Sedulo Times - Q4 2021

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Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | PRICE: FREE

JD Sports PLC steps into the beauty sector with majority-stake in Hairburst

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edulo Corporate Finance have advised on the sale of haircare brand, Hairburst, to global retailer, JD Sports Fashion. The acquisition of the majority stake in the Leeds-based online haircare retailer marks JD Sports’ first steps into the UK’s beauty market.

Founded in 2014 by James Hill, Henry Gwilliam and Matthew Cragg,

Hairburst sells vitamin, shampoos and styling products. Their products are scientifically formulated using safe and natural ingredients to deliver a blend of vitamins and minerals to promote hair growth and protection.

The brand has demonstrated its success with products marketed online to customers in France, Italy, US, the Middle

East and North Africa, as well as being stocked in several UK retailers. Hairburst’s growth has demonstrated its popularity amongst millennials, with the business boasting 850,000 followers on Instagram and now employing 45 staff.

Despite JD Sports recent acquisition spree in the fashion industry, this transaction marks their first steps

into the beauty sector. The group, through Hairburst, will target acquisitions of complementary entrepreneurial businesses to enhance their beauty and well-being offering.

James Hill from Hairburst said:

“We are very excited to partner with JD for the next stage of our growth.

Continued on page 10.

TONY BELLEW TO APPEAR AT LIVERPOOL WILSON CLUB FOR AN EXCLUSIVE SPORTING CLUB LUNCH AND BOOK SIGNING | PG 23

Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

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Sedulo expand with the acquisition of Liverpool business advisory stalwart, Wilson Henry We are delighted to confirm our latest expansion, with the acquisition of Liverpool accountancy firm, Wilson Henry.

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he acquisition comes off the back of a successful launch by the group in Liverpool, in which Sedulo transformed a space in Exchange Flags into world-class offices that include an American diner, hugely impressive bar area styled on The Ivy and Victorian rooftop terrace.

The office launch party was headlined by none other than legendary DJ and TV presenter Gok Wan whilst being attended by the city’s business leaders, as well as stars from Coronation Street and Real Housewives of Cheshire.

Wilson Henry brings in almost

30 team members from accountancy, audit, taxation and corporate finance backgrounds. It has been a staple of the Liverpool advisory community for more than 60 years and the team will now move over to Exchange Flags with the business continuing to be led by the current management team of Hilene Henry (whose father founded the business in 1958), Peter Alcock and Michael Needham.

This acquisition means Sedulo Group, founded in 2009 and with offices in Manchester, Leeds, London and Liverpool, are now one of the largest advisory firms in the North – employing 175 people.

Sedulo founder, Paul CheethamKarcz, said:

“We are delighted to have acquired Wilson Henry for our Liverpool offering. We never wanted to be one of those advisory firms that comes over the M62 and dips their toe in the market.

We purposely signed a 10-year lease in the heart of the city and invested almost half a million pounds in developing the space into an innovative environment.

Adding Wilson Henry now gives us almost 40 team members within our first 12 months of operation.

Wilson Henry is a perfect fit for us.

It is an already robust business and we can now add additional services to their client portfolio of funding, mortgages, financial planning and forensics.

We look forward to working with Hilene, Peter, Michael and the team as a whole.”

Hilene Henry, Managing Partner of Wilson Henry LLP, commented:

“After 60 years of operating

independently, the partners are hugely excited by the opportunities afforded by being part of the Sedulo family.

This represents a pivotal milestone in the Wilson Henry journey and is an excellent time for its clients, team members and stakeholders to capitalise on the opportunity the merger affords – it can only serve to enhance the client and team offering.”

Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

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Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

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From City Football Group to Sedulo: Tom Whittome joins as Tax Partner W

e’re delighted to announce the appointment of Tom Whittome as the Tax Partner for Sedulo Group.

Tom joins the Sedulo Tax team from City Football Group, where he was responsible for the global tax risk, compliance and reporting of the Premier League football club and wider group with related businesses in major cities around the world, including other football clubs, academies, technical support and marketing companies.

Prior to his tenure with City Football Group, Tom also spent over eight years in tax management positions at one of the top ten accounting firms in the world, Grant Thornton UK LLP, where his experience covered personal tax advice and compliance, corporate tax, international tax, image rights and HMRC investigations.

On what his experience will bring to Sedulo, Tom said:

“I am really excited to join Sedulo and to share my specialist knowledge and experience to support individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses to grow.

“I have seen first-hand the unique problems experienced by entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals and their professional advisers, particularly in the sports industry. Sedulo prides itself on providing holistic financial services to its clients, something of which I strongly

believe in and look forward to developing to support clients at every stage of their journey.“

Sedulo Managing Partner, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, added:

“Tom will be a crucial part of our leadership team here at Sedulo and I can’t wait for him to begin getting hands-on with our clients.

“His signing is symbolic of our commitment and desire to operate at a world-class level – as is the track record of our current recruitment drive. Tom has spent the past few years helping the individuals, the club and its owners build the City Football Group franchise globally.

As a result, he has expertise in all areas of tax, including corporate, personal, transaction and overseas.

“He is a very exciting recruit and alongside the arrivals of Laura McGowan and David Clarke brings a vast wealth of experience to our team and our ecosystem of clients.”

Following the appointments of Laura and David in the past month, Tom’s appointment marks a hat-trick of highlevel hires in quick succession for Sedulo, paving the way for further growth in their respective teams.

The tax team are already recruiting for a Personal Tax Manager, with more roles in the pipeline to appear as the team continues to grow.

HOW ESPORTS IS DOMINATING THE GAMING ARENA | PAGE 9

PAGE 18 | INCREASED CONNECTIVITY AND INNOVATION PROPELS THE IOT

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The optimising human performance brand, HMN24 Sedulo have completed their third recent investment, this time into the Human Performance Brand HMN24 as Innovation fund takes shape T

his investment follows on from those previously invested into the Cheshire based Travel Agency, Perfect Getaways and compression sportswear brand, iGOTDOMS. These investments are the first of the Sedulo Innovation Fund; a fund set up to invest in innovative consumer brands.

HMN24 is the new brainchild of Jason Rickaby, founder of sports nutrition brand PhD Nutrition, and his business partner, Phil Learney, owner of the Advanced Coaching Academy.

HMN24 launched in 2021 and exists as a community, lifestyle and mindset brand, intent on optimising 24 hour mental and physical performance. The brand has also launched a twice-weekly podcast to inspire and support its community and has already featured guests such as the legendary WWE wrestler Diamond Dallas Page and Team GB Olympian and medallist, Anthony Ogogo.

The brand is expected to launch a number of innovative nutritional products, designed to help optimise the mental and

physical performance of those seeking to be their best.

In a statement HMN24 Founder Jason Rickaby said;

“We are delighted to have launched HMN24. Both myself and Phil have a few decades of expertise within the health, performance and nutrition industry and we have noticed things have moved on quickly within this domain. Now, everyday performance is becoming more and more important as we enter the wellness generation and people see the benefits that great habits and discipline can have on their lifestyle and performance, whether in exercise, at work or at home.

HMN24 launched in February 2021 with the podcast “Live On Form”, giving listeners access to inspirational guests from all walks of life and providing insight into the mindset, journey, challenges and decision-making required to perform at their best. Given the success so far, the brand aims to launch their first batch of products in the Spring.

Jason Rickaby continued:

We had plenty of options for investment, but we chose to go with that from Sedulo Group. Their founder Paul Cheetham-Karcz is someone we have worked with for a while now, he is a prime example of the HMN24 community, along with financial expertise and experience of working with fast-paced, agile brands, so it made perfect sense. We are looking forward to what the future of HMN24 can bring working with Paul and his team.”

Paul Cheetham-Karcz, founder of Sedulo Group added;

“When I heard there was an

opportunity to invest in Jason and Phil and the HMN24 proposition, we jumped at the chance. We have now almost 150 business advisors in our four city-centre locations, strategically 2021 is not only to continue to grow this base but also to invest in consumer products through our own Innovation Investment Fund.

HMN24 is a no brainer to us, given mine and Sedulo’s ethos is to self-develop and search for optimum performance in everyday life. The brand couldn’t be a better match, and we are delighted we were selected as an investment partner.”

Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

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Oktoberfest: Back and bigger than ever T

he highly anticipated annual Sedulo Oktoberfest networking evenings were among the many missing staple events of much of the northís professionals in 2020.

It was vital then that the hospitality and events team at Sedulo pulled it out of the bag to deliver a night worthy of the hard work our business communities have had to put in during challenging circumstances.

The appetite for beer, Crazy Pedroís pizzas and live Oompah music was clear as tickets sold out in less than 90 minutes in Manchester. 120 attendees danced and cheers’d through the night without once needing to point out that someone was on mute; or worry about what their cat was doing in the background of their zoom call.

Next, it was time for the scousers to get their bavarian fix as Liverpoolís business community descended upon the brand new Wilson Club, eager to see what Sedulo is all about.

The recently launched Merseyside office, overlooking the famous River Mersey, received the beer haus treatment as attendees twisted and shouted their night away and made a whole host of new contacts.

Finally, just 24 hours later, Leeds rolled out the blue and white diamond table clothes and put the beer taps through their paces to cap off an incredibly successful series of networking events, raising the bar for what is expected from a Sedulo event.

Lead organiser and Corporate Finance Senior Will Stanton said:

“We had just under 300 clients and contacts attend the Oktoberfest events across the three offices, helping to enhance our visibility in Liverpool particularly,

establish or strengthen relationships with the professional community and show our clients that we are not your typical advisory firm.”

Due to the huge demand for tickets and incredible support from the sponsors, the event was also able to raise money for some local charities, which will go a long way to helping the communities that we work in.

A massive thank you to all those who attended and staff who volunteered to run the night.

For all upcoming Sedulo events, please visit www.sedulo.co.uk/ events–Prost!

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‘Sedulo Summit Squad’ tackle Three Peaks challenge for Mind On Saturday 25th September, a group of Sedulo team members dubbed the ‘Sedulo Summit Squad’ took on the gruelling challenge of hiking the National Three Peaks in order to raise money for mental health charity, Mind.

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he Summit Squad members include Hannah Anderton, Rhys Price, Maddie Ham, Jonathan Fisher, Emily Bradley, Jacob Haigh and Brad Britch, who all climbed the UK’s three highest peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mt Snowdon.

The Three Peaks attempt was all for a good cause, with every penny raised from the challenge going towards supporting people facing mental health problems across England and Wales through the work of Mind. The charity, along with its 40,000-strong campaigners, provides care and services to those facing stress, depression and feelings of crisis alone; a cause which is close to the heart of our team.

Of the challenge, Corporate Finance Associate at Sedulo, Hannah Anderton, said:

“This was by far the hardest physical task most of us had set ourselves, but we are doing so to raise money for the

incredible Mind, a charity dedicated to supporting people through mental health problems and campaigning to promote awareness, respect and understanding.

“Our mental health is so important, and Mind work to empower individuals as well as campaign for improved services and awareness.

“All of us are affected by mental health. By donating to this fundraiser, you helped Mind to continue developing their specialised care resources and campaigning capacity so that no one has to suffer alone.”

The group raised over £5,000, which helped make a genuine difference; it motivated the team through every training day and kept them going over the mountains. Most of all, every penny went to Mind to provide vital support and advice to those suffering from mental health issues.

Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

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Pyjama Drive supports over 100 children in Liverpool A drive to supply underprivileged children with winter warmers, including pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers, received a massive response from the Sedulo community.

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iverpool has some of the country’s most deprived areas, with thousands of children unable to afford warm clothing to protect them through the winter months.

The campaign went partway to combatting that through an initiative begun by Positive Futures Liverpool.

Positive Futures are a youth development charity, helping thousands of children each year to achieve their true

potential regardless of circumstances.

They provide one-on-one mental health support, arrange daily activities, and spend time on the streets of Liverpool targeting those most at risk of becoming involved with anti-social behaviour, and steer them to a more positive path by reintroducing education into their lives. Furthermore, at the start of the year, they took on a new venture, Positive Homes, a care home arm

of their charity, to provide ‘home away from home’ for those who need it the most.

Awareness of the pyjama drive came about through Sedulo Liverpool’s Tax Senior, Annabel Wickstead, having worked with the charity in the past. On the cause, Annabel said:

“Positive Futures Liverpool are a charity I have done some work with previously. After speaking to the staff at the charity, it was clear they were struggling to achieve the donation levels that they

Building and exiting to JD Sports – The Hairburst story M

ore real-life stories of how to make it in business, sport and more whilst taking care of what matters most... yourself.

The Taking Care of Business podcast returns with Series nine, as host, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, brings you more stories from some of the most successful business leaders in the UK, inspirational individuals as well as names from the world of sport and media.

In Episode two, we explore what it takes to turn an idea and opportunity into a multi-million-pound business.

That’s the story of this episode

of Taking Care of Business, as host and business advisor Paul Cheetham-Karcz welcomes Jimmy Hill – one of the founders of haircare brand, Hairburst to Series 9 to talk about the journey of growing a consumer brand from nothing, as well as the pressures of closing the majority stake sale of Hairburst to global retailer, JD Sports.

The guys also chat about what lies ahead for Hairburst on the back of JD Sports’ first steps into the UK’s beauty market, as well as Jimmy personally and professionally.

needed to match the demand in the local area.

“Our mission is all around making a positive impact in our communities, so I thought it could be something the Sedulo family could help with.

The company immediately donated £1,500 to this, which covered 50 children and the team and our clients have been donating on top of that as well. We smashed our target of 100 children and exceeded the impact we set out to make.”

Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

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The billion-dollar player: How eSports is dominating the gaming arena

By Aaron Malhotra, Corporate Finance Associate at Sedulo

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ften touted as a billion-dollar industry, eSports, the professional competition of playing video games, is one of the most innovative and fastgrowing industries. It has witnessed tremendous growth in terms of viewership and revenue over the last few years.

The UK is part of the global eSports growth story, estimated to have grown at an annual average rate of 8.5% between 2016 and 2019. The value of the UK video game market is estimated at £5.7 billion, making it the sixth-largest video game market in the world and accounting for half of the whole UK entertainment market.

Irrespective of the current social and political landscape, the UK has done exceptionally well at organising large eSports events and now plans to position itself as a world leader in the growing European eSports industry.

The wider emergence of eSports as a global phenomenon has occurred alongside a number of trends. The developments in audience viewing habits, including the ability to live-stream gameplay through channels such as Twitch and YouTube has enabled the viewership figures to increase significantly. As the global audience of eSports grows towards one billion, revenues from sponsors and licencing deals are pouring in.

Even some of the biggest names have invested in eSports teams including former sports stars Michael Jordan and David Beckham, as well as musician Drake. eSports revenue has experienced substantial growth over the past five years. According to Newzoo (eSports analytics and market research source), (Fig 1) global eSports revenue in 2019 was $950.6m and is expected to exceed $1.1 billion in 2020.

The UK eSports sector generated around £60m in revenue in 2019,

around 8% of the global market. The eSports sector has had an immense impact on the UK economy. The increase in revenue has translated into a number of job opportunities within the sector.

Like many other industries, parts of the eSports industry have been badly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic with the cancellation of live events, however some events have continued remotely. During lockdown, several sports delivered eSports alternatives – Formula 1 streamed its first-ever Virtual Grand Prix with races held for every postponed Grand Prix, featuring a number of current F1 drivers. Popular broadcasters including the BBC have turned to

(Fig 1)

GOK WAN JOINS SEDULO OFFICE PARTY IN LONDON | PAGE 20

(Fig 1)

eSports to fill their schedule, providing entertainment and engagement for millions of people during lockdown.

Impact of Private Equity

The UK is home to several eSports success stories. In 2016, Team Dignitas, founded in 2003 was acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers, making them the first North American sports team to own a UK eSports team.

Further investment in UK eSports teams has followed, but now high net worth investors and investors funds are keen to get involved.

Whilst eSports teams seem to dominate the headlines, it takes video game developers, tournament operators, venues and broadcast platforms to create an ecosystem in which eSports can thrive. The technology behind the scenes that makes eSports possible can be just as valuable as the individuals competing.

We are witnessing a rise in eSports-specific private equity funds being established in order to take advantage of the exponential growth in the sector. In the UK, Hiro Capital has launched a $100m fund to invest in innovators in the EU and UK’s video games, eSports and digital sports ecosystem.

Private equity funds are looking to seek out the best businesses with strong management teams which they can back for growth. Private Equity becoming a player in eSports

will create several opportunities for the sector and the owners of highquality businesses within the space.

PAGE 24 | BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH JAMIE CARRAGHER

Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Sedulo Corporate Finance advise on the majority-stake sale of Hairburst to JD Sports PLC

BSW Timber Solutions continues to expand with acquisition of Bayram S

JD have already excelled in capturing the Gen Z market in the sports fashion industry giving us many synergy opportunities.

“We are very proud to be the first beauty business to partner with JD on their venture into the beauty industry.

With our ability to create amazing products and market through social media, supplemented by JD’s consumer connection, financial power and global scale, we see great potential to build the Hairburst brand and acquire other brands within the sector.”

Peter Cowgill, executive chairman of JD, said:

“We are pleased to have made this initial acquisition in the beauty sector and have been impressed by the capabilities of the management team, who have a strong identity and connection with millennials and Gen Z consumers.”

On the deal, Sedulo Managing Partner, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, added:

“We are delighted to have facilitated this deal. It’s a very exciting partnership, a dynamic management team and a brilliant brand from the beauty sector in Hairburst, joining forces with an experienced retail giant in JD.

“The fact that this is JD’s first deal in the beauty sector opens the door to endless possibilities. From our perspective, we are delighted to have helped put both parties together and create a deal that has such potential. Our aim is to become a world-class corporate finance firm, and this is a world-class deal.”

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edulo Corporate Finance recently advised on the sale of our client Bayram Timber to PE backed BSW Timber solutions. BSW are the largest sawmilling entity in the UK, with a turnover of c. £580 million.

Following investment from Endless, the business has continued to grow through their buy and build strategy – with Bayram Timber identified as their most recent bolt-on acquisition target.

The buyer recognised the strategic value of Bayram Timber, which

has flourished under Geoff Goodwin and the management team’s leadership.

Corporate Finance Manager, James Taylor, said:

“Bayram Timber have delivered consistent growth in turnover and EBITDA over the past few years and have developed a strong position in the market under the stewardship of the shareholders and management team. We wish the team at Bayram Timber every success as they begin their new chapter with BSW Timber Solutions Ltd”.

Leading the acquisition of NorthWest based Microsoft Gold Partner, Fabric IT The Sedulo Corporate Finance team worked with the Macclesfield based IT Managed Service Provider, Fabric IT, to complete the process of the acquisition by the Circle Group.

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ebranded as Fabric IT in 2017, the organisation has witnessed exceptional growth in recent years and now works with around 200 companies providing IT services. The new venture enables Fabric to develop even further, with numerous growth opportunities available to them. Whilst they will become part of the Circle Group, Fabric will operate autonomously as normal from its current head office location.

A spokesperson from Fabric IT commented:

“Sedulo and CG Professionals managed the process for us, offering guidance throughout in order for us to meet our desired timelines and start the next chapter with Circle.”

Sedulo’s Benn Longshaw added: “It has been a pleasure to work with Geoff and Ed in recent months to assist with the sale of Fabric IT. They have worked so hard to build up the business over several years and are now being rewarded. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Fabric IT. We do not doubt that the business will continue to go from strength to strength under new ownership.”

With the backing of Circle, Fabric is set to reach new heights, increasing it’s presence across the UK. The Group now comes to £25 million in turnover with over 100 employees. The business with benefit from enhanced Microsoft Cloud capabilities. Circle bring their expertise in cybersecurity, data centre services,

critical infrastructure support, back-up and disaster recovery and networking, including a 24x7x365 Network Operations Centre.

Benn Longshaw and Aaron Malhotra of Sedulo assisted on the business’s disposal to Cardiff-based, Circle.

Benjamin Dredge and Lucy Reade from CG Professional provided legal support to the shareholders of Fabric IT, playing a vital role in the process. Circle were represented by Mandip Riar and Alison Scott of HCR Law, with due diligence provided by Joseph Coghlan and Orkhan Freeman of Bishop Fleming.

Emma Owen of Barford Owen Davies was also involved to offer her financial expertise.

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The next generation 11

UA9 2 INSP IRED TO HELP DISA DDVANTA GED YOU NG PEO PLE ‘MAK E IT FOR REA L’ WITH FRE E SUP POR T PACKAGE University Academy 92 (UA92) has introduced an innovative package of benefits designed to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education.

Inspired by Marcus Rashford’s free school meals campaign, and UA92’s own vision to make higher education accessible to all, UA92 has created a free £5,000 support package of education essentials. The package includes a laptop, data, travel to UA92, lunches throughout the year and a home starter voucher, providing students with the fundamental support they need for successful study.

Gary Neville, co-founder of UA92, commented:

CEO of UA92 Sara Prowse, added:

“At UA92, we aim to make higher education inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of background.

Sadly, young people from communities where financial deprivation is high often miss out on the chance to continue their education so we were keen to develop a package of support for those who truly need it. We’ve worked hard with our partners to create the Make It For Real initiative to offer more young people the opportunity to continue their education and thrive, irrespective of traditional barriers.”

“Our Make It For Real initiative underpins UA92’s principles of accessibility, social mobility and inclusivity.

Currently only 26% of students eligible for free school meals progress to higher education, compared to 45% of those who don’t receive free school meals. This gap is the highest it’s been since 2006.

A passionate advocate for the fight against educational disadvantage, Wes Streeting MP recently visited University Academy 92’s campus to discuss best practice in levelling up across education and find out more about the Make It For Real initiative.

The Shadow Child Poverty Secretary visited the Trafford campus to hear about UA92’s deliberately different approach to higher education and the package, worth £5,000, which he hailed as a shining example of positive action to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education.

“These statistics make it clear that much more can be done to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. For many, continuing education beyond what is compulsory is deemed unaffordable or inaccessible. This package is designed to help these young people think again about higher education by providing them with some of the fundamentals for successful study, which are often forgotten costs.”

Scan QR code To be eligible for the package you must be aged 17-20 and in receipt of free school meals, or were in your last year at school or college. The Make It For Real package is

“Having received free school meals as a child, I know how big a difference UA92’s support package will make to students. Initiatives such as Make It For Real help provide young people from all backgrounds with the opportunity to get a university education,” commented Wes.

12 The next generation

available to the current intake of undergraduates applying through UCAS. The campaign will reach all corners of the UK, focusing on initial activation through communities in Greater Manchester. For more information on the Make It For Real support package and details on how to apply visit www.ua92.ac.uk.

Stu de nts Lau nch Pod cas t on Life at UA9 2 Earlier this year, Beth Cooper and Millie Walker launched their Chats With UA92 Insider podcast. As well as interviewing fellow students, Beth and Millie have welcomed the likes of Jess Southworth, Hotel Football’s Director of Sales and Marnie Millard OBE, UA92’s Chair of Board, on to the show. In April, UA92 founder Gary Neville was their most high-profile guest yet. Here, Beth and Millie chat through their experiences of podcasting.

How did the UA92 Insider podcast start?

Beth: We were both student ambassadors and were throwing around ideas of things we’d like to do and achieve. I had an idea of wanting to create a podcast for a while as it ties in with future career goals, and so I just suggested it to the recruitment team, and they were really supportive in making it happen for us – we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.

Millie: Beth wanted to do a podcast and she just volunteered me, didn’t even ask. I was roped into it a bit. That was the start. It was an idea, a first meeting and it went on from there.

How did it feel being in the host ’s chair for the first time?

Beth: I’d say we were nervous at first but after getting into it we enjoyed every minute. Because we try to host in more of an informal, relaxed way it just felt like we were two friends having a chat with a guest. We’ve tried to keep that tone since and it’s worked well.

Millie: It felt a little weird at the start, but we couldn’t have picked a better first guest than Jess Southworth. She just made us feel so relaxed and was so interesting – she gave us a lot to talk about. If we’d decided to

just do the first one between me and Beth, I’m not sure we’d have known what to speak about!

Why does the two hosts, one guest format work for a podcast?

Beth: I think being friends long before the podcast put us in a good position for it to flow naturally. With two of us there’s never any risk of silence and it’s also always interesting to hear different perspectives, especially on episodes where we discuss our own experiences.

Millie: You just bounce off each other. One of us tends to ask the questions and the other will follow up after the guest has answered. Before we did the podcast we were best friends anyway so it was very natural for us to do it together.

What have you learned most from the experience?

Millie: Mainly the time and effort that goes into producing content like that. You’ve got pre-production – all the paperwork and scripts, getting guests on, then the actual filming and recording, and then postproduction too which can take several hours if you’ve got a long episode.

Beth: I agree, 100%. It’s a big time commitment. With it being a podcast based around uni, it’s also sometimes quite challenging to come up with content that’s new and engaging, but when it comes together there’s nothing more rewarding than hearing people say they enjoyed an episode.

Who has been your favourite guest so far?

Beth: To just pick one is tough as every single one has been amazing so far. I still can’t believe we have had the opportunity to speak to such big names like Gary Neville and Marnie Millard. I also loved talking to Jess; there was something so empowering that both Millie and I took from that interview which will stick with us for a long time.

Millie: It was exciting to have Gary Neville on but I think Jess was on par because that first experience was key for us to carry on the way we have. She’s a young woman in business so to hear her experiences and the challenges she’s been through was really inspiring for us. It was a feeling that if she could do it, so could we.

con tin ue rea din g articl e The next generation 13

What was it like interviewing Gary Neville?

Beth: We were bricking it from the minute we got asked to do it! There was an element of nerves the whole way through too because it was a live episode, Gary couldn’t have been more supportive though. I was so pleased with how well it went because we put a lot of thought into the structure of the interview and how it would flow.

Millie: We were definitely nervous and I remember we were told that if he didn’t turn up we had to just fill the time as it was live which made things worse! But when he came on he was lovely. It was a nice surprise as I thought he might be a bit more intimidating. There was an added pressure doing it live as usually in the podcast booth, me and Beth would just cut stuff out as we go and say ‘that won’t make it in’ but in that live situation you can’t do that.

What podcasts do you listen to now?

Millie: I am a bit of a celebrity gossip lover so I listen to a lot of celebrity podcasts like Chris Ramsay and his wife. I love that one. It’s just so real.

You listen to it and you are wetting yourself laughing because it’s so funny. There is another one I like that Frankie from The Saturdays does on mental health – she speaks to different celebrities and doctors about their experiences.

Beth: My favourite podcast is definitely Sophia and Cinzia’s one, ‘The Girls Bathroom’. People send in dilemmas and they give their advice. It is so funny and just relatable to to every young girl, it just feels like you’re sat there with them, listening to your friends go over dramatic minor problems.

What are you hopes for the UA92 Insider Podcast going forward?

Beth: We would love to get more experience of interviewing amazing guests while we have this opportunity but obviously we’ll be graduating soon. We definitely want the podcast to continue when we’re gone, so hopefully there are some other people who want to take it on.

Millie: I really hope we can get first and second years involved as I don’t want it to die out when we leave - it’s a good platform for UA92 students to have. We know we need to push it harder on social media too.

Who would be your dream podcast guest?

Millie: I think probably David Beckham. I bet he has so many good stories that people don’t know. He doesn’t do loads of interviews either so it could be a good exclusive!

Beth: I like speaking to people who have had interesting life experiences and worked their way up to where they are – inspiring, raw stories.

Although I do agree with Millie that David Beckham would definitely be a dream guest. Maybe we could even get Victoria on too!

Scan to discover more University Academy 92 (UA92) is a deliberately different higher education experience co-founded by Manchester United legends, the Class of 92, and academic pioneers, Lancaster University. Based in Old Trafford, Manchester, UA92 prepares its students for the world of work by offering industry-led courses that have character and personal development at the core.

UA92 offers a portfolio of courses across business, sport, media and digital. It ’s pioneering first cohort of students will graduate in Summer 2022, with UA92 degrees accredited by Lancaster University.

14 The next generation

Q4 2021 | EDITION TWENTY ONE | SEDULO TIMES

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Awards night to celebrate our young talent A

fter 2020’s virtual Manchester Young Talent awards, it was with great excitement that the business community dug out those black dickie-bows, fished out the evening gowns and got down to the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel to once again celebrate.

Thirteen awards were on offer, and a carefully selected panel of judges had chosen a whole host of shortlisted talent from various industries.

Attendees were treated to entertainment from RuPaul’s Drag Race

UK contestants in what was another successful evening organised by the JCI Manchester committee.

One-to-watch was Management Accountant Macauley Pedder, who was shortlisted for Charity Supporter of the Year after numerous fundraising campaigns throughout the last two years.

Raising £1000s for homeless charity Lifeshare, Macauley successfully completed a challenge that consisted of one half-marathon, 1,000 press-ups, 1,000 sit-ups, 1,000 squats and 1,000 burpees in

less than 8-hours.

Macauley said;

“Although the last year has been challenging for everybody, I feel very grateful to have a roof over my head and to still live comfortably with a great family around me. Unfortunately, not all of us are this lucky, and I feel like I need to try and give something back to those less fortunate.

“I’m proud to have raised money for Lifeshare - a charity helping homeless and vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.”

Congratulations to our Sedulo team Members!

Congratulations to Giovanna Burt, Faye Betts and Emma Dann on their latest ACCA exam passes.

A special congratulations to Emma, whose latest exam success sees her become fully ACCA qualified - a great achievement.

A notable figure within the JCI Committee is Audit and Compliance Accountant Peace Lawal, who gives up her spare time to be General Director. Peace dedicates a lot of time and hard work to building a strong business and self-growth culture for young professionals in the city of Manchester.

Since joining the Committee at the start of 2020, JCI Manchester has had to endure one of itís most challenging periods, and Peace has played an essential role in continuing itís success.

Congratulations to all those that were nominated for awards in the 2021 MYTAs.

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READING LIST R

eading is fundamental, but the quest for new information can often be overlooked whilst living in the social media sphere of the new-age digital era.

Understandably, finding the time to invest can also mean the activity often falls to the bottom of the to do list.

However, with the right read you will soon find that thirst for knowledge reappearing, and your favourite publications become a part of your every day.

Here are our three top reads this issue:

Living Better: How I Learned to Survive Depression

by Alastair Campbell

Relentless: Secrets of the Sporting Elite

by Alistair Brownlee

Bootstrap Your Life: How to turn £500 into £350 million

by Oliver Cookson

Living Better is Alastair Campbell’s honest, moving and life affirming account of his lifelong struggle with depression. It is an autobiographical, psychological and psychiatric study, which explores his own childhood, family and other relationships, and examines the impact of his professional and political life on himself and those around him.

In his quest to define ‘sporting greatness’, double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has spent nearly 4 years interviewing and training with some of the greatest minds in sport to discover what it takes to become – and remain – a champion.

How did a working-class 23-year-old, who left school with almost no qualifications, launch a business with just a £500 overdraft and turn it into more than £350 million?

In Bootstrap Your Life, Oliver Cookson shares how he was able to build Europe’s number one online brand using nothing more than his own limited resources and the right mindset.

A coffee with...

Our Head of Funding, Jack Christian

Q. How has the financial landscape changed over the time you’ve been working in finance?

A. Business finance is a bit like your TV! 20 years ago there were only 4 channels, and now there are hundreds! That is the same with finance, where there were only the 4 main banks lending money not so long ago, now there are literally thousands of options when looking at finance. Also, the relationship between the business owner and bank manager has changed too. The bank manager used to have the autonomy to make decisions about finance for their clients and the relationship was much closer–they would socialise together and know each other’s families. Over a period of time, that has changed where the bank manager has no sway, looks after 100s of clients and often there is no face-to-face relationship. The change has some positives and negatives. More choice leads to greater competition which leads to improved options but the personal touch has definitely been lost.

Q. So how has that changed the role of a broker?

A. Greater options sound good but it can also lead to confusion and a more complex landscape meaning more time being spent by a business owner to try to find the best option for them, but it’s a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack. So my role is to bridge the gap between the client’s needs and the 1000s of lenders out there – that involves me going back to the good old banking approach of knowing my clients, their businesses and also their motivators. Understanding their business needs, I can use my expertise to better match a client with the most appropriate lender, utilising the most appropriate “product” whether that be a business loan, invoice finance, asset finance or property finance.

Q. What would you say to a business owner not using a broker?

A. It’s easy for me to say but I think that it is a huge mistake. A few things that I would ask any business owner to consider:Time: Do you have the time to really understand the options out there and what is the best match? What is the opportunity cost of that time spent?

Money: There is a myth that brokers mean a more expensive deal. This is not the case, brokers often obtain better rates than are available publicly due to relationship with lenders and volumes. Plus expertise means that finding the best solution, is often the most cost-effective.

Peace of mind: If you find a funding solution yourself by searching your own options or googling, it will very rarely be the best option. That’s just an obvious reality as a broker has significantly more options at their finger-tips. Come and give me a test!

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WWW.IGOTDOMS.COM

Rise of Rea continues as “The Sting” sets sights on English titles in Sky Sports showdowns I

t was a bout billed by Sky Sports and fans as ‘Fight of the Night’ and one of the best fights of the year.

But for 23-year-old undefeated Manchester middleweight, Brad Rea, his entertaining October points victory over Jez Smith – the 11th victory of his undefeated career – was all part of the plan for his rise in boxing.

The man styled as the ‘The Sting’ nearly stopped Smith in their clash at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena after dropping him with a huge body shot in the opening round. Smith recovered to even the battle out, with both boxers trading blows in the thriller before Rea’s persistence and inring craft saw him extend his unbeaten run by claiming a 77-75 points victory, despite sustaining a swollen eye.

The October fight with Smith was the first of his six-fight deal with Boxxer, which will see Rea’s fights televised on Sky Sports. Following the victory, ‘The Sting’ is now adjusting his sights to his next steps in professional boxing, with the prospect of picking up English titles in 2022 on the cards.

Rea’s team originally had designs on appearing on the Josh Taylor card in December. However, plans for that have been shelved for the time being following the Scottish undisputed super-lightweight champion suffering a knee injury which pushed back his clash with Jack Catterall until the 26th February.

Whilst appearing on that card

is not entirely off the table for Rea, the Manchester native also has plans to bring his entertaining boxing style back to a home venue by putting his undefeated record on the line against highly-ranked fighters who are also yet to record a loss.

On the prospect of continuing the momentum gained from the Jez Smith bout in Manchester, Rea said:

“Being from Manchester and training out of the Hatton gym, boxing in Manchester again is a really big thing for me.

“I loved every second of the Jez Smith fight. It was very tough – the toughest of my career so far – but I learned more from that fight than in my previous ten.

“Sky Sports called it ‘Fight of the Night’ and even one of the best of the year.

I love being involved in fights like that and putting on a show for everyone. My following is building and I can’t wait to bring this momentum back to Manchester to see everyone turn up for more big fights.”

And giving some insight on his

training regime in the build-up to his clash with Jez Smith, Rea said:

“That was the first time I’d fought eight rounds professionally, so I’m now training ten rounds in the gym.

“What we do to train hasn’t changed a huge amount, other than the camps becoming a lot more intense. I’m staying away during the week to help keep me focussed and as a minimum we’re training twice a day, six days a week.

“It is intense, but it is what’s needed at this level.”

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Increased connectivity and innovation propels the Internet of Things towards mainstream adoption.

By James Taylor, Corporate Finance Manager at Sedulo

Following years of buzz and excitement, Internet of Things (Iot) looks set to continue its growing penetration and progression into mainstream business use over the coming years.

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he number of businesses that make use of IoT technology has increased from 13% in 2014 (Mckinsey) to around 30% today and (Vodafone) the number of IoT connected devices is forecast to increase to 43 billion by 2023 (Mckinsey), an almost threefold increase from 2018. (Fig 2)

This continued uptake is (Fig 2)

attributable to the maturing of the underlying technologies that underpin IoT, companies elevating projects from a successful proof-of-concept to commercial implementation and the maturing of business models, with many successful adopters leveraging pools of data from IoT connected sensors to provide valuable commercial insights.

From a B2B perspective, adoption is driven by the cost reductions and productivity improvements that can result. As the technology that powers IoT will continue to become cheaper, this will benefit companies’ ROI and further strengthen the investment case for Finance Directors. With advancements in computing power and AI, outsized benefits can be gained by companies that leverage both IoT and machine learning applications, to generate data-driven insights from connected devices to improve operations and boost productivity.

Applications and use cases of IoT are largely sector agnostic and span a broad range of industries, from asset tracking, to smart metres, to security monitoring.

IoT technology is at the forefront of enabling emerging areas

such as mHealth, which has played a crucial part in the pandemic response and connected devices are already having an important contribution in tackling some of the world’s major challenges, with climate change and sustainability being notable examples.

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IoT Use Cases and Applications

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here is growing global recognition of the importance of reducing carbon emissions and a need to quickly transition to cleaner forms of transport. Consequently, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are set to significantly increase in number over the course of the next decade. With this, comes a need to rapidly scale-up the infrastructure required to support the rollout of EVs and an IoT solution is pivotal for EV Charge Point Operators to remotely access and monitor charge points, ensuring that they are always accessible. Within cities, which are responsible for emitting 70% of the world’s greenhouse gases, eBikes and eScooters form part of a growing suite of micro-mobility offerings, which provide a carbon-neutral solution to help change the way people commute and offer a method of electrifying the last mile of delivery – an area that has increased in significance following the surge in penetration of e-commerce in the past year. For micro-mobility players, reliable IoT connectivity is crucial in providing real-time alerts, location services and the ability to track their entire fleet.

IoT applications are having a big impact in a more traditional, longestablished industry, agriculture. The world’s population is set to increase by 4billion by 2050 (International Food Policy Research Institute) , and when combined with the increasing strain that global warming, and in turn adverse weather conditions can place on crops yields, it is imperative that farming techniques are made as operationally efficient as possible. New technologyenabled farming techniques are being developed to respond to this challenge and utilise inputs from connected sensors, which monitor a range of key variables, such as moisture, pH and temperature.

John Deere, has been at forefront of these developments and the company has spent the past decade leveraging big data amassed from sensors on IoT connected devices, mounted on farming equipment, to power machine learning algorithms to determine, for instance, how best to deploy herbicides. The insights provided have resulted in up to an 80% reduction in herbicide deployment (Blue River) .

The pace of adoption of mHealth has increased significantly over the past year and with an ageing UK population, mHealth looks set to play an increasingly important role in meeting the nation’s future healthcare needs. IoT and connected devices are at the centre of these developments.

Connected devices enable remote diagnostics and the detection of early warning signs that can be relayed in real-time to medical professionals and family members.

Further use cases will continue to develop as new cellular connectivity offerings such as 5G and low-power, wide-areas technologies, with its low deployment costs and ability to operate in areas with traditionally poor coverage, unlock projects that were previously either impractical or too costly.

Market Activity

I

oT centric M&A activity spans the entire IoT stack. (Fig 3) Strategic buyers have engaged in both larger horizontal integrations, with a focus on consolidation, as well as vertical integrations to acquire capabilities at both higher and lower layers of the stack. There has also been a flurry of PE investment over recent years

(Fig 3)

and companies that provide both connectivity and platform capabilities are attractive targets, given the expected future growth in the industry and the subscription revenue models that provide a source of recurring revenues.

There are signs that the IoT M&A market is gaining renewed momentum, following the COVID-19 induced slump in H1 2020. Acquirers

of quality stories and targets are both willing to engage, although transaction sizes currently appear to be smaller (KPMG) . A possible explanation for the smaller deal sizes is that companies, understandably, are currently more measured and restrained with capital deployment and many may be facing tighter restrictions in accessing credit.

One notable trend has been the increase in M&A activity focused on IoT solutions in the healthcare sector.

This is likely to continue as events in the past year have served to highlight the importance and significance of such solutions.

Huma, a UK based remote patient monitoring company, has been very active and recently acquired BioBeats a provider of AI-based employee mental health monitoring and Tarilian Laser Technologies, a provider of blood pressure monitoring wearable devices (KPMG).

Another focus of investment could be in companies that provide smart building technologies. IoT use cases, such as remote temperature checks, occupancy detectors and air filtration sensors, will be key in helping cities emerge from the pandemic enforced exodus by allowing buildings to reopen safely and to help staff feel comfortable with going back to the office.

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Gok Wan joins Roy Jones Jr and high-profile business leaders at office party in London A host of high-profile guests were in London to celebrate Sedulo’s growth and new office move in the capital.

The finance specialists now count themselves among the top 100 accountancy firms in the United Kingdom and are the only business in that sector to have strong office bases in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and London.

It represents clients including artists, musicians, sports stars and TV personalities including household names such as ex-heavyweight boxing champion David Haye and grime artist Bugzy Malone. The company also supports an impressive array of football and rugby clubs, with extensive experience gained over the past decade working at all levels from professional to grassroots.

Sedulo’s new office move party in London celebrated their rapid organic growth in the capital over the last three and a half years, moving offices no less than four times during that period. The company boasts various team member benefits across its office network. Staff in London are treated to a daily cooked-toorder breakfast while there is also a free bar at the premises in Old Street alongside an on-site gym and cinema screening room.

Sedulo Managing Director, Cathryn Wright, who has overseen the business growth in the capital, said: “We’re really excited to celebrate our latest office move in London and delighted that so many of our clients, business leaders and celebrities could join us for a spectacular launch event. We’ve got big ambitions and

I

nternationally renowned DJ Gok Wan treated guests at the exclusive Sedulo event to a music set while they mingled with the likes of former professional boxer Roy Jones Jr, actress Sally Lindsay and her husband Steve White – widely recognised as one of the world’s leading drummers.

Businessman Sandeep Malhotra, who is the husband of Real Housewives of Cheshire fashion guru Seema Malhotra and CEO of Forever Unique, was also in attendance, alongside Mandu Reid - leader of the Women’s Equality Party.

Boxers Roy Jones Jr and Fes Batista were amongst sportspeople and other famous faces who joined the party on October 1 as Ben Ofedu, from electronic duo Phats & Small, also entertained during the evening.

Sedulo, established in 2009 is widely regarded as a powerhouse in financial services, providing a suite of support to a range of clients, including holistic and tailored advice across accountancy, audit, corporate finance, wealth management and funding.

look forward to welcoming more people into our offices across the North and in the capital over the coming weeks and months.”

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The anti-bullying Brit backed by Roy Jones Jr to become boxing’s next star F

or Fes Batista, the trauma caused by the racism and bullying he experienced whilst at university pushed him to the point of nearly taking his own life.

But after fighting back from suicidal lows to regaining his focus – largely thanks to Lady Gaga and a dedication to boxing – Fes’s journey took him to Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas where he became one of the few fighters to record a knockout in the place notoriously known as ‘The Dog House’.

The Huddersfield-native’s underdog story brought him worldwide attention as a global anti-bullying ambassador for the World Boxing Council, leading to appearances on the likes of CNN, Sky Sports, USA Today, BBC Times Of India News and more.

But it was Batista’s skills in the ring which brought him to the attention of boxing legend and former four-weight world champion, Roy Jones Jr, who he now calls on as a coach and mentor. Now with two professional wins in Florida under his belt and a pound-for-pound boxing great in his corner, The Terrier has his sights set on breaking out onto boxing’s world stage with the next step of his unorthodox journey taking him to Mexico and America on a 12-month fight tour.

The super welterweight is heading across the pond with between eight and twelve professional fights penned across the year as Fes aims to pick up belts such

as the Florida state title to put himself amongst the professional picture in the UK. The longer-term strategy is to then take this momentum back home to the UK and stage fights at venues including the John Smith Stadium – the home of Fes’ local team, Huddersfield Town, for who he is also a proud ambassador.

Of his goals in boxing, Fes says: “Roy’s plan for me over the next 12-months is vital for us to gain the momentum needed to build up to a big fight and sell out a stadium, in a similar way to how Josh Warrington did with Leeds United and Tony Bellew did with Everton.

“There are many big names fights for me down the line, but it all comes down to a successful 12-month period now.”

And on the opportunities to be part of the Batista team, Fes added:

Boxing has given me the platform to try and make the world a braver, kinder and more accepting place. After my first professional win in Florida I immediately built a well for a poor village in Kashmir, so now my team and I are looking to take my quest to become a champion to the next level and do even more good.

“I’m lucky to have some amazing sponsors on board to support me with my quest of improving the world and fighting back against bullying through boxing.

Sedulo are one of those sponsors and I’m really enjoying repaying them for their sponsorship, whether that’s through

what we’re achieving together or the access to the professional boxing world I’ve been able to give them. “I’m always on the lookout for more sponsors who share

my vision though. The more that join my team, the more good we can do together, so please reach out to me on Instagram or LinkedIn. if you’d like to chat a bit more.”

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Preparing footballers for life after the beautiful game F

ootball careers are inherently short and carry a real risk to be cut even shorter at any time.

A recent survey by FIFPRO as part of their #MindTheGap campaign found that two out of three professional footballers are not sure what they will do when they stop playing and around 46% of players retire unexpectedly from professional football.

Our Tax Partner, Tom Whittome says:

“The findings are alarming but will come as no surprise to those who work in the football industry and have experienced first-hand the unique challenges which face footballers throughout their career and thereafter.

Whilst clubs, federations, player

unions and educational institutions are working hard to address this issue, we believe more can be done and a holistic approach to player development needs prioritising.”

Here at Sedulo we play our part in this development by providing footballers with a way to build value in their assets and invest it for the future, as well as protecting from poor financial decisions and often unconsidered factors such as what to do with their wealth in the event of career-ending injuries.

We already work with some of the UK’s most influential sports stars, sports clubs and national governing bodies and we know exactly the level of care, effort and attention footballers need to succeed not just on the pitch but off it as well.

Leeds Rhinos switch official auditors for first time in their 150 year history F

or the first time in their history, Leeds Rhinos have switched allegiances to a new financial services firm.

The Super League giants have appointed Sedulo as their official auditors and corporate advisors. The Club have opted for Sedulo – now amongst the top 100 accountancy firms in the United Kingdom – to provide the reigning

Challenge Cup champions with a holistic range of services.

Leeds Rhinos are the most successful club in Super League history and chief executive Gary Hetherington, who made the decision to appoint powerhouse firm Sedulo, said:

“We are delighted to appoint Sedulo as our new auditor. We have been

working with them for a while, after building a strong working relationship, it was a natural decision to appoint them as our audit firm, we have been particularly impressed with their technical knowledge and previous experience in our industry.”

“Sedulo will offer Leeds Rhinos an elite-level service, aiding fluent auditing processes as we continue to improve and

develop our financial infrastructure going forward.”

After becoming established in Leeds, Manchester and London, offices were recently opened in Liverpool which has further opened the door to a number of sports clubs and international sports stars amongst the Sedulo client base.

And with “give back to the community” at heart of the ethos, we’re also proud to sponsor Leeds Rhinos’ netball team, be the official match-sponsor of the Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Rob Burrow testimonial, and have now agreed an extensive commercial sponsorship package with the rugby club.

Founder Paul Cheetham-Karcz said:

“We’re really excited about our new partnership with Leeds Rhinos. We have already helped the club with some of their research projects, and we have been able to support some of their community projects too, this feels very much a natural progression to collaborate with one another for the greater good of the club and the social projects it supports.”

Leeds Rhinos director of rugby, Kevin Sinfield, added:

“I’m really happy that we have joined up with an advisory firm like Sedulo, I have worked closely with them myself on some of our innovation projects and their expertise within the game has really helped that process. The club is in safe hands with them, and I am sure it is a partnership that will flourish in the future.”

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Tony Bellew appears at Liverpool Wilson Club for an exclusive Sporting Club lunch and book signing

On Wednesday 8th September 2021, The Sporting Club and their latest star name, the former WBC World Cruiserweight champion, Tony Bellew, entertained an intimate crowd of boxing fans.

F

ollowing the end of lockdown restrictions on the 19th of July, the local Liverpool hero and star of the Hollywood movie Creed appeared LIVE to tell his story.

The event was held in the Liverpool Wilson Club in association with The Sporting Club to see boxing champion Tony Bellew, take questions

from a business audience, tell his story, and sign copies of his autobiography for all attendees over lunch and drinks.

Sedulo founder Paul CheethamKarcz said: “We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with The Sporting Club to bring this exclusive event with Tony Bellew to our new Liverpool office. Guests heard about Tony’s amazing career and got

the chance to ask questions over lunch.

“This is the first in a number of exciting events we’ll be hosting in

Liverpool. I am very much looking forward to welcoming people and showcasing our new office too.”

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Sedulo Hospitality presents Behind Closed Doors with Jamie Carragher, live at the Liverpool Wilson Club Football fans joined Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher for an intimate evening watching England vs Hungary, in aid of supporting the Oliver King Foundation.

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ttendees were treated to the inside look into being part of a winning team and creating that culture as well as comparing the relationship he had with his parents to that of his own children today.

The Sky Sports pundit and former centre-back took part in a Q&A on 12th October, with the Three Lions match screened directly afterwards which ended 1-1.

All proceeds from the event were donated to the Oliver King Foundation – chosen by Carragher – as the ex-footballer’s staunch support for the Liverpool-based charity, who provide lifesaving defibrillators and training to people in CPR, continues.

“I’m really proud to be supporting the Oliver King Foundation with this event

at Sedulo,” Carragher said.

“The charity has saved more than 50 lives through their tireless work to make sure access to lifesaving defibrillators is available to everyone, and it was great to be able to give something back with a night that was a lot of fun”

Attendees at the event, which was hosted by ex-Royal Marine Andy Grant and Sedulo managing partner Paul CheethamKarcz, got an inside look at life and success for both club and country through the eyes of Carragher.

Mr Cheetham-Karcz added:

“It was a fantastic night! We’re really furtuntate to have welcomed Jamie Carragher to our Wilson Club and to support the amazing Oliver King Foundation.”

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