GLU RECRUIT TOAST 8 YEARS TO RAISING THE BAR IN RECRUITMENT
YORKSHIRE ARTSPACE
INSIDE ONE OF THE LARGEST CREATIVE COMMUNITIES IN THE UK
PLUS…
BANNER JONES A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF NAVIGATING GRIEF IN THE WORKPLACE
GLOBAL WINDOWS SPOTLIGHT ON THE FATHER AND SON TEAM CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS
MONDAY
Seamless
Scalable
28: STICKING WITH GLU
For this month’s cover feature, we returned with Glu Recruit founder Rob Shaw to his roots in Bramley, Rotherham, sharing a slice of cake at the local village club to celebrate the company's eight-year milestone and discussing some key lessons learned throughout their journey.
40: GLASS ACT
Seizing his window of opportunity, unLTD’s Ash Birch chats with the father-and-son team at Global Windows, a Sheffield-based doubleglazing company celebrating 30 years in business. Founder Russell Hulme and his son Liam discuss the company's evolution, their commitment to quality and adapting to industry changes.
20: ALL CHANGE
Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, discusses potential implications of the incoming Labour government for local businesses, highlighting proposed plans for economic growth, productivity and infrastructure investment in South Yorkshire.
48: WORKING WITH GRIEF
unLTD explores the stories behind the team at Banner Jones. This month, Director Rachael Flintoft shares her journey into law and discusses how working through grief after her partner's passing shaped her perspective and career.
34: YORKSHIRE ARTSPACE
We send the latest unLTD magazine to print on the morning following the 2024 UK General Election. Labour’s predicted landslide has come to fruition and with their sizeable mandate in hand, they have promised one thing: change.
Business has used the first change of government in 14 years to call for a ‘fresh start’, but despite a general feeling of renewed optimism, it is clear that Keir Starmer and the Labour Party have some huge challenges ahead when it comes to restoring faith in the country’s economy, delivering growth and, crucially, demonstrating fiscal responsibility to the electorate.
For more insight into what this could mean for your industry, visit unltdbusiness.com and check out the next issue. In the meantime, Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, outlines some of the work Labour needs to do to improve things for South Yorkshire in this month's opinion column.
Away from the politics and into the heart of local matters, this issue has some inspiring personal stories about people succeeding in business. Our cover story is dedicated to Bramley boy done good, Rob Shaw, who discusses his journey from council estate to setting up his own thriving recruitment business, Glu Recruit. We also visit a father-and-son team celebrating 30 years in business and Banner Jones Director Rachael Flintoft gives a heartfelt interview discussing her journey into law and how the loss of her partner in 2020 impacted her work life.
EDITORIAL
EDITOR
Joe Food
Joe@unltdbusiness.com
ONLINE EDITOR
Ash Birch
Ash@unltdbusiness.com
COLUMN EDITOR
Holly Dibden
holly@unltdbusiness.com
VIDEO CONTENT CREATOR
Lizzy Capps
lizzy@unltdbusiness.com
DESIGN
Marc Barker
ADVERTISING
Phil Turner
phil@unltdbusiness.com 07979 498 034
Nick Hallam
nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk 07843 483536
FINANCE
Lis Ellis accounts@ exposedmagazine.co.uk
CONTRIBUTORS
Dan Bumby
Richard Dolman
Steve Brown
Carrie Sudbury
Rusell Thompson
Wendy Ward
Jill White
unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1B Rialto, 2 Kelham Island Sq., Kelham Riverside, Sheffield S3 8SD
Phil Turner spoke to the team at Sheffield's under-the-radar artistic hub and heard exciting plans to put the venue on the region's map.
Additionally, we’ve got updates on innovative new businesses and startups, expert advice on all sectors of corporate life and details of our upcoming business expo – just three months to go! We'll catch up again in August once the dust has settled.
Joseph Food, Editor.
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.
We recently confirmed that business coaches Andy Hanselman and John Asquith will both be hosting sessions at the event, while a Breakfast Panel discussion is in the works to launch the day. More info below and don’t forget to keep an eye on our socials and website for updates…
The unLTD Business Expo is a brand new event for companies in the South Yorkshire region to promote their business, raise brand awareness, increase sales and network. Based in the Magna Centre in Rotherham, it’s just ten minutes from Sheffield city centre and will showcase the vibrant, forward-thinking business community in the region. As an exhibitor, you will have a full day to showcase your business, make new contacts and network. The expo is a fantastic opportunity for you to interact with potential clients, customers, suppliers, industry professionals and the public. As an attendee you can book your FREE place to visit the expo at any time from 10am until 3.30pm. Make the most of your day and meet many excellent local exhibitors. You will have a great opportunity to engage in networking, learn about new products and services and make informed purchasing decisions.
WHEN IS IT?
October 2, 2024 10am-3.30pm
WHERE IS IT?
Magna Centre, Magna Way, Templeborough, Rotherham S60 1FD
HOW DO I BOOK?
Visit expo.unltdbusiness.com or email phil@unltdbusiness.com
HOW MUCH IS IT?
STAND PRICES:
• £350 for a 2m x 2m stand
• £625 for a 4m x 2m stand
• Stands include a table and table cloth and breakfast for two people.
• Extra breakfasts can be ordered for £3.50 per person.
• Lunch bags can be ordered for £7.50 per person.
• Access to power £25 per stand
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION, CONTACT PHIL@UNLTDBUSINESS. COM OR CALL 07979 498034
The unLTD Business Expo is organised by the team behind unLTD Business Magazine and the unLTD Business Awards as well as the organisers of the Chesterfield Business Expo.
Simon Coy is a full-time, experienced event organiser. He has been hosting networking events for over eight years and is currently host of one of the largest monthly business networking lunches in Birmingham as well as organising the bi-annual Chesterfield Business Expo.
Phil heads up Blind Mice Media Ltd, publishers of unLTD Business Magazine and Exposed Magazine. He has run his own publishing company for 21 years and organises a range of networking events in the region as well as the annual unLTD Business Awards.
WHO’S SIGNED UP?
ALREADY ATTENDING THE EXPO ARE:
• Action Coach
• Acumen Safety
• AG Group
• AHJ Wills & Estates Ltd
• Andy File Associates
• Andy Hanselman
• Arca Technology
• Arden Winch & Co Ltd
• B and B
• B Animated
• Banner Jones
• Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber
• Bhayani Law
• Clea digital
• Cloud-Busting
• Crowne Plaza
• DAWSON RADFORD SOLICITORS
• Doyle Security
• ESP Projects
• Fenti
• Fluid HD
• Glu Recruit
• Gravitate
• Hydra Creative
• IOL Marketing
• MILLGATE
• MTec Digital
• OEC Sheffield
• Open House Pictures
• Price Linsey
• Sevenhills
• Sheaf Design Works
• Shef Utd
• Simoda
• Start Financial Planning
• UK Export Finance
• unLTD Magazine
• Visualised It
• Weston Park Cancer Charity
• Whyy Change
• Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Sheffield’s city centre celebrated a significant addition to its hospitality landscape today with the official opening of the new Radisson Blu hotel on Pinstone Street.
The latest addition to the Heart of the City project, the flagship hotel features 154 contemporary guest rooms, a rooftop speakeasy-style Indian restaurant and bar, six flexible meeting and event spaces, an outdoor terrace and a fitness centre, making it an ideal destination for both business and leisure travellers.
Valerie Donaldson, General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Sheffield, expressed her excitement about the new opening. “We are thrilled to welcome guests to our stunning property where history meets hospitality. With architectural grandeur and luxurious contemporary facilities, we aim to create the perfect symphony of sophistication for a wellrounded stay,” she said. Donaldson emphasized the hotel’s role in the city’s ongoing transformation,
adding, “As part of the Heart of the City regeneration project, the hotel plays a pivotal role in shaping the city’s new identity while staying true to its roots.”
Drawing inspiration from the nearby Peak District, the hotel’s design incorporates organic shapes and natural materials.
Kate Josephs, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, highlighted the importance of the new hotel in the city’s development. “We are delighted that our new Radisson Blu hotel is now open. Our significant investment and regeneration projects in the city centre are helping us attract some world-class brands, and Radisson Blu undoubtedly raises the bar for hospitality in South Yorkshire,” she stated.
Andrew Davison, Project Director at Queensberry,
echoed these sentiments, emphasising the hard work that has gone into realising this project. “Radisson Blu is recognized across the globe for its quality and style and perfectly reflects the ambition and impact of Heart of the City. A lot of hard work has gone into making
this hotel a reality and I’m incredibly proud of Sheffield Council, Queensberry, and the whole project team,” Davison said.
The hotel’s top-floor restaurant and bar, Governor Gupta, is hoping to become a culinary hotspot, celebrating the flavours of northern India. The menu features creative small plates, kebabs, grills, and Naans, paired with an extensive selection of cocktails, wines and bubbly.
A LOT OF HARD WORK HAS GONE INTO MAKING THIS HOTEL A REALITY AND I’M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF SHEFFIELD COUNCIL, QUEENSBERRY, AND THE WHOLE PROJECT TEAM
For business needs, the hotel offers six versatile meeting and event spaces that can be configured in various ways. The area includes a spacious breakout area, a private bar, and a courtyard for outdoor events, promising a comprehensive and adaptable setting for conferences and gatherings. For information and bookings, head to radissonhotels.com.
Henry Boot Construction has completed a £7.5 million extension to Weston Park Hospital’s radiology department in Sheffield.
The block has been designed and built to incorporate linear accelerator (LINAC) machines – a device commonly used to deliver external beam radiation treatments to cancer patients.
The extension, which connects to Weston Park’s main radiotherapy department, also hosts consultation spaces, plant rooms, offices, meeting rooms and a small waiting area for patients.
Due to the high-energy X-rays that LINAC machines use, the new reinforced concrete building utilises internal concrete walls to provide the required radiation protection. The LINAC chambers themselves are also windowless.
A green living wall has been installed to the side of the building as well as enhanced soft landscaping to external areas to incorporate attractive design elements.
Weston Park Hospital, part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is a National Centre of Excellence and the only provider of radiotherapy in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
Tony Shaw, Managing Director from Henry Boot Construction, said: “As a company, we are always keen to invest in our local communities and deliver projects that can genuinely make a difference. This project is the perfect
example of how our construction expertise can positively shape the future of our healthcare provision.”
The project was secured via the Procure Partnerships National Framework. As part of this, Henry Boot delivered key social value outputs through the utilisation of a local supply chain and on-site construction training initiatives.
The Sheffield College is launching a new apprenticeship partnership with the Company of Cutlers to support manufacturing employers in the region.
Andrew Hartley, Deputy Chief Executive at The Sheffield College, said:
“This apprenticeship will provide a great opportunity for Sheffield’s workforce of the future. Manufacturing employers need skilled, experienced machinists to operate complex machinery and produce components.
“Together with the Master Cutler and Company of Cutlers, we have designed an apprenticeship delivery model that works better for employers, tackles skills shortages and helps manufacturing businesses to thrive.”
On the Level 3 Machining Technician Apprenticeship, learners will study computer
numerical control machining. CNC machining involves the use of computer software to move factory tools and complex machinery such as grinders and lathes. It is used by a wide range of manufacturing employers from those in aerospace, agriculture and electronics to energy, construction and
medical.
Apprentices will earn as they learn in the workplace alongside completing a Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Machining). After an initial three-month foundation course at Liberty Steel in Stocksbridge, apprentices
will complete their studies at the college’s Advanced Technology Centre on Olive Grove Road.
The Company of Cutlers, which represents manufacturing employers in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, is helping to design and develop the programme and raise awareness of it amongst businesses.
Master Cutler Charles Turner DL, who also chairs Made in Sheffield, said: “Our priorities are to help young people in the region be properly prepared with workplace skills to successfully enter the world of work and to help provide talent for regional businesses.”
The first intake of apprentices is planned for October 2024. To apply now or find out more email mach@sheffcol.ac.uk or visit www.sheffcol.ac.uk.
Sarah McLeod, the CEO steering the regeneration of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham, arguably the UK’s greatest restoration challenge, has been awarded an OBE for her services to the heritage sector. Sarah was one of over 1,000 people recognised for service and achievements in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Sarah said: “I am honoured and so proud to receive an OBE for my work. I feel incredibly lucky to work in heritage and I am very grateful to everyone who has given me opportunities and supported me throughout my career.
“For me, this award represents the hard work of everyone who works to protect and restore our historic places.”
Sarah joined Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust as CEO in May 2017 after having to be persuaded to apply. It turned out to be both the biggest challenge and the biggest risk she has undertaken.
The task ahead was described in the sector as the ‘UK’s greatest heritage restoration challenge of a generation’. The estimated cost was £130 million and every penny needed to be raised. The Georgian architectural masterpiece was crumbling, Sarah had five staff, one phone line, no internet connection and one ancient vacuum cleaner to work with.
The vision was not only to restore the house and create a legacy for the people of South Yorkshire, but to transform it into the UK’s most accessible heritage attraction, where all abilities, backgrounds and ages would feel welcome.
Seven years on, the plan is working. The house is boosting the region’s economy, providing jobs, nurturing skills and enabling local people to participate in new creative and cultural activities.
Sarah came well-equipped with a wealth of experience gained from her previous role as CEO of the Arkwright Society and with 23 years at the helm of heritage, she is passionate about the sector’s role as saviour and protector of historic places.
Sarah beams: “When you work in heritage regeneration, you have a duty to treat our history with absolute respect and integrity, telling stories of the past whilst giving these wonderful buildings new purpose and connecting them to current and future generations.”
More details about Wentworth Woodhouse are available at wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk or by calling 01226 351161.
Fast-growing residential energy services company Hometree has acquired Sheffieldbased renewable energy installer IMS Heat Pumps, to support the home decarbonisation revolution. With targets set to have 600,000 heat pumps installed by 2028 and the UK phasing out gas boilers, there is set to be surging demand for renewable energy installations.
Culinary Sheffield legend, Tom Lawson is set to refurb The Psalter Hotel with the aim to open next month. Tom’s vision is to make The Psalter a “cherished community spot known for its quality and sustainability.”
The new opening is set to create 50 new jobs, including kitchen staff, front of house, housekeeping, reservations, and night porters.
With successful shops and cafes in Abbeydale, Beauchief, Lodge Moor and Sheffield Station, Forge Bakehouse has opened two new spots. One at Dronfield’s Civic Centre and another in Chesterfield’s Vicar Lane Shopping Centre. Owner Liva Guest says the core of their success is the continued use of finest quality ingredients and a team of fantastic chefs, bakers and baristas.
Digital growth experts The SEO Works won the prestigious Integrated Search Agency of the Year award at the Global Agency Awards 2024. This accolade recognises the agency’s ability to deliver comprehensive and innovative search strategies that drive outstanding results for clients worldwide. Sheffield based SEO Works’ unique approach and tangible impact, highlights innovative solutions and a clear, results-driven narrative.
The Labour Party’s manifesto includes a commitment to change the outdated business rates system to make it fairer between online enterprises and bricks and mortar businesses. CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona commented: “In the current system, pubs are penalised, so a fairer business rate regime recognises their community value and helps keep our locals open and thriving.”
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce President, Alexis Krachai, is advocating for cross-sector partnerships following a visit to a women’s hostel run by YWCA Yorkshire.
Alexis was invited to Peile House, in Burngreave, as part of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce’s work with Sheffield Business Together (SBT) a partnership between Sheffield Chamber and Business in the Community.
Operating as a homeless hostel for young women in North Sheffield since 1993, Peile House’s accommodation is funded by Sheffield City Council and managed by YWCA Yorkshire. Peile offers safe accommodation and trauma-informed support to 16-to-25-year-old women and their babies.
During his visit, Alexis heard about the extreme hardship, trauma and abuse young homeless women experience before they arrive at the hostel and was moved by the lived experiences of the residents and staff.
After discussions with the hostel, Alexis donated 20 air fryers to the project to help the women prepare and cook healthy, affordable meals. He commented: “I’m in awe of the work the Peile House team do. As a citizen in this city, a dad of a daughter and a businessman, I was moved by the work YWCA Yorkshire does.
“Our city suffers from huge inequality. It takes longterm systemic change, connecting government bodies and charities to find solutions to problems, but through ambitious collaboration, like that which SBT facilitates, we can create long-term positive change for our communities.”
Sheffield has a proud history of philanthropy and collaboration for good between the private, public and voluntary sectors. SBT aims to increase employer engagement in a co-ordinated way, brokering relationships and increasing the impact.
Access to air-fryers for the residents would improve access to fresher, healthier, lower-cost meals, reducing the need for freezer space and high energy cooking methods. Space within the homeless shelter is at a premium and the expense of storing and cooking food for individuals is exasperated by the cost-of-living crisis.
Claire Harding, YWCA Yorkshire’s Peile House Project Manager, said: “We were bowled over by this generous donation, it is transformational for our young women who are building skills in cooking, parenting, self-care and budgeting.”
With Jill White of Andy Hanselman Consulting
Willow-weaving, smoothie-making and kombucha-drinking have all featured this month! This was thanks to being a part of two cohorts of great businesswomen. The first was Roz Davies and Green Estate hosting and Karen Mosley and Hill Top Farm the other. Both super venues for Retreats and Wellbeing Timeouts. A big big recommend from me. Both were more than needed for a busy events week, four sessions in three days, a record even for me!
First up our own July 3D Connect event held at Bramall Lane with a focus on Bouncebackability. Aaron Little, Head of Women and Girls Football at Sheffield United kicked us off (sorry) and then Jay Bhayani from Bhayani HR and Law, Alex Barlow from Triple Point and Nigel Short of Voot shared their own authentic, honest and emotional insights. Truly inspirational.
Speaking of inspirational, the next day’s’ See it Be it’ Pride of Place event really set the benchmark. Over 250 people packed into the Winter Gardens to hear from an illustrious panel of Sheffield Leaders, the show stealers were students Kirin Harrington and Hannah Hibberd. If they are anything to go by, then Sheffield’s future is very safe.
Next, was a quick intro into ‘Omniworking’ very interesting concept indeed and then onwards via The Suit Works Open Day, to unLTD’s inaugural Business Social with Glu Recruit. Another packed venue and so good to hear from Rockingham Group’s James O’Hara.
A fantastic whistle stop business journey ‘through the ages’ of RG. Loved him and can’t wait for the next event. Bravo Phil, Rob and all involved.
Sadly, from then the night went downhill. But never say never, maybe next column (Rodney!) we might be European Cupwinners! But then again..
Follow Jill at uk.linkedin.com/in/jilltywhite or find Andy Hanselman Consulting at andyhanselman.com.
The first phase of a significant new waterside development in Sheffield looks set to get the green light this month. The 23-acre Attercliffe Waterside urban regeneration scheme is set to transform brownfield land on either side of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, including the Spartan Works buildings.
The first phase aims to create the heart of the district, with six existing buildings set to be redeveloped into the
new neighbourhood’s cultural centre including bars, an independent bakery, music venue and art studios.
A total of 362 homes are set to be developed, with a mix of apartments and houses, built using Citu’s timber-framed housing system. A public and commercial square is planned, alongside a series of walkable, south facing courtyard areas and new routes down to the canal. A new pedestrian and
cycling footbridge would connect phase one to the south side of the river.
The application will go before the council’s planning and highways committee on July 9th and is recommended for approval, subject to conditions and the signing of a legal agreement, in an officer’s report prepared for the meeting.
The report said: “There would be benefits in terms of employment opportunities
during the construction phase and through the creation of new commercial units, as well as bringing new residents into Attercliffe to support its regeneration, with increased footfall to the local centre.
“The proposed 362 dwellings would represent a substantial contribution to the city’s housing stock, with a diverse mix of unit types and are considered to provide good living standards in terms of indoor space.”
The Sustainable Life by BIDBI range are three new and exciting collections of non-textile responsibly sourced promotional products from BIDBI (Bag It Don’t Bin It). The Sheffield based printer and textile specialist are expanding. After working closely with suppliers, they have curated a range of merchandise that compliments their specialism in sustainably sourced textiles.
With an initial offering to include drinkware, notebooks and stationery, Sustainable Life products can be branded with anything from logos to full colour designs, making it easy for
customers and clients to choose an eco-friendly alternative when promoting their business.
According to The Promotional Item Market 2019 report, UK branded merchandise spend is approaching £2 billion. BIDBI’s clients have been asking advice on where to find collections that will help their brand be recognised without costing the Earth.
It’s easy to be convinced just by a quick internet search that simply not being plastic is all it takes to qualify for a big green check. Customers who purchase BIDBI products will be able to know, how it’s found its way to you, how
you can use it, how long for and what you need to do with it once it reaches the end of its life. All Sustainable Life by BIDBI products include recycled materials created with minimal wastage that will last a lifetime.
Over the coming months, BIDBI will be adding more products through a growing selection of workwear and giftware options. If the Sustainable Life range doesn’t already include a product you require, their teams will do the behalf to produces it.
For more information visit www.bidbi. co.uk.
Sheffield Hospitals Charity is set to make a significant move to Leah’s Yard, the historic former Little Mesters workshops on Cambridge Street. This relocation positions the charity in the Heart of the City’s dynamic new development, underscoring its ambitions to enhance visibility and connectivity within Sheffield.
The charity will occupy the office space on the top floor of the site, which is due to open this summer. They will be joining an eclectic mix of independent traders and makers, including renowned local artist Pete McKee, Gravel Pit and Bullion Chocolate.
Tom Wolfenden, Director of Leah’s Yard, expressed his excitement about the charity’s relocation, highlighting the challenges and ultimate success of finding the right tenant for the larger office space.
“From our perspective, the larger office was always a space that might be tricky to let. We didn’t just want another office tenant, and its large size meant that finding the perfect fit was going to be a challenge. When
Beth reached out about a potential relocation, we couldn’t have been happier. Bringing the amazing work that Sheffield Hospitals Charity does into our new
thriving city centre was exactly the kind of result we hoped for when we first set about designing Leah’s.”
Beth Crackles, Chief Executive at Sheffield Hospitals Charity, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the charity’s desire for a more prominent location.
“Leah’s Yard couldn’t have a stronger Sheffield heritage, and now it’s filling up with the best of Sheffield’s independent retailers, while sitting alongside big corporates in the Heart of the City. Sheffield Hospitals Charity is the official charity partner to the majority of the NHS in the city, and it is high time that we were
based somewhere that gives us the right environment and platform to connect and grow. Leah’s Yard is exactly that.”
The move signifies Sheffield Hospitals Charity’s commitment to being more integrated within the city’s business community. By relocating to Leah’s Yard, the charity aims to foster stronger connections and support within the heart of Sheffield, aligning with the city’s heritage while embracing its future growth.
For more information, visit Sheffield Hospitals Charity and Leah’s Yard.
• Do you have the knowledge to gain ISO certification, but not the time?
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1 4
Forget those large steel stock yards that have dominated South Yorkshire’s skylines for generations. The specialist metals sector is built on sourcing materials which can be difficult to find, but vital for certain types of manufacturing. This makes the type of work we deliver incredibly varied and challenging. One day we can be working with F1 teams, helping them to source ultra-light, durable materials to reduce lap times by fractions of seconds, the next it can be sourcing materials intended for use in space, or improving the way products are manufactured.
Metals can act very differently, depending on how they are used. Understanding the way materials are likely to perform can be critical to the success of a particularly project. This can often mean interpreting technical drawings and providing advice to clients, as well as supplying the materials they require. I’ve worked in the industry for more than 20 years and still learning new things.
ULTIMATELY, IT’S A PEOPLE BUSINESS.
What distinguishes a good business from a great business? In my view, it’s always the people. Our sector is no different. It’s the relationships you build, the service you provide and being able to respond to customer needs. It doesn’t matter what sector you work in, good oldfashioned customer service is vital for every business.
Specialist metals can be incredibly difficult for businesses working outside of the sector to source, that’s why businesses like CRM exist. Approximately half of our work comes from businesses operating overseas, helping to shape some incredible projects across the globe. 2 3 5
Manufacturing plays a vital role in Britain’s economy, particularly when it comes to the export markets. Yet it is perhaps often unfairly viewed as a sector dominated by a low-skilled, low-paid workforce. Across the sector as a whole there are some terrific opportunities for our young people to build amazing careers, but if we’re going to nurture the talents of the next generation, we must inspire them.
Adam Bradley, a Rotherham-based entrepreneur, was named one of the top 100 influential people in manufacturing by industry publication The Manufacturer. He led Corrosion Resistant Materials to significant growth and exports to 38 countries since becoming director in 2020.
For more information on what the South Yorkshire-based company do, head to www.corrosion-resistant-materials. co.uk.
“The greatest challenge facing the new Government will be how to deliver on the promises they have made to an expectant electorate clamouring for change”
Following a landslide victory for Labour, Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, talks unLTD through what changes local businesses might expect from the incoming government...
It would have taken a brave person to predict anything other than a Labour majority in South Yorkshire, but the scale of the national victory is something that hasn’t been seen since the days of Tony Blair.
Perhaps the stark contrast between that seismic win and this year’s Labour victory is that Kier Starmer didn’t ride into Downing Street with the wave of optimism and hope that epitomised the late 1990s, but the result of disillusionment and disenfranchisement. Less than half of voters turned out in the Barnsley constituencies, and the results were only marginally better in Rotherham.
Labour has pledged to place rebuilding Britain’s stagnant economy at the heart of its manifesto plans. The greatest challenge facing the new Government will be how to deliver on the promises they have made to an expectant electorate clamouring for change – and for Barnsley & Rotherham, delivering a true levelling up agenda that will transform the local economy.
The new Prime Minister must learn from the lessons of his predecessors and remember that although the country is crying out for change, the penalty for failure will be stark.
As always, the devil will be in the detail. In the election campaign Labour placed economic growth at the heart of its plans. It must now deliver on those promises. Of course, the vagueness of some of Labour’s pre-election announcements is likely to give them some leeway, but not much.
The cost of living crisis, high energy bills, the amount of time it takes to see a dentist or doctor are all key areas that voters will be expecting the new Government to address swiftly. With limited funds at their disposal and a commitment not to increase taxation, I suspect there will be some difficult choices ahead.
One thing is very clear though, if the Government is to fulfil its election promises, overseeing a significant period of economic growth will be vital to underwriting its future spending commitments.
Labour’s plans to develop a new industrial strategy, opportunities presented through the green economy, emerging new technologies and advanced manufacturing all present golden opportunities for South Yorkshire’s businesses community.
Yet at the same time, South Yorkshire’s business economy lags behind the national average when it
comes to productivity and business growth. The new government must, therefore, create an environment in which businesses can truly prosper. This means much more than throwing money at short term solutions, but laying the foundations that will underpin an environment in which businesses in the region can truly prosper.
Similarly, I hope that Labour will deliver on its promises to reform the broken planning system and reform business rates, both of which will play a vital role, not only in stimulating growth, but rebuilding our decimated high streets.
The fanfare of Levelling Up promised to deliver a new deal for the north, yet in reality few of these projects have realised their potential. It would not surprise me if pressures on the public purse will see some of these projects fail to materialise.
Every business faces its own individual and unique barriers to growth: for some it’s recruiting and retaining staff, for others it’s about passing skills and expertise to the next generation and securing investment. Achieving true Levelling Up means creating the mechanisms and infrastructure vital to unlocking that potential.
South Yorkshire now has a Labour Government, a Labour Mayor, and labour led local authorities, this should provide a degree of continuity when it comes to delivery. Investment in local public transport, for example, lags far behind other parts of the UK and this needs to balance needs to be redressed.
When a new Government comes to power, it is often the marginal seats which tend to reap the rewards. With some seats voting labour for the very first time in this year’s election, it’s likely that the Government will attempt to reward this trust. My fear is that traditional safe Labour strongholds such as South Yorkshire will be overlooked in favour of those communities.
Similarly, historical Labour governments have typically resulted in increased financial burdens on businesses and saddling them with more red tape. When it comes to making long term investments, businesses require stability. The new Chancellor cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the ill-feted mini budget by going too hard and too fast when it comes to implementing Labour’s manifesto plans.
Labour made some bold announcements in securing the support of businesses, the Government must now deliver on those promises.
BY RICHARD DOLMAN AND JULIA WATTS OF GLADE CONSULTING
Firstly, we must say that effective ISO implementation in any business provides you with a framework for you to plan your business and meet your strategic goals. Leadership is, therefore, pivotal to the successful implementation and maintenance of ISO standards for several reasons.
Leaders set the organisation’s vision, strategy and the culture to achieve it. They set the direction and ensure that everyone in the organisation understands the importance of adhering to these standards. This strategic alignment is essential for creating a coherent and focused approach to building a successful business, with a seamless integration of the standards into the core ‘how we do things.'
A commitment to quality and continuous improvement is another area where leadership is of primary importance. Leaders exemplify this commitment through their actions and decisions, thereby fostering a culture that prioritises compliance with ISO standards, such as ISO 9001 for quality management. By doing so, they create an environment where quality is not just a compliance issue but a fundamental business value. This cultural shift towards quality and excellence can drive the organisation to consistently meet ISO standard requirements, and to you, the business leader or owner, it gives confidence that things are being done in
the right way. Appropriately allocating resources is a critical aspect of ISO implementation. Adhering to ISO standards requires significant resources, including time, money and personnel. Leaders are responsible for ensuring that these resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to support the necessary changes and improvements. Without proper resource allocation, efforts to comply with ISO standards can falter, leading to poor performance or even loss of certification.
Change management is another domain where strong leadership is essential. Implementing ISO standards can sometimes mean changes in processes, systems, and organisational culture. Leaders must manage these changes effectively, addressing any resistance and ensuring smooth transitions.
Their ability to guide the organisation through change can determine the success of ISO implementation, as it requires careful planning, clear communication and support.
Employee engagement is crucial for the successful adoption of ISO standards and communication is a key tenet of this. Leadership requires excellent communication which articulates vision clearly, listening attentively and encouraging open dialogue. In motivating the employees to embrace the standards, leaders can ensure that the entire organisation is committed to achieving compliance.
Effective leaders empower their team members by delegating responsibilities and providing the necessary resources and support. They trust their team’s abilities, encourage professional growth, and recognise
and reward contributions. This fosters a culture of accountability and innovation.
Finally, leaders are accountable for the organisation’s adherence to ISO standards and play a vital role in risk management. By essence, they establish accountability mechanisms and regularly review performance to identify areas for improvement. Effective leadership involves proactive risk management processes, taking steps to address potential issues before they become significant problems. By managing risks and driving continuous improvement, leaders help maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the ISO standards within the organisation.
If you want to know more, get in touch the team at Glade Consulting Services on 0114 398 4123 or email us at info@gladecs.co.uk
BY STEVE BROWN, MD, FLUIDONE BUSINESS IT - SHEFFIELD
Since Copilot launched in 2023, awareness has soared, but sustained adoption has struggled. While many businesses believe they should be using AI, they’re not fully sure how to, or what can be achieved if implemented effectively.
Microsoft recently published a report stating that 75% of typically desk-based users are using generative AI at work, with power users (those using AI several times per week) disclosing they are saving more than 30 minutes per day by leveraging AI.
Familiarity and confidence are growing around the basic functionality of AI as a productivity tool in transcribing, content creation, and summarising. However, the key to being different in AI, where competition will in the end all have the same access to the same tools, is applying it to your unique customer data.
For example, Copilot Studio can provide real AI benefits, instantaneously analysing tickets to find solutions and root causes, or extracting business intelligence from disparate customer data sets to identify trends and whitespace. With complex and automated analysis and insight, that 30-minute time saving could multiply, as well as giving businesses a real competitive advantage.
FluidOne has a team of trained experts facilitating Copilot and consultancy, helping businesses overcome concerns around security
of adoption and providing advice on how to get their customer data AI-ready. We’re working to further expose our non-customer facing staff to Copilot’s capabilities.
Our CEO, Russell Horton, has rolled out a Copilot pilot scheme for the business, providing access to a group of users in various roles and departments within the organisation. The user group will explore new
ways of working, share tips and tricks with each other and build skills in AI with both theory and practice.
Russell states: “Only by embracing the technology will we be able to then innovate as further AI features and applications become mainstream, and be experts in order to advise our clients on how they can leverage AI for their advantage and productivity.”
We’re looking forward to sharing our growing experiences of how Copilot is supporting us at FluidOne. To discuss how Copilot could help your business, please visit our website or reach out to a member of the team at 0114 292 3800 or sheffieldenquiries@ fluidone.com.
Applications for the increased incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice are now open. The team at First Intuition tell unLTD readers more.
Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement in April, employers will receive £3,000 for eligible apprentices of any age who start employment from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. You can apply for incentive payments for these apprentices from 1 June 2021 to 30 November 2021.
The incentive payment is in addition to the £1,000 employers already receive for hiring an apprentice:
• Aged 16 to 18 or
• Under 25 with an education, health, and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority.
Apprentices will have an additional two months after the deadline of 30 September 2021 (until 30 November 2021) to start their training programme – this is to allow for probationary periods and sign-up processes to occur.
Furthermore, employers will also receive a National Insurance exemption if the apprentice is aged under 25 and a 95 per cent subsidy of the training costs (if not paying via the apprenticeship levy). Levy
paying employers can utilise their levy pots.
Applications for the increased incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice are now open.
Level 2, 3, 4 and 7
Apprenticeship schemes for the AAT, ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW,
CTA and ATT Qualifications are covered for the incentive payment.
If you are looking to recruit an apprentice into your Finance Team, then we can help. Contact Sheffield@fi.co.uk for more info.
The Accountancy Employers Guide
Trainees and new staff need as much support as possible to ease them into work over the next year.
The Accountancy Employers Guide provides links to relevant resources on trainee recruitment, onboarding, pre-start resources, employability skills, apprenticeship incentives, employer events, and hot topics.
The Accountancy Employers Guide is now available to access for free at www.firstintuition.co.uk/fihub/ accountancy-employers-guide/
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The Chamber Means Business Expo is a fantastic chance to network and build new partnerships. With over 60 exhibitors from fields like IT, healthcare, finance, and marketing plus many more, it's a great spot to expand your professional connections.
Attendees can enjoy face-to-face interactions with exhibitors and they'll be over 400 visitors expected through the door. Entry is free, so you can easily meet potential clients and partners. With lots of giveaways and interesting showcases, the event is perfect for making new connections and discovering what's new in South Yorkshire.
www.chambermeansbusiness.co.uk
For this month’s cover feature, unLTD headed to Bramley Social to share a slice of birthday cake with the Glu Recruit team, celebrating the Rotherham-based recruiters’ eight-year milestone. Afterwards, unLTD’s Joe Food sat down with the company’s Managing Director, Rob Shaw, to discuss his business journey and key lessons learned along the way.
“I’m a proud Rotherham lad,” Glu Recruit founder Rob Shaw tells unLTD. “Bringing the business here was something I was really passionate about. I grew up here and was taught the value of hard graft by my family, a lot of them ex-miners and people with trades behind them. When you have that sort of upbringing, you don’t think twice about rolling your sleeves up.”
We’re sitting in the snug of Bramley Social Club, a stone’s throw from the council house Rob grew up in. He suggested the Tardis-like building, which has served the village’s community for more than 80 years, as a venue for our interview and
photoshoot celebrating eight years of his business.
It’s a fitting location, reflecting some of the key values that drive him: the importance of knowing your roots, celebrating community and maintaining a down-to-earth approach. “I started out in recruitment back in 2005 and worked for a large corporate agency and also a smaller independent company, but the thing that always motivated me was the importance of creating a bond with our candidates and clients,” he says. “That’s where the name Glu came from, the importance of making placements that stick and the bond formed between our clients and candidates.”
THAT’S WHERE THE NAME GLU CAME FROM, THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING PLACEMENTS THAT STICK AND THE BOND FORMED BETWEEN OUR CLIENTS AND CANDIDATES.”
Rob set up Glu Recruit following a significant life change. He and his partner were adopting children, and faced with the demanding nature of his job and the needs of his new family, he decided to take a step back. “It was too difficult to have a job in a demanding industry with long hours at that time, so I took some time off.”
At some point during this hiatus, a friend suggested he start his own business so he could continue recruiting on his own terms. “I thought, ‘Why not?’ I wasn’t working at that moment, so if I was ever going to have the time to do it, that was the time.” After setting up a desk in the conservatory and purchasing a second-hand laptop, Glu Recruit was born.
Rob’s initial goal was modest: place one person in a job each month. However, the demand grew rapidly. “I realised I needed help about nine months in,” he says. Hiring his first employee was a nerve-wracking decision, spending his own money to expand. But this move marked the beginning of Glu Recruit’s organic growth, which has since seen the company hire seven full-time staff members and take on premises at Bradmarsh Business Park.
The recruitment industry has evolved significantly since Rob first entered it. “Back in the day, we relied heavily on job ads in newspapers like the Sheffield Star or Rotherham Record and waiting for people to apply,” he explains. Today, the focus has shifted to proactive candidate attraction, with a strong digital presence. While embracing these changes, Rob is also keen to maintain a traditional, people-focused approach at Glu Recruit. “We’re still about building relationships and understanding our clients and candidates’ needs. For us, that personal touch has never lost its importance.”
From the outset, Rob was determined that Glu Recruit would be different from the more corporate recruitment agencies out there. “The recruitment industry is a saturated market, and we didn’t want to be corporate or soulless. You know, those websites with stock images of people in suits make us feel a bit queasy. We aimed to be everything that’s not.”
With almost 20 years of experience in the game, what keeps Rob so passionate about recruitment? “Placing people in jobs and helping companies grow is incredibly rewarding,” he says.
He also enjoys learning about local businesses and their operations, something he finds fascinating. “You get to see behind the curtain of how things work, and that’s one of my favourite parts of the job. You’re always learning new things.”
Reflecting on significant milestones, Rob recalls his first placement and the first invoice he sent out – done on Excel without any invoicing software. Hiring his first employee, moving into their own office, buying a building, and surpassing 2 million in turnover were all equally pivotal moments. However, he also highlights a low point as a key turning point for
the company. “I think everyone in business has a difficult year at some point. We had some team attrition, which impacted our work and forced us to remodel and refocus,” Rob shares. This period was challenging and stressful by its nature, but led to Glu Recruit emerging as a stronger, more resilient business.
Today, the team at Glu Recruit is a close-knit one, something he is immensely proud of. “We genuinely enjoy coming to work and being around each other. It’s like a family – and I’m aware how cheesy that sounds!” Hearing an employee describe it as the best job they’ve
ever had and express a desire to stay for life was one of Rob’s happiest moments in business. Another key member of the team is the Glu dog, Reggie, who's always on hand to boost staff morale.
Looking ahead, Rob is focused on continuing to build relationships in the South Yorkshire business community and create placements that stick. “My hope is for Glu Recruit to continue growing and creating opportunities for everyone involved and for the local area,” he says. “We recently launched a new accountancy and finance division, and if that works well, we might create more specialist subdivisions.”
At this point, Rob’s partner and Glu's Operations manager, Joe, chips in with the suggestion that the dream would be for the business to become self-sustaining enough that Rob could take a step back, move abroad and enjoy the fruits of his labour.
However, rolling down the sleeves isn’t something that comes naturally to Rob. “While that does sound great, I’m not sure how much I’d actually enjoy it,” he laughs. “I like the idea of it, but when you’re used to being a bit of a grafter and love your job, I think I might struggle. We’ll see how that one goes!”
Whether you’re a candidate looking to make a career move, or an employer looking to add to your team, contact the Glu Recruit team at www.glurecruit.co.uk for a placement that sticks.
Call: 0114 321 1873
Email: eyup@glurecruit.co.uk
Address: 3 The Point, Bradmarsh Business Park, Rotherham, S60 1BP
ROB WALKS US THROUGH 8 KEY LESSONS – ONE FOR EACH YEAR OF THE BUSINESS – THAT HE HAS LEARNED SINCE FOUNDING GLU RECRUIT.
THE POWER OF KEEPING IT LOCAL
Yes, we recruit all around the country, but we believe in the power of supporting local job seekers and businesses. Rob is a local lad and has always wanted to maintain this focus throughout our 8 years in business – which has helped us gain trust within the community and build relationships that stick!
THE POWER OF A SUPPORTIVE BUSINESS NETWORK
Rob started this journey in his conservatory. The business now has a network of loyal, supportive clients who put their trust in us daily. We’ve learned that partnerships and collaborations can send you forward in ways that going it alone simply can’t.
THE POWER OF DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY
It’s no secret that there are a lot of recruitment agencies out there and having started Glu with a lot of recruitment experience under his belt, Rob knew it would be a challenge to break the norm. Doing things differently, planning insightful events, remaining flexible, and giving back to those who support us are key. This distinct approach gives us that edge and solidifies our reputation in the market!
THE POWER OF PEOPLE OVER PROCESSES
Recruitment is, at its heart, about the people. In our experience, a transactional approach is dated and doesn’t work in today's market. Remaining down-to-earth and focusing on building genuine relationships yields better results than any rigid corporate process ever could – plus we get to have fun while we work!
THE POWER OF GIVING BACK
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible charities such as Adoption UK, Paces, Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, Routes and Bluebell Wood. Believe it or not, we do think that there’s more in the world than just recruitment. Working with these charities always brings our team together to work for something bigger than us.
THE POWER OF CULTURE
A strong, positive company culture is essential for success. Rob places a huge focus on this when hiring and we’re lucky enough to have a supportive team that encourages one another and wants the best for them and the business. This has also helped us understand the importance of hiring the right staff for a business.
THE POWER OF RESILIENCE
Recruitment is not for the faint-hearted. It demands resilience, no matter how many challenges you face. At Glu, we believe that picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and powering through is key to doing well.
THE POWER OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING
The recruitment landscape is always evolving and while we’ve had a cracking 8 years, there’s always more to learn. We embrace every opportunity to grow, whether this is through professional development, learning more about the market, or feedback from our clients and candidates. This mindset ensures that we can continue to provide the best possible service! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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YORKSHIRE ARTSPACE PROVIDES STUDIO SPACE TO 170 ARTISTS AND MAKERS AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN DELIVERING WORK FOR A RANGE OF HIGHLY ACCLAIMED INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS. SO WHY DO SO FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT? PHIL TURNER SPENT A MORNING WITH DIRECTOR GEORGINA KETTLEWELL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER DAN OGDEN TO DISCOVER WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED TO SHOWCASE THIS WORLD-CLASS FACILITY TO THE SHEFFIELD PUBLIC.
PICTURES: MARC BARKER
Originally established by Hallam Uni graduates in 1977, Yorkshire Artspace was one of the first studio groups outside of London and is now one of the largest studio providers outside of the capital. It moved to the current purpose-built site at Persistence Works in 2000 with a sister site, Exchange Place Studios at Castlegate, housing a who’s who of local, national, and internationallyrecognised artists and makers – some of whom are the best at what they do in the world. Until recently, though, there was rarely any front-facing activity, but that’s starting to change. The venue has a number of events lined up to highlight the artists based there, and they are calling on local businesses to support them by visiting the space, hiring it for events, and commissioning bespoke artwork. Let’s hear about why the region
should start to discover this huge hidden gem.
So, tell us about Yorkshire Artspace and why we should be excited about it… Georgina: We’re THE centre of art production, certainly in this region. We’ve got 170 artists and contemporary craft makers in two city-centre buildings and just some incredible talent. A lot of it’s hidden away, so now we’ve decided it’s time to share that with the public so they can start to see all the art that’s being made here.
Can you tell me about the events you have planned?
Georgina: We’ve got Selected Space from July 12-14, which is a brilliant set of artists showcasing contemporary craft. Then we’re working with Dig Where You Stand, an archive justice
project, an exhibition of visual art responding to hidden histories and the city’s archives. That’s on for a month from July through to August, supported by Peter and Paul. In September, we’re working with Sheffield Uni’s Festival of the Mind, so we’ve got a pretty cool diary. But this is something we’ve only been able to do since the summer because we’ve got a brilliant new gallery space here at Persistence Works. It’s a huge new white cube space that used to be a private studio, so now we can really welcome the public back into the building and share with them the brilliance that goes on here. We can have selling shows here now (where the public can buy the works of art on display) and that feels like something that is missing from the city – there isn’t much of a commercial art scene here really.
Tell me about the history of the place…
Georgina: It was started by two Hallam graduates in 1977 and then over the years became more professionalised and organised. This building is a Millennium project; it was the first purposebuilt art studio complex in the UK. So that meant we could provide the best studios for artists and do things like ‘hot works’ here. You can work with heat, fire, kilns, metalworking – we’ve got an incredible community of metalworkers and silversmiths here that has built up over 20 years. But the problem is, we’re too hidden away.
Why has it been a secret over the years?
Georgina: I think it’s something about the way the building has been designed that kept it a secret. I think originally they didn’t really want it to necessarily be visible; even in the way the frontage has been designed, for instance. People walked past here for years and didn’t realise it was a group of art studios… but that’s something we want to change. And let’s not forget, we haven’t had a big public-facing program over the last few years but now, developing the space as we have, really enables that to happen.
Dan: We actually have some of the best international talent around, not just regional or national. Some fellows have flown from around
What’s On Yorkshire Artspace has recently started to become more of a public-facing art gallery, as well as home to over 170 artists and makers. Here are some of the shows they have coming up…
SELECTED SPACE 2024 12 - 14 July 2024
Adults £5, U16 Free Fri: 12pm - 8pm Sat: 10am - 5pm Sun: 10am - 4pm. Selected Space Sheffield is back with more beautiful things curated by makers. Amongst more than 40 stallholders are an exciting lineup of Yorkshire Artspace studio holders including Becca Brown, Bev Seth, Chris Boland, Daisy Lee Jewels, Emilie Taylor, Emily Thatcher, Evelyn Albrow, Hanne Westergaard, Janet Barnes, Jennie Gill, Jo Peel, Josephine Gomersall, Mike Scown, Penny Withers, Pottery West, and Richard Johnson.
OPEN STUDIOS 2024 16 - 17 November 2024 11am - 5pm, free entry. Everyone welcome, no need to book. Join them for their annual Open Studios weekend at Yorkshire Artspace when over 100 artists and makers open their doors. This is your chance to get a glimpse behind the scenes at the two city-centre buildings and see where the magic happens!
the world to study here with our masters. For example, a really talented young silversmith flew over from Tokyo as we house some of the best silversmiths in the world here to learn from. There are incredible public artists too, that tend not to shout about themselves, and we believe now we should celebrate them much more. The buildings are the buildings, but it’s the art that’s created here that’s really exciting. Outside of London, we have the greatest number of artists per head in the country, but a lot of the city doesn’t know that. For example, when (internationallyrenowned artist) Yinka Shonibare was selected to represent the Nigeria Pavilion at the 60th edition of The Venice Art Exhibition, highlighting the stolen Benin Bronzes which were exhibited at The British Museum by recreating them in clay, every piece of the work and the sets were created here. 150 individual pieces built by 13 ceramicists overseen by one of our incredibly talented artists based here. It was photographed here, filmed here, and then packed
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down and shipped straight over to Venice. But we don’t talk about it, it’s a symptom of Sheffield. But it’s part of our job to celebrate what the people here do and if we don’t, eventually commissions will dry up. We can either grow or we can trim.
It feels like the city, especially the food and drink scene, is starting to be regenerated. Do you feel that?
Dan: The improving nighttime economy is fabulous but you need art and culture too. Our greatest asset here is that no one has seen us coming. All the cities are modeling themselves in the same way but we’re not. We’re doing something different and that is going to make us a city of the future. We’re not set up the way other cities are. We are very friendly, everyone knows that and we’re humble but what we really are is a city of pioneers, of makers and because of that, our future is different. You can buy some of the most incredible pieces in the world and they are actually affordable. It’s about taking on that pioneering Little Mesters vision but also taking on some of the radicalism that came from the kind of people who started the music scene in the 80s. And it’s actually very cool. Not just Sheffield cool. Just cool. We see ourselves as being part of that nighttime economy; we can offer private views, opening one or two evenings a month – we can do a different kind of art that’s very appealing.
So what else is unique to Yorkshire Artspace?
Dan: Well, as we’ve said already, we’re a centre for art production. We can take projects of a scale that nowhere else can and produce in-house here because of the way everyone collaborates. They just walk across the hall to each other’s studios, find out what they’re working on, then offer to help. So we can take projects that no other centre or art studio can take and build them entirely in-house.
We also offer workshops, tuition and commission pieces. We can help improve the value of premises with the art we create. Our public artists are that good; given the space to explore, they will create brilliant public work that will enhance the value of a development and drive people to visit, increasing the rentable value.
OUR GREATEST ASSET HERE IS THAT NO ONE HAS SEEN US COMING. ALL THE CITIES ARE MODELING THEMSELVES IN THE SAME WAY BUT WE’RE NOT. WE’RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THAT IS GOING TO MAKE US A CITY OF THE FUTURE.”
Georgina: I think the main thing is to recognise the talent that’s here in the city. There’s been too much going through agencies to commission something from London, when there’s a wellspring of talent here. The artists here deserve more. We keep it affordable for the artists and to do that we need to focus on talent, first and foremost, so this provision benefits people who are really serious about a career as an artist or maker. It’s about building the right ecosystem around them to help them be future-ready. Sometimes it’s about business development advice and having access to someone who can help them think through their own individual business model. And then we need to develop the income streams, whether that’s space hire, retail, commissions, and profiling the people here and the kind of work they do.
What’s the market like for art in the region?
Georgina: There are collectors here. But you know, they’ll have art buyers and those people will have their stable of artists. So it’s important we raise awareness of who is here with the gallery shows for people who are interested in emerging art and want to invest in a particular place, that could be interesting. There’s work to do. How do we open up the ground floor and make it much more public or improve the frontage to invite people in? Some of it is basic stuff.
There is a hotbed of talent based at Yorkshire Artspace – here are some of the names you should be looking out for…
CHRIS KNIGHT
A Silversmith and designer, Chris Knight has an international reputation. Known for Sheffield train station’s iconic ‘Cutting Edge Sculpture,’ he has collaborated worldwide and is experienced with a vast variety of metals, creating original pieces ranging from mini-metal works to monumental designs.
DAVE APPLEYARD
Having a hugely diverse portfolio, Appleyard is committed to creating art with purpose, narrative, and humor. His engagement with communities means his creative processes, ranging from timber, metal, glass, stone, resin, light, and sound are extremely unique.
JO PEEL
A mural artist committed to recording the changing landscape of Sheffield, Jo Peel is known for bright line drawings across the backstreets of the city, using block colours and combining urban and rural elements. She also experiments with animation, film, and sculptures, passionate about observing society.
SEIKO KINOSHITA
Seiko is a Japanese artist who creates sculptures and large installations for galleries and museums, often using traditional textile and craft techniques
ZOE GENDERS
Using striking colors and shapes, Zoe Genders paints large murals across Sheffield, as well as using paper to create mini 3D structures, inspired by nature and the surrounding city.
CORALIE TURPIN
Happy to experiment with materials and designs, Turpin works with mosaics, metal, and glass and aims to communicate uplifting themes through her work. She often creates large-scale artworks for public settings around Sheffield city and is currently working alongside artist Jeremy Deller on a mosaic at Scarborough’s sea wall.
ANTHONY BENNETT
Anthony is a multimedia artist and sculptor, creating provocative art addressing the state of the planet, inspired by science and his Black Country upbringing. He is confident with sculpting, molding, and painting, all used within each project.
UnLTD heads through the looking glass to chat with the father and son team at the helm of Global Windows, a Sheffield-based double glazing company celebrating 30 years in business and a new window of opportunity… them and make double the money.
In an industry that has, at one time or another, suffered from a shaky reputation, Global Windows has long stood out from the crowd thanks to their integrity and commitment to high-quality work.
Global’s brand longevity serves as a testament to this, and for 30 years they have provided windows, doors and conservatories to Sheffield and its surrounding areas, all while overseeing pioneering and sweeping changes to the business, helping them keep pace with an everchanging market’s demands.
Global was founded by Russell Hulme in 1994; when the price of a pint might set you back a couple of quid and England was rubbish at football (some things never change!).
Today we sit down with Russell, and his son and Global Director, Liam, and start by discussing how he ended up moving to Sheffield and borrowing £180,000 from the bank to set up the business, something Russell believes, if you tried today, you would be ‘laughed out of the bank!’
Russell is actually a butcher by trade and, in his late teens, he also moonlighted as a barman to make ends meet in London. While working in the Northwest London pub, he got chatting to a group of window-fitting regulars and discovered a disconcerting fact.
“They were earning £500 a week back then,” says Russell. “I was working as a butcher and a barman, and wasn’t earning anything like that. I got to know the manager and the area manager, and they kept telling me to come and work for
“I spoke to my dad, who’d supported me through college, and told him I was packing in at the deli I worked at. He wasn’t best pleased, but I went, and I earned twice as much and, in the end, money makes the world go round.”
Russell then found himself in Sheffield when he followed a partner to the Steel City and has remained here ever since. He initially found work, once again, in the glazing industry with another long-established South Yorkshire-based company, before moving on to Radiant Super Glaze in Barnsley.
When Radiant Super Glaze was bought out, after a very brief period in Norwich, he ended up working in sales back in Sheffield, which he really didn’t enjoy. It was then that he had a fateful meeting with Lawrence Hartley who owned Danum Windows Ltd in Doncaster at the time.
“Lawrence is a brilliant bloke,” says Russell, “He was great at marketing and accounting, but he hadn’t got a clue about anything else. The two of us got on together straight away. With our combined know-how, we made a great team.
“In 1985, I started working for Lawrence as a manager and we were making 100 windows a week. By 1989, I’d become a director and we were manufacturing 2,500 windows a week. We went from having one depot in Doncaster to having depots in Nottingham, Birmingham, Luton, Portsmouth, Norwich and Sevenoaks, and I used to run them.
“In 1990 we were bought out by Storm Glaze, who subsequently went bust, so we didn’t get
half of the money we’d been promised, and that’s when I decided to do it myself.”
With the help of Lawrence and the aforementioned bank loan, Russell got a contract with Sheffield City Council to supply 200 windows a week, and the loftily named Global brand was born. During that early period of the business, the work split was about 75% commercial to 25% residential, a statistic that has been flipped on its head over the years.
By owning the manufacturing factory in Sheffield, essentially making their own windows bespoke for every job, they were able to maintain and assure quality control, setting them apart from many of their competitors, and business boomed.
It hasn’t always been plain sailing though, and in 2008, at the time of the financial crash, the business was faced with no option but to accept a buyout. Russell stayed in post as he retained ownership of the manufacturing factory, and so thankfully, the brand continued, and two years later, Russell was fortunate enough to be able to acquire the business back.
Since the 90s, Russell had always run the business on his own, and even at the outset of the 2010s, there was no succession plan in place for his son Liam to take over the business.
Not looking to follow in his father’s footsteps, being a very handy (if modest) golfer, Liam held ambitions to make his living in the sport, but after doing his PGA training at a local golf course, he decided it wasn’t for him.
“I was working in the Pro Shop, which was part of the training,” says Liam, “stood on my feet all day for £4.50 an hour. I didn’t get on with the pro very well but I always thank him, because he showed me how not to treat people.
“I’d be expected to do things that hadn’t been communicated to me and I’d have people coming in all day moaning about the grass. The last thing I wanted to do when I’d finished was go and play golf; I just wanted to go home.
“I’ve always been around the business, so I asked my dad if I could come in and work for him for a bit, while I figured out what I wanted to do.”
In a seemingly perverse move, Russell put his son in the customer services department, dealing with complaints (that were probably a bit fruitier than the state of the grass on the 18th). Liam then worked his way through the entire business; from processing, to ordering, to the operational side of things, before finally moving into a director role. Liam became a director in 2014, but it was during this earlier period of learning the business that he hit upon what would become a radical transformation for the business.
Global Windows had always fabricated their own window frames. It was how they differentiated themselves from other similar operations and how the sales team sold, but Liam realised that they were already buying in lots of other components of the jobs, like the glass, the bifold doors, or the roofs for conservatories; why were they still making the window frames?
When he asked the question, he was initially met with strong resistance, not least from his father Russell, who admits that he is from the ‘old school.’ It was just not something he had any desire to change, having been soured by a previous bad experience of outsourcing.
Eventually, after a couple of years of coaxing, Liam brought the business (and his dad) round to his way
of thinking, and they were able to redeploy the former shop-floor workforce to their seven installation teams, as well as turn their 336-square-metre factory floor into warehousing and a shiny new indoor showroom that allows them to have everything on show when people visit, which customers have really responded too.
They also secured a local manufacturing partner through Russell’s connections, which they admit has, in hindsight, improved the quality of the output. Liam said: “You ask people now and they can’t imagine doing it any other way, but they all had reservations and thought I was crazy in the beginning. People are hesitant to change and were worried about their jobs. We didn’t let anyone go and the lads on the shop floor moved around and got the opportunity to learn new skills.
“It’s been hard at times, especially being the boss’s son, because that comes with a lot of stereotypes like, I don’t know what I’m talking about, etc. I’ve had to work hard to get everyone’s respect, but all I’ve ever wanted was what’s best for the business and everyone involved in it. I take pride in it. I can’t imagine doing anything
else now.
“I enjoy the fine details, and a lot of people think I’m quite anal in that respect. I think I’ve realised I probably am somewhere on the spectrum because I do like things to be just right, and my dad is the same way.
“I knew we could do better, and I always thought, what’s the point in doing something if you don’t want to do it right or be the best at it?”
Russell added: “Liam brought a fresh pair of eyes. I’m incredibly proud of him. He sometimes doesn’t take the credit he should do because he’s changed the business beyond anything I could have thought.”
By quirk of timing, the manufacturing operations were brought to a halt in March 2020, right at the onset of the pandemic. It was a scary time for the business, but it actually allowed Liam to make some other updates to the business. “It was either genius or lucky timing,” explains Liam, “but it turned out to be a good opportunity to make the switch. In the beginning, we worried that it could be the end of us, but our industry came back pretty quickly because we were able to work outside safely.
“It gave us time to bring in new quoting software. We used to have a binder with a price matrix but now all the salespeople have tablets and the software allows you to create visualisations. Bringing that in during COVID meant that we had time to learn the software and we could still quote and get money in through deposits.
Russell continued: “Sales actually went through the roof. It was more of a case of when we can actually do all this work. It was a trying time, but from the company’s point of view, it worked out really well. Our order book went from £600,000 to £1.5 million, and then when we did get back, we couldn’t fit it quick
enough!”
Things have calmed down now, which has also allowed them to think more about environmental and sustainability issues, as well as becoming even more involved with local charities. They now run a Recycle and Reward scheme, partnering with a local private recycling company, who they sell their uPVC waste products to for responsible reuse. They’ve also invested in a new glass skip on site, allowing them to dispose of any glass waste and reduce their carbon footprint.
The money they’ve saved in skips is then put straight back into the local community, and they have recently given money to a nearby karate club, Sheffield Dragons, as well as local football teams. They are also supporters of Dan Walker’s Sheffield 1000 initiative as well as Bluebell Wood Hospice and local food banks.
Russell, while still involved and present in the business, has taken a step back and allowed Liam to shoulder more of the responsibility in recent times. Russell said: “I’m there in the background, but I don’t have as much to do with the day-to-day running. I’m in my 70s now so I’m semi-retired, but I ain’t ready to pack up just yet.
“I love the industry, and the business and the people in it. I’ve still got the same enthusiasm today that I did 30 years ago. I still love it and I care about everybody here. He [looks towards Liam] wants me to retire to spend more time with his mum, but I know if I was at home full time, I’d do her head in.”
Like Russell, the business shows no signs of slowing down.
To find out more, or get a quote for your next home improvement head to Global Window’s website: global-windows.co.uk
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Sheffield-based non-profit organisation Roshni Sheffield Asian Women’s Resource Centre recently announced the opening of Roshni Kitchen – a social enterprise that aims to highlight the culinary talents of South Asian women while promoting healthy, mindful eating.
Since its establishment in 1992, Roshni has been a place of empowerment for South Asian women. The launch of Roshni Kitchen marks a significant milestone in this ongoing mission. More than just a restaurant, Roshni Kitchen will serve as a dynamic community hub where flavors, nourishment and learning converge.
Fouzia Ali, Ayurvedic practitioner and Co-manager at Roshni Kitchen, said of the opening: “I am so pleased to be opening this restaurant and adding to the Roshni Sheffield Asian Women’s Resource Centre. Opening Roshni Kitchen allows us to help even more women whilst
also serving the local community delicious and healthy South Asian meals inspired by Ayurvedic principles.”
The menu will feature a fusion of healthy, home-cooked meals rooted in Ayurvedic principles and beloved Indian street foods. Each dish is lovingly crafted by volunteers, using recipes passed down through generations.
The Ayurvedic diet emphasises the importance of food as a
cornerstone of health, tailored to individual constitutions. Through this approach, the restaurant not only serves delicious meals but also educates the community on the importance of digestive health.
The kitchen also serves as a vital support system for South Asian women facing employment barriers. By offering training and work experience opportunities, it will help them to build essential skills and confidence. In response to the ongoing cost of living crisis, the kitchen provides 50 free meals weekly to women in need across Sheffield. All profits from the restaurant are reinvested into the charitable activities of Roshni Sheffield Asian Women’s Resource Centre.
Roshni Kitchen is located at 649 Queens Road S2 4DX Sheffield, and is now welcoming visitors into the restaurant throughout the week.
www.roshnisheffield.co.uk
Each month, we hear the stories of the people behind the law degrees at the 145-year-old, South Yorkshire-based law firm, Banner Jones. Most recently, we spoke to Director Rachael Flintoft about her route into law and, more recently, the experience of working through grief...
Hi Rachael. Can you start by telling us about your role at Banner Jones? I work in Business Legal Services in the Sheffield office. Primarily, that’s helping people with property needs, and the majority of that work is on commercial properties. For example, if a company is moving premises, buying or selling a property, or anything related to commercial property, we handle it. That includes writing contracts if you’re selling or leasing and reading them if you’re buying or taking a lease, which involves due diligence and investigating the property, ensuring it’s not over a mine or that a train track isn’t about to be laid through it!
How did you get into law?
I fell into law. None of my family were lawyers. In fact, nobody in my life was a lawyer. I can trace it back to, as daft as it sounds, a career advisor at school. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and a career advisor literally said, “You’re academically strong, why don’t you do law?” I agreed, and from that, they set me up with some work experience.
I went into a law firm, which was a very big national firm with offices in Sheffield. To begin with, I was just doing admin work, helping them with the photocopying and scanning, but obviously, that’s not what I was interested in pursuing. So, I knocked on somebody’s door and said, “I’m here for two weeks. Is there anything that I can watch you do, or anything more interesting that I can do?” And he took me to court with him, which isn’t the angle where I’m at now, but I enjoyed it.
I can’t, hand on heart, say I was really inspired and thought, wow, this is awesome, but I enjoyed it. I picked
fairly generic A-levels, and when they finished, it was kind of, well, why not do law?
My late husband was really into art, so regardless of where it took him professionally, he wanted to study that. I didn’t feel that way, and there was nothing that I was eager to learn more about. I was more motivated by having a career. Coming from a family where no one had done law, they were very supportive, and I went and studied in Nottingham.
After university, where did you end up, and what was your route to Banner Jones?
I learned quickly what I didn’t want to do in law. The commercial property world seemed a good fit. That was 20 years ago, and I’ve never had a break. That’s just how life went. I was with the same firm, although they merged in 2007, until 2019, when I came to work for Banner Jones. An opportunity arose at the right time, and the call just came on a good day.
You’ve mentioned your partner’s death. How did that affect your professional life?
Stephen’s cancer diagnosis came in January 2020, and he died in March. When his diagnosis came, it wasn’t the case that we knew he was going to die in March. There was hope at first, not much, but some. I carried on working because we’re busy commercial lawyers, and you’re either in or you’re out.
I took the view that this was a long road ahead. I was going to have to support Stephen through chemotherapy, and there would be rehabilitation and all sorts of things that would require time off, so I didn’t need time off yet. My managers were
I FELL INTO LAW. NONE OF MY FAMILY WERE LAWYERS. IN FACT, NOBODY IN MY LIFE WAS A LAWYER.
wonderfully supportive, and I can’t criticise the way they were with me – they were fantastic. Bear in mind, although this was 2020, it was literally weeks before the lockdown. The timing was horrendous. I remember being in the hospice with Stephen, and they were talking about this potential lockdown, but our life was so intense that we weren’t properly thinking about it. It was like saying aliens are going to land – it was just so far-fetched.
He was alive for seven and a half weeks with a cancer diagnosis. In that time, the pain was too significant to withhold chemotherapy, so they had to manage his pain to make him strong enough to have chemotherapy. In those two weeks, it got worse, and it wasn’t worth putting him through it.
It was so unbelievable. Christmas had been normal. We spent it talking about holidays for the coming year, and then by March, he wasn’t there. It was awful, but professionally, work kind of saved me. There’s absolutely no two ways about that.
Some people can’t bear to work after such a loss, but it was the absolute opposite for me. I needed to come to work, I needed to have normality, and I needed structure. So professionally, not a lot changed. I must stress, importantly, that it was my choice. Banner Jones was quite clear that they were going to support me whatever my choice was, but my choice was to keep going.
Do you think that was the right choice for you?
I think it probably was, although we’ll never know. The way I saw it, I didn’t know what to do with time. A lot of people who I’ve met in the widowed community take time off work – months, years in some people’s cases – but I truthfully didn’t know what I would do if I was off. The kids were in school, or they were for about two weeks, and then lockdown came. It’s not like I could jet off and see the world – that wasn’t an option – so I just thought, what would I actually do with time?
Was keeping busy with work at that time important to you?
It was for me. Some of my clients I confided in, and some I didn’t, so
for some people at work, I wasn’t the widow – I was still just the lawyer. This was important because people do put labels on you, and I didn’t want everybody to feel sorry for me.
I enjoy my work and the diverse set of clients I have. Sometimes I’ll be on a call with somebody in London talking about a large investment, then I’ll put the phone down and speak to somebody from Stocksbridge about a fish and chip shop, and I love that.
It was a distraction and it also kept me grounded as to who I was. And to put it bluntly, it kept money coming in, which is the harsh reality. It was the best thing for me at that time, although I’m an advocate that it isn’t the best thing for everyone.
You mentioned the timing, did lockdown and the pandemic make it even more difficult to process the trauma?
Although it was not something I wanted, and it affected people terribly, in a way, it became a bit of a cushion because I didn’t want to bump into people in the street anyway. Being told to lock my door saved me from having to justify that I wanted to lock my door to the outside world.
I carried on working because working from home became a new thing. I’ve since gone full circle, and I’ve tried all sorts of flexible arrangements, but I’ve concluded that, for me, coming into the office in the centre of Sheffield is better. The boundaries and the car journey to switch off are better for
my mental health.
How have you coped since, and has it changed your perspective on life?
Work has continued to be helpful for me. You’ve got to try to move forward. Whenever you’ve had trauma, some days are easier, and some aren’t.
It’s changed so much about me. I think subconsciously I’d always thought that most people are a product of their own efforts. I always thought I’d worked hard, and that’s why I’d gotten to my position. No doors were opened for me. However, going through this trauma, which was outside of my control, has made me see the world totally differently. Whenever I meet someone now, I’m very aware that I don’t know their backstory and bad things might have happened to them.
It’s changed my understanding that not everyone has been dealt the same hand of cards, and it’s made me realise my level of privilege. It’s changed my levels of empathy. Something like this has to change you, and I feel that this is a positive change in me. Building relationships with my clients is a big part of my job and having a clearer understanding of the fact that my clients are all different and experiencing different things has really helped with this.
I try to bring that change into the business; law hasn’t always been very diverse, and it’s up to my generation to make sure everyone who’s capable gets a chance.
Last month saw the launch of the first-ever Glu Recruit & unLTD Business Social, held at Sheffield Plate at Orchard Square. The event, held on June 20th, was the first in a series to get like-minded business folk together to network and hear a guest speaker give an open and honest overview of their business journey. Hosted by Glu MD, Rob Shaw, and unLTD head honcho, Phil Turner, they spoke to Tramlines founder and Rockingham Group owner, James O'Hara.
James discussed his career starting out as a music promoter (Threads), getting his famous pals (Matt Helders, Jon McClure) to DJ before opening a series of bars (Picture House Social, Great Gatsby, Public, as well as many others) and more recently launching Day Fever and Crossed Wires Festival, with Leah’s Yard soon to open in Sheffield city centre.
The next event will be held on October 10 with guest Chris Downham, owner of R1se Yoga and soon to be opening Sheffield’s newest urban spa. Tickets will go on sale in September, so watch this space!
Scarborough Group International (SGI) has brought in Ian Sanderson, an experienced South Yorkshirebased property consultant, to support the next phase of development at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
With over 32 years of commercial development and specialist asset management experience, Ian said: “I’m delighted to be supporting Scarborough Group on this exciting and transformative project.
“The vision for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is truly inspiring and I look forward to working with the team to help bring it to life.”
Ian’s remit is to promote collaboration and engagement among partners and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment and progress against the Park’s mission of creating an Olympic legacy through the four themes of sport, community, environment and economy.
Additionally, he will work with SGI’s appointed design team to accelerate the one-million sq ft masterplan for the next phase of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
Kevin McCabe, chairman of SGI, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Ian to the team. Having someone with his extensive experience and innovative approach based on-site will really help to establish and cement relationships with partners and key stakeholders which will prove invaluable as we enter this next phase of the project.”
National law firm Shakespeare Martineau has welcomed corporate partner Matt Ainsworth to its Sheffield hub.
With more than 24 years’ experience, Matt has joined Shakespeare Martineau from Knights plc, where he spent the past seven years as a partner. Prior to this, he worked for Irwin Mitchell and DLA Piper.
Specialising in corporate finance, Matt advises public and private companies, individuals, and institutions on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, IPOs and secondary fund raisings, restructurings and joint ventures, spanning a wide variety of sectors.
Matt said: “I am thrilled to have joined a highly rated and respected national law firm that has its roots centred around client-focused delivery and values the development and ambitions of its
partners and people.
“In my new role, I am looking forward to developing Shakespeare Martineau’s corporate and wider legal offering across South Yorkshire, transforming the brand into the ‘go-to’ mid-market law firm in the region.”
Rich Ayre has been appointed as Head of Growth at Sheffield-based digital agency Wildcat Digital. The pivotal new hire is announced as the agency enters its next phase of growth.
Rich has an impressive career spanning over eight years, at some of the North’s biggest agencies, including Journey Further and Jaywing. In his new role, Rich will be working closely with founder Will Hitchmough and as an extension of the wider team to develop
sales strategies for sustainable long-term growth.
Will said: “The Head of Growth is a new role here at Wildcat Digital. Rich has a great breadth of experience, having spent his early career working with SMEs and smaller businesses. He understands the unique challenges that come when competing with bigger brands and the need to maximise results on tighter budgets.
In his new role, Rich will take ownership of the overall growth strategy, from lead generation and relationship management with the agency’s network through to pitching. He’ll be working closely with the delivery teams as well as Will, to identify growth opportunities and support new clients that choose to work with Wildcat.
Rich commented: “Wildcat’s mission of ‘helping brands punch above their weight online’ resonated with me and represented an opportunity to do the work I enjoy most.
“On a personal note, I’m excited about working with everyone at Wildcat, there’s some great talent and I can’t wait to get started!”
The first-ever apprentice recruited by a Yorkshire accountancy firm has become a shareholder and part-owner of the business. Sophie Holmes began her apprenticeship at 360 Chartered Accountants in 2011 after finishing her A-Levels.
After becoming a fully qualified chartered accountant in 2017, she was named charities specialist and then corporate portfolio manager. Two years ago, she became client services director and was appointed to the board.
Holmes is also the chair of the firm’s charity, the 360 Grass Roots Foundation, and chair of the Humber ICAEW Society of Chartered Accountants.
Owner Andy Steele said: “We are thrilled that one of our apprentices has risen through the ranks and made it to the top. We're building a team for the future.”
Holmes added: “I am very proud to be a shareholder and part-owner of 360, a firm I have loved since joining. I am also thankful to Andy and Leanne for giving me this incredible opportunity."
Yorkshire law firm Wrigleys Solicitors has made two partner promotions.
Marie-Louise Hamilton, managing partner at Wrigleys, said: “Both Joanna Blackman and Hannah Allen are hugely talented legal experts, and their promotions are thoroughly deserved. Each has made a valued contribution to their respective practice area and the firm’s continued success. I look forward to seeing the positive impact they’ll make in their new role as partner.”
Joanna has been promoted to partner in the firm’s specialist charities and social economy department. After starting out in finance, Joanna opted to make a career change and joined Wrigleys in 2013.
Joanna commented: “I am delighted to be embarking on the next phase of my legal career here at Wrigleys. I feel privileged to work with such talented colleagues and wonderfully committed clients. I am honoured to have been made a partner.”
Hannah has been promoted to partner in the private client department after six years with Wrigleys.
She said of the promotion: “I’m thrilled to be joining the partnership at Wrigleys. The firm is completely committed to providing the best possible advice and support to clients, and it’s inspiring to work alongside such experienced private client specialists.”
Four new faces have joined the board of trustees at South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF).
Professor Jaydip Ray DL, the former High Sheriff of South Yorkshire; Adrian Kirk, CEO of Care After Combat; Laurence Gavin, partner at Hemingways Solicitors; and Guy Whitehead, legal director at Irwin Mitchell LLP have been appointed as SYCF trustees.
South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation is the region’s largest local grant-giving charity and last year awarded more than £1.7m to 410 community organisations.
Ruth Willis, CEO of South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, said: “All four new trustees bring a range of different skills, strengths and experiences. We’re confident they will become tremendous assets to our team, and we’re delighted to welcome them to the Community Foundation.”
Since 1986, South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation has made grants of more than £37 million to local groups, individuals, charities and organisations across the region.
For more information, visit www.sycf.org.uk.
St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield has welcomed the appointment of a new Chief Executive, Jo Lenton. Jo comes to the role following a career firmly based in the field of palliative care. She first qualified as a nurse from the Sheffield School of Nursing in 1992, with a Diploma in Nursing studies.
Since 2008, Jo has been a part of the St Luke’s team, beginning as a Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse, then moving to the role of Manager for Community Nursing in 2016 and Head of Community Nursing in 2017. She was subsequently appointed St Luke’s Chief Nurse and Director of Care Services in 2023.
“I am truly delighted to have been given this incredible opportunity to take St Luke’s forward,” said Jo.
“This is a challenging time for the hospice movement, both in terms of the services provided and the funding needed, but I know from many years of experience working in palliative care how valuable those services are and how much people need them.”
St Luke’s Hospice is a pioneer in palliative care and has been supporting terminally ill patients, their families and loved ones in Sheffield for more than 50 years.
There is no charge for any services to St Luke’s patients and families and out of the £12 million it takes to deliver those services annually, more than £9 million comes from public support, through the award-winning chain of St Luke’s shops and from fundraising, legacies and donations.
Sat 6Sat 27 July
Speakers at the South Yorkshire International Trade Conference (held at the OEC, Sheffield on July 3) were universal in saying that South Yorkshire businesses are well placed to take advantage of a changing trade landscape but we need to be bolder at seizing those opportunities.
Hosted by Nick Patrick and organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce’s Sheffield International Trade Centre, in collaboration with the South Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce (Barnsley & Rotherham and Doncaster), the conference included speakers from a host of trade organisations who all celebrated the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
Head of Sheffield Chamber, Louisa HarrisonWalker kicked things off with these words: “We are much stronger when we work together as a region and it’s time to move on from the scarcity mindset. The chambers are playing a pivotal role in that with things like the local skills improvement plan. We should all be celebrating
each other’s wins rather than being in competition.”
These views were echoed by SYMCA’s (South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority)
Tom Bousfield and he was confident that the region was well-placed to take advantage of the growing economies of ed tech, med tech and clean tech.
“These will be three of the most important sectors going forward and as a region we are well placed already. We can be optimistic about the chances for growth but there will be challenges. As a region we need to export more; those that do
already need to do it more and those that don’t, need to start! Our export income is very modest compared to other regions of the country.”
Meanwhile, William Bain, representing the British Chamber of Commerce, could see an incoming Labour government would mean that there were new opportunities in terms of a potentially closer relationship with the EU but cautioned that while service exports were rising by over 60%, goods were rising in single figures and that was something that needed to be addressed.
As well as dedicated
speakers and a panel discussion, the second annual conference featured a dedicated exhibition area to feature organisations who have products and services that already reach the international trade market, promoting the benefits of International Trade, collaboration, and economic growth within the region.
For more info about the Sheffield International Trade Centre, head to www.scci.org.uk.
Main pic: South Yorks International Trade Conference team
Following the company’s move to the Pennine Five development in Sheffield city centre, we spoke to Ben White, the CEO of Phlux Technology, a fast-growing tech spinout from the University of Sheffield.
Tell us a bit about what you do….
I’m Ben White, the CEO and co-founder of a company based in Sheffield called Phlux. We make the world’s best infrared light sensors for 3D imaging.
How would you describe the industry you work in?
Infrared detectors are used in numerous applications: from empowering scientific discoveries and unlocking your mobile phone to autonomous driving. Detectors are at the core of all of these technologies. Our mission is to deliver a range of high performance,
affordable infrared sensors to advance the industries that depend upon it.
What inspired the move to Pennine Five in Sheffield city centre?
We’re currently based in the Nanoscience Building opposite Sheffield University. It’s been a fantastic incubator, but our team and operations have grown vastly this year, so we now need more space that will enable us to continue to expand. Pennine Five was the perfect choice for us as it’s located at the heart of the Innovation Spine, is
extremely well presented and has the size and scale to enable us to continue to expand.
Are you working on any exciting projects at the moment?
We have just kicked off a new project with the European Space Agency and Airbus to develop a detector module for satellites to ground communications using infrared light.
What are the main challenges in your industry and how do you overcome them?
It takes years to build up a knowledge of how to design and make semiconductor devices, so finding people with the right experience is always a challenge.
Where do you see yourselves in five years time?
We’re really excited to see the technologies that Phlux is developing come to the mass market. We intend to build a world class business and be the leading supplier of infrared detectors into these core technologies.
www.phluxtechnology.com
THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES WORLDWIDE USE TUFCOT® MATERIALS IN HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS.
THE 6 BENEFITS OF USING TUFCOT® COMPOSITE MATERIALS OVER CONVENTIONAL METALS AND OTHER COMPOSITE BEARING MATERIALS ARE...
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Tufcot® standard materials, such as Tufcot T100 Marine or T100G, offer friction coefficients as low as 0.13. Our XPL materials give friction as low as 0.04.
Low friction reduces power requirements in mechanical systems and contributes to a longer bearing life.
Water absorption and subsequent swell can be considered negligible for Tufcot® materials. This is one reason why Tufcot® T100 Marine has gained approval from ABS, Bureau Veritas, DNV, Lloyd’s Register and RINA for marine applications such as rudder and water lubricated propeller shaft bearings.
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Weston Park Cancer Charity is thrilled to announce that the Churchill Services team from Meadowhall will be participating in the highly anticipated “It’s a Knockout” challenge this July.
This exciting event is a collaborative effort between Weston Park Cancer Charity and Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity, with teams fundraising to support both charities.
The challenge promises to be a day filled with fun, laughter, spirited competition and all for a great cause. Participants will tackle a series of entertaining and physically engaging obstacles, reminiscent of the classic TV show, as they vie for victory and raise muchneeded funds.
The dedication and
enthusiasm of the Churchill Services team in taking on this challenge is inspiring. Their participation and fundraising efforts will directly contribute to supporting the 1 in 2 people affected by cancer in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire. These funds are crucial in helping us provide essential services, conduct groundbreaking research,
and offering comprehensive support to those facing cancer.
Sam Heritage, Fundraising Manager at Weston Park Cancer Charity said: “We are incredibly excited and grateful to have the Churchill Services team from Meadowhall join us for the ‘It’s a Knockout’ challenge.
“Their commitment to raising funds and awareness is invaluable in our mission to support individuals and families affected by cancer in our community. We look forward to a fantastic event and wish the team the best of luck!”
In partnership with Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity, this event underscores the power of community collaboration, all while raising funds and awareness to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and their families across the region.
The “It’s a Knockout” challenge will take place on Sunday 7th July 2024 at 9:30 AM at Hooton Lodge Farm, Rotherham.
For more information about the event or to donate, please visit www. westonpark.org.uk/events
A massive £564 million of Gift Aid goes unclaimed every year in the UK. The Archer Project have launched a new campaign, stating: “We don’t want to be part of that statistic and the people we support can’t afford for us to miss out on this extra funding.
“Every single extra penny we can get adds up to make even more of a difference to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The cost-of-living crisis has had a huge impact, but a small action you can take right now can make a big impact too.”
The charity has transferred over to an entirely new database, so they are having to start from scratch with Gift Aid declarations. This means even if you’ve done it before, The Archer Project needs your help to make sure they’ve got a declaration on file.
So, what is Gift Aid exactly? The scheme, available to charities, allows
claims of an extra 25p from HMRC for every £1 donated by individuals paying the basic tax rate. This means Gift Aid can make donations go further at no cost to the person making the donation.
Fundraising Manager, Joe Logan says: “Our charity faces consistently increasing demand as more people come to us for help. Completing a gift aid declaration form lets us stretch every donation to support as many people as possible. It’s such a simple and easy way to boost our Project’s resources.”
The demand for emergency care at the charity, has reached unprecedented levels. Across 2023, 1,085 individuals were accessing support at The Archer Project and the charity served a total of 20,963 meals. With the number of rough sleepers the highest they’ve been since counting began and based on current demand, the projected service
for 2024 is a staggering 26,712 meals. The charity receives no government funding, so they are entirely reliant on donations from people in the community and local businesses. Adding 25% to any monetary donation, no matter how big or small, will help The Archer Project support people experiencing homelessness today. To help bridge the gift aid gap, visit archerproject.org.uk/gift-aid
England footballer Millie Bright OBE visited the Northern General Hospital in June to officially open a new garden at the Critical Care Unit funded by supporters of Sheffield Hospitals Charity.
The newly transformed outdoor space has been designed to provide a peaceful retreat for both patients and staff. The Critical Care staff, along with the help of the Arts in Health team, have created colourful mosaics to brighten the garden walls.
A resin floor allows easy access for patients in beds or wheelchairs to be taken outside into the fresh air, offering much-needed respite from the ward. Surrounded by greenery and flowers, the garden provides a safe space and enables patients to see family, friends, younger visitors and even their pets in a relaxed setting.
Millie, England and Chelsea footballer, said: “I have family who work within the NHS and my sister was a member of the Critical Care team here in Sheffield, so it is something I’m very passionate about.
“Hopefully, the garden can provide a change of scenery from the Unit and boost wellbeing overall. I’m proud of what everyone has achieved to make this project happen and I’m honoured to officially open the garden.”
Sheffield Hospitals Charity funded the renovation of the garden with support from NHS Charities Together. The project took two years to complete, with lots of hard work to bring the wonderful outdoor space to life.
Beth Crackles, Chief Executive at Sheffield Hospitals Charity, said: “I can’t emphasise enough the importance of having a calm and welcoming space solely for Critical Care patients and their loved ones. We hope that this special space will help so many people to make positive memories and lift spirits in difficult times.”
July is here! Halfway through the year already – how are we doing compared to our budget of fundraising activity by now? Are we on target to hit our fundraising goals for 2024, or could we possibly do more? Summer is a great opportunity to get out and about with community fundraising. Lots of people are likely to take advantage of the summer sunshine by gathering in pubs, bars and local community areas. With the permission of the landlord/lady/duty manager – pass around a tin or bucket for your charity – people are usually more generous when drinking! These Saturday nights in a few pubs can bring in some much-needed top-up funding – and it is unrestricted!
Have you started to plan for the C word yet? Apologies to raise the subject so soon, but with forward planning, Christmas is a great time to raise awareness for your good cause. Are you doing some of the Christmas Fairs? Putting on a Christmas Lunch/Dinner or Ball? Many venues are already advertising their Christmas menus, and it is important to get in early to secure the right place for you and your guests/beneficiaries. Marketing your event for the next 5/6 months will ensure that you are not lastminute.com and missing out on attendees too.
Planning and preparation are paramount! Ensure you have all your ducks in a row so that you get less stressed!
If you need more help with this or any aspect of Business Planning/Funding Strategy, call me - Wendy Ward, Let’s Save Consultancy Services, 0772 9481010. wendy@letssave.biz
BY RUSSELL THOMPSON, DIRECTOR ON DEMAND AT RUSSELL THOMPSON CONSULTING.
1. I started off trying to do everything myself. I quickly learned that I was achieving very little other than building a task list that just got bigger and bigger. Get help where you need it – big tasks, small tasks – it doesn’t matter. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow.
2. I promised myself that when I rebuilt my business, I would give it some time and do it right. It was one of the best decisions I made. I’m building for the longer term not just the immediate one. Although I might not have always realised it, the investment of time was my friend in getting the outcomes I was looking for.
3. The build might never be complete, and that’s OK. I want my business to be flexible, to adapt and move with what my clients need. Continually improving works just fine for me, so in reality, I don’t want it to be complete. If it was, I’d feel like I had nothing more to contribute.
4. I’m a bit more impatient than I thought. I regularly thought I should be doing a different task, or doing more of something else. So, at the start of every working session, I repeated to myself “THIS IS THE WORK” several times. It became a bit of a mantra, and soon focussed the mind.
5. Accountability is key. I didn’t have A coach, I had several - for each of the disciplines I was working on. It was invaluable. Coach, partner, consultant – whatever you want to call them, make sure you have someone who will hold your feet to the fire.
6. I needed to get out of my own way. Far too often I went to post something on social media and didn’t because it wasn’t perfect or because I was overly conscious about “who was watching”. Lesson learned. Get yourself out there.
7. It’s easy to hide in the planning… and I’m a planner – anyone who knows me will tell you so. But a plan without action is just a list that takes you nowhere. I got stuck in planning a few times – it’s my comfort zone. It was only when I stepped beyond it I really started to make progress.
There are probably a hundred more things I could share. My experience will be different from yours, and that will differ from the next person. It doesn’t make the experience any more or less valuable. It makes it relevant to you. And as I found out, when it's relevant, when it really matters, I couldn’t tap into a better source of motivation.
www.director-on-demand.co.uk
Please scan the QR code to read our reviews and see for yourself how we have helped companies and candidates fill the
Thank you to all our clients, candidates, suppliers, and friends of the business for supporting and working with us in partnership, through our organic growth over the last 15 years. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together.
It has been a rollercoaster at times, as it is with most businesses, but we’re focused on continuing with our growth plan to treble in size over the next 9 years.
We have a very experienced team of recruiters with a great mix of very loyal staff who have been here for a good part of the last 15 years, and some new hires in specific areas we felt needed strengthening to help grow the business, all of whom are dedicated to finding the right candidates for our clients.
If you’re looking to work closely with a recruitment partner to find you the right candidates for your business, please get in touch.
ANDY
Copilot: Your Copilot (Literally!)
Welcome to the future of productivity! Generative AI is revolutionising the business world, with 70% of people eager to delegate mundane tasks to AI, according to Microsoft’s Work Trends Annual Report. At Simoda, we’ve fully embraced this trend by partnering with Copilot for Microsoft 365, an AI productivity assistant that’s a game-changer for any size of business. Moreover, we’ve been helping customers implement it effectively.
What’s the Buzz About Copilot?
Imagine transforming your words into some of the most powerful productivity tools on the planet – all within the flow of your daily work. Copilot for Microsoft 365 does
Deploying Copilot: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let’s dive into how you can effectively deploy Copilot and unlock unparalleled productivity:
just that. It combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with your organisation’s data, seamlessly integrating with Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. It’s your real-time intelligent assistant, ready to boost your efficiency.
Simoda: Here to help! Deploying Copilot is more than a technical implementation; it’s a strategic journey. By
balancing technology, people, and processes, you can harness AI’s power while ensuring ethical and effective usage.
Ready to Work Smarter not Harder?
At Simoda, we are passionate about helping businesses simplify, modernise and accelerate digital transformation and reduce costs. Enabling employees to drive more value add and replace manual tasks with the latest productivity tools is what we do best.
That’s why we’ve produced a whole load of assets to help you understand what Copilot is and how you can successfully roll it out across your business.
Scan the QR code to access the assets and to book your place on our upcoming Teams webinar with our Head of Data Intelligence, Tim Latham on 16th July:
We provide the lowdown on RankSuite, a digital platform focusing on providing key skills to marketing professionals across the region.
RankSuite is a digital marketing training platform offering a curated collection of courses created by industry experts. These experts have designed courses on SEO, content creation and data analytics, ensuring individuals and teams can learn at their own pace. With new courses, frameworks, and handson activities released monthly, marketing professionals can confidently upskill and reskill.
RankSuite is the brainchild of Billie Geena, a Sheffield born and bred SEO specialist. Billie’s journey has been from working at local institutions – JPI Media (now National World), Twinkl, and SEO Works – to becoming a well-known figure and educator in the SEO industry. Billie has created resources to help her peers, speaking at events in front of audiences as large as 2,000 people and writing for major publications in digital marketing.
“I wish there was something like this when I started my career – I’ve spent years reading everything I can about SEO and testing things out on my own and client websites. I’ve made many mistakes, and not everything is as straightforward as I had expected. When you are researching complicated topics, you’ll find that there is a lot of conflicting messages and not enough practical information. In the age of AI, and people mass generating articles – it’s only become harder to learn SEO,” said Billie.
RankSuite offers five practical courses, each led by seasoned professionals in their respective fields:
• Google Analytics 4 by Kyle Rushton McGregor
• Entity SEO by Genie Jones
• Content Auditing by Sarah McDowell
and turning it into something that anyone can understand.”
•
Over time, they will expand offerings with courses on content strategy, SEO for small businesses, content creation for healthcare brands, and e-commerce SEO.
Billie has gone on to train over 400 SEO professionals and finally created her own digital marketing consultancy, Uptake Agency. Her personal experience of the challenges in finding affordable SEO courses that focus on real business scenarios and profitability led to the birth of RankSuite.
She explained: “Everywhere I have worked, training has become a large part of what I do - if there is one thing I can do well, it’s looking at a complicated process
RankSuite’s mission is to stand out from snake oil salesmen by providing actionable information on digital marketing that marketers can quickly grasp at any level. Accessible, actionable and empowering are key words.
“It’s so exciting to be able to launch this platform; there’s nothing like this in the industry that creates courses to this standard. We actively source experts, and during the course creation, we go through multiple levels of peer reviews to make sure everything is accurate,” added Billie. “I’m very thankful for the community I’m a part of, as everyone has been so supportive and receptive to this project.”
For more information, visit RankSuite.io.
It’s Sheffield’s busiest weekend, where tens of thousands (including all of the unLTD team) spend the weekend bouncing along to live music and DJ sets in Hillsborough Park and across the city centre.
While the packed stages and big-name lineups receive most of the focus, it’s also important to bang the drum about a side of Tramlines which provides opportunities for local businesses, charities and initiatives.
Since being established in 2022, the Tramlines Trust has raised a total of £58,000 in funding grants for good causes and organisations in the community. £27,800 of these funds were allocated across 27 deserving local organisations, marking a significant impact on Sheffield›s grassroots projects.
Noteworthy applications have included funding the Hillsborough Christmas Lights with a grant of
£5,000. Additional recipients ranged from the Hillsborough Hornets Disability FC, requiring a larger pitch for their growing team and also ADIRA, a mental health charity utilised the funds to brighten the holiday season for disadvantaged children across Sheffield.
The trust is now accepting grant applications from charities and grassroots community organisations. Grants support projects in four key areas: enhancing Sheffield’s local com-munity, engaging and uplifting young people interested in events or creative industries, addressing societal issues like the environment and homelessness and
promoting South Yorkshire’s art and culture.
Following a successful pilot in 2023, the festival this year announced Little Hillsborough, an area where local traders from S6 can set up shop and take advantage of the passing footfall of 40,000 people.
Since moving to Hillsborough Park in 2018, Tramlines has raised a whopping £213k for the likes of Weston Park Cancer Care, Cavendish Cancer Care, The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation and Sheffield Hospitals Charity.
And that’s before you get into the economic benefit has brought to the city as a whole. A 2022 economic report by Bluegrass Research revealed that
the event generated over £3.8 million for the local economy, derived from factors such as attendee numbers, local contracts, accommodation, spending outside the event, travel to the city, performances by local talent and local suppliers.
The Trust applications for 2024 are still open, so if you know of a grassroots community organisation, project or charity that might benefit, pass the word on and send them to the tramlines.org.uk/thetramlines-trust for more information.
And if you’re heading out for the festival, have a smashing time and we’ll catch you for a debrief next month!
