unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #41 by unLTD magazine

AUGUST 2021 | ISSUE 41 | FREE | UNLTDBUSINESS.COM

ASK THE CHAMBERS

EXCLUSIVE: South Yorkshire Chambers break new ground with expansion of flagship economic research – only in unLTD

INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT ● NEW ATTERCLIFFE ● BEARS OF SHEFFIELD ● DIGITAL MEDIA

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CONTENTS

STORY: ASK THE CHAMBERS 24 COVER

NEW ATTERCLIFFE 50 REJUVENATION:

STORY CC33 44 SUCCESS

ON: INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT 62 FOCUS

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CONTENTS

INSIDE... 6-10: News A round-up of news in the region, including award wins, kit sponsors and property news from Resonate, Gent Visick and Mark Jenkinson & Son. 11-13: Appointments All the latest appointments from around South Yorkshire, including news from Glu Recruit.

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23: The Source The Skills Academy celebrate its talented apprentices being shortlisted for awards.

UNLTD BUSINESS UNLTDBUSINESS

35: Sheffield Chamber The business support organisation says take stock and plan for the next opportunity.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BEAR?

58: Digital Transformation The team at DeeperThanBlue highlight two key growth areas. 61: Your Pitch – Simdure Simon Gorman on how his start-up simplifies and makes businesses more durable. 73: Digital Media Sheffield Hallam University showcase the Hallam Live site.

EVERYTHING ELSE: 15: The Diary 17: Financial Health 19: Legal Matters 21: Entrepreneur Support 41: Launchpad 69: Podcast Spotlight 74: Charity

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…Or CAN you spot this bear!? The Bears of Sheffield have not just taken over the city – you’ll have to bear with us at unLTD too as our mag this month is full of bearilliant content, too. The bear above is called Botanical and he was painted by artist Sarah Abbott and sponsored by CMS Law. He is not only a fab figure on the Bears of Sheffield trail though – he’s also hidden away in the pages of this edition of our mag, too. So, as you’re reading this month’s excellent issue, keep those peepers peeled for Botanical tucked away and peeking out. Then simply take a photo of you with our magazine open to Botanical’s page and tag us on Twitter at @unltdbusiness or email us hello@ unltdbusiness.com to be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win some official Bears merchandise, and help raise much-needed funds for The Children’s Hospital Charity. And speaking of our excellent August issue, we’re chuffed to be the chosen publication for the South Yorkshire Chambers’ ground-breaking new approach to the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES). Barnsley & Rotherham, Doncaster, and Sheffield Chambers are expanding their flagship research, by running high-profile ‘business citizens assemblies’ and also publicly submitting their leaders to regular ‘Ask Your Chamber Anything’ grillings. In this issue, we publish the very first Ask Us Anything questions from unLTD readers and the South Yorkshire Chamber leaders’ answers, in a bid to help make our region become the UK's model for strong private sector-civic leadership.

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 Michael Johnson accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Simon Waller and Simon Garlick Cover illustration by Simon Garlick CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Ainscough Marc Barker Chris Coates Daniella Dacey Jo Davison Mike Durham Brendan Hall

Matt Holmes Jade March James Marriott Rebecca Morris Raj & Fiona Shah Susan Waple Helen Williams

unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1B Rialto, 2 Kelham Island Sq., Kelham Riverside, Sheffield S3 8SD and HRM PR | Creative 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.

AGENDA NEWS

Accountancy firm outlines COVID support schemes With many business owners unsure about the available COVID-19 government support, Sheffield chartered accountancy and business advisory firm, Hentons has compiled a summary guide. After seeing “widespread confusion” among SMEs and business owners about the current main schemes, Hentons partner Mark Bain said: “Bounceback loans, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) were all introduced early in the pandemic, along with several other support packages. “At the time they were heavily publicised, with widespread awareness of how they could benefit businesses. “The deadline for bounceback loan applications was the end of March 2021, and although the CJRS and SEISS will continue until September 30, at a reduced level, there are still a number of other schemes that can help businesses. However, there appears to be much less understanding about these schemes and their benefits. “We work with clients of all sizes across every sector and, in challenging times, it’s vital they can easily access and understand the support available to them.” To read the full Hentons guide visit: bit.ly/3ks2isr

B. BRAUN DONATION GETS YORKSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE ON THE ROAD The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is taking to the streets with two brand-new support vehicles after a donation from Sheffield-based healthcare firm B. Braun Medical Ltd. B. Braun pledged £25,000 to help the charity purchase and fully customise one of the Fiat Ducato vans which will be used to promote the work of the life-saving charity. The other has been adapted using funding from the Yorkshire Freemasons. The state-of-the-art vehicles have been kitted out with wraparound screens,

a flight console with a pilot seat and interchangeable graphics which all aim to raise awareness of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and educate the public on the work they do. The vans will be used at events and as a mobile education unit when the charity resumes its school visits. Director of fundraising (North and East) at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Helen Callear, said: “B Braun are one of our longest standing supporters and we are immensely grateful for their

help to get our vehicles on the road. “The vehicles have been customised to simulate the cockpit of the air ambulance so that our supporters can get a taste of what it’s like to be inside our aircraft and learn more about our life-saving work.” David Oates, group MD at B. Braun Medical Ltd said: “The vans look fantastic and we are delighted that we are able to support such a brilliant project which will have educational and fundraising benefits for the Air Ambulance.”

BIDBI COLLABORATES ON ‘BRIGHT AND FUN’ BEARS OF SHEFFIELD BAGS Local textile printers BIDBI, have collaborated with The Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity (TSCHC) to provide the cotton tote bags for the Bears of Sheffield fundraiser. Account manager Chloe Nicholson said: “It has been an honour to work with The Children’s Hospital on this project. Knowing that with every purchase of one of our bags we are helping to raise funds for a new Cancer and Leukaemia Ward is inspiring. “We love working with local businesses and organisations and being able to support such

a great charity by doing what we do best is one of the pillars of BIDBI being an ethical company.

“The Bears is such a great initiative and brings communities together across Sheffield all for a good cause.” The bags have been printed with the Bears of Sheffield bright and fun logo and are available in both white and natural. Along with the merchandise, the bags are available to purchase from Atkinsons, Sheffield Cathedral, Crystal Peaks, Sheffield Children’s Charity Hub, Sheffield BID, and directly from the Children’s Hospital website.

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AGENDA The Sheffield College wins national Award

FREE NETWORKING 24 HOURS A DAY A unique networking platform which provides business owners with the chance to click, connect and collaborate 24 hours a day has officially opened for business. Network 24/7 was the brain child of South Yorkshire entrepreneur Ednan Karim after recognising many business owners were unable to attend face-to-face networking events. Following a successful trial period which saw more

than 100 business owners from across the region test the platform, it is set to be rolled out across the UK and has received the backing of all Chambers of Commerce in South Yorkshire. Membership to Network 24/7 is now free of charge. In addition to creating an environment where business owners can meet each other at any time of the day, Network 24/7 also plans to host regular virtual networking sessions.

Ednan said: “We’ve redeveloped a number of key features, but perhaps the most significant change has been to move from a subscriptionbased model – any business can register completely free of charge. This is just the beginning for Network 24/7 and we are already working behind the scenes to introduce additional new features in the future.” To register, visit: www.network247.co.uk

SUPER WIFE, SUPER MUM, SUPER OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Fiona Shah, operations director at Blue Wealth Capital, is now the only person in South Yorkshire and the only non-financial planner in the entire UK to be awarded the prestigious Certificate in Relational Financial Planning (CRFP). Blue Wealth Capital founder Raj Shah said: “The CRFP is a qualification for financial planners who believe that building strong relationships with their clients enables them to help them to see beyond the assumptions and preconceptions that have previously held them back. “Our approach at Blue Wealth Capital ensures financial plans are inspirational and meaningful

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FIONA SHAH

and clients achieve the best possible outcomes.” Fiona Shah, who joined the business almost two years ago, said: “We are building

something special here at Blue Wealth Capital.” Sheffield-based Blue Wealth provides high quality financial planning and advice.

The Sheffield College has won a national education award for its trailblazing partnerships with employers and use of technology to adapt to the pandemic. The Employer Skills Academy and Work-Related Activity Team – as featured in our March cover story earlier this year – won the employer engagement category of the Edufuturists Awards. The College clinched the award for its successful employer skills academies programme, that equips students with the qualifications and skills that employers are looking for, and its use of technology to adapt to COVID-19.

Rachel Topliss, head of employer academy partnerships and workrelated activity, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win a national education award for our work with the employer skills academies and use of technology during the pandemic that has enabled our students to get the skills, experience and qualifications to go further in their careers.” Louisa Harrison-Walker, executive director, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, which launched the first employer skills academy of its kind in the UK with the College, said: “Huge congratulations to the very hard working and committed team. We are very proud to be associated with their excellent work.”

AGENDA NEWS Businesses set up support partnership Business owners from Velocity Accounting Solutions, Dentech IT, Hallmark Branding and RD&M Web Designers have set up the South Yorkshire Business Support Partnership to help start-up and early-stage SMEs.

Partnership helps tackle litter in Peak District The Peak District National Park Foundation has teamed up with The Outdoor Guide Foundation to provide litter picking kits to help volunteers and community groups look after our landscapes.

Region to pilot new Local Skills Improvement Plan South Yorkshire’s Chambers of Commerce have come together to lead a successful bid that could transform skills supply, employment prospects, and business productivity across the region.

SHU finalist in national social mobility awards Sheffield Hallam University has been shortlisted for a UK Social Mobility Award in recognition of its work to advance social mobility through higher education.

INNOVATIVE SLEEP AMBASSADOR INITIATIVE LAUNCHED BY MATTRESS ONLINE Rotherham-based Mattress Online has rolled out an innovative programme to tackle sleep-related issues in the workplace and boost mental and physical health. Working in partnership with The Sleep Charity, the online retailer Mattress Online has launched a Workplace Sleep Ambassador initiative. Personal assistant Tracy Browne has also volunteered to become the fast growingcompany’s first official Sleep Ambassador and completed online training with the charity. She will promote sleep wellbeing and encourage colleagues to talk about sleep and its importance to a healthy body and mind. Mattress Online CEO Steve Adams said: “Sleep is critical to health and it’s vitally important our team has the best practical advice and support to deal with sleep-related issues. “As a mattress retailer supplying the biggest brands to thousands of homes, we’re used to helping our customers achieve a good night’s sleep.

MATTRESS ONLINE CEO STEVE ADAMS AND SLEEP AMBASSADOR TRACY BROWNE

In the past year turnover has soared to

£34.5M “The health of our hardworking team is equally important. Lack of quality sleep can affect employee engagement, stress, and productivity levels. It affects mental and physical health.

“Insomnia is incredibly common and people who sleep less than six hours have a significantly higher mortality rate. “We want to open up conversations around sleep and develop a culture where our team can talk, share issues and support each other. We plan to train more Ambassadors in the next few months." Tracy added: “I’m already supporting colleagues with tips which are based on the latest research, and it makes so much sense considering our line of business. Colleagues have been very forthcoming and it’s proving quite a talking point.”

Sheffield Metro Bank is Lord Mayor’s ‘cup of tea’ The UK’s community bank, Metro Bank, welcomed The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Gail Smith at its Fargate store this week. Hosted by Metro Bank local director Michelle Slater, the Lord Mayor enjoyed a tour of the bank including the safe deposit vault and its support for the Sheffield Bears trail and chatted with the bank’s colleagues who have worked throughout the pandemic to offer essential banking services. As a dog lover, she also commented on the dog friendly water bowls, treats and complementary bandanas available in store. “As a community bank, we

LORD MAYOR GAIL SMITH, CENTRE MEETS TWO OF THE BEARS OF SHEFFIELD ON HER TOUR OF METRO BANK

are an integral service to local residents and businesses,” said Sheffield Metro Bank’s Michelle Slater. “It was lovely to be able to showcase the work we do for the local community with the Lord Mayor.

“She admired our motto of People-People Banking and enjoyed a cup of tea and a biscuit as she chatted with my colleagues who have worked throughout COVID-19 to help local people and businesses with their banking needs.”

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AGENDA COPA unveiled as Sheffield FC’s new technical partner

BILL THOMAS, EMMAUS SHEFFIELD'S NEW CHAIRMAN

NEW CHAIRMAN FOR HOMELESSNESS CHARITY Homelessness charity Emmaus Sheffield has appointed a new chairman to its board of trustees. Bill Thomas takes over from Martin Davies, who is retiring after 24 years. “I am very honoured to be following Martin,” said Bill, who spent many years as a divisional managing director for estate agency Connells. “As we hopefully begin to emerge from the pandemic,

this is an interesting time for Emmaus. “The past 18 months have been a difficult time for all charities, but Emmaus Sheffield has survived and continues to provide an excellent level of support for our companions. “That remains, as always, our absolute priority and we have to ensure we have all the things in place to lead us into a successful future.”

Emmaus Sheffield, based close to Sheffield’s Victoria Quays, is the drug and alcoholfree project that provides a home, support and work for formerly homeless people in the city. Through its Social Enterprise programme it aims to provide meaningful work and enable the people it supports – known as companions – to eventually become self-supporting once more.

Choccie fundraiser marks longawaited return of face-to-face events A Sheffield older persons charity is offering would-be Willy Wonkas a glimpse behind the scenes of a real-life chocolate factory, as it marks the long-awaited return of face-to-face fundraisers. Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) – which has done so much to support isolated, older people across the city throughout the pandemic – is offering chocaholics the chance to tour the premises of renowned

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Sheffield business Bullion Craft Chocolate. SCCCC fundraiser Ericka Hill said: “Our first face-toface fundraising event in 17 months is a really big moment for everyone at the charity, as we seek to recover some of the money we missed out on during the long months of lockdown.” Tour goers will receive an exclusive factory tour and tasting session led by one of company’s master chocolatiers, before enjoying

a cup of Ecuadorian drinking chocolate and artisan cookie. Founder of Bullion Chocolate Max Scotford said: “After a long wait, we are really pleased to be supporting the amazing work SCCCC does for our local community. We are also excited to have some of the charity’s patrons at the chocolate factory to indulge, all while raising funds for their cause.” Tickets for the event on 18 September cost £25 per person. For more information or to book, visit bit.ly/3eGhmiH

Sheffield FC, the World’s First Football Club, have agreed a multi-year partnership with Dutch football brand COPA, to become the club’s new on-field partner. Formed in 1857, Sheffield FC have honoured its traditions continually and regard themselves as custodians of the beautiful game. COPA was founded in 1998 by a Dutch football addict who launched the company’s first collection

of carefully curated, traditionally produced cotton football shirts. The COPA collection has continued to expand and COPA is technical supplier of the national team of Tibet and licensed retro partner of big clubs like AS Roma, Atletico Madrid and Benfica – to smaller sized clubs from countries all over Europe and beyond. “At Sheffield FC we call ourselves a living breathing antique and a modern forward thinking football club, which is why we think COPA will make a perfect partner,” says Richard Tims, chairman of Sheffield FC. “Our values of integrity, respect, community and the fact that we believe that the game should be available to everyone, irrelevant of age, race, religion or ability, are shared by COPA.”

AGENDA PROPERTY NEWS

HOUSING MARKET REMAINS STRONG The level of demand from buyers has now pushed up the national average asking price to an all-time high of £338,447 (an increase of £21,389) since the start of 2021 and house sales during the first six months of the year have been the busiest ever recorded. With more people looking to move than the number of homes available, the strong demand is causing prices to rise. The stamp duty holiday proved a huge incentive for buyers to make their move and the lockdown experience has had a profound impact on how people now view ‘home’. The race for space is on. Buyers want bigger homes with room to live and work, a garden and easy-to-reach leisure spaces. The trouble is these properties are in short supply. Even with the stamp duty holiday about to end, changes to lifestyle continue to create demand. Mark Cody, director of property services at Resonate Property, said: “When planning to buy a property for investment or to live in, be ready to move fast by having everything in place.

MARK CODY, DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY SERVICES AT RESONATE PROPERTY

“Get a mortgage in principle, solicitor and, if you have a property to sell, get it listed and set up property alerts to find what you’re looking for.

“Or if investing, be sure to work with a property investment specialist to help you to quickly find your ideal investment property.”

Former chapel and office sell for more than twice guide price A former chapel in Doncaster, an ex-office/ retail unit in Sheffield and land in Barnsley all sold for more than twice their guide prices at Mark Jenkinson and Son’s latest online auction. In the fifth online event of the year for the auctioneers – which saw sales total £3.8m – the former Methodist chapel in Nethergate sold for more than three times the guide price of £40,000 at £134,000. The ex-Citizens Advice Bureau in Sheffield listed at £175,000 sold for £323,000. A freehold site of land in Darfield also more than doubled its guide price of £100,000, going for £244,000. Adrian Little, head of the auction department, said: “Our online auctions have been so successful for us. “This is evidently because the online events present an approach that brings increased fairness, accessibility, and accountability.”

Investor swoops at Doncaster’s Kestrel Court Two newly built industrial units next to Doncaster Sheffield Airport have been acquired by a private property company in a £3.125 million deal negotiated by the Leeds office of property consultancy, Gent Visick (GV). GV has negotiated the acquisition of units 1 and 3, which measure 13,654 sq ft and 18,193 sq ft respectively. The deal reflects a net initial yield of 5.98 per cent. Kestrel Court has been developed by Yorkshire company, Marshall CDP. The development completed at the end of last year and consists of three high quality

warehouse units complete with fitted office accommodation, securely fenced service yards and car parking. Unit 1 is let to NCM Auctions, while unit 3 is let on a ten year lease to Dual

Inventive Limited. Daniel Walker, from GV, said: “There is no shortage of investor appetite for high specification industrial units in sought after locations that are let to robust tenants. Kestrel

Court sits right next to one of the UK’s fastest growing airports and is less than ten minutes from the M18, which ticked every box for our client, and we’re delighted to complete this acquisition.”

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AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

SPONSORED BY

RECRUITING? UNSURE OF MARKET SALARIES? GET TOOLED UP… As many businesses across the Sheffield City Region open their offices again following the end of lockdown restrictions, and with the furlough scheme starting to wind down, this is a great time to start planning for recovery and growth. Local businesses can start recruiting with more confidence as the candidate market becomes more open to the increased available options. If you haven’t been actively recruiting over the past 18 months, are you up to speed on where to pitch the salary on your latest vacancies, or have you benchmarked your current salaries? South Yorkshire based specialist recruitment consultants, Glu Recruit, have developed a handy new ‘value my vacancy’ tool to help with current market rates for vacancies. MD Rob Shaw said: “In order for businesses to stay competitive and attract the right people, it’s important to know where to pitch the salary.

“Candidates like to know the salary banding before they apply for a job, not necessarily because all of them are money motivated, but because they don’t want to waste time applying only to find the role falls well below their salary expectations. “Of course, salary is only one consideration for a

candidate. However, before you start inviting people for interviews you need to identify your overall budget, and our vacancy valuer is an ideal starting point. “We have compiled a range of roles and salaries based on research with Sheffield City Region (SCR) businesses to provide an accurate,

New chief executive ‘will deliver London 2012 legacy themes’ A new chief executive has been appointed at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park to deliver the London 2012 Olympic legacy themes including opportunities for the local communit, and increased sport participation. Dr Chris Low will drive the development of a world-class health and wellbeing research eco-system and further build R&D capacity on the unique site, attracting and supporting global health and wellbeing companies to invest and

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co-locate. He will also work closely with Scarborough Group International (SGI) who are spearheading the physical build development of the world’s only Olympic legacy park outside a host city. Dr Low takes up his position at the beginning of August. Current project director, David Hobson is stepping down from his role after seven years spearheading the creation and delivery of the first phase of the Park.

DR CHRIS LOW

post-lockdown, valuation for more than 150 jobs across our specialist areas of recruitment. Whether you’re looking to fill temporary warehousing or admin roles, or need permanent high-end creative or finance staff, our tool has you covered. “The salary bandings the tool discloses are reflective of SCR roles based in 2021, and once you’ve filled the form in by selecting the industry and the type of role you’re recruiting for, you will be provided with a salary banding depending on experience and average salary for the role. “We hope it provides valuable information for businesses as confidence in hiring increases.” Access the ‘Value My Vacancy’ tool here: www.glurecruit.co.uk/ value-my-vacancy. For further information or clarity around the candidate marketplace for vacancies, call 0114 321 1873 or email: hello@glurecruit.co.uk

Telecoms firm’s 'next generation' appointment ITI Network Services – part of The Templand Group – has appointed Rob Mennell as chief operations officer. Rob joins from Openreach where, as the superfast broadband lead, he was instrumental in the design and deployment of the Next Generation Access Network. The Templand Group chief executive Jason Denmark said: “We know he will take ITI from strength to strength."

AGENDA APPOINTMENTS

CURRENT VACANCIES ABOUT GLU RECRUIT Glu Recruit are a full-service recruitment agency established in 2016. We specialise in temporary, permanent, contract and graduate recruitment – offering a tailored solution from entry level to senior management and board level spanning your entire organisation. As an independent recruitment

agency, we focus on the long-term stick of the placement. Whether you’re a candidate looking to make a career move, or an employer looking to add to your team, our thorough and proactive recruitment and retention service ensures you are well looked after! Call: 0114 321 1873 Email: hello@glurecruit.co.uk www.glurecruit.co.uk

Role: Full stack developer Salary: Up to £31k DOE Location: Sheffield Sector: Creative Marketing Agency Role: Business development manager (transport) Salary: £35k-£50k Basic DOE + 10% bonus Location: Sheffield Sector: Electrical Manufacturer Role: Senior drainage engineer Salary: £30k-£40k DOE Location: Sheffield Sector: Environmental Consultancy

THREE NEW RECRUITS FOR GLU RECRUIT AS TEAM CONTINUES TO GROW Glu Recruit have added three new members to their team as they continue to grow to meet the increasing recruitment requirements of businesses across the Sheffield City Region. Two recruitment consultants, Ryan McVeigh and Amy Powis, and a recruitment and finance administrator, Lucy Watson, joined in June, bringing the staff head count to 11 – just five years after MD Rob Shaw, started the business from home. Following a strong start to the year, Glu are gearing up for further demand as hiring confidence from employers continues to improve. MD Rob Shaw said: “We

Charity expands team after campaign success GLU’S NEW RECRUITS, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: AMY POWIS, RYAN MCVEIGH AND LUCY WATSON

like to be proactive and seek out opportunities for business growth. “To do this we need people in place we can trust and develop in line with

our long-term plans. Ryan, Amy and Lucy all fit the bill. It’s an exciting time for our new recruits to join and be part of the next stage of our development.”

Rising stars recognised at BHP Leading independent accountancy firm BHP has found rising stars amongst its ranks after promoting 25 colleagues to more senior roles. Headlining the promoted employees are Will Holmes and Emma Oakley, who’ve both advanced to become

LYNN SMITH

directors after showcasing their specialities in Corporate Finance and Risk and Forensic Services respectively. There are also three new senior managers, 12 new managers, five new assistant managers and three new senior colleagues across the business’s different

departments – including Tax, Finance, Corporate Finance, Audit and Financial Planning. Lisa Leighton, joint managing partner of BHP, said: “During these uncertain times, each and every one of these individuals has gone above and beyond in delivering the needs of our clients.”

The outstanding success of Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC)’s campaign to tackle loneliness amongst older people has prompted the charity to expand its team. SCCCC launched a campaign to recruit more telephone support volunteers after revealing a growing waiting list of older people desperate for support. Now the charity has appointed Lynn Smith as an extra volunteer co-ordinator after a surge in support swelled its volunteer army to almost 200. Lynn said: “Our volunteers do a fantastic job of reaching out to support isolated, older people in our city."

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AGENDA SPONSORED BY

GREG JUMP-STARTS HIS CAREER AT THE SOURCE SKILLS ACADEMY Leading Sheffield training and skills academy The Source has appointed a new facilities manager. Greg Sutcliffe arrived in post to find rising demand for meeting rooms and business events from companies getting back on track after the pandemic. He was made redundant after 13 years as facilities manager at a city centre church when lockdowns halted his conferencing, weddings and events. Greg volunteered at the church’s food banks until landing a job as an electrician, but was again made redundant. “I am one of many people whose career was hit in the pandemic,” he said. “I am delighted to jumpstart my career again and there is a real buzz at The Source right now. Our building on Meadowhall

HR manager to lead people plan

GREG SUTCLIFFE, FACILITIES MANAGER AT THE SOURCE

Way is fully open and we are already hosting business events and meetings.” Greg manages The Source’s 25 conferencing and meeting rooms and ensures COVID-19

health and safety compliance with measures including on-site lateral flow tests, temperature-checking, sociallydistanced room layouts and one-way systems.

LEFT TO RIGHT: LINDSAY CRUDDAS, MICHAEL BAMFORD, JON MILLHOUSE AND RICHARD PIGOTT

Planning & Design announce new directors Planning & Design Practice Ltd has announced two new additions to its board of directors. Specialist conservation architect Lindsay Cruddas and chartered town planner Michael Bamford join Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) chartered town planners Richard Pigott, and Jon Millhouse as directors

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of the Derby-based team of town planning consultants, architects, and heritage specialists. Lindsay said: “The change in the company reinforces our practice core values that planning and architecture go hand-in-hand to make spaces better for the people who live in and use them. We are all excited to assist our clients in

developing new and exciting projects.” Michael added: “I am excited to be a part of the next chapter in the future of Planning & Design. We have seen considerable growth over the past two years within the Yorkshire region as well as across the country and I look forward to working with the team to continue to deliver projects we are proud of.”

Sheffield digital marketing agency The SEO Works has welcomed Nadine Warburton to its team as HR manager. Nadine, who previously ran HR at Split the Bills, will be responsible for driving The SEO Works’ people plan, talent attraction and overall HR procedures. She said: “The SEO Works’ has built a positive workplace culture and offers an attractive employee value proposition, but there is still a great deal of opportunity to own and develop this further, with the support of a people-focused leadership team. “We have lots of people-related projects on the horizon, including the acceleration of our apprenticeship programme, the review of our onboarding journey and the implementation of a HR Management System. Our people plan is going to keep us incredibly busy over the coming months and I can’t wait to get stuck in.” MD Ben Foster added: “Our people are our greatest asset, and we want to ensure we’re attracting the best candidates, as well as ensuring our team continues to feel valued and has opportunities to enhance their career with us. “Nadine’s past experience in a growing tech company really resonated with us and we’re delighted someone of her calibre has joined us during this crucial time of growth.”

Marcela Livingston, Leeds Founder of Sacpot

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Find out more and book an appointment at bipcsheffield@sheffield.gov.uk

sheffield.gov.uk/bipc @BIPCSheffiled

@bipcsheff

linkedin.com/in/bipc-sheffield

AGENDA

THE DIARY BY RICHARD FIDLER

Our editor says enjoy the summer break – and hit refresh for September

THE START OF A NEW CYCLE – OF POSITIVITY August is always a funny month anyway. Whether that is for businesses who are juggling staff because of holidays and childcare issues, or just in general – life in the summer peaks and then winds down at lightning speed with the new school year just over the horizon. In many ways I always think of September as the start of a new cycle. It’s a long four month push up to Christmas, the nights get darker, the weather turns colder and – in normal times – all there is to do is get your head down and crack on with work or education. But what of August? And in particular, this August. When I first started thinking about this column

the ‘ping-demic’ was in full flow. Whether that was from the actual dreaded app or just from close contact with a colleague, there were hundreds of thousands of healthy and active people isolating at home. But over the past couple of weeks – contrary to many expert predictions – case numbers have thankfully plummeted and hopefully the number of people affected overall, either with COVID-19, or close contacts, will continue to decline. It has made running a business a very stressful time. Even in my line of work, where people can quite happily work from their kitchen table, it has its difficulties. So, my heart goes out to the operations managers for the

likes of Supertram or other major transport operators like unLTD regular contributors South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. Equally, supermarkets and other businesses that are reliant on staff being present have been hammered hard. This isn’t to discuss the rights or the wrongs of the COVID-19 response. So much of the way we have dealt with the pandemic makes little or no sense, is open to hypocrisy, or just seems unnecessarily mean that I’ve given up trying to get into the heads of our political overlords. It’s more to highlight that what is always a tricky month to navigate, because of usual holiday absence, could potentially have been impossible if case numbers

hadn’t begun to fall. For me, this August is the last hurrah for the old COVID-19 ways. Next month the whole economy should be at full throttle. Schools will be back, universities (hopefully) will see students return – and shame on those who make students pay full fees but don’t allow them the full student experience – and businesses will have had time to adjust as the vast majority of us are now doublevaccinated. So, enjoy the final month of summer – take some time off, spend some time in the sun, do what you need to do to until restrictions change on August 16 and come back refreshed for the ‘new year’. We got this.

Got views of your own? Let me know: richard@unltdbusiness.com LinkedIn: Richard Fidler

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ADDING AN EXTRA DIMENSION TO DEEPER FINANCIAL PLANNING At Blue Wealth Capital, we believe passionately that high quality financial planning is about so much more than just money. Not just products For us, authentic financial planning is not just about financial products. We firmly believe that the primary focus of financial planning should be on what matters most: life. Because we have over fifty years combined experience in the fields of financial services and law (corporate and private client), we believe we have a unique skillset to help you plan at every stage of life, be it the birth of a child or grandchild, a marriage, a serious illness, the loss of a job (or a big promotion), or the death of a loved one and all that this may bring. Even if you consider yourself to be wealthy or on the journey to becoming wealthy you may still worry about money. It can cause angst, stress and

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emotional strain which then spill over into many other areas of life: your home life, your wider family, your relationships, your career and even your health. The stress that money brings is so often caused by the unknown – not knowing where to begin, or even if you are doing things right once you’ve started. No matter what stage you are at in life, our high quality financial planning will include comprehensive estate planning and well thought out tax planning, including bespoke trusts and wills, and lasting powers of attorney. Having all of these elements in place will ensure that you have a plan to discover what your goals are, to build wealth to achieve those goals, and to give you purpose, an increased sense of wellbeing, happiness and reassurance. An extra dimension Like any good business, we are constantly evolving and developing to serve you better.

We are therefore very excited to announce that our operations director, Fiona Shah, is the first person in South Yorkshire (and the first non-financial planner in the UK) to have been awarded the prestigious Certificate in Relational Financial Planning (CRFP). We believe that this accreditation adds an extra dimension to the high quality planning we currently provide and will enable us to work with you on a much deeper level than before. The CRFP is a qualification that enables us to help you see beyond assumptions and preconceptions that may have previously held you back. This results in financial plans that are inspirational and meaningful and don’t just ‘tick the boxes’. Having a plan of this nature will help you achieve the best possible outcomes. Experience it Just like a fantastic meal or an amazing film or play, the

best way to understand how we really differ (and may be what you are looking for) is to experience it. We will leave you with one of our favourite quotes: “If you don’t make the time to work on creating the life you want, you’re eventually going to be forced to spend a lot of time dealing with a life you don’t want”, by Kevin Ngo. Please contact us for a no obligation chat. Raj Shah is founder of Blue Wealth Capital and has been shortlisted for Financial Planner of the Year and Investment Adviser of the Year. Raj can be reached at: raj@bluewealthcapital.com Fiona Shah is operations director at Blue Wealth Capital. Fiona can be reached at: office@ bluewealthcapital.com www.bluewealthcapital.com

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LEGAL MATTERS

BY MATTHEW AINSCOUGH, BELL & BUXTON INCORPORATING IRONMONGER CURTIS The lawyer on ‘hot topics’ of commercial property litigation and employment tribunals

Rodgers

A LONG, HOT SUMMER… OF PROPERTY POSSESSIONS? Based on the impact of the pandemic, and experience of how businesses act during times of economic turbulence, we can assess what we might see in the dispute resolution sector in the coming months. We can expect to see increased litigation regarding a variety of contractual issues. During economic downturns, businesses often make the decision not to engage in disputes altogether, or ‘park’ the issue. Once finances improve, businesses can devote more resources to litigation. Commercial property litigation may become a hot topic. Currently, there is significant protection in place for business tenants. This may help to increase the number of litigated disputes if businesses feel more financially secure.

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Once the bar on evictions is lifted, we can expect to see an explosion of commercial property possession claims. Certain staff and businesses have become used to home working. Less office space will be required as more and more staff work remotely. We can expect to see potential issues between landlord and tenant surrounding renegotiation/ surrender of current leases. An unusual side effect of increased homeworking has been the number of enquiries we receive regarding neighbour disputes! Increased proximity to neighbours during the pandemic has not always been a positive. As homeworking seems likely to extend into the future, we can perhaps expect this to be a continuing trend. It is widely expected that

once restrictions are lifted there will be an increase in employment litigation. There are many areas of potential dispute in store for employers and employees when restrictions are lifted, which could potentially end up in an employment tribunal. The most contentious issue is likely to be the requirement to return to the office, with employers and employees locking horns over the issue of whether or not they should be permitted to continue to work from home (or vice versa). Other issues could include – whether the workplace is COVID-secure; if clinically vulnerable employees will be required to return to the office, and managing sickness absences, which could increase as a result of the lifting of all restrictions at a time when

the infection rate is also on the rise. The closure of the furlough scheme at the end of September 2021 is also likely to lead to an increase in redundancies, which could in turn lead to a spike in employment tribunal claims as employees try to challenge the lawfulness of the redundancy. Despite restrictions lifting, there is also likely to be continued use of remote tribunal hearings, in order to clear the backlog of cases, and deal with an influx of new cases, although in person hearings will be used for more complex cases such as discrimination. For further information contact m.ainscough@bellbuxton.co.uk or d.keeling@bellbuxton.co.uk, visit bellbuxton.co.uk or call 0114 2495969.

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Our columnist on building positive momentum for yourself and your business

FUN FACTS AND POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS – AND NO NEGATIVE NANCYS! This month is all about bringing out your positive pants and dancing round in them like no-one is watching. Or with an audience – depends if you’re quite the showman / woman or not! Let me ask you this, how easy is it to fall into the trap of focusing on what you can’t do and the tasks that you’re not too confident at? And it’s not that the focus is channelled in to learning or improving necessarily either – it’s usually in the form of procrastination and self-sabotage. What we want you to actually focus on is the flip side of what you usually would default your thinking to and focus on what you are good at. We want you to work to your strengths for the foreseeable and build some good, strong

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momentum for yourself and your business. This is by no means suggesting that you flippantly toss away all your weaker spots (perceived or otherwise). Weaker areas and the stuff we aren’t so good at are dealt with in a different way, but for now we are allowing your strengths to take centre stage. Build me up buttercup… Ask yourself – what am I good at? Don’t be shy, elevate yourself and be bloody well proud. List all of your strengths. Consider all areas of your life (personality traits, emotions, business, relationships, finances – it could even be a party trick that you have up your sleeve.) How do these strengths

benefit you? How do these strengths help others? Think of the impact and ripple effect you have. Allow yourself to be humble for a minute. Why is this important? To enable you to recognise yourself for what you can do, not what you think you can’t. Let’s work on facts not perception. You naturally give yourself a boost by sinking into this task alone, it builds confidence and helps you create positive pathways into your mindset. It’s not rose tinted, it’s not sugar coated, it’s based on you recognising and accepting yourself. Does it seem alien to do? We are definitely thinking so, because we aren’t as

used to being as kind and complimentary to ourselves, are we? A little bit sad, that really isn’t it? We would always lift, promote and pat someone else on the back but ooh no – when it comes to yourself, 'nah don’t get too much above your station, I’m going to tell you all the bad stuff that will paralyse you from achieving what you are capable of'. That’s a negative Nancy inner dialogue example right there! Well... NOT ON OUR WATCH. Starting now! Enjoy the task and relish in celebrating #youfirst. helpingentrepreneurswin.com

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SKILLS

SKILLS FOCUS

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

SUCCESS, DETERMINATION, AND NEW DIRECTIONS The Source Skills Academy has something App-y to celebrate! Ten of its talented apprentices have been shortlisted in the Sheffield City Region Apprenticeship Awards. They are finalists across six hotly contested categories. Three are in the running for the coveted Rising Star Award and a city business which The Source has successfully placed seven apprentices with is up for SME Employer of the Year. Medical and Legal Admin Services (MLAS) provides administration and logistics services for expert witnesses in court cases and has found young apprentices bring a new dimension to its team. The finals are on September 23 and The Source is sponsoring the night’s Kickstart/ Apprenticeship Award. “On the evening we aim to show businesses and apprentices how we nurture talent and are determined to help the region overcome the

TOP TEN - THE SOURCE'S APPRENTICES SHORTLISTED FOR AWARDS

challenges of the pandemic,” said Dale Robinson, director of business development. Since launching in 2003 The Source has got thousands into work via apprenticeships, traineeships, and training, and delivered numerous government-funded programmes to businesses. It has also hosted thousands of

events, attracting more than a million visitors. The Source has recently rebranded and restructured, making it easier for businesses and individuals to access help. Community and training work has been strengthened with a new Adult Learning and Community Team now running programmes such as Steps Into

Work through the Skills Support for Employment contract, Skills Support for the Workforce and Commercial Training including First Aid and Health and Safety. Sector-based recruitment academies have also been set up to get more people into jobs in hospitality, care, admin, warehousing, sales/marketing and IT.

LONGLEY STUDENTS TO HEAR IT FROM THE SOURCE Longley College students will be getting careers help and support from The Source when they return to school in September. A registered charity, the training academy has helped thousands across South Yorkshire’s disadvantaged communities. It will be one of several leading businesses providing World of Work visits for

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Longley’s 16-18s via Sheffield Business Together (SBT) and Sheffield Chamber’s educational outreach campaign to raise attainment, aspiration and work readiness through employer encounters and workplace visits. Research shows four or more encounters with an employer makes young people 86 per cent less likely to become NEETs (Not In Employment

Education or Training). Dale Robinson, The Source's director of business development, said: “I’m a member of the Chamber Council and know how much good work is being done to help the city through the pandemic. “We want to support this important initiative. Young people’s education and prospects have been hard-hit. We urge other businesses to

get involved in World Of Work too.” Carolynn McConnell, SBT’s education lead said: “The Source is our first training academy to work with Longley students. Its people can offer a huge amount of knowledge on training schemes and apprenticeships.” Contact SBT at carolynn. mcconnell@bitc.org.uk or sbt@vas.org.uk

COVER STORY

BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RESEARCH:

OUR SOUTH YORKSHIRE

SURVEY SAID... Barnsley & Rotherham, Doncaster, and Sheffield Chambers plan to break new ground with an expansion of their flagship research, the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), by running high-profile ‘business citizens assemblies’ and also publicly submitting their leaders to regular ‘Ask Your Chamber Anything’ grillings. In this issue, we publish the very first Ask Us Anything questions from unLTD readers, and the South Yorkshire Chamber leaders’ answers, in a bid to help make our region become the UK's model for strong private sector-civic leadership.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

COVER STORY

LOUISA HARRISON-WALKER

The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) ties all this together because it’s the highest-profile poll of business sentiment in the city region. The South Yorkshire Chambers want to encourage more businesses to fill out the QES and aim to double the number of responses this year. It’s open to member and non-member businesses to participate. Louisa Harrison-Walker, coexecutive director at Sheffield Chamber, said: “The QES is the highest profile temperature check of business confidence and performance in the region. The results shape the decisions made by local politicians. The survey helps make sure the SCR Mayor hears the business voice. “The survey from local businesses also impacts on

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national policy-making. The data and insights we get from the QES is passed to the British Chambers of Commerce and forms part of the largest and most influential private sector survey of business conditions in the country. The results are sought after by policymakers in the heart of government and used by the Bank of England to inform decisions and changes that are made to interest rates.” Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: “The South Yorkshire Chambers have broken new ground with plans to enhance their regular survey of their members. The proposals will bring together experienced and committed businesspeople to look at and assess the issues of the day and submit balanced feedback.

ANDREW DENNIFF

“The view of our businesses in influencing the regional environment has never been more important. We find ourselves in a pivotal position for our region’s economy refocusing after the COVID-19 pandemic and the wide-ranging impact of EU transition. “The future must focus on getting product to market, effective business planning and adapting to new challenges. This is reflected in our most recent QES results, which highlighted growing concerns around pricing pressures, availability in skilled labour and the impact of government intervention.” Doncaster Chamber CEO, Dan Fell explained: “We want people to think of South Yorkshire as a place where employers are really hard-wired into decision making and civic life.

“The QES is a key channel for business leaders to reach policy and decision makers in local and national government and to play their part in shaping the region’s economic future. All three South Yorkshire Chambers are working together to get more businesses engaged with this and, ultimately, to ensure more firms – including those that don’t always shout the loudest – get their voices heard. “We aim to double the number of responses this year – there’s strength in numbers. The more of the region’s business leaders we have involved, the better the evidence base. That way we can ensure that local, regional and national decision makers sit up and listen to what we have to say.”

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COVER STORY

er m ALEXIS KRACHAI

WHY NOW? Increasingly, decisions that shape the destiny of local firms are taken at the South Yorkshire level, through the Mayoral Combined Authority and its supporting structures. Chambers are working together on this basis too, using joint initiatives like the QES and the forthcoming business citizens assemblies to project their collective voice. Business engagement in civic life and the decisions that shape their environment has never been more important. We are in a major change moment for the UK and South Yorkshire economies from both the pandemic and postBrexit transition trade rules. COVID-19 has the potential to alter the relationships that businesses have with places in the years ahead. From high streets to industrial parks, evolving patterns of work, education and consumer life will raise new questions about the

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DAN FELL

infrastructure and skills that we need – and how we configure places like town and city centres to thrive in this new era. The continuing input of businesses, with their frontline perspective, is essential for positioning our city region in the vanguard of successful places post-COVID. Sheffield Chamber’s Louisa Harrison-Walker said: “From our next survey, which goes live later this month on August 23, we invite businesses to get involved and put forward questions for future Ask Us Anything features in this magazine. “Collectively, the South Yorkshire Chambers want to focus on the issues that are front and centre on your mind and respond to questions that are important to you.” Alexis Krachai, co-executive director of Sheffield Chamber, added: “Our local politicians need data and insight to help them make decisions on policies that will help local

businesses to be successful and sustainable. “Making sure politicians know what businesses are thinking about is one of the Chambers’ key priorities. That is why the three Chambers are working together to amplify the collective business voice in our region.” Doncaster Chamber’s Dan Fell continued: “The lasting legacy of the pandemic is yet to be fully seen, never mind understood. It’s clear there’s much more that will play out before we can consider ourselves to be nearing the end. “What we have started to, and continue to, see though is a change in how we do business and the things customers and staff value. We’re also seeing changing relationships between businesses and the communities and places they are based. “From urban centres to industrial parks, we’re seeing an evolution in ways of working, education and

training, and consumer behaviour. New questions are being raised about the infrastructure and skills we will need in the years to come, and the ways in which we’ll adapt our town and city centres to be able to thrive in this new era. “By engaging in the conversation now, and sharing your perspective from the frontline, we can all join together to position South Yorkshire as well as we possibly can in the vanguard of successful places in the postCOVID era. “The phrase ‘build back better’ has been used relentlessly over the last six months and sometimes rings pretty hollow with businesses. If we’re going to ‘build back better’ in South Yorkshire then we need to double down on the relationship that exists between businesses and places, and ensure our business community is more involved than ever in decisionmaking and civic life.”

COVER STORY

ON THE TRANSITION TO NET ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND THE ROLE FOR COMMUNITY INITIATIVE… “Like other businesses, St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield is working to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact. We face many complex issues, which include the conversion of our services for the move to electric vehicles – we have 20 nurses on the road each day – and the need to generate more of our own power in servicing our 24-hour operations. “How is the regional economy gearing up to support us and others in making these changes, and what will the balance be between centralised programmes versus support for local collective initiatives, such as community energy projects?” Peter Hartland, St Luke’s Hospice

Alexis Krachai, co-executive director of Sheffield Chamber: “It is inspiring that St Luke’s is taking action to reduce its environmental impact. Every individual and every organisation has a role to play in building a low carbon economy and moving to net zero. “As we wake up to the climate emergency our regional economy is already responding. Every day customers and clients are demanding new sustainable products and solutions. Large and small businesses are innovating and thinking about new ways of combatting climate change. The marketplace is waking up to the value of going green. “Decarbonising our economy is still going to take billions and billions of pounds to help businesses and households to make the changes they need to

make. That type of financial firepower can only come from central government working alone or in partnership with private institutional investors. “If we have any chance of success, we will need massive, centralised programmes that can be tailored to local needs. That is why the Sheffield City Region’s recently published 20-year Strategic Economic Strategy is so important. The strategy has a clear objective to move our local economy to net zero by 2041 and provides a framework for how we can decarbonise it, too. “The government must consider regional plans like ours and then develop centralised programmes that meet the needs for local economies. They also need to devolve money and power to local areas so we can develop local programmes that respond to the precise needs of our economy.”

ON TRENDS IN ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND CLOSING THE GAP WITH THE UK... "How are we going to solve the ‘productivity puzzle’ on a local/regional level – without losing jobs?" Kurt Ewald Lindley, Be More Learning & Development Louisa Harrison-Walker, coexecutive director of Sheffield Chamber: “Growth in local and regional productivity doesn’t need to lead to overall job losses. The introduction of new business models and technological innovations are driving the requirement for new skills. We are already seeing evidence of this future economy in South Yorkshire in the results from our Quarterly Economic Survey. “The insights provided by businesses regionally are showing historically

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

COVER STORY

high rates of difficulty in recruiting technical staff. Despite all the challenges faced by businesses over the past 18 months the labour markets remain tight with unemployment low across the country. But it’s also a sign that, now, more than ever, businesses need to retool and upskill their workforces to address the productivity puzzle. “The South Yorkshire Chambers, along with key strategic partners and stakeholders have recently positioned South Yorkshire as a trailblazer area for the governments new Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) initiative. The LSIP puts businesses at the heart of the skills agenda. The focus will be on South Yorkshire as we undertake this important pilot work to develop the blueprint that will then roll out across the country.

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“For this to be successful we need our businesses to get involved. Together, we can work on and address the productivity issues in our region through developing a smart local skills improvement plan that cracks the productivity puzzle.”

ON SUPPORTING GROWTH IN THE DIGITAL SECTOR... "How are the Chambers and business support organisations supporting the growth of digital businesses in the Sheffield City Region?" Gemma Daniels, Hydra Creative Louisa Harrison-Walker, Co-Executive Director of Sheffield Chamber: “The growth potential of our digital businesses across the region is massive. Business organisations like

the Chamber are waking up to the potential that new digital businesses can offer to supercharge our economy. We need to be bold, and we need to be ambitious. Why can’t Sheffield City Region be the Silicon Valley of Europe? “We have been active in calling for Sheffield City Council to deliver targeted support that is tailored to our digital industry. We know that our digital businesses can generate large numbers of sustainable and long-term jobs for young people who have grown up in a digital world. “Our support goes beyond championing the digital sector. We know we need to better connect our digital businesses with existing support schemes. We know there is support out there, but the challenge is understanding what is on offer to businesses that need support to grow. Seeing

the wood for the trees is sometimes too difficult. “That said, there is lots of support out there. The Sheffield Innovation Programme is a prime example of the support on offer which is being led and delivered by Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Sheffield, and Sheffield City Region Growth Hub. In addition, there are savings to be made for innovative companies through the R&D Tax Relief scheme. “We have developed a strong partnership and offer to help businesses navigate this process and maximise their claims. Collaboration starts with a conversation – talk to us to find out what support is on offer. Tell us what digital businesses need to flourish. The job of the Chambers is to keep innovating and to do all that we can to support every digital business in our region.”

COVER STORY

ON BUSINESSES FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS OF OFFICIAL SUPPORT MEASURES DURING THE PANDEMIC... “Many people in my network, including myself, feel like they have fallen through the cracks when it comes to funding and support. This may be because we are the “Forgotten Limited”, or affected by the pandemic but not closed, or non-qualifying because we are a new business trading from home – maybe all three. “As any change in government policy seems unlikely, what support can the chamber specifically offer to these particular businesses to ensure that opportunities to access help (financial or otherwise) are not missed?” Jo Dawson, Dawson Radford Solicitors Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: “Since the start of

the pandemic and the introduction of government funding for business we have always been aware that, while the support for those that receive it was welcome, there were always going to be challenges for those businesses who did not meet the criteria, through no fault of their own. “As a Chamber we have worked with local authorities to try and make sure as many as possible can benefit from the support on offer and also pushed for greater flexibility in the awarding of discretionary grants. We are, however, well aware that, among others, new start-ups and the selfemployed have experienced specific issues and we will continue to do as much as we can to support them. “Throughout, the Chambers have lobbied government to prioritise easy and quick access to support over other considerations like meanstesting. We have had some success in campaigning for support, such as widening the

availability of loan schemes and extending furlough last autumn. “But we know that some continued to miss out, especially new limited companies, and will continue to call for support as needed as the economy reopens. “Companies with short financial histories miss out on a lot, not just government schemes. There are also favourable payment terms with suppliers and access to finance more generally. For director-owned businesses, these barriers can extend into the personal financial lives of their founders. “We help with the member services that ease the cost burden for new businesses, for instance with our affinity schemes on business insurance, legal services and HR.”

of out-of-town shopping and online/direct shopping – a decline hastened by the lockdowns of the last 18 months. “There is an obvious impact on retail but also on other businesses in city and town centres. “Sheffield can seem quite destitute and frightening, it is expensive to park and difficult sometimes to find your way around if you are unfamiliar with the one-way systems. “What should city-based businesses do? Should they move out of town to premises that are often more modern, lower leases and cost less or stay and decline with the retail sector?” Charles Neal, Bell and Buxton Solicitors

ON THE FUTURE OF HIGH STREETS Andrew Denniff, chief AND TOWN CENTRES… executive of Barnsley & “The last decade or so has seen a decline in the high street/town centres in favour

Rotherham Chamber, said: “Town centres and high streets across the country have all seen significant declines in

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

COVER STORY

both footfall and retail spend. Once thriving places often seem bland and unattractive, such is the impact of alternate retail technology and changing customer habits. “The pandemic and subsequent lockdown has simply added to the challenges and obstacles, particularly in the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors. Many towns such as Barnsley and Rotherham have implemented huge regeneration programmes, focusing on the future and what can be achieved, rather than harking back to ‘the good old days’. “Times change and we have to be innovative and creative, with the emphasis on recognising opportunities and being in tune with the demands and expectations of the modern consumer, while recognising and reflecting traditions and heritage. "Ultimately all businesses must do what is best for their commercial model. But we believe strongly thriving town and city centres are important,

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

not just to our economic health, but the region’s social fabric, too. “It’s true the pandemic accelerated the de-coupling of online from high-street retailing with click-and-collect and in-store ordering declining in importance as more people worked from home to receive deliveries. Many consumer trends now favour 'clicks' over 'bricks' for certain products. “But places have always been adaptable, and we expect other forms of commerce to flourish instead – more hospitality, co-working and entertainment spaces, for instance. Plus, some retailers continue to do well including those selling perishables and where close interaction is important to buying decisions.”

ON RETURNING TO THE OFFICE… "With the pandemic hopefully coming to a close, how is SCR going to support businesses in getting staff back to offices to promote collaboration and wellbeing in the workplace?

Is this going to be part of the overall strategy for rejuvenating the SCR town centres which have been heavily hit in hospitality and retail during the pandemic?" Matt Travis, Enzygo Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: “While I understand the sentiment of the question, it is important to also recognise in the medium term we are going to have to live with COVID-19. “The SCR strategy, from my own perspective, should be to ensure we encourage business to re-open. But we must also be mindful of the need to retain correct procedures around health and risk management. Businesses in general have been very resilient but there must be continued funding to support them if restrictions remain in place and far greater flexibility in terms of loan repayments, business rate relief and enhanced discretion around

continuing support packages wherever appropriate. “However, a clear strategy and direction of travel for our town centres has to be established and adhered to, so that everyone understands the ‘end game’ and how they can contribute to its success. “Timing is important– the pandemic still has the capacity to surprise and official guidance for business has not been as clear as it could be, and the Chambers are working with government behind the scenes to resolve this." Practical things we can do to support a return to work and sales spaces include: • Flexing public transport provision to accommodate new patterns of commuting, education, and consumer life • Continued flexibility in planning and development control around use of space • Continued forbearance, financial support and flexibilities for rate payers • Clear local guidance where gaps in guidelines exist.

COVER STORY

ON HOW BUSINESSES CAN WORK WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE… "Young people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. More than a million young people are unemployed, the highest number since records began. During the pandemic the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector has risen to the challenge and provided value services during lockdown to communities filling gaps in statutory and commercial provision for young people. How will the business

sector look to continue this valuable role, and develop its relationships with the VCSE going forward, both as a substantial employer in the region and provider of services, to ensure the sector plays a key role in the future skills agenda?" Ruth Ellis, South Yorkshire Community Foundation Dan Fell, CEO of Doncaster Chamber, said: “Improving job prospects and opportunities for young people and having a strong and thriving voluntary sector are two subjects close to my heart and key priorities for Doncaster Chamber.

If the pandemic results in long term economic scarring for the younger generation, then – bluntly – there will have been a failure of collective leadership in our region. “Our voluntary sector can be a big part of the solution when it comes to tackling youth unemployment. I would also like to see other sectors like the arts community more heavily involved in providing solutions for the region’s young people. The VCSE sector, in its many and wonderful guises, can reach communities and support people to develop skills in ways that, sometimes, cannot be matched by bigger and more formal learning establishments.

As such, the region’s policy makers must think deeply about how the talent and resource in the sector can be utilised to help deliver South Yorkshire’s Renewal Action Plan. “My experience of doing business in South Yorkshire is that its institutions and leaders are actually pretty accessible and very open to collaboration. As such, I would urge colleagues in the voluntary sector not to wait for permission from the region’s institutions but, instead, to come forward with ideas and solutions they can bring to the table. “Finally, I’ve been awed by how generously our business community has continued

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COVER STORY

to support charities and the VCSE sector throughout the pandemic, often despite the pressing commercial challenges that have characterised so many sectors. I know the high regard the region’s business leaders have for the VCSE sector and can only see those connections deepening and strengthening in the months and years ahead as we all collaborate to rebuild our economy.”

ON THE THREAT OF FUTURE COVID-RELATED RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS… "With the threat of increased COVID-19 restrictions over the winter being proposed by the

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government, how important is it that government performs proper cost/benefit analysis of these restrictions to ensure the impact on local businesses is ascertained before they are implemented?" Scott Burkinshaw, Shorts Dan Fell, CEO of Doncaster Chamber, said: “At various times this last 17 months, the government has been portrayed as needing to make binary choices between the health of communities and the health of the economy. “I believe this is a false dichotomy and we will not solve the economic crisis and return

to sustainable growth until the health crisis is under control. Of course, I would sincerely hope that a proper cost / benefits analysis and options appraisal is produced whenever the government makes a decision about millions of people's lives and livelihoods. “The pandemic has been around for a long time now and the government knows all too well how beleaguered some sectors are feeling. Furthermore, No. 10 has had plenty of time to learn from previous mistakes and to avoid exasperating businesses again with U-turns, late decisions, gaps in support, and mixed messages.

“Therefore, if further restrictions do become necessary in the autumn and winter, it is vitally important that the government acts with clarity and pace and also responds with targeted and generous support for affected businesses. The Chamber network will be holding them to account on that! “However, we must – collectively – do all we can to avoid further lockdowns as they would, undoubtedly, and very sadly, result in more business failures and job losses. Ultimately, there is no support intervention the government can offer that is as good as a fully open and competitive economy.”

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STOP. TAKE STOCK. AND PLAN FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY. Business never stops. There is always the next challenge. The next meeting. The next opportunity. Being successful involves moving forward but sometimes it is so important to do nothing more than to sit still, pause and reflect.

It is so easy for the extraordinary to become the ordinary. We have been and continue to live through a moment in history never seen before. There have been pandemics in the past but none like this. COVID-19 is the first pandemic in a global age. Many sectors in our economy have been hit hard by the impact of restrictions, but equally businesses of all types have shown amazing ingenuity in keeping things going while the world has stopped to fight a new virus. Sometimes it pays to sit down and marvel at what so many have achieved up against previously unimaginable challenges.

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In Sheffield many have come together like never before. At the Chamber our members have played a central role in helping the city shape a Business Recovery Plan. Sheffield Business Together is putting businesses in touch with charities every minute of every day to help address many of the challenges our communities face across the city. The daily hubbub of emails and conversations sometimes masks the simple wonder that in a crisis, people come together to help each other out. Thinking about what we have lived through and what we continue to live through is so important. There is nothing

wrong with taking a moment to sit silently, collect your thoughts and to decide what to do next. Why? Because just around the corner is the next challenge and the next opportunity. For many in the Chamber community, there will be no let-up during August. Many businesses need to make up for lost time. Some cannot slowdown in the face of unprecedented demand for new products and services invented during the pandemic. That said, for many August will again be the traditional month when we hope to get away, to take a break and spend time with family and friends.

If you can, take that break. Find some time to do nothing more than to sit and think. Why? Because business never stops. There is always the next challenge. The next meeting. The next opportunity. We will all need to be rested and at our best to be successful in the weeks, months, and years ahead. This pandemic is not over but together we are showing what we can achieve when we stick together.

ADVERTORIAL

POST-BREXIT

TRADING GUIDE Now that Brexit has taken effect, businesses which trade internationally need to find solutions on how they can continue to operate. Brightfinch’s Holly Tonge answers some common questions around the challenges of the current trading environment.

Why does a business have to pay duty on goods it imported from the EU? Firstly, it might be that the supplier has not provided a preferential statement or other evidence in their commercial documentation that the goods are eligible for the EU-UK trade deal – which means the customs broker may treat them as ‘rest of world’ goods where third country duty rates are applicable. Since Brexit, we have seen this happen regularly and it means that the importer may be paying unnecessary duties due to lack of knowledge on the exporter’s part. Secondly, it might be that the goods do not qualify

for the UK-EU trade deal. To qualify, the goods must meet preferential rules of origin. This is usually a percentage of the goods value which must have originated in the UK or EU, such as materials and labour (the rule or percentage depends on the type of goods being traded). What evidence is needed to claim the lower rate of duty under the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement? A statement on the invoice from the exporter is accepted as evidence. If the exporter is from the EU and the value of the goods is more than €6000, a Registered Exporter Status

(REX) number is needed to make the statement valid. This is evidenced on the customs declaration using a U110 code. Another form of evidence, known as importer knowledge, is also available. This allows importers who are certain the goods meet the preferential rules of origin to hold and supply their own evidence. This is evidenced on the customs declaration using a U112 code.

which will be re-exported, wholesalers and retailers can use customs ‘bonded’ warehousing. This means goods can be stored in a customs-approved warehouse to avoid paying those import taxes, and there is no time limit for the storage of the goods. We are currently seeing a big uptake in applications for customs warehousing. If the goods are going to be processed or repaired by the importer before being reWhat if I am importing exported, inward processing goods from the EU which are can be used to suspend import dutiable, but plan to re-export duty in a similar fashion. This them? approval permits processing To avoid paying customs duty of the goods whilst they are and import VAT on goods under customs control.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

ADVERTORIAL

An authorisation is needed to use inward processing more than three times a year.

globally recognised threeletter acronyms – such as EXW, FCA and DDP – which prevent confusion in trade contracts by clarifying a split of responsibilities between the seller and the buyer. There are 11 Incoterms under the lasted edition, Incoterms 2020. The terms cover the risk, obligation and cost arrangements between the parties. For example, cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) terms indicate the seller must deliver the goods to a designated port, load them on a specified vessel, and pay all transportation, insurance and loading costs. Incoterms form part of a commercial agreement between buyer and seller, and therefore there is no right and wrong. Ultimately it is for each party to decide what obligations, costs and risks they are willing to accept.

What if I am exporting goods for processing or repair which I plan to re-import? In the same way that inward processing benefits importers, outward processing benefits exporters who are planning to re-import goods which have been processed or repaired. The exporter can benefit from duty-free or reduced duty using this method when re-importing goods. An authorisation is needed to use outward processing more than three times a year. My overseas client has rejected my shipment – what is the return process? If a customer has a shipment rejected, the UK exporter can claim returned goods relief when re-importing to avoid paying duty and VAT. To do this, the UK company needs the original UK export entry number, which is why record-keeping is very important when trading goods internationally. What are my responsibilities now I am classed as an importer/exporter? In most cases when you use a customs broker, they act under direct representation meaning you are solely liable for the accuracy of the declaration made in your name. HMRC can backdate fines and demands for taxes for up to three years, so one incorrect tariff code or valuation omission applied repeatedly

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HOLLY TONGE

on imports can lead to significant issues. It is important to obtain, check and retain all declarations and supporting commercial paperwork – we recommend this is stored for a minimum of six years. How do I know if my goods require an import or export licence? Any goods which require a licence will be identified by reference to the commodity

code in the UK tariff. If you require a licence, it will be stated under import or export controls. However, controls for some goods are only applicable in certain circumstances, so it’s best to check with the relevant licence department before making any assumptions. How do I select the right Incoterms? Incoterms, or International Commercial Terms, are

Where do I find more information? The gov.uk website contains up-to-date information on importing and exporting, but we recommend using a consultant to ensure you are compliant with the latest regulations. At Brightfinch, we offer handson assistance with customs authorisations, compliance and training. Our free telephone consultation service enables us to find out what your business needs are and how we can assist you. To set up a consultation, contact the Sheffield office on 0114 3210165.

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ADVERTORIAL

ONLINE AUCTIONS:

A LOWDOWN Sam Harris, area manager at Auction House South Yorkshire shares with unLTD why the high prices and ‘ideal doer upper’ lots make auction the ‘best route to sell your property at the best price possible in the shortest period of time’.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role… I am the area manager for Auction House South Yorkshire and my role centres around the procurement of new business via various new business activities. This includes performing appraisals for any potential auction lots, building relationships with clients, partner estate agents and personal introducers, while managing a small team and any other duties as required. I’ve been within the property sector for more than a decade now and have really enjoyed getting my teeth into this role and being a figurehead for the South Yorkshire business and the phenomenal success we have experienced since the region was re-launched in 2019. What is driving Auction House South Yorkshire as a route for buying and selling property in the region? I believe vendors have become increasingly frustrated with the traditional private treaty route of sale, largely due to lengthy timescales and an often-frustrating conveyancing process! These vendors have quite rightly realised selling their property quickly via auction, allowed them to still achieve the best price possible, as

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SAM HARRIS, AREA MANAGER AT AUCTION HOUSE

well as providing additional certainty and security. This is due to the buyer being required to immediately exchange contracts and pay a ten per cent deposit post auction, which minimises the risk of the sale not completing. The number of buyers purchasing via auction is increasing substantially – probably due to the speed of purchase process – and, if they are successful on the day, have secured the property without being outbid. What kinds of properties do best in an auction environment? And which don’t suit the environment quite so well? Ahh – the age-old question as

to what represents a ‘suitable’ auction property! In my experience, the vast majority are, and the most successful lots tend to be those ‘requiring improvement’ – the number of buyers interested in these has increased dramatically. We are increasingly seeing first time buyers, novice property developers and new landlords bidding, alongside the more ‘traditional’ buyers that include builders and experienced developers. This creates a very competitive bidding environment and ensures we achieve the best price for our vendors which can often match or even exceed their perceived market value.

Share your recent successes! Our current success rate is over 95 per cent for our livestream auctions to date which is fantastic! Of our many recent success stories, my favourite is 32 Passhouses Road in Sheffield, as due to the owner’s circumstances, they needed to utilise the proceeds from the sale to fund care bills for a family member. This meant I felt a personal responsibility to ensure the property achieved as much as possible at auction. The house was an ideal ‘doer upper’ and further benefited from recent investment such as a new roof and boiler as well as a convenient location in Pitsmoor. This ensured potential buyers could minimise improvement costs and instead spend money on the cosmetic work, rather than a full makeover (arguably the more enjoyable part of property development!) We were proud to have achieved a final sale price of £83,000 for the vendor – more than doubling the guide price of £40,00-£50,000! If someone is thinking of selling at auction, what are your top tips? Contact us directly to discuss your options – auction is definitely the best route to sell your property at the best price possible in the shortest period of time!

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LAUNCHPAD

INPUT 4 LIFESTYLE Personal trainer and social entrepreneur Daryl Cauvin shares how Launchpad is helping him with his new ‘active’ and ‘positive’ Doncaster based Community Interest Company (CIC). Tell us about your company? My organisation is a new start up CIC operating in Doncaster which aims to offer a support timetable of sessions and activities focusing primarily on physical exercise, fitness and sports, mental health and substance recovery workshops and formal and informal listening services called ‘Offloading’. This would ideally suit local residents and workers who are currently attending local services to seek help regarding mental ill health or/and substance recovery. This assists people’s chances of maintaining recovery momentum by offering weekly attendance with me in group physical activities, exercise and sports games. We have focused on having a good time in a relaxed and informal setting, as opposed to taking a serious and often daunting attitude towards getting fit. In addition, I run recovery workshops which focus on providing useful tools, tips and techniques and ‘Offloading’ sessions which allows the individual to talk about their current stresses or concerns, with the aim of releasing it out into the open. When did you first decide to start up on your own and what inspired you? I first thought about this over five years ago when attending local services for my own mental health and drug and

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as that may be, these are some of my organisation’s values. My ethos for recovery: Be active, stay positive, feel alive.

DARYL CAUVIN

alcohol recovery. I survived a serious suicide event and ended up in a jail cell where I was offered an opportunity to seek help for my drug and alcohol issues. After attending a sports leadership programme run by Doncaster Rovers education staff, Sam Parkin, I realised how essential group activities were and rediscovered my enthusiasm for health and fitness. What are your hopes and aims for the business? I hope to become a wellknown and reputable social enterprise which primarily

offers peer-to-peer support as well as professional collaborations to support people in their most daunting and lonely times. Launchpad is helping me network with other likeminded organisations and charities by offering free attendance on webinars related to setting up and running not-for-profits. I genuinely believe recovery is possible and, due to my lived experience, that togetherness, compassion, respect and integrity are the key ingredients which make the taste of recovery seem positively addictive. As corny

Launchpad advisor Debbie Richardson said: “It’s been great working with Daryl on the Launchpad Programme to grow and develop his new business. He’s found our workshops really useful and shows a real passion for his business. “We look forward to working with him further and wish him continued success. “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.” Launchpad is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund meaning there is no cost to the entrepreneur, so we can get straight to work on turning those dreams into reality.

ADVERTORIAL

TRIPLEPS DEVELOPS APP TO DELIVER ON NATASHA’S LAW In October 2021, the UK Food Information Amendment will be introduced into law requiring on-site food sellers to provide customers with full ingredient lists and allergen information on all pre-packaged food items. The team at TriplePs share with unLTD the system they have developed which can be installed and ready for the changes in regulation. What is Natasha’s Law? In October 2021, the UK Food Information Amendment will be introduced into law requiring on-site food sellers to provide customers with full ingredient lists and allergen information on all pre-packaged food items. It is known as Natasha’s Law following the death of the 15-year-old who suffered a reaction to food sold at Heathrow Airport. The challenge is to go further. The food services industry – restaurants, takeaways, mobile and event catering – has, according to the latest published figures for 2018, a combined annual turnover of £73billion. This means there is a substantial risk due to the amount of food prepared and sold. After reviewing the risks and problems, our development team have tackled the challenge head on. TriplePs are used to solving problems, and have been developed a system

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which can be installed and ready for October 2021.

of the food service industry and its customers.

How can the TriplePs Food Ordering Service help make it safer for the customer? The common approach to the law is to include additional information on the product labels. However, this still puts the emphasis on customers taking responsibility for identifying potential allergens. The TriplePs approach is an app which allows customers to order food and match it against their pre-loaded allergen information, coupled with the capture of ingredients by the restaurant or takeaway as they setup their menu. This alerts the customer at the point of ordering of the potential risk to health, and prevents the order being placed.

The benefits are: • Delivering the best customer and guest experience is at the heart of self-service experience – our solution offers a flexibility unmatched by other providers. • Flexibility is at its core with the provision of tablets for at-table ordering and frontof-house kiosks along with customer device ordering options. • The kitchen is the engine of any food organisation. We have a range of products to assist, from touch screen monitors and printers to simple tablets for smaller retail operations. • Worried about existing apps and customer base? TriplePs have the capability to integrate into existing systems, which means fewer changes. We know customers appreciate consistency.

What are the benefits to both customers and the food service industry? Our solution has been designed to help make things safer and better for all sectors

• Cost reductions – our serverless cloud solution is at the forefront of technology, helping to make our solution super competitive, highly accessible and secure. Is it for you? If your organisation prepares food for sale on site, you run a restaurant, takeaway with onsite tables, a works canteen, hospital kitchen, school meals service, event meal service, small kiosks – then yes it is. Our aim is help purchasing food stay safe for customers, while using what we do best with innovation to improve quality, efficiency, and value. We are offering incentives for orders in August and September in preparation for the law in October 2021. Contact us for a chat via our website: triplepsltd.com or give us a call on 01226 449600. Further information on Natasha’s Law can be found at www.natashas-law.com

SUCCESS STORY

CC33 COMPANY CULTURE

SPECIAL It’s been CC33’s most successful year since business began back in 2015 and the Sheffield-based firm now boasts more than 550 staff and over 30 blue chip clients. unLTD’s Jade March caught up with MD Paul Fletcher to find out how promoting a positive workplace culture is part of the winning solution for success. CC33 was founded by former unLTD cover star Paul Fletcher in 2015 after he worked in the call centre industry for more than 20 years. Paul worked his way up through the ranks and set up centres in South Africa before setting up on his own in Sheffield.

In 2015, Paul decided the time was right to establish a more boutique and techenabled contact centre in Sheffield – and CC33 became a reality. Over the last six years since the firm was established, CC33 has continued to grow and

flourish and now employs more than 550 people across its Sheffield and Rotherham offices. The company is committed to not only going above and beyond for clients but is dedicated to creating a positive workplace where

individuals feel valued. The firm offers competitive job packages for staff which include a fixed salary, a generous annual leave allowance, team incentives, and comprehensive training and progression opportunities. CC33 is committed to

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SUCCESS STORY providing excellent employee benefits and has a robust internal engagement programme to ensure people reach their true potential. All employees follow the company’s ‘Dependability, Respect, Innovation, Value, Efficiency’ (DRIVE) value system and use it in every client interaction, every day. CC33 tailor services in a way that is both beneficial to staff and bespoke to clients. A smaller team of agents is assigned to each Team Leader which in turn means specific 1-1 attention. This way of working helps the agent’s development and performance and helps ensure costs are significantly lowered for clients. The team find that adopting a culture of close, attentive communication is mirrored in their relationship with clients and they can be more responsive. Priding themselves in creating a positive workplace, CC33 operates in a way that helps staff thrive. They believe in creating long-term careers for their people and work hard to create an environment that is positive, fulfilling and provides opportunity for growth and progression. CC33’s high staff retention rate is a testament to providing excellent work opportunities for team members. Many employees progress quickly within the company, are regularly rewarded, and become part of the CC33 family. Paul said: “We are firm believers in rewarding our staff and will never overlook hard work. Every month we offer fantastic incentives to our highest-achieving employees. We’re also committed to encouraging staff to thrive in their interests outside work, as well as in the workplace. Whatever your out-of-work passion, we want to support it. “We’ve also just launched a new employee benefits package for all staff which includes a free gym membership, mobile phone contract and Sky TV.” Paul’s passion for people and providing excellent

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services is second to none. He thrives in the office space and being around people. His infectious positivity is felt amongst the staff teams across the offices and by implementing a strong work ethic himself he is able to use his past experience to inspire his teams. Paul said: “When we set up back in 2015, I had a vision of creating not only a successful business but a workplace where people can thrive and have a real career opportunity. I wanted to break down the stigma around call centre jobs and I wanted to curb the belief that our jobs are just ‘stop gaps’ or a steppingstone to something else. “We have plenty of examples of people who have joined us as telesales agents and are now senior members of the team. We offer fantastic benefits, opportunities for

We are firm believers in rewarding our staff and will never overlook hard work.

bonuses, and promote a friendly and hardworking atmosphere that everyone feels welcome in.” Team manager Nathan Wilson started out as a sales apprentice more than eight years ago and has since gone from strength to strength. He oversees a team of 18, provides specialist training and manages key clients. Nathan puts his long service down to the company’s strong commitment to company culture.

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FIVESUCCESS MINUTESSTORY WITH... He said: “CC33 is more than ‘just a call centre’, it is a place where you can really grow a career and feel motivated in doing so. The company goes above and beyond for its staff, and I think that is why we have such good staff retention. “They provide great company benefits and really care about us which is one of the reasons why I see myself here for a long time. “A lot of workplaces have a list of ‘values’, but at CC33 all staff members live and breathe them to ensure we are working at our best – not only our clients but for ourselves.” After six years in business, CC33 is regarded as a market leader in the call centre

industry and works across some of the biggest household names in the country. Due to client growth, CC33 recently moved into their new 50,000 sq ft office on Ecclesall Road in Sheffield. The move has enabled them to take on new campaigns, bring in bigger teams to accommodate demand and take on new blue-chip clients. The firm is expanding year on year and is always on the lookout for new team members. Last year CC33 created 300 jobs and is now recruiting a further 200 more. As well as telesales agents, CC33 recruit senior team members, offer roles in operations, HR, marketing,

More than

550 STAFF admin, recruitment, and HR. CC33 is increasingly becoming more and more known in the contact centre industry and has recently announced its DMA (Data and Marketing Association) membership – a much sought after accreditation. Paul has also been shortlisted in the

Top 50 City Region Leader category in The Business Desk’s Northern Leadership Awards. The award recognises his commitment to creating a positive workplace, leading a successful business, and empowering his staff. With 2021 marking six years since the start of CC33, Paul is now looking ahead. He said: “We’re already working on the next stage of business to facilitate the advantage of more advanced technology, industry changes and plan to employ more than 750 people by 2025. “We’re now set to grow our services even more within the South Yorkshire region and beyond.”

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HERE ARE THREE TIPS WHICH MAY SUPPORT YOUR UTILITIES JOURNEY: Carry out a utilities review before you buy a piece of land or a building. The results may identify potential cost and inconvenience and in some cases can support the land price negotiation. No two jobs are ever the same. Try not to shoehorn data from your last project into your new project as it can lead to nasty surprises. Site specific data will influence an accurate budget and help mitigate any costly delays. Understand timescales! It is normal to allow four weeks to collate utility quotations and 6-8 weeks to have the work completed. There are many unavoidable factors which can slow these anticipated lead times and you need to know what they are.

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ADVERTORIAL PHOTO: #BARNSLEY2030

EXCITINGSTEPASCHARLOTTE PUTS HER HEART AND ‘SOLE’ INTO VENTURE An established designer fashion resale business moved into The Business Village in Barnsley – at the height of the pandemic – after sales success saw the former call centre worker turned entrepreneur Charlotte Jones and her business Love Luxe outgrow her home workspace. Entrepreneur Charlotte Jones set up Love Luxe three years ago after turning her passion for Louboutin shoes into a successful online business that specialises in buying and selling unworn and unwanted shoes at a fraction of the retail price. The idea for the company came after she wore the heels off a pair that her husband had bought her and realised they were so battered she needed a new pair. But Charlotte didn’t want to pay the substantial price tag and was worried getting them from eBay would mean ending up with fakes. “It all started as hobby really,” she said. “I saw a pair of Louboutin shoes on eBay going cheap, bought them and then put them back up for sale myself and made £100 profit instantly. “I started looking through the internet and bought a few more pairs and sold them for profit. I realised at this point that there was a market out there for buying and selling luxury goods. “I was making more money from it than I was from my job

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so I gave up working in the call centre and designed a proper website so that I could put more effort into it.” Love Luxe is a resale site, meaning private sellers contact and offer Charlotte unwanted and often unworn products which she then purchases and sells on for a profit. The brand also sells clothing, bags, sunglasses, and other accessories from renowned designers including Chanel, Gucci, Burberry and Alexander McQueen. Her passion is Louboutin shoes, and Charlotte taught herself how to spot an authentic pair from a fake. For other items she uses a piece of software called Entrupy, which uses artificial intelligence

to analyse and identify authenticity. Charlotte moved into the new building at The Business Village’s Wilthorpe site in January this year – at the height of the pandemic – having outgrown her office space at home. She added: “I have customers who want to come and try items on and buy from me in person, which is not really practical when you’re at home. Kevin Steel, business development manager at The Business Village, added: “The exciting growth demonstrated by Charlotte in this innovative online retail sector brings a whole new dimension to what’s going on in Barnsley. With the opening

of our newest building, we’ve seen how business is really bouncing back in the town, especially here! “We’ve already seen ten existing tenant expansions, creating more than 20 new jobs in a variety of sectors, and welcomed nine businesses who have relocated from elsewhere in the borough and seen three out-of-area companies joining us, with up to 20 new workers, again across various industries.” Check out Charlotte’s business: www.loveluxe.co.uk

Find out more about The Business Village: www.barnsleybic.co.uk or contact business development manager Kevin Steel on 01226 249590 or 07970 930560 and www.barnsleybic.co.uk/staff/ kevin-steel

NEW REGENERATION

ATTERCLIFFE Attercliffe has a rich history – there are ‘loads of diamond stories out there’, says David Slater. Here the director of Spaces Sheffield kicks off a new regular feature and shares with unLTD how the ‘place that made Sheffield can indeed play a huge part in bringing the good times back’.

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REGENERATION PHOTO: DEAN ATKIN

DAVID SLATER

Attercliffe was the forgotten district for many years – but refused to die. There has always been something going on and, despite the bad press, Sheffield’s East End has never stopped ‘working’. It was the high street and the community that suffered the most and the scrap yards and sex industry did the area no favours. By 2004 Spaces Sheffield had begun investing in the Lower Don Valley and became key stakeholders in the Attercliffe district. But Sheffield City Council were unable to support plans for a renaissance at that point, despite producing the Attercliffe Action Plan a few

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years later in 2010. The Action Plan was, and remains, a good plan – it simply sat filed under Z while the Council oversaw the redevelopment of the city centre. The turning point came in 2013 when the Don Valley Stadium was demolished to mixed reaction. Richard Caborn had been sports minister and was instrumental in bringing the Olympics to London. He had also been involved in the World Student Games in Sheffield in 1991. As the stars aligned and Sheffield could no longer afford to keep the Don Valley Stadium (DVS) Richard was inspired to tell the world that,

out of the ashes of the DVS, a world class park of excellence was going to emerge. He put together a superb team and together they set about building the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park – the only venue outside London to bear the name ‘Olympic’. Richard’s vision was for Sheffield to build a world class Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) as the focal point of a vast mixed-use district. This would then act as a catalyst for regeneration and complement the work done by the Attercliffe stakeholders’ group and the Council and its partners. In 2021 the Olympic Legacy Park is home to the AWRC – a

college, school, and university campus. And more is to come. It is an incredibly exciting time, and Spaces Sheffield are proud to be part of this amazing transformation happening before our eyes. It’s off the scale and has attracted the attention of high-profile businesses, developers and investors, as well as capturing the imagination of the Attercliffe community, past and present. There is so much going on it is impossible to get the full journey into one edition so we will be giving regular updates to unLTD readers in the coming months in this showcase feature.

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REGENERATION

A LEGACY OF ECONOMIC REGENERATION David Hobson has stepped down after seven years as Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park project director. Here he looks back on how the legacy of London 2012 means Attercliffe is no longer a ‘forgotten’ part of the city. It’s incredible how fast things can change. When I stepped into the role of project director of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park seven years ago, Don Valley Stadium had just been demolished and people had all but forgotten about Attercliffe. The site had become overgrown, covered in buddleia, and had issues with crime and anti-social behaviour. It’s taken a significant amount of dedicated effort, vision, shared passion and commitment to reverse that

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perception, but we have. We are, uniquely, delivering a real Olympic legacy of economic regeneration, education and new skills, research and innovation and whole population health and wellbeing gains. As we have seen from events like the Bears of Sheffield, junior parkrun and Beat the Street, the local community are excited to be a part of the Park. And that includes investors. Scarborough Group International is set to deliver more than £200m worth of investment on the Park which promises to develop a world-class hub for health and wellbeing building on the investments to date in the Oasis Academy, UTC and Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. This likely wouldn’t have been possible without the interest driven by our work bringing new developments to Attercliffe.

For example, I wrote the funding application for £14m to build the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) alongside Professor Steve Haake from Sheffield Hallam University, which is now working on groundbreaking research into the impact of long-COVID. We also received £5m from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the landscape, that set a new benchmark for the area with a quality of landscape matching the city centre. Our landscape architects Ares beat King’s Cross to win the Architect Journal Award for Landscape Design. The Park also plays an instrumental part in delivering a sporting legacy for Sheffield as the only Olympic legacy site outside of a host city in the world – an agreement that has just been renewed with the British Olympic Association for the next five years. I don’t think many people

watching Tokyo 2020 on TV at home will realise more than 50 of the Olympic and Paralympic athletes competing from Team GB trained in the English Institute of Sport Sheffield on Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. I’m so proud to have played an instrumental role with Richard Caborn and Claire Fretwell in laying the foundation for an exciting future for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and now to handover to Dr Chris Low. As the brains behind the AWRC’s wellbeing accelerator programme, which raised £900k from Research England, Chris Low is equipped with the academic background to develop a world-class health and wellbeing research ecosystem. In time, I hope people won’t think of Attercliffe as a ‘forgotten’ part of the city, but will see it for what it truly is – somewhere for people to work, live and play.

REGENERATION IN THE CENTRE OF ‘EXCITING REJUVENATION’ Partner and head of commercial property, Ian Osborn, explains to unLTD why Wosskow Brown Solicitors have been proud to call Attercliffe home since being founded in 1989. Christmas 1979 was the end of an era, when The John Banner Department Store closed. Once a glamorous department store in the bustling streets of industrial Attercliffe, the John Banner Building that once housed Sheffield’s first escalator was a shell of its former self, after the collapse of the steel industry. Back in the late 1980s, lawyers Michael Wosskow and David Brown set up their new law firm in the Banner Building in Sheffield’s forgotten East End – shortly afterwards they purchased the building. With the help of the Sheffield Development Corporation (SDC), who were overseeing the urban regeneration of the Lower Don Valley area of Sheffield at the time, the pair made improvements to the John Banner Building, which has housed Wosskow Brown

IAN OSBORN

Solicitors Head Office ever since. Work on the building has continued and numerous successful tenants have occupied office space in the building over the years. Twenty-five years after founding Wosskow Brown, the partners of the firm wanted to leave their legacy on development in the region. In response to a call from business leaders and the government for the private

sector to step up to the plate and help regenerate our local communities and economy, the partners founded the Wosskow Brown Foundation – to provide practical help, inspiration and opportunities for people to attain their ambitions. The work of the Foundation has surpassed all expectations, and delivered far more benefit than we could have ever imagined. Through business mentoring and provision of free office space, the

Foundation has helped more 950 organisations in one way or another. On reviewing the Foundation’s five years of success, Wosskow Brown Foundation President, Richard Caborn, said: “In an area of the greatest deprivation here in Attercliffe, there are real green shoots of growth. Part of that is because of what has been done at Wosskow Brown using this initiative to ensure that we have long-term economic and social sustainability.” We want this work to continue and be right there – in the centre of Attercliffe’s rejuvenation. There are some amazing projects going on right now in Attercliffe. Having the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, AWRC and Oasis Academy on our doorstep has set the bar high. It is exciting to be in amongst planned developments in the area. Our iconic home of the John Banner Building will not be overlooked either. Although delayed following the last 18 months, there are talks in progress of a planned development of the building, providing additional high quality office space for the firm to continue to grow. We look forward to being an integral part of bringing Attercliffe back to life.

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REGENERATION COMMUNITY KEY TO IMPROVING ATTERCLIFFE CANAL “We want to make the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal a real haven where people can escape from the noise and fuss of the city, and Attercliffe is a big of part of that for us. We want it to be a place which brings the whole community together.” Jade Wilkes is waterways and wellbeing charity Canal & River Trust’s engagement officer for Sheffield, a position funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery since 2018. Working closely with volunteer team leader Anthony Walker and a small army of helpers, the team has made great strides in improving the city’s canal for the community. Research shows that spending time by water is good for health and wellbeing and part of the team’s work is improving the local environment at Attercliffe, with volunteers carrying out regular litter-picks, vegetation management and towpath maintenance. Their next project is improving the area around the Grade II Listed aqueduct. “Our volunteers are just

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JADE WILKES

fantastic,” said Jade. “They are passionate about improving their bit of the canal for others to enjoy, and it’s a genuine community effort. “As a charity, we rely heavily on people coming forward to give up their time, and we’re so grateful for that. With every passing week, you can see the real difference they are making.” One of the most visually striking improvements along the canal is the Street Art Trail. Stunning paintings by local artists on the sides of buildings overlooking the canal have

proved incredibly popular with visitors, as well as helping to reduce graffiti tagging in the area. Two new pieces, designed by pupils of Phillimore and Tinsley Meadows schools, are due to be added, too. Another string to the team’s bow is organising events – large and small – to encourage the community to engage with the canal. In Attercliffe, they have organised canoe and paddle-boarding sessions, and regularly work with the Oasis Academy students with nature walks and forest school

activities, as well as school holiday clubs. On September 18, Sheffield Waterfront Festival has been expanded to include Attercliffe for the first time, with a festival site on the Don Valley Moorings. It will include watersport tasters, Bollywood dancing, storytelling, arts workshops, sports workshops and much more. In October, the Trust’s team will be working with partners at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and Darnall Wellbeing to create one of Sheffield’s biggest Fun Palaces – a popular community arts event. In addition, there are four further family fun day events planned in Attercliffe with Let’s Play Outdoors and Let’s Lockkeep sessions. Just along the canal, a new canoe hub is being setup in Tinsley. “We’re delighted with the work that’s been done and the way the community has come together,” said Jade. “But it still feels like it’s the start of something – it still feels like a fresh and exciting project.” The Trust is always looking to partner with local businesses, including adoptions for stretches of canal. Volunteers are also required. For more details, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ volunteer

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REGENERATION A NEW CHAPTER IN THE NARRATIVE OF ATTERCLIFFE Adam Murray, MD at Urbana Town Planning, is working with our feature’s opening author David Slater to see how his firm of urbanists can contribute to the vision of putting the romantic – and economic – heart back into Attercliffe. “I met David Slater and The Scarbrough Group because we’re developing a couple of sites in the area and he’s got ownership of some and is in conversations with others – and we’ve been looking at how we can help with that ‘masterplan’ vision for the area, alongside HLM. “Attercliffe is just such an interesting place – it’s the gritty east end of Sheffield so it’s got all that romantic, nostalgic kind of feel to it of how the city used to be. But equally it was the beating heart of our economy back then, too. “There’s a perception of it now as like a relic of a bygone era, but I don’t think it is. There’s so much going on down there, with many high-profile as well as niche businesses, and not just in steelmaking. But because they don’t employ as many people as they used to, the area doesn’t get the attention – or the footfall – it deserves. “More recently, it feels like Attercliffe has really grown up

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a lot in terms of how its viewed and its future vision, too and that’s in no small part due to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Plus, of course, world class sporting venues like EIS Sheffield. We have Olympic and Paralympic athletes training in our city – you could nip out to the shops and see (British professional boxer) Anthony Joshua running along the street! “When Don Valley Stadium was demolished a lot of people rolled their eyes and said ‘typical Sheffield, getting rid of great venues’. But, in reality, what has come out of that is actually much bigger and better. The narrative of Attercliffe is changing. “But just like in any city centre you need people to be living AND working in different areas to make these communities stronger. Attercliffe has some less wealthy communities which will never be able to thrive if they stay as they are because they are so spread about – there’s no real core. “Urbana has approval for a site between Darnall and Attercliffe for 100 homes and we are looking at four and five-bedroom builds because we researched the demographics of the area and know we need to provide for multigenerational families. “But we also need to consider who else might want to live there, too. The affordability of housing in the area plus the transport links

back into the city centre means there is a great opportunity to encourage people to re-locate there and commute. “Then there’s the built environment – beautiful spots like the Art Deco former Adelphi Cinema. It all just needs tying in together with some nice, new architecture that complements it, like in Kelham Island – a mix of heritage and modern. “That can be done but it depends on landowners’ aspirations. It can be tricky because they might want to do something simple and sign up a business which, as town planners and urbanists, we might not think is appropriate. At the same time, however, we’re sympathetic because it will generate income for them

and is straightforward. “It’s how we showcase what we’re trying to achieve for the area, so they buy into it. Then the landowner might think twice about a 15-year lease to a drivethrough national coffee chain – which is simple but not really going to do anything to drag this area into a better position. Instead, they might consider selling to a developer who wants to build apartments and town houses. “If landowners don’t understand how they fit in to the bigger picture, Attercliffe will continue to be separate pockets that progress at a snail’s pace. But if they do, I believe we can really take the area to the next level – it could even be the next Kelham Island.”

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION:

AT THE HEART OF THRIVING BUSINESSES With the term digital transformation on the lips of every keynote speech, article, lockdown webinar or big tech vendors’ go-to market strategy, the team at DeeperThanBlue highlight and discuss two of the key areas of growth fundamental to success for enterprises large and small in 2021’s digital world. What is digital transformation? Is it a new phenomenon? Over to world-leading research and advisory company Gartner: “Digital business transformation is the process of exploiting digital

technologies and supporting capabilities to create a robust new digital business model.” We would build on this to say that in today’s consumerled society, having a robust business model simply isn’t enough. However, leveraging

technology in ways to engage with and excite your customer base in new ways is critical in maintaining market share and competitive advantage, as consumers both B2C and B2B are increasingly more discerning in how they expect

organisations to deliver. Digital transformation is not static, then – what was considered revolutionary and transformative 10, 15 or even 20 years ago can be considered the norm now, or worse still, redundant.

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

So, what are the methods that are revolutionising businesses today? cloud first mentality 1 AMany will have heard of cloud. As individuals we all use cloud technology in one form or another on a daily basis, from online video streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon to accessing your emails from your smart phone. For businesses though, at the heart of cloud computing is the concept of using cloud services providers (such as Google Cloud Platform or Microsoft Azure), data warehouses and servers to run software. For large enterprises, this means they’ll no longer be burdened with the costs and maintenance of operating their own data centres. This has many benefits – not only in allowing IT budgets to be moved from a CapEx model to an OpEx one or freeing up developers once tasked with simply ‘keeping the lights on’, as well as maintaining servers, patching and software upgrades, so they’re free to embark on innovation projects. But also – and most crucially – they’re no longer bound by the constrains of their own data centres, meaning they can scale up or down their

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requirements depending on their needs, allowing ultimate flexibility when reacting quickly to customer demands or seizing an opportunity to be first to market with a new initiative. For smaller organisations, it’s meant significantly reduced start-up costs, without the need to invest in expensive servers and hardware – budgets can be spent in a way that engages customers from the very beginning. Cloud has also led to the rise in tech vendors offering their Software as a Service (SaaS), which allowed smaller businesses to leverage software that previously would have been too expensive and out of reach. As a result, we are seeing more and more smaller businesses compete digitally with household brands, and we have come to expect a similar level of customer experience regardless of the size of organisation. eCommerce strong eCommerce in the retail sector has been growing steadily over the last 10 years – even before the pandemic hit, we were all used to ordering or buying some things online. However, real innovation often only occurs when

we’re presented with serious challenges, and whilst most businesses were resting on their laurels in thinking their online offering was ‘good enough’, the overnight decimation of the physical trade meant only the truly forward-thinking businesses were able to capitalise and excel. It became no longer enough to simply have an online store, offering a catalogue of products. Now supply chains, stock and order management, delivery options, checkout personalisation were all put to the test and highlighted the need to have a carefully considered and thoroughly stress-tested eco-system of complementing technologies. Some brands have gone further in thinking up new and exciting ways to engage their visitors with things like ‘virtual in-store’ experiences (notably Ralph Lauren and Charlotte Tilbury) and a stronger focus on social commerce (look at Burberry for inspiration) and learning from site analytics to synchronise with consumer behaviour and provide a level of personalisation they cannot refuse. The game in town now for the rest is to spend the remainder of 2021 catching up, as the pandemic has clearly accelerated the direction of

travel for retail and there’s no going back. Never sit still There are clearly other elements driving organisational change, such as new ways of integrating business systems – more important now than ever, given the hybrid mix of on-premise, on-cloud and SaaS workloads. Or in gaining better insights through data and analytics and AI infused analytical technologies, with more ways of capturing data and storing it, deciding what and how to use it to enable better business decisions is a growth industry in itself. Getting cloud and customer engagement strategies right now, will mean your business is ready to adopt the next breakthrough in digital technology when it comes – to move with the time, you need to move with the tech. What that will be, only a handful of people can say, but it’s exciting to imagine. After all, if 20 years ago you were told most business meetings would be conducted through a video call, or many of us would be walking around with mini-TVs in our pockets or GPS-guided heart rate monitors on our wrists, we would have thought it a work of science fiction rather than digital fact!

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YOUR PITCH

SIMDURE Simon Gorman set up digital and creative agency Simdure earlier this year. He tells unLTD how the start-up ‘cuts through the waffle’ to simplify and make businesses more durable.

Who are Simdure? We’re a digital and creative agency but I know that conjures up certain images for some! What we want to do is to provide all the digital and creative services you’d expect from an agency – design, website creation, branding, SEO, video, animation – but cut through all the usual waffle and the chin-stroking that all too often comes with dealing with creatives. We want to deliver what clients want but do it in plain English. Where did the name come from? You should never ask a branding person a question like that. You know you’ll get a very complete answer! Basically, when we started talking about what we wanted to be, we began with what we’d want from an agency and distilled that down into three things – simplicity, durability, and results. Simplicity speaks for itself. Having been on the other side of the table we know people pay external suppliers to make their lives easier. “This is what I want, this is when I want it by”. They want to brief them then get the best work back by the set deadline. They don’t care what goes on in between. They’ve paid the

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agency to find the best way to be where they want to be. Durability is crucial, too. Without sounding like my dad, it is a fast-moving, transient world. From Snapchat to Primark, people seem to want an instant fix then move on – but for us instant gratification isn’t investable. We want to create durable, hard-wearing work that will deliver better results long into the future. Also, while durability obviously means a

long life, we want more. We want to help clients create something with real staying power, something that underlines the client’s own permanence. And the ‘RE’? That’s results. As we’ve all been buyers, we know ultimately we’re only judged on one thing – results! We can come up with the prettiest looking stuff, but it doesn’t matter unless it brings in work and a return that massively outweighs what you paid us.

That is why everything we do is built to a brief, built to achieve specific objectives, and built to be transparent and totally measurable. How exactly can you help our readers? By looking at every aspect of their business that brings in new work, new orders and new enquiries and working out how to do it better. From a creative perspective it could be a new brand or a brand refresh, new marketing materials or video, infographics, and animations to make your website and social media feeds more engaging. On the digital side it could be a new website, improving your SEO to push you up the relevant search results or anything else that generates more new online opportunities. We can even show your inbound or outbound sales team how to increase the number of new enquiries they convert. As I say, it’s anything that falls under ‘digital and creative’ that makes your life easier, your business more durable and delivers results. How can people get in touch with you? Website: www.simdure.com Email: simon.gorman @simdure.com Twitter: @simdure Instagram: @simdure LinkedIn: @Simon Gorman

FOCUS ON

INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT

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FOCUS ON The British Chambers of Commerce has released its Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO) survey for Q2 2021 – with a surge in the proportion of businesses expecting to grow their workforce. But the data also revealed the number of employers having difficulty in recruiting had climbed significantly, too. unLTD looks at how more inclusive HR and recruitment practices can help businesses appeal to a multi-generational candidate market.

DANIELLA DACEY, SENIOR HR CONSULTANT AND AUTHOR OF THE HR DINNER PARTY BLOG As we continue navigating the ‘new normal’, organisations have realised the role key talent plays in business success. However, 40 per cent of the global workforce are looking to quit their jobs or are planning to do so this year. We’re in the midst of a social shift, with some experts dubbing this as the ‘Great Resignation’ – and what are employers going to do about it? The pandemic has had an adverse impact on women and minority groups, in particular. In the UK, for example, the ‘caring inequalities faced by women’ were potentially overlooked by the UK government’s response to COVID-19, and the data shows that more women were furloughed than men during 2020. Across the pond, nearly 2.5 million more women than men lost their job between February and May 2020 – and out of the 140000 jobs lost in the US in December 2020, it’s alleged that ALL of them belonged to women. People of colour have been more likely to experience serious outcomes if affected by COVID, and the ONS has reported a higher proportion of disabled people have been made redundant in the UK over July to November 2020 than their non-disabled colleagues, bringing into sharp focus the impact of social inequality, increased financial insecurity, and mental health issues in these communities, and beyond.

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It’s no surprise, therefore, that the pandemic has shone a light on wellbeing and mental health, and as a result has driven millions to revaluate what’s important to them. From mass city exoduses in search of greener spaces, to the heightened focus on wellbeing as an economic imperative and the recent research from Mental Health Foundation reaffirming that there really is a positive link between nature and mental health. At the same time, employers around the globe are realising the benefit of diverse teams for greater innovation and creativity. So, in the face of business need for diverse thinking, what do employers need to do to attract a diverse talent pool, and demonstrate a positive employer brand? It appears the world of work and employees’ expectations have irreversibly changed. Are employers, therefore, missing a trick or risk being considered outdated for not

It’s no surprise, therefore, that the pandemic has shone a light on wellbeing and mental health, and as a result has driven millions to revaluate what’s important to them.

providing flexible working as standard? Despite ‘return to the office’ support from the UK government and other big players in the corporate world, there have also been examples of organisations permanently offering remote working options to their teams. Most employers probably sit somewhere in between. Flexible (or hybrid) working has quickly become a talent attraction imperative – from parents, to pet owners, to disabled people in the workplace. It provides the means to balance work and life priorities, which will become even more important in the wake of the pandemic. However, we need to do more and get past geographical work flexibility – we were forced into this as the world went into meltdown. I think the next step is asynchronous working and to get here, employers and managers need to focus on providing a purpose for their teams to get behind, building trust and giving individuals the opportunity to be autonomous in their roles. It’s not about being prescriptive (that defeats the point of flexible working!), but rather it’s giving individuals a choice. A choice to go into the office, a choice to take their dog to the vet if needed, a choice to miss the busy commute if their wheelchair can’t easily get on or off the bus. It’s about putting people (and the whole spectrum of being human) first. What will employers get in return? More engagement, higher productivity, and increased loyalty from their workforce – a win-win for all parties.

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FOCUS ON

REBECCA MORRIS, MD, BENCHMARK RECRUIT

Many businesses have adapted and prioritised their employees’ mental and Over the last 16 months, as we physical wellbeing. We are have moved our way through moving away from a rigid 9-5 the pandemic, we have former structure which allows identified a real change in the staff to pop to the gym, go on a recruitment market and our walk or meet a friend for coffee clients’ hiring processes. at a time that suits them pre or Before the pandemic hit, post work. clients tended to be in the Equally, employers are driving seat, but this has now realising that, by encouraging changed and candidates are this, their output from their taking more control with their workforce is both more search criteria and not settling positive and productive. for second best. Many of our client The recruitment market businesses have changed bounced back around their recruitment practices to November last year when accommodate more flexible or businesses started hiring again. hybrid working environments. 2021 has been a busy year where Some are embracing a we have month on month taken workforce that spends more more vacancies – it’s an exciting time at home but uses their time for candidates to be office space for creative searching for a new role. sessions, project planning and As we spent more time at team meetings. home due to the pandemic, We have certainly identified many of us identified the need that those businesses to spend more time with our embracing flexible or hybrid friends and family and this working are getting a better has resulted in a real shift in return from their employees. candidates’ search criteria Their workforce is no longer with work / life balance and spending ‘dead time’ travelling flexibility now top of the wish to and from work every day, list. able to enjoy their personal

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Many of our client businesses have changed their recruitment practices to accommodate more flexible or hybrid working environments.

and leisure time more and, as a result, are more productive during the working day and much happier within their roles. Before the pandemic, businesses would be searching within a local talent pool. We have seen a real change in this regard with employers now able to find candidates within a larger talent pool and offer hybrid working, or a pure remote working /working from home role. This has resulted in a closing the skills gap with some harder to fill vacancies. Despite lockdown easing, many of our clients are continuing to interview candidates via video software. Interviews can be more accessible online and can work much easier around candidates’ home and work commitments. Benchmark are welcoming the changes within the recruitment market and actively encourage businesses to review their current recruitment practices and ensure that health, wellbeing and flexibility within their organisation is top priority.

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Why outsource your IT support to Dentech? 1. Cost saving Our services are tailored to your business, so you only pay for what you need.

2. Peace of mind Reduce your risk of cyber-crime and protect from virus, malware and loss of data with our Back up and Disaster Recovery service.

6. Fast implementation of new technology With access to shared resources you will always have the latest software updates, reducing virus threats and software failure.

3. Flexibility

7. Access to professionally qualified and industry trained technicians

Our fee includes both on site and Remote Management and Monitoring (RMM).

With industry standard partners, we have a wealth of shared resources from specialist IT professionals.

4. Increased business efficiency

8. Instant availability

We ensure your IT equipment and systems are working at peak efficiency.

You have a full time IT manager on hand whenever you need them, without the cost of employing one.

5. Legal & Commercial Compliance We ensure your IT system fully complies with the latest legislation (such as GDPR) as well as PCI security standards if you accept credit & debit card payments.

Dentech IT is a managed service provider with offices in Sheffield and Rotherham, offering IT support and timely maintenance to SME’s in South Yorkshire – all at a fixed monthly fee. We can work as an extension to your existing IT team, or become your in-house team if you don’t have one. Switching is easy - contact us today to see how we can help!

0114 279 2820 | hello@dentechit.org.uk | www.dentechit.org.uk

ADVERTORIAL

BUY LOCAL– SELL GLOBAL In the process of reworking their website, Albion Detection Systems director Mark Slatter tells Dan Laver how they created not just an online home for their own services and products, but a ‘gateway to reliable and trusted suppliers’. While improving and enhancing the Albion Detection Systems website, director Mark Slatter felt he had the opportunity to offer recommendations and referrals to their own suppliers who he trusted and wanted to support. Now live, albion-detection. co.uk/shop is not just a home for their own services and products, but a gateway to reliable and trusted suppliers. Mark is now looking forward to opening the site up to

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other trades and industries and below reveals how it will be a useful resource to reinforce relationships, as well as support and improve local supply chains. What makes Albion Detection Systems new ecommerce site different? On the face of it, it shouldn’t feel different at all. It’s our website with our branding. We design, supply, and maintain fire and security so the look and feel are still very much Albion. But I’ve always encouraged our clients to use businesses I know and trust, so I wanted to offer them the opportunity to have a presence – firstly, to help them, but also to improve the customer experience. I didn’t want to just nudge them towards a different website and needed

something more intuitive than just links. When you use our ecommerce shop, you’ll find our suppliers right there, with essentially no difference in the experience of buying from them and buying from us. I’m more confident when I know my clients are using businesses I know and trust to do a great job – it’s simply easier to order the products that way. We don’t want a monopoly on the customer, but if they feel like they want to buy from our trusted contacts, they have an easy route to do so. It sounds like supporting your supply chain was important to you. What other benefits are there for the businesses involved? It lets us offer a wholesale experience without having to create additional premises or warehousing. The supplier is still dispatching the products direct to the client – which is overall a greener solution, especially in an industry like ours, rather than having products shipped to and from warehouses. As an SME, I’m not sure we could have supported a process like that. We’re not Amazon, and I didn’t want to be a logistics business!

The other traders are not random, we don’t list anyone who wants to promote their products. These are relevant products our clients want and need, and they can order them through us, which is a great USP. The idea is circular – one of our suppliers is looking at featuring a small selection of our products. It helps protect your own relationships, too, as the customer remains with you throughout, so you don’t need to send them elsewhere when they require a product you don’t currently have available. What are the future opportunities for the concept? We are using it for fire and security, but it lends itself to any number of trades and services. We are in the process of launching a white label product to assist other trades in developing and facilitating ecommerce options. People’s natures have changed throughout the pandemic, and it shouldn’t just be the larger brands and businesses who benefit. Customers should be able to buy locally – but business should have the ability to sell globally.

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0114 244 0100 mail@pro-dek.co.uk 3 Atlas Way • Atlas North • Sheffield • S4 7QQ

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Office Partitions

unLTD PODCAST

SUMMER HOLIDAY LISTENING

It's holiday season and the unLTD podcast is on a summer break of its own at the moment, but will be back in September. James Marriott is here with a reminder that the last episode is a real bumper one and shines a light on a Sheffield-based science fiction audiodrama.

Our current podcast is still available with the full roundtable discussion led by Ameresco and guests from businesses including Killis, AESSEAL, Henry Boot and City Taxis discussing the Sheffield City Region's Road to Net Zero. It's easy to find - just go onto your podcast app and search 'unLTD' and we'll pop up. We're always open to ideas for future episodes – if your business has a great story to tell, get in touch by emailing james@unltdbusiness.com. Video in podcasting There’s a real frenzy around ‘video podcasting’ right now. I’m something of a convert to the idea, after long having reservations about the whole concept. I mean, what does ‘video podcast’ actually mean? I’ve heard several people have quite different understandings. Well, first let's consider what makes something a podcast. I think there are two main criteria. It has to be portable. I might choose to listen to a podcast while I’m out having a run, or driving to work, or doing the ironing. A podcast needs to be accessible to me in all those situations.

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to go off searching for a video. We need to understand that creating an audio podcast and creating a video are different things. A podcast needs to be PRIMARILY audio. You can of course film it and release a video VERSION of it. Alternatively, you can create something that is primarily a video – afterwards, strip out the audio and repurpose it as a podcast. It's important to get the balance right to make the most of the platforms you use. If you need help or advice, give us a shout!

It needs to be where I expect it to be – for example, Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If it's just on your company website, it isn't a podcast. They are my two nonnegotiables. Length, format, recording quality, number of hosts/guests, release regularity – pretty much everything else can be a variable. So where does video fit in? Well in terms of portability, video just doesn’t share the

same characteristics. Where an audio podcast is low impact, a video is high impact. It demands my attention. I can listen to an audio podcast while driving or jogging. You can't do either of those while watching a video. Similarly, where do I go to watch your video? Possibly YouTube, but that isn’t universal. So where I can just tap Apple Podcasts on my phone and find whatever audio podcast I want, I have

Podcast Spotlight: Pod To Pluto We haven't featured a 'fictional' podcast on these pages before so it's high time we did. Pod To Pluto is a Sheffield based science fiction audiodrama which is clever and funny in equal measures. Meet 'Jemima Belafonte' and her 'Pod' computer as they try to keep each other company during a very long 4.6 billion mile trip to Pluto to turn off a lightbulb. It's written by Peter Richard Adams and stars Laura England and Wayne Russell. Find it by searching 'Pod To Pluto' on any podcast platform.

ADVERTORIAL

FROM SMALL ACORNS... From branching out to laying down roots, Four Trees Lettings have certainly flourished over the past 12 months. Despite planting the seeds for this innovative organisation during a global pandemic, Four Trees Lettings have shown that they have what it takes to make it in the competitive world of property lettings. The small property startup has recently celebrated their first anniversary with a bang, by expanding their management portfolio to 51 lets across Sheffield. Four Trees Lettings has also seen an increase of 18.75 per cent in properties in their last quarter, since taking on another full-time member of staff in April. Lettings agency coordinator Julian Wasley said of his new role: “It’s great to sell a great service. When speaking to landlords we can be honest about what we offer and still be competitive within the market. I’m sure this growth will continue.” Four Trees Lettings was established to manage properties which would be suitable for clients moving into the rental market for the first time, or for those who are renting on a budget. They specialise in managing house

in multiple occupation (HMO) properties at Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. Landlords who want a complete service without a complicated fee structure can find a home with Four Trees Lettings. The team provides a full service, offering all aspects of tenant management without a complex fee structure. Landlords can expect to work directly with their local office team and out of hours repair services. The organisation does not charge additional fees for tenancy set-up, extension set-up or statements. The transition between tenants is made as smooth as possible with start of tenancy inventories and end of tenancy inspections, all included without additional fees. In addition, Four Trees Lettings can guarantee rental income, so landlords won’t face being out of pocket if there is a void,

or late or missed payment. Four Trees Lettings specialise in helping new landlords and those transitioning from student accommodation into the private rental sector. The team have extensive experience in housing law, property management and LHA claims and can offer expert advice to new landlords or those looking to access a new rental market. The housing market in Sheffield is changing. The desire for self-contained student flats and the continuation of remote learning means many traditional student landlords are diversifying to adapt. SDP Student Homes saw an opportunity to do just that and began working with Four Trees Lettings in 2020 with two multi-occupancy flats in Sheffield city centre. Four Trees Lettings now manage five properties owned by SDP.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Four Trees Lettings over the past year and following the renewal of our contract we look forward to continuing our great working relationship with them. The team are always on hand and happy to help, they regularly inspect our properties to make sure they are being well looked after and promptly report any repairs… We would highly recommend them to other landlords.” SDP Student Homes If you are a landlord looking for property management which is straight forward, ethical, and efficient, get in touch with Four Trees Lettings on 0114 321 0262 or email info@fourtreeslettings.co.uk.

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Vivid’s brand burns brighter new services, team & website The last year has had many unexpected challenges for many industries across the board; from health implications, loss of employment, financial struggles, and many people transitioning to home based work where your cat continually knocks over your coffee, the doorbell rings in the middle of your video-call, and you become your child’s favourite (and only) teacher. It goes without saying that the challenges have been felt throughout every aspect of life with the hardships inescapable due to their global scale. Despite the roadblocks and tragedies of the past year, Vivid Creative has proven its immense resilience and continues to be a driving force in the industry. Vivid has supercharged their team and services—adding fuel to the fire, igniting brands to burn brighter, even through some of the most difficult times we have faced. The evolution of Vivid continues to drum up excitement as plans for a vitalizing future unfolds.

With a new website launch, a team expansion and enhanced services, it is easy to see the weight behind this mighty and magnetic Sheffield based agency.

Vivid has welcomed a new Managing Director who boasts a glowing reputation for distilling the best of the best, a fortified Client Services team with two new members to deepen the account management experience, and the addition of a Performance Marketing team providing organic and paid digital marketing to provide more exposure and a better ROI and commercial offering for all of the brands in the portfolio.

can often see Vivid posting case studies that sing with pride about the success they have had their hands in cultivating. We wouldn’t be surprised if you have even enjoyed some of their work ‘in the wild’ from brands such as The University of Sheffield, Thornbridge Brewery, First Bus, Carrs Silver, Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Symphony, Pandrol, Stryker, Metallix and Sheffield City Council.

While waves of progression throughout Sheffield’s marketing ecosphere are evident, commercial purpose has been at the forefront since the company’s inception in 1999. Client goals are the blood pumping through the heart of this business and Vivid’s appetite to work with ambitious people and brands they can stand behind has, and always will, ring true.

The allure of Vivid continues to peak with the launch of their brandnew website exposing everything this award winning agency has to offer, from showcasing victorious campaigns, multichannel services to help take your brand to the next level, or dynamic ethos, it is truly hard not to be impressed.

With this sort of integrity, their client list encompasses a dynamic range of local businesses through to international corporations. You

This is only the start of many changes taking place at Vivid, to ensure Vivid continues to grow, develop and retain the best people going forward.

Ignite your brand and burn brighter vividcreative.com 01142 21 21 21 studio@vividcreative.co.uk

#burnbrighter

ADVERTORIAL

SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE Whyy? Change, shares the team’s new sustainability focus and commitment to the region – having recently adopted an Investment Policy to Prevent Global Warming. Following the government’s announcement in 2019, the UK is required to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. With that at the forefront of many businesses, Whyy? Change have offered their support in helping the UK meet that goal. Ray Byrne, CEO of Whyy? Change said, “Having any policy is about commitment. Our sustainability policy is about leading on the challenge of our time. We are small and we don’t make stuff, so people may feel it doesn’t fit. It really does, however – we

want to lead by playing our part.” To support the region further we have invited business assurance officer Ava Jones to our OPEX (Operational Excellence Expo) to talk about how AESSEAL plc have implemented their Investment Policy to Prevent Global Warming and the processes they have put in place. If you’re looking to sharpen your skills and broaden your knowledge on sustainability, join us on Thursday 7 October at AESSEAL New

York Stadium, where unLTD’s very own Dan Laver will be hosting a live Q&A panel with industry experts. This is one not to be missed, with limited places available – secure your place today at bit.ly/3rBI1lV or scan the QR code below!

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE EXPO Thursday 7th October 2021 AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham Learn from expert speakers Network with industry leaders

Gain insights into operational excellence Focus on sustainability, growth and more

0114 400 0077

info@whyychange.com

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DIGITAL MEDIA

HALLAM LIVE THE NEXT GENERATION unLTD’s Jill Theobald attended the Digital Media Production BA student showcase at Sheffield Hallam University to be wowed by the next generation of film and documentary makers, marketing and branding specialists and game designers. Here senior lecturer for digital media production Anne Doncaster tells unLTD about the newly launched Hallam Live site.

CHLOE CARLISLE

Sheffield Hallam’s Media Arts and Communication department has launched its Media Arts and Communication Degree Show on the new ‘Hallam Live’ site (www.hallamlive.co.uk). Hallam Live contains some of the amazing work produced within the department, including animation, digital media production, games design, games art, film production, arts and cultural

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IZZY HACKNEY

management, photography and many more. The site was developed by Joi Polloi, a multi-award winning digital agency based in Sheffield. Our association with Joi Polloi began in 2014 when, as senior lecturer, I invited them to become involved in my Interactive Design Module. The current brief for the module was developed in collaboration with Joi Polloi in order to bring an industry focus

and Joi Polloi have continued to have an active presence in the module ever since. We were delighted when one of our students Chloé Carlisle was employed by Joi Polloi in 2019 – and in her role as a production coordinator, she was involved with the building of the new ‘Hallam Live’ site. As a previous student on our course, Chloé was able to bring her experience and knowledge to the building of the site which

helps to promote students in a professional setting. Chloé has worked throughout the project with great enthusiasm with the Joi Polloi and Hallam team to ensure it was completed to our brief. Many thanks also to delivery director Jason Devoy and all the Joi Polloi team for building us such a fantastic site to showcase the wonderful work of our graduates!

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