Small business confidence made a welcome return to positive territory for the first time in two years, the first evidence that the small business community has now come out of the late 2023 recession, according to FSB’s Small Business Index (SBI) for Q1 2024. Key Findings Rise in small business confidence could signal end of recession, new report finds. The headline confidence reading jumped up over 20 points, to reach +5.5 points in the first three months of 2024. Manufacturing was the most positive sector at +19.2 points. This is a good indicator that the shallow recession recorded at the end of 2023 is firmly in the past. However, challenges remain for the hospitality and food sectors, which recorded -11.8 points. The headline confidence reading jumped up over 20 points to reach +5.5 points in the first three months of 2024, up from -15.0 points in the final quarter of last year. Outside of COVID waves, this is the first confidence reading above zero since 2018, which makes it significant and important that it be sustained. The gap in confidence readings among major sectors was notably narrower compared to the previous quarter, showing a gentle rising tide across the whole economy. The most positive sector is manufacturing (+19.2 points), getting over a tough last quarter, with the least positive being accommodation and food services (-11.8 points) – a 31-point difference. Sectors showing significant improvement from Q4 2023 to Q1 2024 include retail and wholesale (-29.8 points to +2.1 points), manufacturing (-26.2 points to +19.2 points), and professional, technical and scientific firms (-4.7 points to +14.3 points). Accommodation and food services made the largest recovery, going from -73.0 points in Q4 to -11.8 points in Q1. The only major sector to see a decline in its confidence score between quarters, meanwhile, was information and communication, which saw a fall from +24.4 points in Q4 to +7.1 points in Q1, down by 17.3 points. Crucially, this still remains in positive territory. Tina McKenzie, FSB’s Policy Chair, said: “Having small business confidence back in positive territory in the opening months of 2024 is a relief, after two years of it being underwater, and following on from a particularly difficult end to last year." “The rebound in confidence levels in most sectors is a good indicator that the shallow recession recorded at the end of 2023 is firmly in the past, and small businesses are keen to look ahead to expansion and better trading conditions." “Challenges do of course remain, especially for hospitality firms, whose outlook – though it made a strong recovery when compared with the end of last year – is still some way behind the other major sectors.” Revenues and growth Revenues reported over the first quarter declined slightly when compared with the final quarter of last year, perhaps unsurprisingly as we exited the so-called ‘golden quarter’. But the same businesses report accelerating ambitions for revenue/growth for the next quarter. Over three in ten small businesses (32.0%) said their revenues increased in Q1 2024, while two in five (40.5%) reported a fall in their sales volumes. This marks the eighth consecutive quarter with a negative net balance of firms reporting revenue growth, and underlines that many small firms are dealing with uncertain finances following the shallow recession experienced at the end of last year. Revenue expectations for the coming quarter were, however, notably brighter – nearly half (45.7%) of small businesses expect their revenues to be higher in Q2, with just under a quarter (23.6%) bracing for a drop in revenues, giving a net balance of 22.1%. By contrast, the Q4 survey found that almost exactly the same proportion of small businesses were expecting revenues to grow (31.6%) as contract (32.0%). Growth expectations also rose, with 52.4% of small businesses predicting they would expand in the next 12 months, up from 48.2% in Q4, and the highest reading on this measure since Q4 2021. The share of small firms predicting that they would contract fell from over one in seven (15.0%) in Q4 to one in eight (12.6%) in Q1. The domestic economy retained its place as the most-commonly cited barrier to growth in the first quarter of 2024, mentioned by nearly two in three small firms (64.6%), up from 61.8% in Q4. Consumer demand kept its second-place spot, cited by over one in three firms (35.6%), up from three in ten (30.7%) in Q4. Access to appropriately skilled staff increased notably, from a fifth (20.7%) in Q4 to a quarter (24.8%) in Q1. Cost pressures Inflation continued to take a toll on small businesses, with over four in five (83.7%) saying the cost of running their business was higher overall in Q1 2024 than in the same period in 2023, a slight increase on the 82.5% of small firms who said the same thing in Q4. There was a welcome drop in the proportion of small businesses who said their costs had significantly increased, going from a quarter (24.7%) in Q4 to 22.8% in Q1, continuing the decline on this measure recorded since it hit a height of 38.3% in Q4 2022. Utility costs kept their spot as the most commonly-cited factor driving cost changes in Q1, mentioned by over half (55.2%) of small firms – a distinct fall from the 62.5% who pointed to utility costs in Q4. Labour costs climbed upward as a driver of costs, going from 45.7% to 48.1%, with inputs in third place at 36.5%, down from 41.6% in Q4. Rent reached a new record as a driver of cost changes, cited by 26.4% of small firms, the highest reading in the SBI’s history, beating the previous record of 25.3% from the same quarter last year. Access to finance Despite the lack of movement in the base rate, the situation has improved slightly for small firms seeking finance, with around one in six (16.5%) describing the availability and affordability of new finance as good, up from one in seven (14.5%) in Q4; likewise, the proportion of small firms rating it as poor fell from 52.0% in Q4 to 46.0% in Q1. The rates on offer to successful finance applicants also decreased, with twice as many small firms offered a rate of up to 4% compared with the previous quarter (8.3% in Q1 against 4.2% in Q4), while the percentage being offered a rate of 11% or more fell from its record high of one in three (33.4%) in Q4 to around a quarter (26.1%) in the most recent survey. Tina McKenzie added: “While revenues over the first quarter suffered in comparison with revenues recorded during the previous three months, thanks to festive spending levels, the outlook for the next quarter is far sunnier, which is encouraging." “Small firms may finally feel able to leave the survival mode they entered in order to cope with the successive blows of the pandemic, the cost of doing business crisis, and soaring energy bills." “The domestic economy remains a big challenge as far as expansion plans are concerned, but if it performs better than expected, that could give small businesses the opportunity they have been waiting for to grow and flourish." “The small business community took a big hit to its numbers in the wake of covid, with a loss of around half a million businesses. While there has been some recovery in the numbers since then, there’s still some way to go to make up lost ground." “Politicians of all parties need to think about how they can give a real impetus to growth and investment, from start-ups to scale-ups. We’d also like to see banks and other financial institutions thinking about how they can treat small firms in a way that is fair and supportive, to help them achieve their ambitions – to everyone’s benefit.”

John Good Group’s DAN Shipping & Chartering Ltd, has acquired Arthur Smith (Grimsby) Ltd, a prominent shipping services provider in the ports of Grimsby and Immingham since 1936. Sixth-generation John Good Group, with three centuries of trading to its name, has deep roots in the maritime industry since its inception in 1833. The acquisition of the fifth-generation family business, Arthur Smith, serves to strengthen both the heritage of the company and the operations of the Maritime Division as a whole. The acquisition of Arthur Smith is a pivotal expansion for the Maritime Division of John Good Group and a strategic move into the offshore sector. Arthur Smith, under the leadership of David Smith & James Smith, will be integrated into the operations of the Maritime Division, alongside DAN Shipping & Bay Shipping. David Smith, comments on the integration, "Joining with DAN Shipping opens a new chapter for us. It's an opportunity to blend our expertise in offshore and renewables work with Dan Shipping’s longstanding reputation for service and John Good’s significant backing and areas of expertise in marketing, finance and HR." Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group, shares his perspective, "This acquisition brings expansion in our Maritime Division both in the quality of people and business, but also a strategic move to enter the offshore and renewables markets." "Welcoming five new team members from Arthur Smith, we're not just growing in numbers but also in our capabilities and reach. I’m really pleased for Steve Pullen, Paul Haste, Mark Mullins, Kevin Parker who worked on the deal, and the wider team at DAN Shipping, for getting this one over the line." “It’s also a bonus for the group, because we know how special family businesses are, and the completion of this process sees us welcome a fifth-generation business, into our sixth-generation family business. Family businesses, with all the heritage and values that go with them, are things to be cherished and I’m delighted to be welcoming the Smiths into our business and look forward to working with them to build a business for the future.”

The finalists for the National Family Business of the Year Awards 2024 have been announced. These prestigious awards, organised by Family Business United since 2012, have become a key fixture in the calendar and celebrate the very best of British family businesses. As Paul Andrews, founder and CEO of Family Business United explains: "It is an absolute pleasure to organise these awards as a constant reminder and celebration of the important contribution that family firms make across the UK today, through the jobs they provide, the income they generate and the wealth they create. Family firms are also integral to the communities in which they operate the length and breadth of the nation." "These awards celebrate family businesses and each year fantastic businesses from all over the country, of differing sectors, sizes and generations, enter to be in with a chance of winning a regional, sector or national award and one will ultimately be crowned the Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year. The quality of submissions is always great and this year is no exception and the judges are going to have tough job deliberating and deciding on the winners." The finalists for the 2024 Family Business of the Year Awards, by region and in no particular order are: East & East Anglia - Sponsored by Birketts KFE Source One Consulting Leadership Through Data MABON Print & Design Rose Calendars Lamberts Matthew Douglas London & South East - Sponsored by Forsters Allan Reeder Ltd Lemongrove Productions Dina Foods Gibsons Games Ltd The Pantry UK Ltd Biddenden Vineyards Brewers Decorator Centres Gargini Will Services Homesitters The Pizza Post Cleanology Furniture Village Lyfeguard Midlands & Central - Sponsored by Buckles Tracey's Juice Bar Cleenol Group Colton Packaging Jane Newman Financial Planning Landermeads Sapphire Group The Wilkins Group Quality Life UK North of England & Northern Ireland Dunsters Farm Mr Cool IT Arden Dies Challenger Site Services JJ Smith & Co (Woodworking Machinery) Ltd K&S McKenzie Ltd Range Exchange Scotland - Sponsored by Turcan Connell Hattie's Autobody Keela Redpath Bruce LINIAN Scot JCB Wholesale Domestic Bathrooms South, South West & Wales Healthcare Matters The George Bence Group Oatway Westlands Farm Shop Yorkshire - Sponsored by Western Pension Solutions HECK Regal Food Products Group Plc Cedarbarn Farm Shop & Cafe Vcare 24 Bagnalls Little Wold Vineyard Scarborough Group International Study Links UK Cabins Hill Cross Furniture John Good Group North Cote Farm In addition to the regional awards, there will be awards for the People's Choice which is determined by a public vote, sector awards and a number of national awards including innovation, ones to watch, entrepreneurship, sustainability and positive societal impact, as well as the coveted 'Essence of Family Business Award' that is sponsored by Goodman Jones. As Paul concludes: "This annual celebration of the best of British family firms concludes with the awards being presented at a gala event in London on June 19 where the family business community comes together to crown the winners and celebrate the family firms that help to put the 'GREAT' into Great Britain." "We look forward to celebrating in June and crowning the Supreme Champions, the award sponsored by Brooks Macdonald, who will take over the crown that is currently held by reigning champions, GAP Group."

The international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss and the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group have been working together for three decades. To mark this anniversary, Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss, and Christoph Grasl, member of the management board of the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group, celebrated together with numerous guests at the Vienna Central Station on May 6. The highlight of the event was the ceremonial christening and commissioning of the jointly designed Taurus locomotive named “Europa”. The anniversary locomotive will operate on routes across Central Europe. Long tradition in rail freight “Gebrüder Weiss was one of the pioneers of rail freight transport in Austria more than 170 years ago,” explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss. “Long before trucks took over the majority of freight transport, rail transport was part of our core business,” he emphasized to the guests. Starting with small transports between Lindau and Munich in 1853, Gebrüder Weiss continuously expanded its rail freight services over the next 170 years. One example is the subsidiary company GW Rail Cargo. Based in Maria Lanzendorf near Vienna, the rail freight forwarding company organizes rail transports throughout Europe for international companies. Every year, up to 1.5 million tons of goods are transported in around 1,000 block trains to recipients in central Europe. The goods include mineral oil, chemicals, gases, agricultural products, and steel. Orange Combi Cargo: a success story of partnership A milestone in the partnership with the Rail Cargo Group is the Orange Combi Cargo (OCC), a block train that has been running daily for 16 years between Vienna, Wels, Hall i.T. and Bludenz. It provides a stable, environmentally friendly transportation solution within Austria, transporting food and beverages, drugstore products and building materials among others. It replaces approximately 60 truck trips per day, avoiding around 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Christoph Grasl, member of the management board of ÖBB Rail Cargo Group sums up: “The Orange Combi Cargo is a prime example of our cooperation. Thanks to the OCC, we have shifted more than 240,000 truck journeys from road to rail since 2008. With every ton that we transport by rail with Gebrüder Weiss, we benefit the environment.” Working together for climate-friendly freight transport A significant proportion of rail transport consists of transit traffic, particularly between western ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg on the one hand and the Adriatic ports on the other. Stable networks and partnerships such as the one with the Rail Cargo Group are essential for Gebrüder Weiss in shifting transports over to rail.

Three of St Austell Brewery’s beers have come away with medals from a prestigious beer award ceremony. Cornish Best (3.4% ABV) a full-bodied, bitter with toffee and biscuit notes, Mena Dhu (4.5%) a stout brewed with six different malts to bring complexity, and punchy DIPA Big Job (7.2%), all won silver awards at the SIBA South West Independent Beer Awards 2024. These new accolades put St Austell Brewery at its 51st win at this event since 2005. The awards, which were presented at MaltingsFest opposite Tucker’s Maltings site in Newton Abbot, are judged by beer sommeliers, master brewers and other expert beer judges from across the industry. Georgina Young, brewing director, St Austell Brewery, said: “We’re thrilled that our beers have been recognised as some of the best in brewing at this year’s SIBA awards." “Our three winners showcase the different style of beers St Austell Brewery produces and highlight the brewing team’s dedication to crafting different styles of beer - a lower ABV bitter in Cornish Best, a powerful hoppy DIPA in Big Job, and smooth and smoky Mena Dhu - one for the stout lovers.” The SIBA Independent Beer Awards represent the very best beer from the UK’s independent brewers and are judged by fellow brewers and industry experts, making these awards the “Brewers’ Choice” awards in the UK.

Trade Knowsley based JJ Smith has proudly earned a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. As one of only 252 organisations nationally, and one of only four organisations in Merseyside, to receive the award, JJ Smith has been acknowledged as a beacon of excellence in business. Founded in 1923 and deeply rooted in family values, JJ Smith boasts a legacy spanning four generations and has built up a wealth of experience surrounding international trade within the woodworking industry. With a dedicated team of skilled professionals, the company has established itself as a leader in providing new and used woodworking machining solutions in the UK and overseas by having a close working relationship with suppliers from across the world, enabling them to innovate and develop cutting edge technology. The company supplies machinery to a wide variety of businesses including offsite construction, shed and garden building manufacturers, door, staircase and window specialists, prisons and local colleges. Through their knowledge of the woodworking industry, JJ smith is able to provide customers with a personal service, offering the most technically suitable and cost-effective machining solutions to meet production requirements and maximise productivity. Rachael Baker, Managing Director at JJ Smith said: “What an incredible honour for JJ Smith and our community in Knowsley, Merseyside. As one of only four organisations in Merseyside to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise, we believe it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team." "It’s a recognition of our commitment to excellence and innovation in the woodworking machinery industry, as well as the work we have done over the past few years with the local community to provide more opportunities to young people. As a proud Knowsley business, we believe passionately in the role we play within the community and are keen to help other businesses within the Liverpool City Region to engage with their communities." The King’s Award for Enterprise, formerly known as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is the most prestigious business award in the country, recognising and celebrating business excellence across the UK. It serves as a testament to JJ Smith’s relentless pursuit of business excellence and innovation over the last century. As a recipient of this esteemed accolade, JJ Smith gains the privilege of proudly displaying the King’s Award Emblem for the next five years. This remarkable achievement underscores JJ Smith’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality and service and remaining at the forefront of innovation in the woodworking industry for many years to come.

Arco chairman Thomas Martin has been honoured with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his ‘exceptional contribution to the safety and health industry over almost four decades’. He was bestowed with the award at the Safety and Health Excellence Awards, part of the three-day Health & Safety Event, where Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has made its return for 2024, coinciding with the celebration of its 140th anniversary. Also on the night, Arco was commended in the Distributor of the Year award, with judges recognising the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction and its joined-up approach to safety products and services. Thomas said he was honoured to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award. He said: “I’ve always surrounded myself with experts, and this has enabled me to make an impact on our industry. Market leaders earn the right to comment, and career learnings ensure this is done responsibly. The award celebrates the first 36 years, and there’s plenty more to do; I’d better get on with it.” As the fourth-generation leader of the family business, Thomas started his journey in a London advertising agency before joining Arco in 1988. With a clear passion for the business, Thomas assumed pivotal roles within Arco, including Trading Director (Safety) in 1993, Supply Chain Director in 1998, and Joint Managing Director in 2002, before taking the helm as Chairman in April 2017. Presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award, host Dara Ó Briain said during Thomas’s time as Joint Managing Director and now Chairman, he had helped shape Arco into one of the ‘premier businesses in health and safety, by both scale and impact’. Testament to this, Arco has led the industry on responses to global emergencies and best practice, pushing for regulatory changes and championing expertise and corporate responsibility. In 2007, Arco joined the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) an alliance of companies, trade unions and non-profit organisations that aims to promote respect for the rights of workers worldwide. Arco is the first and only safety distributor to join the ETI. During the Ebola outbreak in 2015, Arco was the leading PPE partner in the UK's humanitarian response, supporting government agencies with advice on the correct products needed to keep volunteers safe but also in procuring and supplying the products to the front line. Most recently, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Arco stepped up to secure additional PPE for frontline workers, while advising government bodies on PPE regulations and standard. Following the crisis, Thomas gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on how the Government response could be improved for the future. Read more about Arco here.

Global engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, has won a contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of an innovative sustainable steel solution for the latest iconic development at Broadgate in London. 2 Finsbury Avenue will comprise a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium. A solid and glazed sawtooth-shaped façade, characterised by triangular patterns, will be facilitated by a bespoke steelwork support system. The new building will be the largest on the Broadgate campus, providing 750,000 sq ft of new offices, as well as green, leisure and publicly accessible spaces. The building will create a new benchmark for highly sustainable workspace in central London with BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, EPC A and NABERS 5-star ratings. It will be all-electric, and a smart-enabled development ensuring leading carbon and energy efficiency in operation. William Hare Group has designed its steel solution to align with the project’s overall sustainability goals, including using LEAN design principles with the supply chain. Having successfully delivered nearby 100 Liverpool Street and 1 Broadgate, William Hare’s partnership on 2 Finsbury Avenue – working with Sir Robert McAlpine – will further extend its longstanding association with the Broadgate joint venture, between British Land and GIC. Matthew Nesbit, Group Board Director at William Hare Group, comments: “We are delighted to have been appointed at 2 Finsbury Avenue, as an extension of the work we have already delivered on the Broadgate development." “Being able to bring our design, fabrication and delivery capability to life on schemes like this is testament to our market-leading position as a global steel specialist.” Completion is expected in 2027, with global hedge fund firm, Citadel, and Citadel Securities pre-letting over a third of the development’s office space. William Hare Group is expected to have completed its works by summer 2025. William Hare Group was established in 1945 and provides value-engineered steel solutions to some of the world’s most innovative and sustainable construction projects. A family-owned and run business, it has a turnover of c£300 million and employs 2,000 people worldwide.

Members of the British Beekeepers' Association across the country are starting to collect swarms of honey bees as the beekeeping season gets underway. Thousands of beekeepers become volunteer swarm collectors from now until about the end of July to rescue honey bees in search of a new home. The charity, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, runs an online, interactive swarm collection service to connect the public with local swarm collectors. Visit here. Beekeepers work hard during the season to manage the natural impulse of their honey bee colonies to swarm but sometimes they are unsuccessful. Diane Drinkwater, BBKA chair said: “Conditions have to be just right for a colony of honey bees to swarm. They build up their colonies in the spring and wait for a window of sunshine and warmth, which often follows a period of poor weather, before heading off with their queen.” Armed with rescue-essentials including a straw skep or cardboard box, a smoker, sheet and secateurs, swarm collectors are able to safely remove thousands of bees at a time and rehome them in more suitable locations. Diane added: “There is something magical about a swarm. It is the colony’s means of reproduction and is triggered by a group of bees who not only slim down the queen to a flying weight, but also scope out new home possibilities and take a collective vote on it!” A honey bee swarm can be extremely dramatic involving many thousands of bees in a large, noisy cloud. However, they normally settle into a cluster within 15 minutes before regrouping and moving to a new nest site. The public is advised to keep at a safe distance and to not disturb or destroy the swarm. If the swarm moves into a building, it is very difficult normally, if not impossible, for a beekeeper who does not have professional building skills or insurance to remove the bees. Pest controllers are required to undertake this type of removal either solely or in conjunction with a beekeeper. Beekeepers are unable to help with the removal of the nests of any of the other more than 250 species of bees found in the UK which include wasps and hornets. Honey bees are the only bees to swarm. “On the BBKA website there are descriptions of insects which are often mistaken for honey bees, “ said Diane. “But always send a photo to a swarm collector who will be able to check.” Often, the honey bees’ gamble to swarm does not pay off. Scientist Professor Tom Seeley from Cornell University in the United States calculated that only about 20 per cent of swarms in the wild survive their first winter.* About the BBKA: • Established in 1874, the BBKA is a charity made up of 75 associations in England and Wales plus one each in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Jersey and serves more than 25,000 members. • Our charitable objectives are to advance the education of the public and beekeepers in the craft of beekeeping and promote the importance of bees in the environment. • We act as an umbrella group for the associations, co-ordinate a swarm collection service for the public, provide training for beekeepers and encourage the setting up of teams to respond to Asian hornet sightings. • In addition, we champion issues which impact on honey bees and other pollinators. Campaigns include Asian hornets, the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, adulteration of imported honey and planting for pollinators. We also fund vital research into bee health and welfare. • Website *Data from The Lives of Bees by Thomas Seeley suggests that only about 23 per cent of swarms survive their first winter.

Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is proud to announce two further donations to local community initiatives in north Glasgow. The Ashgill Steering Group will receive £2,600 for the creation of a sensory area at the Ashgill Recreation Centre (ARC). This dedicated space will be designed to support children with autism and other additional support needs, marking a significant step forward in community inclusion. Christine Donnelly of the Ashgill Steering Group expressed her gratitude: “We can’t thank the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust enough. This funding will be a huge benefit to kids, and their families, in Milton who have additional support needs, helping them feel more included. This will be the first place in Milton to have such a dedicated resource. Thank you so much on behalf of all at Ashgill Recreation Centre.” Gerry Facenna, owner and founder of Allied Vehicles, who grew up in North Glasgow, shared his enthusiasm for the project: “Having grown up in this area I am deeply committed to supporting our local communities; the children will benefit immensely from the new sensory area at the ARC in Milton. It will be great to see these young people get the essential resources that they need to enjoy a more inclusive environment.” In addition to supporting the sensory area, Allied Vehicles has made a transformative donation of a minibus to North Glasgow Boxing, a local club which is also part of the ARC, that has been a cornerstone of the Milton community since 2009. This vehicle will enable the club to transport its young athletes to competitions and events beyond Glasgow, significantly extending its reach and impact. Jocko Reid, who has been leading North Glasgow Boxing Club since its founding, said: “We are over the moon that Allied has provided this bus for us, and it has made a huge difference to the club. Our boxers can now go to events and sparring sessions weekly and as a team. A big thank you from me and from everyone at North Glasgow ABC.” Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, attended the handover of the minibus, saying: “The minibus is knock-out. This generous donation by Allied Vehicles will prove a real game-changer giving North Glasgow Boxing Club’s talented athletes the opportunity to travel as individuals and teams to bouts and competitions. The club is a marvellous Milton institution that’s played an integral part in improving and strengthening community life. This minibus puts them firmly on the road to greater things.”

A memorial fund set up in honour of former Yorkshire businessman Andrew Lupton is set to smash its fundraising target of £20,000. Ripon-based Econ Engineering set up the Just Giving campaign to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation following the tragic death of Sales Director Andrew Lupton in 2022. Mr Lupton, who ran the second-generation family business alongside his brother Jonathan, was just 56 years old when he died suddenly of a heart attack. Founded by their father Bill 55 years ago, Econ is now the leading UK manufacturer and supplier of winter maintenance vehicles with an 85% share of the market. A series of fundraising events and team-building exercises have been held by the team, while donations have also been made from local groups, individuals and business associates. And despite the £20,000-mark being reached this week, there remains one more event for the staff to undertake as a group of employees prepare to tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks on May 18. Econ’s Managing Director, Jonathan Lupton said: "We have been proud to partner with the British Heart Foundation and absolutely delighted that we have been able to support them with our fundraising." “This is particularly poignant given the sad death of Andrew and we want to do as much as we can to increase awareness of heart disease and raise vital money for the charity, in his memory." “We may have reached the £20,000 mark, but we are not finished yet. A team of Econ employees will be tackling the Three Peaks in May and we hope people will continue to support the memory of Andrew by donating to their efforts.” BHF figures show that around 183,000 people living in North Yorkshire have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and 45,000 people are living with coronary heart disease. In Yorkshire there are around 3,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year and only 1 in 11 people survive these attacks. Every three hours, someone in the region dies from a heart or circulatory disease. BHF Fundraising Manager, Leya Baksh, said: “We are honoured that Econ Engineering has chosen to support us. More than one in four people in the UK die from heart and circulatory conditions, so the money raised is vital for us to continue our research into better ways of diagnosing, preventing and treating patients.” As well as raising money during the year, employees have been given the opportunity to participate in a number of BHF-supported health and wellbeing engagement activities, to ensure a healthier workforce. Econ’s team of expert engineers design and build every aspect of their vehicles at the Ripon factory and recently launched and sold the world’s first fully electric gritter (E-QCB) which has been successfully trialled at highways depots across the country.

Luxury bedmaker Harrison Spinks has teamed up with designer and BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant to champion quality British craftmanship and highlight the company’s innovative manufacturing processes. Patrick has visited the 300-acre Harrison Spinks farm in Yorkshire where it grows its own natural fillings, and the nearby factory where award-winning recyclable spring systems and FR chemical-free mattress fabrics are made in-house. It marks a return to Leeds for the owner of Savile Row tailors, Norton & Sons, who studied at the University of Leeds. Patrick is also the founder of Community Clothing which champions affordable, quality clothes made in the UK from the finest materials. Fifth-generation family-owned business Harrison Spinks is one of the UK’s largest growers of hemp and the only bedmaker in the UK to weave its own mattress ticking and upholstery fabrics, which, due to their high wool content are naturally fire-retardant. It also currently grows flax, which is a more sustainable alternative to cotton.  Patrick said: “Harrison Spinks and I share many core values, from working with natural, quality, British materials to championing sustainability and innovation, making it a perfect fit." “I’m so pleased to be working with this 180-year-old British company, as not only are the beds amazing, but its dedication to doing things the right way for customers, staff, and the planet, is a fantastic example to other businesses." “Harrison Spinks is an industry leader, and I am particularly impressed with their in-house weaving and artisan bedmaking, keeping traditional manufacturing techniques alive." “Their approach to sustainable innovation and using homegrown materials and fabrics is inspiring, as is their unique approach to luxury bedmaking.” Nick Booth, Managing Director at Harrison Spinks, said: “Patrick shares our passion for celebrating the very best of great British craftmanship and creating exceptional quality products made with locally sourced, natural materials, handcrafted here in the UK using traditional techniques." “He is a true champion of British manufacturing and British textiles – something close to our heart – and will be helping us to spread the word on how we’re cut from a different cloth. Our shared ethos is a key driving force behind this partnership." “Patrick has spearheaded initiatives to revive flax growing and linen textile production across the UK – and we grow some of the finest natural fibres, including hemp and flax, right here in Yorkshire to create luxurious filling pads that are layered into our mattresses." “We’re looking forward to welcoming Patrick back to the farm and factory so he can see the incredible process for himself, and explore how we can support each other and work together further in the future.” For more information about Harrison Spinks, visit here.