MARCH 2020 | ISSUE 23 | FREE | WWW.UNLTDBUSINESS.COM
VISUALISE
REALISE Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber President Joada Allen tells us why young people shouldn’t have barriers in the way to achieving their potential in business
T I X BRE ties ande i n u t r o The oppnges facing th challe ity region c
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CONTENTS
36 COVER STORY: BARNSLEY & ROTHERHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT JOADA ALLEN
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IF YOU ASK ME: BREXIT
62 PROFESSIONALENERGYPURCHASING
52 OFFICEINTERIORS 4
74 AFTER HOURS: OFF THE EATEN TRACK unLTDBUSINESS.COM
CONTENTS
ALSO INSIDE... 6: News New premises, new services, new people, top 100 lists, takeovers and expansion news. All the big stories around the city region. 28: Calendar All the very best events happening around the city region in March plus a look-ahead to April. 59: Product Guide Steel City's James Biggin looks at some of the best gadgets and products on the market. 61 & 65: Five Minutes With We take time out to chat with Paul Fletcher, MD of contact centre CC33 and Yorkshire Cricket Board's head of region (south) Gareth Davis. 67: Travel South Yorkshire Travel South Yorkshire is encouraging people to reconsider their travel habits in order to make a huge difference to their wallets, waistlines and the world around us. 78: Weekend Escapes Are you looking for history, culture and delicious food? Then pop across the English channel for a mini break to Amsterdam.
82: Number crunch We decided to crunch the stats and numbers on the new 5G network sweeping the city of Sheffield.
EVERYTHING ELSE: 12: Appointments 15: The Diary 23: Financial health 25: Evolving technology 27: Legal matters 33: Sales strategy 35: Entrepreneur support 49: International 69: Charities
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UNLTD'S DAN LAVER FEELS THE FORCE AT PRINGLE PCS SHEFFIELD TRAINING CENTRE @UNLTDBUSINESS
TURNING VISION INTO REALITY With International Women’s Day this month, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce President Joada Allen was the perfect choice of cover star for our March edition. But it’s not just women who the head of production for Visualised it wants to see take centre stage as Jill Theobald found out when she caught up with her. Read our cover story from page 36 as Joada talks about being an early entrepreneur, a proud family woman, and her vision of taking the President chains of office to set off a chain reaction of equality for all. Now just entering their seventh year of business, Professional Energy Purchasing have a customer base whose loyalty is unmatched – check out our Success Story feature on page 62 as managing director and owner Linda Spencer tells us how the local independent energy consultancy is supporting commercial businesses to save energy and reduce costs. With the UK now in the Brexit transitional period, we caught up with a number of business representatives to find out the challenges, opportunities and new markets for our post-EU Sheffield City Region – check out our If You Ask Me feature on page 16. Kiley Tan, MD of Mosaic International shares why South East Asia is the ‘stepping off point’ to China, and Jillian Thomas, MD Future Life Wealth Management, says Brexit and the current Coronavirus ‘put together … offer incredible opportunities that the SCR is wellplaced to bounce off and benefit from’. We welcome a new voice to unLTD this month, too – Steel City. With 40 years’ experience sourcing branded gifts to help promote businesses and engage with clients, who better to turn to for an insider take on the best promotional products out there? In Steel City’s first product guide page on page 59 we find out about the new trend for light up branded products. And you may have noticed our head of sales Dan Laver heading up this welcome – as well as feeling the force at Pringle PCS Sheffield’s ‘Skywalker House’ HQ, you’ll find him bouncing up and down with excitement about the networking available at Magna on news page 6!
UNLTD BUSINESS UNLTDBUSINESS EDITORIAL Richard Fidler richard@unltdbusiness.com Jill Theobald editorial@unltdbusiness.com General hello@unltdbusiness.com 0114 252 7781 ADVERTISING Dan Laver dan@unltdbusiness.com 07867 313995 Phil Turner phil@unltdbusiness.com 07979 498034 General advertising@unltdbusiness.com FINANCE Sarah Koriba and Michael Johnson accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Simon Waller and Simon Garlick CONTRIBUTORS Joe Bamford Marc Barker Marta Flakiewicz Dax Keeling Steve Knapp Anna McGuire Sasha Mossman
Bronte Saulle Raj Shah Ian Snow Helen Williams Gabby Willis Ash Young Jack Lewis
unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1B Rialto, 2 Kelham Island Square, Kelham Riverside Sheffield S3 8SD and HRM Unit 1a Speedwell Works, Sidney Street, Sheffield S1 4RG The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and HRM and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout unLTD is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media Ltd and HRM cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific listings.
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AGENDA NEWS New office for Glu Recruit as growth phase continues South Yorkshire recruitment agency Glu Recruit has moved into a larger office as part of its latest growth phase. Glu has welcomed two new members of staff to support an ever-increasing client base, and are currently recruiting for further additions to the now seven-strong team. The new appointments meant Glu had outgrown their previous serviced office space on the Sheffield Business Park, moving into their own premises on the Bradmarsh Business Park in Rotherham.
THE GLU RECRUITMENT TEAM
MD Rob Shaw said: “We’ve gone from a homebased business, into a serviced office and now to large premises of our own, which gives us the flexibility we need for further expansion. “As we recruit for businesses across the Sheffield City Region and further afield, it was important for us to remain at the heart of the region. “With Rotherham having one of the fastest growing economies in the UK it made perfect sense for us to base ourselves here, right in the middle of a high growth area that matches our own business aspirations.”
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STEVE LOFTUS HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS PICTURE PERFECT PHOTOGRAPHY'S NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR
NEW PEOPLE, NEW SERVICES FOR PICTURE PERFECT Barnsley-based Picture Perfect Photography has announced two new services in a bid to continue business growth. The development, which will see the firm offer both video and creative and art direction services, comes following the company’s appointment of Steve Loftus as the firm’s new creative director who will remain in a freelance capacity. On the back of customer feedback and following a British Photography Award nomination earlier this year, founder Collette Evans is
hopeful of continued success for the company in 2020 following a strong start to the year. Steve joins the business with more than 30 years’ experience in the advertising and creative industry. His focus will be to provide and execute marketing solutions for a range of local and international clients across a variety of communications channels. Founder Collette hopes that this will ‘open the door’ to further success for Picture Perfect, with the news also following confirmation of the firm’s attendance at the Doncaster Business Showcase
where new Creative Director Steve was on hand to offer complementary consultations about how Picture Perfect can support businesses with photography and creative ideas for visual branding. Collette said: “We’re really excited for what the rest of 2020 holds following a really positive end to 2019 and a strong start to the new year. “Steve joins us at an exciting time for the business, and with two new services added too, his appointment will open the door for us to continue our recent success.”
Magna gets businesses bouncing at networking event Friday 14th February saw Magna share the love – by opening up its doors to businesses in Sheffield City Region at its first Business Bounce networking event. The giant inflatables are usually used for Magna Mayhem – an event the Science Adventure Centre holds during the school holidays. But on Valentine’s Day, 40 businesspeople – including unLTD’s very own head of sales Dan Laver – braved Bootcamp, conquered Mountain Climb, hurtled down Helter-skelter and competed to be the Last One Standing as part of this unique networking event.
Dan said: “I go to networking events pretty frequently – as a lot of unLTD readers and business folk will testify! But this was an event with a really fun theme and difference and
I’d really recommend it – it takes informal networking to a different level! The next Business Bouce event will be held on Thursday April 2 between 3:30pm–5:30pm.
unLTDBUSINESS.COM
AGENDA The outdoor community in city spotlight The strength and breadth of Sheffield’s outdoor communities – a catalyst for a number of successful, marketleading businesses – is in the spotlight this month when The Festival of the Outdoors returns. In its second year, the headline events include the Rab Climbing Works International Festival, The Magnificent Seven hill climb challenge, The Big Running Weekend and Sheffield Adventure Film Festival. A new addition, and one of Sheffield’s major events, will be the Asda Foundation Sheffield Half Marathon, which starts and finishes in the city centre.
Climbing will feature for the first time at this Summer's Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan
Several international climbing stars will compete at the Rab Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF) 14-15 March, before Heeleybased Climbing Works’ Co-owner, Percy Bishton later heads to Japan as Chief Route Setter for Bouldering at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Unique cycling event The Magnificent Seven returns on March 15, further cementing itself as one of the toughest cycling challenges in the UK. Now in its 15th year, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) will bring the wild outdoors into the heart of the city centre with a three-day programme of more than 100 of the latest outdoor adventure films, at the Showroom Cinema 20-22 March. View the full festival programme online at: www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/ festival-of-the-outdoors
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AMY MAKES TOP 100 FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS LIST Sheffield-based entrepreneur Amy Milchard has been listed in the #ialso Top 100, a collection of 100 inspiring female entrepreneurs nationwide. Amy, who founded Pink Spaghetti Sheffield in 2016, was also listed for her role as co-founder of the independent co-working firm Desk.Space, co-organiser of Kelham Networking, as well as her involvement in an exciting, yetto-be announced podcasting project for young people. The #ialso Top 100 list was set up by small business campaign f:Entrepreneur, and born from International Women’s Day 2018, with the aim of showcasing multiachieving women to provide lessons of challenge and success for all small business founders – both men and women. “It was really nice to be recognised,” said Amy. “For me it was a great moment of reflection of all the jobs and roles I’ve had in my life. “The list has done a great job of capturing some amazing stories and inspiring people – we are more and more often recognising that so many women who run one business have a range of other projects and commitments.”
PINK SPAGHETTI'S AMY MILCHARD
Fleet hire company take aim and relocate to purpose-built site Award-winning vehicle leasing company Arrow Self Drive is relocating from its current site after outgrowing the plot after just six years. The company, which has eight depots across Yorkshire, opened in Dronfield in 2013 when it bought out Sheaf Self Drive. A year later saw a move to the current city centre
location to better service the growing portfolio of business customers. Now the firm is on the move again to the new site on Surbiton Street, which they bought from Barnsley business Truswell Haulage. The plan is to create a custom-built depot fitted out with the most up-to-date technology and state of the art workshop facility.
Gary Tromans, depot manager, said: “We have enjoyed organic growth and have established ourselves in Sheffield as a leader in business vehicle leasing. But we have outgrown this depot and its capabilities. The new Surbiton site has been designed to be future proof, allowing us to expand without restrictions.”
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AGENDA HOT A £1.5m investment has been announced for the FlyDSA Arena to ensure customers, event organisers and promoters have the latest venue facilities, ensuring the Arena continues to play a crucial role in promoting Sheffield across the country. The latest phase of Park Hill Sheffield is to be supported by a £19.9m development finance agreement. JV partners Urban Splash and Places for People have agreed the two-year funding deal with Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking Real Estate & Housing. Alucraft Systems, Ireland's leading designer, manufacturer and installer of architectural glazing systems, has acquired certain assets of Façade and Glazing Solutions (FGS) Limited, including its fabrication facility in Rotherham. Westfield Health has opened an ‘active space’ on the lower floor of its Sheffield City Centre headquarters following the formation of a strategic partnership with EXOS, a US-based human performance company. To celebrate the success of their apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week, Whyy? Change treated their apprentices to a fun gokarting event in Sheffield.
COOL Mayor of the Sheffield City Region Dan Jarvis has written to the Prime Minister to express his concerns and demand action by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), following last year’s flooding in South Yorkshire.
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TIM ROBERTS IS THE NEW CEO OF HENRY BOOT
HENRY BOOT CEO APPOINTMENT One of the UK’s leading land, property and development companies has appointed a new CEO. Henry Boot, with its headquarters in Banner Cross, Sheffield, announced the board appointment of Tim Roberts as CEO with effect from 1 January 2020. Tim has spent 15 years running British Land's office team as well as developing the strategy for its successful London office business, moving its focus towards more mixed-use campuses and retaining and attracting target customers.
Raised in Yorkshire, Tim said: "I am very happy to have returned to my home city of Sheffield. “Henry Boot is a longstanding, well established business which, over the years, has generated strong financial performance. It is in very good shape and I am joining a team that will not only continue to deliver strong returns, but also a business that has the organisational and capital structure to prosper.” Chairman Jamie Boot said: “We are delighted with the appointment of Tim,
who stood out from our list of strong candidates due to his track record of success in property investment and development and his delivery of long-term value creation. On behalf of the board, I want to thank John for his dedication, professionalism and personal commitment through his time with Henry Boot and wish him well in his retirement.” John Sutcliffe will remain in an advisory position with the company until the conclusion of the AGM on 21 May 2020, at which point he will retire and step down from the board.
SCX Special Projects announces major investment SCX, the Sheffield-based leader in providing bespoke engineering solutions involving mechanical handling and kinetic architecture, has announced a deal, bringing to fruition the planned succession in the ownership of the business. Two of South Yorkshire’s leading dealmaking firms, Keebles LLP and BHP Accountants, helped deliver the deal which sees Elysian Capital’s substantial investment acquire a majority stake in SCX Special Projects, alongside the company’s
SCX Special Projects include a second retractable roof at Wimbledon over its
NO 1 COURT existing management team led by CEO Andy Whitworth. Simon Eastwood, standing down as chairman of SCX Special Projects to focus on his other business interests, said: “Having worked with Andy
since 1992 and seen the way the business has developed, it has become increasingly apparent we needed to bring on board new investment and expertise to allow Andy and his team to realise the true potential of SCX Special Projects. “We have been working with our advisors for some time to achieve this and I am delighted to have found in Elysian Capital a partner who can help take the business to the next level and, as a continuing shareholder, I look forward to its future success.”
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AGENDA
HENTONS EXPANDS INTO SHEFFIELD’S ‘VIBRANT DIGITAL COMMUNITY’
Wosskow Brown Foundation launches new programme
Accountancy and advisory firm Hentons is expanding its Sheffield operation and creating a national hub for digital excellence. The firm has moved to larger offices in the Kollider technology hub at Sheffield’s Castle House and is seeking to expand its team, which includes a wide range of skills from management accountants to independent financial advisors, and is home to a growing digital team using the latest technology. Tim Baum-Dixon, director of Hentons in Sheffield, said: "Our new office provides a link into a vibrant digital community and supports our continued expansion in the Sheffield market. It further adds to our credentials as a leading digitally enabled and technology-focused accountancy firm for
The Wosskow Brown Foundation launched a new programme and celebrated its fifth anniversary at a special event held at the OEC Sheffield. Since the Foundation’s launch in 2014, it has managed to help 967 organisations – including businesses, charities, social enterprises and sports clubs. In the last three years alone, the Foundation has made more than 460 business-to-business introductions, cementing its reputation as a connector organisation – linking companies to the people, services and specialists they seek.
TIM BAUM-DIXON AT KOLLIDER
entrepreneurs ranging from manufacturers to the creative and entertainment industries. "The move puts us in the heart of the tech and start-up community in Sheffield and it is an excellent base to expand
our music and entertainment services outside of London." Hentons supports the development of its clients' businesses with a partner-led and multi-disciplinary range of skills and consultancy services.
Budding Sheffield entrepreneur secures £1,000 prize from UKSE Torrell Ewan, founder of ‘Woosh’, claimed the best pitch award at an event celebrating the end of another successful Y-Accelerator programme. The sixth time the programme has been delivered in the Sheffield City Region, it provides opportunities to the next generation of innovative start-ups via a three-month intensive development programme. The event, which took place at Gripple’s Glide House in Attercliffe, saw seven South Yorkshire budding entrepreneurs pitch their innovative business ideas to an audience including high-profile investors with a chance to win a £1,000 prize from UKSE. Torrell and his product ‘Woosh’ – a unique sport competition management system, currently aimed at the
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Y-ACCELERATOR PITCH EVENT AT GLIDE HOUSE
breakdance and bodybuilding communities – came out on top after Torrell impressed the judges with his entrepreneurial spirit. He said: “Taking part in the Y-Accelerator has completely changed my mindset in terms of how I think about business, from a programmer to an entrepreneur. The support and expertise I have gained
has been invaluable and to be awarded the prize for best pitch is just incredible." Among the speakers were representatives from supporting organisations Gripple and Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO). The programme is also supported by Sheffield City Region Growth Hub.
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Climbing will feature The number of organisations for the first time at this which have been helped Summer's Olympics held by the Wosskow Brown in Tokyo, Japan Foundation
Following the success of the Foundation’s previous programmes (WB100 and Enterprising Partners) Wosskow Brown also unveiled the launch of its next programme ‘Let’s Grow Together’. The aims are to encourage organisation across the Yorkshire region to scale up by offering knowledge and practical support, with a target of encouraging 100 organisations to scale-up, and create 1,000 new jobs in the region. Let’s Grow Together will also encourage people to share their stories of business, their knowledge, experiences, as well as challenges faced and how they were overcome, and will involve a series of seminars, workshop and events.
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AGENDA
These are just some of Doncaster’s many new developments
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AGENDA
CITY REGION ‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS’ AT MIPIM The Sheffield City Region (SCR) is set to showcase a number of fully investible schemes from its investment portfolio at MIPIM 2020, the world’s largest annual property conference. Held in Cannes between 10-13 March, investors and developers from across the globe will hear about the array of investment propositions that build upon the SCR’s strong heritage of innovationled manufacturing and engineering. The SCR team will showcase SCR’s distinctive assets including: • Heart of the City II – Sheffield • Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park • Castlegate – Sheffield • Unity Project – Doncaster • Barnsley West
SHEFFIELD MASTERPLAN VIEW
• Aero Centre Yorkshire – Doncaster Rachel Clark, SCR director of trade and investment, said: “Sheffield City Region is open for business. At MIPIM, we’ll be showing our strong proposition to investors and developers – how we are the place to live, work and invest.”
Dave Smith, SCR chief executive, said: "MIPIM gives us an ideal platform for demonstrating how we collaborate and build long term partnerships with investors and developers. "As we have seen in the past, the connections we make at MIPIM can be powerful and long lasting.”
Keebles’ completes four deals in one day Strengthening its position as one of the largest corporate law firms in South Yorkshire – Keebles LLP had a remarkable start to the new year, completing four deals in one day at the end of January. The multi-national transactions saw the corporate department at Keebles bring in deals worth more than £50m including advising the shareholders and management of Sheffield-based engineering company SCX Special Projects on its major investment by Elysian Capital (read more on page 8). Having already completed several deals in 2020, the award-winning team, headed by Keebles partner Matt Ainsworth, is predicting another strong year. Matt said: “The success comes on the back of a strong 2019 for our rapidly expanding client base. Keebles brought in four deals in one day worth more than
£50M
JELLYFISH PICTURES’ KEVIN SPRUCE AND SARAH TANNER WITH STP CEO TOM WOLFENDEN
Jellyfish Pictures expand from STP to WIZU Globally renowned visual effects and animation studio Jellyfish Pictures is expanding its northern office base in Sheffield – just six months after moving to the city. The company chose to locate initially at Sheffield Technology Parks (STP) which provides a unique support package for tech companies relocating to Sheffield or wanting to expand operations in the north of England. STP CEO Tom Wolfenden said: “Sheffield is a fantastic base for any business and it is fitting we were able to prove that to Jellyfish through our LOCATE project which provides free office space for the first three months together with a package of support, including introductions to local networks of relevant contacts.” The new Jellyfish Pictures team is expanding from STP to new workspace operator WIZU at the recently refurbished 32 Eyre St building.
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“With Brexit now in its transitional period, we are confident that 2020 will be another successful year for our continued growth.” The firm’s regional, national and international client portfolio includes Pressure Technologies plc, Axel Johnson International, global hospitality group Wyndham Destinations, Pattonair, ELG Haniel, Hill Care and Awaze whose brands include Hoseasons and James Villa Holidays. The corporate department’s sector expertise includes advanced manufacturing, engineering, technology, healthcare and hospitality.
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AGENDA APPOINTMENTS
NEW FACES AT BIDBI SUZY HARRIS-MILNES AND CHRIS HUMPHREYS
BHP bolsters tax team with private client specialist Award-winning Yorkshire and Derbyshire accountancy firm BHP has expanded its tax department with the appointment of Suzy Harris-Milnes as tax partner. Suzy has specialised in private client work for more than 20 years and will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the firm, where she will help business owners, wealthy individuals and trusts with their personal tax affairs. She joins BHP after spending 24 years at Grant Thornton. She said: “BHP has a long-standing reputation as a strong, independent business with an exciting future ahead. I was attracted to the growing accountancy firm because of its great clients, numerous award wins and recruitment growth over the last few years.” Chris Humphreys, head of tax at BHP, said: “As we continue to grow, we are thrilled that Suzy has chosen to join us – her experience in private client work will further strengthen the services that we offer.” Suzy will primarily be based in Sheffield and Leeds but will work across all BHP offices including York, Chesterfield and Cleckheaton.
Bag It Don’t Bin It has welcomed a trio of new faces. Sam Teale is a new junior designer in an internal move from his role as part of the production team. He said: “I am really proud to be working with the design team and look forward to developing my role.” Tracey Owen is a new account manager. Tracey has worked in commercial insurance for over 20 years and was drawn to BIDBI because of its environmental stance and creative nature. Tracey said: “I’m very passionate about the environment and reducing plastics. I think the BIDBI products are very important for businesses and individuals to buy and use.” Alexandros Malatestas has joined the production operative team in a role
ALEXANDROS MALATESTAS (LEFT) WITH SAM TEALE
involving digital transfer printing and screen-printing, after working as a warehouse operative for a large fashion company.
“During my trial shift I enjoyed how well the team got on with each other, and how friendly they were. Everyone has been so helpful.”
Appointment and promotion at Redbrik Leading estate agency Redbrik has appointed a new area manager Claire Shipman and promoted Jessica Risorto to a senior management role. Claire will be responsible for servicing the north west of Sheffield and offering a personalised and bespoke service for vendors. She said: “Redbrik is a shining light in the regional property sector, with its firstclass marketing, exceptional levels of customer service and forward thinking, and the north west of Sheffield is a real growth area for us.” Jessica is viewed by company directors as ‘perfectly placed’ to lead the Chesterfield Sales Office. She said: “I am really excited to grasp this opportunity with
CLAIRE SHIPMAN (LEFT) WITH JESSICA RISORTO
both hands and look forward to helping Redbrik continue to achieve its objectives and exceed the expectations of our customers in 2020 and beyond.” Redbrik MD Mark Ross added: “Claire brings lots of experience to the role and
is already listing putting properties on the market, so I am sure she going to be a real asset to the ever growing Redbrik team. “Jessica’s promotion is fully deserved – she’s well-equipped to take on the role and I can’t wait to see her thrive in it.”
CHANGE YOUR JOB, CHANGE YOUR COMMUTE. 12
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Board appointment boosts broker’s growth Sheffield-based chartered broker IFM Insurance has appointed Jamie Harvey to its board, to drive sales and take on new responsibilities managing the firms marketing strategies. Jamie joined IFM Insurance in 2011 when he became responsible for new business development. Since then the business has grown significantly in supporting the insurance needs of many firms across South Yorkshire. He said: “I’m delighted to be joining the IFM board as we look forward to the next stage of our development. We are a growing business, with a strong team of insurance professionals committed to supporting local firms by making sure they have the right protection in place.” IFM MD Mark Barlow said:
Ex-RBS commercial director joins Bridge Help Chesterfield-based Bridge Help has welcomed respected former RBS commercial director Darren Marshall as head of risk and underwriting at the firm. Darren has been enticed out of early retirement to join the rapidly growing bridging finance company which provides short-term loans for commercial property. He said: “Since choosing to retire I have received a number of job offers but the one with Bridge Help genuinely excited me for a number of reasons, primarily because of the firm’s agility. Working with Bridge Help also enables me to work remotely which suits my new lifestyle.”
Landmark hotel appoints new general manager
JAMIE HARVEY
“Jamie is an outstanding person. His professional approach, and willingness to push for both clients and insurers alike mark him out
for success, now and in the future. His promotion is well-deserved and signals our intention to boost our growth plans over the coming years.”
SHEFFIELD LAW FIRM BOOSTS EMPLOYMENT TEAM Sheffield law firm Wake Smith Solicitors has appointed Briony McDermott in its employment law department. Briony joins the firm with 10 years’ experience in employment law advising private and commercial clients on all aspects of employment law, both contentious and noncontentious. She joins from Minster Law where she worked for insurance-backed private clients. Briony said: “I’m very pleased to join such an established firm. It’s a challenging time for many employers, and I am looking forward to helping Wake Smith build on the strong reputation it already has in the field.” Head of litigation Liz Shaw added: “Briony brings a wealth of experience and skill to
LIZ SHAW (LEFT) WITH BRIONY MCDERMOTT
Wake Smith’s employment law department. We are confident that her experience in his specialism will prove indispensable.”
A familiar face has returned to take the reins at The Quays Hotel – formerly the Hilton Sheffield. Darnall-born new general manager Phil Dunn brings with him plenty of industry experience and previously held the post of bar manager at the Victoria Quays-located facility during its original launch as a Stakis Hotels venue more than 20 years ago. Earlier this year Legacy Hotels & Resorts was appointed to re-open the four-star hotel and leisure club over the coming weeks following its closure late last year when Hilton surrendered its lease on the property. As well as Stakis Sheffield, Phil has also worked locally for the Rutland Hotel and the former Beauchief Hotel, both in Sheffield, where he held positions of general manager and operations manager respectively. “I’m honoured to have been appointed,” said Phil, who added that bookings are already being taken at the city centre venue for when it re-opens.
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THE DIARY BY RICHARD FIDLER
Our editor says while 2020 is politically quiet the coming months will shape UK's future
Sectors fighting for regional prominence
BREXIT BATTLE NOW OFF MAIN STAGE After studiously avoiding politics and Brexit during the first 20 editions of this magazine I’m making my second foray into the topic inside three issues. The main reason is to thank our expert writers in our ‘If You Ask Me’ section who take you through the practicalities of the UK leaving the European Union, not only during the 2020 transition year but more importantly what happens when we all return to work on January 4 2021. On a political level our vote to leave the EU in 2016 was one of the most seismic events of most people’s lives. It not only altered our working relationship with 27 other EU nations but also the way we travel within them and, in many instances, have relationships with people from those countries. As we enter March it’s safe to say that the skies haven’t fallen in and that the peace and quiet from our politicians and sections of the media is quite blissful.
I’m not meaning to make light of the problems people have – the recent floods are extremely disrupting for business and have tragically taken lives across the country. The Coronavirus is something that we can’t ignore, especially with news that some people are being treated at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. However, the, shall we say ‘Project Fear’, forecasts of what would happen firstly when the vote went to Leave and then secondly after actually leaving the EU haven’t, so far, come to pass. What is worth remembering though is that nothing has practically happened. We’re still in the EU customs union and single market. Our relationship with the EU is identical to how it was before we left until the end of 2020 and it is only then – once an EU-UK trade deal has been completed (hopefully) – that the rules will change. From what I can pick up
from the media both sides are already ignoring parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement as the rhetoric outside the negotiating rooms ramps up a notch. Reading our experts is well worth it even if your business doesn’t have any direct contact with the continent. It’s good to have knowledge of what may happen as a strong relationship with the EU is vital to our economy as a whole. Personally, I’m very positive about Brexit and would prefer to focus on the opportunities that are available to the UK outside of the EU rather than lamenting what we had prior to the 2016 vote. There is no doubt that politically the divide between leavers and remainers may take a while to heal but we all start from the same premise that a successful economy is good for everyone. On that I’m sure we can all – even EU and UK negotiators – can agree.
Last month I was part of a group of PR professionals from across the Sheffield City Region who came together to discuss the state of the sector in our area and how we can take on the big agencies from Leeds and Manchester. The general consensus was that the PR scene is very much like the rest of the economy on our patch in that there are lots of talented people and good businesses but it flies under the radar when compared to our colleagues up the M1 or across the Pennines. My day job is running HRM, South Yorkshire’s only PR agency in the Prolific North Top 50, so the discussion was particularly pertinent as we try to not only work hard for our clients but showcase the SCR as a vibrant place to run a business. One thing I have noticed about this discussion and one I attended for the tech sector recently is that the core theme is very similar. We do so much good work in our area but there is always a feeling that we’re playing catch up or are in the Championship to our rivals Premier League. There is no quick fix for this, but it will require groups of people to work together for a significant amount of time to raise entire industries. Our area has so much going for it we shouldn't be in anyone's shadow.
Got views of your own? Let me know: richard@unltdbusiness.com LinkedIn: Richard Fidler
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IF YOU ASK ME
IF YOU ASK ME...
BREXIT With the UK now in the Brexit transitional period, Jill Theobald caught up with a number of business representatives to find out the challenges, opportunities and new markets for our post-EU Sheffield City Region
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IF YOU ASK ME As lawyers you want to be able to offer your clients certainty – and Brexit has been a constant conundrum for the last three and a half years! We can understand why some businesses may have thought first off about their bottom line – how am I going to get my products and services exported after Brexit? With the negotiations starting at the end of January, we now have much more certainty and the priority for businesses is their people – their existing and future workforce. Our advice is to identify who is going to be impacted and communicate with them as regularly and as empathetically as you can. Brexit shouldn’t cost anyone their residence as long as the rules are understood and followed. Europeans in the UK need to make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme. For those that have been here for five years or more that will give them settled status, and those under five years can apply for pre-settled status and then settled status later. The Home Office system is a really modern and intuitive one – it takes around 20 minutes to make the application via a smartphone app or a computer browser. Reassure your staff on their rights, educate them on the processes, and ensure they understand the deadlines and risk of non-compliance. The existing process is for EU nationals and their family members arriving in the UK before December 31 this year, they have until the end of June next year to apply under the current system. If people fail to do anything, the least worst-case scenario is their lives are likely to be seriously disrupted and while we would hope to avoid seeing deportations the Government’s position isn’t entirely clear. UK national staff in European countries will also have to apply but each of the 27 states have different systems to ours, although a lot of the paperwork may be familiar to those already
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LAURENCE KEIR-THOMAS, SENIOR ASSOCIATE AND SOLICITOR, FRAGOMEN LLP
operating there. The processes are now starting to be published so businesses need to monitor announcements from the governments in those member states. Sheffield City Region (SCR) businesses are being proactive and forward-thinking about this and supporting staff in a number of ways including access to communication strategies, webinars, video, step-by-step guides and one-to-one surgeries that Fragomen, and others are providing. By the end of the year, with the end of free movement of people, EU nationals will be treated the same as non-EU nationals under a new immigration system so employers are also going to have to come to terms with a new work permit regime. The Government’s recent policy paper has sketched the outline of this. For skilled workers there will be a new Points Based System. To score the necessary points the candidate will need a job offer, skills at A level equivalent, English language, and a salary of at least £25,600. There will be some flexibility
Sheffield City Region businesses are being proactive and forwardthinking... supporting staff in a number of ways...
for those earning between £20,480 and £25,599 if they are working in a designated shortage occupation or hold a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job. The proposals also remove the requirement on firms to advertise the role and the monthly limit on numbers will be suspended. For those workers from outside the EU this is a better system than the current one. But it is also going to be potentially expensive to apply for both employees and employers. It also represents a significant increase in restrictions on employing EU nationals and their family members. For the most highly skilled workers there will be options that don’t require a job offer. The existing Global Talent and Start-Up/Innovator routes, which cater for highly skilled people endorsed by the relevant sector bodies, research councils, universities and capital funds will remain. In addition, the Government is continuing to explore a monthly mechanism to allow a smaller number of the most highly skilled applicant to come to the UK without a job offer or an endorsement. Points will likely be available for English Language skills, levels of qualification and experience with a likely focus on STEM subjects – which is important for SCR given our focus on high end technology and manufacturing. Lastly, the policy paper has confirmed the Government’s plans for people applying for lower skilled jobs. There will not be a separate route available for applicants who cannot score the required points, other than seasonal agriculture workers. This will undoubtedly affect a wide range of sectors with high numbers of EU national employees working in roles that are below the salary and skills threshold. The existing Youth Mobility visa scheme we have with places like Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand will continue and may be of some assistance to the affected sectors.
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IF YOU ASK ME Within the Sheffield City Region, a lot of the big, high profile companies are already trading overseas. This didn’t happen overnight – it’s been ongoing as a result of years of investment, of course, but for SMEs the problem with trading overseas is, unlike the national and multinationals, they don’t have enough ‘bandwidth’ in terms of funding, resources or manpower to look into markets outside Europe. The first question I ask potential clients is: How many people do you have working in sales, specifically in business development and they may say a handful. The next question is how many in sales in international markets, and it’s often just one – if that. That’s a big patch for one person. That’s symptomatic of the whole issue for SMEs. If the majority focus on the UK with a small number working on the EU or the rest of the world, you can’t expect the proportion of international business you do to be any higher. Apart from that, a sales person who is tasked with EMEA markets (Europe, Middle East and Asia) will look for the lowest hanging fruit – understandably, as they have targets to hit. So, they will focus on markets that are nearest, closest and easiest for sales wins. That has traditionally been Europe. That’s why we are so reliant on European companies. Asia is sometimes overlooked due to distance, the language barrier, the culture gap and the way of doing business, which is very different. Or if they do make the effort and achieve a few sales here and there, they’ll say ‘we’re selling to Asia.’ But they’re not really if it’s not on a regular basis. It’s more about how we grow that, turning a one-off sale into a sustainable business strategy. Companies may also only
look at China and not consider South East Asia. But China is not a panacea. It’s complex and difficult due to all the issues I’ve mentioned already. Other considerations such as intellectual property (IP) protection are important as well. In South East Asia, places like Singapore and Malaysia have a developed rule of law inherited from the UK and a much more Western way of doing business. That’s where most Western companies are based knowing that there is a level playing field for businesses there. The language barrier is also lower – most people of working age have a good working knowledge of English and most people have a second or third language, which may include Mandarin. Due to this, South East Asia is also seen as a ‘stepping off point’ to China. Companies often have a very limited understanding of South East Asia – they have strategies for the EU, USA and maybe China but not South East Asia. But it is home to some of the most active economies in the world at the moment so, post Brexit, SMEs should not discount the region. Some might set up a base or a correspondence office with a salesperson
to generate those sales in order to start growing that sustainable business. Ultimately, if SMEs want business in South East Asia they have to be proactive and be there to win it. You can’t just put some information on your website, get a translator and hope the sales will follow.
Ultimately the message for SMEs wanting to get a ‘slice of the action’ in those active economies is to be pro-active, plan strategically and realise that it’s not as simple as it looks. At Mosaic International, we bring our understanding of the region, its peoples and cultures to help our clients succeed.
KILEY TAN, MD, MOSAIC INTERNATIONAL
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IF YOU ASK ME This is a really interesting time for the Sheffield City Region (SCR) and I don’t think we can look at our post-Brexit environment in isolation. We also have the Coronavirus situation, and I believe put together they offer incredible opportunities that the SCR is well-placed to bounce off and benefit from. Many factories are currently shut in China and not manufacturing goods, while hundreds of ships are anchored off the main ports unable to onload or offload goods – consignments can already take 60-days to be shipped from China, too, so the impact will mean a massive shortfall of Chinese manufactured goods available for sale in the UK. Add in the apprentices we are creating particularly in engineering here in SCR, and the combination of both Brexit and the Coronavirus means we’ve potentially got a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-evaluate and grow our manufacturing base. Future Life Wealth Management work with 50 manufacturing companies whose order books are exploding at the moment – not just because of Brexit but because companies are not able to source goods from China which are guaranteed to arrive. The quality we produce in this region and this country is on most occasions superior than when we import from elsewhere, but we have in the past imported because it was cheaper. The fall in Sterling as a result of Brexit means we are able to start exporting as much as we are importing. As businesses we’ve got to be more forward-thinking about exploiting these opportunities. We’ve got to push and promote our iconic Made in Britain and Made in Sheffield brands because they are a massive sell worldwide. While visiting a Spanish suburb recently I got chatting to a local who, when I told him where I was from,
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JILLIAN THOMAS, MD FUTURE LIFE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
said: ‘Sheffield! Cutlery – the best cutlery in the world.’ We’ve had this disposable economy where we’ve just accepted other people can make things cheaper, but customers are increasingly wanting their products to be high-quality and to last, so it’s no longer just about price, it’s about sustainability. If a small price increase on our goods ensures we look after our local and national GDP post-Brexit that’s the premium that’s needed to ensure our people are employed and we support local businesses and our economy. People want to buy local, cut down airmiles and contribute to a sustainable local economy – at Future
The quality we produce in this region and this country is on most occasions superior than when we import from elsewhere, but we have in the past imported because it was cheaper.
Life we recently put a local hotel in touch with Moss Valley Farms who may have otherwise bought supplies from a national chain. Another dramatic change we’ve seen is after the fires in Australia were broadcast on television, more people are enquiring about ethical funds than in the rest of my 22-year career. Businesses are increasingly looking to adopt an ethical bias to build towards a strong, sustainable economy. The post-Brexit and current Coronavirus environments go hand-inhand from an economic point of view – and we have to take those resulting opportunities with both hands.
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IF YOU ASK ME
More than a PR agency PR Creative Social Media Motion Graphics Video Events
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IF YOU ASK ME
NICK PATRICK, HEAD OF SHEFFIELD CHAMBER INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE
No matter what sort of business you run, Brexit is likely to affect you – Sheffield City Region (SCR) businesses need to find out how, and quickly. Yes, January 31 has been and gone. Yes, the UK PLC is no longer in the EU and a free agent able to negotiate deals around the world. And yes, we have the withdrawal agreement which in turn allows an 11-month transition period. But on December 31 this year full customs procedures will be implemented regardless of whether there’s a trade agreement or hard Brexit. That means on January 4, the first working day of 2021, any deliveries outside the UK will be controlled by Incoterms (International Commercial Terms). Take this hypothetical example of an exporting SCR business.
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A lot of EU companies are currently contacting South Yorkshire suppliers to ask if after the transition period they will continue to deliver to them. Some businesses, not wanting to upset customer relationships, are saying yes. The European customer replies they don’t want any additional costs or admin work because of Brexit so the SCR business assumes ‘we’ll have some duty to pay, let’s say 3 per cent, but will absorb it at least for six months until things settle down’. Delivering to Germany today is like delivering to Birmingham, other than freight costs and Intrastat, but after January 4 customs procedures will be applied in full under Incoterms which means DDP – delivered duty paid. When a truck leaves an SCR factory, they will have to complete export declaration and will need a
customs agent to do that. Then the goods will require an import declaration as it goes through customs to enter Europe or it will be turned away – and they will need a European agent to do that. The duty will have to be paid before the goods are released but also VAT which is 20 per cent for the EU. The SCR company may be able to absorb 3 per cent – but 20 per cent VAT, too? And that is not recoverable unless they have a VAT registered company in Europe. Proof of export documentation is essential as part of customs compliance – if they’ve not got those documents, HMRC will demand the VAT back. SCR importers are in a similar situation, paying VAT and the duty. The duty they can’t do anything about, VAT they can reclaim through quarterly VAT returns but that
could in turn cause cashflow problems. Sheffield Chamber International Trade Centre has been assisting business to understand the ‘Brexit effect’ on their businesses. We can calculate the effect of duties, customs procedures and cashflow on their profit and loss statement after full customs procedures are implemented. We thoroughly understand customs procedures and systems, so can look at mitigating costs and risks specifically for each individual business. But businesses need to look into this soon. HMRC could take up to six months to give a decision on the customs procedures that can be applied for to mitigate costs. By August companies all over the UK are going to be ‘smelling the Brexit coffee’ and scrambling to HMRC – and won’t be ready by the time January 4 comes.
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FINANCE
FINANCIAL HEALTH
BY RAJ SHAH, DIRECTOR AND PRINCIPAL OF BLUE WEALTH CAPITAL The financial planner on a different type of clock-watching
YOU THINK YOU HAVE TIME... Whilst researching destinations for our family summer holiday recently, I was reminded of an article I read last year called ‘The Tail End’ by Tim Urban, co-author of the popular, stick-figureillustrated blog ‘Wait But Why’. The article referred to a previous post in which the authors had laid out the human lifespan visually. A 90-year lifespan, laid out in years, took up about an eighth of an A4 sheet of paper, in months it took up just under a quarter of the page and what really blew my mind was seeing the same lifespan set out on the page in weeks and then in days. Those lucky people who live to 90 will have no problem fitting every day of their life on one sheet of paper. I got to thinking about just how many summer holidays I have left with my wife and our two sons before I’m no
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longer physically able to go. I’m 44 now, so I’m going to be optimistic and say I’ll probably be fit enough to travel until I’m 75. If so, I have 31 summers left, if I’m really lucky. On the basis our two sons are now nearly seven and eight and will not want to come on holiday with their embarrassing mum and dad much beyond the age of 17 or 18, I have about ten summer holidays with them left. I probably eat out once a month, so I’ve got about 550 more chances to eat out. I have even less chances left to go to the cinema or the theatre or a gallery or museum. I then started thinking about my relationships. Before leaving home to go to university, I spent some time with my parents and brother during at least 90 per cent of my days. Since then, but before I got married and had children, I had probably seen my brother
an average of once a month. I now see him once every three months for less than a day. Assuming I live to 90, that leaves about 184 days left to hang out with him. As the article says, you release that despite not being at the end of your life, you may very well be nearing the end of your time with some of the most important people in your life. The article suggests three things to take away from this information: 1. Living in the same place as the people you love matters. I am lucky that, albeit as a result of my father passing away, I see more of my mother. My wife however has probably much less time left with her parents, who are older and live in the same city as us. 2. Priorities matter. The time you have left with any person depends largely on where
that person falls on your list of life priorities. Make sure you set this list. 3. Quality time matters. If you are in your last 10 per cent of time with someone you love, treat that time as precious. In the words of Seth Godin: ‘All of us are on borrowed time. There are no refunds and there are no guarantees. At some point, the only time you’ll have to worry about is the time you’ve wasted.’ Working with a high-quality financial planner to produce a bespoke goal focused financial/ life plan could help to reassure you that the time you have left will definitely not be wasted. Raj Shah is founder of Blue Wealth capital and has been shortlisted for Financial Planner of the Year and Investment Adviser of the Year. www.bluewealthcapital.com
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AGENDA
EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY BY ASH YOUNG
Our tech expert shares his Google Shopping list
WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN GOOGLE SHOPPING ADS For those selling physical products and running Google text ads, I’d definitely recommend also setting up Google shopping campaigns. Here I’ll give you the lowdown on why.
Why should you set up Google Shopping Ads?
just a normal text ad – they display an image of your product, its name, price, and more. The customer knows plenty of information before they click so they’re more qualified, helping to reduce your overall cost per conversion. For example, if someone searches for ‘dining table’, they’ll see a range of tables at the top of the results, from different retailers. Firstly, they can see which tables they like the look of, then it’s easy to narrow down their choice further by looking at which ones fit their budget. When the potential customer eventually clicks on the ad, they’re much further down the conversion funnel than if they’d clicked on a text ad.
More qualified leads: Shopping ads are more than
Wider presence: Firstly, your ads will appear in a number of
What are Google Shopping Ads? Google Shopping Ads allow searchers to compare and shop for products across different retailers. As a business owner, you can utilise Google Shopping campaigns to promote your online and local products, and also boost traffic to your site or local shop.
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places – Google Search, Google Images, Google Search Partner websites and the Google Display Network. Secondly, you can have several of your shopping ads appearing for one individual search, giving you a broader reach. Not only that, but your shopping ads and a text ad can also appear together, further increasing your visibility. Simple management: Rather than bidding on keywords, all you need to do is enter details about the products you sell and Google will use this to match the user’s search query to your shopping ad. This means you’ll have the best chance at showing the most relevant products to an individual searcher. Clear purchasing intent: Rather than paying for clicks
from broader terms such as ‘where can I buy…’, you’re paying for users who are ready to buy now. Better UX and conversion rates: Google Shopping Ads streamline the conversion process. When a searcher clicks on your shopping ad, they’re taken directly to the product page they’re interested in and they don’t need to hunt around your site. This is really easy and minimises clicks before the final conversion – less stress means lower bounce rates and can therefore mean a higher conversion rate. For help with setting up your Google Shopping campaigns, get in touch with the Evoluted team today. Ash Young, Evoluted www.evoluted.net
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LEGAL
LEGAL MATTERS
BY DAX KEELING, COMMERCIAL LITIGATION SOLICITOR AT BELL & BUXTON Our columnist with a ‘welcome reminder’ of the importance of the equal pay principle
Rodgers
EQUAL PAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT Equal pay in the workplace has been highlighted by the BBC and one of its frontline presenters. Widely reported by the media, the case of Samira Ahmed -v- BBC is a welcome reminder both of the importance of the principle of equal pay in the workplace and, for employers, of the need to have genuine evidence available to justify a pay differential between male and female staff. Enshrined in legislation for 50 years, the principle is that men and women should receive equal pay for equal work. They are entitled to contractual terms that are as favourable as those of a comparator of the opposite sex, in the same employment, if employed on equal work. This effectively implies a “sex
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equality clause” into contracts of employment. There is a “material factor” defence available to employers if the difference in pay is due to a material factor that is not based on sex and is not discriminatory. As is often the case in the law, individual cases tend to revolve around their own facts. Providing definitive advice is not straightforward. It is worth considering the Ahmed case to appreciate what you perhaps shouldn’t do as an employer if you hope to successfully defend an equal pay claim. The case revolved around two BBC presenters, Samira Ahmed (presenter of Newswatch) and Jeremy Vine (former presenter of Points of View). Ms Ahmed brought an equal pay claim against the BBC – the facts which caught
the attention of the media were that Ms Ahmed was paid £440.00 per episode of Newswatch, whilst Mr Vine was paid £3,000.00 per episode of Points of View. The claim was successful. Based on the judgment of the Tribunal, it seems that much the same work had been carried out by Ms Ahmed and Mr Vine. The requirements for their respective roles appeared to be very similar. It also appears that the BBC’s defence of the claim was based on an argument that market forces had dictated the basis on which the contracts with Ms Ahmed and Mr Vine were made. That can be a valid defence, but the Tribunal judgment pulled few punches. The BBC hadn’t disclosed convincing or reliable evidence
regarding the historic pay for previous Points of View presenters (male and female) and hadn’t called satisfactory witness evidence regarding the negotiations over, and the valuation of, Mr Vine’s contract. In those circumstances, the outcome of the case is perhaps not surprising. The lesson for employers is clear – if you pay male and female staff at different rates and think you are justified in doing so, make sure that you have good, solid evidence as to why that is, and document that evidence if at all possible. Dax Keeling is the commercial litigation solicitor at Bell & Buxton d.keeling@bellbuxton.co.uk www.bellbuxton.co.uk 0114 2495969
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CALENDAR
12TH MARCH SHOWCASE ATTERCLIFFE
Venue: The Library Café, Leeds Road, Sheffield, S9 3TY Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Cost: Free About: Here is your chance to get an insight into what is going on by those involved and showcase your company to the broader community of Sheffield and its East End. There will be specialist speakers (TBC) throughout the day on sport, business, manufacturing and engineering. This event will show the wider Sheffield business community why Attercliffe is the upcoming precinct for business and development and enable you to promote your business to others in the area. Contact: bit.ly/3bYz0Lm
1ST – 31ST FESTIVAL OF THE OUTDOORS
Venue: Various across Sheffield Time: Various Cost: Various About: The city’s outdoor organisations, groups, clubs and businesses are coming together to offer a unique festival programme of over 100 events, with everything from ‘come-and-try’ taster sessions, demos, rides, runs and urban paddle-boarding to guided walks and conservation. Headline events for the festival include the Rab Climbing
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Works International Festival, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival, Big Running Weekend and The Magnificent Seven. South Yorkshire Orienteers will also help kick-start the festival when they host a national orienteering race out at Burbage on Sunday 1 March. Contact: www.theoutdoorcity. co.uk/festival-of-the-outdoors
Cost: Free About: An educational event on the subject 'Driving Revenue'. The panel, including Graham Royle Chairman & CEO of GRI Group, Lisa Pogson MD of Airmaster Air conditioning, plus more TBA, will be around to answer any and all questions. Contact: bit.ly/2PbzfsY
5TH DRIVING REVENUE
6TH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S
Venue: Mercure Sheffield Parkway Hotel, Britannia Way, Catcliffe, Sheffield S60 5BD Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
DAY & ATHENA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS 2020
Venue: Tankersley Manor Hotel, Church Lane, Tankersley,
Barnsley S75 3DQ Time: 12pm – 4pm Cost: Members £34.95 + vat/ Non-members £39.95 + vat About: This event will be celebrating the massive contribution that women make to our lives, in business, in the community and in family – a day to reflect, share and be inspired by peoples’ personal journeys – the achievements, the challenges and the funny both professionally and personally. Contact: 01709 386200 or email: events@ brchamber.co.uk
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CALENDAR
10TH HART SHAW SHEFFIELD CITY REGION BREAKFAST CLUB
Venue: Advanced Manufacturing Park, Technology Centre, Brunel Way, Catcliffe, Rotherham, S60 5WG Time: 8am – 930am Cost: Free About: This month the speaker will be Rachel Fletcher, who is an Access to Finance Advisor at the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub. Ever wondered what grants might be available to help business growth and how you or your clients could apply for them? The aim of the presentation is to give a greater insight into what grants are available with a particular focus on the Sheffield City Region and how to apply for them. Contact: Emma Legdon at Hart Shaw on 0114 251 8850 or email: emma.legdon@hartshaw.co.uk
Contact: 0114 321 1873 or hello@glurecruit.co.uk
18TH SUB250
Venue: KPMG, Suite 6F, The Balance, 2 Pinfold Street, Sheffield, S1 2GU Time: 8am – 10:30am Cost: Free About: SUB250 is a brand new breakfast networking event, designed for founders, CEOs and managing directors who want a little more insight into best practice HR and recruitment tips for their business or even if you just fancy a morning getting to know your local peers and build
some new relationships. Contact: email training@ hireful.co.uk
in post Brexit landscape. Contact: bit.ly/32d4yJf
19TH 19TH CHARITY QUIZ GREAT NORTHERN CONFERENCE Venue: Cutlers Hall, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HG Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm Cost: £216 – £312 About: Bringing together key politicians, business leaders, media and thought-provoking influencers, The Great Northern Conference, will be a must attend event for those that want to be part of the discussion and influence the direction that the region takes
Venue: Holiday Inn Barnsley, Dodworth Road, Barnsley, S75 3JT Time: 6:30pm start Cost: £50.00 + vat (team of 5) About: Barnsley Chamber’s annual quiz in aid of their Charity of the Year – FareShare Yorkshire. The quiz is open to all and quiz master Dominic Beck of Beck Financial Planning will cover a range of topics, which will appeal to all ages. Contact: bit.ly/37IJ4ox
11TH SHOWROOM WORKSTATION BREAKFAST CLUB
Venue: The Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX Time: 8am – 10am Cost: £5.95 About: A monthly business meet-up of Sheffield creative, digital and cultural minds, over a spot of breakfast. This month’s speaker is Mark Rawson from Seven Hills Creative talking about “Having a Plan and Not Sticking to It.” Breakfast Club is kindly sponsored by City of Ideas. Contact: bit.ly/3bS0rGZ
12TH GLU RECRUIT NEW OFFICE OPENING
Venue: 3 The Point, Bradmarsh Business Park, Rotherham, S60 1BP Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm Cost: Free About: As Glu Recruit expands into a shiny new office, Rob Shaw and the team will be hosting drinks and nibbles to celebrate the official opening of the brand new office! Come and meet the team and some of their fantastic clients for an informal and relaxed open evening.
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13TH-20TH THE OBSERVATORY
Venue: The Cathedral, Church Street, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 1HA Time: 6:40pm – 9pm Cost: £4 – £13 About: Fresh from the success of The Angels are Coming, the interior of Sheffield Cathedral will be transformed once more for another eight days of incredible illuminations. Visitors will be wowed as they wander through the Cathedral on a walking journey that will take them to the edge of the universe and back. Contact: www.sheffieldcathedral.org
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CALENDAR
19TH BUSINESS ANALYTICS FORUM #BAF 4
Venue: The Mowbray, Kelham Island, Sheffield S3 8EN Time: 3.30pm – 6pm Cost: Free About: DeeperThanBlue have announced their 4th #BAF event. It will focus around themes of KPI Management, Integrated Business Planning and Decision Optimisation. The event gives the opportunity to learn and network with like-minded people, sharing best practices and taking learnings on various topics from one industry into another. They will also be talking about how you can check you are getting value from your analytics solutions regardless of maturity. Contact: bit.ly/2HGbgOb
19TH NETWALKING - A NETWORKING WALK
Venue: Endcliffe Park Café, The Old Pavilion Endcliffe Park, Rustlings Road, Sheffield S11 7AB Time: 9.20am start Cost: Free About: Try a networking walk – all welcome, focus on sustainable and ethical business, health and wellbeing. Dust off the walking boots for a 5km walk to forge dam and back followed by a cuppa at the cafe. Contact: email rob@ssk. uk.com
25TH GET UP TO SPEED WITH STEM
Venue: Magna Science Adventure Centre, Magna Way, Templeborough, Rotherham, S60 1FD Time: 9:30am – 5pm Cost: Free About: This annual event is designed for young people, their families and teachers to see some of the UK’s best innovations first hand, hear from and talk to those involved in their success and learn about the future of the sector and its evolution through technology. Contact: getuptospeed.org.uk
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19TH SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING MASTERCLASS
Venue: Wizu Workspace, 32 Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 4QZ Time: 10am-4.30pm Cost: £125 +VAT (enter “unLTD” at the checkout to receive a £25 discount) About: On this one-day interactive social media training course you will learn practical ways social media channels can help you drive revenue, engage with customers, and grow an audience without a massive budget. Each delegate will also receive a free half-day marketing consultation at a time of their choosing worth £200. All delegates will also be invited to a closed Facebook Group where they can share experiences and continue to learn. Contact: bit.ly/38KVqhq
29TH SHEFFIELD HALF MARATHON
Venue: Arundel Gate, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield Time: 7am start
Cost: £25 – £40.50 About: A major event in the UK's running calendar, the Sheffield Half Marathon is South Yorkshire’s biggest event of its kind. Thousands
of runners of all abilities will be taking part, raising many thousands of pounds for numerous great causes. Contact: bit.ly/37MchPx
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CALENDAR LOOKING FORWARD TO APRIL
3-5TH APRIL STARTUP WEEKEND SHEFFIELD
Venue: Hallam i-Lab, Aspect Court, Pond Hill, S1 2PZ Time: 6pm (3rd) to 9pm (5th) Cost: £20-40 depending on if you can snag a Super Early Bird, Early Bird and other special tickets if people keep their eyes open plus there is an exclusive 20% discount for readers using the code UNLTD About: Turn an idea into a business in 54 hours! If you have an idea come along and pitch it. If you don't then come along join in anyway! Everyone can contribute. All your meals are included, so you can focus on building a business. Learn along the way with expert mentors. Finally, pitch back "Dragon's Den" style at the end to see which team wins! Contact: sheffield.startupweekend.org
18TH APRIL – 4TH MAY WORLD SNOOKER
Venue: Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA Time: Various Cost: Between £36 – £425 About: The Betfred World Snooker Championship returns in April 2020 at the world famous Crucible Theatre to crown the next World Champion. Contact: bit.ly/2PaT5o2
23RD BARNSLEY AND BUSINESS NETWORKING
Venue: Barnsley Market Kitchens, May Day Green, Barnsley S70 1GW Time: 4:30pm – 6pm Cost: Free About: Delegates will hear from Rachel Harban (Development Officer at Barnsley Markets) and try food from all of the Market Kitchens
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vendors. Why not also stick around for live music and the pub quiz from 6pm? Contact: Email j.widdowson@ barnsley.ac.uk for more information.
29TH MEET THE BUYER
Venue: Metrodome Leisure Complex, Queens Ground, Queens Road, Barnsley S71 1AN Time: 10am – 2pm Cost: Free About: Barnsley & Rotherham Construction Forum are providing a great opportunity for other businesses to ‘meet the buyer’ at the next Construction Plus Network event. Contact: bit.ly/2v7ADWH
30TH HAPPINESS IS A POSITIVE CASH FLOW
Venue: Charlotte House, 500 Charlotte Road, Sheffield S2 4ER Time: 8am for 8:45am till 10:30am
Cost: Free About: In this seminar, Steve Knowles, Founder of Knowles Warwick, will explain the importance of a positive cash flow to facilitate growth, and provide simple and actionable ways to manage your income and outgoings – not only by reducing costs and boosting profits, but by streamlining procedures and changing the way you work for the better. Contact: bit.ly/37MyYTu
30TH HR EXCHANGE - EMPLOYMENT LAW & BUDGET UPDATE 2020
Venue: AMP Technology Centre, Rotherham, S60 5WG Time: 12pm – 3pm Cost: Free About: Brought to you by niche employment law specialists, Bhayani HR & Employment Law and Shorts Chartered Accountants, this network offers you the opportunity to gain valuable advice and information from employment and HR professionals in a
relaxed round table format, as well as a chance to share experiences with your peers in various industry sectors. Contact: bit.ly/2HK0ruI
FLASH TO MAY 15TH – 21ST MAY SHEFFIELD DIGITAL FESTIVAL 2020
Venue: Kollider, Castle House, Castle St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield, S3 8LS Time: Various Cost: Various About: The focus will be on celebrating how creativity meets technical excellence across the local digital community, celebrating all of the great things that the creative and digital communities of Sheffield excel at. Contact: sheffielddigitalfestival.com
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SALES
SALES STRATEGY BY STEVE KNAPP, THE SALES MINDSET COACH
Columnist and author Steve calls for a top-down culture change
WORKING TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL Did you know that a company might have the most dynamic sales department in the world but could still be doomed to failure? The reason is regularly down to the lack of a ‘sales culture’ across the company. To be really successful a ‘sales mindset’ needs to be adopted by each and every department – they all need to be working towards a common goal. Let me give you an example. Let’s say your sales team is doing really well, they are exceeding all their targets – business is booming. But the accounts team are not keeping up with the increased need to invoice/credit check and therefore the money is not coming into your bank accounts fast enough. Result – your sales team are disillusioned because accounts are not being set up quick
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enough to start trading. In another scenario, the purchasing team have not been informed of the latest sales drive and therefore have not placed the necessary supply orders that will be required to increase production. And so the list goes on and on. To have true success every person within an organisation needs to be putting sales at the top of their agenda – regardless of whether they are part of the sales team itself. I encourage you to stand back and take a good long look at your business to understand your own sales culture. What’s your sales turnover? Are the figures consistent month on month, or do they fluctuate? Are there any external reasons for fluctuations, for example seasonality, or are the
differences solely attributable to the success (or otherwise) of your sales team? How do your various teams or departments interact? Is there rivalry (or worse) between different sectors within your business? Are the accounts team seen as ‘blockers’ by the sales force or the sales team seen as being ‘pushy’ or ‘arrogant’ by the rest of the company? Look also at your own behaviours, your own values and beliefs. Do you treat departments differently? What are your own feelings about sales? Do you love sales but feel you have nothing in common with accounts (or vice versa)? Or do you hate it? Examining your business and yourself should help to determine not only what sort of sales culture you currently have but also what your overall company culture is.
There is a school of thought that says businesses should be driven from the bottom upwards. But while engaging everyone within a company is absolutely vital, at the end of the day the reality is it’s the leadership team that really shapes culture and ethos. In other words, you need to drive culture change from the top down. The smaller your business, the faster you can implement change. If you want to read more about how to adopt a ‘sales mindset’ across your company then try my best-selling book ‘FunnelVision – Sales Made Easy’. It’s on Amazon for £4.79 Kindle/ £9.95 physical edition. Steve Knapp steve@thesales mindsetcoach.com thesalesmindsetcoach.com
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FUNNEL VISION SELLING MADE EASY BY STEVE KNAPP...
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unLTD Magazine
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An easy-to-read sales bible for those looking for a clear, concise guide to managing their sales strategy
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ENTREPRENEURS
ENTREPRENEURSUPPORT BY HELEN WILLIAMS
Our columnist says invest in yourself to boost your entrepreneurial journey
NEEDTOPUT #YOUFIRST? HIREACOACH! I often talk about why it is crucial for entrepreneurs to invest in themselves in my workshops, as well as my columns for unLTD. For this edition I am exploring how a little outside help by hiring a coach can assist in your entrepreneurial journey – and help put #youfirst. Here are the top 5 benefits: Improve and strengthen your mindset Mindset is the positive thought processes structured and ingrained in your belief process and conscious mind to get you to where you want to be. With a positive mindset, you can’t and won’t be influenced by anything else. You have your eye on your goals and have a full understanding of your requirements of what it takes to get there and what kind of person you need to become.
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Challenge and push your boundaries Indecision and uncertainty are often dictated by fear – fear of the unknown. It is unfamiliar territory that goes against the grain of almost everyone around us in our current social, family and professional circle. Everything we have known, everything we have ever been taught and conditioned into thinking is now being questioned by our very own mind as we search for a better way of providing income and security to ourselves and our families. You will smash through boundaries/barriers to start creating new scenarios that then become your own reality. Create discipline and application There will always be sacrifice when application and discipline are involved. Lack of discipline suggests unruliness
and advantages of boundaries, and this is what we cannot afford to allow to happen in our lives and businesses. Discipline and application are crucial to your success and you will work on numerous strategies to ensure this is personal to you and consistent towards your goals. Ongoing support and accountability If you are held accountable to something/someone, you are more likely than not to deliver. If you set a plan with your coach, you have set expectations around completing the tasks that are going to get you closer to your goals. A coach is a third party disassociated from your business who can hold you responsible for the actions and results of your business model and plans. Supportive yet assertive is usually a good balance in order to gain the
results you want from the equation. Improve health and fitness focus This is a non-negotiable rule! This is due to the underpinning benefit that your health and fitness has in relation to all the above. This is left last deliberately but is, in fact, the most crucial piece of the puzzle in to actioning your coachable areas. It is also an area which entrepreneurs either love or hate. But that’s the point! As an entrepreneur you have to complete tasks you don’t want to do, overcome problems you didn’t want to be faced with. Your overall health will become your friend not your foe. Remember – #youfirst. Helen Williams helpingentrepreneurswin.com 07881 917665
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COVER STORY
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COVER STORY
CHAIN REACTION Support – it’s a word that comes up a lot during my interview with Joada Allen. The head of production uses the word to describe a lot of people and organisations as we talk about her background right up to date – from her late father to the places she’s worked for and, of course, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. But when we discuss her taking on the Chamber chains of office, and her surprise and great pleasure at being voted into the position by the board and rep council members, it becomes obvious Joada’s own supportive nature is also much worthy of note. Not least because she very much views the role of President as a ‘vehicle’ to channel that support – and set off a chain reaction that opens opportunities to all regardless of circumstances, gender, background, religion, age... A lot of this is, she acknowledges, down to her
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background and personal and professional experiences which led to her perspective that “your normal is not everyone else’s.” “I’m Rotherham born and bred, we lived in Kimberworth and Canklow and there wasn’t a lot of money. I was brought up by my dad from about nine years old, with my mum and brothers living apart from us. My dad was a lone parent and he did the cooking, the washing, he taught me how to do the housework. He worked hard, too, as a warden in a care home.” And Joada was an enterprising youngster. “I had my first job aged 11 which was a paper round and washed cars, mowed lawns and when I was in my teens I started working in shops. It means I’ve kind of been running a business since I was a child. When you look back you realize I’ve always been like this, I just didn’t know it at time.
Head of production for Visualised it, a Barnsleybased Video Production company Joada Allen became Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce President in November last year. Jill Theobald caught up with her to talk about being an early entrepreneur, a proud family woman, and her mission in taking the President chains of office to set off a chain reaction of equality for all
“With dad’s work, we lived in the care home, too, and that made me also realise I have always had a caring, maternal side too, from spending a lot of time with the elderly and people with illness and mental health issues from a young age. “After doing a lot of work experience for media production companies to build my skills I became a rigger and freelance editor which was a very male oriented world – carrying cables, wiring broadcast trucks up. “My dad passed away when I was 21 and I had been his sole carer up until then whilst working and at university. I was left with quite a lot of debt so while I was finishing my degree I got a full time job at Rotherham College, I freelanced on corporate videos and TV commercials. Whilst there I also started my teaching qualification, too, and went on to become a full time teacher, later completing a Masters in Education.”
After falling out of love with education (“there was a lot of jumping through hoops – actually being in the room and teaching the kids had become too low on the list of OFSTED priorities”) Joada decided to start her own production company in 2013 – but with a sideline in support for educating young people. “I set it up so that it delivered media production skills to young people who are not as successful in traditional education – that might be students who were in the social care system or assigned to a school but not on premises because of social situations like living with foster parents or grandparents. I’ve always worked with hard to reach kids and their journeys often have very difficult starts. “Joining Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber helped me build up my network and they were so supportive personally and professionally – I knew everything about
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COVER STORY
JOADA WITH EMMERDALE’S NICOLA WHEELER
production but nothing about business, so I got involved with a lot of their workshops on useful skills like tenders and accounts. “Enterprising Barnsley were brilliant, too and the Digital Media Centre were supportive and still are.” Clearly, Joada has never been one to shy away from hard work but acknowledges even she met her limit while trying to juggle the professional and personal sides of her busy life. “I had built the company up. It was growing and doing really well with a high turnover but on a personal level I was struggling to get pregnant. We went for all these tests and one of the specialists pointed out I was possibly struggling with PCOS and infertility because I was doing too much. “I was averaging 70 hours work a week plus I was in the gym training and boxing every
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morning – I loved my work, I loved the gym but I didn’t realise the negative impact it was having on my wellbeing. “I pulled back a little, shrunk the company and did more consultancy work and had my son Harrison in 2018. Around the same time, my two stepchildren came to live with us as well, so I went from no kids to three kids pretty much overnight – a mum and a step mum in the space of a weekend!” Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day this month, it’s clear becoming a mum and a step-mum have enhanced both Joada’s outlook and her objective. “Our celebration should be an acknowledgement of all individuals, their goals, their talents, their successes and, of course, that we have each other for support. “I really appreciate and acknowledge the difficult
Our celebration should be an acknowledgement of all individuals, their goals, their talents, their successes and, of course, that we have each other for support.
decisions some women make mixing careers and children. Of course, all working parents have this, but women must consider the impact of pregnancy, maternity leave, breastfeeding, hormones, childcare – as well as, too often, the upset of loss or not being able to have children, which I have experienced some of. “There’s the dilemma of judging the right time to take a break in your career to start a family and hoping you will fit in when you return. Or concerns that a company may not hire you if they think you’re planning children soon and may go off on maternity leave, all big issues women are faced with in the workplace. “I can see why we continue to celebrate female independence because historically we had a lot of ground to catch up. Mine was quite a progressive family with
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my dad working and being a lone parent and I never grew up feeling as though women were on any different level to men. My mum worked hard and was very sporty and outspoken. Also because I worked in a male dominated environment I’ve seen there are two sides to that. “In my experience there’s some truth in that old saying about women having to do twice as well as men to be thought half as good – I know in my first couple of jobs I didn’t have the opportunities the blokes had. I’d hear ‘she won’t be able to…’ or ‘she won’t be strong enough’. It just made me work harder, fight and become more resilient to prove them wrong. “But equally I was aware, and still am, of so many men without any confidence or who were downtrodden or had missed out on opportunities. It can be rare for blokes to acknowledge though in case they get told to ‘man up’. “My stepdaughter is 14 and am very aware a lot of what I do has an impact on her – we talk about careers and mental health, but we also talk about boys and I remind her they have insecurities, too. We don’t talk about ‘you must be an independent woman and don’t let boys push you about’, it’s more about being the best person you can be and not putting anyone in a position that makes them feel negative. “It’s no longer for me about equality of gender alone, but about equality of individuals – no matter where you come from, how much money you’ve
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got, what you do for a living, whether you’re black, white, or whatever your religion or sexuality. “We have to progress from men and women to acknowledging people’s individual strengths. “I’ve volunteered in homeless hostels and when you spend time with people you can see why they’ve ended up where they have because that’s often been their background, brought up around violence, addiction, crime and little support. They grow up learning that ‘school’s rubbish’ and ‘the police are against you’. That is their normal. “I know my normal, but I know that’s not everyone’s. As people – and as businesspeople – we have to have that perspective in order to be objective.” Joada had been on the Chamber board for about three years when a few people suggested she run for Vice President. “I decided it would give me a couple of years to prepare and get ready for being President but then things changed and the person who was going to be President wasn’t able to and the current VP wasn’t ready so I was approached. “I said I wouldn’t feel able to do it unless I was voted in by the members – that’s the correct stipulations and procedure to go through. When the votes came in, I’d won with flying colours and I was really surprised, to be honest. “It was a massive
It was a massive compliment for people to want you to represent them. I have a big personality, I often rock the boat and like to play devil’s advocate – if there’s an elephant in the room I’ll address it!
compliment for people to want you to represent them. I have a big personality, I often rock the boat and like to play devil’s advocate – if there’s an elephant in the room I’ll address it! “I thought the members might go for a more traditional type of person, that maybe I was a bit too street, too straight-talking, not suited and booted but people told me they voted for me because they thought I was very open, honest and trustworthy.” Which brings us back to that chain reaction Joada is hoping to set in motion. “I wanted to be President because of my work with schools – through Barnsley Economic Partnership and a taskforce which helps with the skills agenda to encourage businesses to engage more with schools. “Employers say there’s a skills gap, but schools are saying ‘We’re doing what we can but maths and English have to be a priority and there’s a lack of funding’. As businesses it’s our duty to mould these young people. Businesses need to add their support when it comes to employability. “I see my Presidency as a vehicle to help move that skills agenda forward and link business and skills providers. Businesses want to go into schools and have pupils visit workplaces but often don’t know how about safeguarding or risk assessments – or they don’t know anything about teenagers, or what to talk to them about either! Its not just
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COVER STORY
about schools either we have adults that need support into work for a variety of reasons. “We’ve got over 1,100 members in the Chamber and I’m trying to use the Presidency as a signposting role, creating links to point the two in the right direction. “You couldn’t meet a nicer group of people than our board – they will challenge when needed but are always supportive, and nothing is about ego. “(Past president and Airmaster’s) Lisa Pogson has been brilliant and it was nice having her by my side for the first few weeks. She’s not as
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much of a boat-rocker and I admire her – I am finding a balance between my direct approach and her more gentle approach. I often think ‘What would Lisa do?’” Lisa Pogson said: “It was a real honour to be President for three years. Working in construction, and used to being the only woman in the room, that was what the Board Room was like when I joined. “We now have an inclusive gender and sector balanced Board. Joada has the diversity agenda at heart and will help the Chamber forge ahead. She has taken on her new role
We have to progress from men and women to acknowledging people’s individual strengths.
with energy and enthusiasm and already has a great deal of experience that she has brought to the table. “Her aims on skills are wellfounded and clearly a major issue for all our members. We will all support her wherever we can!’ Adds Joada: “I’m the youngest person on the board but knowing they’re happy for me to represent them, knowing what I think, feel and say is supported, and that my objective is shared by them, the wider membership and business community – you can’t ask for more than that, can you?”
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TAKINGADVANTAGE OF GRANT FUNDING Financial restraints holding back your business progression? Over to Market Infra consultant, Bronwyn Linkhorn, to talk you through your grant funding options There’s a wealth of nonrepayable grant funding available for businesses of all shapes and sizes. These range from nationwide schemes, to specialised opportunities, dedicated specifically for organisations based and operating in South Yorkshire. This means that your business could take advantage of funding, enabling you to undertake projects or access skills that might not otherwise be financially viable. The funding world can be a bit of a minefield, however, so we’ve put together a handy guide to help get you started. Why do grant funds exist? Grants are typically issued to organisations to assist with projects that will benefit wider society. This means that if your potential idea or project may result in the creation of
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local jobs, the development of skills within a workforce, or advancements in technology that may have positive impacts on the environment, you will have a higher chance of being awarded the funding. Who is eligible? Grant funding is available to a range of SMEs and is generally categorised by size, sector or geographical location. Funding can have a broad criterion, focusing on general advancements within research, development and technology, or can be more focused, with the aim to improve within a specific sector or geographical location. What grants are available to you? There are multiple grant funding opportunities available in and around the
Sheffield region. These include nation-wide schemes such as Innovate UK Smart Grants, to specialised local opportunities. The grant market currently has a strong focus on climate change and environmental sustainability and ways in which businesses are able to reduce waste both internally and within wider society. Therefore, if you have a potential project you have been wanting to get off the ground that is sustainability based, now is the time to apply! How can I apply? Grant funding applications can be onerous and time consuming to complete, it’s rare your team is just sitting around waiting for something to do! We can help with your application, writing and managing the whole process for you. In addition, we can
offer strategic business advice to better the quality of your application. Our experience has shown that a slight project adjustment, or, in some cases, a complete change in project direction, can be crucial to the success of your application. If successful, we are also able to offer further consultancy and project management services, to assist with project completion, with the costs of these services often covered by any funding awarded. Over the last four years we have supported our clients in securing over £15 million of funding. To explore what grants your organisation may be eligible for, and for assistance with an application, contact us at: bronwyn.linkhorn@ marketinfra.co.uk.
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“The Children’s Hospital is a charity that is close to many of our hearts and a charity that makes a real difference to so many families’ lives. We will be fundraising all year and will be looking at as many ways as possible that the team here at CT can help make vital contributions to this incredibly important cause.” Ian Snow - Managing Director at CT
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ADVERTORIAL
A CAUSE CLOSE TO THE HEART CT has announced Sheffield Children’s Hospital as its Charity Partner for 2020. MD Ian Snow shares why the cause is one close to the company’s heart – and how the CT team will be showing their support We are delighted to announce that we are supporting the Sheffield Children’s Hospital by making The Children’s Hospital Charity our official charity partner for 2020. Over the next 12 months and beyond, we will be raising vital funds for a new helipad on the roof of the Children’s Hospital. This will allow for more critically ill children to get the vital treatment they need more quickly. Each year Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust cares for more than 56,000 Accident & Emergency admissions. In 2018, 15 per cent of these arrivals were by air ambulance. These can only land in daylight hours because there is inadequate lighting in the nearby park. This reduces its operation considerably in the winter months which can have a
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critical impact on getting children to the hospital. The new helipad would mean patients can land anytime with flood lighting. When the weather sets in, the new helipad would have electric trace heating incorporated into the deck to ensure that ice and snow do not disrupt the continued use of the facility during periods of inclement weather. Tchad Western, Corporate Partnerships Manager at The Children’s Hospital Charity was a huge driving force in us getting involved with the charity this year. His very obvious passion for the cause and his ability to demonstrate the need for vital improvements won us over immediately. Tchad Western said: “We are thrilled CT is getting involved with the Charity this
year. This new Helipad has never been more needed, to help patients arrive at our Emergency Department as quickly as possible. As a nationally-designated Major Trauma Centre, our Emergency Department serves children from across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. “Contributions from CT will help ensure that patients don’t endure a lengthy transfer in a road ambulance or trolley, causing further discomfort and delaying life-saving treatment from the specialist doctors at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.” To help raise funds, we have a number of initiatives planned. We will be sponsoring a ‘Bear of Sheffield’, which will see more than 60 bears on the streets and in the parks of the city over the summer months for people to visit and show support for the children’s hospital.
Three of us here at CT will also be carrying out an epic challenge which is both physically and mentally tough. In September, alongside the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, we will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world in support of raising money for the new helipad. And, as a business, to help raise even more money, we are committing to match all customer donations at point of purchase for any product or service. The Children’s Hospital is a charity that is close to many of our hearts and a charity that makes a real difference to so many families’ lives. To find out more, please visit CT’s Charity 2020 page to follow our progress and see what we are doing here as a team on charity2020.ct.co.uk
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INTERNATIONAL
CUBI MARKS NEW ERA FOR SHEFFIELD’S CHINESE BUSINESS RELATIONS Located in Sheffield’s New Era Square, CUBI – the not-for-profit incubator that facilitates trade between the UK and China – is set to lead the growth of the city’s relationship with China In a post-Brexit world, the UK Government is understandably keen to encourage inward investment and expand trade services from outside of the EU. As a true global powerhouse, a closer working relationship with China is a key priority and likely to play a significant role in Britain’s economic future. Fortunately, Sheffield already has a successful relationship with China, forged through a number of investment deals in recent years, and also the number of Chinese students studying at our world-class universities. That said, with global business dynamics continuing to change rapidly, it’s crucial that the relationship between our countries continues to grow – and quickly. Leading the charge in working with China, New
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Era Square – the emerging modern China-inspired district in the centre of Sheffield, is to feature a pioneering Chinese UK Business Incubator (CUBI). The brainchild of four forward-thinking institutions in the city – New Era Developments, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce – CUBI will provide expert advice and access to relevant business networks, with the ultimate aim to build greater working relationships and facilitate trade deals between the UK and China. Jerry Cheung, Managing Director of New Era Developments and one of Insider magazine’s ‘Power 100 Individuals for 2020’, said: “Our vision is clear. We at
New Era Developments are well placed – due to our key relationships with strategic partners and influencers in Sheffield and China – to act as a gateway for Chinese businesses entering the UK market. We can provide them with all the direct business support they require. “On the other side of the coin, we are also aiming to become a hub for regional businesses – providing support and the chance to explore more opportunities in the Chinese market.” In addition to CUBI and the already-completed 686 student
apartments, New Era Square will comprise a new landmark public space, bespoke art installations, Grade A office space, vibrant East Asian restaurants and an 88-space underground public car park. “Our intention has always been to create something special for Sheffield and the wider city region. New Era will deliver a flavour of the excitement, dynamism and energy of modern China and East Asia, married with the best of Western culture,” explained Jerry. Phase Two is set to be completed in May this year.
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ADVERTORIAL
FOLLOW THE BEAR TRAIL TO TRANSFORM CHILDREN’S LIVES The Children’s Hospital Charity have launched their biggest fundraiser to date – the Bears of Sheffield – in a bid to transform the Cancer and Leukaemia Ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital Since announcing the arrival of the bears in November over 130 schools and community groups have expressed their interest in fundraising for a Little Bear alongside numerous corporates wanting to sponsor a Big Bear. The Herd of Sheffield, also coordinated by The Children’s Hospital Charity, saw 72 small and 58 large elephants take to the streets of Sheffield but in summer 2020 there will be 100 little and 60 big bears on display for all to see. The bear trail will officially take to the streets of Sheffield from July through to September when everyone will see the bears in all of their glory around the city of Sheffield. It’s a project where everyone can get involved by supporting, fundraising, sightseeing and giving all the bears great big ol’ bear hugs! The inspiration behind the bear theme for the trail came from the well-known Sheffield bear in the Botanical Gardens and was, of course, inspired by the charity’s mascot Theo. The bears are extra special because
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they are being made in the city as well, thanks to the superb Simpsons Ltd in Darnall who have ensured the bears are Sheffield born and bred. Once the bears take to the streets of Sheffield, they will be fundraising to transform the current Cancer and Leukaemia Ward. The ward treats children from babies through to 19-year olds from South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and as far south as Northampton. The department is currently one of 20 principal treatment centres in the UK and cares for patients who have other blood problems such as bleeding and inherited disorders. Around 25 bone marrow transplant patients are treated on the ward every year. Some children stay for three to five days at a time, children who require routine Chemotherapy may stay for six to eight weeks before going home. Patients can be treated on the ward for a number of years until their treatment has finished, regardless of the length of stay,
the facilities need to be catered towards making patient and family experiences as comfortable as possible in what is one of the most difficult time of their lives. The aim of the renovation is to create a new home from home for families with space, privacy and natural light to make hospital stays and
isolation a place of sanctuary and calm. The new facilities will help the children and their parents feel at home, whether they visit for a day or stay for a long period of time. Whatever the length of stay, the transformed ward will make the hospital feel more like home and build a better future for the children.
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OFFICE INTERIORS
WORKPLACE TRANSFORMATIONS With a portfolio covering every type of business, from smaller start-ups to leadership firms, DL Company has been designing, planning and creating office fitouts and refurbishments for over 46 years. unLTD’s Sasha Mossman spoke to MD Dan Lowe to find out how office renovation has been transformed over the years 52
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OFFICE INTERIORS
“Companies often evolve within their space – adding a desk here or there but they may not plan on how the layout will work for them going forward and how they can use the space. This is where we come in to advise them, and re-plan the space to make it work better for them. Technology and the local economic landscape has changed significantly since I joined DL, over 20 years ago. We come from a background where we used to build a lot of office partitioning, and now less people want that physical divide. They tend to want designed furniture and creatve spaces for meetings – where people can relax from their desks to collaborate, exchange ideas and use technology (for work of course!). I think employers are needing to make
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things feel a bit more relaxed in their workplace. Office renovation as a business is far more innovative now than it was when I first began working here, so we have products and ideas that can meet peoples’ needs now and for the future. People are using workspace as more of a social space nowadays – you’re not chained to your desk from eight in the morning until six at night anymore. People need a break from the screen to have a chat and talk about projects in different spaces, and most importantly they need to focus their minds - physically and mentally. We’re more open to moving about, rather than just being sat in the same position all day everyday – it’s too mindnumbing. I’ve found that lots of people are looking for the industrial
Dan Lowe Managing director at DL Company
‘look’ – this has been inspired by a lot of offices in post industrial areas, like Kelham Island, with brick walls giving a warehousetype feel. We’re seeing a lot of exposed ceilings used to create an airy, spacious open feel to the office – this is very much in demand at the moment. We’re also finding that people are seeking a more residential feel with their furnishing. Offices need to be more interesting than a box with white walls – colour is important, flooring is important and what’s on the wall is important. We’re trying to engage people with their workspace more than ever before. It’s a more egalitarian way of working – there aren’t rows and rows of management offices anymore. People are using their space differently.”
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DL were amazing from start to finish. They really helped me to visualise what the space could become, they thought of things that I would not have imagined. It is so important to be happy at work and the environment is the starting point from which to grow. – Fiona Keane, Keane Creative THE DL COMPANY, 20 JESSOPS RIVERSIDE, BRIGHTSIDE LANE, SHEFFIELD S9 2RX FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, CALL ALAN, MICK OR DAN ON 0114 244 0202 OR EMAIL SALES@THEDLCOMPANY.COM
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OFFICE INTERIORS Sasha Mossman also caught up with Lisa Pogson, managing director at AirMaster and Adam Dyson, director at Dyson Signs and Graphics to get their views on how issues like sustainability, staff morale and flexible working are impacting on office design and trends
“We’re a heating and cooling company – we started out in just air conditioning – that is really efficient cheap heat with cooling as a bonus! From there we developed into full mechanical HVAC packages. We work primarily in a lot of offices, and across retail, manufacturing, leisure and the educational sector – from small maintenance contracts to £2.5 million installations! We have to work across sectors, especially as a lot of buildings have to be really energy efficient these days. Sustainability is important and this is reflected in the steps we take and in the equipment we use. Sustainability has always been in our industry, especially in aircon and filtration – a lot of people believe these aren’t as efficient as they actually are. I would say that, in the last five to six years, the industry has been ramped up on the sustainability front. We’re all running things on an agile basis – we’ve got people in offices working in new ways, such as hot-desking, so we have to take that into account. We also have to be very aware of how many people are in and out of the building at one time, as we then need to consider how efficiently and clean the heating, cooling and ventilation is working.
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The main change we’ve seen over recent years, on a national level, is that buildings are being used in a different way. Office buildings are now being used efficiently too – businesses are using flexible working and the way rooms are used is completely different nowadays – meetings are often dealt with differently – video conferencing, stand up meetings, 500 people sharing a building for 250 at any one time, etc. With these changes come the facilities, such as ventilation, that we provide – now more than ever, they have to be timed accordingly to flow throw the building, especially as offices are open plan. Building management is key to optimising the way the services work. We can even switch our own heating and lights on from our phones now. It is a bigger version of this in a building! A complicated electronic brain switching things on and off to suit specific requirements. We do need to be conscious that energy is going to be monitored in a very different way to how it was before, and we believe this will continue to change in the future. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are fuelling the awareness going forward.”
“Your building’s indoor appearance not only affects the way that clients view your brand, but also your staff morale. If your office walls are a drab, dingy yellow colour and the signage is old and plain, your staff will be hesitant to even go to work! As soon as you make your office area a nice place to be, you’ll see your staff morale and production increase. Let’s consider that same office I just described. Just paint the walls an energising new shade of colour, hang interesting, appropriate artwork, and install new, trendy signs and voila! Your staff will be motivated to be productive in such a modern environment. Branding is basically making your business stand out in your client’s minds. It’s important for both your clients and your staff. Your staff will feel proud and motivated to work for such an innovative, well-designed business brand. Likewise, your clients will be proud to purchase something from you. Your branding relies on your business appearance. Make the extra effort to boost your brand appearance and the results will be worth it!”
Lisa Pogson Managing director at AirMaster
Adam Dyson Director at Dyson Signs
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WE SPECIALISE IN DESIGNING, INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING BESPOKE ENERGY-EFFICIENT SYSTEMS FOR HEATING AND COOLING, COMMERCIAL PLUMBING AND VENTILATION Thanks to our trusted expertise in mechanical services and maintenance and top quality equipment, we’ll create the perfect environment for you.
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ADVERTORIAL
DELIVERING CUSTOMER AND BUSINESS VALUE IS A TEAM SPORT SOT Consulting was established in 2017 and today works with a wide range of businesses from start-ups through scale-ups to multinational companies. Founder Phil Hornby tells unLTD all about SOT’s approach Who we are SOT Consulting are experts in Product Management, applying entrepreneurial approaches and building high-performing teams. After nearly 20 years as a corporate ‘warrior’ working with start-ups in my spare time, I decided to help other businesses more directly and established SOT. We are based just outside Chesterfield, but travel all over the world helping companies. Have you heard of Product Management? What we see is that most people fit into two camps when it comes to Product Management. The minority know all about it, have a team in-place and are seeing the benefits. Most people on the other hand, have little to no idea what Product Management is. Product Management is a strategic role that drives cross-functional working to deliver customer and business value – and not to be confused with Project Management, which often acts as a partner driving execution. An open secret to success Product Management is quite an established role, originating in 1931 at Procter and Gamble, as well as finding an early home in technology businesses at HP. But the key is, it started in the US and has only
But closer to home the tools developed by researcher and management consultant Dr Meredith Belbin is a powerful technique we apply to understand team behaviour. Like any sports team there is a captain, this is the Product Manager. Modern product teams work cross-functionally. They include everyone needed to successfully deliver, from design to development, marketing to operations.
gradually filtered out to the rest of the world. It’s not just for big companies, though. If you look at Silicon Valley start-ups the first full-time Product Manager is before hire number 10, while in Europe it’s closer to 34. Product Managers are a key part of driving success, and perhaps part of their secret sauce. Cross-functional teams The holy grail of every organisation is to build and maintain high-performing teams. There are many recent insights into this area from the likes of Google, and we bring these to play.
Like any sports team there is a captain, this is the Product Manager.
Entrepreneurial mindset Delivering the right thing for customers is becoming harder, even as it is becoming easier to create products. The old ‘If we build it, they will come’ mindset just doesn’t deliver optimal results anymore. Experimentation and discovery are key, enabling teams to learn what customers really want before building fully functional offerings, saving money and delivering better outcomes – faster. We can help you Do you want to deliver next level customer and business value? Then get in touch, and we will help you build a crossfunctional product team with an entrepreneurial mindset to drive your success. Get in touch Phil Hornby can be contacted on 07919 204542, email phil.hornby@ sotconsulting.com
Visit www.sotconsulting.com for more information on how we can help you deliver more customer and business value.
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Find us on www.officefriendly.co.uk hello@officefriendly.co.uk
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PRODUCT GUIDE
PRODUCT GUIDE WITH JAMES BIGGIN
SPONSOR ED BY WWW.S TEEL-CIT Y.CO.UK
With 40 years’ experience sourcing branded gifts to help promote businesses and engage with clients, who better to turn to for an insider take on the best promotional products out there? Steel City, headed by James Biggin, act almost like a concierge service, taking on board your marketing message and goals and making them come to life with branded products. The team is constantly on the lookout for new and creative product ideas to help your brand stand out. In Steel City’s first product guide page we chat to James about the new trend for light up branded products.
JAMES’S PRODUCT OF THE MONTH: LIGHT-UP LOGO POWERBANK Powerbanks are an extremely useful branded gift, giving a much-needed energy boost to your electronic devices when out and about. Add in a luminous logo or brand message and you will really wow and impress your clients. With this particular Powerbank, you can personalise it with individual names! We did this for our clients at Christmas and we received some amazing engagement. Plus, we now have the option of combining decoration techniques including engraving and digital print, which can create stunning, visual effects.
This light-up logo car charger is sure to make a lasting impression with your clients – think how many times you get in and out of your car! The car charger has a fancy feature – it automatically opens and closes when the mobile phone is detected by an infrared sensor and your logo or branding will become illuminated. The light-up charger is presented in a premium gift box made from recycled paper. If you are targeting sales reps on the road, or in fact anyone that drives, this could be the ideal, premium business gift.
They say good things come in small packages. This is certainly the case with this neat light-up logo ring Bluetooth speaker. It has an unparalleled sound quality for a speaker this size and by tilting the ring, the sound can be directed as required. It has a built-in microphone and conference call function so would be ideal for offsite business meetings. Add in the light up logo and you have one very handy, trendy business gift.
Notebooks are without a doubt still one of the most popular branded business products out there. This light-up logo notebook takes it up a gear. Not only will your marketing message be centre stage in lights on the magnetic strap, but the notebook also incorporates a 4,000 mAh Powerbank and 3-in-1 integrated cable. The 30-page A5 notebook is removable and the light up branding will last for 25 days before having to recharge. The perfect office companion that will be kept for a long time!
STEEL CITY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROMOTIONAL GIFT DISTRIBUTORS IN THE UK AND WE ARE STILL GOING STRONG TODAY! WWW.STEEL-CITY.CO.UK • TWITTER: @STEELCITYM • FACEBOOK: @STEELCITYMARKETING • INSTAGRAM: STEELCITYTHEDON
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CC33
FIVE MINUTES WITH... We take time out to chat with Paul Fletcher, managing director and founder of South Yorkshire based contact centre CC33. Here he tells us why the business is all about focus, ambition and teamwork
I was inspired to start my business by... I had a daughter at the same time as starting CC33 and I wanted to build something for her and my family that they’d be proud of me for creating. At the time, I saw a gap in the market for a transparent, high quality, end to end contact centre solution that would focus on work delivery rather than the numbers of ‘bums on a seat’ mentality. I’d worked for companies and owned companies, but never was an MD. I always wanted to progress, so it was my next obvious step in my career to take.
My favourite thing about running my business is… The people I work with, 100 per cent. Whether they are employees, clients or suppliers, meeting new people is great. I also love the buzz of delivering a successful campaign and the fast-paced environment of a sales floor. The three words that best describe my business are… Focused, ambitious and teamwork. Sheffield City Region is a great place to start a business because… Of the support from fellow business owners. Most people want Sheffield businesses to be a success and the competition breeds great delivery in our sector. The best advice I ever got was… Don’t try and be everything to
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PAUL FLETCHER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CC33
everyone, focus on what your business is good at. The worst advice I ever got was… Build your business on cost per acquisition deals. The organisations that have supported me and my
business include… CRM technology company, Maxcontact, third party infrastructure providers, Birchenall Howden Limited and IT providers, DCC. The main challenges facing my industry/sector are… The main challenges facing
the industry are technical changes and keeping up with the latest software and developments. In 5 years’ time I expect my business to… I predict that CC33 will be incorporated into a larger organisation in five years.
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SUCCESS STORY
PROFESSIONAL
ENERGY PURCHASING Tell me a bit about the business. Professional Energy Purchasing are a local independent energy consultancy supporting commercial businesses. We provide a procurement service for the purchase of gas, electricity and water contracts, and we also provide our customers with energy management which helps businesses to save money through monitoring and managing energy use more efficiently. The management of energy is often neglected, even though there is considerable potential to save energy and reduce costs. I started PEP in January 2013 – so we’ve just celebrated our seven-year anniversary! I decided to branch out on my own after working in sales and marketing for over 30 years and working my way up to an executive level.
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How has it developed over the years? The company now has a portfolio of more than 300 companies who we provide our services for. We have been self-financing since we started up and we are operating with a good capital growth each year. We now employ seven staff, who have helped the company to grow with the different roles and responsibilities which each member of the team is expert in. We were originally based in an office in Ecclesfield and moved to Thorncliffe Park in April 2017. We then again moved to bigger offices in the same building in 2018, as we needed a separate meeting room and to accommodate more staff for the future. We now have increased the services we offer to include energy efficiency audits, management reporting, site works, bill validation and working with associates to deliver energy savings
products. We have also recently employed a new member of the team to develop new products and deliver Energy Management and Risk Strategies for our customers. What particular projects, products, or services have been particularly successful? First and foremost, I’m proud of the fact we’ve never needed any financial investment – it’s been solely provided by us. As time goes on, we’re now able to put 100 per cent more of our products and services out there. We support local business by using their services wherever possible and we support local charities so that we can give back to the community. We are the preferred supplier for Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Barnsley & Rotherham as the Chambers Energy provider for their members. We are also Friends of The Cutlers in Hallamshire. We have advised customers
Now just entering their seventh year of business, Professional Energy Purchasing have a customer base whose loyalty is unmatched. unLTD’s Sasha Mossman spoke to managing director and owner Linda Spencer to find out more
on Climate Change Levy relief, where we have saved them over £100,000 in refunds claimed back for customers who have overpaid CCL tax. What are the key milestone achievements in recent years? Growing the business financially was a major milestone – the first year I worked unpaid, so from the second year onwards profit began to grow and everything snowballed from there. Our milestones are mainly targetdriven, as that way we can see our growth. In 2017 we won the Sheffield Business Awards for Professional Services and in 2018 we were shortlisted. We are looking to enter more in 2020. We are members of the Energy Institute, ICO Certificate of registration and DPS registered with Delta eSourcing OJEU compliance. In February 2019 we achieved IS9001:2015 accreditation Certificate No: GBO1553.
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SUCCESS STORY KAYLEIGH THOMPSON Joining the team at Professional Energy Purchasing in 2016, Kayleigh Thompson (pictured below) is often the first point of contact for complex and detailed enquiries. Having achieved a Level 1 qualification in Energy Management, Kayleigh often finds that her role is to translate the intricacies of a volatile worldwide market into a very simple message to their clients – that effective planning will reduce their costs. Kayleigh told unLTD: “Understanding a business and their activity is really important to me and getting to know the people is a really enjoyable part of my role. Ultimately, my job is to make savings for businesses, and that’s a really rewarding journey for me. Recently, I was able to save a customer nearly £30,000 by procuring their energy at a time when the market was very low.”
We feel that working towards good standards helps to show our customers the commitment we provide to offer quality services. What sort of feedback do you get from staff about the company culture and workplace environment? We’re an open plan office and we have a friendly environment – I get some amazing staff feedback too. We have lots of meetings so we’re all open to discuss whatever anyone needs to – we regularly get together to ensure we’re all on the same page. I like everyone to be able to put forward their ideas and have equal input into the company. We believe in training our staff well and provide bespoke training tailored to our specific market, as what we do is very industry regulated. In place we have development reviews which is outsourced with regular feedback.
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What are your plans for the future to drive further success? We have always updated our customers with industry knowledge and now we can do this more efficiently through the launch of our newly development user-friendly website. We are looking to increase our social media presence with informative information to support our presence in the market. We are continually developing our customer base which will lead to significant growth in the coming year. Our customer retention programme along with a bespoke management and CRM system will provide greater efficiency enhance our customer service and support our teams going forwards. On a personal note I would like to extend a special thank you to all of our customers and of course to our fantastic team that support them.
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FIVE MINUTES WITH...
GARETH DAVIS Gareth Davis is head of region (south) for the Yorkshire Cricket Board. He tells unLTD why the Sheffield City Region is cricket mad and how businesses can get involved with their local club
The worst advice I ever got was… I’ve been fortunate really, I try and take the positives from everything – even bad advice can be used as a learning curve. Then I say to myself: “I won’t do that again”. The organisations that have supported me and my business include… Yorkshire Sport Foundation, Sheffield City Council, School Games Organisers and School Sports Partnership, SUFC, SWFC, and most importantly the cricket clubs and leagues in the area helping drive cricket in Sheffield and the city region.
GARETH DAVIS, HEAD OF REGION (SOUTH) FOR THE YORKSHIRE CRICKET BOARD
I was inspired to do what I do by... Growing up in the game of cricket and with my family being involved it has given me so much and taken me to so many unbelievable places, I want go give back as much as I can to the sport. My favourite thing about my job is… Seeing children in schools and clubs loving the game, having fun and inspiring the next generation. I wish I had an endless pot of funding for clubs as seeing the impact a new or upgraded pavilion, off field practice nets or a new non
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turf pitch – the lift this gives the club is amazing and if I am to provide this or drive this it makes my day! The three words that best describe what I do are… Inspire, develop, progress! Sheffield City Region is a great place for sport because… There is huge passion within this city, they love the sport and competitions, we see that across all sports! Yorkshire cricket was born in Sheffield at Bramall Lane, so there is cricket heritage in the area and the clubs are strong.
Sheffield City Region is a great place for businesses to be involved in sport because… The sheer number of junior, seniors, men, women, teams, clubs, disability cricket, and women’s sections we produce, drive and develop provides business with access to high volumes of participation and the opportunity to support and promote their business and products. The best advice I ever got was… On your way up in the world, remember and be kind to the people you pass, as if you fail, they will be will there waiting on the way back down.
The main challenges facing my industry/sector are… Income generation, fundraising and funding for clubs to improve facilities. Ensuring at each club children, families, players and spectators are given a warm and family friendly environment. We need the support and backing of communities and local businesses to drive the club forward as most cricket clubs are at the heart of the community. In 5 years’ time I expect my business to… Offering cricket products for all! With accessible and highquality facilities for everyone to enjoy their cricketing experiences. For businesses looking to get involved in local cricket contact Gareth on g.davis@yorkshirecb.com
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TRAVEL SOUTH YORKSHIRE
GET THAT CAR FREE FRIDAY FEELING
A small change can make a big difference. Travel South Yorkshire is encouraging people to reconsider their travel habits in order to make a huge difference to their wallets, waistlines and the world around us. Sound good so far? unLTD’s Bronte Saulle found out more! The #LittleBigChanges campaign, launched by Travel South Yorkshire in 2018, focuses on how a small change to a routine can make a big difference. Its aim is to encourage as many people as possible to make transport choices that are more active and sustainable, better for the individual and the local environment. Car Free Fridays are all about people joining forces in making the decision to leave their car at home and instead commute by public transport, walking, cycling or any other form of sustainable travel. Travel South Yorkshire marketing manager, Richard Pilgrim, explained: “It really comes down to trying something different in terms of commuting travel, even if it is just for one day a week, and we are here to help you make this adjustment. “We’re becoming increasingly aware that the way we choose to get around can have a big impact on our health and wellbeing. Choosing an alternative way to commute, even for one day a week, could just be the kickstart that we all need to make. “It doesn’t have to be a Friday – it is about turning that small change into a long-standing habit. Fridays do offer a good opportunity for
staff to get together after work without having to consider the drive home!” In last month’s edition of unLTD, Travel South Yorkshire shared the feedback from its ‘Leave the key’ campaign. This involved giving people, who would normally commute to work by car, the opportunity to try bus, tram and train for free over the course of 28 days. Forty-two per cent of participants reported being more active, whilst 67 per cent felt less stressed when compared to driving. Richard continued: “There are loads of things that you can enjoy by trying a different way to commute – whether its upping your exercise for the week or winding down after your day. “Public transport offers the great opportunity to sit back and catch up with friends, social media or your favourite television show. We know changing your habits isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.” Travel South Yorkshire is encouraging people to share their experience of Car Free Friday on Twitter @TravelSYorks, Facebook @TravelSouthYorkshire or Instagram @ travelsouthyorkshire using #LittleBigChanges.
INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL FOR YOUR COMPANY? WEBSITE: WWW.TRAVELSOUTHYORKSHIRE.COM/BUSINESS EMAIL: SUSTAINABLETRAVEL@SYPTE.CO.UK
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BENCHMARK DONATES TO MUSEUMS SHEFFIELD AFTER TESTING BUSINESS MINDS For the fifth year running Benchmark has put Sheffield business brains to the test with the Big Fat Quiz of the Year. The annual quiz was held in aid of Benchmark’s charity of the year, Museums Sheffield. More than 150 people from different businesses across the Sheffield City Region joined Benchmark at the Millennium Gallery to test their general knowledge, with questions ranging from Sheffield’s history and culture to a ‘name that tune’ category. Benchmark raised £3,431.77 from the quiz, raffle and silent auction with prizes donated by clients and partners. Director Louisa HarrisonWalker said: “It was an absolute pleasure to partner with Museums Sheffield as our charity of the year and support the fantastic work they do across the region. Ensuring that art and culture is free and accessible for all is their top priority.
BENCHMARK’S ELLIE LANGLEY AND REBECCA MORRIS WITH MUSEUMS SHEFFIELD’S GRACE BRIERLEY
“When Benchmark produced the ‘Hard to fill Vacancies’ report for the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, creativity and innovation were some of the top listed attributes that employers look for so we are big believers in the opportunities that Museums Sheffield offer people for free,
especially as arts programmes within schools are being marginalised. “It is so critical we have Museums Sheffield to be able to offer people from all walks of life and ages access to all different types of art and culture experiences.” Grace Brierley, fundraising
manager at Museums Sheffield, said: “We are thrilled to have partnered with Benchmark throughout 2019. Museums Sheffield strives to make the city a better place to live, work and visit by offering inspirational spaces where everyone can engage with great art and culture.”
SUITS YOU! RICHARD HAWLEY AUCTION RAISES £5K FOR HOSPICE Two iconic suits worn by Sheffield singer-songwriter Richard Hawley on the covers for his hit albums Coles Corner and Lady’s Bridge have helped raise more than £5,000 for St Luke’s Hospice. The suits were auctioned as part of Music Against Cancer, a series of musical events hosted by the Greystones pub in Sheffield which were raising money for St Luke’s, Weston
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Park Hospital Cancer Charity and Cancer Research UK. Organiser Mike Pidgeon launched the campaign after he himself was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2017. The winner of the Lady’s Bridge suit was Spanish journalist Joan Losilla, while the Coles Corner suit was bought by Thornbridge Brewery on behalf of the Greystones, who plan to frame and display it.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RICHARD HAWLEY, MIKE PIDGEON AND JOAN LOSILLA
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WESTON PARK CANCER CHARITY TRUSTEES SERVE UP A FEAST FOR 2020 MASTER CUTLER’S CHALLENGE Weston Park Cancer Charity’s trustees will roll up their sleeves to serve up a feast, when they join with two Master Chefs of Great Britain to host more than 150 guests for a highquality banquet at the University of Sheffield’s historic Firth Court venue later this year The charity’s team of trustees will be “doing as they’re told” on 17 July as they cook up a culinary storm in the kitchen for the Master Cutler’s Challenge. Along with expert chefs, Tracy Carr and Debbie Gooder, executive chef and head chef for accommodation and commercial services at the University of Sheffield respectively, they will put on a delicious banquet to raise vital funds. This comes as part of the 2020 Master Cutler’s Challenge, for which Weston Park is this year’s nominated charity. Both Tracy and Debbie have been awarded Master Chef of Great Britain (MCGB) status, an accolade shared by only the very best culinary professionals in the UK. Weston Park Cancer Charity trustee, Rob Coleman told
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unLTD exactly why the charity’s trustees were so keen to do their bit for this year’s challenge. “We really wanted to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in,” said Rob. “We wanted to put on an event which all of the trustees could get involved in and wanted to move away from the traditional kind of sporting activity, to get into the kitchen with some expert chefs and prepare a banquet. “Originally, we started with modest aims, but we’ve now gone fully up market and our dinner is going to be an extremely high-quality event!” All of the courses at the special banquet will be designed and supervised by culinary experts, with Weston Park’s trustees ‘working to their instruction’, as Rob explained. Rob said: “Tracy and Debbie will be overseeing the main
course, and we will also have a pastry chef overseeing the dessert. Plus, we’re optimistic that there will be a special appearance from another celebrity chef – our line-up will be announced in the coming weeks!” Rob, who is Emeritus Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Sheffield in addition to being a Weston Park trustee, also hopes that his team will not have bitten off more than they can chew. He said: “We’ll be working with the celebrity chefs during the days running up to the dinner. Originally we thought we’d just pitch up in the morning and serve our guests in the evening, but that’s not going to be the case. “We’ll be helping the chefs for days in the build-up to ensure the very highest quality
of food, meaning it’ll be dinner with a difference, especially paired with fine wine. “We’re all really passionate about Weston Park Cancer Charity and the work that goes on at Weston Park Hospital. “Sadly, cancer is such a common disease, but we want to pledge our support to help raise vital funds and awareness, which will in turn support the charity with research into better treatment and provide support, information and care for our patients and their families. “With that in mind, we’re urging businesses and individuals within the city to support this event and come and join us for a great night.” To book a table of ten for £750, or £75 per person contact Weston Park Cancer Charity on 0114 553 3330 or visit westonpark.org.uk
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THE BIGGEST AND BEST
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THE OBSERVATORY 13 – 20 MARCH 2020 Join us for a walking journey through space and see the Cathedral transformed by light and sound to reveal the universe, galaxies and meteor showers Tickets available from the Cathedral Gift Shop or www.sheffieldcathedral.org
#TheObservatorySheffield In partnership with award-winning Luxmuralis Artistic Collaboration 72
Image credit: Luxmuralis Artistic Collaboration
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LAUNCHPAD
MY CHRONICLE BOOK BOX More personal gifts for book-lovers can seem few and far-between…enter My Chronicle Book Box! With a little help from Launchpad, owner Louise Driffield was able to turn her idea into a reality, as unLTD’s Sasha Mossman found out
Tell us all about your company! My Chronicle Book Box is a subscription service where people can buy bespoke reading-focused boxes. We do two different types of boxes – one goes out every three months and contains three books, and then we have a monthly crime box which we started recently. These are newly released books we’ve chosen, that are then signed. We then include an interview with the author, and we put what we call ‘bookish goodies’ in along with them that complement the books. It’s something you can’t find on the High Street. Our bookish goodies are often bespoke and exclusive to My Chronicle. When did you first decide to start up on your own and what inspired you? I’ve always wanted to run my own business – it’s been something in the back of my mind. What really changed for me to be able to make that step was having children. I had my first daughter and two years later I had twins – a lot of young children close together! My work-life balance wasn’t working for the family, I wanted something more flexible. That was the tipping point that made me go, ‘yeah, I’m going to give this a go.’ How has Launchpad helped you? I first went to Launchpad when I very started the business on a very small scale. By that point we were just seeing what would happen – testing the market, really.
I just love providing these gifts to people and we get such lovely feedback – especially from those who’ve bought gifts for others. To be able to do that for more people, to spread the love of books and reading further would be fantastic.
LOUISE DRIFFIELD AND SOME OF HER BOOK BOXES
You cover so much as a business owner and Launchpad were brilliant at helping to fill in the gaps. You just need to talk things through with someone with a bit more of an in-depth knowledge. They helped me to ask questions I didn’t know I needed to ask.
were especially great as I met a lot of fellow businesspeople who seemed to be in a similar position to me, doing very well. I’m connected to a lot of local suppliers for the boxes as we didn’t want to import from abroad – we’re big on UK-sourced products.
What do you think of the Sheffield City Region as a place to start a business? My experience has been very positive! There are so many events and so much support. The Launchpad Awards
What are your hope and aims for the business? Definitely to get bigger and better! At the moment, it’s just me doing everything, and I’d love to be able to employ other people.
Launchpad advisor Nicole Harte said: “I love that Louise’s passion for books has been the driving force behind her creating such a fantastic ecommerce business. In a world full of Kindles, My Chronicle Book Box brings the excitement back to into reading paperback and provides such a unique offer to book lovers. It has been a pleasure to work with Louise on developing her business and to see her go on to win Rising Star of the Year Award. I can’t wait to see where the business goes next and Launchpad will be here to support her every step of the way.“ Starting and growing a business is not easy and that’s why the Launchpad programme was created. Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and our partners means there is no cost to the entrepreneur, so we can get straight to work on turning those dreams into reality. Stop dreaming and do it. Contact us for information now on 03330 00 00 39 or email growthhub@ sheffieldcityregion.org.uk.
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OFF THE EATEN
TRACK This month, Gabby Willis explores some of Sheffield City Region’s hidden gastronomic gems that you may not have come across off the well-trodden foodie city-circuit. From rural wonders to backwater brilliance, we’ve left no plate unturned to find you the best well-hidden fine-dining gems in outlying areas. Warning: booking and appetite essential 74
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THE PICTURESQUE GROUNDS OF FISCHER’S BASLOW HALL
The Old Vicarage Address: Ridgeway Moor, Ridgeway Village S12 3XW Contact: 0114 2475814 eat@theoldvicarage.co.uk Opening Hours: Open for dinner from 6.30pm Tuesday to Saturday inclusive. Open for large private parties at other times by arrangement. Social Media: Instagram @the_oldvicarage_ridgeway www.theoldvicarage.co.uk About: The Old Vicarage boasts 30 years of culinary excellence, having featured in both the Michelin Guide and Good Food Guide. Owner and head chef Tessa Bramley has appeared on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and MasterChef and is known for a style that is modern and innovative, full of unexpected flavour combinations, based on advanced professional technique yet always grounded in the traditional roots of classical cooking. The beautiful locally sourced food in this idyllic setting is not to be missed. The Plough Inn Address: Leadmill Bridge, Hathersage S32 1BA Contact: 01433 650319 sales@theploughinnhathersage.co.uk Opening Hours: Restaurant open from 12pm daily Social Media: Facebook and
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Instagram: @ploughinnhathersage Twitter: @ploughhather www.theploughinnhathersage.co.uk About: A privately owned 16th century inn on the banks of the River Derwent, The Plough Inn offers not only stunning food, but also a variety of beautiful rooms and compact shepherd huts for the perfect stay. Head chef Mark Rowan curates a menu revolving around seasonal produce changes, which is cooked fresh to order and served as quickly possible in the Inn’s cosy restaurant, complete with two log burners and one open fire. Plough@ Home offers private catering for home dinner parties and private functions. The Angel at Holmesfield Address: Main Road, Holmesfield, Derbyshire S18 7WT Contact: 0114 2890336 angel. holmesfield@mail.com Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm daily Social Media: Facebook: @TheAngelatHolmesfield Instagram: @angel.holmesfield Twitter: @TheAngelatH www.angelathomesfield.co.uk About: What really sets The Angel apart is it’s almost completely dairy and gluten free menu. On the edge of the Peak District close to both
Sheffield and Chesterfield, this family run friendly pubrestaurant is the place to be to try a night of gluten free locally sourced seasonal goodness. There’s even a log fire, an open terrace with views across the Caldwell Valley, and best of all, it is dog friendly!
a Michelin Star in 1994. Guests here can choose from Taste of The Seasons tasting menus, a la carte lunch and dinner menus or the showstopping Kitchen Bench Experience, offering two to four diners the chance to see right into the action of the dynamic kitchen while they eat.
Fischer’s Baslow Hall Address: Calver Road, Baslow, Derbyshire DE45 1RR Contact: 01246 583 259 reservations@fischersbaslowhall.co.uk Opening Hours: Lunch Tuesday – Sunday from 12pm, last arrival at 1pm. dinner Tuesday – Sunday 7pm (6:30pm Saturdays), last arrival 8:30pm (9pm Saturdays). Booking essential, card details taken to secure booking. Social Media: Facebook: @FischersBaslow Instagram: @fischersbaslow Twitter: @FischersBaslow www.fischers-baslowhall.co.uk About: With three AA rosettes of culinary excellence, spots in the Waitrose and Partners Good Food Guide for 2020 and the coveted 2020 Michelin Guide, and having held a Michelin star until 2019, Fischer’s has many accolades. Head chef Max Fischer hails from Luneberg, Germany, but opened the Grade II listed manor house hotel and restaurant in 1989, first gaining
The Samuel Fox Country Inn Address: Stretfield Road, Bradwell, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 9JT Contact: 01433 621562 enquiries@samuelfox.co.uk Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 6pm-11pm, Sundays 1pm – 5:30pm Social Media: Facebook: @dineandstayhopevalley Twitter: @SamuelFoxInn www.samuelfox.co.uk About: At The Samuel Fox, you can expect the best of British pub fine dining from a four gold AA rosette winning country inn, all washed down with real ales from local micro-breweries and a 40-strong wine collection. Chef-proprietor James Duckett is proud to prepare all food on premises, from bread to ice cream, and has previously worked alongside Albert Roux, Michelle Roux Jnr, Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay before taking ownership off the inn named after the inventor of the steel-ribbed umbrella in 2012.
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SUMMER TIME PROMOTION
BOOK FROM MAY-AUGUST 2020 Quote: Summer Time Promotion
to receive free bacon / egg rolls or fresh fruit smoothies on arrival, when you book our day delegate rate package
To book: call 0114 252 6516 or email conferences@cpsheffield.co.uk ALL OUR DAY DELEGATE RATES INCLUDES: Main Meeting Room Hire 3 Servings of Tea & Coffee with Chefs Treats 2 Course Buffet Lunch in the restaurant or Working Lunch Data Projector, Screen & Flipchart | Pads and Pens Mineral Water & Cordials | FREE WiFi Internet Access Dedicated point of contact
Victoria Station Road, Sheffield S4 7YE 0114 252 6516 | www.cpsheffield.co.uk
FREE Car Parking – normally charged at £6.00 per car VAT at the current prevailing rate
Hotel terms & conditions apply
Tapton Hall's unique blend of elegant history and modern efficiency can make your event truly unforgettable.
Sheffield
W E D D I N G S
You can be assured of facilities to rival the most modern - but with a welcome and a standard of service that reflects the finest Sheffield tradition.
C O R P O R A T E
t: 0114 266 0051 enquiries@taptonhall.com www.taptonhall.com Tapton Hall, Shore Lane, Sheffield S10 3BU
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E V E N T S
For centuries, this house has been an integral part of the Sheffield landscape. Tapton Hall’s distinguished history has seen it serve as a home to great names and a witness to great events. The Hall currently hosts 9 rooms which can be used for weddings, meetings, conferencing and parties. With a team that provide first class service and delicious food, Tapton Hall is a delightful place to come, relax and enjoy your time here.
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ONE OF THE DELICIOUS DISHES TO BE FOUND AT THE SAMUEL FOX COUNTRY INN
The Cadeby Pub and Restaurant Address: Main Street, Cadeby, Near Sprotbrough, Doncaster DN5 7SW Contact: 01709 864009 info@cadebyinn.com Opening Hours: Lunch service 12pm – 3pm weekdays, 12pm – 6pm weekends. Dinner service 6pm-9pm Monday – Saturday. Sundays lunch only. Bar open early to late every day. Social Media: Facebook: @TheCadeby Twitter: @TheCadebyInn Instagram: @thecadebypubrestaurant www.cadebyinn.com About: Whilst the food at the Cadeby is delicious, the star of the show here is the bar, which hosts 50 different gins, 120 different speciality whiskeys, and a range of seasonal cocktails and bottled beers from all over the world. Whatever you choose from their extensive menu, including traditionally made Italian pizzas, you’re sure to find the perfect tipple to pair it with here. Restaurant 1584 at Whitley Hall Hotel Address: Elliott Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield S35 8NR Contact: 0114 245 4444 reservations@whitleyhall.com Opening Hours: Lunch Monday to Saturday 12pm – 2pm, Sunday 2pm – 5pm.
Dinner Monday – Sunday 7pm – 9pm Social Media: Facebook: @WhitleyHallHotel Instagram: @whitleyhallhotel whitleyhall.com/restaurant1584 About: Famed for attention to detail, the food here is full of creativity and exquisitely presented. Choose between anything from bar snacks, A La Carte or Table D’Hôte menus for a mixture of exotic, vegetarian, and traditional flavours to be enjoyed alongside an internationally stocked wine cellar. The restaurant takes its name from the date the building was originally built, and the hotel hosts events year-round including murder mystery dinners, flower arranging classes, and Christmas wreath making workshops. The Wortley Arms Address: The Wortley Arms, Halifax Road, Wortley S35 7DB Contact: 0114 288 8749 enquiries@wortley-arms.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 12pm – 11pm, Friday 12pm – 11:30pm, Saturday 12pm-midnight, Sunday 12pm – 8pm Social Media: Facebook: @thewortleyarms, Twitter: @wortleyarms, Instagram: @wortleyarms www.wortley-arms.co.uk About: The Wortley Arms was originally built as a coach
house in the 1700s and has since been lovingly restored to retain many of its original features including oak beams and revolving doors. Catering for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets alongside a more traditional menu and one specifically for pie lovers, much of the produce served here comes from the kitchen’s own allotment or well-known local suppliers such as Crawshaw’s Seven Hills, Meadow Meats, Moss Valley and Fox’s Potatoes. This is the place to be for a real Yorkshire all-round treat. The Stag Restaurant at The Devonshire Arms Address: Lightwood Lane, Middle Handley, Sheffield S21 5RN Contact: 01246 434 800 hello@devonshirearms middlehandley.co.uk Opening Hours: Food served Monday – Sunday 8:30am – 10:30am, Monday – Thursday 10pm – 9pm, Friday – Saturday 12pm – 9:30pm, Sunday 12pm – 7pm Social Media: Facebook: @TheDevonshireArms MiddleHandley, Instagram: @thedevonshirearms middlehandley www.devonshirearms middlehandley.co.uk About: Walking distance from the village of Eckington, The Devonshire Arms serves classic
yet stylish pub fare in a bright and spacious dining area furnished exclusively by local reclaimed furniture company PugiiPug. This is the place to visit if you have young children in tow, since their fresh “build your own” children’s menu has been designed with the help of local mums. The pub also hosts a range of events, including monthly fish nights and live music every Friday and Sunday. The Tickled Trout Address: 33 Valley Road, Barlow, Dronfield, Derbyshire S18 7SL Contact: 0114 289 1111, dine@tickledtroutbarlow.com Opening Hours: Kitchen open Tuesday – Saturday 12pm – 2:30pm & 5pm – 9pm, Sunday 12pm – 6pm Social Media: Facebook and Twitter: @tickledtroutS18 Instagram: @tickledtroutbarlow www.tickledtroutbarlow.com About: Priding itself on the tagline “deliciously Derbyshire” and a warm welcome, The Tickled Trout was Chesterfield Food and Drink awards winner in 2018, the same year claiming Derbyshire Life’s Restaurant of The Year and Chef of The Year. Diners here can choose from a selection of Italian favourites or locally-sourced Derbyshire tried-and-tested temptations.
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WEEKEND ESCAPES Looking for history, culture and delicious food? Then pop across the English Channel for a mini break in The Netherlands. Anna McGuire recommends Amsterdam for your next weekend escape 78
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AMSTERDAM The beautiful city of Amsterdam offers history, a laid-back atmosphere and one of the world’s most sophisticated canal systems. Whether you are travelling with friends, family or your other half the capital of The Netherlands has something for everyone. Two or three days will you give you plenty of time to explore and take in the sights so whether you want to appreciate the panoramic views of Amsterdam at A’dam Lookout or you just want to
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relax on a canal cruise, you will be spoilt for choice. The beauty of Amsterdam is that wandering the streets, grabbing a casual slice of pizza and taking a selfie in the big yellow wooden shoe in Dam Square is all part of the experience. My top things to do would be:
HIRE A BIKE Amsterdam is globally renowned as one of the most cycle friendly cities in the world
and with cycle lanes dotted everywhere, you can clearly see why. Head to one of the local bike stores to rent your very own bicycle and discover the city just like a local. You could hire a bike for the entire duration of your trip, or if you prefer to get around by foot, rent one for a couple of hours.
House. At the museum you will gain a glimpse into the life of Anne Frank and her remarkable story. The museum release most of their tickets two months in advance, but they do sell out fast – visitors can book online at www.annefrank.org/en/ museum/tickets.
VISIT THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE TRY A STROOPWAFEL Step back into history at one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of Amsterdam, the Anne Frank
Make sure you embrace the local food and dig into a traditional Dutch waffle at some point during your trip – the
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Your monthly guide to what’s on in Sheffield
DISTRIBUTED AT OVER 750 OUTLETS ACROSS THE CITY PICK UP YOUR COPY NOW
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THE RIJKSMUSEUM IS LOCATED IN THE MUSEUMSTRAAT
stroopwafel is a classic favourite, made from wafer cookies and caramel syrup. Pair your stroopwafel with a hot drink to help make the caramel syrup melt and create an extra gooey treat. Amsterdam has plenty of other popular foods on offer including Belgian waffles and classic pancakes topped with endless amounts of chocolate sauce – delicious!
DISCOVER THE RIJKSMUSEUM The Rijksmuseum displays art from The Middle Ages through to the present day giving its millions of annual visitors a true taste of The Netherlands. Located in the Museumstraat (Museum Square), the gallery showcases work from Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jan Steen and Van Gogh. With 8,000 pieces of work the famous museum is steeped in history and a must see.
EXPLORE VONDELPARK Attracting both locals and tourists, Vondelpark is a hot spot for cycling, walking, relaxing and appreciating the charming architecture. Coming to life in the peak of summer, Vondelpark has an array of restaurants and cafes,
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performances at the open-air theatre and immaculate lawns to enjoy a picnic. The park is quieter in the colder months but still just as beautiful so pick up a hot chocolate and stroll around in the crisp winter air, just don’t forget to wrap up.
ENJOY A BEER Head to the Heineken Experience to find out how a small local brewery grew into one of the world’s most popular beers. Once you arrive you will be able to learn about the making of Heineken, the brewing process and what they do to maintain their successful global status. When your tour ends you can head to the in-house bar, the Best ‘Dam Bar to enjoy a chilled beer or two.
DINE AT ENVY Round off your trip with a trendy meal at the Mediterranean inspired restaurant, Envy. Serving up tapas-style cuisine, the Michelin star rated restaurant is led by chef, Bobby Rust. Taking inspiration from all parts of the world with an ever-changing menu, this restaurant is popular with
Amsterdam provides a diverse weekend away with its incredible offering of museums, restaurants, cafes, bars, nightlife and many attractions.
foodies. Treat yourself to the cosmopolitan Envy experience to round-off your trip! Positioned only a short distance from the UK, Amsterdam provides a diverse weekend away with its incredible offering of museums, restaurants, cafes, bars, nightlife and many attractions. Now take the plunge and book your next weekend escape to Amsterdam! Fly into Schiphol airport from Northern regional airports including Leeds Bradford, East Midlands and Manchester. If you prefer to travel by train you can travel directly from London to Amsterdam on the Eurostar from 30 April 2020, with a journey time of 3hrs 52mins. Alternatively, park your car at Hull ferry terminal and hop on a P&O Ferries Mini Cruise. Their cruises include en-suite cabin, onboard entertainment, coach transfers and a day in Amsterdam – the perfect option for a short trip.
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NUMBER CRUNCH
5G
Sheffield is one of the first areas in the UK to receive 5G, supplied by EE. The technology will provide faster download speeds than ever, predicting benefits to businesses and allowing you to access material in seconds. We decided to crunch the stats and numbers on the new 5G network sweeping the city of Sheffield.
5G from EE is now
LIVE IN 50 CITIES
H
and large towns including Sheffield
130240 MBPS is the average speed users should see with 5G, 100-150Mbps faster than 4G
A report from O2 forecasts that 5G will earn the UK
ÂŁ6 BILLION a year through productivity savings
TOP SPEEDS OF OVER
1GBPS are predicted for 5G users An O2 report forecasts 5G will help households save up to
The whole of the UK is expected to be 5G-ready in
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5G enables you to stream a
4K MOVIE
ÂŁ450 a year on energy, council tax and food bills
without any buffering
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