Sheffield United

SPOTLIGHT ON RETAIL

Paul Reeves, head of commercial at Sheffield United Football Club, says the last year since the pandemic has been ‘inconceivable’ for retailers – but for the Club, retail remains an ‘everimportant source of income’.

“As a growing retail business, we learned quickly to cope with furlough, staff working remotely, supply chain challenges, and the shutdown of both Bramall Lane and Meadowhall stores. Then, after re-opening in June 2020, we navigated a retail world with new rules of social distancing and customer safety measures including hand sanitiser, facemasks and one-way systems and red and green signposting.

“Our retail team were operating well in the new climate, only to have further store closures from December 2020 until present day and the glimmer of hope of retail returning from April.

“The Club developed our e-commerce retail offer to maintain contact with supporters and a revenue stream. A re-structure gave clarity on navigating key retail function areas and a new position was created to focus specifically on digital – PAUL REEVES

through this, online sales have grown by 70 per cent since April 2020.

“A new website and app launched in November 2020, aimed at driving a first-class digital user experience for Blades fans all over the world, providing greater access to the latest content and underpinning our commitment to innovative communication and access. Fully integrated with the club's new single sign-on function, fans can log in just once on the website and automatically be logged in across our ticketing and retail sites, providing a more seamless user journey.

“Digital marketing has played an increasingly important and creative role. The commercial, retail and marketing functions work extremely closely on product design and product promotion. Feedback is extremely positive, and we continue to look at ways to further enhance this, with new products and brand collaborations such as New Era headwear.

“No matchday activity has affected revenue as store footfall has obviously been hit massively, but we continue to grow online purchases to sustain our overall success through innovative supply chain solutions, creative and engaging marketing and a continuously evolving supporter experience.

“We are very lucky to have a loyal fan base but as we look to grow our brand across the world, we are now in an era where media, fashion and football are coming together to create an exciting global entertainment business – our new retail team will be key as we continue to successfully navigate a ‘new normal’ retail world after the pandemic.

For the latest retail products and offers visit www.sufcdirect.co.uk

Pinders partner with SU Women’s first team

The Blades have announced

a new partnership for Sheffield United women’s first team with print and signage experts Pinders agreeing a two-season back of shirt sponsorship deal. Sheffield-based Pinders are a specialist, family-run organisation with a dedicated team, fully committed to providing professional signage, print and graphic display solutions. MD David Whiteway said: “We started working with Sheffield United in 2006, creating everything from matchday menus to event banner stands and perimeter boards. “Over the years we’ve established a trusted relationship, providing signage around Bramall Lane and the Shirecliffe Academy, FIT FOR BELIEF FIT FOR BELIEF FIT FOR BELIEF stand-branding and day-today print requirements.

“With the club in the Premier League, we’ve taken on the branding for key sponsors, media suites, tunnel and dugouts, helping present the best possible view of the stadium on both a local and global scale.

“Having our brand on the women’s team kit can only help promote our business further due to the fantastic media spotlight now on the ever more popular women’s game.”

Zoe Johnson GM for SU women’s team added: “We are extremely thankful for this level of support from Pinders, who have been an integral part of the club for many years. We look forward to continuing our relationship with them in the future.”

Visit www.thinkpinders.com

THE CORNERSTONE FOR BUSINESS

Whether it is a challenging HR issue that needs expert advice or help cutting costs, the Chamber is here to help. Sheffield Chamber also has to offer a strong voice in the conversations that matter about the state of Sheffield and the future of the city

Why? Because if we can make Sheffield the best place in the UK to do business, then every single company in the city will benefit and be more successful.

There is only so much an individual business can control. Often the challenges a business faces need to be dealt with on a citywide basis. There are examples of the need for this bigger thinking wherever you look.

Finding the right talented people to help grow your business involves having a great recruitment strategy, but it can also mean making sure our education system is giving local people the right skills for the modern workplace. Where to locate a new office or factory can be the biggest decision a company makes, but often the decision is influenced by Sheffield City Council plans to improve the local road system as much as the company’s plans for growth.

In the last nine months, Sheffield Chamber has made sure the organisation and its members are plugged back into the conversations that matter about the future of Sheffield. Politicians need to hear from business organisations. Policymakers need business data and insight to make smart decisions. Decisions to help every local business to grow successfully and sustainably.

During the pandemic, the Chamber has been front and centre. Supporting the Council, they distributed more than £100m in grants to businesses impacted by the restrictions. Chamber members are represented in key meetings with local politicians and health officials as the city battles COVID-19.

The Chamber is also grappling with some of the bigger questions that will shape our economy in the decades to come. How do we build a more skilled workforce fit for the modern economy? How can we help local businesses to export more? What is the city going to do over the next 30 years to compete for investment in a fast-moving global economy?

All of these questions need answering. None of these questions can be answered successfully without insight and data from businesses.

Sheffield Chamber not only deals with requests from members, but the Chamber is also working with local leaders to make sure Sheffield really does become the best place in the UK to do business.

If you want to shape the future of our city, get involved. We are stronger together.

Contact the Chamber Team at membership@scci.org.uk or on 0114 201 8888.

WANT A BETTER FUTURE FOR SHEFFIELD? GET PLANNING!

Jillian Thomas is managing director of Future Life Wealth Management and a former president of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce – here she looks at the future of our city

Where will Sheffield be in ten years? Well, I don’t have a crystal ball, but as someone who spends her day planning, I do know that it will be in a better place if we plan!

It sounds obvious, but it is easy to just let things drift and see what turns up. But I am a financial planner and letting things drift is not in my DNA. We work with our clients to give them the best possible chance of the best future they can have. We’re called Future Life Wealth Management for a reason!

So how can we plan for Sheffield? Like any good plans, it starts with where we are now. We need to do a bit of ‘situational awareness’, a bit of a review of what we have already, and then what we know is surely going to come.

When we sit down with clients, we need to know all about them and we need to know what life events are likely to come along (children going to university, elderly parents with potential care needs, their own potential care needs, business succession, retirement etc). We also probe to find out about their attitude to risk. And then – and only then – do we start to plan.

It is a bit like doing a SWOT analysis, or for those of you who like longer processes and longer words, a PESTLE analysis. Once we have started to work out our strengths and weaknesses, and considered the threats, we can start to think about the opportunities.

Sheffield has some real strengths. It has fantastic universities, a University Technical College, and an airport just down the road (and I mean Doncaster Sheffield, not the one over the Pennines or the one down the M1). It has weaknesses – talented people leaving the city for opportunities elsewhere as we don’t always have the second and third jobs in the career ladder that people need.

We do have a good rate of people staying on after university, but we need more talented people to make it their home – we want the jobs that are well-paid and have greater spending power, to bring prosperity to us all. We need an economy that is positive and forward-thinking and a city where people want to stay and grow. We need ambition from our leaders.

We need to look ahead to the sectors that are emerging and those that will emerge in the years to come. We have some fantastic digital industries in the city, games designers, digital marketeers, app designers, health tech experts, IT whizzes…the list goes on. But where will the next industrial revolution come from? Will we be ready?

And what about our infrastructure? Will our digital connections and our transport connections give us greater connectivity? The Government has announced a £137m upgrade to the Hope Valley line, which will improve one link to Manchester, but we need more. In ten years’ time will HS2 be here or be on its way here? Will Doncaster Sheffield airport be a hub, not just for passengers, but for freight, too?

There are endless possibilities. We need the Government to really deliver on its promise to ‘level up’, but we need to play our part, too. We need to be brave, take risks perhaps, and build a Sheffield where people want to stay, and a Sheffield where people want to come to and invest in. And that starts with a plan.

REOPENING YOUR

BUSINESS FROM LOCKDOWN

As many firms in Sheffield begin the gradual process of returning from the latest and hopefully final lockdown, they will need to plan for what is likely to be a staged return to the workplace. As the easing of lockdown continues, it’s vitally important that firms plan a resumption of their activities in a controlled and safe manner

The following are some of the key areas for local firms to consider when reopening their business.

RISK ASSESSMENT

It is vital you conduct a thorough risk assessment – when the government allows your business to reopen. This means looking at working areas and activities, checking equipment and premises, and considering what needs to be done to enable your employees to successfully distance themselves from colleagues and work safely.

REOPENING PREPARATION

It is likely that your business will need to make social distancing protocols, which will be specific to your industry sector. It may also be necessary to change the layout of your workplace. In addition you will be required to clean and disinfect the workplace thoroughly.

You should consider introducing new rules and procedures for staff at the workplace, to include for inperson interactions and physical contact. Depending on the nature of your business, it may also be necessary to introduce employee scheduling.

Communicate to staff before reopening about what your new ways of working might look like and what might be expected of them. Make sure they’re fully informed before inviting them back to work, consider running training sessions for your staff before you reopen your business and document these sessions for your records.

If your firm uses commercial vehicles it’s vitally important to enforce social distancing, cleaning and hygiene practices while operating them.

Establish a response team that recommends and oversees workplace protocols to control the spread of COVID-19.

EMPLOYEE SCREENING

Consider implementing a screening procedure for staff before they enter your workspace so you can identify any potential COVID-19 cases. Employees who test positive or believe they have been infected should be instructed to follow the advice of a medical professional and self-quarantine. Staff who are symptomatic or who have tested positive should not return to work until official government conditions are satisfied.

HEATH AND SAFETY

Increase hand washing and surface cleaning frequency should be put in place. Some firms may need to provide their employees with the correct protective equipment, like gloves and masks and in some cases visors. They need to share guidance with them on how to correctly place, wear and remove face masks.

TRAINING MATERIALS

Provide staff with safety information, which clearly explains the protocols around social distancing, use of PPE, personal hygiene, workspace cleaning responsibilities, and any industry-specific considerations.

INSURANCE

Check with your insurance broker that your business has the right insurance in place to ensure you are properly covered for new ways of working. A broker who is local and accessible knows what is at stake as we emerge from lockdown. The future of your business rests on arranging the best insurance cover and not a bundle of clauses that effectively prevents policyholders from making a claim.

Jamie Harvey is a director at chartered broker IFM Insurance in Sheffield

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS NURTURING

LOCKDOWN BUSINESSES

Barnsley College is celebrating the success of a growing number of students who have launched new business ventures, with support from the iTrust initiative – here they share two success stories

iTrust is a joint venture between the College, Barnsley Chronicle and The Business Village which supports enterprising students by providing access to an array of information and guidance, including mentoring from the College’s Enterprise team, The Prince’s Trust, industry specialists and local businesses from the College’s Talent United networking community. The scheme can also provide a start-up grant of up to £250.

Jess Widdowson, enterprise team leader at Barnsley College said: “We have seen a record number of businesses launched over the past year, with support from iTrust and the practical guidance and advice contributed by established business professionals.

“Talent United partners can devote as little or as much time as they wish and there are some extremely worthwhile benefits associated with the scheme, not least the fulfilment gained from mentoring a young person and watching a fledgling business grow. The College continues to Transform Lives and help our students to fulfil their potential throughout this difficult time.” KELSEY WHITE (LEFT) AND CHLOE HEWITT

Chocoholics

Student Kelsey White stirred her love of sweet treats into a business venture after her fondness for hot chocolate inspired her to start selling chocolate stirrers and other confections.

Kelsey became familiar with entrepreneurship after helping out on her mum’s market stall selling sweets and children’s toys. She began working on flavours and recipes during lockdown, while curating a Facebook page for her business. Just three weeks later she had sold more than 2,000 hot chocolate stirrers. She has since been awarded an iTrust grant of £250 which has allowed her to invest in chocolate moulds, tags, packaging, and ingredients leading to a higher sales and increased profit.

Kelsey, currently studying Level 3 Travel and Tourism at Barnsley College, said: “I have to say a big thank you to iTrust for supporting me constantly with my business – all of the team are amazing! I would recommend other students get in touch if they have a business idea as they provide so much useful help and support. In the future I would love to own my own successful restaurant or cafe!”

CH House of Beauty

Student Chloe Hewett recently picked up the keys to her very own beauty salon having worked hard to hone her skills and establish her business, with help from iTrust.

Chloe said: “My interest in nails started as a hobby in 2017. I found employment at a salon and that’s when I realised I could earn more by being self-employed, but to be able to do this, I needed more qualifications, so I decided to enrol at Barnsley College.

“When I was studying Nail Technology, my tutor was fantastic. She really believed in me and my potential and spurred me on lots.”

Lockdown enabled Chloe to complete online courses to further her knowledge, and she also joined virtual groups to network.

Jess Widdowson added: “Chloe first came to me in February 2020 with a full business plan and a list of long-term goals. To achieve so much in such a short space of time is an excellent example to all our students that anything is possible.”

To find out more about iTrust or employer engagement initiatives offered by Barnsley College, visit www.barnsley. ac.uk/enterprise or email enterprise@barnsley.ac.uk

WINNING TIMES

FOR WOSSKOW BROWN

After winning the Accelerator of the Year Award at the Yorkshire Financial Awards 2021, the team at Wosskow Brown Foundation tell unLTD more about the foundation

Hosted by comedian Lucy Porter, 18 awards were handed out at the Yorkshire Financial Awards 2021 to various companies all around the Yorkshire region.

Jim Lawson, director of the Wosskow Brown Foundation, said: “We are absolutely honoured and delighted the Wosskow Brown Foundation were given the first award Lucy gave out that night, the Accelerator of the Year Award!

“To win this award, the Wosskow Brown Foundation came up against other amazing nominees including Barclays Eagle Labs, Sheffield Hallam University’s Hallam i-Lab, and NatWest Accelerator.

“We would also like to highlight the really valuable work the other nominees in our category do in helping businesses to grow and scale, acknowledging all the other business accelerators in the region.

“When we launched the Wosskow Brown Foundation in 2014, our main purpose was to help regenerate our local economy and through the vision of Ian Brown and fellow partners of Wosskow Brown Solicitors, we have been able to help more than 1,000 businesses.

“Finally, we must thank our unsung heroes, the many entrepreneurs and professionals in the region who responded to our rally call and have engaged and supported all we do.”

Private Sector Initiative

The Foundation is a private sector initiative from the partners at South Yorkshire law firm, Wosskow Brown. It was set up as a response to the Government’s call for the private sector to help regenerate the local economy, after a £3bn Gross Added Value gap was identified in the region, as well as 70,000 too few jobs and 6,000 too few businesses.

“The WB100 programme was launched to offer useful support for businesses, sports clubs, charities, and social enterprises,” says Jim. “We delivered workshops to upskill SME owners in everything from cashflow management to social media, from winning business to recruitment.

“To support this, we set up a pro bono mentoring programme which brought together local professionals and experienced entrepreneurs with founders of start-ups and scale-ups. We must thank these entrepreneurs for their kindness, giving up their time to mentor new business owners with workshops, supporting the aims of the Wosskow Brown Foundation. The willingness to help others is really an admirable characteristic of the people in this region.”

Free Office Space

“The Foundation has also offered a year of free office space to businesses finding their feet, which included free phones, Wi-Fi, and mentoring, using the space available at our head office of Wosskow Brown in East Sheffield,” added Jim.

“In the five years to November 2019, we had helped, engaged, or otherwise assisted more than 900 organisations in the Sheffield City Region. In just the past three years, we have made almost 600 B2B introductions for companies looking to engage with business specialists in a wide range of sectors. Therefore, we have become widely known as a ‘connector’ organisation.”