Derby City Council funds expert advice to help small businesses go digital

Eleonora Gallina
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Derby City Council funds expert advice to help small businesses go digital
High street businesses in Derby are being offered a helping hand to step into the 21st century with a package of free support to implement modern forms of trading.
Up to 100 retail, hospitality and leisure organisations can benefit from access to expert advice via the Derby Business Resilience Programme, which is funded by Derby City Council and delivered in partnership with East Midlands Chamber.
Advisers can assist in establishing an online business strategy and, depending on requirements, the creation of a fully search engine-optimised e-commerce website with 12 months’ free web hosting provided by Derbyshire-based digital marketing agency Purpose Media.
Grants to cover bespoke consultancy support are available to some eligible businesses, while aspects of the support scheme are also open to companies in the transport industry supply chain.
East Midlands Chamber Head of Enterprise Paul Stuart said: “Purchasing habits have changed as a result of Covid-19, with fewer in-store visitors and a move towards online transactions. We expect this to be a long-term shift, so it’s vital that businesses ensure they see this as an opportunity, rather than a threat.
“By engaging with the Derby Business Resilience Programme, small businesses can benefit from expert support to equip themselves with the right mix of tools needed for the online world – something that will complement their existing services, attract new customers and, ultimately, future-proof their organisations.”
Derby City Council has provided £200,000 in funding towards the programme, with East Midlands Chamber contributing £42,000.
It is aimed at independent micro or small businesses based within the city council’s area that can demonstrate the adverse impact of Covid-19 on their trade.
The fully-funded support includes a dedicated business resilience adviser with specific digital or business support skills, who can work alongside a company to help develop an online business plan.
This involves reviewing current marketing and social media activities, setting up a Google listing or even signing up a company to its first social media account.
By setting up e-commerce websites with features such as click and collect or other delivery options, businesses can increase their profile and use their virtual shop window to drive greater footfall to both their physical and online store.
One year’s membership of the Chamber is also provided – giving them access to business protection services in HR, health and safety, tax and legal issues, as well as discounts on member products and services – while they will be able to attend regular events and webinars to increase their digital know-how.
Cllr Steve Hassall, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Decarbonisation, Strategic Planning and Transport at Derby City Council, said: “The last couple of years have been incredibly tough for all business, and our local retail, hospitality and leisure businesses have been hit especially hard.
“We want to do all we can to offer practical support to independent retail and leisure firms across Derby and help drive our recovery from the pandemic. I’d encourage businesses to apply quickly to take advantage of this scheme.” 
Award-winning, full-service marketing agency Purpose Media has been approved to deliver digital marketing advice, and to design and build websites for those businesses that are eligible.
The company, based in South Normanton, has previously worked alongside the Chamber in delivering the Chesterfield Digital High Street project, which has offered similar support to more than 30 businesses – ranging from gin shops and cafés to hairdressers and butchers.
Purpose Media business development manager Grace Golden said: “Through our work in the Chesterfield Digital High Street project, we have helped businesses learn new ways to engage with customers, attract business and increase profitability.
“By implementing new activity online such as posting videos or using Facebook advertising, they have renewed optimism for their future and have confidence in their ability to marketing their business. “We believe the Derby Business Resilience Programme can be equally successful for independent businesses in the Derby City Council area. It intends to help businesses attract new customers, drive footfall to retail stores, establish an e-commerce website and improve visibility online.” An information session about the Derby Business Resilience Programme will be held at Derby Enterprise Centre on Thursday 20 January. Businesses can apply on the East Midlands Chamber website by 31 March.

String of office deals completed at The Atrium in Nottingham

Tess Egginton
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String of office deals completed at The Atrium in Nottingham
Acting on behalf of Truelove Pension Fund, FHP have completed a number of office lettings within The Atrium, a multi occupied city centre office building, following increased deal activity within the sector. FHP were instructed to market The Atrium at the start of 2021, at which point the building had some 20,000 sq ft of vacancy, with various tenants having decided to vacate spaces as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the landlords, Truelove Pension Fund, have undertaken various refurbishments within the building and alongside FHP’s marketing efforts have now concluded the lettings of five suites within the building totalling 18,000 sq ft. Mark Tomlinson of FHP, who acted on behalf of the landlords, said: “Much has been made of the changes within the office sector, but these lettings prove that the office market is still very much alive and kicking for the right quality of spaces. “We have seen many occupiers reconsider their requirements and adopting a more flexible working strategy and seeking to improve the overall quality of their office accommodation to enhance working environments going forwards. “There remains a lack of supply of good quality spaces within the sector and we expect to see deal activity to improve during 2022, once occupiers put their new office strategies into place.” Kate Truelove of Truelove Pension Fund said: “We are delighted to have secured a number of lettings in The Atrium in a short space of time during the middle of a pandemic. It shows office-based working is here to stay going forward and we would like to thank FHP for their hard work in securing a strong set of tenants throughout the building on long term leases.”

Nottinghamshire manufacturer wins 12th contract for Morrison Construction with £1.8m education project

Tess Egginton
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Nottinghamshire manufacturer wins 12th contract for Morrison Construction with £1.8m education project
Morrison Construction has awarded a £1.8m furniture and fitout contract to Mansfield-based Deanestor for a new £60m multi-school campus in West Lothian, Scotland. The project is Deanestor’s 12th contract for Morrison. Deanestor will fit out over 340 rooms across the new Winchburgh campus near Edinburgh, manufacturing bespoke furniture in a light maple wood finish. The contract includes the provision of over 300 base cabinets, 940m of white laminate worktops, over 1km of adjustable shelving, 16 teaching walls, 215 resource storage units, as well as write-on teaching aids, shoebox storage units, and wall cupboards. Due for completion in 2022, the campus is being delivered by Hub South East Scotland for West Lothian Council and will provide two new secondary schools, a primary school with an early years facility, and a sports and wellbeing hub. William Tonkinson, Managing Director of Deanestor, said: “We are delighted to have secured our 12th project for Morrison Construction. This latest Scottish education project reaffirms our market-leading position in the education sector and our specialist capabilities – from school furniture design and manufacture to project management, logistics, procurement, and installation.” David Wright, construction manager at Morrison Construction, said: “Deanestor has successfully delivered a number of education contracts for Morrison, including the award-winning Barony Campus in Cumnock, East Ayrshire and more recently at Calderwood Primary School, which like Winchburgh, was for West Lothian Council. “Their team has an impressive track record in fitting out complex multi-school campus projects and a good level of technical competence in the design, manufacture and installation of furniture for large-scale education schemes.” The centralised teaching aids for each classroom will incorporate tall resource storage cabinets at either side and a central interactive LED panel. Deanestor’s contract also includes the procurement of chairs, classroom tables, modular seating for breakout areas, lockers, noticeboards, whiteboards, and dining seating solutions across the campus. The four campus buildings will be individually distinct but share a common thread of materials, natural light, and ventilation, and will create inspirational learning environments as well as a focus for the rapidly growing community of Winchburgh. Designed by Ryder Architecture, the secondary schools – Winchburgh and Sinclair Academies – will initially serve up to 660 non-denominational and denominational pupils respectively. Facilities include art zones and studios, breakout spaces, dance and drama halls, exhibition areas, general classrooms, science laboratories, assembly halls, hub rooms, offices, library, meeting rooms, outdoor learning areas, and sports centre. The interior of Winchburgh Academy will have a contemporary design with a master palette based on shades of green, grey, and light wood furniture, and four other colour themes reflected in soft furnishings for different parts of the school. JM Architects are designing the new Holy Family Primary School and nursery. The primary facilities will have flexible play and learning spaces, reception, dining/assembly hall, courtyard, and multi-use games area for outside play.

Streets cover customs declarations on imports from the EU, the reintroduction of the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and more in latest business support update

Tess Egginton
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Streets cover customs declarations on imports from the EU, the reintroduction of the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and more in latest business support update
In its latest Business Support Update, Streets Chartered Accountants dives into customs declarations on imports from the EU, the reintroduction of the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme, Self Assessment Tax Returns, and more. Customs Declarations on imports from the EU – have you got to grips with changes from 1st January 2022? HMRC has warned businesses that Customs Declarations on imports from the EU will change once again at the start of 2022. From the 1st January 2022, businesses will no longer be able to delay making import customs declarations under the Staged Customs Control rules that have applied during 2021. Most businesses will have to make declarations and pay relevant tariffs at the point of import. Streets ranked in the Top 10 in Business Weekly’s New Year Honours  In Business Weekly, Streets has been acclaimed and recognised as one of the region’s leading financial advisory firms: “Streets has had a fabulously successful 12 months and expanded its area of expertise in the region through shrewd acquisition and sound planning.” Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme reintroduced for small businesses The Government has stated that the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Rebate Scheme will be reintroduced allowing for businesses with fewer than 250 employees, who had a PAYE payroll scheme open on or before 28 February 2020, to recover money from the government to pay statutory sick pay to employees affected by Covid-19. Although claims were to be made before 31 December 2021, the scheme is being re-introduced in mid-January 2022. Podcast – Self-Assessment Tax Returns with Kelly Goodchild In this session, Streets Tax Manager Kelly Goodchild explores how the impact of the pandemic and the financial measures introduced by the Government to support individuals and businesses could affect your Self Assessment Tax Return due to be completed by 31 January 2022. The deadline looms. Peace of mind in 2022 – we are concerned that you are not currently protected With the self-assessment deadline for filing returns and making payments looming, tax matters are probably very much on the minds of many. Perhaps less so is the potential impact that a tax enquiry or investigation might have on us as an individual or on our business. Whilst we all want to ensure our affairs are in the best order, there is a real risk that the Revenue can instigate an investigation or enquiry. Well-deserved New Year’s honour for Streets client Paul Holt Services to International Trade, education and the UK’s PPE Supply Chain earn a well-deserved New Year’s Honour for Streets client Paul Holt, Managing Director of 3D printing specialists Photocentric. Paul has been recognised by the Queen with the award of an MBE for his contribution to international trade as well as his commitment to education.

Digital marketing duo join V Formation

Tess Egginton
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Digital marketing duo join V Formation
Nottingham marketing and PR agency V Formation has kicked off 2022 by strengthening its growing team with two experienced recruits in new roles. Rachel Axten joins the team as digital marketing manager to provide strategic digital advice and support to V Formation’s clients as well as the team, and David Shindler joins as senior marketing executive and will focus on delivering on and offline marketing campaigns for clients. With a wealth of experience in planning, executing, and analysing both digital and traditional marketing and PR campaigns across a wide variety of industries, Rachel is well versed in understanding, meeting, and delivering clients’ digital marketing needs as well as managing and supporting internal marketing activity. Prior to joining V Formation, Rachel honed her management and digital capabilities as client marketing manager for CCM Group, an agency based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, and has over eight years’ experience within the marketing sector. Rachel said: “I’ve always had such a passion for both creativity and strategy, which is why marketing has always been the career for me. The industry is ever-changing which keeps it fast paced and exciting! I’m thrilled to be taking this next step in my career, and I can’t wait to support V Formation as it continues to grow and strengthen its digital offering.” With six years’ professional experience in the marketing sector and a degree in graphic and media design, David joins V Formation from Stratford-upon-Avon-based optical products distributor Thomas Jack Limited, where he was marketing co-ordinator and focused on producing artwork and content for digital and print. On joining V Formation, David says: “Having come from a graphic design background, I feel passionately about helping people to solve their visual communication problems, and I’m keen to use my skills across broader areas of the marketing space. This new role at V Formation gives me the opportunity to do exactly that. I’m looking forward to being part of the team as the business continues to grow.” Sue Carr, V Formation director, adds: “We’re thrilled to welcome Rachel and David to the V Formation team as we continue on our growth trajectory. They are both highly skilled, experienced marketeers, who together will add real value to our growing roster of fantastic clients.” “Now is all about investing in the future,” says Hilary Campton, V Formation director. “Our pace of growth has accelerated in the last couple of years, particularly in recent months, and our annual revenues have risen again, with figures for the first half of this financial year up 25% on the same time last year. “As we look ambitiously to the future, Rachel and David’s skills will support the ongoing development of our integrated marketing offering, the team and our client portfolio, with them each having complimentary knowledge that is the perfect fit for our expanding service offering and client portfolio.”

Helping Leicestershire’s creative and digital agencies find cash

Tess Egginton
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Helping Leicestershire’s creative and digital agencies find cash
Creative and digital agencies based in Leicestershire can get support finding the money they need to grow, by attending a free webinar from the Business Gateway tomorrow (20 January). Finance and funding expert, Lawrie Chandler, founder of the company Edale, will share information and advice on how to find and secure the funding available specifically for creative and digital companies. Mr Chandler is highly experienced and has delivered several webinars for the Business Gateway, all of which have been very well attended by Leicestershire businesses during the past year. Discussing his track record in supporting creative and digital businesses, Mr Chandler said: “Edale has assisted numerous creative professionals who have set up on their own, by putting a simple funding plan together as they start out on freelancing; then we’ve helped them secure funds to invest in hardware and software to get started. “A few thousand pounds in the early days is a real help and we know that that help is available. We’ve helped creative people at different stages of their journey too; we helped a graduate to secure match-funding for a digital app as he graduated. For an established creative agency, we supported them to secure funding to develop a new product to complement the design side of their business.” Any creative or digital agency in Leicestershire is welcome to join the webinar which runs tomorrow, Thursday 10am – 11.30pm. To book your place, visit the Business Gateway website here: http://bity.ly/3JGIZHr or search in www.bizgateway.org.uk/events

Loughborough to play key role in new programme putting the Midlands at forefront of hydrogen innovation

Tess Egginton
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Loughborough to play key role in new programme putting the Midlands at forefront of hydrogen innovation
Loughborough University experts are part of a new programme designed to support, foster, and accelerate the hydrogen economy in the Midlands.
The Hydrogen Development and Knowledge Exchange (HyDEX) programme brings together the university partners in the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), with multinational businesses, SMEs and other partners, in order to accelerate innovation in hydrogen, build markets and the supply chain, and support the skills needed for the emerging hydrogen economy. The aim of HyDEX is to address the challenge of building a thriving new business, industrial and manufacturing sector in hydrogen, where very little currently exists. The programme will allow businesses to accelerate the development and viability of new hydrogen products and associated intellectual property, while supporting the transition from declining industrial sectors and enabling the training and re-skilling required. The £4.99m three-year programme is being funded via the Research England Development (RED) Fund scheme, which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It will see the ERA university partners making available their £111m worth of hydrogen facilities, large scale demonstration programmes, and research capabilities to businesses. This will be supported by the expertise of leading industrial partners in transport, heating and manufacturing technologies, who are also involved in HyDEX. These include Worcester-Bosch and Cadent (hydrogen boilers and gas networks); Intelligent Energy (fuel cells); Toyota (hydrogen vehicles); FAUN Zoeller (heavy vehicles); Cenex, ENGIE (Hydrogen Networks); Progressive Energy, ITM Motive (hydrogen generation and transport respectively); Siemens and ENGIE (hydrogen production and storage). Loughborough’s involvement in the HyDEX programme is being led by Professor Upul Wijayantha from the Department of Chemistry. Professor Wijayantha is also leading the overall Demonstrator Programme for HyDEX. Speaking about the project, he said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Loughborough University, ERA partners and the Midlands region, as it will put us in a globally leading position in hydrogen technology innovation. The HyDEX programme is a perfect opportunity to achieve some important objectives that we identified last year when we worked with the Midlands Engine to formulate the 10 points Green Growth Plan for Midlands region.” Loughborough’s Dr Kathryn North, who leads the Skills programme within the project, added: “HyDEX will work closely with industry and university partners to provide skills training and development opportunities for researchers and industry colleagues. This is a really important aspect to develop alongside the industrial links and technologies and provides strong alignment with the existing ERA Skills programme and the Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure Cities and Energy, both also led by Loughborough University.” The other universities involved in the programme are Keele (project lead), Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Nottingham and Warwick. Civic partners such as the Midlands Engine, LEPs, local government and local authorities, will also add their weight to support the creation of a market for low-carbon hydrogen solutions as part of the net-zero transition. There is also an international dimension to HyDEX, which will facilitate links with growing international markets in countries such as China, Australia and South Korea, where ERA partners have strong connections, in order to build commercial opportunities that reach beyond the Midlands and the UK.

Nottingham to Lincoln rail route: businesses urged to have their say on rail upgrade plans

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham to Lincoln rail route: businesses urged to have their say on rail upgrade plans
Regional transport body Midlands Connect has launched an online consultation to get businesses’ views on improvements to the rail route between Nottingham, Newark and Lincoln. The survey asks firms to give their views on current rail connectivity and to outline how improving them would impact their trade, productivity and access to skilled workers. The potential improvement plans would see the number of hourly train services between Nottingham, Newark and Lincoln double from one, to two trains every hour. As well as this, improvements to signalling and track would improve journey times, reducing end to end trips from 55 minutes to 45 minutes. Line speed work is expected to be completed between 2022 and 2026, while Midlands Connect is examining ways to improve service frequency in the medium term. The consultation is being supported by MPs Karl McCartney and Lilian Greenwood, local councils including Nottinghamshire County Council and Lincolnshire County Council as well the Lincolnshire Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses. The survey is open until Friday 11 February at 5pm. Head of Rail Karen Heppenstall said: “We are calling on employers and businesses to get involved in our online consultation to let us know their views. We want to know what the impact could be on them if we improve the rail route and specifically, if it could lead to more jobs and growth in the local economy. “The case for upgrades on this route is clear: slow and infrequent rail services between Nottingham and Lincoln mean that only a small proportion of journeys along this corridor are made by train. Midlands Connect is committed to changing that and to gathering the best possible evidence outlining why these improvements are so sorely needed.”

Lottery funding secured to restore the Grade II Victoria Embankment Memorial Gardens

Tess Egginton
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Lottery funding secured to restore the Grade II Victoria Embankment Memorial Gardens
Nottingham City Council’s £1.7m bid to develop Victoria Embankment Memorial Gardens has been successful. Funding has been awarded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and will be used to improve facilities, create a visitor centre and jobs on the park. Match funding has come from The Transforming Cities Fund, The War Memorials Trust and Nottingham City Council. The announcement to return the park to its former glory marks the culmination of a development journey which has included two rounds of public consultation. The views of park users, veteran groups and the Memorial Gardens Association about how the gardens and facilities could be developed have identified a strong desire to see the area restored and improved. The first stages of work to develop designs and plans have been completed which means the delivery of the project can begin. This will deliver the following:
  • Restoring the war Memorial which was unveiled in 1927
  • Restoring Queen Victoria’s Statue (dating from 1903) which has been in the gardens since 1953 (previously it sat in the Old Market Square)
  • Restoring the pond and fountains
  • Improving paths and access
  • Re-planting original flower beds
  • Installing new furniture
  • Creation of a visitor centre and toilets
  • Creation of jobs
  • Development of a World War 2 Roll of Honours
There will be an ongoing activity plan for the gardens that will also set out the restoration work and activities. This includes historical research and links to both the physical and virtual Roll of Honours. The council will also work with various veteran organisations to help provide work experience and a pathway to help gain permanent employment. It is also proposed to create a Park Team Leader post and two placements per year over five years. Councillor Rosemary Healy, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Cleansing Services (Including Parks and Open Spaces), said: “Following the successful use of Lottery funding for Highfields Park, I am delighted to see further investment in Nottingham’s open and green spaces. “Victoria Embankment Memorial Gardens are of great importance and have been an asset to Nottingham for nearly 100 years. In 2019 we completed the WW1 Memorial and this additional funding will allow future generations to re-discover the site as a place for contemplation, relaxation and recreation within the local community.”

Revenue and profit dip at NAHL

Tess Egginton
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Revenue and profit dip at NAHL
Revenue and profit have slipped slightly at Kettering-based NAHL, which operates in the UK consumer legal services market and is behind the brand National Accident Helpline. According to a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2021, group revenue is anticipated to be in line with the board’s expectations at £38.9m, slightly below £40.9m in the prior year. Underlying operating profit meanwhile is expected to be at least £4.0m, down from £5.7m last year, though this is also in line with the board’s expectations. The business noted that COVID-19 continued to have an impact on the group’s markets, with Government restrictions and cautious consumer behaviour supressing accident numbers. The results for 2021 reflect a full year of COVID-19 impact. James Saralis, CEO of NAHL, said: “While our business continued to experience headwinds throughout 2021, I am pleased with the progress we were able to make on our strategic objectives of creating a higher margin personal injury business and delivering growth in our catastrophic injury business. We grew the book of ongoing personal injury claims in National Accident Law by 166% and grew revenues in Bush & Co. by 9%, driven by our investments in business development. “During the period, we were pleased to successfully extend our RCF with Yorkshire Bank through to December 2024, providing our business with the liquidity to continue to grow NAL. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our people who have continued to work tirelessly throughout the period to strive for the best results for all of our stakeholders.”
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