AUGUST 2024 EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE www..co.uk WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK WWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UK £3.50 The best identityThe East Midlands supply hub Golden plansJULY 2024 EAST MIDLANDS LE £3.50 LEADING BUSINESS MAGA MAGAZNE The key to success T JU£2.95 ULY2024 Support Cancer Macmill l Health a HaHorncas Visiting d tl tin motorin County fitness WWW.LINCWWW.LINC CONSHREOCONSHREO ODAYNETODAYNET BLM www.blmgroup.co.uk M&Ad rld o our guide to the pharmaceutical wY Issue 32 olume 1V reh aa W Dealsindem M d warehouse Making the dd and a r f iib mainte Cleani w id egular andR t df Often Imitated - Never Equalled www.blmgroup.co.uk INTERN NATION AL New ws ge challe Up to the or Cold st aag yetand c th, saf Heal te e hh ygiene y 2024y jul yorkshire & lincolnshir £3.50 hire’s leading business mag agazine VOLUME 39 ISSUE 7 .blmgroup.co.ukwww first impr Designin crisis? The solution to the skills Business as usual ession r nghepeecV wwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 3 EDITORS NOTES The UK has experienced positive growth for what may feel like the first time in forever but actually isn’t. While the previous Government were keen to boast of growth “defying the odds” it was often in the low decimals, 0.1% - 0.5% growth – better than negative, but not good. Now, news comes that the UK is bouncing back stronger than our European partners, and they are partners despite the inflammatory language used by certain newspapers. Our allies and trading partners have long worked with us, and it would be foolish to let identity politics suggest otherwise. Here in our region, the effects may not be as noticeable. Ill news about HS2 and civil unrest in the form of riots dominate headlines, and more companies continue to go out of business. That said, businesses are also reporting an easier time recruiting – be that because more people are being left unemployed or not – and that is helping ease issues and foster growth. I won’t be so reckless as to suggest we’re entering a golden age of commerce, because that would be foolish, but this may be the beginning of a recovery, and plans to bolster the UK’s ability to create its own energy could see the economy less impacted by the decisions of suppliers on the mainland. Good reading, as always. Michael Fisher Editor@BLMEastMidlands BLMEastMidlands Latest news 6 A round-up of the latest news from our region. Commercial property 16 Sitting within the ‘golden triangle’, the East Midlands continues to be a hotspot for industrial and logistics property. Print and packaging spotlight 20 Designing and executing the best packaging for your brand, identity and product can be a labour of love, often necessary to attract customers in the first place. But it’s worth the attention to detail, down to the literal fine print that can hold consumer attention by providing them with vital information. Accountants review 23 Picking the right accountant or accountancy firm for your business can be a tricky challenge. It may feel like everyone is a financial expert online nowadays, and there are plenty of dodgy actors on the market just looking to take advantage of people. Tax 26 Streets Chartered Accountants has launched a new service to help businesses unlock innovation grants. Environmental and waste management 28 With a new government that’s taking a more active approach to the environment, we look at the state of the region and what businesses can do to get on board. Business services 31 It’s not been an easy time to be in business and we look at what may come in the future – up to and including the spring budget. Public relations 34 Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, helps you position yourself as an expert in the media. Supply chain management 36 The East Midlands is strategically placed in the centre of the country, making it an excellent gateway from north to south, and even to Europe, and a primary supply chain hub – if the region can take advantage of the fact. Corporate hospitality 40 The summer months make for an ideal time to host seminars and events, but after years of working remotely or from home many people are out of practice when it comes to public speaking. We run over some of the basics. AUGUST 2024 EAST MIDLANDS £3.50 LEADING BUSINESS MA AGAZINE Golden plans INESSLINKCOUK .co.ukwww. supply hub The East Mid W dlandsThe best WWWEASTMI identity IDLANDSBUS Cover photographs courtesy: • stock.adobe.com/ChayTee • Shutter B • Liubomir • Pavel • SakhanPhotography Contents August 2024 AutoLink 42 Some vehicles are made to fit the everyman, while others are designed for a specific demographic – and both philosophies have their merits. Events46 A timely look at forthcoming business events around the East Midlands. And finally...50 Here’s Frazer’s collection of the weird and wonderful ‘news’ that came his way over the last few weeks.36 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. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk GENERAL NEWS Wellbeing toolkit created to support West Northamptonshire workplaces Employers of any size across West Northamptonshire can now access a wellbeing toolkit designed to provide practical guidance on how to enhance wellbeing in the workplace and improve business outcomes. Research shows that a good workplace wellbeing programme can have a positive impact on employee happiness and engagement, increase productivity and improve customer service and business outcomes. The toolkit aims to encourage businesses to adopt an insight and data led approach to workplace wellbeing, improving the health and wellbeing of their employees and subsequently their business performance. West Northamptonshire Council has launched the free to use, self-service Workplace Wellbeing Toolkit that is available to all businesses across the area. It offers a step-by-step guide to workplace wellbeing, providing an overview of what wellbeing is, how businesses can invest in it, how they can use existing data to enhance their wellbeing programmes. It helps employers to create an action plan across a wide range of wellbeing topics to support the specific needs of their employees. Mayor meets Prime Minister for devolution talks The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has been to Downing Street with the country’s regional mayors to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to discuss more powers and funding for the East Midlands. Mayor Claire attended a high-level roundtable for UK Mayors as the government announced it was setting up a council for regions and nations to support a drive to loosen Westminster’s “tight grip” over big cities and regions. Mayor Claire said: “It’s the beginning of a new era for our villages, towns and cities. After years of languishing at the bottom of every funding league table, the East Midlands will finally get the investment it deserves. I wholeheartedly welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to giving our communities more of a say on some of the most important issues.” East Midlands firms merge to tackle sustainability Hillside Environmental Services and Infinitas Design, two East Midlands-based industry leaders in climate-change initiatives, have revealed a strategic merger which will enable the two firms to deliver on the ambitious growth strategy of its founders. Forming HI Group, based out of Newark, this strategic merger marks a decade-long partnership and signifies a new era for sustainable solutions in the UK. HI Group co-founder Russell Burton says: “Over the past decade, Hillside and Infinitas have collaborated on numerous projects, sharing a common vision for environmental sustainability. “This merger is a testament to our seamless collaboration and shared commitment to creating environmentally sustainable solutions. By joining forces, we harness the unique expertise and knowledge of each team, transforming them into a more potent force for change.” Co-founder Laura Bishop explains: “As HI Group, we are positioned to offer enhanced resources and comprehensive support to assist our clientele on their journey towards a greener future. This merger enhances our capacity to cater to our clients’ needs, providing them with the robust, innovative solutions they’ve come to expect from each of our teams.” Image courtesy of West Northamptonshire CouncilPredicted GDP growth for East Midlands up on last year, but remains relatively subdued among the UK The economy in the East Midlands is predicted to grow by 0.9% this year, up from 0.4% in 2023 according to the latest PwC UK Economic Outlook. Despite this year-on-year improvement, the East Midlands still lags behind the predicted GDP growth for the UK overall, which sits at 1.0%. Alex Hudson, Market Senior Partner for PwC East Midlands, said: “Despite the data showing that economic growth in the East Midlands is lower than the UK picture, with the new government and recently created East Midlands Combined Authority, now is the time for businesses and local government to work together to develop a localised plan for growth. “68% of UK businesses have identified skills, education and talent as their top priority for growth. “We have some world-class educational institutions and some of the UK’s biggest companies here. I believe that by investing in skills for younger generations and ensuring our current workforce is equipped with skills for the future, we will move the dial on the East Midlands economy, and the time to act is now.” 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. Midlands businesses plan multi- million pound investments over the next five years Mid-sized businesses in the Midlands plan to invest millions over the next five years, with nearly half (42%) planning to spend upwards of £3 million to grow their business, according to BDO LLP’s bi-monthly Economic Engine survey. More than a quarter of Midlands businesses (27%) said that sourcing new capital to fund growth was one of their top priorities between now and the end of the year. This includes private equity investment, venture capital or additional bank loans. A similar number (24%) are prioritising developing new products or services. Kyla Bellingall, regional managing partner in the Midlands at BDO, said: “With a new government in place and inflation hitting the Bank of England’s 2% target in May, businesses in the region have some reason to be optimistic after years of challenging economic conditions and uncertainty. “The message from Midlands business is clearly one centred on growth, but they will need the support of central policymakers to ensure that the regions receive the required investment to accelerate those ambitions, with Labour looking to take a fresh approach to tackling regional inequalities.” Alex Hudson Russell Barton and Laura Bishop Kyla BellingallMiller Knight appoints trio of industry big-hitters to senior team Three industry heavyweights have joined the senior team at East Midlands construction company Miller Knight. Previously long-serving senior directors at Derbyshire-headquartered G F Tomlinson, Chris Flint, Andrew Foster and Jamie Braybrook, have moved across to Miller Knight to add significant strength and expertise to its structure. The trio will boost Miller Knight’s market share with ambitious plans to sustainably expand its service offerings within the regional construction market. Chris Flint, former MD at G F Tomlinson, is Miller Knight’s new regeneration director. Andrew Foster has been made commercial director and Jamie Braybrook is chief estimator. Chris said: “The rise and rise of Miller Knight is something that excited me – and I wanted to be part of the company’s growth, helping to further support its expansion and capability. “After meeting Miller Knight chief executive David Dickson, and the other directors and visiting many of their current construction sites, I was not only impressed by how the business was set up – but also by the commitment of the staff and the company’s collaborative working approach.” APPOINTMENTS Hot tub manufacturer appoints new global marketing director Chesterfield-based Superior Wellness has appointed Richard Walker as their global marketing director. He joins them with over 15 years of international experience in on and offline marketing, above and below-the-line advertising, e-commerce, social media, influencer projects and celebrity endorsements. Richard is a multi-award-winning international marketing director with a proven track record. Before joining Superior Wellness, he was the marketing director of Wren Kitchens and the Wren brand guardian since its inception in 2009. He drove marketing effectiveness and business expansion, contributing to double-digit growth in turnover each year. Richard will play a pivotal role in driving awareness of the Superior Wellness brands to support the company’s expansion plans and long-term vision. Rob Carlin, Managing Director, said: “We are thrilled that Richard has joined the Superior Wellness leadership team. His experience will be invaluable, he’s an outstanding addition to our existing team and I am looking forward to working closely with him.” East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk Rowleys welcomes new tax partner Rowleys, a Leicester-based accountancy firm, has appointed Clare Clifford as its new tax partner. Clare, a respected chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser, brings a wealth of experience to the firm. Clare Clifford joins Rowleys from Azets, where she was a partner and head of tax for the Midlands. With a career that began in accountancy and evolved to specialise in tax, Clare’s expertise spans a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, farming, and healthcare. She has a proven track record of working with owner- managed businesses, family companies, individuals, and large international organisations, advising on both personal and corporate tax matters. “I am excited to join Rowleys, a firm that truly values building strong, personal relationships with its clients,” says Clare. “I look forward to working with the team to provide tailored tax solutions that help our clients achieve their financial goals. It’s great being back in the East Midlands, where I live and have long-standing professional relationships.” L-R: Matthew Flower, Andrew Foster, Chris Flint, Jamie Braybrook, David Dickson Richard Walker L-R: Bryan Freeman, Tom Copson, Paula Swann-Jones, Clare Clifford, Mark Hooh, Craig ShevasProperty consultancy appoints Environmental, Social and Governance partner A property consultancy has announced a new role which will see it at the forefront of devising and delivering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies. Fisher German has appointed Rachel Bridge as ESG partner at the firm. Rachel, who joined Fisher German in 2007, has spent her career within the firm’s infrastructure services division, and has extensive experience in Account Management as well as managing infrastructure assets. She has strong knowledge of the importance of green energy and the transition to Net Zero as well as the ESG challenges being faced by businesses. Rachel is the current chair of the Pipeline Industries Guild, has governance experience, and led the sustainability workstream in the Guild’s 2025 strategy She takes an active role in mentoring young professionals, champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in everything she does and is also a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) ambassador in her spare time, championing careers in the industry to young people. The newly-created role will see Rachel advise clients on their ESG strategies, ensuring their property meets both legislative requirements and internal ESG targets. New CEO and senior staff promotions for Nottingham Venues Nottingham Venues has made a series of promotions within its senior team, including the creation of a new CEO role. Tom Waldron-Lynch has been appointed to the new position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nottingham Venues. He joined the business as general manager in 2017, when it was part of DeVere group and has been pivotal in navigating the team through its successful transition over the last five years. More recently, Tom has also taken on increased responsibilities outside of Nottingham Venues. He is a board member for the place marketing organisation for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Marketing Nottingham, and is focussed on raising the county’s profile as one of the UK’s leading business and leisure destinations. In addition to the new CEO, current operations manager, Kerry Pritchett has been promoted to hotel manager at the Jubilee Hotel and Conferences, and Orchard Hotel manager, Peter Bartlett, has become general manager Orchard Hotel and East Midlands Conference Centre (EMCC). www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link APPOINTMENTS Aggregate Industries names new CEO A new Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to lead Leicestershire-based Aggregate Industries UK, part of the global Holcim group. Earlier this year it was announced that current CEO, Dragan Maksimovic, had been appointed as Region Head West Europe overseeing the leadership of the Holcim businesses in the UK, France, Belgium, Germany and Spain. Holcim group has now announced Lee Sleight as the new CEO of Aggregate Industries UK. He will take up his position on 1 August 2024. Lee joined the business in 2021 as Managing Director of the readymix concrete division and in his time there transformed the business. Last year he moved to take up the role as Managing Director of the aggregates division. Lee has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry holding various senior leadership positions. Lee Sleight, Aggregate Industries UK new CEO, said: “It is a very proud moment for me to be chosen to lead this fantastic business. Having been with the company for a number of years I know first-hand how amazing the people who work here are. “I am now really looking forward to working with our teams around the country in order to deliver on our ambition to be the UK’s leading supplier of sustainable construction materials and to keep progressing on our journey to a net zero future.” Lee Sleight L-R: Peter Bartlett, Tom Waldron-Lynch and Kerry Pritchett Rachel BridgeNext >