Business MK July 2023

City’s economy prepares for £5m boost from arts gala

Festival expects up to 90,000 visitors over its ‘10 Amazing Days’

Milton Keynes is ready to welcome up to 90,000 visitors this month and is predicting a multi-million pound boost to the city’s economy from IF: Milton Keynes International Festival. IF organisers anticipate spend by visitors with restaurants, hotels and on transport at a total of up to £5 million, with a net boost to the city’s economy of between £1.5 million and £3 million.

MyMiltonKeynes Business Improvement District, a major IF partner, has given £25,000 to the Festival to fund a national advertising campaign promoting the ‘10 Amazing Days’ across the Sky network to promote the festival to a wider and more mainstream UK audience .

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival director Monica Ferguson expects between 60,000 and 90,000 people to attend the festival, which

starts on July 21. Those figures are based on the 2018 festival – the last full festival before the pandemic –and calculated on a model developed by the University of Sheffield specifically for the arts and culture sector.

“There is real value coming into the economy in Milton Keynes from IF,” said Ms Ferguson. Headline sponsor centre:mk, which has

supported the festival since it began in 2010, has seen visitor numbers increase when the IF is on. “They have increased their investment with each festival because they see it as really valuable.”

Kevin Duffy, centre director at centre:mk, said the festival allows the shopping centre to strengthen the emotional connection with its visitors by creating a positive and

memorable experience through the artwork installations housed in the centre’s Middleton Hall. It has hosted Gaia, a giant model of the Earth suspended from the hall’s roof during the curtailed IF in 2021, a Circus Hub and Curiosities Fair in 2018 and in 2016 the Magic Lanterns installation.

This year it stages The Place

Between, an immersive large-scale installation by Rebecca Louise Law and sound artist Jason Singh revealing the secret life of flowers and plants Both artists root their creation in the flora local to Milton Keynes, working with local people and communities in their research. Mr Singh has captured the electrical activity happening deep within the vegetative tissue of plants, using bio feedback technology to capture the data which he then converts into his musical score.

To page 5 >>

Kevin Duffy, centre director at centre:mk

Owner reflects on inspirational mentoring scheme

Children’s educational brand founder Keisha Shah is pictured with government business minister Kevin Hollinrake at a reception for small business owners at the House of Lords.

Ms Shah, founder of Teddo Play which manufactures play-based learning resources for children, has been a mentor for the past two cohorts of micro business owners looking to scale up their business on the national Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme run by the Small Business Britain organisation. She joined business owners from all over the UK at the event and discussed the overseas expansion plans she has for her business, based at Brinklow, with Mr Hollinrake, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade.

Ms Shah has mentored 19 small business owners during her time working with the Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme. It has been

‘invaluable’ for her own business too, she said.

“It has given me a lot of clarity and enabled me to take our conversations-inspiring learning resources to children far and wide. In a dual role as a mentor, I have really enjoyed giving back to fellow small businesses who are all at different levels in their business journeys.

“I love to share my knowledge and experience running a small successful business. Being an educator, I find it exciting and easy to drive helpful information to people. People find me approachable and knowledgeable in a number of areas and I believe in the idea of growing together so when I saw the opportunity to help out fellow business owners, I jumped right at it.”

Delivered by Small Business Britain, the programme aims to help grow small businesses with expert guidance and mentoring. This year’s programme was organised in partnership with accounting

software giant Xero and the new university ARU Peterborough.

Small Business Britain founder Michelle Ovens said: “These ‘small’ yet ‘mighty’ businesses represent the seeds of our future economy and it was wonderful to hear about the value this programme brought them.

“It was rewarding to celebrate with Keisha, see her gorgeous UK-made educational products in person and all of the phenomenal

small businesses involved in this year’s programme at the House of Lords. We must continue to cheer these small firms on who are working so hard to grow and thrive in this tough economy.”

Ms Shah said: “It was a fantastic event and to meet so many of my mentees in person was truly special. The icing on the cake was receiving some very helpful tips from Kevin Hollinrake to expand Teddo Play in the international markets.”

Chamber chooses MK Food Bank as its charity of the year

MK Food Bank, which provides crisis food support to individuals and families across the city, has been chosen as Charity of the Year for 2023-24 by Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce.

The partnership means the charity, which provides emergency food parcels and longer-term support selling food at low cost to help residents to manage the cost of living crisis, receives complimentary Silver Chamber Partner status to enable them to network with some of the county’s most influential companies and free attendance at Chamber networking events.

MK Food Bank’s logo will feature on the Chamber’s website, company stationery and in other Chamber publications. The charity will also receive editorial in the Chamber’s Inbusiness membership magazine.

“We feel it is important to support

county charities and to highlight the contribution they make to our community,” said Chamber chief executive Louise Wall. “We look forward to working with MK Food Bank and helping them to raise their profile and forge new connections with the business community.”

The Food Bank works with hundreds of customers every day and relies on

donations of food and money from business and community donors.

“Being chosen as MK Chamber’s Charity of the Year could not have come at a better time for us,” said MK Food Bank’s operations manager Louisa Hobbs. “The cost of living crisis rages on and has led to demand for our services reaching levels not seen since the peak of the pandemic. Our experience tells us that any one of us, our friends, family members or work colleagues could encounter a crisis, such as losing a job or becoming seriously ill, and need our support.

“We know that our business supporters across the Milton Keynes network are incredibly generous and community-minded. By extending this network further and building stronger relationships within the sector, we know we can continue to support all families and individuals in crisis in Milton Keynes.”

Sustainability on pole position as bank agrees Silverstone link-up

Silverstone has finalised a partnership deal with Santander UK for the banking giant to become the race circuit’s official sustainability partner.

Under the new partnership, Santander will provide Silverstone with a range of mobility solutions starting with the transition to a fleet of zero or low emission vehicles supplied through Santander Consumer Finance. The new fleet will be used for on-site mobility, event operations

and on-track safety and rescue requirements.

The partnership deal was brokered by sports marketing and partnerships agency Sidhu & Simon, which

will head the partnership’s activation and delivery strategy at Silverstone on behalf of Santander.

The bank, whose UK headquarters is in Central

Milton Keynes, will expand its Santander Cycles scheme to Silverstone. E-bikes will be available to Silverstone employees in trials later this year and in the longer term, Silverstone also plans to make e-bikes available for guests and visitors.

Santander UK’s marketing director Dan Sherwood said: “We have a range of initiatives to support them to become more sustainable and we are excited to start rolling these out over the coming months.”

Louisa Hobbs

Funding deal backs firm’s expansion plans

Engineering and electrical company SJD Associates has secured a £200,000 funding package that will enable it to complete the purchase of its premises and that of the unit next door.

The money, from MEIF Maven Debt Finance via the Recovery Loan Scheme, will also fund a refurbishment programme for both premises at Stonebridge and create two new jobs.

SJD was founded in 1996 and

has built a reputation for more complex, highly important designled upgrades through a large part of its portfolio covering prisons and hospitals in the UK.

The business will use the new facilities and expanded team to secure new projects and further develop its portfolio.

Chief executive Ruth Devine, whose father Stephen founded the company, said: “The partnership with Maven has enabled SJD to accelerate

our high growth journey, building our strategic capabilities faster to capture more exciting opportunities. Maven has been refreshingly proactive and supportive throughout the process and we look forward to a brighter future working closely together.”

Graham Hall, investment manager for Maven, said: “It is fantastic to see the MEIF portfolio extend to a business that has built a niche reputation for being an expert in a

£50 challenge passes £100k milestone

We’ve done it… Employers across Milton Keynes have been celebrating with Franklins Solicitors as they pass the £100,000 milestone for money raised in the law firm’s #Franklins50 fundraising challenge.

A total 24 teams from employers across Milton Keynes and Northampton took part in this year’s challenge, which has raised £20,000 to support domestic abuse charity MK Act and Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes and in Northampton, Cynthia Spencer Hospice and Northampton Hope Centre.

The challenge required teams to take £50 seed funding from Franklins Solicitors LLP and turn it into as much money as possible

over three months for their chosen charity.

Franklins partner Andrea Smith said: “This year we really want to help towards the current cost of living crisis and improving wellbeing. It is great to see the difference the money raised will make to the local charities involved.”

Lolly Marlborough, fundraising and marketing manager at MK Act, said: “In total the #Franklins50 challenge has raised £4,317 for MK Act and we are so grateful.

“This money will make the hugest difference to MK Act, helping 104 men, women and children suffering domestic violence including paying for a trip to the seaside for the children in our refuge.”

EV training targets fleet switch employers

Employees and residents are taking advantage of a new training course designed to help businesses and motorists get the best out of a switch to an electric vehicle.

Milton Keynes-based Autotech Training has welcomed its first batch of delegates on its new EV Driver Essentials course, aimed at

employers looking to give their workforce the skills they need as the business switches to an EV fleet and to help staff make the most of owning an electric or hybrid car.

The EV Driver Essentials course is aimed at employers who are electrifying their fleets and want to equip their workforce with EV skills and at anyone who has recently

purchased or is looking to switch to, an electric vehicle.

Autotech delivers IMI Levels 1-4 Electric and Hybrid Vehicle training to garages and dealerships across the UK along with organisations and local authorities who are electrifying their fleets. Managing director Simon King said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that a lack of understanding, particularly around range, is impacting take-up. For companies who have invested heavily in a new fleet of electric vehicles, the lack of use from employees is rendering fleet electrification as a ‘tick the box’ exercise.”

The two-hour EV Driver Essentials course takes place twice a month at Autotech Training’s headquarters in Linford Wood for a maximum 20 delegates per course. The first 40 to book the July dates (July 5 and 26) will receive the training for free. The price from August is £25 per person, including VAT.

truly skilled area. The business has a fantastic future ahead of it under Ruth’s excellent forward-thinking stewardship and I am glad that Maven will be there to join them.”

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2022 and the European Investment Bank.

British Business Bank’s senior investment manager Mark Wilcockson called on other businesses looking to grow to consider MEIF funding options. He said: “The MEIF supports Midlands-based SMEs, in turn helping to grow the region’s economy. This example of funding for SJD Associates shows how MEIF funding continues to help businesses with expansion plans and enable the creation of new jobs.”

Top fundraiser for MK Act and overall BWC Profiles raised £3,000.

Top fundraiser for Willen Hospice Team Bala from John Lewis raised £2154.75.

Small Business Superstar Peter Bakare, Nutri Troops raised £1,317.

Best example of teamwork John Lewis Four teams raised a grand total of £5,621.81.

Representatives of (from left) BWC Profiles, John Lewis, Nutri Troops and MK Softball are pictured at the #Franklins50 Challenge celebration event

Occupiers in talks for £7.5m warehouse

Planners have given the green light to a £7.5 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Buckingham that is set to bring more than 50 new jobs to the town.

Cygnet 40, a 40,000 sq ft unit on the Buckingham Industrial Estate, has been approved by Buckinghamshire Council. Developer the Deeley Group was due to start work last month, with completion expected in the spring.

Development consultant Andrew Brazier said the building will be ‘an excellent addition’ to the manufacturing and logistics industry in Buckinghamshire. Deeley Group is already in talks with potential occupiers.

White Commercial Surveyors acquired the site for Deeleys and is advising the developer on the specification and future of the building.

Managing director Christ White said: “There is significant shortage of quality production and distribution buildings in the fast expanding Northampton-Milton KeynesOxford triangle, especially buildings which can be purchased by an occupier. We expect a good level of demand from regional, national and international businesses and the automotive technology sectors.”

Deeley Group, headquartered in Coventry, also built Swan Business Centre and Angelvale in Buckingham.

Display pioneer opens overseas offices

Holographic technology pioneer Envisics has opened new office in Germany and Japan as part of its worldwide expansion programme.

Both locations, combined with the company’s USA facility in Michigan, will enable the Milton Keynesheadquartered company to work more closely with automakers and suppliers in North America, Europe, and Asia as it develops and delivers its Augmented

Reality Heads-Up Display technologies to the world’s major vehicle brands.

AR HUD, above, is advanced display technology that projects information on vehicle performance and the road ahead to the driver. “We are seeing a marked shift in the interest from global automakers towards AR HUD and how it will unlock a completely new driving experience for customers,” said Envisics’ chief revenue officer Fabien Roth.

Police on hand to help businesses in the fight against cybercrime

For criminals, the size of your business does not matter… There is nothing small about small businesses.

A recent survey revealed that the cost of cybercrime for businesses averages more than £15,000 per victim. This is why the South East Cyber Resilience Centre’s aim is to give every business in the region access to the skills and knowledge to protect themselves from online attacks to make the South East one of the safest places to live, work and do business.

The SECRC provides education, testing and training, delivered by its team of trusted

Independents celebrate free space success

Two independent businesses are all smiles after winning a competition for free retail space at Midsummer Place shopping centre in Milton Keynes.

The AR HUD market is forecasting annual compound growth of 28 per cent, from 1.6 million units in 2022 to 19.1 million in 2032.

Envisics founder and chief executive Dr Jamieson Christmas said: “We are investing to support our current and future customers worldwide. Building our global team and improving access to key markets are important building blocks in our growth strategy.”

The centre recommends two key services to tackle the most common threats to business: the First Step Web Assessment Service and Security Awareness Training.

The former looks at whether it presents any easy entry points for criminals. The SECRC then provides easy-to-follow steps to secure your website and bolster your company’s defence.

Fire Nest Candles and electric bicycle supplier Fully Charged Silverstone are the winners in the centre’s annual Hatch initiative. More than 20 entered the initial competition in January, of which seven made the final shortlist.

“We are thrilled to be able to give small business a platform to expand,” said Midsummer Place’s marketing manager Kirsty McGriff. “It is incredibly exciting to announce not only one but two winners this year due to the incredibly high talent.

“Midsummer Place continues to support independent businesses and give them opportunities to grow in a high-profile area.”

professionals, police officers and students studying cybersecurity at universities across the South East region.

To get businesses started, the SECRC provides free resources designed to improve your online security, from checklists to Incident Response templates. Download at www.secrc.police.uk/freeinformation-pack

The SECRC provides nine affordable, professional cyber security services that help you to assess, build and manage your businesses cyber security capabilities, understand your vulnerabilities and secure your business.

Security Awareness Training details the latest ways criminals target companies, how to recognise them and what to do to prevent your business from falling victim to them.

Employees are the most important line of defence in preventing a cyber-attack so this training could save your business a lot of time and money.

n To discuss these services or the others available, please choose a convenient time via the booking system. The SECRC is part of a network of Cyber Resilience Centres set up across England and Wales.

Fire Nest Candles, founded in 2019, creates hand-crafted wellness products and offers craft workshops. Fully Charged, pictured below, began as a pop-up at Old Street station in London in 2014. Now Fully Charged Silverstone offers hybrid, eMTB and eCargo electric bikes.

Forum puts net zero in spotlight

Sustainability will again be top of the agenda at this year’s Going Green event hosted by automotive accessory and logistics group vGI Holdings.

The company, based at Kiln Farm, highlighted the journey to net zero at its inaugural event last year which drew delegates from leasing companies, dealer groups, national retailers and fleet management companies to hear speakers including from Transport for London and the Energy Saving Trust as well as accessory suppliers and manufacturers BMW, Mercedes and Maxus.

This year exhibitors will again showcase their latest product and service developments alongside a line-up of leading industry figures as speakers.

n Find out more at www. vgiholdings.com

Sponsors take pride in Pride festival

Its continuing sponsorship of the Milton Keynes Festival is sending a clear message of support for diversity and inclusion, said Volkswagen Group UK.

The group, whose UK headquarters are at Blakelands, is a vocal champion of fully inclusive workplaces. It has sponsored Milton Keynes Pride Festival for the past two years. For its employees and retailer partners, supporting the festival demonstrates the company’s commitment to making everyone feel welcome and included across the organisation, VW Group said. The belief is that nobody should ever feel less than their authentic self at work.

Milton Keynes Pride Festival takes place on September 9 in Campbell Park. It is the Pride event nearest to the company’s headquarters, free to attend and aims to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ people. It also contributes to local projects ranging from educational development programmes to youth groups and Q:Alliance, a local LGBTQ+ charity.

VW staff are expected to take part once again in both the planning of the event and at the festival. The project is being led by the We Drive Proud UK Employee Network Group, which represents LGBTQ+ employees at Volkswagen Group UK, as well as ‘ally’ colleagues in support of their LGBTQ+ teammates.

The group sits within a wider diversity and inclusion programme at Volkswagen Group UK, which includes fellow employee network

>>From page 1.

Mr Duffy said: “It allows us to connect with our customers on a different level. People choose to go shopping and they choose to come to Milton Keynes. When they have that choice, we have to make that choice easier for them - we have to make them want to come here by generating a wider emotional connection with the customer.”

IF is also an opportunity to showcase areas of the city of which even some residents are unaware. Ms Ferguson said: “We have had people who have moved to MK but coming to the festival has made them see more of the city. It has introduced people to spaces that they do not normally see.

“IF is about bringing the community together as well as bringing visitors in. There is an economic impact but there is also raising the sense of community and sense of pride in MK. It is persuading MK people to

groups Driven Women, Cultural Diversity, Disability and Neurodiversity and Parents and Carers.

Penny Weatherup, people director at Volkswagen Group UK, said: “Inclusive workplaces with diverse teams are more innovative, more creative and make better decisions. It is about recognising and respecting our teams, valuing different perspectives and thought processes and making everyone feel welcome.

“This is what we are very passionate about creating at Volkswagen Group UK. That is why we are very happy and

proud to once again be sponsoring the Milton Keynes Pride Festival, for the third year in a row. It is a fantastic event, completely inclusive and great fun.”

To find out more about the Milton Keynes Pride Festival, search for the mkpridefestival accounts on both Instagram and Twitter.

“We are so pleased that Volkswagen Group is once

again supporting our wonderful annual festival,” said festival director Keith Emmett.

“Milton Keynes Pride is an especially inclusive event in the Pride

calendar because it is free to attend - which means that it is truly a celebration of compassion and diversity for everyone.

“As well as providing valuable community support, let’s not forget that it is also huge fun. There will be lots to do and see, in addition to plenty of great music and highly-anticipated stage acts. All of this could not happen without our valued sponsors - their support makes Pride happen.”

n Santander UK is the headline sponsor for the 2023 Milton Keynes Pride Festival

Drew Gibson, head of inclusion, belonging and wellbeing, said: “At Santander our core values champion inclusivity for our people and the communities that we are part of. We are delighted to have been selected again as the headline sponsor for the 2023 Milton Keynes Pride Festival.”

Other sponsors include centre:mk, 12th Street, Milton Keynes Community Foundation, Copart and Plexus Communications.

understand the city in a different way.”

MyMiltonKeynes BID

chief executive Melanie Beck said the festival showcases a different side to Milton Keynes. “IF has a critical role to play. It is huge for our city. We get national coverage from it and people underestimate

just what the festival brings to the city.”

To that end, the BID has funded the £25,000 TV advertising campaign aimed at attracting a broader and more mainstream audience all over the country. “It has never been done before - the festival has always relied on social media,” said Ms Beck.

Retweet

leaves wordsmith on

Copywriter Mr Ellis is on cloud nine after receiving a huge boost from retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis. His Twitter message was one of six weekly winners to receive a retweet from Mr Paphitis during Small Business Sunday. Set up by Mr Paphitis in 2010, Small Business Sunday now has more than 3,500 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK. He retweeted Mr Ellis’s message to more than 500,000 of his Twitter and Instagram followers.

Gareth, who owns the aptly named Cloud Nine Writing, said: “It is great to have support from Theo because it has been tough trying to raise our profile and Theo has recognised our hard work and helped spread the word about what we do to his following. Mr Paphitis said: “My vision is that everyone who has ever won an #SBS re-tweet from me becomes part of a friendly club - like-minded individuals who can share successes and learnings.”

TIME TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE

Monica

Ferguson

‘People underestimate just what IF brings to the city’

Energy expert joins metering specialist

Data and metering specialist IMServ at Linford Wood has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Robert Johnston as data services director. He has worked in senior managerial roles in the telecoms and energy sectors, most recently at SmartestEnergy and TotalEnergies, for 21 years. Mr Johnston, inset, said: “It is more important than ever for businesses to realise the potential for energy efficiency improvements. By integrating data and metering there is a significant opportunity for the UK to make the quick and positive progress that we need to achieve by 2030.”

Law firm revives managing partner role to drive growth

Law firm EMW has announced the appointment of James Geary as its first managing partner in almost two decades.

Mr Geary began his career at EMW as a trainee solicitor, progressing to associate. He spent five years as head of legal at environmental consultancy The Wastepack Group before returning to EMW’s office in Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, as head of commercial.

He became head of business development in 2019.

“EMW is an extremely strong business with fantastic clients and a dedicated and knowledgeable team,” Mr

Geary said. “It is in excellent shape and I look forward to taking the firm forward as managing partner, delivering on an exciting and ambitious growth strategy.”

His expertise in commercial law has seen him advise businesses on trading agreements, competition law, data protection and intellectual property matters.

“James has played a key role in driving the strategic direction of the business for many years and is the ideal person to lead EMW forward,” said EMW’s chair Nick Lloyd. “Given the rapid evolution of the legal market, the management team believe that EMW will best thrive under the stewardship and guidance of a lawyer, reinstating the managing partner role after almost 20 years.”

King’s Birthday Honour for YMCA MK charity stalwart trustee

He has been involved with supporting the homeless in Milton Keynes and Northampton for 40 years. Now the work of Preston Ayres as a trustee and honorary treasurer has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Mr Ayres has received a

British Empire Medal for his work with the YMCA Milton Keynes and Northampton as well as with other charities. He became a YMCA trustee in 1983 and in 1992, while honorary treasurer, was instrumental in the purchase of the freehold of the former YMCA MK buildings in the

city centre. Mr Ayres worked for more than seven years to bring the new campus project to fruition. It opened in 2020 and enables YMCA MK to increase its support for those living on campus and in the wider community.

“I dedicate this award to the amazing staff team who work

Let battle to be the pride of North London commence...

Kick-off for the new football season is only a month away and business centre manager Matt Roberts has revenge on his mind.

Arsenal shirt after losing the bet over which of their teams would finish higher in the 2022-23 Premier League season.

tirelessly every day to help so many young people make a better life for themselves,” Mr Ayres said. YMCA MK chief executive Simon Green added: “This award is well deserved. It is fair to say that without him YMCA MK would not be where it is today.”

A bet is a bet, however painful the result. And painful it was for Mr Roberts, avid Tottenham Hotspur fan and manager at Milton Keynes Business Centre, when the time came to cash in on a bet 12 months ago with tenant Elvis Idegbekwu.

Beaming Mr Idegbeku, managing director of Peach Care Services based in the centre on Linford Wood, is pictured with Mr Roberts as he reluctantly dons an

“It is a sad day indeed as a Tottenham fan when you are paraded around your business centre in an Arsenal shirt,” said Mr Roberts.

Delighted Mr Idegbeku saw his team finish second to Manchester City in last season’s Premier League. Tottenham ended the season in eighth. “Matt Roberts is a man of his word,” he said.

Mr Roberts is confident as the 2023-24 season approaches. “Elvis will be in full Spurs kit paraded around the centre,” he said.

James Geary

MPs

lead the collaboration

Hundreds of visitors took the opportunity to talk to organisations from across Milton Keynes at a networking event hosted by the city’s two MPs.

Iain Stewart and Ben Everitt opened MK Big Chat at the Ridgeway Centre in Wolverton Mill, attracting leading Milton Keynesbased businesses including software company Aiimi, Starship Technologies, which operates the autonomous delivery robots in the city, Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce and Pulse Group Media - publisher of leading business titles Business MK, Business Times in Northamptonshire and the lifestyle magazine MK Pulse. They were joined by the National Lottery and charities including Harry’s Rainbow and Willen Hospice.

conversation

The event began with a series of one-minute spotlight talks by stand holders, a Q&A with the local MPs and a speed networking session to link different groups from across the city. In the afternoon the MK Big Chat was opened up to the public and other organisations invited by the two politicians. MK Big Chat was being held for the first time since 2019. Mr Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South, said: “It was brilliant to see the MK Big Chat successfully return, allowing a wide range of businesses, charities and

organisations from across Milton Keynes to come together under one roof to network and connect. We are fortunate to have such a diverse range of organisations in Milton Keynes but they do not always have the opportunity to meet other organisations so I was pleased to have provided that forum for them.”

Mr Everitt, who represents Milton Keynes North, added: “I am absolutely delighted so many people came along to take part in the MK Big Chat and get Milton Keynes talking. We have such an incredible diverse range of businesses, charities and community groups in MK and it was brilliant getting as many of them as possible under one roof to see how they can work together and support each other.”

Bank gives £1m boost to skills improvement

Fund aims to help employers develop their staff

MK:U, the new model digital and technical initiative with Cranfield University, is partnering with banking giant Santander UK to develop the skills of the future for its workforce and for the local community in the region.

From this year, Santander is to invest more than £1 million in apprenticeship levy funding for use by businesses to upskill and reskill their employees.

The announcement is part of Santander UK’s scholarships, skills and entrepreneurship programme which aims to help people access the educational opportunities and skills they need to fulfil their potential.

MK:U is Santander UK’s

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail

Preparation and planning in good time

As a business owner, you will want to maximise the value realised and minimise your tax bill. Planning should be started as early as possible to groom the business for sale and hence maximise the valuation. Also, the business structure may need to be reorganised to ensure maximum tax efficiency - for example, if the assets include cash/profit surpluses and/or a business property.

The process can take several months at least and possibly much longer if you are not prepared. As the mantra said, if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail...

Appoint

your professional team

It is important that you appoint a team of experienced and trusted professional advisers at an early stage. Your IFA, accountant and solicitor should be consulted on all major decisions affecting your finances and assets, including advising on the sale itself and the postsale planning.

You should also have in place a strong management team prior to the sale. The sale process will take up a lot of your time so you will need others to run the business in the interim. This is also a good selling point for the buyer.

Find

the right buyer

It can be harder than you think to find a suitable buyer for your business.

running an established and successful business – perhaps senior employees in your own business – who want to be their own boss and earn a decent income.

You can then consider engaging a professional adviser to help you to market your business and find the type of buyer you are looking for. Be careful to check their terms of business so the agreed fee structure is sufficiently incentivised, such as a success fee on sale.

Your existing professional advisers (IFA, accountant and solicitor) may also be able to help in finding a buyer.

Get the right deal

Business sales take a variety of forms and a big decision that needs to be made at the outset is whether to proceed by way of an asset sale or a share sale.

In an asset sale, you sell only those assets you want to sell or the buyer wants to buy and you are left to deal with the liabilities that are left behind. Going down the share sale route allows you to sell your business as a whole including all assets and liabilities.

There are also many different types of sale consideration, such as cash, deferred consideration, shares in the buying company and loan notes. There are distinct tax advantages and disadvantages to these structures so it is critical that advice is taken before making a final decision.

strategic education partner and the partnership will see its academics deliver education and training in the company’s new UK headquarters at Unity Place, next to Milton Keynes Central railway station.

“Santander has a long heritage and involvement in education and skills and we recognise that the challenges our country is facing require a new approach if we are to develop the skills tomorrow’s workforce will need,” said Santander UK chairman William Vereker.

“We all have different backgrounds, different skills, different aspirations. Our new programme is designed to help thousands of people to fulfil their potentialwhether they are a budding

entrepreneur with a great business idea, someone in mid-career who is looking to reskill or a young person from an underrepresented community who dreams of going to university.”

MK:U is delivered in partnership by Cranfield University and Milton Keynes City Council. It is designed with and for business, developing the technological and digital skills needed for the future, connecting networks and communities through its Innovation Hub in Milton Keynes.

“We are committed to creating real opportunities, transforming lives and helping to drive economic prosperity across the UK,” Mr Vereker said.

You first need to consider what your future plans are for yourself (for example, retirement) and your business - for example, leaving the business in good hands for future growth.

Passing on your legacy to the right person is a key concern for most business owners. Your plans will then help to identify the type of buyer you are looking for. Examples include:

n A trade/strategic buyer Someone who has a similar business and, by buying your business, will be able to move their business to the next stage.

n A financial buyer A professional investor who is buying with a view to making a profit and may require you to continue to run the business for a period after sale.

n An operational buyer A person

Understand the process

You are likely to sell your business only once in a lifetime and it can be a timeconsuming and stressful experience. It is largely a buyer-driven process and this can be managed with the support of a good professional team. Having a lead negotiator by your side from the start will help to manage relationships with the buyer and its advisers.

The Company Commercial team at Neves Solicitors offer five essential pieces of advice to anyone considering selling their business.

(from left) Jessica Williams - paralegal; Stewart Matthews - managing partner and head of company and commercial; Kim Sayer - associate; Simon Porter - senior associate

MPs Ben Everitt (left) and Iain Stewart at the MK Big Chat event

Minister: Line is a ‘catalyst’ for development

Council assess new route plans

The ‘crucial’ East West Rail line linking Oxford and Cambridge via Milton Keynes and Bedford will be “a catalyst for development in one of Europe’s most vibrant local economies”, said Transport secretary Mark Harper.

He was speaking as the government unveiled an update on the route planned between Bletchley and Cambridge. The route is forecast to unlock more than £100 billion worth of growth through new jobs, businesses and homes.

Businesses have told transport planners that the route cannot open soon enough. East West Rail will provide access to labour, boost productivity and support the ambition for Britain to become a science and technology superpower, they say.

Mr Harper said: “The cities of Oxford and Cambridge are renowned across the globe for their academic excellence - East West Rail will be vital in allowing them to thrive and help to grow the economy.”

Now local authorities along the route are assessing the local implications of the government’s plan, with preparations for public consultations already under way.

Bedford Borough Council is preparing to carry out a detailed review of the proposed EWR route having previously called for a line minimising potential environmental and community disruption in consultations two years ago.

Mayor Tom Wootton said:

“I am appalled at the decision taken by East West Rail and the impact that it is going to have on residents in Bedford town and the northern villages. I will be working tirelessly to urge EWR to reconsider their decision and take into account the people that they are affecting.”

The next stage of the project will be a statutory consultation due to begin next year. Before then, Bedford Borough Council will study the updated proposals, test the evidence presented by EWR and confirm the approach to

Wildlife habitats created across the first connection stage of East West Rail are flourishing following successful ecological compensation measures.

The East West Railway Alliance has created 20 Ecological Compensation Sites along the route between Bicester and Bletchley to protect and reduce the impact to important and protected species and habitats along the line of the railway. Now the East West Railway Company, which is responsible for planning the project between Bletchley and Cambridge, has committed to a target of ten per cent biodiversity net gain across the whole project.

Many of the Ecological Compensation Sites have been transformed from low-

be taken by the council, said a spokesman.

Regional transport body England’s Economic Heartland said the government’s announcement has brought some clarity and enables councils to assess the details of the plan for their respective area.

EEH vice-chair Cllr Liz Leffman said: “East West Rail is a once-in-a-generation

EWR plans ensure that wildlife is a winner

diversity arable land into purpose-built wildlife havens for invertebrates, butterflies, birds, bats, reptiles and amphibians, otters and badgers. They include 45 ponds, badger setts, a bat

n Two species of bat are roosting in a bat house built to replace the Swanbourne Station building. Three further species have been recorded visiting the structure.

n Bat numbers have remained stable since the first surveys in 2021, suggesting bats have coped well with the construction phase.

n All the new ponds have

opportunity to transform the way we travel across the region and indeed the country, providing an attractive and sustainable alternative to the car which is crucial to achieving our net zero ambitions, while supporting economic growth and jobs creation.”

Cllr Steven Broadbent, chair of the East West Main

house, more than 70 bat boxes and planting more than 150,000 plants and trees including black poplar - Britain’s most endangered native timber tree.

EWRA director Mark

confirmed great crested newt populations.

n Ten of the 11 barn owl boxes show evidence of breeding.

n 27 artificial badger setts have all been occupied by badgers, with one in five used for breeding.

n An artificial otter holt is being used regularly by otters.

Line Partnership, said: “Our local authority members will now rightly be looking to understand the implications of the plans so they can represent the views of their residents and businesses accordingly.

“However, while there may understandably be a range of views on the specifics of the scheme, it remains the case that East West Rail will transform

Cuzner said: “Reducing the project’s environmental impact has been a crucial factor in designing and building East West Rail. We are delighted that our Ecological Compensation Sites are proving to be a huge success and there are management plans in place for all of them to ensure they continue to flourish.”

East West Rail’s head of environment Vanessa Hilton said: “It is great to know that these Ecological Compensation Sites are doing well, along with our wider landscape replanting work. Learning from the work that has already been done, and with local interest and nature groups, we are confident we can repeat this success story for the wildlife between Bletchley and Cambridge.”

our region, unlocking new opportunities for people and businesses to flourish.

The East West Main Line Partnership will continue to make a strong case for the connection to Aylesbury, he added. “Clarity is required as soon as possible on this essential link, which was an integral element of the original proposals.”

Payment innovation answers SME prayers

Milton Keynes-based Pay by Bank platform fumopay is improving the financial wellbeing of our small businesses, encouraging our allimportant entrepreneurs to continue to innovate!

Open Banking payments solution fumopay is a bank-agnostic payment platform that provides its users with real time payments.

These account-to-account payments deliver a single ‘mobile first’ payment experience across all channels, eliminating the need for plastic cards, the escalating card processing fees and of course, the risk of card fraud.

In short, fumopay has placed payments in the hands of anyone that owns a mobile phone, allowing them to become a mobile merchant without the need to own a card reader; either by integrating it into their checkout process or by offering QR codes as a payment option in store.

As a FCA-regulated business, fumopay is rooted in a very real understanding of all the financial pain points that are crippling so many small businesses today; late supplier payments which cause bottlenecked cashflow, escalating card processing fees and laborious monthly reconciliations.

fumopay ’s Founder and CEO Kevin Ludford inset said: “This payment innovation is particularly key for small businesses that are generally in desperate need to have their invoices paid on time. They can now simply add a fumopay link to receive instant payments into their bank accounts, reducing the stress and uncertainty of cashflow levels. These small but fundamental features are paramount to the lifeblood of our SMEs.”

With more than 5.5 million SMEs in the UK, it has been reported that around 81% collapse due to cashflow problems. Almost all of these businesses are reliant on getting paid via card payments which is becoming increasingly expensive and laborious.

Every single one of these businesses deserve better; to be paid faster and at a much lower

cost in order to improve their cash positions. This is fumopay ’s primary focus: to support - and ultimately correct - these daunting figures. fumopay has recently launched its XERO integration. Available via the Xero app store, Xero users can add Pay by Bank directly to any Xerogenerated invoice, allowing payers to quickly settle payment without the need to set up a payee with fumopay first.

As well as consolidating the payment process, this integration makes it easier to manage and reconcile payments, as 100% of the invoice value is credited directly to the merchant.

fumopay is offering Business MK readers their first month FREE using code BMK6

Building professional services for the future

We are delighted to announce MPA has acquired EFM Financial Management Limited and Outsource-FD Limited both trading as EFM. As we expand our professional services, MPA can offer even more value to our clients and SME businesses.

ABOUT EFM

EFM was established in 2000 as a cost-effective, outsourcing solution for entrepreneurial businesses that did not have the in-house capability or access to a high level of financial expertise.

In 2010, EFM launched a major expansion initiative and successfully licensed the brand and business model, creating a network of highly skilled financial professionals. Both companies are located throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

‘We are delighted to be joining MPA and contributing to their vision and plans to expand their professional services group,” said Gary Jesson, Director at EFM.

“Whilst the services and structure of the EFM associate network in UK and Ireland remains unchanged, the acquisition will provide our clients, referrers and associates with an enhanced financial management service offering without compromising standards and quality.

“Both EFM and MPA share similar

cultures and values which will be hugely beneficial to our clients, colleagues, and wider stakeholders.”

THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF FULLY SUPPORTING SMEs

In our five-year strategy, we aim to expand our services and to significantly increase the value we provide to our clients. This is at the core of MPA’s vision: ‘To see a thriving UK economy fuelled by research and innovation.’ There have been multiple shocks to the UK’s economy and society as a result of global events. Consequently, business leaders are having to navigate their organisations through increasing uncertainty and complexity in order to survive and thrive.

Defining and implementing strategies which deliver stability and growth in challenging times is easier with the support, clarity and certainty offered by MPA and EFM.

“I am delighted to add the EFM companies to our group here at MPA,” said Mike Price, Director at MPA. “EFM and MPA complement each other perfectly, giving a more comprehensive package of services for SMEs from startup through scale-up and on to eventual exit.”

Gary Jesson

Mike Price

It is a multi-million pound never-before-seen collection of rare, valuable and exotic Aston Martin sports cars that has come together at Aston Martin Works.

Aston Martin Works, the historic home in Newport Pagnell of the sports car maker and the place where around 13,000 cars were hand-built over 50 years, now provides both new and heritage cars sales services to collectors worldwide.

Over the past few months, the business has been carefully curating this selection of modern classics created by Aston Martin over the last 15 years.

“Pulling together this collection of our more recent rarities - including our first true hypercar - has been a long and careful labour of love and I am thrilled that we have finally been able to unite these Aston Martins for what I believe to be is the first time in a sales context,” said Aston Martin Works’ general sales manager Justin Pearce. “The phrase ‘spoilt for choice’ I think quite rightly springs to mind. I believe it is highly unlikely we will see this particular grouping of the marque’s modern classics together again in a showroom anywhere in the world

For sale: The ultimate set of modern classics

anytime soon and it seems to me only fitting that they are offered to the market at the historic home of the brand.”

The cars on show include the One-77, the most exclusive Aston Martin of the ‘Gaydon era’, of which there are only 77 unique examples.

Unveiled in 2009, the £1 million 7.3-litre V12 One-77 was revealed as the fastest Aston Martin yet created,

with a top speed of 220 mph.

The V12 Zagato was launched in 2011 as the modern successor to past Zagato Aston Martins. The 190 mph 6.0-litre model won the Concorso d’Eleganza trophy and two endurance racing versions finished fifth and sixth overall in the annual 24-hour race on the challenging Nurburgring circuit in Germany.

Electric pioneer signs first council contract

Electrification and upcycling specialist

Lunaz has won its first contract with a local authority to convert its refuse collection fleet to electric power.

The Silverstone-based company’s chief executive David Lorenz, right, is pictured with Cllr Gareth Williams, cabinet member for climate change at Buckinghamshire Council, to take delivery of the first of the council’s vehicles to be upcycled.

Work has begun to convert the 26-tonne refuse vehicle from its existing diesel power, with delivery to be made in the autumn.

Only 100 Vantage GT12 cars were manufactured but each combined Aston Martin’s learning from its years of sports car competition to be its most performance-focused roadgoing Vantage, powered by a 6.0-litre V12 engine. The Vantage GT8, unveiled a year later in 2016, was the lightest and most powerful V8 Vantage then offered.

The work is being funded with a grant from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

The change, which will eventually transform the council’s entire refuse collection fleet, will reduce running costs, help to improve air quality and is a significant step in Buckinghamshire Council’s goal to run a

more sustainable fleet using renewable energy.

Cllr Williams said: “This is a very exciting moment and a big milestone in our journey to cutting our carbon emissions and meeting our climate change strategy ambitions. It also reflects our commitment as a council, to supporting local business and employment in the area.”

The deal with Buckinghamshire Council follows waste management company Biffa agreeing a seven-year deal with Lunaz to electrify its entire 1,100-vehicle fleet.

Mr Lorenz said: “Lunaz is proud to unlock the power of upcycling to provide local authorities and waste management companies with electric refuse trucks that represent a dramatically better outcome for both the planet and the taxpayer.”

The work will support around 300 jobs at Lunaz’s factory on Silverstone Technology Park, he added.

Improve your business and change your life

Q: So, tell me about The Alternative Board.

At TAB we help business owners to improve their business in ways that change their lives. To Live better, Lead better and Achieve more.

We often hear from business owners who feel they can’t properly share their challenges with their employees, consultants or even friends or family. In fact, many business owners use the phrase: “It’s lonely at the top”.

TAB solves this problem by providing;

n A confidential, safe environment to work ON your business, not IN it;

n 1-2-1 sessions to help you make better decisions faster to and ensure you act on them;

n Online tools, resources and global contacts to help you think, communicate and lead better.

We believe that the best advice for business owners is from other business owners. The only agenda at our boardroom table is that of fellow business owners who want to help each other.

Q: Why did you get involved?

I started my first company with my business partner in 2002 - two guys in a garage. We grew rapidly and before long there were

staff, bigger offices, more stock, more equipment, higher targets, more pressure…

Our first company failed (that’s the short version of a much longer story with a painful learning curve!) but our second succeeded, spectacularly, and we sold it in 2021.

We’d built two award-winning global brands in the professional audio industry and our products feature in recording studios around the world, being used on many of the songs downloaded or streamed today.

It was a rollercoaster ride and, ultimately, very rewarding financially but what was the true cost? The people that we loved and the things we loved to do had been pushed to the back of the queue.

Looking back, I believe that it could have been a smoother ride with some external support. That’s what TAB offers to business owners.

Although retirement was an option, I feel I still have lots to give and that’s why I enjoy my TAB business now. Besides, I don’t play golf...

Q: How do business owners find out more about TAB?

A 30-minute, no-obligation conversation over a coffee is normally enough to find out about each other’s businesses and to see if there might be a good fit going forward.

Owning and running a business is unlike anything else. There can be nothing more exciting. But it can be a heavy load. I know because I’ve been there! My name is Phil Smith and I’m the owner of The Alternative Board for Milton Keynes and Leighton Buzzard. At

owners to ‘Live better, Lead better and Achieve more’. So what’s stopping you?

Call me on 0777 169 2416 or email me at

Photo: Max Earey

Money Matters

Back to basics: A return to normal investment conditions

Jason Stather-Lodge, of OCM Wealth Management, gives investors reasons to be optimistic.

Investors have been hit by a series of ‘once in a lifetime’ events in recent years, with Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and record inflation challenging the long-held industry views on how investments should be managed. The traditional barbell approach to investing which involves a balance between. non-equity and equity assets, has failed dramatically in recent years while exceptional levels of market volatility has brought long-hold, more static strategies which ‘ride the market roller coaster’ into question.

A changing investment backdrop in recent years has forced a shift in market behaviour, changing the way asset managers invest. Between 2013 and 2018, market conditions allowed asset managers to generate strong risk-adjusted returns by rotating in and out of cyclical assets with cash and government debt also generating returns, boosting portfolio performance. However, with rising geopolitical risk, a global pandemic and soaring inflation, the regime has shifted away from managing assets towards managing risk, with all assets becoming toxic. Asset managers had to be more active in managing risk in order to protect clients from excessive market turbulence.

positive returns for investors. To explain why, we must review what has driven key asset class performance in recent years and how conditions are beginning to change.

Non-Equity Focus: Corporate Bonds and Government Debt

Mounting headwinds saw central banks ride to the rescue, injecting huge sums of stimulus to prevent an economic collapse. They did this under Quantitative Easing programmes, which meant that as well as buying their own government debt, central banks were also buying corporate debt to help maintain market liquidity.

Those corporate debt assets have since been progressively sold back into the market, soaking up liquidity and causing the assets to fall in value as supply was outstripping demand.

In the UK, the Bank of England has moved all of its QE Corporate Bond assets back into the market - a positive signal as supply will no longer outstrip demand.

The result is that UK corporate debt is now starting to look positive as an asset class and we expect returns to turn positive in the months ahead. The other asset class that central banks bought in their QE programmes was government debt,

which is directly influenced by rising interest rates. These are traditionally considered low-risk, secure assets; however in a period of rapid interest rate increases (compounded by political uncertainty last year), they have been anything but. As UK interest rates have risen from 0.25pc in March 2020 to 4.5pc in late June with the majority of rate hikes coming in the past 12 months, there has been a significant drop in valuations by up to 26pc in the last two years. This is a significant decline in value for what is supposed to be a safe asset. However, as we approach peak interest rates in the UK in the coming months (accepting that they could go above 5pc if inflation remains stubborn) and if we compare the outlook now to the 4pc rise in the last 12 months, we expect returns on this asset class to improve. We believe that returns of at least 5pc are possible as the market normalises.

Equity Focus

Equity assets have been extremely volatile since the end of 2018 but particularly since Covid erupted in 2020. While recession was typically the base-case scenario for key developed economies such as the USA, Eurozone and UK, we are now seeing robust labour markets

At OCM, our mandate focuses on shielding investors from excess volatility within financial markets, with a focus on achieving the ‘outcome’ over the long term. In doing so, we remain dynamic in our asset allocation, acting swiftly to reduce risk and protect the ‘outcome’ during periods of market stress.

Over a tumultuous three-year period, the above chart shows how OCM’s macroeconomic overlay with a keen focus on our client’s investment objectives have resulted in a strong outperformance against our benchmark, with this buffer being maintained during a volatile 2022 as we took a significant riskoff approach in February. Our fundamental view remains

and strong consumer demand with recessionary risks abating as high levels of employment keeps demand stronger than anticipated.

Even in a period of high inflation, this stronger demand is expected to lead to a recovery in global equity indices as confidence grows that the future is a normalising global cycle rotating though recession, recovery, expansion and slowdown rather than a recession which leads to high levels of unemployment and demand destruction. In that environment, we would expect equity returns to average between 8pc and 15pc as an annualised return, averaged over a full economic cycle.

that all assets, apart from cash, are subject to a varying degree of risk during different phases of a full economic cycle. We therefore remain dynamic in our asset allocation, focusing on how we can achieve our desired outcome rather that attempting to beat the market. The effectiveness of OCM’s strategy during changing market environments is clear to see. We believe financial markets demand a more active approach in order to navigate all market conditions, with deglobalisation and ongoing geopolitical tensions likely to result in further need to cyclically rotate the portfolio between different asset classes and geographically to deliver the expected returns.

interest rates peaking, no further geopolitical escalation and global economies transitioning through the standard phases in a normal economic cycle, we would expect returns on portfolios in the coming three to five years to average as follows:

n Cautious 4pc-5pc

n Cautious Balanced 6pc-7pc

n Balanced 8pc-9pc Returns tend to increase with higher risk levels as a greater element of the barbell is weighted towards equity assets and their contribution is traditionally greater in normal market conditions.

Give your pension a boost...

Call in the DB SSAS

Are you a business owner or a business executive? Do you have an underfunded pension? Would you like to pay a lot more into your pension and could your business or your employer afford much larger contributions?

The Chancellor’s decision to increase the Annual Allowance for pension contributions to £60,000 a year at the last Budget was very welcome but that still leaves some people with underfunded pensions for a variety of reasons.

One little known way to overcome this disadvantage is to set up a type of pension scheme known as a Defined

Benefit Small Self Administered Scheme or DB SSAS for short. Because the funding rules are totally different to a money purchase or Defined Contribution Scheme, this means that annual contributions can be increased by on average 2.6 times. This equates to £156,000 a year per member. That is a substantial uplift, especially for a married couple who can invest £312,000 a year between them.

A SSAS is a type of pension scheme which is particularly suited to SME business owners and key staff members. It offers a number of attractive benefits including self-

Assuming therefore we are at a point of market normalisation, with no new Covid spikes, inflation subsiding,

Source: Reuters

n To discuss how OCM Wealth Management can help you, call 01604 621467 to talk to one of our Wealth Managers.

While this has resulted in a challenging period for investors, the good news is that we now see a normalisation of market conditions on the horizon. Interest rates are moving back to their long-term average of 3.5 to 5 per cent in the UK, while central banks are offloading the assets purchased to maintain market liquidity in recent years. As a result, it is our view that we are returning to a point where the barbell approach to managing assets will again generate Past performance cannot be used as a guide to future performance and the value of your investment will fall as well as rise in value. You may not get back all of your investment and the final value of your investment will depend on the performance of your portfolio. The actual performance of an individual client’s portfolio may differ due to different funds being used and being restricted in relation to certain asset allocations. Performance figures quoted include fund manager charges but exclude adviser, discretionary, custodian and switch charges. Unless stated, income is reinvested into the portfolio. The information contained in this document is for information purposes only. It does not constitute advice or a recommendation or an offer or solicitation for investment.

If you are interested in ways to significantly boost your pension, take advantage of a one-hour Discovery Meeting either at our offices or by a video conference call at our expense worth £270 to each of the first three readers who contact us before July 31 2023. You know it makes sense. We offer a great cup of coffee too.

Tony Byrne

investment in commercial property and shares and even loans to the business itself.

A business may have multiple SSAS contracts for individual staff members but it is more usual to have one scheme which all of the

members join. The members are usually appointed trustees too so they have much more control over the management of the SSAS than for most other pension schemes such as Self Invested Personal Pensions or SIPPs.

Ring us on 01908 523740, for free on 0800 980 4516 or email wealth@wealthandtax.co.uk and quote July2023 offer to book your free discovery meeting.

The power of creating a platform for charities

Nicholas Mann, chair of MKBLP, reflects on how the partnership’s members have worked together to provide £50,000 worth of funding and support for MK Food Bank

Yes, we can... World record is in Food Bank’s sights

MK Food Bank is set to launch an exciting, new initiative - MK CAN - which aims to mobilise the entire Milton Keynes Community, and support the thousands of households in crisis, by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous line of cans of food.

Every year, through the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards, a light is shone on businesses across the city. We come together to celebrate success, applaud entrepreneurialism, innovation and inspire a legion of others to enter the awards over subsequent years.

What we do not always see or hear about is the ripples of support and ensuing collaborations many months after scooping one of the coveted MKBAA awards can yield. That was until Louisa Hobbs, MK Food Bank’s operations manager, spoke at a MKBLP event and highlighted the massive wave of time, support and funding which followed MK Food Bank’s triumph in the Charity of the Year category at MKBAA 2022. The cause of MK Food Bank was elevated to a larger audience, she said, and not just to the 600plus people who filled the room at Stadium MK. The word spread far and wide among our strong business networks.

A subsequent speaking event at a MKBLP breakfast just a few months later and the plight of MK Food Bank - and Louisa’s growing concern for the people of Milton Keynes in the wake of soaring

demand for the charity’s services amidst the alarming cost of living crisis – reached all corners of our business community.

The impact which followed the MKBAA Charity of the Year award win and the subsequent introduction to MKBLP was significant.

Through direct funding and in-kind support from members, MK Food Bank has received, or is set to receive, around £50,000. This funding alone could cover the operation costs of the Food Bank – including keeping vans operating and paying for staff and bills - for one quarter of the year. Or it could enable 3,000 people to receive food parcels or select items from the charity’s top-up shop.

It has not only been donations of food or funding from businesses, though. Many pledged their support in other ways which has made a significant difference to the running of the Food Bank. Web design agency Red Giraffe has built a brand new website for free and continues to offer ongoing support, which is saving MK Food Bank thousands of pounds, along with valuable training.

Along with paying the fuel costs of the Food Bank’s vehicles every month, The Holiday Inn Central

Milton Keynes held a recipe competition for schools and the winning dish was made up into recipe packs which are available through the charity’s top-up shop.

As well as donating food every month, regional law firm Howes Percival teamed up with friends at chartered accountants Mercer and Hole, connectivity provider AFL Hyperscale, Milton Keynes College, All Things Business and specialist care provider PJ Care to walk 25 miles for the Food Bank, raising an incredible £10,300.

A meeting with Angie Novell, chief executive of fellow charity MK Snap, has led to a long-term collaboration

Report reveals £58m contribution to UK economy by overseas students

International students bring gross economic benefit of more than £41 billion to the UK, said new research, with almost £42 million generated by students at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire.

The report, commissioned by Universities UK International, shows that even when accounting for impacts on public services, the economic benefits of hosting international students brings a total net benefit of £37.4 billion to the UK economy.

On average, international students make a £58 million net economic contribution per constituency, equivalent to around £560 per citizen, the report said.

Cranfield University welcomes around 5,000 overseas students from more than 100 countries each year. Vice-Chancellor and chief executive Professor Karen

Professor Karen Holford

Holford said: “When I walk around campus, what strikes me is the vibrancy of our student community with people from across the globe coming together for a shared experience, learning from one

which supports both charities. Swedish bank Handelsbanken’s Milton Keynes team operates a corporate driving rota for the mobile top-up shop and quickly reacted by heading to the shops to buy food when the Food Bank hit a crisis in March and emergency packs ran out.

These are just some examples of how MKBLP members and other businesses continues to step up and support MK Food Bank.

Of course, we cannot become complacent. The recent shocking reports in the national media about Food Bank use in the UK - from news that the military are now relying on food parcels as the cost of living continues to bite to the fact that 90 per cent of UK food banks are at risk of turning people away due to the ever increasing numbers of people turning to them - demonstrates the growing reliance many have on these charities. I am also aware of other worthy charities across the city working hard every day to support those who need help within our community and beyond and the fantastic support which is offered to them by local organisations.

However, we can not take away

another, supporting each other and making connections for life.

“International students bring benefits not just to campus but to wider society and the UK economy, as this report shows. They put nearly ten times more into the economy than they take out, boosting both local and national economic wellbeing. We highly value their contribution to our community.”

The UUKI report adds that overseas students bring cultural and social benefit as well as having an economic impact.

“It is vital that the UK remains an open and welcoming destination for international students and that their contribution is recognised and valued,” said UUKI director Jamie Arrowsmith.

“Higher education is one of the UK’s most important and successful exports but it is truly unique in that alongside generating a significant economic contribution to the UK our universities have a hugely positive global impact, creating opportunity for millions of learners and helping address some of the most pressing global challenges.”

Currently standing at just over 90,000, MK Food Bank hopes to smash the record with an ambitious target of a 10km line, equating to more than 130,000 tins. The charity has called for businesses, community groups and parish councils to each adopt a section.

MK CAN will be launched on July 5 at 5pm in Campbell Park. For more details, email admin@mkfoodbank.org.uk

from the power of creating a platform for these organisations and I am delighted that both MKBAA and MKBLP provided that platform for MK Food Bank.

When Louisa Hobbs stepped up in front of MKBLP members during a breakfast event at Bletchley Park last summer, she recognised perhaps two or three faces. 12 months on, it is a different story. In the intervening time she has met so many members and their teams and created fantastic connections which have developed into incredibly impactful partnerships which continues to support MK Food Bank today.

Louisa Hobbs (left) and colleagues celebrate MK Food Bank’s award at last year’s Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards

Fantastic connections have developed into incredibly impactful partnerships

Simply the best: Expo does the business for city

Exhibitors and visitors alike have been full of praise for the number of delegates, quality of conversations and slick organisation in the run-up to and on the day of Your Business Expo Milton Keynes. Almost 100 companies manned stands at the exhibition, held in The Ridgeway Centre at Wolverton Mill, which welcomed around 400 visitors to the exhibition itself, a series of incisive and thought-provoking seminars and to both breakfast and

lunchtime networking.

“We had such a blast running the networking sessions,” said Business Buzz regional organiser Leigh Frost who led the sessions. “It was lovely to see that all the hard work paid off with so many people coming to attend.”

Your Business Expo, organised by Pulse Group Media - publisher of the area’s respected business newspaper Business MK and popular lifestyle magazine MK Pulse - followed hot

on the heels of a similarly successful Your Business Expo in Northampton earlier this year.

“We are all still on such a high,” said Pulse Group Media director Kerry Lewis-Stevenson. “We are a small team who care about our clients

and the local business community, which is why we are trying through our Your Business Expos to bring businesses together for the benefit of everyone. We support local business via our publications in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire and our expos are a face-to-face extension of promoting those businesses.”

Work is already under way preparing for the next Your Business Expo, which takes place in Bedford

at Bedford Heights business centre on Brickhill Drive on November 8. The day begins with a breakfast networking event at 8.30am before the Expo itself opens its doors between 10am and 3pm. Find out more and book an exhibition stand at www.yourbusinessexpo.co.uk

Now take a look back at Your Business Expo Milton Keynes in pictures and through the eyes of some of the exhibitors and visitors on the day.

“The best Business Expoever! Thank you for organising...”

STEPHEN MILLER Eighty20 Group

“Just what the business community needs, to get out and build their profile...”

STEVE REES Activate Business Development

“A fun show...I left there as buzzing and tired as if I had done a show in London...”

STEPHEN LLOYD Consultant

“Wonderful to see so many like-minded business owners all pushing each other on...”

GEORGE DAVIES George Davies Turf

The business networking events this month across Milton

Networking lunch.

AYLESBURY

2nd Tuesday 12 noon-2pm: Online

MILTON KEYNES

2nd Thursday 12 noon-2pm: Online

BUCKINGHAM

3rd Tuesday 12 noon-2pm: Online

CAPPUCCINO CONNECTIONS

4th Thursday 10am-12 noon: Online

Contact: Anna Atkins-Carter, regional director North Bucks / West Chilterns. 07540 097776, email anna.atkinscarter@theathenanetwork.com or visit www.theathenanetwork.com

BEDFORD

2nd Wednesday 12 noon-2pm: Online

SOUTH & EAST BEDFORDSHIRE

4th Tuesday 12 noon-2pm: Online

WOBURN

3rd Thursday 12 noon-2pm: Online

Contact: Kate Cherry, regional director Bedfordshire & St Albans. 07909 675333 email kate. cherry@theathenanetwork.com or visit www. theathenanetwork.com

July 11, 25 7am-8.30am: Villiers Hotel, Buckingham Breakfast meeting + speaker. Visitors: £10. More details: www.bucks-fizz.biz

Keynes, North Bucks and Bedfordshire

BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

8.30am-10am

Breakfast networking, sponsored by LSIP. Free event.

MK CHAMBER BIRTHDAY BARBECUE

3rd Friday, 7am-9am

Astral Park, Leighton Buzzard

Breakfast networking with speaker. Price: £13. Contact: info@buzzardnetworking.co.uk or visit www.buzzardnetworking.co.uk

12 noon-2pm

Celebrate the tenth anniversary of the formation of the current Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce. Price £10 + VAT. Chamber members and non-members welcome Book at www.chambermk.co.uk/events

Regional sponsor: Business MK and Business2Business

No fuss, no membership, pay as you go... The Business Buzz format is relaxed, informal, conversational B2B networking. Town focused events meet face-to-face, allowing visitors to build better, more robust relationships. These are complemented by regional virtual events.

All Business Buzz events run 10am-noon

BRACKLEY

1st Thursday: Paisley Pear, Northampton Road.

MILTON KEYNES

3rd Friday: Pop World, Lower 12th Street, Central Milton Keynes.

BEDFORD

1st Wednesday: George & Dragon, Mill Street

BIGGLESWADE

2nd Wednesday: The Crown Hotel, High Street.

July 5 7.30am-9am:

YMCA Milton Keynes, North Sixth Street, Milton Keynes

Networking breakfast event hosted by the longest-established breakfast networking club in Milton Keynes.

Speakers: Tony Knaggs - Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce; Tim Davies pictured below, Lucy Davies - Camphill MK. Book at www.citybreakfastclub.co.uk

Networking events provide a platform to meet and build relationships with peers and fellow members. The group also hosts personal development sessions, with talks from business leaders.

YOUR NETWORK IS YOUR NET WORTH

July 11 5.30pm-7pm

CONNECT OVER COFFEE

July 5 10am-11.45am:

Brooklands Residents Association, Garden Leys, Leighton Buzzard

Networking event hosted with Buzzard Networking + an update on the benefits of Chamber membership. Free event for Chamber members; non-members £25.

To book on to Chamber events, visit www.chamber-business.com/events

Price: £6, payable in advance on the Business Buzz Booking App https://app.business-buzz. org/app or at the event.

EAST MIDLANDS

1st Friday: Online. Price: £10

BEDFORDSHIRE

4th Tuesday: Online

Price: £10, payable in advance on the Business Buzz Booking App https://app.business-buzz. org/app or at the event.

MILTON KEYNES VIRTUAL NETWORKING

July 14 10am-11am: Online.

Speaker: Francis West, chief executive of WestTek Security Everywhere LTD. Subject: Protect your business from cyber attacks. Free event for FSB members and nonmembers.

BEDFORDSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE & HERTFORDSHIRE VIRTUAL NETWORKING

July 20 10am-11am: Online.

Speaker: Sunny Singh pictured below, group commercial director at Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes Chambers of Commerce. The session will provide tips on impactful pitching; building a referral network; championing personal brand; winning new business; networking online versus face to face. Followed by a Q&A session. Free event. To book, email info@nextgenerationchamber.co.uk Find out more about NextGen Chamber at www.nextgenerationchamber.co.uk

If you are serious about growing your business, BNI works. Last year BNI members in the UK generated more than £482 million worth of business for each other. To find out how, visit a local chapter meeting and see for yourself. Each chapter has a personality of its own and finding where you fit best helps you get connected.

DIAMOND

Tuesday 6.45am: Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two

Mile Ash

APOLLO

Wednesday 10am: MK Gallery

PHOENIX

Friday 9.45am: The Bedford Golf Club

ENCORE

Friday 6.45am: Holiday Inn London Luton

More information: www.bni.co.uk Airport

PIONEER

Wednesday 9.30am: Online meetings

More information: www.bni.co.uk

Business networking and referral group.

Price: £6.

MILTON KEYNES

2nd Thursday, 7.30am-9.30am:

Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two Mile Ash

VIRTUAL NETWORKING

Tuesday Brunch

2nd Tuesday, 9.30am-11am

Wednesday Breakfast

4th Wednesday, 7.30am

Thursday Breakfast

3rd Thursday, 7.30am

Friday Breakfast

2nd Friday, 7.30am

THE ACCOUNTABILITY CIRCLE

Monday 10am-11am: Online

A regular virtual meeting helping small businesses get tasks from ‘to do’ to ‘done’. Advice and tips on time management and productivity.

Price: £6 per session or £12 per month. More information: www.buscomm.co.uk

Alt. Fridays 7am:

Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two Mile Ash Networking breakfast with speaker. Price: £15. Contact: www.businessgrowthclub.co.uk or Mark Orr 07903 655169.

Networking + an update on the benefits of FSB membership. Free event for FSB members and non-members.

To book on to FSB events, visit www.fsb.org.uk

12 noon-2pm, networking lunch.

Bedford & Ampthill

1st Tuesday: The Swan Hotel, The Embankment, Bedford / Online

Leighton Buzzard

IMPROVING DIVERSITY

July 19 1.30pm-4pm

Cranfield University

How businesses can help to protect insect populations, which are in serious decline but are essential for the planet’s ecosystem. Speakers tbc.

Free event for GBN members, non-members £35. To book, email info@greenbusinessnetwork.co.uk or visit www.greenbusinessnetwork.co.uk.

3rd Wednesday: The Dukes, Heath & Reach / Online

Luton

2nd Monday: South Beds Golf Club, Warden Hills Road / Online

Sandy & Biggleswade

1st Wednesday: Stratton House Hotel, Biggleswade

Contact: Louise Yexley on 07989 020647, email louise.yexley@wibn.co.uk or visitwibn.co.uk

Milton Keynes

1st Tuesday: The Brasserie at Milton Keynes College, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley

Contact: Edith Samambwa on 07802 581838, email edith.samambwa@wibn.co.uk or visit www.wibn.co.uk

BUSINESS SHOWCASE

July 7 10am-1pm

Kents Hill Park Training & Conference Centre Exhibition stands sold out, free admission for visitors. Preceded by

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS EVENT OR NETWORKING GROUP IN BUSINESS MK - THE AREA’S LEADING BUSINESS NEWSPAPER

<< Scan the QR code or send details to editor Andrew Gibbs at news@pulsegroupmedia.co.uk

NETWORKING PICNIC

July 12 12 noon: Wavendon Community Centre, Walton Road WiE members and non-members welcome. Free event for WiE members; guests/ non-members £5.

To book, visit www.womeninenterprise.co.uk

Aerospace giant wins green light for relocation

Central Bedfordshire Council has approved Marshall Aerospace’s Outline Planning Application, paving the way for the relocation of its UK headquarters to a new facility at Cranfield University.

The approval of the OPA validates the general principles of site development for the uses proposed by Marshall and enables the business to begin detailed design work for the first phase of its development at Cranfield in preparation for a Reserved Matters planning application.

Marshall Group chief executive Kathy Jenkins said: “Central Bedfordshire Council’s planning team and Cranfield University have been invaluable partners and supporters of our shared vision for the future of our aerospace business.

“We are also very grateful to the residents and representatives of local communities for their engagement throughout the consultation process.”

Dialogue will continue as the plans progress, she added.

Professor Karen Holford, Vice-Chancellor and chief executive of Cranfield University, welcomed the news: “The relocation of Marshall Aerospace will bring to the region new opportunities for collaboration in research and innovation, as well as raising the aspiration for skills development.”

Once established in its new facility and running at capacity, the Aerospace business is expected to employ up to 1,200 people, many in the skilled hands-on aircraft maintenance along with support and managerial roles.

King’s Awards for Enterprise: Apply now

The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious awards for UK businesses, recognising and rewarding their outstanding achievements in the fields of Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity.

Tech incubation: Turning disruptive ideas into exciting new businesses

Like any good technology incubator, Cranfield University ensure that its start-up tenants have access to the support and resources they need to survive in the early stages, to grow, gain traction in target markets and prosper. Incubators are nothing new. It is estimated that there are more than 7,000 incubators worldwide, with around 1,000 in Europe alone. So why choose Cranfield University?

The facility’s dominant focus on aerospace and aviation technology attracts innovators in these sectors. It already has a proven track record in nurturing hightechnology businesses. But there is more to it than that.

Cranfield University is the number one in Europe for aerospace research. It has unrivalled links with industry and long-term partnerships with sector leaders including Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing and Rolls Royce. Plus it has its very own airport, making it a centre for sector research of truly global significance and influence.

Cranfield’s Eagle Lab technology incubator was founded by the university in partnership with Barclays Bank in 2019. AVIATE+ was launched in 2021, with the support of £1.2 million from Research England.

Both the Eagle Lab technology incubator and

AVIATE+ scale-up facility provide early-stage businesses with the space and technical facilities they need to grow through the university’s sharing of knowledge and innovation. These facilities offer fledgling businesses access to fully equipped Maker Space with lab engineers or private workshops for larger scale prototyping and support on product development pathways and future growth strategies. All resident businesses have access to business support, mentoring and networking opportunities as well as updates on available sources of potential funding.

We asked Christine Lucas, Barclays ecosystem manager at Eagle Lab Cranfield, and Nicola Stelling, business development officer at AVIATE+, about the services they offer to tenants, what makes them different and the companies they work with.

“As a dedicated service that

is built within a university environment, the advantages brought by academic expertise cannot be overlooked,” said Ms Stelling. “The university in particular provides access to world class academic research, the global research airport - including DARTeC, the digital aviation research and technology centre - and highly skilled graduates, which all combine to bring significant competitive advantage.”

Ms Lucas added: “This advantage, being focused on aerospace and avtech, coupled with Barclays’ centuries-long experience of supporting small business, means that Cranfield Eagle Lab really does offer start-ups the complete support package they need at that early stage. Yes, we have commercially attractive office space and suitably equipped workshops but we are about a whole lot more than just space.”

Apply for the 2024 Awards before 1pm on September 12. The Awards programme is open to almost all UK businesses and notfor-profit organisations. Whether a small business with a great innovative product or service or a larger company running an

impressive social mobility programme, a King’s Award is a prestigious way to recognise your contribution to enterprise.

Past winners in Central Bedfordshire include iCandy and VEXO International for Innovation and FAI Automotive and Peli Bio Thermal in the International Trade category, to name just a few. Winners have enjoyed global recognition as an outstanding British brand through the use of the Royal Emblem and have reported increased sales and business growth, including overseas markets, as a result of receiving the award.

n The application process is free and available online and eligible businesses can apply for an award in more than one category. Find out more www.gov.uk/kings-awards-forenterprise.

Free advice for agricultural sector

The Farming Resilience Fund provides business support to farmers and land managers in the first few years of adapting to agricultural transition. Support is free if your business currently receives direct payments and is designed to help you make the right business choices for the future.

For a list of organisations providing free business support to farmers in Central

Bedfordshire visit the DEFRA website. It details the support available, from group workshops through to farm visits and one-to-one advice. These organisations are known and trusted in the farming community. Advisers can help farmers to:

n Understand how farming in England is changing;

n Identify how and when to change your business;

n Seek tailored support.

n To learn about funding opportunities or talk one-on-one with a generic Business Adviser, SEMLEP Growth Hub can also help. https://www.semlep.com/rural-support/ or call the Defra helpline 0345 933 5577.

Voucher support for businesses

If your business has been affected by the fall-out from Covid-19, you can apply for the Digital Future First voucher support scheme.

More than anything else, the pandemic has shown us that if businesses want to succeed, it is absolutely essential for them to have a strong, efficient digital-first

attitude and be able to offer best-in-class services.

The Voucher Support Scheme is offering a £1,000 discount, which can be put towards the cost of crucial website design, e-commerce growth, digital marketing and SEO services. The Digital Future First programme is part-funded by the European Social Investment Fund.

n Read this article in full and learn more about the businesses based at Eagle Lab and AVIATE+. Visit www.becentralbedfordshire.co.uk/cb/technology-incubation-case-study/

n Find out more at www.digitalfuturefirst.co.uk/vouchersupport-scheme-for-businesses.

Central Bedfordshire Council, through its Be Central Bedfordshire website and services, provides a wealth of support and information to help all businesses, either established or new to the area, to thrive and grow.

The control room at Cranfield’s DARTeC digital research and technology centre

Continuing

our series of articles on some of the inspirational businesses in Central Bedfordshire, this month we visit the technology incubators based in the area - in particular those playing a vital role in growing the aerospace and aviation technology businesses of the future.

The AVIATE+ building at Cranfield

Business2Business

Minister: Focus on quality will take farming into a new era

Cutting-edge technology, prioritising food security and producing food of the highest quality is taking UK agriculture to a bright future and a growth rate similar to that immediately after the Second World War, the government’s food, farming and fisheries minister has told an audience of farmers, advisers and food producers.

“We are the holders of the baton in our sector,” MP Mark Spencer said. He and his government colleagues believe that current support schemes are key to UK farming’s development.

Delivering the East of England Agricultural Society’s annual lecture at Shuttleworth College near Old Warden, Mr Spencer said: “It is not always people but events that drive innovation in agriculture. World War Two drove huge innovation with the government solely focused on winning the war, which included feeding the nation. This policy led us to feeding the whole of Europe, which we did quite successfully for 80 years.”

Now the UK faces postpandemic challenges, the war in Ukraine and the

ongoing climate crisis. “The government at the time was focused on the need to feed and I wonder what historians will think for 2022/23.”

Mr Spencer was back on his old stomping ground and the Shuttleworth College alumnus took part in 90 minutes of discussion about agriculture’s future. “This is not an easy challenge,” he said. “But we believe in government that we have four key tools in the box - Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Sustainable Farming Incentive, Capital Grants and landscape recovery.”

EEAS member Amelia Rome

told the minister the industry needs good infrastructure and government support. “I do not want handouts; I want your help to get the competitive edge in a commodity-led industry,” she said.

Mr Spencer was asked to address rebalancing the power dynamic between growers, producers and the retailers.

“Retailers may well say they want year-round British supply of cucumbers, for example, and the customer values that British quality too but we need to work on making both retailers and consumers understand that quality comes

BID celebrates night-time economy award for fourth consecutive year

Work to deliver a quality evening and night-time economy is paying off in Luton town centre. It has received Purple Flag status - an international accreditation designed to raise standards and widen the appeal of town and city centres between 5pm and 5am - for a fourth consecutive year.

The award by the National Association of Town Centre Management assesses areas which provide entertainment and culture, as well as promote the safety and wellbeing of visitors and residents.

ATCM judges praised the work behind the town centre’s bid and were impressed by public realm premises licences and how a car park had been transformed to the Bute Street pocket park, which opened up the River Lea. Luton Town Centre Business Improvement District funded the Purple

plc’s CEO reveals retirement plans for 2024

at a premium price,” he said.

Mr Spencer encouraged the agriculture sector to take back some responsibility for marketing the strength of their produce to their communities.

Farmers can play a part in improving the sector’s image by visiting schools and community groups, Mr Spencer added.

“Consumers do want to engage if you try. We have to explain to people why we do the thing we do and that includes on social media. There is a lot of misunderstanding of the sector and we can do a lot to address that.”

Mr Spencer confirmed the government is committed to an annual budget of £2.4 billion on agriculture, with more options for the Sustainable Farming Incentive on the table.

Connells Group chief executive David Livesey, has announced his intention to retire.

Mr Livesey, who joined Connells in 1990 as morgtage services director, is to step down next year once his successor has been recruited. He has been chief executive of the company, whose headquarters are in Leighton Buzzard, since 2008 and led the creation and development of several Connells Group’s businesses, guiding the company to its marketleading position in the residential property sector.

Mr Livesey, inset, said: “It has been my absolute privilege to be surrounded by the most talented team of property

professionals in the country. As I prepare to hang up my clogs, I am confident that Connells Group will continue to prosper.”

During his tenure, Connells has grown from 997 to 16,000 employees. Mr Livesey steps down from a business with more than 1,200 branches and annual turnover of £1 billion, said the group’s chair designate Sarah Whitney, describing his work wiith Connells as ‘outstanding’. She added: “He has played a central role in creating the largest and most successful property services group in the UK.” Mr Livesey will work with the Connells board in their search for his replacement.

Flag application and worked with Luton Borough Council to manage the accreditation process.

BID manager Julia Horsman, below, said: “It reflects the hard work the businesses and partners in the town centre are doing to encourage visitors to enjoy the evening and night-time economy while keeping people safe. We need to continue to address the challenges that businesses and visitors face and build on the offer we have.”

The BID produces a What’s

On Guide of town centre events, including live music, comedy shows and theatre productions. Licensed venues meet monthly and, following feedback from businesses, the BID introduced public realm patrols over the winter months.

Bedfordshire Police has also launched Project Firefly, a campaign to protect women from violence by men, which included posting officers in the town centre at weekends.

Cllr James Taylor, portfolio holder for regeneration and inclusive growth at Luton Council, said: “There are still challenges and we are working together to address these but when we see tangible evidence of improvements that people are enjoying, such as the lovely new pocket park in Bute Street with the river running through it, we are genuinely excited.”

Property

Mark Spencer (left), pictured with Shuttleworth College’s vice principal Dr Catherine Lloyd and Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire

Consultation begins on SKF factory closure

Manufacturer SKF is to close its factory in Luton by the end of next year, the company has announced.

The decision is part of SKF’s plans to consolidate its spherical roller bearing manufacturing to secure the long-term competitiveness on the European markets and alongside its strategy to invest in automation and regionalisation.

Manufacturing at the site in Luton, pictured below, would be ramped down, with a full closure anticipated by the end of 2024. Production is planned to be moved to SKF’s factory at Poznan in Poland.

SKF has been manufacturing in Luton for 110 years and employs around 300 people. The proposals are subject to consultation with employees and union representatives and SKF is fully committed to engaging with employees

and their representatives throughout the consultation process, the company said.

Aldo Cedrone, SKF’s acting president, industrial region Europe Middle East and Africa, said: “Although it is a difficult decision to make, this is an important step in securing our longterm competitiveness on the European markets. To ensure that our spherical roller bearing production stays competitive, investments are needed in new machinery and our evaluation showed Poznan is the optimum site for this investment. Our immediate focus is to support our colleagues in Luton.” SKF’s UK managing director Michael Crean said that formal consultation with employees and union representatives would begin in the next few weeks. He described the announcement as an ‘extremely sad day’.

There seems to be renewed vigour to embark on strategic planning sessions by both private sector and third sector organisations, their boards and senior leadership teams writes James Pinchbeck, marketing partner at Streets Chartered Accountants. Whether this is the result of needing to get to grips with pressures facing them around workforce challenges, supply chain issues, rising costs or simply in what seems to be an ever-changing world, there seems to be a need to determine the overall direction of travel.

In any event who could disagree with taking time out to spend time on the business as opposed in the business?

The process of strategic planning for some may involve some form of facilitated away day, with exec and nonexec directors. For others, it might be spending time in the office or working from home to develop a plan.

Regardless of the choice of approach, the process for developing the strategic plan invariably is the same. In essence the best starting point is to look at where we are now and perhaps reflect on the previous plan. By looking at what has been achieved and the challenges faced, we can then start to look at what the future looks like.

Looking at the overall approach to strategic planning is always a good thing. If you are embarking on a strategic planning session soon, it is also worth looking at why plans do not work, do not come to fruition or deliver what was intended.

There are a number of key reasons why strategic plans do not deliver. These include the fact that from the start they were ill conceived, even perhaps delusional in their expectations. This could be down to a failure to really get into the weeds and base it on detailed data and intelligence.

It could also be down to the mindset or influence of one or more individual’s overpowering influence and/or personal desires or goals.

Delivering real value through your strategic planning

It is always useful to consider whether the prior years have been as intended, expected or desired.

Before diving into future strategy, it is also good to review or consider the purpose of the organisation. While many will probably look to revisit their ‘mission’, increasingly it seems to be more appropriate and effective to focus on ‘purpose’ - the reason why the organisation exists not just for its customers and those that own or run it but also for its wider stakeholders. In essence what is the reason for your organisation’s being?

Looking ahead to the future, we start to consider the what, why, when and where

of what you are looking to achieve. This tends to be determined by having an indepth understanding of the environment in which you operate, the opportunities presented and the challenges you face.

Having prepared a draft - which does not have to be War and Peace - many find it useful and beneficial to review this with the wider members of the team, perhaps even external stakeholders. This engagement piece certainly can play a role in honing the plan as well as potentially getting greater buy in to its delivery.

While boards and senior teams may determine and detail an organisation’s overall strategy and promote the same, its delivery - the how you make it happen - tends to be more the work of the wider team.

Often strategic goals are not realised because they are too broad or illdefined, there is no clear or easily communicated strategic intent or direction. Moreover, there is a long list of desires, activities as opposed a single or limited number of objectives. Certainly, a failure to communicate effectively and bring alive the strategy can lead to a failure to deliver. How many plans have been produced that just sit on the bookshelf or in a file on the computer?

It can also be the case that when looking at delivery of the plan, consideration was not really given to the resources and skills needed to deliver it.

There are no doubt many more reasons why strategic plans are not realised but we will finish on the fact that many fail to actually use the plan as a management tool measuring performance and outcomes against the plan on a regular basis.

n James Pinchbeck is marketing partner at Streets Chartered Accountants, which has offices at Wyboston near Bedford and in Luton. www.streetsweb.co.uk

See how membership lifts your business up where it belongs

In the first of a regular column for Business2Business, Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Justin Richardson explains why local Chamber membership delivers your business voice on the national stage.

Small businesses are stronger when they are part of something bigger but also when they are part of something local.

And with membership of the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, you get the best of both worlds as you are also connected to the nationwide force for business that is the British Chambers of Commerce.

In its latest campaign Where Business Belongs, the BCC is louder and prouder about its power as a collective than ever before, bringing together 53 accredited UK Chambers, spanning over 75 international markets, and amplifying members’ voices to lobby for change both at governmental level and even on the global stage.

But the campaign also demonstrates that the BCC is no mere talking shop. In unifying the voices of its

constituent Chambers, it has driven outcomes that have shaped the economy in its members’ favour - from reforms to free childcare, employer funding for T-Level placements, energy cost support, changes to tax and NI policy and much more besides. In short, the campaign is a reminder that business belongs where its interests are represented best.

But how does that translate to the day-to-day benefits to your business of belonging to the local Chamber network? Two things are absolutely key here: your Chamber’s ability to help you grow your business through relationships with the local people and organisations that matter, and its ability to connect you to the knowledge, resources, learnings, and tools that support you through change and opportunity.

On the first front, we are active

in everything from our own and partners’ networking events to targeted Meet the Buyer sessions, annual and seasonal gatherings. Attendance is invariably strong. Our recent Summer Reception event, for instance, drew 185 attendees - the largest turnout post-Covid - and the networking went on long into the night...

On the second front, the BCC’s Where Business Belongs campaign puts things rather neatly: “Our Network of Chambers offers practical benefits that can help

your businesses set up, scale up and grow. From setting up an HR function, improving your technology or expanding overseas, your local Chambers can help your business, whatever stage you are at in your growth journey.”

These initiatives are informed by what we learn from our dialogue with the BCC, as well as what we, as experienced business leaders ourselves, know about our local businesses and communities, and the challenges they face.

Our connection to the BCC, then, delivers real value at a local leveland it is value that your business can tap into. All you have to do is… well, belong.

The BCC’s campaign speaks forcefully of its commitment to drive progress, build resilience and propel members forward in tough times. It is certainly an organisation with the pedigree and credentials to do that - founded in 1860, it is one of the oldest and most influential business organisations in the UK and it has the ear of government.

But unlike many other organisations that protect the interests of business

rather less effectively, you do not pay to get your voice heard; your local Chamber - us - does that for you.

So, once you join Bedfordshire Chamber, you join BCC and your business is where business belongs both locally and nationally.

As the BCC campaign puts it: “Our future is the story of the towns and cities in which we live. It is the story of success, often against the odds. Of the strength of local connections, pulling us through. And of the business heroes who push us forward.”

It is a future that starts with your joining us today.

n For more information on how to join Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, visit www.chamberbusiness.com, or call 01582 522448.

James Pinchbeck

Justin Richardson

Firms endorse best practice Charter scheme

Bedfordshire businesses accredited to the Good Business Charter are joining a campaign encouraging more organisations to follow their lead.

The Good Business Charter encourages and recognises responsible business practices. It provides a clear framework for businesses of all sizes to champion their care for people and planet. Being signed up demonstrates a clear message to current and potential customers that a business is committed to operating responsibly.

Among Bedfordshire organisations that already hold accreditation are Luton Council, Luton Business Improvement District, advertising agency Treacle Factory, web designer Silvertoad, Active Luton, Equilibrium Network in Sandy and

Stales Therapy Centre in Clapham near Bedford.

Treacle Factory director Ian Abrahams said: “We are passionate about providing an outstanding level of customer service and strive to achieve the best in everything we do. We heard that Luton Borough Council were encouraging more organisations to become Good Business Charter Accredited and wanted to be among the first to register. We found that our values are closely aligned with the ethos of GBC and decided to join without hesitation.”

The Charter has the support of both employers organisation the CBI and the Trade Union Congress, which have trustee representation on their boards. Other partners of the GBC include the Living Wage Foundation

Retail giant seals lease on logistics park unit

Real estate developer Firethorn Trust, has secured the final letting at Ascent Logistics Park, a net zero development in Leighton Buzzard.

Firethorn Trust is acting as asset and development manager on behalf of the scheme’s owner, privatelyheld investment firm Cain International.

UK multinational clothing, home and beauty products retailer Next is to move into the last available 48,000 sq ft unit, joining occupiers AS Colour, HCA UK, Tate Business Group, Spreetail, Airbox UK, Solution EU and Stone Hardy at the scheme, which reached completion last May.

Tim Brazier, senior vice president at Cain International, said: “Ascent’s popularity with

such a diverse range of tenants reflects the scheme’s excellent specification, underpinning our belief that high-quality spaces with a focus on sustainability will continue to thrive in a competitive market.”

Accredited by the UK Green Building Council for its net-zero carbon construction, Ascent Logistics Park is rated BREEAM ‘Excellent’.

Chris Beer, senior associate at Firethorn Trust, said: “We have worked in close collaboration with every occupier to ensure they can benefit from a high-quality and flexible warehousing space, which is designed to fully support their operational requirements, strengthen future business plans and empower their ESG commitments.”

Finance chief joins manufacturer

Electronic products manufacturer Jaltek has welcomed Simon Wallington as the Lutonbased firm’s chief financial officer.

He has previously held positions at Matrix Polymers and Revolve Group as part of leadership teams where he helped deliver record results. The appointment is part of Jaltek’s growth plans. Chief

executive Steve Pittom said: “It is integral that we have the right talent on board to help us in achieving this. ”

Jaltek designs and manufactures for industries including automotive, medical and space. It has more than 100 employees at its factory on Sundon Business Park and has increased capacity by 50 per cent with the acquisition of a new site.

and the Prompt Payment Code. Cllr Sian Goding, portfolio holder for inclusive growth at Luton Council, said: “Signing up demonstrates our

partners. We would like to lead by example and we would encourage Luton businesses, voluntary sector and other organisations to join us

Active Luton runs the town’s leisure centres. Its chief executive Helen Barnett said that GBC accreditation aligns with its 202328 strategy Creating opportunities for communities to thrive. “Our strategy sits within the context of a town-wide effort to improve the health, wellbeing and life chances of our communities and we believe that being a responsible employer is a vital part of this,” she said.

Luton Council aims to support businesses looking to achieve the accreditation. email economicgrowth@ luton.gov.uk to find out more.

GBC chairman Simon Fox said the charter aims to inspire businesses. “We believe that the GBC has enormous potential to change

People Power Makes Business Great – Let’s

Across the country, thousands of businesses are members of a Chamber of Commerce. Why? Because the Chamber is renowned the world over for helping foster connections and enabling local businesses to thrive and grow.

“The

Treacle Factory directors Ian Abrahams (left) and Jeremy Brown

Her father Bill Parlor pays tribute to his daughter Helen, dancer, choreographer, artistic director and the driving force behind MÓTUS Dance in Milton Keynes.

Architect finds inspiration in the experiences of his children

The architect working on the major redevelopment of the charity Action4Youth’s adventure and outdoor education centre The Caldecotte Xperience is using special insight as he draws up the plans.

Dancing…a foundation for self-belief and confidence

The Parlor and Spivey families are extremely saddened by the premature death of the Helen Parlor just days after witnessing her latest dance festival Femmes Fortes in Middleton Hall.

Helen, pictured, was born in Newport Pagnell in 1975 and began her dancing career at the age of six before studying at Swindon Dance and gaining BA Distinction at Northern Contemporary Dance. Helen and her husband Steven Spivey lived in Ravenstone near Olney. She was an amazing wife, a fun-loving mum, sister and a wonderful daughter.

Helen performed, choreographed and directed in the UK, Norway, Germany, Tanzania and India. She performed with the Dance Connect and Motionhouse dance companies before she moved to Oslo in Norway for two years with Pantarei Danse Teater.

Before a performance at Milton Keynes Theatre for the Motionhouse dance company, Helen suffered a brain haemorrhage.

After 14 hours of surgery and subsequent radiation treatment, she returned nine months later to produce Headcase, a touring production for male dancers.

Helen was assistant choreographer at London Paralympics 2012 opening ceremony and subsequently formed her touring dance company Parlor Dance which in its Close Distance show produced groundbreaking

performances that mixed word and dance.

From 2013 Helen became the driving force of the Milton Keynes-based MÓTUS Dance organisation.

Helen firmly believed that dancing is fundamentally important to life. She said it nurtures empathy, understanding consequences and better working together to achieve things you may have thought impossible It provides a foundation for self-belief, understanding and confidence to succeed in life.

She produced performances for site-specific events such as at Goodrich Castle near Ross on Wye where 120 local dancers joined 12 professionals. Locally, many will have seen her work in Campbell Park and ‘HER STORY’ for the opening of extensions at Milton Keynes Museum.

Through the MÓTUS Dance charity, she provided a decade of dance festivals in Milton Keynes, including professional dance commissions, the Adjustments spring festival for emergent performances, workshops, masterclasses with visiting dance companies and performances from international dance companies.

In the year before her death, Helen and Motus secured substantial funding to continue to develop Milton Keynes as a centre of excellence in dance performance. She will truly be missed.

Helen Parlor died on May 30 2023. Her funeral took place on June 21 at Crownhill Crematorium, Milton Keynes.

Details and video of her work can be found at www.helenparlor.co.uk and at www.motusdance.co.uk

Mark Doohan’s three sons have visited the centre on school trips and with the Ampthill Baptist Youth Group. Now, inspired by their experiences, the managing director of Benchmark Architects in Milton Keynes is focusing on creating a building ‘as exciting as the inspiring activities that go on at the Caldecotte Xperience’.

He turned to his three sons - 18-year-old Jonah, Taylor, 17, and their 11-year-old brother Jasper - for their thoughts. “My children’s experience of coming and having an inspiring, exciting time were just not expressed by the building - they were

inspired, excited and had a real adventure. But when I came to pick them up, I could not work out easily where to go. It was hard to even find the front door.”

Action4Youth’s campaign to raise the £1.4 million for the project is well under way. Sustainability is at the heart of the design, said Mr Doohan, pictured, and the building will be made totally accessible by removing internal walls, creating all-year-round activity spaces enabling young people to benefit from TCX whatever the weather. Office spaces also will be accessible and inclusive.

The vision for the building will give visitors a sense of ‘arrival’. “A wood facade will make a statement, a feature screen,” said Mr Doohan. “It will provide a sense of drama as well as leading people easily and clearly to the wider, spectacular entrance.” He

and architectural assistant Ismael Zaman are also exploring sustainable heating, insulation and cooling solutions as well as materials.

Plans for the redevelopment have excited Action4Youth. But have they also excited Mr Doohan’s sons? “The kids have seen the plans. They made them remember that when they arrived at the activities, they felt ‘Wow’

but not when they arrived at the building. The plans made them feel ‘Wow’.” Find out more about the campaign and how to support it at www.action4youth.org

n Action4Youth has won a new contract with Ingeus to deliver the National Citizen Service until 2025.The charity has delivered NCS since 2011 and will bring 1,200 young people annually to The Caldecotte Xperience under the new contract.

Aman who lost both his father and brother to aggressive brain tumours is campaigning for increased investment to find a cure for the devastating disease.

Although the chances of two members of one family being diagnosed with the same type of brain tumour are less than one in a million, one in three people know someone affected. Bob Hill, now retired but formerly commercial director at Milton Keynes Development Corporation between 1983 and 1992, is campaigning with the charity Brain Tumour Research to reach 100,000 signatures on its petition to increase research funding.

Mr Hill’s father Raymond collapsed in 1993 at his home in Wales, aged 69. He died a few months later due to a glioblastoma brain tumour. 17 years later, Mr Hill’s younger brother John was diagnosed with a similar tumour. He died in 2011 aged 60.

“It was such a traumatic time for the whole family, especially John’s wife and sons,” said Mr Hill. “And of course, my brother knew exactly what was going to happen as he had seen it all with Dad.”

“I remember having to tell Mum about John’s diagnosis. She was beside herself, having already lost Dad the same way. I can clearly remember her saying ‘No

parent should outlive a child’. It was a really shattering experience for her.”

Fearing they might also be at risk of developing the disease, Mr Hill, his sons and nephews all consulted their GPs following the second bereavement to be told that brain tumours are not hereditary. Now Mr Hill is among those who have signed the petition which the Milton Keynes-based Brain Tumour Research charity hopes will prompt a government debate.

“Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age,” said Dr Karen Noble, the charity’s director of research, policy and innovation. “To have these two diagnoses in the same family is extremely rare. If we are to change the stark facts around survival of this disease, we simply must invest more into discovery science - the route to a cure.”

Five years ago the government announced £40 million of funding for brain cancer research. Since then only £15 million has been spent. “For too long governments have put brain tumours on the ‘too difficult to think about’ pile,” said Dr Noble. “Patients and families continue to be let down by a funding system that is built in silos and not fit for purpose.

“If everyone can spare just a few

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.

minutes to sign and share, we will soon hit the 100,000 signatures we need and help find a cure.”

Brain tumours kill more men under the age of 70 than prostate cancer yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to the disease since records began in 2002.

Brain Tumour Research is calling on the government to ringfence £110 million to kickstart an increase in the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million a year by 2028.

The government needs to recognise brain tumour research as a critical priority, it said.

n Sign and share the petition before it closes at the end of October at www. braintumourresearch.org/campaigning/ brain-tumour-research-petition

Bob Hill, pictured with his wife Marion and (right) with his brother John, sister Deborah and mother Doris in 2010

‘Such a traumatic time’: Why one man is backing charity’s research funding petition

Volunteers from the corporate sector in Milton Keynes have delivered more than 70 hours of professional support to the city’s voluntary sector in the past year, said the Milton Keynes Community Foundation.

That equates to around £12,500 worth of pro bono expertise via the foundation’s Capacity Building programme, which connects corporate volunteers and their professional skills with organisations in need of skills-based support.

Pictured is Jerry Taylor, managing director of full service communications agency WSA, who volunteered his time to deliver two business

Safety charity chief calls on firms to back knife crime campaign

Acall has gone out to businesses to support a safety education charity’s campaign against knife crime following a triple stabbing in Milton Keynes last month.

One man was left hospitalised after the attack, a stark reminder for the need for lifesaving knife crime education for children and young people, said Milton Keynes-based safety education charity The Safety Centre.

planning workshops specifically for charities.

“I personally found it very beneficial,” Mr Taylor said. “It is a nice way to give that knowledge back into the community.”

The Capacity Building Programme aims to bridge the gap between the corporate and voluntary sectors in Milton Keynes, said MKCF’s capacity building manager Michaela Clark. “We are aware that we play a critical role in supporting the development and well-being of communities. Capacity building is an essential component of this role as it helps to strengthen the capacity of organisations, groups, and individuals to address community needs and opportunities.”

Now it is appealing to employers, funders and organisations to fund its knife crime education workshops teaching young people about the dangers and life-changing consequences of being involved in knife crime. The Safety Centre’s chief executive Maya JosephHussain said: “We urgently need funding for our early intervention knife crime education work now.”

The centre’s workshops create safe spaces to speak with young people in an age-appropriate way to dispel misconceptions about carrying weapons and being involved in knife crime.

“There is no safe way to use, carry or participate in knife crime,” said Ms Joseph-Hussain. “Knives destroy lives for victims and perpetrators. We need funding to give children and young people the tools they need to make safe choices in the future.”

The workshops, aimed at children aged nine and over, are delivered in schools across the region and The Safety Centre hopes to roll out the programme nationwide. Sessions have been delivered to 14,500 students in the past two years but the centre said early intervention work must continue.

Dance is the newest medium being used in the campaign against knife crime.

The U DO IT Dance Foundation has linked up with leisure venue Xscape Milton Keynes to raise awareness of the effects of knife crime and how it can impact young people’s lives.

U DO IT, set up in 2014, works with schools to tackle issues including anxiety, mental health problems, confidence issues and knife violence. It organises activities and workshops centred around dance and selfexpression and hosts regular sessions at Xscape encouraging young people to join their workshops and to sign the ‘Knife Crime Pledge’ not to carry a knife.

Speaking earlier this year at an event hosted by the centre, Dr Stuart Lawrence, the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence - murdered in a racist attack 30 years ago - said:”Early intervention is so important. Education can be the most powerful tool in the

Dance gives a positive, fulfilling experience, which in turn keeps young people away from the dangers of knife crime, the foundation said. “Our partnership with U DO IT aims to make a real difference,” adds Xscape general manager Nick Coppock. On-site sessions so far have received “really positive” feedback.

Street Dance teaches artistic skills and improves discipline, social interaction, teamwork and problem-solving, said U DO IT’s South East manager Caroline Fallis. “We are really excited to be collaborating with Xscape Milton Keynes to give young people a safe space to learn and a platform to perform where they can grow as individuals.”

world and the earlier we can give people the tools to be safe, the more it helps.”

n Find out more about how businesses can help. Contact sarah@safetycentre. co.uk or donate online at localgiving. org/charity/safetycentre.

It is planting time at Camphill MK as a new horticultural project gets under way.

Residents at the charity work their allotments every day, growing fruit and vegetables to feed more than 500 people a week. And their efforts have received a major boost thanks to Socius, the developer behind the MK Gateway project.

As it prepares to begin work on the £190 million project to turn the former Milton Keynes Council offices at Saxon Court into 288 apartments, workspace, a gym, an innovation hub, independent food, drink, leisure and retail, Socius has been seeking new homes for the hundreds of plants housed in the atrium.

And, after hearing about Camphill MK’s work with adults with learning disabilities, Socius, its investment partner Patron Capital and Milton Keynes City Council, arranged for the redundant irrigation system at Saxon Court to be removed and installed in the raised beds at Camphill MK.

“It has been important to us that we rehome and recycle as many items from Saxon Court as possible and the donation of the irrigation system to Camphill MK is a great example of this,” said Socius director Steve Eccles.

The allotments are expanding into a nearby paddock and will soon have polytunnels, raised beds, sensory gardens and an edible forest. The produce grown at Camphill MK, which supports people with learning disabilities, goes to residents and staff and supplies its onsite vegetarian Café, which welcomes around 300 visitors a week.

“There is a wealth of clinical research evidence linking positive mental health outcomes with a balanced diet including fresh fruit and

vegetables and the risk of dementia can be significantly reduced through healthy eating,” said Camphill MK’s chief executive Tim Davies.

“So it is vital that we provide healthy dishes grown without pesticides and with minimal - in fact, zero - food miles.

Working in the garden is a wonderful physical activity benefiting our residents in so many ways.”

Camphill MK runs gardening workshops for up to 24 residents, who use gardening and horticulture as part of their personal development.

“Socius are advocates for sustainable development,” Mr Eccles said on a visit to the charity. “It was wonderful to visit the site and meet people from the community, see the allotments and paddock and try some of the produce.”

Voluntary sector benefits from commercial expertise

Gardeners welcome a blooming marvellous gift

Socius director Steve Eccles gets down to work planting during his visit to Camphill MK

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