Image source: rosmary

A major surge in business at a Yorkshire startup has sparked a recruitment drive for Consumer Credit Compliance (CCC) 

The firm has already taken on five members of staff to help cope with a rising demand for its services, helping firms apply for new licences to offer customers credit.

Following the Financial Conduct Authority taking over credit licensing last April from the Office of Fair Trading, it is now working on behalf of more than 250 firms nationwide requiring a new “permission”.

Failure to submit an application within a pre-determined timescale will result in companies being unable to offer any form of credit to customers.

Started by compliance expert Ian Beardmore and business partner David Petty, CCC’s clients include car dealerships, cosmetic surgery clinics and credit brokers.

And, with ten-of-thousands of companies requiring an FCA permission, the pair are predicting the workforce will expand further over the coming months

Mr Beardmore said: “Over the last year we have built up a business offering a specialism, and a specialism required by a thousands upon thousands of companies up and down the country.

“Applying for a new permission is not a two minute job. The submission process is complicated and time consuming, with some taking up to two months to finalise.

“Even though we have a 100% success record, there is no guarantee the FCA will then grant that permission.

“With more and more businesses seeking us out, David and I took the decision that we needed to build a team.”

Image source: RamónP

Innovative entrepreneur Tom de Pelet, who invented the world’s loudest bicycle horn, is set to hit sales of £1.2 million this year despite being rejected by investors on Dragons’ Den.

Tom, 36, appeared in last night’s episode, in which all four Dragons, Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne, Piers Linney, Peter Jones and Kelly Hoppen, rejected his idea for a patented Hornit bicycle horn.

According to the Evening Standard, in the 10 months since Mr de Pelet filmed his Dragons’ Den appearance, turnover of the horn and his new mini Hornit, for children’s bikes and scooters, hit £500k. This year, he expects to reach £1.2 million in sales.

Tom, who is from Barnes, was inspired to design the £30 gadget after  years spent cycling to law school in Bloomsbury and later to his City job.

He said: “I had so many near-misses while commuting and Ironman-training on London’s streets, and one frustration kept popping up: if a driver hasn’t noticed me and I’m in danger, I need something to make them see me.“

Mr de Pelet quit his law job in 2011 and invested £60k in savings to design, trademark and produce the horn.

He said: “Being in the Den was a mixture of fear, terror and enjoyment,“ he said. “You put your life and soul into your business and the programme has the potential to turn it and you into object of ridicule in a few moments. But with hindsight, the outcome of my encounter with the Dragons could not have been better."

Image source: dbrekke

Two Leeds Beckett University graduates are set to open a new cereal café in Headingley.

BA (Hons) Marketing graduates Jen Gibb and Zoe Blogg will launch  Moo’d Cereal House, a bar-style café, which will serve more than 100 types of cereal from around the world, on Wednesday 18 February.

In developing their business concept, the entrepreneurial duo received support from Leeds Beckett’s Enterprise Academy, including mentoring from a business advisor and a proof of concept grant designed to help establish the feasibility of their business idea.

Speaking about the launch of the café, Jen Gibb said: “We are really excited about launching Moo’d. It’s a totally new concept for Yorkshire, but the response from people has been really positive so far.

“Zoe and I met at Leeds Beckett and became good friends.  As flatmates we always enjoyed eating cereal together and were sitting in a café in Headingley one day and talked about how great it would be if there was somewhere that just served cereal.“

Speaking about their time at Leeds Beckett, Zoe Blogg added: “Leeds is such an amazing city and full of independents and exciting activities.

"Our Marketing degrees were one of the key tools when starting up our business. We had knowledge of how to write a successful and persuasive business plan and had learnt the fundamentals of digital and press advertising. 

"Not only did the knowledge help but the people we met on our courses such as our graphic designer Stephanie Martin helped bring our brand to life.“

Katie Rigarlsford, head of Enterprise and Innovation Academy at Leeds Beckett University, said: “We were delighted to be able to offer Zoe and Jen support as they launch their business and wish them every success in their new venture.“ 

Moo’d will serve cereal from £2 a bowl as well as offering children’s portions and a ‘mega bowl’.  The duo will also serve up a range of milks - including chocolate, strawberry, almond and lactose-free - as well as tea, coffee and smoothies.

Two Leeds law entrepreneurs have joined forces to set up a niche practice, LB & Co advising on planning, development and policy issues.

With a combined 40 years experience of planning law, directors Kate Butterfield and Carolyn Lord were former colleagues at law college in Leeds.

Kate and Carolyn went on to train at Hammond Suddards, and then worked together for 9 years at planning law firm, Wilbraham & Co.

Kate said: “The Yorkshire property sector is certainly gathering pace and as the first stage in the development cycle, planning is instrumental.

"Contrary to the Government’s stated intentions, the system itself is becoming more complex than ever and the combination of these factors led us to believe that the time is absolutely right to establish a specialist niche firm to support the property industry.

"Our working history and individual skills led to a natural partnership and we are delighted to be officially launching our service to the region.“

Carolyn continues; “In addition to our individual expertise, during our formative time working together we built a very successful model to help deliver major developments and which we can now draw upon.

"Our subsequent combined experience of multi-disciplinary working and of diverse projects will enable us to provide the services that clients want in a way that suits their own needs.

"By taking a hands-on approach, we can provide a strategic and cost effective service to a range of clients from the development industry and others who need specialist planning advice.“ 

LB & Co operate from offices on St Paul’s Street in Leeds City Centre and Linton House in Poole. 

A trio of female entrepreneurs who have worked for some of the North East’s biggest names in construction have branched out to launch their own companies.  

As new industry research projects the proportion of women working in construction will rise to 26% by 2020, Beth Brierley-Jones, Maria Ferguson and Siobhan McMahon have launched businesses in recruitment, planning and architecture.

The three ladies, who met as members of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) where Siobhan has the role of national Chair, have a combined 44 years of experience working within the industry.

During this time, they have collaborated with a variety of businesses. Siobhan has worked with national and international public and private sector organisations and contractors, Maria has experience with local authorities and within commercial, energy and waste sectors and Beth has established construction and property recruitment businesses within the North East for blue chip and SME companies.

Beth, Director of Brierley J Recruitment Ltd and Chair of Women in Property North East, said: “There is a gap in the market for delivering partnership recruitment for built environment professionals, so I decided to set up my own business to provide what I believe is a more adding value service. Brierley J takes the time to get to know all levels of a business, working with decision makers to understand resource needs and issues within their organisations. We then work together to resolve them, ultimately helping their businesses grow.“

Maria, Director at Maria Ferguson Planning Ltd, commented: “I always aim to provide honest advice about the merits of a client’s case, and the best means of achieving success. This is something that I think is very important in the current climate, as it means providing a bespoke service for different businesses dependent on their needs. All three of us do that by providing solutions within our designated fields that are advantageous to our clients.“

Siobhan, Director at Emerald Architects, added: “With over 20 years’ experience working in the construction industry, I knew the time was right to start up my own architectural practice. I have always built strong relationships with my clients, consultants and contractors to deliver quality projects that are unique to their individual needs. I bring a different dimension to male dominated construction teams that enable us to find a more diverse solution by offering a different perspective.  

“The three of us starting up our businesses within months of each other illustrates the support and confidence women have in the construction industry and it clearly demonstrates how far the sector has moved forward in attracting women. There is a still a lot to do to encourage young women into construction, but hopefully stories like ours will help inspire them.“

Former Apprentice star Neil Clough spoke exclusively to Bdaily about his post Apprentice venture, recruitment and training company, Prime.

Fired in the final of The Apprentice in season 9, Neil learned that it is best to stick to what you know and with that in mind he set up his latest business.

Realising his strengths lay in sales he surrounded himself with business partners including Nicole Plinston who he merged his business with to create a new company.

Manchester-based Prime launched in October 2014 and has so far exceeded its planned profit for its first three months of trading.  

The company has had several contract wins becoming the preferred supplier for a number of big companies.

Prime currently employs 5 people, recruiting a 6th person in the coming months with the aim of recruiting a new person every 3 months as they expand.

Neil told Bdaily, “Our five year vision is to be the first choice across the country for sales recruitment and training.

“We are quite unique, we offer free training days to candidates and invite clients to attend so that they can see people develop, it’s very different to our competitors who run assessment days.

“One of our values is ‘different’ and we want to change the perception of sales.

“We want people to see that sales is a good career, and not just something to fall into.

“Our big message with our training days is that you can get into sales from any level of education whether you’re a graduate or you have just left school.

“We’ve come into a populated market but our strength lies in where we are different and we are quite proud of that.”

The Government is expected to sign new five-year contracts with locally based providers to deliver export support to businesses, Trade Minister Lord Livingston announced today.

The preferred bidders have been chosen by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the length of contracts will give businesses consistency and underline the Government’s long term commitment to increase the number of companies that export.

GLE, a not for profit Enterprise Agency has been appointed to provide export advice for SMEs in London and the South East.

All the providers will be locally based, helping companies start exporting or increase their overseas business by finding customers in new markets, taking part in trade shows and exporting online around the world.

The lengths of the contracts also mean that English companies will be eligible to bid for up to £100 million in additional export support through the European Structural & Investment Funds.

Trade Minister Lord Livingston said: “I am delighted that we can commit to long term contracts and provide the support that businesses need to break into new markets creating jobs and growth for their region.

“UKTI will be working with locally based organisations, including social enterprises and Chambers of Commerce, to ensure that public money is targeted at where it is most needed and spent responsibly.”

Welcoming today’s announcement Alan Pain, UKTI’s newly appointed Regional Director for the East of England said: "I am pleased to welcome the opportunity to continue to work with Exemplas Trade Services Ltd in the region.

"Together we look forward to helping companies to start exporting and to grow their overseas business through the expert advice, support and opportunities that UKTI provides.

"Over the last year alone support has been given to 3355 businesses throughout the East of England and many more will now benefit from today’s announcement."

The North West has the 3rd highest unemployment rates in the country, the regions with the highest rate in Great Britain were the North East, at 8.0%, followed by Wales, at 6.7% and the North West, at 6.5% according to the latest report by the ONS.

The national average unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over for the UK was 5.7%, for the period October to December 2014.

Unemployment rate in the North West increased by 0.2%, London’s unemployment rate increased by the same amount.

There were no large increases in the unemployment rate estimates for the three months to December 2014, compared to the three months to September 2014.

The North West has an employment rate of  70.9%, the third lowest out of the regions, the lowest employment rate in the country was in Wales at 69.2%.

However the report also notes that all regions are showing decreases in the unemployment rate compared with a year ago.

Chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, David Kern, said, “The latest figures highlight the flexibility and resilience of the UK labour market.

“The growth in employment and fall in unemployment are stronger than a month ago and point to improved momentum in the economy after a weaker patch last year.”

Bury-based SAMBRO International Ltd has transferred its banking facilities to Barclays who have provided a multi-million pound trade and working capital facility to support the continued growth of the business.

SAMBRO is an importer and wholesaler of licensed merchandise such as children’s toys, bags & stationery, selling primarily to major UK and European retailers.

The business currently employs 103 people with a turnover of £40 million per annum. The previous two years have seen record sales and the management team are keen to work with a bank that can help the business continue to grow.

The company acquires licenses from the likes of Disney & Hasbro then designs bespoke product ranges for retailers before outsourcing their manufacturing under license to the Far-East.

The Barclays deal team was led by Relationship Director Matt Ryan, and Neil Dobson and Stephen Edwards from Trade & Working Capital.

Chairman of SAMBRO International Ltd, Brian Samuels,  said: "We have developed a strong relationship with Barclays over the last couple of years and have been extremely impressed by their retail and wholesale sector focus as well as their proactivity and willingness to lend. “We want a bank for the long-term that supports our aims and ambitions with a relationship team who understand our business.“

Matt Ryan commented: "SAMBRO have a really strong management team, who have developed a robust business model and great products.

“They clearly understand the market and continue to innovate to capitalize on consumer demand for the licenses they hold.

“They have some really interesting growth opportunities which we look forward to helping them achieve.

“SAMBRO is a well-known North West business and one which we are proud to be associated with.“

Image source: Jason Cartwright

Employment levels in Yorkshire & Humber reached ‘record highs’ according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A total of 164,000 people were unemployed in the region between October and December, a fall of 29,000, a record level.

The region’s unemployment rate was 6.1% and saw a drop of 15.0% during the period.

The employment levels for the North East, North West, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands and Scotland are all at record highs.

Nationwide, unemployment continued to fall, down to a near seven-year low, while a record number of people are in work.

The jobless total dipped by 97,000 in the quarter to 1.86 million - almost half a million down on a year ago.

Employment increased by 103,000 to almost 31 million, the highest since records began in 1971.

The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance was cut by 38,600 in December to 823,000, the 27th consecutive monthly fall and the lowest since the summer of 2008.

The UK now has the third lowest unemployment rate in the European Union at 5.7%, behind Austria (4.9%) and Germany (4.8%), according to the ONS.

Pay continued to rise ahead of inflation, with average earnings increasing by 2.1% in the year to December, 0.3% up on the previous month.

CPI inflation was 0.5% in December.

Long-term unemployment is also down, falling by 210,000 for those out of work for over a year, to 638,000.

Self-employment was down by 19,000 over the latest quarter to 4.5 million, around 14% of total employment.

The number of people in part-time jobs wanting full-time work is also down, by 28,000 to 1.3 million.

Employment minister Esther McVey said the region was "motoring forward" in the economy:

Image source: PicBasement.com

Unemployment has continued to fall in Britain, with the number out of work in the UK falling by 97,000 to 1.86 million in the three months to December.

The unemployment rate now stands at 5.7% of the working population, the Office for National Statistics said.

The ONS also said total pay was 2.4% higher in December compared with the same month in 2013 - the biggest lead over inflation since March 2010.

CPI inflation was 0.5% in December, and new data released on Tuesday showed the rate fell to 0.3% in January, its lowest level since records began.

John Cridland, CBI director-general, said: “The recovery is now established and businesses are continuing to create more full time jobs.

“While it’s good to see unemployment falling we still need to see more young people finding roles, especially those that help them develop their skills and progress up the earnings ladder.  

“Pay growth is now well ahead of inflation, and a focus on improving productivity from businesses will help keep this on track.”

Stephen Timms MP, Labour’s Shadow Employment Minister, said: “Today’s fall in overall unemployment is welcome but five years of the Tories’ failing plan has left working people £1,600 a year worse off since 2010. Low pay has left millions of working families struggling to make ends meet and has led to billions more spent on the housing benefit bill.  

“Today’s rise in youth unemployment is extremely worrying and shows the Tory plan is failing the next generation.

Since launching her North Yorkshire-based upcycling enterprise Remade in Britain in November 2013, Donna Fenn’s on-trend venture has gone from strength to strength.

Remade in Britain is an upcycling marketplace, where sellers from the professional to the hobbyist can place their products as an alternative to Etsy or notonthehighstreet.com.

Here she talks to Bdaily about what gave her the idea for the venture, her plans for the future, and big news about Grand Designs Live 2015 on which Remade in Britain was asked to star by Kevin McCloud.

What gave you the idea for the venture?

There are so many hidden upcyclers in the UK, as a hobby or a bona fide business I wanted a place to showcase them. Previously they could sell their products on Etsy or Notonthehighstreet.com - but as these websites grow it becomes more difficult for smaller retailers to compete and often they end up on page 50.

My father was part of the post-war “make do and mend” generation, he grew his own fruit and vegetables, made everything himself and would hate to throw anything away if it could be used again or for something else.

After a conversation with a friend, whose daughter upcycles products and market research into upcycling, I found an American version called Hipcycle and was able to cherrypick the best parts of companies doing a similar thing, but from new offices in Knaresborough.

Why was an online presence so important to you?

Website development was entirely necessary and so was engaging with potential retailers and buyers on social media, these days you can’t totally rely on normal advertising anymore. Now we have 2000 followers and our presence is growing by the day.

Social media creates a sense of community and an increased brand awareness, as well as being able to reach a much larger target audience who are tech-savvy and looking for unique products.

What are your plans for expansion?

In terms of expansion we will definitely be doing more of the same . We have 300+ registered sellers and aim to have 600 by the summer.

We are also planning to diversify the business into a one stop shop for supplies and salvages and become a raw materials supplier for upcyclying as well as the finished products.  It may be a cliche but it’s so true that one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure.

Also our colleague Michelle joined in June 2014 and we will no doubt need further help as the business expands.

Why do you think there has been such demand for upcycling?

I think the popularity in upcycling is down to people becoming more environmentally aware, it is becoming more ingrained in our psyche to recycle, and be more environmentally conscious.

Worldwide, Scandanavians are definitely ahead of us in terms of recycling, and America and Australia have also shown a greater interest in recycling and upcycling.

We’ve just bought domains for this anticipated international expansion, and get orders from abroad come through regularly.

We’ve kept all British sellers however, and have none from abroad in an attempt to keep it this way so customers know their products are not mass produced from somewhere in Asia.

As well as this, Britishness as a brand sells, domestically and abroad. Celebrity trends and supporters of upcycling such as Kirstie Allsop and Kevin McCloud have also fuelled this interest. We have even been asked to be on Grand Designs and have invited our retailers to come with us to be on the live show this year.

Do you have any advice for any budding entrepreneurs online?

• Be very clear with your brief for your website and your business
• Be patient when waiting for website, mostly necessary to outsource
• Do your research, market research into your area, see what other people have done    

In 2011, 20 year old Fleet entrepreneur Jamie Clarke launched My Study Life, an app to designed by students to help with organisation while studying.

Today, he is aiming to crowfund £150k to aid continued expansion. The app works for anyone in education and is a modern solution to student planning in a digital age.

My Study Life allows students to organise their classes, tasks and exams in a simple and easy way and now has over 725,000 registered users worldwide and is a user-friendly, free app that is completely ad-free.

The idea for the app came in 2010, when most sixth form students were seeing friends and working towards their A Levels.

Fleet-based Jamie Clarke had bigger plans for his time and by the age of 16 he had developed a fascination with technology – progressing to an interest in software development.

Fuelled by his frustration with paper planners and his school’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), he decided to create one app to organise his classes, homework and exams.

Jamie said: “At secondary school we had a VLE that didn’t seem to cater for anything the students wanted or needed and my sixth form had numerous intranets that didn’t work on phones. Following the release of Windows Phone in 2010 I decided to develop an app that replaced my paper planner – but from a student’s point of view.“

The app has gained support from Professor Steve Molyneux, CEO of The Tablet Academy and respected expert in the use of digital technologies to support education.

Looking to the future, Jamie said “My ambition is for My Study Life to become synonymous with technology in education and the de facto standard for timetabling and managing homework, replacing the paper planner in the process.“

To find out more about the campaign, visit: http://bit.ly/my-study-life-seedrs

Tarporley-based Creative Capital’s 10-strong team has lent £30 million over five years to support the growth plans of SMEs across a diverse range of sectors such as construction, wholesale and manufacturing.

The Cheshire company offer short term cash flow solutions to small to medium sized companies.  

The company say its rapid development reflects the need amongst small businesses for alternative lenders.

Director of Creative Capital, Dai Rees, said: “We’ve found our simple but flexible facilities resonate with owners who need certainty and confidence to get on and grow.

“They’re tired of being hamstrung by lack of access, slow decisions, hidden charges or onerous contracts. “They find our straightforward approach a breath of fresh air.

“Reaching these milestones and achieving a 98% client retention rate is testament to the strength of our team who are focused on making quick and sound lending judgements.

“Launching the trade finance and bad debt protection products over the past 12 months shows our desire to continue innovating.

“Many SMEs don’t realise that complementary and flexible facilities like stock finance are available and cost effective.“

Image source: nggalai

Central Research Laboratory (CRL), planned for a new mixed-use development at Preston Barracks, Brighton is to benefit from £7.7 million in investment from the Local Growth Fund, part of the Greater Brighton Investment Programme.

The CRL, which is expected to create 740 jobs, will provide shared workspace, prototyping labs and commercial support tailored to the needs of individuals and early stage businesses that design and manufacture innovative physical products.

As well as facilities for start-ups, it will offer flexible accommodation for more established, design-led businesses who are struggling to find high quality, flexible space to support their growth.

The new facility is part of a wider regeneration scheme involving the University of Brighton and developer Cathedral Group.

Brighton & Hove City Council is working closely with them to progress the project which will see the development of a key site in the city.

Planning permission is expected to be sought in the autumn.

Details of the investment programme for the region were presented to the Greater Brighton Economic Board which met last week.

Brighton & Hove’s leader Jason Kitcat and chair of the Greater Brighton Economic Board, said: “The Central Research Laboratory at Preston Barracks will be a fantastic resource for the city and for entrepreneurs across our region to grow business ideas and develop new products.

"We’re also looking at how to use the site in the meantime and we’re hoping to be able to offer a programme for people from as early as this summer. We are really excited that this site, which been undeveloped for decades, is being put to good use.”

Read the reports for the Greater Brighton Economic Board here http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=855&MId=5399

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has encouraged small businesses in London to apply for a Growth Voucher, and urging those who haven’t yet spent their voucher  to use it and claim before time runs out.

The Growth Vouchers programme, which was launched in January 2014, aims to help companies find and pay for professional advice.

After applying, online successful businesses are allocated a voucher for up to £2,000 to cover half the cost of the advice.

The closing date for applications is 31st March, with businesses able to redeem their vouchers for three months from the voucher issue date.

Growth Vouchers are redeemed through a marketplace developed and run by small business network Enterprise Nation.

This allows business owners to select the right adviser to address their specific business needs. Advisers are paid directly by the small businesses who can then claim up to £2,000 back from the government.

Marcus Whittington, managing director of Bath Boutique Stays, said: “Help with professional advice boosted our bookings”

Strategic business advice is available on the following topics:

• Finance and cash flow
• Recruiting and developing staff
• Improving leadership and management skills
• Marketing, attracting and keeping customers
• Making the most of digital technology

If you would like to apply for a Growth Voucher for your business, please visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers for further information.

Leeds-headquartered budget gym operator, Xercise4Less is expanding into the North East, creating 80 jobs. 

The Yorkshire firm will be opening in North Shields and Gateshead  the latter of which will be its 29th site

The chains’ 33rd site, North Shields opens on 30 April with its pre-sale starting 16 February and will span 30,000 sq ft.

Each site will hold 400 state of the art pieces of equipment including MATRIX cardiovascular fitness equipment and resistance machines.

Chief executive officer, Jon Wright said: “With Xercise4Less, we’ve set out to create ‘The People’s Gym’, realising members use the facilities for lots of different reasons.

"We’re here to ensure people of all ages, and fitness levels, can benefit from great facilities, with cost not being a barrier.

"The fitness industry has become very greedy and there’s no need to charge members sky high prices - a good gym can be run very economically.

"We’re expanding at a rapid rate and are excited about the developments in the North East, and across the UK, and will continue to extend our services over time to suit the needs of all our members”.

Xercise4Less now has over 180,000 members and currently has 25 sites with seven more to open by the end of April 2015.

There has been a big increase in the proportion of low paid jobs in Carlisle over the last year. One in four jobs in the Carlisle constituency now pay below the living wage, according to the TUC.

The figures emerge on the day local politicians and fair pay campaigners meet to discuss low pay across Cumbria.

TUC analysis of official figures from the House of Commons Library shows that on average one in five jobs nationally pays under the living wage - currently set at £9.15 in London and £7.85 across the rest of the UK - but in some parliamentary constituencies many more people working there earn less than this.

The Carlisle constituency has 25% of workers paid below the living wage which is a jump from 18% in the constituency the previous year.

Northern TUC Regional Secretary Beth Farhat said: "People going out to work shouldn’t be paid poverty wages and the living wage is a recognised standard of what someone needs to be paid to live and not just exist.

“Not only is it worrying for the individuals that one in four of Carlisle’s workers are paid below the living wage, it’s bad news for the local economy, too.

“People need to have money in their pocket to boost local shops and businesses but instead many are really struggling and acquiring debt - despite bringing home a wage.

"The fact that the proportion of Carlisle’s workers paid below the living wage has increased so much in the last year suggests that this recovery is not being shared with many working people around here.

” It’s good that Carlisle City Council pays the living wage but we need government to act.

“As economic inequality translates almost directly into health inequality, the impact of low pay is not just felt in numbers – it is matched by the often devastating personal costs of in-work poverty and mental and physical ill-health."

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has announced that it has appointed Steve Ford as Director of RBS Corporate Banking.

Previously a commercial manager within the bank, Steve has been promoted to the role which will see him head up a team of 13 relationship managers across Preston, Blackburn and Burnley.

Steve Ford, Director RBS Corporate Banking, Preston, Blackburn and Burnleysaid: “I am delighted to be leading the RBS brand across Preston and East Lancashire.  The region has a hard earned reputation as one of the most vibrant and dynamic sectors of the North West economy and it is a real privilege to be able to work with businesses in the area.

“We have an excellent team of easily accessible Relationship Managers in the region, who work alongside customers to offer tailor-made financial solutions.  It is my ambition to build on this already very successful platform to ensure we continue to deliver exceptional customer service, and support local businesses to achieve their goals, increase employment and enhance the economic prosperity of the region.

“The local economic outlook is very positive and we are currently seeing a lot of activity in the housing, professionals, leisure and manufacturing sectors, providing real evidence of a return to growth in the local economy and for our customers as they look to expand.“

Richard Hodkinson, Converge Technology Specialists 

Richard Hodkinson, has joined Cheshire-based Converge Technology Specialists (ConvergeTS), the dedicated cloud computing provider for law firms, as its first non-executive director.

Richard, who joins ConvergeTS in a part-time role and remains at DWF, is a regular presenter at the Law Society’s IT Directors Forum, which is sponsored by ConvergeTS.

Converge’s founder and managing director, Nigel Wright, said: “Richard has an entrepreneurial, can-do attitude that mirrors our approach. We are thrilled to have Richard on board. His operational and strategic insights will be invaluable, ultimately helping us to win bigger deals.“

Andrew Farrah, CBRE 

The Manchester office of CBRE has expanded its Industrial Agency team with the appointment of Andrew Farrah as Associate Director. 

Paul Cook, Director at CBRE Manchester, said; "The North West industrial market is rapidly picking up pace and we have several high profile instructions on both existing stock and opportunity sites on which we are handling high levels of interest as occupier confidence continues to grow.

"We are delighted to be further strengthening the team with Andrew’s appointment and look forward to a busy year ahead.“

Paul Jolley, Lambert Smith Hampton

A senior figure in property asset management is to join the Manchester office of national commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) to lead an eight strong team of Property & Asset Managers and Facilities Managers.

Paul Jolley has resigned as a director from CBRE and will work his notice until April when he will join LSH as Head of Property Management for the North West.  

Abid Jaffry, Head of Office for Manchester at Lambert Smith Hampton said: “This is another senior appointment for LSH which reflects the high calibre and level of experience we seek to maintain our ambitious growth plans”. 

“Our Property and Asset Management team already have an enviable client list.  We place their needs at the top of our recruitment strategy so we can continue to offer the best in class service.  Paul will be instrumental in continuing to expand the team and portfolio book as well as identify new business opportunities.“

Tracy Archer, The Write Angle

Lancashire’s leading marketing communications agency, The Write Angle, has overhauled its brand and appointed a new director to grow its full-service integrated offering.

New director, Tracy Archer, has come on board to oversee the rollout of The Write Angle’s new brand both externally and behind the scenes, with a particular focus on growing the agency’s digital offering.

She said: “The fundamental marketing discipline of targeting the right people at the right time in the right place still applies, but PR is now only one among a wide range of channels with which to do that. Our fresh new look reflects this shift towards becoming more of an integrated agency that offers the complete mix of brand, content, PR and social rather than just traditional PR.

“The Write Angle has always been skilled at using a combination of insight, experience and creativity to find the right angle in any story, but now we help clients to package that brand story by creating relevant and results-focused content and sharing it with consumers using the most impactful channels and through the most appropriate medium.

Phil Mayall, Chester Renaissance board

Phil Mayall, development director at Muse has joined the board of Chester Renaissance to help promote economic growth within Chester.

Chester Renaissance was set up by Cheshire West & Chester Council (CWaC) to drive the momentum and accelerate the economic growth of the city. They work closely with private sector investors and public funding bodies to deliver improvements in Chester as part of the One City Plan.

Eric Langton, chairman of Chester Renaissance, said: "Phil’s experience in delivering large scale developmentswill be a huge asset for Renaissance. Anyone who has met him will have been impressed by his detailed understanding of the issues facing Chester and his enthusiasm for projects supported by Renaissance that will bring prosperity and jobs to the city.

"He joins the board during an important year for Chester with work busy on the business quarter, new theatre and library, and finalising plans for the Northgate development including a new market, multi screen cinema, improved car parking, shops, restaurants and open spaces."

Lianne Tracey, Jessica Smith, Calum Macdonald-Ball and Sarah Pyatt, Weber Shandwick 

Weber Shandwick Manchester has appointed four new PR ‘Great Minds’ to the team as part of the agency’s drive to recruit the best talent from a range of specialisms. 

Lianne Tracey, Jessica Smith, Calum Macdonald-Ball and Sarah Pyatt have joined the city-centre based agency this month.

Senior account manager, Lianne Tracey, is an engagement specialist with 11 years’ media relations and PR experience and has joined from national law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP where she was PR manager. She will manage several corporate client accounts.

Joining Lianne in the agency’s corporate team is account executive, Jessica Smith. Jessica was a communications advisor with the New Charter Housing Association and will provide essential PR support on a range of client accounts.

Calum Macdonald-Ball and Sarah Pyatt have both joined as account executives. Calum, formerly at Pelican Communications, joins Weber Shandwick’s worldwide team of creative technologists, and is responsible for content creation, online community management and blogger relations.

Sarah, who spent 18 months at The Market Creative, brings branding and advertising expertise to the team. Sarah also has her own fashion blog. 

Jo Leah, managing director of Weber Shandwick Manchester, said: “Last year was our most successful to date. We’re building an agency for the future with an innovation culture and an unwavering commitment to creativity and so we are recruiting the very best talent, from writers, designers and strategists to planners, conversation-starters and storytellers for our team.

“We’re also arming our staff with the skills they need to stay ahead by running one of the best training schemes in the industry. So, as long as people have a great open mind, the right behaviour, mentality, energy and jump out of bed every morning loving what they do, then we will train the rest.“

Ruth Clare, Sam Grange, Garry King, Alison Howarth, Shoosmiths

National law firm Shoosmiths has expanded its real estate offering with the hire of four senior lawyers in Manchester.

Joining Shoosmiths from Eversheds is Ruth Clare, a senior associate in core real estate work with 14 years’ post-qualified experience (PQE). Ruth has expertise in advising on a wide range of issues facing occupier, investor and corporate clients across the range of their property interests. Sam Grange, a senior associate in planning also joins from Eversheds with 10 years’ PQE. Sam advises on all aspects of planning and highways law, and the law relating to compulsory acquisition and compensation.

Senior associate, Garry King, and associate, Alison Howarth, will also specialise in core real estate work. Garry, joins Shoosmiths from DWF with 12 years PQE and advises on landlord/tenant issues, estate management and sales and purchases. Alison joins the firm from Mills & Reeves in Leeds, with 7 years’ PQE, and is experienced in advising on a range of issues, from initial site assembly and complex acquisition/development work, through to lettings, site sales/leaseback and the full remit of asset management and investment.

Vaqas Farooq, head of real estate in Manchester, said: ‘It is a pleasure to welcome Ruth, Sam, Garry and Alison in to the fold here at Shoosmiths. The national real estate team has been going from strength to strength and it has certainly shown here in Manchester, where we have been carrying out work that has been fundamentally reshaping the city and region. As a result, we are becoming renowned as a market leader in the region not only for our expertise but our client service.’

He added: ‘Ruth, Sam, Garry and Alison are all experienced professionals who share the values that make Shoosmiths a stand-out firm. We wish them every success here.’

Peter Staniland, NES Global Talent 

NES Global Talent in Greater Manchester is expanding its IT division with the appointment of sector specialist Peter Staniland.

Peter, who has joined the global talent solutions provider as a Senior Consultant at its Altrincham office in the UK, will focus on supplying IT experts within the oil and gas and engineering sectors.

Peter Howarth, Divisional Director – UK at NES Global Talent, said: “Peter has a discipline specific background within IT and brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge of technical IT roles, which will help us drive our technology division forward.

“We are focused on providing our clients with access to the very best in talent, whatever the discipline, while providing the best package for our candidates.“

Steven Lloyd, Optionis

The former chief legal officer of Phones 4U has joined the board of business and freelancer services group Optionis.

Steven Lloyd spent eight years on the Phones 4U board, overseeing several major acquisitions and disposals between 2006 and 2014. Prior to that, the qualified solicitor served as legal director for the Caudwell Group.   

Lloyd’s new role on the Optionis executive team will initially see him assume responsibility for the group’s sales and marketing functions. He will then move across to operations, with a focus on service improvement and innovation. 

Optionis managing director Derek Kelly said: “Steven has a huge amount of relevant experience, and has held senior management positions in the corporate world.  

“His knowledge and expertise mean he will be a tremendous asset as we look to grow the business over the coming years. We are delighted to welcome him aboard.“

Gemma Edney, Nic Whelan, Event Marketing Solutions 

Success has led to the appointment of Nic Whelan to the EMS Board of Directors, who will lead the company’s business development strategy. He has been with EMS for 13 years, playing a pivotal role in developing new income streams including roadshows with Barclays, Warner Bros and Allianz. In his new role as Business Development Director he will oversee the sales and marketing division and provide strategic support to further grow the business globally.

In other areas of the business, EMS has promoted Gemma Edney from Account Director to Head of Client Services. Gemma has been with the company for 10 years and will now lead the Client Services team, overseeing project delivery worldwide. Subsequently, Laura Nash will step into Gemma’s role as Account Director – marking a promotion from Senior Account Manager.

Keith Austin, CEO at Event Marketing Solutions said: “As we start the year with our strongest financial performance in our history, I’m delighted to welcome Nic to our Board. He has contributed significantly to our success over the years. His knowledge of the industry and strategic approach to new business will be vital in us achieving our demanding targets as we move forward. Nic’s appointment means that I will be able to devote more time to developing our global network.“

Rob Boogaard, Interface EMEA

Acting president of Interface EMEA, Rob Boogaard, has been appointed as the organisation’s EMEA President & CEO. Rob has been presiding over the organisation since the medical leave of Lindsey Parnell in July 2013 and will take up this permanent role effective immediately.

Boogaard joined Interface in 2011 as Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, responsible for setting and leading the growth strategy for Interface throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has since taken up a number of roles within the organisation. Boogaard’s new appointment comes as the global modular flooring organisation, prepares for the next phase in its EMEA growth strategy.  

Rob Boogaard, CEO Interface, said of his appointment “Interface has a unique, sustainable, approach to manufacturing modular flooring and my goal is to ensure our ongoing growth stays true to the principles, set out by our founder Ray Anderson, whilst contributing to the market. Interface has a global market share of 35 per cent and is unrivalled for sustainability and design with innovation. Few, if any, companies have embraced sustainability longer, or accomplished more. Driving our business and sustainability goal for zero environmental impact by 2020, known as Mission Zero, and ambitious financial targets provide a clear direction to guide the organisation.“

John Leggett, Simon Peake, WYG

Global Programme, project management and technical consultancy WYG has again announced additional appointments to the Manchester Planning team. Workload continues to increase, principally from the North West, as a result of both the region’s continued growth and from WYG’s national multi-disciplinary framework successes. John Leggett, formerly of AMEC, joins the team as an Associate Planner, and brings with him thirteen years of experience, notably in the Nuclear/Energy sector and delivery of complex EIA projects, including Hinkley Point C for EDF Energy, Sellafield and Capenhurst for Urenco UK and CNS. Additionally, Simon Peake joins WYG from IBI Group as an Associate Planner. With extensive residential and regeneration experience linked to transforming parts of East Manchester for the HCA, he brings with him 15 years of planning practice.  The total number of fee earners in the Manchester Planning team now reaches 16.Paul Shuker, Director of Planning at WYG in Manchester, said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome John and Simon to the team to build on our existing client base and to explore new infrastructure and regeneration opportunities that are currently being presented to WYG through our partners.’ 

Caroline Cockburn & Kayleigh Hepburn, O PR

Newcastle integrated PR, digital and creative communications agency O PR is continuing its growth plans with the appointment of two new faces to its team.   Client account manager Caroline Cockburn, 27 and account executive Kayleigh Hepburn 23, have joined the Ouseburn-based agency, hot on the heels of being awarded the Gold award in the Outstanding Agency category at the CIPR PRide Awards in December.

Caroline brings with her a wealth of experience in consumer communications having worked with brands including Vango and P&G. She is a graduate of the University of Glasgow with an MA in French and Linguistics, and is fluent in French.

Caroline will work on PR, digital and creative briefs across a range of national travel and leisure accounts as well as working on a UK-wide brief to promote Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Caroline said “I have joined the agency at an exciting time as it celebrates its 10th year in business and is winning accounts with well-known consumer brands across the UK."

Following her graduation from The University of Sunderland, where she gained a BA in Public Relations, Kayleigh has gained experience in public sector communications having completed a graduate internship at Northumberland County Council.

Kayleigh will now support the client services team across its consumer, B2B and community accounts, executing integrated communications campaigns and liaising with regional and national journalists and bloggers.

Kayleigh said: “O is such a renowned agency in the region and I’m really pleased to be taking my career forward there; already I’m starting to work with exciting regional and national brands in travel, leisure and food and drink sectors.“

O PR and Communications managing director Kari Owers said: “Caroline and Kayleigh bring with them the right experience, skills and enthusiasm for the sectors we work in, which will add significant value for our clients. They have joined us at an incredibly exciting time following a series of recent account wins and growth for the agency, and will be the first of several new appointments this year as we continue our recruitment drive.“  

Ian Pratt, RMT Accountants & Business Advisors

RMT Accountants & Business Advisors is investing in extending the range of services it provides with the recruitment of a new commercial finance expert.

Ian Pratt has joined the Gosforth-based firm as a consultant, and will provide independent advice to its portfolio of client businesses, which range from sole traders and SMEs through to long-established major regional employers and international businesses

Ian has over three decades’ experience in the commercial finance industry, and has advised companies in every sector and of all sizes on how best they can address their working capital and investment requirements.

Ian Pratt says: "With the upturn in the economy, North East companies have been increasingly turning their attention to how they can maximise the development opportunities available to them, but my experience is that there’s a degree of uncertainty within many management teams about the financial options available to help them make this happen.

"RMT is a highly-regarded firm with a strong reputation across the region and an ambitious management team.  It’s an exciting time to be joining the business, and having their name behind me adds even more weight to the negotiations I undertake with lenders and finance providers."

Mike Pott, managing director at RMT, adds: “Many of our clients regularly ask us to look at the best ways for them to either raise capital or make best use of the resources they have.  Ian’s expertise adds another dimension to the services we provide in this area.

"Because we’ve no tie to any specific lender, we are able to take a wholly independent view across the market, research everything that’s available and make recommendations that provide the best possible fit with clients’ requirements."

Dave Kennedy, Chefs’ Academy

Newcastle College’s Chefs’ Academy has been fortunate to be joined by top chef Dave Kennedy.

The former North East Chef of the Year, who won acclaim through his work in restaurants such as 21 Queen Street, the Black Door, Food Social at the Biscuit Factory and most recently at Vallum Farm, joined the College at the start of February.

He will work with the College’s Professional Cookery and Hospitality students to bring the Chefs’ Academy to the standard of that of the country’s top commercial restaurants.

Dave developed his career as a top Chef working in several Michelin-starred restaurants in London. He was named North East Chef of the Year in 2007 and won a string of awards for the Black Door. Dave has been a huge supporter of the College and has employed many students over the years.

He said: "Having been a student myself, I feel it’s important to invest time in the future of hospitality. I want to use the experience and skills I have developed throughout my career to help the students. I also want to build on the excellent standards that have been set in the Chefs’ Academy and increase its customer base and popularity."

Rob Kleiser, director of the Lifestyle Academy at Newcastle College, said: “It’s a great privilege to have Dave as part of the Chefs’ Academy team. His experience and extensive knowledge working in and running some of the region’s top restaurants will be of huge value to the students. 

"We are very proud of the reputation that the Chefs’ Academy has built and the support we have received from industry has been absolute testament to our success. What we need to do now is take the success to the next level and this is where Dave can really help us.“

Robert Cooper, Clive Owen Corporate Finance

Darlington corporate finance business, Clive Owen, has appointed a new executive following growth and expansion over recent months.

Clive Owen Corporate Finance, part of accountants and business advisers Clive Owen LLP, has reported a significant increase in business, particularly in its due diligence work, over the last 12 months.

The team is planning to further grow the number of transactions completed and has appointed Robert Cooper as corporate finance executive to support the firm’s ambitions.

Robert had previously been involved in his own business in India, specialising in SEO and web design. 

As a director, he was involved in financial forecasting, identifying trends and weaknesses in businesses and offering solutions and strategies. 

He developed business partnerships and was heavily involved in various types of negotiations. 

Prior to that, Robert had been involved in other businesses, including a company which sold properties across the UK which gave him experience of transactions, negotiating and due diligence reporting.

Angus Allan, corporate finance partner at Clive Owen, said: “We’ve had a very successful 12 months and we anticipate further growth this year. We’re delighted to welcome Robert to the team to help us to continue to grow.  Robert has great skills and his experience has been gained from running his own operations. He has all the relevant expertise to be an integral part of the team.“

Robert added: “This is a great move for me. I am eager to develop my corporate finance career and this is an excellent opportunity.  I have been involved in many of the lines of work undertaken with corporate finance but from a director’s perspective. 

“I’m excited to bring that experience into a professional practice and use it to benefit a range of clients."

Matt Swift & Jonathan Clark, Elanders UK

North Tyneside print, packaging and supply chain business Elanders UK has expanded its presence in the North East with the recruitment of two experienced print and packaging experts, Matt Swift and Jonathan Clark.

Matt joins Elanders as business development manager bringing with him over 25 years’ experience in packaging creation and innovation. 

His role will include working with both existing and new customers to identify packaging opportunities for Elanders UK. 

Matt’s role is a new position that has been created to help the business become better known for its packaging offering at the North Tyneside headquarters and raise awareness of Elanders specialist packaging printing facilities in Cumbernauld, Glasgow.

This new role will allow Elanders to communicate packaging and digital packaging to customers with his expert knowledge of the industry, while Jonathan’s experience will allow Elanders to continue to support the day to day management of complex accounts.

Jonathan joined Elanders at the start of the New Year within the account executive team, specifically supporting the company’s key accounts. He joins with expert knowledge of print planning and forecasting and will help create efficiencies in this area. 

Elanders UK’s managing director, Kevin Rogers, said of the appointments: “Both appointments come at an ideal time for Elanders which is currently expanding after a strong 2014, specifically in packaging and digital print. Both Matt and Jonathan bring expert industry knowledge and will enable us to extend the breadth of services we are able to offer our clients while ensuring we maintain our excellent customer service delivery reputation.”

Joe Gunton-Jones, Haden Freeman Ltd

Redcar-based engineering specialist, Haden Freeman Ltd, has announced the appointment of a new business development manager to help further grow company’s presence in the North East.

Business Management graduate, Joe Gunton-Jones, joins the firm, having spent four years specialising in the offshore gas and engineering industry in Great Yarmouth.

He has been appointed by the Teesside-based process engineering experts after a raft of new contract wins – including Fuji Film Diosynth and Applied Graphene – that has seen the firm go from strength-to-strength in the region.

Based at Haden Freeman’s Redcar office in the Wilton Centre, Gunton-Jones’ key responsibilities will include building on existing client relationships, developing new business opportunities, as well as marketing and event planning and management. 

The appointment fits with Haden Freeman’s strategy to grow its North East presence aggressively over the next 12-24 months, and to capitalise on the booming process industries in the region.

Newly appointed Joe comments: “I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and working with the team in the North East. Haden Freeman is an ambitious organisation that wants to build on the success it’s seen over the past six-12 months to achieve further significant growth.“

Wayne Baxter, Managing Director at Haden Freeman, added: “We are currently working with some of the biggest and most innovative players in the region and believe there is so much more potential across the North East within the process sector.  

“I have no doubt that Joe is up to the challenge and will be a great asset to the existing team - building on the exceptional work that has already been done. We’re always on the lookout for passionate young talent, and we’re thrilled to welcome Joe into the Haden Freeman family.“