How your small business can successfully start growing
If you operate within a small or medium sized business, there is likely to be a range of things you can implement to help it grow. Take a read of the article below to learn some key tips for growing your business sooner rather than later.
Hire The Right Staff
If you wish your business to grow and be successful, you will need to hire the right staff to begin with. When hiring staff, it will be in your best interest to find employees who will not only be suitable for the role but also seem dedicated to staying with you for the long term. You can make this happen by improving overall job satisfaction, as well as focusing on improving your employee retention rate. The longer you have motivated and dedicated staff, the more they will get to know your business and improve it.
Look After Your HR Department
Your HR department is essentially the backbone of your organisation. If you neglect it, you could see it negatively affect other parts of your business. This is why you should aim to work with your HR team to help make them the most efficient they can be. There are a few different ways to do that. It will benefit your HR department if you remove time-consuming tasks that can be automated in some way. Not only will this help them focus on more crucial roles, such as managing the employees and caring for their needs, it will help them make less mistakes.
One of the ways you can help your team save on time is to implement specific software. This HR-focused software can make it easier for your team to manage tasks such as responding to holiday requests and recording sickness absences. It will be crucial for your business to find the right software to work with. This is why you should look to experts such as myhrtoolkit who provide HR software for SMEs to manage holidays and more. For instance, with myhrtoolkit your small to medium sized business will be able to handle holiday requests through a smart holiday planner, which can help both in the short term and long term.
Conduct Unique Marketing Campaigns
To reach more potential customers, you will need to embark on unique marketing campaigns. However, it will also benefit you to engage in traditional marketing campaigns too. These marketing campaigns can be both digital and in print, but you may find more success by exploring digital options depending on the nature of your business. For similar reasons, it will also put you in good stead to conduct market research, so that you can exploit the right gaps in the market at the right time and in the right places.
One effective marketing strategy comes in the form of social media marketing. You could use popular platforms such as Twitter or Instagram to showcase your products or get your brand out there. It will be important for you to keep your brand style consistent on each social media platform, so that your brand is recognisable for anyone to see. However, bear in mind that some social media platforms will have different audiences that could require a different tone. A classic example of this is with TikTok. However you approach it, ensure that you mix it up to reach as many people as possible.
Leeds manufacturer to expand into new markets and create jobs following six-figure investment
Leeds-based manufacturer of printed marketing and communication materials, Alpha Card Compact Media Ltd, has secured a six-figure investment through NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).
An international exporter, Alpha Card has over 15 years’ experience of manufacturing and distributing hundreds of millions of printed marketing materials, such as Z-Fold Cards and Infinity Folding Cards, throughout Europe, North America, Australia and Africa.
The business’s portable, retainable and reusable devices are used in virtually every sector for diverse applications. Its clients range from the creative industry, government, education, sport and charity through to major high street names and multinationals such as Shell and Toyota.
The investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund will provide additional working capital for export growth and will allow the company to expand into new markets. Funding will also lead to the creation of four new roles at the business, as it looks to grow the numbers of staff. The deal was facilitated by FW Capital Investment Executive Andy Castle.
FW Capital Investment Executive Andy Castle said: “We are delighted to support Alpha Card, a highly-regarded company that has the manufacturing expertise to deliver industry-leading products both quickly and efficiently. Alpha Card has created new jobs with this investment and has forecasted continued growth, meaning their important products can now be delivered to even more clients.”
Ian Whitfield, Alpha Card Managing Director, said: “At Alpha Card, we are passionate about creating engagement for our clients with their audiences using clever printed marketing. We pride ourselves on our vast product knowledge and adaptability and work tirelessly to maximise value for all our clients.
“This investment from FW Capital will support us as we create new jobs and expand into new markets.”
Leeds marketing agency commits £2,500 to help the homeless of Yorkshire
Leeds-based marketing agency, The Marketing Optimist, has committed to help Simon on the Streets, a charity for the homeless, for the next 5 years by donating at least £500 every year to support their work.
Richard Michie, Marketing Optimist CEO, said: “I live in a nice house with my family, we are warm, don’t worry about food or a place to sleep. All The Marketing Optimist team are in the same situation.
“We all have our struggles, but not knowing where we’ll sleep or find our next meal from isn’t one of them. That is why the work Simon on the Streets does is so important to me personally. Being in that situation frightens the life out of me, so I’m more than happy to help in any way I can.”
The business has joined the charity’s 5 for 5 partnership, and committed to donate at least £500 per year for 5 years, helping the charity to generate valuable, long term, sustainable income, which is vital to ensure the charity can continue their work with the homeless of Yorkshire.
“We’ve committed to £500 per year, but that will be a minimum from us. From 2022 through to 2027, and beyond, we aim to at least double that through fund raising activity right across the year. So, we’ve guaranteed at least £2,500, but we aim to raise at least £5,000, and hopefully more,” continued Richard.
Leah Charlson, fundraising manager for Simon on the Streets, said: “Since launching in 2016, The Marketing Optimist have been long-time supporters of Simon on the Streets and we’re so excited for them to come on board as one of our 5 for 5 partners. As a fully independent charity, we rely solely on this kind of support, and we can’t wait to work with their team to tackle homelessness in our local community.”
Leeds-based marketing agency, The Marketing Optimist, has committed to help Simon on the Streets, a charity for the homeless, for the next 5 years by donating at least £500 every year to support their work.
Yorkshire vet group’s European expansion continues
One of Spain’s leading veterinary practices has become the first in the country to join VetPartners.
Praxia, a referral practice specialising in various fields, including cardiology and orthopaedics, based in Elche, Alicante, is the York-based veterinary group’s founding Spanish practice.
The acquisition has been swiftly followed by a second practice after Medican Veterinary Center in Madrid also joined VetPartners.
VetPartners’ operations and expansion in Spain is overseen by Managing Director Augusto Macias, a vet, who also 30 years’ experience in business as a brand manager and marketing director for pet food manufacturer Gallina Blanca Purina and director general of Kivet.
Amid VetPartners’ expansion across the UK, Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany, Senor Macias believes there also huge potential for more growth in Spain.
He said: “By focusing on its people and the veterinary profession, VetPartners is making a huge difference. We focus on attracting and growing talent, with good professionals and good people who can continue developing in the profession.
“We aim to make VetPartners clinics and hospitals a great place to work, where all team members, veterinarians, assistants and support staff, are respected as people, so that we can achieve a positive work environment.
“VetPartners understands the DNA of each veterinary clinic and hospital and bring human, financial and resources to these practices, always with respect for the people and the veterinary professional.”
VetPartners has also been joined by four new practices in Italy and six in France as the group’s expansion in both countries continues.
Led by vets, VetPartners was founded by CEO Jo Malone in 2015 and has 188 of the UK’s most respected and trusted small animal, mixed, farm and equine practices, employing more than 7,000 people across nearly 550 sites in the UK and from its headquarters in York.
The group has diversified and now includes pet cremation services, an online retailer, a small animal veterinary nursing school, an equine nursing school, laboratories and a locum agency.
It first expanded into mainland Europe in 2019 with the acquisition of practices in Italy.
Growing haulage group acquires Barnsley business
Logistics and warehousing group OTIF has made an acquisition that pushes its turnover above £40m.
Entrepreneur Graham Darnell, owner of OTIF Group, has acquired Barnsley-based John Truswell & Sons (Garage) Limited, a family-run company which has a fleet of 70 trucks and 180 trailers. John Truswell & Sons (Garage) Limited specialises in distribution across the UK and offers warehousing services, and has an annual turnover of £10m.
OTIF Group, which is named after the group’s commitment to delivering ‘on time in full’, has a comprehensive network of haulage contacts as well as its own dedicated transport fleet, and provides logistics solutions to some of the UK’s leading retailers.
This latest acquisition is OTIF Group’s third in five years, following the acquisition of Kenyon Group in 2016 and Adam Jones Group in 2019. All were led by Watersheds, and Royds Withy King also supported the Adam Jones Group acquisition.
Graham Darnell said he was delighted with the opportunities Watersheds brought him, after he expressed a desire to strengthen OTIF’s coverage in the north of the UK.
“I started this acquisition journey with Watersheds five years ago, and we have built up a great relationship over that time,” said Graham.
“They understand exactly the type of business I am looking for and once again have delivered what they promised. Despite the pandemic, they somehow managed to bring me an impressive variety of opportunities, all of which were interesting. In the end, though, it was John Truswell & Sons that caught my eye. Like the other acquisitions Watersheds have arranged and completed for me, it is an off-market, strongly performing, highly reputable family business.
“It was particularly important to me that I could continue to focus on running OTIF Group, so once again having Watersheds negotiate the deal, raise the funds and project-manage the process throughout was crucial. There were many parties involved, including three sets of lawyers, funders, property valuers, asset valuers and two sets of accountants, so it was complex, yet they still managed to achieve a completion date within three months of agreeing heads of terms.
“I was also grateful to be working with the Royds Withy King’s legal team again, led by Katharine Mortimer. There was a lot of work to be done by the legal team regarding the funding and the team were able to progress this efficiently and effectively as well as advise me through the legal process.”
Funding for the acquisition was provided by Praetura Commercial Finance.
One of the UK’s largest food wholesalers acquired by investment firm
London-based investment firm RDCP Group has acquired SOS Wholesale, one of the largest food wholesalers in the UK for an undisclosed sum.
RDCP has acquired Derby and Barnsey-based SOS Wholesale, a family run business founded in 1996 by Norman Beckett and his two sons Mark and Steven.
The business is one of the UK’s largest wholesalers of foods and beverages, employing 120 staff from its 70,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution centre in Derby and sales office in Barnsley. Its product range extends across 4,500 lines, selling top brands including Mars Bars, Walkers Crisps, Heinz, Nescafe, Colgate, and Fairy, delivering its products range in the UK, and exporting worldwide.
The existing management team led by Mark Beckett and Vipin Patara will work closely with RDCP founders, Sameer Rizvi and Iryna Dubylovska, on SOS Wholesale’s future growth strategy.
This latest deal is RDCP’s eighth acquisition in the last 18 months, following its most recent takeover of Intelling in October 2021. RDCP now controls $400 million of investments across multiple sectors in the UK.
Sameer Rizvi, founder & CEO of RDCP Group, said: “This is a major milestone for us at RDCP because the four acquisitions we completed last year combined with the organic growth of our existing portfolio companies has increased RDCP Group’s assets under management to $400 million.
“We were extremely impressed by SOS Wholesale and their track record of success and varied customer base which includes major national retailers as well as independents. We look forward to working closely with Mark, Vipin and their team to grow the business further and have plans to expand SOS Wholesale both organically via increased sales channels, but also by bringing bolt-on acquisitions of smaller competitors.”
Iryna Dubylovska, founder & chief strategy officer of RDCP Group, said: “This acquisition reflects our strong appetite to expand our presence across different sectors and I could not be prouder of our team and our advisors.
“We have ambitious plans to grow our assets under management to $1 billion by 2025 and will continue to invest our growing balance sheet capital into promising British businesses that have a consistent and profitable trading history, committed and ambitious management teams and a defendable and dominant market position within their respective sectors.”
Mark Beckett, Managing Director of SOS Wholesale, said: “Steven and I are proud to be a part of one of the UK’s fastest growing private conglomerates, RDCP Group. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Vipin Patara and our management team to grow the business further, whilst retaining the family values that have made us what we are today.
“It is very much business as usual for our staff, customers and suppliers. We have worked hard to build an excellent reputation of delivering exceptional service and this will continue to be a focus for SOS Wholesale moving forward.”
Vipin Patara, trading director of SOS Wholesale, said: “Over the past five years working with Mark and Steven, their passion and drive to grow the business has been contagious. It is a testimony to both Mark, Steven, and the SOS team to where the business has grown to today.
“The future potential is exciting for both organic growth as well as new opportunities. I am really looking forward to working collaboratively with Sameer, Iryna, Mark and the entire SOS team to take SOS Wholesale to the next level.”
Roy Farmer, corporate finance partner at Dains, added: “Having built a very successful business over the past 20 years, Mark and Steven decided approximately two years ago to create a succession plan in order to facilitate their retirement. Their goal was to realise the value that they had created to date and to ensure that the business was left in the hands of a buyer who would continue to further develop the business.
“We worked closely with Mark and Steven to develop their exit plan, and as part of this process spent a considerable amount of time identifying an appropriate purchaser. Having received strong interest in the SOS Wholesale business from both trade and financial investors alike, we were attracted to RDCP as a buyer for a number of reasons.
“RDCP’s model of being longer-term investors in businesses, backing strong incumbent management teams and retaining the stability and culture that is embedded within a business made them stand out from the more traditional private equity model, and we quickly realised the benefits of choosing RDCP as the long-term investor in SOS Wholesale.
“I am delighted with the outcome we have achieved for Mark and Steven, which allows Steven to retire immediately and Mark to work alongside Vipin for a period of time. I am confident that SOS Wholesale, under the leadership of Mark and Vipin and the ownership of RDCP, will go from strength to strength.”
Have your say on plans for the future of Sheffield City Centre
A consultation on the future of Sheffield city centre is now open, inviting people to share their views on how the city centre should be shaped in the future to adapt and thrive following the challenges of the pandemic.
A new Vision for the development of the city centre sets out the diverse role it plays as a hub of commerce and growth in the city, centre for shopping, leisure, and nightlife, as well as home to thousands of people.
The five-week consultation sets out our ambitions for the city centre over the next 20 years, focusing on key areas such as housing, regeneration, public transport, and green spaces.
Development work is already underway to transform much of the city centre, including the £470m Heart of the City scheme, as well as funding secured to revitalise the high street and Castlegate through the Future High Streets Fund and the council’s recent successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund.
The city centre Vision looks ahead to how city centre spaces can be best utilised to meet the needs of Sheffielders, including plans to create five new distinctive neighbourhoods with high quality, sustainable housing in Neepsend, Wicker Riverside, Castlegate, the Moor and Furnace Hill. More than 20,000 new homes would be created, relieving pressure on greenfield sites, and helping to meet housing demands for Sheffield’s growing population.
The new communities would offer direct access to all the amenities the city centre has to offer, mirroring established and popular neighbourhoods such as Kelham Island.
The consultation will also seek opinions on other important areas, including the ‘spine’ of the city centre, which runs from Castlegate to the Moor, plans for key areas such as Fargate and options for the future of the former John Lewis store.
The feedback provided in this consultation will be used to inform more detailed plans for different areas of the city centre and will help to create a shared Vision for the city’s future.
Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Executive Member for City Futures: Development, Culture and Regeneration, said: “We know how much interest there is in the future of the city centre and that people want a city centre they can feel proud of.
“Sheffield is an incredibly distinctive city, and we want to make sure that we develop a Vision for its future that incorporates our unique identity, heritage and culture, whilst making sure it is adaptable and able to face any challenges over the coming years.
“We know that Sheffielders are invested in and care about what happens next and that’s why we’ve launched this consultation to give everyone a chance to read the plans and have a say in what they would like to see.
“Through this consultation we want to create a plan for repurposing our city centre that will maintain Sheffield’s strong reputation as a place people want to come to live, work, study and succeed.”
The consultation will run until Friday 11th February 2022. People can view the plans and provide comments at www.ourcitycentre-shf.com, by emailing info@ourcitycentre-shf.com or by calling 08081965105.
New Director of Improvement and Integration at ULHT
The Trust which runs Lincolnshire’s acute hospitals has appointed a new director to lead improvements and innovation across its services.
Dr Sameedha Rich-Mahadkar will join the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) as Director of Improvement and Integration on Monday 10 January 2022.
She is taking up the role previously held by Mark Brassington, who is currently on a secondment with NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands Region. Sameedha will be the Director of Improvement and Integration for the period of Mark Brassington’s secondment.
She joins the Trust from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, where she has been Deputy Director of Strategy for five years.
Dr Rich-Mahadkar has extensive experience in leading strategy design, planning, partnerships, service improvement and transformational business cases; with over 13 years’ experience within various healthcare leadership roles. She has a PhD in strategic healthcare planning and began her career with the Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre.
She said: “Times are difficult across the NHS at the moment and I know that working together with the teams at United Lincolnshire Hospitals we can continue to offer excellent patient care and look after each other. I am excited to be bringing my experience of supporting and empowering teams to make ULHT an outstanding place to work and an outstanding place in which to receive care”
ULHT Chief Executive Andrew Morgan said: “We are delighted that Dr Sameedha Rich-Mahadkar is going to join our Executive Leadership Team and Board, as she brings with her a wealth of experience which will truly benefit our patients and staff.
She will lead our improvement and strategy and planning teams, and will help us to take forward our Integrated Improvement Plan, transforming our services and making them fit for the future.
We are really looking forward to working with her.
I would like to thank Sarah Hall our Deputy Director of Improvement and Integration for covering the role pending Sameedha’s arrival.”
De Wint Court works set for completion next month
With Lincoln’s new De Wint Court Extra Care facility works set for completion early next month, the council’s Executive will now consider it proposed fees and charges.
At Executive on 17 January, members will discuss the proposed fees and charges for eligible residents for the new 70-apartment scheme on Bowden Drive.
The building for the new 50 one-bed and 20 two-bed apartment extra care facility on Bowden Drive is due for completion in early February, with an official opening and residents expected to move in later this year.
Jointly funded between City of Lincoln Council, Homes England and Lincolnshire County Council, the scheme will have care provision available, non-resident management and support staff, a wellbeing suite, changing places facility, restaurant and salon.
De Wint Court has been designed in such a way that allows it to respond to individuals changing care needs with on-site care support.
It will aim to enhance quality of life and give people the provision to stay within their local communities and access services close to home.
As part of the proposed fees and charges, each property will have a service charge of £88.33 plus an affordable rent charged on a weekly basis.
The service charge covers running costs for areas which will benefit all residents and will make the new De Wint Court a great place to call home.
If approved by Executive, this would bring the total average rent (including service charges) over 52 weeks for a one-bed property to £209.53 per week, and £223.33 for a two-bed property, dependent on size and location of each property.
This includes use of the garden and communal spaces, the outdoor gym equipment, the gardening area and staff being onsite from 7am to 10pm 7 days a week.
The service charge and rent are both housing benefit eligible; an application for housing benefit would contribute to either pay all or part of the total weekly charge depending on the individual’s income.
Individuals would fund their own element of care requirements, or this could be provided by Lincolnshire County Council or relatives.
Cllr Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing at City of Lincoln Council said: “These new apartments will enable residents to maintain independence in their own homes as their needs change with care providers arranged by the county council.
Once complete, De Wint will play a vital part in our commitment to provide quality homes to meet the diverse housing need within the city. I look forward to discussing this next phase of the scheme with members of the Executive.”
Iconic Skipton childcare brand set to expand after multi-million pound cash injection
A British childcare brand is set to launch a selection of new products and expand its footprint in the UK and internationally, after securing a seven-figure finance facility.
Silver Cross, which is based in Skipton and was founded more than a century ago, designs and manufactures a range of prams, pushchairs and accessories, alongside a suite of baby products that includes car seats, nursery furniture, travel cots and textiles.
Over the past two years, it has been impacted not only by the pandemic, but the closure of Mothercare, formerly its biggest retail partner.
But now, with the support of a multi-million-pound invoice finance facility from Lloyds Bank, it has freed up cashflow to support investment in product development and expansion. Invoice finance helps bolster firms’ liquidity by allowing them to access up to 90 per cent of the value of unpaid invoices, often within 24 hours.
Over the past 12 months, the firm has already increased its headcount by 20%, and boosted turnover by 15% in the UK, and 40% internationally. And now, with new products set to be introduced to its core range in early 2022, turnover is set to jump by a further 25%.
Carl Walsh, chief financial officer of Silver Cross, said: “Like all brands, we were heavily affected by the impact of the pandemic – but through refocussing the business and taking steps to improve our working capital position, we are now ready to target substantial growth both at home and internationally.
“Our premium product range will feature a series of new and improved features that give our products true global appeal, ensuring they will be in high-demand across a spectrum climates and cultures. And there is more in the pipeline, too – we’re excited to work with our retail partners to expand our offering even further and help parents all over the world access the best products for their children.”
As well as expanding its core range, Silver Cross is investing in a ‘digital-first’ strategy to accelerate global growth and drive international brand awareness. It is also working closely with specialist independent nursery retailers across the UK as they invest in their in-store offerings to become more advisory-led and experiential, exploring new ways to showcase the brand for customers.
Mark Butterworth, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Silver Cross is one of the UK’s best-known brands, and we are excited to support their growth as they roll out new, quality products for their customers all over the world. They are a leading example of a local brand that has capitalised on market demand without sacrificing their commitment to manufacturing excellence, and are now one of the region’s top employers, as well as a household name.
“We look forward to supporting Carl and his team as they continue on their growth journey.”
