unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #48

MARCH 2022 | ISSUE 48 | FREE | UNLTDBUSINESS.COM

SHAPING SHEFFIELD’S

FUTURE Managing director of HLM Architects and Chamber of Commerce president Karen Mosley on her journey to the top and making her mark in the city

: N O S U C O F

G N I L L E LEV

UP

APPOINTMENTS ● THE ART OF NETWORKING ● SKILLS FOCUS ● YOUR PITCH

Farnborough

WIN A VIP EXPERIENCE at the UK's premier business event

You have the chance to win one of five VIP Experience Tickets or two Virtual Tickets!

If you win a VIP ticket, you'll get the full in-person BizX experience, worth £599. We'll pay for your hotel room and take you out for a meal where you can mix and mingle with Jon Asquith and 2,000 other like-minded entrepreneurs...

If you win a virtual ticket, you can join this year's BizX from the comfort of your office or home.

Experience two days of learning from exceptional speakers, authorities and influencers about all things business. We've taken hundreds of companies to previous BizX events and this year could be your chance to join us...

All you need to do to be in with the chance of winning is email 'I’m in' with your name and your business name to sheffield@actioncoach.co.uk *

THIS YEAR’S LINE-UP

Chris Voss Former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris is a CEO and author of the national best-seller ‘Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It’.

Dr. Tony Alessandra Dr. Tony is an expert in building customers, relationships and the bottom-line - helping companies turn prospects into promoters.

Natalie Nahai Natalie is an international speaker, consultant and author of two books. She is a member of the BIMA Human Insights Council and hosts The Hive Podcast.

Stephen M. R. Covey Stephen is an authority on trust, leadership and culture.

He is a compelling keynote speaker and advisor on trust, leadership, ethics, and high performance.

Ian Woodhouse

Sarah Beeny

Over 30 years, Ian has build a strong reputation as a speaker for his work on thought leadership and his moving interventions with long-lasting effects.

Sarah is a renowned property expert, businesswoman and television presenter. She is one of the most familiar and trusted names in the world of property.

Brad Sugars Founder of the business coaching profession, Brad Sugars is the world’s No.1 business coach, as well as a bestselling author and keynote speaker.

Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes Together, they host The High-Performance Podcast offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of successful individuals.

Noel Fitzpatrick Noel is a world-leading veterinary surgeon and TV personality, best known as Channel 4’s Supervet, as well as Bionic Vet (BBC) and guest on Crufts (Channel 4).

Kevin Whelan Kevin is a wealth mentor, SSAS expert, author and podcaster.

He is an economist and founder of Wealthbuilders, creating multiple streams of income for businesses.

Earthrise Jack Harries, Finn Harries & Alice Aedy are creators of Earthrise - a creative studio using design, film, and storytelling to communicate the climate crisis.

Alexandra Shulman CBE As a journalist, writer and former editor of Vogue, Alexandra Shulman is one of the UK’s most reputable voices in fashion trends and was awarded the CBE in 2018.

BizX takes place between 31st March and April 1st 2022 at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. To discover more about the event, visit the official website at actioncoach.co.uk/featured-events/bizx2022 Mark Bowden

Clare Balding

Mark Bowden is a global authority on nonverbal communication and has been voted the No.1 Body Language Professional in the world for two years running.

This year’s host is Clare Balding, one of Britain’s leading broadcasters. She has presented every Olympic Games since 1996 and every Paralympics since 2000.

* to enter you must be based in the Sheffield and city region and be available for Thursday 31st March and Friday 1st April 2022.

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TOTE RUNNER

CONTENTS

STORY: KAREN MOSLEY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HLM ARCHITECTS 34 COVER

FOCUS ON: SHEFFIELD LEVELLING BUSINESS UP 52 2021 26 AWARDS

THE unLTD SHEFFIELD PODCAST BUSINESS 43 2021 26 AWARDS 6

THE BACKROOM AGENCY SHEFFIELD ON PUTTINGBUSINESS THE CLIENT FIRST 70 2021 26 AWARDS

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

CONTENTS

INSIDE...

8-13: News A round-up of latest news from our region including updates from Barratt Developments, Wentworth Woodhouse, and Ponds Forge.

15-17: Appointments New branding and website for Glu Recruit plus the latest career moves.

27: A Helping Hand Our columnist on sharing expertise tailored to each client.

@UNLTDBUSINESS UNLTD BUSINESS UNLTDBUSINESS

SPRINGBOARD YOUR CAREER 33: Equality in STEM This month we speak to Moya Barnett, an apprentice bench joiner at Up North Cabinet Makers.

64-67: AG Group We speak to Jeff Parkin and Andrew Crowder from AG Group Ltd Sheffield to reminisce on their last 40 years of business in printers, photocopiers and more.

69: Your Pitch Find out about The L&D Co., an outsourced learning and development function based in Doncaster.

EVERYTHING ELSE: 19: The Diary 21: Legal Matters 23: Entrepreneur Support 25: Securing Your Assets 28-29: The Art of Networking 31: Skills Focus 41: Launchpad 45: Your Pitch 81: Barnsley Business Village 85: Launchpad 89-90: Charity

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Working your way up in a company from Youth Training Scheme – or an apprenticeship – to managing director is pretty rare.

But that is what our cover star Karen Mosley has done with her firm HLM Architects. And not only has Karen risen to the top at HLM but she is also currently president of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

She tells us about her journey from being the nervous new girl to progressing through the firm and eventually leading a management buyout, cementing HLM as one of the top 100 architect practices in the country.

And in her role as Chamber president she explains why developing the city’s skills base is vital to Sheffield’s prosperity.

We have plenty more for you too, including asking local businesses to tell us what they need from the government’s much heralded, but so far little delivered, levelling up promise.

This part of the world can often feel a long way from the centres of power so what will it take to put us on a level playing field with the rest of the UK? We take a step back in time to look at the changing face of office equipment. For some of our younger readers you’ll be amazed at some of the appliances we were expected to deal with!

Our regular array of columnists share their words of wisdom, covering everything from inflation and business coaching to consultancy and networking.

Spring is in the air so enjoy the issue and keep an eye out for details of upcoming unLTD events.

EDITORIAL Richard Fidler richard@unltdbusiness.com editorial@unltdbusiness.com General hello@unltdbusiness.com 0114 252 7760 ADVERTISING Dan Laver dan@unltdbusiness.com 07867 313995 Phil Turner phil@unltdbusiness.com 07979 498034 General advertising@unltdbusiness.com FINANCE Lis Ellis accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Simon Garlick and Marc Barker CONTRIBUTORS Dom Brook Beth Burley Chris Coates Jackie Cook Jo Davison Richard Fidler Matt Holmes Dax Keeling

Dan Laver Sam Leeder Steve Lenagh Brogan Maguire Jade March James Marriott Rachel Measures Wendy Ward

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.

7

AGENDA NEWS Sheffield one of first recipients of Turing Network Development Awards The University of Sheffield is among 24 UK universities to receive the Turing Network Development Award which will support the University’s data science and AI research and build on the world-leading expertise at Sheffield to contribute to a national programme that sets the UK apart as a leader in the field.

The exploration of data science and AI has the potential to transform society by tackling some of the global challenges facing healthcare, social justice and manufacturing and industry today, using the wealth of digital data produced by these sectors to improve outcomes and improve lives.

The University of Sheffield demonstrated its proven research excellence and global reputation of translation in data science and AI to win the award, which will enhance Sheffield’s research networks and collaborations as part of the Alan Turing Institute’s innovation community.

Haiping Lu, from the University of Sheffield, and new Turing Network Development Award Lead, said: “We are delighted to be one of the first to receive the Turing Network Development Award.

This award will accelerate our efforts around data science and AI at Sheffield and strengthen our expertise in applying such research to real-world challenges; in medicine and health, manufacturing and industry, and the humanities fields.”

8

NEW BARRATT DONATION TO SUPPORT 69 SHEFFIELD HALLAM STUDENTS Sixty-nine Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) students will be supported during their studies following a donation of £111,000 for scholarships and bursaries from The Barratt Foundation, the charitable arm of Barratt Developments, the country’s biggest housebuilder.

The new three-year commitment provides nine scholarships and 60 bursaries to support students facing financial hardship during their studies. The financial support for full scholarships provides £3,000 per year towards the cost of studying.

Bursary students receive a support payment of £500.

The Barratt Foundation and SHU are working to address the UK’s skills shortage in the construction sector, which has worsened since Brexit.

They are supporting students and making a valuable contribution to the future of place-making across the country.

Nick Worrall, Group HR Director at Barratt

LEFT-RIGHT: SIR CHRIS HUSBANDS, VICE-CHANCELLOR OF SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY, STUDENTS INVOLVED WITH THE BARRATT FOUNDATION, AND NICK WORRALL, GROUP HR DIRECTOR AT BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS

Developments, said: “It’s vital for the housebuilding sector that there is a strong pipeline of talent who bring fresh ideas about building the homes of the future. That means supporting as many students as we can so people from a wide variety of backgrounds can enter the industry.

SHU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands,

said: “I am delighted that The Barratt Foundation has chosen to iancrease their donation to provide more scholarships and bursaries at Sheffield Hallam. Their generous commitment makes a real difference, supporting students to study at degree level, but also helping the university meet the skill needs of our region.”

TAYLOR&EMMET SHORTLISTED FOR FIVE LOCAL AWARDS Specialists from Sheffield’s Taylor&Emmet LLP personal services department are being recognised at the Sheffield and District Law Society’s Yorkshire Law Banquet and Awards on February 25.

Held at the Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria in Sheffield, the Yorkshire Law Banquet and Awards is a celebration of the region’s best solicitors and their achievements in

the last 12 months. To make the shortlist in five of the awards’ nine categories, Taylor&Emmet has had to

demonstrate its commitment to clients and dedication to best practice.

Steve Hinshelwood (pictured), the firm’s chief executive, said: “We are really looking forward to the forthcoming banquet and marking the accomplishments of our sector with colleagues from across the industry.

We hope our run of success continues on the night!”

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AGENDA

LEADING THE CHARGE TO NET ZERO IN BARNSLEY FROM THE BUSINESS VILLAGE In June 2019, Parliament passed legislation requiring the government to reduce the UK’s net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100 per cent relative to 1990 levels by 2050. Doing so would make the UK a ‘net zero’ emitter.

The Net Zero Accelerator is a free project of intensive support available until the end of June 2022 from The Business Village, designed exclusively for 36 innovative

Barnsley businesses who have high-impact potential for contributing to net zero carbon emissions, boosting their reputation as green businesses.

Businesses should be registered in the UK, represented by a decision maker within the business, have a turnover of at least £250k per annum and be willing to commit to attend the full project.

To learn more and express

interest, businesses can visit www.barnsleybic.co.uk/ netzeroaccelerator or contact Kevin Steel, business development manager at The Business Village on 01226 249590 or ksteel@ barnsleybic.co.uk This project is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Doncaster steps up its active travel offer with the introduction of a leasing programme for e-bikes Doncaster is increasing its option for commuters in the town centre through ewheelers’ new dedicated site for e-bikes and micromobility. ewheelers is a Yorkshirebased business, that started with a website, to provide a market that offers e-bikes (road, mountain, hybrid, tricycles, or cargo) for all users (the dedicated enthusiasts, beginners, commuters, and those using bikes for leisure).

Launching a new initiative in March 2022 to encourage active travel on electric bikes in the Doncaster area, ewheelers is hoping to encourage a range of employees.

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The scheme will be introducing a leasing program with ten hybrid e-bikes, secure storage, electrical charging points, a maintenance schedule, and coaching.

In addition, dedicated account managers will be allocated to major employers with green credentials and

physical and mental health/ wellbeing high on their agenda. The intention is to introduce an easier way of cycling to those who are sceptical around this form of transport and potentially lead to an increase in numbers taking up the government’s Cycle2work scheme.

Clean Power Hydrogen is admitted to AIM Clean Power Hydrogen plc (CPH2) have announced that they have been admitted to the London Stock Exchange AIM market.

Established by Dr. Nigel Williamson and Joe Scott in 2012 CPH2 have an ambition to help clean up the environment for future generations, producing hydrogen in the cleanest way possible.

Jon Duffy, CPH2 CEO, said: “This is an important milestone for CPH2 and will assist the rapid growth of our Group. The funds raised will further strengthen our financial position and enable CPH2 to build their Doncaster manufacturing operation.

“I am also delighted that we have been awarded the London Stock Exchange’s Green Economy Mark at Admission, which recognises companies that derive 50 per cent or more of their total annual revenues from products and services that contribute to the global green economy.

“I am grateful for all the hard work of our team, and I would like to thank our new and existing shareholders for their support. We are confident in our ability to deliver on the opportunities ahead and I look forward to providing updates on our progress as our business develops."

9

AGENDA NEWS

ALEX OLDALE

Sheffield Steelhawks Player set for Estonia World Championships Alex Oldale, a 17-year-old Barnsley College student from Hoyland, plays for the Sheffield Steelhawks U18s, a Sheffield Ice Hockey Academy team based at iceSheffield, and has been selected for the Team GB U18s 2022 World Championships.

Netminder Alex started his career playing roller hockey and then progressed to the ice aged 12 when he joined Sheffield Ice Hockey Academy and played for The Stormers. He also trains with the Sheffield Steeldogs on their prospect programme.

Alex will fly out to Estonia for the World Championships which begin on 3rd April.

Shaun Lough, general manager at iceSheffield which is run by Sheffield City Trust said: “We’re thrilled to see that Alex has been selected to represent Great Britain for the upcoming World Championships and it is testament to the hard work and dedication he puts in training at iceSheffield.”

Alex said: “I am grateful to have the opportunity to travel to Estonia for the championships. iceSheffield have been amazing throughout my journey.”

To enquire about iceSheffield’s Learn to Skate program visit: www. sheffieldcitytrust.org/sport/ lessons/ice-skating-lessons

10

HEAD GARDENER SCOTT JAMIESON, DIVIDING SNOWDROPS

VISIT THE SNOWDROP FLURRIES AT WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE Known as the first flower of the year, the valiant little snowdrop is about to make a big impact at Rotherham’s hidden gem Wentworth Woodhouse.

Throughout February, snowdrop flurries form dainty carpets of white at every end and turn in the grade I listed mansion’s private garden.

The flower symbolises winter nearing an end and hope for better times ahead.

Five varieties - from the most common Galanthus Nivalis to the honey-scented

Galanthus Atkinsii - stretch across several acres at the house being brought back to life by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust.

The picturesque scenes are thanks to head gardener Scott Jamieson, his right-hand man Andy Smith and their two teams of local garden volunteers - the Tuesday Welly Wangers and the Wednesday Bramble Bashers.

Scott said: “Our Snowdrop Mantra is 'Dig, divide, plant, repeat!' It’s hard work but wonderfully rewarding. We

all get stuck in, knowing we are making next year’s snowdrop flurries all the more special.

“Our drifts firmly place the gardens at Wentworth Woodhouse in any discerning gardener’s diary as a must-go visit and light the fuse for the kaleidoscope of colour arriving in the next few months.”

Wentworth Woodhouse gardens are open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.

Book garden tickets online: wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk

Mechan lands prestigious Heathrow contract Sheffield’s rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is flying high after securing a contract to supply ten mobile jacks for London’s Heathrow Airport.

Mechan is working with aviation construction specialist, Mace, to design jacks that will operate in conjunction with an existing wheel change unit. This will allow the large, tyred wheels on Heathrow’s new two-car automated passenger vehicles to be removed and replaced without decoupling, dramatically reducing servicing times. They will be used as a synchronised set of eight replacing the depot’s current jacks that only operate in sets of four.

The proximity between the transit car’s jacking point and its wheels means that Mechan had to create a narrow version of its mobile jack, compact enough to fit into an elevator used to access the underground maintenance

facility at Heathrow’s terminal five. Lindsey Mills, Mechan’s sales manager, said: “We are pleased to be working on our first project with Mace, and relish this opportunity to demonstrate our skills to the aviation industry.”

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AGENDA

SHEFFIELD’S NEWEST DIGITAL AGENCY CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY Launched in February 2020 by experienced digital marketer Mark Skinner, Logica Digital specialises in delivering paid search, SEO and paid social media campaigns.

Under Mark’s leadership, the company has built a 15 strong client base, which includes national student lettings agency Unihomes, DIY components provider Eurofit Direct and Yorkshire-based granite and quartz worktop specialist Stone Synergy and is setting its sights on doubling its turnover over the next 12 months.

Logica has relocated to the newly opened Cubo office complex based on Carver Street.

Mark Skinner said: “Despite launching at a very challenging

New funding released by Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to help local SMEs LEFT TO RIGHT: MARK SKINNER, AMY RENARDSON & DYLAN BONSALL

time for many companies, we’ve enjoyed great success during our first two years. Moving into our new headquarters will help us to lay the foundations for significant future growth.”

Digital marketing executive Dylan Bonsall will join

Logica’s team, after securing a permanent role following his apprenticeship.

Mark said: “Dylan excelled during his apprenticeship, and I’m hoping that in the years to come he will become a valuable member of our team.”

New premises for Direct Print after successful year of growth Custom clothing and workwear provider Direct Print has moved into much larger premises after a successful year of growth.

The company is moving to a new base within the same industrial estate it is currently located in at Sheaf Bank in Heeley.

Director James Smith said: “This big step will give us around 4,000 square feet of space and give us the chance to improve our print and embroidery capacity by further investing in machinery, technologies and employees.

The move comes after a year of growth for Direct Print, with new employees now on board.

James added: “Over the last 12 months we have really worked hard on looking after our customers. We have kept prices as low as possible, improved and refined our product offering.

“We have also taken on three new employees while promoting a member of our

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team internally after their performance consistently exceeded expectations.

"We wanted to grow and we planned for that, but I couldn’t be happier with the work and dedication shown that has helped us to get there.”

Direct Print has also launched a leading-edge new e-commerce website. Via www.directprintuk.co.uk, users can browse and order customised clothing online for the first time.

James said: “Once settled in we would love to welcome local businesses to come and see our products being customised

and even try on some of our workwear.

“The new space will see a much bigger showroom featuring t-shirts, polos, hoodies, trousers, boots and much more.

“We have created not just a functional space, but one that will give us the ability to create almost a retail-like environment. Our products are not ‘off-the-shelf’ but I believe that we can show our customers the same experience-led journey that many of us enjoy on the high street. I can’t wait to welcome clients old and new in 2022.”

Businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber, and Tees Valley are set to benefit from an additional £5m of funding from NPIF - BEF & FFE Microfinance, which is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (“NPIF”).

This new allocation will increase the fund size to £15m and enable lenders to continue their support to start-ups, early-stage and more established businesses that are looking to grow.

Microfinance loans are designed to provide businesses with funding that can be used to fill gaps in working capital, fund expansion projects, invest in new equipment, leasing commercial premises, hire new staff and more.

Chris Rickerby, operations manager at RKB Electrical, said: “Businesses all over the UK are looking to welcome their employees back to a central hub where possible, with healthier, brighter spaces. We’re using the funding to provide a range of bespoke lighting products that can deliver on this.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project (NPIF) is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

11

AGENDA NEWS Sheffield City Council launches electric taxi trial Eight “Black cab” style London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVCs) taxis will be available for two weeks.

All the electric taxis are wheelchair accessible and aim to give drivers a handson experience of an electric taxi, while being cleaner, greener and saving on the cost of diesel. The council is working with Sherbet, and they currently operate 500 electric taxis around the country.

Councillor Douglas Johnson, Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “Many taxis are polluting vehicles and that’s why the Clean Air Zone is about unlocking substantial grants so that taxi drivers can upgrade their vehicles to either Euro 6 or allelectric standards. Electric taxis will complement other measures across the city to clean up the air and reduce carbon emissions from a vital and important part of Sheffield’s transport systems.”

Asher Moses, founder of Sherbet, said: “We want to make it easy for Sheffield taxi drivers to switch from diesel to electric, reducing toxic emissions.”

The scheme is funded through the Government’s Early Measures Fund for reducing air pollution and is now open for drivers licensed with Sheffield City Council. Find out more at www.sherbetsheffield.com.

12

REVAMPED PONDS FORGE LEISURE POOL PROVES VERY POPULAR AS BOOKINGS SOAR Surf City leisure pool at Ponds Forge re-opened late January with a broader activity timetable packed with a host of new sessions, getting off to a great start with a sold-out Little Swimmers session for under 5s.

The pool re-opened on 31 January with a full programme of sessions that includes social, leisure, ladies-only, mobility, accessible and dementiafriendly swims.

Andrew Snelling, chief executive at Sheffield City Trust said: “It’s great to welcome everyone back to Ponds Forge and see how well it is being received. On Saturday we invited some of the community groups we work with to come and have a sneak preview and try out the new facilities.”

The leisure pod which is a smaller pool next to the main pool has had a new custommade disabled hoist installed and this pool sits alongside the baby and toddler pool which has shallow water and includes a mini slide and interactive sensory wall.

The leisure pool re-opening has created extra slots for lane swimming in the 50m competition pool.

All sessions can be booked online at: www.sheffieldcitytrust.org/ leisure/leisure-swimming

TwinklHive invests in eargym as they combat hearing deterioration across the country Sheffield-based TwinklHive provides space, investment, and support to accelerate the growth of EdTech companies.

They recently invested in eargym, a company which is exploring the correlation between hearing loss and dementia, giving people the ability to track their hearing health to prevent long-term problems.

Founded in 2020 by Amanda Philpott and Andy Shanks, eargym is an innovative digital hearing fitness platform which uses patent-pending auditory training combined with realistic immersive 360-degree audio to stimulate the ears and parts of the brain responsible

for hearing. Amanda, founder of eargym, said: “I'm incredibly passionate about public health and social care, yet I wasn’t aware that hearing is the biggest amenable factor in nine per cent of all dementia.”

Eargym’s aim is for its technology to allow users to take control of their hearing health by delivering personalised training through

their easy-to-use app.

The only current solution for hearing loss is the use of hearing aids, which are designed for people with severe hearing loss. Studies show that there is a need for preventative measures, specifically for the younger generation who are more at risk of prolonged exposure to loud noise.

David Angrave, investment director of TwinklHive, said: “We are excited about this investment and believe eargym will change the way people view their hearing health.”

For further information, visit: www.eargym.world

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

AGENDA PROPERTY NEWS

HEART OF THE CITY HOTEL CONSTRUCTION BEGINS Major work to construct Sheffield city centre’s new flagship Radisson Blu hotel, part of the £480 million Heart of the City development programme, has begun this week.

The hotel scheme, designed

by HLM Architects, will provide ground floor retail and restaurant space, a high-end lifestyle hotel and rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the Peace Gardens.

In addition to the new hotel, the wider Heart of the City scheme is delivering Grade A office space, residential developments, restaurants and cafés, leisure destinations, retail and stunning public realm.

The arrival of Radisson Blu in Sheffield will help attract new business opportunities to the city, while raising its profile as a major destination for business and travel.

Accommodating visitors with facilities for both work and relaxation, the hotel will be housed behind the facades of Palatine Chambers and City Mews. Replacing Barkers Pool House on Burgess Street will be a second building, containing the majority of the

RESIDENTS OF THE RADISSON BLU WILL ENJOY VIEWS OVER THE PEACE GARDENS AND SURROUNDING AREA

hotel’s 154 bedrooms.

Serving to enhance Sheffield’s social scene, a rooftop bar, restaurant and terrace is also planned for the hotel, which will look out over the Peace Gardens. Upmarket ground-level retail and food and beverage units are

included in the plans. Delia Harmston, studio director at HLM Architects said: “As the economy restarts, our city centres will play a more important role than ever in ensuring the vitality and prosperity of communities throughout the UK.

“It is exciting to see this project move forward to the next stage, as it is set to breathe new life into Sheffield’s city centre while celebrating its unique heritage and positioning this community to thrive for years to come.”

OVO Spaces completes showroom fit-out for Bakewell-based Criterium Cycles Award winning Sheffield commercial interior design and fit-out specialist OVO Spaces has completed work on a new Peak District showroom for Criterium Cycles.

Criterium Cycles was established in Edinburgh in 2013 by brothers Paul and Richard Bowker.

Now the company has come to the famous Peak District town of Bakewell, with a state-of-the-art customer showroom at the Riverside Business Park.

Work on converting and

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CRITERIUM CYCLES IN BAKEWELL

preparing the unit for opening was carried out by the team at OVO Spaces.

OVO Spaces managing director Rebecca Knight said:

“We were delighted to be working on a project that brings such an exciting and respected industry name to the Peak District.

“We have created a space that shows off the full Criterium range at its very best and we look forward to developing our working relationship with Richard and Paul as their brand expands.”

Richard Bowker CBE, cofounder of Criterion Cycles said: “The facility and showroom we have designed and created with OVO Space is modern, light and spacious and allows us to showcase all our products and brands really well.

“We are thrilled with the end result and know our customers will be too.”

13

If you are a property investor it is likely that you have already encountered a negative experience when dealing with a utility provider. Poor communication, navigating a complicated and regulated process, volatile costs or unexpected lengthy lead times are common complaints which cause delay. A delay can of course disturb your lending conditions.

At Utility Source we believe in sharing information with our customers to provide ongoing education and understanding.

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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US ON 01709 763237 OR AT INFO@UTILITYSOURCELIMITED.CO.UK

AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

SPONSORED BY

NEW WEBSITE AND REBRAND FOR GLU RECRUIT

TO KICK OFF A YEAR OF GROWTH Glu Recruit, the South Yorkshire based specialist recruitment consultancy, have kicked off a ‘year of growth and new opportunities’ with the launch of a new website, along with the evolvement of their brand identity.

The new website has been developed to make the job seeking process more streamlined for candidates, enabling them to easily register for job alerts and apply for vacancies tailored to their individual skills sets and job requirements.

Designed to generate more inbound candidate enquiries, the website will in turn benefit employers across the Sheffield City Region as candidates are matched quickly and more accurately to vacancies across Glu’s specialist areas of recruitment.

Rob Shaw, managing director of Glu Recruit said: “This is so exciting for us at Glu Recruit, and a real line in the sand to kick off a year of growth and new opportunities for the business and all our staff.

“We’re expanding rapidly; placing a record number of candidates in January 2022, as well as building more new client partnerships than ever before, which is resulting in a big expansion of our team as we continue our own internal recruitment drive to make sure we continue to provide the best possible recruitment service.

The development of our brand alongside this growth has therefore become essential to ensure we continue to evolve as a company.

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THE BRAND NEW GLU RECRUIT WEBSITE

“A big part of the new website is allowing candidates to sign up to real time personalised job alerts direct to their inbox or mobile, enabling them to act fast when a suitable vacancy arises. Job alerts can be tailored to the type of role and location a job seeker is looking for, saving them time and the hassle of having to search multiple job boards.

“We’ve made it really easy for candidates to register for

permanent or temporary employment, upload their CV and identification, register for job alerts, and apply for vacancies directly from the website. For employers, the process is just as simple, providing an easy portal for them to add and value their current vacancies.

“Huge thanks go to everyone involved in the process; the Glu team, web agency Fishtank and

marketing consultancy Hallmark Branding. We’re thrilled with the results and can’t wait to see how this helps with the next stage in the evolvement of Glu Recruit.”

Whether you are a candidate looking to make a career move, or an employer looking to add your team, the new Glu Recruit website can help you on your journey by visiting www.glurecruit.co.uk

15

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: Social Media & Digital Marketing Executive Salary: Up to £24,000 per annum Sector: Marketing agency Location: Sheffield Role: Sales Support Manager Salary: £25,000-£30,000 per annum Sector: Manufacturing Location: Sheffield Role: Estimator Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum Sector: Electrical Engineering Location: Sheffield

AIRMASTER PROMOTES A SENIOR CONTRACTS MANAGER TO THEIR MAINTENANCE TEAM Project engineer Scott Wolstenholme who has worked in Airmaster’s contracts team for the last three years is being promoted to the maintenance department as senior contracts manager.

Scott will be responsible for attracting more work from the Refrigeration sector, bringing existing customers up to date with what Airmaster can offer as an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration company.

Scott said: “I will be working closely with our engineers, with the aim of providing technical support, using

STEVE, LEFT AND JASON

HEW expands with two new team members SCOTT WOLSTENHOLME

experience as a refrigeration engineer. I will be carrying out a range of site surveys/tenders which can include anything from installations, thermal insulations work as well as

maintenance and service contracts.”

Lisa Pogson, managing director at Airmaster, said: “We are delighted to have promoted Scott into this new role.”

HRM PR and Creative has strengthened its team with a new appointment Brogan Maguire, aged 25, joins HRM as a content manager and will be working across a range of clients from across the company’s portfolio.

A University of Sheffield graduate, Brogan joins the team with three years of journalism and content creation experience under her belt.

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She most recently worked as a Search and Trends writer at The Star newspaper in Sheffield, where she received multiple awards from the NCTJ. Brogan said: “I am so excited to be part of the team at HRM and to be getting involved in so many interesting projects with so many wonderful people.”

BROGAN MAGUIRE

HEW coaching has recruited two new members of staff.

Steve Lenagh has joined the HEW coaching team and will assist and oversee all areas of business growth.

HEW have also recruited Jason Nesbit, who is the company’s new head of content. Jason’s role will be to assist in creating high quality media content across the business.

Founder of HEW Helen Williams said: “I am delighted that Steve and Jason have joined the HEW team.

“Steve has a passion for people, and a strong desire to help others be the best they can be.

“Jason’s degree in Film and Media Production and experience from his freelancing background will bring a fresh dose of creativity to the team.”

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

AGENDA SPONSORED BY

Brand new appointments boost DCLT events team CLAIRE MILLINGTON

CHARLOTTE OWEN AND BEN LAWSON WITH TAX PARTNER ZOE ROBERTS

BHP KICKS OFF 2022 WITH THREE NEW ADDITIONS Yorkshire and Derbyshire’s leading accountancy firm, BHP, has bolstered its pensions audit and assurance team with the appointment of audit director Claire Millington and its tax team with the appointment of two new members, Charlotte Owen and Ben Lawson.

Claire brings to BHP over 14 years of audit experience with big 4 and mid-tier firms. She will be utilising her specialist

pension expertise to assist a client base of over 70 and will be based in BHP’s Cleckheaton office.

Claire said: “I am looking forward to working with the audit team and concentrating on BHP’s pension services.

BHP is a growing firm with a fabulous team and I am focused on expanding our pension assurance services to clients and developing our team further.”

Charlotte completed her AAT and ATT qualifications in her previous role, and Ben joins the team from another firm where he started as a school leaver and worked for three years.

BHP has been ranked the second-best accountancy firm to work for in the UK, and the 35th best company to work for across Yorkshire and the Humber in the Best Companies survey 2021.

Further growth for Mattress Online as pandemic-influenced spending continues Mattress Online has expanded its 64-strong team to 70, adding brand new roles in merchandise and forecast planning, product management, graphic design, and content administration.

Steve Adams, CEO, said: “We’ve seen some significant changes in consumer behaviour, and it’s estimated that consumers are spending up to 30 per cent more time at home. That has helped drive sales and as customers adapt to new hybrid ways of working, it looks set to continue.”

Last year, Mattress Online processed 128,500 orders from

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VICTORIA BOWDEN, MERCHANDISER & FORECAST PLANNER AND DAVE BIRKETT, CUSTOMER SERVICE

3.1 million web visitors.

Mattress Online plans to acquire 10 stores over the next five years meaning its great prices, excellent customer experience and quick turnaround times will be available to more online or

in-store. Steve said: “We’ve also strengthened our customer service team with new recruits and I’m confident 2022 will be an excellent year where we continue to innovate and use technology in the smartest and most evolutionary ways.”

Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust have strengthened their events offering across venues after appointing two new events officers.

Muhammad Aqeel, from London, and Olivia Maltby, from Doncaster, have joined DCLT to help deliver events across the trust’s range of facilities.

Muhammad, who has a degree in global business management from Coventry University, previously founded his own events company.

Olivia, who has a degree in theatre from University of York, has significant experience as a production assistant and has worked as an arts festival producer.

Chris Hone, head of commercial development at DCLT, said: “We are dedicated to delivering exciting events, from worldclass music and comedy acts at The Dome to communityfocused social activities.

We are always looking for talented people who can strengthen our team and our offering to the community.”

For further information, visit www.dclt.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A NEW STARTER?

Tell us your news by emailing: editorial@ unltdbusiness.com

17

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AGENDA

THE DIARY

BY RICHARD FIDLER

Our editor says the constant lecturing and scaremongering needs to stop

NEW ATTITUDE IS NEEDED FOR SPRING A colleague, when talking about our plans for this month, reminded me of the saying ‘When March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb’.

And it couldn’t be truer.

As we battled through the storms of Dudley and Eunice at the back of February – I had a particularly wild journey to Headingley Cricket Ground that I don’t wish to repeat any time soon – it’s always difficult to imagine the sudden warmer temperatures and longer evenings.

Not that we can’t be caught out by a cold snap. I seem to recall the Beast of the East in 2018 lingered into this month.

But as we move through March we’ll begin to pick up the rhythm of business that the spring brings. Holidays will be booked and after work drinks sat outside will be eagerly anticipated as well as the 9 to 5.

The past two years have been dominated by COVID-19 issues. This month will mark the start of what have been circumstances that none of us could comprehend would ever take place in this country.

Words such as ‘lockdown’ or ‘furlough’ were meaningless to us but became common in our vocabulary.

I remember writing at the turn of 2020 that now Brexit

had been put to bed with the big majority for Boris Johnson in the last general election I wondered what our media and political class would obsesses about next.

The pandemic has dominated since and I do worry what will be the topic du jour as COVID restrictions fade away.

Commentators that were all-knowing about trade deals one minute then became epidemiologists are now morphing into experts on the Russia/Ukraine situation.

I do realise this is a bit much coming from someone who is writing a column, which is hopefully read by many

people, but it’s my fervent hope that people are left to just get on with their lives.

Enough with the lecturing and scaremongering. The ‘I know best’ mentality has never sat right with me, unless it’s from people who have genuine expertise and experience in a particular subject.

And that’s why I like that line from the poem.

More lamb than lion is needed from loudest voices in our society as we all look to pick up the pieces from two years that were far more turbulent than even Dudley, Eunice and Franklin could throw at us.

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

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

19

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AGENDA

LEGAL MATTERS

BY DAX KEELING, BELL & BUXTON INCORPORATING IRONMONGER CURTIS Dax discusses your options if you decide you want to cut ties with a business

dgers

BUSINESS FALL OUT: WHAT CAN YOU DO? It has been nearly two years since the pandemic began its seismic effect on the UK. Whilst the impact on home life has been huge, the impact on business has been no less significant.

I have found that I am receiving more enquiries about internal business fallouts than had been the case prior to March 2020.

My colleague Alex Ross and I recently recorded a podcast on shareholder disputes in response to this situation.

There are many ways in which people in business can fall out, or just decide that they are better off going their separate ways. That isn’t new; issues such as financial strains and personality clashes have always been a feature of business. The pandemic may have increased the levels of

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

resentment between directors and shareholders in slightly different ways and brought other tensions to the fore.

The pressure of keeping the business afloat might for example be leading to issues where business owners start muttering darkly about their colleagues not pulling their weight.

If you are a shareholder in a Limited Company and you decide you no longer want to be part of the business, how easy is it to exit the business with minimum fuss? A lot depends on whether you already have an agreement in place (typically a Shareholders Agreement) which allows for your share in the business to be purchased by the other shareholders in defined circumstances.

If there is no such agreement

in place, then there may be trouble ahead. The truth is that many businesses do not think they need a Shareholders Agreement; the shareholders aren’t going to fall out, so why spend the money on one?

In most small private companies, anyone holding a shareholding of 50 per cent or less in the business needs to be realistic about how valuable their shareholding is.

Another problematic factor is that, by the time a shareholder has decided they want out of the business, relations with other shareholders may well have deteriorated.

Trying to force a purchase of shares, or even a winding up of the company, means entering litigation that is frequently lengthy, expensive and bitter.

Not only is there an emotional

impact on the people involved, but costs will end up being an extremely significant part of the financial framework of the case.

My advice to any Limited Company and its shareholders is to make sure that they have a well drafted Settlement Agreement in place to deal with the eventuality where a shareholder wants to sell their shares. Shareholders need to be realistic about what their shareholding is worth and to try to resolve issues as amicably as possible before an acrimonious and expensive dispute blows up.

If you would like to speak to Dax Keeling about cutting ties with a business, please contact him on 0114 220 2172 or d.keeling@bellbuxton.co.uk

21

WANTED: Equality in STEM Female Role Models ADVERTORIAL Q&A COLUMN

FEMALE ROLE MODELS

Media Partner

PROMOTING EQUALITY IN STEM

Our Mission: To attract and retain women in STEM careers in South and West Yorkshire

Q&A COLUMN

FEMALE ROLE MO DELS

RACHEL ABBOTT MANAGING DIRECTOR,

PROMOTING EQU ALITY IN STEM and

Our Mission : To attract

COBRA SPORT EXHAUSTS What is your current role?

Managing Director – Cobra Sport Exhausts.

What does that involve, look like on a day-to-day basis?

Day to day organisation of the manufacturing operations at our Sheffield site. Including health and safety, production planning, HR issues, purchasing planning, etc.

Then with my MD hat on I take control of the strategic planning and financial planning and budgeting for the company at group level.

take or gain along the way?

Lots of CPD, IOSH, Leading Organisational Change LGCI.

How did you get started working in STEM? The family business was in the motor trade and I joined in 2004. Since then my brother and I developed the business further into what it is today.

Why do you love working in STEM? I love the variety of my role – no day is the same and there are always new things to learn and challenges to overcome.

What qualifications did you

What challenges have you

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

faced in your career? And how have you overcome them?

Being a female in a male dominated industry has been challenging at times, I always ignore any negativity and carry on regardless!

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

That it is hard work at times,

retain wom en in

STEM careers in

South and West Yorkshir e

HABBIA LAIS

Connecting business across Sheffield City Region

Female Role models: Q&A Column If you would like to be featured as one of our Female Role Models, or would like to nominate a friend or colleague, please answer the following questions and return to Jackie Cook, Founder, Equality in STEM on jackie@cqstrategicmarketing.com

TECHNOL IST AT TRIBOSOG ONICS LTD

but ultimately one of the most rewarding industries to work in, with vast opportunities to build a successful career.

What does What do we need to do invo as an your role involve?

I am lved in iden What qual industry to attractthe andsens keep tifying ifica ing take or gain tions did you more women in STEM? of our cust technology needs capabilities omers and Following myalong the way?

Highlight the opportunities the practicality new. Over to learn something of impleme in engineer foundation time, by havi organising available and make jobs to the extra ing, I unde supportive interactive ct useful data ntation aerospac rtook group dete ng a can inspire even more relatable byeach offering e engi to do well in rmined project is besp . As the younger ts an industria neering with generation oke, I more in depth information on research and l began to chanour studies, we placement to consider year present ultra potential path the what is involved.concepts and believe ge our mindset sonic my . Upon graduating from whic Bachelors, key element s in STEM. One forward to h are taken whatever wethat we can do inve National Stru I joined the what kind is to be clear on set our min For the full article please visit stigate and valid ctura ate thro of ds qual to. l Integ ifica ugh Research Cent rity routes are tion bench-top our blog at: equalityinstem. testing, resu What advi need successfully re (NSIRC) and ce particular secto ed to get into a org.uk/blog/ prototype lting in a working for someone would you offer for the industrial-ledcompleted an joining the For qualified r.

By being invo end user. sectors?

PhD in pow STEM wom ultra en lved from currently in er sonics. concept to Firstly, mak product, ther out of their STEM that opt lot of enga networkin e the most of gement thro e is a Why do you g believe thatcareer path, I the various ughout people in theevents. Talking to love working STEM? workplace having a diverse in workplace teams in the are intereste sectors that you is to I love the need is not a 50-5 key. Even if there technologica really strive for open your d in will really to work 0 split betw together to l innovatio mind to the male and fema een n. produce mul routes and endl ess le, havi disci poss tipeople from ng plinary How did you forward with ibilities to go today’s prob solutions to and backgroudifferent job posts . working in get started From this, STEM? with people lems. Working with each othends engaged I had an inter decide on whayou can start to backgroundsfrom different projects, even r through t sectors from a youn est in creating what type ts and even more abou and learning of work you and desk selected anyg age, but I never arran t what I don’ to do as well want gement can by has elevated t know supporting be during my STEM subjects qualification as what kind of factor in reta a A-Le creating to my passion for job long term ining a a design exhi vels. I attended now will help you s and experience . be an inventor striving to n where I met graduatebitio33 this field of secure a job in impossible and make the work. Seco For the full in Brunel. Thiss from Made possible. is not all abou ndly artic , life was where visit our blog le please discovered sure you dem t work, so make I at: engi What chal equa onst an option mov neering as lityin rate lenges have passions outs your stem.org.uk/b faced in your you log and decided ing forward don’t be afrai ide of work and career, and to have enrol into how d to be your you over foundation self. in engineer a During my come them? degree at Brun ing university What do we years, being from el Universit London. industry to need to do as an y backgrounda non-STEM more wom attract and keep have the confimeant I didn’t en Introducing in STEM? dence in my via talks and females in STEM events and

Please supply a picture of yourself to accompany the profile, your company logo and your company website.

What is your current role?

What does that involve, look like on a day-to-day basis?

How did you get started working in STEM? What qualifications did you take or gain along the way?

Why do you love working in STEM? What challenges have you faced in your career? And how have you overcome them?

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

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

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

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equalityinstem.org.uk

equality in STEM

ARMED FORCES BUSINESS CHALLENGE 17th

Free Business CPD Opportunity March 2022 09:30 - 15:30 | Sheffield S12 2AN

The British Army places a lot of faith in its leaders; ‘Serve to Lead’ is the motto of one of the world’s foremost leadership academies – Sandhurst.

This November, we will give you the opportunity for an insight into Army leadership at a bespoke free CPD/leadership event.

Who: Teams of 4 - 6 employees; no minimum fitness standards.

Where: Manor Top Army Reserve Centre, Sheffield S12 2AN. What: CPD opportunity where teams will be presented with a number of challenge scenarios which they will need to communicate, lead and decide how best to overcome.

How: To register, click the link or scan the QR code above.

For further information contact: Major Kate Hannaford Kate.Hannaford725@mod.gov.uk

AGENDA

ENTREPRENEURSUPPORT

BY STEVE LENAGH, HELPING ENTREPRENEURS WIN

Steve shares his insight into the value of coaching to maximise your business goals

TRAINING THE MIND TO REACH YOUR GOALS In this article, I explore the importance of coaching for YOU as an individual, in order to maximize performance and business growth.

Why #youfirst?

As an ex professional footballer, I have experienced first-hand how a failure to ensure I am in the right shape, both physically and mentally, can affect performance. My inability at times to block out external noise affected my career. My mindset was one of ‘What if it goes wrong?’ and my whole sense of self-worth was based on external validation. This made me vulnerable and easily influenced by others. Rocky foundations indeed!

If you think you’ll fail, then you probably will. If you think you’ll succeed, then you probably will.

Read that back. Yes, it seems simple and maybe even obvious to some, but how often do we stand back and reflect on our mindset? That little voice that says, ‘Don’t

do that, you’ll look stupid’, or ‘Don’t do that, it will never work’. How many dreams have stayed just that, due to fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of change?

The list could go on. If you are not willing to embrace fear and experience discomfort and vulnerability, how can you expect to grow as an individual or business? That’s why we start with #youfirst

because YOU are the root of any success, both personally and professionally. Coaching is a fantastic way to help raise awareness, and re-write the script, to ensure it is in line with YOU, your beliefs, and your values.

What good is climbing the corporate ladder if the ladder is propped against the wrong wall?

15 years in a career I felt little attachment to, and a feeling that there had got to be more than this left me feeling unfulfilled. My ladder was firmly against the wrong wall, but not anymore.

A word of warning though – there is no easy route or quick fix. It requires commitment, discipline, courage, and a willingness to not only make mistakes, but to embrace them, and understand that they are an important part of the learning process.

I am now loving life as a coach and wish to inspire and motivate others to be all they can be. I now have purpose and meaning in my life, and that is available to every one of us.

So, who are you?

What are YOUR dreams, and visions for the future? What needs to happen for this to become reality?

For more information on how coaching can help, visit helpingentrepreneurswin.com

Get in touch today to book a consultation

HELPINGENTREPRENEURSWIN.COM

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

23

THE REGATHER FRUIT & VEG BOX LOCAL & ORGANIC Enjoy Sheffield produce to your door.

Tailor your box to suit your needs with loads of locally made extras inc. Forge bread, Our Cow Molly milk, eggs, craft beer & treats!

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An award winning training provider delivering programmes in the AAT, ACCA, ICAEW and CIMA Qualifications Level 2, 3, 4 and 7 Apprenticeship schemes as well as exams only programmes, using online and classroom delivery models Training centres conveniently based in Sheffield and Leeds city centres Speak to us to find out how employers can receive £3000 for eligible apprentices of any age who start employment from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022 You can apply for incentive payments for these apprentices until March 2022

AGENDA

SECURING YOUR ASSETS

BY SAM LEEDER

Our columnist shares an insight into how inflation might affect your business insurance

ds r

OFFSET THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES! The news outlets are full of stories about inflation and as business owners we know that the headlines only just scratch the surface. Real world inflation for businesses is much higher, whether it’s raw material costs, energy prices or the difficult labour market. Unfortunately, these costs cannot just be passed on, with many businesses having to absorb the costs and reducing profit margins.

Sadly, insurance companies are not immune to these same issues. Inflation causes liability claim awards to increase as well as rebuilding costs and the value of assets such as machinery and contents.

While your insurance policies will generally be indexed to keep up with these increases, this will filter through to the pricing.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

These underlying pressures along with insurance capacity generally being reduced, forcing insurers to increase rates, means that we are in a position where most insurance policies will be increasing by around ten per cent as a minimum. This will be exacerbated where a company is in a high-risk industry or where they have a poor claims record.

In the face of these pressures, how can you ensure that your business doesn’t pay too much for your insurances?

In my experience insurance tends to be the last thing people think about. It can often be neglected and not reviewed properly on a regular basis.

We would therefore recommend a thorough review of your cover, sums

insured and estimates as well as reviewing the providers.

The insurance marketplace is very dynamic with new providers coming on stream all the time, therefore if you have simply renewed your insurances on the nod for the last three years or more, it’s likely that there could be a better deal available.

If you use a broker, ask them to come in and see you if possible so that they can fully understand your business and discuss with you how they can approach the market to get you the best deal available, whilst also ensuring that cover isn’t compromised.

If you don’t currently use a local broker, why not look up someone in your area or ask your other professional advisers who they would

recommend. A broker is best placed in my view to ensure you get the right cover at the right price.

During these times it is also incredibly important that you maintain your focus on safety and risk management within your business as ultimately those with the best claims record will always get the best deal.

If you’d like any more information on this or a chat about the current market conditions, feel free to get in touch at info@actusinsurance.co.uk.

Sam Leeder ACII Actus Insurance samleeder@ actusinsurance.co.uk 0114 290 3624 07718 189476

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We are a Yorkshire based Specialist Business Consultancy & Training Provider Implementing Business Support Interventions to Facilitate Change Our Business Consultants will drive empowerment and help your team gain and retain the knowledge needed to grow. Our approach focuses on the following services:

Strategy

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HR Services

ISO System Implementation

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For more information, please contact:

email: enquiries@brookconsult.co.uk telephone: 01226 240 435 visit: www.brookconsult.co.uk The Business Village, Innovation Way, Wilthorpe, Barnsley, S75 1JL

AGENDA

ABY DOMHELPING HAND BROOK OF BROOK CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS Dom explains how his specialist consultants can help your business

SHARING EXPERTISE Director of business consultancy and training provider Brook Corporate Developments, Dom Brook, explains how his team of specialist consultants immerse themselves in your business Consultancy is at the forefront of everything we do at Brook. When you approach us for support, you are assigned to a business support manager who will be the one of the first people you come into contact with. Our business support team will conduct an initial diagnostic with the business to identify what their need is and how we can help them.

Most businesses come to us having already identified a need, but we will work with them to put together a package of support and that is led by our consultants. We don’t follow a specific formula or template – the diagnostic work we do at an early stage allows us to flush

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

out what a business’s need is, and we then write a proposal of how we think we can help them which is completely bespoke to that business. This is key to the way we work at Brook.

A key aspect of our consultancy work is to integrate ourselves within the business – we don’t just want to be seen as an external provider. We firmly consider ourselves as an extension of all the businesses we work with because we believe that is the way to get the best results for our clients.

Whether it’s reducing waste, minimising downtime or optimising sales processes, our consultants will immerse themselves within a business to identify what needs they have, how those needs can be met and what timescales might be involved. We want to be seen as part of the furniture and even after the need we identify has been met, we don’t just leave. Our consultants have

become so integrated that they will continue working with the business, sometimes for several years after the initial work has been done.

Although we do offer training packages, some business owners don’t have a desire to train staff to meet a specific need and would rather enlist our consultants to do it for them. This method can be effective for businesses who don’t have the budget to employ somebody full time, but by outsourcing to our consultants and allowing us to deliver a project for them, the business can get that extra support at a lower cost. This is where being immersed in the business is so important and our consultants will act as if they are an employee – this can even go as far as having a business-specific email address to communicate with.

We have launched a new identity for our delivery arms

in consultancy, training and retained packages, which aims to view each arm as a stand-alone service. Many business support providers see consultancy and training as services which overlap, but at Brook we believe they should have their own identity. We want both new and existing clients to understand that they don’t just come to us, get something and then the relationship ends. They go on a journey with us, and we want to make sure we provide as much support as we possibly can.

To book a consultation with Brook Corporate Developments, visit enquiries@brookconsult.co.uk or call 01226 240435.

27

NETWORKING

THE ART OF

NETWORKING Highlander’s business development manager Rich Davies talks to unLTD’s Dan Laver about his appetite for networking (and breakfast sandwiches!) and the opportunities it has led to for the company.

‘When does Rich Davies actually get any work done?’

I’ve heard that more than a few times over the years, in fact I’m pretty sure I’ve said it myself.

If you have spent any time at business networking events in South Yorkshire, you’ll probably recognise Rich.

Firstly, because he is quite tall, which makes him easier to see, but also because he has attended a lot of them.

“I don’t necessarily love

28

networking, but I do love people,” Rich tells me when we meet for a pint in Sheffield’s Kelham Island after work on a February Friday. “I’m not there to do the part that a lot of people consider networking.

I’m not really fond of twominute pitches or dishing out as many business cards as possible. I try and attend a lot of events because I’m looking to meet a lot of people. I keep going because I enjoy getting to know them all.

“I’ve eaten a lot of breakfast sandwiches while I’ve been doing it, but the point is to get to know the people properly and see how I might be able to help them.”

When he does dish them out, Rich has a few business cards. Along with his roles as small business owner and on the nominations committee, and council, of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Rich is mostly in his guise of business development manager for

Highlander Computing Solutions.

“I think I can be a very good middleman when it comes to IT,” Rich says. “I’m technically capable, I know what a lot of the acronyms mean but the guys and girls behind me know the ins and outs of it all.

We have developers, script writers, CCNA’s, Microsoft, Amazon and Google gurus, security experts and more!

“My first step in working with a client is to get to know

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

NETWORKING

RICH DAVIES AT THE RECENT SHEFFIELD BUSINESS AWARDS

their business and how it runs.

I’m interested in their business overall. I think that’s the first step in really understanding how we might be able to support them. Or maybe I’m just a bit nosey!

“Highlander is a good home for me because we agree on the same approach. Our teams have that same curiosity, they want to find the technical solutions that make things really come together and make life as easy as possible for our customers. I’m lucky in that they give me the time to get under the skin a bit more, which indulges me in letting me snoop around and get to know everyone that bit better.”

Building trust with his clients is important to Rich and is something he believes needs to come right at the start of a professional relationship - in fact, probably before it even starts.

“IT can be really frustrating for a lot of us. We know what we want to be able to do and we just want to be able to do it. That’s not always the reality of working with technology.

As a business, we need our customers to trust that we will

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

get them where they need to be, and they need to feel comfortable letting us know if things aren’t working how they want them to be. Frankly, a friendly face makes that a lot easier!”

That’s Rich’s approach to networking. He’s building that confidence every day, getting to know people and finding out about the things that they love, the things that do their head in and at some point, when they need help with their IT. “It’s not rocket science. If I’m the first person you bump into when you need some support, you’ll start asking me about what you can do. Then we can start to sell the rest of what we do.” Rich is proud of his ‘Highlander Family’. He thinks they share the same values,

85% of vacant positions are filled through networking

although he thinks it comes from a simple place – good people.

“One of the things I picked up from Highlander MD, Steve Brown, was replying to every email I receive. It’s something I really appreciated. I think it demonstrates that every time we hear from you, we value your time and we want to show we appreciate that. It’s a goal, not a promise, I guess – I’m getting better at working out when I’ve been included in a mail merge - but I think it’s a really nice goal to have.”

So, when does Rich get time to reply to all those messages?

In between networking, visiting clients old and new and the odd golf day thrown in for good measure, we come back to discussing how Rich

95%

of professionals consider face-to-face communication vital for long-term business Source: Hubspot

manages to get any of that work done…

“Firstly, I think that the events are some of my most important work. I’m not there just to have a laugh, although I think it’s important that I don’t take myself too seriously, which is probably why so many people tease me about it!

“When I’m at an event, I’m representing Highlander.

I’m showing that we are approachable, that we value you and that we don’t want to hide behind being just technical support to our customers. I’m part of that brand, and I think being easy to communicate with, whether it’s on email or by grabbing me to the side when we bump into each other is a fundamental part of what Highlander want to stand for.

“Every great opportunity I’ve had in business has come from networking. It’s not usually on the first time I meet someone, it’s often many meetings down the road. Being there and being open to anything has done me a lot of favours and opened a lot of doors.”

The biggest opportunities are just one more breakfast sandwich away…

29

THE BRITISH ARMY

COMING UP IN SHEFFIELD & SOUTH YORKSHIRE! FREE Activities

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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.

TURN GOOD BOSSES INTO GREAT ONES WITH OUR HIGH-LEVEL APPRENTICESHIP Whether battling back or booming after the pandemic, businesses need to ensure their top teams are performing at their best.

Many employers don’t realise they can increase their managers’ skills and qualifications via high-level apprenticeships - and have 95 per cent of their training costs met by the government.

“Many believe apprenticeships are for young recruits. Our Level Five Operations Manager Apprenticeship is the equivalent of a degree foundation course and upskills current staff. It turns good bosses into great bosses.

Even the best will gain a huge amount from it,” says Adrian Plant, tutor at The Source Skills Academy.

Tuition focuses not only on how to manage, but also why,

LEFT TO RIGHT: AZTEC'S LEVEL FIVE LEARNERS CHRIS TAYLOR, OPS MANAGER, PAIGE GOUCHER, OFFICE MANAGER & KEVIN TRAVIS, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

helping managers understand the business and their staff better. The Source is tutoring the Level Five qualification at a host of companies, including

Barnsley’s Albion Valves, Aztec Oils in Bolsover and Crystal Clean Service, Rotherham.

“Learning at this level is challenging; it means

committing to two and a half years of study while doing a demanding job. But I see learners soar in confidence and develop far greater understanding of their tasks and responsibilities.”

Paige Goucher, office manager at Aztec Oils commented: “These courses have helped staff develop a wider understanding of the entire business and stronger delegation and communication skills.

Decision-making skills have improved, enabling them to develop further and be involved in higher-level decisions.

“They are more confident and feel valued because they can see we are developing them and staff morale has increased because people feel more supported and understood.”

LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ON YOUR KICKSTARTER AND ACCESS £3,000 GRANTS Businesses giving young people a chance via the government’s Kickstart scheme have until the end of this month to turn those eligible into apprentices and access £3,000 in grants to help pay for them.

Kickstart was launched early in the pandemic to give six-month work placements to jobless 16 to 24s on Universal

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

Credit. The scheme ended in January but there’s still time to give a number of recruits a more secure future.

Additional grant cash intended by Rishi Sunak to encourage employers to take on apprentices ended on January 31 for all recruits other than Kickstarters whose placements don’t end until March 31.

Vicki Eadson, business development officer at The Source urged: “If you have a young Kickstart recruit working hard and progressing well, and your business is growing, it makes sense to keep them in your workforce.

They will already be a part of the team and have begun to learn the ropes. If your Kickstarter is eligible for

an apprenticeship and enrolment takes place before March 31, the employer qualifies for the £3,000 financial incentive.”

Employers have until May 15 to apply for the incentive through the employer Digital Apprenticeship Service account.

For advice, contact Vicki Eadson on 0114 263 5767.

31

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Q&A COLUMN

FEMALE ROLE MODELS PROMOTING EQUALITY IN STEM

Our Mission: To attract and retain women in STEM careers in South and West Yorkshire

MOYA BARNETT APPRENTICE BENCH JOINER AT UP NORTH CABINET MAKERS What does your role involve?

I work with the other joiners, and independently, to make all sorts of bespoke furniture and kitchens. I have just graduated from my apprenticeship at the end of February.

How did you get started working in STEM? I wanted to get an apprenticeship straight after my GCSEs, but I wanted to get into horticulture. I had top grades, mainly 8s and 9s (equivalent to an A*) so careers advice at 16 consisted of asking which sixth form and university we were going to.

When I suggested looking for an apprenticeship, the careers advisor laughed.

I got a scholarship to an international boarding school where I studied the International Baccalaureate, doing six subjects. Although much better than a traditional sixth form, it still wasn’t what I was looking for and so I left after my first year and started to look for an apprenticeship.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

I volunteered on farms and in a local woodland and then joined a Building Blocks course, aimed at giving basic labouring training and studying for a CSCS card, to enable me to work on building sites. I then got a reply from a company I had emailed almost a year before, asking me to come for an interview.

What qualifications did you take or gain along the way?

I’ve just finished my Level 2 Bench Joinery qualification, I have a CSCS card, I have done facilitation, leadership and language qualifications including a HSK2 in Mandarin Chinese and B2 in Italian. I’m also currently in my second year of an Open Degree with the Open University and I’m focusing this on Economics and Design.

Why do you love working in STEM? So far, this job is by far the best I’ve ever had. In terms of the work, it uses my brain, so I’m never bored as there is always

creativity, problem solving and a lot of maths! As well as the intellectual stimulation, a day full of moving and lifting is much healthier.

What challenges have you faced in your career and how have you overcome them?

I think I’ve been incredibly lucky because my joinery career, while short, has been overwhelmingly positive.

It was hard to get into and I think if I was to leave, I would have a harder time to find another company because of my gender. Many job adverts specify they’re looking for a ‘man with a van’ or ‘a strong young lad’. I was helped by other joiners, who I had met at my previous company, to find my current position, so I didn’t have to face this too directly.

most of all, be determined. I wasn’t the strongest person or the most experienced, but I have more than made up for that with determination and a real and sustained interest in what I am doing.

What do you think we need to do as an industry to attract and keep more women in STEM? I think we need more role models, more open discussion of the realities of all sorts of working life, and a change in the stereotypes of women being weaker and less skilled at physical work.

For the full article please visit our blog at: equalityinstem.org.uk/blog

What advice would you offer to someone joining STEM sectors?

I would advise them to consider apprenticeships and more physical, creative careers, follow their hearts and

33

COVER STORY

34

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COVER STORY

KAREN’S DRIVE

FOR SUCCESS From Youth Training Scheme to managing director, HLM Architects leader Karen Mosley knows what it takes to get to the top and develop a firm that makes a real difference to people’s lives. Here she talks to unLTD editor Richard Fidler about how she wants to make an impact during her year as Sheffield Chamber of Commerce president.

Karen Mosley’s journey to the top of her industry started from a stable base, but was short on opportunity. So to hear her speak is a lesson of seizing every moment and making the very most of the chances you are given.

“When I left school, I lived with my parents in Gleadless.

I had a loving family – not a lot of money, but that didn’t matter. I now realise how important that was, the safe secure loving environment, not everyone has that,” she said.

“The journey I have been on drives me today. At school I was put in for four O Levels and my mum and dad paid for me to sit more; they thought I was capable. I somehow ended up with the equivalent of ten O Levels. I didn’t know I could stay on.

“The school (Ashleigh School) didn’t really give me any advice. Rather than opening my eyes to opportunities out there, they closed doors.

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“I left school and joined the Government’s Youth Training Scheme similar to apprenticeships. It was actually supported

by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, and I have a theory that everything is connected!”

Apprenticeships and skills are close to Karen’s heart – particularly in her role as Chamber President.

Now considered a ‘lifer’ at HLM Architects, her first job was actually at another of the city’s most well-known names.

She said: “My original placement was with the Royal Victoria Hotel near the Wicker, which was brilliant.

They gave me loads of support and opportunities and offered me a full-time job in their hotel in Derby.

“But I’d never been outside Sheffield so I felt like they were sending me to the moon.

When that came to an end, I was placed with HLM. “This was the first time I realised University existed.

It was scary at first; all I could

see were people who seemed far smarter than me.

“I thought I didn’t fit, or wasn’t clever enough to be there. But everyone was so welcoming and just wanted me to succeed. I began to realise I knew things Architects didn’t, and that I had skills which complemented theirs. My confidence started to grow.

“They began nudging me out of my comfort zone, and it took off from there.” HLM was originally Hutchinson, Locke and Monk – the three founding partners. They were students who won a design competition in 1964. Sheffield wasn’t the original HQ as there were offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

However, the Sheffield office was established after winning a job at the Northern General Hospital, and the company expanded with Karen joining in 1985.

“I’m not an Architect. I joined as an administrator and soon progressed from making

cups of tea to helping to survey sites.

“HLM supported me to learn to drive, and one of my daily jobs was taking drawings to be printed at Pinders on the Moor.

“One of the things I remember – because tech is the backbone of everything we do now – is that I was the first person at HLM to learn how to use a computer, long before CAD. We gradually bought more and I became word processing manager, then office manager when I was about 21.

“We had offices around the UK and I was asked by our Chair at the time, Chris Liddle, to help replicate what we were doing in Sheffield across the other offices, moving into the role as corporate administration manager. “Then our company secretary left and I was asked if I’d like to study to become a chartered secretary. I did that part time over four years. It gave me a focus because I now knew what I wanted to do, which I didn’t know at the age of 17.”

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THE LIVE EVENT

with STEM

MAGNA SCIENCE ADVENTURE CENTRE book o ings rd of

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OK N BOrec O

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platform after the event! o our online pl PLUS get exclusive access to

Book your FREE place now at getuptospeed.org.uk

Business Breakfast & Networking Event

7.45 - 9.30am at Magna Science Adventure Centre

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7:45am 8:15am 8:45am 9:15am

Pre-booking is essential to secure your place (places limited to 2 per organisation). Please book your places by Friday 18th March at

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/t-zeayxd K OO N

or scan the QR code:

W! O

Keynote Speaker: David Richards MBE WANdisco

With opening remarks from the Master Cutler James Tear, we then welcome our Keynote Speaker David Richards MBE (Chairman, President, CEO and co-founder WANdisco).

This is followed by round table discussions, networking and the Get Up To Speed exhibition showcase preview.

B

After a 2 year absence, Get up to Speed with STEM is back LIVE at Magna Science Adventure Centre and the day will start with our Business Breakfast event focusing on Digital Skills For Business Leaders.

with STEM

p li laces per mited to org 2 - bo anisatio 18 Mok by n arch

Registration, breakfast sandwiches and refreshments Presentations Round Table discussions and business case studies Networking and Preview of Exhibition

COVER STORY As Karen’s role at the practice began to grow, so did the firm. She takes up the story of how business can move very quickly.

“I was appointed to the board in 2002. Shortly after, we were acquired by an American business and I was involved in the transition.

“After the sale, they absorbed our brand. They had a different culture to ours. The parent company got into financial difficulty and brought down the group.

“When everything collapsed, we only had a short time to pull together an offer to the Receiver to save our UK business. There were others bidding and it’s an event that really shook and shaped me. I was part of the MBO (Management Buyout) team, and had to raise what was a big sum of money to me at the time. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – not a lot phases me now.

“All our team and clients stood by us. That was 2004.

“We hit the recession in 2008 and had to batten down the hatches, and for the next eight years work our way through tough times. But throughout, we were thinking about the shape of our future, about our next generation, about succession planning.

In December 2020 we transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust.”

Now comfortably in the top 40 architects in the UK with studios in London, Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow as well as Sheffield, HLM is celebrating 40 years in the city this year. The firm has been behind local projects such as the Advanced Wellbeing

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Research Centre (AWRC) on Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park, the Social Sciences Building for the University of Sheffield and is currently working on the Heart of the City redevelopment which Includes the new Radisson Blu hotel overlooking the Town Hall on Pinstone Street.

Karen is passionate about increasing Sheffield’s profile nationally. She said: “We have a great opportunity. Unlike other places, we’re at the start of our journey and have the ability to adjust from the pandemic and design a city fit for the future. There are cities which have grown up around dense retail; times have changed. We’re involved with

We’re in a great position, we just have to keep momentum going and be joined up in our thinking

a scheme on Fargate to create a new Events Hub and a space for start-ups. We also want to see more people living in our city centre.

“We’re in a great position, we just have to keep momentum going and be joined up in our thinking.”

In her role as Chamber President, Karen wants to actively support businesses to connect and influence the shape of Sheffield.

She says improving skills sits at the heart of this: “My focus was always going to be on skills. We want Sheffield to be the best place to start, to grow and to run a business, and for that you need a skilled and adaptable talent pool.

37

COVER STORY “We have some great opportunities as a region which I’m showcasing during my year.

“The South Yorkshire Skills Accelerator programme places employers at the heart of the skills provision.

“Our region is one of eight Trailblazers developing a Local Skills Improvement Plan.

The three South Yorkshire Chambers are working together with businesses and the skills sector to identify barriers in the system that prevent talent development.

“We’re delivering recommendations to Government at the end of March to drive more local autonomy.

“We also have Levelling up Futures in Sheffield, a partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Business Together and the Chamber, encouraging businesses to pledge their support, to deliver a range of activities for young people, going into schools and raising awareness of the career choices available in our city.”

The Chamber continues to evolve, says Karen: “My predecessor Matt Jackson encouraged us to focus on becoming the ‘Chamber of the Future’.

38

WOMEN IN BUSINESS We have some great opportunities as a region which I’m showcasing during my year

“I’ve really seen, firsthand, how Lou, Alexis and the team at the Chamber brought together powerful voices across our city during the pandemic. We have much stronger partnerships between public and private sector as a result now.

“I love that about Sheffield; the rich relationships, the amazing organisations, everything and everyone is connected, and together we can achieve so much more.

Shaping a city, shaping a business, Karen can be rightfully proud of the impact she has made.

“As a female in a male dominated industry, I’ve had a positive experience. I’ve always had a lot of encouragement. I’ve had male sponsors nudging me out of my comfort zone, in the right way, seeing something in me that I didn’t, and helping me progress through my career.

“I know there are many people who haven’t had that experience, and still face barriers and discrimination. As a board, we’ve long recognised the value a diverse mix of views and opinions can bring. But if we want a diverse workforce, we need to inspire a more diverse pipeline. We need to showcase more role models that are representative of our society. I think as a business community we have a duty to help improve social mobility. It’s what I didn’t see when I was at school”.

“We need to help unlock the untapped potential in our communities. It’s never been more important than now to do this. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to open up opportunities.

“HLM was part of the Architectural apprenticeship Trailblazer group which developed two higher degree apprenticeships at level six and level seven, taking individuals from college through to qualification.

“It’s free for the learner, and makes our profession far more accessible – not limited to those who can afford to go to university for seven years.

“It’s a brilliant pathway but in the north, no-one has been running level six. That all changes in September when Sheffield Hallam University are the first to launch.

They’re true trailblazers.

“We’re going into colleges and backtracking into feeder schools to shout about it. See It Be It Sheffield is another great way to showcase role models.

“By the age of seven, children have already decided what they can’t do. We need to reach them early enough to keep their minds open.

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COVER STORY HLM’S PHILOSOPHY “We work across seven sectors including Education, Healthcare, and Living and Communities.

“Our ambition is to create places and spaces that improve people’s lives. We have just finished a great project for the University of Glasgow called the James McCune Smith Learning Hub. “It’s called a sticky campus as the aim is to encourage students to linger longer in a welcoming environment.

I’m not an architect but I’ve come to appreciate good design. It’s not necessarily how it looks, its how it makes you feel. We’re not what you’d call signature architects where you say ‘that’s an HLM building’. We work with our clients to understand their challenges and give back something extra.

“We call it thoughtful design. Of course, Architects want the building to look great but it’s an inside out process, fit for the user, with wellbeing at its heart.

“We have a design forum at HLM. Anyone can join in. Projects get presented and we get some great ideas from people who aren’t architects.

“Like any mixed group, if you’re coming from a different background or perspective, you often see things in a different way.

“It’s a great collaborative process and gives everyone a chance to have their voices heard with better outcomes.”

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39

No jargon, no bull.

Just honest marketing that delivers results.

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LAUNCHPAD

MAX MERCHANDISE Andrew Swan tells unLTD how support from Launchpad’s workshops helped establish Max Merchandise, a B2B promotional merchandise supplier.

What are your hopes and aims for the business?

I aim to make Max Merchandise the promotional gift distributor of choice for my clients, to build the brand, and be recognised as an organisation which offers exceptional advice, product knowledge and service.

Launchpad advisor Julia Millea said: “Andrew successfully launched his business in January 2022 after completing our fast track programme and receiving one to one support and guidance on business start-up. Andrew has a wealth of experience in sales and customer service and really focussed on getting the best deal for his customer.

ANDREW SWAN AND MAX THE DOG

Tell us about your company?

Max Merchandise is a B2B promotional merchandise supplier. We act as an extension of our clients’ marketing/events teams taking all the product sourcing, ideas creation and product recommendations off their desks to be handled quickly and professionally.

By offering a bespoke consultancy solution to help clients choose the right promotional item for their offices/trade shows/ exhibitions and general giveaways, we aim to be the trusted partner they come

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back to time and time again.

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

I always wanted to do something for myself but giving up job security felt very risky.

When the COVID pandemic struck I was furloughed and had a lot of time to think about my future and what I wanted for myself and my family. When I discovered the support available via Launchpad, I decided it was time to take the plunge.

The hardest part of the process was naming the business - but luckily I had my lockdown

buddy and canine companion Max to help with that one.

How has Launchpad helped you?

I have many years of experience in the industry but needed help with some of the start-up business basics so I’ve found the new business and marketing workshops a great help in getting me to think about things from the customer’s perspective and what matters to them, understanding the issues my customers may face and how to build a marketing strategy around that.

“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.”

41

National Reach.

Regional Value.

Personal Service.

Client Focus.

Sheffield Office 0114 3497000

Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ

Chesterfield Office 01246 555111

Gray Court, 99 Saltergate, Chesterfield, S40 1LD

BRM Solicitors is a trading name of BRM Law Limited who are authorised & regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 597752

PODCAST

THE unLTD PODCAST WITH JAMES MARRIOTT IS BACK FOR 2022 In the first episode of the year James Marriott speaks to this month’s cover star Karen Mosley as he takes a look into what’s happening in Sheffield City Centre.

You see, I noticed quite a few people on my social media feeds around Christmas who were in town for the first time after the pandemic and were surprised at how tired and empty some parts of the centre are looking now.

Karen pops her Chamber hat on to give us an insight into some of the projects that are already in the works.

Could a new dawn for Sheffield City Centre be around the corner?

Meet the Policy Pod Right at the end of January, a new podcast launched called South Yorkshire Policy Pod. It’s a joint project between Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley and Rotherham Chambers, along with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Join

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

JAMES SPEAKING TO KAREN MOSLEY

Authority, hosted by yours truly.

The idea is to deep dive into an important issue off the back of recent research project work.

The first one has a fantastic panel of expert guests, exploring the question of ‘What can the education and training sectors learn from employers on workforce skills?’

Find it by searching ‘South Yorkshire Policy Pod’ in the app on your device or just drop me a line and I’ll send you the link - my email is below.

How long?

Bit of an age old quandry for anyone looking at getting started in podcasting – what is the perfect length for episodes?

There’s a kind of easy answer to this one: a podcast should be as long as it should be.

I know, I know, that’s a bit of a cop-out, but it is true,

because the actual answer is different for everyone.

It depends on a number of factors. Work through these and it’ll help you work out how the equation looks for you and ultimately what your ideal length is.

I’ve narrowed those factors down to six key areas to consider. Find out what they are and work out your podcast length at wearesoundmedia. com unLTD unleashed!

Now things are starting to open up more and more, we’re really looking forward to taking the unLTD Podcast out across South Yorkshire during 2022.

We have plenty of plans, but we’re also keen to hear your stories and ideas for things for us to cover.

Drop me a line anytime email: james@ wearesoundmedia.com

43

Getting you results

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YOUR PITCH

OH MY GANACHE Oh My Ganache is a boutique chocolate company based in South Elmsall near Doncaster. It supplies sweet treats to business events, weddings and parties and has an online store with a range of products available to order.

Tell us about your business – sell yourselves!

I started OMG – Oh My Ganache to give variety to everyone. Any flavour for any occasion is what the business is all about and there are no limits.

Being able to put whatever ingredient I fancy into chocolate is fun and I love coming up with new flavours, such as my most popular – bacon flavour milk chocolate!

It is great to work with people to make something truly memorable for their occasion or event and I get a lot of satisfaction from that.

What gave you the idea for your business?

I first started making chocolate for my dad who always enjoyed a bar or two of rum and raisin chocolate.

However, it proved difficult to find in shops so I decided to have a go at it myself – how hard could it be?

I found I had a knack for making chocolate, so I carried on experimenting with different ingredients and different ways of making it.

After I mastered making classic chocolate, I thought I would try my hand at free from chocolate, which is suitable for vegans, those who cannot have gluten or dairy, diabetics and essentially anyone with food allergies or intolerances.

Originally, as well as making rum and raisin chocolate for my dad, I started making it for family and friends. Over time, word of mouth worked its magic and Oh My Ganache was born.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

Most of my customers come from events I attend such as wedding fairs, seasonal markets, or business networking. I also use social media to reach potential customers.

OMG has a great monthly subscription that you can treat

yourself to or give as a gift – a real gem for the chocoholic.

I have chocolate activities for groups which are super for various occasions like staff parties, family gatherings or giving friends a special treat.

If you are looking for something for your team to do, why not try the OMG team activity? It takes you

through the production, sale and marketing of a chocolate product, from concept right through to delivery.

How can people get in touch with you?

You can find OMG – Oh My Ganache on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn and atohmyganache.co.uk

45

L I M I T E D

The evolution of change Future Life Wealth Management offers a bespoke financial planning service to Generators of Wealth, including business owners, executives and professionals and also to Receivers of Wealth, such as inheritors, divorcees, widows and retirees.

You may be at the beginning of your financial journey and need to establish your future life financial plan, or be heading towards your golden years and wishing to consider tax efficient ways in which your estate can be distributed.

Future Life Wealth Management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate taxation & trust advice. We are entered on the FCA Register No 509960 at http://www.fca.org.uk/register.

Tel: 01246 435 996 | Fax: 01246 435 629 Email: info@wealthmanagement.uk.com www.wealthmanagement.uk.com Future House, 54 Ravenshorn Way, Renishaw, Sheffield, S21 3WY

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IS TRULY WORKING FOR YOU Many households are getting battered by the incoming financial storm.

Jillian Thomas, managing director of Future Life Wealth Management, outlines some proactive steps all of us should take.

We’re facing a ‘perfect storm’ of financial problems, and it’s never been more important to take decisive action to safeguard your future.

In April, national insurance rates will soar and the energy price cap will also be increased to a level which is, frankly, eye-watering. Add in rocketing inflation in food, petrol and other goods and there’s every reason to suspect that many families across Yorkshire will feel increasingly stretched financially.

Speaking both personally and professionally, I’ve never known a time when so many elderly and vulnerable clients are routinely making contact with Future Life Wealth Management to find ways of leveraging more money from their investments. This situation has been mounting for several months and the amount of money being requested is also rising.

In short, it’s become clear to me that many members of this country’s older generation in particular are struggling.

And – barring unforeseen circumstances – this ‘perfect storm’ is only likely to get worse in the short to medium term.

Yet the first weeks of 2022 were almost entirely

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dominated by ‘Partygate’.

To be clear, I’m not disputing that there’s a real need for this scandal surrounding the gathering of government staff at the height of lockdown restrictions to be covered both fully and fairly.

But I do strongly suspect that the government is not as concerned about the extensive headlines being dedicated to Partygate as might initially be imagined. As long as this particular story is kept at the forefront of public consciousness then the gravity of the economic situation that’s

unravelling will be largely overlooked.

So, what must savers and investors do at this point in time?

First, it remains imperative to take full control of both your finances and your investments without delay.

If you’ve not already got a budget in place then please do consider implementing one at the earliest opportunity.

This clearly needs to consider the fact that mounting inflation and the removal of the energy price cap will increasingly impact our

monthly expenditure.

Separately, deposit rates have been at historically low levels since the financial crisis of 2008. But this does not mean that investors should accept a real terms inflationadjusted reduction in their value as the default position.

Financial planners have access to cash platforms which potentially provide higher rates of return than can be obtained from the well-known high street names.

In short, please do get in touch to see if we can help.

There has never been a more important time to ensure that your money is working as hard as possible for you, and this starts by thinking through your investments in order to maximise the returns you receive.

If you would like Jillian Thomas to plan your financial future, call (01246) 435996 or email jill@wealthmanagement. uk.com . Alternatively, visit wealthmanagement.uk.com No individual investment advice is given, nor intended to be given in this article and liability will not be accepted in respect of any action you may take as a result of reading this article. If you are unsure you are urged to take independent investment advice.

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Business & IP Centre South Yorkshire supports entrepreneurs, inventors and small businesses from that first spark of inspiration to successfully launching and developing a business.

The regional centre was first opened in Sheffield Central Library in 2015 and within the first three years helped to created almost 400 business, 320 additional jobs and generated £2.8m GVA for the region. And now their sights are set on the rest of South Yorkshire.

“We’re on a mission to ensure libraries, as the heart

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of the community, are a core part of the business support offering across South Yorkshire. We’re passionate about supporting both new and existing businesses to gain the background knowledge and information that they need before they can get going on their new business venture. After months of hard work (and many delays!), we’re excited to be opening our new BIPC Locals in Barnsley Library @ the Lightbox and Rotherham Riverside Library. We now offer our services to a much wider audience across the

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Each Centre is equipped with a core set of resources, such as £5m worth of up-todate market research and business databases, which are brought to life by a tailored and highly individual programme of events, workshops, and one-to-ones, delivered in collaboration with local business leaders, role model entrepreneurs and community partners.

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To find out more, visit us at bipcsouthyorkshire.co.uk or get in touch at bipcsheffield@ sheffield.gov.uk BIPCSouthYorks bipcsouthyorks BIPC South Yorkshire

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Leading the Charge to Net Zero Help lead the charge to net zero by 2045 Who is the Net Zero Accelerator for?

This intensive free project is designed for ambitious businesses based in the Barnsley area who want to…

• Take immediate action • Reduce emissions • Create net zero solutions and innovations

What does the Net Zero Accelerator offer?

Access expert support and advice to give your business a competitive edge to grow, commercialise and thrive through: • In-person workshops • Peer-to-peer networking • One-to-one support

Why should you join the Net Zero Accelerator?

This free tailored project will take your business on an innovation journey to help you: • Understand your net zero priorities and how to take action • Adapt to net zero regulations • Gain a competitive edge

Want To Know More About Net Zero Accelerator?

E: netzero@barnsleybic.co.uk W: www.barnsleybic.co.uk/net-zero-accelerator

Contact Us E: hello@barnsleybic.co.uk W: barnsleybic.co.uk The Business Village, Innovation Way, Wilthorpe, Barnsley, S75 1JL The Business Village Cudworth, Snydale Road, Cudworth, Barnsley, S72 8RP

This project is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

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WHY PHYSICAL DATA PROTECTION

NEEDS TO REMAIN A PRIORITY Sheffield-based confidential waste specialists, Russell Richardson, explain the importance of disposing documents correctly, and share their top five reasons for why you should be using a confidential waste company service.

Data is everywhere and remains highly profitable for identity thieves and costly for those they target.

While online data breaches and hackers often make the headlines, many still rely on ‘old-fashioned’ methods like digging through waste bins and looking for documents.

Identity theft was big news throughout 2021 and it’s not going away in 2022; it is predicted that a staggering one out of every three people will become a victim. It’s no surprise that identity theft has been the fastest growing criminal act in the world and people are now starting to take it seriously.

This is why Sheffield’s confidential waste specialist, Russell Richardson, is warning businesses to not underestimate the importance of looking after physical documents and the data they hold.

Document shredding remains an important tool in the fight against fraud and organisations cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to destroying paperwork containing information about

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and a damaged reputation for non-compliance.

Proof and certification!

A reputable confidential waste company will provide you with a certificate of destruction for everything that has been securely destroyed.

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Keep the office looking tidy and smart! Most confidential waste companies should provide you with a choice of receptacles to avoid papers piling up waiting to be shredded, keeping documents secure to the point of destruction, and reducing the risk of data breaches.

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customers, suppliers, and their own business.

If you’re not sure if your organisation would benefit from outsourcing their shredding, Lyndsay Stewart, from Russell Richardson, has put together her top 5 reasons for using a specialist confidential waste company service.

Save money – a regular secure shredding service often costs less per month than an office water cooler or coffee machine and is cheaper than paying for

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someone’s time spent shredding.

All Russell Richardson’s shredded paper is recycled at UK paper mills.

Shredding and recycling documents saves trees and landfill space, conserves resource and water and can help towards any environmental targets and accreditations.

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For more details on confidential waste services from Russell Richardson, or advice on keeping your documents secure, visit www. russellrichardson.co.uk or contact us on 0114 251 8141.

A service from Russell Richardson keeps your company compliant with data protection regulations, helping to avoid hefty fines

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FOCUS ON

LEVELLING UP WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US? Last month the Government unveiled its Levelling Up White Paper, which sets out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it. But how could South Yorkshire benefit?

We asked a range of local businesspeople to give us their thoughts.

ABOUT URBANA TOWN PLANNING Urbana is Sheffield’s leading town planning, urbanism, and development consultancy, headquartered in the city but working nationwide. Their mission is to use their passion and expertise to make amazing places through development, delivering the best results for their clients and the built environment.

WHAT DOES LEVELLING UP MEAN FOR URBANA? Levelling Up to me is actually a fairly meaningless phrase in the context that it’s currently being thrown around in.

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URBANA TOWN PLANNING DIRECTOR, CHARLES DUNN

However, we have to be pragmatic about these things, and for better or worse we have to be grateful when

central government decides it might want to be so generous as to spread a bit of cash around. Working with the

process will always yield better results for Sheffield and the city region.

So, with that being said, Levelling Up is still an opportunity for us all. 12 key ‘missions’ have been set out

by Michael Gove which cover a huge range of outcomes.

For us as a business, and for Sheffield, my view is that investment in research + development and more localised powers to improve public transport is likely to make the most tangible differences. In the meantime, the city will get some immediate cash to deliver important regeneration schemes in the city centre, which we’ll all be able to enjoy and benefit from.

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FOCUS ON ABOUT THE LEVELLING UP FUTURES PROGRAMME (LUFI) The Levelling Up partnership is a collaboration between Sheffield Chamber, Sheffield Business Together, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Council. It brings together three projects.

people from Y7-13 from disadvantaged backgrounds at risk of not achieving their full potential, to provide inspiration, challenge limiting assumptions and raise attainment and aspiration. The programme was created by Sheffield Business Together.

THEY ARE:

LEVELLING UP:

• Sheffield Hallam University’s GROW mentoring programme which pairs recent graduates with a pupil in Y10-13 to offer one-to-one peer support and guidance to encourage young people to focus on their education and future.

We spoke to Carolynn McConnell, social mobility project lead at Sheffield Business Together, about what Levelling Up means to See It Be It. “COVID didn’t create the divides and inequalities in our society, but it certainly shone a spotlight on them. Levelling up is about addressing these inequalities, but to do that we must bring sectors together.

“No one government or business can transform a community alone. A collaborative approach between the public, private and voluntary sectors is the only way to guarantee success.”

• The Big Community Challenge which aims to ignite social and entrepreneurial spirit through a city-wide social action activity. Pupils in Y7-9 are loaned £25 start-up funding to develop their ideas for improvements to, or awareness of, issues which are important to them or their communities.

• Social Mobility in Education which brokers employer encounters, with young

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR COMPANY? “Sheffield has secured funding through the community renewal fund to bring sectors

CAROLYNN MCCONNELL, SOCIAL MOBILITY PROJECT LEAD AT SHEFFIELD BUSINESS TOGETHER

together to address social mobility through the Levelling Up Futures in Sheffield Programme.

“The partnership between Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Business Together, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Sheffield City Council, brings together existing Sheffield initiatives to offer tailored support to

ABOUT HLM ARCHITECTS HLM Architects are architecture, landscape and interior specialists with deep sector insight. Their services cover architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, master planning and environmental sustainability.

They have a proud history of producing architecture that helps improve people’s lives and use creativity to unlock potential within each project to be the best it can be.

HLM Architects always think about the entire life of a project and the impact it will have on the people who will experience it. They strive to create buildings

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ensure everyone has the same life chances as their peers.”

If employers are passionate about levelling up, then they can pledge their support.

Participation is free and you will be fully supported by the programme team.

For more information contact: Carolynn.Mconnell @bitc.org.uk

make people’s lives happier, healthier, and more fulfilled.

WHAT DOES LEVELLING UP MEAN FOR HLM?

HLM'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, KAREN MOSLEY

that respond appropriately to the surrounding context and climate, focusing on exploiting opportunities to

make memorable places.

HLM’s core drive within the industry is knowing that what they do has the potential to

Karen Mosely, managing director at HLM said: “Levelling Up has for many years been just a phrase, so it’s good to see some measurable actions being identified. Whether there is extra funding or just a redistribution, two things are critical; continuity of commitment over the coming years to successfully deliver against the strategy set, and ensuring decisions are made locally by those who are close enough to know how to unlock the potential of people and places to maximum effect.”

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Our services include: • • • • • • • •

Accountancy Audit & Assurance Business start-up support Bookkeeping & Management Accounts Cloud Accounting Company Secretarial & Legal Corporate Finance Financial Planning

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• • • • • • • •

Forensic Accounting Payroll Private Client Restructuring & Recovery R&D Tax Relief & Patent Box Self Assessment Taxation VAT Returns

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FOCUS ON ABOUT SUTTON MCGRATH HARTLEY Sutton McGrath Hartley (SMH) was established in 1995 and provides Chartered accountancy, tax, financial planning and legal advice. In recent years the company has expanded following mergers with other firms across Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

The SMH group contains individual companies that work closely together to ensure clients don’t have to go to multiple advisors when seeking professional advice, providing a holistic and expert approach tailored specifically to the client’s needs.

WHAT DOES LEVELLING UP MEAN FOR SMH? MD of SMH, Jonathon Dickens said: “The announcement

SUTTON MCGRATH HARTLEY'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, JONATHAN DICKENS

that Sheffield will be one of the first cities in the country to be awarded a Levelling Up grant is fantastic news

for the region. Sheffield is a thriving and growing area with massive economic opportunities, which

ABOUT WHYY? CHANGE Whyy? Change are a leading training provider based in South Yorkshire. They offer a range of apprenticeship solutions to help businesses upskill and develop their employees.

They are proud to offer accredited qualifications as a part of our apprenticeship framework, created by some of the world’s leading accreditation bodies including Lean & Six Sigma, Leadership (CMI) , HR & Learning (CIPD), Marketing (CIM), Quality HSE (Bureau Veritas) and Functional Skills (Pearson Edexcel).

LEVELLING UP: We spoke to Ray Byrne, CEO at Whyy? Change about what

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deserve thoughtful guidance alongside the investment to unlock the proposed 'jobs and opportunity for all'.

“At SMH we are passionate about helping people manage their finances holistically – from year-end accounts, VAT returns, payroll and audits, through to their personal pensions, mortgages, and legacy.

“Similarly, with the injection of Levelling Up funds, finance must be managed fairly across the region, with mindful awareness of the complex nature of our local economy. Just like your Will and Pension planning go hand in hand, so do education, job opportunity and high-street spending. With the potential for a wide range of innovation and growth, I'm excited for the new prospects Levelling Up will bring.”

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR COMPANY?

WHYY? CHANGE CEO, RAY BYRNE

Levelling Up means to him.

Ray said: “Levelling Up is the Government response to the stresses and strains caused by the Economy and the independence agenda of the countries within the ‘not so’ United Kingdom. My personal view is that this is our chance to drive our own destiny.

“Michael Gove recently published his white paper on Levelling Up, where one of the identified ‘missions’ is skills.

This is what we do. We are a training provider accredited to deliver Apprenticeships. We sit at the heart of this mission and employ the skilled practitioners to support the agenda.”

Ray said: “If Levelling Up really takes shape, we will have so many opportunities to support it. We have the premises, talent, and accreditations in place and as the outcomes of the agenda become reality, we are in a strong position to have a five-fold increase in the size of the business.

“In conversation with our business partners, we are hearing of the opportunities the Levelling Up agenda is stimulating and how they recognise our approach as a critical input to helping them deliver on their plans.”

You can find out more about Whyy? Change at their website: whyychange.com

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MEMBERSHIP TO SUPPORT EVERY BUSINESS

Call us today on

01709 386 200

And let’s talk about how our membership can benefit your business info@brchamber.co.uk | www.brchamber.co.uk

Membership of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber is about supporting your business and helping your organisation flourish and grow in today’s markets. We are continually striving to bring our members new services to actively support their activities and enhance the benefits they receive from their Chamber membership.

SUPPORTING OVER 1,100 LOCAL BUSINESSES

01709 386200 info@brchamber.co.uk www.brchamber.co.uk

FOCUS ON ABOUT UNIHOMES UniHomes is an innovative platform which provides students the opportunity to search and compare thousands of student homes nationwide, all advertised inclusive of bills.

This alleviates the stress of splitting bills amongst housemates and consolidates key household utilities into one easy to manage, monthly payment.

For letting agents, UniHomes is a free advertising portal, with an ever-growing national presence within the student market. After rapid growth, the company now operates in 36 cities across the UK, covering all major universities, and looks after

UNIHOMES CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, PHIL GREAVES

tens of thousands of student properties.

WHAT DOES LEVELLING UP MEAN FOR UNIHOMES? Phil Greaves, co-founder at UniHomes said: “Off the back of the Levelling Up paper delivered by Michael Gove earlier this month, we were delighted to see that proposals were set out for funding of

regeneration projects within Sheffield. As a Sheffield based business, we are passionate about growing UniHomes within the city, offering fantastic job opportunities for residents both within Sheffield and the surrounding regions.

“Operating nationally but with our office in Sheffield, we would welcome investment in connectivity within the north. This would be of

substantial benefit towards igniting northern economies and providing greater opportunities for talent and skill sharing across regions.

Pulling in talent from the likes of Leeds and Manchester has been notoriously difficult due to poor travel infrastructure.

“Working in the student market, we understand how vital the student population is to Sheffield. For many years Sheffield has topped the list of cities which retains the most students postuniversity, and the Levelling Up proposals should hopefully mean we retain even more students within the city to live and work, along with attracting more talent to attend our fantastic academic institutions.”

ABOUT THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE The Sheffield College is a general Further Education College providing high quality academic, technical and vocational training to enhance qualifications, skills and employability across the region.

Operating four main sites across Sheffield, the college has approximately 13,500 enrolled learners and apprentices ranging from young school leavers to adults.

The college provides education programmes for young people, adult learning programmes, apprenticeships and provision for learners who have additional needs.

WHAT DOES LEVELLING UP MEAN FOR THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE? Angela Foulkes, chief executive and principal at

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND PRINCIPAL OF THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE, ANGELA FOULKES

The Sheffield College, said: "Further education colleges contribute to social mobility and their local economies, supporting students to go further in their careers and ensuring employers get the skills they need for growth.

"Levelling Up should mean providing sustainable longer-term funding for our

sector, taking a place-based approach that recognises the specific needs of our local communities and prioritising adults to enable people of all ages in our region to train and develop their skills over a lifetime.

“Those three things would really make a difference to the future success and prosperity

of our students and the College’s ability to maximise its impact on the city.

“Ultimately, what we need is funding stability to enable our students to benefit from world class opportunities regardless of their background and where they live and to support our skilled and valued staff to deliver this.”

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FOCUS ON ABOUT SHEFFIELD SUSTAINABLE KITCHENS Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens designs and fits bespoke living spaces using a combination of high-quality, locally sourced fixtures and fittings and eco-friendly materials.

The company won the Planet Saver category at the Sheffield Business Awards 2021.

WHAT DOES LEVELLING UP MEAN FOR SHEFFIELD SUSTAINABLE KITCHENS? MD at Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens Zoe Loveday said: “We’re conscious of the Levelling Up that is desperately needed around

ZOE LOVEDAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SHEFFIELD SUSTAINABLE KITCHENS

sustainability and equality in our region.

“A targeted and significant Government investment in the transport infrastructure around South Yorkshire would have wide-reaching benefits for the city and its economy.

“Our fleet is over 80 per

cent electric and we rely heavily on the national network of EV chargers for our business operations.

The rollout of rapid chargers is currently focused on the South East of England, and this needs urgent attention to bring our region onto a level

playing field with the other parts of the country.

“Government investment is also needed to support active travel more effectively in the North. This can be done by providing more cycle routes, and better infrastructure for each type of public transport, supporting more frequent connections and shorter routes, as well as functional integration between the service operators.

“Investment should also include fiscal support on the prices of journeys on public transport within South Yorkshire. At a time when people are considering their carbon footprint more than before, they should also be able to make the right choice for their pocket and for the planet."

ABOUT SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation is an organisation committed to achieving economic, social and physical wellbeing for the people of South Yorkshire.

Since its creation in 1986, the foundation has raised and distributed over £31m in grants to community and voluntary projects across the region. It is part of the UK Community Foundations network made up of 46 community foundations across the UK.

WHAT DOES LEVELLING UP MEAN FOR SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION? Ruth Willis, chief executive at South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, said: “It is imperative that the work of

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RUTH WILLIS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

community groups in our region isn’t forgotten after the effort they put in at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A strong community fabric can continue to thrive through relationships between VCSE and the public sector. To help support this aim, the Levelling

Up paper needs to further demonstrate how the public pound plays its role in the local area whilst not forgetting the role of volunteers and the philanthropic contributions made by people keen to invest in our communities.

“Community groups

in South Yorkshire are an invaluable resource for people, encompassing underrepresented communities and the Levelling Up paper must show how crucial funding in a vast range of areas will be provided to deliver prosperity for our region.”

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SHEFFIELD EAGLES 2022

GOLF DAY Monday 16th May @ Wortley Golf Club 11am - Midday Start

£250 + VAT Per Four Ball Price Includes: 18 Holes of Golf Breakfast Sandwich On Arrival Post-Event Meal, Awards & Prizes

Competitions Include: Longest Drive Nearest The Pin Challenge Hole!

Hole sponsorship opportunities available from £75 + VAT

For more information or to book your place contact: natasha.burt@sheffieldeagles.com 0114 398 1998

ADVERTORIAL

CC33 LEAD THE WAY

IN CUSTOMER SERVICE Sheffield-based contact centre CC33 pride themselves in delivering excellent customer service for their clients and customers.

In business since 2012, Sheffield-based contact centre service business CC33 has seen its revenue double every year for the last five years.

The development of the firm’s dedicated client services team was implemented to further develop CC33’s excellent relationships with clients.

The team consists of six industry professionals and is led by Judy Unwin who has more than 15 years’ experience in the client services industry.

The team works across all sectors and feeds into each department to ensure that excellent customer service quality measures are consistent.

CC33 focus their business plan on integrated marketing, contact strategies and combining communication platforms to deliver the best possible service to clients.

The firm operates via a multi channel approach which sees teams able to communicate with customers in multiple ways.

Since the business was founded in 2012, CC33’s managing director Paul Fletcher set out to operate a very tailored offering to clients, and development of the client services team has strengthened this. The team’s combined industry knowledge ensures that clients and in turn their customers are always kept satisfied.

The firm has adopted a

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consultancy-based approach keeping CC33 one step ahead of its competitors, meaning it can always extend its current services to meet more of its clients’ demands – for example, introducing more projects and campaigns to existing contracts.

The transparent relationship allows the client to see the exact day-today work CC33 is doing for them too and allows a more trusted relationship which in turn lends to higher client retention. One of the key benefits that this transparency allows is the ability for clients to ‘live listen anytime, anywhere’ – meaning clients can log into CC33’s phone system and listen to any client call it conducts on their campaign easily and without notice. This is a real benefit for clients and is exceedingly rare in the industry!

CC33 believe that giving clients unlimited access to the work they do, not only builds trust, but it enables clients to be fully up to date.

CC33 are market leaders in their sector. Working across more than 30 blue chip clients for 10 years, the firm has shown a consistent level of growth, expansion and profit every single year.

Head of client services at CC33 Judy Unwin has a proven history of project managing new campaigns through the initiation phase and cites responsibilities for the management of several large

and successful FCA regulated campaigns as part pf her wealth of experience. Judy has exceptionally high standards around quality control and attention to detail – a perfect leader for the firm’s client services team, and the perfect person to ensure her clients get the best service.

Judy is the conduit between clients and customers and CC33’s operational team, ensuring that standards and performance results are

delivered and exceeded.

Judy says: “At CC33 we understand the importance of embedding clients’ brand values within our business and our output. The client services team plays a key role in bringing values to life through every aspect of client campaigns and ensures we hit all targets and aims.”

Get in touch to find out how CC33 can help your business: info@cc33.co.uk

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ADVERTORIAL

PJ TASTE Choosing a seasonal menu to cater to a diverse group of people isn’t a simple job.

Anyone who has ever tried to compile dietary requirements for an event of any size will know how quickly things can escalate, with allergies and intolerances to consider – and that’s before you get to the fussy eaters!

Peter Moulam of PJ taste, whose kitchens are based in Attercliffe, Sheffield, takes menu choices in his stride.

Launching the business from their city centre shop in 2006, PJ taste is now a full external catering business as well a 120 seat private dining, meeting and event venue.

Upstairs@PJtaste has become a mainstay of Sheffield business events.

Hosting for the Island Networking as well as being one of the favoured venues for Andy Hanselman and Jill White’s popular 3D Connect get-togethers, they host anything from training days and corporate events right through to private dining and weddings.

This is all on the back of a well-recognised appreciation for delicious food using locally sourced ingredients.

Peter said: “Our meat comes direct from farmers in Derbyshire and Yorkshire including Moss Valley in Sheffield; our milk and cream from Our Cow Molly

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PETER MOULAM

in Dungworth; and our eggs from Penistone. Groceries are sourced from Lembas in Heeley and organic Yorkshire flours and oats from Carr House Farm in Driffield with amazing Yorkshire cheeses from award-winning cheese mongers Cryer and Stott.

“We make our own jams, pickles, fruit leathers, bread, cakes and biscuits. You may even have heard of our unique

THE EVENT SPACE AT UPSTAIRS@PJTASTE

Sheffield Egg and Citrus Hits.

Increasingly we are growing more of our own produce, concentrating on more unusual vegetables, edible flowers, soft fruits as well as apples and pears.”

Guests at last year’s Sheffield Business Awards were treated to the delights of a PJ taste menu, which Peter curated specially for the event.

He added: “We treat every

event as one-off, striving to continuously improve every aspect of our food, service and our approach to sustainability.”

Importantly, this is not an approach that goes unnoticed.

One review praised the ‘friendly’ nature and ‘fantastic’ customer service skills of the staff, as well as the ‘great’ food – a comment reiterated by all guests at the event. The ‘excellent’ service and ‘variety of the menu’ are just some of the reasons why customers return.

Regular clients of PJ taste include The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, The Millenium Galleries, Wake Smith, Aesseal, ITM Power and St Luke’s Hospice.

If you would like Peter to devise a bespoke menu for your event or would like to book Upstairs@PJtaste as a venue for your event in 2022, please contact him on: ask@ pjtaste.co.uk 0114 312 3663 www.pjtaste.co.uk

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FEATURE

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FEATURE

unLTD’s Rachel Measures caught up with Jeff Parkin, managing director, and Andrew Crowder, operations director, at AG Group Ltd Sheffield to reminisce on their last 40 years of business in printers, photocopiers and more.

Once upon a time, three friends met in a pub. Yes, that’s really how this story began 40 years ago in 1981.

Jeff Parkin, now managing director, discussed with two other friends, Steve Jordan, and Pete Williamson, about setting up their own copier company business in South Yorkshire.

Steve sold copiers and knew Canon were looking for a dealer in the area. Pete had a typewriter repair company and Jeff had a small business supplies company. From this, the vision was simple.

Combining their strengths, they wanted to become the largest copier dealer in South Yorkshire specialising in Canon.

Canon is a global, market-leading technology company dedicated to helping businesses and people reimagine and push the boundaries of what is possible through imaging. Over the last forty years, Canon has been a proud partner of the AG Group - helping the organisation deliver outstanding technology solutions to its customers in the Yorkshire area.

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Jeff said: “In January 1982, we became Canon accredited dealers. We started trading as Alexan Business Services in March 1982 becoming a limited company on April 6th.”

The business soon took off with Canon’s launch of new products including fancy electronic typewriters and soon after, fax machines. If you don’t remember what these are, let’s refresh your memory…

Back in the 80’s fax machines were massive – I know, I’m just as shocked as you, but before they became a dusty relic abandoned in a storeroom, they were revolutionary.

Being able to send sheets of paper to each other down the phone line was a huge novelty, and super useful. Fax machines are a symbol of a huge step forward for communication, and to think no one uses them anymore!

While fax machines are largely a thing of the past, the copier seems to have stood the test of time.

The AG Group now

In 2022, the AG Group, as the business became known in the 1990s, is the largest

Fax machines are a symbol of a huge step forward for communication, and to think no one uses them anymore!

independent copier dealer in South and West Yorkshire, selling and servicing a range of Canon products and providing digital solutions to a customer base consisting of every type of business.

These days, the company continues the same work, and Jeff Parkin, the guy who started the company from an idea in the pub, now works closely with Andrew Crowder and Alex Parkin who joined four years ago as shareholders.

The AG Group is a local business and although they do quite a lot nationwide, they’re mostly a business for local people and that’s what they pride themselves on.

Working with Canon, they’re looking to the future of office equipment especially facing the aftermath of the pandemic.

Andrew said: “Hybrid working isn’t going to go away, so we knew we needed to assist people getting access to their devices. Using cloud printing, we created the software Uniflow Online that gives people the option to print back into the office.”

In other revolutionary features, printers are now

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Proudly supporting the Sheffield City Region since 1982

L CE

AG GROUP L T D

E BRA T I N G

40

SHEFFIELD

YEARS

IN

BUSINESS

No obligation In-House Finance proposal and options to suit your account reviews by business needs one of our experienced team

Tailormade business solutions for all your office print requirements

AG Group Ltd, Canon House, Harvest Ln, Neepsend, Sheffield, S3 8EF sales@aggroup.co.uk / 0114 275 5707 / www.aggroup.co.uk

FEATURE Q&A WITH ANDREW CROWDER

Q: What’s your daily role at the AG Group?

A: As operations director I run the machine, so to speak. I look after the daily running of the business, and this includes anything from staff issues and ordering to sales and making sure everything is on track.

I work with my co-director Alex Parkin and Jeff Parkin, who is managing director.

Q: What strengths has the AG Group had over the past 40 years?

A: We’ve always partnered with Canon, so a major consistent strength of ours is that we have that unique relationship with them. You can always count on Canon being on the leading edge of technology. If there’s a change to be had, it’s usually led by them and that’s why we’ve remained with them.

Q: What has been the company’s biggest challenge over the years?

A: The biggest challenge has always been competition. It’s a very competitive market and sometimes the competition is just cheaper. We know we’re not the cheapest, but we have one of the best products, if not the best product, on the market thanks to our relationship with Canon.

Q: What is unique about the AG Group?

A: During the early 1990s, Jeff formed AG Rentals Ltd which became AG Group’s finance arm for companies to lease Canon products. This company, which also rents commercial and domestic property, is now the largest independent company of its type in South and West Yorkshire.

Because of Jeff’s leasing business, we can provide equipment, lease it and service it all under one roof. That’s rare in our industry.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

Photocopiers are a lot more sophisticated than the 80s Christmas parties give them credit for, with a lot more features than just a lid for photocopying body parts

The Products

having motion sensors installed. It’s a well-known fact that you don’t show your printer fear. They always know when you’re in a rush and this is when they choose to break.

However, with the introduction of the motion sensor, the printer knowing that you’re in a rush might actually save you some time.

A motion sensor can be set up to activate from one to three metres from a device allowing it to wake up as soon as you walk up to it, ready for you to start printing or photocopying or scanning immediately.

With Canon’s products always being at the leading edge, and the AG Group being able to provide a unique service under one roof, the two have created a long-lasting relationship.

James Pittick, director of B2B Indirect Sales at Canon UK & Ireland, said: “40 years of

When the AG Group started, all the printers were mono machines - all black and white.

The functionality of being able to print double sided through the machine in one pass was a huge novelty until the late 80s, early 90s when you could put something in the top feeder and the machine would turn it around and print double sided again.

We had machines with amazing sorting capabilities.

Andrew said: “There used to be big sorters on the end with lots of trays and you could do 20 sets at a time, and it would separate it all for you so you could have a booklet together - they were interesting.”

After this, the fax machines came out, and while nobody even thinks about fax machines now, they were massive.

In the mid to late 90s the colour machine came out.

They were called CLC’s (colour laser copiers) and you could even photocopy in colour! I know – old news – but back then it revolutionised the industry and

partnership with the AG Group marks a momentous occasion for our Partner Programme. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this respected reseller for so many years, and to see its business grow and thrive".

As a Silver Partner within its Partner Programme, Canon works closely with the AG Group to provide bespoke business support, training and empowerment to help the organisation grow and thrive.

Looking to the future, the reseller community will continue to remain a priority for Canon as it looks to strengthen its position as a trusted partner. With bespoke resources which include sales and business development, thought leadership and training around its portfolio of solutions, Canon can support resellers in building a more efficient and profitable business.

Canon were one of the leaders.

The 1990s saw an enormous technological advance. Colour took the industry in a whole new direction, as did the internet which changed the way the industry traded, and copiers became cheaper and more reliable.

Then three or four years after the introduction of colour, copiers had their own print boards fitted, so that the photocopier itself could print.

One of the first machines to have a print board fitted was the IR2200.

This all progressed and led to scanners so people could print, copy, and scan all in one machine and as faxes were on their way out, printers had fax boards added too.

Everything became integrated into one piece of equipment.

Photocopiers are a lot more sophisticated than the 80s Christmas parties give them credit for, with a lot more features than just a lid for photocopying body parts, or for faxing mischievous documents.

The AG Group, with Canon at the forefront, keep moving forward with the products that are leading industry changes time and time again.

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Certification adds credibility to your product or service and helps meet you customers’ expectations.

Benefits include: • • • • •

Operate more efficiently Meet statutory and regulatory requirements Reach new markets Identify and address risks Help you continuously exceed customer expectations

Contact SGS today for more information:

+44 (0)1276 697715 uk.nowisthetime@sgs.com www.sgs.co.uk/certification

© SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA – 2022 – All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA 5869/0222

Why Certification?

© SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA – 2022 – All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA 5869/0222

YOUR PITCH

THE L&D CO. The L&D Co. is an outsourced learning and development function, based in Doncaster. Headed by director Kelly Blank, they provide leadership and management training programmes, core staff development and soft skills training.

Tell us about your business – sell yourself!

The L&D Co. work with small businesses in Yorkshire. We’re your friendly outsourced learning and development function, based in Doncaster.

We support businesses to retain employees and develop their people by ensuring your learning and development strategy is aligned to the demands of your business.

We concentrate on growth, but not just business growth; we encourage you to develop your people along the way!

You already have a talent pool within your organisation; with an effective learning and development structure, you can support your employees to develop the crucial skills they need to play a long-term role in your expansion journey.

The L&D Co. can help you to define your internal positions, identify any skill gaps and source the best training providers. We’ll also assist you in accessing available funding.

We’ll help you implement a learning and development culture and create an internal process which will support your people development.

Together we’ll ensure you stop paying for training as a simple box ticking exercise and encourage you to start investing in your people, as part of your wider growth strategy.

What gave you the idea for your business?

Training

and development aren’t the same but are treated as the same in most organisations.

I wanted to help businesses to put a process in place which gives their growth plans the best chance of success, by utilising the people and talent they already have access to.

I want to help businesses create a development journey for their employees. If companies aren’t developing their people in the current recruitment market, they’ll leave. Retention is key.

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

I work with businesses who employ

between 10 and 30 people; enough employees to need a learning and development offering, but without the need for a full time L&D Manager. I work with companies on creating the infrastructure while the business is still growing, so the timing is key!

Together we can find creative solutions to increase employee engagement, improve employee wellbeing and provide a genuine career development opportunity..

How can people get in touch with you?

Email: kelly@thelandd.co.uk Web: www.thelandd.co.uk Phone: 07897433583 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/ in/kellyblanksm Twitter: @GrowLnDCulture

KELLY BLANK, DIRECTOR OF THE L&D CO.

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MARKETING ANDREW BROWN, LEFT WITH STEPHEN DELANEY

PUTTING THE CLIENT FIRST Co-founded in 2016, the Backroom Agency was born with the aim of offering high-end creative combined with excellent client support. unLTD’s Chris Coates spoke to the men behind it.

Long-term colleagues Andrew Brown and Stephen Delaney founded the Backroom Agency with one main ethos – to take an honest, up-front approach and deliver ideas in an inspiring and coherent way.

With a combined 35 years of industry experience behind them working with top brands across all sectors, Andrew and Stephen set up the Backroom Agency to deliver marketing and design for clients in a different way – one which the client felt part of.

Andrew said: “Right from the start, we knew that we didn’t want a big operation with loads of staff. We wanted to maintain direct, day-to-day contact with all our clients,

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rather than delegate it to account managers.

“Instead, we cautiously developed collaborative relationships with the most talented creatives in the city.

That meant when our clients started asking for print, photography, copywriting, animation and more, we had a trusted network that we could call upon to deliver. It’s a strategy that’s worked for us ever since.

“We’re big believers that people work with people which is why maintaining a healthy working relationship with our clients is paramount to everything we do.”

The pair admit that, like many business owners, they have learned some valuable lessons during the pandemic

which will undoubtedly help them to move the business forward as the world begins to return to normality.

Stephen said: “Staying lean was central to our survival.

Not having extra staff meant that our overheads were low enough for us to pull through relatively unscathed. Our strategy of partnering with the best in the business seemed to pay dividends. We may not have grown our head count, but our network has expanded exponentially, enabling us to adapt, be flexible and meet whatever requirements our clients may have.

Looking back on the past six years, Andrew and Stephen have no regrets and are proud of what they have achieved.

Andrew said: “In some ways nothing has changed since we first started out in 2016. We’re a bit older, a bit greyer and hopefully a little bit wiser! But we still have the same passion and approach to our work, and our relationships with our clients are still central to everything we do.

“The saying goes that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. In all honesty, the last five years have been very hard work at times. But they have flown by, and we’ve absolutely loved every minute.”

To find out what the Backroom Agency could do for you, visit www.thebackroom.agency

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MARKETING

BACKROOM ESTABLISHED A NEW IMAGE STYLE FOR MACALLOY

HOW THE BACKROOM AGENCY HELPED MACALLOY EVOLVE Macalloy are global leaders in the manufacture of threaded tension steel bars. Their products are used throughout the construction industry and have been featured in many prestigious global landmarks including Russian World Cup stadiums, the Burj Al-Arab Hotel in Dubai, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Jubilee Bridge in London.

Following a strategic review in 2020, the Dinnington-based company took the decision to update their branding and website to ensure that their visual identity was in keeping with their innovative nature, and to coincide with their centenary year.

Andrew said: “We were approached by Macalloy following a recommendation from an existing manufacturing client and quickly set up a meeting to find out what they hoped to achieve.

“The project kicked off with a series of workshops with senior managers, delivered mainly during lockdown via Zoom calls across several countries – a process which

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MACALLOY PRODUCTS ARE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MANY ICONIC GLOBAL LANDMARKS, INCLUDING THE MARINA BAY SANDS IN SINGAPORE

was new to all of us!

“We identified the key messages and values and worked together to develop a compelling brand proposition which resonated with staff, provided a platform for building the brand, and drove the visual style of the new identity.”

With the new brand and direction of travel agreed, the Backroom team turned their attention to Macalloy’s website, macalloy.com.

Stephen said: “Drawing on our extensive network of contacts, we established a new photography style to showcase the use of their products in iconic, global landmarks.

We also refreshed the copy, developing the tone of voice to make the company offering clear and easy to understand.

“During the planning

process, we identified the need for a live chat facility on the site to improve communication with customers. Macalloy can now monitor activity across the entire customer journey, see which team member responded to a customer last and maintain a complete conversation history. Since launching the live chat, Macalloy has seen a significant increase in online enquiries.”

The Backroom Agency also implemented ‘Contact Agent’ tracking tags within the site for email and telephone links, allowing for a more accurate look at conversion data.

In-depth keyword research done by the team has given Macalloy insight into the most searched phrases across the steelmaking industry, allowing content to be tailored

which targets these traffic driving terms. A resource hub was also established, allowing architects and engineers to download product specifications and manuals.

A concerted push on SEO has helped improve visibility in the organic search results, while keyword tracking has been put in place for various countries to allow us to monitor international rankings. This work will be enhanced in the Spring with multiple language options being added to the site.

The new brand has brought Macalloy’s identity up to date and in line with the evolution of the company, while the new website and analytics tools have enabled the team to better understand the customer journey and develop client relationships.

This ultimately means data informed decisions can be made across all aspects of the business.

Organic traffic to the site has already grown by 74 per cent compared to December 2021, and the new brand identity is currently being rolled out across multiple communications, including product brochures, brand guidelines, animations and online presentations.

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ADVERTORIAL

TRUST STUDENTS

LEVEL UP THEIR BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE Barnsley College’s iTrust students who are setting up their own businesses have had the chance to talk to John Lamerton, self-made millionaire, author and lifestyle business expert.

John’s virtual workshop was packed with hints, tips and expert information as he discussed lifestyle businesses and their benefits to the young entrepreneurs.

John shared his personal experience of setting up and managing several lifestyle businesses after becoming run down, stressed and unhappy in his 9-5 office job. He also explained the importance of working hard and showing commitment to a business model while not seeing success in yachts and supercars but instead in happiness and the ability to not wait until retirement to take a break and enjoy hard-earned money.

Insightful industry knowledge was also shared with the students, including how to compete in the business field on experience instead of price, build loyalty with customers and like-minded professionals, take every opportunity available and avoid being driven by numbers and the size of a corporation.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

JOHN LAMERTON

John said: “As a society, we have too often been trained and conditioned to believe business is designer clothing, huge skyscrapers and helicopters when in fact, business is the business owner delivering the lifestyle they want through a business that they have designed.

“The reason I think it’s so important to tell others about this is because I personally embarked on a path chasing money and the prestige lifestyle before realising it wasn’t delivering the lifestyle I wanted, and I was unhappy.” Barnsley College’s iTrust programme is

an entrepreneurial initiative which allows students who are interested in setting up their own business to receive a wealth of support. This includes access to an array of information and guidance such as mentoring from industry specialists and local business representatives. The programme also offers the opportunity to receive a £250 grant to be invested in each student’s business.

Magdolna Vajo, current Level 3 Photography student and part of the iTrust programme, said: “I think it’s important that young people who want to start a business hear about

lifestyle businesses. John is an experienced and successful person; he is a great example to young entrepreneurs.

“I enjoyed and appreciated everything he said and showed us of his life. I particularly liked the part when he said that in a lifestyle business you do what you enjoy the most, and you will find the audience anyway.

He motivated me too; I know we must work really hard to be able to achieve what we want, but it will pay off in the long run. The messages he shared were really positive and I will definitely take his advice.”

Since his workshop, John has shared copies of his latest book, Big Ideas, with College students giving them the opportunity to read his expert view on growing small businesses.

If you are interested in providing a guest speaker session to Barnsley College students, contact the Enterprise team by emailing: enterprise@barnsley.ac.uk.

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We take care of you, so you can take care of business Conferences

Meetings

Workshops

Corporate lunches

Interviews

Corporate parties

200 car park spaces Capacity from 2 to 250 Use the code #Taptonbiz01 to receive our projector and screen at no added cost

Mothers Day

Corporate open day

Book your Mother's day lunch with us!!

Wednesday 25th May

Sunday 27th March £26.95 per adult £15 per child (Includes a gift for mum)

A fun and interactive day for you and your colleagues!! contact us to register and more information

Easter Sunday lunch Sunday 17th April 3 Course Easter Lunch £24.50 per adult £15.00 per child (includes craft activities and gift)

Time slots

12:30 or 14:30

T:0114 266 0051 E:enquiries@taptonhall.com

www.taptonhall.com Shore Lane, Fulwood, Sheffield, S10 3BU

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Join us for a delicious SUNDAY LUNCH served every Sunday 12noon3pm or tasty AFTERNOON TEA served Thursday to Sunday 12noon-3pm.

Booking essential!

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

t

ADVERTORIAL

FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, FOR FREE:

STRENGTHENING SHEFFIELD’S BUSINESS

COMMUNITY WITH THE TUESDAY CLUB Paul Fletcher, Managing Director of leading Sheffield-based contact centre CC33, has launched a business support programme with a difference.

‘The Tuesday Club’ will invite local businesspeople together to access simple business advice and support from Paul and a carefully selected panel of local business experts.

Paul recognised there was a gap within the Sheffield business community – a service that offers support and advice for upcoming professionals and businesses.

No one was there to simply help these local businesses This gave Paul the inspiration to launch this new venture, The Tuesday Club.

The Tuesday Club will create a strong support network between the businesses of Sheffield. This is the first step towards bringing together a community of business leaders from all sectors that want to see other businesses succeed, with no financial gain.

Originally, Paul had the idea of using The Tuesday Club as a place to meet where Sheffield companies could meet and receive business advice.

However, due to more than 350 businesses expressing interest in attending, it became evident that The Tuesday Club would need to take a different approach. That is when Paul pulled together the plan of creating a system that would accommodate a more personal service.

The initiative is now a panel

of twelve successful local business owners within the Sheffield City Region headed

by Paul himself.

The panel will invite upcoming Sheffield companies to attend where they will discuss any issues or challenges. This will then allow the panel to offer their support and advice.

The event will take place on the last Tuesday of every month, 4-6pm and will be hosted at CC33’s head office on Ecclesall Road.

Paul said: “The Tuesday Club means a lot to me and is something I have wanted to do for

a while, especially with the number of individuals who started their own business during the pandemic.

“I know first-hand how lonely it can be setting up a business and I wanted to offer a service for Sheffield businesses that could use a helping hand from someone who believes in their business and has the knowledge to help.

“I wanted to create an initiative that is free and offers something that a lot of businesses just wouldn’t have access to without having to pay for the privilege. It’s also important to me that the panel all hold the same values as me and genuinely want

to help other businesses. The club also gives members of the panel the option to invest in the companies if they feel they can progress the business by working together and guiding the businesses into the right direction.”

2022 marks ten years since Paul launched CC33 and felt it was the right time to share his knowledge and experience with others and make a real difference.

Paul added: “I was in a fortunate position to have a mentor whilst growing CC33, but I know how much I would have benefitted from The Tuesday Club had I not had guidance from an outside source.

“I recently assisted a small cupcake business that needed some general guidance.

Between a few contacts and I, we gave the relevant advice and steered the business in the right direction.

“It made me realise how many businesses could be in a similar position and it made me really want to bring The Tuesday Club to life so we can build Sheffield’s business scene and help grow the success of the city.”

Companies who feel they would benefit from The Tuesday Club can apply by contacting Paul on thetuesdayclub@cc33.co.uk

.

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Bluebell Wood Business Expo

In association with

thursday 23rd June 2022 holiday inn, rotherham • Network with South Yorkshire businesses • Guest speakers • Free entry • Free car parking

Book a stand or register to attend at www.bluebellwood.org/businessexpo

A new year, a fresh start?

We sell all property types at auction!

Sell your property with us in 2022!

Over

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For a FREE auction valuation call us today on 0114 223 0777 or email southyorkshire@auctionhouse.co.uk 20/01/2022 15:43

5:43

ADVERTORIAL

PARTNER UP Award-winning property auctioneers Auction House South Yorkshire has recently had its largest-ever catalogue for Livestream auction, its best-ever January and raised £7.1 million for vendors in 2021. Matt Holmes caught up with director James Holding to find out about their Partner Agent scheme.

“The Auction House South Yorkshire Partner Agent scheme enables introducers such as estate, commercial and letting agents to earn income from introducing a property to be sold via Livestream or National Online auction. We guarantee to split any fee income (usually a minimum of 1 per cent or £1,000 plus VAT) becoming payable immediately upon the sale of the lot under the gavel,” said James.

The scheme allows Partner Agents or Personal Introducers to earn income from properties that they would not be able to sell on the open market, such as properties that require improvement or are unable to be mortgaged.

“Sale by auction is quick and efficient, meaning that sellers can have money in their account in as little as five weeks from point of instruction – quicker than any other route of sale!”

Auction House deals with all communication from sellers, whether telephone or online enquiries, as well as conducting all viewings; it can be as simple as providing them with the contact details of the vendor and they take care of the rest.

So, what do you need to do to become a Partner Agent?

James explained: “Quite simply, anyone can act as a Partner Agent or Personal Introducer to Auction House!”

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JAMES HOLDING

Traditionally the majority of their network are estate agents, letting agents and student accommodation providers. However, they also work with individuals happy to pay a referral fee for any

property introduced and subsequently sold via Auction House South Yorkshire.

James tells me how they have a network of clients prepared to make offers on properties where the vendor

may want to sell but not have the property officially marketed. He said: “We are finding that we have unprecedented demand for all types of property across the South Yorkshire region.

“There is always a strong demand for properties that require improvement, tenanted properties that provide a good return for landlords, as well as tenanted commercial or mixed-use opportunities.

“We are always happy for the Partner Agent or Introducer to dual market the property on their website and we can deal with all aspects of the legal process, such as arranging legal packs and searches via one of our legal partners on a no sale, no fee basis.”

Auction House can provide dedicated marketing and social media campaigns, as well as promotion in their online and digital Livestream auction catalogues.

It’s an exciting time right now for Auction House South Yorkshire. Keep an eye out for area manager Sam Harris who has recently completed filming for Homes Under the Hammer!

In the meantime, Sam would be delighted to speak to you to explain all the benefits available to Partner Agents.

2022 is already shaping up to be their best ever year and James encourages anyone who wishes to be part of that success to get in touch.

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CONFERENCES EVENTS TRAINING WORKSHOPS WEEKEND RETREATS CORPORATE TEAM AWAY DAYS

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17/4PH – COND A, H900, H1025, H1075, H1150, H1150D

Plus many more.

E: sales@corrosion-resistant-materials.co.uk T: +44(0)1709 590 508 Unit 5B Swinton Meadows, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S64 8AB

INSURANCE

IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

SLOW DOWN ON INSURANCE Director at chartered Sheffield broker IFM Insurance Jamie Harvey discusses the knock-on effect for the insurance industry of supply chain shortages and rising costs.

Over the past 12 months there has been a significant increase in the price of materials needed, particularly for the building, construction and motor spares industries.

The impact of Brexit and the pandemic has resulted in a sharp increase in costs caused by supply chain limitations and increased demand in building and motor part materials.

Added to this, we are seeing a shortage of skilled staff.

What’s more, the shutdowns of factories caused by various lockdowns and people working from home have only exacerbated the problem.

Shortages in the UK have seen prices for repair work materials increase 26.2 per cent year on year in October 2021, according to statistics from Department for

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The greatest price increase has been seen in fabricated structural steel (70.6 per cent year-on-year change), imported sawn and planed wood (up 69.6 per cent), and concrete reinforcing bars (an increase of 60.5 per cent).

Tender costs are also increasing, with builders and contractors expecting contractual delays caused by material shortages and further increases in material prices.

In the motor industry, production stoppages caused by the pandemic and shipping delays are placing more pressure on dealerships, garages and body shops to obtain replacement parts to fix and repair vehicles.

This has had a knock-on

effect with many fleet firms now required to keep vehicles on site for significantly longer periods than originally intended.

Against this backdrop of price increases, we have seen rising costs of claims across a wide range of property and motor classes. This means that policyholders are facing the potential prospect of their policy limits becoming insufficient to meet the costs of rebuild or repair.

In the current challenging environment, it is therefore vital for firms involved in the building, construction and motor spares sectors to ensure their assets are valued correctly so that in the event of a claim their policy will respond.

With labour and building materials set to increase into

2022, it's important for firms to ensure that their sums are insured at the correct levels.

Taking such measures now will help ensure that their business doesn’t become a victim of being underinsured.

It is the broker’s job to ensure that an insurance policy will deliver and perform exactly as expected when a claim is made. They have a duty to remind business owners of the consequences of underinsurance and how they can take the right actions in a cost effective and efficient manner.

A broker knows what is at stake. The future of any business rests on arranging the best insurance cover and not a bundle of clauses that effectively prevent policyholders from making a claim.

IFM’S TOP TIPS TO COMBAT UNDERINSURANCE 1

Meet with your broker well before your next renewal to uncover whether your business insurance is providing the right protection.

2

Ensure replacement cost estimates for buildings, contents, equipment and business interruption are set at the appropriate coverage levels.

3

Conduct regular, accurate valuations of buildings and contents using a professional valuer.

4

5

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

Consider how any inflationary increase could affect the sum insured. Although most policies are index-linked, an increase in the cost of building materials could directly impact on rebuilding costs.

Consider increasing the indemnity limit of your business interruption insurance to at least 24 months, to allow for the delays in obtaining building materials and replacement parts.

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Get in Touch:

0114 236 9640

With decades of experience, we have developed a well respected reputation for supplying fire alarm systems to a wide and varied client base, including the NHS, Hallam University and the DFEE. Your complete security is our priority and we will endeavour to ensure your property, people and assets are meticulously protected at all times by tailoring your system to meet your exact needs.

Whether you have multiple large premises or a single shop, we can install detection systems to cover almost any space to ensure your complete safety.

Our Services • Fire Protection • 24/7 Monitoring • Security Systems

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ADVERTORIAL

THE HOME OF BUSINESS IN BARNSLEY We provide small businesses with a supportive environment that nurtures business growth with our wide range of meeting and office space in Barnsley.

Are you eligible for ScaleUp 360 support?

If you can answer yes to the below, we want to hear from you!

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED

You are either a pre-start entrepreneur/business or a small or medium-sized enterprise (SMEs)

SSL specialise in all aspects of design, print and direct mail for companies of all sizes.

The business was founded

by Shelley Scarfe in 2010, when she decided to work for herself after being employed in the direct mail industry for several years. She now offers a one-stop-shop for marketing managers and organisations, removing the hassle of managing multiple suppliers for their direct mail campaigns.

“The business started out as a direct mail offering but has grown over the years to include designing and printing mail packs too,” Shelley said.

“I enjoy the design the most.

I’m proud to say that we’ve created some lovely logos and new brands over the years. It’s great to drive past Barnsley Hospital, see the ‘Proud to’ logo and think, ‘we did that’.”

SSL’s customers are varied and nationwide, but they also work with local organisations such as AmcoGiffen, Cannon Hall Farm and Sheffield Theatres.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

In the early days Shelley worked from home, but once her business began making money, it was time to get an office. With The Business Village right on her doorstep, it was an obvious choice.

The reception service provided a professional frontage for her business and meant that print deliveries could be taken in. Additionally, the free parking and proximity to the motorway had clear benefits, along with access to The Bistro facilities when holding meetings.

Having 24/7 access has been great for Shelley, especially when needing to work weekends. She said: “The Business Village has changed over the years and there are now lots of different businesses located here. It’s a supportive environment for new business owners and it was invaluable in the early days, boosting my confidence.”

Shelley has now worked in the direct mail sector for over 20 years. With so much experience, she can offer customers a unique blend of consultancy and design services.

“Many of my customers come to me with a marketing plan, a budget and know what they want to send out. My role is to advise them on how to use that budget and what to include in the mailing pack so that they can get the best results.

“I love my job and am very happy with the way my business is right now. I tend to hold onto my customers, but I’d also like to grow and take on new ones. I’m still enthusiastic about my business and get such a buzz out of meeting new people and being involved in their marketing plans.”

Find out more visit www.ssldirectmail.co.uk

You are looking to ScaleUp from where you are today. This could be: • Starting a business, or scaling up an existing venture • Launching a new product or service • Improving systems and processes • Designing new or improved packaging • Taking on your first employee, or increasing existing staff numbers • You are located in the Sheffield City Region which covers Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Doncaster, North East Derbyshire, Rotherham and Sheffield.

• For futher details visit scaleup360.co.uk or email scaleup360.shu. ac.uk To find out more about The Business Village: www.barnsleybic.co.uk or contact business development manager Kevin Steel on 01226 249590 / 07970 930560 or via www.barnsleybic. co.uk/staff/kevin-steel

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BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY

CITY TAXIS DELIVERS NEW COMMUNITY INITIATIVES A specially invited group from the business community and local charities were hosted at City Taxis premises in Sheffield as City launched new initiatives to reinforce their commitment to the community.

Speaking as part of February’s popular 3D Connect event organised by Jill White, Andy Hanselman and Danielle Sheldon, managing director Arnie Singh spoke about City’s continuing efforts to demonstrate that doing good is good business.

In 2020 City launched their own City Charity Incubator, set up to support a local charity.

City also announced that they would be joined at their HQ in 2022 by The Archer Project, who were left without a base following an arson attack on their offices the previous year.

Furthermore, City Taxis have announced that the

THE CITY TAXIS TEAM AT THE RECENT 3D CONNECT EVENT

City Taxis Business, Sales and Marketing Academy at Sheffield College will continue for a further year.

The academy aims to give young people the opportunity to gain experience in sales, marketing and business

development whilst helping build confidence and develop new skills through monthly workshops. The news was capped off with the announcement that City will be throwing an ‘NHS Thank You’ Gala Ball on June 30.

Arnie said: “The ball will be to thank NHS staff and all the amazing work they do, particularly throughout the pandemic. On the night we will be rewarding five of our NHS heroes with special recognition awards. All funds raised will go to Sheffield Hospitals Charity.”

In other news, City Taxis have launched the new ‘Jab Cab’ scheme with Sheffield City Council. Free taxis will be made available to Sheffield residents travelling to and from the Longley Lane Vaccination Centre, making it easier to get their first or second dose and booster jab.

Getting you t’ after work drinks Along for the ride.

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ADVERTORIAL

FACING CHANGE

HEAD ON The region’s newest PR agency, Altitude, has launched aiming to give great businesses a voice and help them unlock their potential.

Without doubt, the pandemic has taught us how to adapt to change.

Whether we’ve enthusiastically embraced change or reluctantly accepted it, we’re slowly emerging with a realisation that this is a clean slate, and that perhaps we don’t need to hold onto old ways.

In business, just as in life, change happens and it can bring new opportunities.

It is against this unique backdrop that the team at Sheffield communications specialist Counter Context decided the time was right to launch a spin-off PR agency, Altitude.

As we start to put the pandemic in our rear-view mirror, it’s the perfect time to start looking forward and speaking up for our region. Too often we do not shout loud enough about the amazing, creative things businesses and institutions in Yorkshire are doing.

Altitude is the region’s newest PR agency. Like all good ambitions, ours is a simple one – to give great businesses a voice and to help them unlock their potential.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: TOM CHAPMAN, JANE WHITHAM AND ADAM REEVES-BROWN

Drawing on the rapid growth of our parent company, we know that ambitious businesses need ambitious PR. Through smart, flexible and creative PR, Altitude gives clients a competitive advantage and a voice to be heard amongst the noise.

Why now?

Coupled with the knowledge that developing a brand takes time and skill, we set about creating a new agency that is totally fit for a modern, innovative 21st century purpose.

The past two years have taught us the value of information and the absolute need for clear communication based on truth and increasingly on data.

There are positives to take from this challenging period and we hope we can help organisations harness their positives and take their next steps forward.

The Altitude team The Altitude team supports some of the most exciting businesses and institutions in the UK.

The team is led by Jane Whitham who has worked in senior PR roles for 14 years.

Prior to switching to a career in PR, Jane worked in journalism writing for both national and regional newspapers.

Adam Reeves-Brown is well known to many in the regeneration and property sector across Yorkshire having delivered PR and communication strategies for Sheffield City Council’s Heart of the City redevelopment and The Glass Works, the transformation of Barnsley town centre. His campaign experience is broad and covers many different sectors.

The launch team is completed by Tom Chapman, a graduate who completed his studies with a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Sheffield University.

To find out more about what Altitude could offer your business, visit www.altitudepr.co.uk

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HOW YOUR MARKETPLACE HAS CHANGED.

Make sure your team have the tools to sell in a changing world.

50% funded courses available through Sheffield Chamber of Commerce & Plan. Grow. Do. "One of the biggest outcomes was seeing how the sales and marketing operation of a business actually complement each other and should always be made to work together. I’d never viewed it like that before."

Kayleigh Thompson, Professional Energy Purchasing.

PLAN. GROW. DO. confidence, process and structure in sales

Visit: scci.org.uk/training | Email: training@scci.org.uk | Call: 0114 201 8888

LAUNCHPAD

GCS SECURITY SYSTEMS GCS Security Systems reflect on how receiving support from Launchpad has helped them to make their dreams of opening a physical showroom a reality. who requires one of our services, as well as welcoming customers who have a troublesome system and need our help. Once established, we look forward to taking on additional staff to help us maintain our standards.

Tell us about your company?

GCS Security Systems is a security systems provider and installer.

We offer state of the art CCTV, intruder alarms and access control systems offering a system for every situation and budget, should it be a domestic or commercial property.

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

We had thought about starting a business for a while but both felt the security of being employed offered stability and reassurance.

However, when COVID-19

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hit, we, like most people, revaluated where we were in life and what we wanted - and having served over 20 years in the industry we felt that we stood as much chance as anyone else to start up an honest, reliable and affordable security provider.

How has Launchpad helped you?

We thought we would have to start from scratch but we were pointed in the direction of Doncaster Launchpad, who provided everything we needed to get up and running.

As part of our business model we wanted to provide

a showroom to enable our potential customers to physically experience the product and choose the correct one which would suit their needs best. Launchpad got us well on the way into our first shop by providing access to grants and invaluable assistance.

What are your hopes and aims for the business?

Our hopes for the business are to provide good, honest security solutions at an affordable price, and to become established and known for a one-stop shop for any potential customer

Launchpad advisor Debbie Richardson said: "It has been great working with GCS security Ltd on the Launchpad Programme.

After approaching us for advice and support on how to develop his new business. Andy has found our workshops really useful to help grow and develop his business. Andy has shown a real passion for his business and 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.”

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The University’s exciting ensemble organised and led entirely by current SU students. They play a variety of great music to the highest standard in a fun, and inclusive environment.

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ADVERTORIAL

LEVELLING UP AT

SHEFFIELD CHILDREN’S: HOW YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR COULD CHANGE LIVES LIKE RIO’S

In July last year, eight-yearold Rio Cooper was hit by a car outside his home in Conisbrough.

Mum Natalie recalls: “Rio was walking with a friend to the playing fields opposite our house when he was hit by a car. His friend ran back to get me. The air ambulance intercepted the 999 call and arrived within minutes.”

Rio was intubated and ventilated at the scene by the air ambulance doctor. The nearest Major Trauma Centre was Sheffield Children’s but thanks to the air ambulance, it took just six minutes to get there.

Young people are transferred to Sheffield Children’s by air ambulance by landing in the public park opposite. Patients are then stretchered across the busy A57 to the Emergency Department.

Natalie continues: “The police had to clear the area and someone from the Trauma team had to stop traffic so they could stretcher him across. It was all a bit of a

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and arts and crafts and he also enjoys playing video games and watching films on Netflix.

The Children’s Hospital Charity are raising money to build a Helipad on the roof of the hospital, which would save vital minutes for patients like Rio. With more than half the cost now raised, it is hoped with support from the public that fundraising for the £6m project can be completed this year and the Helipad is expected to open in 2023.

RIO COOPER WITH HIS MUM, NATALIE

blur, but it felt like the longest time of my life.”

Rio had an Intracranial Bolt fitted to monitor the building pressure inside his skull, before moving onto the Intensive Care Unit where he spent the next five days in an induced coma.

He was diagnosed with Acquired Hydrocephalus and initially had an external drain fitted to relieve the pressure in his brain, which was then replaced by a permanent

shunt. Rio also required the use of a wheelchair and a frame, with reconstructive surgery meaning that two pins were placed into his leg.

In total, his stay at Sheffield Children’s lasted almost six weeks and once home he began weekly physiotherapy at his local hospital and occupational therapy at home.

Today, Rio has caught up with school and his teachers are happy with his progress.

He’s passionate about drawing

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Children’s Hospital Charity are looking for teams to join in with their annual Theo Cup on Sunday 3rd April at Goodwin Sports Centre.

Team entry is £250 with a bar and BBQ on the day.

Find out more by e-mailing sophie@tchc.org.uk or visit www.tchc.org.uk/events/

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CHARITY PROFILE

SPONSORED BY

URBANA ANNOUNCES SHEFFIELD MIND AS ITS CHOSEN CHARITY OF THE YEAR Urbana has partnered with Sheffield Mind as its charity of the year for 2022 and is aiming to exceed its target of raising over £1,500 for the organisation.

Urbanist Chloe Parmenter, said: “As Urbanists, it is pertinent that we plan our spaces and cities in a way that ensures people feel happy and healthy. One of the ways we do this at Urbana is by including and enhancing green spaces so people can meet, socialise, and enjoy the outdoors.

“It was an obvious choice to extend our support to Sheffield Mind as our charity of the year for 2022. They are a fantastic organisation, delivering real impact in our hometown, and we’re looking forward to working closely with them over the coming months.”

As part of their partnership, the Urbana team will taking part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Friday,

LEFT-RIGHT: TOM VINCENT, JOE KIRTLEY, ADAM MURRAY, TOM BREISLIN, KIT MILLER, CHLOE PARMENTER AND CHARLES DUNN AT THE SUMMIT OF MAM TOR IN THE PEAK DISTRICT

April 22 to raise money/ awareness for the charity.

The trek covers over 24 miles and 1585m of ascent of the three highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales - Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

Sheffield Mind CEO, Margaret Lewis, thanked the team for their enthusiasm and said: “We rely on the generosity of supporters to sustain and develop our services. The support of local organisations

such as Urbana is so important to us.”

Donate here: www.sheffield mind.co.uk/fundraisers/ urbana-and-friends-take-onthe-yorkshire-3-peaks

HENRY BOOT TAKES INNOVATIVE NEW APPROACH TO CHARITY COLLABORATION Based in Sheffield, Henry Boot, a group of companies creating sustainable value and long-term growth from land, property development and construction, has a strong reputation for supporting a range of charities, which in recent years has included charity of the year partnerships with St Luke’s Hospice, Dementia UK and Mind.

The group recently partnered with The Children’s Hospital Charity, with the partnership being extended to two years to mitigate the

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CHLO BRUNTON-DUNN, SENIOR CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS ASSISTANT AT THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHARITY & DARREN

impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It proved to be an impactful partnership that engaged Henry Boot employees and saw support

for the charity’s annual Snowflakes campaign and the Bears of Sheffield campaign.

The group has raised £33,000 to support the vital

work performed by the charity.

For 2022-23 the group will be supporting organisations that promote positive mental health, so they are delighted to announce that Place2Be will be its new group charity partner.

Place2Be work in schools to improve the social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of young people in the formative years of their lives. The charity prevents life-long mental health issues and helps children cope with challenges throughout their lives, ensuring they can achieve their full potential.

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CHARITY

CHARITY SPONSORED BY LET'S SAVE

Wendy shares her experience of helping an organisation provide sensory equipment

ENABLING HANNAH’S VISION I met Hannah Mounsey, founder and managing director of Enable Unity CIC, five years ago when Enable Unity existed only as an idea.

Hannah was passionate about working with disabled families and envisioned setting up soft play areas with sensory equipment that were tailored to people with disabilities. When she was telling me all about her vision, I said ‘Woah - you go for it!’.

After being made redundant, Hannah had the opportunity to get Sensory Planet, a facility based in Thurnscoe, which was the first rung on the ladder for her. Following the inception of the pandemic 12 months after beginning her work with Sensory Planet, Hannah was able to turn her vision of a mobile sensory facility into a reality with my help. We started from scratch, and we had two businesses to build from the ground up.

Combining remote and inperson work, we collaborated on the strategy and planning side of the business, which Hannah subsequently put into practise. Together, we raised just shy of £100,000 through exploring various funding opportunities. We just had to find the right pots of funding that would support Hannah’s vision.

Hannah had the opportunity to seek expert advice from key industry contacts, of whom I know many thanks to being

who are looking to develop their strategies and business plans in the same way Enable Unity has with such success, I would advise business owners to look at the finances and time available and note the importance of taking things back to basics. You have to go three or four steps backwards before you can jump forward.

Don’t bypass due-diligence, business structure and safety, and find a ‘solid base’ to go from.

Enable Unity’s new Sensory Planetmobile, a one-of-a-kind vehicle designed to provide a unique sensory experience across South Yorkshire, will be on the road early 2022.

Find out more here: www.enableunitycic.org.uk.

Book your sensory experience by calling Hannah on: 07851 492 813 or email: hannah@ enableunitycic.org.uk self-employed for 12 years.

I pointed Hannah in the direction of people with expertise in the areas she needed support with, from accountants and bookkeepers to marketing with Laura Stead.

Hannah has done such a great job at being honest about her own capabilities and asking for help on the stuff that she either doesn't want to do or can’t or isn’t very good at; she identifies that quickly and she understands her own strengths and weaknesses.

I think it is the fact Hannah

has been so inward thinking that has made it such a success, and that she’s really taken on board the input from the people around her.

Some buildings still lack access arrangements for disabled people. We’re in 2022, and this stuff should not be happening. You should be able to enjoy a leisure facility whether you have a disability or not. These issues highlight how influential Hannah’s business will be for reducing accessibility issues for disabled people.

For other organisations

Wendy Ward is a growth consultant, working specifically within the non-for-profit and charitable sector. She helps organisations with business planning and strategy, as well as grant funding and writing bid applications for emergency funds, the latter having been particularly crucial since the pandemic. For advice on how Wendy could help your organisation, email wendy@letssave.biz.

Give Wendy at Let's Save Consultancy Services a call on 0772 9481010 or email wendy@letssave.biz

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Make a Will, make a saving and take care of those you love.

There are several things you might not know about wills, and how to get one. Did you know that according to research, three in five adults in the UK (59%) don’t have a will? And did you also know that there are 5.4 million UK residents who don’t know how to go about writing a will?

We know that making a will isn’t an easy thing to think about, but we’re here to help. Any big life event – such as getting married, welcoming a new baby to the family or buying a house – is the perfect reason to write or update your will.

By making a Will in St Luke’s Will Month, you’ll be getting peace of mind and great value for money, at the same time as supporting our patients and their families.

We’ve teamed up with local solicitors who will guide you through the process of drawing up a basic single or joint will, or amending an existing one. Best of all, your professionally written will is free of charge and you will instead be invited to make a donation to us in place of the solicitor’s fee.

For more information and to book your appointment, please visit www.stlukeshospice.org.uk/willmonth T: 0114 235 7553 E: giftsinwills@hospicesheffield.co.uk Ps, if you have a friend who could benefit from this, please share this with them too!

DID YOU KNOW? Legacies are one of the most valuable and lasting ways you can support us?

You may choose to leave a gift to St Luke’s in your Will (also known as a legacy), although this is not a condition of the scheme.

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