Sheffield-based Abbeydale Brewery Ltd has become an Employee Ownership Trust, strengthening the commitment to its team, safeguarding its values and securing the legacy of the business. Since its foundation in 1996, Abbeydale Brewery have always utilised a people-focused ethos, growing organically over the past three decades and being open to learning from the team. The business, which employs over 50 staff (split between the brewery itself and their pub, The Rising Sun in Fulwood), has always been firmly rooted within the community. It benefits from an engaged and committed workforce, all of whom reside within the local area. Both the brewery and pub are now 100% employee-owned, with a company name chosen by the new employee owners of Sheffield Beerworks EOT Ltd. The new Board of Trustees will be comprised of Jon Conroy who will be the independent chair, Pat Morton (selling shareholder), Dan Baxter (Co-Managing Director), and two employee representatives – Finlay MacDonald who is a bartender at the Rising Sun and brewer Christie McIntosh representing the manufacturing side of the business. Brewery founders Pat and Sue Morton will continue to be involved with Abbeydale Brewery – whilst they will step back from the day-to-day running of the business, their positions on the Board of Directors will remain, and they will continue to play an advisory role in the management of the business. Dan Baxter said: “I could not be prouder of our team and everything we have achieved together over the years. We are a humble bunch, mentored by Pat and Sue, and a have a vast skill set amongst our staff at both the brewery and the Rising Sun. The future for the business is very exciting! The support of our customers and our community is paramount as it always has been. So a massive thank you for enjoying our beer. We will continue to do what we do best.” Shorts acted as lead advisors on the transaction, including valuation, fundraising, tax advice and project management, with legal advice provided by James Burdekin of MD Law. Sue Morton, one of the selling shareholders of Abbeydale Brewery, said: “Working on this transaction with our accountants Shorts was an obvious choice. They already know our business well and the Corporate Finance team have experience in EOTs. Connor Marshall who led on this for the Corporate Finance Team has also been able to pull in advisors from other teams as needed. Shorts also introduced us to James Burdekin of MD Law in Sheffield who has done all the legal work on the transaction. Both James and Connor have been great throughout, responding quickly and providing support and guidance every step of the way.” Connor Marshall of Shorts added: “It has been great to work alongside MD Law in transitioning such a well-known, acclaimed business into becoming an Employee-Owned Business. From the start the Shareholders and Senior Management Team wanted to do what was best for the employees and, with the implementation of the EOT, this solidifies the prospects of both the business and employees for the longer term. We all look forward to seeing the continued success of such a prominent Sheffield business.” James Burdekin of MD Law said: “It was a pleasure to work alongside the team at Shorts in implementing the transition of Abbeydale Brewery to employee ownership. We have no doubt that employee ownership will be a perfect fit for the iconic business which has established itself as a cornerstone of the thriving Sheffield beer community and we wish all those involved continued success in the next stages of their journey.”

Corby-based company See Limited has invested £700,000 into its distribution arm, Performance Panels, to drastically improve its environmental footprint while also revolutionising the day-to-day working operations at its distribution facility in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The company, named after its ethical and sustainability ambitions – Supporting Ethical Enterprise – operates as a holding company for three businesses in the built environment sector, Performance Panels, Inspired Surfaces, and Bousfields. With a focus on taking sustainable steps forward to reduce their carbon emissions year-on-year, this significant investment through the integration of HOMAG’s STORETEQ P-500 storage system and SAWTEQ S-300 panel dividing saw means that they will now be able to store a higher volume of 5,000 high-performance decorative panels on-site. In addition it will improve efficiencies and reduce energy consumption. The automated storage system will now organise, stock, and select different sheet sizes and materials in its facility, in what is seen as a huge boost to its distribution arm’s operational capacity. The new system will also help Performance Panels save 280 bottles of liquid petroleum gas on forklift use alone, equating to an estimated 17,495 kgCO2e avoided per year, based on calculations from the UK Government’s website. This equates to the same amount of carbon emissions as if you were to drive a petrol-powered car around the world’s equator – twice! Alongside the investment into the machinery, the Performance Panels facility has also had a complete transformation to get the most out of the storage system. The original floor was dug up and relayed with a new one, new lighting was fitted together with a new CCTV system. The extraction system was also enhanced. “As Performance Panels continued to grow, it became clear that a full evaluation of our operations was necessary to meet our environmental and sustainable ambitions,” said Robert Thompson, Group CEO at See Limited. “The implementation of the storage system and panel dividing saw is part of our continuous investment into See Limited’s operating businesses as we continue to grow and evolve. “In a fast-moving industry, it is crucial we stay ahead of the curve and on top of the latest technological advancements. “While the implementation of this significant investment has transformed the working operations onsite, it has also enhanced the health and safety measures too. Automation has replaced much of the manual handling and has drastically reduced the time spent locating and retrieving stock.”

Government is introducing a new Employment Rights Bill which brings forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers. Its also intended to strengthen statutory sick pay, remove the lower earnings limit for all workers, cut out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in, and scrap the existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal. Flexible working will be made the default where practical, and large employers will be required to create action plans to address gender pay gaps and support employees through the menopause, as well as strengthened protection against dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers. The Government says getting the labour market moving again is essential to economic growth, with one in five UK businesses with more than 10 employees reporting staff shortages. It says flexibility, for workers and businesses alike, is key to answering this challenge and is at the heart of the legislation to upgrade the law to ensure it is fit for modern life and a modern economy. It’s also intended to consult on a new statutory probation period for new hires, allowing for a proper assessment of an employee’s suitability to a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one, enabling businesses to take chances on hires while giving more people confidence to re-enter the job market or change careers, improving their living standards. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “This is the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, boosting pay and productivity with employment laws fit for a modern economy. “The UK’s out-of-date employment laws are holding our country back and failing business and workers alike. Our plans to make work pay will deliver security in work as the foundation for boosting productivity and growing our economy to make working people better off and realise our potential.”

Brothers Richard and Graham Downs have moved to Barnsley to launch a digital innovation they’ve created. Called AnchorVine, it’s an AI-powered digital platform targeted at business support agencies, accelerators, incubators, universities and colleges. It aims to improve the efficiency of their programmes by bringing together all management and communication tools and automating essential routine tasks. Itincludes a 24/7 virtual business assistant to maintain focus on actions they need to take between meetings with their real-life advisor. Richard and Graham developed their new platform into a commercial proposition through The Furnace business incubation programme delivered by Enterprising Barnsley at Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre. Undertaking that programme convinced them to move from Sheffield to DMC 01 and build their business in Barnsley – and Enterprising Barnsley, via its Launchpad programme for startups, has become one of the first organisations to adopt the AnchorVine platform. Richard said: “The Furnace experience was pivotal in helping us to refine our MVP – Minimum Viable Product – and our sales pitch for AnchorVine and land our first customers. “It was a no brainer decision for us to stay in Barnsley and be part of the ecosystem we’re now trying to help grow. We look forward to working with Enterprising Barnsley help make future business support programmes even more effective, as well as playing an active part in the business community.” The brothers’ decision to rent office space at DMC 01 has been backed by a Tech Welcome Grant. Plus, as part of the Barnsley digital business community, they now have access to on-going support and workshops through Enterprising Barnsley and Launchpad Enterprising Barnsley group leader Ben Hawley said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with AnchorVine to help them bring their innovative business support tool to market through The Furnace incubator. “We’re very pleased they’ve decided to stay on and make Barnsley their base as they pioneer their product with us, and promote it across South Yorkshire, the wider region and ultimately nationally as the go-to AI-enhanced digital tool to support business transformation.”