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THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
SUMMER 2018<br />
ON BUSINESS<br />
Let’s Get<br />
Digital!<br />
From TV production to software<br />
development, Staffordshire is the<br />
perfect location for companies<br />
seeking dynamic growth.<br />
A Royal Celebration<br />
We take a peek at what our<br />
local businesses have been<br />
creating in support of the<br />
biggest wedding of the year!<br />
PLUS<br />
MADE IN STAFFORDSHIRE,<br />
LATEST MEMBER NEWS,<br />
MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
KINDLY SPONSORED BY:<br />
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF<br />
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<strong>FOCUS</strong> MAGAZINE<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
03<br />
Our Patrons<br />
Want to discover the<br />
benefits of becoming a<br />
chamber patron?<br />
Contact us today for<br />
more information:<br />
T: 01782 202222<br />
E: marketing@staffordshire<br />
chambers.co.uk<br />
President’s message<br />
2018 has kick started very positively for us here at<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce. We have new faces<br />
within the team who are all geared up to support our<br />
membership and we are very excited to be delivering even<br />
bigger and better events and training courses to support<br />
Staffordshire’s business base.<br />
Paul Farmer OBE<br />
President Staffordshire<br />
Chambers of Commerce<br />
I would like to thank everyone who entered their business<br />
into the categories for our 2018 Staffordshire Business<br />
Awards, its great to see the successes of our local companies<br />
and I wish each and every entrant the best of luck. Keep an<br />
eye out for further opportunities and support from the team.
04<br />
CONTENTS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Let’s Get Digital!<br />
06<br />
14 16 26<br />
32 34 36<br />
37<br />
39 50
Contents<br />
06<br />
Let’s Get Digital!<br />
34<br />
Finest and FutureFinest<br />
14<br />
From TV production to software development,<br />
Staffordshire is the perfect location for companies<br />
seeking dynamic growth.<br />
Award Celebrations<br />
Did you know that Staffordshire is home to a<br />
number of 2018 Queen’s Award winners?<br />
36<br />
Keep up to date with Staffordshire Chambers’<br />
professional service network.<br />
Centre Stage in Stoke-on-Trent<br />
We hear from Andy Haldane, Chief Economist and<br />
Executive Director, Monetary Analysis & Statistics<br />
at The Bank of England, about his visit to our city.<br />
16<br />
A Royal Celebration<br />
37 A Star Appearance<br />
We take peak at what our local businesses have<br />
been creating in support of the biggest wedding of<br />
the year!<br />
26 # Well Connected<br />
Have you been spotted at a leading networking<br />
event in Staffordshire?<br />
32 Movers & Shakers<br />
Take a look at Staffordshire’s latest promotions and<br />
appointments.<br />
40<br />
50<br />
Did you get a chance to hear from<br />
Apprentice Star, Michaela Wain?<br />
Member News<br />
Catch up with Staffordshire Chambers’ members to<br />
hear their recent successes and achievements.<br />
Working Lunch<br />
Get to know Suzanne Davy, Director at<br />
Moorlands Contract Cleaning and President of<br />
Staffordshire Moorlands Chambers of Commerce.<br />
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily<br />
those of the chambers. This publication (or any part thereof)<br />
may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or<br />
electronic format (including, but not limited to, any online<br />
service, any database or any part of the internet), or in any<br />
other format in any media whatsoever, without the prior<br />
written permission of the publisher. Although every effort is<br />
made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in the<br />
magazine, the chambers do not accept any responsibility for<br />
any omissions or inaccuracies it contains.<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce<br />
Commerce House, Festival Park<br />
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5BE<br />
01782 202222<br />
Focus magazine is published by<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce<br />
Design and Print by Rowtype Ltd,<br />
Unit 1, Milton Road, Milton, Stoke on Trent ST1 6LE<br />
Editorial and advertising:<br />
marketing@staffordshirechambers.co.uk<br />
01782 202222
06<br />
DIGITAL<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Let's Get Digital!<br />
Staffordshire has fast-growing digital<br />
and creative industries, fuelled by a<br />
vibrant, diverse business environment.<br />
From TV production to software<br />
development, this is the perfect location<br />
for companies seeking dynamic growth.<br />
In the UK, the sector is worth nearly £184bn and employs<br />
over 550,000 people, including opportunities in animation,<br />
computer games, film production, interactive media, radio<br />
and television.<br />
Such rapid growth is evidence of both the growing<br />
importance of the creative industries in an age of<br />
increasing digitalisation, with products and services such<br />
as video games and social media becoming ever more<br />
popular, and the fact that the UK has traditionally been<br />
near the forefront of such development.<br />
Eleanor Piredda, Marketing Manager at Fifteen Group,<br />
said: “It is vital for businesses of any size or sector to<br />
begin their journey to digital transformation. In this<br />
incredibly competitive and digitalised era, it’s essential<br />
businesses embrace what opportunities technology can<br />
bring. It gives them the competitive edge.”<br />
There is a need for both technical and professional skills’<br />
within and across the industry. Many jobs in this sector<br />
are new with new roles are being created all the time. On<br />
average 72 per cent of UK digital tech workers are over<br />
35, challenging the stereotype that jobs in this sector are<br />
the preserve of millennials.<br />
Fuelling the development in Staffordshire sits an<br />
ambitious £17m project to drive up the number of skilled<br />
digital apprentices in the region, helping to address skills<br />
shortages in the industry which are having a detrimental<br />
impact on growth within the sector.<br />
Staffordshire University has secured £8 million funding<br />
from the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s<br />
Catalyst Fund towards the cost of the landmark project,<br />
which will see a new state of the art Digital<br />
Apprenticeships and Skills Hub built on its Stoke-on-Trent<br />
campus.<br />
It also includes a £5m funding pot for the design and<br />
delivery of new apprenticeships that will meet the needs<br />
of 21st century employers.<br />
The new development confirms Staffordshire University’s<br />
reputation as a national leader in the delivery of higher<br />
and degree apprenticeships as well as addressing the<br />
skills shortages affecting Staffordshire and the wider<br />
region.
DIGITAL<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
07<br />
Staffordshire University Vice-Chancellor and Chief<br />
Executive Professor, Liz Barnes, said: “We are delighted<br />
to have secured HEFCE Catalyst funding for our project<br />
which provides a blueprint for Higher Education.<br />
“We are thrilled to be growing our learning community<br />
and connecting with our employers to develop digitally<br />
enabled apprentices who will positively impact on the<br />
region’s capabilities.”<br />
The Digital Apprenticeships and Skills Hub, set to<br />
open in 2020, aims to deliver more than 6,500 new<br />
apprenticeships over the next decade. It will also act as<br />
a one stop shop for UK employers looking to access the<br />
best support and advice on apprenticeships.<br />
Microsoft has already been identified as a partner in the<br />
project and the world-leading technology company will<br />
supply equipment and expertise to ensure all apprentices<br />
achieve a high level of digital literacy to increase their<br />
own employability and benefits for employers.<br />
The project has the backing of<br />
Staffordshire County Council, Stokeon-Trent<br />
City Council, college partners<br />
and employer representatives including<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce,<br />
who will work with the university to set<br />
up an Apprenticeship Training Agency.<br />
Matt Hubbard, Account Director<br />
at Reels in Motion, said:<br />
Staffordshire is the perfect place to start and<br />
grow a digital business. With the innovation<br />
and achievements of our existing digital<br />
companies alongside the skills development<br />
and drive of the next generation of digital<br />
businesses, Staffordshire will be at the<br />
forefront of the UKs digital sector boom.<br />
Based at the hub, the new agency will be managed by<br />
Staffordshire Chambers with the purpose of helping<br />
small businesses to benefit from apprenticeship<br />
opportunities.<br />
Sara Williams, Chief Executive of Staffordshire<br />
Chambers of Commerce, said: “The Digital<br />
Apprenticeships and Skills Hub is a fantastic<br />
development for Staffordshire. The Digital Economy<br />
will play a crucial role in the future of business, and this<br />
facility will help businesses large and small to develop<br />
the skills of their workforce and provide opportunities for<br />
apprenticeships. Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce<br />
will be working closely with Staffordshire University in<br />
setting up the Apprenticeship Training Agency, helping<br />
businesses and learners make the most of this great<br />
project.”
08<br />
DIGITAL<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
In the UK, the sector is worth nearly £184bn and employs<br />
over 550,000 people, including opportunities in animation,<br />
computer games, film production, interactive media, radio<br />
and television.<br />
Daniel Waterman, Account Manager and Co-Founder at Carse and Waterman, said:<br />
Daniel Waterman, Account Manager and Co-Founder at Carse and Waterman, said: “We are thrilled to see<br />
such an uprising of digital business in Stoke-on-Trent and it's something that we have been trying to build<br />
for a while. The impact of the growth in the digital sector will lead to more local innovation and offer more<br />
creative jobs locally which is especially important when automation proves a threat to local jobs.
DIGITAL<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
909<br />
Janine Bridges, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Cabinet<br />
Member for Education and Economy, said: “This<br />
is fantastic news and will improve the offer for all<br />
young people who want to learn in our city. We<br />
take inclusive growth very seriously and this means<br />
assuring our learners have the best start in life,<br />
right the way through to the higher education offer.<br />
By linking the university experience with work and<br />
industry experience, it will give young people an<br />
advantage in entering the employment market.”<br />
Staffordshire University Pro Vice-Chancellor<br />
(Partnerships and Region) Professor Ieuan Ellis,<br />
added: “The hub will act as a modern gateway<br />
to students, businesses and employees and help<br />
us to realise our vision to be both a Connected<br />
and Digital University. It will provide employers<br />
and learners with opportunities to design new<br />
apprenticeships, undertake co-delivery and provide<br />
skills and support that enables us to attract and<br />
retain talent.”<br />
As well as the support from local educational<br />
providers, Staffordshire’s digital sector is enriched<br />
with an array of energetic technology-based<br />
businesses who are helping to forward this<br />
innovation.<br />
eLearning Consultancy, Enlighten, is going from<br />
strength to strength and reaching across the globe<br />
as their expertise and innovation in Augmented<br />
Reality (AR) makes waves in this cutting-edge<br />
sector.<br />
Enlighten was selected to represent the best of<br />
UK specialists in this field for the UK's Global<br />
Business Programme visit to South Korea. This<br />
prestigious event brought together companies<br />
and research organisations from both countries<br />
to share knowledge, develop markets and explore<br />
opportunities for collaboration.<br />
The six-day trip, supported by Enterprise Europe<br />
Network (EEN) and Innovate UK, began with a<br />
visit to Seoul and included high level business<br />
introductions. The Enlighten team engaged in<br />
productive discussions with national and global<br />
players including Samsung, KICOX, NetMarble,<br />
Golfzone & ETRI.<br />
Steve Wileman, Chief Executive of Enlighten, said<br />
"It was a real privilege to have this opportunity to<br />
gain a better understanding of how UK innovations<br />
and businesses like ourselves can collaborate with<br />
South Korean counterparts and collaboratively seek<br />
to develop new digital solutions.”<br />
What is Augmented Reality (AR)?<br />
Augmented Reality and Virtual reality are<br />
hot topics in business innovation, but what<br />
is the difference between<br />
the two?<br />
Unlike virtual reality, which requires you to inhabit an<br />
entirely virtual environment, augmented reality uses<br />
your existing natural environment and simply overlays<br />
virtual information on top of it. As both virtual and real<br />
worlds coexist, users of augmented reality experience<br />
a new and improved world where virtual information<br />
is used as a tool to provide assistance in everyday<br />
activities. AR can be as simple as a text-notification or<br />
as complicated as an instruction on how to perform a<br />
life-threatening surgical procedure. AR can highlight<br />
certain features, enhance understandings, and<br />
provide accessible and timely data. Mobile phone<br />
apps and business applications by companies using<br />
augmented reality are a few of the many applications<br />
driving augmented reality application development.<br />
The key point is that the information provided is highly<br />
topical and relevant to what you are doing.
10<br />
ACCESS INDIA<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Access India with the UK India Business Council<br />
With a population well over one billion people and the country’s economy growing by over seven<br />
per cent in 2017, many companies are looking at India as a prime market into which they should<br />
expand, or at the very least investigate.<br />
On Monday 19 March 2018 Staffordshire Chambers’<br />
Patron, Perkins Engines, joined with The Department for<br />
International Trade (DIT) to host an event, encouraging<br />
local companies to consider India as a relevant and<br />
exciting potential export market via the Access India<br />
Programme (AIP).<br />
The high-level event covered the considerable<br />
opportunities available to UK businesses as a result of<br />
the recently launched AIP. This is a flagship initiative of<br />
the High Commission of India in London and has been<br />
formed to encourage and assist UK SMEs to access the<br />
Indian market. The event provided a great opportunity<br />
to meet senior officials from the Indian government and<br />
network with businesses and various organisations active<br />
in the UK-India corridor.<br />
AIP is a market entry support programme which is free<br />
at the point of entry. It aims to assist small and mediumsized<br />
UK companies in trade and technology / investment<br />
collaborations with India. The High Commission of India in<br />
London is supported by UK India Business Council as the<br />
official Knowledge Partner for this programme.<br />
For more information on how your business can develop export markets please contact<br />
Staffordshire Chambers’ International Trade Team on 01782 202222, or for more<br />
information specifically in the AIP visit www.ukibc.com/about/access-india/<br />
www.nsconferencecentre.co.uk<br />
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to make your meeting, conference or event a success. With two tiered lecture theatres, seminar rooms, state of the art audiovisual equipment<br />
and an on-site catering team, the N<strong>SCC</strong> can accommodate your needs. Book with us and help to fund vital medical research.<br />
Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7NY | Tel: 01782 714 888 | Email: enquiries@nsconferencecentre.co.uk
CHARITY<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
11<br />
Teaming up to support Staffordshire charities<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has been working alongside businesses across the county to raise money for<br />
local charities, hosting events such as baking competitions, quiz nights and an Easter raffle.<br />
In April 2018 Staffordshire Chambers hosted their<br />
second charity bake off event, this time going up<br />
against chambers’ member, Goodwin International.<br />
Not only did the morning involve some healthy<br />
competition and eating vast amounts of cake, but it<br />
was all for a brilliant cause!<br />
Team members from Staffordshire Chambers dusted<br />
off their aprons and put their bakery skills to the test<br />
to compete against the Goodwins’ team, and the<br />
competition this year was fierce! Our star bakers<br />
from Staffordshire Chambers were Lyndsey Parry,<br />
Matt Hustwit, Deb Kelly and Tom Nadin.<br />
Beth scoops the charity crown<br />
Tom Nadin, Mentoring Growth Project Manager<br />
at Staffordshire Chambers, said: “It was really<br />
great being part of the Charity Bake-off event with<br />
Goodwin International. It had been years since I had<br />
last baked a cake. This, coupled with the friendly<br />
rivalry, made it a fantastic experience. The day was<br />
made even better by the money we were able to<br />
raise for our charity network. I look forward to our<br />
next challenge!”<br />
Despite the best efforts from the chambers’ team, it<br />
was Goodwins who took the crown this year, with<br />
Jess Whittingham winning over the judges with her<br />
incredible ‘Blonde Bombshell’ creation.<br />
Beth Coleman from The Goodwin Group worked<br />
alongside Allison Tomlinson from Staffordshire<br />
Chambers’ International Trade Team to co-ordinate<br />
the bake off.<br />
Beth said: “All of our bakers were excited and<br />
enthusiastic to take part in the challenge and<br />
definitely rose to the occasion. By using our<br />
resources to support the community, we are helping<br />
those who most need it. Through the delivery of<br />
our socio-economic strategy, we will continue our<br />
strong commitment to the community and help to<br />
address issues of primary local concern.”<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has a total of 25 charities<br />
within their membership. Between December 2017 and April<br />
2018, the team raised over £700 which will be divided up and<br />
presented to each charity.
12 CERAMICS GDPR<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Practical Help for Your Business<br />
By Andy Dow | Managing Director at Spiral IT.<br />
Advertorial<br />
In 20 years of business systems consultancy, I have rarely seen a change that has as widespread<br />
implications for businesses as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).<br />
Talking to customers throughout the<br />
county about GDPR, I’ve encountered<br />
every response from “GDPR what?”<br />
to total confusion and concern. In<br />
short, very few businesses know what<br />
is expected from them when this new<br />
regulation is introduced.<br />
What are the key<br />
implications for YOUR<br />
business?<br />
There are a number of changes<br />
introduced in the regulation from<br />
territorial boundaries to designing in<br />
privacy into IT systems, but the main<br />
things to be aware of are:<br />
Consumer Consent<br />
You may be asked to prove the consent<br />
you received from a customer and that<br />
it was obtained through clearly worded<br />
communications. In plain English,<br />
rather than being hidden within legal<br />
small print.<br />
Depending on your business, consent<br />
may have to be specific. For example,<br />
if you provide different services within<br />
your organisation you will need to<br />
obtain specific consent for each each<br />
offering.<br />
Incentives can still be used to obtain<br />
consent, but you must be careful that<br />
the data is used in a relevant way to<br />
the original incentive.<br />
Right to access and data<br />
portability<br />
These two fundamental articles of<br />
GDPR give consumers the right to<br />
request access to any and all personal<br />
data held about them, the purpose it is<br />
being used for and the right to transfer<br />
this data to a third party. This means<br />
any data you hold on someone must<br />
be made available to the customer<br />
within 1 month and they can then pass<br />
this data on and lodge a complaint<br />
with an Ombudsman or industry<br />
regulator.<br />
Penalties<br />
These are increased under GDPR and<br />
can be up to either 4 per cent of the<br />
company’s annual turnover or £20<br />
million. However, these are maximums<br />
and other measures can be used<br />
before resorting to fines, such as<br />
warnings and compliance orders. But<br />
it is the cost of compliance that could<br />
be the greater concern to businesses.<br />
What are the main things<br />
that will be required of<br />
businesses after it comes<br />
into force on Friday 25 May?<br />
If any one of your contacts want to see<br />
what information you hold about them,<br />
you must send them a copy of that<br />
information within 1 month.<br />
And….<br />
If people want to unsubscribe from<br />
your contact list, they must be allowed<br />
to do so for phone calls, emails and<br />
post separately and easily.
GDPR<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
13<br />
How can you best prepare?<br />
The first step to compliance is to hold<br />
all customer details, interactions and<br />
documents in a structured data store<br />
such as a Customer Relationship<br />
Management (CRM) system. Then<br />
for each contact record you can store<br />
marketing consent for email, phone,<br />
post, SMS etc.<br />
Once your customer data is<br />
centralised you need to make this<br />
data available as quickly and easily<br />
as possible.<br />
GDPR compliance can be easy with the right tools and business processes.<br />
SpiralIT provides simple solutions to give your customers immediate access to a highly secure, self-service portal that<br />
contains all the data (including documents) that you store about them and allows them to control exactly what they<br />
want to subscribe to.<br />
For more information on this or any of our other services please email AndyDow@spiralit.net.<br />
GDPR Ready CRM<br />
from £199<br />
email AndyDow@spiralit.net
14 QUEEN'S AWARD<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Recognising<br />
success<br />
Since 1965, UK businesses have had<br />
the opportunity to put themselves<br />
forward for the chance to win the<br />
‘Queen’s Award for Enterprise’.<br />
The award is the highest<br />
of its kind for business and<br />
recognises the achievements of<br />
companies working in the areas<br />
of international trade, innovation,<br />
sustainable development and<br />
the promotion of development<br />
through social mobility.<br />
Winning businesses are invited to<br />
a Royal reception at Buckingham<br />
Palace and are presented with<br />
their award at their company<br />
base by one of the Queen’s<br />
representatives. Once granted, the<br />
award is valid for five years.<br />
“flying the flag for British<br />
quality and expertise,<br />
bringing a boost to their<br />
local economies.”<br />
Recipients of the<br />
award can also expect<br />
to benefit from an<br />
array of advantages,<br />
including:<br />
• Flying the Queen’s Award<br />
flag at their main company<br />
office<br />
• Using the Queen’s Award<br />
emblem on marketing<br />
materials<br />
• A Grant of Appointment<br />
• Press coverage and<br />
national recognition<br />
Previous winners have also noted<br />
a boost in staff morale, an increase<br />
in commercial value and greater<br />
development opportunities within<br />
their markets. This year saw 238<br />
businesses recognised nationally.<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce<br />
is delighted to announce that the<br />
prestigious honour has been awarded<br />
to several chambers’ members:
QUEEN'S AWARD<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
15<br />
• ADDMASTER (UK) LTD. –<br />
Queen’s Award for Enterprise in<br />
International Trade<br />
• SWIFT-CUT AUTOMATION –<br />
Queen’s Award for Enterprise in<br />
International Trade<br />
• THE WOOL PACKAGING<br />
Company – Outstanding<br />
Achievement in Innovation<br />
The Wool Packaging Company was<br />
also honoured with a Staffordshire<br />
Business Awards in 2017 in the<br />
Small Business of the Year category.<br />
The receipt of these accolades<br />
is a testament to how entering<br />
local business awards can benefit<br />
companies on a national scale.<br />
Swift-Cut Automation has been<br />
honoured with the Queens’ Award for<br />
Enterprise in International Trade.<br />
Neil Smith, International Global<br />
Development Director at Swift-Cut<br />
Automation, said: “We are thrilled<br />
that our international growth and<br />
success has been recognised by the<br />
Queens Award, arguably the most<br />
prestigious business award in the UK<br />
and a testament to our product, our<br />
team and our vision. The Secretary<br />
of State for International Trade, Dr<br />
Liam Fox, highlighted Swift-Cut’s<br />
achievement by remarking that the<br />
business is “flying the flag for British<br />
quality and expertise, bringing a<br />
boost to their local economies.”<br />
Addmaster UK Ltd, who are based<br />
in Stafford and provide innovative<br />
additives for the plastics, textile,<br />
paper, paints and coatings<br />
industries, has been recognised for<br />
their achievements in International<br />
Trade for a second year running – a<br />
huge honour in itself.<br />
CEO and Founder of Addmaster,<br />
Paul Morris, said: “As a UK<br />
manufacturer based in Staffordshire<br />
we are delighted that the Queens<br />
Award has again recognised our<br />
export achievements on a global<br />
scale.”<br />
The Wool Packaging Company has<br />
proven that they are going from<br />
strength to strength after winning<br />
the Queen’s Award for Outstanding<br />
Achievement in Innovation.<br />
Angela Morris, Founder and CEO<br />
of The Wool Packaging Company,<br />
said: “We are delighted and proud<br />
to have achieved the Queen’s Award<br />
in recognition of the commitment<br />
and tenacity of the Woolcool<br />
team and the continued support<br />
of suppliers and friends. On a<br />
wider platform this award will<br />
reinforce the vital role that natural<br />
materials can play in meeting the<br />
environmental challenges that<br />
face the planet both now and in<br />
the future.”<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of<br />
Commerce is proud to have<br />
worked with these fantastic<br />
growing businesses and is happy<br />
to have assisted several of them<br />
through the Regional Growth<br />
Fund to support their projects<br />
and development. Staffordshire<br />
Chambers would urge companies<br />
to consider entering a multitude<br />
of awards as they open doors for<br />
opportunity and recognition for<br />
success.<br />
"We are delighted and proud to have achieved the Queen’s Award in recognition of the commitment and tenacity<br />
of the Woolcool team, and the continued support of suppliers and friends. On a wider platform this award will<br />
reinforce the vital role that natural materials can play in meeting the environmental challenges that face the<br />
planet both now and in the future.”
16 ROYAL CELEBRATION<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
A Royal<br />
Celebration<br />
Two team members from Staffordshire Chambers of<br />
Commerce were lucky enough to step onto the grounds of<br />
Windsor for the Royal Wedding of the Year.<br />
Staffordshire Chambers' International<br />
Trade Advisor, Wendy Hall, and<br />
Growth Network Coordinator, Kelly<br />
Thelwell, were two of the lucky<br />
2,000 members of the public<br />
to have been given a golden<br />
ticket to HRH Prince Harry and<br />
Meghan Markle’s big day. With<br />
only 12 individuals attending from<br />
Staffordshire, the pair were thrilled<br />
to receive an invitation to witness the<br />
official unity of Harry and Meghan.<br />
Wendy, a mum of two from Knypersley and her colleague<br />
Kelly from Stoke-on-Trent who are based at Staffordshire<br />
Chambers’ Festival Park office, were nominated by Chief<br />
“I was absolutely thrilled. I couldn’t believe it when I got<br />
the invitation from the Lord Lieutenant’s Office. The letter<br />
looked so official I had no idea what it was - it was such a<br />
fabulous surprise and I know it’s an absolutely amazing<br />
experience that my daughter and I will never forget.“<br />
Executive, Sara Williams. Wendy was<br />
put forward for her contribution to the<br />
Ceramics Industry and Kelly for her<br />
contribution to the community.<br />
Kelly was accompanied to the wedding<br />
by her sister, Charleen, and Wendy<br />
shared the day with her daughter,<br />
Rebecca.<br />
Kelly said: “Words can’t describe how<br />
excited I was. I was over the moon to even<br />
receive a nomination and couldn’t believe it<br />
when my invitation arrived.”<br />
Wendy added: “I was absolutely thrilled. I couldn’t believe it<br />
when I got the invitation from the Lord Lieutenant’s Office.<br />
The letter looked so official I had no idea what it was - it<br />
was such a fabulous surprise and I know it’s an absolutely<br />
amazing experience that my daughter and I will never<br />
forget.“<br />
Sara Williams, Chief Executive at Staffordshire Chambers<br />
of Commerce, said: “Wendy and Kelly really deserve this.<br />
They both work incredibly hard and have made a huge<br />
difference to Staffordshire’s economy with the work that<br />
they do, which is why I nominated them."
ROYAL CELEBRATION<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
17<br />
As royal wedding fever gripped the nation, several Staffordshire<br />
Chambers’ members joined the party, either holding celebratory events or<br />
producing specialist commemorative gift-ware to celebrate HRH Prince<br />
Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day.<br />
We take a snapshot look at the businesses who jumped<br />
on board the royal event of the year.<br />
Dreamair<br />
The Stoke-on-Trent giftware company, Dreamair created a full range of Royal Wedding<br />
memorabilia.<br />
Specialising in the production of specialist giftware for all occasions, the business<br />
produced a selection of items including a heart tin, coaster, fine bone china mug<br />
and an enamel mug to celebrate the big day.<br />
Mair Williams, Owner of Dreamair, said: “As we specialise in producing personalised<br />
giftware for special occasions, how could we not produce something bespoke to mark<br />
the Royal Wedding? We’re absolutely delighted with the range and they proved to be really<br />
popular with orders coming in from all over the world.”<br />
Emma Bridgewater<br />
Emma Bridgewater produced two<br />
special commemorative<br />
mugs to celebrate the<br />
wedding of HRH Prince<br />
Harry to Meghan<br />
Markle.<br />
The mugs were<br />
handmade in the<br />
Emma Bridgewater<br />
factory and continued<br />
the company’s thirty-year<br />
long history of making royal<br />
commemorative ware.<br />
The first half pint Royal Wedding Mug<br />
features elegant scripting with the<br />
groom and bride’s names and wedding<br />
date, as well as text that reads: “Game<br />
changers, free spirits, big hearts &<br />
well-suited.” The mug also has a row<br />
of crowns and hearts in<br />
red and blue and comes<br />
complete with a bespoke<br />
backstamp.<br />
The second mug features a classic<br />
hand-applied spongeware design, with<br />
the couple’s names and wedding date,<br />
as well as regal scrolls and crowns in<br />
blue and red.<br />
Emma said: “We are proud to continue<br />
the honourable tradition of making<br />
pottery to mark national events. We<br />
have been making commemorative<br />
ware since 1985, celebrating events<br />
such as the Diamond Jubilee using<br />
traditional techniques in our factory<br />
in Stoke-On-Trent. Royal themed<br />
pottery made in Staffordshire can be<br />
traced back to the time of Charles II,<br />
and we are thrilled to see celebration<br />
through pottery continuing in 2018<br />
with Harry and Meghan.”
18 ROYAL CELEBRATION<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Roy Kirkham & Co Ltd<br />
English Fine Bone China Producers, Roy Kirkham & Co Ltd, also<br />
produced a range of exclusive Prince Harry and Meghan Markle<br />
wedding commemoratives.<br />
This specially commissioned range including a trinket tray, larch<br />
mug, larch candle and tea-towel, are made from either English<br />
Fine Bone China or 100 per cent cotton manufactured in the UK.<br />
Susan Robertson’s design inspiration comes from the intricate<br />
and spectacular vaulted ceiling in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor<br />
Castle which is one of the finest examples of 15th century<br />
perpendicular Gothic style architecture in the world.<br />
The Potters Club<br />
The Potters Club is a unique Stoke-on-Trent venue<br />
with historic Royal connections who celebrated the<br />
big day with a themed Royal Wedding afternoon tea.<br />
Members of the Potters Club were able to<br />
enjoy watching HRH Prince Harry and Meghan<br />
Markle’s special day live on a big screen while<br />
enjoying a glass of fizz and finger sandwiches<br />
and cakes. Some guests even dressed for the<br />
occasion complete with wedding hats.<br />
Stuart Darby, Club Manager at The Potters Club, said: “We<br />
have long links with the Royal family and have hosted several<br />
lunches for members of the Royal family over the years,<br />
including HM The Queen. The club is also home to a rare copy<br />
of the exquisite Coronation Vase, made for Her Majesty by the<br />
key members of our world-renowned ceramics industry - so<br />
it was most appropriate that we celebrated this very special<br />
event with a special afternoon tea.”
ROYAL CELEBRATION<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
19<br />
The Stafford Arms<br />
People living in Bagnall celebrated the Royal Wedding by having a street party outside<br />
the old Post Office.<br />
The Stafford Arms joined in by showing the Wedding Service in their bar area.<br />
Customers enjoyed a complimentary glass of Prosecco and nibbles whilst they<br />
watched the memorable day unfold.<br />
Jugs of Pimms and half-price bottles of Prosecco were also available<br />
as well as BBQ food. A String Quartet played and @QuartetCabaret<br />
also performed to add that extra special touch to the day.<br />
"A Royal Wedding is such a special occasion...<br />
and it really was fun to commemorate it in such a creative way.<br />
It’s not every day a prince gets married!”<br />
Valentine Clays<br />
Stoke-on-Trent’s Ceramics Centre, LoveClay,<br />
hosted a royal wedding tea party to celebrate<br />
the special occasion.<br />
Guests enjoyed a themed afternoon tea<br />
in the contemporary gallery space whilst<br />
watching the Royal wedding live on TV.<br />
To mark the momentous occasion,<br />
there was also an opportunity to create<br />
commemorative pieces with Teacher<br />
Matthew Dimbleby in the LoveClay<br />
workshop facility.<br />
Guests were shown how to create a heart plaque by Matthew,<br />
who has over 30 years’ experience.<br />
Matthew said:” A Royal Wedding is such a special occasion<br />
and it really was fun to commemorate it in such a creative<br />
way. It’s not every day a prince gets married!”<br />
Hannah Ault, Sales and Marketing Director at Valentine<br />
Clays, commented: “It was really exciting to be hosting such a<br />
unique event. What better way to celebrate a Royal wedding<br />
in Stoke-on-Trent than by getting creative with clay? It was<br />
great to get everyone together to enjoy the wedding.”
20 PROFILE PLUS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
A busy year ahead<br />
So far 2018 has been a busy year with the University of Wolverhampton<br />
further developing its presence in Staffordshire.<br />
Highlights include:<br />
• Launch of a new Skills Deal with Staffordshire County Council.<br />
• Official opening of a brand new twn centre facility in staffordshire Place,<br />
University of Wolverhampton in Stafford (UWiS), with hundreds of<br />
visitors through the door in the first few weeks and capacity audiences<br />
for the initial public lecture series and language courses.<br />
• Launch of a partnership with Entrust focused on teacher CPD and<br />
degree apprenticeships.<br />
Alongside these highlights a number of business<br />
focused seminars have taken place and more are<br />
planned, particularly showcasing business startup,<br />
business growth and initiatives designed<br />
to bring the business innovation latest thinking<br />
into through initiatives such as the Knowledge<br />
Transfer Partnerships.<br />
Once more, the University of Wolverhampton will<br />
be sponsoring the Staffordshire Business Awards<br />
in the category for Science, Technology and<br />
Innovation.<br />
Finally, the University of Wolverhampton has<br />
been working hard behind the scenes with our<br />
partner New Beacon Group on Beaconwood<br />
Park Campus to develop a series of programmes<br />
and projects that will see an increasing amount<br />
of Higher Education and CPD programmes in<br />
Stafford for UK and international students in the<br />
coming 12-18 months.<br />
To see a full list of upcoming public lectures,<br />
tasters and events at the centre please visit<br />
www.UWiS.co.uk or www.Wlvstafford.<br />
eventbrite.com<br />
Employer Engagement within the Ministry of Defence is expanding, why?<br />
Engaging with the business community is a key strategy<br />
in support of The West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets<br />
Association’s Defence People objectives and is the<br />
principle activity required to develop and sustain, strong,<br />
positive and mutually beneficial relationships between<br />
employers and the MoD.<br />
Working with Defence is an attractive proposition to<br />
industry; Armed Forces personnel have skills and traits<br />
from military service that are of huge value to employers.<br />
Through their service they receive the best of training<br />
in professional trades, leadership, management and<br />
teamwork and they are naturally instilled with the core<br />
values of commitment and integrity. Add to this selfdiscipline,<br />
moral courage, self-motivation and reliability<br />
and they make ideal employees for any sector. Employing<br />
a Veteran, Reservist or a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer<br />
means those valuable skills can be directly transferred to<br />
your business.<br />
Support from employers is fundamental to the National<br />
Defence priorities. For that reason, they are keen to<br />
establish open, strategic relationships with employers,<br />
tailoring partnering opportunities to mutual needs and<br />
business goals.<br />
© Crown copyright 2017<br />
To find out more about how you can work with Defence contact<br />
your Regional Employer Engagement Directors, Philip Sinclair<br />
and Debra Barton who can provide free and convenient advice<br />
to help you build the right partnerships across all defence<br />
personnel initiatives. The team’s role is to provide support to<br />
employers, helping you to understand the value of military<br />
personnel as employees, and to assist with signing the<br />
Armed Forces Covenant and building that mutually beneficial<br />
relationship with Defence.<br />
To find out more contact 0121 427 5221 ext *227<br />
or email wm-reed2@rfca.mod.uk
BUSINESS SERVICES<br />
FROM STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE<br />
Develop your skills, staff<br />
and business with us.<br />
21<br />
• Apprenticeships<br />
• Gateway to Apprenticeships<br />
• FREE Recruitment Service*<br />
• Professional and Occupational Training<br />
• Access to Funding<br />
• FREE Organisational Needs Analysis<br />
• Conferencing and Events Services<br />
* Recruitment service is for Apprenticeships, subject to T&Cs<br />
To find out how we can support your business<br />
contact our experienced team on:<br />
01782 603603 or email business@stokecoll.ac.uk<br />
www.stokecollege.ac.uk/business<br />
Cauldon Campus: Stoke Road, Shelton, ST4 2DG Burslem Campus: Moorland Road, Burslem, ST6 1JJ
QUARTERLY ECONOMIC SURVEY<br />
Q1 2018<br />
22 QES ANALYSIS<br />
Why do we survey?<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
The QES is a prominent tool used to measure the<br />
state of business sentiment and is monitored by a<br />
range of national and international organisations,<br />
including the Bank of England, HM Treasury, and<br />
the European Commission.<br />
STAFFORDSHIRE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE<br />
How do we work out the results?<br />
Net balance points are determined by subtracting<br />
the percentage of companies reporting decreases<br />
in a factor from the percentage of companies<br />
reporting increases.<br />
QUARTERLY ECONOMIC SURVEY Q1 2018<br />
This Q1 survey comprises responses from 98<br />
represents the change from the<br />
businesses across Staffordshire.<br />
previous quarter expressed as<br />
Based on the responses of over 98 businesses, locally the QES shows that despite increasing<br />
percentage points.<br />
domestic Firms were sales, questioned the economy between remains February subdued and in the first quarter of 2018, despite a strong<br />
% Increase<br />
export March 2018. performance. In the manufacturing sector, 31 firms<br />
responded. In the services sector, 65 businesses<br />
% No Change<br />
responded.<br />
% Decreased<br />
Key:<br />
YOUR BUSINESS,<br />
YOUR VOICE,<br />
YOUR CHAMBER.<br />
AT A GLANCE<br />
DOMESTIC SALES<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Services<br />
LOOKING AHEAD<br />
CASHF<strong>LOW</strong><br />
Manufacturing<br />
Services<br />
67% 40%<br />
64%<br />
Balance<br />
8 Points<br />
64% 27% 9%<br />
EXPORT SALES<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Balance<br />
18 Points<br />
36% 21% 3%<br />
Balance<br />
11 Points<br />
54% 37% 5%<br />
Services<br />
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH<br />
Manufacturing<br />
54%<br />
36% 11%<br />
Balance<br />
8 Points<br />
11% 6% 2%<br />
Services<br />
INVESTMENT<br />
Services<br />
Investment in<br />
Machinery<br />
8 points<br />
CONFIDENCE<br />
PRICES<br />
Balance<br />
39 Points<br />
67% 12% 21%<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Balance<br />
9 Points<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Investment in Machinery<br />
46%<br />
19%<br />
64% 30% 6%<br />
Manufacturing<br />
38 points<br />
Balance<br />
13 Points<br />
40% 49% 11%<br />
Services<br />
Investment in<br />
Training: 21%<br />
Services<br />
11 pts<br />
Balance<br />
4 Points<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Investment in<br />
Training: 21%<br />
4 pts<br />
65% 26% 9%<br />
Services<br />
36% 32%<br />
Balance<br />
16 Points<br />
Balance<br />
11 Points<br />
Balance<br />
Balance<br />
11 Points<br />
2Points<br />
36% 64% 0% 32% 65% 3%<br />
49% 49% 2% 28% 71% 1%<br />
This report has been compiled by the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce. Further information about the QES can be found by<br />
contacting: Matthew Lowe (Policy Advisor) T: 01782 202 222<br />
www.staffordshirechambers.org.uk | @Staffschambers
QES ANALYSIS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
23<br />
View from<br />
Sara Williams<br />
Staffordshire Chambers’<br />
Chief Executive<br />
In the manufacturing sector, the<br />
proportion of firms reporting<br />
improved export sales and orders rose<br />
compared to the previous quarter.<br />
The indicators for domestic sales,<br />
employment expectations, recruitment<br />
and confidence in turnover across<br />
both sectors are higher than in<br />
the previous quarter showing that,<br />
despite previous uncertainty around<br />
Brexit, businesses are getting on with<br />
the job.<br />
Despite both sectors showing<br />
improvements in cashflow, the<br />
manufacturing sector reported that<br />
they expect the cashflow to decrease.<br />
The proportion of firms confident that<br />
turnover and profitability will improve<br />
in the next quarter increased from<br />
Q4 of 2017, however firms continue to<br />
report significant reductions in long<br />
term investment plans due to long<br />
term Brexit uncertainties.<br />
The results emphasise the need to<br />
kickstart the economy by addressing<br />
the barriers to growth – in particular<br />
the need for the Government to<br />
engage with businesses on the future<br />
Sara Williams, Staffordshire<br />
Chambers of Commerce<br />
Your business, your voice, your chamber!<br />
of international trade – which is<br />
hindering the ability of companies to<br />
invest in their long term plans.<br />
Our local and national growth<br />
in the UK economy is due to the<br />
favourable global trading conditions<br />
our exporters are trading in and not<br />
an increase in domestic demand.<br />
Once again Brexit uncertainties,<br />
recruitment difficulties and price<br />
pressures remain principle concerns<br />
for businesses across Staffordshire,<br />
even if short-term confidence levels<br />
remain resilient.<br />
At a time when firms face increased<br />
up-front costs, an apprenticeship<br />
system in crisis, road and rail<br />
infrastructure operating above<br />
capacity, mobile phone and<br />
broadband ‘not-spots’ multiplying,<br />
and businesses not being able<br />
to recruit, it’s obvious that the<br />
key to improved productivity and<br />
competitiveness lies in getting the<br />
basics right. Sorting these business<br />
fundamentals must move to the top<br />
of the agenda - and fast.<br />
Justin Urquhart Stewart, Cofounder<br />
at Seven Investment<br />
Management<br />
QES analysis<br />
The latest results show<br />
that many of you are<br />
feeling rather positive,<br />
given every single score is<br />
leaning towards an uptick<br />
across all the leading<br />
business indicators, both<br />
in terms of the last three<br />
months’ review and the<br />
immediate outlook. I can’t<br />
commend this confidence<br />
enough.<br />
The findings show that<br />
exports and domestic<br />
sales are doing well,<br />
with manufacturing in<br />
particularly putting in a<br />
stellar performance. These<br />
have also had a clear<br />
impact on employment<br />
growth. Meanwhile, the<br />
results for Q1 2018 seem<br />
to be fuelling growth for<br />
the coming quarter. So<br />
further improvements<br />
are forecast for cashflow,<br />
business investment (both<br />
in machinery and training)<br />
and are also feeding<br />
through to confidence.<br />
Staffordshire Chambers is here to support your businesses -<br />
Get in touch with a member of the Chambers' team on 01782 202222.
24 ADVERTORIAL<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
CLS coupé welcomed to the city<br />
Mercedes-Benz of Stoke is excited to introduce the all new CLS coupé, which is<br />
available to test drive now.<br />
This is the third generation CLS coupé<br />
which blends familiar styling elements<br />
with an array of striking new details.<br />
The new CLS pioneers the new design<br />
idiom of Mercedes-Benz, recognisable<br />
by its clear contours and reduced<br />
lines. Its character is marked by a grille<br />
contour that widens towards the base<br />
and a forward-slanting front section.<br />
Other features include wide, low-set<br />
headlamps and two-section tail lights.<br />
At the same time the design reflects<br />
the timeless aura of the first CLS,<br />
which quickly became a design icon.<br />
All CLS models are equipped with new<br />
engines: in-line six-cylinder and inline<br />
four-cylinder units as diesel and<br />
petrol versions. Like its predecessors,<br />
the new CLS exudes self-assured<br />
sportiness in exemplary style: a highly<br />
emotive vehicle offering impressive<br />
long-distance and acoustic comfort<br />
coupled with thrilling, unrivalled<br />
technology.<br />
Striking front-end features<br />
include the diamond grille<br />
typical of Mercedes-Benz<br />
coupés, with a single<br />
louvre. The silhouette of the radiator<br />
grille widens towards the base,<br />
resembling the contours of the grille on<br />
the Mercedes-AMG GT.<br />
The luxurious interior of the CLS Coupé<br />
impresses with its clear basic lines,<br />
and echoes the flowing contours of the<br />
exterior.<br />
The CLS is equipped with the latest<br />
generation of driving assistance<br />
systems, with route-based driver<br />
support provided by the Driving<br />
Assistance Package.<br />
Greg Bethall, General Manager at<br />
Mercedes Benz of Stoke, said: “We're<br />
delighted to have the all new CLS<br />
coupé in our dealership. Its striking new<br />
design and world class comfort ensures<br />
that this car stands out from the crowd<br />
and we’re excited to welcome our<br />
customers into our dealership to find<br />
out more about this great car.”<br />
Follow @MBofStoke or search Mercedes-Benz of Stoke on Facebook to stay up to<br />
date on the latest news. To book a test drive phone 01782 202112,<br />
visit lookers.co.uk/Mercedes-Benz or simply call in and meet the team.<br />
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BESPOKE TRAINING<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
25<br />
Treat your team to a touch of bespoke<br />
A team of six from Dukes Bailiffs Limited was thrilled to welcome Staffordshire Chambers’ training team<br />
into their workplace for a bespoke training course.<br />
Colin Naylor, Managing Director at<br />
Dukes organised for six of his staff<br />
members to undertake a Managing<br />
Staff Effectively course delivered by<br />
Staffordshire Chambers’ Trainer, Steve<br />
Bracey.<br />
Colin said: “We used Staffordshire<br />
Chambers to deliver the training for<br />
key staff who had recently received<br />
promotion. Steve is a confident,<br />
friendly trainer with a great sense of<br />
humour. He encouraged participation<br />
from all delegates and provided lots<br />
of opportunity for group discussions<br />
which made the training come to life.<br />
All in all, it was a great day’s training<br />
and a valuable input to our future<br />
managers.”<br />
Bespoke learning for you and your team<br />
If you would like to offer your staff<br />
members a bespoke approach<br />
to learning, contact Staffordshire<br />
Chambers’ Training Team on<br />
01782 202222.<br />
" I thoroughly enjoy Steve’s<br />
courses and have been on<br />
one before. I look forward<br />
to another one in the<br />
future.<br />
"<br />
" Steve is a natural trainer and<br />
his humour and knowledge<br />
keeps the session interesting!<br />
" The training was adapted<br />
to fit our organisation<br />
without veering from the<br />
course content.<br />
"<br />
"<br />
" Fantastic<br />
trainer would<br />
recommend.<br />
"<br />
" Fantastic training. I really<br />
enjoyed it and feel that it will<br />
all be helpful in my role.<br />
"
26 # WELL CONNECTED<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Finest Three Leaders Event<br />
Finest and FutureFinest AGM and Spring Lunch
# WELL CONNECTED<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
27<br />
Meet the Buyer<br />
FutureFinest Ball<br />
Dates for your diary:<br />
For more information or to book a place at any<br />
Staffordshire Chambers’ event visit<br />
www.staffordshirechambers.co.uk/events-calendar<br />
Wednesday 4 July 2018<br />
Tuesday 18 September 2018<br />
Thursday 27 September 2018<br />
Chamber Membership Services Breakfast<br />
Amazon Tour<br />
Managing Your Chimps
28<br />
WOMEN IN BUSINESS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Women take centre stage<br />
Natwest Business and Staffordshire<br />
Chambers of Commerce teamed up<br />
for yet another successful ‘Women<br />
in Business’ event to celebrate the<br />
ambitious ladies within our region and<br />
the successes that they have achieved.<br />
Sponsored by NatWest Business and<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce’s<br />
Factory programme, the event was<br />
held at Tillington hall in Stafford where<br />
over 100 ladies from Staffordshire came<br />
together to network and celebrate.<br />
Gemma Bourne, Business Growth<br />
Enabler at NatWest, said: “International<br />
Women’s Day is always such a fun<br />
event and working with Staffordshire<br />
Chambers yet again to support Women<br />
in Business in Staffordshire is fantastic."<br />
Emily Adams, Director of The<br />
Greenhouse Theatre Project, said:<br />
“International Women's Day is such an<br />
Ladies come together to celebrate<br />
ambition and talent<br />
important day to take the time to reflect<br />
and be inspired by all the amazing<br />
women that have and are continuing<br />
to contribute to our society. It was a<br />
privilege to speak at the event about<br />
supporting women in the arts and so<br />
very encouraging to meet many female<br />
business owners leading the way in<br />
their community.”<br />
Kate Beardmore, HR & Service<br />
Director at Synectics Solutions<br />
Women take centre stage<br />
Ltd, said: “I was so honoured to be<br />
asked to speak at the event. It was<br />
amazing to see over 100 women<br />
together, sharing ideas in a wonderful<br />
atmosphere and supporting each<br />
other.”<br />
Nicky Birks, Partnership Development<br />
Manager at The Donna Louise<br />
Children’s Hospice, said: “The event<br />
was a fabulous opportunity to connect<br />
with local business women.”<br />
Advertorial Feature<br />
What’s the best way to deal with late payments and unpaid invoices?<br />
By Richard Anderson, Head of Debt Recovery at<br />
Beswicks Legal<br />
My favourite saying is ‘cash is king’, because there<br />
is nothing more important than good cash flow,<br />
especially for small businesses.<br />
Late or non-payment of invoices is the single<br />
biggest factor impacting business cash flow<br />
and the consequences can be serious.<br />
Chasing unpaid invoices can be a timeconsuming,<br />
frustrating and uncomfortable<br />
experience.<br />
It’s important to be clear with your<br />
customers from the outset, drawing their<br />
attention to your terms and conditions and<br />
explaining your policy around late or nonpayment.<br />
Make sure you send your invoices out on time<br />
and chase as soon as the invoice becomes<br />
overdue. The worst mistake that people make<br />
is not acting immediately when payment is<br />
outstanding.<br />
If you still don’t succeed, don’t be afraid to<br />
pass your unpaid invoices to a debt recovery<br />
professional. Sometimes a solicitor’s letter is<br />
exactly what is needed to get things moving<br />
and a good legal expert will work with you<br />
to establish the best approach, taking into<br />
account your relationship with your debtor<br />
and how strongly you wish to pursue them.<br />
This needn’t be too costly. At Beswicks we<br />
have a fixed free approach to debt recovery<br />
and a high success rate, so never write off<br />
money that you are owed.<br />
If you would like help to recover unpaid debts or support to review your terms and<br />
conditions to stop debt occurring in the first place, phone Richard on<br />
01782 205000 or email richard.anderson@beswicks.com
PATRONS NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
29<br />
GDPR is here but Staffordshire businesses are<br />
urged to avoid complacency<br />
Now that the implementation date for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has passed, leading<br />
audit, tax and consulting firm RSM, is urging Staffordshire companies to continue to implement the changes<br />
required to help mitigate substantial financial and reputational risks arising from issues of non-compliance.<br />
The new legal framework, which<br />
came into force on 25 May 2018, is<br />
the biggest change to data privacy<br />
legislation in over two decades. Its<br />
aim is to protect personal data,<br />
regardless of borders or where the<br />
data is processed. It has harmonised<br />
data protection laws across the EU<br />
and applies to organisations across<br />
the world. Any company processing<br />
personal data about EU citizens -<br />
whether they reside in the EU or<br />
elsewhere in the world – now need to<br />
abide by the GDPR legislation.<br />
David Morris, Technology Risk<br />
Assurance Director at RSM, said: “In<br />
a growing digital economy, where<br />
data can be collected and stored<br />
within seconds, there is more risk of<br />
cyber security breaches. The GDPR<br />
legislation acknowledges this and is<br />
an attempt to make governance catch<br />
up with technology. Paradoxically, it at<br />
the same time adds a wider range of<br />
risks and consequence to organisations<br />
that don’t effectively safeguard<br />
personal data. The regulations have<br />
already transformed how businesses<br />
approach the storage, management<br />
and use personal data.<br />
“If they have not already done so,<br />
Staffordshire businesses need to put<br />
processes and controls in place to<br />
ensure a strong environment of data<br />
security and privacy is implemented.<br />
“However, initial compliance is just<br />
the first step. Companies need to<br />
ensure they manage their on-going<br />
risk through activities such as keeping<br />
data registers updated, conducting<br />
annual data protection audits and<br />
providing regular refresher training<br />
sessions for staff. This will not only<br />
improve efficiencies, but it will<br />
maintain awareness of GDPR across<br />
the business.<br />
“In the coming months, as public<br />
knowledge of the new rules beds in,<br />
organisations can expect to receive<br />
the first of a wave of subject access<br />
requests (SAR) where an individual<br />
asks to know what personal data is<br />
being held about them and where.<br />
However, a business that doesn’t know<br />
what data it has and in what form is<br />
going to be unable to respond quickly.<br />
The importance of knowing your<br />
own data footprint therefore remains<br />
undiminished.<br />
“GDPR means that marketing to clients<br />
and customers has changed. Without<br />
appropriate consent, businesses will<br />
already be finding that their ability to<br />
market and sell products and services<br />
is hindered. Failing to adhere to the<br />
legislation will undoubtedly impact the<br />
bottom line for some organisations in<br />
the short term.<br />
“Staffordshire businesses need to<br />
make sure they avoid complacency<br />
now the legislation has arrived in order<br />
to avoid the operational, financial and<br />
reputational risks that non-compliance<br />
will now bring.”<br />
A sad farewell<br />
Staffordshire Chambers extends its sympathies to all<br />
relatives and friends of former President, William Podmore<br />
OBE, who died on Thursday 1 March 2018, aged 99.<br />
William (Bill) served as President of the North Staffordshire<br />
Chamber from 1973 to 1975 and was also the chambers’<br />
landlord for several years whilst based at Winton House.<br />
As well as having his own engineering and property<br />
businesses, Bill will be remembered for the construction<br />
of marvellous landscaped gardens at his home at Consall<br />
Hall. He inherited former mining land and spent 50<br />
years converting the old pit site into a breath taking new<br />
creation with views over lakes, woodland and castle ruins.<br />
The gardens extend over 70 acres and feature six lakes,<br />
and were once described by Gardeners World Presenter<br />
Carol Klein, as ‘the jewel in the crown of Staffordshire<br />
Gardens’.
30<br />
PATRONS NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Employment law<br />
update.<br />
Dates for<br />
your diary<br />
in 2018<br />
by Sharon Auld,<br />
Head of Employment Law<br />
at Grindeys Solicitors<br />
2017 was a busy year in the world of Employment Law.<br />
Among the legal headlines were the removal of employment<br />
fees and the beginning of what was to become a national<br />
consultation on the pay gap between men and women.<br />
However, the changes aren’t over for employers and HR<br />
professionals: with March 29th 2019 signalling the UK’s separation<br />
from the EU, 2018 looks set to be a year of significant change,<br />
particularly where Employment Law is concerned. Let’s take a look at<br />
the main events you might want to put in your calendar.<br />
April<br />
Marking the end of the old financial year and the start of the new,<br />
it seems appropriate that the topic of tax will take the spotlight this<br />
month. April will see the government making changes to the way<br />
termination payments are taxed, including safeguarding the first<br />
£30,000 against income tax and National Insurance contributions.<br />
This will also be the month in which the first reports detailing the pay<br />
gap between the sexes must be submitted.
PATRONS NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
31<br />
April also heralds the withdrawal of Employment<br />
Allowance for a year from any employers who are found to<br />
have employed illegal workers.<br />
In addition, the Fit for Work assessment service will be<br />
scrapped at the end of March, as well as overhauling its<br />
current fit note scheme – exact details as to who, other<br />
than Doctors, will hold certification powers in the future is<br />
still unclear.<br />
May<br />
The big one for May will be the government rolling out<br />
the EU-approved General Data Protection Regulation<br />
laws. Among the many new protocols will be the right<br />
for individuals to be informed if their data has been<br />
compromised and the right for them to have their<br />
information deleted from search engines.<br />
June<br />
This is the month in which the EU’s Trade Secrets<br />
Directive comes into play, giving greater protection<br />
to Intellectual Property Rights. For businesses and<br />
individuals, this will mean greater recourse in the event<br />
that trade secrets are misappropriated, especially by a<br />
member of staff.<br />
Other Key Events in 2018<br />
While it’s hard to see beyond the first months of 2018, there are<br />
further changes to Employment Law expected, although their<br />
absolute dates remain yet to be confirmed. However, if you’re<br />
an employer or an HR professional, these are the upcoming key<br />
events to keep an eye out for:<br />
Grandparental Leave<br />
A hot topic since Parental Leave was introduced in 2015,<br />
Grandparental Leave will see parents able to assign part of their<br />
maternity or family leave to grandparents, allowing them to return<br />
to work more quickly. In addition, the move is hoped to encourage<br />
grandparents to remain in work, rather than having to leave their<br />
jobs in order to help their children with childcare.<br />
Payment for Sleep-In Shifts<br />
Towards the end of 2018, the clock will be ticking fast for<br />
employers who have not yet chased up their obligations to the<br />
Social Care Compliance Scheme. Launched in 2017, the scheme<br />
gave employers until 2019 to identify and pay what they owe to<br />
workers who may have been paid less than the minimum wage<br />
for sleep-in shifts. Once the deadline has expired, employers will<br />
have three months in which to make the outstanding payments,<br />
or face legal action.<br />
Brexit<br />
Although this doesn’t come into effect until the<br />
third month of 2019, employers will be watching<br />
the continued negotiations regarding Britain’s<br />
withdrawal from the European Union. While the<br />
Settled Status agreement seems to have gained<br />
some ground, the main issue for employers is<br />
likely to be how the legislation for immigrant<br />
workers will change.<br />
The anticipated date for review of the rules will<br />
be in 2021, which gives businesses three years<br />
in which to begin recruiting and try and stay<br />
ahead of the constantly-shifting Brexit sands.<br />
2018 looks to be an important year for those<br />
who have any dealing with Employment Law.<br />
While the short-term changes are well worth<br />
investigating, the long-term plans are the ones<br />
that are set to have the greatest effects.
32 MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Lee Vickers | Steve Clark<br />
Handelsbanken<br />
Handelsbanken Stoke-on-Trent has strengthened its team with two<br />
recent appointments.<br />
Lee Vickers joins the local relationship bank as an Individual<br />
Banking Account Manager with over 10 years of banking experience.<br />
He will be involved in developing existing customer relationships<br />
as well as welcoming new customers to Handelsbanken’s bespoke<br />
approach to local banking.<br />
Steve Clark is a further addition to the team with over 20 years<br />
of banking experience. He joins in the role of Account Manager<br />
Support and will be heavily involved in ensuring that the branch<br />
continues in the provision of excellent customer service to its<br />
customers.<br />
Jodi Attwood-Boot<br />
Bowcock & Pursaill<br />
Phil Brown<br />
RSM<br />
RSM has extended its tax team<br />
by appointing a new Associate<br />
Director in Stoke.<br />
Phil Brown is a leading<br />
employment tax professional<br />
with over 20 years’ experience.<br />
He brings a wealth of specialist<br />
experience working with a variety<br />
of clients, from ambitious large<br />
multinationals to owner managed<br />
businesses.<br />
In his new role, Phil will provide<br />
tax advisory support to a growing<br />
number of clients in Stoke-on-<br />
Trent, whilst working closely<br />
with the local team to grow the<br />
practice and its offering.<br />
Bowcock & Pursaill has grown its team<br />
with the permanent appointment of<br />
Apprentice, Jodi Attwood-Boot.<br />
Jodi completed her two-year<br />
apprenticeship with the firm and has now<br />
taken a permanent position within the<br />
team which will arm her with a Chartered<br />
Legal Executive qualification.<br />
Lucy Robins<br />
Deans<br />
Lucy Robins Is the most recent<br />
student at Deans to pass her final<br />
professional exams to qualify as<br />
a Chartered Accountant with the<br />
Institute of Chartered Accountants<br />
in England and Wales.<br />
Lucy came top in the ICAEW Staffs,<br />
Salop and Wolverhampton district<br />
in the Corporate Reporting paper<br />
which is quite an achievement<br />
and Lucy will collect the AB Snow<br />
Certificate award at a presentation<br />
ceremony later this year.
MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
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Leek United<br />
Leek United is thrilled to welcome an array of new faces to it’s growing team.<br />
Jane Stevenson<br />
Michelle Prince<br />
Richard Czapski<br />
Andrew Morris<br />
The company has appointed<br />
Jane Stevenson as its new<br />
Head of Human Resources.<br />
The role is Jane’s first within<br />
the financial services sector,<br />
after spending the last 20<br />
years in senior operational<br />
HR posts in Northern<br />
Ireland.<br />
Michelle Prince has been<br />
appointed as Manager at<br />
Leek United’s Uttoxeter<br />
branch. She took charge<br />
of the Market Place office<br />
after moving from the<br />
Society’s Cheadle Branch.<br />
Richard Czapski has been<br />
appointed as Manager at<br />
Leek United’s St Edward<br />
Street branch in Leek. He<br />
first took charge of the<br />
Head Office branch in 2015,<br />
before spending two years<br />
at the helm of the Society’s<br />
Ashbourne team. Now Richard<br />
has returned to the branch<br />
where he started his career<br />
in financial services as a<br />
part-time Customer Adviser<br />
in 2005.<br />
Finally, Leek United has<br />
appointed Andrew Morris<br />
as its new Finance Director.<br />
Andrew has over 20 years’<br />
experience in financial<br />
services and is a Fellow of<br />
the Chartered Institute of<br />
Accountants in England<br />
and Wales. His most recent<br />
role was for three years as<br />
Head of Finance Business<br />
Partnering at Nationwide<br />
Building Society.<br />
Sarah Kennerell-Walters | Tayler Nuttall<br />
Purple Sprout<br />
Purple Sprout has welcomed two new faces to its<br />
growing team.<br />
Sarah Kennerell-Walters has taken the role of<br />
Business Development Executive after coming from<br />
a similar sales role at a leading insurance broker.<br />
She follows hot on the heels of 23-year-old Tayler<br />
Nuttall who joined Purple Sprout as a Graphic<br />
Designer.<br />
James Boulton<br />
Freeths<br />
Freeths LLP has expanded its<br />
Stoke office corporate team<br />
with the recruitment of Partner<br />
James Boulton. Returning<br />
to his North Staffordshire<br />
roots, James is looking<br />
forward to assisting clients in<br />
Staffordshire and the wider<br />
Midlands.<br />
James has joined Freeths’ Stoke office as a Corporate Partner<br />
after training in London with Magic Circle firm Linklaters<br />
and spending 10 years with US firm Reed Smith LLP in<br />
their Europe and Middle East corporate department. He<br />
has experience in domestic and cross border mergers and<br />
acquisitions (company and business sales and purchases,<br />
acting for both buyers and sellers), joint ventures, venture<br />
capital, private equity, corporate restructurings and general<br />
company law advice.
34 FINEST<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
It’s our members that make the difference!<br />
Finest goes from strength to strength as Staffordshire’s premier<br />
professional services network continues to grow<br />
We are delighted to report that we now have<br />
over 100 Finest members with, on average,<br />
one new member joining every week! This<br />
growth rate is testament to the quality of the<br />
existing members and the benefits that new<br />
members perceive in joining our organisation.<br />
Those new members bring a wealth of<br />
knowledge and experience to complement<br />
that which already exists within Finest and<br />
together our members are making a big<br />
difference at the heart of driving business<br />
growth in Staffordshire.<br />
One example of a new Finest member making<br />
a difference is Wendy Dean from Strategi<br />
Solutions Group. As a member of the Finest<br />
Steering Group and also the Local Enterprise<br />
Partnership (LEP) Board, Wendy will play a<br />
key role in helping Finest members to make a<br />
difference across the county<br />
Wendy said: “There are clear synergies<br />
between the aims of Finest and the LEP<br />
and I’m pleased to act as a liaison for the<br />
professional services sector and encourage<br />
mutual benefits.”<br />
Members are also making a difference<br />
to other members by contributing to the<br />
quality of our highly successful events by<br />
bringing and sharing their expertise with<br />
other members. A great example of this was<br />
our GDPR event where we brought together<br />
three new members (Excello Law, Synectics<br />
Solutions and Towergate Insurance) with two<br />
long-standing members (D2NA and Freeths)<br />
to act as experts to help over 50 attendees to<br />
prepare for GDPR. The event was very well<br />
received not only because of the quality of<br />
the experts and the advice that they freely<br />
gave but also because of the great facilities<br />
provided by the venue Summit Hospitality,<br />
another Finest member.<br />
100+<br />
No Finer way to make connections<br />
Mike Grocott, Deputy-Chair of the Finest Events and<br />
Marketing Group, said: “Having such a wealth of diverse<br />
experience in the membership, coupled with a willingness to<br />
be actively involved with our events, makes it so much easier<br />
to put on great events that our members want to attend. With<br />
new members joining all the time, it’s also exciting to look<br />
forward to what events we’ll be able to put on in the future as<br />
we are always looking for new ideas, speakers and venues.”<br />
It’s great to see our membership growing and it’s great to see<br />
the relationships and collaborations being forged between our<br />
members, new and “old” alike. Because, at the end the day, it’s<br />
the strength of our membership that leads to the success of<br />
our organisation.<br />
To find out more about finest, please go online to<br />
www.staffordshirechambers.co.uk/finest,<br />
or email finest@staffordshirechambers.co.uk.
FUTUREFINEST<br />
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35<br />
FutureFinest – Supporting our Future leaders<br />
It has been an outstanding year for FutureFinest with<br />
higher attendances at events and more members than ever<br />
volunteering to support the group’s development.<br />
FutureFinest is a fantastic support network, providing Staffordshire’s<br />
young professionals the opportunity to get out and about, network<br />
with like-minded peers, develop ongoing social relationships and<br />
increase their own profile.<br />
David Bowen from Tinsdills is the new Chair of this thriving network.<br />
David said: “Getting involved in FutureFinest is essential for<br />
professional firms who want to develop their future leaders. It gives<br />
young professionals knowledge of the breadth of businesses in<br />
the area and helps to build a responsive and supportive business<br />
community. FutureFinest also enhances the appeal of staying in<br />
Staffordshire or coming back to the county after studying elsewhere,<br />
enabling local talent to grow from its roots.”<br />
David Bowen, Chair of Futurefinest<br />
Getting involved in FutureFinest is essential for professional firms who want to develop their future leaders. It gives young<br />
professionals knowledge of the breadth of businesses in the area and helps to build a responsive and supportive business<br />
community.
36 BANK OF ENGLAND<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Centre stage in Stoke-on-Trent<br />
We hear from Andy Haldane, Chief Economist and Executive Director, Monetary<br />
Analysis & Statistics at The Bank of England, about his visit to our city.<br />
On Monday 5 March I visited Stokeon-Trent<br />
for my latest Town Hall<br />
visit, in partnership with the North<br />
Staffordshire YMCA. The YMCA’s<br />
motto is “empowering young people”<br />
and that was very much the theme<br />
for the day. I spent it speaking with<br />
teachers and pupils at Thistley<br />
Hough Academy and then at a YMCA<br />
roundtable to discuss local issues<br />
with YMCA leaders, workers and<br />
volunteers, local charities, chambers of<br />
commerce and the local council.<br />
I had not realised what an incredibly<br />
rich history the YMCA movement<br />
has. If growth and endurance are<br />
measures of success, it is clear the<br />
YMCA movement has been a massive<br />
one. More than 170 years on, YMCAs<br />
are going strong. They operate in 119<br />
countries around the world. There<br />
are 116 YMCAs in England and Wales<br />
alone, helping over 600,000 people in<br />
some form or other each year. They<br />
are still providing shelter, food and<br />
friendship for young people.<br />
As in the mid-19th century, YMCAs<br />
remain key civic institutions. One<br />
difference from the past is that these<br />
days YMCAs are often dealing with the<br />
consequences of deindustrialisation,<br />
rather than industrialisation. They<br />
now often help young people whose<br />
lives and livelihoods, or their parents,<br />
have been set back by the loss of<br />
iconic local industries, many forged at<br />
the time of the Industrial Revolution.<br />
In Stoke-on-Trent, this refers to the<br />
traditional heartland industries, such<br />
as ceramics and steel.<br />
The YMCA’s motto is “empowering<br />
young people” and that was very<br />
much the theme for the day.<br />
Speaking to local charities and to<br />
YMCA volunteers, the benefits of<br />
providing people, often distant from<br />
the workplace and their families, with<br />
a base were absolutely clear. From<br />
that base many were building skills,<br />
technical and social, getting a foot<br />
on the housing ladder, (re-)entering<br />
the world of work, building families<br />
Andy Haldane, Chief Economist and<br />
Executive Director, Monetary Analysis &<br />
Statistics at The Bank of England<br />
and relationships. It was inspiring to<br />
hear some of their stories of personal<br />
progress and the role local charities<br />
and voluntary organisations were<br />
playing in this.<br />
There is much still to do in the area,<br />
with levels of unemployment and<br />
poverty high relative to the rest of<br />
the UK, the quality of housing and<br />
social spaces low and availability of<br />
public transport and finance weak.<br />
These structural problems are long<br />
standing but may have meant the<br />
positive effects of low interest rates<br />
and a more robust banking system<br />
have not trickled down fully to the city<br />
over recent years. At the same time,<br />
the local community spirit is incredibly<br />
strong in Stoke-on-Trent with a city<br />
centre regeneration project underway,<br />
including through investment in<br />
improved infrastructure.
LET'S DO BUSINESS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
37<br />
A star appearance<br />
The annual county wide exhibition, Let’s Do Business 2018, saw members<br />
from all chambers across Staffordshire come together to network, make new<br />
connections, attend business support seminars and ultimately do business.<br />
Over the years, there has been<br />
some fantastic guest speakers at the<br />
event, including Nick Holzherr (‘The<br />
Apprentice’ 2012 runner-up and CEO of<br />
Helium Ventures) and Charlie Hutton<br />
(UK’s no.1 online lead generation<br />
consultant) and this year was no<br />
different!<br />
Let’s Do Business was delighted to<br />
welcome Michaela Wain as this year’s<br />
key speaker. Already a well-established<br />
business woman in her own right with<br />
her successful construction magazine,<br />
‘Design and Build UK’, 33-year-old<br />
Michaela is also known for appearing<br />
on the 2017 season of ‘The Apprentice’<br />
and finishing in third place!<br />
Michaela’s story of how she overcame<br />
personal and professional struggles to<br />
become a successful businesswoman<br />
at such a young age is an inspiring<br />
one, and a perfect example of how<br />
determination and a positive attitude<br />
can play an important role in achieving<br />
goals. One such struggle was the<br />
liquidation of her first company just five<br />
years after opening, but despite this,<br />
Michaela proved she was a force to be<br />
reckoned with.<br />
She said: “As much as this massive<br />
set back could have had a longterm<br />
effect on me I didn’t allow it<br />
to. Instead, I immediately started<br />
another business, paid off my debts<br />
from the first one and focused on<br />
making my new company bigger<br />
and better.”<br />
Whilst ensuring the success of her<br />
businesses, Michaela was also<br />
overcoming personal difficulties outside<br />
of her work life.<br />
Michaela added: “Personally I have<br />
suffered with depression and anxiety<br />
Successful Business Woman and<br />
Apprentice Star, Michaela Wain<br />
since being a young girl. I have had<br />
many testing times and battled to<br />
overcome my demons and have come<br />
out on top. Further struggles came<br />
in the form of 15 miscarriages, again<br />
this did not make me give up my goal<br />
of becoming a mother, instead this<br />
resiliency resulted in the birth of my<br />
beautiful son who is now eight years<br />
old. “<br />
Not only is Michaela a successful<br />
business woman, working mother<br />
and entrepreneur, nowadays she can<br />
be found giving motivational talks<br />
about women in business and how<br />
to overcome the adversities faced.<br />
Michaela will also be telling her own<br />
inspirational story as part of a packed<br />
line up for Let’s Do Business, which<br />
also includes speed networking,<br />
business support clinics and a wide<br />
range of exhibitors.
38 LET'S DO MENTORING<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Rev up for growth with Let’s Do Mentoring<br />
Lohen, based at Raleigh Hall, Eccleshall, has seen its own performance hit new heights, recording<br />
85 per cent growth and employing four new staff in the last two years.<br />
Mentor, Vince Craig, said: “Lohen was a success<br />
before I got involved but growth had stalled. We<br />
have worked to identify barriers to growth and<br />
to then break them down.”<br />
Founded in 2004, Lohen is run by Andrey Magiy<br />
and is a market leader in the supply and fitting<br />
of specialist performance equipment for the<br />
popular BMW Mini brand.<br />
He was introduced to Vince in 2016 after<br />
expressing an interest in how a mentor could<br />
help Lohen move up a gear.<br />
Andrey explained: “The business was<br />
established but we had hit a bit of a plateau in<br />
terms of profits and turnover, maintaining them<br />
at around the same level for six years.<br />
"I knew that we needed to make the next<br />
leap forward and the offer of support from<br />
a business-minded, independent voice was<br />
available through Let’s Do Mentoring.”<br />
Vince added: “We started with looking at the<br />
basics and asking questions such as what are<br />
your current sales and profits, what do you want<br />
to achieve and what are the barriers to getting<br />
there?<br />
“I see the major benefit as giving Andrey the<br />
space to think about his business, giving him<br />
time to look at the elements that build success.”<br />
Andrey explained: “Having a mentor helps to<br />
give me time to think about business strategy<br />
and get feedback from someone else who has<br />
led a business.”<br />
Mentor, Vince Craig, said: “The Managing<br />
Director’s chair can be a lonely place, my task<br />
was to provide Andrey with a sounding board<br />
and a place where he could discuss ideas,<br />
dismiss some and take the best ones forward.”<br />
Andrey Magiy from Lohen driving success with Mentor, Vince Craig<br />
OUTCOMES:<br />
STAFF<br />
INCREASED FROM<br />
8 to 12<br />
GROWTH<br />
85%<br />
IN THE FIRST YEAR<br />
OF MENTORING<br />
For further information on the Let’s Do Mentoring scheme please<br />
contact Ann Steele at ann.steele@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
MADE IN STAFFORDSHIRE 39<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Collaborations are ‘Made in Staffordshire’<br />
On Thursday 28th March 2018, manufacturing businesses from all over the county came together to<br />
celebrate the Made in Staffordshire ‘Meet the Buyer’ event at St. George’s Park, Burton-upon-Trent.<br />
The day was a fantastic opportunity for local manufacturers and<br />
engineering businesses to meet, network and liaise with potential<br />
customers from across the Staffordshire region. It was also a<br />
chance for manufacturers to pitch their products and services<br />
and for delegates to gain an insight into the support available for<br />
emerging businesses. The event was funded by the Stoke-on-Trent<br />
and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and organised by<br />
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.<br />
Mike Cole, Head of Public Affairs at Michelin Tyre PLC, said: “It’s always<br />
a pleasure to meet up with other Staffordshire based manufacturers<br />
and see how they are progressing. Such a wide and diverse range of<br />
products suggests the local manufacturing economy is moving forward<br />
in these interesting times.”<br />
The event encouraged local businesses to showcase their<br />
products, helping to further develop for the manufacturing sector.<br />
Business is 'Made in Staffordshire'<br />
Staffordshire Moorlands manufacturing company,<br />
Bebbington Brick, was just one of the exhibitors at the<br />
event.<br />
Simon Morley, Business Development Manager at<br />
Bebbington, said: “Following the event I have been in<br />
contact with three potential new suppliers, plus a local<br />
company who is considering incorporating our products<br />
into their own portfolio. I also had enquiries from four<br />
individuals interested in our products or services.”<br />
It is fantastic to hear first hand how these events are<br />
actively helping local Staffordshire based businesses<br />
to network and generate custom through face to<br />
face showcasing, and in these ever-changing times<br />
it is inspiring to witness such community spirit in the<br />
business and manufacturing world.
40 MEMBER NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Charity partnership<br />
A charity partnership<br />
The Regent Theatre is delighted to announce that Steelite<br />
International has renewed their sponsorship of the theatre’s<br />
Community Giving scheme in conjunction with Giving Something<br />
Back. This fantastic initiative provides theatre tickets to local charities<br />
and fundraisers to use in raffles.<br />
This year, the fields of giving are focused on four cornerstones<br />
including Youth Aspiration and Education, Community Regeneration,<br />
The Elderly and Health & Wellbeing. Steelite International is<br />
committed to working closely with the local community surrounding<br />
its Stoke-on-Trent factory.<br />
Phil Ray, Group Company Secretary at Steelite, said: “We are<br />
delighted to be working with the Regent Theatre and sponsoring this<br />
great initiative. The Giving Something Back scheme enables Stokeon-Trent<br />
theaters to donate tickets to local charities and to reward the<br />
outstanding work done in the community by helping others. It is also<br />
fantastic for our employees as they also benefit from the sponsorship.”<br />
Group hits the top in England<br />
Recently published data from the<br />
Education and Skills Funding Agency<br />
(ESFA) has shown Newcastle and<br />
Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) as<br />
the highest performing College in<br />
Staffordshire and notably, one of the<br />
top performing post-merger institutions<br />
in England.<br />
The results were highlighted in the<br />
latest National Achievement Rate<br />
tables and are based on the 2016-2017<br />
academic year. Achievement rates<br />
are a measure of how many students<br />
completed and passed the course they<br />
studied.<br />
NSCG’s overall achievement rate during<br />
the last academic year stood at 88.2 per<br />
cent, placing the group in the top spot<br />
in Staffordshire and South Cheshire<br />
and in the top 15 per cent of colleges<br />
nationally. In addition, retention rates<br />
across all areas score higher than<br />
all local competitors, reflective of<br />
the group's reputation for providing<br />
outstanding academic and pastoral<br />
support throughout the student journey.<br />
Karen Dobson, Principal and Chief<br />
Executive of Newcastle and Stafford<br />
Colleges Group, said: “We are<br />
delighted to be identified as one of<br />
the highest performing post-merger<br />
institutions in England, during our first<br />
year post merger. It is a tremendous<br />
achievement and reflective of the hard<br />
work, passion and dedication of our<br />
amazing students and staff.”
MEMBER NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
41<br />
Lifetime Achievement<br />
Managing Director at Strategi Solutions<br />
Group, Wendy Dean, was awarded a<br />
Lifetime Achievement Award at Signal<br />
One’s prestigious Inspiration in Business<br />
Awards.<br />
Wendy was handed the accolade at a<br />
glittering ceremony at the Wychwood Park<br />
Hotel, Crewe, as judges recognised her<br />
major contribution to the region’s business<br />
community over many years.<br />
In her pursuit of business perfection,<br />
Wendy has never stood still. Recognised<br />
early on for being a key strategic thinker,<br />
she progressed quickly from receptionist to<br />
her first HR role for Royal Ordnance PLC in<br />
1984. From there she joined transport giant<br />
ANC, now FedEx UK, as HR Manager,<br />
promoted to HR Director in 2000.<br />
A further promotion took Wendy to Steelite<br />
International where, under her guidance<br />
as Group HR Director, the company was<br />
awarded the accolade of Employer of the<br />
Proud Winner, Wendy Dean<br />
Year 2014 at the National Business<br />
Awards.<br />
Three years ago, aged 50, Wendy<br />
displayed her entrepreneurial spirit<br />
and knowhow by starting her<br />
First in class for Midlands’ Google Reference College<br />
South Staffordshire College has become the first college in the Midlands to<br />
be granted Google Reference College status.<br />
The global technology company recognised the innovative approach to<br />
technology made by the education establishment. The digital transformation<br />
of the college blended a mixture of cutting-edge hardware, cloud migration,<br />
and the implementation of digital learning and online productivity tools.<br />
The use of cloud-based technology has had a significant impact on learners,<br />
revolutionising the assessment process with students receiving feedback on<br />
submitted work in a matter of hours instead of days.<br />
South Staffordshire College will play an active role as a reference point and<br />
best practice adviser to other colleges on implementing and utilising cloud<br />
technology for learning. The college will draw on its experience with Google<br />
for Education to help others in the further education sector make the most of<br />
the innovative technology available.<br />
Jamie Smith, Executive Director – Engagement at South Staffordshire<br />
College, said: “Our role is to prepare our learners to become the workforce<br />
of tomorrow and technology plays a huge part in that. The way we learn and<br />
access education is changing, the adoption of cloud technology has given<br />
our college a seamless learning experience.<br />
“I believe that technology should be simple to use and make life better.<br />
Part of the success behind the adoption of Google technology at South<br />
Staffordshire College and education more widely has been its simplicity to<br />
use. Every member of the South Staffordshire College team uses the Google<br />
G-Suite for Education technology, saving us time, money, and enabling new<br />
ways of working. We are very proud to be 'Googley”.<br />
own business. As ever, the move was<br />
a resounding success – Wendy is now<br />
Managing Director of Strategi Solutions<br />
Group, with 20 employees and 100<br />
clients.<br />
Wendy said: “I am incredibly proud and<br />
honoured to receive this award. I have<br />
always worked hard to better myself in<br />
business and have been fortunate to<br />
work with some amazing people and key<br />
mentors along the way.<br />
“I never expected to win a lifetime<br />
achievement award – it seems such<br />
a short time ago that I set out on my<br />
career path. But business can always<br />
be improved by experience and there<br />
are many others whose knowhow and<br />
expertise is driving the region forward.<br />
Awards such as this are recognition for<br />
the efforts of them all. I’ll be looking to<br />
carry on my work across all areas for<br />
many years to come.”<br />
£110 Million investment launched<br />
JCB has taken the wraps off a new<br />
generation of tracked excavator<br />
following one of the biggest investment<br />
programmes in its history.<br />
The company has ploughed £110 million<br />
into developing its ‘X Series’ which will<br />
compete in a global tracked excavator<br />
market where almost 190,000 machines<br />
are sold every year.<br />
The new product is starting to roll off<br />
production lines at JCB Heavy Products<br />
in Uttoxeter and is now being launched to<br />
customers around the world.<br />
JCB Chairman, Lord Bamford, said: “The<br />
market for tracked excavators has grown<br />
enormously since JCB made its first one in<br />
1965 and we now export these machines<br />
all over the world. The X Series is an<br />
evolutionary product which also contains<br />
high levels of innovation. The operators<br />
have been at the heart of its development<br />
and they will find it extremely comfortable<br />
to use. While the cost of the development<br />
of the X Series is a big investment for<br />
a private company to make, we are<br />
very happy to do it because the market<br />
opportunity is huge.”
42 STAFFORD MEMBER NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Next chapter starts with<br />
rebrand<br />
‘Ground’ breaking expansion<br />
Travelworld Motorhomes is on the road to expansion as construction work<br />
gets underway on new headquarters in a £5.5m deal backed by Allied Irish<br />
Bank (GB) (AIB (GB)).<br />
The work is due for completion in October 2018 and will comprise a 1,000<br />
sqm state-of-the-art showroom, offices and a 1,000 sqm service centre as<br />
well as extensive parking for visitors.<br />
Travelworld Managing Director, Ross Edwards, said: “We’d been looking<br />
for a new headquarters for some time and this site is both the right size<br />
and location to enable us to appeal to a much wider catchment area.<br />
“It took quite a while to complete the planning process for the new<br />
development, but the encouragement and support that we received from<br />
the team at AIB (GB) throughout the process was really important and<br />
made a real difference.”<br />
National award win!<br />
Lymestone Brewery is celebrating after<br />
scooping its first ever national award.<br />
The Stone brewery won a bronze medal<br />
for its Cherry Stone beer at the Society<br />
of Independent Brewers (SIBA) national<br />
awards.<br />
The brewery, which is also celebrating<br />
its 10th anniversary this year, has won a<br />
clutch of regional awards for its beer over<br />
the last decade, and last year was named<br />
Staffordshire Brewery of the Year at the<br />
Taste of Staffordshire Awards. But this is<br />
the first time it’s been recognised on the<br />
national stage.<br />
Judged by brewers and industry experts,<br />
the awards covers a huge range of beer<br />
style categories. Lymestone won the<br />
bronze medal in the speciality light<br />
bottled beer category for Cherry Stone<br />
after it landed gold at last year’s SIBA<br />
Midlands awards.<br />
Ian Bradford, Head Brewer at<br />
Lymestone Brewery, said: “We’re<br />
absolutely delighted. Cherry Stone was<br />
incredibly popular when we introduced<br />
it as a seasonal beer a couple of years<br />
ago, so it quickly became one of our<br />
permanent cask ales and part of our<br />
bottled range. To get recognition for it<br />
at the SIBA national awards is fantastic<br />
and to get our first national award in our<br />
10th anniversary year is extra special.”<br />
Edson Evers has unveiled its new<br />
branding to kick start a new chapter<br />
within the business.<br />
Established in 1972, Edson Evers’<br />
rebrand builds upon its established<br />
reputation for delivering award-winning<br />
national and international PR and<br />
marketing campaigns, while updating<br />
the organisation’s brand identity and<br />
raising the profile of its digital, video and<br />
content offering.<br />
Grace Duggal, Managing Director at<br />
Edson Evers, said: “We are extremely<br />
proud to launch our new branding,<br />
which captures the essence of what<br />
we do: helping organisation’s share<br />
inspiring ideas, create compelling<br />
conversations with key influencers and<br />
deliver exciting content campaigns,<br />
whatever the channel or medium.<br />
“The new logo’s design pays homage to<br />
ideas and communication, whether in<br />
the form of a thought bubble, speech or<br />
that all-important ‘light bulb’ moment.”<br />
Cherry Stone bottles national award
STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS MEMBER NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
43<br />
Cheers as accountants toast loyal clients<br />
LSGK Accountants Ltd celebrates a<br />
special anniversary with a group of<br />
clients who have been with them for over<br />
50 years.<br />
Formerly known as Leslie SG Knott & Co<br />
Ltd, the business started trading in Leek<br />
in 1960 and moved to its present offices<br />
in Talbot Street around 1969. It is now a<br />
part of the Growth 4 Businesses group<br />
which has offices in Cannock, Codsall<br />
and Stoke-on-Trent.<br />
To recognise this landmark LSGK<br />
presented long-time clients with a<br />
specially branded bottle of ‘Queen of<br />
the Moorlands’ whisky as well a special<br />
certificate and a £50 voucher.<br />
Jed Eatough, Managing Director at LSGK<br />
Accountants, said: “We bought the<br />
practice in 2014 and I was immediately<br />
amazed by the loyalty of many existing<br />
customers.<br />
“This was reflected in the staff with four of<br />
our team having been with the business<br />
since leaving school. It proves that people<br />
still value relationships and service and I<br />
think this is our unique attraction.”<br />
A generous<br />
celebration<br />
Riverco Trading is<br />
celebrating after bagging<br />
the Garden Care Product<br />
of the Year Award for the<br />
Frogsuit Wood Treatment<br />
at the prestigious DIY Week<br />
Awards 2018.<br />
The luncheon not only<br />
served as an opportunity<br />
to recognise excellence<br />
and innovation across the<br />
sector, but also a chance<br />
to give something back.<br />
A collection was made on<br />
behalf of The Rainy Day<br />
Trust, with generous guests<br />
helping to raise muchneeded<br />
funds for the UK’s<br />
only charity supporting<br />
the home improvement<br />
workforce and their families<br />
in times of need.<br />
Business venture is bread and butter for catering duo<br />
Business Partners, Michelle Harrison and Sue Taylor have<br />
welcomed the growth of their company, Taylor-Made<br />
Buffets.<br />
The pair have known each other for 25 years and are best<br />
friends as well as equal partners in their catering business,<br />
based at the Blue Mugge pub in Leek.<br />
Shelley explained: “We had been asked to cater for external<br />
customers before but shied away from it as we thought<br />
looking after the pub’s customers was enough to handle.<br />
However, we gave it a go and found that we could manage<br />
the extra work and got great feedback from customers.”<br />
Sue added: “We have a policy of using the best quality and<br />
freshest food for our buffets and meals and we buy most of<br />
our food from local independent shops. We are committed<br />
to doing our bit to support the local economy and being<br />
a part of the chamber network fits in perfectly with this<br />
thinking.”<br />
Food glorious food thanks to friends, Michelle and Sue
44 ADVERTORIAL<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Workshops to grow your business through innovation<br />
It is a fact that Innovative Companies outperform their<br />
competitors which is why the BIC has been running a series<br />
of self development workshops to help companies grow<br />
through Innovation in Staffordshire for over 20 years.<br />
Continuous excellent feedback encourages the BIC to keep<br />
running their workshops which are analysed and updated on<br />
a regular basis.<br />
Workshops include Profiting from Innovation; Intellectual<br />
Property Rights; New Product Development; Leadership<br />
in Innovation; Funding for Innovation and New Product<br />
Development. The BIC also runs a number of ad hoc<br />
Networking Events on a range of interesting and topical<br />
subjects related to Innovation such as R&D Tax Relief; Mobile<br />
Technology; RFID; Image Rights and Cyber Security.<br />
The BIC works with local and relevant partners and experts<br />
to deliver their workshops and events to give their clients the<br />
best possible advice and information available.<br />
The BIC’s Director of Innovation Sandra Butterworth said<br />
“These workshops are designed to improve the delegates’<br />
knowledge in subjects related to Innovation and although I<br />
am pleased that overall feedback is excellent I am particularly<br />
pleased that on average more than 75% of the delegates say<br />
that they have increased their knowledge on that particular<br />
subject by at least 50%.”<br />
Previous workshop delegates in 2018 have commented:<br />
“Very good indeed, had all my questions answered” –<br />
The Food Safety Company Ltd, Protect & Fund your<br />
Innovation Workshop - 28 February 2018<br />
“Very well delivered and targeted individual needs” –<br />
Ringehay Heritage Building Co, Marketing your Innovation<br />
Workshop - 7 March 2018<br />
“Very informative and worthwhile” – Henshall Innovations<br />
Ltd, What IP do you Own? Workshop - 15 March 2018<br />
“Great session, very inspiring” – Extramile Communications,<br />
Leadership Skills Workshop - 28 March 2018<br />
To find out about BIC workshops and events in 2018<br />
visit www.thebic.co.uk/events<br />
Let the BIC help you grow through Innovation!<br />
Attend our Free Workshops to learn valuable lessons<br />
from the Experts!<br />
Profit from Innovation - 26 September 0800-1030 Stoke on Trent<br />
Innovation doesn’t just happen - it needs to be managed! Why do we need<br />
Innovation? How can we bring innovation into our business?<br />
How can we use it to grow?<br />
New Product Marketing - 3 October 2018 0930 -1700 Stafford<br />
Understanding markets and customers - who will buy from you and why? Marketing<br />
tools and tactics. How to minimise risks and launch innovations successfuly.<br />
What IP do you Own? - 18 October 2018 1030 - 1430 Cannock<br />
This workshop will give participants an excellent overview of intellectual<br />
property and how it impacts on small and medium sized businesses.<br />
Delivered by the Intellectual Property Office.<br />
BIC WORKSHOPS ARE CURRENTLY FREE OF CHARGE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES IN STAFFORDSHIRE ONLY<br />
01782 333798<br />
www.thebic.co.uk/events<br />
enquiries@thebic.co.uk
MEMBER NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
45<br />
Teaming up to support the community<br />
Local charity Arch has been chosen<br />
as one of Hanley Economic Building<br />
Society’s charities of the year.<br />
The building society will be supporting<br />
the work that Arch does to prevent<br />
homelessness in North Staffordshire.<br />
Sarah Forshaw, Operations Manager for<br />
Homelessness, Housing and Complex<br />
Needs at Arch, said: “Fundraising helps<br />
us to provide more than just bricks and<br />
mortar, it helps us provide support and<br />
activities to develop resilience, skills for<br />
independent living and aid people in longterm<br />
recovery from crisis and trauma.<br />
“The money raised by Hanley Economic<br />
will support the funding of wider activities,<br />
including equipment for our allotment and<br />
materials for cooking lessons, through to<br />
supporting a customer to get back into<br />
employment.”<br />
Staff from across the building society will<br />
be taking part in fundraising activities and<br />
volunteering throughout the year.<br />
Deborah Henry, Head of HR at Hanley<br />
Economic, said: “We chose to support<br />
Arch because this links in well with our<br />
focus on supporting the community and<br />
reaching out to people of all ages to help<br />
end homelessness and promote social<br />
inclusion.<br />
“Our business is all about helping people<br />
to get their own homes and we feel we<br />
can also provide support to Arch by<br />
allowing our staff time off to volunteer,<br />
either in a practical capacity or using their<br />
specialist financial knowledge to mentor<br />
individuals.”<br />
Hanley Economic will also be supporting<br />
Dougie Mac, Alice Charity and the YMCA.<br />
25-year celebration<br />
Brothers Stephen and Simon Ward are celebrating the 25th<br />
anniversary of Graphix.<br />
The brothers began Graphix on the kitchen table at their<br />
parents’ home and have masterminded growth which has<br />
seen the company work with household names such as<br />
bet365 and Help for Heroes.<br />
The Norton-based business has shown year on year growth,<br />
with funds repeatedly being reinvested in new state of the art<br />
equipment and in the Graphix team.<br />
Stephen said: “I guess a key to our success is a refusal to<br />
stand still. We had ambitions to create a full-service agency<br />
with the capability to create high quality design and then<br />
give our customers the finished product, whether that be<br />
a new brand, website, vehicle graphics or signage.<br />
“We are a growing business and the level of equipment<br />
that we have allows us to complete large format print<br />
work to a very high standard. We have also grown<br />
our team, investing in talented senior level designers,<br />
managers and sign fitters.”<br />
This has been demonstrated in a major investment<br />
programme over the past three years with Graphix<br />
spending around £300,000 on new printing presses.
46 MEMBER NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Employees save £500,000<br />
KMF have celebrated the success<br />
of their eighth Productivity Share<br />
Scheme (PSS), recognising savings of<br />
£505,116.54 over the last twelve months.<br />
The scheme, which over the last five<br />
years has saved KMF Group over £2.3<br />
Million, pays out an annual bonus to<br />
any employee spotting an opportunity<br />
for process improvement or cost saving<br />
within KMF and implementing that idea<br />
into a new process.<br />
The scheme concentrates on the<br />
seven key areas of waste, including<br />
over production, inventory, transport,<br />
process, idle time, operator motion<br />
and bad quality and aims to bring<br />
continuous improvement to KMF’s<br />
manufacturing operations.<br />
189 employees from across the KMF<br />
Group have contributed to the cost<br />
saving scheme this year.<br />
Sam Dutton, KMF’s Productivity<br />
Scheme Administrator who is<br />
responsible for organising the<br />
initiative, commented: “PSS8 has<br />
seen some impressive cost savings<br />
and our manufacturing facilities are<br />
already reaping the benefits of the<br />
process improvements that have been<br />
implemented. Our employees are<br />
our greatest asset and have the best<br />
understanding of our processes and<br />
how they could be improved. I continue<br />
to be impressed by the attitude and<br />
enthusiasm of our staff and am already<br />
looking forward to PSS9”.<br />
One profitable project from this year’s<br />
programme was introduced by KMF<br />
employee, Dean Poole. Dean has<br />
successfully reduced machine idle<br />
time in KMF’s CNC machining facility<br />
by increasing the number of parts<br />
being cut per cycle on a particular<br />
machine. Cutting more parts means<br />
that the overall run time for all parts<br />
in comparison is reduced. Prior to<br />
PSS8 a cycle time of five minutes was<br />
required to cut two parts. Thanks to<br />
Dean’s innovation, the CNC machines<br />
are now set up to cut six parts within a<br />
10-minute cycle.<br />
Every employee who participated in<br />
this year’s PSS received a certificate at<br />
a short presentation on Monday 26th<br />
March 2018.<br />
With the help of KMF’s Continuous<br />
Improvement Team, KMF’s Productivity<br />
Share Scheme has significantly<br />
increased efficiency and productivity<br />
of the business's metal fabrication and<br />
precision engineering services, as well<br />
as bringing advantages to health &<br />
safety and employee engagement.<br />
Champion recognition<br />
Brian Hardwick, Head of Operations at Fleet Operations, has been crowned the winner of the Career Development<br />
Award by the ICFM (Institute of Car Fleet Management).<br />
Brian has helped develop the careers of more than 40 company employees over the past 12 months, signing them up to<br />
ICFM training programmes.<br />
Brian said: “Fleet Operations is investing in the future of the industry. The company aspires to the very highest<br />
standards of fleet expertise and the ICFM programmes help us to achieve this, supporting the Continuing Professional<br />
Development of our skilled staff.”<br />
Brian was presented with the award at the ICFM Annual National Members' Conference at the British Motor Museum,<br />
Warwickshire. The conference celebrated 25 years of the training organisation.
MEMBER NEWS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
47<br />
The Strategi Solutions Group to Partner with the<br />
Prestigious Women of the Year Luncheon and Awards<br />
Strategi Solutions Group has secured a significant new deal to<br />
provide design and PR services for the prestigious Women of<br />
the Year Luncheon and Awards, the longstanding organisation<br />
which celebrates and highlights the achievements of women<br />
from across the UK.<br />
Strategi has also committed to become a sponsor of the<br />
Women of the Year Luncheon and Awards to support their<br />
ambitions, joining co-sponsors Freeths, LLP, HSBC, Jaguar,<br />
Aston University, Smooth Radio, and Pertemps.<br />
The new look and branding, created by Strategi’s Design<br />
Team was unveiled to guests at the launch event of this year’s<br />
Women of the Year Luncheon and Awards held at the House of<br />
Lords.<br />
Wendy Dean, Managing Director at Strategi Solutions Group,<br />
said: “As a passionate supporter myself of women in business,<br />
I am absolutely delighted to be working with the Women of the<br />
Year Luncheon and Awards. Not only will it allow us to support<br />
an organisation that reflects our values, it gives Strategi the<br />
opportunity to promote ourselves at a national level.<br />
“We’ve had so many successes since we launched, but for me<br />
personally working with the Women of the Year Luncheon and<br />
Awards has to be one of our highlights and a reflection of how<br />
much we have achieved as a team.”<br />
Lights, camera, animation!<br />
Production team are underway on animated project<br />
A 'Strategi' to support Women of the Year<br />
Carse and Waterman Productions has<br />
announced its involvement in an ambitious,<br />
new animation project which will see the<br />
company work with the producers of hit films<br />
“Saving Santa” and “Nativity!” to produce a<br />
festive animation titled ‘The Claus Supremacy’.<br />
The story itself places its audience in a world<br />
of alternative history. This forms the backdrop<br />
for an entertaining story of discovery where<br />
we, as an audience, learn how the Santa<br />
Claus that we’ve all grown to know and love<br />
can deliver all of those presents to millions of<br />
children across the world.<br />
Development has now started on the family<br />
feature film and the team at Carse and<br />
Waterman are now busy modelling, rigging<br />
and animating key characters.
48
NEW MEMBERS<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
49<br />
Welcome to New Members<br />
Accutronics Ltd<br />
Manufacturing<br />
01782 566622<br />
info@accutronics.co.uk<br />
www.accutronics.co.uk<br />
Gourmet Guide Ltd<br />
Food service actitivites<br />
01782 729172<br />
tom@gourmetguide.co.uk<br />
www.gourmetguide.co.uk<br />
LeadOut Consulting<br />
Consultants<br />
07921 612091<br />
paul@leadout.co.uk<br />
www.ridestaffs.co.uk<br />
Red Live Media<br />
Marketing<br />
01785 719844<br />
john.heffernan@redlivemedia.co.uk<br />
www.redlivemedia.com<br />
Act Social<br />
Consultant<br />
07880 384356<br />
mark.warren@actsocial.co.uk<br />
Action Coach<br />
Consultants<br />
07375 380399<br />
dougflynn@actioncoach.com<br />
Adamtech<br />
Manufacturing<br />
01785 286660<br />
iadams@adamtech.co.uk<br />
www.adamtech.co.uk<br />
Albion Business Ltd<br />
Information and communication<br />
01782 269494<br />
rich@albionbusiness.com<br />
www.albionbusiness.com<br />
Care4me Training & Consultancy<br />
Consultants<br />
01782 911991<br />
info@care4metraining.com<br />
www.care4me.org.uk<br />
Ch Accounting Solutions Ltd<br />
Financial insurance activities<br />
07488 353207<br />
info@chaccountingsolutions.co.uk<br />
www.chaccountingsolutions.co.uk<br />
Chris Hill Flooring<br />
Construction<br />
07890 016080<br />
chrishillflooring@outlook.com<br />
Clair's Conservatory Systems<br />
Manufacturing<br />
01785 714300<br />
jassie@btconnect.com<br />
Dove Technology Ltd<br />
Manufacturing<br />
01785 818258<br />
markflello@dovetechnology.co.uk<br />
www.dtadhesives.com<br />
Fennec Labs Ltd<br />
Computing and IT services<br />
07825 706648<br />
ben@fenneclabs.co.uk<br />
www.fenneclabs.co.uk<br />
Garston House Farm<br />
Accomodation and food service<br />
07974 788539<br />
julie.keeling12@outlook.com<br />
Gill Edwards<br />
Consulting<br />
07792 564105<br />
gill-edwards@outlook.com<br />
Hammond McNulty Ltd<br />
Accountancy and taxation<br />
01260 279622<br />
sean.farrell1958@gmail.com<br />
www.h-m.co.uk<br />
Home Switch and Save<br />
Consultants<br />
0781 7848171<br />
HTY Communications<br />
Information and communication<br />
07511 607711<br />
helentaylor-yates@outlook.com<br />
Hydra Sports Ltd<br />
Manufacturing<br />
01785 211779<br />
sales@hydrasports.co.uk<br />
www.hydrasports.co.uk<br />
Imaga Print<br />
Print and media<br />
07792 602131<br />
hdavenport@imagaprint.co.uk<br />
www.imagaprint.co.uk<br />
Innovative Testing Solutions Ltd<br />
Human health and social work activities<br />
07821 116117<br />
matt@itstestkits.com<br />
www.itstestkits.com<br />
Inpicture framing and Art Sales<br />
Printing and media<br />
07599 721007<br />
mike@inpicture.co.uk<br />
www.inpicture.co.uk<br />
IRRTC<br />
Training<br />
07760 168767<br />
neil.pedersen@irrtc.co.uk<br />
www.irrtc.co.uk<br />
Is That So ? Ltd<br />
Consultants<br />
07946 669707<br />
tracy.giles@isthatso.co.uk<br />
www.isthatso.co.uk<br />
JR INDUSTRIAL Ltd<br />
Industrial supplies<br />
01782 262888<br />
accounts@jrindustrial.co.uk<br />
Lasher Tools UK<br />
Retail and whole sale<br />
01283 347474<br />
ianl@lashertools.co.uk<br />
www.lashertools.co.uk<br />
LIFTRIGHT<br />
Training<br />
07825 291180<br />
deborah@liftright.co.uk<br />
www.liftright.co.uk<br />
Lmac Consulting UK Ltd<br />
Consultants<br />
0121 2885999<br />
barry.jeffrey@lmacuk.co.uk<br />
www.lmacuk.co.uk<br />
Maxine's Salon<br />
Hair and beauty<br />
01782 617237<br />
maxinesalon@live.co.uk<br />
Muttleys Walk<br />
Dog walker<br />
01782 252841<br />
carlmartin1963@hotmail.co.uk<br />
www.muttleyswalk.com<br />
Nexxus Care<br />
Care provider<br />
01785 223966<br />
simon@nexxuscare.co.uk<br />
www.nexxuscare.com<br />
Paycare<br />
Human health and social work activities<br />
01902 371000<br />
kaywilkinson@paycare.org<br />
www.paycare.org<br />
Pedrollo Distribution Ltd<br />
Manufacturing<br />
01543 415200<br />
chris@pedrollo.co.uk<br />
www.pedrollo.co.uk<br />
Phoenix AV Installation Ltd<br />
Computing and IT services<br />
07595 727560<br />
scoobydavell@hotmail.com<br />
Port Vale FC Foundation<br />
Charity<br />
01782 757066<br />
foundation.trust@port-vale.co.uk<br />
www.port-vale.co.uk/foundation<br />
Potteries Demolition Co Ltd<br />
Waste management<br />
07917 203223<br />
potteriesdemolition@gmail.com<br />
Quinn & Co<br />
Computing and IT services<br />
07971 115078<br />
gary@quinnfs.co.uk<br />
Raven Red Consultancy<br />
Consultants<br />
07730 622061<br />
jo@ravenredconsultancy.co.uk<br />
Rushkeep Solutions Ltd<br />
Consultants<br />
07917 235226<br />
charlie.houston-brown@rushkeep.com<br />
www.rushkeep.com<br />
S & A Wholesale Ltd<br />
Wholesale and retails services<br />
01782 317237<br />
info@sanda-wholesale.com<br />
www.sanda-wholesale.com<br />
St Georges Park<br />
Hotel, leisure and recreation<br />
01283 576617<br />
sarah.marshall@thefa.com<br />
www.thefa.com/about-footballassociation/st-georges-park<br />
Staffordshire Cleaning Solutions<br />
Human health and social work activities<br />
01782 710710<br />
dave@staffordshirecleaning.co.uk<br />
Tailor-Made Buffets<br />
Food service actitivites<br />
01538 384450<br />
harrisons.bluemugge@sky.com<br />
TRC Creative<br />
Consultants<br />
07415 121747<br />
f.allsop@hotmail.com<br />
Two Cousins Ltd<br />
IT<br />
07818 542672<br />
john.roberts250@hotmail.co.uk<br />
V Prep IT Ltd<br />
Training<br />
07873 352145<br />
enquiries@v-prep.com<br />
www.v-prep.com<br />
Westwood Letting & Management Ltd<br />
Real estate agency<br />
01538 372025<br />
info@westwoodlettings.co.uk<br />
www.westwoodlettings.co.uk<br />
Woodpeckers Wisdom<br />
Consulting<br />
07845 245604<br />
tracyfitz1968@gmail.com<br />
Xpert Recruitment Solutions Ltd<br />
Recruitment and careers<br />
01782 756200<br />
accounts@xpertrecruitmentltd.co.uk<br />
www.xpertrecruitment.co.uk
50 WORKING LUNCH<br />
THE MAGAZINE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, MOVERS & SHAKERS<br />
Suzanne Davy, Director at Moorland Contract Cleaning<br />
Suzanne is Co-Director at Moorland Contract Cleaning a commercial cleaning service provider based in Leek.<br />
Suzanne is also the President of the Staffordshire Moorlands Chamber of Commerce.<br />
What prompted you to settle in the Staffordshire<br />
Moorlands?<br />
Back in 2007 we were living in South Manchester and I was<br />
commuting to my job in Derby. I had a long and tiresome<br />
journey to work and my husband, Tim, who originally hails<br />
from Lincolnshire was yearning for a more rural life. We<br />
drove through Leek looking for inspiration and happened<br />
upon our ideal home in Leekbrook. We settled in to the<br />
area right away forming new friendships and networks,<br />
mainly by visiting the local pub!<br />
How and when was Moorland Contract Cleaning created?<br />
At the height of the recession I was made redundant from<br />
a sales role with a software company that specialised in<br />
textiles and the fashion industry. I<br />
took a bit of time out and then<br />
joined Tim in his business at the<br />
end of 2010.<br />
At the time, Tim’s business<br />
specialised in retail cleaning and<br />
operated nationally. As he was<br />
spending an awful lot of time<br />
away from home, in 2013 we took<br />
the decision to withdraw from<br />
operating nationally and develop a<br />
regional business in Staffordshire.<br />
We wanted the name of the<br />
business to reflect that is was a<br />
local to the area.<br />
How does the husband and wife<br />
dynamic work?<br />
Tim and I have “clearly” defined<br />
roles within the business. As<br />
Commercial Director, I am<br />
responsible for finance, compliance,<br />
HR and marketing whilst Tim, as Operations Director is<br />
responsible for the operational service delivery.<br />
Suzanne Davy and<br />
Charlotte Kay were the<br />
guests of the Lymestone<br />
Brewery at the recently<br />
refurbished Quiet Woman<br />
in Leek.<br />
They both opted for a<br />
delicious bacon, brie<br />
and cranberry sandwich<br />
served on lightly grilled,<br />
thick white bread<br />
accompanied by a mixed<br />
leaf salad and sparkling<br />
water.<br />
With a growing team of around 160 employees, how do<br />
you go about selecting your team?<br />
Tim says, ‘we are only as good as our worst cleaner’ which<br />
is why our selection process is so important to us. We<br />
advertise online and screen all applicants via telephone<br />
prior to inviting to interview. Successful applicants undergo<br />
a two-stage induction process and a comprehensive<br />
training programme followed by continued monitoring and<br />
support from a field based management team.<br />
What’s next for the business?<br />
We are looking forward to moving into larger office<br />
premises at the Daisy Bank Business Centre located<br />
in Cheadle in June. It is a Grade II listed building that is<br />
currently being converted from a former nursing home<br />
Suzanne and Charlotte enjoy a bite to eat at the Quiet Woman in Leek<br />
into a multi tenanted business centre. We<br />
will be based alongside a number of other<br />
like-minded businesses and we are looking<br />
forward to being part of that community.<br />
Our business is continuing to grow,<br />
particularly in the education sector.<br />
However, it is important that we retain<br />
customers and establish long term<br />
relationships with them. This enables us to<br />
provide stable employment for our staff and<br />
provide opportunities for progression.<br />
You have been President of the Moorlands<br />
Chamber for a year now, how have you<br />
approached your presidency?<br />
I am keen to raise the profile of our<br />
chamber and have sought to get a better<br />
understanding of members and potential<br />
members. We need to have greater clarity of<br />
the types of businesses that exist within the<br />
Moorlands and the sectors they belong to in order that our<br />
offering is tailored to their requirements and the events we<br />
hold are relevant to them.<br />
I am pleased top confirm we now have over 100 members in<br />
the Staffordshire Moorlands and look forward to adding more<br />
to that number!<br />
What do you get up to in your spare time?<br />
Walking Grace our Dalmatian and taking advantage of the<br />
beautiful countryside that we have on our doorstep. We also<br />
love travelling and when we can get the odd weekend away<br />
we tour the UK staying in dog-friendly hotels and discovering<br />
new places.<br />
What is the best advice that you have received?<br />
Be clear on what type of business customer you want, don’t<br />
be afraid to say no.
Introducing the<br />
new CLS Coupé.<br />
52<br />
Take a test drive in the new CLS Coupé,<br />
call us today on 01782 202112<br />
Mercedes-Benz of Stoke<br />
Cobridge Road, Stoke, Staffordshire, ST1 5JP<br />
Call us on 01782 202112<br />
lookers.co.uk/Mercedes-Benz<br />
Image shown is a general indication of the model and therefore some features / equipment / colours may not be available in the UK or may not be to<br />
UK specification. Fuel figures: Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the Mercedes-Benz range: urban 16.2(17.4)-<br />
72.4(3.9), extra urban 23.9(11.8)-88.3(3.2), combined 20.5(13.8)-134.5(2.1). CO2 emissions 322-48 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for<br />
comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors.