Purpose Media makes senior promotions and welcomes new starters in celebration of apprenticeships
Full service marketing agency, Purpose Media, is celebrating national apprenticeship week (7-13 February 2022 #NAW2022 #BuildTheFuture) following the appointment of its 15th apprentice and the promotion of two former apprentices to senior roles.
Josh Donell joined Purpose Media first six years ago, and Olly Torrance the following year. Both have followed a structured career development plan gaining work experience in all areas of the business before settling into their preferred specialism. Josh found that his passion lay in front end development where he is now a senior developer, and Olly rose through the ranks to senior SEO strategist.
Purpose Media’s latest apprentice is Alli Howland who joins on a digital marketing apprenticeship. The company has also strengthened its content team following the appointment of Olivia Beesley who has a degree in Professional Writing with Media Studies from The University of Derby. She joins from an event management and magazine publishing company where she was a marketing manager.
Commenting on his promotion, Olly said: “Working at Purpose Media exposes you to a vast range of industries and each approach needs to be unique. This challenging environment is always pushing the boundaries of your own ability whilst driving fast paced growth. I’m very proud of my achievement and very eager to get started in the new role and delivering great results for our clients.”
Josh added: “I have been very lucky to have great mentors over the last six years and have experienced first-hand the value of an apprenticeship. They enable young people to earn whilst they gain a qualification as well as the ability to gain softer skills that are invaluable in the workplace. Now I am in a senior role I am looking forward to nurturing the next generation of Purpose Media apprentices and helping them understand the company culture and needs of our clients.”
Founded in 2008, Purpose Media has always been committed to nurturing young talent by providing rewarding and long term career opportunities. Many former apprentices have won local and national apprentice of the year awards and the company has a successful track record of apprentices working their way up into senior management positions. Purpose Media partners with James Stafford from EMA Training who manage the appointment of apprentices and arrange their ongoing learning and development.
Funding granted to bring further Lincoln historic shopfronts to former glory
City of Lincoln Council in partnership with Historic England has awarded more than £250,000 in funding to help restore six historic Lincoln shopfronts.
Some £262.901.40 has been awarded towards the cost of eligible works for 38-44 Sincil Street, estimated at £799,847, as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme.
In April 2020, City of Lincoln Council received a successful bid for funding of £1.68 million from Historic England, which has enabled a programme of historic building restorations designed to revitalise the area and uncover its rich history. This includes plans to revitalise Lincoln’s historic shopfronts and bring them back to their former glory.
The first shopfronts to be restored are now complete and are located on 8-10 St Mary’s Street, with further works now taking place at 38-44 Sincil Street, some of which have been vacant for a number of years.
Ursula Lidbetter, CEO of Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We are delighted with the public reaction so far to the development of The Cornhill Quarter.
“This funding will allow us to continue our work in conserving the heritage of Sincil Street, which includes the buildings behind the shops that were built in the 1800s as back-to-back court housing.
“There are very few examples of these types of buildings still in existence in the country, so we are delighted they can be preserved as part of the restoration works.”
Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Historic Environment Advocate at City of Lincoln Council said: “There are many unique heritage aspects and locations within Lincoln that need to be preserved so that Lincoln’s special character is maintained, and that includes its shopfronts.
“This project will bring the buildings back to their original glory and help balance heritage townscape investment towards the northern end of Sincil Street connecting with the Central Market development.
“I look forward to seeing the completed works.”
David Walsh, Principal Advisor at Historic England added: “Heritage led regeneration in The Cornhill Quarter has shown the transformative effect investing in Lincoln’s historic buildings can have.
“We are delighted that funding from Lincoln’s High Street Heritage Action Zone will allow further restoration of historic shopfronts on Sincil Street.”
North Lincolnshire’s biggest ever Jobs Expo is back
The region’s biggest jobs fair takes place next week, with hundreds of opportunities for anyone who wants to change their future.
Some of the region’s leading employers – including Ongo, Bupa Healthcare, CANPACK UK and Rocal – will be at the Baths Hall in Scunthorpe, next Wednesday, 9 February 2022, from 2.30pm to 6pm.
They will be joined by dozens of other employers from the retail, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics, public sector and health and social care sectors, including Cooplands, Sawcliffe Manor, the British Army, 2 Sisters, British Steel, Humberside Fire and Rescue, Hales Group, Demeter House School – and many more.
Organised by North Lincolnshire Council in partnership with the Jobcentre and the Department for Work and Pensions, the event follows the success of the first Jobs Expo last October, which saw many local people take on new roles.
Anyone looking for an exciting new opportunity, or for the next step in their career, is urged to take advantage of the current jobs market, with companies looking for committed workers determined to improve outcomes for themselves and their families.
Pupils from Years 11 and 13 are also invited to speak to employers about the many apprenticeship schemes and Kickstart jobs currently on offer for young people.
These provide a fantastic route into training, permanent paid employment and a fulfilling career.
Representatives from the National Careers Service will be in attendance for anyone needing advice and support on their employment journey.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their CVs and be prepared to take part in on-the-spot interviews – they could could walk out with a better job.
The Jobs Expo will be opened virtually by Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft, and North Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham will also be in attendance.
Cllr Waltham said: “The kind of North Lincolnshire we want to build relies on high-quality sustainable jobs and a well-trained, motivated workforce. The Jobs Expo helps us go a long way towards achieving this.
“The marketplace is very competitive right now and we are seeing employers competing hard to attract the right kind of employees, so there has never been a better time for people to take a step up.
“Supporting businesses to get the people and skills they need will help build back our economy better, improving the outcomes for every family in North Lincolnshire.”
The event is taking place on Wednesday 9 February 2022 from 2.30pm to 6pm at The Baths Hall, Doncaster Road, DN15 7RG.
Activity remains strong but cost pressures set to intensify further for SME manufacturers
UK SME output volumes grew at a firm pace in the three months to January whilst costs growth remained at its record high, according to the latest CBI SME Trends Survey.
The survey of 218 SME manufacturers found that output growth picked up slightly from the previous quarter and is expected to grow at a broadly similar pace in the next three months.
However, average unit costs maintained their record pace of growth for the second quarter in a row, with expectations pointing to cost inflation picking up further in the next three months.
Record costs growth has continued to feed into heightened price pressures. Average domestic prices grew at a slightly slower – but still elevated – pace in the three months to January, while average export prices increased at a similar rate to last quarter’s record high. Manufacturers expect both domestic and export price growth to pick up in the next three months.
Total new orders grew strongly over the quarter to January, reflecting firm domestic orders growth and another small rise in export orders. SME manufacturers expect total new orders growth to slow over the next three months, primarily reflecting a deceleration in domestic orders growth. In contrast, export orders are expected to accelerate slightly.
Supply challenges are still expected to hamper activity going forward, with concerns over the availability of skilled labour, “other” labour, and materials/components as factors likely to limit output remaining heightened (despite softening somewhat on last quarter).
Meanwhile, investment intentions for tangible and intangible assets in the next 12 months (compared to the last 12 months) strengthened, despite a dip in business sentiment over the past quarter.
Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: “It’s been a challenging start to the year for SME manufacturers, with record cost growth, supply chain disruption, and labour shortages all weighing on production. Despite these roadblocks, activity has remained firm, and businesses have stepped up their investment plans.
“The Government must continue to work with business to tackle immediate barriers to growth. They must also put forward more ambitious plans to incentivise investment, to boost the longer-term growth potential of the economy.”
Leicestershire invited to negotiate pioneering devolution deal
Leicestershire has taken the next step towards securing a ground-breaking, multi-million-pound deal to bring devolved powers to the county.
The Government confirmed on Wednesday that Leicestershire County Council will be one of the first nine areas it will invite to agree a new ‘county deal’.
The announcement is part of the Levelling Up White Paper and follows a bid submitted by the council in the autumn.
Nick Rushton, county council leader, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to invite Leicestershire to be in the vanguard of county deals and look forward to working with Government to get the very best deal for Leicestershire’s businesses and residents.
“The opportunity to have a greater say over local services and their funding, matters which affect everyone in Leicestershire, is particularly welcome. I am grateful to the County’s MPs, and to Neil O’Brien in particular, for their help and support. I’m also grateful to the District Council Leaders for their support of our case and all our partners, including the local NHS.
“The wellbeing of children and young people has been an important part of our bid, which I believe has made it particularly attractive to Government. Leicestershire has lost out for far too long – so we’re fully committed to levelling up. I look forward to working with Michael Gove and his ministerial team to get the best possible deal for Leicestershire’s residents.”
The council will now wait to hear from the Government about next steps.
Leicestershire flooring company appoints new HR director
A Hinckley-based national flooring company has added to its senior executive team with a major appointment.
Faye Summers, who joined UK Flooring Direct in 2018 as head of HR and people development, has been promoted to become the company’s new HR director.
Faye has been an integral part of the company’s growth over the past four years and also helped to oversee UK Flooring Direct’s COVID-19 response in supporting members of the office team in working from home and making the warehouse environment COVID-safe for staff.
She also led the drive for the business to be recognised as One to Watch by Best Companies on top of a range of business and industry awards that the firm has received over the past 12 months.
Her appointment is the latest promotion from within as part of a focus for the company to grow and develop its own talent.
Faye joined the company after rising through the ranks at Phones 4u in a HR capacity.
Part of her new role will be to continue to develop the culture at UK Flooring Direct with a particular focus on personal development and wellbeing for staff as well as creating even stronger community and charity links.
Faye said: “I am delighted to move into the role as HR director. This is a fast-paced business and we’ve achieved a great deal in the past few years, especially when you consider we were faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Moving into this new role will really help me build on the success we’ve achieved of making UK Flooring Direct a great place to work and a key contributor to the local community.”
Jason Ashby, who established UK Flooring Direct in 2005, said: “Faye has been a major part of our success over the past four years and we are very pleased to promote her to HR director to continue to place our people at the heart of what we do.
“We want people to be able to develop and grow with us and Faye is a perfect example of that. Now, in her role, she will be helping other members of the UK Flooring Direct team to do the same.”
Plans approved for new leisure centre and community hub in Clay Cross
North East Derbyshire District Council have approved ambitious plans to replace Sharley Park Leisure Centre with a new community hub including leisure centre, health provision and support services.
This decision marks the start of an exciting time for Clay Cross, and is the most advanced of the ten projects in the £24.1m Clay Cross Town Deal.
The next stage of work is a detailed design and a planning application before work can start on site early next year (subject to planning consent).
The new facility which will be on the same site as the existing centre is supported by Sport England and the Football Foundation, with Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Clay Cross Hospital and Citizens Advice partnering the project.
Inside the leisure centre there will be a large, modern fitness suite, spin studio, fitness suite, sports hall, main pool, learner pool, Changing Places facility, Soft Play and a community café.
Outside it’s proposed to have social areas, improved play equipment, a full size 3G floodlit pitch, and a walking/cycle route around the 1 mile perimeter of the park.
North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Jeremy Kenyon, said: “This is a fantastic and significant moment not just for Clay Cross but for the whole district.
“As the design progresses in the coming months, we look forward to sharing with you the proposals in more detail to hear resident’s thoughts and how we have responded to your consultation comments.
“Whilst Swim England are forecasting the closure of up to 2,000 pools across the country, we are bucking the trend, approving £27m investment in our leisure centres to improve facilities for residents of all ages and make them more financially and environmentally sustainable.
“There is growing demand for places where communities can come together, socialise and most importantly, have fun. I strongly believe leisure centres have a vital role to play in this, in addition to being a place where we can all get our heart rate up and be more active.”
Asset management solutions provider snapped up by construction software firm
COINS, the provider of end-to-end business software to the construction, engineering, home building and service sectors, has acquired AssetTagz, a Market Harborough-based provider of asset management solutions.
AssetTagz will continue to trade under its current brand as a sister company to COINS, but with closer sales collaboration and technical integration of its solution with COINS Construction Cloud.
Robert Brown, Group CEO, COINS, said: “With the acquisition of AssetTagz and its solutions, COINS gains another important piece of the jigsaw puzzle in the digitisation of end-to-end construction processes.
“This acquisition furthers COINS core strategy of providing solutions which deliver a real-time, single source of truth to construction companies looking to reduce cost, increase compliance and improve decision making.
“AssetTagz solutions are already in use by several COINS customers including Byrne Group, Careys, Keltbray, Reach Active and Laing O’Rourke and we look forward to working closely with AssetTagz to expand their footprint in both the COINS customer base and beyond.”
Hiten Kantelia, CEO & co-founder, AssetTagz, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the next phase in AssetTagz’ evolution has been secured. We have partnered with COINS on opportunities for several years, with many customers now successfully using both of our solutions.
“Becoming a sister company of COINS provides exciting opportunities for our overall growth, most excitingly within the construction sector, whilst retaining our autonomy and agility as an independent asset management solution provider.”
Leicester’s CTS acquires Mason Evans to broaden geographical coverage in Scotland
Leicester-headquartered Construction Testing Solutions (CTS) has acquired Mason Evans, one of the leading specialist geo-environmental consultancies in Scotland.
Founded in 1995, and based out of Glasgow, they employ over 45 staff. Mason Evans is a well-established business providing a variety of solutions to a wide variety of sectors including, developers, house builders, distillers, local authorities, contractors, consulting engineers and architects.
The CTS Group portfolio has been developed and expanded over time, with a successful track record of acquisitions recently including CGL Limited in November 2020, Nicholls Colton in February 2021 and Silkstone Environmental in August 2021. In purchasing Mason Evans, CTS are enhancing and extending their existing capabilities and further strengthening their offering and broadening their geographic coverage into Scotland.
Phil Coles, Chief Executive Officer of CTS, said: “CTS already has a strong footprint in Scotland offering industry leading materials testing services. This latest acquisition see’s us broaden our geographical coverage within Scotland and supports our overall growth strategy and focus on delivering market leading construction testing solutions to our clients.
“It further strengthens our position in the UK construction testing and consulting market and provides numerous synergies and opportunities that benefit both CTS and our clients. Both myself and the business are excited about working with Niall Lawless and welcoming the Mason Evans team to the CTS Group. This acquisition complements the CGL, Nicholls Colton and Silkstone deals announced previously, and reinforces our commitment to growth.”
Mason Evans Managing Director, Niall Lawless, said “This is an exciting step for Mason Evans, and I’m delighted to be continuing as Managing Director supporting the future growth of the combined business and integration process. Since starting in 1995 Mason Evans has been providing high quality geo-environmental consultancy and now existing clients will also benefit from CTS’s extensive experience and knowledge within the testing, inspection and compliance industry.”
Phil continued: “Niall and the team’s significant knowledge and experience in the energy and waste management, land engineering and geotechnical engineering market, combined with CTS’s national network of construction testing laboratories and site teams will strengthen our growing testing solution and environmental monitoring services. We are increasing our service capacity to clients and enabling them to select us as their go-to partner of choice for all construction testing and environmental monitoring related services.”
Derby employers invited to explore benefits of Apprenticeships
City employers are getting a chance to find out how to make the most of Government funding to hire apprentices and bridge skills gaps.
Derby City Council has joined forces with the University of Derby, the Department of Work and Pensions, and the Derby College Group to deliver a free event designed to inspire local employers to explore the benefits of apprenticeships.
Get on Board with Apprenticeships! will be held on Tuesday 8 February from 4pm at the University of Derby’s Enterprise Centre, as part of this year’s National Apprenticeships Week.
National Apprenticeship Week, now in its 15th year, is an annual event to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships have for individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Apprenticeships are paid jobs which provide learning up to degree level. They are open to anyone aged 16 and over, and apprentices spend at least 20 per cent of their working hours in a learning environment.
While all employers are welcome to attend, the two-hour information event is particularly aimed at businesses based in Derby city and who are eligible for additional funding available from the Council’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund to offset training and assessment costs.
The event will give a comprehensive overview of the apprenticeship scheme, including the various financial incentives available and how to apply for them.
Employers who took part in the Government Kickstart Scheme can discover how to retain a Kickstart recruit by transitioning to an apprenticeship.
Local Apprenticeship training providers will be on hand to answer questions. There will also be a chance to hear directly from local employers about their experiences of successfully taking on an apprentice and the benefits this can bring.
Hot House Music, a not-for-profit music school whose former pupils have gone on to work with chart-toppers Lewis Capaldi and Noel Gallagher, has benefitted from the Council’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund.
Founder Jon Eno said: “We see apprentices as a long-term recruitment strategy and the funding support we received from the Council has enabled us to take on more apprentices. They gain hands-on training and get an opportunity to learn multiple skills in different areas of business. The organisation benefits from their enthusiasm and talent, which helps deliver growth.”
Cllr Evonne Williams, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills at Derby City Council said: “As businesses prepare to meet future challenges, having the right skills in the workplace has never been more important. More and more employers are beginning to see apprenticeships as the way to build strong teams for the future.
“There are financial incentives we can help with and I would encourage local employers to look at the ways in which apprenticeships can deliver the skills their workforce need to help their business grow.”
Find out more or register at Get on Board with Apprenticeships! 