Derbyshire company staff write letters of festive cheer to people lonely at Christmas
Employees at a Derbyshire company have given a huge boost to a campaign designed to lift people’s spirits by sending them personalised letters.
The Give … a Few Words campaign was set up during the Covid pandemic in 2020 to try to reach out to isolated people by matching them up with volunteer writers who would send them a letter with a personal touch. Letter recipients were initially from care homes but the campaign has now expanded to include those who are isolated in other settings, as well as families going through a tough time who may appreciate the boost a letter can bring.
Lubrizol, a company with branches all over the world including at Hazelwood near Belper, has given the campaign huge support with more than 40 employees signed up to write letters to people they have never met, including writers from Mexico and the USA.
The campaign has recently launched a festive #Letters for Christmas drive to reach out to people who may be alone, or otherwise struggling, during the festive period – and a team of Lubrizol employees have been taking part.
One of them is Jagienka Harrison, from Allestree, who knows a thing or two about the importance of letter writing. When she arrived in the UK from her native Poland aged 19, Jagienka relied on letters to keep in touch with her family.
Jagienka said: “When I first moved to England in 1999, the Internet wasn’t a thing and I used to write letters to people. I used to try and ring my mum every now and then but it cost a lot more in those days. Letters were great and I used to receive a lot of them.”
When writers take part in the Give … a few words scheme, they are given some details about the interests of the person receiving the letter, which may range from handicrafts to sport, history or even a love of jokes! The writer then crafts a personal letter which is sent to the charity’s post box in Huddersfield where it is then forwarded to the recipient – and only positive content is allowed! They are also able to write an email – the idea is just to communicate personal positive messages through the power of the written word.
Jagienka, an HR administrator for Lubrizol, said: “I think it’s a great scheme. It pushes you a little bit! What I always think about, especially over Christmas last year, is that although my grandmother is no longer alive, if she had been, she would have felt very lonely in Covid times on her own, I’m sure, and she would have loved to receive a letter from somebody.
“I just think that it doesn’t cost anything apart from a piece of paper and a stamp but you might just make somebody’s day.”
The idea of the Give … a few words campaign is that it is not intended to be a long-running pen pal scheme, which may make participants feel the pressure of long-term commitment, but rather, a one-off letter.
Founder Sharron Wilkinson, of Huddersfield, has now set up the campaign as a community interest company.
She said: “Some people receiving these letters have been in tears. They are overwhelmed. There is something really, really special about receiving a gift of something and there is nothing expected in return.
“Care homes have had such a tough time. Residents have had a tough time. A letter gives everybody a lift.”
Sharron said Lubrizol’s support for their campaign had been “amazing”, with letter writers from its branches overseas having got involved outside the festive season too.
She said: “Lubrizol has really, really embraced this. They have been involved from really early on. We are highly appreciative of their support and kindness.
“Some people are on their own, that’s the reality. Or they might be having a tough time. It’s just a really nice thing to be able to do to give some people a bit of a lift, and a bit of a smile.”
For more on the Give … a few words campaign, see https://thegive.co.uk, phone 07498 818838 or email hello@thegive.co.uk
2022 Business Predictions: Andrew Mair, partner and head of BDO LLP in the East Midlands
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Andrew Mair, partner and head of BDO LLP in the East Midlands.
There’s little doubt that the last 12 months have continued to test the resilience of the East Midlands business community. Impacted by the emergence of a global pandemic in 2020 and its lingering presence, regional businesses have also had to contend with the fall-out from Brexit – adapting the way they operate to manage pressures on domestic and international supply chains, input price inflation, worker shortages and additional red tape and regulation.
The challenges have remained consistent throughout 2021, but the way businesses have dealt with those issues has evolved. East Midlands businesses have remained optimistic about the rate of recovery, have committed to delivering on growth strategies and have stayed focused on critical business issues that transcend COVID-19, such as ESG.
The recent emergence of a new variant has reminded us all that the pandemic is an ever-present threat to businesses and the way in which they operate. According to our latest Rethinking the Economy survey of 500 medium-sized businesses, leaders in the East Midlands fear supply chain disruption will affect their ability to offer the usual range of products and services, impacting end of year trading. Nearly half of companies in the region are planning to increase the prices of their goods and services as a result.
Despite these pressures, more than a quarter (27%) of companies in the region expect to see their revenues return to pre-pandemic levels within three to six months. That sense of optimism translates into plans for 2022, with nearly a quarter (23%) of East Midlands companies surveyed prioritising investment in international expansion, with one in five Midlands businesses looking to drive growth into the US next year.
M&A opportunities have continued to rank highly in terms of investment priorities in 2021, and we expect this trend to continue into next year. It’s fair to say that the regional marketplace has rebounded from a turbulent 2020, with the uplift in activity leading to eager and cash-rich investors willing to pay over the odds for businesses, skewing valuations.
Reassuringly, the fundamental market dynamics remain steadfast, with the appetite of corporate acquirers, private equity, alternative investors and open debt markets showing no signs of abating. The key is finding a good home for the ‘wall of money’ that’s currently available in the regional market.
Sectors to watch in 2022 are technology, which will remain at the forefront of activity, biotech, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and telecoms. The good news for the East Midlands is the re-emergence of ‘forgotten’ sectors, such as automotive and aerospace, as well as hospitality and leisure, which have all suffered at the hands of the pandemic.
One thing is certain in 2022 and that’s the ongoing debate about the threat of climate change, the environment, the depletion of natural resources and the role that businesses have to play in helping to achieve the stated aims of our own and other nations. As a region that has a rich heritage in manufacturing and exports across the world, the East Midlands has a real part to play in the ESG movement – whether that’s by prioritising the green agenda or focusing on achieving net-zero emissions. The efforts to combat climate change will create real changes to business models, operational costs and regulation – and corporate strategies will have to evolve to manage the shifting landscape.
There’s much to digest from 2021 and much to consider for 2022, no more so than the growing emergence of modern, collaborative working, and the transition for many to an agile-workforce. For now, businesses will have to balance the pressures of supply chain disruptions, geopolitical risks, the continuing fall out from Brexit, price inflation, and labour shortages – factors that have and will continue to influence day-to-day operations.
Qatar to invest £85m in Rolls-Royce’s new low carbon nuclear power business
Rolls-Royce has reached agreement with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, to invest £85 million in Rolls-Royce SMR Limited.
Rolls-Royce SMR is building a new technology solution to deliver affordable, low carbon, nuclear power. A single power station will occupy around one tenth of the size of a conventional nuclear generation site and power approximately one million homes.
QIA will join Rolls-Royce Group, BNF Resources UK Ltd and Exelon Generation Ltd as shareholders in Rolls-Royce SMR, taking a 10% share of the equity.
Mr Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer of QIA, said: “QIA is investing in the energy transition and funding the technologies that enable low carbon electricity generation. We will continue to seek out investments that align with our mandate to deliver long-term value for future generations through responsible sustainable investments.”
Warren East, CEO, Rolls-Royce Group, said: “I am tremendously pleased to announce that we have further strengthened our relationship with Qatar, through QIA’s investment in the Rolls-Royce SMR business. We have successfully raised the capital we need to establish Rolls-Royce SMR and it is encouraging to confirm that the business is now set up to succeed.”
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “This investment is a clear vote of confidence in the UK’s global leadership in nuclear innovation and follows the £210 million of government investment in the development in Small Modular Reactors.
“It represents a huge step forward in our plan to deploy more home-grown, affordable clean energy – ensuring greater energy independence for the UK, highly skilled jobs and bringing cheaper, cleaner electricity to people’s homes.”
Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone, said: “Although the COP26 Summit ended last month, the work to reach Net Zero and build back greener from the pandemic goes on.
“Investment will play an important role in this. By investing millions into innovative green tech, like Small Modular Reactors, not only are we working hard to end our contribution to climate change, but we are securing thousands of highly-skilled jobs.”
The Rolls-Royce SMR business is now fully funded, having secured £490 million through commercial equity and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant funding. The development of SMRs is a core part of the UK Government’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution.
Packaging firm helps out the homeless and vulnerable with festive care packages
Staff at a packaging firm have once again played Santa – hand-delivering hundreds of hampers to the most vulnerable people of the area.
The elves at The Wilkins Group, based in Colwick, Nottinghamshire, have put together 250 festive care packages full of winter essentials to help users of local homeless shelters, and other vulnerable people, get through the winter months.
It follows a similar, successful charity drive last Christmas, in which The Wilkins Group delivered 344 festive hampers to local Covid-19 heroes and those most in need.
The latest packs contain a hat, gloves, thermal socks, toiletries including shower gel, toothpaste and a toothbrush, and snacks.
Among those set to benefit are users of Emmanuel House, Framework, The Friary, Men’s Complex Needs, Women’s Complex Needs, Hughendon Lodge, Nottingham Nightstop, The Arches and SOTA Sneinton Hermitage.
The donation comes after charities warned that they expect homelessness in Nottingham to increase past pre-Covid levels and that this winter could be the worst in a decade for rough sleepers.
A new kind of homelessness is presenting itself, with reasons including domestic issues, rather than substance misuse or mental health problems.
One recipient of a Wilkins care package, Sam, a service user at Emmanuel House support centre, in Goose Gate, said he had recently been released from a five-week prison term for a probation violation.
Sam said: “Last night I was on the Trent embankment in my sleeping bag.
“The toiletries will certainly come in handy. It’s very kind of The Wilkins Group to do something like this. It means a lot.”
Gill Barker, marketing and fundraising assistant at Emmanuel House, said: “The festive packages from The Wilkins Group are gratefully received by Emmanuel House support centre.
“The contents of the donations are amongst our most needed items and will be distributed to people using this service who are experiencing homelessness, in crisis, are rough-sleeping or at risk of homelessness.
“It will make a difference to the beneficiaries, who otherwise have no access to these basic supplies that many of us take for granted. This is particularly important at this time of year.”
Justin Wilkins, sales and marketing director at Wilkins Group, said: “There’s no doubt that it’s been another tough year for many. Now, as we’re in the depths of winter, we find ourselves thinking more and more of others, and what we might be able to do to help them.
“I had no idea how many charities there were that help the needy in our city and county – it shows how much they are needed. As a local company, we are committed to giving back to our local community, and if these packs can put a smile on just one person’s face, then it’s worth it.”
Bingham industrial unit sold to e-commerce fulfilment business
An e-commerce fulfilment business has snapped up a Bingham industrial unit.
Anthony Barrowcliffe of FHP Property Consultants has completed on the sale of 35 Moorbridge Road to Crocodile Stores.
The unit comprises of a semi-detached warehouse, of 5,588ft², with 4.5 metre eaves, located within an established industrial location.
Anthony Barrowcliffe of FHP Property Consultants said: “I realised quickly when I met Matt Kirby that he had a rapidly growing business working in the e-commerce sector which has seen huge growth, especially due to Covid-19.
“He was already operating three warehouses from Cotgrave so 35 Moorbridge Road worked brilliantly for this already established business due to it being located a short simple drive away on the A46.
“The warehouse consisted of simple storage space with only a small office to the front which suited Crocodile Stores operation perfectly. I hope to work with Matt Kirby again as I know he has already almost filled 35 Moorbridge Road and is still winning more and more business due to his brilliant operation/reputation.”
Matt Kirby of Crocodile Stores said: “Crocodile Stores offer e-commerce fulfilment services and Christmas is a key time of year so time was of the essence in getting the deal done in order to be ready for our peak season. Securing the additional space has allowed our business to service significant growth for our clients with order volumes doubling compared to Quarter 4 in 2020.”
East Midlands economic recovery slows as businesses grapple with uncertainty and price rises
The brakes are being applied to job creation, sales and investment in the East Midlands as economic growth slows down, new research reveals.
Every indicator of economic activity recorded a drop between the third and fourth quarters of 2021 in East Midlands Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey, while confidence was also down.
It was also the first time the State of the Economy Index – which aggregates the various indicators to rate the region’s economic health – fell since the beginning of the pandemic, having grown consistently since Q2 2020.
Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at East Midlands Chamber, said: “The reading of our State of the Economy Index will be a disappointment for businesses and indicates an economy that continues to grow, but at a rate of pace that is slowing.
“To put it another way, over the past few months, the brakes have started to be applied to parts of our economy.
“When we dig a little deeper, we can see the reality for many businesses. They are having to contend with rising prices for raw materials and staffing, which is putting the squeeze on margins.
“While many businesses spent much of 2021 trying to stave off passing these price rises on to support competitiveness, additional pressures at the end of the year, including increased energy costs, seem to have provided the proverbial straw to break the camel’s back.”
Just under 400 businesses across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire took part in the survey between 1 and 22 November.
Key findings from the survey for the East Midlands included:
- UK sales were down by 9% in Q4 compared to Q3, while UK advanced orders reduced by 17%
- Overseas sales and orders were down by 3% and 1% respectively
- The proportion of businesses that increased their workforce fell by 8% (a net 25% of organisations grew headcount in Q3 compared to 17% in Q4), while there was a 3% drop (from a net 38% in Q3 to 35% in Q4) in those saying they expect to employ more staff in the next three months
- The rate of improvement for cashflow dropped by 10% at the same time as 62% of organisations (up from 46% in Q3) were concerned about future price rises
- There was a 2% drop in the proportion of businesses intending to invest in machinery and a 7% in those anticipating investment in training staff
- Confidence on turnover and profitability improvements dropped by 3% and 8% respectively
Chesterfield IoT software company raises £2.1m
A Chesterfield-based business which aims to transform industry with its internet of things software platform has raised £2.1m to accelerate its international expansion.
Konektio received funding from both the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), managed by Mercia and Foresight Group, along with existing investor Tern plc.
The funding will allow Konektio to further develop the product, boost its sales and marketing team, create a number of new highly skilled roles at its headquarters, and grow sales in international markets.
Konektio’s main product AssetMinder enables companies to connect to and monitor assets, ranging from individual components to turbines in remote locations or assets across an entire factory floor. The technology gathers data from the assets, allowing users to make informed decisions on maintenance and servicing, reducing downtime and energy usage and improving efficiency.
AssetMinder, which was commercially launched just over two years ago, is now used across multiple sectors from food processing and manufacturing to logistics, energy and water industries. Konektio clients include maintenance and repair operation Dexis, GCE Healthcare, global engineering company Howden and gas turbine manufacturer Centrax, among others.
The company, which was previously known as InVMA, was founded by Patrick Nash, Jan Hemper and Jon Hill, who recognised the need for the software due to their work as industrial IoT consultants. It now employs around 20 staff at its headquarters in Chesterfield and has recently opened an office in North Carolina.
Peter Stephens, CEO of Konektio, said: “Companies have started to cut through the confusion around digital manufacturing and the next industrial revolution and now share a real appetite to see how the intelligent use of data can deliver returns on investment.
“This is really good news for our business, and we are looking to capitalise on this trend by investing significantly in product development, R&D and expanding our global customer base. The investment secured will help us achieve these goals.”
Kiran Mehta, investment manager at Mercia, said: “Konektio is a deep tech company with the potential to transform industries ranging from manufacturing to infrastructure and power generation. The team are renowned for their knowledge and strong track record. This funding round will enable them to take their product to the next level and establish the company on the global stage.”
Adam Huckerby, senior investment manager at Foresight, added: “We have been impressed by management’s achievements to date. There is a wealth of growth opportunity in the market and this is one of several IOT-related investments Foresight has made. We look forward to working with the team over the coming years.”
Al Sisto, CEO of Tern Plc, said: “We are very pleased that Konektio has secured a significant institutional investment in order to fund the next phase of its growth. We welcome the Mercia and Foresight funds as our partners, alongside the management and founders of Konektio, to help the business achieve its full potential.”
Kerry’s Fresh donates Christmas trees to local care homes in bid to spread festive cheer
Nottingham-based produce supplier Kerry’s Fresh has donated a number of real trees to local care homes and causes – in a bid to share some festive cheer this Christmas.
The family-run business delivered real trees to Church Farm Skylarks care home in Lady Bay, and Church Farm Rusticus in Cotgrave, where they were greeted with joy from residents and staff.
The Friary, a local charity based in West Bridgford also received six trees from the business, to deliver to local, vulnerable families who would otherwise not have had a Christmas tree this year.
Aidan Kerry, business development manager at Kerry’s Fresh delivered the trees personally and said: “Ensuring we followed all safety procedures, it was really lovely to meet some of the residents at the care homes and we were delighted to see how pleased they were to receive the trees.
“We also hope we brought some joy to those families who will have received the trees in partnership with The Friary this year.
“As a business, we are always looking at ways we can help and engage with the local community spread some cheer, especially in such uncertain and turbulent times. We wish everyone a safe and Happy Christmas.”
Specialising in care for people living with Dementia, staff at Skylarks care home were preparing for their annual ‘Winter Wonderland’ themed party for residents where the tree would take centre stage.
Whilst at Church Farm Rusticus resident Jean was excited at the prospect of decorating the tree.
Helen Walton, head of operations at Church Farm Care, said: “We were delighted to receive Christmas trees at our Church Farm care homes from this generous local business. Our family members love Christmas and everything that is involved.
“Engaging with the local community is extremely important to Church Farm Care so this gesture means a great deal.”
90% of Midlands businesses set to be impacted by R&D tax reform
Ninety per cent of Midlands business leaders will need to rethink their tax and innovation strategy as the Government has confirmed new R&D tax relief rules, first announced in the Budget, according to new research from accountancy firm, BDO.
The bi-monthly Rethinking the Economy survey of 500 leaders of medium-sized businesses reveals the significant proportion of Midlands businesses that will be impacted by the announcement which aims to target abuse, improve compliance and drive UK innovation.
Experts warn that without forward planning and a holistic tax strategy, this could have substantial implications on business’s cashflow and moreover for innovation in UK businesses and particularly in the regions.
Ross Northall, partner at BDO LLP, said: “At a policy level, it makes sense that the Government are seeking to onshore R&D, enhance UK innovation and better police genuine UK R&D but, practically, business leaders need a plan.
“The 90% of Midlands businesses with overseas R&D will need to consider modelling the impact of these tax changes on their R&D claim. This will allow them to truly understand the net cost of innovation for future R&D now the detail has been announced.
“Of course, the greatest cost to UK Plc could be that businesses invest less in R&D overall as they’re not able to transfer the current level of investment into the UK.”
ONS figures estimate that approximately £25.9 billion of the £47.5 billion of R&D investment in 2019 was in the UK with the remainder spent overseas.
BDO tax director, Claire Hudson, added: “For business leaders, this isn’t a case of just re-looking at their approach to R&D. Companies need to take a strategic approach and consider the detail of these changes and whether a restructure is required.
“There are several corporate tax considerations, such as whether onshoring would result in a transfer of IP, whether transfer pricing is impacted, and any overseas entities need to be liquidated. The good news is there is time to get into the detail, but this needs to be a priority for leaders in the new year.”
Businesses have struggled with staff shortages over the past 12 months and recent data showed 77% of Midlands businesses are already planning to increase their use of contractors to bridge the skills gap next year. Skills shortages could also be a considerable barrier to onshoring effective R&D.
BDO tax partner, Ben Tarry, who leads the Global Employer Services team, added: “The changes may also have an impact on staffing models within businesses, which could see a need for increased resource located in the UK.
“This could either be through permanent transfers, project workers or other. In each scenario there will be a need to consider the tax, social security and payroll compliance implications of cross-border employee movement.”
There is also a Government consultation – open until the 7th January 2022 – seeking views on the introduction of a UK re-domiciliation regime, which would make it possible for companies to re-domicile and therefore easier to relocate to the UK.
Housing developer on a mission to make Christmas special for disadvantaged kids
East Midlands housebuilder Peter James Homes has collected well over two hundred gifts as part of a drive to ensure that no child goes without a present this Christmas.
Alongside its partners within the McCann Group; J McCann & Co Ltd and McCann Utilities, Peter James Homes has teamed up with Nottingham radio station Gem 106 and charity, Cash for Kids as part of this year’s Mission Christmas.
Cash for Kids teams up with radio stations and companies across the UK every year to make sure every disadvantaged child wakes up on Christmas morning with a present under the tree.
For the past few weeks, Peter James Homes has been asking its suppliers, and anyone else who wished to help out, to donate new and unwrapped Christmas presents for youngsters of all ages.
Now, 298 presents have been amassed at the group’s head office in Chilwell, Nottingham.
Staff have also been raising money for the cause, including making cash donations for wearing festive garb to work on Christmas Jumper Day, Friday, December 10, and the grand total currently stands at £1,405
John McCann, CEO & Chairman of the McCann Group, said: “The generosity of our staff, suppliers, partners and others has been astounding.
“The idea of bringing joy to the life of a vulnerable or disadvantaged child, brings out the true meaning of Christmas in all of us. We were simply delighted to be able to pass on so many wonderful gifts to such a worthwhile campaign as Mission Christmas, from all branches in our group.”
Companies that contributed to Peter James Homes’ Christmas gift request include Nottingham solicitors Gateley Legal, Midway Clothing, which supplies PPE and branded apparel to Peter James Homes and McCann, estate agents William H Brown and FHP Living, marketing agencies M360 and The Dairy, Castle Donington-based Poppy PR Ltd, Birmingham City Council, Enva a local skip hire company, and United Trust Bank which has funded most of the developments at Peter James Homes.
Justine Bates, fundraising executive at Cash for Kids Midlands, said: “Christmas is a time for giving, but we’re blown away by the efforts of our donors this year. We’d like to thank everyone at Peter James Homes, McCann and everyone else who has donated cash and gifts for helping to ensure no child goes without this Christmas.”
