Business Times Northamptonshire May 21

Business Times Celebrating 30 years est. 1991

May 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

M ON EY

Major retailer marks giant step for business park P3

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Call to support independent businesses P10

FE AT UR E

A decade of making a difference across the region P15

Corby steel tube making site

PR OP ER TY

Government cash incentivises apprenticeships P18

Developer launches plans for trade park after £2.1m deal P29

Landmark programme promises strong future for steelworks

A £25 million project is under way by Tata Steel to transform its Corby steel tube making site. The landmark programme has already started at the 150-acre site which produces vital products for everything from sports stadium and iconic skyscrapers.

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orkers at the site produce steel tube products from steel made at the company’s Port Talbot works and this is used in iconic buildings like the Shard in London to hospital beds and renewable green energy schemes around the world.

Now manufacturing processes on the site will be brought closer together as part of the scheme which is being paid for in part with the sale of land freed up by the changes as well as savings from operational improvements.

Chairman of Tata Steel UK Ltd, Sandip Biswas, said: “Steel is, and will continue to be, an essential part of the UK’s plans to decarbonise for the future.

“We need to ensure we are able to make and supply the products right here in the UK which will help transition to a net-zero future.”

Tata Steel, which took over the Corby plant in 2007 from Corus, can trace its roots back to the early 1900s when the company made its first ingot of steel at Jamshedpur in India.

Tata Steel Corby works manager, Gary Blackman, said: “The programme is essential to ensuring a sustainable future for our site and generations of steel workers to come. It will enable us to reconfigure our operations and achieve the highest levels of operational efficiency.”

Continued on page 5 >>

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Jessica Gray and Hannah Bellamy have joined the sales team at Belvoir estate agents and will be working across both the Corby and Kettering branches.

Property valuer Jessica has worked in estate agencies for the last eight years, starting out as an apprentice and working her way up to management. Jessica is also an ESTAS nominated estate agent, having received Jessica Gray her nomination for the national previous experience includes Estate Agent of Year Awards, managing visitor operations and which are powered by customer marketing at Sacrewell Farm reviews, in 2018. and the William Scott Abbott Sales consultant Hannah joins Trust near Peterborough and Belvoir with a background in being visitor services manager sales and customer services. As at the Cotswold Farm Park well as working in the lettings owned by BBC Countryfile department for a well-known presenter, Adam Henson. estate agent, Hannah has previously worked as cabin GSSArchitecture crew for Monarch and in retail, GSSArchitecture’s team managing a store for a premium in Kettering has appointed British brand.

Zeyneb Caglar as a Part I Architectural Assistant Chester House Estate from Leicester School of Tourism business expert Jack Architecture. Outside of her Pishhorn is new business studies, Zeyneb has also been manager at Chester House involved with DMU Square Estate, a £14.5 million project Mile India: a project which to revive the site of national involved working with a historical importance. Jack’s

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Jack Pishhorn

team of local architects in a community of leprosy patients and their families.

moving to Northampton after retunring from maternity leave.

Franklins managing partner Nigel Long said: “The promotion reflects the determination and commitment that she has brought to the firm and as a valued member of Franklins and the family law team, I look forward to the continued value that Emily will bring to the firm as associate partner.”

Franklins Solicitors

Family lawyer Emily Carrington has been promoted to associate partner at the Northampton office of Franklins Solicitors.

She specialises in high net worth divorces involving complex business structures and pension interests as well as advising on disputes between couples who live together. Emily is accredited

by Resolution, a community of family justice professionals.

She joined Franklins in Milton Keynes in 2019 and is

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TARGET KEY DECISION MAKERS

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NGH NHS Trust

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust has appointed Heidi Smoult as its new hospital chief executive. She is currently deputy chief inspector at the Care Quality Commission where she has overseen the effective regulation of the NHS and independent healthcare providers in the Central region.

She takes up her new post in the summer, replacing interim hospital chief executive Eileen Doyle. “My career has been driven by a passionate commitment to improving care for people,” said Ms Smoult, who began her career as a midwife.

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Business Times

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Business News

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eichmann has agreed a lease for a purpose built 162,500 sq. ft. warehouse with ancillary offices with site owners and developers, Clowes Developments at Centrix Business Park.

This forms part of Corby’s new regeneration framework and comprises a 39-acre development that is suitable for ‘Built to Suit’ industrial / warehouse opportunities.

The commercial lease agreement marks significant inward investment for the area as the retailer places their brand new UK distribution facility in Corby.

The retailer will retain its head office in neighbouring Market Harborough positioning themselves strategically to benefit from excellent location and direct access to major UK transport networks.

James Richards development director at Clowes Developments said: “Securing another major occupier for the scheme in Corby is a great result.

The scope of the building and its high-spec delivery will, without doubt, add considerable value to the ongoing regeneration aspirations for this town.

Bringing household names such as Deichmann and BakeAway to Centrix Park are lines in the sand marking the bright new future for the

former brownfield site.”

Chris Holden, director at Deichmann, said: “We are continuing to expand our presence in the UK both online and opening new High Street stores. This development will enhance that expansion and enable us to improve service levels across the business. We believe Corby is a great location for our UK warehouse, being close to the centre of our store network and providing a skilled workforce for logistics operations.”

Budworth Hardcastle acted for Deichmann in negotiating the acquisition and are retained in a project monitoring role and the project management of the fit out.

The two plots located opposite Deichmann (Plot A2 and A3) have serious interest from occupiers and investors with announcements due in the coming weeks.

There remains limited availability at the recently completed Omega Court for trade counter/warehouse/ distribution requirements.

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 www.clowes-centrix.co.uk

Major retailer marks giant step for business park Corby has been chosen as the new UK distribution facility for Europe’s largest footwear retailer, Deichmann.

Chris Holden, director at Deichmann - “We believe Corby is a great location for our UK warehouse, being close to the centre of our store network and providing a skilled workforce for logistics operations.”

The future’s bright... the future’s vertical Farming company partners with tech leader to open new production and research site

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Syan Farms facilities grow fresh produce without the need for herbicides, pesticides or fungicides, without use of soil and with dramatically reduced emissions and water usage.

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

high growth technology company that specialises in controlled environment agriculture – growing fresh produce without the need for soil and man-made chemicals – has partnered with a new business in Northamptonshire to develop a ‘beyond organic’ solution to year-round food production.

Vertical Future, whose ground-breaking technologies, production activities, and research and development have turned the company into a market leader in controlled environment food production, is working with sustainable food developer Syan Farms.

The company, based at Horton, is also to become a research partner in Vertical Future’s wider research activities, focused on seed breeding, genetics, and robotics.

Syan Farms was founded to develop the building of a better, more sustainable food system, tackling food security and other key issues. Its facilities grow fresh produce without the need

for herbicides, pesticides or fungicides, without use of soil and with dramatically reduced emissions and water usage.

“The construction of our first vertical farm with Vertical Future is a great first step for us and really just the start of our journey in light of our ambitious growth plans,” said Syan Farms co-founder Resh Diu. Vertical Futures specialises in designing and building hightech hardware and software solutions for vertical farming, where crops are grown in vertically stacked layers. It often incorporates controlledenvironment agriculture, which aims to optimise plant growth, and soilless farming techniques.

Its production systems will be housed in a new development at Horton, using solar energy and rainwater harvesting. It is Northamptonshire’s first vertical farm and aims to serve restaurants, distributors, and homes with the freshest produce around.

“Growing fresh produce in a fully controlled environment allows our partners to have

a measurable influence on flavours, aesthetics, and other product characteristics,” said Vertical Futures chief executive Jamie Burrows. “This is because we control all of the different variables associated with plant growth.

“Our systems enable our partners to do this in a sustainable way, year-round, on demand, and with absolutely no chemicals. We are so excited to bring on-board the Syan Farms team to generate further improvements in UK agriculture.”

The company already has two production sites in London and other build projects across the UK and internationally.

Mr Diu said: “It marks the progression that the UK industry is making towards providing local, sustainable produce all year round while protecting the environment. Our ambitions, team and business model, combined with Vertical Future’s technologies and expertise, are set to leave a positive mark on the growing vertical farming industry in the UK and beyond.”

Business Times

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May 2021

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Legal Briefing

Green shoots grow into sturdy roots of optimism

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ast summer I wrote an article headlined ‘Green Shoots of Conf idence’ as the UK began to ease out of what was, at the time, our first nationwide lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. Little did we know - nor could we have predicted - that we would now be planning our route out of Lockdown 3.0.

One year on and the world has changed dramatically. The hospitality and entertainment industries - fundamental to the UK’s culture, business and our economy - have suffered immeasurable damage, effectively being closed for the vast proportion of the last 12 months. Our healthcare sector has been pushed to its limits (and, in some cases, overwhelmed) as all those in the NHS and the care sector have worked round the clock to provide care and support to those who need it.

Our education system has had to adapt to virtual and online teaching with exams cancelled. Our retail experience leaves the high street looking desolate as we all adapt to online shopping habits.

This all follows confirmation in the budget in March that government spending in connection with the pandemic will have reached record highs of more than £400 billion. And yet, if the vaccination programme continues as expected, we start on the government’s roadmap out of the pandemic and we should hopefully see restrictions ease as we approach June 21.

So does the roadmap to recovery also look rosy for the corporate finance world? Well, if the past few

‘A significant return on the investment we have made’

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By Matthew Thompson Howes Percival

months are anything to go by, the “green shoots of confidence” I wrote about last year are certainly turning into a level of cautious optimism.

Trends continue to suggest that deals are taking longer to reach completion, that more due diligence is being undertaken and buyers and funders are less prepared to take certain risks without a viable right of recourse either against the sellers, via retentions or via an insurance policy.

However, while the budget caused some concern about the hiking up of capital gains tax rates - and hence an increase in pre-budget transactions - the pipeline looks promising, deals are still coming to fruition and there is a real momentum of activity.

On a local level, Howes Percival’s corporate team have completed a further succession of fundraising, private equity and trade sale/ acquisition transactions in the last quarter, showing there is still confidence in UK-based businesses, whether you are acquiring or selling and showing deals can still be done despite lockdown.

Since the end of 2020, we have advised on a wide array of transactions including:

■ The sale of an adult gaming centre business with multiple outlets to one of the country’s largest independent owners of such sites; ■ The acquisition of Welsh brewery Conwy Brewery and Pookchurch Vineyard, both backed by Cadman Capital Group; disposal of ■ The No r t h a m pt o n sh i r e - b a s e d Signature Ribbon to Cole Fabrics plc; ■ The acquisition of the J Clubb Group of Companies by Dutch based Agar Dry Mortar; ■ A follow-up investment for a private equity fund into a local occupational health provider; ■ A management buy-out of a specialist coatings supplier based locally; ■ A full exit for a shareholder from a group of locally based IT-based businesses; ■ The corporate aspects of a disposal of a multi-million pound development site in Milton Keynes; ■ The acquisition of an EastMidlands based warehousing ma nufact u rer, prov id i ng guaranteed access to a vital part of the buyer’s supply chain.

There are still willing buyers and willing sellers wanting to secure future growth and viability for their businesses. If you are considering a corporate transaction, whether a disposal, acquisition or fundraising exercise, contact Matt Thompson at matthew.thompson@howespercival.com.

he corporate, commercial, and banking team at Howes Percival has completed a total 32 deals in the first quarter, with a combined value of £263 million.

The firm has invested heavily in its corporate, commercial, and banking team across all its offices with a series of high-profile hires and major IT projects.

The team has increased by 50 per cent in the past two years to more than 30 fee earners.

Pa r t ner-level appoi nt ments include corporate law experts Jahid Ali, Oliver Brookshaw, Oliver Prichard and Andy Harris, along with banking and finance specialists Haydon Simmonds and Ian Ilersic.

Corporate partner Andy Harris said: “We have had an extremely strong start to 2021 despite the

unusual circumstances, I think partly fuelled by the speculation over possible changes to capital gains tax rates but also because there is significant appetite to acquire good businesses with strong customer bases in the more Covid-resilient sectors.”

Deal values are holding up, with many business owners looking to secure an exit and extract value from their life’s work, he added.

The debt market now includes a wider range of potential funders in addition to the traditional larger banks.

Mr Harris said the number of complet e d t r a n sa ct ion s represents a “significant return on the investment we have made in the firm, both in terms of personnel as well as quickly adapting our ways of working in response to the pandemic.

Andy Harris

Social justice: Change can begin in the workplace

Lawyer, author and charity founder Saffa Mir is calling on UK workplaces to move away from dropping buzzwords without meaningful action behind them and provide tangible support to social justice causes.

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hen it comes to corporate social responsibility, how do we ensure that our workplaces are not fixating on easy wins and are pushing for creating change?

The Covid-19 pandemic that swept the world will mean that 2020 was a year that many of us will want to put behind us.

However, what we will not and should not leave behind are the conversations had and the movements started about social justice issues.

In the USA we saw the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers on May 25. This led to a series of protests and demonstrations taking place across the world, including here in the UK. The success of the movement in the UK saw the Black Lives Matter UK organisation raise

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£1.2 million, which it has begun to distribute to 14 black-interest groups.

One social justice issue which was exacerbated by Covid-19 was the poverty which exists on our doorstep. We saw Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford lead the way in fighting for the continuation of free school meals throughout school holidays. There were also conversations held about the digital poverty divide, the idea that some children are locked out of education due to lack of broadband, laptops and sufficient spaces to study in comparison to their more affluent peers.

So, what can and should workplaces be doing to support these causes?

One easy way to support these causes is by actively engaging and supporting charitable work.

As an example, my employer recently launched a fundraising campaign to fund the charity

| May 2021

Business2Schools, which provides IT devices to schools which are in need.

I am a trustee of a charity that I co-founded, Ihsan for Children Foundation, which provides education and resources to refugee children. Like many law firms, many of my colleagues are also trustees of charities and governors of schools.

Supporting charities, whether financially or as a trustee, is a good example of providing support and a great way to bring employees together in creating positive action.

However, what workplaces need to think about is internally assessing their own practices.

Taking the example of equality, diversity and inclusion, workplaces must move away from simply dropping these as buzzwords into conversations, referring to out of date polices or releasing statements in support of topical issues, without any

meaningful action behind them.

What we need to see is practical examples of what workplaces are doing behind the public display of support that they show.

Hewitsons recently formed a diversity and inclusion committee and one of the first things the committee agreed to is that, while we will continue to support our local community and increase the work we do in making the legal sector more accessible to all, we will at the same time analyse where the firm stands internally in its approach to diversity and inclusion.

This means being honest with ourselves and asking the uncomfortable questions as to whether the workplace is currently a safe space for all.

When looking inwards, we have to assess where we currently are; for example, by carrying out an audit of current practices, thinking about where we want to be and then set setting plans

in motion on how to get there.

What is extremely important in developing inclusive organisations is ensuring that the senior leadership buys into the cause. Sometimes it may mean that the first course of action is convincing those at the top of the organisation before you proceed to plan for change.

While anyone in the organisation can lead the fight to make the workplace inclusive, the reality for many workplaces is that change does not happen until those at the top of the organisation are as committed as those who have personal vested interests are.

Social justice issues will continue to exist inside the workplace for as long as they exist outside the workplace. However, we must begin somewhere and if your workplace has the capacity and appetite to tackle social justice issues head on, then this is something that they should not shy away from.

Saffa Mir Saffa is a lawyer in the charities, education and social enterprise team at law firm Hewitsons, which has an office in Northampton.

She has a keen interest in the sector and is a founding trustee of the Ihsan for Children Foundation, a charity she set up to provide education and support to refugee children around the world.

In October 2020, she became a published author with her book I Refuse to Condemn: Resisting Racism in Times of National Security.

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

Business News

We’re backing Northamptonshire’s best at the SME Business Awards Business Times is delighted to be the official media partners of the premier ceremony celebrating the success of the county’s small and medium-sized business.

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he publisher of Business Times, Northamptonshire’s longestestablished and most respected business newspaper and its sister publication NN Pulse, is delighted to have been chosen as media partners for this year’s SME Northamptonshire Business Awards.

Pulse Group Media joins a list of leading organisations in the county that are backing this year’s competition, the winners of which will be announced at a glittering ceremony planned for September 23 at the Daventry Court Hotel.

The awards will celebrate the best of the county’s thriving business community, highlighting the achievements of the smaller companies in what, for everyone, has been the most challenging year in business by far.

“We are delighted to play our part in promoting these awards, which applaud the resilience, innovation and creative drive of Northamptonshire’s SME community,” said Pulse Group Media publisher Kerry Lewis-Stevenson.

“Awards are always a great occasion and epitomise the entrepreneurial spirit for which Northamptonshire is renowned.”

Business Times and NN Pulse will feature the awards as the countdown continues to the big night in September,

L-R: Jonny Nelson (MC), Cook Investment Group (Overall Gold Winner), Jason Sinclair (University of Buckingham), Wayne Thompson (Stanair). keeping you up to date with entries, the deadlines, how to enter and how to join the celebration at the awards ceremony. Some categories will be decided by a public vote.

The 2021 awards include: Best Enterprising Business, Best New Business, Northamptonshire Business of the Year, Business Innovation, Employer of the Year and Community Business of the Year and Business Hero of the Year. Two new awards will recognise those who have successfully adapted during the pandemic - Business Chameleon and Lockdown Leader.

The winners of some categories will go

forward to the National SME Awards final at Wembley on December 3.

The awards are organised by Events & PR, based at Towcester. Awards director Damian Cummins said: “A massive thank you to our sponsors and media partners for actively supporting the awards. The SME Northamptonshire Business Awards are all about recognising and rewarding the companies and people doing great things in the local business community.”

Entry is free and all entries must be submitted by June 10. For all the details, visit northamptonshireawards.co.uk

Trusted legal advisers to the business community in Northampton.

To find out more, please contact Gerald Couldrake on 01604 230 400 or at gerald.couldrake@howespercival.com.

Continued from page 1 >> The two-year investment project will see the creation of a single high-tech warehouse, the relocation and upgrading of the important rectangular hollow section processing line and the cold mill. These are where many of the most important products produced by the Corby site are made.

Sustainability is at the core of the improvements with material from old concrete floors being recycled on site to help create the sub-base for the warehouse.

Meanwhile the relocation of the RHS and CFM processes will see improved efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

At the same time Tata Steel will work closely with construction partners and the local authority to ensure minimal impact on the surrounding community during the project.

Work has now started to create the warehouse. Nigel Chudley who is leading the project said: “We are creating a single site warehouse within the East Works, which will allow the closure of the South warehouse.

“Significant work is ongoing to prepare the ground for the installation of a racked warehouse solution. Over the last couple of weeks, the team have been working with our contractors to break ground, which is the first element of a 14-week programme to prepare the flooring which will

support 18,000 tonnes of finished tube product.”

The new warehousing system will bring significant advantages to the current system – enabling the Tubes operation to rotate stock much more efficiently and reduce stock losses.

Coenraad Spaans, Tata Steel operational director Tubes, said: “The programme will map out a sustainable future for the Corby site and it lays the foundations for future growth.”

Did you know?

Tata Steel is one of Europe’s leading steel producers, with steelmaking in the Netherlands and the UK, and manufacturing plants across Europe.

The company supplies highquality steel products to the most demanding markets, including construction and infrastructure, automotive, packaging and engineering.

The Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes.

It is one of the world’s most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and a commercial presence across the world.

The group’s turnover (excluding its South East Asia operations) in the year ending 31 March 2020 was US $19.7 billion.

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Business Times

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May 2021

5

Legal Briefing

Have your say as rent arrears ‘holiday’ deadline looms The current suspension of action over rent arrears caused by the pandemic is due to end next month. Now the government has launched a consultation with commercial property stakeholders seeking their views on how rent arrears should be dealt with.

By Mohammed Rahman Borneo Martell Turner Coulston

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he consultation comes ahead of the existing prohibitions on forfeiture, proceedings and winding-up petitions with regard to commercial property rent arrears ending on June 30.

There is clearly a huge risk to businesses, jobs and the wider economy with a potential of an increase of empty properties if landlords and tenants do not achieve any agreements on how to manage rent arrears and other associated debts.

The consultation is asking commercial landlords, tenants and others with a commercial property or business interest in England to take part in a survey to allow them to get a better understanding of: • Negotiation of rent and repayments; • The impact from the moratorium

on forfeiture; • Restrictions on the ability to present a winding up petition; • Exit strategies from the current temporary measure.

The findings will deliver the opinions of business owners and the impact on businesses of six possible options being considered by ministers.

1. Allowing the current protective measures to expire on June 30 2021; 2. Allowing the moratorium on commercial lease forfeiture to lapse on June 30 but retain the insolvency measures and additional rent arrears amendments to CRAR for a further period; 3. Targeting existing measures to tenants, based on the impact that Covid-19 restrictions have had

If attempts to negotiate and agree terms in respect of unpaid rent and lease terms do not take have a positive resolution, the government proposes to take further action

on their businesses for a limited period; 4. Encourage increased formal mediation between landlords and tenants; 5. Adjudication between landlords and tenants; 6. Binding non-judicial adjudication between landlords and tenants.

To take part in the survey, visit https://consult.communities.gov.uk/ urban-policy/commercial-rents-andcovid-19-call-for-evidence/

Steps for Landlords and Tenants Tenants still legally owe the rent and are encouraged to “pay some or all of their rent” if they can and landlords are encouraged to work with struggling tenants where they are able to do so.

The government has made it clear it will not provide any financial assistance to cover commercial rent arrears. Therefore it is encouraging landlords and tenants to work together to reach agreements.

Ministers intend to issue further

guidance which will provide a template for tenants to describe the impact that the pandemic has had on their business and to make an offer to their landlords in respect of arrears and ongoing lease terms.

Landlords can also use the template to respond to the tenant’s offer, which they will be requested to do in a constructive way).

If attempts to negotiate and agree terms in respect of unpaid rent and lease terms do not take have a positive resolution, the government proposes to take further action which – depending on the response to the survey – is likely to see the government adopt one of options one to six listed above.

In light of the government’s move with this consultation and its confirmation it will not provide any financial support for commercial rent arrears, if you would like advice on these points or any other property matters, contact Mohammed Rahman at Borneo Martell Turner Coulston Solicitors mohammed.rahman@ bmtclaw.co.uk or one of the other members of the commercial team on 01604 622101.

Farewell as partner retires after 25 years

Colleagues at a regional law firm have said farewell to its partner and head of construction, who has retired after 25 years with the practice.

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im Richards acted on ma ny major cases, most recently advising clients on both the contentious and noncontentious aspects of building and engineering projects for both public and private sector clients. He has also been a member of the firm’s charity and education and banking and finance groups.

“It is very satisfying to be able to walk around Northampton, Milton Keynes and Cambridge, where Hewitsons has offices and see the tangible results of projects you have worked on and think ‘I worked on that’,” he says.

Mr Richards is recognised in the ninth edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2021, ranked in Chambers & Partners UK Guide to the Legal Profession 2019 and is a recommended lawyer in Legal 500 Client’s Guide to the Legal Profession 2021.

He started his ‘articles’ at a Birmingham firm in 1983, naming technology being one of the greatest changes he has seen in his career – when fax machines and manual typewriters were the norm. Mr Richards moved to Hewitsons’ office in Cambridge as head of construction, applying for the post as a result of conversations with the firm’s former partner

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Business Times

Tim Richards started his ‘articles’ at a Birmingham firm in 1983, naming technology being one of the greatest changes he has seen in his career – when fax machines and manual typewriters were the norm.

Niel Ackermann when the two were team mates in the Law Society rugby team.

“Foresight by Lewis Isaacs and Charles Hewitson,

| May 2021

among others, dictated that Hewitsons needed a specialist team dealing exclusively with both contentious and noncontentious construction law.

It was not long before we got approval to recruit a further solicitor into the team and a young Colin Jones joined us.”

Mr Jones is now the firm’s managing partner. “We both had very much more hair in those days,” says Mr Richards.

A chance meeting after delivering a talk at a construction industry forum led to him leading the country’s first street lighting private finance initiative project and only the second PFI project where the procuring authority was a local council.

“This matter, a lighting project in Brent, would completely take over my working life for the next 18 months,” Mr Richards says.

“Overnight, I had to become an expert in PFI negotiating the project agreement. There is no way I could have done it without the combined forces of many other very good lawyers across Hewitsons, including some that are still at the firm today.

“There were many late nights and the night before financial close I spent in the office in Cambridge drafting the subcontract and speaking to counsel on the telephone.

Without going home, I took an early train to London to attend the completion meeting.

“Little did I know when I was negotiating that transaction

that, 18 years later, when the contract was coming to the end of its 20-year term, that the client would reinstruct us to advice on the provisions we had drafted all those years earlier dealing with warranties and transfers of rights.

“That is perhaps a lesson for those starting out on their careers that things can, and often do, come back to haunt you.”

He moved from Cambridge in 2008 to head Hewitsons’ new Milton Keynes office and moved the focus of his practice more exclusively to cover both that area and Northampton.

“We have put Hewitsons on the map in Milton Keynes, largely due to the fact that we always punch above our weight in terms of delivery and client service,” he says.

Mr Richards was born in Colchester, raised in Surrey and now lives with his wife Katrina in Abbotsley, near St Neots. He plans to spend his retirement on DIY projects and improving his golf handicap.

Hewitsons has appointed construction partner Simon Wain, also based at Milton Keynes, as his successor.

Managing partner Colin Jones said: “It is with an extremely fond farewell that we say goodbye to Tim as he begins his retirement. A more dedicated, determined

and hardworking colleague it is not possible to identify. “ From fou nd i ng t he construction team, taking me on as an assistant in the team - an extremely sensible move - setting up and running our new office in Milton Keynes, heading the real estate team to his involvement in the firm’s fundraising initiatives and events and with a period on our management board, Tim has always given 100 per cent and played a considerable part in the development of our firm.

“I know I will not be the only member of the firm who will miss Tim, on both a personal and professional level.

“Looking to the future, Hewitsons has a strong and solid team of absolute professionals and we know that Tim’s successor, Simon Wain, will excel in his new role.”

Simon Wain

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

Business News

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R Solutions is partnering with Nordens Chartered Accountants to run a series of webinars on the Interactive Accelerator Programme covering subjects such as sales and marketing, mindset, cashflow and culture.

IAP cofounder Joe Sword, head of strategic consultancy at Nordens, will be leading the webinars, guiding businesses through how to achieve a positive attitude at work and in life, while analysing ways to maximise your profit, potential and credentials.

HR Solutions chief executive Greg Guilford said: “Setting clear goals, and an overall vision is one of the most important parts of any creative processes, especially in business. One of the biggest sins a business owner can do is to not have a goal, and arguably even worse is having a goal that lacks purpose, meaning and clarity and following it.

“It is essential to think about your consumer and how your offerings will affect them. This will essentially articulate the ‘why’ in your vision and uncover the solid core of your business in the process.”

Business webinars to aid economic recovery A multi award-winning HR company has teamed up with an internationally recognised accountancy firm to provide additional support to businesses as part of the economic bounce back from the pandemic.

The hour-long webinars run from 11am on Wednesdays: 5th May – Mindset 12th May – Cashflow 19th May – Systems and Processes 26th May – Profitability 2nd June – Team and Culture Greg added: “The final segment of the IAP is all about team and culture which provides the fabric and DNA of your business.

Having a clear direction for your team is integral to achieve success. It is almost impossible to succeed without effective and regular communication in place.

“Listening to your team and involving them in facets of the business, especially your goals and vision of the company, is imperative.”

Joe said: “With our years of experience working with business owners of all sizes and in varying industries,

Clothes giant confirms hundreds of jobs for county Online retailer Boohoo has made another commitment to Northamptonshire after taking on the long-term lease for the former Arcadia warehouse in Daventry.

D we are well positioned to understand and advise on what successful businesses do differently to those who aren’t successful.”

To access the webinars, visit www.hrsolutions-uk.

Our solicitors are experts in a full range of legal services from corporate, employment, litigation and property to estate planning and family law.

To find out more, please contact Gerald Couldrake on 01604 230 400 or at gerald.couldrake@howespercival.com.

HR Solutions CEO Greg Guilford - “Setting clear goals and an overall vision is one of the most important parts of any creative processes, especially in business.

eveloper investor Prologis bought the warehouse at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal and then leased it to the leading fashion retailer.

The deal is expected to secure up to 500 jobs and in the future create up to a further 1,000 jobs as capacity increases at the site. It is due to become operational in the second quarter of the retailer’s financial year and will add to capacity at Boohoo’s existing facilities.

These include distribution facilities in Burnley and Sheffield and another Northamptonshire site in Wellingborough.

This deal was secured just months ago when Boohoo secured the former House of Fraser distribution centre in Wellingborough to service its clothing ranges including Nasty Gal, Karen Millen, Coast, Oasis and Warehouse brands.

Up to 1,000 jobs are expected at the Wellingborough site with recruitment now under way. In February, the group purchased the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton brands from the administrators of Arcadia for £25.2 million and the Debenhams brand out of administration for £55 million.

The warehouse in Daventry is scalable with expectations that the retailer is planning to invest more than £50 million in the coming years.

IS MANAGING YOUR PAYROLL GIVING YOU A HEADACHE? Moore can handle your payroll processes from start to finish saving you both time and money. We can also help with auto-enrolment, employment tax advice, remuneration planning and employee share incentives.

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Get in touch today T 01604 654254 east.midlands@moore.co.uk

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May 2021

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rackmills Business Improvement District has signed up to become the first official UK Advocate for the national charity Aquarius Life.

The charity has just launched it s No r t h a m p t o n s h i r e division. It works with people affected by alcohol, drugs and gambling and offers support to employers through policies, training, and workshops.

The par t nership with Brackmills BID provides every business based on the estate with access to training and policy support.

BID chief executive Sara Homer said: “By partnering with Aquarius Life we are taking practical steps to help our businesses safeguard the health and wellbeing of their employees. Safety on the estate is one of our key objectives and this partnership will enable businesses to get practical support, which will benefit not just employers but all businesses on the estate.”

All income generated by the charity is reinvested into its community services.

The partnership also serves the both the BID’s and its businesses’ corporate social responsibility agenda, said Ms Homer

Northampton industrial estate announces UK’s first partnership with charity Aquarius Life

A new initiative is giving employers on an industrial estate in Northampton access to training and support to manage staff affected by drugs, alcohol or gambling problems.

Sarah Homer - “Safety on the estate is one of our key objectives and this partnership will enable businesses to get practical support, which will benefit not just employers but all businesses on the estate.”

T he pa r t nersh ip will provide support and expertise for training and awareness programmes, support with employers’ alcohol, drug and health and wellbeing strategies and policies. It also delivers one-to-one and group psychological support

both on and off site.

Aquarius Life’s commercial accounts manager Dean Horton said: “We are proud to be launching our new Advocacy scheme here in Northampton and delighted that Brackmills – one of the most prestigious industrial

estates in the UK – has come on board.

“We look for ward to running events, helping companies with their policy d o c u m e nt s , p r ov id i ng training and much more.

Everything we do will be about helping businesses to

help their employees, and improve a workplace for all.”

The charity plans to extend the Advocacy programme across Northamptonshire and ultimately the UK. “For now, though our priority is Brackmills and supporting the 120-plus businesses based there,” said Mr Horton.

The partnership will seek to: • Encourage businesses to recognise the challenges behind the issues of alcohol, drugs and gambling; • Reduce the stigma attached to these issues and encourage people to come forward; • Help people understand their behaviours and find alternative ways to cope; • Raise awareness of alcohol, drug and gambling issues in the workplace; • Lessen the risk of these issues escalating into detrimental issues in workplaces; • Help people to overcome the harms caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling; • Make Brackmills BID a

forerunner in rolling out the advocacy scheme; • Make Brackmills Industrial Estate safer for everyone on it.

Employers with a wellbeing initiative such as substance m i s u s e s u p p o r t h ave d ramatically improved employee morale, says a Health and Wellbeing At Work report by the CIPD in 2018. Sickness absence is reduced by 30 per cent but 60pc of organisations do not yet have a wellbeing strategy, the report adds.

Ms Homer said: “Our businesses pay an annual BID levy, which means we can constantly improve and invest in the estate and this new partnership is part of our commitment to supporting all our businesses with any challenges or requirements that may arise.”

Mr Horton added: “There are lots of powerful statistics that really illustrate the value of our work.”

Because innovation never stops.

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Whether you are looking for expertise to unlock funds with R&D tax credits, receive business advice or to save time on accounting and tax, we can help you move forward.

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www.mpa.co.uk

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

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

Business Times

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May 2021

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Money Matters

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lose to two thirds (58 per cent) of small businesses expect their performance to improve this quarter and fewer than one in three (31 per cent) expect theirs will worsen, according to the latest FSB study of almost 1,700 business owners.

With trading restrictions easing across England and Wales on April 12th and May 17th, the business group reports that its UK SBI confidence measure has risen to +27.3 in Q1 of this year, up from -49.3 last quarter.

The index is at its highest level since Q3 2014, when it hit +41.0, and is in positive territory for the first time since Q2 2018.

More than half (51 per cent) of those surveyed for the SBI expected their revenues to increase over the coming three months, the highest proportion since the summer of 2015. Fewer than one in four (24 per cent) expected sales to fall – the same figure stood at 84 per cent at this time last year.

The majority (53 per cent) aspire to grow their firms over the next 12 months, the highest share since Q3 2019, marking a 22 percentage point jump compared to the same period last year.

With the job retention

Small business confidence rebounds as shops welcome back customers • Quarterly Federation of Small Businesses Small Business Index posts highest reading since autumn 2014 • Majority of firms forecast increase in revenues and aspire to grow • UK’s largest business group calls for cuts to hiring costs amid redundancy fears, renewed efforts to tackle late payments and innovative approaches to debt

Sally Wood: “In Northamptonshire, our small businesses are diverse and dynamic, and the Government’s road-map is filling many small business owners with renewed confidence.”

Image: Abington Street taken pre-Covid ©Art Conaghan

scheme starting to wind down over the coming months, one in seven (14 per cent) small firms with staff say they are likely to make some or all of their team redundant this quarter.

FSB area leader Sally Wood said: “It is a great relief that some of our wonderful small businesses which make Northamptonshire unique have been able to reopen and a great opportunity for us to get out and support them to breathe life back into our communities again.

“In Northamptonshire, our small businesses are diverse and dynamic and the government’s road-map is filling many small business ow ne r s w it h re newed confidence which is much needed. We hope that further unlocking can continue as

hoped in the coming weeks, enabling our vital night-time economies, offices and travel and tourism businesses across the county to get back to it as well.

“There are still challenges, however, which we are calling for government to recognise and take steps to improve. It is worrying to see so many employers fearing redundancies over the coming months. Young people have been disproportionately affected and initiatives like Kickstart, as well as incentives to take on apprentices and trainees, need to be delivered efficiently over the coming months to protect against a job market shock.

“FSB has also long been calling for employment costs to be tackled, starting with employer national insurance contributions, which essentially serve as a jobs tax.

“With emergency loan repayments now starting to bite, our members will be wondering how they are going to cope with repayments, an approach to repayment based on the student loan model would be helpful.

“We are also calling for more to be done to tackle the late payment crisis, which has been holding small businesses back for too long.”

PRACTICAL ADVICE, PROFESSIONAL APPROACH

Sandeep and Shivali Raval in Karmana restaurant with FSB development Manager, Jennifer Thomas

Call to support independent businesses

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SB member Sandeep Raval is owner of Karmana, a popular vegetarian and vegan restaurant and juice bar in Northampton with a strong involvement in community and music projects.

Sandeep said: “FSB represents the independent businesses like us who are what our community is all about and what make Northampton somewhere where people would want to live and work.

This survey shows that we want to get back to trading, and confident that the demand is there, but we simply hope that the public and the government will support the small businesses who need it the most.

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Business Times

“We are in an unprecedented time, especially the small and independent hospitality sector across the globe as we’ve been affected seriously and many have lost their lives and livelihoods.

I started Karmana back in 2014 with a goal to provide not only healthy food but also to showcase a greater appreciation for arts and music which we believe provides a healthy sense of community.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of small and independent businesses.

The majority exist because owners are driven by the passion and love in what they do.

The impact of Covid 19

| May 2021

means many of our small, independent businesses are just about keeping our heads above water. It is time to show compassion and care.

“We have been so grateful for those people who have been supporting us via takeaway and buying vouchers for meals, and we are feeling confident that once able to reopen, our customers will be back to support us.

We have invested time and money in making the business safe and still enjoyable when we reopen and are currently putting the finishing touches to our outdoor, Covid safe Buddha bar. We just can’t wait to open back up and are keeping hopeful and positive as much as we can.”

Elsby & Co support new start-ups and owner managed businesses in all financial, accountancy and business development needs.

Call us on

01604 678470

for a FREE consultation

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

Business News

All change at the helm for healthcare specialist A health insurance provider has confirmed a new look to its senior leadership team.

Stephen Hough and Claire Ginnelly Premier Choice Healthcare

S

tephen, Hough has joined Premier Choice Healthcare as managing director. He will work alongside former managing director Claire Ginnelly, who is to focus on external partnership development when she takes up her new role as executive director in August.

The change follows PCH’s acquisition by GRP Group last year. PCH is a specialist healthcare intermediary that provides health, risk and protection insurance products such as private medical, dental, cash plans, income replacement and business protection.

Mr Hough, whose appointment is subject to regulatory approval, said: “It is a business with

a great reputation and an exciting future and I am looking forward to being part of that. I had intended to retire but this was an opportunity I could not miss.”

He and Ms Ginnelly will report to Stuart Grieb, GRP’s retail managing director for the South.

Mr Grieb said: “We are fortunate to have such a breadth of experience and expertise leading our healthcare hub. Our aim for the healthcare market is to mirror the acquisition and growth success we have had in UK retail commercial and personal lines broking - PCH has already got us off to a great start and they are now in a great position to continue building on that.”

PCH, founded in 1996, employs 25 staff.

Truck sales help grow forest of the future Scania dealer TruckEast Ltd has committed to plant and maintain one tree for every retail Scania truck sold.

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ruckEast, which has branches in Milton Keynes, Northampton and throughout East Anglia began the initiative in March, with a variety of species planted for every retail truck sold since January last year. The current plot will cover just over an acre of land and, predominantly populated with native species such as English oak and hornbeam, the woodland will also provide habitat for local wildlife as the trees mature.

Managing director John Biggin said: “For a long time, we have looked to future proof our business in terms of services, infrastructure and our people.

But now more than ever, we have to review the impact we

John Biggin - “Planting a tree for every Scania sold today, maybe a drop in the ocean but it is a step towards a better future.”

are leaving behind for future generations.”

The idea of a TruckEast woodland originated at a series of sustainability workshops in 2019, where staff learned about sustainability projects both by Scania and those driven by TruckEast themselves and suggested ways in which they could contribute to sustainability work on a local level.

Scania, whose UK headquarters are in Milton Keynes, has committed to lead the shift towards sustainable transport and has begin work to realign its operational culture around sustainability.

Mr Biggins said: “Planting a tree for every Scania sold today, maybe a drop in the ocean but it is a step towards a better future and just one of the initiatives that TruckEast are introducing.”

G N I R B E W NERGY E E H T

tinue in n o c e l p peo 88% of ent after their employm eship c i v.uk t n e r p ap ships.go

ntice e r p p a t i Vis

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Money Matters MPA’s mission: To release, accelerate and sustain world-leading innovation delivered by forward-thinking UK businesses.

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ourteen years since its inception MPA is one of the UK’s top 100 accountancy firms.

Started by Mike Price in a space rented from his mother on Olney High Street, MPA, like most, hasn’t been immune to the effects of the recent global pandemic. However, Mike and his valued team have weathered the storm together.

Mike’s insight into what makes a business work started at an early age through his mother’s engineering firm.

Here, he saw a blend of client care, compassion for the staff and innovative techniques bring great success – all things he’s taken into running his own company today.

“She had a lot on her plate, being a single parent with three boisterous sons and a business to run,” said Mike.

“But she didn’t just manage, she excelled.”

Mike has had his own challenges to contend with, too. A car crash in 2005 left him with three breaks in his spine and a broken neck, which he has since not only overcome, but has gone on to compete in iron man challenges across the world.

Perhaps it was this attitude of determination that helped Mike and MPA through a pandemic that has tested the resilience and empathy of even the UK’s largest employers.

When the office closed on 18th March 2020, the team rallied. Existing, robust systems were put to the test, and new technology and communication principles were put in place.

Fundamentally, though, having the right people doing the right job has always been at the heart of MPA, and has been the key to getting

Proof why it pays to make people a priority

Founder Mike Price took inspiration from his mum when he set up MPA. It was a good decision which has brought ongoing success.

Mike Price: We’ve built our services around the challenges that SME business owners face.

through lockdown.

“After my crash in 2005 I had plenty of time to think and revaluate what was important,” said Mike. “The conclusion that I came to, is that people need to be at the core of everything. Every decision, and every action.”

“What this last year has shown me is that if the foundation on which you are built isn’t strong, challenges

that come along will shake what isn’t working lose, and quickly. For us, underpinning our business with great people is what’s kept us standing tall.”

Indeed, unusually for a company like MPA, who offer a range of financial advice services to SMEs, engineers make up nearly half of the 70-strong team.

“There is no secret as to why we employ engineers. It is

because they talk the client’s language and understand how things work. Of course, engineers are also intrinsically curious problem solvers, which helps in situations like we’ve seen over the last year or so!” said Mike.

The challenges facing MPA’s clients through the pandemic has even further heightened the value of having consultants with real-world experience

who’ve worked in different sectors.

“Many times, clients ask the wrong questions. It’s only by having a deep understanding of their business and the market they operate in that we can guide them, firstly to the right question, and ultimately the right answer.

“We’ve built our services around the challenges that SME business owners face

Super-deduction windfall: Cash in while it lasts

Moore Chartered Accountants assess the benefits and pitfalls of the new tax relief announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

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he new super-deduction tax break was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak with much fanfare in the March Budget. The new form of tax relief, which is particularly attractive to the manufacturing and construction sectors, will run for only two years, from April 1 2021 to March 31 2023.

Companies considering investing should start planning now.

Companies investing in qualifying new plant and machinery assets will benefit from a 130 per cent first-year capital allowance. Companies can cut their corporation tax bill by up to 25p for every £1 they invest, while also benefiting from a 50pc first-year allowance for qualifying special rate assets - mainly integral plant and machinery.

Assets that may qualify include: ■ Computer equipment and servers;

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Business Times

| May 2021

■ Tractors, lorries, vans; ■ Ladders, drills, cranes; ■ Office chairs and desks; ■ Electric vehicle charge points; ■ Refrigeration units; ■ Compressors; ■ Foundry equipment.

Furthermore, the super-deduction will not affect a company’s R&D claim. In fact, companies can claim both.

Vijay Chadda, R&D specialist at Moore’s London office says: “While the super-deduction mechanism bears some similarity to the R&D scheme, the two schemes apply to different cost types and have no effect on one another, meaning a company can benefit from both schemes simultaneously.”

Guy Richardson, partner at Moore Kingston Smith says: “The superdeduction is the government’s way of encouraging businesses to spend

The new super-deduction tax break was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak

their way out of the economic hole Covid has left the country in.

“The government hope that by offering a big tax break on investment, businesses – some of which have built up large cash pots during the pandemic – will spend that cash leading to overall economic growth in the next

couple of years. Then they can tax that growth through the increased corporation tax rate due to kick in when the super-deduction ends.”

However, Mr Richardson also warns: “The super-deduction is only really of value for businesses that have cash to spend and have a

during the life cycle of their business, but ultimately it all comes down to the same thing for everyone; people, systems and processes. Really, people are at the heart of everything”.

And MPA does lead by example. Mike believes there are tangible benefits for businesses who prioritise the needs of their staff.

“More than anything it’s about being flexible. Look at your people as individuals and listen to them, see what you can do as a business to help them do their best work.

It’s them that keep the clients happy, which in turn makes your business successful.” said Mike.

MPA has, indeed, listened to employee’s challenges and responded with packages that meet specific needs. Be it flexible furlough, sabbaticals or working hours that slot into their employees lives rather than office expectations, Mike trusts the team to get the work done.

“People must have the chance to step back, decompress and relax,” said Mike. “It is not about the work-life balance, it is about the life-work balance.

“Positively, we’ve also seen this attitude from many of our clients. We accommodate calls via video instead of face to face, and if a client needs to fit meetings around the school run – well, so do we!

“It’s been an interesting few months but the lessons we’ve learned will help us continue to be a modern, flexible employer and business partner. The world, our clients, our market and our business have all changed, but our foundation – the MPA team – remains stronger than ever.”

To talk to the team, call 0808 296 5538 or visit the website at www.mpa.co.uk

business need or opportunity to spend on qualifying assets. You have to spend to save. Without any cash to spend, or something to spend it on, the superdeduction is useless to a business.

“It is probably also fair to say that real estate and construction are perhaps not the sectors where large cash pots built up during the pandemic so this may not be the most useful tax break for that industry. That is especially true for the SME end of the scale too.

“Indeed, when you factor in that the corporation tax rate is only increasing for larger businesses, with profits of more than £250,000 per annum, you can start to see what scale of business the super-deduction is perhaps aimed at.”

Only time will tell if the superdeduction has been a success and had the desired effect of boosting investment and productivity.

However, due to the limited life span, two years from April 2021, we would encourage any businesses considering investing to start planning now.

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

Business News

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cting like an anti-ageing cream for roads the substance could prevent the need for roadworks and reduce the environmental impact.

England’s motorways and major A-roads are expected to be resurfaced every ten to 12 years because water, sun and air, combined with the weight of heavy traffic, causes the surface to deteriorate and crack. However, laboratory tests have shown that an innovative blend of materials can help extend the life of the road surface without the need for a facelift.

Highways England, with partners Tarmac and Total, has resurfaced a busy section of the A43 near Silverstone with the new asphalt mix. The mix is held together by a new bitumen called Styrelf Long Life, which is designed to be more resistant to the elements by oxidising more slowly. This slower process means that the road surface stays flexible for longer, preventing cracks.

More durable road surfaces that require fewer repairs could lead to less money needing to be spent on maintenance, lower carbon emissions caused by maintenance work and less disruption for road users.

Highways England’s chief highways engineer Mike Wilson said: “We are always looking for innovative ways to help us keep England’s motorways and major A-roads in good condition.

“The ultimate priority for us is safety so we invest in new technology and materials to keep those using the roads safe. Longer lasting roads means fewer roadworks, less disruption for motorists

Anti-ageing roads could keep roadworks at bay

in this case is essentially an anti-ageing cream for roads.

“Just as these products are designed to reduce and prevent the signs of fine lines and overall ageing of the skin, the new bitumen being trialled on the A43 will protect the road surface. It not only has the potential to offer improved value for money to the public purse but it also contains properties to increase the overall lifespan of roads.”

Technical experts from Total will regularly measure the performance of the material against an equivalent control section laid at the same time on the A43 before its use is considered elsewhere in the country.

Rick Ashton, market development manager at Total, said: “Our key focus is sustainability through durability.

These long-life binders will ultimately lead towards our vision of net zero carbon by 2050 by reducing roadworks, saving manufacturing, transport and installation energy and the associated emissions. This trial paves the way for enhanced highways asset management and predictive deterioration modelling for Highways England.”

Total estimates that getting the asphalt required to resurface a mile of single lane carriageway - not including transport to site and working with it can produce up to 26.5 tonnes of CO2.

If roads lasted longer, so that two sets of resurfacing could be avoided, the reduction in asphalt production alone could save the equivalent of the CO2 produced by an average car if it was driven for more than 270,000 miles more than ten times around the Earth.

A section of dual carriageway in Northamptonshire has become the first in the country to be resurfaced with a new material that is designed to help roads last significantly longer.

Highways England, with partners Tarmac and Total, has resurfaced a busy section of the A43 near Silverstone with the new asphalt mix.

and a more sustainable network for everyone.”

The new material has previously been tested in the laboratories of Total, at Tarmac’s site in Elstow in Bedfordshire and on sections of road

in The Netherlands. The A43 trial is the first time it has been used with high traffic levels in the UK. The longerlife bitumen has the ability to reduce disruption, deliver long-term carbon savings and help network operators to

better manage their assets, said Tarmac’s technical director Brian Kent.

“We are always pushing to introduce any new technology or innovation that can further improve the durability of the roads we maintain. What we have

Supporting you and your business As a business owner, life is undoubtedly busy – with accounts to file, staff to manage and targets to meet. So it’s not surprising that keeping on top of your own personal finances can sometimes fall down your list of priorities.

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

|

30/11/2019 10:30

May 2021

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Money Matters A DV E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

The value of advice You work hard to support your family and enjoy life – so why not seek expert advice to ensure your wealth is being managed effectively?

L

ife is busy – often complicated.

Families become fragmented; demands on our time increase.

You’d think that advances in technology, communications and media would make life easier, but that’s not always the case – it can just increase the noise and confusion as ‘information overload’ leaves us unsure about which way to turn.

We rely on experts to help us or point us in the right direction: if our car breaks down, we see a mechanic; if we get toothache, we visit the dentist; if our body hurts, we consult a doctor.

The same should also be true of our finances. Why wouldn’t we seek the advice of experts to ensure that it’s being managed at the most effective time and in the most effective way?

Our advice proposition centres around you – a relationship-based, long-term approach focusing on understanding your motivations, needs and aspirations.

Only then can we recommend products and investments that work in synergy with each other and match your attitude to risk.

But of course, ‘the value of advice’ can be subjective and mean different things to different people. For some,

‘value’ can be found in the relinquishing of the burden and worry; for others, it’s knowing that their investments are being professionally managed and working towards achieving their goals.

However you define ‘value’, you can rest assured that we’re here to support and guide you on every step of your financial journey. At St. James’s Place, we focus on achieving and maintaining a thorough understanding of your financial needs and aspirations. We believe passionately that the best wealth management service is provided through personalised, face-toface advice.

you make the most of retirement opportunities, whether you’re an individual or a business.

We also specialise in providing effective solutions to meet your insurance and protection needs. Whether you require life cover or advice on Inheritance Tax, St. James’s Place will offer you the right products and services to suit you and your family.

Whether you are remortgaging, downsizing, or a first-time buyer, St. James’s Place can offer advice on a wide range of mortgages. We also have access to a range of banking solutions.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Changes in legislation and tax regimes, coupled with increased choices in financial products, all need expert knowledge We offer investments, with opportunities to grow your wealth and protect it against inflation, and a broad range of funds to choose from to help you build an appropriate portfolio. Regardless of your life stage, it’s also important to receive the right advice on your pension requirements. We can help

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and the value 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 and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

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 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.

Brace Wealth Management is a trading name of Keith Brace Wealth Management Ltd. SJP12236 V1 (07/20)

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Business Times

| May 2021

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

Business News

THE FUTURE

CONNECTIONS

SEMLEP continues to support businesses to stabilise, recover and grow and is working with partners to unlock further growth opportunities.

Hilary Chipping was appointed chief executive and started work to merge SEMLEP’s two Growth Hubs to offer more connected business support

EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS

2021 THE MERGER

2018

SEMLEP and the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership merge

Strategic Economic Plan submitted to the government, Velocity was launched and SEMLEP were awarded a £64.4 million Local Growth Deal

FIRST INVESTMENT SEMLEP secures its first investment for the South East Midlands of £18 million

2016 2014

A decade of making a difference across the region Over the past decade, SEMLEP has been committed to helping economic growth thrive in the South East Midlands, putting our businesses, places and people at the forefront of everything we do.

Hilary Chipping Chief Executive South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership

Top: Make the Connection launch event, The Houses of Parliament.

Bottom: A SEMLEP AGM.

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

F

THE LAUNCH SEMLEP was launched with Dr Ann Limb CBE DL appointed as chair

2012

rom managing a capital investment a £79.3 million Local Growth Fund deal programme worth £265 million for South East Midlands. Following this, creating 5,523 jobs, supporting we also showcased the value of skills 5,523 learners and enabling 4,692 development at the largest business-tohomes, to providing dedicated business business exhibition of the year at the support through their Growth Hub, Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey.

SEMLEP’s programmes directly benefit 2016 saw SEMLEP and the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership our area.

From managing a capital investment merge, with Stephen Catchpole being programme worth £265 million creating appointed chief executive. As well as big 5,523 jobs, supporting 5,523 learners changes within the LEP, Milton Keynes and enabling 4,692 homes, to providing held the first National Apprenticeship dedicated business support through their Show, bringing employers and students Growth Hub, SEMLEP’s programmes together to showcase opportunities. directly benefit our area.

During 2017 we brought business To mark SEMLEP’s tenth anniversary leaders from across the area together on May 31, SEMLEP’s chief executive to celebrate their success at Show Me Hilary Chipping shares her reflections Success in Milton Keynes, and we and milestone moments over the launched our new Strategic past ten years.

Economic Plan setting out We’re “Having worked as a part ambitions to double the size delivering of SEMLEP from day one, of the South East Midlands I’m beyond proud of our economy. investment to achievements over the past Having worked within unlock further ten years. From being rated the LEP since 2011, in ‘Exceptional’ in the 2019 2018 Hilary Chipping was growth appointed chief executive and Annual Performance review to successfully managing multistarted work to merge SEMLEP’s million-pound capital investment two Growth Hubs to form a more programmes, we’ve achieved a lot. connected business support offering “As we approach our tenth year, I across the patch. decided to take a look back and share our 2019 set out our strategic direction milestone year-by-year achievements.” for the future. Peter Horrocks CBE was appointed chair of SEMLEP, and we went Timeline on to publish our Energy Strategy, Local SEMLEP was launched in 2011 with Dr Industrial Strategy, Community Grants and Make the Connection area brochure.

Ann Limb CBE DL appointed as chair.

In 2012, SEMLEP secured its first We joined MPs in the House of investment for the South East Midlands, Commons to discuss our area’s unique a £18 million investment through the capabilities and were named ‘Exceptional’ government’s Growing Places Fund. in the Annual LEP Performance Review.

When 2013 came around, operations To finish the year, we brought began to move forward. With the board stakeholders together to discuss clean, and sector groups appointed, SEMLEP green growth, pledging our commitment welcomed a £10 billion national Growth to sustainable developments.

Presenting both challenges and Fund and appointed Daniel Mouawad as opportunities, 2020 forced us to adapt chief executive.

2014 was a year of exciting our thinking. After launching a new developments in SEMLEP. We submitted programme designed to help grow our first Strategic Economic Plan to the businesses, our Growth Hub team quickly government, we joined local businesses to adapted their operations to support launch Velocity, our first business support businesses in navigating the pandemic. programme, and we were awarded a £64.6 The dedicated team worked weekends million Local Growth Deal to invest in to provide additional support to business our area. owners, helping them access government In 2015 we secured future capital support and adapt their operations. investment when Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Later in the year, we were awarded £27.3 the Secretary of State for Business, signed million through the Getting Building

2011 Fund. The capital investment funding continues to help us support Covid-19 recovery across the area, alongside our Economic Recovery Strategy, published in December.

In 2021 we continue our commitment to making the South East Midlands a place where people want to live, work and visit.

We’re supporting businesses to stabilise, recover and grow. We’re working with partners to establish the Oxford to Cambridge Arc and East West Rail, unlocking further growth opportunities.

We’re supporting people to develop new skills, helping them to secure employment and progress. We’re delivering investment into our places to enable new facilities, create jobs and unlock further economic growth in the area.

“Over my ten years at SEMLEP, I’ve met hundreds of people, worked with a variety of partners and have grown the SEMLEP team to over 40 employees.

“From businesses working alongside schools to embed better careers information to universities sharing business growth tips with SMEs in the area, thank you.

“I’m proud of our achievements to date and it’s clear that together we’re making a difference.

“As we celebrate our tenth birthday in true SEMLEP style, planting ten trees, walking 10,000 steps, sharing ten business top tips and more, I’m excited about the future.

“Our ambition is to build on the South East Midlands’ reputation as a premier location for growth, innovation, creativity and world-leading technologies, which will result in a doubling of the area’s GVA by 2050.

“Through our partnerships, connections and programmes, I believe that ambition will soon become reality. We look forward to continuing to work together collaboratively to create that cleaner greener future.”

For more information about the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) please visit: www.semlep.com

Business Times

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May 2021

15

Business News

Drift Racing and SwimFin flourish at innovation centre Two businesses in the leisure sector have moved to new premises at the Scott Bader Innovation Centre near Wellingborough.

D

L-R Finley the shark, Emma Jones and Lisa McCracken of SwimFin at Scott Bader Innovation Centre.

rift racing of the remote controlled variety is set to take Northamptonshire by storm thanks to RC Pace, a new business founded by a leading exponent of the ontrack technique. The children’s floating aid company SwimFin has also moved to the centre.

RC Pace founder James Simpson has competed in Japan’s R/C Drift World Cup and judged the R/C Drift World Championships. Now he is bringing his world-class experience home to Northamptonshire and plans to establish a permanent R/C Drift track that will bring competitors and spectators to the UK as well as develop British talent.

He said: “It has been extremely difficult to find premises and a landlord that will take a new business seriously in these times, especially one that specialises in remotecontrolled drift racing. I am extremely grateful to the Scott Bader Innovation Centre team for believing in my business.”

The company has opened for business with an online shop selling drift cars worldwide. RC Pace showcases the vehicles, priced from £500, by recording videos from its 140 sq ft office space at the centre.

Mr Simpson expects RC Pace’s turnover to reach six figures by the end of the year.

“I am still actively looking for a warehouse in Northamptonshire to design and build a permanent track, which will bring tourism to the area and firmly place our county on the R/C Drift map,” he said. “The flexibility offered by Scott Bader Innovation Centre will allow that business progression to happen without being trapped by red tape associated with a traditional office lease.”

SwimFin has relocated from Northampton to the innovation centre at Woollaston to take office and storage space close to employees’ homes and on the same site as a swimming pool that can be hired for marketing photo-shoots.

The company is famous worldwide for its shark-fin float - a teaching aid, flotation device and fun water toy worn by children, adults, even dogs. SwimFin has become the world’s leading independently accredited swimming aid and has Australian fourtime Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett as a SwimFin ambassador.

“We were up and running within an hour of being here,” said SwimFin’s office manager Emma Jones. “It is a perfect location for us. We are also looking to grow the business by striking up more distributor agreements in addition to developing our SwimFin range to include UV vests and new accessories. The on-site swimming pool here will be very useful.”

Scott Bader Innovation centre has also accommodated the expansion plans of tenant TRI Care Solutions to a larger office and international car and motorcycle procurement and shipping company Shippio moving from the centre to its own premises on nearby Williams Way. Shippio works with clients including Bonhams Auction House, members of a Middle Eastern Royal Family and TV personalities Noel Edmonds and US TV host Jay Leno. Founder Giles Ernsting said: “We were afforded the flexibility to expand or contract to suit the business and that flexibility proved invaluable as we negotiated terms on our new premises. We have only moved on from the centre as we have grown to need more storage space.”

Scott Bader Innovation Centre is managed by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading operator of business and innovation centres. Centre manager Rita Cebula said: “We are delighted to welcome RC Pace and SwimFin to our supportive and dynamic community and we are excited to be involved in their future success.

“We would like to congratulate TRI Care Solutions and Shippio for their continued business growth. It is great the Shippio team are still based in our lovely village.”

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.

• Press releases and statements • Bespoke PR campaigns • Media opportunities & relations • Magazine articles

The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the unit has failed.

Trevor commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in

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16

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

Business News

Chambers of Commerce appoint new chief exec The Chambers of Commerce in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes have confirmed Louise Wall as their new permanent chief executive.

M

s Wall has worked as interim chief executive for the past 12 months, as well as her role as chief executive of Coventry & Wa r w i c k s h i r e Chamber of Commerce.

She has steered the Chambers through an unprecedented time in terms of the economic and business landscape due to the Covid-19 Louise Wall - “I am excited about the potential that Northants, Milton pandemic.

Louise will remain Keynes and Next Generation in post at Coventry & Chamber holds” Warwickshire Chamber until the end of June, taking up her role at Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire Chambers from July.

She said: “Being the interim CEO at Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes Chamber has been a fantastic and enjoyable experience and the team have helped to deliver positive and robust results.

“I am excited about the potential that Northants, Milton Keynes and Next Generation Chamber holds and the role I can play in creating a sustainable future for the business, membership base and wider business community.”

Ms Wall has been chief executive of Coventry Warwickshire Chamber since 2014.

Warmer weather on way puts specialists on standby

G

riffiths Air Conditioning, based in Burton Latimer, are ready to respond to the increase in demand for new air conditioning systems and any issues with existing installations, as the warmer weather arrives.

Working closely with the world’s most popular air conditioning manufacturer, Daikin, Griffiths offer a wide range of cooling, heating and ventilation options to suit any commercial requirement.

These high-specification, energy-efficient solutions will provide optimum comfort in any commercial building and in all weather conditions.

To meet current legislation and reduce the environmental impact of air conditioning, Daikin have introduced the next generation refrigeration gas R32. The benefits are; lower global warming potential, superior energy efficiency, and a smaller refrigerant charge needed.

Griffiths use R32 systems wherever possible in order to pass on these end user benefits.

Ian Griffiths - Working closely with the world’s most popular air conditioning manufacturer, Daikin, Griffiths offer a wide range of cooling, heating and ventilation options to suit any commercial requirement.

Griffiths are Daikin D1+ Approved Installers and their experienced installation and maintenance teams are all fully trained on the wide range of Daikin products. With ever-increasing regulation on energy efficiency and controls relating to refrigerant gas to reduce global warming, Daikin are constantly updating their products to stay ahead

of the game. Meanwhile, Griffiths are matching these state-of-the-art products to the needs of their customers, making sure they have the best solution for any given situation.

As Griffiths are also installers of the full range of building engineering services, any complimentary ductwork or electrical requirements

can also be undertaken to provide a one-stop shop for any project.

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.

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FOR SALE Commercial development plots from 0.4 ACRES (0.16 HECTARES) Sites available suitable for a range of commercial uses including industrial/warehouse, office, retail and leisure (subject to planning).

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

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Business Times

|

May 2021

17

EDUCATION Government cash incentivises apprenticeships & TRAINING Nobody will ever under-estimate the value of getting the right education and training.

£3,000 carrot for employers who take on an apprentice of any age and course fees for 16-18-year-olds will be fully funded

Many individuals were able to improve their knowledge and skills during lockdown and for some it was a chance to retrain or review their careers.

Across Northamptonshire there are a wealth of opportunities on offer to individuals through schools and training organisations. Many of these courses are online while others teach practical skills which give people a chance to take a change of direction in their lives or upgrade their basic knowledge.

The following pages give an insight into what could be on offer to those who want to learn more.

Counting days to return of on-the-job training The pandemic has meant that businesses have had to put training on hold for more than year. Now there are fresh opportunities for individuals with the belief that the future is bright for those looking for a new career. suffered because they need direction and input. Indeed, we had to take the decision to furlough our trainees during lockdown 1, simply because we felt we could not provide the level of training they would expect from

By Clare Elsby a professional training office.

Elsby & Co The result was that our usual cohort of graduate trainee intake / school leavers simply did not happen in 2020, meaning y far the greatest challenge for us as that there is a whole year group who would a business during Covid has been have been expecting to enter the world of managing the ‘on the job’ training for work have not had the opportunity. our staff. We pride ourselves in being The good news is the future is bright. We are a training office, providing opportunities keen to redress this balance and are planning to train in professional accounting and tax to take on eight new trainees, comprising qualifications with professional bodies such entry level school leavers as apprentices, those studying AAT at College, graduate as ICAEW, ACCA and AAT. level students.

While the latter can be done as a day release apprenticeship at college, We are also looking at the Kickstart scheme and potentially those who trainees studying for their The shift to professional exams with ICAEW have decided that 2021 is the year hybrid working or ACCA tend to do remote of career change. We appreciate has had a real study which is then enhanced that this is going to be a real by learning whilst doing their challenge when we are used to impact on job and being trained by more taking on three trainees every managers senior members of staff in real-life year, and as such we are putting in place a professional development situations.

Just as it has been difficult for the trainees, programme for our management level to the shift to hybrid working has had a real support them in the softer skills of managing impact on managers, who have had to resort people, something you do not learn on an to using technology to instruct, monitor and accountancy course. motivate their teams. There has also been the Our business, like many others in the service issue that staff working from home have had sector is all about people and without the other demands on their time – for example appropriate level and depth of training, our home-schooling. This has led, for some staff are not only restricted in what they can at least, to work longer hours but because do, employee engagement and productivity flexibility is built into the working day, higher suffer over the long term. levels of productivity and happiness have We see this as an opportunity now to invest been reported. in job creation, taking advantage of some However, that appears to have benefited of the government schemes on offer to the more experienced staff, those who can train not just accountants but well-rounded work alone, whereas the trainees have individuals, keen to progress in life.

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Business Times

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Companies will receive £3,000 for apprentices of any age who start work with them by September 30 this year.

T

he government has earmarked a new funding incentive in its efforts to encourage employers to take on apprentices.

Companies will receive £3,000 for apprentices of any age who start work with them by September 30 this year. There is an extra £1,000 available for businesses that take on new apprentices aged 16-18 or put existing 16-18-year-old staff through an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship providers including The Bedford College Group are already discussing with employer show to take advantage of the new funding.

Julie Hoult, head of business development at the group’s Northamptonshire campus Tresham College in Kettering, said: “We can guide companies through the process. It requires a commitment to allow the individual to spend 20 per cent of their time in training.

That does not have to be a day release to college - it can be online learning or mentoring in the workplace.

“But the government is putting more money up to incentivise employers to take on new apprentices of all ages.”

There is also extra finding available if an employee aged under 25 has additional needs and has an educational, health care plan in place.

Larger employers which pay the Apprenticeship Levy can use their money to put existing staff through apprenticeships to upskill them with no cost coming from their training budget. Levy non-payers have to contribute 5pc and the government will pay 95pc of the apprenticeship cost.

For those with fewer than 50 employees, the government will fund 100pc of course fees for 16-18- year-olds.

The Bedford College Group is the largest provider of apprenticeship training in the South East Midlands region. It works with more than 1,500 businesses in Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.

Apprenticeship programmes are available in 60 career options and begin at Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) up to and including Higher Apprenticeships at degree level.

Ms Hoult said: “We will be liaising with existing and new employers to help them make the most of these new opportunities.

Business Times

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Julie Hoult, head of business development at Tresham College in Kettering: “We can guide companies through the process. It requires a commitment to allow the individual to spend 20 per cent of their time in training.

That does not have to be a day release to college - it can be online learning or mentoring in the workplace.”

Businesses are overburdened with changing paperwork, rules and regulations in these challenging times, we are here to make things easier for them.”

To advertise call:

01604 259900

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

B

usinesses have long worked with education institutions to deliver work experience opportunities, strengthening their ties to industry and supporting the next generation of skilled workers.

However, some businesses remain hesitant to reach out to their local education providers and establish positive working relationships.

The reasons include a lack of access to guidance and support, information on regulations and time and resource constraints.

This hesitancy could mean that businesses are missing out on the significant benefits of partnership for their own organisation.

Over the past decade, Moulton College has partnered with businesses across its curriculum. These partnerships provide an avenue for its students to gain industry work experience, network with prospective employers and contribute to a sector they are passionate about. The college has both sought to partner with relevant businesses and been approached by organisations keen to draw on the invaluable skill set of its students.

Chester House Estate is the college’s most recent partnership, providing work experience opportunities for students on animal, business, construction, food

Education & Training

More businesses could benefit from partnering with colleges

Chester House Estate is the college’s most recent partnership, providing work experience opportunities across the Estate for students on animal, business, construction, food and nutrition and land-based courses.

and nutrition and land-based courses. This £14.5 million project funded by North Northamptonshire Council, West Northamptonshire

Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund is set to be complete by the end of this year.

Jack Pishhorn, business

manager of Chester House interest in upskilling the next Estate says: “One of my first generation of young farmers. actions when I started working Dylan Roberts, director at Chester House was to reach at Farol said: “What better out to Moulton College to seek way for Moulton’s students an educational partnership. We to learn about agriculture have huge ambitions for the than alongside us and estate and given the specialist with other farmers across nature of the college’s courses, Northamptonshire. All I knew there was a huge education providers need the support from opportunity for both of us. The future of businesses to help Businesses our estate is reliant equip students for on the talent and industry, whether can tap into passion of the that is by offering a pool of next generation work experience, potential and I knew that or providing employees t h e c o l l e g e ’s professional students would advice through thrive in our unique a focus group. By business environment.” working together, businesses In October, an Agriculture not only tap into a pool of Focus Group was set up by potential employees but can the college to ensure the be assured they are positively curriculum is consistently influencing the calibre of meeting the needs of industry. talent that ultimately joins This group includes farmers the sector.” from across the county and On the back of this focus Farol Ltd, an agricultural group, the businesses involved dealership, all with a vested have been working together

to develop the UK’s first certificate in agricultural technologies that will sit alongside a college course.

This certificate provides a unique opportunity for students to stand out to prospective employers.

Moulton College has also established partnerships across its sporting provision.

Organisations include Coventry Rugby Club, AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Northamptonshire Titans to name a few. These partnerships not only provide opportunities for students to play alongside professionals, and get a taste for life as a pro athlete, but for top clubs to scout out talent.

John O’Shea, vice principal at Moulton Colleg, says: “As an education provider, working with businesses could not be more important. It is essential our students have access to industry professionals to improve their prospects and these partnerships ensure we are identifying all of the means in which we can help them too.

The benefits do not just end there though. In the last year or so, we have already witnessed the incredible outcomes of these partnerships, from developing the UK’s first agricultural technology certificate to improving inclusivity in sports. We are committed to increasing our links with local businesses in the future, for the benefit of our students and the local business community.”

To find out more about how your business could work with Moulton College visit www.moulton.ac.uk

Chester House Estate, Artist’s impression

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

Business Times

|

May 2021

19

Education & Training

FREE courses for getting back to work

Scores of free courses are being made available for people to access over the summer, including during the school holidays.

Students can choose to study online or attend the learning centres / college campus in the summer to access supervised sessions with trained tutors.

T

he Bedford College Group’s programme aims to support those who are preparing to get back to work post-furlough or wanting to upgrade their

skills to secure positions and promotions, or even seek new challenges.

Many of the courses will be online - with occasional visits to college venues nearby.

For beginners to IT, courses will be at the town centre based Learning Centres in Bedford, Kettering and Corby.

English and maths and English for Speakers of

Other Languages classes will be offered - all vital skills to secure employment or move on to further education.

Some of the English and maths courses will be run

using a pioneering Artificial Intelligence system which provides students with a personalised learning journey through an online platform.

Students can choose to study online or attend the learning centres / college campus in the summer to access supervised sessions with trained tutors.

Faye Williams, director of adult & community learning at The Bedford College Group, said: “This is aimed at adults aged 19+ plus who want to take the time to upgrade their skills.

“They could be parents who want to use the summer holidays to improve their own English and maths to support the education of their children, or those who want to upgrade their English language or IT skills to secure employment.

“If the last year has taught us anything, it is that people

are capable of adapting to new situations and so we are promoting the summer as a time for extra learning - why waste all those weeks when you could be picking up a new skill?

The Bedford College Group is committed to supporting our community all year round.”

Employers may want to hear more about free learning opportunities for their staff, who can help businesses thrive by using improved skills.

“IT skills at the very basic level are still very much in short supply at busy companies, particularly among existing, perhaps older staff. By introducing employees to The Bedford College Group’s offer this summer, businesses can be raring to go come September,” added Faye.

Sign up via bedford.ac.uk or tresham.ac.uk

There is also a brand-new suite of FREE Level 2 Business and Health & Social Care courses that can be studied entirely online from anywhere in the region.

There are over 40 different courses available, including: ■ Awareness of Mental Health Problems ■ Business Improvement Techniques ■ Business Start Up (Art Alice story below) ■ Common Childhood Illnesses ■ Common Health Conditions ■ Cyber Security ■ Mental Health First Aid and Advocacy in the Workplace These are purely online distance learning courses with advice and support available from a dedicated tutor. To find the full list of courses available or register an interest visit www. tresham.ac.uk/sectors/distance-learning

Ling Phuong Pham has turned her dream into a reality

Graduate has taste for business Vietnamese street food takeaway Hanoi Corner has been launched by a University of Northampton graduate.

L

ing Phuong Pham, a graduate from the university’s Special Events Management MSC and Marketing Management programmes joined the University of Northampton from her home country of Vietnam in 2017.

After graduating in 2020 Linh decided to launch the

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Business Times

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street food takeaway business, where she heads up the marketing and advertising for the business.

Nestled into the eclectic mix of shops, cafés and bars of Northampton’s Bridge Street, Hanoi Corner offers tasty, fresh street food using original Vietnamese recipes.

Linh credits her University of

Northampton education with helping her shape the business brand and marketing plan.

She said: “My marketing degree gave me the excellent knowledge to create and implement a marketing plan for the business, as well as the skills I learnt around organisation, and business planning.”

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

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Networking

>> The local Networking round-up

L

ockdown rules are easing which means there will be a return to face-to-face networking meetings in the coming months but for now groups continue to meet online.

There are a wide variety of networking groups across Northamptonshire which means people can find one to suit their style of doing business.

Thursday 6th May – Customs Data, Procedures, Check & Financial Audits 9.30am – 1pm Thursday 13th May – Customs Special Procedures to Delay/ Reduce Imports 9.30am – 1pm

Tuesday’s BNI (Temporary Online) Meeting 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.

FSB 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: Thursday 27th May – FSB Northampton Virtual Networking at 10am

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.

Wednesday 19th May – Northants Chamber Speed Networking 10am – 11:15am. Book now!

Thursday 20th May – Free Trade Agreements What/How do they work? 9.30am – 1pm Friday 28th May 2021 – Friday Wind-down Networking Online 3pm – 4pm

Providing 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, MLMs 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.

All events are online. Chamber members can book for all events. www.northants-chamber.co.uk

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

Free to attend for start-up and established businesses and run from 9.30am to 10.30am, Visit the website at www.northnorthantsbusinessnetwork.co.uk Wellingborough – Monday 10th May Kettering – Wednesday 12th May Corby – Tuesday 18th May East Northants – Thursday 27th May

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 – Tuesday 11th May Wellingborough – Wednesday 19th May Northampton – Thursday 13th May South Northants – Tuesday 18th May

All take place on Zoom, free to attend and book via www.northnorthantsbusinessnetwork.co.uk

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 No fuss networking. It offers relaxed, informal, B2B, virtual networking. Our café inspired solution powered by Remo provides a variety of pay-as-you-go events: Northampton Buzz – Wednesday 19th May Bedford Buzz – Wednesday 5th May Leicester Buzz – Tuesday 11th May Rugby Buzz – Thursday 13th May Bicester Buzz – Thursday 13th May

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 4th May: 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

MK Buzz – Friday 21st May Banbury Buzz – Wednesday 26th May Hinckley Buzz - Wednesday 26th May Bedford Buzz - Wednesday 2nd June All Business Buzz events operate from 10 am to noon and are bookable via the new app: https://app.business-buzz.org/app For full details of all Business Buzz events please visit our web page: www.business-buzz.org.

22

Business Times

| May 2021

>> To get your networking group’s details included in the June edition of Business Times email: news@business-times.co.uk

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

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

FREE TO ENTER TODAY AT www.smenorthants.co.uk

#SMENorthants

Marketing & PR

Suffering from imposter syndrome?

We all suffer from imposter syndrome from time to time. But just how do you ‘do PR’ if you do not believe the hype yourself?

W

e work with people who are fantastic at what they do.

They have been working in their industry for years and know their stuff inside out but something stops them from putting themselves out there as experts in their field.

Same goes for awards. There are lots of companies in Northamptonshire who have achieved amazing things, from manufacturing fantastic products to offering customers an outstanding service.

Despite this they feel that what they are doing is not worthy enough of an award.

But it is!

the chances are you would be impressed so do not think less of these accomplishments because it is you who has achieved them.

How do you overcome it?

In much the same way as we never like photos of our own faces or the sound of our own voice on recordings, reading or writing PR pieces about yourself can make you feel uncomfortable. I get that.

After years of being the PR person pushing spokespeople and figureheads forward for interviews on radio and TV and organising photo shoots, I have had to switch places and be the person in front of the cameras (or writing the columns) as the founder and company director of Ballyhoo PR. The important thing is try to distance yourself from your business and try to look at it as an outsider.

Emma Speirs of Ballyhoo PR - “If a full-on PR campaign feels like too much, start with a monthly blog or weekly Facebook live or LinkedIn video.”

What do you want you or your business to be known for? What are you most proud of?

What should you be shouting about? What targets have you met? What growth have you experienced, either in financial terms or recruitment? If you had heard or read about another company doing these things,

Start showing up If a full-on PR campaign feels like too much, start with a monthly blog or weekly Facebook live or LinkedIn video.

Consistency is key and talking/writing about what you know and are an expert in will get you noticed. People will start associating you and your business with these key topics.

In time, you can start pitching to other websites offering to do guest blogs, progressing to opinion articles, then interview or profile pieces. Once you feel confident doing these things, put yourself forward as a podcast guest or pitch to your local radio station.

Putting yourself ‘out there’ as an expert can be scary but have faith in who you are, your experience and how you can help people through sharing that knowledge.

Think about letting people know about your achievements and be proud.

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| May 2021

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

Marketing & PR

Driving your sales leads with great tools, for free This month’s article is about ways you can find and secure new customers for little to no spend. What is not to like about that? What many people do not realise is that the old payment model for software has completely changed so there is plenty of software available that does not have to cost you a penny.

SaaS and how it has changed the way we pay for software Largely, gone are the days when you paid for a software licence. It came in a nice box with a manual and you owned it forever.

Most software developers now prefer a cloudbased Software as a Service, or SaaS model, meaning you pay for the software monthly or annually and what you pay is based on the features you choose and how many people use it.

The downsides to this are that you never really own it, the costs can change at any time, there may be service outages and you are constantly paying for it. The upsides, however, are that you can effectively spread the cost out, all updates are free, all your data is safely and securely stored in the cloud and you can pay for only the features you use.

However, whether the pros outweigh the cons for you may be irrelevant, as it could cost you nothing.

One of the great things to come out of this model is that with many software products using the SaaS model, the small user can either use it for free or for a much smaller fee because a scaled pricing model means the bigger companies make up the difference.

With the free options, fees usually start to kick in once you want to use more of the features (beyond the basic version) or you reach a certain amount of data usage but they can still be free forever.

I am going to run through my favourite FREE tools that you can use to better manage and grow your business.

Business & Marketing CRM: ZOHO & HubSpot Let me start by saying I do not use either of these tools but they are excellent. I use one called Zendesk Sell (formerly Base) that costs the princely sum of $25/ month. You cannot run an effective sales pipeline without a Customer Relationship Management tool. Both of these tools are hugely powerful and enable you to track new leads, be alerted when you need to follow them up, have a communication trail of customers you are speaking to, integrate with things like your emails/social media and run email marketing campaigns.

A good CRM is the first thing you should have in place for your business sales and marketing management. When we moved from a fairly fragmented and archaic way of working across Outlook and different database systems to one central cloud-based CRM we saw our new business swell by as much as between 250-300 per cent simply by being better organised!

Website Visitor & Lead Tracking: Google Analytics, Alabcross & Hotjar If people are visiting your website, you really ought to know important things such as: who they are, what they are interested in and what their journey looked like (did they get in touch or did they leave the website five seconds after finding it?)

The three most powerful tools I can recommend are these ones and they are all fairly easy to use with

“Stopping advertising to save money is like stopping a clock to save time”

masses of intelligence you can put to good use. Each requires you simply to register then add a couple of lines of code to your website. Please note that under GDPR, you must mention that you are using cookies from these apps in your website cookie policy and give visitors the ability to opt out when they first land on your site. Most sites do this now.

Google Analytics enables you to see things like how many visitors your site gets, where traffic is coming from e.g. Google searches or social media, which are your most popular pages and things like your bounce rate (how many people dive straight out of the exit).

Albacross is an alternative to Lead Forensics which many of you may have heard of but it is expensive.

The main features on Albacross are free and they provide cross-referenced identification of the actual companies or organisations that visited your site, which pages they looked at and for how long. What it cannot tell you is who the person was but, with a bit of old-fashioned detective work, you can often find out – in other words, pick up the phone. Last, Hotjar is an excellent tool if you have a lot of traffic/ visitors and cannot understand why your enquiries or sales are low. It will show you heatmaps of the routes visitors take through your website and will highlight where the bottlenecks and problems are that are losing you business.

E-mail Marketing: Mailchimp Mailchimp is hands down the best all-in-one email

Darren Isaac, Director, TFA

www.t-f-a.co.uk

marketing tool out there. If you have fewer than 2,000 contacts on your email list and want to send fewer than 10,000 emails per month, you can use it to design, build, send and report on your email campaigns. It provides tutorials and templates for beginners and rich feature sets for those who want a little more from it. Typically, sending email campaigns can get expensive quite quickly but you have absolutely everything you need here and more plus it can grow with you. However, once you have a list that is getting into 10,000+ contacts, the cost ramps up pretty quickly and there are much cheaper ways to send out big campaigns. As with all email marketing, you must make sure your list has either opted in to receive marketing emails from you or that you have acquired an opt-in guaranteed list from a reputable data vendor.

You will be amazed at what these tools can do for you and your business without costing you anything. Please give them a try and I would be interested to hear any stories of readers who have put them to good use and won a big deal or seen a positive impact to their business as a result. > You can contact me on: 01908 263650 Darren.isaac@t-f-a.co.uk

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Business Times

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May 2021

25

In the community

Donation helps service to give hope to homeless H ope, a service which focuses on tackling poverty, homelessness and unemployment has been given support by developer Mulberry Homes.

A £1,000 donation has been given to Hope which offers a range of practical support. This includes the Hand-Up service which helps up to 35 homeless people each day, offering 140 hot meals, showers, welfare packs, food parcels and more. The service also provides addiction and budgeting workshops, tenancy sustainment and access to its Learning 4 Living services, all with an aim to teach life skills and help people reintegrate back into society, hopefully leading to work experience, a job or a place to live.

Alongside people living on the streets, the service is available to those in insecure housing, sofa surfing and sleeping on a friend’s floor.

Noo Jarvill, Corporate Engagement Manager at Hope, said: “The Hope Centre is very grateful indeed to Mulberry Homes – without the generosity of local companies like Mulberry, we would be unable to give support to the homeless and disadvantaged in Northampton.

“This fantastic donation will help us continue our work in supporting those who access our Hand-Up service - where we offer everything from hot food and showers to healthcare advice and services, mental health and addiction support, advocacy for housing assessments and much more.

“Our Hand-Up service is vital for getting people on a pathway which enables them to reintegrate back into society. From here, we are then able to offer more support via our Learning 4 Living service, which offers mental health interventions, workshops in

employability skills and tenancy sustainment, and training to get back into work. Our social enterprises play a massive role at this stage as they enable us to also offer work experience in several different areas; outdoors at our gardening project, in the warehouse at our Foodclub project or in retail at our charity shop.

“Our aim is simple, to give a hand up to those who need it and support those in poverty in Northampton, and we couldn’t do that without the generosity of the local business community. Our huge thanks to Mulberry Homes for seeing a need and leading the way in helping.”

Kerry Jones, Sales Director at Mulberry Homes, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to offer such a significant donation to Hope, especially during this difficult time. Poverty and homelessness are huge problems throughout many local communities and the current pandemic has made the lives of these vulnerable people even more challenging.

“We’re very proud to be supporting Hope and the vital work they do, and we’re thrilled that our donation will fund the HandUp service for four days. It’s a fantastic and invaluable scheme, helping individuals get their lives back on track and providing necessities for those who need it most.”

The donation comes as part of the housebuilder’s 10-year anniversary campaign, in which it has committed to donating a total of £10,000 to charities and organisations local to its developments throughout 2021, with Hope operating nearby to Mulberry Homes’ Meadows View Fields development in Moulton.

For more information on Hope, visit: northamptonhopecentre.org.uk.

Food handed over as part of the Hand-Up service?

Fantastic prizes for Rising Stars F ive fantastic prizes are on offer to the winning act of Travers Rising Stars 21 which is searching for the next generation of musicians.

The free-to-enter challenge is open to any band, singing group or solo artist between the ages of 13 and 30 who live or study in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire or Rutland. The prize package includes recording studio sessions, a festival slot and time in a photographic studio for those all-important publicity shots. The winner will also be one of the first to showcase their talents on the soon to be launched Travers television channel.

One of the live recording sessions will be at Under the Apple Tree, the music brand curated by Whispering Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2 and best known for presenting the BBC Old Grey Whistle Test. Bob and his son Miles have spent the last five years building up an online audience that has had more than two million hits on its exclusive YouTube channel, WhisperingBobTV. Leicester-based Yellow Bean Studio will work with the winning act at its state-of-the-art facility to help the winner create their own recordings with support from the studio’s professional engineer and mixing master.

Leicester Photo Studio will help create a professional portfolio of

26

Business Times

One of the live recording sessions will be at Bob Harris’ Under the Apple Tree pictures putting a face to the name and creating a contemporary look to support the winning act.

And there is a chance to perform live on stage at this year’s Glastonblaby festival, a perfect platform for young aspiring acts. Previous acts included, Kade Smith who went on to feature in The Voice and young talented singers Liam Iliffe and Amber Saqladi .

The Travers Foundation hopes to continue to help more young people to find opportunities in the music industries and welcomes the support of sponsors including other businesses like Corby-based ECS Group and Leicestershire-based Majestic Joinery.

| May 2021

Kieran Forsey from The Travers Foundation said: “Travers Rising Stars 21 will give a new young band or artist a real opportunity to get their music heard by a wider audience and we believe the fantastic prizes will give the winner a stepping stone into the music industry.”

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.

Those keen to make their break can register their interest and submit their video now at www.traversrisingstars.com to secure a place. Closing date is 31 May 2021.

In Kind Direct distribute essential items to bring people together

C

harities planning to welcome back users are getting support from In Kind Direct.

The work of In Kind Direct focuses on uniting companies and communities to help those in need by distributing consumer goods donated by companies to UK charitable organisations working in the UK and overseas.

Current partners include Amazon, Essity, P&G, PZ Cussons and Unilever who are able to donate much needed products such as kettles, drinks, snacks and cleaning essentials.

Former Dragon and Business Ambassador for the charity Sarah Willingham said: “It has been the small experiences that individuals have missed the most, and bringing these occasions back to communities is a vital next step in the roadmap to recovery.

“To have corporate partner brands donating much needed products is fantastic and we are looking forward to welcoming communities back into safe, communal spaces.”

Nikki, spokesperson for HomeStart charity in Kettering, added: “We have been able to provide continued support to families with young children throughout the lockdown with care packs of washing powder, toiletries and

other essential items that we get from In Kind Direct. We can’t wait for our baby and toddler groups to start up again. We’ll be making sure our centres are clean and safe for reopening, welcoming mums and babies born this last year who have not had the chance to meet and play with others their own age yet.”

Rosanne Gray, CEO In Kind Direct, said, “We all know the value of meeting with people in person, feeling the warmth of a friendly smile is priceless! We are committed to getting much needed products to communities all over the UK to ensure some sense of normality can start to be restored.

These essential products will for many individuals make the difference between socialising in a community space and continuing to be lonely. We urge more businesses to come forward to donate products or services, which In Kind Direct can distribute nationwide through our charitable network.”

Businesses who wish to work with In Kind Direct on an ongoing or one-off contribution can contact: donations@inkinddirect.org Charitable organisations seeking donations, and wider products from In Kind Direct can register via: inkinddirect.org

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

In the community

Family support charity appeals for urgent help F unding problems, accelerated by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, could lead to the closure of NorPIP, the Northamptonshire Parent Infant Partnership.

NorPIP is a charity which supports parents to be and parents with children under two to form stable relationships with their babies.

As one mum put it, ‘when I used to look at my baby, all I could see was a piece of meat, like in butchers. I didn’t love her like her brother, I kept expecting someone to come along and collect her.

Through therapy from NorPIP, I truly love her now’.

Norpip works with mums and dads who find it difficult to form a relationship with their children. These early year experiences can harm children for life so Norpip helps to get them off to the best start in life.

Chairman of NorPIP Chris Lofts (left) said: “The stark reality of the pressures and issues around anxiety and depression among new parents has been brought home with the Meghan Markle interview and the debate over mental health.

“Our families have suffered loneliness and isolation during the pandemic, but our funding is getting tighter and tighter – it is a real fear we only have a few months left before closing.”

Fundraising, donations and support from businesses and individuals is needed urgently and NorPIP is appealing to anyone who can help to get in touch.

Chris said: “This is a plea from the heart – we provide a safe, confidential space for families to speak to a specially qualified and experienced therapist. We help parents work through these difficult feelings and most importantly, find love for their babies.

“There is no greater gift we can give children then a loving caring family, no greater gift we can give a parent then the ability to love their child free from worry. If you can, please help us continue this work.”

One mum who shared her experience said: “I had thoughts about driving into oncoming traffic, with my baby in the car. I just wanted us both dead. NorPIP has helped me to find love for my baby. I wouldn’t dream of harming either of us now.”

If you can help, contact Sophie Harding on 01604 924735, email: info@norpip.org.uk, or visit www.norpip.org.uk.

You can also go to www.norpip.org.uk/donate to find the charity’s Just Giving page and other ways to donate.

Students go extra The journey from mile to raise hope NSET to WNSET U T Social Enterprise in West Northamptonshire:

wo years ago a group of social enterprises decided they wanted to set up a new organisation to represent and develop social enterprise in Northampton. After a launch event immediately before coronavirus hit, they formed a new Community Interest Company which became NSET - Northampton Social Enterprise Town.

Social enterprise structures remain a mystery for some.

Many people who run social enterprises do not know they are one. But basically a business legally structured so that it works for social good and where the profits are recycled into the company and the work it does, qualifies. At NSET we are not too insistent that everyone who gets involved is a CIC, for example - we know that other models exist - but a social enterprise should be trying to trade goods or services for social good. That is our loose definition.

Our board contains people who run the trading arms of local charities, like the organisation I run, Northampton Hope Centre and its social enterprise, Hope Enterprises, right through to the Trilogy Leisure Trust, the University of Northampton and Goodwill Solutions.

We are not a membership organisation. We do not request fees for engagement. We are here to develop our sector and to promote this way of working.

We all passionately believe

By Robin Burgess, Chair WNSET that the future of business is ethical, and that a commitment to social change is expected by customers and investors and helps a company become more effective in tackling social issues or climate change, for example.

The ‘Town’ designation came because early in 2020 the partnership was formally recognised with this status by the national development body for social enterprise SEUK. After an action plan was developed, they awarded ‘town’ status - giving formal recognition to NSET as the body to lead social enterprise development locally.

The partnership has developed further since then. Covid has not helped but nonetheless the partnership has continued to work hard to engage other social enterprises, not least of all by a monthly networking event where speakers talk and share valuable knowledge and advice. These include national bodies such as the Social Mark accrediting organisation, training organisations like the

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

School for Social Entrepreneurs and SEUK themselves, as well as local social enterprises who describe what they are trying to do.

We have a particular commitment to developing black-led social enterprises.

Later this year we expect an opportunity to award funding to develop social enterprises locally, granted through Northampton’s successful application to government for a share of the Towns Fund. We are excited to see this move from the government’s initial ‘Yes’ right through to the release of the funds.

Today, with the dawn of the new local authority covering West Northants, we have changed our company structure to become West Northamptonshire Social Enterprise Towns. We are keen to engage social enterprises across the whole area, perhaps to join the WNSET board but certainly to join our advisory group which helps to shape how we work and what we focus on.

So if you are thinking about developing a social enterprise, have started one, or already run one, we are keen for you to get involved. Find out more at our website and social media www.wnset.org Twitter: @NSETCIC Facebook: facebook.com/WNSETCIC LinkedIn: linkedin.com/ company/nsetcic/

niversity of Northampton Events Management students have inspired local people to walk, run or cycle a mile a day and raised nearly £4,000 in support of a local charity, The Hope Centre.

The students, Dayo Ajayi, Ruth Andarge and Courtney Harvey, who are all in the third year of the BA (Hons) Event Management course, were responsible for the promotion, organisation, and planning of the event, ‘A Mile a Day for Hope’, which forms part of their final year project – equivalent to a dissertation.

Courtney said: “We’re delighted to have been able to plan and run this virtual fundraising event for the Hope Centre. It has been great to put our academic knowledge of planning, organisation, and events management into practice.

Running the ‘Mile a Day for Hope’ event will be a wonderful addition to our CVs, as we start to apply for jobs. As well as being a wonderful way to support a local charity who work with some of

the most vulnerable people in the town.”

The Hope Centre supports hundreds of people living in poverty every day, providing them with food, support through their Hand-Up service for the homeless and training and advice through the Learng4Living program along with volunteering and employment through their social enterprise. The money raised through this fundraising walking challenge will be a lifeline to the increasing number of people Hope are helping each week.

Claire Leer, senior lecturer in events management & tourism at the University of Northampton, said: “We pride ourselves on giving our students opportunities to gain practical events management experience throughout their studies, supporting them to put into practice what they have learnt during their studies.

“The final year events management project is equivalent to a traditional

dissertation and is a great showcase of their skills, and it’s a great thing to add to their CV as they begin to apply for jobs.

Through the course, we have close links with local charities, and these final year projects, are our way of supporting their important work. The money raised by this event will be a wonderful contribution to the Hope Centres work.”

Louise Danielczuk, fundraising manager at the Hope Centre, said: “Hope are delighted to once again be working with the Final Year Events students. This year has been particularly tough for them having to develop an event which fits with the everchanging restrictions we are living with, but they have done an incredible job and we are very grateful for their hard work.

“The funds they have raised will make such a difference to so many lives across Northampton and we want to say thank you to all who have organised and taken part in this fabulous event.”

Business Times

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May 2021

27

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

Property Portfolio

Rule changes may hit rates relief claims

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An aerial view of the site for Tungsten Properties’ development in Brackley.

Developer lodges plans for trade park after £2.1m deal

A

major industrial and warehouse developer has acquired two acres of land in Brackley from supermarket retailer Sainsbury’s for £2.1 million.

Tungsten Properties, one of the UK’s leading mid-box developers, has submitted plans to West Northamptonshire Council to build a terrace of seven high specification trade and warehouse units to range from 4,000 sq ft to 28,275 sq ft.

Three units, 1b, 2a and 3, are under offer, subject to planning. The land is adjacent to the town’s new Sainsbury’s superstore which was built in 2020.

“Brackley is a thriving town which has experienced much residential and commercial development in recent years,” said Tungsten Properties associate development director Ashleigh Hayes. “There is a high demand from businesses needing trade and warehouse space which makes it an excellent location for investment.

“This has been proven by the first three of our seven units going under offer before we have even secured planning.”

The new units will target BREEAM Very Good and turnkey fit-out options will be available so that businesses can move straight in.

White Commercial has been retained as joint letting agent for the site with Carter Jonas, which acted for Tungsten Properties in the deal. White Commercial managing director Chris White said: “This is an excellent purchase for Tungsten to develop Brackley’s first specific trade park within the new and prominently situated 25-acre development next to Sainsburys new superstore.

“The region is experiencing substantial commercial and residential growth fuelled by both the area’s strategic location between M1 and M40 and the Silverstone Circuit effect as home of the British Grand Prix. We will be expecting a good level of interest from trade occupiers which, until now, have been unable to occupy purpose-built trade units and accommodation in this region.”

The strategic location is also home to Marston’s Hotel & Pub, Howdens, Multimatic Motorsports, EPAC, BTC Racing and the new Brackley Medical Centre.

K businesses adversely affected

by Covid-19 are set to get a £1.5 billion discount on their business rates bills but will not be able to claim for material change of circumstance to further reduce payments.

The government has announced a further business rates relief fund for businesses in England outside the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors which have been affected by Covid-19.

This follows the ‘temporary’ 100 per cent business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England for the 2020-21 tax year which the government has extended to June 30, after which rates will be discounted by two-thirds until March 31 2022.

Samantha Jones, an associate director of commercial property agent Prop-Search, says: “Further business rates relief is welcomed and is likely to come as a relief to businesses such as wholesalers and suppliers of the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors

who have not been able to benefit from the same levels of support as the businesses they supply.

“However, this comes with an announcement of restrictions on businesses submitting appeals on the basis of a “material change in circumstances”. This is likely to adversely impact many businesses who had previously hoped to benefit from a reduction in their business rates bills but are now likely to miss out.”

Government intends to legislate to rule out businesses appealing for reduced business rates bills under the existing “material change of circumstance” rules. It is believed some 170,000 businesses have made such claims. Under MCC rules, a business can appeal for a reduction in its business rates assessment where it is able to show that the rateable value of the underlying property is inaccurate as a result of a MCC. Businesses have been seeking to argue that the impact of Covid-19 constitutes a MCC.

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A CGI of plans for Tungsten Trade Park.

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Property Portfolio

Park’s prime location

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-Park Northampton sits in a prime strategic location for logistics within the successful and established Moulton Park industrial estate, just a few miles north of the town and within ten miles of J15 of the M1, via dual carriageway.

This is one of the most successful industrial estates in Northamptonshire and is already home to a wide range of successful regional and national businesses. Occupiers continue to be attracted to the area’s exceptional transport links, access to national markets and suitably skilled workforce.

The site, which has been developed by GLP a leading investor, developer and operator of logistics real estate, has three units and one built to suit distribution/logistics warehouse ranging in size from 50,658 up to 155,227 sq ft.

Unit 2, comprising 90,000 sq ft, has been let to SF Express while Unit 3 was most recently let to Whistl the UK’s leading delivery management company. This brings the park to 55 per cent occupancy.

Unit 1, a 50,658 sq ft logistics distribution facility, is immediately available to let. This highly specified Grade ‘A’ rated facility has

An aerial view of G-Park Northampton situated within Moulton Park industrial estate

achieved the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and is suitable for a range of occupiers including last mile logistics, 3PLs, retail/FMCG and manufacturers.

A further and final unit – Unit 4, of 132,698 sq ft is being developed speculatively and under construction with completion expected by the spring.

The unit has a 15-metre clear internal height, 50-metre-wide yard, 21 HGV parking spaces, 12 dock doors and one level access. It offers 9,558 sq ft of office accommodation over two storeys together with 124 car parking spaces. The unit is being developed to the BREEAM Very Good certification.

For further information please visit: www.glp.com/eu

Unit 1 which is immediately available to let

Ancient woodland setting for luxurious lodge development A luxury holiday park in ancient woodland will soon be open to customers.

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ockingham Forest Park is a new luxurious lodge retreat close to Yarwell and the River Nene.

The developers who share the same name as the park have made a commitment to meet standards to complement its rural surroundings and the next stage is to start working accreditation from Building For Nature.

This work is being supported

by Corby-based Lockhart Garratt with a team headed up by landscape architect and Building with Nature assessor Richard Heath.

This prestigious environmental accreditation involves a meticulous independent assessment of Rockingham Forest Park’s delivery of good green infrastructure.

Richard said: “I am very much looking forward to working on the Rockingham Forest Park project; I will be steering and advising the team through every stage of the design development process, including design plans, assessment reports and survey data. Offering regular reviews and feedback will ensure a collaborative, landscape-led approach from the team to what is a rigorous and demanding process.”

Richard adds: “I am delighted

by Rockingham Forest Park’s

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firm commitment to their green infrastructure which includes a number of assets from wildlife sites housing protected species, to footpaths, to a range of waterbodies.

This approach will help ensure the protection and preservation of important habitats and the species that use them, at the same time as providing authentic recreational and educational experiences of the natural world for their guests.”

Building with Nature is the UK’s first green infrastructure benchmark devised to ensure quality and consistency in the design, delivery and maintenance of green infrastructure according to key elements such as wellbeing, water and wildlife.

Unlike mandatory planning requirements such as the Biodiversity Impact Assessment, the Building with Nature Full Award is a voluntary accreditation, demonstrating the Landal Group’s commitment to the natural environment.

The organisation has created an open source set of quality standards, a how-to guide for planners and developers and an accreditation system for policy and development, to help to secure benefits for people and wildlife, now and long into the future.

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Sandra Tuck, head of accreditation at Building with Nature, is delighted that Rockingham Forest Park is committing to an ethos of nature-friendly development from the design stage through to completion.

“We applaud Rockingham Forest Park’s commitment to supporting nature’s recovery, enabling people to lead healthier lives and reducing the impact of climate change by registering to apply for a Building with Nature Full Award,” she says.

“Furthermore, we are confident that Richard and Lockhart Garratt will support the design team to deliver a scheme that connects people to the natural world and enhances the Nature Recovery Network.”

Rockingham Forest Park will submit its application for a Building with Nature Full Award later this year. If the application is successful, the park will achieve the Building with Nature Full Award, subject to a 12-month postconstruction check.

This check ensures that site management and maintenance plans are working effectively and demonstrates Rockingham Forest Park’s long-term commitment to high-quality green infrastructure.

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Property Portfolio

Investors sign up to property platform

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eal estate investment and development specialist Barwood Capital has committed its Residential Investment Platform 3 in record time in over five months across five projects and 55 new homes.

The platform raised a total £4 million from private investors in September last year and has invested in new homes projects across the UK, in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Kent, Long Buckby in Northamptonshire and at Highcliffe in Dorset. The Northampton-based firm launched its first Barwood Residential Investment Platform in 2018. The recent equity-raising target for BRIP 4 was beaten by 20 per cent to raise over £4.8 million. BRIP 5 is due to launch in the summer.

Barwood Capital director Steve

One of the units available at Silverstone Park.

Business park welcomes five new tenants

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ive businesses have completed deals to lease premises at Silverstone Park.

The new arrivals are specialists in the automotive, motorsport, composites, human performance and drinks sectors.

The park is owned and managed by MEPC. Commercial director Roz Bird said: “At a time when trust and reliability are ‘top-of-mind’, our offering is really standing out for businesses with growth ambitions, not only in advanced engineering and manufacturing

but also a variety of other industry sectors.”

The properties let range from 5,000 sq ft to 12,400 sq ft. There are four units available at the park, two of which were completed in December as part of the new phase of development.

The others are available after the occupier vacated to expand into larger premises at the park.

Silverstone Park has completed phases one and two of its development plans and has received reserved matters consent for the next phase.

Chambers said: “We are seeing strong activity in the UK housing market as buyers continue to look to move out from the cities. There continues to be an undersupply of quality housing and high demand from investors to spread their risk across several projects through our platform.”

Barwood Capital invests the minimum £250,000 per investor into several development schemes to spread risk geographically. The developments generally consist of spacious family homes with gardens in sought-after locations.

BRIP is forecast to deliver investor returns exceeding the 25pc target return on capital, reflecting a 12-15pc annual Internal Rate of Return over an average 30-month investment period.

Barwood Capital’s investment at Highcliffe in Dorset.

Opportunity knocks as companies queue up for new developments

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24 Bridge Street, Northampton NN1 1NT

Chartered Surveyors and commercial property consultants

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• 578 Sq. Ft. • High internal ceilings • Split level sales

6&7 WESTLEIGH, MOULTON PARK

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243 WELLINGBOROUGH ROAD, NORTHAMPTON

Nicholas Roberts

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

• 758 Sq. Ft. • Open plan or “beauty” fittings

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SUITE B, FRANCIS CRICK HOUSE

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41 OULTON RISE, PARKLANDS

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four-acre site, was available freehold at a figure of £3.5 million.

Mr Roberts said: “We received a record number of enquiries for the property from local occupiers underlying the latent demand for industrial and warehouse space.

“There are clearly certain sectors of the market, in particular hospitality and high street retail, that have suffered greatly during the pandemic. The industrial and logistics market has however experienced a record year nationally and regionally in terms of take up largely driven off the back of the surge in demand for online shopping.

“With this demand showing no signs of slowing down we can only hope that Wellingborough attracts its fair share of that demand.”

• 1,500 - 3,000 Sq.Ft. Offices • Ample Parking • Good spec

£20,000 PA PER UNIT

£15,000 PA

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ew areas of employment land near Wellingborough will provide fresh optimism for local businesses that have been for so long starved of development opportunities.

The launch in January of Station Island saw the release of a mix of commercial development parcels, ranging in size from 0.4 acres. Offering opportunities for both manufacturing, office and storage uses, Drake Commercial is already in discussions with a range of occupiers, many already based in Wellingborough.

I Station Island has also seen interest from a number of national retail operators keen to secure space within this exciting new development area.

Commercial development partner St Modwen is releasing the first phase of St Modwen Park at Stanton Cross. Phase one will see the speculative development of a 43,494 sq ft and a 95,570 sq ft B8 warehouse unit which will be available on a leasehold basis. Construction work is already under way on site infrastructure and the buildings are expected to be available towards the end of this year.

The provision of new commercial buildings inevitably leads to the release of much needed second-hand stock into a market so short of opportunity, says Drake Commercial partner Nicholas Roberts. The firm has completed the sale of a 73,000 sq ft unit on Paterson Road, Wellingborough to Alti Group, which distributes food products to restaurant and fast food operators across the region.

The single storey building, standing on a

• 2,879 Sq.Ft • Hi Spex • All air/con

£12,500 PA

£37,500 PA

For enquiries call 01604 604050 or email: info@chowncommercial.co.uk

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

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Case Study I Magnitude 314

G-Park Northampton glp.com/eu

Unit 1 To Let Now

Unit 4 Under

construction 50,658 SQ FT

Clear height Clear height 10m19m

132,698 SQ FT

Unit 1

Clear height Clear height 15m19m

To Let Now

G-Park Northampton Unit 1

G-Park Northampton sits in a prime location within Moulton Park, just north of the town and within 10 miles of J15 of the M1, via dual carriageway.

NN3 6WD

Joe Garwood Development Director, GLP joe.garwood@glp.com +44 (0)7583 118 543

To Let Now

CGI image

Unit 1

Unit 4

Franco Capella franco.capella@burbagerealty.com +44 (0)7834 197 403

Nick Redwood nickredwood@gmail.com +44 (0)7881 826 005

Unit 1 is a 50,658 sq ft logistics distribution facility and is immediately available to let. The highly specified Grade ‘A’ rated facility has achieved the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and is suitable for a range of occupiers including last mile logistics, 3PLs, retail/FMCG and manufacturers.

Tom Kimbell tom.kimbell@burbagerealty.com +44 (0)7920 005 471

Speculative build 132,698 sq ft Unit 4 offers the chance to occupy the last unit to be built on one of the most successful industrial estates in Northamptonshire — units 2 and 3 already leased to SF Express and Whistl respectively.