Business MK May 2025

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Jobs saved as retailer exits administration

Business restructuring experts in Milton Keynes have completed the sale of national soft furnishings retailer Julian Charles after the company entered administration.

A total 230 of 251 jobs have been saved as a result of the acquisition by Great Bedding Co Ltd of Julian Charles’ parent company Rectella Ltd’s business and assets.

Insolvency firm FTS Recovery’s team based at Knowlhill completed the prepack sale in an accelerated marketing process after its directors Marco Piacquadio and Alan Coleman were appointed as joint administrators.

“This was a relatively complex transaction with significant scale and the ability to move quickly was key,” said Marco (inset). “I am grateful to have achieved a really pleasing result given the circumstances and we wish the new owners and remaining staff and stakeholders the very best.”

Julian Charles was founded in Lancashire in 1947. Legal advice was provided by HCR Law. Marketing was handled by John Pye Auctioneers and Valuers.

n FTS directors Marco Piacquadio and Alan Coleman have also completed the sale of in-administration online fashion brand In the Style, saving 87 jobs.

The new owner is Alps Sourcing, which has taken over the business after administrators were appointed in March.

Sustainability first as staff go carbon literate

Its commitment to reduce its carbon emissions, to play its part in tackling climate change and to work towards a zero carbon future has earned Silver Carbon Literate Organisation status for Volkswagen Group UK.

More than 200 staff at the company’s head office in Milton Keynes are already certified as carbon literate, having completed voluntary carbon literate training on a scheme that VW Group UK has run since 2022.

The business runs a bespoke Automotive Carbon Literacy programme for its workforce which educates and engages delegates to play their part in enhancing sustainability. It is among the UK group’s commitments under VW Group’s worldwide regenerate+ ESG strategy.

The programme is run by Leanne Thomas, VW Group UK’s head of aftersales business development. “I am delighted to see the growing interest, engagement and excitement around the topic,” she said. “Having support from members of our board of management has really helped us to move this forwards, especially in allowing colleagues time and ‘permission’ to take part and then to fulfil their pledges.”

A Carbon Literate Organisation is one accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project as having and maintaining a substantial proportion of its workforce as ‘Carbon Literate’ and demonstrating carbon literacy through its organisational behaviour.

CLO accreditation is a tiered system with bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels, requiring increasing levels of commitment to action on climate change and creating a low-carbon culture.

Volkswagen AG worldwide was the first

major automotive company to commit itself to the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement and has developed a groupwide decarbonisation programme.

Leanne said: “We are really proud of the accreditation but even more proud of the changes we are making and the impact it is having on our carbon footprint. We are looking forward to continuing to do more and grateful for the guidance and support of the Carbon Literacy Project team.”

n VW Group UK’s Automotive Carbon Literacy programme is a one-day training course on the science and impacts of climate change, actions to combat it and how the automotive industry is affecting climate change. To earn a Carbon Literate certificate, delegates have to make a professional and a personal pledge which is then tracked and monitored.

This has already involved employees switching energy suppliers, changing travel and eating habits, reducing fast fashion and changing numerous products to more sustainable suppliers.

Professionally, departments have increased their use of HVO fuels and LED lighting, fleet electrification, solar panel installation, a significant reduction of printed materials and the removal of single use cups.

Small business champion joins late payment forum debate

The UK’s Small Business Commissioner is to meet businesses from Milton Keynes to discuss the ongoing challenges by ongoing late payment of invoices. Liz Barclay (inset) is to join an online round table at which business owners and organisations will share their experiences and concerns and discuss solutions to tackle the ongoing issue of late payment. “Embedding a culture of fair payment practices in your business is good for your own bottom line as well as for the economy, communities and wider society,” she said.

Marco Piacquadio

Acquisition powers up growth plans

Decisions by both the UK government and the European Union to increase spending on defence has created significant growth opportunities for an electrical equipment supplier based in Newport Pagnell.

AMP Power Protection supplies uninterruptible power supplies to the defence sector as well as working with customers in the marine, energy and transport industries.

Now it has made a move to capitalise on the change in global markets by completing an acquisition deal by Swedish technical solutions specialist Addtech Nordic AB, part if the Swedishlisted Addtech AB group.

The UK government’s Cabinet Office has cleared the deal under the National Security and Investment Act.

AMP Power Protection is now part of the Celltech Group, part of the Addtech Electrification division, which supplies and

Manufacturer joins Swedish technology specialist’s expanding UK battery supply division

manufactures batteries. The acquisition is part of the Celltech Group’s UK expansion plans. The company will continue to develop technology at its base in the iCentre, Howard Way, as a part of the battery systems unit across the defence, marine, and transport sectors.

Addtech had been looking to expand in the electrical and battery sector and saw AMP Power Protection as a perfect fit.

AMP Power Protection’s chief executive Andy Parfitt said: “Joining Celltech Group is a significant step for our team. We are looking forward to the opportunities ahead, especially the chance to work more closely within a wider network and bring our products to new

The Small Business Commissioner is a leading voice in the campaign for fairer payment practices and will outline the Fair Payment Code, a government-backed initiative awarding businesses for ethical payment practice.

The meeting has been organised by Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce, whose head of policy Simon Cox will chair the forum. It takes place on May 23, 8.30am9.30am. “By coming together for this important dialogue, the region’s business community can help shape a fairer future where prompt payment is the standard, not the exception,” said Simon.

n The event is co-hosted with Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and membership group NNBN, which holds a gold Fair Payment Code award. For registration information and tickets, visit nnbn.co.uk/events

markets as part of a well-established, international group.”

The deal was brokered by Northampton-based corporate finance specialists Watersheds after partners were brought in by AMP Power Protection to find a buyer willing and able to grow the business.

The acquisition was led by Watersheds partner Jessica Painter.

“This transaction is yet another example of how Watersheds consistently delivers results beyond expectations,” she said. “Despite being a boutique firm, we have the expertise and network to engage with large, international, cash-rich buyers, ensuring that our clients receive the best possible outcome.

“Our tailored approach and deep understanding of APPL’s growth trajectory allowed us to time the sale perfectly, maximising shareholder value.”

Andy Parfitt (centre) with Watersheds partners Jessica Painter and Josh Jones

Celltech Group’s chief executive Peter Andersson said: “We are pleased to welcome AMP Power Protection into the Celltech Group. Their strong track record in power protection and proven sector experience will allow us to provide even more value to our industrial customers across multiple sectors.”

We’re more than just legal experts. We’re trusted advisers who take the time to really understand

Milton Keynes’ Leading B2B Growth Expo Returns this June

It is happening… THE business exhibition event of the year for Milton Keynes: Your Business Expo Milton Keynes 2025 The date: June 5. The venue: The Ridgeway Centre, Wolverton Mill.

Your Business Expo creates opportunities for businesses to reach, engage and connect; for quality sales leads, to meet key decision-makers and to increase awareness of your business brand. Around 100 exhibitors, including the leading, brightest and fastest-growing organisations across Milton Keynes and the region, have confirmed their place and hundreds of visitors are already registered to join us on the day.

Your Business Expo begins bright and early with some sparkling networking over breakfast, led by our friends at the regional networking powerhouse Business Buzz. Then comes the main event: Your Business Expo, which is open 10am-3pm.

Our headline sponsor is the digital marketing specialist Qoob, with IT support specialist Dragon Information Systems, city radio station MKFM and mobile, landline and data solutions provider Talk UK Telecom as expo sponsors.

Your Business Expo Milton Keynes is hosted by Pulse Group Media - publisher of the area’s leading business publication Business MK and its sister lifestyle title MK Pulse.

Director Martin Lewis-Stevenson said: “Interest in being part of the show – either as an exhibitor or as a visitor – has been off the scale. Your Business Expo is now an established and indemand brand that is meeting the appetite of organisations to meet, connect and engage.”

n Visit yourbusinessexpo.co.uk to find out more, book your place at the networking breakfast and register for your free visitor tickets. Or email admin@yourbusinessexpo.co.uk

Published in association with

Be well connected in your workplace

In today’s office landscape, flexibility is key. Businesses no longer need to commit to rigid leases that do not suit their evolving needs. Instead, they require adaptable workspaces that streamline with them.

At Witan Studios, we specialise in providing modern, scalable workspace solutions designed to support businesses at every stage of their journey.

Solifi, a global, cloud-based finance technology company, found the perfect solution with Witan Studios.

Solifi required a workspace reflective of their company culture and their evolving needs; a smaller, modern workspace in central Milton Keynes built for efficient collaboration. “Witan ticked the boxes as it was the right size, had space for larger meetings, was in a great location, had good facilities and a modern feel.”

Witan’s onsite team takes care of building logistics so companies can concentrate on growth and productivity. “Having the Witan management team on site allows us to focus on what we need to and removes the distractions of running an office.”

The café, gym, and weekly food truck have become standout features, for Solifi. “Since taking the space a year ago, we are rebuilding the office culture with a regular cadence of staff attending each week which in turn allows for great collaboration between departments.”

Location is everything and a wellconnected workspace is essential. “The most important change is the location which has allowed us to make more of

in

n Witan’s flexible lease options and personal approach allows businesses to evolve their space as their workforce fluctuates. Whether businesses want to scale up, attract new recruits or improve workplace culture, Witan’s here to support you.

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Changing the perception of the city

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival will once again put the city on the world stage over ‘Ten Amazing Days’ this summer

Its impact on Milton Keynes in both social and economic terms is significant.

Two years ago, IF: Milton Keynes International Festival left an estimated economic impact of £6.7 million, with media attention from all over the world producing an estimated £41 million worth of PR.

IF 2025 is anticipated to be similarly meaningful, with thousands of visitors expected to arrive in the city to experience the thought-provoking, inspiring and reflective installations and performances over ‘Ten Amazing Days’ in July.

The festival has drawn more than a million visitors to Milton Keynes since its debut in 2010 and received the EFFE Label 2024/2025 after the 2023 event, recognising IF as one of Europe’s most remarkable festivals. It is the second time the Festival has secured the prestigious accolade, having done so previously after the 2016 festival.

“The impact was immense, particularly

in terms of community engagement,” said IF festival director Monica Ferguson. “It changes perceptions of the city and creates a focus for positive action. Making people feel proud to live in Milton Keynes is definitely an outcome of this festival.”

She was speaking at the City Breakfast Club networking meeting in Milton Keynes, updating her business audience on the festival’s programme so far, the legacy of previous IFs and its status on the global arts stage.

centre:mk’s Middleton Hall is to host the international arts for peace installation Les Columbes, a flock of white doves made from paper and suspended ‘in flight’ from the centre’s ceiling. The work is to be shown only three times this year; it will also be installed in Kyiv and New York. IF is inviting residents of Milton Keynes to be part of the installation by making some of the paper doves. It is preparing kits and instructions to those interested in participating. “Community engagement is a huge part of what we do between

“Hopefully we demonstrate the power of the arts to ask people to think differently about the world.”

festivals,” said Monica. ”We want the Milton Keynes installation to be a citywide one and we are encouraging people to make doves to show how much they feel about peace in the world.”

The Open University is to host the initial exhibition of Mars, a work by sculptor Luke Jerram who created the Gaia installation depicting planet Earth for the IF festival in 2021.

The Spiegeltent returns to Campbell Park where it will host a list of musicians, comedians and other performances, including music from The Selecter and Rochford and comedy from Lou Sanders. Around half of the programme, which runs from July 18 until July 27, is free to attend.

It costs around £1.5 million to stage, said Monica, with public funding contributing £0.75 million. The rest comes from sponsorship, ticket sales and other private support.

“Investment in the arts is slow in Milton Keynes, still below the national average,” Monica said. The Stables Theatre in Wavendon, which produces the festival and of which Monica is also chief executive, has received no increase in funding from Arts Council England since 2014. ACE and Milton Keynes Council are the principal supporters of IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2025.

“It is a festival that creates a sense of joy but which also asks people to think more deeply about the world’s more complex problems,” said Monica. “The festival is great fun but hopefully we also demonstrate the power of the arts to convey complex messages and to ask people to think differently about the world.

“It uses the city as a stage and invites everyone to experience something new and unexplored.”

Investors complete acquisitions as market appetite increases

Commercial property consultancy

Kirkby Diamond’s industrial and logistics team has completed the sales of four warehouse units in deals worth a total of more than £12 million.

The properties include a research and development headquarters at Tilbrook, home of Formula One’s Red Bull Racing.

Tilbrook 36, a 36,067 sq ft unit at Sherbourne Drive has been acquired from a private investment company by an unnamed buyer in the technology sector. It achieved a figure close to the £6 million asking price. Kirkby Diamond acted as joint agent with Brasier Freeth.

A local investor has acquired

the freehold of a 11,705 sq ft unit in Presley Way, the former base of engineering company Straubli UK for an undisclosed sum.

At Houghton Regis, Dunstable, engineering company Kolbus UK has sold its 22,000 sq ft industrial unit for close to the £2.75 million asking price.

Monica Ferguson (right) with City Breakfast Club host Liz Newell of MHA (centre) and IF: Milton Keynes International Festival executive director Cat Moore

Andrew Gibbs joined delegates at a MyMiltonKeynes BID forum to discuss business resilience in the event of a major incident.

Be prepared... and be ready to respond

Milton Keynes has taken a major step towards becoming the first city in the UK to declare itself ‘Ready to Respond’ in the event of a major incident.

Businesses, industry leaders and the emergency services have put enhancing the city’s resilience and readiness to act front and centre at a forum organised by MyMiltonKeynes Business Improvement District.

Delegates heard from experts including Thames Valley Police and Counter Terrorism Policing South East, each of whom outlined how best to prepare for unexpected emergencies. They also highlighted important national initiatives such as ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) and SCaN (See, Check and Notify).

Chief Inspector Matt Sulley, of Thames Valley Police in Milton Keynes, said the force was looking to improve community resilience and is keen to start conversations with businesses, other organisations and individuals.

“We want to make sure we as a city are as resilient as we can be. If something major happens, it will affect a much wider audience than just one business. The impact can be massive.”

Emergency services typically take between ten and 15 minutes to respond to an initial emergency call. “It is rare that we are on the scene immediately,” said Matt. “It is likely that you or your staff will be first on the scene so we encourage you to think about how to support your team and the community.”

That might take the form of having trained first aiders among employees. “Think about what your business can do to be ready. That is what we want to start a conversation about.”

Matt’s colleague Sgt Rob Duffy outlined the work of Project Servator in tackling “hostile” activity in Milton Keynes. “It is not all about terrorism,” he said. “We are also talking about organised crime, shoplifting, gang activity.”

Project Servator launched last year and is designed to deter and detect criminal activity through unpredictable, high-visibility police deployments. The approach sees police, businesses, other stakeholders and the public working together to create a network of vigilance to disrupt “hostile reconnaissance”information-gathering and planning by criminals. It was developed and tested by

security experts at the National Protective Security Authority, in partnership with the City of London Police. It has led to arrests and is responsible for removing firearms, knives and drugs from the streets.

“We want businesses and the public to be our eyes and ears,” said Rob. “We cannot work in isolation. Businesses, their staff and security have a vital role to play. We rely on your support and vigilance.

“We want the criminals to worry that it is not only the police looking out for suspicious activity.”

Professor Sir Keith Porter, co-founder of the charity CitizenAID and one of the UK’s leading experts in clinical traumatology, spoke about the critical importance of immediate first aid following a major incident. CitizenAID is advocating for a shift in official guidance from ‘Run, Hide, Tell’ to ‘Run, Hide, Tell – and When It’s Safe, Treat’. It requires the public to be ready to provide lifesaving treatment once it is safe to do so rather than waiting for emergency services to arrive.

CitizenAID has created a free app containing first aid information and training and is working with schools, focusing on students aged 11-12 and training teachers to pass on the information and skills to their classes.

“This is very real,” said Sir Keith. “This is the age group affected most by stabbing at the moment and we need to get into these and other age groups too.”

MyMiltonKeynes BID’s chief executive Jill Farnsworth said: “The reality is that emergencies can occur anywhere. It is far better to be prepared and ready to respond than to be forced to learn difficult lessons after the fact.”

n Find out more at mymiltonkeynes. co.uk/ready-to-respond.

Sir Keith Porter

Reaction from people on the ground is really important

Think back to the summer of 2022 and the heatwave that pushed the thermometer close to 40 degrees Centigrade. An urban wildfire ignited in Milton Keynes, one of a sequence of blazes across the South East.

The crisis stretched fire services across the region. Many called neighbouring services for support which they could not provided as they tackled wildfires of their own. In Milton Keynes, houses were under threat, in particular 40 which had to be evacuated amid fears that the wildfire might spread.

Last year, emergency services had to deal with the aftermath of a period of abnormally heavy rainfall. Half a metre fell on Bow Brickhill in just four days, overwhelming the drainage system and flooding businesses and homes.

Emergency services used dinghies to rescue people trapped by the floodwater.

“These incidents demonstrate that there will be times when individuals and communities have to look after themselves initially for a period until

Joe McMahon

Our team was ready. She is alive today as a result

The dance floor is a mass of bodies swaying in time to the music. A bottle slips from a hand in the moment, shattering on the floor. Seconds later, a girl slips and falls, landing on the broken glass. A shard pierces her leg, severing an artery. She is bleeding profusely.

Fully trained staff at the Pink Punters nightclub in Bletchley are on hand, however. First aid and medical treatment is administered and the girl’s life is saved. She could have bled to death without it.

“Our team was ready to respond and she is alive today as a result,” said paramedic Joe McMahon, whose family own the Pink Punters club. “We do not see a lot of incidents like that but on occasions we do see life-threatening injuries and when they do happen we need to be ready to respond.”

Joe is the man leading the Ready to Respond initiative, in partnership with the charity CitizenAID. Its mission is to provide businesses, other organisations, communities, families and individuals with access to simple training, basic equipment and easy-to-follow guidelines and, where these are not available,

empowering people to improvise in order to help save lives.

“Throughout my 40 years as a paramedic, I have responded to countless incidents both large and small where people and organisations were simply unprepared for the unfolding emergency.”

Ready to Respond provides information and training for the public to be able to administer first aid to the injured in the event of a major incident. “We needed something quick and simple and CitizenAID has that,” said Joe. “It is a really good system and it can be lowcost or no-cost so it is available for when budgets are small.”

The CitizenAID app is free to download and the charity also provides concertina cards with similar information.

“Having witnessed too many preventable deaths and unnecessary

“It will be people on the scene who save lives. It is really important people pick up these simple practical skills.”

assistance arrives,” said Chris Londy, emergency planning team leader at Milton Keynes City Council. “Reaction from people on the ground is really important in helping the emergency services to establish what is going on.”

The council is already working with communities to improve the city’s resilience. “We recognise the role that business can play.”

The starting point, he added, is the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum website thamesvalleylrf.org.uk which

provides help and advice. “You need to understand your local environment and the risks around its resources’ capability and vulnerability.”

Chris was taking part in a panel discussion at which major organisations in Milton Keynes, including centre:mk and Milton Keynes University Hospital, outlined their resilience strategies.

centre:mk has 150 businesses operating in the shopping centre, all on one level but with 18 entry and exit doors along its arcades. It welcomes 22 million visitors

suffering due to a lack of early, simple care such as controlling severe bleeding, I am passionate about ensuring that individuals, families, communities, organisations and businesses are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to respond effectively in a crisis,” said Joe.

“Our mission is to put together a system for Milton Keynes.”

Staff at Pink Punters deliver training and development programmes in schools and community groups across the city. “We train the teachers, the scout leaders, for example, and they then teach their groups,” said Joe. “It is simple, effective training.

“If a major incident happens, instead of having just four trained first aiders, you have 100 people who all know the basics of what to do. I want them to be ready to respond.

“In a major incident, it will be people on the scene there and then who save lives. It is really important that people pick up those simple practical skills through simple and effective training, equipment and procedures.”

a year. “To manage that through a crisis is a challenge,” said the centre’s head of operations Roger Young.

The centre runs a comprehensive training programme as part of its resilience planning to ensure its staff and tenants are up to speed with procedures. It promotes SCaN – See Check and Notify - and runs regular tests to check on its resilience capability.

“We cannot plan for every eventuality but the plans we have in place need to be clear and precise,” said Roger. “But it is not just about the plans; it is about recovering and what happens afterwards.”

Milton Keynes University Hospital is the first stop for the injured in the wake of a major incident. It has its own resilience plans in place and is always ready to respond.

But, said the hospital’s associate chief nurse Julie Orr, its 550 beds are always full and the hospital faces the challenge of moving those for whom a bed is not essential in order to accommodate incident victims.

The hospital currently has 100 patients awaiting their onward care package, she said. And essential services such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and mental health services have to be maintained.

“The hospital is a medium-sized hospital but we are challenged by our own size and we have to have business continuity in place.”

The panel (from left) Chris Londy, Julie Orr, Roger Young and Henry Parsons in conversation with BID chair Paul Davis, who chaired the discussion

Mayor hails a ‘landmark moment’ for the borough

Entertainment giant Universal’s plans to build a theme park and resort on the former brickworks site at Stewartby near Bedford have been given the green light by the government.

The project is expected to create 28,000 new jobs, generate billions in economic benefit and attract up to 12 million visitors a year to the area.

Bedford Borough Council has been working with Universal Destinations & Experiences, the government and regional stakeholders on the theme park plan for the past two years. Ministers have now given the proposed project the go-ahead, subject to planning approval.

If approved, the park is planned to open in 2031. Around 80% of its workforce will come from Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Bedford Borough’s Mayor Tom Wootton (inset) said: “This is a landmark moment for Bedford Borough.

Universal’s decision to proceed with its theme park and resort in the UK brings exciting opportunities to our doorstep – thousands of jobs, new training and career paths and a huge boost for local businesses.”

The development will be the first Universal-branded theme park and resort destination in Europe and will be part of a larger 476-acre entertainment resort complex.

The Mayor has pledged to work with Universal and other stakeholders to deliver the project.

“Bedford’s location is the perfect place for this investment – wellconnected, full of talent, and ready to grow,” he said.

The Universal entertainment resort complex is set to deliver sustainable, inclusive growth for the region, with high-quality employment, new education and training pathways, and long-term community benefits.

“It promises to make Bedford a leading destination for visitors and a key hub for business investment.”

Bedford Borough Council chief executive Laura Church said: “With continued sustainable growth, Bedford Borough is poised to become a mustvisit destination and a prime hub for business investment, driving growth for our community.”

Business leaders from across the region give their assessment of the potential benefits to the local and regional economy of entertainment giant Universal’s decision to build its first theme park in Europe on a former brickworks outside Bedford.

The rollercoaster ride is already under way

Bedfordshire is set for an exciting rollercoaster ride with new businesses, real estate developers and investors boosting the region’s economy as a result of the government’s announcement that the first Universal theme park in Europe will be built in the county. Commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond say that the news is already impacting property delays being negotiated now. Universal’s decision – subject

to planning approval – and the government’s go-ahead for London Luton Airport’s expansion plans is set to herald a once in a generation boost to the region’s commercial property market.

Kirkby Diamond believes the two announcements will spark a spike in interest from inward investors. Nathan George (inset), head of agency at its Bedford office, said: “The positive impacts on our town and surrounding regions will be huge. Thousands

The site (marked in red) of Universal’s proposed theme park and resort at Kempston Hardwick.

Photo: Kirkby Diamond of new jobs will be created along with exciting new training and career paths too. It will be a huge boost and Bedford is the perfect location, being so well connected and ready to grow.”

Universal’s plans are anticipated to create around 28,000 new jobs, 80% of which will be filled by people in the Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes area. Subject to planning approval, the site is planned to open in 2031. Universal estimates the 476-acre complex could attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year.

“As commercial property agents we have continuously sought opportunities to bring inward investment to Bedford,” said Nathan. “We look forward to working with a plethora of new businesses, property developers, investors and landlords as well as helping our existing clients to maximise the performance of their assets.

“The Bedford team and everyone at Kirkby Diamond is excited about this development and what it will bring in the future.”

Andrew Wright, head of land, planning & development at Kirkby Diamond, said: “It is clearly going to have a significant impact on the local and regional economy and we have already seen the effect of this in recent dealings we have been involved in connected with the Universal proposal.”

Scale of investment will shape us for generations to come

Justin Richardson, chief executive of Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, relishes a defining moment for the county’s economic future.

There are moments in a region’s development that signify more than progress. They mark transformation. The recent announcement by Universal Studios to bring a world-class resort to Bedford is one such moment. But what makes it truly significant is that it does not stand alone.

This landmark investment is arriving at a time when Bedfordshire is already undergoing an ambitious wave of growth. The expansion of London Luton Airport to accommodate 32 million passengers annually will significantly enhance international connectivity.

Alongside that, East West Rail is progressing, set to restore vital east–west connections across the Oxford–Cambridge corridor via Bedford.

Add to this the construction of Luton Town FC’s new stadium at Power Court, which will inject new cultural, leisure and economic energy into the town centre, and the ambitions at Luton Hoo to host the Ryder Cup, and it is clear: Bedfordshire is no longer preparing for the future… it is building it.

At the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, we see this not only as a surge in investment but also as a oncein-a-generation opportunity to reshape the region’s economy, to redefine our identity and to elevate Bedfordshire’s place on the global map.

However, bold growth requires a shared commitment to people and place. Our

role is to ensure this momentum delivers across the board. That means acting as the connection between largescale projects and the local business community, helping our members to access new supply chain opportunities, scale their operations and adapt to change.

It also means championing skills development so that our workforce is equipped to meet future demands with confidence and capability.

And it means working collaboratively with developers, educators, local authorities and community stakeholders to ensure that investment translates into inclusive, sustainable growth.

Because this is not just about theme parks, railways or stadiums. It is about building a stronger Bedfordshire, one where businesses thrive, communities feel empowered and young people see a future of opportunity on their doorstep.

The scale of investment we are seeing today will shape Bedfordshire for generations to come. As a Chamber, we are committed to shaping that future with purpose, partnership and ambition.

This is a defining time for Bedfordshire. And together, we have the opportunity to turn this momentum into lasting success.

n Opinion from Milton Keynes and the wider South Midlands region.

Pages 12-13 >>

Universal savours Europe opportunity

Executives at Universal Destinations & Experiences and its parent corporation Comcast have been speaking about their desire to build the first Universal theme park in Europe.

The multi-billion investment is set to create almost 20,000 jobs in the construction phase and a further 8,000 new positions in hospitality and creative when the park opens in 2031. Universal expects the site to generate nearly £50 billion for the

economy by 2055, with 8.5 million visitors expected in its first year. The park, which will be part of a 476acre entertainment resort, will be the largest visitor attraction in the UK and Universal’s first branded theme park and resort destination in Europe.

Mike Cavanagh, president of Comcast Corporation, said: “We could not be more excited to take this very important step in our plan to

To page 12 >>

‘We appreciate the incredible support’

>> From page 11. create and deliver an incredible Universal theme park and resort in the heart of the United Kingdom, which complements our growing US-based parks business by expanding our global footprint to Europe.”

He paid tribute to the government’s support for the scheme. The proposal will require planning approval by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Universal’s plans include a worldclass theme park with several themed lands. Initial resort plans also feature a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment complex.

Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: “Bringing a worldclass theme park and resort to the United Kingdom is a tremendous opportunity and is part of our strategy to introduce the Universal brand and experiences to new audiences around the globe.

“We appreciate the incredible support for our proposed project and look forward to bringing it to life in the years ahead.”

As part of the Plan for Change, the government has said it will commit to a major investment in infrastructure around the site to support the delivery of the project and ensure it is well connected and easily accessible.

Universal Destinations & Experiences operates major theme parks and resorts around the world. The planned development in the UK will join the company’s existing portfolio of destinations across the USA and Asia-Pacific.

The momentum of a region on the rise

... and says Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership chair Nicholas Mann, it will require a regional mindset to exploit the opportunity to the full.

There are moments in the life of a place that feel truly transformative; landmarks that shift not just the skyline but the horizon of what we believe is possible. The recent announcement that Universal Destinations & Experiences is set to build its first European theme park just a short distance from Milton Keynes, on a former brickworks site in Bedfordshire, is one such moment.

It marks more than just an investment. It signifies a bold new chapter for our region.

The scale of this development is nothing short of extraordinary. Estimates suggest that the project will create around 28,000 jobs during the construction and development phase leading up to its planned opening in 2031. But the impact will not stop there. The arrival of Universal Studios is expected to generate a significant ripple effect across the wider supply chain, supporting local businesses, attracting new investment and sparking long-term job creation throughout the region.

With 8.5 million visitors anticipated annually, this world-class destination is set to place our region firmly on the global entertainment and tourism map.

For Milton Keynes, this is a great

Council: Development of this scale goes hand in hand with improved infrastructure

Milton Keynes City Council has pledged to work with its counterparts in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton as well as the government, Universal and the city’s visitor economy body Destination Milton Keynes to maximise the benefits of the Universal theme park.

“A green light for a world class attraction just 20 minutes from Milton Keynes unlocks major opportunities for our thriving city and will be transformative for the whole region,” said Milton Keynes City Council leader Cllr Pete Marland.

The Universal park will lead to thousands

of new jobs and businesses can expect a significant rise in visitor numbers and spend.

“Obviously, there is great economic potential which we are in a strong position to make the most of. Development of this scale goes hand in hand with improved infrastructure alongside investment in housing, community facilities and beyond.

“A major theme park at the heart of the Oxford–Milton Keynes–Cambridge Growth Hub puts us in a fantastic position to continue attracting investment and give our economy the injection it needs.”

opportunity to widen our connections. With East West Rail preparing to open services later this year and London Luton Airport continuing its ambitious expansion, the creation of Universal Studios in Bedford adds a third cornerstone to a regional evolution that has been steadily gaining momentum.

While Oxford and Cambridge rightly attract global attention for their academic and commercial strengths, there is an imperative to ensure the centre of the Arc is not overlooked. By celebrating the success of our neighbouring towns and cities - not as spectators, but as partners - we strengthen the entire region.

What is good for Bedford will be good

“This investment underscores the power and potential of thinking regionally.”

Pete Marland

for Milton Keynes. What lifts Luton raises us all. The whole, when brought together with intent and unity, truly becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

Our city, modern in origin and mindset, is intrinsically connected to its neighbours. Many parts of Bedfordshire carry a MK postcode and our economic and cultural links extend in all directions. The divisions between the towns in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire exist largely on paper, drawn long ago on maps. But our future success will be shaped by collaboration, not cartography.

This investment underscores the power and potential of thinking regionally. As we deepen our ties with Bedford and Luton, we can truly emerge as the gravitational centre of the Oxford–Cambridge Arc - a hub not only for talent and innovation but also for ambition and opportunity.

With Universal Studios looking to draw on regional expertise and workforce, Milton Keynes will play a vital role in shaping this global attraction.

We are already a city that knows how to celebrate itself. Each year, Love MK

Day brings tens of thousands of people together online in one of the UK’s most visible city pride campaigns. The Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards is another cornerstone of our identity, recognising both large organisations and the unsung individuals, charities and changemakers who drive this place forward.

It is a reflection of the unparalleled depth of talent and spirit within our midst.

Yet these celebrations also remind us of a larger truth: our success has never been contained by our boundaries. The growth we are now witnessing is regional and the opportunity before us will require a regional mindset.

That is why the theme of MKBAA 2026 will be inspired by this spirit of shared ambition and regional unity. As Universal Studios prepares to open a new gateway to the world on our doorstep, we will gather to celebrate the people and organisations who are shaping this era of opportunity and to reflect on what we can achieve together, as one connected, confident region.

Careers Hub: A boost for next generation

Local authority leaders and chief executives across the South Midlands have endorsed the landmark investment planned for Bedford by Universal Destinations & Experiences.

The resort is expected to generate more than 28,000 total jobs across creative, Artificial Intelligence, hospitality and construction, with Universal Destinations and Experience saying 80% of those employed would be from Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

“This is fantastic news for Bedford Borough and the entire South Midlands and it is a major vote of confidence in the South Midlands, growing its national and global footprint,” said South Midlands Growth Hub manager Ruth Roan (inset)

“This announcement further demonstrates that the South Midlands is a destination of growth and investment and reflects the brilliant infrastructure already in place.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses, communities and residents.

The South Midlands Growth Hub is ready to connect Universal to the local business ecosystem, using its network of businesses and support providers, she added.

Universal Destinations & Experiences’ arrival will open new career opportunities in hospitality, tourism, construction and the creative sectors. “This is an exciting time for the South Midlands Careers Hub and the 150 schools and colleges we support,” said Yvonne Ashby, strategic hub lead for the South Midlands Careers Hub. “We are eager to build partnerships with all involved to achieve our mission of building career-ready young people, creating a brighter future for industry across the South Midlands.”

Chamber: Theme park project will be a game-changing development for region

Universal’s plan to build its first European theme park on a former brickworks site in Bedfordshire has the backing of Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce.

The park will prove to be a massive boost to the region’s economy, said chief executive Louise Wall.

The project is anticipated to bring increased tourism, create thousands of jobs and opportunities for businesses to supply goods and services. Its strategic location and strong transport links position the city as a key beneficiary in the regional development around the park.

“This is a game-changing development for our region,” said Louise. “The Universal theme park will bring significant economic growth, increase visitor numbers and create valuable opportunities for local businesses and residents alike.”

Milton Keynes Chamber plans to work closely with its counterpart Chamber in Bedfordshire, she added. “We are delighted to work collaboratively with the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and look forward to an exciting future supporting this venture.”

Louise Wall

Nicholas Mann

Law firm amplifies the sound with landmark deal

Danielle Austin, Partner at Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors, has advised the Marshall family on the £1.1 billion sale of the audio, tech and design brand Marshall Group to leading private equity firm HSG. The other selling shareholders are Altor Capital, Telia Company and Time for Growth.

The Marshall family (including the Jim Marshall Charity) will retain a significant stake of over 20% of Marshall Group, showing their dedication to the continued success of the iconic Marshall legacy.

Danielle previously advised the Marshall family in 2023 on the multimillion pound sale of Marshall Amplification Plc to Zound Industries resulting in the formation of the Marshall Group.

Danielle comments: “I’m delighted to have been appointed by the Marshall family once again as their lead legal advisor on this cross-border transaction spanning the UK, Sweden and China.

“This is an exciting time for the Marshall Group, which has significantly grown in the last few years since acquiring Marshall Amplification. The collaboration of the Marshall family and HSG, with the Marshall family continuing to sit on the investor board of Marshall Group, will

continue the legacy built by ‘The Father of Loud’ Jim Marshall all those years ago.”

Victoria Marshall, who will be retiring as a board member from Marshall Group, comments on working with Geoffrey

“Danielle

has been the legal powerhouse behind these transactions and advised us in the most professional, articulate and timely manner.”

Leaver Solicitors: “Having an already long-established relationship with Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors it was obvious to us that they were the best firm to advise us.

“Danielle Austin has been the legal powerhouse behind these transactions and advised us in the most professional,

60 years and going even stronger

This year Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors is celebrating 60 years of providing legal advice to businesses and individuals in Milton Keynes and beyond.

We act for many local large businesses, entrepreneurs and charities and this transaction demonstrates the depth of expertise in our corporate team and the firm’s ability to stand as a “legal powerhouse” in a multi-million pound

cross-border transaction.

Managing partner Richard Millard comments: “As we celebrate 60 years in business, we are proud that the firm continues to work closely with many businesses to help them navigate the issues they face. The firm continues to go from strength to strength and we are looking to continue that growth and attract more legal expertise to maintain the service we already offer to clients.”

articulate and timely manner leaving no stones unturned, allowing for a smooth and seamless conclusion.

“Without her tenacity, diligence and commitment I’m sure the process would not have been as pleasurable as it was. Truly a pleasure to work with and cannot be more highly praised.”

Joanne Marshall Price, who will join the investor board of Marshall Group as well as continuing to be a trustee of the Jim Marshall Charity, says: “This is an exciting time for us as a family and also for the Jim Marshall Charity which was established by my grandfather.

“The charity’s retained interest in Marshall will allow us to continue carrying out our great charitable work in Milton Keynes and beyond for causes that my

“We

can further build on our history to amplify the love for music and the Marshall brand for decades to come.”

grandfather was so supportive of and passionate about.”

Danielle adds: “A special thank you to the corporate finance team and tax team at PwC UK, namely Cara Haffey, Jasmine Bennett, Simon de Young and Rob Bulstrode, for their valued support and collaboration with me and the Marshall family during this project”.

Terry Marshall who co-founded the legendary British Marshall brand with his father, comments: “We are now over 60 years into our journey and the pioneering sound of Marshall continues to resonate across the world.

“Together with HSG and our team, we can further build on our history to amplify the love for music and the Marshall brand for decades to come.”

Steve Jia, partner at HSG, says: “Marshall is one of the world’s most iconic brands, firmly rooted in music culture. By building on this legacy, we are convinced that Marshall will strengthen its position as the go-to brand for guitarists and as the most exciting brand for music lovers globally. We are thrilled to partner with the Marshall family and the team at Marshall to write music history.”

Lawyer in the spotlight

Danielle Austin is a partner in the corporate team at Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors who is experienced in dealing with corporate, commercial and charity matters.

Danielle joined Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors in 2016 and rapidly advanced to being promoted to Partner in 2024. Her dedication to her clients and skills in managing complex corporate and commercial transactions have been key to her career progression.

Danielle’s experience includes working with companies, businesses, individuals, and entrepreneurs providing advice on corporate matters and transactions including private equity, mergers and acquisitions, share option schemes and commercial contracts.

Danielle also specialises in

Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors is the Milton Keynes law firm with national coverage, whose team of experienced and innovative lawyers deliver pragmatic and clear advice while being tenacious in achieving the best possible outcomes for their clients.

We are straight talking, approachable and passionate when it comes to giving advice to all our clients – from individuals and small businesses to large multi-national corporations, charities and public bodies.

Our experienced company commercial team provides clear, concise advice that is honest and pragmatic.

We provide the advice you need to get the results you want.

geoffreyleaver.com 01908 692769

251 Upper Third Street Bouverie Square Central Milton Keynes MK9 1DR

working with local charities on incorporation and governance matters and is a member of the Charity Law Association.

Danielle Austin

Business and airport chiefs look forward to the future after the government’s green light to the growth plans at London Luton Airport. Andrew Gibbs reports.

Investment surge will transform fortunes of town and region

The decision is being hailed as a tipping point for the future of the local, regional and national economy. The expansion plans at London Luton Airport are forecast to generate an extra £1.5 billion a year and increase passengers’ choice of airlines and destination.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, has given the green light to the airport’s plans to increase its annual passenger capacity from 19 million to 32 million. The scheme is anticipated to create around 11,000 new jobs and a total £13 million each year for causes and communities in Luton.

A commercial agreement between the airport operator and Luton Council as the airport’s owner will also unlock investment and additional funds for public services and local communities.

Business across Bedfordshire has welcomed the long-awaited decision by the Transport Secretary, which had been delayed due to the General Election last year.

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Justin Richardson said: “We are delighted that the planned expansion of London Luton Airport has now officially been given the go-ahead by government. This is massive news

“The development’s local supply chain needs will see local businesses heavily involved in the expansion programme.”

for our region and its economy and we applaud the government’s forwardthinking decision to give the development the green light.

“As we have said before, the expanded airport will generate significant additional economic benefits and bring with it investment into the region that will directly benefit the communities that live and work here. Plus, the development’s local supply chain needs will see local businesses heavily involved in the expansion programme.”

London Luton Airport Operations Limited, the company owned by Aena and InfraBridge which operates London Luton Airport, has welcomed the decision. The airport’s chief executive Alberto Martin said the decision created “a generational opportunity to transform the town and our region’s economy”.

The airport is now preparing to finalise a commercial agreement with Luton Council to deliver the expansion. “This

will put Luton at the heart of a collective mission to achieve sustainable economic growth,” he added.

The plans, proposed by airport owners Luton Rising, balance the significant economic growth opportunity for the UK with some of the most robust and farreaching commitments to sustainability introduced at a UK airport. These include a legally binding and independently monitored framework with limits on noise, airport carbon emissions, air quality and surface access under a ‘Green Controlled Growth’ model.

Luton Rising’s chair Paul Kehoe said: “The benefits are clear. By introducing maximum limits for the airport’s noise, operational greenhouse gas emissions, air quality and surface access impacts, we also believe that our Green Controlled Growth framework represents the most far-reaching commitment to the sustainable operation of an airport ever put forward in the UK.”

The growth plan will increase passenger capacity at London Luton by 70%. Rodrigo

Justin Richardson

Alberto Martin

Paul Kehoe

News Feature: London Luton Airport

n Eamon Kennedy, senior partner and head of industrial and logistics at commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond – which has offices in Luton and Bedford - said: “There is growing confidence in Luton as an excellent place to do business.

“With the announcement of the airport expansion and now Universal coming to Bedford, it is clear that the entire region’s economy is soaring and poised for further significant growth.”

Marabini Ruiz, director of international subsidiaries at Aena said: “We are ready to support Luton’s next chapter.”

Graeme Ferguson, head of airports at InfraBridge, added: “Together, InfraBridge and Aena are committed to building on

LLA’s success, providing the expertise and capital required to deliver new infrastructure and achieve an ambitious passenger target that closely aligns with the government’s growth mission.

“Our successful public-private partnership with Luton Council has driven exceptional outcomes for Luton and all users of LLA, including our airline partners who will benefit from enhanced efficiency and increased capacity under these expansion plans.”

The expansion will mean one of the largest construction programmes for the town and wider region in recent years. It will also mean an opportunity to boost Luton Council’s investment in frontline public services and local communities.

Since 2013, significant investment made by London Luton Airport Operations Limited has delivered the fastest growth period in the airport’s history. Annual passenger number have already risen from ten million in 2013 to the current figure of around 18 million.

In the same period, LLAOL has provided more than £0.5 billion in concession fee income to Luton Rising, contributing to investment in local community causes including frontline council services.

Rachel Hopkins, MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire, said the decision “marks a significant moment for our town and region. The growth of London Luton Airport will boost Luton’s economy by creating jobs, enhancing skills development and supporting our charitable sector.”

New owner eyes £400m investment at Vauxhall site

Regeneration of the former Vauxhall manufacturing site in Luton is anticipated to create more than 1,700 jobs in a £400 million investment by the site’s new owner.

Global property company Goodman has completed its acquisition of the site in Kimpton Road from Vauxhall owner Stellantis. Manufacturing there of the marque’s Vivaro van range ceased at the end of March, bringing to an end 120 years of Vauxhall in the town.

Bedfordshire business has welcomed Goodman’s acquisition of and plans for the site. Chamber of Commerce chief executive Justin Richardson said: “We look forward to working closely with Goodman to maximise the positive impact of this development, ensuring that local businesses and residents fully benefit from the opportunities it presents.

“Supporting projects that drive inclusive growth remains a core priority for the Chamber.”

Goodman plans to develop the site into a high-quality commercial and industrial park, attracting businesses from sectors including advanced logistics, manufacturing, engineering and digital infrastructure. Goodman has also accepted an invitation from Luton Council to become a partner to the council-led Luton Taskforce for Economic Growth.

Its commercial director Jason Harris said: “Our vision is to deliver a transformational regeneration scheme. We recognise the social and economic significance of the site to Luton and will work closely with Luton Council and the local community as we bring forward our plans.”

Subject to planning permission, work is expected to start in 2027 with the first businesses opening on site the following year.

Unlock the future of your business at Tech Track: Race to the Future

In today’s tech landscape, staying ahead is not just an advantage… it is a business necessity. But what do you need to do to accelerate your small or medium-sized business into the future?

Take advantage of your location in the fast-growing tech hub that is Milton Keynes. One in three local jobs are in the dynamic tech sector, the city has one of the highest start-up rates in the UK and it hosts a significant number of high-growth companies.

Milton Keynes has a vibrant and supportive environment for businesses. In the spirit of its thriving entrepreneurial and innovative outlook, Mirus IT is inviting local business leaders to the MK-7 Red Bull Technology Campus for a Tech Track: Race to the Future event on June 18. It is an exceptional opportunity for SMB leaders, IT professionals and decision-makers.

This exclusive gathering focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by SMBs. All the hot topics on the local business agenda will be covered. A series of insightful sessions led by industry experts will focus on: Cyber security

The latest threats and strengthen your business against cyber risks.

User training

Empower your team with the knowledge to utilise technology effectively. AI innovations

How Artificial Intelligence can revolutionise your operations. Leadership principles

Upskill so you can lead your organisation through technological transformations.

At a time when the cyber landscape is becoming increasingly complex and

cyber threats are so sophisticated, expert advice on protecting your business from attack is much needed. Pax8 will share their expert guidance in cyber security. Want to know how to evade ransomware attacks? What the big cyber threats are? To understand whether generative AI should be feared? This session will deliver the information you need to reduce the huge risks your business is facing.

Roughly 60% of employees’ time is spent on mundane tasks such as emails, meetings and chat. In this informative and interactive session, we will show you how AI can reduce your team’s digital debt (time wasted on tedious admin tasks). Your team will thank you for freeing up their time to do the job they are hired to do.

You will discover how to best utilise Microsoft Copilot in your business. And, importantly, how to integrate it safely, securely and seamlessly within your existing set-up.

How to hack: a live demo

The aim of this session is not to turn you

into cyber criminals but to learn how to protect the valuable assets within your business. Huntress will explain why a multi-layered approach to security is your best defence.

By understanding the ways in which your IT system can be attacked, you will be better positioned to put the right security measures in place.

You will come away from this session with a good understanding of how to level up your cyber security.

The importance of training your users

Change is the only constant in modern businesses. So it is important to bring your teams on that evolutionary journey with you. This session will bring a people-first approach to the day, focusing on how to bring your people up to speed on IT best practices.

Remember that adage about teaching people to fish? It is a valuable lesson. Train your users regularly to equip them with the skills they need to help your business to compete.

Make sure they are not the weak link in your IT security.

Building better leaders

Wherever you are on your leadership journey, you will benefit from the advice in this leadership and management session. Sophie Dowsett-Smith, strategic consultant at Pax8, is aiming to give everyone the tools and knowledge to boost their leadership skills, their selfawareness and improve team dynamics. From the foundations of leadership to the differences between leaders and managers, you will gain practical tips to enhance your people skills and lead your business effectively.

Dan Sharp, managing director of Mirus IT

Securing your property: The hidden vulnerabilities

Burglary remains a pressing concern across the UK and, as I always say, preparation is the key to prevention when it comes to securing our homes and businesses.

Burglars are opportunists, relying on speed, stealth and our oversight. Let’s examine the vulnerabilities we can address to keep them out.

Windows: The weakest link

Windows, especially on the ground floor or basement, are prime targets. An unlocked or poorly secured window is an open invitation. Even locked ones can be a liability if they lack reinforced glass or sturdy locks.

My advice: Consider laminated glass, security film or window bars. For businesses, reinforced shutters or grilles are worth the investment.

Doors: Not all are created equal

Many of us believe that our front door is secure but unless it has a deadbolt, a solid core and a reinforced frame, it can be easily kicked in. Rear and patio doors are even more vulnerable.

Installing multi-point locks and strike plate reinforcements can make a significant difference. For businesses, steel security doors or access control systems are essential.

Garages and storage units: Overlooked entry points

These spaces can offer direct access to your property or house tools that burglars can use. An automated garage door with rolling code technology is an excellent upgrade. Business owners, secure your storage areas with industrial-grade locks and monitored alarms.

Loft hatches, skylights and roof access

These may not be a burglar’s first choice but they are an option if left unsecured. Ensure they’re properly locked. For flat-roofed businesses, consider anti-climb barriers or spikes.

External perimeters

Weak locks on gates and low fences make it easier for intruders to approach undetected. Tall, robust fencing and motionactivated lighting can deter would-be burglars. For businesses, a perimeter intruder detection system is a wise investment.

Securing your property is about layering your defences. Combine physical reinforcements with smart tech—alarm systems, CCTV and the like. By addressing these vulnerabilities, you are protecting bricks and mortar and safeguarding peace of mind. Prevention, my friends, will always triumph over reaction.

Next issue: Eyes That Never Blink

Lee Dorman, CEO of Tindall Security

For further information about securing your property contact Lee at leedorman@tindallsecurity.co.uk tindallsecurity.co.uk

Firms renew contract on DART airport transit system

Luton Rising, the Luton Council company that owns London Luton Airport and associated assets for community benefit, has appointed Ethos Farm and Bellrock FM to a new customer experience and facilities management contract for the Luton DART.

The two companies have worked on the Luton DART, the automated fast passenger transit system that connects the airport and Luton Airport Parkway train station, since 2023 when the transit opened. The new contract will focus on ensuring that all aspects of the passenger journey - from ticketing to on-board services - run smoothly. The facilities management aspect will ensure the continued upkeep, maintenance and operational efficiency of the DART system.

Linsey Sweet, head of commercial operations for Luton Rising, said: “This is a significant step forward for the Luton DART service as we continue to elevate our standards to provide world-class facilities and customer care for our passengers. Ethos Farm and Bellrock FM bring a wealth of experience and expertise and we are confident that this continued collaboration will deliver even more exceptional experiences for passengers.”

The new contract will include training programmes for staff and enhanced customer service solutions and facilities.

Ethos Farm’s co-founder Mathew Garner said: “We really value our great partnership with Luton Rising.”

Book your place at Your Business Expo Bedford

It is back and at a larger venue that reflects the growing appetite among businesses in Bedfordshire and beyond to market themselves at the county’s leading business exhibition.

Exhibition stands are already being snapped up by organisations eager to showcase their service levels and expertise to the hundreds of visitors expected at Your Business Expo Bedford 2025.

This year’s Your Business Expo Bedford takes place at Bedford International Athletic Stadium in Barkers Lane on October 9. The main event runs from 10am until 3pm, preceded by a networking breakfast event at 8.30am.

2025 will be the third Your Business Expo Bedford, building on the success of previous expos in the town and in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes.

Your Business Expo, with headline sponsor the digital marketing specialists Qoob, creates opportunities for businesses to reach, engage and connect; for quality sales leads, to meet key decision-makers and to increase awareness of your business brand.

Around 100 exhibitors, including the leading, brightest and fastest-growing organisations across Bedfordshire and the South Midlands region, will be there, along with the hundreds of visitors expected to take advantage of free admission.

Your Business Expo is hosted by Pulse Group Media - publisher of the area’s leading business publication Business MK and its sister title in Northamptonshire, Business Times.

Find out more, book your place at the networking breakfast and register for your free visitor tickets at yourbusinessexpo.co.uk/exhibit/exhibit-bedford/ or email admin@yourbusinessexpo.co.uk

Finance firm secures funding for expansion

Acommercial finance consultancy is planning major expansion after securing a six-figure funding package from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund.

Sunset Commercial Finance, based in Bedford, is beginning work on plans to grow its team and expand its reach across the East and South East Midlands regions. It will also use the money, secured from the British Business Bank’s MEIF II via fund manager Maven Capital Partners, to invest in its sales and marketing to raise its profile and attract new customers

Banking finance specialist Raj Chahal founded the company, based in Mill Street, in 2016. “The funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will enable us to expand our reach and enhance the support we offer to businesses, focusing on providing tailored financial solutions that help businesses manage cash flow, restructure, and achieve their growth ambitions.”

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II supports businesses with high growth potential. Its primary aim is to provide small businesses seeking to scale with easier access to finance.

Maven investment manager Paul Davis said: “This funding will allow Sunset Commercial to capitalise on its market potential, providing muchneeded financial solutions to a growing client base. The planned investment in resources, marketing and infrastructure demonstrates the business’s readiness to scale and thrive in a competitive sector.”

David Tindall, senior investment manager at British Business Bank, said: ”This investment in Sunset Commercial will enable the company to expand, create new jobs and make a positive contribution to the local economy.”

Sunset Commercial is a niche commercial finance consultancy providing tailored commercial finance solutions to SMEs, property developers and entrepreneurs.

Green initiative wins international gold

Executives at Wyboston Lakes Resort have returned from Texas cock-a-hoop after the conference and meetings venue struck gold at the International Association of Conference Centres Americas Knowledge Exchange conference.

The resort, off the A1 near Bedford, has brought home the IACC’s innovation award. Chef Lena Cybulska also was runner-up in the Global Copper Skillet cookery competition at the conference.

Wyboston Lakes’ environmental, social and governance initiative Room2Give earned the resort the innovation award. Under the scheme, guests staying at the venue’s Woodlands Event Centre or Willows Training Centre for more than one night are able to choose which of three local charities to support by opting out of room cleaning. Every time a guest opts out, a donation is made to the Room2Give fund. Guests actively choose which charity their contribution supports by hanging the corresponding door hanger.

Wyboston Lakes also won the IACC’s innovation award in 2023 for its Room2Grow initiative, which invited guests to forego room cleaning in favour of planting trees on the site.

Chief executive Steve Jones (inset) said: “To win another major international award for our sustainability initiatives is remarkable and puts the continually innovative efforts of our team into a new global perspective. I am very proud of what the team has achieved. Room2Give made such a strong impression that several property managers asked us for further information about how it works.”

Mind the GAP: Hire company completes warehouse acquisition

Equipment hire giant GAP Group is to open its first base in Bedfordshire after acquiring a 1.3-acre site and 9,0000 sq ft warehouse and workshop unit in Bedford. The company, the UK’s leading independent in its sector, is to create new jobs at the warehouse on the Woburn Road industrial estate in Kempston.

Commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond acted on behalf of the vendor NMT Lettings. Diccon Brearley,

its senior agency surveyor at the firm’s Bedford office, said: “It is really pleasing to see a major national operator such as GAP Group moving into Bedfordshire for the first time, bringing welcome investment and creating much-needed new jobs.

“We had the refurbished property on the market for a short period of time and had attracted two very strong and competing offers. The GAP Group

offer proved to be the most compelling and the property perfectly suits their requirements.”

Established in 1969 by Gordon Anderson, GAP Hire Solutions is the UK’s largest independent hire company, with ten divisions and almost 200 locations. Its range includes diggers and dumpers, portable toilets and tankers.

GAP was represented in negotiations by open storage specialist Klipa Real Estate.

Raj Chahal (centre) with Paul Davis, investment manager at Maven, and Sunset Commercial’s marketing assistant Laura Osborne

Truck park firm seals land purchase

Europe’s largest truck parking operator has completed the acquisition of a site for a new facility in Bedfordshire.

The deal for almost 4.5 acres of storage land on the North Luton industrial estate was completed in just seven days. Park Your Truck has signed a five-year lease on the former self-storage site, close to junction 11a of the M1. The company provides parking facilities for truck drivers and works alongside major distribution businesses such as Amazon.

“We were able to agree the letting to Park Your Truck within one week of bringing it to market and we doubled the previous rent, which is a remarkable result for our client,” said Eamon Kennedy, executive partner and head of industrial and logistics at Kirkby Diamond which handled the sale on behalf of its client, a private property company.

“We had multiple enquiries within days of bringing this site to market. This high level of interest underlines the growing strength of demand for storage land, as more and more sites are being acquired for development.”

Rents have risen by more than 200% over the last five years as demand outstrips supply, he added.

Tenants sign deals for refurbished units

Three recently refurbished units at Bilton Way industrial estate in Luton have welcomed new occupiers.

Ten-year leases have been signed by Cromwell Tools, which supplies items for the maintenance, repair, and operations of industrial or manufacturing facilities, and by Multitel, a specialist in truckmounted and self-propelled tracked aerial platforms.

They have been joined by mobile CCTV systems supplier WCCTV.

Commercial property consultancy Kirkby Diamond is the sole agent for the entire estate of 49 units totalling 420,000 sq ft.

Paul Quy, its industrial and logistics partner and head of Milton Keynes agency, said: “The momentum at Bilton Way continues to build.”

The Bilton Way industrial estate in Luton

Filling skills gaps, nurturing talent

The Neville Trust Group of Companies is celebrating after the Luton Apprenticeship Awards, at which it won Best Small Employer for Apprenticeships.

The group comprises Neville Special Projects, Neville Joinery and Neville Funerals and has employed apprentices across its companies since 1881.

“Apprenticeships are not just about providing invaluable educational and practical learning opportunities,” said director Ian Trumper. “They are about ensuring the future of our industries, filling skills gaps and nurturing talent.

“The joinery, construction and funeral industries are constantly evolving, which is why we focus on ensuring our apprentices learn from the best.”

The Luton Apprenticeship Awards, hosted by Luton Council’s Step Forward Luton Business and Investment arm, celebrate the best apprentices, apprenticeship employers and training and education providers in the town. As a family-run business spanning six generations, apprenticeships are deeply embedded in the Trust, providing tailored training to reflect the evolving demands of each industry.

Neville Trust, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, provides hand-on, personalised support for its apprentices. “We have a proven legacy of transforming apprentices into long-term team members and industry leaders as we recognise teaching the next generation of talent is key to our success as a business,” said Ian.

“Apprentices have always been, and continue to be, a key focus across our business. It was a real privilege to attend the ceremony with so many valuable and successful local business leaders and apprentices who will be future leaders in our town.”

I trust my partner. We do not need a shareholder agreement

Running a business with someone can be extremely rewarding but it is important that you and your business partner have comprehensive documentation in place to deal with situations that can arise in the future.

Using the case study of Debbie and Richard, Neves Solicitors explains why protecting your business interests with a shareholder agreement is essential.

Debbie and Richard ran a successful printing business. They had worked together for 25 years. Debbie was 58 years old and Richard was 50 years old.

Debbie held 75% of the issued shares. Richard held the other shares and both were directors.

Debbie had decided that she had had enough in the printing industry. She wanted to sell the business.

Richard felt that he still had at least another ten years until he was able to retire.

A competitor had expressed an interest in acquiring the business but only if he acquired all the shares so that longstanding contracts that the company had with key customers would remain without having to be assigned or novated as part

“Debbie always understood that with 75% of the shares in the company, she could control

and make all the

it

decisions.”

of a sale of the assets and goodwill.

For obvious reasons, he was also not interested in acquiring only part of the shareholding.

Richard would not agree to sell his shares, particularly to this competitor, as they had fallen out over a customer years before.

Debbie always understood that, with 75% of the shares in the company, she could control it and make all the decisions. She needed the money from the sale of the business to be able to retire and was extremely frustrated to discover that she could not retire when she wanted to.

Neves says: “Without a shareholder agreement in place there was little that Debbie could do.

“A shareholder agreement could have included a provision that if the majority shareholder wanted to sell the business, the minority shareholder could be forced to sell their shares, provided that the same terms were offered to that minority shareholder, such as price per share.

“This is known as a ‘drag along’ clause and is very commonly used by majority shareholders.”

DO YOU NEED TO SET UP A SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT?

Talk to Neves Solicitors. Our specialist commercial solicitors will explain how the agreement works, what is expected of each business partner and what happens if a partner dies or decides to leave. Contact the team on 0330 0945 500, email info@neves.co.uk or visit www.neves.co.uk

Ian Trumper

How to begin and develop the process of building your leadership brand... Leadership specialist Freddie Guilmard, of consultancy RTP, shares his thoughts.

Live your leadership values... be authentic and accountable

Ifeel very privileged to be working with several leadership teams. During a recent workshop, we discussed the issues highlighted in my article last month on the erosion of trust in leadership and what can be done about it.

We explored the need to actively understand how to build our personal brand reputation, how this can have a positive impact on building trust and why we should care about what people say about us when we are not in the room.

However, there was quite a lengthy debate about the need to be an authentic leader which might mean that we are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and that should be OK, right? After all, we are currently seeing many examples of so called ‘leaders’ who are single handedly managing to reshape the global landscape. Everything is a choice and these choices have consequences (good and bad).

So how do you go about building your leadership reputation and brand? In the first instance, you might want to ask the colleagues and teams who work with you to share how they experience you, what you stand for and how you show

up. This is not an easy thing to do but if you are really serious about building your leadership brand, it is a good place to start.

Depending on your starting point, people may or may not be willing to share their feedback but through actively listening, taking on board the points and remaining engaged in the conversation, you could learn quite a lot about yourself.

Once you have listened to the feedback - assuming you still have the energy to continue - the next step will be to think about what your core values are. Many will say that these values will have been a part of you for a long time and should not be changed.

However, I have a different view.

The person and the leader I am today is quite different from who I was in my early and mid-career. It was during the pandemic that I realised the values that I thought were critical to me were not what I needed in order to navigate my personal life and my career today.

So I changed them. I think for the first time I truly thought about what was really important to me and it has truly been a game changer.

The next reflection should be to explore and clarify your leadership style. What kind of leader do you want to be? Are you collaborative, visionary or strategic? Do you know your preferred style of communication? What unique skills or qualities set you apart? Are you good at problem solving? Do you inspire teams? Do you prefer to share stories and motivate people? Are you known for your attention to the minute details?

If you work with trusted suppliers, stakeholders and partners, they might be willing to help you understand how they experience working with you.

Once you start to have a good idea of what your leadership brand is about, you need to align your actions with your words and be consistent. Start to live your values, lead by example by being authentic and accountable.

Over time, your team will come to rely on your predictability and integrity… consistency will be key.

As your confidence grows, make sure you grow your voice and your visibility. Share what you care about and why it matters. Build trusted relationships by investing in people at work and outside of work. Be visible, approachable and cultivate trust through transparency and empathy.

Over time, your leadership brand should grow with you so ensure you reflect regularly on what is working and what is not and always welcome feedback and new learning.

One exercise I found really helpful, was to write my Leadership Statement, which can be found on my LinkedIn page. And for those of you who are wondering about my recently amended values, they are:

“Kindness, always”.

“Be human”.

“Have fun, seriously”.

Freddie Guilmard is chief executive and high-performance coach at RTP, a boutique consultancy that supports leaders in building human organisations. freddie@the-redthread.co.uk the-redthread.co.uk

Freddie Guilmard

A real investment in your workforce

Professor

Keith Schofield, head of The Open University Business School, explores ways to work and learn.

Learning at Work Week, designed to build a culture of learning in the workplace, is a great time to consider what skills you or your team would like to master.

This annual initiative, which takes place on May 12-18, encourages employers and employees to focus on their learning and development.

As a partner, The Open University’s free learning digital platform OpenLearn is offering a range of courses, articles, videos, quizzes and interactive games covering a diverse range of subjects.

Sign up to receive exclusive content including a copy of the OU’s recent Powering up Productivity report. This reveals that one in four businesses (27%) believe productivity has declined over the past five years and that only 37% of SMEs have implemented programmes or initiatives to enhance productivity, compared to 75% of large businesses.

Interestingly, one of the recommendations for businesses to unlock their productivity potential includes investing in reskilling and upskilling the workforce.

n One of our graduates, Rachel Blackburn MBE, exemplifies the learning at work career model. Rachel left school at 16 to forge a very successful business career up to director level while juggling work and formal study, gaining two OU qualifications in management as well as a MBA which she achieved in 2004.

The hard-working high-flyer was delighted to receive a MBE for services to the business community and to exports, travelling to Buckingham Palace in March to be presented with her medal by Anne, The Princess Royal.

Rachel often credits her MBA as a crucial milestone in her journey to founding an international management consultancy business, Norwich-based US2U Consulting Ltd. As the chief executive, she works with businesses and organisations worldwide to provide services such as executive coaching, people development, mentoring and business strategy.

Rachel said: “I see the OU MBA as a critical part of my journey towards being awarded the MBE. It has opened doors to so many opportunities, not just through the competence gained but also via the confidence and credibility it has enabled in the UK and internationally.”

n Taking advantage of learning opportunities while at work is a great way to keep your skills updated and stay open to new opportunities for progression. With that in mind, we have forged an

exciting new partnership to help foster new business leaders of the future, specifically from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Our Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership is one of our centres of research excellence which supports and initiates action in the voluntary sector through collaboration and leadership. It has recently partnered with the Henry Smith Charity, whose mission is to tackle economic and social disadvantage, for the new Minority Ethnic Leadership programme.

Six learning hubs are being created across the UK in Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff, Liverpool, Bristol and London with 55 learners in total participating in the leadership programme. They will access 150 hours’ free learning via OpenLearn including two bespoke leadership courses, as well as a further credit-bearing course on work-related study. The programme also includes inperson sessions featuring motivational speakers, ad hoc mentoring and peer learning opportunities.

Funding of more than £200,000 has enabled this extension to a successful pilot scheme last year, which saw learners take part for free in a Black Leadership and Empowerment Programme in Manchester. This was the first of its kind in the UK, specifically supporting black learners to make a difference in leadership and to address the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in voluntary leadership positions.

My personal thanks go to Dr Fidèle Mutwarasibo, the CVSL director who is a senior lecturer in work-based learning, for all his hard work. He is well known in Milton Keynes circles due to his involvement with the city and various charitable initiatives.

MBA alumna Rachel Blackburn MBE

Experiential leadership development with The Red Thread Fellowship

An internationally renowned leadership programme in Milton Keynes led by experienced tutors and coaches across eight workshops:

Grant programme urges manufacturers to make smarter

Manufacturing leaders in Buckinghamshire are being urged to sign up to Made Smarter, the government’s programme helping small and mediumsized businesses to develop the use of digital technologies.

Building caring and inclusive communities who deliver results for commercial businesses and charity partnerships

Develop highly driven teams

Shape your emerging leaders

Enhanced team engagement

Attract and retain talent

Establish charity partnerships

Raise your brand profile in the local community

In depth performance feedback and personality testing

Fostering collaboration among teams the-redthread.co.uk admin@the-redthread.co.uk

Build your confidence

Enhance leadership skills

Grow your professional network

Deepen self-awareness and insight

Improve strategic thinking

Hone your problem solving skills

Peer to peer coaching

Meaningful charity support

Registration is now open to access fully funded expert advice, leadership training, student interns and up to £20,000 in technology grants to help manufacturers to drive growth, productivity and sustainability.

The Made Smarter Adoption programme has already run successfully elsewhere in England and is now being delivered in the South East, including in Buckinghamshire in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council and Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

It aims to directly support just under 200 businesses in the South East region. The programme is open to manufacturing and engineering firms with a maximum 250 employees and annual turnover of £50 million or less.

Brian Holliday, co-chair of the Made Smarter Commission and managing director of Siemens Digital Industries, said: “Made Smarter is a driving force for digital transformation in UK’s SME manufacturing. In the last six years the programme has empowered businesses to innovate, compete and scale. This expansion clearly signals the government’s commitment to the sector.”

n Brian Holliday

When innovation meets responsibility

Brands, businesses and individuals will come together at aiimi in Milton Keynes to discover more about how they can harness innovation and technology including Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to push the boundaries of what is possible within their organisations.

Guests will also learn more about environmental responsibility and how they can combine innovation and responsibility to support the fight against climate change for people, places and the planet.

Picture This is excited to welcome Lewis Knight (inset), director of sustainable places at Bioregional and strategic director of Oxfordshire Greentech. He is an expert within the sustainability and climate change sector, to share his wisdom and experience working with low-carbon businesses.

experiences that spark conversations, generate buzz and deliver engaging and immersive content.

Darryl Merkli, head of AI studio and services at Wellingborough-based marketing agency HUT 3, completes our line-up of speakers. He will assess the benefits of using AI for business, drawing on his 15 years of experience in technology and media during which he has worked with leading brands such as Microsoft and Sony.

Sam Guilmard, digital director of AR studio Playbound, will demonstrate how creating fun and innovative mixed reality experiences can reinforce a brand’s messaging. He will also show how AR can be used to craft unforgettable digital

Our next event is here:

Picture This takes place on July 3 and is brought to you by Stratos, in collaboration with Creative Chapters, HUT 3, Playbound and media partners Pulse Group Media – publisher of Business MK and its Northamptonshirefocused sister title Business Times. The event is free to attend, with an optional donation to Milton Keynes Hospital Charity upon booking.

Picture This aims to add value to the inspiring business community in Milton Keynes and beyond. The format for the event includes expert knowledge sharing from our speakers, networking, nibbles and a live Q&A.

Tickets are on sale from May 8. Martin Carmody, managing director of creative and digital agency Stratos and founder of Picture This, said: ”I am really looking forward to the return of Picture This in summer 2025. We have listened to feedback from our guests about what they would like to hear more of and have shaped this latest event accordingly.

“I am looking forward to seeing what our guests think and how we can continue to evolve the event and maintain the future success of Picture This.”

n Follow Picture This on LinkedIn and @picture.this_mk on Instagram. Visit picturethismk.co.uk/ for the latest updates, information and ticket bookings.

INNOVATION MEETS RESPONSIBILITY

The next service at Platform One...

Chiltern Railways is to operate the trains to run on the East West Rail line.

The first services are due to depart later this year between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

The decision is expected to create almost 100 new jobs at Chiltern Railways. Once open, the line is expected to boost the local economy along the route, bringing shorter journey times and improved job, business and education opportunities.

Serving six stations - including a new one at Winslow near Buckingham - the

new line will initially link Oxford and Milton Keynes for the first time in nearly 60 years, accelerating the regeneration of town centres and helping build new homes, said Rail Minister Lord Hendy.

“Appointing Chiltern Railways to run the first East West Rail services is one of the crucial last steps in getting the line up and running later this year and means local people in the area are closer to experiencing the benefits of this transformative project. This milestone demonstrates that we are serious about unlocking the potential of the OxfordCambridge Growth Corridor, providing

greater connectivity across the region and delivering on our Plan for Change mission to drive economic growth.”

A new station at Winslow will reconnect the town to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s. East West Rail trains will also stop at a revamped Bletchley station, at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.

East West Railway Company’s chief executive David Hughes said: “This is a huge milestone which will allow Chiltern Railways to deliver a much-needed rail service linking Oxford and Milton Keynes, providing new opportunities for commuters and leisure travellers alike.”

Network Rail has overseen the installation of 70 kilometres of new track, 17 new bridges and a state-of-the-art signalling system. Its West Coast South route director Gary Walsh described the announcement as “fantastic news for passengers.”

The announcement comes after a ten-week consultation giving people the chance to shape the second and third stages of East West Rail, which will see the line reaching Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s.

IT podcast is making waves

A new podcast put together by an IT consultancy and a video production company is discussing the world of technology and video production.

Targeted at business owners and those with an interest in all things technological, the open and honest Say Something Souch has been launched by Wellingborough-based 3RS IT Solutions with video production company Say Something Creative.

Each episode features knowledge and expertise on the trending topics in tech, marketing and business shared by 3RS’s managing director Steve Souch and technical director Ethan Malvern alongside Jordan Leonard, managing director at Say Something Creative.

“We have been working with Jordan for over a year now, creating video content for the business,” said Steve. “We often joked about changing his business name to Say Something Souch but then realised it would actually be a great podcast name. We spoke about it for a while until we finally sat down and recorded the first episode and the podcast was born.”

Each episode is 35 minutes in length, with a total of 12 episodes scheduled so far. The first podcast focuses on Artficial Intelligence and its implications for IT and video production.

“It has been great fun,” said Steve. “We have already had some great feedback from clients.”

Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on 3RS IT Solutions’ YouTube Channel Say Something Souch, at www.youtube.com/@saysomethingsouch

Have your say on business challenges

The specialists in skills development

Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting local businesses by offering a wide range of training services designed to foster growth, enhance skills and improve overall business performance.

With the rapid pace of industry changes and the evolving demands of the workforce, continuous training is essential for companies to remain competitive.

The Chamber provides an extensive range of professional training courses tailored to meet the diverse requirements of businesses across various sectors.

As organisations dedicated to the local business community, Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce understands the challenges companies face when it comes to skills development. It provides training courses, ensuring businesses of all sizes and industries can find something that suits their needs.

These services provide companies with the tools they need to address their most pressing challenges, such as Business Toolkit, Sales & Marketing, Management and Personal Development and International Trade.

Northamptonshire Chamber’s group operations director Julie MacLennan emphasised the impact that investing in staff development can have on business success.

“Training is an essential part of any business strategy. It not only improves employee performance but also boosts morale and engagement. Our programmes are designed to address the specific needs of businesses, helping them to stay agile and competitive in today’s fast-changing market.

n Find out more at chambermk. co.uk or call the Chamber training team on 01604 490490.

The first Quarterly Economic Survey of 2025 from the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce paints a mixed picture of trading conditions across the region.

The report reveals a challenging start to the year for many businesses, with indicators showing downward trends in both domestic and overseas sales alongside continued pressures from rising costs and ongoing recruitment difficulties.

While some resilience was noted, the Q1 results suggest that uncertainty is still a major concern for firms across Northamptonshire. Business confidence around profitability also dipped slightly, reflecting broader national economic trends and inflationary challenges.

Northamptonshire Chamber’s head of policy Simon Cox said: “The findings from our Q1 survey demonstrate that local businesses are doing everything they can to stay resilient but they are still facing significant headwinds. Rising costs, skills shortages and a lack of market certainty are taking a toll.

“That is why it is more important than

“Businesses are doing everything they can to stay resilient but they are still facing significant headwinds.”

ever that businesses speak up. The QES gives them a platform to highlight the real-world challenges they are dealing with and that insight is shared directly with government and policymakers.”

The QES is the UK’s largest and longestrunning independent business survey, feeding into the British Chambers of Commerce’s national economic analysis and informing the Bank of England and HM Treasury.

By taking just a few minutes to complete the survey, local businesses can ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels, Simon said.

The Q2 QES survey launches on May 12, and Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce wants to hear the views of businesses of all sizes across the county. Take part at surveymonkey.com/r/QES_Q2_25.

Read the full Quarterly Economic Survey report for Q1 2025 at chambermk.co.uk/representation/quarterly-economic-surveys/

Simon Cox

BID strikes gold after a ‘transformational’ year

Meet the winners and finalists in this year’s SME MK & Buckinghamshire Business Awards

Winners in this year’s SME Milton Keynes & Buckinghamshire Business Awards have been speaking of their pride at their success.

Almost 300 businesspeople were at Stadium MK’s DoubleTree by Hilton to acclaim the winners of a total 20 awards, including for the first time Business Leader, presented as a result of a public vote to Amanda Wright, creative director of business management consultancy Yellowyoyo.

The overall winner was financial planning specialist Simplicity Financial Planning.

Milton Keynes Business Centre at Linford Wood had multiple reasons to celebrate, taking home two awards including gold as Business of the Year in the less than 50 employees category and the runner-up

BEST ENTERPRISING BUSINESS

Gold Antoinette Oglethorpe

Silver Milton Keynes Business Centre

BEST NEW BUSINESS

Gold PPS GB Silver Hexagon Recruitment Partners

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Gold Roseview Windows

Silver Nutshell Creative

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (less than 50 employees)

Gold Capital Space - Milton Keynes

Business Centre

Silver Eco Design Consultants

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (50-plus employees)

Gold Mirus IT Solutions

Silver Sport Works

BUSINESS INNOVATION

Gold Chameleon Live

Silver Radfield Home Care

BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Gold Mandy Hamerla (Modern HR Ltd)

For

silver award in Best Enterprising Business.

Senior centre manager Matt Roberts and his team also celebrated with tenants Hexagon recruitment Partners, which won silver as Best New Business, and Business Person of the Year Elvis Idegbekwu, managing director of Peach Care Services.

“To win one award was fantastic but to win two is more than we ever could have dreamed of,” said Matt. “We are over the moon - our success would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the entire team.”

Also celebrating was MyMiltonKeynes

“Testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of our team.”

Silver Katie Parker (Pickles Pet Pantry)

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Gold Elvis Idegbekwu (Peach Care Services)

Silver Daxa Patel (HR Results Ltd)

COMMUNITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Gold YMCA Milton Keynes

Silver ID:MK

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Gold Alt Street Property

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Gold Pragmatiq

Silver B P Collins LLP

FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Gold Simplicity

Silver Landmark Property Solutions

HOSPITALITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Gold The Cross Keys

Silver Leonardo Hotel Milton Keynes

MILTON KEYNES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Gold MyMiltonKeynes BID

Business Improvement District, a finalist in three categories and striking gold in the Milton Keynes Business of the Year category.

The award comes at the end of what chief executive Jill Farnsworth described as a “transformational” year for the BID.

“We introduced new services such as the My Local Bobby security team, our consumer website mymk.cc, our City Centre Gift card and so much more,” Jill added. “Winning this award is a testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of our team and we are chuffed to bits to win.”

Many of the winners will now go forward to the SME National Business Awards, which take place in November at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster.

Silver Milton Keynes Music Academy

POSITIVE IMPACT

Gold TOP Physiotherapy

Silver YMCA Milton Keynes

SUSTAINABILITY

Gold Ampergia

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Gold Diane Butterworth

Silver Crown Business Finance

WEBSITE OF THE YEAR

Gold Janno Media

Silver Harry’s Rainbow

YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Gold Oliver Ridgeway (Eco Design Consultants)

Silver Srishti Verma (Ampergia)

BUSINESS LEADER (public vote)

Gold Amanda Wright (Yellowyoyo)

Silver Sheri Irons (Independent Substation Services)

Overall Winner: Simplicity

542720.

success as overall Business of

Business Person of the Year, with their

from Business MK editor Andrew Gibbs

Below:

Clockwise from left: Samantha Bradford and Rachel Toseland celebrate Simplicity Financial Planning’s

the Year; Matt Roberts, centre manager at Milton Keynes Business Centre, and Elvis Idegbekwu,

awards; Mirus IT Solutions receives the Business of the Year (50+ employees)

(right)

The party begins for the 2025 SME MK & Buckinghamshire Business awards winners

You can’t stop HMRC – but you can stop wasting money on insurance

Danny Flowers, client director at Motum Insurance,

look at the expenses you can influence. And one of the biggest (and most neglected) is insurance. For many businesses, insurance is one of the most significant annual spends – right behind payroll and rent. And yet, it’s often seen as offering the least value. A grudge purchase. Just another invoice to pay.

Let’s be honest – National Insurance going up wasn’t on anyone’s wishlist.

It’s just another hit to your margins. Another decision made far away, landing straight on your bottom line. And like most things from HMRC, there’s not much you can do to change it.

But here’s the thing – in uncertain market conditions, when costs are creeping up from every angle, it’s more important than ever to take a proper

But if NI’s slicing into your profit, ignoring your insurance spend could be doing the same – quietly, year after year. Because here’s the reality: most businesses have one of three insurance problems.

1. The Set-and-Forget Problem

You haven’t reviewed your insurance in years. You’ve stuck with the same broker out of habit, assuming they’re still keeping you properly covered. Maybe

they are. Maybe they’re not. But if no one’s challenged the cover recently, how can you be sure it’s still right for your business today?

2. The Wasted Spend Problem

You’re insured correctly but you’re not getting the most from your premium. Maybe you’re overpaying in low-risk areas or missing savings that could come from restructuring your policy or leveraging your spend more effectively. Without a proper review, those inefficiencies just carry on unnoticed.

3. The Fear Factor

You know your cover isn’t quite right but the worry is that changing anything will just cost more. So you leave it. You accept “probably fine” instead of taking a proper look. It’s a quiet kind of fear but it keeps businesses stuck – and often paying more than they should.

And then there are the few who think it’ll never happen to them. They tend to be the ones who suffer the most when it does.

So what’s the link to NI?

Simple. Both NI and insurance are costs that affect your margin. But there’s a key difference: you have no control over one – and total control over the other.

Too many businesses see insurance as a product: a policy, a PDF, a tick-box. But really it’s a contract between two parties. A negotiation. And like any contract, it needs to be reviewed, challenged and tailored – especially when margins are under pressure.

That’s where the right broker adds value. Not just by placing a policy but also by making sure your spend is smart, your cover is right and your business isn’t throwing money at the wrong risks.

Final thought:

You can’t change what HMRC does. But your insurance? That’s yours to get on top of. And right now, the businesses that do are the ones that stay lean, stay protected – and stay in control.

Theo Chalmers Sound the death knell for convenience

The first time I visited California I realised that the Americans were smarter than us Brits in one very particular way. They truly value convenience. Nothing must stand in its way.

Supermarkets must stay open 24 hours a day. Parking must be free, even in limited space car parks where it was necessary to get a shop - any shop - to stamp your card. If there was deal by a company whose goods were stocked at a supermarket, rather than by the supermarket itself, you were told about it automatically at the till.

I recall buying two bottles of potentially “emergency water” for a short trip to the Anza-Borrego Desert with its 600,000 acres of diverse desert terrain, a desert so hot in late August that it was like standing in front of a hairdryer on full blast, while the roads were covered with basking snakes.

As I got to the cashier with my two bottles of a particular brand, she said: “I think there’s a two for one offer on those”. She pulled out a page of a newspaper with hundreds of offers, cut out the right one and let me pay for just one bottle.

Can you imagine Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury’s doing that? No, me neither.

This lack of any sense of the necessity of convenience often strikes me in Milton Keynes. Its City Council has recently found new ways to strip out further convenience from our lives. Suddenly expecting more than one green bin to be collected without incurring an additional fee is no longer an option, despite rises in everybody’s council tax and regardless of the size of your garden.

This move by the council follows other recent slaps in our faces such as having to make an appointment to drive to the tip and to never be allowed to use a trailer or van should you have one. Not only does the council fail to understand and respect the needs of its citizens; it appears to go out of its way to hurt them both financially and emotionally.

You would think that MKCC’s mission would be to improve the lives of its citizens. It would, you’d imagine, revere and respect the original principles for this city that made it different from and much more user-friendly than virtually everywhere else.

These principles were so clever that the original plans for Milton Keynes have been copied all over the world from Africa to Canada and beyond. You would hope that MKCC would literally do

of

Eden and managing director of Verve PR. urbaneden.org / vervepr.co.uk

t.chalmers@vervepr.co.uk, 01908 275271

everything in its power to preserve such elements as 1km grid squares with their own workplaces and shops to avoid a morning and evening ‘rush hour’ to the centre, that they would champion new redways, new grid roads, new gradeseparated crossings, reasonable-cost parking where it is absolutely necessary to charge anything.

But no. MKCC is proving itself to be, quite literally, the enemy of its citizenry.

I wonder whether the council has already damaged trade at centre:mk with parking charges and strict ticketing routines. I am willing to bet that the centre would be busier and more successful if parking was still free as it is at other major shopping centres countrywide such as at eight of the biggest shopping centres in the UK:

n Bluewater, in Kent, has 13,000 free parking spaces.

n Meadowhall, Sheffield has 12,000 spaces.

n The Metrocentre in Gateshead is one of the UK’s biggest with 10,000 free spaces.

n Lakeside Shopping Centre at Thurrock offers 11,857 free spaces.

n Trafford Centre in Manchester – in my experience, one of the UK’s best –provides 11,500 free spaces.

n In Glasgow, the Braehead centre has more than 4,600 free spaces. Silverburn includes more than 3,400.

“The anti-convenience brigade will have one more notch on their belts of pain, one more way to fine and penalise us all.”

n Arena Park in Coventry, has 1,600 spaces.

Meanwhile, Milton Keynes City Council has announced plans to remove the last vestige of free parking in central Milton Keynes. Shortly before you read this column, a deadline of April 24, 2025, will have passed by which time MKCC will have sought public input via a statutory consultation - input that I can absolutely be certain will be ignored.

It was seeking our views on separate Traffic Regulation Orders to remove all existing car share parking places and free and limited waiting parking places in Central Milton Keynes, replacing each with standard and premium tariff parking places.

“The proposal is based on the results of the Council’s Strategic Review of Parking, a citywide initiative designed to assess parking pressures and to identify areas where parking controls would help to alleviate those pressures,” the council said in its Official Statement of Reasons.

“The proposal aims to manage parking availability and usage to the benefit of residents, businesses and their visitors. This will be achieved by the alteration of a combination of parking restrictions and parking places.”

So it is all for my benefit. Silly me, how could I not see that? How funny, that increased revenue from fees and fines does not get even a mention.

For those of us still able to park for free near the market, for instance, it will be the end of an era. The anti-convenience brigade at MKCC will have one more notch in their belts of pain, one more slap in the face for its citizens, one more way to fine and penalise us all.

And to think that MKCC has its own car park, right in the heart of CMK and entirely free for councillors. What a happy coincidence.

Cheerio.

Theo Chalmers is chair

Urban

Human Resources

More than just a moral imperative

Prioritising employee wellbeing can increase staff retention, enhance productivity, improve workplace culture and deliver a strategic advantage.

In today’s competitive business environment, it is essential that organisations recognise the critical role staff wellbeing plays in future business success.

Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research showed the cost of staff absence and presenteeism has reached over £100 billion.

Wellbeing, encompassing the physical, mental and emotional health of staff, is central to the enhancement of employee satisfaction and productivity. This, in turn, significantly impacts staff retention rates, business success, and a positive brand image.

The benefits of prioritising staff wellbeing:

Boosting morale and job satisfaction

When employees feel valued and supported, their morale and job satisfaction improve.

Low-cost wellbeing initiatives such as flexible working hours, mental health support and wellness programmes demonstrate that an organisation cares about its employees’ health. This fosters a positive work environment, encouraging employees to stay committed to their roles and the organisation.

Reducing absenteeism and presenteeism

Investing in employee wellbeing can decrease both absenteeism (frequent health-related absences) and

“Engaged employees are more motivated, productive and committed.”

presenteeism (working while unwell which leads to lower productivity).

Promoting a healthy work-life balance and providing physical and mental health support can help ensure employees are present and performing at their best.

Enhancing employee engagement

Employee engagement is tied to wellbeing. Engaged employees are more motivated, productive and committed.

Wellbeing initiatives that address stress management, career development and work-life balance contribute to higher levels of engagement. When employees feel supported both personally and professionally, they invest more energy and creativity into their work, benefiting the organisation.

Attracting and retaining talent

Organisations that prioritise staff wellbeing have a competitive edge in attracting top talent.

Prospective employees increasingly seek supportive, healthy work environments. By committing to wellbeing, organisations can attract high-quality candidates and retain well-performing existing employees, reducing turnover and associated recruitment and

training costs.

Building a positive organisational culture

Prioritising staff wellbeing helps create a positive culture. When employees feel their wellbeing is valued, it builds trust and loyalty. This culture boosts employee satisfaction and attracts individuals who appreciate a supportive work environment.

A strong culture focused on wellbeing can differentiate the organisation in the marketplace, enhancing its reputation and success.

Staff wellbeing has numerous influences on the effectiveness of a business. By investing in the health and happiness of employees, organisations can create a positive work environment, reduce absenteeism, enhance engagement, attract top talent and build a strong organisational culture.

Prioritising staff wellbeing is not just a moral imperative but a strategic and financial advantage in today’s competitive business world.

n For support with strategies for improving staff wellbeing, the South Midlands Growth Hub can help. We are connecting to more than 70 business partners and our extensive resource library brings you the best programme, toolkits and guidance for all business. Connect to a Growth Hub Business Adviser to learn how we can support your business.

Time to embrace pay transparency

New pay transparency directives from the European Union are starting to influence employment practices in the UK. Pay transparency is no longer a progressive ideal…it is fast becoming a business necessity.

Employee expectations continue to evolve and, says an HR specialist, businesses must urgently rethink how they approach pay.

“Transparency is not just about publishing salary bands,” said Rachel Collar, founder of Towcester-based consultancy Haus of HR. “It is about creating a fair, open and accountable culture around reward. People want to know they are being treated equitably and they are no longer afraid to ask.”

The UK is not legally bound to follow EU rules but there are ripple effects. Many UK companies, especially those with global workforces or progressive values, are taking voluntary steps toward transparency to stay competitive in a tight, candidate-driven market.

Jobseekers are driving this change, Rachel added. Candidates now expect to see salary information clearly advertised in job postings and many will scroll past

roles that do not include it. According to recent research, listings that include pay details attract more applicants and build greater trust from the outset.

Transparency in recruitment is becoming a deciding factor for top talent. Rachel fears that ignoring this trend could do more damage than employers realise.

“When pay feels mysterious or unfair, it fuels distrust. We have seen it time

and again - employees start comparing notes, engagement drops, grievances rise and retention becomes a real issue. Even your brand reputation can take a hit.”

She has compiled a checklist of actions for employers to keep them ahead of the curve.

Conduct a pay audit

Start by reviewing your internal pay data across gender, ethnicity and roles to identify hidden gaps..

Define clear pay bands and criteria

Structured salary frameworks help remove ambiguity. Be clear on how pay is set, how progression happens and what the benchmarks are for different roles.

Train your managers

Equip them with the confidence and language to explain pay decisions clearly and consistently.

Communicate with clarity

“People do not need to know everyone’s exact salary but they do need to understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind pay decisions,” said Rachel.

“When businesses lead with fairness, they attract top talent, retain their best people and build a culture where everyone knows their worth.”

Rachel Collar

Big business is exploiting its financial data to give it a competitive advantage. SMEs can do the same but, says Adrian Goodman of PPX Consulting, many are currently missing out.

Shrewd financial management is bringing a commercial edge

In the world of small business, finance is often seen as a necessary evil. You hire an accountant to file your accounts, keep HM Revenue & Customs happy and make sure payroll runs on time.

It is compliance-driven. Box-ticking. Something you do because you have to… or at least, because you think you have to.

In larger businesses, it could not be more different. Finance is not just a cost of doing business; it is a strategic asset. Big companies invest tens, even hundreds, of thousands into financial strategy, forecasting, analysis and performance management.

Not because they have to. Because they know it gives them a commercial edge. So why the disconnect?

In small companies, the role of finance tends to begin and end with statutory obligations. But in big companies, finance helps to steer the ship. The finance function does not just report the numbers; it interprets them, challenges them and uses them to shape decisions. This can add far more value to your business than you may realise.

This is where functions like financial planning and analysis come into play. They exist to ask ‘What if?’. What if we changed our pricing model? What if we shifted sales resources? What if we invested in a new market?

These are not hypothetical questions. They are real business levers, backed by data and scenario planning.

Many small business owners fall into the same trap: to improve profit, they focus on generating more sales.

Yes, revenue matters. But every pound of sales comes with a cost – there is always a margin.

Cost savings, by contrast, drop straight to the bottom line. A pound saved is a pound earned.

“Finance becomes the lens through which you see your business more clearly. From there you are not just tweaking. You are transforming.”

But even that approach misses the bigger picture. Because the real value of a strong financial function is not just in finding savings or chasing sales. It is in producing data and making that data meaningful.

When you truly understand your business - not just the top line or bottom line but also what is driving those numbers - you gain the power to make smarter, sharper decisions.

Finance becomes the lens through which you see your business more clearly.

And from there? You are not just tweaking. You are transforming.

When finance becomes more than just an admin task, when it starts feeding you insights, you start seeing the business differently.

You spot underperforming products before they drag you down. You allocate your resources more effectively. You make decisions with confidence instead of gut feel.

These are not marginal gains. In many cases, the right financial insights have reshaped business operations entirely, turning struggling companies into thriving ones merely by putting strategy before instinct.

Of course, most SMEs do not have the budget for a full-time finance director or FP&A team. But that does not mean you cannot adopt the same principles.

Work with an accountant who can go beyond compliance. Look at forecasting tools, performance dashboards and scenario planning, even if they are simple to start with. Build regular financial reviews into your business rhythm.

Because finance is not just about knowing where you have been. It is about figuring out where you could go next… and how to get there.

Adrian Goodman

Adrian Goodman is managing director of PPX Consulting and author of Achieving Profitable Growth: Use the ‘Four Points of Control’ to grow your profit and your business. Available on Amazon.

Online Excel training at ppxtraining.co.uk/ practical-excel-skills/ Find out more at ppxconsulting.co.uk adrian.goodman@ppxconsulting. co.uk 01536 904 886

Hybrid working: Find the right balance

Hybrid working has boosted productivity and staff wellbeing but employers remain keen for employees to spend more time in the office than working from home, says new research.

The findings by business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK in its latest Business Outlook Tracker show that 90% of companies currently have a hybrid

working approach.

Of these, most believe that the approach is adding significant value to their business and their people:

n 76% believe that it has boosted their people’s productivity.

n 74% believe that it has positively impacted their people’s wellbeing.

n 79% believe that their people prefer a hybrid working approach.

n 79% believe that hybrid working is beneficial for their business.

Yet 74% of these respondents would prefer their people to spend more time in the office., the Business Outlook Tracker found. This may be due to a recognition that in-person interactions can often be more beneficial for specific activities –78% of the businesses adopting a hybrid approach say that it is impacting their ability to provide adequate support and development for younger or trainee employees.

Charlotte Anderson, practice lead for Grant Thornton UK in Milton Keynes, said: “We are seeing businesses embrace hybrid working while still valuing crucial in-person connections. This flexible approach boosts wellbeing and productivity yet many organisations recognise that activities like mentoring younger talent thrive with face-to-face interaction.

“Finding the right balance is essential for businesses.”

Grant Thornton trusts its people to make sensible decisions about where and when they work, she added.

“A trust-based approach with clear guiding principles allows employees to deliver high-quality work while enjoying a better work-life balance. Implementing a supportive framework helps ensure everyone’s needs are met.”

Charlotte Anderson

Recruits clean up in their new roles

Biohazard cleaning company Specialist

Remediation Solutions has expanded its team with five new recruits.

Supervisors Darrell Stancil, George Conway, Andrew Davis, and Daniel Foley, plus operative Allen Scott, have previously worked with SRS managing director Stephen Booth and operations director Elena Paunete in similar roles.

FSB appoints its regional chair

Management and leadership consultant

Dawn Edwards is the Federation of Small Businesses’ new chair in the East Midlands.

“I am delighted to have been appointed to this key role and want to ensure that the voice of small businesses across the East Midlands region is clearly heard,” she said.

“Building a business community where we can share experiences and support each other is key to my volunteer role and I look forward to meeting businesses across East Midlands whether virtually or in person.”

Dawn is the founder and managing director of Challenge Consulting, a management and leadership training company based in Nottinghamshire. In her new role, she will be part of the

Elena said: “In the last year the business has gained a lot of new customers and big clients and we expanded into biohazard cleaning so we needed a bigger team to keep up with demand.” SRS works with a wide range of clients across the country to provide house clearances, crime scene and trauma clean-ups, and virus decontamination.

new English Policy Unit team discussing local and national issues to ensure FSB continue to champion the needs of small businesses and self-employed to national and local government.

She sees her role as regional chair as vital to ensure FSB continues to grow its business community. Volunteering remains essential to local business support, she said.

Experienced surveyor checks in

Land and property specialist Robinson & Hall has welcomed David Cook (inset) to its Bedford office as senior building surveyor. He has more than 40 years’ experience in building surveying and has worked on a variety of property types including commercial, retail and historic buildings.

Law firm celebrates partner promotions

Two solicitors at national law firm Freeths’ office in Milton Keynes are celebrating their promotion to partner.

Corporate lawyer Natalie Drought and tax expert Matthew Switzer are among a total 81 promotions announced by the firm across its 13 UK offices.

National managing partner Karl Jansen said: “Their contributions and dedication to Freeths and our clients are rightly being recognised and I hope they are as proud of this achievement as we are to be able to reward their endeavours.”

(from left) Darrell Stancil, Andrew Davis, George Conway, Daniel Foley and Allen Scott

Dawn Edwards

Natalie Drought

Matthew Switzer

Directorship reflects skills and leadership

Corporate finance specialist Watersheds has promoted Tim Harrington to director of its Northampton office.

Since joining the company in 2018, Tim has led on several major deals, including the sale of asset management

consultancy The Woodhouse Partnership to RSK Group; the sale of engineering and software specialist GRM Consulting to US-based, private equity-backed Solid Solutions and a strategic acquisition for a leading IT consultancy business.

He advises a range of owner-managed businesses across the East and West Midlands, the M1 corridor and East Anglia.

“It is a real pleasure to help clients realise the benefits of what has often been a lifetime’s work, grow their business or acquire their own,” said Tim.

Before joining Watersheds, Tim held senior commercial and financial roles in the energy sector, including three years in Norway as an economist and as commercial finance manager for a FTSE 100 subsidiary.

Watersheds managing director Sue Green said: “Tim’s combination of experience in senior roles in industry and acumen in advising businesses across the region and guiding them to meet their goals has resulted in his having a real impact on the development and growth of business in the region.

“His promotion to director is recognition of the skills he has as well as his leadership of the growing team in Northampton.”

Established in 1998, Watersheds also has offices in Swindon and Crawley.

Chairman praises team effort after career moves for rising stars

Regional law firm Howes Percival has announced three senior promotions at its Milton Keynes office.

Commercial property specialist Charlotte Harrison and corporate lawyer

Shital Odedra have become legal directors. Family services lawyer Kelly Longmore is now a senior associate.

The promotions follow the firm’s growth over recent years to meet increased demand from clients and to expand the range of services it offers.

In January 2024, Howes Percival opened an office in Oxford in January last year after acquiring commercial, IP & media

law firm Maier Blackburn.

Howes Percival chairman Geraint Davies (inset) said: “Huge congratulations to everyone on their promotions. I think the whole team at Howes Percival has made an enormous contribution over the last 12 months so while we celebrate the specific landmark of a promotion, we also recognise the hard work, dedication and invaluable contribution everyone has made.”

East Midlands, including four in Northampton.

Family services specialist

Alishia Marrocco is now a partner in the firm whose directors now include Will Taylor in the corporate department and intellectual property, IT and digital commerce specialist Stephen Ruse. Employment and HR law specialist Sobia Ahmad is promoted to senior associate.

Howes Percival has also announced promotions across its offices in the

Geraint said: “We continue to invest in our people, our technology and our offices to make Howes Percival a great place to work and develop your career.”

(from left) Tim Harrington with Watersheds partners James Owen and William Senior and associate Roshan Seenundun

Shital Odedra

Charlotte Harrison

Alishia Marrocco

Business of Sport

The new chairman of Northampton Saints pledges to keep the club at the forefront of rugby’s evolution.

Northampton Saints director Ella Bevan is to become the club’s chairman in succession to John White, who is stepping down at the end of the current season.

She has been on the Saints board since 2012 and follows in the footsteps of her father Keith Barwell and brother Leon Barwell in becoming chairman.

She is keen to see the club at the forefront of rugby’s evolution, in particular ensuring that the Saints and Premiership rugby generally becomes sustainable and competitive. “Saints need to evolve as rugby evolves and we need to make sure that we are key drivers and innovators in that process.

“I have always felt that the club has led from the front on a lot of rugby initiatives and we need to keep moving forward and finding new methods to progress as without doing so, we will get left behind.

“Sustainability is what we are striving for. It is what we have always been about, ever since the club went professional, and we have always tried to ensure our business model is right. Our years and years of profitability came when the salary cap and central distributions were all pretty balanced and we are in a situation now where that is not the case.

“ We have always tried to be as supportive to the coaches as possible to give them the resources that they need to succeed as we need to ensure we are competitive on and off the pitch.”

Ella has been a director at Northamptonshire farming and property management business Bradden Estates since 2009, having previously been a head of department at Northampton High School. Without the support of the Barwell family, the Saints would not have been able to enter rugby’s professional era. The club’s Barwell Stand was named in the family’s honour in 2016.

Colin Povey will continue as deputy chairman, the role he has held since 2017. The rest of the board will remain unchanged.

“The club has been an important part of my life, and all my family’s lives, for almost 40 years,” Ella said. “I am humbled to be following on from my dad, from my brother Leon and of course Tony Hewitt and John White, who have all achieved incredible things across their tenures as chairman and have been great role models for me to follow.

“There is a lot of responsibility that comes with this role. The board and the executive currently work very much as a team together and this will not change

I

am confident our best days are still ahead

of us

during my chairmanship. We are blessed with a strong executive team in whom the board have complete faith. We are there to support and direct them however we can.”

She praised the loyalty of Saints’ supporters. “They are the most important part of this club and we would not be where we are without them. There are challenges ahead of us but I have seen everything from Premiership and European Cup triumphs to relegations and promotions over the years of my involvement at Saints and I am completely confident that our best days are still ahead of us.”

Departing chairman John White said: “I had always hoped in the back of my mind that Ella would be the person I handed the baton on to at some stage. She has been an incredible asset to the board over more than a decade and to the club as a whole for even longer than that.”

The club’s chief executive Julia Chapman added: “Ella has forgotten more about Northampton Saints than most of us could ever hope to learn and without the Barwell family Saints would not be where it is today.

“Ella is deeply rooted in the local community here in Northampton and understands the club from a supporter’s perspective as well as anyone possibly could. She has always been passionate about engaging Saints’ supporters and about the club being here for the good of the whole town of Northampton.”

Departing chairman John White joined the board in 2012 and became chairman five years later. He oversaw a restructuring of the club’s commercial activity in 2017 and of its rugby set-up the following year. He led the club during the pandemic.

“The proudest moment of my chairmanship is last season’s Gallagher Premiership triumph but I am also extremely proud about the way we negotiated the pandemic and how we have developed so many homegrown players from within our Academy system over the last few years,” he said.

“I feel blessed to have witnessed some truly great players pull on a black, green and gold jersey during my time as chairman. Our coaching team and performance department are an incredibly talented and dedicated group, the club is in great hands with our leadership team and commercial staff who continue to deliver strong growth year after year, and of course our loyal supporter base is second to none.”

Ella Bevan

Esports challenge inspires engineers

Anew competition that aims to bridge the gap between esports and real world engineering and inspire the next generation of digital engineering talent is taking shape in Milton Keynes.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, which has offices in the city at Tongwell and at Silverstone Park, has finalised its partnership with Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing.

It is now inviting industry professionals, gamers and students to tackle a series of skills-based challenges, with the finalists earning an exclusive visit to the Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing Erena at Oracle Red Bull Racing’s headquarters on Tilbrook.

The Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing team won the Teams’ and Drivers’ titles in the F1 Sim Racing World Championship – the pinnacle of virtual motorsport.

Hexagon is a long-standing partner of Oracle Red Bull Racing and the partnership reflects its commitment to inspiring a new wave of talent and championing digital innovation and future-ready skills in engineering and manufacturing, said Josh Weiss, president at Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division

“There is increasing synergy between esports and engineering, and sim racing offers an authentic proving ground for several transferable skills, with drivers using data analytics and rapid decision-making just as engineers do in F1 racing and high-performance automotive manufacturing.

“With the Future Skills Challenge, we are

showcasing how digital capabilities can translate directly into exciting, futurefocused careers in manufacturing.”

The competition runs on June 1-30 in the 18-and-under and 19-and-over categories. A dynamic leaderboard will track participants’ progress throughout the contest.

The six Future Skills Challenge finalists will be invited to Red Bull’s state-of-theart Sim Racing Erena in Milton Keynes in September. They will receive personalised coaching sessions from Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing’s elite sim racers, engage with advanced driving simulators and take a rare behind-the-scenes look at Red Bull Technology Group’s

groundbreaking facilities.

The overall winner will also take home Fanatec sim racing equipment bundle worth around €4,000.

Joe Soltysik, head of esports at Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology, said: “As the engineer role in sim racing becomes increasingly complex, the line between real and virtual has never been so close. By working with Hexagon, we can create new pathways for budding engineers to build a career within esports, manufacturing and beyond.

“We cannot wait to see talented minds entering the Future Skills Challenge.”

n Find out more at redbullsimracing.com

Club partners sign up for new cricket season

BIG Safety, which distributes Australianmade work and safety boots and workwear, is to continue as an official partner of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.

The company is also to sponsor club coach and former Australian Test allrounder Darren Lehmann.

BIG Safety’s founder Ryan Sneddon said: “As an Aussie, cricket runs in my blood, and supporting a legend like Darren Lehmann is an absolute privilege. His experience, passion, and dedication to the game are unmatched and we are thrilled to be backing him as he continues to inspire the next generation of cricketers.

“This partnership is not just about cricket. It is about championing hard work, resilience and the Aussie spirit.”

n Energy procurement provider Apertus Group is to continue as the club’s official energy partner.

“The partnership with the cricket is so much more than just a customer/ supplier relationship,” said managing director Grant McKenna. “Extending the agreement between NCCC and Apertus Group is part of our long-term strategy.

The exposure NCCC offer as a partner has had a significant impact the company’s growth over the past eight years.”

Apertus Group, which is based in Northampton, will play a key role in helping keep the club’s energy prices in line with its long-term strategy. “Energy is one of the most difficult things as a club and business to manage, especially in recent times so to have the support from the guys at Apertus is fantastic for us,” said chief operating officer Daniel Vernon.

n Building consultancy 4Front

Construction is to continue as an official partner of Northamptonshire County

Cricket Club for the new 2025 season.

“4Front are another perfect example of what we are trying to achieve here at the club,” said Daniel. “It is fantastic to continue our relationship.”

n Independent accountancy and business advisory network Moore, which has offices in Northampton and Corby, is to continue its support of club captain and all-rounder Luke Procter and will join fellow businesses at the club’s 1878 Business Club events.

Joint managing partner April Foster (inset) said: “We are looking forward to seeing some fantastic cricket and meeting other members of the local business community at NCCC’s excellent 1878 Business Club.”

Business of Sport

Cobblers report record

turnover in 2023-24 season

Northampton Town Football Club have filed the club’s annual report and financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Following promotion to League One, the club achieved a record turnover of more than £6.7 million in this period - an increase of around 31% on the previous year. The playing budget increased by 45.9%.

The year also saw the club achieve its highest average home league attendance for 56 years, recording a 50% increase over the last decade, while construction work began on the new LCS Stand, which saw a phased opening begin in March ahead of schedule.

This was also the first full season using the club’s new training centre at Moulton. Pre player-trading, the club’s losses were at a similar level to the 2022-23 season.

“The accounts show the commitment of us as owners.”

Chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “2023-24 was another successful period for the club both on and off the field. We achieved a finishing league position bettered only three times in 57 years, record attendances and we saw work commence on the new LCS Stand.

“The accounts also show the commitment of us as owners and how we have supported and continue to support the club financially to help take the club forward, helped by the hard work, dedication and expertise of the club directors, staff and the loyal backing of the club’s fantastic supporters.”

The board’s aim remains to ensure the Cobblers are financially sustainable in the medium to long term, he added. “However, the reality is that with the current financial pressures facing the game, this is very difficult to achieve while also maintaining a competitive playing budget to allow the club to be successful on the pitch.

“External influence will be needed to help us, and many other clubs, to achieve that and we hope the expected appointment of a football regulator will be a big step forward in this regard.”

Dons welcome a ‘real coup’ appointment

The new chief commercial officer at MK Dons FC is relishing the challenge of closer involvement with the business community as a key part of the club’s growth ambitions.

Mark Davies has worked with clubs in the EFL and Premier League, as well as Premiership rugby with Leicester Tigers.

His appointment is “a real coup” for the League Two club, said chief executive Neil Hart.

Mark has spells at Leicester City, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town and Coventry City on his CV. “MK Dons are a club I have always thought of fondly whenever I have visited and with the new ownership group and their ambition, I could not wait to be part of it.

“From the outside looking in, the Dons >>

Sponsor renews deal for new campaign

Stadium Support Services has renewed its shirt sleeve sponsorship of MK Dons FC. Its branding will be displayed on the Dons kit until the end of the 2025-26 season.

“We have been bowled over by everyone at the club since we became involved and are delighted to extend our partnership as a result,” said Stadium Support Services managing director Scott Hudson. “It is a club on an upward trajectory and we really want to be a part of it.

Continuing our involvement with MK Dons is an important

part of our future business plans.”

The company specialises in delivering sustainable projects and reactive maintenance for clients in the UK sport, leisure and commercial property sectors.

Dons chief executive Neil Hart (inset) said: “Since joining the club we have been very clear that we are open for business.

“We want to work with fantastic companies to establish and develop impactful working relationships. Scott and the team at Stadium Support Services are brilliant example of that.”

Crystals lay foundations for

Solid foundations are in place for Milton Keynes City FC Crystals under-10 girls team thanks to a sponsorship deal with ground engineering specialist Mainmark UK.

The deal has provided the team’s new training kit, emblazoned with the Mainmark logo. The company, whose UK office is at Stacey Bushes, is keen to elevate the grassroots game and encourage for the next generation of female football talent

General manager Tom Kavanagh said: “Every athlete begins their career at a local level, being nurtured and trained by the community to achieve great things. This is why grassroots sports teams are so important.

“Our job as subsidence experts is to stabilise and strengthen foundations of homes and businesses to provide

soccer success

longevity. It is only right, then, that we provide similar support for our community by helping to lay the groundwork for future football stars.”

The Crystals team was formed in 2022 under name MK City Lionesses, a nod to the success of the England Lionesses women’s team. “Teams like England’s Lionesses have made major strides in promoting women’s sport and to see them inspire the next generation of footballers is truly incredible,” said Mainmark UK’s residential lead Freya Chapman, one of only a few female subsidence experts in Europe.

“There is still a long way to go, though. Better funding is needed at a grassroots, semi-professional and professional level in the girls’ game before we reach an equilibrium. Mainmark is pleased to be playing just a small role in this funding.”

Mark Davies

“We are just as ambitious about what the club can achieve off the pitch.”

>> are one of the most exciting clubs to be involved with and drive forward - our ambition is to make this club and the stadium THE place to do business in the region, building on the good work which has gone on previously.”

His brief is to accelerate and enhance the club’s commercial performance. Ending a season to forget in the lower reaches of League Two, the club’s sights are already set on success in the 2025-26 season, which kicks off in August.

“We are just as ambitious about what the club can achieve off the pitch as well as on it,” said Neil.

“Mark will help shape what the next era of MK Dons looks like as we look to increase our portfolio of business partnerships and sponsorship, as well as driving forward our high-quality matchday hospitality offering for corporate partners and supporters.

“There is a real excitement and energy in terms of what we can all achieve in the next few years with the backing of our fantastic ownership group and I am certain Mark’s enthusiasm and experience will help us realise that potential.

“Mark is one of the most talented and driven CCOs working in British sport. It is a real coup for us to have him join the team at Stadium MK. Mark was the outstanding candidate and I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Mark added: “There is a lot to do to take us to the next level but MK have always been a club powered by great people, be it staff, sponsors or supporters, which gives us a really strong foundation for success.”

On the grid in the race for gender equality

Drag racing venue Santa Pod Raceway in Bedfordshire is part of a campaign highlighting the lessons that other motorsports can learn from drag racing’s success in female representation.

Santa Pod has joined More than Equal, a global motorsport initiative to find and develop the first female F1 world champion, and Women in Motorsports North America to launch a white paper examining the sport’s leadership in gender inclusivity.

The report, titled It’s Never Been A Thing: Lessons in Gender Equality from Drag Racing, highlights the environment, cultural values and structural advantages that have enabled drag racing to become the most gender-equal motorsport in the world. In motorsport generally, women make up only 4% of elite competitors across disciplines.

This year, drag racing celebrated its 100th female event winner in the National Hot Rod Association series. The report discusses how the sport achieved this and offers a roadmap for others to follow.

Richard Foster-Turner, business development manager for Santa Pod Raceway / Trakbak Racing, said: “It has been decades since gender became a non-issue in drag racing. Our participants consider themselves purely racers. Nobody outside drag racing has been talking about this but now with this white paper we are putting drag racing’s gender-equal credentials out there to stimulate discussion and follow-on research and to help other motorsports work towards the same level of diversity.”

Pioneering drivers Shirley Muldowney and Paula Murphy paved the way in the 1960s and 1970s, inspiring generations of female drivers who now dominate

in categories such as Top Fuel and Pro Stock. The report highlights strategies other motorsports can consider to close their gender gaps, including expanding talent development pipelines, promoting female role models, developing accessible entry points and removing financial barriers.

“This research underscores More than Equal’s commitment to leveraging data and insights to drive meaningful change in motorsport,” said Dr. Fran Longstaff, head of research at More than Equal. “By understanding what has worked in disciplines like drag racing, we can equip the drivers in our development programme with the knowledge and tools they need to overcome barriers and succeed at the highest levels.”

The study included extensive desk research, stakeholder interviews and ontrack observations. “Collaborating with motorsports that have achieved gender parity is crucial to creating a more inclusive future for all drivers,” said Fran.

n The white paper is available to download at bit.ly/mtedragracing

Business Soundbites

A snapshot of what business people have been telling us.

“Businesses are leaving millions on the table because their sales teams are tied up with updating CRMs and spreadsheets instead of focusing on customers.”

Muj Choudhury, CEO of conversation processing platform Rocketphone, after a survey finds that UK organisations lose on average 6% of revenue each year through missed sales opportunities due to technology ‘red tape’.

“We are doing this for all of us – the wider community of Northamptonshire and for future generations.”

Anna Jeyes, of Jeyes of Earls Barton, one of a team of businesspeople campaigning for a brown sign for Northamptonshire on the M1 at Junction 15 promoting the county’s visitor offer.

“It remains to be seen whether these decisions will be enough to dig Europe out of its ever-prolonging slump.”

Economics commentator Professor Joe Nellis, of Cranfield School of Management, reacts to the European Central Bank’s latest interest rate cut to 2.25%.

“It is clear that the entire region’s economy is soaring.”

Eamon Kennedy, senior partner at property consultancy Kirkby Diamond, after news of entertainment giant Universal’s first theme park in Europe and government approval of London Luton Airport’s expansion plans

“It uses the city as a stage and invites everyone to experience something new and unexplored.”

Monica Ferguson, festival director of IF: Milton Keynes International Festival. Ten days of spectacular and thought-provoking art and performance takes place in July.

“Just as we encourage our clients to invest in their branding and PR, we recognised the importance of doing the same for ourselves.”

Pilkington Communications managing director Jessica Pilkington on her company’s new ‘Curious Creative Communications’ rebrand.

High Sheriff puts focus on young people

Support for young people and encouraging volunteering within the community are the focus for the next year of the newly sworn in High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.

Pippa Kirkbride has spoken about providing the best possible start in life for young people across the county. Despite the many wonderful resources within the county, significant challenges remain, she said.

The High Sheriff will highlight and support initiatives which build confidence, resilience and equip today’s young people with essential tools for life. Pippa also spoke about her personal journey into volunteering, saying that it combats stress, reduces isolation and instils a sense of purpose and belonging.

“As I step into this esteemed role I do so with a deep sense of responsibility,

Relishing that winning feeling

Don’t believe everything you hear about hospital food… at least at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

Meet its catering manager Francesco Fiore, who is still digesting his success after being named Caterer of the Year at the Hospital Caterers Association awards.

Frank, as he is known throughout the hospital, heads a team that cooks up around 1,200 meals for patients every day, including meeting any dietary requirements. The team also serves hundreds of hospital staff, often with themed menus showcasing flavours from all over the world and delivers more than 1,000 hot drinks on the wards each day.

He has been cooking since he was 14 and admits that his best recipe ideas come from his mum. Before joining

tradition and an unwavering commitment to serving our wonderful county,” she said in her speech at the swearingin ceremony, held at Jubilee Hall in Amersham.

Dignitaries including MPs and Mayors from across Buckinghamshire joined outgoing High Sheriff Kurshida Mirza, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire The Countess Howe and His Honour Judge Jonathan Cooper at the ceremony.

The new High Sheriff enjoyed a long career in food manufacturing and retail. Since leaving the workplace she has volunteered with several local charities.

“I am really looking forward to a busy and fulfilling year,” she said. “I would like to meet and support as many members of our community as possible and leave a legacy of shaping a stronger and more connected Buckinghamshire.”

MKUH, Frank worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant and as a pastry chef at Harrods before starting his own business.

“I am thrilled to see Frank’s skills and sincere passion for food recognised on the national stage,” said MKUH’s chief executive Joe Harrison. “He knows that food and drink have a really important role to play in patient experience and recovery.”

Pippa Kirkbride

Francesco Fiore

The light still shines on a special music sound

As the lights fade and the music goes down on one of the most influential bands in 2Tone and Ska history, one academic at the University of Northampton has taken to the trombone for the final time as a tribute to lost friends and legendary musicians.

Tim Smart, senior lecturer in popular music, has joined forces with former band The Specials to release When A Light Goes Out in memory of legendary musician and bandmate Terry Hall, who passed away in 2022 after a short battle with cancer.

The single, written and performed by founding Specials members Lynval Golding, Horace Panter and Mark Adams, was released on the anniversary of Terry’s birthday as a heartfelt tribute to the pioneers who shaped the sound and spirit of a movement.

Among those commemorated on the track are Terry and The Specials’ late drummer John Bradbury as well as others associated with the two-tone genre

“He could say in six words what others would take hours to say.”

including Ranking Roger, singer with The Beat and General Public, Jamaican trombonist Rico – recognised as one of the first ska musicians and the original trombone player with The Specialssaxophonist Saxa, who played with Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker before joining The Beat and The Selecter’s front man Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson.

“Terry was an awesome person to know,” said Tim. “He was quiet, often shy but had the driest and most incisive sense of humour I have ever encountered. He could say in six words what others would take hours to say. He also had very strong core values about issues that came out in the band’s music, especially in relation to racism but encompassing many other aspects of human equality and value.

“The Specials is pretty much the dream job in terms of playing trombone in pop music.”

will be donated to charities Specialized Project and Tonic Music for Mental Health, continuing the band’s 47-year history and tradition of using music as a force for good.

“The Specials is pretty much the dream job in terms of playing the trombone in pop music,” said Tim.

“Solos such as those in Ghost Town, A Message to You, Rudy and Do Nothing were iconic and incredibly well known. It is really unusual as a trombone player to have 5,000 people singing along with a solo that you are doing.”

Tim played trombone on the recordings of two studio albums by The Specials, including solos. “It is quite intimidating knowing that you are standing in a dark little studio in West London playing away and what you are playing is becoming a part of that body of work.”

He also toured with the band, playing on stage at most of the world’s major festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza, V-Fest and the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics at Hyde Park.

Tim also appeared on TV shows including The Letterman Show, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel in the USA and, in the UK, on Later with Jools Holland.

Beyond his time with The Specials, Tim has continued to perform with artists including Rag ’n’ Bone Man at The Brits awards. He has also performed or recorded for artists such as Cher, Paul Weller, The Kooks, Ocean Colour Scene and Toploader and has been the trombonist in the orchestra for the hit West End musical The Book of Mormon since 2013.

Now Tim is using his extensive global musical experience to inform his ongoing research into the attributes and knowledge exhibited and valued by professional musicians and how these are developed both inside and outside of the educational world.

“It is well documented that he struggled with his mental health at times and his work as patron for the Tonic Music for Mental Health charity was fabulous to behold.”

All final funds raised from the release of When A Light Goes Out

His research feeds into his work as a senior lecturer in popular music [now that’s a cool job title… Ed.] at the University of Northampton, teaching the next generation of musical talent

“I greatly enjoying teaching for UON and all its talented students,” Tim said. “It is a real pleasure. I would count it as a major success if one day I find myself on a big stage with some of them.”

n Listen to When A Light Goes Out by The Specials Family at thespecializedproject. bandcamp.com/album/the-specialsfamily-when-a-light-goes-out

Tim Smart

...on stage at Glastonbury with The Specials in 2009

Networking

A group for networkers looking for referrals, introductions, opportunities and sales. NORTHANTS AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Every Tuesday at noon.

NATIONAL NETWORKING

Every Wednesday at noon. Contact Gary Thorpe for all events. Email: gary.thorpe@debt-doctors.co.uk Tel: 07963 766052 or 01536 333425.

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-11.30am: Online. Contact: Anna Atkins-Carter, regional director North Bucks / West Chilterns. 07540 097776, email anna.atkinscarter@theathenanetwork. com or visit: theathenanetwork.com.

BEDFORD

2nd Wednesday, 12 noon-2pm: Online. SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE

4th Tuesday, 12 noon-2pm: Online. Contact Kate Cherry, regional director Bedfordshire & St Albans on 07909 675333, Email: kate.cherry@theathenanetwork.com or visit: theathenanetwork.com

May 21, 7.45am-9.15am: The Bedfordshire Golf Club, Stagsden Sponsors: Forvis Mazars; Metro Bank; Woodfines Solicitors

Speaker tbc.

Contact Kerry Ransby Email: kransby@woodfines.co.uk or visit: bedfordbreakfastclub.co.uk

CHAMBER FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

May 1, 4pm-8.30pm: Stotfold FC, Arlesey Road

Six-a-side teams compete in a round robin tournament. Plus food, drink and networking. The event is now fully booked. AN AFTERNOON WITH PROFESSOR HELEN PANKHURST

May 5, 4.30pm-6.30pm: Luton Sixth Form College, Bradgers Hill Road

In conversation with the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, who founded the British suffragette movement. Professor Helen Pankhurst is a renowned academic, author, and activist whose work spans more than 30 years of advocacy across local, national, and international platforms. £10 donation requested to Professor Helen Pankhurst CBE Foundation. MEET, EAT, CONNECT, REPEAT

May 13, 4pm-6pm:

The Woodyard Café and Brasserie, Luton Hoo

End the working day with conversation, delicious food and relaxed, welcoming networking. Free event for Chamber members; non-members £25 plus VAT. Book on to Chamber of Commerce events via events.chamber-business.com

IGNITE

Tuesday, 6.45am:

The Turnpike, Harpole, Northampton ACHIEVERS

Wednesday, 9.30am: Brewpoint, Cut Throat Lane, Bedford. PIONEER

Wednesday, 9.30am-11am: Online. APOLLO

Wednesday, 10am:

Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two Mile Ash, Milton Keynes. FUSION

Thursday, 6.45am: Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Two Mile Ash, Milton Keynes. BLAZE

Thursday, 6.45am:

Mount Pleasant Golf Club, Lower Stondon, near Henlow. PAVILION

Thursday, 6.45am-8.30am:

The Old Northamptonians RFC, Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Billing Road, Northampton. PROSPERITY

Thursday, 6.45am-8.30am: The Kettering Golf Club, Headlands, Kettering. STERLING

Thursday, 11.45am-1.30pm:

The Old Northamptonians RFC, Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Billing Road, Northampton. ENCORE

Friday, 6.45am: Holiday Inn London Luton. LIGHTHOUSE

Friday, 6.45am-8.30am: Old Northamptonians Association, Billing Road, Northampton.

Contact: Duncan Webster Email: duncan@bnibreakfast.co.uk or call 07977 422220. More information: bni.co.uk

DAVID LLOYD BUSINESS NETWORKING

Five bespoke events a year, bringing together business owners to connect and build strong relationships. Each event includes a guest speaker and delicious food from an independent foodie. Find out more and book your place at: boomseven.co.uk

May 13, 27, 6.45am-8.45am:

The White Hart, Buckingham Networking with speaker. Visitors: £10.

More details: bucks-fizz.biz or contact David Babister 07796 136688 or dab@espressoarchitecture.co.uk

Regional sponsor: Business MK and Business Times

Relaxed, informal, conversational B2B networking.

All Business Buzz events run 10am-noon. Price: £10 plus VAT.

BEDFORD

1st Wednesday: George & Dragon, Mill Street. BIGGLESWADE

4th Tuesday: Miss Vietnam, Market Square. BRACKLEY

1st Thursday: Paisley Pear, Northampton Road. DAVENTRY

3rd Friday: Arc Cinema, Mulberry Place.

DUNSTABLE

4th Friday: Sugar Lounge at The Old Sugar Loaf, High Street North.

KETTERING

2nd Thursday: Prezzo Italian Restaurant, Market Place

LUTON

2nd Tuesday: The Garden Cafe, Stockwood Discovery Centre, London Road.

MILTON KEYNES

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

NORTHAMPTON

3rd Wednesday: Barratts Snooker Club & Bar, Kingsthorpe Road.

TOWCESTER

December 19: Towcester Mill Brewery, Chantry Lane.

WELLINGBOROUGH

2nd Tuesday: Castello Lounge, Market Street

All meetings payable in advance on the Business Buzz Booking App app.business-buzz.org/app or at the event.

Business networking and referral group. Price: £6.

MILTON KEYNES

4th Thursday, 7.30am-9.30am: Windmill Hill Golf Centre, Bletchley. Meeting fee: £16 (first meeting free).

NORTHAMPTON BREAKFAST

3rd Wednesday, 7.30-9.30am: The Turnpike, Harpole.

NORTHAMPTON EVENING

4th Tuesday, 6.30-8.30pm: Cheyne Walk Club, Northampton.

WELLINGBOROUGH

2nd Thursday, 7.30-9.30am: The Hind Hotel.

VIRTUAL MEETINGS

Meeting fee: £6 (first meeting free).

WEDNESDAY BREAKFAST

4th Wednesday, 7.30am-9am.

THURSDAY BREAKFAST

3rd Thursday, 7.30am-9am.

FRIDAY BREAKFAST

2nd Friday, 7.30am-9am. THE ACCOUNTABILITY CIRCLE

Monday 10am-11am: Online

Time management and productivity.

Price: £6 per session or £12 per month.

More information: buscomm.co.uk

Networking guru Debbie Lewis bemoans the preference of event delegates to take their places in the audience away from the dreaded front row.

The ‘empty chair’ is synonymous with grief… and at networking events that is often true for the organiser, especially when they are in the front row, in a small square room, when you are trying to take great photos.

As an event host, I really wish people would ‘fill in from the front’. It helps late arrivals to grab the back seats surreptitiously. It makes the photos look better and gives a more accurate reflection of how full the room is (you can rarely get the back rows in the shot, especially in square rooms).

But it also makes the host feel closer to the squad.

The most expensive seats in the theatre, concerts and at comedy shows? That’s right - at the front (unless you have got a box - we aren’t currently offering those at most MK networking events).

I asked ChatGPT why people avoid sitting in the front row at networking events. Here are its replies – and my thoughts on each point.

Visibility and attention

Sitting in the front row draws more attention from speakers and organisers, which can make people feel selfconscious or nervous about being in the spotlight.

I have never picked on anyone in the front row – and never will, unless you heckle. I have never seen it at other networking events either, so squash that fear.

Escape route

The front row can make it harder to discreetly leave the event if needed. Sitting further back provides an easier exit without being noticed. Well, that depends on the door position.

You can still do that from an aisle seat, so come on, move forward and hug the centre path.

Comfort and anxiety

Some people feel more comfortable in the middle or back rows because it allows them to observe the room and other attendees without feeling exposed.

Event seating is designed with escape routes in mind and, unless you have really upset a fellow networker in the coffee queue, there should be no need to watch your back in the audience.

But pick an end or an aisle seat for just the same benefits. You will all be looking forwards when the event starts anyhow.

Come on... be brave... fill from the front

Debbie Lewis

In her day job a, Debbie is responsible for building and nurturing strategic relationships and creating opportunities to support SMEs to start, scale and exit their business.

Over the last seven years Debbie has supported entrepreneurs with one-toone and group coaching as well as programme delivery of a six-month intensive business programme, designed to help to scale-up stage business owners. She has been responsible for building, supporting and cheerleading entrepreneurial communities and taskforce groups who support these founders.

An entrepreneur herself, Debbie scaled and exited a chain of hair and beauty salons (plus a salon industry recruitment company and social media education agency) over 17 years, before starting her career dedicated to coaching, mentoring and connecting.

Group dynamics

If people arrive with colleagues or friends, they may prefer to sit together in rows further back, where they can talk more easily before the event starts.

Come on… we are not on the school bus now. You can still do that in the front, middle and side seats so bring your posse to the front.

Following social cues

If the first few attendees choose seats further back, others may follow suit due to social proof, leading to a generally less crowded front row.

So if you are an early entrant, be a lovie and scooch forward. Don’t make me get ‘my asks’ out.

Perceived pressure

The front row might be perceived as a place for those who are especially eager or confident, which can deter people who prefer a more low-key approach.

Eager for info and knowledge in exchange for the time I have given up? Yep. Eager to hear the gems and see the slides dropped by the speakers? Yep, yep Eager to meet the best type of people to drive my idea, business or network forward? Yep, yep, yep.

So, for the people at the back., move forward and fill the front. Please.

Debbie Lewis is accelerator community manager for NatWest’s enterprise team covering Milton Keynes.

Networking

May 2, 16, 30, 7am:

Windmill Hill Golf Centre, Bletchley

Networking breakfast with speaker. Price: £15 non-members.

Contact: businessgrowthclub.co.uk or Mark Orr 07903 655169.

Brunchtime networking. Price: £26.

BEDFORD

May 8, 9.30am-11.30am: Brewpoint, Cut Throat Lane, Bedford Host: Aruno Rao.

MILTON KEYNES

May 7, 9.30am-11.30am:

The Woburn, George Street, Woburn Host: Heide Swift.

NORTHAMPTON

May 13, 9.30am-11.30am:

The Chester House Estate, Irchester Host: Kirsty Parris.

TOWCESTER

May 21, 9.30am-11.30am:

The Navigation Inn, Thrupp Wharf Marina, Cosgrove Host: Kirsty Parris.

Contact: busynetworking.net/meetings

Networking with lunch. Price: £28.

AMPTHILL

May 8, 11.45am-2pm:

The Knife & Cleaver, Houghton Conquest Host: Chandra Gardner.

BEDFORD

May 29, 11.45am-2pm:

The Woodland Manor Hotel, Green Lane, Clapham Host: Aruno Rao.

BUCKINGHAM

May 19, 11.45am-2pm: The Grand Junction, High Street, Buckingham Host: Heide Swift.

KETTERING

May 27, 11.45am-2pm:

The Kettering Golf Club, Headlands Host: Aruno Rao.

MILTON KEYNES

May 1, 11.45am-2pm:

The George Inn, Watling Street, Little Brickhill Host: Aruno Rao.

MILTON KEYNES NORTH

May 12, 11.45am-2pm:

The Cherry Tree, Olney Host: Aruno Rao.

NORTHAMPTON

May 20, 11.45am-2pm:

The White Hart, Main Road, Hackleton Host: Aruno Rao.

TOWCESTER

May 28, 11.45am-2pm:

The Navigation Inn, Thrupp Wharf Marina, Cosgrove Host: Aruno Rao.

Contact: busywomen.net or call 07957 284851.

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

3rd Friday, 7am-9am: Astral Park, Leighton Buzzard

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

May 7, 7.30am-9am: YMCA, North Sixth Street, Central Milton Keynes

The longest-established breakfast networking club in Milton Keynes. Speakers: Kate Davidson, manager of MK United FC WO30; Suzanne Brown, CEO of Al’s Pals charity. Book at: citybreakfastclub.co.uk

BREAKFAST, NETWALKING & BRUNCH NETWORKING

May 1, 7.15am-8.45am; 9.10am-9.55am; 10am-11.30am:

Willen Hospice Café, Willen Lake IN PARTNERSHIP EVENT WITH BUCKINGHAM BUSINESSES

May 1, 5pm-7pm:

The Grand Junction, Buckingham VIRTUAL

May 6, 10.30am-11.30am: Online IN PARTNERSHIP EVENT WITH LEIGHTON BUZZARD BUSINESSES

May 8, 5pm-7pm:

Leighton Town FC GOLD MEMBERSHIP WORKSHOP

May 13, 9am-12 noon:

Delta by Marriott Hotel, Kents Hill LUNCHTIME NETWORKING

May 14, 12.15pm-1.45pm: Slug & Lettuce, Central Milton Keynes MONTHLY MEET-UP

May 22, 4.45pm-7pm: Venue Cranfield, College Road, Cranfield IN PARTNERSHIP EVENT WITH OLNEY BUSINESSES

May 28, 5pm-7pm: Olney Rugby Club

Book at the event booking diary page at collaboratemk.co.uk

Contact: Tim Lee tim@collaboratemk.co.uk or 07786 527845.

Alternate Wednesdays, 7.30am-9.30am: The Hind Hotel, Wellingborough Networking group run by its members for its members. Contact: cornerstone-northants.org or email: network@cornerstone-northants.org

Wednesdays, 6.45am-8.30am:

The Hopping Hare, Hopping Hill Gardens, Northampton Breakfast networking plus members’ presentation opportunities. Price: £10 visitors. Contact: enigmanetworking.co.uk

Email: chair@enigmanetworking.co.uk or call 07889 967779.

MARKET RESEARCH DATABASES

April 28, 9.30am-1.30pm: Northampton Central Library, Abington Street. Workshop on how to use free online market research tools to find useful and valuable insights into your business. Presented by the Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire.

More details email:

Jacqueline.richardson@fsb.org.uk

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

COFFEE & CONNECT

May 8, 10am-12 noon: Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands Informal networking. Price: £12.50. Book at: askgoto.com/event/coffee-connect-mk-20/

LBBC

LEIGHTON BUZZARD BUSINESS CLUB

Wednesdays, 7am-8.30am:

The Dukes, Leighton Road, Heath and Reach Breakfast networking with speaker plus member presentations. Visitors: £10. Contact: leightonbuzzardbiz.co.uk

Email LBBC chairman Steve Baker at: steve@sbfinancial.co.uk or call 01296 641868.

#LOVEBIZ NETWORKING DERNGATE COMMUNITY

May 7, 11.30am-2pm:

The Hopping Hare, Hopping Hill Gardens, Northampton

Contact: Julie Cameron at: juliecameron@lovebiznetworking.co.uk or lovebiznetworking.co.uk

LUTON COFFEE CLUB

1st Tuesday, 8am-10am: Mano Coffee, George Street

Informal networking. Free event. To find out more, email organiser Stephen Wood at: s.w@srwood.co.uk or call 01582 401221.

MEET OF MK

5pm-7.30pm:

Date and venue tbc. Price: £16.75. Contact: mkfm.com/events/mkfms-meet-of-mk/

Alternate Thursdays, 7.15am-9am: Beefeater, Priory Marina, Barkers Lane, Bedford Breakfast networking with speaker. Contact: nibeds.co.uk

NNBN is a business membership organisation for all of Northamptonshire which aims to help businesses in the county to recover, build and grow for a brighter future.

FRIDAY@4

May 2, 4pm-5pm: Online

Networking. Free event to NNBN members; non-members £5.

NETWORKING

May 8, 7pm-8.30pm:

Kettering Park Hotel

April 24, 7pm-8.30pm: Hilton Northampton, Collingtree

AXE THROWING

May 15, 7pm-9pm:

The Bearded Axemasters, Weedon Informal networking. Price: £22 NNBN members and non-members.

For more information and to book, visit: nnbn.co.uk/events/

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS

May 22, 11am-1pm:

Stockton House, Stockton, near Southam Networking and buffet lunch hosted with Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members only. Price: £20 plus VAT.

To book on to Chamber events, visit: northants-chamber.co.uk/events

Fridays, 6.45am-8.45am:

The Cock Hotel, Stony Stratford Networking breakfast, with more than 40 members from a wide range of businesses. Businesses referrals, business support and training. Contact: tfinetworking.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/ 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

3rd Tuesday: The Mercure Hotel Milton Keynes. Contact: Babs Morse on 07780 615512, email: babs.morse@wibn.co.uk or visit: www.wibn.co.uk

NETWORKING LUNCH

May 23, 12noon-2pm:

Middletons Steakhouse, Central Milton Keynes

Price: £23 WiE members; non-members £29. For more details and to book, visit: womeninenterprise.co.uk

BUSINESS ROOM

The Business Room is a one business per area group for business owners, those in employed positions, MLMs and franchised businesses.

BEDFORD

3rd Thursday, 9.30am-11.30am: The Kingfisher.

KETTERING

2nd Tuesday, 12 noon-2pm: Kettering Park Hotel & Spa.

NORTHAMPTON

2nd Thursday, 12 noon-2pm: Sun Inn, High Street, Hardingstone.

OLNEY

2nd Wednesday, 9.30am-11.30am: The Cherry Tree Restaurant & Bar.

SOUTH NORTHANTS

3rd Tuesday, 12 noon-2pm: The Fox & Hounds, Whittlebury.

WELLINGBOROUGH

3rd Wednesday, 12 noon-2pm: The Stanwick Hotel, Stanwick.

THE CONNECTIONS CLUB - NORTHANTS

For business owners, influencers and decision-makers.

NORTHAMPTON

1st Tuesday, 11.45am-2pm: Delapré Abbey, Northampton.

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

Connecting corporate & community with great conversations, meaningful networking, and inspiring updates.

Connecting corporate & community with great conversations, meaningful networking, and inspiring updates.

City Breakfast Club Milton Keynes is the longest-running, premier networking event connecting you with the city’s top business leaders. The event takes place on the first Wednesday of each month*.

City Breakfast Club Milton Keynes is the longest-running, premier networking event connecting you with the city’s top business leaders. The event takes place on the first Wednesday of each month*.

To book your place, visit citybreakfastclub.co.uk

To book your place, visit citybreakfastclub.co.uk

“I am looking forward to ensuring we continue to deliver an informal, informative and interactive networking experience for our guests ” *No meeting in January and August

“I am looking forward to ensuring we continue to deliver an informal, informative and interactive networking experience for our guests ”

YMCA, 1 North Sixth Street, Milton Keynes MK9 2NR

Steve Freeman Chairman

YMCA, 1 North Sixth Street, Milton Keynes MK9 2NR

Steve Freeman Chairman

Bedford International Athletic Stadium, MK41 9SB