Monthly Archives: January 2022

Business

Swansea Building Society appoints new non-executive director

Swansea Building Society, ranked the most profitable building society in the UK last year, has appointed a new non-executive director – Malcolm Hayes.

Hayes comes to the role with extensive executive and board level experience gained within several major UK clearing banks, a specialist lending group, an ethical bank, and a large mutual credit union.

After starting his career with NatWest, Hayes went on to spend over 25 years in Lloyds Banking Group, where he held senior risk and credit positions in the bank’s business and commercial divisions.

His 40-year career has seen him hold executive positions as chief risk officer, operational risk & compliance director, control function director, head of credit audit and head of enterprise-wide risk management.

Having retired from executive roles in 2019, following five years as the chief risk officer of Paragon Banking Group, Hayes currently also holds non-executive director roles at Reliance Bank Ltd and as chair of the board of directors of Citysave Credit Union Ltd.

He also has previous board experience as a director of the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation PLC and AMC Bank Ltd – wholly owned subsidiaries of Lloyds Bank PLC – and served as a board director of a Lloyds Bank subsidiary established to undertake residential property development.

Hayes’ new non-executive director role with Swansea Building Society sees him sit on the Society’s audit committee, risk committee and asset & liabilities committee.

Malcolm Hayes, non-executive director at Swansea Building Society, said:

“I’m very excited to be taking on this new non-executive director role with Swansea Building Society. The Society’s vision and ethics are truly inspirational, and the success the Society has achieved in recent years is a tribute to its customer-focused, common-sense approach to lending. I hope that the experience I bring to the role can help the society continue its success and allow it to help even more people build a better future for themselves and their families.”

Alun Williams, chief executive officer at Swansea Building Society, added:

“We are delighted to welcome Malcolm to his new role of non-executive director. Malcolm has extensive experience, over many years, which will be invaluable in helping Swansea Building Society build on our success and achieve our business aims.”

Commercial Property, News

Setting Up A Co-Working Space? What Property Management Organisations Need To Consider

Co-working has become increasingly popular, despite drastic business changes since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The idea of co-working is hugely cost-effective for those who own a small business due to the lessened requirement for unnecessary office space, with the idea of only renting what is needed. Finding the perfect sized working space can be tricky, especially if business owners have no upcoming plans to expand their staffing numbers, as additional unused office areas won’t be financially productive.

As such, the market could be the perfect opportunity for commercial property managers that want to find a potentially lucrative source of revenue. Here are some practical tips for property management companies:

Think About Costs And Budgeting

When renting out your building, there are many different factors to consider. One of the most significant is costs. There are financial expenditures, which you will need to charge renters, such as the purchasing of office furniture and electricity. This may also include cleaners, pest control, decontamination, mechanics, engineers, air conditioning and, in some cases, grounds maintenance, landscaping, interior design and security. Cleaning is especially important due to the current situation, so this will be more frequent and thorough than before, so you also need to factor this cost into the amount you charge to co-working service users. Make sure that you think about all the costs involved in managing a co-working space before you set charges and budgets.

Use Facilities Managers To Save Time

Managing a large property with a lot of facilities users can be time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Working with teams that offer a wide range of services, such as First Response Group, will limit the need to work with multiple facilities maintenance companies. Therefore, if you rent out your property or office space, the need for finding numerous reliable and cost-effective services is removed, and you can leave the facilities management responsibilities to one reliable firm. This can be especially productive and less time consuming when you’re managing a co-working space, as you can allow the facilities management company to deal with the requests of all the various service users in the property. Also, you won’t have to work with or pay for multiple companies, no matter what support you need.

New Ways Of Working Mean Co-Working Market Is Here To Stay

While co-working spaces look set to remain popular in the future, working environments are adapting with Covid-19, which in some ways is working well for businesses. Before the pandemic, many jobs that were office-based had little or no flexibility, with homeworking now becoming a regular fixture for some, even after lockdown restrictions have been lifted. The increasing popularity of hybrid working has allowed businesses to redefine the need for full-time office space, which in turn is promoting a healthier and safer work balance for some. As a result, it’s clear that co-working properties will remain popular over the coming months and years. Therefore, while it might seem like a substantial investment in the short term, launching a co-working space could be potentially lucrative over the coming years.

News, PR and SEO

The Six Different Marketing Strategies And When To Use Them

Marketing your business is the most important step to guarantee that you make money. The general public will not invest in something that they do not understand. Therefore, you need to create a marketing strategy that relays all the important details about your business in the most precise way.

Every business is unique, which means that they will need a unique advertising plan. However, there are seven strategies that you must adhere to when marketing your business. This article will look at each of these and hopefully inform you about when to use them.

What Product Are You Selling?

The most important part of any marketing strategy is detailing the type of product that you offer as a business. Whether you are selling a household item or a service, you have to make your audience aware of your product and why they need it.

This strategy sounds like a mountainous task, and that’s because it is. However, you will find that you get the best results by putting yourself in the customer’s shoes. Try to market your product as if you know nothing about it. By using this outside perspective, you can get to know both your product and your audience base on a different level.

Where Are You Selling Your Product?

The location has become an extraordinarily important part of the marketing strategy. You need to know where your core customer base is found, but also where it is best to reach them.

For example, a small local business should try to remain central in their area to ensure that they receive regular foot traffic. On the other hand, a large online company that ships globally will need to find out the best location for their warehouse based on transport and shipping routes. Again, the location of your business is unique to the product you sell but still plays an important role in reaching your desired customer base.

What Does Your Product Cost?

Of course, the pricing of your product is often one of the first things that your customers are going to look at. You should always price your goods in a way that makes sure that you cover your manufacturing costs while also retaining a profit. However, if a person can’t afford something then they won’t buy it. It is simple as that.

This means that you should always keep an eye on the pricing of your product and adapt to meet certain challenges. Perhaps you need to start low to put your product in the hands of a select few before hiking up the price when demand grows.

Who Are You Selling To?

As you now know, your customer base is going to change as time moves on. In the beginning, you may only sell your product to a few, innovative individuals. These are the people that are comfortable with adopting new things and see expanding into new markets as an exciting challenge. However, these customers will often move on to the next new thing before you know it. This means that you will need to adapt to the next phase.

It is important to learn how to market yourself in the most generic way possible. The people that need your product will jump on board immediately, but not everyone is this trusting. That is why it is a good idea to give these initial customers the ability to express their thoughts. Set up a review page, or ask them for feedback. Gamma’s horizon contact can also provide easier ways for customers to contact you. All of this information can help you reign in the next set of customers and continue making a profit.

How Do You Reach Your Audience?

The few points that have been discussed so far have all been centred on your business operations. You will find that these simple things can put you ahead in terms of marketing. However, the most important part of your business strategy will always involve being able to reach your audience.

If you have done your research correctly, you should already have a good idea about who your target audience is and where you can find them. As such, you will then need to tailor your marketing to target these demographics.

For example, a younger demographic is more likely to be found in the online space. Therefore, you should opt for viral marketing strategies or social media marketing to get your message to them. However, an older audience is probably still receiving their marketing from the television or radio.

Marketing your business properly is all about research. Get to know your target audience, and advertising to them should become a breeze.

Summary

Things change in the world of business so rapidly that it can sometimes feel like it is impossible to keep your head above water. Follow these steps and make room to change with the times and you will find that your business’s marketing strategy just got a whole lot easier.

 

Business Advice, News

Streamlining Your Small Business: Practical Tips For Start-Up Owners

Starting your own business is a great adventure that’s filled with exciting new experiences. Whether you’re launching a brand from scratch or becoming part of a franchise, there’s a lot to learn.

First-time entrepreneurs also face many challenges when trying to turn their ideas into a profitable business.

As many as 60% of start-ups fail in the first three years, due to a range of factors. Among these are poor cash flow and taking on too much work, and being unable to cope.

Many of these problems can be solved by being organised and streamlining your operations from the start, so that your new company is as efficient as possible.

That might sound easier than it is, which is why we’ve put together a list of handy, actionable tips to help start-up owners to streamline their organisations.

Make A Strong Business Plan

The business plan is the foundation of your start-up company, so you need to make sure that you have a strong and well thought out plan before you launch your services. Learn what needs to be in a business plan and try to make sure that you include as much as possible. Be detailed but also prepared to be flexible. Try to plan for almost every eventuality so that you feel confident and ready for whatever start-up life has to throw at you.

Outsource Small Tasks

It’s easy to think that you need to do everything yourself to save money when you launch your new business. However, overworking yourself could lead you to a burnout, and lead to inefficiencies in your business. Being inefficient can cost your small business money, so the initial cost of outsourcing services such as accounting, HR and IT management could end up saving you money over time. If you’re concerned about the cost of outsourced services, then consider working with freelance professionals rather than agencies, as they typically have lower overheads and, therefore, cheaper costs.

Create A Productive And Safe Working Environment

Whatever type of business you manage, you need a productive space in which to work. For an admin or online business, you can potentially work from home. For businesses that require offices, retail space or storage units, you will need to create a professional space. Make sure that the space is safe, particularly if you’re using a lot of valuable equipment. Work with companies like Trade Facilities Services to get an electrical installation condition report (EICR) to ensure that any major electrical installations are safe. You can then start using your workplace and building your business.

Get A Mentor

If you want more specialist, tailored business support that you can’t get from your industry peers, then consider hiring a mentor. Mentors or business coaches can work closely with you to help you streamline your business, assess any challenges that you might face and work out strategies to overcome them. When choosing a mentor or business coach, you should check out the services they offer to find the best one to suit you.

Running a start-up business takes a lot of hard work, time and commitment. It’s not easy by any means, but this article should help you to find innovative ways to streamline your operations and get it off to a great start.

 

Driving, News

Working As An HGV Driver: Benefits To Consider

The last two years have demonstrated the importance of HGV drivers to the country’s supply chain. At the moment, there are plenty of jobs available to transport goods and supplies around the nation and support the UK economy. If you are considering a career in the driving sector, becoming an HGV driver might be the perfect opportunity for you. Looking at the necessary qualifications might be helpful. Today we will list five key benefits for anyone looking to join the industry.

Opportunity To Travel

As an HGV driver, you will have the opportunity to see new places every day. Being on the road can take you to locations you have never seen before. If you are someone who enjoys diversity, this can be the perfect chance to admire some spectacular sights throughout the UK. Apart from locations, the types of jobs that you complete will vary. Sometimes, you may have to complete local deliveries, while other times you could be sent on a long-distance trek.

Availability Of Work

An important consideration you need to make for any job is whether there will be enough work available. The demand for logistics is not going to decline anytime soon. Many industries now require HGV drivers to transport readily available products to a range of destinations. Easy As HGV can help you get qualified quickly in various locations nationwide. You will be given top quality support throughout the process. If you are looking to begin a new driving career, Easy As HGV can help you make the first step.

Freedom And Flexibility

While an office job which requires you to stand still for longer periods of time may suit many, others may feel too restrained. With HGV driving, you will find far more freedom and flexibility. Everyone has different responsibilities they need to work around. You will be pleased to know that as an HGV driver, you can choose the hours you work. However, remember that you should always take steps to achieve a good work-life balance. This type of career will allow you to meet new people, explore various places and listen to your favourite playlist while you are at work.

Job Security

In this ever-changing business environment, some industries may not have the same assurance as logistics and transportation. Opting for an HGV driving job can offer job security and peace of mind for the future. This is not a sector which fluctuates nearly as much as others. Moreover, there is plenty of room for growth and you can obtain valuable skills. Eventually, you will be able to progress in your career as you develop the necessary expertise.

Earning Potential

One of the most important aspects of any job is earning potential. When you become a fully qualified HGV driver, you will be able to earn a good living from a job you enjoy. Due to the current driver shortage, demand has increased, which means the earning potential has become even more significant. Depending on your experience, you will be rewarded with competitive rates. With time, you could also move to other logistic roles such as an HGV instructor or a freight transport planner.

Finance and Banking

UK’s economic confidence dips amongst global accountancy and finance professionals in Q4 2021

The latest results from a regular global survey of accountants’ and finance professionals’ views about the global economy reveals their economic confidence fell by 12 points in Q4 2021, due to the rapid spread of the Omicron Covid-19 strain.

Conducted during late November and early December at the start of the outbreak, the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) shows the confidence index dipped significantly by 22 points amongst UK respondents from 24 to 2 alongside falls for expectations about capital expenditure and employment.

The only index to rise in the UK was for orders, from -3 to 2. This index is the proxy for real economic activity and is one of relatively little change across all regions. This points to modest GDP growth early in 2022.

Lloyd Powell, Head of ACCA Cymru/Wales, said: “Accountants are often the first to sense the impact of economic activity, informed by the work they do on a daily basis sustaining economies and from the feedback from their clients, especially in the small business sector. The global picture is one of tentative optimism, but for the UK we can see very clearly the uncertainty of Omicron and inflation playing on respondents’ minds.

“In 2021 the UK economy grew by almost 7%, a significant bounce back after the 9.7% contraction of 2020. With the likely risk of rising inflation eroding real disposable incomes and squeezing consumer spending, our members continue to be concerned about the impact on small business survival and remain ready to advise on navigating recovery. The Chancellor’s Spring economic forecast will be essential to understand what lies ahead.”

ACCA says that while much of the rise in inflation can be attributed to one-off supply factors, there is a demand-pull element because some households have accumulated a large stock of ‘excess’ savings during periods of lockdown restrictions and these savings are a source of consumer demand. ACCA predicts GDP growth of around 4.5% this year, boosted by a recovery in business investment.

Looking at specific jurisdictions, confidence fell the most in Western Europe by 28 points, which was the first region to see rapid spread of Omicron. Confidence increased modestly in two regions – Asia Pacific by five points and North America by 10 points. Only the Middle East recorded a fall in the orders index of six points, with South Asia showed the biggest increase at +8 points.

Explaining the prospects for 2022, Loreal Jiles, Vice President of Research and Thought Leadership for IMA, said: “ACCA and IMA believe that 2022 will see further progress towards a more normal economic environment with global GDP growth of around 4%. Features of this return to normalcy include reduced household savings offsetting withdrawal of COVID fiscal support, easing of supply shortages and continued growth in levels of employment. While Omicron may slow economic growth through the effect on consumer spending and worker absenteeism, the impact on global economic activity should be modest and is likely to be relatively short-lived.”

GECS Q4 2021 can be found here: https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/professional-insights/global-economics/gecs_q4_2021.html

 

News

Sensei Partners with Hewlett Packard Enterprise to Enhance Autonomous Retail Offering

Sensei, the leading European provider of autonomous stores, has partnered with global, edge-to-cloud company Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) as its original equipment manufacturer.

Sensei technology is digitalising store operations, making it significantly more efficient. Retailers can improve the shopper’s in-store experience by providing a seamless, scan-free, checkoutless, and queue free shopping experience. Using HPE ProLiant servers’ innovative and sophisticated technology, Sensei is able to offer retailers state-of-the-art computing technology for real time consumer insights as well as daily store management and invoicing, delivered affordably and at speed.

Consumer retail expectations have changed over the last two years and customers now value ease and convenience when it comes to shopping. On average, Brits spend around 51 minutes a week waiting in line. But as the pandemic has shown, people are now demanding services that make buying simpler, whether that’s click and collect, contactless payments, or subscription services. Autonomous retail is the next frontier, as it allows users to go into a store and pick up anything they want and leave. It removes the need to worry about long queues and thanks to the real-time stock insights that retailers receive, shoppers are reassured that the shelves will always be full.

As retailers are keen to drive in store traffic, innovations such as autonomous stores are primed to become more widely adopted. Sensei is committed to offering the best solutions to help retailers thrive and remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy, post-pandemic.

 

Vasco Portugal, CEO at Sensei said: “When we sought to find an OEM partner for our computing requirements, it was imperative that we found one that would deliver the best capabilities for our customers. And we found that in Hewlett Packard Enterprise. And we knew they would be able to deliver on our needs for a mission-critical platform that could offer real time processing of consumer data. We are proud to be working with HPE, to not only provide their servers to retailers in Europe, but also worldwide.”

 

Collaborating with HPE ensures that Sensei’s research and development computing lab, used to run its AI and ML models, are equipped with the most advanced technology from HPE ProLiant DL380 servers – containing GPUs to process image data and analysis of supermarket goods. This in turn, helps Sensei to remain at the forefront of revolutionising the retail sector, driving innovation in AI and autonomous retail technology.

 

Carlos Leite, Southern Europe Head of Partner Sales & Portugal Managing Director, HPE said: “We’re delighted to work with Sensei on this exciting solution designed to help retailers unlock the value of the data that they are collecting in the store. Our collaboration brings HPE open, intelligent technology solutions underpinned by world-class security unique to ProLiant servers to ensure every instance delivers the right performance and consistency to meet each retailer’s needs.”

News

College University Centre is top of the class for teacher training

COLEG CAMBRIA University Centre is top of the class for teacher training.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Cambria – which has sites in Northop, Deeside, Wrexham and Llysfasi – has a 98% succession rate for its suite of PCET (Post Compulsory Education and Training) programmes.

And the north east Wales institution has a stellar record in securing work placements on the innovative PCE (Professional Certificate in Education) and PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) courses, with organisations such as HMP Berwyn and Adult Learning Wales among those to welcome learners.

Programme Leader Nichola Evans said the breadth of opportunities available at part- and full-time level is already attracting applicants for the 2022/23 academic year.

“There are many USPs, from the small class sizes ensuring each individual is given care, support and learning tailored to their needs, to the industry relevance of the content delivered,” said Nichola.

“Because we teach the PGCE and PCE in tandem we get such phenomenal feedback from the students and the discussions are fantastic because they are from different backgrounds and sectors with varying degrees of experience and education.

“As a result, they learn from each other, as well as our brilliant lecturers, giving an alternative view and sense of perspective they might not have previously anticipated or expected.”

The nationally recognised qualifications are accredited by Aberystwyth University and designed for those who want to teach in further education, sixth form, tertiary colleges, prisons, and other settings.

Modules include Equality, Diversity and Inclusive Learning, Learning Digital Competencies, Offender Learning, and Bilingual Learning.

Joanna Mallon is now a Lecturer in Childcare and the Skills Challenge Certificate at Coleg Cambria having successfully achieved a PGCE at Yale.

She said: “The course provides an excellent opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required within teaching, and the flexibility meant I was able to study whilst working, enabling me to build upon my existing qualifications and experience.

“It has prepared me for teaching in FE and I have been lucky enough to gain a lecturing position within the college.”

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk/highereducation/pgce for a full list of the PCE and PGCE options available.

For more information on the University Centre, fees and finance and degree-level courses available at Coleg Cambria, visit www.cambria.ac.uk/higher-education and follow @colegcambria on social media.

View the Cambria University Centre Guide here: https://www.cambria.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CC-HE-GUIDE-2022-23-ENG_WEB.pdf

Midlands News, News

Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce reveals results of its latest Quarterly Economic Survey

The majority of Northamptonshire firms expect their turnover will increase during 2022 but are bracing themselves for rising prices, according to the county’s largest business survey.

Service sector companies were the most upbeat about 2022 and although the majority of county manufacturers were also confident about their future turnover figures, this was offset by many suggesting they expected to see their profits fall in the next 12 months.

The revelations came in the latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) carried out by Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce at the end of 2021 to find out how businesses were faring.

Northamptonshire Chamber head of policy Sean Rose said: “It’s good to see that Northamptonshire businesses are positive about the future.

“However, despite the optimism, concerns about price pressures are once again dominating our survey results.

“Almost 90 per cent of service firms and nearly 60 per cent of manufacturers who responded to our survey indicated that they expect prices to increase during the first three months of 2022.”

The survey also revealed that nearly half of the county’s service firms had seen a rise in their domestic sales during the last quarter whilst more than 80 per cent of manufacturers had seen their current and advanced domestic orders remain constant or increase.

Nearly 80 per cent of Northamptonshire’s service firms reported that their overseas orders had increased or remained at the same level as the previous three months.

Around half of service firms said their workforce had grown at the end of 2021 and nearly 70 per cent of manufacturers reported that their numbers had remained stable.

However, businesses in both sectors which tried to recruit at the end of 2021 said they had experienced difficulties in hiring new staff.

Northamptonshire Chamber’s QES is part of the biggest and most representative survey of its kind in the UK. QES data is used by the Bank of England to inform interest rate decisions, by the Treasury to help formulate economic policy and by international finance institutions to assess the UK’s economy.

Sean added: “We’d like to thank all the businesses which took the time to complete our latest QES because these findings strengthen our voice when we are lobbying on behalf of Northamptonshire’s firms at a local and national level.”

Northamptonshire Chamber’s next QES will be open to businesses between 14 February and 10 March.

Care, News

Greater Manchester care home funded by Unity Trust Bank rated ‘outstanding’ in its first CQC report

A purpose-built residential home which opened in Greater Manchester thanks to a seven-figure funding package from Unity Trust Bank has been rated ‘outstanding’ in its first inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Family-run Bowfell House, the brainchild of the Knoll Care Partnership, was erected on the site of the former Flixton Library in Urmston in 2019 in a £5m project which included a £3.4m loan from Unity.

Officials from the independent regulator of health and social care in England visited the home in the summer and it was the only care home (without nursing) in 2021 to acquire the highest rating in four of the five assessment categories – effective, well-led, caring and responsive – from more than 3,000 locations inspected.

Director Matt Callaghan said: “This is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of the whole team. It’s been a difficult 18 months for the sector, and we have worked hard to ensure that we had all the proper systems and processes in place to deal with the pandemic. How agile we were in responding to the situation formed part of the CQC assessment.”

State-of-the-art Bowfell House provides 40 en-suite bedrooms, peaceful landscape gardens and premium facilities, giving residents invaluable care and support within a secure and modern environment.

Staffing levels have increased from 47 to 65 since the home opened, boosting local employment in the area.

Matt added: “Unity’s support has been invaluable to us throughout this project and our relationship manager Ian Heesom is always on the end of a phone when we need him.”

Bowfell staff, residents and their families and representatives from Unity, attended a celebration event at the home on November 5.

Ian Heesom said: “Throughout the pandemic Unity has been committed to supporting customers that have provided vital frontline services such as care homes.

“We have worked with Knoll Care Partnership since 2017 and are delighted that Bowfell House has not only been rated ‘outstanding’ in its first CQC regulatory grading, but was the only care home (without nursing) to get outstanding in four out of the five categories it was assessed on. It’s a testament to their hard work and dedication in providing first-class care to some of society’s most vulnerable people.”

Bowfell House has been nominated for five awards at the 2021 North West regional Great British Care Awards, one of which has been put through to the National Finals to be held next year.