Double award win and senior appointments see Derby agency on track for growth
Hot on the heels of further senior appointments, and a double award win at the CIPR Midlands PRide Awards, Derby-based full-service agency Balls2 Marketing is on track for its ambitious growth targets.
Following the agency’s senior leadership team restructure in the spring, duo Katie Bregazzi and Lauren Doyle, who have taken the helm at the agency, have powered forward to drive transformational change and meet business targets to double turnover and team size in three years.
Appointing Julie Bednall as account director, the agency has added strength and depth to its team, whilst diversifying its market capabilities and experience in the construction and retail sectors. With 18 years’ experience in marketing and communications, Julie boasts career experience at ITV, HomeServe and most recently the Bristan Group.
Katie Bregazzi, operations director, says: “It’s an exciting time in our journey at Balls2 Marketing and Julie’s appointment and sector experience in the construction and home improvement industry, is integral in helping us achieve our goals.”
Adding to the agency’s success journey so far this year, Balls2 Marketing is also celebrating being recognised in two categories at this year’s CIPR PRide Midlands awards, winning silver for Best Construction, Property or Infrastructure campaign and gold for Best Event for Everglade Windows’ Road to 2030 Customer Conference.
The CIPR PRide Award judges commented: “Underpinned by detailed research and a strong commitment to raising awareness of mental health issues within the construction sector, this Road to 2030 event for Everglade Windows, organised by Balls2Marketing, outperformed all its target objectives.”
Boosting workforce health can help UK achieve economic growth ambitions, says CBI
A new index which benchmarks businesses’ health provision is launched today by the CBI to help tackle the record long-term sickness absence levels restricting the UK’s productivity and undermining economic growth ambitions.
Data shows the UK loses 131 million working days a year to ill-health, costing the nation around £180billion in GDP.
The ONS is today due to publish new data that further reinforces the need to address the number of people leaving the labour market through ill health. The labour shortages this creates has a damaging impact on productivity; growing the economy will be impossible without a healthy population.
With workplaces known to be an effective influencer of health behaviours, the CBI – working with Business for Health and supported by the NHS and HM Government – is today launching a first iteration of its Work Health Index (WHI) to benchmark private sector health provision across the economy.
The WHI will give all businesses the opportunity to diagnose the strength of their health offer and benchmark it against peers. It will cover all workplace policies, practices and provision designed to support employee health and wellbeing, from cycle to work schemes to counselling to parental leave policies.
In the immediate term, it will help firms understand their competitiveness and enhance their employee value proposition. In the longer term, it should help businesses to create better work environments and support better health outcomes across the working age population – resulting in elevated workplace productivity.
Brian McBride, CBI president, said: “Labour market resilience is a precondition to growth. Without healthy, productive employees, the UK economy will be unable to achieve the growth it sorely needs.
“Businesses understand the link between health and wealth, and have a major role to play. While the NHS continues to serve us all in our moments of immediate need, employers across the UK have a golden window emerging from the pandemic to lean into long-term measures which enhance employee health and wellbeing.
“With the UK staring down a fiscally constrained period, the moment to boost the UK’s preventative health model is now. The Work Health Index is here to help achieve just that.”
With workforce health higher than ever before on the business agenda in the wake of the pandemic, the CBI believes this is the ideal time to launch this partnership between industry, Government and the health service.
By uniting these stakeholders, the CBI believes it can further grow businesses’ appreciation of employee wellbeing as an investment rather than a cost.
The next steps will see the CBI’s Health team working closely with partners across Government and the health service, and continuing its strategic partnership with Business for Health to bring the Work Health Index through private sector testing to public usage in 2023.
Tom Pursglove MP, Minister for Disabled People, said: “It is clear a healthier, more productive workforce is key to driving growth and tackling inactivity. Government and employers must work together to unlock talent from those who may be facing health barriers.
“We also know that being in work boosts wellbeing, and that is why our initiatives including additional Work Coach time are supporting people with health conditions into work.
“We’re building on this with schemes like our new £6.4 million online service giving employers free advice and guidance to support staff with health issues to stay in, or return to, work. We are delighted to support the CBI’s Work Health Index which complements this by providing employers with the tools they need to build healthier, more inclusive workforces.”
Minister for Primary Care and Public Health Neil O’Brien said: “A healthy and resilient workforce is vital for the economy of our nation, and any steps employers make to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff are commended.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to level-up health and care across the country, and the CBI’s Work Health Index provides a great example of using data to drive employer action to improve the health of their workforce.”
John Godfrey, Business for Health Chair, said: “Business has a huge role in public health: as employers, as providers of healthy goods and services and as drivers of healthy local economies.
“This Index with the support of the CBI starts to tackle the first of these. Business is shifting the dial on climate, it is in our interest to do the same on health.”
Hines and Clowes expand venture to develop 1.15m sq ft of logistics space
Hines, a global real estate investment, development, and property manager is growing its logistics development presence in the UK and Europe via the expansion of its joint venture with Clowes, the Derbyshire-headquartered property investor and developer, to develop a total of 1.15 million square feet of modern logistics space across the East Midlands.
The expanded joint venture will fund the development of state-of-the-art warehousing across 8 units, each of which will be developed to a high specification and target BREAAM ‘very good’ certification. EV charging infrastructure will be installed across the portfolio, and the units are designed to support the installation of solar panels.
The new facilities will service the high levels of demand Hines is experiencing among occupiers seeking logistics space in supply-constrained areas. This initiative increases the initial commitment to deliver 772,000 square feet of logistics space across four UK business parks, which was reached in September 2021.
195,000 square feet of space has already been delivered by the joint venture at Dove Valley Park in South Derbyshire. Located in one of the country’s most important logistics areas, Dove Valley Park allows occupiers to access a catchment of 48 million people within a four-hour drive time, with excellent connectivity via the M1, M6, A50 and A38. Müller, Meg, Futaba, Tophat, JCB, Truma and GXO are already occupiers at the Park.
The remaining units under development by the joint venture will be completed during 2023 and include plots at Fairham Business Park, EMDC, and Castlewood Business Park.
Greg Cooper, Managing Director at Hines, said: “The expansion of our joint venture with Clowes to develop a total of 1.15 million square feet (107,000 square metres) of high-quality logistics space in the East Midlands is testament to our ongoing conviction in the logistics sector and developing best-in-class spaces that occupiers will call home.
“Within our network of customer and occupier relationships we continue to see strong nationwide occupier demand, and the Golden Triangle provides fantastic access to all of the UK within 4 hours by car, carving it out as a standout location.”
James Richards, director at Clowes Development, added: “This expanded partnership with Hines will allow us to continue to collaborate to develop best-in-class warehousing at well located sites across the East Midlands.
“The expansion will unlock new opportunities within the UK’s logistics ‘golden triangle’, as well as in other locations benefiting from strong transport links and favourable local supply and demand drivers. We are confident that our teamwork and close collaboration will continue to bear fruit.
“As with any large-scale transactions of this nature, teamwork is essential. Deals like this come with a wealth of complexities which require a keen eye and attention to detail to ensure all aspects are executed properly.
“We have small group of experts here at Clowes who ensure we achieve compliance and diligence at all levels. I would also like to thank our legal team at Geldards for all their hard work and commitment to getting this deal over the line.”
Heather Dixon, partner at Geldards, said: “We were delighted to continue our productive relationship with Hines and Clowes and complete the complex funding deal that now enables this exciting development to progress. As the UK economy begins to rebuild and transform, logistics and warehousing will become a critical driver for growth.
“These new developments, delivered through an ambitious and driven collaboration puts the East Midlands at the heart of this transformation and delivers the infrastructure needed for the region to become a driving force for growth and innovation.”
New lease of life set for derelict leather workshop
Planning permission to convert a former Victorian leather workshop in Northampton into starter homes has been granted, following a successful application by local entrepreneur Paresh Parmar, supported by Marrons Planning.
The Dunster Street unit – which was constructed in 1895 but has been derelict for the past two years – will be transformed into four one-bedroom apartments, offering additional housing in a sought-after location, while also making positive use out of a derelict building within the historic Boot and Shoe conservation area.
Respecting the local surroundings, the external works will be in keeping with the historic nature of the conservation area, while also providing excellent internal living areas, contributing to the local council’s five-year housing land supply.
Due for completion in 2023, the apartments will be available to purchase, supporting more people onto the housing ladder.
Sachin Parmar, associate director at Marrons Planning, said: “This was a challenging application as we needed to ensure the plans would not harm the character or appearance of the environment, but in fact enhance them.
“Due to a lack of investment over the past few years, the building is plagued with water leakages and damp issues. However, what’s great about this development is that it’s answering the housing need, while making viable use of a run down, unused property. We look forward to seeing the conversion take shape!”
Dunster Street comprises two-storey terraced and semi-detached houses, interspersed with historic workshops and factories, some of which have been converted to residential use. The former leather warehouse was most recently used as a model supply shop.
Each new apartment within the building will consist of an open plan living and kitchen area, bathroom and bedroom. A courtyard area will be constructed for the ground floor apartments.
Experienced development entrepreneur Paresh Parmar said: “We’re really pleased to have obtained planning permission for our next build. It’s well known that there is a shortage of good quality homes across Northampton and beyond, with young people, in particular, struggling to take their first step on the housing ladder.”
Moy Park reverses plan to close Derbyshire plant
Chicken products producer Moy Park has walked back threats to close one of its Derbyshire plants.
This comes after weeks of negotiations with GMB bosses to re-consider closing the facility near Ashbourne, with the potential loss of hundreds of local jobs.
While 175 jobs will be saved, the facility will be downsized and reshaped to be a B2B supplier, reducing the workforce.
Mick Coppin, GMB Organiser, said: “GMB has been negotiating and campaigning to save jobs at Moy Park for months. To see management sit up and listen to our members demands is fantastic.
“These workers are absolutely essential in producing and supplying our favourite chicken products across the country, in the home and in well love restaurant chains including Nando’s and McDonalds.
“Potential job losses on the scale feared would have been catastrophic for the local community, and GMB union members should be proud that they have delivered this win.
“This weekend I’ll be raising a toast with my Sunday Dinner to those GMB Union members at Moy Park in Derbyshire who brought the country back from the brink of a devastating chicken shortage.”
New research to improve support for small businesses in the East Midlands
The needs of small businesses in the East Midlands are being investigated in a new study by experts at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with the East Midlands Chamber.
Leaders of small businesses in the region are invited to help Academics from Nottingham University Business School build an understanding of what they want from business support and how they access it.
Analysis from the project will help to inform the future of business advice and support available in the region.
Dr Robert Wapshott, associate professor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Nottingham University Business School, said: “Effective systems of advice and support for small businesses can add value to ventures and the region. To achieve this, however, we need to focus on what small businesses really want and how they want to access advice and support.
“We are very aware of the current economic climate and issues with international trade, so we are keen to make sure that the support on offer directly addresses and assists with the concerns that business leaders have. The growth of the region relies on this.”
Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of the East Midlands Chamber, said: “External factors, such as the disruption we’ve experienced over the past few years, have meant the needs of businesses have evolved significantly – whether it’s in their supply chains, people or innovation.
“This means the business support ecosystem must respond accordingly to ensure our firms are well-equipped to overcome challenges and take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
“The high quality of the business support services we offer was recently recognised by the British Chambers of Commerce, which named us the UK Chamber of the Year for 2022, but we know we must not stand still as an organisation. This unique research project will provide us with the intelligence required to continue supporting the success of our region’s businesses and communities.”
Interviews with small businesses across the East Midlands will begin in the first quarter of 2023.
Participants will be asked to take part in an online 45-minute interview focused on how they engage with business advice and support services and how the support on offer could be improved to better meet the needs of their business and others in the region.
Leaders of small businesses who are interested in helping to shape knowledge on business advice and support can contact policy@emc-dnl.co.uk to find out more about the project and how to get involved. wilko agrees sale and leaseback deal at Nottinghamshire distribution centre
Privately owned, everyday household and garden retailer, wilko has confirmed plans to unlock £48 million as part of a strategic 15-year partnership agreement with logistics specialist DHL.
The business refinance, made possible by the sale and leaseback of its Nottinghamshire distribution centre, is just the first of a series of positive partnership benefits that will allow the business to further improve the proposition and the customer experience across its 402 stores and wilko.com.
While day to day operations will remain unchanged, working in partnership with DHL, who already have several large operations in the local area, means both wilko and DHL will benefit from scale in property and warehousing.
Jerome Saint-Marc, wilko CEO, says: “It’s standard business practice to constantly review how we manage our finances. This property deal with DHL represents long-term stability for us and our team members and is the right response to the current market conditions and our priorities.
“We’re making smart choices to trade a business and allow us to continue to invest in our long-term transformational strategy. Wilko remains family owned and continues to focus on helping hard working families to be the best that they can be, delivering great value products to our customers.”
Marketing agency supports Derby Rugby Football Club with sponsorship of new U11s kit
The Under 11s Derby Rugby Football Club has kicked-off the season with a new kit, and Balls2 Marketing makes its debut on the pitch as a first-time kit sponsor.
After giving the kit its first outing as mascots for Derby RFC’s first team earlier this month, the young side broke in the new kit at their home fixture against Amber Valley RUFC on November 6.
Adam Richardson, coach for the Under 11s, said: “Thank you to Balls2 Marketing for sponsoring the Under 11s team at Derby Rugby Club, the kit looks fantastic, and the lads couldn’t be happier with it. Welcome to the team!”
The eye-catching Balls2 Marketing bright-pink logo stands out on the kit and will almost certainly make it easier for players to see their team-mates across the pitch.
“We love the way our logo really stands out on the back of the shorts, and it’s on the team’s hoodies as well,” added Sarah Ball, joint MD at Derby-based marketing agency, Balls2 Marketing.
“It’s our first ‘try’ at corporate sponsorship, and we are very happy to have our brand associated with the team and club. DRFC has a well-earned reputation as one of the most accessible and inclusive clubs in the region. Sponsoring the kit is a win:win as it helps the team with their kit costs, and gets Balls2 Marketing involved at a grass roots level in our home city.
“After the agency moved into new premises on Stores Road in 2021, we were keen to get more involved in the local community. Our sponsorship of the Under 11s team is part of this plan. And we are thrilled to be able to help keep these players on the ‘ball’, if you’ll pardon the pun!”
Trio promoted to leadership roles at Fluid Ideas
Three members of staff at creative agency Fluid Ideas have been promoted to newly-created leadership roles heading key teams.
Sarah Bowler has become the head of support and delivery, Michelle Hazelgrove has been appointed head of people and culture, and Jamie Hovell has taken up the position of head of image and motion.
Joint Managing Director Phil Harvey said: “These are all new positions created through the expansion of the business and reflect the brilliant work that Sarah, Michelle and Jamie have been doing in supporting and enhancing the standards of creativity and service delivered to our clients.
“All three are deeply protective of our culture and values, and they are the ideal people to take up these new positions as we continue to develop.
“Our strategy is to always promote internally whenever possible to help our team progress their careers. We’re very proud of the fact that we have a 90 per cent employee retention rate, more than double the industry average, and our approach of nurturing and promoting our own people is ingrained in the fabric of Fluid.”
Sarah joined Derby-based Fluid Ideas in 2019 in a client services role and has helped to grow the agency’s full-service offering by managing projects, building relationships with clients and supporting the wider team on new concept work and pitches as a creative copywriter.
Phil said: “Sarah has a proven record of not just delivering projects and leading relationships but also of shaping the work that leaves our door, both creatively and strategically. She is a very passionate gatekeeper of Fluid’s standards.
“As we continue to attract more and more high-profile and exciting brands as clients, we want to make sure our high standards of service and quality are maintained, for our new partners and clients that have been by our side for many years. Sarah and her wider team will be key to that.”
Michelle joined Fluid in 2017 as a website designer. Her role as head of people and culture will see her working with the senior leadership team to implement and develop the agency’s workplace wellbeing programme, which is called Fluid Happiness.
It involves mental health awareness and wellbeing campaigns, healthcare benefits, staff training and progression, social events, evolving Fluid’s hybrid working environment and implementing onboarding programmes for new starters.
Phil said: “Michelle has split her role in recent years, combining that of website designer with a growing focus on protecting and nurturing our values and culture and supporting the confidence and happiness of our expanding team.
“We believe a happy, fulfilled team delivers better creative work and a better, more caring service for our clients. As we approach 60 people, Michelle’s ideas, intuition and emotional intelligence are becoming increasingly important in ensuring Fluid continues to grow healthily and happily. Her knowledge of our people and the business is instinctive.”
Jamie, who has a master’s degree in 2D and 3D visualisation from Loughborough University, joined Fluid in 2017 as a CGI artist. Alongside this work, he has played a central role in projects spanning photography, video, branding, motion graphics and augmented reality.
Phil said: “The image and motion team has grown organically to be eight-strong with a diverse skill set comprising photography, video, animation, CGI, augmented reality, virtual reality and more. For an agency the size of Fluid to have an in-house team offering this range of highly specialised skills is very rare.
“Jamie is a superb CGI artist and has a fantastic eye for quality. He is a grounding, calming and positive presence who can link the different disciplines together with a can-do attitude. He balances genuine talent with genuine humility and is an excellent ambassador for Fluid and protector of our values.
“We’re entering an exciting new era at Fluid, with complete confidence that our agency, and the people who make it great, are growing in a way that’s healthy and happy – for Fluid and our clients. Loyal and talented people, like Sarah, Michelle and Jamie, becoming more prominent and influential in the agency proves our commitment to re-thinking and evolving our structure, as we flourish as a business.”
National kindness & leadership honour for Leicestershire entrepreneur
A Leicestershire entrepreneur has been named one of the UK’s top business leaders in a prestigious annual list honouring kindness in leadership.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, who is the founder and former chairman of Loughborough-based Morningside Pharmaceuticals, has been included in the UK’s Top 50 Kindness & Leadership Leading Lights.
The annual list honours leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, who are using the power of kindness to make a transformative impact in business and to empower change.
Speaking about the importance of kindness to effective leadership, Dr Kotecha said: “I’m truly humbled to make this list and to be among some of the UK’s leading lights when it comes to putting kindness at the heart of corporate governance.
“Giving back to communities in the UK and globally has always been at the core of my own personal mission, when establishing new business ventures. As an entrepreneur and business leader over the past 35 years I have also ensured this ethos has been central to my companies’ mission and values, which in turn brings about important non-financial benefits for the business, our people and society as a whole.”
For Dr Kotecha, establishing a culture of kindness, is key to business success. He said: “The culture of a business always comes from the top, and must be lived and breathed every day by an organisation’s leadership.
“It’s important that businesses separate kindness and community related activities from commercial targets. Often these activities bring about great benefits, which support commercial activities in terms of motivating teams, as well as aiding employee recruitment and retention.”
In addition to pioneering ethical leadership within entrepreneurship, Dr Kotecha is also chair of the East Midlands CBI, a Department for International Trade Export Champion; and a Board Member for the Midlands Engine Council, the Centre for Social Justice, the British Asian Trust and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
In 2017 he also established his family’s charitable foundation, which through providing grant funding to charities around the world, has directly saved more than 150,000 lives and significantly improved almost 400,000 in the UK and globally.
Speaking about the importance of making the list to the work of his foundation, Dr Kotecha added: “When we setup the Randal Charitable Foundation we had a vision for its work to be a vehicle for leading the way on delivering transformative lasting change for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in UK & global societies.”
The goal of the Kindness & Leadership Top 50 is to challenge the global leadership conversation by placing a spotlight on trailblazers who are using the power of kindness to make an impact in business and to empower positive change.
The 2022 judging panel was made up of international business leaders and was chaired by HRH Princess Badiya Bint El Hassan of Jordan. New and previous listees include chairman of the Midlands Engine and Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir John Peace, as well as Ruw Abeyratne, director of Health Equality and Inclusion at University Hospitals of Leicester, and Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever.
Talking about why the Kindness & Leadership Top 50 Leading Lights is so important to transformational leadership, its founder Pinky Lilani CBE DL, added: “These phenomenal leaders are driving transformative change within their businesses, communities and on a global scale, making a remarkable impact by harnessing the power of kindness in their leadership.
“We have been blown away by the nominations we have received and it is clear that even in the toughest times, kindness is the currency that empowers, enabling individuals to reach their full potential and, ultimately, reflecting in business success, too.”
Franklin Ellis Architects becomes employee-owned
Franklin Ellis Architects has transferred to an Employee-Owned Trust. The firm, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in a few months, ensures their continued success with the transition to employee-ownership.
Founded as a limited company in 1993 by David Franklin and Andrew Ellis, Franklin Ellis have grown considerably, now employing over 30 staff, with two permanent offices in Nottingham and Leicester. The Practice delivers architectural services in all major development sectors within the East Midlands, and across the UK.
Matthew Branton, FE’s Managing Director and a founding member of the firm, said: “Taking the decision to become an Employee-Owned Trust is one we’re pleased to enact and feels like a natural progression for Franklin Ellis.
“We aim to ensure the independence and continued success of FE and choosing an employee-owned model exemplifies the level of ownership our employees have in their work and the direction of the company. This change will solidify the confidence we have in our staff, our commitment to them and secure the future of FE, while preserving our culture and ambitions.
“The Trust removes barriers of succession and places the future of the company into the hands of our employees. Our ambitious team are empowered to drive forward the Practice, providing the best possible service and results for our clients.”
The day-to-day running of the Practice will continue to be controlled by Managing Director Matthew Branton and the leadership team. The newly formed Staff Council and Trustee Board, headed by founding director David Franklin, will support the development of the Practice.
Council acquires additional affordable homes
Chesterfield Borough Council has completed the acquisition of 12 new build properties – further increasing its supply of modern and affordable homes for local families in the borough.
The new housing development located at Harehill Mews in Grangewood, is the latest acquisition of properties for local people and will see 12 two-bedroom houses added to the council’s housing stock.
The properties have been purchased by the council from local housebuilders, ERICA Developments Ltd. and will be made available to rent to families on the housing register.
Councillor Chris Ludlow, cabinet member for housing, said: “We are fully committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing across the borough and meeting the housing needs of local people – now and in the future. We are pleased that the acquisition of these properties is now complete, as they will provide affordable, modern and accessible homes for our families.
“It’s important that any homes we build or purchase take into account environmental issues and are energy efficient for our tenants. Living in a warm and energy efficient home is not only better for our planet, but it will also reduce costs to run the property, offering affordable warmth to our tenants.”
Chesterfield’s Superior Wellness reports strong growth in America
Chesterfield hot tub supplier Superior Wellness has continued to focus on growth throughout the year, with the US being the company’s main priority.
The sales team have signed up 19 new US partners during 2022, only 18 months after entering the country.
The team based in the US consists of sales managers, Chris Hawley, and Rocky Holt, who has recently joined Superior Wellness. They are supported by the sales and logistics team based at the Chesterfield head office.
Trade shows have been a huge focus for Superior Wellness over in the US. The team had a strong presence at the recent Aqua Live show in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they met up with potential future partners and offered product demonstrations. The next trade show based in the US is the International PSP Expo in Vegas, on 15 November, where the brand new AquaSolus range is being launched for the first time.
Sales director Gareth Ward said: “Superior Wellness have been in the US market for just under two years, in this time we have added over 20 new partners to our ever-growing partner network. Our goal is by the end of 2024 to have over 100 partners in the US, to help achieve our goals we have created 4 new models which are perfect for the US market.
“We have invested heavily in our marketing and our trade show attendances to showcase our amazing product to the US market. We want to replicate the USP’s we have in the UK and European market that has led to our huge growth by offerings unrivalled after sales support and quality products. To do this we have opened warehouse facilities on the east coast and the west coast to best serve the partners we have on board and the new partners we are onboarding.
“With our warehouse locations this makes our product much more accessible for partners as they do not have to pay huge road freight charges from one coast to the other. Our two Regional Sales Managers have a wealth of experience in the industry, and we are using their expertise to bring further improvements to our US growth strategy. As we continue to grow our aim is to open a Superior Wellness HQ in the US, where we can hold training days, partner conferences and much more.”
Derbyshire vitamin maker wins major award after helping local community during COVID
A manufacturer of vitamins, based in South Derbyshire, has won a prestigious award for its management through the difficult times of the COVID pandemic, and its support of the local community.
IVC Brunel Healthcare, which employs 550 staff and produces vitamins and supplements at its 30,000 square metre state-of-the-art base in Swadlincote, was crowned Manufacturer of the Year at the East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire Business Awards on November 10.
Holders of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the company is the biggest producer of vitamins and supplements in the UK, working on behalf of top UK retailers, and exporting to global international brands.
It produces four and a half billion tablets a year, including traditional herbal remedies such as echinacea and milk thistle and more than 250 different vitamin formulations.
The company also made a significant contribution to the health of Swadlincote when the first COVID lockdown was announced in the UK in March 2020.
At the same time as the company saw demand for its health supplements increase by up to a whopping 400 per cent, as millions of people turned to its products to try and boost their immune system, it pulled out the stops to ensure that its workers and their families stayed safe and well.
This included supplying them each with a digital thermometer, putting in strict social distancing and staggered changing room systems, while it also stepped in to provide substantial support to the local food bank, which had seen contributions of food drop off.
It also made sure that staff at the local University Hospitals of Burton and Derby NHS Foundation Trust were able to continue to fight the pandemic on the front line by supplying all 2,500 staff with vitamin tablets as a thank you.
IVC Brunel also sponsors six local sports teams, including Gresley Rovers, Moira United and Burton Rugby Football Club.
CEO John Hackett said: “I’m delighted and proud that IVC Brunel Healthcare has won this manufacturing award. The challenges of keeping going during Covid were enormous. Our staff were classified as key workers, which meant that we were open throughout, and around 300 members of our manufacturing and quality teams stayed on site.
“There was, as we had foreseen, huge demand for our products because everyone in the UK wanted to stay as healthy as they could. We saw an increase in demand of up to 400 per cent, at the same time as the safety measures meant our productivity was reduced.
“We’re proud to say that most of our workforce lives in the local area and while we try to be the very best employer we can, with people living in our area facing real problems due to the economic situation brought about by COVID, we felt it was only right to provide a substantial donation to keep the local food bank going too.”
PD Ports invests in a new £10m steel distribution centre for Barrett Steel
General manager at PD Ports Roy Merryweather, logistics manager at PD Ports Jen Taylor, integrated management systems director Sharon Smith, director portcentric logistics at PD Ports Ian Johnson, managing director at Barrett Steel Richard Gawler, group operations director at Barrett Steel John Childs, director at Barrett Steel Andy Warcup, and group purchasing director at Barrett Steel Guy Barrett
PD Ports is delighted to be supporting valued customer Barrett Steel through an exciting period of growth with the build of a 200,000sq.ft. dedicated steel distribution centre at its Groveport site in North Lincolnshire. This marks the start of a new long-term contract that will take the partnership into 2040 and beyond.
The £10 million facility will not only support the expansion of Barrett’s footprint on the Humber but will be further boosted by additional investment from the port operator to double the size of its dedicated transport fleet. Together, this will strengthen Barrett’s national distribution network and allow for just-in-time deliveries to be made across the UK.
Groveport, a 190 acre site and the largest in PD Ports’ Humber Cluster, has continued to act as a central steel distribution hub for longstanding customer Barrett Steel and serves as the ideal location for the new facility, the port group’s largest investment on the Humber in decades.
Geoff Lippitt, Chief Commercial Officer at PD Ports, was delighted to announce the project. He said: “The new Barrett Steel facility is a huge milestone for PD Ports at Groveport. This marks the largest single piece of investment in the site since we first acquired it back in 2015 and demonstrates our intentions to position Groveport as the UK’s leading steel handling hub for steel sourced both domestically and internationally.”
The state-of-the-art warehouse has also been instrumental for both parties in continuing to realise their shared sustainability targets – it is the first building in the UK to be constructed in ‘XCarb’ steel – steel made using 100% recycled content and 100% renewable energy – supplied by fellow PD Ports customer, ArcelorMittal. It is also primed to be upgraded with the addition of solar panels in the future.
Geoff added: “As a business, we are constantly striving to reduce our industrial impact on the environment and have ambitious decarbonisation targets to reach net zero. This innovative warehouse is a fantastic example of how we can utilise lower carbon materials in order to reduce emissions across the supply chain.”
As a proud, sixth generation family-owned business, Barrett Steel has been a leading steel stockholder and processor for over 150 years with a rich heritage. With over 30 sites nationwide, this new facility is a huge mark of intention from the company to remain at the forefront of the UK steel industry.
Guy Barrett, Group Purchasing Director at Barrett Steel, commented: “This new facility will increase our capacity and ability to offer a just in time solution for steel fabricators across the UK.
“Being able to deliver the project using a low embodied carbon, the first of its kind in the UK, not only demonstrates our commitment to our own net zero goals but also showcases a tangible solution to the questions around sustainability currently facing the industry.
“We are delighted to be continuing our longstanding relationship with PD Ports on this ground-breaking project.”
Agricultural Growth Zone created to support Lincolnshire and Rutland
An Agricultural Growth Zone has been created to support Lincolnshire and Rutland’s agricultural sector.
The Ag Zone was announced at the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s annual conference and will unite the work at Bishop Burton College’s Showground Campus, the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, the Lincoln Institute of Agricultural Technology (LIAT), Barclays Eagle Farm Lab and the cluster of agritech companies now being established on the Riseholme Campus.
It will create a centre to support agriculture and a skills pipeline to attract the next generation into the industry, from schools engagement through further and higher education and on to postgraduate education and continuing professional development for the farming industry.
The Ag Zone will continue the growth of collaborative research which has attracted over £60m of investment to the area since 2016 and supported the establishment of new agritech businesses such as Fruitcast and Agaricus Robots, both created at Riseholme in 2021.
The long-term aim is to link the cluster of skills, innovation and business support to a network of commercial demonstration farms across Lincolnshire to trial new technologies.
The Ag Zone will also work to secure additional investment to help farmers adopt new technologies, helping to ensure that Lincolnshire farms have the support they need to secure this new investment.
“Greater Lincolnshire has the UK’s leading agricultural sector underpinning the food economy in the UK Food Valley where there are over 75,000 people employed in farming, food processing and distribution,” said Sarah Louise Fairburn, deputy chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and chair of its Food Board.
“Our farms produce over £2 billion of crops and livestock, 11% of the English total, with particular strengths in fresh vegetables where we have 30% of English production, as well 20% of the sugar beet, 19% of the poultry and 19% of the ornamental crops in England.
“But we know the agriculture sector is changing rapidly as the food chain reacts to pressures created by the pandemic, conflict in Europe, the cost of living crisis and policy changes.
“It is vital we help the industry adopt new technology and skills, support investment in the industry and address long-term challenges such as climate change. By bringing the key organisations together who work on this in Lincolnshire we will help our farmers and support the continued growth of the agritech sector through the work of the Ag Zone.”
Councillor Colin Davie, executive councillor for economic development, environment and planning at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “‘The Ag Zone is the next big development in the UK Food Valley and comes at a time of great change in our farming industry. We are determined to ensure that farmers across Lincolnshire have the tools needed to succeed, including the tenants on our county farms. I look forward to supporting the Ag Zone in helping our farms to access the support which will enable them to thrive.”
Councillor Owen Bierley, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “West Lindsey is keen to support the growth of agritech and is pleased to be working with partners on the A15 corridor north of Lincoln as they establish the Ag Zone.
“We want to create a highly skilled, dynamic economy along the A15 corridor and see agritech and the sustainable growth of farming as being essential to this mission. Building on the developments we have already seen at Bishop Burton and on the University’s Riseholme Campus is a key part of our vision and we will do everything we can to support the momentum of this cluster.”
Professor Simon Pearson, director of the Lincoln Institute for Agricultural Technology at the University of Lincoln, said: “The university is delighted to be supporting the Ag Zone. At LIAT we have been pioneering technologies ranging from agricultural robotics and digital systems to soil management and energy systems.
“We are also developing a cluster of agritech businesses on our Riseholme Campus and are keen to see this continue to grow with support from organisations such as Barclays Eagle Lab. Working with our partners in the Ag Zone will ensure we can help support the adoption of technology across the farming industry.”
Bill Meredith, principal of Bishop Burton College, said: “Bishop Burton is the leading provider of training for the next generation of farmers in the region and at our Showground Campus we focus on precision agriculture and the way in which technology is transforming our industry.
“We look forward to working with our partners in the Ag Zone to ensure we provide a complete skills package to meet future industry needs.”
Andrew Buckley, chairman of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, said: “The Agricultural Society is keen to support the Ag Zone as it builds on the work we do with schools, farmers and the wider community to promote the agricultural industry as a dynamic and progressive sector of the economy. Through our educational and events programmes we look forward to working with our partners to deliver outreach across the community.”
Lisa Bagley, head of the Barclays Eagle Farm Lab, said: “Barclays Eagle Farm Lab is one of a network of Eagle Labs across the UK, but the only one which focuses on agritech. Our partnership with the University of Lincoln ensures that the companies we support have access to farms and workshops to develop their technology, as well as links to business start-up and growth support.
“Working with our partners in the Ag Zone we will continue to offer a national service to link agricultural innovators to the farming industry and the support they need to grow and flourish.”
Made in Chesterfield festival returns to connect manufacturing and engineering businesses with next generation of employees
The annual Made in Chesterfield festival, which aims to get more local young people interested in careers in businesses operating in the town’s engineering, manufacturing, property and construction businesses, has returned for the eighth consecutive year.
Co-ordinated by Destination Chesterfield and Direct Education Business Partnership and sponsored by the Chesterfield College Group, the 2022 Made in Chesterfield festival was officially launched at Chesterfield College.
Speaking at the event, Reece Berry (20), Software Engineer Apprentice at Weightron Bilancia and a former pupil of St Mary’s Catholic High School, said: “Young people need to be aware of apprenticeship opportunities in the engineering and manufacturing sector. They offer brilliant careers for young people.
“I chose to go down the apprenticeship route as I was passionate about IT and software development. I had the option to go to university, but I wanted to work in a real, live environment to gain a mixture of skills that would benefit me in multiple ways. “Weightron Bilanciai is providing me with the training, support and skills I require to undertake the challenge of becoming a highly skilled software engineer and developer, this has given me the chance to explore and learn areas of IT I never knew about.”During the four-week festival, which runs until Friday 2 December, young people from Chesterfield’s secondary schools will be introduced to the varied science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers available in local businesses through a number of workplace visits and events.
Performance vehicle specialist Scooby Clinic, engineering business MSE Hiller and manufacturer United Cast Bar are amongst a number of businesses who are inviting young people to their workplaces during the campaign.
The annual festival is playing a key role in helping address the technical skills shortage amongst businesses locally. According to the UK Commission for Employment & Skills, 43 per cent of STEM vacancies nationally are hard to fill, mainly because of a shortage of applicants with the required skills and experience.Since launching in 2014, Made in Chesterfield has introduced more than 3,500 young people to the jobs and careers available within local businesses operating in the STEM sector.
Ivan Fomin, Managing Director at MSE Hiller and Destination Chesterfield board member responsible for manufacturing and engineering in the borough, commented on being part of the annual initiative: “It’s fantastic for us to be able to showcase our industry and business to young people and encourage them to consider a career path that may not have been on their mind beforehand.
“We have been involved with Made in Chesterfield since the campaign began and it has helped us attract young people into the business in both apprenticeship roles and work experience placements.
“Each year, Made in Chesterfield makes a real difference to local businesses, education providers and young people. I am delighted to see it return once again.”
Julie Richards, principal and CEO of Chesterfield College Group, said: “It’s vitally important we continue our support for the Made in Chesterfield initiative. We are proud to play our part in the growth of engineering, science, technology and manufacturing locally.
“The increasing development of STEM in Chesterfield is something we have mirrored in our curriculum with investment in the latest technologies, such as 3D printing and augmented reality, all with a focus on sustainability.
“Partnering with initiatives such as Made in Chesterfield and working with local employers and schools, our core focus is to provide a clear, aspirational pathway for the next generation of local workforce be that through full time study, apprenticeships, T-Levels or higher education.
“Our mission of inspiring futures and changing lives is brought into clear focus through working with Made in Chesterfield and we are delighted to once again host this year’s launch event.”
Made in Chesterfield is delivered in association with the Chesterfield College Group and with support from Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire North Careers Hub, MSE Hiller, United Cast Bar Ltd, and NatWest.
What I learned from my latest Dragons’ Den meeting: By Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, reflects on his recent meeting with Sara Davies.
I’ve been busy meeting Dragons. Again. Hungry ones. I have a history with them actually. It stretches back at least a decade.
I’ve helped one flag down a taxi at 1am on New Year’s Eve in the Canary Islands. I’ve been ignored in one’s Mayfair lair whilst standing five yards away for about seven excruciating minutes (I had an appointment – long story). I’ve discussed walking barefoot in the garden with another (a really nice Dragon) and ironically enough, chaired a press conference for the rude Dragon who ignored me a few months later. Oh, and my mum and stepdad were on Dragons’ Den too.
So when I met Sara Davies recently and she told the story of how her PR guy got her on Strictly, I had to share the tale…or is it tail?
You see, Sara LOVES Strictly. She was almost as excited to tell us (an audience of over 1,000 business owners) about that as she was about how she battled major legal challenges when starting out which threatened to kill her business right from the start. Or how she juggled a really tricky purchase and subsequent stock issue caused by a major retail partner as orders soared live on air. Spoiler alert…she just sold the lot thanks to HUGE enthusiasm for her product.
Meanwhile, back on the sofa, there’s Sara a few years ago watching Strictly with her ”PR guy” mate, joking semi seriously about how to get on the show. Her PR guy wisely pointed out that whilst she was a successful entrepreneur already, her PR value in terms of star attraction wasn’t yet sufficient. They would need a strategy and Dragons’ Den might just be the answer.
How did she get on that show then? Well, she asked. Or rather, her PR guy asked.
It was a little more involved than a casual phone call but it boiled down to taking that first step and having a plan. This is how PR tends to work.
I get a lot of people asking me to get them into the national media (which is fine) but they expect it to happen overnight. What they need is a campaign. A cunning plan. They need to prove their value to other reporters and generate trust, column inches and eyeballs elsewhere first, as they build up to national relevance.
If you want to know how I’ve done it with three different clients this year, you know where I am.
Enter the lair if you dare but be reassured that if you do, I won’t ignore you for seven minutes!
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.
He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
See this article in the November edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
Radiant completes sixth bolt-on acquisition
Radiant Financial Group, the wealth management consolidator with offices in Market Harborough, has completed its sixth acquisition since Apiary Capital’s investment in late 2020.
These six acquisitions bring total assets under management to over £1 billion.The sixth acquisition, TWM Ltd, is a financial adviser based in the Midlands.
“We are passionate about client-centric advice and exceptional delivery and are delighted to welcome our six new firms to the Radiant family,” said Simon Cogman-Hellier, CEO of Radiant. “Their addition broadens our geographic coverage and increases the breadth of advice and products we offer our clients.”
Thomas Alldred, investment director at Apiary, added: “The Radiant management team have done a great job building momentum in acquiring high quality IFAs across the UK. We are proud of the Radiant platform that Simon and Peter have built and look forward to continuing to support its growth.”
Turnover rises at Totally in “challenging” operating environment
Turnover and profit are up at Totally, the Derby-based provider of healthcare services.
According to unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2022, group turnover has risen 14.1% to £70.3 million, while gross profit was up 2.6% to £11.9 million and profit before tax sat at £1 million.
During the period the business delivered services to approximately 1.25 million patients and was awarded extensions to 15 existing urgent care contracts amounting to £37 million in value.
Bob Holt OBE, chairman, said: “We are pleased to report the group’s interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2022.
“The operating environment has continued to be challenging for everyone in healthcare, and as the winter months approach, cases of COVID-19 and seasonal flu are, as expected, on the increase. This brings both opportunities and challenges for the group. Totally has a strong track record of managing services in difficult conditions and was established to support the NHS in the management of demand fluctuations just like this.
“Our most recent acquisition, Pioneer Healthcare, is responding to significant levels of demand for outsourcing and Any Qualified Provider (AQP) services. Responding to this growth opportunity is a priority for the group.
“We remain committed to the delivery of high-quality, responsive services that support our partners, the NHS and commissioners. The scale of the opportunity remains significant, with demand outstripping supply and waiting lists continuing to sit at all-time highs. We will continue to invest in our businesses and in new opportunities that enhance earnings opportunities and increase shareholder value.
“I want to pass my ongoing thanks to our exceptional teams. Our people are our greatest asset, helping us respond quickly, professionally and with flexibility to the needs of our NHS commissioners.”
