26 per cent of London businesses have considered laying off staff, while only 14 per cent of South East firms can claim the same.

According to the Q1 15 Glassdoor UK Employment Confidence Survey, the proportion of UK employees who fear losing their job in the next six months has dropped eight percentage points from 35 percent to 27 percent.

The report also notes that 17 percent of City workers have faced losing their bonuses, or having their pay reduced, while only 8 percent of South East businesses have worried about this scenario.

38 percent of London workers asked stated that they were worried about job security in the next six months, whereas only 23 percent of South East workers agreed that they could be laid off in this period.

UK-wide, 35 percent of workers expect to receive a pay raise of cost-of-living increase in the next 12 months, down from 43 percent last quarter.

The founder of Sheffield-based Approved Food is urging supporters from across Yorkshire to ‘get voting’ after submitting an entry that could see the business receive a funding boost from Virgin boss Richard Branson as part of a competition called Pitch to Rich.

Approved food, launched in 2008, was established by former market trader Dan Cluderay, and now the business is the UK’s largest online only retailer of discount food and drink after securing in excess of £400k from investors in and around the region earlier this year.

However, in order to expand even further, Mr Cluderay is now hoping to pitch his future business plan to some of the most respected business man in Britain, with an aim of winning a £250k investment.

Mr Cluderay and business partner Andy Needham submitted their entry to the ‘Grow’ category earlier this week, and the Yorkshire businessmen are looking to garner more than 2000 votes by the first round deadline of 5th May 2015, and are calling on support from across the region to help boost their numbers.

To be announced on May 19, the top fifty entrants with the highest votes from each category will progress through to the semi-finals, and the finalists will be revealed on June 2.

Mr Cluderay and Mr Needham both unsuccessfully appeared on Dragon’s Den in May 2014, and now the ambitious duo desire an audience with Mr Branson.

Dan said: “There are so many fantastic entrepreneurs in this country and I have had the pleasure of briefly meeting a few including those in the Dragons’ Den. But the one that stands head and shoulders above in my eyes is Richard Branson.

“It was his story that helped ignite my entrepreneurial fire many years ago, and the possibility of meeting him to pitch my business and get his insight and backing gives me goosebumps.”

He added: “The Pitch to Rich competition is a fantastic concept,” said Dan. “I think my passion to enter was partly driven by the rejection on Dragons Den when we felt we weren’t given the opportunity to get across what we stood for as a business and the great benefits we bring to thousands of people week on week clearly enough. I see this as our chance to remedy that disappointment.”

“We need your votes initially and we would be incredibly grateful for your support if you can spare the time to go online and show us your support.”

Each week Bdaily will ask businesses from a different area of the North West for their opinions and hopes from the upcoming election and present their views in a weekly roundup.

This week it is the turn of businesses in Merseyside to tell Bdaily their opinions.

Brodex

Geoff Shalders, MD of Formby based Brodex said:  “Regardless of who is in power after the election, government funding to support small businesses delivering training to their workforces should be a priority.

"We invest heavily in keeping our workforce up to date with the latest skills, otherwise we would struggle to not only operate, but to also give our business customers the reassurance that we meet all legislative requirements.

“This is a significant undertaking though, and one that many small businesses struggle to manage. Merseyside, in particular has many skilled trades and providing training incentives and support at a government level will help our region to flourish, as well as secure a skilled local workforce for the future.“

SPARK Impact

SPARK Impact manages the North West Fund for Biomedical, a £30m fund providing finance from £50,000 to £1.5m to businesses to support a broad range of needs from start-up and early stage development through to expansion plans for trading businesses.

The company, which has bases at Liverpool Science Park and the BioHub at Alderley Park, has invested more than £25m into pioneering start-ups with business ideas in the healthcare sector. Speaking about what he would like to see in the upcoming election, investment director Dr Andy Round said: “We need to ensure that if we leave Europe, the UK government will fill the hole left by ERDF-type programmes which are essential for early stage innovation.

“I would also call for continued support for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Entrepreneurs’ tax relief for angel investors. I think there should also be further support for the British Business Bank and their Enterprise Capital Funds and Angel CoFund.”

The Equfund Group

The Equfund Group is based in the Borough of Wirral.

Andrew Mahon, Director, The Equfund Group said:  “We have a housing crisis in the UK and, for over 40 years, consecutive Governments’ have done little to address it.

"We are currently in the middle of one of the most closely fought election campaigns in recent political history with each of the parties setting out their proposals on how to address Britain’s housing crisis.

"But do the proposals go far enough to tackle the problem? We need a Government that will offer a clear, achievable and disciplined long-term vision on creating affordable housing. 

"The UK needs an estimated 250,000 new houses every year (source: Shelter) to meet demand yet, according to the governments own figures, we have badly failed to meet this target.

"In 2013-14 we built just 140,000 new homes, a small improvement on the year before it. At a time that demand for housing is at its highest ever level, this constraint in housing supply has led to an acute shortage of affordable homes. 

"Housing waiting lists are now close to bursting point. There are currently more than 1.8 million households on housing waiting lists (source: Shelter). There are also over 600,000 homes in England which are currently standing empty (source: The Empty Homes Agency). This is obviously wasteful in the extreme. 

"Bringing back into use empty properties offers a quick and cost effective solution. There’s seldom need for lengthy planning applications, and the process is often more environmentally sensitive than new build due to the infrastructure (roads, drainage etc) already being present. What’s more, refurbishing current stock helps keep the historical character of neighbourhoods.

"Surely turning vacant houses into valued homes should be a priority? Yet you will not see a single mention of it in any one of the major parties manifestos despite the fact that 78% of people surveyed think that the government should place a higher priority on tackling empty homes (source: Halifax). Further, local authorities still own the largest consignment of empty properties; we therefore need robust action in putting them back into use. Powers designed to help local authorities bring empty homes back into use were used just 17 times in 2014 (Source: Guardian).

"We believe that unless there are legitimate practical reasons for a property not being returned to use - for example, structural issues such as subsidence - every effort should be made by the next Government to bring family homes back into use. Red tape should be cut, and any organisations holding these properties should be made to release them.  We would like to see an accelerated compulsory purchase powers introduced and a ‘Use it or lose it’ policy adopted to prevent the hoarding of empty properties.

"We would like to see tax breaks made available to people or organisations which bring back empty properties and make them available at affordable rents.

"We have proven it can be done. Now it’s time for the political parties to take action."

Next week Bdaily will look for opinions and comments from businesses in Cumbria.  Are you a local business? Get in contact and tell us your opinions, comments, or wish lists for the 2015 election.

Image source: Wilson Hui

Bdaily is continuing to ask businesses from each area of Yorkshire about what they want and expect from the forthcoming general election, in a weekly roundup.

As mentioned last week, more than 100 of the country’s most senior business figures, a number of whom are based in Yorkshire, signed a letter to back Conservatives over the economy.

Therefore Bdaily is trying is uncover if Labour is losing significant support from the region they are so used to dominating.

After asking businesses in North Yorkshire for their thoughts, Bdaily wanted to find out the hopes and expectations of businesses in West Yorkshire as it is just under three weeks until the most important day in British politics

Shane Quigley, CEO of Earth Bathrooms, a Leeds-based e-commerce business which launched earlier this year, commented:

“In my opinion the HS2 rail network between Leeds and London should be scrapped - the small gain in time simply doesn’t justify the enormous cost. Instead, the government should be investing in joining up northern cities with more efficient rail and road infrastructure. One of the key reasons London is a huge success as a city is not because it’s population is more talented, but simply because it has a larger concentration of talent near enough to commute to the city centre. This means business growth and innovation isn’t held back due to a lack of talented employees, as can be the case in some smaller northern cities. If we were to super-connect the North, we could foster a second London that would seriously boost not just the North but the UK’s economic position globally.

“When I’m considering which way to vote I use the guiding principle that a large, controlling government is ineffective and restricts economic growth. We need a government that believes in reducing taxes and government spend, focusing spend only on critical services like the NHS and Police force and then, where possible, let market forces drive the growth needed to support areas like local roads and non-emergency services. By giving Yorkshire businesses the opportunity to thrive, and grow their employee base, we can help rebuild and fund investment in the region.”

Sarah Dear, the managing director of Elmwood, a brand design consultancy based in Leeds, said:

“In many ways the general election couldn’t have come at a worse time - the economy is just starting to show the green shoots of growth and people and companies starting to feel more positive about the future and we are seeing this with the businesses we work with. But this sense of hope is a very fragile thing that needs careful nurturing. For this reason I believe the best outcome for business and for the economy would be no change in the current political leadership of the country. This means the positive momentum can continue. But should we have to start over with  new shoes under the cabinet table and a new direction this will cause uncertainty that in my view will undoubtedly put the recovery bacck.

“Elmwood is a creative design business – our business is to think differently to solve problems. Most of the political parties are much of a muchness when it comes to valuing the impact that creativity can have on the success of a country - which is that they value it very little across the board.

“The world is changing extremely fast and we need a leader that will embrace this. We need new approaches and new thinking to make sure Britain doesn’t just keep up but leads the way.

“We are currently in danger of falling behind if we don’t change faster and think in new ways. We are seeing growing economies placing a much bigger emphasis on design and creativity, South Korea for example places huge emphasis in this area and has seen unprecedented growth as a result. We need a Government that can recognise the benefits of this and draw on the huge wealth of creative talent that is available in this country.

“The UK has some big challenges to face when it comes to changing. We have processes and institutions and ways of doing things that were right for the 19th century that are not fit for purpose in the new world. We need some big creative ideas to solve them. As it stands, there is no political party that is offering anything other than tweaking around the edges.

"It is without question that creative thinking needs to be put high up on the country’s agenda and any political party that supports this would get my vote.”

Brandon Ackroyd, Head of Customer Insight for Tiger Mobiles, added:

“My big hope for election is that whoever gets into Downing Street has it in them to take on the banking sector and reform it. The Bank of England and the too big to fail banks are the main reason we live in the land of debt. We need to move back to free market capitalism if we’re ever going to be competitive again. Whoever gets in there needs to start asking themselves why is the poverty gap in this country widening and what can be done about it?

“N.B. it certainly won’t be solved by hanging out with their banker buddies in Soho. The economy is a complex puzzle right now but things have to start by reforming the banking sector, lending to small / medium businesses again in the manufacturing industry, raising interest rates to reward savers and stop selling off assets that line of the pockets of foreign pensions funds. That should see take home pay rise.

“I don’t hold out much hope though, all we’ve seen so far from the major parties are election gimmicks to win votes. None of the parties seem able to present the facts; they’re more interested in coming up with glossed over policies to appease certain interest groups; take for example the ponzi scheme like help to buy schemes that only really exploit the knowledge gap between the first time buyer and the Westminster elite.”

Next week, we will be asking South Yorkshire businesses to comment on the upcoming election. Send any comments along to nick.hill@bdaily.co.uk.

Nicki Hutchinson and Liz Atiba-Davies, JWPCreers

JWPCreers, a North Yorkshire accountants and business adviser, has boosted its senior team with the appointment of two new associates.

Nicki Hutchinson and Liz Atiba-Davies both work in general practice.

Nicki Hutchinson, a senior manager who joined the firm from the Pickering office of a national practice in November 2014, became a chartered accountant (ACA), through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales in 1992; a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (FCA) in 2002 and a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) in 2011.

Liz Atiba-Davies, a manager, became a chartered accountant (ACA), through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales in 2009 and joined JWPCreers from a London practice in 2013.

Based at York Science Park and Park Street, Selby, JWPCreers is one of the largest accountant firms in York and North Yorkshire, with seven partners and more than 80 staff.

Commenting on the new appointments, Nigel Clemit, JWPCreers managing partner, said: “Liz and Nicki have been appointed on merit in recognition of their skills. The firm is very busy, continuing to grow and gaining work beyond our traditional heartland in the North. We are very pleased that they are joining our senior team which needs to reflect the strength in depth throughout the firm.”    

Nicki Hutchinson added: “We are thrilled to have been promoted to the senior team relatively soon after joining the firm and appreciate the recognition of our commitment."

Liz Atiba-Davies also said: “We are both looking forward to the added responsibility of helping to manage and develop such a well-known and long-established firm.”

Andy Pearcy, Gibson Booth Limited

A Barnsley accountancy firm is moving into the future with a new director.

Andy Pearcy has been appointed as corporate tax director at Gibson Booth Limited, which has offices on Victoria Road in the town centre.

Andy studied accountancy at the University of Hull before working in the corporate tax departments of Grant Thornton and BDO. He joined Gibson Booth two years ago.

The former corporate tax manager will now work alongside managing director Robert Watson and two other directors as owners of the company.

With 29 staff, Gibson Booth currently has around 1,000 clients and a growing turnover.

Commenting on the appointment, Andy said: “I am delighted to become a director, it means I will have more influence over the way we move forward and grow the company. We believe our success is based on the quality of service we offer.”

“We are one of very few accountancy firms of our size that has a dedicated tax department, but we see tax advice as a vital service for our clients. It’s about making sure that businesses work efficiently and are not hit by tax bills they aren’t expecting.

“We make sure that we are ahead of the game by keeping abreast of changes in tax regulations and taking ideas to our clients and not just waiting for them to come to us.”

Jed Wolfe, BNP Paribas Real Estate

Jed Wolfe MRICS has been appointed the director of BNP Paribas Real Estate’s investment team in the firm’s Leeds office.

Having previously worked for Commercial Bank of Qatar where he was the managing director of Asteco Qatar, Jed had also been head of investment at Asteco’ Bahrain office and between 2005 and 2008 he was a partner in the investment team at Knight Frank in London.

Jed will focus on the property investment markets in the key regional centres of Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester and Newcastle, working with UK investment funds and institutions, property companies, high net worth individuals and international investors.

Simon Williams, head of investment at BNP Paribas Real Estate said: “Jed’s extensive experience of the investment market in the UK and in the Middle East will further strengthen our regional offering in the UK. Having previously worked with government bodies, global corporations, institutions, property companies, high net worth individuals and shareholders, his understanding and market insight will be of great benefit to our clients.”

Commenting on the appointment, Jed Wolfe said: “As part of a global banking brand BNP Paribas Real Estate global network is uniquely placed to access international buyers looking to invest their capital in the UK and much of the demand for regional investments came from the international community during 2014. The UK’s real estate investment market benefited from this global appetite with institutions, sovereign wealth funds, high net worth individuals and private equity funds seeking the higher returns gained from property in an otherwise low yielding environment.”

Richard Gibbon and Richard Cressall, Gordons

Yorkshire law firm Gordons has strengthened its commercial property and property litigation offerings by recruiting two lawyers to its team.

Richard Gibbon has joined the firm’s commercial property department, led by partner Barbara Rollin, from independent practice Ford & Warren.

Richard Cressall has been appointed into Gordons’ property litigation team, headed by partner Andrew Todd, after previously working with international firm Eversheds.

The new duo were both previously were based in Leeds.

Mr Gibbon previously worked for Ford & Warren for just over five years, after training with niche Manchester corporate and commercial firm Smithsons, which was acquired by Reading-based practice Pitmans last year.

Mr Gibbon is currently involved in areas such as landlord and tenant, property finance, development and transactional matters.    

Mr Cressall was an associate in Eversheds’ litigation and dispute management group, handling a broad range of property-related instructions. He has particular expertise in commercial security of tenure, forfeiture and relief from it, possession claims, dilapidations, insolvency procedures and arrears recovery.

Commenting on the new appointments, Barbara Rollin said: "We’re very happy that these two excellent young lawyers are now part of the firm. They’ve already strengthened the teams they’ve joined and our overall offering significantly. We’re confident that both will perform very well here and have outstanding careers ahead of them."  

Gordons has offices in Leeds, Bradford and London, employs 235 people and has a turnover of £22.9m. Clients include Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, construction and high performance materials manufacturer Saint-Gobain, international brewers Molson Coors and the world’s largest electrical heating business Glen Dimplex.

Paul Dodsworth, Wates Construction

Wates Construction has boosted its northern operations with the appointment of Paul Dodsworth as business unit director for Yorkshire and North East.

The new move boosts the senior team as Wates, the contractor currently building the £100m Central Square office development in Leeds, is looking to strengthen its portfolio of projects across Yorkshire.

Dodsworth, who has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, joins from Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd where he spent eight years as construction director overseeing projects in the North East and Scotland.

The new position will see Dodsworth lead the delivery of Wates’ current projects within the private and public sectors, which includes Haribo’s new £35m Wakefield production facility and the £5.6m XP School in Doncaster.

Phil Harrison, managing director of Wates Construction North, said: “Wates Construction has an extensive portfolio of excellent projects in Yorkshire both past and present, which places us a reputed contractor across commercial, manufacturing and public sector markets.

“Paul’s appointment marks a step forward in our strategic growth plan for the region, which will see us drive the business further afield whilst building on our long-standing position as a trusted and innovative contractor.”

Commenting on his new appointment, Dodsworth said: “This is an exciting opportunity and I very much look forward to leading an already strong Wates Construction team in Yorkshire and developing the opportunities in the North East. I bring with me a keen focus on delivering exceptional quality for our clients, as well as a passion to grow the business into new markets."

Tom Blandford and Rory Kelliher, Grant Thornton

Business adviser Grant Thornton is expanding its assurance practice in Sheffield with the appointments of Tom Blandford and Rory Kelliher as audit managers.

Tom, who joins as senior manager, has 11 years’ auditing experience having worked with a variety of accountancy firms and joins from Deloitte where he was a senior manager. Tom’s specialisms include advising firms in the advanced manufacturing and construction sectors.

Rory, who began working with Barber, Harrison and Platt (BHP) in 2008, where he trained with the firm and progressed to the role of assistant manager before joining Grant Thornton.  He has extensive experience of working in audit with particular expertise within the manufacturing sector and of advising on pension schemes.  As well as statutory audit work, Rory also undertook two industrial secondments.

Paul Houghton, senior partner for Grant Thornton in Sheffield, said:  “Our audit practice across Yorkshire is seeing significant growth and these latest appointments give us further resource to manage our increased workload in Sheffield.  Tom and Rory will support the team in delivering exceptional service to a variety of national and international clients in the region.”

Tom added: “It’s an exciting time to join Grant Thornton as it further cements its ‘category of one’ status.  I’m particularly pleased to be back in Sheffield, where I trained and still live, as the firm has established a strong presence here and is the leading choice for mid market businesses looking to develop an international presence.”

Rory also commented: “Grant Thornton is a growing firm with a very good local and national reputation and this is a great opportunity for me to progress and continue my development within the professional practice industry.”

Maddie Holmes, NatWest

NatWest has appointed Maddie Holmes as Relationship Manager specialising in Real Estate Finance (REF).

Maddie had previously worked as a Private Banking Manager supporting a wide range of SME customers. The new role will see her supporting REF customers through the bank’s Halifax Business Centre which supports customers in Halifax, Huddersfield and Barnsley.

She will be responsible for commercial investment and development, residential investment and development, and business development in Halifax.

Over a five year period, Maddie developed a portfolio of up to 800 customers while also obtaining a Private Banking accreditation and passing the bank’s Future Relationship Manager programme. She is currently embarking on a Business Banking accreditation.

Neil Warwick, Square One Law

North East commercial law firm, Square One Law has welcomed leading EU and competition lawyer, Neil Warwick as an equity partner.

Neil will be part of Square One Law’s strategic management team and take on the role of business development partner.

Neil specialises in all aspects of competition law, in particular, State aid and EU structural funding and, prior to joining Square One Law, enjoyed a successful 25-year career in the legal profession with Bond Dickinson.

Neil said: "It has been a big decision to leave Bond Dickinson, as I have genuinely enjoyed my years there and will look back with great satisfaction at the growth and development of my career, especially during the Dickinson Dees era.

“I now feel it is the right stage in my life to take on a new challenge. What impresses me about Square One Law is their totally different way of doing things.  I was attracted to the firm because it has like-minded people who are ambitious and committed to the North East.

“I am flattered to have been offered the business development partner role and look forward to working with the other partners and helping influence the growth of this new entrepreneurial legal business.”

Senior partner, Ian Gilthorpe said, “I am really looking forward to working with Neil.  He is massively committed to the North East and has great energy and drive. We are delighted that he has chosen to join us and help us develop Square One Law.

“His knowledge and understanding of the region, along with his legal skill set and management experience will undoubtedly help us continue the rapid growth that the firm has seen in the last year.”

Andy Kane, Darlington Building Society

Darlington Building Society has appointed Andy Kane as learning & development manager.

Andy joins the Society from national energy company RWE npower and brings to the new position more than ten years experience in operational and organisational learning and development.

Working within the Organisation and People Development Centre of Excellence his roles have included people development specialist and dearning and development operations manager.

Andy will work with Darlington Building Society’s employees to further enhance their skills and knowledge as the organisation embraces the changing market and strengthens its position in the mutual sector.

Andy Kane said:  “This is extremely exciting time to join Darlington Building Society as it builds for the future. Developing a culture where learning and developing knowledge and skills are part of everyday life in the Society will enable our people to best serve the interests of our members and our local communities.

“Any organisation is only as good as its people and I am looking forward to working with colleagues at the Society to help them progress their careers."

Chief executive Colin Fyfe said:  “Andy brings considerable experience and expertise to Darlington Building Society.

“The Learning and Development role is key to our people strategy of ‘growing our own’ and ‘creating capability’, which offers employees the opportunity to flourish at the Society and, with the right support and training, challenge themselves to grow both professionally and personally."

Ben Lambotte, Wynyard Hall Hotel

Wynyard Hall Hotel and Spa, Tees Valley, has appointed social and digital media expert Ben Lambotte, from Billingham, to the role of marketing coordinator.

Along with promoting all aspects of the hotel’s operation to the corporate, wedding and leisure sectors, Ben will be a key member of the team overseeing the launch of the second phase of The Gardens at Wynyard Hall.

The Gardens is a £4m project within the 25-bedroom hotel’s grounds, which began with the installation of a Grand Marquee, able to host up to 700 guests for weddings and corporate functions.

Ben joins Wynyard Hall from clothing retail company Urban Surfer where he was marketing and operations manager.

Wynyard Hall managing director Allison Antonopoulos said: “The Walled Garden is going to be breathtakingly beautiful and will attract visitors from far and wide so we are delighted to have him on board.”

“Wynyard Hall is one of the most spectacular venues in the region,” said Ben, “and I’m thoroughly looking forward to making sure as many people as possible discover that for themselves."       

Jeni Banks, The Mussel Club

North East business networking platform has appointed Jeni Banks as managing director.

The Mussel Club, which is the North East’s leading networking platform, holds a number of motivating and social networking events to help companies in the region build lasting relationships, promote their brand and ensure their business thrives.

Jeni said: “I’m excited to be part of such a great platform. Networking is my passion and I love nothing more than ‘match-making’ businesses that I know will do great things together,” 

Jeni, 29, has almost ten years of experience in business networking including launching her own networking company in Carlisle, May Fifteen and already has huge plans for The Mussel Club.

She continued: “After selling my business I was looking for a new challenge and The Mussel Club was the perfect fit.

“We already have plans to work with some of the region’s biggest businesses along with engaging with start-ups and smaller businesses who are looking to grow and expand.

“The Mussel Club will also be re-launching its website and introducing a new app to help businesses get connected. I can’t wait to get things going.”

In her early career Jeni was named in Livewire’s Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs in the UK in 2010 and was a finalist in the CN Awards 2011 in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category.

She won the Growth Accelerator Programme in 2012 and has also judged on a number of awards’ panels herself.

David Cook, founder of The Mussel Club, said: “The Mussel club has come a long way since the initial concept was dreamt up over a bowl of mussels in a restaurant,”

“It’s brought a lot of businesses together over the years and has been incredibly successful, so it’s great to see someone as experienced as Jeni take the reins. I’m sure it will continue to grow under her management.”

Gary Lumby MBE & Samantha Wanless, Jalna Construction

Jalna Construction, a Middlesbrough based fabrication firm, has appointed two new members to its growing team to facilitate future growth.

The family-run business, which specialises in fabrication, marine and offshore engineering services, has taken on Gary Lumby MBE (right) and local graduate Samantha Wanless, to help secure the company’s long-term growth and success.

With a wealth of experience in consulting, finance, marketing and business strategy, Gary has been hired as Jalna’s first non-executive director. He said: “I know that if we can implement the correct strategy, backed up with great customer service and the appropriate accreditations, we can grow the business significantly.

“I hope to help make Jalna the leading provider of fabrication and light engineering services in the North of England”.

Speaking of Gary’s appointment, commercial director Richard Horner (left) said: “Gary’s expertise in larger organisations will help us massively. It’s really exciting watching our vision become a reality and success."

Recent business and management graduate, Samantha is relishing the opportunity of working for the local firm as business administrator after studying at Durham University’s Stockton campus. She said: “It’s a great time to be a part of the company.

“Being given the opportunity to assist in its planned expansion and being a part of Jalna’s success makes me very proud of the team I have joined”.

Dr Yvonne Gale, NEL Fund Managers

North East fund management firm NEL Fund Managers has refreshed its senior management team with the appointment of Dr Yvonne Gale as its new chief executive.

Yvonne, who has been with NEL for 13 years, has been promoted from her previous position as the firm’s operations director, with long-serving chief executive Barrie Hensby moving to become its chairman.

Holder of both a Masters and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Northumbria University, Yvonne is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and also holds the Institute of Directors’ Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction, for which she studied at Durham University.

Prior to joining NEL in 2003, she worked in financial management roles for a range of well-known businesses, including Newcastle Arena, Scotts Hotels, The Officers Club and Unitech Open Systems Ltd.

Yvonne Gale said: "NEL has been at the heart of the North East business community for more than a quarter of a century, and our investments have helped to create and sustain many thousands of regional jobs across hundreds of companies.

"Taking on the mantel of leading the NEL team into a new era is an exciting challenge for me, and the expertise that they make available locally is invaluable in helping companies achieve their commercial objectives.  

"The flow of enquiries from North East businesses looking to implement development plans with our investment support remains strong, and we’re actively looking to invest around £3m during 2015 in these sorts of ambitious firms.

"Barrie will be a hard act to follow, but he’ll continue to be closely involved with the business and his unrivalled knowledge of the North East’s investment culture will still be readily at hand."

Barrie Hensby added: “The North East economy has changed out of all recognition in the 25 years that I’ve been at the NEL helm, and there’s still a huge amount of potential to be realised.  

“It’s pleasing to look back at the successes we’ve enjoyed over the years, both from our own point of view and that of the many investees that have achieved great things, and to now be part of a confident, outward-looking region that can look to compete with rivals anywhere in the world."

Manchester-based digital marketing agency Tecmark has continued its expansion with 10 new recruits joining the company in the first three months of 2015.

The recruits, who bring a wealth of experience across a range of industries, bolster Tecmark’s offices in both Manchester and Liverpool. 

Tecmark managing director Richard Heyes said: “These are exciting times for Tecmark and I’m sure our newest recruits will make a significant impact across the business – both for our clients and ourselves.

“We’re delighted to welcome each one of them to the Tecmark family and look forward to their skills and knowledge enhancing our offering across the north west.“

Stuart Baxter and Lee Chadwick take up roles as marketing executives, while Stephen Darwin joins as a trainee SEO executive after spending two years running his own business in artist management.

Front-end web developer David Thompson joins from Bath-based branding consultancy Hibbert Harwood and Michael Fasipe joins as a web developer from First Internet.

Alex Ashman brings experience of designing for digital, animation and print to her role of digital designer, while Neil Barraclough – a former journalist who has written for every UK national newspaper – takes up the post of brand communications manager.

Content coordinator Ruth Hartnoll will be based in the company’s Liverpool offices, having previously worked as a copywriter for Click Consult and Rippleffect.

Kate Madigan returns for her second stint at Tecmark, taking on the position of digital project manager.

Bethany Fearn, a finance assistant with several years’ experience in all-round accounts environments, completes the Tecmark 10.

Stephen Roberts, ECI Partners

ECI Partners (‘ECI’), the growth focused mid-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce it has expanded its team with the appointment of Stephen Roberts to its Manchester office.

Stephen joins as Investment Manager, having previously spent six months in the business on secondment from PwC. 

ECI’s expanded team will continue to manage the firms existing funds as well as investing in new companies. ECI raised £500 million for their latest fund, ECI 10, which closed in September 2014.

John Hayhurst, ECI Partner, Manchester said: “We are delighted to welcome Stephen to the team and further strengthen our regional presence. He joins ECI at an exciting time as we have recently started the investment period for the new fund. ECI’s recent transactions- including salary sacrifice car provider Tusker and B2B digital IR communications specialist Investis,  demonstrate that there continues to be exciting growth opportunities within the UK mid-market.“

Chris Cheap, Bilfinger GVA 

Bilfinger GVA has promoted respected North West office advisor Chris Cheap to Senior Director, further underpinning his role as head of the firm’s five-strong North West Offices team.

Based in the Manchester Office, Chris has been operating at the forefront of the North West’s office markets for seventeen years and has been behind some of the region’s most important transactions including the leasing of 73,000 sq ft to KPMG at Argent/GMPVF’s One St Peters Square and in excess of 100,000 sq ft of space being taken at The Carlyle Group’s Piccadilly Place scheme in the past year.

Chris has built a strong reputation in the North West’s office leasing and development arena acting for clients such as MUSE, Orbit Developments, Miller Developments, Catalyst Capital, Standard Life, Nabarro LLP and Ardstone.

Mark Rawstron, Regional Senior Director, Bilfinger GVA Manchester office, added: “Chris thoroughly deserves this recognition for leading his strong office agency team, which has completed some of the region’s most significant office deals, and has established important, long-standing relationships.“

Jonie Little, Sarah Barnes, Napthens

Solicitor Jonie Little has joined the Commercial Property team at North West law firm Napthens.

Jonie joins from an Ipswich law firm, where she worked after training with Addleshaw Goddard in London.

She has advised clients across several industry sectors, including retail, transportation, leisure, health and education. During her time in London Jonie was part of a team which advised on the largest litigation battle in British legal history, involving the late Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich.

At Napthens she will work closely with clients to support their business objectives, advising on the legal aspects of a wide range of commercial property matters.

Jonie, who has recently returned to her home town of Preston, said: “I’m joining a talented team of experts at Napthens, which has a solid commercial property reputation in the region, combined with a portfolio of high profile clients.“

Allan Sumner, head of Commercial Property at Napthens, said: “Jonie brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, having previously been involved in a number of complex, high value projects.

“Her experience in the property sector means she has a true understanding of the issues that matter to commercial agents, developers, landlords and tenants and will strengthen Napthens’ existing setup.“

Sarah Barnes, head of the Residential Property team at Napthens solicitors, has been promoted to partner.

Joining Napthens in 2009, Sarah became head of the department in 2011, and manages an experienced team of property lawyers.

Recently Sarah has led the department through a significant period of growth with a number of new appointments. This, together with the further development of the case management system over the last 12 months, has given the team a competitive edge and increased efficiency.

Craig Nemeth, Galliford Try plc

Housebuilding and construction group, Galliford Try plc, has strengthened its North West team with the appointment of new regeneration manager, Craig Nemeth.

Craig is overseeing a £100m PFI regeneration programme which is currently transforming the Brunswick area of East Manchester. Galliford Try forms part of the wider S4B Consortium which was appointed to deliver the 25-year scheme in 2013. The consortium also includes Equitix, Mears and Symphony Housing.

Craig is responsible for overseeing the infrastructure works on site as well as the development of commercial buildings, an extra care centre and over 500 new homes for private sale and rent. All of the new homes are being built by Galliford Try’s residential division, Linden Homes.

Craig has over 20 years’ experience in the housing and construction sector having previously held roles at Seddon and Kier Construction. 

Craig said of his new role: “Galliford Try has an excellent reputation in the construction sector. This was a great opportunity for me to work with forward thinking company that has clear objectives for significant business growth. I am delighted to take on the regeneration manager role at this exciting time for the business. The Brunswick regeneration programme will leave an important legacy on the area for years to come, so I am very proud to have joined the team.“

Mike Jackson, HURST

Accountancy firm and business adviser HURST has promoted Mike Jackson to partner in its business services team.

The 35-year-old joined the firm from Deloitte in 2004 as an audit senior. He became an associate partner in 2010.

Mike provides audit and assurance advice to owner-managed businesses and companies which trade internationally.

He also has a business development role at HURST and has helped the firm to win a string of notable clients over the past 12 months, including Manchester-based school wear business David Luke and Stockport wholesaler Alan Howard, which supplies products to hairdressing and beauty salons.

Mike also led the roll-out of a paperless document management system across the firm three years ago. This will soon be expanded to include an interactive client portal.

HURST chief executive Tim Potter said: “Mike has worked exceptionally hard to support the firm’s growth. 

“He has brought in some superb new clients and has led on projects that have materially changed the way the firm does business. 

“We are delighted to be in a position to reward him with this well-deserved promotion.“

Vicky Pemberton, adept4

IT services company adept4 has bolstered its customer experience team with the appointment of a new Client Relationship Manager.

Client engagement specialist Vicky Pemberton has over 19 years’ experience in telecoms. She has joined the business from a role as Head of Customer Experience at IT services provider GCI, where she was part of the senior management team.

Her new role will see her restructure and streamline adept4’s customer service processes and protocols; implementing and overseeing best-practice procedures which will improve and enhance the overall client experience.

Peter Birkett, adept4 CEO, said: “Vicky is a highly skilled, incredibly impressive operator and we’re delighted to welcome her to the team. Although she has only been with us for a matter of weeks, we are already feeling the positive impact of her knowledge on the business’ client-side operations.

“Her expertise and commitment to creating the best possible experience for clients is perfectly in line with adept4’s unwavering focus on offering an unrivalled service to our customers. It will help us to continue to refine and improve this key element of the business as we continue to grow and expand.“

John Killen, Asons Solicitors

Solicitor John Killen has joined Asons Solicitors as an Assistant Solicitor for the Clinical Negligence department. John comes to the expanding Greater Manchester firm to assist in the continued development of the team.

As a former member of CILEX (the professional association for Chartered Legal Executives), John brings 26 years of experience gained in various practices across the North West where he has worked on a wide range of civil litigation, personal injury and clinical negligence cases.

John arrives at Asons after working as a locum solicitor and in a short term role at another firm in Lancashire. He describes his new role as “very exciting”, and a, “great opportunity to work with exceptionally friendly and talented people in a firm that is clearly going places”.

 Sam Holmes, DTZ

DTZ announced the appointment of Sam Holmes as Surveyor in to its Manchester-based Project and Building Consultancy team.

Sam will specialise in core building surveying for our broad range of clients. He is currently acting on behalf of tenants NHS Property Services Ltd and Home Group in relation to two separate dilapidation claims in Stockport and Warrington.

Previously a Building Surveyor with AECOM, Sam was responsible for the contract administration for London university halls of residence refurbishments alongside working with clients on industrial unit refurbishments in Birmingham. He was also responsible for numerous surveys as part of large scale stock condition survey commissions in the West Midlands, Norwich and North Somerset. Prior to this Sam worked at Network Rail.

Eric Roberts, Director, Project and Building Consultancy team at DTZ in Manchester comments: “I am delighted that Sam has chosen to join us at DTZ. As activity levels and opportunities increase in the sector, Sam’s appointment will add additional breadth to the existing team and help us with our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional service to our growing client base.“

David MacDonald, Darragh Lee, Richard Hatchett, Natasha Copitch, MERJE

Recruitment agency, MERJE, has strengthened its team with four new appointments, following substantial growth in the first quarter of 2015.

Joining MERJE as principal consultant, Richard Hatchett, 39, will be responsible for the recruitment of mid to senior-level candidates for clients in the accountancy and finance sector. Having previously worked as a senior financial consultant at WWB Recruitment and Badenoch & Clark, Richard’s extensive knowledge will aide MERJE’s continued growth in the market.

Joining Richard as a principal consultant is Ramsbottom-based David MacDonald. 31-year-old David will be focusing on placing candidates in the public practice arena, an area in which he has four years’ experience.

Additionally, Darragh Lee will be joining the customer contact team as senior consultant, whilst Natasha Copitch joins as a resourcer. Together with the rest of the customer contact team, 34-year-old Darragh, from Cheadle Hulme, and 22-year-old Natasha, from Whitefield, will generate networks of candidates across the telecoms, utilities, financial services and communications arenas.

Jonathan Abelson, director of MERJE, said: “In the first quarter of this year, we’ve experienced strong growth, as predicted in January. The appointment of key team members, such as David and Richard, alongside Darragh and Natasha, reflects how passionate we are about bringing the best people on board. We’re confident that all team members will solidify the knowledge and experience we have, which enables us to make successful placements across our areas of expertise.“

David Hunt, Liverpool Community Renewables

Hyperion’s David Hunt appointed director of Liverpool Community Renewables

A leading figure in the green energy sector has been appointed a director of Liverpool Community Renewables.

The organisation has brought on board David Hunt, Managing Partner of Liverpool-based Hyperion Executive Search, a specialist renewables recruitment company. David was also previously a director of one of the UK’s leading renewable energy installers.

LCR is a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registered Society for the Benefit of the Community whose purpose is to develop, own and manage renewable energy schemes on its own or in partnership with other organisations.

LCR is in the middle of a fundraising round with an initial target of £80,000 to enable it to seed-fund solar PV projects around the city.

Investors into the fund – known as a Pioneer Share Offer – are likely to be eligible for income tax relief under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). The share offer is already over 50% subscribed and remains open until May 15.

Businesses and organisations with suitable roof space for the installations will be able to benefit from dramatically reduced energy costs, while money from the Government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme will help to fund community projects in the Liverpool City Region.

David Hunt said: “I am delighted to have joined the board of Liverpool Community Renewables. LCR has big ambitions including playing its part in the transition of Merseyside’s energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy.“

Ed Gommon, founder and fellow director of LCR, said: “David is a highly respected figure in the Merseyside and UK renewables industry with excellent contacts and in-depth knowledge of commercial solar PV installations.

“LCR is part of a wider community energy movement in the UK and Europe seeking to bring ownership of the generation and distribution of energy back under the local and democratic control of those who consume it.“

Also joining the board is Steve Pimlott, a Senior Consultant with Arup Energy Consulting.

Simon Stern, Fluent Money

Bolton-based Fluent Money, the UK’s leading secured loan broker, has appointed Simon Stern to its team as a non-executive director. Stern joins from Prestige Finance, part of the One Savings Bank Group, a long-term lending partner of Fluent Money, where he worked for 30 years. In his role as director at Prestige, Simon oversaw all aspects of new business and broker relations.  Tim Wheeldon, joint managing director at Fluent Money, said: “Simon has been a valued friend within the industry for many years, and we’re delighted to be welcoming him to the company as a non-executive director. “With a wealth of broker knowledge and insight, Simon will bring added value to the Fluent Money service as we continue to build on our recent successes. We’re looking forward to welcoming him to the board and working together on garnering the best results for our business.“

Clothing supplier Clothes2order has doubled its capacity in order to meet increasing demand by expanding into two more units in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester.

The company, which supplies customised clothing for uniforms, promotions and events, has leased 12,000sq ft on Wheel Forge Way.

One of the two-storey units adjoins its existing premises and has enabled the firm to create an enlarged production operation after installing three new embroidery and printing machines, taking its investment to more than £500k in the past two years. 

The other unit is opposite and has enabled Clothes2order to increase its stock levels and create more office space for its growing workforce, which stands at 70 and is expected to reach 100 this year.

Clothes2order now occupies a total of 24,000 sq ft and managing director Michael Conway said the firm has developed a world-class manufacturing operation, he said: “We had reached capacity and required this significant expansion to ensure we stay at the forefront of our industry in terms of speed, quality and reliability,“

“The additional space and equipment means we are fully geared up to supply more orders in industry-leading times, while also improving our efficiency and working conditions.“

Clothes2order prints and embroiders logos and slogans on to clothing for more than 20,000 businesses, clubs, charities and societies as well as individuals.

It is the fastest-growing division of Quayside Group, which saw revenues rise 50 per cent last year to £6.6m. This year, it is targeting sales of £9m and aims to hit £20m by 2017.

Clothes2order has also embarked on the latest phase of its export growth strategy with the launch of dedicated websites in the United States, Australia and Ireland which mean customers can pay in their local currency.

Mr Conway continued: “We already have strong sales and good delivery networks in those countries, and having these sites greatly improves the customer experience, which is a key focus for our business.“

In a further development, Clothes2order has created a platform where teams, organisations, charities and individual designers can set up their own online merchandise store for free.

This means they do not have to carry stock, as it enables their customers to buy any number of their items directly from Clothes2order.

Around 200 merchandise stores have been created in the first two months of the venture.

Mr Conway said: “This initiative means we can offer a greatly improved service to clubs, organisations and other bodies as well as individual designers and we are delighted with the take-up so far.“

Aspiring property owners in London can now join forces to co-purchase property with help from the newly-launched Property Buyers Match, a platform that matches house-hunters in the City based on details including personality, professional situation and financial standing.

Property Buyers Match is the brainchild of Australian-born entrepreneur Emma Leicester, who, after recently turning 30, is more than well-aware of the difficulties facing young professionals in the capital who are looking to buy property: "I faced the same issues facing a lot of other people  - how do I get on the property ladder? I turned 30 this year and I have created a life in London.

"I don’t want to live too far out, and it would be great if I could buy with someone who is in a similar situation and want to live in a similar area, not necessarily a romantic partner but someone with similar aspirations. "

Emma, who founded Property Buyers Match with her partner Iain Hawthorn, explained how the website has already been used by different people for different means, "It’s not just for first time buyers anymore. We have people who are divorced who are in search of a new home, we have people looking for a second home or buy-to-let and also professionals who are in the city sporadically throughout the way. Our members are actually dictating how they use our site."

Emma believes that services like Property Buyers Match are the future for housing in London, as property prices continue to boom in the capital, she said: "This is an alternative pathway to home ownership. Fine years ago, I would never have done internet dating. Three years ago, I never would have thought of renting out my house on holiday owners on a platform like Air BnB, a year ago I didn’t even use the internet to find a dog walker, but this is what we’ve come to  -  a shared economy, where we have to pull our resources together.

"We’re evolving and coming together to solve problems, whether it’s renting out your home for the weekend, finding someone to walk your dog or even meeting people online - this is definitely the way forward, we’ve had such a positive response during this difficult time for property ownership in London."

Property Buyers Match is truly a labour of love for Emma, it is free to join and the pair are hoping to make their first match very soon: "We’ve put £35k in so far. Iain and I both work full time so we can keep the website going, the reason why we keep is free is because we feel there are already enough barriers to home ownership and if we can validate this problem and help people find co-buyers then that would be fantastic. By making it free to join, we are able to moderate users efficiently. What I’m looking for is quality of quantity."

In the next few months, Emma is hoping to get some successful matches. "We’ve got people chatting every day and we want to prove that this is an alternative pathway to buying property We really want to spread the word and encourage people to pull together in this shared economy. We’re holding an event next month to get to know our members a little more, and we want to tap into their journeys to get some first hand feedback so we can can continue to improve the platform and thus continue to grow."

Stockport-based beauty wholesaler Alan Howard has moved  into new headquarters with help from Natwest.  

The business was established in 1973 by Howard Littler and Alan Crawford.

The pair created a wholesale business supplying hair and beauty products to customers in and around Greater Manchester.

The business opened its second store in Oldham in the 1970s and then opened further outlets across Greater Manchester.

As part of its growth, Alan Howard acquired new wholesale stores in Cheshire and Shropshire as well as acquiring Memmotts in Sheffield – a shampoo factory which is still in operation today.

More recently Alan Howard has opened branches in Lancashire and in Merseyside.

To support its growing business, the directors took the decision to establish a flagship headquarters and purchased premises off the M60 in the S Park development.

The new flagship headquarters includes state of the art training facilities, a cash and carry outlet for customers, and a conference theatre which can seat up to 100 people.

Managing director of Alan Howard, Anthony Littler, said: “We found ourselves in a position where we needed a new space for our headquarters.

“The unit at S Park will give us excellent space to base the business in our original home of Stockport.

“We will be able offer training on-site, which is a benefit to our customers who want a complete package when buying products.”

Alan Howard employs 290 people across the country in its 22 stores and more jobs are to be created at the new headquarters in Stockport.

NatWest relationship manager Iain Kirkland supported Alan Howard on the purchase of the new premises in Stockport by obtaining a seven-figure loan to facilitate.

Iain said: “I was delighted to support Alan Howard on its development of a new flagship headquarters in Stockport. The new training facilities and conference theatre will be a benefit to customers, and I wish Alan Howard every success for the future.”

Image source: airlines470

81% of Manchester-based SMEs export according to research undertaken by FedEx Express.

It also found out that 73% of Liverpool SMEs export.

The exporting market is worth £46k per month in Manchester and £52k per month for Liverpool SMEs.

The research also revealed reasons for picking the first markets to enter and the key benefits of exporting.

Reasons for picking first market to enter:

• 51% Sharing a common language
• 38% least complicated market to enter
• 28% Largest untapped market to enter
• 25% Links with family / ancestry
• 24% Witnessed other businesses succeeding there

Key Benefits of exporting:

• 63% Improved our financial performance
• 40% Helped us to employ more people
• 37% Encouraged us to develop new products and services
• 26% Helped us to compete with larger businesses
• 23% Provided new opportunities for talented staff
• 17% Improved staff retention levels
• 11% Enabled us to open new premises / operations overseas

Vice president Northern Europe operations, FedEx Express, Trevor Hoyle said: “The study has produced some fascinating findings, revealing a number of regional cities that are noticeably bucking the trend when it comes to global connectivity.

“Through critical assessment of perceived image, reputation and geographical location of 26 cities across the UK, the study serves to paint a more vivid picture of the regional factors that come into play when trading overseas.

“With the influence and impact of “Brand Britain” our report aims to ensure British SMEs are given the best possible platform and support to succeed, helping to drive our economy forward.“

Yorkshire businesses are not investing into growth or expansion, putting a hold on recruitment and pay rises until the outcome of the General Election next month.

Begbies Traynor, business recovery specialists, recently warned that this has caused stagnation across all areas of the economy. 

Begbies Traynor’s Red Flag Alert research for Q1 2015, which monitors the financial health of UK companies, reveals that levels of ‘significant’ financial distress among businesses in Yorkshire fell by just 1% over the past three months to 14,737 (Q4 2014: 14,829).

Levels of more severe ‘critical’ distress increased slightly by 5% to 177 failing companies (Q4 2014: 168).

The sector that is suffering the most due to the tightened consumer budgets is the region’s food and beverage manufacturing industry. Companies in this sector, many of which supply the major supermarkets, are constantly seeing escalating ‘significant’ distress with 129 Yorkshire businesses now struggling to stay afloat, compared to 66 at the same stage last year; which is a 95% increase.

Yorkshire food and drug retailers also witnessed a 37% increase in ‘significant’ distress, from 286 companies affected in Q1 2015 to 392 in Q1 of this year.

 Julian Pitts, regional managing partner for Begbies Traynor in Yorkshire, said: “Concerns over the outcome of the most uncertain election in a generation have led to a state of stagnation across all sectors of the economy. Swathes of businesses in Yorkshire have postponed their growth plans until after the results have been announced.   

“With economic forecasters predicting that political uncertainty would result in a fall in consumer confidence and sharp swings in the value of the pound, many business leaders in Yorkshire and across the UK took the decision at the start of the year to cut back on much needed investment, new hires and pay increases to provide a buffer in the event that trading levels subsided. Fortunately these concerns seem to have been overly cautious, as the economic impact of the election has so far been minimal.“

 Mr Pitts added: “The four main UK supermarkets are continuing to cut prices as a core component of their turnaround strategies and these mass price reductions are having severe consequences for less established food retailers and suppliers in Yorkshire, particularly SMEs, who now seem to be locked in a David and Goliath-style battle; although this time it appears David can’t win.“

Image source: pacomexico

Business leaders in the North are being urged to have their voice heard on the devolution debate and the so-called ‘Northern Powerhouse’ by IPPR North, the dedicated think for the north.

IPPR North – supported by leading Northern law firm Ward Hadaway- are carrying out a survey (accessible here) to find out what businesses think of the prospect of more devolution; where they see the opportunities and risks in allowing local regions greater power over their own affairs; and what they make of the idea of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’.

The findings will be used to ensure the voice of business is heard in any post-election debate about further devolution to local authorities in the North. The think tank will publish a briefing on the issue after the election.

Jack Hunter, Research Fellow at IPPR North, said: “Our research will be read by national and local policy-makers and we believe that this is an opportunity for businesses to contribute to this ongoing and important debate. Devolution will arise as a key issue after the polls close and this is a chance to ensure any new devolution settlement is business-friendly.”

IPPR North have convened businesses in the North East and North West for roundtable discussions to explore the issues raised in more detail and are looking for partners to work with in the Yorkshire and Humber area. For more details about how to get involved, please contact, Danny Wright, d.wright@ippr.org.

Yorkshire firms were able to win contracts worth a total of £600m after collaborating with Encompass Consultancy, a bid-writing service based in Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire.

The firm, which specializes in helping companies win competitive tenders, started five years ago and since then has helped companies across the UK land contracts worth £10bn.  

Encompass’s most recent successes, which are based throughout Yorkshire, include PrimaryTec in Hull, an IT provider to the education sector; Caremark (East Riding), which specialises in quality care for people in their own homes; and the Hull-based Choices and Rights Disability Coalition.

Founded by managing director Lucus [CORR] Elliott, a former Hull University student, and sales director Adam Rhodes, from Hull, Encompass has since grown to a staff of 22, who work across three divisions: bid writing, training delivery and advising on employment law.

Commenting on the firm’s success, Lucus said: “There are so many opportunities through tendering, both in the public and private sectors, for companies of all shapes and sizes in all industries. Winning these types of contracts can really help take a business to the next level.

“However, writing a bid – especially if you’re not that experienced with tenders – can be a difficult task. Compliance requirements can be daunting and the jargon can be very hard to cut through. Our bid writers come from a variety of sectors, from SMEs to big multi-nationals, so there’s a tremendous wealth of experience - and that experience means we have an 85 per cent success rate.“

As well as bid writing, Encompass can also see if a company is “tender ready” by carrying out a  comprehensive review, working with the firm towards accreditations. Encompass also offers a tender alert service, and will notify clients when tenders relevant to them are being sought.

Lucus added: “If a company is submitting a lot of tenders then gaining industry and international accreditation recognised accreditation is very worthwhile. Being able to demonstrate that your company operates to a recognised international standards speaks volumes in a tender bid. It also saves a lot of time too – if a bid asks for evidence about a certain process we can simply write ‘ISO9001’, for example, instead of sourcing a lot of data and writing a lot of case studies.“

Adam also commented: “We are delighted to have recently crossed the £10bn milestone. Starting up during the recession was a bold move but it’s paid off. We are much further on from where we imagined we would be, which is great.

“We started at a time when the banks weren’t lending, but in 2010 when Government departments were tasked with saving up to 20%, more and more business was out to tender as a means of increasing efficiency. We saw this as an opportunity to help other businesses access contracts.

“Having a business that helps other businesses and organisations to grow is hugely rewarding. As we work closely with our clients, we feel like celebrating every time they win a tender.“

Image source: BriYYZ

The SME community throughout the UK is definitely experiencing the benefits of the government’s pledge to double the country’s export value, with the aim of reaching the £1 trillion mark, by 2020.

After the UK Export Epicentres Report by FedEx Express was published online earlier this week, it is clear that among the regions to have seen the most growth in the export marketplace is Yorkshire.

The study, which extensively looked at over 2,500 SMEs in 26 cities across the UK, unveiled that Bradford is leading the country with an 86% export rate, which means the West Yorkshire city has the highest percentage of SMEs exporting anywhere in the country.

The findings also revealed that the neighbouring city, Leeds, had the joint second highest percentage of SMEs exporting with 81% - the same as London, Manchester and Southampton.

Furthermore, two thirds of all SMEs believe their city’s industrial heritage could play a pivotal part in expanding in the international market, and this viewpoint peaks in Hull at 81%.

However, businesses in Hull have unsuccessfully utilized the city’s rich history into the export marketplace as 50% of its SMEs require additional support, which is among the worst three cities in the UK.

The FedEx study clearly shows that the Yorkshire economy is on the rise, with the majority of SMEs garning a positive reputation for their international capabilities.

But why is one of the region’s major cities struggling to trade overseas, and how can businesses find the appropriate support to boost their export sales?

On Monday, Bdaily spoke with Martin Davidian, managing director sales UK & Ireland for FedEx Express, to get his thoughts on what the study found out about Yorkshire SMEs.

After looking at the FedEx Express report results, Bradford’s SME’s are with an 86% export rate, why do you think this is?

“We look at it as Bradford with a highly diversified economy, which has a strong employer in electronics and chemicals manufacturing. If we look at the rise in electronics globally and if we look at the growth in that area, this one one of the driving platforms for Bradford.

“Also the message coming back from the company survey is that SMEs also believe the heritage that exists in Bradford gives the city a great position to punch well above its weight.“

Upto 50% of businesses in Hull need additional support, how can the city’s SMEs boost their export sales? And what kind of support can they receive?

“When you talk about Hull, it is a good example of the message we were picking up from the epicentre survey. If we look across the 26 cities more than third of the respondents felt there wasn’t enough support on a local level. This is something that we at FedEx have really identified with for quite sometime now, that’s why as an organisation we’ve positioned ourselves to do surveys like this so we can understand and learn as much about the SMEs as we can.

“For example, about two years ago we introduced the Small Business Centre on the FedEx website, and that is there for small businesses to reach out for advice on exporting, markets, what the legislation is and what the customs regulations are.

“It is very much about being a service to small businesses, which don’t have to be a customer of FedEx. The center’s team are organised to deliver information in a timely manner, and our chairman Fred Smith has really focused on access to markets, access to information and access to advice.“

Even though Hull businesses require additional support, 81% of the city’s SMEs view their city’s industrial heritage as a positive. What aspects of Hull’s industrial heritage can benefit its international trade?

“The biggest factor for Hull must be that the city has got one of the largest commercial ports that handles around 13 million tonnes of cargo annually.

“As the city is on the eastern side of the country, there are some infrastructural challenges in terms of road links. But if you look at Hull’s commercial port as well as the city’s growing chemical and healthcare industries, FedEx has specialist teams in these areas because we know that worldwide these are the growing. So this bodes well for Hull.“

What does the future hold for Yorkshire SMEs?

“The future is really bright…Economically, geographically and just the real enthusiasm of the positive responses that we’ve had from SMEs in Yorkshire, especially in Leeds and Bradford, should bode well.“

Eight international research partnership agreements have been signed between Chinese and UK businesses at a special ceremony at Lancaster University.

The partnership agreements will lead to research and developments of new products and services for global markets and are the first agreements resulting from the university’s novel £5.1 million Lancaster China Catalyst Programme.

In addition, the partnerships offers UK companies a new route into Chinese markets.

The following R&D agreements were signed:

• TE Laboratories (Ireland) & Sustrans (China): This project will see the development of remote operated water analysis devices, incorporating cloud data storage, helping to monitor water-system quality.
• The REACH Centre (Lancaster) & Zhuhai Energy (China): The collaborative project will help to ensure industry compliance with global chemicals regulations and support the implementation of best practice in manufacturing supply chains.
• ADAS (Leeds) & Wissea Electronic Technology (China): This project is intended to design and test under realistic conditions, novel water surveillance network mechanisms based on “Internet of Things” techniques and related algorithms, to ensure the optimal health and safety of all naturally occurring water systems.
• Far UK (Nottingham) & Guangzhou Research Institute of Non-ferrous Metals (China): This project is to develop the manufacturing technology of ceramic-based friction materials with fibre reinforcement for the braking systems of high-performance cars.
• Stopford Energy and Environment (Lancaster, Daresbury and Chester) & CN Homeland (China): This project aims to develop a multi-million pound pilot ‘Plasma Gasification Plant’ to convert mixed waste to energy, reducing waste going to landfill and cutting air pollution in China.
• Demopad (Lancaster and Preston) & HDL (China): This project aims to develop high-end consumer devices that enable home-owners to automate the control of functions such as lighting, heating and entertainment.
• Croft Filters (Warrington) & SCUT (China): Croft are looking to identify areas in which it can apply its expertise in the manufacture of filters using additive manufacturing (AM) in either high or low-volume Chinese markets.
• Lanhai Careers (Preston) & Xuanyuan Network (China): This partnership aims to produce a Chinese version of on-line career development and training platforms.

The Lancaster China Catalyst Programme - part-funded by the Higher Education Funding Council’ for England’s Catalyst Fund, Lancaster University and Lancashire County Council - helps small and medium sized UK firms gain access to contacts and business networks within China’s Guangdong Province - China’s most populated province with more than 71m residents - by partnering with the Guangdong Provincial Office of Science and Technology.

The programme aims to create 240 jobs, help 400 domestic businesses and boost the UK economy by £40m.

Each project will involve graduate researchers, drawn from science, technology, engineering, design and management disciplines, working within the partner companies to develop the products and services as part of their studies for an MSc in International Innovation.

This graduate support programme will help to produce a new generation of employees with the skills to help the UK become more competitive globally in the future.

Director of the Lancaster China Catalyst Programme, Nick Burd, said: “These agreements are a strong signal of commitment between these Chinese and UK businesses to work together on innovative international partnerships that will boost growth, jobs and wealth here in the UK and in China.

“These agreements are just the first cohort of what will be more than 60 partnerships forged through the Lancaster China Catalyst programme and we are currently seeking more businesses to join the programme.“

Vice Counsul-General at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Manchester, Haicheng Zhou, said: “That so many partnerships have been set up shows how successful this programme is.

“At the moment the relations between our two countries has grown closer.

“Chinese investments and trade with the UK is the highest in Europe. This achievement cannot be done without the joint efforts of businesses and universities of both countries. I also hope that more enterprises get involved in this programme.“

Partners in the project are the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong Provincial Government, Lancashire County Council, Local Enterprise Partnerships and business growth hubs, Chambers of Commerce, UKTI, Technology Strategy Board and the China-Britain Business Council.

Richard Sand & Mark Bush, Keepmoat

Keepmoat Community Impact Team strengthened to maximise social and economic value in London by appointing two new Community Impact Officers. 

Richard Sanz and Mark Bush has joined the team as the group looks to create further social and economic value in London. Regional community impact manager, Edward Warren, spoke of his delight, he said: “I’m delighted to welcome Richard and Mark to the team as their enthusiasm for the role will only make us stronger. 

"Addressing social value in conjunction with the delivery of our works is nothing new to Keepmoat and is something we have invested heavily in. Over the last 10 years we have generated £108 million in social and economic value across the capital.“

“My team takes a proactive approach by working with our clients to understand their needs, then implementing measures and initiatives to provide maximum impact with a long lasting legacy.“

The five strong team, based at Keepmoat’s regional head office in Waltham Abbey Essex, are aiming to create social and economic value exceeding 50% of Keepmoat’s £225m annual turnover in this region.

Richard Sanz, who joins his brother Julian in the department, said: “It’s a thrill to join a growing team that wants to make a difference to the lives of the people that we’re working with. We have a strong working relationship and all want to achieve the same ambitious goals.“

Supported by the Keepmoat Group, the specialist team work closely with the in house Learning and Development Team to progress and develop all of Keepmoat’s community impact strategies for their London clients.   

Séverine Philardeau, VoucherCodes.co.uk

VoucherCodes.co.uk, operated by the world’s largest digital offer marketplace RetailMeNot, Inc, has appointed Séverine Philardeau as vice president of Retail and Brand Solutions. 

Séverine will lead the entire area of Sales, Partner Management and Business Development in the UK.

Séverine’s role will see her working closely with retailers and brands across the UK, utilising insight into consumer behaviour to inform innovative partner programmes both online and in-store.

Her expertise will inform the delivery of new, sustainable marketing solutions and customer acquisition strategies for partners via the company’s multi-channel platform.

Séverine joins RetailMeNot from TripAdvisor, where she headed up the Global Partnerships team. In her new role at VoucherCodes.co.uk, Séverine will manage all areas of Partner Management, Sales and Business Development.

Séverine Philardeau, VP Retail and Brand Solutions, VoucherCodes.co.uk said: “I am really looking forward to establishing myself in this challenging new role. VoucherCodes.co.uk and RetailMeNot have a great reputation as market leaders and an impressive history of innovation.

"I am excited to forge new relationships and contribute to the development of the company as one of the retail industry’s most innovative players.“

Claire Davenport, managing director, VoucherCodes.co.uk added: “Séverine has experience working with some of the industry’s leading brands and we are so pleased to welcome her to the company.

"Her insight in developing and leading new partner solutions will help us to get the most from our evolving product, and will be invaluable to us as we continue to expand our position as the UK’s largest digital coupon marketplace. What’s more, we have a fantastic company culture and I’m confident Séverine will be a great new addition to the team.“

Nick Hardy, Anagram Systems

Anagram Systems, a Horsham-based developer of Encore business software (ERP), has appointed Nick Hardy as its new marketing manager.

Nick Hardy reports directly to managing director, Andrew Morgan, and takes up his post with immediate effect. 

Hardy has responsibility for all aspects of Anagram’s marketing strategy in addition to overseeing media relations and developing relationships with key Encore reseller partners in the UK, Eire and US.

Morgan commented: “I am pleased to confirm Nick as Marketing Manager at Anagram. He has substantial software industry experience and brings a wealth of digital and technology experience that will help us to drive forward our ambitious growth plans."

Nick Hardy has worked in the software and IT sector for more than fifteen years and previously held senior marketing and PR roles with Fabric Technologies and Advanced Computer Software. 

Hardy added: “I am delighted to have joined Anagram and look forward to working with them in order to drive awareness of Encore’s business benefits. Encore is an excellent system with a long-established reputation for helping growing businesses maximise their efficiency, productivity and profitability.“   Suzie Vine &

Sam Chown, Watson Associates

Watson Associates, with offices in both Hailsham and Brighton and an extensive network of client relationships throughout Sussex, have appointed two new business development directors.

Suzie Vine, who joined the company post qualification and has now been with the firm for 12 years, and Sam Chown, who trained and qualified with the company direct from college.

Suzie and Sam join a dynamic and proactive team and are looking forward to the exciting challenges ahead.

Suzie Vine, director at Watson Associates, said: “I so enjoy working with the team at Watsons and it is really lovely to see the development and learning curve I have embarked on being recognised and rewarded. Throughout my time at the company, and in particular whilst my two young boys have been growing up, Watsons have been so supportive – it’s my time to pay back that trust and belief now and I can’t wait to take on my new role!’’

Sam Chown, director at Watson Associates, added: “Both myself and Suzie are over the moon to have been appointed as directors . From very early on it was always an ambition of mine to be on the frontline and be trusted to advise, enthuse and help clients of the firm.

"Like Suzie, I can’t wait to take on the challenge. Knowing I also have the total support of the other highly skilled directors and staff fills me with confidence.’’  

Steve Moore managing director at Watson Associates, said: “All the directors are absolutely delighted to announce the news of both Suzie and Sam’s impending directorship. They are both highly skilled, enthusiastic people and will add significantly to our service offering. These are exciting times.’

An enterprising Leeds Beckett University student has almost doubled his online crowdfunding campaign to raise more than £3k manufacture and sell a specially made wallet that prevents contactless bank card theft.

21-year-old BSc (Hons) Computing undergraduate Ibbe Raja, who is currently undertaking a placement year, teamed up with his brother Jalil Raja, 19, and friend Sam Andrews, 20, to create ‘Vinco’ – an ultra-thin wallet that protects against Radio Frequency ID (RFID) theft.

The crowdfunding campaign, which is being hosted by Indiegogo, has had pledges of financial support from more than 250 people, which brings the trio’s total to just over £6k.

The young entrepreneur’s now have enough funding to set up their business venture.

The wallet has already been successfully trialled and tested against RFID signals, and a RFID scanner also failed to detect any cards through Vinco.

The wallet, designed to tightly grip the contents, is made from Tyvek, a tough material which ensures that bank cards and cash are kept dry.

Ibbe said: “We are so grateful to every single investor who believes in and has pledged towards the Vinco wallet. Thanks to this major investment, we can now focus on the exciting times ahead – developing the product to make it the best it can be and shipping Vinco wallets to customers around the world.

“Our wallet was made to keep your money portable and, more importantly, safe. The fact is, almost all wallets are prone to RFID skimming, and we were inspired to create a product which protected against this crime after one of our friends was the victim of this form of theft. Not only is Vinco thin and secure, its stylish design makes for a discreet yet RFID-proof wallet. Weighing just 30 grams, it’ll fit into any pocket unnoticed and can hold up to seven cards and a few folded cash bills.

“To celebrate surpassing our crowdfunding target, along with the currently available Vinco colours of black, blue, brown and pink, we are creating a limited edition orange wallet with white stitching, which will be available later this week.”

Ibbe added: “Vinco is designed, stitched and shipped locally here in Leeds. It was really important to us that our customers get a wallet that incorporates the true sentiment of British values.

“Vinco will be packaged and shipped by Clubit, an online retailer and wholesaler. Clubit was founded by a former Leeds Beckett student in 1999 and I am currently undertaking my University placement year with the company. Clubit have helped us greatly with this venture and having their support has really boosted our drive, confidence and belief in the Vinco product. We have everything in place for us to begin manufacturing, selling and shipping out Vinco wallets worldwide. The retail price for the wallets is £20 each although it is available now on indiegogo for £17.”

Paul Jackson OBE, chief executive of Dovetail Games and former Vice President of EA Games Northern Europe division, is heading up a new group set to develop businesses and create jobs in Medway. 

The Medway Innovation Board is set to support the development of business innovation initiatives, grow high value skills and employment and boost the strength of the Medway economy.

Paul, who won the 2014 Medway Business Awards, will be using his expertise to help grow businesses in the area.

He said: “I have lived in Medway all my life, and the opportunity to both grow my own business here, and support the development of other businesses in a collaborative drive with like minded people is one that I feel very proud to lead”.

The board is made up of leading Medway businesses including BAE Systems, Delphi, Amaro Group, Cura Energy, Fountain Workshop and Universities at Medway, and all were given an overview of Medway’s draft Innovation Strategy at the first meeting in March.

The strategy sets out a clear vision to build on the work already in progress at the Innovation Centre Medway, which was opened in 2009 and is now fully occupied.

Paul said: “We have already set out very clear objectives that all board members are keen to support; support for innovation led funding bids, work to positively influence Government thinking, and acting as ambassadors for Medway’s business innovation agenda are at the forefront of our collective role and responsibility. We also need to work hard to simplify the business support landscape, notably the vast array of funding support that may be available for business innovation development”.

Martin Davies, director of Research & Enterprise at the University of Greenwich and Innovation Board member, said: “We have formed a group of private, public and academic representatives that want to support a step change in innovation support in Medway. The Universities at Medway are key to do this and can help local businesses with growth, employment, funding and research. I’m delighted to be involved”

As this year marks the 25th anniversary of North yorkshire’s Hunters of Helmsley, based in Helmsley’s Market Place, Bdaily investigate why the deli has remained a success for a quarter of a century.

Since its establishment, the business has supplied an extensive range of fresh and store cupboard foods, as well as a wide selection of alcoholic and soft beverages. It is this unusual combination of products that has constantly attracted customers throughout the whole of Yorkshire.  

The majority of products on offer are sourced from within the Yorkshire region, as Hunters want to support local suppliers.  

Applying this philosophy the company, which has been owned by husband and wife Chris and Christine Garnett since 2008, was able to set up the Helmsley in Business group, which now has 50 members working together to promote the town for the benefit of all local businesses.

The deli’s success was cemented this past February when it was named the best small shop in Britain by beating out more than 300 competitors.

Earlier this year, Bdaily spoke with the Christine about creating and maintaining a thriving small business in the region.

So, how did the business get started and where did the funding come from?

“We stock an extensive range of fresh and store cupboard foods, and alcoholic and soft beverages – nearly 2,000 different items in total - much more than the ‘average’ deli. The ground floor of the store sells fresh produce, including home-cooked beef, pork and ham, cheeses, salads, pastries, sausages, locally made ice cream and freshly made sandwiches (we sell over 50,000 every year!). The upstairs is an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of jams, chutney, tea, coffee, chocolates, sauces, dressings, oils, unusual cookery ingredients and sweet treats.

“Chris (my husband) and I bought the shop back in 2008. Both of us are from Yorkshire farming families. Chris ran a beef, sheep and arable farm on the edge of Wharfedale with his father for over 18 years and my family still farm in West Yorkshire. Before buying Hunters we owned a very successful fish and chip shop in Horsforth in Leeds for seven years.

“After selling the fish and chip shop, we wanted a new challenge - a coffee shop or a deli - and were fortunate to spot Hunters the day it came on to the market.  It was just perfect, an already thriving business in a great location and in a wonderful community. More importantly it was a business where we could develop our passion for quality food and drink. The purchase was funded by profits from the sale of our fish and chip shop and a commercial mortgage from HSBC.”

How are you currently finding business?

“The business continues to go from strength to strength, which is a result of the hard work we and our committed team put in. You can’t rest on your laurels. We are constantly reassessing our product ranges, to ensure we’re offering the very best we can to our customers.

“We invested in renovations for our ground floor two years ago, which have made a huge difference to the feel of the place. Because the building is Grade 2 listed, there is a limit to what you can do, but that quirkiness is part of Hunters’ charm.

“We were delighted this year to be named the Best Small Shop in Britain, in a competition run by the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group and administered by the Independent Retailers Confederation. We attended an event at the House of Commons on 25th February, and it was overwhelming to have such positive feedback about what we do. We love what we do and I think hopefully that shows.”

Why is it important to source locally?

“We both come from farming backgrounds and believe the quality of food and where/how it is produced is vital. We’re extremely lucky to have some amazing food and drink producers in the region, so it would be crazy not to take advantage of them. It also comes back to this idea of supporting other local businesses – we’re all reliant on each other, and so it makes sense to deal locally when you can.

“The shop has strong relationships with local suppliers: bread and cakes are made at the Malton Bakery just 15 miles away; cheeses come from nearby dairies such as Shepherd’s Purse; drinks from Ryedale Vineyards and local breweries including Cropton and Hambleton; and Johnsons of Thirsk and Julyan the Bakers provide the delicious pastries, sausage rolls and pork pies. The highest quality local meats are sourced from several local farms and cooked daily on the premises. The shop also has its own range of condiments produced near York using local ingredients.”

Why did you think it would be good to start up in Helmsley?

“Helmsley is a beautiful town, and it has a strong sense of local community. But it also has the added benefit of a steady flow of tourists and visitors. It’s the perfect Yorkshire market town for a day out with lots to do, such as the castle, the Birds of Prey Centre, the Walled Gardens, the open air swimming pool, and because we’re within the North York Moors National Park, there’s beautiful countryside and amazing walks. There’s a great business network, and the town is full of independent shops, cafes, restaurants and accommodation – it’s entirely unique and that’s why it appeals so much to people. When we saw Hunters was for sale, we knew instantly we wanted to buy it.

“Hunters takes an active role in the community, and making sure Helmsley stays a thriving market town. We understand that the town’s well-being rests on every business succeeding. In 2012 we personally instigated the forming of ‘Helmsley in Business’ which now has 50 businesses as members, to work together to promote the town locally and to the tourist market. Chris chaired it for the first two years. We work together to run big events in town, encouraging people to ‘shop local’ and market the town by creating leaflets, a website and PR.”

Christine commenting on the development of the business:

“With the current trend for consumers to make more frequent, small shops, and to buy fresh local goods as they are needed, Hunters is in an ideal position to fill this demand. Our philosophy of supporting quality local producers, along with artisan foods from the UK and around the world, makes sure we can keep local customers and visitors coming back.

“Food shopping should be a pleasurable experience not a chore. Helping customers to get the most from their food by suggesting recipes, helping with allergies and intolerances and passing on our passion for good food is vitally important and also keeps customers returning.

“Of course, we have had to keep up with the growth of online shopping by extending our online offering, along with developing a presence on social media. The internet is essential for any modern business, which needs to embrace things like new payment techniques and the breadth of audience which can come from online sales.”

Got a small business? Why not contact Nick Hill at nick.hill@bdaily.co.uk to feature in Bdaily Yorkshire’s next small business insight?