- Powerful cloud-based HR and payroll solutions
- Flexible outsourced payroll processing services
- Highly configurable automation tools tailored to your unique business processes
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- ChatHR for conversational interactions between employees and ichris HR
Frontier Software supports CIPD Festival of Work
Frontier Software will be participating as an exhibitor at the CIPD Festival of Work, taking place at ExCeL London on 11th and 12th June 2025.
The Festival of Work is a major event organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), bringing together professionals in HR, learning and development (L&D), and internal communications for two days of insight, innovation, and inspiration.
This annual CIPD celebration is for everyone invested in the value people bring to their work. It’s for leaders who know their people solve their business challenges. It’s for people managers working hard to bring out the best in their teams. And it’s for people professionals, of all roles, who drive the success of their organisations by building a thriving workforce.
With 180 exhibitor stands, the event offers a dynamic environment for discovering new workplace technologies, tools, and services designed to drive business success. It’s a must-attend event for anyone seeking to enhance their professional skills, stay current with industry innovations, or find cutting-edge corporate solutions.
As a long-standing and trusted provider, Frontier Software brings over 40 years of experience delivering innovative HR and payroll solutions to organisations across sectors and sizes. A fully integrated suite of software modules is designed to enable personalised employee experiences while meeting the complex operational needs of HR teams.
Visitors to Frontier Software’s stand will be able to explore:
Chesterfield skills partnership appoints new chair
The Chesterfield Skills and Employment Partnership has marked its two-year milestone with the appointment of a new chair.
Diane Beresford, deputy CEO of East Midlands Chamber, has been appointed as the Skills and Employment Partnership chair, where she will lead and facilitate partnership initiatives contained within the Chesterfield Skills Action Plan (2023-27) to build the local economy and bridge the skills gap.
Diane Beresford said: “If there’s one thing employers say over and over again, they want to see, it’s skills – when they advertise a role, they want a candidate that can hit the ground running. Right now, that’s often not the case, with six out of ten businesses telling us in our Quarterly Economic Survey that they’ve struggled to recruit.
“I want to do everything I can to help bridge that gap. As a Chesterfield resident myself, getting people into work or further ahead in their career is something I’m very passionate about, so I’m looking forward to sharing my insight to help more Chesterfield people get where they want to be.”
Representatives from the business community, public sector and education providers have joined forces as part of the Chesterfield Skills and Employment Partnership, to create opportunities that allow Derbyshire residents to access new programmes that aim to build skills, employability and help the local economy to develop.
Since 2023 when the Chesterfield Skills and Employment Partnership was launched, hundreds of people have benefited from business support, recruitment events, upskilling, received support from the readiness to work programme and lots of new skills have been created through the skills hub.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice chair of the Skills and Employment Partnership, said: “Over the last two years, we have supported hundreds of local people with training and work-based opportunities that have only been made possible through the Chesterfield Skills and Employment Partnership.
“I am delighted that Diane Beresford has agreed to take on the role of Chair of the Chesterfield Skills and Employment Partnership. She is passionate about ensuring people and businesses have the support they need to achieve their ambitions. I am sure under Diane’s leadership the Partnership will go from strength to strength.”
Honey secures approval for 275-unit housing development in Derbyshire
Housebuilder Honey has received planning approval for a 275-home residential scheme in Duckmanton, Derbyshire. Chesterfield Borough Council granted permission for the £79.5m development, which will be constructed on a 41-acre site off Tom Lane.
The scheme, branded ‘Pearl’, will feature a mix of two- to five-bedroom homes, including terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer, with the first phase of homes expected to be released for sale in autumn 2025. Starting prices will begin at just under £230,000.
This marks one of the largest schemes to date for Honey, which was founded in 2022 by Mark Mitchell following his exit from Avant Homes. Private equity firm Alchemy Partners backs the company via its Special Opportunities Fund IV, which holds £937m in committed capital.
The business has rapidly expanded by recruiting former Avant Homes staff and recently announced the launch of a new partnerships division. Honey continues to focus on delivering design-focused housing that aligns with demand from first-time buyers, families, and downsizers.
UK defence review unlocks major investment in industry and supply chain
The UK Government’s Strategic Defence Review is set to trigger a multibillion-pound wave of investment across the country’s defence sector, with a strong emphasis on industrial capacity, digital modernisation and workforce development.
At the core of the plan is the expansion of the UK’s submarine fleet, with a commitment to build 12 new attack submarines. This is expected to significantly bolster the country’s submarine-building capabilities and sustain 30,000 specialist jobs into the next decade. The move aligns with the government’s broader commitment to its warhead programme, which has already received £15 billion in funding and will see further modernisation at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston.
The review outlines a national shift toward “warfighting readiness,” including expanded stockpiles of arms and critical equipment. Over the next ten years, 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles will be created to meet long-term workforce demands in engineering, manufacturing and defence technology.
Cyber operations are set to undergo a significant transformation with the establishment of a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command, designed to position the UK at the forefront of digital warfare. In parallel, over £1 billion will be invested in a new Digital Targeting Web—an initiative intended to enhance battlefield decision-making, intelligence and targeting through AI and integrated systems, informed by recent lessons from Ukraine.
The government also plans to procure up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons and construct at least six new munitions and energetics factories to reinforce domestic production capacity. However, locations have not yet been disclosed.
Defence spending continues to play a key role in regional economies. In 2023/24, the Ministry of Defence spent £28.8 billion with UK industry. The South West and South East saw the highest allocations, with £6.9 billion and £7.1 billion respectively. The South West led in per-capita terms, with £1,190 per person and 1,550 defence jobs per 100,000 residents. The region is home to major employers such as Babcock International, which operates from over 60 sites including Devonport and Filton, and Rolls-Royce’s Bristol site, where engines are built for the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 aircraft.
The review marks the first time the government has published a complete outline of its long-term defence investment strategy, signalling sustained demand for skilled talent, manufacturing capacity, and digital innovation across the sector.
Winvic appointed to commence construction at £200m Towcester employment park
Winvic Construction has been appointed by IM Properties (IMP) to commence construction work at a major new employment park, Towcester Park.
Expected to create 1,500 jobs when fully occupied, Towcester Park will provide skills and training opportunities for local people and fund projects through a dedicated £100,000 community fund.
Commenting on starting the initial phase of the 1.1 million sq ft development, Danny Nelson, managing director – industrial, distribution & logistics at Winvic, said: “We’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership with IM Properties and work together to deliver the first stages of this high-quality employment space with industry-leading sustainability credentials.”
Richard Sykes, development director at IM Properties, said: “Winvic is a trusted and valued member of our supply chain who understands our ambitions to deliver legacy projects and work in partnership with the community.
“They have successfully delivered several of our previous schemes and will work closely with our team to help shape the first stages of this strategically important development.”
Raise your business’s profile at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
Raise the profile of your business by submitting a nomination for Business Link’s 10th annual East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025.
Celebrating the region’s property and construction industry, its people, and outstanding developments, the annual awards attract leaders from all over the region and are the perfect way for businesses to showcase the work they are completing and create more buzz.
Award categories include: most active agent, commercial development 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, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner.
It is completely free to enter, and making the top three finalists in your category will win you free tickets to the awards ceremony.
A highlight in the business calendar, winners will be unveiled on Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) at Nottingham’s famous 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.
To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Categories include:
New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements. Upon submitting a nomination, we will get in touch for any information, imagery, and video nominees would like to be featured on their showcase page.
To find out more about the East Midlands Bricks Awards please click here. For tickets to the event, please click here.
With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor.
- Contractor of the Year
- Developer of the Year
- Architects of the Year
- Most Active Agent
- Deal of the Year
- Residential Development of the Year
- Sustainable Development of the Year
- Commercial Development of the Year
- Excellence in Design
- Responsible Business of the Year
- Overall Winner
Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.
Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries.The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor. Q&A with Paul Ince: Why the sales funnel is dead — and what’s replacing it
With shifting trade dynamics and a changing buyer mindset, sales and marketing teams are being forced to evolve — fast. We spoke to Paul Ince, marketing strategist and co-host of the upcoming “Funeral for the Funnel” event, about why the traditional B2B sales model is on its last legs, and what manufacturers and suppliers need to know to stay ahead.
What do you mean by “the death of the sales funnel?” Isn’t that how most B2B sales still work?
The funnel’s been a useful model for decades — but it’s based on the assumption that buyers move in a straight line: awareness, interest, decision. In today’s B2B landscape, that’s just not reality. Buyers are doing their own research, reading peer reviews, involving multiple stakeholders, and jumping back and forth in their journey. The funnel doesn’t reflect that chaos. It’s not dead because it’s useless — it’s dead or dying because it’s too simple.
So, what’s replacing the funnel — and why does it matter now?
It’s being replaced by something more circular and more collaborative. We’re seeing a shift toward relationship-led marketing — where value, trust, and timing matter more than discounting or flashy lead gen tactics. However, with the economic environment, budget compliance is still often a higher priority than things like cultural fit between buyer and supplier.
You’ve said price isn’t the deal-breaker it used to be. Is that really true in a climate of rising costs?
Well, our latest B2B Buying Decisions Report shows that while price is always a factor, it’s not the only one but right now it’s moving higher up the list again– this isn’t to say values, service etc. aren’t important to the buyer but they are also asking: can this supplier integrate with our systems? Can they be relied on if things get rocky? Can they help us stay competitive long-term? So, for example, tariff pressure might start the conversation, but confidence is what closes the deal.
What’s the biggest mistake suppliers are still making?
Leading with product and price, not people and problems. People don’t mind being sold to; they accept it’s part of the game of buying. What they want is transparency. They don’t want to feel like they’re being hoodwinked or tricked. People trust what they see less. They need to feel that they can trust a supplier. Being clear on messaging and costs help move the customer along on whatever journey they take. Leading with product and price may well help set the best foundation for the customer journey because further information such as understanding challenges and value can justify that cost.
You’re co-hosting an event called “Funeral for the Funnel.” What’s the thinking behind that?
It’s a light-hearted title with a serious point. We’re gathering sales and marketing leaders to talk about how customer journeys are evolving and how we need to evolve with them. It’s not a theory session — it’s practical, grounded in data, and designed to help people rethink how they engage prospects and customers. Think of it as a send-off for an old friend… and a welcome party for a better approach.
If you could give one piece of advice to B2B sales and marketing teams right now, what would it be?
Stop chasing clicks. Start building confidence. In uncertain times, your biggest competitive edge is trust.
For more information and to register for the Funeral for the Funnel event, visit https://gi.creationzmarketing.co.uk/home-1515
Dains expands national presence with fresh acquisition
Accountancy and advisory services provider to the SME market, Dains Group, has made its second acquisition since securing private equity backing from IK Partners.
Barnes Roffe, one of the UK’s top 50 accounting firms, will join the Dains Group on 4th June 2025, significantly strengthening the client proposition in financial advisory, corporate tax, audit, and corporate finance. The Barnes Roffe team has over 29 partners and more than 200 employees in the London area.
The acquisition, which is the largest yet by the Group, means Dains will now have established four key regional hubs across the UK and Ireland — in the South-East, Midlands, Scotland and Ireland — and are on target to become a top 20 firm by the end of 2025.
Stephen Corner, senior partner at Barnes Roffe, said: “By partnering with Dains we are joining a firm with the same values and underlying service proposition we have been delivering to our clients for many years and together we will deliver a truly market leading proposition for our clients.
“Becoming part of a national firm widens our service proposition and increases the range of specialist services we can deliver whilst at the same time greatly enhancing the career opportunities for our talented team. We look forward to significantly growing the Dains business in the South-East.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Barnes Roffe to the Dains Group,” said Richard McNeilly, CEO of the Dains Group. “It’s not often we encounter such a dynamic and client-centric leadership team. Together, we see significant opportunities to grow our presence in the London area and expand across the UK and Ireland.
“The addition of Barnes Roffe strengthens our national footprint and aligns perfectly with our strategy to deliver exceptional client service and outstanding career opportunities.
“With a team now exceeding 1,000 professionals, we remain committed to enhancing the value we provide to clients and investing in the development of our talented people.
“Our ambition is to work in partnership with clients, offering timely, thoughtful advice rooted in a deep understanding of their goals. This approach has underpinned Barnes Roffe’s impressive growth and makes them a natural strategic partner for our group.”
Pete Wilson, partner at IK Partners, added: “This strategic acquisition demonstrates our ambition to continue building Dains into the leading UK & Ireland SME advisory business by establishing a strong presence, led by an outstanding team at Barnes Roffe, in London and the South-East. We look forward to continuing to back further acquisitions as part of this exciting partnership.”
Dains were advised by CMS (Legal), Eight Advisory (Financial and Tax Due Diligence), Forward Corporate Finance (Financial Modelling), Deloitte (Tax Structuring), PDW (Customer Referencing), Cyber Crowd (IT Due Diligence), and Mercia (Technical Due Diligence).
Barnes Roffe were advised by KPMG CF (Corporate Finance) and KPMG Legal (Legal).
Manufacturing contraction eases but headwinds persist
UK manufacturing activity contracted for the eighth consecutive month in May, but the pace of decline slowed slightly, according to the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The index rose to 46.4 in May from 45.4 in April, indicating continued sector shrinkage below the neutral 50 threshold.
Firms reported falling output and new business as both domestic and overseas demand remained subdued. New orders declined for the eighth consecutive month, with clients reportedly hesitant to commit to spending amid higher employment-related costs and economic uncertainty.
The rise in the National Living Wage and increased employer National Insurance contributions, introduced in April, have added pressure to margins. The National Living Wage rose by 6.7% to £12.21 per hour, while employer NI contributions increased to 15% for salaries above £5,100.
Manufacturers also pointed to ongoing challenges with tariffs and freight costs, energy price volatility, and extended supplier lead times. Export demand weakened further due to continued global trade uncertainty and pricing pressures.
Despite these challenges, input price inflation eased to a five-month low, and some firms benefited from improved weather-related sales. However, the overall environment remains fragile, with limited signs of a near-term rebound.
East Midlands backs green tech innovation with first round of business grants
The East Midlands Investment Zone (EMIZ) has completed its first year by awarding over £500,000 in funding to 15 pilot projects aimed at accelerating the commercialisation of low-emission technologies. The initiative is part of a £160 million, ten-year commitment from the UK Government to position the region as a national leader in innovation-led, clean growth.
These “fast start” projects pair businesses with academic researchers from the University of Nottingham, University of Derby, and Nottingham Trent University. The partnerships are focused on four strategic sectors: zero-emission propulsion, clean energy, green construction, and sustainable advanced manufacturing. These sectors were selected based on the East Midlands’ existing industrial strengths, research expertise, and relevance to emerging clean technology markets.
The grant programme has a broad regional footprint, with more than half of the funded businesses located outside of Nottingham and Derby. Projects include hydrogen fuel cell applications for rail transport, AI-enhanced digital twins for industrial maintenance, rail-based vibration energy harvesting, and lightweight power converters for electric propulsion systems.
Alongside the grants, sector-specific technology roadmaps are being developed to identify the region’s competitive advantages and shape future investments. Led by the University of Nottingham in collaboration with industry specialists, these roadmaps are expected to be published in summer 2025 and will help guide the allocation of subsequent EMIZ funding.
EMIZ operates under the East Midlands Combined County Authority and sits into a broader suite of regional growth initiatives, including the East Midlands Freeport and the upcoming Local Growth Plan. The programme combines direct financial support with incentives such as tax relief and business rate retention to encourage the development of commercially viable, net-zero-aligned technologies.
