FEBRUARY 2023 EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www.blmgroup.co.uk WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK £3.50 Closing the gap Has our engineering levelled up? Making the most of business abroad 01.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:28 Page 1www.hopkins-solicitors.co.uk 0115 906 8964 hrsupport@hopkins-solicitors.co.uk Do you wish you had an HR Manager? WE’RE HERE TO HELP Supporting local employers for over a century TRANSPARENT FIXED FEES No expensive long-term contracts HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Top rated employment law firm in Nottinghamshire 02.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:28 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 3 EDITORS NOTES The fact that the Bank of England have raised interest rates to 4% has dominated headlines alongside bleak reports on the UK from the IMF, and an overall startling denial of reality in the political spectrum. The Government response to the flagging economy appears to be deny, deny, deny, with ministers saying that they “do not accept” the “opinion” that the economy is in a sorry state. Suggesting that factual figures are an opinion is one thing, but to not accept the statistics is a dangerous slope to go down. Businesses in our region will not be best pleased at the drama, not after the Levelling Up fund we have been waiting for all this time has come out mired in controversy. Government claims that London has poorer areas that need funding as well as the north will ring hollow when the ultimate conclusion is that, yet again, the north will receive less. It’s a difficult time to do business as we all know, and it’s a difficult time to be a citizen of the United Kingdom – which is now the only developed state to shrink. The cost of living has hit families, which in turn hits business, and strikes ravage the country not making much better, and the Government’s response being to blame those striking and try to impose legislation to make it illegal won’t win them any allies. At this time, it’s difficult to predict what will come for the business world. Those still holding out for good governance have likely given up by now, which means it’s yet again in our hands to make something work. Navigating the waters has become treacherous, and the rank denial of some in power does not bode well. It’s an unfortunate message to have to give and I don’t want it all to appear as doom-mongering. The economy is obviously tumbling toward (or in) a recession despite the denials of some, and the important thing is to recognise that and take steps to protect your assets and your business, and not to play dumb and hide your head in the sand as some have. We’ve all been through a lot in recent years – from the financial crisis to Brexit to COVID and now this. This has made business leaner, stronger, and more resilient, but turning a blind eye to the current crisis will not put businesses in good stead to make it through 2023. Good reading, as always Michael Fisher Editor 03.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:29 Page 1@BLMEastMidlands BLMEastMidlands Latest news 6 A round-up of the latest news from our region. Commercial property 16 Business Link highlights some of the ambitious developments set to move ahead in the East Midlands following the announcement of the successful bids in the latest round of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. Engineering spotlight 20 Much was said about how levelling up would improve our engineering and manufacturing and turn us into a northern powerhouse, but has that happened? Apprenticeships and training 24 A dearth of skilled workers is causing chaos in the employment market but this problem has existed for a while, and waiting will not make it go away. Businesses are going to have to act if they want to fill positions. Tax 28 James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, discusses the impact of the cost- of-living crisis on your customers and what businesses need to consider. Business travel30 We’ve lived in an era of calls and video conferences, but face-to-face meetings matter and travel for business is an important skill many of us need to learn once more. Meet the experts34 So-called “experts” can be found everywhere – especially online nowadays. Choosing the right expert for your needs is the hard part. Public relations 36 Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, helps you find your media match. Printing and packaging 38 Business costs are increasing, especially in the manufacturing sector, and a lot of this is tied up in the packaging processes used by companies. Putting time into assessing and streamlining these can lead to savings. AutoLink 42 There is no escaping the fact that electric vehicles (EVs) will be the norm soon, whether we like it or not. Why? Well, the UK is set to only produce non- combustion engine cars from 2030. No doubt many of us will hang on to our trusty liquid-fuelled vehicles, but if you’re feeling like going down electric avenue, here are three enlivening EVs to whet your automotive appetite. FEBRUARY 2023 EAST MIDLANDS £3.50 LEADING BUSINESS MA AGAZINE Closing the g level Has gap led up? our engineering oadbusiness abr Making the most of www.blmgroup.co.uk Cover photographs courtesy: GWM ORA Funky Cat • stock.adobe.com/okrasiuk • goodluz • engel.ac • Andrei Merkulov Contents February 2023 Corporate hospitality 46 Embracing inclusivity is key to a successful event. Events50 A timely look at forthcoming business events around the East Midlands. And finally...52 Here’s Frazer’s collection of the weird and wonderful ‘news’ that came his way over the last few weeks. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:30 Page 138 Group Editor Steve Fisher s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Editor Michael Fisher m.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Journalist Tess Egginton t.egginton@blmgroup.co.uk Sales Director Angela Cooper a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310310 Accounts & Subscriptions Angela Sharman accounts@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311 Design & Production Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson studio@blmgroup.co.uk Tel: (01472) 310304 E-Mail: eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.uk Publisher Haychart Ltd, t/a Business Link Magazine Group, Huntingdon House, 278-290 Huntingdon Street, Nottingham NG1 3LY All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:30 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk GENERAL NEWS Leicestershire sustainability specialist to support key marine net zero carbon initiative Melton Mowbray-based sustainability specialist, Clean Air Power, is part of a consortium that has successfully secured £250,000 to deliver a major clean maritime project. Clean Air Power is working alongside global engineering consultancy MAHLE Powertrain and the University of Nottingham, to help develop potential green propulsion systems for marine users such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The project, named HyJet, is now under way. The funding has been secured via Innovate UK, a non-departmental public body which provides money and support to organisations to make new products and services. The consortium will explore the use of sustainable fuels, such as green hydrogen, methanol or ammonia, that would produce zero or near zero pollutants in smaller marine engines. The RNLI has an overall fleet of 400 vessels including all-weather lifeboats and inshore rescue vessels. Clean Air Power are specialists in decarbonised fuelling and will develop and supply the engine’s fuel injection systems, through its DigiJet range of valves and injectors. Totally awarded £10m contract supporting NHS Totally, a Derby-based provider of frontline healthcare services, corporate fitness and wellbeing services, has been awarded a new contract by NHS England to provide national NHS 111 contingency services. The contract, awarded to Vocare, part of Totally’s Urgent Care division, will run from 1 March 2023 at a value of c. £10 million per annum, initially for one year with the option to extend for a further year. NHS England has commissioned this support to provide additional call handling and clinical capacity to help to alleviate some of the pressures on local NHS 111 services, as required. NHS 111 provides an essential service to the UK population, offering support as wide-reaching as over-the-telephone healthcare advice, to access to urgent and emergency care. Vocare is a long-standing provider of regional NHS 111 services. This new contract provides additional flexible capacity, which can be precisely targeted where and when needed. Hospital Services Limited launches East Midlands headquarters After over 60 years working in partnership with healthcare suppliers on the Island of Ireland, Hospital Services Limited (HSL) is growing the company’s footprint in the UK with an investment of over £1.7m to establish a headquarters in the East Midlands. A specialist distributor of medical and surgical equipment, consumable products, and healthcare IT solutions, HSL is one of the largest privately-owned distributors supplying the health sector in the UK and Ireland. In addition to supplying technologies and solutions to its customers, HSL’s team provides on-going technical and clinical support to the end-user of its products. With financial backing from the Foresight Group, an independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager with over £6.5?billion of assets under management, HSL continues to grow its offering. HSL have established a Britain-based team of 25 across their new Draycott headquarters, an office in Bath, and positioned remotely across the regions of the UK including Wales. The company also has ambitious plans to grow the team by at least 60% in the coming years through planned acquisitions and ongoing recruitment campaigns. © stock.adobe.com/ chrisdorney L-R: Graham Stewart, commercial & finance director and Sam McMaster, director of telehealth photographed in HSL’s newly-opened Draycott headquarters 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:36 Page 1Phenna Group invests in RammSanderson RammSanderson has sealed a strategic investment partnership with Phenna Group to help it achieve its next phase of growth. Since establishing in 2014 directors Oliver Ramm, Nick Sanderson and Anthony Mellor have grown the business to have over 50 staff and become a market leader in Ecology, Arboriculture and Flood Risk Assessments. Its client base is a range of public and private sector clients, including national infrastructure and large-scale housing and commercial developments. Headquartered in Nottingham, Phenna Group’s aim is to invest in and partner with selected niche, independent Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC), and Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) companies that serve a variety of sectors, ensuring customers’ peace of mind by delivering first class assurance & consultancy services. This acquisition augments RammSanderson’s market-leading Built Environment and Infrastructure platforms and adds geographic and complementary services to its extensive service offering, whilst strengthening and adding greater organisational capacity to its wide range of environmental and consultancy services. www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link GENERAL NEWS • Commercial • Events • Headshots • Automotive • Fashion CALL OR EMAIL FOR A QUOTE 07506 998855 STEVE@STEVEEDWARDSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM STEVEEDWARDSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Creating eye-catching images to help businesses build their brands and engage with clients. East Midlands business confidence falls in January but remains in the black Business confidence in the East Midlands fell 18 points during January to 10%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in the region reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on- month, down four points at 24%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down 31 points to -2% this gives a headline confidence reading of 10%. East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth in the next six months as diversifying into new markets (33%), evolving their product and service offering (31%) and investing in their team (29%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. Businesses in the region expect staff levels to remain the same over the next year. This is up from December when a net balance of 37% of businesses reported plans to make new hires. © stock.adobe.com/ iushakovsky Oliver Ramm, Anthony Mellor, and Nick Sanderson 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:36 Page 2APPOINTMENTS PwC appoints new market senior partner for East Midlands PwC has appointed Alex Hudson as the new market senior partner for East Midlands. A tax partner, Alex has been with the firm since 2002 and worked in the East Midlands office for the duration of her career. Alex will oversee the strategy and direction for PwC in the East Midlands and the wider region. The role includes connecting with local businesses and communities to support talent, growth ambitions and place and purpose within the city. Speaking about her new role, Alex said: “I’ve spent my whole PwC career in the East Midlands and recognise the value of the talent and opportunities here that benefit the firm nationally. The office in Donnington Court has achieved fantastic growth already, and the team works on some of our biggest national clients and has been involved in some landmark wins for the firm globally. “I’m committed to maintaining and enhancing our fantastic office culture to create the best experience in which our people can develop, flourish and have fun.” East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk 200 Degrees promotes Stephen Fern to Managing Director 200 Degrees Coffee has promoted Stephen Fern to Managing Director. Having held the position of financial director with the coffee roaster since 2019, Stephen takes on the Managing Director role from co-owner and CEO of the business, Rob Darby. The Nottingham-based roaster has experienced a continued period of growth across the business, and as Managing Director, Stephen will oversee the company’s operations, growth, team and customer experience. 200 Degrees marked a number of significant milestones last year, celebrating its 10th year in business, reaching 200 team members and opening its 18th coffee shop. The roaster continues to expand its team in its shops, roast house and central team as well as driving forward its barista school network, home subscription, ecommerce and wholesale offering. Stephen said: “I am incredibly honoured to be trusted with this position, at a company with such a fantastic culture and ethos for delivering great products and services to our customers, as well as its support of not-for-profit, grass root causes. “I will continue to learn from co-owners Rob and his business partner Tom Vincent, while also building the culture and driving continuous improvements across the business. “We have fantastic teams across 200 Degrees and my aim will be to help facilitate each and every employee in achieving their personal goals, that in turn will allow 200 Degrees to achieve our growth and community-focussed ambitions.” Purpose Media makes senior hire Full service marketing agency Purpose Media has further strengthened its team following the appointment of Lauren Sherwin as a senior account manager. Lauren, who now lives in Derbyshire, was previously based in Nottingham and worked for a global creative agency, as a production account manager. The agency specialises in designing packaging. In her new role, Lauren will be responsible for a variety of clients in the retail, manufacturing and sport sectors, helping them to define their marketing strategy, target audiences and marketing tactics. Following this analysis, she will coordinate with the client and other Purpose Media specialists to deliver new websites and content/SEO strategies, branding projects, video and social media schedules and email marketing campaigns. Lauren said: “After coming back to the UK after living in America for a year, I was looking for a role in which I could really make my own and have the opportunity to thrive. Having come from a creative background I was impressed by Purpose Media’s reputation and its positioning to engage audiences, inspire customers and more importantly deliver a return on investment.” Lauren Sherwin Stephen Fern Alex Hudson 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:36 Page 3Bridge Help makes senior promotion Chesterfield-based commercial finance specialist, Bridge Help has promoted Katie Snodden to the newly created role of head of sales. The promotion recognises the significant contribution Katie has made to the business since she joined as a business development manager in 2021. In 2022 alone Katie secured more than £8m worth of loans for brokers throughout England and Wales. In her newly created role, she will now lead Bridge Help’s team of business development managers in growing the company’s loan book which it aims to double in 2023. Chris Sellars, CEO and general counsel of Bridge Help, said: “Katie has built some amazing relationships across the industry, all whilst taking on additional responsibilities within the company. Her appointment is integral to our growth plans for next year and she is absolutely the right person for this role.” Katie added: “I am thrilled to take on this exciting role. One of the many reasons I joined Bridge Help was the opportunity to grow my career and skillset within the business.” Katie joined the bridging finance sector from the transport and logistics sector having previously worked within financial services for a large, chartered accountancy firm in London. Her appointment at Bridge Help signalled her return to the financial services sector, which she describes as her ‘first love’. BGF strengthens portfolio team BGF has strengthened its position in the regional markets with the senior appointment of Jill Williams. Jill joins BGF’s portfolio team from Mercia Asset Management, where she was deputy fund principal, private equity funds & head of ESG. She brings more than 15 years’ experience in private equity investment to the team. In her previous roles, Jill has focused on the UK’s mid and lower-mid markets, working across the UK’s regions as well as a diverse range of sectors, including professional and financial services, logistics, manufacturing, digital, education and training, leisure and travel, and healthcare. With experience as both a deal leader and portfolio company board member, she has a deep understanding of the growth investment lifecycle, from origination, execution, portfolio management and realisation, as well as the implementation of strategy into practice. At BGF, Jill will work closely with entrepreneurs and business owners across the North West and Midlands as part of the portfolio team – managing portfolio company investments, delivering and maximising value creation as a board member, and preparing portfolio companies for long-term growth. Jill said: “BGF has created a real point of difference in the market with an unwavering drive to back ambitious entrepreneurs and business owners across a range of sectors and regions, with a patient and long-term approach. “In the current climate, there is a real opportunity to create value in portfolio businesses, and I’m looking forward to building relationships with management teams to support them on their growth journey.” www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link APPOINTMENTS East Midlands housebuilder welcomes new Managing Director An East Midlands housebuilder has made a key senior appointment. Redrow East Midlands, based in Castle Donington, has appointed Michael Coker as Manager Director. He brings more than 30 years’ industry experience to the role. Michael is trained as a chartered builder and has a first-class degree in Construction Management from the University of Leeds. His new role will see him take responsibility for driving the division forward, by securing land opportunities, launching new developments and overseeing the progression of a large team. Michael said: “My father was in the business from the mid-seventies and as such I have always been around housebuilding. The varied and complex nature of the industry makes it interesting but also at times challenging and I love a challenge. The industry is full of fantastic people and some amazing characters. “I am thrilled to be working for Redrow in my new role. The brand was built by an individual passionate about our industry, our product, and our people, and that is still true of the business today. I am most looking forward to seeing our team develop in their roles and continue to progress at Redrow – it is a fantastic industry, and we need to do more to attract the next wave of housebuilders. Previously chief operating officer for Kier Living/Tilia Homes, Michael worked with a large team of people to deliver the sale and transfer of Kier Living from the Kier Group and into the Terra Firma owned Tilia Homes. Jill Williams Michael Coker Katie Snodden 06-15.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 12:37 Page 4Next >