Lincolnshire-based JDM Food Group (JDM) and US-based Henry Broch Foods (HBF) are set to merge, creating a new parent company, Jardins and Broch. JDM, headquartered in Bicker, is an innovator in value-added vegetables, sauces, dips and purees to the retail, manufacturing, recipe box and foodservice markets. HBF, with headquarters in Waukegan, Illinois, is a prominent spice, dry-blending and co-packing company, specializing in tailored formulations and seasonings. Jardins and Broch brings together two market leading ingredients companies and will create a team of international flavour experts across both wet and dry products. The newly formed partnership is an industry leading player with significant production capacity, complementary R&D capabilities and worldwide supply chain networks. The two companies will continue to operate independently in their home markets and will now be backed by the expert knowledge and skills from the other party to grow a global presence. Aisling Kemp will remain CEO of JDM and Greg Antonetti will continue to lead as CEO of HBF, with both taking an active role in the integration, growth, and future success of the combined group. Aisling Kemp, CEO of JDM, said: “The combined expertise and knowledge within the two companies creates a flavour powerhouse with global ambitions. Working with the team at HBF who share our strong ethics, values and focus on sustainability is incredibly exciting. “Trends in this market are ever changing and we are now better able to develop solutions with our culinary teams that deliver on flavour, health, and functionality to ensure we evolve alongside consumer demand. “Working with Sunridge the last 2 years has been transformational. Their investment has allowed us to accelerate our product capabilities and channel growth. We believe the partnership with HBF will cement that work and create long term sustainable growth as a true ingredients innovator.” Greg Antonetti, CEO of HBF, said: “This partnership will be a win for our customers, suppliers, team members and other partners. Our aim has always been to build a leading value-added ingredients business and alongside our long serving and dedicated team members, we have worked tirelessly towards this goal. “We are thrilled to bring JDM’s capabilities, especially in wet ingredients to our customers in North America. The JDM team brings unparalleled expertise, strong production and innovation capabilities, and the ability to serve a wide range of customers across the UK and beyond.” Jardins and Broch is backed by London-based Sunridge Partners (Sunridge), a private investment group committed to creating leaders in food, beverage, and agribusiness. Philipp Saumweber, managing partner of Sunridge, said: “Since partnering with JDM in 2021, we have invested considerably in building a word-class ingredients team, expanding our operations, and improving capabilities. “We are very much looking forward to working with like-minded friends at HBF and jointly executing on group investment and growth plans to build a leading international ingredients and flavour formulation company.”

Knowing your tax requirements in a volatile landscape can be tricky. With the government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative delayed until 2026, small and large businesses might still be following outdated tax reporting processes. But despite the challenges of an increasingly digitised corporate sphere, adapting to change will streamline the introduction of innovative accounting technologies. Whether you’re starting a new business this year or scaling operations up to a global level, implementing an effective and modern tax system is critical. Along with ensuring transparency and compliance, your records will be easier to trace, identify, and keep. Tax compliance in 2023: The necessary tools, tips, and methods

1. Ensure accurate recordkeeping

Making sure that your business stays on top of all tax-related matters is a necessity. If you fall behind or HMRC discover unexplainable gaps in your records, the potential impact on your ability to trade could be significant. As a responsible business owner, you need to ensure that your recordkeeping is compliant and updated across the board. Regardless of whether or not you create the records yourself, you should understand which tax applies to your business. Income tax and corporation tax are commonplace for most limited companies, and accurate tax reporting for VAT compliance is imperative for all VAT-registered businesses and their subsidiaries.

2. Keep your records separate and updated

To keep your company organised, there should be a separate place for each type of record you’re required to keep. Each document should contain only the correct data and information, and you should try to avoid grouping notes or unrelated administrative documents with tax records. Maintaining your financial records also involves keeping the information secure and protected, regardless of its format. If you still work with paper copies of receipts and invoices, it’s important to store these securely and make sure only authorised employees can access them. Similarly, online documents should be password protected and backed up in more than one digital location, just in case your business suffers a cyber-attack. You should also be aware that scammers and fraudsters might pretend to be HMRC, so it’s crucial to stay prudent.

3. Streamline your tax reporting

Even though some established companies might prefer to organise their tax physically and internally, it might be easier and more efficient to hire externally. And rather than completing time-consuming internal audits within your own team, an unbiased professional can take on the responsibility. Outsourcing means that you could delegate the most important tax duties to a business that deals with compliance and tax implications on a daily basis – and thus understands the most complex nuances in the trade. Not only could this free up more time to focus on essential internal tasks, but it means that your business as a whole will benefit from the expert knowledge working behind the scenes. As for future tax compliance, you’d also benefit from absolute peace of mind. Overview When it comes to corporate tax reporting, change is on the horizon. If you haven’t already planned and prepared for the digital tax overhaul, it’s time to put the wheels in motion and ensure that your company can minimise risks and be compliant.

With entries flooding in for Business Link’s East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, there’s also a grand prize worth £20,000 up for grabs at the celebration of the region’s property and construction industry – going to the event’s Overall Winner. While this award cannot be entered, the Overall Winner will be selected from those nominated for the occasion’s 10 other categories and will receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. Speaking with Business Link, James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, the sponsor of Overall Winner, said: “The Bricks has earned an enviable reputation as a must enter awards for those involved in the construction and property sector from across the East Midlands. As such we are delighted to be sponsoring the ‘Overall Winner’ category for the sixth year in a row and are really looking forward to attending this year’s awards evening in September. “Streets Chartered Accountants, as specialists in property and construction, are looking to build on our reputation for looking after clients in the sector. Our continued support and engagement with the East Midlands Bricks Awards certainly is a great way to promote our work, support the sector and for us to connect with developers, contractors, agents and other professionals who across the region are engaged in a plethora of exciting, imaginative and innovative projects.” A highlight in the business calendar, a glittering awards ceremony will reveal winners on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of opportunities to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. Nominations for the event are open, and now is the perfect time to make your submissions, ahead of the deadline (Thursday 31 August). To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

Businesses across the Midlands are gearing up for the introduction of two proposed Investment Zones, after the Government unveiled the first in South Yorkshire. According to BDO LLP’s bi-monthly Economic Engine survey of 500 mid-market businesses, 72% of regional companies have, or will consider moving part of their business to one of two proposed Investment Zones. These have been earmarked for the East Midlands Mayoral Combined County Authority and West Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority. The survey by the accountancy and business advisory firm comes after the Chancellor officially named the first UK Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone. As part of the Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda to create opportunities across the country, communities in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley will benefit from an estimated 8,000 new jobs and £1.2 billion of private funding by 2030. They will also receive further Government funding through the Investment Zone worth up to £80 million. Twelve Investment Zones will be established across the UK based around a university and clusters of high growth industries like advanced manufacturing, life sciences or green industries. At the Spring Budget, Jeremy Hunt announced the first eight eligible locations, including in East and West Midlands. Kyla Bellingall, regional managing partner at BDO in the Midlands, said: “Much was made in the Spring Budget about the proposed Investment Zones and the job creation and funding that would come from their introduction in a bid to drive growth. “It’s clear that the package of funding to support infrastructure and skills, with the added draw of a range of tax reliefs, is giving regional businesses real food for thought about where they base all, or part of their operations, moving forward. “The unveiling of South Yorkshire as the first Investment Zone marks a significant step forward in the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. However, much more still needs to be done to provide regional businesses with the strong foundations they need to thrive and grow.” According to BDO’s Economic Engine survey, Midlands businesses believe the Government should do more to reduce taxes, particularly business taxes. Nearly a quarter of regional businesses (22%) said the priority should be around providing more generous tax reliefs for R&D, with nearly one in five (17%) calling for further support to reduce business rates. Claire Hudson, tax partner in the Midlands, added: “Reducing business taxes, including the headline rate of corporation tax, is right up there on the list of priorities for companies. “With the cost of doing business at an all-time high, thanks to record inflation and soaring interest rates amongst other pressures, business leaders are looking for some much needed respite. “Midlands businesses have consistently told us through our Economic Engine survey that the Government needs to do more to support the regional economy and deliver on its ‘Levelling Up’ promise – and tax is currently taking centre stage.”

The East Midlands continues to advance as a Major UK Tech Learning Hub with the creation of new technological facilities at Derby College Group (DCG). The East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIoT) is a partnership between Derby College Group, the University of Derby, Loughborough College, and Loughborough University, with the aim to deliver a world class, research orientated, employer-led learning factory, founded on clean growth and digital delivery. The EMIoT is working closely with global powerhouse employers, including Rolls-Royce, Uniper, Toyota, National Grid ESO, Alstom, Fujitsu, and Bloc Digital to ensure programmes deliver a workforce with the future ready skills. Supported by Department of Education funding, the East Midlands Institute of Technology will be open in September 2024, with a college community of 2,000 learners by academic year 2027.

The new facility as part of the EMIoT will be located at the front of the Stephenson building on the Roundhouse site in Derby. Mandie Stravino OBE, CEO of Derby College Group (DCG), said: “By working together across the FE and HE sectors, the development of the IoT will broaden opportunities for both young people entering the world of work and adults looking to re-train or upskill mid-career. And the new facility at DCG will greatly aid this. “It will also open up more accessible routes to higher education for students who may not have previously considered this route to expand their immediate and future career options.” Planning has been secured and a workable budget has been supported subject to approval by the Department for Education.

The works on site are scheduled to commence in August, subject to all approvals. This development is in addition to the recently announced new automative training facilities.

Shining a light on the region’s property and construction industry, nominations will close on Thursday 31 August for the annual East Midlands Bricks Awards. With 10 categories available to enter, the independent awards and publicity programme recognises development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. Amongst this year’s categories is Excellence in Design, which can be entered here. The winner of this category will be the developer who has shown true originality in design excellence across a scheme or schemes over the last 12 months, whether this be aesthetically, functionally or in any other manner. Last year the award was won by CPMG Architects, for the renovation of St. Peter’s Gate. Judges were “particularly impressed by the vision to create a workplace that ‘feels better’ – all whilst successfully bringing back to life a city-centre architecturally significant building that was lying vacant for some years before they took it on and made it their own.” Runners up were Pick Everard for the Health and Allied Professions Centre at Nottingham Trent University, and Chevin Homes for Brookside Farm. This year’s Excellence in Design award will be sponsored by Cawarden. Speaking with Business Link, William Crooks, Managing Director at Cawarden, said: “In our role as a specialist contractor, we work closely with clients to facilitate the development of new schemes and regeneration projects throughout the UK, including in Derby, our home city. “We thrive on meeting complex challenges to pave the way for new structures to rise up and repurposing existing buildings to give them a new lease of life. “So we are delighted to be back this year as a returning sponsor to the showcase of the region’s property and construction sector, The Bricks. The Excellence in Design award is an exciting opportunity to recognise the developers who have shown originality in design excellence and we’re thrilled to sponsor and judge this category once again.”

Submit your nominations for Excellence in Design here before entries close on Thursday 31 August.

Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region. Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Contractor of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Architects of the Year, Commercial Development of the Year, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here. The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at: