Travis Perkins names new CFO

Tess Egginton
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Travis Perkins names new CFO
Travis Perkins has named its next Chief Financial Officer, with Alan Williams set to retire as CFO and step down from the Board in 2024, after seven years in the role. Duncan Cooper, currently group finance director at Crest Nicholson and an executive director of Crest Nicholson Holdings plc, has been chosen to succeed Alan. Prior to his role at Crest Nicholson, Duncan, a Chartered Accountant, spent eight years in roles at Sainsbury’s including head of investor relations, finance director – food and director of group finance. Nick Roberts, CEO of Travis Perkins plc, said: “I’m hugely appreciative of the expertise Alan has brought to the group and the support he has given me and the wider leadership team. “He has been instrumental in leading us through a period of significant change including the successful sale of the Plumbing and Heating businesses and the demerger of Wickes as part of our strategy of focusing on the trade, as well as shaping our culture and our strategy to become the leading partner to the construction industry. “We all wish Alan well in his forthcoming retirement in 2024. “I’m thrilled that the Board has decided to appoint Duncan to succeed Alan as CFO. He brings an ambitious drive with a strong track record of performance focus and rich cross-sector experience having held senior leadership roles at Crest Nicholson and Sainsbury’s. I’m looking forward to him joining the Board and the leadership team.” Jasmine Whitbread, chair of Travis Perkins, said: “I’d like to thank Alan for his significant contribution to the group over the last seven years, and wish him well in his retirement. Alan has been instrumental in driving the group’s strong relationship with our shareholders and supporting the significant shift in strategic focus for the group. “I’m delighted that following a thorough and considered process we have been able to attract a candidate of Duncan’s calibre as our next CFO. “His blend of experience with Sainsbury’s and in the construction industry with Crest Nicholson will enable him to apply his industry knowledge, broad business and strategic acumen and strong leadership to the ambitious agenda we have for the group. The Board and I are very much looking forward to working with him.” Duncan Cooper said: “I’m excited to be joining Travis Perkins plc in 2024, a market leading business with an exciting and ambitious strategy to be the leading partner to the construction industry. “The industry is going through a period of significant change, underpinned by requirements for more sustainable, energy efficient buildings and I am looking forward to working with Nick, Jasmine and the Board to help shape the next phase of the company’s evolution.”

Half year revenue and profit drop at Forterra

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Half year revenue and profit drop at Forterra
Forterra, the manufacturer of clay and concrete building products, has hailed a “resilient” first half despite a drop in profit and revenue. In a trading update for the six-month period ending 30 June 2023, the business said the results were “broadly in line with expectations,” and “delivered against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions.” Revenues for the period are anticipated to be approximately £183m, a decrease of 18% relative to the prior year (2022: £222.8m), while the firm is expecting to report an adjusted profit before tax of approximately £18m, down from £37.3m last year. Forterra said progressive signs of market improvement were seen through May and June, but this improvement has been less pronounced than previously anticipated. In response to the challenging market conditions, and with its brick production capacity increasing with the opening of the new Desford factory, Forterra has mothballed its Howley Park brick factory and implemented other production reductions which will reduce fixed costs by around £10m on an annualised basis. In addition, the company is consulting with affected individuals on a restructuring of commercial and support functions, aligning them to anticipated demand, which Forterra expects to save approximately £3m annually.

Nottingham construction firm falls into administration

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham construction firm falls into administration
Hundreds of jobs have been put at risk with the entry of Nottingham construction firm J Tomlinson Ltd into administration. Founded in the 1950s, the business, which employs more than 400 people, has gone under after failing to attract additional finance. The company is said to have been affected, primarily in its Care division, by long-term contracts with hyper inflation and schemes priced pre-covid, which ultimately impaired the group’s cash-flow. Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2021 show a turnover increased to £106m, with a reduced £616,000 operating loss. FRP Advisory has been appointed administrator. In a statement, Mark Davis, CEO, said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that J Tomlinson Ltd will be filing a notice of intention to the court today to enter into administration, the proposed administrator will be FRP Advisory, which we anticipate will take place later today (10 July). “JTL have a number of divisions across Facilities Management, Regeneration, Refurbishment, Engineering Services, and Care. It is the latter division which has been battling long-term contracts with hyper inflation, schemes priced pre-covid which ultimately has impaired the groups cash-flow. “We as a board have worked tirelessly to attract additional overall finance into the group to invest for the future. Sadly today, we have to announce we have been unsuccessful in this regard. Since COVID-19 impacted the world and the local business community, we have worked tremendously hard to build the JTL brand across our chosen sectors with great success, which is testament to all our people. “We have many very long service colleagues who have spent a good portion of their lives supporting our business, along with their family and friends, we hoped we would end their journey with a bright future for the next generation, sadly we have run out of time. “I would like to express my gratitude to the JTL family for their proactive attitude to our customers, to each other, and the supply chain who have supported us over a long period of trading and especially post-COVID and the impact this outcome will have on them, their business, and their employees. “We have employees with 30 years time invested and customers lasting 15-20 years, which is incredible and tragic. We have done our upmost to communicate timely and provide the support to our teams, which is very difficult when decisions of this magnitude are taken and implemented in the tightest of timelines. “We will do our utmost to provide support and guidance throughout the forthcoming difficult period.”

How to improve your marketing videos

Tess Egginton
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How to improve your marketing videos
Marketing videos are a powerful tool to engage your audience and promote your brand. However, not all videos are created equal. Some may fall flat and fail to generate the desired impact. Fortunately, there are a few key strategies that can help you improve your marketing videos and make them more effective. Here are some tips to get you started. Define Your Audience The first step to creating an effective marketing video is to define your audience. Who are you trying to reach? What are their interests and needs? Once you know your audience, you can tailor your message and tone to resonate with them. This will help you create a video that is more engaging and relevant to your target audience. Keep it Short and Sweet In today’s fast-paced world, littered with carousel style content found on the likes of TikTok and YouTube Shorts, attention spans are short. To keep your audience engaged, keep your video short and to the point. Depending on placement, your video should ideally be no longer than a minute or thereabouts if it is to be placed on any form of social media, or 2-3 minutes if it’s going to be embedded on your website. Longer videos may be suitable depending on the content, for example it may be possible to create a 10 minute explainer video on YouTube if the content is engaging and interesting enough – but usually, if you have a lot of information to share, you should consider breaking it up into a series of shorter videos. Tell a Story Humans are wired to respond to stories. Use this to your advantage by telling a compelling story in your video. Whether it’s a customer success story or a behind-the-scenes look at your business, a good story can capture your audience’s attention and keep them engaged. Use High-Quality Visuals Visuals are a crucial part of any marketing video. Make sure your visuals are high-quality and relevant to your message. The simple truth is that if you want your videos, and thus your brand, to appear respectable and high quality on video, then you need to hire a video production company that specialises in business marketing videos, such as Glowfrog (www.glowfrogvideo.com). This actually costs far less in the long run than trying to make marketing videos by yourself. If you’re not sure, consider these six big reasons to hire a video production company. Focus on Benefits, Not Features When promoting a product or service, it’s easy to get caught up in the features. However, to really engage your audience, focus on the benefits. How will your product or service make their life better? How will it solve their problems? Highlighting the benefits will make your video more compelling and resonate with your audience. Include a Clear Call-to-Action Your marketing video should have a clear call-to-action (CTA) that tells your audience what you want them to do next. Whether it’s to visit your website, sign up for a free trial, or contact you for more information, make sure your CTA is clear and easy to follow. Test and Iterate Finally, don’t be afraid to test and iterate. Once you’ve created your marketing video, test it with a small group of people to get feedback. Use this feedback to make improvements and refine your message. Then, test it again until you get the results you’re looking for. In conclusion, creating effective marketing videos takes time and effort. By following these tips, you can improve the quality of your videos and create content that resonates with your audience. Remember to focus on your audience, tell a compelling story, and highlight the benefits of your product or service. With practice and persistence, you can create marketing videos that drive results for your business.

Ex-SAS: Who Dares Wins star adds to company’s ‘mountainous’ charity milestone

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Ex-SAS: Who Dares Wins star adds to company’s ‘mountainous’ charity milestone

A company that helps people fulfil personal goals while raising money for charity is on course to rake in an incredible £30m to help cancer patients.

Derby-based Ultra Events organises and trains people for free in exhilarating challenges, such as white-collar boxing, ballroom dancing, mixed martial arts, mountain climbs and endurance competitions – changing the lives of both participants and people diagnosed with cancer.

The firm is now set to hit the fantastic £30m milestone, which has been collected for Cancer Research UK since 2014.

Ultra Events founder Jon Leonard said: “We’re really proud to have been able to raise such a phenomenal amount for such an important cause, while at the same time helping people to reach their own goals or make their dreams come true.

“A big thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible over the years.”

The most recent exhilarating fundraiser was a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro – with Jon taking part in the fearsome feat alongside a team including ex-SAS: Who Dares Wins contestant Alan Knight.

Alan, a 39-year-old from Bristol, applied for Series 6 of the Channel 4 quasi-military training show, just four weeks after major eye surgery, having lost an eye to cancer.

Medics discovered the cancer just weeks before lockdown, in February 2020, and he went on the show “to start enjoying life again.”

The disease could have spread to his liver and killed him, so he is now keen to live life to the full.

Two years on, the dad-of-four and self-confessed adrenaline junkie is in remission and has been completing various challenges.

Alan, who runs a gym called Knight Nutrition and Fitness with his son Lewis, 19, has previously walked 42 miles in 12 hours while carrying all his own kit to raise money for a friend suffering a brain tumour and also climbed the 2,907ft Pen Y Fan in Wales continuously for 24 hours, hitting the summit nine times.

It was while trekking up Pen Y Fan where he met a group of Cancer Research UK supporters, who suggested he should do something for the charity.

They linked him up with Jon and a team of 40 climbers was put together for the Kilimanjaro trip.

They flew to Ethiopia last month before moving on to Tanzania, where they tackled the 19,341ft mountain during the 10-day trip from which they have just returned.

Alan, who is married to Megan and boxes and does cardio workouts every day, said: “I raised £11,000 in sponsorship before I even set off for this challenge, and also held a charity night to raise money for the climb.

“Because I nearly died from cancer, I just don’t want to waste my life.”

Before departing for the trip, the thrill-seeker promised: “I’ll be back to work in the gym at 6am the next day after arriving home!”

Jon – who is match-funding any sponsorship for his climb – said: “Alan is just one of the inspirational people we meet regularly through our events. I’m honoured to have had him on board. It was tough, but we were up for the challenge, knowing we are supporting cancer patients.”

Simon Ledsham, fundraising director at Cancer Research UK, said: “Since 2014, Ultra Events and their participants have raised an incredible £29.4m for Cancer Research UK and are fast approaching their £30m fundraising milestone.

“This represents a major contribution to the charity’s efforts to beat cancer sooner through the discovery of new ways to treat, diagnose and prevent a disease that will affect one-in-two people at some stage in their lives.

“We are immensely grateful to Jon Leonard, Alan Knight and all of the Ultra participants for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and would like to thank everyone who has supported them through sponsorship. The group have now raised over £240,000.”

To sponsor Jon, visit www.justgiving.com/jon-leonard17. To sponsor Alan, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alan-Knight13.

Secure your place at the unmissable East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023

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Secure your place at the unmissable East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
Taking place on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while presenting the ideal opportunity to connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks. The stand-out event in the business calendar, taking place in the Derek Randall Suite at Trent Bridge from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, will additionally feature Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, as keynote speaker. Click HERE to secure your tickets for the unmissable occasion. After attending and winning Deal of the Year at last year’s event, Richard Foxon, Managing Director at Newton LDP, said: “My colleague Sam Jones and I thoroughly enjoyed the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, the event was well attended, with some prestigious awards up for grabs. The evening offered a great opportunity to network with like-minded property folk, whilst enjoying the backdrop of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. Many thanks to all the organisers and sponsors.” With nominations OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards, submit your entries NOW ahead of next month’s deadline (Thursday 31 August) – showcase your business, team and projects. To enter your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Find out who last year’s winners were here.
Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

Nottingham Business School to support digital transformation at BarberBoss

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Nottingham Business School to support digital transformation at BarberBoss

A new project between Nottingham Business School (NBS) and grooming brand, BarberBoss, is set to improve supply chain efficiency and reliability by using artificial intelligence (AI).

BarberBoss has experienced rapid growth in recent years and deals with complex supply chain operations, selling its products through multiple channels including Amazon and Boots.

The company has now commissioned the Centre for Business and Industry Transformation (CBIT) at NBS to assist in digitally transforming its stock inventory management.

The Centre’s team of experts will analyse open-source software, such as AI-based tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot, which can help to manage, oversee, and optimise the supply chain management process — from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final product to the customer.

The project will also create dashboards and visualisations which will give BarberBoss a comprehensive and real-time understanding of various aspects of the business, including sales trends, inventory levels, delivery status, and supplier performance.

By integrating AI tools into business practices, BarberBoss will benefit from informed decision-making in sales, marketing, and product development, as well as enhanced operational efficiency thanks to a centralised system. The technology will also ensure continued high-quality customer service by supporting BarberBoss to meet consumer expectations in terms of product availability and delivery times.

Rui Shi, the co-founder and CEO of BarberBoss, describes how this project will help the company: “We are looking to enhance the resilience of the BarberBoss supply chain, enabling the company to overcome challenges and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape. This will ensure effective responses to dynamic market conditions and meet the growing demands of customers, launching new products and expanding market share globally.”

Georgi Iliev, Venture and Product Manager at CBIT, explains how the outcomes of the project will also benefit the wider industry: “Not only will this project support BaberBoss’ ambitious growth plans, but it will also provide a blueprint for other small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK and worldwide to improve their supply chain management and increase their competitiveness in the global marketplace.

“SMEs could quickly and affordably develop custom IT systems that improve their operations, supply chain visibility, and responsiveness to changing demand. The project could also help to bridge the gap between industry and academia, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing that could benefit both sectors.”

CBIT has been chosen to deliver this Knowledge Transfer Partnership due to its expertise in the areas of industry transformation research, disruptive business practices, and business education.

The team will support BarberBoss with identifying the key performance indicators crucial for its growth, as well as giving advice on business model and process innovation, and new product development. CBIT will also provide BarberBoss with training and guidance on how to implement the advanced analytics methods.

SV2 appoints new CEO

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SV2 appoints new CEO
A well-known figure in Derbyshire’s voluntary sector has been officially appointed CEO of the county’s leading charity that supports victims of sexual abuse. Rachel Morris is now head of SV2 which has bases in Ripley, Derby and Buxton and provides a wide range of services to support victims and survivors of sexual abuse regardless of their age, gender, when the offence took place or whether they have reported the crime to police or not. The charity also supports the wider families and works to prevent and raise awareness of rape and sexual abuse and their effects through training and education programmes across the county. Mrs Morris has previously held senior positions in a wide range of organisations including Derby Diocese, Derby Cathedral, YMCA, Relate and DHA, The Derby Law Centre. As well as her role at SV2, she continues her voluntary positions at the Derby County Community Trust as a Trustee and the Friends of Derby 500 Club which she founded two years ago to support local families in crisis. She explained: “Having spent the majority of my working life dedicated to supporting people facing challenge and building resilience in local communities, I am delighted to have joined such a worthwhile organisation providing much needed support, training and awareness across the county. “Sexual abuse should not exist and no one should deal with it alone. SV2 is here to support and empower the victims, inform the public and protect future generations. “We all face challenging times in terms of increased demand for services coupled with funding pressures but I am very impressed with the passion and commitment of the SV2 team and trustees alike and I am honoured to be part of the next chapter in this long-established and high regarded charity.”

Government pumps in more than £5m to help people into work

Stuart Pearcey
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Government pumps in more than £5m to help people into work
More than 2,600 residents with disabilities and long-term health problems across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby are to receive employment support tanks to £5.3m of government funding. Nottingham City Council, in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and Derby City Council, has led a successful bid for £5.3m of Government funding to help people who are either out of work or find it hard to retain a job due to disability or physical and mental health issues. This new Department for Work & Pensions-funded Individual Placement Support in Primary Care scheme, named Working Well – East Midlands, will be for people already known to health services and will work closely with existing providers. There are more than 57,000 people not working due to long-term sickness across the three council areas – 14,400 in Nottingham, 10,300 in Derby and 33,200 in Nottinghamshire. This project will help improve their life chances and wellbeing. Developed in collaboration with health partners and due to start in September, the IPSPC programme aims to bridge the gap between healthcare services and employment support, empowering people to overcome barriers and lead fulfilling working lives. It will provide comprehensive support to individuals throughout their employment journey, offering:
  • Job placement assistance
  • Personalised coaching
  • Ongoing mentoring to help participants develop the necessary skills and confidence for sustainable employment
  • Close collaboration with employers to create inclusive workplaces that enable individuals to thrive
The launch of the IPSPC programme represents a significant step forward in enhancing employment opportunities and breaking down barriers for individuals with health conditions and disabilities in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Derby. Councillor Steve Battlemuch, Portfolio Holder for Skills, Growth, Economic Development and Property at Nottingham City Council, said: “Opening up the world of work to people remains a key priority for us, but we understand that significant barriers can sometimes stand in the way of disabled people or those with long-term medical issues. “As lead partners on the project, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure this significant grant to find new ways to remove these barriers, build confidence and provide both employment opportunities and further career development. “This programme will stretch across the wider county and into Derby City, and will see us working closely with employers and job-seekers to help them thrive and grow. I look forward to seeing its progress over the coming months.”

World’s first project sees National Grid transform Peak District park

Stuart Pearcey
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World’s first project sees National Grid transform Peak District park
In one of the world’s first projects of its kind, National Grid has transformed part of the Trans Pennine Trail in the Peak District National Park by replacing seven pylons and 1.5km of overhead wires with underground cables. The Peak District project is one of the first schemes in the world to remove existing high-voltage electricity transmission infrastructure, which has been in place since the 1960s, solely to enhance the landscape. The company has also enhanced the environment in the area by planting 9,000 trees and making the whole area more accessible by enhancing car parking provision.
Senior stakeholders from the Peak District National Park Authority and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council were on hand to cut the ribbon, formally re-opening the public car park and picnic area in Dunford Bridge after refurb work. The car park and picnic area upgrade is part of the final phase of National Grid’s Going Underground project to transform this part of the Dark Peak landscape, following the successful removal of seven pylons and 1.5km of overhead electricity line in 2022. As part of how it is regulated by Ofgem, National Grid Electricity Transmission has been given dedicated funding to pursue Visual Impact Provision projects to reduce the visual impact of its infrastructure in AONBs and national parks. The complex construction and engineering programme has involved placing new cables below the ground, with world-leading teams joining forces with local contractors at each stage of the project from cable jointing to pylon removal. National Grid’s team has also been commended for achieving a planned 18 per cent biodiversity net gain for the project, smashing its initial target of 10 per cent. The additional eight per cent was achieved through careful management of the environment around the project’s highly sensitive and constrained construction site. Additional habitat for wildlife was created and the extent of permitted tree removal was greatly reduced. Leanne Evans, Senior Project Manager for National Grid said: “Securing a long-term 18 per cent biodiversity net gain for the project and enhancing the willow tit habitat has only been achieved with every single member of the project team being fully committed and willing to change the way we normally work. “We’re extremely proud to have set a high environmental benchmark on this scheme and to have demonstrated what can be accomplished by collectively doing the right thing. It proves that sensitive environmental management is possible on major projects, even in the most challenging of locations.”
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