Monthly Archives: October 2021

Midlands News, News

Telford company targets growth thanks to new grant

A Telford company is targeting growth after receiving almost £10,000 from a grant scheme to help it buy new equipment.

SureGRP – a leading supplier of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) anti-slip flooring, grating and composite products – says it has taken on one new member of staff at its base on Halesfield 5 after receiving the money from the Marches Small Equipment Grant programme.

The company, which employs 12 people, received £9,860 to purchase a wall saw, a panel saw, and a dust unit which it says will help improve quality and efficiency, allowing it to target new markets.

The grant scheme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Marches Growth Hub – is part of a £3million funding package which also includes the Marches Building Investment Grant.

Joint owner of SureGRP Adrian Stevenson said he was delighted with the help the company had received from the SEG programme.

“This new equipment will help improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process by giving a more accurate cut and finish to the product, resulting in a reduction in the time spent finishing the product once it has been cut.

“As every product is bespoke, and fits customers’ exact requirements, a new saw means we can reduce the tolerance level on the length and width of products, producing a much more accurate, sharper, and proficient finish in a better time.

“The grant will also help us upgrade the dust unit so that it can cope with the extra volume of work and also employ a new saw specialist to work the machinery.”

Programme manager Caroline Cattle said the grant programme had been a great success since its launch last year.

“SureGRP are the latest in a number of firms to have successfully applied for the Small Equipment Grant and it is very satisfying to see the way it is helping companies strengthen their position and grow.

“There is still plenty of opportunity for other companies to take advantage of the scheme and we would urge any business which meets the criteria to investigate how it can help them.”

Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available under the programme, which is open to small and medium-sized companies across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

The grant is available as a contribution of up to 50 per cent and primarily covers B2B companies. Items purchased must exceed £500 in value and have a life expectancy of three years. Eligible projects must lead to the creation of at least one part time job within six months or the creation of a new product or service to be used by other businesses.

Because of restrictions imposed by the ERDF, the scheme is not available to retail businesses, restaurants, drinking establishments and fast food takeaways, online retail or rental businesses, farms involved in primary production, or local social welfare facilities.

Details of the scheme are available through the Marches Growth Hub.

Midlands News, News, Recruitment News

Gleeson Recruitment Group Commemorates 10th Year Milestone

Industry trailblazer Gleeson is this week celebrating its 10th year anniversary. One of the most established and well-regarded recruitment teams in the UK, Gleeson places thousands of candidates every year in permanent, temporary, contract and interim positions, working across multiple industries and skill sets.

Immense spirit, drive and ambition have always been key to the company’s successes. Set up by three directors in 2011 with start-up capital of just 70k, every penny generated by the business has been continually reinvested. This has enabled them to become one of the most rapidly expanding firms in the UK, now spanning a total of 12 divisions. This trademark tenacity and perseverance has seen them grow from a band of just six in 2012, to a thriving team of 92 spread throughout spacious Newhall Street offices in Birmingham’s bustling business district.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the past 18 months has seen Gleeson continue to go from strength to strength. Named 19th best small company to work for in the UK by the Sunday Times in 2020, their continued onus on employee wellbeing and uniquely person-centred approach to the recruitment process has also seen the firm enjoy a year-on-year revenue increase of 36%.

Famed for their mantra that everyone should Work With Glee, the group have undertaken numerous initiatives to ensure their staff are amongst the happiest in the UK. All team members are offered flexible working arrangements from day one with a 4.5 day working week as standard, along with fortnightly masseur visits, an onsite gym, and even weekly yoga and meditation sessions. Additionally, the team are known for their commitment to charitable causes, having raised over £10,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation in September, and £8,000 for cancer charity Macmillan in 2019.

Reflecting on the incredible milestone, director Tony Gleeson commented, “We’re utterly thrilled to be celebrating our 10th year in business. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth it. Our goal has always been the development of fruitful, long-lasting relationships built on trust, transparency, and integrity. Unlike traditional recruitment firms, we’re not driven by KPIs – we’re powered by our genuine desire to make the world of work a happier place, one candidate at a time. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our team members for their incredible hard work, as well as all our clients and candidates. We look forward to another decade as brilliant as the last!”

Looking ahead, the future looks bright for Gleeson. The firm is set to continue expanding into Europe and America through its booming pharmaceutical and tech divisions, and aims for a total headcount of 100 team members by the end of the year.

For more information on Gleeson Recruitment Group, including opportunities to join the team, visit www.workwithglee.com.

 

 

 

Book Releases, Construction, News

NEW BOOK: Industrial to Residential Conversions: The essential guide to converting industrial buildings for profit

‘Industrial to Residential Conversions: The essential guide to converting industrial buildings for profit’ is the new book from property experts Ian Child and Ritchie Clapson, founders of propertyCEO.

In this fully up-to-date book, you will discover: the secrets to converting industrial buildings – opportunities that the vast majority of other developers overlook; a practical system that allows first-time developers to take on any type of development project, even if they have no previous experience; the art of building your own experienced professional development team who will be highly motivated to work for you; and the secrets to getting funding for almost any property development project.

‘Industrial to Residential Conversions’ takes the reader through this little-known property development strategy that can generate six-figure profits.The book also covers:

  • A complete overview of the development process, with illustrative pictures and diagrams
  • A full explanation of the Permitted Development Rights introduced in August 2021 that allow many types of building to be converted without full planning permission
  • A step-by-step guide to creating a property development business in your spare time
  • How to source finance for your projects
  • How to find opportunities, both on-market and off-market
  • What type of property to build and how to work out your numbers
  • How to get the maximum number of units from your development site
  • Tips for selling your finished units

This is the ideal book for anyone considering small-scale property development as a means to generate wealth, and those looking to find a development strategy that can generate substantial returns with limited competition from other developers.

Ian Child and Ritchie Clapson CEng MIStructE have over 70 years’ property and business experience between them. Together they founded propertyCEO, a nationwide property development and training company that helps people create a successful property development business in their spare time. It makes use of students’ existing life skills while teaching them the property, business, and mindset knowledge they need to undertake small scale developments successfully, with the emphasis on utilising existing permitted development rights to minimize risk and maximize returns. https://propertyceo.co.uk/

‘Industrial to Residential Conversions: The essential guide to converting industrial buildings for profit’ is available on Amazon and from all good bookstores. RRP: £7.99

E-Commerce, News

New online marketplace secures partnerships with over 200 British brands, just in time for Christmas

Hope and Story, an e-Commerce marketplace that flies the flag for British-made goods, has successfully secured partnerships with over 200 independent brands just in time for Christmas.

With an original target to reach this number by the end of their second year, Hope and Story has successfully onboarded over 200 partners within just six months of launching the new platform, which enables conscious consumers to shop local, shop sustainable and shop British.

The news comes hot on the heels of concerns Christmas will be cancelled this year due to supply chain issues arising from Brexit and the pandemic, leaving many consumers looking for an alternative to major online retailers when shopping for gifts this year.

 

Hope and Story co-founder, Betsy Vickery, explained:

“In developing Hope and Story, we wanted to curate an online marketplace that both championed and showcased the best of British brands, whilst providing consumers with an enjoyable, online shopping experience.

We are delighted to already be working with over 200 British partners across 12 plus lifestyle categories, especially at a time where consumers are more inspired than ever to shop British this Christmas.

An over-reliance on outsourcing overseas has led to a lack of responsibility when it comes to ethics and sustainability, so we are incredibly proud to be building a community of inspired, independent makers who share our values and our passion for truly British-made goods.”

Hope and Story was originally inspired in spring 2020 when Betsy spent weeks searching online for 100% British-made gifts for her 7-year-old daughter’s birthday, and found there was no e-Commerce marketplace that offered ethical, sustainable, and truly British brands.

Enlisting the help of her childhood friends, Alison Larnder and Lizzy Waterhouse, they set to work in developing the virtual British-made marketplace and have already seen an overwhelmingly positive response just six months on.

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 and ethics, with leading brands including Georgie Murton, Studio Arcform, Samuel Groves and Gung Ho to name just a few, giving conscious consumers more choice than ever when it comes to buying sustainable Christmas gifts this year.

News

Experienced banker Dunning joins GS Verde

Experienced finance professional Joel Dunning has joined the GS Verde Group, as Associate Director within GS Verde Corporate Finance, following a decade advising corporate clients across South West and Wales.

 

Joel, who will be based in the GS Verde Group’s Bristol and South West offices, joins from HSBC where he occupied a senior advisory role in Wales and the West of England.  During this time, he has worked with high growth businesses with funding for acquisitions, working capital and organic growth, as well as working on a number of cross border international deals.

 

Joel has also previously worked in industry as a Finance Director for a manufacturing business, where his remit included debt raising for growth, acquisitions and conducting due diligence on targets.

 

Speaking on his appointment, Joel said: “With M&A currently rebounding and accelerating as the economy drives on from the challenges of the pandemic, it is an exciting time to be joining the GS Verde Group.  I am looking forward to supporting existing and new clients of both GS Verde Corporate Finance, and the wider Group in the coming months.”

 

Joel will assist GS Verde Corporate Finance in its growth across the UK and EIRE, supporting businesses who are looking to raise investment for growth or acquisition, as well as businesses looking to plan their succession and exit.

 

Craig Blackmore, Managing Director of GS Verde Corporate Finance said: “The experience Joel has gained from his time in senior financial advisory roles, gives him a clear idea of what funders and investors are looking for when reviewing financial models and assessing fair value of a business.   Joel brings expertise in acquisitions, investment raises and business sales, and we are delighted to welcome him to the GS Verde Group”.

 

The GS Verde Group recently announced its brand re-alignment, which brings together the collective professional disciplines of law, finance, tax and communications, to act as a single advisory team to business owners.

 

Joel concluded: “I have known the GS Verde Group for some time and have always been aware of their excellent reputation.   The proposition of having multiple disciplines, acting as one team is something truly unique and will only benefit our clients.   I am excited to be joining the Group as it continues to scale and to helping the business increase its footprint.”

Charity & CSR, Cleaning & Facilities Management, News

Fabulosa announces new charity partnerships

Fabulosa, the fragrance led lifestyle and cleaning brand, has announced new charity partnerships with The Cybersmile Foundation and The Hygiene Bank. These partnerships, along with Bliss Charity, round off the brands’ mission to help make the world a little more ‘fabulosa’.

Fabulosa found its popularity online, and was keen to partner with the The Cybersmile Foundation, a multi-award-winning nonprofit organisation committed to digital wellbeing and tackling all forms of abuse and bullying online.

The Cybersmile Foundation works to promote kindness, diversity and inclusion by building a safer, more positive digital community and encouraging people to realise their full potential without the fear of ridicule and abuse. They are also committed to helping to change negative online behaviors through education – preparing this and further generations for a safe and positive digital future.

Scott Freeman, CEO of Cybersmile is delighted to have Fabulosa on board as a corporate partner. He said, “We are excited to be partnering with Fabulosa and will be working with the brand to help facilitate a more diverse and inclusive internet. Unfortunately, problems such as cyberbullying, harassment and digital abuse are holding many back from enjoying the benefits that access to the internet can provide, and we know our newly formed partnership will help raise awareness and make a difference. It was clear when I spoke to Fabulosa how passionate they are at tackling the issue of online bullying and abuse, and we know this will be a meaningful partnership for years to come.”

For Fabulosa, The Hygiene Bank, whose mission is to bring communities, businesses and thought leaders together to tackle hygiene poverty, also felt like a natural partnership. The Hygiene Bank is a grassroots, people-powered charity and social movement, grounded in community. Their passion stems from the injustice that people may be unable to fully participate in society due to hygiene poverty and the charity works around the clock to help inspire social change.

Amy Harris, Schools and Brand Relationships Manager for The Hygiene Bank said, “We couldn’t be happier to have Fabulosa as one of our brand partners. Hygiene poverty is not being able to afford many of the everyday hygiene and personal grooming products most of us take for granted and there is a lot of work to be done to build awareness of this issue. The statistics are really staggering, and it is companies like Fabulosa that are jumping in and doing their part to help address this stark reality for many in the UK.”

Adam Burnett, Group Marketing Director at Fabulosa commented: “We are a family brand and are the favourite disinfectant with families with young children. Both of these charity partnerships are massively important to us. We have seen a lot of the positive sides to social media and often feel the love within our online community, but we have also seen some of the negative sides to it, and working with Cybersmile is only going to help fight online abuse and cyber bullying.”

Adam continued, “When we found out that there are over 14 million people living in poverty in the UK, we knew we wanted to help and do our part to contribute to the solution. We are committed to significant quarterly financial donations to each charity, as well as launching regular, feel good Fabulosa products to help raise awareness of these very important organisations and the good work they do every day.”

Earlier this year, Fabulosa launched its partnership with Bliss whose vision is that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life. The company has already donated £12,000 to the charity and launched a special Bliss inspired disinfectant range, which is now being expanded due to its popularity.

 

Finance and Banking, News

Is the death of the piggy bank a good thing?

Written by Michelle Stevens, Banking specialist at finder.com, a personal finance comparison site

Pocket money is turning digital, with 61% of 10-15 year olds now managing their money through a banking or pocket money app, according to a new Finder survey. Could this herald the death of the piggy bank? 

Digital services are playing a growing role in the way Brits manage and spend their money, and this is as much true for children as it is for adults. There’s been an explosion of activity in kids’ finance in the past few years, and kids’ debit cards and internet banking now resemble their adult counterparts. Challenger banks have disrupted the sector, and “pocket money apps” that come with a prepaid debit card and parental controls are making waves. 

These apps – the likes of gohenry, nimbl and RoosterMoney – have brought a new dimension to children’s money services. Parents can top up their child’s account with pocket money or set chores for them to earn it. Kids get their own linked account in the app – many viewing it on their own smartphone – where they can check their balance, choose to save their money or monitor their spending, while parents can actively control their child’s debit card use, by setting limits on spending amounts or where the card can be used. A further benefit is that children can learn about managing money, saving and budgeting from as young as 6, forming good financial habits for later in life. But unlike kids’ bank accounts, these apps aren’t free – typically costing a couple of pounds a month.

Financial education

Most kids (72%) in our survey had received money advice from their parents, highlighting the value of parents being money savvy themselves and passing this knowledge on to their children. But only 22% of the children we asked had been taught about managing money at school, reflecting a potential gap in financial education. Indeed, a cross-party group of MPs has advocated that all children in the UK should be taught basic money skills in primary school by 2030. And there is appetite to learn – 64% of the kids we polled wanted to learn about managing money from their app provider, although only 14% do so currently. This presents a big opportunity both for banks and pocket money apps to provide resources on good money management and the features to implement it.

As Louise Hill, co-founder of gohenry, told Finder for our recent report on this topic: “We need to all work together (schools, government, parents and industry) to equip children with the money management skills they need to navigate the adult world of finance…to ensure that when the next generation hits adulthood they don’t sink amongst access to fast credit and plenty of temptations.” 

The burgeoning availability of digital services is not to say that receiving cash in a birthday card or saving up coins in a piggy bank doesn’t have a place – indeed, some parents may feel that adding up (and parting with) physical money could be just as beneficial for their kids’ money skills, rather than paying with a card and having all their spending calculated for them in an app.

Cash isn’t dead quite yet. But as many parts of the economy become increasingly digitised, it’s important that children learn how to engage with money in a way that prepares them for financial lives that will also be more digitised than ever before. And with 64% of kids indicating an appetite to learn this from their banking or pocket money app, it’s vital that the providers of kids’ financial services keep pace with the needs of this generation.

About the author

Michelle Stevens is the deputy editor at Finder, specialising in banking, finance and mortgages. She has a journalism degree from the University of Sheffield and has been a journalist for more than 10 years, writing on topics including fintech, payment systems and retail. 

 

News

Mobius Labs named as a growth stage provider in Computer Vision Platforms, Q3 2021 report

Computer vision has gone mainstream and is now used widely across many businesses. Analyst report recognises Mobius among the providers in this sector, noting our market vertical focus in media, aerospace and broadcasting.  

Mobius Labs, a provider of next generation, artificial intelligence (AI) powered, computer vision solutions, has been named a growth stage provider by Forrester in its report: New Tech: Computer Vision Platforms, Q3 2021. The report states that computer vision, “once the purview of tech giants, start-ups, and innovation teams, has gone mainstream and that enterprises are implementing intelligent text extraction solutions to automate more and more of their document-based processes and unlock the data trapped in ever-growing mountains of paper and electronic documents”.

The figures speak for themselves. In a 2019 Forrester survey, 83% of data and analytics decision makers whose firms are adopting AI reported that they have implemented or are planning to implement a computer vision solution in the next 12 months*.

In this new report Forrester analysts interviewed external subject matter experts in their search for the most important computer vision platforms. They identified 37 computer vision platform vendors including Mobius Labs to provide a complete picture of the market.

These vendors were sorted using weighted criteria that includes revenue from computer vision, number of enterprise customers, year-over-year growth rate and the number of employees focussed on computer vision.

Based on these criteria, Mobius Labs is a “growth stage platform” (between early stage and late stage) and is recognised by Forrester for its vertical market focus in the media, aerospace, press and broadcasting sectors.

“We are extremely pleased to have been recognised by Forrester as a growth stage provider. We believe this is a testament to our team’s innovative thinking and hard work. We look forward to developing Superhuman Vision even further and expanding into new sectors and geographies over the coming year,” said Appu Shaji, CEO and Chief Scientist at Mobius Labs. “Our recent funding round has put us in good stead for further progression and becoming an established provider in this space.”

* Forrester Analytics Global Business Technographics® Data And Analytics Survey, 2019

News

Mental Health: Parallels between sports and business

In June, Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open, and a month later, Simone Biles withdrew from the Gymnastics Olympics final, both citing mental health illness as the reason. In fact, a recent systemic review by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that the prevalence of anxiety and depression among elite athletes sits at around 34% in current athletes and 26% in former athletes.

So it’s clear these are not just isolated cases, but representative of the broader mental health issues we see within young adults, whereby the internal pressure to perform to unrelenting high standards is unsustainable. With the rise of social media and its birth of cancel culture, young people have learnt that one mistake or one wrong move can be life changing, creating an unsurmountable pressure.  

Nick Gold, MD of Speakers Corner, a UK & International speaker bureau that has seen the number of mental health speakers booked by businesses rise exponentially over the last few years, will discuss the lessons business leaders can take from these high-profile cases, and illustrate why ‘failure’ is an important lesson for anyone to embrace.

 

It has always been accepted that, within the competitive world of sport, talent would find a way to rise to the top.  Fans and the media spend their time debating who is the G.O.A.T, the best matches, the most entertaining teams, and what true glory means. In our position as casual fan ‘experts’ however, the most talented were also the most successful.

But the dawn of the 21st century saw new conversations about the quest to rise to the top in the sporting arena.  The rise of sports psychologists and new ways of coaching bought a recognition that talent alone was not enough for those with raw talent to fulfil their potential.  Those who rose to the top of their respective sports and maintained their high levels of excellence, combined their level of elite physical abilities with mental resilience and strength which both underpinned as well as enhanced their position as an elite sports person.

Over the last twenty years, there has been an ever increasing understanding and learning that for these elite athletes to succeed and thrive, ensuring their mental strength is in peak condition is as important, if not more important than the physical preparation.

Alongside this, as the digital revolution continues to transform the way we live and interact, the boundaries between different layers of society and the opportunities to communicate with each other become ever more accessible.  For professional sports people (or for anyone in the public eye), this has meant exposure to both the positive and negative of the digital world.   The pressure that already existed in their quest to rise to the top of their profession has had an additional layer where everyone, from the casual observer through the dedicated fans to ex professionals and experts have a say and a voice on their performance or abilities.

In the business world, lessons from the world of sport, that had historically been readily embraced as an opportunity for key learnings within teamwork and high performance, brought the field of employee’s mental health to the forefront.  This was especially true for those businesses where they perceived their staff were working in high pressure environments.

This appreciation that mental health and wellbeing increased exponentially as the pandemic hit as all companies, across all industries, were faced with new challenges and unforeseen business circumstances.  Individuals were having to work in new surroundings, with new pressures and levels of uncertainty that only the previous days, weeks and months, were not even in their field of vision as something to consider.

The world of sport had embraced the phrase ‘scared to fail’ to turn the concept of failure into a positive attribute ensuring every opportunity was a chance to learn and improve rather than a fear of not succeeding.  The business world quickly understood that in a time of unknown, they needed their teams to be brave, to be resilient, to embrace learning and opportunities and to resist being fearful of failure.

Over the last few weeks, the sporting world has bought to the forefront once again the pressures for elite athletes to compete.   In the cases of the sport superstars, Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles, there was complete clarity over the impact on an individual’s mental state and the ability to deliver in their respective fields. This isn’t new of course. Many of us will remember English cricketers flying home from overseas tours due to ill health. But the striking nature, particularly for Simone Biles, to pull out of an Olympic final, only highlights to serve how our wellbeing, just like a hamstring strain, can occur at any time.

We understand that the merging of delivering performance both from a physical as well as a mental perspective is critical to the success of the individual and the task.  These experiences that elite athletes have had in the public eye for the whole world to watch and observe will hopefully help us all as individuals and as businesses to enhance our knowledge and create environments where everyone has the support and structure in place for them to succeed.

 

 

News

Interphone Teams Up With Amazon Key For Business To Streamline Amazon Deliveries To Commercial Residential Properties

Interphone, the security systems and building technology integrator, has teamed up with Amazon Key for Business to enable easier, more efficient Amazon deliveries to multi-dwelling units (MDUs) in the UK. As an Amazon service provider, Interphone will install and maintain the Key for Business device free of charge to qualifying building owners and managers within the commercial residential marketplace.

Key for Business gives Amazon drivers the ability to enter buildings and deliver packages without assistance, eliminating driver access issues and reducing the need for redeliveries. Residents can receive Amazon packages safely, whether they are home or away, and building staff can spend less time managing deliveries.

“Key for Business will be available free of charge to building owners and managers for any multi dwelling unit (MDU) with eight flats or more,” explains Julian Synett, CEO of Interphone Limited. “This innovative, cloud-based solution offers both financial savings and operational improvements by eliminating the need for onsite staff to handle incoming Amazon deliveries, while providing enhanced convenience for residents.”

Interphone will supply, install, and maintain the Key for Business device, which seamlessly integrates with a building’s existing access control system with Amazon’s delivery app. Once fitted, Amazon drivers receive authorised, time-limited building entry, so they can efficiently deliver packages to an individual property or secure drop-off point during Amazon’s broad delivery window.

Key for Business helps enhance the security of buildings, residents, and their Amazon packages with multi-factor authentication that ensures drivers are quickly verified in real-time via the cloud, and can only access a Key for Business-enabled building when carrying an Amazon package for that address. Three criteria must be met for a driver to gain entry – they must be physically onsite (live geolocation tracking); have the package for that address on their vehicle; and be within the specified delivery time window.

“The installation and ongoing maintenance will be provided by our field-based engineering team that operates across London, the Home Counties and the southeast of England. These experienced engineers possess all the necessary qualifications, accreditations and training to operate safely and legally, whilst delivering the highest levels of service. We will also have direct access to Amazon support to ensure we can respond quickly to any issues,” concludes Synett.

 

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