Business Times Northamptonshire March 21 by PulseGroupMedia

Business Times Celebrating 30 years est. 1991

March 2021

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

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In-demand delivery robot service expands in Northampton P8

FE AT UR E

Thirty years in charge at thriving family firm P13

FE AT UR E

Changes after Brexit causing challenges for exporters P20

With the right interventions and investment, local analysis suggests that by 2050 economic output could double to over £200bn. Credit: Highways England

PR OP ER TY

Strong commercial property market in Corby P33

Next steps for Northampton’s Market Square revamp P37

Ambitious plan puts county at heart of fastest growing economic region An ambitious plan to unleash the economic and cultural potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc will mean Northamptonshire will be at the heart of what promises to be a world-class place to live and work sustainably.

he intention is to establish a new single voice for the area to drive and support economic growth. The Spatial Framework plan will help to create thousands of jobs, drive investment, protect and enhance the environment, and provide the infrastructure and beautiful new places needed to make the area – which spans not only Northamptonshire but the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The results, due to be published in 2022, will give communities a chance to shape the longterm future of their area and will help to ensure the benefits of growth are felt across the region. The intention to establish an Arc Growth Body will also help unleash the area’s potential as a global innovation powerhouse by promoting the Arc internationally.

With the right interventions and investment, local analysis suggests that by 2050 economic output could double to over £200bn. To realise the full potential of local economies and the Arc as a whole, the Government is also considering how further investment could create jobs, support the delivery of more homes, and support local economic growth. Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said: “The Oxford-Cambridge Arc is already home to world-leading economic, cultural and scientific assets. “We know for instance Cambridge’s rate of patent applications – a key indicator of innovation – is the highest in the United Kingdom, while nearby Milton Keynes is the fastest growing city in the country. Continued on page 3 >>

Business News

Business Times small add 2019.qxp_Layout 1 13/01/2021 11:09 Page 7

Business Times Distributed by Royal Mail to more than 9,500 key executives and decision makers every month. Editor Kerry Lewis-Stevenson kerry@business-times.co.uk Sales Team Martin Lewis-Stevenson martin@business-times.co.uk Glenda Clark glenda@business-times.co.uk Jan Lewis jan@business-times.co.uk Feature Editors Annie Roberts Sammy Jones Graphic Design Simon Goodger Photography Steve Brill

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NIGHTS ofOLD GLOBAL FORWARDING AIR FREIGHT SEA FREIGHT EXPORT PACKING CLEARANCES +44(0)1536 533544 sales@knightsofoldgroup.com www.knightsofoldgroup.com

Latest appointments... Ballyhoo PR

Laura Smith has joined Ballyhoo PR, a public relations and copywriting business in Corby. The new Senior PR Executive has moved from MK digital marketing agency Blush Digital. Prior to that she has worked in PR and journalism for more than ten years with roles including Chief Reporter for Luton News and Dunstable Gazette and PR Executive for Milton Keynes Chamber of Laura Smith office effective 1st May 2021 Commerce. when conveyancing partner David Parton will relinquish TDB Real Estate Jack Brown has joined the the role to head-up the firm’s TDB Real Estate team as an Personal Advisory Division. Suman Dally, who will also Associate Director. Jack has spent the last three head up Shoosmiths’ residential years working in the capital conveyancing practice, and markets team at HRH Retail Sharine Burgess, recently and brings with him excellent promoted partner specialising experience advising clients on in serious injury claims, will the sale, acquisition and asset take on the leadership role in management of commercial the Lakes office jointly. Suman boasts more than 25 property. He will be working alongside the team on all years’ experience working with aspects of the business with some of the UK’s largest estate a focus on investment, asset agents and banking institutions. Sharine was appointed president management and agency. of the Northamptonshire Law Society in July 2019 and Shoosmiths Law firm Shoosmiths has new promoted to partner in 2020 in co-heads for its Northampton recognition of her outstanding

Jack Brown

Dan Hawkes

Hampton Knight

Berrys

work on behalf of claimants and their families in a wide range of serious injury cases. Northampton-based Hampton Knight has a new CEO Scot Smith. He has joined the alcohol, drug and Covid-19 testing business with a brief to accelerate its growth by improving customer relationships, introducing new product ranges and building a strategy to enhance its core services. With more than 20 years’ experience in the healthcare sector, Scot was Managing Director for Capita PLC before joining Medigold Health

Read previous editions online at www.business-times.co.uk

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Suman Dally

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when it acquired Capita’s Occupational Health division in 2014. Dan Hawkes, has been appointed Senior Architectural Technologist at the Kettering office of Berrys to provide clients with a full suite of architectural design and project management services, from conception through to completion. A full chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (MCIAT) with a BSc (Hons) degree in Architectural Technology from the University of Derby, Dan began his career at a national firm of Chartered Surveyors and at age 22 became the youngest Chartered Architectural Technologist in the country. As an associate director he went on to head up the award-winning rural architectural team for the Midlands region, overseeing dozens of residential refurbishment, conversion and new-build schemes for both private and national clients.

Scot Smith

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Business Times

March 2021

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Business News

What they say... Continued from page 1 >> “We want to take this region to the next phase of its renaissance by unlocking its full potential and our plans will drive investment where it is needed and ensure, as growth happens, we create well-designed, inclusive and vibrant places and communities. “The OxCam Spatial Framework will allow us to plan positively for growth and we look forward to working with our local partners over the coming months to strengthen our vision and approach to the Arc.” The Arc already is home to over 2 million jobs and provides a place to live for over 3.7 million residents. The Arc’s success is key to the United Kingdom’s national prosperity, international competitiveness, and ability to meet the challenges and opportunities the country will face over the next century, including climate change and supporting nature recovery technological change fighting Covid-19 and preventing future pandemics. Roz Bird, Chair of the Silverstone Technology Cluster and Commercial Director at MEPC Silverstone Park said: “The cutting-edge technologies and innovation created in our networks will be key to the UK’s economic success in the coming years. “The government can be assured that the Arc’s business clusters will come together to contribute to this framework, backing and delivering on a strong economic vision that will create local opportunities that match the growth ambitions of our members.” Peter Horrocks OBE, Chair of South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), said: “SEMLEP is keen to support a strong business voice in the creation of sustainable growth plans for the Arc. We welcome the Arc’s high tech cluster organisations’ comments on the government’s proposal for an Arc spatial framework. Bringing the world-leading knowledge networks across the Arc together will help to deliver the Arc vision for a premier innovative and sustainable economy.” Councillor Barry Wood, Chair of the Arc Leadership Group, said: “We look forward to working together with local people and our local partners to deliver an economy that works for all, underpinned by a high-quality natural environment. This will include planning for and enabling development that is truly inclusive and sustainable which delivers real benefits for our communities and environment now and in the future.”

Andrew Lewer MBE, MP for Northampton South “The investment and future job opportunities that the Oxford Cambridge Arc will offer us are profoundly significant. If local, political and business leaders fully support this, it could be transformative for the fortunes of Northampton. It will not just help us build a firm post-Covid recovery, but also bring about a step change in the prospects of a generation of workers through the creation of well-paid, highly skilled and highly sought-after jobs.”

Councillor Jonathan Nunn, Leader of Northampton Borough Council “We are delighted that the Government has shown a big commitment to the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and we are excited at the opportunities this would present to our communities, but also fully recognise our responsibility to ensure that it is delivered in a way that maximises benefits and supports jobs across the region, and that growth brings the vital infrastructure to support it.”

Steven North, Leader of East Northamptonshire Council “We welcome this announcement and the potential for significant growth and infrastructure, particularly for the business economy. Our focus is on maximising the potential of our area and not just for what we have been previously known, such as logistics, but also for life sciences, future energy contribution and green development. The Nene Valley has an important role to play in supporting and shaping quality places to live, work, visit and play. Key projects, such as the East Northamptonshire Greenway and Tresham Garden Village can play a significant role in delivering the ‘Green Arc’ principles attached to the Ox-Cam Arc and make an important contribution to developing places that promote healthy working and living.”

Cllr Matt Golby, Leader of Northamptonshire County Council “The Arc region, which includes Northamptonshire, is already an economic powerhouse within the UK but with the right investment it has enormous potential to drive significant further growth not just locally but for the rest of the country. Key to this is making sure we have the right connectivity and skills in place and that is why we are working with our partners in this region and Government to make sure that we fulfil our economic potential. After April 1, the two new unitary authorities in the county, North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council will continue the good work which has already started to ensure we will benefit from this ambitious programme.”

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

Business Times

March 2021

Legal Briefing

Don’t let new rules leave you feeling clEUless After years of wrangling, the UK has made a break from the EU - and it did so with a trade deal agreed at the last minute. But what are the implications for those businesses that export? Matt Mayes, of the corporate and commercial law team, explains:

By Matt Mayes Howes Percival

ust as local businesses waved goodbye to 2020, 2021 came along to spoil the party. The trade and cooperation agreement between the UK and the EU (TCA) promised seamless crossborder trade. The start of 2021 has taught us that the devil is always in the detail. Our

clients at Howes Percival have said that country of origin rules and an avalanche of new packaging and product requirements has made trade with the EU difficult and challenging. With the new requirements here to stay, there are some key changes that businesses need to consider.

LABELLING & PACKAGING Amendments to packaging rules means businesses importing goods from the EU will become ‘Importers’. This means imported products must include the UK business name and address on its packaging. There are bespoke rules for certain products, such as electrics, food and cosmetics. The new rules raise questions: how do you integrate these changes into existing supply chains? Who bears the cost? EU suppliers may be unwilling to amend packaging on a customer-bycustomer basis. Therefore, are UK businesses expected to make the changes themselves? Many may not have the workforce or procedures to do so.

Failure to demonstrate compliance and properly prepare could lead to delays, additional costs and an unhappy end user. CONSUMER PROTECTION In January, businesses importing products into the UK ‘stepped up’ in the supply chain and became liable as ‘Producers’ under consumer protection laws. Liability for personal injury or property damage for defective products now lies firmly at local businesses’ feet. Whilst EU manufacturers will retain existing liability, there is nothing to stop an aggrieved party pursuing the UK distributor, with assets and trade in this country. This means you need to review your product liability insurance and supply agreements to check whether your business needs further protection. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN UK businesses exporting goods to the EU need to get up to speed with new country of origin rules. The TCA sets out product specific requirements. Products originating from the UK will qualify for tariff-free trade. But what does ‘originating’ mean? UK products without non-UK parts or

foreign manufacturing will qualify as originating. But businesses supplying products with components from abroad need to ask a series of questions: 1. How much value did production or assembly in the UK add to the product? 2. Do the non-UK parts fall under different tariff codes? 3. What is the total value and weight of the non-UK parts? In our global economy, these are not easy questions to answer. If you grow an apple tree in Northamptonshire with seeds produced in Turkey, do your apples qualify for tariff-free trade? Have you added sufficient UK-value to your apples? The answer is never certain. Changes to packaging regulations, consumer liability and country of origin rules is a lot for businesses to deal with. Some need immediate attention to avoid consequences. It is vital you receive advice tailored to your product and business before you fall out with customers, suppliers and HMRC. For help and advice, please contact Howes Percival on 01604 258024 or email matt.mayes@howespercival. com

Law firm’s ongoing Review of code impacting property and mobile masts commitment to inclusion and diversity Leading law firm Shoosmiths is planning to create new activities to drive progress on its diversity and inclusion initiatives.

he firm’s diversity and inclusion and learning and development teams are currently collaborating to create a new internal reciprocal mentoring programme for Shoosmiths. Members of the firm’s senior management Board will be matched initially with a member of one of Shoosmiths’ employeeled inclusion networks on the reciprocal mentoring programme. The programme will upskill employees on how to make a mentoring relationship mutual and will be an opportunity to discuss how the firm can make further progress and embed diversity and inclusion into the workplace, with the first mentoring sessions beginning this month (March) and completing during the autumn. Reciprocal mentoring aims to turn traditional mentoring on its head to open up a flow of knowledge and sharing of perspectives. In Shoosmiths’ programme, a more junior colleague will take the role of mentor and will be paired with a senior leader as their mentee, but the information flows will be two way. The firm is also introducing a shadow Board, which will mirror the current structure of Shoosmiths’ senior management Board. Anyone working at Shoosmiths can apply for a place on the shadow Board to review the same business topics that the Board regularly meets to discuss. The shadow Board’s aim is to bring in diverse perspectives from around the firm to create a feedback loop that makes recommendations to the senior management Board. The Board continues to review diversity and inclusion statistics at their regular meetings, with the analysis discussed at both firm and divisional levels. In addition, the firm has increased its

Business Times

March 2021

focus on unconscious bias – including mandatory e-learning for all employees to understand the types of bias that exist and how to mitigate their influences within the workplace. Simon Boss, chief executive, Shoosmiths said: “One of the key priorities for our senior management Board is to ensure that equal opportunities, valuing diversity, and creating an inclusive working environment are integral to how we operate as a firm. “We recognise that to thrive as a law firm, we need difference - difference of thought and perspective, difference in perception and approaches to challenges. We’re committed to eliminating discrimination and to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. “These new initiatives for 2021 in our diversity and inclusion journey show we are committed to creating a working environment and culture that is genuinely inclusive: where every member of staff feels valued for their contribution to the firm and is able to make best use of their skills.” A key aim of Shoosmiths is to build a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and talents. The firm previously pioneered a CV blind interview policy in its graduate recruitment, part of a wider effort to improve social mobility in the legal profession; launched a firmwide Social Mobility Action Plan in October 2020; and also won the Law Firm of the Year (Large Firms) category at the UK’s first ever Women in Law Awards last year.

By Mohammed Rahman Borneo Martell Turner Coulston

he E l e c t r o n i c of the current code by Communication Code telecommunication providers came into force on 28 and landowners/site providers. December 2017. The c) Major difficulties both main purpose of the code was landowners/site providers to make it easier to improve and the telecommunication connectivity and most recently providers have around the its impact has been to roll out renewal of any expired 5G across the UK. agreements. Since its implementation, there The consultation will not be have been numerous disputes a tool to address any concerns between telecommunication parties have about valuations/ providers and landowners about rent payments. the way the code is interpreted. It has been identified As such, a consultation is now that once an agreement is taking place to consider whether completed to implement the code needs changing or not. telecommunications apparatus The consultation is on a site, there is no seeking views of provision under the landowners, code for either It is now operators, internet party to apply taking longer to court and providers, consumers etc. for parties to ask for new or on whether terms to agree terms bedifferent there is a need implemented. for a change to the Parties will have to current code in order wait until the end of to help with the delivery the term on the agreement of telecommunications and they enter into to make any connectivity to both domestic changes. As such, it is now and business users. taking longer for parties to There are a number of areas agree terms, which in turn the consultation is seeking to is impacting the time it is address, these include: taking for new apparatus to a) Right to share and upgrade be installed on sites and equipment on sites. delaying any improvements b) Issues with interpretation to the telecommunication a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n connectivity.

The code also in certain circumstances, allows the telecommunication providers to upgrade their equipment and share with other network providers, without the landowner’s consent. This has caused major disputes between the landowners/site providers and the telecommunication providers. The consultation will seek whether there is a requirement to balance the playing field and if there is a need to give the landowner more say in new equipment being placed on their property. The current code has recently caused some confusion about the rights to extend and/or renew existing agreements between landowners and telecommunication providers. This has caused an increase of cases being taken to the tribunals, causing additional works for the court service. The consultation seeks to address this and see whether alternative dispute resolution may be a better way forward in these circumstances. The consultation is due to run until 24 March 2021. A copy of the consultation can be found on the link: www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/consultationon-changes-to-the-electroniccommunications-code If you would like advice on these points or any other property matters, please contact Mohammed Rahman at Borneo Martell Turner Coulston Solicitors mohammed.rahman@ bmtclaw.co.uk 01604 622101.

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

Business News

Growing care service Northamptonshire creates fifty jobs Expo returns in May Whilst many local businesses are being impacted by the pandemic, causing a rise in unemployment, one local business has 50 jobs on offer for people with or without sector experience.

ome Instead East Northants, a company that provides at-home care, is looking for new caregivers to meet an increase in demand due to the pandemic. Given the number of businesses in the area that have had to close or make redundancies, including retail and hospitality, the company hopes to improve the local employment rate. Home Instead employs caregivers who come from a range of sectors; a warm heart and desire to make a difference is prized over previous experience. The company provides services from companionship through to personal care and specialised dementia care. Mark Darnell, owner of Home Instead East Northants, said: “The pandemic has had a devastating effect on many successful businesses in the local area, which is terrible to see. Across Northamptonshire, there are people whose future employment is uncertain. But we’re on the lookout for 50 enthusiastic and kind people to join our team of fantastic caregivers. “If you have been made redundant, want to try something new, or are already performing a caring role but want a change, we’d love you to consider working for Home Instead. We will offer you the training you need

Belinda Carr is a scheduler for Home Instead East Northants

and immerse you in the company’s values, ensuring that the care we deliver to elderly and vulnerable people across the local area is outstanding.” To find out more about Home Instead East Northants and its caregiving vacancies, please call 01933 678775 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/east-northants

One of the biggest events in Northamptonshire’s networking calendar is set to return in May.

he Northamptonshire Expo, also known as Your Business Expo, has been a firm fixture in the local business diary since 2014 and will take place this year from 11 to 13 May. Due to the pandemic organisers, Sheila Smith Sales and Events, have brought the Expo online with brand new software specifically designed for the occasion which is being sponsored by Business Times. Sheila said: “Our first virtual exhibition in October attracted more than 960 visitors from eight different countries. “It was a huge success thanks to the 35-plus exhibitors and five great speakers who got behind the initiative and bravely tried something new with us. “That success gave us the confidence we needed to

The Expo is designed to be a real showcase opportunity

bring the Northamptonshire Business Virtual Expo to fruition so May’s event should not be missed!” The Expo is designed to be a real showcase opportunity and will give exhibitors the chance to show off their companies and generate new leads via face-to-face interaction and messenger. Exhibitors can also showcase themselves through videos, sell products and services,

collect business cards and run live draws. In addition, the May event will feature a variety of talented guest speakers. The exhibition is free to attend to visitors. Exhibitors can book a Trailblazer stand for £100 or an Enterprise stand for £200. For further information – or to book your stand – visit www.yourbusinessexpo. co.uk

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Business Times

March 2021

Legal Briefing

The future of flexible working – post-Covid-19

Flexible working as a legal concept has existed in the UK since 2003. Yet since then, most employers have been reluctant to offer or fully utilise it for the benefit of their staff. What should and could happen now?

By Michael Briggs (Far left) Partner And Rory Stone Trainee Solicitor

The Law Since 30 June 2014, employees with at least 26 weeks’ continuous employment have been able to make a statutory request, in writing, for flexible working, for any reason. If they do make a request, employers must deal with that request in a reasonable manner and notify the employee of the outcome (including any appeal) within a three-month period – unless that timeframe is extended by mutual agreement. Only one request can be made in any 12-month period, and if an employer wishes to reject a statutory request, it can only do so on one of the following grounds: • the burden of additional costs; • detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand; • inability to reorganise work among existing staff; • inability to recruit additional staff; • detrimental impact on quality of work; • detrimental impact on performance of employee; • insufficiency of work during the periods the employee proposes to work; or • planned structural changes. Some employers, instead, or as well as, also offer a more informal approach to flexible working, to avoid the rigmarole or bureaucracy

that can be associated with following the statutory scheme. Options and Benefits Flexible working can take many forms; it’s not just about part-time working and job sharing. Flexible working can be achieved through the use of, or combination of, homeworking, compressed working hours, annualised hours contracts, term-time working arrangements, sabbaticals and/or career breaks, or gradual retirement opportunities. There are also many benefits to permitting flexible working, for both the employer and the employee including improved morale and productivity, better work-life balance, enhanced staff retention, wider recruitment and attraction opportunities, an overall reduced cost base and improved profitability. Yet, some employers still struggle with the premise of employees requesting to work more flexibly. The Past, Present and the Future However, Covid-19 has challenged this viewpoint. Employees are likely to resist any attempt to impose a return to the old ways of working – given that Covid-19 forced all employers to rapidly adopt a flexible approach to working, whether that be from

home or otherwise, and everyone has adapted to these new flexible ways. Employers do therefore need to prepare themselves for an influx of flexible working requests in the postlockdown world, if not before. A recent YouGov poll of 4,500 employees in fact found that 81% of respondents expected to work from home at least one day a week post-lockdown, with 33% expecting to work from home at least three days a week. Business giants such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft have already noted such a sentiment and declared their highly flexible working arrangements will continue for the foreseeable future. It is not unreasonable for employees, who have successfully managed through lock-down to balance their various childcare responsibilities or welfare responsibilities with their work-life, to expect or ask for this to continue. Covid-19 has given employees a taste of flexible working and for many it has transformed their working lives. Covid-19 will therefore make it increasingly difficult for employers to turn down requests for flexible working. Lockdown has shown that employers can maintain excellent productivity rates, and high levels of efficiency whilst its workforce work flexibly. With the rapid rise in the use of tech such as Zoom, WebEx and

Microsoft Teams, it is now easier than ever to host meetings and interact with colleagues, customers and clients for the benefit of all. A study commissioned by Visier found that 31% reported that their work-life balance had improved since working flexibly. The International Journal of Economics reported that those that embraced flexible working suffered less stress, less anxiety and less fatigue. Whether it be spending more time with their family, having more autonomy over when to complete work-based tasks, less time and money lost to commuting or just spending a little longer on self-care, the sense of freedom and empowerment that employees have enjoyed from working flexibly during the pandemic has increased their wellbeing and happiness – something many will be reluctant to give back up. The continued rise in technological communication advancements will also continue to make remote working easier, making it harder for employers to find one or more of the legitimate business reasons to deny a flexible working request. Offering a full range of flexible working and not just playing lipservice here will be a sign of a more progressive, innovative and forwardthinking employer. When considering flexible working requests going forward, employers should therefore think carefully and consider the following: • the government’s continued stance on working from home wherever you can do. For present purposes there is no immediate return to work for many employers, so working flexibly from home is now the new norm; • whether or not any of the available business grounds are in fact available nowadays. Will there really be a detrimental impact on quality or performance – especially where there wasn’t through the period of lockdown?; • whether there are any planned structural changes ahead, as a result of Covid-19 or otherwise, which may impact upon your ability to accept a statutory written request for flexible working;

• your existing policies and procedures making sure that all requests are dealt with in a reasonable manner. Do you need to update your policies, or adapt your approach to flexible working more generally? Employers are encouraged to start with a positive mindset, in that it will only be the rarest of cases that a request for flexible working is declined for clear business reasons. Employers should always demonstrate serious consideration to each and every request made, including the reason(s) for it and how it might be dealt with; • the number of applications that may be received, and the order in which to deal with them. The best approach is to deal with applications on a first come first serve basis, and to ensure that all decisions are based upon genuine business reasons and are not tainted by discrimination or any other prejudice; • the need to embrace flexible working more readily going forwards in recognition of the fact that Covid-19 has shown that it is possible to have an efficient, happy, flexibly working workforce; • consider alternatives to the original request made – and whether there is a compromise that can be reached between parties. Retaining talent is fundamental in any employer’s business recovery plans going forward; • the ability to explain any decisions to reject a request full and clearly so as to avoid upset. In summary, as companies start to re-open their offices, they must ensure they have their policies in place now so they can ease through this potential new way of working, permanently.

Disclaimer - This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given.

Decision to scrap controversial EU insurance will keep motorists on the road The motorsports industry has been given a boost with the Government decision to do away with the controversial EU Vnuk law.

he Vnuk law requires a wider range of vehicles than those such as cars and motorbikes to be insured, including ones previously not requiring insurance, such as golf buggies, mobility scooters and quad bikes. The EU rules would have meant any motorsports collision involving vehicles from go-karting to F1 would have been treated as regular road traffic incidents requiring insurance. This could have decimated the industry due to the additional insurance costs of roughly £458 million every single year. Scrapping the rules will save the industry from potential collapse and secure hundreds of thousands of jobs in the sector in the process.

Business Times

The law also extends to vehicles on private land, meaning people with a ride-on lawnmower at home would require insurance where it would have previously not been needed. Had the EU law been implemented in Great Britain, it would have meant the insurance industry would have been liable for almost £2 billion in extra overall costs. These costs would likely have been passed onto their customers – British road-users. Now the UK have left the EU, the measures no longer need to be implemented, helping road-users across the country steer clear of increased premiums. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We have always disagreed

March 2021

with this over-the-top law that would only do one thing – hit the pockets of hard-working people up and down the country with an unnecessary hike in their car insurance. I am delighted to announce that we no longer need to implement it. “Scrapping this rule would save the country billions of pounds and is part of a new and prosperous future for the UK outside the EU – a future in which we set our own rules and regulations. “As well as the likely financial burden on British road-users, the Vnuk rules are considered unnecessary as there are already insurance packages available to Brits that cover certain The law also extends to vehicles on private land, meaning people with a rideon lawnmower at home would require insurance risks on private land.”

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

Business Times

March 2021

Business News

tarship Technologies, the world’s leading provider of autonomous delivery services, has announced that it will be extending its services, in partnership with the Coop, to cover Barry Road and Upton. Customers who live within a three mile radius of the local convenience stores in the relevant areas of Northampton will be able to order groceries to be delivered by a robot within an hour. The robots use a combination of sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning to travel on pavements and navigate around any obstacles. Computer vision-based navigation helps the robots to map their environment to the nearest inch as customers can watch in real-time on an app while the robot makes its journey to them. Once the robot arrives, customers receive an alert and can then meet and unlock the robot through the app. Councillor Jason Smithers, cabinet member for Highways and Place at Northamptonshire County Council, said: “Starship’s robots have been incredibly successful and well-received in the Wootton area, and so we’re pleased to confirm they will be expanding into other areas

In-demand delivery robot service expands in Northampton A grocery delivery service that launched in Northampton last November - whereby robots arrive at doorsteps with milk, eggs and other essentials - is now expanding to cover Barry Road and Upton and over 20,000 further homes and businesses. of Northampton. During the current lockdown especially, the robots are providing an essential service for those who might not be able to get to the local shop for their basic provisions. “We’re happy that more residents in Northampton can now have access to this world leading on-demand delivery service and we’re excited about further expansion. I am also delighted that, alongside working with a long established brand like the Coop, Starship are keen to enable local nearby independent shops and restaurants to use the service.” Andrew Curtis, head of UK operations at Starship Technologies, added: “We are thrilled to expand our service in Northamptonshire and bring robot delivery to residents in and around Barry Road and Upton. “Once launched, Barry Road will become the world’s largest and most

The robots use a combination of sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning to travel on pavements and navigate around any obstacles

sophisticated autonomous delivery operation. “We have been delighted by the overwhelmingly positive

response we’ve seen from local residents in Wootton where we’re already operating, and we look forward to working

with the County Council to roll out the service to more neighbourhoods around Northamptonshire.”

Chris Conway, head of ecommerce, Co-op, said: “We continue to look for new ways to innovate and expand access to our products and services in order to deliver a truly compelling offer locally. The robots have proved to be popular in Northampton, and by offering the home delivery service from our Barry Road store we can further increase availability and choice to meet community shopping needs - delivering quality and value quickly, easily, safely and conveniently is core to Co-op’s approach.” Northampton is the second UK town where the delivery service has launched following the introduction of the robots in Milton Keynes in April 2018, where delivery numbers have soared during the pandemic. In January 2021, Starship reached the significant milestone of completing one million autonomous deliveries, the first autonomous delivery company in the world to do so. Milk, eggs, bread, bananas and cucumber have been the most popular items delivered by the bots in Northampton. To order a robot delivery from the Co-ops in the relevant area, download the ‘Starship - Food Delivery’ app on Android and iOS.

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March 2021

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Centenary celebrations for Moulton College Calls for past students of Moulton College to get involved in its 100th birthday and inspire the next generation.

ormer students of Moulton College are being encouraged to join in the centenary celebrations. Established in 1921 as the Institute for Agriculture, Moulton College has witnessed significant change over the past century and equipped thousands of students with essential workplace skills. The College was a training centre for the Women’s Land Army and, following the war, has expanded its course offer from agriculture subjects to include animal welfare, construction and sport. To celebrate its extensive and rich history, the College is calling for former students to share their stories, reconnect with old friends and learn about the College’s last 100 years. Corrie Harris, Principal and CEO of Moulton College said: “We’re so proud of the College’s incredible heritage, and its history is shaped by the stories of those who studied with us. We’d love to hear

Moulton College staff and students 1935

from those willing to share photographs and memories of their time at Moulton. There’s no better way for us to learn more about Moulton’s history than by speaking with those who experienced student life here.” As part of the College’s 100-year celebrations, it is also relaunching its Alumni Association, which aims to inspire current and future students with the life stories of its previous students. Corrie added:“All stories are important to us, so whether you graduated five years ago,

or fifty we’d love to hear from you. Our Alumni Association is a platform to share your unique story, knowing that your experiences and memories at College and beyond will inspire the next generation.” If you would like to get involved in our Alumni Association, or would be willing to share your photographs and memories of your time at Moulton College, contact marketing@moulton. ac.uk. For more information about Moulton College visit www. moulton.ac.uk

Businesswomen sing out for International Women’s Day A group of 16 businesswomen who have banded together throughout lockdown are planning to mark International Women’s Day in their own unique way.

awn Girardi, who brought the original group together, was the first to get the collective talking about the global celebration on March 8. Another member Hannah Brady suggested singing and soon their WhatsApp group lit up with a wide selection of eclectic song titles through the (very long) night. With Hannah on lead vocals, it was decided that the most suitable was the unofficial anthem of International Women’s Day, the Helen Reddy classic ‘I Am Woman’, a song suggested by Sheila Smith and swiftly seconded by Ika Castka. The project has now grown significantly with the women producing a Band Aid-style video to accompany the song

A new initiative will be giving support to owners who set up their business during the pandemic or need support to set up a business.

supporting the local community since 1986, offering support for anyone affected by sexual abuse, assault or rape. Helpline 0300 222 59 30 Donations: www.justgiving. com/fundraising/thiswoman

E R A WE Y D A E R W O N

Opportunities for small businesses to reset and restart eset, Restart Small Business Grants have been launched by The Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire (BIPC). The programme is open to Northamptonshirebased businesses who have been registered for 12 months or less, as well as those who simply just have an idea and need support in launching their business successfully. The Small Business Grants form an additional part of Northamptonshire BIPC’s Reset. Restart programme, which is part of a wider, national initiative of workshops and dedicated support, led by the British Library’s Business & IP Centre. Successful applicants will receive: • £1,500 grant for business expenses • A year’s free membership with the Northamptonshire Chamber • Ongoing support from the BIPC Northamptonshire team The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 28 March 2021. Shortlisted applicants will be given seven days’ notice of the Dragons’ Den-style grant panel sessions which will be held on Thursday 15 April and Friday 16 April 2021. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 30 April 2021, with a public announcement at the beginning of May.

and showcase snapshots of their individual life stories as they chorus the lyrics of this iconic, historical song together, apart. And all dressed for the occasion in their own matching #ThisWoman shirts. And the best bit? It is also a fundraiser for the Northamptonshire Rape Crisis charity which has been

Cllr Lizzy Bowen, Deputy Leader of Northamptonshire County Council, said: “We know this is a difficult time for start-ups. That’s why we are delivering a dedicated webinar programme to support entrepreneurs and business owners, which can be accessed remotely. “As an extension of the Reset, Restart programme we wanted to go that one step further, and so we are delighted to be able to support start-ups with a £1,500 grant to help bring to life new businesses to start-up, innovate and grow.” The BIPC Northamptonshire, which is part of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre National Network, supports small businesses by hosting free events, such as networking, workshops, seminars and webinars. The Library Plus service also provides information and access to database subscription resources for market research, as well as business mentoring and one-toone advice sessions on self-employment, starting up a business, business planning, and intellectual property.

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Further details on how to apply are available on the BIPC Northamptonshire website at: www. northamptonshire.gov.uk/businesslibrary or email: bipc@northamptonshire.gov.uk

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Money Matters

Employee Ownership Trusts: an alternative exit strategy for business owners Shareholders of trading companies, who wish to share ownership with their employees, can sell some or all of their shares to employee ownership trusts (EOTs) without incurring capital gains tax. Tim Woodgates, Tax Specialist at Moore looks at the benefits for business owners looking to move on or retire.

he impacts of Brexit and Covid on the UK economy have led to uncertainty about the future – and business owners looking to exit can find it difficult to find a traditional buyer. However, the good news is that there are alternatives.

at 20 per cent). Additionally, by transferring shares into an EOT, there is usually 100 per cent relief from inheritance tax which would otherwise apply. For the employees, there’s the opportunity of a tax-free cash bonus of up to £3,600 per employee per year.

EOT (Employee Ownership trusts) are a type of employee benefit trust which let shareholders Even when other exit options such Attractive tax transfer controlling interests external sales or management benefits to both as in their companies to their buy-outs are available, many the shareholder business owners prefer to leave employees. Inspired by the John Lewis model, EOT’s were the business in the hands of their and the introduced by the government employees. When employees employee in 2014, and bring attractive tax have a stake in the business, you benefits to both the shareholder and will often see greater employee the employee. engagement and improved recruitment and retention rates. Provided conditions are met, a shareholder can sell their shares to an EOT without An EOT can be a good way of securing a incurring any capital gains tax (CGT). This company’s future whilst maintaining its will particularly interest shareholders who do independence. It can also prove to be a boost to not benefit from business asset disposal relief the company’s corporate social responsibility or investors’ relief, (and who would otherwise profile - EOTs have strong connotations for have to pay CGT on transfers of their shares the media and public.

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Without going into all the technicalities, the following conditions must be met, in order to qualify for the CGT relief: • The company must be a trading company or the holding company of a trading group. • Trustees must ensure that all property and assets settled into the EOT benefit all eligible employees on the same terms. • The transfer must be of at least a 50% controlling interest, this must be retained on an ongoing basis. • The number of continuing shareholders who are directors or employees must not exceed 40 per cent of the company’s total employees. If there are any ‘disqualifying events’ following the transfer, tax relief may be lost for the transferring shareholder. Disqualifying events include loss of the company’s trading status, ceasing to meet the all employee benefit requirement, ceasing to meet the controlling interest condition and/ or failure to meet the ‘limited participation’ requirement.

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Since their creation, EOTs have had a ‘slow start’, but they are gaining in popularity as businesses become more aware of them. Any shareholders of a company considering an exit or succession should give some thought to using an EOT as one of the options available. If you would like further advice about EOTs or the best business exit strategy for you, contact Tim Woodgates on 01536 461900 or email east.midlands@moore.co.uk

Compressed Air

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As well as the ongoing requirements for tax relief, the trustees must also ensure all trust law and governance requirements are met. N.B. The above provides a brief summary of EOTs and should not be relied upon without taking further advice.

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March 2021

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ichael Parr, 28, was discharged from the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment after suffering hearing loss in one ear. Since becoming an apprentice at RK Electrical Mechanical Services in Northamptonshire he has his feet firmly on the ground and was keen to share his experience during National Apprenticeship Week. Michael of Great Glen, Leicestershire, said: “On leaving school I went on to study farming, I’d worked on a farm since I was 13 and knew this was something I wanted to do. I studied farm management and worked in the industry for eight years.” Michael signed up in 2014 after two years working on farms in Australia. He said: “I went overseas quite a lot on training exercises, completing various parachute jumps. I loved everything about it and was devastated when after just four years I was discharged for becoming deaf in one ear from firing heavy weapons. “I didn’t really know what to do, a career in the army was my life ambition. I didn’t have a back-up plan and I needed one fast.

Former paratrooper encourages others to take the apprenticeship plunge A paratrooper who was forced to quit the army due to health reasons says becoming an apprentice electrician was the best thing he could have done to turn his life around. “I decided to throw myself into a new career. I had excelled in the army and I knew I would excel as an electrician. I could transfer all the skills I had learnt in the army into relearning a trade.” He was put in touch with award-winning Desborough-based employer RK Electrical Mechanical Services which specialises in providing high-quality electrical, plumbing and heating services. Apprenticeships in electrical plumbing and heating, including gas, are offered to successful candidates on completion of a two-week trial. Michael, who will complete his second year this month, said: “Being an apprentice is so much better than I expected it

to be. I’ve had fantastic support from everyone at the firm and I would tell anyone faced with a situation like mine to go with their gut feeling, don’t let the word ‘apprentice’ put you off. “As much as I wanted to stay in the army, I knew that becoming an electrician would be better for my future and the time goes so fast. When I was told I was getting discharged from the army I really didn’t think I’d be where I am now. “I knew a bit about electrics and decided to go for it and I would encourage others to do the same.” RK Electrical Mechanical Services is currently supporting seven apprentices who, once successfully completing

the programme, will be qualified as either an electrical or mechanical engineer. Kye Bishop, Business Development Manager, added: “Apprenticeships have a key role in helping the UK’s economic recovery from Covid-19 and we are proud to be able to help people like Michael to retrain and up-skill. Our apprenticeship scheme supports our commitment to organically grow the business and create our own professional, highly-skilled workforce.”

Michael Parr - I could transfer all the skills I had learnt in the army into relearning a trade

Anyone interested in finding out more about the RK Electrical Mechanical Services apprenticeship scheme can contact Kye Bishop 01536 601900, email: kye@rkelec.co.uk

Investiture continues town’s civic tradition A centuries-old tradition has continued with Charles, 9th Earl Spencer invested as a Hereditary Freeman of the Borough of Northampton.

t is 240 years ago since the Honourable George John Spencer, later to become the 2nd Earl Spencer, was sworn in as a Hereditary Freeman. Historically Freemen have been a part of Northampton’s Civic make up since the town was granted its first royal charter by King Richard I in 1189. Over the centuries the role of the Freemen has changed and adapted alongside the changes to our civic structures. Freemen have always historically supported Northampton’s Mayoralty and still do so today ceremonially at civic events. Today’s Freemen trustees play a great part in preserving and celebrating Northampton’s history. Dr Matt Farmer, Deputy Chair of the Northampton Freemen’s Trustees said: “The investiture of Lord Spencer as a Hereditary Freeman of the Borough of Northampton is truly historic as it will be the very first time a Freeman has taken their oath virtually, and this is a wonderful way of preserving our rich civic heritage despite the current challenges of COVID. “The Trustees are delighted to have Lord Spencer join our number at this time, especially as he will be sworn in by our Mayor Cllr Brian Sargeant, himself a Hereditary Freeman and a member of the Trustees.”

Growth Curve

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Business Times

March 2021

Money Matters

Taking the right steps for your business As tax year-end approaches, it’s important for owners of small businesses to make sure they’re making the most of their allowances. We look at some strategies that will help.

The Brace family L to R: Teedie Brace, Mandy Brace, Keith Brace, Hannah Brace and Daniel Brace

At a Glance • With time running out to take advantage of the current tax year allowances, now is the time for business owners to make sure they don’t miss out on any opportunities • The end of the 2020-21 tax year may pose some new

questions, given how unusual the circumstances of the past 12 months have been • Dividend allowances and the ability to carry forward unused annual pension allowances both offer ways to help maximise any money coming into your business.

Whatever your reasons for striking out on your own, you’ll know that the past year has presented a unique set of challenges for small-business owners where different firms have had very different experiences. For some, the pandemic has created severe

headwinds, while for others it has served as a powerful tailwind. Being Proactive The approaching tax yearend represents an opportunity to maximise the money coming into your business or ease some of the pressures faced. If you’re a director or owner of a limited company and you’ve made a profit during this tax year, you may be able to use dividend payments to reduce your tax bill. The dividend allowance is currently £2,000 – you don’t have to pay tax on any dividend income within this threshold. Any dividend income above £2,000 and within the basic-rate band is taxed at 7.5%, with no employee or employer national insurance contributions. Dividends falling within the higher-rate or additional-rate bands are taxed at 32.5% and 38.1% respectively. You also need to factor in your personal allowance, which is £12,500 for the 2020/21 tax year. Carry on Benefiting Using annual pension allowances can help too, whether your business has taken a hit during the pandemic or not. The pension carry-forward

rules allow you to claim unused annual allowances from the three previous tax years, in order to maximise your pension contributions in the current tax year. Similarly, if you’re not going to use all your allowance in the 202021 tax year, there is an option to carry forward any unused allowance from this year to ensure that you benefit from it over the following three tax years, rather than lose the allowance entirely. Leaving no Room for Error There can be complications to some of these measures, with small but potentially important distinctions in the rules as they apply to different types of business. It can also be very easy, especially during uncertain and testing times, to overlook certain possibilities and miss opportunities to ease your tax burden. The best way to be sure that you make the most of your tax allowances is to work with a professional wealth planner, who can help you maximise the benefits of any money coming into your business and mitigate the effects of any losses you’ve suffered. Our professional wealth planners can also build your tax situation into a wider, long-term financial plan,

making sure that even during this unusually challenging period, you start 2021 by taking a step in the right direction. The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time. Tax relief is dependent on individual circumstances. Contact Brace Wealth Management on 01327 844433 or email us at bracewealth@sjpp.co.uk for your tax health check now. Brace Wealth Management is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www. sjp.co.uk/products. -

Brace Wealth Management is a trading name of Keith Brace Wealth Management Ltd.

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Business Times

March 2021

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riginally 63 years ago the business, Maziak Compressor Services Ltd, began supplying machinery to the leather trade and shrewdly diversified into air compressor distribution as the leather trade began to dwindle. James took over the business in his own right on 18th January 1991 and began laying the foundations for its success today. A lot has changed since then, when the company was based in Rushden with just ten employees. Maziak is now based in Wellingborough with a 38-strong team and a significant share of the UK distributor compressed air market. Over the years, Maziak’s customers have demanded more efficient and innovative compressed air solutions to help meet their environmental obligations and reduce cost of ownership. No longer just a compressed air specialist, new areas of expertise within Maziak include nitrogen generation and water chillers. Whatever the product or service, it is always looking forward towards innovation and energy efficient solutions. In the last 30 years there have been numerous highlights, not least the fact that Maziak has had three generations of the same family working for it and 40 per cent of current employees have ten years or more service. This includes Alan Cardew who celebrated his 30 years

Business News

Thirty years in charge at thriving family firm It is 30 years since James Maziak took over the business founded by Joe and Sarah Maziak in 1958.

James Maziak - 40 per cent of current employees have ten years or more service

with Maziak on 25th January. The business must be doing something right! Maziak is pleased to have welcomed seven new starters since the Covid pandemic started in March 2020. Managing director James, commented: “This journey has been amazing and only made

possible by excellent people, suppliers and customers that have supported me in my vision for Maziak. The company was founded on solid business ethics and family values. I know my mother is very proud of what we have all achieved and I hope that my late father would have been too.”

In 2016, James was appointed President of The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) the only technical trade body representing the industry and employees in the UK. A well-deserved accolade, making him only the second distributor member to become President in its 85-year history. James, as an active Board member since 2011, spearheaded the setting up of a Distributor Committee to represent this cohort as they make up over 60 per cent of BCAS membership. The Committee has had particular focus on training and best practice, which led to James creating the new Training Committee driven to create more appropriate member and end user online training courses. One of their first achievements was to create, launch and gain approval for the Compressed Air & Vacuum Technicians Apprenticeship (CAVT). Maziak has always valued the importance of apprenticeships and James is very proud of the statistic that nine of its

15 current engineers have come through its apprentice programme. Maziak’s business growth has been primarily organic but it has taken the opportunity on two occasions to buy local competitors. In 2009 it purchased Kettering Compressed Air and more recently late last year, PG Reeves & Sons, Peterborough. Both deals strengthened the business and supported its claim for market leader in its local and core areas. James said: “Over 30 years Maziak has developed a breadth and depth of expertise that enables us to add real value to our customers. I think the quality of our equipment, our people and our service, plus our focus on finding the right solution for our customers and not just ‘a’ solution, has enabled us to thrive and will set us up well for the future. I am not expecting to be here in 30 years though I might add!” To find out more see the website at www.maziak. co.uk

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March 2021

Money Matters

Working efficiently from home in the new normal No matter how things are going in business, there is always scope to find more efficient and cost-effective ways of working. Clare Elsby from Elsby & Co considers the challenges.

By the end of the day, we were taking calls, dealing with queries and most importantly were able to be productive. This was not the case for all accountants, indeed because some were mostly paper based, they had to furlough themselves and their staff. Initially the worry for many owners of commercial property, was that this change to ‘working from home’ was here to stay, however

Will engagement be the new productivity? Managing a team, training and on-boarding new staff are real challenges for an office-based business such as ours. Employee engagement will become the biggest tool to maintain productivity. Employers will need to focus their energy on ways to inspire their teams with investment in home technology, which could prove vital to ensure engagement on remote working days. Many of us have now managed the steep learning curve of video conferencing via Zoom, Microsoft Teams and will be looking for technology which optimises collaboration. The Cloud I say all this from the comfort of running our business on the cloud. This required a major investment in technology five years ago, which also included the painful and expensive process of scanning all our paper documents so that they could be accessed on our server, from anywhere. It seems hard to believe that we used to have rooms full of metal filing cabinets which were periodically purged. Files were then taken to storage (at a cost) and then ultimately securely destroyed (at another cost). Now we all have small desk scanners which do the job from start to finish.

By Clare Elsby Elsby & Co

or many of us, Covid has completely changed the way we work. We had the good fortune at Elsby & Co to be an early adopter of the paperless office so when we had to close both of our Rushden and Sywell offices on 16th March 2020, due to a (suspected) Covid case, we were able to literally lift our laptops and plug in at home.

The challenge now is how businesses invest in technology to allow hybrid working long term.

a recent survey by Nespresso Professional suggested that 35 per cent of workers would be keen to return to the office, provided conditions were right. The future of work therefore appears to be a hybrid model, where many would like to work from home two days per week but be in the office for meetings and we now appreciate, much needed social engagement three days per week Covid has (Finding a New Balance Survey). accelerated

We use applications such as ‘Receipt Bank’ or ‘Auto Entry’ the need for to scan source documents such as How then can a business respond to this potential ‘new supplier invoices. OCR technology change normal’? picks up the relevant information The same New Balance Survey found and transfers the data to our cloud that despite there having been an appetite accounting software (in our case Xero) for hybrid working pre-pandemic, Covid human approval is needed, but the risk of has accelerated the need for change, and to transposing a figure is much reduced and a large extent has proved that it is possible. significant time is saved in data entry.

Clocking-in technology including i-phone apps have been around for a while but are much more important now. The ability to be able to complete timesheets via time recording apps from home will become yet another requirement of the post-Covid era. Many of these time-sheet apps, link directly into cloud payroll software, which once again will require human approval, but will ultimately reduce the risk of error and provide a digital audit trail which protects both the employee and the employer. The Cloud really is the key to our digital future. Many smaller businesses have not embraced the change due in the main because they were not required to conform to HMRC’s Making Tax Digital in April 2019. Phase 2 is coming. VAT registered businesses with a turnover of less than £85,000 will have to file quarterly returns inline with MTD from April 2022 and selfemployed businesses and landlords with annual business or property income over £10,000 will have to register from April 2023. Overview of Making Tax Digital - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The question is why wait? Getting your business on the cloud now will enable you to make the most of all that modern technology has to offer. The danger is that if you leave it until you absolutely must sort, you could fall behind in what is an ever-changing world. If you need help understanding how the Cloud could help you and which applications could work best for your business, please do get in touch. Elsby & Co Accountants, Business & Tax Advisors www.elsbyandco.co.uk

Wage boost for lower paid

Business Times

March 2021

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or the first time the threshold for the keeps the government on track to meet that National Living Wage will be lowered target. from 25 to 23. The figures were calculated to provide a The increases were announced in rise in pay for millions of families across the Chancellor’s November Spending the UK, while ensuring businesses can Review when he confirmed that the thrive as the country recovers from rate rises include a 2.2 per cent the pandemic. UK looks to increase in the National Living The announcement of the new build back Wage to £8.91, the equivalent of rates has been made as early better from £345 extra per year for someone as possible to provide added working full-time. certainty for both workers and the impacts of The rises mean that the annual businesses for the year ahead as Covid-19 earnings of a full-time worker the UK looks to build back better on the NLW will have increased by from the impacts of Covid-19. around £4,030 since its introduction in Throughout the pandemic our economic April 2016. priority has always been to protect jobs and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, incomes. Our unprecedented furlough and said: “I know people are struggling, and that self-employed schemes have protected they are worried about the months ahead. This the livelihoods of over 12 million people, above-inflation pay rise will help to protect including those with lower incomes. the lowest paid and put more money in the In full, the increases are: pockets of hard-working families.” • National Living Wage (23+) to increase The new rates were recommended by the Low 2.2 per cent, from £8.72 to £8.91 Pay Commission, an independent body made • National Minimum Wage (21-22) to up of Commissioners from business, worker increase 2 per cent, from £8.20 to £8.36 and academic backgrounds, which advises the • National Minimum Wage (18-20) to government on the National Minimum Wage increase 1.7 per cent from £6.45 to and the National Living Wage. Ministers £6.56 accepted their recommendations in full. • National Minimum Wage (under 18) The Low Pay Commission has not to increase 1.5 per cent from £4.55 to recommended any change to the government’s £4.62 target of the NLW reaching two-thirds of • Apprenticeship Wage to increase 3.6 median earnings by 2024, and this increase per cent from £4.15 to £4.30

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Increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage come in to force from April including additional money for more younger people.

Take a step in the right direction.

DE N’T

Long-term financial security for you and your loved ones is your priority, and it’s ours too. Navigating the savings allowances and exemptions available to you at tax year-end can have a big impact on achieving your goals. It’s our job to guide you and provide expert advice. Contact us before 5 April, and together we can plan the route to your future.

BRACE WEALTH MANAGEMENT Senior Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

Tel: 01327 844433 Email: bracewealth@sjpp.co.uk www.bracewealth.co.uk

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances. The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group's website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The 'St. James's Place Partnership' and the titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

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oi, the company behind the pilot scheme have already trialled a shared scheme for key workers who want to use e-scooters. The carbon neutral e-bikes are the next step in the scheme with other trials launched in Cambridge and Peterborough. E-scooters are the best choice for short commutes with a range of one to three miles, while e-bikes are more appropriate for slightly longer commute times of between three and nine miles. Each region will have 20 e-bikes to hire and in Kettering these are available from 4am to 11pm. Voi e-bikes can be pedalled and are assisted by an electric motor up to 15.5 mph. When fully charged, Voi’s e-bike can ride up to 31 miles. Voi will ensure the bikes always remain powered up, and batteries will be swapped out by the Voi teams overnight. Similarly to e-scooters, to ride an e-bike, users need to be 18 years old and over, are required to download the Voi app, available for free on Apple App Store or Google Play and will have to present at least a provisional licence. It costs £1 to unlock the e-bike and then £0.15 per minute of usage. Voi also offers 24-hour (at £10) and 30-day (at £40) subscriptions that allow users to take an unlimited number of rides at a fixed rate. In addition, there are discounts for students, those on a low income – Voi 4 All. The operator through its Voi 4 Heroes initiative is offering NHS

Commuters can now get on carbon neutral e-bikes E-bikes are now available to hire in Kettering through a pilot scheme.

E-scooters and e-bikes reduce pollution, improve air quality and make a positive impact on people’s wellbeing Credit: Dez Dell

and Emergency Service Workers free access to Voi during the lockdown, so it is easier for them to commute or shop in a sociallydistanced manner. Users have to upload their NHS identity, Blue Light Card or Defence Discount Service to the Voi app or website to be eligible. Riders will find e-bikes parked

next to e-scooters and they will be bound by the same geographical area as e-scooters. Similarly to e-scooters, Voi e-bikes use geofencing to ensure no ride, slow ride and no parking zones are observed, and they will be fitted with number plates to make it easy to identify and report. Richard Corbett, Regional

General Manager of UK, Ireland and Benelux for Voi, said: “Micro-mobility has proven to be a critical lifeline during the pandemic. Building on the e-scooter trials’ success, we are delighted to bring our green multimodal offer to Cambridge, Peterborough and Kettering. e-bikes are a perfect complement

to our shared e-scooters hire scheme, offering key workers two safe ways to move whilst social distancing. “E-scooters and e-bikes have the potential to bring real transformation to our cities and towns by reducing pollution, improving air quality and ultimately making a positive impact on people’s wellbeing.” As with e-scooters, Voi’s e-bikes will be cleaned and disinfected every 24 hours. In addition, Voi e-bikes are fitted with copper tape that inactivates and minimises the transmission of coronavirus. Jason Smithers, Cabinet Member for Highways and Place for Northamptonshire County Council, said: “The e-scooter trials in Northampton and Kettering are already proving to be a real boost in improving access to greener, more sustainable and affordable transport. For this reason, we’re confident the e-bike scheme will be just as popular, and we’re delighted to be able to introduce this phase as the next step in our journey to providing alternative travel. “Voi has done a fantastic job so far in delivering these schemes both in Northampton and Kettering and we’re very pleased to have formed this exciting partnership over the last few months, delivering major transformation in our county. “Of course, rider safety is our number one concern and, with this in mind, we ask that users adhere to the new lockdown rules from central government,

using the e-scooters and e-bikes only for essential journeys at the present time.” Rochelle Mathieson, Head of Commercial & Economic Development at Kettering Borough Council, said: “Following on from the success of the e-scooter scheme, it’s exciting to be able to provide another sustainable and affordable way to get around the area. Among the many benefits of introducing e-bikes, this initiative also provides a greener alternative for travel in and around the town, which is a fantastic resource during these unprecedented times. We hope more residents and visitors to the town will benefit from this new venture.” The same traffic rules that apply to bicycles and e-scooters apply to e-bikes. Voi will continue to work alongside local authorities to educate riders through online and offline educational campaigns. Riders will also be encouraged to complete Voi’s digital e-scooter traffic school, the world’s first certified digital traffic school. The data collected from the usage of these two modes of transport will allow Voi and the authorities to optimise the integration with local public transport. Ultimately, reducing short car journeys, cutting congestion and improving air quality, which will benefit all the residents in the region. For more details see: www. voiscooters.com/introducinge-bikes/

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Business Times

March 2021

TOP THINGS TO DO NOW The UK has agreed a deal with the EU. Rules for doing business with Europe have changed, and we all need to make changes to keep business moving. While the deal with the EU means zero tariffs and zero quotas, businesses still need to adapt to changes to trade and customs procedures, and changes to travel. Businesses should use the Brexit checker tool at gov.uk/transition for a personalised list of actions.

TAKE ACTION NOW TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS MOVING GOV.UK/TRANSITION 16

Business Times

March 2021

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Business News

Quality solutions for all fire protection needs

An impressive 41 years in the fire protection sector is testament to the ongoing commitment to Smith Fire’s value for money service and customer service.

Smiths Fire can work with companies with multi-sites across the country alongside clients with a corner shop to multi-nationals looking for a responsive, reliable service. A complete fire risk assessment can be undertaken which gives premises and procedures a complete health check. A comprehensive report outlines action required to conform to current Government legislation. Another popular facility is training

in the use of fire extinguishers. This can be undertaken either in the training department at Smiths Fire or at a customer’s premises. All courses include the use of the complete range of extinguishers putting out real fires. The partners said: “We take real pride in our work and we believe Smiths Fire have all the solutions to your fire protection needs.” The company, based at Northfield Point, Cunliffe Drive, has been able to continue to offer its services through the pandemic and take the highest precautions possible to ensure it meets current Government guidelines. To talk through specific needs call Smiths Fire on 01536 484846 or see the website at www.smithsfire.com

Left: Smiths Fire fleet of vans Bottom: Practical demonstration of fire safety training

The firm’s team include many long term employees

ounder partners Richard Smith and John Royles have put this combination at the heart of the Ketteringbased operation which offers a complete range of services from fire extinguisher services to installation and maintenance of fire alarms and lighting.

The firm’s British Standard Assurance certification reflects the continued mission to maintain high standards of reliability and quality. The team includes many longserving employees who have been able to build relationships with customers. This includes the firm’s engineering technicians in the fire

alarm and extinguisher departments who are well qualified to carry out installations, servicing and repairs. A 24/7 emergency back up service gives customers’ additional peace of mind. Through the decades Smiths Fire have continued to expand which means teams can provide services across many regions. This means

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

Business Times

March 2021

Economic Advice & Solutions These challenging times mean there is a real need for well-informed, practical advice and solutions to help businesses move forward. The pandemic has put ongoing pressures on businesses. For some a solution could be the difference between closure and survival and for others it will be ways to make the most of the current opportunities. Ever-changing laws and rules bring additional pressure with the risk of red tape choking the life out of businesses yet there is help available – you just need to know where to look. Catch up on some of the latest advice from specialists who understand how to make different ways of working start working for your business.

Successful growth of county businesses despite pandemic

Latest findings show the number of companies in Northamptonshire grew during 2020 – despite the ongoing challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.

n all there was a 5.8 per cent growth with the total number increasing to 52,017, up from 49,144 at the end of 2019. The same survey revealed that, while the total number of businesses grew, there was a fall in terms of new company formations – 7,534 compared to 8,393 in 2019, a decrease of 10.2%. The statistics are taken from the Inform Direct Review of Company Formations using data from Companies House and the Office for National Statistics. Northampton formed the highest number of new businesses (3,238), followed by South Northamptonshire (818) and Wellingborough (790). John Korchak is Operations Director at Inform Direct, a specialist in company secretarial and formation which has more than 175,000 UK companies using its software. He said: “These figures demonstrate strong growth for the number of registered businesses in Northamptonshire, despite the unprecedented uncertainties brought by COVID-19. “The slight fall in new company formations underlines how challenging 2020 was for business, resulting in a less conducive environment for entrepreneurs.”

Fresh call to support small business through crisis

SB is encouraging the Chancellor to use the Spring Budget to address gaps in the business support landscape as its latest research highlights the shortcomings of a sector-based approach. Fresh FSB analysis of government data shows that more than half (56%) of workers furloughed to date are employed outside of the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, but firms that do not neatly fit the definition for these industries – including suppliers to hotels, restaurants and event venues – are only entitled to around ten per cent of support grants. An FSB survey of more than 1,000 small business owners finds that one in five (22%) state that they have received no financial

help at all from the UK Government since the start of the Covid pandemic. As a result of the findings, FSB is calling on the Chancellor to: • Extend business rates exemptions introduced at the start of the Covid crisis to 2022 and permanently bring the rateable value ceiling for small business rates relief up to £25,000. • Introduce a fresh retention bonus for employers who bring staff back to work from furlough and reduce Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) before the retention scheme closes whilst creating new support mechanisms for those out of work and thinking about launching an enterprise.

Northamptonshire Districts

New Company Formations in 2020

Total Number of Companies End 2020

Northampton

3238

18370

South Northampton

818

6483

Wellingborough

790

6570

Kettering

697

5751

Corby

661

4175

Daventry

657

5123

East Northamptonshire

655

4969

However, many counties fared better, resulting in the UK as a whole seeing a recordbreaking 780,766 new businesses, compared to 690,763 in 2019. The overall number of UK companies also continued to grow to 4,837,426, an 8.2 per cent increase on the total of 4,471,008 at the end of 2019. The number of company dissolutions across the UK – 418,427 during 2020 – was the lowest since 2015. It remains open to debate whether this positive trend will last, especially when Government support for businesses is

withdrawn. New enterprises set up during the pandemic might also be short-lived, as people return to full-time employment or struggle to take the business to the next level. To see a more detailed picture of company formations in Northamptonshire – including a full local breakdown, visit: www.informdirect. co.uk/company-formations-2020/ northamptonshire/ To see the report in full visit: www.informdirect.co.uk/companyformations-2020/

• Extend flagship support schemes to cover the full periods over which restrictions are in place and adopt FSB’s proposals for bringing those with 2019/20 tax returns into scope of the Self-employment Income Support Scheme and launching a Directors Income Support Scheme. • Reinvigorate efforts to end the UK’s late payment crisis, strengthening corporate Audit Committees to take action against poor practices made worse during Covid against a backdrop in which firms that start to trade again in the summer may not be paid until the autumn. • Build on Pay As You Grow to move the UK’s small business community out from under an unsustainable debt mountain, considering tax liability and employee ownership models. • Provide a roadmap to reopening which encompasses measures to facilitate digital adoption, investment and upskilling within small firms.

Trusted legal advisers to the business community in Northampton. To find out more, please contact Gerald Couldrake at gerald.couldrake@howespercival.com or on 01604 230 400.

Business Times

March 2021

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

Economic Advice & Solutions

Cost of multiple lockdowns on businesses Results from the latest British Chamber of Commerce survey on the impact of coronavirus on businesses show they have been pushed to the brink by the effect of multiple lockdowns.

he leading business group has called on the UK government to set out a clear roadmap for reopening, advancing vaccination and workplace testing plans, and extending key financial support measures for businesses throughout 2021. Among the sobering findings from the survey of more than 1,100 businesses are: • Three in every five firms (61%) have seen their revenue from UK customers fall in the last three months; • Almost a third (31%) of business-to-consumer (B2C) firms say they will run out of cash in the next three months; • A quarter of survey respondents (25%) say they will make staff redundant if financial support stops in March and April. Business conditions worsen: Compared to October 2020, 61% of firms reported decreased revenue from UK customers. Only 19% of firms reported increased revenue and 20% reported no change. B2C service firms are significantly more likely to report decreased revenue (74%) from UK customers, as are firms with less than 10 employees (65%). When asked approximately how long firms could continue until they ran out of cash, almost one-quarter (23%) said less than three months. This figure rises to almost one-third (31%) of B2C service firms. Just over one quarter (28%) of firms overall and only one-fifth (20%) of B2C firms have cash for more than 12 months. The results paint a bleak picture of a business landscape which has been severely squeezed by repeated lockdowns and massive changes in trading conditions. The survey results also suggest that without the huge amount of government support given to companies to date, that business failures and job losses could have been much worse. Crucially, more support is needed until firms can fully reopen, with just over a quarter (28%) of businesses indicating they have enough cash to last more than a year. On average, B2C firms are currently operating at only 42 per cent of full capacity, while all firms were averaging 57% capacity against a pre-pandemic level of 75 to 80 per cent. Almost half (48%) of companies reported they still have staff on furlough. Rating the support from government When asked to rate the effectiveness of the various government schemes to support their business throughout the crisis, the Coronavirus Job

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

Retention Scheme (CJRS), allowing firms to furlough staff, had by far the highest effectiveness rating. More than two-thirds (68%) using this scheme say that it has been very effective, with a further 28% rating it as somewhat effective. Only 4% said it was not effective. Other schemes with high effectiveness ratings included Government loan schemes (such as CBILS and BBLS) where 46% rated them ‘very effective’ and 44% rated them ‘somewhat effective’, and the local authority business grant scheme, where 45% rated it ‘very effective’ and 40 per cent rated it ‘somewhat effective’. Business rates relief (49%), VAT deferrals (34%), VAT cuts for certain sectors of the economy (26%) were also rated as very effective. What firms may do if support expires in March and April When asked what their business might do if the government support schemes end according to a published timetable in March and April, 25 per cent of firms overall said they would ‘make staff redundant’, 25 per cent would ‘reduce staff hours’ and 19 per cent would ‘cancel or reduce investment or recruitment plans’. Only 21 per cent of B2C firms said the expiry of support ‘would have no impact on their business’, compared with 39 per cent of B2B firms and 37 per cent of manufacturers. BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said: “The last year has taken a heavy toll on businesses across the UK. With cash flow still the top concern, it is vital that the UK government keeps financial support going until firms can reopen and rebuild. Pulling the plug now would be a huge mistake and would be akin to writing off the billions already spent helping firms to survive. “Firms are desperate to start trading again so they can boost revenue and start thinking about the future. To do so they need to see a clear, evidence-based plan for reopening, and they need time to get back on their feet without unnecessary additional taxes, and the security of knowing that Government will once again support them should we see additional restrictions imposed at any point. “In the meantime, support must remain in place for firms that need it until a full reopening of the economy is possible. With cashflow being a major challenge for many businesses, we can expect to see further redundancies or business failures should Government support end prematurely.”

Business Times

March 2021

Economic Advice & Solutions

Trading changes after Brexit causing challenges for exporters Results from the first major business survey for 2021 by the British Chambers of Commerce on Brexit found that half (49 per cent) of exporters are facing difficulties in adapting to the changes in the trade of goods following the ratification of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

ork for the survey, which received 1,000 responses, mainly from SMEs, was carried out between 18 and 31 January 2021. Nearly half (47%) of respondents exported goods or services.   The survey sought to understand the extent to which businesses found it easy or difficult to adapt to changes in trading goods and/or services and moving people in the month since the ratification of the TCA. Businesses reported the highest proportion of difficulties in adapting to changes in trading goods. The survey found that: • Overall, around a third of respondents (30%) reported difficulties adapting to changes to moving or trading goods in

the first month of the year, while 10% said they had found adapting to the changes easy. 45% said trade in goods was not applicable to their business, and 16% said it was too early to say; • However, the percentage facing difficulties in adapting to changes in trading goods rose for exporters, where half (49%) reported issues, as well

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Business Times

March 2021

as manufacturers, where the percentage facing difficulties was more than half (51%); • Overall, 14% of firms said that they faced difficulties in adapting to changes in the trade of services. 10% said they had found adapting to the changes easy. The percentage facing difficulties rose for exporters, where 21% reported issues. When asked about the specific difficulties, businesses were facing, commonly cited concerns included increased administration, costs, delays,

lexibility and the ability to respond to customers has been at the heart of the Northampton firm’s ethos and the past year has certainly put these priorities to the test. Managing director Mark Grainger said: “We have seen a huge increase in enquiries and direct orders from private clients, companies, builders and homeowners who want to buy our made-to-measure heavy duty blind systems. “The growth in home shopping and ordering blinds direct online, has seen us supply and deliver blinds nationwide, which are all manufactured in our factory in Northampton. On going investment in our state-of-the-art equipment means we can make blinds up to six metres in width and drops up to eight metres long. We specialise in all commercial type products and predominantly motorised, battery or electric operated blinds. “We have a wealth of experience at hand and are readily available to communicate with each client. While we are still happy to talk on the phone, a session on Zoom means it is very easy to share information with customers including drawings and photographs. We can also send data about our products

and confusion about what rules to follow. Need for action The British Chambers of Commerce (BBC) will continue to support UK businesses through its trade documentation services and Chamber Customs, a customs advisory, training and brokerage service delivered through Chambers of Commerce across the UK, and by working closely with the government. The leading business group is calling on the UK Government, and where necessary with EU

partners, to: • Work with us and the Chamber network to identify the most significant blockages for business and immediately publish plans for resolving those problems; • Create tax credits allowing firms to offset their spending on adaptation to the new UK-EU requirements against their tax bill, helping businesses navigate new burdens and requirements better; • Push back the imposition of additional SPS checks (from

April) and full customs checks (from July) on imports into the UK. Sanitary and Phytosanitary (‘SPS’) checks are scientific tests on animal and plant goods; and • Look at key areas of the new relationship and work with EU partners on easements to minimise unhelpful burdens, including on aspects of Rules of Origin and VAT. BCC Director General Adam Marshall said: “Trading businesses – and the UK’s chances at a strong economic recovery – are being hit hard by changes at the border. “The late agreement of a UKEU trade deal left businesses in the dark on the detail right until the last minute, so it’s unsurprising to see that so many businesses are now experiencing practical difficulties on the ground as the new arrangements go live. “For some firms, these concerns are existential, and go well beyond mere ‘teething problems’. It should not be the case that companies simply have to give up on selling their goods and services into the EU. “Ministers must do everything they can to fix the problems that are within the UK’s own control and increase their outreach to EU counterparts to solve the knotty issues that are stifling trade in both directions. “This situation could get worse if the UK sticks to its guns and introduces additional SPS checks in April and full customs checks on imports in July. These timescales need to change – and the support available for businesses who are battling to adapt to new trading conditions significantly increased.”

Direct approach proves success for firm

The pandemic has forced businesses to find different ways to meet the demands of customers and Saxon Blinds is no exception.

Saxon Blinds specialise predominantly in motorised, battery or electric operated blinds

and swatches to make sure we meet the customer’s requirements. Once we have talked through the options, we can price a job straight away. “When the time comes and restrictions are gradually

lifted, we anticipate a surge in visits to schools, offices, universities, colleges and other public buildings. We can offer a complete survey, supply and install service.” All Saxon Blinds staff are DSB checked

and are part of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. For more details contact Saxon Blinds on 01604 601888, email sales@saxonblinds. co.uk or visit the website www.saxonblinds.co.uk

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

Economic Advice & Solutions

Can you access your business accounts anytime, anywhere?

he outbreak of COVID-19 has highlighted the need to adopt cloud technology to many businesses. Whether it’s implementing virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom, virtual document storage or digitising previously paper or desktopbased records, many businesses in 2020 have adapted in some way. During

business owners to produce each document as soon as possible to avoid disappointment and the possibility of their business missing out.

COVID-19 has forced business owners to make tough decisions on a weekly basis regarding furloughing employees, cashflow and how to survive. All pose difficult conversations and potentially uncomfortable decision the making. The priority for most COVID-19 outbreak In times of uncertainty, where businesses has been managing alone, Ad Valorem have numerous Government grants and cashflow in order to plan for the transferred over 130 loans have become available to help months ahead. Having the figures support businesses during this period and tools to make educated businesses to Xero after of economic downfall, it is more decisions regarding financial showing the benefits of important than ever for business’ to planning for a business owner is the cloud accounting crucially important, and in today’s have their financial details and reports software. easily accessible. It has highlighted digital age is now easier to access. Many the fact that businesses digitising their businesses still rely on paper tracing to accounts system is no longer deemed a monitor their finances and this creates luxury, but a necessity. room for errors and delays. Using a cloud -based software for your accounts can nderstanding your financial position help to eliminate these issues “Thriving in a world impacted by COVID-19 and have more control of your requires agility and strategic thinking” – Xero business. The ability to make informed decisions relies on uture proofing - During the having an accurate and up-to-date understanding COVID-19 outbreak alone, of your financial position. The importance of being able to make quick, calculated decisions heightens in Ad Valorem have transferred over 130 businesses to Xero after times of uncertainty, due to the potential implications of not being responsive to the situation. showing the benefits of the cloud accounting software. Naturally we Some questions to ask yourself to see if you have had businesses question the idea of your financial position at your fingertips: bringing their accounts to the cloud, but after showing the value and efficiency What invoices are owed to you? of using an online system, businesses now What do you have outstanding to ask, ”Why didn’t we change sooner?”.

Due to Xero being an online system, there are also many integrated applications to third party systems which could help make the running of your business more streamlined. An example of this is Receipt Bank, a data capture app which reads data from scans or photos of purchase invoices or receipts, and automatically inputs into Xero for review. Apps such as Receipt Bank have saved clients hours of data entry each month. The two biggest impacts Xero has provided our clients are the ability to view current financials quickly and clearly; and time savings with business processes. But don’t take our word for it, here’s what our clients say…

“

The implementation of Xero has enabled me to view our financial position easily so I can keep on top of our numbers. It has given me the ability to engage with Nigel [Managing Director, Ad Valorem] and the team quickly in order to make decisions in what has become a dynamic environment. Using Xero Payroll and Expenses has also reduced processing time for my team and enables us to manage our expenses efficiently.

pay?

What is your next VAT liability likely to be? Do you have any cashflow holes in the next 6 months?

pplying for Government support - Many of the Government’s business support initiatives offering financial aid require businesses to provide financial reports in order to establish eligibility.

Over the lockdown period many businesses have really felt the financial effects of reduced operation. The Government support packages have therefore been vital in some cases for businesses to keep their doors open. As soon as the Government announced the eligibility requirements and level of grants available it was fundamental for many businesses to act quickly to receive the aid in good time in order to keep their business afloat. This required producing 3 main reports in order for lenders to review:

£ Revenue

Cashflow

£ Payroll Numbers

With many businesses in the UK keeping paper or desktop-based accounts systems, it proved more time consuming to pull together the relevant documents with their accountant. This in-turn created a time delay on receiving grants/loans which put unnecessary pressure and stress on business owners. With some grants having a time restraint in order to claim financial backing, it was key for

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

As a practice, we specialise in implementing, training and supporting the use of Xero. This year we were recognised as ‘Mid-size firm of the year’ at the Xero awards for the ongoing support we offer to our clients, enabling them to utilise the software to its full capability.

ay-to-day differences - With Xero you are able to take control of your financials at your fingertips at anytime, anywhere. Xero allows you and your accountant to view your current financial data, due to having live bank feeds to most major UK banks. The reporting functions in Xero enable business owners to pull their own reports together, customising them to their individual needs. This could include monitoring different cost centres to identify which are most profitable.

– Neil, BF Bassett & Findley

“

Ad Valorem converted us from Sage 200 to Xero in January 2020. From scoping our business processes, to implementing Xero and Receipt Bank, to the training provided to my team, Ad Valorem provided a first-class service at each stage. Xero and Receipt Bank have saved us hours of manual data entry each week and our team really enjoy using the platform. We know Ad Valorem are on hand if we ever have any questions or want to ensure we are keeping up-to-date with software updates. – Mark, Full-On If you are thinking of digitising your accounts system and processes, get in touch using the details below to arrange a meeting. (e) enquiries@advaloremgroup.uk (w) advaloremgroup.uk (t) 01908 219100

Innovative Financial Collaboration. Business Times

March 2021

Economic Advice & Solutions

Energy efficient solutions to cut fuel bills

Census will give insight into future needs Councils across Northamptonshire are working with The Offices for National Statistics to deliver a successful Census 2021 to ensure it helps local services and fully meet future needs.

nderstanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central government to local organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census results inform where public funding is spent on services like transport, education and health – on cycle routes, schools and dental surgeries. The census, taking place on 21 March 2021, will shed light on the needs of different groups and communities, the inequalities people are experiencing, and it will ensure the big decisions facing the country following the coronavirus pandemic and EU exit are based on the best information possible. Theresa Grant, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire County Council has been tasked with creating two new unitary councils which will take over from the eight existing councils in the county from Thursday, 1 April.

She said: “Information gathered in the Census is used by local councils to ensure recommendations to politicians are based on sound evidence. Therefore, as we prepare to launch the two new councils, I would urge every householder to take part in the Census, speak to neighbours and friends and encourage them to take part so that future decisions are made with the very best information.” In March households will begin receiving information packs which will explain how to complete the census and will also include a code to allow them to do so online. People can also request a paper questionnaire if they would prefer to complete the census that way. In areas where lower online completion is expected, around 10 per cent of households will receive a traditional paper form through the post. Find further information and advice on how to answer the questions: www.census.gov.uk

eeping our business premises and homes warm during the cooler months, and doing it as economically as possible, is something we all have to think about. Burton Latimer-based Griffiths have several energy efficient solutions on offer to assist with reducing fuel costs, including a hybrid system that combines a gas combi boiler and heat pump. Although originally aimed as a replacement for existing gas boilers in two or three bedroomed properties with a heating load between 12kW and 20kW, it can also be suitable for larger, harder to heat premises. The Daikin Altherma Hybrid smart controller automatically monitors operating conditions, heat pump efficiency and heat load to determine the most economical running mode that achieves the lowest running cost. The hybrid system could provide a saving of 35 per cent on current gas costs. For water-based central heating systems using either radiators or underfloor heating, the Daikin Altherma range of air source heat pumps provide over four kilowatts of heat for every one kilowatt of electricity needed to run them. This coupled with the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), results in a very economical heating solution for new selfbuild or replacement situations. Ground source heat pumps, particularly suited to new build projects, produce a very good financial return under RHI. Griffiths are part of the ‘Underground Network’ of approved installers of Kensa ground source heat pumps.

Ian Griffiths of Griffiths Air Conditioning & Electrical

For offices, shops or other commercial areas, the Daikin range of energy efficient air-to-air heat pumps will provide quick warm up times and cost savings whilst also being able to cool in the summer months. A wide range of indoor units allow the fan coils to be floor, wall or ceiling mounted, or even fully concealed behind panelling and suspended ceilings. Modern inverter-controlled compressors and clever weather compensation controls minimise the electricity costs. With all these products Griffiths can provide the ancillary electrical or plumbing

installation services required and, most importantly, arrange for their Service Division to carry out the regular service visits to ensure equipment is operating as efficiently as possible. You can contact Griffiths by telephone on 01536 420666, via their website at www.griffithsaircon.co.uk or by visiting their Energy Efficiency Centre showroom at 111 High Street in Burton Latimer between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Cloudy2Clear, A Local Family Service With A Smile I think we can all agree that seeing the back of 2020 was a welcome event for each and every one of us, and we can now hopefully march into 2021 with renewed positivity and optimism. One thing is for sure though, there have also been some heart warming positives that we can take out of last year. It has often been said that we can only really get to know one another and realise what is truly important in times of crisis. I think few would argue that in this case what has proven to be important is local community spirit and family. When talking to Trevor & Wendy Skidmore the owners of Cloudy2Clear

Northampton & Oxford it became clear that these values have been held for over 13 years. Since buying the local franchise in 2006 they have remained true to their core values of supporting the local community whilst introducing their 2 sons Lloyd & Ross into the family business along with Dan, Mark & Jo as demand for their service has grown.

using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help once again”. For a free quotation please call 0800 61 21 118 or visit www. cloudy2clear.com

All C2C employees operate a strict social distancing policy.

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Economic Advice & Solutions

he advent of Covid-19 means the switch to online shopping has been immense. High street and shopping giants like Debenhams and Arcadia Group are literally being eaten alive by the giants of the internet world like ASOS and boohoo. The convenience of online shopping has consequences including fewer ‘physical’ shops to visit. If you are purchasing certain objects of a regular size and shape, it’s a no brainer. A few YouTube reviews may suffice before buying electrical goods and gadgets with another big tick for food and household items. How many of these items do you actually think about returning? Few I’m guessing. However, what’s your experience of online shopping for clothing? In my experience, it’s not the answer that many had hoped for. Looking at clothes on a flat screen with no opportunity to feel the fabric or viewing them on a model who is far from your size or shape is at best disheartening. Eventually you select your clothing and hit the send button excited that your curated range of clothing will be the answer. The fortunate receive the order without costly custom tariffs (part of the challenges of shopping ‘internationally’ now) or maybe the parcel ‘goes astray’ in a dark corner of a warehouse or gets taken literally from your front doorstep. Inevitably the reality of receiving your carefully selected clothing turns out to be a frustrating, costly and time-

his means businesses can choose to make no payments on their loans until 18 months after they originally took them out and the option to pause repayments will now be available to all from their first repayment, rather than after six repayments have been made. Pay as You Grow will also enable borrowers to extend the length of their loans from six to ten years (reducing monthly repayments by almost half) and make interest-only payments for six months, in order to tailor their repayment schedule to suit their individual circumstances. These Pay as You Grow options will be available to more than 1.4 million businesses which took out a total of nearly £45 billion through the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. This is in addition to the government covering the costs of interest for the first year of the loan. P a y a s Yo u G r o w ’s additional support, first announced in September, will give borrowers the option to tailor repayments to their individual circumstances. This will provide more time and greater flexibility

Why choose destination shopping?

Online shopping for everday items like groceries or electrical goods may be quick and convenient, but how easy is it when you’re looking for new clothes? Dean Anderson from Saint Crispin Bespoke Menswear discusses why buying clothes online can sometimes be a frustrating, costly and time-consuming experience.

Dean Anderson of Saint Crispin Bespoke Menswear

consuming experience. First there is trying everything on, often in a room with poor lighting and no full-length mirror. You quickly discover the fit and quality are not up to scratch so have to pack all the items back in the box, fill in the

returns slip and join the queue at the post office. Some might decide to reorder in a different size or try a different style and go through the whole process all over again. It seems a complete waste of time and money. Some will take a ‘that will do’

approach so do not return the items or maybe they have in their heads that it can be altered. It all feels and looks like, too much hard work for most customers. What happened to the good old days of shopping off the high

Businesses given more time to bounce back The Chancellor’s Pay as You Grow repayment flexibilities now include the option to delay all repayments for a further six months. to repay the loans. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: “Businesses are continuing to feel the impact of extended disruption from Covid-19, and we’re determined to give them the backing and confidence they need to get through the pandemic. “ T h a t ’s w h y w e ’ r e giving Bounce Back Loan borrowers breathing space to get back on their feet, through greater flexibility and time to repay their loans on their terms.” Lenders will proactively and directly inform their customers of Pay as You Grow, and borrowers should only expect correspondence three months before their first repayments are due. It will provide businesses with the following options: 1. Extend the length of the loan from six years to ten 2. M a k e i n t e r e s t - o n l y

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payments for six months, with the option to use this up to three times throughout the loan 3. P a u s e r e p a y m e n t s entirely for up to six months Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, added: “The comprehensive and generous financial support package we have delivered across the UK has protected jobs, saved businesses and kept local economies on the move. “While our vaccine rollout is moving at an incredible pace and the end is in sight, we know times are still tough for many companies and extra support is needed. “These flexible repayment options will give businesses the time they need to recover from the pandemic before paying back loans, giving them the breathing space and confidence to build back better.”

Further information The British Business Bank run the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The government has made clear that lenders are expected to offer PAYG options to all borrowers under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. Following discussions with lenders, all borrowers should receive identical information on PAYG being offered. The Financial Conduct Authority’s conduct rules require lenders to show due consideration and appropriate forbearance to borrowers in difficulty. Under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, no repayments or interest are due from the borrower during the first 12 months of the loan term.

street where parking was easy and where good old fashioned ‘customer service’ was on offer when you walked through a real, not virtual shop door? Imagine being able to book your own shop for an hour? Greeted at the door with a smile, a cup of delicious coffee, a comfy seat with someone who was interested in you rather than some virtual automated assistant who can’t see you let alone understand a body shape. Somewhere where the shop owner is passionate about the clothes he is recommending. Someone who really spends time getting to know your requirements. Someone who understands completely the meaning of fit and can make sure that the clothing created fits your body shape, height and scale perfectly. In other words, a VIP Michelin threestar shopping experience. Does this type of exclusive destination shopping exist outside of Saville Row? We can report it is alive and operating at Saint Crispin retail village where Dean Anderson has been running his bespoke men’s wear business for the past ten years. Destination shopping is something many will be searching for when coming out of lockdown. Somewhere convenient, with a Covid-free

environment where shopping is a relaxing, pleasurable yet time efficient way of investing in garments of exceptional quality, fabric, fit and service. In other words, slow fashion at its best. So, which would you prefer? Waiting a few weeks in eager anticipation for your beautiful garments to arrive? Or experiencing that dreadful deflated feeling you get when you have been shopping online getting your immediate shopping fix with nothing to show for your time except grossly inferior garments that are not even fit to be worn more than a few times and ending up in the back of the wardrobe or being thrown away in the next wardrobe turnout? For those who are looking to try this experience and add a few well-chosen pieces to their own wardrobe why not start with a shirt starting at £125 or a beautifully tailored suit for £650? This is about the same price as going online for a Hugo Boss suit without having to factor in the usual alteration costs. Maybe you would like to gift this experience to a friend with a Saint Crispin gift certificate. Go online to www.saintcrispin. co.uk or call 01604 589907 to make an appointment.

Successful bid to launch apprenticeship programme Apprenticeships will be on offer to 30 young people thanks to a successful bid by the Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC) to join the government’s Kickstart Scheme.

ade by the STC (of which Silverstone Park is a founding member) the bid was approved by the Department for Work & Pensions and grants the Cluster organisation the all-important ‘Kickstart Gateway’ status. Silverstone Park-based Performance Projects (engineering consultancy), PUNCH Flybrid (hybrid flywheel technology), Delta (high performance battery systems) and KW Special Projects (behind the soon-to-open Digital Manufacturing Centre) are among 19 business involved. All are members of the STC. The Kickstart Scheme will provide each with funding for 25 hours of employment per week, plus additional funds for training. “This is another exciting development for our membership and again shows the regard in which the government holds their skills and capabilities as a true contributor to both the local and UK economies,” enthused STC CEO Pim van Baarsen. “This gives 30 young people from the region each an incredible opportunity – to gain invaluable experience with some of the most innovative high-tech businesses in the country. “In turn, this can give many of them the boost they need in terms of gaining skills that then help take them to the next stage of a career. “An important part of the criteria is also that employers provide them with the crucial basic skills training, such as timekeeping, application and paperwork, such as CVs. “I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to all those members who have offered to invest their time and energy to train up these young people – I am sure they also stand to benefit from the experience.” The news comes soon after the STC was selected to become a national Trailblazer Project for the government-backed business advice network Be The Business.

Business Times

March 2021

Networking

Networking launch to inspire women with vision

new mentoring and networking association has been created by Northamptonshire Chamber to educate, inspire and promote women in business. The Women With Vision Network will offer its members access to a range of opportunities including: • Six online free CPD events across the year delivered by a Champion. • Access to four networking events across the year (online or face-to-face, Covid-19 restrictions dependant) • Free 30-minute Mentor zoom call with a Champion. • Bimonthly drop-in event to discuss any issues/successes you have in your business and career hosted by a Champion. The Chamber’s Interim Chief Executive, Louise Wall, said: “It’s with great pleasure that we announce the launch of our newly created Women with Vision network with

the inaugural launch event taking place on 8th March coinciding with International Women’s Day. This exciting new network was announced at our Northamptonshire Chamber AGM that took place on the 16th December which was greatly received as a direct response to a large amount of requests from members, in both Chambers. “The newly created WWV network provides mentoring, support and networking opportunities that are open to both members and non-members of the Chamber ensuring we continue to remain stronger together.

When it comes to networking, it is vital that we have a range of events that suit everyone. “The Women with Vision network compliments our already extensive range of events, business exhibitions, business forums and seminars that are delivered via our Northants, MK and Next Generation Chambers.” The Women With Vision network launch event is on 8th March to coincide with International Women’s Day. It will run from 10am to 11.30am and is open to all women to attend. You will get the chance to learn about what’s included in the subscription, meet the Champions, network with other women in business and take part in an International Women’s day event. For further information contact Kate Denne at kate.denne@northants-chamber.co.uk

Local networking events this month

etworking is alive and thriving across Northamptonshire. Each group has taken its own steps to adapt to the effects of lockdown with new ways of working. There is a wealth of networking groups across Northamptonshire who bring businesspeople together. Each has had to adapt to the effects of the pandemic which has meant going online rather than the traditional face-to-face.

North Northants Business Networking

Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce

Your Business Matters

Chamber members can book online for all events. www.northants-chamber.co.uk 2nd March - ChamberLIVE: Digital Future First 10:00 – 11:00 3rd March - Developing Overseas Markets 14:00 – 15:30 4th March - Customs Special Procedures to Delay/Reduce Duties 09:30 – 13:00 8th March - Women With Vision International Women’s Day 10:00 – 11:30 10th March - Meet the Neighbours with Beds Chamber 11:00 – 12:15 11th March - Free Trade Agreements - What/ how do they work? 09:30 – 13:00 17th March - Northants Chamber Speed Networking 10:00 – 11:15 18th March - Export Procedures and Getting Products to Market 09:30 – 13:00 18th March - ChamberLIVE: Global Marketing Trends 2021 11:00 – 12:00 25th March - Import Procedures, Customs & Transport Processes 09:30 – 13:00 26th March - Friday Wind-down Networking 15:00 – 16:00

Federation of Small Businesses, FSB

The FSB has 2,000 members across Northamptonshire and as well as local campaigning, the team of staff local members hold regular networking and support events, currently all online and free to attend. These include a monthly FSB Northampton Virtual Networking where all are welcome, you don’t have to be an FSB member to join in. FSH also hold regular Northampton Business forum on key business issues, and MP meetings with local members. To find these and hundreds of other networking, support and webinar events online at www.fsb.org.uk. Upcoming events: FSB Northampton Virtual Networking: March 25th at 10-11am.

Business Times

March 2021

Free to attend for start-up and established businesses and run from 9.30am to 10.30am, Visit the website at www. For join up details northnorthantsbusinessnetwork.co.uk Northampton – Wednesday, March 3rd Wellingborough - Monday March 8th Kettering – Wednesday, March 10th Corby – Tuesday, March 16th East Northants – Thursday, March 25th. Practical support to help businesses grow their business. There are two types of regular face to face connection events. The Business Room is a one business area group for business owners, those in employed positions, MLM’s and franchised businesses. Networking requires an investment of time and money, but it doesn’t always deliver an ROI. The Business Room is proudly different, providing a time-efficient and costeffective way to build your contacts and collaborators and access new opportunities. Business Room: Attendees maximise their time out of the office and in the room, by ensuring all the attendee information is shared in advance. This gives attendees time to plan their networking session in advance so they can get more out of each meeting, therefore making it as profitable as possible. Each session involves a training session. Groups meet 12 to 2pm when face to face but currently online from 11.30 to 1.30pm Kettering: March 9th Wellingborough: March 17th Northampton: March 11th South Northants: March 16th

The Connections Club - Northants

Only open to business owners, influencers and decision makers this is a structured and professional group, which gives people the opportunity to connect with other business owners who are serious about growth. It allows you to take away a valuable skill, learning or insight – at every single meeting and meet valuable contacts. It is not lockout, but each session is limited to a maximum of three business areas. Tuesday, March 2nd: Meet 11.45 - 2pm when face to face but currently online 11.45 – 1.45pm Contact details: Barbara 07504 946 585/ 01933 652884 Email:barbara@yourbusinessmatters.co www.yourbusinessmatters.co

BNI

Tuesday’s BNI (Temporary Online) Meeting 6:45-8:30, Ignite BNI, Holiday Inn Northampton West M1, Jct 6 (NN7 4LP). Thursday’s BNI (Temporary Online) Meetings 6:45-8:30, Pavilion BNI, Collingtree Park Golf Club (NN4 0XN); 6:45-8:30, Prosperity BNI, Kettering Rugby Club (NN15 6NT); 11:30-13:30, Sterling BNI, Delapre Golf Club (NN4 7DU). Friday’s BNI (Temporary Online) Meeting 6:45-8:30, Lighthouse BNI, Franklin’s Gardens (NN5 5BG); 6:45-8:30, Unity BNI, Gt Doddington Club (NN29 7TL). Contact Duncan Webster for all events, email: Duncan@BNIBreakfast.co.uk, tel: 07977 422220.

The Business Community

The belief is that, with the right support at the right price - any small business can succeed. Members believe there is so much to gain with a positive attitude of mutual collaboration and a desire to share collective wisdom and experience. The Business Community run the following meetings: Northampton & Daventry (7.30-9.30am) alternate Wednesdays Wellingborough & MK (7.30-9.30am) alternate Thursdays Market Harborough (7.30-9.30am) alternate Fridays Free networking (3.00-4.00pm) every Friday Women-only (9.30-11.00am) 3rd Wednesday of the month Evening (6.30-8.30pm) 4th Tuesday of the month All meetings are £6, except the free meeting, with a money back guarantee if you don’t find a meeting of value. Visitors welcome. Details of all events and to book: www.buscomm.co.uk/ourevents

New champion for small businesses

consultant Finance Director from Northampton is the new local champion for the East Midlands region for Federation of Small Businesses, FSB. Sally Wood is to help head up the group’s local grassroots lobbying as Area Lead representing Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. Sally has been successfully coopted as the new Area Leader, following Clare Elsby’s move to become East Midlands representative on the FSBs national English Policy Unit (EPU) which gathers intel on key small business issues from across the UK. Clare takes over on EPU from Michael Weedon, who now has a national volunteer role for FSB focussing on Growth and Localism, as well as continuing as chair of the FSB’s national Retail and High Streets Policy Unit. Sally, based in Northampton, joins Jenny Cross, Leicestershire-based founder of Cross Productions and Niche Magazine, as an ambassador for the FSB and its members amongst businesses and local policymakers. Sally joined FSB in 2019 having set up in business after a senior corporate finance career, and has become a key part of FSB’s local volunteer team, taking a lead role in Northamptonshire on events and providing around 500 local businesses over that time with networking, campaigning and business support. Sally continues to host the FSB’s Northants networking event every month, which attracts a large, diverse and welcoming group of SMEs, and is free and open to all.

Sally said: “I have gained a great deal of personal satisfaction from supporting small business owners through hosting local FSB events and sharing my expertise as a speaker. I am excited about the prospect of taking my involvement as an FSB volunteer to the next level by being co-opted to the Area Lead role as a platform to support and advocate for the small business community. “There’s plenty to get involved in - from the new Unitary Authorities in Northamptonshire to the reopening and repurposing of high streets, and the need for business support from local and national government - and I look forward to working with the FSB East Midlands team as a voice for small businesses.” Sally has received the full endorsement of the FSB Regional Chairman in the East Midlands, Les Phillimore who said: “I’m delighted that Sally has joined the regional team in such a key role at this crucial time for small businesses, when their voice needs to be clearly heard by policymakers at all levels. “I very much look forward to working with Sally over the coming months and years. The FSB will always represent the interests of our diverse and vibrant population of members and small businesses to ensure we stay at the heart of the local debate and at the forefront of business policy decisionmaking.”

Entries open for 2021 SME National Business Awards

rganisers of the SME National Business Aw a r d s have announced they have opened entries early for the 2021 event. The decision comes after organisers Events & PR were inundated with enquiries about this year’s awards from business leaders looking to either enter themselves or nominate someone else for their great work during the pandemic. In response to the demand, the SME National Business Awards 2021 opened for entries on Monday 25th January as part of an online pre-launch event. Damian Cummins, Awards Director at Events & PR, said: “Last year we received so many entries from companies and individuals doing amazing things in a difficult year. We were so inspired by these entries we decided to add two new categories - Lockdown Leader

and Business Chameleon. We had such a great response to these that we will include them again this year too.” The SME National Business Awards are now in their fifth year. They were created to raise the profile of the hardworking small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK. There are 18 categories in total, covering a wide range of business achievements such as Innovation, Best New Business, Family Business of the Year, Service Excellence and High Growth. The 2021 awards ceremony is due to take place at Wembley Stadium on Friday 3rd December. For more information and to enter, go to www.smenational businessawards.co.uk or call 01908 542720.

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

Business News

Supporting students online to Colleges work with employers to support apprentices help advance their learning Kumon Northampton South Study Centre offers individualised maths and English study programmes for children of all ages and abilities and registration is free in March.

orking from home while taking on the role of teacher has taken its toll on many parents. Families may well breathe a sigh of relief when schools start to welcome back more students but for some youngsters this will bring fresh challenges. Schools will be working hard to help students ‘catch up’ but there is additional support available including the internationally-renowned Kumon programme. The Northampton South Study Centre offers individualised maths and English study programmes for children of all ages and abilities and registration is free in March. The aim is to help children of any age and ability become confident, independent learners. Students develop lifelong study skills and a passion for learning, as well as the confidence to complete their work independently. To take advantage of the free registration offer simply contact your centre’s Instructor to book a consultation. Your child will complete a free maths and/or English assessment so that their level of study can be precisely tailored to their ability. The centre’s individualised maths and English programmes allow students to start at their own, individually set starting point and to progress to an advanced level at their own pace. This creates a positive learning experience, with work always set at just the right level. After the consultation, if parents feel that Kumon is the right programme for their child, they can then register with no fee. Their child will join the other four million students across the world currently developing to

Instructing students via Zoom

their full potential with Kumon. With more than 60 years of experience, the Kumon maths and English Programmes enable students to work above their school grade level. Because students can reach an advanced level of study, often far beyond their school curriculum, they are well-equipped with the skills they need to excel. Kumon is proud to be recognised as an education provider that delivers proven academic results. An independent study in 2020 revealed that Kumon students are over a year ahead of the national average, and over six months ahead of their peers in their maths learning at the end of primary school. The programmes place great importance on self-learning, encouraging students to discover how to solve problems for themselves. As students begin to take ownership of their learning and become independent learners, they develop invaluable confidence and self-motivation. With guidance and support from the Instructor, Kumon students build fluency, ability and confidence, as well as a love of learning. Kumon Instructors continuously monitor, guide and challenge students to

REGISTRATION NORMALLY

£50

Take advantage of our Free registration offer and find out what your child can achieve through the Kumon Maths and English Programmes. Classes currently run online on Tuesdays & Thursdays (4PM to 6PM) and Saturdays (10AM to 11:30AM)

Berta Rapoz

grow by gradually increasing the level of difficulty of the worksheets they assign, while considering increases in each student’s level of academic ability. In small manageable steps, students develop their abilities and acquire study skills such as speed, accuracy, time management, concentration and problem-solving. To find out more call your local Kumon centre Berta Rapoz on 07740 150924 or email northamptonsouth@ kumoncentre.co.uk to book a consultation.

The Bedford College Group has led the way in the region on apprenticeships, working with employers across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

hen Covid-19 hit, the Group has been well-placed to continue working closely with employers and keep them appraised of new Government arrangements. For instance, up to £3,000 can be available for those taking on an apprentice, and that offer is being extended beyond original deadline to the end of March 2021. For more information visit www.bedford.ac.uk Julie Hoult, Group Head of Business Development, is based at the Corby campus of Tresham College, part of The Bedford College Group. She said: “The National Apprentice Week which started on February 8th is only the beginning of a continual programme of events of

activities we will be supporting to get the numbers of apprentices on the increase. “We are going to launch our own virtual ‘Apprenticeship April’ event aimed at school and college leavers, parent, carers, schools and employers. This is being offered to all schools in our reach, and they are already responding. The idea is to make sure that young people recognise the potential of apprenticeships, how they can lead to degreelevel learning and so are a real alternative to university.” Meanwhile major employers who work with the college had their own events planned which were given support by Julie and team. These included Weetabix which planned a promotional video of their apprentices that will be sent to schools and colleges.

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Support for greener transport

he UK Government’s plans to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 meant the need to accelerate a greener transport future by the gradual phase out of petrol and diesel cars. They revealed that over £1.8 billion would be invested in UK infrastructure and grants to increase access to zeroemission vehicles. Corby-based ECS (Electrical Compliance and Safety) Ltd have recently been awarded full accreditation to become installers of both Rolec and Pod Point electrical vehicle chargers. A team of experienced ECS electrical engineers are now qualified to install the electric vehicle chargers in all domestic and workplace settings. ECS are also able to support clients, enabling them to take advantage of government grants of up to £350 off their

Julie Hoult - We want to make sure that young people recognise the potential of apprenticeships

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The UK Government plans to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030

Home EV installation under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), and up to £14,000 off work premises EV installations under the

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Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). Get in touch to discuss EV charge point installation, email info@ecs-group.co.uk

“London’s Savile Row experience in Northampton” Saint Crispin Retail Village, 22 Kent Road, Northampton NN5 4DR Visit us online at www.saintcrispin.co.uk

Business Times

March 2021

Marketing & PR

Food for thought.. What Weetabix Bounce back and campaign can teach us about PR thrive in 2021 in the modern age As time has moved on, the lines between PR and marketing have become increasingly blurred. But, when the two work together in sync, the results can be hugely successful.

hances are that you will have seen the Weetabix and Heinz Baked Beans campaign that took over the internet and headlines last month. In case you missed it, seemingly it all started with a single tweet by Weetabix suggesting that you could ‘have yours’ with a thick layer of Heinz Baked Beans on top of it. With a great professional photo illustrating this crazy combination, the tweet went viral and soon lots of big brand Twitter accounts jumped on it – all of them quick with witty retorts and keen to demonstrate the personality and humour behind their brands. Was it just luck? Or was it a carefully crafted PR campaign that had already enlisted the help of the big brands and mainstream media before the tweet was even posted? After a bit of digging, I found out that the campaign idea started three months prior in November when Weetabix’s PR agency Frank PR came up with the idea to create some divisive food combos after they saw one covered in The Sun newspaper. They realised that with a brand so well established as Weetabix they would be able to create

Business Times

Emma Speirs of Ballyhoo PR This campaign has been hugely successful, but it was no accident

‘talkability’, a tactic which has become the agency’s trademark. Not only did the campaign result in more that ONE BILLION views on Twitter and the engagement of more than 100 big name brands, it has seen acres of

March 2021

press coverage at an international level and Sainsburys said they saw a 15% increase in Weetabix sales as a result! It got me thinking about PR and just how powerful it can be. This campaign has obviously been hugely successful and surpassed even Frank PR’s wildest dreams, but it was no accident. And even after the tweet, Frank PR has created videos showing how the day unfolded and given interviews to the press. I even saw a job advert on LinkedIn a few days later that asked potential candidates to be ‘full of beans’. We say to our clients that to achieve optimum success, all communications need to work together – from traditional print PR and broadcast media to your own social media channels, photography and website. And this campaign is proof of that. Whilst there was obviously an element of luck in here too, it just goes to show that when all forms of communication work together, the world is your Weetabix! For more information on PR and how it could work for your business, contact Emma on 01536 682800 or emma.speirs@ballyhoo-pr.co.uk.

After a challenging 2020 for many, Pilkington Communications has launched its new ‘Adapt, Recover, Rebuild’ package of support to help businesses fight back.

hether you’re looking to rebuild your business, improve your brand recognition, raise your profile, diversify your offering, design a fundraising campaign or you have just lost confidence in your direction and would value some guidance, this eight-week focused support package is designed to help your business this year. It includes eight weeks of focused PR and Communications support, equivalent to 50 hours of work. Jessica Pilkington, Director, said: “It’s been humbling to see so many businesses strive and understandably struggle during the pandemic but also exciting to see so many adapt their offering in order to thrive. That is why we have designed this package – to provide a cost effective and very focused approach to help businesses achieve the results they want and need this year.” No one size fits all approach so all the expert support will be tailored to each individual business’s exact needs, executing a range of tasks, such as: • Copywriting – updating and/or rewriting your website or promotional materials, creating case studies and testimonials, writing blogs, news

stories and just about anything else you need to promote your business. • Press releases – identifying headline grabbing story angles about your organisation to gain coverage in the publications and online sites you need and want a presence in. • Campaign launches – designing and running competitions and campaigns to boost an organisation’s profile, generate new leads and build a database of contacts and potential customers. • Social media content planning – designing and running image-led content across your key channels to promote your business, and anything and everything from your events and projects, to launches, products, campaigns and more. The Pilkington Communications team monitors the results of all the work it does, and works closely with businesses at the start to agree objectives. Jessica: “Whatever we do, we want to make sure it has a positive impact on your organisation. At the end of the two months, we’ll also offer advice on what you can do moving forward, enabling you to maintain the momentum we will have started with you.” https://pilkington-comms.co.uk/ prpackages/

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Marketing & PR

Meaningful marketing that hits closer to home In a world where businesses have been forced to adapt to so many sudden changes, it is not just people’s needs and behaviours that are changing, their beliefs and feelings are too. This is a time to focus not only on our methods (and how we communicate) but the substance, tone and style of what we communicate. Innovation and standing out means being aware of the world around you I have been involved in building brands and marketing businesses for almost 25 years. The digital age has forever changed the landscape; how we reach customers, communicate with them and how we do business. As with any decade’s fashion trends, some principles always seem to retain a degree of relevance, while others fall out of favour. In the same vein, there are aspects that make a resurgence and find new contextual relevance – I am talking about ways of reaching customers and talking to them that become opportunities all over again. Which methods are right from one business to the next will never be the same, but I want to focus on local this month and how any business can build its local profile. In the last four to five years we have been thrown into a combined Brexit/pandemic nightmare and the people of Britain are, collectively, pretty fed up with all the problems and the negativity they are having to contend with. For any business to think they can do things the same way they always have would be very foolish, short-sighted and a likely costly misadventure. Businesses need to rethink their marketing, entirely, and see that there are huge advantages to recognising and reacting to the changes in people’s behaviours, attitudes and feelings.

have become generic, flat and soulless, so it is time to bring some humanity back to everything. Traditional methods of communication are really coming back into the fore: letters/postal marketing, emails and good, old-fashioned conversation (even if that has to be done online). When you combine this with a focus on local, you can really tick a lot of boxes in creating genuinely fruitful opportunities.

It’s time to start talking and to make it meaningful Where is everyone right now? Generally, people are stuck at home and sat in front of a computer. The constant and unrelenting digital world is a drain and people do not naturally spend so much time conversing without real and tangible, personal human contact. That is where the savvy marketer comes in and that is where you come in! A lot of firms are justifying to themselves reducing their marketing or stopping it completely. This is a common financial kneejerk and my advice has always been the same: This presents plenty of new opportunities to stand out and the best way to get through a crisis is in fact to market more, not less. Before you do anything, I suggest you simplify your message and give it a more personal and meaningful touch. Avoid talking about all that is going on and focus instead on something positive and helpful. Businesses Then, start reaching out directly Get back to basics and put the need to rethink to people you want to work with; time and effort into people – it call them, find them on LinkedIn will pay off their marketing and start a chat or maybe even One of the biggest ‘advances’ send them a letter for when they entirely in marketing has been automation; return to the office. taking tasks that one would Many people are being prickly and traditionally have worked through resistant towards what they see as the manually and using software and complex same old soulless marketing churn hitting algorithms (computers) to do the work for us. them every single day: Spam emails, the same While there are benefits to automation at the top old noisy call centres. They largely will not of any sales or marketing funnel, I have some react well to it. However, if you take the time real issues with how far some aspects of it have to do something a little different and present come and what I see as a very negative impact yourself on a personal level, not as a company on the quality of how decisions are made and but as yourself, you go from pushing business how communication is managed. to making human contact. Frame it in a positive A computer will never be able to make and soft, emotive manner – make it real and decisions on how to communicate with people make it from you. as effectively as another human because it will never apply emotion to those decisions. Get your message out into the real world, in a My point is that, at a time like this, business real way people must stop relying on these systems so What I want to instil with this article is to reach much and should put the time and energy into out more directly, more personally and to say understanding customers on a more personal things that will have some real, emotional value. and emotional level. Marketing communications What do I mean by this exactly? Well, if we first

Darren Isaac, Director, TFA

www.t-f-a.co.uk

more time into getting your Google My Business profile up to scratch and becoming more active on social media. These will really help you to get noticed and start more of the conversations I am referring to above. After all of the pain people have been through, and continue to go through, there is a shifting mindset of thinking about home first; of buying British, buying local and buying from real, hardworking people who will see the benefit. It is a subconscious mindset of simply buying better to help us all out of a hole instead of buying cheap from anywhere, whatever the true, longterm cost. Say something more meaningful. Make your activities feel more personable. Start real conversations in a real way and you will build some strong and enduring new customer relationships out of difficult times.

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start with reaching out directly, I mean getting yourself and your business in front of people, in their homes. An extremely effective way of doing this, which has become really under-utilised in the digital age, is physical mail. Direct mail (postal) has become prohibitively expensive for all but the best-known brands due to the rise in postage costs. What many do not realise is that there are alternatives and one of the cheapest and best is Solus Delivery. Now, it is not for every business of course, but if you provide a service that could be used by the everyday person, such as a trade, then it really is for you. Best of all it is cheap at around 10% the price of sending a letter. When you factor in printing costs, which are also incredibly cheap right now, you can get thousands of physical, tactile flyers or leaflets out to your local market for a few hundred pounds. For many, just one customer will pay for the campaign, so I recommend this as one of the best and most enduring ways to reach new, local customers. As your starting point, I strongly recommend getting in touch with the brilliant team at Pulse Magazine to ask about their incredibly affordable and effective Solus Leaflet campaigns. The other thing I strongly urge you to do, if local business is important to you, is to put

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Business Times

March 2021

In the community

Sleeping out to give hope

usinesswoman Sara Homer once again pledged her support for the county’s leading homeless charity – spending a night on the kitchen floor to raise much needed funds. Sara, CEO of the Brackmills Business Improvement District (BID), who represents the county’s logistics and transport sector in her role as an Ambassador of South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership The fundraising (SEMLEP), took part in the Northamptonshire Hope Centre’s Big SleepOut/In event for the event had already sixth consecutive year. raised more than This fundraising event, which this year took £22,500 by the end place at the end of January and has already hit more than £22,500, challenges people to raise of January funds by sleeping outside. This year though, due to Covid restrictions, people were challenged to sleep on their kitchen floors. Sara said: “I think it’s so important that we help those who don’t have a home to go to. When there are freezing Fundraiser Sara Homer, CEO of the Brackmills temperatures outside, these people’s lives are at risk. The Business Improvement District (BID) Hope Centre does incredible work, whether that is through soup kitchens, providing those in need with clothing or finding them a bed for the night. Just experiencing sleeping events have had to be cancelled, so being able to adapt this outside once a year in the winter is highly memorable. I event so that people could still take part has been hugely can’t imagine what it’s like for those who are stuck with beneficial to us. nowhere else to go.” “We are reliant on donations through events such as this Tanya Haji-Miller from The Hope Centre commented: “It’s one, so thank you to everyone who took part, supported us been a really tough year as so many of our major fundraising and donated.”

New faces to help build on strong foundations

orthamptonshire Community Foundation has welcomed two new faces to its Board of Trustees. The charity, which last year awarded over £2million in funding across Northamptonshire, is delighted to announce that Rachel Mallows MBE, DL and Liam Condron have joined the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Victoria Miles DL, CEO of the Foundation, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rachel Mallows and Liam Condron to Northamptonshire Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. They bring with them vast experience and expertise both in the voluntary and community sector and corporate business. I am looking forward to them working with us to ensure the Foundation increases its reach and continues to support our communities both now, and in the future.” Rachel has more than 30 years’ experience in delivering training, coaching, mentoring and business support as the founder and Managing Director the Mallows Company Limited. The organisation, based in Wellingborough, supports SMEs, charities, public sector organisations and larger businesses to flourish, as well as helping out-of-work adults to upskill and find new work. Rachel also leads a team of careers advisers, working with schools to provide careers advice and works closely with the Career Development Institute, leading on their mentoring programme. Rachel is also the Director of the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards and Made In Northamptonshire. Rachel said: “I’m delighted to be joining Northamptonshire Community Foundation as a Trustee. I have seen first-hand some of the fantastic work the Foundation supports around the county, particularly to those in need during the pandemic over the past twelve months. It is an honour to be

Business Times

learning more about the work of the amazing charities and their dedicated teams across Northamptonshire who provide exemplary services to such a wide range of people.” Liam Condron is the former CEO of Age UK Northamptonshire, a role he thrived in for over 25 years. Liam established a wide range of prevention, admission avoidance and care services across Northamptonshire, including hospital-based services, advice and advocacy, integrated care and end of life initiatives. Most recently, Liam has been a consultant for Age UK, focusing on the development of partnership work across the national Age UK network, as well as taking on several leadership roles across the local voluntary sector. Liam said: “Never in my lifetime have the challenges faced by our community, or the organisations that serve it, been greater. It is a genuine honour to join the Trustees of Northamptonshire Community Foundation as they endeavour to help organisations to find opportunities amidst those challenges. It is a privilege to be a part of an enterprise that brings so much hope to our community at a time when this is most needed.” Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the leading, independent grant making charity in Northamptonshire, providing often life changing grants to some of the county’s most vulnerable people. Paul Southworth OBE, DL, Chair of Northamptonshire Community Foundation, said: “I am delighted to welcome both Liam and Rachel as our two latest Trustees to be appointed. Their background, skills and experience will further strengthen the composition of our already strong Board of Trustees. I know we will value their future contributions to our efforts and we look forward to working with them in the challenging times ahead.”

March 2021

Award-winning leasing broker backs hospice

multi-award-winning car and van leasing firm has thrown its weight behind a charity, which provides vital specialist palliative care services for south Northamptonshire. This is the fourth year in a row Silverstone Fleet Management, based in Northampton, has once again named Cynthia Spencer Hospice as its chosen Charity of the Year. Over the years, it has raised over £4,000 for the Hospice through family fun days, sponsored marathons, the Cycle4Cynthia fundraiser and its #SilverstoneSoccer football tournament for businesses. One of its biggest successes was the #SingForCynthia campaign which encouraged people to sing a song to camera and then nominate two other people to take on the challenge. When participants uploaded their performance to LinkedIn, they donated money to a JustGiving page and encouraged others to donate. The campaign went viral, having captured the hearts of the business community, and raised £1,400. In 2021, the firm aims to raise £2,000 with sales manager Ryan Bishop hoping to take part in the London Marathon virtually and through an even bigger #SilverstoneSoccer tournament. Silverstone Fleet Management managing director Scott Norville said: “Cynthia Spencer Hospice relies on charitable giving and corporate support from the community and local businesses. “This year it needs to raise nearly £1.5m – that’s over £4,000, a day – to continue to provide and improve the services it offers. It plays such an important role in the lives of families in Northamptonshire and we’re proud to support it and give back to the community.

Nina Gandy of Cynthia Spencer Hospice with Ryan Bishop and Scott Norville of Silverstone Fleet Management “We have high hopes for our fundraising this year. We’ve already put out an appeal on LinkedIn for businesses to register their interest for #SilverstoneSoccer and with the uptake we’ve had so far, we could triple the size of last year’s tournament.” Cynthia Spencer Hospice corporate partnerships fundraiser, Nina Gandy, added: “Silverstone Fleet Management has supported Cynthia Spencer for a number of years. The team are always finding new and innovative ways to raise money. It has also previously taken part in our annual golf day and Cycle4Cynthia to name just a few events. “Their support enables our patients and their families to continue to be supported as these strange times continue. Like the Hospice, our corporate supporters have faced challenging times throughout the last year but, as a Northamptonshire business community everyone is there for each other and the Hospice is never far from supporters’ minds. This year marks 45 years of the Hospice and everyone continues to work hard to reach the £1,493,000 fundraising target.”

Recognise your local COVID heroes on our Power Tower

Top: Rachel Mallows MBE Bottom: Liam Condron

he University of Northampton’s Energy Centre tower is an important part of Northampton’s skyline, and now you have the chance to share a message of thanks for all to see on the power tower screen. During the first lockdown, the power tower turned blue each Thursday evening as part of the Clap for Carers campaign, as the University of Northampton’s way of saying thank you to NHS workers on the frontline fighting the coronavirus pandemic, some of whom could see the tower from Northampton General Hospital. The University is giving over the Power Tower to the community of Northampton, to share your messages of thanks. From 8-9 pm, each Thursday, the impressive 26-metertall tower and the 12-meter-high screen will be lit with thank you messages from around the county, thanking local heroes, on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19. Tree Behrens, who works at the University of Northampton said: “One of the bright spots in this pandemic has been seeing the way communities have been supporting and caring for one another, as well as

the much-deserved recognition our key workers have received. “It has been humbling to see the sacrifices people have made to keep the wider community safe, and so wonderful to see the lengths to which people will go to help and bring joy to others. “We’re delighted to be able to give a bigger voice to the community of Northampton by sharing their messages thanking our local heroes on our Energy Tower screen – from the emergency services to emergency plumbers, teachers and childcare workers to care home workers, our University students and graduates and many more. “It’s really easy to share a message, simply download our template and get creative. Perhaps you want to write thank an individual who has helped you, create a piece of artwork inspired by the pandemic, or write a short poem. We want to help you celebrate the local heroes who have made a difference to you, others and the community.” To share a message of thanks, download the template and email your completed artwork to mediawalls@northampton.ac.uk.

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In the community

Rising stars win backing from business

upport is growing for a showcase in search of the region’s best young performing artists. ECS Group is the latest business to back Travers Rising Stars, a free-to-enter challenge for any bands, singing groups or solo artists between the ages of 13 and 30 who live or study in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire or Rutland. The winner’s package includes recording studio time and a chance to perform live on stage at Glastonblaby, the annual festival which supports charities including the contest organisers, The Travers Foundation. It is not the first time the Corby-based business has backed the volunteer-run charity which gives financial support to local 13 to 30-year-olds in the region to help them realise their dreams in sport, music and the arts. ECS Group CEO Peter McGowan, said: “We are thrilled to once again sponsor a Travers Foundation event. We recognise that so many young people have been hit incredibly hard by the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, and it has been devastating for all those people involved in live events and festivals. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to support local

talented performing artists and we look forward to being involved in Travers Rising Stars this year.” The Travers Foundation want to reach out to help more young men and women who need support to find opportunities in the music industries. Further sponsorship opportunities are still available. Kieran Forsey from The Travers Foundation said: “We welcome the support of businesses like ECS Group who can help us to make a real difference to the lives of young people. Travers Rising Stars will give a new young band or artist the chance to secure a slot at a local festival when, hopefully, things are back to normal. “Auditions will be in the form of an unedited video no longer than ten minutes which will be reviewed by the judging panel and the best will go forward to a LIVE FINAL in Leicester. The winners will be invited to perform on stage at Glastonblaby 2021 as well as taking a way a host of other prizes, including valuable studio time.” Those keen to make their break in the local music scene can register their interest and submit their video now at www.traversrisingstars.com to secure a place. Closing date is 31 May 2021.

Northamptonshire charity welcomes applications from new trustees

orthamptonshire Sport is recruiting new Trustees to join their board. The team have been helping county residents to ‘become more active, more often’ since 2003. But having recently attained status as a charity, efforts to improve the health of the county are accelerating. In the coming years, work will continue to help people to enjoy sport, improve health, gain skills and strengthen local communities but tackling inequalities is a major focus for the charity. The team will be addressing the barriers preventing people from leading active lifestyles. To support their ambitious plans, the charity needs to recruit Trustees from the backgrounds being prioritised or with close connections to those groups and communities. Can you help make a difference in physical activity and sport in Northamptonshire? Northamptonshire Sport would particularly welcome interest from people with disabilities, people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and people from lower-income communities in Northamptonshire, as they are currently unrepresented on the board.

Director at Northamptonshire Sport, Chris Holmes said: “Northamptonshire is a tale of two-sides when it comes to physical activity and sport. Firstly, we’re home to iconic sports teams and global sporting events, like the British Grand Prix. We’re also blessed with glorious countryside and many volunteers who give up their time to run sports clubs and support local events. “But on the flip-side, we still have thousands more people who aren’t active, particularly in certain groups and areas within our county - where being active is more difficult. It’s here that work has to be done, diversity within our board is key to helping us reach those communities who need support the most. “If you’re excited by the prospect of using your skills to make a difference in physical activity and sport in Northamptonshire, please get in touch.” Find out more and apply: www.northamptonshiresport.org/workforce/ opportunities/1799

Acorn Analytical Services commercial manager Sian Stone with her running partner, Red the miniature poodle

Asbestos company manager runs for Mesothelioma UK

commercial manager set a challenge to run the length of nearly two marathons in aid of a charity which tackles the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma. Sian Stone has been inspired to take part in the fundraiser for Mesothelioma UK by her work for Acorn Analytical Services which offers professional asbestos consultancy services and raises awareness about the dangers of asbestos. She pledged to run at least 50 miles throughout February in exchange for donations to the charity which provides specialist mesothelioma information, support and education and fights to improve care and treatment for all UK mesothelioma patients and their carers. Sian, who has worked for Acorn for nearly seven years, said: “Mesothelioma is a devastating form of cancer which is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Sadly, almost 2,500 people die from the illness in the UK every year – although it is thought this figure may actually be higher as not all cases are diagnosed. “Our team at Acorn works tirelessly every day to help people and businesses protect themselves from being exposed to asbestos and we work with various cancer charities to raise awareness about this hazardous substance.

“This is what has inspired me to put on my running shoes for Mesothelioma UK. I’m not the biggest fan of running so this will be a challenge for me but I’m determined to do it to raise money for this cause which is very close to our hearts at Acorn.” Sian, and other members of the Acorn team, have previously raised money for other charities, such as Cynthia Spencer Hospice by taking on challenges such as the mud run and obstacle course, Tough Mudder. With this latest fundraiser, Sian hopes to raise at least £200 for Mesothelioma UK and is accepting donations online at www. justgiving.com/fundraising/sian-stone1 Acorn, which has bases in Northamptonshire, Birmingham and Cleckheaton, is currently in talks with Mesothelioma UK about working with it on a number of projects this year. It also produces regular informative podcasts and blogs and has created a step-by-step guide to help organisations become fully compliant with the law called the Acorn Asbestos Antidote. For more information about the services Acorn offers visit www.acorn-as.com or to find out more about Mesothelioma UK visit www.mesothelioma.uk.com

Law firm chips in to beat fundraising target

aw firm Hewitsons has surpassed its £2,000 target in an IT equipment for schools fundraising campaign. Created as part of the firm’s C-19 business pledge, a commitment by UK firms to help support staff, business and communities with the issues caused by the Coronavirus, the campaign exceeded its target in less than two weeks thanks to generous donations from the firm, staff, clients and contacts. Monies were raised through fundraisers undertaking a variety of physical activities during a dedicated hour and getting sponsored for their efforts.

The funds raised have been donated to the charity Business2Schools who will buy multiple IT devices for schools in each of Hewitsons four office regions in Northampton, Cambridge, Milton Keynes & London. Discussions are also in place to donate the firm’s supplementary IT equipment to schools that are in need. Jo Hamilton-Atkins, member of Hewitsons’ Covid-19 taskforce, said: “The generous donations we received provide a fantastic opportunity for Hewitsons, its staff and its supporters to help our local communities in these trying times.

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“The important work Business2Schools does for the local community is a cause close to our hearts. The wider Hewitsons education sector is very active in our local areas, so we have a real understanding of just how important IT equipment is to local schools and learning institutions.” For information about Business2Schools visit www.business2schools.com Jo Hamilton-Atkins from local law firm, a member of the Hewitsons’ Covid-19 taskforce

Business Times

March 2021

FOCUS ON

CORBY

Corby is one of the fastest growing boroughs in the country and ambitious plans mean there are no signs of this slowing down. The town, built on the steel industry, has undergone a transformation to make it the place to live and work. Ongoing investment means it has become an attractive prospect for businesses looking to thrive. Big brands from Next, Primark and M&S are among the many familiar names who have opened stores. No doubt the decision has been made easier with the boom in house building which means a growing number of consumers on their doorstep. House prices are still some of the most competitive in the region which appeals to rail commuters who, in just an hour, can be in London. Extensive sites ensure businesses can find the space for operations including the growing logistics sector which sees Corby is at the centre of the ‘golden triangle’ and expected to double in size by 2031. There is no doubt for many that all roads really do lead to Corby.

Right tools for the jobs

Toolstation, one of the UK’s fastest growing and largest suppliers of tools, has opened a store in Corby creating seven new roles.

A town with a vision to deliver sustained growth With Corby scheduled to double in size by 2031, it is a town with a vision to improve inward investment in industry, providing opportunities for its growing population, as well as education, health and cultural facilities.

here is an emphasis on innovative technologies, digital skills, low carbon growth and the development of a prosperous economy, hopefully leading to an increase in Corby’s profile within the UK and Europe. This desire will place even greater importance on the town centre becoming a focal point for surrounding residential communities. Fortunately, funding for this could come in the form of a cash grant from the Government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund, with Corby selected is among 101 others across the UK. Corby Borough Council recently approved its application, which could access up to £25m of funding for local projects through the Towns Fund scheme, prioritising four key projects which it believes will build on its already successful regeneration. A new sixth form college run by The Bedford College Group which has the Tresham Campus on nearby Oakley Road - is in the running and could cost up to £6m. The plan would be to site it within the upper two floors of Chisholm House in the town centre; the majority of which has been vacant and in bare shell condition for many years. It would be renovated to a carbon-negative standard

using the very latest innovative technologies and will deliver a modern, fit for purpose building that could accommodate 537 young people by 2025/26. Also possible is a new key gateway point at Market Walk East, the current site of a large car park, which may include an art gallery or digital/ community hub. The exact services to be provided are as yet unclear as the Council will look to engage with local stakeholders to determine the most beneficial uses. A new cycle network connecting the railway station on the edge of Corby Old Village and the town centre has been included in the bid. Corby appears to be on track with its plans of inward investment as a huge warehouse park on 200 acres of land to the east of the town - on the A43 between Stanion and Weldon at Cowthick Plantation - has been consented by the Borough Council. The scheme, by Mulberry Developments, will be set over approximately 200 acres and made up of four zones totalling 404,000 sq m of employment space; largely logistics. The developer claims the site will bring around 7,000 new jobs to the town, with the economic benefits being a key reason for planning officers advising that despite

the scheme being outside of the masterplan for the area, it should be approved. The scheme will act as a sister site for Mulberry’s Midlands Logistics Park - located on the opposite side of the A43 - on the former Stanion Lane plantation and now home to Europa, BSH Home Appliances and Eddie Stobart. It will provide buildto-suit opportunities with single units of up to 2 million sq ft of flexible space. The final unit at Midlands Logistic Park is now nearing completion having been speculatively constructed. Arrow248 comprises 248,258 sq ft and has been constructed to target the logistics market with 43 HGV trailer bays, 22 dock access doors and threelevel access doors. In response to continued demand from the food manufacturing sector the Dutch automated cold storage specialist, NewCold, has started construction of a new facility in Corby, having purchased a 23acre site on Curver Way from Solihull-based Warmflame Developments. The land at Willowbrook East Industrial Estate originally formed part of the Tata Steel site and is being redeveloped to provide a 635,000 sq ft coldstore warehouse, scheduled to open at the beginning of next year.

By Richard Baker A Director of Prop-Search

NewCold has said that Corby was identified as the perfect site to support its existing site in Wakefield due to its location at the centre of the ‘golden triangle’ of logistics and that they are already speaking to high volume potential customers, to add to their existing customers including McCain, Aunt Bessie and Birds Eye. With new development underway - and where diggers and hod-carriers go - there is certain to be further investment and growth opportunities. The global players that have been attracted to Corby over the years are a clear testament to the town’s business strengths, as well as its logistical location. But that’s only part of the story. The area is committed to growth and that means a great choice of new development sites, Government and the supportive local agencies so Corby has an incredibly positive outlook. The population is expected to significantly grow, thousands of new jobs will be created by the business opportunities in development and significant new housing stock becoming available.

Interest in new speculative trade counter scheme gains momentum Interest in a new-unit industrial and trade counter scheme on Phoenix Parkway in Corby has gained momentum as construction of the scheme nears completion.

Toolstation - we are committed to providing local customers with a reliable and convenient service

he company, which is recognised as an essential retailer of tools, DIY and hardware, is open to trade and retail customers at its new operation at Centrix Court off Phoenix Parkway. Store manager Louise Beaton said: “We are pleased to be opening the new store and supporting local tradespeople, DIYers and home builders with tools and more in Corby. We recognise the importance of challenging times and our knowledgeable team are committed to providing local customers with a reliable and convenient service for the essentials they need to tackle any task.” Toolstation’s services include a new Trade Credit account which allows customers to buy now and pay later and get the tools and supplies needed for larger jobs. Toolstation Corby is open seven days a week, from 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sundays. Toolstation Corby store is at Unit C2F Block A, Centrix Court, Centrix Business Park, Phoenix Parkway, Corby, NN17 5DP. Visit the Toolstation website at www.toolstation. com or tweet @ToolstationUK.

Business Times

March 2021

mega Court, located within the Centrix Industrial and Distribution Park, comprises a 45,563 sq ft development offering high-quality units ranging from 2,939 sq ft to 8,600 sq ft. It has been speculatively developed by Clowes Developments. Following the pre-sale of a 3,800 sq ft unit to a private investor when construction began last year, a letting of the building has now been completed. Toolstation, one of Britain’s fastest growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies to the trade, home improvers and self-builders has taken a new lease on the unit for a term of ten years. Whilst the brand only opened for business in 2003, today it has over 450 stores nationwide. Local agents Prop-Search and TDB Real Estate report that offers on a further four units within Omega Court have now received and solicitors instructed. Richard Baker, a Director at Prop-Search, said: “Given the continued levels of interest

Omega Court, Centrix Industrial and Distribution Park, Corby

shown in Omega Court, it underpins Clowes Development understanding of the local market. This is exactly what Corby has been calling for and complements the adjacent successful Alpha Court, home to Screwfix, Crown Decorator Centre, Eurocell, Rexel, HSS and RB Tools.” Oliver Thompson at TDB continued: “Omega Court is an exciting development for us to market and we are confident the scheme will continue to appeal to a wide range of occupiers, demonstrating demand in the trade counter sector for high quality developments in strong locations.”

Omega Court has been constructed in two terraces and benefits from 6m minimum eaves height, up and over loading door, three-phase power and gas and large loading/car parking areas. Units are available on a leasehold basis although the developer may consider freehold sales. Further information on the opportunities available at Omega Court can be obtained from Prop-Search - Tel: 01604 492000 or TDB Real Estate - Tel: 01604 604020 or on the development’s website which is www.clowes-centrix. co.uk

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Business Times

March 2021

Focus on Corby

Axil helps with fightback against Covid-19 A waste management firm from Corby is working with a leading global Covid-19 testing company to help in the fight back against Coronavirus.

ignpost Diagnostics Ltd, which is conducting Covid-19 tests at nearly 30 sites across the UK, has chosen Axil Integrated Services to support its work by delivering waste services for testing sites. The new contract has seen Axil manage waste services at Cignpost Diagnostics laboratory facilities as well as its test sites across sectors including elite sport, defence, media and finance and for leading companies such as Netflix, Amazon, the BBC, the Scottish Premiership and the PGA European Tour. More locations are expected to be added in the near future. ExpressTest, the consumer division of Cignpost Diagnostics, based at Heathrow airport is the UK’s largest drivethrough Covid-19 private testing site. The 24-lane drive-through is geared up to test over 5,000 people a day and includes two onsite laboratories to ensure passengers get accurate test

Cignpost Diagnostics’ testing solution lab

results quickly to help boost the airline industry’s fortunes. Axil Commercial Director, Jason Lang said: “We are incredibly proud to work with some of the UK’s biggest brands and to win this contract with one of the key players for Covid-19

testing in the fightback against the virus. “This is a fast-moving contract, with Cignpost Diagnostics Ltd adding new test sites across the country all the time. We are perfectly positioned to help them with this because Axil

is extremely reactive and can quickly respond to our clients’ ever-changing needs and demands.” Christian Corney, CEO of Cignpost Diagnostics Ltd, commented: “We are very pleased with not only the quality, but also the service we have received from Axil. Their seamless and efficient operation allows our scientists to deliver our gold standard PCR test results quickly and optimally. Their waste services keep our labs clean and running smoothly, meaning we can focus on helping our clients get back to work and protecting their employees.” Axil’s innovative and efficient approach to waste management across the UK includes recycling, waste recovery, treatment disposal, and commodity trading. It prides itself on ensuring customers receive the best service and value with the best environmental outcome. Its contract win with Cignpost Diganostics is just the latest in a series of successes for Axil in recent months which has also had two long-term contracts renewed by leading global pharmaceutical and engineering firms. For further information about Axil visit www.axilis.com or to learn more about Cignpost go to www. cignpostdiagnostics.com

Vision for future investment in Corby town centre

Corby Town Investment Plan (TIP), which could access up to £25m of funding for local projects through the Towns Fund Scheme, has been approved by the Borough Council’s One Corby Policy Committee.

he Town Deal Board, following Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) guidance and stakeholder engagement, prepared the approved TIP which will now be submitted to Government. The Board have prioritised four projects that form the basis of the funding ask of Government: • Sixth Form Centre at Chisholm House – To establish a post-16 education facility within Corby town centre. This project will accommodate 537 young people by 2025/26 based in the heart of the town centre. It is anticipated that the college could grow to accommodate up to 600 students over the longer term, drawn from across North Northamptonshire. • Market Walk East Site MultiUse Space – Market Walk East site is a strategic town centre development site next to the east of Market Walk mall in Corby town centre and is under review for development. There are options with the preferred uses in this multi-use building to align with

creative arts space and providing opportunity for the provision of community and youth services. • Town Centre to Train Station Link via Oakley Road – Improve the route from the train station to the town centre, via Oakley Road. The provision of improved and safer pedestrian and cycle connections between the town centre and train station. • Smart and Connected Corby – This seeks to establish Corby as a smart and green town centre through harnessing connected and clean technologies. Lorna Dodge, Chair of the Corby Town Board, said: “It has been a very interesting and productive year being a part of the board to develop and approve Corby’s Town Investment Plan. A total of four key projects have been submitted within the plan to secure the funding of £25 million. These projects build on the vision to regenerate Corby, commenced twenty years ago, and will support the future regeneration of Corby.” For more information about the Corby Towns Fund go to www.corbytownsfund.co.uk

Industrial Units To Let

To Be Fully Refurbished Flexible Sizes From 3,600 - 9,266 sq ft Flexible Lease Terms 32

Business Times

March 2021

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

Focus on Corby

Strong commercial property market in Corby

ommercial property sales have been particularly good with Budworth Hardcastle having reported sales including: Unit 8 Princewood Road in an off market deal totalling 24,400 sq. ft. and the subsequent sale of Unit 9 Princewood Road Commercial property consultants Budworth Hardcastle report that 2020 has totalling just under 50,000 sq. ft. to Wise Logistics, as part of proved to be a very strong property market for them in Corby despite Covid-19 their continued expansion and and is resulting in a shortage of available properties within the town. offering warehouse facilities to their clients. Sales have also been made at the other end of the size scale with Units 2 and 4 Kemp House totalling 3,000 sq. ft. sold to local owner occupiers to be used as garage premises and Unit 16 being 1,500 sq. ft. also going to owner occupiers. Further transactions are about to be agreed within the scheme showing how strong the market is at present for freehold property within the town, with a number of enquiries that we have being unable to fulfil. Land has been in strong Europa Worldwide Group’s 715,000 sq. ft new build logistics warehouse demand with Budworth Hardcastle involved in the NewCold’s ever expanding company Richardson Racing out completed during 2020. sale of 7.62 acres of the original customer base. Ltd expanding into larger Development Monitoring 23 acre Manton Park site off The letting market has also premises. of Europa Worldwide Cockerel Road being the final been extremely buoyant Also, on the Earlstrees Group’s 715,000 sq. ft new parcel of land to be sold to throughout 2020 seeing Industrial Estate is the newly build logistics warehouse at owner occupiers. Also, in the the lettings by Budworth refurbished Marconi Courtyard Midlands Logistics Park, via Phoenix Parkway area 1.5 acres Hardcastle of three units where units of between 3,661 Mulberry Developments, was was sold at Courier Road for within the Willowbrook Centre sq. ft. up to over 11,000 sq. ft. a major project the team were again an owner occupier to totalling over 60,416 sq. ft. to are now available on new leases, delighted to be involved in, as develop their business on. Pluswipes Ltd as part of their a recent letting completed at this represented the 4th major Earlier this year continued expansion. Unit E totalling 3,664 sq. ft. to new build scheme with the acting on behalf of On Pywell Road, local and expanding company Europa Team. Tata – Budworth Unit B Bracknell Sinclair Engineering Solutions. Neilson Racing, who have Hardcastle House, a semiThe market has continued its competed in the European Le The market have sold a d e t a c h e d strength into 2021 with both Mans Motor Racing Series, 23 acre site to has continued b u i l d i n g Units 102 and 103 Brunel Road were also assisted in 2020 with Solihull based t o t a l l i n g currently under offer totalling building inspections at Omega its strength Wa r m f l a m e 11,599 sq. ft, just over 22,000 sq. ft. each and Court. Developments was let to local 63 Causeway Road totalling Gilbert Harvey of Budworth into 2021 Ltd, developers and international approximately 41,951 sq. Hardcastle said: “As you will specialising in the company MMC as ft. due to be occupied at the see it has been a very busy year logistics/distribution part of their continued beginning of March that will despite the various lockdown d e v e l o p m e n t s e c t o r. success and expansion within involve a significant expansion issues of Covid-19 and we Warmflame have remediated the town. of a local company to be are now getting very short of the Curver Way site and On the Earlstrees Estate, announced later. available stock in industrial upgraded the services to it. some notable lettings by The firm’s Building warehouse sector within the On receipt of planning the Budworth Hardcastle included Consultancy Team have also town, having enquiries that site was sold to Netherlands the expansion of Impact been busy in Corby having are struggling to be satisfied based NewCold who are Forktrucks into the 23,047 sq. assisted Bakeaway with for their new requirements.” already on site developing out ft. semi-detached building, and Project Monitoring of their new the first phase of the 635,000 just around the corner at 85a build 92,000 sq. ft factory via Further details contact sq. ft. building. The unit will Brunel Road, totalling 11,115 Clowes at Centrix Business Gilbert Harvey, Budworth store frozen food products for sq. ft. was let to motor racing Park with production line fit Hardcastle, 01536 483400.

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New chapter written by growing firms Print company Kanda Print has taken another step forward in its 30-year history with a new partnership with Corby-based multi-channel marketing company Square Media.

anaging Director of Kanda Print, Lee Rockingham, and Square Media’s Managing Director, Matthew Rigby-White shared their thoughts in a recent session. Programme Manager Daniel Cope explains: So, Lee, what made you look for a partnership with a print and merchandise company? LR:- “We have hundreds of print clients that obviously use print and promotional items to market their company and we are often asked for help with other areas of marketing, both traditional and digital. To give our clients a solution for their signage needs, we acquired Brunel Signs in 2019 and partnering with Square Media means that we can now kick our We’ll way into the digital world.”

definitely

Was it the same for you Matthew? be looking MRW: “We take pride in offering for other our clients a full service marketing solution and often part of that is partnerships print or promotional merchandise. in the Before partnering with Kanda Print, future we would find ourselves spending time getting competing quotes, juggling contacts, and trying to work out which supplier was the best for our clients. With Kanda Print we know that they will treat our clients like their own and offer the best service for the job, at the best price.” Why Square Media, Lee? LR: “Whenever we were asked to recommend a marketing agency, we always referred our clients to Square Media. In fact they’ve designed and will be promoting our new website www.kandaprint.co.uk - it makes sense to us that if we’re happy to work with Square Media for ourselves, then our clients know that our recommendation is based on experience and satisfaction with the service provided.” With the new partnership what can clients expect to see? LR: “Our clients come to us because they need to market their businesses. With our companies working side by side our customers can be sure that we will work together, as a partnership to deliver successful marketing campaigns.” MRW: “At Square Media we think that when the client comes to us they want us to offer exactly what we say we will – an entire marketing department, and that includes print too. With this partnership we can provide a single point of contact and a truly multi-channel service. We offer the co-ordination, planning and fulfilment of marketing campaigns making the whole process smoother and more efficient for our clients.” Will either of you be looking at more strategic partnerships in the future? LR: “Now that we’ve seen how much strategic partnerships can add to the service we can offer our clients, we’ll definitely be looking for other partnerships in the future.” MRW: “Definitely. We think a new partnership will be an added bonus for our clients, then we’re happy to talk to other companies looking to form new relationships. I firmly believe that local businesses are stronger when we work together, and that vision is shared by all of our partners.” If you are looking for help with your print, signage, marketing, digital marketing or promotional items call 01536 266164 or see the website at www.kandaprint. co.uk

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March 2021

Property Portfolio

New business park plan to support growth of engineering and motorsport

A new industrial park is going to be developed to help the growing high-performance engineering and motorsport sector.

Housebuilder’s growth brings jobs boost Northampton-based housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Midlands is continuing its positive work to support local employment, by underpinning over 2,060 new jobs in the Midlands and South East.

The scheme will build on the success of the adjacent industrial estate and provide a complimentary opportunity for economic growth

ommercial developer Clowes available the right quantity and quality of land Developments is looking to develop and premises to attract and retain such high a new 345,300 sq. ft. (32,052 sq. m) value businesses. industrial scheme Podium Business Commercial agent, Prop-Search has been Park, close to the Silverstone circuit, instructed as sole marketing agent and which could offer a highly visible Director Ian Harman said: “At the Terms are anchor for this sector. traditional core of high-performance available on The importance of highengineering in Northamptonshire a freehold performance engineering and is the manufacture of F1 and other motorsport has long been recognised racing cars and engines. However, or leasehold in Northamptonshire as a driver of the supply chain includes a large basis the local economy in terms of jobs and number of associated companies value added, as well as inward investment. which provide niche products, testing and Northamptonshire’s long history in the high- measurement services, and high-end customised performance engineering sector started with finishes – often requiring bespoke premises. Silverstone in the 1950s but has significantly “This scheme will build on the success of expanded and diversified. This has put the adjacent industrial estate and provide a increasing pressure on the County to make complimentary opportunity for economic growth

in West Northamptonshire, in a location which has high quality links to local, regional and national markets.” James Richard, Director of Clowes Developments, added: “With our philosophy and emphasis on delivering premium quality buildings, we are confident that Podium Business Park can present such individuality and high specification as required by this sector. We are able to provide occupiers with bespoke fit-out solutions to suit individual occupier requirements and terms are available on a freehold or leasehold basis.” Further information on the development and the opportunities available can be viewed on the scheme’s website - www.clowes-podium. co.uk - or through the agents, Prop-Search Telephone: 01604 492000.

Investors eye up development land across growing town

otter Learoyd Commercial, the only firm of commercial agents based in Corby, take a brief look at the current state of the market. Has Covid affected the commercial property market in Corby? Surprisingly, the last year has been busy with plenty of highprofile lettings and sales despite the nationwide slowdown. Of course, the footfall for shops, offices and leisure has reduced but Corby has around 25 per cent of its workforce in manufacturing which has not been badly affected; there is an increasing number of jobs in storage and distribution across the town and this sector has been booming during Covid. Who are the main property developers active in Corby? Mulberry Developments have

his includes supporting hundreds of jobs thanks to its plans to build more than 1,000 properties across the region including sites in Northamptonshire at Barton Seagrave, Duston and Wellingborough. As the housebuilder typically sources local contractors and subcontractors, a total of 2,060 new jobs have been created across all the company’s developments. John Dillon, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “As the leading housebuilder, we have an obligation to provide support and facilities for the local community. This can take the form of open spaces for wildlife, playgrounds for children, beneficial amenities for residents or charitable donations for the wider community. “However, the sheer amount of jobs that are underpinned from the very early stages of development right up until our sales staff leave the site, provides a crucial boost to the local economy. We hope that our continued plans to develop the region should support employment through what has been a difficult time for Britain, and well into the future.” For more information on Barratt and David Wilson Homes, please visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www. dwh.co.uk. For sales enquiries or to book an appointment please call 033 3355 8486 or 033 3355 8510.

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are hoping to develop a further 4 million sq ft opposite the Holiday Inn over the next few years. In the last few years, we have seen a number of other developers building in Corby including Urban and Civic Plc, Warmflame Ltd and Clowes Developments who have built phase two of the trade counter scheme at Alpha Court and recently Barnack Developments Ltd who are constructing some much needed small units on Cockerell Road.

Richard Potter (left) and fellow Director Marcus Learoyd of Potter Learoyd Commercial

been at the vanguard over the years and were responsible for developing Tesco, the Savoy cinema and restaurant complex and the 500,000 sq. ft. Crackerjack unit near

March 2021

Rockingham Speedway. They have also built out phase one of Midlands Logistics Park attracting huge occupiers including Eddie Stobart and Bosch Siemens. They

Are some of Corby’s older buildings being redeveloped? We have noticed over the last two years a number of developers and investors moving from the residential to commercial sector; returns are higher and ongoing property management is easier. They tend to target the older building such as the former Go-Kart track which was bought by Team Gill Ltd who

cleared the unit before splitting it into six units of 5000 sq. ft. each. This project is near completion and there is already plenty of demand from occupiers looking to rent or buy and from property investors looking to buy property in a growth town. Where do you see the market going in 2021? There is no doubt demand for warehouse space is at an all time high in Corby and we believe this will continue. There remains a lack of ‘starter units’ in the town and we risk losing small and medium sized businesses to Kettering, Market Harborough or other towns. There is an abundance of development land coming on stream in the next 12 months which will satisfy demand for large units over 100,000 sq. ft. We believe the small office market in Corby will remain steady and although retailing is suffering across the country, Corby’s town centre is doing better than other similar sized town in the region with far lower vacancy rates. For further information on the supply of and demand for commercial property and land in Corby contact; Potter Learoyd Commercial 01536 560400.

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Leisure House • Wood Street • Corby • NN17 1PT T: 01536 266164 E: heretohelp@kandaprint.co.uk www.kandaprint.co.uk

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March 2021

Property Portfolio

Cash buyers build demand for commercial properties Leaving aside uncertainties within the general UK economy, the busy start to the year continues with strong demand in most sectors – especially freeholds.

good example of the current market was the disposal of an industrial unit at 3 Ross Road Business Centre. Sales have also been made at the other end of the size scale with Units 2 and 4 Kemp House

totalling 3,000 sq. ft. sold to local owner occupiers to be used as garage premises and Unit 16 being 1,500 sq. ft. also going to owner occupiers. The property, comprising around 4,600 sq. ft. was placed on the market at ‘offers

over £425,000’ and was sold within days. Demand for small industrial units is very strong – both for owner occupiers and investors. We have a number of clients seeking either vacant or well let industrial buildings within a 20-mile radius of Northampton – any lot size considered but preferably in the range £200,000 to £1M. All of our clients are cash buyers and are able to move quickly. We’ve recently been instructed by one of our clients to advise in respect of the sale of the former Barclays Bank at 67-69a Weedon Road. The property is currently let to the bank (with the exception of a first floor flat let on a long lease) and they have exercised their

The former Barclays Bank comprises a ground floor of approximately 1,450 sq. ft. with first floor accommodation of approximately 580 sq. ft. There is a sizeable car park to the rear of the property

Oriel House in Northampton would make an ideal candidate for serviced offices or alternatively for a residential conversion

option to determine their lease (passing rent £20,000 pax). Our clients would consider a new letting at the existing rental or may consider a sale – we are quoting £275,000. The property comprises a ground floor of approximately 1,450 sq. ft. with first floor accommodation of approximately 580 sq. ft. There is also a sizeable car park to the rear. The building is opposite Northampton Saints ground and would be ideal for a fast food operator, with living accommodation above

Leading housebuilder’s pivotal role in region’s economy A new report highlights how Northampton-based housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes Northampton have made an impact on the region’s growth.

he report undertaken behalf of Barratt and David Wilson Homes Northampton shows 570 homes built in the region during the past year and contributed over £102m to the UK’s economic output. The achievements are highlighted in a new report which measures the housebuilder’s social and economic contribution to the Northampton region over the past financial year (31st June 2019 – 30th June 2020). The developer covers Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. Included within the company’s socio-economic footprint are key figures relating to the company’s support for the housebuilding supply chain, local communities, environment, public services and employment. The figures show that the housebuilder: • Supported over 1,590 jobs

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directly and through its contractors and suppliers; • Directly employed 25 new graduates, trainees and apprentices; • Supported 250 subcontractor companies and 310 supplier companies; • Created 10.2 hectares of green space in the area for residents and the public to use; • Contributed £16.8 million locally including its Community Infrastructure Levy and S106 contributions; • Spent £19 million on physical works benefitting local communities including highway and environmental improvements and community facilities. Andrew Swindell, Regional Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Northampton, said: “As a five star housebuilder, we are very aware of the pivotal role we play in helping to boost the local economy.

March 2021

“We are committed to a strategy that includes leaving a positive legacy in the communities in which we build homes, be that through job creation, bolstering surrounding businesses or enhancing and protecting the local environment. “We are proud to be a major force in the growth and prosperity of our region and look forward to continuing our work in 2021.” The report on Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ SocioEconomic Footprint in 2020 was carried out by Lichfields planning and development consultancy. To f i n d o u t m o re information, call the Barratt Homes sales team on 033 3355 8481 or the David Wilson Homes sales team on 033 3355 8482. Alternatively, you can visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk

- subject to planning. We are also instructed in respect of a major office building at Oriel House, 5557 Sheep Street Northampton. Comprising approximately 10,042 sq. ft. with 14 on-site car spaces, the property which is Grade II listed would make an ideal candidate for serviced offices or alternatively for a residential conversion. Our clients have recently submitted a planning application for change of use from offices to 14 flats. The

property is available for sale for £1.3M. So, at present, no real evidence that Covid-19 is having an adverse effect on the market but with rising unemployment and general uncertainty in the economy, perhaps it’s too early to call. Time will tell. For specialist advice on all aspects of commercial property contact Ben Coleman Associates. Te l e p h o n e 01604 660014 or email: ben@ bencolemanassociates.co.uk

Restoration work on historic town bridge Specialist restoration to a historic bridge, which is a key access to the market town of Thrapston, is expected to last around five months.

ontractors working on behalf of Northamptonshire Highways will carry out structural repairs and arch strengthening to Nine Arches Bridge over the River Nene on Bridge Street and Kettering Road. Once the strengthening scheme has been completed, the road over the bridge will be resurfaced. The first stage of the works will take place under the main navigation arch. This will require a six-week road closure while this arch is in a temporary state. The navigation channel beneath the bridge will also be temporarily closed to allow the specialist structures team to complete their work safely. The work float (pontoon) will be removed at the end of the day and moored overnight at the adjacent mooring. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross the river using the separate footbridge, as works will not affect this. Nine Arches Bridge is a historic structure and is frequently inspected. Recent inspections have shown a weakness in the arches meaning works are required to enable the structure to carry all vehicles. Northamptonshire Highways has been monitoring the bridge and working with the Environment Agency, and East Northants Council to agree a programme of works and

secure the required permits and consents to work on this historic structure. Cllr Jason Smithers, Portfolio Holder for Highways at Northamptonshire County Council, said: “We are aware that Thrapston Bridge is a key access point to the town and the range of businesses and services on offer. It is also a valuable heritage asset, which we are seeking to preserve. “We have sought to keep this closure as short as possible to reduce inconvenience to residents and visitors to Thrapston. We are using specialist contractors and working closely with heritage officers at East Northants District Council to ensure we protect and preserve the historic importance of this beautiful medieval bridge. “The majority of the work will be carried out from below the bridge, therefore we are working closely with the Environment Agency to ensure we complete the work before the boating season officially starts on 1st April.” Keep up to date with all roadworks and closures in their area by visiting one.network or by following Northamptonshire Highways on Twitter @nnhighways A Thrapston Nine Arches mailing list is also being created. To register for e- bulletin updates email comms@kierwsp.co.uk

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Property Portfolio

Next steps for Northampton’s Market Square revamp

Step change for buyers of new homes with launch of quality board

Work on the transformation of Northampton’s Market Square will be able to progress once the Government approves a revised plan of activity submitted by Northampton Forward.

n Boxing Day, the Government announced that Northampton was one of 57 areas which would receive support from its Future High Streets Fund. As the £8.45 million award was lower than the original £12.2 million bid, it has been necessary for Northampton Forward to outline what it intends to achieve with the money. C l l r Ti m H a d l a n d , Northampton Borough Council Cabinet Member for regeneration and enterprise and Northampton Forward board member, said: “The size of the award is almost exactly the amount we had earmarked for our planned work on Market Square. “This was a top priority for both the board and the public and we’re delighted that we’re able to bring this scheme forward, which will be the catalyst for future development across the town centre.

Few towns possess a better market square than Northampton

“Our original bid would have covered redevelopment of Waterloo House at the southern entrance to the square. “This site has been acquired by a private developer since our plans were made public and we are keen to see how this site will

be brought back into use. “So, it has been reasonably simple for us to outline what we plan to do with the Government funding being made available, and we have already submitted details of that.” Following extensive public

consultation, high level designs identified improved paving, a transformed trader presence, stepped seating, increased event space, more trees and a fullyintegrated water feature. Once Government approves the updated plan, the next stage will be to consult with the public and other stakeholders again to develop and refine the more detailed Market Square design. Martin Mason, Northampton Board member and Managing Director of Tricker’s, said: “Few towns possess a better market square than Northampton and news that funding has been secured will create a new attractive environment for residents, visitors, and businesses in this historic space in the heart of the town centre. “The initial designs show that the heritage features of the square will be preserved along with creating more open space for use by everyone, a hugely important step towards celebrating Northampton’s rich heritage as a market town.”

he New Homes Quality Board (NHQB), that will champion quality new homes and better consumer outcomes for buyers, has been launched. The board will appoint a new homes ombudsman and deliver a ‘step change’ for the buyers of new homes. The NHQB will introduce new industry code of practice and a new Homes Ombudsman Service (NHOS). The aims of the new arrangements are to plug gaps in existing protections, provide high quality homes and stronger consumer protections. New Homes Ombudsman Service The NHQB is working closely with the Ombudsman Association, the independent body that validates ombudsman schemes, on the process to appoint a NHOS, who will provide support for buyers in the event of a dispute. New industry code of practice The new Code will place more responsibility on developers to deliver quality homes and better outcomes for consumers. The Code’s principles-based approach

will place considerably more demands on builders from the sales process through to two years from when buyers move into their new home. It will require developers to have an effective complaints procedures in place, with specified timelines within which they must address any issues that arise with a new home to the consumer’s satisfaction, or be potentially subject to a referral to the NHOS. A consultation process on the Code is currently underway with stakeholders. NHQB leadership The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) is a new, UK wide, independent body that will champion the quality of new build homes, the customer service provided by developers, and consumer redress for the buyers of new homes. It will comprise permanently appointed members and will be chaired by Natalie Elphicke MP OBE. Its members include representatives from consumer bodies, housebuilders, warranty providers, the finance sector and independents – with a constitution that ensures no one body is dominant.

24 Bridge Street, Northampton NN1 1NT

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www.chowncommercial.co.uk 24 Bridge Street, Northampton NN1 1NT

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Business Times

March 2021

Property Portfolio

Government Architects to play key role in delays business milestone project’s latest chapter rates review

Leading architectural practice GSSArchitecture have secured planning permission for the refurbishment, redevelopment and extension of Kettering’s historic Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering Library and Manor House Museum.

he Government has delayed the final report of its review of the business rates system, says commercial property agent Prop-Search due the continuing impact of the Covid pandemic and economic uncertainty. The results will now be published in the autumn. The review of business rates was announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak in last year’s Budget, with the key aims’ of reducing the overall burden on businesses, improving the current business rates system, and considering more fundamental changes in the medium-to-long term.

Unit 25, Corby Innovation Hub, CORBY 12,054 sq ft

TO LET

he project for Kettering Borough Council follows £3 million funding from the Getting Building Fund, which is being administered by SEMLEP, with match funding from Kettering Borough Council and Northamptonshire County Council. GSSArchitecture were appointed as Architects through Lot 1 of the Pagabo Professional Services Framework, alongside Faithful + Gould who are providing Cost Management and Quantity Surveying services on the project. The Grade II Listed Alfred East Art Gallery was built more than 100 years ago, with the original designs being drawn up by John A. Gotch, the founder of GSSArchitecture. The practice’s history in Kettering goes back more than 140 years and their Head Office is just down the road from the Museum. William Assheton, Partner at the Practice and Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC), is leading the project which will see the integration of the Gallery, Library and Museum, as well as an extension to the rear of the building, which will provide step-free access from the existing car park. These significant works to the three historic, listed buildings will require careful planning and consideration by GSSArchitecture’s specialist Heritage team, so that the existing key facilities can be preserved and enhanced for the use and enjoyment of the public.

The new piazza will make this an attractive new area for the public to enjoy Once complete, the entire site will be renamed Kettering GLaM to mark the Gallery, Library and Museum becoming one unified site. The proposal seeks to further connect the three buildings through the creation of a new piazza, as well as opening up the existing landscape to draw people through the spaces, making this an attractive new area for the public to enjoy. William said: “We are delighted that GSS have this opportunity to return to a site where the founder of the Practice worked over 100 years ago, to continue building upon the great work that John A. Gotch carried out in Northamptonshire. Having recently delivered similar upgrades to the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, we are pleased to once again be working on a project that is of such historical and cultural significance to the county.”

Unit 5, St Mark's Road, CORBY c. 13,000 sq ft (1,207 sq m)

TO LET

MAY SELL

£695,000

• Industrial unit with offices and mezzanine floor (with goods lift) • Electric level access loading door • Secure site • Fully staffed reception, on site café

• Good access with onsite parking and yard space • Huge 3-phase power capacity with over 500 kVA • Great location • Rear warehouse recently refurbished • Operating space across 3 separated areas

Development Land, Priors Hall, Corby c.6.5 acres

Units 1-6 Commercial Road, CORBY c. 5,000sq. ft.

FOR SALE

POA • • • • •

Zoned for commercial use Two access roads in place Levelled land New District Centre close by Sits between residential and industrial zones

Business Times

March 2021

Rochelle Mathieson, Head of Commercial Development at Kettering Borough Council, said: “This exciting investment will act as a catalyst for change, supporting our local economy to thrive, and for our residents and visitors to enjoy an improved cultural facility. Cultural-led regeneration is a fundamental element of delivering Kettering Town Centre’s vision to be a vibrant place at the heart of the community that is characterful, distinctive, and fun. We are thrilled to be working with GSSArchitecture on this project.” If you would like to know more about GSSArchitecture, or to keep up to date with the latest news on this and other projects, visit www.gssarchitecture.com For more information on the GLaM project, go to: thisiskettering.com/GLaM

2 Princewood Road, CORBY 6,900–15,500 sq. ft.

FOR SALE

£60,000/yr

Credit: 3DLABS & GSSArchitecture

By Samantha Jones Prop-Search

A call for evidence was published in July last year seeking stakeholders’ views on key issues that included reforming the rates multiplier and looking at alternative ways of taxing non-residential property.” Samantha Jones, an Associate Director of Prop-Search, said: “Many retailers want to see store-based businesses put on a level playing field with those operating online. This issue is gaining further momentum with the various lockdowns driving the public more towards online shopping and this sector reporting strong sales growth.” “It is therefore absolutely vital that the Government uses the extra time to ensure it gets this right. After the recent misery retailers have faced during the pandemic, a properly functioning, equitable rates system is now more critical than ever.” In the meantime, to support High Streets calls are being made for the Chancellor to extend the business rates holiday due to end at the end of March.

FROM

£2,300 pcm

• Well located unit with excellent profile facing busy roundabout • 2 units available: Unit A - 6,900 sqft & Unit B - 8,600 sqft • Could be combined to create single space of c.15,500 sqft • Close to Rockingham retail park

Call us:

01536 560400 info@plcommercial.co.uk

£400,000 • 6 units available of c.5000 sq ft each (units could be combined to create larger area) • Clear working height - 5.1m • Excellent roadside profile - only 2 minutes drive time to A43 • Unit dimensions are 18m width x 25m depth with front yard of c.12m depth

potter learoyd COMMERCIAL

www.plcommercial.co.uk Corby Enterprise Centre London Road, Corby NN17 5EU

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

Property Portfolio

he UK’s leading refit specialists Overbury will be leading the project, which will see the county’s fire and police business service departments including IT, Finance, Estates and Facilities and HR, come together for the first time to work across both organisations. This is being accelerated and performance managed through Scape, the UK’s leading public sector procurement authority. The 24-week programme of works at the former 76,500 sq ft office building in the Park Farm Industrial Estate, in Wellingborough, will deliver a comprehensive refit of the two-storey building to accommodate the 500 staff from across the three organisations. “With the three services joining their business services functions for the first time, the emphasis was on how we could create an inclusive and collaborative working environment that also had a strong focus on sustainability,” said Michele Clifton, account manager at Overbury, which is leading the scheme. “Our design not only delivers a functional space that engenders a sense of community and wellbeing, it will also enable efficiencies, improve communication across the departments and

Refurbishment project to create hub for key services

Work is to get underway on a multi-million pound refurbishment of a new business services hub for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Northamptonshire Police and the Office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime.

The programme will deliver a comprehensive refit of the two-storey building to accommodate the 500 staff from across the three organisations

provide sufficient flexibility for future business needs.” Staff wellbeing is an essential component, said Michele, with the inclusion of biophilia, break-out zones, acoustic baffles and screens to

minimise sound reverberation, and LED lighting. Sustainability is another key aspect of the design, with the repurposing of tens of thousands of square feet of barely-worn carpet tiles that

have been taken up and reused across the police force and fire estates, while the existing furniture, which was sold with the unit, has also been redistributed, where possible. The ground floor will feature

a large, open reception, a wellbeing/multi-faith room, mini-gym, showers, lockers, hot-desking areas, conference room, as well as a refreshment point that will feature an old policeman’s bicycle - sourced from Northamptonshire Police’s heritage museum suspended from the ceiling. The first floor, which has the benefit of an atrium that is flooded with natural light, will also provide further banks of desks, seating areas, private office space, a flexible “command suite” and areas for relaxing, informal meetings and dining. Mark Robinson, Scape group chief executive, said: “Investing in the public estate in a way that enhances service delivery, whilst benefiting the local economy, is absolutely crucial. “Overbury’s work is a fantastic example of how a well-considered project can make every penny of public investment count. Not only does this innovatively designed business services hub enable these teams to work collaboratively for the first time and explore real efficiency gains, it is a high quality and sustainable facility that will benefit both those working in it and the wider community for years to come.” Northamptonshire Police,

Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold, said: “Overbury’s design for this landmark, shared building will help us to achieve our vision of enabling Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service to work more closely together to deliver strong, joined up support to the frontline of both organisations. “It is critical to me that the building is efficient to run and maintain so that we are able to dispose of the older buildings in our estate and ensure that we don’t spend more than we have to on them.” Chief Superintendent Mick Stamper, who is leading the Darby Close project, said: “We were really impressed with Overbury’s initial designs and they understand that we want to create the best quality environment where people can thrive. “These drawings are exciting and show we are aiming for a vibrant, collaborative working environment which supports well-being and productivity – that’s our top priority. “The building will be as sustainable as it can be, because we want to manage long term running costs as well as the environmental impact.” The refurbishment is expected to be completed in Q1 2021.

01604 660014

ben@bencolemanassociates.co.uk

Specialist Advice On All Aspects Of Commercial Property

41 BILLING ROAD NEW INSTRUCTION

Northampton

TOWN CENTRE OFFICES FOR SALE/TO LET • • • • • •

8,300 sq ft (771 sq m) approx. 20 car spaces Central heating with air cooling Suspended ceilings with fluorescent lighting Perimeter trunking 8 person (630kg) passenger lift

WELL LOCATED INVESTMENT FOR SALE • • • •

3,649 sq ft (339 sq m) approx. 12 on site car spaces Fitted out as a dentist surgery The property is let to Oasis Dental Care (Central) Ltd (trading as Bupa Dental Care) for a term of 10 years from 25 March 2018 at a rent of £50,000 pax.

WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO SEEK OFFERS OVER £775,000 SUBJECT TO CONTRACT AND EXCLUSIVE OF VAT.

ORIEL HOUSE Northampton

NEW INSTRUCTION

UNDER OFFER

Northampton

67-69A WEEDON ROAD

Northampton

NEW INSTRUCTION

10/15 NOTRE DAME MEWS

TOWN CENTRE OFFICES FOR SALE/TO LET •

10,042 sq ft (932.93 sq m)

•

Grade II Listed Building

•

14 on-site car spaces

•

Potential residential conversion

FOR SALE - £1.3M OR TO LET BY WAY OF A NEW FULL REPAIRING AND INSURING LEASE

TWO STOREY ACCOMMODATION TO LET/ FOR SALE •

2,037 sq ft (189.2 sq m)

•

High profile retail unit with ancillary first floor accommodation

•

Rear Car Park

•

Available Shortly

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

Business Times

March 2021

NIGHTS ofOLD

LOGISTICS FOR LIFE UK/IE/EU ROAD TRANSPORT n Pallets/Part Loads/Full loads n Contract distribution n FORS Silver

CONTRACT LOGISTICS n BRC AA Warehousing n Fulfilment solutions n Value added services

GLOBAL FORWARDING n Air /Sea freight n Export packing n Clearances

+44(0)1536 533544 sales@knightsofoldgroup.com www.knightsofoldgroup.com