Monthly Archives: August 2022

Energy, News

35.7 million Brits don’t think utilities companies have their best interests at heart

Less than one in five (19%) British adults believe utilities companies have their best interest at heart; suggesting 35.7 million1 people are of the opinion gas and energy firms aren’t doing everything they can to support them through the cost-of-living crisis.  

 

The research from the Call Centre Management Association (CCMA) and Odigo, the leading Contact Centre-as-a-Service (CCaaS) provider, also reveals only 14% of adults believe utilities provide a personal service which helps customers feel recognised. Further, only 20% of Brits saying they offer the right contact channel to suit their preferences. 

 

Between January and March 2022, Citizens Advice reported its consumer service helpline saw more than 70,000 cases related to energy issues – a 63% increase from the same period in 2021. They further reported that phone wait times to suppliers increased on average by two minutes, and email response times were also getting slower. In an attempt to keep up with the rise of customer interactions, energy companies have embarked on mass-hiring sprees.   

 

Neil Titcomb, Managing Director UKI at Odigo comments, “Although this is a positive step, there is so much more that can be done. The pandemic saw a steep fall in customer service across every industry and while utility companies are trying to do everything they can during this crisis period, they could go even further by utilising technologies like CCaaS solutions. There is still more work that can be done to improve customer experience.” 

 

However, issues with customer service quality did not start in this energy crisis. In 2021, the same CCMA and Odigo study reported 37% of people felt they had to wait too long to connect to an agent. A further 33% said they had to repeat themselves and give the same information twice or more.  

 

Titcomb continues, “With anxieties over personal finances running high, consumers need quick, accurate answers and support to navigate the coming recession. Many are increasingly desperate for the cheapest offers and best customer service, so businesses need to continue to give their customers a reason to stay by providing the best service they can.” 

 

“During these difficult times, utility companies must give their employees the tools and technology to properly succeed and provide customers with the service that is needed. Now more than ever, customers are seeking the support, attention and comfort that only a contact centre can provide through genuine human interactions.” 

Healthcare, News

AVer Europe enters healthcare market with launch of Connected Health Solutions  

AVer Europe, the leading provider of video collaboration and education technology solutions, has announced the launch of its Connected Health Solutions as part of its commitment to the technological requirements of the healthcare industry. Aiming to discover unmet needs and reduce overall cost for healthcare systems, AVer Europe is responding to the continued growth of telemedicine, patient monitoring and live surgery broadcast in the medical field.  

AVer Europe has recently launched its newest medical grade PTZ cameras, the MD330U and MD330UI, as the first foray of Connected Health Solutions. With the intention of creating intuitive user interface and patient-centered design in mind, AVer’s MD330U Series camera features the world’s first detachable 4K 8MP handheld camera head for doctors to perform patient assessment accurately within the context of telemedicine.  

The cameras are growing in popularity across Europe after receiving many accolades internationally, including multiple awards in the USA. 

“We’re already seeing our medical grade cameras have a huge impact in hospitals in other parts of the world, and we’re excited to bring out Connected Health Solutions to Europe,” said Rene Buhay, SVP of Sales and Marketing at AVer Europe. “The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally impacted the healthcare industry, and innovation in technology is driving positive change in patient-centred care and reducing costs overall. We’re committed to developing medical grade equipment for healthcare environments and looking forward to work closely with more partners in this industry.” 

The AVer MD330U is specially designed and medically certified for telemedicine with an IEC 60601 Medical Certification. The 30X optical zoom lens with 4K output resolution delivers high image quality, and the AI noise reduction function offers a face-to-face communication experience for patients and doctors.  

For more information about AVer Europe’s Connected Health Solutions, please visit www.avereurope.com  

Carbon Reduction, News

Datum moves to Renewable HVO Fuel as Part of Net zero Operations Strategy

Datum Datacentres, the business-critical data centre provider, has announced it will be transitioning from diesel to renewable HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel for its backup generators at its flagship facility on the Cody Technology Park, Farnborough.  Working in partnership with Keysource, the global datacentre and critical environment specialist, this move will enable Datum to reduce up to 90% of net CO2 emissions if its backup generators are used.

This marks another significant step in Datum’s plans to become a fully carbon neutral data centre by 2030. As a stable, renewable and sustainable fuel, the move to HVO will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90%, NOx emissions by as much as 27% and PM emissions by as much as 84%, compared with conventional diesel, all of which are key components in achieving improved air quality.

This transition builds on over a decade of focus on delivering environmentally efficient data centre services, using innovative design and technologies which allow Datum to operate at a PUE of sub-1.2, harnessing renewable energy sources and reducing scope 2 and 3 emissions.

Dominic Phillips, Managing Director at Datum, said: “Sustainability is very much in our DNA and with our ongoing partnership with Keysource, which spans over 15 years, we are confident in our strategy and roadmap. This move to introduce HVO fuel at our Farnborough facility is part of that and has meant that we can reduce our GHG emissions almost immediately.

Jon Healy, Operations Director at Keysource, said: “As sustainability and ESG has been catapulted to the forefront, turning to HVO fuel is a natural step for Datum to reduce their impact on the environment. Importantly, the Keysource role enables Datum to do this confidently without disruption or impact to performance and is just one initiative planned to reduce whole life-cycle carbon emissions.”

Music, News, North of England, South East

Music College WaterBear Hits the High Note with Second Campus Launch Event

The pioneering college of music WaterBear, is celebrating a highly successful launch event to mark the upcoming opening of its second college campus. WaterBear Sheffield will welcome independent artists and musician students from September 2023, following the exceptional success of its inaugural college in Brighton and with an unrivalled reputation for specialist music education.

Embracing WaterBear’s ethos of supporting independent, DIY artists to build long-term, sustainable careers in the music industry, WaterBear Sheffield will offer a rich programme of BA (Hons) Degrees and MA courses.

The anticipated launch event, presided over by WaterBear’s Chairman Terry Sweeney, was held at The Network Sheffield, a live music venue located in the heart of the city. Budding artists and prospective students, educational providers, members of the media and established industry contacts travelled from across the UK to attend.

Opening the event and highlighting the college’s passion for developing young artists was a performance from the locally-based four-piece indie rock band, BLOOM. Following an introduction from the college’s founders and music education pioneers Adam Bushell and Bruce John Dickinson, special live performances also came from local artists and bands including headline act and rapper Coco, Harri Larkin, DJ Lamour, English rock band Bang Bang Romeo and WaterBear alumni Lily Knott and Go For It Tribe.

Throughout the evening, guests gained a valuable insight into the courses and curriculum, the WaterBear student experience, student career opportunities and artist development, and accommodation and finance. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit the new Sheffield campus currently under construction, located on the site of the iconic Gatecrasher nightclub building.

WaterBear’s Chairman, Terry Sweeney, commented “It was a privilege to join Adam, Bruce and the WaterBear family on what has been a monumental evening to celebrate the launch of WaterBear Sheffield. 

“WaterBear has been on an incredible journey to date with four successful years providing first-class music education, enabling students to achieve a solid foundation for a sustainable career in the music industry. We are now immensely looking forward to the next stage of our evolution in growing the WaterBear brand.” 

Speaking of WaterBear’s journey at the event Co-founder Adam Bushell said, “We’ve seen a change in the music industry over the last twenty years, huge changes, but we felt strongly that music education just wasn’t keeping up and it wasn’t geared for the realities of how the music industry has changed. So, we got together and thought we have to do another music college, and we have to make it about how things have changed, more about the independent, self-reliant, self-motivated DIY artist so, we started WaterBear in Brighton and four years later, here we are.

“Brighton is going really well, we have around 500 students for this September so, it was the perfect time for us to branch out and look for another place, and I’m so amazingly happy that we’ve stuck a pin in Sheffield. Today marks the starting gun and the countdown to when the college opens in September 2023.”

Co-Founder Bruce John Dickinson added, “This one is a bit special. It feels to me, and I don’t know if this is because I’m from Scarborough, but it feels like music education is coming home. There’s a vibe in the city that you notice immediately when you come into the town, it feels like everything is coming together, it feels like a culture of relations – that’s already happening and we want to be a part of it. We want to do our bit to pull things together and do cool stuff – it’s about two things, new music and creating new jobs in a great sector. So, if you put that together with the talent in this city, we believe the sky is the limit so we are super excited about being here.”

 Students wishing to find out more about the courses on offer at WaterBear Sheffield or Brighton, or to enrol can visit:-

WaterBear Sheffield https://waterbear.org.uk/sheffield/

WaterBear Brighton https://waterbear.org.uk/brighton/

Events, Mental Health, News

World Suicide Prevention Day: Raising awareness to end the stigma

World Suicide Prevention Day is on 10th September, and Wellingborough-based suicide prevention and mental health charity, We Mind & Kelly Matters, will be hosting their first awareness day event at Harrowden Hall.

It is estimated that in the UK, 17 people die by suicide every day, which is more than 6,800 a year. Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45, but suicides among teenage girls and young women have almost doubled in recent years. This year’s theme, Creating Hope Through Action, is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide, and aims to remind us that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling.

We Mind & Kelly Matters CEO Sherry Adams said: “We believe in the power of talking to someone. It can be the first step to reaching out for help and support as well as being the source of healing and recovery. Some may find this extremely painful and difficult, but we are here to help them every step of the way, so that people will know what to do if they reach crisis point.”

The event will run from 10.30am until 1.30pm and will be packed with information and guest speakers, as well as information about the charity and how it can help those in need. The session will conclude with some shared lived experiences, and a moment to remember all those impacted by suicide.

Guests will also be able to meet some members of the Loneliest Road Challenge – which will see 23 Kelly’s Heroes taking on a gruelling 30-day, 52,000 miles cycle ride across Europe and the USA – and add their own mileage to the total by having a go at beating one of the team in a static bike challenge.

Sherry added: “Each and every suicide is devastating and has a profound impact on those around them. However, by raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide, and encouraging well informed action, we can reduce instances of suicide around the world. World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and to promote action through proven means that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts globally.”

The charity is also hoping to set a new world record and is aiming for 20,000 pledges between September 10 and October 10, which is World Mental Health Day, by asking people to use their voice and pledge to Stamp Out Stigma surrounding suicide. The charity wants to normalise the importance of having discussions, exploring suicidal thoughts, and make it safe for people to speak up.

To make your pledge for suicide awareness and be part of the world record attempt visit: www.wemindandkellymatters.org.uk/stamp-out-stigma

To support the Loneliest Road Challenge, visit the Just Giving page at: https://bit.ly/3Q6Sr7E

For more information about the charity and to book a place at the Harrowden Hall event, email: katie.macdonald@wemindandkellymatters.org.uk

Awards, News, Regional News, South West

10th annual Women’s Business Conference and awards to be held in Cheltenham in October

Women’s Business Club will host its 10th annual conference and awards in Cheltenham on the 5th of October. The aim of the event is to inspire, empower and celebrate women in business whether they are starting out on their journey, are already established SME businesswomen or are employed women building a career. 

The event, which is being sponsored by multi-asset social investment network eToro, will see businesswomen from all over England come together to connect, network, share expertise, listen to inspirational talks and attend 1-to-1 workshops. 

This year’s keynote speaker will be Rupal Patel, author of From CIA to CEO.  Rupal’s high-octane career has taken her from dusty briefing rooms in jungles and war zones to corporate boardrooms and international stages. After a thrilling career at the CIA, she started two award-winning businesses and is now shaping the future of work by helping growth-oriented leaders and innovative organizations build careers and businesses that thrive with purpose.

Angela De Souza, CEO of Women’s Business Club, said: “We are so excited to be adding even more value to women in business this year through a number of key changes – both for delegates and for our speakers/experts. There is so much for women in business to get involved in at the event.”

The following changes have been made to this year’s event:

  1. A fully female lineup of speakers.
  2. Exhibiting with a difference: no more rooms full of stands with people selling at you. Instead, the event features Expert Pods where delegates can meet experts for a 15-minute one-to-one fully focused Q&A and advice session. Designed to build relationships and offer direct advice relevant to the attendee’s business. 
  3. Workshops that are designed to be lessons, not lectures. These one-hour interactive sessions with hand-picked industry experts provide in-depth expert content and practical applications. 

Taking place at the end of the conference, the SME Awards acknowledge and celebrate exceptional companies and their leaders. There will be nine prestigious awards presented on the night for women who are changing the game and leading the way in business. Nominees will be judged by the award sponsors and leading business experts. 

The in-person conference and awards will be held at the Pitville Pump Room in Cheltenham and will cost £125+VAT, while the event will also be available virtually at a cost of £25+VAT with online attendees from five countries and a digital reach of approximately 115,000 businesses. 

“The venue has the capacity for 500 attendees and with previous events selling out, it is advisable to book in advance,” Angela said.

To find out more about the conference & awards, visit: https://womensbusiness.club/conference

Marketing, PR and SEO, News

Creative content agency Contented Group appointed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as its official Video and Digital Content partner

Contented has been appointed as the official Video and Digital Content partner for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).  The brief covers video and digital content creation for all of the ECB’s properties, from England men’s, women’s and disability sides, The Hundred, men’s county and women’s regional competitions, and its national participation programmes.

In addition to handling content for all the ECB’s digital channels, Contented will also support the ECB’s  in-stadia screens, Commercial Partnerships, communications work and CRM.

The appointment follows Contented Group’s work on the launch of The Hundred in 2021, the ECB’s action-packed, new 100 ball cricket competition, delivering an innovative and impactful content strategy, creating a wealth of content throughout and beyond the competition.

Tony Singh, Chief Commercial Officer at ECB said of the appointment: “The team at Contented have already delivered stand out work for the ECB, and its work on The Hundred helped to ensure that the event reached millions of fans worldwide.  The team’s passion for cricket, their understanding of sport marketing more widely, and their capabilities in creating high impact, shareable content in all its forms will help us to tell our story and consistently engage with fans.”

Adam Bullock, Founder and CEO at Contented, added: “We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with the ECB; cricket’s leading sports body and holder of some of the most exciting new sports formats in the world. We’re looking forward to leveraging our data and insight led approach, to create a content strategy that will help the ECB fulfil its ambitious plans over the next two years.”

Business, Business & Property News, News

Revealed: 30% of aspiring business owners are put off by the cost of launching a business

Moneypenny has completed two separate surveys, one to gauge the confidence amongst business owners and senior decision-makers in their business and the other to explore the number of people considering launching their own company.

Firstly, business owners were asked what factors had recently caused them to worry about the future of their business. The top three factors were:

Demographically, 72% of those worried about the cost of living crisis were female, other factors worrying business owners included the increase in energy costs (30%) and a decline in consumer spending (25%).

The survey also revealed the ways businesses are adapting to the financial crisis, 53% have already increased their prices whilst 31% stated they have left or sold their physical office, moving completely remote to avoid renting costs.

Regionally, 66% of Londoners have increased prices and half of those surveyed in the North East have resorted to taking out a business loan to cover the increase in costs.

When quizzed on their confidence in their business’s future, a total of 82% answered that they were confident, 32% were very confident and 50% were somewhat confident.

Sadly, the survey also revealed that 3% were not optimistic about their business’s future with 2% expressing they don’t believe their business will survive the next three years.

One question included in the survey was whether businesses had been forced to downsize as a result of financial strain. The results portrayed a clear trend with a higher amount of businesses letting people go throughout the years of the pandemic.

23% of businesses downsized two years ago, at the height of Covid, comparing this to the 5% of businesses who downsized four years ago, it is clear to see a jump in figures coinciding with the pandemic.

The second survey was really useful for exploring whether the appetite for launching a business remains despite the financial problems posed.

This survey revealed that despite all the potential risks currently worrying business owners, 37% of the general public had thought about starting their own business, with 67% of 16 to 18-year-olds considering getting on the entrepreneurial ladder early. 

For the 37% who responded that they had previously considered beginning their own business, they were quizzed on the factors that have delayed or prevented this from taking place.

The top three factors were:

It was revealed that potential business owners lack the confidence to start, while the cost of living crisis proved problematic to these aspiring business owners.

Examining city-specific data, 44% of those from Edinburgh struggle with confidence while 34% of Londoners stated the cost of launching a business was a contributing factor.

Other factors include the rise in the cost of living (23%), the aftermath of Covid (18%) and the energy crisis (17%).

Despite these factors posing obstacles to potential business owners, 24% of those surveyed revealed they might start their business in the next 12 months. 11% were unsure but didn’t completely reject the idea of starting in the next year.

Lastly, the survey explored the most desirable industries for aspiring business owners by asking them to state the sector they would most like to launch their business within.

The top three most desirable industries were:

Looking at city-specific demographics, 18% of the city of Liverpool would prefer to launch their business in the retail, catering and leisure industry.

It was interesting to see the top three industries made up of three sectors heavily disrupted throughout the pandemic. The least desirable industries were the manufacturing and utilities industry (3%) and the legal sector (2%).

The full findings can be found here.

—

Methodology

One Poll surveyed 500 UK business owners and senior decision-makers, questioning them about the future of their business and the factors posing the biggest risks. The survey was carried out between the 3rd of August and the 5th of August 2022.

Censuswide surveyed 1000 members of the British public questioning them on whether they would like to launch their own business in the future and the factors delaying this if so. The survey was carried out between the 5th of August and the 8th of August 2022.

About Moneypenny

Moneypenny is the world’s leading outsourced communications provider, delivering telephone answering, live chat, switchboard and multichannel customer services. Moneypenny works with businesses of all shapes and sizes, from sole traders right up to multinational corporations. In the UK, Moneypenny has over 750 staff, a figure that is growing at a rapid rate and has offices in Charleston, USA. 

Website:https://www.moneypenny.com/uk/

News

Accounting firm HURST strengthens tax advisory team with two recruits

Accounting and business advisory firm HURST has strengthened its tax advisory team with two new recruits.

Chartered tax adviser Sam Ryan has joined HURST from Crowe UK as an associate tax manager. He will be using his expertise to advise clients on a range of matters, including transactions, group restructuring and succession planning.

HURST has also welcomed Joseph Bourke to its tax team as a graduate trainee. He recently graduated with an accounting and finance degree from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Liz Gallagher, head of HURST’s tax advisory team, said: “We are really pleased to welcome these two talented individuals to the firm and in particular to our tax department.

“Due to the rapid growth in our client base, both in terms of numbers and sophistication, we are experiencing an ever-increasing demand for high-quality taxation advice, and we are constantly on the lookout for new additions to our highly-experienced team.”

Joseph is the latest graduate to join HURST’s training programme, following the arrival earlier this year of Ewan Lawson, Tirath Panesar and Miles Redgrave as trainees in the business services department.

Meanwhile, Jack Skilton has joined the HURST Digital team on a full-time basis after being seconded from the business services team. He joined HURST in 2017 as a trainee chartered accountant.

HURST created its specialist digital team in 2018 to support companies in embracing technology to drive improved performance and efficiency. It is led by Jo Gibson, a partner in the firm’s business services team.

The digital team works with owner-managed companies across the UK to review their operations and implement bespoke digital strategies, including making better use of data, new business reporting methods and the integration and automation of processes. The team also helps businesses to meet the requirements of the government’s Making Tax Digital legislation.

HURST, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, focuses on advising entrepreneurial owner-managed companies with turnover of £5m and above.

Clients including leading entrepreneurial businesses such as Kinaxia Logistics, M&I Materials, London Lash, Beechfield Brands, Duerr’s, Oliver Valves and Delamere Dairy.

International News, News

Oxnorth Prepares for UK and Ireland Gazebo Sales Boost in Summer 2022

A Portstewart gazebo retailer has ramped up its business in preparation for Summer and Autumn 2022.

Oxnorth, which ships gazebos, marquees and instant shelters to the UK and the Republic of Ireland, is expecting the coming months to continue to see an unprecedented spike in interest for these outdoor spaces, thanks to the end of COVID restrictions, an increasing interest in outdoor events and the glorious weather forecasted.

The company has decided to ramp up its operations to cope with this predicted surge in demand.

An Oxnorth spokesman explained:

“Businesses might have been reluctant to invest in outdoor seating areas, marquees and gazebos last year, as the summertime was uncertain.

“There was a marked increase in outdoor eating during the COVID lockdown and we expect this trend to continue.

“Summer and Autumn 2022 looks set to be the year of the gazebo, and we can’t wait to be a part of it!”

Oxnorth supplies furniture, gazebos, instant shelters and outdoor heaters to commercial enterprises, public bodies and private individuals.