Clarion is continuing to recognise and reward legal talent within the firm with the promotion to legal director for Andrew Curtis, Sarah Manning, Daniel Carlton and Stephanie Douthwaite Working within the banking and finance team, Andrew joined Clarion in 2019 as an associate, rising to senior associate a year later. With 12 years’ legal experience, he previously worked for an international law firm where he advised UK clearing banks, international debt funds, pension funds, and national and international borrowers on bilateral and club transactions. He has worked with both lenders and borrowers on various finance deals, such as real estate finance, leverage finance and general corporate finance, including advising the private equity market and advising lenders on the listing of borrower clients. Over the last two years since joining Clarion, Sarah Manning has become a valued member of Clarion’s family practice in her role as a senior associate.. With A 15-year specialism in family law, she qualified as a mediator in 2012, and specialises in high-net-worth, complex children and financial mediation cases – she is a trained hybrid mediator and also a child inclusive trained mediator. Sarah is passionate about dispute resolution methods and works with clients individually in a solicitor capacity or as a mediator to a couple to help them reach a resolution without the need of the court’s intervention. As well as being a member of Resolution, Sarah is also the chair of Family Mediation Week through the Family Mediation Council. Daniel Carlton, who leads Clarion’s debt recovery team, has more than 25 years’ experience advising and developing debt collection and credit control services for a variety of clients. Having joined Clarion in 2010 as a manager, he has driven the growth of the firm’s debt recovery services, assisting blue-chip companies throughout the UK to maximise their cash flow. His areas of expertise include working with clients to streamline credit control processes, reduce DSO and find answers to aged debt issues. He has worked extensively in the building products/manufacturing, commercial landlord, leisure, retail, recruitment and utilities sectors. Daniel has established the debt recovery team as a Tier 1 firm in Yorkshire and the Humber in Legal 500, and he has been listed as the only ‘leading individual’ in this area. Stephanie Douthwaite joined Clarion in 2016 as an associate and was promoted to senior associate in 2020, she and has over nine years of experience in family law. Stephanie has also gained valuable experience on business matters, enabling her to stand out for her ability to deal with family matters involving business assets. Stephanie is a Resolution Accredited Specialist, her areas of specialism being complex higher income financial remedies and private children law. Stephanie deals mostly in complex and high net worth finance cases, experienced in utilising the full range of court or out-of-court dispute resolution methods to best suit the client’s needs, and is also regularly instructed to assist with wealth planning through advising on and preparing nuptial agreements. “Andrew, Sarah, Daniel and Stephanie have all made a significant contribution to the firm’s success and, as legal directors, they will play a strategic role in our continued growth,” explains Roger Hutton, joint managing partner of Clarion. “With his extensive knowledge of the banking sector, Andrew has consistently supported the partners in developing client relationships and building his own client base; he is also working towards excellence in transaction management, business development and people management. “Sarah has impressed us with her enthusiasm and commitment to her vision of growing our mediation practice with her ability to ‘stand in her client’s shoes’ helping her to achieve the best, most amicable resolution for clients and their families. An adept networker, she has built contacts in both Yorkshire and London" "As head of the debt recovery team, Daniel’s commercial acumen has enabled him to establish an impressive roster of clients and create a successful practice with a market-leading offering. Stephanie is a well-regarded member of the Clarion family team and she is an integral part its success, embodying Clarion values. These promotions are well-deserved, and we look forward to continuing to support the career aspirations of these hard-working and talented lawyers.” Recently recognised at the third fastest growing law firm in Europe, Clarion last year had a turnover of almost £27m and works both nationally and internationally. It has a 300-strong team, including 31 partners.

Oran Homecare, a locally owned and operated care provider from Fife, has been announced as the winner of the 2023 Scottish Care Provider of the Year award. Nominated alongside UK national care giants 'Bluebird Homecare' and 'The Good Care Group,' the Fife care organisation emerged as the winner, receiving recognition for exceptional commitment to delivering outstanding care services to its clients. The prestigious award was presented by Dr. Donald Macaskill and Michelle McManus at the ‘Scottish Care Care at Home and Housing Support Awards’ ceremony held on 19th May 2023. The Scottish Care Provider of the Year award is given to a service that can prove they are at the forefront of excellent care provision in Scotland. With the goal of ‘Raising The Standards of Care in Scotland’, Oran Homecare has established a reputation for providing exceptional care services that meet the unique needs of each individual. Audrey Mcfarlane, company director said: “People are at the heart of everything we do. Feeling valued, respected, and encouraged to contribute brings out the best in everyone and these principles provide a framework for our policies, procedures, and most importantly our care practices." "We’d like to say a massive congratulations to all of our care team and management staff. This award is recognition of their incredible professionalism, hard work and dedication over the last few years." Oran Homecare's well-deserved victory at the 2023 Scottish Care Provider of the Year award reflects their ongoing pursuit of excellence, their dedication to their clients, and their steadfast commitment to raising the bar for care provision in Scotland. This achievement will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to other smaller providers in the care community, and Oran Homecare's success will continue to inspire others to deliver exceptional care services.

Despite advances in office technology and hybrid working, the role of the traditional receptionist is still alive and well, according to a new survey by global communications leader, Moneypenny , in which 82% of the facilities managers surveyed in the UK confirmed they still have a receptionist at their office, and 82% also believe they will still have one in five years’ time. However, those without a dedicated receptionist said that they now use either their security team (55%), tech-based check-in for visitors (48%), anyone who is available (31%), a junior member of staff (24%), or a combination of several of these methods, which could be damaging for first impressions of a business if there is a lack of consistency. In those businesses that do still have a receptionist, the survey suggests the role has changed significantly, as 52% said the reception role has expanded over the last five years and 42% said the role is less paper-based, using more technology instead. The survey shows that receptionists are being called on to perform a multitude of tasks rather than just answering calls, with their top responsibilities being: Answering calls (52%) Welcoming guests (45%) Diary management (36%) Supporting other departments (33%) Managing post (33%) Room booking (24%) Arranging lunches (22%) PA duties (21%) The survey suggests that a benefit of the broadening of tasks a receptionist performs is that, far from the role being a job with no prospects for advancement, it is increasingly leading to lateral moves to other areas of a business such as: Administrative assistant (44%) Office manager (37%) HR assistant (35%) Customer service representative (31%) Broader facilities/concierge (31%) Sales and marketing (28%)Project manager (27%) Comments from the survey respondents back up this finding, showing respect and belief in the role: "People probably don't think receptionists are as important as they used to be, but personally, I still like to see one when I get into an office.’’ "Make a positive and lasting impression on the receptionist and it just might help your chances of success with the company; create a negative impression and there's a good chance your future with them has reached its end." Joanna Swash Group CEO of Moneypenny commented: “We were pleased to see that the importance of the receptionist role is still acknowledged by the vast majority of our survey respondents, as first impressions are so important for a business. Let your receptionist be brilliant and give their role the attention and respect that it deserves. They are the critical first impression of your business, after all. We’d advise any business to recognise the true value it adds, and if they don’t have the resource available, to consider outsourcing to companies that can provide a dedicated service from specially trained professionals to support their in-house receptionist.”

Academy hooker Harri Morris, 21, will join English Championship side Doncaster Knights this summer on a season-long loan. A product of the city’s George Watson’s College, former back-row Morris represented Edinburgh throughout the age-grade ranks while featuring for FOSROC Super Series side Southern Knights as part of his academy deal. A key member of the Edinburgh U20 team that lifted the Junior 1872 Cup in 2019 – a game in which he was named Player of the Match – the young hooker went on to be a part of the Scotland U20 squad for the 2021 U20 Six Nations. Morris made his Edinburgh Rugby debut in a Rainbow Cup clash against Ulster in June 2021 – becoming Edinburgh player #1296 – while the hooker spent time on loan at London Scottish last season. On joining Doncaster Knights, Morris said: “I’m really excited to make the move to Doncaster this summer and test myself in a new environment. I’ve heard really positive things about the club and I’ve got no doubt increased playing time at senior level will really help elevate my game." “I want to keep progressing as a hooker so I’m really grateful of this opportunity with Doncaster. If I perform well, I can hopefully kick on and return to Edinburgh as a much more rounded player at the position.” Academy Coach Rob Chrystie added: “Harri is an exciting young player who has recently converted from backrow to hooker. This season long loan is an important part of his long-term development plan." “He will continue to receive our full support and we are really looking forward to seeing him play week in and week out in the Championship before returning to Edinburgh Rugby to compete for a first team spot.”

As London Tech Week kicks off, specialist recruitment firm, Robert Half, has highlighted the need for skills development to be prioritised if the UK’s position as the third leading tech economy is to be maintained or improved. In the expert’s own analysis of trends and data across the tech landscape, it highlighted the powerful position the UK is already in, with the country home to more high-growth tech companies than any other European destination. With the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport also publishing information that suggests the UK retained its top spot as a tech leader in Europe and came third globally, it’s clear that the country has cemented its position as a leading tech nation. However, as Craig Freedberg, Regional Director at Robert Half highlighted, skills development and talent attraction are becoming increasingly tough: “The UK – and in particular, London – is a stronghold for technological innovation and is home to a vast number of specialist businesses that have gone from strength-to-strength in recent times. I think it’s all too easy to underestimate just how prolific the UK tech scene is at the moment, particularly in a post-Brexit landscape where the country’s overall strength as a destination of choice for many tech professionals has, according to some commentators, been impacted." “Our analysis shows that the UK is still thriving, but we also know that skills shortages are increasingly putting this at risk. We may have seen plans outlined in the Chancellor’s Budget earlier this year to boost skills development in the technology sector, but if we are to maintain the position we have worked so hard to secure, everyone needs to play their part." “As London Tech Week approaches, I implore everyone in the sector to consider what tactics they can implement to help boost the UK’s tech skills, whether that’s supporting training and development for those looking for a sideways step into tech, making a commitment to boosting diverse hiring in their tech teams or, as individuals, taking time out to help mentor others in the remit." "Perhaps one perfect example of initiatives that firms can get involved in is the Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/Start programme, which aims to upskill underrepresented or underemployed groups with the necessary skills for them to succeed in entry-level tech roles. An inclusive part of the AWS re/Start’s mission has been to address the gender imbalance we currently see within the technology space; the initiative has supported female-only cohorts and continues to empower these communities to help women progress faster. Across 2022 Robert Half built an inclusive and diverse pipeline of AWS re/Start talent by connecting over eighty businesses and candidates, forty-six per cent of whom were women.”

Two thirds of small business owners have adopted more cost saving working practices over the last 12 months to reduce their energy usage. The study of 500 adults who are either small business owners or decision-makers, found they have made an average of six tweaks to save energy. Exactly a third have encouraged staff to adopt more energy-friendly behaviours, 20 per cent have gone ‘paper free’ and 29 per cent have turned down the temperature on their boiler. A quarter (26 per cent) have turned off radiators in some rooms, while 24 per cent have lowered their thermostat. Banning printing, encouraging working from home, where possible, and only running the dishwasher when it was full were also popular ways of reducing energy costs. Energy-efficient lightbulbs are now the norm for 32 per cent, as is not overboiling the kettle (24 per cent). Furthermore, 19 per cent are reducing their opening hours and 33 per cent are ‘very likely’ to consider actively moving premises. The research was commissioned by Smart Energy GB , whose director Victoria Bacon said: “As business owners continue to reduce their energy usage wherever possible, actions such as changing to LED lightbulbs and turning off the lights when rooms are not being used are now increasingly commonplace. As is encouraging staff to adopt more energy saving behaviours.” Managing Cashflow And Budgets The research went on to find how new tech has helped firms with their day-to-day administrative tasks, with 89 per cent of respondents agreeing that investing in new technology has been an effective way of reducing daily costs in the long run. This includes email marketing and social media promotion, as well as using more software for accounting and procurement purposes. Nearly a third (32 per cent) now consider energy efficiency credentials more than ever when upgrading equipment, with 51 per cent also buying more ‘smart’ appliances. Almost three in ten (29 per cent) check their energy usage at least once a day, with just under a third (32 per cent) checking several times each week. Of those surveyed, 58 per cent admit they’re still not sure of the most efficient ways to cut costs in their business, with 35 per cent saying there isn’t enough information available. Nearly four in 10 (39 per cent) use so much equipment that it’s hard to keep track of energy use, while 34 per cent can’t afford to upgrade their gear. Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) fear that if they were to cut back on costs much further, their business simply wouldn’t function as usual. And for 73 per cent, 2022 was the only year so far they had to really consider cutting costs at their workplace. Yet 78 per cent say it is a bonus that a lot of their energy saving measures are having a positive effect on the environment. With 65 per cent saying that reducing their company’s carbon footprint is either more important, or at least equally important, as reducing costs, according to the research by OnePoll. Victoria Bacon from Smart Energy GB added: “We know from our research how hard small businesses are working to keep their finances under control. A smart meter measures energy usage in near-real time, providing accurate bills. This means businesses only pay for the energy they actually use, which can help business owners to manage their cashflow and budgets.”

The name has been revealed for a new £17 million library, university and learning centre based in Great Yarmouth which the University of Suffolk will offer courses from. The former Palmers department store in the town will be known as The Place, which will be the base of a new University Learning Centre from next September where East Coast College and the University of Suffolk will offer degree and diploma courses, as well as access to higher education and adult learning courses. The University of East Anglia will also offer courses from the five-storey building, as well as being the home to Norfolk County Council’s Great Yarmouth public library – currently based in Tolhouse Road – and adult learning, registry office and other community services such as Citizens Advice. The ambitious project is being funded via £8.1m from the government's Town Deal, with a further £3.4m from the Future High Streets Fund. East Coast College and the University of Suffolk are contributing £3.5m and Norfolk County Council £2m. Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Suffolk, said: "The Place has the potential to significantly impact the community in Great Yarmouth and the surrounding area. As a community-impact institution with a vision to transform our region and lives, we strongly believe in raising aspirations and access to higher education. The Place will not only welcome people of all ages to engage with courses from the University of Suffolk but also create opportunities for them to change or establish new career paths." Stuart Rimmer, Chief Executive of East Coast College, said: "Bringing more adult learning and higher university study into the heart of the town makes it easier to access. We'll be able to bring a new offer to a greater number of residents. We are really proud to be a key partner in this once-in-a-generation opportunity to increase university study in the borough." The aim is to increase the number of people in the area who hold qualifications above Level 4 to help them gain high-quality and sustainable jobs. Councillor Carl Smith, Great Yarmouth Borough Council leader, said: ''This amazing new learning hub not only provides a modern and welcoming library for the community, but also offers the people of Great Yarmouth fantastic new opportunities to learn and attain qualifications that are crucial to delivering the jobs and careers of the future.” Norwich-based design and branding consultancy Sponge was commissioned by the council to assist with the naming and branding and, via interviews and focus groups, it consulted widely with the community to help develop an appropriate name and identity for the building. Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said: "The Place signifies a huge investment in the town and will bring Norfolk County Council services and partners together to create a unique learning environment.”

A Hampshire famer has warned that further restrictions on migrant workers coming to the UK could prove devastating for the farming industry. In light of the government announcement that UK net migration hit a record high of 606,600 in 2022, Graham Collett of Westlands Farm Shop said that if restrictions of people coming to carry out vital work on farms were tightened, it could create significant difficulties for many businesses in the UK. The international workforce is essential to businesses like Westlands Farm Shop because they rely on migrant workers to support them during peak times. Graham added: “Since Brexit the number of people who come to the UK and work on farms has fallen which makes recruitment far more difficult. The British workforce is too thin on the ground to cover the sheer number of people needed in the farming and food industry.” “Brits are not best suited to manual labour because we have not had a labour economy in the UK for several generations now. We haven’t raised, educated or trained manual labour workers and so we must rely on migrant workers to help us out.” “Many native people look for permanent jobs and therefore seasonal work is not favoured by them. This is another reason why it is so important we must be able to recruit international workers to help us all year round, but particularly during peak times.” Westlands Farm Shop which is run by Graham and his wife Kayleigh, harvests over 15 tonnes of soft fruit per week during the spring and summer season. Its farm shop team consists of 18 local people and 25 international workers from countries such as Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. Graham continued: “Without international people arriving to work on farms across the UK, the farming and food system would collapse. It is critical that people realise this and separate legitimate forms of work from other immigration issues that are happening throughout the country.”

Two Yorkshire family businesses have collaborated to create recipes that celebrate Yorkshire produce. The team at Thixendale based Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil has created a series of three recipes using cheese and yoghurt from Yorkshire Dama Cheese in Sowerby Bridge to celebrate summer: Smoked Chilli Squeaky Cheese Flatbreads, Baked Ricotta with Chilli and Spice and Labneh Topped Spiced Carrot Cake. Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil's Marketing Manager, Jennie Palmer explained the rationale for the recipe creation: "Here at YRO, we're passionate about spreading the word about fabulous Yorkshire producers. Over the years we have found that the best way to do this is to create recipes that encourage people to try the fabulous food that we have on our doorstep." "Yorkshire Dama Cheese was established by Razan Alsous after she fled war torn Syria in 2012. She was inspired to make dairy products after discovering the distinctive taste of Yorkshire cow's milk for the first time and has gone on to win numerous awards for her products that include Squeaky Cheese, Ricotta Cheese and a selection of dairy lines including the spreadable yogurt Labneh that we used to top the spiced carrot cake." Mrs Alsous said: "We love the creative ways that the Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil team have used our products in their recipes and we can't wait to try them - especially the Smoked Chilli Squeaky Cheese Flatbreads." Mrs Alsous and Mrs Palmer are both Board Members with deliciouslyorkshire; the organisation dedicated to making Yorkshire food and drink the first choice by respecting tradition, encouraging innovation, and celebrating great taste. 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 family farm.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service recently launched its ‘Name the Fire Engine’ competition at the Suffolk Show, enabling the public to name a fleet of new life-saving vehicles. Nine new fire engines are set to be ready for use by the end of 2023, following Suffolk County Council allocating over £5.3m in its 2023/24 budget to replace some of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s current vehicle fleet with state-of-the-art alternatives. To help celebrate the service’s 75th anniversary this year, Suffolk residents are invited to play an important part in shaping its future by naming the new engines in a competition due to close in June. After the nominations have been recieved, a judging panel consisting of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s senior fire staff and Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, Councillor Andrew Reid, will decide on the winning names. Jon Lacey, Chief Fire Officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is fantastic news that our service will receive nine replacement fire engines by the end of the year, providing our staff with the best tools possible to help them be swift to serve and ensure that Suffolk remains a safe and healthy place to live." Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, added: “I am delighted that Suffolk County Council has committed to investing over £5.3 million in our fire service, supporting our continued ambition to look after the health and wellbeing of our county’s residents." “Their new vehicle fleet will also come with a host of cutting-edge technology and environmental benefits; as we work towards becoming a Net Zero authority by 2030.” An official naming ceremony will take place at Ipswich East Fire Station next spring, allowing competition winners to see their suggested name on one of the new fire engines before these are used across Suffolk in response to fires, road traffic accidents and other emergency incidents. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service donated two of its former fire engines to Ukraine in March 2022 to help their counterparts in the war-torn country, with six staff from the service travelling over 1,000 miles across Europe to deliver the vehicles, which remain in service in Ukraine. A decommissioned fire engine was also given to Ipswich Transport Museum last year to support their efforts to preserve local history for future generations to enjoy.

The Top Up Shop is a community-based initiative that runs each Saturday Morning throughout the year at various Ipswich locations. For the small cost of £2, customers can go to the shop and fill up a recyclable bag with goods to supplement their weekly shop. There are no qualifying conditions and no referral is needed: they welcome everyone. The shop has been running successfully for 7 years and caters for as many as 70 shoppers per week covering many postcodes with in the Ipswich area. To keep running the shop relies on donations from local supermarkets, grants and donations… which is where we are delighted to be able to step in. Pat Lewis, Source One chairman, comments: “I grew up on the Chantry estate in Ipswich, my Mum still lives there, and so getting the chance to provide some support to those that need it in the community is special to me.” “The Ipswich Top Up Shops is a brilliant and, sadly, a much-needed initiative with so many struggling in the UK with food prices. We are delighted to be able to give some financial donations to this initiative, particularly to the St Francis with St Clare, Hawthorn Drive, location where I went to discos in my youth!” The Peace Café In addition to the Top Up Shop, The Peace Café is another brilliant project that was launched to provide a warm space for those who were in the fuel poverty bracket. The idea was that it provides a warm space with hot food and drink to our customers. The café provides a lounge type atmosphere with comfortable seating coffee tables and side tables. There are newspapers to read, a jigsaw to do, a craft table, music playing board games etc. They also help people get access the internet for looking for jobs, housing or filling in forms. Since its launch, a community has developed among these people and friendships have been formed that may never have happened… as a result the café continued beyond the cold winter months as loneliness plays a big part in a person’s well-being. GPs are connecting with us and social subscribing is part of the success… hopefully helping the users to feel good about themselves and being aware of others in these uncertain times.

Robinsons Brewery announce another year of increased operating profits despite the challenging economic climate that the hospitality and brewing industry has faced. The sixth-generation Stockport-based family brewers generated an operating profit of £5.9m and invested a further £7.7m across their 249 tenanted and managed pubs. Recently the company further consolidated its family shareholder base by concluding a share buyback. Sixth-generation family members and Joint Managing Directors, Oliver and William Robinson, commented: “2022 was a year of challenges across our sector and across the UK. Although we had the first full year without significant coronavirus restrictions in place, we faced new challenges. Brexit arrangements impacted on worker availability, the lasting impact of the pandemic and the cost increases caused by the war in Ukraine hitting utility and food costs particularly hard. We saw our business affected by difficulties in recruiting new team members across all areas of the business from chefs to engineers. Like many businesses, these pressures have driven up our operating costs. We have risen to this challenge and are investing in our systems and processes to improve efficiency and performance across the business; whilst simultaneously developing our consumer offering and our learning and development program.” In this challenging economic climate, Robinsons has maintained a strong performance in the market. The family brewers increased sales by approximately 20% in 2022, rising from £63.3m (2021) to £83.1m comparing favourably with our pre-pandemic sales of £75m in 2019. The increase in turnover for the brewers delivered an operating profit of £5.9m, noticing a growth in trade as the country recovers from the impacts of the pandemic. Robinsons have continued their commitment to investing into their pub estate, this year almost trebling their investment figure (£2.8m in 2021). The company spent £7.7m on the development and improvement of 40 sites to achieve quality and enjoyable environments for their guests and licensees. This figure saw the family brewers invest £3.9m across their tenanted estate. Significant investments included the Shoulder of Mutton, Chapel-en-le-Frith and the Church House, Buglawton. The company has also acquired two new premises for their managed house division, in 2022 The Woodman Inn, Thunderbridge, West Yorkshire and more recently in early 2023, Hartford Hall near Northwich. The £3.8m investments across their managed house division included the Tatton Arms, near Manchester Airport and the Waggon and Horses, Eaton. The year also saw brewhouse plans come to fruition as construction work began at their Unicorn Packaging Centre in Bredbury with plans for the new brewery to be operational by 2024. The sixth-generation family directors commented: “We feel confident our business is well placed to develop and continue strengthening and investing over the coming years. The conclusion of the buyback of a number of shares from family branches less directly connected to the operation of the business is a significant moment for the business and family. It is the first time since the company was founded such an exercise has been undertaken. We are committed to continuing investment in our pub portfolio during 2023 and will continue to seek to acquire pubs, or small pub groups in exceptional trading or idyllic locations which align with our future business vision.”