER STORY

DAMASCUS SWEETS

SPITAL HILL

Damascus Sweets is a popular bakery located on Spital Hill, Burngreave, serving fresh sweets and specialising in Middle Eastern desserts inspired by dishes from Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

They are known for their manakish, a popular Levantine food consisting of dough topped with thyme, cheese or ground meat, and fresh kunafe, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made with a spun pastry called kataifi, soaked in a sugar-based syrup and layered with cream, pistachio or nuts.

Ibrahim Alhaggo, owner of Damascus Sweets, speaks to us about his shop and his thoughts on the council’s Shop Local campaign.

He said: “We decided to open our restaurant here because there is a large Middle Eastern community here. The foods are really well known in most countries, even the UK, and people enjoy our foods.

“We have a lot of English customers. They may not know much about the food, but they visit the shop, and we allow them to try samples, and when they try it, they love it and keep coming back. It’s really good knowing that we’re encouraging people to try something new, and that they enjoy it too.

“It’s important to shop local because, at Damascus Sweets, everything is handmade, original and fresh every day. Whereas with supermarkets, it’s hard to know how fresh the produce is.

“Our prices reflect the quality of our products, which might be higher than your

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larger stores, but people are still coming to our shop because they know everything is fresh, and that we make everything with our hearts.

“People notice the difference between ours and the supermarket version. It’s totally different. The quality is better and the food more authentic.”

Looking to the future, Ibrahim hopes to gain space in the Moor Market and the Sheffield City Centre Christmas Markets to introduce even more people to his bakery’s unique delicacies.

He said: “Lots of people visit my shop, and they ask why I haven’t opened in the city centre yet as there’s a really heavy footfall there. I can’t wait to get a space in one of the markets to be able to showcase a different style of sweets and desserts. I have so many ideas, and the future is inspiring.

“I hope the council’s campaign helps local stores like mine to have an opportunity to make it in the city centre by helping us get our feet off the ground, to have lower rents or council rates, maybe lower taxes, to give us an opportunity to start and see how things flourish and grow from there.”

Find out more: Instagram: @Damascus_bakery_sweets Facebook: @DamascussweetsSheffield Website: https://bit.ly/DamascusSheffield

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Think of us as an extension to your team.

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COVER STORY

IL FORNO FIRTH PARK

Il Forno Bakery provides the best quality baked goods, handcrafted sandwiches, delicious desserts and the finest rotisserie chicken in the city.

Working from a beautiful shop displaying and serving their baked goods and delicious takeaway meals, Il Forno is located near Firth Park in Sheffield.

Open 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, Il Forno bake bread daily in-house via traditional clay ovens to ensure the freshest, most delicious taste.

We spoke to Hussain Asem from Il Forno about his business and his thoughts on shopping locally.

He said: “We provide homemade, fresher, and healthier options for people, especially compared to many other takeaways in our area. Our chefs pride themselves on using only the best ingredients - you won’t find bread this good anywhere else in Sheffield!”

Il Forno is unique in that they update their menu every day – customers can always be sure that the products they are buying are homemade daily.

Hussain said: “Shopping locally is essential. It allows you to travel less, and if you’re on a tight schedule nearby, people don’t have to skip a meal during the day; they can pop in and quickly order something for their lunch, making sure that they look after themselves.

“Plus, our products are fresher and healthier than what larger stores can provide, and having local stores helps there be more options in communities and makes communities more welcoming and friendly as a whole.”

“We believe that the council’s Shop Local campaign will help draw more customers allowing people to see what we actually do.

Once people find us, they have the amazing opportunity to try a range of fresh homemade foods that are quick to buy, healthy to eat and can be bought at affordable prices.

Our chefs pride themselves on using only the best ingredients - you won’t find bread this good anywhere else in Sheffield!”

Find out more: Instagram: @ilforno_bakery Website: www.ilfornobakery.co.uk

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COVER STORY

HILLSBORO’

ANNIE JUDES

Hillsborough’s Annie Jude’s is a gift shop with a real backstory – and a very moving one at that.

34-year-old Faith Nicholson started the business, which sells a whole range of gifts, crafts and handmade items, after her mother sadly passed away last year.

From candles to confectionary, jewellery to skincare, there’s something for everyone – and it was only made possible by the money Faith received from her mum.

She said: “This business is a real tribute to my mum and it’s her lasting legacy.

“Her name was Judith Ann, so the shop is named after her – and my little girl’s middle name is Jude too.

“My mum was so community minded and that inspires me every day, it’s what I want to bring to this shop.”

Annie Jude’s has only been open since December 2021, when Faith was so determined to open before Christmas that she had to rely on just a backup generator and candles because her electricity wasn’t up and running in time.

While she might be warmer now, her determination to succeed is as strong as ever.

That’s why she’s so excited about Sheffield City Council’s ‘Shop Local’ scheme – and the message behind it.

“Seeing the council supporting small businesses is so important and shows how much they matter to the people of Sheffield,” Faith said. “It means a lot to have that backing and to have someone fighting our corner.

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Any promotion really helps.”

Faith believes that continuing to shop locally and supporting smaller businesses is imperative to the survival of the high street.

And her passion for her own high street in Hillsborough is evident, as she raves about the array of options and local amenities available.

She said: “We’re so lucky to have so many excellent choices right on our doorstep.

“We have everything you could ever need – from greasy spoons to posh delis and every type of shop you can think of. I never want to lose that.

“I think that’s why the council’s message is so great, because we need to be shouting about all these lovely independents that are all so close, but maybe not as well-known.”

And it’s not just the businesses that make the high street so special for Faith – it’s the people.

She said: “While shopping online is nice, what you don’t get is the interaction and personalised experience of shopping in store. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to be interacting with other people as much as possible.

“I have been so lucky to get so much support from our community and meet so many lovely people. For me, that’s why shopping locally is vital – long may it continue!”

Find out more: Facebook: @AnnieJude’s Instagram: @ anniejudesshopsheffield Website: www.anniejudes. co.uk

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COVER STORY

SHEFFIELD SKINCARE CO

CROOKES

Sheffield Skincare Company is an independent Sheffield business based in Crookes. They make 100 per cent natural skincare products in small batches to ensure that everything is as fresh as possible.

Their ingredients are ethically sourced and they are passionate about plastic-free packaging.

Megan Beardsmore, from Sheffield Skincare, said: “It’s important to shop local as you’ll be putting money back into the community. I end up spending the money I earn through my business back in the area.

“It means you’re not funding a second or third home or someone’s fourth car, you’re helping local people who are putting the money back into their businesses and their local economy.

“Boosting the independent shops in Sheffield is vital as it makes them easily accessible for everyone. The council’s campaign is a great idea. For those who have survived the

ECCLESALL ROAD

pandemic, we could do with the support.

“The first few months of the year have been quiet, for us and across Sheffield. That support, even if it’s just something little, boosts the economy and keeps all those independent shops that do special things that you can’t find in big supermarkets.

“There’s more love behind a product when it comes from an independent shop. You can visit and have a chat. We can help people, adjust things slightly, create bespoke wedding favours, all the things that bigger companies can’t do.”

Many of Sheffield Skincare’s product names come from local Sheffield sayings or are named after places in Sheffield. Their passion for the place they live in

is another excellent quality of being an independent store in the city and Crookes has a large community of independently owned stores.

Megan said: “We all talk together and share any problems we’re having. We’re quite linked together, so, for example, I can communicate with Sorrels Bakery or the Unwrapped store

about anything my store is going through.

“There’s a lot of support on that front and a lot of help from the community. For things like Christmas and Mother’s Day, people around here are good at shopping local.

“We also get people visiting from outside the area, which is brilliant; Crookes attracts people. It’s got charming cafes and generally draws quite a few people in. There’s a good atmosphere around here, and it’s great to be involved in it.”

Find out more: Instagram: @sheffskinco Facebook: @sheffieldskincare Website: https:// sheffieldskincare.co.uk/

SNUGG KIDS Based in a leafy suburb of Sheffield, Snugg Kids on Ecclesall Road strives to bring the best quality Scandinavian products on the market for children aged 0-8 years.

With a wide selection of clothes, books, accessories and lifestyle items, Snugg aims to help you and your children live your best Scandi-style life.

The team takes every effort to use companies that source natural materials for responsibly and ethically made products, and everything is handpicked to ensure the highest quality.

Amy Cuttill, from Snugg, said: “It’s a concept store, more of an experience than your typical shop, and it’s filled with all-handpicked pieces of clothing. It’s all

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Scandinavian themed, so there are a lot of unique products that you won’t see anywhere else.

“It’s important to shop local because the world would be boring without lots of different small shops. Not to forget it’s critical for the UK economy.

“We hope that the Shop Local campaign provides more exposure to what we do and overwrites misconceptions that there may be. For example, people think our products will be over budget, but we have a mixture of options, so there is a price point for everyone.”

Snugg is located near the Botanical Gardens and Endcliffe Park and resides next door to Nonnas, a classic Italian restaurant.

Amy said: “I like the fact we have the parks and Nonnas so close. There are so many great independent shops on the same street, or around the corner from us, and it means that we can always lean on each other. It’s a nice community.”

Find out more: Facebook: @snuggkids Website: https://snuggkids.co.uk/

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SHOP LOCAL A RENDERING OF THE COACH HOUSE IN HILLSBROUGH PARK

GATHERING GROUND LAUNCHED IN

HILLSBOROUGH PARK Sheffield community organisations team up to open creative new space in popular city park.

A new range of community facilities has been unveiled in Hillsborough Park, bringing together creative, artistic, educational, and leisure activities on a single site.

Gathering Ground is an innovative and collaborative project comprising of Bradbury Makers’ Shed, which backs onto the park’s Walled Garden; the existing Pavilion; and the Depot Bakery café, which recently opened in the Coach House.

Age UK Sheffield has brought the facilities together

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in a £1 million, Lottery-funded project, and is working in partnership with Sheffieldbased community arts organisation RivelinCo to develop an intergenerational creative activity and event programme.

It will include woodwork, printmaking, theatre, music and dance, arts and crafts, gardening, creative writing, a choir, a cinema club and a repair shop.

Age UK Sheffield chief executive, Steve Chu, said: “Gathering Ground will be

for everyone, with groups and activities to appeal to the entire family. Older people are our priority - the core activity programme will appeal to over50s and be dementia-friendly and accessible to all - but we want this programme to bring people of all ages together in an intergenerational approach, making the most of our refurbished facilities and the park’s natural environment.”

RivelinCo’s drector Linda Bloomfield, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Age UK Sheffield to

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SHOP LOCAL

UTILITY SOURCE – PROVIDING RESILIENCE AND SOLUTIONS….

Dean Pattison at Utility Source explains what it was like working on the unique new Gathering Ground project in Hillsborough Park.

deliver the creative programme at Gathering Ground, a one-of-a-kind new activity and wellbeing centre for our community in Hillsborough and beyond. We’ve been busy building the opening programme with our team of brilliant artists and facilitators, after several months’ community consultation to find out what local people wanted to see happen in their neighbourhood. Activities and events will be affordable, accessible, led by artists and for all ages - we can’t wait to share them with you.”

Taster sessions will take place in April and May, ahead of a full programme from June onwards. For more details, e-mail info@gatheringground. uk To volunteer at Gathering Ground, e-mail: enquiries@ ageuksheffield.org.uk For more information about Age UK Sheffield, visit www. ageuk.org.uk/sheffield/ To find out more about RivelinCo, visit www.rivelinco. org

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Property development and challenges with utility installations tend to go hand in hand and our business is focussed on identifying positive solutions.

We were recommended to Steve Chu at Age UK and were subsequently appointed to become part of the project team at the regeneration of the Coach House and Potting Shed in Hillsborough Park.

As utilities consultants, we worked alongside the project team to create a suitable installation proposal. This led to us appointing a local accredited contractor, D&G Utilities to install a new gas main and service into the building.

Logistically there were inevitable challenges, especially when excavating through a public park but careful planning and preparation enabled a safe and successful installation.

Given that the building was in the process of being transformed into a community café, the gas supply was essential to enable food preparation.

Fast forward several months and The Depot Bakery were appointed to operate the café. Shortly afterwards it was identified that the gas supply installed was not suitably sized to feed their specialist kitchen equipment, an issue which was unforeseen in the early stages of the development.

We attended the site to find that the external resin surface was already in place and that any excavations would impact on the surface guarantees. Rather than excavating through the resin we looked for alternative solutions and

identified that with the correct capacity checks and approvals in place it was possible to upsize some of the equipment installed without disrupting the surface.

Following several lengthy debates with the energy supplier, interaction with the gas network operator and a site visit or two, we had a solution on the table.

We value our local contractor partners, and the next step was to engage one which was qualified to make alterations to the equipment. Mane Metering did just that, ensuring that the equipment was upsized to enable the increased capacity. The outcome was operational kitchen equipment and a pristine resin surface!

Whilst we have only been a small part of the remarkable transformation of the Coach House, we believe that we have been a valuable source of support for the customer. Resilience is an essential quality when operating in our market and we are proud to demonstrate that we have it in abundance.

The next step is a cuppa and a piece of cake whilst we admire our collective achievements in the grounds of this fantastic building.

Steve Chu, chief executive at Age UK Sheffield, said: “Utility Source Limited provided a great service for us, and went above the call of duty to help us resolve some tricky issues. Their knowledge and contacts unlocked the solutions to some problems we would have struggled to resolve on our own. I would have no hesitation in recommending them and working with them again.”

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© SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA – 2022 – All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA 5869/0222

www.upnorthcabinetmakers.com | 07786295313 | info@upnorthcabinetmakers.com

YOUR PITCH

UP NORTH CABINET MAKERS Up North Cabinet Makers is based in the heart of the industrial region of Sheffield and makes furniture from wardrobes to bookshelves, as well as kitchens.

Tell us about your business – sell yourselves!

Up North Cabinet Makers was founded by Luke Wawrzyniak only three years ago but thanks to continued growth we’re now a team of six. With the great workshop space we have, our plan is to gradually double the staff size to ensure we are designing, making and installing every day without ever compromising on precision or craftmanship.

We love good furniture.

We’re not so keen on bad furniture or wasted space.

That’s why our focus is on quality, meaning everything we make is made to last for decades.

We make kitchens and fitted furniture. Our work is bespoke and designed to fit perfectly in its new home.

Wardrobes, bookshelves, home offices – we’ve made it all and yet each one is totally unique. People have come to us with awkward nooks and crannies of unused space because the solution it really needs is not available off-the-shelf. Our job is to solve these problems with exclusive, well-designed and well-crafted furniture.

We offer a free design and visualisation service to all customers. Whether our customer wants to lead with a clear vision or have us put forward ideas, design is always a core part of the process.

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to a minimum. Sustainability and quality truly go hand in hand.

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

We speak to people in and around Sheffield who are looking for a solution they just can’t find anywhere else.

A lot of our customers are conscious of the impact of poor design and inadequate materials, so we work with them to build furniture that will last for generations.

We have helped people from first time buyers to those looking to perfect their forever home. Having spent more time at home over the last couple of years it seems people are looking to invest more to improve their own habitat, and rightly so!

How can people get in touch with you?

If you would like to start a project of your own, then get in touch with us at info@ upnorthcabinetmakers.com or on 07786 295313 to discuss any project you have in mind.

Or take a look at our website for more information. www. upnorthcabinetmakers.com Sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do as a business. Our raw material is ethically and environmentally sourced.

This means locally sourced

timber and other materials made from recycled and repurposed wood. We apply spray finishes in house without using any nasty chemicals and keep our waste

Also follow us on Facebook, Instagram (@ upnorthcabinetmakers) or Twitter (@upnorthmakers) to check out some of the different projects we have completed.

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ADVERTORIAL

HELPING YOU BACK TO THE WORKPLACE TravelMaster, a multi-operator ticketing company specialising in products that allow travel on any bus, tram or train in South Yorkshire, has appointed a new general manager, John Henshall. John explains how TravelMaster is helping people get back to the workplace.

Exiting the pandemic, it is our responsibility to adapt to the needs of our customers as they get acclimatised to their own ‘new normal’. To this end, we are constantly looking at innovative ways in which we can retail and fulfil ticket orders.

One of the ways in which we are helping customers is the launch of the Flexi5. It is a collection of five one-day tickets that can be used in any 30-day period. Due to the flexible nature of this product, customers are no longer obligated to buy tickets valid for seven consecutive days or longer to cover only working a handful of days in the office. Further improvements to the Flexi product are currently being developed for customers in the coming months.

Our customer offer

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does not end there. We are committed to offering varied points-of-sale, across numerous platforms.

In addition to retailing products online, we also sell tickets through ticket vending machines at transport interchanges and via Payzone outlets in the county.

In recent years we also partnered with a couple of our operators – First South Yorkshire and Stagecoach Yorkshire – to enable our products to be made available via their own ticketing apps.

This allows customers the ease to select the most appropriate ticket as quickly and painlessly as possible whilst en route.

Of course, the sales platforms are only useful if there are products to sell.

Prior to the pandemic, we had

streamlined our selection for adults and young people alike.

We have the CityBus and CityWide (which includes both bus and tram) in Sheffield, as well as the BConnect, DConnect and RConnect tickets for the districts of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. For those travelling cross county, adults can either choose the SYConnect (all buses and trams) or SYConnect+ (with the addition of trains).

18–22-year-olds can receive a 15 per cent discount off any tickets in the above adult range with our 18-22 Discount Card, which can be ordered free-of-charge from our website. We also offer discounts to organisations who wish to buy tickets in bulk for employees or visitors.

For more information, or to buy your tickets today, please visit: sytravelmaster.com/ unLTD or contact sales@ sytravelmaster.com for information on business discounts.

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NATIONAL NE

ORK TW

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HIR

Ie

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S O U T H YO

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E lIbrar

PODCAST

THE unLTD PODCAST This month on the unLTD Podcast, James Marriott is taking you behind-the-scenes of the magazine.

It’s all because we have a new member of the unLTD team! Features writer Brogan Maguire joins us to tell us about her background and what she’s looking forward to getting stuck into in the role.

And Brogan guides us through an average month at unLTD HQ - from the early stages of planning out the mag right through to sending it off to the printers and it hitting the streets of South Yorkshire.

There are also some useful tips on how to tell us about your news... maybe you could be splashed across these pages soon!

Coming soon!

I’m working on a new podcast which will be launching soon, and I have an invitation for you.

This show will give owners of businesses - big, small, and anywhere in between - an

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

to be one of the first to come on, just drop me an email to james@wearesoundmedia. com and I’ll make sure you›re top of the list.

JAMES SPOKE TO UNLTD’S BROGAN MAGUIRE

opportunity to pitch what they do and tell their story.

It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, where you’re based, how many employees you have or anything else. Everyone is welcome!

It’s a little while away yet but if you’re reading this and want to put your name down

Top Tip It’s been a while since I’ve included a podcasting tip, so here’s one which went down really well on social media.

This is a way of incorporating video into how you publicise your podcast without causing yourself a ton of work.

After you’ve recorded your episode, either you or your guest does a quick 20-30 second selfie video just introducing themselves and teasing a couple of the highlights from the episode.

You can then use it on your social platforms without the need to spend hours editing or sifting through the recordings.

What a result As we get to the business end of the football season, here’s a quick shoutout for three

local football podcasts which are worth a listen (depending on your allegiance of course!).

BladesPod is the original Sheffield United podcast hosted by Ben - what a journey the club has been on since it started in late 2017!

With the Blades in the hunt for an immediate return to the top flight, there’ll be some cracking episodes to come.

Across town, the blue and white side of the city has a plethora of podcasts, but one of my favourites is Owls Americast. Wednesday have a large following in the US and this podcast is half Americans, half expats, and always top quality.

If you’re a Barnsley fan, check out Red All Over. It started out as a radio show before focusing on a podcast format and has grown into a really strong brand with video content as well. Can the Reds pull off the great escape? Joe and the gang will be there every step of the way.

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LEGAL ADVICE

FREE LEGAL ADVICE AVAILABLE TO SHEFFIELD BUSINESSES AT DROP-IN CLINICS Sheffield businesses are able to access free legal advice at clinics hosted by leading law firm Shakespeare Martineau.

The regular one-to-one sessions take place at multiple sites across the city – with the next walk-in clinic taking place with intellectual property law legal director Kerry Russell between 1pm and 4pm on 6 April at the Business and Intellectual Property Centre, located in Sheffield’s Central Library, in Surrey Street.

Kerry will also be on-hand at the next bi-monthly drop-in clinic in Sheffield Technology Parks, in Arundel Street, between 10am and 1pm on 28 April to advise businesses on intellectual property issues and queries.

Commercial partner Carys

Thompson will host her next monthly virtual session in partnership with Business Sheffield on the same day – designed to help both start-up and established businesses to thrive and grow. To book a virtual appointment on 28 April, or at another future clinic, please call the Business Sheffield Gateway Team on 0114 224 5000.

Carys said: “We love speaking with and finding out about the amazing businesses in Sheffield and supporting them with the legal queries they may have. We find that the clinics are a great way to dispel the apprehension many

people feel before obtaining legal advice.

“We are fortunate that, while Shakespeare Martineau is fairly new to the Sheffield market, we have the support of the wider team and full service offering

behind us across the firm nationally. We have particular expertise in advising start-ups, entrepreneurs and fast-growth business owners, supporting them in taking the next step in their growth journey.”

ADVERTORIAL

THE LOWDOWN ON

IMMIGRATION LAW Kathleen O’Donnell, senior manager at immigration firm Fragomen, talks about the options available for recruiting skilled workers into your business.

The predicted ramp up of activity in the Sheffield City Region will, as ever, lead to the need to source more skilled workers.

Employers have found that some personnel from the EU that they used to recruit without restriction before Brexit, have not applied for EU settled status, which allows them to work here for any employer and leads to settlement.

The scheme is now closed, although the Home Office does accept late applications in exceptional circumstances.

This means knowledge of other routes to work is even more relevant for recruiters, so they can guide people who may not be eligible to make a late EU Settled Status application.

Here is a summary of the

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options available – these have further broadened with the addition of the new Global Business Mobility Routes.

Skilled worker visa - suitable for many types of hire leads to settlement after 5 years; must have passed an approved English test or via a university degree unless they UK Sponsor Licence - Once are a national of a majority you have applied for this English speaking country. one-off application, you can Frontier Worker visa – then sponsor migrants in the ideal commuter visa; the Inter-company transfer employee must be from the (becoming Global Mobility EU, living outside the UK and Routes in early April) and have started working in the Skilled Worker categories.

UK by 31 December 2020.

Global Business Mobility Visitors - only allowed to routes - this route will open undertake certain activities on April 11 and there will in limited circumstances. be five sub-categories - It This route may work for you is for businesses seeking to for short visits and certain establish a presence here or provisions may allow a transfer staff on temporary field engineer to come and assignments so it will not lead install or maintain a piece to settlement. As individuals of equipment for you, for will be on assignment in example. Otherwise, the the UK, you should also Global Business Mobility consider the Social Security routes may be more suitable. implications of the move.

Permission to work in their

own right – employees may qualify in their own right, for example by being married to a British citizen or someone who already holds permission to work.

We provide tailored immigration support, including assisting with visa applications for employees and their families, specialist compliance advice and regular client briefings, alerts and events.

While finding the right staff has always been an issue for companies, it’s important to remember talented personnel from further afield can be sourced – provided you comply with the rules by having the right professional support and advice.

To find out more, visit www.fragomen.com

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If you are a property investor it is likely that you have already encountered a negative experience when dealing with a utility provider. Poor communication, navigating a complicated and regulated process, volatile costs or unexpected lengthy lead times are common complaints which cause delay. A delay can of course disturb your lending conditions.

At Utility Source we believe in sharing information with our customers to provide ongoing education and understanding.

HERE ARE THREE TIPS WHICH MAY SUPPORT YOUR UTILITIES JOURNEY: Carry out a utilities review before you buy a piece of land or a building. The results may identify potential cost and inconvenience and in some cases can support the land price negotiation.

No two jobs are ever the same. Try not to shoehorn data from your last project into your new project as it can lead to nasty surprises. Site specific data will influence an accurate budget and help mitigate any costly delays.

Understand timescales! It is normal to allow four weeks to collate utility quotations and 6-8 weeks to have the work completed. There are many unavoidable factors which can slow these anticipated lead times and you need to know what they are.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US ON 01709 763237 OR AT INFO@UTILITYSOURCELIMITED.CO.UK

FOOD REVIEW

RAFFINA BY REECE ELLIOTT

unLTD’s Brogan Maguire visited Sheffield’s hottest new restaurant, Raffina by Reece Elliott and shared her experience.

Found in one of the most iconic buildings on Ecclesall Road, Raffina by Reece Elliott’s exterior boasts full-length glass windows where you can get a quick glimpse of the delights that are awaiting you inside.

I was met by Raffina’s general manager Josh and was quickly shown to my table.

The front of house staff were attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly – nothing was too much trouble, and our service was impeccable.

Raffina’s décor is beautiful.

My eyes were taken to the two beautiful light fixtures, the large marble-topped corner bar, and the large velvet green raised seating area.

Reece’s menu is outstanding, and it was hard to know what to choose as I could have easily picked every dish!

There are six starters, six mains and six dessert options – which I always feel reflects a Chef who is confident with flavour combinations and delivery of his dishes.

To start, I went for the wild

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mushroom and truffle arancini; for my main, I opted for the crab and lobster tortelloni and the salted caramel, and custard tart served with cappuccino ice cream for dessert – all of the three courses were divine. The restaurant boasts a comprehensive drinks menu and I had an appleberry spritz, which was refreshing and complimented the freshness and delicacy of the dishes.

What topped off the experience for me was Reece walking the restaurant floor and talking to his diners. The personal touches make a difference and elevated the whole dining experience.

In summary, Raffina by Reece Elliot offers stunning food, fantastic service in a beautiful setting, I would highly recommend it.

You can visit Raffina by Reece Elliott Wednesday – Saturday for lunch and dinner.

To book your table and view the menus, scan the QR code

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Supporting you in providing a safe place to work There are practical steps we can all take when it comes to keeping people safe, but knowing what these are, and understanding your responsibilities as an employer, can be a challenge.

The team at PIB Risk Management have been making workplaces safe for over 2 decades and we pride ourselves on providing a range of solutions that can be tailored to fit your individual needs as a business, from helping you identify areas for improvement, through to managing your full health and safety program.

Contact us today to see how we can support you.

Health and Safety Consultancy HR Consultancy Training Online Risk Management

To find out how we can help, please get in touch: e. sales@pibrm.com t. 01777 861861 > pib-riskmanagement.co.uk

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PIB Risk Management is a trading style of PIB Risk Management Limited. PIB Risk Management Limited is registered in England & Wales. Company Registration Number 07473310. VAT Number 249785350. Registered Office: PIB Risk Management Limited, Rossington’s Business Park, West Carr Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7SW. PIB Risk Management Ltd are exempt from both FCA authorisation and FOS as they do not carry out regulated activities.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THE KEY RISKS SURROUNDING BATTERIES Adrian Robinson managing director of PIB Risk Management, talks about the growth in the electric vehicle (EVs) market, with over 365,000 pure-electric cars on UK roads at the end of November 2021, and more than 705,000 plug-in models including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

Whilst the impact on the environment can only be positive, what are the implications for retailers in terms of risk to their businesses?

Charging Insurers have raised concerns over the charging of vehicles within dealerships outside business hours. This is due to the potential fire risk and the emission of gases during the charging process.

To reduce risk, we recommend you consider the nature of controls required as described in the RISC Authority RC59 document, ‘RC59 Fire safety when charging electric vehicles’.

This suggests, for example, establishing dedicated fireprotected areas, such as separate charging buildings.

Should full compliance not be achievable, our risk management team may be able

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to negotiate with insurers to agree on practical ways in which you can demonstrate good compliance with RC59.

Storage Specific legislation surrounds the storing of batteries and includes measures such as sustainability, safety, labelling, and end of life management.

The guiding principle of the UK legislation is that all waste batteries must be processed by an Approved Battery Treatment Operator (ABTO) or an Approved Battery Exporter (ABE). Specifically, producers of automotive batteries must collect waste automotive batteries free of charge from their final holders, such as garages and scrapyards.

Our risk management experts can help guide on in ensuring your business is meeting the requirements and offer advice on

best practice.

Servicing EVs require regular service checks, just as conventional cars, to help maintain optimal battery performance and the EV longevity. There are risks associated with servicing and repairing EVs since they contain and store energy which could cause serious harm if not managed correctly.

It is vital that a thorough risk assessment is carried out to ensure there is a process in place to identify the safety status of all EVs, the appropriate PPE has been provided and checked before work begins, and technicians assigned to work on the vehicles have received the correct training.

In addition, post-repair processes will need to be reviewed to ensure the correct charging of the vehicle battery

before the car is returned to the customer, and the safe disposal of any hazardous components.

What next?

Since the risks surrounding EVs are relatively new, and insurers are naturally cautious, our expert risk managers can assist you with reducing and managing the risk, and therefore provide your insurer with the confidence they need to continue to support you with supplying, servicing and repairing EVs in a safe and protected manner.

For more information about the specific legislation on battery manufacture and waste in the UK, please visit: www.gov.uk/ guidance/regulations-batteriesand-waste-batteries

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REV CO

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REV CO Emma Chidlaw from embroidery company Revco opens up to unLTD feature writer Brogan Maguire about the challenges of being a woman in business – and how she juggles running a workwear, embroidery and print company with being a mum-of-four.

Emma Chidlaw, who co-owns Sheffield-based embroidery company Revco with her husband John, isn’t 100 per cent sure.

But what she is sure about is that being a mother, a wife, a business owner and a member of staff – as well as trying to have a life of your own - is not easy for anyone.

Running a company is a busy job no matter what, but Emma doesn’t just co-own the business - she also works hands-on in the warehouse, getting involved in the printing,

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embroidering and packaging of all the products.

She says: “I run the warehouse side of things, so I manage all the staff in there, as well as doing my own embroidery… oh, and all the quality checks! When I say it like that, it does sound like a lot, doesn’t it?”

The good news is that Emma loves the work she does and feels very passionate about it, even if it can be exhausting.

She adds: “We’ve got a few other businesses and I’ve always done our uniforms and

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REV CO

sorted our logos so it’s really exciting that now I get to do that for other people.

“What really helps is that I love being busy, and I really do love this business with all my heart.”

It’s a good job she enjoys being busy, as the business has gone from strength to strength over the last year and the team often have large numbers of orders to get out to their customers on a tight deadline.

But another thing that helps Emma and her staff with their stress levels is making sure they never get too bogged down in the heavy workload to have a laugh and enjoy their time at work.

“All the girls in my team, including my sister, tell me they love coming to work, which is lovely to hear,” she says.

“Of course, we do have times when we have a big order to get out and we just have to get our heads down, but there’s no reason why you can’t have fun while you do it.

“There have been people within the business who have specifically requested to be part of my team and I think that’s a testament to what I’m doing.

It’s so important to have a good work culture and make people feel valued.”

It’s clear this is a company that champions women – with a fully-female team working in the warehouse – and one that understands the challenges they face.

With four children of her own, Emma is all too familiar with the difficulties that come

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with balancing motherhood and full-time work.

Whether it’s picking up a poorly child from school unexpectedly, having to shoot off early to get to parents evening or a mad dash to drop off a forgotten PE kit at the school gates, being a working mum comes with plenty of problems to solve.

It’s for that reason that she and John are flexible with their staff and always encourage them to speak up if they are struggling.

Emma says: “I think it’s really important to be all ears with your staff and let them know that you’ve got their back.

“We’re not scary, we’re humans who have been through all the same issues and want to help as much as we can.

“All we ask is that people talk to us and let us know what they need. We’re always really flexible about shifts and try our best to work around them.

“As long as everything gets done and all the orders go out that’s all that counts, so there’s no reason we can’t work around our staff.”

Although her children are a little bit older now, Emma still remembers how challenging it has been over the years to juggle being a mum and running a business.

From school runs to dentist appointments to business meetings halfway across the country, balancing all of her daily tasks has not always been an easy job.

In fact, there’s one particular memory that stands out for her

when summarising what life as a working mum is like.

“I remember when Bella was about six months old, I had to get up at 4am and go to Manchester to check on some of our warehouses,” she recalls.

“I was exhausted as I was always up in the night feeding her but there wasn’t another way for me to do it, so I just got on with it. It’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.

“Having said that, it has definitely been a struggle and there have definitely been times when I haven’t known how I was going to get it all done. It really is so much harder when they’re younger.

“Luckily it is a little bit easier now the kids are older as they are a bit more independent and it gives me a bit more freedom.

There was a period where they got a bit too used to having me at home all the time so we have had to have some conversations about everyone doing their bit around the house more, but we’re in a good place with that now, thankfully!”

And she couldn’t have done it all without John by her side, her partner in more ways than one.

“I know we don’t always see eye to eye on everything but somehow we just work,” she adds. “Having a husband is a full-time job within itself but I really couldn’t imagine life any other way. We’re such a good team.”

Despite the challenges and the often hectic days, Emma says following her business dreams has always been worth it, and

that she’d always encourage anyone else to do the same.

Her advice to other women and mothers who are in a similar position is simple: if you want it, you can have it.

She says: “People say life is too short, so I say go and do it, even if your kids are still young. If there’s something you want to achieve then don’t let anything stop you, because even though it can be difficult it’s so rewarding.

“When they grow up and fly the nest you don’t want to be left wondering ‘what now?’ and having to start from scratch.

“I know it’s easier said than done and that I’ve been in quite a lucky position but make the most of your support networks and just be honest with people about what you need, because nine times out of ten they’ll understand.”

But whether you have children or not, go out to work or not, have a husband or not, there is one thing every woman has in common in Emma’s eyes – they’re all heroes.

She adds: “I take my hat off to every woman out there, no matter what position she’s in, because it’s so hard trying to juggle everything and fit everything in.

“Women do the most amazing job and I am so proud of every single one of them.

It’s an honour to have so many wonderful ones in my team.”

To find out more about Revco and their products, call 0330 333 0707 or email hello@ revcouk.com

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5 MINUTES WITH

MICHELLE SLATER

Business Development Manager Charge Ur Vehicle

I was inspired to start my business by…. I have worked for large corporate companies for over 35 years helping and supporting local businesses.

I saw a gap in the market when my friend bought their electric car and realised how difficult it was to find both a product and installer locally.

I have two great business partners who are wanting to help local people and their businesses in the community.

Running an environmentally friendly business and helping other business be more environmental can set your business apart from your competitors.

My favourite thing about running my business is……I love meeting new clients, building a relationship and understanding their needs, finding a solution that is right for them and taking pride in providing a quality service.

The three words that best describe my business are……… integrity, service, quality

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Sheffield City Region is a great place to start a business because……Sheffield brings a unique mix of city life, the great outdoors and is diverse and friendly. The City provides an entrepreneurial culture with a strong pipeline of talent which is great for any start up business.

Sheffield City Region is a great place to grow a business because…Sheffield is home to creative and inventive businesses. It has a growing population and low costs compared to other larger cities. There are opportunities for funding and you can now also see a series of the City Development projects. Exciting times ahead after what has been a difficult couple of years.

The best advice I ever got was….Don’t ever stop learning and growing as a person.

Always take time to celebrate your successes and reflect on what has gone well and more importantly what didn’t go

so well so you can learn from your mistakes.

The worst advice I ever got was…

This is a really hard question… ..I was once told that mentors are a waste of time, however I have had a number of mentors and people within my life whether that be family, work colleagues, and friends that I have always listened to. Those people have had a real impact on my career, all of whom are inspiring people, which has had an enormous influence on me and my life and career.

The organisations that have supported me and my business include….In my new business I had support from my business partners Jackie and Joe who are both committed to our new challenge. Our accountant Shirley Hart who has set everything up for us, our bank at Metro Bank Sheffield for opening our account along with our website designers

Northern Media with a special shout out to Jess Venson in particular who has been amazing.

The main challenges facing my industry/sector are…..

Some electric vehicles have limited driving range so make sure you pick the right vehicle for you. For longer journeys make sure you have a “pit stop” planned on your route.

If you have an up to date app such as “Zap-Map” this will really help.

In five years’ time I expect my business…I would expect that there will be a wider range of electrical vehicles, prices maybe falling and models diversifying. Around 30 per cent of new car sales will likely be electric and therefore the impact of more users will mean the need for more installations in the home and at the workplace. I would like to predict that my business will have grown, building a great brand and reputation in the local community.

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ADVERTORIAL

CC33 –THE SHIFTING SANDS OF

CUSTOMER CONTACT

IN A POST- PANDEMIC WORLD CC33’s IT Director, Adam Robinson, spoke to unLTD about how the shift in people’s working habits has pushed technology advancements forward and changed their customers’ contact habits forever.

Led by Adam, CC33 has ensured a smooth transition from face to face communication to virtual platforms for clients and their customers.

This has been implemented

by CC33’s team of tech experts and their ability to simplify technology through programming.

Adam said: “We used to nip round for a cup of tea or go for a nice walk with our family and friends but that was all pushed to a virtual world for most of us during lockdown. Whilst we’re happy we can see our friends and family again in person, a lot of what changed has now become part of our every day interactions. We’ve found that our customers are now much happier using video technology, webchat and chatbots to communicate.

“Since our customers’ contact preferences have changed, it’s an exciting time to be in the contact centre industry. The response to the pandemic accelerated how our team works and how our

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clients’ customers get in touch with us by a good few years."

CC33’s technological advancements have led the tech team to focus on a more multi-channel approach to their client offering.

The team now build a range of communication through alternative platforms, including WhatsApp and video conferencing. CC33’s team members now seamlessly

swap between calls, email channels, and answer webchat queries.

CC33 has also introduced ‘speech analytics’. Adam said: “Speech analytics offers our clients a huge insight into how and why their customers interact with their brand, which ultimately reduces costs and improves service."

The tech team prides itself in having a technology platform that is easy to use for the CC33 team,and their clients,

Adam added: “We confidently offer our clients an ‘open door’ into our (or their) world, which means they can listen in to any calls or chats for their customers, at any time, from anywhere. This unprecedented access to all of our communication platforms for our clients, really separates us from our competition too. And really does cement the quality of our service. “ We make technology simple by design to maximise our service and performance for clients.

“The growth of social media and its integration of chatbots and WhatsApp is opening new opportunities for our industry to make an impact for sure.

It’s an exciting time! As data security and transparency are always advancing, our team needs to continue to be at the cutting edge.”

For more information on how working with CC33 can benefit your business, contact: adam.robinson@ cc33.co.uk

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FEATURE

unLTD’s Brogan Maguire talked to REYT's Danny Tomalin, about making an extreme sports technology company, his love of skating and why it had to be done in Sheffield.

When Danny Tomalin was a teenager, spending his days at the skatepark with his friends, he never thought he’d be able to run a business that gave him the same sense of community he felt back then.

But fast forward 20 years and that’s exactly the position he’s found himself in.

After years of working as a product developer and designer, Danny realised there was no reason he couldn’t work with likeminded people to fuse both his love of extreme sports and the professional skills he’d accumulated over the years.

That’s how he came up with REYT. REYT creates software, web apps and mobile apps for the sporting sector and is made up of a team of product architects, designers, engineers and quality experts.

Their goal is to change the way we use sports software, from the way athletes view their performance, to the way training plans are curated and how fans can get even closer to all the action within their favourite sports.

And the best part is, they don’t just work in the extreme

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sports sector, they live and breathe it.

Whether it’s pulling on the skates, spending weekends in the mountains or getting the bikes out and heading to the trails, this is a team who don’t like to sit still.

Danny said: “The main thing I’ve always loved about it is that it brings people together and they clap and cheer for one another whenever they nail a trick or achieve something.

“That sense of camaraderie is hard to find anywhere other than in extreme sports. But I realised that didn’t mean it couldn’t be brought into the workplace, too.”

It’s that thought that inspired him to branch out from technology agency Razor - run by Steve Trotter, Jamie Hinton and Katy Hinton - last summer, where he worked as head of design.

He decided to tap into a market that’s a little more niche, and a little closer to his heart.

After pitching his idea, REYT was brought to life through business incubator Bulldozer, run by the board at Razor, in August 2021.

Bulldozer invests in start-

up technology companies, bringing knowledge, experience and expertise to accelerate growth and build brand recognition.

“The best thing about it is that we have so much support from so many great people at Razor and Bulldozer, and they already have so much we can draw from,” Danny said.

“There’s a saying that you’re only ‘a sum of the people you spend your time with’, and that’s definitely true with us.

It’s such an asset to have all that experience in one place and I’m really grateful for that.”

With a name like REYT it’s not hard to guess that the company was established right here in Sheffield.

But REYT isn’t just a brand name, it’s a philosophy.

Danny said: “We have a phrase at REYT: ‘there’s the long way, there’s the short way and there’s the REYT way’.

“The REYT way is different.

We think of the development process like a mountain - we won’t rush you to the top of it, we won’t take any unnecessary shortcuts that pose risks, and we won’t hold you back as you try to reach the summit.

Instead, we’ll take every step

of the mountain with you, guiding you through the challenges and conquering the peak by your side.

“We think of the things that you might not have considered so that you can focus on what really matters. Think of us as the ones offering you plasters when you need them and the ones who have packed an extra bottle of water because you didn’t realise quite how thirsty you’d get.

“That’s the REYT way - it gets the job done, in the way the job deserves.”

With the Peak District on the doorstep and a community full of people who love climbing, biking and being outdoors more than anything, Danny can’t see how such a concept could work anywhere other than the Steel City.

“We’re in Sheffield because there’s something in the water here. It’s the city where start-ups thrive, gold medals are won and change is made,” Danny said.

“It’s also the place where people with common interests and shared values come together.

“At REYT, we’re a group of people right into skating,

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FEATURE climbing and anything else that involves being outside.

What more would you expect from people born and raised in God’s own county?”

Those very same people have achieved an impressive amount in the last seven months, with REYT already going from strength to strength.

The team have overcome every challenge they have faced – and with a start-up technology agency there are many – but Danny says the key to that is teamwork.

He added: “It’s all been very fast-moving, but we are in a very fortunate position that we have so much expertise and experience between us.

“Each of us has knowledge in a different field, so being able to combine all our skills has been absolutely invaluable.

“We’ve got people who already have the battle scars and can help the rest of us when we come up against the same challenges, which definitely makes things easier.”

Things are set to get even more exciting for REYT this year, as the company is sponsoring the Skateboard GB x Habito National Championships 2022 later this month.

The annual event – which will be available to watch on BBC Red Button and iPlayer – will be held in London across two weekends, featuring both a ‘park’ and ‘street’ discipline.

It sees some of the biggest names in skateboarding competing, with a combined prize fund of £26,000 up for grabs.

This year’s confirmed names include skateboarding superstar Andy Macdonald, Team GB’s Olympic competitor Bombette Martin and last year’s park competition winner Alex Hallford, to name just a few.

Sponsoring the national competition felt like a nobrainer for Danny and his team.

He said: “We love skating and we love extreme sport so it just seemed like an obvious fit.

“For us this isn’t just a business – it’s a culture. We want to invest in it as much as we can.

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We love skating and we love extreme sport so it just seemed like an obvious fit.

“Times are really changing - skateboarding is in the Olympics now - and we think it’s time for people to take notice.”

That’s not the only exciting thing happening in REYT’s immediate future, either.

A high-profile athlete is now joining the board as a non-executive director, to help with brand position, marketing and getting into the heart of the extreme sports and outdoor market.

With so many positive things happening within the business, there’s no wonder Danny is feeling so confident about the future.

He added: “I really think we have so much to shout about right now and I’m so excited for people to get involved and

do things the REYT way.

“Our technology has the power to make so many changes – whether it’s getting kids engaged and out into the open more or helping athletes to improve their performance.

“Right now, we’re understanding what the community needs, working with industry experts to identify the challenges people face and understanding how we can overcome them.

“The north has been overlooked for so long and it’s time people saw it for the technology capital that it is.”

To get in touch to see how REYT can help you, visit www.reyt.co.uk/contact or email us@reyt.co.uk

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

Specialist support to future proof your workforce.

As a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses across Barnsley face new challenges affecting workforce productivity.

The Future Proof Workforce programme will work with 250 Barnsley-based businesses to aid recovery from February to September 2022. This support is funded by Barnsley Council and will come at no cost to the business.

What support is provided?

Eligible businesses will undergo a diagnostic assessment with a consultant to work through the key issues affecting their workforce. Following the assessment, each business will have its own action plan with priorities for further work, designed against one or more of the five areas.

A second consultant will then work with the businesses on their identified priorities to deliver a range of training workshops or meetings to enable the businesses to reassess and improve their workforce productivity.

Under each area below is a list of examples that demonstrate the type of support the programme can offer after the diagnostic is completed.

Organisational Human Resources • • •

Hybrid and flexible working strategies Effective workforce communication Recruitment

Employee Mental Health • • •

Strategic support for organisational health and wellbeing Mental health First Aid training Mental health awareness for the workforce

Leadership and Management

Eligibility check:

•

All businesses need to demonstrate that they: • have been facing issues and challenged caused by COVID • have been trading for more than 12 months • are based in Barnsley • are a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME)

• •

Targeted one-to-one coaching for people managers Effective management training of hybrid and remote workers Managing poor performance and behaviours

Workforce Mapping •

•

Re-optimisation of people management processes to accommodate hybrid working Re-optimisation of internal processes - reassessing “how it’s done” or value stream mapping new processes

Workforce Development and Culture • • •

Reviewing and refreshing organisational values and behaviours Team building Motivation and engagement support

Complete the application form at EnterprisingBarnsley.co.uk/FPW.

This opportunity is open to SMEs within all sectors.

For more information: If you have any questions or want to find out more, please email ENShub@barnsley.gov.uk.

This project is one of seven Prioritised Recovery Projects, part of a £2 million economic investment, funded by Barnsley Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. As part of Barnsley’s Economic Recovery Action Plan, these projects will help the local economy bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme aims to support people, businesses, traders, charities or community organisations to safeguard existing jobs while creating new jobs and business opportunities.

FEATURE

OPEN HOUSE SUPPORT ATKINSONS ON 150TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN This year, Atkinsons celebrated its 150th year anniversary with a bang through a nostalgic marketing campaign led by Open House Pictures.

Atkinsons began in 1872 as a small haberdashery on The Moor in Sheffield city centre and has since grown into a department store and restaurant. The store is now home to fashion, furniture, appliances, beauty, footwear and more. A collaboratively led direction to focus on the store’s history, staff and legacy delivered a boom in engagement for Atkinsons on the firm’s landmark year.

The Open House team launched a series of videos that were designed to appeal to the Atkinsons audience over the span of several weeks.

They focused on delivering key messages in a quick catchy way to retain ongoing attention. As each new video was released, it continued to promote the brand and style of the last.

This meant that viewers were able to connect with Atkinsons and see the videos as a larger campaign message.

David Cartwright, Atkinsons marketing manager, said: “Open House Pictures did a fantastic job of raising awareness for both the store’s history and this special event, helping us to reach customers

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new and old through their videos. These videos have received great engagement across several social media channels.”

When developing initial concepts, Open House has a strict pre-production process that takes them through not just their clients’ business but their history, industry and place in the market. All this preparation work allows for perfectly delivered video content that drives traffic and engagement.

Although it’s clear Open House pride themselves on great quality content, they aren’t happy unless the video makes the difference for their clients.

Dan Bale, co-founder at Open House Pictures said: “Atkinsons is such a historical monument in Sheffield, so when the chance finally came to work with them directly, we took it in a heartbeat.

Being the last department store in Sheffield and having persevered and beaten the odds to stay open for over 150 years is a true testament to the city.

“We really wanted to tap

“Atkinsons is such a historical monument in Sheffield, so when the chance finally came to work with them directly, we took it in a heartbeat.

into what makes Atkinsons what it is. There’s a big emphasis on giving back to local shops at the moment and we definitely felt that pull towards Atkinsons.

“We worked with marketing manager, David Cartwright, to really define what the public’s perception is of the store. We spent a great deal of time looking through the old photographs and memorabilia and then it struck us. Utilising the history and nostalgia of the place, we could redirect past customers back into the store.

“As a video production company our focus is finding out what makes a business or service special and unique.

How can we draw from different areas and bring something engaging and exciting to the forefront?

“We’ve always been a business that loves connecting and working with other businesses. We love to work out what makes them tick, how they work in their industry and what they’re pioneering at. Every business is at the forefront with something, whether they know it or not.”

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UKRAINE CRISIS

UKRAINE

CRISIS The war in Ukraine has led to a humanitarian crisis as millions of people flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. South Yorkshire businesses have already been doing their bit to help, and there are ways you can get involved.

As the humanitarian crisis unfolds in Ukraine, Business in the Community (BITC) is actively exploring how members and their network can provide support.

BITC is encouraging businesses to support the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Bringing together 15 leading UK aid charities, the DEC is aiming to raise funds as quickly and efficiently as possible for Ukraine. The UK Government will match fund donations pound-for-pound up to £20million.

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Amanda Mackenzie OBE, chief executive at BITC said: “It’s almost impossible not to be shocked, saddened and appalled at what we are witnessing in Ukraine.

"Our thoughts are first and

foremost with those who have been and continue to be affected by the lawless attacks.

"Yet through this tragedy, we are seeing the swift actions of businesses

prepared to do the right thing, regardless of the significant financial cost.

“This is a moment when any business with a purpose and with principles shows them through their actions.

We will be highlighting what businesses are doing and even if you are not directly involved, please help in whatever way you can and – with the support of the Disasters Emergency Committee – we will look to combine those business efforts.”

Carolynn McConnell, Business Connector for Sheffield at BITC said: “We

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UKRAINE CRISIS

know that people want to help the Ukrainian people and we thought it would be helpful to share ways businesses in South Yorkshire can support.

“We should be proud of the fact that Sheffield is a City of Sanctuary, and our city is open to those who need a safe place in their time of need. The City of Sanctuary website offers advice and information about how to donate directly to Ukrainian charities, as well as providing information about more direct action such as letters to MPs and petitions.”

BITC recommend that businesses consider taking the following actions, as recommended by the Disasters Emergency Committee: Notify: Using internal communication channels to highlight the appeal to colleagues, clients or memberships Experience: Enhancing supporter experience through

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creative communications and opening up new donation channels Amplify: Using external communication channels to highlight the appeal to customers, followers and wider audiences across the UK public Match: Matching staff, client, customer or public giving

Sheffield International Trade Centre has been working hard to help people during the crisis in Ukraine.

Tell us a bit about you and your business Sheffield International Trade Centre (SITC) is the international trade arm of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce. Whether it be documentation, customs compliance or certification, our experienced and qualified team are here to support businesses in any aspect of international trade.

How are you trying to support people in Ukraine during the current crisis? What processes have you had to put in place for this and how easy was it to do?

Together with our partners at the British Chambers of Commerce and ChamberCustoms™, we are offering free support and advice, as well as one off-

export declarations for groups collecting and transporting humanitarian aid out of the UK. Many charitable organisations and individual communities have mobilised. They are supporting those affected by the Ukrainian crisis by collecting donations and placing them into vans to be driven to affected areas.

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Bluebell Wood Business Expo

In association with

thursday 23rd June 2022 holiday inn, rotherham • Network with South Yorkshire businesses • Guest speakers • Free entry • Free car parking

Book a stand or register to attend at www.bluebellwood.org/businessexpo

o

UKRAINE CRISIS

Fragomen provide immigration law to Ukrainians

We have found that many of these small groups, who have remarkably stepped up to the plate to support, had very little experience of crossing borders with commercial goods. There is a complicated process that must be followed to avoid the journey being curtailed at border points or charged duty, VAT or fines for noncompliance.

Within the space of about 24 hours, the team at SITC took many calls from individuals requesting advice on how to get these donated goods, which in the eyes of UK and EU customs have a commercial value, to their destination.

After some time, and consulting with the British Chambers of Commerce and ChamberCustoms™, we developed a standardised operating procedure to ensure our advice was both correct, but also easy to follow.

Those at SITC agreed that we would offer any such charitable donations free of charge advice and together with ChamberCustoms™, we would offer our customs broker services free of charge.

Crucially, we could help advise the driver of the correct procedures to avoid paying import duty and VAT when they clear customs at the country of destination.

'THE FLETCHERS WASTE MANAGEMENT TEAM WHO MADE THE TRIP TO POLAND'

for more information.

For further information, the British Chambers of Commerce with ChamberCustoms™ have published some help and guidelines which can be accessed here: www. britishchambers.org.uk/page/ ukraine-support

How Fletchers Waste Management supported the people of Ukraine

On Thursday March 10, Fletchers Waste Management embarked on a 2,500 mile round trip to Warsaw in Poland with three tonnes of donations from residents and businesses across South Yorkshire.

The Fletchers team headed for a refugee relief centre, which is providing humanitarian aid for thousands of Ukrainians, many of whom have fled to Poland’s capital to escape the war in their homeland.

Gavin Leverett came up with the idea to collect donations from people across South Yorkshire and make Do you have any words of the trip. Gavin said: “In just a advice for other businesses week we collected 14 tonnes of who also want to show their donations. Hundreds of boxes support? were packed up by our team For those who want to provide and families who stayed late support in the way of donations, after work.” please be aware of the The items donated included processes involved to transport nappies, baby food, blankets, the goods, while avoiding delay towels, sanitary products, nonor fines for non-compliance. perishable foods, clothing and pet food. When packing up We can offer free support the donations, each box had and advice. Please contact to be itemised and a list made us on 0114 213 2991 or up of how many boxes of each email international@scci.org.uk type of item the team had

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to ensure a swift transition through French customs.

Some of the goods have since been transported to hospitals in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Gavin added: “We could only take three tonnes with us, so the rest of the donations have been shipped to refugee centres in Poland via arctic lorries.

“The journey took 30 hours, and we were all humbled to be greeted by such friendly volunteers when we arrived in Warsaw. We have continued to fundraise and have recently sent 100 camp beds to a refugee centre near Krakow.”

As a global immigration law firm, Fragomen are helping Ukrainians to obtain a UK visa as quickly as possible, allowing them to live and work here under the Ukrainian family scheme. The scheme allows Ukrainians or their immediate family members who have been residing in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022 to join or accompany their UK-based immediate or extended family members in the UK. Fragomen have also helped Ukrainians to extend their leave in the United Kingdom, for example those that are here as a visitor, under the points-based system or holding a seasonal worker visa.

Kathleen O'Donnell, senior manager at Fragomen said: “Each business has its own way of being able to support Ukrainians and it is encouraging to see how the business community has come together to support people in need during this humanitarian crisis.

“We are fortunate at Fragomen to be able to offer our expertise in immigration to help Ukrainians enter, stay, live, and work in several countries worldwide. I would encourage all businesses to think about what they can do to help – no matter how small the initiative may seem, it will be appreciated.”

For more advice, Fragomen have set up a Ukraine Crisis Spotlight page which provides a consolidated overview of the immigration options globally for employers and individuals.

Visit www.fragomen.com/ trending/ukraine-russiacrisis-what-you-need-toknow.html

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BARNSLEY COLLEGE

TRUST PROGRAMME

HELPS TO LAUNCH STUDENT BUSINESSES Barnsley College and Barnsley Sixth Form College students who have dreams of starting their own small businesses in the region can access information and support from industry specialists and local businesses with the help of iTrust, the College’s business start-up programme designed exclusively for students.

The latest student to join the programme is Sophie Noble, who opened an Etsy shop selling music-inspired merchandise while at school and has continued to grow her business while studying at Barnsley Sixth Form College.

Sophie, who’s studying A Levels in maths, business and sociology, spotted a gap in the accessory market which turned into a successful business, Soph’s Ringss, selling over 8,000 items through Etsy.

Sophie began working with iTrust to research alternative ways to grow her business and worked with the team to identify areas for improvement, such as marketing and social media. As part of the iTrust programme, Sophie received a £250 grant - some of which she has used to purchase embroidery equipment - with plans to utilise the remaining cash to expand her jewellery offering.

Sophie said: “I would definitely recommend the iTrust programme to others who are thinking of launching or have already launched their own businesses. The grant has been so helpful and has encouraged me to expand my

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SOPHIE NOBLE WITH ITEMS FROM SOPH’S RINGSS.

ideas and business prospects!”

Barnsley College’s enterprise department is home to the iTrust initiative, a joint venture between the College, Barnsley Chronicle and The Business Village, which supports students interested in starting up a business in the area.

Students who receive support from iTrust have access to an array of information and guidance, such as mentoring from industry specialists and local businesses and financial

investments.

Lee Perks, enterprise team leader at Barnsley College, added: “Sophie has taken both her true interests and selftaught skills and turned them into a business. She has a super creative mind, and I am really excited to continue to support her and watch Soph’s Ringss grow.”

As well as inspiring students to follow their dreams, the enterprise team also heads up the Talent United initiative,

an employer engagement programme aiming to bridge the gap between education and employment by providing students with employerled and employer-based opportunities.

Talent United partners can spark the creative minds of Barnsley College’s students by facilitating guest speaker workshops, workplace tours, work placements or apprenticeship opportunities.

Talent United partner Bubul, an intelligent business advice software company, is celebrating its one-year anniversary.

Bubul is a unique platform that provides tailored advice for individuals who want to start and grow their own business. Nigel Greenwood, managing director of Bubul, supplied iTrust students with an information workshop and a personalised set of recommendations for their businesses.

If you think you might be interested in becoming a Barnsley College Talent United partner, visit: www.barnsley. ac.uk/talent-united, email enterprise@barnsley.ac.uk or call 01226 216 840.

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STEM

GET UP TO SPEED ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBER OF ATTENDEES AT 10TH SHOWCASE South Yorkshire hosted one of the UK’s biggest science, technology, engineering, manufacturing (STEM) and construction showcase for young people this week, which attracted a record number of attendees from across the region and beyond.

‘Get up to Speed’ with STEM is designed to inspire students from 8 to 25 years about careers in science, technology and the manufacturing industries, through interactive activities and exhibitions. The event also gives young people the chance to see some of the UK’s most exciting STEM innovations and meet the people who design, build and operate them.

Held at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on WednesdayMarch 23, this year, the show marked its tenth live event with more than 3,500 young people and over 200 business-people in attendance – the highest number of visitors since Get up to Speed began in 2011. The day-long showcase involved exhibitors from industries as diverse as automotive, aerospace, construction, renewable energy, military, emergency services and medical.

CEO of the Work-wise Foundation, John Barber said: “Get up to Speed is such an important event for our region and for the STEM industries.

It was created to introduce, inspire, inform and interact with our next generation of scientist, engineers, designers and business leaders. It aims not only to reach out to young people but also the people who influence and advise them, so they too can understand the opportunities available not only now but also in the future. " This year Get up to Speed also saw more than 80 companies taking part to showcase their businesses, career opportunities and current vacancies. In

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addition, more than 100 people attended the Get up to Speed Business Breakfast, one of the largest STEM networking events in the region, which takes place prior to the main Get up to Speed showcase.

This year’s theme for the event was Digital Skills for Business Leaders and involved presentations from representatives of some of the region’s top digital companies including keynote speaker, David Richards MBE, the Chairman, President, CEO and co-founder of WANdisco, the Sheffield based distributed computing specialists.

John Barber, comments:

access to a digital platform for the next eight weeks. Here users can access virtual tours, demonstrations, career stories, inventions, company profiles and interviews, created by some of the UK’s leading STEM businesses.

John Barber adds: “Feedback from our online experience in 2021 was fantastic, so we wanted to keep this digital element moving forwards.

With the physical showcase and digital platform combined we can help to ensure that the 4,200 young people who registered for this tears event can continue to be inspired over the coming weeks and hopefully keep an interest in STEM for much longer.”

For over ten years, Get up to Speed, which is championed by employers and organised

by The Work-wise Foundation alongside key partners in the private and public sectors, has showcased engineering career opportunities to over “We’ve had a fantastic level 30,000 young people and their of support from businesses families from across the South over the past ten years and our Yorkshire region and beyond. business breakfast is our way of The event is designed for giving something back. Without young people, their families the backing of our sponsors, and teachers to see some of exhibitors and volunteers who the UK’s best innovations firsthelp to run the event, Get up to hand, hear from and talk to Speed would not be possible, those involved in their success so thank you to each and every and learn about the future of person that has helped us over the sector and its evolution the past decade and particularly through technology. our headline sponsors for 2022 AESSEAL, CBE+ and Get up to Speed with STEM The Worshipful Company of will return to the Magna Ironmongers.”

Science adventure Centre on This year’s Get up to Speed 29th March 2023. live showcase also includes an To find out more, and register online event where registered for Get up to Speed 2023 visit attendees can gain exclusive www.getuptospeed.org.uk.

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HIGHWAY CODE

CHANGES TO THE HIGHWAY CODE

– WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW On 29 January, The Highway Code changed. South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership (SYSRP) is urging all road users to make sure they understand the changes.

The advisory changes to the Highway Code have been implemented to improve safety for people walking, cycling and horse riding.

As part of the new rules, a hierarchy of road users has been introduced to ensure those who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others.

Key changes Clarifies who has priority at junctions

●

Provides guidance on safe passing distances ●

● Includes the Dutch Reach for car occupants to protect passing cyclists and pedestrians

Making sure we’re acting with responsibility and respect to all road users ●

Specific amendments to the Code ●

Drivers should now give

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people crossing and waiting to cross and cyclists going straight ahead priority when turning in and out of junctions. ● Drivers travelling at speeds up to 30mph should now leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking people cycling and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds. ● When driving, you should now pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10mph and allow at least two metres of space. ● You should now allow at least two metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a pedestrian who is walking in the road. ● Car users should now open their doors with the hand furthest from the door, to help them look over their shoulder to see cyclists or pedestrians nearby. ● People may cycle in the centre of the lane or two abreast for their own safety, whilst allowing others to

overtake when it is safe for them to do so.

Manager of South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership Joanne Wehrle said: “The Highway Code is essential reading for all. It is important that all road users are aware of the Code and are considerate towards each other.

“Under the new changes, every road user still has a responsibility to keep themselves and each other safe, and the changes mean being ready to give priority, leave space and be considerate of others.

“The changes do not just offer guidance on how we want users to behave - they signpost the kind of community we want to live in; towns cities and villages that are friendly and safe for people to ride, walk and cycle.

“Ultimately, knowing and applying The Highway Code will help keep our roads safe for everyone.”

The Partnership Team is available to provide advice, training, support and information on a variety of topics including safety for pedestrians, cyclists, powered two wheeled riders and drivers. If you would like some road safety advice, please visit us at www.sysrp.co.uk or email enquiries@sysrp.co.uk You can also find us on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @SYSaferRoads.

The changes can be viewed in full by visiting: www.gov.uk/ dft/highway-code-changes

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND BIAS AT IWD22 EVENT Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber celebrated International Woman’s Day on Tuesday 8th March 2022, at the astounding Wentworth Woodhouse as the 130 guests arrived to be welcomed by Women in Business Chair Cllr Lyndsay Pitchley.

The Chamber was honoured to be joined by distinguished guests HM Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, the High Sherriff of South Yorkshire – Martin McKervey, Mayor of Barnsley - Cllr Caroline Makinson, Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham – Cllr Jenny Andrews and Mayoress Cllr Jeanette Mallinder, Master and Mistress Cutler – James and Jo Tear, along with Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL of Wentworth Woodhouse Trust.

Over a splendid lunch, the attendees heard from a range of guest speakers, commencing with HM Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Dame Hillary Chapman, on the foundations her parents set for her to excel and achieve her aspirations, as well as to have the confidence

WOMEN IN BUSINESS CHAIR, CLLR LYNDSAY PITCHLEY

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2022 AT WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE

to challenge where bias is present.

Following Hilary was Chamber President, Joada Allen, who explored the entirety of challenges women face to be comfortable in their skin and life’s path.

The final speaker was Pam Goodison of Pam Goodison Glass. She openly described her historical mental health issues, which, over time, positively redirected her life away from a corporate banking career to pursue her life’s passion and

found solace in the arts.

Supporting the Chamber’s Charity of the Year, Rotherham & Barnsley Mind, the event raised £347.50 via a raffle, which wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of attendees, members and sponsors.

The Chamber would like to thank Martin McKervey, Chris Rea and AESSEAL for their kind sponsorship of the event, and it was a pleasure to welcome their guests, including seven female apprentices who are thriving at the company.

Imagine a gender-equal world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Together we can forge women’s equality and #BreakTheBias.

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MARKETING

WHEN TWO

BECOME ONE Glen Banks, managing director of Kinspeed, talks to unLTD about the acquisition of BHP IT and what it means for both businesses.

How did the acquisition come about?

I’ve known BHP IT, headed up

by Andy Barker, for years, both from our shared partnership with Sage Accounting and ERP software, and through local networks.

Some recent joint projects confirmed that both businesses share common goals with 100 per cent focus on excellent customer service and a commitment to lifetime value for our customers. With these attributes inherent in both cultures, the projects proved a perfect match.

Why grow by acquisition?

It’s the fastest way, and safe if you’ve done the due diligence.

Insight from our joint project work was akin to a trial or probation and proved to Andy and me that an acquisition was achievable and favourable.

Kinspeed have been in growth mode for years but finding good people with genuine customer service focus takes time; the acquisition route fasttracked our growth.

All BHP IT people will transition over to Kinspeed in time and our intention is to retain all employees from both businesses. Andy is integral to the combined business taking a key role as operations manager, effective immediately. Working

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them to guide me through the process, dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

Customers from both companies have embraced the news and will benefit from expertise within the larger team. Prospects have additional options to find their perfect fit software solution for managing their business; achieving this remains our core focus for the whole team.

Acquiring a company is like getting married, both parties must share the passion, the desire and the dream. And just like walking up the aisle, for any MD there has to be a first time! I’d describe the experience as fun, frenetic and fortuitous for both parties.

MD OF KINSPEED GLEN BANKS (LEFT) WITH ANDY BARKER OF BHP IT

alongside him is a pleasure and brings a new dynamic to Kinspeed.

As well as growing employees, we’ve grown our services. BHP IT have Microsoft accreditation and experience, in addition to their Sage partnership. This creates a well-rounded service offering with three leading software solutions available to our

customers and prospects, as well as multiple application add-ons.

How did you make it happen?

I have a fully supportive and engaged board here at Kinspeed and a tremendous amount of help from two local firms, Bhayani Law and Brearleys Accountants. I couldn’t have done this without

What’s next?

With the marriage complete, we’re now building the family!

We’ll merge the teams into one under the Kinspeed brand and develop employees on our enhanced proposition.

Our customer first culture and expanded team can only increase our business growth and continued success.

Do call us for a chat about anything business acquisition or for help managing your business financials and accounting.

Tel: 01246 437000 Web: www.kinspeed.com

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MARKETING

TALKING TO

OURSELVES Brands love tweeting each other. Marketing manager and blogger Alex Myers asks - is this ‘great marketing’, or are we just talking to ourselves?

I’ve got a confession to make.

There’s a modern marketing phenomena that I really don’t understand. Well, I say ‘marketing phenomena’... actually, we’ll get to that.

Every day when I log onto LinkedIn, I’m confronted with posts saying ‘Unbelievable marketing’, ‘This social team smashed it’, ‘They have THE best marketing at the moment’.

What are they talking about?

A screenshot, usually, of a tweet that brand has done.

But it’s not just a tweet.

It’s almost always either a screenshot of a series of tweets between brands, or it’s the sort of tweet you’d expect any teenager to do - but it’s from an international burger joint. You know what I mean.

I’m filling this wonderful page this month in an attempt to convince you, yes you, that this almost always isn’t ‘good’ marketing. In fact, it’s not really marketing at all.

It’s widely understood that tone of voice (TOV) is crucial in marketing. Along with colour, it’s an incredible method of creating recall and salience without even having to mention your brand name.

The brands that do it well enjoy an incredible hold over their customers' minds and also deliver more effective advertising because of the recognition that their approach to written communication has

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earned.

This current trend completely ignores this... Sure, there are some brands whose TOV is cheeky. Or youthful. Maybe even controversial. But in 99 per cent of the cases I see, that is not the case. A team of very talented marketers have created the brand (TOV included) to be a very specific way… and I will bet the price of a discount burger that it is not the way it behaves on Twitter.

Although TOV shouldn’t be flexible persay, there is slight variance depending on the channel.

But an optician's joke-flirting with an airline is not accounted for in this.

Okay, it’s funny.

But how can we call it ‘great

marketing’?

By putting out endless oneliners that are in no way linked to the brand, the product, or the tone of voice, you’re doing absolutely nothing to develop the brand. Most people don’t expect channels like Twitter to have a direct link to short term sales, but surely we can agree there’s brand building potential?

And how can you ‘build a brand’ by tweeting things that are completely unrelated to that brand? Before you ask, I’m not advocating ‘corporate speak’ - I get that being down to earth is more suitable in a lot of organic scenarios. But I refuse to believe

there is no middle ground between corporate speak, and making night-out plans with a detergent provider.

The other crucial reason it shouldn’t be called great marketing, is that the only people who think that are… you guessed it - marketers.

Our industry has a problem with mirrors. In that, they’re our favourite places to look for feedback.

‘Best campaign in the world’, says an agency about another agency’s work, which has been featured in over five agency magazines. It didn’t lead to any sales, mind.

This trend is another example of that - marketers talking to other marketers about what they think is great, whilst real people (known as consumers) continue to fully ignore it. Okay, maybe they liked one in ten of the tweets discussed. They still hate their products.

Yes, a distinct tone of voice still has a place. Yes, I think corporate speak is bad in most scenarios. But the lesson here is that it depends on your brand - and if that brand means tweets like these are spot on, then go for it. But in 99 per cent of the LinkedIn screenshots I see, they really aren’t - and that’s not good marketing.

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YOUR WILL IS READY IS CRUCIAL

Born from the owner struggling with his father’s assets, Maplebrook Wills Sheffield work hard to ensure that everyone is looked after when arranging their Wills, Trusts, LPAs, IHT & Legacy planning to help people protect their wealth, plan for the future and take care of loved ones.

Sonny Ullah knows the pain of losing a loved one all too well – that’s why he has dedicated his life to helping other families in a similar position.

After his father was diagnosed with dementia back in 2015, Sonny had to face up to the reality that his dad had not put in place a Will or Lasting Powers of Attorney, making the process of sorting through his assets a particularly difficult one.

When a duty solicitor was appointed by the courts, Sonny’s father’s assets – which had been valued at over £2m – were sold for less than £850,000.

It was a devastating blow for Sonny and his family, but the solicitor had no empathy for the situation, and despite raising it with the relevant authorities, no further action was ever taken. It is for that reason Sonny wants to make sure it never happens to anyone else.

Two days after his father passed away in 2020, he sat his Society of Will Writers exam in a bid to change the

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lives of as many people as possible.

Now, his company Maplebrook Wills Sheffield offers a range of services to help people get organised and take control of their assets. His goal is to provide a personalised service from beginning to end.

Sonny says: “Many people ask me why I changed career late on in life and the answer is simple. I saw how my father’s legacy and his lifetime work was dealt with and I want to prevent this happening again by helping others to ensure they and their families do not suffer the same.”

Maplebrook Wills Sheffield are Society of Will Writers (SWW) regulated and qualified specialists. From Will writing, to creating Lasting Powers of Attorney, to setting up Trusts, the experts at Maplebrook offer everything you need to get your affairs in order, saving you thousands compared to using a solicitor.

The fully qualified specialists are on hand with jargon-free and easy to understand advice, with high-

level training in these specific areas to make the process as fast and pain-free as it can be.

Getting your affairs in order can be a daunting task and it is not always easy to know where to start, but at Maplebrook you’ll be guided all the way.

You can chat through the best options for you, whether it’s for a quote, clarity on services or just some advice on how to take the next steps.

Ample parking is available on site and there are both evening and weekend appointments on offer.

You can contact the team online or over the phone for a free consultation.

Telephone: +44 (0) 114 244 1990 Email: sonny.ullah@maplebrookwills. co.uk Address: Aizlewood’s Mill, Nursery Street Sheffield, S3 8GG Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 10:00am – 7:00pm Sat: 11:00am - 4:00pm Sun: 11:00am – 3:00pm

Customer Charter: Wills & LPAs within 24-48 hours - We’re fast and efficient. Get your Will or Lasting Powers of Attorney delivered in 24-48 hours or less.

Fully qualified specialists - Fully qualified and registered members of The Society of Will Writers.

All work done in-house - No third parties. We provide an end-to-end service for our clients.

Clear affordable pricing - The price you see is the price you pay. Fixed and clear pricing, no hidden fees or add ons.

Plans designed for you - Jargon free advice, explaining all your options so you can make an informed decision.

We’re not salespeople - We pride ourselves on providing the best, cost effective solution to our client, with no obligation or upsells.

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ADVERTORIAL

GETTING SOCIAL WITH SHEFFIELD FC Founded by Tom Scott, Little Mesters provides high quality, honest and creative digital marketing services tailored completely to the needs of each client. Head Mester Tom Scott discusses their work with Sheffield FC, the world’s oldest football club over the past 12 months.

For as long as I can remember, sport has been a huge influence on my life. Whether that’s football, cricket or hockey, I believe the communities that surround every sporting venue and club - from grassroots to professional - have the ability to change lives.

Since founding Little Mesters, I’ve also been lucky enough to be able to bring my passion for sport into my working life. We’ve worked with Sheffield FC, the oldest football club in the world, to create a global membership scheme via targeted digital and social media strategies.

We also continue to deliver paid and seasonal social media advertising, reporting and creative for When Saturday Comes, Britain’s leading independent football magazine.

A key feature of what we do has been capitalising on what we like to call ‘energy moments’. These moments, often in collaboration with other creative agencies, centre around larger campaigns designed to generate and maintain momentum around trending events.

These collaborations have culminated in campaigns such as Sheffield FC’s 2021/22 kit launch with COPA Football,

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is part of our ongoing strategy with Sheffield FC. The unsuccessful launch of the European Super League typified this approach, resulting in a statement from the club across all social media channels delivering over 500k impressions and over 35k engagements.

Over the past 12 months, Sheffield FC has grown significantly. Since March 2021, we have helped to deliver: ● 28.9m impressions ● 1.3m engagements ● 89.5k link clicks ● 9.8k audience growth across all channels

Peter & Paul and Pedalo Photography, as well as the club’s inclusion in FIFA 22 and Ultimate Team as part of the ‘F.O.A.T Code’ in partnership with EA Sports and Jung von Matt Sports.

Outside of these collaborative campaigns, the unpredictable nature of the sports industry can present challenges and opportunities for our team and wielding the expertise to appropriately react

Things to think about when trying to boost social engagement and following: ● What ‘energy moments’ do you have coming up? Plan for them and don’t be afraid to repeat messaging ● Find partners and use each other’s audiences to spread the message ● Are you using platforms to their full potential? Have you got pinned posts, Instagram highlights etc? ● Are you using the right platforms for the right messaging? For instance, match updates don’t belong on LinkedIn and sponsor seeking posts are less likely to engage in Instagram.

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ADVERTORIAL

UNBOX YOUR POTENTIAL

Whyy? Change has launched a new sister brand, Unboxd, which will provide marketing, wellbeing and operational excellence business services with a difference.

You’ve heard of consultants, you’ve heard of agencies, you’ve probably got a business coach too...well, Unboxd is different, in a big way.

Unlike the traditional consultancy offerings, Unboxd gives you access to a unique pool of industry experts as and when you need it. Their wealth of industry knowledge, experience and qualified expertise is at your disposal to transform and grow your business.

We’ve all experienced those times in business when things just aren’t going quite as well as they should. You might be feeling the impact of change, you might be faced with new challenges, or you might be

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struggling to thrive and grow.

We’ve got your back.

Ray Byrne, CEO of Whyy?, said: “They say it takes a village to raise a child - well the same can be said for businesses too. Unboxd is a village. It’s a community of uniquely experienced and qualified practitioners that have joined forces to support others.

There are no ‘one size fits all’ packages, no hard sell and no gimmicks.

“Personally, I feel like I’m going back to my business transformation roots but this time it’s not all about me.”

Specially focused on marketing, wellbeing and operational excellence, the Unboxd team will provide an

impartial and independent advisory service. Like most things, it starts with a conversation in which we’ll explore and research the pressure points in your business. An action plan will be agreed and we’ll work collaboratively with you and your colleagues to achieve your goals. Our aim is to help you achieve your long-term profitability and sustainability; whatever it takes to get there, you can be assured that you’ll no longer be doing it alone.

Matt Trueman, head of communications at Unboxd said: “It’s been really exciting to work on the launch of Unboxd. Most people know Whyy? because of our training

academy but, as a team, we provide so much more than accredited qualifications.

This new arm to the business celebrates the fantastic relationships we have with the employers we work with.”

In preparation for the new sister brand’s launch, Unboxd has launched a new website which is now live, with all the services and business solutions covered.

Check it out at www. whyyunboxd.com.

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Capacity for up to 500

£12 PP FROM

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The OEC boasts an impressive portfolio of multi-purpose suites, able to cater for up to 500 guests with over 400 free parking spaces and situated close to Sheffield city centre.

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INCLUDES: WELCOME DRINK, 3 COURSE MEAL AND 1/2 BOTTLE OF WINE PER PERSON

INCLUDES: 3 COURSE SET MENU CHOOSE 1 STARTER, 1 MAIN COURSE AND 1 DESSERT

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CHOOSE FROM ITALIAN, AMERICAN OR INDIAN BUFFET AND INCLUDES A DESSERT TABLE

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ADVERTORIAL

SHEFFIELD HOSPITALS CHARITY WELCOMES NEW TALENT FOR THEIR NEXT CHAPTER Sheffield Hospitals Charity has welcomed three new faces onto the board of trustees and the charity team in the past year.

Amy Tingle, HR and business director at City Taxis, and Chris Morley, chief nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals were appointed as new trustees for the charity, followed by Sam Earnshaw’s appointment as head of corporate partnerships and major giving in December.

Amy brings a wealth of experience in corporate, HR, and the third sector. She currently works as a HR andbusiness director for City Taxis and brings a wealth of expertise for the next chapter of Sheffield Hospitals Charity.

Amy said: “Joining Sheffield Hospitals Charity board of trustees at such a pivotal time has been extremely exciting and rewarding. The charity supports over 18,000 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals employees and five hospitals across the region and in these current times the board of trustees and the fantastic team have a huge responsibility to guide the charity to make sure we are supporting Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in achieving their vision to be recognised as the best provider of health, clinical research and education

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LEFT-RIGHT: SAM EARNSHAW, CHRIS MORLEY, AMY TINGLE

in the UK.” Chris joining the board provides a vital link with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

Chris became chief nurse for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in October 2018 from The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust where he held the same position.

Chris said: “I am delighted to have been asked to join the board of Sheffield Hospitals Charity. It is so exciting to see the passion and drive from the team to make a much-needed difference to the patients and staff across Sheffield Teaching

Hospitals.”

Sam has spent most of her working life within large media organisations. She joined the Sheffield Hospitals Charity at the end of December as head of corporate partnerships and major giving. Her role is to work closely with businesses and individuals keen to make a positive impact and help support our local hospitals.

Sam said: “I pride myself on building long-term relationships and forging strategic partnerships. I realised that I could utilise my skills and experience working with clients,

teams, and external stakeholders to add value to the charity and help others to make a difference.

There’s a growing expectation and demand from consumers and employees that business makes a positive impact. I’ve seen first-hand that across Sheffield and South Yorkshire, business can be a force for good.

“Sheffield Teaching Hospitals will have touched the lives in some way of every person within our region. This has been the toughest couple of years any of us have faced either in business or personally - none more so for our NHS staff. My role is to work alongside business leaders, teams, and philanthropic individuals who align with us and see the tangible difference we’re able to make together.”

Sheffield Hospitals Charity aims to improve the treatment of local patients and support NHS staff to deliver the best quality of care across Sheffield within The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Northern General Hospital, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Weston Park Cancer Hospital, and The Jessop Wing.

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CHARITY PROFILE

SPONSORED BY

750,000 DISTRIBUTED TO SHEFFIELD COMMUNITY GROUPS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Community groups in Sheffield received over £750,000 to help them deliver vital services and support during the Covid-19 pandemic, in a new report published by South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF).

Grants of up to £5,000 were distributed to 180 community groups as the pandemic began in March 2020, with SYCF initiating a host of changes to their grants processes to make sure funds were distributed swiftly in those exceptional times.

This resulted in communities across Sheffield receiving invaluable help with 168,554 people being supported through the amazing commitment of over 5,665 volunteers, with 45 per cent of the total funding given to groups advancing people’s physical and mental health, wellbeing, and safety.

The SYCF Covid-19 Response

GLOBALMAMA VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING A HOT MEAL FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES

Awards and the Response and Recovery Awards allowed community organisations to support people with their mental health, addressing social isolation and providing information and advice, which was particularly important in sharing public health messages.

Activities carried out by community groups included befriending services, activity packs and outdoor activities for children, provision and delivery of food parcels and free transport for NHS workers.

Globalmama Enterprises Ltd cooked and delivered over

3,000 meals to their Somalian and refugee community in Sheffield, helping people with their laundry and setting up WhatsApp groups to share Covid-19 guidelines.

The full report is available at www.sycf.org.uk/ covid19grantsreport

JOIN THE TUK-TUK TEAM AS AN EMMAUS SHEFFIELD VOLUNTEER Emmaus Sheffield aims through its Social Enterprise programme to provide meaningful work and enable the people it supports – known as companions - to eventually become selfsupporting once more.

One of the charity’s main fundraising schemes is its popular second-hand store at the organisation’s headquarters in the historic Sipelia Works, a former cutlery factory at Cadman Street, close to the city’s Canal Basin.

Now the retail team is hoping to attract volunteer Transit or Luton van drivers to help with retail donation collections and deliveries, as

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well as retail volunteers.

And there will also be a chance to drive the distinctive Emmaus Tuk-Tuk at promotional events.

Charley Fedorenko, deputy manager, said: “Ideally we would like to hear from people who are willing to give one or two days per week give us a call and we can have a chat.

“All we ask is that volunteer drivers must be under 70 and have a full clean driving licence and be fit and healthy as the role will involve some lifting.”

Volunteer forms can be downloaded on the Emmaus Sheffield website.

EMMAUS SHEFFIELD COMPANION DAVE FOOTIT IN THE CHARITY’S FAMOUS TUK-TUK

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CHARITY SPONSORED BY LET'S SAVE

DO YOU HAVE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES WHEN APPLYING FOR FUNDING? Do you have accessibility issues when applying for funding? Do you have a situation where funding is out of your reach due to circumstances beyond your control? Did you know that major funders will help you access someone like me to support you through grant applications? Neither did I, or maybe I did, but I didn’t connect the dots…

If you have a genuine barrier to being able to apply to a major funder yourself, which you can evidence – then please do get in touch with me. I support you to get the application researched, prepared, written and even submitted, and you don’t pay a thing for this access to help, the funder pays me directly.

I will leave you with a hint on funding that has come up

for a few of my startup clients this month. A few of the major funders won’t fund you if you have an online bank account due to them not having a dual signatory facility on payments from the account. I am talking about accounts like Starling and Monzo.

Although I believe they are outstanding bank accounts and are quick to open, please consider a high street bank instead, which will give you more funding options. If you already bank with a high street bank, approach them first as it may be quicker. A Natwest Community Account gives you a free accounting software package called FreeAgent. I use it, and it’s excellent! (I’m not even on commission for that one either!). Enjoy the month – my birthday month, so I promise that I will!

HERITAGE HERO AWARD-WINNER STEVE’S SKILLS GREW AT WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE When Steve Ash signed up as a volunteer at Wentworth Woodhouse, he thought he would only learn about gardening. Five years on, he has learned valuable filmmaking skills and has been named as the UK’s Digital Heritage Hero of the Year.

Steve’s national win recognises his role in Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust’s Digital Project, a visionary communications project harnessing video launched initially to keep the Grade I listed house on the public’s horizon.

His trophy was one of only two in the annual Heritage Heroes Awards. Sponsored by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical and now in their 12th year, they are the

WENTWORTH STEVE ASH LEADER OF WWPT'S DIGITAL TEAM AT WORK IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA

Heritage Alliance’s celebration of Britain’s heritage volunteers’ outstanding contribution to society.

Steve set up the Digital Project and assembled a team of 20 WWPT volunteers.

A portion of a pandemic Emergency Grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded to the Trust

paid for training and equipment, and the project launched in Autumn 2020.

Steve has contributed over 2,000 volunteer hours to the project and created virtual tours, events and digital games.

Chair of The Heritage Alliance Pam Alexander OBE added: “This year’s Heritage

Heroes nominees have demonstrated the incredible and forward-looking work done by heritage volunteers.

Our 2021 winners have achieved awe-inspiring and inspirational results for the heritage they care about and show just how exciting, powerful, and wide-reaching heritage volunteering can be.”

Give Wendy at Let's Save Consultancy Services a call on 0772 9481010 or email wendy@letssave.biz

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THE DOOR IS OPEN TO

GR WTH YOU JUST NEED TO STEP THROUGH IT.

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