unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #56

BOARDROOM

Sheffield’s most

agency, HRM, has rebranded to Chapter II. CEO Jen Beal and the team explain what that means for them.

6-7: AGENDA

All the latest business news, including the appointment of the new prime minister and a new research and development facility for the region.

11-13: APPOINTMENTS

New permanent chief executive for Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, plus the latest career moves around the region.

62: WORK OUT IN THE WORKPLACE?

unLTD’s Brogan Maguire chats to health and fitness experts in the region about how a good routine can improve employee performance.

TO WEATHER THE STORM

Well, saying the last few months – or more like years – have been challenging would be an understatement.

With a cost-of-living crisis and much political uncertainty, it is no surprise that doing business recently has not been the easiest of tasks.

Brogan

Brogan@chapterii.agency

252 7760

Marc

Laver

313995

Turner

07979 498034

68: SPORTING SOUTH YORKSHIRE ON THE WORLD STAGE

unLTD’s Matt Holmes reflects on the huge sporting events that have put South Yorkshire on the map this year.

70: HAVE LUNCH WITH DAVID ANGRAVE

Brogan Maguire sits down for lunch with the COO of Twinkl, to discuss the benefits of being a school trustee.

But, in true Yorkshire spirit, our businesses have knuckled down, carried on and made the best of it wherever they can.

The end of last month saw Rishi Sunak appointed as prime minister after Liz Truss enjoyed the shortest stunt in history.

It comes with plenty of angst, unanswered questions and confusion – but also hope that the times to come have to be better than those just gone.

While we wait to see what the future holds, all we can do is be patient, keep trying our best and keep plodding on.

We’re proud of you all, team South Yorkshire.

unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd

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

and Chapter II

Unit 1A Speedwell Works, Sidney Street, Sheffield S1 4RG

The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and Chapter II 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 Chapter II cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific listings.

Agenda

CINEWORLD OPENS IN BARNSLEY

RISHI SUNAK

PRIME MINISTER

Rishi Sunak has been made prime minister after a “difficult and upsetting” few weeks for the Conservative party. Sunak’s appointment came as Liz Truss resigned after spending just 45 days as prime minister.

As well as being the youngest prime minister in modern history and only becoming an MP in 2015, Sunak is the first AsianBritish prime minister and the first practising Hindu PM.

Speaking for the first time as prime minister, Rishi warned of “difficult decisions” to come but pledged to deliver the winning Conservative manifesto that was promised back in 2019, three prime ministers ago. As chancellor throughout the pandemic, Sunak was behind the financial aids including the furlough scheme and Eat Out to Help Out.

Sunak has appointed Dominic Raab as deputy PM and justice secretary and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt after many of Liz Truss’ cabinet resigned or were sacked.

Labour, Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats have all called for a general election due to the chaotic few months experienced under the Tories.

With prices of basic goods currently soaring in the UK, Sunak has promised to “fix” errors made by Truss.

Cineworld’s newest 13-screen cinema is now open at The Glassworks in Barnsley. The brand-new venue offers IMAX and SuperScreen experiences alongside the opportunity to watch the latest releases in stunning 4DX and Cineworld’s latest 270º immersive cinema experience, ScreenX.

The long-awaited new cinema finally opened its doors on Friday September 23, following an exclusive launch event on the previous evening. The launch gathered famous faces with links to the town, including artist and sculptor Graham Ibbeson, author Joanne Harris, YouTuber Lee Hinchcliffe and actor Dai Bradley who earlier in the day also unveiled the blue plaque in memorial to Barnsley-raised actor Brian Glover.

Inside Cineworld, you will find a Starbucks on the ground floor, offering a 20 per cent discount to Cineworld Unlimited members. Upstairs,

you’ll find the main counter offering all of the usual cinema snacks, alongside a Baskin-Robins for those cinema-goers looking for a different sweet treat.

With more than 50 showings daily, there is something for everyone at Barnsley’s newest cinema, and the prime town-centre location means your visit to town doesn’t have to end when the film does.

Surrounded by fantastic new restaurants and the casual dining experience of the Market Kitchen, there are plenty of food and drink options to extend your evening with.

Cineworld Barnsley is now open seven days a week, with easy access via car or public transport. Film showings run from mid-morning through to the evening with online booking available.

On October 5, Sheffield Hallam University officially launched a new £2.7m research and development facility specially designed to support regional businesses to innovate and grow.

The Sheffield Multi-Modal Imaging Centre (SMIC) will bring together academic expertise in biosciences and materials with new scanning, imaging, advanced microscopy and related analytical technologies to test, innovate and improve existing and new products, primarily in the health and advanced

manufacturing sectors.

The Centre has been jointly funded by the University and a £1.6m grant from the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF).

It will be a leading research and development facility, bringing together industryrecognised equipment and expertise in biosciences, health and materials.

The new equipment will be used to further develop University research as well as be accessible to regional businesses.

SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL SUBMITS BIDS TO IMPROVE TWO KEY SHEFFIELD AREAS

Over the summer, a further two Levelling Up bids were submitted by Sheffield City Council to the government which could result in the development of community facilities in Heeley and investment to facilitate developments at Parkwood Springs.

Heeley Trust has developed a promising project aiming to improve community facilities and access to resources and education spaces. With the council’s support, the Trust would implement improvements including public transport and travel to encourage active travel

as well as restoration and regeneration of community facilities and landmarks.

Plans for Parkwood Springs would level up the iconic feature of Sheffield’s landscape, kickstarting the ambition to create a country park in the city. Investments would pave the way for a regional leisure destination for local communities of Sheffield, further cementing Sheffield’s reputation as the “Outdoor City”.

The bids are currently being assessed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and a decision is expected to be reached in the coming months.

The old Cannon Brewery site in Neepsend has been acquired by social impact developers

Capital&Centric, who plan to invest around £200m into the project.

The 4.2-acre site, which sits across from the Cutlery Works food hall, has lain empty since 1999, after being purchased by William Stones in 1868.

The brewery quickly became a Neepsend icon, with the famous Stones Bitter being brewed on-site from 1948.

The plans for the site have not yet been confirmed, but early ideas include new homes, food and drink, and even live music.

After almost a year at City HQ, City Taxis has invited The Archer Project to stay as their City Charity Incubators for 2023.

To support charities in the community, City Taxis launched its City Charity Incubator initiative in 2020. The incubator was set up to support a local charity that could join them in their offices for 12 months, taking away some of the financial and business pressures charities face.

City Taxis took on Sheffield-based homelessness charity The Archer Project as their Charity Incubators for 2022 after the charity’s premises suffered severe damage from an arson attack leaving them without a base to work from.

The taxi provider made the decision to invite The Archer Project to stay for another year following an extremely tough period for the charity, where donations have dramatically dropped and the team are working flat out to keep the project alive.

Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric, said: “It’s an absolutely incredible site with a really eclectic mix of buildings and a shed load of potential. It’s mad that it’s sat abandoned for over 20 years and we can’t wait to get our hands on it. We’re looking forward to working with Homes England and Sheffield City Council to deliver something pioneering…

“Whatever we do, the vision is for Neepsend and Kelham Island to be Sheffield’s most exciting and vibrant district, full of people and with tons of stuff going on.”

A Sheffield landmark is set for a huge regeneration project

MASTER CUTLER RAISES OVER £200K FOR LOCAL CANCER CHARITY

This year’s Master Cutler James Tear and his wife Jo have raised an incredible £200,000 this year in aid of Sheffield-based charity Cavendish Cancer Care.

Alongside their own fundraising efforts has been the Master Cutler’s Challenge. The Challenge asks businesses, organisations and membership groups to grow a £50 seed fund as much as possible, using any legal or ethical means. The challenge has taken place annually since 2008 and is one of the largest fundraising events in the region, raising over half a million pounds for local causes.

Over the last six months, a range of events and

sponsored challenges have been organised by over 65 businesses and local schools.

From football tournaments to talent shows, 12-hour walks to a city-wide Monopoly, and everything in between.

COOPS EMBS, a local facilities management company, took away the Master Cutler’s Challenge Award after raising an incredible £23,257.73 from their £50 stake. They hosted over 15 different events

throughout the challenge including a 168-hour continuous cycle challenge involving 44 people.

James said, “In a year of uncertainty off the back of the pandemic, and into a cost-of-living crisis, it is brilliant to see the Sheffield community coming together for the Master Cutler’s Challenge and raising such an incredible amount for our chosen charity.”

A further six awards were given out including to Bents Green Special Education School for using their entrepreneurial efforts to organise and run a raffle engaging with local businesses, growing their £50 to an impressive £644.

CEO of The Archer Project sleeps rough for 14 days

The CEO of Sheffield-based homeless charity, The Archer Project, slept out in church yards for 14 days throughout October to raise awareness around the harsh reality of homelessness and rough sleeping.

Beginning on October 2, Tim Renshaw swapped home comforts for church yards in his mission to make a change in the lives of the homeless.

Homelessness is on the rise in Sheffield, with an increase in house prices and stagnant earnings forcing people to live on the streets.

Founded in 1990, The Archer Project supports homeless and vulnerable people living in Sheffield and the wider region. The charity aims to build relationships with struggling individuals and looks at the bigger picture of how education,

mental wellbeing and health care impact homeless people. The charity also provides practical assistance in finding work and housing for those needing support.

Tim slept in various locations across the Sheffield region, where he began his first night of the ‘Sleep Out Slog’ at St Mark’s Church, Mosborough. From there, the CEO continued his journey sleeping in church yards in Shiregreen, Eyam and Stocksbridge to name a few.

Tim said: “We need more housing and we need better quality housing at the cheaper end of the market. But we also need to listen to the stories of those who have been homeless and how they moved away from the street. Time and again it is relationships that hold the key.”

James and Jo Tear raised over £200,000 for the cancer chairity

REDBRIK FOUNDATION CHESTERFIELD 10K ENJOYS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

The Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k has been hailed a great success by organisers, event partners and participants after more than 1000 runners took part in the event on Sunday, October 16.

Around 12 organisations also took part in the first Pronto Paints Wellbeing Challenge, a team entry into the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10K’s events.

The event also helped raise thousands for good causes across the region, with circa £30,000 pledged for charities including main charity partners – Redbrik Foundation, Chesterfieldbased Ashgate Hospice and North Anston-based Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, along with many other charities selected by the runners from across the region.

MAKE THE MOST OF AVAILABLE GRANTS

Between now and the end of 2022 – yes, it won’t take long for it to be the end of 2022 – there are going to be some significant grant funding pots to apply for if you are a non-profit, social enterprise or charity.

On a local basis, we are waiting for the details of the Levelling Up funding to be released into South Yorkshire and there is more funding coming from the Cost of Living Funding, where people are donating their council tax refunds to build up a pot of money to be redistributed for those in need. Keep an eye out for these funding streams on Sheffield City Council and South Yorkshire Community Foundation (SYCF) websites, details will be released via South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau (SYFAB) regular newsletters.

On a national basis, Comic Relief have been

quiet over the summer months, making changes to their website and application process and they opened their small and main funds on October 31. Grants up to £10k are available, with £1,000 of this for help with professional services for your organisation, like business planning, marketing strategy and financial planning.

Keep an eye out for Children in Need opening up early next year too, once again November brings their annual television appeal, so once all funds are gathered in, the funding opportunities will be available on their website too.

If you need help relating to funding strategy, getting bid ready, researching funding opportunities which you are eligible for or writing bid content, get in touch, it’s what I do.

VIP GUESTS AND JUDGES CONFIRMED FOR GLU RECRUIT’S OFFICE HEROES EVENT

Whyy? Change appoints head of lean and six sigma

Glu Recruit’s Office Heroes is just around the corner and since nominations opened, they’ve been pouring in. Businesses from the local area have been nominating the shining stars of their businesses and eagerly awaiting in anticipation to see if they’ve been shortlisted. Glu Recruit have now confirmed the judging panel and VIP guests who will be attending the event in early December.

Meet the judges

This year’s judging panel is made up of five talented business professionals that are all eager to read the nominations and choose a winner.

• Toby Pochron – Director of (Employment Law) at Freeths LLP

• Jill Kay - HRBP - ASD Lighting, Rotherham United Football Club & Vice Chair CIPD South Yorkshire Branch

• Amy Tingle – HR and Business Director at City Taxis

• Andy Hanselman – Partner at Andy Hanselman Consulting

• Hayley Koseoglu – Managing Director at Crystal Clean

Rob Shaw, Managing Director of Glu Recruit, commented and said, “We’re thrilled that so many talented, business-minded individuals want to get involved with our next Office Heroes event.

“I’d like to take a minute to thank all of our judging panel and our two guests, Both Dame Julie Kenny.

DBE DL, Master Cutler and The Lord Mayor of Sheffield for taking time out of their busy schedules, this event means a lot to us, and we’re honoured to have them be a part of it.”

Meet the sponsors

Glu Recruit wanted to give their attendees a special gift to remember the event and Identity Merchandise have kindly offered to sponsor this gift.

You can browse their full catalogue on their website at www. identitymerchandise.co.uk

REMEMBER - NOMINATE

If someone in your office deserves a little

applications are open from

3 to November 11 and the form can be found at www.glurecruit.co.uk/office-hero

Leading apprenticeship training provider Whyy? Change has appointed Jonathan Tolman as its head of lean and six sigma, responsible for leading all lean and six sigma training and continuous improvement apprenticeships.

Jonathan brings over 15 years of experience in practical lean manufacturing to the team, having been a business owner, consultant and a lean six sigma coach within the education sector.

Jon said: “I am delighted to join the team at Whyy? at such an exciting time. I am looking forward to contributing to the successful growth of this highly regarded company and developing the lean and six sigma practitioners of the future.”

The appointment comes after working closely with Glu Recruit, our exclusive recruitment partner, to find the right candidate.

Ray, CEO of Whyy? Change, said: “We look for skilled practitioners and Jonathan has a long history of delivering the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed by people and industries in our region.”

Ray added: “As head of our lean and six sigma division, Jonathan joins at a time of great growth opportunities and I look forward to working closely with him to be a success.”

Rob Shaw, managing director of Glu Recruit, said, “We were thrilled that we could find the perfect candidate to fill such an important role at Whyy? Change.

“We would like to wish Jonathan a huge congratulations and the best of luck as he starts his new journey with an incredible company.”

Both Dame Julie Kenny. DBE DL, Master Cutler and The Lord Mayor of Sheffield will be in attendance at the event.

agency,

Glu

are a full-service

established in 2016.

in

contract and graduate

a tailored

from entry level to senior

and board level

entire

Call:

Left; Helen Balliger, right; Helen Johnson and Fraser Askham

CURRENT VACANCIES

Specialising in construction and engineering projects, Helen Johnson has extensive expertise across the sector. She has particular experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts on a broad range of complex residential, office, retail and leisure projects, and regularly advised on JV contracts, providing strategic advice for major multi-phase developments. Helen joins the Energy, Projects and Construction (EPC) team from Kennedys, and will be working alongside partners Fraser Askham, Chris Hallam and Nigel Lewis

with a focus on the construction sector. Helen is an executive board member of the Sheffield Property Association.

Helen Balliger joins as a real estate partner. She was formerly with DWF, where she spent over four years advising a wide range of real estate UK and international clients on various investment and asset management matters. Helen specialises in high volume letting work and buying and selling large property portfolios, with a particular focus on the logistics and distribution industry.

BRM boosts its Sheffield real estate team with new hire

Local solicitors BRM has hired Mario Esposito, who will advise on a wide variety of real estate transactions for a broad range of national and regional clients.

Mario said: “I am excited to be joining the BRM team and taking the next step in my career. Working with James again was a big part of my decision to move and I’m looking forward to offering a high level of service to BRMs growing client base and building my client portfolio.”

James Alger, director, added: “We are delighted to have Mario on board as we expand our client portfolio and continue to go from strength to strength. Having worked with Mario for a number of years I know he has the skillset to become a prominent and well-regarded property professional across the region.”

CHAPTER II WELCOMES TWO SENIOR PR & MARKETING EXECUTIVES

Local PR, marketing and design agency Chapter II has welcomed two recent graduates to the team as part of its passion for nurturing young talent.

Alice Hughes and Beth Richardson join Chapter II as senior PR & marketing executives, having both undertaken year-long industry placements with the company as part of

their university courses.

Alice graduated with a first-class BA (Hons.) degree in Marketing, Communications & Advertising from Sheffield Hallam University. Alongside Alice’s already impressive level of industry knowledge and insight, she brings a huge amount of creativity and vibrancy, living and breathing all

things marketing.

Beth gained a firstclass BA (Hons.) degree in Management with Marketing from the University of Leeds. During her placement, Beth worked within Chapter II’s property division and has since re-joined the team, bringing with her a passion for all things home and interiors.

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Announces new permanent chief executive

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has announced Louisa Harrison-Walker as the new permanent chief executive.

Louisa has led the organisation in an interim capacity for the past 24 months with joint interim executive director Alexis Krachai, who returns to a nonexecutive director role.

The well-respected business leaders stepped into the role during the pandemic as part of a ‘turnaround project’ that has included restructuring the organisation, redesigning

the financial management and re-imagining the core membership offer.

Louisa said: “As joint interim directors, our aim has been to create solid foundations on which to work collaboratively with our members, anchor institutions and stakeholders in the region.”

Louisa plays an active role in the Sheffield community, serving as both a trustee and non-executive director at South Yorkshire Housing Association, St Luke’s Hospice, Higher Education, Common Purpose UK, and Made in Sheffield.

Hentons Corporate Finance expand their team

Hentons Corporate Finance, which works across offices in Sheffield, Doncaster Leeds, York Thirsk and London, has expanded rapidly over the past 12 months.

Director of corporate finance at Hentons, Chris Sellars, said: “We have added to our team with the appointment of James Pridmore as a corporate finance executive which brings us to a total of eight, doubling our size from 12 months ago.

“James brings with him experience in this area from a Top 10 accountancy firm, and he’ll add a vital extra resource to our team as we look to continue our growth through the rest of the year and into 2023.”

Hentons Corporate Finance, which includes its own in-house corporate services legal team, is a joint venture with Hentons Chartered Accountants who employ 145 people across seven offices in Sheffield, Leeds, York, Doncaster, Hertford, Thirsk and London.

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

Legal

BY MATTHEW RODGERS, BELL & BUXTON INCORPORATING

Our columnist Matthew talks about things to consider when looking for business property

Choosing the right location for your business is not easy.

There are many issues to consider not least in terms of logistics, for you as a business owner, for your employees and for your customers. Sometimes it might involve prestige, or ease of access or parking or the suitability of the actual building. In short, to find the perfect location, within budget, that ticks most of your boxes, is quite a task.

Once you do get this far, you then have the commercial lease agreement to get your head round. This is the legally binding contract between the landlord and a business owner that outlines the terms of renting the property.

Renting office space should be given the same consideration as entering into the purchase of a home. Give it the same level of due diligence, ensure you look carefully into all aspects and consider the implications, not just for now, but in the longer term.

The cost of rent obviously affects the profitability of the business so know what you can afford. Some leases will also ask for a personal guarantor, who will be liable for all the rent and any other amounts payable under the lease agreement.

Key things to consider:

Look carefully at your repair obligations.

Make sure there is a limit to the extent of things that the landlord says you are

responsible for repairing at the end of the lease. If this isn’t limited, you could end up paying a fortune in repairs.

Is there a clause that stipulates the property must effectively be left in a better state at the end of the lease than when you took it on?

Alterations

Both structural or nonstructural changes to the office space usually require the landlords consent, even if it’s just putting up a sign.

Is there a procedure in place to ensure what specific changes can be made, that these alterations have consent, to avoid extra, unexpected charges at the end of the lease?

Where bigger changes are required, it’s worth noting the tenant will need to check whether planning permission is required, this would need

professional help to obtain the consent.

Ending a lease agreement early

What happens if things don’t go to plan and the rent becomes untenable?

You can negotiate a break clause which allows you to vacate the premises at certain times over the term of the contract or you could include the right to assign the remaining lease to a third party. Again, you will need to employ a legal professional to put this into effect.

Service Charges and Rent Reviews

As you are not purchasing a space, renting a commercial property means there is a service charge to pay to cover the costs of maintaining the building, repairing and insuring it.

You should check that these fees are reasonable.

Rental Increases

Can you do anything to prevent a landlord from increasing the rent?

A provision could be made in the contract so that the rent does not rise above market rate. If it does and is not acceptable, that this can be decided by an independent third party.

Unexpected rent increases can easily cause a business to close.

In conclusion, there is a lot to consider when choosing the right spot for your business. Don’t get carried away with the perfect location and aesthetics. Make sure you look at the legal implications. The property should provide security in the longer term, better preparing you for future uncertainties.

Personal Development

BY HELEN WILLIAMS, HELPING ENTREPRENEURS WIN

CELEBRATE YOUR WINS

HEW Coaching is five years old this month and we will definitely be celebrating.

Sixty per cent of businesses fail in the first three years. This in itself is a winner - not to be a stat that has the odds stacked up against us!

What are ‘wins’?

Growth

● In your business - sales, teams, contracts, impact

● Personal growth - mindset, learning different thought processes, coping mechanisms, being able to open up and have conversations with a loved one / colleague or business partner.

Achievements

● An award, a significant goal you set, a financial target, crossin the line on your first ever 10k run or purely just survival of t and challenging times.

Recognition

● Of yourself, of your business, of your growth, development and achievements

● You could have featured on the news, in an article or received an awesome review from a client. It could also be a thoughtful thank you card received in the post from a friend you helped

● Whatever it is, it’s always nice to feel recognised for being who you are and doing what you do.

Progress

● Securing a contract / deal / sale

● Sticking to your schedule, getting the kids to school 5 minutes earlier in a morning, ensuring you take your lunch break and eat / drink / move, dealing with a difficult customer calmly and effec

● Any small, incremental change and steps forward is progressnever underestimate the power of progress!

Remember it’s personal to you.

● It’s not about keeping up with the Jones’, having a shinier car than little Johnny down the street or having the best job title on LinkedIn

● This is YOU v YOU

● A win to you is a significant win regardless of how big or small

Set

Have

for everything (not

to

the pressure

in

apply on to yourself

Have fun and enjoy

Journal and document so you can measure everythingif you’re not measuring, you can’t manage…or win!

Don’t be ‘too busy’ to appreciate growth and development

Forget modesty, be your own biggest cheerleader

Wins don’t have to be public or publicised

Learn from what you have achieved

Ask yourself if it ‘feels good’, is it aligned with your values and vision? If so you’re on the right track

Do something to reward yourself - again big or small it doesn’t matter, it could just be a simple toast with your mug of morning coffee, or a glass of cold fizz with friends. It could also equally be an afternoon to yourself for reading a book, walking in the great outdoors and enjoying a slice of homemade cake.

Festive Digital Support

As Christmas descends upon us at a rapid pace, there’s no time like the present to start looking for that perfect gift for your family, friends and loved ones. For those that are into their tech gadgets, to help with some ideas we’ve been trawling through the latest technology product and gadget releases. Our MD Steve, client services director Ryan and BDM Rich have shared what we think are top tech gifts. Along with this, it’s also worth thinking about how you protect your business and your family and friends during this time, so as well as our two top gifts, we have one top tip for heading into the new year.

RICH

LAVAZZA A MODO MIO VOICY

For those that know me well, you’ll know I’m a bit of a coffee snob. I’m also into my smart technology and have it running throughout my home, so when I found out there’s a coffee machine to throw into the mix that allows you to make a coffee just using your voice….. where do I sign up?

With lots of time for relaxing over the festive period, this product transforms your mattress into a smart one. The cover boasts tech that can cool and heat reacting to room temperature and humidity. And not only that, but all the data that comes from the cover is viewable on an app.

TIP - PHISHING SIMULATOR TRAINING

Unfortunately, at this time of year, we may find ourselves more susceptible to phishing attacks from unscrupulous scammers and hackers. Becoming the human firewall or first line of defence can be key to safeguarding and protecting ourselves from such attacks. To help, we are more than happy to talk to you as we can provide a programme that organisations can use to send realistic phishing attacks to employees to gauge their awareness and then help train them what to do if they receive any. This is something we have been using internally at Highlander to great effect.

STEVE

Far too cool for me, so maybe one for my 81-year-old dad, as the trend for ‘wearable tech’ grows. These ‘smart’ sunglasses mean he’ll be able listen to some Rockabilly tunes, take photos and videos of his trips to the quiz club, and then share those snaps straight to Facebook! Not cheap at around £300 –it’ll have to be a joint present this one.

‘TAGS’

The memory isn’t what it used to be, and life seems to be faster, rather than slower, since those lockdown days. For me this year it’s been two wallets and one set of keys that have gone off the radar. If only I’d had my Air Tag with them! I need a couple more, so these can go on the list and replace the Lynx and the TK Maxx ‘bargain socks’ that the kids lovingly buy me. Can be Apple, can be Android, and relatively cheap. Made the list last year, and will make it again next year, if I remember…

TIP - UPDATES!

As more tech enters the home at Christmas, it’s worth checking that you, the kids and the old folk are all ‘up to date’. The last thing most of the phone-crazy youngsters want to do is sit through an update, and I know for certain that my dad won’t be keeping an eye on his, but it’s important. As well as being on top of the phishing, it’s good to ensure the physical device is up to speed and all security patches are in and working. We do it for our businesses, it’s worth checking at home too.

RYAN

CORAVIN MODEL THREE WINE PRESERVATION OPENER

If, like me, you love to get the wine open over Christmas, then this is the perfect gift idea. This gadget attaches to your bottle of wine without having to pull the cork, and you can pour as much or as little as you want through a fine needle, leaving the cork in place to keep the wine preserved and fresh.

TIP - NEW YEAR AUDIT

BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 45 HEADPHONES

My house is manic anyway, but the noise levels definitely peak over the Christmas period. If you want to escape the din and cut out the surrounding noise, why not look for a pair of noise cancelling headphones. The Bose QC 45 Headphones are some of the best wireless noise cancelling headphones around and what makes them particularly great is their balance of sound quality and comfort combined with excellent noise cancellation.

It’s always wise to be one step ahead when it comes to your internal business systems. Heading into the new year, why not review what you have currently, making sure you are on top and ideally where you should be. If not, we can help put a plan in place to get you where you need to be. Are you getting value for money for your current IT provision? Have you thought about what’s around the corner with the big switch off? There are lots of other considerations that Highlander can help with, so please get in touch if you would like an audit.

BOOK IN NOW AND SAVE IN THE NEW YEAR

How secure are your systems? Our Tech Services Team can help you find out • Monthly or annual licencing costs on the rise? We can help with a free audit • Support not hitting the levels you require? We can meet your desired SLA’s to keep your business on track – call for a free survey

RAY-BAN STORIES WAYFARER SMART SUNGLASSES

and planning

FIREWORKS AND PARKIN –HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT!

Andy explains the importance of getting your business plan in order

I am currently eating a particularly nice piece of ‘Royston Parkin’ parkin – a regional delight that we took along to the SY Expo here in Sheffield, where we were exhibiting and meeting fellow businesses.

The parkin is a real winner as, and you may be surprised to hear this, not everyone rushes over to speak to an accountant at these events! The offer of a piece of cake is a great icebreaker and does help start a discussion.

So, why am I discussing parkin? It isn’t just because it is particularly relevant to this time of year as a tradition on Bonfire Night. It is baked by one of our clients, so whenever I have a piece I know I am supporting their business. The other reason why this is good news is that our client was helped tremendously by obtaining grants to assist with the purchase of upgrading their catering equipment.

For any business looking to grow, it is always important there is a strong business plan in place. The plan may contain the following:

that the equipment they needed could accelerate their efficiency and productivity. They obtained assistance from Sheffield City Region Growth Hub to obtain a Productivity Grant, which gave them 50 per cent funding for the equipment. This allowed them to purchase better equipment with ancilliary products to move the business forward faster than they could have done on their own.

For our bakery-friends the business plan wasn’t sophisticated, but they were able to clearly demonstrate

Accountants can work with Growth Hubs, which are local public/private sector partnerships led by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), as well as local councils who can also help. Whatever business you are in and at whatever stage you are at, it is worth checking what funding could be available to you.

Some funding is temporary but building

a relationship with your accountant and the team of funders can keep you up-to-date with the latest grant-funding. Apprenticeships and staff training will always have ‘some’ funding available, while innovation is always going to be a large area for funding opportunities. Tax help can be given via Research & Development Tax Credits, however the bar is being raised as to the level of evidence required to obtain this.

For a small grant to help with the use of IT in your business the ‘Digital Innovation Grant’ can provide 50 per cent funding up to £5,000 to move your business forward.

We work with businesses to prepare such business plans and, as you may guess, there can be a focus on the financial side with forecasts for profit

and loss account, balance sheets and cashflows. Basically, we translate your story into numbers. I am biased but numbers can help summarise the requirement of the business. The cornerstone for a new business that is profitable is the cashflow. How much does the business need and WHEN will that expenditure be needed and WHEN will the income expected actually be received. What happens if the expenditure increases and the income is delayed?

A good plan will help you get your cake and eat it. We also came up with our tag line that ‘accounts and tax are a piece of cake with Royston Parkin’.

Please email me at the address below, to discuss your business plan or if you want to know who makes our delicious ‘Royston Parkin’ parkin!

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

Quality affects everyone within the business, which means I engage with all levels and different functions, both internally and externally. No two days are the same - one day I can be performing a root cause investigation, impact assessing and decision making, the next learning about a new set of regulations. However, there is a common theme that runs throughout and that is ‘doing the right thing’.

How did you get started working in STEM?

I think my late dad was my biggest influencer, he was a plumber and heating engineer who would show me how to take things apart, work out the problem but then have the ability to fix and put back together. I’ll never forget sayings such as ‘measure twice, cut once’, ‘make sure you state the units of measurement/grade’ -

something I sense check every day.

What qualifications did you take or gain along the way?

BSc (Hons) forensic and analytical science with a year’s industrial placement.

I had my daughter towards the end of my course, so this was a big achievement for me and taught me a lot of valuable life skills along the way. During my 10 years working at an upper tier COMAH site, I acquired a number of occupational qualifications relating to health and safety.

I’m keen to progress further, so my next challenge is to become a chartered quality professional member. I’m looking forward to sharing best practice and networking with people on a similar wavelength.

Why do you love working in STEM?

While my role is very much desk based these days, I relish getting out on the shop floor and working through

EQUALITY IN STEM ANNETTE HEMMINGS

HEAD OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AT BRANDON MEDICAL

problems with the team. It’s important to me that I can see any Quality issues in real life – see, hear and feel.

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

I don’t like conflict and I’ve had to develop my assertiveness over the years. I’ve had to have tough conversations, sometimes even with senior leaders, regarding risk-related issues. This has varied from rejecting a batch to instructing analysts to repeat a weeks’ worth of testing because the data was questionable. I overcame this by understanding that I’m acting as a gatekeeper for the business’ reputation and integrity is a fundamental part of my role.

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

There will be days when things don’t work out as you had planned, my days

working in a laboratory and alongside engineers taught me this. It’s important to learn from any outcomes, stay focused and try again. I think resilience is key to anyone working in the STEM sector.

What do we need to do as an industry to attract and keep more women in STEM?

I think initiatives like this are essential as they show that women can progress in STEM and there is a variety of different industries/roles out there! Businesses can play a huge role in shifting the perception of ‘dirty’ factory environments with men in overalls. Businesses should be encouraged to open up their doors, showcase innovation and the rewards e.g., new product launch in the market and impact on everyday lives.

To read about more about our work and female role models please visit our website at www.

equalityinstem.org.uk/blog

FEMALE ROLE MODELS OUR MISSION: TO ATTRACT, DEVELOP AND RETAIN A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE MIX OF PEOPLE IN STEM CAREERS

SAVE MONEY WITH ACTUS INSURANCE

Across our region we now face challenges the likes of which most of us have never seen in both our business and personal lives. Many of us in business have heard about the high inflation and interest rates of the 70s and 80s but weren’t old enough to experience it for ourselves. We are all now adjusting to an unfamiliar set of

circumstances with rising costs across the board and an unstable political landscape. The positive side of things however is that we have all had to deal with such a dynamic business landscape over the last couple of years that companies have become much more agile and resilient.

In view of this, we are pulling together

information, hints and tips for local businesses to enable them to better react to these challenging times, save money and make informed decisions on your purchases. If we all work together to support each other as a business community, we can continue to make South Yorkshire a fantastic place to run a business.

Do a full financial review

It may seem obvious, but we often find we subscribe to services or sign up for software that makes sense at the time, but after a while we forget about them, and they go unused. It’s a good idea to go through all your monthly costs and figure out which ones are essential, which ones are adding value to your business and your employees, and which ones are no longer worth the spend. You’ll be surprised by how many things you haven’t been using or no longer need!

Check your working practices

With a rise in remote and hybrid working, now is a great time to review how and where your employees work. Do you still need to pay for an office? If you have more staff at home now, could it be time to move somewhere smaller or think about making your operation fully remote? There are also lots of co-working spaces in the area, which could be a good option for saving money on rent and bills if you only have a few staff members who need to be office based.

Use time wisely

Ever been sat in a meeting and thought ‘this could have been an email’? Now may be the time to have a real think about the most effective way to manage your time, to increase productivity and get the most out of your staff. Time is money, so planning and managing your time properly can have a huge impact on your finances.

Get the best insurance deal

In the current economic climate, it may feel like the right decision to cut back on your insurance cover, but this could actually be very damaging to your business. Although it may help your monthly costs now, if you were to experience an emergency you could have to shell out a very significant amount of cash, which could be a real challenge. It’s important to make sure you have the right policies in place to protect you from any surprise costs if anything goes wrong.

Make smart buying choices

Lots of us are extremely busy and will always choose the easiest and most convenient option in a bid to save time. However, this is rarely the most cost effective one. If you need to buy something for your business, such as a tool or some furniture, don’t turn straight to Amazon. Instead, consider getting something secondhand – not only are you saving money, you’re also saving the planet! Facebook Marketplace and Ebay are good places to start. If you do need something new, it’s worth taking the time to shop around for the best deal. The process may go on for slightly longer, but your bank balance will be much better off.

STEEL COMPANY BOLSTERS WORKFORCE WITH TEAM OF SOURCE APPRENTICES

The Sheffield skills and training academy has now placed nine apprentices at city stockholder Murray Steel Products, which supplies structural sections, steel plate and profiles to companies across the UK.

The average age of the workforce has been reduced and skills are being passed down to young apprentices who have swiftly got up to speed.

Operations manager Mark Hewitt tapped into The Source’s apprentice matchmaking expertise back in 2012.

“We have seen huge benefits from our nineyear relationship with The Source. Traditionally, if there was a vacancy, particularly in warehousing, we asked employees to recommend people. Now, we go straight to The Source. Its team does the vetting process stringently, learns exactly what we require, then finds us the right people,” he said.

“The proof of the pudding is that every single apprentice they have provided has stayed with the company.”

A registered charity which ploughs its profits back into community work, The Source has specialised in apprenticeships since 2007.

One apprentice The

Source found for Murray Steel in 2018 went on to be shortlisted for a national award.

Economics student Kristina Kolar came to the UK in 2014 aged 18. The Source supported her through a Level 3 business administration apprenticeship at Murray Steel. She was highly commended in the National Association of Steel Stockholders’ apprentice awards in 2019 and is now a respected member of the company’s business support teams across three divisions.

The pandemic put the company’s recruiting on hold in 2020, but three more apprentices have since joined.

Caiden Latham, 18, of Parson Cross, recently passed his warehouse Level 2 apprenticeship with distinction and now has a permanent job.

Dylan Clark, of Fox Hill, is following suit. He began a business admin Level 3 apprenticeship in September last year, now works as an operations assistant and has soared in confidence and ability.

Oscar Liversidge arrived on a business admin Level 3 in July. The Middlewood 18-year-old is getting up to speed as an admin worker in the structural and plate team and showing great promise.

“The standards these three young men have set have been exemplary,” said Mark. “We are about to set on a fourth and have high hopes he will follow in their footsteps.”

Impressed older employees have also asked for apprenticeships to boost their skills and knowledge. Danny Steers, Mason Crooks, Carla Housley, Ellis Hewitt and Holly Young have gained Level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications.

Kerry Cook, business advisor at The Source, added: “I very carefully consider every person I put forward as a prospective apprentice.

“From the outset, Dylan, Oscar and Ollie conveyed focus, determination and a very clear understanding of what they wanted from an apprenticeship - a role which could provide career prospects as an alternative to university. This is something I know will be supported at Murray Steel, where employees are given every opportunity to flourish.”

Focus, a

The Source has helped a Sheffield steel company forge a stronger and more skilled workforce.

Dale Robinson and Kerry Cook, The Source, with Mark Hewitt (right) and past and present Murray Steel Products apprentices

After 25 years as one of the most well-known agencies in the region, HRM PR & Creative has undergone an impressive rebrand. Chapter II was unveiled in October, marking the next phase of the business’s growth and an expansion of its services.

HRM, or HR Media as it was previously known, is one of the longest-running and most established PR agencies in South Yorkshire. But as the company celebrates its 25th birthday, it is also looking to the future, with a new name, a fresh look and an enhanced service offering designed to propel clients to new heights.

With more marketing, design and digital PR services now on offer, the agency has adapted with a renewed vision for the future, which will build on the excellent reputation it holds in the region

and beyond.

CEO Jen Beal joined the company in March and says the last eight months have been ‘incredibly busy’ but full of excitement, creativity and of course, a few Friday drinks to celebrate the wins.

She said: “I have primarily been getting to know the team and the way they work, both together and individually, since I started, as well as getting to know the brands and businesses we are working with.

“The foundations of this business are so strong, and the company is so well respected that it has been amazing to get to build on that and

Here, CEO Jen Beal explains the reason for the rebrand, what Chapter II stands for and her vision for the future…

work out how we can continue to give the best possible output to our clients, and the best workplace experience to our staff.

“While there’s definitely been plenty to keep me busy over the last eight months, it’s been so much fun to get stuck in and I’ve really enjoyed defining our company culture and enhancing the office environment, making it a great place to work.”

Chapter II’s goal is not dissimilar to that of HRM – to help brands reach their full potential, achieving the most ambitious marketing and communications goals along the way.

So, why the rebrand?

“It really felt like now was the right time,” Jen said. “The services we provide and the way that we work have evolved and it is important our brand reflects that.

“While it felt like a natural step to for us to rebrand, making the final decision still required some balls! HRM – or originally HR Media – is one of the longestestablished PR agencies within the region and for good reason. The name is synonymous with exceptional service and client relationships, industry expertise, and trust – and we don’t want that to change.

“This year marks 25 years in business, which is an amazing achievement, but it also felt like the perfect time to reflect on who we are as a company, redefine our mission and values, and a chance to expand our service offering to meet the needs of today’s modern businesses, still focusing on core media relations but incorporating more digital PR, marketing and our incredible design services.”

“Things don’t stand still, and neither do we.” Jen continued.

“In a society that changes so quickly and with technology evolving in front of our eyes, the need to move with the times has never been so apparent”.

With a group of talented creatives and design experts

We’ve evolved our services to offer more marketing-based activities – integrated, creative campaigns, carefully crafted messaging and a wider range of engaging assets.

It’s a really exciting time to be offering this, as consumer mentality has shifted since the pandemic in a number of ways - and the same goes for B2B clients.

Brands need to be a lot savvier and more intricate in the way they communicate with their audience.

Luckily, we’re also living in a world with countless channels and means of communication, so brands can achieve more than they ever could before.

One brand I really admire is the meat-alternative This – they have produced some really exceptional marketing over the last 12 months, driving their growth into supermarkets, coffee-shops and convenience stores. Their messaging is tongue-in-cheek, brazen and - most impressively - consistent.

Everything from their social media posts to the copy on their product packaging is in line with their brand and their customers. Pulling on relevant, cultural references while maintaining their own marketing messages – they’re nailing it!

This is exactly the kind of thing we love to see at Chapter II and what we can offer our clients.

Joining the team earlier this year, I’m bringing nearly five years of inhouse marketing experience to the table, mainly in campaign creation and copywriting. I’ve helped brands approach their audience in some of the strangest of times, so I’m ready for the challenge of building brands’ reputations in the times to come and helping them thrive Chapter II is all about taking brands to the next level with their marketing and PR. We’ve produced some really exciting campaigns so far and I can’t wait to get the ball rolling for more clients in the next few months.

Whether they know it or not, every business needs public relations. Whether it’s sending out proactive press releases or reactive crisis communications, PR should be an integral part of your company’s strategy.

Public relations is an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of communications methods. From a press release about company news to positioned thought leadership features in trade publications to providing reactive commentary to trending news topics – PR is vital to get you in front of the people you need to be in front of.

But, with the media landscape – and the world in general –constantly changing, it is important to reflect on this and make changes and adaptations where necessary.

One of the biggest changes we have seen in recent years is the shift towards more digital communications and the desire to secure more backlinks and social media coverage.

While traditional and print PR are still vital to your communications

strategy, reactive PR is one of the key elements that can really drive your business forwards and get you noticed for all the right reasons. That may be simply responding to important items on the news agenda with relevant, expert opinion, or it could be jumping on the latest TikTok trend or reacting to the latest talking point on social media.

A great example of a brand that smashes reactive PR and social media is Ryan Air. They are quick-witted, responsive and perfectly tongue-in-cheek, creating campaigns that go viral with a simple meme, gif, or Tweet.

Of course, no two businesses are the same, and while dancing on TikTok might work for some, it might not for others – that’s where our expert opinion comes in. We are dedicated to getting to know you and your brand, fusing your values and goals with our strong industry knowledge and creative skillset, meaning we can curate the perfect strategy for your business.

JADE

MADDY BARBER,

already on hand, work on the rebrand was completed in-house, with concepts that reflected the values and skills of its team being discussed from the get-go.

Jen said: “Choosing the name was pretty easy. After 25 years as HRM, it was time for us to start our next chapter, hence Chapter II.

“PR, marketing and design are all about representing brands and telling a story, so everything just fell into place.

“At Chapter II we are experts at strategic storytelling. We use beautifully crafted words and unforgettable visuals to create campaigns that ignite.”

Chapter II was officially launched in October, with a special party at Saw Grinders Union in Kelham Island to celebrate.

All the team’s hard work was showcased to colleagues, clients and friends, with a nod to the 25 years in business that allowed the next chapter to begin.

Jen said: “It was a fantastic evening which gave us chance to showcase our talents and new brand, while letting our hair down and celebrating how far we’ve come. The Chapter II branding was created in-house within our design Studio and it was amazing to see our collection of brand assets being used throughout the venue – on drinks labels, balloons, coasters, in our launch video and on our very own Chapter II newspaper… we had a lot of fun with it! The response to our new look has been incredible and makes all the hard work worth it.”

But the hard work doesn’t stop with the rebrand – Jen and the team are now looking to the future, excited to start offering their new services and continue working with the fantastic businesses in South Yorkshire and beyond.

With a focus on creativity, collaboration and engagement, Chapter II is a company that takes smart risks and knows that daring to be different gets results.

www.chapterii.agency

This is an incredibly exciting time for us and the brands we work with.

The new look and name have given us the opportunity to refine our service offer and introduce additional marketing services.

We have really listened to the needs of our clients, as they are very much at the heart of everything we do, and this has helped us shape Chapter II.

Having worked here for 17

Branding is one of the most important aspects of creating a visual identity for a company, it sets out an immediate idea of what you offer and the way in which you work, and if it’s not given the appropriate amount of thought it can turn clients and customers off even before they’ve tried your products or services.

Agencies often neglect their own branding in favour of their clients, which can damage the agency in the long run if left unattended to. With the Chapter II rebrand we wanted to avoid this pitfall and create a strong brand from the outset, one that’s simple, visually appealing and stands apart from what other agencies are doing.

With graphic design and branding in particular, for me, it is all about getting your message across as simply and succinct as possible, less is always more. People have short attention spans and if they have to ‘work hard’ to understand your brand, they will go elsewhere.

We wanted to show that we were serious professionals – and also a little mysterious – so we relied mainly on black and white tones with accents of colour for flavour. Our imagery is both professional and fun, showing the true duality of what it is like to work in an office. We also like to

years, I have had the pleasure of watching the company become one of the region’s most respected and established PR agencies and I am proud of everything we have achieved so far, but really do feel that the best is yet to come.

I am looking forward to meeting lots of companies and brands within the regional business community and beyond, showcasing Chapter II and helping them to tell their story.

think that this translates across to how we deal with our clients as well.

Looking at brands like Uber, Apple and Pepsi, they’re all trending towards minimalist design and keeping things clean and clear. We wanted to ensure our branding did not clutter our messaging, so existing and potential clients know exactly what we do and how we will execute our offering.

As part of the rebrand we have re-evaluated our entire business, not just our name and logo. We have expanded and modernised our services and looked at how we can really help our clients excel. As we’ve experienced personally through this process – and as is so evident with the most recognisable companies in the world –branding is everything. The right branding can completely define your business, making you as appealing as possible to your target audience and setting out who you are right from the get-go. That’s why we are now offering more branding services than ever before.

Working on the branding for Chapter II has filled the Studio with excitement and we can’t wait to work with our clients, both potential and existing, on taking their branding and design to the next level.

JAMES MARTIN,

Resolve

Resolve to put people at the forefront of your business

Managing director at Resolve IT Solutions, Andrew Seaton, is a firm believer that if you invest in people, they’ll invest in you too. unLTD’s Brogan Maguire met up with him for a chat about the business’s brand-new office, its ‘people-first’ approach and why Resolve is an IT company with a difference…

I’d heard a lot about Resolve’s new office space, but until I went along to meet Andrew there for our interview, I hadn’t really built up much of a picture in my head.

When I arrived at the new location on Acorn Business Park in Sheffield, I was quickly impressed by how easily identifiable Resolve’s unit was.

I was just as impressed when I walked into the office, greeted by a beautiful plant wall, bright décor and a huge breakout area complete with comfy sofas, a pool table and a huge television.

“We wanted to create a space that got the best out of our staff, both personally and professionally,” Andrew told me as we sat down for a coffee. “This area was actually the most important

to me, as I want everyone to have somewhere they can really relax, recharge and socialise with other people in the building.”

As well as being a fun place to unwind and chat at lunchtimes, the breakout area is set to be used for monthly team meetings where excellent work is celebrated over food and drink.

The office has been fitted out by WorkBox UK, who worked with Resolve to create a space which is smart and professional while still being fun and reflective of the relaxed culture of the company.

Andrew added: “Investing in an office may seem like a strange thing in these days of hybrid and home working, but our team were clear that they wanted to be together in an office.

We have a unique culture at Resolve, and investing in offices that people can work, collaborate and have fun in is another way of investing in our team – something I am really proud of.

“Because of this, we asked all our employees what they liked about coming to work, what they would find most beneficial and what they needed to get the most of out of their working day.

“It is critical that our working environment reflects who we are as an organisation and reminds us of this every day. Our staff need to see how proud of them we are, how much we care about them and how committed we are to giving them the best possible workplace experience.

“Staff who feel valued and appreciated will give the same energy back and ultimately be a much happier workforce.”

It’s no secret that bright colours, plenty of greenery and light-flooded spaces encourage happiness, and the Resolve office is no different.

The wall in the breakout area is covered in a stunning mural, painted by Sheffield artist Rob Lee, with other pieces from local creatives dotted around the rest of the space.

Working in the greenest city in the UK has its perks, with trees outside every window and a view that doesn’t resemble a typical, grey business park.

It’s touches like these that really demonstrate how passionate Andrew is about Sheffield, his staff and the business he has built from the ground up.

He said: “I started this company 18 years ago as a fresh-faced graduate, when it was just me and my car, driving around fixing computers.

“Obviously over the years things have massively evolved and we have grown so much, but one thing that’s never changed is how dedicated we are to putting people at the heart of everything we do.”

This ethos is what really makes Resolve stand out from the crowd.

Not just an IT company, Resolve’s focus is on ensuring customers have a fantastic experience, with engineers who listen, understand, and offer

Resolve

genuine help and support.

We all know that having IT issues can be a nightmare, especially as most of us don’t have much technical know-how, but employees at Resolve are trained to be as personable, friendly and explanatory as possible, with no jargon or judgement.

This approach is clearly working, too, as Andrew tracks his ‘customer happiness score’ and currently has a 97 per cent ‘excellent’ rating.

“There was a real gap in the market for an IT company that worked effectively with its customers and I think that’s why we have done so well,” Andrew said.

“Our people-first approach stretches right through the business. Offering the best customer service is just another part of that, alongside our dedication to being an amazing place to work.”

It would be easy to be pessimistic and believe this is all talk, or that the new office is simply a token gesture, but it’s clear just from meeting Andrew and watching the team at work that this is not the case.

Everyone has embraced the space wholeheartedly, making the most of the collaborative approach and making a conscious effort to get away from their desks and take a break during their lunch hour.

As I walked round, I saw plenty of smiling faces, heard lots of enthusiastic work conversations and could feel the buzz of productivity.

When I mentioned that to Andrew, he smiled and said: “It’s easy for me to say these things and tell you all about our amazing new office, but it’s a completely different thing when you see it.

“Creating this wonderful space and shouting about having a fun place to work is great, but I would never put that above any of the other things that make for a fantastic company.

“The only reason we can do this is because we’ve put so much time and effort into becoming a brilliant employer.

“Our staff wellbeing is always our highest priority, and of course we show that through processes like healthcare benefits and regular pay rises, but what I think they really value is how much we care and how invested we are as people.

“We understand that our employees are just normal human beings and sometimes they will have things going on outside of work. To me, being a great company to work for comes from listening, being supportive and doing whatever we can to help.”

BY KIRSTEN

Sim p le Step s for Ope rat ing a More Sustainable Busines s

Liam Parnell talks about Wayv’s journey towards becoming Carbon Neutral

‘ Carbon Neutral’, ‘Net Zero’, ‘Greener Business’ – these are all terms we are hearing about more and more, but currently, fewer than 1 in 12 businesses have a sustainability plan to achieve net zero.

based business, Wayv Talk and Broadband for Business were certified by Carbon Neutral Britain as the first provider in its market to achieve Carbon Neutral status. We spoke to Wayv’s Managing Director, Liam Parnell, about how businesses can make simple changes that don’t require big investments but deliver positive environmental impact.

“Firstly, there seems to be a bit of a misconception that reducing the carbon footprint is going to cost the business lots of money,” Liam said. “Just as businesses were beginning to gain more traction around 15 years ago, the global recession hit, and then the topic dropped down the priority list for most businesses… This is a shame because, from our experience, the biggest cost was simply investing time to implement change. In fact, a lot of the changes we implemented have actually reduced our costs.

“A really simple first step for Wayv was reducing our road travel where possible. Commuting to the

for meetings or installation work made up well over half of our footprint, so the first thing we did was implement incentives for public transport use and car sharing.

“We narrowed our google ad reach to local businesses and only targeted customers within 50

positive impact on our costs but more importantly our conversation rate increased, generating more business! For any enquiries from businesses out

meeting as the first policy to ensure we don’t make any wasted journeys.

“As a business, roughly every 10 miles of travel you make by road requires an entire acre of woodland to remove that carbon generated,

was important to try and influence things outside our four walls and make positive choices about who we work with. As a result, part of our tendering process now requires new suppliers to outline what they are doing regarding sustainability.

“Lastly, having worked closely with Carbon Neutral Britain to understand our footprint, we decided that whilst we continue to work on our remaining footprint through

therefore these small modifications to our travel can have significant impacts.

“A really important part of our journey to Carbon Neutral was

of the ideas we implemented came from general conversations between to work for a company that is taking the lead in our industry and taking responsibility for our environmental many making positive changes outside of work.

This helped us become recognised as the first provider in our market to achieve our status of Carbon Neutral and has since had a fantastic response from existing and potential customers. “Even if a business isn’t able to currently give the time or resources to achieve Carbon Neutral certification, making small changes

Contact Wayv on

www.wayvtalk.com

Liam Parnell, Managing Director at Wayv

NEW BEGINNINGS: HOW COMPANIES MUST ADAPT TO ENGAGE

How is business evolving?

The pace of change is accelerating and it’s those businesses that have adapted their ways of working to becoming more flexible and ‘human’ in their approach that are succeeding. It’s so much more than flexibility around time and location. Employees want a sense of belonging, investment in their future and recognition of their success.

Jonathan believes outcome-based working is the way forward, with time-based working no longer being the key to success.

To truly thrive, businesses need to be clearer on objectives and outcomes and create a workplace culture that stimulates innovation and engagement in the bigger picture. Unlocking human potential requires much more than a handsome pay packet.

A key factor in trends like quiet quitting is investment. As the skills required to succeed continue to change, it’s unrealistic to expect higher engagement and productivity without investment. But there’s more to it than this. Enabling employees to feel invested is equally important. Workplaces that enable people to do their best work are often more productive and responsive to customer needs.

How can we improve to meet new expectations?

Work is increasingly becoming project-based with customers expecting products designed specifically for their application. Excellence in leadership and management have never been so critical. Projects can be put at risk if there is a skills deficit so the transfer of knowledge into action must be rapid.

How can we better approach learning and development?

Learning and development is

principally responding to feedback. I believe the single most important change any of us can make is to actively offer and seek feedback. The more we do it, the less it will feel like an event. Calm delivery and realistic feedback have enormous benefits for the recipient who is more likely to respond favourably.

How can this improve engagement?

Employers have a responsibility to

provide more than a pay check.

Acknowledging real-time issues and tackling them collaboratively brings people together – if work is transactional, people feel less valued and leave. Or worse, become quiet quitters.

The view that people just go to work to earn money isn’t often the case. It’s also about connecting, feeling part of something bigger and having a sense of achievement. Satisfaction matters.

The tasks don’t need to change for someone to feel like they belong and their work has value.

This month, we chatted with Jonathan Cooper, founder of the Unlearning Company, about the evolution of company culture, outcome-based working and how we need to tackle learning and development head-on.

A Chartered Management Institute survey from 2014 found that 51 per cent of respondents believed their organisations were poor or could do better at escalating bad news and ensuring that the senior management team received feedback from employees

South Yorkshire and the British Library’s National Network of Business & IP Centres are transforming the way ideas grow into successful businesses. We’re supporting a thriving community of bright and inspiring people in South Yorkshire by partnering with local libraries all over the UK.

Cate Fearn struggled with the forced style of learning when she was young, causing her to feel that she wasn’t clever enough to be good at maths. As a teacher, Cate was determined she wouldn’t subject any children she taught to this debilitating and outdated practice.

Wanting to be able to offer teachers a resource and approach that supported the teaching and learning of times tables which was grounded in deep understanding, Cate created the Tables Stick. She developed the product from a metre stick with post-it notes to produce a high quality, easy to use teaching tool.

Following in-school trials of the prototype, Cate realised she needed

to find out how to best protect her product before it was exposed to the big, wide world. Here’s where Sheffield Libraries Business & IP Centre came to the rescue!

Cate said: “The help I received was invaluable, as they carried out a trademark search for me, answered my many questions and guided and supported me through how to go about protecting my brand using trademark. The help I received enabled me to successfully protect Tables Stick with trademark, and therefore feel more confident moving forwards to launch and market my product.”

Find out more about Tables Stick online - www.tablesstick.co.uk

You may not have thought that you have Intellectual Property (IP) that you need to protect, or you may have always been under the impressiony that it’s something you can think about later. All businesses or creatives will have some IP, whether it’s an invention, brand, product or design. To be successful and grow your business, understanding what it is that is unique about you is crucial and that’s where we come in. We can help you to gain an understanding of the vital role of trademarks, copyright, registered designs, and patents in protecting your business.

We can also help you understand your market trends and maintain a competitive edge by sizing up your business opportunity. Having a greater understanding of your marketplace from the very start will enable you to create a sound business strategy to establish and grow your brand into one that’s better than the competition. Businesses who undertake research when setting up a business are twice as likely to succeed beyond three years. If you’re looking to grow your business and plan for the future, we can help you, with resources worth more than £5 million, freely available to you in libraries across South Yorkshire.

access

help you imagine, start or develop

Whether you’re just setting out, need advice on

your intellectual

or simply have a

idea you want to discuss, we’re here to guide

15 years of showcasing Doncaster business

The Doncaster Business Showcase is celebrating its 15th year. After starting out as a small business-tobusiness exhibition back in 2008, predominantly supporting newstart businesses with less than 100 exhibition stands.

Today, it is widely recognised as the largest business-to-business event of its kind in Yorkshire. The event has built on its original platform and Business Doncaster is proud to say that ‘happy exhibitors are repeat exhibitors’.

Many loyal exhibitors return year after year, as they see the value of building relationships and in turn, what that brings to their business.

The aim of the event is to create new connections, showcase the fantastic businesses in our region and build the reputation of your brand.

With stand prices starting from £99 + VAT, can your business afford to miss out? Be warned though, stands do sell out for this event as the benefits of exhibiting far outweigh the negatives, with the return on investment usually the major factor.

The ever-popular event boasted a delegate attendance of over 2,500 people when it returned in 2022 following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions – and 2023 looks set to be an even bigger success, with over half of the stands already sold.

The 2023 Business Showcase plans to be the biggest yet – with 300 exhibition stands all located on one floor, covering the whole of the ground floor floor exhibition hall at Doncaster Racecourse.

Heather Hamilton, marketing

officer for Business Doncaster, said: “This event has tripled in size since the early days in 2008. We have many happy repeat customers and exhibitors that book for this event each year as they clearly see the value of being part of it.

“It is a well-organised business expo that certainly helps to increases brand awareness as well as build on relationships and local supply chain opportunities.”

The event is free to attend as a visitor and the next one will be held on Thursday February 2, 2023, from 10am to 4pm at Doncaster Racecourse.

The Headline Sponsor for the Doncaster Business Showcase 2023 is Active Copier System

stand visit: www. businessdoncaster.co.uk/business-

Market uncertainty affecting your cash flow? Time to speak to an expert!

The cost-of-living crisis for households is starting to bite. But it’s not just individuals who are feeling the pinch, businesses all over the UK are facing additional trading expenses, such as energy, interest rates, tax, and everincreasing costs from their supply chain, and that is before they even start to think about growth.

There is ongoing uncertainty across all markets, and with base rates going up, it may be time to speak to an expert when it comes to financing your business over the next few months.

Help is at hand, however, and the commercial finance team at Sheffield headquartered SMH Group can provide a range of solutions to help businesses manage their finances during this uncertain time.

James Furniss, Head of SMH Commercial Finance said: “We all know the popular phrase, ‘cash is king’ and this has never been as relevant as it is now. With rising interest rates, and announcements followed by policy reversals coming out of Downing Street, the markets are in turmoil, which has a huge knock-on effect to the day-to-day finances for a business.

“The good news is, there are still options available for businesses who need to review their commercial finance, whether this be for a property purchase, asset finance, business loans, or financing an upcoming tax bill.

“At SMH Commercial Finance, we are experts at helping individuals and business owners raise finance. Our strength lies in our experience and relationship with lenders that can help your application be successful by finding the right active provider of finance and ensuring your application complies with their lending criteria.

“In addition to finding the right finance for your business, we can help with price checking, obtaining

the funding, and preparing business plans as well as financial forecasts.”

How can SMH Commercial Finance help?

With access to the whole lending market, we pride ourselves on working closely with our lenders to provide clients the most appropriate and efficient rates. We can source funding for commercial finance, bridging finance, development finance, commercial mortgages, asset finance, business loans, invoice finance and unsecured business loans.

Simply contact SMH Commercial Finance on 0114 266 4432 or email jfurniss@smh.group for further information.

Credit is subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Credit agreements are available to over 18s only. SMH Commercial Finance are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial

“The good news is, there are still options available for businesses who need to review their commercial finance, whether this be for a property purchase, asset finance, business loans, or financing an upcoming tax bill.

There’s a reason video is so popular – it communicates quickly, effectively and honestly. Video allows you to show more of your personality than the written word and imagery can. Think of video not like a chore, but as a time investment that will pay for itself. In a few seconds, a well-planned piece of video content can communicate a lot about you, your business and what you want your customers to know.

Planning is the key. There’s nothing wrong with documenting your every move, but a lot of us have to knuckle down and get the day job done somewhere. Take time to consider what will work for you and who you want to connect with. You don’t need to be Stanley Kubrick, but you should know what you want to film before you record a second of footage.

Video can be engaging, but it does take work and every video should serve a purpose.

There are a lot of channels for your content

and they won’t all be the right place to find your customers. Consider where you want to use your footage and what you want it do.

Facebook is still considered a consumer platform, but there is a strong B2B presence who share ideas and get to know one another. I use Facebook groups to network and get to know other business owners and I style my content appropriately, using it to have a conversation with potential customers. The good old ‘walk and talk’ video still works nicely, but plan what you are going to say and make sure you feel comfortable when you record.

On LinkedIn, video content draws in views and a little creativity can make a big impact. LinkedIn is just as much a social platform as Instagram and being professional doesn’t mean writing 1,000 words that nobody reads. Around 10 seconds is probably plenty, but it needs to be an effective 10 seconds.

Your content can lean into the aspects of your business that make you stand out. If you have a product, let people see it in action. Show, don’t tell.

If your product is you, your team and your skills, let people see you and demonstrate your expertise. If you don’t like speaking to camera, show yourselves at work, delivering for your clients and add a voiceover or captions to provide context.

Take the time to conceive, plan and edit your video content. Even if your style is relaxed, you can use tools that make video creation less of a chore. I often recommend InShot Video Editor to my clients as a phone app that can polish simple footage into something that looks a lot prettier.

When I work with clients, I spend more time learning about their business, their customers and what they do best than I ever do leaning over them with my filming equipment. We offer solutions that let us get to

know the people we work with and it lets us develop a strategy that builds video into your marketing plans each and every month, creating content that shows you at your best. Our monthly plans also mean that the cost of entry is lower and you can start producing great content immediately.

Shooting from the hip and getting your content out there quickly, but video content should always represent you and your business in your best light. Don’t be tempted to produce content for the sake of it. Take time, think about how you want to be seen, and plan everything out before you consider pressing that red button!

To read our free ebook or learn more about our Monthly MovieMaker Programme, visit: www. adamfarrellltd.co.uk

Social networks are pushing us toward video in our personal lives and with our businesses. Adam Farrell, a commercial video producer from Rotherham, tells unLTD why he suggests you put in the work before you get on camera.

Ambition is plentiful in start-up businesses. Every entrepreneur has lofty ideas about where they want their business to be – the things they want to achieve, the kind of customers they want to work with, the financial targets that they set for themselves.

So, with Sheffield technology business Simoda reaching their third year of trading, managing director Daniel Bumby is feeling good. Simoda have recently recruited their 25th member of staff and are ending 2022 celebrating a 140 per cent increase in revenue.

“Simoda is now the business that we started it to be,” Dan told unLTD. “We set our goals, we worked to a plan that would enable us to get there and it’s paid off.”

With 20 years’ experience in the sector just on Dan’s side - and over 100 years within the leadership team, Simoda was launched with a mission to put technology first, eschewing traditional bonus and commission structures to deliver solutions that had one purpose – being effective for customers. With that outlook at the heart of everything they do, Simoda have sought to provide products and services that work to simply achieve the business objectives of their customers.

“You’re pushing water uphill when you start a business. You’re trying to second guess yourselves and you’re watching every aspect of your business and you’re trying to prove yourselves” Dan said. “2022 has been the year that Simoda became the business that we believed that we could be and that brings a sense of satisfaction and excitement for what else we can achieve.”

Among those plans are the

REFLECTING ON THREE YEARS OF SUCCESS

growth of Simoda’s managed cyber security solutions. Growing from a standing start to 3,000 users over eight months and working across four products to give clients a choice of the most business appropriate solution.

One of Simoda’s latest products is Deep Instinct, an advanced artificial intelligence cybersecurity product that uses machine learning to prevent unknown malware and threats before they have infiltrated your network.

Dan continued: “We want to bring the latest solutions to our customers and we have developed our managed cyber security solutions portfolio to help you solve issues, address challenges & achieve objectives associated to your cyber security posture.”

“By offering products that are at the cutting edge of technology and building a solution in a

modular way, to address specific needs each time, we have been able to attract and retain customers and demonstrate that Simoda is a name that can be trusted.

“Simoda stands for Simplify Modernise Accelerate, business outcomes our leadership team have driven for years.

“That’s being recognised by clients now. It’s a proud moment when we are fielding enquiries and winning business from companies that were on our list of ideal clients when we started trading. We launched with a mission statement and we made sure that we delivered on it. Knowing that has been recognised, appreciated and has brought Simoda to where we are now gives us a real sense of validation and I’m very proud of how the business has grown this year.”

Simoda’s Dan Bumby looks at how the company has grown

Matt Bowker, Managing Director

NEW HOME, SAME CODA

CODA Studios have made the move to Sheffield city centre.

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

You can find us at: Sellers Wheel, 151 Arundel St Sheffield City Centre S1 2NU3

Sheffield station – 5 minutes’ walk

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

New Sheffield Training Academy welcomes local businesses

Eurosafe Solutions provide advanced safety courses for those who work at height or in confined spaces.

To create a safe working environment for those who work in these conditions, proper training on risk assessments, working procedures and rescue strategies is essential.

Eurosafe Solutions offer fully tailored, City & Guilds and Energy & Utility Skills accredited training courses for both working at height and in confined spaces, at their purpose built training academy in Sheffield, at your premises or in their purposebuilt mobile training unit.

The training courses Eurosafe Solutions provide are aimed at professionals in a wide variety of industries and can provide a tailored solution for your industry needs.

Eurosafe Solutions courses ensure you and your employees get a high level of hands-on experience applicable to the type of environment they will experience while out at wor. They are fully certified by relevant trade bodies and use market-leading equipment from manufacturers like MSA, IKAR and Globestock.

Working at Height Training Courses

A significant contributing factor in the fatal and serious injury accidents brought on by falls from height is a

lack of appropriate working at height training. Workers should receive the appropriate working at height training as well as regular evaluations and refresher training.

Eurosafe Solutions have been market leaders in the fall protection industry and using this experience provide a range of market leading height safety training courses built around workers’ individual requirements and developed to provide them with an appropriate level of training.

Working in Confined Space Training Courses

In the UK, many people suffer fatal or severe injuries in confined spaces every year. This occurs in a variety of industries, from those involving sophisticated machinery to those involving simple storage containers. Lack of confined space training for

those working in confined spaces and those attempting to rescue them is a main contributing factor to these incidents.

Eurosafe Solutions offer a full range of confined space rescue training courses to overcome this issue. They can also risk assess your specific site requirements and deliver high-quality certified confined space working training courses.

MSA Latchways Vertical System Installer Training Courses

These courses are designed to give registered installers the knowledge and abilities needed to perform pre-installation inspections and installations, as well as use MSA Latchways Fall Arrest vertical systems.

You can arrange these modular courses for the elements you need for the structures you install them in. The ‘How to Install’ module is a requirement for all installers, after which they can choose from a selection of other half-day modules for a total of two full days of instruction.

General and Bespoke Safety Training Courses

Eurosafe Solutions provides a selection of complimentary courses that are frequently needed in the confined space and working at heights industries, from their custombuilt training academy in Sheffield.

Some clients need additional training where they can practice frequently under the supervision of instructors to make sure the learned skills remain current, and the staff members possess the necessary knowledge and skills.

Bespoke training can also be used for re-certification, which is required three years after receiving the initial training.

Eurosafe Solutions can deliver customised training at your location or at the specially designed Eurosafe Training Academy, where they guarantee the most realistic environment possible.

You can book courses online at training.eurosafesolutions.co.uk, contact us today on 0114 250 7411, or email training@eurosafesolutions. co.uk to discuss your specific training requirements.

HOW LEADERSHIP

TRAINING CAN UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL AND BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

the current performance of operations in your business and whether it has the capacity to support future growth.

To achieve sustainable growth you need to be able to make effective financial decisions.This involves identifying and setting relevant metrics and key performance indicators to monitor the overall business performance. We’ll help you create a tailor-made plan and have the confidence to grow your business.

5. BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK

At Sheffield Hallam University, our Help to Grow: Managment course has supported over 100 SME leaders in the past year, from a range of diverse sectors including construction, engineering, professional services and hospitality.

Here are five ways people on the course are learning to develop their leadership skills and grow their business.

1. HAVE A CLEAR STRATEGY

As a leader, you need to be clear on the strengths and core competencies of your business. What makes your business stand out? What value do you bring to your customers? And where are your future growth opportunities?

Successful leaders provide a clear agenda and set aspirational goals that inspire teams to find new and improved ways of meeting the needs of customers and society.

2. FOCUS ON YOUR PEOPLE

At the heart of a successful business are your people.

Creating a value-driven business where employees buy into your organisation’s

vision and mission means that everyone has a stake in your success, improving staff retention.

It also makes your business a more attractive place for new employees. According to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s quarterly survey, over 90 per cent of local businesses say they are struggling to recruit staff at the moment.

On the course we discuss how to embed equality, diversity and inclusion practices into all stages of the recruitment cycle — to ensure you have the best people in the right place.

3. ENGAGE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS

Mission, vision and value shape the culture of your organisation — and your brand is a way to convey this to your customers.

On the course we’ll help you create an effective marketing strategy to ensure your business offer is clear, consistent and targets the most attractive markets for your business.

4. MEASURE YOUR PERFORMANCE

On the Help to Grow: Management course we challenge you to think about

On the course you learn alongside fellow senior leaders from a range of SMEs. We always find that despite coming from different sectors, many of the challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs are the same.

Our attendees tell us that being able to build a network with other SME leaders to support each other is one of the things they value the most about the course.

It’s

of our participants rated Help to Grow: Management as good to excellent value for money, with 88% saying excellent.*

*From a survey of participants taken in November 2021.

Neda Arifi, marketing specialist, Evident ‘I really benefited from my mentor’s insight and experience.’

‘Although I have a master’s degree in marketing management and more than ten years of experience working in international companies, the Help to Grow: Management course was an excellent opportunity to update myself with the latest knowledge of the UK market and extend my networks.

‘Having both online and face-to-face meetings was great as I could save time commuting. It made it easier to fit the course around my hectic work schedule. And if I ever missed a session, I had access to all the course materials and could review them in the peer group session.

‘The most valuable part was how to implement the theory and the knowledge in our everyday business. The course had lots of insightful case studies, and in our peer group we shared our success and failure stories.

‘What I loved most about the course, and what differentiates this from other courses, was the networking opportunities and the ten hours of inclusive mentoring, which was enlightening and inspiring. I really benefited from my mentor’s insight and experience. It helped me to implement what I learned from the course in my business.

‘If you’re motivated and want to hear cutting-edge ideas about management, develop greater confidence and a better understanding of leadership, and be influential in your business, this course is definitely for you.’

Duncan McCombie, CEO, YES Energy Solutions CIC ‘You learn from others who have been there and done it.’

‘I signed up for the Help to Grow: Management course to update and improve my skills and knowledge. I wanted my business to take the next step to expand further and evolve our services, ultimately helping more people

‘As a result of what I learned on the course, we have increased our business by targeting slightly different activities. I’ve also increased my general confidence.

‘One of the highlights of the course was meeting other business leaders. We still meet every month to talk through any issues we have and discuss how the course has impacted our approach translating the theory into reality. It’s great to see others growing too.

‘I can’t recommend this course strongly enough. It supports you to adapt, helps you maximise opportunities in your business, evolves your thinking or approach, and allows you to grow a more sustainable business. You learn from others who have been there and done it, evolving their experiences into your own approach.

‘Whether you’re a seasoned leader or someone needing to build new skills, this course will develop your thinking, help you explore your options and consider broader possibilities, and take your business to the next level.’

Hear from two SME leaders who recently successfully completed the Help to Grow: Management course.

‘I can’t recommend this course strongly enough.’

OF

How Sheffield Chamber can help your business weather the polycrisis

There is a word that is popping up increasingly often online, in newspapers and in conversation. Polycrisis. What is this? What can we do about them? And how is this word shaping the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and what we do for our members?

We can thank the Greeks for the word polycrisis. It describes multiple overlapping crises that all hit at once. Fast forward to 2022, and that means the lingering impacts of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, the rapid rises in inflation and interest rates, and the impacts of more extreme weather are coming together to make things really difficult for businesses across Sheffield.

Sheffield Chamber cannot solve every problem, but we can help our members and the wider business community who are being affected by what mother nature, politicians and the economy is throwing at them.

The Chamber is here to lead the way in making Sheffield the best place in the UK to start, grow and run a successful and sustainable business both when times are good and also when times are more challenging.

That is why we are investing

more time, more thought and more resource in building a membership offer that is designed to help businesses navigate the challenges surrounding them.

We want to help our members protect their businesses. That is why every Chamber member enjoys legal and HR protection.

Equally, we want to help you to save money. That is why Chamber members can access a range of discounted services for their business and employees, plus support to grow and develop their

people through training and their markets through exports.

We have a never-ending responsibility to help businesses to grow by helping them to build stronger and better connections with suppliers, clients, funders, partners and collaborators. That is why, as we head into the winter months, our events programme is bigger and better than ever. From X to Y, there is a Chamber event designed to build your community and support your growth.

The word polycrisis might be getting more attention, but the most important word for Sheffield Chamber is community. Why? Because when times are tough, it pays to stick together. As we battle inflation and rising interest rates, Sheffield needs to unite. That is why Sheffield Chamber will be with our members every step of the way. Today and every day.

ALEXIS KRACHAI NON - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SHEFFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Sheffield Chamber. With our members every step of the way. Today and every day.

10 days away from home, seven days on the mountain and 5,895m of elevation to conquer.

The trekking itself wasn’t the only part of the challenge. It was the camping, the cold, the lack of sleep, altitude sickness, being off grid from contact with loved ones and the world below which, by the way, was spectacular to see from our mountain ledge! It was the dust, the early starts, the long days, being amongst fellow team members that we had only just met at the check in desk at Heathrow. It was a real challenge to our physical, mental and emotional strength.

We really did represent Sheffield Steel and are immensely proud of this achievement that will stay imprinted in our memory and hearts for a lifetime.

Everyone on the mountain loved seeing Theo the bear too, he gained masses of fame and will definitely feature on many camera rolls the world over. And yes, James did carry him every single day and he too made it to the summit (and all the way back down again!)

Collectively we have raised over £12,500 for the Children’s Hospital Charity and want to extend our thanks and appreciation to all involved.

CONQUERING MOUNT KILIMANJARO

We waited patiently for the day to come where we could finally get out to Tanzania and climb Africa’s highest, and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.

We are so grateful to Helen, James and James for taking on the incredible Mount Kilimanjaro challenge for us, every penny they have raised will support our patients and families at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. We are currently raising money to build a Helipad at the hospital, and the amazing fundraising from them all will help us get one step closer to our dream. On behalf of everyone at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the Charity we’d like to say a huge thank you to them all.”

Tchad Western, Chief Fun Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity.

Helen Williams, James Hodson and James Holmes

Leading the charge to net zero

In June 2019, the UK passed a law to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, relative to 1990 levels, by 2050.

Barnsley Council responded by declaring a climate emergency. They set a target to achieve net zero carbon across the borough by 2045.

Barnsley businesses have a big part to play in hitting this target. To support them, The Business Village applied for funding to set up a Net Zero Accelerator. This provided 43 businesses with a package of free support, including specialist consultants.

Initially, The Business Village team hadn’t set out to take part in the programme itself. But, on learning more about net zero and seeing what was being delivered, they decided to get involved.

Adrian Waite, Chief Executive at The Business Village, said: “Our new build in 2020 had to meet BREEAM Very Good sustainability standards. It opened our eyes and, with other older buildings to think about, we knew there was more we could do. We realised we needed our own net zero plan. When we saw what was being included on the Net Zero Accelerator programme, we knew we wanted to join.

“It was a thought-provoking programme that helped to focus your mind on what’s important. I’ve not been involved in many business support programmes before that received such positive feedback”

How The Business Village has become the home for net zero in Barnsley

The Business Village first came into existence in 1987. Established with predominantly EU funding, its original name was the BBIC (Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre). It had been set up to tackle the decline of the local coal and

glass industries by bringing new technologies and entrepreneurs into the area.

Several years on, the board are now keen to bring innovation back to The Business Village. Net zero stands out from a strategic perspective. It’s a commitment for the future, so there’s plenty of work ahead to meet the 2050 target.

The Business Village is now right at the centre of the net zero journey in Barnsley. When the opportunity arose to bid for a Net Zero Accelerator, the company offered to match fund the project to show its own commitment.

“As a legacy of the project, we have created a Net Zero room here at The Business Village which we plan to offer free use of to any Net Zero activity.  Through the use of drawings and relevant quotes on the walls, we have created the right ambience for serious discussions on sustainability.”

It’s a great opportunity for Barnsley companies to use as a space for net zero strategy sessions. Or for a net zero consultant to run

workshops for local businesses. The Net Zero Accelerator helped The Business Village establish a baseline carbon footprint, and an improved Innovation plan to reduce emissions. Projects have now been completed, and others instigated that will deliver over a 50 per cent reduction in the baseline carbon footprint by 2024.

“Solar panels have now been installed on four of the five buildings, with plans in place for the fifth. Lighting is being converted to LED. And Trend energy management software is now in place to control the internal heating system. This analyses every room and is monitored daily. Looking at April to August 2022 against the previous year, it’s already helped deliver a 48 per cent reduction in gas usage.”

To find out more, visit: www. barnsleybic.co.uk/net-zeroaccelerator/ to register your interest in further net zero accelerators at The Business Village, email: ksteel@barnsleyBIC. co.uk

The net zero room at The Business Village.

KitchenEX Ltd announce re-launch of ILVE & Faber appliance showroom in She eld

In December, KitchenEX Ltd is celebrating 10 years of being in business. As part of this milestone, KitchenEX have rebranded and renovated their showroom in She eld. KitchenEx are the proud suppliers of 2 world renowned brands of Italian kitchen appliances - Faber cooker hoods and ILVE range cookers. The company was started by directors Vicky and Jason Harris in 2012, along with their son Tom, who has worked from the ground up, now leading the sales team in the role of Sales Director.

From KitchenEX HQ in She eld, KitchenEX supply some of the most prestigious and well-respected retailers across the UK. From creating brand awareness to importing these luxury appliances and ensuring their safe delivery out to customers, KitchenEx are responsible for the end-to-end supply of fabulous cooking appliances into some of the most beautiful kitchens in the country.

“As the UK centre for training and product demos for both ILVE and Faber, we hope to attract retailers and consumers from all over the UK to She eld.” said Laura Gardiner, Marketing Manager.

“Within the last 10 years, the business has grown rapidly. The industry has developed and ways of communicating with customers has changed. We have a committed management team that are passionate about what they do. Over the last 18 months, we have already seen huge growth. Fresh ideas and innovation are key to future growth, and we are both excited about the future.” said Vicky Harris, Director.

To follow KitchenEX on their journey, please visit: www.kitchenex.co.uk.

Alternatively, to book an appointment to view the showroom please email: o ce@kitchenex.co.uk.

Young professionals: The importance of networking

Sheffield has an increasing number of networking events, allowing rising stars to meet like-minded people and providing a great place for them to raise their profile.

Caroline Deathe (below right), contentious probate associate at Shakespeare Martineau, is president of the Sheffield & District Junior Lawyers Division, which hosts social, educational and charity events throughout the year for young legal professionals.

She said: “People like doing business with people they trust and networking career serves avenue to creating long-term, mutuallyelationships, while your people self-confidence.

has a breadth networking opportunities w and other business areas where junior professionals are able to e great connections. It also has a good, friendly social scene, which makes all the difference.

moved to a newlysolicitor, I made to get out and like-minded ofessionals. I have met people, some have also become friends. Having other firms has also helped me throughout

Ellis (above eting manager at Treat Time, recently Sheffield Young ofessionals a community their 20s and

30s who are looking to meet new people, share skills and explore new places in the city.

She said: “We wanted to create a space for people to learn and develop within their roles and industries, while also promoting Sheffield as a great place to live and work in order to keep talented young people in the city.

“It aims to provide networking experience in an informal environment, which works extremely well in Sheffield because the scene here is dynamic, friendly and provides a community element that allows you to build strong connections.

“I work for a start-up, so

networking is key in getting people to recognise the brand and trust our services. I’ve been referred by so many people and gained clients that I wouldn’t have reached through other marketing techniques.

“Any connections you make at networking events are valuable even if you don’t make a direct sale or find a new client instantly. Getting yourself and your brand known is key. If you do this through making a friend who has no use for your goods or services but will then go on to tell others about you, that’s as valuable as talking directly to a potential client.”

• If you go alone, don’t be afraid to ask the organiser if they can point in you in the direction of someone in your field

• Be prepared to talk to people – introducing yourself and asking what someone else does is a great way to get the ball rolling

• Listen and ask questions – don’t recite a sales pitch. The best connections are often built off informal chats

• Make sure to end conversations with an action, such as connecting on LinkedIn

• Follow up with your new connection the next day – even if it’s just with niceties. If you think you’ve found a potential client, arrange to meet for a coffee.

As one of the most vibrant, friendliest and up-and-coming cities in the north, Sheffield is fast becoming a desirable destination for young professionals to start their careers.

WORK OUT IN THE WORK PLACE?

Studies from numerous sources, including Leeds Metropolitan University, have shown that regular exercise improves your brain function, mood and concentration, as exercise releases ‘happy hormones’ like dopamine and serotonin.

It also promotes better joint health and posture, a healthier heart and makes your body stronger and more resilient.

With many of our jobs desk-based, and more and more people working from home, the need to stay fit and healthy has never been so apparent.

Those who stick to a fitness routine and prioritise their health tend to get ill less, feel more productive and have more energy all things that can have a positive impact on the workplace.

This is the reason some businesses are beginning to invest in fitness programmes and benefits packages for their employees, whether this be a paid gym membership, on-site exercise facilities or offering flexible working so people can fit in more movement around their work.

One company that can help with this is The Fitness Truck, which offers mobile personal training, workplace fitness and small-group

exercise sessions in Sheffield and South Yorkshire

We spoke to Pete Swatkins, owner of The Fitness Truck, about the benefits of exercise in the workplace and how a healthier workforce leads to a happier, more productive one

Why is exercise and physical health so important?

Not only is exercise a key tool to managing your physical wellbeing weight management, cardiovascular fitness, muscle mass –it is also a high contributing factor to your mental wellbeing too.

Exercise releases endorphins, which relieve stress, pain and improve wellbeing, as well as dopamine the ‘feel good hormone’ and serotonin to boost your mood. This ensures you always feel better afterwards, even if it was hard work!

What impact can good physical health have on our performance at work?

Good physical health will support brain function and everyday activities. If that means concentrating for prolonged periods of time or if you have a physically active job, then a good

level of physical health will only support this.  We have testimonials from two leading NHS surgeons that Fitness Truck sessions have contributed to them being able to stand and operate in awkward positions for longer.

Are there any particular exercises or routines that are really good for mental performance?

Any exercise is good for mental health/ performance, it’s purely subjective. Whether that’s a walk in the Peak District with the dog, a gentle 5km run after work, a weights session or an intense Crossfit type session, it’s up to the individual and their personal preferences as to what will support their mental health. What works for one won’t always work for another.

How can people make their physical health more of a priority?

Understanding and remembering how you feel should be a reminder of how positive it can be. Reminding yourself of how you felt ‘when you started’ or ‘when you carried a little more weight’ should serve as motivation. Again, you have to want to do the exercise and see it

The debate around ‘workplace fitness’ has been on the rise in recent years, with thebenefits of exercise on both your physical and mental health difficult to deny.

CITY TAXIS

At City Taxis we understand the importance of health, fitness and wellbeing within the workplace and constantly strive to provide a healthier environment for our team.

In 2018, a bespoke gym was installed at City HQ in Sheffield, giving employees access to a free training space, which is open to all staff 24/7, allowing the team to plan workouts around their schedule. Over the years, professional equipment inductions have been offered to all staff, as well as funded group sessions with a personal trainer, encouraging more staff to use the facilities, and feeling confident in doing so. In addition, City regularly offers discounted memberships for several local gyms.

City also offers free fruit to all staff, a generous health insurance plan and host various wellbeing activities, which have included:

Brew Monday a chance for staff to have a chat and a cuppa with colleagues, and give feedback on internal communications Smoothie Station healthy smoothies made on-site Massage Morning all staff treated to a 10-minute massage by local masseuse Team Yoga session online session offered to staff.

SBD

"At SBD we design, manufacture, and distribute high performance apparel and equipment that is relied on by the world’s best strength athletes. As a premium sports brand, we know better than most the importance of physical fitness and the positive impact it has on mental health and overall performance which is why we’ve built a state-of-the-art gym in our new headquarters on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Catcliffe. The gym is free to SBD team members and our in-house coach is on hand for those looking to improve their PB or try the gym for the first time SBD has big ambitions for the future and we know that we’re only going to get there with a team that is strong, healthy and happy."

WORK

as a non-negotiable to being the best version of yourself, in my opinion.  For me, being able to run and play with my two young daughters serves as my motivation and being in the personal training industry, having a good level of fitness is vital.

What effects could employers see from offering fitness perks as part of their benefits packages?

Our corporate sessions focus on four main areas for employers when it comes to their staff benefits.  Reduced turnover of staff saving recruitment fees as well as improved workplace culture, greater attention spans and productivity, which all lead to reduced absences. There will be many more benefits not listed too.

What are the most common reasons people cite for not exercising enough or not being on top of their physical health?

Time.  Simply put. We all live busy lives and have our own challenges, whether that be at work, personal, social etc. The first thing to generally go from the diary if we’re busy is exercise unless it’s a priority for you. We also see knowledge or lack of understanding on what to do, as well as confidence, as key reasons people struggle to work out.

How does The Fitness Truck help to combat these issues?

As ‘the gym that comes to you’, we save you time travelling to the gym by simply rocking up at your home or place of work, you come in your gym gear, we’ll work out for 45 minutes to an hour and then you can truck off home or carry on with your day, without having to feel guilty for not attending the gym or going out for that run.

We ensure it’s personal, we’ll safely correct any movement patterns as well as progress or regress any sessions so that even if you are new to fitness, everyone will get something out of our sessions.

PETE’S TOP TIPS FOR BEING MORE MOTIVATED

1) Schedule three one-hour into your weekly diary like you would a client meeting or work commitment for exercise it a non-negotiable every

2) Pack your bag the night before so that you don’t forget in the morning

3) Find a buddy who’s going motivate you even if you want to work out

4) Try a number of different gyms or types of training which you enjoy the most

5) Get The Fitness Truck help!

NUTRITION

Taking regular exercise is not the only thing that’s important for staying healthy and well at work –making sure you’re eating the right things is equally as vital.

While many of us struggle to make it through the morning without our caffeine fix and end up grabbing convenience lunch due to our busy schedules, our bodies are crying out for something much healthier and more nutritious.

Eating well, and drinking brain function, less fatigue and better moods.

Nutritionist Sarah-Jane Johnston, of evolution34, filled us in on the true value of watching what you eat.

Why is proper nutrition and healthy eating so important?

There are seven essential nutrients that we all need to obtain the energy our bodies require to functional optimally. They are water, carbohydrate, protein, fat, fibre, vitamins and minerals

What effect does good diet have on your ability to perform at work?

Having stable blood sugar levels is important, so we are not trying to work and feeling low on sugar. Not skipping breakfast is essential start the day with a breakfast including a carbohydrate and protein don’t just rely on coffee…as I so often hear!

Carbohydrates provide a steady and readily available supply of energy for the brain and the central nervous system. The brain is what’s known as an obligate user of glucose, which means it must be supplied with glucose constantly to function properly.

Are there any particular foods you would recommend for peak professional performance? If so, which ones?

No particular foods, just make sure you’re eating a colourful dietary intake to ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need. Making sure your meals are not all beige is also important. To add colour, have the vegetable draw in the fridge stocked with colourful items like broccoli, peppers, corn, tomatoes, green beans… the list could go on!

Fat is often frowned upon, but we need a good mix of fats. Vitamins A, D, E and K are only soluble in fat and can only be transported in body fat. Not all fats are bad Omega-3 found in nuts, and oily fish is great for brain health, including mood. These will help you to be at your peak performance professionally.

What are some of the biggest barriers to eating well?

No time, no motivation, eating healthy is too much effort, I don’t know e to start, I know what I should be doing! Dieting doesn’t work for hear all these barriers often. We are all on a dietary intake. Keep it simple and have everything in moderation a cliché but true.

What can businesses do to help their employees eat better? What impact will that have on their staff?

Having a professional like myself in the workplace running workshops talks, helping educate their staff. Offering educational and fun tips on how to make the staff healthier will lead to less staff absence, the continual chat about dieting and who heard what in the media.

FIVE TOP TIPS FOR FITTING HEALTHY EATING INTO A BUSY SCHEDULE:

Make time for a seated breakfast where you are not sat in front of your laptop or PC, 20 minutes is all it takes Include carbohydrates and protein in your breakfast Have nuts and fruit available as a snack

Don’t eat your lunch stressed walk away from the laptop/PC Take a 10-minute walk after your lunch to fire up your metabolism.

Tell us about Women Mean Business Networking. Why did you start this event?

Claire and I started this event back in June after meeting at a networking event where we discussed what events we had been attending. We mentioned that we had been looking specifically for a ‘women in business’ event but couldn’t find one in the Chesterfield or Sheffield area. So we decided why not create our own?

We wanted to have an event where women felt supported and could discuss any problems they were facing with their businesses, hoping that it would give us, and other women, the opportunity to talk to people who were going through similar experiences and needed a couple of hours away from their ‘work life’ to relax and chat. I hoped visitors would be able to expand their networks, get more exposure for their businesses, and make meaningful connections with other professional women. We’ve tried to keep the event small and intimate, to allow each guest to have a good amount of time to introduce themselves, say what they do, and follow up

with discussions from the group. So far we have had a very positive reaction to our events.

Many of the ladies have thanked myself and Claire for organising the event and said they will be seeing us at the next one. We’ve had a few regular faces and some new faces at each event. As we feel we are having a positive impact, we are continuing to host events on the first Thursday of every month.

What changes are you seeing within the South Yorkshire business community that are helping to promote inclusivity and uplift women?

I have attended a few networking events now with a lot of women present. They come from all different career backgrounds, whether that’s in the financial industry, marketing, or coaching, to name a few. As I’ve spoken to these women, I hear that their businesses have been encouraging more women to seek roles at their companies, especially in the financial sector. The fact that businesses are actively seeking women to fill vacancies is showing an

increase in inclusivity for women in South Yorkshire, giving women more confidence in finding roles in traditionally male-dominated careers.

Other than your own events - what networking events would you recommend to women within South Yorkshire?

There are plenty of great networking events out there. I mainly find events through Eventbrite, so that would be the first place to check. Recently, I’ve been enjoying the Sheffield Young Professionals Networking Event. It’s a great place to meet individuals in a similar position, in a relaxing environment. I’m also a part of the Inspire BNI network , but currently, I am the only female member of this group. I’m trying to encourage other women to visit the group to show what it can offer to them and their business.

What has helped you most along the way in your business journey?

I think the best thing for me is to surround myself with people and keep talking about the journey I am on. I always have my

South Yorkshire has transformed into a fantastic community for women in business. Sophie Scott from Women Mean Business Networking spoke to unLTD’s Georgina Kerr to discuss her experience working within the financial sector in Sheffield.

loved ones to lean on, but it’s just as important to stay connected to people outside of your group and make new connections. Being able to talk to other individuals in a similar position to what I’m in has made me realise that everyone is going through the same struggles on their business journey as I am.

There is also a lot of wise people out there with really helpful advice when you need it. My advice is to keep connecting, make sure you spend time away from your desk (especially if you work alone), and also ensure you listen to others to find where you can be of service to them.

Have you seen an increase in women beginning their careers in your industry/ sector?

There is a massive increase in women starting careers as Financial Advisors. St. James’s Place, the company I work for, is actively seeking women to help them start their careers as Financial Advisors. I think it’s brilliant seeing this inclusivity from such a large company.

Do you have any ideas on what could be done to further support women in

business within the region or beyond?

With businesses actively seeking women to fill their vacancies, and networking groups aimed at women specifically, we are already starting to see a boost in the support we are receiving.

One of the reasons I wanted to become an Adviser was to help bridge the gap between men and women and their finances.

Women tend to be in a poorer position with their finances, lacking in all areas, such as retirement planning, investment planning and protection planning. As a woman myself, I would feel more comfortable speaking to another woman about my finances. That is why I am trying to get my message out there, to say that if you are a woman that wants to ensure you have a solid financial plan in place, I am happy to help you along your journey.

I’m hoping as a woman, I can be more relatable and make my clients feel more comfortable during the process.

I am a strong believer in women supporting women, hence why we started our networking group!

JAY BHAYANI Managing director at Bhayani Law

Being a woman in business has its challenges because we often have to interrupt our career for children, and carry a greater burden in our home lives. My advice is to look around your sector- find good role models, ask them how they did it, take inspiration and advice from other women and ask for help if you need it. The amazing thing about women is that most of us like to collaborate and help other women. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, is my motto!

SPORTING SOUTH YORKSHIRE ON THE WORLD STAGE

what the impact to South Yorkshire will be as a result of hosting the tournament. She said: “The Rugby League World Cup will undoubtedly bring investment and growth to businesses based in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

“Sheffield is hosting the Greek National team and Brammall Lane is to showcase the match between Greece and England on October 29. After England’s electrifying win over second favourites, Samoa at St James’ Park, and the thrashing of France, this game is sure to attract a big crowd.

Earlier in the summer, we saw Sheffield and Rotherham play host to the UEFA Women’s EURO at Bramall Lane and Aesseal New York Stadium respectively. Last month, Sheffield’s Bramall Lane stepped up again alongside Doncaster’s Eco Power Stadium to host the Rugby League World Cup.

A recent study commissioned by the FA, UEFA and UK Sport shows the impact the UEFA Women’s EURO has had on host cities and their local economy. For Sheffield, the tournament benefited from an £8.3million boost to the city’s finances.

Being the home of football, it’s no surprise that EURO fever was blazing across the city on match days, with flags and fans of the participating countries flooding the streets of the city centre. No more so than when England soared to glory in the semi-finals with a 4-0 win against Sweden.

We can’t discuss the beautiful game in Sheffield without mentioning the oldest football club in the world, Sheffield FC. We heard from Ryan Cresswell, manager of Sheffield FC, who said: “Sheffield has a fantastic sporting heritage and one that we should all be proud of. It was great to see

the lionesses roar to victory in their semi-final at Bramall Lane a few months ago and more recently play host to Rugby League World Cup matches also.

“As manager of Sheffield FC, the world’s first football club, we have fans from all over the world who come to the city to visit the club, which brings an economic benefit to the region and helps to put the city on the sporting map.

“It is fantastic to see Sheffield play a continued leading role in the sporting world and to showcase everything that the city has to offer to sports fans from across the globe.”

Continuing the excitement of the UEFA Women’s EURO is the longanticipated Rugby League World Cup, originally scheduled for 2021 but postponed to 2022 in light of the pandemic.

Sheffield’s Bramall Lane will play host to nine fixtures in the tournament, with Doncaster’s Eco Power Stadium hosting three, bringing world-class top-tier elite sportspeople to South Yorkshire and thousands of fans along with them all sampling what the region has to offer.

I caught up with local sports star and former rugby league lioness Rebecca Stevens about

“The influx of UK and international Rugby League fans to Sheffield, Doncaster and South Yorkshire will have an immediate impact on the economy in the area, and the wheelchair and women’s events are bound to attract new spectators and teams, thereby bringing fresh interest in this beautiful part of the country, taking in all the area has to offer throughout the duration of World Cup events and beyond.”

I asked Ian Leech, marketing manager for Frenchgate Shopping Centre in Doncaster city centre, how important is it that South Yorkshire is able to host major events such as the Rugby League World Cup for businesses in the region. He said: “South Yorkshire is a fantastic region with a proud sporting history and incredible facilities to match.

“We have some of the best businesses ranging from small independents to large international names, and they undoubtedly thrive when the world’s eyes are looking on them.

“Having the Rugby League World Cup is going to be so important in bringing a worldwide audience to the city, an audience our local businesses would otherwise never have reached.

“We welcome everyone who is coming from near and far to watch world-class athletes right here in

South Yorkshire has seen its fair share of major sporting events recently, bringing competition and spectacle to the region – however, it has also brought so much more. unLTD’s Matt Holmes caught up with businesses and sporting names from across the region to find out what it means for South Yorkshire to host these events.

the city and we look forward to them visiting us in the Centre.

“Local pubs, bars, restaurants and shops will be buzzing with rugby fans seeing the best of the city before and after games. Many guests coming to Doncaster for the tournament will arrive by train, and Frenchgate will be the first touch point as they arrive in the city where people will be able to see the retail heart of Doncaster- Not to mention it helps that a lot of the Centre is covered which is perfect for autumn in Yorkshire!”

Ian isn’t wrong, all you have to do is open up Twitter to see some of the biggest names in Rugby League and sport tweeting their experience of the tournament’s host towns and cities. Australian rugby league commentator and radio and television personality Andrew Voss, who works for Fox League, has been sharing his culinary journey at venues in Doncaster giving the local business international exposure.

We have shown that South Yorkshire knows how to put on a good show, let’s keep up the momentum and continue to showcase our world-class facilities and allow our businesses to thrive in the limelight.

PHOTO: TOUCHLINE PICS

Sometimes I think I lead quite a busy life, until I meet people like David Angrave and I really start to understand what the word ‘busy’ means.

Not only is David COO of a multi-million-pound educational publishing house, he’s a trustee at Mercia Learning Trust, sits on various regional and national business boards and fits all of that around parenting a teenage girl and a baby boy.

But, he assured me, he wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

He said: “I feel so lucky to be able to have such a big part in shaping the future of our children and making sure they have every opportunity available to them.

“I come from a family of educators and a very educational background, so it’s no surprise that it’s something I feel very strongly about. Everybody can trace some element of their life back to a great educator and I want to make sure we can do that for the next generation.”

Although being a trustee is a voluntary role – as is being a governor – it is one of David’s highest priorities.

GIVE A LITTLE TIME...

Head of an international educational publishing house, school trustee and father of two – unLTD’s Brogan Maguire sat down for lunch with Twinkl COO David Angrave to discuss inspiring the next generation.

We need such a range of skills and opinions and experiences to make sure the educational experience our schools can offer is the absolute best, so we welcome any and all involvement

One of the keys to a great group of school governors or trustees is representation, he says, as children need to be able to recognise themselves in the people they look up to.

With people from all different sectors, economic backgrounds, races, genders and religions, children will be able to see that every route is available to them and nothing is stopping them from achieving their dreams.

“I’ve had people tell me before that they couldn’t be a governor or a trustee because they don’t fit the ‘profile’ for it and that is just absolutely not the case,” David said. “There is no profile.

“Our children need to be as represented as possible and if we are only exposing them to one type of person then we are letting them down. We have all achieved great things, we all have our own successes, our own talents and our own stories to bring to the table.”

As part of his role with the Mercia Learning Trust, David sits on numerous committees and boards, as well as attending careers events, having input in the curriculum and getting to know the students and their needs.

And the beauty of being a trustee or school governor is that people can be as involved as much, or as little, as they want.

David said: “Lots of people tell me they don’t have time to be a school governor or a trustee, or that they think it’s too much of a commitment, but these roles are just so flexible.

“It can be as little as the odd meeting here and there, or you can choose to get more involved if it’s something you feel passionate about and your schedule allows you to do so.

“We need such a range of skills and opinions and experiences to make sure the educational experience our schools can offer is the absolute best, so we welcome any and all involvement.

“Being involved with these amazing education providers is one of the most valuable and rewarding things I have ever done and I would encourage anyone else to do the same.”

To find out more about Mercia Learning Trust, visit: www. merciatrust.co.uk

WARMING AUTUMN TREATS AT BLEND KITCHEN

There are lots of things I like about Blend Kitchen, but one of the things I think is most worth shouting about is the fantastic story behind it.

Blend Kitchen is a social enterprise, providing structured hospitality training and paid work experience to people who have been marginalised by a lack of access to rights, resources and opportunities.

Nestled beneath Twinkl’s head office at Ward’s Exchange on Ecclesall Road, it felt only right to have my lunch date with David there.

Not only is the not-for-profit restaurant and event space a great concept, but the food is also amazing.

As well as an all-day brunch menu filled with classics like eggs Benedict and bacon sandwiches, the eatery also offers a cuisine of the month –which was Mexican when we visited – and a range of specials.

Fancying something light that would sit well with my afterwork gym session, I opted for the scrambled eggs and cured salmon, served on toasted bloomer bread.

The toast was the perfect balance of soft and crunchy, topped with salty butter and eggs that were just the right consistency.

The salmon, which is cured inhouse, was peppery, fresh and the ideal accompaniment to the rest of the meal.

It was the best pre-gym lunch I could have asked for, filling me up for the rest of the day without leaving me feeling stodgy or bloated, and keeping my protein levels nice and

high.

David went for the Twinkl special of the day, a lamb curry served with rice.

He said it was the perfect comfort food for a chilly autumn day – hearty, warm and packed full of flavour.

What’s more, the prices at Blend Kitchen are extremely reasonable, with the curry costing just £2!

There are also lots of options for private hire, whether that be for a business meeting or private party, and the Christmas menu has now launched from just £20 per person.

With pretty low-lighting, friendly staff and food this good, there’s no reason why Blend Kitchen shouldn’t be top of the list for your next lunch meeting.

For any enquiries contact Justin Rowntree 07983 518060 or justin@ sweetspot.life

RICKY BIRTLES

Director at OALO Security

Tell us about your business – sell yourselves!

We are a small Sheffield based penetration testing consultancy, offering a comprehensive suite of penetration testing services in the UK and internationally. Our penetration testers put your security as the highest priority. Whatever the size or scope of your website, network or application, OALO Security is here to ensure the ultimate insight and protection for you and your users.

Our primary focus is web applications, internal and external network infrastructure, mobile and Windows based applications, as well as a number of configuration reviews – build reviews, firewalls and cloud services such as Azure and AWS. If you have something that falls outside of these core offerings, it’s worth contacting us for a chat and seeing if we can cover your needs.

Our goal is to work alongside you, help you validate your current security posture and help improve it where possible.

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

We have worked alongside customers in several different fields, with varying business sizes. This also includes working with other security consultancies to help with overflow work.

We tried the lead generation route to target customers, and, in all honesty, we didn’t see great results, potential clients didn’t like the cold outreach the service provided or being sold to after accepting a connection request. Currently we are depending on word-of-mouth recommendations to find new clients, while this path is a lot slower, we feel a recommendation from

a current or past customer can carry a lot more weight than a lead generation service contacting you to see if you are ready to buy. If we find someone interested in our service via other means, we are always happy to have an open conversation and see if we can help them.

How can people get in touch with you?

We have three contact methods, oalosecurity.com has a quick and easy contact us form, you can drop us an email at contact@ oalosecurity.com or give us a call on 0114 4000240, we would be more than happy to have a chat and see if we can meet your needs.

Secret Santa gift ideas

As Christmas

1. TREAT TIME

Gift Hampers, from £10.99

Treat Time sells perfect gift hampers, from cheese boards and Christmas snacks to self-care gift boxes. With a varied price point suitable for any Secret Santa budget, Treat Time gift boxes are ready-made and hassle-free.

2. BULLION

Chocolate Factory Tour, £16 Christmas means chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Instead of opting for a tub of Celebrations, why not go the extra mile and gift them a whole chocolate factory tour? The expert-guided tour includes a chocolate-tasting session as well as a complimentary mug of their delicious Ecuadorian drinking chocolate

3. THE SHEFFIELD CANDLE COMPANY

Soy Wax Candle, from £5.95

These hand-poured soy wax candles from The Sheffield Candle Company are crafted with the finest ingredients, and their wide range of scents provides plenty of gifts suited to your co-worker’s taste.

4. REYT GOOD ILLUSTRATION

Gifts from £5

Reyt Good Illustration is a treasure trove of elite Secret Santa gifts that are sure to put a smile on the face of your coworker. From phone cases to calendars and prints, these gifts are sure to be the reyt match for your Secret Santa giftee.

5. BIRDHOUSE TEA

Tea blends, from £2.50 Birdhouse’s Teas offer a true taste of Sheffield (quite literally) with their location-inspired tea blends. Birdhouse offers both gift sets and single blend bags, suitable for any price point.

6. GRAVEL PIT

Plants, from £5 Plants are always a welcome gift in the unLTD team’s office, adding a bit of life to the room. Gravel Pit is the home of all things plants, with small, easycare plants providing the perfect gift to spruce up your colleague’s desk or home.

Nicky Swire

In this issue’s Side Hustle, we chatted to Nicky Swire, senior news & PR officer at Sheffield Hallam University, about her passion for animals and how she’s created a side business that leaves her customers pawsitively satisfied.

Finding a gap in the market to start a business of your own can be hard, but there’s a lot to be said about how your passion can be the real catalyst for your side hustle. This month’s Side Hustler, Nicky, identified her gap when lockdown struck and everyone became puppy mad, with a quarter of UK dogs being ‘pandemic pups’. With two-thirds of new dog owners now aged 18 to 34, Nicky and her co-founder Becca created Queens of the Bone Age by tapping into consumer trends like veganism and personalisation.

Nicky was always interested in running her own business, with her PR and marketing skills coming in handy when she started her business with the help of her sister Becca in 2021. Queens of the Bone Age, their online pet ba(r)kery, specialises in plant-based treats for dogs.

From birthday doggy doughnuts and personalised biscuits to monthly subscription boxes, Queens of the Bone Age is taking the pet treat world by storm. Nicky prides herself on the high production standards of their products, being hand-made to order using human-grade, clean-label ingredients that are safe for dogs to consume.

We bet you’re wondering how Nicky manages to juggle this as well as her usual full-time job. Well, it might be even more of a surprise to learn that she is also a volunteer trustee and branch secretary for RSPCA Sheffield. With Nicky’s passion for animals, she truly believes in her side hustles, finding both her business and volunteering fulfilling and fun.

Nicky balances her extra-curricular passions with clear roles between her and Becca in their running of Queens of the Bone Age. That, and a 6am start every day ensures schedules are stuck to and a good work-life balance is met.

It might be fair to say though that Nicky’s life involves a lot of passion, empathy and compassion, with her love of animals being the real motivation behind her work. The saying ‘If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life’ comes to mind, with Nicky advising that doing something you enjoy won’t feel like work, encouraging any budding entrepreneurs thinking about starting a business to go for it.

Queens of the Bone Age was selected by Meta and Natwest business earlier this year as one of only a handful of female-founded start-ups to join the #SheMeansBusiness accelerator programme. Nicky credits the invaluable support that provides mentoring, networking and business support.

OFFICE PETS

Here at unLTD we love an office dog! Or an office cat. Or maybe an office tortoise.

Honestly, we’re not picky. We love animals and we wanted an excuse to get more of them in the mag each month. Which brings us to Beauty.

Beauty is the official best friend of Dan Laver, unLTDs head of sales.

Beauty was fostered by Dan and wife Laura at the start of lockdown in 2020.

Then 14 years old – 98 in dog years –Beauty had ended up at the RSPCA shelter in Sheffield after being rescued from neglect a year earlier. She had spent time on the streets and was in a bit of a bad way thanks to blindness, arthritis and a nasty case of mange. A court case meant Beauty couldn’t be re-homed properly for some time, but Dan vowed that she wasn’t going anywhere and Beauty was formally adopted in September that year.

Beauty is a bit grumpy but she’s an old lady, so she gets away with that.

She is just one of the animals that are rescued, protected and re-homed by the RSPCA centre Sheffield. Without their help, she wouldn’t be seeing in her 17th year with Dan and Laura.

The RSPCA Sheffield Animal Rescue Centre is a local self-funded animal welfare charity and rescue centre open every day of the year. They don’t receive any government funding or financial aid from the national RSPCA so every penny they raise goes to supporting animal rescue and rehabilitation in Shefield. If you can help to support them, please visit www. justgiving.com/rspcasheffield/ donate or get in touch with the team at customerservices@rspcasheffield.org

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