All posts by Lisa Baker, Editor, UK Business News

Lisa Baker is an experienced journalist, Owner of Need to See IT Publishing and the Editor of Business in the News. Lisa covers Business, Health, HR and Technology.
Construction, Home Improvements, Manufacturing, News

New look for Palace Chemicals marks 45 years in the making

Construction products manufacturer Palace Chemicals is marking its 45th anniversary with a brand and packaging refresh.

The Speke-based firm, one of the UK’s largest independent manufacturers of tile adhesives, grouts, building chemicals, wood treatments and decorating sundries, will be rolling-out its brand rejuvenation over the next few months, initially with its tiling products.

The move is a celebration that reflects the company’s innovative industry-leading position in the tiling, flooring and DIY markets that has been 45 years in the making and will also unify the growing family of Palace’s acquisition over the years, including brands such as Langlow, Houseplan and, most recently, Rock-Tite, Pro Gyp-Base & NX.

Palace, a standard-bearer for British manufacturing since its foundation in 1978, is also using its 45th year to cement its reputation as a trusted leader in sustainable manufacturing and remind the market of its continued drive to supply cutting-edge product advancements.

 

Steve Ball, Commercial Director for Palace Chemicals, said: “We not only have a broader product range than any of our UK competitors, but we lead the way in sustainable manufacturing, thus earning our status as a highly trusted supplier and pride ourselves on providing customer service that is second-to-none. This is what 45 years of trading has achieved – yet we refuse to rest on our laurels. This anniversary, combined with our refresh, is as much a celebration of where we are heading in the future as it is about our past.

“We’re most definitely in our prime, and we have no plans to take our foot off the gas in terms of bringing continual improvements to our products and production processes.”

 

Key to Palace’s success and reputation is its pursuit of ever more sustainable production methods.

Palace was the first company in the sector to be awarded BS5750 (later upgraded to ISO9001). In 2004, it became an ISO 14001 manufacturer for its Environmental Management System and was accredited by the BSI for its BS OHSAS 18001 Health & Safety Management System in 2014, which was then updated to ISO 45001 in 2018.

Further investment has led to zero waste to landfill produced during Palace Chemicals’ operating processes. Production is integrated with a closed-loop dust extraction and recycling system, which ensures all airborne dust emissions are contained and collected within a network of extraction ducting around all powder manufacturing and packing processes on site.

 

And Palace continues in its mission to remove plastics and non-recyclable packaging from its system where possible. All of its plastic-based packaging, for example, now contains a minimum of 30% recycled and recyclable plastics.

“Sustainable production is one of our most important achievements,” said Palace’s Technical Director Jim Percival, “And our current system represents a huge step forward compared with previously available technologies.

“It is a unique example of how investment in sustainable technology can have tangible and long-lasting benefits.”

 

Sustainability also follows through in Palace’s impressive record of staff retention. Many employees have loyally stayed with the company for several decades, reflecting not only Palace’s stature as an exemplary employer, but highlighting the value that customers place on long-term relationships.

The over-used expression ‘one stop shop’ is probably more appropriate for Palace than for virtually any other company in the adhesives industry.

Having started originally as a manufacturer of damp proofing and timber treatment products, the company now boasts some 250 different formulations, and the packaging makeover will be extended across the product portfolio in the coming months.

News

Revamp, investment and celebrity visit for leading Welsh independent school

ST GERARD’S SCHOOL has undergone a period of significant development and investment in past months.

Improvements have been made to the building and gardens at the beloved Bangor institution, in addition to new fencing, better access, signage, lighting and landscaping.

Over the autumn, the independent school was sandblasted, the roof and guttering cleared, there was a revamp of  parent areas, the ‘mindfulness room’ and entrance, and a ‘wellbeing walk’ has been created in picturesque woodlands around the seven-acre site.

A ‘careers café’ was hosted in partnership with Bangor University, a state-of-the-art computer system implemented – streamlining communications with parents and carers, and internally among teachers, students, and staff – and to top it off their popular Bayside Radio show welcomed a very special guest to help raise their profile even further!

Business Manager Steve Griffiths said progress made since the beginning of the academic year has been “incredible” and revealed there is even more to come in the months ahead.

“We have been really busy making improvements and renovating areas around the buildings, as well upgrading the technology and IT infrastructure to ensure St Gerard’s remains at the forefront of academia in this region,” he said.

“The whole environment looks brighter, as you drive or walk onto the school grounds it looks so fresh and new, which is a real positive.”

Steve added: “And we were delighted to have architect and TV presenter George Clarke join our regular radio show, which focuses on health and wellbeing, education, and news from St Gerard’s.

“He was filming a programme locally and dropped in to show his support, which was fantastic.”

St Gerard’s headteacher Campbell Harrison says 2024 will bring even further good news and enhancement of the school’s sporting and academic facilities, with plans for a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and tennis courts on the horizon.”

“This is the first step in a series of improvements and upgrades,” he added.

“We are renowned for being one of the best independent schools in the country for education – our GCSE and A Levels results were again among the highest in North Wales during the summer – so for us now the focus is on maintaining and improving those standards while enhancing the environment for our learners.

“We have made a really good start, and the new year will see further developments so it’s an exciting time for everyone at St Gerard’s.”

For more on Ysgol St Gerard’s, visit the website www.st-gerards.org and follow them on social media. Alternatively, email sgadmin@st-gerards.org or call 01248 351656.

Business News, News, Technology, Telecoms

UK faces continuity risk as nearly half of businesses unaware of impending PSTN switch-off

  • Only 54% of UK businesses that will be impacted by the 2025 PSTN Switch-Off are aware of the discontinuation.
  • 74% of UK businesses do not have migration plan in place ahead of 2025 PSTN Switch-Off

Today, leading technology-based provider of communications services across Europe, Gamma Communications plc (“Gamma”), in collaboration with the Centre for Economics Business Research (Cebr) launches a new report looking at the impact of the impending 2025 PSTN Switch-Off on businesses in the UK.

The report, titled ‘The Big Switch-Off: Are UK Businesses Aware and Prepared?’ highlights that nearly one third (30%) of UK businesses are in the dark about the discontinuation of BT Openreach’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) due to be completed by December 2025. According to the analysis, which also surveyed 400 business decision makers in the UK, only 54% of businesses that will be directly impacted by the Switch-Off, are currently aware of discontinuation. This is a cause for concern as businesses are unknowingly putting their continuity at risk.

Though the Switch-Off is already underway, three quarters (74%) of businesses are yet to complete essential migration tasks. 49% of businesses haven’t started researching alternatives to form a migration plan, to ensure a seamless transition. The report also shows that there is a significant disparity in awareness across different regions as well as industry verticals in the UK.

Businesses in Northern Ireland have the lowest rate of awareness at 44% followed by businesses (47%) in Southeast England. However, in London, three-fifths (59%) of businesses are conscious of the shift, potentially giving them a competitive edge for future proofing their business. Businesses are urged to make the transition sooner rather than later. Scrambling to adopt new digital solutions at the last-minute could overwhelm providers who are already managing numerous projects, potentially leading to inadequate support for all.

Chris Wade, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Gamma, says: “The next 12 months are crucial for UK businesses still using PSTN. Our report highlights that there is still a significant number of businesses currently reliant on legacy services for customer communications, order taking, internal communications, security and even lift operation.

To ensure a smooth transition following the Switch-Off, businesses need to act now and explore alternative digital communications available to them. This way businesses can understand the benefits that come with switching to modern solutions, such as a positive impact on the business’ bottom line as well as increased flexibility and scalability. By doing so, businesses can make sure they don’t make a rash decision – instead, find the right solution for their business needs.”

Gamma’s report comes at topical time, following the national ‘Stop Sell’ announced by Openreach – where the ordering, change, or upgrade of analogue phone systems ceased –earlier this year (5th of September 2023). The important message here is that businesses without the awareness, regardless of size, could be left out of service and unable to effectively trade. The Switch-Off is happening and there is no safety net, but the benefits of moving to a digital alternative far outweigh any effort to migrate.

To read the ‘The Big Switch-Off: Are UK Businesses Aware and Prepared?’ in full, please visit https://www.gamma.co.uk/solutions/pstn-switch-off/

 

Awards, News, Wellbeing at Work

Alstom Employee Scoops Top Heart of Gold Award

  • The Wellbeing Champion Award was presented by iconic music producer and Railway Benefit Fund President Pete Waterman
  • Award was sponsored by Health Cash Plan provider Health Shield Friendly Society
  • Alstom is the UK & Ireland’s leading supplier of new trains and train services, and a leading signalling and rail infrastructure provider

 

Claire Sallis, from Stafford has been awarded the Wellbeing Champion Award at the annual Heart of Gold Awards. The awards are organised by the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) and celebrate those in the rail industry who make a real difference in their workplace or community.

Claire is Professional Head of Health UK and Ireland at Alstom where she has worked for 16 years. Claire was awarded the Wellbeing Champion Award, which was sponsored by Health Cash Plan provider Health Shield Friendly Society, after secretly being nominated by a fellow colleague. She went on to win the award after consistently demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of Alstom’s employees, and making a profound impact on their workplace culture.

 

As part of her work going above and beyond for her colleagues, she has led the way in writing and adopting Alstom’s menopause policy, which she created in 2017, taking a relatively early lead on the important issue compared to other businesses and industries. She also arranges a quarterly support group for female Alstom employees, a safe space where they can discuss symptoms and feelings. She is also helping Alstom secure its Menopause Friendly Accreditation in 2024, as well as arranging training for all genders on the practicalities and how symptoms impact people.

 

Claire helped to set up the Voices of Disability Group which enables members to share lived experiences;  to look, advise and support Alstom policies and procedures, to challenge “groupthink” from non-disabled colleagues and to contribute to the EDI strategy, making Alstom inclusive for people with disabilities. The Group also helps individuals with many aspects around disability including advice on reasonable adjustments to remove barriers faced by employees with a disability and the use of the Disability Passport to help protect reasonable adjustments and ensure emotional safety.

Mental Health Workshops were also set up by Claire, where sessions were run by managers and additional focus groups for employees. The aim was to look at perception versus reality, trying to reduce any stigma and helping employees view their physical and mental health as a whole. She has also set up mindfulness sessions to help give colleagues the tools to cope with stressful situations and the ranging different pressures of working in the rail sector. Additionally she has also set up the Dementia Support Group, where colleagues can talk about their experiences of family members with Dementia and the impact it has.

 

Claire Sallis commented: “I’m really shocked and utterly humbled by winning the Wellbeing Champion Award. I never would have expected to win an award for just doing a job that I love doing. This isn’t an award for me though, it’s for all the people that work with me and make everything possible through all their hard work – my occupational health colleagues, my HR colleagues, my wider team, my line manager and especially the Voices of Disability Group that has been so important at Alstom. It is such a great place to work and it’s one of the reasons I have been here for so many years.”

 

Jacqui Carr, CEO of Health Shield Friendly Society who sponsored the RBF Heart of Gold Wellbeing Champion Award commented: “It was an absolute pleasure to present this award to Claire, and I am thrilled that Health Shield were able to be part of this important event. Health Shield was formed back in 1877, with the aim of helping railway workers keep their health on track, therefore we have always had a strong heritage and connection with the rail industry.

“It was clear how much Claire’s colleagues value and appreciate everything she does for them, and how important her role is at Alstom. She really does go above and beyond, and it was only right that she won this award and received the recognition that she truly deserves.”

 

 

Agriculture, Awards, News, Sustainability

Diribona Announced as Winners of Entrepreneurs Award in Social Innovation (EASI) 2023

“This grant and award win overall has unlocked so many doors for us. It’s given us credibility and allowed us to raise our brand awareness and present our ethos and what we want to do to a wider audience.” Beenish Luqman, DiRibona.  

 A START-UP which specialises in sustainable farming practices has landed a prestigious award for new businesses.  

 DiRibona, which aims to “bring soil health back to life”, won over judges at the Entrepreneurs Award in Social Innovation (EASI) 2023, an award created by The Company of Entrepreneurs.  

 In a glittering event held at the Tower Suites Rooftop Bar in London, DiRibona was named the winner of the 2023 Award.  

 In a special presentation event at Drapers Hall in London in January, the team from DiRibona will showcase the business as winners of EASI 2023 to one of the country’s most sought-after networks of business contacts. 

 

Speaking to Champions (UK) plc (one of the Award’s supporters), Dr Beenish Luqman, founder of DiRibona, said: “Even to be chosen as a finalist was a fantastic achievement for us, but it was even more special to be announced as winners.” 

 

Explaining the world-class business support they received for their win, Dr Luqman continued: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the level of support we’ve received. We’ve been put in touch with a high-level list of business contacts, who are able to assist us across the spectrum of challenges that come with running an innovative business. They even helped us with aspects we didn’t know they would, like helping us get into a co-working space in London, which is often difficult to find in the city.” 

“The £10,000 grant was immensely beneficial to us and was a huge confidence boost. It’s the first real external funding for us and we’re being extremely careful of how we use it. This funding also helped us kickstart our process to apply for more funding.  

“This grant and award win overall has unlocked so many doors for us. It’s given us credibility and allowed us to raise our brand awareness and present our ethos and what we want to do to others. The overall value that EASI has added to us is massive. The whole process has been very beneficial and made us think in ways we never would have. Of course, the £10,000 grant and the package of support has been excellent, but the real win for us was being connected to a world-class network of entrepreneurs and business mentors.” 

 

DiRibona will receive the award on the 17th of January at a special EASI 2023 Showcase event at the legendary Drapers’ Hall in London. To find out more about The Company of Entrepreneurs, visit the website by clicking here.  

 

Midlands News, News, South West

Local experience company, Yuup, generates £3 million in income for local businesses

Yuup, the local experiences company, has delivered £3m income for local independent businesses in less than 3 years on its mission to help local communities thrive.

Since its launch in Bristol in April 2021 and expansion into the West Midlands in 2022, Yuup has grown into a vibrant community of over 500 experience hosts. At the heart of Yuup’s mission is the dedication to championing indie businesses and empower local communities.

What sets Yuup apart is not just the diversity of experiences on offer but also the social impact it creates. From bread-making workshops to foraging adventures, Yuup provides an opportunity for individuals to experience the best their city has to offer while supporting the local community. It’s not merely about creating memorable experiences; it’s about building connections and fostering a sense of community. This November, the total income earned by hosts on the Yuup platform since its launch in 2021, surpassed £3m.

For some hosts, Yuup experiences serve as their primary source of income, while for others, it provides an extra stream of revenue. Yuup encourages creativity and diversity, ensuring that the community thrives while fostering connections with the offerings available.

The success of Yuup is leading to much larger events, which are all organised with social impact at their core. Yuup collaborated with Bristol Cathedral on spectacular light shows in 2022 and 2023. Now, the experience company is gearing up to host their most significant experience yet – Evolution, an epic drone-light show. In partnership with Celestial, the creators of various mesmerising drone light shows, Yuup is set to bring a brand-new type of entertainment to the UK. The event, scheduled for this December, is expected to captivate over 50,000 people.

Evolution embodies the essence of Yuup’s original goal. The event not only introduces a groundbreaking entertainment experience to the UK, but as the Yuup community surpasses 100,000 people across the West Country and West Midlands, the wider Yuup host community will directly benefit.

Dominic Mills, Founder, and CEO of Yuup, shared his excitement, stating, “Evolution marks a significant milestone in our journey. With a growing community of over 500 hosts, this event serves as a catalyst to bring a fresh, unparalleled experience to the UK. We hope to not only introduce a novel form of entertainment but also encourage more customers and hosts to join our community. Yuup is all about connecting people and making a positive change, and the more people in our community, the greater impact we can achieve.”

The event

For those eager to be part of this extraordinary winter entertainment experience, tickets for Evolution can be purchased at https://www.yuup.co/evolution. Don’t miss the chance to be part of a spectacular experience, celebrating and bringing local communities together.

—

About Evolution

The drone light show Evolution, brings the very latest in creative entertainment for all ages in this spellbinding celebration of the living world.  Those who attend will be immersed in an epic-scale event that fuses cutting-edge technology and creativity to spark the imagination and stir the soul.

About Yuup

Yuup, the local experiences company, helps people find and book exciting things to do in their community. Yuup has earned a reputation for curating unique experiences for everyone to enjoy, building a place where people follow their passions, create memories, and discover things that make life awesome.

The collaboration that Yuup has conceived with Celestial is the latest strategic partnership that will support Yuup’s scale-up across the UK. At the heart of Yuup is an ambition to create positive social impact both through connecting people with their communities and providing experience hosts with additional ways to reach new audiences.

News, Waste and Recycling

Office waste collection peaks on 14th December as Christmas party prep doubles

This nation appears to be getting ready for one of the biggest nights of the year, as the office Christmas party prep is scheduled ahead of Thursday 14th December.

Clear It Waste has reported a significant rise in pre-Christmas party collections from offices and venues on the day before and the morning of Thursday 14th December, compared to the same time in 2022.

In fact – bookings have nearly doubled since last year as pre-office party clear-outs have increased by 95%.

The London-based waste collection and rubbish removal service has reported that Thursday 14th seems to be the most popular day for the office ‘do’ as clear ups are happening ahead of that evening, as opposed to a Friday as might be expected.

Josh Clarke, manager at Clear It Waste said, “We are pleased to see more offices than ever getting into the festive spirit, and it looks like this Thursday is set to be quite the night!”

“Many offices have a large clear out of clutter and unwanted furniture ahead of their Christmas Party, aiming to make the work space look its best and ensure it is ‘Party ready’.

“It seems like the fun is set to double this year as we are twice as busy as the same time in 2022. I look forward to hearing how our customers have let their hair down – although hopefully not so much that they get an email from HR!”

Food & Drink, Hospitality, News

Unlocking the Secrets of a Successful Catering Kitchen

It’s important to not underestimate the challenge of running a business. On average, nearly 20% of new businesses don’t even make it to their second year.

However, if you have decided to start your own business, you could at least tip those odds of survival more in your favour by choosing a line of work you love — and how many of us don’t love food? For this reason, setting up a catering kitchen can be a particularly enticing prospect.

You would, though, have to juggle a lot of plates (no, not literally — you obviously want to save them for the dinner table!) as a caterer — whether you prepare food for private events or corporate functions. Here are several steps for you to take on your way to achieving culinary excellence.

 

Start small

If you are considering going into catering in the first place, it’s probably because you have a lot of fun putting together gastronomic delights in your home’s kitchen — and your catering business could start there, too. You could even use ingredients that are already in your kitchen cupboards.

As for exactly what type of catering you ought to start offering first, it could help if you consider your personal connections. For example, if you know quite a few people who are set to get married soon, you could have plenty of opportunities to learn the ropes as a wedding caterer.

Further down the line, as your business takes on more and more orders, you might need to move into a professional kitchen. A catering kitchen for rent can give you cost-effective access to better amenities, such as larger ovens, while helping you to keep on top of the hygiene side of things.

 

Find a USP (unique selling point)

Of course, there are many different places where you could potentially provide catering. When someone is celebrating a special milestone, such as a birthday, anniversary or wedding, the quality of the food can be a big part of the experience.

You could also target business events along the lines of product launches and award ceremonies. Still, no matter how far you endeavour to extend your catering remit, you should also seek to give your business a distinctive ‘hook’; something that can help it to carve out a niche in the market.

Perhaps you could specialise in offering vegan-only food, or pledge to source all your ingredients locally? Whatever slant you go for, it will ideally be one that few if any catering companies in the area are already chasing, but which enables you to tap into pent-up demand.

 

Keep on eye on your corporate finances

How should you price your business’s catering services? It will be a tricky balance to price highly enough to cover your overheads, but also low enough to attract customers. Here, it would be wise for you to look at what competing caterers are charging for services similar to yours.

In any case, you should also seek clever ways to streamline your financial outgoings. For example, by accurately forecasting what ingredients you will need and when, you can reduce food wastage.

In fact, preventing many forms of waste would bode well for both the financial health and green credentials of your company. As the world-renowned naturalist David Attenborough has urged: “Don’t waste electricity; don’t waste paper; don’t waste food.”

 

Engage heavily in marketing

You can help to spread the word about your catering business through various marketing channels — including a dedicated business website, as well as a string of social media profiles. In all of these online places, you can post high-definition photographs of food items from your menu.

Not all of your catering kitchen business’s marketing activities have to take place online, however. You could look into running print ads, distributing leaflets and flyers, and sponsoring events.

 

Continue to maintain and enhance your services

Perhaps the most powerful form of marketing is word of mouth. You therefore have a strong incentive to make sure you are keeping pace with — and if possible, surpassing — the competition across a wide range of measures, including:

  • The quality and variety of the cuisine
  • Value for money
  • Punctuality
  • Your handling of customer queries or complaints

Nonetheless, in your drive to acquire new customers, you should be careful not to overlook those you have already served. You could strive to stay in touch with them and offer them special money-off deals.

 

A catering kitchen can be a great place for you to experiment with different ingredients in an attempt to find the ‘next big thing’ on the dining scene — and hopefully build a reputation for innovation.

News

Manufacturer plans for expansion and creates new jobs following award win and revenue surge

A FAMILY-OWNED manufacturing company celebrating more than two decades in business is planning for expansion and creating new jobs.  

And news of further growth at Corwen-based Neatcrown comes after the firm won the prestigious Co-Manufacturer and Packer of the Year title at the UK Packaging Awards, held in London.

Business Development Manager Karen Jones attended the event, and said the group’s commitment to customer service, quality, and the performance of its “incredible team” have led to sustained success.

With a 39,000 sq ft warehouse, laboratory and headquarters sited on 2.5 acres in the picturesque Denbighshire town, Neatcrown – which employs up to 40 staff and is accredited to ISO 9001:2015 – has big plans for the future.

“We are probably one of the best kept secrets in the region and have grown significantly over recent years,” said Karen.

“As a contract manufacturer we work with a lot of distributors and companies that have their own brands, helping them to develop products via our onsite laboratory and ultimately manufacturing them, before they are sent out for sale across the UK and internationally.

“For that and the hard work of the incredible team we have here to be recognised with such an amazing award is a great privilege, so we thank the judges for this accolade.”

Established by the Griffiths family in 2002, Neatcrown Corwen Ltd began to diversify pre-pandemic to focus primarily on growth within the agriculture sector, notably crop nutrition, bio-stimulants, and innovative methods to drive sustainability in farming, having been manufacturing horticultural products at the site for more than four decades.

While expansion continues, the company is renowned for its flexible and reactive approach – switching to disinfectant manufacturing during the first wave of Covid-19 kept the business operational – and partnerships across a wide range of sectors.

CEO Colin Roberts said innovation and forging new relationships centred on advances in technology and sustainability are vital moving forward.

“Given the changing environment, climate change and other global factors, collaboration is pivotal to our continued success,” he said.

“We work with a wide range of organisations, co-manufacturing their products, packaging them and helping to develop them – it’s an end-to-end journey and experience for us, and for the customer.”

Colin added: “Neatcrown is growing, and not just in terms of revenue and reputation but also the jobs we are creating for skilled, passionate workers in what is a remote, rural area.

“We want to continue supporting the local economy as a key employer in the area, building our name and raising standards, for ourselves and the industry.”

They had an opportunity to showcase the business at this year’s CropTec Show, held over two days in Warwickshire. The event has been delivering and showcasing technical knowledge, products, services and practical advice to the country’s progressive growers and agronomists for more than 10 years.

“We are delighted to have exhibited at the show for the first time, it was a chance for us to meet with leading names in the agriculture and horticulture arenas and demonstrate what we do,” said Karen.

“These are fast-growing markets, and we want to get the message out there that we are an expanding, evolving business with a clear vision for further growth that will have a positive impact on our partners, customers and the sector, for many years to come.”

For more information and to see the latest job vacancies at Neatcrown, visit the website www.neatcrown.co.uk or follow Neatcrown on LinkedIn.

Alternatively, call 01490 413121 or email customer.support@neatcrown.co.uk.

Agri Tech, Marches, News, Recruitment

Agritech merger welcomed as further boost to Telford recruitment firm

Plans to merge three of the UK’s centres for agri-tech into one super hub for innovation and investment have been welcomed by agri-tech centre members, Jonathan Lee Recruitment.

The recruitment specialists are members of the Shropshire-based Agri-EPI Centre and have an office in its Newport headquarters next to Harper Adams University.

It was recently announced that the Agri-EPI Centre, which focuses on engineering and precision agricultural technology, will merge with Ciel (the Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock) and Chap (Crop Health and Protection).

As one single entity, the centres will be able to have a more joined-up approach towards innovation in farming.

The merged centres have also been invited to develop plans to establish an agritech Catapult. There are nine existing Catapults in the UK which are independent, not-for-profit, private organisations set up to transform the UK’s capability for innovation in sectors of strength.

Establishing an agritech Catapult would be an anchor for investment, enabling all the agritech sectors to draw on ground-breaking research across the Catapult network and beyond.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment joined the Agri-EPI Centre earlier this year when it opened a Telford branch, in addition to its existing offices in Stourbridge, to be closer to the agritech community it serves.

‘Fantastic news and real boost to UK’s ambitions’

The firm’s agritech recruitment specialist, Matt Johnson, said: “This merger is fantastic news and will be a real boost for the UK’s ambitions to become a science and technology superpower.

“It means those representing all sectors of agritech will be able to join forces to leverage investment, access ground-breaking research and crucially, deliver support to the many large and small enterprises across the country that are developing the technology and innovations which are transforming the food production industry.

“We’ve seen first-hand the level and quality of support that is provided by the Agri-EPI Centre and the businesses in our building alone are doing some truly remarkable things.

“The industry is booming with innovation and we’re really enjoying being at the heart of this community, helping firms find the skills and expertise they need to develop their ideas.”

Solving agritech recruitment challenges

Matt continued: “Although the rapid growth of the sector does mean there’s a shortage of candidates, we’re able to draw on our 45 years of experience in technology and engineering to find people with transferrable skills from other sectors and to develop creative and targeted recruitment strategies.

“We’re also working with start-ups who need help getting their businesses off the ground and mapping their future recruitment needs as they grow and evolve.

“Being members of the Agri-EPI Centre has introduced us to lots of businesses who need our help and on an individual level, we’re hoping the merger will open the door to many more opportunities as the members all come together to create a nationwide network.”

The newly merged business is expected to be launched in April next year.

The proposed Catapult will build on the success of the agritech centres’ work over the past seven years during which time they have worked on 350 collaborative research and development projects involving 500 businesses – from start-ups to global corporates – and delivering a value of £100m to the sector.

The agritech sector is expected to be worth £13bn to the UK economy by 2027.

To find out more about how Jonathan Lee Recruitment can support agritech businesses, visit www.jonlee.co.uk, or contact agritech recruitment specialist, Matt Johnson, on 01952 987033, or email matt.johnson@jonlee.co.uk.