What might businesses want from the next government? By James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants
James Pinchbeck, partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, provides food for thought ahead of the general election.
The wait is over and we now have a date for a general election, the 4th July. Whilst many will have been pressing for and wanting an election, how many of us have considered why or what we really want from the next government? Whilst individuals will no doubt have their own thoughts and asks, these invariably will be unique to them. When it comes to businesses there is probably a more collective thought or ask.
Perhaps this might start with a government that provides greater stability, a sense of direction and vision for the future, one that has empathy for people and businesses alike, with the need for disruption and doing things differently being at the heart of addressing the challenges we face. That is opposed to internal politics and disruption we have seen over the term of this parliament, with infighting and a focus on themselves rather than the people they serve. There also feels like a need to demonstrate more in terms of good governance and embracing the Nolan principles of public life, which are around selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
For many in business there is a real quest for a more stable economy along with greater certainty and growth. With a greater sense of confidence and trust, optimism tends to follow along with the assurance and decision to make business investments and to drive change and growth.
It would seem that much of the challenge of the cost of living has rightly focused on individuals but we mustn’t forget that people run, manage and work in businesses. Therefore, businesses are also impacted both directly and indirectly by the cost of living and the cost of running a business. Certainly, businesses are keen to see costs come down and stay down, something which no doubt requires a continued focus on the likes of energy costs and overall supply chain management.
Rising costs over recent years, along with workforce and skills shortages, are certainly taking their toll on established, new and scale up enterprises. As such there needs to be a greater focus on improving productivity and for ensuring that our education system, from primary to tertiary and lifelong learning, is best placed to support the needs of our businesses.
Business leaders are also frustrated by poor infrastructure, not least the inability to travel efficiently and effectively around the country whether by road, rail or public transport – we would all benefit from investment in the same.
Whilst healthcare will be high on the list of issues campaigned about and will be on the minds of the electorate, we often overlook the impact on the workplace of people not being able to access and receive the health and welfare care and support they need. Certainly, many a business could benefit from a more robust, resilient and responsive care sector.
Though it may seem an age since the pandemic, we are still dealing with the fallout and there still seems a lot to be done to support communities affected and the lasting changes we face. In particular it seems that many of our vital third sector organisations and the social economy has been hard hit and one which, despite its key and vital role in society, is often overlooked.
We must also consider Brexit as we still seem to not have realised the supposed or otherwise benefits of our withdrawal from the EU. For some this will be around dealing with the challenges involved in trading with EU states, as well as the need to explore and realise new trading opportunities.
There is also the key issues of geo-political challenges and a real sense of unrest, war and conflict around the world. Nor too, global warming and the environment.
Whatever the outcome of the election, hopefully this has provided food for thought. Perhaps surprisingly there is little reference here to taxation and the need for tax reform or changes.
See this column in the June issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
Frontier Software support Festival of Work
Frontier Software support CIPD Festival of Work at ExCel London on 12th and 13th June 2024.
The Festival of Work, organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), returns for its sixth year bringing together the latest insights, trends, and innovations in HR, L&D, and internal communications. The event includes over 150 inspirational speakers and experts, sharing their knowledge and expertise on a wide range of topics, from employee experience, learning and development, to personal wellbeing.
The festival floor is a must-visit destination, with over 170 exhibitor stands showcasing the latest innovations, cutting-edge workplace technology, business management tools and services. Visitors can expect to gain valuable insights, network with peers and discover new solutions to drive business success. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, stay up-to-date on industry trends, or find new corporate solutions, this event is not to be missed.
An experienced and trusted provider, Frontier Software has been delivering innovative HR software solutions for over 40 years. Their extensive product range is continually being developed to meet the complex demands of HR professionals. The Frontier Software comprehensive suite of integrated software modules is designed to provide personalised employee interactions, striking the perfect balance between organisational and individual needs. With highly configurable automation tools, you can tailor your HR processes to fit your unique business requirements.
Real-time data is always at your fingertips, empowering users to make informed and accurate decisions. Furthermore, the ChatHR feature enables seamless, conversational interactions between employees and your HR database, streamlining employee engagement and support.
Visit Frontier Software at the Festival of Work to learn more about HR and/or Payroll cloud-based solutions, and outsourced payroll processing services for organisations of every size and sector.
Boost morale at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024
Placing the spotlight on the region’s property and construction industry, and offering a prime opportunity for networking, the prestigious East Midlands Bricks Awards will return on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
Nominations for the event are open, and now is the perfect time to make your submissions ahead of the deadline (Thursday 5th September).
Take this ideal opportunity to showcase projects, businesses and teams, reward their hard work, and bolster morale.
To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Tickets can now be booked for the 2024 awards event, click here to secure yours.
Taking place in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on Thursday 3rd October, from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
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
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated)
Nominations end Thursday 5th September
After winning Architects of the Year at last year’s event, Louise Jones, practice manager at Matthew Montague Architects, said: “We are delighted to win the Architects of the Year Award. 2023 is our 25th year in business and we are thrilled to receive this award in our milestone year. The event was well organised, well attended and thoroughly enjoyable.” Find out who last year’s winners were here.
To be held at:
Top business strategist joins Ashby-based property consultancy
A top business strategist with 25 years’ experience in change management and consultancy has been hired by a property firm as it embarks on a new phase of ambitious growth over the next five years.
Ben Southworth has joined Fisher German as its new Chief Operating Officer to drive the delivery of the firm’s growth strategy and to lead its shared services team as the company looks to consolidate its recent success of growing to have more than 800 employees across 26 offices.
He will work closely with the directors in Fisher German’s shared services division, which includes functions such as HR, IT, finance, marketing and communications, to deliver a clear and cohesive plan for the division to support the business’s operations and future growth plans.
Ben was part of the senior team that led the rescue and turnaround plan for the Co-op Group during its period of crisis in 2014, and has also worked for Deloitte, KPMG, and Accenture.
More recently, Ben oversaw the growth of start-up Place Capital Group, which advises local authorities and housing associations on the design and delivery of social housing. Within three years the business now employs over 50 people.
Ben said: “I’m very pleased to have joined a company like Fisher German, which is at a key juncture in its growth and is hungry to progress even further.
“With its many areas of expertise in agency, advisory services, infrastructure services, and property management, it will be important to ensure all areas of the business are working together towards a common goal while continuing to deliver an excellent service for our clients and winning new work.
“I think my range of experience both in management consultancy and change management – especially my recent work in the housing sector – will enable me to provide informed strategic and operational support to Fisher German as it continues on its upward curve.”
Andrew Bridge, Managing Partner at Fisher German, added: “Fisher German’s growth, both through organic means as well as acquisitions, has got the company to a stage where it is ready to take that next leap into a new era.
“Reflecting on our business plans for 2024-29, we need the correct structure and operational efficiencies in place to realise our ambitions. As such, we have appointed Ben to lead shared services as I focus on my other responsibilities to the Partnership, our clients and the wider firm.
“Ben’s track record in ensuring all parts of a business work harmoniously to deliver excellent results meant we felt he would be well-placed to help Fisher German do the same.
“After weathering the storm of the pandemic and the subsequent challenges of the property market to grow to our largest size, we’re looking forward to building on this success with Ben as our new COO.”
D2N2 LEP incorporated into new East Midlands Combined County Authority
Work to boost inclusive growth across the region has taken an important step forward this week following the incorporation of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) into the new East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).
The move sees around 20 LEP staff joining the EMCCA to support the work to improve the lives of everyone living and working in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Derby and Derbyshire, through delivering improvements in transport, housing, skills and adult education and net zero.
Local enterprise partnerships were established across the country in 2010 with responsibilities for local economic development in their region. Now, as part of the devolution deal agreed with government that established EMCCA, the LEP’s board agreed that its functions would be incorporated into the EMCCA to deliver a unified approach to tackling the region’s challenges.
Mark Rogers, interim Chief Executive of EMCCA, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome LEP staff to the EMCCA. It’s an important step forward in growing organisational capacity and supporting our devolution journey that’s seen powers move from Westminster to the East Midlands where we can make the right decisions for the people we serve.
“The move means the expertise, knowledge and experience that supports business growth, investment opportunities and partnership working is in one place where we can make a real difference to our region.”
Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP, said: “I’m delighted that the LEP team is joining the Combined County Authority. We’re extremely proud of the work we’ve done over the last 13 years, but joining EMCCA means that across a whole range of issues we can do more, even bigger, even better things that support our region.”
The D2N2 Board, which provides strategic leadership for the LEP, will be in place until the end of this year.
One third of employees feel less engaged at work due to personal finance issues
A large-scale survey which examines UK employee engagement has found that a third of people are distracted at work due to their personal finances; they were also more likely to report unmanageable job stress.
The Engage for Success (EfS) UK Employee Engagement Survey 2023 received responses from more than 3,000 people. The annual survey, run in partnership with Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, began in 2022 to measure UK employee engagement levels following the pandemic.
The results of the survey are translated into an EFS Engagement Index score, which is calculated using three questions that assess satisfaction, advocacy, and loyalty. The latest results show a stagnation in engagement, with the score remaining at 62%. This suggests that UK employees are showing up but not fully engaged.
However, these scores were impacted by the actions of organisations. Respondents who agreed that senior leaders and managers adequately prioritised people issues showed significantly higher engagement scores.
They were more likely to hold positive views about their organisation’s culture, ethics, honesty, openness, and change management capabilities. Additionally, they felt their wellbeing, professional development, and psychological safety were valued.
In contrast, two in five respondents did not feel this way, leading to negative views of the organisation and higher levels of unmanageable job stress. This stress was notably seen among those experiencing issues due to cost of living, people with long term health issues and workers from the LGB+ community.
This was reflected in an EFS Engagement Index score of 55% from respondents who reported having no access to wellbeing resources, compared to those who reported having five or more wellbeing resources available achieving a score of 73%.
The survey also examined four key aspects of organisational practices – wellbeing, voice, learning and development, and social engagement – and revealed that the greater the number of practices offered in each aspect, the higher the EFS Engagement Index score. For example, respondents with no learning and development opportunities had an EFS Engagement Index score of 47%, while those with five or more opportunities scored 75%.
Dr Sarah Pass, senior lecturer in Human Resources Management at Nottingham Business School and Engage for Success advisory board member, said: “Along with emphasising the importance of employers offering their workers a full package of support, our findings revealed the critical role of line managers and workplace relationships in fostering and nurturing engagement levels.
“Line managers are the primary link between the employee and the employer, significantly influencing how employees perceive their work environment and their overall engagement.
“However, there are ongoing issues of training, accountability, and responsibility that are hindering the positive impact of line managers. Addressing these issues can help line managers better support their teams, leading to higher engagement levels and a more positive workplace culture.”
The report recommends that organisations must prioritise individual wellbeing, adopt a human-centered approach to employee experience, and re-evaluate organisational purpose.
Dr Pass added: “Investing in their workforce will help businesses build resilience during economic uncertainty and promote sustainable growth.”
David MacLeod OBE, co-founder of Engage for Success, said: “Given the challenges the UK now faces we must harness much more of the untapped potential in all our employees both in the public and private sectors. This research makes clear that we have much to do, but also that best practice already exists, offering us all a way forward to significantly improve organisational outcomes in all sectors of our economy.”
Nita Clarke OBE, director of the Involvement and Participation Association and co-founder Engage for Success, said: “Positive employee engagement must underpin every national effort to improve our productivity. This immensely valuable survey points to what works – but also indicates we have a long way to go.”
James Court-Smith, director at business analytics firm, Stillae, NTU Visiting Fellow, and Engage for Success board member, said: “How we feel about work affects how we show up there. The job itself, the wider career, our boss, and colleagues all impact our self-worth and our health, either positively or negatively.
“It should be no surprise that this has a direct impact on how productive we are, how much ownership we take and what discretionary effort we apply at work.
“Engagement offers an opportunity to measure and manage this dynamic, in order to boost organisational performance. The impact on performance is there regardless, employers can choose to seize the opportunity by working on engagement, or choose to ignore it, and leave attainable performance gains on the table.”
Nottingham Venues shortlisted for Best Venue at national awards
Nottingham Venues has been named as a finalist at the 2024 Conference and Events Awards.
The company, which operates a collection of hospitality destinations located on the University of Nottingham’s campuses – including the 4* Orchard Hotel & Restaurant, The East Midlands Conference Centre, the Jubilee Hotel and Conferences and Campus Venues – has been shortlisted in the Best Venue (500-1100 attendees Theatre Style) category.
The Conference and Events Awards are the event industry’s pinnacle of recognition. The annual awards celebrate and champion everyone involved in the events industry including conference and trade-show organisers, in-house events teams, event, PR & marketing agencies and the venues themselves.
Tom Waldron-Lynch, General Manager at Nottingham Venues, said: “We’re extremely excited to have made the shortlist for Best Venue over 500 attendees. We believe we are not just another venue as we offer an unparalleled guest experience, and this is such a boost for the whole team.
“Given the breadth of our offering, we provide good options for large-scale events and conferences, which makes our venues perfect for corporate events, weddings, academic conferences, sports camps, and faith-based gatherings, among others. We’re really looking forward to the awards ceremony in July.”
The Best Venue (500-1100 attendees Theatre Style) award is given to the Best Conference or Event Venue that caters for larger audiences of over 500. Judges will be looking for innovation, expertise and success in all areas including first-class interior design and facilities; flexible and versatile spaces to adapt to clients’ requirements; modern equipment and technology and superb acoustics; excellent customer service and support; competitive pricing and value for money and outstanding catering for event attendees.
The winners will be announced at the lunchtime Awards Ceremony at City Central at the HAC, London on Friday 5th July.
Two promotions made at East Midlands civil and structural engineering firm
East Midlands civil and structural engineering firm BSP Consulting has made internal promotions to create two new associate directors.
Civil engineer Carol Ell, who has a leadership role in BSP’s Leicester office, has been with the company 20 years next month.
Finance manager James Payne, who is based in the Nottingham office, working across the company, joined BSP from school in August 2001 and has held a variety of roles within the business.
BSP MD Carl Hilton said: “Both Carol and James have proven themselves to be very committed to BSP Consulting, with almost 43 years of service between them. They bring an energy and enthusiasm to the company which very much contributes to our success.
“I am pleased to announce that they have both earned a well-deserved promotion to associate director and congratulate them on their new appointments.”
£15.4m aerospace training facility opens in Newark
The Air and Space Institute (ASI) in Newark has now received its first intake of students. The £15.4m state-of-the-art facility provides world-class educational opportunities for future generations of the aerospace industry.
Procured through the Pagabo National Framework for Major Construction Works and delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, the new ASI facility provides a unique opportunity for students aged 16-18 to train for pilot, engineer and ground-crew roles in airlines, the military, airports and logistics companies across the UK and abroad.
The new three-storey college building constructed for Newark College, which is part of the Lincoln College Group, sits adjacent to the Newark and Sherwood District Council offices on the former Cattle Market and is only the second of its kind to be built in the UK.
The facility provides high tech training for the air and space industry, accommodating a full-sized Airbus A318 for enhanced hands-on teaching experience, alongside a double height entrance hall, large open space hangar, flight simulators, teaching zones, engineering workshops, lecture and seminar areas.
It is anticipated that the building blueprint could form a model for future establishments of this type, across other areas of the UK.
Introducing a full-sized commercial aeroplane into the building posed a number of complexities including ensuring the installation was successfully implemented within the tight tolerances of the building.
The initial brief was just a section of the fuselage to be placed into the building. Through collaborative innovation with the client and designers on how the plane would be supported on specially designed wheel mounts, the Airbus A318 was able to be installed as a whole unit, enhancing the learning experience for students.
G F Tomlinson sourced specialist advice from a private Flight Director who provided industry expertise to collaboratively assist with the permanent installation in the hangar. The aircraft was transported from the Air Salvage International base in Cirencester and travelled 110 miles by police escort to Newark.
Prior to arrival, reinforced concrete pads and beams were installed to strengthen the floor slab and a specialist hydraulic gantry was erected within the building to lift the fuselage from the low loader and temporarily suspend and support the aircraft mid-air.
Specially designed structural steel supporting systems were manufactured and installed to stabilise and take the weight of the aircraft, fixing it in its final position.
G F Tomlinson used BIM technology software from the conception of the scheme, to digitally map the complex build which comprised numerous articulated angles. Using world coordinate systems for its design and construction, the software allowed the contractor and client to work the design and use real time updates to navigate through all fundamental stages towards completion.
This software helped ensure the plane installation could be completed accurately, with tolerances down to millimetres.
Sustainability was an integral part of the project, with initiatives such as five air source heat pumps, two air handling units and three extracts incorporated within the building to reduce the overall energy building requirements.
During the project, 1140 car miles were driven using low-emission vehicles and G F Tomlinson sourced 92% local spend and 92% local labour within 40 miles of site. 135.53 tonnes of wood waste materials were rescued from the waste stream and 99.3% of site waste was recycled, aligning with the target of offsetting carbon during the project, in line with the Government’s Net Zero agenda.
G F Tomlinson provided £25,315,802 of Total Social Value opportunities for the local community, which was calculated using social impact software, Loop. This included organised site visits, regular newsletters and career talks with students from nearby schools. 228 hours of work experience placements, 948 apprentice hours and 723 local student engagements were provided.
Adrian Grocock, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It’s been an honour to turn Lincoln College Group’s vision into a reality, providing a world-class training facility for young people going into the aerospace industry.
“We worked closely with the client using the latest technology and specialist advice to ensure the seamless construction of the new campus building and the installation of the large commercial aircraft for educational purposes – consulting with third party experts to manage the transportation and stabilisation of the aircraft to its final fixed position.”
Councillor Matthew Spoors, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This is a huge moment not just for Newark but the whole district. We now have an amazing world-class training centre right in the heart of our community which will be giving local students opportunities to pursue successful and inspiring careers like they’ve never had before.
“This goes beyond just education but will create exciting developments for our local community. It will provide employment opportunities and boost our local economy and will be home to over 200 students each year.
“It will directly create almost 40 new jobs for the area and importantly will create many more over the coming generations to those wanting to embark on careers and pathways into better skilled, well-paid jobs in the civil and military aviation industries.
“The ASI has all been made possible thanks to the successful Newark Town Board bid for £25m as part of the Government’s Towns Fund initiative in 2019 and it’s been great to see students already studying at the site after years of planning and construction.”
Tom Marsden, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Lincoln College Group, said: “We are thrilled with the exceptional work done by G F Tomlinson and their team of contractors in constructing our new state-of-the-art facility.
“Their dedication and expertise have truly transformed the space into a cutting-edge hub for education and training that will benefit not only the students of Newark but also the entire surrounding region. We are excited to see the positive impact this facility will have on our community for years to come.”
David Llewellyn, head of construction and infrastructure at Pagabo Group, said: “Our goal is always to make procurement simple, effective and compliant, and this type of large-scale project is the perfect example of when a framework such as our Major Construction Works framework can come into its own.
“With numerous complexities to overcome, it’s important for clients to have access to both established suppliers as well as newer SMEs to offer innovative solutions that really work, while improving access to the types of sustainable solutions that were so important to this project.
“Sustainability and social value really are at the heart of effective future procurement, so it’s been brilliant to facilitate a project which also upholds these values at every touchpoint.”
Dains swoops for NHS VAT specialists
The Dains Group has acquired NHS VAT specialists, CRS VAT.
Founder Chris Silk has championed the decision to join the Dains group of businesses saying: “Having been established for 21 years, CRS VAT is delighted to join forces with Dains as we continue to grow our market share across the UK. With Dains’ support, we will be able to provide an enhanced service to our clients and connect to an incredible network of advisors across the group.”
Richard McNeilly, CEO of Dains, said: “What attracted Dains to CRS VAT is their commitment to technical excellence and client service; they stay abreast of NHS client needs and legislative changes to develop solutions to address client challenges.
“With a focus on the NHS, CRS VAT has become a leading VAT service provider for the sector, delivering increased VAT recovery and tailored advisory services. The team is a natural fit, complementing Dains’ expertise in providing services to the Public Sector following the acquisition of Opto Group in 2023.”
Nick Burrows, Managing Director of Opto Group, believes the move is perfect for clients and the CRS VAT team: “Our business is built on the quality of our people and our clients.
“Bringing CRS VAT into the group will allow us to leverage our combined expertise, to become the UK’s largest specialist public sector tax team, delivering high quality professional tax services to a complete range of public sector bodies. Investment from Dains will enable the business to continue to grow and provide enhanced career opportunities for our talented teams.”
Luke Kingston, Partner at Horizon Capital, said: “Richard and the team at Dains have now completed their eighth acquisition and we are delighted to have supported the group to this milestone. We share everyone’s enthusiasm for the significant opportunities created by bringing such likeminded businesses together.”
Dains were advised by DSW (financial and tax due diligence), Forward Corporate Finance (Financial Modelling) and CMS (Legal). CRS VAT were advised by Thrings (Legal).
