Hundreds of cyclists are set to climb into the saddle next month to put some pedal power into JCB’s £2 million NSPCC Appeal. The cycling event on Sunday, September 17th will cover three picturesque routes of either 50, 70 or 100 kilometres around Staffordshire and Derbyshire. All money raised will go to JCB’s NSPCC Appeal which will fund the charity’s work in Staffordshire. The initiative is the brainchild of JCB Principal Electrical Engineer Aaron Turner who has founded the JCB Cycling Club and has been cycling for more than a decade. The event - called the JCB Sportive - will start and finish at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester. Last year’s inaugural event attracted 250 riders and raised £10,000 for the NSPCC. Aaron Turner said: “Last year’s event was successful on many fronts: we had a great turn out from cyclists from all over the country and it raised a huge amount of money for the NSPCC. We want to make this year’s JCB Sportive even bigger and better. It will be great fun and there are distances to suit several cycling abilities.” Registration for the JCB Sportive event here and the entry fee is £35 for the 50km route, £40 for 70kms and £45 for 100kms. The event is open to both JCB employees and members of the public. JCB launched its £2 million NSPCC Appeal – the biggest in its history – in July. The appeal will culminate in 2025 when JCB celebrates its 80th birthday – and 40 years of support for the UK’s leading children’s charity. It was through Carole Bamford that the NSPCC originally became JCB’s nominated charity, with millions of pounds raised over the years.

Transferring wealth to the next generation is a complex process that transcends numbers and legalities. It’s a delicate balance of imparting financial knowledge, instilling values, and preparing the younger generation for a responsibility that’s profound and impactful. Here’s my approach to raising children ready for wealth transition. Initiating The Conversation Early Introducing the concept of wealth and responsibility at an early age sets the foundation for understanding and maturity. Open and honest discussions about money, investments, and family legacy create an environment of trust and inclusivity. Integrating Financial Education Financial education forms the backbone of preparing children for wealth transition. This encompasses: Understanding Money: Its value, purpose, and role in daily life. Investment Principles: Basics of investing, risk-taking, and return on investment. Managing Finances: Budgeting, saving, and making informed financial decisions. Promoting Values And Ethics Wealth is not merely about accumulation but a reflection of values and ethics. Emphasizing family values, philanthropy, and social responsibility helps in nurturing a sense of purpose and alignment. Providing Real-Life Exposure Practical experience amplifies learning. Providing children with real-life exposure through allowances, projects, or involving them in family businesses fosters hands-on understanding and confidence. Creating A Supportive Environment Encouraging questions, acknowledging feelings, and supporting individual interests and talents make the learning journey enriching and personalized. Encouraging Emotional Awareness Recognizing and managing emotions, empathy, and effective communication are essential soft skills that enhance collaboration, decision-making, and relationship building within the family. Building Family Cohesiveness Regular family meetings, shared activities, and working towards common goals promote family unity, shared vision, and commitment. Involving Professional Support Professional guidance from financial planners, psychologists, and educational experts can provide unbiased insights and tailored strategies to suit the family’s unique needs and aspirations. Raising children ready for wealth transition is an art that blends financial wisdom with emotional intelligence, values, and family cohesion. It’s an ongoing process that shapes not only the future of the family’s wealth but its legacy and societal impact. About the Author - Dr Lami comes from a family business background and has experienced first-hand the impact that money has on our emotional and mental wellbeing and the quality of our relationships. Working through her own challenges, her experience and qualifications have given her both a personal and professional understanding of the challenges faced by her clients. Her Wealth Consultancy provides Non-Financial Solutions for UHNW Individuals, Couples, Families, Family Offices & Family Businesses. Her approach to her work focuses on finding creative and relevant solutions to the non-financial challenges of wealth which is done by facilitating, advising, educating and coaching clients to develop a deeper understanding of their respective mind-sets and the impact that emotional intelligence has on matters relating to wealth, relationships, parenting, family, planning and succession. Find out more about the work she does by visiting her website here

Hendy Group has expanded its operations in West Sussex with the opening of a Nissan dealership in Crawley and the refurbishment of its MG showroom in the town. Hendy chief executive Paul Hendy said that Crawley is an important location in the group’s portfolio and said the opening of Nissan and the refurbishment at MG will provide top class facilities for both customers and its valued colleagues. “Investing in our facilities and our colleagues is an important part of our expansion plans and we are pleased to be able to offer the very best here in Crawley,” said Paul. “We are delighted to be representing Nissan in the area and this new dealership joins our existing Nissan operations in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.” Hendy has appointed Melinda Minns as the new sales manager to lead the Nissan brand in Crawley and recruitment has also included new technicians, sales advisors, and logistics personnel. The £3/4 million investment project in Crawley has created state-of-the-art showrooms for both Nissan and MG and the investment in car and commercial vehicle facilities on the MG site has seen the installation of the very latest MOT bays, three new commercial vehicle ramps and extended parking for customers. Hendy has also included a new colleague welfare room in the project as it continues to invest in its workforce and their wellbeing.

The international logistics company Gebrüder Weiss takes charge of transporting an innovative solar car to Australia for the aCentauri Solar Racing Team of Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich (ETH). This is where the World Solar Challenge will begin at the end of October 2023. This unique race sees 31 teams cover the vast 3,000 km from Darwin across the Australian outback to Adelaide using solar power alone. To ensure that the high-tech vehicle can be on its marks on time at the other end of the world, Gebrüder Weiss delivers a customized mix of logistics covering land transport, sea and air freight. “Our position as a global logistics company means we are a driver of intelligent transport solutions, actively shaping the mobility of tomorrow,” says Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “aCentauri’s solar car is a trendsetter with the potential to revolutionize the transport sector, which is why we are supporting the team on their journey to Australia.” The students have been working on the development and implementation of this solar car for nearly a year. Designed for durability and maximum energy efficiency, it is emblematic of a future in which the environment takes center stage. “Of course, we would like to win the race. But what is equally important to us is taking an active role in developing efficient, environmentally sound solutions,” explains Alexandr Ebnöther, team manager at aCentauri. “With the support of Gebrüder Weiss, we can demonstrate that solar-powered cars and, by extension, sustainable mobility, are possible.” There is particular focus at the moment on alternative drives at Gebrüder Weiss. For example, aCentauri’s solar car is covering the first leg of its journey on the logistic company’s zero-emission hydrogen truck. Gebrüder Weiss regularly reports on the preparations and the progress of the cooperation via a dedicated landing page here and the various social media channels.

Economic activity from just one small group tour operator delivers over £16 million, creating hundreds of jobs and empowering rural communities Village pubs, family run B&Bs, and local visitor attractions are the reliable pitstops on any tour of rural Britain. However, the welcome and warmth of such independent and unique businesses is under threat from the lingering effects of the cost-of-living crisis, Brexit, and pandemic lockdowns. But as British staycations figures boom, local group tours have been shown to provide a valuable boost to small, independent businesses and the communities they support. Statistics from the Federation of Small Businesses show that 2022 saw 82,000 small operations close their doors for good, while The British Chambers of Commerce reports that UK hospitality firms are the businesses most likely to see a diminished turnover during these difficult times. These figures are troubling not only due to hole they leave on a tourist’s itinerary, but because small businesses account for three-fifths of private sector employment, and local pubs and restaurants often act as core infrastructure for rural communities. One of the last remaining hopes for local hospitality businesses is the high demand for small group regional tours around the UK. A leading provider of such tours is Rabbie’s, the Scottish founded operator which leads tours in every region of the UK and celebrates 30 years of operation this year. Rabbie’s customers poured over £16 million into rural accommodation alone in 2019. And in the same year, Rabbie’s tours facilitated the booking of over 98,000 overnight stays. These figures are set to increase as Rabbie’s has seen a 24% increase in bookings this year when compared to last. Rabbie’s estimates the economic contribution of its tours support over 210 full time jobs across the UK. Small coach tours are uniquely positioned to support rural communities. Rabbie’s uses mini-coaches not only for the comfort of guests, but also so that the tours can visit villages and destinations off-of-the-beaten-track - destinations larger coaches simply cannot reach. This provides a unique and genuine touring experience while supporting the economy of small communities by spreading the tourist pound beyond the popular landmarks. Accommodation businesses benefitting from mini-coach touring include Garden Park Guest House in Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland. About their ongoing relationship with Rabbie’s, owners Daniel and Sarah say “Rabbie's offered a jump start for us starting our business, and is still very valuable as they account for over just under 20% of all bookings.” The Garden Park Guest house is visited on Rabbie’s popular three-day Speyside Whisky Trail, which departs from Edinburgh and visits independent whisky distillers, Lindores Abbey, Cardhu, and Dalwhinnie. Prices for this tour start at £185 per person. In the Lake District, Sue and Mick’s Eden Green Guesthouse, is visited on Rabbie’s numerous Lake District tours, including the three-Day Lake District Explorer, prices for which start at £165 per person. Discussing the value a local business has on couch tour, they said “Rabbie’s understands the individuality of local businesses and the benefit of using them to enhance a guests' experience.” Beyond custom brought to accommodation providers, Rabbie’s tour leaders, known as ‘driver-guides’ enjoy recommending local and independent tourist attractions, allowing guests to choose what suits them. One example of such attraction is family run Staffa Trips, which operates boat journeys between the iconic Isle of Staffa and the peaceful Isle of Iona. Staffa Trips owner Sara said: “Rabbie’s custom is integral to our business in our rural location.” The boat trips are experienced by guests on Rabbie’s Magical Mull, Isle of Iona & West Highlands tour, an island hopping four-day journey, for which prices start at £229 per person. This year sees Rabbie’s celebrating its 30th anniversary, having grown from a ‘1-man, 1-van’ business to a touring operation offering tours across the UK and Europe. In April 2023, Rabbie’s expanded touring options, adding new tours exploring South Wales, the West Country, and Northern Ireland from Bristol and Belfast. To mark its anniversary Rabbie’s is amplifying 30 of its strongest independent partners, promoting their businesses on social media and celebrating the contribution of small regional coach tours across the UK. For more information about Rabbie’s and to book, visit www.rabbies.com .

Leading maintenance, compliance and decarbonisation contractor Novus Property Solutions has demonstrated its growing reputation across South England with a trio of contract wins valued at a combined total of over £65 million. The family-owned contractor has vast experience within the housing sector across Great Britain and has seen a recent boost to its Southern region with contract wins with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Places for People and Reading Borough Council. On behalf of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Novus will deliver large-scale kitchen and bathroom upgrades, roof renewals, electrical rewires, UPVC window and door renewals, and soffit, fascia and rainwater goods replacement works in the area over a period of five years. The contractor’s expert team will also complete roof replacements to bungalows within a sheltered housing scheme, as well as for a local community centre. Further cementing its partnership with Places for People, Novus was recently awarded a valuable four-year contract with the organisation. Its team will carry out a series of upgrades to thousands of properties as part of a major works planned investment programme in the South East. The scale of the programme has created significant employment opportunities within the area, with Novus on target to recruit 270 full-time roles and 54 apprentice roles, as well as hundreds of training and work placement opportunities. Furthermore, the contractor has committed to donating money, materials and labour to a number of causes across the region. Novus’ dedicated Sustain service is also currently completing a series of retrofit works for Places for People across 88 flats and communal areas at Adamson Court, Kempston in a valuable contract awarded through the prestigious Places for People Procurement Hub DPS. A variety of works including external wall insulation, loft insulation, double glazing, high heat retention storage heaters, and heating in communal areas will be carried out in strict accordance with PAS: 2035 guidelines under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 1 programme. Awarded via Procurement for Housing (PfH), Novus will also be entering a four-year kitchen and bathroom contract with Reading Borough Council where its team will deliver a number of CSR initiatives in the local community including apprenticeships, training and work placements. Commenting on Novus’ recent successes in the region, the contractor’s Head of Operations for the South, Ray Fielder, said: “We’re delighted to have recently been awarded these prestigious contracts and to have strengthened our position across the South. This latest string of successes in this area alone is evidence of Novus’ growing reputation as the contractor of choice for maintenance, refurbishment and decarbonisation projects across the housing sector.”

Willmott Dixon officially started work on a new forensics centre for Thames Valley Police (TVP) with a ground breaking event attended by the Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber. Procured through SCF, the purpose-built centre will become the main hub for the TVP’s Forensic Investigation Unit, containing laboratories, new digital technologies and dedicated training facilities. Also attending the event was TVP’s Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs and Head of Forensic Services, Kay Hannam, who joined Matthew Barber in digging the first section of ground at the site near Avonbury Business Park in Bicester with the Willmott Dixon team and the centre’s designers Atkins. It is part of the force’s wider Forensic Improvement Programme, which will see significant investment over the next three years to transform forensic services, improving investigations and the outcomes for victims. Mr Barber said: “I was delighted to put the first spade in the ground marking the start of construction on our new purpose-built forensics centre. This is an exciting new chapter for Thames Valley Police." "Ensuring the police are on the cutting edge of forensics is critical to keeping the public safe. Whether the crime is burglary, sexual offences or other serious violence, it is vital we work to stay one step ahead of the criminals. This significant investment in our estate will transform our forensics service providing state-of-the-art support for operational policing and delivering improved outcomes for victims. It will also futureproof our forensics capability and capacity helping us to meet existing and future demand.” Work will complete in winter 2024/25. During the first few months, the focus will be on installing a temporary car park, below ground drainage, pouring foundations, and constructing the building slab. In terms of works out the ground, the concrete frame will commence in November. Deputy Chief Constable Snuggs said: “I am really excited that we are able to mark the beginning of the building work on our new forensics building. When complete, this facility will provide a state-of-the-art space for our Forensic Investigation teams and improve our service delivery to the public. It will also enable Thames Valley Police to enhance its forensic provision with a variety of crime scene investigation and digital roles, as well providing bespoke on-site training facilities for staff and students." This continues Willmott Dixon’s national track-record or work for the emergency services. Recently it completed a new fire rescue facility at Horsham and is currently delivering a new HQ for Dorset Police Force. The company is also working with West Yorkshire Police to deliver a flagship new headquarters for the Kirklees district.

Leo Group, one of the UK's leading specialists in animal by-products and renewable energy, headquartered in Halifax, West Yorkshire, has completed the construction of its new maritime storage terminal at the Port of Sunderland. The storage tanks will hold the oil recycled from Leo Group's Omega Protein plants across the UK and allows the company to load some of the largest tankers in operation today. This oil, a highly valuable cargo, is shipped to world-renowned energy companies and is used to generate renewable energy as well as being processed into high-tech 'green' SAF and HVO fuel. In recent years, demand for biofuel has soared as it has been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to conventional fossil fuels. The oil, a natural by-product derived from animal waste that the company collects across the UK, is a key component in the process of producing an advanced form of biofuel. The oil is also certified with the ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) label, which is used by the industry to distinguish between truly sustainable and unsustainable biomass fuels. To meet the internationally growing demand for its oil, Leo Group chose the Port of Sunderland for its strategic location on the east coast and access to major transport routes. The company sees this hugely important multi-million pound investment as a crucial building block for the future, as the Sunderland terminal will play a pivotal role in the global export of its oil. Danny Sawrij, CEO of The Leo Group, said: "We are delighted that our terminal in Sunderland is now operational. It will serve as our main distribution centre for oil and secure our future exports to the EU and other markets around the world, which we expect to increase over time. As one of the UK's leading animal by-products and renewable energy specialists, it is great that we are able to recycle 100 per cent of all animal by-products at our sites and help reduce CO2 emissions with our products." "A decade ago, you would have buried a dead sheep in the ground with the risk of contamination. Now we can convert the sheep into sustainable aviation fuel and electricity. That's how far we've come." Matthew Hunt, Director at Port of Sunderland, said: “Leo Group is the latest in a number of pioneering circular economy businesses to have announced a major investment at the Port of Sunderland and we’re absolutely delighted that its state-of-the-art export facility here in our Port is now ready to start shipping operations to overseas markets. The need for countries the world-over to transition to Net Zero societies has led to soaring demand for clean biofuels such as those produced by Leo Group and we are delighted that the port will play a key role in the growth of the business as it continues to expand its global presence.”

A new book, ' Reshaping Reality: Unlocking the Potential of the Single Family Office ' edited by Greg McCann and Jill Barber has just been released and is an edited collection written by some of the most influential thought leaders in the field today, challenging the traditional approach to family offices and offering a roadmap for their future. Reshaping Reality provides a fresh perspective on the role of single family offices in today's ever-changing world. The book argues that family offices have accomplished great things but must continue to evolve to remain relevant and impactful. Based on an analysis of changing perceptions and realities around wealth, Reshaping Reality explores common "design flaws" in the development of single family offices and offers practical solutions for greater relevancy, leadership development, learning, and more. Reshaping Reality is written for family leaders, single family office leaders, and others interested in the field. The book is edited by Greg McCann, Founder, Board Member, and Advisor of Generation6 Family Enterprise Advisors and Jill Barber, President of CYMI Holdings. Each chapter offers unique insights into the current state of single family offices and their potential for the future. From understanding changing perceptions and realities around wealth to investing in the development of family office professionals and creating a culture of learning, Reshaping Reality provides a comprehensive view of the next step in the evolution of single family offices. McCann and Barber have brought together an impressive array of contributors to offer a comprehensive view of the current state of single family offices and their potential for the future. The book features contributions from prominent family office leaders, consultants, academics, and researchers, including the following chapters: 1. Wealth: Perception Shapes Reality by Jill Shipley 2. Family Office Relevancy: Doing What’s Asked for and What’s Needed by Jim Coutré 3. The Transformative Family Office by Andrew Keyt 4. Family Office Leadership: Investing in the Development of the Professionals by Jill Barber and Greg McCann 5. The Role of Learning in the Family-Centered Office: A Pathway to Building Capacities Needed to Thrive by Stacy Allred and Mary Duke 6. The Antidote to Private Equity by Paul Carbone Reshaping Reality: Unlocking the Potential of the Single Family Office is available now for purchase on Amazon.com and a must-read for anyone interested in the future of family offices and their role in shaping our world. It is the first book release of a series of publications for the Generation6 Innovation Series, the collaborative arm of Generation6 Family Enterprise Advisors. Generatation6 Innovation Series is a catalyst for deep thinking, engaging discussions, and cultivating innovation to give back to the family business field. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United adds, "I was delighted to read a draft of the book and to provide a review too." "Reshaping Reality offers a comprehensive look into how family offices can take underlying family business values and become a real force for good, building on their different pillars of capital and the development of individuals to make a measurable and collective impact. For me, it is a must-read for people in the family office space." Find out more about the book here

The specialist wealth managers at Brooks Macdonald understand the priorities of successful family business people. The team have been helping to manage their financial affairs pre and post exit ever since Brooks Macdonald was formed in 1991. Brooks Macdonald can look after your personal financial plans while you look after your business plans – especially if you’re thinking about moving on from your business. But what questions do you need to ask yourself first? In this article, let's take a look at some of the important questions that need to be considered. Do I Manage My Personal Finances As Well As I Manage My Business? As a business owner, you’ll have a keen eye for cash flow, profit and loss, due diligence and a five-year plan. Take the same care you’d take with your business in developing the potential of your personal assets. And, even more importantly, in who you hire to help you. Businesspeople can be known for letting their business take over their lives. Try to keep your business assets and accounts separate from your personal affairs. It will save you and your team time unpicking the overlaps. Have I Taken All The Tax-Saving Opportunities On Offer? There are lots of ways to shield your hard-earned wealth from the tax people, and the government encourages them. Pensions : these can be an effective way for you, your employees and your business to reduce income tax, National Insurance, capital gains tax, corporation tax and inheritance payments. Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs): you can save £20,000 in an ISA each year, and you won’t have to pay any tax on interest or returns earned. If you have a wife, husband or civil partner, check they have used their allowance too. Capital Gains Tax (CGT): there’s more to reducing CGT than diligently recording every business expense. If you’re thinking of selling business assets that have gained in value, consider selling something that hasn’t, to offset the gain. Keep in mind the annual tax-free allowance. And supporting a good cause by donating to charity is free from CGT, up to a certain limit. How Can I Take Capital Out Of My Business? If you run your business as a limited company, there are several ways you can take money out for your personal use. We’ve already mentioned making pensions contributions. Others include paying yourself a salary or taking dividends. We can help you weigh up the options. If you take a salary, you’ll have the benefit of regular money, but you’ll have to pay income tax and National Insurance. Think about your salary in relation to annual income tax thresholds. If you have any profit left after paying end-of-year corporation tax, you could pay yourself a dividend. You’ll have to pay any shareholders a dividend too. Your first £1,000 is tax free, but after that tax is charged according to rising thresholds. Another way to take money from your company is to sell it. You’ll need to pay CGT on any profits, and corporation tax if you’re selling a limited company. You may qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief. How Do I Go About Stepping Away From My Business? Think about why you want to step away and when would be the right time for you. Maybe you’ve been surprised by an unexpected approach to purchase. Have a chat with your financial adviser about the factors and timelines to keep in mind. Consider who you’d like to take over the business and when would be the right time for them. Do you, or they, require more preparation? Do you mind what their vision for the future of the business is? Ask the challenging questions and make plans to fill in any gaps. Take time to prepare yourself mentally to let go. Consider what you’d like to do next. You may have been too busy striving and thriving to think about it before. What If I Want To Sell My Business? This is a moment to bring in the professionals. Allowing plenty of time for expert planning can smooth the process and help reduce your tax bill. Check that your financial systems, contracts and published materials are all in order. Consider if you want to have further involvement and whether you’re prepared to work for others. Letting go can be emotional, so draw on your support networks. We have cash flow modelling software that can help you explore your financial future post-sale and make important decisions before the sale completes. You can forecast future income and capital needs, and help confirm if you think now is the right time to sell and at what price. As you prepare to sell, you may want to give your pension a boost. This can be useful for your retirement plans and as a business exit strategy. Company directors can make employer contributions of up to £60,000 a year or 100% of your earnings (whichever is less). You can carry forward to the next year, taking your contribution up to £180,000. Working for your business may have come with benefits like life, illness and accident insurance, income protection and private medical insurance. You may want to investigate replacing some of these with your own policies. People selling a business have often rather understandably focused on the health of the business, the transaction, and the transition to new ownership itself. Give some thought to the proceeds too. If you haven’t already engaged professional investment managers to invest your money for you, now might be the time to consider it. Delegating responsibility and appointing professionals can be a beneficial decision for many reasons. How Do I Make A Smooth Transition To Retirement? After years focusing on accumulating money, you may decide it’s time to change gears to decumulation. Review your income and expenditure and have a long think about the kind of retirement lifestyle you’d like. What have you always wanted to do? Cash flow planning can also be a great tool at this stage, to test out different financial scenarios and ensure your money lasts the course. It can show if you’re on track to achieve your lifestyle and retirement goals, how much money you need, and if you need to work for longer. Our retirement guide has plenty of ideas to help improve your retirement. How Do I Pass My Wealth On Efficiently? Passing on wealth can be a sensitive subject. Think about who you’d like to pass your wealth to . For some, it may be a partner and children. But for others there might be ex-spouses, stepchildren and family living overseas with different tax regulations to consider. There could be issues about what happens depending on who passes away first. You may want to support important causes, or other loved ones. If you pass away without a will, your assets could be distributed in a way you wouldn’t want, so make sure your will is up to date. This is particularly important if you’re not married, or civilly partnered, to your partner. A will can also help make the transition of wealth much quicker and easier. Explore tax-efficient ways to transfer wealth. You may like to ask for professional advice on inheritance tax , trusts or business relief. After you’ve sold your business, you have a three-year window to reinvest the proceeds in an appropriate business relief scheme, which then benefits from immediate inheritance tax relief. It’s usually possible to pass on pensions without paying inheritance tax. You may like to watch our webinar about passing on your wealth. Am I Getting The Right Advice For Where I’m At? As your life and business progress, you may want to upgrade your advisers. Maybe your business and earnings are ramping up. Or maybe you’ve sold your business and have a large lump sum to manage. Whatever stage you’re at – finding success, accumulating wealth, preparing to retire, or retired, make sure you have an adviser who understands your needs. Choose someone you trust, to be sure they’re acting in your best interests. If you’re a business professional looking for help from a financial professional, get in touch for a free, impartial conversation by emailing the team at Brooks Macdonald on pc@brooksmacdonald.com or visit their website here Important information - Investors should be aware that the price of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and that neither is guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Changes in rates of exchange may have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of an investment. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future, so you should seek independent tax advice, as to your own position. The information in this article does not constitute advice or a recommendation and you should not make any investment decisions on the basis of it. Brooks Macdonald is a trading name of Brooks Macdonald Group plc used by various companies in the Brooks Macdonald group of companies. Brooks Macdonald Group plc is registered in England No 04402058. Registered office: 21 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AH. Brooks Macdonald Asset Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No 03417519. Registered office: 21 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AH. Brooks Macdonald International is a trading name of Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited. Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited is licensed and regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Its Guernsey branch is licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and its Isle of Man branch is licensed and regulated by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. In respect of services provided in the Republic of South Africa, Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited is an authorised Financial Services Provider regulated by the South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority. Registered in Jersey No 143275. Registered office: 5 Anley Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3QE. More information about the Brooks Macdonald Group can be found at www.brooksmacdonald.com

A JCB donation is proving the answer to a historic local church’s prayers in helping fund vital renovation work. St Michael and All Angels Church at Stramshall, near Uttoxeter, has received £10,000 from the Rocester-based digger giant to help with major restoration work of the stunning Grade II listed building. A regular architectural inspection of the church, which dates back to the 1850s, showed building and stained glass window repairs were urgently needed, so volunteers from The Friends of St Michael’s set about raising funds. Committee secretary Angela Bath explained the group of ten parishioners who make up the Friends along with countless villagers held cake bakes, raffles, and community fundraisers to get the repairs off the ground and also approached nearby neighbours JCB for support too. Work is now complete on the restoration of a stunning stained glass window which commemorates The Reverend Charles Frederick Lowry who was vicar at St Michael’s for more than 50 years. Meanwhile, specialist masonry work has begun on the west wing, bell tower and roof, with the aim of getting the church watertight by winter. Once the renovations are complete, ambitious plans to build new kitchen and toilet facilities to make the church a community hub are also on the Friends’ agenda. Vicar, The Rev. Margaret Sherwin said: “St Michael’s is at the heart of Stramshall’s community and we are delighted that JCB is helping us to preserve this very special building for future generations.”

Just in time for Autumn menus, frozen food distributor Central Foods has launched a new tomato, goat’s cheese and basil tart for the food service sector. At the same time, the company’s Mediterranean vegetable tart has been updated to make it even more delicious. Both Menuserve tarts are 4 inches in diameter, approximately 160g each, and simply need baking to crisp the pastry and heat through before serving. Gordon Lauder, MD of Central Foods, said: “Pastry tarts are a popular choice for a light lunch or snack, and we are delighted to be launching two new savoury tarts in the Menuserve range – one a brand new flavour and the other with a new improved recipe." “Being suitable for vegans, the colourful Mediterranean vegetable tart is a great addition to any menu, as it will appeal to those customers and diners with dietary requirements, as well as more generally. The tomato, goat’s cheese and basil tart is a super vegetarian alternative which again will go down well with all customers.” The new Menuserve tomato, goat’s cheese and basil tart features a tasty cheese and basil quiche-style filling with sun-dried tomatoes in a herb-flecked pastry case, topped with a slice of tangy goat’s cheese. It is suitable for vegetarians. Meanwhile, the reformulated Mediterranean vegetable tart includes a chunky tomato, aubergine, courgette and mixed peppers filling on a bed of tangy tomato sauce, topped with a half cherry tomato, all in a herb-flecked pastry case. It’s suitable for both vegans and vegetarians, yet is so tasty it will go down well with all customers, not just those with dietary requirements. Ideal for a light lunch or snack, the Menuserve tarts are perfect for a range of food service outlets from coffee shops and cafés through to pubs, universities, grab and go venues, garden centres and care homes. Each product is available to catering staff in cases of 12. Central Foods, based at Collingtree near Northampton, is one of the UK’s leading frozen food distributors. The company was founded more than 25 years ago and is a catering partner across the whole food service sector, supplying to hotels, restaurants, bars, universities, schools, pubs, care homes, garden centres, leisure outlets and more. It currently sells to over 180 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers.