Tag Archives: Business advice

Accountancy & Accounts, Appointments, News

Dealmaker Max Perry gains promotion at HURST

A dealmaker at independent accounting and business advisory firm HURST has been promoted to associate partner.

Max Perry joins the HURST board as a result of his promotion from associate director.

He has completed a range of transactions involving UK and overseas trade buyers and private equity buyers since joining HURST’s corporate finance team in December 2021 after roles at Deloitte and corporate finance boutique Camlee Group

His deal highlights at HURST include advising the shareholders of Huddersfield-based PCS Asbestos Consultants on the company’s sale to AIM-listed Marlowe, acting for the shareholders of financial advisory firm Financial Management Bureau on the sale of the Cumbria-based business to Finitor Wealth, and advising north west IT and telecoms solutions provider Active on its sale to technology company Babble.

Max is among a group of HURST’s rising stars who are taking part in a bespoke two-year leadership development programme.

HURST is the first accountancy firm headquartered in the north to launch a Vistage Inside programme for future leaders. Vistage, with 45,000 members worldwide, is a global leader in personal development and advisory groups for CEOs, key executives and leadership teams.

Nigel Barratt, partner and head of HURST’s corporate finance team, said: “Max has played a leading role in growing our business by successfully completing transactions with UK and international trade buyers and private equity buyers.

“He is currently working on a number of transactions, has brought new clients to the firm and has built strong relationships with existing ones. He’s passionate about developing team members and actively supports and mentors his colleagues.

“His promotion is well-deserved and we look forward to seeing Max continue to flourish as our corporate finance practice expands further.”

Max said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at HURST so far and I’m especially grateful to Nigel, corporate finance partner Ben Bradley and Mike Jackson, the head of our business services team, for their guidance to date.

“I’m absolutely delighted to receive this promotion and to have been invited to join the board. The firm is so full of talented individuals, and the future is incredibly exciting. It’s an honour to be asked to play my part in it.”

HURST focuses on advising entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses with turnover of £10m and above across all sectors. Clients include Kinaxia Logistics, M&I Materials, Beechfield Brands, Duerr’s, Oliver Valves, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Krones UK, Creamline Dairies, Arighi Bianchi, Scapa Group and Hyde Group.

The firm will move its head office to a new flagship development in Stockport later this month to accommodate its growing team. HURST is taking 11,000sq ft at 3 Stockport Exchange, the latest phase of a £145m project by Muse Developments and Stockport Council.

It has been based since 1998 in Tiviot Dale in Stockport town centre, but has outgrown those premises. The new HQ will give the firm scope to expand from 120 staff to around 170, which it aims to achieve over the next three years.

Appointments, Finance and Banking, Finance News, News

Duo gain promotion in HURST’s tax team

Independent accounting and business advisory firm HURST has announced two promotions in its tax team.

Sam Ryan, who joined HURST in 2022, has been promoted to tax manager. He works with clients on a range of matters, including transactions, due diligence and restructuring.

Liza Whiley, who moved to HURST in 2021, has become an associate tax manager. She has a dual role, covering personal tax advisory and research and development.

HURST partner Liz Gallagher, head of the tax team, said: “Sam and Liza are integral to the success of our tax advisory department and have both contributed significantly to what will be our best-ever year.

“As a firm, it’s important that we recognise their hard work and dedication as they progress their tax careers with us.

“In addition to reflecting their individual contributions to the business, their promotions underline our commitment to helping colleagues actively develop their careers with us.

“On a personal level, I’m delighted that Sam and Liza have made these important career steps with HURST and I and look forward to working with them as we go forward to the next phase of our firm’s growth.”

HURST focuses on advising entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses with turnover of £10m and above across all sectors. Clients include Kinaxia Logistics, M&I Materials, Beechfield Brands, Duerr’s, Oliver Valves, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Krones UK, Creamline Dairies, Arighi Bianchi, Scapa Group and Hyde Group.

The tax team promotions follow a raft of recent promotions in HURST’s business services team. Four of those five individuals began their careers with the firm as trainees.

HURST is due to move its head office to a new flagship development in Stockport in the spring to accommodate its growing team.

The firm is taking 11,000sq ft at 3 Stockport Exchange, the latest phase of a £145m project by Muse Developments and Stockport Council.

HURST is taking a 10-year lease and will occupy the entire fifth floor at the building. It has been based since 1998 in Tiviot Dale in Stockport town centre, but has outgrown those premises.

The new HQ will give the firm scope to expand from 120 staff to around 170, which it aims to achieve over the next three years.

News

Experts warn many businesses may be ‘painting over the cracks’ on structural property issues

Having experienced one of the hottest summers on record in 2022, followed by heavy rainfall and storms as we approach the middle of winter, properties of all sizes are at risk of subsidence and long term structural damage from ground movement. For businesses in particular, the effects of this can be significant operational downtime, hefty repair costs, and worst case; demolition or relocation of business premises due to unsafe structural conditions.

Mainmark – the ground strengthening and subsidence specialists – are warning that it is time to stop painting over and hiding structural cracks. Mainmark is advising facilities managers, commercial tenants, and all non-domestic property owners to take note of new cracks and monitor the size of older ones to know when the damage is serious and action is needed – rather than the default of painting over or hiding unsightly cracks on business premises.

Along with this advice comes a new downloadable crack gauge tool for businesses or FMs to be able to monitor and record crack sizes and changes themselves to recognise bigger issues before they arise: https://mainmark.co.uk/crack-gauge/

Tom Kavanagh, general manager at Mainmark says: “In September, the Met Office reported that 2022 was so far the driest year on record since 1976. When there is a heatwave or warm weather, the soil and ground beneath a building excessively dries out. Depending on your soil type – which varies greatly depending on where your business is based in the UK – its ability to retain water can lead to subsidence, where the ground shrinks and pulls the property down slightly. Cracks are one of the first and most obvious indicators of movement.

“Given the significantly warm summer we have just experienced, we are encouraging facilities managers and owners of commercial buildings to record visible cracks, new and old, regularly. We have introduced our free crack gauge for an easy and guided way to monitor cracks around the premises, instead of simply hiding or covering over these because they might be unsightly for employees or customers.

“We are already beginning to see the structural impact on buildings from this summer’s weather with a significant increase in enquiries across the UK for foundation repair, raising, re-levelling and re-support on both domestic and business properties. It can be tempting to avoid the issue and default to the common approach of painting over the cracks, but this only masks the problem aesthetically and ignores the bigger issue at play; subsidence.

“Subsidence not only devalues the property for land owners and businesses, but it can also be costly and difficult to rectify at later stages with traditional methods like underpinning. It also compromises the structural safety for tenants too, so even if you are renting the space for commercial reasons, it is important to alert your landlord or local authority. It can also make a property harder to sell in the future, and increase the cost of insurance premiums significantly, if left to worsen.

“However, not every wall crack is serious or indicates an issue; many UK buildings will have these. Particularly new builds as buildings “settle”. But all cracks should be monitored over time as they are the biggest warning sign of severe foundation damage, along with jammed doors or windows, or sinking floors.”

Mainmark’s technical sales engineer David Hedley shares three signs that indicate building cracks are serious:

1. Large cracks that start at windows, doorways or corners of buildings
Cracks that indicate a significant issue tend to form in these areas first. They may not be as obvious as ones in the middle of the ceiling or in a very noticeable spot, so checking routinely for cracks in these areas is essential. It’s less spotted by businesses or employees so cleaners or facilities managers could be briefed to check.

2. Cracks are wider than about 5mm (or half a centimetre)
The size of the crack is important, as well as how quickly it forms. A 1mm crack that has been the same for three years is not a big worry, but one that is 0.5cm and growing is a red flag for owners of commercial premises, as the building will require further investigation and action when they are of this significant size.

3. Cracks that are jagged, horizontal or vertical, zig-zagged, stepped in brickwork, or follow mortar lines
With most properties being plastered internally or wallpapered, these cracks can sometimes be a bit hidden. And in commercial settings or an office space, may be in an unused area and go unnoticed. As soon as a jagged or zig-zag crack is visible, consult professional advice or alert a landlord as soon as possible.

Construction, Construction News, News

4 steps that businesses and commercial property owners need to make ahead of the worsening winter weather

With the weather taking a stormy turn in the coming days, and colder forecasts in December, there are important seasonal property checks that business owners, facilities managers and commercial landlords should be making to avoid danger to employees and serious, costly damage to their properties.

Roofing and solar tile experts Marley, are warning business owners to make these necessary safety precautions ahead of the worsening and upcoming winter weather.

Phil Wallis, technical manager at Marley says: “Every year roofing issues cause damage to commercial properties and business premises. Autumn and winter’s concoction of colder temperatures, stormy winds, and heavy rain make for a testing time for roofs. So December is the opportune time to take action before the temperatures significantly drop, and schedule an annual property inspection.

“Many business owners only think about their roofs when there is an issue and they either need to repair or replace them. Unfortunately leaving a problem until it is noticed or severe can be extremely costly for businesses. For a company that operates with technical equipment, a roof leak could devastate computers and tools, and for businesses that can only operate from their premises, it is essential they are safe and open all year round to avoid loss of income or operational impact.”

“As businesses prepare for 2023 and plan budgets, it’s important to factor building maintenance into this too. Routine checks and simple seasonal precautions can help business owners to spot early signs of damage and prevent falling tiles or costly roofing repairs. We are encouraging companies across the UK to take a four-step roofing health check in November to help minimise bigger roofing issues, damage, or worse, injuries.”

Phil’s four winter roof maintenance steps:

1. Clear roofing obstructions like leaves, debris and moss

The key here before wetter winter weather is to ensure leaves and debris are removed from valleys and gutters, and that moss and lichens are removed as they can affect the flow of rainwater. Moss often grows on roofs and structures that don’t receive much sunlight, including those that are north-facing or under trees. The growths typically occur on the tile surface and between roof tiles, and the big issue with this is that it can cause moisture retention and tiles to lift. Frequently moss and algae can be removed by professionals by brushing with a handheld tool or alternatively by applying a moss removing product. Many cleaning firms default to high pressure jet washers for this task, but it’s best to avoid these as they can actually damage the tiles or reduce their overall service life, particularly if repeated often.

2. Check the roof space to identify leaks or cracks in tiles

Many firms are unlikely to go into office attics or even utilise this space, so ensuring this area is checked by an external team or facilities manager before winter is ideal. Leaks would be obvious in the home, but with staff not in the larger office space all the time, it can go undetected. Similarly, if you wait till the point a tile falls off, then you risk injuries to an employee, customer or vehicle.

When a clay or concrete roof tile becomes loose, damaged, or falls off, it makes the underlying roof structure vulnerable to weather damage and leaks. This can often be identified inside the property from the roof space, particularly on older structures. Checking roofs internally can reveal water ingress or evidence of damaged/missing tiles and various other tell tale signs, but this alone will not suffice. Internal inspection should always be accompanied by an external inspection, carried out by trained operatives using suitable roof access equipment.

3. Health-check solar tiles or panels

Demand from non-domestic buildings is definitely growing for solar tile solutions – particularly in the current energy crisis situation – and we’re installing more solar tiles than ever before on commercial and office spaces. During installation of new solar tiles, it is a good time to get a professional to thoroughly check your building’s roof. At this time of year, solar installations should be checked to ensure panels are clear of debris and foreign matter which can affect performance and check there are no signs of visible damage or degradation. Consider updating very old or outdated solar solutions to ensure full efficiency and property safety.

4. Repair damages before the weather worsens

If you or a facilities manager notices any problems during the winter roof check on your business property, take steps to address the issue as soon as possible. If left, it will only worsen as the icy, cold and windy weather approaches. In most cases, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional roofing expert, as they will have the tools and knowledge to carry out the work safely and to a high standard, and ensure your premises’ roof will weather the stormy season.

Choosing a recommended roofing installer and professional is key to maintain long-term roof health and avoid seasonal issues. To locate an installer, Marley has a search tool, so landlords and business property owners can seek professional advice before winter officially sets in.

To learn more, visit https://www.marley.co.uk/installers

News

HURST staff reach new heights to raise thousands for hospice

Intrepid staff at accounting and business advisory firm HURST have reached new heights to raise thousands of pounds for a Greater Manchester hospice.

HURST partner and director of practice development Simon Brownbill and Rebecca Leech, an associate in HURST’s business services team, led the way with sponsored tandem skydives from 15,000ft.

Meanwhile a team of 25 HURST colleagues completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge – scaling Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in 12 hours.

Seven others undertook a cycle ride along the Tissington Trail in the Peak District, covering a total of 26 miles there and back, while a group of six took part in an open swim at Sale Water Park in Greater Manchester, clocking up 7km in total, followed by a 10km walk.

The endeavours mean HURST has now raised more than £13,000 for Willow Wood Hospice, which is based in Ashton-under-Lyne and provides care and support throughout Tameside and Glossop.

Willow Wood is HURST’s charity of the year for the second year in a row, as Covid impacted the firm’s fundraising ambitions in 2021.

Simon said: “Willow Wood does amazing work and our team was keen to help them out with some creative fundraising efforts.

“We’ve had groups of people doing some amazing things for the charity. I’d always wanted to try a skydive, and having the opportunity to do one for such a great cause was awesome.

“As well as raising money, we have supported Willow Wood directly, with a number of staff volunteering in its shop, distribution centre and at the hospice itself, and by the firm donating a number of computer monitors.”

Rebecca said: “I was inspired to do the skydive for Willow Wood as it was something I’d always wanted to do and I couldn’t think of a better reason to do it than to raise money for this lovely charity.

“I have a family friend whose mother was looked after at the hospice, and they have spoken so highly of the care that she received. It’s a very worthy cause to jump out of a plane for!”

The hospice provides care for people who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. It has an 11-bed unit for palliative and end-of-life care. All of the rooms have en-suite facilities, a garden view and a private patio.

Willow Wood also provides holistic therapies, a dementia café, home support and bereavement support. It costs around £3m a year to run the hospice.

Mark Llewellin, vice-chair of Willow Wood’s board of trustees and its acting head of income generation, said: “Our sincere and grateful thanks go to the HURST team, who have pulled out all the stops to support Willow Wood this year.

“After voting for us as their charity of the year, they have not only volunteered in our shops, distribution centre and at the hospice itself, but have also raised thousands of pounds with their many and varied challenges.

“Their commitment has been fantastic and we are very proud to be associated with them. We wouldn’t be able to care for patients and their loved ones without supporters such as the team at HURST.”

News

IT company reveals how to guard against hackers in Cyber Security Awareness Month

To mark Cyber Security Awareness Month an Oxford based company has issued key advice on how to protect against becoming a victim of digital fraudsters.

OX IT Solutions has issued five top ways for organisations and people to stop criminals hacking into websites, social media platforms and bank accounts. As part of Cyber Security Awareness Month, it is offering all businesses free, remote cyber security reviews to help them identify weaknesses within their IT infrastructure.

The Kidlington based company helps NHS trusts, schools and businesses across the UK protect against cyber security attacks.

Using unique passwords, additional security levels like two factor authentication, regularly backing up data and managing software updates are some of the areas people need to consider when using computers, tablets and smart phones.

Earlier this year the government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey estimated 72% of large firms and 48% of small firms in the UK had been victim of a cyber security attack in the last 12 months. This month OX IT Solutions will post top tips on social media to remind people how to stay safe online.

Chris Cope, OX IT Solutions director said: “Most people are online daily both for work and leisure and lead busy lives, so it is easy to forget or be complacent about cyber security.

“But the smallest gap in the armour is how hackers break into websites, cloud storage, email, social media accounts and bank accounts to issue ransom notes, steal identities and data to sell on the dark web and even take money.

“They rely on security settings not being up to date – it is like leaving the front door of your home unlocked, open and unattended. Cyber Security Month is a good way of reminding people of the issue and some simple steps they can take to protect themselves to stay one step ahead of hackers.”

Here are OX IT Solutions top five tips to be cyber safe.

  1. Install anti-malware software

Malware is malicious software that looks to infect, corrupt and disable networks and devices. It can come in the form of a virus, ransomware or spyware. Installing anti-malware protection across all devices should significantly reduce the threat of a breach.

  1. Keep software up to date

Hackers look to gain access through old or out of date software by exploiting vulnerabilities. Staying up to date with patch management and the latest software will minimize weaknesses in infrastructure.

  1. Staff training

Email phishing is the single largest cause of cyber security attacks in the UK. Luckily, with the right training, most attacks are easy to spot. Promoting vigilance and education amongst staff seriously reduces the number of low-level breaches.

  1. Don’t share passwords

Up to 80% of data breaches involve stolen or weak passwords as the main vulnerability. Never use the same password across multiple accounts and, where possible, implement multi factor authentication.

  1. Back up data

Valuable data can be lost or destroyed as a result of a cyber security breach. Making regular backups through the cloud or external storage will reduce downtime in the event of an attack. “Data theft and cyber security attacks are growing at an alarming rate year on year and becoming increasingly sophisticated,” added Chris. “We hope Cyber Security Month can help ensure more people are better protected online.”

OX IT Solutions specialises in providing network, infrastructure and cyber security solutions. It works with major blue-chip companies, healthcare institutions, local authorities and SMEs. Its clients include the Royal College of Nursing, NW London NHS Trust and Molton Brown.

News

Accounting firm HURST strengthens tax advisory team with two recruits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News

Small business owners urged to move their finances online to get ahead of Making Tax Digital

Micro and small business owners are being urged to move their finances online well ahead of the Making Tax Digital (MTD) introduction in April 2024. According to Chartered Management Accountant and small business tax expert, Oumesh Sauba, business owners should prioritise moving their financial records online or face being left behind. 

Although the introduction of MTD has been pushed back to 2024, to allow business owners an extra year to prepare, there are over 5 million businesses, self-employed workers and landlords with incomes of over £10,000 a year who will be affected by the new rules. They now have until April 2024 to move all of their accounting records online, at which point they will need to start filing quarterly updates to HMRC instead of a single annual update. 

Oumesh Sauba, director of accounting firm Sauba and Daughters Co and founder and CEO of MyT Limited, an innovative AI-driven accounting app and software designed to support freelancers and micro businesses, urges business owners not to underestimate the work involved with digitising their finances. 

“Digitising the tax system through Making Tax Digital is the biggest change to business taxation for decades” Says Oumesh. 

He argues that businesses must take advantage of the time they’ve been given to prepare their bookkeeping information in a format that’s ready to be uploaded online. For some, this will be a complete overhaul of their systems so the sooner this process starts, the better.

“Making Tax Digital is ultimately a good thing as it will reduce errors and streamline the taxation process. However, it will take some adjustment and this is where accounting software can help. If businesses choose software with innovative AI functionality like MyT, they will be able to process paperwork easily and quickly, saving both time and resources. Giving yourself adequate time to identify any issues, gaps in information and adjust to new systems is the best thing you can do for your business.” He adds

Diversity, News

Global study reveals female staff continue to fare worse on numerous elements of the employee experience

A global survey of 11,000 deskless employees has revealed a continuing imbalance between men’s and women’s experiences in the workplace – with workforce management experts Quinyx calling for organisations to make 2022 a year of cultural transformation.

The Quinyx study – of sectors including retail, logistics and hospitality – found that women continue to fare worse than male colleagues on a range of factors relating to their employee experience.

These include overall happiness with their work environment, how comfortable they are speaking to bosses on issues such as pay, and whether they’ve gone to work sick as they’re not able to afford time off.

The UK findings revealed that just 27% of female workers are comfortable discussing pay rises or wage disparities with their managers, for example, and 46% of female employees don’t believe there are a lot of job opportunities open to them based on their skills (compared to 40% and 36% of male workers, respectively).

Additionally, in most of the 11 countries surveyed, including the UK, women are less likely than male workers to have received help with career progression from their managers – such as discussing specific steps towards promotion, or being provided with a mentor.

Quinyx chief HR officer Toma Pagojute said: “An employee’s overall experience is made up of numerous parts, and if women’s experiences are consistently falling short across the board, then we need to ask why.”

She added that the findings point to a need for “a sustained shift in organisations’ priorities” and that 2022 presents a unique opportunity for companies, following the disruptions of the last two years, to “redress the balance and get employee engagement and wellbeing right for everyone.”

The UK findings of the Quinyx State of the Deskless Workforce report also revealed: • 63% of female employees have considered quitting their job because they’re unhappy with their work environment (51% of male employees). This rises to 71% of female hospitality workers.

• Women are more likely to feel pressured by co-workers into taking shifts they don’t want to take (45% female / 33% male).

• 60% of female workers have been to work sick because they couldn’t afford to take time off (49% of male workers).

• Just 25% of female workers say their manager has shared specific steps towards their promotion, and 18% say their manager has identified a mentor for them (30% and 25% for male workers). Women working in transportation & warehousing and retail are even less likely to have discussed steps to promotion (13% and 19% respectively).

Toma continued: “Our research highlights a huge opportunity for organisations to make 2022 the year of significant workplace change. After the upheaval and uncertainty of the last two years, it’s time to move forward. We have a unique window now to re-set and create a sea change that can empower all workers, particularly women, who continue to feel the effects of long-term inequalities.

“There’s a lot to address, but if organisations put people at the forefront of business strategy and operations, and managers lead by example by considering employee engagement at every step, then changes will start to become ingrained.

“Moreover, in light of understaffing issues that continue to affect many industries, it’s in businesses’ best interests to look after staff and help retain them.”

Toma’s advice for organisations looking to improve employee engagement and wellbeing in 2022, is:

  1. Adopt a flexible approach. Our research shows that more than half of UK employees have missed out on planned leisure time and events due to work; additionally, around a third say they would prefer a flexible schedule over higher pay. The pandemic brought greater awareness of the possibilities of flexible working for office-based roles but we would love to see flexible approaches being considered for deskless workers too. The recent announcement of a four-day week trial is positive – and while this isn’t an option for all, it’s encouraging that the dialogue is changing.

An initial step might be introducing a company-wide respect policy, so staff know that requests for time off or to change shifts will be received without judgement.

  1. Really get to know your staff. It’s great that employers are bringing in policies such as ‘stay interviews’; some are even checking in on staff sleep habits to ensure wellbeing. Sleep check-ins are optional, of course, but promoting the link between health and wellbeing, and how people feel and perform at work can only be a positive step. Managers might also want to introduce wellness days – giving staff flexibility to take leave when they need to focus on their wellness, aside from their traditional holidays.
  2. Utilise technology – workforce management software lets managers see where staffing gaps need plugging and where resource can be better spent. Using tools that enable employees to implement shift changes themselves might feel like relinquishing control but can give business leaders more time to focus on the bigger picture.
  3. Reward great performance and loyalty. Only half of UK workers say they feel that their work is valued by their manager, with most of these believing their boss sees them as a disposable or temporary resource. Regular acknowledgements and rewards don’t need to be big or expensive and can go a long way when it comes to staff retention.
  4. Make your people your priority. Ultimately, employees are any business’s best asset. Employee engagement and wellbeing needs to be at the heart of everyday operations and ingrained throughout a business’s culture if we are to see a significant change.
Marketing, PR and SEO, News

SocialHub: the quarterly online event business owners need to know about

A UK leading social media consultancy firm, Be More Social who’s headquarters are in Doncaster is helping business owners get a handle on social media by hosting SocialHub, a series of quarterly, interactive online events. Running each quarter since October 2020 these events are proving popular amongst businesses of all sizes.

The team at Be More Social are familiar with the pain points many business owners face when trying to manage their own social media marketing, which is why CEO Rik Courtney – who has become a sought after speaker for his expertise on the topic, decided to launch these online events that are accessible for business owners wherever they are based. 

Over 100 business owners joined the first event of 2022. Joining the line-up was surprise guest speaker, Jon Asquith – a multi-award-winning business coach from ActionCOACH Sheffield. 

Rik Courtney, CEO at Be More Social on why he decided to launch SocialHub added: “Time and time again, I see business owners struggling to manage their social media effectively. Many often end up frustrated by lack of results and outsource to an agency to manage their social accounts, even if they don’t really want to. 

“Despite nearly all of the population using social media platforms personally, many people don’t realise running social media accounts for a business is a whole new ball game, that can be absolutely mind-boggling at times. Yet arming business owners with the latest social know-how and a strong plan of action, businesses can really reap the rewards. I genuinely love helping business owners understand social media and how to take control to get the results they want, which is why I started hosting the SocialHub”.

Terri Malcolm Co-Owner of bespoke, handcrafted glassware company Allister Malcolm Glass Ltd who attended the first event of 2022 commented: “It was brilliant, I got loads of ideas from the event that I can now go away and implement into my own social media strategies”. 

Emma Dougal, Director of first-aid training company, FABtraining added: “The SocialHub events are really useful. Although I’m definitely not a salesperson, January’s event left me feeling like I could possibly become one after the presentation from Jon Asquith”. 

At each event, attendees learn heaps of useful knowledge from Rik and Be More Social’s digital gurus and their expert guest speakers. Although large groups of business owners attend the events, after the speaking sessions, attendees are split off into breakout rooms to work closely with a Be More Social digital guru, in small interactive groups. In the groups, attendees are then guided through creating a social media plan for the next 90 days, and access specialist advice on their individual business social media needs. 

Guest speaker at January’s event, Jon Asquith, Managing Director at ActionCOACH Sheffield on his thoughts about SocialHub: “Having worked with thousands of businesses over the last 10 years, I’ve seen how valuable 90-day planning is. SocialHub is a great opportunity for business owners to really get clear on their marketing strategy, goals for the future and put a plan in place, it was great to be involved”. 

The second event of the year will take place on Friday 25th March. Joining Rik and his team to give her advice and talk about her journey of building a six-figure business in 18 months and gaining over 80k followers on LinkedIn, is personal branding specialist, Amelia Sordell – founder and director of Klowt.