Search Results

Family firms are different, a real force for good and that can only be a good thing. The obvious thing that makes family businesses stand out from their non-family counterparts is the ‘family factor’ and this is something that can be used to the competitive advantage of the business if harnessed in the right way. Sadly, all too often family business is portrayed as ‘small business’ rather than the reality that those in the know understand: family firms can be big business, take JCB, Wal-Mart, BMW, ALDI and many others and the myth has been blown away, but fundamentally it is more important that family firms are recognised for the positive values they bring to the economies and communities in which they operate. Rather than focusing on the sensational headlines around sibling disagreements, nepotism or inter-generational issues there are real positive attributes possessed and demonstrated by family businesses the world over on a daily basis which helps to show that family firms are a real force for good too. Family firms are generally seen as good employers, trusted and respected businesses, even more so when the family name is above the door and the business has been around for generations and the benefits associated with being a family business can be great. These benefits can even result in the family business deriving competitive advantage as a result. Here are ten benefits that family firms have: 1 – Values Family values can be translated into the way that the business operates, the culture of the family firm, and these can be passed from generation to generation as well as from family members to other employees. There is an immense level of pride amongst family members to respect the business, their predecessors and in many cases to act as stewards to pass on the business to the next generation and the values that underpin the family and the family business add to the essence of the family firm. 2 – Long Term View Family firms are recognised for taking the long term view, not always focusing on the short term financial performance and results of the business. A patient and often cautious approach can help to align resources and plans too. 3 – Loyalty Research has proven that shared values and vision amongst family members with clear and open communication of their goals and objectives can result in greater loyalty from family members too. 4 – Retention Employees of family firms are often cited by the family as an ‘extension of the family’ or as part of the ‘extended family’ and consideration and support of employees to such an extent can provide an incredibly loyal workforce who enjoy the work environment, the support of the family and the way that they are treated. 5 – Legacy Making a difference and creating a legacy is something that can come from a family in business and there are lots of examples where family firms are integral to the community in which they operate. Building on the efforts of previous generations and continuing the family tradition, protecting the name and the values that it upholds are also drivers for subsequent generations to continue in the same manner and to continue to give something back. 6 – Trust & Integrity Research has proven that the very nature of the family ownership can engender more trust from stakeholders and customers alike, and more and more family firms are celebrating their history and legacy in the brands that they are developing, recognising that it can be to their competitive advantage. 7 – Innovation Due to their governance and ownership structures family firms can be more innovative. In many cases, they recognise the need for innovation as part of their strategic planning to keep the business relevant and current and as such are able to respond to change and take on opportunities as they arise more quickly than some of their non-family counterparts. 8 – Entrepreneurship Successful family firms can be a breeding ground for entrepreneurship, supporting the next generation in their pursuit of new opportunities, either through opportunity, training, career progression or encouragement. 9 – Respect Many family firms are massively involved in their local communities and give back in many ways which engenders significant respect from the communities in which they operate. 10 – Relationships Whilst it may not be seen as the ideal situation for some, families that work successfully together get to spend more time together and sharing a drive towards goals for the business can be a bonding and fulfilling journey. Successful family firms reap the benefits and have structures in place for clear and effective communication, helping to minimise the risk of disagreements or conflicts arising. This enables them to focus on the business, with shared goals and commitments to getting the right results and without any doubt, when it all comes together, family business is different but can be a resolute force for good and secure competitive advantage too, further generating better financial results and performance that is of benefit in the long term too. Celebrate the strengths of family business. They are a force for good and provide significant benefits to communities around the world.

This international compost awareness week Chapel Break Infant School pupils got their hands dirty learning how food waste and garden trimmings can find a new lease of life. Composting experts shared top tips with the children on how to turn what could otherwise be thrown away into nutritious compost for growing vegetables, plants and flowers. The event marks the launch of Norfolk’s new home composting campaign titled ‘Composting, make your garden grow’, which encourages people to start composting to help the environment, cut waste, and create a nutritious free resource for their garden. Cllr Eric Vardy, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: “It can seem like a little piece of magic when you first use compost you’ve made at home. It’s a great way to reduce waste and save money so we’re offering cut price compost bins, and lots of great hints and tips to help people to get composting at home, and make your garden grow.” Compost bin offers, and support from Norfolk’s expert Master Composters, are available to residents as well as schools. People across the county will also be able to take advantage of free beginners composting workshops this spring and summer. To find out more, order a cut price compost bin, or join a free composting workshop, visit the Norfolk recycles website here

19 new ‘buzz shelters’ have been installed in the city, all with green roofs designed to provide food and shelter for bees and other pollinating insects at risk from habitat loss. Hull City Council has installed the ecological shelters at bus stops on Hall Road and Hedon Road, replacing shelters that were in poor condition. The project has been made possible by a £96,865 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, so comes at no cost to council taxpayers. Cllr Mark Ieronimo, Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Roads, and Highways said: “I am thrilled that the eco-friendly bus shelters are now in place. This project has been great on many levels, with benefits to our local communities and the environment." “These shelters are something people can be proud of, and they go a little way towards encouraging more people to use public transport.” The council has been working on getting the shelters ready for the past couple of months, along with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, community urban garden groups, and local schools. Children from Parks Academy, St Anthony’s Academy, Southcoates and Thorpepark Primary schools have worked with local artist Mike Sprout to design some of the artwork for the shelters, which all feature scenes related to Hull or wildlife. Fittingly, one of the shelters is dedicated to Jean Bishop, Hull’s own Bee Lady, who spent many years fundraising in Hull while dressed in a bumble bee costume. Mrs Bishop died in 2021 at the age of 99, having raised around £125,000 for Age UK. Other notable people include Clive Sullivan MBE, Amy Johnson CBE, and William Wilberforce. Andrew Gibson, from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said: “This project demonstrates that even small urban build projects can have nature, water storage and carbon storage built into them through clever design." “The roofs are designed to be sustainable and withstand both drought and down pour, which we will see more of with climate change.” The project was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

The 5th High Wolds Poetry Festival is now open for entries around the theme of Mysterious Tales and Unusual Stories. The free festival in North Dalton, East Yorkshire, on Saturday, 23 September, is an open mic, one-day festival for absolutely anyone of any age to share their own or other people's poetry. A selection of work submitted will be published in a unique, free, custom-designed book and there will be home made locally sourced food and drink available throughout the day. Julian F. Woodford, festival director, said: "Now in its fifth year, the festival is open to any kind of poetry, not just around this year's theme of Mysterious Tales and Unusual Stories, so you can send us your work about absolutely anything, any content, form, tone, style. It might be inspired by the Yorkshire Wolds or by your own experiences in general, it's really up to you." "We want poets of any ability, experience, age and background to read or listen on the day - and anyone is welcome to come and read - and this year everyone has a chance to take part in a new series of poetry workshops which Caroline Coath and I will be leading." The festival is supported by Arts Council England through East Riding Museums, whose Assistant Curator - Community, Caroline Coath, said: "We are really looking forward to seeing how the fascinating stories of the Wolds and wider East Riding can inspire our local poets. We are producing some resources to support these creative individuals which will be available by email and on social media and also at our new poetry workshops." "Final details are to be confirmed around the workshops which will be in Beverley Treasure House, Skidby Mill and a North Wolds village during July and August." Nial Adams, Museums and Archives Manager, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "There's no doubt that the festival continues to thrive because of the way in which it has been able to fuse local people's creativity with Caroline's inclusive North Wolds community outreach work and themed interaction with our museums' archives." "The continued Arts Council England and East Riding of Yorkshire Council support and the mixture of wonderful homemade catering by Joanne Young and friends and the beautiful North Dalton village location seem to just come together each year with the support of local farms, hamlets, villages and towns here in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds." The festival will publish a collection of work from poems submitted and will run an open mic at North Dalton Village Hall on Saturday, 23 September from 11am to 6pm. Entries for the custom-designed festival book are free and close at midnight on 31 August and can be sent by email to highwoldspoetry@gmail.com or by post to The Festival Director, The High Wolds Poetry Festival, East Riding Museums, Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley HU17 8HE. Entries for the Open Mic are open until Friday, 22 September, the day prior to the festival.

April's GDP growth offers a measure of hope to small firms amid difficult conditions. Responding to the Office for National Statistics figures showing that GDP rose by 0.2% in April 2023 compared with the previous month, and rose by 0.1% in the three months to April, Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “GDP growth in April comes after a tough winter, and will bring some measure of hope to small firms." “This slight increase was driven by services, up 0.3% in the month, although consumer-facing services in particular remain 8.7% below pre-pandemic output. The three-month picture, meanwhile, doesn’t offer much to shout about, only just lifting above zero – although growth of any kind is of course good news." “Our Small Business Index measured a big uptick in confidence among small firms between the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of this year, ending up in lightly negative territory, and we hope this momentum will continue." “Most small business owners will tell you, however, that it’s far from plain sailing for them at the moment, despite the resilience they’ve shown to date. Yesterday’s labour market figures show that wages are rising at a record rate outside pandemic conditions, which makes a base rate rise next week more likely, and will make finance even harder to come by for many small firms looking to invest. This will hold back our recovery, when it is small firms we should be looking to as the way out of the economic doldrums." “If the Government wants to give small firms a lift, one revenue-neutral measure which would have an immediate effect would be to tackle late payment, to get funds flowing through supply chains." “Making large corporates publicly responsible for the payment practices in their supply chains would give immediate relief to millions of small firms, and save them time and effort currently spent chasing invoices, improving their productivity." “Inflation fell in the most recent figures, but is still some distance higher than the 2% target, while elevated prices are proving sticky. With consumer confidence rising but still firmly negative, many small firms are in a precarious position." “Cutting their fixed costs – by looking at business rates, increasing the VAT threshold, and ensuring that small businesses trapped on high energy tariffs can ‘blend and extend’ their contracts – will relieve margin pressure, and encourage small firms to fulfil their true potential as the engine of recovery.”

Men hide knowledge from colleagues more frequently than women, but women are more likely to do so through providing incomplete information or playing dumb, finds new research from UCL Global Business School for Health (UCL GBSH). Dr Paola Zappa, lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and HR management at UCL GBSH, and Dr Tatiana Andreeva, Associate Professor at Maynooth University School of Business, investigated the influence of gender on knowledge hiding. Participants – UK based workers employed in a variety of industries – answered questions about their demographics, work attitudes, and knowledge hiding behaviours, focusing on three types: evasive hiding (providing incorrect or incomplete information), playing dumb (pretending not to know the answer), and rationalised hiding (admitting to concealing knowledge but sometimes with a genuine reason, e.g., privacy or confidentiality reasons). The findings suggest men feel more entitled than women to conceal their knowledge: they hide it more often than women, specifically through rationalised hiding, while women use evasive hiding and playing dumb. Men also conceal knowledge more frequently in a female-dominated environment and are more likely to use the same methods as women, since they believe that women will sanction them less than men for this behaviour. Although intentionally withholding knowledge from colleagues can be damaging for individuals and organisations, this behaviour may be an attempt to cope with work conflict, psychological stress, or to gain a competitive advantage over colleagues. “Rationalised hiding does not necessarily involve deception, and leads to lower turnover intentions and higher job satisfaction. Therefore, men are likely to benefit more, as they protect their knowledge by selecting the most inconsequential or safest way to do so,” explains Dr Zappa. For women, openly admitting to not sharing knowledge may be perceived as going against the social expectation of being caring and helpful and may lead to negative responses from colleagues. Dr Zappa continues, “By pretending not to know the answer to a colleague’s request, women might reinforce the gender stereotype of not being competent, harming their reputation within the company." Managers should counteract gendered stereotypes around competence and decrease social pressure on female employees to avoid rationalised hiding. This can be done by acknowledging the expertise of female employees and the value of their knowledge. These findings were first published in Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology.

Calderdale community organisation, Nurturing Creativity CIC has won the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Regional Champion Award for Yorkshire and Humber for its holiday club at this year’s HAF Programme Awards. The accolade was presented for its work in giving children from low-income families access to free, nutritious food and engaging activities over the school holidays. Hundreds of thousands of children across England attend HAF holiday clubs nationwide, which support parents with childcare costs over the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays, offering children enriching activities such as football, play sessions and cooking classes. Nurturing Creativity CIC demonstrated an exceptional commitment to providing engaging activities for children during the holidays. It is one of 8000 clubs, events or organised activities in England to have offered an experience to around 600,000 children in summer 2022. Kirilea Whitehead from Nurturing Creativity CIC explained: “The HAF Programme has enabled us to provide safe, fun and engaging holiday clubs of the highest quality in Ovenden and Illingworth. The children from these areas experience a vast range of activities with us and we encourage them to step outside their comfort zone and ‘Give it a Go’, building confidence, character and self-esteem." “Our clubs are valued by the children, the families, the schools and all the staff involved. Winning this award highlights a real team effort and makes us extremely proud of all who create the vibrant and innovative environment that inspires and engages all our children.” Cllr Sarah Courtney, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Towns, Tourism and Voluntary Sector, said: “Congratulations to Nurturing Creativity CIC for winning this prestigious award! It’s an amazing achievement and well-deserved recognition for everything they do for Calderdale’s young people." “The Council is proud to work in partnership with the Community Foundation for Calderdale and community organisations like Nurturing Creativity to provide a vital lifeline for families struggling financially, especially during the cost of living crisis. Together, with the support of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, we’re helping to reduce inequalities by tackling child hunger and family poverty, and giving young people hope and access to opportunities to achieve their potential.” Steve Duncan, CEO of Community Foundation for Calderdale, added: “Reducing inequalities and investing in children is important. We are so proud that the regional winner for Yorkshire and the Humber is from Calderdale and feel that this reflects the high quality of Healthy Holidays projects that are running in our borough.” Minister Claire Coutinho, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, said: “Our Holiday Activity and Food Programme gives children across the country access to incredible experiences during the holidays, helping to make friends and create memories through enriching and fun activities. Nurturing Creativity CIC has gone above and beyond in offering an experience like no other which is why they’re this year’s winner of the HAF Regional Champion for Yorkshire and the Humber.” The government’s HAF Programme started as a pilot in 2018. It was created in response to the pressures that low-income families can face over the holidays, with some children being less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, and more likely to experience social isolation and ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health. It provides free places for school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals. Government provides funding through local authorities to fund clubs over summer, Easter and Christmas breaks. The continuation of the HAF Programme is part of the government’s commitment to support vulnerable families with rising costs due to global inflationary pressures, particularly in disadvantaged areas. This programme runs alongside the Household Support Fund which supports vulnerable households through small payments for food, clothing and utilities. The fund has recently been extended to 30 March 2024 with an additional £1 billion to be used by local authorities to support vulnerable households.

A pioneering sustainability centre has been launched and is set to help South Yorkshire meet the challenges posed by the climate emergency, while also providing positive opportunities for the people, places and businesses in the region. The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre (SYSC) is the first centre of its kind in the UK, connecting world-leading academic research with local businesses, public sector organisations and charities to overcome challenges like decarbonisation and helping the region meet its net-zero targets. Creating a pipeline of sustainability research with the people who need it, the centre will also help to create new jobs, skills and economic opportunities in the region. At the heart of the SYSC is a partnership between the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the four South Yorkshire local authorities - Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham - and a range of private and voluntary sector organisations. The launch by South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, follows the announcement of the centre at the South Yorkshire Economic Summit in 2022. Over the past 12 months the SYSC has been focused on three key areas that represent the highest-emitting and most difficult to decarbonise elements of the economy and relate directly to regional priorities. Tackling these areas will have a massive impact on our region. These are: Retrofitting homes in South Yorkshire to reduce energy use and improve health and wellbeing Working with the University of Sheffield, Doncaster Metropolitan Council (MBC) identified a total of 1,800 homes that needed to be treated and upgraded to help the city reach 100 per cent net-zero by 2040. Homes will be retrofitted with combinations of solid wall insulation and wall updates, new roofing, loft insulation, window glazing and door upgrades, and heating controls. The project is also helping to tackle a high-level of fuel poverty, affecting around 17 per cent of homes, and also supporting residents’ wellbeing and satisfaction with their home. As well as retrofitting homes, researchers are also working to understand how and why people move around Doncaster to help reduce transport emissions and help local organisations make decisions on services that are not only more sustainable but are better for the people using them. Reducing the amount of CO2 emitted from farm to fork To achieve net-zero within the UK food system we need to develop technologies and processes that reduce the amount of CO2 emitted from “farm to fork”. The centre is looking at how we can produce food using low-carbon processes, embedded in local and regional communities. Helping regional industry and business decarbonise and move to clean fuels The centre is working with regional industry and business to help them decarbonise and move to using clean fuels whilst maintaining the quality of their products. In South Yorkshire we have major manufacturers in foundational industries that underpin the UK’s economy. Decarbonising these industries will bring far wider benefits at a national level. Director of the SYSC, Professor Rachael Rothman from the University of Sheffield, said: “We all know that to combat climate change we need to urgently reduce carbon emissions, but doing so without balancing the connected economic and social issues will only lead to more inequality and poverty in society." “The challenges we face are complex and cut across industries, society and academic disciplines, but there are also opportunities; for jobs, economic growth and a more sustainable and thriving future. The decisions and changes we make now will have an immense impact on that future." “We will connect our world leading research together with the region to provide the evidence needed to make those decisions and drive change." “It makes me incredibly proud to know that South Yorkshire is playing such a pivotal role in the journey to a sustainable future.” The SYSC was launched at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) Technology Centre with speakers South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, Co Founder of Civic Square, Immy Kaur and SYSC Director Professor Rachael Rothman. Active Travel Commissioner and Olympic gold medal cyclist, Ed Clancy, also spoke at the event after leading a group cycle from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority offices on Broad Street West - close to Sheffield train station - to the AMP in Rotherham. South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “The climate crisis is perhaps the biggest challenge we face, but if we get our response to it right, the rewards are significant: making our homes more sustainable will also make them warmer and cheaper to heat; Investing in green technology to help us reach net-zero emissions will also create great new jobs in the industries of the future, and grow our economy too; investing in public transport, as well as walking and cycling infrastructure, will mean more of us can leave our cars at home, creating safer, more liveable neighbourhoods and better connected communities." “But we will only be able to build that new future if we work in partnership, with our communities, our businesses and our institutions across South Yorkshire." “That’s why I’m so pleased to be launching South Yorkshire’s Sustainability Centre, bringing together leading academics, harnessing the resources and capabilities of our great universities to help build a greener, fairer future that works for all our communities, right across the region, and providing leadership to the whole of our country.” Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “The world is facing a climate emergency and universities are uniquely positioned to respond to the global challenges we face." “We are proud to be leading the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre, which will connect our world-leading and world-changing sustainability research with businesses, public sector organisations and charities." “Through working together, we can tackle urgent global issues like decarbonising to meet net-zero targets, and make a significant impact on our region, creating new green jobs, skills and economic opportunities.” Sheffield Hallam University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Chris Husbands, said: “Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity and it is vital that universities utilise their research excellence, expertise and knowledge to help bring about societal change." “The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre is an excellent example of how collaboration and partnership can bring together organisations across a region and across disciplines to realise economic and social impact through the common goal of addressing urgent sustainability challenges. Sheffield Hallam is delighted to be a lead partner in this important initiative so we can better connect academic networks, local expertise and delivery partners to drive positive change in our region.” For more information about the SYSC, please visit their website here

A painting by world renowned Italian artist, Canaletto will go on display at the Ferens Art Gallery later this year. A Regatta on the Grand Canal c.1733-4 is lent by His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, and is the fifth and final work loaned to the gallery as part of a partnership with Royal Collection Trust that started in 2017. The painting shows the entire central stretch of the Grand Canal and is painted from the same vantage point as The Grand Canal, Venice, Looking North East from the Palazzo Balbi to the Rialto Bridge, a work made around 1724 by Canaletto from the Ferens’ own collection. The Royal Collection painting shows the regatta of the feast of the Purification of the Virgin, held annually on 2 February in Venice since 1315. Elaborately decorated barges belonging to prominent Venetian families line the Canal, while both men and women appear dressed in carnival costume, identifiable by the distinctive black cloaks, white masks and black tricorne hats. Kerri Offord, Curator of Ferens Art Gallery said: “We’re grateful to Royal Collection Trust for this loan and the incredible partnership we have had for the last six years." “This final artwork will be part of something very exciting coming later this year, and we ask that artists keep a close eye out for an opportunity coming soon.” Anna Reynolds, Deputy Surveyor of The King’s Pictures, Royal Collection Trust, said: "We have been delighted to work with the Ferens Art Gallery over the past six years, providing opportunities for the people of Hull to enjoy a range of works from the Royal Collection by artists including Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Holbein." "This magnificent painting, which usually hangs in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, is one of Canaletto’s finest works and makes a fitting final loan in what has been an exciting and rewarding partnership." Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768), known most commonly as Canaletto, was born in Venice to a family of artists and theatre set designers. He undertook an apprenticeship with his father and brother, and travelled with the former to Rome in 1719 to assist in the creation of sets for two operas by Alessandro Scarlatti, before returning to Venice to pursue a career as an artist. Canaletto’s earliest signed and dated work is from 1723, and his earlier works are often viewed as his best before his commercial success made him repetitive. His work is known for being precise and he, unusually for the time, would make his work outside, rather than in a studio. The work will be on display at the Ferens Art Gallery from 20 October – 28 January 2024.

Acquisitions that go wrong are a top cause of business insolvency, according to Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance , which has analysed claims from business directors for personal guarantee insurance, following insolvency. Not being close to business financials due to an over-reliance on accountants, and bad debts or payment disputes, were also major reasons why business owner’s dreams ended in a nightmare. There is good news, however, as there are solid steps that can be taken to avoid some of the most common reasons businesses fall into insolvency. Todd Davison, MD of Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance said: “Business failures can often occur after a business acquisition. When a business goes through a leveraged buyout, where the target company to be acquired is loaded with debt to buy out the former shareholders, then this has an adverse cash flow and margin impact to meet the repayment obligations. It means an immediate deterioration of the balance sheet position. So the new owners have to grow the business or deliver substantial cost savings through the business quickly, to avoid failure.” Firms window dressing their business to make it appear more secure than it actually is prior to acquisition can be common, according to Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance. Robust due diligence processes including, arranging a financial audit, scrutinising the validity of future orders and analysing future staff and cost savings that can be made once acquisition has happened, can all help to sidestep insolvency. Purbeck also advises keeping a close eye on the balance sheet. It found that often a director, who is incredibly skilled at providing a product or service, may rely on their accountant for day to day financial running of their business. Unfortunately though, it is the business owner who ultimately shoulders responsibility for business cash flow, so directors should seek clear explanation from accountants to ensure they are always knowledgeable about their financial situation. Bad debts or payment disputes were the third most common reason businesses fell into insolvency. Businesses looking to protect themselves from bad debt will always research potential clients thoroughly before selling goods and services to them. According to Purbeck, however, a common theme amongst directors claiming on their Personal Guarantee Insurance was an overconcentration on one or more customers who were late payers, which in due course, put a stranglehold on the creditor’s business. Finally, when a business is doing well, it is tempting to raise finance to develop it further, but when growth slows, firms often find the finance cost becomes unaffordable. Todd Davison concludes: “Instances like overtrading can be avoided by focusing on profitability, rather than revenue growth. Equally, due diligence before an acquisition and trying not to put all your eggs in one customer’s basket can all help to make positive impacts on trading." "Ultimately, everyone wants small businesses to succeed, as a personal guarantee insurer, none more than us. With personal guarantee insurance in place, however, the comfort of knowing that directors will not have to pay back business debt through their own finances, such as their home or personal savings can be hugely reassuring to small business owners.”

Huddersfield Town FC are delighted to confirm that Manager Neil Warnock and Assistant Manager Ronnie Jepson will stay at the Club for the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship season. Fresh from their amazing feat of reviving the team to secure second-tier status in the 2022/23 campaign, Warnock and Jepson have agreed new 12-month contracts to lead the Club into the new season. The popular duo have already secured their spots in Club history as staff and, in Ronnie’s case, also as a player in the mid-nineties, with their legacies further cemented by the job they did in steering the team to survival with seven wins and four draws in 16 Sky Bet Championship fixtures earlier this year. Now they will take the helm again for the upcoming 2023/24 season. Chief Executive Jake Edwards explained: “We’ve heard Town fans loud and clear, both at the Reading game and ever since. You all wanted ‘one more year’ under Neil and Ronnie, and this had to be our first order of business as we prepare for the new season." “Neil and Ronnie have incredible knowledge and skill as a management team; that was clear in the job they achieved here at the end of last season. They also have an amazing connection with this Club and our supporters, which is also so valuable." “We’re so pleased Neil has agreed to stay on for another season. I know how determined he is to build on the job he’s done last season, and he offers us great experience and stability on the football side as we prepare for the prospective change of ownership.” Huddersfield Town Manager Neil Warnock added: “After having conversations with Jake Edwards, it became obvious that this was going to be a difficult job for me to leave and for anybody new to come into after what we’d built at the end of last season." “I’ve agreed to stay on alongside Ronnie and just as we did when we came back last February, we’re going to try and do the best we can with our squad that we can hopefully make one or two additions to." “We’re quietly confident – I know what the Club is all about and I have to say, the response I got after those last two games is something I’ve never experienced in my whole life. This is now a chance for me to put something back into the Club and give us some stability during this transitional period." “Once I knew that Sharon was okay with me continuing, I’ve been fully concentrating on knuckling down to do the best we can in trying to get this great Club up the league.”

Inspirational achievers from across the UK were among those celebrated at the second Business Success Recognition Awards, held in Birmingham at the weekend. Finalists selected from hundreds of nominations assembled at The Eastside Rooms for the return of the glittering awards ceremony, hosted by award-winning MC Dave Sharpe. Thirteen category winners from across the UK were announced, including Business Start-up, Rising Star, Business Growth, Franchisee of the Year and Team of the Year. Business of the Year was awarded to Mess Around Ltd. of Suffolk. Judges were Ian Dickson, an international motivational speaker and award-winning business executive coach and mentor; Sam Bearfoot, the CEO Creativity Mentor to some of the most successful people in the online space and William Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth, co-owner of multi-international award-winning St Maur elderflower liqueur, handcrafted in Alcester. The evening was organised by Stacey Calder, from Leamington Spa, the founder, leader and editor of the Business Success Network and Magazine. Stacey said: “What an amazing night of support, fun and recognition. A huge congratulations to not just the winners, but to all the finalists in the room. It takes courage to put yourself out there and to make the finals from over 350 nominations is an incredible achievement. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the incredible team I have around me, national awards like this don’t just happen and I’m proud to use small businesses within the network to form such a great events team." “I created these awards because every business owner has a story to share and awards are a great opportunity for business owners to create more visibility as well as gain the recognition they deserve. When you are self-employed it can be a lonely place working on your own and I’m a firm believer in finding your cheerleaders. The Business Success Recognition Awards helps you find them in abundance.” Planning is already under way for next year’s awards for which nominations open on January 1st. The winners: Business of the Year - Sponsored by I Am The Queen Bee Rachelle Hutt, Mess Around Ltd, Suffolk Rachel, who has 11 franchises across the UK, said: "I am delighted bit it was a total shock as we were up against some very strong candidates and other amazing businesses. I am overjoyed that the judges recognised all the hard work that has been put into Mess Around over the last 12 months and this is also a reflection of the dedicated and brilliant team of franchisees that I have around me. We are now very excited to see what the next 12 months brings!" Business Start-up of the Year - Sponsored by Danielle Hobson Coaching Natalie Yorke-Goldney, The Trampoline Academy, Nuneaton and Warwick Natalie said: “I was completely shocked and flattered to win the award. In retrospect, it's recognition for all the effort and love I've put into my trampoline club and everything we have achieved in two short years. I don’t do what I do to simply make money, it's for the love of the sport." Natalie, who lives in Coventry, added: “I started with nothing, and as a single mum, I held back for years as I did not believe in myself and it all seemed impossible. During COVID I took a leap of faith, and I've never looked back. I had to knock on a lot of doors - but if you keep knocking eventually they start opening, so start knocking!” Business Leader/Manager of the Year - Sponsored by The Activity Connector Anna Neville, Kidslingo Ltd, Solihull Anna said: “I am absolutely thrilled, delighted and honoured to win. To be recognised as a great leader ultimately means that you have an amazing team to lead. I’m so fortunate to have a hardworking and passionate team of franchisees and tutors who deliver Kidslingo’s French and Spanish classes to young children right across the UK. I aim to lead by example and inspire all of them to do their best.” Against All Odds Award - Sponsored by Fiona Moon Advisory Ltd Kelly Isles, Enchanted Tea Room, Leamington Spa Kelly said: “I’m overjoyed to win against the odds despite everything life threw at me the last couple years at Enchanted. We’re here thriving with a business I fought so hard to save through Covid. I lost so much to that virus, my Dad and friends - it was not taking my business as well! “I’ve always had the support of my amazing family, husband and business partner, kids and my parents as well as the most amazing team at Enchanted Tea Room. This award is for us all because we didn’t just survive, we thrived. This means so much to us to win this.” Networker of the Year - Sponsored by 1Networking Tracey McAtamney, Ladies First Professional Development, Balsall Common Tracey, who has been director at Ladies First for more than six years, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be recognised as the winner of the Networker of the Year Award at the Business Success Recognition Awards. “My own Awards Team will confirm that I am most comfortable behind the scenes of the awards celebrating the success of other businesses. It was truly an honor to be nominated, announced as a finalist and a winner! I can now fully appreciate the emotions of taking part in Awards from start to finish – I was completely out of my comfort zone!" “The highlight for me, is to be able to promote the importance of networking. I am passionate about networking and the incredible people I meet day to day. Your network is there not just for the successes in business but also to support you and your business through those difficult times.” Customer Service of the Year - Sponsored by Mr C’s Cleaning Services Coversure, Leamington Spa Director Amrit Kaylan said: “To win it was a real honour, especially having been up against some incredible businesses in the category. The award is a testament to the great work that the team here at Coversure Leamington Spa do in helping our customers old and new.” “To be the headline sponsor of the Business Success Network Awards 2023 was a real honour for us. We put helping businesses, small and large, as the centre of our focus and the stories of success and resilience from the businesses, entrepreneurs and charities in attendance were incredibly inspiring. The event itself was excellent, the food, drink and entertainment were top class and I’m sure all of the winners, nominees and attendees had a night to remember.” Product of the Year - Sponsored by Bright Cat Solutions Muscle Mechanics, Bracknell Kim Shamtally, owner of Muscle Mechanics, said: “Winning Product of the Year was simply incredible. I wanted to create something to help my son feel better but by doing so, realised the potential of helping so many others within the realms of recovery and fitness. Combining exercise with the right recovery tools can improve the experience of how the body can cope with everyday aches and pains. More importantly, it keeps my son focused on his mission to become as physically independent as possible." “Creating Muscle Mechanics Balms is a family business where each person truly understands what it takes to become more resilient.” Rising Star Aged 21 and Under - Sponsored by Mess Around Ltd Pip, Rayph and Oskar Haywood, Babacorn Bricks Becki Haywood, of Babacorn Bricks, said: “We are over the moon. Babacorn Bricks was created as a small venture to keep myself and my three beautiful boys busy whilst trying to heal and make it through each day without my husband and their dad who we sadly lost to bowel cancer when the boys were just one, four and nine." “Not only does our monthly LEGO subscription business bring us even closer together, we have also met many hundreds of wonderful people who have changed our lives. The BSN Awards family are included and being chosen as one of their award winners for the second year running has not only given the boys and I some incredible memories, but we have also made wonderful lifelong friends." “We are very proud winners and we know that Paul would be proud too. As always, our awards are in memory of him.” Business Growth - Sponsored by A-Counting Genie Rob Spence, Paragon Sales Solutions, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire “It was a truly tough category with some excellent businesses listed for the awards and in my eyes we are all winners!" “Since our inception, especially over the last 12-18 months, we have worked really hard as a team to grow our business and to support more and more businesses. Our motivations and ambitions as a business are more focused around our team, the clients we represent and the results we generate for them. We believe that it is these elements that have led us to grow so rapidly." “Looking back on our journey, it has been a fast-paced five years of business. From starting the business on my own on a desk in the corner of my bedroom with just £300 to my name, we now employ nine people, occupy fantastic office space in the Leicestershire countryside and are once again pushing on for another record-breaking financial year." “My congratulations and thanks go to everyone involved in the awards. Running a business is never easy and is full of hurdles, challenges and, at times, frustration, yet I believe these awards were able to bring together business owners and entrepreneurs from all walks of life and allowed a celebration of success, reminding us all that business is done better, together.” Franchisee of the Year - Sponsored by The Awards Training Company Rachel Peebles, Esterellas Brilliantes, Glasgow Rachel said: “I was absolutely thrilled to win and so grateful to the judges for choosing me as the winner. I feel so privileged to be able to teach Spanish to hundreds of children and adults each week, and I love working with two fantastic franchises, and being part of an amazing team of language teachers who support one another. Receiving this recognition for the work I do means so much to me.” Community of the Year - Sponsored by PonyPonyPony Move For Wellness 21 Ltd. Based in Hertfordshire David Baum of Move For Wellness 21 Ltd, said: “While you always hope that your name is going to be called out, it was an amazing feeling when Move For Wellness was named as the winner of Community of the Year." “One of the reasons I wanted as many of our team with me on the stage is, while I’m the focus, it is their amazing hard work that was really being rewarded, and for that I can only be grateful and humbled the judges decided to name us as the winner.” Team of the Year - Sponsored by BJK Entertainment So. Social Media, Monmouth, Wales Samuel Piqué-Perry said: "As a company which recruits specifically on culture fit and which places an immense amount of value on its teams, from onboarding right through to ongoing review, winning this award in particular, resonates with me." “The team I have around me are exemplary people, high performing and deserving of exactly this recognition, I couldn't be more pleased for all of them and I've no doubt this award will help us bolster future recruitment efforts." Expert of the Year - Sponsored by Forensic Minds Tony Edwards, BITSmart Technology Ltd, Winchester Tony said: “I’m so happy to have been even considered for an award, let alone a finalist in two and a winner as Expert. This category had the largest number of finalists and some amazing people in that list all of whom are equally deserving. I’m elated and looking forward to next year.”