Quality Bearings Online wins Employer of the Year at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards
Leeds based SME, Quality Bearings Online, was awarded Employer of the Year at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards 2023. Held at London’s Grosvenor House on Tuesday 14th November, this prestigious event shone a light on businesses and entrepreneurs who have truly made an outstanding contribution to British Business.
The Employer of the Year award celebrates organisations that go the extra mile through all stages of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to inclusion and development.
Sam Moss, Chief Operating Officer at Quality Bearings Online, commented on the win: “We were honoured to be shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category, standing among some exceptional UK Businesses. Going on to win the category, at these prestigious awards was truly remarkable! We are so proud of the whole QBOL team, who embrace our culture and values every day and share this incredible success.”
Founded in 2012, Quality Bearings Online are a multi-award-winning ecommerce business who supply precision bearings, engineering spares, and technologically advanced lubricants to customers in over 110 countries.
The company takes pride in offering trusted brands, expert knowledge, excellent customer service, and swift global delivery. Serving a wide array of sectors, ranging from Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defence to Oil and Gas, as well as Precision Engineering, Quality Bearings Online is a backbone of the UK business landscape.
Quality Bearings Online is constantly looking for ways to break barriers and drive change. The company encourages women to work in the engineering sector and employs new talent from Graduates and Apprenticeship schemes across Yorkshire. From a company which started with 2, the business now consists of 22 talented and driven individuals with 65% of the workforce being women.
Sarah Austin, Director of British Business Excellence Awards, commented: “Quality Bearings Online has created a culture of learning and personal development, not only nurturing ambition, but demonstrating how best use of technology can help employers to upskill for the future and scale profitability.
“They’re recruiting from outside the sector for diversity of ideas to drive innovation and also investing in talent for long-term loyalty and growth – this is why they are truly deserving of this honour.”
The Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards ceremony was one of pure delight and celebration. The star-studded ceremony was intertwined with entertainment and speeches from Sarah Austin, Director of the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards and the UK Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. British news personality Naga Munchetty and A-list actor David Harewood also featured in the entertainment section of the evening, with The Lionesses receiving the honorary award for Inspirational Leadership off the back of their success at the Women’s Football World Cup.
Meghan Say, Digital Marketing Executive at Quality Bearings Online, said: “It was such an honour to go down to London and represent our amazing team back in Leeds. To be announced the winner of the Employer of the Year Award was the best surprise, and I’m so proud of everyone at QBOL for making it happen! Thank you to the judging panel for recognising our successes and to Saira Demmer CEO at SF Recruitment for presenting our award to us.”
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards 2023.
Building Society sets sights on raising £1m to support 2,500 people getting into work
Yorkshire Building Society has announced FareShare as its charity partner for the next two years, aiming to raise £1million to support the charity’s Building Skills for the Future programme to help 2,500 people enter the world of work.
Currently one in five people in the UK are experiencing food poverty and demand for food has skyrocketed due to the cost-of-living crisis. The food provided by FareShare acts as a gateway to these charities’ services, enabling individuals to access vital wraparound support to tackle the root causes of poverty.
The partnership between the mutual and FareShare will see the creation of employability programmes in seven of the charity’s 34 regional centres, including Leeds and Barnsley, London, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. The Building Skills for the Future programmes will offer coaching, support, practical workshops and 12-26 weeks of work experience to help enable users to secure full-time employment.
In addition, the partnership will fund an outreach programme offering free of charge face-to-face sessions and workshops helping participants overcome financial hardship by supporting the building of important skills such as CV writing, job searching and improving financial wellbeing. It is hoped that the two programmes will help 2,500 people improve their employability and help them become more financially resilient.
Yorkshire Building Society will support FareShare through fundraising and cause collections across its branch network and through volunteering opportunities across the charity’s regional centres. Colleagues from the Society will also use transferrable skills to deliver employability sessions and financial resilience lessons as part of the outreach programme.
Susan Allen, chief exec at Yorkshire Building Society said: “Our partnership with FareShare will help thousands of people improve their employability and financial wellbeing.
“As a member-owned organisation, supporting our local communities is an important part of our purpose. We want to provide Real Help for Real Life and help build financial resilience. We have been so impressed with how FareShare not only provides much needed immediate help to vulnerable people but also reduces food waste, and works to improve the root causes of food poverty. We want to help them reach and support even more of those in need of help.
“Our fundraising target is £1million, and we know our colleagues will really get behind this partnership, whether that be through raising money, volunteering at FareShare’s regional hubs, running foodbank collections in-branch or delivering employability sessions.”
George Wright, CEO at FareShare said: “Our employability programmes support people, who may be vulnerable, into good, sustainable work, addressing one of the root causes of poverty. The services offered help individuals maximise their strengths, overcome barriers to employment and take advantage of opportunities that can transform lives.
“The partnership with Yorkshire Building Society will enable us to deliver these programmes to thousands of people via our sites across the country. In areas where the cost of living crisis has hit hard, these opportunities will be instrumental not only in improving outcomes for individuals, but also in helping FareShare get more good to eat surplus food to people.
“Yorkshire Building Society will make a vital contribution to our employability programme and help thousands of people seek long-term employment in the food industry, as part of our vital work to provide a hand up not a hand out.”
FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste. The charity redistributes quality surplus food from the food industry – that would otherwise go to waste – to over 8,500 local charities across the UK. In addition to providing food, these charities help tackle the root causes of poverty and provide vital services including lunch clubs for older people, community kitchens, breakfast and after school clubs, domestic violence refuges, and homeless shelters.New grant scheme for small and micro businesses in North Yorkshire
Businesses which form the foundations of North Yorkshire’s economy are being given the opportunity to benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding.
A new package of capital grant schemes is opening up £450,000 in funding for small and micro firms across the county.
The fund, administered by North Yorkshire Council through the North Yorkshire UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), is focused on increasing business growth, productivity and resilience. Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available.
Micro businesses, with less than 10 employees, and small firms with less than 50 employees can also access free support beyond the grant through the business advisory teams at the council and the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.
Council leader and chair of the SPF Board, Cllr Carl Les, said: “We are delighted to open up this funding stream, which we hope will be accessed by all – sole traders, start-ups, home businesses and social enterprises as well as landlords and people looking to diversify their farm businesses and limited companies.
“We want businesses to think about the simple changes that could create a sustainable difference to the way they work, reach customers, and improve their bottom line for profits. Our ambition is to reach deep into the business community to see a broad range of innovative applications across the different sectors and disciplines and especially welcome first-time applications.”
North Yorkshire’s economy is heavily slanted towards smaller businesses and there is a total of more than 32,700 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises alongside 90 large businesses in the county.
The chair of the SPF Business Thematic Group, Sue Jefferson, added: “The parameters of the grants on offer have been designed by business for business as we want to see the funds accessible to all and overcoming the barriers that small businesses all too often face.
“With over 98 per cent of our local economy being made up of micro and small businesses, the ability to offer a grant programme that also encourages all applicants to take advantage of wider business advice or support, is really important to us.”
Funding for the 2023/24 scheme amounts to £450,000, with feedback and learning from this initiative set to influence the further development of grant pots in the pipeline for 2024/25.
Water Rats stay in the swim with help of £1,000 ABP donation
ABP in the Humber has given the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Water Rats open water swim club £1,000 towards their 24-hour swim challenge held in July.
Simon Bird, Regional Director for the Humber said: “This is such a worthwhile club. Giving people an opportunity to swim in open water but within a safe environment is of great benefit to many people. At the same time, their actions are also being used in raising money for other local causes.”
Alex Martinelli, Water Rat member said: “ABP’s support over many years is very much appreciated. Grimsby and Cleethorpes Water Rats history can be traced back to the 1890’s and it is with the generous support of companies like ABP that the club is now well-established as a community organisation with over 190 members of all ages and abilities.
“Some train members for triathlons, others are social swimmers, while others swim for fitness. We all work towards improving local facilities for the sport and contributing to the community.”
The 24-hour swimathon raised £2,645 for the Sunflowers Children’s action group, the elected charity this year. Teams of up to six swimmers as a relay swam the distance of the 21-mile English Channel in 21 hours.
The open-water swimming club has more than 200 members of all abilities and ages. The Community Amateur Sports Club is run by volunteers and their aim is to provide open-water swimming at a grass roots level. Their home is Alexandra Quay Marina in Grimsby’s Alexandra Dock.
Their next event is the Dip a Day in December challenge where each day the Water Rats members pledge to take a chilly dip in the dock while raising money for charity. Over the past three years, they have raised £7,500 for local charities.
In 2021 ABP donated funds to help the group acquire their first clubhouse and assisted in some giant ABP logoed buoys.
Next reveals proposals to close Bradford facility
Clothing and homeware retailer Next has announced plans to close its Toftshaw Lane facility in Bradford.
The company says it is consolidating its returns processing operation into a new online fulfilment facility being developed in South Elmsall, Wakefield.
Retail and distribution trade union Usdaw is to enter into consultation talks with Next over the future of their Bradford warehouse.
Mark Todd – Usdaw National Officer says: “Next management have briefed staff about their proposed closure of the Bradford site and development of a new operation at South Elmsall. Myself and Usdaw reps will now enter into a meaningful consultation talks, where we will have the opportunity to look at the company’s business case.
“Our priorities are to secure the best available deal for those impacted by these proposals and keep as many staff as possible employed within the business and where necessary support members securing alternative employment. In the meantime, we are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need at this difficult time.”
Green hydrogen pioneer establishes Sheffield base
Global green hydrogen pioneer Lhyfe has expanded its UK operation to South Yorkshire.
The France-based multinational has opened a Sheffield office to identify opportunities to deploy production facilities to support businesses and organisations in the drive to net zero.
Lhyfe chose Sheffield for expansion due to its “exceptional supply chain potential and strong industry connections, as well as ongoing world-leading hydrogen research.”
The company, which already has a base in Newcastle, is actively exploring various production sites and partnerships nationwide.
The new Sheffield office in the Wizu Workspace in the city centre will be headed up by renewable energy expert Stuart Sinclair.
Stuart Sinclair, Offshore Deployment UK and Ireland at Lhyfe, said: “At Lhyfe, we are already demonstrating that green hydrogen is now a reality and a key driver of the clean energy transition. Sheffield is at the epicentre of the development of the UK’s hydrogen economy and we look forward to playing our part in its growth.
“The city boasts exceptional supply chain potential and strong industry connections, as well as ongoing world-leading hydrogen research and development. We’re excited to offer our expertise to potential partners and fast-track the shift toward a sustainable future.”
Colin Brown, UK and Ireland Country Manager of Lhyfe, said: “Renewable green hydrogen production offers significant decarbonisation options for a range of organisations, and there is extraordinary potential in Sheffield.
“This new office is in line with our ambitious UK deployment plans and we felt it was the right time to establish a base here. I firmly believe creating regional green hydrogen eco-systems should allow everyone to benefit, in a way that is open to all while ensuring regional economies of scale.”
South Yorkshire employers to get easier access to skill system after £4.2m grant
Colleges and training providers across South Yorkshire have worked in collaboration to secure an investment of £4.2 million from the Local Skills Improvement Fund to support a step change in the skills provision needed to transform the regional economy and drive a high-tech future.
The funding programme will be used to make the skills system more accessible to employers, to remove barriers that are currently making it difficult to recruit apprentices, to raise the level of digital training offered by our providers, and to ultimately improve the opportunities and prospects that are available to residents. In this sense, it will be vital in addressing many of the priorities that were identified by the South Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) earlier in the year.
Reacting to this positive development, the South Yorkshire Chambers in Doncaster, Sheffield, and Barnsley & Rotherham issued this joint statement:
“When it comes to skills, there is a great deal that we should be proud and appreciative of here in the region. After all, we are home to three brilliant University Technical Colleges — with another one on the way — all of our further education providers are ranked Oftsed good or better, and we benefit from a number of strong and highly effective partnerships.
“Yet this crucially does not mean that there isn’t room from improvement. Indeed, we should always aspire to better ourselves and know that this is a view shared by many of our partners across South Yorkshire.
“In fact, those very same education providers that we just mentioned were absolutely instrumental in the development of our South Yorkshire LSIP and constructively engaged with the project right from the beginning. They did this because they too realise the importance of being agile and responsive to the needs, not just of their learners, but also of local employers.
“We therefore welcome this additional funding from the Department for Education, as it will help bring many of the recommendations from that LSIP to fruition and help colleges and universities to fulfil their laudable ambitions.
“Learners will be afforded new opportunities to develop the skills they need to thrive in the modern workplace — particularly embracing digital technology —while businesses will be able to harness the resulting talent to innovate and grow towards a more prosperous future.
“To reiterate, it is of vital importance that we have a skills system in the region that meets the needs of both local employers and learners. While we already have some fantastic provision in that respect, we believe that this investment from DfE will help take it to the next level and we have already commenced work with our excellent providers to realise the full value of the investment and meet our ambitions for South Yorkshire .”
Scunthorpe plumbing and heating firm wins caring for the community award
Scunthorpe-based Hales and Coultas Heating and Plumbing has won an award for its work in supporting people and causes.
The Caring for the Community category is part of Quality Plumber Week awards, led by the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors. It recognises organisations that go above and beyond to help and support their neighbourhoods.
Hales and Coultas was praised for its work in giving back a proportion of profits to support small organisations each year.
During 2021-2022, the team donated over £15,000 to support different projects. This has benefitted an allotment project, which aims to create pride on estates and boost mental health and wellbeing through practical gardening skills.
The donation also supported a ‘Raising Aspirations’ project which employs Youth Mentors to work with young people to inspire and encourage them to grow to their full potential as involved members of our community.
A £10k donation was made to Scunthorpe Imps amateur boxing club, as they were at risk of closure, and during the Covid lockdown, the team also took on the role of delivering care packages to those most in need, with more than 100 people benefitting from this service.
Michelle Mills, then company’s General Manager, said: “We are delighted to have been formally recognised by The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors at the Quality Plumber Week Awards.
“Caring for the community is something we pride ourselves in doing, so to win this category is amazing. We’ve supported lots of different community projects now that are having a big impact in our local communities, so it’s brilliant to be formally recognised for doing so.”
Family firm from Clapham wins E-Tailers award
North Yorkshire country clothing brand Glencroft has won the Small Retailers and E-Tailers Family Business of the Year Award at the Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards 2023.
Based in Clapham, the Glencroft brand run by parent and son trio Justina, Richard, and Edward Sexton had been shortlisted in two categories: Wholesaler Family Business of the Year and Small Retailers and E-Tailers Family Business of the Year.
Edward said: “We were thrilled to win at the Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards. It is testament to the hard work of my parents, who founded the business in the 1980s, and the team around us who contribute every day towards making Glencroft the successful family business it is today.
“As times have changed so has our business model, which has seen us launch an e-commerce website to grow our customer base and revenue, whilst further developing our trade relationships – both in the UK and abroad. This has helped us to grow the business and future proof its success, whilst continuing to manufacture the high-quality clothing and accessories our customers know and love.
“While the move online has been been a key growth strategy for us, we are aware that online retailing can be quite an impersonal way of purchasing. As a family business we try to connect with our customers as we would a friend, with each online purchase packaged up with a handwritten note from us. By doing this we add that personal touch to the buying experience, which really helps to set us apart from other brands.”
Dave Clarkson and Sue Howorth, co-founders of The Family Business Community, said: “We always want to create an unforgettable experience for all attendees, and bringing the awards to Harrogate this year, added an extra layer of magic to the occasion. The turnout was our largest to date and felt a fantastic energy in the room which was incredible.
“We’re so grateful for everyone who came out to support the awards and recognise the hard work and dedication of our Yorkshire and Humberside family businesses. It was truly an unforgettable night for everyone in the room.”
Streets Chartered Accountants covers the Autumn Statement, Corporation Tax and VAT Funding Solutions, business insolvencies, and more in new news roundup
Streets Chartered Accountants covers a recent merger, the Autumn Statement, Corporation Tax and VAT Funding Solutions, business insolvencies, and more in its latest monthly news roundup.
The merger of two leading accountancy practices is a welcome boost to Bristol, the South West and beyondStreets its delighted to announce the establishment of Streets Steele Chartered Certified Accountants. The announcement follows the merger of the award-winning Bristol practice, Steele Financial with Streets. When asked about the merger, Ben Steele, now Managing Director of Streets Steele, said: “Having started Steele Financial only six years ago we have experienced significant growth and as such, in line with the advice we give our clients, we recognised the need to develop our practice to service growing demand.”
Webinar: The Autumn Statement 2023Following Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22nd November, colleagues from Streets Tax and its financial services team will present on the announcements made along with providing an update on topical issues affecting business clients and private individuals during this tax year 2023/24. This presentation will be recorded and available on demand for those not able to join live. Simply register to receive a link to watch on demand.
Corporation Tax and VAT Funding SolutionsWhether your Corporation Tax payment is looming or your VAT payment is approaching and you are looking at managing your cashflow and working capital, then it might be worth considering a tax funding solution. What is tax funding? Tax funding is a finance option enabling businesses to fund their VAT or Corporation Tax over monthly affordable repayments rather than paying HMRC in one go, giving more flexibility, aiding cashflow and providing you with additional working capital to use as and if required during the year.
Podcast: Business insolvencies are on the rise – how to manage your exposureIn this episode of The Streets Sessions, Andrew McTear, a director with insolvency and business restructuring specialists McTear Williams Wood, talks about the rising number of business insolvencies, what directors need to consider and how to manage their exposure should their business be struggling or be facing increased bad debts.
Event: Going Global ConferenceStreets’ international association, SBC Global Alliance, is delighted to support this event, with Marketing Partner, James Pinchbeck, as host. Are you eager to expand your horizons and explore international markets? Whether you’re embarking on your exporting journey, expanding into new markets, or delving into imports from international suppliers, this Going Global Conference is tailored to guide you on your international business ventures. Whether you’re a seasoned exporter or just starting your international journey, this event is crafted to equip you with the tools and insights needed to excel in the ever-expanding global business landscape.
Are we facing a meteoric rise in mediocrity?How often, especially if you are on LinkedIn, have you seen a post or received news that someone you know has been promoted? How often does such promotion seem to be a somewhat significant step up or change from an existing role? Whilst a career trajectory from assistant to a C suite role in a matter of a few years might seem unplausible, it does seem increasingly possible. It seems gone are the days that one’s career progression is based on a number, if not many, years of work and being mentored and supported by a more senior person, with such progression dependent even on the retirement of the person in the role above.
