Sedulo Times - Q3 2022

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Sedulo Group launch Sedulo IT in merger with Blue Spot.

case, which is a bunch of dynamic fastgrowing Gubusinesses.”yBrittain, founder of Blue Spot added;“After working with Sedulo for many years, we are all very excited to join forces and provide their clients with the friendly, professional IT management and support services which we’ve provided to our own clients over the past 19 years.

Sedulo

The venture sees the group move into nonfinancial services for the first time.

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“The team at Sedulo are incredibly client focused and it makes perfect sense to partner up with a company who has the same dedication to delivering on customer service as ourselves.”

B usiness advisory group, and investment house Sedulo, have taken the decision to offer nonfinancial services, in the form of professional IT management and support.The new entity, Sedulo IT, is a joint venture with Cheshire based IT provider, Blue SeduloSpot., with offices in Manchester, London, Leeds and Liverpool, currently employ circa 175 staff having recently celebrated their 13th birthday. They offer services in accountancy, taxation, business consultancy, forensic accounting, financial planning and mergers and acquisitions. With the help of the merger with Blue Spot, they will now be able to add services such as business IT, Office 365, hosting, data security and disaster recovery strategies. Blue Spot was setup in 2003, by founder Guy Brittain, and operates on behalf of its customers nationwide, from their premises in Congleton, Cheshire. In a statement Sedulo Group founder Paul Cheetham-Karcz said; “We are delighted to have launched Sedulo IT with Blue Spot, who have been a long standing supplier of the group. We have 2,000 growing customers, all of whom require IT infrastructure at a basic level. As our clients grow, they need more complex technology and advisory solutions, and Guy and his team are perfect to provide“Mthis.ost of our clients are at risk, without the correct security solutions and data backup and recovery plans in place, an area Blue Spot have helped us in, so it is a perfect “Sedulofit. will continue to grow as an advisory and consultancy firm, and it makes complete sense for us to move into service areas that are non-core, but reflective of the requirement of our client

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By Leyton Jeffs, Funding Partner at Sedulo

What can business owners do about it?

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O n the 4th August 2022, the Bank of England (BoE) raised the base rate from 1.25% to 1.75%, as widely predicted.The rate was increased again due to the annual inflation rate sitting at 9.4%, the highest level for 40 years. Furthermore, The BoE is now predicting that inflation will exceed 13% in Q4 and therefore expecting to make further hikes in base rate to help tackle inflation.Thecurrent forecast expects the BoE rate to rise above 2% by the end of 2022 and above 2.65% by the end of 2023.

F irst of all, when borrowing rates increase, it is important to look at your finances and if there is a need to borrow money. If it is for working capital, can you stretch creditors, or get debtors to pay you more quickly? This may eliminate or certainly reduce the amount of money you need to borrow. If you’ve exhausted this already, it makes it even more important that you get the right finance to serve your needs and at the best possible cost. As we know that rates tomorrow will likely be more expensive than they are today, effective future planning is important.If you know you are going to need to finance your plans in the next 12 months, looking at finance today is very worthwhile. Fix your borrowing at today’s rate and not the rate in 12 months Dotime!you think you will be affected by the increase rate increases? If so, message me back to arrange a virtual coffee chat!

Interest rates hit 13 year high –what can you do about it?

What does it mean for business owners? In simp le terms, it means the cost of borrowing money increases. T he 0.5% increase means that for every £100,000 you borrow you will ordinarily pay an additional £500 a year in interest costs. That is just the last increase. Rates have risen from 0.1% to 1.75%. That increase of 1.65% means borrowers are paying £1,650 a year more for every £100,000 and as rates continue to rise, so does the cost of borrowing!

From fearless fighter to being spoon fed by his dad in the blink of an eye.

“P aul Cheetham-Karcz is a working class lad who has achieved amazing things and I love his personality and his values,” said Andy.

T he company, which is an independent travel agent with the unique concept of ‘Your Holiday Starts Here’, opened its sixth shop in the Isle Of Man in January 2022 and the shop is already at 160% of its forecasted projections for the year. As a result, and with travel now back better than ever, the company has acquired new premises in Widnes which will become Perfect Getaways’ seventh shop. Whereas previously the company has taken ownership of shops and added bars, children’s area etc, the Widnes shop will see an extension of the concept as it aims to take an existing coffee shop and build the travel agency around it with the previous features being used for the gin and prosecco bars and unique booth seating to

H e won the admiration of Prince Harry through two gold medals at the Invictus Games, and then, in 2016, set a new 10k world record for a below-the-knee amputee.

“I t’s easy to feel part of the family at Sedulo and I can’t wait to achieve great things in future; to have a positive impact on people’s lives through our partnership.”

The inspirational story from Royal Marine, Andy Grant T wo flashes; two thunderous crashes followed by a flood of pulverising pain turned his life upside down. In the dea d of night, in February 2009, he was blasted by an improvised explosive device while on a routine foot patrol inHAfghanistan.ewasstretchered onto a Hercules helicopter, ferried from Helmand Province and salvaged by surgeons at Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital.When he emer ged from a tenday coma, Andy learned the extent of 27 injuries absorbed by his body. Cracked sternum, broken arms, broken legs, nerve damage to the hands, deep chunks of flesh flayed from his cheeks. And then trueAnddevastation.ywouldno longer be able to have children.Atthe age of 20, the Liverpool lad had been hit with enough horror to overwhelm any human; however, in his short life he’d already felt pain on a par. Eight years prior to the agony of Afghanistan, in a hospital near to his home in Bootle, Andy watched his mum pass away. She battled Leukaemia bravely until she could fight no longer and the heartbreak that ripped through him would never truly subside.Inspir ed by an urge to make his mum proud, Andy became a Royal Marine and served in Iraq before his fateful tour of 2009. In the years that followed the tripwire blast, Andy learned, painstakingly, to walk again. Normality returned; he could hobble around the house, shuffle to shops; blend into heaving football crowds and prop up the bar with his pals. But normality was excruciating. And y wanted more; he By Andy Grant, Ex Royal Marine Commando & Co-Host Of The Leg It Podcast wanted to run again, to play football again, to push himself further than ever before and sever the shackles of injury for good. And so, in 2010, against the advice of friends and family; of those who couldn’t bear the thought of more risk, pain and suffering, he chose to have his leg amputated. And y made a decision only he could make and took it with conviction. In the years that followed, he learned to ski and sky-dive; climbed mountains across continents and ran like never before.

Through motivational speaking, and sharing his story in a raw, captivating and honest manner Andy has inspired thousands of people from all walks of life. His much-lo ved Legit Podcast shines a light on similar stories from across society, and through his work as a Sedulo ambassador, Andy believes he can send his message further.

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Perfect Getaway continue to brew unique “Your holiday starts here” blend with coffee shop restoration. book holidays.While most of the travel industry has been cutting back after two years of travel restrictions, Perfect Getaways continues to grow and is on track to reach ten shops by the end of 2023. In addition, its recent purchase of Above & Beyond Travel, a tailor-made travel company based in Brimstage, Wirral, in February 2022 has also proved a major success. Above & Beyond has already quadrupled its turnover from the previous 12 months and acquired some amazing Tclients.ocope with the demand of online enquiries, the Brimstage office is now being expanded to accommodate a ‘social hub’ where call centre agents will be on hand to answer enquiries and book holidays outside of office hours until 8pm each evening.Ifyou are looking to book holidays or travel for yourself or your company, Perfect Getaways has the right solution for you. Give Nicola or Dave a call on 0333 555 2223 and mention you have seen them through Sedulo.

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Taking a look back in order to move forward.

In any organisation, it is important that everyone is pulling in the same direction. As new people join, so do new ideas, opinions and expectations. A once tight-knit, collaborative team can quickly become a much larger collection of cliques, with members of each department spending less time with everyone else. This is even more difficult in a post-lockdown world of flexibility and working-fromhome. To cultivate a positive, successdriven culture, getting everyone together away from their specific role positively influences the working and social relationships within the organisation. An annual conference is key to ensuring that all team members and departments know the broader expectations and direction. Defining the medium and long-term plan encourages all efforts made by the team to be aligned in pursuit of the continuing growth and success of the group. With multiple office locations, and a broad collective of departments at various levels, creating a shared experience amongst the organisation realigns goals and recontextualises the individual contributions being made towards the greater goal. Seeing the entire organisation in one room and hearing from the leaders can send a powerful message of inclusion and establish a process that colleagues can trust.

In businesses that are establishing a legacy, it is crucial to reflect and look back. The team needs an understanding of what has come before them and led to where they are now so they can build on that to move forward effectively. In May, in collaboration with UA92, the Sedulo Group brought 170 staff from Liverpool, Leeds and London to Manchester for its 2022 annual conference. The day saw the group’s leaders discuss their journey with the company, celebrating the successes within the group on an individual level. A day of company-wide reflection was followed up with their own Sedulo’ Rewind Festival’ celebrating their client base and referencing past events from the company’s 13-year history. Comedian and host for the day, Justin Moorhouse, kicked off proceedings with a word from Sedulo Group managing

partner, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, detailing the original ethos and ideology behind forming Sedulo in 2009. He talked about the original team of four that began the journey and some of the clients that have been with the firm since day one. Accounts group head, Dan Wilson and Marketing Manager Adam White followed up with anecdotes from Sedulo’s early days and the evolution of the famous Toy Appeal; which provided 4,000 children with Christmas gifts last Tyear.ocover the period of Sedulo’s story between 2014-2017, partner and Director of Funding Solutions, Leyton Jeffs, Corporate Finance Partner Benn Longshaw and Corporate Finance Director, Will Stanton, were welcomed to the stage. The team heard about how Sedulo’s most lucrative services joined the group and how the firm broke the £1 million profit barrier. They also talked about creating an ever-improving business model to create an environment for people to pursue a career in whatever discipline they want. Will talked about how a Manchester rooftop party caught his eye from a neighbouring window whilst in his previous employment. A chance meeting at a networking event led to joining Sedulo and working his way to director level. Sedulo’s national expansion into Leeds, London and finally Liverpool was the next segment. Managing Director Cathryn Wright explained the London team’s rapid growth, which has required multiple office upgrades and brought in some of the group’s most famous clients.

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Director of Leeds, Mark Lowell, talked about the firm’s acquisition of Bartfields in 2018 and the change in culture that came with it. He detailed the contributions that the new team were able to bring to the Sedulo Group’s overall structure, as well as the benefits of now being part of a more social-focused culture.

Senior designer, Neil McAdam, outlined his journey from graduating university and moving straight into freelancing. After navigating several agencies, he talked about eventually making the arduous daily commute to Manchester when he joined Sedulo. Projects such as forming the ‘Be the Standard’ leadership group and many of the group’s investment brands proved the true potential of working at Sedulo Group, regardless of the job role. “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” – A quote famously made by Richard Branson.Thisquote sums up an attitude that reflects the ethos adopted by many at Sedulo. Neil made this clear when he talked about the development of the Taking Care of Business podcast, now in its tenth series, and the book of the same name. During the conference, the Sedulo Hospitality and Events team was hard at work transforming the Manchester Regency Club and rooftop into the Rewind Festival. Musical performances from local reggae artist Golty and British drumming legend Steve White entertained the team on a rare sunny afternoon. Celebrating Sedulo clients, drinks were supplied by Leeds-based Ossett Brewery and food from Roxy Ball Room. Into the evening, Abz from Five teamed up with Phats & Smalls’ Ben Ofoedu as the penultimate act before British former professional boxer and DJ, Paul Smith Jr closed the event. The best organisations are those where people want to work and make an impact. Events like this help bring groups to unity by recognising their ‘tribalness’. Dave Logan’s book ‘Tribal Leadership’s main concept is that a “tribe” is defined by its culture. By improving the state of the tribe we can transition into higherperformance, less stressful, more fun states of Tbeing.hetransparency that comes through organisations hearing from their leaders and feeling included in ‘the plan’ is a huge benefit. As humans, we want to be part of theWtribe.illyou be arranging an annual conference for your business or organisation?

Is now

The right deal for your business depends upon a number of factors, including the maturity of the business, cash flow, size, and your personal goals as an owner and in wider life.

By Harris Jones, Corporate Finance Associate at Sedulo the right time to sell?

BACK TO SCHOOL APPEAL SUPPORTS 1,000 CHILDREN IN POVERTY | PAGE 20 PAGE 11 | NEXT GENERATION - MINI MAGAZINE VOL.3

If you are currently considering the benefit of acquiring another firm, merging, raising capital for investment, or potentially realising the investment you’ve made into your company through a sale, get in touch with us at Sedulo, and we can help guide you through the process. Get in touch and connect with me for more information. Email – harris.jones @ sedulo.co.uk

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E very business is unique, and as such, a business owners’ requirements and considerations must equally be met with a tailor-made approach.We take time to devise a strategy and execute a deal with optimal valuation, results, and pragmatic relationships. Launch Stage S tart-up firms typically demonstrate low sales, low profit, and low cash due to investing in their own infrastructure, creating momentum, and developing innovative ideas or a quality team.However, this makes them ideal candidates for bolt-on acquisitions as they are lower valuation but able to add strategic value to companies within the same line of business. (Fig 1 & 2) Typically, the acquirer may be a private equity firm, and due to the cumulative effect of adding bolton acquisitions, it allows a company to grow quickly in a relatively short period of time. (Fig 3) Growth Stage C ompanies within the growth stage are attractive to larger companies due to being more established within the industry through the ability to generate higher sales, becoming profit-making and retaining cash within the business. H owever, these companies typically aren’t buying other firms. There is a plethora of opportunity for growth-stage firms to grow organically and use the cash they have generated to invest in their own business. T hese firms can also employ, or be subject to, corporate finance strategic decisions such as defensive acquisitions, whereby a company seeks to acquire target firms and assets as a defensive manoeuvre to hedge against the risk of market downturns or possible takeovers. (Fig 4) Maturity Stage C ompanies at this stage of the business cycle frequently acquire the Launch stage and growth-stage companies. Due to higher levels of cash and resources, inorganic growth is a method used to maintain a competitive advantage. H owever, these businesses also participate in Mergers with companies that have similar values and corporate strategies, consequently bolstering their market share and increasing their ability to deal with overcapacity. F urthermore, another type of transaction that can be seen at this stage is a Leveraged Buyout, using debt such as bonds or loans to fulfil the cost of an acquisition, typically with a 90% debt to 10% equity and using the sellers’ assets as collateral against the debt. (Fig 5) Declining Stage C ompanies which have declining sales, profits, and cash within this stage of the business life cycle are not as attractive for growth prospects or future profitability. H owever, they may have the quality infrastructure, a solid reputation within the industry, patents, expert technical knowledge, and relationships along the supply chain. T herefore, they are still viable to companies looking to improve within these areas. Alternatively, established businesses that can no longer provide a competitive advantage and are losing out due to factors such as outdated methodologies, lack of strong leadership or financial difficulties may become obsolete and could warrant the need for restructuring. (Fig 6) What can we help you with?

“I am looking forward to watching the business go from strength to strength over the coming years. We wish the management team every success in their growth following the acquisition and moving forward.”

T he M&A team at financial advisory firm, Sedulo, have advised on a deal which sees Dunsters Farm acquire the entire share capital of The Little Food Company Limited for an undisclosed considerationDunstfee.ers Farm is a food and drink wholesaler that originated as a milk round in 1963. Today the company provides an expansive, quality product range throughout the North of England, supplying a collection of the UKs most popular brands, as well as serving a range of organisations across the hospitality, wholesale and public sectors. The company is headed up by family team Tom Mathew, Hannah Barlow and Jeremy Mathew (pictured), who sought to acquire The Little Food Company Ltd in order to diversify their product offering. Commenting on the deal, Commercial Director at Dunsters Farm, Tom Mathew, said: “The acquisition has provided us with a great opportunity to enhance Dunsters’ offering, expanding the range to include frozen food products and strengthening our services to both our current client base and a wider audience. “Sedulo’s advisory service enabled us to make informed and efficient decisions throughout the acquisition process.”Rowan Uren and Christian Mancier from Gorvins Solicitors acted alongside Sedulo for Dunsters. Meanwhile LB Law and Mark Steel of Camalex acted for the seller. Leading on due diligence and deal management, Sedulo’s Corporate Finance Partner, Benn Longshaw, said: “It has been a pleasure to advise Hannah, Tom and Jeremy on this transaction.This is a great acquisition for Dunsters which immediately provides the opportunity to supply frozen produce alongside the existing ambient offering to the new combined client base.

Sedulo M&A Team advise Dunsters Farm on the acquisition of The Little Food Company.

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I t is industry and worldwide recognised that womenled businesses face significant underinvestment.The2019 Rose Review of female entrepreneurship reported that if their potential was recognised, female founders could contribute an additional £250bn to the UK economy. So why hasn’t the gender-based investment gap been closed?

•••AssociationDiversityUKGenderIndexHMTreasury – Investing in Women Code

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Female founders face a number of obstacles when it comes to accessing funding for their business strategies and these create a cycle of disadvantage, whereby the limited likelihood of women receiving investment results in fewer applying for it. A number o f statistics have been working against female founders:

• 75% of Information Memorandums reaching investment firms are from all-male teams • Only 4% of investment committees

••IFCRose Review 2019 • Rose Review Progress Report 2022 consider all-female teams • Only 4% of successful venture capital deals are with all-female teams A positive Trajectory T he UK government introduced the Investing in Women Code in 2019 as a commitment to improve the accessibility of funding resources for female business leaders. S ince then, in 2021 the number of new businesses incorporated by female founders in the UK rose to 20% of incorporations, meaning more women than ever are building startups in theOvcountry.er130 signatories with a combined investing power of around £1 trillion have now signed up the Investing in Women Code, meaning their organisation should be held accountable for supporting equality, collating and publishing data concerning gender during interactions with entrepreneurs and improving processes in increase female business leaders’ access to resources.

F urthermore, the corporate finance industry is seeing an increase in women taking up private equity and venture capital roles, so decision makers in the space are starting to better reflect the variety of founders on the opposite side of the table. Impr oving opportunities for women not only enhances economies but will also unlock a wealth of creative potential and help to ensure that industries aren’t evolving without the insight of half of the globe’s population.I’m acti vely seeking more women leaders to work with, in order to defy and improve these statistics. We support some excellent female entrepreneurs across the full suite of Sedulo’s financial services, but specifically when it comes to improving access to investment, we are keen to work with more women-led businesses on information memorandums and introductions to our vast network of Private Equity and Venture Capital contacts.

Investing in women.

By Hannah Anderton, Corporate Finance Associate at Sedulo

• According to British Business Bank, for every £1 of venture capital invested in the UK, less than 1p is received by all-female founder teams. All-male founder teams receive 89p

Review finds that with the right investment, female founders could contribute an additional £250bn to the UK economy.

•SourcesBritish Business Bank • British Private Equity and Venture Capital

T he Sedulo Group, is a holistic business advisory firm, that recently celebrated its 13th birthday with its own star-studded festival for its 175 employees.Further success across the group includes the Financial Planning Team which has grown its funds under management from £37m two years ago to approaching £300m present day, and the newly rebuilt R&D team which has recently recruited seven members of staff, who are looking to inject £70m of innovation funding into the UK economy.

F unding advisory business, Sedulo Funding Solutions, is delighted to make two internal promotions and four external hires, as it goes through a period of continued growth.

theadditionalownneed.ashastestamentpositioncompletejoinsdirectorNamonishapesmonth,aroundpresenceofcommercialManchester-headquarteredfinancebrokerage,parttheSeduloGroup,hasanationalandcurrentlycompletes80financetransactionseachhelpingbusinessesofallandsizesfulfiltheirambitions.BothJackChristian&Artinhavebeenpromotedtolevel,whilstJawadAnjumwithastellarbackgroundtothetriointhisnewrole.Theintroductionofthisnewwithintheorganisation,istothedesirethebusinesstohelpasmanyentrepreneurspossiblesecurethefinancetheyEachdirectorwillgrowtheirdivisionwithinthebusiness,withtalentbeingrecruitedacrossUK.Joiningtherecentrecruitsare,

Sedulo Funding bolster team following 37% growth.

Business advisory specialist, Sedulo Group, has announced the appointment of Josh Perry as Head of R&D from innovation funding consultancy, Leyton. and “Supportinggrow. innovative businesses and individuals is a central part of every area in Sedulo Group, so Josh’s arrival is massive for both our clients looking to achieve and grow in their sectors, and also our team who are looking to develop their innovative“Inskillsets.hisprevious role he was also the youngest-ever member of the SMT, so he absolutely fits the bill with what we’re trying to achieve today and for the future.”

F igures for the first half of the year have the business, headed up by Leyton Jeffs, at 37% growth, Jeffs is targeting even more for H2. he

T

“The R&D industry is going through a transitional phase, so the demand for a technically astute and financially diligent service to help steer clients through the new R&D minefield has never been greater. I’m excited to help more Sedulo clients get access to the correct quality of advice, as well as help them walk the tightrope between claiming their full entitlement whilst avoiding any unnecessary risk. “On the other hand, I know how to scale teams and create a highperformance culture which is also fun to be part of, which matches seamlessly with the culture of Sedulo. For the R&D team this will mean more expertise to support with the deliverables, more people to learn from and more opportunities to progress in their careers.“Long-term I’m looking to build the most successful R&D brand in the UK, whilst also supporting Sedulo with its growth journey directly through R&D revenue and ultimately help grow Sedulo into an international brand.” Managing Partner at Sedulo, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, said: “As a business we’re constantly working to be world-class, and the only way to consistently do that is to innovate

T he appointment follows other highprofile hires pre-and-during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Big Four and global brand experience joining in industries such as wealth management, tax and HR.Perry has worked in the R&D sector for over 10 years, most recently opening Leyton’s Manchester office and heading up their sales effort for the UK. His role at Sedulo sees him run the firm’s work in rewarding innovative businesses across the UK with research and development tax relief from HMRC. With HMRC investing more in inspectors to clamp down on fraudulent claims, Perry’s arrival is seen as the first of many R&D recruits as the team look to inject £70m into the local economy through innovation funding whilst the Sedulo Group motors towards 200 staff across Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and London. The company has also set their sights on future talent, with the development of a comprehensive graduate scheme to provide opportunities to people early in their careers also in the pipeline. On his appointment, Perry said: “The opportunity and timing for me to join the Sedulo Group is perfect.

Our c ommitment to serve the SME community has never been clearer and doubling the size of the team in the year demonstrates this.”

BRADFORD’S RAINBOW KIT OUTSHINES NEWCASTLE’S THUNDER | PAGE 23 PAGE 24 | FIRST WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL LEAGUE TIPS OFF

Jack Rowe and Son Huseyin.

Sedulo eye £70m innovation injection into local economy following Head of R&D appointment.

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On the hir es, Funding Partner Leyton Jeffs commented: “T he promotions of both Jack and Artin are richly deserved for the contributions made to the team over the last few years, and with the addition of Jawad, I feel like we are growing a management team that will enable us to continue the growth we have enjoyed year-on-year since we started.

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By Laura McGowan, People & Culture Director at Sedulo By Emily Bradley, Events & Hospitality Manager at Sedulo

S ince the pandemic, many people have been returning to workplaces but with changed expectations of what working life should be. Studies show that employees are more productive in the workplace, but it cannot be ignored that a shift in what people expect has changed.

T here has been a noticeable reduction in our employee turnover rate since we started to listen, action and deliver on initiatives that demonstrate consideration and care for our people and also demonstrates that we are genuinely invested in everyone’s future development within the business – this is a brilliant motivator in our quest for Sedulo to become the “world class” organisation of the future that we know it can be!

T he challenge for workplaces was to utilise this improved capability for flexible working and create an environment that met the needs of its team through wellbeing programmes,

T he latest bar and cocktail menus have just been released, so to book a meeting or find out about our upcoming events, please contact hospitalityandevents @ sedulo.co.uk.

T he Sedulo Hospitality & Events team provide a comfortable and unique atmosphere for the team and clients across four UK sites. Yoga, boxercise, wine tasting, running clubs, posture coaches, nutritionist talks, music festivals and tickets for sporting social activities, and genuine benefits. Building r elationships and friendships create a strong bond within businesses that cultivates a team that works for each other and a culture where they want to be around each other.This cannot be achieved solely through team socials. Having fun as a team is important, but a balance of activities around education, financial stability, nutrition and fitness ensures an inclusive programme of events for everyone to Althoughparticipate.wecan’t all go to the level of Cadbury’s Bourneville and build an entire town for employees to live there are still plenty of things that can make working conditions favourable for team members. P roviding complimentary breakfast, a supply of soft drinks and snacks, and a flexible working hours policy can go a long way to removing many of the day-to-day stresses of working life.

2 022 has been the year we have really started to recognise the importance of the health and wellbeing of our team members and the need to ensure we have a focus on this as we grow and evolve. Sedulo fully recognises that, for our people to be able to bring the best version of themselves to work and to generate great work for our clients, we need to provide the right support and tools to make this happen. Ov er the last six months, we have taken big steps in the right direction – firstly launching Sedulo Wellbeing (with a focus on physical, financial, mental and social wellbeing) which provides varied activities for our team members to get involved – ranging from the more sedate but educational presentations through to gruelling 10km runs or taking part in 5- a-side football for those that want to get the blood pumping! We have also run awareness sessions around the extensive list of services that our health provider, Medicash offers our team members and we have done really meaningful work to understand how our people are feeling about life at Sedulo – via our Annual Engagement Survey (which was so insightful we are repeating it again in August!) as well as launching a weekly “Happiness Survey” to gauge how the Sedulo team is feeling more regularly throughout the year. Gi ving everyone at Sedulo a voice is paramount to the success of the business; ensuring everyone feels listened to and that they are empowered to make suggestions that will be taken seriously – ultimately our aim is to have a happy, engaged and productive workforce that are invested in being part of the journey that Sedulo is on, and we are obsessed with us all getting there together.

Creating the office you want to work in.

H aving a fantastic place to work goes beyond nice decor and comfy chairs. Team wellbeing and engagement are all important ways of producing spaces that empower employees to get the best out of their days.

events are just some of the calendar staples that they provide.

More than just a pay-check.

T he radical shift to video calls for meetings increased the feasibility of remote working and increased collaboration. However, with this came feelings of loneliness due to the isolation that came with it.

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Sponsored by IN WORDS:THEIRASILAINTHEIRWORDS:ASILA 3RD YEAR MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT, ASILA, GREW UP IN MALAYSIA DREAMING OF STUDYING ABROAD AND EXPERIENCING NEW CULTURES... THE NEXT GENERATION12

My choices My first week My wellbeing My time in industry My tutors

UA92 provides amazing support. Everyone is given a personal coach. My coach, Eoin, has been brilliant. It’s reassuring to know that I have someone outside of my course that I can go and talk to. I was excited when I got offered places on multiple courses in the UK. I was lucky to have options but there was something exciting about UA92. It was distinctive and I liked that there are no traditional end-of-year exams.

I got the opportunity to do an industry placement at Truth Creative. The experience was so valuable and I got to see what it was like to work in the creative

During my first few days in Manchester, I felt like I wanted to go home. I missed my family and friends so much. The welcome week activities really helped me to feel at home and I met lots of new people. My accommodation was amazing too and I soon began to feel settled.

My experience My top tip

I took a gamble moving 10,633 km away from home, to a city I knew nothing about, and a higher education provider that had only just opened. But it paid off and I feel like it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Yes, there has been some challenges along the way, but I can honestly say I am a much stronger person now. Go and grab every opportunity that is available to you. Get out of your comfort zone, meet new people and do new things. The next generation 13

Asindustry.class sizes are only small, we get to know our tutors. I was invited to work on a student magazine called ‘Review of The Year’. I was given full creative control of the design, which has given me a great piece of work to add to my portfolio.

THE NEXT GENERATION14

Q. What was it that attached you to Sedulo?

READING LIST

A. Black.

A. Leverage off mistakes, they create the opportunity to learn and improve. Always put your client first. Always give your absolute best.

Q. And finally, tell us something random about yourself?

Q. What are you looking forwarded to over the next few months?

Winners: And How They Succeed by Alastair Campbell Richard Branson, Jose Mourinho, Barack Obama, Bill Gates and Tiger Woods. What do they have in common? – They’re all winners. British journalist and activist, Alastair Campbell discusses people who win and how it is they find success to consistently.

A cook book based on the Dragon’s Den sauce phenomenon that swept the UK. With cost of living rising there is no better time to get cooking quality meals at home so why not let Levi Roots take you on a carribbean-inspired culunary journey. Your tastebuds will thank us!

Here are our three top reads this issue:

The Big Fight: My Story by Sugar Ray Leonard An Olympic hero and a world champion in five weight divisions, Sugar Ray Leonard achieved phenomenal boxing success despite also having to fight depression, bouts of rage and drug addiction. In ‘The Big Fight’, Leonard explains how he came to terms with the contradictions that tormented him.

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.

A. Lots of things! We have a few projects underway that will radically enhance our offering to clients and our position in the marketplace – more to come on that!

Levi Roots’ Reggae Reggae Cookbook by Levi Roots

A coffee with...

Q. Could you tell us about your role as Head of Wealth Management?

A. I love Climbing and Mountaineering, strangely I find dangling on the end of a rope several hundred metres above the ground relaxing!

Our Head of JonManagementWealthatSedulo,Fisher.

Q3 2022 | EDITION TWENTY THREE | SEDULO TIMES @SEDULOGROUP | 15

A. A fast growing business with an entrepreneurial culture and a leadership team that matched my ambitions.

Q. First things first - how do you take your coffee?

Q. Do you have any top tips or mottos you live by?

A. I split my time between client work and managing the department. With the latter my focus is on creating and maintaining an environment that allows the team to operate at their best and to deliver a high level of service to clients.

Q3 2022 | EDITION TWENTY THREE | SEDULO TIMES @SEDULOGROUP | 16

Superleague twice and, when in charge of England, won Commonwealth gold and a bronze medal in World Cups twice.

A direct comparison can be made to the red side of Manchester, where the high-performing culture has been less evident in the decade since Sir Alex Fergusen retired. United have struggled in many areas of the organisation, and there is an apparent lack of synergy between owners, manager, players, fans and wider staff. Despite a whole host of talent as individuals, the culture does not cultivate that into high Someoneperformance.whoknows all about what it takes to create a winning culture is Tracey Neville. The former England netball international and Commonwealth Games gold medalist explained how she built an environment geared towards highperformance in series ten, episode three of the Taking Care of Business podcast.

the women’s team, have illustrated the difference a high-performance culture yields. Whereas previous teams had a dysfunctional management structure and interference from the media, both organisations have been able to get a handle on it. Both have developed a more positive mindset and channel their focus–we are witnessing the benefits and hopefully resulting in a trophy double in the Qatar World Cup.

Tracey explained, “It was hard for me as a leader because you felt that you were constantly watching your back. You felt there was no trust there, and you couldn’t be honest. In those environments, when you’re under pressure, I need to be able to turn around and say, ‘just get me a bottle of water.’ and that person not be offended.”As Manchester Thunder Head Coach, Neville won the Netball

For high-performing cultures, you don’t need to look much further than Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Everyone within that organisation is geared towards bringing success to that football club, from the club owners to the coaches to the kitchen staff. The Man City manager doesn’t need to think about what his players are eating, how they are sleeping or if they’ll have the best equipment – it all happens by default.

Creating a performinghighculture.

Turning her initial experiences within the sport into a culture that operated on success by default, she was able to generate the results they achieved. The recent improvements in national tournaments by England football national teams, including the UEFA European Championship trophy for

Liverpool –One year on.

Liverpool is attracting lots of new businesses with its strong economy, which makes it a very attractive place for businesses to invest. It is the second fastest growing city in digital technology, and many start-up companies are operating here. A 92% growth rate in the digital industry and a thriving Knowledge Quarter–where great minds in health, science, education and technology and collaborating to develop creative ideas for our future–means making a move to Merseyside was an easy decision. A year from launching the scouse arm of the Sedulo Group, the city has shown no signs of slowing down. A postcovid economy has its challenges, but the resilience and business-savvy community have proven capable of navigating any turbulence thrown it’s way. Success stories such as Montirex and Gypsabella have become part of the journey and represent much of the grafting ethos for which the North West is famous.

A lot has happened in the 12 months since the launch party DJ set with Gok Wan on the rooftop in 2021, and a remarkable level of growth with it. Financial services firm of the year was awarded to Sedulo at the City of Liverpool business awards this summer for recognising the impact that has been had on Liverpool organisations. Many new and expanding businesses are now moving to the northern cities, and Liverpool especially is positioning itself as the place to be. Head of Sedulo Liverpool, Hilene Henry said:“The first year has seen exciting growth of clients and team. It is great to work as part of a collaborative team with expanding service offerings to help clients to grow and develop their businesses. “The office is a great space for everything we do both work, fun and giving back. We are all excited to see what develops in the next 12 months!”.

DIFFICULTY THINK OF IT LIKE A GENTLE WARM UP, BUT FOR YOUR BRAIN DIFFICULTY DON’T EVEN BOTHER, YOU DEFINITELY CAN’T DO IT 5 5 5 4 2 7 8 8 3 3 3 6 1 1 1 1 7 7 7 7 4 4 4 4 4 9 9 2 37 3 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 2 2 5 5 5 5 8 4 4 4 3 3 9 Q3 2022 | EDITION TWENTY THREE | SEDULO TIMES @SEDULOGROUP | 17

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L eadership development club, Be the Standard went LIVE for the first time on Thursday 30th June. This was an opportunity to learn up-front and personally from some of the world’s best in business and sport on what they’ve learned over their careers in order to become the best version of themself. Being at the very top of your organisation can be lonely. With an entire team of people looking to you for leadership, there isn’t always someone there for you. Mentors and advisors are often brought in to remove some of the pressure. Still, they are only ever focused on the business. What about you as the individual? The problems faced by leaders, the ones that they struggle to solve, tend to be personal and not within the organisation. In sports, elite performers have the best support systems to deal with external influences. They are told when to sleep, told what to eat, how to get the best out of training, and often have psychology professionals available to them at a moment’s notice - to name just a few. So why do we ignore these aspects of our being when we expect elite performance from ourselves? It would not be acceptable for Christiano Ronaldo to skip breakfast, neglect his mental health and survive on five hours of sleep. Business owners don’t always have access to these support mechanisms and are influenced by forces seemingly out of their control. A hard week in the office? Let off some steam in the pub. Leaving work late in the evening? McDonald’s drive-thru will do. Got a problem you do not know how to solve? Bottle it up to not show weakness. This is not sustainable. Be the Standard bridges that gap. An elite, exclusive and driven group of like-minded individuals was formed in 2021 to fast-track personal reflection and self-awareness. The combined experiences of business leader Paul Cheetham-Karcz and sporting legend Kevin Sinfield created a leadership programme focused on achieving a sustainable, elite performance lifestyle. For the last year, the group of the Standard hosts live show for first time at Leeds Everyman.

Be

Speakers including Peter Cowgill, Josh Warrington, Green & Black’s founder Jo Fairley and more spent the day with the 200-strong audience in attendance.

20+ business leaders have been combining the elite aspects of sport and business to focus on themselves. They utilise learned techniques throughout their organisations to become better and improve leadership. Behavioural changes that begin at home manifest themselves throughout their organisation. Better people, make better leaders.

Managing partner of the Sedulo Group and Be the Standard founder, Paul Cheetham-Karcz explains: “What I didn’t realise would be most of the problems I would incur would not be hurdles within business but within myself. I’m in control of the problems I encounter daily in the business environment; I seem to have a knack for finding solutions for them, and they don’t phase me. I didn’t realise I’d be in for a rough ride personally and had no answers for the personal challenges I faced. Worse, I had nowhere to turn. My response over 15 years was to create an infrastructure around me which allowed me to become the best version of myself at that moment. “This structure is a continuous journey of personal reflection, selfawareness, education, discipline, and more than anything else, a momentum of self-progression. The more I worked on myself, the better behaviours I learned. From this, I could positively influence others and become a better leader. In turn, this created a better business. Kevin Sinfield was the leader of one of the most successful teams in the history of British sport. A man who led his country and was one of the few to have transcended his sport. Not just a hero to many, but a leader to thousands, he led his club, his team, the fans and the organisation through change and ultimately unrivalled success.” The monthly sessions have featured some of the best in business and sport, including boxing titans Eddie Hearn, Sugar-Ray Leonard and David Haye, as well as Alistair Campbell, Karen Brady, Brewdog’s David McDowell, economist Roger Martin-Fagg and Dragon’s Den success story, Levi Roots. Personal experiences from various industries offer an unparalleled wealth of knowledge for members to tap into and apply to themselves. This, combined with nutritional meals and business surgery sessions, has curated an environment that cultivates positive changes for its members.Roxy Ball Room founder and Be the Standard member Matt Jones said, “I was invited to join Be The Standard and went to the first ever session to understand what the group was about. I left that day with a spring in my step and a renewed focus to want to do better. The more sessions I attend, the more I am realising my capabilities in business. It truly blows my mind the people I have met and learned from so far, including likeminded entrepreneurs, business leaders and sports stars. The calibre of guest speakers is remarkable. I would highly recommend joining the group if you desire to become the ‘best version of yourself’; a quote from one of the sports stars I now regularly use in my daily life.” After a year, it was time to take the Be the Standard concept to a new audience. Hosted by BBC’s Jacey Normand at the Everyman cinema in Leeds, Be the Standard LIVE welcomed 200 ticket holders to experience the leadership group has to offer.Boxing world champion Josh Warrington kicked off the day with a sparring showcase in the foyer before joining Leeds Rhinos legend Jame JonesBuchanan on stage to talk through his career, the challenges he’s faced and give a demonstration of his training regime in the lead-up to a fight. Team GB and British Cycling nutritionist James Moran gave the audience tips for a healthier lifestyle as well as talked through Warrington’s pre and post-fight diet. Following that, the founder of the chocolate brand ‘Green & Blacks’, Jo Fairley, told the story of her organisation from its inception to being acquired by confectionery giant Cadbury’s and their impact on the fair trade movement. How her business influenced the parent company’s corporate responsibility practises was a valuable insight into a passionate journey of “changing the world, one chocolate bar at a time”. Former special forces and covert operations officer Mike Bates gave a unique perspective on an illustrious career. He also gave a detailed account of his current training regime and goal setting ahead of his solo journey across the Atlantic in a rowboat – a feat completed by fewer people than have made it to the summit of Everest. To close off the day, former JD Sports chairman, Peter Cowgill, gave a rare account of his experience leading the high street sports giant to a £9.58billion market cap. The business titan gave advice to the audience and shared his predictions for future retail trends and customer behaviours.The success of Be the Standard LIVE has ensured future events are in the works for Manchester and Liverpool, with new groups also planned for 2023. In November, the group is making its own journey across the Atlantic for an annual retreat to Iceland. Group bonding and goal setting is the theme of the twonight trip, with multiple activities planned to build on the experiences from the last 12 months. On developing the group, Kevin Sinfield said:“The challenges I have faced and my experiences throughout have shaped me and provided the best ‘life education’ I could have wished for. Attitude is such an important part of our day-to-day lives - It is the one thing we all get to choose every second of every day. To become a champion in any walk of life, you have to behave and think like one 24/7. Great people with great attitudes can become great champions. Yes, great people can win and do win - and they have longevity. I met Paul at the start of 2020 and we just clicked. He is a guy full of life, energy and passion. His success has been through hard work, commitment, perseverance, and a great deal of intelligence and smarts. As a leader, he has humility, empathy and genuinely cares about people. Paul and I have a passion for helping and developing people, and ultimately watching people grow and thrive gives us so much satisfaction.” Creating good habits in your personal life and incorporating them into a sustainable daily routine is beneficial and arguably paramount for any individual looking to achieve at an elite level. At the very top of sport, seeking out those marginal gains is the difference between winning and losing. In any organisation, applying those same principles can profoundly affect the cultural drive for achievement amongst the team. The residual effects of how a leader behaves beyond their responsibilities within the company has a considerable impact, usually without them realising. What changes will you make to your personal life to improve how you are as a person? How are you going to create an environment for success by default?

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Back to School appeal gifts 26,000 school items and £25,000 of hot meal vouchers to children in poverty across the UK.

“Our Back to School Appeal follows past Sedulo initiatives such as our Christmas Toy Appeal, donating 250 learnfrom-home packs to the Michael Carrick

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Foundation and delivering tablets and laptops to support the learning of Hackney school children living in digital poverty. “These support packs are going to children in the most deprived circumstances across the UK. Because of the kindness of every Sedulo team member, client, contact and friend of the firm, 1,000 children across Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and London will return to their studies nourished, happier, and ready to start their next school year.”

T he Back to School Appeal, started by the partnership through UK financial services firm Sedulo and the Michael Carrick Foundation, reaches out to families impacted the most by poverty, whose children brace themselves for Summer without access to free school meals. Due to this, children return to their new school year underprepared and without the basic equipment needed to learn. In 2020 the Appeal donated 250 learn-from-home packs to children in Greater Manchester, where schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many of them without the equipment their school provided to continue their education behind closed doors. Rising living costs and lack of free school meals during the Summer holidays have made conditions worse for the 500,000 children who live in the UK’s poverty bracket, so 2022’s Back to School Appeal pledged to supply more children with packs of learning essentials, food items and a Nando’s voucher to give them independence.The Appeal supported 400 children in Manchester and Newcastle through the Michael Carrick Foundation’s work in schools in those regions. Another 600 children in Sedulo’s cities of Liverpool, Leeds and London were also the recipients of the Back to School packs as they prepare themselves for life in secondary schools. On the impact of the Appeal, former Manchester United midfielder, and Michael Carrick Founder, Michael Carrick, said: “Through the Foundation I’m committed to ensuring that all youngsters, no matter their age, background or ability, have the equipment they need to take part and be the best that they can be. “This is important both on and off the pitch and I hope the Back to School Pack initiative really helps make difference.”And on the need for Appeals like this, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, founder of Sedulo Group“Goodsaid:businesses should create positive change in the societies they work in; that’s a fact. For over 13 years we’ve actively campaigned to make life easier for children living in impoverished conditions out of their control. Unfortunately, with external factors such as rising costs of living and energy crises, campaigns like this are needed more than ever.

A national Back to School Appeal has supported 1,000 children in the UK who, due to their living conditions, face an impoverished and underprepared transition between primary and secondary school.

Our Physio and Founder, Andy Wray, answered... Pain in your calves after exercise or running can be frustrating and stop you or your goals in their tracks.

Calf pain during exercise - is it cramp, a strain or DOMS?

be too weak for your pace, the distance or the body weight they’re having to support. It takes time to adapt to all of these variables and you have to be well hydrated to avoid cramps. Recovery from cramp, a strain or DOMS in your calf If you’ve suffered cramp, a strain or you have DOMS after a particularly hard or long run, recovery is key. Compression calf sleeves, rest, fluid and stretches are paramount until this discomfort reduces.

S imply trying to run through it can cause chronic tears in muscle fibres. However you could try a low impact activity like cycling until you’re able to run again which allows you to stay aerobically fit and also targets the muscle fibres that don’t need as much recovery.S trains usually recover within two weeks and DOMS usually quicker within a week. But don’t just go out and snag another fast or long run.

Pro tip: Try our NEMIUS Calf Guards (available for men and women) during a run; they give the muscle cells support due to the compression and result in fewer cramps, fewer strains and definitely less DOMS.

T here are many reasons why we get pain in our calves but diagnosis is imperative to plan your next steps as cramp, a strain and DOMS all cause this discomfort. The indicators to look out for Immedia te tightening of the calf complex during a run is an indication that if you keep pushing the calf muscle will tear, which can sometimes happen immediately after this tightening.Inthis inst ances you need to STOP, walk, stretch and see if it subsidesManquickly.yathletes are worried about being seen walking as most choose to run for 30 or 60 minutes non-stop at a time. In my experience, this is always the pattern. Simply walking for a short period allows the muscle to recover, much the same as other muscles are allowed to do during sets of lifting in the gym. Don ’t be scared to walk, and if the stiffness resolves, gently pick up the pace. However, you don’t have to complete a run at the same pace; it may be that you finish it walking with intervals of running. However if the calf tightens again then don’t run, just walk home.There are many muscles in the calf complex and any of the fibres can

M ost seasoned runners will always choose a “recovery run” which involves a much slower pace and shorter distance.

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By Andy Wray, founder of Sedulo investment brand iGD Sport, physiotherapist and a former professional athlete.

First things first – with all the conflicting advice, and people talking about different habits being better for specific temperaments and character traits, can we really use such broad generalizations? Yes and no. Yes, we all need roughly the same amount of sleep, based on our age bracket and activity levels. We also need a bit of time to jumpstart the brain in the morning, and we definitely all benefit from some physical activity and a bit of food. No, we don’t all need to go for a run at 7 AM, nor can we all stomach any food for at least a couple of hours after waking up. That’s why you’ll need to find a good general template and modify certain aspects to fit your own lifestyle. If you aren’t sure what would work best for you, try out different strategies for a few days. Switch between strategies each week, and see which approach had you feeling the most energized and focused.

MORNING ROUTINE AND MENTAL HEALTH

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S how me a person who says that they sleep well every single night, and I’ll show you a liar. These days people are lucky if they can string together 3-4 consecutive days where they get a full night of uninterrupted sleep. The problem isn’t just with getting to bed earlier, it’s using the little time we have more efficiently. That way, we could all get some alone time after work, a chance to catch up on chores and hobbies and spend some time with our partners and kids. Hell, we might even be able to go to bed before 12 o’clock feeling like we’ve really had a full and satisfying day. Creating a great morning routine that will help push your brain into high gear and allow you to get things done is part of the puzzle.

The importance of a morning routine and how to create one for yourself.

YOUR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM ALSO HAS A SAY IN THIS The circadian rhythm falls into the category of general rules that are true for almost everyone. It is the body’s natural clock, and it is affected by light. That’s why a good morning routine is closely connected to a solid evening routine – you can’t wake up feeling fresh if you’ve hardly slept the night before. Here are a few ground rules for keeping your circadian rhythm nice and balanced: Leave 30-60 minutes between bedtime and when you start preparing for bed. Keep the temperature just right and do your best to regulate it. Things like putting on your bedclothes (if you wear them) immediately before bed can alter your body’s temperature and therefore take a while to regulate. No screens and bright lights in bed for at least 10-15 minutes before going to Nobed.planning and thinking about chores in bed. Get this done and do a brain dump before.

Well, we could sit here and talk about the morning routines of successful businessmen and celebrities, but the truth is that most of them developed these routines after attaining success, out of necessity. That’s why you hear silly stuff that has little carryover to the regular world and 99% of people reading those kinds of articles online. And we’re not here to tell you to ask your butler to ask Alexa to turn on the jacuzzi to just the right setting and prepare a snobbery smoothie with extra quinoa and flax. That being said, a lot of these people have gotten to where they are now due to, at least in part, hard work. It’s safe to say that they’ve always had some form of morning routine and a plan for the day, week, and even the whole year. While the price tag on the equipment changed over the years, and some of the steps on their list became comically spoiled, the principle remained the same. Having a structured morning routine consisting of several clearly defined steps, and a precise timeline has allowed numerous people to get their lives together. It can give you the extra time, energy, and focus to go after your goals.

WHAT CAN I DO TO CREATE ONE FOR MYSELF? As we’ve mentioned, you don’t need specialized equipment or overpriced gadgets, all you need is grim determination and perseverance coupled with some solid tips. After you become more successful, you can feel free to add ultra-expensive coffee makers and morning massages to the list, but for now, a basic routine will do just fine.

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS “STARTING THE DAY RIGHT?”

Here are a few things you can do to create a great morning routine: Get up at least 60-90 minutes before you need to be out of the door or at your home office desk Devote at least 10 minutes to a light physical activity to get the blood pumping Have several outfits already put together, ironed, and waiting for you in the closet. A quick shower is the best way to wash away that drowsiness. Have some form of breakfast, at least a protein shake or some fruit.Drink a caffeinated beverage as you watch the news, listen to a podcast, or watch some YT videos. Grab a piece of paper or journal and make a to-do list for the day if you haven’t already. Do something that relaxes you for 15-20 minutes. You can prepare a small everyday carry (EDC) kit in a bag that you can just grab and Doubgo.le-check to make sure you have everything you need with you. If you take the time to prepare the stuff you need the night before, you’ll waste less time running around looking for things, getting dressed, and so on. Spend all that time you’ve saved to get the blood pumping, prepare for the challenges of the day, and get a bit of metime before going to work.

As humans, we love routines because they offer something familiar, predictable, and safe that, if repeated exactly, always brings the same positive results. Routine is the very opposite of chaos, and in our minds creates a sort of safe space that wards off stress. Not only do they preoccupy our minds so that it doesn’t wander off, but we eventually become so good at them that we get a lot done in little time. On top of all that, a morning routine allows us to walk out the door, or log on to a project collaboration platform, feeling calm and highly focused. That in itself will dramatically reduce your stress levels and help you avoid unnecessary conflict throughout the day.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A MORNING ROUTINE?

Warm showers (cold ones in the summer) and relaxing music are your friends. Leave the curtains open so that the natural sunlight will wake you up in the morning. Avoid any drinks and snacks for 30–60 minutes before going to bed Keep these things in mind at night, and you’ll help return your circadian rhythm to its naturally balanced state.

Written by Sedulo investment brand, HMN24

CONCLUSION Developing a solid morning routine is a complex task, to say the least, but once you have a plan, you can get used to these new habits in a couple of weeks. Be sure to follow the advice we’ve outlined above, keeping in mind your natural sleep-wake cycles, and you’ll breathe a lot easier a month from now.

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Bradford’s rainbow kit outshines

Newcastle’s Thunder.

A s part of their pride celebrations, Bradford Bulls wore a special home kit for their victory over Newcastle Thunder. The colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple of the LGBT pride flag replaced the usual black sleeves, inspiring a convincing 36-20 win for the home side.A rainbow of shirts, flags and banners brightened up the terraces of Odsal Stadium as fans roared their team back to winning ways. The Sedulo logo received a multicoloured make-over in support of the incredible message being sent out by the rugby club.Senior designer at Sedulo Neil McAdam said, “The journey we’ve been on with Bradford has been amazing. The club’s values are aligned with our brand’s and it was a proud moment for us to see our logo play a part in the celebrations.”

Sports Accountant DAN WILSON

SEDULO

BritishSPORTWheelchair Basketball tipoff with inaugural Women’s Premier League season. WWW.SEDULO.CO.UK

E arlier this year in January, British Wheelchair Basketball made history as the first-ever Women’s Premier League season got underway. This league is first of its kind in the world for women’s wheelchair basketball. The inaugural league featured four teams: Cardiff Met Archers, East London Phoenix, Loughborough Lightning, and Worcester Wolves. This league enables athletes to play alongside each other in a consistently competitive environment, including GB athletes and pathway Aathletes.tthe National Championship Finals in May, East London Phoenix and Loughborough Lightning met in an explosive final, showcasing the brand-new league in fierce competition with players across the court showing great skill. With both teams pushing each other throughout the match, Lightning pulled ahead in the final quarter to take the win 64:73 and earn the first ever title – unbeaten in the 2022 season. In the Women’s Premier League 3rd/4th place playoff, Worcester Wolves delivered a solid team performance after a tough first half to take third place, winning 32:44 over Cardiff Met Archers.

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