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Food campaign organisers issue appeal for business support

Regular contributions are vital over winter, says MK Food Reach

Regular support from the business community will be vital in the campaign against food poverty this winter.

Organisers of the MK Food Reach campaign have issued a heartfelt plea as the cost of living crisis leaves more families across the city facing the prospect of struggling to feed themselves as the rising cost of energy, food and other basics hits pockets hard.

MK Food Bank, one of the charities to benefit from the campaign, has seen a rise of almost a third so far this year in the number of families turning to it for help.

MK Food Reach was launched by law firm Franklins Solicitors in the summer as a way to help families struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of living and to reuse surplus food that otherwise would be destined for landfill. It aims to raise enough money to bring truckloads of surplus food to Milton Keynes for distribution to families in need. Each truckload of 26 pallets costs £9,000.

Milton Keynes-based organisations including fellow law firm Freeths and waste management specialist Cawleys are already backing the campaign, helping to bring the first truckload of supplies to the city in the summer.

Franklins partner Andrea Smith said: “Food poverty is a real problem. The idea of MK Food Reach is for businesses and individuals to contribute by raising funds to bring a truck load of food into the city. But we need more than just a one-off contribution; we need regular contributions so that we can bring truckloads in regularly this winter and beyond.”

She was speaking to guests at the City Breakfast Club networking meeting last month. Employees and their families are unlikely to reveal whether they use food banks but MK Food Bank estimates that one in 30 households currently use its service. The number that have used MK Food Bank this year is 31 per cent higher than in 2021.

“We are seeing 60 new families come to us every week,” said MK Food Bank’s operations manager Louisa Hobbs. “And the face of those families is changing. These are people we have never heard from before or who we would never have expected to need the food bank.”

MK Food Reach also works with the HisChurch charity, which in turn works with retailers around the UK including Lidl, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s to take their surplus food and deliver it to food banks. The food is perfectly edible but has been rejected for a variety of reasons that prevent it from being put on the supermarket shelves.

Ms Smith gave the example of packs of chicken tikka masala, rejected because ‘masala’ has been spelt wrongly. Pasta is refused because it is the wrong shape and Alpen bars find their way to food banks simply because the apple pieces in them are too chunky, she said.

Franklins has set up a JustGiving page justgiving. com/fundraising/mk-foodreach for donations.

The campaign is only £2,000 away from being able to bring another truck laden with supplies to the city. “26 pallets is fantastic but it does not scratch the surface of what is needed across the city,” said Ms Smith. “Regular support is really important and this is a really critical time.”

Louisa Hobbs (left) and Andrea Smith (right) receive a pallet load of supplies at MK Food Bank earlier this year

College leads the way in focus on diversity

Retaining its ranking as a leader in diversity means that Milton Keynes College is on the right track to creating a fairer future for all its employees and students, says the college’s head of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Milton Keynes College Group has retained its Leaders in Diversity status from the National Centre for Diversity - the only organisation in the city with this award. The status recognises organisations going above and beyond in their commitment to the FREDIE values of fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement.

Now the college is set to extend its equality, diversity and inclusion training programme and support resources to more staff.

“This much sought-after award from the National Centre for Diversity is recognition of the importance we place on ED&I at the College Group and efforts across the board to embed the centre’s FREDIE values into every aspect of our offering,” said Milton Keynes College Group’s equality, diversity and inclusion manager Arv

Kaushal inset.

Last year the college group became one of the first FE institutions to publish data on its ethnicity pay gap and providing ED&I training to its senior leadership team.

“However, this absolutely is not the end of our journey,” said Mr Kaushal. “It is validation that we are on the right path to deliver a fairer future for all at MK College Group. And we want to support other organisations within our Milton Keynes community to pursue their own journey to being more equal, diverse and inclusive.”

Business News Hires strengthen property law specialism

New head relishes school challenge

Law firm Neves Solicitors has strengthened its commercial property and private client departments with three new hires.

Ceyda Alkan is a specialist commercial property solicitor and has been joined by associate solicitor Leyla Mehru, pictured, and senior private client executive Tristy Pateman in the private client team.

Residential property and conveyancing specialist Haneef Khan has been promoted to associate.

“The appointment of Leyla, Tristy and Ceyda as well as Haneef’s well-deserved promotion will further strengthen and develop our already very experienced specialist teams,” said managing partner and head of commercial Stewart Matthews.

Partners delighted as litigation expert joins

Experienced litigation lawyer Rebecca Wells thas joined the regulatory and dispute resolution department at law firm Woodfines Solicitors.

She is pictured, top centre, with head of department Mike Hayward and the team. “Rebecca adds to the strength and depth of the department and the team’s partners are excited to have her with us,” Mr Hayward said.

Swanbourne House School has appointed Nick Hollway, pictured, as its new head. Mr Holloway will take up his role when the new academic year begins in September 2023 but will work closely with the school near Winslow for the next two terms.

He is currently deputy head of Brambletye School in Sussex, having begun his teaching career at Cothill House in Oxfordshire. Before switching to teaching, Mr Holloway worked in finance for 12 years at HBOS plc.

Until September, the school will continue to be led by acting head Simone Mitchell, the school’s deputy head. “Prep schools are amazing places and I am committed to developing the exceptional all-round education offered at Swanbourne House,” said Mr Holloway.

Swanbourne House joined with Stowe near Buckingham and Winchester House in Brackley last year to form The Stowe Group of Schools. Group head Dr Anthony Wallersteiner said: “Nick impressed the selection panel with the clarity of his strategy and vision.”

IoD appoints new branch chair

Professor Keith Straughan is the new chair of the Institute of Directors’ Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes branch.

His career has been spent in education and business, with a portfolio of strategic advisory, executive coaching and consulting roles. His academic background spans world-leading universities, non-traditional university models and vocational education.

Mr Straughan, pictured, has also spun out five companies from his university work, founded three further businesses and served as a non-executive director on eight different boards.

“At the IoD, we provide a voice for local business and we are an authoritative resource partner through our work around governance, policy, representation, professional development and networking,” Mr Straughan said.

He plans to meet branch members, who include startup entrepreneurs, directors and representatives of the public and third sectors, in order to understand the issues they face and how the IoD can support them and their business.

Faisal Khan, chair of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes’ regional branch IoD South, said the branch was preparing for ‘an exciting time’ ahead.

“This is one of the fastest growing economies in the country. It provides all the ingredients for successfully starting and scaling up a business,” he added. “Our members will play a leading role in the area’s continuing success.”

NatWest’s chief risk officer Bruce Fletcher and regional manager Debbie Lewis in conversation with entrepreneur Oz Azubuine, one of the new intake on the Accelerator support programme

Support programme welcomes record intake

Business building initiative the NatWest Accelerator has welcomed more than 60 entrepreneurs in Milton Keynes to its new programme.

The scheme supports entrepreneurs to take their small and medium-sized business to the next level and this year saw a record number of applications.

This year is the first time the six-month programme has run in person since the pandemic. One of the entrepreneurs joining the scheme is Oz Azubuine, founder of Ozzlebox, an entertainment company based in Luton’s Hat Factory that uses human beatbox to inspire creativity.

“When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I did not realise that I was treating my business as a hobby. It was taking all my money with very little in return,” he said. “Only around the time of the pandemic, when I pivoted the business model to a digital one, did I realise that a business pays you money and a hobby takes your money.

“I fell in love with entrepreneurship again and gaining recognition, like being accepted into the NatWest Accelerator programme, has given me a new lease of life.”

The bank’s group chief risk officer Bruce Fletcher welcomed the entrepreneurs at the programme’s headquarters in Milton Keynes. “We are committed to removing barriers to business and providing opportunities to help companies grow,” Mr Fletcher said. “Our Accelerator hubs are a central strand of our strategy.”

The Milton Keynes Accelerator hub is part of a network of 13 hubs run by the bank. The network is one of the largest of its kind across the UK and over the past four years has supported more than 3,500 individuals and businesses, helping them to achieve an average turnover of just over £300,000 and to raise a total £198 million in investments.

Support via the programme includes one-toone coaching, introductions to local business support organisations and free use of NatWest’s office space

“We know that entrepreneurs are having to do several jobs at once,” said NatWest’s regional ecosystem manager Debbie Lewis. “They need to be the CEO, finance director and HR manager, often without having any experience in some of those areas and without a support network.

“The bank’s Accelerator programme is designed to help entrepreneurs to be all those things while supporting them in running their business and providing a network for guidance and advice.”

n The Accelerator programme is open to any business with ambition to expand. Applications open thre times a year and businesses applying do not need to be NatWest customers.

MD: Acquisition fits our strategy perfectly

Automation plc secures majority stake in software firm

Industrial automation and control products specialist Routeco has acquired a majority stake in software distributor AutoLogic Systems.

The deal is part of Milton Keynes-based Routeco’s strategy to add software tools and consultancy to its portfolio. AutoLogic, based near Thame in Oxfordshire and founded in 1993, is established within the UK as a provider of simulation products, consulting and related services, primarily to the manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors.

The company provides solutions for demonstration, simulation and controls testing and is a Value Added Reseller of Emulate3D by Rockwell Automation. Under the deal, all AutoLogic’s employees and the management team remain in place. Other terms have not been disclosed.

Routeco’s managing director Dave Amps said: “I am very excited to welcome AutoLogic Systems Ltd into the Routeco Group. It fits perfectly with our strategy to provide innovative software tools and consultancy to our machine builder, end user and systems integrator customers.”

AutoLogic has worked with Routeco for several years. “I am delighted that we are now part of the Routeco Group,” said managing director Graham Carter. “The acquisition gives us a tremendous opportunity to grow our business by providing our advanced software solutions and outstanding consulting expertise to even more customers. There is no better fit for us.”

Routeco was advised by corporate lawyers at Milton Keynes law firm EMW.

Advertisement Feature Published on behalf of Capital Space, operator of Milton Keynes Business Centre

Glass works smart to boost energy performance

Described as ‘a once-in-ageneration investment’, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by the US Congress and awaiting the signature of President Joe Biden aims to rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind.

Part of the deal involves tax incentives in relation to buildings using smart glass, which changes between transparent and translucent, either letting light pass through or blocking some or all wavelengths of light. When installed in the envelope of buildings, smart glass helps to create climateadaptive building shells with benefits such as natural light adjustment, UV and infrared blocking, reduced energy use, thermal comfort and privacy. Some smart windows can self-adapt to heat or cool for energy conservation in buildings.

Smart windows can eliminate the need for blinds, shades or window treatments.

The decision by Congress to endorse the law, which will be enacted once signed by President Biden, is music to the ears of a company in Milton Keynes. Smartglass International has specialised in manufacturing and supplying switchable glass since 2001.

The business controls every aspect of its manufacturing, processing and finishing each product in-house using state-of-the-art machines and furnaces to achieve the highest levels of clarity and consistency.

“Within the Bill is a whole section that talks about tax incentives for companies wanting to use smart glass products because of their energy performance, their versatility and ability to reduce glare,” says Smartglass International’s UK sales manager Dan Butcher.

“We are moving towards a net zero carbon neutral future and this is a product that will continue to be utilised going forward. It is an exciting time.”

Smartglass International is one of a clutch of manufacturers specialising in smart glass. Founded in Ireland at the start of the century, the company now has clients in 35 countries and has shipped more than 160,000 sq ft of product in the past 21 years.

It has been in the UK for 20 years and had its UK sales office and showroom in central Milton Keynes for eight years before a move last year to Milton Keynes Business Centre on Linford Wood.

“Milton Keynes is a great location for us,” says Dan. “The facilities here at MK Business Centre are really good. Prepandemic, the view was that we had to be in the centre of town but the

reality now is that the pandemic caused businesses to review their cashflow, budgets and how they were operating in terms of hybrid working.

“We looked at alternative bases and when you move just two miles from the city centre to an office two times the size with parking and it’s within your budget, it was a no brainer.”

Business continues to be good and the office in Milton Keynes Business Centre continues to thrive. “We have come out of the pandemic much stronger than we were going into it,” says Dan.

“The plan for now is to continue to ride out the uncertainty at the moment - we are as busy as we have ever been and in the UK this year there has been a big push to acquire more of these projects.”