Image source: Images_of_Money

The Barclays Employers’ Survey 2015, which questioned over 660 UK businesses has revealed that, against a backdrop of wage growth outstripping inflation in recent months, 66% of North West businesses are planning to increase wages in 2015.

This is the second highest of all UK regions surveyed after Wales (joint second with Yorkshire and Humber).

It also found that 48% of local businesses are planning to take on new staff.

When looking at the types of roles local businesses are looking to fill, middle and junior management employees continue to be the most in demand across businesses of all sizes, with 93% of hiring businesses planning to hire at this level.

A quarter (26%) of local businesses reported skills shortages, with over half (51%) saying the majority were lacking in their main business activity.

Over a third (36%) of local businesses surveyed are planning to take on apprentices this year, an encouraging sign given the focus on bringing down the UK’s broadly flat youth unemployment rate.

Managing Director, Barclays Corporate Banking in the North, Michael Hartig, said: “It’s great to see so many North West businesses planning to increase wages this year.

“This is positive news for employees as firms compete for talent but also, in the longer term, for businesses themselves as they look to ensure they are well-positioned for future growth opportunities.

“Businesses are becoming increasingly engaged with apprenticeships, with over a third in the region planning to take them on this year.

"However, it would appear to be the largest businesses that are really ramping up their hiring.

"Smaller businesses may feel more constrained by resources but grants and support available to help SMEs take on apprentices could open the door to talented new employees, and ultimately bring these businesses tangible commercial benefits.”

Six new deals have been concluded at the historic Joseph’s Well, which has undergone a major refurbishment to create high-quality and affordable office space in central Leeds.

The spectacular transformation of the 156,000 sq ft five-storey building in Westgate, which was originally built for Leeds clothing magnate and MP Sir John Barran, was undertaken by Leeds-based construction and property company J Pullan & Sons.

Four new occupiers have relocated to Joseph’s Well, while two existing tenants have increased their space within the building.

The new tenants are: X-Lab Ltd, who have taken 1,517 sq ft, relocating from the nearby Leeds Innovation Centre; Ian Richards & Co, accountants, who have taken 180 sq ft; Michael Dack & Co, accountants, who have taken 500 sq ft; and training recruitment company ESG (Skills) Ltd who have taken 723 sq ft.

Meanwhile Cohen Cramer Solicitors, who moved into 4,378 sq ft of office space last year have expanded into another 1,282 sq ft office suite; while long-standing tenant Bryan G Hall, transport planning consultants, have taken an extra three suites, totalling 2,913 sq ft.

Rents are £15.75 per sq ft, including all service charges, and are fixed for three years.

Simon Baskind, Managing Director of Cohen Cramer Solicitors, who relocated from Great George Street in Leeds, commented: “We moved to Joseph’s Well in May 2014 because its modern office space in an historic building met both the needs of ourselves and our clients. Since moving into two suites, we have settled in very well and being in the building has proved a successful move for us.

“We have now taken on an adjoining suite, as expansion meant we needed more space.  This is one of the many advantages of being in a building such as Joseph’s Well – the adaptability of being able to upsize or downsize without the need to relocate and incur all the inherent expenses associated with a full premises relocation”.

“The offices are well-located, providing easy access to Leeds city centre, whilst there is parking for both clients and staff.  As an established law firm, the building provides the right mix of contemporary design and space within a period building – reflecting the fact that both companies and buildings need to continually adapt, which echoes our philosophy,“ added Mr Baskind.

Meanwhile Martin Crabtree of Bryan G Hall said: “Bryan G Hall Limited has been located in Joseph’s Well since 1989, and our continued success over recent years has allowed us to relocate within the building into larger, more modern and comfortable surroundings.

“The flexibility that Joseph’s Well provides has enabled Bryan G Hall to maintain its address in a convenient location.  Joseph’s Well is prominently located adjacent to the Leeds Inner Ring Road, providing immediate access to Leeds City Centre and to the motorway network, whilst within a 10 minute walk of Leeds City Station and located on a number of bus routes,“ he added. 

Bruce Strachan, Property Director of Pullan’s, commented: “These six new deals underline the continuing popularity of Joseph’s Well and we are especially delighted that two existing tenants are so positive about their offices that they have taken significant extra space in our historic building.

“Following the recent refurbishment, we are seeing an increasing level of interest in Joseph’s Well resulting in new lettings. These are all excellent examples of successful businesses being attracted to a quality business environment and their arrival underlines the versatility and flexibility of space here, which is attracting an exciting breadth of occupiers”.

There is currently a range of available office suites from 180 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft.  The suites, which are tailored to occupiers’ needs, are available with no additional extra charge for service charges, building maintenance or insurance.

Joseph’s Well is prominently located within Leeds city centre beside the Inner Ring Road offering easy access to the M1, M62 and M621 motorways and Leeds-Bradford International Airport. It is also within a short walk of Leeds City Railway Station, City Square and all of the main retail and leisure amenities.

Pete Bradbury of property agents Carter Towler, who are marketing Joseph’s Well commented: “We are delighted to welcome three new tenants to Joseph’s Well. These new lettings are testament to the investment made by J Pullan & Sons Limited, delivering a quality office product that suits a range of occupiers which, when combined with the dedicated onsite management team, extensive on-site car parking and competitive rent, makes Josephs Well some of the best value office space in the city.“

Sir John Barran pioneered the Leeds ready-made clothing industry in the 1850s, introducing the band knife for cutting multiple layers of cloth. In 1887 he added Joseph’s Well to his other factory in Park Square. As Mayor of Leeds, he secured the purchase of Roundhay Park for the city. Sir John also served as the Liberal MP for Leeds from 1876 – 1885.

The joint marketing agents with Carter Towler for Joseph’s Well are the Leeds office of WSB.

Leeds-based digital agency, Pixelbuilders, have embarked on a new partnership with four high profile Yorkshire entrepreneurs to launch an online platform that will assist house buyers within the county.

Gary Lumby, a former Yorkshire Bank director of small business banking, along with Brilliant Law founder, Matthew Briggs; BiY business network founder, Darren Shaw; and Carter Jonas’ head of commercial in the north, David Aspland; have all taken on non-executive roles while working alongside Pixelbuilders to launch the the ‘New Home Finder’ site.

Furthermore, the former marketing manager for Addleshaw Goddard, Emma Aspland, has also been appointed as the business’ new commercial director.

The new site will feature many of the region’s most prominent home builders including Strata, Persimmon, Redrow and Miller Homes.

Martin Oates, one of pixelbuilders’ three directors, says New Home Finder aims to rid home buyers of the frustration that comes along with building a new property.

Oates said: “Search engines direct you to individual developers’ websites, which you then have to trawl to find schemes in the area you want to live. What we wanted was a site that pulled all of this information together and presented all of the new build schemes available in a specific area. Talking to other people, we quickly realised that we were not alone in our frustration. That’s why we created New Home Finder.”

The New Home Finder site officially launches in Yorkshire this month, and is expected to expand nationally over the coming months.

Darren Shaw added: “As well as an exhaustive directory of new build schemes the region, New Home Finder also offers lifestyle, legal, financial and help to buy advice for home owners. By providing essential information and guidance from experts in each of these fields, the aim is to give people everything they need to find and buy a new home.”

Mahmud Kamani, who is the Joint Chief Executive of the Manchester-based online fashion retailer, Boohoo.com will open a ‘dragons den’ style opportunity for Manchester University students and graduates today.

Co-ordinated by the student society Manchester Entrepreneurs, 8 of the most innovative start-up businesses that were launched this year will be showcased.

Founders of the startups are vary from undergraduates to PhD students.

Director of research and innovation at the University of Manchester, Luke Georghiou, said: “The University of Manchester has a fantastic track record in producing student entrepreneurs and I was delighted to be able to support an initiative from the students themselves.

“This kind of hands on approach widens the offer available. I look forward to seeing further successes.”

Director at Manchester Entrepreneurs, Tom McCann, said: “The Manchester Universities Demo Day is a fantastic way to bring the academic community together with the emerging startup community in the city – at a time when Manchester is being focused on nationally as a startup hub.”

IT professionals Tim Stöber and Ferrah Raza launched CityBusters, an online ratings platform for renters and landlords, after experiencing first-hand the difficulties facing renters in London.

The startup offers a Renters’ Guide, a one-stop-shop for renters looking to find out information such as reliable websites to find rooms, legal advice, occupancy rates as well as specific demographic information on each borough.

CityBusters aims to empower renters by allowing users to rate and comment on each flat, while landlords are also given the opportunity to participate in the discussion.

Head of PR and marketing for CityBusters, Ferrah Raza, told Bdaily about her personal experience in the London rental market and why she believes now is the time to give renters a voice, she said: "I have lived in three different flats during my one and half years in the City, and I know how hard it can be to find affordable, good quality rental space in London.

"I’ve found that often rent is not proportional to quality, and many renters find themselves agreeing to properties when they are not fully-informed. 

"CityBusters offers renters an outlet to share past experience in certain flats, and even with specific landlords. As well as a creative space for renters, the website encourages landlords to take accountability."

Ferrah and Tim wanted to create a Trip Advisor-style ratings platform for renters to read reviews of flats from previous tenants, helping them make an informed decision.

Ferrah said: "A lot of advice available for renters online is biased towards the property industry, for example many letting agents offer a legal section on their websites. CityBusters has an independent legal page called Know Your Rights. We have worked alongside legal professionals to produce an in-depth and impartial guide to the legal aspects of renting property in London."

The startup, which is currently self-funded, is hoping to receive a funding boost to help towards the costs of marketing, Ferrah said: "We are incredibly motivated by our cause, and if we can help future renters in London then our hard work will have paid off. The biggest challenge so far has been managing the initial phases of the startup while also working full time."

Ferrah and Tim are now working with Martin Strohmeier, a PhD student, to raise brand awareness and develop the userbase: "As is true for any startup, we are focusing our main efforts on building a strong userbase as well as continuing to develop our product to adapt to renter’s needs."

http://citybusters.com

Mike Le Put talks exclusively to Bdaily about his company Bury-based MLP Training.

MLP has been delivering training for 25 years, started by Mike who self financed it following a successful corporate career.

The company operate across nine countries and has built on its profitability year on year.

With plans to increase the number of courses it runs in its training venue in Bury, Mike spoke to Bdaily about the challenges he faces, the pride he has in riding the economic downturn and the changes he has seen within 25 years of business.  

Mike Le Put owner and director of MLP Training said: “Ours is a people-centred business and what we sell is the expertise of our team.

“Our clients love that the trainer they work with on the day is the person behind the course content and has many years of delivering quality training that gets results.

“All too often, training is seen as an optional extra, rather than a core part of business performance, so when companies are looking at ways to reduce their overheads their training budget can be a casualty.  

“That’s a short-sighted approach, however, because - as many of our clients will testify – skills, competence and confidence are directly linked to business success.

“One of the easiest things about doing business for us is developing new client relationships because our clients recommend us to others.

“The ‘Customer is King’ service ethic is core to our business philosophy and also sits at the heart of the approach we deliver within our training courses.

“Few training companies remain in business for 25 years.  

“We have thrived through several recessions and major developments in business practice so our core skills and customer centred approach must be working!

“The business world has changed over the past 25 years but the need to sell, manage and communicate more effectively hasn’t altered.  

“For us, the biggest change has been the advent of the internet: it has made it simpler for us to respond to our clients’ needs and plays a major role in the way they communicate with their own customers.

“Our aim for 2015 is the same as it has been every year for the past 25 years – to deliver the most effective and inspirational sales training and management development courses.

A South Tyneside teenager has launched his own digital design company and is already looking to expand thanks to its instant success.

Eighteen-year-old Gateshead College student Luke Farrell was awarded office space in the Northern Design Centre, Gateshead, by Gateshead Council after being recognised for his outstanding new business Puzzled, which specialises in app and website design.

Luke already has several clients on his books, including local companies, and is now looking to employ a student from his college to mentor and pass his skills on to.

Gateshead College was able to offer business support and a grant of £1,000 to set up Puzzled, which was used to purchase web space, domains, develop branding for the business and for advertising.

Luke, who is studying a Level 3 Software Development Extended Diploma at Gateshead College said: “Gateshead College was the best decision I ever made and I would never have launched my business without the help, guidance and financial support they gave me.

“I have always wanted to have my own business; I am so excited to be launching Puzzled at such a young age. There is so much I want to develop and achieve across my career and it has already got off to a great start.“

Puzzled has also orchestrated the launch of popular brain-teasing app, ‘Colors – a game of matching’, which sees participants beat their high score by identifying colours by name.

Users are challenged by mis-matched and additional words and colours. The app has so far had 2,000 downloads across various devices.

Luke’s interest in computing started at the age of just 11 when he was introduced to computer coding by his father, and by the age of only 13 he was designing digital games and animations in his spare time.

Shelley Raine, entrepreneurial activity coordinator at Gateshead College, said: “Luke has great business sense and was very proactive in his approach to launching Puzzled.

“We help students set up their own business by guiding them through the process stage by stage and planning every step to ensure that their business ideas reap commercial awards.“

Luke is also part of the Gateshead College Northern Stars Enterprise Society, which encourages students of all ages to attend networking events, join competitions and attend sessions that will build career prospects and enhance their CVs, as well as nurture up-and-the chance to create their own business and showcase their entrepreneurial talent.  

Shelley continued; “We want to encourage all learners to take part in the activities linked with the Northern Stars Enterprise Society, and encourage them all to view self-employment as a career choice.

“The entrepreneurial programmes run by the college are becoming more popular year-on-year and we can look forward to helping many other students reach their career goals.“

Luke was one of ten businesses that were awarded office space as part of the Digital Union Start-up Competition in Northern Design Centre, Gateshead.

The initiative that was supported by Scape Community Fund and delivered by Gateshead Council was set up to identify start-up businesses that would benefit from early stage growth support. Luke was recognised for his outstanding new business Puzzled, which specialises in app and website design. His success earned him a place along with a £1,000 grant which will enable him to purchase equipment to set up his office.

Gateshead Council cabinet member for economy, Cllr Mary Foy, said: “The whole idea of this competition was to find enthusiastic and fresh thinking people like Luke. It’s provided that little extra help that is often needed to turn a great idea into a great new business.

“Being in a creative and vibrant location like Northern Design Centre also gives new businesses an extra advantage. Many up and coming firms find themselves working from spare rooms and missing out on the chance to share ideas and opportunities with other likeminded people.“

London-based storage-by-the-box company, LOVESPACE has raised £1.1m and has also made two strategic appointments.

LOVESPACE raised £1.1 million from a combination of angel, venture capital and strategic investors at the start of 2015.

This combined with the £1.55m raised on crowd-funding platform, Crowdcube in May 2014, as well as earlier funding from the founding investors, means that LOVESPACE has raised a total of £4 million in funds to date.

Raising the funds also came hot on the heels of fundamental team hires. Dave Walker, previously chief technology officer at Kabbee, joined the rapidly growing LOVESPACE team in February 2015 as technology director.

Heather Garrick will join the company at the end of March as marketing director. Heather is from Explore Learning and has a track record for being able to significantly grow a customer base.

Steve Folwell, managing director at LOVESPACE, says: “As our customers get ready for the big spring clean, we’ve already got our house in order in preparation for another year of strong growth in 2015.

"The recent £1.1m fund-raise will help us build a brilliant team and technology infrastructure for the business and make sure we can get the message out to movers, declutterers, travellers and students right across the UK”.

Entrepreneurs ready to take their fledgling business ideas to the next level are being encouraged to consider the benefits of setting up shop on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

Whilst many might still associate Metro with the traditional newsagent, over the last five years the increased demand for operating out of an empty station unit has seen everything from a tattoo parlour at Monkseaton Metro station, to a yoga studio at Whitley Bay and even a pet store at Cullercoats, open up their doors for trading, creating hundreds of jobs in the process.

With a number of empty units currently available for rent at stations such as Byker, Four Lane Ends and Gateshead, DB Regio Tyne and Wear, which operates the Metro on behalf of Nexus, is inviting small business owners to take up the opportunity of joining the vibrant business community of 60 SMEs currently operating out of stations across the network.

Andy Lynch, Commercial Manager of DB Regio Tyne and Wear, said: “In the past Metro offered very traditional businesses on its stations, such as local newsagent stores. In recent years however, we have seen a major shift in how people are using empty shop units with our tenants beginning to explore more diverse business opportunities.

“For a start-up to be successful it’s really important that they can attract custom to grow.

“Opening up shop at a Metro station offers real connectivity for businesses with a steady passenger trade which helps to attract new and loyal customer trade.

“We currently have a number of units available and we’re always open to new ideas. Anyone with a good business plan should get in touch to discuss opportunities as DBTW can offer flexible lease terms to assist a tenant getting started.”

One tenant who has just set up shop on Whitley Bay Metro station is 26-year-old, mum-of-one, Natalie Jayne Robinson.

Natalie said: “When I was a teenager it was my dream to run my own business in the local area. I wanted to be just like my mum, she has really inspired me and it’s thanks to such a supportive family that I have been able to set up in business.

“We got the keys for the premises in November and since then the business has really taken off. I just love being around customers, I’m a people person and interacting with my customers is very important to me. It’s brilliant to be on the Metro station as you can tap into a steady stream of passing trade throughout the day.

Through his role at DB Regio Tyne and Wear, Mr Lynch supports businesses bringing new products and services to the network by enabling them to achieve sustainable, long-term business growth.

He added: “Some of our tenants, such as the family-run newsagents at Heworth, have been with Metro since the 1980s and it’s vital that we continue to support enterprise in the region. I hope good news stories like Natalie’s and the many other new tenants that we’ve attracted encourages other people to consider the opportunities our premises offer. We have a very flexible approach and are happy to help.

“We want the Metro system to be an environment that our customers can browse at their leisure, rather than just use it for just getting from A to B. It’s very important to make our tenants feel part of the DB family too, so we offer package incentives to help them grow, depending on the unit and any work that needs to be done.”

A new business venture is coming to Yorkshire and it is expected to be a real hoot.

Falconers Mike Kinder and Mark Allen are preparing to launch a brand new wildlife attraction, Yorkshire Moors Birds of Prey, in the region in the not too distant future.

After requesting some much need help setting up the business, Mike and Mark, who spent many years working in the steel industry, turned to

Redcar Enterprise Team, who are part of Redcar and Cleveland Council and  can offer local businesses at least 12 hours of free advice and support.

Yorkshire Moors Birds of Prey is hoping to launch operations on May 1st.

The expert falconers have been hoping to attract many customers to their business by collecting an array of owls, falcons and hawks.

Mark said: “We plan to take them into schools to help bring the curriculum to life – our birds can be used in connection with subjects ranging from biology and art to physics and engineering.

“Children’s parties are another area where we think our owls will be popular, thanks to the Harry Potter effect – Mrs Robinson is huge but very gentle and looks amazing on the arm of a three-year-old!”

“The list is endless, and we’re extremely excited about the business.”

Consisting of a team of business coaches, the Enterprise Team’s aim is to assist local businesses in a variety of ways, especially how to increase their turnover and improve profitability.

The team also offers free pre-start workshops, with a focus on running your own business and how to manage self-employment.

Councillor Ron Harrison, Redcar and Cleveland Council cabinet member for economic development, said: “It’s great to hear about two people seizing their opportunity to turn their lifelong hobby and expertise into an exciting and unusual business.

“It just goes to prove the Redcar Enterprise Team can give invaluable support and advice whatever type of business you are setting up or running.”

Chester-based care company SureCare will create hundreds of jobs as part of its expansion drive across the UK.

SureCare is aiming to open a franchise or company branch in every county in England and Wales as part of its growth plan. 

The company currently operates more than 30 franchises and branches.

The company provides a range of services including personal care and support, childcare, holiday and respite care, home services and dementia care and say that its expansion is needed considering the aging population.

The expansion drive follows the acquisition of SureCare by Managing Director Gary Farrer from previous owner Housing & Care 21 in November last year.

Farrer, who is based at SureCare’s head office in Chester, said: “The care sector is one of the fastest growing and most exciting sectors in the UK and companies like SureCare have an obligation to meet the growing needs of our ageing population and working parents trying to find quality childcare for their children.

“SureCare already has a good profile in the UK, but there are plenty of towns and cities in which we currently do not have a presence.

“We would like to cover the map of England and Wales with SureCare franchises and branches to ensure that everyone is able to access the highest standard of care and home services.

“Even if we open ten new franchises, we have the potential to create more than 1,000 new jobs, and this will be just the start.”

A new style Private Rented Sector (PRS) development in Manchester is one step closer after its Yorkshire developer received the green light from the city’s planning committee.

Angel Gardens is the flagship scheme of Moda Living - a partnership between Yorkshire’s Caddick Developments and Generate Land - and is the major residential component of The Co-operative Group and Hermes Investment Management’s joint venture NOMA masterplan, in Manchester City Centre.

With the joint application from Moda and The Co-operative Group now approved, Moda can press ahead with its plans to deliver its best-in-class, single landlord, purpose built portfolio.

Tony Brooks, director of Moda Living, said: “Today’s news is extremely positive and is another key milestone in our journey to change the face of PRS.

“The NOMA scheme is offering an unbeatable area of redevelopment and investment in Manchester City Centre. It has provided Moda with the perfect opportunity to introduce our brand and concept, and we have customer experience at the heart of our strategy.“ 

David Pringle, a Director at The Co-operative Group, said: “Angel Gardens is a great addition to the NOMA masterplan, it is an outstanding design and the development will provide the first residential offer of the NOMA neighbourhood.   Developing homes within NOMA is vital to the vibrancy of the area and the quality of the offer is completely aligned with our strategy.“

Angel Gardens will push the boundaries for purpose built rental accommodation in a location dubbed by JLL as ‘the best residential site in the UK, outside of London’. Its unique design consists of 455 studio, one, two and three bed apartments, set around semi private interactive gardens with an impressive Mies Van Der Rohe inspired 36 storey tower element and co-locating bars, restaurants and retail space.

Angel Gardens will offer its customers a lifestyle choice not currently available in the city. All Moda Living customers will have exclusive use of all amenities within the building, including resident lounges, a state of the art cinema room and business meeting space.

Plus there is a rooftop garden complete with BBQ zones, gym and fitness classes, Yoga and the ‘Multi-Moda’ sport court complete with netball, tennis, basketball and football facilities and a comprehensive range of concierge services.

Since its formation earlier this year, Moda Living has already secured a development pipeline of 2,750 units with completed development value of £580m and is targeting more than 3,000 further units and its portfolio is expected to have an end value of over £1billion.

Moda Living has appointed CBRE Residential as its investment advisors. 

Durham Aerosports, a new flying school business, has been launched by enthusiasts Perry Reid and Lawrence Bell.

Based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, the pair said that Durham Tees Valley is the ‘perfect location’ for their operation.

The enterprising pair’s arrival is another boost for the airport’s drive, launched earlier this year, to attract more General Aviation business.

As well as offering the chance to learn to fly and gain a pilots’ licence for under £3,500, Durham Aerosports will also be providing a range of trial flight options starting at  £70, using their Ikarus C42 Bravo aircraft which, whilst classed as a microlight, is very similar in appearance to a traditional light plane.

Perry Reid, Durham Aerosports managing director, said:“I began learning to fly whilst home from my offshore engineering job, became totally immersed in it and, after discussing things with Lawrence who was my instructor at the time, we decided to set up the school.

“I am an engineer by trade so I will be looking after the maintenance side of the business—currently I am involved in advanced engine courses with the possibility of developing a maintenance facility as part of the business.“

Lawrence Bell, chief flying instructor and operations manager, who has been working as an instructor since 2010, said: We chose the Ikarus C42 Bravo because it is a great aircraft for flight training—easy to handle, with the best equipment you can get and a range in excess of 500 miles.

“Having chosen the best aircraft we then wanted the best location and were delighted when Durham Tees Valley announced their drive to expand General Aviation activities. It is the perfect location for training with great facilities and full air traffic control.

“In addition we have been able to base the business in the heart of the airport—using two rooms in the recently opened office suite in the terminal.“

Shaun Woods, airport manager, said: “Expanding General Aviation business is a central element of our development plans at Durham Tees Valley—and it is working. In January we announced new tariffs offering savings for both aircraft based at the airport and visiting flyers. As a result seven aircraft have permanently relocated to the airport with more in the pipeline.

“We’ve been delighted to work with Perry and Lawrence in getting the business up and running and wish them all success.“

Image source: Inverness Trucker

A West Yorkshire recruitment company is gearing up for expansion.

Driver Recruitment Agency, which supplies drivers for haulage companies and other clients across the county, has set its sights on doubling its turnover and adding more drivers to its books over the next 12 months. It is also updating its website.

The Honley-based firm was launched in July 2013, by Andy Thorp and his father Peter. Andy has about 12 years experience in driver recruitment while Peter has a background in financial services, having run his own business for more than 30 year.

Andy said: “I was working in Leeds for a big national recruitment company, but I grew disillusioned and decided that given my experience I should have a go myself.

“Basically, we started with no drivers and no customers, so we got on the road knocking on doors and advertising for drivers.

“We now have 15 to 20 drivers on the books – people who had been out of work or simply wanted a change.

“We provide cover for busy periods, holidays or last-minute absences as well as having several regular contracts where our drivers are in week after week.“

Driver Recruitment has clients in Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Brighouse, Wakefield, Sheffield, Barnsley and surrounding areas.

Andy said: “Speaking to our clients, the economy is picking up now, although it is slow progress.

“We have doubled our turnover since starting and we aim to double it again in the next 12 months. We are also looking to recruit more drivers, although it is important to get the right people. We have clients who ask for drivers by name.“

Image source: Chris.,

Rotherham council is seeking a new development partner for the much-delayed YES! Project in a bid to resurrect what would be Europe’s largest indoor leisure scheme.

The £350m project, which includes an indoor ski slope, parachuting centre and diving complex, has been on the table since 2003, but has so far failed to get off the ground.

The local council is now seeking a new development partner for the scheme, which also includes two hotels, a health spa, conference centre, exhibition centre and restaurants and retail outlets. The development covers 333.5 acres and the council is seeking development partners to submit applications by 8 May.

Original developer Oak Holdings entered into a preferred developer agreement with Rotherham council in May 2003 and the agreement was signed in August 2008. Outline planning approval was granted in 2007 and updated plans for outline planning were approved in September 2010.

However, the agreement was terminated by the council due to Oak’s “material lack of progress”. Oak pointed to the global financial crisis and depressed property markets as reasons why it had been unable to secure the funds needed to start the development phase.

Oak Holdings, which has since been renamed Pires Investments, posted losses of £1.8m for the year ending 31 October 2011. The loss included selling land bought for more than £1m that was due to be used as access to the A57 for the YES! Project.

The group said at the time the land had “little value above the bare agricultural value at which it is being sold back to the vendor”.

Following the losses and cancellation of its deal with Rotherham, Oak entered a company voluntary arrangement and sold its remaining assets.

The council then selected new preferred developers in August 2011, China Vision and regeneration specialist MCD Developments, but the fresh search for a development partner suggests this deal has not progressed.

Warrington entrepreneurial sisters Kim Osborn and Nicola Faizy have launched Bella Chic Furniture, specialising in bringing old and unwanted furniture back to life.

The NEA loan from BFS  helped to launch their website and to build and fit out the shop to a very high spec.

They plan to grow their business online and by offering their services to local businesses such as restaurants, hotels and retailers.

The sisters are passionate about interiors and about giving customers the opportunity to create a unique vintage look to suit their home.

They sell furniture that they have restored themselves,  but also offer a full restoration service for clients’ individual pieces or even paint entire kitchens and fitted bedrooms to bespoke designs.

The two sisters are the latest recipients of a National Enterprise Allowance (NEA) loan, bringing the total funding to 1000 applications from the NEA loan programme to just over £2m in the North West.

Kim says: “the inspiration for our new business really came with the realization that people were getting rid of solid, beautiful pieces in favour of cheap, flat packed modern furniture just because they didn’t like the finish or the wood colour. 

“By bringing old furniture back to life with beautiful paints, finishes and accessories we are determined to inspire people to see the beauty and unique style of their vintage pieces.

“As sisters, we had dreamed of combining our creative talents and working together for a long time.  “Securing the NEA Loan from BFS enabled us to open the doors to our shop and to launch the website, which has been crucial for our marketing and promotion.

“We are also really passionate about supporting other local crafts people in the North West, giving them a platform to promote their businesses with us and being a part of a rapidly growing business.”

Director of Business Finance Solutions, Paul Breen, said: “Reaching £2m lending for the NEA loans is an incredible milestone and has helped hundreds of people to escape unemployment and set up their own businesses.

“Kim and Nicola have done just that and are using their passion for homes and retail to build a successful company and run it together.

“Starting your own business takes a lot of hard work and drive so you really do have to love what you do to make it work.

“We worked with Bella Chic Furniture to provide their start up funding and to help them in the early stages of their business development and now their ever growing number of satisfied customers is testament to the success of their quality, bespoke and affordable service.”

The NEA Loans support people who have previously been unemployed to set up their own businesses and are delivered in the North West by Business Finance Solutions (BFS) and the Start Up Loans Company.

Image source: Images_of_Money

Hale-based crowd funded property investment company, The House Crowd, has fundraised £10m from investors since it started trading in 2012.

In three years of trading, The House Crowd has purchased and refurbished 121 rental properties via its crowdfunding platform which allows people to invest as little as £1000 in the property market.

Crowdfunding is continuing to grow in popularity with the World Bank projecting that the global crowdfunding market will be worth $90 billion by 2025.

Managing Director of The House Crowd, Frazer Fearnhead,  said: “We’re thrilled to have reached such a significant milestone in such a short space of time.  

“Crowd funding provides the opportunity for hassle free investment, and we’re confident that The House Crowd will continue in its popularity in a market the UK is fascinated with: property.”

“We speak with investors on a daily basis frustrated with their banks or poor levels of interest in their savings account.  

“By offering a platform for investors to pool their resources, we allow people the opportunity to take a stake in the property market to boost the money they would otherwise have sitting around doing nothing.”

Vitaldent, a London-based dental startup, is moving towards the £1m turnover mark thanks to support from NatWest and its asset finance arm, Lombard.

Vitaldent, which is located just off Bishopsgate in the heart of the City of London and opened nearly three years ago, has seen a turnover boost after sustained growth and investment.

The business was established by entrepreneurial duo, Mark Schaberg and Bob Ward, who met nearly 20 years ago while working in the IT sector.

Together with their business partner Dr Nilesh Shukle, who has also been the owner and Principal Dentist of the successful Staff Clinic at the Royal London Dental Hospital for over 20 years, the two men spent two years researching and writing a business plan for the new practice.

They decided to set-up in Bishopsgate, partly to take advantage of the large working population in the area, where busy City workers want convenient, high quality treatment.

Vitaldent was initially helped off the ground with a loan from NatWest and asset finance from Lombard, which enabled the practice to be kitted out.

The business has continued to work closely with both the bank and Lombard, both of whom have provided a second round of funding to facilitate growth, incorporating asset finance that was used to upgrade equipment.

This included the acquisition of a panoramic x-ray machine and dentist chairs with combined multimedia devices that allow patients to view the treatment they are having.

The practice currently employs 10 staff and is aimed at patients requiring general dentistry as well as those looking for high-end cosmetic and orthodontic treatments such as braces and implants.

Commenting on the support from NatWest and Lombard, commercial director Bob Ward said:“When we’d completed our initial business plan we attended a dental show to speak to various banks and it was obvious NatWest was the only player in town."We received funding to start the business and asset finance to get the kit. We’re now looking at a patient base of over 3,000 and NatWest and Lombard have been with us every step of the way.“

Mark Schaberg, managing director, said: “The finance we’ve had access to has enabled us to be more efficient while also expanding our services. The business is moving towards a £1 million turnover in the next 12 months and we’ll continue to work on consolidating the qualities we already have as well as sustaining our growth into the future.“

Deepan Lakhani, senior relationship manager at NatWest said: “It’s been great to work with Vitaldent and see the business grow. We’re already talking to Mark and Bob about the next phase and potentially adding more practices in the longer term.“ 

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Businesses in the Liverpool City Region will now be able to apply for grants of up to £3k to improve their broadband.

It is part of the Government’s broadband connection voucher scheme that is set to be extended by a further year.  

More than 12,000 vouchers have been issued to companies around the UK including within Liverpool but from the 1 April this year businesses in Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral will also be eligible.

Liverpool’s Cabinet member for business, enterprise and investment, Councillor Gary Millar, said: “We want Liverpool to be the best digitally connected city in the UK and it is great news that the scheme is now being extended to the wider city region.

“We have a long road ahead to achieve this but the expansion of this scheme is a major leap in taking the city’s economy to the next level.

“We are competing on a global stage and investment in our digital infrastructure is a real priority for the city.“

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This is fantastic news for Liverpool City Region as we know how important a fast broadband connection is for businesses across the UK.

“We want to make sure that small businesses have the technology they need to compete in the digital age.

“This scheme will help tens of thousands of small businesses around the UK and I urge all Liverpool City Region businesses to apply for a voucher from April 2015 onwards.“

Mark Schmull, Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP)

Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP), which recently opened a new Thames Valley office, has made a new senior appointment as it hits the ground running.

Mark Schmull, a chartered town planner with over 10 years of experience, has joined the town planning consultancy’s Reading based as an associate director.

He had previously worked for Hives Planning in Reading before it was taken over by national consultancy Smiths Gore in February 2014.

NLP opened its Thames Valley office in January this year and is currently involved in bringing forward a number of major housing and mixed-use developments, most recently helping brewing chain Marston secure planning permission for a new pub-cum-restaurant in Newbury.

Senior director Daniel Lampard, who heads up the Thames Valley office, said: “We have been very busy since opening in January and are now delighted to add Mark to the team.

“Mark’s local knowledge will be of great benefit to the office. He has extensive experience with both private and public sector clients on projects ranging from large scale urban extensions, turbine and solar farms to a variety of rural promotion schemes.

“Mark has also taken a leading role in community participation and stakeholder groups in the promotion of development.“

Mr Schmull, who began his career at as a planning officer at Chiltern District Council in 2004, said: “I am delighted to be joining NLP and in particular the new Thames Valley Office.   It is well placed to serve the region and I am excited by the challenge of growing a new office in this important location”.

As well as the Thames Valley office NLP will be opening a new Edinburgh office in April, its first in Scotland. The Reading office now has six staff.

James Marler & Debbie Mead, Lloyds Bank

Lloyds Bank has appointed two new Directors of Business Development in London and the South, as it strengthens its support to mid-market businesses in the region.  

A chartered accountant, James Marler joins Lloyds Bank’s Commercial Finance team from the Bank of London & The Middle East, with expertise in delivering tailored asset based lending and invoice discounting facilities to businesses looking for flexible funding solutions to help accelerate their growth plans.  

James will use his advisory skills to work with mid-sized businesses in the region to deliver new lending solutions that may not have previously been explored.

He is joined by Debbie Mead, who moves from RBS Invoice Finance and has over 30 years’ experience in trade and invoice finance. She specialises in structuring end to end tailor made solutions maximising cash availability and minimising risk to customers, often in tight timeframes.  

The appointments bolster the Commercial Finance team to 20 people working across the region, increasing its presence as the economy continues to grow and firms look to embark on the next stage of their expansion strategies.  

James Marler (pictured right), director of business development at Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance, said: “Many firms aren’t fully aware of the fluidity and the working capital boost that facilities like invoice discounting and asset based lending can provide, and I’m looking forward to exploring these funding avenues with both new and existing clients.  

“Lloyds Bank is a leading provider of these funding solutions, and I’ll be working closely with the team to help mid-sized and private equity backed businesses in London and the South expand and enjoy continued success.”

Andrew Bowker, Atlas Cloud

Newcastle-based cloud computing company Atlas Cloud has appointed a specialist in niche hosted desktop solutions as its new Head of 3D at the company’s London office.

Andrew Bowker joins the company following more than 20 years’ experience and success in cloud managed services and e-business, including senior roles at blue-chip companies including Cable & Wireless and Cisco. He also will lead Atlas Cloud’s new London office.

Altas Cloud, which also has offices in Leeds and Sheffield, designs, builds and manages tailored hosted desktop solutions offering flexible working with banking level security.

Andrew has forged a considerable track record of aligning new and transformative technology with business objectives and has held key roles in the start-up, strategic planning and consul

tative sales development of technology-driven businesses.

He has been given a remit to specifically target the construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and franchise sectors alongside Atlas Cloud’s core markets.

Andrew, who lives in Wimbledon, said: “Atlas Cloud has established itself as a leading player in the sector and I am looking forward to playing a key part in helping such a go-ahead, focused firmexpand its customer base and sector focus.”

Polly Smalley, Green Square

Ascot-based Green Square has appointed Polly Smalley as operations manager.

The renewable energy store has recruited Polly to help lead all aspects of franchising of the brand from the day to day enquiries to helping existing franchisees achieve their full potential.

She was chosen for the role as her experience as a national manager has included owning and running her own franchise for seven years as well as being employed direct by franchisors for nearly five years.  

Within this short time Polly helped to build the brand and almost double the franchise network.

Polly joins Green Square at a very exciting time as the BFA recognised company has already granted two franchise licences in under two years of start-up. Polly commented: “I have worked on both sides of franchising so have a true understanding on how to keep franchisees excited, motivated and feel valued as their businesses grow.  It’s great to be included from the early stages and be actively injecting my knowledge and experience into such a progressive organisation.”