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£10m Bounce Back Fund in GM Second Lockdown Response

Business support

Sam Whitear

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16/11/2020

£10m Bounce Back Fund in GM Second Lockdown Response

In response to gaps in Bounce Back loan availability for some Greater Manchester-based SMEs following the second national lockdown, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in partnership with GC Business Finance has stepped in pledging £10m emergency funding specifically geared to support businesses based in Greater Manchester unable to access the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS).

This represents the first time that a UK Combined Authority has directly offered funding to support the distribution of Bounce Back Loans. GC Business Finance will be looking to support those business not already banking with existing Bounce Back Loan providers, and applications from Greater Manchester businesses are welcomed from Monday 16th November through an online application with applications closing once the fund is fully committed.

The limited £10m fund will be delivered by GC Business Finance (GCBF), part of the Growth Company, the UK’s only non-profit Government-backed loans provider accredited by the British Business Bank under the Bounce Back Loans Scheme. GCBF delivery will be through cutting-edge digital technology, offering top class customer service, quick decisions and integrated businesses support as part of the wider Growth Company offer.

The funding pledged by GMCA follows recognition of the gap emerging in the market for those local businesses who are dependent on a Bounce Back Loan to continue to survive and grow despite the pandemic. GMCA’s vision to create a thriving economy in all parts of Greater Manchester and generate jobs with opportunities to grow and develop is dependent on local business infrastructure to make this vision a reality, a driving force behind their sense of responsibility and decision to make this pledge.

The approach by Greater Manchester allows for businesses to seek a more personalised and localised approach to funding through GC Business Finance, as well as access to a vast support network through the wider Growth Company, in turn helping Greater Manchester businesses to bounce back with confidence through an uncomplicated, digitally driven and quick solution to unlocking finance.

The loans, which are 100 per cent guaranteed by the UK Government but funded by GMCA, are estimated to be eligible for approximately 98 per cent of Greater Manchester SMEs. As with the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), no interest will be due on Bounce Back Loans for the first 12 months, with an interest rate set at 2.5 per cent per year after the first year.

The Fund targets eligible SMEs if their own bank is not an existing provider of the scheme, providing Bounce Back loans of up to £50k packaged with integrated business support in a local approach unique across the UK. GCBF anticipate high demand supporting applicants on a first come first served basis and expect the fund to be fully committed relatively quickly, at which point the fund will close.

Specialist social impact lender GCBF are committed to providing smart, fast, fair finance and will work with the business and their existing bank, as well as offering a package of integrated business support alongside the bounce back loan to ensure the businesses best chance of success. The funding provided to GC Business Finance will be available immediately and will be accessible to small and medium sized Greater Manchester businesses, with loans ranging from £2,000 to £50,000.
As part of The Growth Company, GC Business Finance will work alongside GC Business Growth Hub and other sister businesses to provide a tailored combination of financial and business support to SMEs across Greater Manchester, depending on the services required.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Innovation and resilience have been cornerstones of Manchester’s history – an approach that is needed now more than ever. We have a duty to protect and support our SMEs through this crisis, which means easy access to vital funds. The partnership between GMCA and GC Business Finance has historically proven to be beneficial for the Greater Manchester business community and more recently is a massive step in the right direction, taking control back into the hands of local businesses and ensuring a bespoke approach to lending that improves efficiency and helps to ensure survival.

“While it is a good first step, it is only that. To enable us to build back better, we need to make this style of funding available to all businesses across the UK, taking the burden off traditional banks and placing greater emphasis on diversity of funding.”

Cllr Elise Wilson, GMCA Portfolio Lead for Economy and Business, said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for Greater Manchester’s SMEs, with a second lockdown bringing further difficulty. While the ongoing emergency business loan schemes have provided a vital lifeline to many, we know there is more work to be done to help those businesses that fall between the cracks.

“The GMCA has partnered with GC Business Finance to support the city-region’s SMEs throughout the pandemic and working with a local partner to deliver this new fund brings numerous benefits. Businesses applying can expect a digital application process which is easy to navigate, a quick decision and wraparound business support to maximise the effectiveness of the loan.

“Once applications are open, we’d urge any eligible local business to contact GC Business Finance to discuss the support on offer.”

Mark Hughes, Chief Executive, The Growth Company said: “This approach is an unprecedented step by Greater Manchester to support local businesses at a time of need. As we have seen with CBILS, banks have struggled to cope with the volume and variety of applications coming in from across the country.

“We pride ourselves at being at the heart of the business community, supporting economic growth and resilience, and are therefore are ideally placed to deliver a solution that works for local businesses. GCBF’s tailored approach to lending, combined with the close connections of the Growth Company, means that we can provide a wider package of support to suit the needs of each individual Greater Manchester business.

“Once rolled out, this innovative approach could have a revolutionary impact on the way the UK distributes this funding, and puts us, Greater Manchester in the best possible position to recover once the crisis is over.”

Manchester law firm named one of UK’s leading businesses for social mobility

Awards

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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Manchester law firm named one of UK’s leading businesses for social mobility

The Social Mobility Foundation has announced that Manchester based law firm Browne Jacobson is one of the UK’s leading employers for promoting social mobility in the workplace.

This year, the firm has been placed 5th amongst the country’s leading employers in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2020, rising up from 82nd place last year, making Browne Jacobson one of the highest ranked law firms in the country.
The Social Mobility Foundation singled out the firm’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust and supporting schools in deprived areas where a high proportion of children are eligible for Free School Meals, the impact of its decision to remove academic grades for its trainee recruitment programme and anonymising CVs to remove the possibility of unconscious bias, a mentoring programme to support students in higher education from disadvantaged backgrounds and its success in attracting graduates from a wider pool of universities than many other firms and businesses.
Caroline Green, senior partner at Browne Jacobson, said:
“To achieve a top five position nationally in only the second year we have been assessed is incredible and testament to everyone who has contributed to our journey to be more inclusive as a business.
“As a national powerhouse we don’t just want to be recognised for our legal expertise; improving equality, diversity and inclusion lie at the heart of our ethos as a business and social mobility is central to this.
“A few years ago, we took a bold decision to remove minimum entry requirements for our lawyer trainee programme. For us this has been a game changer.
“This year we retained over 90 per cent of our newly qualified lawyers, proving law firms can still attract and recruit exceptional legal talent by removing traditional academic thresholds and in doing so improve career opportunities for those that need it most.
“As a business we have never rested on our laurels and will use this platform to advocate for social mobility, implementing new approaches that challenge others in both the legal sector and beyond, to do more over the next 12 months.”
The Social Mobility Employer Index was created by the Social Mobility Foundation in 2017 and ranks UK’s employers on the actions they take to ensure they are open to and progressing talent from all backgrounds. It highlights the employers who are doing the most to change how they find, recruit, and advance talented employees from different social class backgrounds. Now in its fourth year, the Employer Index is the definitive benchmark of organisations committed to improving social mobility in the workplace.
Employers are assessed across seven key areas; these include their work with young people, routes into the company, how they attract talent, recruitment and selection, data collection, progression, experienced hires, and advocacy.
This year saw 119 employers from 17 sectors, who collectively employ almost one million people in the UK, answer around 100 questions. In addition to the employers’ responses, over 14,000 employees also took part in a voluntary employee survey.
Sarah Atkinson, chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, said:
“I am delighted that Browne Jacobson committed to entering the Index this year. Now more than ever, we need to see business play their part in the levelling up agenda.”
The Rt. Hon. Alan Milburn, chair of the Social Mobility Foundation, added:
“As the Covid-19 crisis continues and the UK descends into a sharp recession, more will need to be done to avoid a job catastrophe, for young people particularly. Already 60% of the jobs that have been lost since the pandemic began have been among 18-24-year olds. I urge those sectors of our economy that are not represented in this year’s Index to participate in 2021 and commit to joining the ranks of those employers who are already making such a difference to young people’s life chances.”

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust receives £100,000 Deliveroo donation

CSR

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust receives £100,000 Deliveroo donation

Deliveroo, the UK’s leading food delivery company, today announces that it has made a £100,000 donation to Manchester Foundation Trust Charity. The donation is a small gesture to express the enormous gratitude of Deliveroo customers towards NHS staff for their incredible efforts to keep the nation safe during the pandemic.

The donation, raised through a fundraising campaign launched by Deliveroo earlier this year, recognises the ongoing heroic work of NHS staff across the Trust. The campaign – Supporting the NHS – delivered 750,000 meals to NHS workers earlier this year, delivering to NHS workers’ homes through vouchers and directly to hospitals – including 25,000 meals to Manchester hospitals. The food delivery company has now re-launched the campaign and aims to reach more than 1 million food deliveries before Christmas. Deliveries are being made to North Manchester General Hospital, North West Ambulance NHS Trust, Salford Royal Hospital & Tameside General Hospital. The food has been generously donated by Pizza Hut and Rosa’s Thai Cafe.

The £100,000 donation to Manchester Foundation Charity Trust will go towards the charity’s wellbeing fund, to help staff both on the frontline and in support services to deal with the effects of Covid-19 and their wellbeing. The Trust and its Charity is one of five NHS Trusts across the UK to receive a donation from Deliveroo.

Will Shu, CEO and founder of Deliveroo, said: “NHS staff have played an invaluable role in keeping us and our loved ones safe during the pandemic. As a British business we feel duty-bound to use our network to support the NHS staff who are working night and day and face a difficult winter. That’s why our customers have been so incredibly generous, showing their enormous gratitude for all the amazing staff at the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity.”

Rachel Laycock, Senior Corporate Fundraising Manager for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, said: “Deliveroo have been fantastic at supporting our staff throughout the pandemic and we’re very grateful for this latest donation too.

“This money will go a long to way ensuring our wellbeing fund can really make a difference to the
25,000-plus staff working at our hospitals and community services.”

Manchester’s Express Solicitors acquires Liverpool’s McKays Solicitors

Acquisitions

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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Manchester’s Express Solicitors acquires Liverpool’s McKays Solicitors

Manchester-based personal injury (PI) law firm, Express Solicitors, has acquired Liverpool’s McKays Solicitors. The package includes 1,400 ongoing client matters and the continued employment of 18 members of staff.

Managing Partner at Express Solicitors, James Maxey said: “We’re delighted to have acquired McKays Solicitors and look forward to working closely with its employees and clients to provide a seamless transition and continue to provide exceptional service.

“A key element of our strategy this year is to identify other PI firms with owners who may be looking to exit the market and whose expertise would complement our core offering. We strongly believe that McKays Solicitors is a natural fit in this regard.

“Express Solicitors continues to grow, despite the current challenging market conditions, and we remain focussed on becoming a powerful force in the PI sector”.

The firm recently appointed Pauline Reeves as Chief Financial Officer, who has the specific experience to be able to analyse potential purchases and thereafter swiftly integrate the finances of any firm bought into the Express Group.

James Maxey continued: “With Pauline on board, the process for carrying out due diligence and financial analysis was much quicker than having to refer to external financial advisors at several stages.”

During the acquisition, the firm was also offered advice and support at key stages from accountants, SBN and corporate law firm, O’Connors Solicitors.

Owner of McKays Solicitors, Adam McKay said : “For some time I’ve been looking for a suitable successor firm for McKays so that I could pursue other interests. Express Solicitors’ strong presence within the market and reputation for excellent customer service and results made them an excellent fit for McKays and its clients.”

Over the past six months Express Solicitors has managed to continue to grow its caseload and now has over 14,500 cases.

As part of this acquisition, a further 1,400 cases will now be managed by the growing firm. The McKay Solicitors cases span Personal Injury Claims, Tenancy Deposit Claims, Commercial Litigation and Debt Recovery and Insolvency.

Express Solicitors is ranked in The Lawyer Top 200, its lawyers and the firm are recognised in The Legal 500 and the firm is noted in Chambers and Partners. Express Solicitors specialises in personal injury and accident claims, clinical negligence claims and serious injury cases.

New Academy aims to boost language skills as part of employability and community integration drive amid the pandemic

Business support

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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New Academy aims to boost language skills as part of employability and community integration drive amid the pandemic

A new Skills for Life Academy has been launched in Greater Manchester to help non-English speakers to integrate into their communities and boost their job opportunities. This skills initiative has been launched against a backdrop of increased public health measures as the country faces a second national lockdown.

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Academy, run by skills specialist Seetec Outsource, will help those with limited English-speaking skills to fast track their language and knowledge development to give them the confidence to secure employment.
During the current economic climate, with growing anxiety for businesses across the North West, it is more important than ever to support efforts to bring Greater Manchester’s communities together and celebrate the many differences that make it a vibrant place to live. Seetec Outsource believes their Skills Academy is a practical vehicle for delivering integration, where the differences within communities are embraced, allowing people from all cultural backgrounds to thrive. Integrated communities are a place where everyone can grow and progress, the deep-rooted values of the Skills Academy are aimed at empowering individuals across the community with the tools to achieve their work ambitions.
Andi MacGregor, Head of Adult Skills and Traineeships for Seetec Outsource, explained: “It is a challenging time for Greater Manchester as the wider community continues to adapt to the current public health restrictions. The launch of our Skills Academy will be a route to those who want to integrate into the community to gain the foundation skills they will need to enter the workplace. It is an opportunity to help more people build a life that has greater financial independence and the freedom to contribute more to their community. We will offer learners a personalised programme that meets their specific learning needs, helping them to access job opportunities that match their skills.
“Business are concerned about the current uncertainty. We aim to work with employers in the Greater Manchester area to understand their needs so that we can match learners with relevant vacancies and career progression pathways, helping individuals to find and sustain employment which will also benefit the local economy. Our academy will work with individuals to boost their existing skills and use the experience they already have to find work. For us it is not just about helping people to improve their English language skills, we want everyone in society to play a fuller role in their new community, find work, integrate and contribute.”

The Skills for Life Academy, based in St Peters Square, Oxford Road, opens at the beginning of November. It builds on Seetec Outsource’s portfolio of ESOL courses, which offer English language opportunities at a range of entry levels. To tackle loneliness and isolation the academy will support learners by offering both online and onsite learning experience, all under strict COVID guidelines. Seetec Outsource recognises the need for flexibility and the emphasis on virtual learning under the current restrictions.

Zuhair Suliman from Sudan who is now based in Ashton-under-Lyne, has pharmaceuticals experience but needed to improve his English skills to give him the confidence to attend job interviews in the UK. After starting a Seetec Outsource ESOL course in February, his language skills have developed sufficiently for him to actively seek employment.
Zuhair said: “I wanted to be able to use my skills in the UK, but I needed to improve my English first. The course has been a great experience and I am looking forward to finding employment and planning for the future.”

Suria Paquete has been in the UK for two years and now lives in Blackley and joined a Seetec Outsource ESOL course in May. Despite juggling her learning commitments with looking after her baby and the challenges of the current COVID-19 lockdown, she has obtained English language qualifications and secured a part-time job in a fashion warehouse.
Suria said: “When I first came to the UK my English was not good. The course has made me feel more confident and helped me find work but also it has helped me feel more part of my new community, make friends and feel independent again.”

Anna Abel enrolled in March, just as the lockdown took effect. Although she continued to work-part time, she never missed a lesson. She also referred her brother to the programme and both have achieved qualifications.

Anna, a resident in Cheetham Hill, is now volunteering at the British Heart Foundation in Manchester at weekends and now feels able to seek further work opportunities.

7,000 Chinese students arrive in Manchester on specially chartered flights following huge multi-agency effort

Education

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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7,000 Chinese students arrive in Manchester on specially chartered flights following huge multi-agency effort

More than 7,000 students from China have arrived for their studies at universities in Manchester and across the North of England following a huge multi-agency effort in the UK and China, led by organisations from Greater Manchester.

In total 31 specially chartered flights have been organised between Chongqing Jiangbei Airport and Manchester Airport to transport the students who contribute an estimated £500million a year to the Greater Manchester economy pre-pandemic. As a result of the UK Government’s new lockdown measures all flights were suspended from November 8, with an aim to restart flying in January with students working remotely until they can travel.

The campaign to return Chinese students safely for their studies, in line with strict coronavirus guidelines, has been driven by a working group set up initially in Manchester including representatives from Greater Manchester’s universities, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Airport Group, the Manchester China Forum and student accommodation providers. The group was established in March after Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific stopped all direct flights between Manchester and China. Its objective was to organise charter flights with operators including Hainan Airlines to transport between 20,000 and 30,000 students to Universities across Manchester and the North of England starting in September depending on pandemic restrictions in China and the UK.

Manchester China Forum executive director Rhys Whalley, co-chair of the working group, said it has lobbied both the UK Government and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to gain approvals for charter flights, a process supported by the Chinese Consulate in Manchester.

Mr Whalley praised all the stakeholders for the ‘enormous effort’ in supporting the university sector.
“This has been a very fluid situation and the primary objective of the working group is to undertake the process safely keeping strictly to the latest Government guidance in China and the UK,” he said. “As a result we have managed to fly 7,000 students into Manchester thus far despite the process being significantly impacted by increasing infection rates. Nevertheless, it is great to see a significant number of Chinese students in Manchester and the wider region. We want to thank all the stakeholders for their efforts in finding a workable solution.

“The university sector plays an absolutely key role in our regional economy, creating and safeguarding jobs and Chinese students are very important to universities across the region. In Manchester one in eight students is Chinese, the largest in the UK and this population is vital to building greater cultural understanding and links between Britain and China. A very careful and strict set of safety measures has been in place which has seen the students transported from the airport to their accommodation where they have self-isolated for 14 days. Strict measures are also in place to ensure the Chinese students, as with all students, can then go about their studies in line with the latest Government guidelines. We are doing all we can to support the students at this very challenging time when they are so far from home and their loved ones.”

The Manchester working group was backed and extended to cover the North of England after a group of seven Russell Group universities in the North of England led by Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester and chair of the Russell Group nationally threw their weight behind the campaign. It has subsequently expanded to include universities from Scotland to the South West of England. The University group led by The University of Manchester wrote to the Chinese Consul General Zheng Xiyuan in Manchester over the summer requesting help to organise the charter flights.

Dame Nancy said: “We have been extremely pleased to welcome a new cohort from China, alongside our other students. The safety and wellbeing of all our students is always paramount to us and our priority has been to ensure that Chinese students have a safe and reliable route into the UK to start their studies. In addition to arrival arrangements for flights, we have been providing support to students whilst they self-isolate during their quarantine period and for those who are not able to be physically on campus until next year. We are very grateful for the personal support Consul General Zheng has provided to enable the flights to operate.”

Chinese Consul General for the People’s Republic of China in Manchester Zheng Xiyuan said:
“Adhering to a “People First” governance, the Chinese Government approved the joint chartering plane request by a group of British universities. I was delighted to see both Governments agree on this and say a big thank-you to all parties involved. Special thanks are given to Chongqing municipal government for their arrangements in support of students’ transit via Chongqing in high concentration.

“To help Chinese students arrive in the UK for studies on charter flights has shown the far vision and broad perspective of both the Chinese and UK governments and we very much hope the flights can start again when the pandemic situation gets better in the UK. It also shows the good wishes cherished by Chinese people towards China-UK friendship and the huge potential for mutual cooperation. Our consulate pledges all efforts to work with universities and local communities to build a safe and friendly environment for arriving students. We trust all students will work hard to become not just the backbone of our society but also messengers of friendship between our two peoples.”

Sales director appointment for growing office space firm

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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Sales director appointment for growing office space firm

incspaces, which provides serviced office space in Manchester, Leeds and London, has appointed Laura Shields as sales director and member of the firm’s executive leadership team.

With the launch last month of an 11,500 sq ft flexspace development on Princess Street in Manchester, the business has plans to grow its eight-site portfolio to 24 flexible serviced office space schemes by 2022.

incspaces commercial director Andrew Butler said: “Flexible office space is in demand like never before as the seismic changes to the UK and global economies inevitably take effect on the way that people now need, and want, to work.

“We’re striving to ensure we can be part of the solution by providing increased amounts of flexible, modern, serviced workspace that meets the needs of both organisations and individuals, and we’re really pleased to welcome Laura on board as part of our growth plans.”

Ms Shields, who has a decade of experience in the serviced office industry, said: “My career so far in office space has been all about meeting clients’ needs rather than selling off-the-shelf solutions, which chimes with incspaces’ own ethos.

“The need for high quality flexible space is urgent right now and I’m excited to join a team that has the enthusiasm and ambition to make a real difference.”
incspaces is making free-of-charge desk space available at its new Manchester development on Princess Street to people who have been furloughed or made redundant, as well as to start-up businesses.

Tech Nation partners with Enterprise City to deliver business support programme Manchester-based programme strengthens its status as the fastest-growing tech city in Europe

Business support

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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Tech Nation partners with Enterprise City to deliver business support programme Manchester-based programme strengthens its status as the fastest-growing tech city in Europe

Tech Nation has partnered with Enterprise City to become its knowledge partner, and deliver a series of specialist workshops, industry talks and community meet-ups, via its start-up business support programme, Exchange.

Tech Nation, the growth platform for tech companies and leaders, will join forces with Exchange as the first cohort of businesses begin the 6 to 12 months scheme. The programme will be based in a state-of-the-art new workspace at the Bonded Warehouse in Enterprise City.

The 23 successful digital, tech and media businesses will gain access to Tech Nation’s online Digital Business Academy, and exclusive founder-focused workshops, which will be created and delivered especially for the Exchange community, allowing members to develop key business and entrepreneurial skills, and earn rewards.

Exchange participants will also gain special access to expertise and resources from more established corporate partners, harnessing the collaboration which is key to the digital sector.

The business programme will also host high-profile speaker events and panel discussions at its Enterprise City base throughout the programme, with Exchange members given priority access.

Tech Nation’s recent report revealed Manchester as the fastest-growing tech city in Europe, with increased investment of 277% in 12 months. Tech Nation has supported 618 tech companies via growth programmes to date, and 1,900 companies overall – 16 of those have become unicorns. The partnership with Enterprise City intends to build on this tremendous success.

Tech Nation’s mission is to empower tech entrepreneurs to grow faster through knowledge and connections, and through developing digital entrepreneurship skills. It has delivered more than £425m of Gross Value Add (GVA) to the UK economy in the past 12 months.

Liz Scott, Head of Entrepreneur Engagement at Tech Nation, said: “We are really excited to see Exchange at Enterprise City coming online. In our work supporting tech entrepreneurs all across the UK, we have seen how important it is for founders to have access to the right spaces that truly enable them to grow. This goes beyond just access to great looking co-working spaces; thoughtfully curated environments that provide not only the physical space when needed, but also the learning and networking opportunities that are vital to founders. In a world where how and why we use physical workspaces is changing, being part of a programme that brings more than just an office is really important to tech founders. We are looking forward to bringing our expertise in creating peer-to-peer learning opportunities to Exchange.”

Tanya Grady, Head of Partnerships at Enterprise City, said: “Partnering with Tech Nation will help many more entrepreneurs take the next steps towards becoming successful global tech businesses. Tech Nation has an incredible track record of supporting and developing businesses, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide the same opportunity to businesses that have chosen Enterprise City as their home. We couldn’t have chosen a better partner to develop the world’s latest tech, digital and media district with, and create thousands of new jobs, via the Exchange programme, in the years to come.”

What is Exchange?
Exchange is a programme created to support and empower the UK’s next best digital and tech start-ups. It provides access to the right tools, digital infrastructure, professional support and voices of experience that can make the difference between success or failure in businesses’ critical early months, and Exchange aims to make that difference. By granting ambitious early-stage tech companies and entrepreneurs’ access to the tools and expertise they need to learn and develop, Exchange hopes to pave the future of tech and digital in the UK.

How will it be delivered?
The scheme is situated in Bonded Warehouse, part of Enterprise City. In order to qualify for the scheme, businesses must meet at least one of the following criteria: the business has been trading for less than three years, it is headquartered in the UK, it is a digital tech business with a product or service to sell, has at least one active client or pilot in progress, or has ambitions of growing and scaling. Successful applications will receive subsidised workspace at Bonded Warehouse throughout the length of the programme, and supported through the wider Enterprise City district once they become alumni.

Enterprise City is set in the heart of Manchester, and developed by Allied London, an award-winning property development and investment company, Exchange intends to create a collaborative community of like-minded, forward-thinking entrepreneurs and global organisations.

For more information about Exchange and to find out how businesses can join its latest cohort of tech entrepreneurs and global organisations, visit www.enterprisecityuk.com/exchange.

How to set up your first-ever business (without the stress)

Thought Leaders

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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How to set up your first-ever business (without the stress)

Let’s face it: saying that 2020 has been a disruptive year is, if anything, an understatement.

But for some, that shift has actually been the kick in the rear that they’ve been waiting for to do something new.

If you’re something of a go-getter yourself, now could be the moment you’ve been waiting for. You’re ready to step out into the world and make your own way. You’re ready to be your own boss.

Except… how does that work, exactly?

“We’ve seen plenty of people start with a business idea who feel caught out at the first hurdle,” says Andrew Cooke, Strategic Director at co-working and workspace provider Bruntwood Works. “But while the initial anxiety about the admin and legal stuff might put some off, the benefits of establishing your own business quickly outweigh all of that.

“The good news is that it’s never been easier to set up a company than it is today. We’re seeing countless businesses get off the ground in our co-working spaces. It’s exciting to see how the difficulties of 2020 have actually awoken the inner entrepreneur of so many, and to have played a part in their initial success.”

So, if you’re ready to launch your dream business — where do you start?

Register your business

The first step is to go to the UK Government website to register your business.

You have a couple of options:

Register as a sole trader — The simplest way to set up a business. The only catch here is that you’ll be personally responsible for your business’s debts, as well as for the accounting. Be mindful that if you get into a lot of debt as a sole trader, you’ll have to pay it off even if you shut down your business. To set up as a sole trader, you have to tell HMRC that you pay tax through self-assessment, so you’ll need to file your own taxes each year.

Start a limited company — Limited companies are a little bit harder to set up than sole traders. However, they come with one major benefit: you can keep your personal finances separate. That means you won’t be personally liable to pay debts the business accrues. There are a few more management and reporting responsibilities, so you may want to get in touch with an accountant to help you set up a limited company.

Partnerships — The easiest way for two or more people to run a business together. Like a sole trader, you’ll have accounting responsibilities, but with a partnership, you share responsibilities for debts with your business partner.

Freelance or self-employed?

One of the many questions you might ask yourself at first is whether you want to go freelance or set up a business — and what’s the difference, anyway?

While freelancers and business owners are both responsible for registering their business (freelancers should register as sole traders) and for their tax returns, they are perceived differently by potential clients. Freelancers are known for working on multiple short-term projects, so clients tend not to make long-term commitments with them.

If you have ambitions to grow your company, you’re better marketing yourself as a business rather than a freelancer.

Choosing a name

Generally speaking, you can call your company whatever you like, as long as:

It isn’t offensive
It ends in ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd’ (for limited companies)
It isn’t the same as another business’s name

You can check to see whether your chosen name is available on the government’s website.

The cost of registering

While you might need a pot of money to help your business grow in the first few months, you’ll only need to pay £12 to register your business. You can pay by credit or debit card. Simple!

Check the rules

Different industries have different rules for what you can and can’t do or sell. Make sure you do your research so you know you aren’t breaking the law.

Here are a couple of examples where you’ll need to follow industry-specific rules:

Setting up a bar? You’re going to need an alcohol license.
Selling products online? You need to provide customers with key information first.
Playing music? There are specific licenses you need for both recorded and live music.

Not sure what licences you’ll need? The government has a licence finder you can use to make sure you’re fully covered.

Get insured

Insurance is a big deal for businesses — and, like car insurance, some of it is actually mandatory.

You’re legally required to have the following types of insurance:

Employer liability insurance — Covers the cost of compensating employees who suffer injury or illness due to their work. The only time you don’t need this is if you don’t have any employees.

Commercial motor insurance — Like car insurance for businesses. You need this if your business uses vehicles.

Professional indemnity insurance — Covers the cost of compensating clients for any loss or damage they suffer because of negligent services your business has provided. This is a legal requirement for regulated professions like solicitors, accountants and financial advisors.

The time is now

Andrew Cooke, Strategic Director at Bruntwood Works is hopeful about the new generation of entrepreneurs.

“2020 made us appreciate how satisfying it is to control our own destinies. It’s provided breathing room for people to think about what they actually want from their future; for many, it’s to launch their own business.

“It’s been especially satisfying for us to provide COVID-safe spaces for people to do that. Now, we’re witnessing those start-ups blossom

How to Ensure Your Software Update Isn’t a Massive Disaster

Sam Whitear

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13/11/2020

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How to Ensure Your Software Update Isn’t a Massive Disaster

Developing a piece of software and releasing it to users is just the first step. Software development is never a one-time thing;instead, it is a continuous process. You have to keep the software up to date, add new features, refine existing ones, and create security patches whenever a bug or a security hole is discovered.

Updates are pushed more frequently now that they are produced in shorter sprints. Gone are the days of developing large updates over the course of a couple of months. Most development teams rely on 2-week sprints to make sure that apps and software remain up to date and exciting for the users. The shorter sprints, however, are not without their risks.

Frequent updates can easily turn into a disaster when a significant error gets pushed to the users. It is not uncommon for an app to crash when started just because an incorrect code gets accidentally pushed with the most recent update. How can we avoid this? How can we make sure that the next software update is not a massive disaster?

Coding Best Practices

One of the most fundamental things to do when trying to keep updates a positive experience for users is making sure that codes are written in accordance to a strict standard. Coding standards and best practices are your first line of defence from catastrophic errors and incorrect patches. For starters, codes need to be commented to allow for easy checking.

Code quality standards are also useful for preventing and eliminating errors that could jeopardise the security of the app. Bad coding practices are often exploited by attackers, and eliminating them is the first step towards ensuring the safety of your users. There are tools that can help you check your codes against known code quality standards.

User Feedback

The next thing you want to take into account is feedback from users. There is no such thing as updating an app for the sake of pushing an update. If it is not broken, don’t fix it. Users are the focus of the story here, so you have to make sure that every update is based on feedback from them. At the very least, you need to make sure that the most recent update solves user problems.

Pushing an update that introduces new features but doesn’t solve existing bugs or errors is asking for trouble. Not only will you be dealing with user complaints, you risk putting them off just because they get tired of the errors. Appealing new features will not get the attention that they deserve either, since users will be too busy with their complaints.

Regression Testing

Make sure the update you are pushing to users doesn’t decrease the value of the app. In other words, you want to be extra certain that the latest update does not break any existing feature or introduce new bugs. This is where performing multiple regression tests comes in handy, particularly before a major release.

Global App Testing has a very interesting article about regression tests and the benefits they offer. As a leadingfunctional testing solution, Global App Testing presents a lot of insights that will be valuable to your development cycle. You can read a copy of the article on the company’s website, plus you can learn more about how to do effective regression testing.

Selective Deployment

Segmentation is another safety measure to utilise when you are trying to push updates in a safe way. Updates don’t have to be released to the whole userbase. In fact, they shouldn’t. Rather than pushing the update to the entire user, you can test new functionalities on a handful of users and learn their feedback before staging a massive deployment.

This is a practice that even the biggest development teams still use. Instagram, for instance, regularly tests new features to select users. When they first introduced the non-chronological timeline, they listened to complaints from a variety of user groups before finally releasing the feature to all users on the platform.

Add Notes

Documentation is a key ingredient in preventing update disasters. You want to be clear about the features that get updates and how the update itself affects user experience. Simply resorting to writing ‘bug fixes’ in the release note just doesn’t work anymore. Users are smarter and they want to know what kind of updates they are downloading.

Some software companies use their release notes to communicate with their users. Instead of a formal one, today’s best release notes read like a short story or a comedy bit, all while delivering valuable information about the latest release. Users love this format too and they are more likely to share about your software updates when the release notes are fun to read.

Have Contingencies

Even with rigorous testing and all preparations in place, you still need one extra measure in place to make sure that the latest update doesn’t turn into a disaster. That extra measure is rollback. You want to be certain that you can roll the latest update back if there are issues that cannot be solved immediately.

Don’t let users wait until the end of another development cycle to get the problems they face fixed. If the update doesn’t work, roll it back immediately and fix the problems later. With more apps competing for the same user segments, you cannot afford to lose the attention and affection of your users.

Do It Well

All of these measures will stop your software updates from turning into a disaster, and they are all very easy to deploy. You just need to plan for updates better and really listen to the issues faced by users. Perform thorough functional testing and run selective tests if you are updating certain parts of the app.

With all measures in place, you also get one additional benefit: the ability to trace new bugs immediately. With the codes following coding best practices and development documentations in order, fixing new bugs and keeping the software usable will be as easy as pushing the new update at the end of your development cycle.

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