Tag Archives: news

Redefining Compliance with V6 Cisco Director and V6 Cisco 360 Advisory

Helping businesses realize the full potential of their Cisco Partnership

Ensuring strong alignment with Cisco’s market direction and programs in today’s fast evolving commercial environment makes a material difference to the bottom line for Cisco partners.

That is why Vortex 6 is pleased to announce the launch of V6 Cisco Director and V6 Cisco 360 Advisory, a comprehensive suite of tools and services designed to maximize the value of Cisco partnerships. Together, this suite delivers greater management awareness, improved competitiveness, business continuity and better alignment with Cisco programs.

Commenting on the launch Peter Olive, CEO says: “We are driven by a passion for helping our customers fully realize the value of their relationship with Cisco. V6 Cisco Director and V6 Cisco 360 Advisory provide Cisco partners with new opportunities, better alignment, and more control and visibility for all stakeholders. Most importantly it delivers the opportunity to maximize profitability and make a significant difference to the bottom line.”

The Cisco Director suite comprises:

V6 BOM Analyzer

BOM Analyzer is a powerful sales tool for Cisco partners. It provides true deal margin visibility which can typically be up to three times the visible margin. V6 BOM Analyzer lets partners know the margin on the product, applicable VIP, CSPP, Life Cycle Incentive opportunities and Professional Services margin. This is good for partners and good for Cisco.

V6 Cisco Compliance

V6 Cisco Compliance fully automates management of compliance with the Cisco Partner Program in a single dashboard. Delivering full visibility of the current position and providing advanced notice of upcoming changes that will affect program status. It’s a powerful planning tool enabling partners to consider different strategies and includes all the training and costs required for each Certification to make budgeting simple. Partners no longer need to build and maintain custom spreadsheets or find people with deep knowledge of the Cisco Programs. V6 Cisco Compliance reduces cost and risk.

V6 Cisco Incentives

Cisco offers generous incentives and rebates to encourage partners’ business direction and market focus. The V6 Cisco Incentives management solution enables them to take advantage of these by providing a comprehensive view of incentives and rebates including accrued VIP rebate, status of minimum bookings, rebates accrued by client, financial forecasting and upcoming renewals.

V6 Cisco 360 Advisory

We have pulled together all of our expert advisory services into V6 Cisco 360 Advisory. It covers advice on every aspect of a partner’s relationship with Cisco from strategic alignment through to operational efficiency, specialization advice, incentive forecasting, and audit preparation.

V6 LCI Advisory (Life Cycle Incentives)

V6 LCI Advisory offers detailed guidance to unlock rebates across all LCI opportunities, ensuring compliance with Cisco’s criteria for Customer Success Plans and Business Outcomes. This strategic support assists in navigating Cisco program changes, optimizing lifecycle processes for efficiency, and securing maximum rebate potential through expert advisory services.

Vortex 6 is attending Cisco live in Las Vegas from 2-6 June, if you would like to talk to any of the team about V6 Cisco Director and V6 Cisco 360 Advisory please email Andy.Macleod@Vortex6.com

To find out more about V6 Cisco Director and V6 Cisco 360 Advisory, please visit www.vortex6.com.

 

Ciphr rebrand puts HR ‘front and centre’

Ciphr has unveiled a new brand identity and vision today, designed to showcase the importance and value of HR and people teams to UK businesses.

The all-encompassing rebrand puts people management professionals at the centre of its transformative new look and narrative, and positions Ciphr as their go-to HR software and solutions partner.

Ciphr’s vibrant new colour palette, logo, website and content may seem like a seismic shift in market direction – but it’s not. It’s simply more representative of the people-centric brand and employee-centric company that it’s always been. And it’s purposefully more reflective of, and aligned to, its customer base – the people who use, and rely on, Ciphr’s integrated HR, payroll, learning and recruitment software and services.

The use of eye-catching visuals and impactful copy that resonates with the HR community adds more warmth and personality to the brand. It’s immediately more memorable, more human, and full of characterful flourishes that emphasise Ciphr’s people-first approach and HR expertise.

Chris Boddice, who joined Ciphr as chief marketing officer last year, says: “I always thought that our brand didn’t really express the lived experience of working in, and with, Ciphr.

“There’s a fantastic level of energy, enthusiasm and expertise here at Ciphr. It comes through when I talk to our people, and I see it every time I join customer calls. We have a deep understanding of the problems that HR teams face – and the experience and passion to help fix them. That’s something that hasn’t been talked about enough, until now.

“I wanted to change that. So the market can truly see who we are and what we are capable of. This rebrand has certainly done that; it captures the essence of who we are and what we can do for UK organisations.”

At the heart of Ciphr’s rebrand is its new brand vision – to amplify the voice and value of HR. HR teams are often undervalued by their organisations, and research shows that HR’s pivotal role in delivering business success can go unrecognised or be misperceived. That shouldn’t be the norm, though, and it doesn’t make good business sense, explains Ciphr’s CEO Sion Lewis.

“Ciphr is on a mission to make sure HR’s voice is heard. The impact of HR decision-makers has never been more important to UK businesses. So why leave your HR team – the people who know your workforce better than anyone – on the sideline when they should be front and centre?

“With the right data and the right tools, our customers can identify talent, trends and opportunities that reveal the hidden value of their people. This is gold dust for HR leaders who want to have influence in the boardroom. Our HR software provides invaluable insights that can inform business strategy. We provide the means to automate and streamline processes so HR teams can focus on developing their people. Because, let’s face it, if you want your business to grow and succeed, you’ve got to look after your biggest asset – your people.”

Here for the people who are here for the people

Ciphr worked with Airborne Studio on the rebranding, which also included the design and build of the new Ciphr website. The design agency conducted extensive interviews and workshops with Ciphr employees – many of whom have a background in HR, L&D and payroll themselves – to inform the new look and brand positioning.

The comprehensive changes include the introduction of a brighter range of colours, such as cool blue, mint green and mauve pink, and a softer, more ‘approachable’, flat logo design that works across the primary palette. There’s also contrasting typography, combining the Söhne Leicht and GT Super Text fonts in headlines to great effect. Illustrative flourishes highlight key ideas and photography, and a range of bespoke ‘doodles’ from Mr Woody Woods, a Manchester-based illustrator, add personality throughout.

Luke Kelly, founder and creative director of Airborne Studio, says: “It was clear from the outset of this project that Ciphr’s employees are ‘people people’. It’s not just a software or a consultancy business. Ciphr understands the importance of people and the importance of HR to a successful organisation, and cares deeply about helping others benefit from recognising that value. They champion HR and empower their customers to do the same within their organisations.

“The new branding and website reflect this – mirroring the warmth and humanity that exists across Ciphr – and crystallising their exciting vision into the powerful new ‘Amplify HR’ brand positioning.

“The Ciphr team has been a delight to work with and we’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together.”

Ciphr is the go-to HR software and solutions partner for medium and large organisations in the UK. Its integrated HR, payroll, learning and recruitment software, services and content provide invaluable insights to HR teams to inform their people strategy and grow and develop their organisations. Based in Reading, and backed by ECI Partners, Ciphr is on a mission to amplify the voice and value of HR through intelligent people data solutions that help HR be heard – in the boardroom and across the business.

More than 600 organisations use Ciphr globally, including Volkswagen Group UK, Lifetime Training, Crisis UK, Bensons for Beds, Natural History Museum and the Met Office.

For more information, please visit www.ciphr.com.

McKinsey CFO Pulse Survey: Financial Leaders Priorities Have Shifted

McKinsey, one of the world’s leading management consultancy firms, has recently published a survey highlighting how Chief Financial Officers’ (CFOs) priorities have changed in the past year. Titled Into the storm: CFOs pivot to managing financial headwinds*, the study reveals that CFOs have been shifting their priorities amidst global economic uncertainty, and doing so in an interesting way.

The survey revealed that the priorities for CFOs and other financial leaders have changed significantly over time. In previous years the key areas of focus were Performance Management (55 per cent of respondents) and Strategic Leadership (51 per cent) however both of these priorities have reduced to about 30 per cent in the past year. In response, there has been a big shift with the subject of Pricing now assuming the top slot. In previous years this area hardly registered at all, being a priority for less than 10 per cent of respondents. However, in 2022 this increased dramatically and has become the most important area, with over 40 per cent of CFOs spending time on pricing company’s products and services in 2022.

Commenting on the findings from the survey, Andy Campbell, global solution evangelist at FinancialForce, who has been able to add a bit more colour to this based on his experiences working with many services businesses, noted:

“There are two major takeaways from this survey. Firstly, the fact that financial leaders are now actively involved in pricing is fascinating. Historically, this is an activity where CFOs had little interest, however finance leaders spent more time on the pricing of products and services during the last 12 months than any other activity. The reason behind this transition is probably explained by the difficult economic environment that we are currently experiencing and the need for most companies to ‘pivot to profitability’. Winning new business and increasing revenues is obviously beneficial, but it is critical that the won business is actually profitable. It is vital that the amount that you charge accurately reflects the cost of both successfully winning and then delivering / servicing this work. Only then can you ensure that your profitability and margin targets can be achieved.

“For example, if a services business is producing an estimate for a client they obviously need to ensure that the scope of work is correct and the proposal is offered at a competitive price point. However, it is important that the correct resource is used to deliver the project, and at the right billable rate otherwise target margins may be missed. Similarly the impact of offering discounts needs to be correctly calculated, and the cost of expenses accurately applied. And it goes without saying that once the contract has been won and a contract is being serviced, then the real cost to serve the customer is being taken into consideration to ensure that margins do not erode. Leading service companies will evaluate the actual lifetime value realised from a customer and take this into account when deciding whether to bid for new work. They will use this to revise pricing strategies to ensure that margins targets are achieved, or to qualify out from the opportunity. In a tight economic climate it is understandable that CFOs want to have good visibility into the impact of pricing.

“Secondly, this change in emphasis has seen a move away from performance management and strategic leadership, which are no longer the biggest areas of focus for financial leaders. There has been a ‘pivot to profit’, with CFOs increasingly thinking about the short-term, as they are looking at the immediate requirements in terms of cash. Less time is being spent on longer term activities such as strategic leadership and value, and more on tactical initiatives, such as ensuring good cashflow forecasting. To achieve this, businesses need to balance revenue forecasts from multiple diverse revenue streams (including managed services and subscription), to accurately predict income, and have good visibility and tight control over costs. Financial leaders need to implement seamless processes which will reduce revenue leakage and provide a common source of data for the business.”

You can find the results from McKinsey’s CFO Pulse survey here: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/into-the-storm-cfos-pivot-to-managing-financial-headwinds#/

Media contact
Tom Roden/Daniel Levy
Finn Partners for FinancialForce
+44 20 7046 8354
FinancialForceUK@finnpartners.com

AvaTrade becomes official trading partner of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ team

AvaTrade, the award-winning, established and renowned online trading broker, is thrilled to announce its exciting new partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team (AMF1). The Silverstone-based racing team is competing in the most prestigious automotive racing series in the world and is in year three of a journey aimed at establishing its position at the front of the grid.

AvaTrade’s partnership with AMF1, one of the famous brands in racing, is built on speed and innovation, as well as advanced technology and precision. AvaTrade is committed to revolutionising the online trading industry by providing a trustworthy and user-oriented trading environment that empowers users to invest and trade with confidence.  Like the bespoke racing cars built and developed by AMF1, the AvaTrade platform offers advanced technology and innovation, in  addition to providing full scale support for all its traders – the same way in which the pit crew at AMF1 supports the drivers in their aim for success. AvaTrade and AMF1s partnership is based on the core values that can make a successful trader as well as a competitive Formula One™ team  like AMF1: constant excellence in every aspect, pushing the boundaries of speed and innovation, advanced technology, and success.

Dáire Ferguson, CEO at AvaTrade, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with AMF1. Traders and sports teams competing at the highest levels require a number of similar characteristics. They need to be driven, opportunistic and dynamic, whilst availing of professional support to get to the top of their game. This is why we’re so excited to be working alongside AMF1, a team which shares our views and outlook on what is required to achieve success.

“As a global leader in online trading, we thrive to achieve success through calculated moves, efficiency, and ground-breaking technology , all of which are embodied by AMF1. We are dedicated to empowering our loyal traders to reach the top of their game, just like the talented  racers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, do for AMF1.

“As one of the most regulated and trusted brokers in the industry, we are delighted to have AMF1 representing our brand and working with us to promote our commitment in providing traders with cutting-edge technology and the highest level of regulation to ensure they reach financial goals and lead the rest of the field in the race.”

Jefferson Slack, Managing Director – Commercial & Marketing, AMF1 added: “It is hugely exciting to welcome AvaTrade as the Official Trading Partner of AMF1. As a racing team, we strive to improve ourselves continuously and stay ahead of the competition. But we cannot do this alone, we are supported by leading engineers,  an expert pit crew, cutting-edge technology, and state-of-the-art tools which allow us to compete at the very pinnacle of motorsport. This draws parallels with the team at AvaTrade, which provides its traders with skilled expert advisors and personal account managers to guide them to maximise their full potential in their trading journey. As we seek to maximise our driving potential, AvaTrade seeks to drive investors trading potential.”

Sean Ryan, CEO, Pan Sports commented: “Congratulations to these two powerhouse brands. This really is the joining of two companies that have so much in common – from integrity and history, to brand alignment and exciting plans on the horizon. We cannot wait to see what the future brings for both AvaTrade and Aston Martin F1 Team.”

This partnership with AMF1 will enhance AvaTrade’s position as a gold standard, world-leading online broker, which is focused on providing its clients with the best training, technology, risk management tools, and educational guides needed to be successful, ensuring this is with speed, efficiency and innovation.

Please see the official announcement video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJeOH3OJOFI

For further information, please visit www.avatrade.com or www.astonmartinf1.com

About AvaTrade

AvaTrade is a leading online trading broker that supports investors of all kinds through a range of platforms, including MT4/5, AvaTradeGO mobile app, WebTrader, AvaOptions, DupliTrade and others. Traders benefit from tight spreads, a personal account manager, multilingual support, 1000+ instruments, and market-leading risk management tools such as AvaProtect, alongside real-time market access and immediate execution. Accounts are totally segregated and transactions fully encrypted. AvaTrade is regulated in the EU, Japan, Australia, Abu Dhabi and BVI, while holding a strong presence in Canada through a partnership with Friedberg Direct, a member of Canada’s Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation.

About AMF1

The legendary Aston Martin marque first raced in Formula One in 1959 and returned to the sport in 2021 under the leadership of Canadian entrepreneur Lawrence Stroll. With a team of passionate people at its heart, and a talented squad of drivers – including double World Champion Fernando Alonso and Canada’s Lance Stroll – this is a team with both a rich heritage and a fresh perspective. Alongside collaborative and strategic partners, the Silverstone-based team is bringing new energy to the sport with a determination to shake up the order and compete at the sharp end.

 

Perceptual Robotics announces first close round of funding with investment from Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP

Perceptual Robotics has announced the first close of the newest funding round led by investment from Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP (“Brookstreet”).

An investment group focused on supporting companies, which experience transformational growth, London-based Brookstreet will support Perceptual Robotics in the first quarter of 2023 to expand its products and explore new markets, including America.

Perceptual Robotics, which has bases in the UK and Europe, is already backed by international investors such as TSP Ventures, Future Fund, Humble Holdings and Metavallon VC.

Kostas Karachalios, CEO and Founder of Perceptual Robotics, said: “We are delighted to have raised our first close of the round and to bring along Brookstreet. Their invaluable experience with companies in the robotics space, as well as international transactions, will enhance our transatlantic exposure whilst we push to expand in new geographies and expand our product offerings.

“We are looking forward to getting Brookstreet’s support in this new phase of growth for Perceptual Robotics, fuelled by being the number one self service provider for the technology of the inspection of wind turbines.”

By utilising drones and AI, Perceptual Robotics offers a vital solution designed to undertake autonomous in-depth turbine inspections four times faster than traditional solutions, collecting high-quality data, and quickly analysing it with state-of-the-art AI data processing.

Perceptual Robotics’ Dhalion solution increases safety during inspections, as well as increasing cost-effectiveness and dramatically reducing turbine downtime for wind farm operators.

While the company’s headquarters is in Bristol, UK, Perceptual Robotics’s European base is in Athens, Greece, and last year it opened operations in both Spain and France.

Founded by M&A, McKinsey and CEO veterans, Brookstreet brings established scale-up practices in asymmetric markets, offering differentiated strategies focused on providing commercial capital and hands-on support in driving strategy and its execution.

With a global network and platform, which outreaches USA, UK, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia, Brookstreet is recognised as a ‘DraxFuture40 Investor’.

The company is a thematic investor in innovations across the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), Green and ESG technologies with wider impact such as Nanotech, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cybersecurity. To date, Brookstreet has completed 23 transactions across its portfolio of assets.

Omiros D. Sarikas, (Managing Partner) CEO of Brookstreet, said: “We welcome Perceptual Robotics to the Brookstreet family and look forward to working with Founders, Management and Co-Investors to fast track their Scale Up journey. In the era of Digital Transformation and Green Transition, Perceptual Robotics blends Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technologies for the benefit of Renewable Energy Sources, which fuel our Circular Economy.”

Acoustic Appoints Mark Cattini CEO

SaaS industry veteran with over 20 years of CEO experience to lead next phase of innovation and growth

Acoustic, a global marketing and customer experience provider for B2C brands, today announced that Mark Cattini has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Mark has served on the company’s Board of Directors since May 2022 and joins Acoustic as it evolves the marketing digital experience for its customers to meet the growing needs of today’s businesses. Mark brings on board Adam Stewart as Chief Technology Officer and Jay Schaufeld as Chief People Officer, underscoring the company’s continued investment in its technology and talent.

Acoustic helps customer-obsessed brands build closer customer connections with hyper-personalized, multichannel experiences. Mark’s appointment, as well as Acoustic’s recent investment from Francisco Partners, will accelerate the company’s vision to provide powerful technology to meet the needs of B2C brands across retail, financial services, insurance, tech and telecom, travel and hospitality, and more.

“I am thrilled to be asked by the Board to lead Acoustic as CEO during an exciting time for the company and the marketing industry as a whole,” said Mark Cattini, CEO of Acoustic. “Businesses today require easy-to-use solutions that can be quickly deployed to drive more value to their customers. Acoustic is uniquely positioned to help brands deliver personalized digital experiences and provides robust behavioral analytics to optimize customer journeys to increase loyalty and growth. I’m delighted to join Acoustic as it accelerates this platform vision on a global scale and look forward to working with our customers and partners to realize the next phase in our strategic growth.”

Mark brings over two decades of experience as a successful CEO at enterprise software companies, including MapInfo (NASDAQ: MAPS), Autotask, and ClickSoftware.

“As businesses grapple with market uncertainty, new privacy regulations, and evolving consumer expectations, they require a technology partner that can support their needs today while future-proofing their business for the challenges of tomorrow,” said Jared Hendricks, Senior Managing Director of Centerbridge Partners. “With Mark’s appointment as CEO, Acoustic is better positioned than ever to support businesses across industries as they tackle these challenges head-on. Acoustic’s combination of best-in-breed technology and proven SaaS leadership positions the company as a next-generation leader within this space. We’re thrilled to have Mark join as CEO to further Acoustic’s mission to bring hyper-personalized digital experiences to life.”

Mark along with Adam Stewart and Jay Schaufeld start their roles immediately. Adam spent 17 years at Autotask/Datto in the role of SVP, Engineering while Jay brings over 25 years of experience as a human resources leader, including serving as Chief People Officer at ClickSoftware.

About Acoustic, L.P.
Acoustic, L.P. helps businesses close the digital experience gap by giving them a holistic view into the customer experience and enabling them to deliver personalized experiences based on consumer needs and preferences. The Acoustic portfolio of products helps businesses across industries to grow customer lifetime value with award-winning technology and unbeatable client success teams. Learn more about the Acoustic portfolio at www.acoustic.com.

Fox Agency signs up Hotwire’s Lottie West as Head of Global PR

Integrated B2B tech marketing specialist, Fox Agency has welcomed Lottie West into the team to head up the PR department. The move comes as part of a wider drive to grow its PR offering and integrated services.

With sixteen years’ experience in PR, comms, and brand work, West was most recently at Hotwire where she spent three years as Associate Director working on UK, EMEA, and global campaigns across B2B and B2C tech for the likes of Trellix, McAfee, Veracode, ASUS, Vrbo, Molo Finance, and OkCupid.

Prior to Hotwire, she held agency leadership roles in the PR division of TBWA\Auckland, as well as at Phipps, an integrated London-based agency.

At Fox Agency, West will be in control of the PR offering and providing expert strategic direction for global PR campaigns for current clients including Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, Sony, Delphi Technologies, Arcwide and more.

Fox has identified how more and more clients are investing in integrated solutions and the expansion of the PR offering is part of its wider growth strategy.

Lottie West, Head of Global PR at Fox Agency commented,
“Fox Agency has seen impressive growth in the last twelve months, and I’m delighted to be joining this talented and ambitious team at such an exciting time in Fox’s journey. There is a huge opportunity for PR in the integrated space – B2B clients are under increasing pressure to demonstrate ROI while also upholding reputation, maintaining awareness, and differentiating from the competition. PR offers the perfect complement to Fox Agency’s raft of other specialisms, and I am looking forward to working with the team to accelerate the growth of our integrated work.”

Al Fox, Director at Fox Agency said,
“We’re delighted to welcome Lottie to the agency, her experience and skillset will help put us on the map for integrated PR solutions. Lottie has sector expertise in cybersecurity, fintech, and electronics which is perfect for our PR client base, which has grown rapidly in 2022, and for our future new business growth”.

Global economy set to enter recession in 2023

According to organisations such as the World Bank, Bank of America and Citi, as well as various economists, it is expected that the global economy will enter into a recession in 2023. A combination of factors has led to this global economic downturn, ranging from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and constriction of macroeconomic policies, to the current European energy crisis and the prolonged periods of supply disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US and European economies are expected to be the most heavily impacted by a recession this year. The USA’s real GDP growth is expected to be 0.0 per cent Year-over-Year (Y-o-Y) in 2023, while the real GDP of Europe – including the UK – is predicted to come in at 0.1 per cent this year. Nevertheless, it must be noted that the degree of recession is still being debated, and the actual economic impact remains under close observation as market conditions continue to change.

Rashi Singh, AVP, Procurement and Supply Chain at The Smart Cube comments on what impact a potential recession in 2023 could have across different sectors:

“A possible recession in 2023 is likely to significantly impact the CPG sector. In the upcoming months, high levels of volatility are expected when it comes to the prices of dairy and agricultural commodities as a result of recessionary pressures. It is also likely that food service firms will record a fall in sales figures. The expectation is for consumer preferences to transition from away-from-home to at-home food due to the expected decline in real personal income, resulting in decreased demand for food services in 2023.

“Meanwhile in the industrial sector, there is a high likelihood of semiconductor and electronic shortages easing as end-user businesses that stockpiled chips during the COVID-19 pandemic are cancelling or delaying orders to reduce inventory in case a recession takes place in the coming months. Additionally, while it’s expected that the demand for automobiles will fall during the recession – amid the potential decline in personal income – this won’t necessarily be the case. Industry growth is expected to be sustained this year due to the backlog of demand for automotives since the start of the pandemic.

“Finally, the logistics industry is not immune from being impacted by a recession. Expected fall in average annual price of oil and decline in manufacturing activities in 2023 because of the potential decline in consumer spending, is likely to lower down demand for logistics.”

Jewellery Quarter welcomes new flexible workspace following £5m investment

The Jewellery Quarter has welcomed a brand-new flexible workspace following a £5million investment. Formerly known as the ‘Big Peg’, the newly launched JQ Modern offers a range of private offices, both fully serviced and managed, for businesses from 1 to 50 people.

The impressive 100,000 sq ftt landmark sits on Golden Square in the centre of the Jewellery Quarter and provides stylish affordable and versatile private office space. Designed to provide everything a business needs, JQ Modern’s occupiers benefit from one monthly payment and flexible contract options.

Private offices have been paired with break out and collaborative spaces, stunning facilities across seven floors, on-site yoga classes, and much more. It also boasts spectacular panoramic views of the city skyline, boutique communal lounges, two boardrooms for up to 15 people, and six meeting rooms for smaller groups.

Sales and Marketing Manager, Tara Elwell, comments: “We have put a healthy work environment at the heart of JQ Modern; with abundant natural daylight, opening windows, and stunning private workspaces. The Jewellery Quarter is the original creative hub of Birmingham, and JQ Modern now provides a fantastic opportunity for creators and entrepreneurs to work in a re-imagined space in the historic heart of our brilliant city.

“As well as the fantastic physical attributes of JQ Modern, we also provide businesses with contractual flexibility and high speed internet, which makes joining our entrepreneurial working community an easy decision!”

Tara adds: “We’ve grown our team from three to 10 people, with a great focus on providing five-star customer service and are looking forward to bolstering the existing community of digital and creative businesses in the area as exciting new businesses join us.”

JQ Modern sits in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, with a tram stop and train stop a few yards from the front door, and a 600-space car park immediately adjacent. The area boasts some of the best independent coffee shops, cafés, bars and pubs in the city, and the newly renovated building offers businesses space to foster their individual identity rather than be lost in a big brand shared workspace.

Trethowans earns top rankings in the Legal 500

Leading law firm Trethowans has ranked as top tier in the Legal 500 list for 2023, having once again received overwhelmingly positive feedback from its clients.

The firm, which has offices across the south, achieved top tier status in the renowned legal directory for services in Corporate and Commercial, Licensing, Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence (claimant) and Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate.

The firm is also recommended in 15 practice areas, including Agriculture & Estates, Banking & Finance, Employment and Family.

One client commented: “The team at Trethowans truly understand our business and can act as a genuine extension of the in-house legal team, which is extremely valuable. The advice is prompt, commercial and good value.”

This year, many of the firm’s lawyers are ranked in the guide, including Lucy Gleisner (Corporate), Kelvin Farmaner and Bethany Blamire (Insurance & Regulatory) who were once again recognised in the ‘leading individuals’ group, as well as Nick Gent (Corporate).

One client described Nick, who is Head of the firm’s Corporate Group, as “an exceptionally strong adviser, with an ability to provide practical guidance and reassurance through the most challenging of transactions.”

Mihiri Gajraj (Private Client), Emma Wilders-Pratt (Family) and Elizabeth Ryall (Commercial Debt Recovery) were all listed in the ‘next generation partners’ group. An additional 39 lawyers at the firm were recommended or mentioned by name in Legal 500 UK commentary for standout contributions to their respective practices.

Managing Partner Mike Watson said: “Once again, it’s wonderful to see our teams’ efforts being recognised in the Legal 500 list with such positive testimonials from our clients, and we’d like to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback on Trethowans. We are committed to providing the best possible service for individuals and businesses and are proud of all our teams’ exceptional hard work.

“It’s fantastic to see almost 50 team members either ranked, recommended or mentioned in this year’s guide and Legal 500 UK commentary, with recognition across the spectrum of the firm.”

For 33 years, the Legal 500 has been analysing law firms’ capabilities through a comprehensive and impartial research programme, assessing firms across the world in over 150 jurisdictions through a combination of client feedback and interviews with leading practice lawyers.

Trethowans has been offering legal services to businesses and individuals in the south for over 150 years with offices in Southampton, Salisbury, Poole, Bournemouth and Winchester.

For more information, please visit: https://www.trethowans.com