< Previous30East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukMEET THE EXPERTSOver the next page we hear from one of theregion's most successful companies andinvite them to share their experience Mosthave been in business for many years and have hugeexperience in their respective fields, and each hasassisted myriad companies in saving money andworking more effectively. Doing business locally has often been a phrasetrumpeted by those in the region who want to havemore customers, with some cynically using it as away to try and shame local companies into usingthem as suppliers. Nowadays, however, the focus haschanged, and local companies are promotingthemselves not only on how close they aregeographically, but upon their expertise andincredible customer service.East Midlands businesses are excelling innumerous sectors – from traditional industries suchas training and legal advice to playing major roles inthe power generation field. These businesses are allsucceeding individually, but the clusters of similarcompanies have helped them work together to swapideas and benefit from collaboration.Across the region, there are examples ofbusinesses benefiting from being part of a largerfamily. From various networking and membershipgroups that promote services between themselves, tolarger scale initiatives between LEP’s and educationinstitutes. Business is now more local than it has everbeen, something many no doubt thought was lostwith the global reach of the internet. Large national companies have struggled to keepup with the more personal approach of localcompanies, and while in the past the sheer powerand expertise of the giants would be enough to keeptheir customers. There’s no denying that the skill gapbetween large companies and SME’s is shrinking,perhaps as technology advances – or maybe just as aresult of local businesses growing in quality. Whatever the reason there has never been a bettertime than now to look towards companies within theregion for suppliers. We’ve collected a few of ourown personal recommendations over a number ofdifferent industries. Send in theexpert© Shutterstock / Kurhan Spearing Waite34 Pocklingtons Walk, Leicester, LE1 6BUTel: 0116 262 4225Email: info@spearingwaite.comWeb: www.spearingwaite.comCompany profile:Spearing Waite LLP is one of theregion’s leading independent law firms.Specialist teams provide advice across abroad range of legal services. Its leadinglawyers have experience of working ininternational, City and national firmsmeaning its partner driven serviceattracts clients from owner managedbusinesses to fully listed Plcs.Service portfolio - planning:Pritpal Singh Swarn is a Partner and heads up the Planning &Environment team at Spearing Waite. He specialises in all aspects of contentious and non-contentiousplanning and highways matters, rights of way issues and relatedenvironmental and local government matters. Pritpal acts forlandowners, developers, promoters and investors and Local Planningand Highway Authorities as well as Registered providers. Pritpal is recommended in both The Legal 500 and Chambers &Partners:“Exceptionally personable and very experienced” - Legal 500“Very easy to work with, very knowledgeable and alwaysresponds to enquiries quickly” – Chambers & PartnersLAWwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 31LEGAL MATTERS6 steps towardsbetter crisismanagementBy Andrew Kerrigan, Business Crime and RegulatorySolicitor – Sills & Betteridge.In this article I explore how to respondto an accident or incident which couldlead to prosecution. There is no shortageof authorities with powers to conductinvestigations and even if your businesshas a clean record you could findyourself under scrutiny at any time. Step 1 – Understand howyour Solicitor can assistIn a crisis, one of the first calls youshould be making is to your Solicitor andhere is why:Our experience gives us a birds eyeview of how your actions before, duringand after the crisis will determine theoutcome for you and your businessduring the course of any investigationand subsequent court proceedings.We are available to provide immediateadvice to help you make the rightchoices from the outset– you don’t haveto wait for our office to open.No other professional or adviser toyour business has the reach that yourSolicitor has during a crisis – we will bephysically by your side during anyexternal investigation, internalinvestigation, preparing writtensubmissions to authorities, attendinginterviews, inquests, tribunals and courthearings.Step 2 - Make a planWhether your business has crisismanagement experience or not it isbeneficial to prepare a plan on how to takecontrol and manage a crisis. Any planneeds to be shared throughout thebusiness and periodically revised. It mayalso be worth considering a trainingexercise to stress test your preparednessto deal with a crisis. Step 3 – Identify who willtake controlAn element of the planning exerciseshould identify one or more staff to takethe lead in a crisis. There are varioustasks to be co-ordinated and clearleadership and lines of communicationwill help manage the situation andminimise the on going risk to thebusiness.Step 4 – Manage the internalinvestigationWhether the business finds itselfdealing with a full blown crisis or a nearmiss an internal investigation isnecessary to identify the root cause ofthe accident or incident so it can beaddressed to avoid future repetition.The HSE provide helpful guidance onhow to undertake accident investigation.As your internal investigation isdisclosable to outside authorities thereare some circumstance when we asSolicitors can instruct elements of theinvestigation to be undertaken underlegal privilege.Step 5 - Prepare for externalinvestigatorsIt can be stressful to find yourself oryour business subject to externalinvestigation. Planning for suchinterventions and understanding theextent of the investigators powers andthe methods they adopt can help tolessen the stress.My number one tip for dealing withexternal investigators is to always treatthem with respect and co-operation nomatter how aggressive or pushy youmay perceive the intervention. Often anill tempered exchange with aninvestigator can cast a shadow over theentire process.Step 6 - Learn lessonsIf your internal and the externalinvestigation identify that the business orindividuals within it are at fault it isnecessary that you can demonstrate thatlessons have been learned. Where anexternal investigation results in a publicinquiry or prosecution it may beexpected that you can demonstrate youhave learned lessons and madeimprovements. This may also reduce anypenalty imposed.Andrew Kerrigan is available at anytime on 07387 108720,akerrigan@sillslegal.co.uk or checkout his regular LinkedIn postsEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk40LEGAL MATTERSEast Midlands Business LinkBricks 2018A celebration of those helping tocreate the landscape for the next generationTo nominate a company for an award visitwww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk/mag/bricks-2018EAST MIDLANDSEast Midlands Business Link Bricks Award 2018 are now open forentries. The awards are a chance to recognise and celebrate theregion’s top projects, as well as the teams behind them.The event will bring together the real stars of the region’s commercialproperty sector, and celebrate those helping to create the landscape forthe next generation. The East Midlands Bricks Awards will drill downinto what is really happening in the world of property in our region –from offices, through to industrial, residential and community projectssuch as leisure schemes and schools.There are ten categories tochoose from, including:Most active agentsponsored by: Sustainable developmentof the yearsponsored by: Residential scheme ofthe year sponsored byDeveloper of the yearsponsored byDeal of the yearsponsored byExcellence in designsponsored byYoung propertypersonality of the yearBest upcoming agentFree to enter, the awards will be held on the 8th of February 2018 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket club where the winners andhighly commend in each category will be revealed.Around 150 professionals from the construction,development and property sector in the region areexpected to attend the ceremony, which the last eventsold out in advance.To book your place at the event please visit:www.eventbrite.com/e/east-midlands-bricks-awards-tickets-40036075981?aff=es2Being nominated for a Business LinkBricks Award will:lShowcase your business alongside the best firms in the regionlGain industry recognition for the excellent work delivered by your businesslBuild awareness of your brand and increase marketing potential with key clientslImprove employee morale by recognising staff performancelNetwork with consultants, main contractors, clientsand peerslBoost your business by establishing and cementing new contacts and relationshipslPromote industry excellence and demonstrate a competitive edgeThere are ten categories tochoose from, including:Most active agentsponsored by: Sustainable developmentof the yearsponsored by: Residential scheme ofthe year sponsored byDeveloper of the yearsponsored byDeal of the yearsponsored byExcellence in designsponsored byYoung propertypersonality of the yearsponsored byBest upcoming agentFree to enter, the awards will be held on the 8th of February 2018 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket club where the winners andhighly commend in each category will be revealed.Around 150 professionals from the construction,development and property sector in the region areexpected to attend the ceremony, which the last eventsold out in advance.To book your place at the event please visit:www.eventbrite.com/e/east-midlands-bricks-awards-tickets-40036075981?aff=es2Being nominated for a Business LinkBricks Award will:lShowcase your business alongside the best firms in the regionlGain industry recognition for the excellent work delivered by your businesslBuild awareness of your brand and increase marketing potential with key clientslImprove employee morale by recognising staff performancelNetwork with consultants, main contractors, clientsand peerslBoost your business by establishing and cementing new contacts and relationshipslPromote industry excellence and demonstrate a competitive edgeEast Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk34PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCYNeed aboost?When it comes to boosting productivity, it’s amore complex affair than just throwing money atthe root cause. For businesses, it’s often a simpleequation of efficiency equals productivity.On paper, it looks relativelystraightforward; a simple enough conceptto grasp, but a huge undertaking toimplement. Therein lies the challenge, ofstreamlining production and processes toNeed aboost?© Shutterstock / asharkyu boost yield, grow profit and shavedowntime. Reality can be far from theory,and growth plans on this scale can takemonths, if not years to formulate, executeand benefit from. Options open to businesses vary inscale and outflow, with the most obviousbeing investment. Short termexpenditure can translate into long termgains, but the ends must always justifythe means. Though market fluctuationsand the ebb and flow of finances can bedifficult to predict, entire careers arebuilt on doing just that. Advice mightnot always be free, but gaining a clearand focussed understanding of theyears ahead can not only provide clarityto a decision, but also the impetus forbusiness leaders to take the gamblewith their companies. For manufacturing companies,investment often means upgradingequipment for newer models orswapping out whole production linesfor a model able to serve multiplefunctions in the supply chain. Apresiding trend for 2018, and indeedthe coming years, is the ‘smart factory’concept, a spoke in the wheel of theIndustry 4.0. (or fourth industrialrevolution). Automation is both thebackbone and nervous system of thisembryonic revolution, as companiescontinue to embrace and integratewww.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 35 technology. As ‘future proof’ becomes amore powerful selling point, stayingabreast of the changes will not only beencouraged, but a necessary step forbusinesses. An example would be a companyinvesting in a new largely humanoperated machine only to find itscompetitors are utilising AI and othersmart automations. The tide has alreadyturned, and while the ‘Internet of Things(IoT)’ continues to find its footing amidcybersecurity concerns, AI is becomingto the modern workplace what theFilofax and pager had been in decadespast. As a nexus of technologicaldevelopment, Japan is an early adopterof the cutting edge, and one companyhas already replaced 30 of its staff withAI system that can calculate paymentsto policyholders. For those of us worriedthat human jobs are under threat forrobots and artificial intelligence, it wasdisconcerting story to start the NewYear on. In terms of efficiency, however,it is a watershed moment. It would be counterintuitive to act likethe ostrich and bury our heads in thesand, pretending AI doesn’t exist. Thefuture is now. The world’s biggestcompanies, from Apple to Amazon, areall embracing automation of this kind,and the trickledown effect is reshapingthe corporate landscape. Productivity isn’t tied exclusively toinvestment and can benefit from moreinnocuous sources. Changing one partof a process can make its entirety moreefficient, so identifying any areas inwhich time or resources could bebetter spent or deployed is in abusinesses’ best interest. It might notbe to the benefit of all workers, butconsolidating several jobs into oneposition has become morecommonplace as technology lessonsthe burden placed on workers. Theirony is that this very technology hasmade our lives busier and moredemanding. It’s easy to assume that productivityis binary, relating either to expenditureor processes, but for all the posturingand influx of robots and artificialintelligence, the heart of business is stillundeniably human. People have theirown wants, needs and emotionalburdens; they tire and require breaks buta fulfilled and happy workforce isintegral to the longevity and success of acompany. The quirky ‘Google approach’might to be to every bosses taste (ortheir workers, for that matter), butlounge areas and ‘snug rooms’ might bejust the ticket to inspiring an uninspiredworkforce. Work-based exercise programmeshave been shown to have a positiveeffect of both physical and mentalhealth, while providing a space whereemployees can indulge in conversationand recreation without worrying aboutwork can be hugely beneficial. Somecompanies have even taken to allowingpets in the office, though doing soinvites in all manner of complications,not to mention a potential Tom andJerry situation. In any case, a happyworkforce is a motivated workforce, andboosting productivity can sometimes beas simple as that. © Shutterstock / SvedOliver 36East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukBUSINESS SCENEAnnualNetwork LEDinner360 guests from Leicestershire’s professional community attended the annualNetwork LE dinner at Leicester City FC’s King Power Stadium in November.Network LE is an independent networking group that aims to forgerelationships across all professional disciplines in the Leicestershire businesscommunity to generate activity and business growth. Network LE co-founderand director of Press For Attention PR, Greg Simpson, said;‘Our annual event is always popular and tends to kick the party season intoaction in fine form. It gets bigger every year and we have already takenbookings for 2019. We look forward to welcoming our guests again nextNovember and seeing them throughout the year at our regular businessbreakfasts and other evening social events.’www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.ukEast Midlands Business Link 37BUSINESS SCENEPHOTOS: HITZ RAO/PRESS FOR ATTENTION PRNext >