Tag Archives: advice

News

Homes and Gardens Retailers Invited to Free Digital Marketing Event

A free in-person event is promising to arm homes and gardens retailers with the insights and knowledge that they need to maximise their digital marketing efforts in 2024.

Decoding Digital: Efficiency & Effectiveness in Home & Garden Marketing – is being hosted by sector-specific digital marketing experts Door4 on Thursday 22nd February at Brockholes Nature Reserve near Preston (just off junction 31 of the M6). Register now to secure your place.

The event comes at a key time for homes and gardens retailers as industry experts IPA Bellwether predict that despite the current economic uncertainty, UK marketing budgets as a whole are set to increase in 2024 as brands look to remain active in the hope of a return to consumer confidence in the latter stages of the year.

But with increased spend comes increased competition. Brands looking to drive sales in the homes and gardens sector are not only competing against other retailers who are also upping their marketing activity; in 2024 ensuring the effectiveness of every pound spent on advertising and promotion within the heavily competitive furnishings and décor markets is a must.

“This interactive and hands-on event has been tailored specifically to help homes and gardens retailers navigate the digital landscape in these uncertain economic times, says Sean Dwyer, director at Door4 who will be speaking at the event.

“Spend may be predicted to be up in 2024 but in this crowded digital marketplace maximising return on investment is crucial – we will give retailers the insights they need to succeed.

“Attendees will learn how to stay ahead of the curve with innovative online strategies that can easily adapt to fluctuating consumer spending habits as economic forecasts evolve.

“We will also take a deep dive into how brands can develop messaging that resonates most with their audiences. We will focus on how to choose the most effective media channels and showcase the essentials needed to create distinctive brands that stand out.

“Our events are fun and interactive – there will be lots of opportunity for participation and a great chance to network with your peers. The event kicks off at 9am with a free hot breakfast, the presentation will begin at 9:30am.”

 

 

News

Health on the shelf as Kirsty’s commitment to Net Zero helps it retain major retail deal

A Harrogate manufacturer of award-winning gluten and dairy free chilled ready meals, frozen pizzas and deserts has retained a major UK retail contract thanks to support from the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP).

Kirsty’s, which was started by entrepreneur Kirsty Henshaw after her son Jacob was discovered to be allergic to nuts and intolerant to gluten and dairy, is working towards being Net Zero by 2050 which is a key requirement of one of its largest retail customers.

Having a plan to reach net zero has helped safeguard the jobs of Kirsty’s 49 staff, including 18 new recruits brought on to help support its expansion.

The company reached out to MGP to part-fund an environmental audit and bring in a specialist consultant that was experienced in complex food manufacturing and could support its carbon reporting and help it put in place its Net Zero plan.

“Our retail customer announced in January this year that it wanted all suppliers to have a plan in place by the end of the year to get to Net Zero by 2050,” explained Natalie Parker, Marketing Director for Kirsty’s.

“We’ve only been manufacturing our own products in Harrogate for two years, so as a small SME this was a massive challenge, and we needed some external assistance.”

She continued: “This is where the Manufacturing Growth Programme came into play and we found the adviser very easy to work with, very understanding of the challenges of our business and very keen to put us in touch with experts and funding that made a real difference.”

The Manufacturing Growth Programme is currently the UK’s largest and leading business support programme for SME manufacturers.

The initiative, which is designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has secured nearly £15million in grants for 4300 companies over the last three years, creating and safeguarding over 10,000 jobs in the process.

With ERDF funds being phased out, MGP is due to end in early 2023 unless the ‘essential lifeline for small to medium-sized manufacturers’ can be incorporated into the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Shaughan Farrow, Manufacturing Growth Manager for MGP, added her support: “The Covid-19 pandemic impacted many businesses across the UK, but Kirsty’s was still able to grow its turnover by more than 11%.

“Bearing in mind she set up her business with the remnants from her student loan, when Kirsty Henshaw says she has set her sights on reaching a turnover of £25m within the next three years, we can genuinely see that happening.

“This business is a success story for other budding entrepreneurs, recognising a need in the market based on a personal situation, having an idea, and having the guts to go for it!

“It also shows that fast-growing companies need expert support at certain parts of the journey and, by accessing MGP funding and advice, it has secured a major retail contract that has given it the platform to grow and create 18 new jobs.”

Kirsty Henshaw initially launched her business selling ice-cream in health food shops across the UK.

However, trying to juggle work, parenthood and making ice-cream, she took a leap of faith and entered the Dragons Den in 2010, becoming the youngest entrepreneur to receive funding from ‘Dragons’ Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones with her range of free-from and ice cream alternatives.

Today, the meals business is worth more than £10m and supplies ready meals from its manufacturing facility on Springfield Business Park in Harrogate and frozen pizzas and frozen desserts through co-manufacturing agreements.

Agriculture, Farming, News

Landscaping Company Release Advice on How to Manage Deer on Your Land

Steel Landscaping Co. offer their suggestions on managing deer populations on your land as we get into rutting season.

Renowned fencing and steel product experts Steel Landscaping Co. have utilised their vast experience to offer advice to land and estate owners on how to manage deers on their land in time for the rutting season.

“There are six deer species in the UK, all of which are absolutely wonderful to see,” says Steel Landscaping Co’s Operations Director Grace Powell, “but they can be a real nuisance due to their considerable appetite, which can be a problem for vegetable patches, woodlands and developing saplings.”

The UK has no natural predators for deer populations, which are now at their highest number for more than 1,000 years. “Deer can affect the diversity of tree populations, resulting in a fall in numbers of species, and strip bark off older trees, which kills them,” says Paul Wilkinson of the Wildlife Trusts.

Traditionally, deers would only be found in areas rich with vegetation, such as woodlands or other areas where they could flee from predatation. However, habitat and predator loss has seen deer become bolder in their search for food and mating opportunities – this is particularly the case with larger estates with more diverse landscapes, and during rutting season where males search for mates.

Deer go about their business during dawn and dusk, but there are a few signs you could watch out for if you suspect deers are roaming your estate. “You might notice foliage stripped from plants, damage to tree bark, or something eating your fruits and vegetables.” Says Grace.

While there is not much you can do to control the deer themselves, there are a few measures you can undertake across your estate to protect certain areas of your grounds, such as flower beds, newly planted trees, and vegetable gardens:

Plant deer resistant plants – deers are anything but fussy, but are thought to dislike rhubarb, mint and magnolia.
Hedging – strong and robust mature hedging can be purchased and once planted to prevent deers from pushing through and also create a habitat for insects, birds and small mammals.
Deer fencing – deer fencing is designed to prevent deers from squeezing through the gaps or simply leaping over.
Protecting saplings – tree guards can protect the delicate bark and branches from the impacts of feeding deers and males marking their territory.

“There are also several repellent methods that you might be able to try, but these are generally short-term options as the deer grow accustomed to them and will return again sooner or later,” says Grace.

Read the Full Article Here>

News, Sustainability

How IT procurement holds the key to a greener business

Written by Tim Westbrook, director at Stone Group

With sustainability rising up the agenda for governments, customers and staff alike, more businesses are committing themselves to a greener and more sustainable future. However, many don’t realise the importance of tackling e-waste if they are to truly make changes to their environmental footprint.

The amount of e-waste generated through 2021 was predicted to total an estimated 57.4 million tonnes – greater than the weight of the Great Wall of China, Earth’s heaviest artificial object. Much of this waste ends up in landfill, being incinerated, hoarded, or illegally traded. If no action is taken, the UK is set to become the biggest e-waste producer in Europe per capita by 2024, according to Spring. And, when you consider that the average business upgrade cycle happens every three to four years, an abundance of devices are deemed surplus to requirements on a regular basis.

According to our own research conducted with almost 1,200 employees, 55% place responsibility for tackling this issue firmly with business, a sentiment shared particularly amongst employees aged 25 to 34 and 24 and under with 82% and 74% respectively believing companies should be doing more to make a difference to the problem of e-waste.

So how can you help to tackle this growing problem?

Stop hoarding!

Now that many businesses are settling into new patterns of hybrid working, it is a great time to conduct an audit of your IT estate as there are likely to be many devices that are no longer required and many that have long been gathering dust in rooms and cupboards.  While you may not think this hoarded kit is of any value, making sure that these are disposed of responsibly can have a huge impact as they can go on to have second lives elsewhere and reduce the need for the manufacturing of new kit – more on this later!

Make, use, recycle

Rather than the traditional ‘take, make, dispose’ approach, a lot can be gained through a more circular ‘make, use, recycle’ route. This puts sustainability at the heart of every stage of the IT equipment’s lifecycle and considers how a business can maximise the lifespan of a product through repair or re-use as well as how they can re-use or recycle products when they reach the end of their lifespan. By doing this thinking up front, it also allows the business to be clearer on specification as they have the kit’s entire lifecycle and cost in mind. What’s more, the added environmental and ethical importance of the procurement process can also act as a barrier or deterrent to those employees that buy equipment outside of the agreed specification and process – an age-old and costly headache which leads to engineers and support teams being unable to sufficiently manage the kit.

Buying new is not the only option

As the saying goes, if you do what you’ve always done, you get what you’ve always got, so in order to make a difference, change really has to come right at the beginning of the process.  This could include buying remanufactured or refurbished products, an approach that would not only help to lower e-waste but is more cost-effective and also reduces the carbon footprint and environmental impact of manufacturing new products.

Alternatively, lease or buy-back options could also be a more sustainable route, either leasing the equipment you need for a period of time or buying the technology but with a clause in the contract for the supplier to buy-back all or part of the equipment which they can then go on to remanufacture or reuse.

There is still some hesitation from businesses around these sustainable routes, ranging from a fear of receiving inferior products, inadequate guarantees or a belief that they have a shorter shelf life. In truth, refurbished IT equipment is a great way of achieving the specifications a business needs at a lower cost. Reputable sellers offer refurbished equipment in a ‘like-new’ condition and offer warrantees that rival those for new devices.

Consider how to dispose of your unwanted kit

Whilst our research showed that a quarter of businesses were unsure what happened to their e-waste or admitted sending it to landfill, 2 in 5 (41%) organisations were trying to give their kit a second life by donating it to charities or schools and 31% use an IT asset disposal (ITAD) facility. In fact, those using an ITAD facility were not only reaping the benefits of their equipment being recycled or refurbished but cited the ease of the items being collected from their organisation and the fact that they could trust that data was securely wiped from their devices as significant factors behind their choice.

However, if you go down this route it’s vital to check a company’s ITAD accreditations to ensure their service complies with the necessary environmental and health and safety laws and guidelines. It is also a good idea to ensure they can provide a full report and traceability as proof that your equipment has been disposed of responsibly and make sure you choose a provider that guarantees zero waste to landfill.

Make sure it works for you

If any change is to be permanent, then it needs to work for the business and not be a burden. Your ITAD provider should make it easy for you to book collections via an app or website and, contrary to the many providers who charge a premium for collecting old kit, you should in fact look for a company that will offer rebates for your old equipment as many items will hold a residual value. The money you get back for your old kit can then be put towards your new IT purchases or reallocated elsewhere in the business. An increasing number of ITAD providers also now offer refurbished products from major manufacturers, and the option to tailor each machine to your specifications.

If every business was to adopt even one aspect of this circular procurement approach then it would make a significant impact on the world’s sustainability mission.

International News, Law, News, North of England

Taylors Solicitors advises iconic sailing brand Henri-Lloyd on its sale to ODLO

A Switzerland-based performance brand is to acquire iconic UK sailing and lifestyle brand Henri-Lloyd Group.

A team at north west law firm Taylors Solicitors has advised the owners of Henri-Lloyd on the sale to ODLO, a specialist sport and outdoor clothing brand which is owned by Monta Rosa Capital.

The acquisition, for a substantial undisclosed sum, is expected to be completed shortly.

Taylors’ team of advisers was led by corporate partners Andrew Livesey and Matthew Catterall and the firm’s head of commercial property, partner John Lomax.

Andrew said: “Henri-Lloyd is an iconic British brand, and we are delighted to have been able to work with the business over the past few years, culminating in the current deal with ODLO.

“It is a pleasure and a privilege to be associated with such a dynamic business and team of individuals, and a brand that is instantly recognised worldwide. This was a particularly pressurised deal, with a substantial amount of detail to be dealt with in a short timescale.

“There were plenty of early starts and late finishes, with all of the professional team fully focused on the task in hand.”

Taylors advised Henri-Lloyd when it last changed hands in 2018, when the brand and valuable assets were acquired out of administration by a group of investors led by Hans Eckerström with the aim of re-establishing the company as the premier brand for yachtsmen and sailors around the world.

Henri-Lloyd was established in Manchester in 1963 and has 85 staff in its UK retail business.

Hans Eckerström, chairman of Henri-Lloyd, said: “The acquisition of Henri-Lloyd by ODLO opens up tremendous opportunities for the brand to reach its true potential to the benefit of all shareholders, both current and future.

“Joining a family of successful companies that share values and goals will accelerate our growth. Most importantly that journey will be based on quality, innovation and striving for sustainability – principles that the Henri-Lloyd team hold dearly.”

Henri-Lloyd was founded by Henri Strzelecki, who set out to create the world’s best and most durable waterproof clothing. He created several world-firsts within technical clothing that have today become industry standards, including seam taping garments for waterproofing and the invention of the nylon non-corrosive zip.

The Henri-Lloyd team will continue to be located in Manchester, and will collaborate with the ODLO group in the development of the brand and a new generation of innovative products.

ODLO chairman Hugo Maurstad said: “We are excited about including Henri-Lloyd into our family of brands. It is an iconic brand with a proud history. Together we aspire to further expand its product range and geographic footprint.

“Henri-Lloyd and ODLO are both companies that originated from technical innovations in outdoor sport apparel and they will complement each other going forward.”

ODLO chief executive Knut Are Høgberg said: “By leveraging ODLO’s comprehensive infrastructure, we can concentrate investments towards the Henri-Lloyd brand and its customers while progressing on the ambitious sustainability agenda of all brands within ODLO International.

“We warmly welcome the Henri-Lloyd team to the ODLO family and look forward to working together going forward.”

Coaching, News, Thought Leadership

Giving people something to believe in

Written by Business Coach Des Kennedy

“OKRs are not a silver bullet. They’re not going to be a substitute for a strong cultute or for stronger leadership, but when those fundamentals are in place, they can take you to the mountain top” – John Doerr.

Business leaders who embrace Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) do so because they seek transformational change. But it’s important to remember that the framework itself is not a silver bullet.

Introducing and embedding OKRs takes time, commitment and buy-in at all levels. And even when you’ve mastered the skills required, you may still find you are not achieving the outcomes you’d aimed for.

That’s because, although OKRs is a powerful tool, it’s ultimately your people that make change happen. So, understanding what drives and connects them is key to OKRs success.

Businesses are human systems. And, like all systems, the better organised and interconnected they are the better they perform.

So, what makes people want to get behind a common goal and embrace a different way of working?  At AuxinOKR we believe the answer starts with purpose. Or, to put it another way, a person’s ability to answer these two simple questions:

  1. Why am I doing this?
  2. Why are we doing this?

Belief in a common purpose motivates people to alter their behaviour both individually and collectively. When this behavioural change leads to positive outcomes their belief gets stronger and motivation increases.

OKRs enable this process to gather and maintain momentum. It’s worth exploring each element in detail to see how they relate to each other.

Purpose

More people today want to work for employers with a clear purpose. Businesses and organisations that aren’t just there to make money for a single stakeholder or achieve growth at all costs but that have a set of deeply held values that they, as employees, can subscribe to and believe in. While increasingly customers and other stakeholders of a business expect it to do more than offer products and services.

Consultancy firm EY defines companies with purpose as those that “create value for a broad set of stakeholders, including society and the environment and that have an aspirational reason for being that is grounded in humanity and that inspires a clear call to action.”

Research shows that 75% of executives of purposeful companies recognise that purpose drives value over the short and longer-term. Including: building customer loyalty; preserving brand reputation; delivering innovative products and services; as well as attracting and retaining top talent.

Beliefs

It is widely recognised that our belief system drives our behaviour. Educational psychologist Dr Bobby Hoffman proposes that human behaviour is based on a set of five tacit self-beliefs that in aggregate determine what we do, how we do it and how we see our accomplishments. These self-beliefs are a set of guiding principles. Operating on a subconscious level these five self-beliefs are:

  • Control
  • Competency
  • Value
  • Goal-orientation
  • Epistemology

Motivation

Motivation at work falls into two categories. Extrinsic motivation is driven by the prospect of external rewards such as a pay rise, bonuses or recognition for a job well done. While intrinsic motivation comes from inside and speaks to a positive emotional response, like a feeling of enjoyment and fulfilment for example.

There are many reasons why we, as individuals, turn up for work every day. These include: enjoying our role; the challenge it presents; the culture of the organisation we work for; the people we work with; the opportunities it provides to further our career; and the money we receive at the end of the month.

Conventional wisdom states that those who are more intrinsically motivated make better employees. In his best-selling book Drive author Dan Pink sets out a model for helping employees become more intrinsically motivated. Stating that rewards alone do little to improve a person’s engagement with tasks and that the ‘carrot and stick’ approach of old is no longer effective in the modern workplace.

Self-determination theory suggests that people are motivated by three innate needs:

  • Autonomy — people need to feel in control of their own behaviour and goals.
  • Competence — people need to master the skills required for success.
  • Connection — people need to feel a sense of belonging and attachment to others.

Behaviour 

Effective business leaders realised long ago that the ‘command and control’ approach of the past is simply not sustainable. Recognising instead the importance of clarity, connection and consideration in every person-to-person interaction. A leader’s role is to guide and encourage individuals towards certain positive behaviours like:

  • Championing company values
  • Commitment, cooperation and collaboration
  • Welcoming new ideas
  • Supporting, trusting and respecting one another
  • Communicating clearly and often

OKRs as a catalyst

When looking at purpose, beliefs, motivation and behaviour in this way the common themes that run throughout each become apparent. But if a business is to achieve transformational change, it needs defined goals and a clear plan to achieve them as well to measure progress. And this is where Objectives and Key Results come in.

When combined with a clear purpose OKRs act as a catalyst increasing conductivity between beliefs, motivation and behaviour.

OKRs actively encourage autonomy, competence and connection (self-determination) amongst teams while providing demonstrable proof that behavioural change delivers positive outcomes.

When your employees believe they have a positive effect on outcomes at work, they become more motivated and engaged. While the conversations, feedback and recognition OKRs promote, support and encourage them as they learn and grow.

As the habits and skills required become second nature so OKRs help build a high-performing team. A team with clearly defined goals and committed actions. With true transparency and accountability. A team that is willing and able to communicate clearly and celebrate each other’s successes.

To learn more about OKRs and how to use them in your business, visit www.auxinokr.com

Appointments, Law, News

Promotion for head of family and divorce team at Bromleys Solicitors

The head of law firm Bromleys’ family and divorce team has been promoted to principal solicitor.

Keith Bull joined the Tameside practice in 2018 and has overseen a doubling in size and turnover for the team.

He specialises in cases involving the breakdown of marriages and relationships of high net worth clients, especially those with their own businesses, investments and sizeable pensions.

Keith is recognised in his field as a leading expert – he is an advanced member of the Law Society’s advanced family law panel and an accredited specialist on the family law panel of Resolution.

Resolution is a membership organisation for lawyers and other professionals committed to constructive, non-confrontational ways to resolve divorce, separation and other family-related legal issues.

Keith has specialist accreditations from Resolution for financial remedies, private children law, domestic violence, and cohabitation and property disputes brought under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act. He is also an assessor for the organisation in the application process for accreditation.

His team at Bromleys also deals with cases involving the children of a broken relationship, particularly domestic violence injunctions and ensuing or related matters.

Mark Hirst, senior partner at Bromleys, said: “Keith’s promotion is recognition for his exemplary work and achievements since joining the firm in 2018. The team under his leadership has gone from strength to strength and this is testament to his strategic planning.”

Keith said: “To be recognised and offered this promotion by the partners at Bromleys is a tremendous honour.

“I have over 30 years of family law experience, and 2022 has been a real milestone for both myself and the team. We smashed the record for turnover for our team and, towards the end of the financial year, I was able to boost our staffing levels as we look very well set for further growth this year.

“Working in family law comes with its challenges. Going through a divorce or a separation is an emotionally-charged time for anyone, but having the right team by your side can help alleviate some of the stresses relating to property, children and financial issues.

“My entire team is dedicated to the cause and always strives to achieve the very best outcome for all our clients.”

Absence Management, HR, Law, News

Employment lawyer issues warning over Jubilee working

Jubilee celebrations could be marred by workplace unrest if employers fail to deal correctly with holiday and pay issues involving their staff, a leading employment lawyer has warned.

Sarah Williams, the head of employment at north west firm Taylors Solicitors, said the four-day bank holiday weekend could trigger discontent if bosses act unfairly.

She has seen a spike in inquiries from employers leading up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which is being marked by an additional bank holiday.

The Spring Bank Holiday, which usually falls on the last Monday of May, is being moved to this Thursday. Friday June 3 has been designated as an extra bank holiday, meaning Britons will enjoy a four-day bank holiday weekend.

Sarah said the care, hospitality and leisure, manufacturing, transport, logistics and retailing sectors are among those where issues are arising.

She said: “Employers have been inundated with requests for holidays to be taken over this weekend, with many people planning to go away.

“They are facing unusual and complex circumstances due to the extra bank holiday and the switch from Monday.

“Holiday issues at the best of times can be difficult to deal with, especially in relation to part-time staff or those who work irregular hours. With the extra bank holiday, there is more potential for conflict.”

She said key issues are involving pay, whether bank holidays are included or not in leave entitlement, and whether employers can make their staff work as they look for ways to keep their businesses functioning.

“Many employers do not fully understand where they stand, and are struggling about whether they have to give people the bank holidays off and how to manage the situation,” she said.

“It is causing particular problems in relation to part-time staff, as many don’t work on Fridays. Some are asking whether they are still entitled to the extra day’s pay, as it is a bank holiday.

“Because there is no statutory right to bank holiday leave and pay under the Working Time Regulations, employers must look at the contracts they have in place to understand their staff’s holiday leave and pay entitlement.

“Provided the employment contract expressly says so, employees can be required to work on a bank holiday.”

She added: “However, part-time employees should not be treated less favourably than those working full-time, otherwise they could pursue a discrimination claim. The same applies to other employees. Employers must respect those with protected characteristics at work and deal with everyone fairly and equally.

“If full-time employees are being given an extra bank holiday, then part-time employees should be offered the same, even if they do not usually work on that day.

“At the same time, employees should be mindful of their employers’ needs, as they will have to absorb one less day of productivity or service this year, and the cost can be high.”

Sarah said problems often occur when contracts are not clearly defined.

“It’s imperative that employers take advice and ensure contracts are well drafted to avoid conflict and potential discrimination or grievance claims,” she said.

News, Technology

University of Salford experts issue guide to metaverses for SME owners

Experts at the University of Salford have published a new guide for business owners on the pros and cons of metaverses, as more and more SMEs consider harnessing these fast-developing technologies to innovate and grow their companies.

The 170-page book explores the workings of the virtual world of metaverses and how these can help tech-minded companies in a secure way, as well as highlighting the risks involved.

It has been compiled by Umran Ali, John O’Hare and Allen Fairchild from the Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry after the trio began analysing blockchain, crypto-currencies, virtual and augmented reality, non-fungible tokens and other aspects of metaverses for a business which had approached them for technical help.

Allen said their undertaking began as a technical paper, but grew and grew as the trio delved deeper into the subject at the GM Cyber Foundry’s virtual laboratory.

Their book, Money in Metaverses, has initially been published online on the GitHub platform as an open source guide which can be updated. It may be produced in print at a later date.

Allen is a GM Cyber Foundry analyst, developer and team leader working alongside Umran, a senior lecturer in creative media, and John, who is a Bitcoin researcher and the technical director of the Octave Lab, a multi-modal immersive research system at the University of Salford. Lorena Gomez, the GM Cyber Foundry project manager, also contributed to the book.

Allen said: “At the GM Cyber Foundry, we have been collaborating with SMEs over recent years, responding to their questions about emerging trends.

“As part of this mission, we were asked about new developments in terms of the value and trust in metaverses.

“We were interested in researching this field, and our virtual lab has become bigger and bigger as new technologies have emerged, so it seemed a logical step to compile the book as a guide to businesses looking at ways to enter the metaverse world and capitalise on the opportunities available.

“The aim is to show how the technologies and software can help businesses to enable them to make an informed decision if they wish to get a foot in the door of metaverses on a global stage without compromising their cyber security.

“It looks at blockchain, Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, NFTs, Web3 and more. Metaverse technologies are extremely fast-paced, and many aspects and topics are enormously complex.

“We have exhaustively researched the emerging consensus narrative to try to figure out how these technologies might serve SMEs from a perspective of security best practice. We have also included a how-to guide to the software used in metaverses.”

Allen added that, while there are many advantages for SMEs in entering the metaverse world, there are also pitfalls of which they should be aware.

“There are many ways to get the technology wrong,” he said.

The GM Cyber Foundry is a £6m scheme which helps innovative companies to develop digital products and services in a cyber-secure way.

More than 140 business have benefited from the initiative since its launch in 2018.

It brings together experts from Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, the University of Salford and Lancaster University to share their expertise with SMEs and help them to innovate and grow while defending data, systems and software from cyber-attacks.

In partnership with the GM Cyber Foundry, companies undertake research and development projects which are fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Charity & CSR, Law, News

Law firm Bromleys backs Reuben’s Retreat as its charity of the year

Staff at Tameside law firm Bromleys have chosen Reuben’s Retreat, which provides support to families bereaved of a child and those with complexly poorly children, as their charity of the year for 2022.

Reuben’s Retreat is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is raising funds to meet its ongoing costs as well as for its multi-million pound Forever Home in Glossop.

The charity was founded in August 2012 by the family of Reuben Michael Graham, who died at just 23 months from an inoperable brain tumour.

His family launched Reuben’s Retreat just two days after his death to provide a safe place for families to ‘relax, recharge, remember and rebuild’.

Initially based in Ashton-under-Lyne, the charity purchased the former Wood’s Hospital in Glossop in 2014 for its base. Bromleys did the conveyancing work relating to the transaction for no charge.

Since its inception, Reuben’s Retreat has supported over 1,300 individuals from across the UK by providing peer-led monthly support groups, meditation evenings, weekend rambles, one-to-one counselling and holistic therapy sessions for parents and siblings as well as regular music and animal therapy, bespoke memory making and memorial events.

The charity also arranges respite and bereavement breaks, allowing families bereaved of a child to remember and rebuild, and those with a complexly ill child to relax and recharge.

Reuben’s Retreat recently completed an activity wing at its HQ, which houses a hydrotherapy pool, sensory room and play room with chill zone.

When completed, the Forever Home will feature five apartments for families to come and create memories with however much time they have.

Reuben’s mum Nicola said: “We are absolutely delighted to be Bromleys’ chosen charity, especially after what has been a difficult period during the pandemic for all.

“We have grown so much more since those early days of receiving Bromleys’ support when we purchased our Retreat nearly eight years ago.

“We are excited to share how far we have come, and are even more thrilled to have their talented team to be a part of #reubensjourney once more.

“Our vision is to continue to offer emotional and practical support to families bereaved of a child, and those families facing an uncertain future with their medically complexed child, to offer up unique space, a place where families can relax, recharge, remember and rebuild.

“Bromleys’ support will be key to building on these many milestones as we commit to the next building project so that we are able to reach more families.

“We’re so grateful to Bromleys for choosing to support our cause.”

Bromleys partner Paul Westwell said: “It is great to once again be involved with supporting this worthwhile cause, from the early days of seeing the plans for the Retreat on paper, through completion of the acquisition of the site and then windy walkarounds during the construction phase. Seeing it now in use and the plans to go even further is phenomenal.

“The support offered by the team at Reuben’s Retreat to all of its users is exemplary in so many respects, and everyone at Bromleys is proud to continue our long association with the charity.”