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Science in Sport (SiS) Reveals a Three-Year Strategic Partnership With Manchester Metropolitan University

Olivia McHugh

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06/03/2023

Science in Sport (SiS) Reveals a Three-Year Strategic Partnership With Manchester Metropolitan University

Leading global endurance nutrition brand Science in Sport (SiS) has announced a three year partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University

Major global endurance brand Science in Sport (SiS) has announced a three-year strategic partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.

The partnership will bring together state-of-the-art facilities and best-in-class research techniques with a global brand at the heart of elite sport to develop new knowledge that will ultimately provide novel performance solutions to athletes.

Science in Sport is the official sports nutrition partner to more than 320 elite athletes and professional sports teams including The INEOS Grenadiers, Tottenham Hotspur and The Milwaukee Bucks.

Manchester Metropolitan University’s existing partnerships include Manchester City Football Club, Manchester City Women’s Football Club, City in the Community, Manchester United Foundation and the Manchester Giants basketball team. The university’s academics feed cutting-edge knowledge into sport via their research as well as their direct work with Olympic and Paralympic medal-winning athletes

SiS’s partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University underscores its ongoing commitment to place world-class science at the centre of its global business, working with leading practitioners and scientists to develop evidence-based solutions and to demonstrate the efficacy of all the products it brings to market.

The partnership’s research programme involves embedding a PhD student, who will work alongside and be supervised by the university’s Dr Mark Hearris, lecturer in exercise metabolism and nutrition, and Dr Fiona Simpson, a specialist physicist in magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Manchester Metropolitan University, set in a city with sport in its DNA, is a perfect match for SiS to continue its investment in supporting scientific research into sports nutrition and performance, hydration and recovery.

Sam Driver, Commercial Director of Performance Solutions at SiS, said: “We work with the world’s best sports teams and athletes, learning what they need to succeed before conducting world-class science and research to create and craft the products required for them to perform at their peak, across all endurance sports. I’m delighted we have signed a multi-year agreement with Manchester Met to demonstrate our commitment in this regard.”

Dr Mark Hearris, Lecturer in Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “We are truly excited to be partnering with SiS to support their commitment to deliver world-class research through their innovative research programme. With the increasing demand placed on athletes and their relentless competitive schedule, this partnership will focus on optimising athlete recovery to allow them to perform day after day.”

And Professor James Morton, Director of Performance Solutions at SiS, said: “SiS are proud to continue our longstanding commitment to science and innovation through a new strategic partnership with Dr Mark Hearris and Dr Fiona Simpson at Manchester Metropolitan University. It will allow us to continue our collaborations with global research centres of excellence in our pursuit of developing evidence based performance solutions to athletes. With a strategic focus on recovery, we believe this partnership will lead to exciting innovations that will allow athletes to optimise their recovery and truly achieve their full performance potential”.

To learn more about Science in Sport Plc, visit www.sisplc.com, and to shop their extensive range, visit www.scienceinsport.com.

Travel Counsellors’ Reports Soaring Sales for Second Consecutive Month With Growing Trend for Tailor-Made Travel

Olivia McHugh

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06/03/2023

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Travel Counsellors’ Reports Soaring Sales for Second Consecutive Month With Growing Trend for Tailor-Made Travel

Following on from a record-breaking January – the UK’s largest and fast-growing technology platform for travel entrepreneurs, Travel Counsellors – has revealed it has smashed records for February, recording its best ever February, reaching £86.3m in global sales and £67.9m in UK sales, both up by 22 per cent from February 2022 figures. This takes overall sales figures for the year to date (from November 2022, start of Travel Counsellors financial year) to £323.6m.

In January and February alone, global holiday sales reached over £200m, with passenger numbers up by 43 per cent this year to date, compared with last year and 21 per cent higher than in 2019. Its UK Leisure (£50.6m) and Corporate (£17.3m) businesses are performing 72 per cent and 56 per cent better than pre-pandemic levels respectively, showing Brits are not given up on their 2023 travels and are attracted to the personal service and reassurance of booking with a trusted travel advisor.

More so, the company is reporting the continued growth in bookings via its own in-house platform Phenix, with sales up by more than 40% this year compared to pre-pandemic levels, enabling Travel Counsellor business owners to tailor-make and package itineraries for their customers, ultimately delivering an enhanced customer experience whilst having more control of the booking. Travel Counsellors in the leisure sector are attracting new customers 30 per cent faster than in 2022 and 2019 levels, with 122 TCs celebrating their biggest ever month in terms of sales for February. When booking a holiday customers are also enquiring about trips with a higher booking value, up by 13 per cent on 2022 figures for the year to date.

CEO, Steve Byrne, comments: “We are thrilled to see the continued demand from customers and clients for travel after such a busy January, and notably the growth in our own packages in Phenix as customers look for truly personalised and tailor-made experiences, with 75% of our sales in the premium leisure market. This reflects that customers are really valuing the added reassurance that their Travel Counsellor is there for them, has complete control of the booking and that they are fully financially protected.

“Our continued growth is testament to the amazing dedication and hard work of our Travel Counsellors and colleague community who are passionate about what they do. We will continue to focus on enhancing and building on the platform of support, technology, and tools to enable our business owners to operate their businesses and lifestyles in a way that suits them, whilst providing the most personal service to their customers, and enabling them to celebrate even more success in 2023.”

Whilst summer remains the main departure period, Travel Counsellors has reported a shift towards Winter 23/24 which is performing +90% ahead of the same point in 2019, representing consuming confidence in booking further ahead. Southeast Asia is also proving a popular destination for customers, with bucket list and multi-generational family group trips still a high priority.

Last year Travel Counsellors recorded a record-breaking year taking in over £800m in sales and welcoming over 150 new franchisees globally with the company trading 65% up on pre-pandemic levels in Q1 of its new financial year (1st November 2022 – 31st January 2023). This year the company will be investing £10m into its bespoke technology, attracting more talented professionals to build their own businesses using the company’s personal, digital platform and refreshing its brand.

For further information about Travel Counsellors, please visit: www.travelcounsellors.com

North West Office Occupiers Not Ready for April Energy Standards Deadline, Says Survey

Olivia McHugh

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06/03/2023

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North West Office Occupiers Not Ready for April Energy Standards Deadline, Says Survey

Only a third of office occupiers in the North West know how energy efficient their office buildings are despite Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) coming into effect from 1st April 2023 – says a new report by Irwin Mitchell.

The MEES legislation means that from 1 April 2023, property owners must not continue to let properties that have an EPC rating of F or G (unless they have an exemption) and all let properties will need to have a minimum EPC rating of E.

Despite the rules only being months away, Irwin Mitchell’s study – ’Redefining the Office – A report on office occupier trends’ – reveals that only 32% of the 500 UK office property decision makers questioned, said they know the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of their main office building. A similar percentage (31%) said they know what EPC rating their office needs to be in April.

In the North West, 33% said they knew the EPC rating of their main office building and only 24% said that they know what it needs to be.

Concerningly, just under a quarter (22%) of the property decision makers surveyed in the North West said they do not know their office’s EPC rating at all. Additionally, 9% of respondents in the North West said they do not understand EPC ratings.

According to Tim Rayner, Joint Head of Real Estate Disputes at Irwin Mitchell: “These figures should raise eyebrows, particularly given the changes come into force in April and with further new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation down the line. For example, for all new tenancies beginning in 2025, the government is keen to change the minimum rating to a C.

“Office occupiers really need to keep an eye on the situation. Whilst the cost of upgrades is in theory an issue only for landlords, some landlords may prefer not to incur that costs at all and instead try and end the lease. Those landlords who intend to carry out the upgrades may not only want access to the premises and cause potentially significant disruption but may try and pass on the cost of the upgrading either via the service charge or by seeking to include additional obligations in new leases, making tenants expressly liable for such costs. The MEES deadline is fast approaching and therefore it’s important that tenants are forearmed and ensure, for instance that their leases provide the controls they need”.

The survey also revealed that a large number of businesses are on the move with many looking for higher quality space than they had previously. 65% of respondents in the North West, compared to 76% nationally, said they have either moved in the last 12 months or are considering moving now with 43% saying they either took on more office space in the last 12 months or plan to in the future. A fifth (22%) said they had reduced or are planning to reduce their space.

The main driver for change among businesses in the North West appears to be having greater flexibility in how and where they work (30%), followed by reducing energy bills and improving energy efficiency (24%) and thirdly to reduce rental costs (20%).

This is borne out in terms of the three most desirable aspects of space businesses wish to move to, with the highest vote in the North West going to flexible office space such as WeWork or Regus (39%) and space in a hub where there are other similar industries (31%).

28% of businesses in the North West also said they wish or plan to move to higher quality / Grade A space.

As Sarah Swann, Real Estate Transactions Senior Associate in Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office added: “This demand is reflected in what we are seeing in the property markets today. As businesses adapt to new ways of working, try to entice workers back to the office and cope with higher energy costs they increasingly want higher grade space, better facilities and greater energy efficiencies in the buildings they occupy”.

Other key findings of the survey were:

76% of respondents in the North West said they’d be prepared to pay a higher rent for office space which reduces their organisation’s impact on the environment. This was lower than those respondents in Greater London (91%) and nationally (84%). However similar to elsewhere in the country, businesses in the North West wanted some reductions in their service charges to make up for paying higher rent.

46% of respondents in the North West (39% nationally) said the UK economic downturn was the biggest threat to their business in the next 12 months. This was followed by the threat of rising costs (43%) and inflation (41%). Interestingly 15% of respondents in the North West (and nationally) still saw the pandemic was still a threat.

Overall smaller companies across the UK are particularly worried by rising costs. Over half (56%) of respondents who work for a company with 10-49 employees said the biggest threat to their business in the next 12 months is rising costs, this is compared to a third (33%) of respondents who work for a company with 250-500 employees who said the same.

Only 7% of respondents in the North West said they had no particular worries in the next 12 months.

Northern Private Equity Activity Declines as Investor Caution Increases, but Optimism Emerges

Olivia McHugh

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06/03/2023

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Northern Private Equity Activity Declines as Investor Caution Increases, but Optimism Emerges

KPMG’s most recent study of UK transactions involving mid-market Private Equity investors presented a cooling in the Northern deals market in 2022.

Over the span of the year 149 deals were completed, worth £9.3bn, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 19.9 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively – according to new analysis from KPMG UK.

The picture for the overall UK Private Equity Mid-Market was similar, with the total value of deals down 12 percent to £46bn in 2022, and volumes down by 19 percent to 680.

However, despite the challenging conditions, the North of England retained its market share completing just over a fifth (22 per cent) of all transactions in the UK market. The North West remains the greatest driver for volume and value of deals in the North.

From a sector perspective across the UK, Business Services and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) took the top spots for M&A activity as they have done consistently for the last few years. Together they accounted for almost two thirds (63 percent) of all mid-market Private Equity deals in 2022.

Christian Mayo, Head of Corporate Finance in the North at KPMG, said: “The private equity mid-market saw a record year of activity in 2021 so it isn’t that surprising that deal volumes and values have cooled a little as the market normalises. Many across the Northern market saw buoyant activity at the start of last year but strong economic and geopolitical headwinds pumped the brakes a little on that momentum.

“Investors and business leaders have been monitoring closely how those conditions unfold and what the impact of high inflation, interest rates and the wider cost-of-living crisis might be. Such uncertainty breeds caution and inevitably put some mandates on ice.

Rick Stark, Head of Private Equity at KPMG in the North, said: “Considering all the factors at play in the economy, the decline in volumes and values we saw across the North wasn’t quite as dramatic as many expected. Furthermore, it is encouraging that the Northern market has retained a healthy share of activity that reflects the continued strength of the investment community here and the quality stable of ambitious, investable and attractive businesses that call the North home. With deal volumes and values comparing well in the North West and Yorkshire against pre-pandemic performance, there is a hint of optimism emerging that 2023 may be more stable and see some growth.”

Regional breakdown

North West

The North West accounted for just over a tenth (11.2 per cent) of the UK private equity mid-market making it the active market outside of London. The region saw 76 transactions in 2022, down nearly a quarter (23.2 per cent) from 99 in 2021. While the region also retained its position as the most valuable market outside of London combined deal values also fell from £5.4bn to 4.8bn. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, the North West’s mid-market activity volume and values were both up seven per cent.

Yorkshire & Humber

Yorkshire & Humber regained ground in the private equity mid-market increasing its market share of transactions to 8.4 per cent from 7.7 per cent over the past year. While the value of transactions in 2022 (£3.7bn) rose slightly against 2021 (£3.6bn) by two per cent, the volume of activity fell over the period from 65 to 57 (12.3 per cent decline). Compared to pre-pandemic levels, both volume and value are up (16.3 per cent and 14.6% respectively).

North East

The North East recorded 16 mid-market private equity transactions in 2022, down from 22 in 2021 (down 27.3 per cent). The combined value of deals also fell from £1.1bn to £0.8bn (down 16.4 per cent). The level of activity also saw the region lose some market share against other regions, now accounting for 2.4 per cent of the overall market, down from 2.6 per cent last year. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, deal volumes and values were also down (33.3 per cent and 42.9 per cent respectively).

Will M&A hold steady in 2023?

Christian Mayo added: “The future is always difficult to predict, however, there is a sense that expectations have adjusted and the situation is more stable than it was for most of 2022. Stability is key for investor confidence and decision-making, as it allows for factors like the availability and price of debt, consumer spending expectations or high energy prices to be priced into a deal. Access to funding is also crucial, and with the impact of economic headwinds weighing on cash generation and profitability, businesses looking to debt-fund transaction are likely to face increased scrutiny from lenders. Unlike the 2008 financial crisis, however, lenders and equity providers do have significant capital to deploy, but providers of capital will be selective, with more resilient businesses in sectors where there is a strategic imperative for change likely to be the beneficiaries.

Rick Stark concluded: “We may also see a boost in mid-market transaction levels as questions regarding the capital gains tax regime loom. Similar uncertainty over the last few years has weighed on private business owners, and owners who are mindful of noise around potential increases in CGT rates may be tempted to push the button and get a deal done sooner rather than later.

“With the general consensus now being that any recessionary environment will be less severe than previously assumed, the desire for growth and investment using M&A will likely be on the agenda for many. Private Equity firms still have considerable amounts of dry powder to deploy and at present there’s more money than there are deals on the table. Demand for lower-risk opportunities, such as bolt-ons and minority deals, and for businesses in robust sectors, will continue. It may be a tough road ahead for the country and for businesses, but those who can weather the storm by remaining agile, focused and as prepared as possible, will emerge well-placed to take advantage of future opportunities.”

After Raising £6 Million Series a to Drive the Development of Its Intelligent Contract Drafting Software, Henchman Sets New Precedent for Legal Documents

Olivia McHugh

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06/03/2023

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After Raising £6 Million Series a to Drive the Development of Its Intelligent Contract Drafting Software, Henchman Sets New Precedent for Legal Documents

Legal tech company, Henchman, has recently announced that it has closed a £6 million Series A funding round to support continued company growth, and innovation in its platform that automates the search for relevant clauses and definitions when drafting legal contracts. The round is led by Adjacent VC and Acton Capital and joined by the London-based Conviction VC and several business angels (including the Founders of a Belgian success story, Showpad). Henchman’s funding follows its recent integration with GPT-3 and will be used to expand geographically and strengthen its innovation focus.

Legal professionals rarely start from a blank sheet of paper when drafting contracts or negotiating details with other parties. They usually reference existing documentation, for which they need to sift through countless old contracts or talk to colleagues to find suitable precedents that could be relevant to their case. Henchman solves this problem by automatically centralizing past clauses and definitions from any legal team’s contract database (whether law firm or corporate legal department) and delivering them intelligently within familiar Microsoft Word or Outlook environments.

Henchman helps lawyers and legal professionals to eliminate time consuming tasks and focus on adding value and expertise. “When everyone was still talking about ChatGPT, we already started implementing the technology in Henchman,” says Gilles Mattelin, Founder of Henchman. With the AI feature, lawyers can now use Henchman to enrich contracts with new suggestions, translations or grammatical adaptations.

The founders, Jorn Vanysacker, Gilles Mattelin and Wouter Van Respaille started working on their legal tech solution during the COVID-pandemic. Henchman has been on a remarkable trajectory since its launch in June 2021, experiencing rapid adoption and growth over the past year, achieving 750% revenue growth. Its team has grown from 12 to 35 employees. It has attracted 100 new customers across 15 different countries, including the UK with clients such as Avery Law and Marlborough House Partners.

“Today we have the all-star team, the drive and the entourage to maintain our technological lead in solving a universal problem for the legal profession,” states Jorn Vanysacker, Founder at Henchman. The company intends to use the injection of capital to stay ahead of the competition and enter new markets.

To make that happen, the company brought some new investors on board: Adjacent VC, which previously invested in companies such as BeReal, Revolut and Cowboy, and German Acton Capital, which previously funded Clio and Etsy, are taking the lead in this investment round, with participation from the British Conviction VC and several business angels, including Louis Jonckheere & Pieterjan Bouten (founders Showpad), Felix Van de Maele (founder Collibra) and Bram Couvreur (Partner at U.S.-based law firm Cooley).

“After a few reference calls it became clear that the power of Henchman is how perfectly the product fits into the legal professionals’ existing workflow. It is rare to see a SaaS company win international clients this early in its journey, but the teams’ customer obsession already drove adoption across Europe and in the US. I am excited to team up as we scale to the next level!” says Nico Wittenborn, Founder of Adjacent VC.

Louis Jonckheere, one of the private investors and founder of Showpad, is optimistic: “The legal profession is entering a new age with AI. I’m very bullish about Henchman’s ability to take a leading role in this transformation. They have the team, technology and traction to become a dominant global player.”

For more information about Henchman’s contract drafting and negotiation solution, visit henchman.io

Starling Bank Signs up at Barings’ Landmark in Manchester

Olivia McHugh

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03/03/2023

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Starling Bank Signs up at Barings’ Landmark in Manchester

Digital Bank Establishes fourth UK Base in Manchester

Barings Real Estate, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, has leased the 5th floor of its Landmark office development in Manchester to leading digital bank, Starling Bank.

Following a year of strong growth, Starling Bank has signed a 10 year lease for the 14,061 sq ft, 5th floor at Landmark which will be the digital bank’s fourth UK office and first Manchester base.

Starling is set to create 1,000 new jobs in Manchester to support the company’s next phase as it continues to build industry-disrupting banking technology for its personal and business account customers. The strategic move comes as the digital bank has opened more than 3.5 million accounts and launched its software-as-a-service offering, Engine by Starling. The bank has selected Manchester for its next base due to its strong tech talent pool and rich cultural and creative heritage.

Starling joins an impressive tenant roster at Landmark and is the fourth new occupier to sign up in recent weeks with over 41,000 sq ft of lettings secured in Q4 2022 alone to Santander UK, global business platform Xero UK and global audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK. Additional occupiers in Landmark include; HSBC UK, Allianz Insurance, Grant Thornton, JLL and social enterprise Change Please.

The 180,000 sq ft award-winning Landmark development offers 14 floors of BREEAM Excellent and Wired Score Platinum certified office space in Manchester City Centre.

Barings’ focus on well-being, customer experience, sustainability and technological infrastructure at Landmark provides all-important facilities including contactless technologies enabling touch-free movement within the building, a dedicated cycle storage and maintenance hub, high-quality showers and changing facilities, electric car charging spaces and Amazon lockers for package delivery and returns.

Ian Mayhew, Managing Director, UK Asset management at Barings, said: “To have been selected by Starling Bank for its fourth UK office is fantastic news and we are delighted to welcome their team to Landmark. It’s great to see the leasing momentum continue into 2023 and we are pleased to be able to deliver a high class working environment for a range of innovative and market-leading businesses.”

Susanna Yallop, Chief People Officer at Starling Bank, said: “We’ve had some outstanding applications for our roles in Manchester already, affirming the city’s place as the tech capital of the North. We want to offer our talent the best of the best; the facilities at Landmark made it the obvious choice for us.”

Leasing agents for Barings were CBRE and Colliers. Starling Bank was advised by JLL.

Vita Group Reveals First Cgis for Its Proposed First Street Development

Olivia McHugh

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03/03/2023

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Vita Group Reveals First Cgis for Its Proposed First Street Development

Urban regeneration specialist creating tomorrow’s city living, Vita Group has revealed its first CGIs of its new PBSA concept – House of Social, alongside its proposed plans in the First Street masterplan at plot 10b.

House of Social Vita Group First Street — House of Social, Vita Group, First Street

House of Social is the student house re-imagined. Designed for second- and third-year students who have established friendship groups, each ‘House’ is centred around a beautiful open plan kitchen and lounge space, designed to bring housemates together with large ensuite bedrooms on either side.

Vita Group House of Social SHARED KITCHEN 001 — Vita Group – House of Social – SHARED KITCHEN.

Each room has been carefully designed to provide the ultimate student room, including both casual study space and a more formal desk, plenty of storage space and its own en-suite bathroom. Some larger studio apartments are also available, each with its own small kitchen.

Vita Group House of Social Bed — Vita Group – House of Social – Bed.

In total, the proposed First Street development will deliver 576 beds, with a mix of 76 six-bedroom clusters and 24 five-bedroom clusters. The proposal includes a provision for 86 affordable rooms, along with 24 studios designed to be accessible for residents with additional needs.

Complementing the student accommodation and the wider First Street masterplan, plans include an active ground floor food hall, creating approximately 1,304sqm of commercial space, perfect for local independent food brands to build their business, it will offer around 400 covers and create approximately 30 front of house jobs if approved.

Max Bielby, Chief Operating Officer for Vita Group said: “We’re delighted to bring forward these exciting new plans for our new student brand House of Social, adding to the First Street masterplan and complementing our neighbouring Vita Student offering. House of Social is the student house re-imagined, bringing students together at the most important time in their life and giving them the opportunity to make life-long friends whilst excelling in their studies.”

Women in the Law UK to Harness the Power of Imposter Syndrome at International Women’s Day Conference

Olivia McHugh

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03/03/2023

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Women in the Law UK to Harness the Power of Imposter Syndrome at International Women’s Day Conference

Female lawyers will explore the ways imposter syndrome can be turned to their advantage during a conference celebrating International Women’s Day next week

The organisation’s full-day “How to future-proof your career” conference is scheduled to take place at the offices of law firm Irwin Mitchell at One St Peter’s Square in Manchester from 10.00am on Friday 10 March. A limited number of tickets are still available from www.womeninthelawuk.com/webevents.

Speakers at the conference will include Ros Bever, regional managing partner at Irwin Mitchell, Her Honour Judge Leona Harrison, the first black woman to become a circuit judge in the North West of England, and Baroness Newlove, the former victims commissioner.

Other speakers include Kate Hammond, former CPS advocate, barrister, and now lecturer at BPP, who will talk about “using imposter syndrome as your superpower”. Criminal defence specialist Nina Grahame KC, meanwhile, will discuss the vital importance of preparation for lawyers who want to perform to the best of their potential.

The conference will also include a session on the role of male allies, with a presentation from Sam Jardine, partner at Fieldfisher.

Dr Sally Penni MBE, founder and chair of Women in the Law UK, said, “Our International Women’s Day conference is always a special event and this year I am particularly looking forward to focusing on a subject which is so often seen as a negative.

“We have all heard any number of talks on overcoming imposter syndrome, but I think it will be really valuable to explore how we can turn what is a natural human feeling to our advantage. As lawyers we are supposed to be dispassionate and see the bigger picture so, arguably, feeling like a bit of an outsider is actually part of the job description.

“Nobody should feel like an imposter at our conference, though. It’s a great opportunity for lawyers at all stages of their careers to connect, share experiences and learn from one-another.”

The conference will follow the sold-out Women in the Law UK annual dinner, which will take place the previous evening at the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

Other events in the Women in the Law UK calendar include online book club sessions with human rights barrister and campaigner Adam Wagner on 31 March, author, barrister and celebrity quizzer Shaun Wallace on 28 April and legal sector legend The Secret Barrister on 26 May.

Dr Penni concluded, “Our International Women’s Day conference will be a great start to an exciting programme of in-person and online events throughout the year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our speakers in advance and, of course, our hosts Irwin Mitchell, who I am sure will look after us magnificently.”

Women in the Law UK is a professional development organisation that promotes gender diversity and women’s progression in the legal sector. The organisation, which has its roots in Manchester, is active nationwide and has held regular events in London, Scotland, Wales, the Midlands and Yorkshire.

Women in the Law UK’s events are held under the Chatham House Rule, enabling speakers and audience members to speak freely and learn from each-others’ experiences in a confidential environment. Previous events have covered subjects including career progression, why lawyers need to sit on boards, how to network and make it work for you, and what lawyers can learn from inspiring businesswomen.

To book places at Women in the Law UK events readers should visit www.womeninthelawuk.com or book directly via www.eventbrite.co.uk. Individuals and businesses that are interested in joining Women in the Law UK or applying for the Women in the Law UK Charter should email womeninthelawuk@gmail.com.

Fast-Track Leadership Programme to Create Digitally-Empowered Greater Manchester Manufacturers

Olivia McHugh

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03/03/2023

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Fast-Track Leadership Programme to Create Digitally-Empowered Greater Manchester Manufacturers

Made Smarter Adoption programme and Manchester Metropolitan University collaborate to accelerate Greater Manchester SMEs towards digital transformation

Made Smarter has launched a new fast-track leadership programme to help Greater Manchester SME manufacturers accelerate their digital transformation.

In just three months, the ‘Leading Digital Transformation’ programme will turn participants into digitally-informed, empowered leaders, armed with a bespoke digitalisation strategy.

The funded solution has been designed by Made Smarter’s North West Adoption Programme, the government-funded industry-led initiative to increase technology adoption among SME manufacturers, and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

It will be delivered through a blend of face-to-face workshops, online webinars, case studies and site visits to smart factories, including Print City, MMU’s 3D additive and digital manufacturing hub, where participants will see technology in action.

Heading up the programme is Dr Ann Mulhaney, Senior Enterprise Fellow for the Centre for Enterprise at MMU, an expert in organisational transformation, strategy and innovation, leading change and employee engagement.

Leaders will walk away with a set of practical tools, a strategy for digital transformation and an offer to access further support from Made Smarter, including funding for new technology.

The new programme is available by application to manufacturing businesses with less than 250 employees, a turnover less than £36M or balance sheet less than £18M, and a significant part of their operations based in the North West.

With places limited, it builds on the success of Made Smarter’s trailblazing leadership initiative which launched in 2019 and went on to equip 60 business leaders with the vision and the skills to pursue smarter manufacturing.

Donna Edwards, Director of Made Smarter’s North West Adoption Programme, said: “Manufacturing leaders have endured an incredibly difficult few years, steering a course through the pandemic and facing up to new challenges such as rising energy prices, supply chain disruption and labour shortages.

“Technology and a digital strategy is important for SME leaders so they are better equipped to deal with current and forthcoming challenges and opportunities.

“The Made Smarter leadership programme was the first of its kind and developed a generation of digital leaders. We are confident that our new fast-track, funded Leading Digital Transformation programme will have an even greater impact, supporting a new generation of leaders to make the most of opportunities that digital transformation can offer.”

Donna Edwards Programme Director at Made Smarter North West Adoption programme — Donna Edwards, Programme Director at Made Smarter North West Adoption programme.

Ruth Hailwood, Made Smarter’s Organisation and Workforce Development Specialist Adviser, said: “After four years with our finger on the pulse of manufacturing, Made Smarter understands what SME leaders want and need.

“This programme focuses on strategy and how to identify critical priorities for taking a business forward, as well as highlighting where digital tools can help. It examines the business from the top floor to the shop floor, capturing real perspectives about their readiness for digital transformation.

“It has been designed to be flexible for manufacturing leaders to fit around their busy schedules, allowing them to take time out of their business to reflect on the bigger picture and share ideas, experiences and opportunities with their peers in manufacturing.”

Mandy Parkinson, Director of Centre for Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “MMU is delighted to collaborate with Made Smarter on this new leadership programme which will provide fast, focused support to business leaders at such a critical time.

“Since 2015, we have supported more than 2,000 SMEs in areas including growth, innovation and resilience and we are looking forward to seeing the difference our range of expertise will make to more businesses across the region.”

Registration to join the programme, which starts on March 30th, is now open.

For more details on the visit: https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/develop-your-digital-leadership/leading-digital-transformation-programme-nw/

Consilium Academies’ Chief Finance and Operating Officer Named Mat Finance Leader of the Year

Olivia McHugh

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03/03/2023

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John Halstead revealed as MAT Finance Leader of the Year at MAT Finance Awards 2022

John Halstead, Chief Finance and Operating Officer at Consilium Academies, a team of nine schools across Salford, Gateshead, Darlington, Sunderland, and Doncaster, has been named MAT Finance Leader of the Year, as part of the MAT Finance Awards 2022.

The MAT Finance Leader of the Year category was one of five announced as part of The MAT Finance Awards 2022, sponsored by specialists in MAT budgeting and financial management software IMP Software, last week on 24^th February. This category recognises outstanding CFOs, or equivalent, in a multi-academy trust for their leadership and management of trust finances.

John Halstead was one of three individuals shortlisted for the coveted award. An expert judging panel – comprising Confederation of School Trusts CEO Leora Cruddas, ISBL CEO Stephen Morales, Dartmoor MAT CEO Dan Morrow, Epworth Education Trust CFO Adeel Sahi, Bishop Fleming Audit Partner and Head of Education Pam Tuckett, and IMP Software Co-Founder Will Jordan – reviewed high-quality nominations from a wide range of trusts.

Having chosen John Halstead as the MAT Finance Leader of the Year, the judges commented:
“John has led centralisation and GAG pooling at Consilium Academies, delivered cost savings within the trust’s administrative functions of over £1.4 million and ensured that the resources available are utilised to have the most significant impact on students. In the process, school leaders who had lost confidence in the previous financial leadership of the trust, have been re-engaged.

“John’s ability to build a finance team who go out of their way to support all schools is also impressive. Excellent customer service is often the forgotten part of a strong finance function, and perhaps the hardest to instil into your team as a leader. However, John has managed that successfully whilst also spearheading some key changes across the trust.”

John Halstead, Chief Finance and Operating Officer at Consilium Academies and MAT Finance Leader of the Year, said:

“Winning this award is a huge honour and something that our entire team has made possible. At Consilium Academies we truly are a team who cares about every member of our community, and that drives everything we do. It is essential that we have the best possible and most equitable financial processes in place so that we can offer the right support at the right time to every one of our students and staff, so that they can thrive and deliver on our ambitious promises every day.”

IMP Co-Founder Will Jordan said:

“Congratulations to John, and indeed all our winners and runners-up. We were blown away by the quality of entries this year and, whilst it is a cliché, choosing a winner for each category was a really difficult task. In our work we see the impact of trust finance teams every day and are pleased to shine a spotlight on their contributions through the MATFAs. “As our new insight report, The 2030 MAT Growth Challenge: Effective Strategies and Systems, demonstrates MAT finance teams are critical for supporting expansion and sustainability in the sector going forward.”

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