As the Scottish Government launches its new retail strategy, Usdaw calls for better pay and conditions in the sector, and a level playing field for online and high street retail

The Scottish Government has launched a new retail strategy, which aims to encourage fair work and improve skills in the sector. Usdaw, the trade union for retail, has been involved with the Scottish Government’s Steering Group, ensuring that the views and concerns of Scotland’s 240,000 retail workers were heard in the formulation of the strategy.

Asia Pacific requiring 17000 new aircraft in next 20 years

IMF has highlighted that growth in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to increase to 4.6%, compared to 0.8% in Europe or 2.2% in North America.

Asian businesses are ‘alive and kicking’ and ready to take on the year – say Chamber

The Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) have announced several new appointments to their executive committee as they celebrate another year of growth across the 34-year-old network. They were made during the ABCC’s online annual meeting today at which it was also announced that Dr Jason Wouhra OBE, CEO of Lioncroft Wholesale Limited, would go on to his second year of presidency.

Aston Manor results impacted by unprecedented supply chain inflation

Three years of disruption for manufacturing culminated with unprecedented supply chain inflation in 2022, impacting the results of Aston Manor, the cider-led drinks producer based in Birmingham.

Whilst turnover nudged up from £139m to £142m for the year to 31 December 2022, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation were slightly down from £5.7m to £5.4m – noted as a creditable performance in the commentary supporting the annual results.

That records: “The quality of our response was informed by a clear strategy and was possible because of the capability that exists in all part of our business, both in terms of our processes and the quality of our people.

Aston Martin Cheltenham Hands Jamie Chadwick Keys to New Vantage

Aston Martin Cheltenham has handed over a brand new Vantage Coupe to professional racing driver, Jamie Chadwick.

The reigning W Series champion, Jamie – who also competes in Extreme E and is a development driver for Williams Racing in Formula One – collected the Aston Martin Vantage Coupé, finished in silver with striking black and silver alloy wheels, from the showroom, managed by the H.R. Owen Group. Aston Martin Cheltenham is now able to host customers, by appointment only, in line with government-led COVID-19 lockdown easing.

The Vantage Coupe is an icon of performance sports car by Aston Martin, with Jamie’s car updated for 2021 and representing a dramatic step forward in sharp handling and eye-catching design. Powered by the sensational 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the new Vantage is lighter and stiffer than before, focused on form and functionality with clear hints of evolution from the Vantage nameplate.

The taut and muscular-looking sports car is shaped with a sculpted bonnet that tapers to two slim LED wraparound headlights and a low, shark-like grille. The classic shape is highly expressive with its single falling shoulder line that connects front and rear with one swooping design line. This Vantage represents class-leading aerodynamics while the rear of the car is dominated by a diffuser that keeps the Aston Martin pinned to the road at high speeds – every detail about this car centres around performance.

Jamie Chadwick, professional racing driver, said: “Aston Martin Cheltenham was one of my first ever partners at the start of my car racing career back in 2015, so I am especially delighted to rekindle this relationship. The Aston Martin brand aligns perfectly with my current ambitions within motorsport and I am looking forward to working with the H.R. Owen team to encourage more young women to enjoy their amazing cars!”

Craig Davison at Aston Martin Cheltenham, said: “We are delighted to work with Jamie in supplying this incredible Aston Martin Vantage, fit for a professional racing driver. We know Jamie is local to us in Cheltenham, and it is important for us to support nearby talent as best we can. We have watched Jamie’s career progress over the last 5 years and we look forward to a continuing our relationship with Jamie as she races during 2021 and beyond.”

The Aston Martin showroom site in Cheltenham 2020 Aston Martin UK Dealer of the Year and Aftersales Customer Satisfaction Index Dealer of the Year, is joined by sister site in the H.R. Owen network, Aston Martin Reading, in stocking all models by the iconic British marque. Both showroom sites re-opened their doors to customers by appointment on 12 April, in line with government guidelines on easing lockdown rules. Throughout lockdowns the showrooms were closed to physical visits but continued to operate with virtual walkarounds and new digital sales processes – always with a customer-first approach.

Auditors give Council finances clean bill of health

The City of Wolverhampton Council has been backed for the way it manages public funds by independent auditors. An annual report into the council’s financial statements has revealed it provides value for money with strong governance procedures in place and no significant weaknesses over its financial sustainability.

Aunt Jemima to rebrand as Pearl Milling Company

After 130 years on kitchen tables, Aunt Jemima products will have a new name: Pearl Milling Company. The announcement from PepsiCo-brand comes almost eight months after the company said it would remove the Aunt Jemima name, acknowledging it was "based on a racial stereotype".

The new name is a nod to the original mill that began producing the self-rising pancake mix in 1889. The rebranded products will be available starting in June 2021. The new Pearl Milling brand was "developed with inclusivity in mind", PepsiCo said. In images released by the company, the new products bear the familiar red and yellow colour scheme of the existing products.

They include a printed label that says, "New Name Same Great Taste, Aunt Jemima". The original image used on Aunt Jemima products - a smiling Black woman with a bandana in her hair - had been widely criticised for romanticising the antebellum South, a time before the US Civil War.

The first Aunt Jemima character was based on Nancy Green, a storyteller, cook and missionary born into slavery in Kentucky in 1834. The name itself was taken from a character from minstrel shows in the 1800s that mocked African-Americans.

Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo Inc, bought the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and updated the image over time - replacing the kerchief on the character's head with a plaid headband and later adding pearl earrings and a lace collar. The changes were "intended to remove racial stereotypes", the company said in a press release.

This summer, as racial justice protests swept across the US following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in police custody, the brand was faced with renewed criticism. In June 2020, it became one of the first major brands to announce it would change its name to avoid racial stereotypes.

The company also pledged a $5m (£3.6m) "commitment to support the Black community". It announced an additional $1m (£720,000) investment aimed at Black girls and women.

Mars Food recently announced it would rename Uncle Ben's rice products to Ben's Original and remove the image of a smiling, grey-haired Black man from its packaging. Uncle, like aunt, was used in southern US states to refer to Black people, instead of the more formal "Miss" or "Mister".

Aurrigo International plc returns to Milton Keynes with self-driving shuttle trial

One of the UK’s leading autonomous technology specialists is returning to Milton Keynes -nine years after it first deployed its 4-seater driverless pods in the city.

Aurrigo International plc signs formal partnership agreement with Changi Airport Group

Aurrigo International plc, a leading international provider of transport technology solutions, has signed a formal partnership agreement with Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd for the continued joint development and testing of the company's autonomous vehicles, Auto-Dolly and Auto-DollyTug and its airport simulation software platform Auto-Sim.

Aurrigo's soaring aviation ambitions boosted by Executive Director appointment

One of the UK’s leading autonomous vehicle specialists has made a strategic new appointment to drive its aviation activity.

AutoFlight reveals interior design of world-record holding prosperity I eVTOL

AutoFlight, the global electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) pioneer, is thrilled to unveil the interior design of its world-record holding Prosperity I eVTOL. Designed by legendary automotive industry designer Frank Stephenson, known for his iconic works with brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, and MINI, Prosperity I represents a fusion of style, science, and sustainable urban mobility. The full-scale aircraft type will be showcased at the highly anticipated Le Bourget Paris Air Show (19-25 June 2023).

Average London room rents hit an all-time high

New data from flatshare site SpareRoom shows average room rents in London passed £800 for the first time. Rents in the capital reached £815 in Q2 2022, up 15% from £708 in Q2 2021. It’s not just the capital where rents have skyrocketed; Northern Ireland was up 17%, followed by the North East and Wales (both up 13% YOY). 

Award winners from three Chambers revealed

Businesses from three of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s geographical divisions were recognised for their achievements in a major online awards ceremony. The virtual awards were held to celebrate business success in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Tamworth and, for the first time, Cannock Chase. Tamworth-based bathroom product supplier HiB Limited was the big winner, claiming the Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Large Business of the Year award.

The firm, which employs 108 people at Birch Coppice Business Park, has enjoyed impressive growth over the past three years which has enabled it to increase the workforce by 30 per cent. The award ceremony, beamed live from Chamber House in Edgbaston, was hosted by Future Faces vice-president Sabah Hussain and headline sponsor for the event was Amazon.

Hannah Montgomery of Lichfield-based Golddust Marketing picked up the Young Professional of the Year award, while Inform Accounting (Sutton Coldfield), Bluebird Care (Lichfield & Tamworth) and TechCare Limited (Cannock Chase) won Small Business of the Year awards for their respective Chambers. There were also three presidential honours. Sutton Coldfield Chamber president Phil Arkinstall using his President’s Award to jointly recognise two education leaders – Richard Gill of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership and Rachel Davis of Little Sutton Primary School.

Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber president Jason Challoner’s award also went to the education sector, with Julie Poppleton, head of careers education at Stephen Sutton Multi-Academy Trust, this year’s recipient. Fred Pritchard of Pritchard Property received the Cannock Chase Chamber President’s Award from Gill Durkin.

The awards judging panel included Burton & District Chamber president Nik Hardy, Saban Hussain, Jade Linton from Thursfields Solicitors and Rob Pollard, the founder of Lightbox Digital. The panel was chaired by Anjum Khan, director of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce.

Winners in full:

Sutton Coldfield Chamber President's Award (Sponsored by Select Car Leasing):Richard Gill (chief executive, Arthur Terry Learning Partnership) and Rachel Davis (headteacher, Little Sutton Primary School)

Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber President’s Award (Sponsored by Inspired Energy) Julie Poppleton (head of careers education, Stephen Sutton Multi-Academy Trust)

Cannock Chase Chamber President’s Award(In partnership with Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub) Fred Pritchard (owner and CEO, Pritchard Property)

Sutton Coldfield Small Business of the Year(Sponsored by Keele University Student Knowledge Exchange Project) Inform Accounting

Lichfield & Tamworth Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by Crown Highways) Bluebird Care Tamworth and Lichfield

Cannock Chase Small Business of the Year (Sponsored by Hardy Signs) TechCare Limited

Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Large Business of the Year(Sponsored by Haines Watts) HiB Limited

Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Young Professional of the Year (Sponsored by South Staffordshire College) Hannah Montgomery, Golddust Marketing

Award-winning entrepreneur speaks at event on International Women’s Day

The University of Wolverhampton’s Business School has secured an award-winning female entrepreneur to speak at a business networking event on International Women’s Day.

Great British Entrepreneur award winner, Fungai Ndemera, will be guest speaker at the free networking event which takes place on Tuesday 8 March from 12.00 midday until 2.00 pm in the University of Wolverhampton Business School, Deanery Row in Wolverhampton. The event has been sponsored by FBC Manby Bowdler Solicitors LLP.

Azets Birmingham partner cycles from Lands to John O’Groats in aid of The Pebbles Project

Azets Birmingham’s tax partner, Ray Abercromby, completed a 1,000-mile venture, from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of The Pebbles Project Trust, a charity based in South Africa that supports children impacted by poverty in The Winelands.

Being a wine lover, Ray chose to raise money for The Pebbles Project, a charity that was originally set up to help children who were born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a preventable birth defect caused by a woman consuming alcohol during her pregnancy, one of the consequences of the wine farms historically part-paying their workers in wine.

Azets Birmingham takes on the M6 Motorway Challenge

A group of employees from Azets Birmingham -  SME focused international accounting, tax, audit, advisory and business services group - is travelling 232.2 miles – the length of the M6 motorway – in a health and wellbeing office challenge with a twist, including milestones, pitstop days and challenges along the virtual route. Created by Jaden Reynolds, Jo Cox, Elizabeth Malkin and Rachel Green as an initiative to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace, they invited the whole of Azets’ Birmingham office to participate by clocking the distances they walk or run during the lockdown and adding it to the team tracker on Microsoft Teams.

The challenge started on 19^th March 2021 at the southern end of the M6, in Catthorpe, and will end across the Scottish border in Gretna Green. There are 11 milestones along the way, with the team sharing interesting facts about the areas they have reached. The challenge also includes ‘pitstop days’, where participants are encouraged to virtually explore the M6 towns and villages by continuing physical activity without adding their mileage to the total, and ‘challenge days’, where participants complete feats such as the virtual Yorkshire 3 Peaks or Ingleton Waterfall Trail without these distances counting towards the total.

Praveen Gupta, Office Managing Partner with Azets Birmingham, added: “As a team, we are always coming up with new ways to support one another and this has been particularly important over the past year. I challenged the team to create an office-wide initiative and the ingenuity and commitment by Jaden, Jo, Elizabeth and Rachel to devise and manage the M6 Motorway Challenge is outstanding. Awareness around mental and physical health and wellbeing has been brought into sharp focus, and I am proud to lead a team that is as caring as it is talented.”

Administration Manager with Azets Birmingham, Rachel Green, said: “We wanted to encourage colleagues to get outdoors, take some fresh air and make time for themselves – especially during difficult periods of lockdown. The challenge has been really well received, with lots of people getting involved. At one 48-hour pitstop in the Peak District, we recorded 31 miles, which highlighted participation even when that distance didn’t count towards reaching the final milestone at Gretna Green."

Azets closes multi-million-pound bi-fold door deal

Azets, the UK's largest regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs, is pleased to announce that its Corporate Finance team has advised the leadership team of specialist bi-fold door manufacturer, Slide and Fold, on its sale to acquisitive privately-owned business Orchestra Group.

Slide and Fold Limited, together with sister company Weathershield Limited, is a long-established Great British business specialising in the manufacture and supply of bi-fold doors and high-quality double-glazed windows. The family-owned business, led by husband-and-wife Darron and Eve Cooke, is based in Coventry. Under Mr and Mrs Cooke’s ownership, Slide and Fold has achieved substantial growth and become a leader in its industry. As a tech-enabled business, Slide and Fold has a significant online sales focus, which was a key enabler for attracting interested parties.

Azets was appointed by Mr and Mrs Cooke after Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance at Azets, had provided initial advice on a sale strategy and timeline, building trust with the client whilst demonstrating Azets’ specialist expertise. Also advising from Azets was Corporate Finance Senior Manager, Simon Hopkin. Azets identified Orchestra Group as a potential buyer in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis was taking hold in the UK. All negotiations and project management through to completion was conducted during the pandemic, adding significant challenges to the multi-million-pound deal.

Commenting on the sale, Darron and Eve Cooke, said: “As a long-held family-owned business, it was important we were able to identify the right time to sell and the right buyers. We are thankful to Mark and the team at Azets for helping us achieve this. We appointed Azets to advise on the sale of Slide and Fold following a number of discussions with Mark, during which his openness, honesty and transparency filled us with confidence. We are pleased the deal is now complete and, despite the additional complication of a global pandemic, Azets maintained a personal and professional approach throughout.”

Mark Selby, National Head of Corporate Finance at Azets said: “’We are delighted to have assisted Darron and Eve with the sale of their business. Conducting this transaction under lockdown restrictions presented some highly unusual logistical challenges. However, the desire of all parties to get a deal done meant that we were able to navigate these successfully and achieve a great outcome for our client.”

Director at Orchestra Group, Steve Rhodes, added: “It was a pleasure to deal with Mark and Simon throughout the acquisition process. We found them to be extremely responsive and they were helpful in finding solutions to the inevitable hiccups that occur in the deal process. They were always looking to get the right deal for their client and were dedicated to making sure the deal got completed as quickly and smoothly as possible.

“We have worked with multiple vendor advisors’ and we found Azets to be amongst the most professional and easy to work with of any that we have encountered. If I am selling a business in the future, I would not hesitate to approach Azets as advisors.” Also advising Slide and Fold was legal and professional services business Knights plc.

Jon Start, Partner in Knights’ Corporate team, said: “This transaction marks the successful completion of another high-quality deal for our team during a disrupted year for many. It was a pleasure to support the sellers on this project alongside Azets, their accountants and corporate finance advisers, and we wish Darron and Eve all the best for the future.”

Azets delivers multi-million-pound metal engineering deal

The Midlands corporate finance team of Azets, the UK's largest regional accountancy and business advisor to SMEs, has advised on the multimillion-pound sale of the Ernest Engineering Group. The Ernest Engineering Group is a family business and was established in 1970. Based in Coventry, it specialises in the manufacture of specialist brass and steel threaded parts and trades under the names of Anchor Inserts and Bailey & Wade.

Azets named Accountancy Firm of the Year 2021

Azets, the UK’s largest regional accountancy and business advisor to SMEs, with 14 offices in the Midlands, has won Accountancy Firm of the Year 2021 at the prestigious City of Birmingham Business Awards (COBBA).

Azets Regional CEO eyes quadruple growth

Azets, the UK’s largest regional accountancy and business advisor to SMEs, with 14 offices across the Midlands, Shropshire, and the Welsh Borders, is targeting quadruple growth in the region within the next five years as part of ambitious plans set out by Regional CEO Paul Clifford.