Category Archives: Bristol

Bristol, HR, HR Software, News

Zellis HCM Cloud 8.0 powers HR and payroll efficiency

  • Zellis HCM Cloud 8.0 includes enhancements to Power BI dashboards and the Zellis Intelligence Platform
  • Latest release adds more automation to National Minimum Wage calculations 

 

Bristol, UK: 30 April 2024: Zellis, the largest provider of payroll and HR software to the UK and Ireland, today announces a series of product developments as the company continues its mission to transform the future of HR and payroll operations.

Significant updates announced as part of Zellis’ HCM Cloud 8.0 release include:

 

Power BI dashboard enhancements

To support greater visibility and progress reporting, Zellis HCM Cloud customers can now compare pay across different diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) characteristics such as disability, identified gender, and marital status. Alongside this, HR and payroll teams will be able to view employee commission in addition to existing bonus pay data, allowing this important aspect of remuneration to be measured.

 

Increased automation of National Minimum Wage (NMW) calculations

Zellis HCM Cloud 8.0 also extends the scope of automated NMW calculations relating to key business process events. This includes the calculation of NMW annual hours and will ensure employees who join mid-way through the year are considered correctly – both for monitoring purposes, and for the point at which projected hours are exceeded. These enhancements also apply to the calculation of NMW annual hours for workers who have not exceeded the annual hours threshold and who end their employment mid-way through a pay period.

 

Zellis Intelligence Platform upgrades

Further upgrades to the Zellis Intelligence Platform (ZIP) include automated requests (webhooks) to support absence entitlement and fixed pay elements, enabling customers to build out integrations for key events. In addition, customers can now generate, store, and expose Dead Letter Events, making it easier for HR teams to take appropriate action. The extension of ZIP schema will also incorporate data from Performance Development Reviews (PDR) and training, expanding the data that exists within Zellis HCM Cloud.

Commenting on the company’s 8.0 release, Chief Product Officer, George Dunnett, said: “These developments demonstrate our commitment to supporting customer needs through continued innovation. Zellis HCM Cloud is built for the modern enterprise and all the challenges and complexities that impact HR and payroll operations. The vast majority of our customer base has now upgraded to Zellis HCM Cloud and we’re delighted to see our customers reaping the associated efficiency and productivity benefits.”

 

Also in development is the Zellis HCM Cloud Microsoft Dynamics HR connector, which will enable real-time flow of organisation, employee, and absence data from Microsoft Dynamics HR. Commenting on this, Dunnett added: “By developing a connector to Microsoft Dynamics HR we’re adding further weight to our existing connector offering and strengthening Zellis’ position as the best-in-breed HR and payroll solution for the UK and Ireland.”

Zellis HCM Cloud 8.0 also supports compliance around Guernsey pension auto-enrolment, which comes into effect from the 1st of July 2024, starting with employers that have more than 26 employees. These employers will need to auto-enrol their employees in YIP (Your Island Pension) or another approbated pension scheme, with Zellis HCM Cloud able to support automatic enrolment and assessment, as well as pension scheme set-up.

 

Bristol, Energy, Home Improvements, News, South West

Bristol-based solar expert on a mission to safely remove feral pigeons and other pests causing costly damage to people’s solar panels 

Callun Purnell, age 33, a father of two from Bristol, has a 5-star clean sweep Google rating of 5 for his Pigeon Solar Panels Ltd business based in North Somerset.

He is helping to safely remove hidden pests which are causing fire hazards, potential spread of diseases and a danger for residents and their neighbours under solar panels.

Callun has been excelling in the solar industry since entering it 12 years ago.

He covers everything solar related Solar related but the business is specialised in the maintenance, upkeep, efficiency and protection of the panels. 

He safely removes vermin pests including pigeons and other animals that cause noise, disturbance and costly damage.

They can cause damage to the equipment under the solar panels with a pricey consequence for home owners that progressively and rapidly gets worse if not sorted.

Callun said: “Most people don’t realise the hidden menace of pests becoming increasingly attracted into nesting under their solar panels. 

“But unfortunately this is not an ideal location for the pests and can end up becoming a fire hazard, not to mention the various diseases pigeon guano can cause to humans and also the decreased efficiency of the solar panels resulting in less energy yield sometimes up too 30%. 

“Birds can get caught and tangled in the components and additionally their guano contains acidic property’s which can start to corrode through the insulation of the cabling on the roof which can cause huge cost and problems.

“We carefully and legally extract them and their nests then restore sanitation with biocide which can deal with potential bird mites that were in the nest.”

Callun’s business has a strong track record of helping people with their solar panels, preventing pigeons and other pests from nesting under the solar panels.

They also do panel removal, professional solar cleaning and are ISCA qualified, roof clearing with biocide treatment, gutter clearance, repairs and long term protection and maintenance. 

They use high-quality galvanised steel wire mesh to guard solar panels. With no job too big or small and are IRATA rope access qualified meaning most jobs can be completed without scaffold whilst still adhering to health and safety guidelines. 

Their team of experts will permanently remove feral pigeons or any other vermin from under their solar panels. 

A free no-obligation can be found by clicking callun@pigeonsolarpanels.co.uk via www.pigeonsolarpanels.co.uk

Bristol, E-Commerce, Kent, London, News, Retail, Warwickshire

Bodyshop announces store closures and jobs cuts, some from today

The Body Shop has announced today that half it’s UK stores would close, with the first seven closures happening today.

It will also be cutting staff by up to 40% at it’s London-based head office.

The seven stores announced as closing today include:

• Surrey Quays (London)

• Oxford Street Bond Street (London)

• Canary Wharf (London)

• Cheapside (London)

• Nuneaton (Warwickshire)

• Ashford Town Centre (Kent)

• Bristol Queens Road (Bristol)

Administrators said that the brand’s current portfolio is no longer viable after “years of unprofitability” and administrators reassured customers that more than half of the remaining 198 outlets will remain open.

The brand’s global franchise partners are reported unaffected.

Bristol, News, Property, Property Rentals, Proptech, South West, Technology

PyTerra has been awarded an Innovate UK R&D grant to develop an online solution which empowers tenants to initiate home energy improvement measures

 

PyTerra, the Bristol-based company, today announces it has been awarded a grant under Innovate UK’s ‘Net Zero Living: User Focused Design’ competition. This project will engage tenants across Bristol to understand how they can be incentivised to initiate energy efficiency measures in their rented homes.

Recognising that tenants are more likely to live in energy inefficient dwellings, and that the retrofit industry is failing to tap into the massive private rented sector, PyTerra is developing a solution called MyGreenDoor to bring these two markets together for mutual gain.

MyGreenDoor gives tenants more agency over their comfort and wellbeing, while at the same time opening up a significant market for the retrofit industry.

MyGreenDoor creates ‘smart’ landing pages on the websites of retrofit installers and suppliers, where tenants’ needs are assessed using customer intelligence tools, and where tenants are matched with solutions that suit both them and their landlords. Other products will be brought into the mix if needed, effectively creating multiple mini marketplaces across participating websites.

In effect, MyGreenDoor exchanges ‘hard sell’ for ‘soft sell’, brokering a space that emphasizes the building of trust-based relationships with potential customers – essential for the tenant market.

The impact will be to accelerate the delivery of more comfortable living environments and net zero targets. Tenants will receive information about solutions that are deliverable and affordable. Retrofit companies will open up the lucrative rental market and improve their customer conversion rates.

Tenants are being targeted because landlords currently have little incentive to invest in energy improvements. Last September, the Prime Minister scrapped new EPC targets which would have required landlords to improve the energy performance of their properties. Landlords still expect this legislation to be reintroduced in the future, but the timing is uncertain. However, the new Renters (Reform) Bill promises to help tenants become more secure to pursue energy improvements, building on rights they have had since 2015.

David Arscott

“Over the past two years we’ve focused on where MyGreenDoor can best bring consumers and suppliers together in the rapidly changing UK retrofit market. The product is being designed to improve tenants’ lives by giving them realistic choices as to how the comfort of their homes can be improved,” comments, David Arscott, founder and CEO at PyTerra. “This grant from Innovate UK validates our innovative thinking, allowing us to fully engage the tenant market in order to develop a successful product.”

During the project, PyTerra is working with expert market researchers Timmus Research. Advice is also being provided by Retrofit West CIC, whose MD Simon Andrews added, “ Innovation in this area, particularly where it drives data-driven insights into both buyer and seller markets, is wholly supported by Retrofit West.”

Retrofit installers and suppliers can sign up to hear more about MyGreenDoor via https://www.mygreendoor.io. Join the movement towards healthier homes for tenants through a thriving retrofit industry with MyGreenDoor.

Bristol, Construction, Recruitment, Recruitment News, South West

Acorn by Synergie appoints Harry Lambert as Divisional Manager for Trades and Labour in the South West

Acorn by Synergie, one of the UK’s leading recruitment firms, has appointed Harry Lambert as its Divisional Manager for Trades and Labour in the South West.

An experienced Construction Recruitment Consultant, Harry is well placed to provide skilled and reliable personnel in an honest and professional manner within the Built Environment.

Previously an Associate with Kingston Barnes, Harry has spent the best part of a decade developing key relationships within the recruitment sector regionally, having also worked with Daniel Owen Ltd and Setsquare Recruitment previously too.

Now he will draw on the multiple working partnerships he has fostered within that time to spearhead Acorn by Synergie’s Labour and Trades activity across Bristol and the wider South West region.

On his appointment, Harry said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Acorn by Synergie and in doing so, progressing on to the next stage of my career. Since I was given a first-class introduction at our Newport headquarters, I’ve been doing what I love best, which is being out and about, supporting our candidates in person and generally being present to our clients’ needs.”

“I’m really excited to see what my future with the company brings, but in the short term I’m just keen to get the ball rolling and the word out that the Acorn by Synergie team is here to support businesses across the South-West with all their on site needs.”

Acorn by Synergie is a multi-specialist recruitment agency that has been named top recruiter in Wales and ranks in the top 1% of all recruitment firms in the UK.

Bernard Ward, Managing Director at Acorn by Synergie, said: “We are over the moon to have welcomed Harry to our team at Acorn by Synergie, and I can’t wait to see him put the extensive experience he brings with him into action for the sake of our loyal clients in the South West.

“Given the depth of knowledge and the relationships Harry has built up working with firms of all sizes across the region over a number of years, we’re excited to see how he will lead the Trades and Labour division and help the wider business continue to go from strength to strength in the process.”

Acorn by Synergie has received multiple awards for its outstanding services. It’s been recognised as the Best UK Recruitment Firm, and more recently won Wales Business Award for Wellbeing at Work. Since its establishment in Newport, South Wales, in 1992, Acorn by Synergie has successfully placed approximately 2.7 million individuals into jobs.

For more information visit www.acornpeople.com

Bristol, Business, Business News, News from Wales

GS Verde Group Announce Record Deal Activity and Group Revenue in 2023

GS Verde Group, the multidiscipline corporate advisory business, has reported record M&A deal activity in 2023 resulting in record revenue growth in the same period, with over £2m of additional revenue achieved in comparison to the same period in 2022.

GS Verde Group evolved into a multidiscipline corporate advisory business in 2016. The Group specialises in providing end to end advisory services to corporates, businesses and individuals looking to buy, sell or raise investment in relation to business activities.  Corporate law, corporate finance, tax, due diligence and other legal and accountancy advisory matters are covered by the range of services within the Group.

During the course of 2023, GS Verde Group has recruited 20 additional employees and made a further 10 senior promotions across its offices in Bristol, Cardiff, and Dublin. Notably Lorna Bolton was promoted to become a senior director at Group level, Joel Dunning took up the role of Head of Tax & Accounting and Mike Fenwick and Lauren Couch were promoted and recruited to lead director roles in Cardiff and Bristol respectively.

Technology entrepreneur Gavin Johns also joined the strategic Board of GS Verde Group as non-executive Chairman.

In addition to the organic hires and promotions, the Group acquired an additional business into the group in the early part of 2023, making the successful acquisition of Integrated Finance & Technology (now GS Verde Ireland) in Dublin. This step expanded the geographic reach of GS Verde Group and maintained offices in both the UK and the EU.

Experian MarketIQ recently recorded GS Verde Group as the most active dealmakers in Wales, uniquely occupying this ranking in both the corporate legal and corporate finance Experian rankings (the only firm to do so).

The success of 2023 is seen by GS Verde Group as an ideal launch pad for further growth in 2024 with several exciting plans in motion which are set to be announced in Q1 2024.

GS Verde Group founder and CEO, Nigel Greenaway said: “2023 has been another great year. It is exciting to see the year-on-year growth from 2021 and 2022 continue and accelerate in 2023. We have significant plans and opportunities to further accelerate our growth in 2024 as we look to increased market share, additional strategic hires, and new acquisitions to broaden our geographic reach.”

The GS Verde Group are the business-focused experts in getting deals done. Offering legal, finance, tax and communications services, GS Verde Group’s multidiscipline, one-team approach streamlines the M&A process, augmenting the traditional reality of corporate transactions to increase success.

For more information on the services GS Verde Group offer, you can visit their website here.

Bristol, Business News, Wales News

GS Verde Group appoint Lauren Couch as Corporate Finance Director

Award-winning dealmaking business GS Verde Group has appointed Lauren Couch as a Corporate Finance Director within its growing team.

The appointment will see Lauren take a role as a lead Corporate Finance Director, based at GS Verde’s Bristol office. The GS Verde Group Bristol office services the South West region, and has developed a growing pipeline of transactions, which makes the appointment timely.

Lauren is joining GS Verde Group from Growth Lending (formerly called Boost Capital) where she was the Chief Revenue Officer responsible for maximising profit through revenue growth, pioneering strategy, enhancing client experience and being a national spokesperson for the business.

Lauren has 22 years’ experience in finance and has previously held leadership roles within the banking and finance sector. The roles have specialised in private equity, venture debt, asset-based lending, and invoice financing.

Commenting on her new role at GS Verde Group, Lauren said: “I’m looking forward to joining such an ambitious business, and excited to be a part of the Group’s amazing growth, particularly as they experience continuous growth in Bristol, the South West and throughout the UK and Ireland.”

Craig Blackmore, Chief Financial Officer of GS Verde Group, added: “We are delighted to welcome Lauren to GS Verde Group as a Director of Corporate Finance. Lauren’s ambitious, innovative mindset reflect the values of GS Verde Group as a dynamic, successful multidiscipline business and we are excited to see how Lauren’s expertise and valuable skills will aid in the continuous growth of GS Verde Group.”

GS Verde Group are specialist mergers and acquisition advisors. The Group includes Law, Finance, Accountancy, Tax and Communications in one multidiscipline team which provides clients with a unique end-to-end service that increases optimal outcomes for business transactions.

Lauren concluded: “It is evident that expert assistance and a fresh approach to business transactions is needed for business leaders to grow their business today. GS Verde Group’s dynamic and modern, multidiscipline approach to deal-making fills that gap in the market and answers that need for a holistic, end-to-end service.”

Lauren’s appointment as a Corporate Finance Director at GS Verde Group illustrates the Groups’ commitment to its core values by attracting like-minded, innovative talent, and signals a bright future for the Group as Lauren brings her expertise and creativity to the business.

The GS Verde Group are business focused experts in getting deals done. The group combines multiple disciplines including law, tax, finance, and communications, to provide end-to-end support as a complete advisory team.

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Bristol, Business Expansion, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, Mergers & Acquisitions, News from England, South West

Rawlings Group Ltd Extends Service Offering with Strategic Acquisition of Paper Bag Company

Rawlings & Son Ltd (Rawlings Group), a multi-brand packaging and drink processing specialist, has acquired Paper Bag Company, in a seven-figure deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

 

The acquisition brings together the largest independent glass packaging supplier in the UK and the market-leading supplier of bespoke bags for retail and business.

Rawlings Group has a rich history dating back to 1850, starting out by washing and recycling beer bottles and selling them to breweries. Today, Rawlings Group prides itself on its collaborative approach to packaging development and experience-led service, as well as having a focus on sustainability and working towards environmentally positive options.

Paper Bag Co. has been providing alternatives to plastic bags for businesses and retail spaces since its inception 18 years ago. The business draws on expertise in both digital and traditional printing techniques to create a wide range of high-quality, tailored paper, canvas, and reusable cotton bags for their clients.

Rawlings Group and Paper Bag Co. both prioritise an ethical approach to their products and supply chain. Through their accreditations and supply chain Paper Bag Co can offer a wide range of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS organic) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified products; this level of transparency underpins a shared culture and commitment to protect the environment.

Rawlings Group CEO, Tom Wood, said of the acquisition: “The acquisition of Paper Bag Co is an exceptional opportunity for the Rawlings Group. By expanding our product offering in this space we will further develop our range of packaging services that share an ethical and sustainable focus, offering clients an end-to-end service for most packaging requirements.”

Paper Bag Co. CEO, Jon Marling added: “Rawlings Group was the perfect option to continue our journey on a larger platform. The Rawlings team’s ethos and purpose are very much aligned with ours and we are looking forward to developing our people and growing our positive impact & synergies in the future.”

The multidiscipline team at GS Verde Group advised Rawlings at every stage of the transaction, providing legal, financial and tax support for a streamlined and successful corporate transaction.

Accountancy & Accounts, Awards, Bristol, Finance and Banking, News

University of Bristol Duo Awarded Quantum Advisory Prize for Excellence in Mathematics

Two Accounting and Finance graduates at the University of Bristol have secured the Quantum Advisory Prize for stand out achievements in their courses. Along with the notable accolade, Anna Wolstenholme and James (Jim) Robb will also split the prize to help further their careers in the fields of accounting and finance.

The Quantum Advisory Prize was established in 2018 at the University of Bristol and is awarded to the highest achieving accounting and finance students each year. Normally awarded by independent financial services consultancy Quantum Advisory at the end of each academic year, delays caused by the Covid pandemic mean James and Anna have now taken up roles within their chosen field and begun their careers.

 

Anna, from London, secured the Quantum Advisory Prize for the Best Overall Performance on the University of Bristol undergraduate accounting degrees at intermediate level. Enrolled on BSc Accounting and Finance, Anna was completing her second year when she received the prize and has recently graduated with first-class honours. She is now working within an audit team and completing her ACA exams. Anna said: “I feel very honoured to receive this prize which has provided the chance to explore career options in financial services which are very interesting.”

 

The Quantum Advisory Prize for Exceptional Degree Performance was won by Jim, from Cheltenham, who is currently completing his ACA exams while working as an insurance auditor. Jim graduated in 2021 with a first-class honours in BSc Accounting and Finance and was in his final year when he received the prize.

Jim said: “I feel incredibly grateful to receive an award to recognise my hard work and dedication during my time at Bristol. It marks a great achievement to be so highly regarded alongside my undergraduate degree.

“I hope to qualify as a chartered accountant in 2024 and explore my options into the various branches of corporate finance, with the long term aim to hopefully become a valuations specialist. Having the potential opportunity to link up with Quantum Advisory at some point in the future and explore potential career opportunities with them is very exciting.”

 

Partner at Quantum Advisory, Stuart Price, said: “While it was disappointing not to be able to hold a ceremony and meet Jim and Anna in person, it was a pleasure to once again to award the Quantum Prize and hear about all the inspiring work being done by the students at the University of Bristol.

“Jim and Anna are two exemplary individuals that stood out among their peers during their time at university. The work they put in, particularly throughout the disruption caused by the pandemic, has not gone unnoticed and I’ve no doubt their academic success will pave the way for a very prosperous career. We look forward to seeing their progression and will stay in touch and support them along the way.”

 

Mark Clatworthy, Professor of Accounting at University of Bristol Business School, said: “The aim of the Quantum Advisory Prize is to recognise high performing students’ achievements and this year was no exception in terms of the calibre of work we had to consider. We at the University of Bristol Business School are very proud of our students’ success and we are extremely grateful to Quantum Advisory for their generous sponsorship of these prizes.”

 

Quantum Advisory has offices in Cardiff, Amersham, Birmingham and London and provides pension and employee benefits services to employers, scheme trustees and members.

For more information about Quantum Advisory, please visit: https://quantumadvisory.co.uk.

 

 

Bristol, Cardiff, Construction, Construction News, Education, News

Welsh fabricator wins trio of school projects across the UK

LEADING Cardiff-based fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium has secured three projects in the education sector across the UK.

The first build will be St Ederyn’s School in Cardiff (artist’s impression above). The new home for St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School, St Ederyn’s will provide pupils and staff with a modern, state-of-the-art learning environment when complete.

Dudley’s Aluminium will be working with Halsall Construction Ltd on the build and will install Metal Technology System capped curtain walling, ‘Hi’ windows and ‘Hi’ doors, in addition to automatic entrance doors and automatic opening windows.

Metal Technology System products will also be used on the fabricator’s second build as part of refurbishment works at Lord Williams’s School in Thame, Oxfordshire.

Teaming up with Borras Construction Limited, Dudley’s Aluminium will install Metal Technology System capped curtain walling, Hi’ windows, ‘Hi’ doors and brise soleil on the new English block and state-of-the-art accessible ICT suite.

The third project will see Dudley’s Aluminium work with Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd on the expansion of Baytree SEN School, Clevedon.

It is the only school in North Somerset designated to provide education to children with profound and complex learning difficulties. The new site will create additional school places and has been designed to be sustainable and energy efficient.

The fabricator will install Kawneer capped curtain walling, windows and manual doors, as well as automatic entrance doors.

Colin Shorney, Managing Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “It is a great privilege to be working on these three schools, helping to meet local demand for quality learning environments and opportunities for students across the UK.”

An artist’s impression of the Baytree SEN School Clevedon

Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and BM Trada certified to manufacture enhanced security products to align with PAS24:2016 and BS 4873.