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Azets Group (“the Group”), a leading provider of business-critical accounting, tax, payroll, audit and advisory services to SMEs, has announced today that PAI Partners (“PAI”), a pre-eminent private equity firm, has joined the business as a new investor. Following completion, PAI will hold an equal and co-controlling stake in Azets alongside current owners Hg, a leading investor in European and transatlantic software and services businesses. Azets was formed by Hg six years ago, in response to the growing digitalisation of financial compliance processes for SMEs. Since then, the Group has grown significantly to become one of the largest tech-enabled providers of professional advisory, financial and accounting services to SMEs globally. Azets continues to benefit from the broader trend of SMEs outsourcing non-core and non-discretionary services, as well as the highly fragmented nature of the sector. The business has acquired more than 90 local providers since inception. Today, Azets’ 7,600 professionals support more than 93,000 clients and generate revenues of approximately £700 million. Azets is now backed by two leading private equity investors: PAI, with its deep sector expertise in Business Services, and Hg, with its longstanding heritage in software and services investing. Both investors have a strong track record of partnering with management teams to rapidly scale businesses and create global industry leaders. With this support, Azets is well placed to continue its successful growth strategy, deepening its presence in new and existing markets across Europe through a combination of organic growth and further strategic M&A. Chris Horne, Group Chief Executive Officer at Azets, said: “Azets has established a strong reputation for delivering innovative tech-enabled services in what has previously been a low-tech adoption sector. Our five-year Pathway strategy outlines a clear purpose and vision of how we want our business to develop, and we are thrilled to have selected two investors who are as excited about our future as we are. To gain backing from another world-class investor is testament to this evolution and will enable us to deliver on future opportunities that will help us scale and support our thousands of clients and colleagues globally.” Colm O’Sullivan, a Partner at PAI Partners, said: “With its proven and resilient business model, Azets provides a strong platform for future growth. Thanks to its leading market positioning, the firm is well placed to benefit from the growing levels of compliance, regulation and outsourcing that underpin its core services market. We look forward to partnering with the management team and Hg in this next phase of Azets’ growth.” Matthew Brockman, Managing Partner at Hg, said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone with Azets. From the original vision, we have built a world-class company using our deep knowledge of this sector and considerable operational capabilities in building software and services companies. This transaction allows us to return significant capital to our investors, a huge priority for us in the last year, while bringing on substantial new expertise from a strong partner and retaining a substantial interest in the next leg of growth for Azets.” Completion is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Leicester City Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Enzo Maresca as our new First Team Manager. Enzo, 43, has agreed a contract at King Power Stadium to 2026. The Italian arrives in Leicester having most recently worked as first team coach with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, whom he helped to a Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble in 2022/23. He will now set about starting a new era at Leicester City, as the Club seeks to mount a challenge for promotion and a return to the Premier League. Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “Enzo brings a combination of personality, method and ambition that meets extremely well with the footballing direction we are looking to take. His philosophy has been built over a rich and varied career, including an outstanding education as a coach, and fits with the vision we have for this next chapter in Leicester City’s history." “Enzo’s profile has stood out to us for some time – a feeling that was only enhanced upon meeting him and listening to his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead. I have no doubt he will be warmly welcomed by our supporters and that together we can reset the Club’s course towards future success.” Leicester City Manager Enzo Maresca said: “I’m very excited because of the Club [I’m joining] and because we have a big season ahead of us." “At the beginning, the target is to play in the best way we can. From there, we can build, day by day, our idea and our philosophy, and the most important thing is to try to win games." “First of all, we’re going to give 100 per cent, absolutely, because the Club deserves this. It’s our job, our duty to do that. Then, as I said, day by day, step by step, absolutely we’re going to improve.” Both as a player and a coach, Maresca’s football education was influenced by some of Europe’s finest managers, including Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi. Having started his coaching journey in Italy with Ascoli in 2017, Maresca impressed as an assistant coach at West Ham United under Manuel Pellegrini. He was appointed to lead Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad in 2020 and duly delivered the Premier League 2 title, before returning to Italy to take up a head coaching role at Parma. He returned to City in 2022 to join Guardiola’s staff as first team coach. Maresca will be able to call on experience of English football’s second tier from his earliest days as a player. Having come through the ranks at AC Milan and Cagliari, he eventually made his professional debut at West Bromwich Albion aged 18 and featured during two seasons for the Baggies. He continued a decorated career in Italy, Spain and Greece with clubs including Juventus, Sevilla, Olympiakos and Malaga. He retired from playing in 2017 as a Scudetto winner with Juventus in 2002, a Copa del Rey winner with Sevilla in 2007 and a two-time UEFA Cup winner with Sevilla (2006 and 2007). Enzo will take training with the Foxes squad for the first time on 3 July, when the Club’s senior professionals not involved in international camps this summer will report for pre-season training. City fans will have their first chance to see the new Foxes boss in the dugout when we travel to Northampton Town in a pre-season friendly on Saturday 15 July. The Foxes will then head to Southeast Asia for games against Tottenham Hotspur in Bangkok (23 July) and Liverpool in Singapore (30 July) before the EFL Championship kick-off. Fixtures for the 2023/24 EFL Championship season are released on Thursday 22 June.

Independent family brewer Shepherd Neame has been named as the official beer supplier of The Open in a new three year partnership. The partnership commences this summer with The 151st Open, which will take place at Royal Liverpool. The global sporting event, running from July 16 to 23, will be attended by a record 290,000 fans. As the official supplier of The 151st Open, Shepherd Neame’s award-winning beer and cider will be on sale in the bars around the course. Guests will be able to enjoy Singha, the original Thai lager, which Shepherd Neame began brewing for the UK market in 2022, along with Whitstable Bay Pale Ale and Orchard View cider on draught. It is the third year that the Faversham-based brewer has been chosen as the official beer supplier for The Open, following the success of last year’s partnership when the Championship took place at St Andrews in Scotland. Shepherd Neame’s Chief Executive Jonathan Neame said: “We are incredibly excited to be partnering with The R&A once again for this historic sporting occasion, as we embark upon a three year partnership. The Open is a world-renowned event, and offers a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of our award-winning brands with new audiences. We are particularly excited to showcase Singha at the Championship, which has a long history of supporting flagship sporting events in the UK and globally.” Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said: “Shepherd Neame has a long and cherished history as Britain’s oldest brewer and is renowned for producing award-winning beers from its home in Kent. We look forward to working with them during the next three years to offer our fans and guests a range of high quality British-crafted products at the Championship.”

H.R. Owen - the UK’s leading luxury automotive dealer group – has officially opened the doors to its brand-new Bentley Hatfield showroom. The new flagship site is the first in the UK to feature Bentley’s new experiential design concept, elevating the showroom experience with new levels of luxury and innovation. Bentley Hatfield joins other H.R. Owen-operated Bentley showrooms in Surrey and Mayfair, London. Richard Leopold, UK Regional Director of Bentley Motors, said: “The opening of Bentley Hatfield is a milestone moment for our UK operations, a demonstration of our joint commitment with H.R. Owen to our home market and our ambition to continue to lead the luxury car sector in the UK for many years to come.” Bentley Hatfield features a showroom space that is both open and luxurious and intimate and cosseting. Away from the large glazed frontage and warmly lit floor displaying the latest range of Bentley models, sits the Mulliner Commissioning Studio. This sanctuary features high-definition screens, paint samples, leather swatches and fine wood strips as inspiration for the bespoke process of co-creating your new Bentley with Mulliner. This co-creation process is revealed to great effect with a new range of Mulliner-created models available exclusively through Bentley Hatfield, known as the de Havilland Collection. Bentley Hatfield is with an H.R. Owen multi-marque facility built on the site of the former de Havilland aircraft factory where legendary models like the Mosquito and Comet Racer were built. The bespoke ‘de Havilland Collection’ examples of the Continental GT S, GTC S, Flying Spur S and Bentayga S feature Tornado Red accents in homage to the red paint of the de Havilland Comet Racer, winner of the 1934 England-Australia air race. Inside, the subtle exterior theme is emphasised with a bespoke Mulliner colour split across the front of the cabin that pairs a Hotspur red main hide with a Beluga secondary hide, contrasted by Mulliner White piping. The fascia and door waistrails feature a split of Beluga and Cambrian grey, intersected by a chrome pinstripe. The all-new 110,000 sq/ft H.R. Owen facility that houses Bentley Hatfield is also home to three service centres, including a cutting-edge Bentley Aftersales site that brings ultimate customer service and convenience. Every Bentley brought to Hatfield enters via one of two ‘Drive Through Lanes’. The registration is checked by ANPR, while six 4K cameras operated by BodyGuard® inspect the entire exterior of the car. Further into the drive through lane the Fastlign® system checks both the tyre tread depths and basic wheel alignment. Even before it has entered the workshop a customer car has had a full visual assessment. Ken Choo, H.R. Owen CEO, said: “H.R. Owen has a long and illustrious history retailing Bentley vehicles, and the launch of Bentley Hatfield marks an important milestone in that journey. Our new multi-million-pound automotive retail complex is the perfect location for Bentley Hatfield, especially given the rich aviation history between the former de Havilland site and Bentley’s factory in Crewe, which produced the Merlin engines that powered the Mosquito. “Across the H.R. Owen Group we sell, service and maintain some of the most extraordinary supercars in the world. Our new complex offers a real opportunity for us to evolve the Bentley sales and aftersales experience in-line with the changing needs and desires of our customers.” H.R. Owen further cements its position as the UK’s leading luxury automotive dealer group, with investments across the H.R. Owen Bentley range. Bentley Surrey moved into an all-new showroom and aftersales site in April 2021, and Jack Barclay was treated to a multi-million-pound renovation in 2018.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club is delighted to announce the signing of Australian seamer Mark Steketee on a short-term overseas contract. Steketee will be available for selection for the LV= Insurance County Championship game against Gloucestershire at Headingley, starting June 25, and will be one of the Club’s two overseas players alongside Shan Masood. Queenslander Steketee, 29, will be available for an initial four-game spell in Division Two, though there is scope for an extension to his stay at Headingley. The talented right-arm seamer currently sits on 248 first-class wickets from 69 appearances, of which 70 have come across the last two Sheffield Shield seasons for his home state. In 2021/22, he was the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 32 from six appearances. In the most recent campaign, he was third on that list with 38 from nine. He spent time with Essex last season, playing against Yorkshire in the May County Championship draw at Chelmsford. He claimed 10 wickets in five Championship matches for them. In February 2022, he was called up to Australia’s Test squad for their tour of Pakistan but didn’t play. Steketee is a former Australia under-19 representative and made his domestic debut for Brisbane Heat in the 2013/14 Big Bash League before he played for the National Performance Squad in the quadrangular one-day tournament in the winter of 2014. Steketee made his first-class debut in February 2015 and impressed with seven wickets (3/56 and 4/33) against Tasmania as Queensland powered to an emphatic victory. Darren Gough, Managing Director of Cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, said: “Mark is a very talented young player and has performed well in Australia.With the schedule Yorkshire has – the Blast games followed quickly by Championship cricket – and current injuries in our ranks it was important that we strengthen the side in our bowling resources." “Mark will be a wonderful addition to our current squad and help give a further boost to our Championship campaign." “We have our first Championship win under our belt, and we want to push on from here. Mark can bring something more to our bowling line-up." “Here at Yorkshire, we are still working hard on getting the balance right between youth and experience and we now feel we have got a squad where we have plenty of opportunities for everyone.”

Verge Motorcycles has built two special bikes to support the charity work of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. One of the superbikes will be the grand prize of the foundation's golf tournament in September. Electric superbike pioneer Verge Motorcycles, which recently opened its first flagship store in Monaco, is donating two specially designed electric superbikes to the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. Featuring unique red and white fairings, the two bikes are being donated to support the charity work of the internationally active foundation. “As home to our first brick-and-mortar store, Monaco is an important Southern European base for us. We wanted to show our support for local charity work in our own special way. The Verge superbikes donated to the foundation are our way of supporting their important charity work,” says Henri Vähäkainu, Chief Commercial Officer of Verge Motorcycles. Founded in 2012, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation is committed to building a world where children from all backgrounds can thrive in a safe environment and learn to live together. The foundation has numerous ongoing charity projects around the world, raising awareness of drowning and educating children through the value of sport. “Our foundation’s work is long-term, and we welcome new partnerships with pleasure. It is great to be able to collaborate with a pioneer in its field like Verge. The bikes donated to the foundation are unique and will go to a good cause,” says Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. One of the superbikes donated by Verge will be the grand prize of The Princess of Monaco Cup charity golf tournament that is being organised by the foundation in September. It is hoped that the unique prize will promote fundraising for the tournament, which is aimed at the top names in the sports world. The tournament in 2019 raised 330,000 euros for charity, and this year the foundation hopes to break its all-time record. Sharp-eyed observers may have spotted the special superbike designed by Verge for the foundation already at the legendary Monaco Grand Prix, as Finnish F1 driver Valtteri Bottas rode the bike around Monaco during race week. Bottas, who currently drives for the Alfa Romeo team, has been an ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation since February. He has also admitted to being a die-hard Verge fan. “I am personally very excited about the desire of Verge and Princess Charlene’s foundation to do good together. I am not only a charity ambassador for the foundation, but also a diehard Verge fan. It was a pleasure and an honour to be able to present this wonderful Finnish innovation in advance during the Monaco GP week,” says Bottas.

The team at Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky distillery is hosting an Open Day with specialist masterclasses next month. Spirit of Yorkshire’s Open Day will take place at its distillery in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire between 12 noon and 6.30pm on Saturday 29th July and visitors will be able to join in with a host of whisky-related activities from tasting sessions to masterclasses and distillery tours. Spirit of Yorkshire’s director and co-founder, David Thompson is looking forward to welcoming people to Yorkshire’s first whisky distillery and the home of Filey Bay: “Throughout the day, there will be opportunities for visitors to go on a distillery tour, taste our whisky, join in with masterclasses and see the direct drilling farm machinery that is changing the way we grow the barley for our whisky. Visitors will also be among the first to sample and buy Filey Bay Yorkshire Day 2023 Special Release single malt whisky. “We’re also very excited to be introducing two new special masterclasses at this year’s event: ‘Fresh from the cask’ and ‘Around the World’. Over the past couple of years, we’ve worked with our importers around the world on a number of exclusive Single Casks, relevant for each country. For this hour-long Masterclass, we’ll be trying and talking about six of these, in a seated tasting setting. These whiskies have never been poured by us here in the UK before and are sold out in their release markets, so it promises to be a great and unique session. During the ‘Fresh from the Cask’ session visitors will taste six drams of whisky drawn straight from the cask.” There will also be two free masterclasses on the main stage: ‘Field to bottle’ with a focus on home grown barley and regenerative farming and ‘Pairing with Principle’ featuring Sheffield business Bullion Chocolate, talking about their bean-to-bar ethos. Scarborough business, Embers will be serving wood-fired lunches and the Wold Top Brewery mobile bar will be serving a range of beers. Local producers will also be at the distillery, sharing their stories and offering samples, as well as selling produce and products for visitors to take home. Adult Open Day tickets cost £15 when pre-booked or £20 on the door and include a distillery tour and tasting and a Spirit of Yorkshire nosing glass. Child tickets (6 to 17 years) cost £5.00 and include a distillery tour (but no tasting) and under 6’s are free, but they cannot join a distillery tour. Tickets for the masterclasses cost £45 per session. Pre-booking online is advisable, but tickets may be available on the day, subject to availability for both the Open Day and the masterclasses. The Pot Still Coffee Shop will be serving hot drinks and homemade cakes throughout the day. Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery is one of only a handful of distilleries worldwide that grows 100% of the barley used for its whisky production. It is a collaboration between farmer and brewer, Tom Mellor from Wold Top Brewery and business partner, David Thompson. Photo : MD David Thompson who will lead the ‘Around the World’ masterclass

The team at a North Yorkshire rapeseed oil business has marked the height of the barbecue season with the launch of two new products. Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil’s new Plant-Based Mayonnaise and Limited-Edition Burger Mayo are made using cold-pressed extra virgin rapeseed oil that is produced from rapeseed that is grown on the Yorkshire Wolds and pressed on the family farm in Thixendale. A classic burger topper, the creamy Burger Mayo has mild and tangy flavours from gherkins, tomato and mustard, and the Plant-Based Mayonnaise is a perfect accompaniment for sandwiches, salads, chips and much more. Speaking about the rationale for the launch, Alex Cooper, who worked on the development of the new products with colleague, Jason Thompson, said: “We’re constantly looking at developing different flavours, the burger mayo is a perfect opportunity for our customers to enjoy something new through the summer months. “The Plant Based Mayonnaise has been developed to complement our existing mayonnaise range so that our classic mayonnaise can be enjoyed by those who choose a plant-based too.” The new products are available from Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil and from independent retailers throughout Yorkshire. Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil was established in 2008 by the Palmer family on their farm in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds. They produce a range of oils, dressings and mayonnaise based on their award-winning Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil that is pressed, blended, bottled and labelled on the farm. Pictured are Alex Cooper and Jason Thompson

Carbon accounting and net zero delivery firm Flotilla has achieved B Corp certification, joining just over 1,000 businesses nationwide and 30 in the region, to achieve the status. Flotilla attained an impressive impact score of 105 which is well ahead of the benchmark for companies in the UK, its sector and its size range. B Corp certification confirms that Flotilla has met the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The certification provides Flotilla with a measure of its positive impact on the world and a roadmap for future developments. To achieve the coveted B Corp status, Flotilla went through a rigorous assessment process which examined the impact of company decisions on employees, customers, suppliers, the communities the business serves, and the environment. Flotilla puts the environment, community and people at the core of its business, making B Corp certification a key objective for the team. This significant milestone showcases the company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility and the firm hopes its achievement will be an inspiring example for other businesses looking to make a positive impact on the world. Founder and CEO John Rastrick says, “Receiving B Corp certification is an outstanding achievement for everyone here at Flotilla. Not only does it honour our commitment to a better future, but it provides a framework for continuous future improvement. We believe that a successful business is one that balances profit with purpose. One that induces positive change for its employees, communities and the environment. It’s all about using business as a force for good." “The robust process recognises that we are a purpose-driven business, aiming to create benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders. It’s a test of a company's commitment to sustainable practices and ethical principles. It challenges you to scrutinise every aspect of your strategy, bringing additional clarity and meaning to your mission. While the process is no walk in the park, we think the rewards are well worth the effort. The certification by B Lab UK is just part of the recognition of everything we’ve been doing – from developing our proprietary technology, completing company carbon assessments, to improving our sourcing and supporting the communities we serve.” Flotilla now stands beside the best ethical leaders of the business world. Joining nearly 5,000 businesses worldwide, all committed to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. Its list includes Patagonia, the Body Shop, Ella’s Kitchen and The Guardian Media Group. The B Corp movement is a global initiative created by B Lab, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to make it easier for mission-driven companies to have a more positive impact on the planet and its people. Flotilla is now part of the global B Corp community, working towards reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment and a brighter future for all.

A prestigious Staffordshire school is putting careers for women in engineering centre stage with a series of innovative and fun education days. In the run up to International Women in Engineering Day on June 23rd, The JCB Academy at Rocester has joined forces with world-renowned digger maker JCB to encourage girls from across the county to consider careers in engineering. Almost 400 Year 6 girls from schools across Staffordshire and Derbyshire visited the Academy for a day of inspirational talks from JCB graduates and apprentices as well as engineering experiments to spark their imaginations. The youngsters built giant towers using spaghetti and took part in an Egg Crash Challenge as part of their interactive taster day. The JCB Academy Principal Jenny McGuirk said: “Year on year the number of girls choosing to study at The JCB Academy is rising but we still have more to do. Events like this give the Year 6 girls a real taste of what engineering is all about; problem-solving, innovating and having great fun at the same time." “The girls also got to meet some great role models, working with our own female students as well as apprentices and graduates who are forging fantastic careers in engineering and business with JCB. The event is also supported by The Institute of Engineering and Technology and Loughborough University who both champion this important issue.” JCB Early Careers Scheme Leader Holly Broadhurst added: “The number of female engineers at JCB is growing and while 20% of our early careers recruits are now female, we are not complacent and work hard to encourage more women into what has historically been viewed as a male profession. Changing these perceptions is a long-term goal and by supporting The JCB Academy and engaging with the next generation we can show girls that engineering is a great career path for everyone.”

The recent Shiptonthorpe Open Gardens event raised over £4,200 for charity. Five gardens in the East Yorkshire village that opened on 3rd, 4th and 5th June raised £3343 for the National Garden Scheme’s nursing and gardening charities and the village hall that served refreshments on two of the days raised £947 towards the running costs of the hall on Station Road. The gardens, including three that opened for the first time, were part of the National Garden Scheme’s ‘Gardens Open For Charity’ initiative that raises millions of pounds annually. “This is the most we have raised since we started Shiptonthorpe Open Gardens in 2013. We’re very grateful to the people who opened their gardens and to everyone who visited the gardens and helped us to raise this impressive amount,” said Helen Marsden, National Garden Scheme county organiser for East Yorkshire. “Thanks to the generosity of garden owners, volunteers and visitors we have donated over £67 million to nursing and gardening charities since the National Garden Scheme started in 1927.” Richard Waud, Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, was delighted with the amount raised for the village charity: “We are very grateful to the people who baked and gave up their time to help us. It was a fantastic weekend that raised valuable funds for the upkeep of our community hall.” Please visit their website here for more information about other gardens in Yorkshire that open for the National Garden Scheme.

A design concept that could transform construction of offshore wind turbines has received a major international award. Experts from the University of Dundee’s School of Science and Engineering Geotechnical Engineering Group worked with Heerema Marine Contractors to develop an alternative means of installing foundations for turbines at sea to reduce the impact on marine life. The so-called 'silent foundations' won the Environmental Sustainability Award from the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) at a gala event in Amsterdam. Normal offshore piled foundations are driven into the seabed using large hammers. These create significant levels of underwater noise and vibration, which has raised concerns over the impact on marine mammals and sea life migration routes. These factors can be mitigated by using bubble curtains to reduce the level of noise passing through the water, though the effect of this is unpredictable and requires a vessel on site to pump compressed air into the area, bringing its own environmental cost. Heerema has been working with the University of Dundee on two concepts: helical or screw piles, and so-called push-in piles, which can be installed without loud hammering and the subsequent need for mitigation measures. Professor Michael Brown said, “This is a great honour and fantastic recognition for the work of our Geotechnical Engineering Group." “The transition to green energy is one of the most pressing issues of our time, but there are ethical issues around this process and the impact on marine life is one of extreme importance." “Our Geotechnical Engineering Group has extensive experience in developing new foundation concepts for offshore renewable energy and to work with Heerema in developing this design concept is a great example of how we can assist in the change to a more sustainable future for all life.”