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Business MK July 2022

Incorporating Business2Business

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In print and online, Business MK is published in Milton Keynes and North Bucks for the area’s business community www.businessmk.co.uk

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Play your part in MK’s bid to hit sustainability targets. P3

CO MM ENT

Chancellor faces questions from city workers. P9

Rock ‘n’ roll: Niche vehicle maker David Brown Automotive has produced a special edition of only 60 of its Mini Remastered models to celebrate the 60th anniversary of iconic music brand Marshall Amplification, which has been manufacturing amplifiers in Bletchley since the late 1960s. Full story: Page 7.

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The values that bind business together. P14

Q& A

The latest news from Bedfordshire. P15-18

Best sellers and a home by the sea. Della Judd reveals all. P23

Town picked for Community Improvement District pilot

olverton has been chosen to pilot a new initiative backing community businesses that trade for the benefit of local people. The town is one of five chosen to trial the Community Improvement Districts scheme in a bid to revive England’s high streets. New government figures show that visitor numbers to the nation’s high streets remain 14 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels. Community Improvement Districts already operate in Scotland and build on Business Improvement Districts, where businesses collaborate to effect change in an area in order to inspire regeneration and boost business. Community Improvement Districts aim to provide local people and community organisations, as well as businesses, a say over the strategic direction of local high streets in order to create sustainable town centres for the future.

Marie Osbourne, director and chief executive of the non-for-profit community benefit society Future Wolverton, said: “ After over 30 years of community campaigning, the redevelopment of Wolverton’s town centre finally begins this year. But physical regeneration is only the beginning - the real test will be the extent to which the community can capitalise upon the public sector investment and lead the development of a vibrant High Street. We very much hope that the strengthening of local partnerships through the

creation of a Community Improvement District will support this work.” Involving the community in shaping a town centre increases residents’ sense of ownership of and responsibility for their high street. The arrival of community organisations on the high street can deliver new activities, services and places for people to meet, all of which leads to a stronger local economy, says the organisation behind the CID scheme Power to Change. To page 4 >>

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Business MK

July 2022

large pool feeds a small stream that flows through waterfalls to a central round pond… Welcome to Grafton Park. Tucked away in the south-west quarter of Central Milton Keynes, the garden has laid undisturbed for several years. Now it has been restored to its former glory after work by the landscaping team at MyMiltonKeynes BID. They support the council’s work in maintaining and

regenerating green space within the BID area and, following a visit to the overgrown and unused site, were eager to uncover its natural beauty and set to work on clearing, strimming and sculpting. “It has been incredible to witness the unveiling of this beautiful and quite unbelievable park in the middle of central Milton Keynes, with its whimsical water features and carefully sculpted paths,” says BID chief executive Melanie Beck.

The site is also among Milton Keynes Council’s new ‘wildlife havens’, attracting biodiverse plants and wildlife. “We are excited to be supporting the BID in their work to restore Grafton Park to its former glory and look forward to the positive impact that this exceptional greenspace, in the centre of Milton Keynes, will provide to the local community,” says its head of environment and waste Nicholas Hannon.

Firms showcase expertise at Japan trade show

wo Milton Keynes businesses have represented the cutting edge of UK automotive cleantech innovation at a trade show in

Japan. Flettner Ventilator, the world leader in the design and manufacture of environmentally friendly wind-powered rotary ventilators, and independent automotive research and consultancy firm

SBD Automotive exhibited at the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan annual congress in Yokohama as part of the UK Pavilion. The UK Pavilion stand was organised by the Advanced Propulsion Centre on behalf of the UK government, to showcase the best of automotive innovation in the UK and championing collaboration and investment from overseas.

Philippa Oldham, director of stakeholder engagement at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, said: “Our international events programme gives us a unique platform to showcase exactly why Britain is a prime location for investment and a world leader when it comes to automotive technology. “As one of the cornerstones of the UK economy, it is essential that the sector continues to strengthen its clean

Business support that is second to none

New Business MK website offers opportunities galore

re you recruiting? Looking for a job? Organising a business event about which you need to tell potential delegates? Business MK has the answer. The longest-established and most trusted business newspaper has unveiled its new-look website, a move that has been received enthusiastically by the business community. It is full of the latest business news, features and thought leadership articles from the leading businesses in Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. Now the site brings even more value to the business community, with the opportunity to post job vacancies and business events FREE. The process is a simple one: All you have to do is register and complete the easy-to-follow instructions to advertise your organisation’s job vacancies. It is exactly the same process to post details of a business event you are organising.

These will be published once they have been checked and the details approved by Business MK but the facility has been designed to increase still further the newspaper’s ongoing support for and championing of the area’s business community. “We have been delighted with the feedback to our new-look www.businesstimes.co.uk website,” says Martin Lewis-Stevenson, director of Business MK publisher Pulse Group Media. “Our clients had been clamouring for the site to be reinvigorated but we have taken our time to get it right and deliver exactly what our brilliant business community wanted. We launched it once we were satisfied that it would meet their expectations and I’m so pleased that it is doing just that.” Add to that the opportunity for organisations to post job vacancies to local jobseekers and details of events to businesspeople eager to get back

to face-to-face networking and www. businessmk.co.uk is already proving to be the ‘one stop online shop’ for local business. “It is what we are here for,” says Mr Lewis-Stevenson. “We have always set out to be the conduit through which business across Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and North Bucks tells the rest of the business community its news, success stories and announces new contracts, awards, appointments and so on. “We have added the Jobs Board feature because we recognise the challenges employers face in recruiting and keeping the talent and skills they need to grow as they continue to bounce back after the pandemic. Also, networking is a proven way to develop new business and we are the perfect media to promote the opportunities for organisations to do just that.” n See for yourself at www.buisinessmk. co.uk.

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Business News

Turn your roofs green, leader urges businesses Companies can play their part in hitting city’s sustainability targets

usinesses have been urged to build green roofs at their premises to improve biodiversity and help Milton Keynes towards its goal of being among the cleanest and greenest cities in the world. The call has come from Milton Keynes Council leader Cllr Pete Marland. Speaking on a visit to the new YMCA campus in the city centre to see its green roof, he said there was “huge potential” for businesses to play their part. The council teamed up with living roof specialist Bridgman and Bridgman last year to install 15 pioneering green roofs on bus stop shelters across the city in the biggest project of its kind. Each of the green roofs are constructed from recycled waste plastic equal to 18,720 carrier bags and their construction has recycled over five tonnes of waste plastic and provided more than eight tonnes of carbon dioxide emission savings. The green roofs increase biodiversity by creating a microhabitat for insects and birds. The roof on the new YMCA building in Central Milton Keynes has vegetables growing on it, including cabbages and cucumbers, and is home to 200,000 bees. Now there are plans to expand the green roof projects to commercial buildings in the city. “This is a fantastic way of improving biodiversity and signals our ambitions of

becoming one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the world,” said Cllr Marland. “There is huge potential for more businesses to do this in Central Milton Keynes and I would strongly encourage them to do so.” He welcomed the extension of the council’s partnership with Bridgman & Bridgman, one of the UK’s leading living roof specialists that has constructed green roofs on retail stores in London, on a supermarket in Luton and for the Chelsea Flower Show. Its work on the live lab roof at Saxon Court caught local and national media attention. “It was a perfect opportunity to engage with people and nature,” said Bridgman & Bridgman managing partner Chris Bridgman. “I am pleased this roof lives on as part of the YMCA and provides a blueprint for future development. “To be able to demonstrate the positive impact of new and retrofit green roofs in Milton Keynes is a big step forward to becoming carbon neutral and eventually carbon negative.” Cllr Marland added: “Climate change is serious and we all have a responsibility to do our bit to save the planet and preserve wildlife. I look forward to continuing our work with Bridgman & Bridgman to help us become carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon negative by 2050.”

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

The living roof created on top of the MK Gateway building. It has now been moved to the top of the YMCA campus nearby

Developers plan two new projects after live lab success

he developers behind MK Gateway have announced plans to create two new green rooftops at the development. The plans will see mixeduse developers Socius, First Base and investors Patron Capital, which are putting together plans for the redevelopment of the former council offices at Saxon Court in Central Milton Keynes, extend its collaboration with Wolverton-based living roof specialists Bridgman & Bridgman. This follows the success of the ‘live lab’ project created on the roof of Saxon Court last year to showcase the benefits of green roofs. More than 300 people visited the site during the project, which formed part of Milton Keynes Council’s Green Business Recovery Fund, and three YMCA residents qualified in the installation and maintenance of green roofs after the training they received. The green roof was moved from Saxon Court to the roof of the nearby YMCA campus in April. “We have committed to a range of sustainable initiatives in the development of MK Gateway, all of which supports Milton Keynes Council’s aspirations for a greener, healthier Milton Keynes,” said Socius’ project director Steve Eccles. “Following the success of the initial green roof on Saxon Court, we are therefore delighted to extend our collaboration with Bridgman & Bridgman which will offer immediate and substantial environmental benefits for Central Milton Keynes.” The MK Gateway development will see the retention, refurbishment, and extension of the original Saxon Court building, which will save more than 3,750 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

On the roof garden of the YMCA (from left) Cllr Pete Marland; Chris Bridgman; Remi Marshal and Kat Newman of YMCA Milton Keynes; Hannah Meara, from Bridgman and Bridgman The new green rooftop will be installed once the development is complete

and will be populated with native wildflower. The MK Gateway site will

also see the development of two further buildings including the Village, which will feature a UK first of 11 vertical gardens, along with 288 apartments. It may also feature the UK’s highest biosolar roof. Chris Bridgman, managing partner of Bridgman & Bridgman, said: “The success of the ‘live lab’green rooftop demonstrated the huge range of benefits living rooftops offer. Green roofs are a vital tool for climate action.”

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Business News Ex-SEMLEP chair becomes a Dame

‘Potential to turn tide on decline’

>>From page 1 A charitable trust, it was created in 2015 to support community businesses with a £150 million endowment from the Big Lottery Fund. The pilot schemes began last month. Wolverton, along with Ipswich, Stretford in Greater Manchester, Hendon in Sunderland and Skelmersdale, receives a total of £20,000 alongside expert support and guidance to set up and run their Community Improvement District. Jenny Sansom, Community Improvement District pilot lead at Power to Change, said: “If we are to reverse the plague of identikit high streets on the one hand and tackle shuttered-up buildings on the other, we must give communities ownership and say over their town centres. Rolling out this approach in England has the potential to turn the tide on decline by acting as a catalyst for bold, creative high streets that move beyond the outdated retail-dominated model and offer people services and experiences not available online.” Visitor numbers to UK high streets, shopping centres and retail parks in May remained 12.5pc down on pre-pandemic levels. The shift to working from home and concerns about the cost of living continue to hold back trade, says the British Retail Consortium.

Wolverton’s Agora centre

Agora revival plans win major planning award

edevelopment plans for the Agora at Wolverton has won a prestigious award at the Planning Awards 2022. Milton Keynes Council’s project was named Planning Permission of the Year, with the judges praising how the council has managed the proposals in a 21st-century styled development for a mixed-use regeneration scheme in a sensitive conservation area. Love Wolverton has been praised for its joint working approach between the council, developer TOWN and

Wolverton’s residents and businesses. The scheme includes: n 86 new rental homes, with 31 per cent being affordable housing; n A co-housing community for older people with 29 homes for sale and social rent; n Eight new shops for independent local businesses nd a community space; n Car-free ‘little streets’ and a pocket park for residents and visitors; n A sustainable mobility hub,

which includes an electric car club and bike hire facilities; n An energy microgrid that generates a large share of the annual energy needs of the development on-site. Milton Keynes Council bought the Agora site earlier this year following a number of false starts on the project. The council was also awarded a special commendation for policies designed to tackle climate change through its Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document.

he founding chair of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership has received a Damehood in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to young people and philanthropy. Ann Limb, pictured below, said she would use the honour to “encourage young people, regardless of their start in life, to step up to serve humanity with kindness, compassion and in a spirit of peace building.” She left SEMLEP in 2019 and is currently chair of The Scouts - the first woman to be elected chair of trustees in the movement’s 108-year history - and vice chair of the City & Guilds of London Institute. “I would like everyone pursuing their own career to support those who follow, by remembering to ‘lift as you climb’,” she said. She remains a LEP ambassador. Her career includes ten years as principal of Milton Keynes College. She also set up the Helena Kennedy Foundation in 1998. Dame Ann received an OBE in 2011 for public service and services to education. In 2015 she was awarded a CBE for public and political services.

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Business News

Queen’s Award winner will be ambassador for city Now firm wants to attract investment to Bletchley

roud to fly the flag for the UK… A Bletchley company continues its celebrations after receiving a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. M&M Supplies UK plc welcomed Milton Keynes Mayor Cllr Amanda Marlow and Milton Keynes North MP Ben Everitt to tour the company’s headquarters on the Denbigh West industrial

Mayor Cllr Amanda Marlow is pictured with (from left) M&M Supplies managing director Frank Purcell, buyer Stuart McDonald and MP Ben Everitt estate after its award was announced last month. The company has operated from Bletchley for more than 40 years. Today, it distributes

consumer goods for leading manufacturers including Mars, Proctor & Gamble, Nestle, Kraft Heinz and Kelloggs. Managing director Frank

Purcell said: “We are very proud to fly the flag for Great Britain. We have worked hard to forge partnerships around the world, attending

trade shows and finding new opportunities.” M&M Supplies has grown its international business by more than 37 per cent year on year for the past three years, using its newly extended 7,000 pallet distribution centre to steer the business through the pandemic and meet the challenges of a post-Brexit market, he added. With the Queen’s Award the business hopes to use its new platform to highlight the important work it does and bring more investment to Bletchley. Mayor Cllr Marlow said: “Not only will M&M Supplies be an ambassador for the country, they will be an ambassador for Milton

Keynes, showing our city’s entrepreneurial spirit. The team at M&M Supplies should be immensely proud of their success. Such an award highlights the dedication and passion to what they do. To receive it on the Queen’s Jubilee year also makes it that little bit more special.” She also praised M&M Supplies’ work with MK Foodbank, through both donations and logistical support. “This is a very difficult time for households, with the cost of living a real challenge for many. “We are lucky to have a well organised Foodbank and that is, in no small part, down to the support provided by the team at M&M Supplies.”

Silverstone partnership delivers ‘special opportunity’ for student chefs

orking at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone serving around 2,500 covers is the culmination of their study for catering students at Milton Keynes College. The college has agreed a

partnership with Silverstone Circuit in which 30 catering students will work alongside the circuit’s events team from September as part of their training. The partnership will become part of the college’s new T-level - the new workbased qualification equivalent

to A-Level - catering course from September 2023. The students will spend time at Milton Keynes College’s Bletchley campus for the academic aspects of their course and at Silverstone where they will learn practical skills from chefs

Promotion

Employers are waiting with the job of your dreams

Vacancies are at record levels. There are actually more vacancies than unemployed people for the first time ever. So it is great news that the MK Job Show is back. The MK Job Show is being held at centre:mk on September 23-24 in Middleton Hall, centre:mk. On an average Friday and Saturday, well over 100,000 visitors go to centre:mk and exhibitors love to meet these passive job seekers. As well as attracting thousands of passive job seekers the MK Job Show runs a massive advertising campaign that ensures thousands of active job seekers also turn up with their CVs.

At the MK Job Show, employers meet candidates face to face. Sometimes a CV does not have the right buzz words in it and the CV is filtered out either by the company’s HR software or by the HR team themselves. But meet someone face to face and employers gain a much better idea on whether the candidate is suitable for your business. Many companies have taken on people at the MK Job Show who had already applied to the company but not even had a reply. A number of employers also hire people actually at the MK Job Show. If your company has vacancies and is looking to hire the stars of the future there are still stands available. More than 70 great organisations are already booked to take part and your

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

organisation will be in good company, exhibiting alongside sponsors Ricoh, Nikon, Lockheed Martin, Greene King, BP Pulse, Met Police, British Transport Police, Santander, Ingram Micro, MK NHS Trust, Copart, the Ministry of Justice and MK Job Show’s main sponsor the University Of Bedfordshire. JS Media, organiser of the MK Job Show, also publishes the only dedicated jobs newspaper in Milton Keynes which can be found at busy sites including supermarkets and stations. More than 20,000 copies are picked up every month. They also run the only regional job board www.mkjobs.co.uk n To take part in the next MK Job Show, contact the team at info@jobshows.co.uk

and professionals. Their training culminates in the British Racing Drivers Club hospitality marquee where they will serve around 2,500 covers over the three days. There is also the opportunity to secure employment at Silverstone at the end of their

course, said the circuit’s head chef Dean Hoddle-Smith. “This is a special opportunity for any budding new chef.” Milton Keynes College is recognised as a leading UK institution for training in the catering industry. “The partnership provides a unique

learning adventure,” said Maria Bowness, the college’s group director: curriculum and pedagogy. “The partnership will ensure our learners gain the employability and personal development skills that employers are seeking, alongside employment opportunities.”

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July 2022

Business News

Nature of work has shifted after furlough

New family policies put employee welfare first

Employers now more flexible after success of ‘forced experiment’, says report

he furlough scheme brought in by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in employers becoming more open to part-time and flexible working as viable options for their business, research by Cranfield University and employers organisation the CBI has found. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, introduced in March 2020, was designed to save millions of people from unemployment and economic hardship as the pandemic took hold. It enabled organisations to reclaim up to 80 per cent of the wage costs of employees who could not work during the pandemic and was modified in July that year to allow for a part-time furlough option. Key findings from the survey of more than 200 UK business include: n Before the pandemic, most part-time working resulted from employee requests, with a proactive approach to recruiting new employees considered a secondary benefit. Post-pandemic, 62pc of line managers say they are more willing to consider employee requests for part-time working. n Almost all line managers were more flexible about where and when their employees worked.

n Around 60pc expect remote working and flexible working to increase over the next two years. 46pc also expect part-time working to increase. n Almost half believe the use of flexible furlough has helped line managers in their organisation learn how to design and manage part-time working more effectively. Anna Leach, deputy chief economist at the CBI, said: “It is clear that the CJRS has been more than just a ‘bridge to the other side’. Both the scheme and the pandemic itself have fostered and, in some cases accelerated, large shifts in the nature of work and attitudes towards it. We know that the future of work is a key priority for our members, who are conscious of their employees’ renewed focus on work-life balance and desire for more flexibility around the location and organisation of their work. These findings show that changes in working practices, and attitudes towards them, are very much under way.” Part-time working is an important feature of any labour market, offering greater choice in working arrangements for employees and widening participation in employment for those unable to work

Professor Clare Kelliher full time, the report says. It benefits employers, helping them to retain staff, attract new employees and to flex resource to meet changing business demands. Pre-pandemic, data from the Office of National Statistics shows just over a quarter of UK workers worked part-time; some to meet their employer’s needs. Professor Clare Kelliher, Professor of Work and Organisation at Cranfield School of Management, said the flexible element of the furlough scheme was effectively a ‘forced experiment’ in parttime working. “These survey findings suggest that the practical experience of trying out part-time working has helped to overcome some of the perceived barriers for employers around its feasibility and how to implement it in practice. This is heartening, because there is evidence to suggest that more people would like to work part-time than currently do, as well as explore options for greater flexibility in the way in which they work.” The report The Future of Flexible Working: Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic was published by Cranfield School of Management on behalf of the Economic and Social Research Council

ommercial vehicle manufacturer Scania UK has begun a new package of maternity, paternity and adoption benefits for its employees. The Scania Family Friendly policy is a real statement of intent, the company says, and prioritises the welfare of its staff and their families. The package, implemented in April, includes the introduction of neonatal leave and pregnancy loss leave packages ahead of their becoming statutory benefits next year under new legislation. Scania Family Friendly also sees improvements to the maternity and adoption policies. UK employees now receive 13 weeks at full pay, 13 weeks at half pay and 13 weeks at Statutory Maternity Pay during maternity or adoption leave. Previously, a parent would receive 90 per cent of pay for the first six weeks before getting 33 weeks of SMP. Paternity leave and parental bereavement leave have both been enhanced too. Parents now receive two weeks leave with full

pay instead of the current Statutory Paternity Pay. Neonatal leave entitles employees to one week’s additional leave with full pay for every week their child is in the neonatal unit. Pregnancy loss leave gives parents two weeks leave with full pay. Scania UK’s director of people and culture Clare Booth said: “These enhancements will make sure we can better support all the parents who work for Scania UK and their families, which is why we have introduced two benefits now rather than waiting for law to make them statutory. We have a diverse business and this new policy will better encompass the needs of all our Scania family members across our nationwide support and service centre network. This is an exciting step forward for Scania UK and our wider industry.” Scania Family Friendly is the first major milestone in the company’s UK people and culture team’s work to improve and embrace diversity and inclusion across the business, she added.

The perfect deal benefits and protects your business Negotiation usually means compromise... and that is where a lawyer skilled in drafting contracts can prove invaluable.

Meet the company commercial team at Neves: (from left) Jessica Williams, paralegal; Stewart Matthews, managing partner and head of company commercial; Kim Sayer, solicitor; Simon Porter, senior associate

ost savvy business owners know the value of a well drafted contract. It enables parties to come to mutually beneficial agreements which facilitate innovation, creativity and business expansion. But drafting a contract is easier said than done. A non-lawyer could draft something that looks like a contract but it is deficient and possibly very risky. It may even contain provisions that are not legally enforceable. A poorly drafted contract creates ambiguity, confusion and misunderstandings that can derail business and other deals. Contracts spell out the rights and obligations of parties in a number of different contexts. These are some of the types of contracts your business may use:

The company commercial team of experts at Neves Solicitors have many years of experience in a broad range of company/commercial matters, ranging from company sales and acquisitions, investment, fundraising and lending agreements, corporate reorganisations, shareholder protection, employee incentives and options (including EMI options), franchise agreements, management agreements, partnership matters as well as commercial agreements. Contact the team on 0330 0945 500, email info@nevesllp.co.uk or visit www.nevesllp.co.uk

n Partnership, joint venture and shareholder agreements between coowners of a business; n Lease agreements for physical space your business wishes to occupy; n Employment contracts that spell out the rights and obligations for employees;

Business MK

July 2022

n Financing agreements for lending or investing purposes; n Standard terms and conditions of trading; n Licensing agreements to ensure that intellectual property is not stolen or misused; n Non-disclosure agreements to prevent the disclosure of trade secrets and other confidential information. The objective of entering into a contract is to clarify the parties’ obligations while providing them with legal protections. To do that, you need a contract that is tailored to the exact needs and nature of your business. Attempting to fit your business into a generic contract will not protect your company and could even increase the

risk. A good contract makes litigation less likely by providing enforceable rights and remedies upon breach. Drafting is an important step but negotiating your contract is critical. Whether you or the other party drafted the initial contract, the details will have to be negotiated. This could mean several rounds of discussions between the parties. If successful, the process will result in revisions and modifications to the original draft. During the drafting and negotiation process, you need an experienced contract drafting lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to explain proposed revisions and their potential consequences for your business. A skilled practitioner can also suggest which revisions should be rejected or modified.

Sometimes, to keep negotiations moving forward, you can suggest acceptable alternatives to the other parties. Parties will occasionally include provisions that are not enforceable for one reason or another. Your lawyer can spot these and propose solutions for handling them. Negotiating usually means compromising. Everyone naturally wants a contract to be 100 per cent in their favour but we all know that is not realistic. A skilled contract drafting lawyer understands your company’s values and desired outcome and will help you to avoid making unreasonable demands that could destroy the negotiations. At the end of the process, the final compromised agreement will on balance benefit and protect the interests of your company.

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Business News Lab firm calls for life science career push to students

areers in laboratories must be “made more visible” to encourage more young people into the field and support the growth of life sciences, says the head of an international laboratory company. The comments come after a survey of young people by laboratory products manufacturer Starlab International showed that while images of laboratory testing dominated television screens in the pandemic, laboratory work is as unfamiliar to one in three young people as it was before Covid-19. The results have led to concerns about the “missed opportunities” to recruit specialists of the future. The company’s UK base is in Milton Keynes at Blakelands. Starlab chief executive Klaus Ambos said: “For the life science sector, these missed opportunities could become an economic problem in the future. To safeguard the life sciences industry, it is all the more important to take the virtually invisible jobs you can do in a lab and make them more visible.” One in three students are most interested in the STEM subjects but this interest fails to translate into concrete careers in the life sciences. “The results of the survey suggest that young people lose their inherent interest in STEM at a certain point during their school days and choose a career based on criteria such as prestige, salary and work/life balance,” said Mr Ambos. “In other words, BMW rather than biotech.”

Special edition marks 60 years of loud Iconic brands unite to celebrate Marshall milestone

uxury vehicle manufacturer David Brown Automotive has manufactured 60 special edition versions of its Mini Remastered model to celebrate rock ‘n’ roll audio icon Marshall Amplification’s 60th anniversary. Each car features Marshall-inspired touches throughout including an upgraded sound system, with new dashtop-mounted tweeters, additional speakers in the doors and equipment fitted to the rear parcel shelf. There are plenty more touches to reflect the Marshall brand and colours, including Marshall Gold brake callipers and wheels. Each car is hand-painted in Marshall Black with gold coach-lining to the roof, pinstripes and Marshall logos to the doors. Marshall, based in Bletchley since the late 1960s, and David Brown Automotive will each donate a portion of the proceeds from each sale to the Music Venue Trust, a charity that supports independent concert venues throughout the UK. Marshall Amplification’s managing director Jon Ellery said: “This project has caused great excitement at Marshall. Mini Remastered Marshall Edition is a truly stylish and fitting way of celebrating our diamond anniversary, uniting our iconic, proudly British brand with a stunningly reimagined version of an iconic design, likely Britain’s most

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

The Mini Remastered created for Marshall Amplification’s 60th anniversary. MK Dons staff (left) cannot resist a look

loved car. It is a perfect match. “We are also thrilled to be supporting the Music Venue Trust with this partnership. It is an organisation extremely close to our hearts at Marshall and we are looking forward to helping them continue their vital work getting the independent venues, and the UK’s independent music scene back on their feet after the shock of the recent years.”

The Mini Remastered Marshall Edition is the latest car to roll off David Brown Automotive’s production line since the business located to its stateof-the-art 18,000 sq ft manufacturing facility at Silverstone Park in 2017. It remains among the growing number of innovative engineering and manufacturing businesses at Silverstone Park. David Brown Automotive’s founder and chief executive David Brown

said: “We are hugely influenced by music and to partner with such an iconic brand to create this very special Mini Remastered, and to help them celebrate 60 years in business, a momentous milestone, was an opportunity we did not want to pass on. It seems fitting to unite the classic Mini and Marshall - two British icons - and in doing so to inject the Mini, a favourite among music stars through the ages, with serious rock and roll appeal. We are delighted with the resulting car.”

Business MK

July 2022

Feature Advertising Feature

The latest news from

‘Our clients know that we will deliver’ A reputation for being reliable and reactive has enabled Plumbing & Gas Solutions Ltd to become one of the region’s leading commercial heating and plumbing specialists.

The commitment to first-class customer service has always been at the heart of the business which was set up by Carl Yeomanson in 2010. Twelve years later the business has grown from ‘one man and a van’ to a business working with a wide range of prestigious clients from schools and universities to hi-tech firms and the NHS. The firm’s high standards include all employees being DBS checked to an enhanced level. They also hold Constructionline and CHAS accreditation ensuring that all work is health and safety compliant. Each client has specific requirements which Carl and the 20-strong team of mechanical engineers in a fleet of vehicles take pride in delivering on time and on budget. “We work with clients in critical sectors who

Managing Director Carl Yeomanson centre with Dan Cole left, Operations Director of Facilities Management Solutions, and Darryl Taylor right, Operations Director of Plumbing & Gas Solutions

need to feel confident that we can deliver,” says Carl, who gave up a firefighting role

in Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service to concentrate on the business. “We have

come a long way since 2010 but I knew it was right to focus on Plumbing & Gas Solutions. I could see there was demand in the commercial sector in our local area and we have been able to deliver.” Exciting new appointments to the team include Darryl Taylor, Operations Director, who will be helping Carl build on the company’s ongoing success. Darryl brings with him a wealth of knowledge from the corporate mechanical sector with some of his main attributes being his drive for success, laser focus and passion for empowering his fellow team members. “We do not need to tie clients into contracts,” says Carl. “We value our relationship with each one of them extremely highly and give them a reason to want to stay. Darryl’s appointment will mean we can ensure clients get the service they expect and deserve. It also takes us, as a company, to the next level.”

Giving back as we grow

Meet the NEW Digital Marketing Executive Dion Plosky. He is the in-house specialist for marketing, social media and content creation, utilising the companies investment into hi-tec equipment, which includes drones, Go-Pros and production software

The ‘Big Change’ is best for business and our service Efficiency, customer satisfaction and communication are the key factors behind the ‘Big Change’ software integration project which promises to enhance the way the team liaises with clients. Mounds of paperwork will be replaced with online documents which clients can access through a confidential portal. Once fully operational it will enable clients

to receive updates on service appointments, certification, orders and a whole lot more.

Charities across Milton Keynes have been given support by Plumbing & Gas Solutions and, more recently, Facilities Management Solutions. The latest to benefit are The Windmill Children’s Centres including one based in New Bradwell, Milton Keynes, where families with young children can get support. Investment in young people is another way the companies support communities. Four apprentices are the latest to achieve mechanical engineering qualifications through the company’s ongoing investment in training. “We are proud to call Milton Keynes our home and it is important to continue to give back as we grow,” says Carl. “Support for apprentices makes sense. We have specialists with the necessary skills and for apprentices it is an opportunity to have a trade.”

www.pgsolutions.co.uk 8

Business MK

July 2022

Commercial Gas Engineer Joe Stanbridge, left, and Korben Griffin, newly qualified NVQ Level 2 Plumbing and Heating Engineer

Facilities management eases the headaches A growing number of clients are putting their trust in Facilities Management Solutions which was launched during the pandemic. In just 18 months, the company has worked with an extensive range of clients each of whom have needed to overcome a variety of challenges in the day-to-day running of their sites. Carl said: “We are already wellestablished with clients through Plumbing & Gas Solutions but until

the pandemic we did not really look at taking on the management of their facilities. The pandemic meant we had to look at working in different ways and realised this was an opportunity. “Many clients already knew and trusted us so this was clearly a chance to grow. We can take away their headaches in the day-to-day running of facilities from a broken window latch to the management of a complete office refit.”

01908 970 345 For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Business News

Employers take a ‘grow your own’ approach to talent

mployers are adopting a ‘grow your own’ approach to recruitment in the face of a growing skills shortage that is costing the UK an estimated £6.3 billion a year. Recruiting the right talent remains the single biggest challenge facing companies over the next five years, research by The Open University has found. Yet when businesses do not invest in training and developing the skills of their workforce, it leads to lower productivity

OU director discusses recruitment challenges with business leaders and fewer opportunities to progress and climb the ladder. The ‘Great Resignation’ witnessed over recent months continues and the government’s Levelling Up agenda stalls, says the OU’s director of sector business development Chris Hogan. “One of the trends the OU is witnessing is employers recruiting people based on their culture and values rather than skill set and moulding them through training,” Mr Hogan

said. “It is a different approach, a ‘grow your own’ concept. Employers are finding people who are a good fit and building the skills to suit the needs of the business. It is a long-term approach but it leads to greater retention.” Mr Hogan, inset, was speaking to an audience of business leaders at a breakfast briefing event hosted

by Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership ahead of the launch of The Open University’s sixth Business Barometer. The results of the last OU Business Barometer, which is based on a survey of 1,500 UK employers, confirmed that retaining the right staff is one of the key challenges businesses are facing.

“Employers are really feeling the pinch when they lose highly skilled people,” Mr Hogan said. Making provisions for longterm skills development and learning opportunities as a benefit of employment is another trend which the OU is seeing. It is working with mobility as a service provider Uber in a partnership that provides eligible Uber drivers, or a nominated member of

their family, the opportunity to study with the OU. Uber funds the tuition fees in a move designed to improve the low retention rates among its drivers. More than 1,400 learners have enrolled on the programme since its launch in January 2020. Mr Hogan said: “Employee satisfaction and retention has improved at Uber and this approach can be adapted to suit any business, regardless of size.” Businesses are going a step further and supporting their customers, he added.

Training pays dividends at support hub

hub that gives small businesses free space to showcase their products and brand has reported almost £300,000 in revenue in the past 12 months. Along with the space, 100 entrepreneurs have enrolled on business development bootcamps to develop their skills as part of the Love Local Hub’s offer. The course covers everything from goal-setting, profit and loss, cashflow, pricing and creating a 12-month business plan.

Milton Keynes Council invested £35,000 in the project a year ago as part of its Covid Economic Recovery Plan. It has since invested a further £55,000 to provide mentoring, support and more start-up spaces. Now Love Local Hub has opened a second store in Watford and, with its original base in centre:mk, has turned over a total £469,000, £300,000 of which has come from Milton Keynes. Sam Poole, inset,

co-founder of Love Local and Incubation Nation said: “Mentoring 100 small businesses and helping them restructure their business with a 12-month plan and seeing their success has been incredible. Sadly, we have seen some businesses close or fail but we have been there to support them and some are now developing better business ideas based on the same strategy, which is why this training is so vital.”

The Chancellor takes part in a Q&A session with Speedy employees

Chancellor hails firm’s drive to net zero

hancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has praised the support given by a Milton Keynes-based construction equipment hire and service provider in supplying generators to Ukraine and for its drive towards zero carbon status. Mr Sunak toured the new net carbon-zero innovation centre at Speedy’s base in Kiln Farm after the company donated almost 300 generators to Ukraine’s war effort. He also took part in a Q&A session with Speedy employees. The generators are now in use in Eastern Ukraine, helping to keep essential services running. The innovation centre, which represents the sector’s

first net carbon-zero hire centre and employs more than 50 people, is supporting contractors building the first phase of HS2 from London to Birmingham, providing low-emission equipment including electric lighting towers and tracklaying machinery. Speedy, which operates 200 fixed sites across the UK and works with the industry’s largest contractors, says the innovation centre forms a key part of its commitment to creating a more sustainable industry. Chief executive Russell Down said: “The Chancellor’s visit reflects the importance of the work we are doing in creating carbon savings for major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and in

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

providing the industry with a blueprint for minimising the environmental impact of supply chain networks across the UK. Customers across construction will increasingly need to interrogate the sustainability of their supply chains if we are to achieve carbon-zero. “We recognise our role and responsibility as a key intermediary for the sector, which is why we are making significant commitments to invest in equipment and ways of working that will support our customers deliver more sustainable projects.” Mr Sunak said: “It was fantastic to hear about the work Speedy is doing to support people in Ukraine. People all across the UK are doing their part as we stand against Putin’s illegal invasion. I know that many people have felt anxious in recent months about rising costs and it was great to hear some of the questions from Speedy staff.” He told Speedy’s staff that the cut to National Insurance this month will leave £330 more a year in workers’ pockets. The government’s £37 billion package of support is cutting £400 off every household’s energy bill, he added.

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Business MK

July 2022

Money Matters Money worries have a major impact on our mental wellbeing. Tony Byrne, managing director of Wealth & Tax Management, has discovered a new app that is designed to be the key that unlocks the gateway to happiness.

Navigate your staff towards a happier life

inancial worries are costing employers billions every year in absenteeism, lost productivity and turnover costs. But organisations are doing little to address the issue, a report has suggested. Employers are losing 2.5 days per employee per year through financial stress-related absences, while ten per cent of staff struggle to focus because of money worries, according to financial wellbeing provider Neyber. According to Neyber’s DNA of Financial Wellbeing report, three in five employees felt they were affected by money worries. More than half (52%) were borrowing to meet basic financial needs, 45% admitted they ran out of money before payday and 36% sometimes or often struggled to pay off their credit cards. Money worries were affecting employees’ mental health: one in five said they had felt depressed, a third had felt stressed, a third anxious and a quarter had lost sleep. Fortunately, help is at hand with a new app, Hapnav, which stands for

the Happiness Navigator. Hapnav is the first end-user financial planning application with open banking inside, brought exclusively to members of the Academy of Life Planning in partnership with Envizage. Hapnav allows users to plan their life goals simply and easily. You cannot have wellbeing without financial wellbeing in the West. This app delivers such an outcome which is why it is called the Happiness Navigator. It is a low-cost employee benefit, priced at £6.99 per month, plus a 30day free trial. HapNav is offered in association with Envizage (a trading

You cannot have wellbeing without financial wellbeing... This app delivers such an outcome

Dons agree new kit supplier deal

Tony Byrne name of Lifescale Limited). A WEALTHTECH 100 company in 2020, it develops simulationbased analytic software that helps consumers to identify, understand and manage the risks to their plans. The WEALTHTECH100 is an annual list of 100 of the world’s most innovative WealthTech companies selected by a panel of industry experts and analysts.

n The contents of this article are for information purposes only and do not constitute individual advice. You should always seek professional advice from a specialist. All information is based on our current understanding of taxation, legislation and regulations in the current tax year. Any levels and bases of relief from taxation are subject to change. This article is based on my own observations and opinions.

For advice on how to use employee benefits to boost staff performance, take advantage of a one-hour Discovery Meeting either at our offices or by a video conference call at our expense worth £270 to each of the first three readers who contact us before July 31 2022. You know it makes sense. We offer a great cup of coffee too but unfortunately not a virtual one. Ring us on 01908 523740 or for free on 0800 980 4516 or email wealth@wealthandtax.co.uk.

www.wealthandtax.co.uk

portswear firm Castore is the new official technical and retail partner with MK Dons FC. The company will also become the club’s official kit supplier from the new 202223 season following the end of the Dons’ seven-year association with previous supplier Errea. Castore will supply the first-team squad with all their match and training wear. The company will also take control of the club’s retail operation, including a new store at Stadium MK and a fresh online platform. “We are grateful to Errea for all their help and support over the past seven years but we felt now was the right time to move in a different direction when it comes to our retailing and kit manufacture,” said Dons chairman Pete Winkelman. “Castore are an exciting young company who are establishing themselves as one of the top sportswear providers in the country and that is why this partnership makes real sense and is why we are so enthused and energised by this opportunity to work with them.” The Stadium MK store is set to open in August, due to licencing restrictions owing to the UEFA Women’s EUROS, while the online shop will open in time for supporters to buy the new kit before the 2022-23 League One season kicks off.

The corporate venue that’s music to your ears The Stables Theatre is a unique venue in a rural setting based in the south-east of Milton Keynes. Best known for its concert programme, it is also a cost-effective solution to stage your corporate event conferences, car and product launches, wedding receptions, fashion shows, charity galas, away days, graduation ceremonies, private dining and more. Located five minutes from the M1 junction 13 or 14 and just 15 minutes from Milton Keynes Central train station, the venue has ample free car parking and electric vehicle charging stations. The main auditorium has a tiered seating capacity of up to 398 with modular staging and a full sound and lighting system which, unlike many other venues, is included in your hire. It also offers flat-level access directly on to stage for effortless event set up and there is a lift from back of house

“Audi UK have held regular staff meetings at The Stables. Both during the pre-event build up and then during the event itself, the team at The Stables have supported us to the highest standards.”

Events Manager, Audi UK

to the stage. Also included in hire of the main auditorium is the exclusive use of

four dressing rooms and a Green Room... ideal for presenters needing a quiet space to

“I have had the pleasure of working with a huge number of private and corporate clients at The Stables over the past 18 years, working with a friendly, professional and experienced team to bring visions and requirements to life through attention to detail and organised logistics.”

EMMA BRIGGS Events Manager, The Stables

master those all-important lines. The Stables is highly accessible to customers with limited mobility. A lift is available giving access to seats on lower levels and we can accommodate up to eight people in wheelchairs. Our second space, Stage 2, can accommodate up to 80 people in various configurations such as cabaret, reception, board room and theatre style. It is a self-contained space with air conditioning, projection, sound and lights, modular and removable staging, its own bar and toilet facilities all included in the hire of this room. Two large barn doors open on to a small courtyard area with outdoor seating, lights and heating if required. We also have other spaces to hire for smaller events for up to 30 people, such as board meetings, away days, celebrations, pre-show and interval hospitality.

“Thanks for providing the perfect venue for a training day. There was plenty of space, fresh air and well thought out arrangements. Thanks for the great care you took to help create a really productive day.”

CEO, HMGCC

To find out more or discuss your event requirements, contact Emma Briggs, events manager at The Stables: emma.briggs@stables.org

www.stables.org 10

Business MK

July 2022

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Feature Advertising Feature

The Chaffron Centre is OPEN FOR BUSINESS Milton Keynes College has launched an exciting new project after obtaining the funding from the Department for Education’s Strategic Development Fund for the design and development of a new Business Centre. Working in partnership with various Milton Keynes organisations and training providers, the Chaffron Centre, based at Milton Keynes College’s Woughton campus, will bring education and employers together to offer a technically advanced business meeting and training space. Officially opened on May 25, local businesses and VIP guests were invited to a stunning launch event at the Chaffron Centre where they were welcomed by partner speakers in the main atrium before being guided through to the centre itself. The official ribbon-cutting to open the centre was performed by local businesswoman and multi-awardwinner Shalom Lloyd. Business representatives were then invited to enjoy a fantastic afternoon tea, put together by MK College and to network in the main conference room. Upstairs in the modern new centre was a selection of new technologies which guests tried out and experienced for themselves.

Shalom Lloyd officially opens the Chaffron Centre

These include interactive VR apps and state-of-the-art AI headsets developed by Microsoft Software and being developed and implemented by MKAI. Located upstairs are private meeting rooms and a kitchen fully stocked with tea and coffee refreshments. All of these facilities are available to Milton Keynes businesses, whether you need a quiet space to host a client meeting, to conduct interviews for new talent or a large, professional space to host an event. The Chaffron Centre can cater for it all. The SkillsHub:MK free training programmes have been running for several months both online and in-

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

person and these will continue to be held at the Chaffron Centre with NEW FREE training workshops now confirmed in the coming months. The aim of the project is to create the region’s newest Business Centre and to improve employers’ access to the region’s future skills training, with colleges and local businesses all benefiting from the new facility. Bringing together the Milton

Keynes business community, in partnership with the SkillsHub:MK, the Chaffron Centre will act as a hub to provide better access to the training they require to grow and expand their businesses. This resource aims to hand greater influence to employers over their skills and training needs, enabling them to move to a more central position in directing what

further education and skills provision is offered by their local colleges. This employer hub will help local business enterprises to overcome the commercial barriers of engaging with education. n The worldwide working landscape has changed and businesses are being built in a far more dynamic way. Over the last two years, the need for flexible meeting space has grown exponentially. If you are travelling for business, looking to move into Milton Keynes or need an occasional meeting room space, email Caroline.Indge@chaffroncentre.co.uk or visit www.chaffroncentre.co.uk to find out more.

Guests at the launch event show their approval

Business MK

July 2022

Business News Accountancy group completes acquisition

IT disposal specialist joins Chamber of Commerce

ccountants and professional services specialist Ad Valorem Group has completed the acquisition of Leighton Buzzard-based practice ECL Howard Watson Smith. “This is a super addition which further underpins our already strong Milton Keynes presence,” said Ad Valorem Group chief executive Nikki Adams. The deal has been in negotiations since the autumn. ECL Howard Watson Smith partner Darren Kerins said: “We are very pleased to join forces with Ad Valorem which will enable our clients and staff to benefit from their additional resources, expertise and digital platforms. “I believe that our shared aims of providing a professional, cost-effective and forwardlooking service will see the practice go from strength to strength.”

OU welcomes minister

‘Crucial to our marketing’

ichelle Donelan, government minister of state for higher and further education, heard from students and academics about The Open University’s distance learning curriculum and how it helps students to overcome the on a tour of its campus in Milton Keynes. She is pictured in the OU’s online OpenSTEM lab with Professor Nick Braithwaite and Milton Keynes North MP Ben Everitt. The lab enables students all over the world to connect to learning equipment over the internet.

ts new-look website puts the emphasis on the company’s approach to key industry topics such as social value, sustainability, health and wellbeing, carbon reduction and the use of modern methods of construction, says Milton Keynes-based archtectural practice GSSArchitecture. Senior partner Tom Lyon, pictured above, said: “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.”

Help feed MK Can you and your business help? With Milton Keynes recently being awarded City status, there is much to celebrate about living and working in this City. However, the reality is there are tens of thousands of people living in poverty in Milton Keynes. With steep rises in the cost of living, the number of struggling individuals and families living within our community will only continue to increase.

isetek, which opened a facility in Milton Keynes last year, has joined Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce. The advanced IT asset disposition specialist, which delivers data destruction, technology reuse and manufacturing services, moved to the city as part of its expansion plans in the UK. Wisetek was founded in Ireland in 2007 and also has facilities in the USA, Middle East, and Thailand. Its UK business operations manager Matt Summers said: “The local business community in Milton Keynes has been so welcoming. I look forward to continuing to grow our network and to having some insightful engagements with other Chamber members. I believe engaging with other companies and entrepreneurs and exchanging different ideas and perspectives is essential to staying ahead in a rapidly evolving business environment.”

Tech firm on track towards five-year growth targets, says CEO

ecord growth over the past 12 months is keeping managed IT service provider Bluecube Technology Solutions on track in its five-year growth plans. The company has expanded by 45 per cent, with growth in client numbers over the past 12 months leading to a 60pc rise in the number of employees. The firm has moved to larger offices in Central Milton Keynes and opened an office in London. It has also opened its Bluecube A c a d e m y apprenticeship scheme. “Like every business we have just come through

the other side of a very intense couple of years,” said chief executive James Hawker, inset. “The pandemic has meant there are a greater number of remote teams in need of our services.” Demand for the firm’s Service Desk support has increased fourfold, he added. Bluecube is three years into its five-year plan. Its Bluecube Academy aims to take on 40 apprentices each year. “We want to take people at the beginning of their career, nurture them, educate them, train them and give them a career,” said Mr Hawker.

More support needed

Mortgage specialist joins judging panel for national awards

There are a number of Food Banks and local charities who support families living in poverty with food and every day essentials. However, demand for these services is increasing and there are fewer people in a position to help, due to the wider impact of the cost of living crisis.

This is where you and local businesses can help. MK Food Reach exists so that vital funds can be raised by the business community so that pallets of food can be distributed in Milton Keynes. Every time £10,000 is raised - enough to fill an artic lorry with 26 pallets of food (retail value of approximately £52,000) a lorry will bring the much needed food to the City for distribution.

Who are HIS Church Charity? HIS Church is an established redistribution charity, focused on providing food and supplies to those who need it most and preventing many products from going to landfill. They have helped over 15,000 charities nationwide and work with many of the leading food brands and supermarkets including Kellogg’s, Mars, Heinz, Lidl, Asda, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.

MK Food Reach is partnering with His Church Charity to ensure the City continues to provide support to its citizens.

Get involved! MK Food Reach needs your support. You can help by: • Sponsoring a pallet • Fundraise or donate online at: justgiving.com/fundraising/ mk-food-reach Contact us:

 mkfoodreach@outlook.com MkFoodReach

Food_Bank_SME_Advert_210x297mm_v4.indd 1

Business MK

July 2022

31/05/2022 11:32

usinesswoman Siobhan Holbrook has been reflecting on taking part in the judging of this year’s Legal & General Mortgage Club Awards 2022. She has been in the mortgage industry for more than ten years, running mortgage broker firm Mortgage Light in Milton Keynes, and is recognised as an expert in the industry. Ms Holbrook, inset, joined fellow

industry peers to assess the eight award categories. “It was fantastic to join forces with inspiring figureheads from around the country,” she said. “The judging sparked positive conversations about the fantastic work shown within the award submissions, touching on the important industry issues such as diversity and the technological expectations for the future.”

Scandinavian group buys waste firm

orporate finance specialists at professional services firm Grant Thornton in Milton Keynes have led the sale of a waste management business in London to the acquisitive Scandinavian group Sortera. O’Donovan Waste Management, founded in 1959 by

Joe O’Donovan, has been run by his daughter Jacqui for more than 30 years. Grant Thornton corporate finance director Mike Hughes, inset, said: “The growth of O’Donovan is an inspiring story. I am confident it will go from strength to strength under Sortera’s ownership.”

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

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The Growth Debate

MKBLP chair Nicholas Mann reflects on a turbulent two years in post and looks forward to next year’s Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards, which will celebrate business success in a highly topical area.

Nicholas Mann

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Business MK

July 2022

Diversity and inclusivity: The values that bind us together

n May 2019, I took the helm as chair of Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership. At the time, every day brought new drama in UK politics and the ongoing saga of Brexit... and the month culminated with the resignation of then Prime Minister, Teresa May. As a business community, we were hopeful for a quick resolution, one which would cause minimum economic disruption and lead us into smoother waters. Little did we know that we would soon be sailing into unchartered territory with the onset of a pandemic less than 12 months later. Indisputably my time as chair, and as a business owner, has been unprecedented. When my predecessor Dr Philip Smith handed over the reins to me, it’s fair to say that I was reluctant to make too many changes too soon. MKBLP had been a vital cog in the business community wheel, acting as a collaborative voice for the public, private and voluntary sectors and I was keen to see how things would evolve. Alongside the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards - the jewel in the MKBLP crown - has always been its illustrious calendar of events featuring highcalibre speakers from the world of politics, education, science, and sport, through to prominent businesspeople. The onset of the pandemic put these events on hold and the real value of MKBLP came to the fore: its ability to unify businesses and communities. While the original name of MKBLP - the Large Employers Association - embodied the membership at the time of its inception not long after Milton Keynes was founded, over the years members have increasingly represented smaller organisations, startup companies and charities. Synonymous with Milton

Keynes’ status as one of the UK’s most innovative cities and launch pad for new businesses, MKBLP memberships increasingly represented a rich and diverse mix of businesses. While joining our ranks over the years and gaining prominence through MKBAA, it was the pandemic which ultimately wove these organisations together. Regardless of sector or size, the virtual support members and the wider business community displayed was, and continues to be, inspiring. Through the months of lockdown, without the physical presence of events, MKBLP swelled in numbers with new members joining its ranks. As we returned to events and meeting people in person following months of forging virtual collaborations, it was clear that, regardless of the size or scale of business a member came from, the core values which unified them was diversity and inclusivity. I believe that this underpins the evolution of MKBLP and I am delighted to say that ‘Celebrating Diversity’ will be the theme of next year’s MKBAA. Upholding our unique differences as a business community, celebrating the achievements of both large and small companies and supporting each other through challenging periods has played a significant role in our journey to achieving city status and cemented our position as a magnet for growth. And I truly believe that this should be celebrated. With two successful awards now under my belt, a full calendar of MKBLP events mapped out for 2022 and beyond, and the potential to grow our member base further, I am delighted to play my part in realising the full potential of Milton Keynes’ business community.

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Business2Business July 2022

In print and online Business2Business is published throughout Bedfordshire for the area’s business community www.businessmk.co.uk

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Our intention is to invest heavily

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Have your say on A6 plan: Latest from Central Bedfordshire. P16

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A breakthrough contract in battery recycling. P17

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All aboard: BID’s delight as boat wins Queen’s Award. P17

he new owner of Bedfordshirebased vegetable processing company MyFresh is planning major investment in the site. Tuber Group intends to install cooking and freezing equipment and introduce a “high-care operation” as part of its plans to become the UK’s ‘one-stop shop’ for the business, food service and retail markets. The business, based in Yorkshire, has paid an undisclosed sum for MyFresh, founded in 1987 and which has been part of the William Jackson Food Group since 2006. It is one of the UK’s leading processors and suppliers of freshly prepared vegetables to the B2B and food service sector. Its range includes peeled and chopped potatoes, onions, carrots, sweet potatoes and pureed products and employs 150 staff in its vegetable processing facility at Chicksands. James Watson, chief executive of MyFresh’s parent company William Jackson Food Group, said: “This sale represents a great opportunity for MyFresh to join a like-minded business with expertise in fresh produce and plans to invest and expand into new markets. We have known some of our MyFresh colleagues for 16 years so it is hard to say farewell but I have no doubt that this opportunity is what MyFresh needs to thrive.” Tuber Group managing director Stephen Humphrey said: “Our intention is to invest heavily in the MyFresh site, installing cooking and freezing capabilities, alongside a high-care operation in order to become the UK’s biggest ‘one stop shop’ supplying freshly prepared, cooked and frozen and ready to eat vegetables,

along with pureed products, to B2B, food service and retail clients. “There is a fantastic team at MyFresh and we are looking forward to working with them as we take this great business on the next step of its journey. By building on MyFresh’s many years of knowledge and expertise of the fresh prep sector, we will drive it into new areas, such as ready to eat products, direct to retail and aim to add significant value to the food sector as a whole through our innovative ideas.” The acquisition is part of Tuber Group’s expansion strategy, having acquired plantbased convenience foods manufacturer Saxon Foods in Scunthorpe in November last year, adding a range of allergen-free frozen products to its portfolio. Tuber Produce was founded in 2017 by Mr Humphrey to supply potatoes to food processors and packers in the UK. Today it procures fresh and frozen produce for food processors and food service businesses worldwide. “This latest acquisition marks another exciting milestone in the development of Tuber Group,” Mr Humphrey said. “The addition of a wellestablished vegetable processor like MyFresh is a great fit for us.” n MyFresh prepares more than 35,000 tonnes of vegetables each year for the food industry. It also produces vegetable mixes, pastes and purées such as garlic, ginger and chilli. Its Chicksands factory, rated Grade AA by the British Retail Consortium, has an anaerobic digestion plant on site, generating electricity from vegetable waste. MyFresh also has a dedicated office in southern Spain.

NE WS

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To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

Stephen Humphrey, managing director of Tuber Group, with his wife and fellow shareholder Rebecca

Stylish designs on the catwalk at Bedford Corn Exchange for Bedford College’s Hair & Beauty Show

‘Beauty is at the heart of our town centre’

yecatching… The annual Hair & Beauty Show staged by students at Bedford College returned in style at The Corn Exchange after a two-year hiatus. Hair and beauty students from the Brooks High Street training salon, part of The Bedford College Group, prepared a range of outstanding styles for the catwalk at the show. The event was sponsored by Love Bedford, the town’s marketing campaign run by the BedfordBID Business Improvement District which represents 600plus businesses in the town centre. The BID provided £500 worth of Love

Bedford shopping vouchers as prizes and arranged professional filming of the show, to be broadcast across various channels in the coming months. Goodie bags were donated by Body Shop in Silver Street and the finale was a £150 voucher from jewellery retailer Bakers Brothers of St Peter’s Street. “Hair and beauty are two services which cannot be accessed over the internet,” says Bedford BID chair Sam Laycock inset. “These businesses, represented here by their young apprentices and by the trainees of the future, are at the heart of the town centre of Bedford.”

Business2Business

July 2022

www.becentralbedfordshire.co.uk

@BeCentralBeds

Be Central Bedfordshire - Economic Growth Partnership

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

Have your say on A6 Clophill roundabout plans

lans to improve the busy A6-A507 roundabout at Clophill have been released and Central Bedfordshire Council is driven to understand what people think. Consultation on the scheme that benefits from £6.8 million of government Levelling Up funding is now live and runs until Monday 11 July 2022. To read more about the proposals and to comment, visit www. c e n t r a l b e d f o r d s h i r e . g o v. u k / consultations

The proposals, shaped through community engagement earlier this year, would see two entry and exit lanes created on all four arms of the roundabout. This would create more capacity with more vehicles able to enter and leave the roundabout at the same time. This would reduce congestion and journey times benefiting road users. Less time queuing and smoother flowing traffic would also help reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality. Cllr Kevin Collins, Executive

Member for Planning and Regeneration, says: “We want to hear what people have to say about our plans to improve the busy A6/A507 roundabout at Clophill. The scheme supports our sustainability agenda with the smoother flowing traffic reducing CO2 emissions and the four toucan crossings and the new and improved footways making it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy more active travel.” Plans would see work starting on the scheme in autumn 2022 and take about 12 months to complete.

Central Bedfordshire Council’s vision for the A6-A507 roundabout at Clophill aims to reduce congestion and emissions and improve safety

Low carbon workspace grants support eco-credentials

£4.9m: Helping people to live their best lives

entral Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £4.9 million from the government to help local communities to grow and thrive. The area will receive £3.5million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding will support residents to gain high-quality skills, important training and ultimately rewarding jobs by investing in local initiatives promoting employment, innovation and productivity. The council has also been notified of an indicative allocation of £1.4

million from the government’s Multiply programme to improve numeracy skills among adults. Cllr Kevin Collins, Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, says: “We welcome the allocation of this significant funding to help us support our local communities. We look forward to working with our communities, business and residents to identify how we can best use this funding to enable local people to live their best lives.” The next step for the council is

to submit Investment Plans for government approval. These will focus on creating a sense of local pride, jobs, enhancing skills and supporting people into work. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, launched by government earlier this year, has earmarked £2.6 billion for local investment by March 2025. n Find out more at https:// www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/ info/58/business/1159/uk_shared_ prosperity_fund

Queen’s Award reflects company’s cutting-edge work

elen Nellis, HM LordLieutenant of Bedfordshire, has praised a Bedfordshire company named among the winners in the 2022 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. VEXO International (UK) was recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation. VEXO was founded in 2010 and is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning specialist. The company, which

employs ten staff at its base in Biggleswade, provides long-term sustainable solutions around the mitigation of global warming and its clients’ net zero targets. “I am thrilled that VEXO International (UK) Ltd has been recognised by HM The Queen in this way,” says Mrs Nellis. “The Queen’s

Award for Enterprise is a globally recognised award for UK companies and it is particularly pleasing to see small successful local businesses being recognised. “Bedfordshire is full of forwardthinking, entrepreneurial enterprises working at the cutting edge and I offer my sincere congratulations to VEXO International (UK) Ltd. I look forward to presenting them with their award later this year.”

educing carbon footprint and energy usage is becoming more and more important for small businesses that care about the impact they have on the environment and the rising cost of their energy bills. By applying for a Low Carbon Workspaces grant, businesses can also reduce payback time for any potential investment. Grants from £1,000 to £5,000 are available to SMEs based in Central Bedfordshire to help to fund up to a third of the cost of energy-saving measures such as LED lighting, energy-efficient boilers, air-source heat pumps and solar panels. Investing in low carbon measures helps businesses to reduce overheads, cut carbon emissions and boost ecocredentials. The application process is quick and easy. A dedicated project officer will guide businesses through the process, advising them on how to tackle energy consumption and to identify suitable projects for funding. Installations must take place in commercial premises and should result in an overall reduction in onsite energy consumption - the grant team will assist applicants in identifying

potential energy savings. Since 2017, the Low Carbon Workspaces programme has assisted more than 400 SMEs by delivering a total of over £1.3 million in grant funding. Find out more at 01494 927 131 or email info@ lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk. Check your business’ grant eligibility and identify suitable projects at www. lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk. Manufacturing companies can join the Manufacturing Growth Programme. Find out more at www. manufacturinggrowthprogramme. co.uk n The Low Carbon Workspaces funding comes via the European Regional Development Fund and is delivered by Ngage Solutions in partnership with SEMLEP and SEMLEP’s Growth Hub.

Community hub at heart of new village

ork on The Farmstead - the community hub at the new Linmere village being created near Houghton Regis - has been completed. The three buildings making up the Farmstead are now open, arranged around a central leafy courtyard with nature-themed play area, outdoor seating and bike storage. The large community hall, which can be divided into two, is available for hire by local groups. The second building houses three retail units and the third building is a café selling drinks and freshly prepared meals, many of which are created from

locally grown produce and freshbaked goods from the on-site bakery. The three retail outlets include office space offering flexible coworking opportunities. Royal’s Dog Grooming, a dog grooming parlour that has outgrown its current site, is already welcoming canine clients to one of the retail units.. Linmere village will accommodate more than 5,000 households as it grows over the coming 15 years. It will also have two new state of the art primary schools and an extension to Houghton Regis’ existing Thornhill Primary school. A ten-form secondary school will open in 2022/3.

For more Central Bedfordshire news and event updates, visit www.becentralbedfordshire.co.uk or email info@becentralbedfordshire.co.uk

Business2Business

July 2022

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Business News

Waste firm wins e-scooter battery recycling contract Expertise can transfer to other transport modes

urope’s largest e-scooter provider has partnered with a specialist subsidiary of waste management firm Cawleys to recycle its end-of-life batteries. Voi Technology has recruited Lithium Battery Recycling Solutions to safely dispose and recycle batteries from its electric vehicles. As part of the partnership with Voi, LBRS supplies the company with ADR-approved safe packaging in which to place the lithium-ion batteries which have reached the end of their useful life from its e-scooters and e-bikes for safe storage and collection from its seven warehouses across the UK. The batteries are safely dismantled at LBRS’s state-of-the-art workshop in Luton by trained specialists who will extract and fully recycle all

Alan Colledge (centre). Pictured right: A battery being recycled valuable elements, such as copper, aluminium, lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese, for new products. LBRS technical director Alan Colledge said: “Sustainability and safety are at the centre of our vision and being able to work with a likeminded company like Voi allows us to demonstrate how our expertise

can be used in modes of electric transport other than automotive. Voi are passionate about the part they play in providing greener cities and cutting traffic volumes. We are delighted to be able to help this offering become truly sustainable with the lithium battery recycling solution we provide.” LBRS is of the few companies

offering the service in the UK. It has developed over the last decade within its hazardous waste division to meet the growing demand for recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries safely and environmentally responsibly. Voi is a signatory to the United

Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and is committed to ethical, sustainable practices to ensure cities can transition towards shared, multimodal and zero-emission mobility. As part of these principles, the company is determined to achieve a circular supply chain, which includes fully recycling its batteries and meeting its ambitious target of zero waste by 2022. Jack Samler, its general manager UK and Ireland, said: “We are excited to be working together with LBRS. This organisation plays an important role in achieving our environmental ambitions by turning our end-of-life batteries into an active resource, which will be extremely important as the recovered materials will eventually aid the manufacture of new lithium batteries. “In our cities and towns, we are competing to replace the everyday use of cars, which cause pollution, clog up our cities and impact people’s health. LBRS is perfectly placed as a local partner in the UK to help us create a sustainable future.”

Quality Print & Design

BID celebrates boat’s Queen’s Award

he highest award for a voluntary group has been won by the John Bunyan Community Boat in Bedford. It has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for its work providing cruises on the River Great Ouse. The John Bunyan Community Boat, launched in 2013, is run as a social enterprise by B&MK Waterway Enterprises. Funds raised are used to provide the cruises, with surplus profits from both special and charter cruises donated to The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. The award is being celebrated at Bedford Business Improvement District, which supported the project from the outset. The BID provided

part of the initial start-up funding and provides on-going promotion. It says that making the most of the river for Bedford’s tourism offering has had a significant positive impact on the town centre. The boat has carried more than 45,000 passengers, repaid all its start-up loans and helped to recruit dozens of volunteers. The project is one of four Bedfordshire organisations to receive a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It has been joined by The Safer Luton Partnership, Biggleswade Good Neighbours and Bedfordshire Open Door. Representatives of all four organisations will receive the award crystal and certificate from Helen Nellis, Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, later this summer.

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

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deliveries which generally requires smaller trucks,” said Miniclipper’s transport operations director Lee Atterbury. “We have used the vehicle and trailer shortage to evaluate what the next level of fleet investment might need to be to accommodate this new workload. This includes starting to evaluate vehicle and routes more carefully to understand how electric trucks might work for us.”

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July 2022

Business News: Property

Group centralises offices to new headquarters

F No vacancies: Estates now full after lease deals

a surface coating/protection specialist business, has agreed a five-year lease on a 3,181 sq ft unit. Print company Bartham Press has agreed a long-term lease on a 5,000 sq ft unit in an off-market deal at the nearby Park Avenue estate. “It is really satisfying to see these two highly popular industrial estates become fully let,” said Eamon Kennedy, executive partner and head of agency at Kirkby Diamond. “The continued strong demand for industrial premises enabled us to secure new tenants rapidly. Goodquality industrial properties are not staying vacant for very long.”

wo industrial estates are now full after the completion of lettings to three companies. Continuing high demand from businesses searching for industrial premises has helped commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond complete the deals at Scott Road pictured above and Park Avenue industrial estates in Luton. Acting on behalf of a private client, Kirkby Diamond has secured two long-term leases on trade counter units at Scott Road. Wireless CCTV has taken a total of around 5,300 sq ft on a five-year lease as part of its expansion drive. Owatrol,

acilities management company Churchill Group is to close its offices in Harpenden and relocate to a new office headquarters in Luton, the company has announced. It has agreed to take 7,650 sq ft of new office space at Capability Green, in Luton. The move is part of Churchill Group’s expansion plans and is expected to create new jobs. The company runs a group of businesses in the facilities management and compliance industries, specialising in cleaning, security, catering and environmental, said group chief executive Joel Briggs. Churchill Group instructed

commercial property consultants Kirkby Diamond to acquire the headquarters premises. Executive partner and head of commercial agency Eamon Kennedy negotiated a lease assignment on the Cedar House premises pictured below at Capability Green of the previous interest held by Marriott Hotels. “The first floor office space meets all of their requirements as they seek to amalgamate their existing premises into one very impressive headquarters,” Mr Kennedy said. Mr Briggs said: “We have a great workspace for our colleagues in the foreseeable future.”

Tenants act fast to snap up warehouse units

wo companies are starting new eras at a multi-million pound development of warehouse units at a business park in Bedfordshire. A private developer has extended the construction of warehouse units at Double Arches Business Park pictured above, Heath and Reach, near Leighton Buzzard. Bubble tea specialist Bubbleology and Essential Truck Assistance, which provides recovery and roadside assistance for commercial vehicles, have both signed five-year leases, commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond has announced.

There is a shortage of high quality industrial and warehousing/distribution units across the region and interest from local and national businesses in the new development has been strong, said senior surveyor Diccon Brearley. “Our client, a private developer, has delivered a fantastic modern development of warehousing and industrial units in a highly convenient location,” he added. “It is well documented that units of this type are in very high demand and we therefore expected there to be significant interest from firms looking to relocate or to establish new operations in the region.”

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Carpentry skills are alive and well

‘city hub’ of industry experts in carpentry, joinery and woodworking skills met with students on a visit to the new Centre for Modern Construction at Bedford College. Institute of Carpenters president Geoff Rhodes was

joined by representatives of the Construction Industry Training Board and Structural Timber Association. “These crafts cannot be replaced by machines and remain vital to the construction industry,” says Bedford College’s head of construction Dean Gibson.

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Business2 Business

July 2022

Supporting journalism

Meet airport’s tug of war champions

howing off their pulling power are teams from London Luton Airport, winners of both the men’s and women’s competitions at the 34th annual Parliamentary Tug of War. Held in Westminster Abbey College Garden, the competition is in aid of cancer charity MacMillan with teams from across the UK taking part. The culmination of the event, which has raised more than £3

million in total over the years, sees the House of Lords take on the House of Commons.

The Mall backs community in its golden year

t turns 50 years old this year and The Mall shopping centre in Luton is celebrating with a series of charitable events and competitions for the local community. First to launch is The Mall’s Community Chest fund which launched last month and runs until October. Community organisations and charities in Luton and Dunstable are invited to apply for a share of a monthly fund worth £2,022, detailing how they would use their requested sum and its positive impact on their community. Chosen causes will be announced on social media and all entries will refresh for the following month. The fund will provide a brilliant opportunity for groups to be recognised for their work supporting the local area and to receive funding which may have become increasingly challenging in recent years, says The Mall.

n Download an application from The Mall’s website www. themall.co.uk

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Appointments Learning overhaul ‘is long overdue’

strategic overhaul of the use of technology in improving processes and the teaching and learning experience for staff and students at Bedford College is behind the appointment of international digital expert Sheraz Amin as the group’s e x e c u t i v e director of digital transformation. Mr Amin was head of digital transformation for Santander bank when it moved customers largely from branches to

e-banking. He then helped Thomson in its transformation to TUI. “Our plans for the changes at The Bedford College Group will be leading edge and will set a strategic path for others to follow,” says Mr Amin, who was born in Bedford and went to and later became a governor of Biddenham School. The college will move to ‘blended’ learning - a combination of face-to face classes and online tutorials and lessons, he adds.

Arrival boosts growth ambitions

ideo analytics and compliance software company Facit Data Systems has appointed Richard Bester as its new sales manager. He has joined from DeltaNet International, which specialises in compliance, cybersecurity awareness, performance and health and safety e-learning. Mr Betser, pictured, has also worked for funbikes.co.uk as general manager “I am excited to be joining the

team at Facit Data Systems,” he says. “The products are incredibly strong and speak for themselves in terms of quality and usability.” Facit Data Systems, founded in 2014, is based at Mill Farm Courtyard near Stony Stratford. The company launched its new document redaction software at the PrivSec World Forum last month. “We are delighted to be in a position where we can expand our team with quality people,” says managing director and founder Waqas Hassan.

Director hails sales move

(from left) Steve Marsh, Zeb Ahmed and Paul Marsh, the leadership team at BES

Leadership changes mark start of a new growth chapter

company specialising in delivering good manufacturing practices to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences and healthcare businesses has announced major changes to its leadership structure. Zeb Ahmed, formerly deputy managing director of Bouygues Energies & Services Contracting UK, joined BES in January, becomes chief executive on July 1. Founding director

and managing director Steve Marsh moves to the role of chairman. Engineering director and founding board member Paul Marsh becomes chief operating officer BES, which has offices in Milton Keynes and Rochdale, says the changes are to support continued profitable growth as it takes on more engineering-led projects. The company delivers through a team of 180

Max Windich (centre) with Howes Percival partners Andy Harris and Paula Dumbill

Clockwise (from top left): Ivone Joaquim; Ann Summerling; Danielle Austin; Kerry Gibbs

Associates celebrate career rise

aw firm Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors has announced four promotions among its staff. Private client solicitor Ivone Joaquim and personal injury specialist Ann Summerling become senior associates. Danielle Austin becomes an associate solicitor

in company commercial and personal injury solicitor Kerry Gibbs is promoted to associate. She joined the firm in 2011. Ms Summerling has worked for Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors since 2016, Ms Austin qualified as a solicitor in 2019 and Ms Joaquim arrived in 2020.

n Company commercial and commercial property specialist Kim Sayer (pictured) has been promoted to associate solicitor at law firm Neves LLP. “The firm is delighted to recognise Kim’s talent and commitment,” says managing partner Stewart Matthews. “Her well-deserved promotion will further strengthen and develop our very experienced and dynamic commercial team.”

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

ehicle manufacturer Scania UK has appointed Mark Oliver as its new bus, coach and power solutions sales director. He has worked his way through the ranks at the company since joining as an apprentice instructor in 1995 and has also worked as general manager for bus and coach fleet sales and as senior technical instructor and technical and training manager at Scania UK’s training facility in Loughborough.

turnkey consultancy, engineering, design, and construction for controlled environments. Steve Marsh said: “The company is well-positioned to achieve our vision of becoming the leading and largest multi-disciplinary specialist in the cGMP facility consultancy, design and delivery sector. The changes to our board and the addition of Zeb to our leadership team will enable us to do that.”

“He is a hugely experienced leader and brings the best out of the teams that work with him,” says Vincente Connolly, Scania UK’s executive sales director. Mr Oliver pictured replaces Martin West, who has left Scania UK after 31 years. “To be successful in this role requires three main things; building customer relationships, trust and nurturing long-lasting partnerships,” he says.

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Specialist signs on the dotted line

ontracts lawyer Max Windich is a specialist in the IT, technology, life sciences and academic sectors. Now he has brought his expertise to the Milton Keynes office of regional law firm Howes Percival. Mr Windich has run his own legal consultancy, Windich Legal, for the past six years advising clients across the Thames Valley. He worked

as an extension to the inhouse expertise of several key organisations after leaving his previous employer Penningtons Manches. Mr Windich is the latest in a series of senior hires by Howes Percival. “There is real momentum behind the national expansion of our commercial team,” says Andy Harris, partner and head of the CCB department.

Client dedication earns promotion

eal estate specialist Kirsty Chalkley and corporate lawyer Aleks Bosch are among seven promotions to partner announced by national law firm Shoosmiths. The two work out of its office in Central Milton Keynes. Shoosmiths has also announced nine promotions

to legal director and 22 to principal associate. Chairperson Peter Duff says: “They have shown an exceptional dedication to clients, great commerciality and drive. “We have an exceptional level of talent and we are committed to nurturing and developing that.”

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Business MK

July 2022

Networking The business networking events this month across Milton Keynes, North Bucks and Bedfordshire

Networking lunch. AYLESBURY 2nd Tuesday 12 noon-2pm: Online MILTON KEYNES 2nd Thursday 12 noon-2pm: Online BUCKINGHAM 3rd Tuesday 12 noon-2pm: Online CAPPUCCINO CONNECTIONS 4th Thursday 10am-12 noon: Online Contact: Anna Atkins-Carter, regional director North Bucks / West Chilterns. 07540 097776, email anna.atkinscarter@theathenanetwork.com or visit www.theathenanetwork.com BEDFORD 2nd Wednesday 12 noon-2pm: Online SOUTH & EAST BEDFORDSHIRE 4th Tuesday 12 noon-2pm: Online WOBURN 3rd Thursday 12 noon-2pm: Online

events meet face-to-face, allowing visitors to build better, more robust relationships. These are complemented by regional virtual events.

More information: www.bni.co.uk Airport

All Business Buzz events run 10am-noon

More information: www.bni.co.uk

BRACKLEY 1st Thursday: Plough Pub & Kitchen, High Street

same or better results? Price: £30 IoD members; non-members £50. To book, contact Tania Toriello at tania.toriello@ iod.com. For more on IoD events, visit www.iod.com.

PIONEER Wednesday 9.30am: Online meetings

MILTON KEYNES 3rd Friday: Revolucion de Cuba, Savoy Crescent, 12th Street BEDFORD 1st Wednesday: George & Dragon, Mill Street BIGGLESWADE 2nd Wednesday: Yorkshire Grey, London Road Price: £6, payable in advance on the Business Buzz Booking App https://app.business-buzz. org/app or at the event.

July 13 12 noon-2.30pm: Maaya, The Hub, Central Milton Keynes Sponsors: Document Logistix; EMW; Pinders Networking in a relaxed environment with exceptional Indian cuisine. Price: £25. Find out more at www.thelondoncurryclub.com

EAST MIDLANDS 1st Friday: Online. Price: £10

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

MILTON KEYNES VIRTUAL NETWORKING July 8 10am-11am: Online. Hosted by Daxa Patel. Free event.

Business networking and referral group. Price: £6.

CHERWELL & NORTH BUCKS July 20 10am-11am: Online Networking forum for entrepreneurs, the self-employed and small businesses. Hosted by business owner and FSB member Justin Charlton-Jones. Free event. To book on to FSB events, visit www.fsb.org.uk

MILTON KEYNES 2nd Thursday, 7.30am-9.30am: Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two Mile Ash VIRTUAL NETWORKING Tuesday Brunch 2nd Tuesday, 9.30am-11am Wednesday Breakfast 4th Wednesday, 7.30am Thursday Breakfast 3rd Thursday, 7.30am

Breakfast networking online and face to face. 1st + 3rd Friday, 7am Monthly dinner event. For more information. Email yvonne@4unoworries.com

Friday Breakfast 2nd Friday, 7.30am CONNECT OVER COFFEE July 12 10am-11.15am: Online Networking event. Free event. MEET THE NEIGHBOURS NETWORKING BREAKFAST July 19 7.45am-10am: Wyboston Lakes Hotel Networking event co-hosted with Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce - face to face for the first time in two years. Speaker: Paul Salmon, senior project manager at National Highways A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements. Mr Salmon will discuss the proposed route improvements between the Black Cat roundabout and Caxton Gibbet roundabout which will see a ten-mile dual carriageway and junction improvements. Mr Salmon will show and talk through the proposed route upgrade, where we are in the process, timings and how it will benefit your business. Price: £25 + VAT Chamber members only. To book on to Chamber events, visit www.chamber-business.com/events

July 12, 26 7.45am: Online meetings. More information: www.bucks-fizz.biz

THE ACCOUNTABILITY CIRCLE Monday 10am-11am: Online A regular virtual meeting helping small businesses get tasks from ‘to do’ to ‘done’. Advice and tips on time management and productivity. Price: £6 per session or £12 per month.

Business MK

July 2022

BEST PRACTICE July 6 2pm-4.30pm: The Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine Focus on best practice. Speakers tbc. Free event for Green Business Network members. To book, visit www.greenbusinessnetwork.co.uk

More information: www.buscomm.co.uk

Alt. Fridays 7am: Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two Mile Ash Networking breakfast with speaker. Price: £15. Contact: www.businessgrowthclub.co.uk or Mark Orr 07903 655169

If you are serious about growing your business, BNI works. Last year BNI members in the UK generated more than £482 million worth of business for each other. To find out how, visit a local chapter meeting and see for yourself. Each chapter has a personality of its own and finding where you fit best helps you get connected. DIAMOND Tuesday 6.45am: Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two Mile Ash APOLLO Wednesday 10am: MK Gallery

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

To book on to Chamber events, visit www.chambermk.co.uk/events

BEDFORDSHIRE 4th Tuesday: Online

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

July 20 7.45am-9.15am: The Bedfordshire Golf Club, Stagsden 3rd Wednesday of the month (exc. August), Speaker tbc. Contact: Kerry Ransby email kransby@woodfines.co.uk or visit www. bedfordbreakfastclub.co.uk

SPEED NETWORKING July 6 11am-1pm: Kingfisher Golf & Country Club, Deanshanger Networking event. Price: £15 + VAT Chamber members only.

PHOENIX Friday 9.45am: The Bedford Golf Club ENCORE Friday 6.45am: Holiday Inn London Luton

BUILDING BACK BETTER - CARROT OR STICK? July 8 12 noon-2.30pm: The Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames Quarterly business lunch hosted by the IoD Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Berkshire branches. Speaker: Dr Roger Barker, the IoD’s director of policy and corporate governance. The IoD is currently advocating a range of initiatives (the Better Business Act, a Voluntary Code of Conduct for Directors) aimed at encouraging companies and directors to do the right thing whether in terms of achieving net zero, treating employees and suppliers fairly or conducting due diligence of supply chains. Dr Barker will discuss the best way to make a real difference to business conduct. oes UK business need a more robust regulatory framework which enforces higher standards? Or can a business-led approach based on the dissemination of best practices achieve the

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 EVERYONE SELLS! July 26 5.30pm-7pm: Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce office, Northampton Personal development event,. Presenter: Julie Futcher, The Sales Ace. Free event for Next Generation Chamber members. To book, email info@ nextgenerationchamber.co.uk For more information, visit www. nextgenerationchamber.co.uk

12 noon-2pm, networking lunch. Bedford & Ampthill 1st Tuesday: The Swan Hotel, The Embankment, Bedford / Online Leighton Buzzard 3rd Wednesday: The Dukes, Heath & Reach / Online Luton 2nd Monday: South Beds Golf Club, Warden Hills Road / Online Sandy & Biggleswade 1st Wednesday: Stratton House Hotel, Biggleswade Contact: Louise Yexley on 07989 020647, email louise.yexley@wibn.co.uk or visit www.wibn.co.uk Milton Keynes 1st Tuesday: The Brasserie at Milton Keynes College, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley Contact: Edith Samambwa on 07802 581838, email edith.samambwa@wibn.co.uk or visit www.wibn.co.uk

SUMMER NETWORKING PICNIC July 13 12.30pm: Venue tbc Free event for WiE members; non-members/ guests £5. Picnic boxes available to order at £20, created by Candice Cook of Cooks Kitchen. To book, visit www.womeninenterprise.co.uk

To have your networking group’s events included in future editions of Business MK, email details to news@businessmk.co.uk For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

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Our retainer marketing services include content writing, email campaigns, social media management, search engine marketing and more... Qoob Group provide you with the power of a full marketing team for a fraction of the cost of employing staff inhouse.

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

To find out how we can help you improve your marketing, scan the QR code and book a marketing consultation.

Scan me! Give us a call on 03303 801 651

Business MK

July 2022

In the Community

Advice groups merge to boost employment support

wo charitable organisations are set to complete a merger to tackle the rising number of residents seeking advice and support on rights at work, redundancy and finding a job. Enquiries to Citizens Advice Milton Keynes have risen by 28 per cent in the past two years, prompting plans to merge with the specialist employability charity Works For Us. It has been helping people to make informed choices about employment and training needs and providing them with a pathway to paid or better paid work since 1978. “We are in the final stages of completing a merger with Works for Us which we think will bring the best

of both charities’ expertise together to support people who want to find more stable and satisfying jobs but who may lack confidence or need support to develop their skills,” says Citizens Advice Milton Keynes director Ben Thomas inset. Works For Us chair Alexa Wilkinson pictured adds: “This has been a long and complex process but both organisations totally believe it is absolutely the right decision for both organisations. Works for Us has served the Milton Keynes community since 1978, and it is important to

state Works for Us will not disappear. “The services we have provided are still available and will be enhanced due to the services provided by Citizens Advice MK. We look forward to continuing to help and support the community of Milton Keynes now and in the future.” The merger comes as Citizens Advice Milton Keynes marks its 50th anniversary. During that time, says Mr Thomas, the organisation has helped more than 500,000 people to solve almost two million separate problems -

with no sign of a let-up in demand for the service. “There is a sense of real achievement,” he adds. “The last ten years have seen some enormous challenges to fund the organisation and keep it going and that is a huge worry, especially when we know so many people in MK have relied on us and will continue to need our help as the cost of living crisis starts to bite.” With an eye on the year ahead, the focus now is on delivering more help through a range of new services and channels developed during the pandemic. “We help people with the issues that affect their day-to-day lives, such as debt problems, claiming benefits

or preventing them from becoming homeless,” says Mr Thomas. “Covid has also disrupted so many things that were stable in people’s lives before the pandemic like their jobs and the way they now work.” Like any charity, Citizens Advice Milton Keynes relies on grants, donations, and charitable giving to fund its work and is keen to seek support from local businesses in future. “We are not an obvious charity,” says Mr Thomas. “Lots of people think we are a government agency or part of the council or job centre. We are not. We rely as much on people’s generosity and support as hospices or humanitarian causes do.”

Volunteers urged to sign up for hospice

usinesses across Milton Keynes have been carrying out vital work to help Willen Hospice behind the scenes, particularly in its retail outlets. Volunteers from local companies have been carrying out tasks ranging from sorting donations to merchandising stores. In the past year alone, 93 volunteers have given up 425 hours in total, representing significant cost savings for the hospice. “When the public kindly donate goods to us, we can only resell these items as fast as we can sort and process them on to our shop floor,” says associate director of commercial Mark Rawlins. “Volunteers are invaluable. Businesses tell us that their colleagues find volunteering helpful in getting to know each other outside of work. It is a chance for them to develop a range of leadership and problem-solving skills in a neutral environment.” Often, having seen at first hand the challenges facing the hospice, businesses find other ways to give support - donating their end of line stock, nominating Willen Hospice as their chosen charity, match funding or sponsoring events. A team from IT distributor Ingram Micro pictured in Milton Keynes volunteered in the Willen Hospice Grafton Gate Clearance Store. Network Rail, which

manages the nation’s rail infrastructure, allows its staff to take five days volunteer leave. A group of colleagues spent a day sorting donations for the hospice. Nine colleagues from the digital marketing team at Volkswagen UK also volunteered for a day at the hospice’s clearance store. “Experiencing what goes on behind the scenes, the scale of the back-office operation and what happens to all the donations from the public was an eye opener,” says digital marketing manager Marianne Bearton. “Volkswagen offers their employees a special volunteer day to help their local community which is an awesome opportunity.” A total 70 volunteers have given up to 120 hours a week at the hospice’s vaccination clinics. The hospice receives £10 per volunteer - “a fantastic source of additional funds for us,” says community fundraising manager Nikki Poole. Willen Hospice receives from the NHS only 18 per cent of the funding it needs to operate for a year. The rest comes from fundraising. “The work that corporate volunteers do for us behind the scenes is a vital resource,” says chief executive Peta Wilkinson. n To find out more about volunteering. email corporate@willen-hospice. org.uk

(from left) Jan Flawn; her son Neil Russell, chairman of PJ Care; Mayor of Milton Keynes Cllr Amanda Marlow; Colleen Brothers, registered manager at Bluebirds

Founder reflects on 21 years of specialist care

taff, guests and families of former residents joined the celebrations as specialist care provider PJ Care marked the 21st anniversary of opening its first care centre. The company offers care for adults with progressive neurological conditions and was the brainchild of former nurse Jan Flawn, who identified the need for an age-appropriate environment for people with young onset dementia. Up to then, the only option for people who developed neurological conditions before the age of 65 was to be cared for in hospital or alongside the elderly in a care home. Bluebirds care centre opened at Shenley Lodge in 2001, offering 22 beds which were filled within a matter of months. PJ Care now also operates Mallard House in Grange Farm and the Eagle Wood care centre in Peterborough. The centres provide care and rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injuries and employ close to 600 staff. Jan retired from the business five

years ago. It is now in the hands of her son Neil Russell. “It has been the most wonderful event,” says Jan. “I cannot believe it’s been 21 years since I started PJ Care. Neil and the entire team have done the most wonderful job in keeping our original values of care, compassion and commitment, not just towards the residents but the staff too. We are like one big family.” Jan started PJ Care because of the frustrations of not being able to provide the care she felt her patients needed. “We did not have time to look after them properly,” she recalls. “They did not just need us to care for their physical needs, they needed us emotionally. That was especially true of people with neurological conditions; they were just people in beds and that was not good enough for me. Her son Neil left his career in the Diplomatic Service to join Jan at PJ Care. He has expanded the service to its three centres today, with plans to create a new centre at Eagle Wood near Wavendon later this year and another

planned for Northamptonshire. “I am incredibly proud of Mum and what she has achieved,” he says. “We worked side by side in the beginning. I would help out showering residents, covering shifts in the kitchen, even cleaning toilets if that was what was needed to get the job done. “I am thrilled to be able to carry on what she created and although she is retired now, I still discuss board papers with her and ask her opinion.” Among the guests at the party was Linda Germano, a lead carer at Bluebirds and PJ Care’s longest serving member of staff having been with the company for 19 years. “I started as a kitchen assistant, the only one we had back in 2003,” Linda says. “When they asked to me do a food hygiene course, I told Jan I would have to leave because my literacy skills were not very good but she just told me not to be silly. She supported me all the way, brought in reading support and I will never forget the night I went home and was able to read a bedtime story to my daughter.”

Community boat casts off in appeal for new crew and land staff

olunteers who run cruises along the Grand Union Canal aboard the Electra community boat are looking for more to join their number. Electra already has 52 volunteers but more are

Business MK

July 2022

needed as demand for cruises this year has doubled since the boat was launched last year. Electra is the all electric community canal boat run by volunteers from the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust.

“Electra volunteers work as one big team to create and deliver a range of enjoyable cruises on the Grand Union Canal,” says volunteer chair Jane Wolfson. “Some people crew the boat, others work behind the scenes

and some people do a bit of both.” n Find out more at www. bmkwaterway.org/electra/ volunteering or email the team on volunteers.electra@ bmkwaterway.org

For local business news visit www.BusinessMK.co.uk

Q&A

Feature: Q&A A feature in which business people discuss their motivation, ambition, experience - and themselves. First up is business coach, consultant and just-published author Della Judd.

Business coach and consultant Della Judd worked in senior corporate leadership roles for more than 25 years before setting up her own business three years ago. She has just published her new book Get the Job You Really Want… in a Post-pandemic World. “Too often we choose jobs over health or careers over our families. I know - I did,” she says. “We can be successful in business and have a good life too.”

My dream... Best seller status and a home by the sea What was your first job? A shoe shop assistant as a Saturday girl. My first proper job was as a customer services assistant in the electricity industry.

be in a role where you don’t feel aligned so if I can help others achieve that then I will be happy. If I can make bestseller status on the way then all the better.

Why did you choose your particular career? I don’t think I did choose at first. But I found that I had a skill in customer service and dealing with people.

…and your life ambition? To live by the sea. I have a dream to have a place in Whitstable in Kent and then in the winter to go to somewhere warmer.

What has been the highlight of your career so far? Being promoted to director after a gruelling selection process was pretty intense but I have just published my very first business book and that feels like the real highlight because it is all my own work. …and the low point? Being made redundant while I was pregnant. The world has, thankfully, progressed a little now.

What’s your guilty pleasure? I love Strictly - all the glitz, glam and I love the inspirational stories glitz and glam when you see the progress. Although of Strictly... I don’t really feel and I don’t guilty about it…

feel guilty

What’s the best advice you’ve received in business? At the start of my career someone said: “Always do the job of the person above you then when an opportunity arises you’ll already be noticed”. I did that and it worked! Who in business do you respect the most? I respect anyone who puts themselves out there and tries something different.

RESTAURANT Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden

What annoys you the most in business? I hate it when people forget things or don’t deliver. It wastes other people’s time to have to repeat yourself at the start of a meeting and when you don’t deliver, you’re holding up everyone else.

DESTINATION Theatre night in London always good!

What’s your career ambition? To help as many people as possible to get the job they really want. I know what it is like to

Della Judd

MY FAVOURITE...

BOOK No End To Yesterday, by Shelagh McDonald. FOOD Chocolate

MUSIC/SONG ELO Mr Bluesky FILM Love Actually TV PROGRAMME Line of Duty

For the latest business news from across Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire,

visit the new-look Business MK and Business2Business website at www.businessmk.co.uk or scan the QR code...

To feature or comment email: news@businessmk.co.uk

How do you relax? I love yoga - it helps me to get back to a calm spot. If it is nice outside, I’ll try to do some gardening. I say try because my results are a bit hit and miss.

What’s your most treasured possession? Interesting question, I don’t go for lots of trinkets and ‘things’ but if I had to rescue an item from a fire, I’d grab my wedding album. We have just celebrated 23 years married so that is worth keeping. Tell us something you regret. I regret not looking after my health earlier. I suffered with chronic migraines and burn-out earlier in my career and I kept powering through. I wasted a lot of time being ill. Tell us a secret about yourself. I’m very secretive… What are the first three things on your bucket list? I’ve just done one of them- to do a rock climbing course. Another two are to spend the winter in Ibiza and go to the Cheltenham Literary Festival.

Plus...

Post your job vacancies, promote a business event or find the expert your business is looking for in our comprehensive business directory. Business MK

July 2022

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