THE LIVING WAGE More questions thananswersCARBONFOOTPRINT What to do now and why2015: YEAR INREVIEWWhat went right & wrong?www.blmgroup.co.ukWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKSETTINGGOALSFOR 2016 STUART ROSSGIVES HIS TOPTEN TIPSSETTINGGOALSFOR 2016 STUART ROSSGIVES HIS TOPTEN TIPSJANUARY 2016EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS E-MAGLinkingbusinesstogetherEast Midlands Business Link has been bringing businesses together through itsonline pages and we’re now offering even more chances to network andcreate new relationships with a host of special events – and there are numerous sponsorship opportunities to help promote your brand!Round TablesBringing together leading names from local businesses, our round table events debate the latest hottopics. By sponsoring the event you can decide on the topic and help shape the guest list to ensurerelevance. The resultant debate will appear in our pages.Breakfast EventsEast Midlands Business Link's breakfast events present topical and incisive discussion. A panel ofexperts offer their views on business matters in front of an informed and interested audience –alongside plenty of opportunities to network! Sponsors of the event receive access to the delegate list as well as extensive pre- and post-event coverage.AwardsHighlighting the best of local business, there are myriad sponsorship opportunities atEast Midlands Business Link's awards evenings. Bringing together guests from across the region,sponsoring a category or even the entire event will ensure exceptional exposure for your business! These events are also a great place to entertain and welcome distinguished guests.Business Link is renowned as the voice of the East Midlands business scene. By partnering with us at these special events you can take advantage of our strong reputation and enjoy exceptional exposure for your brand!Connectwith us today to see what we can do for your business...EDITOR’S NOTESWelcome to the January 2016 edition of the East Midlands Business Link onlinemagazine.Businesses in the region can look forward to the New Year with cautious optimism. Whilethe Chancellor’s Autumn Statement was a mixed bag, and changes to the National LivingWage look set to trouble the waters for many smaller businesses, there remains onedecisive fact: every day, we are pulling further away from the recession. The economy isheading in the right direction, and the coming year will surely provide plenty ofopportunities for SMEs and larger businesses to push on to the next level.It is sometimes necessary to do a little soul-searching in order to progress. Our coverstory this month reveals how setting personal goals for the year ahead can benefit yourbusiness. Elsewhere we take stock of 2015 with a “Year in Review” feature that includescontributions from some of the region’s leading business figures.All of us at EMBL would like to thank our outgoing editor Sam Metcalf for his hard workon the website and the magazine over the past few years. It is a privilege to take over sucha respected pillar of the business scene in the East Midlands. The magazine is what it isthanks to Sam’s dedication and professionalism, and I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishinghim the best of luck.Seeing as I’m new here, it would be wonderful to hear from you. Please do contact meon I.Evans@blmgroup.co.uk if you’d like to see your business covered in the magazine, ifyou have something to contribute or if you’re simply looking for an advertising opportunity. Happy New Year!Ian EvansEditorLooking forward,looking backContentsJanuary 2016Latest News6The latest news from the region.Deals8The latest news from the dealmakers around the region.Property News 10All the latest from the property sector.Appointments12Who’s moving where.Manufacturing News14News and views from around the East Midlands.Cover Story16Stuart Ross, CEO and founder of High Growth, discussesthe importance of setting goals for the year ahead andoffers his top ten tips.2015: Year in Review 17What went right and wrong in 2015 – East Midlandsbusinesses speak.Dealmakers Breakfast23If a business owner wants to sell his or her business theyhave to be ready to be bought – that’s according to a panelof East Midlands dealmakers.Structuring a Business24Toby Preston, partner at Bray & Bray, examines popularways of structuring a business.The Living Wage26Changes to the National Living Wage could have asignificant impact on the business community in theregion. Tony Wilmot of Staffbay.com shares his thoughts.Employee Safety 27In the wake of the Paris attacks, Toni Robinson, director atQdos Consulting, gives us her top five considerations forkeeping employees safe.Skills and the Manufacturing Sector28James Walton, manufacturing director, mid-markets atLloyds Bank Commercial Banking, says skills must becomea priority to safeguard the future of the region’smanufacturing sector.Breakfast with Delphinus 29Your invitation to our first event of 2016. Environment 30Mark Wakeford, managing director of the Nottingham-based solar installer EvoEnergy, explains why it’s nowmore important than ever for businesses to begingenerating their own power. Exports32Six steps to turn around the UK’s export performance.Marketing 33Greg Simpson, director at Press for Attention PR,discusses how to get the best coverage in the right placesOnline Marketing 34Matt Wheatcroft, Managing Director at Purpose Media,discusses parallels between online marketing and theprocess of planning for and having a baby.The Design Economy 36Trevor Flannery looks at what’s in store for the designindustry in 2016.Motoring 38Manufacturers have certainly kept us busy this year withlaunch after launch of new cars – so many in fact that wealmost wore our shoe leather off at shows over the last 12months so, here’s our pick of some of the best… Out of Office – Awards Special42Who won what. 3634EditorIan Evansi.evans@blmgroup.co.ukAccounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharmanaccounts@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Cassonstudio@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310304Fax: (01472) 310314E-Mail:eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.ukPublisherHaychart Ltd, t/a Business Link Magazine Group,Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied,recorded or otherwise without expresspermission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to thepublisher. While every reasonable care is taken,neither the publisher nor its participating agentsaccept liability for loss or damage to prints,colour transparencies, negatives or othermaterial of whatever nature submitted to thispublication. The views expressed in thispublication are not necessarily the views of thoseheld by the publisher.@BLMEastMidlandsBLMEastMidlandsSHUTTERSTOCK.COM/PALTO GENERAL NEWSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk6Revenues up,but profitsdown atKPMGAccountancy giant KPMG hasannounced an increase in revenuesfrom £1.91bn to £1.96bn (2.6percent) for the financial yearended 30th September 2015. However, the news was tempered by a7 percent decline in profits.Over the 12 months, KPMG invested a total of £196m inacquisitions, property and staff training and development, as well aschanging its operating model.As a result, audit saw a 9 percent increase in contribution toprofits from £181m to £197m and tax saw a 17 percent increase from£129m to £151m. However, advisory saw a decrease of 5 percent incontribution to profits from £324m to £308m. Overall profits, beforetax and members’ profit shares, were down 7 percent from £414m to£383m as the firm continued to invest in a three-year “grip, build andgrow” strategy to reposition the business.Ian Borley, East Midlands senior partner at KPMG, said: “2015 wasa strong year for KPMG’s Midlands practice and I am proud of ourfinancial performance, but also of the investment we have made inour people. The talented individuals who work so hard to deliverexcellent services to our clients have enabled us to perform over andabove our forecasts, while at the same time building new solutionsand making them a success. Progress and innovation in areas suchas KPMG Enterprise, public sector and financial services, shows weare an adaptable, forward thinking business.“With the Midlands imbued with a real dynamism and a desire tobe the UK’s engine for growth, we are committed to contributing tothe success of our region. As a member of the business community,we will work with private and public sector colleagues to support theregion’s economic growth, whether through devolution, attractinginward investment, or growing our own skills and industry.”CBI director-general says politics must not be allowed totrump prosperityCBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn has urged the government not to let short-term politics triumph over the opportunity to create a moreprosperous nation.Fairbairn has outlined four priorities for the year ahead, including a long-term prosperity agenda, raising productivity, successful devolutionand an informed debate on the UK’s membership of the European Union.On the economy, Fairbairn said: “2016 starts out with an enviable inheritance and plenty of promise. The UK economy has delivered a 2.8%growth rate, almost no inflation and, best of all, the highest rate of employment since records began in 1971. In the last year alone, British-basedbusinesses created more than 400,000 jobs, despite heavy global headwinds and a rising pound. The government has held fast to challengingand much-needed deficit reduction plans. These are extraordinary achievements and a great springboard from which to start the New Year.“The UK’s strong recovery has created the space to think clearly about what matters most for long-term prosperity – the right skills and talent,world-class infrastructure, globally competitive tax and regulation, open access to international markets, with business able to make a strong andpositive contribution to society.“These are the pillars of a prosperous future, but they are too easily undermined by the short-termism of modern politics. We need to avoid thispattern in 2016, and keep a sharp eye on the long-term.”Fairbairn also emphasised the importance of skills, warning that while the CBI backs the Government’s aim to create more apprenticeships, the newapprenticeship levy risks failure through poor design, and that the UK’s “wrong-headed visa policies” are exacerbating skills shortages.In regard to ensuring competitiveness and growth at the heart of devolution, Fairbairn said: “2016 must be about using the new devolutionsettlements to unlock growth across the UK. Big budgets and big powers are being handed down. Local authorities need business voices at the tableto help hammer out these proposals. Firms need to be active partners, providing clarity on issues from planning and procurement to transport andskills.”On the EU, she added: “The British public deserves to hear informed arguments from both sides. Under my leadership, the CBI will do all it can toensure this happens. We will provide clear evidence, share case studies from businesses of all sizes and sectors, host debate and discussion, evaluatereforms as they are achieved, and faithfully report the views of our members.”Rolls-Royce announces hugemanagement shake-upDerby-based Rolls-Royce has announced a new senior managementstructure that will see an entire removal of bosses at its Aerospace andLand & Sea businesses.The current divisional structure of Aerospace and Land & Sea will end,removing a layer of senior management. From 1st January 2016, Rolls-Royce will operate as five market facing businesses, with the presidents ofCivil Aerospace, Defence Aerospace, Marine, Nuclear and Power Systemsreporting directly to the chief executive.The firm’s Civil Aerospace business will comprise of a merged CivilLarge Engines (CLE) and Rolls-Royce’s Civil Small and Medium Engines(CSME) businesses. Eric Schulz (currently president of CLE) will become president of CivilAerospace. Chris Cholerton will continue as president of Defence, MikaelMakinen will continue as president of Marine and Harry Holt (currentlygroup operations strategy director) has been appointed as president ofNuclear with effect from 1st January 2016. Dr Ulrich Dohle will continue asCEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. Rolls-Royce will appoint a new chiefoperating officer next year.The company says the new structure will “clarify executiveaccountabilities, intensify leadership focus on operational performance andallow Rolls-Royce to build on its world class engineering capabilities.” Themove is part of a plan to make savings of £150-200m a year.Warren East, chief executive, said: “The changes we are announcing arethe first important steps in driving operational excellence and returningRolls-Royce to its long-term trend of profitable growth. This is a companywith world-class engineering capability, strong market positions andexceptional long-term prospects.”As a consequence of these changes Tony Wood (president ofAerospace) has decided to leave the company and Lawrie Haynes(president of Land & Sea) has decided to retire. Both will remain with thebusiness into 2016 in order to assist with the transition to the newstructure.Meanwhile, Colin Smith will be moving from his role as group director ofengineering & technology to be succeeded by Chris Barkey, currentlyengineering director of CLE. Smith has been appointed group president,with effect from 1st January 2016. Reporting to the chief executive, he willcontinue to be a member of the Board.BakerBaird launches in the East MidlandsA former business editor and public sector communications specialist have come togetherto form a new East Midlands-based PR and events company.BakerBaird Communications is staffed by Richard Baker, who has worked at editor level indaily newspapers and national magazines for the past 20 years, and Stuart Baird, who hasworked on government and NHS campaigns for the last 15 years and spent time at No.10’sstrategic communications unit.Baker said: “We’ve come together to launch a business which mixes daily newsroom skillswith strategic communications expertise, and combines knowledge and relationships acrossthe regional economy with an intimate understanding of government and the public sector.We’re based in Nottingham and will have an East Midlands focus. But we are, already,operating nationally and internationally.”Baird added: “The world is changing at an ever more rapid pace and there is nowhere as challenging than in that media space where everyone is tryingto shout to make their voice heard. Matching the best of private and public sector know-how gives us the cutting edge in an age of transformation to makesure our clients’ voice is heard.”BakerBaird’s current work includes communication transformation programmes in Scotland and in Nottingham, as well as delivering media and crisistraining to officials across the world.GENERAL NEWS7www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link Furniture Barn callsin administratorsMarket Harborough-based furniture and homeaccessories firm The Furniture Barn slipped intoadministration last month.Nigel Hamilton-Smith and Geoff Rowley of FRPAdvisory were appointed as administrators inDecember, with the aim of selling the business.The Furniture Barn has eight outlets; two inMarket Harborough, and one in Grantham,Doncaster, Kidderminster, Sheffield, SuttonColdfield and Thurrock.A spokesman for FRP Advisory said: “TheFurniture Barn continues to trade while the jointadministrators market the business for sale andengage with interested parties.“The joint administrators have retained all staffwhile they service orders and liaise with customersand suppliers.“This is a business with a long history of tradingand a loyal customer base.“We have made early progress in ensuring ourability to continue to purchase furniture and meetcustomer demand.”200 Degrees set to go nationalA Nottingham-headquartered coffee house is set to expand nationally after instructingFHP to find properties across the UK.200 Degrees, which is located in Flying Horse Walk and will open in a second outlet inthe city next year, is looking at opening in Derby and Leicester in the East Midlands, andfurther west in Birmingham and Solihull.Northern coffee houses include Leeds, Sheffield, York and Harrogate; and in the south ofthe UK, the university towns of Cambridge and Oxford.Tom Vincent of 200 Degrees said: “We have spent the last two years not only perfectingour coffee but also our customer experience and we are ready to roll out our brand.”Ben Tebbutt of FHP added: “We are delighted to be involved in taking this Nottinghamborn coffee house to the wider UK, to bring other cities the taste of Nottingham’s bestcoffee, the ‘Brazilian Love Affair’. Through our contacts of agents and landlords, we have already highlighted a number of potential opportunities.”epm: technology group wins £4mautomotive production contractepm: technology group, based in Derby, has won its first series production contract tomanufacture cosmetic components for a leading automotive client. The contract is worth £4m.Graham Mulholland, CEO, said: “After a year of all years as we moved and settled into our new60,000 sq. ft. technology centre, this order is great news for team epm and a fitting way to signoff the year as we all get ready for Christmas.“We’ve now secured substantial new orders in aerospace, motorsport, defence and newautomotive market sectors which will see the epm group grow considerably throughout 2016.“This particular order is for a complex assembly of components which are very high-profile andwe’re thrilled to now be working closely with our clients as this first vehicle programme goes intoproduction in Q1 2016.“We now have clear vision of other components which will also go into production at varioustimes throughout 2016. Therefore, we’re clearly now on target for our automotive division togrow throughout next year as we continue to invest in our capabilities to be customer-focusedand customer-ready.”DEALSEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk8Le Bistrot Pierre secures £9.8m investmentLe Bistrot Pierre, the restaurant group founded in Nottingham, has received a £9.8m investment from private equity firmLivingbridge that will see its chain expand in 2016.Le Bistrot Pierre was established as a single franchise restaurant in Nottingham in 1994 by school friends Robert Beacham andJohn Whitehead. The business now has 14 restaurants throughout the UK, and reported £2m profit on a £15m turnover this year.Beacham and Whitehead say they will use the investment from Livingbridge to accelerate their restaurant roll out plans. Newrestaurant openings in Birmingham and the Mumbles, Swansea are already earmarked for the first half of 2016 and the Group says itis aiming for “significant expansion” of the estate in the coming years.The deal is the first from Livingbridge’s Enterprise 2 fund which completed in October 2015. The fund will target fast growthSMEs in the UK, investing in growth equity and buyout transactions of profitable companies initially requiring up to £10m of equitycapital. The investment in Le Bistrot Pierre is also Livingbridge’s second deal in the restaurant sector having invested in Pho, theVietnamese restaurant chain, in 2012.The transaction was led by Benoit Broch, Nick Holt and Oliver Mauldridge from Livingbridge. Le Bistrot Pierre was advised bySam Fuller, Katherine Hobbs and Arthur Callaghan at Altium. Browne Jacobson provided legal advice to Le Bistrot Pierre.Whitehead said: “We are excited by Livingbridge’s endorsement of our business and, with their investment, look forward toexpanding our estate and opening more successful bistrots. The whole process leading up to the deal has been smooth and we arenow relishing this new phase of growth with our partners “Benoit Broch, director at Livingbridge, added: “Le Bistrot Pierre is precisely the sort of business that we love working with – theyhave a fantastic management team, a proven business model and a really differentiated offering and we are really excited about our futurepartnership with them having had the pleasure of getting to know Robert, John and the team over the past year. This deal reallydemonstrates Livingbridge’s continued commitment and enthusiasm for the eating and drinking out market and we look forward tobuilding on our growing presence in this space.”British Engines completes RollsRoyce dealNorth East based engineering group British Engines hassuccessfully completed the acquisition of the Michell Bearings business fromRolls-Royce, which includes the Rolls Royce North East Training School.The business, its assets and its employees are now part of the BritishEngines Group, which has six other engineering businesses based in theregion and a long heritage of local employment in the North East.British Engines announced its intention to purchase the business in April2015, with the main condition being the licence consents required to enablethe business to trade under different ownership. These consents are now in place and the Michell Bearings business hasbegun trading as a standalone limited company within the British Engines Group.Richard Dodd, chief operating officer at British Engines, said: “This is a really exciting time for us as a group and for the Michell Bearingsbusiness itself. We are delighted to add another business to the British Engines portfolio that has an excellent reputation for serving its customersaround the world. “Michell Bearings’ products complement our existing product portfolio and fit well with the group’s focus on value added engineering. Thebusiness will now trade under Michell Bearings Limited with hands-on local support from our directors and the investment required for futuregrowth.”Browne Jacobson advises on a hat-trick of dealsLaw firm Browne Jacobson hascompleted a hat-trick of dealsduring a busy festive period for thefirm’s corporate finance team.Corporate finance lawyers fromthe firm’s Nottingham office advisedon the sale of ODD to London listedNext 15 Communications Group, theglobal digital communicationsbusiness. The deal will see Next 15acquire the entire shareholding ofco-founders Simon Glover and NickStrickland. Following completion ofthe sale Nick and Simon willcontinue as directors.ODD is a London based creative agency whose clients include Henri Lloyd, Primark, DrMartens, Benefit, Forever 21, Nike and Eastpak.On the same day the firm advised existing chief executive Arlene Adams and incomingchairman Neville Davis of Peppermint Technology on a £10m investment from venturecapital firm Scottish Equity Partners.Peppermint Technology, a specialist legal and dispute management technology provider,has grown rapidly since its launch in 2010 and currently employs 60 personnel as itsNottingham based operation.Both deals were led by corporate finance partner Nigel Blackwell, assisted by Sam Sharp.Blackwell said: “Once again we have had a very busy 2015 and we are ending the year ona high. Both deals demonstrate our strength in getting deals over the line and underline ourcredentials in the mid-market arena.”To complete the hat-trick of deals Birmingham based corporate finance partner KevinJones advised Nottingham-based Central Lettings Solutions as one of two delivery partnersto Sigma Capital Group and Gatehouse Bank on the £114m second phase of their privaterented sector project that will see around 900 new rental homes constructed across ten sitesin the North West. The project’s house building partner is Countryside Properties (UK).Central Lettings Solutions is part of the Shepherd Direct Group and was established in2011 to provide an end to end service to institutional investors and developers operating inthe private rental sector.Jones added: “Shepherd Direct Group is a long standing client and we are delighted tohave acted for their private rented sector lettings division on this major project which isbeing supported by the Kuwait Investment Authority as part of a Government backedinitiative to encourage foreign investment in the UK housing sector.”Earlier this year Browne Jacobson advised Shepherd Direct Group on a £10m investmentby the Business Growth Fund and in 2013 acted for the company on its agreement toacquire the licensing rights to operate the Century 21 estate agency and lettings brandthroughout the UK, Channel Islands, Gibraltar and Isle of Man.DEALS9www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link ePOS rings up multi-million pound dealePOS Group, the electronic point of salebusiness, has been purchased by Jonas Softwarein a multi-million pound deal advised by EastMidlands professionals from Skye CorporateFinance and Gateley.The 40-year-old business operates in thehospitality and bakery retail sectors.ePOS is headquartered in Ramsgate, Kent andhas offices in Birmingham, London, Manchesterand Plymouth. The business has a workforce ofclose to 40 staff and has over 1,000 live customersgenerating turnover of around £3m.Jonas is part of the Canadian companyConstellation Software and operates over 50independently managed software businessesacross the globe, many of which have beensecured through acquisition.Managing director of ePOS Steve Boyes, said:“We have built an exciting business with lots ofpotential and I believe that this potential can bemore quickly realised now that we are part of alarger organisation.”John Sykes, lead adviser to the ePOS team atSkye Corporate Finance, added: “ePOS is a greatexample of an energetic technology business thathas worked hard to develop its product offering tomeet a changing market. As a consequence, whenthe time came to market the business for sale itproved attractive to potential purchasers fromacross the world.”Legal advice to the vendors was provided byRachel Bennett from Gateley’s Leicester office.Bennett said: “We are delighted to have helped thevendors achieve both their personal goals on thesale and also their ambitions for taking the ePOSbusiness to the next level. It is clear that the dealwith Jonas presents a great platform for themanagement team to develop the ePOS businessfurther.”Next >