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Sheffield businesses can go global and meet worldwide export reps

Representatives from Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Philippines, Romania, Slovakia and Singapore will visit Sheffield next week to discuss exports from the city region.

South Yorkshire International Trade Centre (SYITC) is organising a secondv – free to attend – ‘Meet and Build’ event on July 18, to offer businesses in the Sheffield City Region an opportunity to discuss exports to these countries through the Overseas Business Network (OBN) initiative.

Nick Patrick, head of international trade at SYITC, told Sheffield Live: “We have agreements with 41 representative organisations around the world and it is our intention to get as many of those as possible to visit Sheffield to speak with businesses in the region.

“The events are designed to introduce personal contacts in specific target markets to help guide businesses through the exports process. The international visitors are very keen to help businesses in the Sheffield City Region of all sizes, from all sectors.  
 
“They will be in Sheffield to provide specific market sector information, help find agents, distributors or direct links to future customers. Our inaugural event was a great success and this is the second of many we hope to run in the future to boost exports from the region.”

SYITC, which is part of the Sheffield Chamber, offers broad support for local businesses to grow their global market, including assisting exporters throughout the process of completing the documentation; from choosing the correct documents to ensuring that they are completed correctly.

Nick Patrick will discuss the Overseas Business Network – and give tips to businesses wanting to export – our Business Live show on Friday 11 July, from 9am-10am. Tune in on 93.2fm or through our livestream, or access the podcast afterwards.

To attend the ‘Meet and Build’ event (at the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce office on Savile Street) please book online at www.syitc.com/events/meet-build-overseas-business-network

Sheffielders buying shares in local media operation

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SCM_ProgressCommitments of over £40,000 have been made to Sheffield Community Media’s Pioneer and Community Share Offer – taking the investment opportunity for anyone who lives, works, or has interests in Sheffield to own their very own television channel over a quarter of the way towards its target.

And excitement is building about the plans – with comments rolling in from more figures in Sheffield’s business, entertainment, media, social enterprise and community sectors.

Peter Johnson commented “I’m buying shares in Sheffield Community Media because I’ve always been a huge fan of sheffield live radio and if the television channel  is going to be anything like the output of the radio, it’ll be a great service for Sheffield.”

Jodie Marshall, Managing Director of A Mind Apart Theatre Company, said “I would really like to take shares in this project as I believe it’s a great opportunity for Sheffield, and as someone working on the frontline in Sheffield within the arts and working with young people and educating them in this area, I believe it could be a great opportunity for Sheffield to put even more onto the creative map of the UK.”

And Joe Elliott, the lead vocalist of Def Leppard and of the Mott the Hoople cover band, Down ‘n’ Outz, said: “Now watch out for Sheffield Live TV – it’s going to be fantastic – especially for music.”

Readers can become a part owner and can invest from £100 to £20,000, payable by instalments if preferred. Sheffield Community Media aims to pay a modest rate of interest after 3 years. Details here.

Sheffield Community Media Ltd, an organisation set up for community benefit, has been established to support community media development in Sheffield, including the new local digital TV channel that will be launched on Freeview, cable and the internet in 2014.

In May 2012, Ofcom, the communications regulator, advertised local digital TV licences for Sheffield and 20 other ‘pioneer locations’. Sheffield Local Television Ltd, wholly owned by Sheffield Community Media Ltd, was the winning applicant for the Sheffield local TV service.

Launching in 2014, the new television channel Sheffield Live TV will cover Sheffield news; events; music; sports and culture. It will reflect the interests of Sheffield people and communities – and provide a platform for local talent and opportunities for local businesses.

It will be Sheffield’s first digital local TV channel, broadcasting on Freeview channel 8, cable and the internet.

And it will be part of a new cross-platform media partnership – radio, TV, web and mobile – working with existing community radio station Sheffield Live 93.2 FM and a new web and mobile Sheffield news service.

Community Shares are a form of social investment to raise funds for projects of community benefit.

Sheffield Community Media Ltd want Sheffielders to support this groundbreaking project. Their “Pioneer and Community Share Offer” is available at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares

Other figures have already provided their support:

Jill Davies, chief executive of Westfield Health, said “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity that we’re going to get our own local TV in Sheffield. It’ll enable us to keep our fingers on the pulse of all those local important issues.”

Ed Cosens of Sheffield band Reverend and the Makers commented “Sheffield Local Television is an amazing opportunity for the people of Sheffield to do what Sheffield does best – be creative and get inspired. Musically it’s going to be amazing, you’ve got loads of great music programmes on there so I’m excited about that.”

Heather MacDonald, chief executive of The Sheffield College, said “It’s brilliant for Sheffield College and it’s brilliant for Sheffield City.”

Dermot Griffiths of Mercury Taxis said “I’m really looking forward to the launch of Sheffield Live TV….this will be a perfect platform to showcase all the great things about Sheffield.”

Jay Bhayani of Bhayani Bracewell commented “I’m really excited about the launch of Sheffield Live TV. It’s a fantastic way for us to showcase the expertise and talent right on our doorstep in Sheffield.”

The Sheffield Community Media Ltd business plan, published at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares sets out the organisation’s proposals for the development of a digital local television channel for Sheffield as part of a cross-platform community media offer.

Richard Motley, chair of Sheffield Community Media Ltd, said:

“Building on Sheffield’s history of culture, creativity and innovation, our goal is to establish a cross-platform community media service that serves the public interest in local news, information, education and entertainment and encourages local talent and creative expression.”

Steve Buckley, chair of Sheffield Local Television Ltd, said:

“We have a sustainable business model that will create jobs and nurture talent. But we need Sheffielders’ support to make Sheffield Live TV happen.

“The Sheffield Community Media shares prospectus – at www.sheffieldlive.org/shares – explains how to get involved in Sheffield Community Media Ltd and what, together, we can achieve. Please join this exciting new media project – the first of its kind.”

ENDS

Media enquiries: Jamie Veitch: 07904 272 200

Questions about the Pioneer and Community Share Issue: call 0114 281 4082 or email shares@sheffieldlive.org

Sheffield Community Media Ltd is a society for the benefit of the community incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965. Registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Registration No: 31727R. Registered address: 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX

BusinessLive! 4 April

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BusinessLive040414Today’s was a packed BusinessLive! show – featuring 3 live interviews, 3 other interviews recorded this week, and business news.

Business news covered:

  • A Business Improvement District for Sheffield?
  • Will Aid success for solicitors Bell & Buxton.
  • Could you be the voice of Meadowhall’s Woody the Talking Tree?
  • MADE Festival of Entrepreneurship set to return – and Irwin Mitchell, BHP and The Sheffield College are on board.

Guests / Interviews:

  • Studio guests Mike Browell and Lu Zhong from Weddle Landscape Design. As well as projects in Sheffield and the UK, Weddle have won work on numerous prestigious contracts in China. (Timings within podcast – approx 6 mins to approx 24 mins,)
  • Ian Wild, chief executive of Showroom Workstation, came in to discuss a new initiative called Film Hub North, set to help bring specialised, British and archive film to a wider audience. (Approx 24 mins to approx 35 mins.)
  • Bruce Davis, MD and founder of ethical, regulated crowdfunding platform Abundance and founder of peer-to-peer lender Zopa, in an interview recorded at this week’s TownFunder conference in Sheffield. (Approx 35 mins to approx 39 mins.)
  • Simon Thorrington of The Charity Bank on responsible banking and specialist services for social enterprises – which Simon calculated make up 15% of SMEs – in an interview recorded at this week’s TownFunder conference. (Approx 40 mins to approx 46 mins.)
  • Peter Rees, MD and founder of obstactle race blog and forum Mudstacle, in a live interview about turning his passion and hobby into a business. (Approx 46 mins to approx 57 mins.)
  • Rob Law of children’s suitcase business Trunki – who bounced back from “Dragons Den” rejection to create a multi-million turnover global business, and Paul Lawton of O2 – on entrepreneurship. (Excerpt of the interview played in show from 57 – 60 mins; full interview available below.)

What next?

You can listen to / download the podcast of the whole show here (available for approx 60 days from 5 April). Or listen to some of the interviews:

Abundance interview:

Charity Bank interview:

Trunki and O2 interview:

The BusinessLive! show broadcasts every Friday from 9am to 10am on Sheffield Live!

City Centre manager on Business Live

Richard Eyre, the Head of City Centre Management and Major Events at Sheffield City Centre, was Jamie Veitch’s guest on today’s Business Live show.

At a time when there are approximately 40,000 empty shops in the UK, and footfall in Sheffield, like most locations, had declined by about 9% in 2012, creative and innovative ways to support retailers and generate visits to city and town centres is viewed by many as crucial for the future of the high street.

In December the Government announced some measures around business rates, parking, and technology which are aimed to support city and town centres. Will these go far enough?

Richard addressed Sheffield’s approach to these issues, and talked through the Council’s successful use of High Street Innovation Fund and Keep Sheffield Working Fund to revitalising Chapel Walk, support independent and multiple retailers, and generate footfall through the Summer Saturdays programme of events.

And he gave a clear message to businesses and communities that he’s open to and welcomes engagement and ideas.

Have a listen to the podcast of today’s show here (available for approx 60 days from today, 3 Jan).

More about the Business Live series here.

Today’s Business Live: seasonal businesses, Business Awards, community investment

Today’s episode of our Business Live discussion programme covered the challenges of running seasonal businesses and the Sheffield Business Awards – as well as references to Sheffield’s high street parking schemes and the launch of the new Moor Market (you can listen to an interview with traders and shoppers here).

Presenter Jamie Veitch was joined live in the studio by Neil Grant, the managing director of Ferndale Garden Centre at Coal Aston; Tom Lindop, an account manager at the Sheffield Chamber; and Janet Skirrow, chief executive of local social enterprise Zest.

Neil talked about how Ferndale has successfully adapted to the changing needs of its customers; the trials and tribulations of running a seasonal – and family-owned – business; generating footfall; and even guerilla gardening, and how growing vegetables is accessible to all.

Tom gave us the lowdown on all of the benefits to businesses of entering and being recognised by being shortlisted in the Sheffield Business Awards – winners will be announced this Thursday evening.

And Janet, of local social enterprise and development trust Zest (which has been shortlisted in the Community Investment category of the Awards) talkaked about how being shortlisted has already proved really beneficial to Zest, a 15-year-old Sheffield business and development trust which has successfully moved from grant dependency to earning and generating income and winning contracts to deliver its health and wellbeing services.

You can listen to the podcast (and even download it) here.

More about the Business Live series of programmes here.

High growth business, social enterprise and investment

Nigel Brewster

Today’s Business Live show (which airs every Friday at 9am) came within Global Entrepreneurship Week and the day after Social Enterprise Day.

Presenter Jamie Veitch was joined in the studio by Nigel Brewster, Partner at the Brewster Pratap recruitment group, a high growth business founded in 2011.

Nigel is also a private sector Board Member for the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (whose Chair was a guest on this show last week) where he has responsibility for the ‘Skills’ work stream.

Nigel discussed entrepreneurship, taking the steps to start a business, strategies for growth without diluting a business’ values, effective business planning, and how we might enable school leavers with business skills.

Following Nigel we turned to a conversation about social enterprise.

There are more than 70,000 social enterprises in the UK that sell products and services including clothing, chocolate, water, coffee, energy, childcare, printing and design. They are businesses driven by a social mission and use profits to tackle problems like homelessness, unemployment, carbon emissions and food waste. They contribute billions to the economy and are changing the face of business.

Sam Tarff, the new chief executive of The Key Fund, which invests in social enterprises and has supported over 2000 organisations since launching in 1999, talked about the financial and strategic support that Key Fund offers. Sam has a track record himself in running and working with successful social enterprises and third sector organisations and flagged up examples of successful social enterprises.

We were also joined by Sam Walby, editor of Now Then magazine published by Sheffield-based social enterprise Opus Independents. Now Then has put its social impact and values at the heart of its operation and Sam showed how this identity, vision and mission informs all its operations – and how the social enterprise generates income to support its work. The business has now expanded to publish Now Then in Manchester and will be widening distribution of Now Then in Sheffield.

You can listen to / download the full podcast of the show here.

More about the Business Live series of programmes.

Show sponsor, the Sheffield Enterprise Programme, is running an exciting event on 3rd December, Break Barriers, Open Doors, featuring successful Sheffield entrepreneurs who have overcome barriers to achieve their business dream. Details here.

Boost for youth jobs

LEP Board Members Nigel Brewster and Sheffield Council Chief Executive John Mothersole with Nick Clegg to mark the launch the City Deal at Sheffield College last year

LEP Board Members Nigel Brewster and Sheffield Council Chief Executive John Mothersole with Nick Clegg to mark the launch the City Deal at Sheffield College last year

The Government yesterday announced a £5million cash injection for Sheffield City Region to help young people into jobs.

The investment is from a pot of Government cash given to England’s major cities to invest over the next three years, with the aim of helping more than 25,000 young people into jobs that last.

Nigel Brewster, LEP Board Member and Managing Director at Brewster Pratap Recruitment Consultants, said:

“Today’s announcement about £5m for skills training is as good news for business as it is for young people.

“The Sheffield City Region LEP is squarely focused on economic growth – and this innovative programme will help give our businesses the skills they need to grow.

“Business leaders, myself included, have been working closely with councils and education providers to build this very specific programme aimed at matching young people with the right skills to meet the future needs of Sheffield City Region’s business.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“Helping young people succeed is crucial to our economic recovery. That is why I am pleased to announce a Government investment of £5 million for Sheffield to help get more young people into jobs.

“This is a multi-million pound cash boost for the Sheffield City Region to invest in its young people and the future prosperity of the city, making our society fairer so that everyone has the chance to get on in life.
“Investment like this, paired with a determination to tackle youth unemployment by our great cities, has the genuine power to change the fortunes of young people across the region, whether it’s with extra training, improving education, or apprenticeships.”

Sheffield City Region was one of eight core cities and twenty wave two cities invited to submit proposals earlier this year for a share of up to £50m. The people behind the proposal had to prove they will be able to deliver innovative schemes explicitly designed to tackle the problem of youth unemployment.

The £5m will be used to offer intensive advisor and mentor-led support for young people in Sheffield, alongside a specialist training programme aimed at equipping young people with the right skills to match local employers’ needs.

We covered the announcement in today’s Business Live radio programme, which also included an interview with Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Chairman, James Newman.  More details and a link to the podcast are here.

The investment is from a pot of Government cash given to England’s major cities to invest over the next three years, with the aim of helping more than 25,000 young people into jobs that last. – See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/2013/11/5m-boost-for-youth-jobs/#sthash.zhLBwecJ.dpuf

The investment is from a pot of Government cash given to England’s major cities to invest over the next three years, with the aim of helping more than 25,000 young people into jobs that last. – See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/2013/11/5m-boost-for-youth-jobs/#sthash.zhLBwecJ.dpuf
The investment is from a pot of Government cash given to England’s major cities to invest over the next three years, with the aim of helping more than 25,000 young people into jobs that last. – See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/2013/11/5m-boost-for-youth-jobs/#sthash.zhLBwecJ.dpuf

the Government has announced that Sheffield City Region will get a £5 million cash injection to help young people into jobs.

The investment is from a pot of Government cash given to England’s major cities to invest over the next three years, with the aim of helping more than 25,000 young people into jobs that last.

– See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/2013/11/5m-boost-for-youth-jobs/#sthash.zhLBwecJ.dpuf

the Government has announced that Sheffield City Region will get a £5 million cash injection to help young people into jobs.

The investment is from a pot of Government cash given to England’s major cities to invest over the next three years, with the aim of helping more than 25,000 young people into jobs that last.

– See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/2013/11/5m-boost-for-youth-jobs/#sthash.zhLBwecJ.dpuf

City Region’s Local Enterprise Partnership Chair interviewed on Sheffield Live

James Newman

James Newman

James Newman, Chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Board Partnership, was interviewed on Sheffield Live’s Business Live show this morning.

The twenty minute interview, conducted by Paul Gregory in the Sheffield Live studios yesterday (14 November), covered the scope and scale of the Partnership. James is well-known across the City Region’s business community and his career spans more than 35 years, with senior roles in a large number of different industries including manufacturing, services and utilities.

James is a Yorkshireman born and bred with a career spanning more than 35 years, which includes senior roles with a large number of different industries including manufacturing, services and utilities. – See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/about/staff-profiles/#sthash.0h8Ij191.dpuf
James is a Yorkshireman born and bred with a career spanning more than 35 years, which includes senior roles with a large number of different industries including manufacturing, services and utilities. – See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/about/staff-profiles/#sthash.0h8Ij191.dpuf
James is a Yorkshireman born and bred with a career spanning more than 35 years, which includes senior roles with a large number of different industries including manufacturing, services and utilities. – See more at: http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/about/staff-profiles/#sthash.0h8Ij191.dpuf

The show also featured live studio guests Fiona Greaves and Johnny Reay talking about the Start Up Loans scheme – which encompasses business support too. Fiona ran through the practicalities of this scheme, which can offer loan finance – and vital mentoring / business support – to help entrepreneurs to launch businesses.

Today’s show came the the day after the announcement of a £5m cash injection to the City Region to help young people into jobs, and ahead of next week’s Global Entrepreneurship Week and Social Enterprise Day.

You can listen to (in your browser, and / or download) the podcast of the show here.

Our Business Live show broadcasts every Friday from 9am-10am.

Award-winning business leaders on Sheffield Live

Sheffield Live’s business programme, BusinessLive, heard yesterday from two award-winning business leaders who shared their experiences of growing and running businesses.

Jaqui Copley, managing director of the Elite Group, and Jay Bhayani, partner at Bhayani Bracewell, joined presenter Jamie Veitch. Both were fresh from attending Thursday evening’s Funny Business event at Sheffield City Hall, in which ten top personalities from Sheffield City Region organisations – including Jaqui – had performed a stand-up comedy routine to help fundraise for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity’s Do Your Bit campaign. And Jaqui had even been crowned the winner of the best comedy routine at the event.

The show explored how Jaqui had grown the Elite Group from starting-up in 2002 as a home based business, through to recruiting staff, moving into business premises, and now turning over several hundred thousand pounds a year. Jaqui shared her insights and business tips for securing clients and sales, and how she’d dealt with challenges to grow her business – which distributes swimwear, lingerie and children’s clothes – to become the great success it is today.

And employment law expert Jay Bhayani, one of Sheffield’s leading employment lawyers, who has won accolades including recommendation in the legal 500, a Yorkshire Lawyer Employment Lawyer of the Year Award, and the ABDN Professional of the Year Award, joined the programme to talk through key policies and procedures that all businesses should have in place – and the pitfalls if they don’t. Jay discussed many aspects of employment law and HR practice, including directors’ service contracts, shareholder agreements, appropriate policies and procedures, and performance management in the workplace.

Download / listen to the podcast of the show here.

Business and the green economy

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This morning’s episode of Sheffield Live’s business programme, BusinessLive, featured two Sheffield businesses active and trading in the green economy and a topical debate about energy and insulation. Both of the businesses featured have a strong commitment to environmental sustainability – and demonstrated the economic argument for doing so, too.

Green Directions’ Mark Woodward discussed the process of turning his farm from a location dependent on expensive oil heating to a renewable “powerhouse” – with wind and solar generated electricity, a ground heat pump, and upgraded insulation. Green Directions is a thriving conference venue and Mark offered some sage business advice too.

And David Sorsby of LiveLight – a social enterprise launched in January this year – discussed how his business can help its members save money and reduce their environmental impact; and the lessons he’s learned in getting the business off the ground.

You can download or listen to the podcast of today’s show here.