Business News

A ‘super network’ of global connectors has been created by Victoria Beale, Founder and CEO of Business Live UK, now renamed Business Live Global. The group includes networkers, influencers and the super-connected across businesses both here in the UK and overseas. “The aim of the group,” says Victoria. “Is to really help businesses grow by exposing them to this ‘super network’ and their contacts and connections.

To that end we’re holding our first event on the 19th February from 12noon to 2pm and already have over 130 people registered to attend including our guest of honour, Jojar Dhinsa, a self-made, UK-based billionaire. That event has already attracted global sponsors including Tweebaa, Elite Live Group and Kylie Anderson.”

The ‘super network’ includes the seriously well connected:

• Sheila Smith of Your Business Expo
• Matt Youdale of Arch Communications
• Simon Cox of Poppy Design Studio and North Northants Business Network
• Lance Haggith of Sports Traider
• Rachel Hargrave of RDZ PR and The Awards People
• Philip Brooks-Stephenson and Stephen Goddard of KuKu Connect
• Samantha Poole of Mum 2 Mm
• David Johnson-Rayner of Koi Sports
• Tim Lee of Collaborate MK
• Kylie Anderson a Speaker and Entrepreneur

“Together these business owners have over 100,000 global connections and this event, the first of many, is an amazing opportunity for attendees to make new connections in new areas.” The event has proved so popular that Victoria has already had to extend the number of places available. “I absolutely expect this event to be a sell-out so if you want a spot book on soon.

Attendance is absolutely free for the first event and we have the amazing Kylie
Anderson speaking on how to monetise your knowledge. Having done through her VIP Experience Day I can say, wholeheartedly, that this is not a talk you want to miss!”
Plans for the ‘super network’ include the imminent launch of a brand new e-commerce shop providing products and services exclusively for business owners.

Azets, the UK's largest regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs, is pleased to announce that its Corporate Finance team has advised the leadership team of specialist bi-fold door manufacturer, Slide and Fold, on its sale to acquisitive privately-owned business Orchestra Group.

Slide and Fold Limited, together with sister company Weathershield Limited, is a long-established Great British business specialising in the manufacture and supply of bi-fold doors and high-quality double-glazed windows. The family-owned business, led by husband-and-wife Darron and Eve Cooke, is based in Coventry. Under Mr and Mrs Cooke’s ownership, Slide and Fold has achieved substantial growth and become a leader in its industry. As a tech-enabled business, Slide and Fold has a significant online sales focus, which was a key enabler for attracting interested parties.

Azets was appointed by Mr and Mrs Cooke after Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance at Azets, had provided initial advice on a sale strategy and timeline, building trust with the client whilst demonstrating Azets’ specialist expertise. Also advising from Azets was Corporate Finance Senior Manager, Simon Hopkin. Azets identified Orchestra Group as a potential buyer in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis was taking hold in the UK. All negotiations and project management through to completion was conducted during the pandemic, adding significant challenges to the multi-million-pound deal.

Commenting on the sale, Darron and Eve Cooke, said: “As a long-held family-owned business, it was important we were able to identify the right time to sell and the right buyers. We are thankful to Mark and the team at Azets for helping us achieve this. We appointed Azets to advise on the sale of Slide and Fold following a number of discussions with Mark, during which his openness, honesty and transparency filled us with confidence. We are pleased the deal is now complete and, despite the additional complication of a global pandemic, Azets maintained a personal and professional approach throughout.”

Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance at Azets said: “’We are delighted to have assisted Darron and Eve with the sale of their business. Conducting this transaction under lockdown restrictions presented some highly unusual logistical challenges. However, the desire of all parties to get a deal done meant that we were able to navigate these successfully and achieve a great outcome for our client.”

Director at Orchestra Group, Steve Rhodes, added: “It was a pleasure to deal with Mark and Simon throughout the acquisition process. We found them to be extremely responsive and they were helpful in finding solutions to the inevitable hiccups that occur in the deal process. They were always looking to get the right deal for their client and were dedicated to making sure the deal got completed as quickly and smoothly as possible.

“We have worked with multiple vendor advisors’ and we found Azets to be amongst the most professional and easy to work with of any that we have encountered. If I am selling a business in the future, I would not hesitate to approach Azets as advisors.” Also advising Slide and Fold was legal and professional services business Knights plc.

Jon Start, Partner in Knights’ Corporate team, said: “This transaction marks the successful completion of another high-quality deal for our team during a disrupted year for many. It was a pleasure to support the sellers on this project alongside Azets, their accountants and corporate finance advisers, and we wish Darron and Eve all the best for the future.”

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have announced that their luxury Jaguar brand will be entirely electric by 2025, with the carmaker set to launch e-models of its entire line-up by 2030. As it joined a global race to develop zero-emission vehicles, JLR, owned by India's Tata Motors, said its Land Rover brand will launch six pure electric models over the next five years, with the first one coming in 2024.

As it faces the challenge making the transition to electric vehicles - as many other carmakers are – as it seeks to retaining the  ideals of a luxury combustion engine model, JLR said it will keep all three of its British plants open as it electrifies its range. Chief Executive Thierry Bollore said: "It's time to re-imagine the next chapter for both brands."

Known for its iconic, high-performance E-Type model in the 1960s and 1970s, JLR said its electric plans for Jaguar would be centred at its Solihull plant, but dropped plans to build the XJ, the brand's flagship full-size car, at its Castle Bromwich facility in the West Midlands,  England. Bollore said the Castle Bromwich plant would focus instead on "non-production" activities in the long term. He provided few details.

JLR said it will spend around £2.5 billion ($3.5 billion) on electrification technologies annually and the development of connected vehicle services. Luxury car brand Bentley Motors, owned by Volkswagen, said its model range will be fully electric by 2030, and last month General Motors Co said it aimed to have a zero-emission line-up by 2035.

An innovative new prison has scooped three awards on behalf of the East Midlands at the national Constructing Excellence awards. HMP Five Wells – built by Kier Construction for the Ministry of Justice – was designed and built using modern methods of construction (MMC), and picked up wins in the Digital Construction, Offsite Project of the Year and Client of the Year categories.

The trio of awards for the Wellingborough project recognised the innovative approach in using both MMC and building information modelling, as well as the integration and collaborative working between the design and build team and the client. Meanwhile, the South West region also saw success with Shire Hall winning in the Integration and Collaborative Work category, celebrating the cohesive approach taken by Kier, Gloucestershire County Council, Quattro Design Architects and Adams Fletcher & Partners.

Taking place over 165 weeks and 82 phases, the transformation of the part-listed building from a tired and inefficient eyesore to an elegant and highly sustainable workplace earned the team the award, recognising its well-considered and well-executed solutions throughout a complex project. The region also received two further ‘Highly Commended’ recognitions, with Seaton Beach credited in the Sustainability category for the UK’s first Passivhaus Plus certified apartment block, and Callum Yeowell of Gilbert & Goode named as runner up in the G4C Young Leader award. Keystone Group, on behalf of Construction Excellence Midlands, was also ‘Commended’ in the Innovation category.

Andrew Carpenter, chief executive at Constructing Excellence Midlands and South West, said: “While we are delighted that the HMP Five Wells project has picked up three awards, we aren’t surprised. From start to finish, the project has been a shining example of how to integrate a modern approach with real collaboration, and it’s great to see our members’ contribution to this have been recognised with these three awards.

“The Shire Hall project shows just what can be achieved with a forward-thinking, cooperative approach, and we’re thrilled to see those efforts being rewarded. This year’s awards have been brilliant for the region and have shown how much amazing work is being done by our members, despite the challenges faced in 2020.”

In response to the ongoing challenges faced by communities across the UK, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has today announced £2.75m of funding for local and national charities in 2021. The insurer will be donating £2m to local charities through its Agency Giving Fund and pledging £1m to the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust to support national organisations.

As the challenges of the pandemic continue, the funding looks to offer ongoing support to charities and the communities they serve. The £2m Agency Giving Fund will help local charities and communities across the UK to stay strong and resilient. To ensure these donations reach all corners of the UK and are directed where they’re needed most, NFU Mutual’s Agents, with over 300 offices nationwide, will be given the opportunity to nominate local charities to receive a share of the fund. The funds will be distributed over 16 weeks from the end of February, offering support as lockdown measures continue to impact our communities.

Additional funding of £750,000 to the Charitable Trust will enable donations of up to £1m to support more national organisations, reaching the isolated and vulnerable, those experiencing mental health issues, and families facing financial challenges, some of those due to coronavirus. These latest donation announcements follow NFU Mutual’s circa £1.8m of charitable funding in 2020, allocated across the UK in response to the pandemic.

Alongside this funding, NFU Mutual will also be supporting ‘mental health in farming’ training sessions for NFU Mutual Agents and farmers. These will be run by the Farm Safety Foundation, a charity founded and funded by NFU Mutual.

The one-hour sessions will offer attendees insight into the impact of poor mental health in the agricultural industry. Farmers work long hours and often in isolation. These sessions will encourage those living and working in the industry to look out for each other, recognise the signs that someone may be struggling and gain the confidence to start conversations or signpost available support.

Commenting on the community support measures announced by NFU Mutual for 2021, Lindsay Sinclair, Group Chief Executive of NFU Mutual, said: “Sadly, the increased demand for support services as a result of the pandemic remains, as do the fundraising challenges caused by cancelled events. Recent NFU Mutual research told us that 82% of our members gave to charity in 2020, with over a third saying they increased their charitable giving last year.¹ Like our members, we recognise that these are difficult times and understand the importance of extending our heightened support during the ongoing crisis.

“NFU Mutual has been supporting communities for over a hundred years. Our Agents are part of those communities and the Agency Giving Fund allows them to use that local knowledge to direct support where it’s needed most. Last year saw the highest value of support provided by the Charitable Trust since it was formed in 1998. We’re proud to match the same level of funding this year as national charities strive to meet the demand for their vital services.

“British farmers and growers have also played a vital role during the pandemic, working long hours to look after their land and livestock to feed the nation. In recent years, the Farm Safety Foundation has offered education and support to protect the mental wellbeing of farmers. The new awareness sessions will extend that support at this difficult time.”

Southside District BID has named its new Chair as Southside business owner and Pride Festival director, Lawrence Barton, who will oversee the BID’s third term, which was secured following a record voter turnout and a 94% approval rate.

With multiple businesses residing in the district, including the iconic Nightingale club, Lawrence has been an integral part of Southside BID, working with the wider team as a board director for the last decade. Lawrence will take over the role from James Wong, who has held the role of Chair since 2018. James will continue to support Southside BID as a board director.

Established in 2011, Southside BID works tirelessly to support businesses across Birmingham’s most vibrant and unique district, making it a safer, cleaner and more welcoming destination. As Chair of the BID, this will continue to be a core focus for Lawrence throughout the next term.

Lawrence said: “I’m incredibly proud to step up to the role of Chair for Southside BID, the next few months are certainly going to be challenging as the district starts to reopen, following nearly a year of closure. My key focus is to continue in the BID’s lobbying efforts, shining a light on our businesses which have been devastated by the pandemic and ensuring that we are delivering the vital support they need to recover.

“Southside District is such a unique and dynamic part of the city and we want there to be a connected vision for everyone who calls the area home, creating an inclusive and accessible area for everyone to enjoy. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders from across the city to secure Southside’s place as a destination that is welcoming to all.

“I would like to give my sincere thanks to James Wong for his total dedication to Southside District BID. He has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support businesses in the area and drive our successful reballot, whilst also doing so much for local communities and the NHS through his own business. They are big shoes to fill, and I’m delighted that he will continue to serve as a board member, to ensure we can continue to build on the successes to date.”

Southside District Manager, Julia Robinson, says: “Lawrence has played such an important role in the BID over the last decade, he was the natural choice to become our Chair. We have exciting plans for the area that we will implement over our third term, with the Hippodrome Square redevelopment set to start soon, plus the arrival of the Commonwealth Games next year, which will really help to drive awareness around this vibrant part of the city. We feel that Lawrence is perfectly placed to help us accomplish all of our ambitions and more.

“The BID would also like to thank James for all of his incredible work as our Chair, his lobbying efforts and dedication to the district led to us securing our third term with a record approval rating and voter turnout, securing 20% more votes than our previous ballot, which is an incredible achievement. So thank you James!”

The English Core Cities have joined forces to come together in a UK industry first, to support the conference and events industry as it continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, with the launch of Hybrid Events Solution UK (HESUK); a free-of-charge initiative open to all business audiences across the country, that will provide a solution for delivering national hybrid events in Covid-secure venues.

The conference industry has been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with questions still hanging over us as to when the industry will start to meet face-to-face or in a live environment. In a solution to rebuild confidence within the industry and in light of the national lockdown, the Core Cities and their convention bureau teams are working together in a collaborative effort to help facilitate national business events to take place again, whilst taking Government guidelines into account.

Including the convention bureaus for Birmingham and West Midlands, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, NewcastleGateshead, Nottingham and Sheffield, the Core Cities have created HESUK as an initiative to provide a single point of contact for event organisers who are looking to organise or restructure national and regional conferences.

HESUK will allow delegates to attend the same national event at different Covid-secure venues within those regional hubs, enabling delegates to network and meet those within their field, whilst remaining in adherence to Government guidelines at the time of the event. Through live-streaming technology, each hub can be linked together, so speakers and contributors can be in different cities whilst still attending the same event and any delegates who can’t attend in-person will still be able to experience the event in a virtual way.

Stephanie Mynett, Visitor Economy Business Development Manager at the West Midlands Growth Company – which operates the region’s Convention Bureau – said: “In response to the ever-changing business tourism landscape, we’re continuously looking for innovative ways to support our local partners and wider industry with virtual or hybrid event solutions.  

“We’re pleased to be partnering with Hybrid Events Solutions UK, to offer a free-of-charge advisory service on how to navigate this sector during a period where travel confidence will be low or travel corridors may be closed. 

“The West Midlands has lots to look forward to, with exciting global sporting and cultural events such as the Coventry UK City of Culture this year and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games showcasing the very best of the region to the world. If you are planning an event in the region, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our team at meetbirmingham.com.” 

In ICCA’s Market Intelligence on Covid-19 Affected Meetings Report (Nov 2020) evidence suggests that in a post-pandemic world, the meetings and events industry will look very different to the one that we have all been so accustomed to, where both offline and online meetings will thrive together as the industry discovers new ways to connect.

The report also highlights the important role that hybrid event solutions will play in the future, with 84% of association planners intending to include hybrid and digital elements to their events moving forward.

Recognising this fundamental shift to the way organisers will be approaching event delivery, and in what is believed to be a UK industry first, the eight convention bureaus teams will be working together operationally. HESUK brings a fresh, out-of-the-box concept created to help the industry overcome the hurdles that lie ahead. Through one contact, the organiser will be able to work with Covid-secure venues across the network of Core Cities, as well as destinations outside of the Core Cities group.

On the initiative, Heather Lishman, Association Director of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) said: “The Hybrid Events Solution UK is a glowing example of how the conference and events industry is innovating and working together to support each other through this damaging period. It’s wonderful to see this level of collaboration from the English Core Cities. 

“Live conferences and events have ceased as we continue the fight against COVID-19. Going into 2021 there is a strong desire to get live events back, to have people meeting face to face, networking, sharing and learning together. Creating a hybrid event is a solution to enable this, as the world navigates its way through the pandemic with rapid testing and vaccines on the horizon. The biggest challenge is confidence; organising a series of live event hubs across several destinations is a big logistical challenge, therefore we welcome this solution which seeks to make the process easier for organisers, which should get people meeting as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Simon Hughes, Chairman of Business Visits Events Partnership (BVEP) said: “The Hybrid Events Solution UK is a fantastic concept, and it is inspiring to see these cities working together to help instil consumer confidence and get the conference and events industry up and running again.”

Any organiser interested in using the service simply has to contact any one of the Core City convention bureau teams: Birmingham and West Midlands, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, NewcastleGateshead, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The founder and former trustees of the collapsed charity Kids Company have won a High Court battle against being disqualified from other organisations. The Official Receiver argued they were "unfit" to hold directorships because of their handling of the charity. But the ruling cleared former chief executive Camila Batmanghelidjh and the others of personal wrongdoing.

The judge added the charity may have survived had it not been for unfounded allegations of criminal activity. A plan to restructure the organisation's finances had been agreed with David Cameron's government. But the charity closed its doors in 2015 after the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into sexual assault allegations, following the broadcast of a TV news report.

The police investigation concluded in 2016 after finding no evidence of criminality.

In her ruling, Mrs Justice Falk said the charity, which worked with hundreds of vulnerable children in London and Bristol, may have survived financially to continue its work had it not closed. During the lengthy court battle, the Official Receiver - a body that looks into potential wrongdoing by company directors - had alleged that the charity's former leaders should be disqualified as directors because the organisation had been so badly run.

In the run-up to its collapse, the charity was spending around £20m a year, up to a quarter of which came from the government. The Official Receiver alleged that Kids Company's business model had become unsustainable from around September 2013 and its failure was inevitable. It also alleged that the defendants knew or ought to have known that and should have planned to avoid financial collapse.

The charity's chair at the time of its collapse, who was also cleared by the ruling, was former BBC executive Alan Yentob. Mrs Justice Falk said the case was not proven.

"There was no allegation of dishonesty, bad faith or personal gain," said the judge. "There was no allegation of inappropriate expenditure in relation to any of the children assisted by Kids Company.

"The allegation is not made out against any of the directors and they are not unfit. The case against them fails. While aspects of the charity's work were high-risk, the business model was not unsustainable."

Mrs Justice Falk said the charity had grown rapidly from its south London base as demand for its specialist support services for vulnerable children grew. Despite having a substantial and stable government grant, it also needed to raise additional funds from private donors - and by 2015 it was in talks with Whitehall over how to do that amid concerns about its cash flow and staff costs.

"That restructuring plan was agreed and a further government grant was awarded," said the judge. However the charity was forced to close after sexual assault allegations the same week. The charity was exonerated following a police investigation - but by that time it was too late.

Ms Batmanghelidjh said the ruling was "justice" for the "thousands of staff, volunteers and donors who created Kids Company over nearly 20 years". But she said Kids Company would not have had to "carry that burden of child protection if the child protection system in this country was fit for purpose".

A statement issued on behalf of former trustees said: "Kids Company was forced to close in August 2015 following what the judge records as 'unfounded allegations' of child abuse, which made fundraising from private and government sources impossible. We are pleased that finally the facts have been gathered and assessed in a court of law."

MPs have given the go-ahead to the next phases of Britain’s high-speed rail network, with the Bill approving the building of HS2 Phase 2a north from the West Midlands to Crewe achieving Royal Assent. Parliament’s approval for this new phase of HS2 plugs the line into one of the country’s principal rail hubs in Crewe. It also means the 58km (36 miles) route will be built earlier than originally planned, enabling towns and cities across North West England, North Wales and Scotland to benefit sooner, with the opening now planned to coincide with Phase One between London and the West Midlands.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: “This is a landmark moment in our infrastructure revolution. HS2 is the most significant expansion to our national railways in a generation – transforming connectivity between our towns and cities and vastly increasing the capacity of our rail network. By proceeding full steam ahead, we are delivering on our commitment to unite and level up the country. The construction of Phase 2a will support thousands of jobs and create opportunities for local businesses as we build back better.” The decision means HS2 is set to deliver another major economic boost to UK PLC, by supporting around 5,000 jobs to build Phase 2a, with many more in the supply chain. In addition, the railway will support 140 permanent jobs at its maintenance base near Stone in Staffordshire.

Welcoming the decision, HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Thurston, said: “Parliament’s approval for extending HS2 beyond the West Midlands to the North is a clear sign that MPs recognise the enormous potential of this scheme and continue to give their strong support.As the first major railway built in the North for over 100 years, HS2 will spur massive economic growth for our towns and cities, help to level up the country, and provide cleaner, greener public transport for millions.

As construction starts, this new phase of work will very quickly support 5,000 jobs in the North, with many more in the supply chain, further cementing HS2’s critical role in Britain’s economic recovery from the pandemic.” Once operational, high-speed services operating between London, Birmingham and Crewe will use the newly-constructed high speed line – delivering extra capacity, improved reliability and reducing journey times. These services will then join the existing network to create direct services to places including Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. Crewe is also the station for connections to North Wales and Shrewsbury.

Dr Kieran Mullan, MP for Crewe & Nantwich, said: “Extending the HS2 line to Crewe is a major step towards levelling-up the north. It is crucial to bringing new jobs and opportunities to our town and for creating better local rail connections as we free up the currently overly congested line West Coast Main Line. This reaffirms Crewe’s status at the heart of the rail network and just as we were a crucial part of the previous rail revolution, HS2 will cement our place as a vital part of the next.” Passenger services will start between HS2’s stations at London Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street between 2029-33. Phase 2a’s opening will be aligned with the London – Birmingham route.

Sara Williams, CEO of Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “HS2 brings potential benefits for Staffordshire businesses, both now and in the future. Extending the high speed line northwards will generate thousands of contract opportunities for local businesses of all sizes and their involvement will provide a vital boost for the Staffordshire economy in the years ahead.”

The first phase of HS2 between London and the West Midlands is already well underway, with the start of construction announced by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in September 2020. There are 240 sites now active along the Phase One route, employing over 13,000 people and over 400 apprenticeships, with tens of thousands more jobs supported through the supply chain. Almost 2,000 companies have worked on the project to date, with 98% of them based in Britain.

After 130 years on kitchen tables, Aunt Jemima products will have a new name: Pearl Milling Company. The announcement from PepsiCo-brand comes almost eight months after the company said it would remove the Aunt Jemima name, acknowledging it was "based on a racial stereotype".

The new name is a nod to the original mill that began producing the self-rising pancake mix in 1889. The rebranded products will be available starting in June 2021. The new Pearl Milling brand was "developed with inclusivity in mind", PepsiCo said. In images released by the company, the new products bear the familiar red and yellow colour scheme of the existing products.

They include a printed label that says, "New Name Same Great Taste, Aunt Jemima". The original image used on Aunt Jemima products - a smiling Black woman with a bandana in her hair - had been widely criticised for romanticising the antebellum South, a time before the US Civil War.

The first Aunt Jemima character was based on Nancy Green, a storyteller, cook and missionary born into slavery in Kentucky in 1834. The name itself was taken from a character from minstrel shows in the 1800s that mocked African-Americans.

Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo Inc, bought the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and updated the image over time - replacing the kerchief on the character's head with a plaid headband and later adding pearl earrings and a lace collar. The changes were "intended to remove racial stereotypes", the company said in a press release.

This summer, as racial justice protests swept across the US following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in police custody, the brand was faced with renewed criticism. In June 2020, it became one of the first major brands to announce it would change its name to avoid racial stereotypes.

The company also pledged a $5m (£3.6m) "commitment to support the Black community". It announced an additional $1m (£720,000) investment aimed at Black girls and women.

Mars Food recently announced it would rename Uncle Ben's rice products to Ben's Original and remove the image of a smiling, grey-haired Black man from its packaging. Uncle, like aunt, was used in southern US states to refer to Black people, instead of the more formal "Miss" or "Mister".

Rackspace Technology (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading end-to-end multicloud technology solutions company, today announced the successful collaboration with Microcomputer Consulting Group (MCG), a leading IT outsourcing provider, to provide a more secure, seamless remote work situation amid the pandemic. The collaboration – which centred around migrating customers to Microsoft 365 – has helped increase MCG’s secure email hosting and access to collaboration tools that are now essential to remote work success.

MCG’s 100 clients with nearly 2,000 email accounts experienced an onslaught of phishing and ransomware attacks, any of which could have been devastating to their businesses, if successful. Rackspace Technology had previously helped the New York-based company restore email service during Superstorm Sandy, so the two teams quickly worked together again on a strategy to transition clients to Microsoft 365. Even while executing that plan in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rackspace Technology team was able to transition customers to a more secure service, in most cases over the course of a weekend.

“There was a significant value prop to partner with Rackspace Technology because they’ve expertly supported us in previous urgent and uncertain times. We could assure customers the whole project would be executed effectively and with limited to no downtime,” said Ken Goldberg, President of MCG. “The collaboration between our teams was stellar, the strategy was exactly what we needed, and the customer service was fantastic. It really was a pleasure working with the entire Rackspace Technology team.”

In order to transition so many customers in a short period of time, the Rackspace Technology team planned for a three-phased approach. Customers experiencing the most attacks were prioritized and transitioned first. But as phase two approached, the pandemic occurred, forcing businesses into a remote work culture, creating a higher urgency for change. While secure email would still be a key benefit of the transition, customers now desperately needed the remote work and collaboration services from Microsoft, including SharePoint, OneDrive and Microsoft Teams.

Rackspace Technology met that urgency with action, quickly working to transition the rest of MCG’s clients, all with little to no downtime for employees. The result is a more nimble company that not only is protected from the potentially costly email attacks, but has a Microsoft infrastructure that can be scaled to other products.

“We have a great history with MCG and we were excited to help their customers improve both their security and collaboration efforts, especially after the pandemic created such a chaotic work environment,” said Jeff DeVerter, Chief Technology Officer, Solutions at Rackspace Technology. “MCG customers are now set up for further success as the future of work evolves and new tools are needed.”

HS2 Ltd has earned the accolade of becoming the only organisation in the UK to have achieved the Clear Assured Platinum Standard accreditation. It received the award in recognition of its commitment to embedding inclusive best practice into all elements of its work, including the design and delivery of Britain’s new railway.

In less than 10 months, HS2 Ltd has enhanced its Clear Assured rating from Gold to Platinum. Through evidence-based assessment, it demonstrated that it had moved beyond ensuring its policies and procedures underpin the diversity and inclusion strategy, to demonstrating that its ideology is based on diverse talent being included in every aspect of operational performance. A key element of the Platinum Standard accreditation is an organisation’s ability to exert influence and make change happen externally. HS2 Ltd was credited for reflecting the wider communities it works with, and assessors praised it for being consistent and for helping to make a difference.

HS2 Minister, Andrew Stephenson said: “It’s absolutely vital that we strive continuously to increase diversity and support inclusion across government, public sector projects and beyond. HS2 Ltd has made a commitment to put inclusivity at the heart of their work and it’s encouraging to see their continued efforts receive recognition as the only organisation in the UK with this accreditation.”

Kate Headley, Director of awarding body the Clear Company said: “In an unprecedented achievement, HS2 Ltd has undoubtedly shown its ability to deliver constructive, authentic change. They have transformed inclusion with innovation, determination and excellence and are delivering a sustainable legacy of belonging for employees, the engineering sector and future rail users. Our assessment team were left with an overwhelming impression of an organisation that has the desire and direction to do so much more.”

HS2 Ltd’s approach in considering the needs of the end users of Britain’s new railway was also a key factor in the assessment. It demonstrated that it had stretched the boundaries of thinking in its design of Birmingham’s flagship Curzon Street Station, which received accolade from the assessors. It concluded that HS2 Ltd went above and beyond mandatory regulatory obligations in setting new standards, using focus groups, workshops, panels, and soundboards to understand what inclusive design means for those with protected characteristics.

Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd said: “This accreditation reflects the investment and commitment we’ve made to our company values at HS2 and the culture we are creating. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of that culture and all …

… towns and cities of our country, so it’s imperative that the diversity of the communities it will serve is reflected in our approach to the development, design, construction and operation of the railway.”

In a further sign of its commitment to the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda, HS2 Ltd has retained its Disability Confident Leader status for another three years. It is striving to address the gender imbalance inherent across the construction and rail engineering sectors and is actively aiming to recruit more disabled workers into roles right across the project. In its latest performance data, HS2 Ltd exceeded industry benchmarks set for the percentage of Black and Ethnically Diverse, disabled and female employees that make up its workforce.

City of Wolverhampton Council and West Midlands Railway have secured grant funding for the construction of a new cycle hub offering more than 100 spaces for cycles at Wolverhampton Interchange.

The £525,000 hub will provide 92 undercover and 18 uncovered spaces - and will also feature controlled access, LED lighting and CCTV security. It will be located next to the railway station multi-storey car park, near the pedestrian footbridge to the city centre – and forms part of the city’s award-winning £150million Interchange development delivering improvements to bus, tram, train and cycle connectivity.

Funding for the hub consists of a £472,500-award from UK walking and cycling charity Sustrans, as part of the Department for Transport’s programme, Cycle Rail, with the remaining amount mostly coming from the Government’s £1million Towns Fund Accelerator Grant for the city. Final design work on the hub will now begin and pre-fabrication will be carried out off-site before on-site works start in June and are completed by autumn.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “The Interchange is a jewel in the crown of our city and part of the multi-billion-pound regeneration that is taking place across our city. The new cycle hub gives people more options and encourages this healthy, clean and green form of transport.

“As a city we’re committed to improving our infrastructure for more sustainable transport and this scheme complements our ongoing work to improve and grow our cycling network. The completed Interchange will connect train, tram and bus in one place and will ultimately provide a gateway to our city that we can all enjoy using - and be proud of.” The addition of the cycle hub to encourage cycling will also help Wolverhampton lower carbon emissions by enabling people to engage in active travel.  

Brenda Lawrence, Head of Stations for West Midlands Railway, added: “These superb new cycle facilities will play a key role in the Interchange development which is transforming how passengers travel to and from Wolverhampton.

“We are fully committed to encouraging sustainable modes of transport wherever possible and we’re making a significant investment in cycling facilities across the railway network to support this aim. With increased numbers expected to start using the railway again later this year this scheme comes at just the right time as we look forward to welcoming customers back on board.”

More than £6million in small business grants has already been paid to over 900 eligible City of Wolverhampton businesses within a month of the latest round of Government funding going live. This relates to financial support for businesses forced to close due to the current national lockdown and includes the mandatory Local Restriction Support Grant (Closed) and one-off business support payment.

Hundreds of applications continue to be dealt with and details on any of the grants, eligibility criteria and how to apply can still be found. Businesses are being urged to remain patient and not duplicate applications, as this may result in a business’ original application being delayed, investigated or rejected.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “This latest funding relates to businesses forced to close in the current lockdown. We also continue to work hard to process applications from hundreds of businesses impacted in all sorts of ways by national Covid-19 restrictions since November.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we are doing everything we can to make it as quick and easy as possible for them to access the grants available, this includes redeploying staff with appropriate financial systems knowledge from other parts of the council. I am urging Wolverhampton businesses to head to the business grants web page and find out what funding is available to them.

“Over the course of the pandemic we have ensured thousands of eligible businesses have had quick access to vital funding to help them through this most difficult time. We are ensuring the latest grants are allocated swiftly and that no business is left behind as our city looks to recover from the financial impact of Covid-19.”

City of Wolverhampton businesses not eligible for the Government’s Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) under the current lockdown can apply for the Council’s discretionary schemes. They include an additional one-off payment and the latest Additional Restrictions Grants and are available to businesses that are open but have been significantly affected due to the current lockdown restrictions.

The discretionary scheme is also available to closed businesses not eligible for the national Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed). All grant application forms submitted by businesses are subject to thorough eligibility checks.

Further communication with businesses may be necessary if any of the required information is missing.

New analysis published by the TUC reveals the economic hit to the West Midlands from government plans to cut pay rises for key workers in the public sector. A total of £1.3 billion will be cut from key worker pay settlements in England this year, following announcements made by the chancellor in November 2020.

The analysis calculates the hit to the economy from the difference in economic activity expected if pay settlements go ahead in full, compared with if the chancellor implements the cuts. To allow comparisons between different regions and constituencies, the TUC calculated and ranked the effective loss of spending power per head compared to the previous year.

For the year April 2021 to March 2022:

·         The hit for England is -£1.7 billion

·         The hit for the West Midlands is -£166 million

·         The average hit per West Midlands constituency is -£2.8 million

·         Of the top 30 worst hit parliamentary seats in England, seven are in the West Midlands: Birmingham Ladywood, Stoke-on-Trent Central, Birmingham Edgbaston, Wolverhampton North East, Dudley North.

Data for the specific hit to each West Midlands constituency can be found through the link in the notes below. Millions of key workers who kept the country going through the pandemic will lose the pay rises they were expecting.

The TUC is encouraging the chancellor to reconsider, and to commit to policies that will improve pay and conditions for all key workers.

These should include:

·         Fair pay rises for key workers in the public sector – with a plan to restore wages to their levels before austerity

·         Guarantee that all outsourced public sector workers get a pay rise so that they earn at least the real Living Wage

·         Action to ensure that every key worker in every sector gets a pay rise, including raising the national minimum wage to at least £10 per hour

·         Ban zero-hour contracts – and use the long-awaited employment bill to strengthen rights to fair working conditions for key workers

The TUC argues that cutting key worker pay weakens wage growth for other workers too – especially those in jobs that directly depend on consumer spending.

If public sector key workers are forced to tighten their belts, the reduced spending hits businesses too. And that impacts on other workers’ pay.

The TUC says that the chancellor must not repeat the mistakes of the 2010s. Millions of public sector workers saw their pay capped by George Osborne. They lost thousands of pounds – and the knock-on impact was wages falling across the economy and the worst slump in living standards in more than 200 years.

This is particularly important for parts of the country that the government has promised to level up, as the analysis shows that restricting pay rises for key workers will increase existing inequalities.

TUC Regional Secretary Lee Barron said: “Key workers have kept the West Midlands going through the pandemic. The Prime Minister clapped them, but his applause will ring hollow if he cuts their pay. It’s no way to thank them.

“We’re all part of the same pay circle. When a key worker spends their wages, it goes into other people’s pay packets. Shop staff, factory workers, delivery drivers, childminders, bar staff – right across the economy, we are all connected.

“If our key workers get the pay rises they’ve earned, it will benefit everyone. The spending boost will help our local businesses and high streets recover quickly. And it will help level up our unequal economy.”

Birmingham City Council has published its latest financial plan. This medium-term financial plan follows on from the publication of a new Delivery Plan in November 2020, which outlined the Council’s priorities, actions and key commitments to May 2022. The key areas of focus include:

·         Reforming the way the Council operates;

·         Shifting the focus from crisis to prevention;

·         Increasing the pace and scale of economic growth.

The Council’s Financial Plan 2021–2025 provides firm financial forecasts for income and expenditure driven by the Delivery Plan. The plan aims to balance a significant programme of investment, transformation and support for the most vulnerable against continued financial challenges due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Above inflation, additional investment in services totals £69.1m in 2021/22, including a further £22.5m for adult social care, £12.3m for children’s services and £6.9m for neighbourhood services the latest financial plan goes to Cabinet on February 9 before going to Full Council for final approval on February 23.

The council has already saved over £700m since 2010. A different approach to the budget has been adopted this year meaning that there are no new savings proposals requiring public consultation – with most savings in the budget having already been consulted on and approved in previous years. The only material new saving is for ‘establishment controls’, for which there are no redundancies anticipated as the outcomes are likely to be deleted vacancies and reduced agency costs. This is budgeted to save £20.1m per year.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The plan has been produced against a backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic impact that the last year has had across our city. Families have lost loved ones, businesses have struggled and jobs have been lost. Many people have struggled financially, mentally and in lots of other ways.

“The pandemic has highlighted long-standing issues and inequalities that must be tackled to ensure that every neighbourhood and every community across Birmingham benefits from the recovery to come. But Birmingham is, and always has been, a resilient city.  The strengths and assets that made this an attractive place to live, work and invest before COVID-19 have not gone away – in fact they are now more important than ever. We will make these ongoing strengths work for the people of Birmingham, building more homes, creating more jobs and ensuring that the benefits are felt in every street, neighbourhood and community.

Exciting times lie ahead once we overcome the pandemic. HS2 is still happening, bringing jobs and opportunities; some of the UK’s biggest companies, such as PwC and HSBC, are proud to call the city home; we have fantastic universities that are producing a strong pipeline of talent; and next year we play host to the 2022 Commonwealth Games – a huge event that will really put Birmingham on the global stage. But though there are many reasons for optimism, this is also a city of challenges; a city where over a decade of cuts in funding from Government has left its mark on our public services.

“Our new Financial Plan will play a significant part in helping improve things for the people of Birmingham.”