< PreviousPRINT AND PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT E ven in these smaller details, there are a multitude of functions such as accessibility, placement and appearance to consider. Conveying unique selling points and features – even in just a few words to as many people as possible – contributes a great deal to making an instant emotional connection, or being able to tell an intriguing story to anyone spotting a product on a shelf. Whether the focus is image, colour, text or a combination of all three, ergonomic and attractive packaging design is what first grab the eye in a highly competitive retail environment. It establishes brand recognition and loyalty, and serves as a marketing tool by creating a visual or narrative identity that distinguishes a product from its competitors. Outside agencies and graphic designers can further improve the usability of packaging by making it easy to open, close, and recycle, and by including clear and concise product information, such as ingredients, warnings, and instructions. This would enhance the customer experience of using a product, which is likely to translate into brand loyalty. If hiring designers falls outside of the company’s budget, it may be useful to source internally. A design team could be set up, comprised of employees with an eye for marketing and product development. This saves the outlay but allows for new ideas to be put forward. Setting up an internal design team has the added benefit of diversifying employee roles and giving them a creative outlet, which may improve job The best identity 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. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link satisfaction. Once the design process has been streamlined, it may be prudent to consider production and quality control processes for printing and packaging. Streamlining the production process can help a company to increase efficiency and reduce costs. This can include investing in automated printing and packaging equipment, improving packaging consistency. Companies can also consider implementing lean manufacturing principles, such as Just- In-Time (JIT) and Total Quality Management (TQM), to further improve production efficiency. Quality control is essential in printing © stock.adobe.com/ChayTee © stock.adobe.com/Wasan 22 Á East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk PRINT AND PACKAGING SPOTLIGHT and packaging, as it is a consumers’ first experience of a company’s products. Implementing quality control processes could include a robust quality management system, hiring skilled quality control personnel, and investing in testing equipment. Companies can also consider implementing a customer feedback system to receive regular feedback on packaging quality and make necessary improvements. Finally, brands should focus on investing in sustainable printing and packaging methods. Sustainability has become a critical factor in the printing and packaging industry, and companies must focus on eco-friendly practices to stay ahead of the competition. This can include using eco-friendly materials (such as cardboard, bamboo, and recycled plastic), reducing waste, and implementing energy-efficient printing processes. Companies can also consider certifying their products with sustainability certifications, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Rainforest Alliance. It can be tempting to shy away from investment in the current economic climate, but this attitude is one that has persisted for years now. If it was “not the right time” during the pandemic and “not the right time” after it, and it’s still “not the right time” now then that might mean 3-4 years since the last assessment of packaging, or promotional brand material, and that is time enough for technology to have changed, and for practices to have become outdated. Innovation is key, and staying ahead of the game comes a close second. With energy prices soaring, even the smallest saving can lead to quantifiable results. © stock.adobe.com/Oleksandrwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW © stock.adobe.com/Drazen O ne of the biggest things to look for in an accountant – beyond the obvious of certification and qualifications – is whether an accountant has had relevant expertise in your industry before. Finance may be finance, but no two industry sectors are the same, and accountants with expertise in manufacturing or agri industries may well be able to direct a customer toward available Sourcing expertise 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. The introduction of AI and ChatGPT has only made this worse, as even some actual lawyers have been caught out trying to use AI-generated briefs in the courtroom that were found to be entirely inaccurate. 25 Á East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW © stock.adobe.com/Liubomirwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link ACCOUNTANTS REVIEW grants, savings, and benefits that an accountant unused to the industry might not know of. Ideally, your accountant should work in your best interests, and that means being more than a simple bookkeeping service. They should be capable of spotting things others may have missed, highlighting problems and alerting someone within your company to address the issue. Many of the best accountants look to work with companies who are continuously expanding as well, which means they’ll often have departments offering best advice and framework for securing additional capital and may even be in touch with investors. You want to find an accountant who is proactive about saving and making money, and who isn’t going to be stuck and buried doing hundreds of tax returns a year when they could be helping you. With that in mind, it’s always worth interviewing different accountancy firms. It may seem strange, and some might call it a waste, but you would want to interview an accountant you were hiring to work for your firm, so why would you not want to speak to a new supplier who might cost you even more? A good accountancy firm will be happy to speak with you and discuss what they’ve done for other people, and they will be eager to boast and show evidence of satisfied clients. Look deeper than simple testimonial and see if they can provide case studies of instances where they went out their way to save a customer money. Meet the person who would become your personal agent within the company as well, if they’re available, and talk with them. Having a strong channel of communication is integral in terms of continued cooperation, and you should make sure that the individual knows exactly what you expect of them. When it comes to searching however, one of the best things you can do is get in touch with other businesses through social media or networking events and pick their brains. Ask them who they use, how they are, and get a candid response over a glass of wine or can of beer. When people are away from the office and the legal need to be fair and even in all recommendation, they can afford to be more honest and tell you, in no uncertain terms, whether a company is worth talking to or not. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk TAX Streets Chartered Accountants has launched a new service to help businesses unlock innovation grants. S treets Chartered Accountants, a leading top 40 accountancy practice, is thrilled to announce the launch of its dedicated innovation grants consultancy service. Headed by Chris Parkhurst, who brings over a decade of experience in securing game-changing funding for companies across various sectors, this new service aims to empower businesses in their innovation journeys. Why innovation grants matter The UK offers a wide array of grant programs to support businesses at different stages of their innovation projects. These grants can significantly boost research and development (R&D) efforts, turning cutting-edge ideas into reality. With a dynamic and ever-evolving grant landscape, staying updated on the latest opportunities is crucial. Streets Chartered Accountants is committed to ensuring clients access the most relevant and beneficial programs tailored to their innovation goals. Comprehensive grant consultancy Streets Innovation’s primary focus is providing comprehensive funding solutions for its clients, including R&D Tax Credits, Patent Box, and Creative Industry Tax Reliefs (such as Film Tax, Video Game, Exhibition, etc.). With the addition of its new grant’s consultancy, it aims to become a one- stop shop for all aspects of the funding process. The consultancy focuses on UK government grants, including Innovate UK, offering funds ranging from £25,000 to £2 million for various projects. From identifying the most suitable programs to crafting compelling applications, the firm’s team are on hand to guide clients every step of the way. Expert insight Commenting on the launch of the service Chris Parkhurst said: “I am really excited to be launching this service with Streets. Our combined expertise will allow us to support our clients in finding the best funding opportunities and curating effective grant strategies, maximising their chances of success in competitive funding competitions.” “We understand that every client and project is unique. Our consultants work closely with clients to develop customized strategies that enhance their chances of success,” Chris adds. “Leveraging these grants can significantly reduce R&D costs and accelerate innovation efforts.” Leadership perspective Daniel Jones, Tax Partner and Head of Streets Innovation, shares his vision for the new service. “At Streets Innovation, our primary focus is providing comprehensive funding solutions for our clients. Our expertise spans R&D Tax Credits, Patent Box, Creative Industry Tax Reliefs, and now, Grants. Having Chris join our team has bolstered our offering to clients. I have seen firsthand how accessing the right funding can benefit clients’ innovation projects.” Daniel continues: “There are many misconceptions about the eligibility of claiming R&D Tax Credits and Grants simultaneously, but they should work in unison to maximize benefits. By using these funding options together, businesses can significantly reduce their costs and accelerate their innovation efforts. We are excited to expand our services and provide even greater support to our clients. Our goal is to simplify the process and ensure businesses can fully leverage available funding opportunities. We believe that combining our expertise in various funding avenues will enable our clients to achieve remarkable growth and success.” Beyond grants: R&D Tax Credits and more While not a grant, R&D Tax Credits offer significant tax relief to businesses investing in research and development. Companies can reduce their Corporation Tax or receive a cash payment based on their R&D expenditure. Streets Innovation also specializes in Patent Box and Creative Industry Tax Reliefs, providing a holistic approach to funding. Working with Streets’ specialist R&D tax team, the firm provide comprehensive advice on eligibility and the submission of R&D Tax relief claims. Combining these services with the new grant’s consultancy ensures clients receive the maximum benefit from all available funding opportunities. Get started today Discover how Streets Innovation can drive your R&D and Grants success. Visit the website or contact Chris Parkhurst at Chris.Parkhurst@streets.uk or Daniel Jones at Daniel.Jones@streets.uk to start your journey today.Chris Parkhurst East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT emissions Reducing www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link ENVIRONMENTAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT © stock.adobe.com/Pavel A rguably the first priority in conducting any environmental management analysis is to start with the wider supply chain before macroing in on specifics. One of the most carbon intensive areas of any company’s supply chain is transport and distribution, and so improvements here must be a critical part of any environmental management. Simple solutions, such as more efficiently designed packaging to allow more to be loaded into a single shipment, can have a big impact. However, reducing these emissions is not only simply a case of swapping one fleet out for another, as many of the alternatives to fossil-fuel powered transportation are no way near close to taking over. Hybrid and electric vehicles have become more commonplace, with major food and beverage players adopting them into their fleet, but they aren’t without their setbacks. Aside from the initial investment involved, perhaps the biggest downsides to these vehicles is charge time, the distance they can travel on a single charge and the amount and accessibility of charging infrastructure. Although stopping to refuel adds time to a journey, it is a relatively quick process compared with charging an electric vehicle. As the technology currently stands, batteries take time to charge, time where a truck or van is spent doing nothing while food and beverage products sit idle in the back. It’s worth noting, however, that battery and charging technology is constantly improving and charge times, especially, continue to fall. Despite these advances, a lack of charging infrastructure remains an issue. While charge points are becoming more familiar sights across towns, cities and service stations, it’s hardly the rival of petrol stations. Although the government has invested in infrastructure, we’re a long way off a tipping point where electrical vehicles overtake petrol and diesel. Although electric and hybrid vehicles aren’t a feasible solution for many companies looking to make their fleets more sustainable, they do present an ideal opportunity for last mile logistics. This refers to the last leg of the journey, where products leave the final warehouse or distribution centre and are delivered to stockists, suppliers and retailers. Typically taking place in urban areas, electric vehicles are ideally suited to fulfil this crucial final step – helping to reduce a company’s total emissions output. Focussing on a company’s in-house operations now, and one of the biggest changes is the integration of renewable energy into the manufacturing process. More and more companies are signing virtual power purchase agreements, in which a company agrees to purchase power at a negotiated price from a wind or solar project over a predetermined number of years. Elsewhere, companies are installing solar panels at their own sites to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. 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. 30 ÁNext >