Monthly Archives: August 2021

News

Regional Recruitment Group Release Market Insights Report

Hales Group surveyed commercial and industrial candidates for their latest Market Insights Report

Regional recruitment company Hales Group has recently surveyed their industrial and commercial job candidates to gain a real insight into the job market through the eyes of candidates.

Some of the key insights from the Commercial Report:

  • Just 4% of commercial candidates surveyed claimed that remote working was extremely important to them in their next role
  • 28% claimed that job security was the most important thing to them in their next role.
  • When asked what they would prefer if they were offered an enhanced benefits package 69% would favour increased holiday entitlement.
  • 17% of those looking for a new role were doing so because they had been made redundant.

See the full Commercial Report Here>

As for the Industrial Report, these are the key findings:

  • 38% of respondents claimed that salary and benefits were the most important thing to them in their next role.
  • 32% of those looking for a new role were currently employed but seeking a new role.
  • When asked what they would prefer if they were offered an enhanced benefits package 32% opted for ongoing training and development.

See the full Industrial Report Here>

“We were very surprised that remote working was important to only 4% of commercial candidates surveyed,” said Hales Group Managing Director Kirsty Walpole, shortly after the reports were released.

“We would have expected this to be higher, but we think that more candidates are open to a return to ‘normal’ working practices, now restrictions have been eased and equally they could be missing the comradery of team environments.”

“Security and career progression topped the poll for commercial candidates whilst salary and benefits proved the most attractive factor to industrial candidates when considering their next role, Kirsty continues, “this matches the results from our candidate survey completed earlier this year, so candidate choices have remained consistent.”

“The last survey indicated that 73% of candidates were looking for a new role due to redundancy but now only 38% are seeking a new role for this reason, indicating that the economy is in recovery and jobs are increasing.”

Business Advice

The 5 most common challenges preventing business growth

Scaling a business is not easy – if it were, everyone would do it and no business would ever fail.

The latest statistics show that just 4% of businesses in the UK successfully scale beyond a £1million turnover mark and reach approximately 10 – 12 employees, so how do you ensure you are one of them?

To safeguard a new or established business, you first need to understand why so many fail and the common business strategy mistakes to avoid.

Here are 5 challenges that often afflict businesses of all shapes and sizes, and how each obstacle can be managed or prevented altogether to position your firm for the best chances of success.

  1. Struggling with generating quality sales leads

According to research from BizSmart’s recently published whitepaper report, more than half [58%] of business owners struggle with generating quality sales leads and cite this as one of their biggest challenges.

The reality is that if you want a bigger business, you need more high quality leads on a consistent and predictable basis [someone who has in some way expressed interest in something you have for sale]. In fact, a study by Marketo showed that companies with sound lead generation practices achieved at least 133% more revenue than enterprises that don’t have good techniques in place.

Creating a winning strategy takes effort, so don’t be afraid to outsource this portion of your business to a third party if you lack the skills or capacity to do so in-house. With a stronger and consistent lead generation effort in place, you can secure all important prospects and see your business grow.

 

  1. Being dragged back into day-to-day operations

Our research into common business challenges also found that a huge 75% of business owners find themselves consistently dragged back into day-to-day operations – we call this the ‘owner’s trap’.

It is easy to see why so many business owners find themselves in this conundrum. Having played an active role in growing their business, they become the sole beacon of industry knowledge and the port of call for every decision.

However, if you allow your customers and employees to become overly reliant on you, problems will compound, and will you risk your business getting stuck and revenue stagnating.

Analyse your business and identify the areas that you can remove yourself from and how you can do so. Stepping away from the day-to-day operations of your business will take time and a leap of faith but, if you’re not acting as a bottleneck, you will be able to scale more quickly.

 

  1. Struggling with financial planning

What sets a successful business owner apart is their ability to think ahead and plan accordingly, but almost a third [30%] of business owners told us they struggle with financial planning and knowing how to use the numbers to make the right decisions.

Going through the process of constructing a financial plan is a valuable exercise for any business owner, especially small business owners who often use their personal finances as start-up capital. If small business owners don’t have a financial plan, their short- and long-term financial objectives can get blurred between personal and business objectives.

Having a solid financial plan in place is often an ongoing process and can require help from a professional adviser but getting it right will put you in the best position for consistent growth and improve your chances of business success.

As your business scales, more sophisticated financial planning techniques may be necessary to ensure business continuity, so remember to reassess at every growth stage.

 

  1. Failing to make monthly management accounts

Whilst management accounts are not mandatory, they are key to achieving business growth. Despite this, 25% of business owners admit they don’t use monthly management accounts to inform the right financial decisions, so it’s unsurprising so many never manage to scale.

Without management accounts it is almost impossible for business owners to gauge accurately how well they are doing, and they will struggle to make informed decisions on key matters like funding requirements in their organisations.

Making regular and consistent management accounts monthly will ensure you are getting the most out of monitoring your efforts. It is down to individual preference as to what needs to be monitored, but a good place to start is by including key performance indicators, profit and loss, cash position and the balance sheet.

 

  1. Unstable cash flow

In our research, 30% of business owners said they have unstable cashflow. Whilst most companies will have cash flow issues at some point, it is important to take control and manage your cash flow before it manages you, as issues with cash flow can seriously endanger a business’ ability to grow and even operate.

Take a look at the cash in your business and brainstorm ways to manage your cash position better, for example by staying on top of your billing, following up on outstanding invoices, and making sure you always know your numbers so you don’t end up overspending.

Keeping a close eye on your finances and controlling what goes in and what goes out from your bank account is crucial for you to achieve your business growth ambitions.  Taking the time to understand the cash flow around your business and implementing efficient best practices will help you maintain stability in times of unexpected contingencies.

Conclusion

The adventure of scaling a business is exciting, challenging and frustrating all at the same time, and often mistakes are inevitable.

However, with enough planning and by predicting potential pitfalls and putting plans in place to prevent or combat them, your company will be able to scale efficiently and successfully.

News

Protect Your Bubble reveals the text scams UK consumers are most worried about

It’s been revealed more than £2.3bn has been lost in a year as scams surge during the pandemic.

Over 413,000 instances of fraud were reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the year up to April 2021 – an increase of 33 percent on the previous 12 months.

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and clever with their methods, using well-known brands and companies to lure unaware consumers into believing their tricks. But what scams were the UK public most concerned about?

To find out, gadget insurance company Protect Your Bubble analysed just how many of us are googling inquiries related to text scams*.

Of the most-asked fraud-related terms, ‘royal mail scam text’ took the number one spot as the most searched by 14,800 consumers in the UK every month.

Fuelled by a rise in online shopping during the pandemic – with 75 percent of consumers admitting they’re shopping more online than ever before – Google search data hints at a 2983 percent increase in Royal Mail text scams since 2020.

With cybercriminals keen to exploit Royal Mail’s popularity, the text scams are designed to look like the official correspondence from the company and the aim is to trick as many users as possible into disclosing sensitive information.

It’s been reported many people have fallen victim to these scams, only recently a woman lost almost £8000 after believing a fraudulent text pretending to be from the Royal Mail.

In second place is ‘Paypal scam text’, searched by an average of 5,400 people each month. With almost three million active users, it’s no surprise cybercriminals are taking advantage of the brands familiarity.

To compare, before the pandemic hit, in 2019 the term ‘Paypal scam text’ was searched 1900 times on average. A staggering 184 percent increase, indicating how worried consumers are about safeguarding their finances during the current climate.

Looking at the remaining search terms related to text scams, this is how many people are checking for different scams each month:

  • Hermes scam text: 5,400 searches per month
  • DPD scam text: 590 searches per month
  • Phishing scam text: 390 searches per month
  • Tax rebate scam text: 260 searches per month
  • Bank scam text: 110 searches per month
  • Covid scam text: 108 searches per month

Although the type of scam may vary, it’s easier to spot a scam if you know what to look for. Remember to be careful if someone:

  • You don’t know contacts you out of the blue (unexpected calls, emails, or messages should raise suspicion)
  • Offers you something too good to be true – most of the time it is
  • Asks for personal details or passwords
  • Is pressuring you to make a decision quickly
  • Check for spelling and grammar mistakes
  • If the contact details are vague

If you suspect you’ve received a scam email, message, or call, ensure you report it to both the business and to Action Fraud to prevent this from happening to someone else.

James Brown, Director at Protect your Bubble commented:

“With an increase in fraudulent text messages, it’s essential the public remain aware and vigilant when receiving them from well-known companies.

“It’s also important companies are following and advising customers on the correct behaviours to adopt when it comes to fraudulent activity.

“At Protect Your Bubble, we never engage in cold-calling to conduct sales activity.”

News

Over 60% of consumers believe the British public should ‘shop local’ to aid economic recovery, new research finds

Over 60% of consumers believe that members of the British public should ‘shop local’ to aid economic recovery, according to new research by online marketplace, Hope and Story.

The research, which surveyed 1,000 consumers on how their shopping habits have changed over the last 12 – 18 months, also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has inspired over 56% of consumers to proactively support British businesses – with a further 43% revealing they now proactively search for ‘local’ or British brands when shopping online or on the high street.

However, despite a clear drive to shop local, 46% of consumers revealed that they find it challenging to source products that are genuinely British made, with 61% confirming they would be annoyed if they had purchased a product from a brand that they believed to be British made, to later found out it wasn’t.

Other key take outs from the research include:

  • 46% of consumers proactively look to purchase from businesses that are sustainable and have clear brand ethics and values.
  • Over half [51%] consider themselves to be conscious consumers.
  • 41% automatically associate 100% made British brands with higher quality products.
  • 55% of consumers deem quality the most important thing when purchasing lifestyle products, with nearly one third [29%] opting for product longevity and over one quarter [26%] opting for sustainable materials and packaging.

This research comes as Hope and Story unveils its new eCommerce marketplace, curated by three female entrepreneurs to showcase the best of British brands and independent makers.

Originally inspired during spring 2020 when co-founder, Betsy Vickery, spent weeks searching online for 100% British-made gifts for her 7-year-old daughter’s birthday, it became clear that there was no e-Commerce marketplace that championed ethical, sustainable, and truly British brands.

Determined to make meaningful change and fly the flag for up-and-coming British brands and independent makers with a limited digital presence – and equally limited income during periods of high-street closures – Betsy and Hope and Story co-founders, Alison Larnder and Lizzy Waterhouse, set to work in developing the virtual British-made marketplace.

Betsy explained: “During the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic it became increasingly clear that millions of independent British brands were losing significant amounts of revenue due to high street closures, just as large and global online marketplaces were able to profiteer from being able to fulfil consumer demand – and quickly.

However, it’s clear from our research that not only have consumers been more inspired to shop local and shop British since the outbreak of the pandemic, but that consumers associate 100% British made goods with increased product quality.

Therefore, in developing the concept for Hope and Story, Alison, Lizzy and I were committed to curating an online marketplace that both championed and showcased the best of British brands, whilst providing consumers with an enjoyable, online shopping experience. We are incredibly proud to launch Hope and Story and to already be working with over 100 British partners across 12 plus lifestyle product categories. Watch this space.”

With a clear vision to become the ‘go to’ online marketplace for British made brands, all products listed via the Hope and Story site are united in the same standard of quality to appeal to conscious consumers dedicated to shopping local, shopping sustainable and shopping British, with leading brands including Georgie Murton, Studio Arcform, Samuel Groves and Gungho to name a few.

For more information, please visit the Hope and Story website.

News

Born Social promote influencer marketing specialist to head up social role

Born Social has today announced Steph Ross as new Head of Social Media Management.

Having joined Born Social in 2017 as an account manager, Steph’s role later evolved into a senior social media manager job before starting her new role. Prior to joining the agency, she worked in marketing for a range of FMCG challenger brands, including PROPERCORN.

Steph has helped shape Born Social’s influencer marketing output having worked with global brands including Veet, Air Wick and Valspar. As Head of Social Media Management, Steph will be responsible for directing the wider social media management and client services teams. She will also pilot a number of new initiatives across community management, platform expertise, reactivity and creator product.

Ben Tyson, CEO and Partner, Born Social, says “Steph has been an integral part of our social media management team since she joined over four years ago, playing a pivotal role in some of our most successful client campaigns. We’re delighted that she is now in a position to lead the department she’s helped to shape in that time, on to bigger and better things.”

Commenting on her new role at Born Social, Steph says: “I’m really excited to step into the new role and help drive Born Social towards our lead agency vision, both through best in class, social-first output, and through the leadership of my team to do the same.”

News

Composites expert appoints new area sales manager for North America

Global composites expert Exel Composites has appointed John Mertic to the role of area sales manager for North America to handle growing business across the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean. With experience in growing sales leads, Mertic takes up the role from the organization’s production team in Erlanger, Kentucky, and will lead the business’ telecoms offering across the continent. The appointment comes at a time where the company is looking to expand its footprint in North America.

Mertic joins Exel from M. Holland Company where he was a sales representative in resin distribution. He has built a wealth of leadership experience, previously holding managerial positions at automotive door lock manufacturer, GECOM Corporation, and is well positioned to support the business development and growth strategies for Exel in North America.

A recipient of a prestigious soccer scholarship for the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Mertic completed his marketing degree and started working as a sales intern for DENSO, exploring sustainable technologies for the automotive and transportation industry. Upon completion, he took on an account manager role at GECOM where he managed global automotive manufacturer Toyota, overseeing $20 million in annual sales.

“My career beginnings were in sales, which is how I came to understand the importance of new business development and growth.  I feel my experience reflects well in my ability to understand any customers’ needs and, hopefully, I can use it to help Exel expand its footprint across the USA and Canada,” said Mertic. “Exel has a some very innovative composite solutions for the 5G market, and I’m looking forward to meeting with new and existing customers to see how we can solve their challenges with composites.”

“Beyond the industries with which Exel is well established, such as telecoms, there are numerous potential growth sectors in North America. For instance, my experiences within the automotive and plastics sectors have given me the drive to explore how thermoplastics could be used to make transportation more sustainable,” explained Mertic. “My role here will not only help to integrate composites into these applications, but also to expand Exel’s visibility and market share across the USA as a whole.”

“What’s more, with a major push to implement sustainable technologies on the horizon, it is pivotal organizations like Exel work with customers to ensure that business requirements are met for now and the future,” Mertic added. “Ensuring a sustainable future is the core of the business and I’m excited to be a part of this team of forward thinkers.

“The USA and North America are of great strategic importance to Exel, and John’s experience in sales and customer care across two key industries makes him an asset to the global team,” commented Olli Teva, SVP Marketing and Sales at Exel Composites. “Having John on the Erlanger team will help ensure that all our customers, present and future, are well equipped to solve their challenges and save resources using composites”.

To find out more about Exel Composites in Erlanger, Kentucky, visit us here at www.exelcomposites.com/in-usa/

Insurance, Travel

The holiday activities you didn’t know could invalidate your travel cover 

With holiday travel on the up[1], research reveals outdoor activities, and a summer of sports could cost Brits more than £1 billion in replacing or repairing personal electronic items[2].

With two in three Brits purchasing some form of travel insurance when booking a holiday[3], it’s important to know what could invalidate your insurance claim while being on holiday and what to look out for when choosing the right policy for your trip.

With that in mind, leading insurance provider, insurance2go, has revealed four common activities that might affect your insurance whilst abroad.

Leaving your phone unattended 

If your phone is stolen while left unattended, then it’s possible your insurer won’t pay out for it. That means if you leave your device on your sunbed and then get in the pool, for example, then you risk invalidating your claim if something happens to it.


This is because for a claim to be valid, most insurers need to see that “reasonable precautions” have been in place to stop property being damaged or stolen. If something is left unattended, then this is often viewed as the claimant not having taken reasonable precautions. 

Taking part in sports not covered by your insurance

Many people on holiday enjoy taking part in sports, but they all come with risk. While standard travel insurance policies can provide cover for most sporting activities, those that are more on the adventurous side, as well as extreme and winter sports, may be excluded or have specific T&Cs around them. 

Some insurers will automatically cover activities such as swimming, snorkelling and tennis to name a few, but if you’re planning a jet ski trip or rock climbing, for example, it’s important to carefully check the extent in which you’re covered. Remember, policies vary so be sure to check yours to see which sports are included. 

Taking sports equipment without dedicated cover

For those who are off on a sporting holiday, it’s best to look at specialist policies that can cover your equipment. Golf clubs are the main example here, as many standard policies won’t cover these, although many will offer it as an add-on. 


The same often applies for other sports needing specialised equipment, like skiing. Just one in six annual travel insurance policies include cover for winter sports[4]. These sports carry a high risk of injury or equipment damage, so it’s best to do your research and choose a dedicated policy to make sure you’re covered. 

Not locking your hotel room properly

Many travellers believe their hotel rooms are one of the safest places they can find while abroad. However, leaving valuables such as travel documents and electronics in plain sight may invalidate your claim if they were to be stolen from the room. 

As is the case with leaving your items unattended, if you can’t prove that reasonable measures were in place to keep your property safe, then you may struggle with your claim. For extra peace of mind, always keep your valuables inside a locked safe if available.

Exceeding your claim limit 

It’s vital that before taking out insurance cover you understand your claim limit. If your insurance policy only covers you up to £1,000 for example, but you know the tech you’re taking with you will exceed this amount, then that could invalidate your claim. 

Be sure to factor in everything you need cover for before going away and ensure this is taken into account with any insurance policy you take out before going away.

A spokesperson at insurance2go commented: “A travel insurance policy should be tailored to your specific needs and your potential financial loss. After all, a trip is to let your hair down and enjoy, not worry about those additional expenses which you’ll have to shell out for, once the trip ends. 

“Our advice is to always check your T&Cs in detail, understand the purpose of your trip and make sure your policy will cover this, determine the exact policy you need and finally make sure your claim limit covers what you need it to. 

“It can sometimes feel like the bottom of the priority list to make sure your belongings are covered while going on holiday, but if the worst does happen to your gadgets, then it can quickly leave you with a financial headache, on top of the usual post-holiday blues. Taking that time to do your research before jetting off will give you peace of mind so you can enjoy your holiday without a second thought.”

For more information about insurance2go’s mobile phone travel cover, visit: https://www.insurance2go.co.uk/gadget-travel-insurance 

News from England, North of England

A decade of safety and efficiency at Wavin’s Sheffield plant

Global pipe manufacturer, Wavin, is celebrating 10 years of no lost-time incidents at its Hazlehead manufacturing site in Sheffield. This is a huge achievement for all 100 employees working at the clay drainage factory which makes the majority of products for Wavin’s renowned Hepworth Clay brand.

Any onsite situation that results in an injury causing time off from work, classes as a lost-time incident (LTI), and the term is widely used as a benchmark for health and safety success across the manufacturing industry.

Ten years without any LTIs at the Hazlehead site is an incredible milestone, demonstrating the high health and safety standards at play across the busy facility. As the site manufactures clay piping for below-ground drainage, the products themselves can be very heavy once made, and require firing in a high-temperature kiln, which means stringent safety measures must be continually upheld and scrutinised.

To support its employees, Wavin has invested in better technology and health and safety education, creating a safety-first working culture over the last ten years. From robotic manufacturing tools, to ongoing improvements in the general structural health of the factory, the company has spent millions of pounds on the site, so it can maximise both safety and efficiency.

Mike Ward, Managing Director of Wavin UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see how our Hazlehead site has been able to build a safety-first culture. At Wavin, we pride ourselves on our health and safety practices, while also making sure that our high-quality clay products get to the customers who need them. Every single member of the Hazlehead team has played a part in this achievement, and should be immensely proud.”

The occasion was marked with official celebration ceremonies at the factory on July 1st and 2nd, in which all Hazlehead employees were presented with a gift to mark the occasion.

For more information about Wavin, visit www.wavin.com/en-gb.

News

iamproperty Group appoint Mediaworks to deliver website development project

The largest residential auctioneer in the UK, iamsold, part of the iamproperty Group, has called in future-facing digital marketing specialists Mediaworks to re-build its front-end website and digitise its consumer bidding journey.

The Newcastle-based business provides market leading software and services to the property sector, partnered with over 3,000 UK estate agent branches. iamsold is the flagship offering of iamproperty and provides an end-to-end auction service for agents. Over the last ten years, it has pioneered the Modern Method of Auction (MMoA) and is now market leader in online auction with over 60% market share.

Michele Gettins, Chief Marketing Officer at iamproperty Group, said: ““iamproperty and Mediaworks align in our commitment to innovation and providing exceptional digital experiences that lead the way in the housing and property sector. Their solution is unique, intuitive and provides buyers, sellers and agents with an exceptional experience.

“We save Estate Agents time, drive incremental revenue and help them stay compliant. We have always been fanatical about service and committed to using tech to enable our service to scale.”

A key part of its innovation strategy, iamproperty is looking to maintain its position as pioneers of the MMoA and establish the method of sale as a viable alternative to Private Treaty – bringing much needed speed, security and choice to the home-moving process.

Brett Jacobson, CEO and founder at Mediaworks, said: “As an agency who has vast expertise in the housing and property industry, we’re delighted to be working with iamproperty to step change its auction services and build a customer-friendly site that reflects the group’s innovation and services.

“As with all transformation projects, we’ll ensure the website is developed with the customer front of mind, setting iamproperty up for future success as they futureproof their market-leading services online.”

The partnership is the latest in a list of housing associations and property specialists that have selected Mediaworks as a partner for digital solutions, including Northern Housing Consortium, Home Group, Esh Construction and Johnnie Johnson.

Mediaworks delivers a range of services, including a full complement of online performance marketing services, brand strategy and digital transformation. The rapidly growing agency currently has 150 full-time staff across its four national offices in Newcastle, Leeds, Edinburgh, and London.

News

Dardan Security goes carbon neutral by branching out into the creation of its own woodland

A security services provider has shown its commitment to a sustainable future by creating its own patch of woodland.

Dardan Security, based in Great Shelford, near Cambridge, has joined forces with eco-friendly business Make It Wild to annually offset 480 tonnes of CO2e through the planting of 131 trees at Dowgill Grange in Summerbridge, North Yorkshire.

Last year staff at Dardan Security used over 150,000 litres of fuel which equated to nearly 90 percent of its carbon emissions (377 tonnes CO2e).

In a further commitment to reducing its carbon footprint the company has also declared that new additions to its fleet will be only electric or plug in hybrid, with staff also asked to complete a driver risk assessment course. All computer equipment and other electrical items are also being recycled.

Dardan Security’s fleet of vehicles are tracked with analytics to show evidence of harsh braking, acceleration, idling, speed and cornering force (g-force) to produce an overall driving rating. According to Energy Trust it is estimated that most drivers could reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent by adopting eco-driving practices.

Andy Barnard, QSE Manager at Dardan Security, said: “The new Dardan Security Woodland offsets our carbon footprint and creates a lasting legacy – and that fits well with the fact that we’ve been protecting brands and reputations for over 40 years”.

Christopher Neave, co-founder of Make it Wild says, “We are delighted to be planting trees on behalf of Dardan Security. It is great that they are taking real steps to reduce their carbon footprint. Where there are unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions, caused by their business activities, our trees will be removing an equivalent quantity and more from the atmosphere as they grow. The trees providing this offset are in a protected new woodland, created to give habitat for threatened UK wildlife. We will never cut them down and they are destined to become the ancient trees of the future.”

Privately owned Dardan Security employs 500 staff nationwide and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023. Its range of services include mobile security, security technology, guarding, concierge and security consultancy.

Dardan are also a Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Scheme member achieving a score which places it within the top five percent of all approved companies. In addition to this, they are a member of the ACS Pacesetters, a division which sits outside of the SIA and ACS and promotes those organisations that currently have a score in the top 15% of all accredited companies. Only 125 businesses are eligible to join this exclusive membership scheme.

Make It Wild was founded 10 years ago by Helen and Christopher Neave, who have turned their passion for protecting nature into a thriving commercial venture. The family business – based at Brompton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire – has planted over 50,000 trees and aims to plant 10,000 a year.

All trees – ranging in size from smaller shrubs to large trees such as Oak and Beech – are photographed by drone so customers can see what they have paid for. Make It Wild typically plants between 20 to 30 different species of native, broadleaf trees to create new woodlands in their nature reserves and to maximise the resulting increase in biodiversity.