East Midlands firms need UK and EU to get along better, says Chamber Chief Exec

Stuart Pearcey
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East Midlands firms need UK and EU to get along better, says Chamber Chief Exec
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles says it’s vital for businesses in the East Midlands that the UK has a better relationship with the EU. In  the wake of a House of Lords European Affairs Committee’s report, he said: “As a Centre of Trading Excellence that is a powerhouse for manufacturing innovative goods distributed across the world, the East Midlands economy heavily relies on having positive trading relationships with our international partners – no more so than with the EU, our nearest export market. “Therefore, it’s promising to see the publication of a landmark report that acknowledges how UK-EU relations and trading have been far from ideal in the past few years – reflecting what our members keep telling us – and delivers a series of recommendations to reset the approach in how we work together. “In particular, we welcome clear and well-evidenced proposals for reform of access to the labour market for our employers, which have been battling acute skills shortages for a long time now. “Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey, which formed part of the British Chambers of Commerce’s research that was submitted to the committee, shows that six in 10 East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first three months of this year and, of those, 73% faced problems in filling roles. “Industries like manufacturing, construction, logistics, hospitality and care continue to face huge capacity constraints caused by one of the tightest labour pools we’ve ever witnessed. “We need a fast, efficient and affordable system to access skills from outside the UK when we can’t recruit and train locally. “As we have set out in our Business Manifesto for Growth, the Shortage Occupations List is a key tool to do this but it must be expanded to reflect the reality on the ground. “UK firms are also hampered when it comes to travelling to Europe due to the lack of flexibility in some of the business travel and mobility rules in the Brexit deal, especially in relation to financial, professional and business services. “We urge the UK Government to respond decisively to these findings, so that firms can have the confidence in access to the skilled workers they need to grow their businesses and get economic growth moving.”

North Kesteven’s rural firms encouraged to explore growth grant potential

Tess Egginton
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North Kesteven’s rural firms encouraged to explore growth grant potential
Expressions of interest are open for a capital grant scheme which will help rural businesses in North Kesteven invest in sustainable growth. The Rural Business Grant is specifically aimed at supporting new and existing rural businesses to develop products, services and facilities of wider benefit to the local economy. Possible examples include farm businesses looking to diversify income streams, growth in the visitor economy including visitor accommodation, and investments in power or energy efficiency which will make a positive contribution to the District reaching net zero. The grant is being delivered by North Kesteven District Council for DEFRA, under the Rural England Prosperity Fund. The first window for Expressions of Interest is open from now until Thursday 1 June. Digital Expression of Interest forms can be found online at www.businessnk.co.uk There’ll then be a first call for full applications, and this will take place when the Expressions of Interest window has closed. North Kesteven District Council Economic Development Manager Alan Gray said: “We’re inviting rural businesses in North Kesteven to register their interest now in the Rural Business Grant, if they have a project they think may be eligible. “These early indications will allow our grants team to make initial assessments of eligibility and provide help where needed from the start, including ensuring applicants are given the time and support necessary to refine and develop investments in line with the objectives of the Rural England Prosperity Fund and meet the various requirements for evidence. “It will also help ensure that proper consideration is given to projects that may require planning permission, or any additional funding or legal matters which need to be concluded within the time frame set out for the delivery of projects.” The minimum grant available through the Rural Business Grant is £5,000, and depending on the project and investment needed applicants may be required to provide match funding. The Rural Business Grant will run until all funds have been awarded, and all projects must be deliverable before 31 March 2025. Full details on eligibility criteria are available with the Expressions of Interest form online. North Kesteven’s Rural England Prosperity Fund allocation is an addendum to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to help support rural areas in England and the two Levelling Up Fund missions of improving living standards and growing pride of place. The Rural Business Grant has received £450,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

New CFO for Watches of Switzerland

Tess Egginton
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New CFO for Watches of Switzerland
Leicester-based Watches of Switzerland Group is set to appoint a new chief financial officer as Bill Floydd stands down from his role from 12 May. Bill will be succeeded by Anders Romberg, who previously served as the group’s CFO for seven years from 2014 to 2021. Brian Duffy, CEO, said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Bill for his valuable contribution to the group and we wish him well for the future. “I am delighted that Anders is re-joining the business. He has a strong track record of financial leadership and thorough knowledge of our group, as well as the specialist luxury watch and jewellery categories, and I look forward to working with him again.” Bill Floydd, outgoing CFO, said: “I have enjoyed my time at Watches of Switzerland and would like to extend my thanks to Brian and the wider team for their support. The company has a bright future and I look forward to seeing its continued success.” Anders Romberg, incoming CFO, said: “I am very pleased to be returning to the Watches of Switzerland Group and to once again be working alongside Brian and the team to deliver our long-term strategy and to capitalise on the wealth of growth opportunities available to us.”

Administrators appointed to Alliance Transport Technologies

Tess Egginton
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Administrators appointed to Alliance Transport Technologies
Chris Pole and Ryan Grant from Interpath Advisory have been appointed joint administrators of Alliance Transport Technologies Limited. Operating from two sites in Clowne (Derbyshire) and Featherstone (West Yorkshire), the company specialises in the remanufacture of electronic components, providing a complete aftermarket solution to the commercial vehicle, bus and coach markets. In recent months, the company has faced a number of challenges, including delays to the launch of its new ESS product. The impact of these factors on trading meant that the company required additional investment to support the business moving forward. After exploring their options, the directors took the decision to seek the appointment of administrators. The joint administrators have retained the majority of the company’s 51 employees to enable operations to continue for a short period while they explore the possibility of a sale of the business and assets. Unfortunately, however, 15 members of staff have been made redundant. The joint administrators will be providing support to those impacted as a matter of priority. Chris Pole, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, said: “Alliance Transport Technologies has been operating for 30 years, and in recent times, has pioneered the use of remanufacturing electronic components to allow commercial vehicle operators to decarbonise the maintenance of their fleets. “Our focus in the coming days will be to explore the potential sale of the business and its assets, and would invite any interested parties to contact us as soon as possible.”

Light Science Technologies looks forward with confidence as revenue rises but losses widen

Tess Egginton
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Light Science Technologies looks forward with confidence as revenue rises but losses widen
Light Science Technologies Holdings plc, the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology and contract electronics manufacturing (CEM) group, is looking ahead “with a certain degree of confidence” after “a challenging period” for the business. Newly released audited results for the year ended 30 November 2022 show that revenue  grew by 10.5% to £8.17m, from £7.39m in the year prior. However the company posted a loss before tax of £2.72m. The results come after (post-period) Light Science Technologies raised £1.59m gross proceeds, via a placing, subscription and retail offer, which is to be utilised for group working capital purposes and continued product development and intellectual property protection within the CEA division.

Simon Deacon, CEO of Light Science Technologies Holdings plc, said: “There’s no doubting that this was a challenging period for the company. However the progress made during the year, as we expanded our routes to market across both divisions, means that we can look forward with a certain degree of confidence.

“We have a strong and growing product range providing solutions for a variety of customers and a very healthy pipeline of opportunities. We remain innovative and at the forefront of the sector and are excited about the significant market opportunities. 

“We believe that our energy saving products range will drive new business while the continued food shortages will enable us to showcase our solutions, offering extended season growing.

“Importantly, global trends continue to drive the need to improve food security and, as such, we aim to harness demand and accelerate growth and profitability. Furthermore, as producers seek to navigate the changing landscape, indoor farming is likely to be a key component in tackling ongoing challenges and boosting homegrown food supply. 

“We are reassured by the continued support from existing and new shareholders who participated in the post-period fundraise. The funds raised will help us build on the strong momentum in our target markets. We very much look forward to further extending our reach as we invest in the business – and we believe this will result in increased revenue and margin growth. 

“We see demand trends as a validation of our vision and very much look forward to working with existing and new clients as we position ourselves at the forefront of Agri-tech solutions.”

Ideagen swoops for OnePlace Solutions in second acquisition of 2023

Tess Egginton
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Ideagen swoops for OnePlace Solutions in second acquisition of 2023
Nottinghamshire-headquartered Ideagen has further strengthened its suite of solutions for regulated industries by acquiring OnePlace Solutions.
The second acquisition of 2023 enhances Ideagen’s collaboration capabilities, enabling greater connectivity of Microsoft 365 within organisations. Ideagen CEO, Ben Dorks, said: “Today’s globalised world means secure and effective collaboration is essential to do business. In highly regulated industries, the need for auditable information management becomes even more crucial. “What James and the team at OnePlace Solutions have created is a trusted suite of solutions, that provide a simplified and consistent way for people to engage with business systems built on Microsoft 365. We know these will bring significant value to existing Ideagen customers and new prospects as we use our global footprint to help extend its reach.” James Fox, founder of OnePlace Solutions, headquartered in Sydney Australia, said: “When we looked at our ambitions for the company – to execute on our product roadmap and continue to lead the market with innovative solutions to help our customers – then this alignment with Ideagen made complete sense. “We like that Ideagen’s values mirror our own, it feels like a good fit, and it already has a footprint in the sectors and countries we operate in, so understand what we are trying to achieve. “The opportunity this presents is exciting and I’m looking forward to the journey ahead of us.” James will remain with Ideagen as head of Ideagen OnePlace Solutions. Ben, who also joined Ideagen through an acquired business, added: “I’m pleased that James is choosing to stay with us and be part of our exciting and ambitious plans. His knowledge and experience of Microsoft integration and enterprise collaboration requirements is a real asset to our team.” Ideagen OnePlace Solutions is a Microsoft Gold Partner providing cloud-based software that enables organisations to do more with their existing Microsoft 365 suite, supporting even greater interconnectivity between applications such as Outlook, Teams and SharePoint, thus increasing productivity, workplace collaboration, and enabling intelligent, compliant information management. The acquisition, Ideagen’s second of 2023 following food safety software Ideagen Qadex in January, builds on Ideagen’s presence in Australia which already includes Ideagen CompliSpace, providing governance, risk and compliance support for sectors such as education and aged care. It also adds to Ideagen’s collaboration portal: Ideagen Huddle, its customisable secure client portfolio, Ideagen PleaseReview, a document review, co-authoring and redaction software application and Ideagen Mail Manager, which solves the problem of storing and sharing important information contained within emails.

Government-funded leadership course helps small business leaders boost performance and resilience

Tess Egginton
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Government-funded leadership course helps small business leaders boost performance and resilience
Small business leaders across the East Midlands are invited to take advantage of the 90% government-funded Help to Grow: Management Course which the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (EMCRC) are fully supportive of.

Designed by entrepreneurs and industry experts from the UK’s leading business schools, the course helps small business leaders and senior managers from every industry to boost leadership skills as well as business performance and resilience.

Help to Grow: Management is a 12-week course covering the critical components required to develop a resilient business strategy. It includes online and face-to-face sessions, 10 hours of 1-to-1 mentoring, peer networking, and support to develop a Growth Action Plan. 90% funded by UK Government, the course costs just £750 per person.

This practical leadership course provides time away from the challenges of running a business to invest in your leadership, equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to take your business to the next level:

  • Develop leadership skills across all areas of business including strategic planning, employee engagement, vision and values, finance, and marketing
  • Develop strategies for market segmentation, positioning and targeting to streamline the marketing approach
  • Gain exclusive access to a regional peer network to share practical challenges, ideas, and experiences
  • Work with a mentor to develop a Growth Action Plan tailored to your business and its unique journey
  • Learn how to engage your employees on the business journey and plan the future structure of the organisation
  • Identify new technologies and digital approaches to enhance innovation and productivity across your business
  • Improve operational efficiency to save time and money.

At the end of the Help to Grow: Management Course, you will be ready to lead the change required to scale your business, even in the most challenging of conditions.

To be eligible for the course, your business must employ between 5 and 249 people, and have been operational for at least a year. SMEs employing 10 or more people can enroll 2 senior managers on the course.

The course is delivered by multiple Small Business Charter accredited business schools in the East Midlands, including the University of Leicester School of Business. More information, including course dates and testimonials from course participants, is available from the Help to Grow: Management website.

Ian Harmer, Business Coordinator at the University of Leicester School of Business, said: “I would encourage owners and managers of SMEs with 5 or more employees to find out more by reviewing the participant testimonials at www.le.ac.uk/helptogrow or exploring the case study videos at Help to Grow Management – YouTube. This is a fantastic business opportunity, so do take a look at the resources available to you. The University of Leicester School of Business is delivering the course in both the East Midlands and East of England. The East Midlands course starts on May 5.”

Colin Ellis, Managing Director at the East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre, added: “The EMCRC exists to help organisations to be resilient to cyber-crime and support them where we can in other ways, too – this is great scheme to help business grow.”

Northampton IT specialists secure place on prestigious public sector framework

Tess Egginton
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Northampton IT specialists secure place on prestigious public sector framework
Public sector IT specialist Kingsfield has been awarded a place on Crown Commercial Service’s G-Cloud 13 framework, an extensive digital marketplace which will see Kingsfield become a go-to provider for the public sector nationally. G-Cloud 13 offers public sector customers the ability to purchase cloud-based computing services at rates cheaper than in-house, saving time and the need to go through lengthy tender processes. Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2021/22, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.8 billion – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers. The framework is available to all Public Sector organisations, such as the NHS, local and wider government, charities, and education providers. Customers can simply log onto the digital marketplace and filter by their needs and budget to find the most suitable solution from a list of thousands of accredited providers. Kingsfield has secured places on Lot 2: Cloud Software, and Lot 3: Cloud Support, providing applications that are accessed over the internet and hosted in the cloud, as well as supporting customers in the set up and maintenance of their cloud software or hosting services. Kingsfield Managing Director, Brian Boys, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to have been awarded a place on the latest G-Cloud network. To be able to provide these Cloud-based IT solutions to Public Sector organisations, who do such vital public services up and down the country, is a huge privilege, and it signifies another milestone in Kingsfield’s journey. “In such a short span of time, our Midlands-based team of specialists has grown exponentially, with a number of new frameworks being awarded, and revenue growing by almost 231% in 2022. To secure two lots on G-Cloud 13 is a testament to the hard work of our team, during what was a difficult period for the wider industry over the last twelve months.”

Derbyshire science company Lubrizol helps give happy days to 60 Derby children

Tess Egginton
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Derbyshire science company Lubrizol helps give happy days to 60 Derby children

A Derbyshire science company is helping put smiles on the faces of Derby children with complex needs, by supporting them to enjoy a grand day out by the seaside.

Science company Lubrizol, whose UK headquarters is based at Hazelwood near Belper, has helped pay for 60 children and 17 carers from a Derby special school to enjoy a day out in Skegness, arranged by Happy Days Children’s Charity.

Founded by three mums in 1992, Happy Days pays for special days and holidays for children in the UK who are living with mental, physical and emotional challenges.

It helps nearly 25,000 children with additional needs each year.

Rob Cox, fundraising and marketing manager for the charity, said: “Days out like this give children a chance to have fun, but also it’s a really important opportunity for them to get out of their normal environment, use social skills and have contact with people they may have never met before. Things like buying an ice cream can be a big deal for them.”

Happy Days organises and funds a wide range of activities for the thousands of children it supports, including trips to the seaside, theatres, zoos, museums, outdoor activity centres, sporting events and other educational and cultural activities.

The charity receives no government funding and relies entirely on support from companies like Lubrizol and an army of volunteers.

Rob said: “Some parents don’t have the finances even to afford a simple day trip, especially with the cost of living situation we’re now seeing. One reason we’re able to do this is the access to all of the doctors, nurses and support staff who give up their time to accompany children on their trips.

“We have thousands of volunteers all over the country. As we receive no government funding, we’re 100 per cent reliant on the generosity of companies like Lubrizol to fund our activities – thank you to each and every one of them.”

Tom Grazier, co-chair of Lubrizol’s charities and communities committee which provided funding towards the Happy Days Skegness trip, said: “It’s very important to us at Lubrizol that we give back to the communities where we work. We do this not only by giving up voluntary time but also in making financial contributions to good causes we come across.

“It’s great to know that we’ll be supporting what looks to be a great day out by the seaside for 60 children and their carers. This particular charity really spoke to us as it was clear what great work it does. We hope that everyone from Derby going on this trip has a fantastic time in Skegness!”

Walkers makes healthy progress in sales milestone

Tess Egginton
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Walkers makes healthy progress in sales milestone
Walkers has made “significant progress” towards achieving its 2025 health ambition, with 30% of sales now from healthier snacks. In April 2022, the crisp giant set out an ambition to make 50% of Walkers snack sales come from healthier alternatives by 2025, targeting 30% to come from products that do not classify as high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) and 20% from snacks sold in portions of 100 calories or less per packet. The company is over halfway to reaching this goal, after only a year into an initial three-year investment of £35 million to drive product innovation and reformulation. Non-HFSS snacks now account for 15% of Walkers’ overall sales, and portions of 100 calories or less account for a further 15% of sales. Two-thirds of all new products launched last year were not classified as HFSS. A major step towards this progress was the launch of Walkers 45% Less Salt, the business’s first potato crisp to not be classified as high in fat, salt or sugar. Despite only launching last year, 45% Less Salt has already become a popular brand with sales over £30 million. As a result of its success, the range is set to grow with the new arrival of 45% Less Salt Delicate Prawn Cocktail.
“Walkers has long been a leader in the development of healthier snacks, and last year we stepped up our efforts, setting our boldest ambition yet. I’m immensely proud of how far we’ve come in a year by reshaping our portfolio,” said Jason Richards, general manager of PepsiCo UK & Ireland. “We’ve done this through a combination of innovation with new products such as Walkers’ 45% Less Salt and Popworks, reformulation of established family favourites Walkers Baked and Doritos Dippers, and offering a broader range of our most loved brands in portions of under 100 calories or less. “This shows there’s an increasing appetite for healthier choices in the UK. Our R&D team in Leicester has met this demand for healthier choices without compromising on our trademark taste and quality. We know there’s more work to do, and we remain confident that we can reach our ambition, dramatically shifting our snacks portfolio towards healthier alternatives.”
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