George Square appoints new advisers to meet demand for mortgage advice
Two experienced mortgage advisers have joined George Square Financial Management’s Nottingham city centre office team.
In line with the firm’s corporate expansion plans, Phil Browne and Alex Barrett join as Mortgage Protection Advisers to meet growing demand for impartial mortgage advice and specialist lending in the region.
With 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Phil Browne has specialised in providing professional mortgage services for several firms in London and Brisbane for the last 20 years. Nottingham born and raised, he returns to the region to lay roots at a well-established local business and is looking forward to using his knowledge of the area in his new role.
“The team at George Square work hard to establish long-lasting relationships with each and every client they work with and build mutual trust and respect. This is something that I feel passionately about too,” says Phil. “I am thrilled to be joining the team and feel eager to putting my wealth of expertise in the increasingly diverse mortgage market to good use when advising clients.”
Alex Barrett also joins the team as a Mortgage and Protection Adviser. CeMap qualified and with several years’ experience under his belt within the financial services sector, Alex will be responsible for providing high quality mortgage and protection advice and support to George Square’s roster of clients. He joins the firm from a high-street estate agency, where he worked as a Mortgage Consultant.
Alex said: “I was attracted to George Square for the career progression and development opportunities that the company actively seeks for its employees, and the chance to learn and grow alongside its highly skilled, professional, and friendly team.
“Through focussing on the specialist lending market and providing support to borrowers who are likely to face more of a challenge in securing a mortgage, I can’t wait to hit the ground running and make an impact at the firm.”
George Goward, Managing Director of George Square Financial Management, added: “At George Square, we have access to the whole of the mortgage market, meaning our advisers can source the most suitable deals for clients without being restricted to certain mortgage lenders.
“Phil and Alex’s appointments reflect a substantial increase in demand for our independent, specialist mortgage advice from clients in Nottingham and across the East Midlands. We are delighted to welcome them both to the George Square team as we embark on a period of significant growth and development.”
Why are retailers increasingly betting on cashback offers?
The digital form of cashback is an increasingly big deal for online retailers. It’s a means of luring in customers, presenting them with options, and retaining their loyalty long into the future. But exactly how effectively does it do these things, and why are so many coming to offer it? Let’s examine the issue.
What is a cashback offer?
A cashback offer is, in many respects, similar to a discount for loyal customers. Rather than having a portion of the purchase price taken away, however, the customer is instead given cash back (hence the name). The amount of cashback given out will depend on the business. It might vary from day to day, incentivising customers to come in at a time that might suit the business. You might offer cashback to certain kinds of customers: for example, a carer’s cashback card might be offered only to carers. Often, cashback is handled by a third-party organisation, which might work with a range of different businesses to provide cashback to customers.Why are more businesses offering cashback?
The main reason that retailers are leaning into cashback is that it’s been proven to boost the lifetime value of a customer. This is a metric that retailers use to estimate how much they’ll get from a customer over the extreme long term. Customers who are given cash back are likely to feel warmly toward the retailer handing out the rewards. They’re therefore more likely to come back for more, and less likely to visit a rival. Given that the internet offers customers a quick and easy means of looking for a better deal, anything that can be done to bolster loyalty is something well worth doing. Cashback tends to be more affordable than many of the other ways of fostering loyalty. Suppose that you’re offering a free coffee for every tenth purchase at your café. This is effectively a cashback rate of ten percent – which is far more generous than most cashback offers. So, what is it that makes cashback preferable to a traditional discount? From a rational perspective, there isn’t one: but we must remember that customers are not always rational actors. Sometimes it can feel better to be given something rather than having to give away slightly less of something you already have. Loyalty vouchers and cards are often presented as an alternative to a cashback scheme. The vouchers have the advantage of only being redeemable at a particular retailer – but as a consequence, their value to the customer is limited. By offering cashback instead, you can get away with being that little bit less generous – you can also be sure that the customer will end up getting utility out of the money that you’re giving them, rather than having a voucher lurking for months in their wallets, unspent and forgotten.Charterpoint sells Leicestershire care home development to care operator Cinnamon Luxury Care
Senior living developer Charterpoint has sold its care home development near Leicester to care operator Cinnamon.
Following Charterpoint receiving planning permission and obtaining vacant possession, Cinnamon will now take the 73-bed residential care home development forward to construction.
The scheme will feature a range of care accommodation arranged over three floors, including resident lounges, dining and relaxation areas, a cinema room, hair and beauty facilities, café and private dining, along with terraces and landscaped gardens.
Situated on a 1.2-acre site in Uppingham Road, Thurnby, it will also feature car parking, including electric car charging points.
Charterpoint MD Giles Nursey said: “This first-class scheme will create an attractive care home for the area, which we identified as having a shortfall in purpose-built care home provision. It will also provide important local job opportunities. As an East Midlands-based senior living developer, Charterpoint is delighted to have sold the scheme to Cinnamon who will now take it forward to the development stage.”
The scheme was designed by specialist care architect Edmund Williams, and is the latest in a long line of care home and senior living developments that Charterpoint has delivered.
A spokesman for Cinnamon said: “We are excited about the potential for this latest development at Thurnby and look forward to breaking ground before the end of 2022. The team has really enjoyed working with Charterpoint to acquire this site and look forward to partnering with Charterpoint on future developments.”
Jordan Rundle of Christie & Co brokered the sale to Cinnamon.
Charterpoint, which is based at Edwalton near Nottingham, specialises in developing first-class senior living accommodation, sustainable housing schemes, and primary care premises.
Fisher German to create numerous jobs as it relocates Market Harborough office
Fisher German is set to move into a new office building in Market Harborough and says it will create numerous local jobs as a result.
The Market Harborough office is relocating from its premises in the High Street to an open-plan office to future-proof their presence in Market Harborough. They are about to undertake a complete re-fit of the 5,378 sq ft office, with staff expected to move into the property in September.
The company’s history in Market Harborough dates back more than 200 years and the Grade II listed building they are currently in is anticipated to be transformed into residential accommodation once the expected planning consent is confirmed. The company was established in 2000 after the merger of Fisher Hoggarth and Germans, with Fisher Hoggarth’s history in Market Harborough dating back to 1819. It will be only the fourth time that the Market Harborough-based team has moved during this time having been in its current office since 1960.
The move will take Fisher German to new premises at Innovation House, at Welland Business Park. Anna Collins, Associate Director in the Rural Property Management team, said: “We are extremely excited to announce the launch our new office in Market Harborough. The new, modern space will better reflect our working practices and aspirations while ensuring that we can continue to grow within Market Harborough. It is in a fantastic location on a mixed-use business park based just outside the town centre, benefitting from parking for both staff and those visiting, and it is good to know that the development of our office in High Street will be extremely positive and add vibrancy to the town centre.
We have a long history in the town and are dedicated to further strengthening our presence and continuing to invest in the local area. Our new office will support the firm as it continues to grow, and we are currently advertising for a number of positions in surveying, agency and client accounting. It will also support the welfare of our people, providing them with the best possible working environment as we focus on collaborative working between teams. We now look forward to the completion of the re-fit and welcoming people from across the area when we officially open.”
Pressure pushes a third of banking professionals to consider quitting, says report
A third of financial services and banking professionals are planning to leave the industry due to high pressure, according to a new report by LemonEdge, a global digital accountancy platform for the private capital and venture capital industry.
With burnout mounting, a further third are also planning to leave their current role as a result of high pressure, but continue to stay within the same industry. The upcoming exodus from the industry is said to risk valuable talent leaving the sector in record numbers, and stems from increasing levels of burnout, which has worsened for many since the pandemic and working from home, or hybrid model set up.
When uncovering why workers are planning to leave their positions in record numbers, the study by LemonEdge found that financial services and banking professionals state a heavy workload (42%) is the main contributor to feeling heightened pressure within their role. This is closely followed by manual processes (36%), long working hours (32%), tight deadlines (26%), and increasing demands from management (25%).
While some workers claim to be thriving in these conditions, much of the general workforce in banking and services are feeling the weight of burnout. These increased pressures are negatively impacting the mental well-being of financial service workers, as a quarter (26%) are feeling nervous about the future, whilst a further 23% are specifically worried about their health or mental health.
Overall, one in six (15%) financial services workers feel as though they can no longer continue, or have the desire to continue in their role within the industry, rising to 21% of men.
Gareth Hewitt, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at LemonEdge, said: “An exodus of industry professionals is a sure sign that levels of burnout have reached an unacceptable scale. Any experience of burnout is serious and with thousands of employees planning to leave the industry as a direct result of high pressure, it should be a clear warning to firms before they risk losing valuable talent.
“The risk of burnout to employers is huge, and there are simple measures firms can introduce to reduce the risk of burnout, making the lives of their employees’ much simpler, easier, and with less stress. Firms need to be aware of the impact absenteeism and presenteeism will have on both their employees and business productivity. Just because you’re working from home, or in a hybrid model, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy time off. With one in four (23%) asking for faster or improved technology to eliminate manual processes, firms need to look at their approaches to improve the lives of their staff. In this day and age, technology, not only can but should, provide the automation and flexibility that can contribute to reduced stress, reduced working hours, and lower risk of burnout. At LemonEdge we are passionate about providing the tools and technology that enable financial services professionals to get home on time.”
Boris stuns employers by urging them to use Jobcentres help to find staff
Boris Johnson has stunned employers yet again with the advice to use the free recruitment support from their local Jobcentre to help fill the record number of vacancies in the jobs market and support the continued economic recovery by getting people into work.
Since January, DWP Jobcentres across the UK have been ramping up operations with weekly jobs fairs – bringing employers in for face-to-face appointments and offering jobs on the spot to thousands of people, and finding work for 347,000 people against the government target of 500,000 by the end of June.
Jobseekers walking away with roles have also secured an income, with those getting full time work set to be thousands of pounds better off than if they were on benefits. Helping households improve their finances and manage current cost of living pressures is a key priority for the government, with a £15 billion package announced yesterday to support almost all of the eight million most vulnerable households across the UK.
Boris Johnson said: “With a vast number of vacancies in the jobs market, it is more critical than ever to access the huge pool of untapped talent in towns and cities right across the country, which is why I am thrilled with the progress we have made with the Way to Work scheme.”
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Thérèse Coffey said: “Unemployment is at its lowest since the 1970s with full time workers across the UK £6,000 better off than if they were on benefits. And there are still vacancies to fill. That’s why our jobcentres are helping employers short circuit the recruitment process so they can get talent in fast.”
Greg Mesch, Chief Executive at CityFibre, visited by Boris, said:”CityFibre is rolling out the UK’s finest digital infrastructure to millions of homes and businesses nationwide. To build these new Full Fibre networks, we’re creating thousands of new network construction jobs and providing industry training to those that need it.
“We and our construction partners are working closely with DWP nationally, and local Jobcentres, by engaging with schemes like Way to Work. We look forward to increasing our involvement in the future.”
Alongside vital job support to help jobseekers secure an income, the new £15 billion cost of living support package will help almost all of the eight million most vulnerable households across the UK as they are set to receive help of at least £1,200 this year, including a new one-off £650 cost of living payment.Lincolnshire man fined more than £21,000 for operating illegal waste site
Lincolnshire man Raymond Wortley has been fined more tea £21,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 towards prosecuting costs after being found guilty of operating a waste site without permission at Crowland.
Wortley, 75, of The Streddars, Hundreds Road, Crowland, accepted and stored waste illegally at his home without a permit. Whilst some of the waste was burned, he also left his gate open which allowed flytippers to deposit other waste on his site.
Waste including tree cuttings, plastics, treated wood and construction waste was kept on land at Wortley’s home between 23 October 2019 and 2 June 2021.
Wortley was told orally and in writing on several occasions that he was not allowed to run the site in the way he was doing. Despite this, he continued to do so. Further visits were made to the site in July 2020. An attempt to regularise some of the activities had been made with the green waste now being shredded but this still required a permit.
In November 2021, the site was inspected via drone and found to be still operating as a waste transfer station without any permits.
Wortley was sentenced at Peterborough magistrates’ court on May 24, 2022.
He pleaded guilty to operating a waste facility without a permit contrary to Regulation 12 and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. He also pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting others to deposit waste contrary to section 33(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
He was fined £21,693.50 which included the avoided permitting costs and financial benefit Wortley had gained by running the illegal site. He was ordered to pay a contribution to prosecution costs of £10,000 and a victim surcharge of £181.
Peter Stark, enforcement team leader, said: “We take illegal waste activity very seriously and will take the necessary action to disrupt criminal activity and prosecute those responsible. Wortley was advised to stop on numerous occasions but continued to disregard environmental law. He is now receiving the consequences of those actions.”
Your chance to walk away with a prize worth £20,000 at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022
With this year’s East Midlands Bricks Awards set to be bigger and better than ever, with nominations flooding in, there’s also a grand prize worth £20,000 up for grabs.
Celebrating the property and construction industry, the prestigious event recognises development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening of celebration and networking with professionals from across the region. Tickets for the event can be booked here.
To nominate a business or development, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Award categories include:
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Find out who last year’s winners were here.
- Most active estate 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, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
Lack of Government action to help businesses will put British economy in a stranglehold, says BCC
Reacting to news of cost of living crisis measures announced by the Chancellor, Hannah Essex, Co-Executive Director of the BCC, says the Government must act quickly to prevent a stranglehold being put on the economy.
Calling for a VAT cut on business energy prices to directly ease some of the pricing pressure and break the inflationary cycle, she said: “The sheer scale of the cost-of living crisis facing the British public means the Government is absolutely right to provide additional support to those worst affected.
“For business, the toxic mix of inflation, raw material costs and supply chain disruption is the flip-side of the coin to the problems facing consumers.
“Unless steps are also taken to ease business costs, they will likely feed into the inflationary pressure on the economy and quickly eat into the financial support announced.
“A reduction in VAT to 5% on businesses’ energy bills would directly alleviate some of this pressure to raise prices. The Treasury must urgently consider the actions set out in our call for an Emergency Budget which would provide a way to break the inflationary cycle.
“If we can ease the pressure on businesses then they can keep a lid on the price rises. Firms will then have the breathing space they need to raise productivity and strengthen the economy – but a change of course is needed now. If the government does not act quickly, then rising costs will put our economy in a stranglehold.”
20 jobs created as Industrial equipment provider celebrates new Burton on Trent manufacturing facility
Northbridge Industrial Services plc, the power reliability company, has announced the completion and handover of its new loadbank production facility in Burton on Trent, which will increase annualised production capacity by 60%.
The new1,200m2 manufacturing site will complement existing facilities which support equipment sales and rentals across the Group’s major international hubs in the UK, Continental Europe, the USA, the Middle East and APAC.
The company say: “It will enable Northbridge to meet the current strong levels of customer demand, as well as future proofing operational capacity as the Company builds on its c.10% global market share of the expanding power reliability market.
The factory expansion was completed on budget and on time. It has created around 20 new jobs for the local economy and, with all additional employees already recruited and trained, the facility will start production in June 2022 as planned.”
Following a transformational 18 months for the Group, the development of this state-of-the-art loadbank production facility reflects the future direction of the Group’s core business, Crestchic, which focuses on power reliability to benefit from the global mega trends in data and energy transition. As previously announced, the Group will change its name to Crestchic Plc, conditional on shareholder approval at the Group’s AGM on 9 June 2022.
A formal opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday 6 July and the Company would like to invite institutional investors and sell side analysts to attend the event. It will be hosted by senior members of the Executive and management teams, and the ceremony will be followed by a brief Group strategy presentation and smaller group tours of the new and existing facilities.
