Business Times June 2022

Business Times Est. 1991

June 2022

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In print and online Business Times is published in Northamptonshire for the county’s business community www.Business-Times.co.uk

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Building firm signs solar power purchase agreement. P4

AW AR DS

Full-fibre connectivity is coming to Kettering. P7

PR OP ER TY

Awards night is coming...

Meet the finalists. P13

Q& A

Find out the latest property news. P22-23

CO MM UN ITY

“I’m a big softie when it comes to films”. Iain Farr tells all. P29

‘Shoe Town’ is ready for the music. P30

Mick Conneely is the man looking to bring the good times back to Towcester Racecourse. He has big plans for the venue as a host for business events, conferences, live entertainment, social gatherings and sport. His initial thoughts are, he tells Business Times...

We have everything here.

The potential is phenomenal A mbitious plans to transform the historic Towcester Racecourse will be headed up by the newly-appointed general manager Mick Conneely.

The multi-purpose venue is seen as a “sleeping giant” by Mick who will manage all aspects of the entertainment hub in the new era, with plans to attract major events and community projects.

He will also oversee the development of key partnerships with businesses, charities and community groups as part of Towcester Racecourse’s commitment to providing an inclusive venue for everyone.

This latest mission comes after the venue was placed into administration

in 2018. A year later it reopened after businessman Kevin Boothby signed a ten-year lease to return greyhound racing to the 310-acre site.

Mick joins with a varied background in the sport and hospitality sectors. He was a football coach at Coventry City FC’s Sky Blues in the Community for a decade and more recently has co-run two restaurants and cafes in Coventry. Before that, he was a director at Coventry Stadium and boasts a strong track record in the delivery of greyhound racing.

He described Towcester as “Northamptonshire’s best kept secret” and wants to bring the good times back by reconnecting it with local people.

“The potential at Towcester Racecourse is phenomenal and I am really pleased to be onboard and part of this exciting new era,” said Mick.

“Our foremost ambition is to make Towcester the go-to venue for events, conferences and live entertainment plus private parties and weddings.

“We have got everything here that any business with major ambitions could wish for - a talented team, picturesque surroundings in a good location and facilities which can transform Towcester into a true seven-day-week multi-purpose hub for all occasions.

“It is our county’s best-kept secret, and it is time we showcase this to the wider public.”

Major events this summer include the English Greyhound Derby, Towcester Food Festival and the Classic Car and Bike Gathering.

Facilities include a restaurant, bars and private hospitality spaces, luxury VIP boxes and a fishing lake. Plans are also in place to develop a state-ofthe-art greyhound veterinary centre as part of the venue’s commitment to providing world-leading standards of care.

A partnership with the Frank Bruno Foundation has also been formed to deliver free non-contact boxing programmes which support To page 3 >>

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June 2022

Drones firm is flying high after move to new headquarters

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rowded Space Drones, which uses its advanced drone technology to help with counterterrorism and public safety at high profile venues and events, has moved to Silverstone Park.

The business has undertaken a full fit-out of 2,350 sq ft of industrial accommodation.

This will include a broadcasting centre and conference and training rooms for seven full-time staff, plus a workshop to maintain its drones - some costing more than £20,000 each.

Managing director is Andrew McQuillan who was previously head of security for the hit fantasy TV drama Game of Thrones and also in charge of the Drone Racing League.

He said: “We get a pure fibre connection

from the Innovation Centre - incredibly fast speeds which is one of the things we require. Silverstone Park offered us really good options on unit size but also the location means the travel radius from here is phenomenal. For example, we might need to be in Portsmouth to film for Virgin Cruises and it is still only two hours away.”

The business, linked up to Crowded Space’s head office in Belfast, is Civil Aviation Authority-accredited – all its pilots are CAA-trained. “We are probably the only business who can do what we do,” said Mr McQuillan.

“Essentially, we are a very specialist drone services company which the CAA will give special permissions to. After the Gatwick drone incident in 2018, we responded to counter-terrorism police and

covered all other UK airports for them.

“Soon after that incident, we prevented someone trying to fly a drone down a runway at another major airport and also potentially into the path of a large passenger jet on its final approach.

“A lot of that work is when we bring our range of detection systems into play.

They can detect any drone from around 40 kilometres away. We undertake similar counter-terrorism measures for governments in the USA and Ireland but it is mainly UK. The company also works in other areas such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament for the full three weeks. “Even I’m a Celebrity, where we use infra-red drones through the forests to detect people trying to access the set illegally,” Mr McQuillan said.

Leather specialist backs university’s institute

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tudents at University of Northampton, aiming for a successful career in leather and footwear, will benefit from a suite of equipment provided by a leading authority in the industries.

Independent research and testing organisation SATRA has provided the university’s Institute for Creative Leather Technology with a range of leather testing equipment.

Established in the UK in 1919, SATRA has technical facilities in Europe and China serving customers throughout the world. As well as testing products and components to European and international standards across a wide range of industry sectors, SATRA develops, manufactures and sells test equipment.

The equipment will be housed in ICLT’s SATRA Physical Testing Laboratory,

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while the organisation will also provide ongoing maintenance and calibration services.

This partnership allows ICLT to continue to deliver its teaching and research activities in the creative leather space, providing students with the opportunity to learn about leather testing and familiarise themselves with SATRA’s internationally recognised suite of tests.

Furthermore, students will be given the opportunity to visit SATRA and discover more about the work it does providing testing and certification services to the footwear and leather industries.

Previously SATRA has provided sponsorship, along with other industrial partners, to create ICLT’s Amanda Michel Microscopy Laboratory.

SATRA executive director Michael Bodsworth said: “This exciting

new agreement further cements the relationship SATRA has already with the ICLT and the University of Northampton.

Providing a complete laboratory suite of new test equipment will provide students with access to the latest test equipment and methods that will aid their learning and provide great practical testing experience.

“This will ultimately benefit the students and the industry as the next generation of recruits will have a greater understanding and practical experience of testing, vital for quality assurance, research & development and compliance.”

University deputy vice chancellor Shãn Wareing said: “We are delighted to deepen our relationship with SATRA for the benefit of our students, our research and for the future of leather at Northampton.”

LET YOUR BUSINESS MAKE THE HEADLINES email your business news to news@business-times.co.uk for unrivalled coverage of your business in Business Times For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Business News

Minerals specialist sold in £80m acquisition

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eotek, the Daventry-based specialists in geological instruments and services, have been sold in a deal worth up to £80 million.

The buyers, Judges Scientific, has acquired both Geotek Holding Limited and Geotek Coring Ltd. Geotek’s founders Peter Schultheiss and Quentin Huggett will both enter into one-year service contracts, while managing director Anthony Bosley will remain in the same role.

Judges is an AIM-quoted company that specialises in acquiring and developing companies in the scientific instrument sector. Its

Founders and MD join new owners as deal secures a bright future for company chairman Alex Hambro said: “This is the group’s 20th and largest acquisition. Geotek is a worldleading business in a focused global niche, providing top-quality products and services which are essential for the improvement of geophysical knowledge.”

Geotek’s combined accounts for the financial year to April 30 2021 show revenue of £7.3 million and pre-tax profits of £1.5 million.

“This cash generative and earnings

enhancing acquisition fits within Judges’ disciplined acquisition strategy and we are delighted to welcome Peter, Quentin and Tony and all their colleagues to the Judges family,” said Mr Hambro.

Geotek specialises in high resolution, non-destructive analysis of geological cores to enable university researchers, mining companies and oil and gas operators to analyse, record and digitise information about cores

they have extracted. Analysing a large number of cores is useful for the advancement of geology, understanding important aspects of climate change and helps mining, oil and gas companies to determine the abundance of and optimise extraction of a large range of important minerals as well as characterise oil and gas reserves.

The Geotek shareholders were advised by BCMS. The cash consideration for the acquisition is being financed from a new £100 million club facility led by Lloyds Banking Group alongside Santander UK and Bank of Ireland.

BCMS chief executive Jonathan

Dunn said: “We have really enjoyed working with Peter, Tony and the team at Geotek. The company is a rare example of a UK business genuinely leading the world in its field and we are proud to have been so heavily involved in shaping the deal and securing a great home for its long-term future.

“Being a truly global business, the slowdown through Covid was significant for Geotek but the team devoted that time to developing new services in new sectors that really added value to this deal.

“BCMS is thrilled for the shareholders and for Judges, who were a pleasure to deal with.”

Retailer moves warehouse operations under new e-fulfilment contract

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uxury lifestyle retailer The White Company, which has its central warehousing and distribution operations based in Northampton, is moving to a state-of-the-art facility.

A new five-year contract awarded to supply chain partner Wincanton will include the Swan Valley operation’s move to its own e-fulfilment facility at Rockingham, near Corby The deal will also mean around 175 employees, primarily engaged in fulfilment and warehousing services, transfer from The White Company to join the 20,000-strong Wincanton team.

The contract begins immediately and will

see Wincanton provide multi-channel fulfilment services including international e-commerce order fulfilment, store replenishment for more than 60 stores in the UK and Ireland and value-added services for around 1.6 million customers annually.

As part of this move, which will take about 18 months, Wincanton will introduce further customer experience improvements, operational capabilities and support capacity for growth, implementing higher levels of automation to drive efficiency.

Wincanton chief executive James Wroath said: “This contract with The White Company is a big step forward for Wincanton and a

significant milestone for our e-fulfilment operations. In due course our state-of-theart facility in Rockingham will be The White Company’s central logistics hub and we will be helping to deliver continued growth in customer experience, efficiency and productivity for the company through greater use of automation.

“It is testament to the strength, breadth and quality of our services that we have been selected by The White Company who keep the customer at the heart of everything they do to be their partner across all parts of their supply chain, building on our existing relationship as their two-person home delivery provider.”

The White Company is moving its warehouse and distribution operation from Northampton to Rockingham near Corby

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Mick added: “Kevin has invested a personal fortune in bringing this venue to life, and

we are committed to doing this for many years to come. We want people to experience the wow factor when they come to Towcester Racecourse.

“It has been a sleeping giant for many years and now we want our customers to have a

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great night at the greyhound racing or take advantage of the hospitality facilities we can offer.

“It is promising to be a busy summer and we are excited to welcome guests through our doors.”

The Growth Hub provides a wide range of fully-funded services and resources to businesses of all sizes and sectors. These include one-to-one sessions with a business adviser, resources covering a huge variety of different subjects, and help accessing finance and funding.

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Energy costs power growth at building supplies firm Sales up by 13% as crisis puts onus on efficiency, says Travis Perkins boss

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he current focus on energy costs is set to keep energy efficiency of buildings in the limelight. And that means encouraging prospects for the UK’s largest building materials supplier Travis Perkins, said its chief executive.

Nick Roberts was speaking after the company, whose headquarters are in Northampton, reported an increase in sales of more than 13 per cent for the first three months of the year.

The company’s order books remain

strong and its forecast for the year remains unchanged, he said, despite the war in Ukraine and its impact on the global economy.

Mr Roberts said: “The group has had an encouraging first quarter and, although the wider economic backdrop remains uncertain, we are well placed to build on this positive start in the coming months.

“The energy efficiency of the UK’s built environment remains a key focal point for households and politicians alike and the current cost

Chief Executive Nick Roberts of energy is likely to prompt further demand for improvement in both new and existing buildings. Allied to the significant pipeline of investment in the UK’s social and economic infrastructure, we remain confident in the structural drivers of demand in our end markets.”

Pricing accounted for around two-

thirds of the turnover growth with manufacturer increases continuing to be passed through in an orderly manner, Mr Roberts added. Customer demand remains robust across end markets with larger customer activity underpinned by the backlog of social and economic infrastructure work and ongoing requirement for new housing, he said.

“As the UK’s largest building materials supplier and a leading partner to the construction industry, we are uniquely placed to support the country in this drive and are working closely with all key stakeholders, including government, housebuilders, tradespeople and developers, to address these challenges.”

Sales in its Toolstation division were down by 6pc for the quarter but the company is confident that business drivers will normalise into the second half of the year as the lifting of pandemic restrictions takes full effect and customer activity returns to its pre-pandemic levels.

The construction supply chain had largely normalised by the end of 2021 and the group’s stock levels remain healthy. However, its forecast for materials price inflation, which was originally expected to ease into the second half of the year, is now more uncertain with pricing likely to form a higher proportion of sales growth across the year than previously thought.

Solar power purchase deal commits manufacturer to progress towards carbon net zero target “This agreement will provide us with price security and stability alongside the clear sustainability benefits” Chief Executive Stephen Harrison

Manual or Automated Blinds for Businesses and for Schools

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uilding products manufacturer Forterra has taken a significant step towards a sustainable future.

The company, which is headquartered in Northampton, is to source 70 per cent of its electricity needs from a solar farm in central England from 2025 after signing a 50 GWh Power Purchase Agreement.

The investment will provide renewable energy to Forterra’s 17 sites for 15 years, delivering annual carbon savings of 14,000 tonnes, equivalent to the energy usage of 13,500 households.

The new solar farm is being developed by global solar energy firm Lightsource bp.

The PPA between Lightsource bp and Forterra will be facilitated by Dutch energy

company Eneco, a licensed supplier in the UK. Forterra chief executive Stephen Harrison said: “This agreement will provide us with price security and stability alongside the clear sustainability benefits.

“It sees us make tangible progress in the race to net zero.

Rather than relying on green energy generated by others, we are actually investing in a dedicated source of renewable energy generation, helping to decarbonise the grid, something that is critical to the UK’s net zero journey.”

Forterra also aims to generate another 10pc of its electricity requirement from its own onsite solar and wind renewables by 2025, he added.

The investment follows a series of measures announced

by Forterra as it looks to

reduce its carbon footprint, including a reduction in single use plastic used to wrap its products.

It had switched its car fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles and has invested £21 million in its haulage fleet as part of its move to be entirely Euro 6 compliant.

Lightsource bp’s director of power markets for Europe Zosia Riesner said: “Forterra is showing real leadership with this deal, which will drastically reduce the carbon emissions of its operations.

It is also an astute move to secure predictable, long-term energy costs at a time of extreme price volatility.”

Forterra manufactures concrete and clay building products and employs around 1,800 staff in the UK across its 17 manufacturing facilities.

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Business News

Nappy days as company celebrates its second Queen’s Award for Enterprise

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he sustainable development practices at reusable nappy specialists Bambino Mio have secured a second Queen’s Award for the Brixworthbased enterprise.

The second Queen’s Award is for Enterprise for Sustainable Development recognises Bambino Mio’s commitment to its ongoing pursuit to make reusable nappies the first choice for parents to reduce the waste that single-use disposable nappies create.

Winners of the awards are all personally approved by Her Majesty the Queen. This year 226 UK businesses have been recognised for their contribution to International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity. This includes Diamond Hard Surfaces, featured in May’s edition of Business Times.

Previously, Bambino Mio won the International Trade award in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in 2020.

The award citation said Bambino Mio has grown from a local familyrun initiative in 1997 to one that now employs 103 people, serves 50 countries and is “a truly industryleading company”.

Founder and managing director Guy Schanschieff said: “Further Royal recognition from such a prestigious awards body is something that our team is extremely proud of. This is another accolade that acknowledges to the world that we are committed to sustainable development practices

and are on a mission to make reusable nappies the first choice to reduce single-use disposable nappy waste.”

Bambino Mio will be presented with the award at a reception held at Buckingham Palace later this year.

Cllr Lizzy Bowen, West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth, said: “It is businesses like these that drive our economy forward by providing salaries which are spent locally, and by employing nearby

suppliers and services. But most of all they are a demonstration of what success looks like and can be a driver for others to achieve the same. I congratulate both companies. You are an asset to our area.”

Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with the winners able to use the Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

Applications for the 2023 awards opened last month.

Investors join forces in UK logistics project

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lobal real estate investment giant Invesco is to partner with Northamptonshire-based Barwood Capital to build a portfolio of urban/last mile high-quality industrial and logistics warehouses across the UK The partnership will focus on creating sustainable industrial property through speculative development, asset management or repositional opportunities, concentrating on locations with strong rental growth prospects and occupier demand.

Organisations are adapting to the challenges of the ‘just in time’ delivery model, said Invesco Real Estate Europe

Partnership will develop portfolio of warehousing across country managing director Andy Rofe, and the partnership has moved swiftly to acquire its first two assets: a four-acre site next to the Trafford Retail Park in Manchester and a five-acre site with consent close to the M6 at Coventry.

It is aiming to create a portfolio of up to eight schemes with assets under management worth £300 million.

Barwood Capital managing director Hugh Elrington said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Invesco Real Estate, allowing us the depth of funding to take advantage

of the UK’s continued growth in this sought after sector of the market.”

Edward Henson, director and head of transactions, added: “Demand for industrial space remains strong across the UK regions and our partnership with Invesco Real Estate allows us to use our combined expertise to unlock development and asset management opportunities and capture the supply/ demand imbalance that exists in key locations.”

Barwood and Invesco Real Estate were advised on the acquisition of Trafford Retail

Park by BC Real Estate, while Carter Jonas advised on the Coventry site.

“With further pressure on global supply chains, we recognise the need for ‘edge of town’ distribution assets,” said Mr Rofe. “Partnering with a logistics specialist such as Barwood Capital, with their extensive UK network, industrial development and asset management expertise provides us with direct access to the UK Industrial sector, with the potential to harness the considerable forecast growth.”

Hugh Elrington

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Speedy Freight regional general manager Sean Belham with Nick Powell of Cawleys

Freight firm looks to boost its eco-credentials

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ogistics firm Speedy Freight, which has a branch at Brackmills industrial estate in Northampton has appointed waste management company Cawleys as its exclusive recycling partner.

Cawleys will provide Speedy Freight with rear-end loaders of cardboard and plastic,

which will be graded, baled, and sent to specialist recycling facilities. “Working with Cawleys supports our ethos to a more sustainable future,” said Speedy Freight’s regional general manager Sean Belham.

“They will play a huge role in assisting us in further improving our eco-credentials.”

To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

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Venues lead the way in fight against sex pests Scheme trains staff to tackle harassment

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ntervention training designed to spot and make safe situations of sexual harassment in bars, pubs and clubs across Northamptonshire is under way.

The Shout-Up! initiative is being delivered by Northamptonshire Rape Crisis and funded by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold. It aims to upskill those working in the county’s night-time economy so they identify sexual harassment and intervene safely.

The Picturedrome, The Old White Hart, and NB’s Cocktail Bar and Club in Northampton are the first venues to have had all their staff complete bystander intervention training. Now the commissioner has launched a wider campaign to target violence against women and girls.

Certification, which lasts for two years with six-monthly assessments, also requires establishments to have a publicly available sexual harassment policy, to implement practices that protect staff and patrons from sexual

harassment and to have a documented procedure for dealing with incidents.

Commissioner Mold said: “Sexual harassment has a huge impact on the lives of those who have suffered from it and, as the commissioner, I need to ensure we make Northamptonshire as safe as it can be for everyone who lives or works here. This training will help hospitality staff to recognise the potential signs and trigger points of sexual harassment, to intervene in a safe manner and offer appropriate support to victims. Ultimately, we hope it will help Northampton to provide a safer and more enjoyable night out for everyone.”

Training has taken place in Northampton and Kettering and is due to roll out across the county in the next few months. A total of 40 night-time economy workers have been through the process so far, with more due to complete shortly.

Shout-Up started in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2017 and Northamptonshire is the first area outside the North East to adopt it. Certified venues must:

(from left) Tina Matthew, of Northamptonshire Rape Crisis; Kerrie Mullen; Northamptonshire Police’s crime prevention team leader Paul Golley; chief executive of Northamptonshire Rape Crisis Dawn Thomas; venue director Suzy Keeping at The Picturedrome n Have all staff complete Bystander Intervention Training; n Write and share sexual harassment policies protecting staff and patrons; n Have a publicly available procedure for dealing with incidents of sexual harassment; n Commit to making their venue a sexual harassment-free zone; n Display visible signage explaining their participation in the scheme and what patrons can expect to happen in the event of sexual harassment; n Commit to undertake sixmonthly reviews on policies, procedures and training that they must pass to retain their certification.

Matt Kitchker, area manager of NB’s

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Cocktail Bar and Club said: “Being a part of Shout-Up! lets our customers know we are serious about zero tolerance of sexual harassment at our venue. Sexual harassment ruins the experience for customers and staff and being part of Shout-Up! demonstrates we will not be tolerating it. The specialist training provided by ShoutUp! has given the team here the tools and confidence to build on the work we do to deal effectively with these situations.”

Suzy Keeping, director of both The Picturedrome and The Old White Hart Inn, added: “We have a zero-tolerance policy of sexual harassment in our venues and are proud to be able to celebrate that by becoming Shout-Up!verified. It is so important to us that all

our customers and staff come into the venue feeling safe.

“There is no place in Northampton’s nightlife scene for sexual harassment.

Everyone should get on board to show it is not welcome in this town.”

Pubs and venues have enthusiastically backed the initiative. “We all want the same thing; that our pubs and clubs are a safe place for everyone to go,” said Northamptonshire Rape Crisis’ chief executive Dawn Thomas.

Shout-Up! training also enables pubs and venues to understand how they can intervene for their staff. “Too often harassment of staff is normalised,” said Ms Thomas. n Any venue wanting more information on Shout-Up! should visit shoutup.org/venues.

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Firms to benefit from £17m connectivity boost ‘A step change’: Work starts on full fibre network infrastructure for Kettering

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ettering is to be the next town in line for a multimillion-pound investment in its digital infrastructure, a move that will see it join the nation’s growing list of full fibre enabled communities.

Full fibre provider CityFibre is set to invest £17 million in a new network that will bring full fibreenabled internet services within reach of nearly every business and home in the town.

Construction work is under way around the Northfield Avenue and Rockingham Road area in the north of the town. As work is completed in each neighbourhood, CityFibre will designate the homes ready for service, which means residents can choose to connect to full fibreenabled broadband services when they go live in their area.

Full fibre networks, unlike many of the copper-based fibre broadband services available today, use 100 per centfibre optic technology to carry data at light speed between the home to the point of connection.

This gives users speeds of up

to 1,000 Mbps for upload and download, says CityFibre. Its area manager James Cushing is overseeing the delivery of the Kettering project.

“CityFibre’s investment will bring a step change in connectivity for Kettering,” Mr Cushing said.

“It will bring choice for residents and businesses and align perfectly with the ambitious regeneration and growth plans for the town. We think people will be blown away by the difference it will make, both now and for generations to come.

“We cannot wait for residents and businesses to see what is possible with digital connectivity and the important part it will play in each of our lives.”

A full fibre connection is a major boost to businesses and households.

Experts say it will drive a range of economic benefits, enabling businesses to be more productive, innovative and access new markets and helping residents to work from home and access essential services.

Cllr David Howes, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for rural

In Kettering, services will be available from an increasing range of broadband providers. Across the UK, CityFibre is already working with Vodafone, Zen and Giganet to supply full fibre infrastructure for customers, while TalkTalk and other providers are expected to join the network soon.

The Kettering project is part of CityFibre’s Gigabit City Investment Programme across the UK that is worth up to £4 billion.

James Cushing communities and localism, said: “Getting the right digital infrastructure in place is a big priority for the council - it is so important in so many ways.

Increasing full fibre connectivity helps support economic growth and innovation as well as keeping communities connected.”

Full fibre connectivity is now available to almost 30pc of properties in North Northants, up from less than 10pc two years ago.

CityFibre’s plans will bring the area closer to the council’s 40pc target for the end of next year and 80pc by 2028.

In Kettering, construction is being delivered by Granemore Group. It intends to use a range of construction methods while working in partnership with North Northamptonshire Council, Kettering Town Council and local communities to deliver a fast rollout while minimising potential disruption.

Each area will typically take a few weeks to complete and construction teams aim to be outside each home for only two to three days. CityFibre will be in touch by mail ahead of any work starting.

The overall project is expected to be completed by 2024 and the first services will go live much sooner.

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May the digital force be with you...

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tudents from schools across Northamptonshire have been ‘creating a digital future’ as part of a series of interactive Star Wars-themed taster sessions giving an insight into the online skills needed in the 21st century workplace.

Northampton College welcomed pupils from Northampton Academy, Weavers Academy and

Welland Park Academy to Booth Lane for the event which formed part of its ongoing #IgniteTheSpark initiative to give students an insight into the skills they need to acquire to increase their chances in the future job market.

Groups took part in interactive workshop sessions delivered by subject specialists in media, IT, games design and animation and Esports.

To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

“Digital is dominating almost every industry and it is so important that the next generation of employees are adept at using the technology at their disposal and ready to hit the ground running in the workplace,” said college principal Pat BrennanBarrett. “The possibilities that digital provides are endless. Hopefully we have shone a light on what lies ahead.”

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Business News

Grant funding backs county entepreneurs

College puts students on the career path

Councils support Kick Start scheme to encourage new businesses

Y

oungsters from schools across Northamptonshire have been urged to ‘find your future’ as part of a series of taster sessions giving an insight into the skills required in the modern workplace.

Northampton College welcomed pupils from The Parker EACT Academy, DSLV E-ACT Academy, Sponne School and Campion School to Daventry Campus for the event, which formed part of its ongoing #IgniteTheSpark initiative to help young people get a feel for the world that awaits them and the skills they need to acquire to increase their chances in the future job market.

They took part in interactive workshop sessions delivered by subject specialists, creating their own bespoke ‘pick ‘n mix’ taster session depending on their interests.

Sessions included a £100 businesss investment challenge, virtual reality plumbing, hairdressing and interactive website design.

College principal Pat BrennanBarrett said: “With so much choice and so many options available to them, deciding what to do next can

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Students taking part in the Find Your Future event at Northampton College be overwhelming for young people.

We wanted to give them a handson insight into what various careers actually entail. Hopefully we have

shone a light on what lies ahead for these young people who are the future of our economy and the leaders of tomorrow.”

ntrepreneurs have begun applying for a round of business grants and free expert advice available across Northamptonshire.

The funding is part of the Kick Start Small Business Grants initiative and the winners of a Dragon’s Den style grant panel session in September will receive a £2,000 grant for business expenses, a year’s free membership with the Federation of Small Businesses and ongoing support from the Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire.

BIPC Northamptonshire is part of the British Library’s National Network of Business & IP Centres which supports small businesses by hosting free events such as networking, workshops, seminars and webinars. The network has expanded to over 100 regional and local libraries across England, thanks to £13 million in central government funding.

Cllr Adam Brown, West Northamptonshire Council’s deputy leader and member responsible for the BIPC, said: “The last few years

have been incredibly challenging for businesses of all sizes but we continue to see entrepreneurs and new companies coming forward to make their mark on our local economy. Despite the challenging economic environment, those who can find success now may well go on to flourish and develop into incredibly successful enterprises.

As local authorities we want to do everything in our power to nurture start-ups and give them the very best start we can.”

Cllr David Brackenbury, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for growth and regeneration, said: “We want to help as many as possible. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen small businesses being set up across Northamptonshire and this initiative is designed to help those just starting out.”

The deadline for applications is July 15. n For more details, visit www.bipcnorthamptonshire.co.uk/ kickstart

For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

Business Times

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June 2022

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Business News

Opportunity is everywhere... It’s up to us to seize it Carl Raven received the award for Business Person of the Year at the 2021 Northamptonshire Business Awards, run by the county’s Chamber of Commerce. As the 2022 competition gets under way, he and business partner Marcus Richardson talk to Business Times about why they see opportunity everywhere, particularly off the back of their awards success.

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urning desire to win is what continues to drive businessman Carl Raven.

His success in setting up and growing a series of businesses only serves to drive him forward towards achieving new ambitions and goals.

“We are impatient, we are demanding and we like to win,” he says. “Opportunity is always out there - you just have to get out, find it and develop it.”

He urges businesses in Northamptonshire and beyond to follow a similar line but fears that the pandemic has instilled a laziness in some that will prevent them from realising their potential. It is time, he says, for ambitious businesses

to move up a gear and seek out the opportunities that will propel them to future success.

Carl, with his brother-in-law Marcus Richardson, currently run four successful businesses. They founded Global Health Tests, which provides a home-to-lab health testing service, in 2019 and their success was recognised last year at the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards when the company was named High Growth Business of the Year.

Health Hub Pro, an innovative digital healthcare platform that uses science to improve team health and business performance through nutritional, mental and physical health support, is also their

Carl Raven brainchild.

They are the latest in a series of businesses set up or invested in by the two. In every one, Carl and Marcus have concentrated on developing the senior management team and the correct structure and processes to allow the business to function at its best. “It has been a rollercoaster but it has also been amazing,” says Marcus.

While the pair’s focus has been on business worldwide, their attention is turning back to Northamptonshire and the county’s business and wider community. They have taken on Northampton Active, formerly

the Nene Whitewater Centre in Northampton, and are looking to develop its use. Already they have seen a marked increase in the number of community groups, schools, Scout and Guide troops using the facilities.

“We like to give back and this is our way of doing it,” says Carl. “When you come down here and see the kids on the water, it is a joy.”

He and Marcus have invested substantially in the facilities, including parking, changing rooms and shower facilities, a café, lift and rooms suitable for social events and conference bookings. The local and national emergency services also use

the facilties to train their staff.

“The police bring their dogs down here so the animals can cool off and have a swim,” says Carl.

His success and work locally earned him the Chamber’s award for Business Person of the Year last year too. Their business success has been global but Carl is also developing his ties with the local business community. He is a regular at Chamber of Commerce events and other networking occasions.

“I am meeting some amazing business and amazing people and I am learning a lot,” he says. “About what is going on, who knows who >>

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For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Business News >> and what and I am engaging with people who do really interesting things.”

Local awards competitions such as that run by Northamptonshire Chamber highlight the strength of business, he says. Historically neither he nor Marcus have favoured entering awards but they now hold a series from organisations across the UK. Last month Global Health Tests was among the International Business of the Year finalists at the national FSB awards in Glasgow.

“We have realised that having the credibility of being an award-winning business is superb in reassuring your customers that what we do is professional and we deliver the high standards they are looking for,” says Carl.

He urges other Northamptonshire businesses to put themselves forward for awards. They are, he says, a wonderful marketing tool and independent confirmation that an organisation can be trusted to deliver on its commitments.

It is all part of businesses moving forward after the challenges of the past couple of years during the pandemic. But Carl fears some are using the pandemic as an excuse to rest on their laurels.

“There are so many businesses that have become lazy,” he says. “They have decided that they can just continue doing what they were doing before. They just meander along.

That is not for us, We want to run at full speed the whole time. We want to explore everything that is possible.”

Chamber launches its quest for the best

Flashback: The celebrations begin for the winners of the Northamptonshire Business Awards last year

T

he Northamptonshire Business Awards 2022 have opened for entries.

Organised by Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, the awards aim to recognise the work being done by organisations across the county.

There are 13 awards to be presented this year including three new awards.

North Northamptonshire Business of the Year and West Northamptonshire Business of the Year are being supported by North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council to recognise the stand-out business success story in their respective geographical areas. For the first time, there will also be a President’s Award, with the winner chosen by Chamber of Commerce president

Search is on for the 2022 business awards winners Robyn Allen and headline sponsor Wilson Browne Solicitors.

The award will recognise ‘an awesome human being in our local area that has done something exemplary in the last 12 months’.

“I genuinely cannot wait for this year’s Northamptonshire Business Awards,” said Ms Allen. “It is always inspiring to see businesses celebrating their successes and I would encourage every business owner in the county to seriously consider entering.”

Other award categories include:

Business Person of the Year, Young Business Person of the Year, Best New Business of the Year, Workplace Wellbeing Award, International Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, High Growth Business of the Year, Customer Commitment Award, Employer of the Year and Charity of the Year.

Business Times, the awards’ official media partner, is to sponsor the Charity of the Year award. Other sponsors include Learning & Skills Academy CIC, The University of Northampton, The Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire, Commsave Credit Union, RS Components, Global Health Tests, Azets, qoob and HR Solutions.

Wilson Browne Solicitors business development and marketing director Wayne Jenkins said: “Just when we

thought we were out of the woods with the pandemic, along come more challenges in the form of global supply chain issues, labour shortages, and now inflation. With such a great business community in Northamptonshire showing such resilience, these issues may knock us off balance but they never knock us down. This just goes to show how strong and adaptable local business is, and these awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise that, to celebrate success and to pay tribute to the best in the county.”

Northamptonshire Chamber’s interim chief executive Louise Wall said the county’s businesses had risen to the challenges of Covid and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Despite these challenges, our local business community has continued to thrive, creating jobs for the county and providing much needed products and services.”

The finalists will be announced at the Northamptonshire Chamber Business Expo at Franklin’s Gardens on September 14 and the winners will be revealed at the awards evening on November 3 at The Park Inn, Northampton. n The deadline for entries is 5pm on July 1. Find out more at www.northants-chamber.co.uk/ awards. Entries are open and can be submitted at northamptonshire. awardsplatform.com

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0800 088 6004 | enquiries@wilsonbrowne.co.uk | wilsonbrowne.co.uk To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

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Making Tax Digital Are you ready?

S Tax

ince 2019, VAT-registered businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT threshold (£85,000) have been mandated to keep digital VAT records and send returns to HMRC using Making Digital (MTD) compatible software.

From April 2022 these requirements will now apply to all VAT-registered businesses, meaning any business who voluntarily registered under the taxable turnover threshold of £85,000 will be affected.

Being able to keep your invoice records and paperwork stored online, so you no longer need to keep large boxes of paperwork Being user friendly The ability to see how your business is performing in real time Being able to produce sales invoices easily, with the ability to automate your credit control and get paid faster

What is MTD?

MTD compatible software There is a large choice of MTD compatible software on the market. In most circumstances we recommend Xero.

We have partnered with Xero since 2013 and have helped many clients transfer onto the software, providing set-up and training support. There are many reasons we chose to partner with Xero, outside of the Making Tax Digital requirements, including:

MTD for VAT Although this has been in place since 2019 for MOST VAT-registered businesses MTD for VAT will be expanded to cover ALL VAT-registered businesses.

This will mean more businesses needing to keep digital VAT records and submit VAT returns using MTD-compatible software. Action needs to be taken as soon as possible by those businesses now caught by these regulations from April 2022.

MTD for Income Tax

MTD is a key part of the Government’s plans to make it easier for businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their tax affairs. HMRC’s ambition is to be one of the most digitally advanced tax administrations in the world, modernising the tax system to make it more effective, more efficient, and easier for customers to comply. This means businesses need to keep digital records and use compatible software to send their VAT returns or Income Tax updates (more details to follow) to HMRC. Keeping digital records and providing updates to HMRC directly through MTD compatible software is designed to reduce errors, cost, uncertainty, and worry. This streamlined digital experience integrates tax into day-to-day business record-keeping, so that businesses can view their tax position in-year and be confident that they have got their taxes right.

Summary

MTD for Income Tax Self-Assessment will apply from April 2024 for unincorporated businesses and landlords with total business or property income above £10,000 per year.

Further Information?

Have you ever wondered what Xero is and how it could change the way you run your business? This is your chance to find out.

Manage your accounts from anywhere, on any device Manage your cash-flow Invoice customers from any device Take payment directly from your sales invoice via an online payment gateway Unlimited user access, with multiple user levels Sync bank statements automatically with direct bank feeds View live reports e.g. profit & loss, balance sheet, age receivables

Come along to our free seminar to discover the key features of Xero and how it could help run your business finances. We understand the move to online software is a step into the unknown for many businesses, so we’ve set-up a series of events to help provide information about Xero and how to best transition your businesses finances online.

Visit advaloremgroup.uk/events or scan the QR code below to register and attend our “An intro to Xero” seminar.

For more information about MTD or Xero, please get in touch for a free meeting. Contact us on: (e) enquiries@advaloremgroup.uk (w) advaloremgroup.uk (t) 01908 219100

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For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Business News Best Customer Service

The winners of this year’s SME Northamptonshire Business Awards will be announced at the end of this month at a glittering gala ceremony at the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel. Ahead of the ceremony, meet all the businesses that have made it to the final and hear their thoughts on being shortlisted among the best across Northamptonshire.

Bright & Beautiful Northampton Hunters Solutions Nasty Vegan Northants Accounting Limited Square Media Solutions Ltd The Boathouse Cafe The Griffins Head Xtreme Cleaning “After the last two years being in lockdown & the business being so stop start, it’s been amazing to get back to 100%, get our heads down and do what we do best here at The Griffin’s Head...

Serving our guests and give them a great time.

We have such a young newly put together team and for this to be recognised is such a great push for us. The confidence it gives us and the determination to do better keep us striving. It means the world to us.”

HR Solutions Best Enterprising Business 20/30 Labs Amplitude Future Toolbox Longhurst Limited MMA TV Nene Group PLC Portman Asset Finance Your Community Card, by Reward-It Ltd “The team at Portman Asset Finance are incredibly proud to have been nominated as finalists. As a local business that has grown by helping others grow, we are privileged to be held in such high esteem by our peers.

Over the last 12 months we have built a more customer-focused business: changing our processes and our team structure, implemented service-based measures, built and deployed a new CRM system, recruited an experienced senior team, rebranded and launched a new website.

This level of recognition is testament to the huge efforts of many people across Portman.”

Events & PR High Growth Business of the Year Nene Group plc

BMTC Business of the Year

Grosvenor Business of the Year 50+ employees

Ensafe Consultants Hunters Solutions Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

BMTC Best New Business Amico Design Banakedi Claire Clarke Virtual Assistant Econform Limited Haus of HR Ltd iOTA Office Furniture Parker Puppetry Ltd Sleep Solutions With Sam

Business Chameleon Ensafe Consultants Kafe Bloc & Deli Rockit Kids

Business Person of the Year Jo Burns-Russell Amplitude Martin Steers NLive Radio Nishi Patel N-Accounting

Business Woman of the Year Elisha Dignam CULT Marketing Elizabeth Wright Admin and More Greta McDonald Sweet Lounge Jess Parker Parker Puppetry Ltd Kadie Forge OLC Cleaning

Community Business of the Year NLive Radio Northampton Hope Centre Northants Litter Wombles

less than 50 employees

Admin and More Fortitude Financial Planning Ltd HR Solutions iOTA Office Furniture Rollasons Solicitors LLP Tollemache Arms Westgate

Employer of the Year Acorn Analytical Services Loop Digital Marketing Ltd Square Media Solutions Ltd

Hair Salon/Barber of the Year Haircuts for the Homeless

www.web-alliance.co.uk

Lockdown Leader Ensafe Consultants Jaybeam Limited t/a Amphenol Procom Parker Puppetry Ltd Spraylat International Ltd

Portman Asset Finance Business Innovation

of all sizes in retail, hospitality, leisure, and more a way to connect with their customers, through a community-wide loyalty scheme.

Being nominated for such awards shows that our hard work ty is paying off.”

Service Excellence Fortitude Financial Planning Ltd Franklins Solicitors LLP HR Solutions Kafe Bloc & Deli N-Accounting Nasty Vegan NewGen IT Services Portman Asset Finance

Grosvenor Sustainability Awards

20/30 Labs Econform Limited Future Toolbox Go Audio Visual Ltd Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Web Alliance

Portman Asset Finance Family Business of the Year Friars Farm Northampton Future Toolbox iOTA Office Furniture Nene Warehouse Solutions NewGen IT Services Sauls of Spratton Ltd Web Alliance Limited Wheelie Klips Limited

Econform Limited Fill Refill Co Ganders Goat Marlec Engineering Co Ltd Nene Warehouse Solutions Ltd See Limited Westgate

Events & PR Towcester Business of the Year Claire’s Cottage Kitchen Fortitude Financial Planning Haus of HR Ltd Have I Got Brews For You Truva Charcoal Grill & Bar

Website of the Year

“Ashish, founder of Northampton-based bespoke software development specialist Web Alliance, said: “SME awards means so much to all of us at Web Alliance. We are, in every sense of the word, a ‘family’ business. The philosophy of looking after our clients and our team is at the core of everything we do. We started our journey as a sole trader with a handful of customers and, from that small beginning, we have grown to a multi-employee business with offices on two continents.”

Positive Impact Award 20/30 Labs Amplitude Grace Homes Your Community Card, by Reward-It Ltd “Everyone at Reward-It is delighted to be in the finals for the Best Enterprising Business and Positive Impact Awards. We created The Community Card to help high streets build back stronger and better than before following the impact of the pandemic. It offers businesses

Cross Compliance Training Nene Warehouse Solutions Rak Design (UK) “Rak Design Ltd. is a leading website development and graphic design agency based in Northamptonshire. Our outstanding innovative and creative approach to business brings tangible results whether we are helping our customers with their corporate identity, website design, photography or marketing strategy. We pride ourselves on being a local Northamptonshire company and endeavour to serve businesses based in this part of the country. We are absolutely delighted to be amongst this year’s finalists for the SME Northamptonshire Business Awards.”

Young Business Person of the Year Daniel Vernon Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Greta McDonald Sweet Lounge Thomas Pearson Nene Group plc

www.rakdesign.com

YOUR PARTNER IN RETAIL SUCCESS Retail gifts, loyalty solutions, great results

01604 422422 www.reward-it.co.uk To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

Business Times

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Legal Briefing

Outsourcing...it is not without its risks “It can be part of a business growth plan, but ensure that the reputation of your business remains intact,” says commercial solicitor Anna Horrell.

I

nstead of taking on more staff as your business griows, you may decide to outsource services. There is almost no limit to the type of services that can be outsourced, from manufacturing and drop shipping to IT, finance and sales support.

“While outsourcing key services can offer efficient ways for businesses to grow, it is not without risks to your business and its hard-earned reputation,” explains Anna Horrell, a commercial solicitor with Borneo Martell Turner Coulston in Northampton.

When requesting outsourcing proposals a business needs to cover all its requirements so potential providers are clear as to what the business is expecting, she adds.

Take care also to obtain information to assess any potential provider’s suitability as a long-term business partner.

Some of the key issues to check include:

■ Jurisdiction: Where the

provider is based and whether the agreement will be subject to English law.

■ Company structure,

financial stability: It is prudent to undertake some due diligence on a potential provider.

■ Insurance: You will

need recourse in case of failure on their part and confirmation of insurance.

■ Compliance: Modern

Slavery Act, Bribery Act etc. You may need to see their policies on these matters which affect the supply chain.

■ Data protection: If they

are assisting with data management, due diligence on data protection protocols will be critical.

“It is worth asking our solicitors for input even at this early stage, says Anna. “Once you have selected a provider, our solicitors will help negotiate the commercial arrangement.”

■ Right to subcontract:

Your provider may want the right to subcontract but it is preferable to prevent this so the buck stops with them and you have a tight line of control.

Often once contracts are signed, they are forgotten and business takes over.

It is good practice to audit

One of the risks is that it is not easy to bring it back in house if something goes wrong

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contracts frequently to ensure no contravention of the terms, that there are no changes in relationship and - most importantly - that any variations outside of the contract are in writing, preferably always with reference back to the contract.

One of the risks of outsourcing, is that it is not easy or quick to bring it back in-house if something goes wrong. Much as you hope this will not happen, it is important to be prepared and agree remedies in the contractual documentation.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is OK to say ‘No’: Paralegal Chloe Lake hopes that her experience in recognising and tackling her recent mental health challenges can prove to be an inspiration to others.

We’re back! Join us for a fantastic day of networking at the Holiday Inn, Corby.

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HOW WE CAN HELP Our commercial team has extensive experience in navigating outsourcing.

Whether it is to help negotiate terms or conduct due diligence on your provider, we can take care of your best interests.

For an informal discussion, contact Anna Horrell in the commercial team at Borneo Martell Turner Coulston. Telephone: 01604 622101 or email anna.horrell@ bmtclaw.co.uk.

abelling specialist AM Labels, has received the Epson ColorWorks Partner of the Year Award for the second year running. The company, which has moved into new premises in Kettering, also received Epson’s Project of the Year Award.

The awards recognise Epson’s partners and valueadded resellers for their sales, innovation and contribution to the industry.

Throughout 2021, AM Labels maintained a highly successful sales campaign of Epson products. It won the Project of the Year Award after sales of a large number of Epson C7500G colour label printers - used to create chemical labels - to a company in the chemical industry.

AM Labels managing director Tony Mariani said the two awards and the move to larger premises, including the opening of a new Technical Experience Centre, will inspire further growth.

“We have invested heavily in our business in recent months,” he added.

I admitted to myself I could not do it all. I was spinning too many plates

Holiday Inn, Geddington Road, Corby, NN18 8ET Thursday 16th June 10am - 3pm

Business Times

Anna Horrell

■ Key Performance

Northamptonshire Business Expo

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Key issues to consider include:

Indicators (KPIs): Agreeing KPIs will be important. These are dependent on the service and how time-critical or performance-critical they are to your business.

Labels firm wins second Epson award

A

s a junior lawyer, I am proud to be vocal about encouraging people to show that everything really can be OK if you use the tools, resources and coping mechanisms available to you.

Last year I suffered a period of poor mental health and can count on one hand how many times I left my house.

Loneliness is a feeling I know all too well - and during this period I felt it acutely. Fast forward several months and I am not just surviving, I am thriving, having learned some hugely important lessons.

How did I go from the lowest low to where I am currently? It started by asking for help. I admitted to myself that I could not do it all. I was spinning too many plates and had neglected my mental and physical wellbeing.

I approached my team leader and my head of team and expressed that I needed help with managing my workload.

In the moments leading up to these conversations I felt like I had failed myself. Those frank, honest and helpful

#IveBeenThere A Junior Lawyer’s Perspective

by Chloe Lake

conversations turned out to be exactly what I needed.

Plans were put in place that helped me to adjust, I felt supported, reassured.

Instantly, a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Do not be scared to ask for help. I study for additional qualifications alongside my work. It is no mean feat, and there are some days that are harder than others. One of the best things about working at Wilson Browne Solicitors is the accessibility of your colleagues at all levels.

If you are feeling slightly

lost, look around. Make meaningful connections with your peers. A simple ‘You got this’ or the offer of some notes to look over can be incredibly reassuring.

One of the biggest and most important lessons I have learned over the last six to eight months is that you can say ‘No’ to things. If you overload yourself, you will end up burned out. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is OK to say ‘No’. A busy schedule of extracurricular or employment-based activities is great but taking time to look after yourself is vital.

Looking after your mental health is important. I hope that parts of this article offer some inspiration for anyone who may experience similar and is looking for ways to overcome such challenges. I consider myself indescribably lucky to work at a firm where our ethos of being #AllTheHelpYouNeed is not only applicable to the service.

Chloe Lake is a paralegal in the residential conveyancing team at Wilson Browne Solicitors.

For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

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Business Times

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June 2022

15

Money Matters

Know your figures. They will steer you towards your business goals Simon Musto with Bobby Singh Braich outside the Kettering office after the acquisition deal is done

Property firm founder completes company sale

E

state agency Belvoir, which has offices in Corby and Kettering, has completed the acquisition of Simon Musto Sales and Lettings.

Simon Musto, which has an office in Sheep Street, Kettering, has been in the town for over four decades.

Its two staff will remain in post and Mr Musto will remain with the business.

Belvoir managing director Bobby Singh Braich said: “This acquisition gives Belvoir a greater presence in Kettering. Combining our services will benefit our customers, bringing a modern approach to a

traditional, well-respected business. Simon is a consummate professional and we are so pleased that he will continue to also be a much-valued colleague.”

Mr Musto said: “The main focus for me was to sell to a company with the integrity to carry on our amazing history. I have known of Bobby for a number of years and Belvoir is a trusted and long-standing brand so I know the business is in good hands.

“While I am very sad to see the business sold, I am very happy that it has gone to Belvoir. I feel like we have gone out on top.”

It may be a little late for a New Year’s resolution but, says Claire Emery of Elsby & Co, there’s no time like the present for adopting best practice and getting to know the numbers which drive your business.

W

hy should you know your numbers?

Isn’t that the job of your accountant? There is an easy answer: If you make decisions based on facts and numbers you understand, your business is more likely to be successful.

It’s impossible to maximise profits if the finances of the business are not fully known or understood. This is even more relevant against the backdrop of inflation and interest rates rising at their fastest rate for years and wage inflation adding further to the cost base of businesses.

Even in the best of times, it’s hard to control numbers we don’t know or understand and a cursory glance at a year-end P&L might not be providing the detailed picture

you need. There’s a whole host of questions that bring this to the fore: Do you know your break-even point? Do you know what your gross margin is, or should be? Do you know what your cashflow situation will be in a month’s time? How is the business performing on a like for like basis or versus budget?

As accountants, we produce annual accounts to meet statutory requirements. These are often prepared a few months after the year-end and therefore the information provided can be out of date for decision-making purposes.

Simply relying on your year-end accounts might not be sufficient to maximise the performance of the business. By having accurate management accounts, nothing should come as a surprise when you have your annual meeting with your accountant.

At Elsby, we recommend more frequent financial reporting. It’s not quite as simple as a ‘one-size fits all’ approach - there will always be a caveat based on the size and turnover of the business, however it can be a false economy. Paying a little more for monthly or quarterly reporting provides greater visibility, allowing you to identify and remedy issues affecting the financial

Claire Emery

It could make the difference between finding a problem three months into the new financial year as opposed to three months after the year-end performance of your business.

It could make the difference between finding a problem three months into the new financial year as opposed to three months after the yearend. A lot can happen in that 12-month ‘gap’.

Knowing your numbers shouldn’t be a daunting prospect.

We appreciate not all our clients share our excitement and passion for spreadsheets. We tailor a reporting framework specific

to the key performance indicators relevant to your business, reviewing, analysing, and presenting findings in a format devoid of unnecessary jargon.

We go the extra mile, checking your margins, debt control procedures, aged debtors, and overheads, breaking these down to understand the areas holding you back.

We analyse a whole lot more besides with the purpose of identifying revenue growth or cost reduction opportunities.

Sharing your passion for your business is what we do.

We’re all in business to succeed so don’t let ignorance of your numbers prevent you from achieving your goals. n To find out more about how Elsby can help you and your business, e-mail claire. emery@elsbyandco.co.uk.

Forensics analyst buys animal test lab

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forensic services company that provides DNA analysis and toxicology to most of the UK police forces has branched out into the world of veterinary diagnostics.

Cellmark, which provides a range of forensic laboratory testing services, has completed the acquisition of Pinmoore Animal Laboratory Services, one of the few independent veterinary testing and diagnostics companies in the UK that provides laboratory testing of exotic animals.

The deal was brokered

by Northampton corporate finance specialist Watersheds, which Cellmark had approached as it began its acquisition strategy in 2020.

The company was looking to buy in its existing markets and to enter new ones, said Watersheds partner Yuri

Fernandes. “The acquisition will provide the exotic animal diagnostics company with the support and operational resources needed for it to grow, as well as development opportunities for its employees,” he added.

Based in Cheshire, PALS works with animal samples from veterinary practices, farms, wildlife parks and zoos, as well as privately owned animals. Its acquisition is Abingdon-based Cellmark’s first move into the veterinary diagnostics sector.

Cellmark’s managing director David Hartshorne said: “This is an excellent acquisition as it allows us to expand our laboratory testing expertise into what is a new market for us. There are significant opportunities to expand and so, working with the team at PALS, we

intend to develop a much larger veterinary diagnostics business.”

Watersheds worked to identify suitable businesses that met Cellmark’s criteria and shared its values of professionalism, integrity, and customer service.

“Following an initial discussion, it became clear that PALS would be an excellent fit and we were able to construct a valuation and transaction structure rapidly that suited both parties,” said Mr Fernandes.

Mr Hartshorne added: “Watersheds completely understood our brief and searched for and found exactly the type of company that we wanted to acquire. We were particularly impressed that they sourced opportunities that we almost certainly would not have found on our own.”

For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Money Matters

Out of the frying pan... and straight into the fire Every quarter, accounting network Moore UK asks business leaders across the UK to share their aspirations for the next six months and track business confidence. In its latest Owner Managed Business survey of more than 500 businesses nationwide, carried out in April 2022, Moore looks at these consistent measures and the new issues affecting UK businesses today.

W

ith businesses across the UK still recovering from the effects of Covid-19 and Brexit, they now face the new challenge of rising costs, inflation, and the effects of the war in Ukraine.

Despite this, business confidence in the general outlook has continued to rise gradually over the past few months across the UK, with a third of UK businesses saying they are highly confident in the general outlook in April 2022.

The figure is an increase of 23 per cent on July last year.

However, it is a gloomier picture for businesses in the East Midlands.

Business confidence locally fell over the same period, from 34pc of businesses reporting high confidence in the general outlook in July 2021 to 24pc feeling highly confident in

April this year. And only 67pc of respondents in the East Midlands expected revenue to increase in 2022, compared to 84pc of respondents across the whole of the UK. April Foster, partner at Moore, says: “For business owners in the East Midlands it is a case of ‘out of the frying pan and into the fire.’

Covid restrictions may have been lifted but local businesses remain worried about the impact of rising fuel and energy costs and inflation on revenue and profitability.”

Businesses in the East Midlands region are being hit hard by rising business costs. Almost half (45pc) said that costs such as fuel and energy were one of their biggest challenges over the next three months and 39pc said they were worried about inflation.

Despite the lifting of all

To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

April Foster restrictions, the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause problems for local businesses, with 37pc citing Covid as a challenge for the next three months.

“With almost half (45pc) of East Midlands businesses believing that rising costs will affect profitability by a great extent this year, business owners are turning their attention to ways they can reduce operating costs and become more efficient,” says Ms Foster.

‘Business confidence in the general outlook has continued to rise gradually over the past few months across the UK’ remote working Research revealed that of 84pc of businesses in accelerated the adoption the East Midlands have of new technologies and implemented some form of businesses are seeing this digital transformation as an ongoing journey over the past two rather than a oneSavings off. years, with the primary The Moore brought about by drivers being survey found new technologies to save that more costs and could prove to be the than nine out to increase solution businesses of ten ownerefficiency. m a n a g e d need to survive The pandemic businesses say and the explosion they are planning

some form of digital transformation in the next two years.

“Businesses in the East Midlands are not out of the woods yet and are likely to face real challenges over the next 12 months,” says Ms Foster. “The cost and time savings brought about by new technologies will help to offset rising business costs and could prove to be the solution businesses need to survive.”

Business Times

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June 2022

17

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To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

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For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Business News

Historian praises operator as historic pub reopens

“T

o walk inside was to step back in time and feel what it was like a century earlier, before commercialisation set in,” says historian Dave Knibb. He has fond memories of what was one of Northampton’s most iconic pubs, a venue that, eight years after it called time, is now set to reopen.

“Whether it was a lunchtime drink or part of an evening out, everyone went in the Shipmans,” he says. “Its reopening will give a generation of people a chance to revisit and rekindle much loved memories, and of course, a chance to create new ones.

“There are still many pubs still in Northampton but none like the Shipmans.”

The pub on the corner of the Drapery and Drum Lane, is due to open later this month after a major investment by owner McManus Pub Co. Ahead of its opening, social media is awash with posts sharing memories of family members who would visit on market days for a drink after using the local shops or those who remember the half-pints which the pub sold until the 1980s.

The Shipmans became a popular spot due to the town centre location

‘To regenerate such an iconic pub is scarcely believable’

next to the bus station for workers to enjoy a pint after their shift.

“The Shipmans reopening is fantastic news for Northampton,” says Dave.

“So many pubs have closed down over the years, disappearing forever, but for McManus Pubs to regenerate such an iconic pub is scarcely believable.

“Of all the pubs in Northampton town centre, the Shipmans has created more happy memories for generations of people than any other, its unique design giving a genuine

To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

feeling of history.”

The McManus Pub Co. has invested heavily into pubs and restaurants across Northamptonshire and the Shipmans is no exception.

The pub dates from 1790 and been through numerous personas such as Roebuck, White Hart, White Hart Wine Vaults.

McManus Pub Co. has been working on restoring it after the pub closed back in 2014, using local building firm Goodfellows and Metcalf Decorators.

Many of the original features such as fireplaces, flagstone flooring, the hanging barrel and wooden bar will remain but the pub now also has a dining area and function rooms on the first floor.

Since its closure, historian Dave has been sharing snippets of history about the Shipmans on social media.

He wlaso wrote Last Orders, a history of Northampton pubs up to 1945.

“We are so excited to be reopening the Shipmans. It is such an iconic pub from the past,” says McManus Pub Co managing director Gary McManus.

“We look forward to putting the Shipmans back where it belongs in the heart of Northampton.”

Photographer realises Vogue dream

P

hotographer Nick Freeman is well known for his eyecatching images. Until now, his dream has been to have a photo published by iconic fashion and lifestyle magazine Vogue.

Now that dream has been realised with a stunning photo of a pair of shoes taken during a shoot at footwear manufacturer Newman & Regent’s factory in Kettering.

“I staged the shot while walking through their factory looking for interesting locations and my client and British Vogue loved it,” Nick says.

His career has spanned more than three decades, with his work featured in numerous national publications. “After 34 years of working as a photographer I

have had many incredible firsts in my career and having a photo published in Vogue is definitely right up there among them.”

The photo was among a series of formal and informal shots to mark Newton & Regent’s rebranding and the expansion of the company’s range. The Newman & Regent factory is one of the earliest large boot and shoe factories in Kettering and has a long history of producing quality footwear.

Its original occupant was Newman & Sons in 1873 and other occupants since have included George Essain and Co in 1929 and Bignell Ltd in 1937. The building still retains its traditional interior, creating a striking backdrop for the shoot.

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21

Property Portfolio Retailer creates new jobs at warehouse

F

ifty new jobs have been created in Corby with the opening of a new warehouse

by European shoe retailer Deichmann.

The warehouse at Centrix Business Park on Phoenix Parkway is around 165,000 sq ft. It will support Deichmann’s ongoing growth by improving service levels and will give the brand full autonomy to manage its inventory and logistics.

Samuel Deichmann, executive board member at Deichmann SE and chairman of the board of directors, said: “We are thrilled to open our brand new Corby warehouse. Deichmann is experiencing strong success both in our online growth and expansion of UK stores. The new warehouse will allow us to enhance our service and ensure we can keep pace.”

The company chose Corby for the brand’s new UK distribution facility as a central location to its 120 UK stores and its proximity to Deichmann’s head office in Market Harborough. Deichmann enlisted Clowes Developments to manage the development of the former brownfield site and invested around £3 million into the facility, which took just under a year to complete and has capacity to hold just over one million pairs of shoes. It was built by Winvic Construction.

Development plan for ex-Weetabix site

A

new speculative industrial warehouse is to be constructed on the former Weetabix factory site on the Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby.

Site owner Copley Point Capital - on behalf of its Block Industrial programme and Pembury Real Estate Ltd - has drawn up plans for the demolition of the existing building and a scheme for a new best-in-class facility.

‘Joint venture is very timely’: agent

Plans were due before North Northamptonshire Council last month with the intention of speculatively delivering the scheme by mid-2023.

Property consultancies PropSearch, Burbage Realty and Potter Learoyd have been instructed to

seek a tenant for the 160,800 sq ft Earlstree 160 project.

Prop-Search director Richard Baker said: “There is a lack of available new stock of this size in the North Northamptonshire region so this joint venture is a very timely development.

It is perfectly placed to accommodate

the pent-up demand from occupiers with household names in Avon, CEVA, Weetabix and Saint Gobain proving that the business park, with its excellent transport links and access to a skilled workforce, is an attractive proposition to successful national companies.”

Pictured: The plan for the site at Earlstree in Corby.

Travis Wood, an associate at Wilson Browne Solicitors in Northampton, reflects on lessons from a site acquisition with some hidden twists.

Beware the minefield of light and air

I

was instructed in the purchase of a development site not that long ago.

The client had started spending money on things like planning and ground investigation surveys. They were keen to press ahead and were several thousand pounds in before I was provided with the Legal Title to the site, a title that reserved a Right of Light & Air in favour of the neighbour that would have been unlawfully obstructed by the proposed development.

The neighbour’s right would have needed to be bought out and, with rising land and build costs, it is difficult to find that in the budget.

This is not all that uncommon. I recall a similar story of developers in London who obstructed a right to light and air in favour of a neighbour.

Injunctive proceedings were brought by the neighbour later and it ended with them demolishing what they had built.

I have seen covenants prohibiting the sale of alcohol on a piece of land which has been earmarked for use as a convenience store and covenants outright prohibiting development on a site sold as having potential for development, the original

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Travis Wood beneficiary of that covenant still very much being the

existing neighbour.

So what is my take on this? There may be ways to resolve such issues but at a time of rising land and build costs and squeezed margins, it is often safer to instruct experienced lawyers to check title to a development site before incurring significant costs on site due diligence and planning.

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For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Property Portfolio

Investors pledge backing for park’s growth plans £135m commitment aims to build on ‘history, heritage and global reputation’

“Iron Mountain is adding around one million square feet of logistics space a year to its UK business, which is in line with our global growth strategy. We are seeing a number of drivers for the increase in demand for our services, including the massive expansion of e-commerce.”

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Prologis Park in Kettering and at Magna Park North, Lutterworth.

The warehouses, are earmarked for pallet storage and logistics and have scope to accommodate the company’s scanning operations, which in turn may create new jobs.

Phil Shepley, vice president and commercial lead in the UK, said:

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global leader in innovative storage, asset lifecycle management and information management services has added a site in Kettering to meet growing demand.

Iron Mountain, which has an extensive network including a base in Corby, now has new facilities at

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Storage firm scales the heights with new warehouses

Pump Station Finedon Industrial Estate

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a home for engineering, innovation and business development beyond the world of motor sport and we are delighted to share these aspirations with our joint venture partner.”

Silverstone Park is located in the Oxford-Cambridge Innovation Arc growth corridor and is seen as a global destination for innovation, business development and engineering. It has also developed ties and collaboration schemes with nearby schools and colleges, including STEM and innovation programmes.

CPP Investments and Federated Hermes, as investment manager of BTPS’s UK property investments, have previously coinvested on the development of other MEPCmanaged assets in Paradise Birmingham, Wellington Place in Leeds and Milton Park at Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

“We believe our investment in Silverstone Park will support the scheme’s next phase of growth, further diversify our real estate portfolio and deliver attractive longterm, risk adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries,” said Tom Jackson, CPP Investments’ managing director, head of real estate UK.

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partnership between two global investment management organisations is set to take on and develop Silverstone Park.

CPP Investments, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, is to commit £135 million to the joint venture with Federated Hermes, whose wholly owned subsidiary MEPC already acts as development and asset manager for the park.

CPP Investments will hold a 50 per cent interest, with further investment planned to support the park’s future development. It already has 676,000 sq ft of premises on the park which is home to more than 80 high-tech engineering companies working in automotive, engineering, defence, manufacturing and electronics.

Through MEPC, Federated Hermes has established Silverstone Park over the past eight years on behalf of the BT Pension Scheme.

“This is a noteworthy extension of our highly successful partnership with CPP Investments,” said Federated Hermes’ chief executive, real estate Chris Taylor. “Our vision for Silverstone Park is to build on the history, heritage and global reputation of the Silverstone Circuit, creating

Net internal area approx. 2,390ft² (222m²) • Ample allocated parking.

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For more information please visit berrys.uk.com or call: Kettering: Kevin O’Dell 01536 517777 | Towcester: Duncan Batty 01327 356140 To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

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June 2022

23

Appointments

Vice-presidents relish their double Chamber challenge

T

wo leading business figures have taken up new roles as vicepresidents of Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire Chambers of Commerce.

Reemesh Patel, who is behind Northamptonshire businesses including The SK Group and M&M Family Investments, and Scott Jones, chief executive of full service digital marketing agency 123 Internet based in Milton Keynes, have moved from non-executive positions on the board of the two Chambers

to begin their new posts.

They will work alongside the Chambers’ president Robyn Allen.

Mr Patel joined Northamptonshire Chamber in 2017 and has been a nonexecutive director on the Chamber board for three years.

“Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber are already great Chambers but I am very excited to help move them further forward for the benefit of all our members,” he says.

Mr Jones has been a member

of both Chambers for seven years and a Platinum business partner since 2019.

Chamber president Robyn Allen said: “I am incredibly excited to have Reemesh and Scott supporting me in leading the board,” says Chamber president Robyn Allen. “Between the three of us we have a wide variety of skills and knowledge and our businesses are spread across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes so we are in a position to represent the membership incredibly well.”

Chairman: Investment in people is key to our strategy

T

wo new partner appointments at its Northampton office top the list of a raft of promotions at regional law firm Howes Percival.

Employment law specialist Hannah Pryce pictured top and real estate lawyer Alexandra Kirkwood left become partners.

The office is also celebrating the moves up by Neena Jakhu in insolvency and corporate recovery and Owen Franks in

From trainee to partner: ‘The career path I was seeking’

H Chamber vice-presidents Reemesh Patel and Scott Jones with president Robyn Allen

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June 2022

commercial property to senior associate.

Howes Percival chairman Geraint Davies said: “We have a reputation for promoting from within and it is great to reward people for their exceptional efforts in supporting our clients during this challenging period.

Investment in people, through both external appointments and nurturing our existing talent, is key to our strategy, our continued success and growth.

e joined professional services firm MHA MacIntyre Hudson as a trainee. Now Nathan Sutcliffe pictured is celebrating his promotion to tax partner at the firm’s office in Northampton.

He will be at the head of the firm’s development of its work with entrepreneurial families and transactional advisory services.

“I am delighted to be joining the partnership at MHA as a tax partner which I originally joined as a trainee,” says Mr Sutcliffe.

“During this time there has

been significant growth across the firm and they have supported my journey and provided the career path I was seeking. We work with many fantastic entrepreneurs and high networth clients for whom we are continuously developing our offering.”

Mr Sutcliffe’s promotion is part of a series of promotions and new appointments at the firm’s regional office.

Alastair Cassels has joined MHA’s office in Milton Keynes from Volkswagen to expand the expertise within the automotive team.

n Environmental social and governance risk assessment expert Jose De Mayne Hopkins has joined MHA MacIntyre Hudson as its ESG technical director.

Before joining MHA MacIntyre Hudson he was a senior manager at KPMG UK working with internal teams and clients on climate risk, accounting, assurance and financial reporting standards.

Law firm chair joins training centre board

T

he chair of a leading regional law firm has joined the board of a provider of online lawyer, paralegal and postqualification training as a nonexecutive director.

Kevin Rogers inset, partner at Northamptonshire practice Wilson Browne Solicitors, is one of several appointments as the Law Training Centre continues its growth plans.

The centre provides accredited online legal education and qualifications from the major legal regulators and awarding bodies. Mr Rogers is full of praise for the organisation, in particular its scholarship.

He adds: “I am really excited to join Law Training Centre on this journey. There are so many things to like about the ethos of the business and I cannot wait to get started. The commercial ambition is there for sure but

so is a commitment to hold dear the drive for excellence while supporting every single learner’s achievements, whatever their background.

The scholarship scheme, for example, really blew me away.”

He is also immediate past president of Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, a previous CPD lecturer and an advocate at the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership for linking the classroom with business.

“I have worked in firms in London and Manchester but come from a working class background. It genuinely was the honest passion of the board, their willingness to seek constant improvement that hooked me in from the start,” Mr Rogers says.

Also joining the LTC board is Faye Reizopoulou as finance director. She has worked with a number of Academy Trusts and holds Specialist Leader of Education designation by the National College of Teaching and Learning. She is currently deputy chief financial officer of Leigh Academies Trust.

“Both are truly aligned to our mission to help break down the barriers to a career in law and help learners achieve lifechanging legal qualifications,” says the centre’s co-founder and strategy dirctor Dino Dubbabh.

Emily Hair is the new head of Northampton High School’s Junior School and Nursery.

She has moved from her previous post as executive head of primary schools in Wellingborough.

“I believe passionately in the power of education in shaping the future of children.

It is an honour to play a part in a child’s education and a responsibility I take very seriously,” she says.

For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

info@qoobgroup.co.uk 03303 801 651 Unit 5 Darwin House, Corby Gate Business Park, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 5JG

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June 2022

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Your Business Times

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GSSARCHITECTURE

GRIFFITHS AIR CONDITIONING

W

ith warmer summers seeming to be becoming a trend, more and more homeowners are making their environment more comfortable by installing air conditioning in their bedrooms or conservatories.

Working with Daikin one of the world’s largest suppliers of air conditioning systems Griffiths has been installing air conditioning throughout Northamptonshire and surrounding counties for more than 20 years. Back then it was ‘cooling only’ but more recently heat pump air conditioning has become standard, enabling both heating and cooling from the same system.

Generally, air conditioning systems have an outdoor unit and a wide choice of indoor units that can be wall, floor- or ceiling-mounted.

Another option that is often overlooked is to place a ducted unit in a loft space and feed the conditioned air into flexible ducts that terminate in neat white ceiling grilles.

This arrangement can provide air conditioning to

Summer’s here and we need to keep our cool several upstairs bedrooms or multiple rooms in a bungalow without the expense of a separate system for each room.

For wall-mounted systems, Daikin offers various options to suit budget and required functions. Top of the range is the Ururu Sarara, providing complete climate control with (de)humidification, air purification and ventilation with top efficiencies in heating and cooling.

Next are the Stylish models in white, black, silver or blackwood with a modern and striking design.

The popular curved front Emura models, available in matt crystal white or silver, are design at its best, delivering superior efficiency and comfort.

The Perfera model has an attractive design with perfect indoor air quality and for those seeking the most economical solution, the Comfora model still provides high efficiency and comfort. n Griffiths will be bringing the Daikin Sustainable Homes mobile showroom to the Crick Boat Show on June 3-5.

n Contact Griffiths Air Conditioning on 01536 420666, visit www.griffithsaircon.co.uk or call into the Energy Efficiency Centre showroom at 111 High Street, Burton Latimer, open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.

og into the newlook redesigned website unveiled by Northamptonshire architectural practice GSSArchitecture.

The new and improved site highlights the practice’s impressive service offering and project experience through the use of highquality imagery and moving image, with emphasis on their approach to key industry topics such as social value, sustainability, health and wellbeing, carbon reduction and the use of modern methods of construction.

“Our website is one of our most effective marketing tools so it is crucial that we keep the site up to date, clear, informative and user friendly,” says senior partner Tom Lyons pictured.

“We are delighted with the improvements that have been made and are excited to better showcase our expertise to all site visitors.

“Our in-house marketing team and graphics division 3DLABS have worked extremely hard refreshing the site, from collating feedback from our internal teams and external clients, to filming and editing video footage and

New website shows our values perfectly

redesigning the layout.

“We could not be happier with the end result and feel that the new site perfectly communicates our values as a practice.”

GSSArchitecture’s website

is updated with new content on a regular basis, including a comprehensive news section, brochure downloads and details of various career opportunities on offer.

GSSArchitecture has grown from a Northamptonshire business, established in 1879 by John Alfred Gotch, GSSArchitecture has grown to become a national practice offering a wide range of services through their inhouse divisions.

It has offices in Kettering, Gloucester, Harrogate, Milton Keynes and Newcastle.

n For more information about GSSArchitecture and the services the practice offers, the newly relaunched www.gssarchitecture.com

HOME INSTEAD EAST NORTHANTS

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n my grandparents’ lifetime, technology progressed from the horse and cart to landing on the Moon. Just think: they experienced life with no television, no computers, no calculators, no mobile phones, no worldwide web, no social media.

Excessive use of social media can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety. It is almost a curse to be tied to your phone and heaven forbid that you go out and forget to take it with you.

But leave your phone behind on purpose and the feeling can be quite liberating.

At Home Instead East Northants, we embrace technology but, as our strapline says: “To us, it’s Personal”.

This means that when you call us, you always speak to a real person.

No annoying automated messages asking you to press 1, 2 or 3 or requiring that you leave a message. You will always speak to one of our helpful team. If that person cannot answer your query, they will put you in touch with a colleague who can.

Technology certainly has

Nothing can replace the personal touch its place. We have a system by which our CAREGivers confirm when they arrive at a client’s home so we know instantly that our CAREGivers have arrived safely and on time to provide all the required care.

At the end of every visit, our CAREGivers upload their personal visit notes, which are then easily accessible before and during future visits. To ensure confidentiality, the rights to view the personalised and detailed care plans for each client are restricted to the relevant CAREGiver and our main office.

We still require our CAREGivers to ring and

speak to the client’s manager if they have any concerns about the client, ensuring the quickest possible follow-up.

There is nothing more comforting than for your loved one to continue to live in their own home. Our CAREGivers provide all the required care and assistance and build a close relationship with each client. They go the extra mile, arranging birthday surprises and anniversary cakes. Our younger adult clients have been wheelchair ice skating and on trips to the seaside. Our CAREGivers are always happy to take a loved one out, whether to an appointment or for an outing.

n While technology helps us in our work, we excel at providing the personal touch. Call Home Instead East Northants on 01933 678775… and speak to a human.

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June 2022

Blinds reflect today’s education needs

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SAXON BLINDS

or schools, academies, colleges and universities looking to invest in commercial childsafe blind systems, now is the perfect time to start planning for installations during the main school holidays.

This school summer holidays, Saxon Blinds will be working on projects throughout the education sector, taking advantage of the buildings being empty to complete our works with the minimum fuss and disruption.

Many of the heavy-duty blind systems we install in schools are transforming the performance and look

of classrooms, school main halls, sports halls, making them more suited to modern technologies and the time now spent looking at screens.

They can also increase the use of the building when it comes to hiring out to other outside groups or organisations , thus increasing the opportunity to generate additional income into the school.

As well as modern blinds systems that look better and work more efficiently than the traditional curtain systems, Saxon Blinds is also helping education clients to fit systems that can be deployed should there be a security breach.

Roller blinds can be instantly lowered where there

are signs of intruders or where there is a situation that might be upsetting to the children.

“Our bespoke systems are all manufactured in our Northampton factory,” says managing director Mark Grainger.

“They are compliant with safety regulations and blinds systems are closely fitted to each individual window, leaving exit doors and fire exits clearly accessible.”

Saxon Blinds produces a complete range of products, offering choice, flexibility and competitive pricing, as well as a five-year guarantee on all commercial blinds. All Saxon Blinds staff are DSB checked and part of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme.

n For more details contact Saxon Blinds on 01604 601888, email sales@saxonblinds.co.uk or visit the website www.saxonblinds.co.uk

For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Your Business Times

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PARADISE COMPUTING aradise has evolved over the past 35 years. They recognise that everything in the organisation is interconnected and having a healthy, happy, engaged workforce is instrumental for modern business and core to Paradise’s workplace wellness principles.

Their approach to hybrid working embraces flexibility, lifestyle diversity and nurtures an agile growth mindset. By reimagining their employee experience, they attract and retain highly talented team members who can collaborate from anywhere, connecting and serving their customers without disruption.

“By rearchitecting how we work, we have transformed our workplace environment,” says marketing manager Cassandra Campbell.

“We have developed a resilient business model that can be replicated and delivered to benefit our clients, enabling them to meet future business challenges and create their own business without boundaries.”

Paradise helps its clients to embrace IT solutions to support business growth. “This park. “It’s great to bring Luna into the office helps get the most from the people within the every day. She has won the hearts of all my business and makes operational processes as colleagues and brightens up our day” says smooth and efficient as possible.” sales director Alex Hamp.

Paradise were recently finalists in both the Since their inception in 1987, Paradise Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Computing has been creating and delivering for Workplace Wellness and for Business of innovative IT solutions and business training the Year in the Northamptonshire Business for a broad range of industry sectors, including Excellence Awards.

Manufacturing and Distribution.

Paradise Computing’s own HAPPI Based centrally in the beautiful country Programme underpins their business estate of Althorp in Northampton, they work objectives and demonstrates their commitment with UK and international clients. They are a to workplace wellbeing, putting the physical, Sage Partner, Microsoft Gold Partner for Azure emotional and mental health of their employees Cloud Platforms and G-Cloud accredited, front and centre of all they do. specialising in Sage 200 ERP, IT Services, Office dog Luna welcomes visitors, boosts Microsoft 365, Cloud Hosting and Bespoke morale and even clears sticks from the car Software Development. n Contact Paradise Computing on 01604 655900 or visit www.paradisecomputing.co.uk

Luna celebrates our 35th year

Pictured with students are (from left) Keith Massie, operations manager at BCA; Level 3 motor vehicle student Rob Cunnington, from Kettering; BCA training manager Jason Bains;James Woolley head of motor vehicle at the Bedford College Group

Students get insight into world of work

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ar specialists BCA, which has a base in Corby, has given college students an opportunity to have hands-on experience in the automotive industry.

The most recent event hosted was at the Corby campus of Tresham College, when BCA staff met with 40 Level 1 and Level 2 Motor Vehicle students to give them insights into careers within the country’s top automotive organisation. The students tried out electrical tasks, fault-finding, calculating and pricing jobs, plus a vehicle

inspection.

In addition, BCA, which has operations at the former Rockingham Speedway site, have provided valuable work placement opportunities for students.

Mohammad Milani, director of engineering and motor industries, said: “At the Bedford College Group we are preparing our students to meet the future needs of local and national employers.

I am delighted that our motor vehicle team are championing this important partnership.”

Head of motor vehicle across the Bedford College Group, James Woolley, said the event

was an exciting opportunity to bring together the motor mechanics of tomorrow with this major UK employer.

The organisations are also launching an innovative apprenticeships project, in Bedford and Corby, which covers Motor Vehicle Technician and Automotive Refinished Technician, as well as the latest technology in electric vehicles.

Going forward, the group is delivering upskilling courses to 200 existing BCA staff to prepare them for dealing with the growing market of electric vehicles.

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Networking The business networking groups across Northamptonshire and this month’s business events

A group for networkers looking for referrals, introductions, opportunities and sales. A tried and tested model offering dynamic weekly online meetings and an experienced management team: Northants and surrounding areas Every Tuesday at noon.

National networking Every Wednesday at noon.

Contact Gary Thorpe for all events.

Email: gary.thorpe@debt-doctors.co.uk Tel: 07963 766052 or 01536 333425

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.

Elite BNI (Kettering) Tuesday 6.45am-8.30am: Online Ignite BNI (Daventry) Tuesday 6.45am-8.30am: The Turnpike, Harpole Northampton Pioneer BNI (Northamptonshire) Wednesday 9.30am-11am: Online Pavilion BNI (Northampton) Thursday 6.45am-8.30am: The Old Northamptonians RFC, Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Billing Road, Northampton

East Midlands Virtual Buzz June 24: Online.

Hosted by James Brodie. Price: £10.

For more details, download the Buzz App or visit www.business-buzz.org/about/locations/. Book & pay for your favourite Buzz at https://app. business-buzz.org/app or at the event.

The belief is that, with the right support at the right price, any small business can succeed.

Members believe there is so much to gain with a positive attitude of mutual face to face.

Wellingborough June 2 7.30am-9.30am: Great Doddington Club, Lower Street, Great Doddington.

Price: £16.

Northampton June 15 7.30am-9.30am: The Turnpike, Harpole.

Price: £16.

Virtual meetings Price: £6 Brunch June 14 9.30am-11am: Online Breakfast June 10 7.30am-9am: Online June 16 7.30am-9am: Online June 22 7.30am-9am: Online Afternoon Friday 3pm-4pm: Online

Lighthouse BNI (Northampton) Friday 6.45am-8.30am Franklin’s Gardens, Weedon Road, Northampton Contact: Duncan Webster. e: duncan@bnibreakfast.co.uk or call 07977

Details of all events and to book at: buscomm.co.uk/ourevents

The FSB has 2,000 members across Northamptonshire. These include a monthly FSB Northampton virtual networking at which everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an FSB member to join in.

Northampton June 30 10am-11am: Online Hosted by Sally Wood, director of Sally Wood Consultancy Limited and FSB area leader for Northants, Leics & Rutland.

To book and for details of other networking, support and webinar events online, visit: www.fsb.org.uk.

Sponsored by Business Times No fuss, no membership, pay as you go... The Business Buzz format is relaxed, informal, conversational B2B networking.

Our town-focused events meet face-to-face, allowing visitors to build better and more robust relationships.

These are complemented by regional virtual events.

All Business Buzz events run 10am-noon Brackley Buzz July 7: Plough Pub & Kitchen, High Street.

Price: £6. No meeting in June due to the Platinum Jubilee holiday.

O

rganisers have revealed the categories for this year’s Wellingborough & East Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

The awards, which celebrate the best in local business success, opened for entries earlier this month after an absence in 2021 due to the global pandemic.

The five categories up for grabs this year are Services Business of the Year, Retail Business of the Year, Industry Award, Chamber Community Award, and Excellence Hero Award.

Chamber president Pritesh Ganatra pictured said: “After the global pandemic halted last year’s awards, we are delighted to be back and ready to celebrate businesses in the area with five categories, including this year’s Excellence Hero Award.

“For the award, we are looking for businesses, charities, and organisations that have supported

their customers, other businesses and any local community services during the pandemic.”

Businesses based in Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire area and those that show a “significant commercial interest” in the area can enter the awards, as well as Chamber members.

Mr Ganatra said: “We feel privileged to be able to provide businesses in our towns and villages with this wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate their success and hard work.”

The deadline for entries is 6pm on September 30 and the shortlist will be revealed on December 1.

The awards ceremony will take place on December 7.

NNBN Online Networking June 9 9.30am-10.30am: Online Free event for members; non-members £4.99.

BUSINESS ROOM Attendees maximise their time out of the office and in the room by ensuring all the attendee information is shared in advance.

This gives attendees time to plan their networking session so they can get more out of each meeting, therefore making it as profitable as possible.

Each meeting involves structured networking, a session where a member will share their knowledge, business story or insight and a Business Exchange, where members respond to the requests for help and contacts.

These are lock out groups so only one business area is represented.

For details of all events, visit www.northnorthantsbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Money back guarantee if you do not find a meeting of value. Visitors welcome.

Prosperity BNI (Kettering) Thursday 6.45am-8.30am: The Kettering Golf Club, Headlands, Kettering, Sterling BNI (Northampton) Thursday 11.45am-1.30pm: The Old Northamptonians RFC, Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Billing Road, Northampton

‘A wonderful opportunity’: Chamber invites entries to business awards

Free to attend for start-up and established businesses. To confirm if the meetings are online or face to face visit the website at www.northnorthantsbusinessnetwork.co.uk.

Kettering June 8 9.30am-11am: Ironstone Wellbeing Centre.

Price: £6.

June 1 9.30am-11am: The Eccentric Englishman, Northampton.

Price: £6. Book via: www.northamptonbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Kettering June 14 12 noon-2pm: Kettering Park Hotel

SPEED NETWORKING June 21 11am-1pm: Park Inn Northampton Chamber members only. Price: £15 + VAT. Includes buffet lunch.

Visit: www.northants-chamber.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.

June 16 6pm-8.30pm: Northampton Active, Bedford Road, Northampton #WeAreNextGen summer barbecue and networking, sponsored by Wilson Browne Solicitors. Price: £15 + VAT. To book, email: info@nextgenerationchamber.co.uk

Corby June 16 8.30am-10am: Holiday Inn Corby.

Price: £6.

Market Harborough Buzz June 7: Mercardo lounge, Abbey Street.

Price: £6.

East Northants June 22 9.30am-110am: Rushden Hall Price: £6.

Northampton Buzz June 16: Fox & Hounds, Harborough Road.

Price: £6.

Wellingborough June 13 9am-10am: Online.

Free event.

n Find out more at www.wencc.co.uk/awards or contact the Chamber on 01933 652252.

Practical support to help businesses grow their business. The Business Room is a one business area group for business owners, those in employed positions, MLMs and franchised businesses.

Wellingborough June 15 12 noon-2pm: The Stanwick Hotel, West Street, Stanwick Northampton June 9 12 noon-2pm: Old White Hart, Cotton End, Far Cotton, Northampton South Northants June 21 12 noon-2pm: The White Horse, Stocks Hill, Silverstone THE CONNECTIONS CLUB - NORTHANTS Only open to business owners, influencers and decision-makers, this is a structured and professional group, which gives people the opportunity to connect with other business owners who are serious about growth.

It allows you to take away a valuable skill, learning or insight from every meeting and meet valuable contacts. It is not lock-out but each session is limited to a maximum of three business areas.

Northampton June 7 11.45am-2pm: Delapre Abbey, London Road.

Contact: Barbara Hodgson 07504 946 585 / 01933 652884, email barbara@ yourbusinessmatters.co or visit www.yourbusinessmatters.co

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For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

Q&A

Feature the feature in which business people discuss their motivation, ambition, experience - and themselves. This month it’s the turn of Iain Farr, marketing and commercial manager at chartered accountants Elsby & Co.

What was your first job?

Ignoring peeling potatoes in a chip shop and stacking shelves in Morrisons, my first ‘real’ job at 18 was as a trainee manager for Sainsbury’s in Sheffield.

Cakes on Facebook, taking over the world and talking to The Greatest

Why did you choose your particular career?

I sort of fell into it. I love marketing and the challenge of producing targeted and compelling content which engages and encourages people to buy from you.

What’s your most treasured possession?

Outside of my daughter, it has to be my grandfather’s pocketwatch, given to those who served in the military in World War Two. Tell us something you regret.

I don’t dwell on poor choices. If anything, it would be not moving back to the UK from Spain five years earlier - we can’t buy time with loved ones.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Working out of Gibraltar for 17 years, enjoying an ‘expat’ lifestyle while building and developing a marketing team to achieve significant success. Seeing others succeed brings tremendous satisfaction.

Tell us a secret about yourself.

I’m a big softie when it comes to films.

Children and animals set me off. I cried a river watching Marley & Me.

…and the low point?

Broken promises. It’s rarely happened and comes back to having honest and open communications, unacceptable when it’s your line manager (a previous employer!).

What annoys you most in life?

Rude people. There’s no excuse for the way some people talk to and treat others.

Who in business do you respect the most?

The ‘doers’, those with a ‘passion for excellence’. We should respect and reward them and do all we can (within reason) to keep them, regardless of position or rank.

What are you afraid of?

It sounds a bit glum but not being around to enjoy life to the full and share in the moments that family bring now and in the future with the next generation.

These things we call kids really change our outlook on life.

What annoys you the most in business?

Poor customer service and a lack of caring. It really is everything - externally and internally.

What’s your career ambition?

To make director/partner level. I’ve been at that level previously and crave the responsibility, perhaps one day moving into a general management role.

Scan me!

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How do you relax?

I love playing golf and also enjoy cooking.

The best relaxation has to be spending quality time with my wife and nine-year-old daughter.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, perhaps the occasional glass of red wine and meals out. I love food.

What’s the best advice you’ve received in business?

When managing people, communicate regularly and honestly. If somebody’s done a good job, tell them, if not, explain why. We get nowhere without communication.

What’s the best and worst thing about where you work?

The best: Working with great people who are passionate about the jobs they do. They’re always keen to listen and take on new ideas.

The worst: As a marketing department of one, I’m all things to all people. One day I’m planning activity to take over the accounting world, the next day I’m posting photos of cakes in the kitchen for Facebook.

The worst moment has been the death of a parent. Nothing prepares you and nothing can replace them.

Ian Farr marketing and commerical manager Elsby & Co

What’s My Favourite...

Food: Thai

Film: Catch Me If You Can

Music/Song: Queen

TV Programme: Succession

Book: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North

Restaurant: Benares in London Destination: Rome

…and your life ambition?

Family happiness and wellbeing. Having lost both parents in the last ten years, it brings home the importance of sharing quality time with family and friends.

What has been the best/worst moment of your life?

Best moment, hands down, the birth of my daughter. Being present and aiding the midwife can’t be bettered.

What are the first three things on your bucket list?

I honestly don’t have a bucket list, but how about…

■ African hot air balloon safari.

■ Snorkelling in the Maldives.

■ Ringside seats for a world title fight at Madison Square Garden.

Which two historical figures would you like to have a conversation with and why?

Jesus. Why wouldn’t anybody want the opportunity to be convinced of there being a greater being. Are the stories true? Show me.

Prove it.

Muhammad Ali. I’m a boxing nut so to talk to him and revel in his wit would be magnificent.

For the latest business news from across Northamptonshire, visit the new-look Business Times’ website www.business-times.co.uk. PLUS... post your job vacancies, promote a business event or find the expert your business is looking for in a comprehensive business directory.

To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

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29

In the Community

I

t is being anticipated as a “love song for Northampton”.

Northampton Music Festival is set to put Shoe Town on the music map as it returns to the town centre.

Founded by local musician and businessman John Richardson, the festival is now in its 15th year and attracts around 10,000 music lovers to the town. This year’s festival, on June 19, is celebrating the town’s architectural heritage through music of all genres across five stages, culminating in a homecoming headline set on the main stage in Market Square from Northampton-based band Sarpa Salpa.

In all more than 500 artists will take to the five stages, including a world music stage hosted in the courtyard of The Guildhall. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery will play host to the classical and choral stage. Students from the University of Northampton and Northampton College will perform in the courtyard of Element in George Row, while the courtyard of the Guildhall Hotel will host the jazz stage.

The market square hosts the main stage for the last time before its refurbishment.

“The festival is essentially a love song to Northampton and comes from the heart of a group of dedicated volunteers involved in the local music scene,” says festival music director Graham Roberts. “We cannot wait to put Shoe Town on the music map with this year’s line-up and we are thrilled that Sarpa Salpa will be headlining the

Grants boost plans for Jubilee

G Sarpa Salpa: The Northampton band are the headline act at this year’s Northampton Music Festival

Music festival aims to get Shoe Town’s feet tapping main stage and bringing the festival to a close.”

Sarpa Salpa released their new single Dreaming last month. Their two previous releases saw support from BBC Radio One and BBC Introducing.

“I am delighted that the festival

continues to grow year on year with increased footfall,” says Graham “It has established itself as an integral part of the town centre’s future vision for arts and culture.”

The main sponsors of this year’s festival are Northampton Town

Council, Avery Healthcare, University of Northampton, Northampton Town Centre BID and The Wilson Foundation.

Northampton Music Festival will run from noon until 9pm on Sunday 19 June. Entry is free.

Staff put focus on mental health

B

uilding products manufacturer Forterra is highlighting the importance of mental health in the workplace through a new corporate partnership with the mental health charity Mind.

The charity was selected by Forterra staff as the company’s official corporate charity. Mind will be supported through fundraising activities and events throughout the year, including a family fun day this summer.

The partnership will also support employees by raising awareness and promoting understanding of mental health in the workplace.

Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. It provides advice and support and campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Mind has a network of more than 140 branches across England and Wales.

“While health and safety has long been our number one priority here at Forterra, we have been increasing our focus on mental health too,” says Forterra chief executive Stephen Harrison. The company has recruited and trained 60 volunteer mental health first aiders across the business, he added.

Philip Bettles (left) on behalf of Rushden Transport Museum with Davidsons Homes sales manager Alan Hames and area sales manager Alison Humber.

Full steam ahead for museum after donation

R

ushden Transport Museum has been able to buy a customised donation box thanks to the help of a housebuilder. Davidsons Homes, which is building at its nearby Sanders Fields development, gifted £250 to the museum to help with the purchase.

The museum and railway, off Station Approach in the restored Victorian Rushden Station is owned

Recognising that charity is serious business 30

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June 2022

by Rushden Historical Transport Society. “We have been hoping to purchase a customised donation box for a while, so we were really pleased when Davidsons Homes reached out to offer support,” says society president Richard Lewis.

“As we do not charge admission fees, we rely heavily on the generosity of people making donations so to have this new feature is a great way of encouraging this.”

Adds Simon Tyler, sales director of Davidsons Homes South Midlands: “Rushden Historical Transport Society is a focal part of the local community that celebrates the town’s rich heritage, which is why we were keen to show our support. The new donation box looks great and we hope it helps to boost donations so that visitors can continue to enjoy the museum and its facilities.”

rants totalling just over £63,000 have been awarded to voluntary and community organisations across the county by Northamptonshire Community Foundation.

The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund, set up by the Arts Council and administered by UK Community Foundations, will ensure that thousands of people from communities all across England will have the opportunity to take part in creative events this month in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee.

Outside In Theatre is one of the Northamptonshire organisations to receive funding. It will work in partnership with Cafe Track, a social enterprise that supports people with autism. Other projects include Kings Cliffe & Area Community Sports Project, Masque Theatre, Northampton Hope Centre, Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire, Laugh Out Loud Theatre, Groundwork Northamptonshire, Power of the Minds Network and Corbybased Late Developers Photographic Group.

Make a splash for hospice

C

ransley Hospice Trust is hosting the inaugural Cransley Hospice Trust Open Water Swim – SWIM SYWELL event on June 19 in association with Northamptonshire Sport and raising funds to support and develop specialist end of life care in North Northamptonshire.

The sport has been growing in popularity and Northamptonshire has some of the best open water swimming venues in the country. Find out more at www.cransleyhospice. o rg . u k / w h y - t r y - o p e n water-swimming-innorthamptonshire

0800 088 6004 enquiries@wilsonbrowne.co.uk wilsonbrowne.co.uk For Northamptonshire’s business news visit www.Business-Times.co.uk

In the Community

Owner gets creative in his firm’s year of giving back

A

business owner has pledged ten days of volunteering to Northamptonshire charities to mark a decade of trading.

Sam Sayer, founder of Ketteringbased brand, web and video specialists DeType, will celebrate ten years in business by giving back to local organisations Northants Community Aid, Northamptonshire Community Foundation, The Lewis Foundation, Kids Aid, and Shack Food Project.

“I have always been keen to give back and have recently had the privilege of being welcomed on to

the board of trustees at Northants Community Aid which has contributed a lot to small charities over the last few years,” he says.

“A lot has changed since I started out from my home office ten years ago and I feel very proud to have grown DeType to become the innovative international creative business it is today.”

Most of that growth taking place in the last three years, he adds.

The DeType company name was inspired by Sam’s engineer grandfather, the chief designer of Jaguar’s C-Type, D-Type and

E-Type sports racing cars. The company works with clients include high-growth brands and emerging

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orthampton Saints Foundation is the chosen charity partner of public relations firm Ballyhoo PR for the coming year.

It is the agency’s inaugural charity partner and will receive free PR and communications support for its work using the values of rugby and the power of sport to inspire, support and educate young people.

The foundation was chosen from a list of 13 potential partners. “All those who applied were hugely worthy causes and we were amazed and humbled by the incredible work taking place locally,” says Ballyhoo managing director Emma Speirs.

“We only wish we could offer this opportunity to them all but there could only be one winner.”

She was swayed by the difference PR support could make to the charity and the number of young people it helps. “They have such great ideas for the future but, like a lot of charities, are doing these wonderful things with limited resources,” says Emma.

Its need to fundraise has increased due to the pandemic, said the foundation’s managing director Catherine Deans.

“Ballyhoo’s expertise will be invaluable as we accelerate our growth to meet the demand for the work we do to inspire, support and educate young people.”

in some capacity, we have made a commitment to ensure that we play a part in supporting organisations that are doing incredible work. We are in an extremely fortunate position to be able to donate our time in this way.”

Steve Adams, chair of trustees at Northants Community Aid, called on other businesses in the county to follow Sam’s lead. “Sam’s idea to support local charities to mark his company’s business birthday is really fantastic. We are so grateful to business owners like Sam who generously give up their time and enable us to carry out our work.”

Dave Officer and Trudie Avery have used their design expertise to raise more than £1,900 for the Ukraine crisis appeal

Northampton Saints Foundation managing director Catherine Deans (left) with Emma Speirs, managing director of Ballyhoo PR

Saints score with PR firm link-up

businesses. It also plants trees in the National Forest for new client projects.

Sam pictured and his 11 colleagues will be fundraising, marshalling, decorating and offering any other support as needed. “We have long embraced remote working so while our primary efforts will be focused in Northamptonshire, each of the team has the opportunity to make a difference in their local area,” he says.

“It is the year of giving back. Whether it is help to fundraise, giving our time to work on a particular project or providing our professional expertise

Designers dream up boost for Ukraine appeal

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sing their skills to solve a common business branding issue has enabled two Northamptonshire-based graphic designers to raise almost £2,000 for the Ukraine crisis appeal.

Trudie Avery, of Avery Creative, and illustrator and graphic designer Dave Officer, of Doodle Juice Design, to ‘fix’ business logos in return for donations to Ukraine Crisis Charities.

They put out a one-time offer to create a vector version of company logos to their LinkedIn connections.

More than 30 companies took up the offer, each donating £25 or more to

I am delighted that the money we have raised will make some difference, however small

the cause. One business pledged £1,000 for the service.

“We have all sat in absolute horror watching the events in the Ukraine unfold,” says Dave. “The feeling of

sadness and helplessness is a little overwhelming but I was keen to do a little something to help.

“Although the gesture of fixing logos is tiny in the grand scheme of things, I am delighted that the money we have raised will make some difference, however small.”

Trudie adds: “Dave is a fabulous designer and illustrator and came to me with this idea and I jumped at the chance to do something so worthwhile.

“What is going on in the Ukraine is so tragic and I was glad to be able to do something to help in this awful situation.”

Cheers... Landlords raise a glass to success at pub operator’s annual awards

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ubs in Wellingborough and Great Houghton have been recognised in their parent company Wells & Co’s annual awards ceremony.

The Ranelagh Arms in Wellingborough was named Fundraiser of the Year for the second year in a row, while The Old Cherry Tree in Great Houghton has been crowned Best Presented Pub. At the annual Pub Partners Awards 2022, the 140-strong pub company recognised the work undertaken by the teams.

Fundraising at The Ranelagh Arms is headed up by landlord Chris O’Reilly pictured above centre, who has collectively raised more than

Recognising that charity is serious business To feature or comment email: news@business-times.co.uk

£160,000 for charity, including last year for Macmillan, since taking on the pub 18 years ago. “It was a great team effort, and we raised an amazing

amount of money,” he says. “To get through to the finals again and go and win is a massive achievement.”

The Best Presented Pub award

showcases the best of the best in presentation. The Old Cherry Tree co-landlords Alan Edge and Andy Pye pictured left have been in situ for just a year.

“When we first visited The Old Cherry we immediately fell in love with its character and old-world charm,” says Alan of the 16th-century buildings. “We were therefore keen to retain its history and authenticity.

Our vision was to create a traditional ‘old fashioned’ English pub fit for the 21st century, which we think we have managed to achieve.”

0800 088 6004 enquiries@wilsonbrowne.co.uk wilsonbrowne.co.uk Business Times

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June 2022

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Entries now open!

The Northamptonshire Business Awards recognise and celebrate the very best in Northamptonshire business.

These prestigious awards are open to all businesses across the region and are presented to businesses that have clearly demonstrated all-round business excellence in a range of areas.

This years categories include: Young Business Person of the Year High Growth Business of the Year Employer of the Year Customer Commitment Award Workplace Wellbeing Award International Trade Business of the Year Small Business of the Year Business Person of the Year Best New Business of the Year Charity of the Year

ENTRIES CLOSE 1ST JULY 2022

New Categories: North Northamptonshire Business of the Year West Northamptonshire Business Business of the Year President’s Award