unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #64

FAMILY FIRST

KCM WASTE’S EMMA HICKLING TALKS GROWTH, FAMILY VALUES AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

EXPLORING PARK HILL’S EVOLUTION INTO A HUB FOR LOCAL BUSINESS

BLOOMING BARNSLEY

GINGER FOX STUDIO’S NEIL GARRETT DISCUSSES THE RISE OF HIS HOMETOWN TOP MARKS

NEW BENCHMARK BOSS REBECCA MORRIS ON HER BRAND OVERHAUL

PLUS…

NEWS, INTERVIEWS, APPOINTMENTS, OPINION, EXPERT ADVICE AND MORE…

Looking for a Private Venue

Wow your guests at the OEC Sheffield.

This stylish and contemporary venue is firmly established as one of Sheffield’s premier private event venues.

Contents

32: WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

The latest cover feature of unLTD highlights the growth and success of family-run waste management company KCM. In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Finance Director Emma Hickling discusses their family-oriented approach, breaking down barriers, and the company’s commitment to sustainability.

30: SPEAKING OUT ABOUT UNCONCIOUS BIAS

unLTD contributor Jackie Cook, MD of CQ Strategic Marketing, discusses the issue of unconscious bias in the workplace, particularly in STEM industries, and explains what can be done to effectively address it.

38: DOING THE DEAL

Steve Brown, Managing Director of IT services specialist Highlander UK, discusses the company’s recent takeover, sharing insights into the background of the acquisition, the alignment of cultures and the benefits it brings to both companies.

44: A NEW BENCHMARK

unLTD’s Phil Turner interviews Rebecca Morris, who recently took over as the owner of Sheffield-based recruitment agency Benchmark, discussing the agency’s rebranding efforts, her approach to running the business, and the future of the recruitment industry.

48: UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

Brutalist icon and now a thriving business hub, we take a closer look at why Park Hill offers the perfect base for local companies.

GOOD VIBES!

It’s been another busy month at unLTD Towers! We’ve had the chance to meet lots of new businesses as well as attend plenty of new events, and it’s been refreshing to see just how much positive is out there.

One of the get-togethers we enjoyed the most was 3D Connect’s session at The Clubhouse Bar in Meadowhall on how your working day changes once you’ve sold your business but stayed on to manage it. Three speakers who had been through the process shared their experiences, including regular unLTD contributor Steve Brown from Highlander, and he goes into even more detail in this month’s issue – a must for those of you who expect to find themselves in the same position soon. To follow that, Rebecca Stopford, from Bhayani Law, who has prepared numerous businesses for sale from a legal perspective, offers some advice on why you should start preparing early.

Elsewhere, Emma Hickling, Finance Director at Rotherham’s KCM Waste is our cover star and tells us what it’s like to be a female boss in a male-dominated industry, while Becca Morris, who last year took the reins at well-established Sheffield recruiters Benchmark Recruit, explains why it’s been a complete fresh start and enabled her to re-evaluate her work/ life balance.

Throw in a look at how unconscious bias affects the workplace, as well as the usual array of news, charity stories, appointments and expert columns, and you’ve got another jam-packed issue of unLTD. Do read on.

Phil Turner

EDITORIAL EDITOR

Joe Food

Joe@unltdbusiness.com

ONLINE EDITOR

Ash Birch

Ash@unltdbusiness.com

COLUMN EDITOR

Katie Fisher

VIDEO CONTENT CREATOR

Lizzy Capps lizzy@unltdbusiness.com

DESIGN

Marc Barker

ADVERTISING

Phil Turner phil@unltdbusiness.com

07979 498 034

Nick Hallam nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk

07843 483536

FINANCE

Lis Ellis accounts@ exposedmagazine.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Chloe Angus

Kate Ash

Timm Cleasby

Ryan Connolly

Jackie Cook

Jo Davison

Ellie Grace

Andy Froggat

Brendan Hall

Louisa Harrison-Walker

Pete Moulam

Lisa Pogson

Wendy Ward

Jill White

Ltd

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

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

YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE JOB

As a coach, you aren’t just a source of knowledge in exercise/nutrition, etc; you’re also a mentor, teacher, motivator, support network, agony aunt, voice of reason, and sometimes even a shoulder to cry on. Being all of those things is what makes you a good coach.

DON’T TRUST INSTAGRAM

Despite what social media might say, fitness coaches don’t just live on a diet of leaves. Of course, I stay active, but I also enjoy cake and wine. You can’t believe everything you see on Instagram; you’re often comparing what you see every day to the best of 100 pictures taken in optimal lighting.

1 2 3

IT’S A TEAM GAME

YOU’RE PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Of course, some clients and members won’t stay indefinitely, and that’s fine. However, it is your job to provide them with the correct fitness knowledge and tools they need, which they can continue to use for the rest of their lives.

FIND SOMETHING YOU ENJOY

5

This is more of a general point about fitness: find something to do for your body that you enjoy. You’ll be much more likely to stick at it that way, not to mention the wonders it’ll do for your physical health, mental health and general wellbeing (you’ll more than like make some friends along the way too).

Sheridan Turner is a fitness coach at UBX Sheffield – a recently opened gym at 844 Ecclesall Road that delivers a unique mix of boxing and strength training across a 12-round circuit in less than 45 minutes. For more information, check out their website and socials below.

www.ubxtraining.com // @ubxsheffield

WHYY? WINS PRESTIGIOUS APPRENTICE AWARD

Whyy? Change’s Head of Communications, Matthew Trueman, has been crowned South Yorkshire’s Technology and Digital Apprentice of the Year.

Matthew becomes the first ever apprentice to win the apprenticeship award category supported by Amazon at the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards, held at Magna Science Adventure Park.

Matthew joined Whyy? Change, a leading apprenticeship training provider, back in 2020 as a Marketing Intern having graduated from Sheffield Hallam University. Since his appointment at Whyy? Change, Matt’s development has been exponential, going on to be promoted twice, to Marketing Lead and then Head of Communications in January 2022.

Speaking after the awards, Digital & Technology Apprentice of the Year, Matthew Trueman, 25, said: “To see your name up in lights alongside so many outstanding apprentices is just incredible. To be the first to win this award category is truly special. This award may have my name on it, but it wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my colleagues and support network.

“It always helps when you’re working with and learning from the best, I’d like to thank everyone at Whyy? Change for their continued support, encouragement, and inspiration.”

CEO of Whyy? Change, Ray Byrne added: “The award for Technology and Digital Apprentice of the year is highly sought after and it was great to receive the recognition he richly deserves.

It doesn’t happen in isolation, and it was great to see the team celebrate success with Matt, but equally pleasing for Matt to recognise it’s his colleagues who help, support, and encourage.”

“The apprenticeship award continues to be our World Cup. I look forward to Whyy? Change challenging again next year on all fronts. Bring on 2024.”

If you’re inspired by this year’s South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards or your business has a passion for marketing, a drive for professional development and recognition, then join Whyy? Change’s award-winning marketing apprenticeship cohort this September.

Get in touch to find out more; info@whyychange. com / 0114 400 0077

Sheffield DM announce huge conference line-up

Excitement is building for this summer’s edition of the Sheffield Digital Marketing (DM) conference, with a string of speaker announcements on socials resulting in a complete sellout of Early Bird tickets.

Normally a free evening meetup, the organisers have now incorporated an annual, all-day paid event into the conference’s schedule. This year’s will be held on Thursday 31st August at Sheffield’s Octagon Centre and is set to be their biggest event yet.

With talks split across two stages, speakers already announced include creative videos master Dan Knowlton, former Rise at Seven founder Stephen Kenwright, SEO superstar Areej AbuAli, Girls in Marketing founder Olivia Mae Hanlon and Marketing O’Clock World Top

50 PPC-er Chris Ridley.

A total of 16 marketing experts spanning SEO, PPC, Social, Digital PR, Content Marketing and strategy have been confirmed so far, with more still TBA. A limited run of discounted Early Bird tickets sold out with two days to spare, and General Sale tickets are now available at £100, with discounts available for bulk orders and students.

Regular sponsors Evoluted and Sitebulb have already pledged their support along with sales and marketing data platform Diginius, with organisers seeking additional sponsors to help scale the size of this event.

For more information see sheffield-dm. eventbrite.co.uk.

NIBS

WALESWOOD FULL

An extensive £1m refurbishment programme has led to full occupancy at the 112,000 sq. ft Waleswood Business Park, in Rotherham.

HOUSING PROVIDER RAISES £400K TO LAUNCH DISABILITY HOMES

A Sheffield company that provides bespoke supported living accommodation has secured £400,000 from NPIF –Mercia Debt Finance, to open a new facility housing nine adults with learning difficulties or disabilities.

Barnsley’s Big Weekend returns

Barnsley’s Big Weekend returns to the town centre next month with a packed line-up of free events and entertainment.

Running from Friday 14 July to Sunday 16 July, the three-day extravaganza will take place across the town centre and feature live music from around the world, Barnsley Pride, a family sports day and more.

Activities on the Friday kick off in the Glass Works Square with the brand-new World Music Night. Bringing together a number of musical groups from Taiwan, Japan, India, Germany and more, visitors will be able to see performances from Taiko Drummers, Formosa Cultural Style Dancers and Barnsley’s own Frumptarn Guggenband.

Saturday sees the return of the popular Brassed On! Festival, with an eclectic mixture of big names to be announced soon. Rumour has it that some well-known, South Yorkshire crowd pleasers are going to be reimagined in The Glass Works Square, Alhambra Shopping Centre, and Peel Square.

There’s something for everyone as Saturday also brings with it Barnsley’s Pride celebrations, taking place in Mandela Gardens, and the return of Mayor’s Day.

The fun then continues on Sunday with What’s Your Move

– a special day of health-focused activities designed to get Barnsley moving. With a virtual reality swing, various sporting activities, giveit-a-go sessions and skate ramp performances, there’s plenty of activities for visitors of all ages to get stuck into.

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture at Barnsley Council said: “We are so excited to see Barnsley’s Big Weekend return to the town centre next month. Filled with fantastic free activities and incredible live performances, this is a chance to celebrate everything great about Barnsley and make it a weekend to remember."

THE SEO WORKS FOR SHEFFIELD ON GLOBAL STAGE

Sheffield-based digital marketing agency

The SEO Works are flying the flag for the city on the global stage after being named ‘Integrated Search Agency of the Year’, at the Global Agency Awards.

SHOWSTOPPING BARNSLEY

‘Catwalking: Fashion Through the Lens of Chris Moore’ struts its way through Cannon Hall Museum in Barnsley until 10 September, featuring expert photography of some of the industry’s biggest names, haute couture, and unique garments.

BYGONE HILLSBOROUGH BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE

The Hillsborough and Owlerton History Group have been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £40,180 to allow them to research, develop and preserve the social history of the Sheffield suburb in the 1930s and 1940s.

EXPERIENCE BARNSLEY 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Experience Barnsley, a museum set up to share the experiences of Barnsley and tell the story of its people, is preparing for a jam-packed birthday party for its 10th anniversary celebrations this summer.

SHORTS SUCCESS

The team at Chesterfield’s Shorts celebrated multiple wins at the Insider Dealmakers Awards, scooping awards in four categories; Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year, Deal of the Year, Innovation Investment Award (investment in Sitehop by Mercia) and Dealmaker of the Year (Andy Ryder).

PLANS BREWING

Social impact developers

Capital&Centric have lodged outline plans with Sheffield City Council to overhaul the derelict industrial Cannon Brewery site in Neepsend.

The blueprint is being developed in stages, detailing plans for over 500 1, 2 and 3-bed apartments, planned to be delivered through a mix of contemporary new builds and retention of some of the existing buildings, namely the Water Tower and Brew House.

Nestled alongside the homes will be workplaces and spaces for independent shops, delis and café-bars, creating opportunities for local indie operators and new start-ups. A lush, green urban park will surround the water tower, whilst on Boyland Street a new public square surrounded by cafes and shops will provide space for pop-up events, performers and installations.

Richard Spackman, Development Director

at Capital&Centric, said: “We’ve set out to make Cannon Brewery a standout community that draws people to Sheffield – one that respects and reflects back the industrial heritage of Neepsend. It’s a really challenging site to work on, but we’re progressing at

pace because we see such pent-up potential.

“Like many communities before, we’re proposing a mix of old and new. Our contemporary homes will be real juxtaposition against some of the existing industrial buildings we’re aiming to keep and repurpose.

“We want the end goal to be that Cannon Brewery becomes Sheffield’s best address, a city centre district where people not only want to live, but spend their weekends, hang out with mates or locate their start-up business.”

Capital&Centric is already underway at other sites in Sheffield. Its Eyewitness Works community, near the city’s Devonshire Quarter, currently features in the Channel 4 design series The Big Interiors Battle. The site, boasting 97 loft apartments, is set for completion later this year, with the first properties available this summer.

SCANDI STSØSTRENE GRENE, IS SET TO OPEN IN SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE THIS SUMMER

The 5,600 sq ft shop will be located in Grosvenor House on Cambridge Street – part of the Heart of the City development scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry. The opening date is set to be announced very soon.

Based on the famed Danish culture of ‘hygge’ – the Danish phrase for cosiness, Søstrene Grene stores focus on providing a truly unique customer experience, with a labyrinth-style layout, atmospheric lighting and accompanying classical music.

CEO and co-owner of Søstrene Grene, Mikkel Grene, said: “We are very happy to be opening a store in Sheffield, as we have been wanting to trade here for a while. We always strive to offer our customers beautiful experiences when they visit a Søstrene Grene store and we are looking forward to bringing some traditional Danish ‘hygge’ into shoppers’ everyday lives.

“We wish to contribute with a completely new shopping experience, and we cannot wait to invite our new and existing customers inside for a moment of ‘hygge’ at the new store.”

SMH GROUP SCORE STADIUM SPONSORSHIP OF CHESTERFIELD FC

A new Inclusive Business Board was approved at Sheffield’s Economic Development and Skills policy committee meeting, held in June.

The new board has been created from the recommendations of the Council’s Race Equality Commission. Recommendation 7 of the Commission, ‘supporting Black Asian and minoritised ethnic Business and Enterprise’, spoke to making business development organisations more accessible and available locally for BAME-led businesses.

Minesh Parekh, Sheffield Councillor and Labour lead for Economic Development, Culture and Skills, has said that the new inclusive business board will help ensure the city’s economic and business growth strategies reflect the needs of Sheffield’s diverse business base.

The new advisory board will be made up of BAME business owners from across the city, representing the city’s SME and social enterprise business base, as well as representatives from the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and an REC commissioner.

In the meeting, Cllr Parekh asked for the board to be not just a sounding board for Council policies, but to set targets and missions for politicians to aspire to.

Councillor Minesh Parekh said: “Sheffield’s economic planning must be more representative and reflect the needs of our diverse city.

“From the Race Equality Commission report, we know there’s a real need for change to ensure our economic strategies enable all of our communities to flourish.

“Through this Inclusive Business Board, new voices are heard and factored into economic decision making, and that they can challenge the Council and all partners to create a more equal city.”

SMH Group have announced their sponsorship of the Spireites 10,000-seater venue on Sheffield Road, which will now be known as the SMH Group Stadium.

Commenting on the initial threeyear agreement, SMH Group partner Jonathon Dickens said: “It’s the first time we’ve ever done anything on this scale, so it’s fantastic.

“It’s a new chapter in our firm’s growth and expansion. We’re really excited about it.

“I’m a Chesterfield lad and I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve been a supporter for as long as I can remember.

“We’re hoping to open a larger office in Chesterfield so hopefully this will help to build our brand awareness.”

In 2017, the government-sponsored McGregor-Smith review, Race in the workplace, found that BAME people still encounter significant disparities in employment and progression. It states that if BAME talent were to be fully utilised, the economy could receive a £24bn boost. Recent gov.uk data shows that in 2018, just 5.4% of small and medium enterprise employers were led by a majority of people from an ethnic minority background.

Not just business as usual

AGENDA: OPINION

After Matt Bowker from Coda argued in favour of Keir Starmer's plan to build on the greenbelt in last month's magazine, Wayne Fletcher, Founder and Director at construction consultancy Austin Fletcher, argues against, saying that more time and effort needs to go into making the most out of the UK’s brownfield sites first.

I have been in many a discussion surrounding the topic of green belt versus brownfield, which one should we build on and why. The opposite corners of the debate are usually occupied by those with strong views, and both sides have a valid argument. I have always been in the ‘exhaust the brownfield option first’ seat. Naturally, working as a consultant in the construction industry, that opinion is not always shared by those around me.

One of the more contentious issues is with new housing developments. We have a housing problem in the UK. It is a complex subject with many variables and not one that I am going to delve too deeply into today; however, it is generally accepted that we have a shortage of housing, and we need to do something about it. But not only do we have a shortage of housing, but importantly, we have a shortage of ‘affordable’ housing in areas where people want to live.

Should we be releasing green belt land for housing developments? In my opinion, we should be focusing our efforts towards looking at more ways to redevelop brownfield sites first. Our countryside is an important part of our way of life, and it must be protected; once it has gone it will not return.

The fundamental aim of the green belt is to prevent urban sprawl and thereby protect greenfield, previously undeveloped land, and encourage the development and reuse of existing brownfield areas. Not only does this protect countryside and wildlife habitats, which is essential, but it helps to reduce wasted and abandoned or derelict areas of the city.

Rather than take what is often the

easiest route and build on green belt land, we should support and promote the development of larger mixed-use schemes with their own infrastructure, shops, schools and communities to ensure we don’t just ‘bolt on’ to existing areas which simply puts added strain on school catchment areas, medical centres and other community amenities that are already at capacity.

Unfortunately, there are often several prohibitive costs when developing on brownfield sites and if we are going to achieve the goal of providing affordable housing then the development costs need to be realistic. Developing a site which is contaminated or requires extensive ground works for example would not be feasible unless costs can be recouped in the sale of the properties, which defeats the object of providing ‘affordable housing’. Unless, of course, these costs can be offset by public money or other incentives to make the project viable. Either way, someone needs to pay for it.

Another limiting factor of using brownfield sites is their location. Many of them are in industrial areas, and these areas don’t always lend themselves to housing developments unless they are of a certain size.

Certainly, around the Sheffield city region, as a city with a strong history of industry, there are many sites that have previously been occupied by steelworks and factories that are no longer required for the purpose they were originally built for; however, the sites are often unsuitable for residential developments.

Perhaps reintroducing pedestrianised areas and green spaces to city centres will encourage housing and

“WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS TO ENSURE WE RETAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE GREEN BELT ETHOS AND REMEMBER WHY IT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE FIRST PLACE.”

WAYNE FLETCHER, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN FLETCHER

communities to start to encroach on the city centre once again which should make some of these brownfield sites more attractive. Time will tell.

Most people understand and respect the importance of protecting our flora and fauna. Now more than ever, helped by the Covid pandemic, people are realising just how important and how positive these spaces are for our wellbeing and mental health.

The green belt was introduced for a reason – to prevent urban sprawl – and it remains an important tool to ensure greenfield spaces and wildlife habitats are protected.

Although I am an advocate for promoting developments on brownfield sites over the encroachment onto green belt land, we must acknowledge that certain areas of the green belt do include previously developed sites, so it isn’t always as clean-cut as it appears. A topic for another day, perhaps…

Should we be building on green belt land? In some instances, maybe. However, we must be cautious to ensure we retain the integrity of the green belt ethos and remember why it was introduced in the first place.

Most importantly, we must focus our efforts on making the reuse of brownfield sites into more cost-effective, feasible, attractive propositions for developers and investors.

I stand by my original quote: ‘exhaust the brownfield option first’.

Austin Fletcher provide multidisciplinary construction consultancy services to businesses and organisations across the UK. Find out more at austinfletcher.co.uk.

Bowling, Beer and Bags open this month’s happenings.

Forget ‘Thinking in 3D’, it’s all about ‘Socialising in 3B!’

First up was a trip over to Chesterfield Bowl to join Marie Cooper and the team at CBE+ for their first fundraising event for the Master Cutler Challenge; not many strikes or spares from us, but it was lots of fun and raised a decent amount for the charity.

Beer tasting came next, and what a way to spend a Friday afternoon! Our hosts UKSE really did us proud introducing us to Craft and Berry on Ecclesall Road. The very knowledgeable host certainly educated our palates, and it was a very relaxed way to meet new contacts (we even got take away samples!).

Bags were then packed for our Rwanda Adventure. In true testimony to networking and relationship building a contact made here in Sheffield 16 years ago resulted in us being asked to deliver a Leadership Programme in Rwanda! Thanks to many Sheffield organisations we were able to introduce our delegates to many Sheffield specialities – the Henderson’s Relish was very well received as were the t-shirts from Kitlocker!

Back home to hit the ground running. Summer drinks on the terrace with Hall Brown should have been followed by cocktails with The Cavendish Club, but the Rwanda Hangover caught up with me and I hear I missed a fabulous event.

I made up the following week with an invite to The Free Womens Social and Dinner from Master Cutler Julie Kenny at the Cutlers Hall. What a lovely evening being inspired by inputs from Katrina Ritchie, People and Culture Director at Gripple and Lisa Pogson MD of Airmaster sharing their experiences of Employee Ownership Trusts.

An intriguing night followed at Wentworth Woodhouse when we attended a Scene of the Crime Whodunnit: an interactive and engaging experience created by nine 16-25 year olds as part of a Creative Traineeship Initiative funded by Rotherham Council’s Children’s Capital of Culture. What a great job they did putting all of that together in just 8 weeks. A super learning experience and a fun night for all of us. But... did we get the murderer? Sadly not, although two of our team did (hats off to Alex Gardner and Hannah Duraid!).

A showroom visit to the fabulous new Nest.com premises at Park Hill had to be postponed to next month, but we did say a quick hello to Rob Shaw and the Glu Recruit team celebrating their 7th Birthday at Mannahatta.

Finished off the month with Jay Bhayani’s sister’s book launch at The Library in Attercliffe – another hidden gem of a venue and a night of books, Indian food and bangra dancing! What's not to like?

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

With Jill White of Andy Hanselman Consulting

unLTD Business Awards – call for sponsors

November 30th will see the first ever unLTD Business Awards take place at Peddler Warehouse in Sheffield, celebrating the successes of small and medium businesses across the region.

Each year the ceremony will move across the region to ensure all parts of South Yorkshire are fully represented, while the awards themselves have been designed to be easy so time-poor businesses can also take part.

Entries will open on September 4th and are designed to be as simple as possible, with all businesses encouraged to upload a simple piece to camera video to showcase why they should win their award.

“We want all SMEs, small businesses and entrepreneurs from across South Yorkshire to feel like they are represented by our awards and stand a chance of winning,” says unLTD owner Phil Turner.

Categories include: Best Nightlife or Hospitality Business, Best Independent Retailer, Best Business Support or Consultancy, Creative Business of the Year, Finance and Accountancy Company of the Year, Best Business Start Up, Best Micro

Business (less than 10 employees and under £2 million),

Best Small Business (less than 50 employees and an annual turnover under £10 million) and Best Medium-sized Business.

In the meantime, we are looking for sponsors and commercial partners who would like to showcase their brand using the awards as a platform.

Already signed up to sponsor are the likes of Bag It Don’t Bin It, Simoda, Chapter II, Sevenhills Creative as well as See It Be It, a department of Sheffield Council which aims to inspire the next generation by linking up schools and colleges with local employers to provide meaningful encounters and experiences of the workplace.

For more information on how to enter, sponsor or attend the unLTD Business Awards, keep a close tab on the unLTD website and social media.

unLTD Business Awards

What is it?

Launched this year, they celebrate South Yorkshire’s SMEs, Start Ups and Entrepreneurs.

How Do I Enter?

Via www.unltdbusiness.com – live from September 4th

Can I sponsor an award?

Sure. Email phil@unltdbusiness. com

When’s the ceremony?

November 30th, 2023 at Peddler Warehouse in Sheffield.

Lightbulb Moment

LIGHTBULB MOMENT: JIM IXER

For this month’s delve into the entrepreneurial stories behind South Yorkshire businesses, unLTD caught up with Jim Ixer, founder of Drone Pilot Academy, to discuss leaving the RAF and setting up his own commercial drone company.

After spending 17 years as air crew on helicopters, when the time came to leave the Royal Air Force, Jim Ixer began thinking about working for himself. During resettlement training, a chance meeting with someone using drones for wedding photography prompted Jim to start researching the drone industry in more depth. Realising how much commercial potential there was in the sector, he ordered a drone and eventually set up the Drone Pilot Academy…

Before setting up your first drone company, Helishots, you had to take a training course in order to be allowed to fly drones commercially. Tell us about that experience and what it led to?

I was lucky that the RAF paid for the majority of the course through my resettlement training. I expected to learn how to fly drones and get the most out of them. But the course ended up being three days of theory, much of which I already knew from my Air Force days. I came away deciding to set up my own academy to deliver courses which covered both theoretical and practical skills.

Before you could do that, you needed to get Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval, which required 12 months’ operating experience. Can you tell us a bit about your experiences with Helishots in that period?

When I first started Helishots, I had a mortgage to pay and didn’t know where the money was going to come from. I went to networking events and used social media to try and grow the business. I ended up doing lots of drone survey work. This included mapping huge quarries to help with volumetric studies, and roof inspections on high rise buildings.

You now run the Drone Pilot Academy. What do you offer?

Our main business is now training, although we do provide drone sales too. During courses, our trainers will add value with business tips and advice. If someone has an idea, we’ll talk about its feasibility and give practical insights.

You’re now located in The Business Village. Why did you choose that location?

Our business model means we run courses in hotels around the UK. But we also wanted a spacious, open plan office where people can visit for meetings. Being in The Business Village means we can either book meeting rooms or meet people for lunch in the bistro.

How have the team running The Business Village benefitted the business?

The management team are very proactive. They’ll often share relevant opportunities such as potential grant support. We also know that we can expand here as we grow. If we need more office space, we can move within The Business Village without too much hassle.

Your courses run down the spine of the UK, covering Milton Keynes, Barnsley, and Motherwell, with courses also take place in Northern Ireland and Bristol. What’s next for the business?

My ambition for the future of Drone Pilot Academy is more of the same and to increase sales. We’re also considering expanding our sales team and bringing marketing in-house. Our online drone sales haven’t been a big focus to date, so this will be something we’ll expand in the coming years.

Get in touch with Drone Pilot Academy at dronepilotacademy.co.uk

NAME: TINA HAVENHAND EMPLOYER: MGRW+ ROLE: DIRECTOR

What motivated you to get involved in the SIBI Ambassador group?

I’m really passionate about ensuring our young people have a broader understanding of the range of careers available to them, and also understand the different routes of education they can navigate to achieve their career goals. My personal background also gives me additional focus on reducing the social mobility gap and promoting diversity in the workplace.

What have you enjoyed most about being involved in the campaign?

Working with some great groups of students who have an appetite for increasing their career knowledge and working on transitioning skills from an education setting into the workplace. I also get a great sense of achievement from working with students who at first are hesitant to participate but by the end have been able to contribute to the group session.

What are the benefits to your business/employer?

Helping to attract new, diverse talent to the accountancy industry.

Sheffield City Council’s See it Be it in Sheffield campaign aims to inspire the next generation by linking up schools and colleges with local employers to provide meaningful encounters and experiences of the workplace. You can find more information at sheffield.startprofile.com/page/ seeitbeit-employers or by following @ SeeItBeIt_Sheff on Twitter.

KATIE ASH - BANNER JONES

PATERNITY LEAVE –WHAT IS IT AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Having a baby or welcoming a child into your home is likely to be one of the biggest milestones in a person’s life. However, while the employment law around maternity leave is broadly understood, many employers are still unsure about the legislation surrounding paternity leave.

What is paternity leave and why does it matter?

“Paternity leave is really important because it allows an employee to spend time with their new child and to give support to their partner.”

Who is entitled to paternity leave?

“Only someone who is legally classed as an employee is entitled to statutory paternity leave,” Katie clarifies. “They must also have been employed continuously by the same employer for a period of time. Currently, that is at least 26 weeks up to any day in what is known as the ‘qualifying week’, which is technically 15 weeks from when the baby is due.”

How long is paternity leave?

“Some companies do offer

enhanced paternity leave packages, but by law, an employee is entitled to take 1 or 2 weeks. The leave must be taken in the first 56 days of the baby’s life. However, if the employee wants to take 2 weeks, the weeks must be consecutive.”

What rights does someone on paternity leave have?

In the same way that the law protects women on

maternity leave, Katie explains that it also protects men on paternity leave, or planning to take paternity leave – for example, overlooking them for promotion, or reducing their hours.

Katie says that if an employee believes they’ve experienced detrimental treatment because of paternity leave, they can take action.

“As with everything in employment law, it

is far easier and more cost effective to put appropriate plans in place to protect your employees and your business, rather than dealing with a complaint or grievance.

“Likewise, offering a good, supportive paternity package is far more likely to result in loyal, happy staff members, which also helps to alleviate some of the pressure that comes with recruitment.”

www.bannerjones.co.uk

Here Katie Ash, Head of Employment Law at Banner Jones Solicitors, explains what businesses need to know.

LET’S PLEDGE TO TALK ABOUT CANCER

Many more will need to be on the listening end whilst a colleague, friend or loved one discusses their cancer diagnosis. A recent study found that half of people diagnosed with cancer are afraid to share their situation with employers, yet 92% thought that a supportive employer would positively impact their health.

Employers should be taking proactive steps to ensure that staff are ready to deal with these sorts of difficult conversations. That’s why Cavendish Cancer Care has signed up to the Working with Cancer Pledge, an international campaign which calls on company leaders to help reduce the stigma of cancer in the workplace and provide a more supportive culture at work for all employees with cancer.

You can find out more about the pledge at the Working with Cancer Pledge website, which also contains, which also contains some useful resources and advice.

As part of the work I do supporting companies with employee wellbeing, I often undertake training on having difficult conversations.

My top tips for having a conversation with someone with cancer are:

• Remember everyone is different. Avoid making assumptions about how they may be feeling or how they may want to act.

• Centre the conversation

on them. Avoid bringing in your own experience (unless asked) or your own feelings and opinions.

• Avoid giving advice about alternative cures or healthy eating. Listen to and respect their experience.

• Think about the language you use. Much of the language around cancer can be combative; this can inadvertently make the person feel guilty for not “beating it” or “fighting”.

• It’s okay to be upset. Just acknowledge that the conversation is upsetting

and come back to it another time when you are feeling better or perhaps take a walk whilst you chat instead.

At Cavendish Cancer Care we are perfectly placed to help your company launch your own #workingwithcancer pledge and learn how to better support your employees. With our help, you can empower your teams to feel confident having difficult conversations, whether that’s around cancer or other issues such as mental health.

We can offer Cancer Conversation sessions, which are particularly useful for company leaders and people working in HR teams, whilst our wider mental health training also touches on the skills needed to help employees during difficult times. Contact me to find out more about how we can help! www.workingwith cancerpledge.com

Chloe Angus - Corporate Wellbeing Manager at Cavendish Cancer Care

Email: c.angus@cavcare. org.uk

Telling someone that you have cancer is a situation you hope you never have to deal with, but unfortunately, almost half of us will need to have that conversation at some point in our lives.

CHLOE ANGUS - CORPORATE WELLBEING MANAGER AT CAVENDISH

Cavendish Wellbeing, part of Cavendish Cancer Care, provide wellbeing services to local businesses including bespoke online platforms, Mental Health First Aid, focus talks and guided sessions. This service helps to provide Cavendish Cancer Care with funds to continue delivering essential support to those affected by cancer in the local community.

The Source Skills Academy has expanded its marketing expertise with two new executives - thanks to the Sector Routeways training programme it runs with Opportunity Sheffield, the City Council’s employment and skills service.

The talents of Chetna Raniga-Jogia, now business development executive and marketing lead, and Tetiana Karpenko, marketing and learners’ engagement executive, were spotted while they were on a Sector Routeways bootcamp in digital marketing and business admin.

Both were unemployed and had strong marketing skills - but had not worked in marketing in the UK and needed help to break into the sector in Sheffield, where they had made their home.

Tetiana, 23, came to the city in November 2022 to escape the war in her native Ukraine. She grew up in Kharkiv and was working as a brand manager, producing content, photography and social media for six niche fashion labels when war broke out.

She had to flee her city and came to Sheffield under the Homes For Ukraine Scheme.

Chetna, who moved to Sheffield in 2010, was a pharmacy technician with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals but left her job when the pandemic piled pressure on

hospital staff.

Nairobi-born, Chetna grew up in Texas, where she gained a BA in psychology. She had become adept at marketing, social media and graphic design while running her own dance and performing arts academy in Dallas and was keen to return to marketing.

Job Centre advisors signposted both women to Sector Routeways training courses in Digital Marketing and Business Admin, which are delivered by The Source.

The Sector Routeways programme, part-funded by the European Social Fund, prepares unemployed people for work in a number of sectors experiencing labour shortages.

Tetiana and Chetna

enrolled on their two-week course in February and when students were tasked with presenting a marketing campaign to The Source’s deputy CEO Natalie Doherty, she was so impressed with their ideas, she urged them to apply for roles at The Source.

“The programme changed the direction of my life,” says Chetna. “It opened my eyes to my potential, and to the South Yorkshire companies I could potentially work with. The Source turned out to be one of them and I love my job.

“One of my tasks is to encourage people to sign up to Sector Routeways courses. I am my best example of its success!”

Tetiana is studying for a Digital Marketing

Apprenticeship Level 3 with The Source until December 2024, which will give her a UK qualification.

She is bringing a fresh approach to the charity’s marketing toolkit and says: “After such a terrible year, I’m working in marketing for an organisation which helps people to change their lives. That’s exactly what The Source has done for me.”

The Source is tutoring a number of Sector Routeways courses and the next Digital Marketing/Business Admin courses begin on August 7 and September 4. Anyone unemployed, over 18 and living in South Yorkshire can apply by contacting sectorrouteways@sheffield. gov.uk sectorrouteways@ sheffield.gov.uk

IT’S THE SECTOR ROUTE-WAY TO SUCCESS! SKILLS FOCUS SPONSORED BY THE SOURCE SKILLS ACADEMY

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

Tetiana and Chetna came to the Source on a marketing course for the jobless - and ended up joining the team!

Left to right: Chetna Raniga-Jogia, Tricia Smith CEO, Tetiana Karpenko.

DON’T BE CAUGHT OUT BY CAPITAL GAINS TAX

Disposing of a second property? Have you heard of a 60-Day Capital Gains Tax Return?

The time has come, the experiment of having a second property/holiday home hasn’t worked, interest rates are going up and the mortgage is going to bite. Sell up.

But wait! The value of the property has gone up and I am going to make a bit of money when I sell. Hurrah! Sadly, the Revenue want their pound of flesh too! Depending on your personal income tax rate, on a disposal of a property 18% or 28% tax is due.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Is a tax imposed on the profit made from the sale or disposal of certain assets, such as property, shares, and valuable possessions. In the UK, individuals are required to report and pay CGT on any applicable gains. While most CGT reporting is done through the annual Self-Assessment tax return, there are specific circumstances where individuals may need to file a 60-day CGT return.

Non-UK Resident

If you are a non-UK resident and sell a UK residential property, you are required to file a CGT return within 60 days of the sale. This applies regardless of whether you have made a gain or a loss on the property. Failure

to file the return within the specified timeframe may result in penalties and interest charges.

Disposal of Other Assets

In certain cases, UK residents may also need to file a 60-day CGT return when disposing of other assets. Since April 2020, this requirement applies to UK residents who dispose of a residential property and make a gain subject to CGT. The return must again be filed within 60 days of the date of disposal.

Trusts and Estates Trustees and personal

representatives of trusts and estates may also need to file a 60-day CGT return in certain circumstances. This requirement arises when there is a disposal of chargeable assets that results in a CGT liability for the trust or estate. The return must be filed within 60 days of the disposal. It is important to note that the 60-day CGT return is separate from the annual Self-Assessment tax return. The Self-Assessment tax return covers the individual’s overall tax liability for the tax year, including any CGT due. However, the 60-day CGT return is

specifically for reporting and paying CGT on certain transactions within the specified timeframe.

When filing a 60-day CGT return, individuals must provide details of the asset being disposed of, the disposal proceeds, any allowable costs, and the calculation of the CGT due.

If you want any help with a 60 Day CGT Return or tax advice, please talk to your accountant preferably before doing anything! If you do need any assistance I will also be happy to help. Email andyfroggatt@ roystonparkin.co.uk or call on 0114 2720306

ANDY FROGGATT – ROYSTON PARKIN

MIXING IT UP

Conor Povall, owner of innovative concrete design business Conplex, tells unLTD about how Launchpad has helped his company cement itself as a winner.

Tell us about your company. Who says concrete has to be grey? Who says art has to be on a canvas? Not us!

CONPLEX creates innovative pieces of art, furniture and surfaces out of reinforced concrete. Our specialist mix means that the concrete is lightweight enough to hang on your wall – a bright and abstract conversation starter for any room.

We cater for both commercial and domestic markets, and furniture pieces can vary from kitchen counters (indoor or outdoor!) to decorative facades, sinks and much more.

We set ourselves apart by using interesting casting techniques that can differ from the market-standard concrete tops.

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

I took the leap to start the business back in January 2021. My main passion in life has always been in art and design. I studied for a Masters in Furniture Design at Sheffield Hallam and since then I have been able to build my knowledge of concrete as a medium.

During this time, I knew concrete could be so much more than just a grey builders mix. When the time was right, I took the opportunity to pour my personality and everything I know about art, furniture and design into CONPLEX.

How has Launchpad helped you?

Thanks to launchpad, I’ve been able to access the help and support of The Prince’s Trust. Starting a

business is a daunting task but with the support of my mentor, Michelle, I had the confidence and the fundamentals of starting my business ironed out.

Michelle was also able to tell me about, and help me apply for, relevant grants and loans which I would have otherwise not known about.

Since the company has gone live, I now have a new mentor who specialises in marketing to help me

develop my business further. I can’t recommend this programme highly enough!

What are your hopes and aims for your business?

I hope to bring joy, happiness and surprise with my artwork. I also hope to create useful, unique pieces for customers that they can take pride in.

My main aim is to continue to grow and establish my business within the heart of Sheffield – the best city in the UK! My second aim is to do my first exhibition to showcase my artwork, so be sure to keep an eye on my Instagram for updates.

To see current Conplex pieces or discuss your own ideas with Conor, head to www.thisisconplex.co.uk. You can also keep up with their work by following @thisisconplex on Instagram.

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

I KNEW CONCRETE COULD BE SO MUCH MORE THAN GREY BUILDERS MIX. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO POUR EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT ART, FURNITURE AND DESIGN INTO CONPLEX.

What is your current role?

I am MD at Airmaster and I have worked here in various roles since it started in 1992. I am also Chair of Rotherham’s Business Growth Board and Chair of Grimm & Co., as well as a Trustee at The Source. I’m also mum to Hannah.

What does that involve on a day-to-day basis?

My job is to support a fantastic team of people whilst they carry out installation and maintenance of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, ventilation and public health water services. I aim to raise the profile of the business and our team every day and I am happy to say that is a great job. I am really proud of Airmaster becoming an employee-owned business. I work with our team and customers, suppliers and sub-contractors to help the business work efficiently and effectively as possible and also to get the message out about what our values are.

How did you get started working in STEM?

EQUALITY IN STEM

FEMALE ROLE MODELS

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

LISA POGSON

MANAGING DIRECTOR AT AIRMASTER

Well, my dad was an electrician and started as an older apprentice in a lift company; he ended up touring the country fitting lifts in many buildings until he retired. A lot of our family worked in construction and engineering roles (my grandad was a crucible steel man in his younger days). I have always been fascinated by seeing things change and being built, and the built environment for me is so cool. I started my full-time working life in an architectural practice as an office junior, on a YTS and in various construction businesses, with a few years working in admin at Sheffield Hallam University. I fell into the HVAC industry when I met my husband, who was a plumber/heating engineer, and his brother was setting up Airmaster as an aircon engineer. I was doing a part time MSc in Management (Resources) when I came to the business and was lucky to go on a factory visit to Daikin in Bruges soon after starting. Wow! Kaizen came to life, I saw ‘robots’ and there was a good mix of female engineers

in the factories too (this was over 20 years ago). I decided right then that I loved the industry!

Why do you love working in STEM?

I just love working with people that make things work, build things, solve problems and you can see a result. I was never the best at maths or science, but now I work in this field, I see the relevance of everything that I didn’t understand then. I know now that if I had understood how it all applied to what I was learning, I might have been an engineer, instead of going down the finance/HR/administration route. Whatever – I love it all, never stop learning and I already have a Master of Science degree.

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

Enjoy it, work hard, help others on the way up/always try and give back in some way. In my view, it can be limitless – we are building the future, quite literally!

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

Value the women we already have and use them as role models! Celebrate what we have, how far we have come and plan small steps on what is coming up. I think being as flexible as possible around caring responsibilities, athough I realise this is a massive challenge for businesses – the smaller, the more difficult. Any help and support is great; you usually get back support tenfold in the long run. It may not seem it at the time and some people do use it to their advantage; however, there will always be those people. Don’t let them spoil it for others – try and have good policies around care leave, etc. It is important to the business that everyone is on board and aware of them and can help and support where possible.

For the full article and more on our work and female role models please visit our website at www. equalityinstem.org.uk/blog

1992 - 2022

30Years in Business

AGENDA

OF EQUALITY IN STEM IS A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO UNLTD AND CHAMPION OF DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE, PARTICULARLY IN THE STEM INDUSTRIES. HERE, SHE TALKS US THROUGH WHY IT IS SUCH A PROMINENT ISSUE IN THE WORKPLACE AND WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL IT IS ADDRESSED BY BUSINESS OWNERS.

There is a lot of talk around EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) for businesses at the moment and how they can attract a more diverse workforce, particularly for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) industries that have traditionally been very white male-dominated sectors.

“It’s always worked for us”, “Why do we need to change”, “It’s just the way it’s always been”, “Are you saying I’m sexist/racist (etc)”.

So, why does it matter, why do we need to change?

The workplace is seeing increasing skills shortages

but particularly in the STEM industries, if we are only recruiting from 50% of the population (male not female), never mind other areas of diversity then we are limiting the potential future employees.

A report by McKinsey back in 2015 shows that Companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians.

Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national

industry medians.

What is unconscious bias and who is affected by it? Everyone experiences or feels some level of bias the key is to realise we don’t have to act on those biases. Often it can be uncomfortable to recognise we have bias and people avoid acknowledging them. Unconscious bias is unconscious, you don’t realise you are doing it, it can be something that’s ingrained in our culture, expectations and stereotypes. It can be social media, news, advertising, influence of friends and family or your childhood experiences.

The most common types of bias are the nine protected characteristics recognised in the Equality Act: age, disability, gender, pregnancy/maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race/colour/ nationality/ethnicity, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership.

How and where does unconscious bias happen in the workplace?

During the recruitment process, decisions about promotions, decisions about who to put on a project, their capabilities or what workload someone can cope with, general conversations in the

JACKIE COOK, MD OF CQ STRATEGIC MARKETING AND FOUNDER

workplace… everywhere.

When you start looking into EDI and issues around bias you will hear the terms intersectionality and microaggressions, but what do they mean?

Intersectionality is the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage can compound themselves. For example, a gay trans woman or a mixed-race neurodiverse woman may experience discrimination on many different levels.

Microagressions are actions, behaviours, comments in the everday that subtly discriminate. For example, when a man and woman walk into a business

meeting, the assumption that the man is the more senior or that the woman is the secretary.

Why does greater diversity matter in the workplace?

Diverse teams boost creativity and innovation.

Research showed that diverse teams are better at making decisions 87% of the time over non-diverse teams. Diverse teams offer broader perspectives and bring more information to the table.

Supporting workplace diversity helps attract and retain talent.

As those born after 1980 grow in percentage and influence in the workplace,

attitudes are shifting. From Deloitte’s Global 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey: “Over six in 10 Gen Zs (61%) and half of millennials (49%) have experienced harassment or microaggressions at work in the past 12 months.”

How do we address unconscious bias in the workplace?

Become more aware of our own bias, you can take implicit bias tests online www.implicit.harvard.edu/ implicit/selectatest.html

• Be mindful and practice self-awareness

• Make considered decisions

• Widen your social circle

• Set ground rules for behaviour

• Avoid making assumptions

• Use rotas to avoid stereotyping

• Speak out if you notice bias

• Apologise if you get it wrong

If you would like to uncover more info about this issue, sign up for Jackie’s Unconscious Bias session at Cutler’s Hall on September 6th. More info here: www. equalityinstem.org.uk/ events/overcomingunconsciousbias-in-theworkplace

For this month’s cover feature, unLTD meets Emma Hickling, Finance Director at South Yorkshire waste management company KCM, to discuss their recent growth, why family counts in business and breaking the trash ceiling in a traditionally maledominated industry.

Generally speaking, waste management depots are not the places that immediately spring to mind when you think of vibrant, sociable workspaces. However, from the yard where we parked through to the reception area and upstairs office space we were eventually led to, KCM is not lacking in hustle and bustle, smiles and plenty of friendly banter between staff members.

“We’re very family-oriented,” says KCM’s Finance Director Emma Hickling. “We’ve always said that we want people to enjoy coming to work here, so we want everyone to feel comfortable and look out for each other, just as you would do with family members. We want to keep that approach no matter how much we grow.”

In fact, ‘family-oriented’ is probably putting it a tad mildly. KCM has been run by the Hickling family since its formation over 35 years ago. Today three generations of Hicklings are employed by KCM, from co-owners – Emma’s dad and uncle – at the top, right through to Emma’s daughter, neice and nephew who are learning their trade across the various departments of the business.

There’s plenty to get your head around, too. KCM deal with about 75,000 tonnes of waste per year, guided by a fundamental commitment to recycling and waste recovery, while offering a wide range of commercial and

domestic services: trade waste bins and collection, household waste, hazardous waste, electrical waste, tipping/recycling, secure document destruction, event waste management and skip, wagon, tipper and aggregate hire.

“There’s no job too big or too small,” says Helen Hayward, Commercial Director at KCM. “We can find a solution for any form of waste. I think what makes us unique, however, is that we treat general waste as a form of recovery, meaning we don’t just send it straight to landfill and will always find the most sustainable option.”

Another unique aspect is Emma herself, a key decision-maker at KCM in an often male-dominated industry. When she first arrived at the company just under 20 years ago, there was only one other female member of staff. Today there are 13 in the office alone.

“Growing up as the only girl out of seven grandchildren meant that it didn’t really faze me,” she replies when I ask about how conscious she was of the gender divide. “I’m as good as two men anyway! So, yes, it was a very male-dominated place to begin with, but slowly, as the business has grown, more women have come on board – in both office jobs and also working outside as waste operatives. The tables have turned quite a bit.”

Over the last five years, that growth alluded to has been fairly substantial. KCM now employ

GROWING UP AS THE ONLY GIRL OUT OF SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN MEANT THAT IT DIDN’T REALLY FAZE ME… I’M AS GOOD AS TWO MEN ANYWAY!

around 130 workers and will be launching services at their new Sheffield branch in July. The core of their business revolves around South Yorkshire, but last year they launched a nationwide scheme allowing them to provide skip hire across the country by partnering with other companies.

Emma puts a lot of their success down to the versatility afforded to hands-on, family-run companies. “We can make decisions quickly and easily,” she explains, “which means we can focus on meeting the individual needs of our customers rather than having a one-size-fits-all approach that you might get with big corporates. There isn’t the same bureaucracy and set way of doing things – we can adapt.”

Such an ability to shift and evolve is a clearly key one in the waste management industry, where stubborn challenges include keeping up with rapidly advancing technology, government initiatives and rising fuel costs.

Ensuring that fleets are compliant and sustainable practices are implemented across the board is something of a given for a company committed to reducing pollution, but Emma explains that staying on top of innovation and trends in the market allows KCM to remain a step ahead of their competitors.

“The industry is a fast-moving one; you’ll regularly find new and better ways of separating waste, technology that ensures you can pull every last recyclable out of it. To guarantee you’re doing the best job and being as efficient as possible, you’ve got to stay on top of what is a constantly evolving marketplace.”

As such, Emma will often spend time out on visits looking at new up-and-coming plant machinery, but I’m assured that’s just a small portion of a diverse workload. A surfacelevel job title of finance director leaves her in charge of the money, but some days she’ll find herself manning transport operations, in meetings exploring funding options or generally getting involved in the day-to-day running of whichever department needs assistance.

It all comes back to those family values, a shared ethos running throughout of buying into the company and mucking in where needed.

Commercial Manager Hannah Baker expands on this idea: “Glenn

[Operations Manager] always says ‘one team, one dream’ and that’s how it feels. I think because the hours are longer than most office positions, we all spend so much time together, so we are very comfortable with each other. Everyone really cares about the company because of how it’s run.

“I think customers appreciate it too. A lot of them end up knowing the customer service staff here by name rather than going through some big call centre where you don’t get that personal touch. It makes a difference.”

Keen to extend this sense of

companionship to the community, KCM are active in providing sponsorship and raising funds for a wide number of local organisations. Last year, their annual charity calendar – which featured employees posing in their bare essentials – raised over £11,000 for Sheffield-based specialist school Paces, and they are particularly active in sponsoring sports teams from Rawmarsh St Joseph’s Sunday League club to Rotherham United (the Hicklings are big Millers fans).

“Dancers, motorbikers, boxers – we like to support anyone local,”

THE INDUSTRY IS A FAST-MOVING ONE; YOU’LL REGULARLY FIND NEW AND BETTER WAYS OF SEPARATING WASTE, TECHNOLOGY THAT ENSURES YOU CAN PULL EVERY LAST RECYCLABLE OUT OF IT.

says Emma. “We also work with Bluebell Wood, collecting for them and recycling their Christmas trees for free, so anyone who volunteers for them can use us as a tipping point.”

Maintaining close ties to the community is another benefit of a family-run business model. There aren’t many independent waste management companies left in the region, as many have been bought out by larger firms that don’t necessarily prioritise reinvesting in local areas or staying true to their roots.

But, as Emma explains right at the end of the interview, keeping the family values in check is of the utmost importance to how KCM do things and will continue to guide them as they enter an exciting new phase in the company’s history.

“I want to get as big as some of your corporates but while keeping our unique approach. That’s what makes us different, and I wouldn’t want to change that.”

kcmwaste.com

@kcmwaste

AIMING HIGH

Earlier this year, FluidOne, a leading cyber security, IT and cloud services provider, acquired Sheffield-based IT services specialists Highlander UK. Once the dust had settled on the deal, Phil Turner spoke to Highlander’s MD Steve Brown to discuss how he found the process from a business-owner’s perspective.

Could you give us a bit of a background to the acquisition?

We had an approach from someone around five years ago, who came up to Highlander, had a meeting with myself and Rob, who was the major shareholder and the chief exec back then, and they decided they didn’t want to pursue their interest because we weren’t doing enough of a certain type of technology.

However, one of the people that came up for that meeting I got on well with. We kept in touch via LinkedIn and built up a friendly relationship. He was later in London, talking to someone he knew who was working as a director at an IT company. This person said they were looking for businesses to purchase to build a regional network, and the gentleman that I’d met mentioned me and Highlander.

It certainly shows the benefit of networking!

Funny, isn’t it? You get people paying agents to do that sort of work, but our buyers came from a chat out of the blue with someone I had met and got on with. I got a phone call from this chap who asked what was happening with

Highlander, and I told him we weren’t for sale. However, I did add that if it was the right business and exit for Rob, it potentially could be.

How did it grow from there?

I told Rob and said we’d have a chat with them first. So, I spoke to this guy, who passed me on to their mergers and acquisitions department at FluidOne. We started the conversations and then almost a year to the date, we were sold to FluidOne.They believe in a business model of people buying local, using local services, knowledge and engineers. So, rather than have one big IT business based in one place with say 500 staff, there should be one regionally that is the centre of excellence, which is us, but then there are branches around the country that service local areas, doing exactly what Highlander do: getting involved in the local colleges, universities, charities and Chamber of Commerce.

Was that the main thing that appealed to this company about purchasing Highlander?

Yes, that and the fact that the cultures matched, amongst other factors. For example, they also

liked our high Net Promoter Score (NPS). They saw that our NPS was up around the same numbers as theirs, which is world-class service from both of us. So they were interested in how we did that, how we motivated the people, why so many people at Highlander have stayed here for 10-20 years, why, when they came into the office, it felt like a great atmosphere and people were really friendly. The numbers stacked up, but they were really impressed with our people, systems, processes and everything else.

Part of their remit for growth was that if they buy Highlander it would allow us to do more high end cybersecurity and connectivity with customers we previously didn't do that with. They’ve also got a good client base of highquality clients that aren’t buying IT or IT services, so we can get an introduction to them and offer our IT services. So, whilst we’re still growing organically, it’s allowed us to have these extras added into the business as well. So, I think from that point of view, the stars aligned; we’re a solid business, a good fit and a lively office environment.

How did you deal with telling the staff?

We’ve had approaches before and it can be very unsettling. If you tell people early doors it can turn heads and distract. It is hard work finding that balance. So I kept it to myself for as long as I thought was right. We’re a very open and honest business, and I like to tell the guys just about everything, but I didn’t want them getting their heads turned and losing their focus. As soon as I knew ‘this could be the one’ I said, “Right, you need to meet these people. You need to be happy with them and excited for the future as well.”

Then we had the meetings, talking about job roles, the business and FluidOne’s goals. The directors came away from the meetings buzzing and then I realised the problem I’d got on my hands then was if we don’t sell, they were all going to be disappointed. We’d grown organically and nicely for a long time, but some people had hit a bit of a glass ceiling here, others wanted to get into new

technologies quicker. This has opened a lot of doors now. It helps that their culture is very similar to ours. And I said to every member of staff that I could look them in the eye and say we sold to the best company we’d met, who had the best values and give us all a chance to grow.

They invest in people, training and systems. I’ve personally invested in the new company and I wouldn’t have done that if I wasn’t confident.

How have things changed personally for you since the deal, and what advice would you give to someone contemplating a sale of their business?

Having a boss for the first time in 15 years or so was obviously going to be different. All of a sudden, there were little things that start concerning you before the deal goes through. What if we need to buy something? What autonomy do I have? What about our ideas? So, it’s important pre-deal to get clarity and make sure that the plan is right. Then it’s almost a case of referencing and checking the people that you’re going to be working with. You know, have they done a good job before? Speak to other people in the industry who’ve worked with them. But ultimately, it is a leap of faith because you are relinquishing some control. So, it’s making sure you spend the time prior to this ensuring that you think they’re the right fit.

What about after the sale?

I think after the sale, it’s doing everything to try and make the integration smooth and for it to not impact other the staff, who will of course have concerns. Our new CEO was keen to stress that we had been bought for who we are –we don’t need any huge changes.

Ultimately, it’s a bit like moving in with someone you’ve never lived with before: there’s going to be some Adjustment and some getting to know you. But I’ve been doing this for 22 years, and every year we’ve changed or done something different, and we’ve grown, developed and improved every year. I think this takeover has given me personally a bit of a kick up the backside and taken me out of my comfort zone a bit. You learn something new every

day. There is so much we can work on with the wider group, whilst also learning from each other.

With regards to reporting to someone else in terms of how successful you are, is that now more stressful?

Yeah, that is more stressful. We still cared about our results before, obviously, but if we had a dip or two we just soldier on, and we still will now, however I want to show our value and make sure we keep on the up and impress.

For the first few weeks post-deal, I was driving into work feeling a bit stressed, wondering if a curveball was coming our way but, thankfully, it’s all been okay and actually inspirational to be honest.

On that note, do you feel that the purchase has helped to revitalise yourself from a working perspective?

From my point of view, I think I’ve got my flame burning brighter again. It was interesting that some of the staff who have worked with me for 15 or so years have said they were happy pre-deal but they now realise post-deal that I and others might have been a little bit comfortable at times.

Now it’s exciting that we have the opportunity bring new ideas and products to the table and give our customers great service and more offerings. That’s exciting for us all.

www.highlanderuk.com

If you’re considering selling up in the near future, Rebecca Stopford from Bhayani Law has been helping sellers to make sense of the process for many years. She provides some advice on how to ensure that you are best prepared…

NO SALE IS THE SAME…

… and nor are the people involved. The business might be your life’s work and sale a once in a lifetime step, or you have been through it all before. This means you have different questions and needs, and I like to work in a way that suits you and your experience.

WHAT’S THE DEAL AND HOW DID YOU GET THERE?

Understanding the deal is key to giving the best advice. Many factors can shape this – is it a management buyout, employee ownership trust set-up or a third-party sale? Are you and other key staff staying on? Are you waiting on some of the payments over time and/or based on future performance?

To attract a buyer, you might have used a broker. This usually happens long before you think about appointing a lawyer – so a word of warning here is to read the terms and conditions and be sure about the commission you’ll pay and when it will be payable. Don’t get caught out having to pay a hefty sum even if the broker didn’t find the buyer.

FAIL TO PREPARE, PREPARE TO FAIL

Sounds harsh but as deals don’t usually come out of the blue, aside from making sure your financials are sound, you can boost the commercials on offer by giving the buyer confidence that everything is tickety-boo.

The due diligence process hits sellers just as they are also trying to keep up with business as usual and keep the potential deal quiet in the business. Getting to grips with the scope of the due diligence will help you here. I recommend using a standard list to gather the key information and contracts together so that you just need to update and add a bit more when the real request comes through. This will highlight some useful points: for example, knowing if a key contract could be terminated on sale if you don’t get consent of the customer or grant funder, as this could affect the numbers and give the buyer a key to reduce the price… or walk away.

LET THE HEADS OF TERMS DO

SOME HEAVY LIFTING

Buyers like to keep heads of terms

simple – to capture the price and perhaps exclusivity and then do the rest of the negotiation after due diligence; just when you’ll have already invested time and money in the process and may be easier to bend. So, in some deals I find that it’s rewarding to spend time drilling down on more detail in the heads of terms to document what security will be in place for any deferred payment, precise detail about earnouts metrics and variables, warranty caps and, if you can, payment of costs if the buyer can’t get funding. Also, if you are staying on, you can pin down what the employment package will be. The sale process can feel like hard work, but it is harder if you don’t have the right team around you. Call a few solicitors, see if you like them on price, but also see how responsive and interested in your deal they are and find out who will actually be doing the work. Will they answer your calls promptly? Are they recommended? Also key is your accountant. It’s not a good time to start with a new firm just before sale, so make sure you have the right one in place now.

If you are looking for advice and guidance on how to prepare your business for sale, contact Rebecca@bhayanilaw.co.uk / 0114 3032300.

BENCHMARK

Last September, longtime employee Rebecca Morris took over the reins at well-established Sheffield recruitment agency, Benchmark. Ten months in, unLTD’s Phil Turner headed down to speak to her about how the takeover’s gone, their recent rebrand, and the future of recruitment…

Hi Rebecca. Benchmark is such a recognisable agency in Sheffield, so can you start by telling us about the rebrand and why you decided on the relaunch?

I was always going to rebrand it as I wanted it to represent me and the new mark in Benchmark. Everyone knows the current branding in terms of the kiddie pics, and that’s great, but a few more corporate organisations have started to use that same branding and I just think it needed a change. The colours are more affiliated with me. They’re quite earthy, quite green, quite olive garden. The benchmark, as in the logo, has actually been etched into stone and symbolises direction.

Did you think about a complete change, including the name?

I thought about changing the name and I had some ideas. But when it came to it, I thought, actually, Benchmark is quite a good name. It’s a strong name, and it’s well known in Sheffield. A lot of that is down to Lou and Amy [former directors Louisa-Harrison Walker and Amy Tingle], as well as me. It’s been going for 16 years and it’s got a good reputation, so I didn’t really want to change it in the end.

What can people expect from Benchmark under your leadership – what’s different?

Well, in many ways it will remain very similar. Obviously, it’s slimmed down, in that it’s just me currently, although that might change soon. The service is just as good as it was, if not better, because I’m choosing the clients I want to work with. Working with businesses that I want to place people with. A big part of my job is selling the opportunity and ensuring that if somebody’s handing in their notice to go to a new job then I genuinely believe that it’s a great job.

You’ve been running the business on your own for around ten months. How have you found that and what concerns have you had?

I suppose, officially ten months, but actually the year before I was on my own with the occasional help from Lou, so it’s more like a year and 10 months that it’s kind of just been completely me. I thought it was going to be really lonely. I had times where I thought, is this going to be awful? But actually, I’ve been really happy and really enjoyed it. I think a big part of that is because I can control the process from start to finish.

My biggest takeaway of going from being employed to owning the business is that you have to be a bit braver. I’m naturally quite risk-averse and I don’t make choices very quickly. I’ve realised that where I might ordinarily say no, I sometimes have to push

through a little bit further.

It is obviously a scary thought that there’s only me if something dramatic happened, but touch wood, so far, I’ve been pretty much fine. I mean, I had Covid, for example, and had to have a week off sick, but I could still keep things moving and I just told the clients what was happening, and everybody was brilliant. Nothing got dropped.

Do you think people’s attitudes have changed in terms of flexibility in the workplace?

I’ve worked a lot on that myself. Having worked in an agency environment for ten years, I was kind of programmed to be at my desk for 7 – 7.30am until sometimes 7pm. That was very common, and I burnt out multiple times. I absolutely pledged to myself that I wasn’t going to work burnout hours again. I’m now actually really good at saying no, putting my out of office on and remembering that I’m human. When I look back at how I was as a manager, I think I was probably pushing that whirlwind of 12-hour days without realising it, because it got the job done, but, actually, probably not to the best standard.

How do you feel the recruitment industry has changed over the last ten years?

I’d say the obvious change is that over the last two to three years it’s become incredibly candidate led. I think during the pandemic, lots of people’s priorities changed. A lot of people decided this employee is not right for me, or that job is not right for me, or that situation is not right for me and people became more selective about where they wanted to go, which is completely fair enough.

There were also a lot of redundancies and then there was a huge amount of demand for recruitment very quickly, but lots of people have made different life choices in that time. For example, people might have gone out on their own, or were perhaps edging towards retirement and decided, actually, I’m done. Because of that, we’ve ended up with a huge chunk of the candidate pool who aren’t there anymore. The big demand for candidates became extreme. I would have one candidate at a job with multiple offers, which had previously been rare. That’s eased a little bit, but there is still a shortage.

The biggest change that I’ve seen in 2023 is salaries. They have just grown

exponentially because of the cost of living crisis. For an identical role that I placed in Nottingham last year on £22k, when they needed to recruit again this year, I placed it on £27k.

How do you see the future of recruitment in the face of various technologies that that could be seen to threaten the industry?

I think there will always be a chunk of people that don’t quite see the value in recruitment agencies, which is absolutely fair enough, but many do see the value that recruiters add. We’re that filter, so that your inboxes don’t get flooded with loads of candidates that aren’t suitable, but also that vetting process, speaking to and getting to know the candidates, meaning that you can go straight to interview and can hire much more quickly. I know some companies are using automation but I think that in any role where you require humans, there has got to be a human that is also dealing with that, which in this case is a recruiter, and I don’t think you can get that from a system or computers. I can’t say I’m particularly concerned about my industry.

Get in touch with Rebecca via Benchmark’s shiny new website here: benchmarkrecruit.co.uk

I ABSOLUTELY PLEDGED TO MYSELF THAT I WASN’T GOING TO WORK BURNOUT HOURS AGAIN. I’M NOW ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD AT SAYING NO, PUTTING MY OUT OF OFFICE ON AND REMEMBERING THAT I’M HUMAN.

Park Hill: Nest

TAKING FLIGHT

unLTD caught up with Toni Anne Dunleavy, Managing Director at modern furniture and lighting experts Nest, to discuss how the business has settled in since opening their flagship 3,500 sq ft design showroom at Park Hill.

When did Park Hill first come on Nest’s horizon as a potential place to move into?

Our founder and CEO, Christian Hawley, is born and bred in Sheffield; he’s Sheffield through and through. I think evoking that friendly Yorkshire welcome is very much a core value of ours, so when the opportunity came up to have a space at Park Hill, it just really stood out for us. We’re celebrating our 20th year of trading this year, so opening in our 20th year at Park Hill just felt like a way of staying true to our roots.

Where were you based before and what prompted the move?

We’ve had a small showroom on Ecclesall Road in the past, and we’ve also been working out of a hybrid workspace just off Sheffield Parkway. We’ve been predominantly e-commerce focused for a number of years now, but coming out of the pandemic, it just felt right to kind of be able to showcase what we do. We wanted people to be able to touch and feel the products we sell.

Christian has always had a keen interest in modernist architecture, so Parkhill was always in the background when thinking about a new location. He also knows a couple of existing business owners on the site, so we were able also to get an insider’s point of view before deciding to go for it.

And on a personal note, me and my sisters were born in Sheffield, my paternal grandfather worked on the original Park Hill building site and my maternal grandmother opened a hair salon within the Park Hill complex, so there are some emotional ties there for myself.

When did the showroom officially open, and how was the process of getting it ready?

So, we opened the showroom on the third of April. It took about 20 months to fit it out; we wanted to make sure we got it right as we felt passionate about staying true to the roots of the Park Hill aesthetic without disturbing the original architecture.

On that note, what advantages do the building layout and architecture offer?

A lot of our collection was designed in the 50s and 60s, so there’s a bit of a connection there. But the large windows and open space also let a lot of light in, which is great for photo opportunities and showcases our products in the best way.

It’s the perfect location for a business: really strong transport links, close to the city centre and lovely open grounds for staff to walk around, unwind and have their lunches in. Also, the skyline view offers endless photo opportunities! ›

Park Hill: Nest

› How have you found becoming part of the community of residents and businesses at Park Hill?

We’ve only been open three months, but it’s clear that everyone looks out for each other, whether you’re a business or a resident. You get the feeling that the residents are proud of the onsite businesses and eager for more to come along. We’ve been getting involved with the Park Hill Residents Association; they’ve got events running frequently and a summer social coming up, which we’ll definitely be getting involved in, and we’ve returned the favour by inviting residents along to the events we’ve hosted since opening.

In terms of the businesses, we’ve already worked with our neighbours, OD Create, who helped to film and produce a video for our first press launch event. Of course, we’re always recommending our customers to get food and drink from South Street Kitchen next door. We had a working relationship with

the developers Urban Splash before the move, so it’s been nice to continue with that. I’m really excited to see what other businesses will be joining us in the future!

What would you say to any businesses that are thinking about moving to Park Hill?

What are you waiting for?

The community is great, the transport links are great, and it’s an amazing Grade-II listed building. We’ve loved being able to interact with our customers and see them interacting with the products in our showroom space. We’re selling unique designs that are going to stand the test of time and be passed down through the years, and Park Hill feels like the right space to do that in.

Pop in to see the Nest’s Park Hill showroom at The Scottish Queen, 21-24 South Street. Open Monday-Saturday, 10am4pm.

www.nest.co.uk

Nest is a Sheffield-based luxury furniture and lighting retailer. The business sells expertly curated brands that have the same thing in common: they are passionate about producing high quality, innovative and modern design. A small independent, the team genuinely loves what they sell, and are proud to deliver a personal, friendly service with every purchase.

Sheffield’s Park Hill development, a joint venture between Urban Splash and Places for People, is proving to be one of the most desirable places to live, work and play in the city.

Urban Splash and Places for People have worked to maintain the strong community focus during the extensive refurbishment work, adding lobbies, generous balconies, gardens, walkways and seating throughout the development. The vision and ambition for the redevelopment of Park Hill is being realised.

Three of the five Phases to Park Hill are complete and fully occupied and there is a vibrant, mixed community of 1,500 people living and working there.

Human Studio was the first business to move in and has just celebrated 10 years at Park Hill. New businesses recently taking up residence at Park Hill attribute the dual aspects of the new office spaces, parking, proximity to the city and transport links as well

as the community vibe as the reasons for moving in. Additional businesses including a terraced restaurant are set join the line-up in the coming months moving into the latest space released in Phase 2, leaving just a handful of current commercial openings for prospectives.

Other assets to the community include a nursery, café and shop.

Grace Owen Nursery has been onsite since 1963 and have been in purpose-built premises in the Phase 1 since 2016; South Street Kitchen, well-loved and used by residents across the city, opened in 2018; and a general store, Park Hill Provisions, is based in the student section, Phase 3, called Beton House.

The landscaped areas are used by residents, workers and visitors and include seating areas, outdoor table tennis tables and residents have even created their own herb garden.

Keeping up the momentum, planning is now in for Phase 4

of Park Hill, which will see 124 new homes, workspace and community facilities opening in 2025.

Reflective of Urban Splash’s commitment to the city and experience of regeneration, Sheffield City Council has recently named the developer as the preferred bidder to redevelop the city’s John Lewis store, also Grade ll listed like Park Hill.

Plans for Cole Brothers, as the building is affectionately known across the city, will transform the one-time store into a mixed-use space with substantial areas of the building reopening to the public as a place to ‘meet, eat and shop’. The ground floor is set to house independent shops, bars and restaurants, with the Barker’s Pool and Cambridge Street entrances opened up to allow for outdoor on-street dining. The upper floors will provide flexible workspace, studios, a gym and rooftop offices.

This year alone, the Urban Splash Park Hill regeneration project has won four prestigious awards. The Phase 2 process won Best Retrofit Initiative at the Northern Housing Awards 2023 and also came first in the categories Retrofit of the Year, Listed Building (£5m and over) and Housing at the AJ Retrofit Awards.

Businesses currently at Park Hill include:

Warp Films

Iconic Sheffield film and TV production company.

South Street Kitchen

Independent vegetarian and vegan café.

Human Creative team based with global credentials in design, animation and virtual reality.

OD Create

Award-winning video and social media agency.

Nest Independent luxury furniture and lighting retailer.

Kada Research

UK and international economic development consultancy.

Inform Surveying

Chartered building surveyors and project managers advising on commercial and residential property.

Airship

Hospitality technology company.

Alpha Recruitment

Employment agency delivering staffing solutions to a multitude of sectors.

Planning Design

Architectural and town planning practice.

Park Hill Provisions

Convenience store.

Puckator

International distributor of wholesale gifts, giftware and homeware.

Can Studios eLearning specialists.

AAD Architects

Multi-sector architecture practice.

Field

A creative studio working across brand exhibitions, digital tech and web.

UNLOCKING SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGES

Businesses in South Yorkshire are less productive, less efficient and as a result many lag behind other parts of the UK in terms of economic output. Those were the findings of the 2015 Sheffield City Region Economic Plan. It’s been five years since that report was published, so what’s happened to South Yorkshire since that time?

A challenge identified in the report was the apparent reduced levels of productivity being achieved by businesses based in South Yorkshire, compared with other areas of the UK.

The plan identified a productivity gap of 83% per employee within the Sheffield City Region when compared with the rest of England. Crucially, the document revealed that rather than closing the gap, in reality it was widening. At its heart, the economic plan identified a number of key factors that directly impacted the region’s overall levels of productivity: an over-reliance on low-skilled employment, a prevalence of public sector employment and an enterprise gap. ›

DIGITALXRAID: TACKLING CYBERCRIME

“The funding we’ve secured has been a genuine game changer for us. It has enabled us to be the first to bring a platform of this kind to market.”

– Rick Jones, CEO, DigitalXRaid

Doncaster-based cybersecurity specialist DigitalXRaid called for help from the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme to help its clients stay one step ahead of cyber-criminals by helping it to pioneer a unique cybersecurity portal designed to provide its clients with a holistic overview of its cybersecurity measures and assess potential risks more effectively.

OrbitalX is the first

platform of its kind that enables all of a company’s cybersecurity measures to be viewed from a single source and enable greater collaboration across the business, and as such, DigitalXRAID believes the platform could be a genuine game changer when it comes to giving businesses the initiative in the battle against cybercriminals.

Since work began on the platform, DigitalXRAID has found its services to be in high demand: over the past 12 months alone, the company’s workforce has grown by 30%, and the company believes that the launch of its new platform will provide a catalyst to enjoy significant future growth.

PHILFORD DESIGN ENGINEERING

Fabricating a bright future

“As a relatively small business, we knew that the key to creating sustainable growth wasn’t simply about recruiting new members of staff, but also overcoming the barriers that were impacting our capacity. This meant re-thinking the way in which we operated as a business.”

– Daniel Becket, Philfod Design Engineering

Rotherham-based Philford Design Engineering designs, manufactures and installs the vital equipment relied upon by the quarrying, mining, recycling and energy sectors, including conveyor belts, crushers and automated metal detection equipment.

Reliant upon dedicated welding bays, one of the

challenges the business faced was moving the large components it produced around its large factory during the manufacturing process, resulting in significant amounts of downtime.

Grant funding provided through the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme helped the company to invest in mobile welding units and the vital ventilation equipment needed to keep works safe.

The measures have helped the business to reduce lost production by half a day per employee, per week. As a direct result, the company has increased its manufacturing capabilities.

Over the past 12 months the company has seen its workforce increase by 25%, and with a growing order book, Philford is planning

to expand its workforce further by creating new apprenticeships to help inspire the next generation of skilled engineers.

› With a clear ambition to cut the enterprise deficit by increasing productivity, the Business Productivity Programme sought to help businesses based in the region to increase highly skilled positions, overcome skills barriers and unlock potential hurdles to growth.

The Business Productivity Programme initiative was one of a number of measures introduced to help businesses based in South Yorkshire linked to the region’s recovery from Covid-19 and aimed to contribute towards closing the productivity gap in South Yorkshire and the rest of the UK by 2041.

In 2020, South Yorkshire’s four local authorities, led by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund to help South Yorkshire’s SMEs to overcome the productivity challenges faced by businesses operating within the county. One of the solutions identified was the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme: an initiative that provided match-funded grants to help SMEs based within South Yorkshire to overcome the productivity challenges they faced.

Funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Business Productivity Programme operated between 2020 and 2023. During that time, the scheme helped businesses to access a total of £3.8m in match funded grants, helping to unlock their growth potential.

At its heart, the Business Productivity Grant scheme aimed to help businesses to overcome a number of challenges, ranging from automating or speeding up labour intensive processes, reducing down time, investing in new forms of technology as well as maximising the use of space.

Businesses could apply for a grant between £2,500 and £12,499 towards the overall costs of the project, with the total project value being between £5,000 and £24,999.

As of February 2023, 424 businesses were supported during the programme, with 359 SMEs receiving grants to overcome the challenges they faced.

The scheme was led by Enterprising Barnsley and delivered across South Yorkshire by Business Doncaster, Business Sheffield and RiDO, with each local authority using a team of Key Account Managers to engage with local

BLAKE UK

“Moving to paperless systems has helped us to reduce the amount of waste we generate, and as a direct result of the improved processes we’ve implemented we’ve seen demand for our products rise. We also expanded our workforce as a result, creating two new apprenticeships within the business.”

Blake UK has been designing and manufacturing a wide range of aerials, CCTV systems, Wi-Fi signal boosting equipment and networking products for domestic and commercial use for more than 50 years. Faced with increased competition, notably from overseas, the

businesses and to offer support and guidance when it came to overcoming the productivity challenges they faced.

In June, the first phase of the Business Productivity Programme will come to a close, having successfully helped businesses across the region to create 524 new jobs and safeguard 1719 roles. In total, 95% of all businesses that benefitted from the scheme reported an increase in productivity and 71% a positive impact upon profitability.

According to research produced on behalf of Enterprising Barnsley, the measures embraced by SMEs through the Business Productivity Programme are likely to result in a staggering £12.1m being added to the local economy each year, as a result of increased levels of growth.

It can be easy to look at such figures in a fairly abstract way, but in many cases, the grant support provided through the Business Productivity Programme hasn’t just helped businesses to overcome barriers to growth but enabled them to open up new markets for their products and services.

One such business was Barnsley-based Impact Framing. The specialist picture framing business was launched by Robert Friend in 2000 and until recently, specialised exclusively in making custom-built frames that are used to display a range of cherished possessions ranging from original artworks and mirrors to football shirts, medals, sporting memorabilia and professional photography.

The company successfully secured grant funding through the Business Productivity Programme to invest in new equipment, allowing it to fulfil larger orders. Since securing the funds, the numbers of frames manufactured has increased from little more than 1500 per year to nearly a thousand a month.

According to Robert, the funds received were transformational: “The changes we have made have allowed the business to become more competitive without compromising on quality.”

Impact Framing’s story is one of many of the success stories from businesses across South Yorkshire, which have successfully embraced positive change as a direct result of funding secured through the Business Productivity programme.

company realised that to fulfil its growth ambitions it needed to improve the paperbased systems it relied upon.

With the aim of making the entire company paperless, Paul applied to the Business Productivity Grant Programme for help. The match-funded grant allowed the company to invest in its manufacturing systems, whilst upgrading the company’s computer systems vastly improved its ability to monitor stock and reduce waste.

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

introduction of a paperless order processing system, as well as consolidating and streamlining processes elsewhere within the company’s manufacturing, warehousing and sales

operations, has helped Blake UK to save the business approximately 16 hours per month, as well as a further 24 hours per month as a result of the improved management processes.

– Paul Blake, Blake UK

Tuning into a new phase of growth

FLEXPAK

“Developing a lab facility in Barnsley was central to our future growth plans. Without the help we’ve received from the Business Productivity Programme, it’s likely that it would have taken us several years to perfect the new range.” -

Tom Rich, Technical Support Manager, Flexpak UK

Flexpak is hoping to grab an extra slice of the packaging market after funds from the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme helped the Barnsley headquartered business to build a brandnew lab facility, enabling food producers to reduce the volume of single-use plastics being consigned to landfill.

Responsible for manufacturing over 20 million bread bags each month, as well as supplying packaging to the catering and pharmaceutical industries, the Wombwell-based business recognised that the development of an ultra-thin film could not only reduce the amount of plastic used in the manufacturing process but could also result in significant cost savings for its customers.

To bring the new product to market, Flexpak realised that it needed to upgrade key equipment within its testing facility, allowing the strength, friction and durability of the new film to be accurately analysed, and secured funds from the South Yorkshire

HEADLINE FIGURES:

524 JOBS CREATED (42.6% OF ALL RESPONDENTS)

71% POSITIVE IMPACT UPON PROFITABILITY

95% REPORTED INCREASES IN PRODUCTIVITY

1719 JOBS SAFEGUARDED (47.8% OF ALL RESPONDENTS)

386 BUSINESSES SUPPORTED

£12.1M ADDED PER ANNUM

£3.8M MATCH FUNDED

WILL THE BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAMME

RETURN?

Such has been the success of the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme that plans are underway to relaunch a new version of the scheme later this year. The SYMCA website publishes a list of grants and financial support currently available to support businesses in South Yorkshire, and any businesses interested in pre-registering for the next phase of the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme should contact Enterprising Barnsley, Business Doncaster, Business Sheffield and RiDO.

Business Productivity Programme to bring its new product range to market.

As a direct result of the funds received, Flexpak has successfully pioneered a plastic film that is just 25 microns thick - the equivalent of a human skin cell. The film is capable of holding up to 10kg in weight and is

already helping its customers to make significant cost savings. Flexpak estimates that the amount of plastic being consigned to landfill is likely to be reduced by as much as 20%, whilst the company is hoping to expand its workforce in Barnsley to 15 employees.

Helping food manufactuers to reduce plastic waste

NEIL GARRETT HAVE LUNCH WITH...

This month, unLTD’s Ash Birch heads to Barnsley’s Market Kitchen in The Glass Works to grab a bite with Neil Garrett, Creative Director and founder of Ginger Fox Studio…

Hi Neil. Let’s start by talking a bit about Ginger Fox Studio and what you do…

We’re a brand and digital studio. We predominantly work with companies on branding; that can be from the initial company naming and strategy through to their brand identity, then across a variety of digital media including websites, animation, and also traditional printed media to help strengthen a company’s brand message. There is never really one day the same and we really do have a wide variety of clients, which keeps our work fresh and interesting.

What sorts of businesses are you currently working with?

We are currently working with quite a variety; from ambitious startups, established charities, education sector clients, to theatres and tech companies. We also work with Barnsley Council on some projects from time to time.

What have been some of your most recent projects?

We have recently worked on and helped to launch a new company

that have an app for training consultants. We worked with them on naming the company, the brand identity, app design, website design and promotional materials for launch. This was a great project to work on for myself and the team, we loved seeing the project build from the very beginning of working on the name then through to launch of the branding, website and app.

How do clients tend to find you?

We get a lot of work through referrals or companies that have noticed what we have created for other people. Often, we’ll get recommended by existing clients, which is great; clearly we do a good job for them! Generally, if you do a good job on one project for a client, they will tell other people and that leads to new clients.

What do you enjoy about the work?

It is really about the finished result and seeing it working for our client. It’s great seeing that end goal being achieved and our work being out there in the world. It’s nice feeling when we

make a difference to businesses and the way people see them. I also love the amount of trust that is put in us by our clients. A new brand can be the make or break of some companies, so when we have an idea that may be a little out there, but our client trusts us, that’s a great feeling.

How did you get into it?

Through school and my old design tech teacher who gave me my first introduction into graphic design and what it actually was. That’s when I first thought it might be an interesting thing to do as a living. I’ve been doing it for 22 years now and I’ve worked in a lot of different places for different design agencies. I’ve had my own company for six years and I often think ‘why didn’t I do it sooner?’. There are three of us in the studio now, and I can’t do what I do and create what the studio does without my team.

You grew up in Barnsley. Has the business always been based here?

Barnsley born and bred, as they say. When I first started out on my own, I was working from a client’s spare office in Rotherham, which was a great start for me, but apart from that we’ve always been based in Barnsley.

What do you like about working from your hometown?

Barnsley is great for business and collaborating with other businesses; there is also lot’s happening with regeneration in the town and it is starting to get a buzz about it, so things can only get better I feel. When I first set up, I looked at other areas, like Sheffield, but the rent costs for office space were pretty pricey. You’re paying at least twice as much, and for a smaller space.

We’ve also got great transport links to everywhere here in Barnsley, so it doesn’t make a difference where we are as we can easily travel anywhere. In short, it was an easy decision staying in Barnsley for me.

How has Barnsley town centre changed in recent years?

Because the council have invested in the town centre it has put Barnsley back on the map. Years and years ago Barnsley used to be well known for its markets, and obviously it had a downturn with shops closing left, right and centre. But, thanks to the council investing so much into it, people are coming back and other businesses from outside the town can see that things are happening here. For instance, The Glass Works is a big thing for the area and people are taking notice. People can’t believe how much it’s changed.

What makes it attractive for businesses to set up in Barnsley?

Barnsley is great at the moment with lots of exciting things happening with redevelopment, but businesses setting up in Barnsley can get a lot of support. For instance, businesses in Barnsley have access to Enterprise Barnsley for business advice and support from their team. There are also lots of great business centres too, we’re based in The Digital Media Centre right in the town centre. For us, this is a great space to be in, easy reach of town and transport links, and there are creative businesses just like ours in there. It’s a great place for collaborating and meeting other like-minded businesses. Again, the favourable business rates and rents are a big thing compared to big city rates, as well as the transport links I’ve mentioned before. The Digital Media Centre is right next to the train station, so if I need to I can just jump on the train and get to Sheffield, Leeds, London, or wherever I need to.

To find out more and to get in touch with Ginger Fox Studio visit gingerfoxstudio. com or find them on socials @ gingerfoxstudio

WHERE WE ATE: THE MARKET KITCHEN

Prior to our chat, I meet up with Neil outside the impressive The Glass Works building, in the revamped Barnsley town centre.

For anyone who hasn’t made the short trip from Sheffield to Barnsley since before the pandemic, you’d be forgiven for not recognising the place. Gone are the abandoned storefronts and tired markets, replaced in recent years by an appealing mix of independent businesses and recognised brands, all housed in a welcoming, modern town centre development.

Chief amongst those developments is The Glass Works, one of Barnsley’s newest developments and public spaces, which was unveiled in September 2021. It houses a number of high-profile shops, as well as giving a new home to the more traditional markets on the lower floors, but today, we’re headed to the first floor Market Kitchen to check out some of the vendors in the building’s sleek food hall space.

The first of three courses comes from Meze Turkish Kitchen, an authentic Turkish grill nestled in the heart of the food hall. I opt for the vegan Med Veg Kebab, while Neil goes for the meaty Meze Special option and we wait in the seating area for the buzzer to let us know it’s time to collect.

When they arrive, we’re faced with a hearty selection of well-spiced meats (Neil) and veggies (me), accompanied by Turkish flat breads, rice and a particularly delicious spicy relish. It proves a beautiful start to the meal and

we greedily polish off our plates.

Next up is authentic Polish specialists Passion Kiosk, an offshoot of the popular town centre Polish restaurant, Passion. We’re greeted at the counter by its friendly owner Jacek Suszka, who talks us through the menu, recommending we try a Tymbark, a Polish bottled juice drink that comes in a variety of flavours. I hesitantly go for the cactus flavour, which is actually a very pleasant, fruity surprise.

To eat, Neil opts for the zapiekanka, a traditional polish street food staple which is essentially a large openfaced sandwich covered in meats and lathered with cheese, before being stuck under the grill. For the vegan option, Jacek rustles me up a Polish spin on avocado toast. Neil tells me the sandwich is delicious (if a bit on the big side following his meaty starter) and my avo toast goes down a treat.

It’s then on to dessert. After an already pretty heavy lunch, the thought of waffles was a bit daunting, so instead, both Neil and I go for the biscoff ice cream cones from Dolly’s Dessert’s Kiosk. A fitting end to a far bougier lunch than the usual Tesco meal deal fodder I’m used to!

I leave for the train station impressed with both the food and the town centre development itself, and vow not to leave it quite so long before my next visit.

@theglassworksbarnsley // @ mezeturkishkitchen // @ passionkiosk // @dollys.desserts // @ marketkitchenbarnsley

SUMO ARE HAVANA GREAT TIME!

Cubana Tapas Bar in Sheffield saw hundreds of Sumo Digital’s game developers gather last month ahead of their flagship internal learning event - Sumo Developer Conference (SDC).

On Monday 19 June, Sumo Digital exclusively hired Cubana where over 350 guests were treated to drinks and a fine selection of food from the award-winning business, as well as entertainment from Cubana’s in-house musicians. The event was a chance for people from across Sumo – some travelling as far as India, Canada, and Poland – to meet with fellow peers and settle into their surroundings of the ‘Steel City’ ahead of SDC23.

“Our networking event at Cubana was a fantastic opportunity for those travelling near and far to meet one another ahead of what was a very busy and insightful few days,” said Gary Dunn, Managing Director of Sumo Digital. “We created SDC as an event where all our studios can come together to collaborate, sharing their knowledge from different levels of experiences and backgrounds, and showcasing our exceptional talent as one of the leading game development companies in this industry.”

"Cubana is a fantastic establishment to hold a corporate event,” said Christina Haralambous, Group Director of Communications and Marketing for Sumo Group. “Not only are the staff and management incredibly accommodating and wonderful to work with; the food, space and entertainment are top-class, creating an atmosphere which makes your guests feel comfortable, welcome and safe.”

If you’re interested in booking a corporate event at Cubana, they have a wide range of options including tapas buffets, canapés or a sit-down tapas banquet in the main restaurant upstairs. Entertainment possibilities

include live bands or solo musicians (such as their resident saxophonist), magicians, or perhaps even a salsa dance class to get you into the swing of things. The Havana Room upstairs is perfect for hosting smaller events of up to 60 guests and their main restaurant upstairs has a further 120 covers, while the downstairs lounge bar has a capacity of 250.

Adrian Bagnoli, co-owner at Cubana, said of their corporate offering: “Cubana has hosted a plethora of corporate/networking events for a variety of business and organisations including Marketing Sheffield, Cavendish Cancer Care and HSBC. We take pride in curating exceptional corporate events. We have a versatile venue which can cater to a range of specific requirements. The layout encompasses a spacious downstairs bar area and a sunsoaked summer terrace that offers a picturesque view of Leopold Square, providing an enchanting setting for your gathering. We can be trusted to orchestrate a memorable experience, combining culinary delights, entertainment, and impeccable service – the perfect recipe for creating your successful event."

Call on 0114 2760475 to discuss a variety of booking options or send an email to info@cubanatapasbar.co.uk.

CUBANA IS A FANTASTIC ESTABLISHMENT TO HOLD A CORPORATE EVENT!

Already hosting events at 12 venues across the region, True North Brew Co. have recently begun thinking differently about what people want from their corporate events packages.

unLTD’s Phil Turner headed down to speak to Head of Sales and Business Development Emma Swales to find out more…

Hi Emma. Can you start by telling us why True North has started looking more closely at its corporative events packages?

We’ve found with all of our customers, particularly corporate customers, that they want an experience. They don’t want to just book a table for everybody to congregate and have drinks - they want to do something different that people will remember. Businesses don’t often have the budget to go out and spend money on corporate away days, so when they do, they want it to be special. We’ve tried to focus on creating those memorable, unique

experiences in the last couple of months.

Can you give us some examples of what you’ve been offering?

We have our Sheffield School of Gin, which offers customers the opportunity to distil and take away their own bottle of gin. As well as creating a bespoke bottle of gin, attendees learn about the history of gin and the different botanicals that go into making gin from our two amazing creators - who are really passionate and knowledgeable about gin. They take you through the whole process and supply you with lots of tasters of all our

different flavours of gin.

A couple of weeks ago Sheffield Bid did a Gin School and a Brewery Tour. They learnt about the brewery and did a tasting session. We can also go out to companies and do tastings in their offices.

We've noticed that companies are now encouraging people to return to the office. Our new initiative, Company of the Week, is launching this summer. Every week we contact 12 businesses, and they'll receive discounted lunches at their chosen venue. On Friday night, they'll receive special offers and discounts for after-work drinks. Companies can sign up for

Company of the Week on the website - and select one of our venues.

Anything else you’re offering that people might not know about?

One of the things we’ve always done, which I don’t think we’ve ever really shouted about enough, is our rewards scheme. Our Rewards Cardholders receive 3% back on any purchases made in our venues, as well as enjoying a special offer every month. We also have a business rewards card that allows everyone in the business to build points, meaning you can save up your points and use them for staff parties with us!

We also host cocktail classes in our venues' function rooms and can personalise our private hire areas to suit any occasion - we work with a very talented event dresser, Olivet Studios, who creates stunning bespoke decorations.

Our function rooms are perfect for business meetings, and networking events, believe it or not, we’re already getting Christmas enquiries! To find out more about any of the packages mentioned above, or any of True North’s events, head to truenorthbrewco.uk.

This year's expo promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with over 60 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services from a wide range of industries including IT, healthcare, �nance, training, marketing and more.

You'll have the chance to forge new partnerships, �nd new clients, and explore new markets - all in one place.

Visit:

HOP HIDEOUT

Now approaching a decade since its formation, there aren’t many independent businesses out there that have left such an indelible mark on the Sheffield beer scene as Hop Hideout. Last month, we caught up with owner Jules Gray to discuss reaching this significant milestone, reflecting on the progress made over ten years and how there are plenty of fresh ideas still left in the (beer) tank!

With craft beer, micropubs and drink-in beer shops being a fairly common sight throughout Sheffield, it’s easy to forget that once upon a time, they weren’t such a ubiquitous amenity. It follows, then, that beer lovers throughout these seven hills owe a mighty hat tip to pioneers like Hop Hideout, a key player in opening the gateway for funky IPAs, rich stouts and tangy sours to flood into the Steel City.

Beginning life as a pop-up in the back of an antiques centre on Abbeydale Road, this “labour of beery love”, as Jules calls it, moved to a nearby café space in 2015, where she opened one of the country’s first drink-in beer shops. Hop Hideout became synonymous with the city’s growing craft beer scene,

showcasing local breweries as well as stocking hundreds of beers from across the UK and indeed the globe, before its popularity necessitated a move to a bigger space at the GradeII listed Kommune food hall in 2019. Today you can pop in and browse 200+ refrigerated beers (rising to 300 if you include the additional downstairs storage) alongside a meticulously curated range of draught beer, farmhouse ciders and natural wines.

“It’s been great to have the support of Sheffield people over the years, and we hope that it continues because it’s really hard for independent businesses out there,” says Jules. “We’ve had fantastic regular support and are always meeting new customers along the way, so I think people really appreciate the commitment to quality and the ethos behind what we do.”

That ethos revolves around taking a conscientious approach to the producers they stock, championing women and minority-owned businesses in the beer industry and creating a genuine sense of community at home through regular events, the latter of which range from regular running and walking clubs to their standout

Sheffield Beer Week event – a citywide beery celebration which has grown to include up to 40 venues and includes a diverse range of activities such as beer festivals, tastings, tap takeovers, brewery tours and educational Q+As with industry experts.

The much-loved annual occasion, which takes place in March each year, is opened up in style by the Indie Beer Feast – a two-day event in a city centre venue which features 19 handpicked breweries, plus a selection of street food, low intervention wine and cider. Pop-up tastings are hosted by renowned beer writers and speakers while attendees mingle, whet their whistles and get into the spirit of things.

“I think what I’ve always hoped for, and worked towards, is being able to help make the beer scene a more approachable, welcoming, diverse space to be,” reflects Jules. “Of course, I want to get across my passion for beer and the quality being produced by independent breweries, cider producers and small wineries. But as well as that, a big part of the drive is ensuring we have a broad appeal to a wider audience. No barriers.”

Always keen to share knowledge, Jules, who is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, has been recognised for her informative blogs (some of which have featured in this very magazine, no less!), and Hop Hideout regularly hosts tasting sessions so people can come and learn about the process and tasting profiles of various beer, ciders and low intervention wines. Throw in commercial TV and radio appearances, plus a wide variety of podcast appearances, and you certainly can’t say she doesn’t put the time into spreading the beery word!

With the big 1-0 just around the corner, Jules tells us that she won’t be resting

Photos: Mark Newton

on her laurels. As has been the case since its formation, Hop Hideout will continue to adapt, grow and innovate. A milestone birthday celebration beckons and a special brewing collaboration is on the cards (they hosted a memorable Bill Murray beer-themed bash for their 5th-year soiree), but we’re also told that further expansion is a goal, if and when the right taproom location is found, so don’t be surprised to see a second venue pop up in the not too distant future!

But in the meantime, you can pay homage to a true trailblazer on the Sheffield beer scene by paying a visit in person or ordering a box via their online shop (www. hophideout.co.uk). Time to raise a glass to another ten years of commitment to community, good causes and superb drinks!

Hop Hideout Unit 11, Kommune, 1-13 Angel St, S3 8LN

www.hophideout.co.uk

@hophideout

BY JEN BEAL. CEO CHAPTER II

HOW TO BOOST YOUR BRAND ENGAGEMENT AND ELEVATE YOUR CONTENT MARKETING

What does brand mean to you? Not just a standout logo or catchy tagline, your brand represents your entire business identity.

The shift to a digital world has brought about a fundamental change in how consumers connect with brands. While the ‘old way’ of doing things is no longer sustainable, this presents an incredible opportunity to grow your business and expand your customer base.

What businesses used to see as a ‘one-way street’, pushing impersonal mass communication, has become a two-way, customer-driven highway. It is no longer about one-way advertising but about a dialogue which is more customer-centric than ever before.

Brand engagement is all about the ways a business connects with its existing and future customers,

stakeholders, employees, partners and the general public – it’s about building trust and creating an emotional connection or a fulfilling relationship over time.

But now more than ever, what matters most is cutting through the digital noise and creating content that stands out from the crowd.

• Believe it or not, there are over 27 million pieces of content shared each day.

• We check our phones 150 times per day.

• And we check our emails 30 times an hour…

So how do you make sure your business is the one that sticks in their mind amid all

that scrolling?

Put simply, you need to create content that resonates with your audience and does more than just boast or brag. The most effective content marketing is rooted in storytelling, which increases brand engagement by creating an emotional connection. But to be successful at it, you need to demonstrate that you understand the customer’s challenges and then show how your business helps to solve them.

A customer will have multiple interactions or experiences with a brand before they are comfortable taking some action, which is why when omnichannel

content marketing is done right, it can be hugely successful for building brand trust and loyalty, and in turn, great for business and recruitment.

But none of this works without a strategy in place. Ad-hoc posting, scrambling for content and disjointed messages won’t get you the results you deserve. What will, however, is creating a clear customer journey across all platforms that encapsulates who you are, what you can offer and how engaging with your business can make a difference.

So, with all this in mind, are you ready to start your next chapter? If so, get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.

Principle Finance expands into new Sheffield based office

Principle Finance, a leading commercial finance and residential mortgage brokerage who are part of the SMH Group, have announced the opening of a new office in Sheffield as a result of their continued business growth.

The new office, located at Stalker Walk, off Ecclesall Road in Sheffield, has been refurbished to meet the company’s requirements and will serve as Principle Finance’s hub for commercial finance operations.

The company’s expansion into their new office comes as a strategic move to allow for future growth of the team and to better serve clients in the region by providing a tailored approach to commercial finance.

Commenting on the expansion, James Furniss, Head of Commercial Finance at Principle Finance, said: “We are thrilled to be opening our new office, which marks a significant milestone for the business. Our expansion is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and the continued support of our clients.

“As a business, we are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients, and our new office will enable us to work more closely as a team and to be more accessible to businesses across the whole region.

“We are excited about

the opportunities this expansion will bring, and we look forward to continuing to provide our clients with the exceptional service they have come to expect from Principle Finance.”

Dan Lukic, Head of Residential Mortgages at Principle Finance adds: “Working under the Principle Finance brand allows us to offer a complete range of finance options to both businesses and individuals.

“The new office in Sheffield will be home to a team of experienced finance professionals, who will continue to work closely

with clients to provide tailored financial solutions to meet their specific needs.”

In addition to opening their new office, Principle Finance has also undergone a re-brand along with the development of a new website, which reflects the company’s commitment to providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to their clients.

The new website is designed to provide a more user-friendly experience and showcase the company’s range of commercial financial and mortgage solutions for both business

and personal requirements. For more information about Principle Finance please visit www.principlefinance. co.uk or contact the team on 0330 107 1558 or info@ principlefinance.co.uk to discuss your finance requirements in more detail.

Proud to be part of the

What the new Carer’s Leave Act means for employers

Time off for dependants was introduced in December 1999 and sets out an employee’s right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off to deal with emergencies involving a dependant; for example, if a child falls ill at school.

Having been in place for some time, employers and employees are reasonably comfortable with when this applies. However as more of us are expected to provide care for our dependents the question is; can employee’s balance their paid employment with their caring responsibilities?

The new Carers Leave Act became law on 24th May 2023. Expected to be implemented in April 2024, this gives employees the day one right to take one week’s unpaid leave per year (five working days for full time employees) for those providing or arranging care for a relative or dependant. As with other statutory leave entitlements, employers cannot penalise any employee choosing to take advantage of carers leave once it is brought into force.

Unlike time off for dependants (which is designed to respond to emergency and unforeseen circumstances), Carers Leave can be booked in advance and taken flexibly as either individual days or half-days. This will allow employees to take leave for planned and foreseen caring commitments.

Who will be entitled to the leave?

The new leave applies to those who, as part of

life, have some unpaid caring responsibilities for dependants with a ‘longterm care need’.

The definition of a “dependant” broadly follows that used for the right to time off for dependants and includes; a spouse, civil partner, child, parent, a person who lives in the same household (other than by reason of them being their employee, tenant, lodger or boarder) or a person who reasonably relies on the employee for care.

A ‘long-term care need’ is defined as an illness or injury (either physical or mental)

that requires or is likely to require care for more than 3 months, a disability for the purpose of the Equality Act 2010: or a person requiring care for a reason connected with old age. Employees will not be required to provide employers with evidence of their entitlement however there will be a notice requirement for leave to be taken.

We are currently awaiting further details to be published to understand how this new workplace right will operate in practice therefore at this stage it is too early for employers

to start changing policies and procedures however when full details are known employers will need to consider;

• Introducing or updating policies and procedures

• Communicating with employees

• Provide training for managers to ensure they understand the new leave entitlement.

Get in touch with Louise at Actus Risk Management for further information on how this may impact your business and for any other HR advice. www. actusinsurance.co.uk

Louise Turner, from Actus Risk Management, explains how the new Carer’s Leave Act might impact businesses and employees.

First Intuition see an increase in mid-year sign-ups for accountancy apprenticeships

Historically, June’s apprenticeship intake has always been the quietest. However, at First Intuition we are seeing that trend shift. We believe the reason for the increase in mid-year sign ups is employers are actively becoming more flexible in the way they manage their hiring and training plans.

As a result, the number of new apprentices we have placed in 2023 had doubled from what it was in the same period of 2022.

Why are sign-ups for accountancy apprenticeships increasing?

Business has never been as competitive as it is today.

In order to maintain their competitive advantage, companies are constantly seeking new and innovative ways of working. However, new and innovative ways of working can only succeed if they are underpinned by similar improvements to the quality and productivity of the workforce that deliver them.

This is where apprentices can help.

Apprentices provide not only a cost-effective way to grow your workforce, but also help you to start to build for the future by developing your future managers and, ultimately, partners or directors. However, succession is not the only reason to consider taking on accountancy apprentices. The other benefits of ramping up your apprentice scheme include:

Enhanced productivity

Not only will your apprentices’

extra pairs of hands improve your productivity because of increased capacity, this extra capacity will also enable you to deploy your more experienced members of staff on higher value and more profitable tasks which will have a hugely positive knock-on effect across your workflow.

Fresh perspectives

Accountancy apprentices will bring a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective to your business. As they are at the start of their career, they will have a natural enthusiasm and the energy to capitalise on this and the new ideas that so often go hand in hand with enthusiasm, ideas that should freshen up your working environment and working practices.

High cost-efficiency

Taking on apprentices is a cost-effective talent development strategy.

Bringing new talent in at such an early stage allows you to nurture their raw talent and educate, train

and develop them in the way that best suits your organisation. Better still as they’ll be educated, trained and developed whilst doing actual paying work, their development costs will be covered as they build up a bank of real life experience.

Bridging the Skills Gap

The accountancy profession is undergoing a transformative phase led by an increasing emphasis on technological advancements, data analytics and automation. Hiring apprentices enables you to bridge the inevitable skills gap.

You can integrate new talent with an interest in and understanding of these new areas that will complement the more traditional accounting practices of your more mature employees. Moreover, your apprentices are also likely to be digitally savvy. Their understanding of technology could enable them to spot better ways to leverage technology to help streamline your working practices, speed

up turnaround times and improve service delivery.

Increased staff retention

Employing an accountancy apprentice is an investment in your business’s future. As their careers progress, so will your apprentices’ commitment to you as their employer. Once their apprenticeship has been completed, almost all your apprentices will be eager to continue to work with you. Over time this will reduce recruitment costs and extend the length of time your employees stay with you which offers its own benefits in terms of continuity.

Improving your

diversity

and inclusivity

All employers have a responsibility to improve the diversity and inclusivity of the UK’s working community. Apprenticeships offer an excellent opportunity to broaden the diversity and inclusivity of your team. By attracting applicants from various social and ethnic backgrounds, you can tap into a pool of untapped talent you would probably never reach by recruiting more senior members of staff deeper into their careers or education.

If you would like to unlock the transformative potential of accountancy apprenticeships, the deadline for sign-ups for completion for a September intake is the 17th of July.

To set the process in motion, please get in touch with our team at bd.yorkshire@ firstintuition.co.uk.

73% of women experience bias at work—yet less than a third of employees are able to recognise bias when they see it. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it harder for women to get hired and promoted, and negatively impacts their day-to-day work experiences.

This makes it difficult for companies to level the playing field. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough.

Join us to explore how you can make a difference and influence change in your workplace.

All proceeds will go to the Master Cutler’s chosen charity, The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, supporting Wentworth Woodhouse’s work with a wide range of people and communities in low-income households, including ethnic and minority interests and disability groups, to help enrich their lives with cultural activities.

Charity Reg. No. 1155374

Overcoming Unconscious Bias in the Workplace

an Equality in STEM event supporting The Master Cutler’s Challenge 2023

Date Wednesday 6 September 2023

Timings 8.45am Arrival, tea, coffee, networking

9.15am Unconscious Bias Workshop –Introduction & Guiding Principles

9.20am Learn about bias types

9.35am Bias concepts – Intersectionality and microaggressions

9.45am Facilitated groups explore:

• Bias in company cultures

• Bias for senior leaders

• Bias in hiring

• Bias in reviews and promotions

10.35am Review strategies to fight bias

10.45am Commit to One Action

11.00am Finish

Venue Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield City Centre

7-15 Church St, Sheffield S1 1HG

Price £30 per person + VAT

Who should attend: Anyone working in Science, Engineering, Technology and Construction.

To book, scan here or visit https://equalityinstem.org.uk/ events/overcoming-unconsciousbias-in-the-workplace

WAKE SMITH SUPPORTS SHEFFIELD CHARITY PACES

Sheffield solicitors Wake Smith will spend the next 12 months raising money for a Sheffield charity offering life changing support for children and adults with Cerebral Palsy and other motor disorders.

Employees at the law firm voted for Paces to become its chosen charity for 2023-24.

Paces is a leading specialist centre in Sheffield for children with Cerebral Palsy and other motor disorders, established in the 1990s by a group of parents who recognised the benefits of the holistic approach of Conductive Education. It also offers support services to families and carers through school and adult services. Wake Smith staff hope to beat 2022/23’s total of £5,041.32 collected for South Yorkshire children’s hospice Bluebell Wood and have already begun planning a host of fundraising activities.

Julie Booth, Head of Fundraising at Paces said: “We are delighted that the staff at Wake Smith have chosen to support Paces and we are very much looking forward to working with the team throughout 2023 into 2024. Support like this means that we can continue to change the lives of the children, adults

CMP LEGAL HOST CHARITY PUB QUIZ

and families here at Paces and we are so incredibly thankful.”

Paces’ primary focus is to help a person of any age who has a condition of neurological origin that affects their physical and learning ability.

Kate Lax, solicitor at Wake Smith and charitable board member, said: “Each year, we invite members of staff to nominate charities which are particularly important to them. Paces was nominated by a number of employees and following a vote, it becomes our nominated charity for the preceding year. “

For more information about Wake Smith Solicitors visit www.wake-smith.co.uk

ST LUKE’S SECRET SUPPER CLUB IS BACK

The St Luke’s Hospice Secret Supper Club returns on 14 July, taking diners on a journey into the unknown.

Previous events have been held in a historic industrial warehouse in Neepsend and most recently in the old Attercliffe Library, which was transformed for the evening into a 1920s speakeasy.

Details of the theme and setting for the next event, which is sponsored by Rider Levett Bucknall, are strictly under wraps but organisers are promising a night to remember at an iconic Sheffield venue.

CMP Legal, a leading niche commercial law firm that specialises in corporate, commercial, dispute resolution and employment law held a Charity Pub Quiz at The Midpoint Bar in Chesterfield on 8th June 2023 to raise vital funds for Ashgate Hospice.

Over 50 people attended the event which included banks, accountants and clients. The evening included a Charity Pub Quiz followed by a Charity Raffle, raising £945.47 to support Ashgate Hospice.

Jason Skelton, Co-Founder of CMP Legal, said: “Ashgate Hospice are such a beloved charity, and we are delighted to have played a small part in raising much needed funds towards the incredible end of life care and support they provide to the local community”.

St Luke’s Senior Fundraising Manager Matthew Sheridan said: “Although we can’t let you in on the secret just yet, we can promise you an unforgettable evening with amazing entertainment and a stunning four-course meal by a renowned Sheffield caterer.

“In keeping with the theme, the location of the event is kept a secret until approximately a week before to add to the excitement and anticipation of the evening.

Table of ten cost £750 and can be booked now by visiting stlukeshospice. org.uk.

ROUNDABOUT JOINS NATIONAL COLLECTIVE AGAINST YOUTH HOMELESSNESS CRISIS

South Yorkshire youth homelessness charity Roundabout has joined 80 fellow charities nationwide to tackle the escalating national youth homelessness crisis.

In the past year alone, statistics show that 129,000 16 to 25-year-olds across the UK went to their local council for help because they were facing or already experiencing homelessness.

That’s an approximate 353 vulnerable young people every day or one every four minutes - an enormous group, left exposed to the harmful effects of homelessness.

And that’s why 80 of the UK’s biggest youth and youth homelessness charities have come together to tackle the crisis.

The collective, which includes national charities such as Centrepoint and YMCA and regional organisations like Roundabout - along with other services and specialist providers - have united to call on government to commit to a cross-departmental strategy to end youth homelessness.

Roundabout Chief Executive Ben Keegan said: “Roundabout already has a major and important presence across South Yorkshire, supporting vulnerable young people at many levels.

“We now support well over 350 young people aged 16 to 25 every day, providing emergency accommodation in our hostel for those most at risk, supporting young people in residential projects in Sheffield and Rotherham and providing key services delivering comprehensive programmes of training, involvement and empowerment which help to prepare young people for independent living.

“Our Homeless Prevention Advice service, based in Sheffield city centre, offers support to young people who are homeless, or who are at risk of becoming homeless, listening and giving advice about available housing options, from planned moves to emergency accommodation.

“The reality is, though, that more than 5,000 people, including 2,000 children, are currently recorded as homeless in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

“And with private rents and living costs continuing to spiral, thousands of young people are not just facing a a future filled with worry but are also at risk of losing any safe space they might have had.

“That is why Roundabout has joined forces with fellow organisation across the UK to demand that action is taken now at the highest level.”

HOW TO STAY ON TRACK IN BUSINESS

We are officially halfway through the year – how did that happen?

Regularly checking in on your plans and strategies is the best way to keep on track with how you are progressing towards your goals for the year – make time to review your aims, objectives and mission statement too to ensure that you are still on track with those too, update your objects in your Articles of Association if necessary.

Having a work in progress internal business plan which documents where you are with finances, marketing, policies, procedures and planned activities towards fundraising will help you to keep on track with delivery to your beneficiaries. Knowing what you want to achieve in terms of outcomes for the current period will help you to measure

Give

how your activities are contributing to this, how you are meeting these targets and what you need to still do to achieve what you set out to do.

Things change, staff leave and join, opportunities arise, threats come up and these things can affect your plans going forward, so it is therefore imperative to consult with your planning document regularly, undertaking a full review at this halfway stage. Being just a small margin off track with six months to go can make a huge difference to the overall outcome of the plan, so do ensure that you are keeping an eye on where you are heading.

For any help and guidance on determining a funding strategy, funding audit, business planning or bid writing for your non-profit, contact me.

SCCCC ANNOUNCED AS MASON THOMAS LAW’S CHARITY OF THE YEAR

Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC), which has provided vital support to older people throughout South Yorkshire since 1966, has been named as Mason Thomas Law’s charity of the year.

The 58-year-old charity was selected to be supported by the law firm over the next 12 months, following an appeal on social media earlier this year. Applications were invited from local charities and not-for-profits that would benefit from Mason Thomas Law’s financial and practical support. SCCCC was selected from nearly 20 organisations.

Alongside fundraising throughout the year on behalf of SCCCC, all of Mason Thomas Law’s fivestrong team will also be

taking time away from the office to undertake dementia training and give their time to participate in SCCCC’s popular Good Neighbour scheme.

Cathy Thomas, Director and Solicitor at Mason Thomas Law explained why

SCCCC was chosen: “It was a team decision. Many of us have elderly family members and are very aware how important it is to support them to live independently in their own homes. SCCCC makes this possible.

“We are a small employer

BUSINESS OWNER & SOAP STAR JOIN FORCES FOR CHARITY

Laura Blackburn, owner of B Animated animation studio recently welcomed Coronation Street actress Sally Carman to her Digital Media Centre design studio to record a voice-over for Resolute Women’s Support Services.

Laura and Sally came together to produce an animation and voiceover worth over £3000 which will be showcased by Resolute at their open event being held at Barnsley Metrodome. The event will also include live music, shows and host over 40 supportive services that can provide help for women affected by domestic abuse.

Resolute Women’s Support Services help women in Barnsley overcome issues around domestic abuse, mental health and alcohol and substance misuse and work as a Coordinated Community Response team. They ensure the victims voice is heard and that they are supported on their journey to a life free of domestic abuse.

Sally said: “When Debbie, the charities founder, asked if I would consider being a patron of Resolute I immediately said yes.

“What Resolute are doing to help and support abused women and girls is invaluable – it’s an honour to be a small part of this vital charity.”

but what we lack in terms of mass fundraising efforts, we make up for in determination and commitment to give our time to support vulnerable members of our community. We are all very excited to be involved with SCCCC and the great work it does.”

THE HIDDEN GEM CAFÉ

Fittingly set back from the main road connecting the southwestern part of the city to the Peak District, you’ll find The Hidden Gem Café at the back of a narrow lane overlooking Bents Green playing fields. Its leafy location and fuel-giving coffee and breakfasts make it a popular pitstop with walkers heading for a day out in the Peaks, and such is its reputation for culinary excellence, you’ll always find it bustling away with all manner of visitors most mornings, especially on weekends!

The café was set up by Work LTD, a unique local charity that offers the chance for people with learning disabilities to reach their potential in life. Their students gain valuable work experience in the café, developing important life skills and providing a stellar service for customers while they’re at it.

Their award-winning menu changes seasonally and is created using local produce freshly prepared onsite each day. When unLTD visited last month, the kitchen was serving up everything from their famed Full English breakfast to Greek lamb sandwiches, orzo salads and seitan bratwursts – all of which could be washed down with homemade drinks specials including flavoured iced teas, lemonades and cold brew coffee.

“We keep switching things up and ensure the menu stays seasonal and

fresh,” café manager Charlie Sullivan tells us. “Our head chef Sam Baker is very talented, and we’ll soon be reintroducing pop-up evenings – Italian nights, tapas nights, etc – with set menus and bookings only, so I’m looking forward to them returning.”

“We get great feedback on the quality of the food and the welcoming atmosphere here. Our students are the backbone of what we do –whether that’s serving food or growing the herbs we use in the kitchen. There’s a lot of good work that goes into this place.”

We can confirm that the food is stunning. The unLTD team were treated to a sumptuous asparagus and crispy poached egg dish served with toasted ciabatta, salty parma ham and spicy sriracha aioli, as well as a beautifully presented breakfast hash made with chilli, fennel, sausage meat,

eggs and spicy ketchup. Both of these delights were seen off in truly indulgent fashion – a generous portion of strawberry cheesecake French toast.

After recently undergoing an extension, provided for free by the Horbury Group, around 50 diners can now sample these delights inside the modern-feeling, spacious café space, while a welcoming al fresco dining space can fit another 30 outside – with scope to get more seating onto the field during the summer months.

Their growth in size has been complemented by the opening of an onsite deli shop, showcasing local produce and a few interesting collaborations.

“We’re really excited to get the deli open,” says Charlie. “We’ve got a couple of interesting local collabs that we’ll be stocking in there. Our students will be

heading down to Bullion Chocolate to make a limited edition bar there, and we’ll also be stocking our limited edition Henderson’s Relish bottle designed by Sheffield artist Luke Horton.”

“All proceeds from the café and deli shop goes directly back into the charity. Covid was a tough for one us, so we’re really pleased to be able to pick things back up again now, increasing our offer to customers and launching some new projects. We just want to remind people that even though we are hidden away, we’re still very much here and looking forward to welcoming people in!”

hiddengemcafe.co.uk // workltd.org.uk

@hiddengemcafe

0114 2620094

Ringinglow Road, Bents Green, S11 7TB (off Folkwood Grove)

Each month, unLTD chats to a local charity’s founder, delving into the reasons why they set up the organisation. This time around, Joe Food caught up with The Hidden Gem Cafe.

Thursday 13th July

J o i n The Children’s Hospital Charity Patrons

J on R ichardson and Lu cy Beaumont for n ight of s tand-up comedy to raise money f or the amazing

S h ef fie ld Children’s.

Joining them on the evening be Tom Davis (Murder I

Successville and The Cur Rosie Jones (8 Out Of 1

Comic Relief ), Daliso Ch (Britain’s Got Talent, BBC Radio 4) and Seann Walsh (Moc Week, Strictly Come Da I’m A Celebrity).

For m o r e i n fo a n d to buy you r tic ket s g o to

t c hc.o rg.uk/comedynight

Sponsored by

T i ckets from £ 35.95

NEW CHAIR OF SHEFFIELD BID

Tony Stacey has been appointed the new Chair of Sheffield BID, the city centre Business Improvement District which has been in operation since 2015.

Tony brings a wealth of leadership experience to Sheffield BID, having chaired and served on boards in a variety of sectors for many years.

As the independent Chair, Tony will provide leadership and direction to the Sheffield BID Board, ensuring the BID continues to contribute to creating a more vibrant and successful city centre.

Commenting on his appointment, Tony said: “I was thrilled to be told my application had been successful. This gives me the perfect opportunity to give something back to the city where my children, and now grandchildren, are growing up.

“My working role for the last 28 years brought me into regular contact with leaders of local businesses, the local authority and other public sector organisations, charities and social enterprises. Chairing the BID gives me the perfect opportunity to build on these connections, ensure the impact of the BID is aligned with the aspirations of all sectors and that the impact of our resources is maximised. I can’t wait to get started!”

www.sheffieldbid.com

WHYY? CHANGE APPOINT NEW CMI LEADERSHIP TUTOR

Rotherham based apprenticeship training provider, Whyy? Change, have appointed Claire Taylor, to the role of CMI Leadership Tutor.

Claire will be responsible for delivering the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 3 Leadership and Management and Level 3 Coaching and Mentoring courses.

Claire Taylor joins Whyy? Change with a wealth of leadership experience and knowledge of the education sector having previously worked at the University of Sheffield for over 16 years. In 2018, Claire founded Raspberry Flamingo, an award-winning Content and Copywriting Consultancy that specialise in ‘on page’ SEO copywriting and content marketing. With an MA in Communication Studies from Sheffield Hallam University, qualifications in teaching and mentoring to her name, Claire’s a lifelong learner.

CMI Leadership tutor, Claire Taylor shared why she decided to join Whyy? Change part-time: “My own business is now approaching five years old. Whilst I love what I have created, my team is remote and so I work in my office alone.

“After Covid I realised I needed more interaction with people in face-to-face settings. I’ve been a trainer, coach, mentor, and guest lecturer for many years and so when an opportunity to do what I love came up with an organisation as awesome as Whyy? Change how

could I say no!”

“The culture of Whyy? Change is unlike any other I’ve experienced in a workplace. After many years of selfemployment, it is incredibly rewarding to have joined the Whyy? team on a part time basis.

If you’d like to know more about their accredited apprenticeships or leadership training, you can get in touch by emailing Whyy? Change on info@ whyychange.com or give them a call on 0114 400 0077.

Sheffield Property Association announce appointment of four new directors

The collective voice of property in Sheffield, the Sheffield Property Association, has announced the appointment of four new directors who have joined the organisation’s board.

Charles Dunn, Director at Urbana, Matt Smith, Director at Services Design Associates, Rob Darrington, Director at Commercial Property Partners and Chris Wood, Business Development Manager at Ovo Spaces are now in place as directors as the organisation looks to grow its network and membership within the City.

Tim Bottrill, Director at the Sheffield Property Association, said: “It is great news that Charles, Matt, Rob and Chris have joined the board at such a key time for the S-PA. We have been through a rigorous appointment process and their collective wealth of experience will provide support and guidance in achieving the S-PA’s values and goals.

For more information regarding the Sheffield Property Association or to become a member, visit www. sheffieldpropertyassocation.com

RUSSELL RICHARDSON WELCOMES NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Sheffield-based sustainable recycling solutions company, Russell Richardson & Sons Ltd, have announced the appointment of Kerrie Wilson as their new Business Development Manager.

Kerrie joins the company with a focus on breaking into new customers and markets, with particular emphasis on Russell Richardson’s cardboard recycling services.

Kerrie said: “I already have over three years of experience in the waste industry before my appointment as Business Development Manager at Russell Richardson. I began my journey as a Customer Services Representative, before working up to other Business Development Manager roles for other companies.

“Prior to that I’ve worked in customer service based roles which mean I am able to bring a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of all sides of the business to my new position.”

Kerrie and the rest of the Russell Richardson team can be contacted on info@russellrichardson.co.uk or 0800 294 6552.

Wake Smith makes trio of promotions

Sheffield law firm Wake Smith Solicitors has promoted three of its legal staff.

Former Wake Smith trainee Tom Weightman has now reached Director level in the Commercial Property team, together with colleague Laura Saul, while Stephanie Chung has been promoted to the role of Associate in the nine-strong Private Client team.

Tom, who joined the firm as a trainee in 2012, qualified into Commercial Property in 2014 and was promoted to an Associate in 2018, said: “Wake Smith has strong values and a family feel with good lawyers to learn from, and ultimately, to develop from. You are made to feel an important member of the

Redbrik Group strengthens senior management team with key promotions

team, where you can make a difference to clients, and help the firm grow and keep getting better.

“It is a privilege to be part of a working environment where what you are doing makes a genuine difference to the firm at each level, and I am delighted to become a Director.”

John Baddeley, chairman of Wake Smith, added: “Congratulations to Tom, Stephanie and Laura. These promotions confirm that Wake Smith’s recruitment, employee training programmes and workplace culture offer both established careers and the opportunity to progress with the firm.”

For further information on Wake Smith’s business and personal legal services, call 0114 266 6660 or visit www.wake-smith.co.uk

The Redbrik Group has announced the promotion of Jen Beal to Director and Ross Bateman to Associate Director as the group looks to strengthen its senior management team.

The Redbrik Group encompasses Redbrik Estate Agents, Chapter II PR Marketing and Design Agency and Raffina Coffee & Deli, based at Fox Valley Shopping Centre.

Jen, CEO of Chapter II, will join the directorship alongside Managing Director Mark Ross and Directors Peter Lee, David Cooper and Jessica Risorto.

Redbrik Group Managing Director Mark Ross said: “The promotions of Jen and Ross are a testament to the hard work and dedication both have given to our businesses in their various roles.

www.redbrik.co.uk

DONCASTER BUSINESS CONFERENCE: CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM?

Last month, business leaders, prominent entrepreneurs, major investors, politicians and other influential figures all gathered for a forward-thinking discussion about their aspirations for Doncaster and how they can ultimately be fulfilled.

SHEFFIELD’S CEO LOWBLOW

New analysis has revealed the location of the UK’s best CEOs and Sheffield ranks towards the bottom of the table.

The city ranked in twentieth place in Vestd’s CEO Approval Indexanalysis of CEOs from businesses across 25 of the UK’s biggest towns and cities.

The Index ranks business leaders by average ‘CEO approval’ ratings and ‘recommend to a friend’ scores on Glassdoor, as well as the median employee tenure on LinkedIn.

CEOs in Sheffield ranked highly for employee approval, with an average rating of 73%,.

On average, staff in Sheffield have spent 4.4 years with their current employer.

London scooped top spot overall, with its business leaders averaging a ‘CEO approval rating’ of 80% on Glassdoor, as well as an average 74% ‘recommend to a friend’ score.

Organised by the local Chamber of Commerce, the Doncaster, What’s Next? Business Conference took place at the Legacy Centre on 6th June. Here, delegates were invited to join a candid yet still optimistic, conversation about the region’s fortunes, and what can be done to help get South Yorkshire back on track after a string of gruelling setbacks.

The event saw a number of high-profile speakers and expert panellists all sharing insights from their respective fields and thrashing out the key issues of the day.

They stressed the need for a strong relationship between government and businesses, the importance of embracing change — which was noted

to be an especially pertinent theme right now, given the rise of A.I. and generative technologies — and the ways in which Doncaster can grow its economy. Again, they also fielded questions from the crowd (of over 200 businesses) leading them to touch upon various other themes as well.

Speaking about the conference and its anticipated outcomes, Dan Fell, Chief Exec of Doncaster Chamber, said: “This was a really inspiring event that showed just how invested our business community and partners are in ensuring that Doncaster fulfils its latent potential.

I’ve emerged from the experience with a greater appreciation for just how

resilient and determined our community is. Our speakers each painted an optimistic vision of the future, attendees generated fantastic ideas about what we could do to make our city a better place for doing business and there was a real appetite for collaboration across the board.

“I am therefore anticipating a much brighter tomorrow here in Doncaster. We have come away with new ideas for improving the city centre, making the region a more attractive place for both investors and talent alike, the ways in which we engage with government, how skills planning can better meet the needs of employers, the levelling up agenda and much more.”

Explaining the findings, Ifty Nasir, CEO of Vestd, said:

“London remains one of the biggest business hubs in the world, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the UK’s best CEOs are based in the capital.

“Sheffield has a proud manufacturing heritage and, while challenges like productivity and skills shortages pose risks for businesses across the UK, our research shows that CEOs in the city are in a great position to make the most of opportunities over the coming years.”