Leading AI voice and former Dragons’ Den investor partners with Champions (UK) plc

Tess Egginton
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Leading AI voice and former Dragons’ Den investor partners with Champions (UK) plc

Former Dragons’ Den investor and AI expert Piers Linney has partnered with growth consultancy firm Champions (UK) plc. 

He joins the Costock-based company as ‘AI & Technology Lead’, in another key management appointment to the organisation’s team. 

Mr. Linney’s entrepreneurial and investment experience spans across technology, automation and communications. He is the co-founder of Implement AI, a next generation consultancy dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses understand and implement artificial intelligence. 

He is also the co-founder of Atherton Bikes, a producer of titanium and carbon-constructed mountain bikes which were used to win the World Championships 2023. 

He said: “I’ve been working with the Champions family for around seven years now, and we’ve really built a business together which has been my speaking profile and my keynotes, which has gone incredibly well. 

“The Champions business and the ambition has expanded, and I’m really excited to be partnering with them on bringing my AI experience and Implement AI’s capabilities into the fold. 

“We’re going to be bringing together the strategy to help companies grow, to expand, to understand how they can extract the most out of their business to increase profitability and valuations. It is critical that every business includes artificial intelligence in their growth strategy and operational planning before their competition does.” 

Mr. Linney is best known for his time on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire, and Dragons’ Den between 2013-2015, where he sat alongside other renowned figures such as Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden as an investor. The former Dragon is a qualified corporate lawyer and former M&A banker at Credit Suisse. 

He acted as a Non-Executive Director to the British Business Bank during the £90 billion roll out of COVID business support loan schemes, and was also a trustee of Nesta, the UK’s largest innovation foundation with a £600m endowment. 

Mr. Linney was recognised as one of the UK’s Top 20 Ethnic Minority Executives in 2020, and is a D&I adviser to Sky, following his experience as a former future strategy adviser to one of the world’s leading luxury automotive manufacturers. 

As AI & Technology Lead, Mr. Linney will be leading projects regarding business automation, AI implementation and investment solutions, helping organisations navigate through Champions’ audit to activation process. 

The business adviser and influencer will be bringing over vital experience in technology, modern manufacturing and M&A investment banking, which will provide Champions’ clients with industry leading insights into growth and automation. 

Champions (UK) plc Managing Director Matthew Hayes said: “I’m very pleased to announce our new AI & Technology lead, Piers Linney. 

“Piers will lead our clients’ efficiency and competitive difference via helping them navigate the complex landscape of AI and integration. 

“His passion for supporting businesses with tech-first strategies has seen him become a globally recognised AI expert, with the world’s number one AI for Business podcast and LinkedIn appointed ‘Top AI voice’. 

“We’re excited to see what our clients’ future holds as they reap the benefits of our powerful, technology-led solutions. 

“Welcome to the family Piers.” 

Mather Jamie appoints new planning manager

Tess Egginton
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Mather Jamie appoints new planning manager
Loughborough-based specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie has expanded its planning team following the appointment of Georgina Doyle as a planning manager. Georgina, who lives in Loughborough, holds an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning and is a Chartered Member of The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). She joins Mather Jamie after spending 5 years with Pegasus Group, where she managed a variety of residential and commercial development projects. Prior to this, she spent almost 15 years in Local Government, gaining extensive experience both in policy and development management, including the management of strategic development projects. In her new role, Georgina will work alongside head of planning Tom Collins and planning manager Jenny Adams to ensure Mather Jamie’s clients are able to negotiate the best outcomes for their land with development potential. Georgina said: “I am very excited about continuing my planning career from a land promotion side. Whilst I have experience in this area, I will now be working directly with land owners and promoters. Everyone at Mather Jamie has made me feel very welcome.” Tom Collins, head of planning, added: “Having an expert like Georgina in the team who has experience working both sides of the fence on land and planning issues will be a huge asset to our team. Her unique insight will undoubtedly benefit our clients and boost our internal knowledge.”

Conference urges business growth and collaboration to boost Chesterfield’s economy

Tess Egginton
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Conference urges business growth and collaboration to boost Chesterfield’s economy

Businesses in Chesterfield are being encouraged to explore ways in which they can grow, as part of ambitious plans to improve the town’s economy and create higher-value jobs for residents.

Speakers at Destination Chesterfield’s annual Celebrate Chesterfield Business Conference highlighted ways in which local businesses can harness support to innovate and create new jobs.

They also identified that if all organisations in the town currently categorised as ‘low growth’ experienced just a 1% uplift, it would significantly boost the local economy.

Helping businesses to grow and ensuring people have the right skills are key objectives of Chesterfield Borough Council’s Growth Strategy (2023-2027). To support this, delegates at Celebrate Chesterfield heard from businesses which are innovating and overcoming challenges to boost growth.

Mike Isherwood, Managing Director of event headline sponsor, System Q, explained how his business has evolved and adapted to become a supplier to major organisations, including the Ministry of Defence: “We are committed to providing our customers with the most innovative and advanced technology, ensuring their safety and security at all times.

“Our company is proud to be a part of the thriving high-tech community in Chesterfield, a town known for its innovation and progress. Despite the common belief that the best firms and talent are found in larger cities, this quaint town is home to a wealth of undiscovered talent.”

Ash Young, Managing Director of CarMats.co.uk, recently relocated his business to the town.

He said: “If we hadn’t done things differently, we wouldn’t have seen the growth that we have. When we set up the business we were aiming for 100 orders per day, but because we changed the way we marketed the products, we are now shipping around 150,000 orders per year and we’re going to turn over about £7.5m this year.

“We’ve managed to hire a really skilled team in Chesterfield and the transport links mean it’s easy for us to get out to couriers easily.”

Amy Revell, of We Are Spaces Ltd, recently expanded her business into larger office space at the Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre, having initially moved into the development last year.

She said: “We currently turn over around £7m and have 15 employees, and we are rapidly growing. Chesterfield has played a big part in our growth – we have a lovely office space here which we managed to grow from one of the smaller suites into a larger one.

“We’ve managed to recruit really good people in the area, and we are strategically placed really well. Being so central has allowed us to grow all of our core services nationally.”

At the conference, Destination Chesterfield also launched its ambitious new strategy and plan, which outlines the partnership’s aims to attract further inward investment, support businesses to grow and encourage more people to visit the town.

Peter Swallow, Destination Chesterfield Chair, said: “This plan reflects our town’s ambition, and where we collectively see the biggest growth opportunities. Recent research has identified 26% of revenues from tourism, inward investment and talent growth are shaped by people’s perception of a town or city. Meaning our collective work to promote the town are vital to achieving the town’s growth aspirations.

“Since 2010, Destination Chesterfield has worked alongside Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield Champions to promote the area as a contemporary destination to invest, work, live and visit, and our public-private partnership continues to play a central role in the town’s success. We must continue working together to raise the profile of Chesterfield to realise its significant potential.”

Cllr Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, added: “Celebrate is always a fantastic event that showcases the very best that our borough has to offer. It was great to be able to meet with businesses to talk about how the council can support them to grow, but also to hear from them directly and discover what else we can do to drive growth and investment. “I was also pleased to see a strong reception the new Destination Chesterfield strategy and plan – this aligns closely with our own growth strategy and together we can help grow our local economy, attract more investment and deliver benefits for both businesses and our residents.”

The 2024 Celebrate Chesterfield Business Conference was also sponsored by Markham Vale and the University of Derby. The event also saw almost 40 businesses exhibiting across the East Midlands Chamber Business Support Zone and the Invest in Chesterfield Zone.

O’Brien Contractors signs first contract with Chesterfield Canal Trust

Tess Egginton
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O’Brien Contractors signs first contract with Chesterfield Canal Trust
As part of a £6 million restoration project, Midlands contractor, O’Brien Contractors, has signed its first contract with Chesterfield Canal Trust to deliver essential infrastructure works to the area.
Connecting the Trans Pennine Trail with the Arkwright Trail across the canal, the works will facilitate the delivery of a 38-metre-long pedestrian and cycle bridge. The project will form part of the first stage of the Staveley canal restoration, funded by the government’s Levelling Up programme.
Works are due to start on site in April, with groundworks due to commence in May; the project will run for 20 weeks, with an opening ceremony planned for September.
Tony Mitchell, Director at O’Brien Contractors, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been appointed by The Chesterfield Canal Trust to provide the new bridge at Staveley. This prestigious project will be a huge benefit to pedestrians and cyclists all over the region and the restoration of this historic route will benefit the community for many years to come.
“As O’Brien Contractors turns 65, we are more committed than ever to assisting our local communities in a long-term sustainable way. This project will not only create a safe and beautiful bridge for pedestrians and other trail users, but it will also benefit the local wildlife and biodiversity of the canal. We look forward to working with the Trust and their team over the course of this exciting project.”
Chesterfield Canal Trust Development Manager, George Rogers, said: “This is a big milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, and we are delighted to appoint O’Brien Contractors to deliver this statement structure over the canal. Installing this bridge will open up the route for future restoration in multiple ways and I am looking forward to seeing it progress over the summer.”

Double appointment for Nottingham fabrication company

Tess Egginton
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Double appointment for Nottingham fabrication company

Nottingham fabrication company, Essential Projects has recently expanded its team with the addition of David Extall and Jade Scully.

Specialising in manufacturing and installing bespoke architectural metalwork and glasswork for esteemed clients such as Next Plc, Morrisons, and Waitrose, Essential Projects also undertakes various commercial fit-out projects and residential staircase and balustrade projects.

This double appointment comes in response to a number of recent project wins, marking an exciting phase of growth for the company.

David Extall, boasting 16 years of experience in architectural metalwork, takes on the role of Design Engineer. His responsibilities include providing design and draughting services to support the company’s development efforts. Moreover, David will play a pivotal role within the technical sales team, overseeing procurement and assisting the site installation team.

Jade Scully joins Essential Projects as an Accounts apprentice and is currently pursuing her Level 3 AAT qualification with EMA Training. In her new role, she will collaborate with the management team to implement enhanced project administration and financial systems. Her focus will be on improving customer service, project efficiencies, and identifying avenues for increased profitability.

David reflected on his appointment, saying: “I sought to leverage my expertise to contribute to the development of a business where I could truly feel valued, rather than just being another employee number in a large corporation. I’m delighted to have found this sense of belonging at Essential Projects and eagerly anticipate playing my part in the company’s future growth.”

Jade added: “As part of my apprentice course, I wanted to integrate my classroom learnings into a practical business setting. Finding a role where I could bridge this gap was essential for me.”

Eliot Saxton, Managing Director at Essential Projects, said: “It’s great to have a David and Jade on board with us. Recruiting more team members means we can steadily implement additional supporting systems and processes and ensure we have the right skill sets available to meet the requirements of the projects and continue to grow our business.”

Financial services firm adds Joseph to its wealth management team

Stuart Pearcey
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Financial services firm adds Joseph to its wealth management team
Financial services specialist Shorts has appointed Joseph Tighe to its Wealth Management Team as Financial Adviser. Partner Simon Hollin said: “Joseph’s appointment marks a welcome addition to our advisory team, enabling us to continue our business development and expansion over the coming years.” Joseph added: “Shorts have a long established and proven reputation for excellence, and I am very excited to join their talented Wealth Management team. I look forward to developing the role and playing a part in Shorts’ continued growth.” Established in 1890 and with offices in Sheffield and Chesterfield, Shorts provides financial services, whilst also offering accountancy and taxation services through Shorts Chartered Accountants.

Work underway on new affordable housing development in Northampton

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Work underway on new affordable housing development in Northampton
Colleagues from housing association Futures Housing Group and construction company United Living Group, joined together to visit the start of works on a new affordable home development in Northampton.The site will be home to 38 properties, made up of 20 social rent and 18 shared ownership ones on Central Avenue in Northampton, and will include one bed flats and two and three bed homes.Councillor John Shephard, Chairman of West Northamptonshire Council said: “It was fascinating to go onto a real site where people were working very hard, and I was impressed as it was extraordinarily tidy. “It was remarkable to see the steps being taken to accommodate the rainwater off the site and I look forward very much to welcoming the tenants to their homes later this year. The site has been vacant since the demolition of the squash club some 20 years ago, so we congratulate Futures for bringing it into proper use.”Each property on Central Avenue will have an electric car charging point, solar panels and thicker insulation to help make the homes more comfortable and affordable to heat.Ceri Theobald, Group Director of Strategic Partnerships & Growth at Futures, said: “Making energy efficient homes is important for Futures as it not only helps us on our road to net zero, but it’s beneficial for the people that then live in these homes. Their home will stay warmer for longer, meaning their energy usage should be lower, and the environmental impact will be reduced too.“We’re proud to be working with United Living who clearly share our same vision of providing good quality homes for people in a time where more homes are very much needed.”Caroline Lewis, Managing Director, United Living New Homes, said: “We’re very happy to be delivering this project; providing affordable homes is very important to us and it’s great to have a focus on making them more energy efficient and affordable to run too, through added sustainability measures.”

Record pre-tax profits for Next as sales rise

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Record pre-tax profits for Next as sales rise
Sales have risen and pre-tax profits have hit a record high at Next plc, according to its full year results for the year ending January 2024. Full price sales were up 4% at the Leicestershire retailer and total group sales rose by 5.9% to £5.8bn. Meanwhile, profit before tax rose by 5% to £918 million – £3m ahead of the guidance of £915m given in January, largely due to better than expected clearance rates of sale stock. Michael Roney, Chairman, said: “In the context of the wider economic environment, the year to January 2024 was a very good year for NEXT and the business materially outperformed our initial expectations. NEXT Group profit before tax rose to a record high of £918m, up +5.0%. Cash flow remained strong and we returned £425 million to shareholders through a combination of dividends (£248 million) and share buybacks (£177 million). “In the last year we have focused on improving our product ranges, improving our online service levels, managing costs and profitability, whilst also laying the foundations for future growth businesses. We launched three new Total Platform clients (JoJo Maman Bébé, Joules and MADE), taking our total number of clients to seven. We also made a number of new investments, increasing our equity stake in Reiss by 21% to 72% and taking a 97% equity stake in FatFace. We also acquired 100% of the intellectual property in Cath Kidston. “The year ahead will see a number of changes to our Board. Amanda James, who has been with NEXT for 28 years and our Finance Director for nine years, retires from the Board in July. Amanda has seen many changes over that time and has made a huge contribution to the Group. She has been an exceptional guardian of our finances and an integral part of the leadership of the Company. Our financial position today is testament to her diligence and hard work and, on behalf of all of us at NEXT, I thank Amanda for her amazing work. “I am delighted that Jonathan Blanchard will succeed Amanda on the Board. Jonathan was most recently the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Reiss Group, having joined Reiss as a Board Director in 2017. We have worked closely with Jonathan for over three years since we acquired an equity stake in Reiss. Jonathan brings to the Board a wealth of retail experience, a strong eye for financial detail and a good understanding of our operations, gained through managing Reiss’s transition onto Total Platform. I am very confident that he will make an excellent addition to our Board. “Dame Dianne Thompson, one of our non-executive directors, is leaving the Board in May. Dianne has made a valuable contribution to the Board over the last nine years. In particular, I would like to thank Dianne for the time and insight she has given to the Board’s relationship with colleagues through her participation in our people and communication forums. “Finally, I am pleased that Amy Stirling and Venetia Butterfield will be joining our Board in April as independent non-executive directors. Between them they bring a breadth and depth of expertise that will enhance and broaden the Board’s collective knowledge. “The continued success of NEXT is built on the hard work, dedication and decision making of all the people who work for NEXT. I would like to thank them all for their contribution during the year; I have little doubt and much expectation that they will rise to the new challenges and opportunities that are presented in 2024.”

Mazars sees third consecutive year of double-digit income growth across Midlands offices

Tess Egginton
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Mazars sees third consecutive year of double-digit income growth across Midlands offices

Mazars, the international audit, tax and advisory firm, has revealed a third consecutive year of double-digit income growth across its offices in the Midlands as part of their annual financial statement report publication.

The Mazars team in East Midlands, across its Leicester and Nottingham offices, significantly contributed to this successful year, which saw an increase of 17% to £39.2m.

The headcount of its East Midlands team grew by over 10% over the year which included welcoming 20 news trainees and 4 new partners, as well as promoting many of its existing team into more senior positions.

The four new partners comprise three internally promoted members of the team – Andy Hickson (Audit), Claire Cowen (International Tax) and Mark Surridge (Audit), as well as recruiting in Hina Desai (Wealth Management). The new partners augment Mazars’ East Midlands senior management team to 10 partners, who oversee and cover the delivery of all of its services locally.

Steve English, Office Managing Partner for Mazars across the East Midlands, said: “We are incredibly proud of our achievements during FY 22-23 and contributing to the growth in our business across the Midlands region.

“We’re confident in continuing this success in the coming years and look forward to expanding and welcoming new talent to support our growth, while also providing opportunities for development for all our team members.

“Our upcoming Forvis Mazars global network gives us a great opportunity to service our existing clients that have, or wish to have, US connections, as well as providing our team members with stronger opportunities in that geography.”

Dedicated Postgraduate Centre completed at Nottingham Trent University

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Dedicated Postgraduate Centre completed at Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham Trent University has unveiled a multimillion-pound Postgraduate Centre, featuring state-of-the-art technology and modern teaching and social spaces.

The fully refurbished centre boasts three floors of cutting-edge facilities in the heart of Nottingham city centre.

It will predominately serve around 2,000 international and UK postgraduate students from Nottingham Business School (NBS).

The 4,700 square metre space has been designed to meet the diverse needs of students, including flexible teaching rooms specifically designed to accommodate NBS’ collaborative teaching style, study spaces, bookable meeting rooms, and a tiered lecture theatre alongside employability services, student support and a vibrant café.

Teaching room in the PG Centre

A versatile outdoor space is also being created with an emphasis on supporting local wildlife and settings which promote wellbeing, it will also provide a distinctive venue for events.

The NBS Responsible and Sustainable Business Lab research centre and business development and support team will be located within the Centre to maximise collaboration between students, business, research and consultancy.

The Postgraduate Centre will also feature a lounge for MBA students and alumni. This dedicated space will serve as a hub for networking, mentorship, and knowledge exchange among graduates, fostering a sense of community and connection.

Nottingham Trent University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Edward Peck, said: “The Postgraduate Centre has been designed with an emphasis on collaboration and social interaction, providing all of our postgraduate students with an environment which fosters academic success, personal development and networking.”

Executive Dean of NBS, Professor Baback Yazdani, added: “The development of this Centre demonstrates the confidence we have in our postgraduate community and its growth. It will bring our executive education and postgraduate community together in one space and inspire the business leaders of the future.”

Social seating in the PG Centre
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