Business & Innovation Magazine - Issue 04 November 2017

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GDPR: Data Protection gets serious

THE TALENT

Nominate the BEST in your Business

Editor-in-Chief

Nicky Godding

Tel: 07966 510401

nicky.godding@nkmedia.co.uk

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Kirsty Muir

Tel: 07971 912020

kirsty.muir@nkmedia.co.uk

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Our Regions

People prefer to do business with people. For a while, in the heady early days of the internet, we tended to forget that as the world rushed online.

Now, even Google’s recognised it’s all about local. The global search engine is supporting a Digital News Initiative to support high quality local journalism.

Retailers are also experiencing a ‘halo’ effect. They’ve discovered that their website traffic increases in the vicinity of their physical store. They’ve also remembered that shopping is a social activity. We want to try out the merchandise, chat to sales assistants and buy there, or later online. Die-hard internet retailers have cottoned on and are opening physical stores.

Repeat business can be done online, but to snap up that customer in the first place, physical is where it’s at.

Business & Innovation Magazine reports on regional business. We’re rooted in this community from our reporting to design and print. We believe in supporting the business communities we write about. The internet is certainly part of our offer – our magazine is online and we engage through social media. However, you tell us that you really enjoy the touch and feel of our magazine - as well as the content, and we’re not alone. Quality magazines, like real books are being rediscovered (sales of print books rose 8% last year, while e-books were down a fifth).

Business & Innovation Magazine is a bi-monthly magazine published by NK Media Ltd. Our readers are business owners, senior executives, key influencers, entrepreneurs, innovators and those working in further and higher education, and government departments. Any opinions expressed by those quoted in this magazine are their own and do not necessarily represent or reflect those of Business & Innovation Magazine, or of NK Media Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form of advertising or promotion without the written permission of the Editor-in-Chief or Commercial Director.

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Spotlight on Skills

The Report: GDPR

Are you GDPR ready?

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Spotlight on Innovation

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We meet Dr Gordon Sanghera, Oxford Nanopore

IN THE HEADLINES

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE

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Driving our Economy Life Sciences

RENISHAW’S HONORARY DOCTORATE FOUNDER AWARDED

Sir David McMurtry, Chairman and Chief Executive of global engineering technologies company, Renishaw, has secured another honour: an honorary doctorate from The University of Huddersfield.

The University is a leading research centre for metrology, the science of measurement.

“Sir David is a true innovator and visionary,” explained Chris Pockett, Head of Communications at Wottonunder-Edge based Renishaw. “He has an extraordinary technical ability, combined with business and leadership skills. He also recognises the value of intellectual

property, innovation and people to the business.”

Renishaw reported record revenues of nearly £537 million in July this year, with underlying growth of 14%.

Sir David started as an apprentice, working up to Deputy Chief Designer and Assistant Chief of Engine Design at Rolls Royce, Bristol. He invented the touch-trigger probe for co-ordinate measurement machines to solve a specific inspection requirement for Concorde’s Olympus engines. This invention led to a revolution in three-dimensional coordinate measurement.

Renishaw was founded in 1973 by Sir David and John Deer to commercialise the touch-trigger probe.

The company invests between 14-18% of annual sales back into R&D and has branched out into products and services used in applications from jet engine and wind turbine manufacture to dentistry and brain surgery.

In 2001, Sir David was knighted for services to design and innovation. He is a fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Royal Academy of Engineers and the Royal Society.

A winning Chamber with a truly winning outfit

In the headline s

Business West Chambers of Commerce was one of five chambers which walked away as World Chambers Competition champions, winning the Best Job Creation and Business Development project, which aims to maximise international trade across South West England.

They beat stiff competition in their category from Colombia, Turkey, Philippines and Iran.

James Monk, Commercial Director of Business West said: “We are delighted to win this award as recognition of

achieving almost half a billion pounds of additional export sales and creating nearly 4,000 new jobs.”

The launch of its International Trade Centre helped Business West to achieve a 40% increase in website traffic. 250% more potential first-time exporters used its services, and social media channels saw more engagement than ever before.

“All of this has been against a challenging national and global backdrop where instability currently tops the media and business agenda in the UK, yet businesses still want to do business with each other.”

Sir David McMurtry, Renishaw

James Monk, Commercial Director, Business West with Adam Marshall, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce

What’s in a Super name?

In the headlines

Cheltenham-based global retailer SuperGroup is promoting its retail brand name, Superdry, across the whole business, to better develop the brand globally and digitally.

This means ditching the SuperGroup name. “Changing the name of the Group to Superdry is an important step reflecting our focus on developing the iconic Superdry brand globally and digitally, ” said Euan Sutherland, the company’s CEO.

At a Capital Markets Update held in September, he said: “Superdry is a global digital brand with huge

Dyson commits £2 billion to electric vehicle development

Superdry

an important step reflecting our focus on developing the iconic Superdry brand globally and digitally.”

opportunities ahead of it. Over the past three years our business has delivered a fundamental transformation, becoming increasingly diversified internationally, and also by channel, product and in the customers we attract.”

The company’s results for the year ended April 2017 reported revenue up over 27% to £752 million, with retail like for like sales growth of nearly 13%.

There are now over 555 Superdry branded stores across the globe and 25% of Superdry’s retail sales are made online.

Euan added: “We are more excited today than we have ever been before about the future of Superdry, and our ability to create long-term sustainable growth for our investors by delivering on our strategy.”

In the headlines

Malmesbury-headquartered Dyson has begun work on a battery electric vehicle, due to be launched by 2020.

The team combines Dyson engineers with individuals from the automotive industry. The team is already over 400 strong, and the company is recruiting aggressively. James Dyson has confirmed that he is committed to investing £2 billion in the project.

Dyson is not releasing any more information. In a memo to his staff, he said: “Competition for new technology in the automotive industry is fierce and we must do everything we can to keep the specifics of our vehicle confidential.”

In London, nearly 9,500 people die early each year due to long-term exposure to air pollution, according to a study carried out by researchers at King’s College London.

In his memo, James Dyson, explained: “In 1988 I read a paper by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, linking the exhaust

from diesel engines to premature death in laboratory mice and rats. In March 1990, a team at Dyson began work on a cyclonic filter that could be fitted on a vehicle’s exhaust system to trap particulates.

“By 1993 we had developed several working prototypes and showed an early iteration to British television programme Blue Peter. The team went on to develop a much more sophisticated technology.

“Nobody at the time was interested in employing our diesel exhaust capture system and we stopped the project.

“It has remained my ambition to find a solution to the global problem of air pollution. Some years ago, observing that automotive firms were not changing their spots, I committed the company to develop new battery technologies. I believed that electrically powered vehicles would solve the vehicle pollution problem. Dyson carried on innovating.”

He added: “It is our obligation to offer a solution to the world’s largest single environmental risk.”

“Changing the name of the Group to

is

James Dyson

Corking deal as family team takes on Worcestershire vineyard

An intrepid couple are making a radical lifestyle change, buying an established Worcestershire vineyard.

Tim and Bev Haywood have purchased Astley Vineyard at Stourport-on-Severn from former owner Jonty Daniels.

The vineyard was established in 1971 and taken over by Jonty in 1993. Now the fivestrong Haywood family have plans to take the business to the next level.

The new team includes Tim and Bev, son and daughter-in-law Chris and Matleena, and daughter Daisy.

The vineyard is classed as a boutique producer with just under five acres under vine. Astley’s focus over the years has concentrated on white wines, and the business also produces a sparkling wine made from its unique 40-year-old Kerner vine, and a Late Harvest wine.

“We have ambitious plans for the future of Astley Vineyard, there is a lot of potential for developing the vineyard which has been producing award-winning wine for over 40 years.”

Tim Haywood, formerly group finance director and head of sustainability at global construction and facilities conglomerate Interserve plc, said: “The purchase of Astley Vineyard was a brave step for my

Two-year programme to grow West Midlands games industry announced

In the headline s

The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and Ukie, the trade body for games and interactive entertainment, have announced a two-year programme to grow the games industry and wider digital creative sector in the West Midlands.

The new programme will build on the success of the gaming and creative cluster in and around Leamington Spa, often referred to as ‘Silicon Spa’.

It delivers on many of the recommendations made in ‘The Games Industry in Coventry and Warwickshire - a Blueprint for Growth’ report launched by the CWLEP in partnership with Ukie earlier this year.

The programme includes specialist support, a programme of events, bringing investors and local game businesses together, trade missions and engagement with education to find the next generation of games specialists.

Sarah Windrum, CWLEP Board Director and Chair of West Midlands Digital Group, said: “I want to thank Ukie for all their support highlighting the significant economic value of our digital creative sector to the region.”

Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie, said: “The games businesses in and around Leamington Spa make huge contributions to the economy and cultural output of the UK. Rolling out this new programme in

family. We are not from an agricultural background so we needed professional and local advice.”

Solicitors at Thursfields’ Worcester office supported the family throughout the sale.

Tim added: “We have ambitious plans. There is potential for developing the vineyard which has been producing award-winning wine for over 40 years.”

Tim has also been recently announced as Prince Charles’ Ambassador to the West Midlands, as part of the Business in the Community Responsible Business initiative.

Coventry and Warwickshire will deliver support to local games businesses, creating new programmes that will help them attract further investment, drive further growth across the West Midlands and benefit the wider UK games industry.”

Dr Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie

Tim Haywood (centrre) with Tim Edwards and Nick O’Hara of Thursfields

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SPARKS FLY AT clARKSON EVANS

“We are the biggest UK New Build electrical contractors. That’s enabled us to expand properly. We have apprentices coming through all the time and we can offer them deployment around our offices.”

One of the UK’s most successful electrical contractors, Clarkson Evans is hard-wired for talent

By Nicky Godding

If you want to see how an apprenticeship programme should work, check out Clarkson Evans. One of the UK’s largest and most successful electrical contractors, it was born and bred in Gloucester and has around 200 apprentice electricians on its books at any one time.

An impressive (and 21st-century) fact about Clarkson Evans is that, unlike many contractors, everyone is an employee. There are no sub-contractors, or zero hour contracts. This business has a traditional attitude to its employees.

Yes, the business expects a lot from them, but in return, staff conditions are good, company socials are frequent, well-funded, and (I hear) well fun.

This £50 million turnover company, which employs 900 people, 550 of which are electricians, will have wired 20,000 of the nation’s new homes this year alone.

However, it’s still a family business, and since the beginning of last year, it’s been headed up by Managing Director Nathan Evans, son of founder Steve Evans.

Steve stepped down from the day-to-day running of the business at the beginning of 2016, but continues as Chairman (he’s not quite ready to fully take his hand off the tiller of the business he built).

Clarkson Evans wires new homes, not existing ones, and there is a big UK market for New Build. That’s what the company’s really good at – everything and everyone in the company is geared up to meet that goal.

The number of new homes being built in England is over 20% higher than a year ago, and the Government says it’s determined to support housebuilding. This ambition is supported by recent announcements, including the intention to speed up delivery of over 155,000 new homes in nine locally-led garden town developments, from Bicester to Taunton, and supporting a new generation of council house building.

Whether the Government meets its target of delivering one million homes by the end of 2020, and a further half a million more by the end of 2022, is yet to be determined, but whatever the final figures, there’s plenty for Clarkson Evans’ 550 electricians to be getting on with.

Steve Evans started the business 36 years ago. He quickly began taking on apprentices to help him wire up new homes for housebuilders such as Bovis and JJ Homes. One of those apprentices was Steve Clarkson, and Clarkson Evans was born.

Nathan takes up the story: “Dad saw a niche in the market to wire up new homes and he soon began working for all the main housebuilders. We opened branches in Trowbridge, Birmingham and Wales – which remain some of our strongest regional branches today.”

Clarkson Evans now has 17 regional branches, from Plymouth to Telford.

A talent for people

Nathan joined the business as an apprentice when he was about 20, but there was no hint of nepotism – he had to earn his stripes as an electrician before his dad began to consider him as potential management material.

It wasn’t a given that he’d go into the business at all. “I wanted to be a professional rugby player – I played semiprofessionally for years, for teams such as Lydney and Cinderford, but never quite achieved the top rank.”

FACTS ON NATHAN EVANS 04

01

He might have hung up his rugby boots, but he’s a big supporter of Gloucester, and other local teams

He’s up early to work out at Trimnasium in Cheltenham

He prefers to be out meeting customers, than behind his desk

A keen golfer, he plays off 18 (on a good day)

Finally joining the family business in the early nineties, Nathan qualified as an electrician and did his time on the tools before stepping up to management.

It was when he moved into that role that Nathan discovered his talent for people. “I thank my dad for this, he saw I was good at connecting with customers.”

But he doesn’t regret his time spent at the sharp end of the business. “Working on the tools gave me confidence and, I hope, credibility with those I worked alongside.”

Nathan isn’t alone in his progression from apprentice to management. “We have a big culture of promoting and

Nathan Evans, Managing Director

Clarkson Evans

developing from within. It’s been a massive key to our success.”

He was made managing director at the beginning of 2016, moving from his previous roles as production director and then business development director.

Switched on business

Clarkson Evans is expanding. “The last branch we opened was in Milton Keynes, and we’ve had to move our Oxford branch to bigger premises,” explains Nathan.

“We are also opening a branch in Nottingham – of all the areas it’s the biggest for potential new business.”

When I learn that the company’s Gloucester branch represents 20% of Clarkson Evans’ business, and

TRAIN TO GAIN

Clarkson Evans established its training centre at the end of the 1990s.

Why bother training your own apprentices when local colleges are set up to do that?

Birmingham is 12% of business, it’s clear how much potential the company still has to grow nationally.

And with building industry standards rising all the time, the demand for the experience and knowledge of Clarkson Evans is likely to increase.

“The market is there, and we are providing innovative processes to enable our electricians to work more efficiently and effectively.

“And we are always reinvesting in our business.”

Would Clarkson Evans expand out of the new build market? Never say never, according to Nathan. “We’ve certainly talked about entering other areas, and we may do it in the future.

But at the moment we want to do what we do well, and do more of it.”

Making the most of a recession

Aiming to buck the national trend after the 2008 recession, Clarkson Evans went on a big expansion drive. “We took the long view that the country wouldn’t be in a recession forever,” explains Nathan. “Common sense told us that if you can ride out the storm and develop the business strategically, we’d be well placed when the time came.”

And they did. By the time the construction sector started growing again, Clarkson Evans had branches set up, managers in

them, electricians ready to go and was ready to capitalise on the opportunities.

However, the building industry is a competitive business, as any contractor will testify. Clarkson Evans is big, and it has to work smart if it’s to compete with others.

“We are perceived by some builders as the ‘Marks & Spencers’ of the electrical contracting world,” says Nathan. “And yes, we do have plenty of technical and administrative backup to make our work

“We employed a lot of apprentices, and back then we found colleges could only provide the necessary block release training at our busiest time of year,” says Nathan. “We just couldn’t afford to lose so many electricians for two weeks, so dad made the decision to establish our own in-house training.”

It was a smart move, and Clarkson Evans is unique within the industry in making such substantial and ongoing investment in its pipeline of talent.

“We are the biggest New Build electrical contractors doing this in the UK,” says Nathan. “That’s enabled us to expand properly. We have apprentices coming through all the time and we can offer them deployment around our offices.”

Clarkson Evans is now rolling out its training culture across the company. “We’re also taking on trainee accountants and apprentice project coordinators, and using local FE colleges for the training provision.”

run smoothly. But some will say that whoever signs the certificate of safety when a house is wired, that’s the job done. It’s NIC registered, whoever’s done the work.

“So we make sure we remain competitive, and are known for being a company that always delivers. Dad and I are both passionate about that. He installed that in me right from the start. We don’t let our customers down. It’s a huge thing.”

Clarkson Evans

Clarkson Evans

A local relationship with one of the world’s strongest banks

Over recent years, Handelsbanken has steadily made a name for itself among Cotswold customers looking for a more personal, long term relationship with their bank.

Its distinctive approach is based on a belief that experienced local bankers are best placed to understand the customers that live, work and trade in their town. For this reason, the overwhelming majority of decisions are made by the customer’s branch team.

Demand for Handelsbanken’s modern day take on traditional banking has helped the bank grow to serve over 200 British communities, including branches in Cirencester, Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Swindon.

For customers of Handelsbanken, the branch is the bank. Not only are staff empowered to make credit decisions and build bespoke solutions locally, but they are also available to handle a customer’s day to day banking requirements in person, rather than through call centres.

Di Pitts, manager of Handelsbanken’s Cirencester branch comments: “I am delighted to have opened one of our most

recent branches here in Cirencester. We believe that local people are best placed to make decisions involving their customers, and all of the team here live in the area. We are free from sales targets, mass marketing campaigns or bonus incentives - everything we do stems from our focus on customer relationships. Naturally we provide up-to-date technologies such as online banking and apps to help with day to day banking activities. However, we believe in building strong relationships with our customers, getting to know them individually, identifying their needs and how we can help them.’’

She continues ‘’For the last eight years, Handelsbanken has been rated top for customer satisfaction in an independent survey of British banks’ corporate and individual customers.* At a time when financial strength and stability remain crucial to customers, Handelsbanken has been judged one of the strongest banks in the world**. This reflects the bank’s long term focus and prudent, consistent approach to banking throughout all economic conditions.’’

You can find your local Handelsbanken branch on the www.handelsbanken.co.uk website.

* EPSI, October 2016

** Bloomberg, July 2015

Our team at Cirencester

GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIONAL ROUND UP

Tidal Lagoon Power secures grid connection

Tidal Lagoon Power, which has its headquarters at Gloucester, has secured the grid connection for a 3,240MW capacity tidal lagoon. The company says it could generate some of the cheapest electricity of all new power stations built in the UK.

The £1.3 billion project, located between Cardiff and Newport, has been selected as the first to employ at full-scale the blueprint being established by the pathfinder Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, a consented, world-first project awaiting final sign off by the UK Government, which has yet to come.

Tidal Lagoon Power’s Chief Executive, Mark Shorrock, said: “Our offer to the UK Government is to contract Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon for a lower subsidy per megawatt hour than Hinkley Point C. While we await the Government’s response

to this offer and to the independent Hendry Review of tidal lagoons, we have continued our development work on the subsequent programme.

“We have secured the grid connection for a tidal power station equal in installed capacity to Hinkley Point C. Looking at the pounds per megawatt hour unit cost of new build power stations, nuclear is currently priced in the nineties, the latest offshore wind projects are expected to drop into the seventies and our models show Cardiff Tidal Lagoon beating them all in the sixties.”

What’s more, says Mark, by leveraging the commanding position taken by UK

Gigaclear awards £90 million contract to Complete Utilities

Abingdon-based Gigaclear has awarded a £90 million contract to Complete Utilities, based at Gloucester, to connect almost 70,000 properties across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to its Ultrafast full fibre broadband network.

The work, Phase 2 of the ongoing Fastershire project, will take around three years to complete and will connect 173 cabinets across the two counties, giving residents access to Internet speeds of up to 1Gbps.

Complete Utilities will use narrow trenching to lay multi-way ducts giving homes and businesses access to Gigaclear’s network. As customers request connection to the new ultrafast network, the full fibre cables will be blown through the duct to their property.

Brett Shepherd, Gigaclear’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Having successfully worked with Complete Utilities in Fastershire over the past two years, we’re really delighted to be strengthening and extending our partnership with them. The innovative construction methods they have proposed will put us at the forefront of the industry, enabling us to deliver our broadband network more efficiently and with minimal disruption to local communities.”

Steve Chaplin, Complete Utilities Managing Director, added: “As a business based in rural Gloucestershire ourselves, we take pride in playing such a key role in the delivery of a completely new broadband network in the area. We’re also really pleased to have an opportunity to demonstrate the positive

industry preparing for Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, supply chain contracts awarded for Cardiff Tidal Lagoon could be worth more than £6 billion to UK companies.

Phil Sheppard, National Grid’s Director of UK System Operator, said: “Tidal power presents a reliable and predictable source of renewable generation that has the potential for highly flexible operation in the future. We have worked alongside tidal lagoon developers to gain an understanding of the operational characteristics of the proposed lagoons. This infrastructure project will have a significant impact as we move towards an increasingly low carbon electricity network.”

Fastershire is a partnership between Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council to bring faster broadband to the two counties. Funding is drawn from central government’s Broadband Delivery UK programme and matched by the local authorities.

“Tidal power presents a reliable and predictable source of renewable generation that has the potential for highly flexible operation in the future.”

impact the latest methodologies will have on the future of network delivery in the UK.”

Brett Shepherd, Gigaclear with Steve Chaplin, Complete Utilities.

BUSINESS & CORPORATE EXECUTIVE CHAUFFEUR SERVICE

Our team of insurance specialists know how important your business is to you so pride themselves on handling claims fairly and efficiently with minimum hassle.

At NFU Mutual our service is not just limited to insurance. We can offer a range of quality services for your business, from health and safety management to key employee assurance. Call 01242 582038 for a quote or pop in NFU Mutual, 111 Promenade, Cheltenham, GL50 1NW

Cheltenham & Gloucester to get fast broadband

RAU’s pledge to food provenance with Happerley

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is to become the first university in the UK to declare itself a Provenance Champion, by publishing and certifying the provenance of its entire food supply chain through Cheltenham-based Happerley’s verification system.

Catering for 1,200 students and 200 staff daily, the RAU’s award-winning kitchens are focused on sustainability.

Teresa North, RAU Commercial Services Director, said: “We practice what we teach and aim to integrate sustainability across the whole organisation. Catering is an important part and we have

introduced a number of measures to support this. Our students are the farmers, agricultural scientists and food producers of the future and we positively reinforce the great contribution integrity and authenticity has in the outstanding food we produce here in the UK.”

Matthew Rymer, founder of Happerley is a farmer himself. He says: “Getting the RAU behind us means a great deal to our organisation. Including provenance as a part of students’ daily life we can blaze a trail of traceabilitygood news for UK food producers and consumers alike.”

Gloucestershire launches Growth Hub Library Network

The first two of 31 new Growth Hubs opened in September in partnership with GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Located in Coleford and Cinderford libraries initially, the Growth Hubs will provide local business with information and support to help them grow.

The LEP wants Growth Hubs to help grow Gloucestershire’s economy and offer opportunities for businesses to meet, network and promote their services to e ach other.

Sarah Danson, Growth Hub Manager said “We’re delighted the Growth Hub Library Network roll out is now underway. The planned roll out of the libraries network is instrumental in helping The Growth Hub

achieve its objective to help businesses throughout Gloucestershire expand and thrive.”

Using funding allocated from government in the Gloucestershire Growth Deal, the council has been working with the GFirst LEP to extend Growth Hubs across the county, making them more accessible for local businesses.

Growth Hubs in the remaining 29 libraries across Gloucestershire will open in the coming months.

These include Lydney, Charlton Kings, Up Hatherley, Chipping Campden, Cirencester, Fairford, Tetbury, Winchcombe and Cheltenham Libraries. The aim is to have Growth Hubs in all Gloucestershire libraries by mid-2018.

Network provider CityFibre has partnered with Cheltenham-based Bamboo Technology Group Ltd, to install full-fibre beneath Cheltenham and Gloucester’s streets, giving urban businesses access to ultrafast internet speeds.

Connections to the network can be secured through telecoms and ICT service provider, Bamboo.

Nick Gray, City Development Manager at CityFibre, said: “Poor connectivity has been an issue for businesses across Gloucester and Cheltenham for a number of years. Bamboo’s experience, local insight and range of solutions will be invaluable to aiding businesses take full advantage of the new infrastructure.”

Lorrin White, Managing Director of Bamboo added: “With over 85% of businesses we spoke to expressing an interest in affordable 500Mbps, there is clearly a growing appetite and need for the service.”

Lakes Bathrooms reports rise in turnover

Tewkesbury-based Lakes Bathrooms has reported a rise in turnover to £16.5 million, up 3% on the previous year, and is predicting more growth.

The company, which also celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, expanded into an additional 70,000 sq ft warehouse, opened a trade showroom and took on new staff, bringing total staff count in the UK to 71, and 68 at its manufacturing site in China.

Matthew Rymer, Founder of Happerley; Teresa North, Commercial Services Director RAU; Andy Harris, Commercial Operations Manager RAU; Clifford Freeman, Happerley. © PHOTOGRAPHY ANNA

LYTHGOE

Rising to the top as Albright IP ranks amongst the highest filers of trademarks in the UK and EU

Albright IP has secured an impressive position in this year’s “Top 100” trademark filing league table, published by the Chartered Institute of Trademark Attorneys (CITMA), ranking 18th for UK trademark filings and 39th for EU trademark applications.

Trademark Attorney and Director at Albright IP, Katie Oliver, commented: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team at Albright IP. We started the trademark department back in 2008 and in 9 years, have seen exceptional growth, securing Albright’s position as an internationally recognised provider of trademark services.”

Published annually by CITMA, the

filings league table ranks the member organisations in terms of the number of trademark applications filed on behalf of their clients before the UK and European trademark offices.

Julia House, Trademark Attorney and Director at Albright IP said. “The ranking is evidence of the recognition that is attributable to the professional expertise of our trademark attorneys, which our clients have come to expect and value. From the beginning, we set out to do things differently at Albright IP. We work with our clients to not only protect their trademarks but also, to gain the maximum commercial advantage from them.”

Albright IP, headquartered in Cheltenham and founded by Managing Director, Robert Games is celebrating its tenth year in business. You can read more on Albright IP in the latest edition of their inhouse magazine, Figure 1, included in this issue of Business & Innovation magazine. This edition of Figure 1, looks at the last ten years of the business and includes an interview with their client, Dan Rees, CEO of Ruroc, the dynamic helmet company taking the extreme sports sector by storm.

www.albright-ip.co.uk

Officeworx acquires Kettering-based Knights & Hyde

Cheltenham based stationary, office supplies and IT business Officeworx has acquired Kettering-based Knights and Hyde Ltd which supplies office stationery and janitorial supplies. Knights and Hyde has a strong local presence supplying offices, factories, warehouses, schools and restaurants.

Officeworx Director, Paul Berry, said: “The purchase of Knights and Hyde will strengthen our companies even further. Increased buying power from our suppliers will enable us to remain highly competitive in a market where cost prices are often volatile”.

The purchase of Knights and Hyde will further complement the third company in the Officeworx group, Finn Telecom, which was established in 2016 and supplies telephone systems and calling plans to business and residential customers.

Cheltenham businesswoman to represent the UK in Rome

Louise Oliver, Director of Cheltenhambased financial planning company, Piercefield Oliver, and President of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE) will represent the UK at the 65th FCEM Congress in Rome on November 20.

FCEM (Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales) is a pioneer association uniting women business owners from all over the world. Founded in France, it quickly spread across the globe.

Headed by President Laura Fhati Gucci, the worldwide network provides a unique opportunity for co-operation to access what it says is the fastest growing segment of the economy: female entrepreneurs.

Carla rides the electric wave

The boss of a Stroud-based catering consultancy thinks she is probably the only female British managing director using an electric motorcycle for work.

Carla McKenzie, who runs MYA, has covered 21,000 miles on BMW 1200s in just 18 months and has recently added a Zero DSR to her two-wheeled fleet, fulfilling her passion for the environment and electric motorcycles.

In September, she bought a brand new Zero DSR from Streetbike of Halesowen. Zero Motorcycles are designed and built in California and claim to offer the highest energy and power density batteries in the electric vehicle industry. The company claims Carla’s DSR can cover up to 180 miles in city use and 70 miles at 70mph. She was able to take advantage of the government’s long-awaited Plug-in

Motorcycle grant which reduced the cost of the machine by £1500.

Her new Zero has been charged in some unusual places; on her very first journey, Carla stopped at Wellesbourne Airfield, home of the iconic Vulcan Bomber XM655. While the volunteers who maintain the machine gave her a guided tour her Zero was recharged from the Vulcan’s cockpit.

Carla is frustrated by the fact that the fast-charging option available for Zeroes in the USA is not yet available in the UK due to EU bureaucracy. She had hoped to be able to plug in to the thousands of charging units now offered by the likes of Ecotricity, her fellow Stroud-based business. For now, she is restricted to recharging from conventional 3-pin mains sockets, which are ubiquitous but slow.

Quirky co-working space revealed in Cirencester

A gorgeous co-working and meeting space based in the centre of Cirencester has opened.

And for those needing a bit of mindful excercise: Unicorn House also has a dedicated yoga/meditation room and offers regular classes.

Occupying a beautifully refurbished Cotswold Stone building, the space has a quirky, warm interior.

Amenities include car park, bike storage, garden and shower rooms, as well as private or shared offices and meeting rooms available for hire.

Regional Round Up

Regional Round Up

Regional Round Up

Business Leaders turnout for GFirst LEP Annual Review 2017

GFirst LEP held its sixth Annual Review event at Rush Skate Park, in Brimscombe, Stroud. With over 300 delegates, it was an excellent networking opportunity at a unique venue to celebrate achievements over the last 12 months and look forward to the future with the launch of The Big Conversation focusing on what Gloucestershire will look like in 2050.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Rob Lacey

Kevan Blackadder from Cheltenham BIM with Angela Presdee from Gloucestershire County Council and Nigel Jobson SuperDry

Simon Carey from Barnwood Group and Simon Tothill from Robert Hitchins

Alex Cotterell from The Growth Hub and Dev Chakraborty from GFirst LEP

Paul Fong from Hunter Page with Mike Curran and Mike Warner from GFirst LEP

Adam Starkey from Green Gourmet with Narval Varghese of BEAF and Dame Janet Trotter

Stephen Marston from University of Gloucestershire and Ian Mean from Business West

Mark Ryan from Gloucestershire Airport with John Kulasek of Gloucestershire County Council and Stephen Limbrick from Roberts Limbrick

Lorrin White and Erica Jones from Bamboo Technology Group

Kirsty Muir from Business & Innovation Magazine with Diane Savory of GFirst LEP and Nicky Godding of Business & Innovation Magazine.

Bob Watters from LEADER (Rural Development Programme for England) with Simon King from The Royal Agricultural University

SGS BERKELEY GREEN – OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Set on the Gloucestershire Science & Technology Park, SGS Berkeley GREEN is open for business, offering some of the best training facilities in the country for the Built Environment, Welding, Engineering and Digital Technologies.

SGS College has invested in a new £5million Engineering Centre (known as GREEN) that will respond to the regional growth in engineering and nuclear and will deliver full and part- time training to learners from the age of 16 including apprenticeships, adult re-training programmes and degree level learning.

An exciting range of commercial training courses are available in the following subject areas:

• Construction

• Engineering

• Health & Safety

• Plumbing/Electrical

• Renewable Energies

• Security

• Welding

Please contact Jo Matthews on 01453 761131 to discuss your requirements and book a course or email sgsberkeleygreen@sgscol.ac.uk

www.sgscol.ac.uk/berkeleygreen |

Berkeley Green

Technology Park at Berkeley

Following Government driven reviews of the Education sector, employers are being encouraged to take a far more active role in the development of apprenticeship programmes and SGS are working closely with regional businesses to support this activity and meet their needs. Working with over a thousand companies, many of whom actively support the curriculum delivery through a host of activities ranging from guest speaking, contributing resources or providing work placements, which are invaluable in helping learners experience the world of work as part of their studies.

George Ridd, site director at South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) College’s new Berkeley Campus, explains, the college is engaging with local businesses and now offering a large range of engineering courses from the purpose-built John Huggett Engineering Hall. The College have moved the Engineering facility from Stroud to Berkeley to meet the growing demand for

courses. The redeveloped site will offer some of the best training facilities in the country for Built Environment, Welding, Engineering and Digital Technologies, with full and part-time training on offer to learners from the age of 14 upwards including apprenticeships, adult re-training programmes and degree level learning. The new College campus and UTC, is seen as a major step forward to encourage a new breed of young engineers.

Our latest development is entitled Internships. This has been set up in direct response to concerns that companies raised with us about learners going onto apprenticeship programmes.

Entry onto an apprenticeship programme can be a big step for learners who may not have worked in the trade previously. The internship programme allows learners and employers to work closely together for 6 months prior to the apprenticeship to ensure that both are aware of their obligations. The learner will come in to the college for three days a week, whilst completing two days a week work experience at the company.

Our new campus at Berkeley will enable us to engage with a wider body of employers because we’re offering a wider curriculum. And it enables us to develop facilities that are more bespoke. If an employer wanted to make a particular kind of widget, for example, we could do it at Berkeley. We’ve got so much work and parking space on the campus that it enables us to develop pretty much anything that’s supported by a business case.

Kevin Hamblin, Chief Executive of the SGS Group, explains the philosophy behind the new training centre: “When I took up post of CEO of SGS, with a remit of ensuring the College was employerfacing, it was clear from everyone I spoke with that Gloucestershire had a problem with the lack of skilled employees in some priority areas, which were not being met by the current post-16 providers. Engineering and Cyber Security were two sectors that were either essential to the local economy and/or set to grow considerably over the medium term. “Colleges are funded to deliver a wide number of courses and I felt we could do more to support these priority sectors and begin to bridge this gap by increasing the profile of Engineering and Cyber Security in Gloucestershire”.

To find out more about training provision at SGS Berkeley GREEN please email sgsberekleygreen@sgscol.ac.uk or call 01453 761 131 www.sgscol.ac.uk/berkeleygreen

“The college’s plans are exciting and ambitious, supporting the UK drive to excel in science and engineering.”

George Ridd, Site Director, SGS Berkeley Campus

SGS College is a key player in developing skills for a new breed of young engineers at the Gloucestershire Science and

Following extensive renovations and new, state of the art facilities, SGS Berkeley GREEN College and University Technical College (UTC) is now home to its first group of learners, studying digital technologies, cyber security and engineering.

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REGIONAL ROUND UP

One Creative Environments designs first ever extra care facility in the Falklands

Following a competitive pitch, Worcesterbased One Creative Environments has been commissioned to deliver the first ever Vulnerable Persons Extra Care Facility in the Falkland Islands.

The integrated design business, which serves UK and international clients from its Worcester HQ and London office, was selected to design and deliver the centre by the Falkland Islands Government and is now working with officers to secure planning permission.

To be located on the east side of Stanley, which has a population of 2,800 (in contrast to Worcester’s population of around 100,000), the facility will be the only one in the Falklands, having been commissioned to address bed-blocking in the islands’ over-cramped hospital, and the growing need for supported living for vulnerable persons.

Worcestershire LEP launches new soft landing offer for investors

Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a new ‘soft landing’ offer with a range of free and discounted services for those looking to invest in Worcestershire.

The red-carpet service consists of discounted professional services from local Worcestershire-based businesses, together with related grant funding support.

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire LEP, said: “This soft-landing offer highlights the exceptional business support available in the county and displays the effective partnership working of the county’s business community.”

The single-storey building will feature 32 one and two bedroom apartments and two short-term and respite bedrooms which maximise the stunning sea views. It will also include staff, community and ancillary services with landscaped gardens, a café and restaurant catering for the facility’s residents – as well as the hospital and prison.

One Creative, which also provides masterplanning, architecture and

engineering services, will deliver the care centre in a modular design format, shipping materials over in containers.

One Creative Director, Mark Martin, said: “This project has been a wonderful experience, with our team visiting the Falkland Islands to undertake intensive site visits, stakeholder meetings and workshops. We look forward to providing the much-needed facility for local people on these fabulous islands.”

Gymshark expands again

Worcestershire clothing and sportswear business Gymshark has undergone further expansion to help meet growing demand.

The Redditch-based firm last year took out a letting on a 7,814 sq ft unit at Brooklands, fronting Moons Moat Drive, in what was thought to be the biggest letting in the town for five years.

The building serves as the firm’s headquarters, accommodating its design, e-commerce, administration and customer service functions. Gymshark has now added a second Brooklands unit. It has agreed a fiveyear lease on the 4,832 sq ft Unit 5, a former NHS call centre.

However, even this may not be sufficient to keep pace with the current rate of expansion.

Paul Richardson, Gymshark’s Chief Strategic Officer, said: “We are taking on three people a day at present and we are already looking for more space in the locality.”

He said the growth was due to massive growth in the US and Europe – particularly Germany and France.

The company now employs more than 100 people and sells its products into 180 countries. It predicts it will hit £40 million plus turnover in the current year.

Ben Truslove at John Truslove, helped conclude the lease deal: “We have built a healthy professional relationship with the team at Gymshark since letting them their HQ. As a result, we were able to agree this deal ‘off-market’, which completed simultaneously with a lease surrender of an NHS call centre.”

CGI of proposed Falklands Care Centre

Regional Round Up

Regional Round Up

Are you ready for GDPR?

Do you know what GDPR means to you? Don’t worry if you don’t, you’re not alone. A recent survey from information security company Shred-it revealed that 84% of UK small business owners and 43% of senior executives in large companies are unaware of the changes to UK data protection law that will be implemented in May 2018.

Dubbed the ‘biggest change to data protection law for a generation’ by the Information Commissioner, the General Data Protection Regulation is the new legal framework for data protection in the UK and across Europe – it will take over from the Data Protection Act on 25 May 2018 regardless of Brexit.

All businesses that hold or process the personal data of EU individuals will need to comply with it. This will mean that international companies will also need to comply if they hold information on staff, suppliers, customers, clients, shareholders and directors of EU companies and, even after Brexit, UK companies will still need to continue to comply.

The GDPR will introduce new concepts and approaches for the

protection of personal data – for example consent must be given on an ‘opt-in’ basis and separate permissions are required for different activities. You can no longer assume that because a customer wants to receive your newsletter, they also want information on the seminars you may hold. Once consent is given, your data must be regularly checked and it mustn’t be assumed that the consent will be valid indefinitely.

One area of concern for organisations is that under GDPR, they will face greater sanctions for any breach of their data protection obligations. Were you aware that the new fine for breach of the regulations could be up to 20 million Euros or 4% of global turnover? For example, Talk Talk’s 2016 fine for security failings that allowed hackers to access customer data, would rocket to £59m instead of £400,000 under GDPR.

In addition, as customers, we are all able to make ‘subject access requests’ to an organisation that we believe holds our personal data, and ask them to share with us all the information that they may hold.

If your organisation receives such a request, do you have the right

systems and processes in place to ensure that you are able to meet the requirements of the request within the time frame?

Want to chat?

If our article has made you think that you need some help to implement the changes required to comply with GDPR, please get in touch and let’s have a chat.

Sign Up

If you’re already fully prepared, why not sign up for our newsletter where we can ensure you stay up to date with last minute advice and guidance around the new act - www. hcrlaw/gdpr or email campaigns@ hcrlaw.com Contact: Robert Cobley, Partner Call: 01905 744 806 Email: rcobley@hcrlaw.com Steven Murray, Senior Associate Solicitor Call: 01242 246 494

Email: smurray@hcrlaw.com

New business success for Gough Bailey Wright

Gough Bailey Wright is celebrating a flurry of new business, including four new clients and expanding briefs from its existing portfolio.

The agency, which provides, creative design, digital marketing and specialist property PR services, has been appointed by Worcester’s integrated design business, One Creative Environments, to deliver PR and press office services, whilst the digital team have completed a

new website for opticians, Pinder and Moore.

It’s providing PR and creative design services for Birmingham Dogs Home, as well as a creative project for Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Managing Director, Sue Bailey, said: “The new business is coming in thick and fast and it’s great to see a wide variety of clients benefitting from the team’s expertise.’

Bewdley farm expands after receiving £34,000 grant

An extra 4,000 visitors a year are expected at a farm and campsite in Worcestershire after it received a £34,120 grant to expand.

Bosses at Hopley’s at Bewdley also say the money will help increase turnover by £50,000 each year, create two full time jobs and up to eight seasonal jobs.

The grant from LEADER has gone towards paying for a new pavilion, which has a licensed bar, catering facilities and can host live music events.

Originally a fruit farm, the Hopleys site was converted to a camping and caravan site 13 years ago.

Justin Hopley, owner of Hopley’s said: “Thanks to LEADER we have been able to provide a major new facility for our visitors

Worcestershire leads way in 5G

Plans to build the UK’s first 5G test bed in partnership with the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC) are taking shape in Worcestershire.

Worcestershire LEP announced the new test bed will focus on the 5G commercial applications with founder members and leading companies, QinetiQ, Worcester Bosch and Yamazaki Mazak to enable innovation in the cyber security industry and Industry 4.0.

The 5G test bed will also provide the opportunity for entrepreneurs to test 5G capabilities in the new incubator to be located at the Malvern Hills Science Park.

5GIC is the largest UK academic research centre dedicated to the development of the next generation of mobile and wireless communications.

WINN in Worcestershire

“Thanks to LEADER we have been able to provide a major, new facility for our visitors years earlier than we would have been able without the financial assistance.”

years earlier than we would have been able without the financial assistance.”

LEADER is part of the Rural Development Programme for England and is delivered locally by Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Local Action Group on behalf of Defra.

The Combi Boiler, Liquid Crystals in a TV and Military Radar were all invented in Worcestershire. Worcestershire Sauce was too, but of course you knew that.

WINN (Worcestershire Innovation) is a new collaboration between innovators across the region, aimed at consolidating support activities, creating a community of innovators and ensuring that the county’s innovative history continues.

The next WINN event will be at the Worcester Arena on 22nd November from 5pm-8.30pm.

For more information visit www.winn-hub.com

Regional Round Up

Regional Round Up

Regional Round Up

Regional Round Up

SEVERN PROVIDE KEY SERVICES FOR YOUR BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS:

PARTOFYOUR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLYSUPPLY CHAIN

DIGITAL PRINTING

TRANSACTIONAL SERVICES

MAILING & FULFILMENT

VARIABLE DATA

LITHO PRINTING

DIRECT MAIL SERVICES

DISPLAY & EXHIBITION

DESIGN & ARTWORK CREATION

Rybrook accelerates to over £500 million turnover

Regional Round Up

Turnover has risen at Warwick-based Rybrook Holdings, one of the largest privately-owned new and used car retailer groups in the UK. This follows a number of acquisitions and new ventures – a fantastic way for the company to celebrate its 80th anniversary.

The company, which has many major specialist and luxury franchises, reported a jump in turnover from £432 million in 2015 to £575 million for the year to 31 December 2016.

Founded in 1937 as Ryland Motors, the company has grown steadily. In 2016 the company acquired Jaguar Huddersfield and Land Rover Huddersfield and Halifax, and opened Rybrook Bristol,

Coventry & Warwickshire launches business festival

The first-ever Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival is set to ignite the local business scene says organisers.

From 20 November to 1 December the region will host a fortnight of business events put on by organisations from across the region.

The festival will include small networking workshops or seminars to large trade shows and national conferences to drive economic growth and inward investment for the region.

The Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival has been developed by the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Growth Hub.

www.cwbusinessfestival.com

£5 million investment to help reduce carbon emissions

Regional Round Up

A £5 million investment by an expanding Warwickshire recycling and waste management company, could lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions.

now home to Bentley Bristol, Lamborghini Bristol, McLaren Bristol, Rolls-Royce Bristol and Rybrook Specialist Cars.

In 2017, the company acquired BMW, MINI and Motorrad Wolverhampton. Current investments include the refurbishment of Porsche Centre Chester, Conwy Land Rover, the redevelopment of Rybrook Chester Volvo, and the construction of Rybrook Specialist Cars Technical Centre on Blythe Valley business park. This will relocate the McLaren and RollsRoyce Birmingham aftersales facilities currently in Cofton Hackett to a much larger purpose-built facility in Solihull, closer to the sales centre.

Labyrinth wins with SilkThread

A unique cloud-based tool which is significantly improving standards of compliance management for logistics companies and hauliers, while reducing time spent away from the day job, is winning awards across the logistics sector.

SilkThread was created by Ruth Waring, Managing Director at Labyrinth, a privately-owned supply chain and logistics consultancy based in Leamington Spa, and co-director Jo Godsmark.

In September 2017 Secured Mail, one of the UK’s largest e-commerce, postal and retail logistics companies and a very early customer of SilkThread, won the 2017 SHD Logistics award for Technology Innovation, for their collaboration with Labyrinth. Secured

Fortress Recycling and Resource Management on the Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick is the first company to receive a £100,000 grant from the Coventry and Warwickshire Green Business Programme following introductions by the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Growth Hub.

The business, run by brothers David, Robert and Andrew Pass, has invested in a £5 million materials processing facility to sort and recycle paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and aluminium cans. Twenty new jobs have been created.

David Pass, said: “This plant is now one of the most advanced material recovery centres in the UK.”

Mail rolled out SilkThread across its depots to ensure high standards of compliance during a period of rapid growth and change.

Last year Labyrinth won the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics Excellence Award for Information Technology, and Warwickshire County Council awarded a grand of £30,000 to support the company’s innovations and potential for business and jobs growth in the local economy.

Ruth Waring, Labyrinth, David Myskow, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber, Russell Allen, Aubrey Allen at the Pride of Warwick Business Person of the Year 2017

© RYBROOK MCLAREN

REGIONAL ROUND UP OXFORDSHIRE

Oxford Rapid Prototyping celebrates successful 3D printing

Oxford Product Design is celebrating the first anniversary of its new division, Oxford Rapid Prototyping.

Setting up on-site prototyping was a natural next step for OPD after moving into its new design studio in the city’s Jericho district last summer.

“The on-site prototyping capabilities have sped up the product design process significantly,” said Managing Director, Rupert Wilkinson. “Having the 3D printer in house means our designers can release their designs at the end of the day and have a prototype sitting on their desk in the morning.”

Rapid prototyping encourages the team to take more risks. “A design is always a best guess until you’ve made and tested it,” added Rupert.

designers can release their designs at the end of the day and have a prototype sitting on their desk in the morning.”

The 3D printer digitally blends rubbers, clear resins and engineering plastics to produce objects in more than 450 possible colours, with a variety of textures and finishes.

The business has steadily grown since launch. Work has been undertaken for the automotive, medical, scientific and engineering industries, as well as for artists, interior designers and hobbyists.

Satellite Applications Catapult announces winners of SME Growth Challenge

The Satellite Applications Catapult, based at Harwell, Oxfordshire, has announced winners awarded Catapult sponsorship to take part in the SME Growth Challenge Programme.

The SME Growth Challenge Programme uses the latest thinking in business management and draws on its experience in supporting growing firms.

OXIS and NASA join forces

Next generation battery technology company OXIS Energy is collaborating with NASA in the development of high specific energy Lithium Sulfur cells.

The companies will draw on their expertise for applications where weight is crucial, for example, drones, balloons, high altitude aircraft and defence for both terrestrial needs and for planetary missions.

The association helps NASA to improve its understanding of the capabilities of Lithium Sulfur technology and OXIS to develop pouch cells meeting NASA’s long term battery requirements.

OXIS will supply its latest generation of Ultra Light cells to NASA JPL Laboratory for evaluation in its facility in Pasadena, California. NASA will undertake to evaluate the cells under different conditions in order to assess energy density, low temperature performance, cycle life, self-discharge and calendar life.

Huw Hampson Jones, CEO of OXIS said: “Oxis Energy is delighted to be working so closely with such a world class partner. We know from our collaboration with European and Chinese space agencies that for every 1kg of battery weight saved, it equates with a launch cost saving of in excess of US $20,000. When Lithium-Ion batteries are weighing in at several hundred kilos, the savings of deploying OXIS Lithium-Sulfur would amount to several million dollars for the Space Agencies.”

and Welwyn Garden City-based e2E joined the start-up programme in September.

Rafel Jorda Siquier, CEO of Open Cosmos, said: “Scaling a company is tough. Open Cosmos has been doubling its size every six months over the last two years, and winning the SME Growth Challenge will allow us to continue improving, learning from others and staying a step ahead of the risks and challenge intrinsic to growth.”

3D printed image of Oxford

The CEOs of the winning companies: Harwell Campus-based Open Cosmos

“Having the 3D printer in house means our

Regional Round Up

Huw Hampson Jones

Happy 100th, Barrus. Here’s to the next century

EP Barrus Ltd, which represents over 30 market-leading brands across the garden, marine and industrial sectors, celebrated its 100th birthday this year.

From Wilkinson Sword to Wolf Garten Tools, Quicksilver Boats and more, the Bicester-based company has been responsible for introducing many innovative products into the UK market. These range from the first claw hammer, ride-on lawnmower and gas-fired garden barbecues, to the D-BAT, a diesel-powered all-terrain vehicle popular with the military and a multi-fuel outboard developed for the UK MoD capable of running on four different NATO fuels.

John Lewis offers first look inside its new Oxford store

John Lewis shared a first glimpse inside its 120,000 sq ft Oxford store in September ahead of the opening on 24 October.

Since then, staff were kept busy stocking the shop’s three floors ready for opening. The 26-week construction process included the installation of over 3000 fixtures and fittings.

The retailer also revealed that along with the Westgate Oxford Alliance, it commissioned architects Glenn Howells, to take inspiration from Oxford’s historic buildings such as the Bodleian Library for the development. The design uses traditional materials in an innovative modern way. Cast stone string courses emphasise the floors and pleats of Roman size brickwork frame floor to ceiling windows, and views into the shop.

Julie Blake, Branch Manager at John Lewis Oxford, said: “Central to the design of our shop was making sure it complemented its surroundings. From graduation hats in our Place to Eat to the view of the Oxfordshire countryside from our rooftop restaurant, we want to

celebrate everything that makes Oxford a great place to live, work and shop.”

Gavin Smith, Senior Manager, Store Development, John Lewis added: “Since starting at the Westgate site in April, we have worked hard to ensure the shop looks amazing.”

In 1917, Ernest Prouty Barrus set up a UK company to supply Starrett precision tools, including micrometers and measuring equipment, to distribute them throughout Europe. Since then, Barrus has diversified into multiple market sectors including Marine, Garden and Industrial. EP Barrus is co-owned by the Glen family and MTD Holdings, another family-owned company based in the USA, and one of the largest producers of outdoor power equipment in the world.

Robert Glen, Chairman at EP Barrus Ltd, and the grandson of the founder Ernest Barrus said: “As we celebrate our centenary we reflect on our proud past and most importantly express our sincere thanks to our customers, suppliers, distributors and partners and loyal employees.”

The new store will host KuPP, a Scandinavian restaurant. It will be the chain’s first foray into the UK retail market. KuPP will also be John Lewis’s first ever rooftop restaurant. Also in the store will be a Kuoni travel concession, and a new bar:café concept from Benugo. The shop will also feature a Home Design Studio; an area within the Home department that brings together all John Lewis’ interior design services.

Robert Muir, EP Barrus Managing Director, added: “2017 is a momentous year. Recent announcements include our new location plans which will enable us to grow the business, the acquisition of the gardening gloves and footwear company, Town & Country, and the engine supply contract recently awarded to Barrus by Atlas Elektronik UK who will build the £48 million next generation Royal Navy workboats.”

“Since starting at the Westgate site in April, we have worked really hard to ensure the shop looks amazing.”

Regional Round Up

John Lewis Oxford Branch Manager Julie Blake with Gavin Smith, Senior Manager, Store Development

LOCAL BUSINESS LEADS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

85% then exported around the world,” Chris concludes: “We expect this growth to continue. We have a number of job opportunities available at the moment and some ambitious plans for the next few years. To achieve these plans we need to ensure we have the right people, technologies and facilities to meet the challenge.”

Meech’s focus is not just on export markets but also on their local presence. The head-office employs over 60 people, the majority of them local, with most employees remaining with the company for many years. However, they are also looking at more ways to give back to the local community.

the development of industrial solutions that not only solve customers’ production problems but also improves efficiency and reduces costs for the customer.

The last 2 years has seen a global expansion for Witney-based company Meech International, as the company increased its production capability and its worldwide labour force. A healthy rise in sales and a consistently positive performance across all its regions contributed to the strength of the company.

Established in 1907 and headquartered in Witney, Oxfordshire, Meech is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and specialist developers of static control, compressed air technology, web cleaning systems and other surface cleaning technology.

Meech’s position as a key global manufacturer of electrostatic control equipment has been developed over the last 50 years and they now service a wide variety of industries including Print, Packaging, Plastics and Automotive. Over that time R&D has played a big part in

As well as the head office, Meech has another 6 offices located in the USA, Belgium, China, Hungary, India and the recently opened Singapore office. These offices service a network of global distributors in more than 70 countries. All distributors and offices receive extensive in-house training in Witney. This global reach allows Meech to fully understand the markets that they work in.

“It is our sustained investment in R&D, personnel and facilities that enables us to introduce new products to the market while also providing the high level of service our clients have come to expect from the Meech brand,” says Chris Francis, CEO at Meech International.

“We are extremely pleased with our performance and have seen a sustained increase in sales over the last few years, which has culminated aproximitely a 50% increase in global sales over the last 2 years.”

“With the exception of some assembly that is done in the USA for the local market, all our manufacturing takes place in the UK, using local suppliers with over

Earlier this year, Meech made their first grants to two local organisations via the Meech Centenary Trust, a ring-fenced charitable fund held and managed by Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF). Equating to a total of £7,718, the grants were distributed to Base 33 (a charity supporting vulnerable young adults) and OCVA (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action) as part of Meech’s commitment to supporting and investing in the local community.

The Meech Centenary Trust was established in 2013 to commemorate the company’s 100th anniversary. Chris explains what drove him to set up the fund: “Over the decades, Meech has grown into a successful multinational business, and it is because of this success that we feel we have a responsibility to engage with our local community and give something back towards it.”

For more information about Meech visit their website at www.meech.com .

The Meech brand is stronger than ever and is expected to keep on growing.

Chris Francis, CEO at Meech International

“It is our sustained investment in R&D, personnel and facilities that enables us to introduce new products to the market...”

TechPixies expands to Banbury and Bicester

A social enterprise that helps women return to work by teaching them new tech skills is branching out across Oxfordshire thanks to two new partnerships that will enable courses to commence in Banbury and Bicester later this year.

TechPixies, founded by successful entrepreneur and working mum of two, Joy Foster, has enlisted the support of Bloxham Mill Business Centre

Bicester Heritage receives £3m Handelsbanken funding

Handelsbanken has granted £3 million development funding to Bicester Heritage after witnessing its success and rapid expansion since 2013.

Just four years ago, the 348-acre site was listed on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register. It’s now a thriving ecosystem of expanding businesses and is regarded by an increasing number of people as home of the classic car industry.

Handelsbanken has been a long-term partner of Bicester Heritage, and has watched the site’s transformation from dereliction to boom.

The funding reinforces how the former RAF Bomber Command Station has found the perfect formula for success.

near Banbury, and Stack & Jones Accountants near Bicester, to provide complimentary meeting room space so that women from the surrounding areas can build a local support network at the same time as acquiring new skills.

TechPixies is hosting free digital marketing taster sessions in Oxfordshire with six-week courses due to commence in November 2017 (Banbury) and February 2018 (Bicester).

Immunocore Ltd and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation collaborate

Immunocore Limited, the world’s leading T-Cell receptor company developing biological drugs to treat cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, has announced an investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development of Immunocore’s soluble TCR-based therapeutics for infectious diseases.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will invest up to $40 million in Abingdon-based Immunocore to support development of Immunocore’s ImmTAV (Immune mobilising monoclonal TCRs Against Virus) and ImmTAB (Immune mobilising monoclonal TCRs Against Bacteria) therapeutics for infectious diseases that pose a global health challenge.

The bank says its involvement is a clear endorsement of Bicester Heritage’s success and a reflection of the underlying strength of its business plan.

In rolling out Phase 4 of restoration, Bicester Heritage has released 10 new buildings and an extra 30,000 square feet of premises, all pre-let or under offer. Half of new business unit occupants are existing tenants, creating space for new, smaller specialists.

The Oxfordshire site now plans to create 60,000 sq ft of buildings ranging from

3,500 to 10,000 sq ft. Daniel Geoghegan, Managing Director at Bicester Heritage, said “Handelsbanken has taken the time to build a relationship and get under the skin of our concept. It’s very much a partnership approach.”

Chris Andrews, Corporate Manager at Handelsbanken’s Banbury branch, added:

“With a robust business model, backed by a real passion for what they do, the Bicester Heritage team have delivered a new, unrivalled, centre of excellence for vintage cars in the UK.”

Regional Round Up

“The financing from Handelsbanken is a clear endorsement of Bicester Heritage’s progress and underlying business model”

Regional Round Up

Regional Round Up

Michael Stack & Nadine Jones with Techpixies’ Julie Blake and Ray Avery of Bloxham Mill

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR TOMORROW’S RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES?

Employers believe high competition for skilled staff and fewer people entering the jobs market in their industries is putting pressure on existing staff and heightening workplace stress. How can you overcome these challenges in your organisation?

The Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends 2018 guide explores survey results of 17,500 employers and employees, who provided insight into what has happened over the past 12 months and what they expect for the coming year.

• Discover recruitment trends and anticipate market conditions

• Benchmark your employees’ salaries

• Inform your strategic workforce planning

As leading recruiting experts in Oxfordshire, we are dedicated to recruiting for a range of sectors including accountancy and finance, marketing, human resources, legal, office support, digital technology and construction. Our tailored service and local market knowledge will help you find the best match for your organisation.

To request your free copy of the guide, call our Oxfordshire office on 01865 727 071 or email elio.recchia@hays.com

hays.co.uk/salary-guide

West Oxfordshire launched WOBA 2018

The 2018 West Oxfordshire Business Awards (WOBA) is underway following a prestigious launch event at Blenheim Palace. Emma Jones MBE, founder of the UK’s most active small business network, Enterprise Nation and co-founder of StartUp Britain along with Robert Courts, MP for Witney & West Oxfordshire, declared the awards open.

WOBA 2018 entries close at midnight, 4 December 2017 and finalists will be revealed at the Celebration of Business Event in February 2018. Winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner the following month at Heythrop Park Resort.

To join the best of the best, download an entry form from woba.org.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: Carl Hewlett

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Jo Sensecall of Marketing Sense, Heather Carter of Blenheim Palace and Rachel Warren of Marketing Sense

Nigel Tipple of Oxfordshire LEP and Ian Hudspeth of Oxfordshire County Council

WOBA launch event held at Blenheim Palace

The WOBA team at Blenheim Palace

Ian Stewart of Bekstone and Graeme Ashworth of Ridgeway

Bill Smith of STL Communications and David Woodcock of CQR

Henrietta Nagy of Oxon Coaching & Training with Andy Varde of Owen Mumford

Darren Aston of Aston & James, with Jim Heppell of NatWest and Paul Dean of Aston & James

Peter Smith of The MGroup and Kirsty Muir of Business & Innovation Magazine

Businesses Support Chamwell Centre

Huge support was shown for the inaugural Chamwell Centre Social charity evening was held at The Clarence Social where guests enjoyed a glamorous evening of wining, dining and live music including a gastronomic 7 course tasting menu. During the evening a silent charity auction to raise funds for Chamwell Centre Charity, set up to raise £3.7 million to build a state of the art facility for disabled children and young people in Gloucestershire. www.thechamwellcentre.org.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY: Rob Lacey

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Please

Alice Wakefield and Tom Hodge from Hazelwoods

Kurt Wyman from Kurt Wyman Surveyors with Julian Jenkins from Dee & Griffin

Ashleigh Turley, pupil from The Milestone School playing piano to guests

John Workman from BPE with Nicky Godding of Business & Innovation Magazine

Dawn Mayes and Martin Hughes from Lillian Faithful Homes

Ade Gill from Gill Harris James with Linda and Chris Creed from Creed Foodservice

Canapes from The Clarence Social

Denise Finch from Chamwell Centre with Keith Finch from Capita Property and Infrastructure and Fran Weller

Gareth Atkinson from Gill Harris James with Anabel Giessier and Simon Hall from Tiger with Kate Hall from Kate Hall Arts

Andrew Dee and Lesley-Ann Gunn from Dee & Griffin

WORK LIVE TO

Are you worked off your feet?

Foot expert and podiatrist Margaret Dabbs is pioneering an innovative medical pedicure in Cheltenham.

Margaret, who founded her first foot clinic on Harley Street, London in 1998, went on to create the Margaret Dabbs London brand to include foot clinics with nail spas across the UK. She opened her Cheltenham clinic in 2016.

Party on at Cotswold Country Park & Beach

The Cotswold Country Park & Beach at South Cerney, near Cirencester, which revealed a major new AquaVenture Park this summer, has proved such a hit that it has now launched new party and corporate packages.

“We’ve been inundated with requests to book the AquaVenture Park for parties,” said Richard Strickland, Cotswold Country Park’s Manager. “It’s a brilliant way to entertain: kids, adults - everyone. It’s active, exciting and sociable. Best of all, it doesn’t matter what the weather is doing – rain or shine you’re going to get wet.”

With qualified lifeguards to keep order, and 20 obstacles to conquer on the AquaVenture park during an actionpacked hour, the Country Park can even provide party food if booked in advance. Hosts can bring picnics, or reserve a barbecue ahead of time.

The Country Park and Beach, owned by The Cotswold Water Park Trust, is set in the Cotswold Water Park which covers over 40 square miles close to Cirencester and offers a huge range of leisure activities for the whole family.

Annie Horne, Managing Director of Planning Solutions Ltd, which manages the Cotswold County Park on behalf of The Cotswold Water Trust said: “Our AquaVenture parties are such a fabulous way to entertain. It’s a great alternative to the many indoor-only activities on offer at the end of the summer, when the weather is still good enough to enjoy the great outdoors.”

For more information on party packages available for groups from 20 to 100 people: cotswoldcountryparkandbeach.com

Business & Innovation Magazine’s overworked Commercial Director, Kirsty Muir, was invited to the Cheltenham clinic in Montpellier to experience the innovative medical pedicure. With autumn at our feet, she jumped at the chance of a well-earned treat, and see what the treatment was all about.

This pedicure was like no other. Greeted with a warm welcome and a glass of fizz, Kirsty was introduced to the qualified podiatrist who was to deliver the treatment. Then it was down to business.

Forget a quick soak in some bubbles and having hard skin scraped off your feet. There is no water involved at all. All pedicures at Margaret Dabbs are done on dry feet.

The Margaret Dabbs procedure starts with the podiatrist examining your f Weet and medically assessing any issues you may have with them, including skin and nails.

The pedicure is performed on dry feet to ensure long lasting results but also treats the feet effectively, revealing issues often hidden on wet feet.

Kirsty reports that her feet were transformed with the safe surgical removal of dead and dry skin and callus. The nails were shaped, buffed and re-hydrated, using products formulated by Margaret Dabbs. A final massage with Emu oil (for its anti-ageing and moisturising properties) and Kirsty’s feet were left revitalised. She departed with a spring in her step.

“Our AquaVenture parties are such a fabulous way to entertain. It’s a great alternative to the many indoor-only activities on offer at the end of the summer, when the weather is still good enough to enjoy the great outdoors.”

Charles Russell Speechlys, team up with Family Business Place

The Cheltenham Growth Club was hosted and facilitated by Family Business Place in partnership with Charles Russell Speechlys, to support ambitious family-owned businesses. Family Business Place Growth Clubs are a nationwide network of small, local hubs of family business leaders who meet quarterly to spend time working on their businesses. As well as the operational challenges of running and growing a business, family-owned companies have to grapple with the added challenges of family dynamics, succession issues, governance and the next generation.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Rob Lacey

www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com

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Tonya O’Donnell from Smart Actuator Company with Anita Brightly-Hodges from Family Business Place

Susan Anderson from Family Business Place with Julia Cox from Charles Russell Speechlys and Peter Bell from KW Bell Group

Anita Brightly-Hodges, Emily White and Susan Anderson from Family Business Place

Michael Carter from EG Carter with Julia Cox from Charles Russell Speechlys, Peter Bell from KW Bell Group and Susan Anderson from Family Business Place

Michael Carter from EG Carter and Julia Cox from Charles Russell Speechlys

Emily White and Susan Anderson from Family Business Place with Adrian Mayer from Charles Russell Speechlys & Louise Woodward from Cotteswold Dairy

Emily White from Family Business Place with Eoin O’Neill from Helipebs

Peter Bell from KW Bell Group and Jonathan Morley from Charles Russell Speechlys

SUPERDRY ON TARGET THE PRINCE’S TRUST TO RAISE £20,000 FOR

Never has fund-raising been more competitive. Two teams at Superdry in Cheltenham have been going head to head to raise in excess of £10,000 each in support of The Prince’s Trust.

The teams at Superdry: Superdry Sharks and Superdry Prodigy, are each pitching to beat each other in The Prince’s Trust Million Makers, a national entrepreneurial fundraising challenge.

This sees teams of employees from companies across the UK competing to raise at least £10,000 or more over a period of six months. Collectively, the campaign is aiming to raise a million pounds to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people around the country. The competition is also a learning and development tool proven to build essential business skills, and motivate employees.

As we go to print, Superdry Sharks are in front, having organised a hugely successful

auction of 13 exclusively designed jackets, which raised over £7,600. The Sharks also had over 50 members of staff running for them in the Cheltenham Half Marathon, held a car boot sale, a cake day and are promoting Pay Day Pound, where everyone can donate £1 on payday. With over 600 members of staff at The Runnings, Cheltenham, this could quickly boost the Shark’s coffers.

The competition ends in December –and we’ll report back on the winners in early 2018.

Superdry Sharks spokesperson, Carrie Moger, said: “It’s an amazing project. While we are stretching ourselves to learn skills and adopt new initiatives, we are also in contact with people across the company and beyond that we probably would never have met. And when you learn directly from those The Princes Trust helps, it makes it even more worthwhile.”

200 CYCLISTS TOOK TO OXFORD’S ROADS

Some 240 cyclists set off from Oxford in September as Seacourt Tower-based Bidwells, one of the UK’s leading property consultancies, staged a three-city charity bike ride. A total of 350 of the firm’s clients, contacts and members of staff took part.

2017 Local Business Charity Awards revealed

Jelf and Ageas, sponsors of the 2017 Local Business Charity Awards, have announced this year’s winners.

The awards, founded by Jelf in 2014, recognise the support given by Gloucestershire businesses to local charities. The Jelf Award was won by the Cirencester branch of the Coventry Building Society. It was nominated by Gloucestershire Deaf Association. The Ageas Award was won by Skylight9, nominated by The Hollie Gazzard Trust. Helen Howe of Cheltenham’s Lumière restaurant won the Individual Award. She was nominated by the National Star College.

Jelf and Ageas announced a surprise award on the night: the Mayor’s Award. Mayor Klara Sudbury won £700 to give to a local charity which, because they are part of a national charity, or provide services outside of Gloucestershire, could not enter the awards, but still provide benefit to local people.

Singing for charity

Businesses in the community

Employees of ten Oxfordshire businesses were trained to sing as a choir in a matter of hours, before performing in front of their colleagues and clients at Blenheim Palace. The event raised over £7,000 for a charity that uses orchestral music to engage children with autism.

The event was organised by members of Oxfordshire Community Foundation’s responsible business group Reciprocate. Profits went to John Lubbock’s charity Music for Autism.

Bidwells’ Golden Triangle Cycle Challenge took in Oxford, Milton Keynes and finished in Cambridge.

The cycle ride was in aid of CALM, which aims to prevent suicide by providing help to those who need it.

Businesses in the community

What is life if nothing but an amazing chance to make an impact?

Impact is our new brand resulting in the proposed merger of three existing award-winning firms, all who share a common vision, purpose and a set of core values, delivering accounting that makes a difference.

We believe that small businesses have the power to change lives and can create a significant impact in this world.

At Impact we specialise in helping business owners design successful companies that grow profitably. We not only want small business owners to create an incredible impact for themselves, their families, businesses and teams, but for those less fortunate too.

We know businesses today are under more pressure than ever to deliver better results for entrepreneurs and stakeholders and whether you’re growing, buying, partnering,

their families, businesses and teams, but for those less fortunate too.”

funding, selling or fixing a company, the process can be complex and risky. Without the right strategy and support every step can be a challenge and small businesses especially succeed by focusing on what they are great at.

Business owners value our fresh insights, unique perspective and large network of connections, so if you’re looking for great accountants to help you with your

accounts and tax returns, help with extracting your profits in the most tax efficient manner or you are looking to significantly grow your business, we have a range of services to suit your needs and budget.

No matter where you are in the business lifecycle, we’d love the chance to impact your life too. Whether you’re looking to grow sustainably, increase profitability, develop an acquisition strategy, raise funds, restructure or plan for exit, choose Impact as your trusted advisor, now and in the long run. We’ll deliver the value we promise and that you expect.

With innovation at its core, award-winning, Cheltenham based accounts Tayabali Tomlin has some very exciting news to share with you…

CEO Aynsley Damery with Steven Briginshaw and Luke Smith

“At Impact we specialise in helping business owners design successful companies that grow profitably. We not only want small business owners to create an incredible impact for themselves,

the 2018 Talent

Are you Simply the Best?

We’re launching a brand new campaign to find talented business people who have the confidence, ambition and skill to put themselves in the driving seat of this region’s economy.

We’re calling it The Talent

You can nominate yourself, someone you admire, a friend or colleague – even the boss. If you’re an employer – nominate a promising member of your staff.

We’re keeping the entry criteria as loose as we can, because who knows where and when talent will reveal itself, but it’s likely that most of those who make our Talent list will be under 40, making a real impact in their chosen field of work, and have ambition and determination in buckloads.

You can be an entrepreneur or in the corporate world. Or perhaps you’re working hard in the charity sector, a

What is Talent?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines Talent as natural aptitude and skill, but we think talent can also be developed through commitment and hard work.

Are leaders born or made?

leading light in the creative industries –or just doing what you do brilliantly in a more administrative or professional role. Apprentices, graduates are also eligible, if they’ve been quick off the mark to demonstrate their talent. Just get in touch.

Whatever our Talent is doing, they’ll stand out from the crowd. Better than all the rest.

We want to hear from you

We’ll kick off the New Year by showcasing The Talent 2018 in our January issue and we’ll be hosting a special event to celebrate the list.

We’ll add to the list each year, making a unique and growing networking group which has the potential to make a huge impact on this region, and the UK’s economy.

Are you better than anyone we’ve ever met?

To nominate, send us the following information:

 The name of the person you wish to nominate (you can nominate yourself)

 Your/their age in 2018

 The company you/they work for (if any)

 Your/their job title (or what you do)

 Your 30-word pitch for inclusion in The Talent

 A photograph if you have it

Good Luck!

Bookshop shelves are weighted down by heavy tomes on the topic. Some people are born leaders, others are savvy enough to gain confidence, learn through experience and rise to leadership roles later in life.

And some just aren’t ever going to be leaders. That’s life, get over it (and it doesn’t make them less valuable in a team. After all, not everyone can be the engine driver).

What is an entrepreneur?

There are probably more entrepreneurs today than before the industrial revolution.

The growth of the ‘gig’ economy has meant an increasing acceptance that it’s OK to try things, not succeed and try again. As long as you learn from what went wrong.

Leaders and Entrepreneurs see opportunities which others miss, and often use their business to capitalise on them.

But entrepreneurial flair can sometimes only take a business so far and some individuals often don’t make good CEOs where other skill sets are required.

However it’s used, Talent is never wasted. Whether you’re leading a business, or inspiring others through your creativity, Talent can take you, and your business to the very top.

BOOSTING SKILLS IN THE WORKPLACE BOOSTS PRODUCTIVITY

So wrote the Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute, Ann Francke, in a national newspaper in October.

She added that the UK invests less money in training managers than our competitors. As a result, she says, four out of five first-time managers have not received proper training.

A new report, published in September by The Centre of Social Justice, says that Britain today is 20% less productive than the pre-crisis (2008) trend in productivity growth.

Productivity measures output per person, per time worked. If productivity was higher in the UK, we could either work less, or be paid more. Ideally both.

The report highlights three long-term drivers of productivity stagnation: A systematic decline in the level of UK innovation, a growing gap in productivity performance between London and the rest of the UK, and human capital – including the low levels of professional training and in-work progression.

Gloucestershire College is tackling the third issue head on.

The College has just launched a new business school offering courses for new

“Much of what we are offering is within our portfolio of professional training qualifications through our new business school. These are often practical courses linked to real projects within each business.”

and middle managers to skill up and progress their career in the business which employs them.

Long-term learning and professional development is considered a given by the larger companies. Less so by small and medium-sized (SME) businesses where there is usually not as much slack in the system, or management time, to organise training.

Gloucestershire College is making considerable efforts to ensure that the

SMEs which struggle most to offer in-work training can access it as easily, and cost effectively, as possible.

Andy Bates, Chief Financial Officer at Gloucestershire College, explains: “Much of what we are offering is within our portfolio of professional training qualifications through our new business school. These are often practical courses linked to real projects within each business. Our staff work with individual students, supporting them either on-line, at one of our campuses or in their place of work.”

The outcome of such training is employees with more ability, confidence and motivation which will improve their, and the company’s, productivity.

Examples of the training Gloucestershire College is offering SMEs include accredited qualifications in accountancy, law, HR, IT and other professional competencies.

Apprenticeships, bespoke, or open courses

Gloscol.ac.uk/business-school

The UK has a productivity problem, and under-qualified leaders are partly to blame.

Andy Bates, Gloucestershire College

Following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, Superdry has extended its training programme. The ‘Superdry Academy’ is offering relevant training to anyone within the business, whatever age or stage they are within their career. The company partners with Gloucestershire College, which delivers academic support and mentoring.

Superdry wants its people to forget old associations with the word ‘apprentice’, and welcome training to give them control of their own careers.

“For instance, if a staff member is working in HR and wants to study for the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), we can support their ambition,” explains Superdry’s Head of Recruitment, Simon Amesbury.

“It’s about redefining the perception of apprentices. Yes, we have traditional apprenticeships for young people, but we can now extend our training offer to existing employees with the ambition to go further with Superdry.”

“We’re harnessing the power, ambition and enthusiasm of our people,” adds Jez Light, Superdry’s Group Learning and Development Manager.

SUPERDRY: REDEFINING APPRENTICESHIPS

Superdry helped change the face of the UK high street. Now this global fashion brand is doing the same for workplace learning.

Less than three years’ ago, the company decided to capitalise on the high number of young people wanting to work for the company.

“Superdry has always had significant numbers of young people applying to work for us,” explains Jez Light.

“So we decided to harness their enthusiasm even if they hadn’t quite got the skills we needed at the time. We introduced apprenticeships to the business, which we deliver in partnership Gloucestershire College.

“We want these young people to be trained, because we want them rising through the business to lead their own departments in ten years’ time.”

However, apprenticeships were new to Superdry. So Jez, working in partnership with Simon Amesbury, led by example.

“The first two apprentices were in HR, then the legal department took on an apprentice, and she did so well that

“Every training and skills course we do is designed to make our people more productive, enjoy learning and boost the profitability of the company in some way.”

just two years later she was appointed to an Executive Assistant General Counsel role. Another went into the digital design department and another into our finance team. Simon followed suit, adding an apprentice into his recruitment team.”

Over the last two years the company has expanded its apprenticeship programme further, into practically every area of the company, from finance to merchandising, events and PR, property and category management.

“Every training and skills course we do is designed to make our people more productive, enjoy learning and boost the profitability of the company in some way,” adds Jez.

Superdry now has 23 apprentices, all building careers within the company.

Enjoy a fantastic learning environment, connect to a large professional network and work with industry expert academics

Gloscol.ac.uk/business-school

Superdry skills training now available across the business

Skilling up the workforce to drive productivity

If a company has a promising person in their teams, Gloucestershire College can offer training up to Level 5 (the equivalent of completing the first year of a degree course) in accountancy, law, IT and HR.

“It’s real training to achieve recognised national and professional qualifications, which will help people get on in their jobs,” said Gloucestershire College’s Andy Bates.

Larger companies can pay for this training through their apprenticeship levy. While employers with an annual wage bill of over £3 million pay the levy, those SMEs with a lower wage bill will only pay 10% of the cost of apprenticeship training.

“Most small and medium-sized companies don’t realise this,” adds Andy. He cites Gloucestershire College’s Leadership and Management Courses, accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). “Level 3 is a 12-month

course containing a number of modules, from communication skills to critical thinking, strategy and vision. The course is a mix of masterclasses and online study. At the end of the course, the student will have the option of progressing to Level 5 and achieving the level of a chartered manager. A course such as this can cost up to £5,000. An SME business not paying the apprenticeship levy will only pay £500, which most will consider a direct investment in the business.”

What’s good about this new in-work support is that those who entered the workforce at 16 or 18, and didn’t go to university because they couldn’t afford it, or didn’t know what to study, have the opportunity to kick start their career while they’re working.

“It’s a win-win-win for the employee, their employer – and ultimately for UK productivity,” said Andy.

Somerford drives skills for business growth

A provider and advisor on innovative technologies, information security company, Somerford has a particular interest in ensuring staff are qualified to provide high-level client support. Sales and technical staff are certified in all the technologies it represents and the company considers ongoing skills development a key element for business growth.

Somerford has taken on apprentices since 2014. It currently has three in marketing, a mature apprentice in finance, one in sales and five on its technical and services desk.

Training more than surface deep at Poeton

Poeton has offered apprenticeships for 30 years. The Gloucester manufacturer, which provides surface treatments to manufacturers in the aerospace and defence sectors, has a global customer base and needs skilled staff. Apprenticeships form the starting point.

Gary Ridgway is Poeton’s Group Technical Training Manager.

He said: “Due to the specialist nature of our business, training staff is important and we have to grow our own talent. Once training has completed, trainees and apprentices regularly move on into supervision and management roles within the company.”

Poeton apprentices follow a number of different routes, from engineering to business administration and those based at Gloucester are training through Gloucestershire College.

Head of Marketing, Penny Harrison, explains how in-work training is benefitting Somerford.

“We had one marketing apprentice who did day release for 18 months.

“The college changed its courses to become in-work, and we find it’s very effective. The tutor is supportive and provides weekly webinars which she records whilst going through the work required. A lot of what our apprentices do at work can be covered in their coursework using evidence they’ve assembled themselves.”

Chose how and when to learn: Online, On Site, or On Campus Gloscol.ac.uk/business-school

The manufacturer has a dedicated area at its factory where practical and knowledge-based training is delivered to existing staff including apprentices. This includes industry-specific training which leads to qualifications awarded by the Institute of Materials Finishing.

The support Gloucestershire College offers apprentices on their journey is excellent, says Gary. This includes the teaching staff, assessors and the learning co-ordinators who meet regularly with Poeton apprentices to check on progress and identify any concerns.

Cotswold Star Academy is launched

Gloucestershire College has launched Cotswold Star Academy, a hospitality training programme to fast-track young people into careers with luxury venues The Calcot Collection, Ellenborough Park, Farncombe Estate and The Lucky Onion Group.

The partners selected 15 ‘stars’ including 17-year-old Jessica Shackleton from Cheltenham, a former Winchcombe School pupil.

Gemma Cox, Human Resource Manager for Ellenborough Park, said: “Jessica has all the qualities we are looking for. She will be starting as a Commis Chef as part of the Cotswold Star Academy.

The Cotswold Star Academy training programme is supported by The Savoy

“Each star will train to become either a competent Chef de Partie or Hospitality Supervisor in some of the finest kitchens and hotels in the country.”

Educational Trust and Creed Catering; long-standing champions of the hospitality industry.

Head of Hospitality at Gloucestershire College Jo O’Connell said: “Each star will train to become either a competent Chef de Partie or Hospitality Supervisor in some of the finest kitchens and hotels in the country.”

WMG and Dyson welcome engineering undergrads

Engineering undergraduates have begun a bespoke engineering degree developed by WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the University of Warwick, in collaboration with Dyson.

The undergraduates have started at the Dyson Institute of Engineering

Berkeley welcome first cohort of students

The Gloucestershire Renewable Energy, Engineering and Nuclear (GREEN) Campus, has welcomed its first student intake.

With its state-of-the-art facilities the site is now home to SGS College’s first group of learners, studying digital technologies (cyber security) and engineering at the brand-new Berkeley GREEN College and University Technical College (UTC).

The site offers some of the best training facilities in the country for built environment, welding, engineering and digital technologies, with full and part-time training on offer to learners from the age of 14 upwards. These include apprenticeships, adult re-training programmes and degree level learning. The new college campus and UTC are seen as a major step in encouraging a new generation of young engineers.

The redevelopment also brings new business opportunities to the area, offering 300,000 sq ft of commercial floor space of office premises, workshops, laboratories, conference rooms and more.

The Berkeley GREEN Campus is a joint venture between GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership and SGS College.

and Technology on the company’s Malmesbury campus.

Over 850 young people applied for just 25 places and due to the exceptionally high calibre of candidates, 33 were accepted onto the four-year engineering degree. They are being mentored by Dyson’s practicing scientists and

Spotlight On Skills

engineers who will teach alongside academics from WMG, the University of Warwick.

James Dyson with young engineers

Jessica Shackleton, Annemarie Kaiser, Emily Haines, Zoe Lees. Seated Emily Smitten, Sarah Worthy-Jones

CAREER AHEAD

Bruton Knowles’ latest appointment is Anthony Martin, who moves from London-based Cluttons to join the Gloucester-headquartered firm as Partner and Head of Valuation Faculty.

NEW CEO TO DRIVE HALFORDS GROWTH

Halfords, which has its head office at Redditch, has appointed Graham Stapleton as Chief Executive Officer from 15 January 2018. Graham is currently CEO of Dixons Carphone plc’s software business, Honeybee. Jonny Mason is acting Interim CEO, in addition to his existing role as Chief Financial Officer.

Cotswold Taste Ltd, the quality marque for Cotswold food and drink has announced Dame Fiona Reynolds as its Patron. Dame Fiona was formerly Director General of The National Trust.

NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST FOR BRETHERTONS

Brethertons Solicitors, which has offices in Banbury, Bicester and Rugby has welcomed Jo Tanner as Head of the Customer Relationship Management team. Jo specialises in strategic integrated marketing communications.

01 04 05 07 03 02

NEW DIRECTOR JOINS WMCA

Dr Julie Nugent has joined the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as its new Director of Productivity and Skills. She joins from the Design and Technology Association where she is Chief Executive.

LITTLE GREEN SHEEP APPOINTS NEW CEO

NEW

PARTNER HEADS UP CHELTENHAM COMMERCIAL TEAM

Cheltenham lawyers Harrison Clark Rickerbys are expanding their commercial team with the addition of Partner and Team Head Stephen Thomas.

Stephen trained in London and went on to work for Legal & General and outsourcing companies, Marlborough Stirling Plc and Hazell Carr plc, where he was Head of Legal and Company Secretary.

Warwickshire College Group has announced that former MP Chris White will be the its first ever President, in what is thought to be a unique appointment in the further education sector. The President will act as an unpaid ambassador to raise the profile of the group.

PROFESSOR GARY FORD APPOINTED VICE CHAIR OF AHSN NETWORK

Professor Gary Ford CBE, Chief Executive of the Oxford Academic Health Science Network, has been appointed Vice Chair of the AHSN Network, which brings together 15 AHSNs that cover England.

The UK’s leading operator of innovation centres, Oxford Innovation, has announced Jo Willett as its new Managing Director in the same month as celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary.

NEW MANAGER FOR WORCESTER BID

FARM491 APPOINTS NEW PROGRAMME MANAGER

Dr Ali Hadavizadeh has joined the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester as Programme Manager for its Farm491 agritech incubator to support start-up activities in agriculture.

BPE SOLICITORS GROWS CONTENTIOUS PROBATE TEAM

Ed Mawle has joined Investec Wealth & Investment’s Cheltenham office as a Senior Investment Director. Ed joins from Brewin Dolphin and has over 20 years investment experience managing investment portfolios for high net-worth individuals, charities and trusts.

Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) has appointed Phoebe Dawson to the role of BID Manager. Phoebe joined the team in August having previously managed the successful Worcestershire Growth Hub: Worcestershire Business Central.

Leading Gloucestershire law firm BPE has appointed solicitor Lottie Goldstone to its contentious trusts and probate team, building on the team’s specialism. Lottie will primarily work within the Private Client team and will be based in Cirencester.

Volo raises £6 million for expansion

Cheltenham-based Volo Commerce, a leading provider of multichannel e-commerce technology, has raised £6.2 million in new investment, led by NVM Private Equity with participation from funds managed by Downing LLP. Volo will primarily use this new funding to expand its business into North America and across other international sales channels.

Volo Commerce enables brands and retailers to maximise the opportunity of multichannel commerce.

Deploying Volo’s software platform, will help customers grow their e-commerce business by accessing leading marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and Walmart, and automating all aspects of the selling process.

Paul Watson, CEO of Volo Commerce, said: “Our mission continues to be to make selling online as easy as buying online. Through simplifying the selling process and adding valuable analytics, our customers continuously outperform the market and typically grow their business by 100% or more by their third year with Volo.”

“The growth in multichannel e-commerce is a huge opportunity but also a complex challenge for most businesses. Volo has built a platform that removes much of this complexity with a revenue model that aligns with its customers to drive growth,” said NVM Private Equity Investment Director Charlie Winward.

Volo’s Chairman is industry veteran, Ben White one of the best known technology entrepreneurs in the UK and a co-founder of Messagelabs, the first company in the world to deliver anti-virus and anti-spam in the cloud. Messagelabs was sold to Symantec for $700 million in 2008.

“2016/17 has been a landmark year for Stewart Golf in many ways, but the move to the new factory is the most significant by far and puts us in an excellent position for future growth.”

Stewart Golf break sales records again

Stewart Golf has once again broken its own records by posting a spectacular 37% growth for 2016/17.

Underpinning the headline figure is the growth of 57% in sales of the X Series electric trolleys, and 29% growth in sales of the R1-S Push trolley. The record output has occurred in a year where the company purchased and moved in to a new £1 million factory.

Domestically, trade sales increased by 58%. Export sales increased by 59% and now account for 40% of the output

Hazlewoods advises on Gantrail sale

Legal & Financial

Hazlewoods has advised shareholders on the sale of Gantrail International.

Based in Gloucester, Gantrail specialises in the production of crane rails in steelworks, and systems design and installation in industrial and commercial applications. The company’s installations include crane rails at Port Botany, Australia’s second largest container port, and Wimbledon Centre Court’s roof.

Hazlewoods led the sale to Belgium based international, HF Holdings SA, trading as Gantrex group, for an undisclosed sum. Hazlewoods acted as lead adviser. Charles Russell Speechlys LLP acted as legal adviser.

of the Gloucester-based manufacturing company. The United States and Canada account for a large proportion of exports, but markets such as New Zealand, Sweden, The Netherlands, South Korea and Austria are all included in a list of 37 countries that Stewart Golf have shipped to in the period.

CEO Mark Stewart added: “2016/17 has been a landmark year for Stewart Golf in many ways, but the move to the new factory is the most significant by far and puts us in an excellent position for future growth.”

James Cowper Kreston advises on PowerPax UK

Legal & Financial

The corporate finance team at James Cowper Kreston, which has an office in Oxford, were involved in a recent, high profile business acquisition, advising electrical goods distributor, PowerPax UK Ltd, on its sale to Stadium Group PLC.

Stadium Group, a leading global supplier of integrated design led technologies, will be assimilating PowerPax into its existing technology division: Stadium Stontronics Limited.

Nick Rogers, Corporate Finance Partner and Ian Robinson, Corporate Finance Manager at James Cowper Kreston, provided advice to the shareholders of PowerPax during the acquisition.

R&D – it’s not just about NASA!

Last month, HMRC released updated statistics on the support that it provides to businesses via Research and Development (R&D) tax relief and R&D tax credits

Once again, the overwhelming majority of claims for 2015-16 came from the ‘manufacturing’, ‘professional, scientific and technical’ and ‘information and communication’ sectors; together, they represented almost three quarters of both the number of claims and amounts claimed for that year.

In this context, the potential importance of R&D tax credits to the Gloucestershire economy cannot be overstated. Employment in the manufacturing sector in Gloucestershire is the second largest in the county after the health sector and is above the national average. Subsectors as diverse as computer, electronic and optical products, fabricated metal products, manufacture of machinery and equipment, aerospace, rubber and plastics and food products represent the largest employers.

On the face of it, then, it seems a little surprising that many companies in the county seem rather reticent in claiming the generous support that is available through R&D tax credits.

We consider that using the term ‘R&D’ for this tax support is not helpful, and can discourage some companies from looking into it. For some people, ‘Research and Development’ has overtones more closely related to NASA than to a regional manufacturing company. However, those businesses who recognise that the tax support is focused at ‘on the ground’ activities can reap considerable benefits.

It is often best to consider some of the practical issues in the business when looking to unearth possible ‘R&D’ activities for a tax credits claim.

For example:

How are the company’s products better than those of its rivals?

If the company has developed some technical ‘edge’ or improved capability for its products, the work in doing so may well qualify as R&D.

Does the company have a particular specialism?

If so, it may be approached by potential customers to consider whether new products or services can be developed that are unusual or relatively leading edge compared to other players. Work in ‘pushing the boundaries’ using specialist knowledge may constitute eligible R&D.

How is the company looking to improve its efficiency/profitability?

Rather than developing new products, the company may have focused on improving ways in which existing products are made, and whether they can be produced at lower cost, using different materials, new techniques, improved processes etc. Existing machinery may be adapted or modified to operate beyond its original designed parameters. Such investigation can often involve activities that qualify for R&D tax credits.

Is the business subject to regulatory changes?

The introduction of new regulations can require companies to consider changing the materials, processes or equipment that they use for production. Investigation of such changes can often involve qualifying R&D.

Has the company looked at new techniques or adaptation of new technologies?

Trialling and adapting new techniques and technologies from other industries in a different and uncertain industry context often involves eligible R&D activities.

Taking such a practical look at the key business issues usually offers good scope for identifying possible R&D activities as a starting point for a claim. This commonly leads to a better outcome than taking a more conceptual perspective based on a preconceived notion of what is ‘R&D’.

If you are unsure as to whether your company qualifies for R&D, or if you would like to discuss your business, please get in touch. David Clift, Partner

New DNA test for heart conditions launched

A former University of Warwick student has launched a potentially groundbreaking DNA test for heart conditions that will help to save lives.

Abdullah Sabyah, who runs start-up company Rightangled, has been backed financially by NHS England through the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) and is being supported by the University of Warwick Science Park’s Business Ready programme, to help bring the Heart DNA Test to market.

Abdullah, who achieved Honours and Masters degrees at the University of Warwick after moving to the area from Saudi Arabia, decided to research the use of DNA testing to see if people are predisposed to heart conditions and the treatments to use, when his colleague and business partner, Floriane RousseMarquet’s mother suffered five strokes.

His research showed that mapping DNA and also tracking people’s lifestyles provide strong evidence of whether people are likely to suffer from heart problems and what steps or medications to take. The new testing product – a simple saliva collecting kit – coupled with a lifestyle and self-reported health information survey, is now being used by practitioners to help diagnose patients and to decide which preventative medication would suit them best. It also means they can recommend any necessary lifestyle changes.

Abdullah said: “My colleague had seen her mother survive several strokes. She had stopped taking medicine because of the side-effects, so I wanted to research

Crowdcube campaign delivers for Overhang

UK-based start-up drinks company, NFSG (which stands for Never Felt So Good), has reached its target of £150,000 in the company’s first equity crowd funding campaign on Crowdcube, as it prepares to grow its natural energy drink, Overhang.

Launched in September 2015 by a father and son team from Cheltenham, Overhang is a natural pick-me-up drink which contains orange, ginger and lime, as well as a blend of vitamins and botanicals, including milk thistle.

respond differently to different treatments, based on genetic make-up.”

whether there was anything in her DNA that would tell us which medicine would work better.

“The research showed that you can see who is pre-disposed to a range of heart conditions as well as the propensity to respond differently to different treatments, based on genetic make-up.

“It works much better when you look at both their DNA and lifestyle. You can also work out which medicines are best for each patient and if they need to change their diet or lifestyle.”

Will Wilkinson, founder and Director, said: “Overhang is based on an old family recipe created by my great, great grandfather over 100 years ago.”

Overhang is stocked in over 1000 retailers including Tesco, Asda, Spar and Holland & Barrett.

Will added: “The Crowdcube investment shows there is real belief in Overhang as a concept. The funding will give the brand a real boost and we are delighted that our supporters have had the chance to invest in the business and be part of the journey.”

Innovation under the spotlight

Some of the country’s most forwardthinking businesses will showcase their products and ideas at Innovate UK’s flagship event, being held at the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham from 8-9 November. More than 2,500 people are expected to attend the two day event.

96 organisations will take part in the showcase. Innovations on display

include, a lightweight hybrid trumpet by Warwick Music Group that is easier for young people to use.

Another exhibitor is Dynium Robot, based at Oxford, which is developing an autonomous tractor of lower weight than traditional vehicles, reducing soil compaction. Also under development are fully electric vehicles that can perform emissions-free farming.

“The research showed that you can see who is pre-disposed to a range of heart conditions as well as the propensity to

Abdullah Sabyah (Rightangled) with Dirk Schafer and Alex Toft (both University of Warwick Science Park)

Cyber Security and Digital Centre

C11, Cyber Security and Digital Centre opens to help make Gloucestershire a regional force in cyber security expertise and innovation

The new C11, Cyber Security and Digital Innovation Centre will be opening at Gloucestershire Science and Innovation Park, Berkeley, Gloucestershire on 10th November 2017, adding to the extensive Cyber Security and Innovation portfolio of the University of Gloucestershire.

A grant of £3m from Local Growth Funds was awarded by GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership to the University of Gloucestershire (supported by the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College as a partner) to set up a Cyber Security and Digital Centre at the decommissioned Magnox nuclear site at Berkeley.

The aim of the centre is to offer a secure environment for the cyber security community of Gloucestershire, to come together and address known and emerging challenges with innovation, partnership, learning and shared

expertise at its foundation. The development of the centre is in recognition of the fact that innovation in this field must keep pace with the challenges we face to stay secure and safe.

C11 will be integral to existing activity in the region and be part of making Gloucestershire a regional force in cyber security expertise and innovation. Gloucestershire is no exception to the cyber skills shortage and its impact on organisations’ ability to defend themselves from increasing cyber threats. The County, however, has a geographical advantage with a cluster of key players in this field located within its boundaries, and the C11 centre, established within the Gloucestershire Science and Innovation site, is strategically placed within the region to enable this professional community to come together under one roof to increase the impact of cyber expertise in the county.

C11 supports the skills pipeline needed to deliver the benefits of this key occupational sector within the Gloucestershire economy. The investment into C11 underpins the ‘knowledge intensive service sector’ which is a key focus of economic growth and predictions show that employment is expected to grow by 20% in the digital and cyber security sector in the next 10 years.

A highly skilled workforce in cyber security will not only help reduce the financial cost to a business from cyber-crime but will also increase the digital reach of businesses and build consumer confidence providing businesses with a competitive edge.

Cyber security is a rapidly growing global issue for businesses of all sizes and in all sectors; from small-scale opportunistic hacks, to full-scale organised attacks, cyber-crime is on the rise and all businesses are vulnerable.

At C11, the university team will be working with local and national partners to enable innovation and the development of robust solutions for emerging cyber security challenges enabling businesses to confidently develop their digital environment securely. The C11 facility will bring industry experts, academics and innovators, all under one roof, working to address the very real and growing challenges faced in this area.

The site is conveniently situated just 10 minutes from the M5 and 20 minutes from the M4 with free on-site parking.

talkc11@glos.ac.uk

www.glos.ac.uk

THE FACILITY COMPRISES OF 6 ZONES:

Zone 1 An open networking zone with a large demonstration space for showcasing new technologies and innovation in the sector.

Zone 2 A conferencing space, that will host sector relevant conferences and deliver thought leadership for the sector.

Zone 3 Incubator and business accelerator services to help cyber and digital start-up businesses grow and achieve scale.

Zone 4 An active enterprise innovation space for the development of new cyber security and digital products and services.

Zone 5 A specialist, secure cyber security and digital learning environment.

Zone 6 An access controlled, secure physical environment that includes a digital forensics laboratory.

To find out more about the centre, the facilities available and how we can work with you, email:

IRM sells to Altran

Cheltenham-based Information Risk Management (IRM) has been acquired by global, multi-billion dollar engineering and R&D company, Altran.

IRM has 82 employees, including a highly experienced senior management team within the information security risk industry. Co-founders, Charles White and David Cazalet will remain in the business after acquisition.

IRM serves a long-term customer base of commercial and governmental clients, such as Travelex, BNP Paribas and Telefónica, and also the UK Ministry of Defence, Department for Transport, Cabinet Office and GCHQ (including a strong alliance with its newly-established UK National Cyber Security Centre).

Charles White, Co-founder and CEO of IRM, said: “Altran and IRM have a shared vision to create a world class cyber security offering for the benefit of our clients which will challenge and motivate our professionals as this exciting market evolves”.

Ascentor acquired by EMB Group

Gloucester-based information risk management consultancy Ascentor has been acquired by Leicester headquartered EMB Group.

Ascentor holds IASME gold status and has customers in the public and private sectors, including the Ministry of Defence.

Managing Director Dave James will continue leading the business. Fellow shareholders Paddy Keating and Steve Maddison remain as consultants.

CHELTENHAM’S CYNAM ATTRACTS STRONG SUPPORT

The strength of the cyber sector across Cheltenham was once again confirmed by a very strong turnout at the latest CyNam event, held at Jury’s Inn next to GCHQ.

CyNam, (Cyber Cheltenham) launched earlier this year as a non-profit organisation based at the heart of the UK’s cyber security community.

One of the best-attended networking groups across Gloucestershire, CyNam supports the region’s cyber security

ecosystem and facilitates industry networking.

September’s event was hosted by Chris Dunning-Watson of InfoSec People. Speakers included Ian Maxted of Gloucestershire Constabulary, on policing in the digital space and James Geary from Randall & Payne accountants on R&D tax credits in the digital community.

Also speaking were a business psychologist, and Silver marketing agency on ‘storytelling in the digital space’.

UK promotes tech and cyber overseas

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Karen Bradley has set out the Government’s commitment to growing the UK’s digital economy, already worth more than £118 billion a year and employing more than 1.4 million people.

The Secretary of State met investors and companies at Helsinki’s Start-up Sauna at Stockholm’s Sup46, which

had previously brought a delegation to London Tech Week in June.

Supporting the Government’s commitment to cyber, Digital Minister Matt Hancock has also led a trade mission of UK cyber firms to Singapore. He said: “The UK is a world leader in cyber security, with exports worth nearly £1.5 billion last year.”

Audience at September’s CyNam event

New cyber start up aims to overcome skills shortages

Samsung funding for Cranfield Cyber

A Malvern-based cyber security startup is hoping to transform the industry by developing automated software to help overcome skills shortages and reduce the need for small firms to hire specialist staff.

Titan Labs was founded by cyber security professionals Rob Brewer, Tom West, Tim Charrot and Phil Johnson, who between them have over 40 years of experience in organisations including HP, Serco, the Ministry of Defence and other UK government bodies.

Along with providing consultancy services to well-known companies, Titan Labs is also developing new cloud-based software which will use algorithms to help detect threats and provide best practice guidance on how to deal with them.

The product, Titan View, is due for launch this month. Tim Charrot said: “Some organisations we work with have a lot of responsibility for people’s data they hold, but they can’t always afford the skills needed to do it properly.”

Rob Brewer said: “Big firms can spend six-figure sums on hiring teams of professionals. However it is a real problem for small companies which typically have one person to manage all aspects of their IT.”

Tom West added: “The UK has a serious skills shortage which is leaving organisations vulnerable to cyber crime. We aim to reduce the reliance on expert security staff and change the market for the better.”

Titan Labs has been using income from consultancy work to fund the development of Titan View, but plans to seek backing from investors after the launch to support further development work. This will incorporate advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Two lecturers from the Centre for Electronic Warfare, Information and Cyber (EWIC) from Cranfield University’s School of Defence and Security, at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, have won funding from Samsung to develop a next generation monitoring and protection system for Internet of Things (IoT) enabled devices.

Often referred to as ‘smart’ devices the Internet of Things describes the interconnection via the internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data.

The project includes digital video cameras commonly employed for surveillance, smart home routers, smart watches and temperature sensors connected to the internet.

Company directors lack training in responding to cyber attacks

Cyber

Cyber security specialist Borwell, based at Malvern Hills Science Park, has highlighted a survey of 105 businesses in the FTSE 350 whose employees reportedly had no training in cyber-attacks. The survey also revealed that one in 10 directors have no plans in place to respond to any kind of cyber-security incident.

Digital Minister Matthew Hancock said the WannaCry attack in May showed the “devastating effect of data breaches.” He urged companies to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

The Cyber Governance Health Check, an annual survey, found that 54% of company boards considered hacking and online threats as main concerns for their business. But 68% of them had

Dr Paul Yoo, Lecturer in Security and Forensic Computing, and Dr Taufiq Asyhari, Lecturer in Networks and Communications, have been awarded $100,000 from the Samsung 2017 Global Research Outreach (GRO) Program.

Dr Yoo said: “This amazing recognition from Samsung brings together a diverse team of academics across data analytics, security and information theory.

Dr Asyhari added: “The problem we aim to address here is the capability of detecting anomalous behaviours in emerging IoT networks.

The award includes funding for one research student to work on exploring the patterns of dynamic networks based on IoT data.

no specific training or plan in place to deal with them.

Steve Borwell-Fox says these figures are worrying, but not altogether surprising. “Business owners are still of the mind-set that they do not need to worry about online security. As a region we have many worldleading businesses and a thriving charity sector. However, recent cyber-attacks have shown the devastating effects of not taking cyber-security seriously.”

Steve Borwell-Fox, Borwell

Cyber Cheltenham is a non-profit making organization based in the heart of the UK’s cyber security community in Cheltenham. Its goal is to bring together the best technology minds to fully harness the rich cyber security ecosystem that flourishes in the area.

Our regular events attract up to 200 people including members of local and national government, investors, academia and support services as well as the cyber talent from across the region.

Next event:

Thursday 30 November

Jurys Inn, Cheltenham 18:00-20:00 Free to attend

If you are a company and interested in sponsoring CyNam or an individual who’d like to speak about a product, service or a success story, or to attend our next event and mix with like-minded people contact: julie@cynam.org

www.cynam.org

Why renting your business IT is the way forward…

and you’re back where you started. It can be a minefield and one that drops its way down the priority list until it becomes an absolute necessity.

Short-term requirement

Affordable – no upfront lump sums, but affordable monthly, tax deductible payments.

Availability – access to the IT you need, as and when you need it, usually within 24 hours.

Sourcing new IT equipment can often be a lengthy and complex process. Budget constraints often play a part, resulting in a compromise being made on the spec and power you really want for the job in hand.

Throw in the hardware you’ve purchased reaching the end of life or capability,

It may be that you need additional hardware for short term projects, like training, migration, testing or peaks in workload, and don’t want to store all the equipment for ‘what if’ moments.

The solution

Many organisations have turned to renting to solve these problems. I mean, we rent our mobiles phones and lease our cars, why not do the same with our IT equipment? Think of the benefits:

For rental enquiries please contact the Smart team on 01242 580654 www.smart.uk.com

Flexibility – control over the equipment you have, and when you have it. When you’re done, return it, or buy it.

Reliable – The Smart Technical Team will test and configure all equipment before it’s sent. When it reaches you, the equipment is good to go.

FREE Unlimited Support – with any rentals over 3 months, you have FREE unlimited access to our technical support desk included within the rental, on hand to help with any hardware or software issues or queries you have.

Whether you require a bespoke network, a large server or just a few extra PCs, iPads or laptops, renting is a really cost-effective way to meet your needs, short or long-term without compromise. Give renting a go.

and SECURE PROTECT

On 25 May next year, the way we ask for, use and transfer data changes thanks to the introduction of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – the first time since 1984 that significant changes have occurred, says law firm BPE.

Despite revisions to the Data Protection Act (DPA) in 1998, and considering what’s changed since the late eighties, it’s astonishing that GDPR hasn’t arrived sooner, according to Iain Garfield, Partner in Commercial and Intellectual Property at BPE.

Today, the DPA only applies to personal data, not company data. Currently, a contact name at a supplier would not necessarily be ‘personal’ as the focus of that data is the company not the person. In May, the definition of data as ‘personal’ will mean anything that can identify a person. The moment an individual can be identified, the GDPR will apply. The first thing to do therefore, is to identify what personal data your company holds by conducting a data audit.

Holding data

The legal basis for holding information must be evident and getting consent to hold data will be more complex. Before gaining consent, companies will have to explain to an individual what will be stored, who can access it, what it will be used for, how often it will be used and who it might be shared with. Only after explaining all of this can consent be given.

There are instances where implicit consent is not required, for example when drafting

a Will; consent would not be required because it is necessary to hold and use the testator’s data in order to provide the requested legal service.

Legitimate interest

A company may also hold data without consent if it has a legitimate interest in holding that data.

Direct marketing could be deemed as a legitimate interest, but likely only where a relationship already exists between company and client. If a bank launched a new financial product, account holders would reasonably expect to be informed of it, therefore direct marketing of that product to those individuals could be acceptable under the GDPR, without consent. It would not be permitted for a company that simply harvests email addresses to try to sell their own related products or services where no relationship exists. The position remains unclear for the time being, awaiting the data regulator’s guidance on the issue.

The regulations will also call for the creation of a new role, the Data Protection Officer, who must be an expert – either an employee or outsourced. They must function independently and be involved in all data protection issues. They must also be able to exercise their duties without oversight and cannot be dismissed for

carrying out their duties. Not every company will need an officer (although it will be encouraged) unless the company is a public authority (medical, criminal, trade union etc.).

Data breaches

There will also be an obligation to selfreport breaches such as lost memory sticks or IT hacks. Companies must report instances to the Information Commissioner within 72 hours of becoming aware of it. Detailed information will be needed, including the likely impact and who is involved in the breach. There is an exemption however; if there is no negative impact of the breach – client A receives information intended for client B, but deletes without reading for example, then there is no likely material impact. In this instance, there would be no need to report it as a breach, but it must still be recorded internally.

What to do now?

Essentially, the best advice for now, is to get your house in order. There will be some specific actions needed closer to the deadline when more details are known, but as the complexity is so vast undertaking a thorough data audit now to identify your starting point is good practice.

Iain Garfield, BPE

GDPR READY? ARE YOU

25thMAY

The European Union (in perhaps one of its last hurrahs before we exit stage left), is making business tighten up on systems and procedures. It has decreed that all European businesses need to implement new EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which will supersede the Data Protection Act (DPA) of 1998. And just because we’re leaving the EU in 2019, we can’t avoid meeting this new legislation: we are legally bound to comply. If you don’t, it could be expensive – a company breach could cost up to 4% of annual turnover, or £20 million, whichever is the greater. This is a Board Room issue.

On balance, the change is a good thing. The legislation takes account of the new ways our data is held, so we should all feel safer when it’s applied. Consumers will now have stronger rights to be informed about how organisations are using their personal data.

Who does the GDPR apply to?

Anyone who controls or processes personal information, which is broadly the same as under the existing Data Protection Act. That means anyone responsible for personal data records, and also anyone processing it on their behalf. And you have to have a reason to be in possession of personal data, for example to be able to comply with a legal obligation, or to fulfill a company’s obligations.

What information does the GDPR apply to?

Personal data

Like the DPA, the GDPR applies to ‘personal data’. However, the GDPR’s definition is more detailed and includes information such as online identifiers, such as an IP address

For responsible organisations which keep HR records, customer lists or contact details etc, the change to the definition should make little practical difference. Businesses can assume that if information held falls within the scope of the DPA, will also fall within the scope of the GDPR.

The GDPR applies to both automated personal data and manual filing systems where personal data are accessible according to specific criteria. This is wider than the DPA’s definition and could include chronologically ordered sets of manual records containing personal data.

Personal data that has been pseudonymised (i.e. replacing some database fields with artificial identifiers) can fall within the scope of the GDPR. To make it more complicated, pseudonymised is not the same as anonymised data, which cannot be restored to its original state.

On May 25 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) becomes UK law. This is the biggest change to our data protection laws in a generation. Don’t ignore it.

Remember Y2K and the Millennium Bug? When a perceived computer coding problem was going to create havoc across the world’s computer networks.

As the clock struck midnight on December 31, 1999, what happened? Nothing much. There are some similarities between the response to Y2K then, and growing responses to GDPR now.

Those who predicted the end of the world on January 1st, 2000 are already warning of business meltdown at the changing regulations of GDPR.

Business mustn’t ignore GDPR, and there is plenty of advice throughout this magazine.

Companies using it as an opportunity to update company data will be better placed for growth, and whether they employ a full-time data protection officer, or contract a managed GDPR service, either will offer peace of mind and the opportunity not to let GDPR put the brakes on business ambition.

Sensitive personal data

The GDPR refers to sensitive personal data as ‘special categories of personal data’. These categories are broadly the same as those in the DPA, but there are some minor changes.

For example, the special categories specifically include genetic data, and biometric data where processed to uniquely identify an individual.

Personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences are not included, but similar extra safeguards apply to its processing.

USEFUL WEBSITES

The Information Commissioner’s Office

www.ico.org.uk

The European Union GDPR

www.eugdpr.org

Data breaches on the rise

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which oversees UK organisations’ compliance with the regulations, reports that there were 2168 breaches last year. 40% in the healthcare sector, followed by local government and general business with 10%. Media, marketing, utilities, religious and political organisations had the best record.

Data can leak out of an organisation simply by clicking ‘send’ or leaving a laptop unattended, and with the focus often on digital communication, don’t overlook paper records. In 2016, 42% of breaches were caused by the improper handling or disposal of paperwork. Most incidents were where data was posted or faxed to the incorrect recipient, or the loss or

theft of paperwork. Other breaches were due to errors such as data being left in an insecure location, insecure disposal and failing to redact sensitive data before sharing a document.

No fewer than 76 data breaches occurred where the sender failed to use BCC when sending email to multiple recipients, resulting in the full list being disclosed. And these are only the incidents that the ICO is aware of.

Other computer-related problems arose from phishing (obtaining data online through deception), exfiltration (unauthorised data access) and misconfiguration of cyber security (such as publishing data online by mistake, or leaving default passwords in place).

Grundon Waste Management helps safeguard confidential printed data

Store paper documents securely

Few offices are truly paperless, according to Grundon Waste Management. Some people like a physical record they can keep. And a record might be nothing more than a scribbled phone number.

Even a scrappy looking piece of paper is data in the eyes of EU regulators. You need to protect it, or shred it says the Oxfordshire waste management company.

Clear desk policy

Encourage a clean desk policy. Don’t leave any documentation on desks overnight. That includes data printouts - even handwritten post-it notes.

Dispose of documents when you’ve finished with them

In-office shredders are great, but larger volumes of paper need a commercial shredding provider, such as Shred Station. Grundon can organise collection of confidential waste, shred it securely and provide documentation confirming what they’ve done.

Even paper that’s going to be destroyed must be kept safe. Store in a lockable container.

Knowledge is power

Knowing how to protect your company’s valuable assets is essential. Putting that knowledge into someone else’s hands could not only embarrass your business, but lose you a lot of money.

GDPR: be prepared, but don’t be scared

The Report

Helping to prepare workforces for the biggest change to data protection legislation in 20 years

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect in May 2018 and will significantly overhaul the data protection landscape in the UK and Europe.

One of the key changes introduced by the GDPR is that organisations are required to demonstrate that they are handling personal data in accordance with the legislation. This is called the “accountability” principle - this can be summarised as not just complying but showing that you comply.

So, how can organisations take steps to comply with this accountability principle? There are of course a myriad of ways to approach this, but an important part of building an effective privacy compliance programme is staff training.

Why is training so important? Staff training (especially training that is auditable and verifiable) will help show that you are taking data privacy compliance seriously. Furthermore, increased education within your organisation will make staff more aware of their responsibilities with regard to handling personal data (and the potential pitfalls of getting it wrong) and so will mitigate the risk of fines, unhappy individuals and reputational damage.

Getting to grips with this new data privacy landscape means effecting a change across the entire organisation and creating a change in mindset among everyone who handles personal data.

There’s no time to lose in getting the message out to your team. But there are things you can do to be ahead of the game.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with Clayden Law to produce this comprehensive e-learning course – providing all the training employees, data professionals and boards need – it’s access to this type of specialist expertise that will help to ensure our clients are protected from risk, when the GDPR, and the new Data Protection Act, comes into force.”

e-learning on GDPR best practice and principles, through to a full Gap Analysis Audit, advice to the Board and comprehensive compliance consultancy.

Market-leading e-learning

Working in partnership with e-learning specialists, Me Learning, experts from Clayden Law have developed a suite of ten modules, spanning more than five hours of training. The course is broken down into key topics, grouped together so as to be relevant to all employees, data practitioners and board members.

Not only is e-learning a time efficient way to provide training across an entire business - a full ‘Practitioner’ level course takes around five hours to complete, yet covers similar topics to an equivalent four-day classroombased session. It’s also much more cost effective compared with classroom-based sessions.

The e-learning courses are easy-to-use, role-specific to fit the needs of individual employees and can be purchased in flexible bundles, depending on your business’ size and structure.

Leading data privacy law firm, Clayden Law, has launched a range of compliance, audit and support packages. Working alongside the training offered through their collaboration with award-winning e-learning provider Me Learning, this offers a comprehensive solution for organisations preparing for the GDPR.

This offering spans all levels of commercial need, from introductory

The employee(s) with ultimate responsibility for GDPR implementation would benefit from the ‘Practitioner’ training course that covers all the subjects needed for a comprehensive understanding of the changes brought in by the GDPR . From ‘Consent’ to ‘Steps to Compliance’ to the ‘Accountability Principle’, your GDPR lead can be confident that they’re aware of all the key points of the legislation.

For more information, including prices go to www.melearning.co.uk/gdpr/

Data privacy training and awareness is essential for all organisations working with personal data to help reduce the risk of hefty fines, disgruntled customers and often most costly of all, a loss of reputation…

Nick Richards, CEO, Me Learning

For the wider team, the ‘Core’ training course will ensure all employees are aligned to GDPR requirements as regards data security - and with a secure, cloudbased training portal available to all customers, you can track training and provide evidence of compliance.

For those executing policies ‘on the ground’, the ‘Foundation’ training should be considered, whilst senior management and members of the board will benefit

from the ‘Board Level’ training. Again, the content for these courses is pitched at the right level, so employees only receive the training they require.

Helping you to implement this learning

Building on this suite of training materials Clayden Law has developed a stepped programme of legal and compliance services designed to

provide a logical, effective, supported path through the impending changes to data protection law. Organisations can build packages starting with a questionnaire overview and high-level recommendations, through to a review of policies and supply chains, a full Gap Analysis Audit and a full and comprehensive compliance service.

Businesses purchasing the ‘Practitioner’ e-learning package will also benefit from a half hour complimentary legal consultation with Clayden Law, to add an additional layer of organisational context to your e-learning.

Clayden Law & Me Learning have collaborated to provide GDPR training that helps organisations understand the risks, mitigate them and drive compliance, avoiding sanctions and reputational damage. Through relevant, bite-sized learning, instead of days of costly legal consultancy, organisations can track compliance efforts that are role-specific and resource efficient.

Learn anytime, anywhere, on any desktop, laptop or tablet with an Internet connection.

“The impending changes to data protection regulation, in the form of the GDPR (coupled with the additional changes now before Parliament in the shape of the Data Protection Bill), are some of the most significant we’ve seen for twenty years. Now, as 25th May 2018 approaches, it is time for businesses to act.”

Piers Clayden, Founder, Clayden Law

OXFORD

NANOPORE: BIOTECH GENE-IUS

Oxford Nanopore has designed and manufactures the world’s first hand-held, real-time DNA sequencer. It could transform diagnosis speeds, potentially saving millions of lives

By Nicky Godding

“If you have the right money and backing, you can build a global technology company – and that’s what we’re doing”

a global winner, this time in the field of technology and life sciences.

Oxford Nanopore is a UK technology company valued in excess of £1 billion. From its Oxford Science Park base it has designed the world’s only handheld electronic sequencer which can access DNA information in real time. The company has a rich development pipeline, including a mobile-phone compatible DNA sequencing device.

The 2012 Olympics were a triumph for Great Britain, largely because they were preceded by seven years of planning, investment and strong management the like of which this country seldom seesin sport or business. We were rewarded with an incredible haul of medals, and the UK’s sporting achievements bestrode the globe like a colossus.

Like the London Olympics, this country must be prepared to back winners, says Oxford Nanopore CEO, Dr Gordon Sanghera. Academic excellence in the UK is better than anywhere else in the world, he says. Per capita per dollar we punch way above our weight.

His company’s technology could also be a winner. This really is disruptive technology, and here’s why.

Out of the 100,000 biological research labs in the world, around 12,500 have a traditional ‘mainframe-like’ DNA sequencer which can take days to produce a dataset that needs interrogation.

Oxford Nanopore has designed instruments to deliver direct DNA analysis in real time, which existing equipment does not.

But what’s really exciting is Oxford Nanopore’s development of unique electronic hand-held devices.

Imagine being able to diagnose contagious illnesses immediately. Vicious pandemics such as Ebola, SARS or Avian Flu could be contained quicker if medics didn’t have to wait days for lab diagnosis.

Crops could be scanned for blight early and resistant varieties planted, potentially staving off famines in vulnerable countries.

Real-time surveillance could stop food recalls from supermarket shelves, real-time water quality surveillance could immediately identify bugs such as cryptosporidium, to stop the spread.

A mobile DNA sequencer could negate a trip to the local surgery. In future, and with sufficient technology and health system development, a simple swab analysis using Oxford Nanopore’s hand-held sequencer could help confirm that a sick child simply has a regular vomiting bug sweeping the community, rather than something more serious. We will soon be able to access much more information about ourselves to aid healthier lifestyles.

A career in bio technology

Oxford Nanopore

Gordon Sanghera’s career has been spent coupling biology with technology. He joined Oxford University spin-out company, Medisense, in Witney in the 1980s. Professor Allen Hill had developed a bio-electronic device for the electronic measurement of blood glucose, and Medisense was commercialising the product.

Gordon rose to Head of Research. The company floated on the Nasdaq in 1994 and was bought by Abbott Laboratories for around $900 million in 1996. He spent five years with Abbott in the USA, first in sales and marketing, then in mergers and acquisitions, returning to Witney in 2000, where he helped to build the factory’s continuous reel to reel manufacturing process which today produces around one billion glucose sensors per annum.

By early 2003, and with Abbott Laboratories’ golden handcuffs of a final salary pension looming, Gordon began

FAST FACTS

 Oxford Nanopore has 350 employees (most in Oxford, but some in Cambridge, New York and Boston USA, Japan and China)

 It has 32 academic partnerships, 133 patent families and 600 patents

 The technology is sold into more than 70 countries, and its product has so far been shipped to thousands of customers.

hankering for one more big adventure, to apply everything he’d learned and build a UK company with global potential.

He tapped up Oxford University contacts (back then there were no technology transfer companies). He also contacted a company called IP to IPO (Now IP group), which had invested £20 million into Oxford chemistry R&D, and met Spike Willcocks. Spike was a PhD graduate who translated academic science into something investors would understand.

Over lunch at the Chiang Mai Kitchen on Oxford High Street, Gordon and Spike trawled through a list of projects. One was to become Oxford Nanopore. “With my bioelectronics background, I could see similarities between that and the way we manufactured the Medisense platform,” said Gordon.

Spike (now Chief Business Development Officer at Oxford Nanopore), helped Gordon write an eight-slide presentation for the bank on why this sensing platform was different and what the prototype would look like. It took just 45 minutes for the Board to grant half a million pounds’ seed funding.

From the outset, Gordon was determined not to make the same mistakes he felt his previous company had made. “Medisense never really achieved more than 10% market penetration. We had to invest in IP to safeguard the nanopore field.”

The same year that London secured the Olympics, 2005, Oxford Nanopore was founded. This company could also be

In a bold move, Gordon raised enough capital to sign collaborations with academic groups across the world focused on similar technologies. This covered broad nanopore sensing technology including future ‘solid-state’ nanopores. “We signed up Harvard and Boston Universities, Texas A&M, Santa Cruz California and Massachusetts.” The company had turned future competitors into collaborators.

“We wanted to achieve the commercial availability of nanopore products to do amazing things, and the best way was to future-proof the company by funding academics for the development of the platform itself, and for its next generation.”

Gordon wanted to establish high-volume manufacturing from the start. “We knew we had a fantastic product, which could be deployed in a number of ways.” After much debate, the company settled on DNA sequencing, which offered the widest range of commercial opportunities.

A decade of development

It took nearly ten years to deliver the first product, but Oxford Nanopore has been fortunate in its investors. “We were honest about how long it would take, explaining that it’s challenging and difficult, but with high risk comes high reward.”

So far, over £350 million has been raised in a stepped approach and the company is now at a tipping point.

“Like the Olympics, our ambition has always been about moving on to the next level,” says Gordon.

“I sometimes think of the company as a beast in a big pit, which we are feeding raw innovation. The more we feed it, the louder it roars. When we get the biggest beast fully out there it’s going to run riot – for the good. And that’s going to be next year.”

R&D must remain close to manufacturing

Oxford Nanopore

Oxford Nanopore manufactures at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory at Didcot, close to its Oxford Science Park R&D hub. And this proximity is critical, according to Gordon.

“I was lucky to be asked for my opinion to help shape some of the debate on the UK’s industrial strategy. How can Oxford Nanopore go from 350 employees to 3,500 people, and how can Government help make that happen? The knee jerk reaction

is to manufacture where labour is cheap, but we’re proving that’s not the case.”

“We have a team of 40 at Didcot and we will be scaling up. R&D must remain close to manufacturing because we are coupling high-end electronics to the most exquisite single molecule biology. Innovation happens close to where the knowledge is and solving any problems in the manufacturing process helps to catalyse more innovation.”

It might seem that the sale of Medisense – a company born in the UK, for $900 million in 1996 was a good deal. But Abbott Laboratories now has a market capitalisation of $76 billion. Gordon isn’t alone in thinking this is less a success, than a UK failure to nurture and retain global companies. His view is held by others, including UK biotech entrepreneur Sir Christopher Evans. The issue, they say, is often a lack of UK investment.

“If you have the right money and backing, you can build a global technology company – and that’s what we’re doing,” says Gordon.

“That’s not to say that strategic relationships might not be important, or that an IPO is out of the question, but we are not in a dash for cash.

“We have the London capital markets, which are exceptional, and British academia which is phenomenal. Bring them together and you get successful spin out companies,” he said.

Sir Christopher Evans added: “Many UK companies establish a base in the USA because it’s easier to raise capital there, but Britain has the best scientists in the world. Our investors must be bolder to keep our companies here.”

Jeremy Bryar is Oxford Nanopore’s Director of Continuous Improvement at Rutherford Appleton. He said:

“Working for the only company in existence which makes what we do, gives us a massive sense of pride, and the vision the company has regarding the DNA world is quite remarkable. We have a formidable team with the same goals: to build a top-quality product that will become a world leader in its field.

Oxford Nanopore

Innovation brought to life

Oxford University’s life science discoveries improve healthcare and boost the economy

In the life sciences, the impact of diagnostics, analytical tools and therapies from Oxford University is immense. Improving the effectiveness of existing drugs, discovering new treatments, understanding disease susceptibility through big data analysis, and apps that record and enhance our wellbeing are just a few of the ways that Oxford’s worldleading research is improving lives worldwide.

At Oxford University Innovation, we commercialise the discoveries of our researchers, for the benefit of all.

Subscribe to Innovation Insights to receive regular updates, or follow us on social media.

www.innovation.ox.ac.uk @OxUInnovation linkedin.com/company/oxford-university-innovation

WE KNOW IT IT’S LIFE, JIM BUT NOT AS

A comprehensive cross sector review into the long-term future of the life sciences industry was published this summer.

The Life Sciences Industrial Strategy’s summary of recommendations includes the creation of a Health Advanced Research Programme (HARP), which will be a coalition of funders, including NHS and UK-based industries working together to create new and efficient ways of delivering world-leading and sustainable healthcare.

The strategy says that large research infrastructure projects and high risk ‘moonshot programmes’ could create entirely new industries in healthcare.

Authored by Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, the strategy highlights the importance of retaining the UK’s competitive edge in this sector and the need for a Government-sustained effort over a longer period of time.

It calls for a 50% increase in the number of clinical trials so that the UK can continue to compete globally, and wants to create four UK companies valued at over £20 billion in the next ten years.

The strategy supports the growth of life science clusters and Government incentives for manufacturing investment, with a goal to attract ten large (£50-£250 million) and ten smaller (£10-£50 million) capital investments in life science manufacturing facilities in the next five years.

NHS collaboration, the establishment of new data hubs and skills support (it says the UK should aim to attract 2000 new discovery scientists to the UK from across the world) are also highlighted in Sir John Bell’s wide-ranging recommendations.

He also calls for the strategy not to be looked at in isolation, but integrated into the UK’s wider industry strategy where there are common interests (for instance in the review of Artificial Intelligence).

Sir John Bell said: “The vision for the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy is an ambitious one and sets out proposals for how the UK can continue to capitalise on its strengths in the sector, both to encourage economic growth and to improve health outcomes for patients.”

The strategy’s recommendations are being considered by the government to work towards a sector deal between government and the global life sciences sector.

www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk

With EU funding drying up after BREXIT, Could the UK’s £64 billion life sciences sector be under threat? We look at what’s going on across the region

“The vision of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy is an ambitious one and sets out proposals for how the UK can continue to capitalise on its strengths in the sector, both to encourage economic growth and to improve health outcomes for patients.”

Skills action plan needed

“In order for skills to be developed in line with needs, the life sciences sector should come together to develop and deliver a reinforced skills action plan across the NHS, commercial and academic sectors, based on a gap analysis which identifies the key skill areas for future focus.

“The UK is highly dependent on a steady influx of international scientists, and forecasts suggest that science sectors will cumulatively require 180,000 to 260,000 people by 2025. Around 26% of academic staff in UK universities are non-UK nationals. Within STEM fields, 13% are from outside the EU and 17% from within.

“This talent underpins the science base in universities, the growth of

The strategy has been broadly welcomed by professionals across the Life Sciences sector. Sue Staunton, Partner at James Cowper Kreston, said: “Life science is an important contributor to the UK economy and is a sector in which the UK is one of the World leaders in terms of innovation – producing some 185 life science publications per million of people compared to 121 in the US, for example.

“The recent report by Sir John Bell is welcome in creating a vision for the sustained development of the sector, with the clear identification of the resources that will be required to achieve that development and meet key strategic goals, which will bring economic growth together with increased employment.”

Adam Stoten, Chief Operating Officer at Oxford University Innovation, added his support: “Sir John’s vision for the UK life sciences sector is a sound one, and contains proposals that if implemented

high-tech companies in the sector, the effectiveness of the NHS in delivering healthcare, and the large companies contributing to life sciences within the UK.

“Outside the EU, it will be essential that this flow of talented individuals is sustained and supported. Not only should the UK life sciences environment be a magnet for the most talented scientists from across Europe, but the UK should also attempt to attract the best scientists from around the world, and to ensure we have a migration system that allows us to recruit skilled workers.”

Life sciences dominate UK economy

The life sciences industry represents one of the dominant economic sectors in the UK. It generates £64 billion in turnover and employs more than 233,000 scientists and staff.

‘Health life sciences’ refers to the application of biology and technology to health improvement, including biopharmaceuticals, medical technology, genomics, diagnostics and digital health. Given its importance to the innovation economy in the UK and its potential for growth there are few, if any, sectors more important to support as part of the UK’s industrial strategy.

should have a profoundly beneficial effect. It is OUI’s experience that in addition to attracting more (patient) capital for investment in, and scaling of, spinout companies, there is a growing need for proof of concept support for academic projects.

“This will enable them to reach a level of maturity and validation that could then attract a licensee or investor.

“To borrow the terminology used in the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy, more pre-commercial investment is needed to develop larger numbers of robust investment propositions.”

“We would support the appointment of a UK-wide life science minister to champion the strategy. George Freeman’s work as an advocate for the UK life science sector and a catalyst for the desirable inward investment described in The Report was recognised and appreciated in Oxford.”

High UK productivity in life sciences

“In a country [the UK] where productivity is a major challenge, public sector life sciences discovery activity, although still underfunded on a per capita basis, is dramatically more productive compared to other countries such as the USA or Germany. In 2015, for example, UK public life science R&D spend was $76 per capita compared to $109 in Germany and $159 in the US; yet produced 185 life science publications per million people; compared to 66 in Germany and 121 in the US.”

Life Sciences Industrial Strategy – A report to the Government from the life sciences sector.

www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk

Life Sciences Industrial Strategy –A report to the Government from the life sciences sector.

University of Oxford announces new forestry collaboration

A University of Oxford collaboration called ‘Sitka Spruced’ could significantly increase the economic productivity of one of the UK’s largest crop yields, the Sitka spruce conifer tree.

Using advanced genomic testing, scientists from the University of Oxford will work in partnership with The University of Edinburgh and Forest Research (an agency of the Forestry Commission) to identify rare individuals which combine fast growth-rate with good timber quality to improve the economics of Sitka spruce plantations in the UK.

UK forestry relies heavily on Sitka spruce. Although native to the Pacific North West, over 35 million trees of this species are planted in the UK each year. It is the third-largest crop by area of cultivation in the UK (after wheat and barley), and accounts for around £1 billion of the industry’s £2 billion annual revenue. The tree produces a versatile white wood with uses from paper making to construction grade material used in buildings. It takes around 40 years from planting before most

of the Sitka spruce trees are harvested, and only a proportion of those trees make the stronger, higher value construction grades.

Using a new breeding technique called ‘genomic selection’ the team hope to accurately identify - at a very early age, fast growing trees, which will meet the higher construction specifications needed to build houses.

Sitka Spruced is one of the few forestry research projects to be awarded funding by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Adaptimmune, a leader in T-cell therapy to treat cancer, based at Milton Park, Oxford, has announced that GlaxoSmithKline has exercised its option under a collaboration and license agreement signed in 2014 to exclusively license the right to research, develop and commercialise Adaptimmune’s NY-ESO SPEAR T-cell therapy programme.”

“This is very exciting for Adaptimmune as GSK has exercised its option earlier than originally planned,” said CEO James Noble.

“The commitment by one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies to the NY-ESO SPEAR T-cell programme as a new treatment modality is a testament to the strength of our data in synovial sarcoma recently presented at ASCO.

“From a financial perspective, this option exercise extends our cash runway into 2020.”

Professor John MacKay, project lead and Wood Professor of Forest Science at University of Oxford, said: “Genomics offers unprecedented potential to shorten the tree breeding process, which is the key to reaching harvestable size earlier. With Sitka Spruced we not only aim for faster tree growth and a reduction of plantation rotation from 40 to around 30 years, but also to improve the quality of wood stocks. The economics are clear if it becomes possible to grow three rotations in the same period of time it used to take to grow two, and also to improve the wood quality.”

GSK invests £48 million in Adaptimmune

Sitka Spruce being harvested

“Genomics offers unprecedented potential to shorten the tree breeding process, which is the key to reaching harvestable size earlier.”

Royds Withy King advises on Oxford Genetics

£7.5 million investment

Earth-sized planets forty light years away could be habitable

There could be water on multiple Earth-sized planets orbiting the recently discovered TRAPPIST-1 dwarf star – making them potentially habitable – according to an international collaboration of researchers, including the University of Warwick.

Using the NASA/ESA Hubble telescope to estimate whether there might be water on the surface of the seven planets around TRAPPIST-1, the researchers found that although the innermost planets must have lost most – if not all – of their water, the outer planets of the system might still harbour substantial

amounts. Professor Peter Wheatley, from the University of Warwick’s Astronomy & Astrophysics Group in the Department of Physics, played a significant part in the project, measuring the X-ray irradiation of the planets by their parent star.

He said: “It is exciting that we can now study the environments of individual Earth-sized planets. Our results suggest that water, and potentially life, could have survived in the TRAPPIST-1 system, despite the relatively intense ultraviolet and X-ray irradiation of the planets.”

Diamond Light Source helps reveal information to support new vaccine

Bioscience

Plants have been used to produce a new vaccine against poliovirus in what is hoped to be a major step towards global eradication of the disease.

A collaborative team of scientists, led by Professor Dave Rowlands at the University of Leeds, has developed a novel synthetic vaccine with a method grown in plants that uses virus-like particles – empty shells that trick the immune system into a protective reaction.

Genes that carry information to produce virus like particles are infiltrated into the plant tissues.

The host plant then reproduces large quantities of them using its own protein expression mechanisms.

The team turned to cryo-electron microscopy at Diamond’s Electron Bio-Imaging Centre (eBIC) at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire to obtain a clear look at the structure of the empty shells.

Professor Dave Stuart at The University of Oxford and Director of Life Sciences at Diamond Light Source, said: “We were inspired by the successful synthetic vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease, also investigated at Diamond as part of UK research collaboration.”

Corporate lawyers from Oxford firm Royds Withy King have advised Oxford Genetics, a leader in innovative synthetic biology-based technologies, on a £7.5 million investment into its operations in the US and the UK.

Jennifer Sampson and Tony Roberts, from Royds Withy King’s Corporate and Commercial team, advised Ryan Cawood, CEO of Oxford Genetics, and his team on the terms of the investment agreement with existing investor Mercia Technologies PLC, and new investors Invesco Perpetual.

Jennifer Sampson said: “The deal will help our client innovate in cell and gene therapy, fund a new office in Boston and extend its UK facilities. Oxfordshire is a hub for life sciences businesses.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity to facilitate a substantial investment into a highly innovative business and see sector growth in the region,” she added.

Ryan Cawood added: “Royds Withy King supported Oxford Genetics throughout and helped us negotiate this strategic investment. We look forward to working with Jennifer and the team again.”

Royds Withy King, which has a dedicated team with life sciences sector expertise, is also supporting a series of initiatives at Harwell Campus as well as events on innovation in science and technology, run by The Bessemer Society.

Bioscience

Bioscience

Illustration shows the possible surface of TRAPPIST-1f, one of the newly discovered planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. Scientists using the Spitzer Space Telescope and ground-based telescopes have discovered that there are seven Earth-sized planets in the system.

©PHOTOGRAPH:NASA/JPL-CALTECH

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Working with start-ups, universities, SME’s, corporates and investors. Individuals with bright ideas and companies researching new markets. Our experience in the strictly regulated medical environment ensures we work at the highest level and our processes are supported by ISO9001,14001 and 13485.

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1488 684554

Summit Therapeutics raises $62 million

Oxford wields half a £billion war chest for life sciences

Bioscience

Oxford Science and Innovation (OSI), has so far supported 40 spin-outs totalling £57.872 million, of its total funds under management of £580 million. £230 million has been raised in 2016/17.

OSI, launched in 2015, provides capital and scaling advice to businesses founded on intellectual property (IP) spun out from Oxford University.

The organisation is independent of Oxford University and Oxford University Innovation, and its investments span transition, seed and follow-on funding and range from £100,000 to £10 million.

In 2016/17 OSI invested in 19 spinouts. It has considered 226 investments since launch, of which 40 have been completed, 75 are being considered and 48 are awaiting further developments.

One company that received OSI funding earlier this year was SpyBiotech, based at Oxford Business Park.

SpyBiotech is pioneering a powerful new approach to generate vaccines. The company was spun out from The University of Oxford in early 2017, supported by OSI and Google Ventures.

Conventional approaches to generate vaccines are slow and often ineffective. SpyBiotech’s proprietary protein superglue technology makes it possible to produce vaccines more quickly, cheaply and effectively. The company is harnessing this unique platform to generate vaccines to combat major human and veterinary health challenges for Europe, the US and worldwide.

The relatively recent formation of OSI has injected real momentum into the creation and growth of spin-out companies from The University of Oxford, helping create real highvalue jobs, says Dr Roger Mould, Relationship Director, Corporate Banking at HSBC. “SpyBiotech is a clear example. This can only be a good thing for the Oxfordshire economy as a whole.”

Sue Staunton, Partner at James Cowper Kreston, added: “We are delighted to work with the team at SpyBiotech as they develop and commercialise their exciting technology. The level of funding that they and other spinouts from The University of Oxford have received from OSI has been transformative, enabling them to move swiftly with their research programme.”

Summit Therapeutics, a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company to advance the current treatment for serious unmet medical needs, has been awarded a grant from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), worth up to $62 million. This will support clinical and regulatory development of ridinilazole (a highly selective antibiotic that has the potential to treat C. difficile infection [CDI] and reduce disease recurrence).

Glyn Edwards, CEO of Milton Parkbased Summit Therapeutics, said: “CDI is a serious public health threat. BARDA’s selection of ridinilazole for an award is testament to its promising clinical and preclinical data package that indicate its potential as a front-line treatment of CDI that could reduce recurrent disease.”

Nightstar Therapeutics to go public

Nightstar Therapeutics (formerly NightstarX), an Oxford University spinout developing gene therapy treatments for rare inherited retinal diseases, has announced plans to hold its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company is filing its plans with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to float on the NASDAQ global market, and will trade under the ticker “NITE”.

Nightstar launched out of Oxford at the start of 2014, and has grown into an international company with offices in London and Massachusetts. It has raised a combined $99.6 million (£77.1 million) over three venture rounds, and was notably the first portfolio company of Syncona Partners, the life sciences-focused investment arm of the Wellcome Trust.

James Cowper Kreston’s Sue Staunton & Roger Mould of HSBC, at SpybioTech

Bioscience

How to protect your Trade Secrets

Trade secrets, confidential information and secret know-how play an increasing role in life sciences and other technology heavy industries where they may be the single, most valuable asset. At the same time, the risk of unauthorised use is increasing because most information is stored and shared in digital form and can be accessed and reproduced instantly so protection from disclosure is becoming increasingly important. Modern working culture emphasises speed of response to the detriment of time to reflect and compose, so that we do not always take appropriate time to consider what is confidential and what should not be disclosed.

Disclosure of trade secrets and other confidential information typically occur in connection with the following situations:

 Negotiations exploring the potential for commercial collaborations

 Due diligence investigations in connection with mergers and acquisitions

 Actual commercial collaborations, e.g. research collaborations and outlicensing of technology

 Employment relationships

What are trade secrets?

There is no current, authoritative legal definition of trade secrets but the EU Trade Secrets Directive definition: “as information which has commercial value because it is secret and which has been subject to reasonable and effective efforts to maintain its secrecy”. Typical examples of trade secrets within the life sciences industry include technical information such as formulae and recipes, genetic material, research data and commercial information such as customers and suppliers’ lists, business strategies and price information.

The Trade Secrets Directive (directive number 2016/943) will be implemented in all EU member states over the coming year and it is expected that identical or similar

legislation will come into force in the UK regardless of Brexit.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)

Pre-contractual negotiations will normally be covered by NDAs and it is important to ensure that they sufficiently effective. In addition to this the following good housekeeping rules will help to minimise the risk of breach of confidentiality.

Top 10 Housekeeping rules to keep your trade secrets safe:

1. Ensure that employee contracts contain clear and appropriate confidentiality provisions

2. Implement company-wide policies for the protection of confidential information and personal data and have a robust security policy addressing both physical and electronic document security, including secure e-mail systems, encryption of documents, use of USB keys etc.

3. Provide regular training to employees on confidentiality and ensure that training covers the particular risks of digital storage and IT issues such as the metadata which are embedded in and may be extracted from electronic documents

4. Maintain records of what projects each employee has worked on and remind departing employees and consultants of their duty of confidentiality and ask them to confirm in writing that they have returned all company property

5. When commercial negotiations make it necessary to disclose truly confidential information or high level trade secrets audit security procedures frequently

6. Make sure that confidential information or trade secrets are disseminated on a need-to-know basis only and that documents are marked confidential

7. Restrict access to areas where confidential processes are conducted, or developments are being made

8. Keep a contemporaneous written record of the negotiations and disclosures – in practise this can often boil down to little more than creating a separate folder of all relevant correspondence in Outlook

9. Hold back the most confidential details until the final stages of the negotiations (staggered disclosure)

10. Limit the use of electronic documents and instead use hard copies, which can be numbered and taken back at the end of the negotiations

Thomas Bjorn a consultant at Royds Withy King with a law degree from the University of Copenhagen and has worked in private legal practice and the pharmaceutical and biotech industries in England, Switzerland and Denmark. His areas of expertise include the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property, regulatory affairs and sale of goods and services to the NHS.

thomas.bjorn@roydswithyking.com

Claus Andersen a partner in the Corporate & Commercial and Life Sciences teams at Royds withy King, deals with all aspects of corporate and commercial work for corporate clients, limited companies, businesses, private individuals and trade organisations.

claus.andersen@roydswithyking.com

www.roydswithyking.com

Trade secrets, confidential information and secret know-how play an increasing role in life sciences and other technology heavy industries where trade secrets may be the single, most valuable asset…

2017 Oxford Bioscience Network award-winners revealed

A ground-breaking partnership to develop digital health apps has won the 2017 Oxford Bioscience Network’s (OBN) Best Public-Private Collaboration Award, sponsored by the Oxford Academic Health Science Network.

The winning partnership comprises The University of Oxford, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Drayson Technologies. The organisations signed a research agreement earlier this year to evaluate, develop and commercialise digital health applications including GDmHealth for the management of gestational diabetes, one of only two NHS-approved apps available on the NHS apps library.

Other companies winning awards from this region included Abingdon-based

Oxford PharmaGenesis launches Dr Bug: Microbe Mayhem!

Oxford PharmaGenesis’ first not-for-profit game app Dr Bug: Microbe Mayhem! was launched at the Oxfordshire Science Festival this summer to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance.

Over-prescription of unnecessary antibiotics for viral infections is one of the main factors in the rise of antibiotic resistance in the healthcare setting.

Dr Bug: Microbe Mayhem! was created in collaboration with local digital agency Global Initiative to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance among older primary school aged children, who were the target audience of the Oxfordshire Science Festival.

PsiOxus Therapeutics as Best Established Biotech, for realising the potential of immuno-oncolytic viruses for treatment of solid tumours, Innovate UK (based at Swindon), as Highest Impact Investor for the pump priming, support and leverage it has provided to companies in the life sciences industry over the past year. Best Start-up Medtech went to Oxford Endovascular for creating novel ‘origamilike’ stents with improved performance and lower patient risk for treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Best Emerging Medtech went to Perspectum Diagnostics in Oxford for commercialising LiverMultiScan, a noninvasive medical imaging software tool which enhances the effectiveness of the diagnostic pathway for patients with chronic liver disease.

A Special Recognition Award went to Julian Golec for his long service to the life sciences industry.

John Harris, CEO of OBN, said: “We received an outstanding number of entries; up a staggering 120% on last year, so competition was really tough. All our winners and nominees this year are truly innovative and set a great example to the rest of the industry. We would like to thank our sponsors and supporters for helping make the awards a success, which acts as a reflection of how buoyant and supportive the industry is today.”

R&D Tax Credits drive life sciences investment

Sectors heavily focused on research and development, such as life sciences, have benefitted from the R&D Tax Credit since the turn of the century, says Dr Roger Mould, Relationship Director, Corporate Banking at HSBC.

“In some cases, this has amounted to millions of pounds being returned to the company, enabling further investment,” he said.

“The breadth and depth of science being developed across the region is truly exciting and could have a real global impact, be it through novel medical devices, highly targeted cancer

treatments or other research areas. As a result, it is a real privilege to work in the sector.

“This bioscience feature clearly highlights the growing, vibrant life sciences sector around Oxfordshire,” adds Dr Mould.

“The relatively recent formation of Oxford Science & Innovation (OSI) has injected real momentum into the creation and growth of spin-out companies from The University of Oxford, helping create high-value jobs. This can only be a good thing for Oxfordshire’s economy.”

www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk

Oxford: part of the UK’s Golden Triangle of life science

The Government’s Industrial Strategy report, published this summer, identifies clearly the importance of the life science sector to the UK, says Sue Staunton, Partner at James Cowper Kreston, “Typically, the businesses within this sector tend to ‘cluster’ in particular localities with key defining features. These include strong research infrastructure (including particularly university and medical research facilities), a highly-skilled workforce amongst whom there is a high level of innovation and mobility, good investors who understand the sector, and a strong network of specialist advisers.”

Oxfordshire is renowned for being a centre for life science activity, and with Cambridge and London forms the UK’s ‘Golden Triangle’ of life science. “It certainly ticks all the boxes as a cluster,” says Sue. “From an infrastructure point of view there is, of course, The University of Oxford, ranked as the best in the World, with 23 Nobel prize winners in medicine and chemistry. There are a large number of science parks – many of which are home to life science enterprise as well as the medical research sites at the Old Road Campus including the new Bioescalator.”

Oxfordshire is firmly established as one of the leading bio clusters in Europe with an estimated 180 companies in

Oxford Cancer Biomarkers heads down China’s Belt & Road initiative

R&D and more than 150 companies in associated industries.

This is driven by exceptional scientific and research expertise. In Oxfordshire there are over 10,000 employed in scientific R&D and healthcare related manufacturing. The proportion in R&D is over four times the national average.

“The University of Oxford Medical Sciences division alone has some 5,000 plus staff, students and academic visitors alone who contribute to the vibrancy of the sector within the county and beyond,” adds Sue.

“At James Cowper Kreston, we count ourselves as part of the strong life science support structure within Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley. We are specialists in advising businesses and individuals who work within the sector on their financial strategy and tax affairs.

“We place particular emphasis on ensuring that Government incentives for innovation, and investment in innovation administered through the tax regime such as Enterprise Investment Scheme; Research and Development Tax Credits and Patent Box are understood and used by our clients where relevant.

“We have recovered over £200 million of expenditure for clients through R&D tax credits.”

LGC announces partnership with SouthWestSensor Ltd

Bioscience

International life sciences measurement and testing company LGC, which has a site at Culham Science Park near Abingdon, has announced a new partnership with SouthwestSensor Ltd under the InnovateUK funding programme ‘Analysis for innovators’, in its role as the National Measurement

Laboratory and Designated Institute for chemical and bio-measurement.

LGC will support SouthWestSensor to develop an innovative assay (an investigative procedure in laboratory medicine), for its novel wearable sensor to continuously monitor a stress mark named cortisol.

Oxford Cancer Biomarkers, based at Oxford Science Park, is establishing joint laboratories with My-BioMed Biotechnology Co. Ltd of China.

As part of the ‘Belt and Road Medical Cooperation Initiative’ the companies will establish laboratories in Ningbo Meishan and Oxford, and participate jointly in research and development programmes.

MBM and OCB have agreed to launch four research and development projects.

Gareth Taylor, Consul for Science and Innovation, at the British Consulate-General Shanghai said: “The UK is already China’s second largest partner in terms of co-publications and the UK-China Research and Innovation Partnership Fund has seen both governments invest in collaborative projects. Healthcare and life science is a crucial area of focus to tackle global health challenges, such as cancer, the largest cause of death in both the UK and China.”

China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI) is a major Chinese large-scale strategy designed to drive bigger and faster trade and capital flows between the East and the West. Based on the Silk Road principal, which transformed international trade from ancient times, the ‘Belt and Road’ refers to the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt and the seagoing ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’. By 2050, the Belt and Road region aims to contribute 80% of global GDP growth.

Gloucestershire NHS drives medical research

Medical research is the largest area of charitable giving in the UK and at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, charitable giving plays an important role. Donations and gifts in wills fund research staff who can increase the number of trials available for local patients.

Working across both Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals researchers are involved in over 100 clinical trials, from testing new surgical devices or drugs for conditions from neurological disorders or eye disease, to studies aimed at helping improve understanding of mental health issues.

Cancer research is among the areas the team continually works on and they rely on volunteers to take part in research

projects, giving patients opportunities to participate in groundbreaking new treatments before they would otherwise be made publicly available. This research feeds into national programmes.

Alongside charitable giving, the research team’s work is funded by a number of sources, including the National Institute for Health and Research funded by the Department of Health, University bursaries and industry grants.

Indian biotech delegation visits the Midlands

A delegation of Indian biotech company leaders visited Birmingham recently to see the life sciences cluster, where the City’s world-leading research is translated into new medical therapies.

The delegation visited in September as part of bioConclave 2017, an annual gathering of Indian life science business leaders, who come to the UK to explore investment and partnership opportunities.

The visitors were welcomed by Indian Consul General Dr Aman Puri, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Dr James Wilkie, CEO of University of Birmingham Enterprise, which runs business incubation and commercialisation services for the University.

Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice Chancellor (International), said: “The University of Birmingham has a long-standing strength in life sciences.

“Four of our 11 Nobel Prize winners received their awards for work revealing the structure of DNA; developing new treatments for heart disease and cancer; understanding pain relief; and pioneering organ transplants.

“Birmingham is one of the UK’s most important sites for life sciences –characterised by strong partnerships that link academic excellence with innovation in addressing the health care requirements of a diverse regional population of five million people.”

Professor Hugh Barr leads a team based at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital using smell or odour detection to ‘sniff out disease in order to snuff it out’.

Bad breath, infections, TB and even cancer all give off a particular odour, and many will be aware of recent successes using dogs to detect conditions such as prostate cancer.

Now machines are being developed to detect conditions by smell. BioMimicry forms the basis of the team’s dedicated work, imitating nature to detect disease without needing invasive procedures such as a biopsy.

The machines mimic the process of smelling and can distinguish between many thousands of odours, analysing patterns and identifying those which might fit the identity of a given disease. With early detection a key factor in the successful treatment of cancer, this technology has real potential to improve the speed of diagnosis and treatment for future cancer patients.

Bioscience

The Doctor Will Smell You Now

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Greenpower for Renishaw in Poland

Manufacturing

Global engineering and scientific technologies company Renishaw, competed in the second annual Greenpower event in Poznan, Poland in September. The event marked the first time that the Renishaw team has competed internationally.

The Greenpower project aims to encourage young people aged nine to 25 to consider a career in engineering. As a part of the event, young people design, build and race fully functioning electric cars.

Greenpower was launched in the UK in 1999 and has since expanded to Spain,

China, the USA and Poland. The team took three of its electric cars, two extensively reworked since the 2016 season ended and one that is brand new.

Tom Lawson, Technical Apprentice and Greenpower team member at Renishaw, said: “We’ve won numerous awards for our innovation and have been making incremental improvements to the cars since we first raced.”

Renishaw sp. z.o.o was formed in 2002 and its new office in Warsaw was opened in 2014.

Midlands welcomes Aussie automotive interest

Manufacturing

A senior Australian government minister travelled more than 10,000 miles to view the achievements of a group of West Midlands engineering businesses, whose parent company has just burst onto the business scene Down Under.

The Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP, South Australia minister for finance, resources and energy, undertook a fact-finding tour of four hi-tech factories in the Liberty House Group which, along with its sister energy company SIMEC, has just bought Australia’s largest integrated mining and steel business.

Under the umbrella of the GFG Alliance, Liberty and SIMEC have been reviving heavy industry in the UK and other parts of the world by combining steelmaking with clean energy generation and high-value engineering.

Liberty’s plants at Coventry, Leamington Spa, Oldbury and Kidderminster make sophisticated metal components for the automotive and aerospace industries, supplying some of the biggest name customers in these sectors.

Mr Koutsantonis was keen to discover more about the progress being made by Liberty in transforming previously struggling UK businesses into profitable concerns and plugging them into a low carbon future.

Following two years of rapid growth through high-profile acquisitions, Liberty now employs more than 2,500 people in its West Midlands engineering businesses.

Funding deal for R53 Engineering

Manufacturing

A Warwick firm that provides solutions for high performance engineering industries has undergone a major expansion.

R53 Engineering will broaden its services and develop more of its own products after a move to the Heathcote Industrial Estate, Leamington Spa.

The company, which works with big industry names such as McLaren, the Ministry of Defence and Bentley, moved thanks to a grant of nearly £35,000 from Warwickshire County Council after guidance from the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hub’s Jaymie Thakordas, as well as from the University of Warwick Science Park.

Roger Estrada from R53 Engineering, said: “The funding and relocation has meant that we can push forward our expansion plans which include developing more of our own products.”

David Ayton-Hill, from Warwickshire County Council, said: “R53 are the type of small business with strong growth potential that the county council’s small capital growth fund was designed to support, and it is great to see how this company is using this funding.”

Renishaw electric car races at Poznan

Roger Estrada, Jaymie Thakordas and David Ayton-Hill of Warwickshire County Council

Tom Koutsantonis MP with Anthony Blackwell (left) Managing Director of LVT and Dr. Douglas Dawson, Chief Executive of Liberty Industries Group

CARBON FIBRE FOLDING BIKE GOES INTO PRODUCTION

The world’s lightest folding bike has gone into production at Banbury. Engineered by Banbury-based Prodrive, Hummingbird weighs just 6.9 kg and has a simple threestep folding system that allows the bike to be folded in just five seconds.

The lightweight carbon frame, made by Prodrive Composites, is available in four colours with each frame being individually numbered. The Carbon Edition features a beautiful visual carbon frame with the carbon herringbone weave pattern clearly visible through the lacquer.

EEF

The bike is available as a single speed and four speed version.

Petre Craciun, Hummingbird designer, said: “Since buying my first BMX bike at the age of 14, I’ve become obsessed with the idea of going everywhere freely. It was this desire to remove the restraints of other more cumbersome folding bikes that sparked the idea to design a transportable option.”

and Santander launch new manufacturing facts & figures

Manufacturing

British manufacturing continued its climb up the global rankings as growth returned last year, according to figures published by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and Santander.

Launching the 2017 manufacturing fact card, the new data shows that Britain is now the eighth-largest industrial nation with an annual output now worth around £185 billion, up from ninth place last year.

In the post-Brexit world, manufacturing will increasingly provide Britain’s link to the world, currently generating 44% of total UK exports. The sector is also vital for the nation’s future source of income, undertaking some 70% of total R&D by Britain’s businesses. Data around employment is equally impressive, with 2.6 million people working within the manufacturing sector across the country.

The largest individual sector is food and drink (16%) while the chemicals and

pharmaceuticals and transport sectors both account for 14% of output each. It is these two sectors which also head up the manufacturing innovation league table, with Office of National Statistics figures revealing that pharmaceuticals accounts for 34.4% of UK innovation, and transport 33%.

As a sector, the manufacturing good news story continues into comparable pay rates, offering higher wages than other sectors with highly paid, highly skilled jobs. Average earnings have increased from £31,489 to £32,047, some £3,748 more than the whole economy average pay.

A reminder of the post-Brexit challenge is ever present as EU markets still dominate for exports, accounting for 48% of manufactured exports in the second quarter of 2017. The UK’s largest single export destination is the United States, followed by Germany and France.

David Richards, Chairman of Prodrive, said: “Hummingbird combines all the key attributes of technical excellence that Prodrive stands for. But this is just the beginning. As with all the projects we work on with clients in the motorsport, automotive, marine and aerospace sectors, we will be constantly striving to find new ways to innovate for the cycling industry.”

Spirax Sarco helps metal refiner slash costs

Manufacturing

Cheltenham-based Spirax Sarco has helped metal refining company Vale Europe Ltd, reduce costs by 60% following a major audit of its steam, condensate and cooling water systems.

Vale Europe’s West London site, which is now running at 95% efficiency, has also reduced its nitrogen oxide emissions by 55% and eliminated its sulphur oxide emissions.

The company uses large amounts of heat and chemicals to extract impurities from noble metals such as gold and silver. Prior to the audit, the site was using steam networks that were over 45 years old.

Spirax Sarco conducted a detailed audit after it identified issues regarding process speeds, energy costs and efficiency. It also wanted to ensure that its systems were as safe, robust and environmentally-friendly as possible.

Manufacturing

JLR goes electric

In less that three years, all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified, the company announced at its inaugural Tech Fest, a series of debates and a free public exhibition about the future of mobility.

Smart Worcestershire business receives Queen’s Award

One of Worcestershire’s most successful companies has received its Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Innovation.

Vice Lord-Lieutenant The Hon Lady Morrison presented The Smart Actuator Company with their official Queen’s Award trophy in September.

The Malvern-based company was awarded for innovative thinking around the energy efficiency and smart technology of actuators.

Councillor Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure at Worcestershire

County Council, said: “I am always thrilled to see businesses such as the Smart Actuator Company reaping the benefits of a national accolade like the Queen’s Award, having spent years developing an innovative USP.”

Vice Lord-Lieutenant The Hon Lady Morrison said: “I enjoyed being shown around the Smart Actuator Company and learning more about its products.

“I can see immediately why this company won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, against formidable competition from thousands of competing companies around the country.”

China rewards Professor Lord Bhattacharyya

Manufacturing

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman and founder of WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group), at the University of Warwick, has received two prestigious awards from China – the Great Wall Friendship Award, from Beijing City, and the Chinese Government Friendship Award, the premier national award.

The Great Wall Friendship Award was

presented in appreciation of Professor Lord Bhattacharyya’s ‘enthusiastic support and contribution to Beijing’s construction and your friendly cooperation.’

The Chinese Government Friendship Award is the highest award offered by the Chinese Government to honour foreign experts.

“Every new Jaguar Land Rover model line will be electrified from 2020. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles.”

Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Every new Jaguar Land Rover model line will be electrified from 2020. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles. Our first fully electric performance SUV, the Jaguar I-PACE, goes on sale next year.”

Manufacturing Management Show 2017

Manufacturing

The UK’s most comprehensive event for manufacturing leaders is returning for its second year.

The Manufacturing Management Show (MMS) is the UK’s largest exhibition and conference for modern manufacturing leaders.

This free two-day event takes place on 22-23 November at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry and will combine a keynote conference programme with practical workshops and an exhibition featuring market leading suppliers.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Smart Actuators receives their Queen’s Award

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MANUFACTURING MUST EMBRACE THE DIGITAL CHANGE

There’s a simple message which I think is crucial for UK manufacturing businesses in 2017: They must be prepared to embrace the next wave of digitalisation to survive in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Industry 4.0 is the name given to the next generation of innovation poised to disrupt the manufacturing sector through digitalisation.

These developments are expected to become the norm over the next five to 10 years. Many businesses across the world are already well advanced in this way of thinking.

In the UK, manufacturers are sometimes held back by an inaccurate perception that further digitalisation will lead to job losses and that the investment required is too onerous in the short term.

However, analysing the history of industrialisation shows that businesses have only survived through periods of disruption by embracing innovation, knowledge and flexibility to make best use of the latest technology. In truth, this period of digitalisation could end up creating job opportunities, as it will require businesses to carry out new processes.

I have recently seen how digitalisation can move a manufacturing business forward to greater success. For decades, computer-aided design (CAD) has been used for technical drawings. It is now possible to bring CAD drawings to life

in 3D, in proportion to actual size, using virtual reality (VR).

It is further possible to use VR to test the placement of components in their end location to ensure that, when built, the components are right first time. This removes an expensive cycle of checking and testing with endless prototypes.

For example, a component planned to be fitted to a larger product/place can be designed in 3D and made viewable from all sides. It can then be ‘fitted’ virtually, using precise measurements, to ensure it will do the job required, before the component is finally manufactured.

Think about the time and money saved by that single example of applying VR 3D technology.

The next stage is to link the VR component with your marketing and sales strategy. This is using digitalisation to disrupt the existing norm. For example, if a business regularly uses sets of data and descriptions, digital technology can apply these to agreed templates efficiently producing marketing and sales brochures.

This doesn’t stop the human input still be needed to check and tweak documents, and it may increase employment if smarter marketing and sales operations lead to more orders.

In a similar way, VR can be used to present marketing brochures to potential customers with virtual presentations on computer screens, taking them into factories to watch how carefully components are made.

This can reduce time and money spent sending sales teams all over the world, carrying with them expensive samples of the products they want to sell.

This technology might free up time where more complex assignments can be taken on, when face-to-face interactions are really needed.

Crucially, these types of applications are what competitors are already doing across the world, and UK manufacturers must make sure they are not left behind.

VR is just one example. There are many other useful aspects to digitalisation which manufacturers need to consider incorporating to keep their business moving forward.

They need to take a decisive step forward towards a future where forging a working relationship with digitalisation is the norm.

Embracing digitalisation in this way is critical to survival.

Chris Mould, Audit Partner at national audit, tax and advisory firm

Crowe Clark Whitehill

“In the UK, manufacturers are sometimes held back by an inaccurate perception that further digitalisation will lead to a loss of jobs and that the investment required is too onerous in the short term.”

Chris Mould, Crowe Clark Whitehill

OXEHEALTH WINS PRESTIGIOUS ROYAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING AWARD

United Technologies acquires Rockwell Collins for $30 Billion

United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is to acquire Rockwell Collins, a leader in aviation and high-integrity solutions for commercial and military customers.

UTC Aerospace Systems, headquartered in the USA, operates from a number of UK sites including its ISR Systems at Malvern Hills Science Park and Actuations Systems at Banbury.

“This acquisition adds tremendous capabilities to our aerospace businesses and strengthens our offerings of technologically advanced aerospace systems,” said UTC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Greg Wayes.

Oxehealth, based at Oxford Science Park, has received the prestigious Colin Campbell Mitchell Award, presented by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The award, given to engineers who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement in UK engineering, honours Oxehealth’s development of innovative, non-contact health monitoring technology, which can observe a patient’s vital signs using only a standard digital video camera.

The team used a combination of computer vision, signal processing and machine learning, granting them fourteen patents for the technology.

The technology tracks the micromovements of the patient without using contact sensors or invasive wires.

The data, collected from the patient’s heart rate and breathing rate, is processed using an off-the-shelf video camera. This device is equipped with infra-red illumination, enabling it to work equally well in darkness.

Oxehealth’s research lead, Oliver Gibson, said: “We are all immensely proud to have developed this technology from early prototypes to products which meet crucial real-world needs. We’ve designed these tools to support the care of some of the most vulnerable patients in the healthcare system, in settings ranging from mental health to general hospitals, home care and police and prison custody.”

Former Acting Director of Research for the NHS, Professor Sir Malcolm Green, said: ‘Oxehealth’s camera-based monitoring is astonishing in the accuracy and reliability with which it can monitor heart rate and breathing frequency, the two core vital signs, as well as patient movement.”

UK’S LEADING REAL ESTATE ADVISOR TO SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SECTORS

The Oxehealth team: Nick Dunkley; Simon Jones; Oliver Gibson, with Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRS, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Committee

HR

Wallingford waves hello to £12 million contract

Engineering and environmental hydraulics company, HR Wallingford, based at Howbery Business Park, has been awarded a £12 million contract to supply a deep-water Wave Generation System. The system will equip a seakeeping and manoeuvring basin being created to test ship design, by the Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute (SSSRI) on an island off the east coast of China. SSSRI, which is owned by COSCO, China’s state-owned shipping company,

conducts research and development into ship design, and the new basin, to be housed on Changxing Island off Shanghai, will be used to test innovative vessel design to improve the efficiency and stability of different kinds of ships.

The wave-making system will be designed and manufactured in the UK before being shipped to Shanghai, ready for installation to begin in October 2019. The facility is expected to be operational from August 2020.

R&D grants provide UK with £43 billion economic boost

Taxpayer support for high-tech innovation benefits the economy by significantly boosting jobs, turnover and productivity among the companies backed, new research has found.

Over a 13-year period, R&D grants spurred growth worth £43 billion to the British economy, more than five times the £8 billion invested, and created around 150,000 jobs.

The study, the most comprehensive of its kind, carried out by the Enterprise Research Centre and headed by Warwick Business School’s Stephen Roper, also

found big variations in the types of firms most likely to benefit from grants, as well as regional differences.

Professor Roper said: “This is the largest and most detailed study yet of the impact public funding for science and innovation has on growth at the firm level.

“It shows that grants to support R&D have a positive impact.

“They create jobs and fuel growth in the high-tech, high value-added sectors that the UK must encourage in order to remain competitive on the world stage.”

Organ preservation expert wins Academy Silver Medal

Cold storage of human organs for transplant could be a thing of the past thanks to the work of a biomedical engineer at the University of Oxford. Professor Constantin Coussios has received the Royal Academy of Engineering’s prestigious Silver Medal for work including a ground-breaking method of preserving functioning organs at body temperature.

Working closely with transplant surgeon Professor Peter Friend at the University of Oxford, Professor Coussios co-founded spin-out company OrganOx in 2008 to develop the technique into a medical device that could be manufactured and translated into clinical practice.

OrganOx, based at Oxford Science Park now employs some 20 people and the OrganOx metra® is in use across the NHS, where it was used to perform over 10% of liver transplants in 2016. It is now approved for use in Europe and is being used in hospitals in Germany, France, Spain and Belgium, as well as the UK.

UK’S LEADING REAL ESTATE ADVISOR TO SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SECTORS

Prof Lu Jiaming, Vice-President of the Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute (SSSRI) with Dr Bruce Tomlinson, Chief Executive of HR Wallingford

Professor Constantin Coussios

QinetiQ signs £4.5 million contract

Science and engineering company QinetiQ, which has a major base at Malvern Technology Centre, has signed a £4.5 million contract to lead phase four of the Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation (MAPLE) project for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

The MAPLE project, spearheaded by QinetiQ in partnership with BAE Systems, SeeByte and Thales, seeks to demonstrate and de-risk the integration of multiple unmanned systems into the combat system of a Royal Navy warship.

Sartorius continues to grow

The project will build on the success of Unmanned Warrior 2016, which successfully integrated data from 25 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles from 12 organisations.

Stuart Hider, QinetiQ’s Director Maritime Programmes, said: “MAPLE is a key project in unlocking the huge potential of unmanned vehicles and autonomous systems to safeguard sovereign interests.”

Dr Philip Smith, Above Water Systems Programme Manager, at the Government’s Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, said: “It is the Royal Navy’s intention to lead and win through innovative exploitation of maritime autonomous systems. The MAPLE work is the route by which this vision is turned into reality.”

Sartorius, a leading international laboratory and pharmaceutical equipment supplier, is seeking to expand at Stonehouse Park, near Stroud for the second time in two years.

Sartorius Stedim Lab Ltd, which employs around 130 staff in Gloucestershire, is intending to expand its factory on the Stroudwater Business Park near Stroud. The factory was only opened last year by The Princess Royal.

The new factory has doubled the site’s production capabilities and Chairman Dr Joachim Kreuzburg said: “Sartorius is growing dynamically, particularly with single-use products manufactured in Stonehouse. Since our acquisition of Vivascience back in 1999, this Stonehouse site has continuously contributed to the strong development

Stonehouse.”

of the Sartorius Group. Our local team has achieved a very successful track record, so the new, larger plant is the next logical step.”

In Stonehouse, Sartorius develops and manufactures a variety of single-use plastic products, such as filtration units and laboratory-scale bioreactors. The approximately £8 million new plant additionally serves as a competence centre within the Sartorius Group for designing and manufacturing plastic components.

UK’S LEADING REAL ESTATE ADVISOR TO SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SECTORS

Science & Tech

“Sartorius is growing dynamically, particularly with single-use products manufactured in

“MAPLE is a key project in unlocking the huge potential of unmanned vehicles and autonomous systems to safeguard sovereign interests.”

Sartorius integrated single-use solutions for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals

DiffBlue secures £17

million as it unveils AI-driven platforms

DiffBlue, an Oxford University spinout company developing an artificial intelligence (AI) capable of writing code, has secured £17 million in Series A funding.

The round was led by Goldman Sachs Principal Strategic Investments, with participation from Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI) and Oxford Technology and Innovations Fund (OTIF).

The investment will be used to launch three products based on DiffBlue’s core AI. Daniel Kroening, CEO and founder of Diffblue, and Professor of Computer Science at University of Oxford, said: “Software is becoming increasingly complex, interdependent and vulnerable and it’s unrealistic to believe that humans can guarantee its safety and security. We believe that the suite of tools we are developing at Diffblue has immense potential to help address these issues. Studies show that coders spend up to 30% of their time writing tests. Automation will provide great returns both in terms of achieving much broader test coverage, and freeing up significant developer time.”

Rezatec helps Severn Trent Water detect leakage

Harwell-based Rezatec, which provides big data analytics, is working with Severn Trent Water as it trials the company’s asset risk monitoring and pipeline leakage detection data products.

Dr Bob Stear, Head of Innovation at Severn Trent Water said: “We can see clearly the value that this level of geospatial data insight can deliver. We fully expect to be able to improve our costs and efficiency by making more informed decisions relating to our key infrastructure assets and maintenance activity.”

Philip Briscoe, COO of Rezatec added: “It’s incredible what we can understand from satellite data in relation to monitoring asset networks. Identifying high risk areas of subterranean pipeline infrastructure and detecting symptoms of leakage is a cost-effective alternative to more traditional methods.”

highlights strength of region’s science and tech clusters

The latest business space research by Bidwells suggests knowledgebased businesses are supporting a robust office market, characterised by strong demand, shrinking supply and record-breaking rents. The research, which focused on the Oxfordshire market, underlined the key role these occupiers play in the regional economy and in ensuring the area remains a global hub for innovation.

Bidwells’ findings suggest resilient knowledge-based occupiers continue to prosper in the face of adversity. The latest research reveals that during the first six months of 2017, 72.6% of take up within Oxfordshire’s office market was by knowledgebased businesses.

The first half of the year saw business space requirements rise by 74%, with take up hitting a record high of 225,000 sq ft. Demand for prime space saw grade A supply drop by 48%. The largest recorded transaction was Oxford Nanopore’s purchase of the 55,700 sq ft Danby House at Oxford Science Park.

The supply and demand dynamic has led to considerable rental growth, with Bidwells recording an annualised growth rate of 2.8%. Prime rents hit a record £30 per sq ft during Q1 2017, whilst secondary rents have risen by 9.5% over the past 12 months, achieving a new high of £23 per sq ft.

The figures are testament to the area’s position as a centre for innovation. According to the latest Tech City UK report, Digital Tech output in Oxford has grew by 43% between 2011 and 2015, helping the city secure its place as the fifth largest Digital Tech economy in the UK.

As well as attracting inward investors, the area is growing its own occupier base. Oxford University Innovation (OUI), the university’s research commercialisation company launched 24 companies in 2016, attracting £52.5 million in early stage funding.

The impact of the science and technology sectors stretches way beyond Oxford, as these businesses become the established power houses of our regional economies. Providing these occupiers with the right support, infrastructure and accommodation to grow is critical as the nation confronts the challenges that lie ahead.

UK’S LEADING REAL ESTATE ADVISOR TO SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SECTORS

Research

David Williams, Bidwells

BRITISH BAKELS’ LANDMARK BICESTER DEVELOPMENT

The first unit at Link 9, a major development in Bicester, has been sold to a key local employer.

LSH appointed at West Midlands distribution park

Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) and Dowley Turner Real Estate (DTRE) have been appointed to market two new industrial units on a growing West Midlands distribution park which is already home to Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover.

Griffen UK have instructed LSH and DTRE to secure occupants for units four and five at Wellesbourne Distribution Park, five miles south of junction 15 of the M40.

The site was acquired by Griffen in February 2015 when it comprised 585,000 sq ft of occupied accommodation across 10 units. The company has since added 450,000 sq ft.

The 51,500 sq ft and 66,500 sq ft units currently under construction are expected to reach practical completion in the final quarter of this year. They form the final third phase of the business park’s expansion.

British Bakels has pre-purchased an 80,000 sq ft building on the Link 9 scheme in Skimmingdish Lane, which it will use as an additional distribution facility to support its main manufacturing operation in Granville Way. The developer is Albion Land and British Bakels is set to move in during early summer 2018.

Tom Barton, director at agents VSL & Partners, said: “The sale to such a well-known local employer is a fantastic vote of confidence in this new scheme, and in Bicester as a key growth location for business.”

The move will allow bakery ingredients specialists British Bakels to accommodate all its warehousing requirements in its own premises and expand production facilities at Granville Way.

Since opening in Bicester in 1990, employee numbers have increased to 200 and Bakels has ambitious growth plans.

Albion Land will also be developing seven speculative units totalling 146,000 sq ft, to be ready in early summer 2018. These units will be available on new leases at rents from £7.50 per sq ft and the development will be known as Network@Link 9.

Land with planning permission for a further 300,000 sq ft remains available for leasehold or freehold bespoke occupier development.

Bicester is an historic market town with major ambitions for growth which include a £70 million town centre redevelopment, an extension to Bicester Village and a new town centre rail connection to both London Marylebone and Birmingham. The new ‘Garden City’ status will also provide at least 13,000 additional homes and it is projected to double the town’s current 30,000 population.

Albion Land director, Simon Parsons, said: “We are delighted to get Link 9 off to a flying start by signing this important deal with a significant employer. Occupier enquiry levels are strong and this has given us the comfort to go ahead with the development of seven speculative units which will form the second phase of the Link 9 project.”

“We are delighted to get Link 9 off to a flying start by signing this important deal with a significant employer, British Bakels.”

Record low vacancy rates at Hartlebury

Trading Estate

The largest commercial estate in Worcestershire has reached record low vacancy levels.

Harris Lamb reports that the Hartlebury Trading Estate, set in a 200 acre parkland campus, is at its highest occupancy to date, with almost 750,000 sq ft being let or renewed in recent years.

Neil Slade, of Harris Lamb, said: “The last year has seen a high volume of individual buildings let and renewed at the site, including Apex Supply Chain which took on a 40,000 sq ft unit within weeks of it being made available off headline rent.

“Demand for high quality industrial properties within the region continues to outstrip supply, and the fact that an estate of this size is approaching capacity is a clear illustration as to how critical the situation is,” he added.

Gloucester businesses steered to Brimscombe Port

Gloucestershire’s industrial heritage is being given a new lease of life as some of Stroud’s beautiful old mill buildings are turned into offices.

The Mill, Brimscombe Port is Grade II listed and has been refurbished and converted to provide good quality, open-plan offices combining character, practicality alongside a riverside setting, with parking.

The East Suite has now come to the market following the departure of Provident, while the ground floor of the Chapel is now available following the departure of former Stroud MP, Neil Carmichael.

Available in part, or as a whole, the ground floor of the Chapel offers

Gloucester’s Warehouse Climbing Centre on the market

Gloucester’s famous climbing centre is on the market, but intrepid mountaineers need not fear, there are plans for an improved facility elsewhere the City.

Alder King has been instructed by the Warehouse Climbing Centre to market its Gloucester Docks property ahead of a planned relocation to a state-of-the-art facility in the city.

The Climbing Centre is close to finalising redevelopment plans to create one of the largest climbing centres in the UK on a new site.

The new centre will offer indoor and outdoor climbing walls, a bouldering zone, artificial caving systems and zip lines.

The climbing centre is currently based in one of Gloucester Dock’s distinctive 19thcentury warehouse buildings.

The five-storey depositary warehouse on Parliament Street could provide up to 28,000 sq ft of accommodation once the floors are reinstated and is being offered for sale with vacant possession from early 2019 off a guide price of £1 million.

The new climbing centre will be a first for the UK, making the venue a great yearround destination for climbers.

Although several sites were looked at across the Midlands and the South West, the centre owners were keen to remain in Gloucestershire and have been working closely with Gloucester City Council to find a location that fulfils the requirements for the new facility.

The project is being managed by specialist adventure activity consultants VentureActive, whose Directors, Robert and David Stevens, also own part of

a total of 928 sq ft, while the East Suite office is 881 sq ft.

Bruton Knowles’ William Matthews said: “As a Grade II listed building it is exempt from EPC certification.”

Brimscombe Port dates back to the 1780s. With the decline of canals the mill was left stranded and the canals fell out of use. It was later developed as an industrial site in the 1960s.

the warehouse. David said: “After twelve months in development, we’re delighted to be able to go public with our future plans. We see the venue being a landmark attraction for Gloucestershire and hope to be able to announce further details including the location over the next few weeks.”

Commercial Property

CGI of proposed new climbing centre

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1&2 Montpellier Walk Gateway 12 Business Park 10 Rotunda Terrace Gabwell Business Centre

Pittville Student Village

The new Pittville Student Village has opens its doors to students.

This site has been developed in partnership with ULiving which will manage the facility. The University of Gloucestershire invested £38 million to turn the former teaching campus into accommodation for 800 students, a refectory, study suite, laundrette, gym, bar, faith space, games room and shop.

The former Pittville campus was home to the School of Art and Design from 1964 until teaching moved to other university campuses in 2011. To recognise this heritage, the new accommodation buildings are named after notable artists with strong connections to the area and the university. These include the playwright Dennis Potter who was born in the Forest of Dean and artist Cornelia Parker who studied at Gloucestershire College of Art and Design.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Speculative building ramps up at Gateway 12

Speculative building at St. Modwen’s £22 million Gateway 12 development at Gloucester is gathering pace with another planning application being submitted to build a seventh commercial unit on site for sale or rent.

Subject to planning consent, this detached unit will provide 66,000 sq ft of new commercial space. Two additional detached units, 24,000 and 34,000 sq ft respectively, will also be completed for occupation in 2018.

As part of St. Modwen’s wider UK commercial strategy and in response to the heightened demand for industrial and logistics space, the developer is increasing its industrial offering, particularly in the South West which is proving a popular area for this type of product. Reflecting this, another two speculative units are also already underway at Gateway 12 and scheduled to complete soon. These provide 39,000 sq ft and 41,000 sq ft respectively in detached units, each capable of internal subdivision, which

TBS begins work on new HQ

TBS Engineering, a world leader in automation for the battery industry, has begun work on a brand new 100,000 sq ft manufacturing facility at Gloucester Business Park

The facility includes 80,000 sq ft of manufacturing space and 20,000 sq ft of office accommodation. Completion will be in the spring of 2018. The building will serve as TBS’s new global headquarters, and provide employment for 170 people.

Dan Williams, Development Director of Arlington, which owns Gloucester Business Park, said: “This development comes hot on the heels

will accommodate the needs of any warehousing or industrial operator. The units are being built by Barnwood Construction, they follow on from the completion and sale of the site’s first two 40,000 sq ft premises last year to kitchen firm, ProCook and home furnishing supplier, Warwick Fabrics.

Pete Davies, Senior Development

Manager for St. Modwen in the South West said: “St. Modwen remains committed to accelerating its commercial development activity across 2017 and beyond, particularly for the industrial and distribution sector.”

Gateway 12 is being delivered alongside the £150 million mixed-use development at Littlecombe in Dursley, Quedgeley West (now complete) and Quedgeley East Business Parks, located in close proximity to Waterwells Business Park at junction 12 of the M5. Collectively, these four sites comprise around 200 acres and have the potential to attract in excess of 6,000 jobs to the area.

of us completing the new HQ office for Horizon Nuclear Power.”

David Longney, TBS Engineering Group Managing Director said “Our investment in the new facility, is testament to the expertise, talent and engineering capabilities available to us in Gloucestershire. It is this local resource that has enabled us to stay at the forefront of our industry.”

Commercial Property

Commercial Property

Commercial Property

High quality offices within self-contained building

8,445 sq ft to 19,472 sq ft

HIGHLIGHTS

Grange Court offers high quality office accommodation in a self-contained building on Abingdon Science Park. The building will be let following a refurbishment with internal accommodation offering open-plan, flexible office space arranged over Ground and First floors with further benefit of archive/storage area on Second Floor.

The office is set within an attractive landscaped location on Abingdon Science Park and is to the front of the newly built Grange Court Business Park, a development of high quality office and tech production units.

Abingdon Science Park is a well-established business location, easily accessible from the A34 (1.5 miles) providing direct access to the M4 Junction 13 – 19 miles) and to the M40 (Junction 9 – 18 miles). The Park has attracted a number of national and international companies including Penlon, Tessella, Sophos, Nord Gear, Psi Oxus and Bio-Techne Europe.

David Williams

david.williams@bidwells.co.uk

01865 592632

Robert Beatson

robert.beatson@bidwells.co.uk

01865 592627

1.5 miles to the A34

19 miles to the M4

18 miles to the M40

SPECIFICATION

• Full height glazed reception atrium

• Raised floors

• Suspended ceilings

• Air conditioning

• New LED lighting

• Super-fast broadband available

• Lift (8 person)

• New WC and shower facilities

• Fob entry security system with CCTV

• 61 car parking spaces

• Self-contained building

Oxford property firm goes for Blue Boar

A property management firm has found a new home in a key city centre location.

Locale has moved into Blue Boar Court in Oxford’s Alfred Street after switching from its old site in the city’s Park End Street.

Richard Venables, Director at commercial property specialists VSL & Partners which agreed the deal, said: “With such a limited supply of prime city centre office space available, we were delighted to be able to provide Locale with facilities at Blue Boar Court, which provides some of the best office accommodation Oxford city centre has to offer.”

Locale has taken a 2,750 sq ft office on a new five-year lease at £23 per sq ft.

Guy Windsor Lewis, Managing Director of Locale, explained: “Our clients and staff are all delighted with new offices, located on one of the most iconic streets in the City.”

The building, designed by William Wilkinson, was originally constructed in 1858/9 as a gym for Victorian physical education pioneer Archibald McLaren. It was later the home of the Holywell press before being converted into high specification offices in 1989.

New industrial and office units for Grove Business Park

Commercial Property

A planning application has been submitted for a new industrial and office development at Grove Business Park near Wantage. The scheme, which will deliver 10 units for sale or to let, is planned to start on site early in the New Year, with completion by December 2018.

This is the next phase in the £40 million transformation of the 32-acre business park which is set to double the building area to reach 400,000 sq ft. Unit sizes will range from 1,500 sq ft to 6,300 sq ft.

Richard Lyall, Project Director for Grove Business Park Ltd, said: “We know there is significant demand for this type of accommodation, especially in this part of Oxfordshire.”

The development replaces a number of dilapidated former airfield buildings dating back to the 1940s. It will form part of the ongoing regeneration programme which could create up to 1,000 jobs.

Since taking over the 32-acre park in December 2015, Grove Business Park has set about modernising its existing buildings and facilities, in addition to promoting the development of new business premises. Approximately 85 businesses are now based there, with numbers consistently growing.

Discussions are taking place to open a café at the park in 2018, while an 80pupil nursery is also planned, both of which would complement the existing 450-member health club.

Wildmere Road, Banbury gets a lick of Paintbox

Commercial Property

Paintbox, a tier one supplier to the UK automotive industry supply chain, has expanded its operations in the Midlands, taking an industrial unit along the London to Birmingham M40 at Banbury.

The 37,332 sq ft industrial unit, on the Wildmere Road Industrial Estate, is located at Junction 11 of the M40 motorway.

Paintbox, founded in 1989, has developed a unique mix of paint

solutions and engineering services in response to the evolution of the automotive market and the exacting standards of the industry. The company has a work force of over 300 employees and an annual turnover in excess of £40 million.

The new Banbury facility will add to the company’s 150,000 sq ft production facilities in Birmingham and Banbury. Banbury is currently its engineering centre.

Commercial Propert y

Beko secures Moon Park for expansion

A German industrial equipment supplier has bought an office, warehouse and distribution centre in Redditch to help meet growing demand.

Property agent John Truslove helped Beko Technologies Ltd buy 11 and 12 Moons Park, Redditch for £750,000.

The company supplies compressed air treatment equipment for manufacturers and its purchase comes at a time of strong sales growth.

Martin Potter, Managing Director at Beko Technologies, said:

This purchase is a significant milestone as it sees Beko increase its office and warehouse capacity by a third, and makes us better able to meet the growing demand for our products.”

John Truslove partner Ian Parker said: “This shows that European companies have confidence in UK despite all the uncertainties over Brexit.”

Successful lettings at Greenbox

Worcestershire commercial property consultancy GJS Dillon has disposed of two self-contained offices buildings at an innovative business park in Bromsgrove.

Acting on behalf of a private client, GJS Dillon sold the long leasehold interest in Suite 28 Greenbox, Bromsgrove, an 836 sq ft office building, to Cadsquare for £170,000. Cadsquare is an architectural and urban design consultancy, relocating from Norton in Worcestershire.

The agency also let Suite 19 at Greenbox, an 855 sq ft office building, to credit broking firm Blue Fish Partnership, which is relocating from Redditch, on a two year lease at an annual rent of £10,000.

The Greenbox office park is a modern purpose-built development of smaller, self-contained office buildings, providing flexible space for occupiers, three miles south of Bromsgrove town centre.

Nationwide reach helps Bruton Knowles secure key Crown Services role

Bruton Knowles has been appointed on three regional panels of the Government’s prized Estates Professional Services framework which provides Public Sector bodies with a ‘one stop shop’ solution for professional property related services.

The framework is part of the Crown Commercial Service’s drive to

High performance for Speller Metcalfe at Evesham

Phase 2 of the construction of a new £1.7 million Boardman Cycling Performance Centre at The Valley of Evesham has begun. Joining building contractor Speller Metcalfe for the brick-laying ceremony were owners of The Valley, Eagle One, together with local stakeholders, Wychavon District Council and Norton & Lenchwick Parish Council.

Speller Metcalfe has been on site since April 2017. Phase 2 will see completion of works including creation of the new car park, three new retail units and the Boardman Centre.

Building work is on schedule and set to be completed by the end of the year, with the Boardman Bikes Performance Centre set for an early 2018 opening, alongside other new shops for the development.

New global HQ for Gymshark

streamline its occupational estate and reduce its spending by sourcing estate-related services to support the delivery of property requirements and projects.

Bruton Knowles has been appointed on East/West Midlands, North East and Wales/South West. The framework will run for four years.

One of the UK’s fastest-growing gymwear brands has chosen IM Properties’ Blythe Valley Park as the home for its new global headquarters.

Having outgrown its Redditch premises, Gymshark has signed a 10-year lease for a 42,408 sq ft twostorey office at Blythe Valley, which is one of the largest lettings on the M42 Corridor in the past five years.

New letting goes to ground at Warwick’s Iceni Centre

Acting jointly with Cushman & Wakefield, Bromwich Hardy have let the ground floor of the Iceni Centre at Warwick Technology Park.

The space comprises 26,610 sq ft across the entire ground floor of the Iceni Centre which offers smart office space within a 70-acre landscaped office campus, recognised as one of the Midlands top business parks.

The space was let to IT consulting company Avato. Tom Bromwich said: This is great news for the region with further signs that the office market is strengthening. We are delighted to have acted jointly with Cushman & Wakefield to achieve this letting.”

First Industrial merges with Panattoni Europe

Industrial developer Panattoni Europe will undertake an aggressive £300 million speculative development programme in the UK after merging with Warwick-based First Industrial.

The new company, named First Panattoni, will speculatively build mega-sheds of up to 1 million sq ft across the UK.

Panattoni has raised a first phase capital facility of £300 million to spend on a programme to buy land, partner with developers or buy-out developers with the right landbank.

Robert Dobrzycki, Chief Executive of Panattoni Europe, said: “Our focus now is building a UK business, so we can provide our clients with an integrated pan-European platform with best-in-class development expertise.”

New HQ for the Wigley Group

A leading commercial property company in the Midlands has acquired a former country house in Warwickshire for its new headquarters.

The Wigley Group has bought Kings House in Stockton, Southam, as its new operational base after gaining planning permission from Stratford-on-Avon District Council for change of use from residential accommodation to offices.

The period property, which sits in five acres of land, was owned by the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust and sold by property agents Fisher German.

The Wigley Group, which owns and manages business and industrial parks across the Midlands and provides services relating to commercial property, risk and construction, is currently based at Middlemarch Business Park in Coventry.

The move will mark a return to The Wigley Group’s roots with the company

fantastic period property of local historic value and will provide a solid and impressive foundation for our next 50 years and beyond.”

having been established around ten miles away in Barby, near Rugby, in 1964.

Managing director Robert Wigley, whose father founded the company, said: “Kings House is a fantastic period property of local historic value and will provide a solid and impressive foundation for our next 50 years and beyond.

“We were pleased that our plans were supported by both the parish and district councils, and look forward to returning the house to its former glory and its original name of Stockton House.”

The Union student accommodation opens in Leamington Spa

Commercial Property

Alumno Developments and Interserve have successfully completed The Union student accommodation development in Leamington Spa.

The scheme comprises two four-storey buildings housing a total of 187 student bedrooms that include studios and ensuite

cluster units, together with shared living rooms and kitchens.

The redeveloped former BT storage facility site is located in south Leamington within the heart of the old town, adjacent to the Grand Union Canal and its industrial past.

Commercial Property

“Kings House is a

Robert Russell, Fisher German, Robert Wigley and James Davies, of The Wigley Group