Cost, a lack of time, and inflexibility are the leading challenges faced by SMEs when it comes to managing their digital tools, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.
After a survey of more than 900 firms, the BCC says the results come at a time when SMEs are already facing an uphill battle to survive with rising inflation, spiralling energy costs and low growth risking long-term prosperity.
The management of digital tools stood out as a significant cause for concern for SMEs, with almost four in ten believing they did not have the capacity to effectively manage multiple ICT suppliers, contracts, and licences.
A quarter did not feel that their digital tools were resilient enough to help protect their business from emerging trends; just over a fifth did not feel that their digital tools were secure, whilst 17% disagreed their current suppliers of connectivity tools enabled them to adapt to changing circumstances.
BCC Director General Shevaun Haviland said:“In an environment where businesses are facing spiralling energy costs, record inflation and a declining economy, firms must feel confident in the technology they rely on to serve their needs and carry them into the future.
“Our Connectivity Survey has highlighted significant areas of concerns for businesses, with firms expressing particularly low levels of confidence in the flexibility and value for money offered to them by suppliers.
“With BCC data highlighting the huge challenges businesses are facing in the current economic environment, now more than ever, they need help wherever they can find it. Finding the right connectivity tools for firms can not only save time and money, it can also help future-proof businesses against further challenges down the line.
“Suppliers of digital tools and services must work with businesses, in particular small and medium sized businesses, to ensure that they find their right fit and reap the benefits of a flexible and secure connectivity offering.”
High street retail group Frasers has announced major investment plans into a Global Headquarters Campus at Ansty in Rugby, Warwickshire, in the heart of the country.
The company, which owns household names such as Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Game and Evans Cycles say the project will support the continued growth of the business and allow the business to drive productivity, growth, and innovation across the UK and globally.
However, the investment also raises questions over the future of the company’s current Shirebrook base.
A spokesperson for the company states: “Frasers Group is proposing to deliver an exceptional campus environment, reflecting quality design, operation, and sustainability. It will be landscape-led, driven by responsible and sustainable design principles. Where possible it will retain, reinforce, and enhance the existing landscape character and features.
“The proposals will also benefit the community, with several features open to the public. This will include a gym, swimming and sports hub, with bookable courts and pitches, and conferencing and training facilities. The enhanced landscape features will also include open space which will be accessible to all.”
The new Global Headquarters Campus is planned for land at Junction 2 of the M6 sitting adjacent to the strategic motorway network – connected to all regions of the UK by road, rail, and air.
Leicester has committed to developing more green policies and making better changes, which is reflected by the people and businesses of the city. Businesses looking to succeed in the city should look to go green and make changes where possible. Read on to learn about four reasons Leicester-based businesses should do this.
It Will Match The Environment City
The first reason Leicester-based businesses should go green is that it will suit the city. That’s because the city of Leicester was Britain’s first Environment City. The city’s greening was praised during the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio.
On the international stage, Leicester is considered at the forefront of urban nature conservation with a strong emphasis on sustainable development. If you are looking to open a business in Leicester or have an existing business in the area, going green would be an important part of your business strategy.
It Can Lead To Extra Cash
An unexpected reason to go green in Leicester is that it can lead to extra cash. This can be obtained in a few different ways. Leicester-specific businesses may be eligible for up to £7k if they go green through certain schemes. This relates to reducing their carbon emissions and general energy efficiency. This works by ensuring the businesses use more energy-efficient changes such as solar panels or heat pumps.
Businesses can also save extra cash by changing their supply chain. They can find a more sustainable supplier that reduces the number of trips they take, allowing you to get more of what you need and reduce the amount of money you’re paying for the service.
If you manage to go greener with energy use, you should spend less overall. This is because you will use less energy, reducing your bills. If you use effective green policies, then you should be able to attract more modern customers.
It Will Allow The Business To Do More Good
One of the most important reasons Leicester businesses should look to go green is that it is ethically the right thing to do. All businesses should be looking to reduce their waste and carbon footprint to help protect the planet and act in the best interests of the local and global environment.
The world is changing, and you need to learn how to guide your business correctly and navigate strategic opportunities that may have been presented by climate change. You can sign up for specific courses that educate you on how to combat climate change within your business. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership offers an online short course that can help you gain insight into the risks associated with climate change and how to manage them. This can help you create a plan that looks to build upon a profitable business model while being sustainable. Not to mention, you will gain valuable and relevant skills that will allow you to make more informed decisions in the future.
Businesses within Leicestershire should be looking to make sustainability a part of their corporate identity. This should start from the top, as it will encourage everyone to do more to enact change. A business can change its culture and be more sustainable by getting more people involved at all levels.
It Can Improve Brand Reputation
An added bonus of a green business within the Leicestershire area is that it can help improve brand reputation. Consider the recent green investments that have occurred within the city of Leicester: the addition of bicycles around the city that you can rent has been a success, with the e-bike share scheme undergoing a major expansion. This led to a major reputation boost for the brand, as it provides a useful service while being green.
The same result could be obtained for your business. It depends on what industry you are operating in and where your business is situated. If you are looking to start any green policies or launch any green products/services that will interest your customers, then you should advertise them and market them in the right way.
Consider what your options could be and what is practical to do. Remember, the reasons that you go green shouldn’t be focused on improving your reputation. It should be done for the right reasons. It’s also worth pointing out that if you are doing it in a disingenuous way, this will harm your reputation, and it could be hard to repair.
Ensure you are doing all your research regarding climate change and work hard to create a plan to transform your business to be greener. Leicester is a city at the forefront of environmental change, so you should do all you can to adapt to the changing world and gain more insights to rewire your business model.
Tom Copson will step up to managing partner at Leicester-based chartered accountants Rowleys, after re-joining the firm two years ago as a partner.
Tom spent five years at Rowleys as a trainee, prior to joining an international accountancy firm as an auditor. He re-joined the firm in early 2020 after 14 years, his ongoing relationship with some of the partners, coupled with Rowleys’ independence, innovative outlook and agile approach being the key factors in his return.
Tom will officially take up the role of managing partner on 1st October and will take the reins from Robert Radford who has been managing partner for the last 15 years. At the same time Craig Shevas, who is the longest standing partner, will step up to senior partner.
Craig and Tom will work closely with Paula Swann-Jones and Mark Hook on the strategic direction of the business. The ambition of the partners continues to be the growth of the firm, remaining independent and ensuring clients and its people are at the heart of everything they do.
Commenting on his appointment, Tom said: “I’m delighted and proud to be appointed as manager partner and to lead the firm through the next phase of its growth.
“Rowleys played a significant role in my early career and I have many fond memories of those first few years. A number of people I worked with back then are still here today, which is testament to the great culture we have.
“I want to ensure that we continue to build and develop our team of people, be pro-active as our industry continues to evolve and maintain the friendly and personable culture that we are known for.”
Robert adds: “Since joining the firm in early 2020 Tom has brought energy, enthusiasm and a true passion to deliver a great experience for our clients and our people. Tom, working with the other partners and Rowleys’ strong management team, will take the firm to the next phase in its succession.”
Craig commented: “With Robert retiring in 2023, myself and the other partners decided that Tom is the ideal person to step up as managing partner. He is extremely dedicated to developing the firm and I’m excited to see what the future holds for Rowleys and our clients.”
trentbarton and Kinchbus Managing Director Jeff Counsell is to retire in February 2023 after 24 years with the company and almost half a century in the bus industry.
And in March trentbarton group commercial director Tom Morgan will step up to the newly created role of Managing Director (buses) for all the bus operators of trentbarton’s parent company Wellglade.
Jeff started as a 15-year-old engineering apprentice at Lancashire United Transport in the 1970s. He joined trentbarton in 1999 as engineering director and progressed to director of service delivery before becoming Managing Director in 2009.
His role directing both operations and engineering also encompassed the two companies’ relationships with national and local government, an aspect which has been of prime importance during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
Jeff said: “Throughout my years the industry has seen many opportunities and challenges including deregulation, recessions and the pandemic. But our industry is all about people and our people at trentbarton and Kinchbus always pull together.
“It’s a great team – from the bottom to the top. Our frontline staff are always impressive. Our drivers, our engineers, everyone, they never flinch from the challenges. I’m deeply proud of them and will miss being with them.”
Wellglade chairman Brian King said: “Jeff has played a key role in keeping trentbarton and Kinchbus at the forefront of the bus industry.
“They have won numerous awards from not only the bus industry but also the business community. When he retires next February, he will be able to look back proudly on his career in buses.
“Tom’s new role will cover the commercial, operational and external relations activities of our bus companies. He knows the businesses and the area well from his current and previous positions.”
Tom Morgan joined Wellglade in 2009 to work on the Nottingham Tramlink project and has subsequently been trentbarton’s assistant operations manager for Derby and the general manager at Kinchbus.
Tom Morgan
Tom said: “I’m very grateful to Jeff for his guidance and faith since bringing me into the business in 2009 and for the chances to progress in my career. I’m incredibly excited about what lies ahead.
“The bus industry has gone through a difficult time, but the future is full of opportunities which we are well placed to grasp by listening to our customers, maintaining our high standards, continuing to innovate, embrace new technology and by investing in and empowering our dedicated and passionate team members.”
Burton-based commercial property agents Rushton Hickman and their joint agent Gareth Holland & Co. have sold the former Atherstone Hunt kennels in Witherely, near to Atherstone in Leicestershire, on behalf of the Thorpe Estate.
The site became vacant in October 2019 following the Atherstone Hunt announcing they would cease hunting activities after nearly 200 years.
Outline planning consent was granted in January 2022 for redevelopment of the site’s existing historic buildings into a complex of six two-bedroom homes and a trio of three-bedroom properties as well as a new cottage style three-bedroom home.
Following a short marketing period for the sale of the property by method of informal tender with a guide price of £1,200,000, a local housing developer purchased the site with a winning bid of £1,250,000.
Rushton Hickman director Mark Richardson said: “The competition to purchase this site was fierce. Interest in residential schemes is still high as the continued upward trajectory of house prices and Gross Development Values is able to offset this.
“The end product of something as unique as this scheme was also obviously going to fetch a premium. The fantastic result we’ve had for our client in achieving in excess of the guide price is testament to that.”
Graham Bancroft, director of Rushton Hickman, added: “The interest in residential development sites remains strong. We have achieved sales on several land opportunities over recent months and I am pleased to say we have yet more we are still to bring to market.”
Leicester University Law Society has announced that I. Stephanie Boyce will act as its president for the next academic year, starting in October 2022.
Each year the society appoints a senior member of the judiciary or legal sector to take up the position to represent the standards and values of the society.
I. Stephanie Boyce made history when she became the first person of colour to become the president of the Law Society of England and Wales in March 2021. She is also the sixth woman to hold the position.
Graduating from London Guildhall University in 1999, Stephanie was admitted as a solicitor in 2002.
Her legal career has focussed on corporate governance, public and regulatory law advising some of the largest not-for-profit bodies, charities, regulators and government bodies.
As president of Leicester University Law Society, I. Stephanie Boyce will make an annual Presidential Address at University of Leicester’s law school in March.
Previous presidents to have addressed students at the University of Leicester have been Sir Nicholas Green KC, Sir Terence Etherton and Lord Neuberger. Former president Ms Justice Cheema-Grubb addressed students during their graduation in 2020.
I. Stephanie Boyce said: “I am deeply honoured to become president of Leicester University Law Society. I follow in a line of remarkable presidents, and I resolve to build upon their legacy.
“Studying Law at university should be an opportunity open to all talented prospective students irrespective of their background.
“I will not only seek to encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds to apply to study Law at Leicester but as importantly, to demystify Law as a subject for anyone who might be contemplating studying it at degree level but for those who do to connect and seize brilliant opportunities.”
Professor Sally Kyd, Head of Leicester Law School, said “That I. Stephanie Boyce has accepted the position of President of LULS is excellent news for the School and our students.
“Her commitment to demystifying the law aligns perfectly with our ethos for legal education at Leicester, and the opportunity to hear directly from someone who has achieved such a high standing in the legal profession will no doubt provide valuable inspiration to our diverse student body.”
Ben Follows, Chairperson for Leicester University Law Society, said: “We gratefully welcome I. Stephanie Boyce to the position of LULS President for the upcoming academic year.
“She is an exemplary figure in her field for campaigning for a stronger and more diverse legal sector, as well as improving access to justice, and supporting legal education.
“In addition, I believe her story and career overcoming challenges will without a doubt provide a shining source of inspiration for our members as they begin their careers.”
“We look forward to welcoming I. Stephanie Boyce to the Law School in March for the annual Presidential Address.”
Residential land specialist Terra has submitted a hybrid planning application for a mixed-use scheme of up to 320 new homes and a care home in Boston, Lincolnshire.
Located on land off Toot Lane, less than two miles from Boston town centre, the £67m hybrid scheme is for a detailed first phase of 153 one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, with the proposed care home and balance of 320 homes submitted in outline form.
The 11Ha (27.3 acre) site, which is shown as a Housing Commitment in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan adopted in 2019, is located within the Settlement Limits of Boston. Terra has undertaken pre-application engagement with local residents, parish and district councillors.
Two areas of Public Open Space and a fully equipped play area will create focal points for the scheme, while tree, hedgerow and shrub planting will deliver net biodiversity gains.
Jordan Langdon-Bates, land and development director of Terra, said: “We are very pleased to be submitting a Hybrid application for this much-needed mixed-use scheme. With so many employment opportunities close by, Boston is an attractive and affordable place to live, and this highly sustainable scheme will add to the vibrancy of the local area.
“The scale of this well-located site will enable the creation of a high-quality new community of eco-efficient modern homes, within easy reach of town centre amenities and local schooling. Subject to planning approval, this immediately available site could help to meet South East Lincolnshire’s annual housing targets at a time when there is a considerable shortfall in the number of new homes being built across the UK.
“We are looking forward to continuing to work with Boston Borough Council officers, the parish council and all stakeholders as our plans are considered.”
A total of 153 apartments, bungalows and houses are proposed for phase one of the development, comprising 123 build to rent dwellings and 30 affordable housing properties, which represents 20 per cent.
On-plot parking could comprise a mix of driveways, frontage parking, and rear parking courts. The proposed two-storey care home has been specifically designed to be positioned in the north-east corner of the site, covering approximately 0.6Ha (1.5-acres). Hawthorn Tree Primary School is located opposite the entrance to the site, while the rest of the immediate area is predominantly residential.
Planning and design specialists Nineteen47, engineers M-EC and ecology experts fpcr worked with Terra on the plans, which include pedestrian and vehicular access created from Toot Lane.
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has appointed Caroline Wayman as Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the NTU Board of Governors.
Caroline will be succeeding the current Chair, Neil Goulden, when he concludes his term in office in October 2023.
Caroline is a current member of the Board of Governors and works as a partner in Financial Services at PA Consulting. Formerly the Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service, Caroline was also a member of the Board and Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee of the Crown Prosecution Service. She was the Senior Independent Director there until June 2022, having joined the board in June 2018.
Neil Goulden, Chair of the NTU Board of Governors and Pro-Chancellor said: “We are delighted to welcome Caroline as the new Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Governors. Caroline has been doing fantastic work since she joined us as a Board member in 2020 and NTU will really benefit from her leadership and experience in this role. I wish Caroline the best of luck with this new position.”
Caroline Wayman commented: “I am delighted to be appointed to this role and look forward to helping the University to go from strength to strength. I would like to thank Neil Goulden for his fantastic support and look forward to working closely with him over the next year.”
The Board of Governors oversees all of the University’s activities and has legal and constitutional responsibility for the conduct of NTU’s affairs.
Private sector activity fell in the three months to September (balance of -19%, from -5% in August), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator, and businesses expect the decline to accelerate over the next quarter.
The fall over the past quarter was the fastest since February 2021 with activity declining across all sectors. Business volumes in both business & professional services (-14% from -1%) and consumer services (-57% from -37%) fell at a faster rate than in the quarter to August.
Meanwhile, distribution sales fell after having grown slightly in the quarter to August (-13% from 7%), and manufacturing output fell at a similar pace as last month (-4% from -7%).
Looking ahead to the next three months, private sector activity as a whole is expected to decline at an even quicker pace (-30% from -19%). Prospects have deteriorated across all sectors: services activity (-30% from -25%), manufacturing output (-17% from -4%), and distribution volumes (-44% from -13%) are all expected to decline at a faster rate in the next three months.
Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: “Across the private sector, firms have had to contend with significant uncertainty surrounding energy costs as well as ongoing supply chain challenges and weaker consumer demand.
“While there are fears that economic activity may fall even quicker still next quarter, the Government has only [last] week made some significant moves to shield all businesses from high energy costs, while also setting out its plans to kickstart economic growth.
“These bold plays will help in building up fragile business confidence and get firms on the front foot once more.”
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