TopicUK June 2022 Edition by Yorkshire BusinessWoman & TopicUK

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No53

BI-MONTHLY

BUSINESS MAGAZINE

A unique opportunity to sit amongst lions ULaw Business School to launch in Leeds Leicester gains a Wakefield gem Mike Denby

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Contents

This issue Group Editor Gill Laidler

Design

Rob Blackwell

Associate editor Ed Asquith

Distribution Manager James Longbottom

Official Photographers

Roth Read Photography

Legal Matters

Ramsdens Solicitors Chadwick Lawrence

To Partner TopicUK

Tel: 07711 539047

Recruitment

editor@topicuk.co.uk

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The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers and therefore, no responsibility can be held by the publisher for misinterpretation. Reproduction of this magazine without the express permission of the publisher is prohibited. Whilst every care is taken in the production of this magazine, the publisher/editor and staff cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles, advertisements or programme schedules. To subscribe to this magazine contact 07711 539047 or email editor@topicuk.co.uk. Published by Ghost Publishing Limited, . Law pages are written by Chadwick Lawrence & Ramsdens Solicitors LLP and TopicUK is not responsible for any advice given.

ADMINISTRATOR

Charlotte Hall

Cover : Mike Denby Image : Roth Read Photography

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Bed manufacturer becomes UKs largest hemp grower

page

A unique opportunity to sit amongst lions

page

University of Law Business School to launch in Leeds

page

Leicester gains a Wakefield gem

page A career in policing

Printed By: Charlesworth Press Wakefield

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Editors notes

By group editor Gill Laidler

Welcome to the latest edition of TopicUK, we can hardly believe it’s been nine years since we first launched covering just the Wakefield area, expanding very quickly to cover the whole of the Yorkshire region.

OUR PARTNERS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Yorkshire sculpture park CONNECT YORKSHIRE Community Foundation Calderdale The Piece Hall BACKSTAGE ACADEMY Ramsdens Solicitors Chadwick Lawrence WILD PR Wakefield Council Ad:Venture CityFibre Eaton Smith Solicitors Stafflex Scriba PR Kirklees College University of Law Avenue hq/Barclays Eagle Lab BeVic Town Hall Dental Fantastic Media FORGET ME NOT CHILDRENS HOSPICE Halifax Bid Beanie Media HALSTON MARKETING DAKOTA HOTEL LEEDS Kirklees Council CRAGGS ENERGY

How times have changed and now its time for a new journey as we take the TopicUK business digital. We want to do our bit for the environment and with more and more people requesting our digital services, certainly since the pandemic, which allows us to get the news out there instantly, we have decided to embrace this. TopicUK magazine will look exactly the same and is available to read online, and by the Autumn it will be fully interactive with changing imagery, links to partner websites, embedded video and give our partners the option to change their content more regularly. In addition, with the support of YouBee Media we are extended social media and including all our partners promotion on our website. Our new app is launching soon, offering even more for partners, and featuring up-todate daily business news. This edition we feature Wakefield First lead Mike Denby who is leaving Wakefield after nine years for pastures new in Leicestershire. You can read all about Mike’s journey in this edition from car washing to working for one of the country’s leading councils.

of the city opposite Trinity Shopping Centre. Next edition we will feature the beautiful Grantley Hall in Ripon. Our sister publication Yorkshire Businesswoman is going from strength to strength and will remain in print. Our original plan of holding 6 networking events each year has multiplied to one each month with events at Dakota Hotel Leeds, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, John Lewis Partners and Grantley Hall. The membership is growing fast and if you would like to join us, check out the website: https:// yorkshirebusinesswoman.co.uk/signup/

Gill

I was lucky enough to enjoy a stay at the Leeds Marriott last month, for anyone looking for a quality hotel in the area for business or pleasure, try out the Marriott located in the heart

TopicUK June 2022

New investment in Sheffield Markel Tax’s R&D team helps thousands of companies investing in the development of new products, processes or services, or enhancing existing ones, to claim R&D tax relief, on average saving their clients £55,000 per claim.

Markel Tax,a leading tax services provider in the UK, is growing its presence in Sheffield with the opening of a larger office as it increases the size of its team in the city. The move is part of the Fortune 500 company’s strategy to increase its investment and presence in the city which is home to Markel

“Markel is committed to growing our incentives and reliefs business in Sheffield, demonstrated by our investments in both the office and our people,” said divisional Tax’s rapidly growing research & m a n a g i n g d i r e c to r U K , Ne i l Galjaard. “With our client base development (R&D) team. increasing and an incredibly strong Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor first half of the year behind us, Sioned-Mair Richards, was present Markel Tax’s reputation for quality at the official opening of the new is enabling the business to grow office, which was also attended exponentially. Sheffield has a deep by Markel’s senior management pool of talent and we’re already t e a m a n d m e m b e r s o f t h e embarking on a recruitment process business community and Sheffield to fill vacancies at all levels as we look to grow the team.” Hallam University.

New South Yorkshire PR agency Altitude has wrapped up a successful first full quarter by winning six new clients. The B2B PR specialist launched in February with an established client base has added major projects with Henry Boot Construction, chartered surveyor Fowler Sandford, Kirklees Council, Barnsley Council, Barnsley Museums and Sheffield City Council to its portfolio. Altitude PR director Jane Whitham reflected: “When we launched Altitude, we were determined to hit the ground running and we’re delighted to have added several heavyweight clients and in the first three months. We are committed to producing the best quality work,

Six new clients in strong launch for Altitude service and results for all our clients. “Across the north, and particularly in South Yorkshire, we do not shout enough about the amazing things that businesses and organisations are doing. “Altitude is working closely with

clients to develop and implement impactful PR strategies which help organisations evolve and help businesses unlock their potential.” The core team is headed up by PR Director Jane Whitham, Senior Account Manager Adam Reeves-Brown and PR Associate Tom Chapman.

Surge in bad debt and late payments in Yorkshire and Humberside indicate mounting business distress As the UK’s economic situation worsens, businesses in in Yorkshire and Humberside are already starting to show signs of growing financial problems with larger amounts of debt being owed and increasing numbers of businesses failing to pay their bills on time. According to the latest research from insolvency and restructuring trade body R3, based on an analysis of data provided by CreditSafe, the region has seen a steady rise in the debts owed by companies in liquidation over the last four months. There has been a 90% increase, rising from 120 companies in December 2021 to 228 in April. This represents just under £1.4m of debt owed last December which increased to £2.4m last month. The growing bad debt figures in Yorkshire and Humberside were reflected across much of the UK with four other regions seeing even higher numbers of debts owed by companies in liquidation: Greater London (354); North West (280); West Midlands (270); and South East (243).

Looking at another indicator of worsening financial distress, late payment of invoices, R3’s analysis of the CreditSafe data also showed continuing problems with this issue as around 51,000 companies in Yorkshire and Humberside once again proved unable to meet their payments on time in April. Late payments have remained at this level in the region over the last few months and insolvency experts fear that this will have a knock-on effect on suppliers as they struggle to settle their own bills on time due to unpaid invoices.Eleanor Temple, chair of R3 in Yorkshire and a barrister at Kings Chambers in Leeds, comments: “After two very tough years for businesses, unfortunately, the economic prospects look far from encouraging with energy prices soaring, rising inflation and living standards being squeezed.

“ We a r e o n c e a g a i n h e a r i n g economists talk of stagflation and, with the shadow of another recession appearing to be getting closer, we are already seeing growing signs of pressure on businesses here. “Amid the backdrop of weak economic growth as the Ukraine crisis looks set to continue, businesses would be well advised to keep a close eye on their cash flow, particularly given the high number of late payments in the region. In addition, since December, we have also seen growing levels of debt with almost double the number of companies in liquidation owing creditors. “With living standards expected to take their biggest hit for decades, consumer spending is likely to fall, impacting almost every sector, and we urge businesses to seek professional advice at the first signs of financial problems when more options will be available to them.” TopicUK June 2022

N E W S U P D AT E

Sentio and Gordons advise on sale of Knight Frank brokers letting leading plant hire business

at The Bourse in Leeds

vehicles and MSL – a network of independent motor dealerships providing sales and after-sales service for Mercedes-Benz, Mazda & Skoda.

Sentio Partners and Gordons have advised the shareholders of Chippindale Plant Ltd, the leading independent provider of construction equipment for hire and sale in the North of England, on its sale to AER Rents, part of the O’Flaherty Holdings group in Ireland. Chippindale Plant provides the complete hire & sales service for plant, tools, attachments and site accommodation throughout the entire North of England and beyond. Operating from its head office in Leeds it has 8 strategically placed depots in Leeds, Catterick, Huddersfield, Keighley, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield and York, employing 120 staff. This latest exciting acquisition significantly strengthens AER Rents UK presence, allowing the group to offer a widened range of products and services to its customers, including the option to purchase new equipment through Chippindales dealership agreements with Volvo, Bomag, Mecalac, Epiroc, Atlas Copco, Stihl & Belle Group. O’Flaherty Holdings is an organisation

We are delighted to be joining AER Rents fold. It’s a perfect fit not only for Chippindale Plant and its employees, but also for our customers...

well known in Ireland, primarily through its role in the development of the Irish motor industry. Founded in the 1940s by legendary motor industry entrepreneur, the late Stephen O’Flaherty, the group continues to be owned and managed by members of the O’Flaherty family. Its subsidiaries include Motor Distributors Limited, distributors in Ireland of MercedesBenz passenger cars and commercial

The group first invested in plant hire in 2014 with the acquisition of London-based Mr Plant Hire and in 2020 also acquired Ireland-based Drogheda Hire & Sales & Midlandsbased Mainline Group. Last year AER Rents also purchased Welfare 4 Hire, the specialist mobile welfare provider. Each business has retained its identity, while capitalising on the strengths of their collective offerings and reach across the UK and Ireland and this will continue with Chippindale Plant. AER Rents will continue to expand its presence in the plant hire market through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth, offering its customers access to a wider offering of modern products and services. The group was advised by KPMG Corporate Finance & Legal Services, Dublin, with legal support from Shoosmiths in Manchester. In a separate comment, joint managing directors, Nigel & Peter Chippindale said “We are delighted to be joining AER Rents fold. It’s a perfect fit not only for Chippindale Plant and its employees, but also for our customers. AER Rents are a forward-thinking organisation with an eye on expansion. The acquisition will allow us access to significant further investment to enhance and expand the range of equipment we offer. We’re really looking forward to working with the AER Rents team and their existing plant hire companies.”

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Yorkshire pie-maker adds to team amid strong growth

The UK’s number one pork pie brand has added two industry experts to its 200-plus-strong team as it enjoys continued growth. The company has invested £4million in its latest NPD project, which has seen new machinery, jobs and the launch of tasty new additions to the company’s product portfolio, and it now welcomes two new salesfocused roles to support its ongoing growth in the market. With a background in FMCG, Nathan Yates joins to drive non-retail sales including wholesale, foodservice, online, and food to go, as well as the company’s internal van sales operation. With a career spanning motor as well as the food and beverage industry, he is

ideally placed to not only focus on new business but also to drive efficiencies in stock management and processes. The company also welcomes Ruth Dennison as senior account manager, tasked with the commercial management of major customers from agreeing launches and promotions, to devising plans to drive sales and attract new consumers. Mark Gatenby, MD at Vale of Mowbray said: “These two appointments are brilliant news for us. Both Nathan and Ruth have enviable experience in the food

and drink sector, and Ruth’s particular experience in short shelf-life produce means she can really hit the ground running in understanding operational as well as commercial needs.” The appointments come as Vale of Mowbray continues its extensive recruitment drive to support growing demand for its range of award-winning pies. It has most recently launched BBQ minis into Iceland, with a number of other variants due to launch in the coming weeks. Vale of Mowbray, which was established in 1795 and bakes over 1.5 million pies every single week, has a number of exciting NPD projects in the pipeline, with more products set to launch in the coming months.

Eight new appointments signal rapid growth and HQ move B2B strategic marketing and communications agency, Marketing by PHD, has strengthened its client team with eight new appointments after securing a number of new global accounts. Best known for its work in the print, packaging, life science and technology sectors, the agency has moved its headquarters to larger premises at Nostell Priory, Wakefield, after seeing its full-service account portfolio swell to over 40 businesses around the world. A raft of new appointments now brings the team total to 22, evidencing the rapid expansion of the business. Joanna Stephenson, MD and founder comments: “The journey we are on as a business is quite remarkable. In 2014, I took a risk by jumping out of the corporate world to establish my business, because the creative marketing comms service I wanted in the print and packaging sector simply wasn’t there. Just like every new business, at the time I couldn’t fathom growing to this size and especially in such a short period – but here we are! “With these eight new appointments, we can better serve the needs of our existing and prospective clients. We’re proud to do things differently and as we continually move from strength to strength, we’re building an exceptionally talented pool of individuals with a common goal.” Working across the full spectrum of digital, print, and face-to-face

communications channels, the team is comprised of marketing professionals, digital specialists, account managers and copywriters, supporting some of the largest and most established B2B brands in their respective fields. Joanna adds: “As we expand, it is crucial for us that every single member of our team is united under the same vision. That, of course, begins with a solid business culture and what makes the difference for our clients is that we really care. We are motivated by their success,

not ours, and we consider every single interaction as an opportunity to impress, and we never rest on being ‘comfortable’. “With eight more talented individuals in our ranks, we’re also bringing together more unique perspectives and viewpoints to constantly challenge our thinking and creativity for our clients. With client retention rates that are almost unheard of in the industry, it’s clear our approach ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of brands! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for PHD.” TopicUK June 2022

Bed manufacturer becomes UK’s largest hemp grower Fifth-generation family bedmaker Harrison Spinks has confirmed its expansion into new North Yorkshire farmland to support the business’s growth and sustainability plans, which will increase the company’s hemp production.

he new Rytherbased farmland spans 80 acres and will be used to increase the company’s production of industrial hemp. The increase in hemp production will see the company producing

in excess of 1,000 tonnes of hemp straw annually, making Harrison Spinks the largest grower of industrial hemp in the UK. Hemp fibre, a key component of the company’s mattresses, is

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one of the strongest natural fibres – it is used in Harrison Spinks’ luxurious fillings and known for its fresh and extremely absorbent properties. Antimicrobial hemp fibre is a superior mattress filling. Known to have environmental benefits, hemp absorbs more CO2 per hectare in its growth cycle than any other forest or commercial crop. Richard Essery, director of sustainability and Innovation at Harrison Spinks said: “Acquiring the new farmland will be an incredible asset to the business and will allow us to continue producing luxury mattresses in the most environmentally responsible way possible. “In addition to furthering our hemp production,

we are conducting a biodiversity survey across all our farmland to assess the best environmental use of our land. As our business grows, we look forward to furthering our on-going sustainable efforts.” “Like everywhere, COVID-19 has provided real challenges, but we’re determined to support our retail and leisure tenants and we’re confident that when this final phase is open, Barnsley will have one of the most vibrant town centres in the north of England.” Kevin Frost, director of property for Cineworld said: “We are delighted to now be on the ground in The Glass Works. People have really missed live moviegoing, and our Barnsley Cineworld complex will offer an unrivalled audience experience. Our amazing team of contractors are now working to create a fantastic leisure destination for Barnsley residents, visitors from all across Yorkshire and the north of England.”

legend Noel Gallagher who’s notched up over 70 million sales, including a number of generation-defining albums as part of Oasis. They’re joined by Double platinum and BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith, global disco legends Nile Rodgers and CHIC, and international DJ and dance music maestro Pete Tong and his Heritage Orchestra.

Yorkshire’s best kept secret? By: Nicky Chance-Thompson DL, CEO The Piece Hall Trust

We used to be known as Yorkshire’s best kept secret, but is that still the case? With the eyes of the world on this historic venue I’d say the news is now well and truly out with The Piece Hall rightly claiming its place as the jewel in Calderdale’s crown. And what a majestic summer of fun we have lined up with music, dance, song and spectacle all heading our way. After four full days of free events to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee at the start of June, as we honoured Her Majesty the Queen’s tremendous achievement of 70 years of service, The Piece Hall is about the break some records of its own. We’re expecting more visitors than ever before for Live at The Piece Hall 2022 which is set to be our biggest season of summer gigs yet. Preparations are underway to welcome over 50,000 music fans through the gates to see and hear some of the biggest rock, pop, and dance talent on the planet. Taking to the stage will be multi-award winner Sir Tom Jones, whose career

Paul Weller, First Aid Kit, Tom Grennan, Primal Scream and Jessie Ware are also headlining and there’s still some ticket availability, but you’ll need to be quick. I simply can’t wait to see these iconic artists performing in our iconic venue with that stunning backdrop. It’s times like this I’m grateful we’re an open-air venue so I needn’t worry about the roof being blown off! Later in the summer it’s buckets and spades at the ready as we bring back the hugely popular Piece Hall beach. Our Summer Makers Market promises to be a special one with a combination of brand new and customer favourite stalls. And of course, every day throughout summer there’s the chance to browse our top quality, unique independent stores or stop for refreshments our fantastic food and drink outlets. With more celebrations planned for the fifth anniversary of our reopening this August this summer will see this jewel sparkle like never before!

spans six decades, and includes 36 UK hits and 41 albums; pop icons Duran who’ve sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and song writing TopicUK June 2022

explained: “This is a tremendously significant, game-changing deal for us. The acquisition of Safeguard Supplies enables us to expand into healthcare and to become the largest importer of health and safety products from China in Yorkshire. “This will mean we will be playing a crucial role in helping the country to recover from the global pandemic by providing healthcare equipment across the UK. We will now be servicing the retail, food manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality sectors, which is an exciting new dimension for our business and our brand.

CTSUK

complete £3m acquisition Yorkshire business supplies company Corporate Trade Supplies (CTS) UK has completed the £3 million acquisition of a personal protective equipment firm. CTS UK, which specialises in personalised uniforms, workwear, promotional products and cleaning and hygiene products, has bought Safeguard Supplies in a “game-changing” deal. The transaction, will enable the Northallerton-based CTS to rapidly expand its business, allowing the company to deal directly with factories in the Far East. Howard Gill, managing director

We estimate that Safeguard Supplies, which will operate under the CTS UK umbrella, will have a turnover of £10 million within three years”...

“It is important not to underestimate the importance of this deal in the on-going expansion of CTS UK. It is absolutely crucial to the company’s swift and exciting evolution. We estimate that Safeguard Supplies, which will operate under the CTS UK umbrella, will have a turnover of £10 million within three years” said Howard. A J Swinbank, the founder and chairman of CTS UK, commented: “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved during the past two years, under the energetic and inspired leadership of Howard. His vision, passion and expertise has enabled the company to expand rapidly and successfully, culminating in the Safeguard Supplies deal. This unlikely to be our last acquisition this year as we look to expand our production arm of the business and tighten control of our supply chains” . “The success has seen us expand into new premises in Northallerton and create much-need quality and sustainable jobs in North Yorkshire. We are planning to recruit at least 20 more staff in the next couple of years, with overall turnover targeted to reach £50m by 2027.”

Expert tips on how to exit your business

Map out your exit route

Once you’ve got everything in order you can plan exactly how you want to exit your business. Your options are: • Selling to your existing team By: Rebecca Davison, head of tax at Parsons Accountants – a management buy-out or It’s a fact that all business owners will exit their business employee ownership trust. at some point. You might sell it, you might pass it on, or, • Selling to an external buyer the worst-case scenario, you may die, leaving others to – an investor, private equity sort out what happens. firm, or industry competitor or collaborator. Any business owner should have an • Selling or gifting (or a exit plan in mind from the start, but combination of both) to your if you’re considering exiting your business to family members. business in the short-term, here’s what • Company share buyback – using Rebecca Davison, head of tax at Parsons money within the business to Accountants, advises. buy shares from shareholders. • Controlled closure through Plan early to make the most managed voluntary liquidation. of your exit even though you believe the end • Ideally, you’d plan around three is in sight, continuing to improve Get expert help and support years ahead of the point at which your business will help you make You can’t sell a business alone, so you no longer want to own your the most from any sale, and will getting support early on will really business. This gives you time to do give your team the best future help spread the load. The Parsons some key things which will make under new owners. it easier for you to leave. team have been involved with a Consider your future income huge range of business sales and • Invest in your people – having a • needs – when you’re no longer restructuring processes. We can get strong management team who the owner of a business, what you prepared so you’re in the best can run the business without you income will you need to support possible position to realise the most means it’s easier for you to leave. you and your family? Working value from the business you’ve spent • Remove yourself from the day-totowards a sale or change of your time and energy growing. day running of the business, before ownership that supports this is you officially leave, to ensure it can a good strategic move. function without you. Investors Whether you want to create a growth Ensure key employees feel strategy to increase the money you are looking for a business not a • secure – the last thing you want eventually walk away with, support job, so a smooth operation which is your core team jumping ship understanding the business’s current doesn’t need the owner makes if there’s a sale, so think about valuation and what you could do to your company more valuable how to engage key people with change that, or insight into the most and attractive. the future of the business. • Continue to grow and improve – tax-efficient company structures and exit strategies, our experienced team can support you. Give us call today to book a confidential conversation about your options. To learn more, call us on 01924 669 500 or visit www.parsons.co.uk

TopicUK June 2022

Business Beats Cancer gala dinner vital funds for Cancer Research UK here in Yorkshire. Through a variety of fundraising activities. On the night a staggering £52,000 was raised. Alexandra Fogal, Chair of Business Beats Cancer Yorkshire, who leads Private Business for EY in the North said: “It was absolutely amazing to

Bu s i n e s s B e a t s C a n ce r Yorkshire officially launched on World Cancer Day 2021, raising over £35,000 in its first year through a variety of fundraising activities and challenges that really got the Yorkshire Business community behind them.

It was absolutely amazing to see the success of our first gala dinner event with so many businesses in Yorkshire supporting us...

In April this year, at The Queens Hotel in Leeds, Business Beats Cance r Yorkshire hosted 340 business leaders at their first Gala Dinner. The aim was to bring the business community together to raise

see the success of our first gala dinner event with so many businesses in Yorkshire supporting us. The funds raised will go directly to Yorkshire Cancer Research UK. The Board and I have worked extremely hard over

recent months to ensure the event came together and the feedback has been absolutely amazing. We are all so thrilled to make such a difference” On behalf of our editor, Yorkshire Businesswoman Charlotte Hall attended the event which started with a drink’s reception, before h e a d i n g i n to t h e b e a u t i f u l l y decorated and refurbished Queens hotel event space, where they were welcomed by compere for the evening Alex Fleming. Party games commenced before guests enjoyed a dinner of ham hock and pear terrine, succulent pot roast blade of beef, served with buttered cabbage and candied carrot. Throughout the evening there were raffles, a silent auction and many speakers who told the audience about their own personal stories of how cancer had affected them. At the end of the evening, guests enjoyed a delicious dessert of chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream with raspberry coulis, before hosts announced their next event, a charity golf day at Rudding Park on 30th June.

Kirklees College inspires local artistic talent by supporting Snowdogs Support Life

The designs were unveiled at the selection event hosted by Kirklees College attended by employer partners such as Locala, Kirklees Council, Camira, Reliance Precision and TransPennine Express. The college selected their favourite design from a range of submissions and will soon unveil which talented artist they will partner with.

Kirklees College is honoured to be supporting Snowdogs Support Life, an extraordinary public art trail organised by The Kirkwood. Set to launch in September 2022, the art trail will be made of large sculptures, based on the canine character from The Snowman™ and The Snowdog and will be live for eight weeks. Each sculpture will be sponsored by a business and individually designed by an artist from Kirklees and beyond. Kirklees College will be sponsoring one of the Snowdogs on the trail and

the sculpture will be installed outside the Huddersfield Centre. The college pushed the creative capability of its students, encouraging them to get involved and submit their own designs for consideration at the event. So far, one alumnus has had their artwork commissioned and they will soon start work on hand painting their design onto a Snowdog.

Palvinder Singh, CEO and Principal at Kirklees College said: “Kirklees College is proud to be working with The Kirkwood on this fantastic project. We are passionate about engaging with the local community and the extraordinary Snowdog art trail will celebrate the best of our rich history and shared culture, whilst putting on an event our whole community will be proud of.”

TopicUK June 2022

Azets does the hat trick at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards

Azets, the UK’s largest regional accounting firm and specialist business advisor to SMEs which has offices in Leeds and York, recently announced ambitious growth plans and this latest accolade is a further boost for the firm that plans to take on over 100 new recruits over the next three years. The firm won Best Employer of the Year, Audit Service Award and Team of the Year. It’s the second year running the firm has won Best Employer across the whole of the region. The firm’s Corporate Finance and Tax were also finalists for Tax Service of the Year and Corporate Finance Team of the Year. Presenting the award, the judges commented on the firm being ‘a fantastic job creator’ in Yorkshire and praised its apprentice programme, focus on developing soft and technical skills and efforts to improve wellbeing as well as being an employer that works very

hard to keep its staff, which ‘sets it apart from its competition’. The judges also said: “Azets is gaining lots of new business and undergoing significant growth, all while achieving incredible rates of staff retention, serving clients to a high standard and investing in technology to complement its excellent audit service.” Flexibility Russell Turner, regional managing partner said: “To win three awards against such tough competition is truly amazing and it reflects the quality of people we have in

Yorkshire and the importance we place on our people. Our team are brilliant at what they do, genuinely care and that's what makes Azets stand out from the crowd. I’d like to thank them all.” “The way people prefer to work has significantly changed over the last 2 years and continues to do so. Staff want flexibility on how and where they work. At Azets, this is seen as an opportunity to attract, retain and develop the best people which, in turn, will ensure our clients receive excellent service from a team that genuinely cares. We believe we create an energising and rewarding place to work and our culture is focused on the ethos that our people matter. There has never been a better time to join Azets and be part of an ambitious and forward-thinking team.”

commercial property comments: “It is a pleasure to welcome David and Sarah to our team. Their combined experience will be a huge asset to our clients and strengthen our offering at a time when we’re experiencing significant demand post pandemic and support our growth plans in 2022 and beyond.”

Ramsdens builds Commercial Property team The Ramsdens Commercial Property team have had a recent hat-trick of appointments, as they continue to bolster their presence in Leeds.

The recent appointments, which include David Evans, partner, Sally Christey, senior associate and Sarah Cullum, trainee solicitor, brings the total of fee-earners in the team to sixteen.

The firms Commercial Property team deliver a wide range of commercial property services to businesses and individuals across the region and beyond.

The trio all join from Addlestone Keane, a niche commercial law practice based in Leeds. Kirsty Jackson, partner and head of

David had built and was head of commercial property at his former firm and has amassed a wide range of experience acting for a broad spectrum of clients. He added: “Ramsdens has an outstanding reputation in the commercial property sector, and I am delighted to join the team. I look forward to meeting a wide range of new clients and providing both them and our clients who have come with us commercially-focused solutions and practical advice.” Sally equally brings a wealth of experience with over 20 years in commercial property. She said: “I am delighted to have joined the Ramsdens team and look forward to playing my part in growing their commercial reputation.”

WE HAVE LIFT OFF!

Our new website has launched!

w: halstongroup.co

TopicUK June 2022

N E W S U P D AT E product design, designing industrial and commercial lighting, the highlight being designing all the platform lighting for St. Pancras International Railway Station. A typical project would take four to five months whereas at YLF the timescale may be four to five hours.”

YLF’s leadership team expands The leadership team at a premier Yorkshire laser cutting and sheet metal fabrication firm has expandedwiththeappointmentof two additional senior managers.

have an extensive background in manufacturing having worked for a number of years for a large lighting company for whom YLF had supplied lasered parts.

Russ Capstick has joined as head of design while Sam Pearce has been recruited as quality manager. Both

“I have been in engineering and worked with sheet metal for some 42 years,” said Russ. “My previous role was in

Harron Homes Yorkshire appoints new land director Harron Homes Yorkshire has appointed Richard Coy, 41, as land director to drive growth in the region.

MD Matt Orford welcomed Sam and Russ to the team. “It’s becoming something of a colleague reunion here with Sam, Russ and our head of operations Cheryl Reidy all having worked together previously. However, YLF is benefitting from this not only in terms of their individual skills and know-how but also from their combined experience,” he explained.” when you’ve contributed to plans to change areas for the better and final stage when you see a project come to life.” He continued, “community is so important to me, whether that’s been within the industry, or created by families at our developments and I’m looking forward to developing more of the close knit communities Yorkshire is famed for by sourcing all varieties of land.”

After 20 years in the construction industry, Richard is delighted to reach the pinnacle of his career with the northern housebuilder. Since starting his career at Barratt Homes, Richard has worked with an assortment of builders in the region. Richard said, “I fell in love with the industry and discovered an underlying passion for land which I have been pursuing ever since. It’s such an exciting role, getting involved in all levels of the business

Quality manager Sam brings experience in continuous improvement, plant and system quality and quality management to his new role which sees him overseeing quality throughout the business’ manufacturing process from incoming goods from suppliers to the finished product delivered to the end customer.

to create something new, especially now I’m at the real forefront of that. Nothing beats that feeling

Tony Lee, managing director added, “It really is an incredibly exciting time for us and we’re thrilled to have Richard on board to bring his invaluable experience to drive Harron forward in seeking land opportunities across Yorkshire.”

Sponsored by Scriba the award-winning public relations business specialising in B2B communications

Force24 unveils trio of releases to help upskill 6,000 UK marketers

marketing campaigns, the three latest features are:

Leeds -based marke ting automation specialist Force24 has launched three new key features to help thousands of marketers send hyper-personalised email communications to customers. The platform currently supports over 6,000 industry professionals from over 3,000 B2B and B2C brands – which include Michelin, Stoneacre and BBC Children in Need. Designed to save marketers time and budget, improve efficiency, and help them tailor their email

• Pop-ups: Helping marketers to add customised pop-ups to their websites so they can capture any data required, control who sees them from their segmented marketing lists, and utilise accurate information to gain valuable insights and compile real-time reports. • Email deliverability report: Marketers can view and export monthly email deliverability reports using metrics including the number of campaigns sent, unique opens, unique clicks, bounces, and complaint rate. This functionality helps users measure email performance and swiftly respond to any inbox issues. • Automated lists: Users can tap into this feature to manage and move contacts between lists automatically so they can better segment their audiences,

send relevant content, and keep their data clean. Not only does this reduce labour-intensive data input and human error, but it focuses on key metrics so industry professionals can make business-critical decisions about who they deliver their next campaign to. The 90+ strong team at Force24 – the UK’s fastest growing marketing automation platform – has also improved existing functionality. This includes adding more customisable email templates to its design suite, all of which have drag-and-drop functionality so marketers can tweak them at pace. Jess Cheung, customer marketing manager, said: “We’re constantly developing value-adding tools to make life a little easier for marketers who are craving efficiency as they continuously battle against a backdrop of time and budget constraints.”

Company of the Month

New appointments for Finance Yorkshire Finance Yorkshire has welcomed two new appointments to its Business Loans and Micro-Loans team. Mike Barber joins as investment manager and Claire Naylor as fund executive following the launch of Finance Yorkshire’s new fund, which is expected to provide £50m to SMEs over the next five years. Mike brings a wealth of financial services experience in the Hull and Humber area following more than three decades with NatWest. Claire previously ran her own bookkeeping business following a career in banking across West Yorkshire. Paul Wainwright, head of finance

Yorkshire’s Business Loans and MicroLoans funds, said: “We are delighted to welcome Claire and Mike to the Finance Yorkshire loans team as we accelerate our investment support for SMEs looking to grow within Yorkshire and Humber. “Mike and Claire both have the experience and knowledge to provide the finance required for SME growth and will be instrumental in ensuring

that we deliver for start-up and growing businesses across the region.” Alex McWhirter, chief executive said: “Our new fund is designed to support growing SMEs to expand, create jobs and improve productivity, especially those that are unable to access finance from traditional sources. Mike and Claire’s experience will help us to get investment to the right businesses, enabling them to reach their full potential.” TopicUK April 2022

ADVERTORIAL

We don’t take a picture . . . we make one

Lincoln & Perrin from TopicUK officially appointed agency Roth Read Photography, contine to share their advice with us: From corporate to personal Usually, our column focusses on commercial photography (what with this being a business-to-business magazine). However, this month we’re chatting about what we do for our personal clients. The best way we can explain that is to tell you a story . . .

The Mustang Bullitt dream Jim had a long-held dream of owning a Mustang Bullitt. The search for this beautiful car began in 2016 and came to fruition in 2020. Shortly afterwards, when Jim came to the studio for a headshot, he asked us to photograph his car on the moors. He wanted some digital images to share in the Mustang Bullitt group and a small, framed picture to hang in his office.

The pre shoot consultation We suggested making the picture

more personal by including himself and his wife Kerry in the scene. He was a little unsure at first but was soon on board . . . and Kerry was certainly up for it. We asked them to bring two outfit changes: a cool look with jacket and jeans, as well as a spiffed up look to appear as if they’d been out for the evening. Jim agreed that Marsden Moor at sunset was the perfect setting (even though it was October and very chilly!)

On location photoshoot On location photoshoots for us are often taxing, but exciting and rewarding (our clients probably feel the same way!) Our creative direction dictates what should be in and out of the scene, and where each component ought to be placed. We add strobe lighting, select the right lens and determine the best angle to take the shot. All the preparation is required long before the camera

is picked up; at which point it’s essential to take a test shot and critique it before launching into the shoot. Once we’ve made the picture we want, we can take the picture you need. Several scenarios, light adjustments, outfit changes and some cool posing later, we had the photographs we needed; just before the sun disappeared.

A Centre Piece The picture of Jim helping Kerry out of the car is now a large beautifully framed picture hanging as a centre piece in their home. The remaining prints are a collection of matted images to display wherever they wish. This is how we create unique wall art for your home and a legacy for your family. Lincoln & Perrin Roth Read Photography www.rothreadphotography.com

A unique opportunity to sit amongst Lions

N E W S U P D AT E

Images: Simon Needham Photography.

No Kingdom without Kings (NKWK) is an NFT collection that highlights the importance of real-world animal wildlife conservation. The project is focused on bringing awareness and funding to wildlife organizations that are close to its creator’s heart through the proliferation of striking, majestic imagery. NKWK, our first conservation-focused NFT collection, features 13 Big Cats (a mix of Lions, Tigers and Leopards). The collection began its pre-sale phase on March 3, 2022 in conjunction with World Wildlife Day, with 50% of the artist proceeds set to benefit Glen Garriff (GG) Conservation. “I’m incredibly excited to launch No Kingdom without Kings as an NFT collection, to begin building a community that focuses on the importance of wildlife conservation - particularly as NFTs open the world of art to a new generation,” said Simon Needham, who featured in our last

edition and the creator of NKWK. “It becomes equally important that conservation efforts, which have always been at the forefront of traditional art, carry over into the NFT space.” Suzanne Scott, director GG Lions NPC (Non Profit Company) from Glen Garriff Conservation said, “We have partnered with Simon over the course of many years, his efforts have meant a tremendous amount in terms of awareness and funding for the animals at GG. We’re thrilled to support the work he’s doing to enter the NFT space and bring our important cause to the next-generation of art collectors.”

HODL: The Human Lion Cage Experience As part of the NKWK collection, we've partnered with GG Conservation to give away a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit its world-famous “Human Lion Cage” enclosure on its property in South Africa. The experience will include flights and 3-night accommodations onsite at the beautifully appointed Lion House, as well as exclusive access for the winner and a guest to enter the “Human Lion Cage” enclosure to meet the NKWK lions up-closeand-personal. All 1000/1000 edition holders of the collections’ Malaike the Lion NFT are eligible to win (see website for official terms at www.simonneedham.com/nft/ officialrules) Continued F

C O V E R F E AT U R E Project Details Each image in the NKWK collection has been photographed on-site at one of many conservation charities, including GG Conservation, and hand-edited by master photographer Simon Needham. The collection features 13 distinct big cats, including male and female Lions, Tigers and Leopards. 1 - 1000/1000 edition NFT ownership unlocks one entry into giveaway of oncein-a-lifetime Human Lion Cage Experience in South Africa 2 - 500/500 edition 3 - 500/500 edition 4 - 500/500 edition 5 - 500/500 edition 6 - 500/500 edition 7 - 500/500 edition 8 - 500/500 edition 9 - 500/500 edition NFT ownership unlocks one entry into giveaway of oncein-a-lifetime Human Lion Cage Experience in South Africa 10 - 50/50 edition 11 - 50/50 edition 12 - 50/50 edition NFT ownership unlocks one entry into giveaway of oncein-a-lifetime Human Lion Cage Experience in South Africa 13 - 10 of 10 edition All “Bright Eyes” holders receive one (1) transferrable Human Lion Cage experience pass (limited to one-time access) to visit the enclosure on property in South Africa. The

experience will include flights and 3-night accommodations onsite at the beautifully appointed Lion House.

Launching additional NFTs from the collection •

Phase 3 – August 10, 2022 World Lion Day 10/10 Bright Eyes NFT released All “Bright Eyes” holders receive one (1) transferrable Human Lion Cage experience pass (limited to one-time access)

•

Phase 4 –Summer 2023 Development of The Metaverse Virtual Human Cage Experience in 3D Development of AR and VR “NKWK” Big Cats Discord community opened

Roadmap •

•

Phase 1 March 3, 2022 World Wildlife Day 1000/1000 Malaike the Lion NFT opened for presale April 5, 2022 Human Lion Cage Experience Giveaway opens Whitelist opened Discord community opened Phase 2 – Summer 2022

C O V E R F E AT U R E

Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Leeds, London and Sydney. Amongst the many awards they received over the years, they were also recognized and honoured at a ‘Best of British’ event at Buckingham Palace by the Queen.

Ab o u t S i m o n Ne e d h a m Simon’s background in agency advertising began in Huddersfield when he and his university friend James Sommerville founded the awardwinning, $30M+/year grossing agency ATTIK. Duringhis time as chief creative officer Simon led the agency to worldwide prominence with offices in Los

As a director and photographer, Simon can pull from his rich history of brand development, advertising and graphic design to further elevate his work. As a photographer, he captures movement and energy flawlessly, letting his subjects speak to the lens in the raw language of action and emotion. As a director, he additionally brings out a softer and more agile side. Easily

shooting comedy and dialogue or sleek and sexy car visuals is just part of his expertise. Simon is now offering his photography skills to NGOs in need of professional quality images and he has already worked extensively with One Heart Worldwide, GG Conservation, Development Media International, California Wildlife Centre, Care for Wild and Fundacion Natura Bolivia. You can see his work at SimonNeedham.com and on Instagram @ SimonNeedhamPhotography and @human.kind.photographyFor more information, contact us at: info@simonneedham.com TopicUK April 2022

The University of Law Business School to launch in Leeds

of both our ULaw academics and employers from across the region – that our students develop the realworld experience and leadership skills they need to take the first step to a successful career in industry.

Matthew Tomlinson, Dean for Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle at The University of Law

“In addition to this, all our master’s business courses include our Professional Development: Employability and Leadership module, where our students develop skills and expertise that they can put into practice immediately, culminating in the preparation of a personal career plan and receive one to one coaching.

The University of Law (ULaw) has announced it will launch its Business School in Leeds in September – with a focus on giving businesses across the region access to a work-ready talent pool of graduates from across the globe. The University of Law Business School (ULBS) will offer a complete portfolio of BSc undergraduate programmes covering business management, entrepreneurship, accounting and finance, and international strategy, as well as a combined BSc Business with Law degree taught across the university’s business and law schools, and master’s degrees covering Project Management and Business Analytics.

London and Nottingham campuses, as well as overseas at our campuses in Berlin and Hong Kong.” Matthew said The University of Law – named the best University in England for Overall Student Satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020 - placed strong emphasis on employability to ensure its graduates are work ready.

He added: “We want to connect Matthew Tomlinson, Dean for Leeds, businesses across Leeds and the Sheffield and Newcastle at The wider Yorkshire region with the very University of Law, said: “I am delighted best new talent from all corners of to be launching The University of Law the globe studying in Leeds through Business School in Leeds, where our business school. the number of students studying an undergraduate degree with ULaw has “To do this, we help our students more than doubled since 2018. establish and develop close working relationships with employers through “The launch of our business school access to placement years where they in Leeds will build on its success gain hands on experience working in across our Manchester, Birmingham, business. It is then - with the support

Marco Mongiello, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Law Business School, said: “Access to local and international students through the ULaw Business School will provide businesses with the opportunity to draw from a body of work-ready, global graduates who will bring a state-ofthe-art knowledge of their field and highly developed professional skills to their role, be that working for an SME or a global brand. “We want local businesses to grow in partnership with the ULaw Business School and its students and graduates. We’ll be actively engaging with businesses in and around Leeds through networking events, careers fayres, employer events and employer talks, and our Leeds business school will also facilitate face to face relationship building between local businesses and our wider UK and international business school and our expert academics. “Whether a student is hired part-time, full time, or on a placement, studying at ULaw Business School will have equipped them with the necessary academic and employability skills to contribute to the growth and success of the organisation they join.”

Avant homes appoint managing director for Yorkshire

“I’m passionate about people and giving them the opportunity and support to thrive in business. The next two years will be pivotal for us as we look to further increase our land pipeline and bring new development opportunities forward for the region. “I am really pleased to be working alongside the Yorkshire team to guide them through this exciting growth period and to lead the firm to further success.”

Housebuilder Avant Homes has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Alastair Hart in the role of managing director for its Yorkshire region. Alastair has more than 25 years’ experience in property sales and began his career in estate agency in 1996 before moving into the housebuilding industry

four years ago. Alastair spent the last four years at Persimmon where he was sales director. Commenting Alastair said: “Avant Homes has some significant objectives to help meet its ambitious growth plans, and I am extremely proud to be on this expansion journey with the company as managing director for Yorkshire.

Group managing director, Alan Hopwood, said: “With Alastair’s vast experience in sales and his commitment to developing strong departmental teams, he will be more than up to the challenge to lead the Yorkshire operation. “His knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in driving the growth of the Yorkshire portfolio, contributing to our overall expansion ambitions.”

Ben Jackson joins Eaton Smith Ben has over 15 years’ experience in mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations and investment and shareholders’ arrangements. He has worked on high value and complex transactions across a variety of sectors, dealing with national and international clients.

Eaton Smith Solicitors has appointed Ben Jackson as a partner in its Corporate and Commercial team. The hire boosts the well-regarded team, which is led by Deborah Melluish.

He said: “Joining Eaton Smith is a fantastic opportunity, and I am delighted to join this very talented and busy team. I am looking forward to helping with the continued gro wth of the corporate and commercial team’s activities and to working with all the remarkable people and businesses that they work with.”

Deborah Melluish, senior partner and head of corporate and commercial, added: “Ben is a great addition to our team. He has years of the type of experience in corporate work that fits perfectly with the diverse and interesting work that we do here at Eaton Smith for local, national and international clients. We look forward to working with him as we continue to grow and expand.

Joining Eaton Smith is a fantastic opportunity, and I am delighted to join this very talented and busyteam... TopicUK June 2022

ADVERTORIAL

Jobs Outlook: Spotlight on Yorkshire An in-depth look at Yorkshire's economic and recruitment activity

T h e l a te s t d a ta s h o w s Yorkshire & Humber as the fastest growing UK region in February. Rate of job creation hits survey record and permanent and temporary salary rates continue to increase as candidate availability decreases causing a worker shortage that businesses and organisations are struggling to overcome. Commenting on the survey results, Ian Beaumount, office senior partner at KPMG UK, said: “There’s no end in sight to the deep-seated workforce challenges facing our economy. Once again this month, job vacancies are increasing while there are simply

not enough candidates in all sectors to fill them. “With fewer EU workers, the ongoing effects of the pandemic, the economic impacts of the war in Ukraine and cost of living pressures, many employers will continue to struggle to hire the talent and access the skills they need. With unemployment staying low, there are many great opportunities for job-seekers to join or re-join the workforce in all sectors.”

record 1.3million jobs vacancies are currently unfilled and these numbers show no signs of slowing do wn. Rece nt data indicates permanent and temporary job vacancies continue to rise albeit at slower rate than recent months.

Job vacancies and staff appointments

Although the data showed an increase in permanent and temporary staff appointments during March, the rate of increase was the slowest in over a year as poor candidate availability impacts businesses and organisations ability to fill roles. Staff availability

D ata from Office of National S t a t i s t i c s (O N S) r e p o r t e d a

Permanent candidate availability continues to see a sharp decline

S P EN C IEAWL SF U EP AD TU RE AT following a trend which started in February 2021. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is a strong reluctance from candidates to leave their current roles as well as a skills mismatch across the jobs market. It is a similar story with temporary availability which continues to see numbers fall in line which began in March 2021. The lack of available high-quality candidates is one of the key factors at play. Demand for skills Almost all sectors currently have some level of demand for skills however the skills in noticeably short supply across both permanent and temporary staff include accounting and financial, drivers (FLT and HGV), engineers, IT developers, administrators and receptionists, customer service and sales.

Pay pressures Temporary wages are currently rising at the fastest rate in the last four months and permanent salary rates are close to the February record. This is a clear indication that we are currently in a candidate led market as businesses and organisations pay more to attract in demand highly skilled workers The rate of salary inflation is the fast of the four monitored English regions by a considerable margin. It is also important to note that inflation is not just limited to salaries as both households and businesses feel the brunt with the highest levels seen in three decades. The British Chamber of Commerce’s (BBC) Economic Survey for Q1 shows inflationary pressures on firms reaching

levels never previously recorded in its 33-year history. Stafflex perspective In terms of dealing with the current skills shortages, employers need to be more realistic about how high they are setting the bar when hiring. Ideally they need to be prepared to recruit someone with a lower skillset and look to invest in the training necessary to upskill them so they are capable of carrying out the role. The benefits of this approach are that upskilling is a cheaper option when compared with bringing in someone with experience and that person will have increased loyalty as they have been given the opportunity to learn new skills and progress up the career ladder. For further information, contact Nemi Alexis, Marketing Manager at Stafflex on 01484 351010 or at nemi@ stafflex.co.uk.

TopicUK April 2022

Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards celebrates 10 years Nominations are set to open for the prestigious Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards (YCCA). In aid of the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, the awards – now in their tenth year - celebrate the phenomenal achievements of young people who have demonstrated courage, determination and strength in exceptional circumstances.

The awards ceremony, which takes place on Friday 14 October at New Dock Hall, Leeds, will include categories for children aged between 0 - 12 years and young adults between 13 – 18 years. There will also be a separate category for the charities who focus on supporting children and families across Yorkshire. This year will also see the addition of a very special 10 Year Fellowship Award for 2022. This award will be presented to a previous YCCA

winner from the last 10 years - an individual who has shown dedication to their cause and made a notable difference to the lives of others. Comme nting on behalf of the S t. Ja m e s ’ s P l a c e C h a r i t a b l e Foundation, Ewan D owes said “We are delighted the awards are now recommencing after a short hiatus due to the pandemic. These awards are tremendously important in recognising and applauding the children and young adults who are

so deserving of proper recognition. We are again excited to be hosting this year’s award ceremony which promises to be a sensational evening”. All monies raised at the YCCA awards ceremony will be matched poundfor-pound by St. James’s Place. Over the last 10 years, funds raised by the YCCA have contributed hugely towards helping children, community groups and organisations in the Yorkshire region. Most recently, this has included the 2021 charity of the year winners The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. Nominations for the special 10 Year Fellowship Award and others, will open shortly via the YCCA website. To find out how to nominate and see how your support can make a real difference to so many lives please visit www. yorkshirechildren.co.uk.

KAFA Questions & Answers

Steph Bartle, Kirklees Apprenticeships for All - Delivery Lead

Can you tell us about the Kirklees Apprenticeships for All project? There is a LOT to say about the KAFA project, as we have a lot to offer to the community of Kirklees. I’ll try cover some key points of interest in the following questions, but to summarise; We are a project delivered by Kirklees Council with the aim of promoting “upskilling” within the workplace. This means we want to support employed individuals to gain the necessary skills, knowledge and qualifications they need in order to progress within their current job roles and organisations. We are part funded by the European Social Fund, and this funding, together with levy match funding support from our key delivery partners across the local district, means we can provide this service free of charge to Kirklees businesses and residents.

Why should someone consider an Apprenticeship? There are lots of myths surrounding apprenticeships, which we are trying to re-educate people on. Apprenticeships are not ONLY for school leavers. You can start an apprenticeship at any age (as long as you’re over 16) and there is no upper age limit. Apprenticeships are not ONLY for those starting out in their careers. You can start an apprenticeship if you have been in your role a long time and looking for your next challenge. Apprenticeships are not ONLY for entry level roles. You can use apprenticeships as a pathway for continuous development, even if you hold a senior or managerial position within an organisations With an apprenticeship you could remain in the same role, maintain the same salary and develop and grow your potential at the same time. There really is much more flexibility than you might think. As long as you have a desire to learn and the ambition to progress within your career …. an Apprenticeship can be a really effective route to doing just that.

So how can you specifically support businesses across Kirklees? We have an employer engagement team, who can work with businesses of all sizes, to look at their workforce strategy and current/future skills gaps. Our team can support the businesses HR function, no matter what it’s size, with their workforce development plans. We can help you identify who within your workforce is ready to progress within their roles and provide a route for them to achieve this. We can then offer ongoing support, to help both the employee and manager with their work/life/learning balance. We can also offer wrap around support for your workforce; mental health and wellbeing, line manager training, building internal infrastructure to support Apprenticeships …. and much more! We can also advise on available funding for Apprenticeships and guidance on the Apprenticeship Levy process.

Contact the team today and find out more! Web: www.kirkleesapprenticeshipsforall.co.uk Tel: 01484 221000 and ask for “Apprenticeships” E-mail: apprenticeshipsforall@kirklees.gov.uk

How can you support employed individuals across Kirklees? We have a participant engagement team, who work alongside anyone wishing to upskill to progress within their career, helping people consider their current job status and setting their future goals. We help people take the “next steps” in their career, leading to improved job status and in turn a better quality of life. Our aim is to ensure that job roles are accessible to all and that people are in a strong position to apply for a promotion or a new role, by having the right skills, and necessary support in place. We can offer support in areas such as basic skills, qualification advice, career guidance, mental health and wellbeing, academic mentoring and much more.

The Apprenticeship Levy …What’s that? If you are a business with an annual wage bill of more than £3million, you are required to pay into the Apprenticeship Levy. This is funding which businesses have to then re-invest in training their workforce via apprenticeships. There are only a few Apprenticeship Levy paying businesses in Kirklees …. however you can benefit from the levy funds whether you pay into it or not. If you ARE a levy payer, you need to spend your levy within 2 years, or you will lose it. If you are NOT a levy payer, you can still access these training funds via the levy transfer process; this is where levy payers transfer some of their levy fund (up to 25%) to other businesses … so you could access this unused training budget to help develop your current staff.

Kirklees Apprenticeships for All is part funded by the European Social Fund and managed by Kirklees Council. It is delivered across the Kirklees District alongside our delivery partners; The University of Huddersfield, Kirklees College, Kirklees Active Leisure, Thornton & Ross Ltd and Connect Housing Association.

Y o r k s h iTopicUK r e B u s i nJune e s s 2022 Wo m a n

N E W S U P D AT E

Community Foundation for Calderdale expand team

Following a bumper year giving out nearly £2 million of grants to charities and not-for-profit organisations in Calderdale last year, CFFC have grown the team. Two new Trustees have joined the Board, and the three Committees have also recruited new members, s t re n g t h e n i n g t h e s k i l l s a n d experience of the advisory team. A

number of working parties have been recruited meaning local professional businesspeople can offer their services pro bono and know that they are making a big difference to the local community within the remit of working on a specific project. They are currently recruiting an Office Co-Ordinator as Pauline Turner who is currently in post is retiring. In

addition, they are also looking for a full time Marketing Officer and two part time paid Student Interns. If you’d like more information about how you can get involved, visit www.cffc.co.uk

Business Support

Unlock your business potential! Wakefield First is the first point of contact for businesses in the Wakefield district for free business support and advice.

Promoting inward investment, business growth, supporting trade, job creation, business news and events.

Get in touch and find out more about how we can support your business. 01924 306630 info@wakefieldfirst.com wakefieldfirst.com

253256 Wakefield First Ad.indd 1

13/05/2021 09:37

N E W S U P D AT E

Celebrating new hires, funding and releases

Alongside its label activities, CPWM have launched a large project (Come Platform Me) to support and develop a group of 15-20 promoters from under-represented backgrounds with their own events. This will run alongside its 'I Know A Place’ panels, workshops and gigs, all intended to create safe spaces for women, gender minorities and their allies to come together.

Leeds record label and development organisation Come Play With Me have launched a new Patreon subscription as they step up their work following new funding wins and a raft of new hires. The organisation, which launched in 2015, has been championing and supporting artists predominantly in the Leeds city region via its lauded singles club since its inception and has grown significantly, now including a monthly magazine, regular events calendar, full-length releases, mentoring and funding support and much more now falling under its remit. The organisation exists to develop a n d a d v o c a te f o r m u s i c a n d musicians in Leeds and across the North while creating opportunities for professionals, promoters, writers, producers and others in the industry, reflecting Leeds’ music scene’s fierce independence an d colla bora tiv e D IY s p i r i t in the process. So far, Come Play With Me have supported 53 artists on the label, generating 400,000 streams and strong vinyl sales with fourteen of these artists receiving further

funding worth over £45,000. On top of this over twenty events have been held in Leeds which have created income for musicians, speakers,

So far, Come Play With Me have supported 53 artists on the label, generating 400,000 streams and strong vinyl sales...

crew and other performers In the past eighteen months, the artists who have been previously supported by Come Play With Me and have gone on to receiving further funding, each worth between £2-5K.

Since the start of 2021, CPWM has received funding from an array of different public funders for projects to support underrepresented demographics within music - including Arts Council, Youth Music, Brit Trust, PRS Foundation and the National Lottery Social Enterprise Support Fund. With this funding they have created eight jobs and work for a number of freelancers. These funds have been used to commission a podcast series, organise twenty events and support a large number of artists in the region as well as spending with local agencies, video producers, recording studios and other parts of the city's music ecosystem. To help support the organisation in its mission of championing emerging artists and creating a platform for underrepresented demographics within music, Come Play With Me have launched a new Patreon. For as little as £2 a month supporters can receive a mix of gig tickets, CPWM vinyl releases, magazines and merch. Money raised through this new Patreon will be put towards supporting artists and emerging promoters in their own projects as well as in-house CPWM releases, shows, conferences and events. TopicUK April 2022

‘Green’ values and innovation high on agenda A Hull-based leather repair specialist that started out in a garden shed and now operates on the global stage, is leading the way in environmentally friendly production techniques and industry innovation. The Leather Repair Company, was founded by co-owner Richard Hutchins in 1987, repairing ‘things people could post’ – leather items such as jackets, handbags, shoes and motorcycle and car accessories. Since then, the firm has grown exponentially and now counts everyone from Arabian Sultans to

TV celebrities among its customers. Wife Carolynne joined Richard in the business in 2003 and they now employ four other members of staff. Founded on the principles of restoring and refurbishing to ensure a long life from quality, natural materials, the

firm inhabits a sweet spot given the current emphasis on the urgency of environmental issues worldwide and people’s increasing appetite for avoiding waste. And it has long sought to operate ethically in the products it produces and how it packages and ships them. Carolynne said: “We’ve always recycled everything. I don’t think we’ve bought any packaging for over a decade now – instead of opting for flashy packaging

However, we believe leather is as natural a material as you can get and doesn’t contribute to increasing landfill mountains.” Among their most recent innovations is a colour-matching app called Restorers Help, which can solve what Richard describes as one of the biggest issues for the restoration industry – matching and mixing colours accurately for leather work.

when we ship items around the world, we store and recycle everything and aim to re-use paper, cardboard and other recyclable materials wherever we can.” Added to this, the forward-thinking couple believe the core product they work with – leather – is inherently in tune with the environment. “There is some debate about it, admittedly,” said Richard, “given the move towards vegan materials, which often feature man-made materials including plastics.

“We’ve had our best year yet despite the COVID crisis, and the generalised reset in people’s thinking that has followed that, towards restoring and maintaining rather than replacing, is only serving to make our products and services more popular.

“Post-Brexit, there seems to be a renewed appetite for traditional, handmade British products from the wider world, too, and a newfound sense of freedom to trade The couple have also created what with us among countries from the they believe is the only water-based US to India, Russia and the United leather treatment solution in the world, Arab Emirates.” for stripping colour from leathers as part of the restoration process without The expertise that underpins such the use of harsh chemicals normally ground-breaking work emanates from associated with the technique – kinder Richard’s early career. Leaving school at for the world we live in and the safety 14 because he was bored with academic study and eager to make his way in the of customers’ homes. world, he worked for a company with They’ve also established new product a large collection of classic cars in the lines like compostable, bamboo- South, helping with restoration, repair based cleaning pads and luxury soft and detailing. Joining the company cleaning cloths made from natural owner on visits to the US, he cemented materials, which the Hutchins say his knowledge of this specialist industry. are better for the environment than their counterparts made from As the shadow cast by COVID begins to dissipate, they envisage an exciting synthetic materials. time ahead, which will see them And this combination of artisan skill, expanding globally across all arms ‘green’ values, and innovation is being of the business. rewarded with global growth, thanks to an ever-expanding list of orders “We had received an amazing reception in new and emerging economies at American trade shows before the pandemic hit and have maintained beyond Europe. the relationships built via video Securing new contracts worth tens of conference for the past 18 months, thousands of pounds in economies but now we’re really excited about like India has led to a 50 per cent heading out there again in-person to increase in annual turnover for the see what possibilities that will bring,” added Richard. A major rebrand and Leather Repair Company. new website is also helping the Leather “A number of things are really coming Repair Company to cut a modern, together for us and we’re dramatically professional dash among its new increasing our year-on-year turnover, potential audiences. The burgeoning which leads us to believe the world business currently serves distributors will be our oyster over the next five in France, Belgium, Norway, Holland, Israel, Finland, the US – and now India. or 10 years,” Richard said. TopicUK June 2022

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Labels & Packaging success lies in our ‘talented workforce’ says OPM Group trust in each other to do our best. Our team has always been our competitive advantage and provides the inspiration, creativity, vision and motivation that enables our business to grow successfully.” With a company culture that’s built on a unique combination of family values, technical expertise, unrivalled customer service and an effective and agile infrastructure, OPM is a true measure of what success looks like in business – and it’s still growing.

The founder of American department store JCPenney, James Cash Penney, famously once said, “Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.”It is true that without a strong team behind you that is willing to lead by example, a business may not reach its full potential. For companies that want to grow quickly on a global scale, a strong company culture is vital. For OPM Group, a labels and packaging company based in Yorkshire, this is familiar ground. The Leeds-based company is a family-run business and says its success has always rested on the ‘inspiration, creativity and vision of its talented workforce’, as Sue Ellison, the company’s joint Managing Director, affirms. Established more than 40 years ago, OPM was initially an engineering company specialising in small desk top printing machines. In 1986, Chris Ellison bought the company and transitioned its core service into producing plain and printed

self-adhesive labels, rebranding to OPM. Since then, OPM has gone from strength to strength. In 2013, the company moved to its current site in Leeds and has invested more than £6 million in the latest label and packaging technology. Now, OPM is working to a four-pillar innovation strategy, focused on culture, collaboration, performance strategy, and technology. “Second best is not an option for us,” says Sue. “As a family-run business our greatest benefit lies in our ability to communicate transparently and

Sue continues: “In January, we invested in two new fully automated Nilpeter FA22 presses for our European and US customers. The first installation will see a 12-colour 22-inch FA line Nilpeter machine fully in place by July 2022 in our Leeds facility, which incorporates hot air drying, LED UV curing and inline solvent lamination capabilities. The second installation of a 10-colour Nilpeter FA22 will be implemented in the second half of this year, based in a facility in North America to service our US customers. This will enable us to meet the current demand in the North American hygiene and wipes sectors using our patented TLC label closure system. “We’ve also just launched our new Multi Dex ‘peel and read’ label design. This multi-layered, multi-indexed label offers great versatility and functionality for brands that need to supply extra information on their packaging – perfect for those in our core markets, including food and beverage, pharma, and health and beauty.”

N E W S U P D AT E

For OPM, now is not the time to rest on its laurels. The company is leading from the front by implementing industry 4.0 automation technologies to optimise resources and rapidly adapt to an ever-changing, fast-paced consumer market. “In our business, deadlines are everything,” continues Sue. “We ask the right questions, at the right time and listen to our customers. We then offer short lead times and blend innovation and functionality to create print that delivers on-shelf appeal. In a world where change is inevitable, we want to be leading the pack and staying ahead of the curve.” As a company that drives innovation in every sense of the word, sustainability is high on our team’s agenda. “We take our commitment to the environment extremely seriously,” says Sue. “Our next generation solutions are sourced with alternative eco materials for

inks and varnishes, while our Zero to Landfill and Zero Foil to Landfill certifications, as well as our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact 17 sustainable development goals, means we continually look for other ways we can reduce waste and support the environmental goals of our clients.” As consumer demand grows for more sustainable products and packaging, OPM not only has the technical expertise to meet demand, but it also has the financial investment to do so on a global scale. From labelling solutions like Multi Dex, peel and reseal, security and antimicrobial to flexible flow wraps, wet wipe packaging and sachets, the company works tirelessly to ensure the move towards a sustainable future is sooner, rather than later.

clear vision – and that’s to help our brand customers achieve their longterm sustainability goals. We can do that by measuring our impact and aligning our mission to those of our customers. Brands need companies that step up to the plate and take ownership. That’s how we operate here at OPM, with innovation and company culture at our core.” For more information on how OPM and its labelling and flexible packaging solutions can help your business meet its sustainability goals, visit https://opmgroup.co.uk/ or contact the sales team on +44 (0)113 231 1000 or by emailing customerservices@ opmgroup.co.uk.

Sue concludes: “All of us are working to the same goal at OPM. We have a TopicUK April 2022

WACCL was founded by three local businessmen, Tim Welton, Andy Turner and Ian Taylor and has so far raised more than £400,000 for local children’s charities.

John Horvath is the current Chairman and he and the committee are busy planning a very special occasion. The lunch, which was forced to stop due to the pandemic, made a triumphant return last year to a new venue: Capri at the Vine, on the

outskirts of Wakefield. Although, a smaller venue the event was just as special with 168 generous party goers raising over £20.6k for local charities. Proceeds from previous years’ events have been donated to various charities which support children and their

families in the Wakefield District: Levi’s Star. My Burns Club, Star Bereavement, The Laila Milly Foundation and The Performance Academy at Theatre Royal Wakefield. Tickets cost just £50 and include a sumptuous three course lunch, table magician, entertainment with lots of prizes and fun. All of this in aid of wonderful local causes.

neighbours. This next generation ultrareliable digital infrastructure is vital for living and working today so it’s crucial everyone has the same opportunities and choice that full fibre brings.” North Kirklees is one of a growing number of locations in the UK to benefit from CityFibre’s £4bn Gigabit City investment programme which will bringnew and better broadband infrastructure within reach of up to eight million homes and businesses nationwide. In North Kirklees alone, CityFibre is investing £40m to make it one of the world’s best digitally connected communities.

CityFibrecelebrates latest milestone in Kirklees’ Full Fibre rollout Internet users across North Kirklees are now able to connect their homes and businesses to the best digital infrastructure available thanks to progress made by CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform. CityFibre has now made the majority of homes in the Birstall, Birkenshaw and Thornhill Lees areas of the town ‘ready for service’, which means residents can choose to connect to full fibre-enabled broadband services when they go live in their area. In North Kirklees, customers can sign up to UK launch partner, Vodafone, on selected Vodafone Pro Broadband plans, with other providers expected to join the network soon. The rollout is also progressing into new areas, with construction now underway in Mirfield. Once the town-wide rollout reaches completion in 2023, almost every home and business locally will have access to full fibre services from a choice of internet service providers.

Stephen Moore, area manager for Kirklees said: “We’re thrilled to see more Kirklees residents finally being able to access gigabit speed services in previously poorly served areas. This is vital for delivering our digital ambition and future-proofing Kirklees’ digital infrastructure for decades to come. Residents and businesses with access to the services have the potential to benefit a great deal from the improvements.” Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council said: “It’s great to see CityFibre’s full fibre network now reaching more homes and businesses in West Yorkshire. Large areas of Batley, Birstall, Spen Valley, Dewsbury, Mirfield and other areas have long suffered with poor internet speeds that have set them back compared to

Unlike copper-based ‘fibre broadband’ services available today, full fibre networks use 100% fibre optic cables to carry data at lightning speed all the way from the home to the point of connection. This gives users consistently faster speeds for upload and download (up to 1,000 Mbps), near limitless bandwidth so everyone at home can work, study, stream or game simultaneously, while providing connectivity users can depend on. Construction is being delivered by makehappen Group on behalf of CityFibre. The team is using a range of construction methods while working in close partnership with Kirklees Council and local communities to deliver a fast rollout while managing potential disruption. Residents interested in giving their home broadband a boost can find out more about the build, pre-register their interest and find out when new ISPs join at https://cityfibre.com/homes.

TopicUK June 2022

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Schofield Sweeney welcomes a new partner and solicitor

The firm's commercial property team has been joined by Simon “ I a m e x c i t e d t o b e j o i n i n g Hellewell, partner and Diana Ciurdar, solicitor.This investment Schofield Sweeney as part of its is part of its growth strategy to meet the increased demand in the Commercial Property team. The team has an excellent reputation property market. for straightforward, responsive advice to a strong client base across “The commercial property team the region and nationally. I am continues to see genuine growth and looking forward to being part of our pipeline of high-value work remains such a dynamic and enthusiastic very strong. The property market is The team has an team,” said Simon. buoyant, and we have seen a significant increase in development, healthcare excellent reputation Diana advises clients on disposals, and investment transactional work. for straightforward, responsive advice to acquisitions, landlord and tenant matters and real estate finance. It is important as a firm that we have a strong client base the right people to meet our clients' across the region... “The firm has an outstanding needs. At a time when there is high reputation for putting clients at demand for high-quality lawyers, I the centre and offering invaluable am delighted to welcome Simon and legal services, whilst also providing Diana to the team; they will join Tom a forward-thinking, diverse and Jackson, who joined us earlier this inclusive working environment. year from Walker Morris,” Said Manjit Virdee, partner. partner for over five years. He This sets it apart from othe r brings over 25 years’ experience firms. I look forward to a long Simon joins the firm from Ward in acting for developers, property and successful association with Schofield Sweeney” said Diana. Hadaway, where he had been a investors and retailers.

www.snowdogskirklees.org.uk @snowdogkirklees

F O T R A P A BE

G N I H T E M SO

! R A L U C A T C E P S Snowdogs Support Life, Kirklees will be a public art trail like no other, celebrating the best of our community and bringing tens of thousands of visitors to our region for eight whole weeks this September!

Visitors to the trail will rediscover vibrant urban spaces and spend time in our amazing towns and villages as they seek out over 60 dazzling Snowdog sculptures – and they could all be paying attention to your business! Want to gain media exposure, build brand awareness for your business in a unique and memorable way and create a feel-good factor among your employees and customers? Here’s your chance... Sponsoring a Snowdog is a unique opportunity for your business to gain attention as part of a first of its kind public event in West Yorkshire. You’ll also be helping The Kirkwood Support Life across Kirklees, making sure patients and families affected by any life limiting illnesses get the very best care, when and where they need it. © Snowdog Ent. 2022. The Kirkwood is a Registered Charity (No. 512987)

Find out more

Contact Nigel Patrick on: 07917 331 225 or email: nigel.patrick@thekirkwood.org.uk

AD:VENTURE Case Study

Amity Brew Co ABOUT THE COMPANY Amity Brew Co was set up by friends in the middle of the pandemic. The team started producing beer in June 2020 and in December 2020 they opened a brewhouse in Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley. Russ Clarke, one of the founders, had worked for Brewdog and then a smaller brewer, before leaving in 2019 to set up a business with friend Richard Degnan. The initial plan was to set up in retail, selling beer via a shop. But the plans morphed as more people came on board and as Russ found the perfect venue for a taproom and as he took advice from an AD:VENTURE business adviser. The brewhouse is open from Thursday to Sunday, selling beer produced on site, which is also sold via wholesalers and online. The business now employs eight, with plans to take on more and to grow production. PROJECT OBJECTIVES When Russ approached AD:VENTURE he wasn’t too sure which direction he was going in. He and Richard were considering the retail option, selling other people’s beers.

“But once I found the premises that started to make me think it was possible to actually produce our own beer, rather than just selling other people’s,” says Russ, who then started looking for support for the fledgling business.

“Even at the start, when I assumed the re wouldn’t be anyone to “In the early days I just had a concept help me, I was given help by in my head, there was nothing tangible. AD:VENTURE. There were various I knew I wanted to do something with workshops I could go on and I beer and that’s where the idea of a was given a business adviser, who shop selling classic beers came in. helped with all sorts of issues.”

RESULTS Amity initially applied successfully for a £75,000 start-up loan from AD:VENTURE partners, The Business Enterprise Fund. After seeing growth early on despite the pandemic, they applied for a £40,000 grant for investment into the business. Working with an AD:VENTURE business advisor, Amity Brew Co used some of the £40,000 to match-fund their AD:VENTURE grant application, securing an additional £15,000.

AD:VENTURE

other taprooms or take on a bigger production facility. FEEDBACK “It’s just a no-brainer to use AD:VENTURE. To speak to a real person about your real issues and to be pointed in the right direction was exactly what we needed,” says Russ. “To try and do it all yourself means you are probably setting yourself up for a fall and I think the reason we have been so successful is we have leant on the expertise of others to help steer where we are going. “Having a sounding board is really important and someone who is on your side is vital. We are not just a faceless business to AD:VENTURE, we have got their backing and we know if we face hard times in the future we have got their help.” Verity Clarke, communications director at Amity, says: "Our start-up journey has not been an easy one, so we have relished receiving external support from AD:VENTURE. We're still a very small team and we value the courses, training, networking and general cheerleading from the AD:VENTURE team. It means so much to us that we're being recognised and supported." The AD:VENTURE grant allowed Amity to invest in new canning equipme nt and helped bring packaging in-house. The aim is to offer a canning service to other small breweries and take on more staff by the end of the year. “The loan was helpful of course but the grants really helped and it has propelled us forward about three years,” says Russ “That enabled us to create jobs. That means everything. The brewer was

literally working on his own and now we have got him an assistant. We have also created a new role as a social media and marketing assistant.”

To a c c e s s A D : V E N T U R E suppor t please visit www. ad-venture.org.uk

Amity also launched a Crowdfunder campaign to raise £15,000 to increase production at the Sunny Bank Mills site and to improve the outside terrace. The campaign smashed the target, reaching over £40,000. The successful growth means Amity Brew can now look positively to the future with plans to possibly open TopicUK April 2022

N E W S U P D AT E

IT recycling firm set for growth An entrepreneur who set up an IT recycling company when he was just 18 is expanding his business thanks to six-figure funding from Unity Trust Bank. Oliver Bedford established Revive IT in Leeds in 2009 and is using the £900,000 refinance package to buy two new warehouses. It means the company, which provides secure computer recycling and data destruction services and employs 33 people, will be able to double the amount of equipment it processes and create 20 new jobs. O live r said: “I can’t rate my experience with Unity Trust Bank, and my relationship manager Michael Wicks, highly enough, it was phenomenal. “The transaction was faster and smoother because Michael has experience of deals like this. The

whole customer experience is what makes this bank so special.”

Revive IT, destroys hard drives and data-bearing devices using industryleading machinery. devices that have been sanitised will be reused, while those that are faulty or obsolete are destroyed and broken down for recycling. The company has a zero waste to landfill policy and predominantly sells its goods on online market platforms.

O l i v e r d i s c o v e re d a f l a i r f o r businesses when he was 13, buying sweets in multi-packs and selling them to schoolfriends for a profit. Oliver puts his company’s success down to his staff and excellent customer He progressed into the mobile service. He said: “A lot of firms get so phone market when he left school big they lose that personal touch and, before moving on to IT equipment like my experience with Michael and Unity, exceptional customer service is and buying his first warehouse. what makes a business unique. Oliver said: “I’ve always had a strong interest in buying and selling stuff “We recruit in a sustainable way, making sure we employ the right people and - call it the Alan Sugar effect. provide proper training and support. “ T h e I T r e c y c l i n g m a r k e t i s We invest in people for the long run and huge. Businesses upgrade every we have extremely low staff turnover. few years and need to dispose o f o l d e q u i p m e n t , b u t m o s t “Making sure your staff are happy is the importantly they need to ensure key to keeping your customers happy.” all their confidential data stored on the equipment is securely Michael Wicks, Relationship Manager destroyed. Another important at Unity Trust Bank, said: “Oliver has consideration is making sure built up a hugely successful business the equipment is recycled in an and we’re delighted to support his expansion.” environmentally friendly way.”

Connect Wakefield

Save the Date

An Economic wellbeing and business support event for Wakefield businesses

14 – 16 June 2022

company, Safeguard Supplies Ltd, to seamlessly interface internally and with our customers. Thanos will also streamline and improve the whole business’s IT systems to support our continued and sustainable growth. “Meanwhile Paul’s tremendous enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of supply chain sales, especially of the cleaning and hygiene sector, will enable us to extend our reach into this very fertile area.

CTS UK strengthen team Thanos Klonis and Paul Mundy join at a pivotal stage in the company’s development in the wake of a record-breaking year. Thanos is the company’s new group IT systems manager, while Paul joins as the group consolidation specialist. Howard Gill, managing director, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Thanos and Paul to the company. These are two very significant appointments, which will help to build on the substantial progress we have made during the past two years. “Thanos’s appointment allows CTS and our newly purchased

Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, we are expanding quickly, with increased turnover and profits in 2021...

“Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, we are expanding quickly, with increased turnover and profits in 2021, new premises in Northallerton, new clients and brand-new state-ofthe-art machinery. The future is bright and we look forward to both Thanos and Paul playing a very important part in our progress over the next few years.” Thanos Klonis, who has previously worked for the Billingham-based NYMAS Group and Barrett Steel, explained: “This is a very exciting opportunity and challenge for me. The speed of growth of CTS UK means that an integrated IT system is crucially important, both internally and externally. It is my responsibility to take the IT systems to the next level to ensure that our service to our customers – and our relationship with our on-line partners - is consistently excellent.” Paul Mundy, who joins from the Leicester-based Merton Group, said: “This is an absolutely dream job for me. I live in Tadcaster, so working for a company in the Midlands has been a logistical challenge. Now I’m much closer to home – and I’m joining a company which is really going places.

Mike Denby

Leicester gains a Wakefield gem By: Gil l Lai d le r - Edi to r Topi cUK -Im a ges Ro t h Read P h o to g rap h y

For businesses based in Wakefield, many will be familiar with former lead of Wakefield First, the business arm of Wakefield Council, Mike Denby who left in June to pursue a career with Leicestershire Council. Mike will be missed by many local businesses, but remembered for the huge impact he had on the city and the number of large companies he attracted in. TopicUK editor Gill Laidler caught up with Mike just before his departure.

Did you attend University? After finishing college, I attended Coventry University and studied Graphic Design. I enjoyed my studies, and time and still keep in touch with friends from University. I recently went back into academia and studied for a master’s degree in senior leadership, gaining a distinction and will graduate this summer. When I enrolled onto the masters, I had three girls aged three and under, so it was a hard work but I’m so proud of the outcome.

What was your first job? My first job was self-employed, cleaning cars. I was around the age of nine and was joined by my business partner (and friend to this day) David. It started as a small round cleaning the cars of a couple of neighbours. Unfortunately, David could only

manage a couple of weeks and didn’t enjoy it. So, at the age of nine I bought him out of the company, giving him about £5 to purchase his contribution towards the buckets, car shampoo and shammy leather. I remember door knocking around the whole cul-de-sac and only getting a few jobs. Within a few months, the round grew, and I ventured onto other areas and managed to earn between £20-£30 a week. I kept that job up to the age of about fourteen and look back on it with fond memories.

What did you want to do when you were growing up? I think the honest answer would have been to have a job that made people laugh. Whether that be on stage, in a play, on TV or in a sitcom. I grew up watching classics like Open All Hours, Only Fools and Horses and when I visited my grandparents, she’d watch films starring the comedian and singer George Formby. Whilst

it was my aspiration, as a family we didn’t have the money growing up to do things like stage school and performing arts, not like my daughters do today. However, I do like to try and drop a bit of humour into meetings, presentations or speeches occasionally as an ice breaker. In my mid-twenties I also got the chance to ‘scratch the itch’ and appeared on a few game shows with the likes of Dale Winton, Graham Norton and Brian Connelly, which if you did a quick search for me on YouTube, they might come up.

Please tell us about your career up to your current role I’ve always been quite loyal as an employee and have only worked for three companies over the last 25 years. At the age of sixteen my first employer was Topman Menswear. A big priority for the company was delivering excellent customer service and upskilling their staff through internal training. I learnt invaluable skills and best practices that I continue to use to this day. During this time my biggest asset was to the ability to sell, particularly store cards, which used to earn myself and the store a financial reward. I stayed with the company, transferring to a store in Coventry

TopicUK June 2022

whilst at university and back again upon graduation. I worked my way through the ranks and became a middle manager with the responsibility for training staff on sales, account cards in particular.

Proactively The retail training helped me to secure my next job working for British Land, a FTSE 100 Property Company that had just built a large Retail Training Academy. I joined as a Retail Tutor, teaching NVQ’s in Retail, Hospitality and Team Leading. However, the job didn’t go to plan. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough learners being enrolled to sustain the wages of the newly recruited team. With the realisation that I was the youngest, least experienced tutor (and most likely to be cut) I offered to do some door knocking and cold calling to secure learners. Within 9 months I had secured enough businesses and learners to keep the tutors at full capacity. The chief executive had taken a bit of a risk on me but got the impression it had paid off when nine months after starting I received a promotion to business development manager. This role involved marketing the company, generating sales and overseeing the running of 24 conferencing suites. It was a great promotion with a very small but great team in place. The job gave me the ability to use the knowledge gained from my degree in design to create marketing campaigns engaging with potential customers, sales skills to proactively source new businesses in which to work with and customer service skills to deliver a service where clients want to return to use our services again. In 2013, by the time I left the company we had national training contracts with the likes of Jaegar, City Electrical Factors, Knowhow, Café Nova,

Republic and Debenhams, around 130 employees and a reputation for quality delivery. Reporting directly to the CEO allowed me to learn a great deal, particularly around the importance of people and the ability to create a happy, motivated, can-do culture.

When did you start in your current position? I joined Wakefield Council in 2013 and have worked here for just over nine years leading Wakefield First, the business facing arm of Wakefield Council.

Is your industry difficult to succeed in? I think working in a local authority can take people time to adjust, especially if they have previously worked in the private sector. In a Council you have the political and corporate leadership teams, a pluralistic organisation, whereby leaders with diffused powers and differing perspectives work together and lead the Council’s strategy. So, when it comes to designing strategy it’s important to consider the various perspectives in order to gain support.

Additionally, as a smaller City, we as a team have to work harder to attract investment when pitched alongside bigger, more established cities such a Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. However, we try and focus on what makes us unique keeping our message ‘real’ and not trying to be something we’re not. The ability to create a sense of place, a business community that employers can be part of is what has helped us secure quality employers over the years.

What is the best part of your role? Without doubt, it has to be the team I’ve had the pleasure to lead and the difference they have made working together with our businesses and partners. After leading the team for nine years I can look back with pride on the hard work the team undertake daily. This was evident last year when an independent study asked businesses who they would immediately contact if needed help and support. I was delighted to hear that 1 in 2 businesses would immediately pick up the phone to Wakefield First over any other organisation. Leading the Economic Growth service has enabled me to work on some amazing projects, bringing so many positives to the Wakefield District. My first and most challenging investment deal, was securing TJX Europe, then the biggest ever pre let fulfilment centre on the M62 corridor. Working with the developers and a wider project team we had so many challenges to address in such a tight timescale, yet the project was delivered in just eighteen months. When I revisit the site, it’s fulfilling to see a company employing 1500 people and making a real positive impact on the community it serves through

fundraising and supporting individuals furthest from the job market. The team have secured and worked on over £4 billion of investment over the last nine years, equating to tens of thousands of jobs.

What is a typical day like?

It has to be the paperwork and report writing involved in working for a local authority. Publicly funded organisations like the council must abide by strict governance when it comes to making decisions that impact residents. However, the paperwork sometimes delays projects which can be hard when you have a team eager to make a difference.

I spend quite a bit of time in meetings or on the telephone speaking to clients and partners. The pandemic has changed the way in which we interreact, particularly digitally, however I really do enjoy meeting people face to face in their place of work to help build rapport. I‘m lucky to be part of a number of boards and groups aimed at shaping projects that will benefit businesses, residents and the community which means the meetings are engaging and enjoyable. In between meetings calls and emails I’ll then usually catch up with my management team to see how they and the team are progressing.

What would you change if you could?

What are your plans for the future?

It would have to be for Wakefield to have a large university. We only have to look at geographies of a similar size, such as Coventry and Leicester, to see that Universities can change the face of the city due to their significant investment in the built environment with campus developments reshaping the skyline. In addition, they are hotbeds of innovation and entrepreneurship delivering a diverse array of graduates with the skills to compete in global workplaces.

I have recently left Wakefield Council to join Leicester City Council as director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing. The role will involve developing place marketing and tourism strategies for Leicester and Leicestershire, showcasing it as ‘the’ place to live and visit. In addition, I’ll be responsible for leading the team approach to attracting and targeting investment from firms both in the UK and abroad.

And the worst?

Wakefield has worked so hard to in recent years to improve their higher education offer. I’ve been heavily involved in projects to secure funding for the build of the College’s University Centre and Wakefield’s first Research and Development Centre at Production Park, both aiming to stimulate academic achievement. The projects provide a great foundation to build upon and I’m looking forward to seeing Wakefield progress even further towards University Status.

What advice would you give to your younger self? I would advise myself that should I ever want to undertake a master’s degree… do it before having a young family of three children. This summer I’ll receive a Masters in Senior Leadership and, whilst rewarding, it has been a challenge. However, the ability to improvise by attending online seminars from the waiting room of ballet class and writing assignments in the passenger seat on route to weekends away has all helped. TopicUK June 2022

I’d also advise my younger self to not focus solely on the day job and make time to support local community organisations. About three years ago I joined as a trustee of Wakefield Hospice and I’ve been amazed by the enjoyment and pride it has brought, providing a different dimension to my work.

If you were starting again, what if anything would you do differently?

FACT FILE: Wife: Zara-Louise Denby

What is your favourite food and drink? Favourite food has to be the traditional Greek dish Kleftiko, a marinated leg of

Children: Darcey Denby, Age 6; Eloise

lamb slow cooked in the oven. The drink

Denby, Age 5; Genevieve Denby, Age 3

has to be a spiced rum and ginger ale.

What car do you drive? Audi A4

Where is your favourite holiday destination? New York has to be the

What do you do in your leisure time?

best and I proposed to my wife there too.

I started back at the gym at the beginning of the year and enjoy that. In addition

Where is your favourite place in Yorkshire?

to this I spend my leisure time out and

Trick question… has to be Wakefield.

enjoying time with my girls.

Absolutely nothing. Whilst we would all like the ‘perfect route’ in work, or our personal life, we have to get things wrong in order to learn from them and come back stronger. I always remember a quote from novelist Paulo Coelho who said, ‘The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.’

What is your favourite gadget? Apple Where is your favourite restaurant?

Car play. Converts my spoken word into

A favourite is difficult as we like to try new

text messages, turns voice notes into word

places, often independent, wherever we

documents and even lets me join Zoom

go. I recently went to Joro in Sheffield,

calls hands free. It’s great!

which is definitely worth a visit, next on our list is Blue Sakura next time we’re in

What couldn’t you live without? My

Leeds. I’ll try anything!

regular edition of Topic UK!

important to us and creating a supportive environment is high on our priority list. We are pleased to be working with RJ8 to provide our staff with a highly trained and professional support network that is also available for anyone over 16 years old in their household. Furthermore, it’s important we reduce the stigma by talking openly, being a supportive employer and creating a safe space for our employees. Introducing this policy during Mental Health Awareness week has triggered open conversations, listening, and understanding.”

The Craggs Energy Group team up with RJ8 to offer free mental health & wellbeing support During this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, The Craggs Energy Group unveiled their new mental health and wellbeing initiative in partnership with mental health experts – RJ8. This support will be available to all employees, and their families across the company and the wider Craggs Energy Group. The package contains unlimited access to face-to-face, telephone or video call counselling for a wide range of concerns. In addition, access is provided for financial, legal and medical emergencies as well as mental health awareness training. Richard Wallace, Group Managing Director said: “At the Craggs Energy Group, we pride ourselves on being a company that nurtures a motivated, engaged and committed team. The overall well-being of our team is very

The overall wellbeing of our team is very important to us and creating a supportive environment is high on our priority list...

Rebecca Jane, Founder & CEO of RJ8 comments: “We’re honoured to be working with The Craggs Energy Group and the backing we have received from the board in supporting their staff has been exceptional. We offered our ‘best advice’ and every suggestion we made was put in place. The dedication to the mental health of the Craggs staff has been second to none. Not only that, but our suggestions to look after the family of employees was firmly supported too. This means that Craggs now give free private mental health care to family living in the household of a Craggs employee. If every business looked after the mental health of their employees in the same way Craggs Energy has, the UK would not have the mental health crisis we have today.” The Craggs Energy Group employs nearly 120 people and comprises five separate businesses all of which operate within the fuel, energy and infrastructure space operating across the UK. Their companies include northern-based Craggs Energy, LCM Environmental Services, Greenarc Energy, Greenarc Fuel Cards and Devon based Moorland Fuels.

TopicUK June 2022

Freemans are supporting Loose Women Freemans, the Bradford-based, digital department store, has announced a major two-year, six figure, cross-platform partnership with ITV’s Loose Women that launched in May. The exclusive new sponsorship represents a first for the brand and will deliver idents at the start, during, and at the end of each episode of the awardwinning weekday lunchtime show, as well as sponsorship

bumpers across ITV Hub and Loose Women digital sites, in addition to ‘proud to sponsor’ messages on Freemans’ owned channels. Idents around the show will be voiced by show panellist Nadia Sawalha. Empowering Commenting Richard Cristofoli,

chief customer officer, Freemans said: “Loose Women is a show that goes all out to celebrate women in an honest, authentic, accessible, empowering, relatable and diverse way – values that align perfectly with Freemans and the journey we are on to be the digital department store of choice.” Cornerstone

Loose women panel From L to R: Charlene White Denise Welch Nadia Swahalha Jane Moore

18 months that has reached every customer touch point including the online experience, delivery promise and the retailer’s product offer that has seen Freemans introduce a whole host of exclusive names in fashion and home including Julien Macdonald, Henry Holland, Abigail Ahern and Siobhan Murphy.

Heidi Kenyon-Smith, client MD, “The sponsorship is an indication iProspect said: “This exciting new of a more holistic approach to partnership, delivered through communicating what the Freemans our team in Manchester, enables brand represents today and will Freemans to positively benefit from association with compliment other ITV’s much-loved through the line Loose Women yearactivity including, round, reaching a paid social, elevated significant key ad campaigns, digital and PR across the Loose Women is a audience. It marks c o m i n g s e a s o n . show that goes all an important next We’re incredibly out to celebrate step in their brand excited and proud w o m e n i n a n reinvention, will to be working with honest, authentic, help drive brand reappraisal and is the team at Loose accessible, ... a great example Women and ITV.” of how iProspect collaborates with “Loose Women is a dentsu colleagues cornerstone of our daytime programming and has a rich at The Story Lab to create effective history of celebrating and empowering solutions for our clients.” real women and discussing the biggest issues of the day. We are so Freemans is headquartered in thrilled that Freemans have chosen Bradford and the new partnership to partner with the show as their first is the result of collaboration from TV sponsorship and as they embrace teams in Manchester at dentsu the next phase of their brand and UK&I’s iProspect and The Story growth journey.” added Jason Spencer Lab, dentsu’s partnership content business development director ITV. arm, working together with ITV Me d i a . Fr e e m a n s i s w o r k i n g The sponsorship announcement with production partne r The follows a complete re-imagining of Production Factory to deliver their the Freemans brand over the last creative content.

TopicUK June 2022

Each Child Arrangements Order turns on what is in the best interests of the children. Most family circumstances change over time, for example, one parent’s job may change meaning they need to change the days and times they spend time with the children, or, as children get older, their needs may change. As and when this happens the Child Arrangements Order can be varied either by agreement of the parties or by the court if necessary.

Child Arrangements Orders When parents separate, it is important that they start discussions early on about how they will share the care of their children to try and ensure that settled arrangements can be established as soon as possible. If it isn’t possible for an agreement to b e r e a c h e d e i t h e r b e t w e e n themselves, through solicitors or via mediation then an application to Court for a ‘Child Arrangements Order’ may be necessary. This means that ultimately, if an agreement cannot be reached during the course of the proceedings then the court will decide what time the children will spend with each parent. A Child Arrangements Order can set out who the children live with and what time they spend with each parent, the type of contact (including virtual meetings such as phone calls or video calls), how the children may spend school holidays, their birthdays and other significant occasions such as their birthday and Christmas.

Where the parents agree on the arrangement caring for their children, this can either be kept informal or to formalise the agreement, this can be done by ‘Consent Order’ on the approval of a judge. This is done by using form C100 which allows you to select the box stating that you are applying to formalise an informal agreement. If the parents do not agree then either one of them can apply to Court but usually only after mediation has been attempted. As stated above, the best interests of the children are paramount in the context of the Children Act 1989 where the court considers what is known as the welfare checklist which includes the wishes and feelings of the child, the likely effect on the child of the change in circumstances, the child’s physical, emotional and educational needs, the child’s age, any risk of harm on the child and how capable each parent is of reaching the child’s needs. At Chadwick Lawrence, we are experienced in representing clients in all types of matters relating to the arrangements for children postseparation, including applying to court for Child Arrangements Orders. We can help you to navigate the court process or assist in reaching an informal agreement which works for you and your family.

When should I review my will?

The effect of marriage and divorce on a will It is usual when an individual is unhappy with the contents of a Will, that a new Will is made that revokes the older one. There are however, some circumstances that will automatically either revoke or invalidate some dispositions in a Will and it’s important that people understand when this might happen.

Marriage/entering into a Civil Partnership On Marriage or Civil Partnership, an individual’s existing Will is automatically revoked. This means that a Will becomes invalid and the estate will be distributed in accordance with the ‘Rules of Intestacy’ (a Statutory checklist which determines where property goes if an individual passes away without a Will). Your entire estate may not necessarily go to your spouse/civil partner under the intestacy rules so a Will is vital to ensure that your wishes are documented prior to and during marriage. It is possible however to avoid the revocation by making a Will ‘in contemplation of marriage’ which means that a clause can be placed in your Will that stipulates that an impending marriage does not revoke the Will. This means that you do not have to wait until after marriage to make a Will so that provisions are in place. There are however specific rules to ensure that a Will is not revoked by marriage. A Will

cannot be made in contemplation of any marriage (there must be an intention to marry a specific person) and it is therefore important to seek advice to ensure that a Will made in expectation of marriage is enforceable.

Regardless of any impending marriage or divorce, we recommend that a Will is reviewed every 5 years to ensure that the contents still accord with the individual’s wishes...

If a Will is not made prior to marriage, a cohabitee is not entitled to any provision from your estate under the Intestacy Rules. Regardless, under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, a cohabitee can make a claim for financial provision. This is however time consuming, costly and stressful for your family so it is vital to make an effective Will prior to marriage.

Divorce/dissolution of a Civil Partnership Upon an individual’s divorce (on the grant of the ‘decree absolute’) or on the dissolution of a Civil Partnership (the ‘Final Dissolution

Order’) a Will that is already in existence continues to be effective, save that the former spouse or civil partner is treated as though he/she has predeceased (unless contrary intention is expressed). Therefore, any gift to a former spouse/civil partner will fail. The gift will then fall into the ‘residuary estate’ for the alternative beneficiaries in the Will. If there are no alternative beneficiaries named in the Will, the property will be distributed in accordance with the Intestacy Rules, which may lead to your property passing to an undesired beneficiary. It is important to highlight that although the former spouse/civil partner will not receive any benefit from the Will following divorce, however, they can still claim for financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. It is therefore important, especially prior to the finalisation of the divorce, for an individual to remake their Will excluding the soon-to-be former partner to ensure that the estate passes appropriately should something happen whilst waiting for the Decree Absolute or Final Dissolution Order. We will draft a statement to accompany the Will giving reasons why no provision has been made for that former spouse. This will assist to safeguard the testator should that former spouse attempt to make a claim. Regardless of any impending marriage or divorce, we recommend that a Will is reviewed every 5 years to ensure that the contents still accord with the individual’s wishes. A change in circumstances can often leave new family members without provision or the estate open to tax issues should the individual acquire new assets. It’s essential therefore that to keep reviewing a Will to account for any change in circumstances. TopicUK April 2022

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Government updates code for resolving rent arrears

L a n d l o rd s a n d te n a n t s o f commercial property in England and Wales still trying to agree how to deal with arrears of rent built up because of COVID-19 will welcome an updated Code of Practice ‘Guidance: Commercial rent code of practice following the COVID-19 pandemic’ to help them negotiate a resolution. The new Code replaces the previous Code (first issued on 19 June 2020, and updated on 6 April 2021 and 9

November 2021) to help landlords and tenants work together to solve arrears issue, and now takes into account new COVID-related laws covering arrears of commercial rents in 2022. The new laws ringfence arrears of rent built up because COVID forced the tenant to close. There is a binding arbitration process to resolve whether and how arrears can be paid. The Code explains the process, and identifies which evidence is relevant

and the principles arbitrators apply when making an award. The government says that non-eligible landlords and tenants may also find it useful when attempting to resolve unpaid rent debt issues by negotiation. Commercial landlords and tenants failing to reach agreement over COVID-related rent arrears should download the Code from the GOV.UK website and consider whether and how it, and the new laws, can help them.

If there is a major renovation of a nonresidential building and, afterwards, the building will have more than ten on-site parking spaces, it must have a minimum of one charging point, and cable routes for one in every five spaces.

Intellectual property (IP) and young entrepreneurs Developers must plan ahead in response to the UK Government’s proposals for electric vehicle charging points to be included in new developments and renovations.

This year de velope rs will be expected to comply with new laws requiring them to include a number of charging points for electric vehicles (EV ) in both residential and non-residential developments. The proposals, announced by the Prime Minister in November 2021, are in response to a 2019 consultation and follow on from the UK Government’s planned shift from petrol and diesel cars which will culminate in a ban on sale of the former from 2030. Under the new laws: •

If a new home has on-site

parking it must have a charging point. •

If there is a major renovation of a residential building and the building will have more than ten on-site parking spaces afterwards, it must have a minimum of one charging point for each dwelling which has associated parking and cable routes for all other spaces.

•

If a new non-residential building has more than ten on-site parking spaces, it must have a minimum of one charging point, and cable routes for one in every five spaces.

The Government has faced questions pertaining to the detail behind these requirements. There is for example, no guidance at present as to the standard of these charging points in terms of charging time. It remains to be seen as to whether the developer’s bound by these new rules will absorb the cost of the EV charging point or whether this cost will be passed onto prospective purchasers. In a buoyant property market, one may assume the latter but if and when the supply of homes increases, or demand reduces, then the inclusion of an EV charging point may become a desirable selling feature boosting the sale of new properties as opposed to the millions of existing properties that go up for sale each year. Whether or not you believe that the 2030 date is achievable to ban all new petrol and diesel cars, planning rules are changing and developers should start to plan for the proposed new laws. When the ban is implemented, the existence of an electric charging point will be attractive to electric car owners but prospective purchasers ought to research the type of charging point and the associated cabling to ensure that it is adequate for their car charging needs. Furthermore, the number of charging points available on a multi-unit sites such as a block of flats should be considered .

Ramsdens Solicitors TopicUK April 2022

Collaboration, co-production and content creation By: Sophi e Mei Lan - Crea to r, Spa rk l e Co mmu n i t y Me d ia

of followers.’ We’re passionate about

If you’re looking at promoting and growing your making media content with meaning organisation so that it’s sustainable you need start creating, and encouraging others to do so. We collaborating and co-producing content.

T h e s e m ay s o u n d l i ke ‘ j u s t ’ buzzwords but having a collaborative model is vital for your marketing, your organisation and those they wish to serve. For this reason, the world of business is shifting to empower ‘clients’ and ‘experts by lived experience’ to inform their products and services. Sophie Mei Lan set up Sparkle Community Media CIC to help organisations to connect, grow and serve more people beyond t h e i r c u r re n t re a c h t h ro u g h c o - p r o d u c i n g r a w, r e a l a n d relatable content for their own platforms and to be featured in the mainstream media.

Some tips to start building collaboration into your schedule: Look at what's strong, not what’s wrong with those you work with: Play to your strengths as a team. “I am co-running a Digitally Active project to enable neurodivergent digital entrepreneurs to gain employment through media training. We have witnessed first-hand how much talent is being missed by organisations overlooking someone because of their ‘disability,’ rather than looking at how their organisation could be disabling their team to thrive,” said Sophie. Collaboration is key: Collaborate with others with complementary skills. This may be internally within your team or using external partners. Depending on your offer, onboard key partners to deliver.

They do this by co-creating written and digital content and training their organisation in a range of communications skills. They also encourage them to collaborate with their customers to create content, Build a community: Engage people develop products and their services, with your mission, your product or or better still create user-generated service. Use this online community to content. Not only is this vital for support and listen to your customers. community organisations who are “We recently rebranded our influencer delivering essential services to marketing group to Sparkle Content hear the voices of those they work Creators Collaborative because alongside but it is vital to promote we’re a community and we want what they’re doing and to develop to support those we work with to prosper not just feel like ‘numbers on their strengths.

realised how influencers are at a high risk of mental health problems, so we want to help them feel as well and confident as possible when making content though a supportive peer-topeer platform,” she added.

Co-produce your services and content: Coproduction blurs boundaries between those delivering and receiving products. See people as the assets they are and by working together you can achieve a collective and better outcome. Whether we’re developing our own media platforms, delivering media services or communications training, we always try to engage a range of voices to deliver the best outcome possible. We are a social enterprise, so profits are re-invested back into delivering community media projects alongside marginalised communities to improve mental health and wellbeing. To collaborate with us, follow @ SophieMeiLan and go to: https:// sparklecommunications.co.uk

TopicUK June 2022

‘A career in policing’ By: UL a w t u tor a n d fo r m er po l i ce o f f ice r, Ro be r t G l as s bo ro w

How do you become a police officer? The past few years has seen a significant reform to the way in which police forces are recruiting trainee officers. There are now three distinct routes to becoming a police officer that are different to the traditional e ntry and training requirements. These routes allo w for applicants from all educational levels to apply for police officer entry. The 3 routes are as follows:

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) – You can join as a constable and follow an apprenticeship in professional policing practice. This usually takes three years and when you successfully finish the programme, you will complete your probation and achieve a degree.

This takes approximately two years, and you will receive a graduate diploma in professional policing after completing your probation.

Pre-join degree in Professional Policing– this is a three-year fulltime course of study at a university that has been validated by the College of Policing, and this is the route that Degree-holder Entry Programme we offer here at The University of Law (DHEP) – If you already have a degree (ULaw). This is a knowledge-based (in any subject), you can join the force degree that covers core fundamentals and follow a work-based programme, of policing in areas that are important to supported by off-the-job learning. the future landscape of policing in the

The Policing Vision sets out a 10 year policing strategy to meet the current challenges those on the horizon, and beyond. Policing needs to continually evolve and it’s the Policing Vision that sets out how this transformation will take place. By focussing on local policing and partnership working to resolve community issues, using policing specialist capabilities to counteract serious threats to the UK, exploiting and adapting to digital technology in policing, and creating a workforce equipped and qualified for the future is the current vision for the 2025 strategy.

What is the advantage of doing the pre-join degree?

UK. On joining the police with this prejoin degree student officers will undergo initial police training and be required to complete a two year probation at the end of which they will attain the additional qualification of a Diploma in Professional Policing Practice.

What is the Policing Vision 2025? With communities becoming rapidly more diverse and complex a more aligned approach to deal with issues needs to be adopted by the police.

There are major transformations u n d e r w ay i n p o l i c i n g a n d a fundamental part of this is building a professional police service underpinend by knowledge, standards, and education to degree level for all officers. There are three routes to join with the current degree requirement, but it’s the prejoin Professional Policing degree, validated by the College of Policing which is offered at ULaw. This full-time study route offers you the chance to concentrate on your studies to attain a policing degree that is recognised when applying to your chosen police force. In your three years of full-time study you will get to experience student life and the opportunities that it brings, but also have the added time to fully understand and enhance your policing knowledge through focused study. On completion of this degree route you will be fully equipped with the knowledge to be a broad thinking and good decision maker, as well as a future leader within the policing service.

What’s different about the ULaw Policing degree?

Covering the fundamental subjects that underpin all policing, the ULaw Professional Policing degree has the added advantage that it is delivered to students by tutors and lecturers who are all ex -police officers. Combined with the theories and legislation on the course this means that the subject areas are explained by people who have experienced these scenarios through working in the profession and this gives a thorough insight to policing in practice. The ULaw knowledge-based degree course often reaches subject level above that which has been traditionally taught to student officers under the previous police entry routes thus preparing future officers that have come through our practical course able to make better and informed decisions.

What makes a career in Policing attractive? At the very core of policing is service to the community, a service that creates and maintains safe and secure neighbourhoods. As a police officer you are there to help others, often in very difficult situations. As a police officer you are role models within society and hold a position of public trust. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that what you do for a job makes a real difference to someone’s life every day and society. A career in the police offers variety and challenge in equal measure and there are so many areas that you can specialise in. It is also a very structured career path with good benefits.

www.law.ac.uk

TopicUK June 2022

New Leeds hospitals project will benefit patients regionally and nationally A new interactive map has been launched by a Leeds hospitals trust to show how its planned new hospitals will improve the lives of people regionally and nationally as well as those within the city boundaries.

in the heart of the city will benefit patients beyond Leeds and will ensure they continue to receive some of the very best healthcare in the country. The Leeds Trust is one of the largest providers of specialist hospital services in the UK covering over 100 specialties. People can explore the map to find out how many people in their area receive treatment at the Trust and read some of the inspiring stories from those who have received lifesaving treatment at the hospitals. The data shared is from 2029/20 and is by UK constituency. Sheffield-born boxe r, Tommy Frank (pictured), is just one of those patients from the Yorkshire region who received specialist treatment – in his case for a hole in the heart when he was five years old. His successful treatment has enabled him to go on and become a British and Commonwealth boxing champion. Tommy was a patient of Leeds Children’s Hospital and is looking forward to seeing the new hospitals help other heart patients of all ages. He said: “Thanks to the specialist treatment and care I received in Leeds I have been able to get on with my life and follow my dreams.”

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is building two new hospitals, a new adults’ hospital and a new home for Leeds Children’s Hospital – as well as the largest single-site maternity

centre in the UK – in one building at Leeds General Infirmary. The #myhospitalleeds interactive map shows how the new facilities

Gail Hill (pictured), a mother of two from Barnsley, was the first person to benefit from a liver perfusion machine in Leeds that can preserve donated organs for longer prior to transplantation allowing more to be used for transplant. Gail, was on the transplant waiting

L E G A L M AT T E R S

Leeds to perform up to 20 more liver transplants a year.

list for two years after suffering from polycystic liver disease for 17 years. Doctors were able to keep the donated liver healthy for 14 hours using the new perfusion machine without the organ deteriorating.

“It has already given me a new lease of life,” said Gail. “My condition restricted my quality of life and I stopped being the outgoing, bubbly Gail that I was. I just feel so much better now.”

Plans to build the new Leeds hospitals will enhance specialist regional services and provide more treatment opportunities for patients across Leeds and the wider City region and beyond. The liver perfusion machine, paid for through charity fundraising by Leeds Hospitals Charity, offers surgeons more options than the current process of keeping

She added: “I’ll always be grateful to Leeds hospitals and the charity for giving me a new lease of life.”

a donated organ stored in an icebox. This new technology has the potential to allow the team in

Explore the Trust’s interactive map here: #myhospitalleeds interactive map and follow #myhospitalleeds on social media to find out more about the far-reaching benefits of the new Leeds hospitals. TopicUK June 2022

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

By: Charlie Hopper

Club set to deliver a season to bowl Yorkshire over … a further £123,000 to add

What a summer it’s going to be at North Marine Road, to the upgrades. home of Scarborough Cricket Club since the mid 19th century.

With Surre y, Hampshire and Worcestershire making the trip to The team at the club has been the ground and improve the overall the Yorkshire coast, I’d suggest to get your tickets as soon as possible! working hard to get things ready experience for all spectators. f o r t h e a r r i v a l o f Yo r k s h i r e in a few months. This includes new seating and Our new ticket company is on hand toilet facilities, pitch and changing to make your lives as easy as possible - with tickets able to be posted, texted With a successful Town Deal bid, room improvements. and emailed out, which will also an allocation of up to £250,000 will allow us to work on areas of Friends of the club have raised improve swiftness at the turnstiles.

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

The president’s marquee is once again open, for people to enjoy the cricket with deckchair seating on the boundary and fine dining.

Fact File

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Scarborough Cricket Club was formed in 1849 in a meeting at The Queen’s Hotel (later to become The Cricketers’ pub and now retirement apartments) The early matches were played on rough land opposite the Queen’s H o te l , t h e f i r s t m a tc h b e i n g in September of 1849 against Filey and Visitors Important matches were played at Scarborough Castle Hill on a ground prepared at the direction of the Army for the local Rifle Volunteers A match was organised in 1862 for a Scarborough Twenty (players) against an All England XI at Castle Hill. It was very extremely successful with large crowds and it became an annual event

The club has announced our guest speaker for the annual Festival Dinner on Monday July 25 with Chris Cowdrey taking centre stage in the president’s marquee. Tickets for the dinner are on sale from our ticketing site or from the club. Cowdrey, who toured to India with England in 1984-85, alongside David Gower, will be talking about his impressive career. The famous pavilion built in 1896, is back open this summer after all the covid restrictions, with members of both Yorkshire and Scarborough able to use the pavilion as normal. Memberships are still on sale

from the club, so make sure you are signed up to get the best seats in the house. Spectators will also be able to grace the turf at North Marine Road during the intervals, which is exciting and one of the traditional highlights of many people’s visit to the town. We have quite a lot going on this summer with our 10 days of firstclass cricket, which is extremely exciting for everyone involved. Tickets for both the marquee and pavilion hospitality are available through the ticketing site or through the office by phone or email. Our senior teams have kick started their season, with games taking place on a weekend. All fixtures are on the website, with opportunities for ball sponsorship.

•

TopicUK June 2022

Stunning new sculpture makes a splash at North Yorkshire Water Park Emma said: “It has been such a delight designing the coastal sculpture collection, which I’m sure will attract many visitors to the park. The Wykeham Damselfly itself is such a beautiful species, with delicate, unique features. I was super excited to try to replicate this in sculpture form.” Kerry Carruthers, of the Yorkshire Coast Bid, she said: “This project is really important as it’s not just about bringing in visitors to the area, it’s about celebrating the beautiful nature and wildlife as well.

The Yorkshire Coast Bid has expanded its coastal sculpture collection with a stunning damselfly at North Yorkshire Water Park,Wykeham,Scarborough.

Designed by Yorkshire-based artist Emma Stothard, the Wykeham Damselfly is the second sculpture to be added to the collection, following the Green Hairstreak Butterfly at Spurn Point. The Wykeham Damselfly, along with 50 other animal species, such as chubb, roach, rudd, and perch, can be spotted throughout the year around the lakes of the Water Park. The ‘Beautiful Demoiselle’ can be recognised by its verdigris green body with pale, brown wings, differing from that of the males which is identified by their electric blue bodies and dark wings. The body, head and tail have been designed using copper wire and to portray the wings correctly, Emma hand-made them by using a stainless steel round bar before being methodically woven in phosphorus bronze wire, which will turn into a soft brown.

Emma Stothard Emma Stothard’s sculptures grace the gardens of stately homes, galleries, and private homes around the country. She was honoured to create and personally present to the Prince of Wales a large-scale portrait of his Jack Russell dog Tigga. Made from willow grown on the Highgrove Estate, Tigga is sited in the gardens at Highgrove and was a thank you gift for her loan from the Prince’s Trust, which enabled her to start her career. Emma’s work is part of the Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage, which takes places each September – her huge blue lobster, first exhibited there in 2015, is on permanent display in the village. This year saw her installation of the giant Withernsea Crab along the town’s seafront.

“Having these sculptures across the Yorkshire coast tells visitors a story about what can be seen and providing another reason to visit. There are many more sculptures to come in different locations across the coast and we can’t wait to see the final project.” James Whitehead, operations manager of North Yorkshire Water Park, added: “Our visitors are guaranteed to love the Wykeham Damselfly. Not only does it look amazing but it teaches people about the area and the wildlife here.” The Coastal Sculpture Collection comprises unique sculptures, creating marker points throughout Route YC, a new coastal tourism r o u te w h i c h a l s o s u p p o r t s Yo r k s h i r e Coast BID’s objective of protecting wild and marine life. The Yorkshire Coast Bid will focus primarily on six coastal towns - Whitby, Scarborough, Filey, Bridlington, Hornsea and Withernsea, as well as villages inbetween. https://www. yorkshirecoastbid.co.uk/ The first piece was unveiled at Spurn Point last August 2021, a stunning Green Hairstreak Butterfly, installed in its natural resting place with its fellow species.

Another great chapter about to begin at fantastic festival By Heathe r French , fest i v a l d i recto r o f Book s b y t h e B e ac h , S carbo ro u g h

Books by the Beach is Scarborough’s literary treat. It’s been running for nine years and with the exception of an inevitable covid 2020 cancellation, has been delivering a quality programme every year. The festival is my passion. People ask me what drives me to organise it year on year and I say ‘My love for books, the thrill of introducing authors to their readers and doing my bit for my adopted town of Scarborough’.

web designer, printer and sign writer.

the area but 30% travel from around the UK. It’s a pilgrimage and a number have become friends, often asking for advance notice of the programme so they can plan who and what they want to see.

The festival attracts tourism to Scarborough and helps the local economy.

The festival is very important culturally for the town and helps keep us on the map.

About 70% of my audience are local to

Over the years I’ve built up strong relationships with publishers and they often approach me with author ideas for the programme.

I’m a librarian by day and organise the festival by night. I don’t receive any public funding or business sponsorship and so my ticket sales have to finance the running of Books by the Beach. It is a financial juggling act and occasionally keeps me awake at night. It takes months of planning and programming, but if it was easy everyone would be doing it … I use local hotels and venues. I employ a local graphic designer,

The Books by the Beach takes place Saturday 11 June and Sunday 12 June. The box office is Scarborough YMCA Theatre on St Thomas Street, 017213 506750. Tickets are also online and via email at theatre@ymcascarborough.uk The full programme is available at www.booksbythebeach.co.uk

I ensure the visiting writers are given the warmest welcome as this is crucial to their experience. I know many leave with happy memories of our beautiful town and who wouldn’t want to spend a weekend by the coast whilst talking about their work ..? I pretty much organise the festival solo but I couldn’t deliver the festival weekend without the kind assistance TopicUK June 2022

Books by the Beach colourful line-up in-depth analysis of Lisa, her career and the creative process of how a novel is formed. The Saturday night headliner, Charlie Higson, is creator and star of the highlysuccessful comedy series The Fast Show. Charlie has appeared in a number of TV acting roles and written widely for radio and television. At Books by the Beach he will be discussing his colourful new thriller Whatever Gets You Through the Night. Charlie will be appearing at Queen Street Church on Saturday 11 June, 7.30pm. Leading Sunday’s line-up is former Home Secretary and festival friend Alan Johnson. His memoir trilogy based on his life and career has won a number of awards.

Nick Beeching

Books by the Beach is launched this year by one of the UK mostloved novelists, Patrick Gale. Patrick will be introducing his new work Mother’s Boy at Queen Street Church, Scarborough, on Saturday 11 June at 10am. It’s a superb historical tale of Cornwall, desire and two world wars. His most recent works are the Costa-shortlisted A Place Called Winter and Sunday Times top ten bestseller Take Nothing With You. His 2017 original BBC television drama Man in an Orange Shirt won an International Emmy Award. Patrick is followed on Saturday 11 June at 1pm by global success Lisa Jewell. Lisa has sold more than five million copies of her books worldwide. The Family Upstairs was the crime novel hit of 2020 and a sequel The Family Remains

is due for release in July. Lisa will share the stage with her biographer Will Brooker. Will has written an

Appearing at the YMCA Theatre on Sunday 12 June,10.30am, Alan will be talking about his move into fiction. His debut novel The Late Train to Gipsy Hill is a fast-moving thriller based on the Russian mafia and a mysterious beauty with a deadly secret … Festival director Heather French is delighted to include such a wealth of personal stories of hope and humanity this year and says there will be a real hero - John Volanthen, leader of the famous Thai cave rescue. In 2018 the world held its breath when torrential rain trapped the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach deep underground in Thailand. On Sunday 12 June, 3pm at St Mary’s Church John tells his enthralling story of courage and calm under extreme pressure. On Saturday 11 June, 5pm Prof Lucy Easthope, it’s the turn of the UK’s

Alan Johnson.

leading authority on disaster recovery. Lucy lives with disaster every day. When a plane crashes, a bomb explodes, a city floods or a pandemic begins, she’s the one they call. An inspirational speaker and recent BBC Radio 4 book of the week. Prizewinning journalist Anita Sethi was on a train journey through northern England when she became the victim of a race-hate crime. Determined not to let this brutal experience stop her travelling freely and without fear, Anita turned to nature and outdoor exercise to heal herself. She walked the ‘backbone of Britain’, exploring place, identity and belonging. Liste n to he r

Anita Sethi

inspiring story on Sunday 12 June, 1pm at St Mary’s, the parish church of Scarborough. TV presenter of Coast and geographer Nicholas Crane will be discussing his new book Latitude during his trip to Books by the Beach. Set in 1735, it follows twelve unruly men bound for South America. Their mission - to discover the true shape of the world. A distinguished speaker and adventurer - a festival highlight on Saturday 11 June 3pm at St Mary’s Church. TV presenters Dr Chloe Duckworth and Keith Brymer Jones complete the festival line-up on Sunday 12 June. Chloe is a lecturer in archaeology

at Newcastle University and expert on Channel 4’s The Great British Dig. She will be discussing her TV tie-in book and the fun the team had excavating the back gardens of Britain, plus the fascinating objects they unearthed. Catch her at Queen Street Church on Sunday 12 June, 5pm. In our festival finale Keith Brymer Jones reveals his inspirational journey from a north London boyhood to a global success. Dancer, frontman in an almost famous rock bank, master potter and lead judge of The Great Pottery Throw Down - it promises to be an entertaining and emotional event. Join Keith at Queen Street Church Sunday 12 June, 7.30pm. TopicUK June 2022

Enjoy the fun, glitz and glamour of Royal Ascot in Leeds Following on from the success of the 2019 event, Bibis Italianissimo are once again bringing the fun, finesse and all the glitz and glamour of Royal Ascot Ladies Day to Leeds on Thursday 16 June.

Guests are invited for Pimm’s on the ‘lawn’ from 12.30pm, before taking their seats to enjoy a ‘day at the races’ whilst enjoying a fabulous three course meal. Bibis will broadcast the entire afternoon live on projectors and speakers from the Royal Procession to the final race.

Think big bets and bigger hats for the biggest event of the year with lots of fun and prizes for the best dressed. £5 from each ticket sold will be donated to the #BeMoreMandy fund in memory of Bibis much loved colleague Mandy Taylor who lost her battle with cancer in December. Tickets cost £70 per person and include welcome drink, music and entertainment, a sumptuous three course lunch and the experience of a ‘day at the races’ To r e s e r v e y o u r s e a t a t t h e event of the year call 0113 243 0905 or visit the website www. bibisrestaurant.com

Yorkshire

TopicUK June 2022

The Club

networking across the North Editor Gill Laidler recently caught up with Sarah Restrick, managing director and owner of The Club by Sarah Restrick, operating across Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. The Club by Sarah Restrick was launched in 2021, following a rebrand of Clique 100 Club and Sarah taking the business over solely. More than just networking, connecting business leaders, owners, high level executives and HNWI’s through a schedule of luxury events at 5 star venues across the North. Building relationships a n d s t r a te g i c a l l y m a k i n g ke y introductions to facilitate business return.

How did you know that you were going to be successful within Business Networking?

Before The Club was established I ran Personal Shopping and VIP services for Flannels for over 10 years, so you could say that I’ve been a people person for most of my professional career. The experience allowed me to meet a lot of important contacts and build my own network and give me the confidence to really make the leap to branch out on my own as an entrepreneur.

Why choose to run your own company instead of working 9-5?

Why not? My time at Flannels, building my interpersonal skills really gave me the confidence to turn this into a career. Then running the business and seeing it build momentum despite the challenges of lockdown gave me the confidence that this was a viable business that I wanted to see through and scale. While it’s been scary and unnerving at times, I couldn’t see myself ever wanting to to work for anyone else again.

Club’s offering and so is keeping good people around me. The last two years of the pandemic really taught me that tomorrow is another day, listening to members of The Club and the impact it was having on their businesses was really humbling and helped to inspire the quick pivot that we had. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now in terms of business?

Apart from expanding into more key cities within the Midlands and the South? My goal is to have global reach as we look to establish The Club in Europe, Dubai and the US. What is the reason behind the name ‘The Club by Sarah Restrick?’

Ultimately the brand for The Club has evolved and diversified thanks to the members that have joined and is history from taking it over from “The Profile Club” but it’s always stood for inclusivity and connecting a group. Now that I have taken this over as my own business, I wanted to put my name on the door, as it were. With over 200 Members running across three powerhouse Northern cities, it’s something that I’m ultimately, proud of. Is there a time you ever doubting yourself when you have faced hard times?

Every day! But ultimately with every member signing up and with every successful event we’ve run, I’m driven even more. Running your own business can be terrifying in the early days, but I’ve also been inspired by The Club members, hearing their own start-up stories and seeing their journeys. I am lucky to work with many incredible businesses and have a pool of advice and support which I value very much. Do you think that coronavirus had an impact on your business whether

that be positive or negative and why?

Being an event and networking business, the pandemic could have finished us. However, I was quick to identify the need for our members to avoid the stress and monotony that was being presented. We ran a number of incredibly successful webinars and when restrictions were eased introduced our private dining for 6 events - which were booked out immediately. They provided a more intimate experience for our members to really network in a meaningful way and also allow us to match business owners with mutual needs - something that is rarely offered in the networking space. How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a woman in business?

Honestly? I think when I was 14, I wanted to be a fashion designer. I have always known I wanted to run my own business, set my own culture and scale an idea that added value to the business community.

How do you rate your terms of success?

Constantly through member feedback and then from the outputs they have from connections made at our events. And gaining a Global reach would be success to me. B e s t a d v i c e y o u w e re g i v e n in your career?

Don’t waffle, get to the point! It’s what cemented my success working in personal shopping and VIP services, time is money and I think people appreciate direct communication. I’m very lucky however to be surrounded by incredibly successful people on a daily basis and hearing their own experiences provides real insight and inspiration into my own business.

www.theclubbysarahrestrick.com sarahtheclubbysarahrestrick.com

What would you say are the most important values to you in business?

It’s really important to me that people are both personal and genuine, and also vice versa when I’m dealing with them - ultimately, it’s the core of The

TopicUK June 2022

The Launch of Beautiful Things The beauty industry is a hot bed heralding exciting innovations, new product launches, acquisitions, and retailer collaborations

By: Janet Milner-Walker - Founder of Bespoke Advantage

Only yesterday it was Christmas with a distinct chill in the air! We are so pleased to see the sun making a lengthier appearance in the UK, Spring has certainly sprung. Unlike the dark sombre cloud of gloom that permeated the globe for the past two years, there is a now an optimist onwards and upwards beat to this year. Trends to Watch A laser focus on sustainability is here to stay across all sectors of the marketplace, and the beauty industry is no stranger to these conversations. Anhydrous products are renowned for being good for the planet, with numerous beauty companies tapping into this sector however this is nothing new. Lush has been an activist for many years. Traditional skincare formulations are estimated to have between 60% to 80% water, meaning that the cost price of a product isn’t solely due to the cost of raw materials and packaging. Water is becoming a scarcity and therefore a luxury. With 844 million people having a lack of access to clean water, the spotlight will remain on anhydrous products.

ABOUT JANET MILNERWALKER Janet is the founder of Bespoke Advantage, a brand management company that build brands across the beauty sector, she writes for several publications on the topics of beauty and wellbeing, she is also a consultant, and a speaker. Over the past twenty years she has developed and launched products and brands for M&S, Har vey Nichols, Boots, Body Shop a n d C r a b t re e & E v e l y n as well as worked with many start-ups. Bespoke Advantage’s award-winning portfolio of clients include beauty and wellness brands, professional spas and salons, retailers, investors, and entrepreneurs based in the UK and internationally – www. thebespokeadvantage.com.

Since 2020 it is reported that 12% of global product launches in the personal care category are said to be waterless, with waterless cosmetic sales forecasted to grow 13.3% by 2031, driven by an awareness in climate change. An array of product formats has appeared on shelves and in bathroom cabinets – from soap bars to powders and sheets – eliminating the necessity for adding water until point of consumption. Ethique has been building a strong presence over the past ten years in this space, selling skincare, haircare, and now home-compostable lipsticks. Their products have an average carbon footprint of 8% of bottled products, reducing fossil fuel emissions, and removing the need for plastic. Plush Body Wash is a British founded brand, with an add-water formulation, 100% dissolvable packaging that disappears down your plughole whilst showering and it is easily transportable. New Product Launches We love Soho House, a global hospitality group, with great members clubs. They have recently debuted their new skincare range, Soho Skin, to sit alongside their existing range of beauty brands including Cowshed and it looks great! TopicUK April 2022

Next launched Woah sixteen vegan skincare products designed to offer a “simple and easy to use stepby-step routine for morning and night.” Very.co.uk the catalogue business has also dipped their toes into beauty in a big way, extending their range of beauty and self-care brands by 94% since the start of the pandemic with a big focus on wellbeing products. The online retailer has added seventy-seven new beauty and personal care brands since 2020 to take the total to one hundred and fiftynine. They will be launching more wellbeing high-profile brands over the coming months.

Several celebrities have been busy during lockdown, developing new product ranges. Across the pond, Courteney Cox, known for her love of cleanliness on the much loved show Friends, has launched a very apt collection of products called Homecourt, fragranced-infused and skin-care-inspired, it is no surprise her range sold through in eight hours. Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Elba have announced their latest joint venture, a skincare line called S’able Labs. Gender-neutral it prioritises an “ethical supply chain reducing the use of toxic ingredients and unnecessary packaging.” S c a r l e t t Jo h a n s s o n v e n t u r e d into skincare with The Outset, a collection of moisturisers, cleansers, and collagen serums with a vegan formula. Free from harsh ingredients and genderless it is also suitable for those with gluten and nut allergies. In the UK Sali Hughes has just launched X Revolution Skincare, beautifully packaged

with price points of £15 and less, the range is cruelty free, vegan friendly and an edited collection of six products comprising of two cleansers, an exfoliant, serum and two moisturisers. Retailer Collaborations and Acquisitions Boohoo has also ventured into beauty with a vegan and cruelty free range of makeup products and accessories in millennial appealing packaging available from Debenhams. Priced from £3-£25, this is a collection of everyday essentials.

Far Fetch is not only bringing us beautiful fashion, but thanks to their acquisition of Violet Grey in the US, they are now bringing us beauty. Their strategy to support this new category centres on the creation of a community that is inclusive, genderless, and diverse – called their Global Community Platform. Led by a collective of industry experts including dermatologists and makeup artists this is free to use. Upon sharing beauty tips and advice, you earn points that are added to your account securing y o u di sco un t s a n d excl usi v e offers. This is a great way of driving sales, whilst building a community. Another interesting collaboration across the pond has taken place between our much-loved Space NK and none other than Walmart. Space NK are launching into 250 Walmart stores nationwide this summer, as well as onto their ecommerce platform, through BeautySpace NK. This is certainly a surge of positivity sweeping through the industry and we can’t wait to see what the next few months have in store for us!

istered charity no: 1110457

10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 / PUGNEYS COUNTRY PARK, WAKEFIELD

Unleash your inner dragon! Perfect for workmates to join forces for some high energy team-building, gather your crew together for our exciting Dragon Boat Race! In this fun and highly competitive challenge, your team of 16 paddlers (and a drummer to keep the rhythm) will take part in at least three 250m races in dragondecorated boats, cheered on by 100s of spectators. Could your team do your business proud by bringing home the winner’s trophy?!

WWW.FORGETMENOTCHILD.CO.UK/DRAGONBOATRACE

THE YORKSHIRE COAST

CAPA College (Creative and Performing Arts College) unveils multi million pound new home By: Gi l l Lai d le r, York sh i re Bu si n esswoma n ed i to r

CAPA College is one of the most exciting and innovative education providers in the North of England. Every year students from across Yorkshire and beyond flock to their corner of Wakefield to pursue their dreams of becoming the next Hollywood star, Oscar-winning filmmaker, director, choreographer, entrepreneur or creative. CAPA College opened its doors as Wakefield’s first (and only) DfEfunded Free School in September 2018 and remains the only nonfee-paying specialist Creative and

Performing Arts College of its kind in Yorkshire or the North East. Over two years of study, students (aged 16-19) achieve the equivalent

of four A Levels, a portfolio filled with transferrable skills and all of the performance experience the need to progress to Higher Education and their chosen professional careers in Dance, Drama, Musical Theatre or Production Arts and Media. With an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating (Jan 2022), an alumnus in every major West End show, consistent 99% A*-C results, a ranking in the top 1% of all post-16 providers nationally for student progress,

TopicUK June 2022

awards and accolades from the National Theatre, BBC, Sky TV and Arts Council England and almost 6 applicants for every place, CAPA College is a tour de force in Arts Education. In September 2022, CAPA College will open the doors to their new multi-million-pound, state-ofthe-art facilities on Mulberry Way (opposite Wakefield Westgate train station). It will house the incredible Mulberry Playhouse (a 150-seat, fully equipped theatre), a studio theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre, the eagerly anticipated Yorkshire Picture House (a bespoke arthouse cinema) and The Green Room (a public café/bar/restaurant). With community classes and projects; touring companies; space

hire for private and commercial use; as well as a jam-packed programme of live performances and special events, CAPA College will become a new centre for performance and creativity in West Yorkshire.

CAPA College is proud to be part of Enhance Academy Trust, an exempt charity. Education for students aged 16-19 is free of charge. TopicUK April 2022

A gem in the centre of Leeds

TopicUK and Yorkshire Businesswoman magazine editor was a guest of the Leeds Marriott recently as the hotel was keen to showcase their extensive facilities for both business and personal visits.

t was a Friday evening when my companion and I arrived in the light and airy reception area, to be greeted by the reception team. If the hotel is judged on the welcome alone, this was one of the best we have experienced. It took just a few minutes to check us in, with a brief explanation of the hotel’s facilities. The Marriott is situated in Trevelyan Square just off Boar Lane, in the centre of Leeds, but we could have been in the quiet countryside when we entered our room at the front of the building overlooking Trinity Shopping centre, as it was so quiet, thanks to the triple glazing! There are 236 bedrooms and eight suites in the hotel and if you reserve one of the executive rooms, you have complimentary access to the private lounge area, situated just off reception.

we afforded a sneak peek into the corporate event space where there are 14 event spaces accommodating between six and 304 people...

Each room boasts a flat screen television, large work desk, high speed Wi-Fi and tea and coffee making facilities. Our room, a standard double, was bright and spacious with lots of storage. The bathroom was a good size and included complimentary toiletries as you would expect of a hotel of this standard. Settled in, we decided to have a wonder around the hotel and

check out the facilities. There is a fitness centre open 24/7 that all guests have access to. There is a large range of equipment including cardiovascular, exercise bikes, rowers and treadmills, all you need after a day sitting behind a desk! Wandering across to the other side of the building, we afforded a sneak peek into the corporate event space where there are 14 event spaces accommodating between six and 304 people. There are also 17 breakout rooms. The Marriott is a great place for business, being in the heart of the city, with plenty of parking at Trinity car park opposite. As well as business, these spaces also offer bespoke wedding packages and prom parties. Back in the room to change for dinner, I had the opportunity to try out the mirrors (well us ladies need to dress using a full-length mirror and have good bathroom lighting for makeup!) There is a full-length mirror opposite the wardrobe, which was positioned FF TopicUK June 2022

well, but I was a little disappointed in the bathroom as I found with such deep counters, the mirrors for my short stature were a little too far away, particularly when applying make-up and putting in contact lenses! Perhaps moveable shaver mirror would have done the trick! Suitably dressed, it was time to head down to The Cast Iron Bar and Grill at the front of the hotel, accessed through reception but also from the street outside as it is open to the public. Nicely settled into a window seat, we found an extensive cocktail menu with a large selection of beers. As it was still early the bar was fairly quiet, but it was a good spot to people watch from the large glass windows. At 7.30 we headed into the restaurant area to be seated at a table of our choice. We were handed the wine / drinks menu and ordered a bottle of Vidal Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand priced at £33.50. Whilst we waited for this to be served, we browsed the extensive menu, all items reasonably priced. For starters, my companion chose the scallops served with sweet potato and pea puree. He said the 5 scallops were

cooked just right. I chose Katsu chicken served with coriander slaw. It was delicious but the portions were huge, so I struggled to finish as I wanted to have room for the other courses. The restaurant is nicely furnished, and tables placed with just enough

space to keep conversations from straying onto others, but it was quiet, perhaps if it had been full it might have been different. Starters cleared away; it was time for the main event. I chose the Cast Iron Burger, a beef patty with bacon, cheese

and fries at £14.50. As a non-cheese eater, I asked for mine without the cheddar and this was no trouble at all. I was shocked at the size of the portion, the burger was huge, I was beginning to think we shouldn’t have ordered the side of sage battered onion rings at £4, but they were delicious, I’m just pleased we didn’t order a portion each! My companion chose the tuna steak, at £18.50 which was also served with fries that he said was perfect. It’s not often I have dessert and was going to decline but I spotted one of my favourites on the menu, so just had to try it. Cold rice pudding made with white chocolate and served with raspberries and meringue. It was delicious, although I did remove the slivers of mint that ran through it, I preferred it without. My companion had chocolate brownie with hot chocolate sauce served with Jude’s vanilla ice cream.

Dinner over, we returned to our room and retired for the evening in a huge bed, that had crisp fresh white linen, meaning I soon drifted off, the blackout curtains ensuring a good night’s sleep. We rose at 8am and headed back to Cast Iron Bar and Grill for breakfast. There was a huge selection available from the self-service counter of fruit and continental, cereal and of course all items to make a full English. Our waitress brought tea, English breakfast and green and we both enjoyed a cooked breakfast with toast. Breakfast over and it was time to pack and leave.

A swift checkout and we were soon standing outside waiting for our taxi. The verdict? We will definitely return. The hotel is central, clean, friendly and worth the money. Plus, for those new to the area, the hotel is not just ideally placed right in the centre of town for shopping, dining, cinemas etc, it is on the doorstep for The Royal Armouries, a selection of golf clubs, Tropical World and Roundhay Park, The Grand Theatre and Leeds Playhouse. 4 Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane, Leeds LS1 6ET TopicUK June 2022

DBX goes for the max By:Graham

Cour tney

Motoring

Correspondent

Aston Martin doesn’t tend to do things by halves. Take this latest DBX for example, the DBX707. Aston reckon this is the fastest, most powerful and best handling DBX so far. Bearing in mind that the ‘standard’ DBX is rapid and handles really well means this 707 model should be stunning to drive. They don’t hold back when it comes to boasting about how good it is. “The World’s most powerful luxury SUV.” And if you are a Formula One fan, you’ll be able to see other Aston

Martin DBX models on a regular basis as they appear as the official safety car at every race. The 707 part of the name refers

to the amount of PS (PS tends to be used in those countries who use metric horsepower…we still largely use bhp which is mechanical horsepower) which the 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 engine develops…. that converts to 697bhp. The car comes with launch capability. This allows you to build the revs…hold the car on

the brakes…and then go for it. 0-60 comes up in 3.3 seconds which will beat just about anything out there. Top speed is 193mph….and don’t forget that this isn’t some sort of lightweight supercar. This is in an SUV which weighs over two tonnes. The clever all-wheel drive system can shift power from axle to axle which means under hard acceleration, every ounce of torque goes to the rear wheels. Handling is kept in check by air suspension. Power goes via a 9-speed auto box. The carbon ceramic brake discs are truly enormous…think of dinner plate size. And no surprise that there’s a plethora of new wings, brake ducts

and air intakes, along with bigger exhaust pipes, new grille and deeper sills. It looks fantastic. The interior is plush to say the least. Probably the best bit though will be the sound it makes. Every Aston Martin V8 or V12 engine produces the most glorious exhaust note. Better make the most of it before these petrol powered muscle cars are killed off in favour of electric propulsion. Prices start at £189,000. TopicUK April 2022

M O T O R I N G U P D AT E

Bentley goes huntin’, shootin’, and fishin’ for sales By:Graham

Cour tney

Motoring

Correspondent

Fancy some envious looks at your next point to point or gymkhana? Want to be admired as you reverse your yacht into a lake? How about making folk drool as you unload your luxury hamper for a tasty picnic while watching a regatta.

Look no further than the Bentley Bentayga. Bentley aficionados were spluttering into their brandy when it was announced that a 4x4 would be joining the Bentley range. It’s now Bentley’s top seller. Needless to say that with so much power on tap, towing a horse box, boat, jet ski or even a caravan, is a doddle. This is peerless motoring at its best. Don’t be fooled by the fact that this is a Bentley. It’s not all about style and no substance. The Bentayga is a serious 4x4 and will happily scramble across boggy fields and rutted lanes (mind the brambles...a paint touchup will cost a fortune). We shan’t list the standard equipment….let’s just say there’s everything you’re likely to ever need. The interior is a work of art. The school run will move onto another level! And despite the size, the Bentley Bentayga is wonderful to drive. Sounds fab too. Bentley are also masters at creating special editions. They’re usually

crafted by the bespoke Mulliner arm of the company. Take this latest one for example. It’s the Bentley Outdoor Pursuits Collection. There are three models following equestrian, fishing and canine themes which, Bentley informs us, is because three of our favourite activities are angling, horse riding and dog walking. The leather seats get an embroidered woodland scene while the veneer fascia gets an inlay which features either a jumping horse motif, a fly-fishing scene, foxhounds or just the word ‘Mulliner’. Power comes from a 4.0 litre 548 bhp V8 petrol engine. 0-60 in 4.5 seconds… top speed 180mph. You’ll manage around 21mpg…just. And don’t expect to get a lot of change from £200,000. This is a true continental express that is equally happy trundling along towing a horse box. British craftsmanship doesn’t get any better.

TopicUK April 2022

Youbee Media s ma l l business b r ing s the sw eet t ast e of success

“Finding the right marketing agency for your business is just like finding a comfy pair of jeans or choosing from an extensive restaurant menu – there’s no ‘one size fits all’ and it’s actually great to have a choice” explains Youbee Media Director, Rebecca Hopwood.

In this ever-growing digital age, we’re surrounded by choice. You can consult Google (or other search engine), find content on social media, pick up a business magazine (like Topic UK!) or go by word-of-mouth referrals – but the range of results and options is vast. Leeds-based agency owner Rebecca speaks about why she’s proud to sit amongst the small, local businesses and focus on the special advantages that are unique to small teams. “At Youbee Media we work as your outsourced marketing team. We’re perfect for those businesses that don’t have the time or resources to run their marketing in house, and we work really closely with businesses to ensure that they know our team, know who we are

and where our expertise lies.” Morley-based Youbee Media are a team of three and have chosen to work with strategic partners to add more value in PR, strategy, websites and branding. “An advantage of working with Youbee Media is that we’re able to get to know your business well and understand your pain points. We’re able to make recommendations, be agile in our approach and find out exactly what your business needs.” explains Rebecca. Youbee Media work alongside over 20 brands, helping them to increase sales, profitability, brand awareness and reach their objectives. In less than 2 years, Youbee Media have grown their

size, profile and client base. In 2021, Youbee Media were awarded ‘Marketing Consultancy of the Year’ for Yorkshire in the Prestige Awards and have been nominated in the upcoming Yorkshire Choice Awards. Rebecca feels that the business’s success is down to ‘doing things right’ and says “We’re all about working hard, doing a great job and adding value to the clients that we work with. It’s in our interest to see their business grow and know that their success is in part, due to our advice or support. Youbee Media are a close-knit team with a collaborative mindset, combining their extensive skills and experience with those of their clients. They’ve been busy making ‘Youbee Lemonade’ and proudly stand by the strapline ‘Creative solutions, creating results’.

JCT600 achieves international recognition from Rolls-Royce was attended by 250 colleagues and presented in person after two years of virtual events. JCT600 was represented at the awards by managing director Richard Hargraves; specialist brand director Tom Armstrong; and head of business for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Leeds Kristian Keighley.

Bradford-based business JCT600 has once again been recognised in prestigious automotive industry awards, this time becoming the only European retailer to win one of the annual World Dealer Awards from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars which celebrate outstanding contributions and achievements by dealers from across its international network during the past year.

Covering a range of categories related to business performance, brand communications and customer service, the awards celebrated the success of JCT600’s Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Leeds in championing the marque’s exclusive ownerso n l y s e r v i c e , W h i s p e r s. T h e virtual members club connects the vast network of global RollsRoyce owners, giving them access to the most memorable events, performances and occasions as well as enabling them to make unique connections with a select circle of other owners. Having attended a dedicated training event in Barcelona when Whispers first launched, the sales team at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Leeds felt invested in promoting the service from the outset. In fact, their early

engagement led to them being part of the initial roll-out, meaning their customers had access to Whispers before those of other dealerships. The team proactively communicated with existing customers about Whispe rs, including se nding personalised emails to service customers to introduce and promote the Whispers app. The winning dealerships were announced at the Annual World Dealer Conference in Goodwood, the home of Rolls-Royce, which

Tom comments: “To be the only automotive retailer from the whole of Europe recognised in these coveted awards from one of the world’s iconic luxury car marques is an amazing achievement. Having established a new home for Rolls-Royce in Leeds just three years ago, we are proud to be building a strong relationship with them and helping to provide an exceptional service to customers.” He continues: “Our team at Rolls-Royce Motors Leeds has demonstrated their commitment and passion for the brand, working hard to consistently deliver an outstanding ownership experience. Congratulations to every one of them.” Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “It is impossible to overstate the importance of our dealer partners, and the contribution they make to our business as part of our worldwide Rolls-Royce family. In countries around the world, they apply their unique local knowledge, unrivalled experience and professional expertise to foster deep, lasting relationships with our customers, and provide the exemplary individual service for which we have always been renowned. I am delighted to be able to present these awards in person: my sincere thanks and congratulations to all our worthy winners.” TopicUK April 2022