Experienced charity leader and FMCG specialist strengthens FRAME Board of Trustees
FRAME, the Nottingham-based medical research charity committed to reducing the number of animals used in scientific testing, has appointed former charity leader, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) specialist and veganism advocate George Gill to its Board of Trustees.
As founder of VeganFMCG, a company that supports FMCG SMEs in scaling up their business and brand, George also held an 11-year tenure at The Vegan Society, initially as head of business development and then as its CEO. Prior to this, George was CEO of Beyond Animal, a digital platform accelerating the growth of the vegan economy, and previously spent 20 years in sales and business development in FMCG, with a strong background in brand licensing and new product development.
At The Vegan Society, George was responsible for raising income revenue from £300k to £5m, leading the organisation’s promotion of the Vegan Trademark, and executing major campaigns such as the Grow Green Conference and Plate up for the Planet. He also played a key role in policy and advocacy initiatives such as the Ethical Vegan Protection (Equality Act) and the formation of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism.
FRAME is committed to replacing the use of animals in scientific experiments, and is dedicated to the development of new and scientifically valid methods that will replace the need for laboratory animals in medical and scientific research, education, and testing. The charity provides an annual donation to support the work of the FRAME Laboratory in Nottingham where scientists research and develop human-based alternatives to animal models.
FRAME’s Board of Trustees provides strategic direction and governance and works alongside the charity’s team that is led by CEO Celean Camp. George joins FRAME Trustees Sara Carbone, Dr Lesley Gilmour, Dr Anja Petrie, and Chair of Trustees, Dr Carol Treasure.
Of his appointment, George says: “In recent years, my career has focused on increasing animal-free ingredients and animal-free testing for products across alternative food protein, skincare, toiletries, detergents, fashion, and research medicine, with the goal of promoting veganism and plant-based living as a positive lifestyle choice rather than a fad. As a result, products have been developed from new synthetic ingredients, algae, and cell-cultured seafood by businesses across the world.
“There are many synergies with my work and FRAME’s vision and values, and I’m excited to use my experience to help influence crucial changes in policy, increase awareness of alternative, non-animal testing methods, generate funds for cutting-edge research, and support work on industry partnerships.”
FRAME CEO Celean Camp says: “George’s personal ethos, extensive experience in corporate outreach, and focus on promoting both animal welfare and ethical consumerism strongly align with FRAME’s vision of a world where non-animal research methods are accepted as scientific best practice.
“He brings in-depth charity leadership, governance knowledge and problem-solving skills to our Board of Trustees, which will be invaluable as we expand our education and outreach work and continue to grow and develop FRAME’s public and corporate support.”
New associate director for Mather Jamie
Specialist land development and property consultancy company Mather Jamie has appointed Karla Williams as a new associate director specialising in land acquisitions and disposals.
Having started her career in land buying during a sandwich placement, Karla has spent the last decade working for volume house builders including Countryside Properties and Avant Homes where she was responsible for acquiring sites of various sizes for a mixture of tenures.
Commenting on her appointment, Karla said: “Mather Jamie is a very reputable property consultancy and after many years working for volume housebuilders I thought the opportunity to work on the other side of land transactions would be an exciting challenge.”
Karla graduated with First Class Honours in Planning and Development from Nottingham Trent University in 2014 and enjoys returning as a guest lecturer to support the next generation of graduates. In her spare time Karla enjoys visiting new places and has previously explored Vietnam by motorbike. Originally from Nottingham, Karla now lives in Derby with her husband, two children and an affectionate rescue cat.
Introduction of new Community Foundation injects over £23,000 into local charities
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society has launched a new Community Foundation, giving local charities the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £5,000.
Working in partnership with the Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation, the Society’s new fund has been launched as a result of a successful financial year in 2021, presenting the Society with a greater opportunity than ever before to invest its profits back into the community.
Hinckley & Rugby Building Society’s Chief Executive, Colin Fyfe, said: “We’re very pleased to be introducing our Community Foundation because it enables us to provide an unprecedented level of support to charities in the local communities in which the business sits.
“As a mutual organisation, the Society feels very strongly about encouraging projects at grassroots level and we see the launch of the Foundation as a firm statement about our commitment to the community and look forward to getting to know the charities and being a supportive partner.”
The charities which have been successful in receiving funding this year are: Leicestershire-based Feed the Need Coalville, Helping Hands Community Trust and Hospice Hope, and Warwickshire-based charities Nuneaton Men and Women in Sheds, Volunteer Friends and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. The total amount received by the charities is £23,450.
The charities chosen to receive funding through the Foundation this year were voted for by Society staff. From next year, Society members will be involved in this decision.
Charities which would like to be considered for a grant can do so by sending a short email to: grants@llrcommuntiyfoundation.org.uk.
Medieval street character to be restored as new homes approved in Newark
Multi-disciplinary design practice, rg+p has secured planning permission for new homes and co-working space on Stodman Street, Newark, reinstating the town centre’s medieval character.
rg+p’s design, for Newark & Sherwood District Council, will see the creation of 29 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 475m² of co-working space together with car parking, cycle storage, a communal roof terrace and new public realm. The scheme will regenerate the former Marks & Spencer department store, retaining its 1930’s art deco frontage while re-establishing the medieval St Marks Lane.
Ben Walton, rg+p’s design director, says: “Our brief for the redevelopment at Stodman Street was to preserve and enhance its historic character whilst providing modern homes and places of work.
“Through extensive analysis of the townscape, we identified an opportunity to improve the public realm by reinstating St Marks Lane, a medieval lane and natural wayfinding route that connects Stodman Street with Lombard Street.
“Our design introduces pedestrianised upper and lower walkways along here, together with new commercial units which will help reactivate the street frontage.
“By studying the neighbouring architectural context, we established a series of ‘push and pull’ frontages, with the commercial units creating activity along the street and the residential apartments recessed.
“The massing was devised in close consultation with the local authority conservation team to ensure an appropriate sense of scale while the material palette features rhomboid grey zinc shingles, beige stone to complement the retained art deco frontage, red brick with dark and light mortar variations, lime wash/white painted brick and metal balustrading.
“The approved scheme will restore Newark’s historic layout and we look forward to progressing the project.”
Each of the new homes has private amenity space and the majority are dual aspect to help with natural ventilation. Further sustainable design aspects include rooftop PV panels, electric vehicle charging points, and green roofing along the façade facing the newly restored St Marks Lane.
Councillor David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council and co-chair of Newark Towns Fund Board, said: “These approved plans will provide an excellent opportunity to breathe life back into this vacant space with an interesting and imaginative design that is sympathetic to the surrounding heritage buildings in Newark town centre and materially enhance the quality of the public realm.
“In addition, by creating new high-quality homes, retail space and job opportunities, this redevelopment will benefit our town and its residents in the long term.”
The redevelopment at Stodman Street is one of nine priority projects outlined in Newark’s Town Investment Plan (TIP), developed by the Newark Towns Fund Board. The new homes are expected to be available for residents by 2024.
Global payment services provider reveals office refit as part of vision to create new jobs
Global payment services provider, Worldline has announced a complete transformation of its Beeston site as part of its strategic vision to continue attracting and retaining the best people. The new space will create at least 50 new jobs for Nottingham and an all East Midlands team of contractors has been appointed to carry out the refurbishments.
Globally, Worldline design and operate digital payment and transactional solutions across multiple sectors, primarily working across transport, retail & hospitality and financial services. The teams based at Beeston primarily support the UK rail network delivering rail operations and rail retail services.
Worldline have been based at Beeston since 2009, delivering the technology that is the backbone of the UK rail system. The company currently has over 5,000 vacancies globally and will shortly bring in a new cohort of 50 apprentices who will be inducted through the Beeston site.
Worldline has been working with Leicester-based workplace consultants and commercial fit-out specialists Blueprint Interiors, and Derby-based workplace tech and audio-visual solutions provider TecInteractive.
The project will involve the transformation of 14,000 sq ft of office space that was previously configured as rows and rows of desks into a space which places the needs of the people using the space at the forefront of design. At the heart of the transformation is a learning and invention suite, where Worldline will host industry colleagues and customers in a state-of-the-art immersive experience.
Commenting on the investment, James Bain, CEO of Worldline UK&I, said: “Our people are the most important part of our business, it is fundamental for us that we provide our people with the best possible environment to work in.
“Our approach embodies the future culture of our business supporting our Dynamic Working principles in a post-COVID environment.
“The investment we are making in our Beeston office is not a refurbishment but a complete transformation that we hope will inspire and motivate our people, enabling them to collaborate, invent and work to the best of their abilities.”
Lee Jones, project manager from Worldline, added: “We have worked closely with Blueprint Interiors and TecInteractive who have been brilliant and their advice has been inspirational. They have helped us to truly get under the skin of what our people need from their workplace. We are really excited to commence works and look forward to welcoming our people to use the refurbished spaces when the project is completed in June.”
Chloe Sproston, creative & commercial director from Blueprint Interiors, added: “The new office will provide range of flexible hybrid working solutions that can be adapted according to the needs of its people. Whether this involves collaborative sessions, focused work, or social interactions – the new space, the furniture and the workplace collaborative tech chosen can be easily reconfigured to suit all future needs. On top of this, Worldline are totally committed to ensuring their people feel safe returning to work.”
Tom Bamford from TecInteractive added: “The new office will provide the latest in presentation and collaborative tech across all meeting spaces. As so many meetings are now video calls, we have designed the spaces to be a great experience for all participants, whether they are in a meeting room or connecting in from home.
“This helps everyone feel part of the discussion and get the most from every collaborative session. The learning and invention suite along with the immersive room will provide a space focused on telling the Worldline story to customers as well as being a high-end space for training and presenting products in a futuristic and impactful way.”
As the first industry player to contribute to the carbon neutrality of its activities in the payment industry, sustainability is central to Worldline’s business model. To meet this commitment Worldline has donated all old furniture to CollectEco who will repurpose or recycle it to charities, schools, community groups, NHS trusts and other not for profit good causes.
Children First Derby Charity Spring Ball raises over £8,000
Local charity Children First Derby celebrated the successful return of its annual Charity Spring Ball, held on 26th March 2022 at Morley Hayes Derby, which raised over £8,000 to help support local vulnerable children, young people, and families.
The sold-out Charity Spring Ball 2022, sponsored by East Midlands law firm, Smith Partnership, was well attended by prominent local business leaders – many of whom donated generous prizes for the live and silent fundraising auctions which were held during the event.
“We’re delighted to see the return of our popular Charity Spring Ball and to have received such fantastic support from the local business community,” said Children First Derby CEO, Irshad Baqui.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that this year’s ball has raised an incredible £8,000 and we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone here for your support this evening, and to all those who have generously donated auction prizes to help support this event.
“Your efforts are greatly appreciated, enabling us to provide continued support to local vulnerable children, young people and families.”
The event saw guest speaker, Joshua Ryan, chair of Children First Derby Youth Forum, deliver an inspirational speech about his previous struggles with mental health, and the challenges he continues to face.
In the heartfelt speech, Joshua detailed how the charity’s ongoing support had proved instrumental in helping him move forward positively with his life and how valuable the support continues to be.
As part of the event, guests enjoyed a three-course evening meal, served in Morley Haye’s Pavilion Suite, and were treated to entertainment from award winning magicians Ian Barradell, and Bernie Pedley.
Long-standing supporter of Children First Derby, and director of Merchant’s Jewellers, Karim Merchant, proved to be an excellent auctioneer for the charity’s live auction. Supported by fellow director, Tanita, the dynamic duo enthused guests, helping to drive auction prizes up and increasing the total amount of funds raised.
In addition to the live and silent auction prizes available on the evening, the charity had previously secured some signed Derby County Football items as auction prizes, including a pair of custom-made signed football boots from England and Manchester United record goal scorer, and current manager of Derby County Football Club, Wayne Rooney.
Some of these coveted, signed Derby County items were auctioned via the charity’s eBay account in the lead up to the Spring Ball – with Rooney’s boots fetching a winning bid of £620. And the total amount raised by the DCFC items amassed £2,000 towards the overall fundraising initiative.
The event concluded with live music performed by 5-piece Band, The Soul Council.
IoD appoints Craig Bentley as Leicestershire vice-chair
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has appointed Craig Bentley as vice-chair for Leicestershire and South East Midlands.
Craig is director of specialist management consulting firm Bentley Management and Consulting. He is also co-founder of Swotly, an ed-tech business which uses voice technology to improve parental engagement with children’s learning.
Prior to setting up his consulting business Craig led commercial and operations teams for global companies in manufacturing, logistics and supply chain management.
He succeeds Dr Shamir Ghumra as vice-chair and will remain as the branch ambassador for policy and governance.
As vice-chair, Craig will work closely alongside branch chair Sarah Canning and a team of specialist ambassadors to provide connections, professional development opportunities and an influential lobbying voice for all directors.
Craig said: “I am delighted to take on this role. We want to support local directors to deal with the challenges facing their organisations but also to provide them with the tools they need to prosper. I will be using my experience in helping clients to manage change and think through better ways of working.”
Sarah Canning, chair of IoD Leicester and South East Midlands, added: “I’d like to thank Shamir for his excellent work as vice-chair and welcome Craig as our new vice-chair. As someone with a passion for helping SMEs to achieve their full potential, I am delighted that Craig has agreed to take on this additional role. We are a community of individual members made stronger through the strength of our network – helping each other grow and succeed.”
Six new appointments at Lincolnshire law firm
Six new people have joined the Lincoln office of rapidly-expending law firm Pepperells.
Joining the Pepperells Lincoln team are:
- John Conlon, highly regarded for his expertise in child law, representing children, parents and family members along with 20 years experience in family law.
- Alison McGowan is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and the Association of Lawyers for Children, she specialises in complex court proceedings, including care, private law children matters, special guardianship and adoption.
- Hannah Bell, specialises in representing parents in arranging contact orders, residency and guardianship along with supporting parents and family members where the Local Authority has issued care proceedings or commenced pre-proceedings.
Hot Topic – WestBridge Tax Director Tom Moore responds to Chancellors Spring Statement
Business Link Magazine catches up with WestBridge Tax Director Tom Moore over the tax changes announced in the Spring Statement.
“Is that it?”, one opposition MP was heard to call out in the House of Commons, just as Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered the last of his key announcements. The comment was probably a reaction to the relative paucity of help offered to those struggling with the cost of living but might also reflect the thoughts of those in the accountancy and tax professions.
There were a few changes of note.
A change to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) increases both the ‘Primary Threshold’ for Class 1 NICs and the ‘Lower Profits Limit’ for Class 4 NICs from 6 July 2022, aligning them with the personal allowance for income tax which is set at £12,570 per annum. The intention is that these thresholds will remain aligned. That provides both a welcome simplification and a tax saving of up to £330 per annum for those affected.
The ‘Employment Allowance’ will rise from £4,000 to £5,000 from April 2022. This means eligible businesses and charities will be able to claim a greater reduction on the NICs they pay and, from the 2023 to 2024 tax year onwards, their Health and Social Care Levy liabilities.
A time-limited zero-rate of VAT for the installation of certain types of energy-saving materials was announced. The zero-rate will be available for a period of 5 years and will then revert to the 5% reduced rate of VAT.
Rates of Fuel Duty will be reduced for 12 months. This includes cutting rates for diesel and unleaded and leaded petrol by 5 pence per litre. The cut will translate into a reduction in the cost at the pumps of around 6p per litre meaning that the cost of filling the average tank will fall by an estimated £3.30.
The Chancellor also signalled forthcoming reforms aimed at encouraging businesses to invest more in capital spending, provision of high-quality employee training and research and development. There was also the headline announcement of a proposed reduction of the basic rate of income tax to 19% in two years’ time.
Should we have expected more? Probably not.
In the early months of the year speculation concerning tax changes invariably runs rife and the fortune-telling skills of tax professionals are tested by clients and journalists– normally to the point of failure.
Until 2016, the March Budget represented the single most significant statement of tax changes. Since 2017, we have had a ‘Spring Statement’ and a Budget in the late Autumn. Those not paying close attention would be forgiven for being a little confused. We had grown accustomed to both events being, in effect, ‘Budgets’ with both containing a raft of tax changes in broadly equal measure.
Technically – and until relatively recently – only the ‘Budget’ was where the Government announced tax changes. The ‘Budget’ told us how the Government was going to raise money and the ‘Statement’ (whether Spring or Autumn) told us how that money was going to be spent.
If the Spring Statement seemed a little short on announcements that may only be a return to the traditional roles of ‘Budget’ and ‘Statement’ (even if the calendar has changed). As a self-confessed failure at prediction, I for one, would welcome that.
Buckles Solicitors announced as Nottingham City Business Club headline sponsor
Buckles Solicitors LLP has officially been announced as the new headline sponsor of Nottingham City Business Club.
Nottingham City Business Club (NCBC) is the oldest business networking club outside of London and will celebrate its one hundredth year in 2024. Keen to establish a headline sponsor, NCBC has agreed a deal with Nottingham-based Buckles Solicitors – a regular attendee of the club’s events and former headline sponsor from 2017 to 2020 – to resume its position as headline sponsor.
NCBC’s membership is currently made up of 80 individual businesses with each member having the opportunity to attend 10 in-person lunches per year at Nottingham’s Park Plaza Hotel, alongside a range of social events and an annual charity golf day.
Buckles Solicitors is a well-established and expanding law firm with offices in Nottingham, Stamford, Cambridge, Peterborough, London, Paris and Milan. Its team of legal specialists deliver a comprehensive range of legal services to businesses and individuals in the UK and internationally across various sectors, with particular expertise in planning and environmental law, construction and engineering, rail, employment, company and commercial law, commercial disputes and dispute resolution, together with private client wealth preservation and estate planning services. The firm also remains committed to supporting family businesses and entrepreneurs.
In 2015, Buckles was awarded LawNet’s “Law Firm of the Year” award and the firm was complimented for its exemplary client and employee care, clear strategic direction and sustained financial performance.
Nigel Rowlson, President of Nottingham City Business Club and Managing Director of The Dairy Creative Agency, is delighted to welcome Buckles on board once again as the club’s headline sponsor and sees this as a great opportunity for both parties.
“As face-to-face events resume and our one hundredth anniversary nears, having Buckles on board again is great news for the club.”
“We really want to drive success for NCBC not just in the short-term, but the long-term too – and welcoming Buckles back as our headline sponsor really adds value to our events. Likewise, this is a great opportunity for Buckles to raise its profile further and engage with Nottingham’s business community,”
He continues, “One of my main aims when I became president was to increase the number of members and engage with a growing number of local speakers at our events. The pandemic meant that we lost some of our member base but we’re now increasing our numbers rapidly again and we’re excited to have a number of great local entrepreneurs as guest speakers this season – including Tesla, East Midlands Airport, Doughnotts and DHP Family/Rock City”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Buckles for agreeing to be our main sponsor again and I’m looking forward to us forming a long and healthy partnership.”
James Coppinger, Partner and Head of Nottingham office at Buckles Solicitors, commented on the company’s decision to renew its sponsorship of NCBC this year.
“Given our proven track record of assisting businesses in Nottingham and across the region, and our long-standing links with NCBC, we’re delighted to have this role within the network. The monthly lunches and networking events are always very well organised and the range of speakers the club attracts is inspirational. It’s great for us to be involved once again!”
