Leicestershire Business Gateway’s Start-Up Business Support programme (SUBS) has so far supported over 150 small local businesses to get back on track after COVID forced them to put their plans on hold during the prolonged lockdowns. The programme was commissioned by the Business Gateway specifically to support any business that had launched in 2018 or after and been interrupted by COVID. The support sessions were delivered by partners NBV, Leicester Start-Ups, So Very Creative and Incrementa. They covered areas such as mentoring, digital marketing, business planning, innovation and product development. Sonia Baigent, chair of the Business Gateway Board, said: “Everything the Business Gateway does is designed to support Leicestershire small businesses and it’s fantastic to see that this programme really made a big difference to all the people who took part.  We’re grateful also to our partners who did such a good job of rebuilding hope and direction among these businesses.” Mandeep Nagra of Pay iO, who took part in the Leicester Start-Up Accelerator programme, said: “The programme helped us to define a business strategy by using start-up fundamentals. The entire team and mentors gave great advice because they have been there and done it. The Accelerator helped define our journey.” Neel Thakrar and Dhruvesh Ranpura of Tuck added: “The programme really benefitted us and accelerated our growth. Our personal experience was great as we also were successful on the demo day and subsequently received our first funding.” John Mitchell of Credit Recovery UK attended the SmartUp Programme delivered by So Very Creative: “Ben’s approach to the subject has been like having a light shone into the darkness, I really didn’t have an understanding of this technology. As it is now so important to compete in this area with our competitors, I knew I would be struggling. I’m in my fifties now and this is the first time I feel comfortable with Digital Marketing.”

Beryl Pettit of provider NBV concluded: “The 3-day Gearing for Growth programme really gave the attendees the space to think about the issues they are facing and the actions they needed to take to change things. As a trainer, it was rewarding to see them face their business challenges with renewed enthusiasm and focus, and a clear plan of action.”

The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: Midlands highlighted a further increase in the number of permanent staff appointments during January. Though softening to the weakest for four months, the rate of increase remained marked as companies continued to hire amid a sustained increase in demand for staff. Temp billings also continued to rise, and at a faster rate as the rate of increase rose to the quickest since last August. Demand and supply mismatches continued during January however, as the strongest fall in permanent staff availability for three months coincided with a further robust upturn in vacancies. The report is compiled by IHS Markit from responses to questionnaires sent to around 100 recruitment and employment consultancies in the Midlands. Permanent staff appointments rise at softer pace The number of permanent placements across the Midlands rose for the eleventh consecutive month in January. The rate of increase softened from the previous survey period and was the slowest since September. That said, the rise remained marked overall. According to anecdotal evidence, companies kept up hiring amid stronger demand for staff. Across the four monitored English regions, the Midlands saw the second-slowest upturn in January, ahead of the North of England. As has been the case in each of the last 19 months, temp billings in the Midlands rose during January. The rate of increase was rapid, and the quickest recorded since August. Firms generally commented that additional candidates were taken on in response to rising demand. The rise in temp billings was slightly softer than the national average however, and the second-slowest of the monitored regions. Recruiters across the Midlands signalled a sustained increase in the number of permanent vacancies in January. The rate of expansion eased for the fifth month running and was the softest since last February. Moreover, the rise in vacancies in the Midlands was the softest of the four monitored regions. At the same time, temporary vacancies rose at a quicker pace for the first time in six months in January. The increase was robust, yet was the weakest among the four monitored English regions. Downturn in permanent staff availability accelerates A tenth consecutive monthly decrease in permanent staff supply was recorded in January. Moreover, the pace of the fall quickened and pushed the respective seasonally adjusted index to the lowest level since October. Recruiters commonly attributed the downturn to a shortage of suitably qualified candidates amid stronger demand. All four monitored regions saw staff availability fall, though the Midlands reported the softest reduction. The availability of temporary staff across the Midlands fell for the twelfth time in 13 months during January. The rate of decline was marked overall, though eased from the previous survey period to the softest for eight months. All four monitored English regions recorded falls in temp staff supply in the latest survey period, with recruiters in the Midlands reporting the second-softest decline, behind the South of England. Further rapid rise in permanent starting salaries Salaries awarded to permanent new joiners across the Midlands increased at a robust pace in January. The rate of increase gathered pace from the previous survey period, and was robust overall. According to respondents, stronger demand for skilled workers amid shortages was a key factor in higher starting salaries. Recruiters in the Midlands recorded the slowest rise in average starting salaries of the four monitored regions. Latest data highlighted a fourteenth consecutive increase in average pay rates for short-term staff in the Midlands. The rate of wage inflation softened to a seven-month low, though remained marked overall. All four English regions reported strong rises in temp rates, as only South of England-based recruiters reported a stronger rise in wage inflation than those in the Midlands. Commenting on the latest survey results, Kate Holt, people consulting partner at KPMG, said: “The Midlands jobs market powered into 2022 with relentless growth in demand and a rapidly shrinking pool of candidates. This ongoing tension underlines how critical skills and education are to the future economic success of the region. “Employers are desperate for talent to fill vacancies and to have a more active role in the influencing and development of skills planning in their local labour market. We know employers are eagerly awaiting more detail on how the devolution across the Midlands will help tackle the economy’s skills challenge and enable businesses and the communities they work with to achieve their full potential.” Neil Carberry, Chief Executive at the REC, said: “The jobs market is still growing strongly at the start of 2022. Recruiters are working hard to place people into work as demand from employers continues to rise. With competition for staff still hot, companies are having to raise pay rates for new starters to attract the best people. And the cost of living crisis means there is also more pressure from jobseekers who want a pay rise. “But pay is not the only important factor – companies must think about all aspects of their offer to candidates to ensure they get the staff they need. This will be important as firms’ spending is under pressure from inflation as well. “Government’s role is to manage inflation, but also to ensure that they do not discourage investment – that is what will drive the economy to grow through this year. Now is the wrong time to be raising National Insurance, the biggest business tax. But politicians should also be thinking about longer-term workforce planning, making sure we have the skills the country needs for the future. This will take a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors, and the recruitment industry stands ready to help.”

• Scheme will address skills and employment gaps in core regional industries 
• Project will focus on opportunity in areas where take-up is lower 
• Work with Government ‘Nudge Unit’ will use behavioural insights to stimulate interest

A fresh intake of apprentices will go into schools and colleges to act as ambassadors as they talk to other young people about the benefits of vocational training and T-levels.  The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Careers Hub has teamed up with the Government’s Behavioural Insights Team – the so-called ‘Nudge Unit’ – for an innovative project designed to get pupils and families thinking differently about apprenticeships.  UK-wide research found that two-thirds of young people have not discussed traineeships or T-Levels at school. Just over 14% of students had never heard about apprenticeships.   The new project will address this by building a network of Apprentice Ambassadors (AAs) to go into schools and colleges across Leicester and Leicestershire to answer questions about their experience and inspire others to consider it as a career path.  The project will increase the number of local AAs being recruited, trained and made available for classroom engagement. AAs will be from a range of sectors and social backgrounds. They will be supported by Employer Ambassadors (EAs) who have a desire to support their communities and develop pipelines of new talent.   Kevin Harris, the Chair of the LLEP board, said: “By teaming up with Government behavioural insight specialists, we have created an innovative new approach whereby young people can discuss apprenticeships in their classrooms with AAs that they can relate to.  “Developing this project will help to increase the region’s productivity by ensuring that we have people with the skills needed by our employers. 

 “It will also focus on parts of the region where apprenticeships are not typically being taken up.

“Such inclusivity is important because young people are particularly impacted by changes in the labour market which reduce entry-level positions typically catered for by apprenticeships.” 

The project is part of the LLEP’s Careers Hub and Apprenticeship Strategy ambition to have a diverse Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) which engages and inspires the region’s future workforce. 

It will ultimately help to change perceptions about apprenticeships in the region. Young people who express an interest in vocational training will be introduced to the local Apprenticeship Skills and Knowledge Team (ASK) and the Careers Hub network.  The LLEP is now looking for local employers to join the AAN as EAs. In doing so they will develop the skills of their own apprentices, create a pipeline of future talent, and give back to schools in their communities.  Local organisations working with apprentices, including all local FE colleges, Cadent Gas and the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, have already pledged support.  Pieter Eksteen, Education and Business Partnership Manager at the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, said: “Families are the biggest influencers of career decisions by children and this new project will make a difference by demonstrating to them that apprenticeships are an excellent option for school leavers and a genuine alternative to university.”  Gerarde Manley, Careers Hub Manager at the LLEP, said:  “Leading on this project with a broad range of partners will help inspire young people to hear first-hand about the broad range of apprenticeships available locally and where it can lead them.”  The project has been launched as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Local employers, schools and colleges are now invited to identify up to 10 young people in their organisation to join the network.   The project will run through to July 2022. Learn more, or express interest in becoming an EA, by visiting https://bit.ly/LLEPApprenticeAmbassadors 

Walaiti Rathore, a former partner at an East Midlands law firm specialising in all aspects of licensing, gambling as well as licensing prosecutions and related regulatory law, launched Licensing Law Consultancy (LLC) in February 2017. LLC was successfully designed as a new innovative licensing service for the leisure and hospitality industry, providing cost effective specialist advice and training. Since setting up LLC, Walaiti has built on his reputation for successfully dealing with the most challenging cases for independent, multiple and national operators as often reported in the press. He has also continued to attract new clients, successfully working with national and international franchise brands. In February 2018, industry leaders from the world of licensing and hospitality arrived in Nottingham to celebrate the first birthday of LLC. To mark the milestone, a party was held at Crowne Plaza Hotel which was attended by local operators, landlords, investors and breweries as well as representatives from brands with a national and international presence. Paul Chase, a former director of CPL Training Group, the UK’s top training provider for retail and hospitality, gave a speech at the event. He said: “It’s always less risky to remain in someone else’s organisation than to start your own. Starting Licensing Law Consultancy was therefore a brave step and one which testifies to Walaiti’s entrepreneurial spirit.” In June 2019, Licensing Law Consultancy organised and hosted the first National Licensing Week (NLW) event in Nottingham to celebrate and raise awareness of licensing and the role it plays in everyday lives. NLW was in its fourth year but this was the first event of its kind, a party held to celebrate NLW and to raise awareness. The event was attended by members of the Institute of Licensing, Nottingham Business Improvement District, Pub Watch, Hospitality Association, other industry representatives such as the Gambling Commission and leading operators with a local and national presence as well as leading businesses and professionals from all sectors. Guests were treated to canapes, dinner, complimentary drinks all evening and received designer gifts from global fashion retailer, Paul Smith. The chair of the Institute of Licensing, Dan Davies, said: “I am delighted to support this event and I thank Walaiti Rathore for having the vision and energy to make this happen.” Plans to resume events for the benefit of the hospitality industry are currently underway.