< Previous30 Business Link www.blmforum.net APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINING Career mapping can also aid a company by providing a plan between an employer and employee to focus on future training and upskilling. This planning provides routes and goals to be achieved and consists mainly of a clear, complete job description and specification, the required competencies needed, personality profiling and details regarding the training and development required. Putting career mapping procedures in place helps identify which employees are suitable for various roles within the company and can help any organisation prepare for the future including employers, employees and apprentices. According to the Institute for Apprenticeships, an apprenticeship is an ideal and effective way for a business to grow their talent and develop a skilled, motivated, qualified workforce, with employers who have an established apprenticeship programme reporting that apprenticeships improve the quality of their service or product or both through reducing staff turnover and recruitment costs and increasing employee satisfaction. Also, the Government will help pay for apprenticeship training: an employer will pay only 5% of the apprentice’s training and assessment fees and the Government contributes the other 95%. If a company has less than 50 employees and the new apprentice is aged between 16-18 years old, the Government will even waive the 5% contribution, covering 100% of training costs. With an apprenticeship there must be a genuine job available with a contract of employment long enough for an apprentice to complete their apprenticeship, usually a year or more, and employers must pay an apprentice’s wages according to their age, work hours © stock.adobe.com/master1305 © stock.adobe.com/auremar 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:10 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 31 APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINING Kirklees College trains over 1,000 apprentices with over 1,000 employers every year, making it >wÀÃÌV VivÀi«ÞiÀÃ7iÃÌ9ÀÃ Ài° As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week between 6 - 12 (GDTWCT[YJ[PQVƂPFQWVOQTGCDQWVYJCV-KTMNGGU%QNNGIGoU apprentices can offer your business? *GCFVQQWTYGDUKVG www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk, QTTKPIQWTVGCOQP 01484 437600 VQFC[ APPRENTICESHIPS www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk and off-site training and study hours. Apprentices often stay on after training is completed as they gain valuable experience and licence to practice in many regulated occupations from something hands-on like engineering, nursing or construction, to a career in law, marketing or project management. The Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (www.gov.uk/guidance/register- of-apprenticeship-training-providers) offers a choice of programmes for the apprentices and lots of advice for both employers and apprentices and works alongside the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) which advises on applications, training and funding. All round there are many options out there to be actioned. Spot skill shortages early on and consider either training up next month’s star today by investing in an apprentice or train, upskill or reskill current staff today. 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:10 Page 432 Business Link www.blmforum.net MEET THE EXPERTS E xpertise is something that is difficult to quantify. Do we call someone an expert for the length of time they have worked in an industry, or for the success stories they have from it? Or better yet, is an expert little more than an individual with a collection of qualifications and letters after their name? The answer is never quite simple. In a sense, an expert could be said to be a combination of all three, but at the same time every single person is – or ought to be – an expert in their own craft. Someone who runs a packaging company is bound to be an expert in packaging, the same for food manufacturing or recruitment agencies. The challenge is in finding someone who is an expert in their chosen field, but who can also become an expert in yours as well. There are many people who are experts in a given craft – be it law, financial services or consulting – but for the best service possible to be achieved, they need also to be an expert in your company. This is where so many people find issue with experts; they hire someone who prescribes themselves expert, and they may well be, but find the advice given to be either incompatible with their company or not tailored to it. That’s to be expected of course, as an expert hired from outside the company isn’t going to know your firm as well as you do, but that doesn’t change the fact that they must be used. Specialist knowledge So-called “experts” can be found everywhere – especially online nowadays. Choosing the right expert for your needs is the hard part. © stock.adobe.com/undrey 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:11 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 33 Company profile Frontier Software is a global provider of HR and Payroll software solutions with 40 years of experience. Delivering services and support from offices across the UK and beyond to a diverse user base that includes clients in manufacturing, retail, not for profit and the public sector. Product profile Frontier Software develops solutions that support HR and Payroll teams and their processes. A comprehensive range of cloud-based software modules deliver an integrated, functionally rich, and highly configurable approach to managing the employee lifecycle. As payroll is an essential part of that lifecyle, Frontier Software also offers outsourcing options that can save you time and money. Service users benefit from the accessibility, flexibility and control of running payroll in-house, without having to allocate their time and resources to ensuring employees are paid correctly and on time. Furthermore, solutions can be tailored to match your individual requirements. www.frontiersoftware.com sales@frontiersoftware.com 01276 456902 HR AND PAYROLL SOFTWARE/SERVICES Company profile Flowstar is a leading stockist and supplier of safety valves, reducing valves, sustaining valves, industrial valves and ancillary valves. Based in Hull they have been trading for over 30 years and deal with all the major manufacturers within the industry. As well as being a major stockist they provide valve spares and have inhouse repair and testing facilities allowing for valve service and refurbishment. Their highly trained sales specialists are experts in their field and can specify the correct valve for your requirements. Customers also benefit from an unbeatable service with same day despatch or collection available. Product profile Flowstar have over £2 million worth of valves in stock including valves from manufacturers Bailey, Berluto, Besa, Broady, Nabic, Niezgodka and Resideo, plus many more. The different types of valves available are for use in a wide range of sectors including commercial and domestic applications, industrial, heating, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and hydrogen among others. Flowstar (UK) Ltd, Wiltshire Road, Hull HU4 6PA www.flowstar.co.uk • sales@flowstar.co.uk Tel: 01482 601030 VALVES Clarksons Port Services (CPS) customs hub continues its investment drive to meet increasing client needs as the landscape of import and export movements continues to evolve due to ever changing customs regulations. For businesses moving goods in or out of GB, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the EU and the rest of the world, CPS guides the client step by step through the process advising at each point of any changes due to Brexit and the implementation of the NI Protocol. Graham Cross, Business Development Manager for Customs & Freight, confirmed that CPS are now offering a consultancy service to allow both existing and potential clients the opportunity to check that they are compliant and paying the correct levels of duty. Graham is based on the Humber, which is the UK’s largest trading estuary and the gateway to our EU partners, and we are delighted that our customs expertise is assisting so many of our Humber based clients and reducing their costs in many cases. Clarksons Port Services (CPS) is dedicated to supporting marine and port operations and is a trusted partner, with over 50 years’ experience and a proven record. We provide a 24/7/365 integrated service from our nineteen office locations around the UK & Ireland. Clarksons Port Services deliver solutions for Port Agency, Freight Forwarding, Project Logistics, Offshore Supply, Voyage Agency Services, Crew Change, Bunkering, Warehousing & Storage, Customs Clearance, Tooling & Supplies and Safety & Survival. Graham Cross | Business Development Manager M +44 (0) 7435 946179 | Graham.cross@clarksons.com www.clarksons.com PORT SERVICES Company profile Independently recognised for outstanding results and service, Sills & Betteridge LLP is a full-service law firm with 15 offices in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottingham and Northampton. It has one of the region’s leading corporate and commercial departments with a portfolio of domestic and international clients drawn from a wide range of industry sectors, including agriculture, engineering, renewables, real estate and construction, insurance, and retail. Areas of practice include corporate transactions and tax, banking and finance, property and land law, commercial litigation, employment law, contracts, partnerships, regulation, insolvency and business recovery. Karen Bower-Brown Profile Highly-respected by her clients and professional peers, Karen Bower-Brown consistently delivers first class knowledge, efficiency and client care. With over 30 years’ experience Karen is at the very top of her game now holding the roles of Senior Partner, Head of the Corporate & Commercial Department and Lead Partner in the Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team. Karen has a varied caseload in a wide range of commercial, contract, property and other civil disputes, and is recognised by the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists for her work in this complex area of law. The prestigious Legal 500 rate Karen as a ‘UK Recommended Lawyer’. Aquis House, 18 – 28 Clasketgate, Lincoln, LN2 1JN Tel: 0800 542 4245 • Web: www.sillslegal.co.uk Email: info@sillslegal.co.uk FULL-SERVICE LAW 32-33.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:11 Page 234 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK GWM ORA Funky Cat 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:13 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 35 AUTOLINK GWM ORA Funky Cat Your first impression is probably like ours: any car called the Funky Cat cannot be taken seriously. But let’s not be hasty – as everything about this car suggests it could be the exception. Great Wall Motor (GWM) might be a company you’ve never heard of. Still, it’s been in business for nearly 40 years. And although it mainly makes SUVs under several brand names, it’s produced several feline-themed all-electric cars under its ORA marque. The Funky Cat is the only one heading to Great Britain – and believe it or not, it looks fantastic. For now, there’s one trim called ‘First Edition’, but this will be a limited supply before it’s replaced, likely with three new grades called Pro, Pro+ and GT. The edition on sale now comes with 18-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital There is no escaping the fact that electric vehicles (EVs) will be the norm soon, whether we like it or not. Why? Well, the UK is set to only produce non- combustion engine cars from 2030. No doubt many of us will hang on to our trusty liquid-fuelled vehicles, but if you’re feeling like going down electric avenue, here are three enlivening EVs to whet your automotive appetite. 36 Á 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:13 Page 236 Business Link www.blmforum.net AUTOLINK instrument cluster. It also has LED headlights, a wireless charger, leatherette seats, keyless entry and start, and electric front seats. ORA is taking orders on its website and setting up shops within several UK dealerships. Hyundai Ioniq 6 If you remember Hyundai’s first attempt at an electric car, you will probably know that the Ioniq (which was launched without a number designation) was entirely forgettable. It was unveiled as a self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric variant, but the actual car beneath the bonnet could have been better. Expectations were low after that, so the automotive world let out a large groan when Hyundai announced the Ioniq 5. However, that moan soon turned into open-mouthed amazement. The Ioniq 5 was superb, applying dizzying futuristic looks with exceptionally long range, fantastic drivability, and ultra-fast charging speeds. It is hoped that the magic has transferred into the Ioniq 6, which, unlike its sibling, is a swept-back coupe-shaped four-door saloon measuring 4,855mm long. Hyundai calls it an “Electrified Streamliner”. It refers to the car’s aerodynamic coefficient of just 0.21, which is only fractionally behind the Mercedes-Benz EQS’s 0.209. This figure makes the Benz the most aerodynamically efficient production car on the planet. The 6 is available to order in the UK now, with the first models set to hit British roads this year. If Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is anything to go by, the Ioniq 6 will undoubtedly be one to watch. Hyundai Ioniq 6 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:13 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 37 AUTOLINK BMW iX1 BMW’s march towards electrification has continued with the launch of the iX1, coinciding with an overhaul of the X1 petrol model on which it’s based. While not all fossil-fuelled cars translate easily into all-electric versions, BMW has already transplanted electric motors into its larger sibling, the iX3. It is a recipe that has worked well there. So, we’re hopeful the iX1 will deliver more of the same, proving a worthy adversary to the likes of the Audi Q4 e- tron, the Tesla Model Y, the Mercedes- Benz EQA and the Volvo XC40 Recharge. Although we’re expecting more models to come along soon, notably a two-wheel drive version, only one edition is being offered at launch: the xDrive30. If you’re fluent in BMW lingo, you’ll know xDrive means four-wheel drive. So that means a couple of electric motors, one driving the front wheels and one driving the rears. The result is a mightily impressive 313PS. The all-new BMW iX1 can be yours from £52,950 in entry-level xLine trim. While that may sound steep, the headline price is a bit misleading because future variants yet to be released are likely to be cheaper. The impressive 313PS gets the Bimmer from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, which is good, although we should clarify that it’s only 313PS for ten seconds. The all-new iX1 is satisfying to drive and zips about nicely, with a smooth ride that allows for good handling. This trio of electric cars is just a tiny taster of what’s on the market – and EVs will only keep improving. All we need now is a decent network of charging hubs across the county – but that’s an article for another time! BMW iX1 34-37.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:13 Page 438 Business Link www.blmforum.net CORPORATE HOSPITALITY events Inclusive 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:16 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 39 CORPORATE HOSPITALITY I t is vital that authentic diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are at the forefront of businesses’ minds and policies in 2023, with numerous articles, statistics and studies revealing that it is still not taken seriously enough. Not only is it the right thing to do, but with employees seeking jobs with, and customers looking to work with, firms that mirror their values, it is critical to success, expanding perspectives and ideas within a business, and building a positive company culture. Staff that feel included also experience increased morale and job satisfaction, and as Mike McCloy, senior account manager at Maximillion, the corporate event management business, says: “Openness to diversity and inclusion allows you to access, capture and retain the best talent in the job market. It moreover helps staff to feel comfortable and willing to engage, meaning you can empower your business and staff simultaneously.” The need to commit to DEI extends to a company’s corporate hospitality efforts, allowing all potential attendees to feel welcome and catered for. There are a plethora of ways to ensure inclusion at a business event, and having knowledge of your audience is crucial to the planning phase. A detailed registration form or a pre-event survey can help make sure you are able to consider attendees’ cultures and faiths, provide support for people with disabilities, and establish if translation services are required. With thorough © stock.adobe.com/TellingPhoto © stock.adobe.com/wavebreak3 It is crucial that events embrace inclusivity for success. 40 Á 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 06/02/2023 14:16 Page 2Next >