Business & Innovation Magazine - Issue 09 September 2018

INTERVIEWS:

RICHARD MULLER, PRIMA DENTAL MARK ADAMS, VITSŒ

IN PICTURES: STUNNING COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE

Editor-in-Chief

Nicky Godding

Tel: 07966 510401

nicky.godding@nkmedia.co.uk

Commercial Director

Kirsty Muir

Tel: 07971 912020

kirsty.muir@nkmedia.co.uk

Chairman, NK Media Ltd

James Palmer

Regional Account & Events Manager

Rosemary Henderson

Tel: 07889 227432

rosemary.henderson@nkmedia.co.uk

Marketing & Events Co-ordinator

Lizi Clapham

Tel: 07955 855817

lizi.clapham@nkmedia.co.uk

Customer Services enquiries@nkmedia.co.uk

Accounts accounts@nkmedia.co.uk

Magazine Design

Brace Creative Agency www.brace.co.uk

Magazine Printers

Severnprint Ltd

www.severnprint.co.uk

Chief Photographer

Rob Lacey www.roblaceyphotographer.co.uk

Contributing Editor

Anita Syvret www.syvretmedia.co.uk

Contributing Writer

Ian Mean

Sub Editor

Joyce Matthews

Nicky Godding Editor-in-Chief

07966

Up to one third of our lives are spent at work. But until the last couple of decades, few companies spent any more than they had to on workplaces or supporting their staff. Now serious money is being spent on making the workplace an attractive place to be (and rightly so), and equal amounts of investment are being made in staff.

In this issue we discuss the value of good employee engagement and reveal some of the region’s most stunning commercial buildings.

Our biggest feature this month is on family businesses: their advantages, their issues – and what they talk about over the dinner table. Family businesses are also often templates for strong employee engagement.

Here at NK Media we’ve had a fantastic couple of months. Not only did we celebrate success at the Professional Publishers Awards in London, but we’re also thrilled to have been named as finalists in the Press Gazette’s British Journalism Awards for Specialist Media.

We are also celebrating moving into smart new offices. Our growing team is now located almost opposite Gloucester Rugby Club at Kingsholm, in new offices recently converted by Allcooper Security. They are wonderful landlords. Abbey Business Equipment helped us furnish the space and we’re thrilled with the result.

If you’re close by, drop in any time for a cup of coffee. We’ve always got lots to talk about. Business & Innovation Magazine is growing and we want to help your businesses grow with us.

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.

ISSN 2514 - 7609

Member of the Professional Publishers Association

IN THE HEADLINES

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

P106

SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERS

P89

SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION

P36

VITSŒ: THE WORKPLACE REIMAGINED

SPOTLIGHT ON CYBER

P79

FOR GLOBAL GIRL BAND LITTLE MIX SLG DELIVERS BEAUTY SUCCESS

Shake up for Local Enterprise Partnerships

The government has published new proposals to shake up Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).

The review seeks to improve accountability, drive business engagement and increase diversity.

Recommendations include the appointment of new Chairs and improving board diversity, including aiming for women to make up at least one third of LEP boards by 2020.

Responding to the government’s announcement, Mike Spicer, the British Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Research and Economics, said: “Companies have long wanted LEPs to have clearer structures and greater accountability to the local private sector.”

LEP leaders have also welcomed the review.

Phenomenally successful girl band Little Mix, who have sold more than 44 million records worldwide, have launched their debut cosmetics brand, LMX by Little Mix, thanks to Cheltenham-based SLG Beauty.

Aimed at beauty conscious Generation Z and Millennial consumers, the LMX by Little Mix range will be available from this month in Boots and select retailers across the UK.

The band worked with SLG, which designs and manufactures beauty products for some of the world’s biggest brands, The girls have channelled their beauty and cosmetic passions into creating LMX by Little Mix. The new range has been masterminded by SLG CEO Miles Dunkley, the brains behind a new wave of indie brands at the forefront of fashion.

The band: Jesy Nelson, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards, say they can’t wait to demonstrate their success as businesswomen with a brand that can live independently alongside their music.

“It was important to us that the range we created was suitable for everybody. LMX is just that,” said Leigh-Anne.

Perrie added: “This venture is important to us on many levels. We love beauty and

it’s something that we are all passionate about.”

Jesy explained: “Having spent the past six years experimenting with different looks we were ready to create our own brand and products.”

Miles said: “Little Mix have a vast global fan base of fashion and beautysavvy young women, voracious in their appetite to look as great as their idols.”

“In turn the girls have impeccable style and taste, and a deep knowledge of cosmetic looks and artistry. LMX is a dynamic business venture between Little Mix and SLG built around that phenomenon.

“We gave Little Mix the keys and told them to drive their idea where they wanted it to go. They know what they wanted so we had the job of materialising that vision.”

Jade said: “We’re thrilled to be launching our new cosmetic brand with SLG. We are so proud of the collection.”

Collagin is in the pink

The team behind Collagin, the world’s first gin range distilled with pure collagen and which only launched last March, have not only created a pink version of the spirit available online during the summer, but also confirmed that the brand will be stocked in 12 John Lewis stores later this year, and more could follow.

Collagin was launched by Oxford-based Camilla Brown and Liz Beswick after the phenomenal success of a publicity stunt they dreamed up for a client. At the time the ladies were working for a PR company, but soon decided that making gin could be a lot more fun.

“We realised we could have a hit on our hands when our idea became a media sensation,” said Camilla. “The best market research is often a PR stunt so we both quit our jobs and set up Young in Spirit.”

And despite never having run their own business before, or having any experience of the drinks industry, Collagin has gone up and gone big.

Liz and Camilla are planning to expand their range of products from gin into other spirits. “We’re keeping a close eye on trends and are developing a number of ideas,” said Camilla. “We’re mixing the world of beauty and booze together. It’s a fantastic combination.”

grad’s ‘Fearless Girl’ stunt lands job with top ad agency

An advertising graduate from the University of Gloucestershire landed herself a plum role with a top advertising agency after turning up at its offices covered from head to toe in gold.

Jade Delaney painted herself in gold and visited McCann Bristol, striking up the same pose as the “Fearless Girl” statue on Wall Street, New York.

The stunt caught their attention and McCann offered her a month-long work placement on the spot. Jade has now bagged a full-time position as a junior conceptual creative.

She said: “It just shows that it is worth putting yourself out there to achieve your goals.”

McCann Bristol Managing Director, Andy Reid, added: “Jade has been great since she arrived, she has taken it all in her stride.”

“Fearless Girl” was commissioned by Boston-based investment firm State Street Global Advisors last year to

draw attention to the importance of having greater gender diversity on corporate boards and in company leadership positions.

A year after the installation, the company said that 152 publicly-traded companies that the firm reached out to, that previously had no women on their boards, now have at least one female board member.

Uni

Camilla Brown and Liz Beswick of Young in Spirit

Sculpture by Kristen Visbal, Commissioned by State Street Global Advisors

© PHOTO CREDIT FEDERIA VALABREGA

Jade Delaney as Fearless Girl with the McCann Bristol team

ANIMAL LOVERS CAN MAKE A CAREER OUT OF THEIR PASSION

Animal lovers could make a career out of their passion thanks to a new range of courses launching this year.

Coventry University and Warwickshire College Group (WCG) are increasing the number of courses in animal and equine sciences, therapies, training and more at the historic Moreton Morrell College near Leamington Spa.

By offering potential students the chance to start their studies through an integrated foundation year, course organisers hope to provide more opportunities for them to train to work with animals.

Rachael Kendall, Head of Department for Land Based Studies at the college, said:

“The new programmes allow students to have a springboard to accessing a full degree with the first two years working at a more supported pace.”

The courses are delivered by WCG, one of the largest college groups in the country, at Moreton Morrell College, which is set in 750 acres of Warwickshire farmland and

Dry summer serves up poor hop harvest

As the long dry summer draws to a close, hop farmers across the UK and Europe are not looking forward to a vintage harvest, according to Malvern-based hop merchants Charles Faram.

On the upside, the popularity across the UK for the intense, citrussy and fruity American hops, means there’s no chance of a beer shortage.

Earlier this year Charles Faram, based at Malvern, built a new 20,000 sq ft cold store capable of storing an additional 1,700 pallets, and it’s already full of stock.

The hops are being held for customers to draw on when required.

“We noticed that we were storing more and more hops for our contracts each year and wanted to make sure that we were storing them in the best conditions possible,” said Paul Corbett, Managing Director.

Charles Faram has been selling hops for 150 years. It has one of the largest range of hop varieties available from stock, with varieties coming from the UK, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, New Zealand and the USA.

Alex Arkell, Head Brewer at North Wiltshire brewery Arkell’s, said: “I use hops from all over the globe, each growing country adding its own unique flavour to our beers. Improved cold

includes a working farm and stables for more than 100 horses.

Coventry University, which validates the courses and will award the degrees to successful students, stressed that the cost for the courses will not increase over a four year period.

Sarah Baxter, Associate Dean for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University, said: “These courses are designed with input from industry experts. We believe that this is the perfect choice for anyone looking to make a career out of working with animals.”

storage facilities allows us to guarantee we get full flavoured hops all year round, which is especially important during difficult harvests when big hop flavours may be a little more scarce.”

In the headlines

Steve Taylor, Dean of Higher Education at WCG, Sarah Baxter and Rachael Kendall

Alex Arkell assesses a hop harvest

“The new programmes allow students to have a springboard to accessing a full degree with the first two years working at a more supported pace”

that manufacturing is a long-term business. We are lucky that our owners encourage us to reinvest the profits. They are more interested in the long-term value of the business”

OF CONFIDENCE THE PRIMA RING

Beauty and cutting-edge technology can be found in the most surprising places. One of them is in the dentist’s drill

By

Nicky Godding

“I wish more people understood

Richard Muller

Lying in the dentist’s chair anticipating an uncomfortable procedure and hours of dull jaw-ache to follow is an experience best forgotten.

But a trip to the dentist has become less painful over the years thanks to technology, some of which has been pioneered by a Gloucester-based business which can trace its history back 150 years to Claudius Ash, the silversmith who manufactured the world’s first false teeth.

Prima Dental is now the second biggest designer and manufacturer of dental burs in the world. A dental bur is the tiny drill piece in a dentist’s handpiece. It can be made of steel, tungsten carbide and diamond grit. The higher quality the bur, the better job a dentist can make of your pearly whites.

Headquartered in Quedgeley, the company has a workforce of around 240, a turnover in excess of £20 million and makes more than 25 million burs a year, exporting to around 90 countries.

Having just won a contract which will see 30 per cent growth at its UK plant, next year it will become the largest manufacturer. And in a largely commoditised sector, Prima Dental is by far the most innovative company, having launched a new digital division which will slash the cost and production time of dental crowns and restorations.

Squinting at the tiny burs on display at Prima Dental’s factory, it’s clear that a many-times magnified photograph is the only way to appreciate their engineering.

If you want to get on, get good teeth

Prima Dental

With the phenomenal growth of the middle classes across the world, there is growing demand for good teeth, alongside a greater awareness of the important of oral health to the rest of the body. So much, in fact,

that in 2014 social commentator Malcolm Gladwell wrote that good teeth were a sign of social status. If you want to get on, get good teeth.

Richard Muller is the Managing Director of Prima Dental. Under his watch, the company has taken advantage of the increasing demand for the perfect smile. He’s grown Prima Dental from a leaky factory on the Madleaze industrial estate in Gloucester to ultra-modern new premises on the other side of the city.

“I joined in the late 1990s as marketing director,” he said. “The company had 50-year-old equipment and a poor reputation for quality and service.” The company’s American owners had bought the business from one of the world’s largest dental manufacturers. They brought in consulting engineers who advised closure or sale of the business.

But Richard saw a gap in the market for pure carbide burs.

“To their great credit, our American owners decided they wanted to try and revitalise the business, So I got the job.”

Prima Dental sold one of its five businesses, closed another and raised a mortgage on its Madleaze factory. The money bought three new machines and kick-started the reinvestment process.

Investing in good design and equipment

Prima Dental

Prima Dental’s success hasn’t been overnight. “I wish more people understood that manufacturing is a longterm business,” said Richard.

“We are lucky that our owners encourage us to reinvest the profits. They are more interested in the long-term value of the business.”

He travels constantly for work, so summer holidays are spent just 30 miles away from home

He solves business problems better on an aeroplane than from behind his desk. “It’s all about perspective,” he says

If he didn’t love Gloucestershire so much, he might be tempted to live in Brazil

Richard spent years investing in equipment rather than expensive marketing, and all the time his Prima Dental engineers were pioneering new methods of manufacture.

“For years most dental burs were made with a stainless-steel shank and carbide tip.

“We started making them out of solid carbide. Other manufacturers said it couldn’t be done but their machinery was older and couldn’t machine a solid piece of metal as you can now.”

Prima Dental was able to leap-frog the competition with new technology, but proof of concept had to be done on a very small marketing budget.

In 2005 the enterprising Prima Dental engineers designed new test equipment for their stand at the World Dental Show in Germany.

Few will have any reason to consider the engineering expertise in the dentist’s drill.

“For years, most dental burs had been made with a stainless steel shank and carbide tip”

The greatest showmen

Prima Dental

Richard takes up the story. “We took on all -comers. ‘Give us your burs and we’ll show you why ours are better,’ we said. And because it was live, and you could hear the vibration of our competitors’ burs and the smooth running of ours, it caused a huge amount of attention. It was one of the best weeks of my life. We arrived as unknowns and left with everyone talking about us.”

To turn showmanship into orders Richard contacted American white-label dentistry distributors. “We offered independent research and validation, wrapping our burs in the best packaging, giving distributors support artwork for their catalogues and training their sales team. It was a whole brand package but under their name and without the advertising which we couldn’t afford. One company bought it, and it led to a snowfall. Now we’re the market leader in America.”

developers only wanted to pay us face value for the building less the mortgage. It was a game of cat and mouse.”

The developers blinked first and Prima Dental’s move took place in 2010, since when reinvestment has continued.

Global expansion to get closer to customers

Prima Dental began expanding globally around seven years ago. “If you can, you should manufacture close to the marketplace, and that’s what we try to do. When we began to export, we had to learn to do it properly and be patient.

“We started in India, then Brazil and China. British manufacturers can show the Americans, Germans and the Chinese how to do it. We have a great group of people here, but our financial director Alun Jones has been faced with some huge challenges. Pitting your wits against different cultures can be difficult. Alun has overcome significant challenges even to set up bank accounts, and the regulatory issues can be horrendous.”

The Brexit question

Prima Dental won’t be greatly affected by Brexit because of tariffs - its products are largely tariff-free. But regulations are going to be an issue. “The sticking point is going to be jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice which is the ultimate legal authority,” said Richard.

“Our trade associations have all been lobbying hard for two years. If we fall outside the European Court of Justice, we have to be inspected separately. And of course, there is movement of product. More importantly, 20 per cent of our staff are of European nationality and I’ve been lobbying the local MPs vigorously. Free movement of people is important.”

“And having won a significant new contract, we’re currently recruiting again for our manufacturing team.”

Pam Ayres famously wrote I wish I’d looked after me teeth. And people across the world are increasingly loving their teeth. Brazil, for instance, spends far more per person on them than practically any other country in the world.

The move from Madleaze came in the fateful year of 2007. “We held the ransom strip on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal which developers were keen to buy.” (It’s since been turned into a retail outlet centre).

Richard continued: “I’ve always worked in manufacturing and find there’s something elemental about it. You find that view in most of our team. I like to recruit people who have that passion.

“Prima Dental is a good solid business and we are in the right place at the right time to take advantage of increasing demand,” said Richard. “And the beauty of being an SME is that we take decisions locally and respond to the market more quickly. We are able to flex our manufacturing locations around the world.”

Prima gets it teeth into digital innovation with new dentistry division

Prima Dental has recently launched a new digital dentistry division. Prima Digital is led by one of Europe’s leading carbide tooling experts, Dr Marilyn Goh.

Replacement teeth (or restorations) and dental crowns have traditionally been handmade by skilled craftspeople. Over the years, more of this is being done in China where 2,000 people work 12 hours a day making teeth in dormitory factories.

Small CAD/CAM milling machines had automated the process. These use inter oral cameras (or scanners) rather than the old putty moulds. The computer designs the new tooth and the CAD/CAM machines mill it out of ceramic.

“The tooth is measured digitally so it’s right first time every time,” explained Richard. “But the instrumentation inside the machine was being supplied by general

tool manufacturers. We knew we could do better. Dr Marilyn Goh was senior lecturer at the University of the West of England. She accepted the role of Head of Research and Innovation here and within the year she’d designed a tool which outperforms anything within the marketplace.

“We launched in February and I predict this division will be as big as our current business in five years’ time.”

Prima Dental

“I’ve always worked in manufacturing and find there’s something elemental about it. You find that view in most of our team”

Shield House Barnwood set to become major data hub of the UK

Indectron a provider of highly secure, resilient and connected data centre solutions opens Shield House, a new flagship data centre in Gloucester

Designed to meet the growing demand for scalable, reliable, on-demand colocation data centre services, Indectron has developed a brand new state-of-theart data centre situated in Barnwood, Gloucester. Indectron, the brainchild of technology entrepreneurs, Andrew Bence and Keith Jones has been years in the making and now completed is set to become a world-class UK data Hub.

Shield House is a major redevelopment of a brownfield site in Barnwood into a brand new colocation data centre. The site is within easy reach of the motorway network linking it to Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford, Swindon and Reading. The 20,000 square foot high-tech facility utilises cutting edge cooling technology, heat management solutions alongside highly efficient uninterruptible power systems and other innovative technologies. Indectron has gained technical design awards for the development and become one of the most energy efficient data centres in the UK.

The data centre has capacity for 600 colocation racks and is developing Gloucestershire into a data hub of the United Kingdom by providing a protected environment for data and critical systems connected to a wide range of networks and cloud service providers. The facility contains three data halls, with the possibility for each to be subdivided. The site is a high security facility and is guarded by 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Clients include private and public organisations

in the enterprise, service provider, media, education and healthcare industries.

Shield House is located between the Bristol, Bath and Great Malvern cyber technology clusters with its focus on being a regional facility with high technical resilience and connectivity. Conforming to data centre tiered certifications and international security standards the new data hub will service the needs of hundreds of businesses with typical rack deployments of one to thirty racks while bringing hightechnology employment to Gloucestershire.

Connectivity: Shield House is on the UK’s national figure of eight fibre optic network. It offers a choice of carriers giving diverse connectivity services providing cost effective, high capacity and quality access to networks, cloud providers, Internet exchanges and customer locations worldwide.

“We have created one of the most resilient and connected data centres in the UK in a very accessible under serviced region giving organisations a platform to migrate existing on-premise rack deployments into or deploy new hybrid-cloud technologies connecting to global networks”

Andrew Bence, Managing Director Indectron

“We are delighted to have delivered this intricate project giving clients a facility to provide innovative and flexible digital services. Customers can immediately benefit from its highly secure, efficient cooling and electrical infrastructure making it the heart of technology within the region”

Keith Jones, Director & Co-Founder Indectron

Indectron’s intelligent design delivers enhanced environmental efficiencies and perfectly supports high density computing. With a technical space that is highly secure both physically and technically, the accredited facility is supported by resilience in design and operations.

With a communications heritage and a focus on cyber-security, Gloucestershire is an ideal location for Shield House as an accredited carrier neutral data centre.

www.indectron.com

Keith Jones and Andrew Bence

Funding for innovation: Grants

In this article, together with Granted Consultancy, we examine grant funding for Research and Development.

Why apply for a R&D grant?

Grant funding can transform your business, unlocking opportunities that might otherwise be unattainable.

One of the main attractions of grant funding is that it does not involve giving away a share of the company. Grants can also accelerate the speed of development and might help to get your new product/ service to the market before competitors.

R&D grant funding can be substantial:

 Support for projects valued at £25,000 to £2 million.

 Funding usually for 45% to 100% of eligible R&D costs, including staff wages, travel, materials, subcontractors etc.

In addition to financial support, there can be other potential benefits, for example:

 PR opportunities; InnovateUK promotes projects that it funds, improving awareness and possibilities of further investment;

 Opportunities to work with industry and academic partners. Collaborations can allow access to new technologies, techniques and processes that can enhance outcomes for your business;

 Grant funding can validate and partially ‘de-risk’ the project for other potential investors, improving possibilities for further funding.

What do grant providers look for?

Generally, funders support R&D projects that align with certain identified criteria, addressing a clear problem, challenge or opportunity; funders look for a return on investment just as other investors would.

R&D projects should:

 Show a comprehensive project plan (timescales, milestones, detailed costings etc.);

 Demonstrate significant technical innovation;

 Understand the market and any competing solutions;

 Be commercially scalable;

 Have an experienced and skilled project team; and

 Identify an Intellectual Property strategy.

What is the process?

Most grants have a highly competitive tendering process. Typically, it can take:

6 to 10 weeks to develop a competitive grant application; it is key to allow time to understand the scope of the project and its alignment to the fund, secure match funding, secure partners, and finalise the application;

8 to 10 weeks following submission: funder’s decision;

1 to 2 months of due diligence on successful applications before the project can officially begin.

The funder will then require regular updates on progress and project spend.

Impact on R&D tax credits?

The most beneficial scheme of R&D tax incentives is only open to small or medium-sized companies (SMEs). If a grant is received for an R&D project, that project is partially or wholly disqualified from an R&D tax credits claim under the ‘SME scheme’.

However, the company may then be eligible to claim an ‘R&D Expenditure Credit’ (RDEC). This can generate an HMRC contribution of 9% to 10% of eligible R&D expenditure in addition to the grant funding.

This article has been written in collaboration with Alex Chalkley, founder of Granted Consultancy, a niche team of business funding consultants, scientists and bid writers.

www.grantedltd.co.uk

For further information please contact David Clift on tel: 01242 680000 or email david.clift@hazlewoods.co.uk www.hazlewoods.co.uk

Funding is usually key to any innovation. In a series of three articles, we take a look at funding options for innovative companies...

£4 MILLION CENTRE FOR BUSINESSES OPENS AT ROYAL AGRI CULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Minette Batters opened the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) new home for regional business development and UK-wide agritech innovation, the Alliston Centre.

Named after the late Professor John Alliston, Emeritus Professor of Agriculture at the RAU, the centre will be a base for Gloucestershire businesses of all kinds and a headquarters for innovators working across the UK’s agriculture and landbased industries.

Located at the RAU in Cirencester, more than half the £4.2 million Alliston Centre will be used by Farm491, the university’s agritech innovation and incubation hub. The rest will be home to the Cirencester Growth Hub – part of the Gloucestershire Growth Hub network – supporting local start-ups and growing businesses.

“It is so refreshing to witness agritech innovation on this scale, and I’d like to congratulate the Royal Agricultural University on the success of their Farm491 enterprise”

Opening the centre, Minette Batters said: “It is so refreshing to witness agritech innovation on this scale, and I’d like to congratulate the Royal Agricultural University on the success of their Farm491 enterprise.

“With Brexit presenting a myriad of challenges, UK agriculture will continue to embrace technology as tools for the future.

Seeing the diversity of entrepreneurs and innovators on show here demonstrates how forward-thinking we already are when it comes to new technology.”

Dr Diane Savory OBE, Chair of Gloucestershire’s Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The original Growth Hub in Gloucester opened its doors in October 2014 and has worked with over 2,000 businesses since then.”

Professor Joanna Price, Vice-Chancellor of the Royal Agricultural University, added: “As part of our campus, the Alliston Centre will be instrumental in developing business acumen and an entrepreneurship mind-set in our students. Skills such as these will be critical for enabling the landbased sector to cope with the current uncertainty and unprecedented rate of change.”

John Lewis reveals what’s on offer at its new Cheltenham store

Regional round-up

John Lewis has revealed details of the brands and services that will be on offer at its new 115,000 sq ft Cheltenham shop, opening on October 18.

Alongside an extensive collection of men’s and women’s fashion, John Lewis Cheltenham will feature a Style Studio, a new concept for John Lewis, offering

customers one-on-one or group style consultations, styling workshops and fashion talks.

The front of the shop will be anchored by a 9,000 sq ft premium beauty hall and be home to the retailer’s first express &Beauty Blow Dry Bar, providing bookable appointments for hair styling and

blow dries. There will also be an &Beauty Nail and Brow Bar.

The Home Design Studio will offer interior design advice. These services come in addition to a Huffkins tea room and bakery, which will sit on the second floor of the shop overlooking Cheltenham high street.

National Farmers Union President

The new Alliston Centre Growth Hub, Cirencester

NFU President Minette Batters opening the centre

New School of Business and Technology is the jewel in the crown of the University of Gloucestershire’s expansion plans

The growth of business education over the past 60 years has been phenomenal, with more than 16,000 business schools now operating worldwide. However, a growing number of challenges will mean that in the years to come few will exist in their current form

Gone are the days when lecturers stand at the front of a classroom and talk at students for hours on end. As the needs of business evolve, dynamic universities are aiming to provide more inspiring and interactive learning environments, challenging their students to become active participants rather than passive observers.

The new Gloucester-based School of Business and Technology is the jewel in the crown of the University of Gloucestershire’s expansion plans. The multi-million-pound development, encompassing Gloucestershire’s flagship Growth Hub, forms a key part of the University’s 2022 Strategic Plan, which also sees development of the iconic Design Centre, improved facilities for new nursing and paramedic science courses, and enhancement of the 65-acre Oxstalls Sports Park.

It’s a very exciting time for the thousands of students and staff who will pass through the doors of the building for the first time this term. “The building has been specifically designed to inspire learning, support new businesses and develop the University’s partnerships with existing companies.” added Professor Bechkoum.

The School of Business and Technology

The new site, features a business incubation centre, Thompson Reuters trading rooms, its own moot courtroom, and equipment on par with that of corporate headquarters the world over – facilities that are available for hire to support existing businesses.

The University is home to the next generation of business leaders, innovative thinkers and talent. From placements and internships to guest lecturers and graduate recruitment, the University of Gloucestershire can offer companies the fresh thinking and expertise to boost any organisation. In addition to offering its students traditional degree routes, the University has taken the bold step of offering higher and degree apprenticeships as an alternative to traditional study. These enhanced apprenticeships provide employees with the opportunity to obtain higher qualifications and professional skills, while employers benefit from the greater productivity and competitiveness of staff.

“Much of the knowledge and skills required in today’s workplace will not be appropriate in the future,” explained

Professor Bechkoum, when discussing why the University is putting such emphasis on modern apprenticeships and adapting its teaching techniques. “Across the globe, businesses face significant and rapid change due to advances in cyber technology, AI and automation. Because we live in a global economy, we have set our new School of Business and Technology at the centre of those changes and are able to flexibly adapt, supporting any company’s needs.”

We focus on how we can provide a better service for businesses, particularly SME’s. As well as educating students, the new School of Business and Technology is a place where we are offering services for business.

Local Businesses are invited to tour the new facilities and discuss how the University can help them grow.

For more information visit www.glos.ac.uk/business

“The new developments provide a “world class” learning environment for tomorrow’s generation of business leaders and lawyers”

Professor Kamal Bechkoum, Head of the School of Business and Technology

“Working with businesses locally is a key part of what we do. We want to be part of what drives economic growth”

University Vice-Chancellor

Stephen Marston

Pump expert from Gloucestershire plays part in Thai cave rescue

Regional round-up

A technical and commercial support engineer from Coleford in The Forest of Dean played a critical role, alongside many others, in the rescue of the 12 children and their leader recently trapped in flooded caves in Chaing Rai, Thailand.

Coleford-based SPP Pumps which is owned by global infrastructure company KBL Pumps, was asked by the Indian government to help. They organised an Indian Air Force Hercules to take Autoprime pumps from KBL to Chiang Rai. KBL also sent some of the SPP Q series Autoprime pumps from Coleford.

“From the tallest skyscrapers to the longest tunnels, over 500 staff, including 50 specialist engineers, ensure round-the-clock advice and support for critical pumping operations”

Phil Delaney, SPP Pump’s Technical & Commercial Support Engineer for Dewatering, travelled to the cave site to advise on pump installation. The company’s specialised Autoprime pumps allowed a pipe to be dropped into parts of the cave to drain them, something that couldn’t be done with other conventional dewatering pumps.

Many of the world’s most iconic building structures and civil engineering projects depend on SPP’s fire pump technology and expertise. From the tallest skyscrapers to the longest tunnels, more than 500 staff, including 50 specialist engineers, ensure roundthe-clock advice and support for critical pumping operations.

Howard Tenens wins motor transport livery award

Howard Tenens, one of the UK’s largest privately-owned logistics companies has won the Livery of the Year Award at this year’s Motor Transport Awards as well as being shortlisted for the Haulier of the Year.

Judges loved the design by Stroudbased Howard Tenens that nods in the direction of the BBC’s powerful Blue Planet series, calling it modern, original and very pleasing to look at - a “major and striking” transformation from the previous livery.

Beth O’Neill, Head of Commercial at Howard Tenens, said: “Our environmental initiatives are a huge part of the Tenens culture and we recognised we really had something to be proud

GBE Converge wins multi-year contract with Soho

Coffee Co

GBE Converge has been awarded a multiyear IT support contract with SOHO Coffee Co, one of Gloucestershire’s business success stories. It will continue to provide IT infrastructure for new stores and support SOHO during its expansion.

Starting out with a single high street store in Cheltenham in 1999, SOHO Coffee Co has expanded across the UK and overseas, including opening coffee shops in Malaga and Doha.

Part of the BTC Hospitality Group since 2015, SOHO has experienced significant growth over the last two years. The

“Our environmental initiatives are a huge part of the Tenens culture and we recognised we really had something to be proud of and wanted to ensure the vehicles appearance and messaging matched the enormity of the achievement”

of and wanted to ensure the vehicles’ appearance and messaging matched the enormity of the achievement.”

Howard Tenens’ 100 per cent dedicated gas vehicles are the inspiration for the winning design.

BTC group now consists of 29 stores, two offices and a state-of-the-art kitchen facility based in Cheltenham, with more plans for significant growth.

GBE Converge won the contract having provided IT support and infrastructure solutions to the group for over 10 years.

The new Howard Tenens livery

Around the world solo sailing challenge is powered by pixels and in the cloud

A sailor aiming to set a non-stop, round the world sailing record in a boat under 40 feet, is being sponsored by Gloucesterbased internet service provider Fasthosts.

Alex Alley’s Pixel Boat is now almost ready to commence its around the world solo sailing challenge record attempt later this year.

The Fasthosts sponsorship includes Pixel Boat’s carbon fibre solent and mainsail, and Alex’s cloud hosting solution, CloudNX, ensuring his website and, vitally, the sale of his fundraising pixels, runs without a hitch.

Alex explains: “When I started this journey 10 years ago, I was looking for a single sponsor. I quickly realised that was going to be very difficult.

“I then thought about getting several sponsors, each with a smaller slice, and that quickly developed into ‘why don’t

I just get thousands of people to each sponsor a £25 chunk of the campaign?’

“We came up with the idea of having people’s pictures on the side. It’s like a mosaic of images that’s growing.”

Alex has been taking to the high seas to publicise the challenge and recently completed the around the Isle of Wight solo sailing challenge.

With just a few months left before Pixel Boat sets sail, the team still have a lot to do – from buying the £3,000 of specialist food required to keep Alex healthy, to ensuring he has essential first aid kits on the boat.

With the sails above deck and CloudNX below, and the wind in the right direction, Alex thinks he has a strong chance to beat the existing time of 137 days, 20 hours, 1 minute and 57 seconds.

Stock market float for Trackwise

Trackwise, which manufactures specialist products using printed circuit technology, has floated on the London Stock Exchange AIM.

The company, based in Tewkesbury, consists of two divisions: Radio Frequency (RF) and Improved Harness Technology (IHT). The RF business unit manufactures specialist printed circuits primarily used in the antenna infrastructure to support the 3G/4G networks. The IHT division uses the company’s proprietary technology, a patented process that Trackwise has developed to manufacture unlimited length multilayer flexible printed circuits.

The directors believe that the technology has many applications but believe one of its primary uses could be to replace traditional wire harness used in a variety of industries. In excess of 70 per cent of produced output is exported primarily to continental Europe (Spain, Germany, France, and Ireland) – and from these customers on to mobile network operators across the world.

Water surveyors acquire new offices with six figure bank support

Gloucestershire water surveying company, Storm Geomatics, has secured a six-figure finance package from HSBC to acquire a larger office in Shipton-on-Stour.

The finance package includes a six-figure commercial mortgage and a five-figure loan to cover the costs of building and refurbishing the new premises.

The new office space will allow Storm Geomatics to expand its current team of

15 to 25 employees, in turn helping it to increase its client portfolio.

Mike Hopkins, Managing Director, said: “We’ve seen a huge increase in demand for surveying areas at risk of flooding, so opening the larger office will allow us to expand our team to meet this demand and grow our list of clients.”

Dan Pawar, HSBC Relationship Manager, added: “Storm Geometrics has

continued to build a strong portfolio of clients across the UK over the years, so we are delighted to support it as it continues to grow and hope to support its future endeavours.”

Storm Geomatics, which is based at Moreton-in-Marsh was founded in 2008. It offers services such as water surveying for railways, flood plains, near shore areas and areas at risk of flash floods.

Alex Alley’s Pixel Boat, sponsored by Fasthosts

Meet the team behind GRIP the University of Gloucestershire’s Research & Innovation Programme

Tomcat SNI Ltd is an innovative company who have been custom building trikes for 20 years bringing the benefit of cycling to children with profound learning and physical difficulties. Tomcat’s founder, Bob Griffin, was keen to explore the company’s growth potential with the support of GRIP.

Rod

Horrocks, Project Manager

at GRIP:

Rod Horrocks is a founding member of the team and has worked with the GRIP programme since its launch in July 2017. As the Project Manager Rod oversees all projects, together with the management of the programme. Through working with a diverse range of companies, all in various stages of their journey, Rod’s understanding of the challenges faced by SMEs has grown, allowing him to provide the right type of advice to every business that has come to GRIP looking to maximise their growth potential.

How the programme helps innovative businesses looking to grow:

Rod leads the programme which is essentially to help sole traders and registered businesses grow by. Rod and his team deliver and provide growth strategies that work for each individual business that comes to them. Rod explained: “Many are unable to fulfil their potential as they do not have the money or resource to achieve this.

“In a very short time, usually in about 6 months, we get businesses in a position where they want to be” “Using the free support provided by GRIP, businesses grow at a faster rate than they would without our expertise and with less risk”

Rod added “We offer support and advice for businesses at all stages, from initial ideas to those who just need a helping hand after running their companies for several years.”

Rod encourages business owners to talk to the GRIP team in a non-pressurised, non-commercial environment. GRIP which is based at the Growth Hub at the University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Campus is a fantastic place for anyone to come along, plug in their laptop, use

our Wi-Fi and connect with other likeminded business owners and freelancers who can use the area as a place of work.

The GRIP team:

Along with Rod, GRIP team is supported by an experienced team who are on hand to help business on their growth journey.

Catherine Briggs, programmes administrator, who looks after our marketing, co-ordinates the projects and organises events and workshops for business owners to attend.

Paul Spenley programmes innovation advisor and brings a wealth of experience to the team. Paul’s role is to spend time sitting down with businesses and assess where they are in their growth journey. Paul advises them on what they need and how the GRIP programme can help them. His carefully planned diagnostics fill in the gaps allowing businesses to move forward.

Mark Young lab technician who supports business owners with CAD designs, 3D printing and scanning. Our fully funded 3D printing facility is especially useful to businesses wanting to produce prototypes.

Who collaborates with GRIP to help the businesses with their growth plan?

“As we’re based at the University of Gloucestershire we use the knowledge and skills of the students. This internal resource can help with research and design and greatly benefits the students too with hands-on learning.

We also work with other experts, such as a graphic designer, a film

Through the programme, Tomcat benefited from an introduction to a film production agency, the use of a data researcher and valuable funding advice. In addition, the University of Gloucestershire are undertaking an extensive two-year research initiative into the benefit of cycling for people with mild to multiple disabilities which will be used by Tomcat to allow them to reach a wider audience.

Bob says: “I have a great deal of

Sweet success

Ori Hellerstein, a classically trained chef, creates Costello + Hellerstein’s chocolate truffles and fudges by hand in Stroud, and prior to receiving support from GRIP, was only selling them online through his website and at Stroud Farmer’s market on a Saturday.

As the demand for Ori’s sweet creations continued to grow he realised his potential to tap into new

production agency, a copywriter, a crowdfunding advisor and a patent solicitor specialising in IP. We can put business owners in contact with these service providers who in turn can help them run their businesses to the best of its capabilities.”

Why is GRIP unique?

“I don’t believe anywhere else offers this mix of expertise needed for all aspects of growth, it’s the only place able to integrate university students and external businesses into one delivery platform. This programme is a one stop shop where business owners can ask for advice and receive actual support.”

GRIP have already reached their first anniversary and, in this time, the team behind GRIP, have helped numerous innovative businesses grow…

respect for the team at GRIP and what they have done for us. The university is able to link up with local companies and offer support which many businesses probably cannot afford or access easily; it’s a fantastic programme to have in our community. With the support from the university we can do so much to improve the lives of our customers and they are really going out of their way to help us achieve this.”

Doddl, a young company who produce innovative cutlery sets for children, realised their exciting growth potential following an introduction to GRIP. Hearing about the benefits of the services and advice provided by the University of Gloucestershire’s Growth Hub, Catherine Dodd, the founder of Doddl, made contact to find out more. As the key to her company’s success is innovation, invention and creative thinking, Catherine was introduced to the GRIP team.

Rod organised for a team of university students to work alongside Doddl to provide much-needed design, research and testing for new products to complement their existing range of tableware.

Catherine says: “As a small business wanting to grow it has been incredibly

useful to have access to a group of experts to act as our sounding board and to provide advice when we have asked for it. The ability to work with the university students was really beneficial as they explored different routes for us which opened up massive opportunities. With the support of GRIP, we know we can ask for them help and they have become our ‘go to’ place; even if they don’t have the answers they can direct us to the right solution. We believed this level of support to be beyond our budget, but thanks to GRIP, Doddl can now start its next exciting phase of growth.”

markets and to expand his business.

With the support of GRIP, Ori was introduced to a film production agency and provided with a copywriting service. With the help of both these services, Ori has been able to enhance his branding, improve the content of his website and create a fabulous crowdfunding page.

“The support, guidance and advice has been amazing”, says Ori. “My brand is so

much stronger now and with my improved packaging and accompanying marketing literature my products are now available to buy through Not On The High Street and in larger high-end retailers.

I’m delighted with my crowdfunding project too as I hope to move into larger premises to allow me to continue to expand my range of products. The future is very exciting for Costello + Hellerstein.”

Making a successful business child’s play

©TOMCAT SNI LTD.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys hosts Worcester Drinks Party

Senior Partners from Harrison Clark Rickerbys Worcester office, welcomed friends, colleagues and clients for summer drinks with an exclusive preview of the Worcester Royal Porcelain. The Royal Porcelain Works is a vibrant new cultural development in the heart of historic Worcester that features arts and crafts, a brand-new exhibition space, a fabulous new eatery and the world-renowned Museum of Royal Worcester.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB LACEY

Would you like to feature your business event, launch or party in our business events section?

Robert Capper, Charlotte Thornton-Smith and Richard Knight from Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Simone Rowe from Hereford & Worcester Chamber of Commerce with Anne Williams from Bruton Knowles

Rosemary Henderson from Business & Innovation Magazine with Ross Whittle of Wealth Design and Mila Barr-Hamilton from Lloyds Banking Group

Julia Kirkham of Bransford Trustees with Alice Brunt from Royal Porcelain Works and Neil Chambers from The Nest Worcester

Andrew James and Rosalind Andrews from Harrison Clark Rickerbys with Richard Brunt from Robert West

Jon Whitbread from Harrison Clark Rickerbys with Chris Allen from Smith & Williamson

Clive Collins from McCarthey Taylor with Robin Mayo from Handelsbanken Worcester

Daniel Cherry from Lloyds Banking Group and Andrew Lewis from GJS Dillon

Jonathan Brew from Harrison Clark Rickerbys having a charity caricature by Mikey

Oliver Hunt from Harrison Clark Rickerbys with Laura Bligh of Headturner Search

Fancy Dress Worldwide goes for crowdfunding

Regional round-up

Worcester-based online costume and accessories retailer, Fancy Dress Worldwide, is seeking £200,000 investment through equity crowdfunding website Seedrs to invest in stock, equipment, staffing and web development.

AWARDS RECOGNITION FOR WORCESTERSHIRE FIRMS

Two Worcestershire businesses have been shortlisted in the regional rounds of the Rural Business Awards.

Bockleton-based producer of sauces, dips and ketchups, A Little Bit, has been shortlisted in the Best Rural Food Business category of the Midlands Rural Business Awards, while high speed rural wireless broadband provider, Airband, has been shortlisted in the same awards in the South West region.

Airband is shortlisted for Best Rural Professional Services Business category and the company’s Richard Blackburn has been shortlisted in the South West Rural Employee of the Year category. The company has also scooped The Entrepreneur of the Year award in yet another business awards, the National Family Business Awards.

Now in their fourth year, the National Rural Business awards celebrate the contribution companies make to the development and success of the rural sector.

Country girl Sophie Lane Fox is the green fingered founder of A Little Bit and passionate about nurturing relationships. From sourcing ingredients to recruiting staff and partnering with other local businesses – the rural community is at the heart of her business’s operations and ethos.

After starting to make homemade sauces for family and friends, demand from the community grew, leading Sophie to launch A Little Bit commercially in 2016.

She said: “The strength of our community is the reason the brand has taken off and this will always be central to our operation. We’re delighted to be associated with an organisation which raises awareness of the contribution that rural businesses

Since the business was founded in 2016 by Dominic Portman, Fancy Dress Worldwide has achieved over £1.5 million turnover and fulfilled over 380,000 orders. It has around 20,000 products available to buy on its website.

make and their collective impact on the UK economy.”

Airband was founded in 2009 by husband and wife team Red and Miranda Peel. The company specialises in superfast broadband for rural areas delivered via a combination of technologies.

The firm has grown to become one of the largest independent internet service providers in the UK and has already gained a string of awards for growth, innovation and broadband delivery.

Government statistics show that there are around 547,000 businesses registered in rural areas, accounting for 24 per cent of all registered businesses in England.

And while the majority of of them have traditionally been in the agriculture, fisheries and food sector, there are now as many professional, scientific and technical services businesses now registered in rural areas, perhaps revealing improved coverage of fast broadband across the UK.

Rural businesses employ around 3.5 million people.

The winners of each category in the regional Rural Business Awards will be announced at the regional awards ceremonies in October. They will then go through to the national final.

“The strength of our community is the reason the brand has taken off and this will always be central to our operation”

Airband’s Richard Blackburn

CHEERS! BRINGING BATTLES TO LIFE

Evesham-based Areca Design has come up with what they believe could be the best beer mat in the UK.

Using augmented reality (AR), they integrated a medieval battle, beer mat and digital innovation to help promote the Battle of Evesham Festival, held last month. The creative team think this is a first for the UK.

The beer mat features an animated Simon de Montfort, founder of the English Parliament, waving his sword and describing the battle, which happened in 1265.

The beer-mat reverse brings to life a

computer-generated version of the battle, where 15,000 men fought on Green Hill, Evesham. 5,000 men were killed on the day, including de Montfort.

This latest digital offering from Areca Design allows the user to bring printed objects to life.

Areca Design is probably the first to use AR technology in this way, which makes this probably the best beer mat in the UK, they say (we agree!).

The beer mats can be found in Evesham pubs or by downloading the Discover Evesham App.

Design firm wins contract with St Modwen

Regional round-up

Worcester-based creative services agency, F8 Creates, has built a new website for developer and regeneration specialist St Modwen.

Kathryn Edwards, St Modwen’s Interim Head of Corporate Communications, said: “The new corporate website marked the launch of our new brand, with our new look and feel.

“It was designed by London-based Hemingway Design, but we wanted to work with a local company, with a team who had the skills and agility to translate the design concepts into a first-rate website and could turn it around within a relatively short timeframe.”

A full-service creative agency, specialising in branding, photography and videography, F8 works for clients across a range of industry sectors. The firm created the Worcestershire Business Central website

and is working on a new website for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

“The work with St Modwen represents our first partnership with a FTSE 250 company,” said co-director Greg Smith. “Our main aim was to ensure it worked well on all devices and was engaging and accessible for users.”

The St Modwen commission comes after a period of rapid growth for the consultancy. F8 is the driving force behind the creation of The Kiln, Worcester’s new co-working space. The Kiln was awarded £255,000 funding from Worcester City Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership in 2017, and work has already begun on transforming Worcester’s old police station in Copenhagen Street into openplan office space, break-out areas and some enclosed office areas.

Worcestershire railway stations on track for transformation

Preparatory works have started to transform Kidderminster Railway station. Worcestershire’s new Parkway Station is also taking shape.

Kidderminster Station is set to undergo a dramatic redevelopment including a new glass-fronted building, twice the size of the existing building, which will include a new café or shop.

“The improvements already made at Worcester Foregate Street, Malvern Link and more recently Bromsgrove Station, mean these stations are now better equipped to deal with the predicted increase in passenger numbers”

Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, Dr Ken Pollock, said: “The improvements already made at Worcester Foregate Street, Malvern Link and more recently Bromsgrove Station, mean these stations are now better equipped to deal with the predicted increase in passenger numbers. Along with the Kidderminster Station redevelopment and Worcestershire Parkway completing next year, rail travel to and from the county will soon be easier than it has been for the last 40 years.”

Rail passenger volumes on Worcestershire routes are set to increase by up to 97 per cent in the next 25 years, according to industry forecasts.

An augmented reality Simon de Montford explains a 13th century battle

Worcestershire Parkway Station

Malvern Festival of Innovation October 8-13

Don’t miss a packed week of events exploring the cutting edge of science, technology and entrepreneurship at the Malvern Festival of Innovation.

Programme highlights include business sessions on environment and sustainability, cyber security and quantum computing as well as blockchain and bitcoin. For those interested in entrepreneurship, hear tales from experienced business founders at the start-up stories event. The festival is hosted in various venues around Great Malvern and many of the sessions are free to attend.

Bank Solicitors boss honoured

Local lawyer Sobea Irfan has been honoured at the Redditch Celebration of Women awards.

Self-made businesswoman Sobea is mum to three boys, owner of a successful firm of lawyers, the only firm run by a female in Redditch, and still finds time to volunteer for the charity, ‘Onside’ as a legal adviser for mental health sufferers. Sobea opened Bank Solicitors’ first office in Astwood Bank in 2008. It is now a thriving family law practice.

Fifth year for county business festival

The Worcestershire Festival of Business returns for its fifth year on September 14, at the Chateau Impney Hotel in Droitwich.

Organised by Worcestershire Enterprise Ltd, the business behind the #WorcestershireHour Twitter hashtag, the expo will also raise money for Midlands Air Ambulance. Event sponsors include Worcestershire LEP and The Bank House Hotel. www.worcestershirehour.co.uk

BUSINESSES ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR

QUEEN’S AWARDS

Winning a Queen’s Award can open doors, especially overseas, when talking to potential export customers. The cachet of a Queen’s Award is difficult to value, but there is no doubt it works, according to many previous award-winners.

To celebrate some of Worcestershire’s 2018 Queen’s Award winners, and to encourage new companies to apply, a special Queen’s Award Presentation was held at the Kidderminster-based creative experience agency DRP.

All aboard VECTA for summer social

Dozens of Worcestershire businesses enjoyed a trip down the river when The Vale of Evesham Commerce & Tourism Association, VECTA, held their summer open evening on board the Spirit of Freedom.

The VECTA group meets on the second Wednesday evening of every month.

Hosted by DRP owners Dale and Richard Parmenter, organised by Andrew Grant, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire and a committee including Louise Hewett, Sharon Smith, Cecil Duckwork and Paul Robinson, presentations were given by previous award winners.

These included Peter Vaughan of Oakland International, Martin Coleman of Metrasens and Nicola Whiting of Titania Ltd. Vice Lord Lieutenant Lady Rosalind Morrison spoke to more than 70 guests, also urging them to apply.

Guests at the special Queen’s Award presentation at creative agency DRP

Robin Langford, Eagle One / The Valley, Deborah Rolls, Chair at VECTA and Project Manager at Areca Design, Shawn Riley, Wychavon District Council and Robin Walker, Worcestershire County Council

WEBSITE CHAMPIONS MODERN BRITISH DESIGN

A creative team based in the heart of England have launched the British Design Shop, a contemporary online furniture label championing authentic modern British design which is also made here.

The founders include Nick Powell and Carsten Astheimer who want to bring the most talented British designers and craftsmen together to blend contemporary design with traditional production methods and carefully chosen quality materials.

The British Design Shop is the design house and ecommerce retailer end of the business. Its main supplier, which also has an interest in the business, is based in Coventry and the team also use a partner factory in Nottingham for upholstery.

“Carsten and I have worked together for more than ten years,” explained Nick. “We first met in Kidderminster where we

worked at Sealine Yachts (Carsten was the Design Director and I was the Marketing Director). Subsequently we worked together in the same roles for the parent company Brunswick Marine and restored and developed several boat and yacht brands in Europe and the US.”

“Carsten runs a world class design consultancy in Warwick which is now nine years old. Together we are developing both the Astheimer design businesses and the British Design Shop from our HQ in Warwick”

After the 2008 boat market slump, Nick became Brand Director for global outdoor furniture brand Gloster Furniture and Carsten set up Astheimer Design.

“I was a client of Astheimer design at Gloster Furniture. However, going against the global purchasing business model,

“I had a desire to set up a furniture business that focused on local design and craftmanship.

“I felt there was a social and business need and responsibility to maintain local manufacturing skills and jobs, as opposed to leveraging low cost labour and shipping furniture around the world in containers.”

He approached Carsten alongside a Coventry-based furniture maker and a British-based ecommerce web specialist. They formed British Design Shop in 2017.

“Together we are developing both Astheimer design businesses and the British Design Shop from our headquarters in Warwick,” added Nick.

Intrepid Control Systems enjoys rapid growth since launching UK office

Intrepid Control Systems, a global provider of high technology software and hardware, including autonomous vehicle solutions, has exceeded all expectations since launching its UK office in Warwickshire in January 2018.

Thanks to support from chartered accountants and business advisers, Harrison Beale & Owen, Intrepid was able

to quickly establish its UK office at the MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton, and has been rapidly building its customer base ever since.

Intrepid set up the UK office following growth in UK demand. The company primarily works with automotive original equipment manufacturers developing new vehicles and providing network-based tools

(similar to black boxes) to improve vehicle hardware and software.

Vehicles are becoming more complex, and require more data analysis before production to ensure high performance and quality. Intrepid’s data logging and diagnostics tools help engineers identify complex issues that would otherwise go undetected.

The British Design Shop

Regional round-up

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS

Encouraging women to step up as leaders and supporting parents when they return to work after a career break were key topics at a business networking event.

Sally Dhillon, co-founder of Career-Mums Partnership, was a guest speaker at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business event held in Stratford-upon-Avon.

She spoke about starting out as an HR professional before setting up the company with neighbour Nishi Mehta after they both took a career break to look after their young children.

They now run coaching sessions to help parents find employment that works for them.

They have also launched a new company, CMtalent, helping employers attract,

Nominations for the Midlands Business Awards are open

Regional round-up

Billed as the biggest celebration of business success in the Midlands, the Midlands Business Awards celebrate business talent across the region.

Businesses of all sizes from industries and sectors across the whole of the Midlands region will come together and celebrate their successes, meet new contacts and enjoy a gala evening of celebration.

The winners in each category will receive their award at a Gala Dinner on Friday February 22, at the Athena, Leicester.

More information at www.midlandsbusinessawards.com

retain and develop more women leaders.

Sally said: “Having a child or a career break shouldn’t affect your career, and we are now trying to create a level playing field.”

The event was sponsored by Austin Heath retirement village, based in Warwick.

Other guest speakers included Sam Yair and Emma Woodward, directors of Aspire Style Ltd, a small chain of independent lifestyle boutiques, and Joanna Reid, Executive Director of the Belgrade Theatre who spoke on the theatre, its economic impact on the area and the opportunities that Coventry winning the title of UK City of Culture 2021 will bring to the region.

Sign up for the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival

Coventry & Warwickshire Business Festival is back from November 19-30 and applications to run events as part of the programme are open until September 28.

Any business can apply to host an event, but the topic must benefit other businesses or their employees, or showcase the region’s business excellence and innovation.

This is the largest business event in the region with more than 100 events over the fortnight including cyber security, technology and artificial intelligence in business and speed networking.

More information at www.cwbusinessfestival.com

Global events company boosts staff skills

A global events company based in Coventry is investing in its staff after joining forces with one of the UK’s leading education and training companies.

Phil Burrows and Sara Hargreaves are working with assessors from PET-Xi Training after signing up for NVQs in business administration.

GES delivers events, exhibitions and event management on the global stage with a team of 3,800 worldwide.

Phil, a floor planning department supervisor, is head of a team of nine focused on compiling floor plans for shows throughout the UK as well as Europe, Australia and Asia.

He said: “Our team is involved in around 400 shows a year including Gardeners World, Auto Sport and Good Food

“The NVQ has involved quite a lot of research into the principles of business and looking after staff.”

Sara, who oversees a 45-strong onsite team, works on more than 400 shows each year as well as dealing with customer queries, providing expert advice, processing orders for core services and delivering customer service in the office and at the shows.

She said: “Training and quality assurance is an integral part of our team and the NVQ has also assisted in looking at other avenues for deploying this across the business.”

Gary Drake from PET-Xi Training (left) with Phil Burrows from GES

Hazel Pilling, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce with Joanna Reid, Belgrade Theatre; Sally Dhillon, Career-Mums Partnership; Emma Woodward, Aspire Style; Janine Devaney, Austin Heath; Sam Yair Aspire Style and Zoe Sweeney, of the Chamber

“We are a British company located in Leamington Spa with a Danish name and products designed by a German. We are an international company.”

VITSŒ: THE WORKPLACE REIMAGINED

Sixty years ago, one of the most contemporary and durable furniture systems was born in Germany. Now it’s made in the heart of England, in a unique factory space

By Nicky Godding

Inside the airiest 40,000 sq ft of industrial space you will ever experience, built almost entirely of birch timber and with a saw tooth glazed roof, is a uniquely collaborative environment.

Around 75 people from 15 nationalities work at Vitsœ. Designers, makers, the communications and digital teams, admin and finance all work alongside each other producing and promoting the company’s unique shelving and seating systems.

There are no internal walls. Nothing separating the communal eating space, with its floor-to-ceiling picture windows, from the factory floor, or the kitchen where the full-time chef prepares meals for staff and visitors daily.

The space also holds an accommodation block, museum, library, an outside space overlooking the Grand Union canal and a dance company.

A dance company? Right in the centre of the factory, the Motionhouse dancecircus company practices on matting and scaffolding erected in its centre.

But this innovative building isn’t in the centre of London. It’s in Leamington Spa.

Building a sustainable future

When I visit in late July, despite the temperature being over 30 degrees celcius outside, inside is cool. There is no air conditioning and no extra lighting needed.

This building is beautiful, but it’s taken years of blood and toil by the Vitsœ team to deliver.

“Six years ago, Vitsœ was based in an 8,000 sq ft tin-roofed building in Campden, London,” says Mark. “We also

have a shop on Duke Street, Marylebone. But we needed more space.”

Mark is passionate about sustainable design, which is a key reason why he brought Vitsœ from Germany to the UK in 1990.

With a degree in biology he has long been interested in the body’s immune system and claims that its effectiveness is declining because we spend too long in artificiallycontrolled temperature and light. “Our immune system needs to respond to annual seasonal change. Humans need natural environment and good food.”

Building the new Vitsœ headquarters was an opportunity to pull together his passions — design and creativity, to deliver a space that could become a template for workspaces for the 21st century.

“Vitsœ is a founder member of the Centre for Industrial Sustainability at Cambridge,” explained Mark.

“When we decided to relocate, I sat with academics from all over the UK to explore how a building might work for us in the 21st century. We also wanted to reduce energy use and here we have natural light and ventilation throughout the year.”

In Vitsœ’s new building, indirect north light is reflected inside. There are external venetian blinds, triple glazing and a 170mm concrete floor with underfloor heating. The entire building frame is made of timber. Even the insulation is wood fibre.

But there isn’t anything here which hasn’t been thought of before. A hero of Mark’s is Joseph Paxton (the celebrated Victorian gardener who designed Crystal Palace, the central building of the 1851 Great Exhibition). All his ideas are here, and more. “What we’ve done is think logically and pull them all together in one space.”

A centre of excellence

Leamington Spa was the perfect spot for relocation, being equidistant to most of Vitsœ’s supply chain. “We have suppliers from Cirencester to Winsford and further north. We also wanted to retain our umbilical cord to London, to be connected — but at a distance. Here we are close to some of the UK’s best educational providers, including Warwickshire College Group and WMG at the University of Warwick, and to one of the UK’s most exciting digital communities. All of these will help provide a pipeline of the skilled people we will need to grow.”

Before he began looking for a site, Mark wanted to get to know Leamington Spa better. “We met the old manufacturing crowd, creatives such as Motionhouse and those in the gaming and digital sector.”

The town council team helped Mark secure the old Ford foundry site, just five minutes walk from Leamington Spa railway station.

The financial investment was, surprisingly, less complicated to achieve.

“The whole project cost us £9 million, including £5.7 million to build it, which we didn’t have. So we offered mini bonds to our customers,” Mark explains.

“One customer financed the riskiest construction phase, lending us the money for 16 months. When we had completed the project, we secured a loan from the Dutch ethical bank Triodos.

“All those who bought bonds love what Vitsœ stands for and wanted to support us. We raised the money in six weeks. It was incredible. The minimum lent was £5,000, others lent half or a quarter of a million

You may not yet have heard of Vitsœ, the company that makes furniture by Dieter Rams, one of the most prominent industrial designers of the 20th century, but that will change. In June last year the company, now run by Managing Director Mark Adams, opened the UK’s most incredible factory space.

Vitsœ

Vitsœ

Managing Director, Mark Adams

The history of Vitsœ

Vitsœ was founded by Niels Vitsœ in Germany in 1959. While selling Danish furniture, Niels was introduced to Dieter Rams. Trained as an architect, Dieter was working at German appliance manufacturer, Braun, modernising the company’s factory interiors. He soon got involved in product design and was Head of Design from 1961-1995.

In 1959 Dieter asked Erwin Braun if he could design furniture for Niels Vitsœ. Braun agreed and a year later, Dieter’s wall-mounted 606 Universal Shelving System was launched, which still forms the basis of the Vitsœ business today.

At 86, Dieter remains a huge influence on Vitsœ.

pounds and more besides. We are here purely thanks to our customers.”

A career by design

Mark graduated as a biologist but took a job in Paris, setting up an office for a large recruitment business.

His heart wasn’t in the corporate life and having bought a small flat in London’s nascent Docklands, he went hunting for furniture. “I’d coveted the classic Tizio light designed by Richard Sapper in 1972.

“I found an interiors shop in the West End. I returned a few weeks later and they were installing black Vitsœ shelving. It was beautiful. They explained it was by Dieter Rams, the German consumer products company Braun’s head of design who was already known for his hairdryers, coffee machines and calculators. I knew his work as I owned his razor and alarm clock.”

The shop owner saw Mark was interested, and a couple of weeks later offered him a job — at less than half of the salary he’d previously enjoyed. “I was just two years out of university. I thought if I don’t do it now I probably never will.”

Four months later, in 1986, the shop went bust. Assessing the wreckage of his new career, Mark jumped on a plane to Germany and introduced himself to Niels Vitsœ. “I’d spoken to him just twice on

the phone. He allowed me to set up a company to import and distribute his furniture in the UK.”

Soon after Mark set up the company, the UK entered the eighties and ninties recession, but the business hung on. Then another disaster hit: Vitsœ went bankrupt. Mark bought the business, but on visiting the company’s Germany HQ, the situation was worse than he’d been told. He battled to save the company, spending two years in Germany before relocating the business to the UK.

It was an incredibly tough time. But one day, he received a surprise call from Tyler Brule, the now celebrated Canadian journalist and publisher, who was launching Wallpaper, which was to became one of the most influential magazines of the 1990s.

Brule included Dieter Ram’s Vitsœ furniture in his first issue. It was read by one of New York’s up-and-coming retailers who contacted Mark. “Their business brought us back into life,” said Mark.

Mark now commutes between the UK, USA and Europe as brand awareness builds. Seventy per cent of Vitsœ products are exported. “South Korea is currently a strong market,” he said.

“We are a British company located in Leamington Spa with a Danish name and products designed by a German. We are an international company.”

The company’s furniture systems are adaptable, durable and so highly valued that they can be regarded as family heirlooms and left to the next generation.

Most Vitsœ furniture is made of recyclable aluminium, steel and compostable wood. It is assembled with mechanical joints to allow repair and end-of-life dismantling. Importantly, everything is designed and built to last as long as possible.

Mark’s philosophy behind the building and the business

Mark said: “A visitor told me recently ‘up until now I’ve seen the working world in black and white, now I can see it in colour.’ This building is not a piece of architecture. It’s a way of thinking. It was built in 23 days and there is no plasterboard, no painting, no boxing in.

“Our duty is to encourage people to buy fewer things in life that they will look after and I think the wind is blowing in that direction.”

“We want to transfer the business to our employees. We will offer indirect ownership via a trust, but the most important thing is to make the cultural change first and the legal change last. This company has to survive as an independent business.”

Vitsœ

The kitchen at Vitsoe’s Leamington Spa factory

Infracapital acquires rural broadband provider

Abingdon-based fibre broadband provider Gigaclear, founded in 2010, has been acquired by M&G Investment Management Ltd, which first invested in the company in 2015.

REVOLUTIONARY MEDIA GLASS IS TRANSFORMING SPACES

An innovative, smart glass is generating enquiries from across the events and retail sector as well as in hospitality and construction.

G-Smatt, a Korean company, expanded to the UK last year, and chose Oxford for its European base.

With hundreds of LED lights integrated into toughened glass, a G-Smatt screen is instantly programmable and interactive. Live projection of messages and art are easy, as we found on our recent visit to G-Smatt’s Oxford HQ when it took the team just five minutes to emblazon this magazine’s logo on their glass meeting room wall.

The glass can showcase digital art, advertising and video content. This summer’s Boomtown Festival in Hampshire had 13 of the company’s G-Tainers (huge portable G-Smatt glass installations) forming Bang Hai Technologies, the hub for the event’s digital innovations.

Another G-Tainer was installed behind the Royal Exchange in Threadneedle Street as part of this year’s London Festival of Architecture, which G-Smatt sponsored.

The company is led by Orhan Ertughrul, a molecular biologist and computer scientist. He said: “This has been an amazing year for G-Smatt and I am delighted with what we have achieved and by the opportunities that lie ahead. A key factor in this success has been the growth and development of our team.”

The company’s innovative, building grade, laminated media glass provides full transparency and rich media capability.

This allows developers and architects to provide a new way for people to experience and enjoy their buildings and the surrounding urban spaces without compromising the aesthetic beauty of their original design.

G-Smatt currently employs 14 people of nine different nationalities who speak 22 languages. It is targeting a turnover in Europe of £50 million within five years.

Gigaclear has now provided full fibre gigabit broadband services to more than 65,000 rural homes in the southern half of the UK and has announced plans to reach in excess of 350,000 homes and businesses by 2021. Following Matthew Hare’s departure in June as CEO, Mike Surrey, previously Chief Operating Officer, is now Interim Chief Executive.

Gigaclear was crowned Best Rural Broadband provider for a second year by the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) and Matthew Hare, who also received an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours, was voted Executive of the Year.

Andy Matthews, Director of Infracapital, said: “We have been a supporter of Gigaclear since our initial investment in 2015. We look forward to continuing to work with the team to help Gigaclear deliver its vision of bringing ultrafast, full fibre connectivity to rural Britain.”

Sterling Network enters Oxford

One of the UK’s fastest growing networking associations, Sterling, is launching a new group in Oxford under the leadership of Alan Kennedy. The first meeting will take place on September 27 at Jury’s hotel.

Keynote speaker is business adviser, and author Robin Waite – The Fearless Business Coach – who will explain how the fear of making brave decisions blocks business success. Sterling Networking has been successfully running business shows and networking groups for nearly eight years and has more 169 members across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and now Oxfordshire.

“This has been an amazing year for G-Smatt and I am delighted with what we have achieved and by the opportunities that lie ahead. A key factor in this success has been the growth and development of our team”

G-Smatt G-tainers

Our Business & Innovation Magazine logo was programmed into the G-Smatt smart glass in minutes

Bicester organ helps earthquake-hit New Zealand sing again

A Bicester-based digital organ company is celebrating its first commission from Australasia.

Wellington Cathedral of St Paul in New Zealand will soon be home to a handcrafted, bespoke digital organ from Regent Classic Organs, one of the UK’s leading digital organ designers and manufacturers.

The 400-kilogram, light oak console is designed to complement the timber of the existing cathedral furniture and will be the biggest single instrument the Regent Classic team have installed, and the furthest away.

The company has already been commissioned by top UK institutions such as York Minster and Canterbury Cathedral as well as smaller, local churches such as St Mary’s in Witney.

David Mason, owner of Regent Classic Organs, said: “After the 2016 earthquake in Wellington the cathedral’s pipe organ was so badly damaged it was inoperable.

“We shipped a small, interim organ to the Cathedral which meant that its extensive

music programme could continue.We are proud that a new, more permanent, organ, hand-crafted here in Oxfordshire, will be providing a lasting musical legacy in Wellington.”

Organist and Director of Music at the cathedral, Michael Stewart, said:

“The cathedral’s music department is based on an English Cathedral model of quality sacred choral music and we needed to source the highest sound quality for our congregation.

“After playing various digital organs it was clear that the Regent Classic instrument exceeded all our expectations.”

The new organ will be installed during the first two weeks of October. It will serve as a long-term interim instrument for the cathedral while it evaluates the feasibility of replacing the pipe organ.

Regent Classic’s Viscount instruments are built using ‘Physis’ technology - a computer generated physical model of an organ pipe.

Bicester Heritage submits 344-room hotel plans

Five years after it began a major regeneration project at the derelict former RAF Bicester to creat a home for motoring past, present and future, Bicester Heritage is pushing forward with its ambition to create the world’s leading automotive leisure destination on the 425-acre prime Oxfordshire location.

Designed by architects Dexter Moren, a full planning application has been submitted for a five-storey 344-room

hotel to be built adjacent to an existing 1936 C-Type hangar.

Dan Geoghegan, Managing Director of Bicester Heritage, said: “There is a significant gap in the market for a large hotel with meaningful conferencing facilities.

“This scheme grasps that opportunity. Alongside business visitors, around 7.6 million tourists visit Bicester annually.”

One of Oxfordshire’s leading independent recruitment agencies has expanded into London. Allen Associates, which has twice achieved the Gold standard for Investors in People and this year celebrates 20 years in business, has opened up offices in Chiswick.

The new office is focusing on HR, marketing, PA/administration and temporary roles, and is headed by Kate and Ben Allen, who will look to build on the company’s growing portfolio of clients across the capital.

Kate Allen, Managing Director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have launched. This has been a long time in the pipeline, and the whole Oxford team is hugely excited about our expansion.”

The UK Recruitment industry has seen a record rise in the number of new entrants into the market, but few operate as family-run businesses. In January, the Financial Times found that both smaller and family owned businesses outperform other companies.

Allen Associates expands into London

Regional round-up

David Mason, owner of Regent Classic Organs, playing one of his digital organs

Wellington Cathedral, New Zealand

The Bessemer Society A society of founders & CEO’s of UK high-technology companies

The society is formed of a group of individuals who have the fusion of technical and entrepreneurial skills that is exemplified by the society’s illustrious nineteenth century name sake, Sir Henry Bessemer, the inventor of a method to make steel, one that drove industrial growth across the world.

The members meet for dinners and workshops across the country in a relaxed atmosphere that enables them to network and safely share their experience. They represent a breadth of technologies and business sectors; but are linked by their desire to develop and commercialise technologies that are manufacturable.

Oxford Branch

Although members will get access to all Bessemer events, the Oxford and Thames Valley branch of the Society is now an established and dynamic part of the Oxford technology scene. We are welcoming members from across the region.

OXFORD EVENTS

Dinner – 31st October

Rising to the Battery Challenge

Speakers: Neil Morris - The Faraday Institution

Jeff Pratt - UKBIC Graeme Purdy - ilika Plc

To book email: admin@bessemer-society.co.uk

NATIONAL EVENTS

Dinner: Cardiff – 13th September

Dinner: AGM – 20th November

Electrifying the UK IQE plc, Siemens UK

Award the Fellowship of the Bessemer Society

The Armourers & Brasiers, Armourers Hall, London

SPONSORS MEDIA PARTNER

Minister of State Sam Gyimah opens Schrödinger Building

The state-of-the-art Schrödinger Building at the Oxford Science Park, one of the UK’s leading parks for science and technology companies, has been opened by Sam Gyimah MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research & Innovation.

Architecturally inspiring and built to promote collaboration and cross fertilisation of ideas, the four storey office and laboratory facility is part of a programme of investment on the Park which has been continuing since 2016. The building is named after Professor Erwin Schrödinger, recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1933 and an alumnus of Magdalen College Oxford, which owns The Oxford Science Park.

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, Managing Director of the Oxford Science Park,

said, ‘The Schrödinger Building is a significant new addition to the Park. The scientists who discovered the structure of DNA in 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick, both cited the thinking of Schrödinger as influential in their own work. This work in turn has made much of the research that is performed here at The Oxford Science Park possible.”

CEO of Oxfordshire’s Oakman Inns receives major hospitality industry award

Peter Borg-Neal, CEO of pub operator, Oakman Inns has been recognised with a Pub & Bar Award at the 35th Annual ‘Cateys’, one of the hospitality industry’s highest awards for pub operators.

Peter has been an integral part of the hospitality industry for almost 40 years.

At 16 he started work as a cellar boy and by 2002 had become a divisional director at both Allied Domecq and Whitbread. He founded Oakman Inns and opened his first pub, The Akeman in Tring, in December 2007.

Ten and a half years later, the pub group, ranked in the Top 20 of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies To Work For, is operating 22 pubs, employing nearly 800 people across Southern England and the West Midlands and is opening its 23rd pub, Royal Foresters in Ascot, at the end of this month.

Oakman Inns include The Blue Boar at Witney, The Old Post Office, Wallingford, The Crown & Thistle, Abingdon and the Four Alls at Welford-on-Avon

Winners in Oxfordshire’s Local Business Charity Awards revealed

Jelf and A-Plan, sponsors of the Oxfordshire 2018 Local Business Charity Awards have announced this year’s winners. The awards recognise the support given by Oxfordshire businesses to the county’s local charities and the winners were revealed at a finals event held at the Hill End Centre, Eynesham.

Winners of the Jelf and A-Plan awards each won £1,000 to donate to the charity which nominated them. The winner of the individual award won a weekend away worth £300.

Winner of the Jelf Award, for charities which have an annual turnover of more than £200,000 a year was The Oxford Mail, nominated by The Oxford Hospitals Charity. Winner of the A-Plan Award, for charities which have an annual turnover of under £200,000 a year FAI Farms, nominated by Farm Ability.

The winner of the Individual Award: Aaron Gee, Midcounties Co-operative was nominated by Aspire Oxford.

In a joint statement Jeremy Wilson, Managing Director South East, Jelf and Carl Shuker, CEO, A-Plan Holdings, said: “As judges, sponsors and ultimately local employers, it was a privilege to read the outstanding efforts being made by these businesses.”

Regional round-up

“The Schrödinger Building is a significant new addition to the Park. The scientists who discovered the structure of DNA in 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick, both cited the thinking of Schrödinger as influential in their own work”

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, MD of The Oxford Science Park, Minister Sam Gyimah MP, Professor Sir David Clary FRS, President of Magdalen College Oxford, Rory Maw, Director of The Oxford Science Park & Bursar of Magdalen College Oxford

L to R: Jeremy Wilson, Jelf, Oisten Thorsen, Karl Williams, Ruth Layton FAI Farms, Tom Mitchell, Oxford Mail, Sarah Giles, Farm Ability, Eddie Denton, Oxford Mail, John Carter, Oxford Mail, Penny Hambridge & Sarah Vaccari, Oxford Hospitals Charity, Jo Coady, Oxford Mail, Gail Williams, Oxford Hospitals Charity, Helen Mariner, Aspire, Aaron Gee, Midcounties Co-operative, Paul Roberts, & Rosa Curness, Aspire, Richard Easterbrook, A-Plan

Partners at Royds Withy King host summer polo

Partners from Royds Withy King invited friends and clients for an afternoon of polo held at Kirtlington Park Polo Club, set in the glorious English heritage countryside of Oxfordshire with the fabulous back drop of Kirtlington Park. Guests enjoyed champagne and afternoon tea before polo commenced, followed by hot food all catered for by Oxford Fine Dinning.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB LACEY

Would you like to feature your business event, launch or party in our business events section?

Kirtlington Park Polo team in action

Simon McConnell from Thomas Merrifield with Ronald Peet from Royds Withy

Andrew Nellist from Royds Withy King with David Cook from Handelsbanken, Abingdon.

Andrew Clark and Tom Gilman from Royds Withy King

Kirsty Muir and Lizi Clapham from Business & Innovation Magazine

Zainab Dakhil, Robert Pinheiro and Gemma Ospedale from Royds Withy King with Sarah Gardener from Shaw Gibbs

Nick Croall from Prime Purchase with Charles Elsmore-Wickens from Savills

Sophie Stevens and Karen Smith from Knight Frank

Barry Grinham from Prime Energy with Ronnie van der Ploeg from Savills and Tom Gilman from Royds Withy King

Anne Battson from Royds Withy King with Gill Mealy from Carter Jonas and Tania Thompson from Jackson Stops

Laura Yuill and Claire Barwick from Royds Withy King with Peter O’Connell from Shaw Gibbs and Michelle Arnold from Handelsbanken

Mazak gets serious for Cancer Research UK

Yamazaki Mazak is gearing up for some serious fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

The Worcester-based machine tool manufacturer, which employees more than 900 people, aims to raise a fourfigure sum.

The company has already held a huge charity cake sale, with two of its corporate catering partners donating over 600 cakes.

Employees will also be climbing Mount Snowdon to raise money.

Richard Smith, European Group Managing Director at Yamazaki Mazak, said: “The fighting spirit we have witnessed from those battling cancer has been a true inspiration. We hope the money raised will help Cancer Research UK continue its admirable work. Many of our commercial partners, including caterers, merchandisers and designers, have made generous donations to facilitate our fundraising campaign.”

BUSINESSES GO IN TO

BAT FOR CHARITY

Businesses went into bat for charity at the annual Stoneleigh Park rounders tournament.

The tournament was organised by farm shop Farmers Fayre, based at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire and this year was the largest tournament to date with 16 teams and nearly 200 players competing to be crowned Stoneleigh Park champions.

The £2,000 raised will be split between local charities Warwickshire Lowland Rescue which is based at Stoneleigh Park and helps police with searches for missing persons, and local enterprise Gatehouse Homeless Project, which provides food and provisions to homeless people in Coventry.

Teams competing on the day included the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Farmers Fayre, the NFU, British Eventing, FEC Energy, Focus Foster Care, and LANTRA. Faber Fitness and IPS Kitchens provided umpires for the tournament.

“We’re delighted that this year’s event was able to raise money for two very important charities, particularly with Warwickshire Lowland Rescue being based at Stoneleigh Park as well”

Atmosphere Ltd, a new company at Stoneleigh Park, was crowned the winners of the day, receiving a trophy and a free month’s gym membership for the team, with Hatton Country World coming in a close second.

Nicola Reece, director of Farmers Fayre, said: “We’re delighted that this year’s event was able to raise money for two very important charities, particularly with Warwickshire Lowland Rescue being based at Stoneleigh Park as well.”

Warwickshire Lowland Rescue (red shirts, left) and Gatehouse Homeless Project (right) with event organiser Nicola Reece (with bat)

Fund launched to bring West End productions to the region

Businesses in the community

A new theatrical investment fund has been launched to help bring more top theatre productions to Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre for local people to enjoy.

Spearheaded by West End producer Mark Goucher, who was appointed as Chief Executive of the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre last year, and with funds rising to half a million pounds at its disposal, Cheltenham Theatre Investment Ltd is an important new player in the world of theatrical investors.

The company intends to take investment in commercial touring productions of plays and musicals and also in new West End productions.

It is governed by a board of business

leaders from Gloucestershire, including Edward Gillespie, BPE Solicitor’s Senior Partner, John Workman and other theatre heavyweights.

John said: “Bringing top cultural events and activities to regional theatres all year around can have a powerful and

Oxford Charcoal Company and Mencap work together

The Oxford Charcoal Company has taken on a new employee thanks to national charity Mencap’s employment programme, Employ Me, which helps people with a learning disability become job-ready and find work.

Oxfordshire resident Antony felt worthless and depressed after countless job knockbacks. The charity Mencap supported him through its employment programme and he secured the job of Welfare Facilitator at The Oxford Charcoal Company, which makes gourmet charcoal from sustainable British wood.

This was a life-changing moment for him and Antony’s confidence has flourished.

He said: “I’ve been trusted more and more. It feels good and if I do have any problems, I can go and talk to someone here. Learning new things is exciting. I’m always up for a challenge and an adventure.”

Joyce La Vertue of The Oxford Charcoal Company, said: “I’d advise an employer who is considering taking on a member of staff with a learning disability to use the kind of service that Mencap offers. Be

positive effect on the community. Great productions shouldn’t be the preserve of London audiences, and this new fund will seek to inspire people across the community.”

Mark Goucher added: “When I became Chief Executive of the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre I wanted to broaden the involvement of the business community in the theatre. While the fund is not run by the theatre, 10 per cent of the fund’s profits will be channelled back into the educational and community work that this very important local theatre fulfils. As a commercial producer of 25 years I hope I will be able to fund great new theatrical investment opportunities, benefitting investors and the theatre that I am very proud to be running.”

clear about the requirements of the role you have in mind and put some trust in the professionals that run these programmes to find you a suitable candidate. My experience tells me that your reward will be a committed worker who will give back in buckets for every bit of effort and energy that you give them.”

“Bringing top cultural events and activities to regional theatres all year around can have a powerful and positive effect on the community”

Mark Goucher, Chief Executive at Cheltenham Everyman

Cheltenham Everyman Theatre

Antony at The Oxford Charcoal Company

Jailhouse rocks as Secret Party comes to Gloucester Prison for Sunflowers charity

Never before has Gloucester Prison looked like it did, when The Secret Party arrived in the city. On Saturday 28th July the charitable event, hosted by Gloucestershire’s own TV medic Dr Dawn Harper (Embarrassing Bodies), completely transformed part of the historic Gloucester Prison site as hundreds came to party and raise money and awareness for Sunflowers

Suicide Support. Stormtroopers and prison officers escorted guests to A-wing where the night was opened by the stunning voices of ITV’s Dr Ranj and The Adam Street Singers. With tricks from Arc Magic, the entertainment just kept coming including music from the unstoppable JB Jazz & Blues Band and an outstanding prison riot flash mob by dancers from JazzJiveSwing.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB LACEY

Secret Party organising committee, Dr Dawn Harper, Steve Knibbs, Kathryn Rudd OBE, Jack Harries, Kirsty Muir and Claire Carter

Gloucestershire Troopers keeping order

Flash mob jail break from dance crew JazzJiveSwing

Dr Ranj and The Adam Street Singers tricks from Alex Robertson from Arc Magic

Lit up and ready to party, Gloucester Prison Operated by Jailhouse Tours

Dr Dawn Harper and Marcus Green, Chair of Sunflowers Suicide Support

IGLÜ Bars team

Stormtroopers and prison officers escorted guests to A-wing

Tasty Taco’s from Taco Bandits

Jailhouse Tours operators of Gloucester, Shrewsbury and Shepton Prisons

WORK LIVE TO

Oasis Events’ parties are out of this world

No one forgets a fantastic party, but they can be exhausting to organise. As a result, more people are turning to expert event organisers such as award-winning party planning and events company Oasis Events, based near Cheltenham.

Oasis Events boss Dany Fremantle told us about a recent big event she organised.

“We were contacted by Audley Travel, based in Witney. The company specialises in tailor-made travel and is one of the largest operators in their field.

“With a youthful workforce, one of the key events in their internal calendar is the summer staff party. This year, with a growing global focus on space exploration, Audley asked Oasis to help organise a summer staff party around the format of a fictional product launch, Audley ‘Cosmos’, a luxury travel package ‘to the stars and beyond’.

The event was staged at the company’s Witney offices, with 600 adult guests and 100 children.

Props included an inflatable structure, astronaut and rocket. A Mission Control bar lead to the Cosmos marquee with stars, lighting and stage.

A “forbidden planet” styled marquee offered food. With two bands, a DJ, live drummers, bar staff dressed as lab technicians, small treats like a shot of “vaccine” to be taken on entering Mission Control, and a midnight “rocket launch” on stage, the event had carefully chosen themed moments and styling.

It was a roaring success and one of the best the team can remember.

Distillery celebrates first birthday with absinthe launch

The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD), has celebrated its first birthday. The past year has been busy for the business, which distils a range of handmade spirits including gin, absinthe, vodka and rye whiskey.

The event featured live music, food stalls, cocktail masterclasses, tastings, an array of children’s activities and a gin bar.

The day also included the launch of the company’s latest spirit, the bright green 70 per cent abv (that’s around 140 per

cent proof) Artemisia Absinthium. Just 44 bottles were made in the first batch and they cost £75 each. Master distiller Cory Mason’s reverence for absinthe goes back years. It is the spirit which inspired him to study and become a master distiller. He explains: “There is a mystery, an illicit quality to absinthe which has grown largely as a reflection of the artistic, hedonistic circles which have loved it so much over the years. In many ways, the more notorious its reputation, the more beloved it became.”

Leave your car behind and take to the hills

The stunning Malvern Hills can now be enjoyed more easily by foot after the introduction of a self-guided mile-long walk beginning at the town’s historic Victorian station.

The first phase of Great Malvern: Route to The Hills is now open and quirkily brings to life the town’s past, through specially-commissioned artworks. These include interpretation panels, gas lamps, pavement studs and even a bench featuring the legs of Mr. Tumnus from C.S Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. More elements will be added on a rolling basis over the coming year.

David Armitage of the Malvern Hills

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, said: “This is a really innovative way for people to appreciate our beautiful town and its fascinating history that spans centuries.”

The Audley Travel summer party

“We were contacted by Audley Travel, based in Witney, Oxfordshire. The company specialises in tailor-made travel and is one of the largest operators in their field”

Serving TOAD absinthe the Parisien way ©

PHOTO:IAN WALLMAN

GET ENGAGED

There’s a lot talked about employee engagement but what is it really and why does it matter?

Offices used to be bleak places. Employees turned up on time, clocked in, did their job, ate in the canteen (not restaurant), could smoke at their desks and departed after eight hours.

Employee engagement was little more than skittles down the pub, with everyone chipping in from their own pockets. They knew little about the company’s strategy and probably cared even less. As long as they got their pay, that was all they expected.

Skills training or continuous professional development hardly existed, or was for the fortunate few, and fraternising between management levels was not encouraged.

Then everything started to change. One driver was the Governmentsponsored Investors in People marque, launched in 1991.

When people began to see that better employee engagement really did mean improved productivity, and that offering staff a better place to work meant they stayed longer, it started to make financial sense.

Much more research has since taken place and some fantastic work is being done by highly qualified consultancies to share best practice.

We talked to three companies to see how their employee engagement is making a difference.

Neil Morrison HR Director at Severn Trent Water, based at Coventry

“Everyone here cares strongly about their work because what we do really matters: we make drinking water safe and ensure the effective treatment of waste water,” says Neil Morrison, HR Director at Severn Trent Water.

“I’ve been here been here for about a year and I’ve never seen anything like their commitment, from the most basic of tasks to the board room.”

For Neil, employee engagement starts in the board room. “If the leadership team behaves in the right way, it spreads across the business.”

Having a level of diversity helps too. Severn Trent’s CEO is 42-year old Liv Garfield, the FTSE 100’s youngest ever female boss.

Four of Severn Trent’s eight-strong board are female, and almost half of its executive committee. Neil says that the company is continually seeking to improve even this level.

Severn Trent employs more than 6,000 members of staff, including hundreds of long-standing employees.

“People want to feel safe at work. And because of the nature of the work we do, colleagues want to feel they are being supported.”

“Ultimately what we are trying to do is create a workplace that people want to work in. They are your best advocate and if we can create such an environment, they feel supported. That will pay off in multiples.”

Last year Severn Trent hit the headlines. After opening up the

conversation on menopause in the workplace, it held a special workshop at its Coventry HQ.

Neil explains: “The changing age of our workforce means that more women are experiencing symptoms in the workplace, but few felt comfortable talking about it with their line managers.

“But the menopause isn’t just a women’s issue, everyone needs to understand it and if it matters to our workforce, we need to reflect the concern in our organisation.”

Severn Trent is also active in supporting career growth. “One of our top drone pilots joined in the IT department. After training through the company he’s now leading the drone team surveying buildings and looking for problems. We support the ambition to transition and move on.”

“People want to feel safe at work. And because of the nature of the work we do, colleagues want to feel they are being supported”

Neil

Morrison,

HR Director Severn Trent Water

Liv Garfield is the CEO of Severn Trent and the FTSE’s youngest ever female boss. Four of Severn Trent’s eight-strong board are female

SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP

Jarl Severn

Managing Director, Owen Mumford

“People don’t come to work to earn money”. So says Jarl Severn, Managing Director at medical device manufacturer, Owen Mumford, which has its global headquarters at Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

He quickly qualifies that by saying that competitive salaries are a given, and once agreed, people often feel able to forget about them until payday.

What matters more, day to day, is that Owen Mumford’s associates understand that the company goes out of its way to offer a good work/life balance, alongside actively including them in its strategy for growth so that they better understand the importance of their role in achieving it.

Owen Mumford did away with calling its staff ‘employees’ 10 years ago to underline its strategy of everyone pursuing a common purpose.

Why is engagement so important? Jarl is pragmatic. “We are in an area of very low unemployment, so we must make ourselves attractive, but it was also something I wanted to develop when I arrived here more than a decade ago.”

Jarl is Danish and explains that the corporate structure on much of continental Europe has long been flatter and more employee-focussed, especially in

Scandinavia. “The main thing I brought with me and subsequently tapped into, is that you try to treat everyone as an equal adult. The old-style hierarchical management doesn’t work and if it does, it works for the wrong reasons.”

Often productivity is higher in continental companies. Is there a connection? There could be.“When I joined Owen Mumford parts of the building were a little dated. I

But it’s not just about the work environment. Strong employee engagement runs through the company, from skills (it spends half a million pounds annually in third party training) to offering in-work opportunities. “We want to develop our associates,” says Jarl.

He’s also got over the fact that he can’t completely halt staff turnover. “In today’s working environment there are few lifetime careerists, so we encourage those who are leaving to be Owen Mumford ambassadors.”

The company has manufacturing facilities across the world. Every autumn Jarl visits them to speak directly with all associates. “I present a state of the business address to everyone from Shanghai to Frankfurt. They can see and hear directly from me and ask the tricky questions they might not feel able to ask their colleagues.”

Owen Mumford measures as much as it can to understand what’s working.

gave our research and development and marketing teams a budget to redecorate and restructure their offices. It’s not quite Google but their environment is now colourful with glass walls and Italian coffee machines. It’s got the wow factor and our associates enjoy more space and comfort.”

leading contract management software to around £75 billion of construction industry projects.

The company carries out a full engagement survey every two years. Now in its 10th year, the company’s score has risen from 56 per cent in 2010 to 75 per cent in 2018. It also runs an annual perception survey to further improve associates’ working environments.

“Our full engagement survey is very tangible and empirical proof of the outcome of our activities generally, and something we are proud of,” adds Jarl.

present at work doesn’t necessarily equal productivity.

“We don’t try to make employees happy; we make sure they feel motivated, supported and professionally fulfilled in their role. Happiness follows this.”

Ben Walker is CEO at CEMAR, a Gloucester-based IT company providing

Employee engagement is critical says Ben, who credits author John Oliver for much of his thinking, having participated in one of Quolux’s LEAD masterclasses.

“Motivation isn’t achieved through over-direction or infinite rules, it’s about engagement and empowerment. Being

“Some companies fixate on making employees happy though ‘benefits’. But done badly they can be demotivators,” he says. “Take flexitime. If staff can choose their regular hours, everyone watches the clock. This half-measure becomes the driver rather than doing the job that needs doing and being proud of it. It’s just a new set of problems.”

“In today’s working environment there are few lifetime careerists, so we encourage those who are leaving to be Owen Mumford ambassadors”

Ben Walker

CEO at Cemar

Jarl Severn Managing Director Owen Mumford

CEMAR has scrapped working hours. “We were inspired by Lego’s handbook which encourages people to work however they like but encourages them not to detract from the effectiveness of their colleagues,” explains Ben.

He also has a novel approach to recruitment. “Depending on our current team make up, we try to recruit on attitude, energy and integrity. If people have the ability and desire to learn, experience isn’t high on my list of wants.

“Since CEMAR’s inception we’ve employed around 80 people. For example, I have recruited a bus driver, a chauffeur and a laundry van driver. The former bus driver was our first employee and is now our principle software engineer.

“Rodger drove a bus and had a passion to become a professional programmer. He was paying for his degree part-time while working on the buses and raising a family. I really wanted to employ him.”

Ben will also employ people for a few years knowing that they want to leave later. “We invest in them because they give us all they have while they’re here. Being upfront with their career plans is healthy and still provides loyalty.”

CEMAR also employs apprentices. Some stay, some leave and that’s fine by Ben. “We are helping each other. We have had two apprentices who won apprentice of the year in consecutive years. That was a major achievement for them and for us.”

For Ben, a prospective employee’s CV is still an essential pre-qualification. But this alone is not enough. “I listen avidly to what Paula thinks - she greets candidates in our reception and spends a bit of time making them a drink. We want candidates who are collaborative, respectful and professional at all times –it’s just as important as a great CV.”

We can be stronger together

Stewart Barnes, Managing Director of QuoLux, the leadership and strategy development specialists, looks at employee engagement strategies.

Just a third of the UK workforce feels engaged, so what are the implications for your own business or department?

Studies show that employee engagement – bringing one’s best and full self to work – is not just a ‘nice-to-have’. It is a business imperative, linked to a number of performance outcomes including productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction.

Leaders must address employee engagement. Here are a few pointers that we explore on our LEAD programme with Professor John Oliver OBE, one of the UK’s foremost experts in this area:

 Understand the basics of empowerment. Employees respond positively to more responsibility and authority in their daily tasks and often prefer autonomy. In other words, people generally do well when they are empowered to make choices and decisions for themselves.

 Find out what engages your employees, not someone else’s. While broad research is valuable, it can only take an organisation so far. What matters is your business and your people. Ironically, most organisations use engagement results punitively; they focus on what is going wrong and on why people aren’t as engaged as they could be. A better approach is to figure out what’s already working in your business and find ways to replicate it. Go to the most engaged individuals, teams and business units (i.e. the top 20 per cent), and help others learn from them.

 Encourage grassroots engagement. Engagement cannot be mandated, but it can be ignited. Once you understand what matters to your employees, you can support its expression and replication far and wide. Empower your people, particularly the most engaged employees, to share stories, exchange ideas and disseminate best practices across the business. A well-designed piece of media, such as a video “starring” members of a thriving team can gain traction and become a source of encouragement for others. Make engagement contagious.

 Recognise engagement as a moving target and check back often.While certain elements of employee engagement will hold over time, it’s not something that can be assessed and addressed just once. To keep your organisation engaged, you must remain engaged, curious, and connected yourself.

www.quolux.co.uk

Stewart Barnes Managing Director

QuoLux

Barbara Lestak-Maynes has taken on the role of Operations Manager at Oxfordbased specialist glass company G-Smatt. With a career in events management that started with the World Cup in 2010, Barbara is responsible for project delivery on the events side of G-Smatt’s business.

GRAPHENE INNOVATOR INCREASES R&D ACTIVITIES

Versarien plc the Cheltenham-based advanced materials engineering group, has appointed Dr Stephen Hodge as Head of Research. Dr Hodge will be responsible for overseeing the company’s graphene and other 2D materials research and development activities.

ANGHARAD REPRESENTS REGIONAL LETTING AGENTS

The battery technology Faraday Institution at Harwell, Oxfordshire has appointed Neil Morris as its new CEO. Neil is a widely respected leader with expertise in business strategy and operations in the energy sector.

Angharad Trueman, Managing Director at Gloucestershire-based independent agents CGT Lettings has been invited to represent the region for ARLA Propertymark, the professional UK body for letting agents aimed at raising standards in residential lettings. She will be responsible for organising events for up to 300 regional members.

BEN: THE ‘IT’ MAN FOR ROYDS WITHY KING

Mark Robinson has joined BPE Solicitors as a consultant. Having worked for Lloyds Banking Group for almost 40 years, most recently as a Relationship Director in the Corporate Banking Team, Mark will share his market insight with the Cheltenham headquartered legal practice.

Oxford-based law firm Royds Withy King has appointed its first Director of IT. Ben Short was previously Portfolio IT Director for the financial services sector at Capita. Ben will implement the firm’s three-year IT and infrastructure strategy

Professor Gary Ford, Chief Executive of the Oxford Academic Health Science Network, has been identified as one of seven NHS research legends during the NHS 70th birthday celebrations. Professor Ford’s work developing stroke pathways and establishing the FAST public awareness campaign earned him a place.

A lawyer at Thursfields Solicitors has been appointed to a new role championing the fundraising efforts of the Prince’s Trust in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Kirsty Underhill, a solicitor in the corporate and commercial department at the law firm’s Worcester office, has become chair of the charity’s development committee in the region.

INNOVATIONS COMPANY EXPANDS TO MEET DEMAND

Evesham-based Areca Design has recruited new staff members to keep up with demand. Dr Jamie Elliott, an experienced business lecturer and innovations expert, is Digital Innovations Manager. Charlie Sharp has joined full-time as Website Developer after completing his apprenticeship and Sadie Allan returns to the team as Website Designer/Developer.

ENERGY CONSULTANCY POWERED FOR GROWTH

Roadnight Taylor, the Oxfordshire-based independent power consultancy, has appointed experienced land and energy professional Richard Palmer to the team.

With the third new appointment in less than a year, the company has relocated to new offices in Burford to accommodate its growing team.

WILLANS STRENGTHEN CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL

Gloucestershire law firm Willans LLP has strengthened its corporate & commercial arm with the appointment of new partner Chris Wills. Chris joins Willans having been a director and department head at a Legal 500-rated Truro firm.

JOHN WILL CU IN COVENTRY

CU Coventry, part of the Coventry University Group, has made a new senior appointment to ensure that students are work-ready. John Kenny is the new Head of Management, Business, Law and Policing. John has previously spent time as Deputy Principal at Stratfordupon-Avon College and Director of Curriculum at Darlington College, among other appointments.

One of the UK’s leading machine tools suppliers has appointed two directors. The Engineering Technology Group (ETG), which employs more than 100 people at its headquarters in Warwickshire, has promoted Steve Brown and Martin Price to Sales Director and Operations Director respectively to support ambitious growth plans.

JAMES COWPER KRESTON EXPANDS CORPORATE FINANCE TEAM

James Cowper Kreston has welcomed Brad McAvoy to the firm as Corporate Finance Director. Brad joins the team from the Brisbane division of one of the Big Four accountancy firms where he held the position of Enterprise Division Director.

ETG APPOINTS DUO OF DIRECTORS

THE MEAN VIEW

In our last issue, columnist Ian Mean, Business West Director for Gloucestershire, aired his views on the critical importance of skills to business. In this issue he puts the government’s Apprenticeship Levy, first introduced last year, under the spotlight

While the government is fully energised over Brexit, I am afraid they are seeing what I regard as one of their most important early pledges, three million apprentice starts by 2020, beginning to flounder.

I don’t think I am being too critical when I say that with apprentice starts down more than 50 per cent in the last year, this flagship programme for our young people appears to be falling off a cliff.

As a result of this farce, I can see the government seeking to reduce those promised figures by the end of this Parliament. They’ll try to do this to avoid embarrassment on what is, after all, a flagship policy of great importance for business as it grapples with the demand for an increasing number of skilled people.

It is a sorry state of affairs, because here in Gloucestershire our further education colleges are some of the best in the country at developing apprenticeships.

You may remember that the target of three million people starting apprenticeships by 2020 was set by the government three years ago as part of a big campaign to promote them as an alternative to university. It would also help to boost the economy by training people in the skills employers needed.

But it all started to fall apart last April when the government introduced the

Apprenticeship Levy. This meant that businesses with an average wage bill of at least £3 million had to pay 0.5 per cent of their payroll costs into a fund to pay for training.

The levy must now be reviewed: that is the conclusion of the heads of the further education colleges I have talked to.

It is an overly bureaucratic, ill thoughtout policy that is patently not working. In fact, the levy is actually proving a deterrent to recruiting apprentices which our colleges have not seen before.

I am afraid that many companies now see the levy as a tax.

And due to a lack clarity from government, some companies are just using the levy money for their own management training.

So nationally, we are seeing something like a 500 per cent increase in management programmes. This is not going to encourage our young people

and help to keep them in the region, which is the subject of the current Gloucestershire 2050 debate.

It is also staggering that 77 per cent of companies in the county have an annual training budget of less than £5,000.

This is very poor and hardly helps Gloucestershire’s dire productivity rate - eight per cent down on the national figure for companies and very worrying. Investment in consistent programmed training is vital for businesses to grow and increase their productivity.

The government must now review the levy as a matter of urgency to make it simple and more accessible, particularly for SMEs if they are to stand any chance of honouring their apprenticeship pledge.

We will be watching.

Ian Mean is Gloucestershire Director of Business West, and a former regional newspaper editor.

He is former vice chairman of the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company and a Freeman of the City of Gloucester for that work.

He is an honorary vice-president of Gloucestershire College and has an honorary doctorate of philosophy from the University of Gloucestershire for supporting business in the county.

Ian is chairman of the Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust Organ Donation Committee and has just been appointed a board member of Gloucestershire’s Local Enterprise Partnership, championing small and medium-sized businesses.

“Investment in programmed training which is consistent is vital for businesses to grow and increase their productivity”

Ian Mean

WE ARE FAMILY

Families and family businesses thrive on a unique closeness

Drama, conflict and sibling rivalry. Some of the most compelling TV dramas have been based on the power and relationships within family businesses. The epic competition and boardroom melodramas in the hit 1980s TV show Dallas and more recently the ITV drama Mr Selfridge revealed the family sagas behind the eponymous retail chain. You could even call Keeping Up With The Kardashians a family business for the 21st century, where the product they’re selling is themselves.

5O YEARS FOR ROTARY CREATIVE PRINT

A third-generation printing business in Stourport is working towards its 50th anniversary.

Rotary Printers was started by Brian and Janice Liggins. Their daughter Teri Baron, now Managing Director, joined in 1979 and her brother Paul in 1984.

“In 1990 we invested heavily in colour printing and had four Heidelberg presses and one lonely entry level colour digital machine,” said Teri. “2000 saw us invest again, moving to computer from plate. Our studio team had grown to 30 people.

“In 2006 my daughter Louise joined the family business. She suggested offering website design alongside traditional design and our digital side was born. We are currently building our 79th website.”

Talk to family businesses across the region and they might reveal that the reality of running a family business in the 21st century can be every bit as dramatic.

Equally they’ll acknowledge that the benefits of a family business outweigh the disadvantages. The investment in corporate social responsibility strategies made by multi-national companies come naturally to family businesses: loyalty and stability, a commitment to local communities and to ensuring a smooth transition from one generation to the next.

With rising public distrust of some of the world’s biggest companies, family businesses are increasingly giving corporates a run for their money in terms of brand trust.

Fiona Graham is the Institute of Family Business’s Director of External Affairs and Policy. She says that every family business is different but as a group they share unique characteristics.

“They have a strong focus on people, which is reflected in the way they care for their employees and customers, and in their role within the community. Family firms also have a long-term outlook. And because of this long-term thinking, they invest wisely and are effective innovators.”

Families in business naturally have to address questions of governance, succession planning and next generation engagement, she added. “At the heart

of family businesses are people, their feelings and expectations. These inevitably differ and this can cause disagreement. Establishing good communication within the family firm, as well as talking to others in similar situations can be of huge help to prevent, and manage, unhealthy conflict.”

Peter Roper runs The Family Business Practice, based at Cleobury Mortimer, Worcestershire. He said: “Family businesses think, act and do differently to corporate cultures based upon strong value sets and a sense of responsibility to their clients, suppliers, workforce and community. It’s what a family business is all about.”

Paul Andrews of Family Business United undertook an analysis of The Sunday Times HSBC top Track 100. The top 10 family firms in the UK cumulatively generate £40 billion in turnover. He said: “It is clear to see the contribution that family firms make to the UK economy. More needs to be done to support family businesses in the UK and more recognition given to all that they do.”

“We fly just like birds of a feather” sang Sister Sledge in their famous anthem.

“Family businesses think, act and do differently to corporate cultures based upon strong value sets and a sense of responsibility to its clients, suppliers, workforce and community. It’s what a family business is all about”

WE MEET SOME OF THE REGION’S MOST SUCCESSFUL FAMILY BUSINESSES

BEARD CONSTRUCTION

Beard is a multi-million-pound turnover independent construction company established in Swindon in 1892. The present Chairman, Mark Beard, is the fourth generation of the family.

Mark joined Beard at 18 as a trainee quantity surveyor while his great grandfather Edward, the company’s founder, was still working at the age of 103. “I left for five years and worked as a junior quantity surveyor for larger construction firms in the UK and Australia. This experience gave me an insight into how different construction firms operated. It was invaluable knowledge which I applied when I returned to work for Beard.”

Working with a family firm has great advantages, according to Mark. “We’re able to play the long game and integrate two powerful systems, family and business. We’re successful because we put people and quality before profit. How we approach and deliver our clients’ projects is extremely important because we want to keep our clients for life. This means giving them what they want and delivering a project they are extremely happy with.”

Success is all about sticking to your values, being relentless in pursuit of prompt and faultless delivery, looking after suppliers and being a good company to work with says to Mark. “Over the past decade we’ve done this in a challenging construction market and bucked the trend by delivering strong year-on-year growth.”

Beard has grown from a small local builder with an £18 million turnover 19 years ago into a strong £144.5 million revenue

company operating through a network of offices across the South of England. Annual profits have grown from £250,000 to around £4.4 million.

Running a 126-year-old family business has competitive advantages, the biggest being knowledge and experience passed from generation to generation. “This has enabled us to learn from our mistakes,” said Mark. “Corporate businesses tend to repeat mistakes because knowledge can be lost when people leave the company. Family businesses with years of experience, the right strategy and good governance can easily outpace their corporate rivals.”

However, Mark does advocate bringing in non-family members. “They are objective and can provide valuable guidance, expertise, good governance and business innovation.” But they must be the right ‘fit’ for the company and understand and share its values and ethos, he adds.

“Our senior management team are all outsiders, including two non-executive directors and they have brought a wide

range of specialist expertise, skill-sets and best practices vital to Beard’s long-term growth and development.”

Beard is a proud family business, with all four generations having made an important contribution. Mark is equally determined to leave the business in great shape for the next generation to take forward.

Since taking over the leadership of Beard in 1999, he has focused on creating an environment where everyone who works for Beard, directly or indirectly, can and wants to give their best, and establishing a ‘prompt and faultless’ project strategy for all customers. This has led to high levels of repeat business, on better terms than can be secured through lowest cost competitive tendering, and significant year-on-year business growth.

Mark Beard, Chairman, Beard Construction

“I’m proud of our talented management team. We strive to continuously up our game and improve our performance through partnering with mentoring organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Building, Constructing Excellence and Henley Business School,” added Mark. However, his proudest achievement was in 2014 when the company was crowned PwC West of England Business of the Year.

“Family businesses with years of experience, the right strategy and good governance can easily outpace their corporate rivals”

Mark Beard, Chairman, Beard Construction

THE SMART ACTUATOR COMPANY

Industrial valves may not make you think “innovation”, but The Smart Actuator Company in Malvern would disagree. The company won a Queen’s Award last year for Innovation and has won many other awards.

James O’Donnell, founded the business and brought his parents and sister into the company He said: “You can trust your family to have the same long-term interests as you do. This leads to good decision making. We certainly use our status as a family business a lot.”

But being a family business can have its drawbacks. “Sometimes banks and support organisations do not understand the dynamics of family business.”

That could be because family businesses tend to take a longer-term look at business, which is not always the culture of the UK economy. On the upside, it leads to better relationships with customers and suppliers.

HEMING GROUP

The Heming Group of companies, based at Broadway, is celebrating 50 years in business this year. The company provides agricultural and plant engineering services and in 1985 Robert and Pat Heming welcomed their son Peter into the business, followed in 2010 by their daughter Sally.

Peter became Managing Director and since then the business has grown, employing more than 35 members of staff and winning a raft of awards.

Robert said: “My aim was to create a successful family business and I’m really proud to have achieved that.”

THE CULLIMORE GROUP

The Cullimore Group of Companies, based at Whitminster, near Gloucester is one of the UK’s leading haulage and aggregate businesses serving the South West and Midlands. Established in 1927, the company now employs around 100 members of staff.

Managing Director Moreton Cullimore is the grandson of the first Cullimore, also called Moreton, and son of the current chairman Robert.

Moreton says he didn’t initially plan on entering the family business. “I wanted to learn for myself outside of the family environment or influence. Being an only child, it was important for me to prove I could succeed in business to myself. It was only as I became older and probably more mature that the challenge of taking a well-established business and building on its success became appealing.”

The aggregate industry is heavily led on price, so being a family business isn’t going to be enough. However, Moreton says that being a family business does allow more flexibility and service is therefore second to none. “We and our

customers are people, not bar codes or serial numbers on a computer and it’s being a family business that gives us the ability to serve in this way and that’s our trump card.”

The recent financial crisis massively stagnated the industry and trade plummeted 30 per cent, so that was a huge challenge for the company to overcome. Other issues include finding people to work in the industry. “There are far more fashionable jobs these days,” said Moreton, “and further up the management chain it takes time to find good people to work in the industry and commit to the longer hours that go with it.

“I’m proud to honour and respect the work of my family predecessors by continuing, modernising and bettering what I was very lucky to have the opportunity and trust to walk into. I’m proud of the family and people that I represent and employ. I am proud of the way our 90th year was received locally last year and the evolution of the business so far during my tenure, but I want significant steps forward when the 100th anniversary arrives in 2027.”

Moreton Cullimore, Managing Director, The Cullimore Group

ALLCOOPER GROUP

Roman Cooper is Executive Director of security and fire systems specialist Allcooper Group. The company was launched by his father, Gary and older brother, Gerard in the summer of 1987.

“I did A-levels but didn’t want to go to university, so I became Gerard’s apprentice the year the business launched.

“I’d spent the summer working in the cold store at Walls Ice Cream at Barnwood, Gloucester. When I joined Allcooper I signed up for an electrician’s course at Gloscat.”

“Sometimes saying you’re a family business can make you sound parochial. However, I say that we are family working in the business, and that with 100 staff we are severely outnumbered.

“Two nieces, three nephews and my sister, Gill, are all involved in its day-to-day running. Dad still comes in every day but isn’t involved in running the business.”

COLOURFUL COFFINS

Mary Tomes, founder of Oxford-based Colourful Coffins, works alongside her husband and chief designer Kevin, and son Bob, sales manager. Employing 21 people, the company designs bespoke picture coffins for the funeral trade.

At least half of all funeral directors are family businesses. “We are all serving other families during one of the most difficult times of their lives,” says Mary.

“You can rely on your family, which is especially important given the sector we work in, because you can never let anyone down. We might have the odd upset, but

The most challenging part of growing Gloucester-based Allcooper has been implementing its IT system. “It two years but it was a bullet we needed to bite, and through the leadership of our Financial Director, Dave Phillips, we got it done. Now we have a system that we’ll never outgrow.”

Roman thinks it’s critical to have nonfamily members in the senior management team (when it is large enough).

“It was a big change for us to stop discussing the business at home, or over

the dinner table. Senior managers have to feel that there isn’t another informal management team making decisions over Sunday breakfast.”

Roman cites a number of business achievements, including completing a Family Business MBA and seeing his staff rise through the business.

“We also made some great decisions around the property we have bought to run our business from. These have allowed us to flourish and grow.”

we are still family at the end of the day and that’s what matters.”

The Tomes have two to three family meetings a year where they stop and look at the direction they’re going in. “Involving our staff in the decision-making processes is very important to us and I consider them to be our wider family,” added Mary.

“We promote from within the business. Our customer care manager is now on a par with Bob as a member of the senior management team. There’s never any jealousy, we know we need new ideas and new blood, and if there are opposing

views then we put it to a vote. One of our best ideas recently came from one of the production team and it’s great to encourage them all to be involved.”

“Sometimes saying you’re a family business can make you sound parochial. However, I say that we are family working in the business, and that with 100 staff we are severely outnumbered”

Roman Cooper, Executive Director, Allcooper Group

Mary and Kevin Tomes, Colourful Coffins

LEESON POLYURETHANES

Leeson Polyurethanes (LPU) Ltd is a leading UK innovator and manufacturer of polyurethane adhesives and coatings. It has worked with companies from Alton Towers to car and truck ferries and was named in the top 10 of the UK’s fastest growing chemical firms, as well as the Financial Times “1,000 fastest growing companies” last year. The company exports more than 25 per cent of its manufacturing output to more than 50 countries and was awarded a Queen’s Award for Export.

The Warwick-based company was founded in 1986. Joel Leeson and his sister Caroline work in the business and their father David is chairman.

Joel decided to build his career in the family business because it gave him the greatest opportunity to have an impact. A family business can also respond quickly and be more flexible, he says.

LPU Ltd has grown its product range and developed a robust internal structure in order to grow. This has allowed the business to include many non-family members. “It hasn’t affected family relationships,” said Joel. “In fact, developing the structure of the business, our product range and the team to deliver very strong growth over the last five years have been one of my proudest achievements.”

THE WIGLEY GROUP

Rob Wigley is Chairman of The Wigley Group, a leading commercial property, risk and construction company based in Coventry.

Rob’s father John started out by hiring out plant machinery from their farm. During school holidays Rob and his four siblings all mucked in to help. “I never considered doing anything else,” said Rob. “It was a natural progression. My brother and two sisters are still shareholders, but they are not involved in the day-to-day running of the firm.”

“Being a family business is not something we play on in particular, but it comes through in our ethical values and the long-standing relationships over the last 54 years. We have a very strong commitment to our community which people pick up on, and we treat our staff really well.

“Building a good team is always a tricky thing to do. Hiring people who are good at their job is not the sole criteria. We pay great attention to other factors such as how they fit into our existing team. It has been very important in our progress.

“We have also deliberately been light on our feet, allowing us to pursue new areas of business, and being a family business means decisions can be made quickly.”

The Wigley Group has welcomed senior managers who are not family members. “James Davies, our Managing Director, is not a family member but is as close as you can get. His father Gordon worked for my father from the early days, so – like me – he has been in and around the firm for many years.”

never considered doing anything else, it was more of a natural progression. My brother and two sisters are still shareholders, but they are not involved in the day-today running of the firm”

This is a big year for The Wigley Group as the company is moving to new headquarters. “We are restoring a former country house at Stockton near Southam. The new headquarters will allow us to operate and grow all under one roof. It will be a physical manifestation of how the company has progressed in recent years.”

The Wigley Group has also built up a successful charity golf day which raises a five figure sum every year, and features some of the biggest names in sport. “It has now has become a fixture in the calendar.”

“ I

Rob Wigley, Chairman, The Wigley Group

Joel Leeson, Leeson Polyurethanes

Tom Davies is the Chief Executive of Brakspear Brewery, based at Henley-on -Thames. This family brewery has been brewing beer and running pubs for moe than 200 years.

Tom can’t remember when he decided to join the business. “My father ran Brakspear before me and he is still the Chairman.

“I was interested from an early age but was told that unless I was good enough I wouldn’t be allowed into the family company. By the time I went to university, however, it was a natural progression for me to enter the pub trade.”

To underline that Brakspear is a family business, Tom coined the phrase, “Be a Name not a Number” as its recruitment strapline. “At the time pub businesses were getting bigger and with us you get a more personal approach. We only employ 25 people in head office, so we know all our tenants and they know us.”

Tom joined the business in 2007 and took over in 2010 which wasn’t the easiest time

GILLMAN ELECTRICAL GROUP

Gillman’s is a family-run business established in Gloucester by John and Erika Patricia Gillman in 1969, originally as a service and repair company.

Robert, the eldest of their 3 children joined the company in 1970 followed by his sister Annabelle and brother Adrian. They are now the current owners and directors of the business with Adrian as Group Chairman.

The business has expanded and diversified into many sectors of the electrical and

in the pub trade, but he has brought stability. “Our biggest barrier to growth is finding quality pubs to buy in a very competitive geographical area. If we could find more great pubs to buy, we would.”

Brakspear aims to buy assets which will stay in the family for another 100 years. “Being a family business we can take a long-term view. Short-term returns are not a priority for us which can be an advantage.”

But being a family business doesn’t restrict Tom from bringing in outside

talent. “Family businesses who resist non-family members on the board are restricting their opportunity for growth and success unless they have a hugely gifted family with a varied skill base. To thrive we must employ the best people, family or non-family.”

Like many other businesss, Brakspear had a very tough time between 2008 and 2012. “I took over in 2010 and had to take some tough decisions. We managed to put the business back on a stable footing and I feel that’s my greatest contribution to the business to date.”

gas appliance industry, covering national distribution, retail and service of both domestic and commercial appliances, and now employs in excess of 150 people.

D.A.D, now the biggest element of the business, was formed in 1992 after the family identified the need to give independent retailers an improved and more efficient service. D.A.D is a major distributor of domestic appliances and consumer electronic goods throughout the UK. It is based in Tewkesbury, operating from a large, modern warehouse.

Adrian decided to follow in his father’s footsteps to help build on what he had achieved. “It sometimes helps to show we are a family business because it demonstrates the quality we can bring to the consumer. We feel we can offer a better service and be flexible in our approach to customers.”

Adrian says his proudest achievement and contribution to the business is building the group to compete successfully in the market against national white goods brands.

Tom Davies, Brakspear

The art of running a successful family business: Legal top tips

Counting generations of family business owners among their clients, lawyers at Gloucestershire firm Willans LLP share some top tips inspired by the success stories.

Be transparent

“Discuss and document the business relationship

(whether the family members are partners, shareholders or employees) to help manage any future disagreements. Decision-making should be open and transparent, involving all relevant family members and giving each of them the chance to express their views.”

Chris Wills, corporate & commercial partner

Plan meticulously

“Avoid shorttermism, and keep succession planning under constant review. This should be a gradual process rather than the result of an immediate crisis. Develop a close team of professional advisers who talk to each other and understand your strategic objectives and family background.”

Paul Symes-Thompson, corporate & commercial partner

Consider the unexpected

“It’s particularly important for family business owners to plan for what should happen on their death or incapacity. Make sure you take the appropriate, specialist advice on how your will should be drafted so as to deal with the succession of your business on your death. If you die without a will at all, the Intestacy Rules dictate who administers and benefits from your estate. You should also consider the impact on your business if you suddenly lose capacity. Ensure a Lasting Power of Attorney for financial decisions is in place, to avoid the family business running into financial and operational difficulties.”

Ruth Baker, wills, probate & trusts partner

Manage conflict effectively

“Family relationships should be used to the advantage of the business – don’t let them interfere with business decisions. Keep the business relationship balanced by allowing individuals to develop their own areas of expertise and take on their own responsibilities. It’s important to treat family members the same as any other business partner – with clearly-defined boundaries.”

Nick Southwell,

Willans’ multi-disciplinary legal teams handle corporate, commercial, employment, litigation and property issues all day, every day, helping companies large and small with complex business decisions. For legal advice that is responsive, clear and easily understood, call 01242 514000 or email law@willans.co.uk.

Be smart with leases

“It is common for businesses, including family ones, to take leases to save tying up capital in owning commercial property. Make sure that any lease you undertake is free from onerous provisions to enable your business to grow as it needs to, and check provisions like security of tenure to avoid any nasty surprises further down the line. Your commercial property should facilitate business growth, not restrict it.”

Susie Wynne, commercial property partner

Don’t overlook documentation

“When working with family members it’s tempting to overlook documents such as contracts of employment or director’s service agreements. It may seem pessimistic to have contracts in place between family members when all is running smoothly, however, circumstances change, and sadly disputes can arise. Having formal contracts in place can help protect against the cost of a legal argument over the nature of an individual’s involvement in the business, and help achieve a swift and amicable resolution.”

Matthew Clayton, employment law partner

Generating over a quarter of GDP and employing around 12.2 million people, family businesses are the cornerstone of our economy.

litigation & dispute resolution associate solicitor

TEWKESBURY PARK HOTEL

Tewkesbury Park Hotel has the most stunning views across the Gloucestershire vale. Bought by the McIntosh family three years ago from Washington Hotels, the family has spent more than £9 million upgrading and improving the venue.

Claire McIntosh explains why the family decided to invest in the hotel. “Before having children, I worked for Mitchells & Butlers in both operational and corporate HR and have always loved hospitality. When we decided to invest in Tewkesbury Park, I felt it was a great opportunity to use some of my previous experience in an industry which I feel passionately about. It was also a challenge to turn around a business that was local to us all and had been under-performing for many years.”

Being a family business is definitely one of the hotel’s trump cards. “We’re proud to inform our clients that we are a family-

JSP LTD

JSP Ltd is a global leader in the design and manufacture of “above the neck” industrial head protection.

Its roots lie in West London. In 1964 the company began by making rubber butyl aprons, and wet and cold weather clothing for industrial markets. JSP, moved to Oxfordshire in 1969.

Mark Johnstone is Chief Executive and son of the founder Clive. He works alongside his brother James, Operations Director and sister Sarah Baker who is the company’s Marketing Director.

The company’s headquarters are in an old water mill at Minster Lovell. This houses a helmet manufacturing unit which uses robotic technology with staff trained in Kaizen techniques and lean manufacturing. The company is

owned independent resort hotel and as such can offer services and experiences which are individual to our guests. It’s delivering hospitality which drives us and with no great hierarchy or corporate structure to get bogged down in, we’ve got a competitive advantage.

“Our greatest challenge has been taking on a business and turning it round to become the thriving hotel, golf and wellness resort it is today.”

Claire feels that bringing in non-family members to senior management is essential.

“The family is very involved in strategic decisions and in the refurbishment of the business, but we need a strong, experienced and reliable management team to lead and drive the business. Everyone has a part to play and having people around us with varied experience helps us to reach better decisions.”

Claire’s proudest achievement to date has been her involvement in the design of the property, specifically its nine individually designed historic suites. “They are truly luxurious, with stunning views, huge beds and bathrooms to die for.

surrounded by a senior management team of 15 people. “At JSP, we are all passionate and committed,” said Mark.

“It is this, plus our innovation, that explains our growth. And since we are independent, we can make decisions quickly. It gives us agility.”

When Mark became Chief Executive in 2006 he had some choices to make. “Either we should let JSP grow as a manufacturer by investing in production, or invest in sales and marketing,” he said.

“We decided to invest in the making. Our mission is to improve the safety and health of people in their workplace. We would not succeed in this mission if we were to be just distributors, interested only in price.” The company’s research and development team is also based at Minster Lovell. “We

have a direct relationship with many of our customers who often visit us to discuss their requirements to protect their people in different hazardous situations.”

The company exports more than 50 per cent of its products overseas and JSP has increased its manufacturing capacity, including opening a facility in Dusseldorf. It has also invested in research and development and improved efficiency in its supply chain. “By focusing on quality and innovation we can continue to grow sales of our products worldwide,” said Mark.

(left-right) James and Mark Johnstone, JSP Ltd

Claire McIntosh, Tewkesbury Park Hotel

their family to yours…

Sometimes it’s all in the name, and for family-owned security and fire system specialists, Allcooper, that’s exactly the case. Having started out from a backbedroom in Barnwood, Allcooper now employs over 100 staff across its offices in Gloucester, London and Birmingham. With 10 family members currently working in the business, which is jointlyowned by brothers, Gerard and Roman Cooper, the company has family values running through its veins. Using the latest cutting-edge alarm systems, fire detection products and CCTV technology, the wellknown Gloucestershire-based business has spent over 30 years preserving its strong reputation for protecting businesses of all sizes.

Catering for all of Creed’s security and fire safety needs…

As one of the UK’s leading independent foodservice wholesalers, Creed Foodservice operate 24 hours a day, with sites located in Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and Buckinghamshire. With staff present on site at all times, roundthe-clock safety and compliance is a major priority for the business, and dealing with multiple security suppliers was proving to be a constant challenge. When Creed were looking to consolidate all of these requirements to one provider, Allcooper undertook a full takeover of the systems at each of Creed’s sites.

A solution to upgrade their existing equipment was agreed, documenting all specifications to ensure insurance requirements were met. With fire and intruder systems integrated for ease of monitoring and cost-saving, a bespoke service was delivered including monthly reporting tailored to each site. A dedicated account manager was put in place to coordinate the takeover and manage Creed’s ongoing service requirements, offering total peace of mind for the Creed’s Directors.

Providing a refreshing CCTV solution for Laithwaite’s Wine…

Family-run wine merchant, Laithwaite’s Wine, has over 40 years of experience supplying thousands of wines to customers all across the UK. Laithwaite’s Gloucester Distribution Centre is the main hub of its operation, employing 600 staff. The effectiveness of existing CCTV systems was under review, and a new security provider was sought who could enhance the surveillance and long-term protection of the 178k sq. ft site.

Allcooper were chosen to provide a solution to upgrade the entire CCTV system. A thorough review of the site infrastructure was carried out and two possible upgrade options were identified that would both utilise the existing cabling and IT network. Based upon an intelligent Video Management System, the new solution featured in-depth video analytics, high definition image quality, 360° cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition, movement detection and thermal imaging.

“Allcooper’s long term solution for our multi-site security and safety needs made complete sense. Their service offering has allowed us to bring all of our systems under one roof, consolidate a number of contracts and save money. The switch over was simple and has definitely made my life easier. A complete no-brainer!”

Phil Creed, Sustainability Director Creed Foodservice

WHAT DO FAMILY BUSINESS MEMBERS TALK ABOUT OVER THE DINNER TABLE?

Joel Leeson Leeson Polyurethanes

“We don’t. We have a strong separation between our work and personal relationships.”

Mark Beard Beard Construction

Anything and everything – from sports and politics to our children’s ups and downs.

Moreton Cullimore

Cullimore Group

“I try not to talk work at dinner, especially if the food’s good.

Mary Tomes Colourful Coffins

“When we’re out, we certainly don’t talk about coffins, it either kills the conversation completely or people can’t stop wanting to talk about it. We tell them we’re printers.”

Rob Wigley The Wigley Group

“On the occasions we are all together it does get talked about, as do all other family matters. Because of the family holding in the firm, it is a natural topic of conversation.”

Roman Cooper Allcooper

“I try not to bang on about work. I always ask what other people’s days have been like and prefer to avoid workrelated conversations, unless they are funny or particularly positive.”

Mark Johnstone JSP Ltd

“We don’t talk about business over the dinner table. It was banned by the matriarch of the family, my mother, and quite rightly so.”

CAN THE BOSS OF A FAMILY BUSINESS EVER LEAVE WORK BEHIND?

especially in today’s electronic world but if we take time to re-charge, we’re better for doing so.”

Mark Beard, Beard Construction

“Never. Work always comes with me and I would not stay sane if it didn’t. A family business is not something you can switch on and off. I find time each day to keep in touch and go through things with staff even when away. Over time I have learned to structure my work, so it doesn’t impact our holiday as much.”

James

“You can’t really leave work behind on holiday, but with the modern age we are never far from email so we just keep up.”

Claire McIntosh, Tewkesbury Park Hotel

“Trust your team, trust in what you’ve set up and the culture you’ve created and try to switch off. It’s always difficult to do,

Rob Wigley, The Wigley Group

“Can anyone ever leave work behind these days? It really is a 24-hour world but IT does allow you to dip in and dip out but not intrude too much.”

Joel Leeson, Leeson Polyurethanes

“I try to. Realistically it is a 100 per cent commitment.”

Mary Tomes, Colourful Coffins

“I love what I do, so I never really leave it behind. The other day I was walking through an orchard and thought how beautiful the apple blossom was and what a lovely coffin design it would make, so that’s going on to a new range.”

“Family holidays are sacred and I do my best to leave work behind. I try to complete important tasks so that anything scheduled for when I’m away is finished in advance.”

Tom Davies, Brakspear

“I think there is no right answer. I don’t need to be chained to my desk so take time away from the office, but I’m on my phone and email and work from where ever I am. I know others who spend more time in the office but when they are away turn their phones off for a proper break. It depends on what works for you and your team.

Teri Baron, Rotary Creative Printers

“Family members always talk about work over the dinner table. It’s our favourite topic of conversation.”

The

Moreton Cullimore, The Cullimore Group

O’Donnell, The Smart Actuator Company

FAMILY BUSINESSES CREATING A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

There is no ‘how to’ manual for running a family business.

In the same way that no family is the same, no one family business is the same either. Every day presents challenges and it is simply impossible to prepare for all of them.

However, there are some key attitudes and approaches that tend to work better than others in successful family businesses.

These include:

□ Being open and transparent about performance and future plans.

□ Being clear about what is expected from family and non-family members alike, and preferably setting a level playing field as far as possible.

□ Understanding what, and who, the business is there for, and clearly documenting this in a ‘live’ document.

This last point is key. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘family charter’, which family and non-family can buy into and understand. This sets the ground rules for behaviour which can be applied to any situation which arises, such as the death of a key individual, matrimonial issues, tax problems, competency of heirs to manage the business and succession.

It’s not a legal document – the Articles of Association and Shareholders’ Agreement are still needed to protect the business owner – but it is a crucial framework to the well-running family business.

As a tax advisor and accountant, my focus is on ensuring family business structures are fit for purpose.

A family member might spot a new opportunity for instance; but should this be part of the main business or a standalone company that enables that family members to make their own way?

Subsequent considerations include whether the structure can be kept flexible to enable future planning? New businesses run in partnership are often the best way to start as they can easily be transferred into a limited company later, but it is not so easy the other way around.

Have the owners considered introducing a Trust? Assets that qualify for 100 per cent Inheritance Tax (IHT) business relief can be put into in a Trust tax-free. This is not the case once the asset has been turned into cash.

If this is the right way forward, can it be done in such a way that preserves entitlement to entrepreneurs’ relief?

Significant tax planning is possible if the business has a short, medium and long term business strategy.

But we must not lose sight of the Family Charter. Advisors will have lots of ideas that can help save tax, or capitalise on perceived opportunities, but if those ideas

don’t align with the principles agreed in the charter, then a discussion may be needed to agree the way forward.

Finally, what is true for today may not be true for tomorrow, and that is more so now than ever - given the pace of technological disruption.

Having a clear idea of who is going to be in the driving seat, and when, is key when setting long term visions. In the family business, family members can be employees, directors or shareholders, or none, or any combination of the above.

The transition of roles may not happen at the same time. A founding shareholder may wish to stop working for the business, but remain a shareholder/director, and they may hand over their shares before or after they retire.

At this point we can revert to the Family Charter. What is best for the business?

The founding shareholder may wish to sell up, but what about Inheritance Tax?

It sometimes feels that every time you address one question, it raises two more, but if the Family Charter is written clearly and with an understanding of the vision for the business then this can help plan a route forward, and your professional advisor can help you find the best solution for you, your family and the business going forward.

Nick Latimer, Partner in the Cheltenham office of Crowe, who advises business owners, entrepreneurs and families on structuring their affairs to be successful and realising their goals.

Nick Latimer, Partner, Crowe UK

Careers show aims to get nation cyber savvy

INTERNATIONAL WARFARE LESSONS REVEALED

Gloucestershire business leaders were given a unique insight into the realities of a state-level cyber attack, when representatives of the Estonian Government spoke at a special cyber briefing organised by BPE Solicitors in Cheltenham.

Following an introduction from Her Excellency Tiina Intelmann, Estonia’s Ambassador in Great Britain, the former Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence, Lauri Almann, shared Estonia’s experience of suffering a state-level cyber attack in 2007. His firsthand account described the public unrest that was the focus of a critical incident response in the capital city of Tallinn when the cyber attack struck. The attack disabled the government website which provided the only public platform for official communication.

“We had a choice to make,” said Mr Almann. “Do we tell people what’s happened or deny it, saying it is simply a technical glitch unrelated to the riots? Transparency was the decision and the greatest dividend was people’s trust. It was a defining moment in the e-governance of our country, as people’s trust in our e-services grew.”

John Workman, Senior Partner of BPE and Honorary Consul to Estonia since 2013, added: “Cyber is not a technical

“Cyber is not a technical issue, it is a strategic issue. Estonia was not the first or only nation to suffer a cyber-attack at state-level, but has been courageous in sharing its experiences”

issue, it is a strategic issue. Estonia was not the first or only nation to suffer a cyber attack at state-level, but has been courageous in sharing its experiences. It is not coincidence that NATO’s cyber security centre is located in Estonia.”

Following the talk a discussion was chaired by Chris Dunning-Walton, Director of CyNam (a non-profit organisation bringing supporting cyber SMEs and start-ups in the region) and Managing Director of Infosec People, and included cyber expert panellists Ben Aung, Steven Mason and Steven Borwell-Fox.

As concern grows over the lack of skilled cyber security workers in the UK, a new event has launched to encourage more people into the sector. Cyber Re:coded is a European cyber security careers show taking place on October 15-16. Backed by government, the event will see thousands of people visit Tobacco Dock in East London to meet prospective employers, seek careers advice and learn more about the world of cyber security from those at the heart of research and development.

Cyber Re:coded runs alongside the European Cyber Security Challenge, where18 countries across Europe compete in a two-day hacking competition.

Colin Lobley, CEO at Cyber Security Challenge UK said: “We want to inspire the next generation to think seriously about cyber security as a career choice, as a thriving industry, but mostly as a key life skill for their future.”

Success at Infosecurity Europe for Midlands Cyber

Midlands Cyber, which supports a thriving sector across the region, brought a UK/US delegation to Infosecurity Europe 2018 at Olympia London, Europe’s top information security event,

Maryland Department of Commerce led a US-based delegation to the exhibition with Midlands Cyber to strengthen the two regions’ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed last year, and showcase the innovative cyber companies from both regions.

The Midlands Cyber delegation was represented by six Midlandsbased businesses including Borwell Ltd of Malvern, Cyber Owl a spin out of Coventry University, and Kidderminster-based Ice Blue.

John Workman, BPE

The Former Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence, Lauri Almann, with Her Excellency Tiina Intelmann, Estonia’s Ambassador in Great Britain

Cyber

Cyber… What is all the fuss really about?

So, how do businesses and business owners identify what is important to them?

Many of the often quoted Cyber-attacks or incidents will be recognised headline grabbers such as WannaCry, NotPetya or one of the widely reported data breaches such as Ashley Maddison, Sony, Dixons Carphone or TalkTalk.

As a result, the obvious and valid question from any SME business owner is: How is that relevant to me? Who is going to hack me?

The answer unfortunately is “anyone”.

The days of thinking of hackers as being solely mischief making teenagers are long gone. Most of the big cyber-attacks noted above are ‘Untargeted’ attacks and the result of malicious software that is released onto the web to spread uncontained and without motive or agenda like an airborne virus. The WannaCry outbreak for instance was propagated by an exploit launched months before.

SME’s aren’t immune to ‘Targeted Attacks’ either. These attacks have a motive and an agenda and, for the average UK business, it could be because you are a political exposed entity, you handle large sums of money/ transactions or as highlighted by the most recent Dixons Carphone Breach (where

hackers piggy-backed a suppliers system to bypass Dixons Carphone security), because the true target of the attack is your customers/suppliers.

In an article published recently in the Insurance Age, we noted a worrying statistic…

It said that an SME will have a 50/50 chance of being targeted by cyber-crime this year. We have of course seen scary figures before – the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s 2018 Cyber Survey reported that 4 in 10 businesses had already suffered a breach or an attack in the last year – but that is frightening enough. The numbers should make anyone sit up and take note.

However, the 50/50 statistic is different. There is something about the random nature in the way that it is expressed, the one in two chance of an SME being hit, that is different. It is also only one percent from more likely to happen than not. This shifts the risk from being something that might happen to someone else to being something that might happen to me.

In June of this year KPMG UK released a study of UK business leaders that revealed that 4 in 10 UK chief executives believe a cyberattack on their business is inevitable.

Despite these statistics, there remains a lag between the risks businesses face and their preparedness for them. That same Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport study showed that despite 4 in 10 businesses suffering a breach or attack, less than 3 in 10 have a formal cyber security policy or policies.

This really does indicate a disconnect between the risk businesses face and their perception of that risk. There may be several factors why this is the case, but one will certainly be the advice these businesses are getting. In the UK less than 25% of businesses have Cyber Insurance and do not understand the indemnity that such a policy could offer and crucially the Breach Response solutions that these policies would provide to minimise reputational damage.

Whether it be reports of cyber losses, businesses falling victim to hacking attacks, ransomware, data breaches or a change in legislation such as GDPR, it seems everyone wants to talk about Cyber and everyone is now an expert.

For an independent and expert discussion as to how you may protect your business, your reputation and your clients, please call us.

Geoff Keig, Regional Director –Stackhouse Poland

It seems almost impossible to pick up a newspaper, trade magazine or visit a news website without seeing some reference to Cyber.

Saïd Business School launches blockchain research fellowship

TECH ACCELERATOR LAUNCHES IN UK’S ‘CYBER VALLEY’

A new technology business accelerator programme has been launched in Worcestershire.

Known as Cyber Valley, the area is home to the highest concentration of cyber companies in the UK.

Funded by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP) and supported by leading local technology and cyber businesses including Titania and DeepSecure, BetaDen will offer up to 10 individuals, SMEs or scale-ups a ninemonth programme of intensive support designed to build their idea and prepare it for market launch, or catalyse the growth of their existing business.

The three-day-a-week programme across nine months will see BetaDen’s cohort, which is based at Malvern Hills Science Park, develop alongside Worcestershire’s

new 5G testbed project, the £4.8 million trial awarded to the county by government to explore high-tech mobile technology.

Launched in March, the Worcestershire 5G Consortium brings together the county’s leading tech network including Worcester Bosch and Yamazaki Mazak, to experiment with 5G using robotics, big data analytics and augmented reality.

Wiltshire security firm picks up national industry award

A cyber security company has scooped a national industry award for its groundbreaking work on security for payment systems.

Foregenix, based in Marlborough, was recognised as the top consultancy company at the Cyber Security Awards, which took place in London.

Judge Karla Reffold said: ‘The industry is moving at an incredible pace, coming

Linda Smith, Founder and CEO of BetaDen said: “The Midlands is home to more than 17,500 cyber and digital companies and is exploding with talent and potential. Our aim is to make Worcestershire the UK’s cyber and tech hub outside London, unlocking further trade and investment opportunities for businesses located here. up with solutions to keep organisations safe. We all found it incredibly hard to pick the winner in the majority of the categories, as there were some fantastic entries.”

Benj Hosack Chief Commercial Officer of Foregenix said: “We’re grateful to be recognised at the Cyber Security Awards as the shortlist contained many high profile and respected names within the industry.”

Oxford’s Saïd Business School is collaborating with Oxford University graduate Stewie Zhu, founder and CEO of Distributed Credit Chain (DCC), to create the DCC Career Development Fellow, a new fellowship position, funded by a donation from DCC, the world’s first distributed banking public blockchain.

The fellowship will undertake research to produce insights into the fintech sector, specifically focused on the regulation and governance of cryptocurrency and the application of blockchain technology in the banking and finance industry.

Mr Zhu said: “I am thrilled to launch this blockchain research fellowship that will help in shaping the future of how we apply this technology in banking and finance. Oxford gave me a solid foundation to pursue my goals as an entrepreneur and it is our time to give back to the next generation of innovators that will use this program to advance us further into a globally inclusive financial world.”

Blockchain explained

A blockchain contains records of transactions spread across many computers. Blockchains are decentralised and distributed across networks that are continually updated. Records cannot be edited, adjusted or changed and this makes it difficult for hackers to tamper with a single record because they would need to change the block containing that record as well as those linked to it to avoid detection.

BPE host, State-Level Cyber Threats and Partnerships

BPE Solicitors, supported by cyber networking group CyNam were joined at Cheltenham Ladies College for a StateLevel Cyber event. The keynote speaker was the Ambassador of Estonia and the Former Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense. This was followed by a panel discussion looking at regional cyber issues and how businesses can work together to help mitigate and reduce risks.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB LACEY

Would you like to feature your business event, launch or party in our business events section?

John Workman from BPE with Tiina Intelmann, Ambassador of Estonia and Lauri Almann from BHC Laboratory and Mare Troop an Estonian Delegate

Panelists, Ben Ang from Sage, Steve Mason from L3 TRL Technology and Steve Borwell-Fox from Borwell

Paula Marshall from L3 TRL Technology with Iain Garfield from BPE

Sarah Bryars from Target with Tiina Intelmann, Estonian Ambassador and Nicky Godding from Business & Innovation Magazine

Cheryl Watts from Peachy Project Consulting and Simon Dye from Cyber 139

Keynote Speaker, Lauri Almann, the Former Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense

Roman Cooper from Allcooper with Mare Troop, Estonian Delegate and Neil Southwell from JE2

Riyaz Jariwalla from BPE and Gina Gardener from Randall & Payne

Steve Borwell-Fox from Borwell with Steve Mason from L3 TRL Technology

Emma Fells from Barclays and Liz Bastock from BPE

A Midlands company whose technology could help safeguard smart cities and critical infrastructure from cyber attacks is one of just 10 businesses selected to join a new government-backed flagship cyber security centre.

CyberOwl, a Coventry University spinout backed by Mercia Fund Managers, is among the founding members of the London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement (LORCA).

The £13.5 million initiative, funded by the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport, has been established to showcase innovators solving critical cyber security challenges, and position the UK as a global leader in the industry.

CyberOwl’s platform, Medulla, uses advanced analytics to monitor the level of risk, identify the earliest indicators of an attack and prioritise tackling them. Its approach significantly reduces computing overheads and can easily be adapted for large networks like the Internet of Things (IoT).

CyberOwl was founded in February 2016 with funding from Mercia Fund Managers, Coventry University and Crossword Security and is led by security experts Dan Ng, Ken Woghiren and Coventry University academic Professor Siraj Shaikh. The company was recently selected as one of 13 finalists in the UK’s Most Innovative Small Cyber Companies contest. The company continues to work with the university and is also an active member of the Midlands Cyber initiative.

CEO, Dan Ng, said: “The UK is recognised as a world leader in cyber innovation. As a founding member of LORCA, CyberOwl will be at the heart of this movement and a global cyber centre of excellence. This gives us a platform to showcase the game-changing work we are doing to shift organisations towards a risk-based and data-driven approach to cyber resilience.”

NEW CYBER SECURITY

A Cheltenham-based company is one of just nine tech start-ups to graduate from a government initiative to advance the next generation of cyber security systems.

The nine-month GCHQ Cyber Accelerator, delivered in partnership with Wayra UK, part of Telefónica Open Future, saw the companies develop new products and services to help enhance the UK’s cyber defences.

Part of the government’s £1.9 billion National Cyber Security Strategy and the Cheltenham Innovation Centre, the Accelerator is a collaboration between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), GCHQ, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and Wayra UK and aims to drive innovation in the cyber security sector.

Cybershield, launched by cofounders Paul and Jack Chapman, helps companies and their employees from opening deceptive emails. The breaches cost the average UK company more than £750,000 per successful attack. The Cheltenham-based company’s software solution uses machine learning to detect phishing and stop phishing attacks.

Firms selected to take part in the second round had access to world-class personnel and technical expertise at the NCSC and GCHQ, as well as the Telefónica global business network.

INITIATIVE

They also received £25,000 in funding, high-quality mentoring and office space.

Innovations developed include a cloud service solution to connect Internet of Things devices with end-to-end authenticated, encrypted security and a service to solve the problem of age verification and parental consent for young adults and children in online transactions.

NCSC Cyber Accelerator programme is a great example of government, industry and tech start-ups coming together to benefit from the advice of world-class experts and tackle cyber-crime”

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock, said: “The NCSC Cyber Accelerator programme is a great example of government, industry and tech start-ups coming together to benefit from the advice of world-class experts and tackle cyber crime.”

Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Skills and Growth, said: “I would like to congratulate the second cohort on their completion of the Accelerator. It has been exciting to collaborate with such innovative start-ups, tackling such a broad range of problems.”

CHELTENHAM START-UP GRADUATES FROM

“The

Coventry company helps safeguard smart cities

CAR HACKERS AND THE LAW

Today’s cars are increasingly computer controlled and data connected. Rob Bryan, Equity Partner at BPE Solicitors, considers the importance of cyber security as the move towards autonomous vehicles accelerates.

The idea of us all driving or, more accurately, not driving autonomous cars is no longer science fiction. Manufacturers such as Tesla, Audi and BMW already include such features.

So, what threat does car crime pose in the autonomous age? And how does the law help?

Car hackers

Modern-day motoring already requires millions of lines of code to control a car’s mechanical functionality, and this will only increase as we move towards driverless vehicles. Increasingly, drivers and passengers take connectivity for granted, whether for sat-nav, dialling our phone contacts, or listening to our own playlists.

The Internet of Things (IoT) means that wherever there is connectivity between devices – in our homes, workplaces or cars – there is a level of vulnerability to hackers stealing our data.

In recent years there have been dramatic examples of security researchers exposing potential threats. In the cases of Jeep Cherokee and Tesla Model X, hacking into the car’s wi-fi was the open window into other systems and re-writing programmes to control the vehicle’s steering and brakes remotely.

Guiding principles

Recognising the need for consistent guidelines, last year the Department for Transport, in conjunction with the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, created eight key principles of vehicle cyber security for connected and automated vehicles.

First was a strong message to the car industry; personal accountability for product and system security is a boardlevel issue. Directors must embed a culture of security, placing it at the heart of every decision. The principles go on to emphasise the importance of system and software security through the lifetime of the vehicle, the secure storage and transmission of data, in-built resilience and fail-safe safety-critical functions.

Protection under law

Unsurprisingly, the complex cyber security challenges presented by automated vehicles mean that both new and existing laws and regulations will have relevance.

However, the law is clear that registered car owners are, in the first instance, liable for accidents caused by their vehicle and required to be insured against such an eventuality in accordance with the Motor Insurance Directive. Recourse may then be sought against the vehicle manufacturer if it can be established that the accident was caused by a defect for which the manufacturer is responsible under the Defective P roduct Directive.

Under GDPR (the General Data Protection Regulations) any personal information used by the car would be included under an obligation to keep owner-data secure “by appropriate technical and organisational measures.” Access to and re-use of non-personal or anonymised data have been subject to intensive discussions with respect to data generated by the “smart” and connected car.

The Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems stakeholder platform has been in discussion since 2014. Principles for access to in-vehicle data and resources have been agreed, including fair and undistorted competition and the importance of standardised access to in-vehicle data as an enabler of the common use of such data in the context of the data economy.

It also looks likely that data processed by autonomous vehicles may fall under the new NIS Regulations (Network & Information Systems). These protect the integrity of information (the security and reliability of the network or system that holds the data), rather than personal data.

Innovation presents new challenges as boundaries are broken and re-set. The pace at which driverless technology is moving suggests there will be many more questions and legislative adjustments to come. BPE is currently advising on the potential changes in the regulatory framework that may be necessary as a consequence of increasingly autonomous systems.

www.bpe.com

Rob Bryan, BPE Solicitors

CROWE UK BREWS UP FOR NEW CLIENT

A Gloucestershire craft brewery has called in national audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe UK to help take its business to the next stage.

Hillside Brewery near Longhope was set up in 2014 by father and son team Peter and Paul Williamson. It has now expanded into corporate entertainment, conferences and weddings.

Paul was working in business development for a major motor dealership chain when his father Peter received some unsolicited property particulars for a 40acre farm with brewing facilities.

They bought the farm in 2013 and now produce seven beers and one lager, and create custom brews for companies or product launches.

Now the business needs additional specialist support.

“Peter and Paul Williamson have taken the nation’s fascination with craft beer and added corporate experiences and wedding and meeting facilities in a beautiful country setting”

Hazlewoods advises on sale of Active Electronics

Hazlewoods accoutants has announced the sale of Active Electronics, an electronic components distributor and sourcing specialist.

The company, which supplies components and assemblies to the aerospace and defence industries, was bought by Clive Scott, a South West-based businessman, for an undisclosed sum.

Gloucestershire-based Hazlewoods acted as sole advisers on the sale, finding the purchaser and coordinating the deal.

Chris Mould, a partner in Crowe UK’s Cheltenham office, said: “Peter and Paul have taken the nation’s fascination with craft beer and added corporate experiences and wedding and meeting facilities in a beautiful country setting.

“However it is important to understand what is cost-effective and what is profitable, rather than just revenue producing. We are looking forward to helping the next stage of their growth.”

Profits up by 27 per cent at St James’s Place

Wealth management group St James’s Place has reported a rise in profits of 27 per cent in its half year report.

Net inflow of funds was up 21 per cent to £5.2 billion and client retention remains at 96 per cent. Group funds under management are now £96.6 billion, up 16 per cent over the last 12 months and the total number of advisers has risen by four per cent, standing at 3,810.

Andrew Croft, who took over from David Bellamy as Chief Executive of Cirencesterheadquartered St James’s Place in January, said: “I am delighted to report continued

strong growth across all key areas of our business.”

There have also been changes at director level. David Lamb, Managing Director of Investments will retire as a board director early next year.

Robert Gardner will join the Executive Board of the company as Director of Investment Management in January.

He was previously at Redington Ltd, a company he co-founded. Redlington provides St James’s Place with a range of investment consultancy services.

Bretherton celebrates awards wins

Banbury-based Brethertons solicitor Roger Hardwick, has won Solicitor of the Year and Regional Professional of the Year at the Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards. Brethertons was also highly commended in the Firm of the Year category. The awards recognise excellence within of property management and residential leasehold.

Rugby-based manufacturer completes £700K investment

Precision manufacturer Technoset has completed a £700,000 investment drive.

The company, which employs 25 people, has installed new lathes and a laser scanner to support the machining and measurement of complex components for the aerospace, medical and fibre optics markets.

The company, based at Rugby, has also secured the AS9100 Rev D quality accreditation, which is fast becoming a prerequisite for winning and maintaining contracts in the aerospace sector.

Legal & Financial

Hillside Brewery

STROUD ROBOTS SENT TO TEACH KIDS IN THE US AND AUSTRALIA

What do you get if you introduce a primary school teacher to a coding engineer? An Ohbot educational robotics system of course. Dan Warner, coinventor of Ohbot, based in Chalford, Gloucestershire, spoke to us about his latest export deal with the Microsoft Store, demonstrating the global demand for the UK’s innovative education sector.

The Ohbot has been designed to stretch schoolchildren’s computational thinking and understanding of computer science in a fun and creative way. The human features and movement built into the Ohbot makes a huge difference to the challenge of bringing the robot to life, says Dan. Children immediately engage with trying to programme the robot to talk.

Teacher Dan Warner and progammer Matt Walker, co-inventors of Ohbot, began creating the system in their own homes after a successful period of crowdfunding. Since then, they have been through several stages to develop a more robust, easy to assemble and practical model which has now been available for just over two years.

They run a small organisation with an assembling base in Chalford. Following the deal with the Microsoft Store, Dan and Matt are now looking to expand their team and hire five new members of staff to work at their manufacturing site at Halliday Mill.

Last year, the business began working with Department of International Trade (DIT) to help increase its exports and expand its international presence. DIT identified key target markets where the demand for educational technology was growing, and introduced the business to potential buyers. It also put the firm in touch with an export manager who offered on-the-ground support. DIT has also provided financial support to help Ohbot exhibit at global shows and meet with Microsoft representatives from the US.

The Microsoft deal has enabled children across the US to have access for free to the Ohbot during the summer holidays and sees Ohbot leading the way in educational technology.

‘Ear ‘Ear for Versarien’s latest innovation

Cheltenham based engineering company Versarien has partnered with the award-winning British phone, laptop and tablet accessories MediaDevil to launch a new range of audio equipment and accessories which will feature Versarien’s proprietary Nanene graphene nano platelets.

Nanene is a high quality few-layer graphene produced using a patented manufacturing method. In simple terms graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms, tightly bound in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. It is more solid than steel and a better conductor than copper.

Workflow technology boost to productivity

SMEs want process integration that improves systems visibility, accuracy, productivity, cost efficiency and safety. So Worcester-based RotaHub has developed an integrated workflow administration programme that manages the process from strategy and planning through to compliance and capture. Neil Davis, Director of RotaHub, said: “This is a true innovation for the UK. We are currently the only company that has developed a unified digital management platform to solve the problem of disparate workflow systems.” Designed to incorporate elements such as timekeeping, compliance tracking and payroll, the new system focuses on efficiency.

A construction industry professional was looking for something to better manage the health and safety on site. He needed something portable, reusable and compliant – but nothing seemed to fit the bill. So Brad Greensmith sketched out some ideas.

The result is Safetypoint. The new system

exceeds current regulatory health and safety standards. It is portable and reusable and the contents are configurable though a modular approach with unique interchangeable pods.

A key feature is that it can be moved and reused on different projects. Businesses using it on site are

making a significant commitment to health and safety and it has also caught the eye of developers and insurance companies.

The Safetypoint will be manufactured near Thame, Oxfordshire. The product will be ready for shipping towards later this year.

Brad’s portable first aid system is a world first

TBS ENGINEERING REVEALS

£15 MILLION GLOBAL HQ

TBS Engineering, the world’s leading manufacturer of lead acid battery assembly and plate manufacturing equipment, has revealed its new £15 million UK headquarters.

The 100,000 sq ft purpose-built manufacturing and engineering facility at Gloucester Business Park includes 80,000 sq ft of manufacturing space.

TBS Group Managing Director David Longney said: “We’re incredibly proud of our new headquarters. It marks the start of another exciting era for us developing the latest innovations in world-leading lead acid battery assembly equipment for our customers.”

The launch coincides with TBS celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The energy storage specialist turns over £50 million

lead the way in automation and innovation in our sector”

and employs more than 225 people around the world from its operations in China, USA, Canada and the UK.

David said: “TBS is on a remarkable journey. We continue to lead the way in automation and innovation in our sector. From machines that produced just one battery per minute 30 years ago, to up to 10 per minute today.

“With every advancement we create a safer, greener more efficient industry.”

Another record turnover for growing Renishaw

Manufacturing

Global engineering company, Renishaw, which has its headquarters at Wottonunder-Edge, Gloucestershire, has revealed a record turnover for the second successive year.

The company reported a turnover of £611.5 million, with revenue growth of 18 per cent.

Earlier this year Renishaw’s founder Sir David McMurtry handed over his chief executive responsibilities to Will Lee who joined in 1996 and was appointed to the Board as Sales and Marketing Director in 2016.

Omega Engineering Services sold to US company

Omega Engineering Services (OES) Ltd has been sold to Belcan, a global supplier of engineering, supply chain, technical recruiting and information technology services to the aerospace, defence, automotive, industrial and government services markets.

OES has its headquarters in Cheltenham. It counts Airbus, Rolls Royce and Leonardo as customers and tests and develops control equipment for the aerospace and industrial sectors. It was sold by Stonehouse-based Passionate About People Ltd.

Lance Kwasniewski, Chief Executive Officer of Belcan, said: “This acquisition complements our international growth strategy and strengthens Belcan’s ability to serve its global customer base.”

Alan Beresford, co-founder of Passionate About People, said: “Now is the right time for OES to be associated with Belcan and the tremendous opportunity that brings for all stakeholders. This transaction allows Passionate About People to focus on market-leading growth within the resource solutions and recruitment process outsourcing sectors.”

Chairman Sir David said: “Having stepped down as chief executive, I am now focussed on Group innovation and product strategy, supporting our engineering teams.”

During the year Renishaw continued to invest in future technologies, with total engineering costs of £83.6 million, 14 per cent of total revenue. While noting continuing Brexit uncertainty, the company remains confident.

Sir David said: “At this early stage in the year, we anticipate growth in both revenue and profits in the current financial year.”

Renishaw also reported that its healthcare business has achieved a profit for the first time, with adjusted profit before tax of £0.3 million.

Employee numbers have also grown by 322, including 122 graduates and apprentices, bringing the total headcount to 4,862.

“TBS is on a remarkable journey. We continue to

Viv Empson, TBS Group Finance and HR Director, Tom Valvo, MiTek Industries COO, with David Longney, TBS Group Managing Director

Renishaw leads the way in manufacturing innovation

REGION’S TECH COMPANIES WIN FUNDING TO TEST DRONES AND UNMANNED ROBOTS

Futuristic drones and unmanned ground robots with autonomous ‘deliver to order’ capability could provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief, thanks to a new cross-government collaboration.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Department for International Development (DFID) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are working together on turning designs for drones and robots into reality.

Five bids have been selected for the second phase, three from across the region.

These include Oxfordshire-based Animal Dynamics’s novel autonomous powered paragliders and Warwickshirebased Horiba Mira, with Frazer Nash Consultancy’s autonomous all-terrain unmanned ground vehicle. This uses artificial intelligence to provide GPSdenied navigation, advanced terrain perception and object recognition.

Alex Caccia, co-founder at Animal Dynamic and CEO, said: “We proposed a radically different approach with our autonomous powered paraglider system called Stork. Our experienced engineering team produced an entirely fresh, creative

“We proposed a radically different approach with our autonomous powered paraglider system called Stork”

approach to problem solving which has resulted in this viable, innovative vehicle.”

Also winning funding is Malvern-based QinetiQ which is collaborating with a number of organisations including Oxbotica and IQHQ Ltd, offering an integrated highly-automated logistic system, featuring autonomous hoverbikes and advanced unmanned ground vehicles.

Experts from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)

are leading the partnership as part of MOD’s Innovation Autonomy Challenge, with joint funding from MOD, DFID and UKRI.

For future frontline military operations, such technology could reduce the risk to soldiers by removing them from the hazards of frontline logistics resupply and improving the pace of operations.

Lt Colonel Richard Craig, Staff Officer for Robotics and Autonomous Systems, said: “The Autonomous Last Mile Resupply project has the potential to reduce the amount of supplies stored at the front line and increase the speed of resupply.”

This is the second phase of the competition, which will build prototypes for initial demonstration this year, and is worth a total of £3.8 million over the next 12 months. Four of the five successful organisations are British-led, with a wide range of subcontractors from small and medium enterprises, industry and academia.

Animal Dynamics Stork in Flight. A robust, low-cost aerial delivery platform, being designed to deliver vital supplies from a forward operating base to front-line troops.

The Horiba Mira Military VIKING with NATO Pallet

De Beers adopts

Oxford company’s diamond security technology

Opsydia, a spin-out from the University of Oxford, has unveiled new technology that will help address the risk of diamond tampering and counterfeiting.

Using high precision lasers, Opsydia can make tiny marks, less than 1/50th of the size of a human hair, below the surface of diamonds. Unlike current industry standard security marking on the diamond surface, these marks sit within the stone so cannot be polished off and can be so small that they have no effect on the grading or quality of the gems.

The technology is now being adopted by one of the world’s leading diamond companies, the De Beers Group, as part of its new ‘Lightbox Jewelry’ diamond company. The subsurface laser marks prevent the stones used in jewellery from being passed off as natural and serve as a guarantee of quality.

Opsydia is confident that its laser marking can be adopted more widely in the jewellery industry to increase security and confidence in the quality and provenance of stones.

Developed within the University of Oxford’s Department of Engineering

Science, Opsydia’s technology uses laser pulses shorter than one trillionth of a second in length, shot over a million times per second, to create tiny lines which can be written as numbers or logos within the diamond. These are invisible to the human eye but can be viewed via a microscope. This means security can be maintained even when gems are mounted in jewellery.

Working with Oxford University

Innovation to develop the business, Opsydia has secured £1.9 million of funding through OSI and Parkwalk. The University of Oxford and the founders, Professor Martin Booth and Dr Patrick Salter, remain significant shareholders.

Andrew Rimmer, CEO of Opsydia, said: “Following the investment from our shareholders, we have a process that works today on an industrial scale. We expect to be able to deliver systems to operators in the diamond industry within months, allowing us to move swiftly to profitability.”

Record level of investment for university spin-outs

Oxford University spin-out external investment has reached £1.9 billion since 2011, £506 million in the past 12 months.

During the second quarter of 2018, Oxford University companies raised £41.3 million over 20 deals, £3 million of which was at the seed stage. The total in external funding raised by Oxford University spin-outs since has increased by 40 per cent since July 2017.

Seed funding grew by £19 million over the past year, reaching £128 million since 2011.

An update from Oxford University Innovation which helps university staff and students spin out their ideas from the research lab into the commercial world, reveals that it launched three new spin-outs in this quarter: Arago Biosciences, which specialises in single molecule imaging and mass measurement, Oxford HighQ which plans to produce next generation chemical and nanoparticle sensors and Oxhex, which is developing the first custom-made helmet using 3D printing.

Transport minister announces six new research projects

Jesse Norman, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, announced six Innovate UK-funded autonomous vehicle research projects on a visit to WMG, at the University of Warwick.

Two of the six research projects involve WMG with a total of £4.1 million in research funding, from Innovate UK.

OmniCAV is a £2.7 million project where WMG will work with the company

leading the project, Latent Logic, and nine other partners. OmniCAV will use detailed road maps, traffic management, accident and CCTV data, to create a high-fidelity simulation environment, including AI-trained simulated road users to test autonomous vehicles.

The second project is Sim4SafeCAV, a £1.4 million project which will see WMG working with Jaguar Land Rover and driving simulation company

rFpro to enhance safety analysis and use simulation to demonstrate the meeting of safety targets for SAE level 4 autonomous vehicles.

WMG Professor Mehrdad Dianati is the lead on the project from WMG. He said: “Autonomous car technology is developing rapidly. Autonomous car manufacturers will need to provide clear evidence that their vehicles will operate safely across the full range of situations to be encountered on the streets.”

The Bessemer Society host Oxford Space Odyssey Grand Dinner

The Bessemer Society, a forum and mutual society formed for ‘serial’ CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs who are committed to creating successful new companies based on technological innovation in the fields of science and technology, hosted its annual grand dinner at Rhodes House in Oxford. With the high ceiling of the Rhodes House Great Hall, and a light summers evening, leaders in the space, science and technology sector came together to enjoy a stunning three course meal from and hear from speakers including The Rt Hon. Lord David Willetts who gave a masterful overview and insight to space politics.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROB LACEY

Would you like to feature your business event, launch or party in our business events section?

Alex Stewart, Bessemer Society, Peter Dobson, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), Janet Donovan, Krino Partners, Keith Errey, Isansys Lifecare, Steve Bennington, Krino Partners and Michael LeGoff, Plessey

Alex Stewart from The Bessemer Society welcoming guests to Rhodes House, Oxford

Dr Edward Pyzer-Knapp, IBM Research UK with Prof. Pavel Matousek from The Science & Technology Facility Council & Colin Merryweather, JA Kemp

Vy Pettit from iPRO Solutions with Christoph Birkl from Brill Power

Iain Butler from Royds Withy King with Wendy Hart from Grant Thornton

Keynote Speaker, The Rt Hon. Lord David Willetts

John Yates from Helix Technology with David Williams from Bidwells

Nicky Godding from Business & Innovation Magazine with Jarl Severn from Owen Mumford

Stephen Voller from ZapGo with Maria Kalama from Innovate UK

Gleb Ivanov from Silicon Fuel with Mike Curtis-Rouse from Satellite Applications Catapult

UK Space Agency hosts government Chief Scientific Adviser

BESSEMER SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER

DRAWS OXFORD’S FINEST MINDS

The Bessemer Society, a forum of CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs committed to creating successful new companies based on technological and science innovation, held its annual Oxford dinner at Rhodes House in the city. This year’s topic was the growing space sector, and notably “new space”.

Keynote speaker was Lord David Willetts, Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation. He served as Minister for Universities and Science, and previously worked at HM Treasury and the No 10 Policy Unit. He is currently the chair of a long-term patient capital fund that is raising money to invest in technology companies.

Lord Willetts said: “We had 20 years when the Government was not as engaged with space as other countries were. However, that could turn out to be an advantage as we have no history with ‘old space’ and can leapfrog it and embrace new space technology. This ‘accident of history’ has given us an ecosystem very well suited to capitalising on the new opportunities space is offering.

“We remain part of the European Space Agency because it goes wider than the EU and there is an opportunity for the UK to flourish here in a post-Brexit world.”

Richard Varvill, a founder of Reaction Engines, also spoke at the dinner. His company is pioneering a new class of

propulsion for reusable launch vehicles, and he discussed the opportunities for mankind in space. “The resources of the solar systems exceed that of earth by magnums. Space could be a large part of the solution,” he said.

Reaction Engine’s SABRE engine, which emerged out of work Richard and his co-founders Alan Bond and John Scott carried out on the RB545 engine destined for used on HOTOL (the horizontal take-off and landing aircraft) will have the capability to go from a standing start to sub orbit. SABRE stands for Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine.

In April 2018 the company announced it has raised a further £26.5 million in a strategic fundraising backed by some of the most influential names in aerospace and finance, including Boeing and Rolls Royce.

Also speaking at the event was Rob Spurret, Chairman of Oxford Space Systems, an award-winning space technology business pioneering the development of a new generation of

The Satellite Applications Catapult at Harwell, Oxford welcomed the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Dr Patrick Vallance who only took up the role in April.

He met UK Space Agency Chief Executive Dr Graham Turnock and Stuart Martin, Chief Executive of the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Dr Vallance toured the Science and Technology Facility Council’s RAL Space’s R100 building with Space Director Dr Christopher Mutlow.

RAL Space carries out world-class space research and development with involvement in more than 210 space missions.

Dr Vallance said: “I’m impressed by the business opportunities in the space sector. Harwell Space Cluster supports businesses by providing the sort of infrastructure and basic scientific and technical knowledge that businesses can’t just get going themselves.”

deployable antennas and structures that are lighter, less complex and lower cost than those in current commercial demand.

He said: “There are 40,000 people employed in the space industry in the UK, and it’s worth around £14 billion.” Rob highlighted the much-discussed concept of “new space” which refers to the people and businesses seeking to open up space to economic development.

He discussed how Oxford Space Systems collaborated with a world origami expert at Oxford University to learn more about how to design its folding antenna. “It’s not just about technology, it’s about bringing ideas and technology from adjacent sectors and using them in ways that haven’t been used before,” said Rob.

“It’s not just about technology, it’s about bringing ideas and technology from adjacent sectors and using them in ways that haven’t been used before”

Science & Tech

The 2018 Bessemer

Business Energy Efficiency Programme

A free energy assessment highlighted the precision cutting company’s use of aging T12 fluorescent tubes, metal halide lighting, an old heating system and an inefficient compressor.

Grant funding of around £13,000 has helped install LED lighting with sensors, better heating and a modern compressor. The company now expects to save £8,000 per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36 tonnes.

www.business-central.co.uk/beep

Patent Ferrule directors

Low Carbon Opportunities Programme

The first business to receive a grant to install a renewable energy system through the Low Carbon Opportunities Programme (LOCOP) was First Service Frozen Foods, an ice cream manufacturer in Bromsgrove. With the cooling demands of their product requiring a high electricity usage a logical solution was to install a solar PV array to generate electricity when cooling load is at the highest.

The business received a grant of just under £10,000 towards the cost of the system, partially funded by the European

Regional Development Fund. Installing a 24 kWp solar array, a total of 96 panels. The electricity generated will save £2,250 per year.

www.business-central.co.uk/locop/

“BEEP is receiving up to £1,797,112 of funding and LOCOP is receiving up to £1,194,824 from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.” For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding

Stephen and Daniel Shoebotham

Redditch based The Patent Ferrule Company Ltd is one of over three hundred companies benefitting from reduced energy savings through the Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP).

“The help from BEEP has been extremely valuable, and the people we’ve dealt with at Worcestershire County Council have been great, making the whole process go like clockwork”

Stephen Shoebotham, Ferrule Company Ltd

“It is our fourth grant through Worcestershire CC and was the easiest to apply for. Applying for the grant really couldn’t have been any easier following our initial meeting”

Wayne Sambidge, First Service

Is the MEES standard threatening commercial building investment?

New requirements for investment to improve energy efficiency are affecting commercial buildings sales, according to energy consultant Gregg Woodall.

DELICIOUS BLENDING OF

PEDAL POWER WITH KNOWLEDGE

A pedal bike with a kitchen blender fitted to the front of it (minus its motor) is helping to change the way that people think about power.

Designed and built by Andy Taylor of Bromsgrove-based Green Ape, just 30 seconds of pedalling, and a lot of fruit, will produce a delicious smoothie.

This is low-tech innovation, but it’s already changing the way people think about energy and alternative sources of power.

For the last eight years, Andy has taken his smoothie bike around the UK sharing his enthusiasm and two-wheeled innovation at everything from scout events to huge corporate engagements. This is soft education, though he doesn’t call it that. And the ideas behind it is arguably as important as the highest tech innovations to help reduce the amount of energy the world uses.

Where did the idea come from? Andy packed in a 10-year career at an estate agency and gave himself six months to cycle from France to Egypt, but didn’t get there. He got knocked over near Marmaris, in Turkey and returned to the UK on a stretcher, lucky to be alive.

Six months of rehabilitation later, and having met a girl as determined as him, this dynamic duo cycled 4,312 miles in 82

days on an 11 feet long bike - they had a trailer on the back carrying their tent.

It was one night around a camp fire that he got talking with some American travellers about alternative sources of power and the smoothie bike idea was born.

“You don’t need any skills to ride our smoothie bike. It’s fun and interactive and what I do ticks a lot of boxes for me as an individual”

“On our return, we began building the bike out of recycled parts,” he said.

Andy has spent the last eight or so summers out at events with his bike.

“You don’t need any skills to ride our smoothie bike. It’s fun and interactive, and what I do ticks a lot of boxes for me as an individual.”

Having also adopted the use of paper straws and cups, Andy recently received Worcestershire County Council’s first “Plastic Pledge” certificate, which recognises county businesses who have committed to reducing their use of single use plastics.

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, or MEES for short, mean that energy inefficient buildings (those with an Energy Performance Certificate [EPC] of F or G – the lowest two grades), will no longer be lettable when their current leases end.

The new regulations relate to all nondomestic property, except for those not requiring an EPC under current regulations.

Landlords have five years, but by April 2023, every building will become covered by MEES, including those on long leases.

Shipston-on-Stour-based Gregg has been helping clients to achieve the MEES requirement, but he reveals that the regulation is affecting some sales. He said: “Lenders are now super cautious about investing in properties that cannot be let. Many properties with an F or G rating can be easily fixed, although some types of property, such as retail, are often much easier to resolve than others such as offices.”

Green business events programme launches

A series of free events for businesses on energy storage, circular economies and low carbon initiatives are being delivered by the Coventry & Warwickshire Green Business Programme.

The events include energy saving and low carbon workshops, circular economy solutions for business and the opportunities for UK energy storage.

Andy Taylor and his smoothie bike

Home-grown food production is key says NFU President

GRUNDON WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE FAST LANE AT SILVERSTONE

Grundon Waste Management, which has its headquarters at Benson near Wallingford, has won a landmark 10-year contract to provide waste management services at Silverstone, home of British Motor Racing.

Grundon will work with the Silverstone team to deliver a raft of sustainable and recycling innovations and a new dualbranded specialist waste collection vehicle.

Silverstone’s Procurement Manager, Lee Thomas, said: “The support Grundon has given our own in-house waste teams, especially on issues such as compliance, has been invaluable.”

Stephen Hill, Grundon’s Head of Sales, said: “Our new 10-year agreement is a real milestone and enables us to make long-term plans and really focus on sustainability, as well as set new shorterterm targets for improving recycling.”

Plans include a deposit return scheme for plastic cups and introduction of other new recycling services, including Grundon’s recently-launched paper cup recycling service and dual-branded waste bins.

Grundon will also work with caterers to eliminate single use plastics and help to obtain green consumable products.

Simulation tool set to be a game-changer for manufacturers

Manufacture 2030, a campaign launched last year to halve the resources used in manufacturing by 2030, has announced it is joining forces with the HSSMI manufacturing innovation institute to undertake a research project funded by Innovate UK.

Manufacture 2030 is part of the 2Degrees network based at Banbury which helps businesses to work together and make sustainable business happen at scale.

The Manufacture 2030 and HSSMI project aims to provide manufacturers with accurate assessments of how individual sites will benefit from implementing resource efficient actions, and the costsavings this will bring.

The project could help end industry uncertainty that surrounds high-

cost, bespoke simulations; by giving manufacturers access to the results that technology designed to cut energy, waste and water will offer, before they implement such solutions.

Martin Chilcott, Founder and Chairman of 2degrees, said: “Research has shown that manufacturers stand to gain up to seven per cent resource efficiency improvements through structured operational action planning year-on-year.

“However, implementing the right processes to achieve this is an industry challenge.

“Our research is set to change this, as manufacturers will now have more information and can simulate what actions will benefit their sites and how.”

NFU President Minette Batters has urged the government to put national food security at the top of the political agenda as latest figures reveal the UK’s self-sufficiency in food has stagnated.

August 7 is the notional day in the calendar where the British larder would run bare if we fed the nation only British food from January 1. Defra figures for 2017 show that Britain produced 60 per cent of its own food and this rate is in long-term decline.

NFU President Minette Batters says food self-sufficiency statistics have always been an important measure of the nation’s ability to feed itself, but with Brexit just eight months away she says it shines a new light on the supply of British food.

Minette continued: “British food production has been pulled into sharp focus with farmers across the country wrangling with the impacts of unprecedented dry and hot weather.

“The UK farming sector has the potential to be one of the most impacted sectors from a bad Brexit. A free and frictionless free trade deal with the EU and access to a reliable and competent workforce for farm businesses is critical to the future of the sector. And as we replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, we must keep a sharp focus on what productive, progressive and profitable farm businesses need from a domestic agricultural policy,” she added.

NFU President Minette Batters

Grundon’s Stephen Hill with Silverstone’s Lee Thomas and Lee Howkins

Sustainability

Commercial challenges us to make changes

Cheltenham-based business services company Commercial hosted its annual corporate social responsibility event at Cheltenham Racecourse. This year’s theme was ‘Challenge, Champion, Change’, marking the latest phase of its sustainability strategy and inspiring more than 400 delegates to take action within their own organisations.

Commercial, which provides office supplies, managed IT, print and other services, is a long-standing and active advocate for sustainable growth and development.

Headline speakers at the event included designer Wayne Hemingway, an outspoken critic of the throwaway culture, and environmental entrepreneur Ed Gillespie. Commercial launched a new initiative focused on reducing single-use plastic in the office supply chain.

The event itself was plastic-free, with exhibitors encouraged to avoid printed documents and giveaways in favour of assets that could be collected via a digital platform.

This was the eleventh CSR day hosted by Commercial. Managing Director Simone Hindmarch said sustainability issues were just as complex as a decade ago, but she was encouraged to see a strong appetite for change among delegates.

“Organisations need to transform the way they operate to properly tackle the many conflicting sustainability issues that we face today,” she said. “However, what really struck me at the event is that people want to make a difference. They didn’t need to be persuaded to change – they came along to find out how they can change, and how more of us can work together to make it happen.”

Eco-friendly cleaning business relocates to Howbery Park

Commercial cleaning company, Ecocleen, has relocated its head office from Henley to Howbery Business Park, Wallingford. The environmentally-friendly cleaning operation which employs a workforce of 1,100 through its network of franchisees, operates across the UK, provides commercial cleaning for businesses, schools, nurseries and medical facilities.

Managing Director, Jean-Henri Beukes, and his father, Executive Chairman, Henry, who acquired Ecocleen in January last year, were both Ecocleen franchisees before taking over the management of the company. With an annual turnover of £10 million, Ecocleen’s customers include names such as Mulberry, Numatic, the makers of Henry vacuum cleaners, and Williams F1 in Wantage.

The green focus runs through all areas of the business from the eco-friendly, bio-degradable cleaning products, and pulse-technology mops that use less water than conventional ones, to energy and paper-saving measures.

£20 million funding revealed for low carbon automotive sector

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) UK, based in Coventry, has revealed it has £20 million grant funding to invest in technologies that support the development of low carbon propulsion in the UK.

The centre is particularly looking for projects that support the UK’s longterm capabilities in the design, build and manufacture of low-emission vehicle technologies.

It also welcomes applications from UK research and development projects that will develop technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality.

Through its first eight funding competitions, the centre has supported 177 organisations involved in 36 projects which it calculates has managed to save 34 million tonnes of CO2 and create or secure 20,400 jobs in the UK.

The Morgan Motor Company in Malvern has previously worked on collaborative projects with the APC.

Steve Morris, Managing Director described their project as “a game changer for Morgan that would not have been possible without the support of APC, and the collaboration it has brought.”

The Commercial event team

APC’s ‘Gyrodrive’ project developed and tested this GKN hybrid power flywheel for use in the hybrid bus market

UK LEADS THE WAY IN COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

UK architecture is a global success story worth more than £4 billion a year

Architects from around the world are making the UK their number one destination to study and work.

Such creative diversity is helping British firms design truly innovative new buildings on every continent says the Royal Institute of British Architects.This benefits the UK economy, bringing jobs and investment to the construction, digital, education and creative industries.

This feature reveals just some of the most exciting examples of commercial architecture across the region, both new build and regeneration, and demonstrates that the best architectural design isn’t just happening in the UK’s biggest cities.

There are some amazing commercial buildings across this region, not least of which is the stunning new Vitsoe factory at Leamington Spa, built almost entirely of birch wood. Read our interview with the company’s Managing Director Mark Adams, in this issue.

Mark Powles, Managing Director at Cheltenham-based RRA Architects, said: “Whether it’s an office, manufacturing plant or other commercial architecture, the environment created by a building has a huge effect on the community in which it sits, the employees and the businesses themselves.”

The UK is a hardworking nation, with the average employee spending more waking hours at work than at home, added Mark.

“We all know how your surroundings affect your mood, so it stands to reason that people want their working environment to be comfortable and agreeable. Of course, personal interactions and stress factors vary according to jobs, but the comfort of the physical environment has a huge impact. The right temperature, health and safety requirements, clean facilities,

“To the wider community it is also important to have well-designed buildings which contribute aesthetically to the landscape rather than rows of uninspired, oppressive buildings”

fresh air and break-out areas to provide short respites from the job, all contribute to a happier, more productive workforce.”

And in today’s age of low unemployment, an attractive working environment is even more important. Employers must compete to attract high calibre talent interested in more than just a larger pay packet.

“To the wider community it is also important to have well-designed buildings

which contribute aesthetically to the landscape rather than rows of uninspired, oppressive buildings,” added Mark.

“A purpose-built facility can enhance the environment, increase efficiencies in the business and is a marketing tool in itself for the company.”

Tom Bell, Chair of Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Gloucestershire, and architect at Quattro Design, feels strongly that architecture acts as an important reflection of society and culture.

“Investment in commercial buildings is a positive indicator of the growing confidence and economic uplift of a city or place,” he said. “The design of buildings and public spaces is fundamental to a city’s success, with architecture having the power to change our perceptions of a place, rejuvenate identity and reinforce civic pride.”

There is a growing body of evidence supporting good design in healthcare. Environments affect the way people feel, adds Tom. “Good design in office environments does increase productivity, with architects using their skillset in strategic, creative and spatial thinking, alongside their technical knowledge of buildings, to improve our quality of life, and shape our built environment.”

Royal Porcelain Works, Worcester

Following a major redevelopment, the Royal Porcelain Works opened in June on the site of the former Royal Worcester Porcelain factory.

The original showroom, now the Henry Sandon Hall, seats up to 140 people and can be used as a theatre, exhibition or concert hall. There is also space for arts and crafts, exhibitions, food and drink and the Museum of Royal Worcester pottery. Within the development is a gin distillery, home to the new Piston Gin.

The Bransford Trust, which supports a number of charitable organisations in the Worcester area, bought part of the former Royal Worcester factory site following its closure, with a view to creating a new centre for the arts in the heart of the city while retaining firm links with its creative past. The project also includes seven new town houses and three apartments.

The project was designed by KK Architects, Worcester.

The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre, Worcester College, Oxford

The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre is a new building at Worcester College, Oxford housing a large lecture theatre, student learning space, seminar rooms and a dance studio.

The project is not simply the provision of new facilities, but also the development and enhancement of the setting of this significant part of the site.

While the relationship between the new buildings and the listed parkland is important, it is only one part of a complex arrangement.

The building has been designed as a theatre in a garden. It is raised on a podium. A curved stone auditorium opens on to an oak-ceilinged foyer extending out to pergolas and terraces overlooking a cricket pitch. The theatre is framed by a high stone screen that rises to allow in clerestory light. A pleated ceiling sweeps down to the stage.

It can operate either as a fully enclosed, darkened environment or as a bright daylit space surrounded by gardens on all sides. The dance studio stands at the end of a long serpentine lake that

connects it back to the ancient heart of the college.

Arriving through the gatehouse from Worcester Place, visitors are presented with a new open court that frames a view out over the lake to parkland. The architects use this square to connect MJP Architects’ superb Sainsbury Building, linking them both to the surroundings courts and gardens.

The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre was designed by Níall McLaughlin Architects, London

The Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre, Worcester College Oxford

Royal Porcelain Works, Worcester

Commercial Character…

Commercial architecture is associated by many with large industrial estates and new-build business parks, however, within the sector there is also vast opportunity for the reuse of Britain’s aging building stock; often no longer fit for service nor contributing to the economy. These buildings are frequently overlooked when new sites are required, however, they can be repurposed to provide unusual and interesting commercial premises or development opportunities.

RRA Architects, as a design-led practice, has a portfolio of the expected new-build, commercial architecture, but has also carved out a reputation for the sympathetic and imaginative design solutions to reuse existing, overlooked buildings and sites. These may be redundant agricultural buildings, out-dated offices, tired dwellings or, even, the restoration of an Old Waterworks

Pumphouse to give it a new lease of life as part of the exciting Dowdeswell Park development.

Canwood Gallery is another prime example of thinking outside of the box; originally a group of unused agricultural buildings, they were transformed into a unique gallery exhibiting fabulous works of art in striking surroundings. Similarly, Gwynne Warehouse was a Grade II listed, derelict, riverside warehouse which was converted into a state-of-the-art conferencing facility and exhibition space.

To maximise the value of a property many clients look to expand the floor area through an extension. However, where space is limited it may be possible to increase the floor area without increasing the footprint, by adding more storeys. RRA has recently carried out two

Current RRA projects…

Include the redevelopment of the old Barlands industrial estate with Dowdeswell Estates Building Contractors. This includes converting an existing portal frame structure into a cider production facility along with an extensive section of Victorian brick arched vaults which are being converted into various units, including an artisan bakery.

The development already houses the Sibling Gin distillery, Battledown Brewery and Dunkertons Cider production facility and, newly opened, shop.

developments, Montpellier House and Eagle Tower, where we successfully gained planning permission to add penthouse apartments on top of the commercial office buildings. These projects demonstrate a great example of mixed-use development which is in line with planning policy, offering high-quality residential accommodation with great views and with no increased land usage. Ultimately, where suitable, this achieves a great return for investors and property owners.

Although, sometimes demolition is necessary, many of these sites benefit from an architects vision and a feasibility study to ascertain what can be achieved with the existing structures. This can be a cost effective strategy which often results in an enriched development with character and heritage.

Please

Montpellier House

Gwynne Warehouse

Canwood Gallery

Dyson Campus Expansion

Following the design of the Dyson headquarters and factory in 1999, and the masterplan completed in 2012, WilkinsonEyre has completed the first phase of the expansion to the Dyson Insitute campus in Malmesbury.

The overall architectural concept for the expansion follows the existing design philosophy of creating lightweight modern pavilions in a landscaped setting. Phase 1 is made up of a new research and design development building, a café; energy centre; new car park; sports facility and helipad.

Dyson 9 will be the new research design development facility.

Conceived as a minimal, reflective glass pavilion within a sheltered rural landscape setting, its primary use is for sensitive research and development activities. The external surface is a reflective glazed material to obscure views into the building while maintaining outward views and daylighting for inside; it also has the effect of disappearing into the landscape by offering a mirror to the established surroundings. A key driver of the design has been flexibility to ensure the building has a long-term adaptability.

The nearby café and meeting room pavilion will become the social heart of the campus. Positioned alongside Dyson 9, it is a smaller pavilion with projecting roof profile and highly transparent glazing system to contrast with larger Dyson 9.

Designed by WilkinsonEyre

Gloucester M5 Services

Gloucester Services Northbound opened in 2014, and Southbound opened the following year.

The template for a new sort of motorway service station was set by Tebay Services in Cumbria. It was established by the Dunning family in 1972 when the M6 cut through their farm. They capitalised on an otherwise bad situation for their business by opening a small 30-seat café serving home cooked, locally sourced food.

That business became so successful that 30 years later they decided to open their second motorway services, purpose-built, at Gloucester.

The idea originated with Mark Gale, then the CEO of Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, who wanted to create sustainable income and job opportunities for local communities.

Flanked by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Cotswold landscape the services needed to look as if they belonged there, with minimal landscape disruption.

The project set a new sustainable standard for a difficult typology internally and externally.

Gloucester Services was designed by GHA Architects of Birmingham and London

Gloucester M5 Services

Oxford Science Park’s Schrödinger Building

At 61,500 ft2, the £13 million Schrödinger Building is the largest speculative Grade A office building to be developed on The Oxford Science Park and the first new building on the Park since Magdalen College became its sole owner in 2016. It can house more than 300 people, and features a roof terrace overlooking the Park. Schrödinger’s legacy is celebrated in the building’s reception area with a backdrop panel highlighting the wave-particle duality which underpinned his Nobel Prizewinning work.

The Schrödinger Building was designed by London-based Bogle Architects.

FarGo Village, Coventry

FarGo Village is the redevelopment of a former industrial estate on Far Gosford Street, Coventry. Complex Development Projects has developed a creative village that includes a mix of uses including a marketplace, independent retail, designermaker and artists’ studios, galleries, live music venues and bars.

The development is being seen as a major driver for economic change in this regeneration area and provides a low-cost base for small creative enterprisess. Phase 1 of the village was launched in September 2014 with more than 40 businesses.

The project was undertaken by Birmingham-based BPN Architects.

Designs on becoming an architect? It’s seven years of creative toil

Qualifying to be an architect is not for the faint-hearted. It typically takes five years at university and completion of a minimum of two years’ practical experience, almost as long as training to become a doctor. That’s seven years of creative toil.

There are three stage qualifications needed for those wanting to become an

architect, only then can you be registered with the Architects Registration Board. There’s no short cut. The title “architect” is protected by law, so that the public can always be sure that they are dealing with a properly qualified professional.

So is it worth it? Yes. Good architecture subtly enhances all our daily lives for the

better by using space more intelligently. Great architecture uplifts the soul and boosts emotions, making us feel better about the world we live in, and studies reveal that areas with good architecture and design create stronger, healthier communities where businesses are more likely to thrive.

Oxford Science Park’s Schrödinger Building

Fargo Village, Coventry

The first step has been taken to create a new European HQ for an electrical manufacturer in Warwick.

IT’S ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR SODICK’S NEW EUROPEAN HQ IN WARWICK

Sodick, which has been operating in Coventry since 2008, is creating a new 45,000 sq ft complex at Tournament Fields in the town.

The firm, established in Japan in 1976, is a global manufacturer of electrical discharge machines used to make tools and parts for industries including automobile, aerospace and electronics.

The move will see Sodick and Sodi-Tech EDM, the exclusive distributor of Sodick products in the UK, under one roof with 46 members of staff.

The move has been made possible by law

Work starts on Merrywalks transformation in Stroud

Stroud’s tired Merrywalks Shopping Centre could be set for major investment if a planning application is approved by Stroud District Council and work has already started on internal improvements to the centre’s multi-storey car park.

New owners of Merrywalks, Yorkshirebased Dransfield Properties Ltd, are proposing a raft of improvements after buying the centre for £10 million.

They include investment totalling more than £12 million aimed at reversing the fortunes of the centre and attracting new retailers.

firm Wright Hassall, chartered surveyors, Wareing & Company and Sodick’s property agents, Bromwich Hardy.

Sodick’s European CEO Peter Capp said: “The desire to build a new state-of-the-artfactory has been an objective for several years and, despite the UK Brexit vote, we still decided that the UK was the perfect place to continue our growth.

“Our Coventry base has been steadily growing its business over the last decade and we now turn over £45 million per year. We believe this is a great opportunity for us to continue to grow in the UK and Europe.”

Andrew Jones, partner at Leamingtonbased law firm Wright Hassall which has acted for Sodick since its arrival in the UK, helped complete the purchase of the land.

Developers, surveyors and Sodick bosses came together for a ceremonial ground-breaking.

Richard Hardy, of Bromwich Hardy, said: “Tournament Fields is a thriving site for businesses and the perfect location for Sodick to continue its development. It has grown to become a valuable and vibrant commercial hub.”

Alongside the car park upgrade, a new Edwardian style entrance will be created in King Street. There will be new office and residential accommodation, new and refurbished retail units, restaurants and coffee shop and external improvements to the gym, bowling alley and cinema.

Dransfield Properties has a track record of turning around the fortunes of struggling

town centres, especially in market towns.

Managing Director Mark Dransfield said: “Merrywalks has lacked investment and we look forward to starting work on a project which will transform this part of the town.”

GFirst LEP is providing a £1 million loan and a £3 million grant for the project.

Michael Newland & Richard Jackson from Berry Systems, Steve Stead, Medi Parry-Williams & Andrew Shepherd of Dransfield Properties, Diane Savory Chair of GFirst LEP, Mally Findlater and Neil Hopwood of GFirst LEP, Dave Hale, Dransfield Properties, Kaye Turner, Gloucestershire County Council & Lenny Shepherd of Kinsler and Partners

Commercial Property

Construction of the £9 million business unit for independent hospital group Spire Healthcare is under way at Worcester Six Business Park.

Spire Healthcare is the UK’s largest private hospital provider and the expansion into the business park is set to create up to 60 new jobs.

Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, Dr Ken Pollock, said: “With work starting on construction of this new building for Spire Healthcare, you can really start to see Worcester Six take shape.

“Work is already well under way for Kimal’s new headquarters and with the recently announced expansion for Material Solutions, it puts the Worcester Six Business Park firmly on the map.”

Construction of £9 million Spire Healthcare unit begins at Worcester Six Planning application submitted for new Oxford urban district

A planning application to transform an area of north Oxford into a new business community has been submitted to Oxford City Council.

The application, submitted by Thomas White Oxford on behalf of St John’s College, seeks outline consent for the overall masterplan and detailed consent for the first phase of development.

The aim is to create jobs, homes, shops, a nursery, hotel and three parks along with £100 million of infrastructure.

Julian Barwick, Project Chairman at Oxford North said: “Our proposal is a high level of investment in social benefit, bringing open spaces, jobs, homes and a major investment in new infrastructure to Oxford.” He added that the main question which emerged during the public consultation was about traffic.

Spire Healthcare is already a major employer in Worcestershire with a hospital at South Bank in Worcester and The Spire Clinic in Droitwich.

The new site, along with the National Distribution Centre at Stonebridge Cross in Droitwich, will house supply chain and facilities support for its clinical operations for the Worcestershire sites and other hospitals across the UK.

Mat Mason, Group Supply Chain Director at Spire Healthcare, said: “This represents the next stage of our evolution, building upon the solid supply chain and infrastructure that is already in place,

which has served the business well for the past 10 years.”

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The high-profile investment opportunity has generated a large amount of interest and Spire Healthcare is a really exciting addition to the site.”

Stoford Developments is developing the business park on behalf of local partners Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon District Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership. Work is due to be complete next spring.

“We are investing in improvements to the A40 and A44 corridors to provide additional capacity for walking, cycling and public transport, in addition to our planned upgrade at Pear Tree junction,” he said.

“We will also be supporting the delivery of new bus services, all of which will help to tackle the existing congestion and accommodate new trips.

“Phase One will see the A40 improvement works including a new bus lane and cycleways, complementing Oxfordshire County’s wider strategy to deliver an outer ring of Park and Ride sites and express busways to the city.

“The most heartening part of the consultation was the general support for housing, open spaces and sustainability aspects.

Many people want to see a good number of affordable homes and we are in discussion with the city council about the final amount.

“From 23 acres of open space to 40 per cent reduced water consumption, 850 electric car charging points and 5.7 miles of new and improved cycle paths, and all the buildings in Phase One being 100 per cent electric, we believe that ecologically this is a development to be proud of.”

The launch of work on the Spire Healthcare development in Worcester. From left-right:: Shawn Riley from Wychavon District Council, Mat Mason from Spire Healthcare, Nigel Hudson from Worcestershire County Council, Gerard Ludlow from Stoford Developments, Martin Head from A&H Construction, Cllr Linda Robinson from Wychavon District Council, Simon Houldsworth from A&H Construction and Gary Woodman from Worcester LEP

Oxford North will be a new urban district for Oxford. Red Hall will be a collaborative workspace for up to 300 freelances, start-ups and entrepreneurs

CHELTENHAM TRADE PARK CELEBRATES ‘FULLY LET’ MILESTONE

Canmoor Asset Management is celebrating after a spate of lettings at Cheltenham Trade Park. This means the estate is fully let for the first time in 10 years.

The new tenants include Medicals for Sport which has taken 2,600 sq ft at Unit 21, having relocated from Space Business Centre where it outgrew its premises.

The estate is one mile west of Cheltenham off Arle Road.

Tom Maltby, the asset manager for Canmoor, which has managed the estate since it was acquired four years ago, said:

“This is a milestone and we are very pleased to be in this position. We are committed to upgrading the estate and

“This is a milestone and we are very pleased to be in this position. We are committed to upgrading the estate and will continue to make improvements where we believe they are needed”

will continue to make improvements where we believe they are needed.”

Occupiers include major brands such as Plumbase, Electric Center, City Plumbing Supplies, Wilts Electrical Wholesalers, Denmans and Plumbstop.

Bruton Knowles jointly handled the lettings with John Ryde Commercial.

Demand for new homes fuels Newland’s record success

Gloucester-based housebuilder Newland Homes has announced another record year.

Turnover grew 20 per cent in the last year, reaching £60 million with pre-tax profits of £11.5 million.

The company’s Cotswold Edge development in Mickleton has also been named as the Best Development in the West of England at the prestigious LABC Building Excellence Awards 2018.

Managing Director David Foreman said: “When we started 2017-18 we had a positive outlook but recognised that issues around Brexit may have brought unforeseen implications.

PureGym and B&M Store welcomed at public consultation

Developer Robert Hitchins Ltd is hoping to bring a PureGym, B&M Store and Garden Centre to Kingsway in Gloucester.

Almost 70 people viewed the proposals for the redevelopment of an empty, three-acre, brownfield site south of the ASDA store in Newhaven Road, Quedgeley. Of those who submitted feedback forms, an overwhelming 87 per cent said they liked the proposals. Only three per cent expressed reservations.

Asked what benefits they perceived, those who responed mentioned local jobs, positive investment, the reuse of unused space, more local amenities and improved retail choice.

The exhibition, held at Kingsway Community Centre, was organised by planning consultants RPS acting on behalf of Robert Hitchins Ltd, the landlowner. A planning application will be submitted in the next few months.

“We expect this coming year to be another good one, however it will be focused on progressing sites through the planning system and so we expect the resulting increase in sales to appear in 2019”

“However, the market for the right type of new homes in the right location continued to be strong and we’ve beaten last year’s record turnover by another 20 per cent, with pre-tax profits rising by 77 per cent.

“We expect this coming year to be another good one, however it will be focused on

sales to appear in 2019.”

Cheltenham Trade Park is fully let for the first time in 10 years

progressing sites through the planning system and so we expect the resulting increase in

Commercial Property

David Foreman, MD of Newland Homes

PIONEERS OPT FOR SPACE AT WITNEY INNOVATION CENTRE

A consultancy which develops innovative people management practices and new ways of working has taken office space at Witney Business & Innovation Centre.

The Pioneers specialises in helping organisations such as Hilton Hotels and Costa to create the culture they need to engage team members and improve customer service (read our feature on employee engagement on pages 53-55 of this issue).

The company runs a “virtual” operation with consultants working from different

places across the country. The Pioneers relocated from Cherwell Innovation Centre to Witney BIC, both part of Oxford Innovation’s network of 24 UK centres, because it is close to founder and partner Matt Grimshaw’s home in Witney, allowing him more time with his family.

Matt said: “Witney BIC gives us the flexibility we need as a growing consultancy. It’s also great not to be constrained by long leases or having to maintain facilities.”

Triple letting at Harwell Campus means development is fully let

Harwell Campus Partnership Ltd has signed new leases with aerospace company Lockheed Martin, gym providers Fitness Experts and artisan café Pierrepoints, totalling 7,300 sq ft.

The lettings take Harwell Campus’ 165,000 sq ft of development and refurbishment to fully let, making it the largest combined commercial takeup and development of new space ever in Oxfordshire.

They coincide with practical completion of the Grade A award-winning Quad One (43,000 sq ft) and of the Zephyr science warehouse (60,000 sq ft) which will provide a new HQ for Oxford Space Systems (14,166 sq ft).

Year-on-year growth is set to continue at Harwell. With a total 5.5 million sq ft of planned development, Harwell Campus is set to be the largest rejuvenation and commercial property growth project in Oxfordshire.

William Cooper, Harwell Campus Partnership Ltd Director said: “Lockheed Martin has been involved with the Campus for years and it’s fantastic news that they will now have a base here. Pierrepoints and Fitness Experts will provide the high-quality amenities that we want Harwell Campus people to recognise and expect as part of the Harwell experience.”

Office rents soar as university spin-out businesses push up demand

Voracious demand for office space from fast-growing Oxford University spin-out businesses has seen prime office rents in Oxford grow by nearly 17 per cent in a year, according to new research.

Property consultancy Bidwells looks twice yearly at the office market in the Oxfordshire region.

Its latest report says that rents hit £35 per sq ft in the first half of 2018 with demand for office floor space now at record levels.

David Williams, Partner Business Space Agency at Bidwells, is predicting prime rents will hit £40 per sq ft by 2020.

He said: “Demand from fast-growing Oxford University spin-out businesses is at a three-year high and continues to apply upward pressure on rents in Oxford’s city centre.

“The city centre market is dictated by constrained supply created by historical ownership and geographical factors. The impact of this – combined with a lack of new development - means we fully expect these rises to continue.

“While it’s great the university’s innovation activities are achieving their goals, its value and impact will be diminished if the city is unable to accommodate the companies spawned by this innovation.”

Commercial Property

David Williams from Bidwells predicts rising office rents

Matt Grimshaw, co-founder and partner of The Pioneers consultancy

Aerial view of Harwell Campus

Whittington Hall Business Park is fully let as Horiba triples office space

A global supplier of automotive test systems has more than tripled its office space, taking the last remaining suite at Whittington Hall Business Park in Worcester.

Acting on behalf of the Pemberstone Partnership, Blue Marble Asset Management secured a new five-year lease on 4,696 sq ft of fully refurbished, grade A office accommodation to Horiba Test Automation Ltd.

Horiba, part of the worldwide Japanese Horiba Group of companies, is already based in an 1,800 sq ft office suite in Whittington Hall’s Teme House. Adding the new space in Brook Court is its second expansion at the 80,000 sq ft business park since it moved in 11 years ago.

The lease to Horiba follows a new 10-year lease to Miller Homes at Brook Court, and the retention of existing tenant Bamboo Marketing which signed a new five-year lease.

COMPANIES LINE UP TO TAKE SPACE AT CRESCENT TRADE PARK IN REDDITCH

Work on a major industrial park development in Redditch has been completed – and companies are lining up to take space.

Crescent Trade Park in Moons Moat, which features 24,000 sq ft of commercial and industrial space with 70 car parking spaces, has been brought forward by MacMullen Associates and developed by Halesowen-based A&H Construction & Developments.

Greggs is operating from one of the retail outlets and Subway is fitting out the unit next door.

Agents Bromwich Hardy and KWB are marketing the £3.5 million scheme.

A local company has signed up to take one of the 10 industrial/trade counter units and that deal is now in solicitors’ hands with further interest at different

Lawyers acquire office freehold, with a little help from Dillon

Thursfields Solicitors have acquired the freehold of their Worcester office building.

Worcestershire commercial property consultancy GJS Dillon advised Thursfields on the purchase of the freehold of K2, 9 The Tything, Worcester, a 6,424 sq ft multi-let, three-storey office building from a property company.

Formerly the administration building for Kays Catalogues, K2 was converted

into modern offices in 2000. Thursfields occupies two floors of the fully let building.

GJS Dillon carried out a pre-acquisition building survey, negotiated terms and agreed a purchase price with the owner, and carried out a valuation via Lloyds Bank for a commercial mortgage.

Thursfields has more than 140 staff in eight offices across Worcestershire and the West Midlands.

stages on the five remaining properties. David Penn, of Bromwich Hardy, said: “We had a lot of enquiries prior to completion and, now there is a finished product, business owners are keen to come along and take a look at Crescent Trade Park.”

Kenny Allan, of KWB, added: “Nothing like Crescent Trade Park has been built in Redditch for years so this is satisfying a pent-up demand.”

Crescent Trade Park,from left to right: Andrew Dickens (MacMullen Associates), Kenny Allan (KWB), David MacMullen (MacMullen Associates), David Penn (Bromwich Hardy)

Jonathan Mountford (Director of Professional Services, GJS Dillon), John Dillon (Managing Director, GJS Dillon), Nick O’Hara (Managing Director, Thursfields), Mark Davies (Director of Building Surveys, GJS Dillon) and Tony Gibb (Director and Head of Commercial Property, Thursfields

“Nothing like Crescent Trade Park has been built in Redditch for years so this is satisfying a pent-up demand”

GJS Dillon has offices in Droitwich, Worcester and Bromsgrove.

Brook Court, Whittington Hall, Worcester is leased to Horiba

Plato catering hire company invests in its own premises

One of the biggest event equipment hire specialists in the Midlands has bought its own premises in Warwickshire, in a deal sealed by John Truslove.

The chartered surveyors carried out the sale of the 5,714 sq ft warehouse and office site at 1 Precision Way in Alcester to Plato Catering Hire Ltd, represented by Simon Allen Associates, for £410,000.

Launched in 1999 and named the Event Hire Association’s Event Equipment Hire Company of the Year in 2017, the company is relocating from rented premises in Broom, near Bidford-on-Avon.

Plato Catering Hire focuses on the hire of catering equipment for events such as weddings and corporate dinners. It delivers more than a million items and 14 miles of table cloth a year throughout the region.

Ben Truslove, a director at John Truslove, said: “Plato Catering Hire is an impressive business and we were delighted to help them find a new home.”

Stuart Slaughter, who co-owns Plato Catering Hire with his wife Lynn, said the company now has eight full-time staff, plus agency staff who work seasonally.

GEOTECH SETS UP NEW HQ IN COVENTRY

World leader Geotech is to expand into Coventry as part of a multi-million pound investment.

The company, which specialises in the design and manufacture of gas analysis technology, is moving from Leamington Spa to Cyan Park in Coventry.

The new offices will also become the international headquarters for Geotech’s parent company QED Environmental Systems which is based in Michigan, USA.

The new 25,000 sq ft complex, bought by the company through commercial property agents Holt Commercial, will be responsible for all business operations in Europe and the Middle East, as well as the Asia Pacific market for the QED environmental business.

The facility, home to around 50 staff, was fitted out ahead of the move.

ehB Commercial announces merger with Reeves and Partners

Two Leamington-based commercial property consultants have merged to create a stronger firm with a growing management portfolio valued in excess of £100 million.

ehB Commercial has joined forces with Reeves and Partners to create a partnership which will trade as ehB Reeves.

Initially, the two businesses will continue to operate independently, with ehB trading from its current premises in Clarendon Place and Reeves staying at Euston Place, Leamington Spa.

The long-term plan is to relocate under one roof in the centre of Leamington.

Geotech Managing Director Dean Kavanagh said: “Relocating to Cyan Park forms part of our strategy to build a world class environmental technology business under the QED brand, but is also the result of our sustained growth and need for increased office and engineering space.”

Geotech was formed in 1972 and was taken over by QED group in 2016.

Simon Hain, director of ehB Commercial, said: “This is a natural coming-together of two successful businesses.”

Richard Pomfret, managing director of Reeves and Partners, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with ehB, a company which, like ourselves, has worked hard to establish the reputation it enjoys in South Warwickshire.”

Ben Truslove (left) with Stuart Slaughter from Plato

The surveying team at the new ehB Reeves, from left to right: Simon Hain, Scott Blake, Nick Evans, Stuart Gregory and Richard Pomfret

“Relocating to Cyan Park forms part of our strategy to build a world class environmental technology business under the QED brand, but is also the result of our sustained growth and need for increased office and engineering space”

Dean Kavanagh (left) with Peter Holt