Black Country Business Magazine Autumn 2023

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INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY NEEDED

PU B L I S H ED BY

BRIGHT FUTURE FOR SILVAMAN

NEW VISION FOR WALSALL

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CONTENTS

3

EDITOR’S WELCOME

CYBERSECURITY EXPERTS CONCERO TECHNOLOGY - P16-18

Welcome to the autumn edition of Black Country Business It has been another tough year for the business community in this area, but many of the firms we feature continue to display great innovation and deliver growth and vital new jobs.

Investment is still taking place and there has been good news on infrastructure development, including an extension to the West Midlands Metro in Wolverhampton.

The next General Election is fast coming up on the rails and it is going to be hugely important for the voice of Black Country industry to be listened to by whoever wins.

THE TEAM EDITORIAL JOHN CORSER 01902 319481 john.corser@mnamedia.co.uk SALES PETE HAZEL 01902 319589 pete.hazel@mnamedia.co.uk PUBLISHED BY MIDLAND NEWS ASSOCIATION 51-53 QUEEN STREET, WOLVERHAMPTON WV1 1ES PRINTED BY PRECISION COLOUR PRINTING HALESFIELD, TELFORD TF7 4QQ

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4

NEWS

SHEVAUN HAVILAND, LEFT, SARAH MOORHOUSE AND GAIL ARNOLD, RIGHT

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY IS NEEDED SAYS CHAMBERS The Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce spoke of the frustration of not having an industrial strategy for the country on a visit to the Black Country.

Shevaun Haviland was guest speaker at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce’s annual leaders’ lunch.

She said that chambers had been looking for some time for the Government to put in place a long term economic strategy.

“Such a long term plan is something we are not going to get before the general election,” she warned.

She told guests at the Mercure Birmingham West Hotel in West Bromwich that chambers of commerce were fundamental to the UK’s business agenda.

The BCC, formed in 1860 now takes in 53 chambers and

60,000 members in the UK. “With a rapidly approaching general election it has never been a more important time for the business voice to be heard,” she stressed.

On the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2 from Birmingham, Ms Haviland said: “Some of the things the Government has announced recently seem to be about winning a general election rather than driving the economy.”

“HS2 is about adding capacity so existing lines can take more freight and get lorries off the road.”

She said the entire chambers network had been united in wanting to see the full project delivered to improve the UK’s infrastructure.

She said the Government was engaging with chambers but they were not seeing enough action.

“The Labour Party is holding its policies and they are coming out in stages.

What we have heard from Keir Starmer have been good things about a partnership with business.”

Ms Haviland, who has been in post for two-and-a-half years, said recruitment was the number one thing holding

TIMES ARE TOUGH FOR BUSINESS

business back currently.

She said 70 per cent of businesses were having trouble finding enough people

and people with the right skills.

Chamber chief executive Sarah Moorhouse, who has just marked her first year in office, told guests: “Times are tough for business.”

She said that chamber members were in a time of great change including the aftermath of Brexit and the transition to net zero.

She warned that the future would continue to be challenging with issues like the struggle to recruit enough skilled staff. She said the Business Commission West Midlands was laying out a road map for growth.

“It is time for a fundamental re-set in what local businesses need to fulfill their growth potential.

“Business Commission West Midlands will give a meaningful voice for our local business community,” she added.

NEWS

CLEANERS CELEBRATIONS There has been a double celebration for family firm Lawrence Cleaning this year as the growing business marked its 40th anniversary and also announced the appointment of its new managing director.

The family-run business, now based in Himley Road, Dudley, has enjoyed success over the last four decades working with a wide range of businesses across the Black Country.

This includes Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club, as well as dozens of schools, doctors’ surgeries, factories and offices across the area and wider West Midlands.

Lawrence Cleaning also

makes sure that every station along the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire and Shropshire is kept sparkling clean and always ready for visitors.

The company’s new managing director is Alex Lawrence.

He said it was an exciting time for the company, which he has seen flourish throughout his life.

“It is an absolute honour to take on this role at such an important time for our company,” he said.

“My grandmother started Lawrence Cleaning 40 years ago with the aim of providing superior cleaning services to businesses across the Black Country and beyond, and I’m proud to continue that

incredible legacy,” added Mr Lawrence.

“Our focus has always been on our staff, who are our most valuable asset. Our cleaners are local, well-trained people, working at local companies.

“They are a fantastic team who are dedicated to delivering outstanding results every time – something we take tremendous pride in,” he said.

The business was started in 1983 by Winnie Lawrence who won a number of lucrative contracts thanks to her focus on building close relationships with clients and always maintaining the highest standards.

This is something that has been maintained over the last four decades as her son

Paul took over as managing director when he bought the business in 2001 working with his wife Debra, who is the sales director for Lawrence Cleaning.

Alex joined the company 13 years ago and took over as managing director this year.

Lawrence Cleaning is now one of the leading providers of commercial cleaning services in the West Midlands.

“I am very excited about what this next chapter holds for us at Lawrence Cleaning,” said Alex.

“I’m looking forward to building on the success of the last four decades, and working with the talented team to continue to grow and thrive in this ever-changing industry,” he enthused.

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS NEXT CHAPTER HOLDS FOR US AT LAWRENCE CLEANING

METRO NETWORK IS BACK ON TRACK After years of delays and challenges, the Metro extension to Wolverhampton Railway Station is now in use.

The city centre extension has created two new tram stops, at Pipers Row and Wolverhampton Railway Station, via a new 720-metre route from St George’s.

The new section had originally been due to be completed in 2019.

It finally started operation in September.

Sophie Allison, managing director of West Midlands Metro, said of the extension: “It’s fantastic. It’s great for the

people of Wolverhampton and the wider West Midlands.

“By connecting the Metro to two fantastic interchanges – the train station and the bus station – they’ll have an opportunity to connect with the wider transport network, so it’s really good news.”

A £1 billion pot being made available for West Midland transport projects after the HS2 axe will ensure the Metro network reaches Merry Hill and Brierley Hill.

The Wednesbury-Brierley Hill tram link was originally due to open in its entirety this year, but rising costs led

to it being broken down into phases, with the first section, from Wednesbury to Dudley, due to open next year.

Funding has now been secured for a second line, to the Waterfront business park in Brierley Hill, Dudley Council will fund a third stretch, which will connect to the Merry Hill shopping centre.

The Metro extension in Wolverhampton has seen its £35 million budget balloon to around £50m. The project was first delayed by 18 months due to construction work at the railway station.

Metro bosses then hoped the extension would be ready for the Commonwealth Games last July but pushed back the opening date until autumn 2022.

Last October the project was again pushed back to Spring 2023, which was missed.

The development was led by Transport for West Midlands, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, working with construction and design partner Midland Metro Alliance, operator Midland Metro Ltd and Wolverhampton Council.

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NEWS

7

GREGG IS NAMED IN LDC TOP 50 The chief executive of training provider Realise has been named as one of the country’s most successful and forward-thinking business leaders after steering the company to exceptional growth.

Dudley-born Gregg Scott, who heads up the thriving Realise operation, is listed in The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2023.

Created by trusted investment partner LDC – part of Lloyds Banking Group and supported

by The Times – The LDC Top 50 champions the business leaders who are pushing for growth and building successful medium-sized businesses.

Gregg said: “I am thrilled and honoured to be named in this prestigious list. I have met many of the other business leaders recognised

by LDC and they are of a very high calibre and many have been an inspiration to my own career.

“But this accolade and the success of Realise is not just about me – it’s down to the incredible people we have who work every day to provide first-in-class training across the

whole country. We have no intention of resting on our laurels and have plans for further growth and expansion in the years to come, delivering huge benefits for people looking to train and progress their careers.”

Formed as an independent business in October 2020 following a management buyout of Interserve Learning & Employment, Sheffieldbased Realise has enjoyed a dramatic rise to firmly establish itself as one of the UK’s leading training providers inside just three years.

Realise now provides apprenticeship and training provision to more than 10,000 learners a year across the UK, working in partnership with major brands in specialist sectors on apprenticeship programmes and alongside key strategic Combined Authorities to deliver both traditional and innovative Adult Education courses.

With more than 200 trainer assessors across the UK, Realise delivers a wide range of courses including in early years, bus driving, English and maths functional skills, health and social care and hair and barbering.

Under Gregg’s leadership, annual revenue and profits have been strong.

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8

NEWS

RECYCLING PLANT IS LICENCED British battery recycling business Recyclus Group has been fully licenced to process 22,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries each year – equivalent to more than 48,000 electric vehicle batteries – at its LiBatt facility in Wolverhampton, the UK’s first industrial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling centre.

LiBatt opened its doors in July and has successfully completed its commissioning phase.

Bulk liquid nitrogen tanks have recently been installed to facilitate continuous processing and the facility can now operate at scale.

The business is forecasting 8,300 tonnes of batteries will be recovered in year one alone with plans to scale up to three shifts by 2025, enabling fulfilment of its 22,000-tonne licensed capacity.

The battery recycling facility is compatible with all lithium-ion battery chemistries and can also process lithium metal – believed to be the first industrial-scale plant in Europe with this capability.

Recyclus Group has developed a clean, low energy, low carbon recycling process. Its

industry-leading, automated dry shredding process creates a non-volatile environment that supresses fire and explosion. The process extracts the electrolyte and then ferrous metals are separated from non-ferrous using magnetic energy. Further refinement in a secondary shredder ensures the high-quality recovery of black mass consists of significant amounts of lithium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel metals. These materials can then be separated and resold to processing partners for the remanufacturing of lithium-ion batteries.

Robin Brundle, director and co-founder of Recyclus Group, said “Having successfully completed the commissioning phase, we are now able to commence commercial operations which represents a significant step towards the realisation of our planned processing rate.

By using cutting-edge recycling solutions at our facility, we aim to tackle the challenge of spent batteries, playing a pivotal role in the electrification transition and forging a sustainable circular economy in the UK.” The site is also able to provide storage for up to 100 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries.

Recyclus Group was founded in 2019 to lead the creation of a sustainable circular economy for battery materials.

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9

TRAINING

NEIL THOMAS DUDLEY COLLEGE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND PRINCIPAL

GOODBYE TO AN OLD FRIEND – WELCOME MY NEW BESTIE For those of you who have travelled by Castle Hill in Dudley town centre recently, you will have seen that the site on which the Hippodrome once stood is now a development site for the creation of a new community health facility – whose working name is Health Innovation Dudley.

The development of the site was a big decision by DMBC (Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council), and it is a matter of public record that many people fought to find a way to reinstate the Hippodrome to its former glory since it fell into disrepair over the years.

There was a great deal of affection for the building, which I shared, having lived in Dudley all of my life.

This affection was no better expressed than by someone who painted the phrase “Goodbye Old Friend” on the awnings surrounding the site – in a tribute to the good times they shared.

But friends part ways and the friendships of our youth give way to those of later life, and that is what I believe now lies ahead for the residents of the local area.

The new £25 million

Health Innovation Dudley facility will provide a stateof-the-art environment in which local residents can access programmes centred around health care and allied professions, including nursing, midwifery, paramedic science and related health occupations.

However, this is far more than a higher education facility. The design of the centre will also provide access to community facilities, fostering preventative health care and community closeness. It will be a true partnership with our local NHS trust to provide the training facility they need to support their current workforce development. Plus, it will prioritise opening up access to local people to engage in training and careers through flexible and supportive delivery models.

An objective of the new facility is also to train existing clinal staff in the use of new technologies.

Systems such as Smots which have become a standard system for the medical sector in recording, playback and review of medical procedures will be available and staff will be trained how to use the new technologies to improve their

own competence and as a result patient care.

The recently published Dudley Health and Wellbeing strategy 2023-2028 sets out how Dudley can become a place where everyone can live “longer, safer, healthier lives” an aspiration we surely all share in and want to bring about.

That is why, as the chief executive of Dudley College of Technology I am pleased to be working alongside the University of Worcester in the development of Health Innovation Dudley.

The vision for the centre is to allow local people to gain the high-quality training they need to build careers in a range of health sectors without them having to travel further afield, thereby ensuring the NHS has the skilled workforce to meet the health needs of a population living longer and demanding a quality of life not just a length to life.

I see this as an exciting time, where the goals of the “Health and Wellbeing” strategy can become a reality, with the clear vision and execution of that vision. We may be saying goodbye to an old friend but creating many more years in which to make new ones.

To find out more about Dudley College of Technology visit https://www.dudleycol.ac.uk/

10

FEATURE

lMore than a quarter of businesses in the West Midlands have failed to implement a risk assessment policy.

Small and medium-sized firms are being urged to complete a risk assessment, but new research from insurer Hiscox found that more than a quarter in the region have no policy in place.

Hiscox surveyed 1,500 business owners and decision makers to determine how SMEs in the UK treat risks to the public.

Its inaugural Risk Readiness Report revealerd that 51 per cent of businesses in the West Midlands do not provide health and safety information such as posters and leaflets and 66 per cent do not provide employees with annual health and safety training either. Businesses which do not implement a risk assessment, provide appropriate signage or offer regular health and safety training risk breaking the law and could pose a higher risk to employees and customers.

The report also reveals that 23 per cent of business leaders and decision makers in the regionds do not consider health and safety a priority.

Marketing communications agency Plum Ideas welcomed Dudley South MP Mike Wood to its premises to discuss future plans as the business celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The visit took place at Plum Ideas’ offices at the Glass Museum in Wordsley.

It allowed the team at the creative agency to share their success story and growth projections with Mr Wood.

Director Brendan O’Dea gave Mr Wood an overview.

SPILLARD SAFETY SYSTEMS HAS A NEW FACTORY

SPILLARD HAVE BIG AMBITIONS AFTER £200K INVESTMENT One of the West Midlands’ fastest growing manufacturers has invested more than £200,000 into new headquarters in Four Ashes, near Wolverhampton

Spillard Safety Systems, which supplies safety equipment for the commercial vehicle, construction, HS2, plant and quarry sectors, has moved into the 28,500 sq ft facility – treble the size of its former site.

The company’s ‘Safety Hub’ now has more warehousing space, a dedicated research and 3evelopment unit for product development and an eight-bay commercial vehicle workshop that will cater for a 30 per cent increase in installs scheduled for this year.

Led by brothers Pete and Craig Spillard, the business has also just pressed the button on a major recruitment drive that will see it look to employ a further 12 engineers and three additional apprentices.

“Our new HQ was something we had been planning for two years and, when the opportunity came to purchase the building opposite our previous base, it was too good to turn down,” explained managing director Pete. “We stripped the building back to its shell and then set about designing it exactly how we wanted it, with a dedicated sales office, larger assembly space, more room for research and development and then the expansive workshop area that means we can do more installs and more demonstrations of our technology.

“Importantly, we have also invested in creating a new training school that has space for 20 people to learn a combination of theory and then hands-on practical workshop experience. This is critical for developing the next generation of engineers and, potentially, in training up staff from our customers.”

Spillard Safety Systems has built on a record year in

2022 by increasing sales by a further 25 per cent. Growth has been driven by the roll-out of new breakthrough technologies to reduce accidents and fatalities, as well as delivering improved operational performance.

The company’sAI Human Detection System has been introduced has been an instant hit, replacing traditional systems by simply identifying humans through their shape, form, and characteristics.

It delivers audible and visual alerts when a person enters a predetermined restricted, exclusion zone. The success of this introduction was mirrored with the as well as the launch of Spillard Live, an intuitive cloud-based platform that captures and streams real time video and analytics from multiple cameras.

AF Blakemore, Lomas Distribution and Flannery Plant Hire have already signed up to the technology, joining over 300 other companies and 12,000 vehicles connected to the solution.

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12

NEWS

WAREHOUSE SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL Pallet Trucks UK, a prominent provider of material handling equipment, is issuing a crucial reminder to warehouse and logistics professionals: prioritise equipment maintenance as winter approaches.

With the impending colder months and the potential for increased employee absences due to illness, safeguarding the wellbeing of employees is paramount.

Pallet Trucks UK in Kingswinford offers a comprehensive range of pallet trucks, such as regular hand pallet trucks, high-lift pallet trucks, and weighing scale trucks. Pallet trucks serve as indispensable tools in the daily operations of warehouses, streamlining the movement of goods and materials, thus enhancing efficiency and productivity. Nevertheless, due to their continuous use, pallet trucks are susceptible to wear and tear. Neglecting their maintenance can lead to safety hazards for both equipment operators and the broader workforce.

Phil Chesworth, managing director of Pallet Trucks UK,

said: “Ensuring pallet truck maintenance is not merely about extending their lifespan; it is a fundamental safety requirement. If businesses neglect maintenance, they run the danger of increased safety risks, decreased operational efficiency, and ultimately, higher financial costs in the long run”.

Consistent maintenance checks, carrying out repairs, and proactively servicing guarantee that pallet trucks function optimally reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.

STEVE’S NEW BOOK AIDS HEART CHARITY A Walsall business owner, who hosted a successful podcast interviewing leading entrepreneurs, has published his third book to help people on their own journey to success.

The Guestlist by Steve Guest, managing director of Walsall-based S Guest Consulting Services – a specialist recruitment business for the construction sector, is based on 12 of his most-listened-to interviews of the same-named podcast.

All profits from the book are to be donated to the British Heart Foundation.

“In 2004, I lost my dad, Terry, to a heart attack,” said Steve, who became known as an ‘accidental global mentor’ when he supported furloughed recruiters worldwide during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020.

“He was 61 and it happened so quickly that it was a real shock. He went to hospital, not feeling well, and was taken for a routine procedure. When he was there, he suffered a massive heart attack.

“I will never forget the silence and devastation that filled the waiting room as the doctor came back in to tell us that our dad had sadly passed away. We were crushed.

“As a family we have a history of heart-related issues: my brother was born with a hole in his heart and

BUSINESSMAN AND AUTHOR STEVE GUEST

I take medication for blood pressure and cholesterol. My father-in-law suffered a heart attack some years ago and a close school friend had a heart attack last year at just 43. When I put this book together, I had no hesitation about using the proceeds from it to support the BHF and I want to raise as much money for this great charity as possible.”

The Guestlist features interviews with well-known and respected global entrepreneurs in areas such as property, recruitment and property.

They include The Apprentice contestant Michaela Wain, who runs a successful construction company; Chris O’Connell who built a £25 million recruitment business and lost it all before building himself back up, and Jo Britton, an award-winning performance and leadership coach.

Steve has already published two books, A Personal Brand Story and Top Biller – The Life of a Recruiter, which was published in 2019 and has sold 25,000 copies in 70 countries and remains an Amazon best seller.

LAW FIRM KEEPS PLACE AT TOP Wolverhampton law firm FBC Manby Bowdler is celebrating after receiving global recognition for its expertise in advising wealthy clients.

The international Chambers High Net Worth Guide has recognised the excellent customer service provided to clients from the awardwinning firm’s solicitors and the quality of advice.

The FBC Manby Bowdler team that covers Wolverhampton and Black Country has, for the first time, been awarded the highest possible Band 1 ranking in the private wealth category of the guide, notably praised for being “a superb team covering all aspects of the law”.

Several FBC Manby Bowdler’s lawyers have

been individually recognised in the guide. Christina Polychronakis, a partner in the wills, probate and lifetime planning team in the Wolverhampton office, has earned a Band 1 ranking.

Her Wolverhampton-based colleague Michelle MonnesThomas, who heads up the community care team, was named as ‘up and coming’ for a second year.

FEATURE

13

MAPPING OUT THE JOURNEY

I

n a meeting room in the centre of Wolverhampton, one wall is entirely covered in colourful post-it notes, aligned in columns and each containing a key word or phrase.

The wall maps out the whole journey a Paycare Policyholder will go on – from enquiring about a health cash plan, to signing up, to their first claim, and far beyond.

Because, as the not-forprofit approaches its 150th anniversary, the team has gone above and beyond their usual review, reflect and refine process to really dig down into every single element of their work, highlighting where any streamlining or adaptations could help improve their already stellar reputation among their customers – but also using the opportunity to ensure good practice is recognised and formalised into their working policies.

The process was prompted by the introduction of The Consumer Duty by the Financial Conduct Authority, which requires regulated organisations such as Paycare to ensure good outcomes for customers.

Put together following a comprehensive review

of financial services, The Consumer Duty is designed to ensure people receive communications they can understand; products and services which meet their needs and offer fair value; and customer service when and how they need it.

But alongside ensuring all of their processes and offerings were compliant with the Duty, the Paycare team decided to go above and beyond, explains operations director Nicola Mumford.

“Our simple overarching mission is to make the UK healthier and happier, so when it came to ensuring compliance with all of the elements of the FCA’s new rules – the second stage of which came into place at the end of July 2023 – we wanted to incorporate that work into a much wider project.

“Every single team has been involved in the process, mapping out the parts of the customer journey which they’re responsible for, and ensuring that every aspect of that journey is as simple, clear and effective as it can be. Our customer satisfaction levels are consistently very high and for every £1 of Policyholder income, on average we pay 75p back in claims and other wellbeing services

like MyPocketGP (which customers have unlimited access to), but we never want to become complacent.

There are always ways to improve – and it’s with this in mind that we’ve analysed every single step in the customer journey, in addition to ensuring we comply with the consumer duty.”

Some of the work may not be immediately noticeable to Policyholders – as it’s simplified processes undertaken at Paycare House or within the online systems used to pay out claims, giving

customers cash back on everyday health costs such as their optical or dental appointments, diagnostic tests, or physiotherapy. But other changes will be more imminently noticeable.

Customer improvements lead Rebecca Lister explained: “We’ve looked at all of our Policy Documents because we want them to act as a guide so policyholders can get the most out of their plan.

PAYCARE’S ANTHONY BURNS AND STEPHEN BURTON-PYE DISCUSS THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY PROJECT

PRAISE FOR STEPS TO WORK’S ROLE Employment support specialists Steps To Work welcomed the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to its head office in Walsall.

Simon Foster, who oversees policing across the region, met with Steps To Work’s chief executive Professor Paul Cadman and chief operating officer Ayesha Rees to discuss its range of initiatives and learn about the support that the charity and its recruitment arm Starting Point Recruitment offers to communities in Walsall and the wider area.

During his visit, Mr Foster also met with members of the team and spoke to those who had themselves benefitted from the support services that Steps To Work and SPR provide.

Over the last five years, STW has supported 47,983 local unemployed residents across the West Midlands to build their confidence, gain new skills, face their challenges, and ultimately obtain secure employment.

Last year the charity supported more than 1,000 people into employment across a range of sectors.

During the meeting, Mr Foster learnt how the organisation is supporting West Midlands residents to gain vital skills needed for employment, helping to break the cycle of unemployment and poverty for many. This includes the Steps To Work Community Hub, situated in Pleck, which provides up to 600 meals a week for up to 80 local families.

Mr Foster said: “It was a privilege to visit Steps To Work and Starting Point Recruitment in Walsall and witness firsthand the remarkable work being done by their teams.

By working in partnership, these organisations play a crucial role in helping local people find employment and contribute to the overall development of the region” Professor Cadman said: “We were delighted to welcome Simon Foster to our office in Walsall.

“The support of community leaders like Mr. Foster is invaluable in enabling us to continue providing vital services to local communities and the unemployed.

“Together, we can create lasting change and transform lives for the better.”

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

15

RECORD YEAR FOR FAST GROWING JJX

JJX HAS ADDED THE FIRST ELECTRIC VAN TO ITS FLEET THIS YEAR

2023 has been a record year for JJX Logistics with the impressive growth showing no signs of stopping for the Kingswinford-based transport and warehouse company.

Now into its 26th year since being founded by current managing director John Donovan, the industry leaders in the dangerous goods sector have seen steady growth across their operations over the last 12 months.

This has been spearheaded by the development of a European delivery network.

Following on from their nomination for Business of the Year at the annual Express & Star Business Awards earlier in the year, JJX are once again in the running for three awards at the upcoming Black Country Chamber

of Commerce business awards event, including for Excellence in International Trade.

“The demand for our services across mainland Europe have more than doubled from this time last year and now make up nearly 30 per cent of our overall turnover.” explains Mr Donovan.

“The start of the year saw us introduce daily delivery routes through both France and Germany with more currently in the pipeline.

“We are delighted to have also brought in a new European transport manager last month who brings with her over 20 years of experience working in logistics.”

JJX, based at Third Avenue on The Pensnett Estate, is also a finalist for the Business Commitment to the Community award, something described as “one of the proudest achievements in our history if we win”.

This comes off the back of a

year that has seen the company’s existing community ties further developed with support for several youth groups and sports clubs in the region.

JJX has also been busy supporting carnivals up and down the Black Country with its smartly branded fleet of heavy goods vehicles.

The Black Country logisitics business has also seen a lot of growth off the road as well over the last year.

It successfully gained Customs bonded status on its 175,000 sq ft Kingswinford warehouse back in 2022 and is now in the process of going one step further to gain Excise approval, with the full support from the team at the Bonded Warehousekeepers’ Association.

Celebrating its 10th year of association with the Transported Asset Protection Association,

the leading industry organisation for supply chain resilience and security professionals, JJX Logistics became one of only nine companies across the UK that hold a TAPA TSR-1 certification for transport operations.

It is the highest available industry standard for vehicle security.

With heavy re-investment modernising their existing fleet not only to increase security solutions but also in line with their new corporate sustainability pledge – something that is already bearing fruit with the company’s Quarter Three 2023 Sustainability Report showing a decrease in its carbon emissions by 17 per cent – also saw the introduction of the growing company’s first all-electric vehicle in August.

There are plans in place for it to become the first of many EVs on the road for JJX in 2024.

16

INTERVIEW

SAFEGUARD YOUR BUSINESS WITH TRUSTWORTHY EXPERTISE Let us introduce you to Concero Technology, an organisation empowering businesses across the UK with tailored technology services, support, and solutions. Tom Gee and Josh Sadler explain its mission.

INTERVIEW

In a world where digital assets are the lifeblood of businesses, cybersecurity takes centre stage. The stakes are high, and protecting your company’s sensitive data and operations is not an option but a necessity.

Meet Concero Technology, a new venture from Wolverhampton’s Concero UK, committed to ensuring that business IT environments are safe, secure and compliant.

The exclusive Cyber Security Eyesight report is at the heart of our cybersecurity

offering to businesses of all sizes across the UK. Our dedicated team works with several businesses in various regions of England and Wales, supporting them to create a secure and trustworthy digital environment, enabling modern organisations to thrive and grow. What sets our Cyber Security Eyesight report apart is its role in identifying vulnerabilities and potential security threats – allowing us to act before it’s too late.

Tom Gee, one of our customer experience managers and business lead, explains: “Our eyesight report isn’t just another document; it’s our roadmap to collaborate

OUR EYESIGHT REPORT ISN’T JUST ANOTHER DOCUMENT; IT’S OUR ROADMAP TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU IN SECURING YOUR BUSINESS with you in securing your business.”

We are firm believers in the power of partnerships, and that’s why we’ve partnered with Ingram Micro, a globally

recognised Microsoft license reseller, to assist in preparing these invaluable reports.

Concero UK, our parent company, has 15 years of excellence in the education sector and employs 44 dedicated professionals.

With the launch of Concero Technology, we’re leveraging the extensive experience gained from working with schools and Multi Academy Trusts to provide the same level of support and value to businesses.

Tom elaborates on how we’ve adapted a proven education model for businesses, saying: “We’ve taken what worked for multi-

18

INTERVIEW

academy trusts and brought it to the business world.”

Josh Sadler, technical lead for business, adds: “Today, work can happen from anywhere, but many businesses are unaware of potential cyber threats due to insufficient investment in their infrastructure.”

Our team is well-prepared to guide businesses and individuals towards accessible solutions.

We offer clear guidance, support and practical solutions that empower your businesses. Unlike other solutions, we won’t drop a report on your desk and leave you to solve any outstanding issues. We will work alongside you to highlight risks, discuss

any areas which may impact your day-to-day use of technology and then offer solutions that offer you peace of mind and confidence that your business is protected.

Concero is assisting companies in harnessing the full potential of cloud solutions, transforming how they work while ensuring GDPR compliance and data accessibility to maintain business operations. We utilise Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Intune to manage devices, ensuring data security and compliance with industryleading tools. Our goal is to provide IT solutions that simply work for our customers.

The world is rapidly advancing towards a future dominated by artificial intelligence, which will reshape the way we work.

Businesses will require robust systems to effectively adapt to this change.

Concero Technology equips businesses with the tools and insights they need to face the challenges of an ever-evolving digital landscape, with an emphasis on personalised, human-centred experiences.

As a Microsoft and Google partner and a Crown Commercial Service supplier, Concero Technology has plans to participate in various events throughout 2024. You can find our headquarters on the Compton Road,

Wolverhampton.

We support new talent in the exciting technical support roles that our new team has created. Concero’s Ravi RamGe won apprentice of the year in the annual Express & Star Business Awards this year. He was praised for his excellent customer-handling skills.

Judges said the enthusiasm and positivity he displayed in his work was infectious.

We are also active on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram to stay connected with you.

For further details, please visit our website at www.concero. technology. To embark on your business journey with us, you can reach us on 0330 236 8512 or via email at help@ concero.technology

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20 NEWS BUY BRITISH TO HELP ECONOMY The managing director of a Lye company is calling for the UK manufacturing community to step up and play a crucial role in the economic resurgence of the UK economy.

Midland Deburr and Finish is a family run manufacturing business surface finishing business specialising in vibro deburring, solvent degreasing, and vapour degreasing services.

Its MD Chris Arrowsmith wants manufacturers to step up amidst dampening confidence in the recent purchasing managers’ index report, which showed contraction of the UK manufacturing sector in the second quarter.

He wants them to focus on the environmental gains of sourcing locally.

“We need to embrace the tremendous opportunity within our grasp and back our domestic manufacturing capability by conscientiously backing products made in this country,” explains Mr Arrowsmith.

“We’ve continued to invest throughout 2023 and have benefitted in the reshoring trend that UK manufacturers have been able to leverage due to economic and political uncertainty on the continent, but it doesn’t stop there.

“We need to continue this behaviour, not

simply revert back to the status quo. In times of economic uncertainty, the natural response is that of hesitancy, caution and conservative fiscal practice; but this drives delay and uncertainty throughout the supply chain; which holds back investment, job creation and even new products.

“However, if both local communities and businesses continue to promote the values, quality and benefits of ‘Buying British’ we can continue secure economic growth and confidence in our local companies at a time when we need it most; it’s good for business, it’s good for the environment and therefore combined, can only be good for our community.

“If the UK backs its domestic manufacturing capability and we can look after the planet at the same time, we will also go a long way to overcoming the long-term negative perceptions of the sector which continues to drive the rhetoric of the well-publicised ‘skills gap’ which has led to low levels of gender and age diversity.”

He said Midland Deburr & Finish was calling on other privately run firms to laud remarkable developments within the wider manufacturing sector.

CHRIS ARROWSMITH, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MIDLAND DEBURR & FINISH

Levi Walters M E TA L M E R C H A N T S Family owned Business operating for over 20 years and located in the heart of the Black Country

SPECIALIST BUYER OF ALL FERROUS AND NON FERROUS METALS INCLUDING Steel • Iron • Brass • Aluminum • Stainless • Lead • Alloys and Cables  We offer a full recycling service for all public, trade and commercial customers   We also specialise in providing skip and bin collections for factory and commercial customers   We also have a wealth of experience with site clearance and machine disposals  Tel : 0121 557 2372 / 07958 456883 Web : www.leviwalters.co.uk Email : John@leviwalters.com

NEWS

21

UNI HONOUR FOR LEADER NEIL One of the Black Country’s best known business leader has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Wolverhampton.

It marks Neil Lloyd’s business achievements over a career that has spanned almost three decades Mr Lloyd joined law firm FBC Manby Bowdler, which has one of its offices at George Street in Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, as sales director back in 2015.

Working closely with the wider support functions of the firm he has helped to develop the sales infrastructure, supporting the achievement of the company’s overall business plan, objectives and its long term growth strategy.

He became managing director of FBC Manby Bowdler in 2020 and is a member of the executive board.

Mr Lloyd was listed in The Lawyers ‘Hot 100’ list in 2023.

The honorary awards are presented annually each autumn by the University of Wolverhampton.

They go to people across the area it

MONMORE GREEN

serves who the university believe have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise.

Mr Lloyd began his career at Lombard in 1994 where he held several roles at its head office in Surrey.

Then more locally in the West Midlands, he progressed to director of asset finance, Birmingham and Warwickshire, before moving to London as Lombard’s head of sales development.

He is an Affiliate of the IFS School of Finance in 2013 and has also been an Associate of the Chartered Banker Institute for the last seven years.

Mr Lloyd said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been awarded this honorary fellowship by the University of Wolverhampton.

“It was totally unexpected but gratefully accepted and makes the last 30 years of hard work all worth it.”

The presentation of his fellowship formed s part of the university’s graduation ceremonies.

They took place this year in the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton city centre in September.

Book a table for your next visit Corporate and Celebration Packages available contact us for more information

NEIL LLOYD OF FBC MANBY BOWDLER

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people Tomorrow’s

TO M O R R O W ’ S P E O P L E I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H S A N D W E L L C O L L E G E

Sandwell College Equipping Next

Generation Employees

Sandwell College are supporting the next generation of employees by ensuring our students are “work ready” when they graduate from their studies.

The College’s Family of campuses located across

the West Midlands are all supporting programmes designed with the employer in mind, and offering highly flexible solutions to work seamlessly with your objectives.

To ensure opportunities are provided for early-career talent to shine through, Sandwell College is always looking to align with corporate partners able to support our young people, many of whom will be ready for an Apprenticeship or full-time employment as soon as their

course is complete. We believe that by far the best route for businesses everywhere to improve efficiency, drive conversions and create positive results for succession planning, is to tap into the full potential of career starters and benefit from a strong pool of candidates to recruit.

Discuss with Us

• Engineering • Automotive

• IT • Business • Finance

• Construction • Health and Social Care

• Early Years Learning

So if your business is looking to grow its workforce and is looking at alternatives in the current marketplace, get in touch with our Business Engagement Team to discuss work placements, apprenticeships, recruitment and upskilling.

Call 0121 667 5018 or email business.enquiries@sandwell.ac.uk

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

23

DOOCEY GROUP’S TRAILBLAZERS

HIGHWAYS APPRENTICE SHELBY GODDARD

Two female apprentices from Sandwell College are celebrating after being taken on by on-road construction company The Doocey Group.

Shelby Goddard and Jasmine Johnson were among the final 12 selected and are now making history as the firm’s first female highways apprentices.

The two trailblazers join the latest cohort of apprentices who have just started their training for the Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative apprenticeship, after an open day sparked massive interest with local young people wanting to enter the construction industry.

Nearly 120 hopefuls took part in the Tipton group’s preapprenticeship scheme throughout the summer, which included a

three-week practical trial to rate their suitability.

This was then whittled down to the final 12 chosen for the apprenticeship scheme.

Shelby said: “I am so proud to be one of Doocey’s first two female apprentices. Knowing we are both here on merit feels a great achievement.”

Jasmine added: “I loved the pre-apprentice scheme so was delighted to have made the final 12.”

David Hannibal, of The Doocey Group, said: “Jasmine and Shelby will be trailblazers for us. We would love to have taken everyone on, but only had a limited amount of places.”

During the scheme the apprentices achieved their CSCS qualification card, National Water hygiene, first aid and health and

safety qualifications so they had credentials to help them to secure other construction jobs if unsuccessful on this programme.

All other trainees have gone on to construction jobs for HS2 and the QE Hospital, and full time courses including T Level engineering, carpentry and joinery and plastering courses at Sandwell College.

Doocey Group head of HR Kirstie Stuart said: “The preapprenticeship would not have been possible without funding from West Midlands Combined Authority and the assistance of Sandwell Council and Sandwell College. It has been a real local partnership to provide opportunities for local young people, and seeing our first ever females qualify to be apprentices is fantastic.”

The Doocey Group was founded in the early 1980s.

It has grown over the years to become one of the biggest onroad construction companies in the Midlands.

Clinching contracts with utility giants over the last ten years has enabled rapid expansion and continual recruitment of local workers.

Sandwell College is proud to be finalists for the following categories in the Building the Future Awards 2023: • Young Apprentice of the Year • Best Employer of the Year • Excellence in Education and Training These awards celebrate and recognise the contribution of young people, employers and educators in the construction industry.

24

INTERVIEW

GROWING GROUP ON COURSE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE IN WORLD OF RETAIL Founder Phil Boden explains how shopfitting expert Silvaman Group has moved to a new home in Tipton and aims to achieve £20m annual turnover by 2027

BY JOHN CORSER

INTERVIEW

Growing Silvaman Group, which designs and fits out retail units for the luxury retail sector ranging from 150 to 2,000 sq metres, is aiming to achieve £20 million turnover in the next four years.

The Tipton-based business has fought back strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic, when it had no work for six months and saw annual revenue fall to £1m. It is now hitting £6m a year.

The specialist shopfitters have evolved over the years and added new expertise as clients have required them to

do more and more for them.

“They like the way we operate and do things,” explained managing director Phil Boden, who said Silvaman Group had had to adapt to meet the needs of clients and had brought in new team members. “It has been a natural progression,” he explained The company is just settling into its new home at Amphion Court, Hale Trading Estate, Lower Church Lane, Tipton, after moving at the start of October after a two-year search for suitable premises.

The national fit-out company, which started as a project management

THE VALUE OF THE JOBS WE DO IS INCREASING WITH SOME NOW OVER £1M

consultancy, has developed an impressive list of top international brands with which it works.

“The value of the jobs we do is increasing with some

now over £1m. A plan is in place that is achievable to take us to £20m. That will mean more jobs in the wider Sandwell area,” said Phil, aged 43, who started Silvaman in 2015.

He is originally from Moreton on the Wirral in Mersyside and began his career in shopfitting by working for Global Retail Interiors in Hoylake.

He moved to the West Midlands when he married Jane, who is now finance manager for Silvaman Group.

The couple have two children.

Phil worked for shopfitters Nuttall in Dudley for a few years in the projects division

26

INTERVIEW

before going freelance and then seeing the opportunity to start up his own business.

“Silvaman Group started at premises in Charles Street, West Bromwich, beginning with small jobs but steadily won work by providing it could deliver for clients and winning their trust and confidence. It first big clients were G-Star RAW and Karl Lagerfeld.

“We have added to that steadily over the years and are now doing work for Deckers Brands, who own Ugg and Hoka, and the US outfit VF Corp taking in Timberland and North Face. We work across many designer outlet centres and at leading shopping centres like the Trafford Centre in Manchester,” explained Phil.

Silvaman does a lot of work for Puma on its stores and has just finished the Manchester City club store at the Arndale Centre in Manchester. It has also recently delivered the first Hoka store in Europe at Covent Garden Silvaman Group employs a dozen at its head office with up to 30 of its team working out in the field on projects for its every growing roster of clients.

The business is split into retail fit-out, asset management and mechanical, electrical and plumbing.

Its asset management clients include the McArthur Glen designer outlet chain and Global Mutual Property which owns shopping centres. This

involves stripping out units, mall upgrades and decoration.

SilvaTech MEP has been established to deal with the mechanical, electrical and plumbing work. It is able to handle all kinds of installation and upgrades for its clients.

The move has helped the group become more commercially competitive and to carry out work that would previously have been subcontracted out.

“Bringing this in house has meant we can control quality and cost. Many of our projects are time sensitive and need us to deliver £300,000 to £400,00 work in four to five weeks It is very intense and there is a lot of planning in getting it done,” stressed Phil.

The group’s projects team visits clients to draw up initial plans and then the team develops full technical and architectural designs which are then costed and agreed with the clients.

“We are a one-stop shop,” he added.

“We welcome the challenge each new project presents.

It is exciting to be working with such big brand names.

We have enquiries coming in constantly from the clients that we work with and are getting some great projects.

Silvaman Group is now a very strong business and with our new premises we have the base from which we can grow,” he enthused.

WE WORK ACROSS MANY DESIGNER OUTLET CENTRES AND AT LEADING SHOPPING CENTRES

28

FEATURE

Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has delivered more than £1 billion of loans across the UK since its inception in 2012.

The loans have been issued to 105,109 businesses, at an average of £9,547 per business.

The West Midlands has received more than £80m in 8,670 loans across the region.

The average loan amount in the West Midlands is £9,407.

The Start Up Loans programme provides a means of reaching under-represented groups who are excluded from mainstream finance by helping them start businesses.

Of the £80m in the West Midlands, £30m (38 per cent) has been lent to female business owners and £20m (25 per cent) to people from black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds.

Just four per cent of the UK’s small businesses in 2021 were majority-led by people from an ethnic minority group and only 20 per cent of new businesses had female founders according to The Rose Review. The Start Up Loans programme provides a means of reaching underrepresented groups.

BCRS Business Loans has passed another milestone by supporting more than 250 businesses in the West Midlands through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund’s Small Business Loans Fund.

Wolverhampton-based BCRS, which specialises in funding for businesses that struggle to access finance from traditional lenders, has lent over £16 million to 267 companies through the MEIF.

MANUFACTURING IN THE WEST MIDLANDS REMAINS STRONG David Atkinson, Lloyds’s Bank regional director and UK head of manufacturing for small and medium-sized enterprises and mid corporates, bangs the drum for manufacturing in the West Midlands.

“Manufacturers in the West Midlands are a vital piece of the region’s economic puzzle.

“We are the third largest manufacturing region, and the sector accounts for around 15 per cvent of the region’s economy, compared to an average of around a tenth in the other UK regions.

“Our makers export products around the world, going beyond the European Union, finding new markets in North America, Asia, and Australia.

“And manufacturing isn’t a sector in decline in the West Midlands.

“What gives me so much pleasure is to see such resilience in an industry that has suffered more than most through the pandemic and the economic turmoil that has followed.

“And we have an international outlook – exports of goods from the Midlands are worth more than any other region in the UK. “However, partly because we are so successful at exporting into international markets, the disruption caused by Covid-19 has had a disproportionate impact here.

“Our strength in automotive and transport manufacturing, for example, means we were severely affected by supply chain issues as the economy reopened in the Far East, strangling the availability of critical components like semiconductors and delaying our recovery.

“We might not have bounced all the way back yet, but we’re getting there.

“There are 18,000 more manufacturing jobs in the West Midlands today than there were a year ago, for example, and the sector

WALSALL WHEELBARROW COMPANY HAS INVESTED

employs one-in-10 of the region’s workforce.

“The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of wheelbarrows.

“That might not sound particularly innovative, but actually it was Joshua Thacker – grandfather of firm’s current director, Jonathan Thacker – who invented the first steel wheelbarrow in the 1940s.

“Today the family is continuing that tradition of innovation by adopting robotic to help build their wheelbarrows, boosting

production from 400 to 700 a day and freeing up colleagues to work on other jobs.

“This adoption of robotics makes the factory safer for staff and is improves energy and material efficiencies, meaning it is capable of producing more product from the same amount of raw materials.

“Products from our region are in demand around the world because we have the skills experience and reputation for quality and innovation built on many years of success.”

NEWS

29

PALLET-TRACK’S NEW CHIEF The nationwide pallet network PalletTrack has appointed a new chief executive.

Stuart Godman brings more than 30 years of logistics sector knowledge to the Ettingshallbased business.

He has previously held senior positions at Absolutely, Connect Group, DX Group, Target Express and TNT Express.

Mr Godman has replaced Caroline Green who is stepping down from the role following two-and-a-half years in the driving seat at Pallet-Track.

His primary focus will be delivering next level growth for the network as it prepares to enter its 20th year in business.

He said: “I am delighted to have joined Pallet-Track to lead the business into a new era of growth.

“The company is already a renowned name in the sector, but we have further ambitions to grow the brand, adopt new technologies and increase service levels for our valued shareholder member network.”

Tony Rieger, chairman at Pallet-Track, said: “We are very pleased to announce the

appointment of Stuart Godman to the role of CEO and with his extensive background in the logistics and transport industry, and with sustainability and technology high on customers agenda, his experience and knowledge in these areas will be invaluable as we continue to future-proof the business.

“We would like to thank Caroline for all her achievements especially steering the network through some challenging times during the covid-impacted period, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

“During her tenure at Pallet-Track, Caroline has made a significant contribution to improving the network and leaves the business in a much stronger place to continue its growth journey.”

Pallet-Track, which has its headquarters at the Titan Distributuion Centre in Millfields Road, launched in January 2004 and moved 852 pallets on its first night of operation.

Today, the company has a national member network of more than 90 independent hauliers and operates across more than 500,000 sq ft handling an average of 18,000 pallets each night.

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A DEDICATED TEAM Finding the right employees to fit your business can be a daunting task.

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With so many job boards and recruitment agencies to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start.

But did you know that the Express & Star has its own recruitment team that is dedicated to help local businesses find the right employees?

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Kylee Russon, head of operations at Star Employment, said: “Finding the right employees is crucial for the success of any business.

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32

NEWS

BUSINESS HAS BIG R TRANSF0RMATION Councillor Adrian Andrew wants to get the borough’s businesses fully engaged in the vision for the area’s future and a brand new economic forum

WE HAVE GOT TO START TALKING OURSELVES UP AS A BOROUGH

Businesses have a vital role to play in the transformation of the Walsall borough, Councillor Adrian Andrew believes.

Walsall Council is developing an exciting vision for the future and the deputy leader wants to see business fully involved in the We are Walsall 2040 project.

“We need to know what the private sector and wealth creators need from the public sector.

“The public sector needs to help business to create employment and create wealth for local people and the nation,” he explained.

A lot of work is already in progress on the vision and Councillor Andrew says that the council has had a long history of involving business in what its does through projects like the Urban Regeneration Company. He is pleased that local businesses in Bloxwich and Walsall are very much involved in the Towns Fund which is already delivering improvements.

“The Government allocated £24 million to both Bloxwich and Walsall town centre.

“The businesses involved are creating jobs and supporting the economy and the local supply chain,” he said.

The council is delivering some projects in partnership with the college including the electric vehicle skills training centre “We are creating a creative industries sector with a hub at the Guildhall in Walsall town centre and bringing adult education into the town centre an making it more accessible for people across the borough.

“The Bloxwich Digital Hub is also providing space for small businesses.”

Improving transport links for people to get to and from work more easily is also a priority.

“It is a key barrier if people can’t get in to Walsall or other parts of the borough,” explained Councillor Andrew.

Councillor Andrew has been deputy leader for 15 years and his brief also covers business,

regeneration and transport.

He sits on a number of boards for the West Midlands Combined Authority including the economic growth board and is also involved with the West Midlands Growth Company.

He was also Walsall’s representative on the former Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership for most of its lifetime.

He sees partnership working as vital for the Black Country.

“The economy doesn’t respect municipal boundaries.

All the councils have got very similar problems and projects like the Black Country Enterprise Zone had fantastic knock on effect on the supply chain across the Black Country.

Councillor Andrew is a firm believer in apprenticeships and is delighted that the council is hosting the second Ladder for the Black Country Apprenticeship Awards in November.

“I think apprenticeships are vital and something we havebeen promoting in Walsall

NEWS

ROLE TO PLAY IN OF WALSALL .for the last 10 years. There was a spike about a decade ago in youth unemployment and we invested £2 million of council tax payers’ money in to creating Walsall Works.

“When Kevin Davis from the Ladder Foundation approached us to get involved in Ladder for the Black Country we were more than happy to do so.

“It follows on from what we have been trying to do in Walsall for several years.

“The Ladder fits in with how businesses are spending their Apprenticeship Levy funds.”

Councillor Andrew stressed: “I want people to have faith in the borough and see it as a place for opportunity.

“We have got to start talking ourselves up as a borough.

“Talking to businesses is also vital on the skills agenda.

“We also need to start getting to the pre-GCSE level about skills.

It is important for careers and jobs for young people that we need to make sure that the skills to take advantage of opportunities are there.

“Walsall Works and the Ladder for the Black Country are doing that.”

On the 2040 vision he stresses: “This will all take a number of years. You are not going to suddenly just flick a switch and get everything going.

“We have set out milestones along the way including regeneration and investment schemes.

“It involves £1.5 billion of investment in Walsall. Some

is being planned for deliver, some is about to be delivered and part is already being delivered.”

The vision will involve utilising Levelling Up funds coming to the borough including the £20m fund recently announced for Darlaston.

Councillor Andrew stressed: “We are pushing in the right direction to deliver the 2040 vision of being the most improved borough in the region for the economy and health in the region by then.

“It is a very ambitious programme and has involved one of the most significant pieces of engagement we have ever had with the people of Walsall and the different generations in the borough.

“We want to continue engaging with the residents and the businesses that we have. Working with business is vital.

“Over the last 17 years things have changed and we ant ensure that in 17 years time the next generation of Walsall people and businesses are in a position to take advantage of the opportunities we create.

“We are also launching an economic forum and want to get businesses involved with that.

“We are in discussion with different people to lead this programme.

“What we really want is to make sure there is a meaningful dialogue between the public sector and business in Walsall.”

WE ARE PUSHING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO DELIVER THE 2040 VISION

COUNCILLOR ADRIAN ANDREW BELIEVES THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR WALSALL AND ITS BUSINESSES

33

Established 1995

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

35

BETTER DEAL WITH WILL HIRE Will Hire, based in Stourbridge Road, Lye, was established in September 2004 in the belief that there was a better way to offer equipment for hire.

Will Gough Senior set out to create a hire company that was truly customer focused in an environment that was increasingly being occupied by companies making decisions driven by accountants and software. Having been in the hire trade since April 1970 the dream was to bring together a family of like-minded individuals to give customers the knowledgeable and friendly service they deserved.

With the help of our family of staff and great customers we have grown a great deal since 2004, but we still have the same ideal to try and avoid the word ‘no’ that is too often uttered by some of our competitors.

The reasons for our success are include our exceptionally experienced staff with many years of experience in the trade, competitive and negotiable pricing structure, reliable and well maintained fleet of equipment, fast delivery service and swift response to service calls and constant and varied marketing activity of both

active and prospective customers including telephone sales, mailshotting, social media, and web presence.

We offer plant hire, tool hire, and access hire, along with ancillary sales and consumable items.

Our product range is almost limitless due to our sourcing service, we will hire in any gaps in our range. Our own range is constantly being enhanced on a daily basis lead by customer demand.

Will Hire operate from a large 7,500 sq ft industrial unit with a large yard trade counter and customer car parking facilities, this is situated on the main road between Stourbridge and Lye town centre.

Athough our main customer base is in the West Midlands, we have a large delivery fleet of eight vehicles delivering daily to all areas within a 40-mile radius.

However many of our account customers operate out of this area.

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37

TACTICS FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

MNA DIGITAL OFFERS A HELPING HAND TO SMALL BUSINESSES In the fast-paced world of small business ownership, businesses often find themselves strapped for cash when it comes to marketing their ventures.

However, small wins in the form of cost-effective marketing strategies can be beneficial.

Small business owners often find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, leaving little time to explore the vast landscape of budget-friendly marketing options.

At MNA Digital, a trusted digital marketing agency in Wolverhampton, we are committed to offering a helping hand.

In this article, we delve into a range of low-budget marketing approaches that empower small businesses without straining their financial resources.

One highly recommended

approach is the creation of a Google My Business Account, a golden ticket, especially for local businesses.

A Google Business Profile not only puts your business on the map but ensures your presence on Google Maps and local search results.

LinkedIn, a platform often overlooked for its marketing potential, is another valuable tool.

Beyond professional connections, it can serve as a space to initiate conversations, share blog posts, and engage in relevant forums.

For small businesses seeking credibility and recognition, Business Awards are a valuable avenue. Most industries offer prestigious awards accompanied by online badges.

Displaying these accolades on your website instantly enhances your business’s credibility and, in

turn, leads to an increase in sales.

Additionally, in an era of digital connections, do not underestimate the power of in-person interactions.

Networking Events, such as trade shows and industry conferences, offer opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and establish a physical presence, helping your name and brand gain recognition.

Another strong solution is social media marketing. It is a costeffective avenue that should not be ignored. Facebook offers a solution for businesses with limited advertising budgets. Their low cost per click allows you to run budgetfriendly Facebook ads, improving your online visibility without breaking the bank.

Don’t forget to also share your expertise through webinars or live sessions, as they can be an

excellent way to gain recognition and position yourself as an industry authority.

Webinars and Live Sessions on platforms like Zoom or Facebook Live attract engaged audiences, enhancing your credibility.

Natalie Coughlan, head of marketing and client services says: “All of these points can give your business the boost that it needs.

“We know how difficult it can be to get started and knowing what to do in the ever changing digital landscape.

“No matter which ones you decide to pursue, small businesses like yours have a few tips to help expand their toolkit to ensure growth and success.”

For more resources tailored to businesses like yours, you can visit the MNA Digital website or explore our free marketing hub at https:// www.mnadigital.co.uk

38

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

THE NEW WET DRAWING MACHINE WILL BOOST AWI’S MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

ALLOY WIRE STARTS £500K INVESTMENT The first specialist machine in a £500,000 investment drive has been installed at a leading manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire.

Alloy Wire International (AWI), which supports more than 6,000 customers across 65 countries, has purchased a new wet drawing machine that will allow it to significantly increase capacity as it looks to take advantage of a rapidly growing order book.

The AWI team at Narrowboat Way, Hurst Business Park, Brierley Hill, has worked with the manufacturer to ensure this new machine will fit seamlessly into the production set up at its state-of-the-art factory, with its specific features helping to reduce lead times even further.

Capabilities on the new £145,000 machine include pre-programming to allow for set spool weights or wire lengths and flexibility to work with a wider range of both inlet and finished sizes – this in turn increases the range of mechanical

properties that can be offered across all its 62 grades.

Tom Mander, managing director of AWI, commented: “Our sales have risen by over £6 million in the last 18 months and our pipeline of orders is looking extremely healthy – the time was right to push the button on upgrading our manufacturing capabilities.

“The production team looked at what we required to give us more capacity and greater flexibility and a £500,000 investment package was signed off, starting with the recent install of the wet drawing machine.”

He continued: “This has been customised for our operations and will allow us to consider work we have previously turned down.”

Alloy Wire International, which has two sites in the West Midlands and Yorkshire, was purchased by directors Tom Mander, Andrew Du Plessis and Adam Shaw in January.

The new-look management team has overseen a significant growth in sales, with orders up nearly 40 per cent, placing the

company on course for nearly £18m turnover by the close of 2023 – the best 12 months in its 77-year history.

Investment in its people and increasing stockholding of its 62-strong high performance alloys has been crucial in attracting spring makers, fastener manufacturers and critical suppliers to the automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear and MedTech sectors.

Tom continued: “You can’t stand still in our sector. The wet drawing machine will be the first of a total £500,000 investment strategy that will eventually see a four-spindle annealing line spooler, a new multi-head drawing machine and two, single hole drawing machines arrive by the end of the year. We’re continually assessing ways in which we can further boost efficiency and deliver faster turnaround times for clients by already starting to look beyond this initial investment drive.”

For further information,visit www.alloywire. com or follow Alloy Wire International on LinkedIn.

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40

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

BUMPS IN THE ROAD ARE AHEAD We are all familiar with that phrase ‘bumps in the road’ and if we apply it to world events, we can clearly see more bumps than smooth tarmac ahead, writes partner Colin Rodrigues of Dudley-based Hawkins Hatton Corporate Lawyers.

But with businesses, how do they cope with these bumps? Being a business advisor and an owner, the answer is simple, it is “foresight”.

None of us are able to predict the future, otherwise we would choose the correct lottery numbers this Saturday.

But, what we can all do as business leaders, is look at factors which may affect the UK, such as the domestic economy, the workforce, inflation and factors further afield.

Once you know what these factors are, we can all start to cater for them.

Global economics are influenced by factors such as the Ukraine war and now the conflict in the Middle East and whether or not this will spill into the wider region, not forgetting that Russia and China are still looking to form a stronger alliance. These all affect global sentiment.

When looking at the UK itself, we are all well aware of the interest rates increases, but what

we do not realise is that we now pay more as a country for interest payments than we do on defence.

In the short term, none of this will change, as interest rates will take more time to rebalance, maybe that is why mergers and acquisitions transactions in terms of value are on the decline, as are initial public offerings, whilst corporate insolvencies are on the rise.

In the current uncertain climate, private equity may be more cautious and foreign investment may slow down, but we have to also look forward and consider that there is a good chance there may be a change of government in the new year with the next general election looming.

This will bring with it new policy changes.

Therefore, the message to business owners is to focus on increasing productivity and continue to invest in research and development and purchases of equipment.

Without these commitments, businesses may not be cushioned from the bumps in the road that will be faced in the next 12 months.

It is like the old adage, do not fix the roof when it is raining, fix it when the sun is shining.

Even though it may be raining now, there are clearly storms ahead.

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42 NEWS PARKER AMPS UP EFFICIENCY A manufacturer is becoming more energy self-sufficient and reducing its emissions with the installation of 162 solar panels, supported by a £58,000 investment from Lloyds Bank.

The solar panels have been funded via Lloyds Bank’s Clean Growth Financing Initiative, which provides customers with access to discounted lending for green purposes, in addition to a £12,000 investment from the business.

Parker Precision, headquartered in Bilston, provides precision engineering services to aviation, defence and petrochemical businesses.

In 2021, Lloyds Bank supported Parker to purchase the assets of the precision grinding department of aviation and aerospace component manufacturer, Kepston. It also helped fund the construction of an extension to the business’ existing site to accommodate the acquired division and its staff. The new solar panels will help the manufacturer meet the additional energy demand.

The 66.15 kWh system has been fitted to the south facing roof of Parker Precision’s building, to maximise electricity generation.

The panels provide around a third of the site’s energy requirement and have reduced its monthly electricity bills by £4,000.

The business also plans to sell the surplus energy generated during sunny periods back to the grid, to supplement its bills further.

The energy generated by the solar panels has enabled Parker Precision to introduce a reduced evening shift, which is entirely powered by the solar energy.

This time is designated to the running of any jobs that are of urgent customer need, increasing throughput without increasing operational costs.

The panels are also used to charge its electric company car.

The £3.5 million turnover business currently employs 38 staff. It plans to utilise the cost savings to invest back into the business, including to upskill existing staff and take on new apprentices.

Marc Corns, owner and managing director of Parker, said: “Rising costs have put pressure on manufacturers.

“Last year, we integrated our asset purchase of Kepston Grinding and its employees into our business, and with expansion comes greater energy requirements.”

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

RECEPTION AT HALESOWEN COLLEGE

COLLEGE MISSION IS TO DELIVER SKILLS FOR THE REGION

Every business needs skilled, dedicated and enthusiastic staff to drive forward their objectives and increase productivity.

Although it may be a cliché, it is often true that people are the most important assets within any organisation.

Sadly, the current labour market information repeatedly tells us of difficulties in recruiting to key job roles because of a skills deficit in our area and nationally.

The unemployment rate in our area is higher than that nationally and wages are lower than the UK average given that many people are restricted to ancillary or elemental industries.

This in turn has a detrimental impact on company growth and prosperity which then translates into our communities.

Halesowen College believes the solution to breaking this cycle is education. Education that is powerful and provides people with choices.

Education that develops skills, transforms lives and positively shapes the future.

Our new strategic plan states that we aim to

PRINCIPAL JACQUIE CARMAN be exceptional and our students will be inspired to be ambitious and achieve their potential; flourish personally and professionally and use the skills that they have learnt at Halesowen College to contribute to the regional or national economy.

We cannot achieve this alone and recognise that employers and stakeholders are an integral part of the college, helping us to shape our curriculum with innovation, knowledge and enthusiasm which in turn will provide excellent opportunities for learners and allow businesses to benefit from the skills development.

In addition to a broad based and accessible curriculum for 16-19 learners we also offer a range of adult courses from level 1 through to levels 4 and 5.

We offer basic skills development of English, maths and digital which provide an excellent bedrock to move forward to develop higher level skills across a range of subjects.

We understand that employment and family responsibilities may make it difficult to study in a traditional way which is why we offer part time courses, flexible study options and on-line learning.

Visit www.halesowen.ac.uk to find out more about our offer or to book on our next Open Event on Wednesday, November 8.

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

45

POLISHERS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS A partnership between two West Midlands businesses has enabled a stainless steel polishing company to become the biggest of its kind in the UK as it clocks up 40 years in business.

Smethwick-based Professional Polishing Services credits its long-term relationship with Prime Accountants Group, which has offices in Solihull, Coventry and Birmingham, with securing its longevity after steering the business through expansion and diversification.

Its advice and guidance on exploring new markets and adapting for the future has enabled Professional Polishing Services to increase its annual turnover to just under £2 million per year.

Founded in 1983 by Peter Davies, the firm now polishes 25,000 tonnes of metal per year, with its most visible work being the bright polished cladding at Grand Central Station in Birmingham.

It has expanded its services into a wide range of industries, including the defence, medical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors.

During the pandemic, the company was tasked with polishing steel for the tanks that were used to produce the Covid-19 vaccine, while its biggest areas of growth include the nuclear sector and the construction industry, as stainless steel and aluminium facades provide a safe alternative to cladding on buildings.

To accommodate the growth in demand, Prime Accountants has supported Professional Polishing Services with securing a capital expenditure grant for the purchase of a new £200,000 polishing machine.

It is also advising on the company’s ambitious plans to install solar panels at its Parkrose Industrial Estate premises.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, managing director at Professional Polishing Services, said: “Our work isn’t just architectural it also provides a vital function, such as maintaining hygiene standards or preventing cross-contamination in the food and drink or pharmaceutical industries.

“Purchasing new polishing machinery has been vital for our growth, but with the cost of a new machine ranging from £200,000 to £500,000, it is a big investment for our business.”

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

47

TEEPEE ELECTRICAL GETS £15K GRANT

COUNCILLOR JOHN MURRAY, LEFT, WITH MD STEVE CLARKE

A manufacturing business has received a £15,000 grant from Walsall Business Support to purchase new manufacturing software.

Teepee Electrical, which was founded in 1989, is a leading supplier of wiring looms, cable harnesses and panel assemblies to domestic and international clients in the rail sector, electric vehicles, coaches, buses and vehicle converters such as ambulances, police cars and fire engines.

It employs 54 staff at its manufacturing site in Bloxwich.

Due to growing demand from new and existing customers last year, the company acquired a second manufacturing site in Aldridge, which is currently being developed.

Teepee Electrical used the £15,000 grant from Walsall Business Support to invest in new Arcadia harness manufacturing

software, which is now up and running in the business.

The new software will increase collaboration and speed up design changes, offering process continuity, more detailed drawings and an improved interface with existing and new customers.

Managing director Steve Clarke, who was recently named in The Manufacturer’s Top 100 manufacturing professionals list, said: “Receiving this grant has been fantastic for Teepee Electrical. It is great to see the business being recognised in the Walsall area.

“The software we have purchased is essential for securing our position as leaders in the marketplace. Without the funding, we would have had to wait to invest in it, which would have risked us getting left behind.

“Manufacturing improvements that will result from the new technology will generate more market opportunities for the

business and enable us to grow, which in turn will create more jobs for local people and enable us to invest in the next generation – something we are passionate about.

“We are hoping to take sales past the £3 million mark and towards £5m over the next 12 months, and this will require continued investment in our people and both our Bloxwich and Aldridge sites.”

Formed by leading local business figures to distribute funds collected from the legacy of Walsall Chamber of Commerce, Walsall Business Support provides grants to applicants who want funding for projects to enhance business life in the borough.

Councillor John Murray, chairman of Walsall Business Support, said: “We offer grants for businesses looking to bring growth, skills and employment to the borough of Walsall, with the aim of benefitting as many local

people as possible. We were really pleased to be able to provide Teepee Electrical with this grant.

The business is a brilliant Walsall success story, providing a wealth of employment opportunities for local people, many of whom have very long service with the company.

“This is a great example of how a growing business can benefit from a Walsall Business Support grant to add value to the wider community, and we wish them every success in the future.”

Walsall Business Support can provide grants and a free training needs analysis to businesses looking to generate growth, create employment or shape training opportunities for the borough of Walsall.

Using an online application form on the WBS website, bids for financial support can be submitted by businesses needing investment in a new project or a company wanting to improve skills.

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COMMERCIAL FEATURE

49

AGENCY’S THIRD ANNIVERSARY Fast-growing recruitment agency Daniel-Scott Recruitment is going from strength to strength and has celebrated its third anniversary in business.

The Halesowen-based agency was launched

by Lucy Cashmore in June 2020 following extensive experience in the recruitment industry.

Lucy started out in the sector 25 years ago, taking on consultant, branch management, regional management and national management roles before founding the business.

Daniel-Scott Recruitment builds strong partnerships with employers to find the right candidates to move their businesses forward while supporting candidates to forge a new career to suit their skills and experience.

The agency’s recruiters are specialists within the contact centre, sales, marketing, admin and engineering sectors, offering a bespoke, consultative approach with expert advice to present the best candidates to great employers.

The business has experienced strong growth in the past two years, with sales increasing by

80 per cent from 2021 to 2022 and a further 60 per cent from 2022 to 2023.

Director Lucy Cashmore said: “Our third anniversary is a huge milestone for us, and we’re very proud of how far we’ve come since we launched. We hope to be able to build on our achievements further, winning more repeat business with clients.

“I think the key to our success has been the quality of the relationships we have established with businesses and job candidates, which has made it easier to place the right people in the right roles.

“My experience in recruitment has been a great help in understanding the challenges faced by both recruiters and jobseekers.

“We pride ourselves on not just being a recruitment agency but an essential, businessintegrated partner, working very closely with companies throughout each recruitment process.

The agency’s team now consists of three, including branch manager Becky Kells and recruitment consultant Daniel Cashmore, who is Lucy’s son. Becky oversees the account management of key clients.

DANIEL SCOTT’S BECKY KELLS, DANIEL AND LUCY CASHMORE

Daniel-Scott Recruitment prides itself on being more than just a recruitment agency. For many employers we are the consistent provider of high-quality candidates... its what we do best.

Whatever your recruitment needs Daniel-Scott will have the Solution for you.

With over 35 years experience in the recruitment industry across the Midlands, we listen to our customers requirements, understand our candidates needs and find the right fit for all!

To many, we are an essential, business integrated partner, working collaboratively throughout each recruitment process, utilising our expertise and knowledge to maximise your recruitment experience.

1. Offering Bespoke commercial terms to suit any business.

2. Assistance with interviews, onboarding and beyond.

3. Permanent and contract recruitment of engineering ,contact sales, industrial, commercial, technical & management, we partner with our customers to source the right person for you!

4. A Consultative approach - finding solutions to your company recruitment challenges, with fresh ideas and collaborations across other training and development organisations.

We are not a bums on seats recruitment agency, but a boutique business that forges long standing strong relationships with its customers over a period of time, you are more than just an invoice to us!

Don’t just take our word for it, check our 5* reviews, which can be found on our website, google and Facebook pages.

Call a member of the business development team now on 0121 828 3848, to find out more information on how we can help your business.

50

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

BUSINESS CUSTOMERS ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE DUDLEY BUILDING SOCIETY

MAKE THE MOST OF BUSINESS SAVINGS WITH THE DUDLEY At Dudley Building Society, we believe that businesses are at the heart of our local community.

That’s why we’ve been focused on supporting the local area to thrive through our range of business savings accounts, as we continue to serve our local community, with the goal of helping people to live better lives.

We have a range of passbook savings accounts available for businesses, clubs and charities.

These accounts can be opened via post or in branch, making them accessible and convenient for businesses in locations outside our local area.

Whether you’re looking for easy access savings, or to maximise your returns by locking into a fixed term, we’ve got you covered with our range of fixed term bonds, instant access and notice accounts.

Our passbook accounts are ideal for

businesses looking for a secure way to set aside excess funds.

Offering competitive interest rates, our savings accounts can help your business earn extra income on your cash reserves.

So, you can get back to business knowing that you’re getting great returns on your savings!

If you choose to open an instant access account, your business can access funds when needed, making it a great option for emergency or short-term savings.

Additionally, our passbooks provide a clear and tangible record of transactions, making it easy for you to track your business savings.

Our dedicated customer services team are on hand to answer your questions! With a phone call, we can guide you through the process of opening your account, and you can even manage your account remotely via post without needing to visit a branch.

For more information on our accounts,

please visit dudleybuildingsociety.co.uk/ savings/business-savings.

If you want to speak to one of our friendly customer services advisors, give us a call on 01384 231414, email us at enquiries@ dudleybuildingsociety.co.uk, or visit one of our branches located in Brierley Hill, Dudley, Gornal Wood, Kingswinford or Perton.

Are you the leader of a manufacturing or engineering business within the West Midlands area?

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As we continue to do our bit to support our community, we’re proud to be sponsoring the upcoming Made Smarter Digital Management and Leadership Programme.

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If you would like to find out more about the programme, please visit madesmarter.uk/startyour-digital-manufacturing-journey

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George Henry Road, Great Bridge, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 7BZ Our Services Include:  Ferrous Metals  Non Ferrous Metals  Waste Management Consultancy  Scrap Collection Service  Production & Manufacturing Scrap  Heavy Melting Scrap  Demolition Scrap

Enablelink Ltd are the largest Independent Metal Processing Company in the Midlands.

Enablelink source scrap metal materials from a wide range of industries throughout the UK and reprocess utilising some of the latest and most efficient equipment available Our high quality ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal products are distributed and recycled on a global scale.

Established in 2007, Enablelink has become an integral participant in the UK scrap market.

We aim to develop mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships with suppliers and customers alike.

The Pitch, Budden Rd, Coseley, West Midlands, WV14 8JN e: info@enablelink.co.uk w: www.enablelink.co.uk t: 0121 557 2479