unLTD. Connecting business across Sheffield City Region #10

FEBRUARY 2019 | ISSUE 10 | FREE | WWW.UNLTDBUSINESS.COM

CAPITAL

GAINS Sheffield property mogul Andrew Southern on using London expertise to drive Steel City developments

: N O S U C FO

FOX Y E L L A V

INSIDE THE

HAPPINESS BOOTCAMP

EVENTS CALENDAR | EATING AL-DESKO | OFFICE INTERIORS | IF YOU ASK ME: GREENER WORKPLACES unLTDBUSINESS.COM

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CONTENTS

34 ANDREWSOUTHERN

60 HAPPINESSBOOTCAMP

42 FOCUSONFOXVALLEY 6

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CONTENTS

ALSO INSIDE...

8: News Sponsor support, anniversaries and new office openings.

16: If You Ask Me...

We asked a range of people how businesses can make a positive contribution by tackling the ‘throwaway culture’ and encouraging a more environmentally friendly workplace.

26: Calendar Get your diary ready and book into some of the great events happening in February.

41, 59 &67: Five minutes with...

We grab a quick chat with personal trainer Chris Mason, Cycling Sheffield’s Dave Coulson and Richard Holmes CEO at Kings Foundation.

49 & 53: Your Pitch Wildwood coffee shop and Lensgo Visual Media showcase their new business start-ups.

64: Strategic look at transport Sheffield Chamber of Commerce executive director Richard Wright on the priorities he wants to see for the Sheffield City Region.

71: Office Interiors DL Company tell us why warehousestyle glass partitioning is the new ‘must-have’.

78: Weekend Escapes We pack our bags and head off on a tour of the Guinness factory and more in Dublin.

82: Number Crunch All the facts and figures from Made In Sheffield.

EVERYTHING ELSE...

12: Appointments 15: Diary 23: In a nutshell 25: Evolving technology 33: Property investment 51: Charities

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UNLTD TEAM HARD AT WORK ON THE LATEST ISSUE

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STEEL CITY IS ON THE UP The age-old story of local boy makes good may be one of cliché, but it still makes for a good read.

And we have a cracker for you as our cover star Andrew Southern is a Sheffield lad who, after making it big in London, is now leading a major development back in the Steel City.

Another cliché is that you can judge a city’s growth by the number of cranes that are on the skyline. Sheffield currently has several, including Andrew’s, which can only be good for confidence for the city region’s economy.

A part of Sheffield that has undergone a noticeable change is one of its furthest outposts with the development of the Fox Valley site in Stocksbridge.

Our ‘Focus On’ this month visits Fox Valley and speaks to the company behind the project, Dransfield Properties. The Dransfield team are also involved with much of the infrastructure work at the impressive Waverley development.

That’s one to keep an eye on.

We all strive to be more conscious of our environment in our lives whether at work or at home so this month’s ‘If You Ask Me…’ reflects that.

The government has set out plans to reduce plastic waste over the next 25 years so we have spoken to four local experts for their thoughts on the green economy.

There is a bit of a break from the norm in our After Hours section as we bring the food to your desk for an ‘Al-desko’ feature – sometimes it just has to be done!

Weekend Escapes travels to an old favourite for many people with a visit to Dublin. Usually the haunt of stag or hen weekends there is much more to Dublin than Temple Bar. Honest.

As ever we introduce you to new businesses from around the city region and also profile Sheffield’s very own cycling team which will be carrying the city’s name in races around the UK and Europe in 2019.

EDITORIAL Richard Fidler richard@unltdbusiness.com Jill Theobald editorial@unltdbusiness.com General editorial@unltdbusiness.com 0114 252 7760 ADVERTISING Phil Turner phil@unltdbusiness.com 07979 498034 Alexandra Scrivener alexandra@unltdbusiness.com 07944 325 861 Nick Hallam nick@unltdbusiness.com 07843 483 536 General advertising@unltdbusiness.com FINANCE Sarah Koriba and Faye Bailey accounts@exposedmagazine.co.uk DESIGN Simon Waller and Simon Garlick CONTRIBUTORS Dean Atkins Mike Durham Marc Barker Peter Kay Isobel Buffin Sarah-Louise Kelsey Desmond Conway Ash Young unLTD is published monthly by Blind Mice Media LTD Unit 1B Rialto 2 Kelham Island Square Kelham Riverside Sheffield S3 8SD and HR Media LTD Unit 1a Speedwell Works, Sidney Street, Sheffield S1 4RG The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media LTD and HR Media LTD and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout unLTD is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media LTD and HR Media LTD cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific listings.

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AGENDA NEWS

Competition winner announced!

JIM BELL, DIRECTOR OF ARUP AND KIM STREETS, CEO OF MUSEUMS SHEFFIELD

‘ESSENTIAL’ SPONSOR SUPPORT HELPS BRING ‘EXCELLENT’ DA VINCI EXHIBITION The Sheffield base for building and design company ARUP has become the lead sponsor and the Sheffield office of law firm CMS, associate sponsor, for the much-anticipated Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing exhibition at the Millennium Gallery.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to see some of the original drawings by Leonardo da Vinci from the Royal Collection.

Director of ARUP, Sheffield, Jim Bell said: “Leonardo da Vinci’s genius is well known, but underlying it was his unending curiosity to understand everything he saw: nature, motion, water, light, music. The exhibition celebrates Leonardo’s studies and illustrates his quest for wisdom; this is what attracted us as a sponsor.

“We (Arup) have chosen to support this exhibition

because it will enable us to engage with our clients and the Sheffield community through a variety of means including private viewings, and create the opportunity for some of Arup’s thought-leaders to share ideas in what will be an intimate and thought-provoking setting.”

Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing displays

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extraordinary drawings as part of a series of nationwide exhibitions marking the 500th anniversary of his death

CEO of Museums Sheffield Kim Streets said: “The support of Arup and CMS are an essential part of being able to deliver Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Drawing in Sheffield.

There will be something for everyone and we hope that the exhibition and events will inspire people to have the confidence to create and give themselves the time for new thoughts – just like Leonardo da Vinci.”

Mark Haywood, head of CMS’s Northern offices, said that the firm’s CSR initiatives are focused on having a positive impact in our local communities, and supporting the arts is a major part of that.

He added: “Having original works from one of the greatest artists who ever lived on display in Sheffield is excellent for the city, and we are proud to be a small part of making that happen.”

Got news and views of your own? Let us know!

Get in touch with your press releases, ideas and suggestions: editorial@unltdbusiness.com Twitter @unLTDbusiness LinkedIn: Unltd Business Instagram: unltdbusiness

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It’s very good news for one unLTD reader – after they were picked as the winner of our competition to win a bed and breakfast stay for two at an award-winning boutique hotel!

Tucked away in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, the 5 Star Yorebridge House is a superb Victorian Grade II, listed, and restored former Headmaster’s House and School boutique hotel recognised for its outstanding accommodation, food and wines.

Just over a couple of hours drive from South Yorkshire, the awardwinning Yorebridge House is recognised by Welcome to Yorkshire and is literally on the banks of the River Ure – in fact, it’s just a few short steps away from some of the rooms.

So congratulations to Andrew Moore of Kilnhurst, Rotherham, who has won our very popular competition, beating 300-plus other entrants to enjoy his stay!

Located in the Yorkshire Dales National Park on the outskirts of the unspoilt village of Bainbridge in Wensleydale makes Yorebridge the ideal choice for a getaway to savour a taste of the great Yorkshire outdoors and enjoy owners Dave and Charlotte Reilly’s passion for luxury and fine dining.

And for the disappointed other readers – find out more about Yorebridge House by visiting yorebridgehouse.co.uk, email enquiries@ yorebridgehouse.co.uk or call 01969 652060.

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BEST BAR NONE CELEBRATES TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY People on a night out will be asked to #LoveSheffieldNights in celebration of 10 years in the Best Bar None Scheme.

The scheme is designed to reduce alcohol related disorder and help boost the city’s evening economy. It has played a vital role over the last decade encouraging pubs and clubs in the city centre to take an active role in modelling good practice around safe drinking. #LoveSheffieldNights is an opportunity for people to share on social media what makes Sheffield such a great night out.

Cllr Jim Steinke, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety said: “We are delighted as a city to be recognised for the hard work put in to make sure that people can have a fun and safe time.

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Best Bar None Schemes operate across the UK

Sheffield’s scheme has been recognised by the national Best Bar None body, and has been nominated for two awards for “Best Overall Scheme” and “Most Innovative Scheme”.

Economic Survey reveals ‘challenging times’ for region’s manufacturers Businesses across the region are facing ‘challenging times’ amidst growing concerns over Brexit, which is affecting growth and confidence according to the Sheffield City Region’s Quarterly Economic Review (QER).

The results of the final quarter of the year (Q4) were unveiled by David Littlewood, professor of Strategic Management at the University of Sheffield’s Management School, at an event hosted by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

According to the latest statistics, whilst Brexit’s impact on exchange rates were said to be the biggest challenge faced over the

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past quarter, the region’s manufacturers have been particularly hard hit.

Growing numbers of manufacturers cited increases in the cost of raw materials and a declining export Just

22% 44%

of businesses operating in the service industry and

of manufacturers said they had made special provisions for dealing with Brexit

market has resulted in a more difficult trading period.

However, during the same period, the region’s service industry performed better, with many SMEs recording improved levels of and plans to increase their workforce, however some also noted difficulties in recruiting suitable members of staff.

Andrew Denniff, chief executive, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: “The latest survey results show that as we edge closer towards the planned leaving date, there are signs that areas of the local economy are already beginning to feel the impact of the continued political instability surrounding Brexit.”

Mayor launches search for Active Travel Commissioner The search is on to appoint Sheffield City Region’s first Active Travel Commissioner to work together with Mayor Dan Jarvis.

The Commissioner will be an expert on aspects of Active Travel, such as walking and cycling, and will work closely with the Mayor to ‘make his ambitious transport vision a reality’.

Mayor Jarvis said: “Here in the Sheffield City Region, we will build a transport system that works for everyone.

“A vital part of this is enabling people to travel in a more active way, whether by foot, bike or public transport.

By prioritising active travel, we can improve people’s health, cut carbon emissions and reduce congestion.

Projections show that by 2026 there will be an extra

500,000

journeys on South Yorkshire’s transport system

“I look forward to appointing the Commissioner and, together, delivering an ambitious plan that makes real improvements for residents, businesses and visitors to our region.”

The Active Travel Commissioner will work with organisations including local authorities, the Passenger Transport Executive, community groups and public health professionals, as well as with national Government.

CHECK OUT PAGES 64-65 to read Sheffield Chamber of Commerce’s Richard Wright’s take on transport for the Sheffield City Region

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AGENDA HOT South Yorkshire has recorded one of the strongest levels of jobs growth in the decade since the financial crisis, according to a report by thinktank Resolution Foundation.

Lloyds Banking Group will use up to £1.4bn of lending to support businesses across Yorkshire including entrepreneurs looking to start a new business, micro-businesses seeking to scale up and small businesses considering trading internationally for the first time.

Jerry Cheung, founder of the New Era Development in Sheffield, says he hopes the initiative will help firms in the region secure a bigger slice of the £11 billion annual Chinese investment in the UK and has had ‘lots of enquiries’ since opening.

Up to 1,000 jobs could be created under plans for a major development on Sheffield Business Park – one of the largest business parks in Yorkshire – if the outline scheme is approved by Rotherham Council.

Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board and the Mayor Dan Jarvis are deep in preparations to ensure communities and businesses across the region, regardless of the Brexit deal, do not become poorer as a result.

COOL More than 1,000 jobs at Marks & Spencer are at risk as the retailer announced its latest round of store closures as part of a drastic transformation plan – with the Rotherham store included.

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ALLAN WOOD OF UKSE WITH LEWIS MILLS

ROTHERHAM ACADEMY TO SUPPORT ‘NEXT GENERATION OF FOOTBALL STARS’ Foot Famous, a football development academy that supports the progression of grassroots players into local and national professional academies has launched and held its first set of trials after receiving a Kickstart grant from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE).

Founded in October 2018, business owner Lewis Mills decided to pursue his dreams of exposing talented young footballers in the area to scouts and managers from top football clubs in the region and beyond.

Using the £500 grant from

UKSE, Lewis ‘kick-started’ the business by purchasing branded kit, training equipment and marketing collateral to spread the word amongst the region’s up-and-coming football stars.

Lewis said: “I’m thrilled to have completed my first lot of

10 PLAYERS So far, 10 players in the Under 8s, 9s and 10s age groups have signed up to a structured 12-week programme to develop their footy skills

trials and am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm all of the players have to progress – I have no doubt that each and every one of them will go on to achieve great things in the footballing world!”

Allan Wood of UKSE added: “With clear routes for development and providing a stepping stone between local, regional and national football clubs, Foot Famous will be instrumental in bolstering the region’s next generation of football stars.”

The team of four coaches run the weekly sessions from Wath Comprehensive School.

Universities’ bid to inspire a love of languages Sheffield’s two universities have joined forces to take part in a pioneering mentoring scheme to encourage school children in South Yorkshire to study modern languages.

The initiative, headed

by Cardiff University and funded by the Department of Education, will be introduced into ten schools and will benefit around 200 pupils in South Yorkshire. The aim is to increase the number of students choosing to study a modern language at GCSE level.

Simon Nicholls, Senior Lecturer in French and Catalan studies at Sheffield Hallam

University and regional coordinator for mentoring in Sheffield, said: “This provides a prime opportunity for our undergraduate students to

20-40%

The initiative aims to increase uptake of modern foreign languages in England’s partner schools by between 20 and 40 per cent.

work on raising the aspirations of young people in the Sheffield city region, not only in yielding an enhanced enjoyment of language study and celebrating their usage, but also in smashing the class-based glass ceiling and demonstrating that university study is completely attainable.”

The six-week programme is made up of a mixture of face-to-face learning and online activities. Students will be assigned a mentor from the University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam University, who will support them to explore the benefits of language learning.

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AGENDA

SPONGE BRINGS ‘SERIOUSLY CREATIVE DIGITAL LEARNING’ TO SHEFFIELD Custom digital learning provider Sponge has opened a new office in ‘innovative’ Sheffield to support the company’s ongoing expansion and growth plans.

The new office, based at Sheffield Technology Parks in the heart of the city’s dynamic Cultural Industries Quarter, will be headed by Sponge’s newly-appointed head of project management, Sam Lydiat.

Commenting on the company’s decision to set up shop in the North, VP of operations at Sponge, Alan Bourne, said: “Historically known as the ‘Steel City’, Sheffield has undergone major regeneration in recent years. When we were scoping locations, we were struck

SAM LYDIAT, HEAD OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT SPONGE

by the city’s innovative spirit and commitment to the rapidly developing creative and digital industries.

“With Sponge having been at the forefront of creative digital

learning for 15 years, we see Sheffield as the ideal location for our first office in the north of England and our new space in the Cultural Industries Quarter is the perfect fit.”

Award-winning BBC presenter and University of Sheffield graduate Dan Walker was back to receive an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his broadcasting achievements and the dedicated support he offers to students.

The BBC Breakfast co-anchor, who hosted the Sheffield Business Awards, was joined at the University of Sheffield’s Winter Graduation by his good mates City Taxis MD Arnie Singh (left) and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce President and Universal Office Products MD Steve Manley (right).

Dan said: “There is a reason so many students come to Sheffield and stay here – because they love the people, they love the place, and you instantly feel an affinity with it.”

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Civil engineering firm on the up with expansion and relocation Rail engineering firm, Specialist Engineering Services Ltd. (SES) has relocated its headquarters to Doncaster to centralise its commercial and operational sides of the business.

Employing more than 200 people, and with further sites in London and Scotland, SES made the decision to move its headquarters to Balby Court, Balby Carr Bank, Doncaster earlier in the year.

SES produces a turnover of

£9M

The decision to relocate its HQ was supported by Business Doncaster, a partner of the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Enhancement Project, which is financed by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

Emma Shrimpton, business services manager at SES, said: “Our move to the area contributed to boosting the local economy and creating jobs and so, as a result, we were able to benefit from funding which really helped us to transition between sites and improve the accessibility of our nearby operating centre.

Michael Stanley of Business Doncaster added: “It’s great to see SES choosing Doncaster as the location of its headquarters and we are thrilled to have been able to support the team throughout this transition.”

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AGENDA APPOINTMENTS

Sheffield City Region appoints ‘outstanding’ new LEP Chair James Muir, former head of group national sales at Volkswagen, and chair of trustees at the Astrea Academy Trust, has been appointed the new Chair of the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The LEP Chair is responsible for representing private-sector businesses and setting the strategic direction for the SCR’s economic growth.

SCR Mayor Dan Jarvis headed the interview panel.

He said: “This role is a crucial one and in James we have an outstanding candidate for the job. With James’s business expertise, passion for our region and his dedication to social mobility, I’m confident he will provide strong leadership to the LEP, be the voice of our

businesses and represent the Sheffield City Region on a Northern, national and international level.”

James said: “Using my business acumen and experience of spearheading businesses across more than 25 markets around the world, I believe I can support our local companies to develop and expand their potential across the globe. As a resident of Sheffield, with strong connections to the wider region, I want to do my utmost to create a vibrant economic powerhouse at the forefront of technological change.”

Previous Chair Sir Nigel Knowles stepped down when his term of office came to an end in December 2018 and will now take on a role as special advisor to the Mayor on trade

Management line-up at CPP

CPP FM & Projects has announced its full management line-up, bringing together an unrivalled team of professionals with expertise in the maintenance and refurbishment of properties across the UK, headed-up

by MD Nick Wales.

JAMES MUIR

and investment, and continue to represent Sheffield City Region at events such as the annual MIPIM property conference in Cannes next month.

SYHA welcomes Charlotte

South Yorkshire Housing Association has welcomed a new director of care, health and wellbeing.

Charlotte Murray has joined from Good Things Foundation, where she was chief operating officer and director of digital inclusion.

LEFT TO RIGHT: DAN FELL, CHAMBER CEO, NICK FLETCHER, SARAH NAYLOR AND CHAMBER PRESIDENT MICHAEL WILKINSON

BUSINESS LEADERS JOIN DONCASTER CHAMBER BOARD Sarah Naylor of Atherton Godfrey, Pristine Commercial Cleaning’s Tracie Dudley Shaw, and Nick Fletcher of Analogue Electrics Ltd have been elected on to the Doncaster Chamber Board of Directors.

Chamber President Michael Wilkinson said: “Doncaster has a wealth of excellent businesses

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and high calibre leaders which is reflected on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Through their respective firms, Tracie, Nick and Sarah are long-term Chamber members who have a good understanding of our vision and goals and what other businesses need to thrive and grow.”

The Chamber also welcomed three new co-opted directors – Andrew Morley of ProAktive, Gavin Baldwin of Club Doncaster, and Suzy Brain England OBE of the NHS – ‘to ensure the Board truly represents Doncaster businesses and their workforces from a diverse range of sectors and skills’.

PR agency appoints design specialist PR agency HR Media has expanded following the recruitment of graphic design specialist Simon Garlick.

Ben’s on board at Roofco

Ben Elmore has taken on the role of administration and junior estimator at Sheffield-based safety equipment supplier Roofco.

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AGENDA APPOINTMENTS

The Templand Group appoints chief operating officer The Templand Group has appointed Ian Bell as chief operating officer, a ‘highly experienced, successful and well-regarded business leader’ whose career has spanned the information technology, refrigeration, catering, and food service industries.

The post is a welcome addition to the Group, whose businesses include ITI Network Services, ITI Electrical Services and Newline Communications.

Ian’s remit is to provide ‘dynamic and objective support’ to the board and employees across all Templand Group businesses.

Jason Denmark, Templand Group CEO, said: “Ian’s position supports our long term intention to invest both in the group businesses and the people who are most instrumental within them.

“Ian’s position will provide dynamic and objective

New sales and marketing post for Sarina Sarina Ratcliffe-Jones has joined the Copthorne Hotel Sheffield as sales and marketing manager.

Having worked for Sheffield United as business development manager for six years, she left in 2010 to gain a career in the hotel industry, working with the brand of Principal Hayley and QHotels, the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate, and her last role was with Welcome to Yorkshire as account manager for South and West Yorkshire.

Sarina, whose father-inlaw Mick Jones played for Sheffield United and Leeds United football clubs, joins the Bramall Lane hotel as it celebrates its tenth birthday this year.

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IAN BELL, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE TEMPLAND GROUP

support for each Director and individual members of the Senior Management team.

Alongside this he will develop Group ambassadorial duties and provide further support within business planning.

“His extensive experience will help drive performance

measures through growth and will be instrumental to not only the Templand Group’s development, but individual personal development, which is essential for the continual success of the Group to move into the next stage of our strategic development.”

New FSB team lobbying for region The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has elected volunteer members to lead local grassroots lobbying activity, with Simon Williams elected Regional Chairman, saying he wants “to ensure that the voice of small businesses across the area is clearly heard”.

Kevin Donnelly, elected as National Councillor for Yorkshire, The Humber and North East England, said: “I look forward to working locally to represent the interests of our diverse and vibrant population of members and small businesses to ensure we stay at the heart of the local debate and at the forefront of business policy decisionmaking.”

Across South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and The Humber, Irshad Akbar from Doncaster and Gareth Alexander from Hull have been elected as Area Leaders.

TOP JOB FOR SOPHIE Connect Yorkshire has announced key changes within the organisation which sees Sophie Conboy promoted from COO to CEO. Established in 2002 by Nick Butler, Connect Yorkshire is a not-for-profit business support group which helps business owners grow their businesses through direct access to some of Yorkshire’s leading entrepreneurs for support and advice through a range of programmes including masterclasses, peer board groups and 121 mentoring.

Sophie, who joined Connect Yorkshire in 2013 as an account manager, said: “I’m excited for the future of Connect Yorkshire and how we will continue to provide our members with the opportunities to enable them

Stacey lands Bossa Nova role

to grow their businesses and in turn create jobs and wealth in Yorkshire.”

Craig Batham has also joined the organisation as operations manager.

Benchmark Recruit worked alongside Bossa Nova Robotics managing director Red McKay to place new business development manager, Stacey Turner, in position at the leading robotics company in Sheffield, which is now home to their European headquarters.

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SPECIALIST TRAINING PROVIDER

FOR EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE SHEFFIELD CITY REGION Apprenticeships Adult Education Traineeships Employability Support Commercial Training Conferencing

www.thesourceacademy.co.uk unLTDBUSINESS.COM

AGENDA

THE DIARY

BY RICHARD FIDLER

Our editor says businesses will find their own way through Brexit challenges

Sunnier days ahead after January blues I wonder how many people will check the calendar just to make sure it’s still not January. Despite it being a standard 31 days why does January seem to last forever?

Anyway, we’re through it now and before we know it February will have been and gone in a flash and the spring will be upon us.

Happy days.

LET BUSINESS GET ON WITH IT It is very hard to write a regular column in a business magazine and avoid Brexit, but thus far I have managed to do so.

I have no intention of discussing it here this month as the situation changes so quickly and the amount of information and misinformation is so great that only a fool would confidently predict what will happen next, never mind how it will pan out into the future.

For what it’s worth I have always been very comfortable with the result of the referendum in 2016 and my attendance at an event a few weeks ago reinforced my confidence in the local business community.

The event was hosted at Rotherham United’s New York Stadium and the subject was

the Sheffield City Region’s Quarterly Economic Review.

More than 100 businesses operating throughout the region were there, and the event also featured a special presentation by Jenny Lawson of Enterprise Europe Network who provided a briefing and update on Brexit, before joining a panel discussion featuring William Beckett, Chair of the International Trade Forum, Neil MacDonald, Chair of SCR Business Growth Board and Jayne Mezulis, Export & Import Consultancy Services by EICS. As you’d expect there were varying degrees of optimism and pessimism expressed by all the panellists but the one thing they all agreed on was that business would knuckle down and get on with anything that was thrown our way.

And that is really what I wanted this column to be about.

Businesses and business people find their way through problems, they overcome challenges and they seize opportunities.

What they can’t stand is indecision, uncertainty and needless amounts of red tape. And that is where the politicians come in.

I’ve no doubt that the vast majority of people who go into politics do so to make, in their own opinion, a positive difference. But quite often they just get in the way and there’s often a feeling that they think they know best.

Businesses and the people that run them are resourceful.

Sometimes the best help is allowing business some space to just get on with the job.

Got views of your own? Let me know: richard@unltdbusiness.com LinkedIn: Richard Fidler

Social event set to be on the money again Speaking of February, this month will see the third of our unLTD Social events at Virgin Money at the top of Fargate in Sheffield city centre.

So far we have had some excellent speakers and some lively discussions.

The forthcoming social on Thursday, February 7 from 4-6pm promises to be equally as good with Abi Golland, founder Street Food Chef, and Rob Cole, managing director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens, set to be our star turns.

If you want find out more email me or alexandra@ unltdbusiness.com.

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AGENDA

IF YOU ASK ME ...

GREENER

WORKPLACES With the Government’s environment plan setting out measures to reduce plastic waste over the next 25 years, we asked a range of people how businesses can make a positive contribution by tackling the ‘throwaway culture’ and encouraging a more environmentally friendly workplace 16

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AGENDA DARREN BLAND, MD OF DJB RECYCLING

It doesn’t matter what you do, or where you work, there’s just no running-away from plastic waste. Thankfully, there’s plenty you can do to lessen your business’s environmental impact, and even improve your level of cost-effectiveness.

If you really want to make your company more ‘green,’ the first thing you should do is rethink your priorities – because whilst the idea of recycling plastic might sound good in principle, a lot of people don’t realise that the continued use of plastic rapidly leads to a downgrade in its quality.

In fact, a single piece of plastic can be recycled twice – maybe three times at a push.

Overall, this means that only

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about 30-40 per cent of scrap plastic recovered can be saved from the landfill.

That’s assuming the plastic can even be recycled. Coffee cups for example are very difficult to reuse due to the combination of materials used in their production, and any plastic can be rejected if it hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned.

A better first step would be to complete a waste audit, which will give you a great starting point by identifying exactly how much waste you produce, where it’s coming from and what you can do about it.

You’ll probably find a lot of plastic comes from convenience. Plastic straws for one are an issue that’s gained

a lot of bad reputation over the past year, and rightly so – the UK goes through around 8.5 billion of them a year.

Likewise, stocking up on water bottles and disposable cups might make the staff kitchen a lot tidier, but it dramatically increases the amount of plastic in the bin.

Just consider the minor changes you can make which have a far-reaching impact.

Stock the office kitchen with only bio-degrabeable straws.

Replace hands soap bottles with refillable dispensers, or bars of soap.

Providing all your staff with reusable bottles will not only help the environment, but it’ll save cash in the long-term by reducing the monthly outgoings.

Even the hot-drinks round might seem completely harmless, but most teabags are made up of around 25 per cent plastic. Admittedly, loose leaf tea isn’t as practical for most people, but there are a whole host of companies which produce more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Of course, for certain industries there is no avoiding large quantities of waste, but even this issue can be diminished by using a recycling baler – which compacts cardboard, paper and plastics into small ‘bales’ for easy transportation and resale.

Really, it’s all just a matter of remembering the unwritten rule to avoiding plastic waste: record, reduce, replace, refuse, refill, rethink and reuse.

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AGENDA My journey to starting Sheffield’s latest zero waste shop, which opened on 327 Abbeydale Road last November, began about a year ago when I became more aware of my personal impact on the world as the result of watching several compelling documentaries that left a real impression of how the human race is negatively affecting the environment.

I was excited to find out about zero waste shops opening and learning other ways in which I could start to live a less impactful lifestyle.

Come summer of 2018 I was contemplating where my career was heading and decided that I would start researching if it was possible to open my own zero waste shop. A short while later I had the funding I needed and found the perfect location for the shop.

I do think people are now starting to take a greener approach in their personal lifestyles, and businesses such as zero waste shops would not have survived even five years ago. Recent media coverage of topics such as plastic pollution has helped in highlighting these issues to many, but it can be hard to implement changes in the workplace due to existing practices to challenge the way things get done.

However, I believe it is important for businesses to take charge of creating change and it can be as simple as just a matter of taking a step back, looking at areas which currently create the most waste and

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MATHEW REYNOLDS – OWNER OF THE BARE ALTERNATIVE

exploring ways to reduce that waste or if needed switching to a different system and/or introducing new equipment. For example, larger organisations which have canteens for employees, and potentially even business that cater for their customers, need to look towards sustainable practices such as providing reusable crockery, cutlery, etc and avoiding the potential ‘greenwash’ of

I believe it is important for businesses to take charge of creating change

biodegradable single-use items, which can actually be as problematic as any other single-use item where the correct waste management system is not in place.

Other ways that businesses can promote green habits is by looking at improving current practices or making simple swaps in a similar way to changing personal habits.

For example, a business which ships large numbers of packages can look to switch to using paper sticky tape and packing rather than traditional plastic Sellotape and air pockets which can have a massive reduction in the waste created.

Businesses could also include simple ways to encourage more eco-friendly behaviour in their employees which extends outside the workplace into everyday routines, such as only boiling the right amount of water needed for a hot drink or walking/cycling to work to encourage healthier lifestyles.

Despite been known as a green city, Sheffield has seen its fair share of bad press between the tree-cutting fiasco of last year and waste disposal practices so there is work to be done. It would be great to see the council take initiative on providing facilities to promote green activities including more cycle lanes, free parking spaces with charging for electric cars (powered by clean energy sources) or schemes to make solar panels more affordable for local residents and businesses.

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

AGENDA Street-food and ‘fast casual’ restaurants are the fastest growing sectors of the UK food and drink industry.

Why? Because they give us an exotic array of world foods at reasonable prices and more often than not, use ingredients from local producers. We’re all into provenance and cutting food miles, aren’t we?

But what is it wrapped in?

A polystyrene or foil container inside a plastic carrier bag perchance, with a sachet of plastic cutlery for good measure?

The amount of single-use plastic in the street-food and takeaway industry needs to be addressed.

It’s ironic that Britain’s oldest form of takeaway – fish and chips, wrapped in paper and eaten with fingers or a little wooden fork – is probably the most environmentally friendly.

At The Street Food Chef, we have used compostable plates and biodegradable bags since we launched in 2010.

And in 2018 we decided we had to up our ante and rid our business of all single-use plastic.

The main culprits were disposable cutlery, straws, coffee cups, milkshake cups and small salsa pots.

The cutlery was easy – we switched to a biodegradable and compostable version made of plant starch. So was changing from plastic straws to paper versions.

The bigger challenge has been the coffee cups, milkshake cups and salsa pots.

After a protracted search, we

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

ABI GOLLAND, DIRECTOR OF THE STREET FOOD CHEF MEXICAN CANTINAS

were able to take advantage of the most recent development – products made from corn and vegetable starch – via a supplier whose mission is to only use materials that are kinder to the environment.

We are trying to do our bit to bring about change outside of our business, too. We believe that, if companies like us keep putting pressure on the suppliers who are not in line with our goals, some will eventually make the switch.

Our next focus is to remove

We have used compostable plates and biodegradable bags since we launched in 2010

plastic from our kitchens – those products which arrive with us wrapped in plastic, and the plastic tubs we use to store prepped ingredients.

We also want to help our customers change their plastic habits and have just introduced a 25p discount on takeaway meals and drinks to people bringing their own cup and container.

They can buy our food, without having to pay for packaging they are only going to throw away.

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AGENDA At Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens we aim to tackle the ‘throwaway culture’ head-on by providing clients with solid and high-quality kitchens which are built to last. So many kitchens end up in landfill within a relatively short period of time and we aim to change that.

We put an emphasis on sustainability and incorporate locally sourced materials and high-recycled content materials into our kitchens wherever possible. For example, we use a lot of recycled glass worktops and create shelving or work surfaces and breakfast bars from reclaimed timber.

We encourage clients to opt for greener alternatives, consider more eco-conscious appliances and low energy LED lighting. More and more people are looking for greener alternatives and want to know the provenance of what they’re buying.

A strong aftercare service is a good way to a greener business, repairing things wherever possible, to increase longevity – we aim for a lifespan of a 20-year-plus minimum. Approximately 30 per cent of our projects are now refurbishments, where we replace just part of the kitchen, or overhaul the current kitchen to function better, giving it a new lease

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

ROB COLE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SHEFFIELD SUSTAINABLE KITCHENS

of life. For example, cabinet doors can be repainted rather than replaced.

In November 2018 we were proud to win the award for Excellence in Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility at the Sheffield Business Awards. It’s not hard for businesses to adopt socially responsible practices – they are at the heart of everything we do, since the company began 11 years ago.

You can minimise the impact of the business on the environment and benefit the local community in which it is based, whether it’s reducing

We put an emphasis on sustainability and incorporate locally sourced materials and high-recycled content materials into our kitchens

waste, increasing recycling practices, or sourcing locally wherever possible, reducing carbon emissions and bolstering the local economy.

Looking at your company’s transport policy can have a massive impact on the well-being of the workforce as well as your local environment, helping to tackle air pollution – a big local problem. We are expanding our fleet of electric vehicles and also encourage staff to cycle or walk to work, embracing cycle-to-work schemes and educating the team on eco-driving courses. We’re also considering adding an electric bike or two to our fleet, reducing diesel miles further.

A greener workplace could encompass a more ethical approach to business (for example choosing an ethical bank for your company), socially responsible supply chains and acting as a responsible employer.

A small move that shows a big commitment would be to introduce a named Sustainability Champion, responsible for pushing this agenda forward and encourage all staff to think creatively to identify ways in which the company could be more socially responsible, sustainable, and ethical.

21

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AGENDA

IN A NUTSHELL

BY JILL THEOBALD

Our features writer Jill Theobald says let’s bin old environmental methods

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

RE-THINK Working practices have come a long way since I first joined the workforce back in the early noughties.

On my first newspaper we’d think nothing of receiving press releases by fax – some even still arrived by good old-fashioned snail mail with print photos that we dutifully scanned in. The website was probably updated with news once or twice a week.

I have done two stints in public relations with a year in between on a magazine and in the time it took me to return to PR the industry had changed massively with the advent and impact of social media shaping how we conveyed the communications messages of our clients.

Today the outdated concept of being sat at a desk at a PC and working 9-5 is on its way out too, with evolving technology meaning anyone can take the office with them and ‘log on’ to work any time, any place.

But the one outdated working practice that definitely needs consigning to the bin is our ‘throwaway culture’.

So it is very heartening to read

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our If You Ask Me contributors this month.

As Rob Cole, managing director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens, points out: “More and more people are looking for greener alternatives and want to know the provenance of what they’re buying.”

Very true. Over the last year several friends have either committed to seeking out cruelty-free make-up, growing their own food, or switching to ‘hard’ soap and toiletries in a bid to cut down on plastic bottles and packaging. Another friend did Veganuary last year – and has remained vegan 12 months on.

And anyone who follows me on social media will know I am a big charity shop fan (#circularfashion, #sustainablefashion #ethicalfashion!) and frequent attendee at the Common Thread clothes exchange sessions at Union St. As Mathew Reynolds, owner of The Bare Alternative zero waste shop, acknowledges: “I do think people are now starting to take a greener

approach in their personal lifestyles and businesses such as zero waste shops would not have survived even five years ago.”

So while many of us are doing what we can to minimise waste, eat more healthily with an eye on less meat and/ or food miles and generally living more environmentally friendly personal lives, it makes sense for businesses to ensure they are doing the same in the workplace.

Back to Rob at Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens: “You can minimise the impact of the business on the environment and benefit the local community in which it is based, whether it’s reducing waste, increasing recycling practices, or sourcing locally wherever possible, reducing carbon emissions and bolstering the local economy.

“A strong aftercare service is a good way to a greener business, repairing things wherever possible, to increase longevity – we aim for a lifespan of a 20-year-plus minimum.”

Sheffield Sustainable

Kitchens are also expanding their electric vehicle fleet and encouraging staff to cycle or walk to work, and educating the team on eco-driving courses.

And over at Street Food Chef, founder Abi Golland tells us: “We have used compostable plates and biodegradable bags since we launched in 2010. And in 2018 we decided we had to up our ante and rid our business of all single-use plastic.”

Darren Bland of DJB Recycling, concedes: “Of course, for certain industries there is no avoiding large quantities of waste” but follows up with a reminder that it’s all about ‘priorities’, adding: “But even this issue can be diminished by using a recycling baler – which compacts cardboard, paper and plastics into small ‘bales’ for easy transportation and resale.”

So no excuses, then – let’s reduce, reuse, recycle and re-THINK. It might not be easy being green, as Kermit the Frog once sang. But if workforces across the city region don’t at least try – frankly, we’re Muppets!

23

Award-Winning Digital Marketing, Web Development & Digital Design Contact Our Team For Help Growing Your Business Online www. evoluted.net

info@evoluted.net

0114 272 9753

unLTDBUSINESS.COM

AGENDA

EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY

BY ASH YOUNG

Our digital expert Ash Young looks at keeping your website performance on track

STAYING ON TRACK It’s vital to track the performance of your website and any accompanying digital marketing activity.

Doing so enables you to understand and tackle a vast amount of potential issues related to your business and ultimately improve performance.

Some of the many issues basic tracking can help you to resolve include: • A drop in visitors to your website • A reduction in revenue being generated through your website • Losing prominence in the search engine results • Users ‘bouncing’ from your website • People adding items to a checkout but not making a purchase

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Without the correct tracking in place, each of these areas would be difficult to resolve. With it, however, you can identify what might be causing you problems and formulate a suitable solution to turn things around.

What Should I Be Tracking?

This will really depend on how much time you’re keen to invest in improving digital performance. Whatever activity you’re implementing though, there is certain tracking you should always have in place. Some of the key points to cover include: Google Analytics: Through Google Analytics, you can track how users interact with your website and gain vital knowledge around the pages that do and don’t perform

well across your site. You can also gain valuable insight into user behaviour, locations, conversion funnels, revenue and much, much more.

Paid Ads: If you’re running any paid activity through a platform such as Google Ads (formerly AdWords), Facebook or Bing, you have to ensure the conversion tracking is synced with your website. Without it, you risk losing priceless performance insight – and ultimately wasting your money.

Keyword Tracking: If you’re keen to improve your organic search performance (the free traffic you bring in from search engines), then it can be really handy to track the important search queries bringing people to your site. This will enable you to optimise your website

to capture these searches more effectively. It’s important to undertake keyword research first to understand which queries to track. These should then be used as a gauge for core metrics such as website traffic and revenue.

Beyond these suggestions, there are a wealth of other tracking options that can be used to help you improve your company’s performance online. We’ll take a look at some of these more advanced methods further down the line – while next month we’ll show you how tracking can be used to generate more sales online.

For help improving your company’s digital tracking mechanisms, get in touch with Evoluted today.

Ash Young, Evoluted www.evoluted.net

25

AGENDA CALENDAR

EDITORP’SICK EVENT

14TH FEBRUARY #VIBRANTSHEFFIELD LIVE!

Venue: The Crucible, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA Time: 7.45am – 11.30am Cost: Free About: The theme is global innovation and for two hours in the theatre there will be talks from both large and small organisations which are putting this region on the international map for their innovative thinking, creativity and products. #VibrantSheffield Live will be bringing together the most

diverse range of leaders, influencers, decision makers and future talent to share knowledge, celebrate success and encourage collaboration. The current line-up includes Twinkl, Strata, The National Videogame Museum, Metalysis, Barnsley Digital Media Centre, Mobile Power and city region Mayor Dan Jarvis.

Contact: 0114 262 9062 or chanel.lloyd@uk.gt.com

3RD FEBRUARY 5TH 5TH ADVANCED SPEAKER WITH THE SALES GROWTH CLUB LIVE DESTINATION DEPOT BILLAL JAMIL & PUBLIC SPEAKING ACADEMY

Venue: Jurys Inn Sheffield Hotel, 119 Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 4QW Time: 9.30am – 12pm Cost: Early Bird Mastermind – £145 (+£11.90 fee) Express Mastermind – Free About: Advanced speaker training is aimed at senior professionals, established entrepreneurs and academics who want to deliver more lively presentations in business or at networking events, pitch business elegantly, develop a high impact keynote speech, structure talks more skilfully, identify compelling content and use stories in speaking.

Contact: bit.ly/2GB0HhE

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Venue: Jurys Inn Sheffield Hotel, 119 Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 4QW Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm Cost: £158.36 About: Many businesses invest time in developing a good business plan. But what’s often missing is a sales plan and this is why businesses do not see the growth they anticipate. This workshop led by ‘The Sales Mindset Coach’ Steve Knapp will offer advice and insight so you can leave knowing the building blocks required to put sales at the heart of your business.

Contact: bit.ly/2GppiGn

NETWORKING

Venue: The Depot Bakery/ Eatery, 92 Burton Road, Sheffield S3 8DA Time: 7.15am – 9am Cost: £10 About: Destination Depot is a weekly networking event which helps to build your business, net-work & net-worth.

Contact: bit.ly/2A3ELq3

5TH AN HOUR WELL SPENT: MAKING TAX DIGITAL

Venue: Doncaster Racecourse, The Grandstand, Leger Way, Doncaster DN2 6BB Time: 8am – 9.30am Cost: Members FREE, non-members: £15 exc. VAT

About: Making Tax Digital is a key part of the government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs – meaning the end of the annual tax return for millions.

Contact: 01302 640106

6TH COFFEE AND NETWORKING

Venue: The Prince of Wales, 95 Ecclesall Road South, Sheffield S11 9PH Time: 10am – 12pm Cost: £5 cash payable on day About: Informal, friendly and welcoming meetings aimed at business owners in the South Yorkshire area and there are no ‘one person per sector’ restrictions.

Contact: bit.ly/2FiP1yN

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AGENDA

14TH FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM

7TH BREXIT BREAKFAST –

ADVERTISING – GET MORE LEADS INTO YOUR SALES PIPELINE

‘QUESTION TIME’ STYLE

Venue: Proact Stadium, 1866 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield S41 8NZ Time: 8am – 10.30am Cost: Free About: An opportunity to put forward your questions to a panel of experts in this Brexit ‘Question Time’ open breakfast forum co-hosted by Shorts, NatWest and Banner Jones Solicitors.

Contact: bit.ly/2Rrx4E2

8TH BARNSLEY PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION LUNCH

Venue: Tankersley Manor, Church Lane, Tankersley, Barnsley S75 3DQ Time: 12pm – 2.30pm Cost: £45 – £75 About: While gaining knowledge from guest speakers – David Shepherd, service director for regeneration and property place directorate and Matt Gladstone, executive director for place – there will be excellent networking opportunities.

Contact: bit.ly/2RijZ0B

8TH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY INCLUDING ATHENA INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Venue: Holiday Inn Barnsley, Barnsley Road, Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3JT Time: 3pm – 8pm Cost: Members £34.95 + VAT, Non-members £39.95 + VAT About: Join Women in Business for their annual International Women’s Day gathering, this year at Holiday Inn Barnsley.

Contact: bit.ly/2CMhyu5

11TH HOW TO GET A WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING

Venue: Sheffield City Region Offices, 11 Broad Street West, Sheffield S1 2BQ Time: TBA Cost: Free About: This workshop will teach business owners how to get a website up and running

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5TH

CITY REGION NETWORKING BREAKFAST

Venue: Magna Science Adventure Centre, Sheffield Road, Rotherham S60 1DX Time: 7.30am – 9.30am Cost: Non-members: £21.95, Members: £14.95 About: Membership of the Chamber is all about helping your business to grow and what better way to meet new businesses and make new contacts from across the area than at the City Region Business Breakfast.

Contact: bit.ly/2GrEz9s

or understand more about their current site. The event will cover the options for getting a website, from doing it yourself to hiring an agency.

Contact: businesssheffield@ sheffield.gov.uk

12TH OVERCOMING PRODUCTIVITY CHALLENGES IN GROWING PRODUCTION BUSINESSES

Venue: Magna Science Adventure Centre, Sheffield Road, Rotherham S60 1DX Time: 9.30am – 1pm Cost: Free About: This masterclass is for growing SMEs within the Sheffield City Region. The target audience is decision makers at board level or manufacturing managers who would like to learn more about business and process improvement.

Contact: bit.ly/2R3wnBj

12TH WOMEN IN BUSINESS:

HR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW

Venue: Best Western Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel, Great North Road (A638), Doncaster DN11 0HW Time: 12pm – 2.30pm Cost: Members: £23 excl. VAT, non-members: £36 excl. VAT About: Stewart & Co Solicitors will be presenting on HR and Employment Law. Contact: bit.ly/2VAdzIz

13TH MORE, MORE, MORE: WHAT

Venue: PJ Taste, 54 Staniforth Road, Sheffield S9 3HB Time: 10am – 11.30am Cost: A £7.50 donation on the door to cover room hire and refreshments About: Join social media marketing specialist Rik Courtney of Be More Social as he takes you on a journey through the daunting world of Facebook and Instagram. During this fast-paced workshop, delegates will come to understand the benefits of the right way to use Facebook, as well as gaining plenty of hints, tips and ideas that can be implemented straight into their business.

Contact: bit.ly/2Aym9OU

14TH

DOES SHEFFIELD NEED TO DO TO ATTRACT VISITORS? HOW YOUR BEHAVIOUR CAN AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS Venue: Genting Club, St Pauls Place, Arundel Gate, Sheffield S1 2NJ Time: 8am – 10.30am Cost: Non-member £25, Members: free About: What does Sheffield need to do to attract more visitors? How do we unlock Sheffield’s potential from a ‘visitor economy’ perspective?

The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Visitor Economy Forum have created an exciting and engaging event to answer these questions.

Join host and compere Alexis Krachai, MD of Counter Context, key note speaker Katy Fuller, creative director and CEO of Absolutely Cultured, and panellists including Kim Streets CEO of Museums Sheffield.

Contact: bit.ly/2EBVeFx

13TH - 18TH VALENTINE’S DINNER

Venue: 18Fifty5 Restaurant, Copthorne Hotel, Bramall Lane, Sheffield S2 4SU About: Three course Valentine’s Day dinner with a glass of Champagne Cost: £25 per person Contact: events.sheffield@ millenniumhotels.co.uk, 0114 252 5480 or 0114 252 5495

Venue: Barnsley Digital Media Centre, County Way, Barnsley S70 2JW Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm Cost: Free About: Do you feel like you’re on a business rollercoaster?

Would you like to know which behaviours are having a negative impact in and on your business, both yours and your team’s? In this interactive masterclass you will learn how to recognise unhelpful habits and negative behaviours and the impact they may be having on your business and you.

Contact: bit.ly/2sg793Y

14TH INTRODUCTION TO

SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT

Venue: Albion House, Savile Street, Sheffield S4 7UD Time: 9am – 4.30pm Cost: Members - £275+VAT, non-Members - £330+VAT About: This course is designed to enable a new supervisor or team leader to effectively make the transition from being a member of a team into a role of added responsibility, giving them the skills needed to prepare for and make the change a positive experience.

Contact: bit.ly/2CW1ZA2

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AGENDA

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18/01/2019 11:51

AGENDA

22ND FALL BACK IN LOVE WITH YOUR BUSINESS

7TH UNLTD BUSINESS SOCIAL

EDITORP’SICK EVENT

Venue: Virgin Money, 66 Fargate, Sheffield S1 2HE Time: 4pm – 6pm Cost: Free About: The next unLTD business social is an opportunity to benefit from our networks with like-minded companies and hear how our publication showcases the best of business in the Sheffield City Region. The focus of the session will be ‘sustainability and greener working practices’ with Abi Golland founder of Street Food Chef and Rob Cole, managing director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens.

Contact: alexandra@unltdbusiness.com

Venue: NatWest 1st Paul’s Place, 121 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JF Time: 8.30am – 12pm Cost: Free About: For many business owners the initial excitement of starting up a business turns into fear, and doubt because things get complicated as your business grows. Attend this workshop to find out how to ‘fall back in love with your business’.

Contact: bit.ly/2Lnomkr

22ND

SHEFFIELD & TINSLEY 200TH BIRTHDAY FLOTILLA

Venue: Victoria Quays, Sheffield, S2 5SY Time: 11am – 3pm Cost: Free About: This was the official date 200 years ago that the Sheffield & Tinsley canal was

EDITORP’SICK EVENT

opened, and the first barges arrived into the city. The aim of this day is to recreate the arrival of this ‘flotilla of boats’ into the quays. Enjoy family friendly activities including time travelling tours with actors bringing the canal’s past to life, craft activities and more.

Contact: bit.ly/2Mgk9zK

26TH BANK OF ENGLAND UPDATE:

INFLATION REPORT SUMMARY

Venue: Best Western Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel, Great North Road (A638), Doncaster DN11 0HW Time: 8am – 10am Cost: Members: £15 excl VAT, non-members £25 excl VAT About: The Bank of England will be publishing its Inflation Report at the beginning of February. Following that, Will Holman, Deputy Agent for the Bank’s Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber, will be holding a seminar to highlight the key points raised.

Contact: bit.ly/2FhdhR1

28TH SHEFFIELD BREAKFAST EVENT WITH STAUFF

Venue: Stauff, 500 Carlisle Street East, Sheffield S4 8BS Time: 8.30am – 10.30am Cost: Free About: This event is a great chance to meet Made in Yorkshire members, MDs and CEOs of the manufacturing businesses in the Yorkshire area.

Contact: bit.ly/2EC7ENH

28TH SHEFFIELD SOUP 14TH VALENTINE’S CINEMA AT ABBEYDALE PICTURE HOUSE

Venue: The Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield Time: Doors open 6:30pm, screening at 8:30pm Cost: £15 for adults, £13 for students and

unLTDBUSINESS.COM 11:51

seniors (60+), and £10 for children.

About: The Village Screen pop-up cinema will be transforming Sheffield’s Abbeydale Picture House back into a retro cinema this Valentine’s Day for a screening of 90s edgy and hilarious 10 Things I Hate About You, along with delicious street food and a DJ. Contact: info@thevillagegreenevents.co, 0741 572 8500, bit.ly/2DijpHas

Venue: Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA Time: 7pm – 10pm Cost: Minimum donation of £5, which goes into the pot for the winning pitch About: Live crowd-funding pitch event (think Kickstarter meets Just Giving) – four people pitch four ideas, you get soup and bread, you vote and the winner takes 100 per cent of the door money home to fund their project.

Contact: sheffieldsoup.com

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Let them mature as they develop skills and knowledge tailored to your business and culture.

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AGENDA PHOTO: WWW.BADOBADOP.CO.UK

EDITORP’SICK EVENT

15TH WRAP UP FOR CAP

Venue: Anywhere! Your office, work, home, school etc…

Time: All day Cost: Free – donations to Cathedral Archer Project (CAP) About: This February do something different and Wrap Up for CAP. On Friday 15th February wrap up in as many warm clothes as possible, make a donation, and raise awareness of homelessness. All money raised goes towards CAP’s work supporting homeless adults in Sheffield on their journey to finding a more fulfilling and stable life.

Contact: emily@archerproject.org.uk or bit.ly/2VtkPpG

28TH SAFEGUARD YOUR BUSINESS FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Venue: Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, 11 Broad Street West, Sheffield S1 2BQ Time: 9.30am – 1pm Cost: Free About: This masterclass, led

by Paul Hughes director at Restart BTi along with his codirector Gareth Self a licenced insolvency practitioner, will highlight some common risk areas for discussion and provide ideas and advice as how to avoid these pitfalls and highlight ways a business can protect itself.

Contact: bit.ly/2R3DVE0

28TH CHAMBER HUB IN ASSOCIATION WITH COPIER SYSTEMS

Venue: Barnsley Football Club, Grove Sreet, Barnsley S71 1ET Time: 12pm – 2pm Cost: Members £14.95 + vat, non-members £21.95 + vat

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About: Join the Chamber at Oakwell Stadium for a lunchtime networking event with special guest Bruce Dyer who will speak about his transition from being the first million-pound teenage footballer to local business man and head of charity Love Life.

Contact: bit.ly/2Vt2sRq

28TH MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE

Venue: Albion House, Savile Street, Sheffield S4 7UD Time: 9.30am Cost: Members £250+VAT, non-members £300+VAT About: This one-day course aims to support managers to build on their skills to better manage mental health in the workplace. The emphasis is on the practical steps that can be taken to manage and improve mental wellbeing at work.

Contact: bit.ly/2RGrmhq

28TH DONCASTER BUSINESS SHOWCASE

EDITORP’SICK EVENT

Venue: Doncaster Racecourse, The Grandstand, Leger Way, Doncaster DN2 6BB Time: 10am – 4pm Cost: Free to visit, Exhibition stands from £80 + VAT. Stands are very limited and this event is expected to be sold out in the next few weeks.

About: This will be the 10th Doncaster Business Showcase.

This one-day event will bring together businesses and individuals from across the borough and surrounding areas to promote their business, gain inspiration, learn the latest business skills and provide excellent networking opportunities.

Already in business? Then this is your number one chance to expand your connections and discover new opportunities to grow with 200 local businesses exhibiting all under one roof.

Thinking of starting a business? Whether you are in between jobs, at risk of redundancy or thinking of starting your own business why not come along and find out what help is on offer.

Contact: Heather Hamilton, bit.ly/2Cv6mkk

2ND MARCH

Event: Mindful Matters Step Up your Mental Health Awareness Venue: South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, 197 Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 3FG Time: 9:45am-5pm

Cost: £25-£45 (early bird tickets available) About: Keen to reduce the stigma of mental health?

Seeking advice for supporting those with mental health problems? Want to step up your mental health awareness?

Contact: www.jciuk.org.uk

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unLTDBUSINESS.COM

PROPERTY

PROPERTY INVESTMENT

BY DESMOND CONWAY

Keystone Property Group CEO says Brexit will not mean an ‘overnight apocalypse’

BREXIT AND THE PRIVATE RENTAL SECTOR

The key feature of Brexit, its uncertainty, is leading to “fundamentals being overlooked and [the] perceived risk overstated at times”.

Which is why it is important to note that the main reasons why people buy and invest in the UK will not change due to the country’s vote to leave the European Union. Despite the headlines, there is not expected to be an overnight apocalypse when the UK exits the EU on March 29.

Even considering prevalent economic uncertainty due to the government’s lack of coherent Brexit policy, the private rental sector is expected to thrive. It’s likely that potential first-time buyers will hold off on purchasing, and instead choose to rent,

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increasing demand.

As it stands demand for housing already outstrips supply, and delivery of new homes is mostly owed to the success of the private rental sector over the past few years.

Thus, UK property is fully expected to remain a sound long-term investment that has, historically, appreciated in value.

The UK is one of Europe’s strongest and most resilient property markets, and Office for National Statistics figures show that investment from overseas is continuing to rise at a steady pace. Interest in the UK private rental sector from US investors, specifically, has spiked. With a weak GBP, savvy overseas investors are taking advantage of the currency situation, twinned with a mid-

long-term hold view of any UK property acquired (for income and growth).

Since the referendum in 2016, house prices have risen by 9.3 per cent. Ironically, Emoov research shows that average growth in Leave voting areas was slightly higher than the national average, at 9.46 per cent in contrast to 5.05 per cent in Remain areas, showing a more positive and clear ‘business as usual’ attitude in Leave regions.

For example, in the Sheffield City Region productivity has continued to rise year-onyear, at a faster rate than the East Midlands and the wider Yorkshire and Humber region.

The proportion of high-skilled workforce in the area has risen, and manufacturing exports are a key driver of growth.

Sheffield and Rotherham have also achieved incredible success attracting private sector investment from major companies, including Boeing, Rolls Royce, and McLaren.

We believe there is a unique opportunity to buy well located, good-quality assets that need attention – especially in major cities across the UK outside London, which typically offer more attractive, greater growth returns.

As a still maturing market, the private rental sector has huge growth potential and will continue to attract investors and provide steady returns, despite Brexit.

Desmond Conway, CEO, Keystone Property Group www.keystone-property.com info@keystone-property.com

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

SOUTHERN’S RETURN TO NORTHERN ROOTS Sheffield property developer Andrew Southern has made his name in London but he tells unLTD’s Peter Kay why his next big project brings him back home

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A5 portrait advert Dark Nights 18.indd 1

24/10/2018 14:07

COVER STORY

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT; SHEFFIELD PROPERTY DEVELOPER TAN KHAN, SOUTHERN GROVE’S ED FISHER, ANDREW SOUTHERN, STEVE BURLAGA FROM AXIS ARCHITECTURE AND TIM WALKER FROM CLEGG CONSTRUCTION AT THE TOPPING OUT CEREMONY OF THE STEEL CITY DEVELOPMENT

Perhaps property and construction have been in Andrew Southern’s blood from the beginning.

As he points out, he was born in Nether Edge Hospital, which was to be turned into a residential development!

Some 44 years later, the former Tapton School student heads the London-based Southern Grove group, which specialises in large residential-led mixed use projects.

Much of the attention is on London, but he remains closely tied to his home city.

One of Southern Grove’s companies, Future Generation, focuses on student accommodation and is preparing for the opening of Steel City, a £20m complex near West Bar. Andrew takes satisfaction and pride in how a development on such familiar territory became the catalyst for buying sites for student

unLTDBUSINESS.COM 14:07

schemes across the country and, now, across the world.

His parents still live in Sheffield, and he returns regularly to his roots, in particular updating his sports interests, from boxing and weightlifting to watching Sheffield United.

He has more than 20 years in the property and construction business, previously holding executive positions at Hadley Property Group, Hadley Mace, Catesby Property Group, Countryside Properties and Mace Group.

He does not hide his ambition. “Ultimately I wanted to be the boss.”

And his career supports his belief: “If you have a dream and vision, you can achieve it.”

Chairing Southern Grove, the company he founded in February 2103, he has secured planning consent and built more than 1,000 residential units, with a GDV in excess of £350m.

I’m a big advocate of Sheffield. There are some good people. Sheffield City Council were fantastic. We are passionate about the architecture and the planning team were well briefed and gave us a very clear remit.

He is described online by somebody who worked with him “as an inspirational manager” and “a great leader”. Another says: “I admire his tenacity and attitude which makes for an incredibly positive work ethic and successful track record.”

For Andrew, his philosophy is fairly simple. “It’s all about people at the end of the day – selecting the right people, working with the right people, the team work. I am still making mistakes, but we are getting better and better.”

His career developed on the back of schoolboy enthusiasm for architecture, pure maths and art.

After Tapton, he earned a Masters Degree in architectural engineering from the University of Leeds, with one year spent at Penn State University in Pennsylvania.

His own experiences of student accommodation

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COVER STORY

It’s all about people at the end of the day – selecting the right people, working with the right people, the team work. helped to shape the approach of New Generation, launched in March 2017.

There was a hall of residence in Leeds that was a four-mile bus journey from university, a shared house that was burgled three times in a year, “fantastic” accommodation in America and, in his final year, a quiet studio in a converted house that allowed him to work in peace.

“If you provide something nice, people treat it with respect,” says Andrew. “People will cherish well-designed high quality accommodation.

And if the accommodation is good and secure, you can get on with your studies.”

Meanwhile, students do not want long bus journeys every day. Steel City is on the edge of the city centre.

Due to be ready for the autumn academic term, it

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sets out to be a stylish and high tech home to some 350 students, “breaking the mould of traditional student halls”.

A mix of high quality cluster accommodation, self-contained studios, duplexes and townhouses is taking shape in Hollis Croft, traditionally part of the St Vincent’s neighbourhood, near the University of Sheffield’s engineering faculty.

The latest technology is promised through a partnership with Samsung, providing air conditioning and the latest Samsung kitchen appliances, wi-fi and TVs. Another partnership will produce a Les Mills fitness studio.

A rooftop ‘sky lounge’ is designed as a ‘networking hub’ – a place to encourage students to get out of their rooms and mix in a striking environment. “Part of going

to university is meeting other people,” says Andrew.

“We will offer a flexible space and they can make what they want of it. We want to create a culture where you can work hard and play hard. We want to help students create their own identity.”

He adds: “Steel City is a really exciting scheme which ticks every box. We acquired the land, got planning permission and are constructing and operating the building.

“We like to think we are a high-end product aimed at working class and middle class families. Rents start at £139 a week, which is not cheap, but is not off the charts. We offer a lot of facilities – air conditioning, a safe in all units, the deal with Samsung …”

Schemes such as Steel City are also designed to reflect changing times. “There’s

the perception of students getting drunk all the time, yet one-third of young people don’t drink. That’s what we are embracing in our schemes.”

Future Generation – a joint venture with Bahraini investor Tadhamon Capital – is rolling out similar upmarket student developments in locations such as London, Leeds, Nottingham, Loughborough and Cambridge.

More recently, though, ambitions for student numbers have been raised.

“Two years ago, we were looking for 10,000 over five years in this country,” says Andrew. “It’s already 6,000.

Now we are talking about 100,000 worldwide, with Europe our biggest focus.”

Southern Grove’s remit covers residential development in London, sales and marketing strategies, architecture and interior

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COVER STORY

Steel City is a really exciting scheme which ticks every box... We like to think we are a high-end product aimed at working and middle class families. design, financial structuring and building techniques to unlock the full potential of residential sites.

It prides itself on its joint venture partners, supply chain and professional advisors.

“We do offices, hotels, we own a golf course. We are doing a 27-storey tower, all affordable housing, in West London,” says Andrew.

London projects range from the proposed conversion of a former art deco cinema in Bethnal Green into a 130-bed boutique hotel in a joint venture with London Standard, to securing planning permission for a change of use from offices to a 220-bed apart-hotel with a rooftop bar and restaurant in Aldgate.

Back in Sheffield, Andrew’s business muscle is matched by down-to-earth interests that run to his enthusiastic support for Titanium Strength Gym in

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Fitzwalter Road, off City Road, which is described as “the strength capital of the north”.

He sponsors Phil ‘Titanium’ Roberts, England’s second strongest man, who runs the gym.

Andrew has his own sporting pedigree. “I used to play for Hallam FC. I used to run, box, weight-train and go mountain biking in the Peak District every week.”

Some things haven’t changed.

“If I want downtime, Sheffield is where I go. There’s the infrastructure, the sports facilities, two fantastic football clubs, the quality of the air, the water, the education.”

He points to the large number of students who stay and live in the city.

“I’m a big advocate of Sheffield. There are some good people. Sheffield City Council were fantastic. We

are passionate about the architecture and the planning team were well briefed and gave us a very clear remit.

As a developer you want to know what you can and can’t achieve.”

It was a chance meeting with Sheffield-based property consultant Tan Khan at MIPIM, the annual international real estate event in Cannes, that led to Steel City.

They got chatting and discovered a strong Sheffield connection. Andrew tells the story of how his mother was a teacher and taught Tan’s twins at Hunters Bar School.

“He introduced me to the Hollis Croft site and we created the business on the back of that.”

Future Generation is working on the development with Sheffield-based architects Axis Architecture and Nottingham-based Clegg Construction.

Andrew is leaving the door open to possible further development in his home city, but not more student accommodation, believing the market is reaching saturation point.

Sheffield has 70,000 students and purpose-built accommodation for 27,000, he says.

Compare that with Milan’s 100,000 students and 1,000 units. Which explains why Future Generation is buying sites in places ranging from Milan and Florence to Cork.

“Samsung want us to do things in Korea, we are going to China in February. We are getting land in Toronto and Melbourne.

“We are going to take it worldwide and it all started with this site in Sheffield.”

And, before then, don’t forget the old Nether Edge Hospital …

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unLTDBUSINESS.COM

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

CHRIS MASON PERFORMANCE Personal trainer Chris Mason runs CMP Gyms in Sharrowvale. He tells unLTD why there is no ‘golden ticket’ to business success – and why he is ‘constantly chasing down progression’ I was inspired to start my business by...

A distinct lack of service or results by commercial gyms to gym goers. To see people transform their body, health and fitness in ways they never expected nor imagined is hugely motivating and satisfying.

The organisations that have supported me and my business include…

I’ve invested or have actively invested in a number of support services for my business, these include: • Pearlydean Marketing – for my SEO • Internet Fitpro – for my website design and ongoing website care • Paul Mort – Fitness Business Coach • Dan Meredith – Social Media and Content Creation • HR Media – PR Plus many more. Perhaps more importantly, I’ve learned lessons about other industries and sectors from our very own clients who run their own businesses, on how they’ve handled certain situations, plus peaks and troughs in their businesses.

My favourite thing about running my business is…

We get to train people to learn about the very things we love.

A healthy and nutritious diet and regular exercise is the key to optimal functioning!

Helping others adopt a better lifestyle and have a deeper understanding of how to stay in shape means that we’re creating a difference among our customers and clients.

The three words that best describe my business are…

Transformative, positive, results-focused.

Sheffield City Region is a great place to start a business because…

Opportunity is everywhere.

The city is due a rebirth of sorts and the region of South Yorkshire is the place where you would want to place your business. Though I must say, opportunity isn’t just Sheffield but is also wherever you happen to be situated. With growth of the internet, social media and the accessibility to courses, experts and services, gone are the days where you have to accept your lot. If you’re willing to work hard enough for long enough, success is there to be achieved.

While holding onto its foundations, the city is actively seeking further investment to grow opportunities for employers and employees alike. It’s exciting to see where Sheffield is headed over the next 10 to 20 years!

Sheffield City Region is a great place to grow a business because…

It’s a forward-thinking city that is aiming to be considerably more than just the ‘steel city’.

The best advice I ever got was…

Expect nothing and give everything. No one owes us a living or successful business – we have to be the driving force behind it.

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PERSONAL TRAINER, CHRIS MASON

The worst advice I ever got was…

That one ‘thing’, whether it be a marketing gimmick, campaign or programme, would be the golden ticket to growth in my business.

As entrepreneurs/business owners know only too well, we’re all enticed by the bright shiny object that promises to cure our issues or take our businesses to the next level.

Rarely does that prove to be the case.

The main challenges facing my industry/sector are…Exercise and nutritional knowledge!

Though this could be considered both a help and a hindrance dependant on how you view it. We often work with people who’ve been out of the loop with exercise and healthy eating habits, meaning that the behavioural aspect of helping them transform their body, health and fitness can prove to be the most challenging part.

In 5 years’ time I expect my business to…

Be continuing to thrive! (though don’t we all?!) In all honesty, I plan for the future, but operate on a 12-week year basis so that my business stays sharp, focused and progressive. Annualised thinking may work for some, but for me and my small business we want to be on the front foot, constantly chasing down progression as opposed to setting and reviewing yearly goals.

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FOCUS ON

FOX VALLEY

For people of a certain age it is still known as ‘Sammy Fox’s’. And a stainless steel image of Samuel Fox – whose wire-making business developed the famous Paragon umbrella frame on the site in 1851 – greets visitors to the retail and commercial complex that is now an integral part of Stocksbridge

A succession of steel firms followed Fox’s. In its heyday, thousands of workers were employed in the valley bottom.

Since its official opening in June 2016, though, there has been a very different type of magnet. Fox Valley is a £50m redevelopment that has produced a new town centre for the north of Sheffield.

The replacement of old steel stockyards with shops, restaurants, cafes and offices represent a huge vote of confidence in Stocksbridge after its industrial decline.

Fox Valley also forms the flagship development – and headquarters – for Dransfield Properties Ltd.

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Formed in 1992 by Grimethorpe-born, Hullraised businessman Mark Dransfield, with a background in the building business, the company specialises in retailled regeneration schemes, now with a property portfolio of £131m.

The focus is on profitability, of course, but on the back of a reputation for quality, community involvement, attention to detail and customer service. Customer toilets are a priority for Mark Dransfield!

Memories of the old Stocksbridge factories may be starting to fade, but there is no escaping the rich industrial heritage of the site thanks to

the award-winning design of the new buildings that comprise Fox Valley.

Certainly, the community appears to recognise and appreciate the revival that has generated more than 700 jobs along with the attempts to forge strong links with its history, surroundings and local residents.

Initiatives such as a Friday food and craft market and a farmers’ market on the first Saturday of the month attract local traders and shoppers, helping to stamp a community identity on the development and adding to the sense of vibrancy.

Visitors come from the town and further afield.

“There is now a reason to go to Stocksbridge again,” says one former steel works employee.

But it’s not just a retail destination.

A shortage of top quality office space in the area was addressed with 60,000 sq ft at the centre, off the main Manchester Road through the valley and with direct access to the A616 Sheffield to Manchester road, the Stocksbridge bypass.

Meanwhile, 118 homes – from one-bedroom apartments to four bedroom houses – have been built on adjoining land next to the River Don by Yorkshire housebuilder Stonebridge Homes.

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FOCUS ON

At the same time, Stockbridge retains its tradition of a steel town, albeit on a reduced scale, for the headquarters of Liberty Speciality Steels stand to one side of Fox Valley.

Almost ten years in the planning, and with the help of a £8.1m grant from the Yorkshire and Humber European Regional Development Fund to help clean up industrial land, the centre was given an “Absolutely Fabulous” official opening by actress Joanna Lumley in June 2016.

Shops and other outlets – more than 30 in total – are grouped around a large car park.

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National retailers include Aldi, Boots, Next, Sports Direct, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Regatta, Paperchase, Seasalt, JoJo Maman Bebe, Domino’s and Costa Coffee.

Yet there is also a strong local flavour. A row of shops and cafes at the entrance to Fox Valley is occupied by independents.

In the main body of the centre are the likes of Ponti’s Italian Kitchen and Dransfield Properties own venture, Sandersons boutique department store.

The store was launched and headed by Mark’s wife, Deborah Holmes, a successful businesswoman in her own right and partner in Dransfield

The replacement of old steel stockyards with shops, restaurants, cafes and offices represent a huge vote of confidence in Stocksbridge

Properties, who tragically died of cancer on January 2 at the age of 56.

Fox Valley in general and Sandersons in particular gave her the opportunity to vividly and energetically make her mark in her home town.

The new centre has put Stocksbridge on the map again, helping to restore pride in the area.

Mark, managing director of Dransfield Properties, says: “Our company is focused on creating attractive and well run places that people enjoy visiting. Attention to detail in everything from the architecture to how our centres are run is a huge part of this.

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FOCUS ON

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FOCUS ON

There is now a reason to go to Stocksbridge again

“At Fox Valley we have been keen to reflect the rich history of the local area and engage with the wider community in everything from the artwork pieces we have installed across the centre to our busy diary of events.

“We put great pride in maintaining the centre with nice seating and areas of public realm as well as beautiful planting schemes which have won awards from Britain in Bloom.

“It is a challenging time on the high street and it’s so important that we continue to focus on excellent customer service, events and creating the theatre of retail that our customers can’t get from an online experience.”

Mark says footfall and visitor numbers have increased “beyond our expectations”.

He adds: “We pride ourselves on being part of the community. Before we opened 92p in the pound was being spent out of the area in other

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town and district centres and now people are shopping and investing in the community and many more local people have the opportunity to access job opportunities at Fox Valley.

“Having high quality office space here has also created more career opportunities and brings more people into the area.

“We are delighted with how the centre has been received in its first two-and-a-half years and are attracting shoppers from much further afield than we first anticipated.”

In May 2017, Fox Valley attracted tens of thousands of visitors – when it staged the climax of the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race in 2017.

Mark Dransfield himself is a keen cyclist and has helped to raise £500,000 for charity through a series of annual 400-mile bike rides across Europe with friends and business acquaintances, the next being from Oslo to Stavanger.

Fox Valley is a

£50M redevelopment

60,000 SQ FT

of top quality office space

More than

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shops and other outlets

Community involvement runs deep. Among those benefiting from donations from the Dransfield Foundation is Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre, which was saved from council closure when local people stepped in to run it themselves.

A food and drink festival with live entertainment is held at Fox Valley on the anniversary of the opening of the development.

You can even get married at Fox Valley. It is licensed for wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships at the bandstand in the fountain area and the private dining room at Ponti’s.

While committed to working with the community, Dransfield Properties has extensive property interests across the country to oversee.

On its books are Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth, Northumberland, Marshall’s Yard in Gainsborough and Lime Square in Openshaw, East Manchester.

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FOCUS ON

What could you do in 2019

Registered Charity No. 505002

January

February

March

Plan your year for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Love your children’s hospital Thursday 14th

Golden Hour Challenge Friday 1st

Become a regular giver this February. £5 a month makes a huge difference.

Whether you donate an hour of your salary or raise £60 it will make a huge difference getting children to our Emergency Department as soon as possible.

Bake to the future!

Be a good Egg

Whisk up your own show stopper for Sheffield Children’s Hospital. You can do this any time of the year!

Not all our patients can eat chocolate. Instead of buying chocolate eggs for our patients download an Easter Egg poster.

Be a good egg

by sending of a this Easter because Hospital Children’s able to eat chocolate Easter Eggs of giving at Sheffield are not instead to play with. to patients in hospital donation and toys bring a smile of our children a tube. Making a Department You can Some are fed through in the Emergency them a message. room diet or they spent restricted fund a bigger waiting would have what you as many could help then donate you have filled

We are helping to get patients healthy.

below When simple!

It’s that Hospital.

Write a message Children’s with your donation. works: How it eggs to Sheffield poster along on chocolatecan send in your eggs as you

| www.tchc.org.uk S10 2TH ospitalandcharity Bank, Sheffield sheffieldchildrensh Charity, Western Hospital @sheffchildrens alcharity The Children’s thechildrenshospit

April

May

June

ASdA Foundation Sheffield Half Marathon Sunday 14th

Theo’s Walk & Picnic Monday 20th – Sunday 26th

Great North Swim Fri 7th – Sun 9th

One of our highlights of the year. Get ready… set… and go for Team Theo.

Egg Run Easter Sunday 21st

The annual Egg Run is set to return with motorbikes taking to the streets of Sheffield.

Team Theo’s Skydive Sunday 28th

If you sign up to this sponsored walk you will get your own Theo bear to keep at your school or nursery.

Tour de Yorkshire Sportive Sunday 5th

A weekend of open water swimming on Lake Windermere, in the stunning Lake District.

Chatsworth Walk Sunday 23rd

Bring all the family for a walk around the beautiful grounds of Chatsworth Estate

Sheffield Sunrise 5K Friday 28th

Slip into your lycra and follow in the tyre tracks of the greats.

Discover Sheffield in a new light at 5.30am as the sun rises!

July

August

September

Theo’s Cup Sunday 7th

Sickleholme Golf Tournament Friday 2nd

Tour of Strines

Fancy taking to the skies for a good cause?

Get a team together for Theo’s 5-a-side football tournament.

Theo’s Inflatable 5k Saturday 13th

In a new location, Theo’s Inflatable 5k is back for a second year, even bigger and bouncier than ever!

Tough Mudder Sat 27th – Sun 28th

Reserve your team a place at the Peak District’s only 18-hole golf course.

York 10k Sunday 4th With stunning scenery, the flat route takes runners right through the historic heart of the city.

Take on Sheffield’s biggest hills… on your bike!

Great North Run Sunday 8th Team Theo’s Skydive Saturday 14th Another chance to take your support to new heights!

Kilimanjaro Trek Thurs 19th – Sun 29th Team Theo heads to Africa.

Sheffield 10k Sunday 22nd

A fantastic course right through the heart of the city.

October

November

december

ASdA Foundation Yorkshire Marathon & Yorkshire 10 mile Sunday 20th

Remember a charity in your Will Give the gift of life to a child by leaving a gift in your Will and help shape future paediatric care.

Christmas Snowflake Lights Monday 2nd

With places selling out early for four successive years, get in quickly for Team Theo.

Snowflakes light walls of our hospital thanks to lovely businesses, schools and community groups sponsoring each snowflake.

National Elf Service Friday 13th

Get elfy with your stripy tights and Christmas jumpers for a festive day of fundraising.

Glow Run Tuesday 17th

Get your glow on! – 5km around Endcliffe park in the dark!

More information on all of these events can be found at www.tchc.org.uk

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FOCUS ON

Developments this year include a £12m revamp of the former Merrywalks Centre in Stroud and, much closer to home, Waverley Square, a £50m development in Waverley, Rotherham, near M1 Junction 33.

The company is also working on its first major London project – a residential and retail development at East Ham in the borough of Newham.

Dransfield Properties employs all the people working on its sites. No work is sub-contracted as emphasis is put on doing the job in-house.

Winning the RICs Pro Yorkshire Award for Regeneration in 2017 points to the company getting it right at Fox Valley with its roots-based approach.

There is no escaping the history of the steel town.

Links have been made with the local history society and there was a huge response when former steel workers were invited to look around Fox Valley before the formal opening.

A mural of men and women of the steel works by Sheffield artist Pete McKee stands at the entrance off Manchester Road proclaiming ‘Proud past, new future’.

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The nearby traffic roundabout is home to a 6ft 4in tall one tonne bronze statue of ‘Grandad Fox’ holding a Paragon-framed umbrella – a collaboration between McKee and Sheffield sculptor Anthony Bennett.

Buildings are named after Samuel Fox’s chief engineer, Joseph Hayward, and Harry Brearley, who discovered stainless steel. The roof of the Zorro Lounge café bar takes the shape of an open umbrella.

Images of Samuel Fox and his wife, Maria, ensure customers use the correct toilets – pristine in line with Mark Dransfield’s priority, remember. Photographs of Fox and his umbrella factory workers adorn nearby walls.

And so it goes on – a 21st century enterprise in a treasured old frame.

The names of Samuel Fox, British Steel Corporation, Stocksbridge Engineering Steels, Corus and Tata are all engraved in local history.

It would be nice to think that astute and energetic businessman ‘Sammy Fox’ would approve of the very different type of venture that has followed – eventually – his own pioneering business.

Yes, ‘Proud past, new future’.

With Fox Valley established as a focalpoint in the north of Sheffield, Waverley Square promises to make a similar impact on the other side of the city, just over the border in Rotherham.

This time Dransfield Properties Ltd is working in a joint venture with Harworth Group Plc on a £50m retail, office and leisure scheme as part of the regeneration of a 740 acre site, off the Sheffield Parkway and just two minutes from M1 Junction 33.

The new local centre is designed to serve a growing commercial and residential community.

Its neighbours will include the internationally-renowned Advanced Manufacturing Park, home to major employers including Rolls Royce, Boeing and McLaren Automotive.

Meanwhile, some 850 homes have been built over the past six years.

Plans for Waverley Square have been approved by Rotherham Council and construction is due to start in the spring of more than 190,000 sq ft of mixed-use space.

Once £7m grant funding is confirmed, there will be a 18,427 sq ft foodstore, a further 86,750 sq ft of retail units, 44,030 sq ft of high spec office accommodation, restaurants, coffee shops, a gym, a medical centre, a transport interchange and a customer car park with 482 spaces.

Dransfield Properties and the Harworth Group are working with Broomhill-based architects Dixon Dawson – the company that designed award-winning Fox Valley.

Some 700 jobs are anticipated.

Dransfield Properties managing director Mark Dransfield says: “Waverley is growing into a really prominent destination in the region and our development will further attract new residents and businesses to live and work here and create much needed local facilities.

“As with all our developments we have focused on designing an outstanding scheme befitting of Waverley, with architecture and materials to match.

“With the combined experience and knowledge of our company and the Harworth Group we look forward to delivering an excellent scheme to serve this growing community."

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Bringing #amazingspaces to the market in Sheffield.

www.colloco.co Commercial property experts - disposals, aquisitions & consultancy.

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YOUR PITCH Your Pitch is an opportunity for start-ups and new businesses to tell the city about their organisation. This issue we meet Wildwood co-owner Lindsay Lonchar who tells us the forest-themed coffee shop is bringing the ’outside in’

WILDWOOD COFFEE & GIFTS Tell us about your business – sell yourself!

Wildwood opened in October 2018 and specialises in artisan gifts, cards and homewares.

It’s also a forest-themed coffee shop. We offer customers unusual gifts and cards not found elsewhere in the city, along with the opportunity to enjoy gorgeous food and drinks surrounded by trees, foliage and real wood. We have sought to bring the ‘outside in’ and offer al fresco dining (one of our passions) whatever the weather!

Our menu includes breakfast burritos, French toast with maple syrup, build your own sub-sandwiches, deli salads, soup, and homemade cakes.

We’re proud to serve Sheffield’s Roastology coffee along with Our Cow Molly milk.

Wildwood sells a number of unique items handmade with wood and cork by local artists.

Community groups meet regularly in our premises and as a ‘business with a heart’ this is something we welcome.

What gave you the idea for your business?

We were already running The Cabin on Fitzwilliam Gate, a pancake and waffle house with a small gift area. We’d always wanted to run a proper gift shop and as we love to shop and eat at the same time, we also wanted to offer quality ‘every day’ food to customers. So we expanded The Cabin’s gifts into a full size shop three doors down. Although Wildwood is clearly part of The Cabin family, it is much more chilled!

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

The bus-stop outside attracts people coming to and from

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WILDWOOD’S LINDSAY AND HUSBAND GEORGE BEHIND THE BAR IN THE COFFEESHOP

town and The Moor. We have regular weekday customers from Moorfoot’s council offices, plus shoppers for coffee and cake. Weekends draw in all ages and our brunch trade is increasing thanks to our breakfast burrito wraps and French toast. We spread the word by flyer-ing, and running targeted adverts on Facebook/Instagram.

Word-of-mouth works but our main challenge is the city knowing we exist!

We have sought to bring the ‘outside in’ and offer al fresco dining

How can people get in touch with you?

Website: www.wildwoodsheffield.co.uk E-mail: contact@wildwoodsheffield.co.uk Facebook: @wildwoodsheffield Instagram: @wildwoodgiftscoffee Wildwood 10-12 Fitzwilliam Gate Sheffield S1 4JH

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MEET THE EXPERTS

Come and learn more about letting your property

FREE EVENT

LANDLORD FORUM

Speak to experts about legislation, finding the right tenant, handling challenges and network with other landlords.

PRESENTED BY

Phil Price

Managing Director at Crucible Sales and Lettings

PROVIDED BY

DATE

TIME

LOCATION

21st February 2019

5:30pm-7:30pm

Hillsborough Arena, Middlewood Rd, S6 4HA

BOOKING AVAILABLE AT

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n g y

the ork ds.

CHARITIES Our round-up of some of the great work charities are doing in the city business region – and the companies that are doing their bit to support them

SHABBY CHIC IN STORE AT CITY CHARITY Shabby chic is proving a sales hit for homeless charity Emmaus Sheffield.

One of the organisation’s main fundraising schemes is its extremely popular second hand and vintage store at its historic Sipelia Works HQ. And one of the biggest successes in the store’s current range is specially crafted distressed shabby chic furniture.

Emmaus Sheffield aims through its social enterprise programme to provide meaningful work and enable the people it supports – previously RAY LARGE RECEIVED SPECIAL TRAINING IN FURNITURE RESTORATION AT EMMAUS SHEFFIELD homeless people aged 18 years and over and known as companions – to eventually become self-supporting again. working on the special shabby by the success of this new for what will work best with this Companion Ray Large chic range of coffee tables, TV range,” said Emmaus Sheffield style of restoration and every received special training in units and full Welsh dressers. deputy manager Charley one of his completed pieces has furniture restoration and is now “We have been overwhelmed Fedorenko. “Ray has a real feel sold very quickly.”

Business breakfast helps keep mental health in Mind Sheffield-based recruitment agency Benchmark revisited the topic of mental health in the workplace during its Business Breakfast event.

After successful events in

the past, the agency teamed up with Sheffield-based mental health charity Mind to deliver a specialist workshop aiming to educate business leaders on mental health in the workplace.

The workshop was delivered by the charity’s training manager, Simon Francis, who also spoke about ways to cope with stress, and early recognition of mental health

concerns in employees.

The proceeds from the morning went to Sheffield Mind, with Benchmark presenting a cheque for £200 to the charity.

SCX sets sights on doubling hospice charity target Sheffield specialist engineering group SCX has raised more than £10,500 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice – and is now gearing up to hit a target of £20,000.

The group chose the hospice, which offers care and support to children with a shortened life expectancy, as its leading charity after it provided help to an employee’s family member.

MD Simon Eastwood said: “As a company we are known for our work ethos and team effort – and we have applied that to our fundraising. Now we are aiming to raise £20,000 as

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soon as possible to help finance the refurbishment of one of the sensory rooms at the hospice.”

Fundraising events have ranged from a carnival, dress down days, bake sales, pie and pea lunches and Christmas jumper days to tougher activities such as mountain bike and cycle challenges and the Tough Mudder endurance event.

Bluebell Wood corporate fundraiser Dave Hall said: “We rely on support like this to keep our doors open each year, so we would like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to every single person involved.”

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SIMON EASTWOOD, DAVE HALL AND DARREN FALKINGHAM

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YOUR PITCH We meet Stuart Turner who founded LensGo Visual Media Ltd in early 2018 after spotting that video was ‘one of the best tools to help businesses interact with customers’ – and has already bagged clients including Benchmark Recruit, City Taxis... and Brian Blessed!

LENSGO VISUAL MEDIA Tell us about your business – sell yourself!

We specialise in the production of high-quality promotional videos, online and broadcast commercials, graphics and aerial drone films. Our ethos is to build long-lasting and sustainable relationships with each client, supporting each one to curate unique and engaging content for their marketing channels.

I’ve been a professional videographer my whole career and having built an extensive freelance portfolio, I decided to open my own visual media agency in early 2018. We pride ourselves on working with our clients every step of the way, from generating creative ideas and storyboarding right through to helping them use their video to promote their business.

We’ve created a whole host of films from short promotional videos to documentary-style adverts and digital TV channels. We’ve filmed world-class artists and performers, business owners, rock bands, support dogs, sports teams, theme parks and we’ve even filmed Santa.

What gave you the idea for your business?

Video is fast becoming one of the best tools to help businesses interact with their customers and audiences. I spotted a gap in the market for a business that works collaboratively with their clients to fully understand their marketing goals and create great content to really engage with their followers.

We like to think ‘out of the box’ and always relish a challenge!

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STUART TURNER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LENSGO

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

Our customers come in all shapes, sizes and locations.

We specialise in key sectors including sport, entertainment and events, third sector and corporate.

Some of our clients include Def Leppard, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Doncaster Knights, Benchmark Recruit, Gulliver's Theme Parks, City Taxis,

Revitalise, Support Dogs, Rotherham Hospice and Brian Blessed!

Our ethos is to build long-lasting and sustainable relationships with each client

How can people get in touch with you?

Drop us an email at hello@lensgo.co.uk Check-out our showreel: vimeo.com/269352911 Facebook: @lensgovisuals Instagram: @lensgovisuals Twitter: @LENSGOVisuals www.lensgo.co.uk

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Start your business journey with us Free space & support for tech-based pre-starts & start-ups

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ADVERTORIAL

LEARNING FROM THOSE WHO’VE WALKED THE WALK Sheffield Technology Parks has launched Cooper Sessions for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level What’s the key to making a business grow? The techniques that can take the seed corn of an idea to an up-and-running business with a healthy order book in a relatively short period?

There is no magic formula, of course, and every business is different, but we can learn a huge amount from those who have already walked that path.

That’s why we’ve set up Cooper Sessions at Sheffield Technology Parks, the not-forprofit work space for tech and digital businesses. In this yearlong programme of fireside chats and working lunches, tech entrepreneurs and experts in their field will be sharing their stories and giving a host of useful tips and advice.

Fireside Chats First Tuesday of every month at 6pm There is a wealth of entrepreneurial talent in our city and region, but do you know the stories behind the successful businesses? Each month we invite in a tech entrepreneur for an informal chat about their business – the highs and the lows of their journey so far, and what their hopes are for the future.

Prepare for some candid tales of what went wrong and come away with some tips of what might help your own business to grow. Share a post-work drink with fellow entrepreneurs and hear the inside track about the sometimes-winding road to success.

Lunch and Learns Third Thursday of every month from 12 noon

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SHEFFIELD TECHNOLOGY PARKS MANAGER TOM WOLFENDEN

Delivered by entrepreneurs and experts in their field, the monthly Lunch and Learns are the perfect opportunity to grab a bite to eat with fellow entrepreneurs and learn something useful over your lunch break.

We will cover a range of topics such as leadership, organisational culture and investment readiness, but

we’re open to hearing your suggestions for what topics you’d like to learn about in future months.

You’ll leave each session with something that you can implement immediately in your business – whether that’s a quick fix for an ongoing niggle, or a more in-depth solution that will unlock the next stage of your business growth.

Cooper Sessions are open to anyone with a digital business idea, running a start-up or trying to move an established business to the next phase.

To see the full schedule and put dates in your diary, please visit our website: www.shefftechparks.com/ CooperSessions We look forward to seeing you!

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ADVERTORIAL

E H T R E V O L L A G N I K C RO World-wide engineering specialist and design consultants, Webster Technologies, has come a very long way since its beginnings, developing drilling and cutting machines in the 1960s for the coal mining industry. unLTD’s Isobel Buffin speaks to business development manager Belinda Naylor 56

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ADVERTORIAL

BELINDA NAYLOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT WEBSTER TECHNOLOGIES

How was Webster Technologies formed?

The story actually begins in the early 1960s when the Webster family began designing, manufacturing and distributing mining equipment globally. They were the first to use hydraulics for cutting and the Webster Roadheader machines, which are capable of excavating tunnels up to 7.2m high and 8.4m wide, quickly became a well-known, respected brand which continue to be used in quarrying and mining applications today.

The closure of the coal mines in the late 1980s, brought some challenging times for the company. However, it also saw much innovation when chartered engineer Ian Webster diversified and designed, The Rockwheel – a hydraulic cutting attachment used initially for scaling salt mines. The new design of the Rockwheel really started to take off, so Ian developed a full range to fit mini excavators up to heavy-line machines and relaunched the family business to what we know it as today.

The current company, Webster Technologies, was formed in 2000 and has gone from strength to strength – we

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now have the largest rental fleet of Webster Rockwheels in the UK. Our ethos of innovation and continuous improvement has led to developments of the original Rockwheel design which continues to be one of the most technically advanced on the market. Angela Naylor, Ian’s sister-in-law joined us in 2005, to become his business partner.

What sets you apart from your competitors?

The core product, the Rockwheel, is second to none – the design and innovation side of it is something unique to this industry. If a customer comes to us and wants to use the Rockwheel but needs a slight variation to fit their machinery, then we can make that possible. The best part is that because the Rockwheel is Ian’s design, he knows the product inside out, he knows its limitations and potential, so can therefore make the changes, creating a personal service to customers.

Who is your key audience?

Webster Technologies works across the board in terms of size of companies. We have worked with major companies in the construction world on projects such as The Channel Tunnel

IAN WEBSTER, CHAIRMAN AND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT WEBSTER TECHNOLOGIES

and Crossrail, to local works such as the last two phases of the Sheffield Supertram project. Work can vary from a ‘one-man band’ that needs a Rockwheel for a project lasting up to a week to larger projects.

For example, Hinckley Point power station would need several Rockwheels for a project that could last up to two years.

We can really offer something for everybody.

Tell us a little bit about how Webster Technologies collaborates around the world?

In 2013, Webster Technologies licenced global distribution and manufacture of the Rockwheel to Rokla GmBH. The collaboration works exceptionally well and the number of dealers around the world has expanded significantly. Rokla’s drive for success, hard work and infectious enthusiasm for the product has helped them develop a growing network of more than 40 dealers spanning 26 countries, supplying businesses across a range of sectors.

What are Webster Technologies goals for the future?

We have been working on designing and developing

a new type of Hydraulic Hammer. Ian wanted a product with more blow-force energy than what is already on the market. The fresh design hopes to bring new levels of innovation and engineering – challenging conventional design concepts to create a high impact low frequency breaker with exceptional performance, environmental advantages, reduced maintenance and a unique shock absorption system, reducing the risk of damage to the carrier. It’s a completely different concept to how a conventional breaker works and uses half the fuel that an excavator will use compared with a conventional breaker.

The new Hydraulic Hammer is set to be launched later this year.

Webster Technologies Limited Unit 4 & 5 50 Rother Valley Way Holbrook Ind Estate Sheffield S20 3RW Tel: 0114 248 8262 Web: www.webstertechnologies.co.uk Email: info@webstertechnologies.co.uk Twitter: @websterequip

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FIVE MINUTES WITH...

CYCLING SHEFFIELD Dave Coulson of Cycling Sheffield tells us how his ‘unique UK business model’ plays to ‘Sheffield’s proud heritage of doing things differently’ I started this team because...

I have been a cyclist all my life, the sport is in my blood and I wanted to promote my home town of Sheffield and in doing so build a more sustainable team model. The team is supported exclusively

by Sheffield organisations and companies. The model has been used successfully in Europe, and I thought why not in Sheffield? Our model is unique in the UK. This approach plays to Sheffield’s proud heritage of doing things differently, which means the team is well placed to gain support across the region. The city has so much to offer and there’s a growing feel of real optimism that Sheffield is on the rise. The team races across the UK and Europe so offers a real opportunity to fly the flag for the city.

My favourite thing about my job is...

Two things – seeing our riders develop and succeed, and seeing our partners reap genuine ROI on their support of the team.

The three words which best decribe my organisation are...

Sheffield, Passion, Integrity.

DAVE COULSON OF CYCLING SHEFFIELD

The Sheffield City Region is a great place to work because...

The SCR has a history of innovation and passion for sport, two things which make it a perfect place for what we are doing. Also, as we know, it’s a great place to be, with the city’s parks and the Peak District on the doorstep.

The best advice I ever got was...

Listen to people offering advice, but ultimately trust your instinct and do it your own way.

The Sheffield City Region is a great place to develop as an organisation because...

The SCR has a strong sporting

The worst advice I ever got was...

The main challenges facing There’s something to be my organisation are... learned, even from bad advice... Economic sustainability.

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history, and Sheffield has a strong identity as The Outdoor City.

The organisations that have supported me...

Our partners have been committed to our development and without them we wouldn’t exist. These include Giant Sheffield, Burrows Mazda, Blue Strawberry Elephant, Millichamp, Mamnick and Sport:80.

In five years time I expect my organisation to be...

I expect CYCLING SHEFFIELD to have youth and junior projects as a route to the elite team and involvement with several health initiatives in the SCR. I expect the elite team to competing in The Tour de Yorkshire and Tour of Britain. As the profile of the team grows we aim to be embraced by the SCR population.

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SUCCESS STORY

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SUCCESS STORY

LITTLE MISS

SUNSHINE The Happiness Bootcamp founder Aimee Browes tells unLTD’s Jill Theobald how exercise helped her tackle her anxiety – and her mission to ensure Sheffield is never ‘at ease’ with the city’s mental health problems From a school girl struggling with anxiety to seeing your start-up business sharing screen space with Beyoncé on BBC Newsbeat.

Not a bad trajectory for an entrepreneur.

Oh, and Aimee Browes is also just 20 years old … and hasn’t graduated from university yet.

Impressive and inspiring stuff.

It’s also appropriate that when I meet her for a hot chocolate and a chat in The Cabin on The Moor she rocks up in a rainbow jumper, because she’s a bundle of energy and optimism. Plus ‘There is always a sunshine behind every cloud’ is one of the positive messages behind her business The Happiness Bootcamp which uses fitness to educate on mental wellbeing with classes, workshops and training.

The strapline is #BeFitMentally and Aimee talks the talk, walks the walk – and ‘pops’ the Pilates.

“Most of the time I am really happy, really positive,” Aimee says. “I do still have dark days.

But now I can power through, knowing there will be better days.”

Hillsborough born and bred, Aimee started struggling with her mental health at school.

“I was never popular and hit puberty before everyone else. By time I was in Year 9 I was pretending to be ill because I couldn’t deal with the pressures of school. I was wearing big thick trousers and the rest of the girls were

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in miniskirts. I ended up on report and had teachers calling my house. I was having a hard time and in Year 10 my auntie, who was a big influence on me, died.”

But her age made it difficult to access effective services. Aimee’s GP referred her to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) “but I was 14 or 15 years old and sat in a room with trees and Winnie the Pooh painted on the wall! After a few sessions I pretended it was all fine and they signed me off.”

But Aimee was far from fine. By Year 11 she wasn’t eating properly, was over-exercising and her weight dropped to six stone, as she developed body dysmorphic disorder.

“I was on anti-depressants and beta blockers and going through a lot of hormone changes as a teenager. But when as a 16-year-old I went to (adult mental health services) IAPT I was in a room full of people aged between 40 and 60 – adults who were suffering because they had lost jobs, children, partners and I’m sat there like a child thinking ‘why am I here?’”

After dropping out of A Levels, Aimee ended up on a traineeship as a fitness instructor at a gym.

“I used to hate sport at school, but going on that traineeship probably saved my life – I had been writing letters because I didn’t think I

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SUCCESS STORY

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SUCCESS STORY

was going to be around.

“I started to change my perspective on food and nutrition and decided to do a Level 3 BTEC in Sports Science.

At college, people were there to get a degree, I was there to educate myself.”

And after educating herself, she wanted to spread the word about exercise and wellbeing to others.

“I set up a Facebook page and created posts about panic attacks and stress. When I organised my first event I was so nervous. I didn’t even have a laptop, just a flipchart. But all of a sudden, 100 people came through the door! We had to put a sign up saying ‘come back tomorrow for another session’. Everyone was amazing. I felt like we were starting a little community.

“I came up with the name Happiness Bootcamp because I wanted to add fitness with happiness. I don’t want people to think it’s about losing weight or gaining abs – it’s all about achievable goals.”

Along with securing her place to study psychology at Sheffield Hallam University

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and becoming a certified pop-Pilates instructor, the Bootcamp has seen Aimee travel all over the country to deliver fitness sessions, workshops and talks including BodyPower Expo at Birmingham NEC and Be:Fit London – and led to that shared screen space with a pop diva.

“It was on BBC Radio One Newsbeat’s Snapchat page – ‘coming up on today’s news ….’ – and there was a picture of me alongside a story about Beyoncé!”

While never dipping in her enthusiasm levels, Aimee’s nevertheless very keen to share the reality of starting up a business.

“I started as a sole trader but didn’t really know what I was doing. When you’re so young, there’s not much in the way of guidance – (SHU business start-up adviser) Rob King was great and suggested contacting Social Enterprise Exchange (SEE) but the university could only help so much because we became a social enterprise not a limited company.

“I needed three directors to become a social enterprise so my partner Adam Chambers (also a personal trainer) and Laura Gray joined me, too, who was the first person who came to my classes!

“The day that certificate came through I was so excited!

It was the biggest thing ever to me because this business, it’s my baby. Everything changed from there – we now run weekly classes at SHU, Sweat Gym, Westfield Health and St Joseph’s Primary School.

“I get weekends off now but when I first started it was difficult to get the balance between being young, studying at university and running a business. People underestimate how much work goes into being selfemployed – there’s so much pressure, I felt guilty for taking Christmas off!

“It’s stressful but I love it and feel so grateful to be doing what I’m doing. This time last year I couldn’t write a business plan or file a tax return. Since then I’ve pitched to a room full of people at the SHU Enterprise Awards and

was one of the youngest there, a lot of the others were third year or Masters students.

“We came second to Food Circle Supermarket and were proud to lose to them as they are great. The funding from the SHU Award and a SEE grant has helped us with branding and running training days at schools. All sorts of little gigs have started to come about. I said to my partner the other day ‘I’m doing alright.’ He was like ‘ALRIGHT?! You’re 20!’

“I’m the healthiest and happiest I’ve ever been. I know I’m not on my own, there’s a lot of people out there and I don’t have to be defined by mental health issues – I want to use that to help other people.

“I would love to get some more funding so I can create a space in Sheffield for people to come to, with sessions, workshops, all under one roof.

Sheffield has a big problem with mental health, and it would be great to have a positive space, even just one room people can come to.

That would be the dream. And Sheffield needs it.”

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TRANSPORT

T A K O O L C I G E T STRA

T R O P S N A R T rategic t S s t i e s ill relea m Sheffield w ) N f T ( e North D got a steer fro t on the h t r o f t righ spor unLT n W – a d r r n T a a l h h t P c i n t This mo and Investmen utive director R y Region it ec rt Transpo f Commerce ex the Sheffield C ro for Chambe e wants to see sh prioritie

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TRANSPORT Transport for the North (TfN)’s Strategic Transport and Investment Plan is very important for Sheffield and the region because it will shape a lot of our transport investment plans for several years to come.

It will also tell us how well we have done against the conflicting priorities that must constantly be lobbied about.

Combine this document with the plans for HS2 and you have the core of our future national rail connectivity.

Be under no illusion. Good transport links alone will not guarantee a successful economy. The problem is that bad links will almost guarantee a much worse one.

In a competitive world where businesses are making serious investment decisions, good connectivity – whether that be transport or digital – is a given. If we haven’t got them, we are at a disadvantage.

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce is extremely fortunate to have Peter Kennan as Chair of its Transport Forum. He is an

expert in his field and since becoming Chair of our Forum has become an LEP Board member and one of our representatives on the TfN Board. He has also joined the recent national infrastructure board for the British Chambers of Commerce. Alone that does not guarantee us anything (and we shouldn’t expect too much), but it does mean that our arguments will always be heard.

For some time, the Chamber has argued (generally successfully) that if the country did invest in HS2 we needed it here in Sheffield.

That argument is not won until the investment is made. There is lots of discussion about HS2 – our nightmare scenario would be that the LondonBirminghamManchester investment goes ahead but the Eastern leg to Leeds via Sheffield does not. Amid all the noise on cost overruns we still need to keep our voice heard.

The Chamber has argued that if the country did invest in HS2 we needed it here in Sheffield

HS2 will give us a fast service to Leeds and London (northsouth).

Our priority for TfN remains improvements to the Hope Valley rail connections to Manchester, and improvements to the road connection via the Woodhead. In particular, the former is something we need to see in the Strategic Transport and Investment Plan, sooner rather than later. We all know how diabolical the service is now. It needs sorting.

Our final priority is the East Midlands Mainline connection for Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

It is critical to the airport’s masterplan and something we support actively in Sheffield because we are confident that this will drive more flights, to more destinations, and at times that suit business.

These asks are not greedy or excessive. All the cost benefit analyses we have seen would say these are good investments with sound financial returns.

This month Sheffield Chamber is hosting a meeting between all the Northern Chambers and TfN. Let’s hope it’s good news!

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DESIGN TRIANGLE LIMITED 2014

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FIVE MINUTES WITH...

KINGS FOUNDATION Richard Holmes is CEO of Sheffield-based not-for-profit organisation Kings Foundation. He tells us why he’s happy to ‘make waves’ to ‘reverse the addiction to screens’ and encourage children and young people to be more active I was inspired to start my business by...

Nigel Floodgate, the person that, following a time at summer camps in the USA, had the vision to run sports camps for children in the UK at a time when this wasn’t an option.

My favourite thing about running my business is…

Seeing children and young people across the world being active, having fun and learning together as a result of our efforts.

The three words that best describe my business are…

Fulfilling, vibrant, fun.

Sheffield City Region is a great place to start a business because…

People are loyal and start-ups need loyalty in the pioneering phase.

Sheffield City Region is a great place to grow a business because…

It’s underrated! Sheffield lacks some headline attributes like a mainstream media organisation or international airport, but the “one bigvillage” reality of Sheffield has many positives.

The best advice I ever got was…

People before profit.

Businesses exist to make profit (even not-for-profits like the organisation I lead need sustainable income streams), but if you trample over people in the pursuit of profit, it will all come tumbling down eventually.

The worst advice I ever got was…

Don’t make waves. The modern workplace needs

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RICHARD HOLMES, CEO OF SHEFFIELD-BASED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATION KINGS FOUNDATION

The main challenges facing my industry/sector are…

The regular increases in the minimum wage means we The organisations that have have to constantly increase our supported me and my business membership fees. We employ include… more than 700 programme A number of national staff and the majority are and international leisure university students, therefore organisations including the minimum wage increases Norwegian Cruise Lines are a costly factor for an and Thomas Cook and local organisation trying to deliver a organisations including charitable mission.

Sheffield High School and The increasing expectation Sheffield Hallam University, but of uber-flexible services. We it’s the thousands of families need to spend time with that send their children to our children to really impact activity programmes that we their lives, but the reality and most value. pressure of modern working people that are willing to take decisions, lead and offer solutions rather than problems.

life means parents often want to cherry-pick a day here or there so that their children’s schedules fit their working schedules.

In 5 years’ time I expect my business to…

Be a central factor in a world where children love being active. We simply have to reverse the addiction to screens and the subsequent mental and physical health issues that are holding our young people back from contributing to society and having active and healthy lives.

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FEATURE PHOTO: KARINA LAX

= M A E R D IPE REALITY! PPUBLISHING 68

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FEATURE Tell me a bit about the background to And Other Stories?

And Other Stories started off as Stefan’s pipe dream about ten years ago. He was a freelance literary translator, a publishing industry outsider.

The output of the big publishing houses was and is risk-averse. There aren’t many publishers choosing books solely on the basis of literary merit or going for more innovative writing.

Stefan started And Other Stories in 2010 out of frustration and idealism and, luckily, found that it could work as a business with readers’ support – a special kind of crowdfunding that updates an 18th century idea for the 21st century.

Readers support risky, adventurous writing by subscribing to the books in advance of publication, much like a magazine subscription.

And people loved it, with the first subscribers signing up in 2010.

Contemporary writing publisher And Other Stories moved from High Wycombe to Sheffield in 2017 – on a mission to ‘open up the industry so that it doesn’t look like some posh freemasonry’. unLTD’s Jill Theobald caught up with founders Stefan and Tara Tobler to find out why they had ‘no doubt’ Sheffield was the place for their family business… unLTDBUSINESS.COM

What attracted you to the north of England when deciding to re-locate? And why Sheffield in particular?

And Other Stories had only been based in the South-East (High Wycombe) because of family commitments, and when, in about 2015 we saw that we’d be able to move in 2017, we had no doubt that it was going to be to Sheffield.

Stefan’s brother has been here since the year 2000, and so over the years we have come to love the city’s culture, which seems marked by a positive energy, independent spirit and defiance. Also, publishing is too London-focused and it’s good to be part of a change in the industry.

We run ‘Is Publishing for ME?’ days of talks and workshops as well as other events and people were hungry to have this happening in Sheffield. Our Northern Book Prize is part of that too, a showcase for the great writing in the North of England.

How have you found Sheffield as a city to live, work and grow a business?

Incredibly welcoming. We rent an office in the Central

Over the years we have come to love Sheffield’s culture, which seems marked by a positive energy, independent spirit and defiance

Library for now and enjoy working with so many local partners, from other book publishers to the library services to universities to local tote bag makers and printers.

What have been the highlights of your Sheffield story so far?

The highlight has to be the launch of the Northern Book Prize in all its parts – the hundreds of entries, the discovery of an amazing new novel through the Prize’s first competition (Amy Arnold’s Slip of a Fish), and the success it had with reviews locally and nationally once published. Not to mention the 2018 Prize’s party event being the closing finale for Sheffield’s Off the Shelf literary festival in 2018.

What have you got planned for the next chapter?!

Having developed the Northern Book Prize, we are really keen to grow it into the ‘Booker of the North’, you could say. We have big ideas and a first media partner (Big Issue North). We’d love to discuss partnerships with interested folk in Sheffield’s and the North’s business community.

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AWARD SUCCESS

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OFFICE INTERIORS

SEE IT–WANT IT! The DL Company’s MD Daniel Lowe tells unLTD that warehouse-style glass partitioning is the new ‘must-have’ interior design for any contemporary office fit-out – it’s so popular they even have (lovingly named) one in their own HQ… unLTDBUSINESS.COM

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OFFICE INTERIORS THE DESIGNER’S VIEW MD of DL Company Daniel Lowe said: “We’ve long offered a comprehensive glass partitioning service which includes the design, supply and installation of high-quality glass partition walls.

They’ve always been a popular feature because they create a light and airy environment in open-plan offices, without compromising on functionality.

“The practical benefits also include their ability to create dedicated working areas, and provide sound insulation, but currently industrial or ‘warehouse’ style glass partitioning with a black framework is all the rage.

“It is the ‘see it, want it’ interior design of choice right now. We have one of our own at the DL HQ! We named the room after a former employee, our contracts manager Steve Ledger who retired after 40 years with us. One of our clients saw it just before Christmas and said: ‘We want one of those in our office!’

“Many others have already chosen similar designs to complement their refit, including our friends at Bluestone Credit Management who moved into their Westfield House offices on Charter Row in Sheffield city centre last July.”

THE VIEW FROM THE COMPANY: Bluestone Credit Management general manager Deborah Stokes said: “We had already done a fit-out in our Cambridge office and the business had gone through a re-brand process over the last year, so we were looking for a fresh new look for our Sheffield office.

“Before the re-design we had glass partitioning with manifestations on and we wanted to keep that sleek glass look but go for something more contemporary.

“The other aspect to the new-look office was lines – we had hexagonal flooring at a 45-degree angle, so we wanted the partition to stay in style with and complement those modern design features.

“The partitioning needed to work with the overall brand refresh and image and the working environment for our staff. People spend a lot of time at work so it’s important for us at Bluestone that we invest in creating a space where people want to be and that includes things like providing fruit and a coffee machine in the kitchen, as well as break-out activities like a snooker table.

“Our staff are very appreciative of the layout and design of the new office and we’ve had lots of positive feedback from visitors when we take them on tours of the office – the partitioning wall has been a real talking point.”

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OFFICE INTERIORS

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AFTER HOURS

EATING

’ O K S E D ‘AL-

Struggling to get away for a lengthy lunch break? Side-step the shop-bought sarnies and buy a bite from one of these businesses instead to eat ‘al-desko’ with a difference. Grab some cheap comfort food or even have your taste buds take a trip to Mexico, Nepal, Vietnam, or New Zealand – despite being desk-bound 74

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AFTER HOURS

THE VARIED DELI COUNTER AT GRIND CAFE HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

The Street Food Chef Address: 90 Arundel Street, Sheffield, S1 4RE or 376 Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield S11 2ZP Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-10pm Social media: Facebook: @streetfoodchef Twitter: @streetfoodchef About: If street food’s your thing, this place packs a punch with cantina-style Mexican food such as burritos, tacos, and quesadillas with a range of soft drinks and beer to wash them down. Described by one social media user as the ‘best burritos around’ and the feeling is echoed throughout their reviews. So, grab a bit of spice and take it back to your desk!

Hungry Buddha Address: Unit 2, Food Court, 77 The Moor, Sheffield S1 4PF

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Opening times: Mon-Fri 12-2:30pm Social media: Facebook: @ILoveNepaleseFood Twitter: @hungrybuddha_ About: It’s not like you get the opportunity to eat Nepalese food every day, but now you can! Conveniently placed in the food court at the Moor Market, it should be on the doorstep for many workers wanting an exotic lunch to keep them going through the afternoon (their curries have certainly powered the unLTD team through on numerous occasions!) With meat, veg and vegan options, there’s no need for anyone to feel left out.

The Bhaji Shop Address: 77 The Moor Market, Sheffield S1 4PF Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm

Social media: Facebook: @thebhajishop Twitter: @thebhajishop About: Serving up homemade bhajis, chutneys, thali boards and plenty more delicious treats galore from their venue in the Moor Market, the wellestablished Bhaji Shop brand is often the first name that pops into a hungry worker’s mind.

How St Address: 46 Howard Street, Sheffield S1 2LX Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm Social media: Instagram: @_howst Twitter: @_howst About: The small independent cafe just up from the train station, opposite Hallam University, bills itself as ‘great food, great drinks, service with a smile’ and many an office

worker would agree. Plus there’s vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

Grind Cafe Address: Cornwall Works, 3 Green Lane, Sheffield S3 8SJ Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm Social media: Facebook: @TheGrindCafeKelhamIsland Instagram: @TheGrindCafeKelhamIsland About: The independently owned café opened in 2010 in Kelham Island and has quickly established a reputation for ‘fab food using only the freshest of ingredients’.

Colourful lunch options range from tasty quiches and sarnies to mouth-watering salads.

Plus their giant sausage rolls have a following all of their own.

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AFTER HOURS

TAMPER SELLERS WHEEL ON ARUNDEL STREET

Wellies Address: 140 Charles Street, Sheffield S1 2NE Opening times: Mon-Fri 8am-3:30pm Social media: Facebook: @welliessheffield About: Their strapline is ‘lovingly made food’ and it shows. Using meat from a local butcher and bread from a local bakery, they make everything from scratch with the utmost care and attention. Their cooked breakfasts are a thing of legend, but don’t let them overshadow the fabulous lunch menu with paninis, jackets, sandwiches and salads. Can you resist popping to Wellies for the ultimate comfort food – a fish finger sandwich?

Marmadukes Address: 22 Norfolk Row, Sheffield S1 2PA Opening times: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Social media: Facebook: @marmadukescafe Twitter: @MarmadukesCafe About: Tucked away on Norfolk Row in the heart

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of the city centre in a Georgian townhouse is this independent café serving food created simply, made well.

Marmaduke’s famous seasonal deli salads go down a treat for a healthy ‘al desko’ lunch.

Or for something a bit more substantial, how about a deli sandwich served on traditional, long fermented, handmade bread – mmm, delish!

Union St Address: 18-20 Union Street, Sheffield S1 2JP Opening times: Street food served 11:30am-2pm Social media: Facebook: @UnionSt.Coworking Twitter: @UnionStCowork About: Not sure what you fancy? Sheffield’s central hub for co-working, street food and public events has a pop-up café with different eateries taking over on different days. Check their website to find out who’s dishing up the delights – it could be home-baked bagels from Lovely Pear, Taiwanese curries by Shuju Kitchen or

something delicious from Pie Eyed. You can even arrange a delivery for your office, so you don’t even need to stray from your keyboard.

Tamper Sellers Wheel Address: 149 Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 2NU Opening times: Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm Fri 8am-10pm Social media: Facebook: @tampercoffee Twitter: @tampercoffee About: For a taste of Kiwi cuisine, pick up lunch with a difference from Tamper’s trendy city centre Seller’s Wheel cafe. Shredded tandoori jerk marinated lamb shoulder sarnies, fresh seafood Thai green noodles and crispy coley sliders are all guaranteed to brighten up a gloomy winter lunchtime in the office. Plus the menu caters for vegetarians, vegans and gluten free customers.

Fanoush Address: 98 Pinstone Street, Sheffield S1 2HQ

Opening times: Mon-Fri 11am-5pm Social media: Facebook: @Fanoush Salad Bar Twitter: @FanoushFalafel About: That’s a wrap! Add a middle eastern flavour to your al desko lunch with takeaway from Fanoush Falafel Bar, on Pinstone Street. Perfect for meat-free Mondays, Fanoush serves a range of vegetarian and halal wraps and salad boxes. Falafel, halloumi, aubergine, cauliflower, feta and baba ganoush are some of Fanoush’s most popular fillings.

Birdhouse Tea Bar & Kitchen Address: Alsop Fields, Sidney Street, Sheffield S1 4RG Opening times: Mon-Sat 8am-10pm Sun 10am-6pm Social media: Twitter: @birdhouseteaco Facebook: @BirdHouseTeaCompany Instagram: @birdhouseteacompany About: Bravo Birdhouse – this quirky little company sets the

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AFTER HOURS

HARLAND CAFE ON JOHN STREET

standards high when it comes to choosing where to grab your lunch. It’s highly doubtful you’ll find Sheffield Fog tea in any old lunch stop. With more than 50 choices of hot drinks you’ll never be short of choice.

It’s also opposite unLTD HQ so we are very FREQUENT visitors and al desko diners in the runup to print day!

Brunch and Lunch Address: 10 Matilda Street, Sheffield S1 4QD Opening times: Mon-Fri 7:30am-3pm Sat: 7:30am-2:30pm Sun: 7:30am-3pm Social Media: Facebook: @BrunchNLunch1 About: Brunch and Lunch? It does what it says on the tin.

But that’s not to say its menu is limited. From omelettes, toasties, paninis, burgers, jacket potatoes … they even do homemade quiche. At an affordable price, too – surely no one in Yorkshire can resist a homemade meat and potato pie, especially not for under £4.

Whatever al desko lunch you

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fancy, Brunch N Lunch have you covered.

South Street Kitchen Address: 9-20 South Street, Sheffield S2 5QX Opening times: Sun-Mon: CLOSED Tues-Thursday: 9am-5pm Fri: 8am-10pm Sat: 10am-5pm Social Media: Facebook: @SouthStreetKitchen Instagram: @southstreetkitchen About: Fancy lunch with a bit of a twist? Forget your traditional English breakfast and lunch and go al desko style with some speciality coffee and middle eastern inspired food. Don’t be surprised by the ever-changing menu, as South Street Kitchen keep you on your toes by offering fresh and seasonable produce.

Steam Yard Address: Unit 1-2 Aberdeen Court, 97 Division Street S1 4GE Opening times: Mon-Sun: 9am-5pm

Social media: Facebook: @SteamYard Twitter: @SteamYard Instagram: @steamyard About: It’s been trending as the #bestcoffeeshopinsheffield but it doesn’t stop there. Steamyard serves delicious doughnuts or even delicious “dough-NOTS” as they creatively call them – they’re referring to their gluten free, vegan and refined sugar free doughnuts so no one has to go without! Runner up for the third year running for Best Cheap Eats in the Guardian Observer Food Monthly Awards and with fresh food baked daily, why not add a coffee and enjoy it at your desk al desko style.

Tilly’s Café Address: 102 Matilda Street, Sheffield S1 4QF Opening Times: Mon-Fri: 7:30am-2:30pm Social Media: Twitter: @Tillyscafe123 Facebook: @Tillysgirls About: Tilly’s is around the corner from unLTD HQ and has saved our bacon on many a lunch break – by providing

the bacon butties. Serving lashings of comfort food (and we do mean lashings, even the sandwiches are massive!) and all at a price that’s not going to hit the wallet hard, even right before pay day.

Harland Café Address: 68 John Street, Sheffield S2 4QU Opening Times: Sun: 10am-2pm Mon: 8am-2pm Tues-Fri: 8am-4pm Sat: 9am-4pm Social Media: Twitter: @harlandcafe Facebook: @HarlandCafé About: At the Harland Café there’s something to eat for everyone on every occasion. In terms of lunch, the café offer ‘workers specials’ for as little as £3.50 to take away all day Monday-Friday. The range includes grabbing yourself a sandwich and adding either a drink, cookie, fruit or crisps.

So if hard work is making you peckish, head down to Harland Café and treat yourself at your desk.

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AFTER HOURS

WEEKEND ESCAPES

Not long until St Patrick’s Day next month, so why not take a trip to Dublin? It’s Ireland’s number one tourist attraction and for good reason, says unLTD’s Sarah-Louise Kelsey (and not just the Guinness Factory) 78

This UNESCO City of Literature was founded by Vikings – but don’t worry they left a while back – and nowadays it’s buzzing with good oldfashioned pubs, great grub and home to some of the friendliest locals you’ll ever come across.

Dublin is an inspiration for all and is jam packed with historical tales to tell. With its gracious Georgian streets lined with medieval churches its atmosphere is one to be sought after by its surrounding cities.

“When life looks black as the hour of night, a pint of plain is your only man.”

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AFTER HOURS

DUBLIN That’s Irish writer Flann O’Brien, as mentioned Dublin is famous for its literacy, but let’s not forget its star attraction – Guinness. ‘The Black Stuff’ may be world famous but the slow-settling porter (aka the drink that takes the longest to pour) originated in St James’s Gate in the heart of Old Dublin. Arthur Guinness, all the way back in 1759 took a 9,000-year lease on the brewery – known now as The Guinness Storehouse – for an annual rent of £45. The building was originally used

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as a fermentation house and was designed in the style of the Chicago School of Architecture. The Storehouse now offers a trip back in time to retro advertising where you’ll learn the craft of brewing and get to enjoy a pint – poured to perfection – in the Gravity bar where the Dublin views are endless along with the amounts of Guinness.

Now, a pint of Guinness is only as good as the tap from which it is poured, so choose your pubs wisely in Dublin. Many of Dublin’s

This UNESCO City of Literature is buzzing with good oldfashioned pubs and great grub

historic and legendary pubs are clustered together in a place called Temple Bar. With plenty of character and live music every day of the week, it’s the perfect place to wet your whistle. If it’s good craic you’re after, The Temple Bar is one not to miss.

Speaking of booze, why not go on a Literary Pub Crawl?

Beer and literature – the perfect combination. After all, it is the UNESCO City of Literature so what better way to celebrate Ireland’s many famous writers than raising a glass to them. Why read the

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AFTER HOURS

notoriously difficult Ulysses, when you could go on a pub crawl of all the places James Joyce wrote about instead?

Wash away your hangover the next day at Wake Dock, Ireland’s first ever cable wakeboarding park located in the heart of the Dublin Docklands area. Wake Dock offers sessions for adults, kids, individuals, groups, corporate teams, hen and stag parties and more (basically it’s open for everyone so you have no excuse not to give it a bash).

If that sounds slightly too OTT for you, you could visit Trinity College, also known as College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin

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Dublin is an inspiration for all and is jam packed with historical tales to tell

(bit more of a mouthful).

Founded in 1592 it is the oldest university in Ireland.

The campus is open to visitors and offers 35 tours which showcase the college’s four major squares and provides visitors with over four hundred years of history.

You’ll get to hear stories from the college’s famous past students including Oscar Wilde and Jonathon Swift. You can even view the Book of Kells, Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure and the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ.

Coming back into the 21st century wouldn’t be complete without visiting a zoo. Dublin Zoo is a registered charity which means your visit will help maintain the zoo’s high standards, protect those endangered animals and contribute to its conservation programmes. The zoo is located in the heart of Dublin City in the Phoenix Park.

Home to more than 400 animals, it welcomes in excess of one million visitors every year.

So, there we have it.

History, culture, booze, water sports, cute animals, more booze – what more could you ask for? Except maybe another pint of Guinness…

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NUMBER CRUNCH

SHEFFIELD:

THE PLACE TO BE We’re giving February a kick-start by taking a quick look at why Sheffield is such a desirable destination to live and grow in during 2019 – and beyond!

After all, Sheffield has seen a huge number of exciting developments over the past few months, including the on-going regeneration of the city centre.

If you’re not convinced, these facts and figures from Made in Sheffield should put things into perspective:

Sheffield has

4 TREES TO EVERY ONE PERSON making it the greenest city in Europe

NO.1

Thanks to sitting on the doorstep of the Peak District, Sheffield has become the number 1 destination for outdoor enthusiasts

Want to grab some fresh air?

In Sheffield, most people live just

15 MINS from open countryside

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2

150 There are 150 woodlands to explore

23 MINS It takes just 23 minutes on average to get to work

2 WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

35% of Sheffield’s university graduates choose to stay in the city after their studies

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and the largest college in Europe, mean Sheffield is dead-set for huge success in the 21st century

4TH BIGGEST city in England

Despite 17 other towns and villages sharing Sheffield’s name across the globe, this is the

ONE TRUE “STEEL CITY” unLTDBUSINESS.COM

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