Allied Vehicles, one of Glasgow’s most prominent employers, has demonstrated commitment to its local community with more than £88,000 in donations to charities and good causes in almost 18 months. When he launched the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust in January 2022, company owner Gerry Facenna said he wanted to give back something to the Possilpark community where Allied was established 30 years ago and is still based today. He pledged £10,000 in donations every month, which was recently raised to £20,000. Since its launch, the Trust has given a total of £88,200 to charities and causes in Possilpark and north Glasgow, which are in the top 20 of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Three causes in the area are included in the latest donations from AVCT – Keppoch Nursery, Love Milton and the Milton Rattlers – benefitting by more than £5,000. Keppoch Nursery in Possilpark approached AVCT seeking support for their efforts to develop an outdoor play area on campus, called the Gruffalo Garden. Most of their children live in flats with little, or no, access to a safe outdoor space, and the nursery said it wanted to address that, as well as train their team in outdoor play. The AVCT staff committee, who with Gerry decides which causes to support, agreed to give them £3,500, described by nursery head Kelly McLaughlin as “fantastic news”. She said: “This will definitely help to benefit the children’s outdoor learning experience.” “The amazing donation of £3500 from AVCT will help us to develop our Gruffalo Garden into an exciting outdoor space where our young children can safely participate in adventurous play, we are absolutely delighted with this news. Thank you AVCT, it means so much to us!” Another beneficiary is Love Milton, a charity that tries to combat the symptoms and causes of deprivation in Milton, to make it a better place to live with more opportunities for locals to develop their interests. They arrange year-round community events including Milton Gala Day, and Allied gave them £1,000 towards these. Project Coordinator Marina Costello told AVCT: “Thank you so much, this will help get people back together over the summer for free activities.” Last year, the committee were tickled by a handwritten letter from Raymond Hunter, chairman of a group for local elderly people, the Milton Rattlers, and gave them £750 to help their day trip to Largs. He had gone into Allied, in Balmore Road, Glasgow, and handed the letter to a man he described as “the manager”, who turned out to be Gerry. The Rattlers – so-called for the noise their various medications make when they move around – returned this year, when Raymond gave their handwritten note to someone else. He told them: “We had such a great time in Largs last year that we’d like to do something similar this year and wondered if you could help.” The AVCT agreed and gave them another £750, for which they were promised another hand-scripted thank-you note. Glasgow’s Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren said: “Allied is a familiar local business and it’s fantastic that this firm is supporting the local community. I know these donations mean a great deal to those that receive them. They’re helping improve people’s lives and bring joy in these difficult times.” Gerry said he was delighted that Allied has been able to support the local community. “Allied Vehicles plays a significant role in the local economy and I feel very strongly that we should give something back to the place where we’ve prospered.” “Many different charities and causes have benefitted since we launched the Trust and we’ll continue to support them – and others – for the foreseeable future.”

A £3,500 donation from a Lake District hotel group has helped a local school complete the installation of a composting toilet and outbuilding alongside its sports field. English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues has been working with Beetham C of E Primary School on the project to build the composting toilet, with the donation adding to fundraising efforts to cover the installation costs. The addition of the outdoor composting toilet means that the school’s teachers can deliver a greater variety of lessons using the recreational field and for longer periods with minimal disruption when pupils need to go back into the main building to use the facilities. The project has also involved environmental and educational themes with the school working with English Lakes Hotels to certify the composting toilet under the Toilet Twinning partnership between development charities Cord and Tearfund. The facility will be paired with a purpose-built latrine in a third world country to give an overseas community access to clean water and sanitation. Beetham C of E Primary School head teacher Abi Johnson says: “As a small school on the edge of Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding National Beauty, we nurture a friendly and caring environment and we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our grounds and facilities for our students.” “We’re very grateful to English Lakes Hotels for getting involved in the project and making such a significant donation. The Toilet Twinning idea has also provided a strong, caring educational theme on overseas development and sanitation for the students to consider.” The donation from the hotel group was made via its Sam’s Club Charity which supports local charities and good causes. Adam Bujok from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues adds: “We were invited to tour the school and were really impressed with their plans to improve their facilities. The composting toilet and outbuilding was an ideal project to help fund as it dovetails with our commitment to the Toilet Twinning initiative which provides clean water to poor communities and helps reduce spread of disease and premature deaths.”

Family businesses need to position themselves as attractive propositions to appeal to new executives. It is well documented that many family businesses struggle moving towards professionalising the business in terms of the people employed due to the very nature of them being family businesses. In essence, family businesses need to position themselves as attractive propositions to appeal to new executives who may have never previously ventured into the world of family business where there is the inevitable overlap between the family and the business. For many professionals, moving from a totally corporate world to one where the family involvement can have significant involvement and influence over many aspects of the day-to-day operations, and where emotions can easily flow over into the business, the decision is not easy. Add to the mix that recruitment is one thing, retention and motivation are other things altogether and again an area where family businesses can struggle. Adding to the family skills mix and growing the family business often necessitates looking to outsiders to help the business grow. So what can family businesses do to increase their chances of success when it comes to employing and engaging with non-family executives? Some of the key steps that family businesses need to adhere to include the creation of a clear and transparent process for managing all staff, one that is seen to be effective and fair and that ensures that individuals are appraised appropriately and on a timely basis. Things to consider include: A clear set of objectives for everyone Live the process and make sure it is respected and real- managing people is the role of line management and not HR Appraisals and rewards need to be linked Understand the motivations of management and staff Recognise and celebrate achievements Provide opportunities for career progression Create a framework for training and personal development to bring out the best in everyone – offer mentoring or coaching to allow everyone to maximise their potential Make the most of the working environment Keep abreast of market rates and salary levels Clear communication is paramount Stick to the rules Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing Director of Family Business United says, “Family firms have a wonderful opportunity to differentiate themselves through the way they treat their people. Often viewed as employers of choice with significantly higher retention rates than non-family firms, a reliance on loyalty alone is not enough." "Everyone, be they family or non-family members, wants to be treated fairly. A transparent, clear and simple set of policies which are applied with rigour and demonstrate respect for the individual are essential. Moreover, a recruitment and development policy that is closely aligned to the strategy of the family firm is essential. If you can clearly articulate and agree upon a strategy, then leadership frameworks can be readily defined.” Developing a proper framework for people should help to increase the attractiveness of the family business to non-family executives and to ensure that once the right individuals have been recruited, they are well rewarded, incentivised and happy, and therefore more likely to stay for the longer term too.

Mitre has been announced as the official match ball supplier for The Soccer Tournament (TST), a ground-breaking world soccer championship set to kick off tomorrow, June 1, 2023. The tournament, featuring a winner-take-all prize of $1 million, will showcase 32 teams from around the world, including prominent clubs from the UK, Europe, and Asia, competing in an intense 7v7 high-stakes knockout competition. This partnership will see the supply of 400 Mitre Ultimax Pro footballs used across the four-day event, marking a significant milestone for the brand. The Mitre Ultimax Pro, an acclaimed FIFA Quality Pro approved ball, will proudly display the tournament logo, symbolizing the brand’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Simon Rowe, VP global sports marketing at Mitre, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We’re thrilled that the Mitre Ultimax Pro will be the official match ball for The Soccer Tournament! It’s a new and disruptive competition, and we’re excited to be at the heart of it in its inaugural year. This latest move will further drive brand awareness and distribution in the US, including with our lead retailer soccer.com.“ The Soccer Tournament, hosted in Cary, North Carolina, aims to become the defining world championship for 7v7 football. With its unprecedented million-dollar prize, the event promises thrilling moments that will capture the attention of soccer fans worldwide. Among the notable teams participating are UK representatives Wrexham Red Dragons, West Ham United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as Champions League club Borussia Dortmund, esports and football club Hashtag United, Clint Dempsey’s Team Dempsey, and historic Liga MX side Club Necaxa. Jon Mugar, CEO and co-founder of TST, expressed his excitement saying, “We’re excited to partner with Mitre on our inaugural event. We know there will be many memorable moments throughout the competition, not the least of which will be someone kicking a ball into a net for $1 million dollars on Sunday, June 4. There was no option but to make that ball as high quality as Mitre.” Mitre’s involvement as the official match ball sponsor sets the stage for an unforgettable competition filled with suspense and extraordinary sporting achievements.

Employees at one of the UK’s largest plant nurseries, Johnsons of Whixley, have achieved over 16 million steps during April as part of a company challenge for Move More April to raise money for Perennial, the UK’s leading horticultural charity. Move More is an annual celebration that encourages individuals to move more and sit less in their daily lives. Johnsons of Whixley employees involved in the challenge raised over £550 for Perennial and achieved 16.3 million steps in 30 days. 40 staff at the Yorkshire nursery pledged to walk 10,000 steps each day during April and raise money for the charity, which supports those working in, or retired from horticulture when times get tough. Teams of four were drawn out of a hat and were each given a plant variety as the team’s name. The winning team, ‘Hydrangea’, achieved over 2.2 million steps and included Katie Short, Simon Harrison, Tracey Richardson and Martyn Osbourne. Martyn achieved a whopping 927,841 steps alone. Other employees involved in the challenge included Jack Witham, Vicky Newell, Hannah Reilly, Freya Lamacq-Wigham, Rob Forrester, Hannah Holland, Katie Burlingham, Dmytro Orlov, Adrian Price, Eleanor Richardson, Katie Rothwell, Sarah Perry, Adam Davis, Matt Campey, Lynda Pearson, Kirsten Morgan, Marcin Czajkowski, Paul Richardson, Tony Green, Sarah Greenwood, Tony Coles, Jo Goodyear, Tom Watkins, Rachael Richardson, Terry Cooper, Karl Connors, Cassie Hasslegrove, Louise Roberts, Isaac Onions, Jonathan Richardson, Anna Sibley, Mark Weatherill, Claire Horner, Catherine Cowling, Chris Edgar and Phil Georgiou. All staff taking part in the challenge received a Johnsons water bottle and certificate with the winning team members receiving a gift voucher each. Challenge organiser and marketing manager at Johnsons of Whixley, Eleanor Richardson, said: “I was overwhelmed with the number of Johnsons employees who signed up for this year’s step challenge to raise money for Perennial, it shows how keen we all are to support the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping those in our industry. Benefits from the challenge include team building and improved mental and physical well-being. Walking 10,000 steps a day can reduce the risk of illnesses such as stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer in particular, not to mention the obvious weight loss benefits. Well done to all involved.” Phil Swainston, corporate partnership manager for Perennial added: “Many thanks to all the staff at our new Perennial partner, Johnsons of Whixley for undertaking their fantastic steps challenge throughout April. It is a great example of how the industry can support the charity, not only through partnership, but also through individual fundraising initiatives to spread our message that Perennial is here for all those working in horticulture that may need our help.“

As part of a commitment to improve quality of life in our communities, Perdue Farms associates in Salisbury, Maryland, rolled up their sleeves and volunteered on a Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build Project in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County. Volunteers worked on a new home project in a neighborhood where Habitat has built numerous houses, including several in partnership with Perdue. Perdue’s participation is part of the company’s Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors® outreach to improve quality of life and build strong communities. Perdue provided a $2,000 sponsorship of the two-day project during which volunteers helped put some of the finishing touches on the house. “This is another testament to the unbelievable donations and support we get from the community,” said Molly Hilligross, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Wicomico County. “We’re grateful for the ongoing support of Perdue and its associates for taking the time to attend our Women Build.” A family of six, including four children, will soon call the four-bedroom house their home and fulfil their dream of home ownership. “It’s been wonderful that we’ve had this opportunity to be involved,” said Carrie Johnson, Perdue transportation manager. “Just seeing the family, and knowing that they’re going to get their own home, their own place, especially for the children, it’s an amazing feeling.”

Lamberts was founded in 1963 by the Grandfather of the current Managing Director, Trina Beare, back in 1963. Paul Andrews spoke to Trina to find out more of their journey as a family firm. Henry Beare founded the business and started what has been a stalwart of the Norwich business community ever since. During the war he was responsible for setting up radar stations on the east coast and worked in Norwich for a business that sold bricks and mortar products before taking on the responsibility for selling ancillary products within the same company prior to setting out on his own in 1963. His son, Trina’s father, Tim, who studied science at St Andrews University and worked elsewhere until joining the family firm in 1973 when his father invited him to join the company. The first transition was not an easy one, as is often the case with family firms, where the founder who had the vision finds it hard to let go and step back. For Trina, the lessons learned in that first transition were the catalyst for a different approach when she got involved and her father, and the strength of their relationship as father and daughter, made it easier. Trina pursued an education of her own studying business at University before getting married and having a family of her own before considering employment and she was fortunate to be looking for work when the business had a role in the purchasing department at Lamberts. As Trina explains, “It was a real learning curve for me as I was young and had never worked before so I was shy and didn’t even want to answer the phone but the role fitted around me being a Mum and juggling responsibilities and I was able to gain a great insight into the business too. Over time, as the kids moved from nursery to school and their school days got longer, I was able to work longer hours and get more involved too, doing some marketing, IT and even selling out on the road too.” Trina grew in confidence and gained great experience into all aspects of the business and then one day her Dad called her into the office to tell her something. As Trina continues, “Dad and I have a great relationship but he had not been well and had clearly been considering his future and that of the business and there and then he made me a Director of the business. Up until this point I was not sure what I was going to do so considered the offer and decided that it was the right opportunity for me and that I was prepared to become the third generation of the family to run the business.” The business had grown but when Trina became a director the existing management team were of an age where they were considering their futures and as the business with an ageing management team was not attractive to external buyers, the next stage in the family business journey was decided and Trina stepped into the lead role. Changes followed which were not welcome by everyone involved but Trina pursued the need for innovation and growth and continued to make a positive impact on the business, bringing in her own management team as others decided it was no longer for them. One of the longest serving employees, Neill Ives, who had been a loyal servant to Trina’s father, became an integral part of the management team and id due course was promoted to Joint Managing Director alongside Trina. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and Neill and Trina both appreciate the journey that they have been on. As Trina adds, “When I took on the business there were 47 staff and they had been with the business a number of years. I had to look at the business, where we were going, and create my team and the culture that I wanted within the business too. Neill and I have worked closely over the years to go back to basics, embed the family values and our philosophy into the business and bring in people to work with us that share our goals. There have been challenges along the way, like there are in other family firms, but we have done what we set out to do and created a business that embodies all that we stand for.” Trina is a great example of a leader that knows what she wants and that recognises the need to build a core team around her to deliver the vision, something that is evident the moment you enter the business. Engaged and empowered staff who are continuing the legacy of a business that was created sixty years ago, focused on the needs of their customers and being true to their underlying family values. Trina and Neill know only too well the importance that strong family values can play in the success of a business and continue to embrace these values as they drive forward the next chapter in the journey of the family business. Many family firms struggle when they get to the third generation for a number of reasons, not least due to poor communication, lack of shared purpose and a growing shareholder base but for Trina, there are a number of core reasons as to why Lamberts have been successful: 1. Being an independent business means that you can react quickly to challenges by making and acting on decisions at speed. 2. Working as part of a small, close-knit organisation offers an environment that nurtures clear communication from management. Staff feel valued and engaged meaning loyalty is high. Over 50% of our team at Lamberts has been with us for 20 years or more and has over 400 years of combined service. 3. Customer loyalty is high when a business has been in the same family for multiple generations. The customers know who you are, often personally, so keep coming back, while recommending you to their own family and friends. Trust in the reliability and quality of products and services comes when customers know that they are, and always have been, the top priority of a business and that they are in safe hands. 4. Over the years you become a part of the local community, building relationships and trust with local people and customers. They want to see you succeed and invest in your success by using your products and services. 5. Multi-generational family businesses will have weathered many storms so can call on previous situations and challenges in the history of the business for advice and guidance. The foundations put down by the generations in the past help to sustain the business for the future. Today, Lamberts remains an Independent Industrial Distributor which strives to maintain the best traditions of personal service, coupled with the efficiencies gained from advanced technology. As a business they have continued to invest in delivering to customers, constantly in their people and computer technology that has resulted in a Single Sourcing supply package that is unique to their operation, and ensures in-depth knowledge of their extensive product range, which includes Pipes, Valves, Fittings, Hand Tools, Powers Tools, Fasteners, Lubricants, Workwear and Safety Wear. Trina is rightfully proud of the journey that she has been on and the impact that she has had in shaping Lamberts into the business that it is today. As she concludes, “The journey has not always been easy and there have been plenty of challenges but it fills me with pride that the business started by my grandfather sixty years ago this year is still delivering a first class service to our customers and is continuing as a family business. Our name is recognised locally and we take pride in the role that we continue to play by providing employment to local people. We take out responsibility seriously too. We are proud of where we have come from and are looking positively to the next chapter in the Lamberts journey too.” Find out more by visiting their website here

GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s largest independent hire company, has announced the re-opening of their Tower Bridge depot following a period of closure. Due to construction works taking place in the area, the hire company’s local depot had to be closed for over 12 months. During the closure, the depot has undergone extensive renovations, and is equipped to provide services for the Group’s Plant, Tools and Low Level Access Division. Richard Dey, Managing Director of London & South East at GAP commented: “We are delighted to be back in our much improved Tower Bridge location and able to offer our Central London customers an even faster response time, to satisfy all their hire requirements.” The depot is now officially back open for business, based at 4-6 Back Church Lane, London, E1 1LX with a team of dedicated experts on-site. The re-opening and renovation of this depot is part of GAP’s plans for expansion across the UK – investing in people, plant and premises to grow the business.

Speed awareness initiatives in two East Staffordshire villages are stepping up a gear thanks to support from JCB. The digger giant is helping fund solar powered Speed Indicator Devices (SIDS) on the main routes through Stubwood and Ellastone villages close to its World Headquarters at Rocester. The road safety signs, which use radar to detect and display a vehicle’s speed, have been installed by Denstone and Ellastone Parish Councils, each with £5,000 support from JCB. JCB Chief Operating Officer Mark Turner said: “As one of the area’s major employers we are determined to help make the roads in our local villages as safe as possible for the community. Irrespective of whether it’s local people, JCB employees, or drivers going to and from Alton Towers, speeding in our neighbouring villages is not acceptable.” Denstone and Ellastone Parish Council Chairs Jessica Turner and Robert Watkin said: “Over the years we have become increasingly worried about motorists speeding through our villages; for a long time it has felt like an accident waiting to happen.” “The SIDS signs are a great road safety resource and are definitely a step in the right direction towards ensuring drivers slow down and put safety first. We are very grateful for JCB’s support in helping us tackle the problem and making our roads safer for everyone.”

HMG Paints, the UK’s leading independent paint manufacturer, is pleased to announce that it has received JOSCAR supplier accreditation. The Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR) Registration Mark is valued by some of the largest purchasers in the defence, aerospace and security community and indicates to potential customers that HMG has successfully demonstrated its commitment and credentials to the industry. JOSCAR is recognised by some of the largest purchasers in the defence community such as BAE Systems, Babcock, Boeing, Leidos, Leonardo QinetiQ, Raytheon, Rolls Royce and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is used a single repository for pre-qualification and compliance information to determine if a supplier is “fit for business”. The award of the accreditation will allow HMG Paints to further develop its sales within the defence industry and other markets. “We are delighted to have gained the JOSCAR supplier accreditation” commented Alan Sharples, Defence Sales Manager at HMG Paints. “The award is testament to the investment and innovation we’ve made into the business and the marketplace over the last few years. It also represents a huge opportunity area for us and we’re excited to start working with the businesses who utilise JOSCAR to find suppliers.” Made in Britain All of HMG’s Defence coatings, including its Def Stan 80-225 system, are also Made in Britain accredited. As a British based manufacturer HMG can provide fast delivery across its entire range, something which the company believes can benefit businesses who use JOSCAR. “With pre-qualification via JOSCAR we are looking forward to getting started on some very exciting projects with members” added Alan. “Being a British SME, we can manufacture and deliver products fast and now with JOSCAR accreditation we can do it even faster by removing pre-qualification and reducing procurement timescales.”

Perdue Farms, the fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company, has provided consumers with high-quality, premium protein for over 100 years and today announced the debut of its first-ever custom in-house seasoning: The Farmhouse Blend. Featuring a proprietary blend of herbs and spices, the company’s newest offering is all consumers need to elevate their fresh chicken dishes to a whole new level this grilling season. As experts in protein, Perdue Farms knows exactly what it takes to make favorites like grilled chicken taste delicious – and that there is no better way to show off one’s cooking skills in the summer than on the grill. The all-in-one blend combines the flavors of roasted garlic and herbs with the savory essence of umami to deepen the flavor and perfectly complement the protein so that no other seasonings are needed to serve up flavorful chicken this summer. Suffice to say, friends and family will have high praise for the grill master. “At Perdue Farms, we pride ourselves on providing customers with solutions in the kitchen – whether that is in the form of high-quality, premium protein raised with no antibiotics ever, or this new seasoning blend, which was developed fully in-house,” said Chris Perdue, Vice President of Direct-to-Consumer Marketing at Perdue Farms and fourth-generation Perdue family member. “Our Farmhouse Blend Seasoning takes the guessing game out of the perfect combination of spices and herbs to enhance the flavors of fresh chicken and will be a delicious staple for your meals this grilling season.” Farmhouse Blend Seasoning is available now in 3.25-oz. bottles for $6.99 USD on PerdueFarms.com, alongside items from Perdue’s premium protein portfolio including chicken, beef, and pork, as well as seafood, side dish, and dessert options.

As part of a commitment to help its food insecure neighbors, Perdue Farms has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Community Action of Skagit County in Mount Vernon, Washington, through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. The donation from Perdue’s charitable giving arm is part of the company’s Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors® outreach to improve quality of life and build strong communities. Perdue Farms is the parent company of Draper Valley Farms in Mount Vernon, home to local brands DRAPER VALLEY FARMS®, ROXY® The Organic Chicken and RANGER® The Free Range Chicken. The grant supports Community Action’s Skagit Food Distribution Center (SFDC), the centralized distributor of bulk items and fresh food in Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties in Washington. The center supports 19 food banks and hot meal programs and accounts for up to 80 percent of the items available at local food banks. The program serves 27,500 people monthly. “Food insecurity affects our region’s most under-resourced populations, including individuals and families facing economic vulnerability, those living within food deserts, and older adults living in isolated areas of rural eastern Skagit County,” said Bill Henkel, Community Action’s executive director.” “Funding from the Perdue Foundation will support the operations of the SFDC as it works toward its goal of providing more fresh and nutritious food to community members through our region’s food banks and hot meal programs." Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation, said Skagit Food Distribution Center provides a vital service. “The center helps older adults and families with children and many others in need,” she said. “The Perdue Foundation is happy to support its programs.”