Leicestershire Innovation Festival launched with a packed event at Space Park in Leicester. An extended schedule of events for 2022 commenced on Monday with a morning themed around innovation and sustainability. It saw a series of public, private and university leaders from the East Midlands and beyond describing the region’s opportunities against the backdrop of Levelling Up and Net Zero. Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Innovation Board, opened the event by presenting innovation as being about continuous improvement and open to all sizes of businesses. Leicester and Leicestershire’s £23bn GVA – the largest economy in the East Midlands – is built largely upon SMEs. Dr Kotecha, recently named chair of CBI East Midlands, talked about ‘Beacons’ – economic clusters in core local sectors – and their role in upskilling people to make the products of the future. He also described the Government’s interest in innovation as a means of improving productivity and global competitiveness. Dr Kotecha concluded by setting out the Innovation Board’s priorities, which included defining innovation, signposting funding opportunities, removing barriers and collaboration between public, private and academic innovators to the benefit of all. He drew the example of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as an example of what can be achieved when the three combine. Julian Bowrey, regional manager at Innovate UK, described Leicester and Leicestershire as a “happy hunting ground” for his organisation in the issuing of awards to support innovation projects. He made a case for increased communication, whether it be locally, nationally or internationally, to ensure conversations in a language that business understands are supporting collaboration and creativity. Dennis Hayter, of Loughborough University spin-out Intelligent Energy, described how collaborations with the likes of Suzuki and London Taxi Co were developing and trialling world-leading projects in the use of hydrogen fuel cells for transport. It was a theme continued by Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex, a consultancy for low carbon and fuel cell technologies which is also based on the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP) campus. His not-for-profit organisation formed in 2005 and works between industry and customers in getting emerging fuel cell technology into general transport use. Peter Ware, chair of the Midlands Engine’s Green Growth Board was next, pointing out that the Midlands’ £250bn economy was larger than that of Denmark. He outlined its 10-point plan for growth, based on three themes of Place, Energy and Enablers. Net Zero transport was again part of the plan, alongside buildings, low carbon, smart energy and nature recovery. The event concluded with a Q&A, led by Charlotte Horobin, the membership director for Make UK and Operating Board member of the Midlands Engine, who steered audience questions about cyber, skills and effective communications to a nine-strong panel. The event speakers were joined on the panel by Will Wells, commercial director at the University of Leicester, Sue Tilley, the LLEP’s head of business and innovation, and Business Gateway Growth Hub manager, Rachel York. Describing work being done at De Montfort University, including as GCHQ’s only accredited institute, Helen Donnellan talked about the importance of communication and making connections, adding: “Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes and is across the board – we have this festival to celebrate that.”

• Leicestershire Innovation Festival runs until February 25. Events are both online and at venues across Leicester and Leicestershire. Anyone can register to attend now at https://bit.ly/LeicsInnovation22.

A Nottingham-based claims management boss previously jailed for being in contempt of court has been fined for failing to carry out duties as a company director. Haroon Karim appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on 2 February 2022 where he pleaded guilty to failing to preserve company accounting records before District Judge Grace Leong. The claims management boss was fined more than £25,000, as well as being disqualified from running companies for 2 years, to run concurrently with the 7-year ban Haroon Karim received in 2018. During proceedings, the court heard that Bramcote-based Haroon Karim ran several claims management companies, assisting people with personal injury claims following road traffic collisions. One of the companies based in Nottingham, ACA Accident Claims Assistant Ltd, entered into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation in August 2016, which triggered an investigation by the Insolvency Service. Investigators, however, were frustrated in their enquiries as Haroon Karim failed to deliver the company’s records despite repeated requests. The claims management boss went on to tell investigators he had delivered the records to another party but could not verify this when questioned. Further enquiries uncovered bank records demonstrating that Haroon Karim spent company money on unnecessary expenses despite having company debts. One of these purchases was a designer suit worth £1,000, which the claims management boss claimed he bought to attend an awards ceremony. With a lack of records, neither the Liquidator nor the Insolvency Service were able to establish what happened to the company’s tangible assets. This led to Haroon Karim signing a seven-year disqualification undertaking in July 2018. A criminal investigation was then launched into the claims management boss’ conduct, which resulted in Haroon Karim being charged on three counts, including: failing to deliver up books and records to the liquidator; failing to cause ACA Accident Claims Assistant Ltd to keep accounting records; and failing to preserve company accounting records. A trial was set for 2 February 2022 before Haroon Karim pleaded guilty and was sentenced with a fine of £20,000 and costs of £5,715.34. In separate proceedings, Haroon Karim was sentenced to six months for contempt of court. This was in connection with a claim brought by an insurance company in September 2017 after Haroon Karim had forged a claimant’s signature without their knowledge to start insurance compensation proceedings. Julie Barnes, chief investigator for the Insolvency Service, said: “Haroon Karim was evasive throughout our enquiries and with a lack of company records was unable to explain exactly what happened to the company assets – something we’ll never know. “But the court recognised the severity of the claims management boss’ misconduct and not only gave him a new ban from running limited companies but ordered Haroon Karim to pay a substantial fine. “We hope this serves as a stark warning to company directors that they have clear responsibilities and if they are not upheld, could lead to disqualifications and even criminal prosecutions.”

New research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce of more than 1,000 businesses has highlighted a host of issues with the UK’s trade deal with Europe. The BCC believes urgent steps should be taken to address these problems so the UK Government’s ambition to increase the number of firms exporting can be met. Overall, just 8% of firms agreed that the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) was enabling their business to grow or increase sales, while 54% disagreed. For UK exporters 12% agreed that the TCA was helping them while 71% disagreed. When asked to comment on the specific advantage (for those that agreed) or disadvantage (for those that disagreed) of the trade deal, 59 firms identified an advantage, while 320 cited a disadvantage. Of the 59 comments received on the advantage of the TCA, firms said:

• It had allowed some companies to continue to trade without significant change
• It had encouraged firms to look at other global markets
• It had provided stability to allow firms to plan.

Of the 320 comments received on the disadvantage of the TCA, firms said:

• It had led to rising costs for companies and their clients
• Smaller businesses did not have the time and money to deal with the bureaucracy it had introduced
• It had put off EU customers from considering UK goods and services – due to the perceived costs and complexities.

This follows BCC research in October 2021, which found that 60% of exporters were facing difficulties adapting to the changes from the TCA on goods trade, while 17% found the changes easy. Reacting to the findings, William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC, said: “This is the latest BCC research to clearly show there are issues with the EU trade deal that need to be improved. Yet it could be so different. There are five relatively simple steps that UK and EU policymakers could take to ease the burden placed on businesses struggling with the trade deal. “Nearly all of the businesses in this research have fewer than 250 employees and these smaller firms are feeling most of the pain of the new burdens in the TCA. “Many of these companies have neither the time, staff or money to deal with the additional paperwork and rising costs involved with EU trade, nor can they afford to set up a new base in Europe or pay for intermediaries to represent them. “But if both sides take a pragmatic approach, they could reach a new understanding on the rules and then build on that further. “Accredited Chambers of Commerce support the UK Government’s ambition to massively increase the number of firms exporting. If we can free up the flow of goods and services into the EU, our largest overseas market, it will go a long way to realising that goal.” The BCC’s five key issues, and the solutions needed, to improve EU trade are: ISSUE: Export health certificates cost too much and take up too much time for smaller food exporters. SOLUTION:  We need a supplementary deal on this which either eliminates or reduces the complexity of exporting food for these firms. ISSUE: Some companies are being asked to register in multiple EU states for VAT in order to sell online to customers there. SOLUTION: We need a supplementary deal, like Norway’s with the EU. This exempts the smallest firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative and incur these duplicate costs. ISSUE: As things stand CE marked industrial and electrical products will not be permitted for sale on the market in Great Britain from January 2023. The same is true for components and spares. SOLUTION: We need action from the Government to help businesses with these timelines. Many firms are far from convinced about a ban on CE marked goods in Great Britain. ISSUE: UK firms facing limitations on business travel and work activities in the EU. SOLUTION: Government needs to make side deals with the EU and member states to boost access in this area as a priority for 2022. ISSUE: Companies starting to be pursued in respect of import customs declarations deferred from last year. SOLUTION: We need a pragmatic approach to enforcement to ensure companies recovering from the pandemic do not face heavy-handed demands too quickly on import payments, or paperwork.

Two plans that will steer the future of North East Lincolnshire in the years ahead have been approved by the Council’s Cabinet. Members of the Cabinet met this week and gave their formal support to both the North East Lincolnshire Council Plan, and the Budget, Finance and Commissioning Plan. Both cover the next three to five years. They detail the plans of each main service area within the council, the projects and priorities within those areas and how they will be supported. The Council Plan is a far-reaching document that details the services to be delivered and developments planned in the next five years. It also outlines the ambition of North East Lincolnshire Council to work with its partners to create ‘Stronger Economies’ and ‘Stronger Communities’, under five main headers:

• Learning and Skills
• Investing in our Future
• Vitality & Health
• Economic Recovery and Growth
• Sustainable & Safe

Using the above ‘outcomes’ senior officers have mapped out their target achievements within vital areas such as Children’s Services, Public Health and Adult Social Care. This work runs alongside the ambition to improve education for all, to achieve continued regeneration across the borough and improve prospects. Of this Plan, Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson said: “This provides us with a real focus on what we must achieve and how we must work together to overcome the challenges and realise the opportunities.” Meanwhile the in-depth report that makes up the Budget, Finance and Commissioning Plan details how the authority will work to support the delivery of the Council Plan. Within the document, it is highlighted how it will need to be regularly reviewed and updated as and when present uncertainties become clear. These include the way Central Government decides to fund local government in the future, which is currently subject to discussion with the recent release of the Levelling Up White Paper. It adds how significant demands upon areas like children and adult social care, and the continued impact of the pandemic have also impacted on the content of the plan and the finances of the council moving forward. The report adds: “The plan itself is set within the context of significant change and challenge for the organisation. There are a wide range of issues, both local and national, which have been taken into account when developing the plan. Key issues include the continued and longer-term impacts of COVID 19, wider health and social care reform, demographic pressures on social care demand and the specific challenges currently faced within Children’s Services.” It confirmed how, for the financial year running from April 2022 to March 2023, North East Lincolnshire Council had received a real-terms increase in funding of four per cent from the Local Government Financial Settlement. This includes the approved 1.98 increase in the base council tax with a further one per cent added for adult social care. As reported, those living in Band A to D households across the country will receive a £150 payment to help alleviate the cost-of-living crisis. Cllr Jackson added: “This financial report, again recognises our ambition but also highlights the financial times we are all living in, which have been significantly impacted by events over the last two years. However, what we must recognise is how the Levelling Up agenda is set to give authorities like ours the opportunity to attract investment and therefore encourage work to continue to regenerate and give us a new start in many areas.” Both plans will now go to Full Council with a recommendation from Cabinet for approval.

Ochiba Business Solutions has demonstrated its commitment to nurturing the next generation of IT professionals after taking on three new apprentices.

The Chesterfield-based company helps businesses become more efficient and profitable through implementing SAP Business One – the world’s leading ERP software designed specifically for SMEs.

The three apprentices who have joined Ochiba are Mitchell Batty, Robert Dickinson and Max Easton.

Mitchell, who is studying A-Levels in Economics, Product Design and Maths, is passionate about IT and looking for real-world experience as an IT technician.

Robert, who has a degree in Human Biology from University of Huddersfield, has been a hobby programmer since he was a teenager and wants to turn his passion into a career as a software developer.

Max is currently working as a warehouse and sales assistant and seeks to develop and broaden his work experience and skillset in the IT industry.

Dave Worsman, managing director, from Ochiba, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mitchell, Robert and Max to our apprenticeship programme.

“As a company we are passionate about investing in the next generation of IT professionals so we can continue to provide the first-class solutions our customers expect. Our new apprentices will have the opportunity to work closely with, and learn from, our highly experienced team of consultants and developers.

“We’re sure they will find the apprenticeship a useful and rewarding experience as they prepare to take the next step in their respective careers.”