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Aravis Business Growth Ltd

Ascendant – Worldwide Payments Build Momentum Ltd

Cambridge Worldwide Academy (UK) Cheese +

CyberScale Ltd DowSocial Ltd

Endomagnetics Ltd (Endomag) Holiday Inn Express Cambridge West Cambourne Jigowatt Ltd Park Inn by Raddison Peterborough Peterborough United Photocentric Ltd

Rapid Solutions (International) Ltd Redwood Bank Ltd

Sherwood Engines Ltd SimSage (UK) Ltd St Peter’s School

Stageworks Studios Ltd Subcon5 Ltd

The Hair & Beauty Room Oundle Ltd The One Group The Scale Partnership

CyberScale Ltd

CyberScale are a specialist Cyber and Information Security business providing both consultancy and training services to businesses across the UK. Whether you are looking for an assessment of your cyber security position, are developing a cyber and information security strategy or are looking to train your teams to better protect your business, our team of experienced consultants work in a range of sectors from finance, legal and healthcare to manufacturing, aerospace and housing. You can find out more on our website www.cyberscale.co.uk.

The Hair & Beauty Room Oundle

Set in the heart of the beautiful market town Oundle, The Hair & Beauty room is a peaceful, calm and friendly salon offering a huge variety of Hair and Beauty services, including Wedding Hair and Make Up. www.thebeautyroomoundle.co.uk

A global leader in making payments easy

Ascendant is a cross border payment specialist, supporting businesses to achieve process efficiencies and reduce the cost of foreign exchange. Working directly with business owners and their finance teams our solutions support importers, exporters, SME’s and large enterprises. Your Account Manager is on hand to provide expert market guidance and set up our service to effortlessly send single, multiple or many thousands of payments through aPay by Ascendant. www.ascendant.world/uk

Stageworks Studios Ltd

Whether you want to try a new class, train full-time or watch a show, there is something for everyone at Stageworks Studios. Founded in 2003 and based in St Neots, we offer a varied timetable of dancing, singing and acting classes for children from age three and adults. We also offer full-time courses for those 16+ who are interested in a career in performing arts. www.stageworksstudio.co.uk

Connections Legal Management (CLM), established by Laura Wilson in 2014, act on behalf of statutory undertakers, connection providers and private landowners. They manage the negotiation and legal completion of easements, land acquisitions, wayleaves, and consents, associated with new electricity, gas and water connections. Last year, Laura was awarded Businessperson of the Year at the Mercury Business Awards. CLM won Small Business of the Year in 2020, and this year are finalists for Team of the Year at the first ever Great British Wellbeing Awards being held in London, with fellow finalists including Royal Mail, Bank of England Nokia, and The British Academy. We wanted to find out more about Connections Legal Management and how they deliver the difference by simplifying land rights.

LAURA, CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CAREER?

On leaving school and studying law at college, I worked full time whilst ‘training on the job’ to become an Easement Officer. I then completed my Estate Management degree at The College of Estate Management and was then promoted to Senior Easement Officer. My career took me to Savills, where I became their Capital Programme Assistant. Recognising a gap in the legal market I carved a role for myself as New Connections Manager, responsible for managing the new connections business within the utility team and working with electricity and gas connection providers to procure the legal rights. I recognised my extensive skills in negotiation and background in feasibility studies, land acquisition and lease administration to start CLM in 2014. I am so fortunate to work with my husband, Hamish is also a CLM director. We have two wonderful daughters, who have also taught me so much already; largely that there is no better negotiator than a child at bedtime!

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR CAREER?

Pre Covid saw me on the road a lot, visiting clients; established and new. Nowadays, I am either in the office or ‘visiting’ clients via Teams. We have moved our training online which has been a huge success, however we are very excited about returning to faceto-face meetings in 2022. My office days are spent catching up on conference calls, emails and with my team in Ketton. When I started in Land Rights my days were typically very varied and busy. I have worked across many areas of the utility sector allowing me to build up a solid foundation of understanding and contacts. It was invaluable experience to glean the knowledge I required to start CLM and focus on the legal element of Land Rights. Last year, our business strategy was to develop our growing team, so training and 1-2-1 mentoring was a real focus for me; ensuring knowledge gaps were filled and valuable experience was gained. There is a healthy amount of solution-finding and guiding teams in their operations and delivery. Business development and onboarding is always pinnacle, as we consistently attract new clients and are providing specialist advice to the EV and low carbon technology industry. I also am involved with external organisations in my roles as a panellist on the SSEN Expert Panel, becoming a UCEM Associate Fellow and being selected by the City of London Law Society to sit on the Substation Lease review panel. Understandably this role requires a great deal of knowledge and carries a huge amount of responsibility - something I am very proud to be part of.

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER/INDUSTRY?

It started with studying Law at college. I have a naturally analytical mind and was considering a career in forensic pathology. By keeping an open mind and accepting exciting opportunities Land Rights found me!

HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW, AND DID YOU FACE ANY CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY?

With determination! There have been many challenges, from how to incorporate a company, through to how to set up a phone and email system, however, I pride myself on knowing my limits. When a challenge has arisen, I’ve stopped, consulted with someone who knows and moved forward with care. Within our company we have aligned ourselves with some brilliant local suppliers; VOIP specialists, IT experts, solicitors etc. and having them supporting us means we can concentrate on our specialism; completing land right agreements!

WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE THAT YOU FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT IN YOUR ROLE?

I am passionate about investing in people to build their careers. I feel incredibly fortunate to have carved a career and build a business in the Land Rights industry. It is not an obvious career choice as so little information is out there about where to start and what to study. CLM now employs a team of 16 people, and I am committed to helping them get the best from themselves and what the industry has to offer. We work with some outstanding clients who are committed to best service; in turn we can deliver projects efficiently. By investing in the team, CLM can provide the very best customer service. It is at the heart of what we do and the reason we are here. It makes me so proud to receive positive feedback about the team and their second to none service. 01780755355 referrals@clm-ltd.co.uk www.clm-ltd.co.uk

Meet Laura Wilson