PREMIERLEAGUEAMBITIONEMBL meets DistinctRecruitmentPREMIERLEAGUEAMBITIONEMBL meets DistinctRecruitmentNOVEMBER 2016EAST MIDLANDS LEADING BUSINESS E-MAGIN PROFILE Abstrakt CreativePROPERTYInvesting abroadROUNDTABLEManufacturing: what’snext?www.blmgroup.co.ukWWW.EASTMIDLANDSBUSINESSLINK.CO.UKEMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 1LinkingbusinesstogetherEast Midlands Business Link has been bringing businesses together through itsonline pages and we’re now offering even more chances to network andcreate new relationships with a host of special events – and there are numerous sponsorship opportunities to help promote your brand!Round TablesBringing together leading names from local businesses, our round table events debate the latest hottopics. By sponsoring the event you can decide on the topic and help shape the guest list to ensurerelevance. The resultant debate will appear in our pages.Breakfast EventsEast Midlands Business Link's breakfast events present topical and incisive discussion. A panel ofexperts offer their views on business matters in front of an informed and interested audience –alongside plenty of opportunities to network! Sponsors of the event receive access to the delegate list as well as extensive pre- and post-event coverage.AwardsHighlighting the best of local business, there are myriad sponsorship opportunities atEast Midlands Business Link's awards evenings. Bringing together guests from across the region,sponsoring a category or even the entire event will ensure exceptional exposure for your business! These events are also a great place to entertain and welcome distinguished guests.Business Link is renowned as the voice of the East Midlands business scene. By partnering with us at these special events you can take advantage of our strong reputation and enjoy exceptional exposure for your brand!Connectwith us today to see what we can do for your business...EMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 2www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 3EDITOR’S NOTESIs it really November already? What a year it’s been. We’re almostinto the realm of end-of-year reviews, predictions for 2017 and theinevitable raft of Christmas parties, which I have to say I’m lookingforward to tremendously! Any excuse…And then there’s the Autumn Statement, of course. Speaking of which, why not attend our latest breakfast event on 29thNovember? Sponsored by Freeths, the event will see a panel of expertspeakers from RSM UK, East Midlands Chamber and the Institute ofDirectors run the rule over Philip Hammond’s proposals. Sign up forfree tickets by clicking the link below and find out what the AutumnStatement means for YOUR business. In this month’s issue, we meet West Bridgford-based DistinctRecruitment and their latest signing, current Hull City captain andNottingham Forest legend Michael Dawson. Elsewhere, we report fromour most recent roundtable event, sponsored by Allied Irish Bank (GB),which took a look at the health of the manufacturing sector in the EastMidlands; Lauren Swarbrick from Nottingham-based agency AbstraktCreative tells us what makes her business unique; and we sit down withteenage entrepreneur Brandon Watson, founder of on-demanddomestic cleaning service Ubbergloves, to find out what makes himtick. Enjoy. Ian EvansEditorNearing the finishlineEMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 3ContentsNovember 2016Latest News6The latest news from the regionDeals8The latest news from the dealmakers around the regionProperty News 10All the latest from the property sectorAppointments12Who’s moving whereManufacturing News14News and views from around the East MidlandsCover Story 16EMBL meets Distinct Recruitment Roundtable 18What’s next for the manufacturing sector? Our latestroundtable, sponsored by Allied Irish Bank (GB), asked thequestions28In Profile21Nottingham-based agency Abstrakt CreativeDomestic Services 24We speak to 19-year old entrepreneur Brandon Watson,founder of on-demand cleaning service UbberglovesFinance27Allied Irish Bank (GB) looks ahead to 2017 Public Relations 28The latest advice from Greg Simpson, founder of Press forAttention PR and Enterprise Nation Champion forNottinghamProperty30Why you should be investing in foreign property right nowPlastics 32Q&A with Rutland Plastics director Steve AyreOut of Office34Brewin Dolphin and NPS go bonkers for conkersSocial Scene35Tapas and wineBreakfast Event Invitation 36What will the Autumn Statement mean for your business?Join us at our latest breakfast event, sponsored by FreethsAutolink38As winter looms on the horizon our minds turn to whichare the safest cars to drive. This month we look acrosssome of the cars we’ve recently tested to see whichmodels offer the best protectionEMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 432EditorIan Evansi.evans@blmgroup.co.ukAccounts & SubscriptionsAngela Sharmanaccounts@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310301 Fax: (01472) 310311Design & ProductionGary Jorgensen, Mark Cassonstudio@blmgroup.co.ukTel: (01472) 310304Fax: (01472) 310314E-Mail:eastmidlands@blmgroup.co.ukPublisherHaychart Ltd, t/a Business Link Magazine Group,Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N.E. Lincs., DN31 2QE.All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied,recorded or otherwise without expresspermission of the copyright holder, for whichapplication should be addressed first to thepublisher. While every reasonable care is taken,neither the publisher nor its participating agentsaccept liability for loss or damage to prints,colour transparencies, negatives or othermaterial of whatever nature submitted to thispublication. The views expressed in thispublication are not necessarily the views of thoseheld by the publisher.@BLMEastMidlandsBLMEastMidlandsEMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 5East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk6GCI secures £50macquisition fundGCI, the Derby-based managed IT service provider, hassecured a £50m acquisition growth fund to support itsstrategic objectives.The fund was facilitated via the Royal Bank of Scotland andHSBC in a deal led by GCI’s CFO Mark Allen, and brokered withthe support of KPMG.Allen said: “In terms of strategy, we are focusing GCI’sservices and solutions around the needs of our customers andthe irreversible trends in the business landscape, the need tosupport an increasingly-mobile workforce, the need to enableand support digital transformation and collaboration, the needfor increasingly sophisticated security and compliancesolutions, the need to support the ‘rise and rise’ of theomnichannel and diverse communications platforms. This£50m fund will help us robustly address those customerchallenges and take GCI to the next level”.Adrian Thirkill, CEO at GCI, added: “This is another greatmilestone for GCI. As an indicator of our resolve to buildsomething special, our investments to date have alreadypositioned GCI as a leading player in Unified Communications,with more than 60 Microsoft-certified professionals within our300 strong organisation. To further endorse our confidence inthe strength of Microsoft’s technology stack, GCI will be aHeadline Sponsor at Microsoft’s Future Decoded event atExcel, London on 1-2 November.“We are already making very good use of the additionalfunding now available to us and will continue to invest in ourcapabilities around Office 365, Skype for Business, Azure,Cloud PBX and our growing PCI Compliance Services”.Zoe Clarke, of KPMG, who helped GCI’s Allen broker thedeal, said: “This is a landmark transaction which will help GCIto take forward its significant growth ambitions by allowing itto take advantage of acquisition growth opportunities as thebusiness looks to build-out and add capabilities. Securing sucha flexible bank facility not only shows the strength of thecompany’s strategy, but is also an indicator of the attractivebank market conditions still available for businesses withstrong credit profiles”.Timico wins the race to improve The Jockey Club’sfixed line estateNewark-based managed IT, internet and communications service provider and sponsor of the Cheltenham Gold CupTimico has secured the contract to supply The Jockey Club’s nationwide portfolio of 15 racecourses and their offices withfixed-line telephony and full reporting and management information available through its MyTimico portal.Timico has assumed management of The Jockey Club’s 250 PSTN and ISDN 30 lines in a move which will see theorganisation benefit from enhanced quality of service and billing as well as an improvement in the scope and quality ofmanagement information available to the company.Charles Whelpton, director of enterprise at Timico, said: “Following on from sponsorship of Timico’s first Gold Cup thisyear, we’re delighted to have extended our relationship with The Jockey Club and completed the roll-out of our first joint ITproject.“We have an excellent service implementation team who managed the change-over within just four weeks. Inconsolidating The Jockey Club’s entire fixed line estate we’ve been able to drive costs down and perform an in-depth auditof usage to see which lines weren’t in use and rationalise what was originally in place”.New-build studentaccommodation completed inNottingham city centreA new block of premium student accommodation at 95 Talbot Street,Nottingham has now reached practical completion and 100% occupancy for the2016/17 academic year.The purpose-built, direct-let property, within the heart of the city’s student area,has 97 high-specification one and two bed apartments, a gym, cinema room,study areas and communal chill-out spaces.The derelict site, acquired by London-based Empiric Student Property (Empiric)in May 2015, was demolished to make way for the £4.2m construction of the newsix-storey property.Nottingham law firm Buckles Solicitors LLP helped Empiric secure the site andits subsequent development by ensuring that all the necessary constructioncontracts and consultant appointments were in place, and Empiric’s position inforward funding the works was properly protected.Tim Attlee, co-founder of Empiric, said: “Nottingham remains hugely popularwith students, and while universities throughout the UK also continue to attractrecord numbers of students, expectations about the standard of accommodationcontinue to rise.“Empiric provides and manages premium accommodation for our residentswhich is highly specified with a range of communal facilities for students to enjoy.Like all of our properties, we have set aside substantial space at 95 Talbot Streetfor our customers to study and socialise, which appeals to today’s students,specifically those from abroad and those studying beyond first year.“It’s fantastic that we’ve already achieved full occupancy. I’d like to thankBuckles for its help as having a local firm who knows the area and the industry isvital for us”.LATEST NEWSEMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 67www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link Derby brickies could bebiggest earners in UKBrickies in Derby could be among the biggest earners inthe country, with some taking home £5,000 a week buildingflood defence walls.Derbyshire-based Hodgkinson Builders, run by IanHodgkinson, landed a £2 million project that started earlierthis year to build flood defence walls along a 13km stretch ofthe River Derwent.Two of his bricklayers – Scott Jones and Gavin Ferns –found themselves with £5,000 each in their pockets in justone week after their hard graft saw them lay 20,000 bricks ina few days.Hodgkinson, who co-founded the National ConstructionAcademy, which opened in Derby last month, says there is alot of earning potential in bricklaying. He wants to attractpeople back into the trade to up the number of brickies inBritain so that the government’s target of 250,000 new housesby 2018 can be met. At the moment there are only 250,000brickies in the UK – one brickie per house.He said: “I want more people to take up a career inbricklaying which is why we are launching the constructionacademy. Scott and Gavin are absolute bricklaying machines,they are extremely hard working and deserve every pennythey earn. What people don’t realise is that bricklaying is notwhat it used to be. There is great earning potential and theopportunity to progress.“I started out as an apprentice and now run a successfulbusiness. I want to give more people this opportunity. Thefact that two of my guys are earning £5,000 goes to showwhat can be achieved and I hope the opening of the NCA willencourage more people into what is a lucrative career”.The National Construction Academy (NCA) was officiallyopened by Nick Knowles on Friday 14th October. Theacademy has been set up to address the skills shortage in theconstruction industry through the delivery of high quality,industry focused apprenticeship programmes.The academy currently offers a traineeship andapprenticeship in bricklaying to fast track candidates into theconstruction trade. NCA is part of Aspire Achieve Advance(3AAA), an Ofsted Grade 1 training provider operating on anational basis.£12m iHub set to open for businessConstruction work on the new iHub innovation centre at Infinity Park in Derby isnow complete, with the management team at Connect Derby preparing to welcomeits first tenants.The £12m iHub is the centrepiece of Infinity Park, the new 100-acremanufacturing focused commercial and technology site, which is situated betweenSinfin and Chellaston to the south of the city.The 45,000 sq ft facility, which has Enterprise Zone status, aims to nurture thedevelopment and growth of businesses in the transport engineering and hi-techsectors. It provides flexible workspace for start-ups, early stage businesses andhigh growth SMEs looking to expand their role within rail, aerospace andautomotive supply industry.The completion of the building follows the recent opening of the T12 link road,which connects the iHub to the main A50 via Chellaston and Sinfin.Businesses who are set to move into the iHub include Serjeants, a firm of patentand trademark attorneys currently based at Leicester’s own hi-tech innovation hub,and Canada-based Sciemetric, which tests and monitors processes across theassembly line.The iHub will build on the success of the hugely popular Connect Derby scheme,which has created a strong market for mixed use and sector specific servicedoffices across the city at its six other buildings – Friar Gate Studios, Sadler BridgeStudios, Riverside Chambers, Marble Hall, Kings Chambers and Shot Tower.Tenants will also be eligible to a range of support from ENSCITE, a collaborationbetween Aston and Derby Universities and Derby City Council.Councillor Martin Rawson, deputy leader of Derby City Council and cabinetmember for planning, environment and regeneration said: “We’re delighted to seethe completion of the iHub and look forward to welcoming a diverse range ofbusinesses from across the region. Our new tenants have chosen the iHub becauseof its strategic location in the region, the hi-specification office and workshopaccommodation and state-of-the-art equipment and business support services.EMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 7Leicester’s EHL Group acquires three-site Nottingham law firmEHL Group, best known for its 119 year old law firm Edward Hands & Lewis Solicitors, has successfully acquired three-branchNottinghamshire-based legal firm Sheltons Solicitors.The merger with EHL was officially signed and completed on Wednesday 28th September and all of Sheltons Solicitors’ 26 staff andfive partners have joined EHL.Sheltons Solicitors delivers both private client and commercial support to the Nottinghamshire marketplace and surrounding areaswith a wide range of services from Wills, probate & family matters through to commercial property and asset protection.The firm was originally founded in 1934 by Yorkshire man Edward Leslie Robson and saw George Shelton join the practice in the1950s. Over the last 82 years, Sheltons has evolved and grown to 3 branches in Bulwell, Carlton and Hucknall and boosts EHL’s legalbranches up to 17 with 16 of these being local branches and the EHL Commercial Law centre based in the heart of Leicester on STMargaret’s Street at the end of the Abbey Lane.EHL Group’s managing director Jason Hathaway said: “Sheltons Solicitors has excellent, top quality legal specialists with expertisethat will complement our existing teams and sector expertise and help us secure new clients”.Hathaway added that the merger “significantly offers benefits and opportunities for both firms, our people and our clients”.Paul Stubbs, EHL’s Northern regional director said: “This union gives us the resources, geographic reach and scale to support ourrapidly increasing client base and EHL’s innovative approach makes the acquisition a solid cultural fit for our staff”.Earlier this year, Edward Hands & Lewis Solicitors was highlighted as one of the 20 fastest growing firms in the UK with a predictedturnover of £7m this year.East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk8Lincs potato supplier partners with supermarket giant tocombat food wasteBranston, one of the UK’s biggest potato suppliers, has officially opened a £5 millionprepared potato factory extension in partnership with supermarket giant Tesco. Producing around 3,500 tonnes of potatoes each week for sale in Tesco storesacross the UK, the new factory expansion includes the introduction of two new batchpeeling lines, making it one of the largest peeling and processing facilities in the UK.The development, which has created more than 20 new jobs at the Lincolnshire site,supports Tesco’s commitment to look for new ways to reduce food waste. The facilitypeels visually imperfect but entirely edible potatoes, which are then supplied toSamworth Brothers, a convenience food producer which produces a range of Tesco’s ready meals.Branston’s MD James Truscott said: “Our relationship with Tesco is hugely important to the business and its commitment toreducing waste is a shared goal. This exciting new development enables us to play our part, whilst improving quality and freshnessfor customers.Derbyshire curtain firm acquires competitorThe UK’s leading brand of lace net and sheer curtains has acquired a competitor following fundingfrom Barclays.Derbyshire-based Filigree Holdings has acquired R E Ashworth & Co for an undisclosed sum.Filigree Holdings is a privately owned company which can trace its roots back to 1850 when MrBrowne & Co, Lacemakers, was founded in Draycott, Derbyshire. In the 1920s its directors included SirWilliam Hicking, Sir Ernest Jardine and Sir Stanley Birkin, doyens of the traditional Nottingham LaceIndustry.At that time the company was based at Queens Road, Nottingham. After 40 years in South Normanton,the company moved in 2015 to its’ current premises in Ripley, Derbyshire.R E Ashworth & Co, based in Daybrook, Nottingham, was established over 85 years ago by RichardAshworth, a local Magistrate, and later Lord Mayor of Nottingham. The principal activity of the companyis manufacture, finishing and distribution of lace curtains, net curtains and napery.Luke Mulligan, director of Filigree Holdings, said: “The acquisition of R E Ashworth provides a naturalfit with the Filigree business and will enable us to expand our offering to our customer base”.Funding for the acquisition was provided by Barclays. Ashley Hallam, relationship director for Barclays,said: “Both Filigree and R E Ashworth are well known brands within the industry that both have a wealthof history and expertise within the field. The merger of these two businesses will provide opportunitiesfor further growth and expansion”.The company has a combined workforce of 90 people.PHOTO: ANDY WEEKESDEALSEMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 8Two major deals forBombardierDerby-based technology leader Bombardier hassigned two deals totalling over £1 billion, securing athousand local jobs at its Litchurch Lane site.In August Bombardier was selected to build 665carriages for new the East Anglia rail franchise,Abellio. Now Angel Trains, a train leasing firm withoffices in Derby and London, has signed a dealworth £900 million to buy the carriages, which willthen be leased to Abellio.This comes hot on the heels of another deal for athree-year extension worth £232 million to itscurrent train service agreement with ArrivaCrossCountry Trains.Extending service until October 2019, thecontract covers full maintenance services for XC’sfleet of 57 Voyager and Super Voyager trainsets,based out of Bombardier’s Central Riversmaintenance facility. The scope also includes thetransfer and conversion of two Super Voyager cars.Previously operated by Virgin Trains, these cars willbe reconfigured to create an additional 58th unit forCrossCountry.Matt Byrne, head of services at BombardierTransportation, said: “We’re delighted that ourindustry partners CrossCounty Trains choseBombardier for the continued provision of fleetmaintenance services that form such a core part oftheir franchise service. We’ve worked hard toenhance the performance of the Voyager fleet andwe look forward to continuing those improvementsin the future through our ongoing collaborativerelationship with XC”.9www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link Leicestershire trade supplieracquired by Yorks print businessCustom Forms, a Leicestershire-based trade supplier specialising inaccountancy forms, has been acquired by Hague Print, the Yorkshire printand IT solutions provider.Based in Hinckley in Leicestershire, Custom Forms was established over22 years ago. The £1.5m turnover business employs 9 staff and specialisesin original and compatible forms for use with all the popular accounting &payroll software packages including IRIS, Pegasus and Sage. It has contractsin place with large office supplies distributors.Graham Wain, managing director at Hague, said: “Custom Forms areleaders in their market and will be a great addition to The Hague group ofcompanies. They also have strong e-commerce capabilities which we areplanning to build on to extend the range of products and services availableto our respective customers”.Fergus McGoldrick, who will stay on as Custom Forms’ managing director,added: “We are very pleased to be joining the Hague Group. Theirreputation as providers of innovative print solutions reach well beyond theUK and their product offering and growth strategy represent a greatopportunity for Custom Forms. We are looking forward to working closelywith them and benefit from their experience”.Custom Forms will keep operating from Hinckley and will continue to tradeas Custom Forms Ltd.EMBL 11 November 2016_Layout 1 01/11/2016 16:36 Page 9Next >