Leading glass packaging company, Croxsons, is currently promoting its new sustainability campaign, reiterating its commitment to environmental stewardship in the packaging industry. As part of this initiative, Croxsons is focusing on major sustainability efforts including promoting the use of and planning for zero-carbon furnaces for glass production, which are part of the UK’s broader aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The company is planning for a rapid transition from traditional natural gas furnaces to those powered entirely by renewable electricity and hydrogen, aiming to substantially reduce the carbon footprint of its manufacturing processes. Further demonstrating its dedication to environmental causes, Croxsons has partnered with Ecologi to fund global climate initiatives and has already planted 150,000 trees to combat deforestation and climate change, as well as offsetting the carbon footprint of their entire team. This undertaking highlights the company’s pledge to undo decades of carbon damage and provide tangible benefits to the environment, meeting 13 of the UN Sustaintability Development Goals. Additionally, Croxsons’ recent recognition at the Ecologi Awards, where it won a Gold Award, highlights the company's proactive approach to sustainability and its effective strategies in setting and achieving significant emission reduction targets. Tim Croxson, Croxsons CEO, said: “Our commitment to sustainability is central to our operations. We are not just adjusting to a better way of doing business, we have to make sure that we are playing our part in ensuring that the packaging industry contributes positively to the planet's future.” Providing bespoke solutions to global food and beverage brands, Croxsons continues to expand its reach and services worldwide, maintaining its commitment to sustainable practices in all aspects of its business.

Beer Cheer: Property consultancy Vail Williams, acting on behalf of Wimborne-based property developer Harry J Palmer Ltd, has let a detached unit at Stone Lane Industrial Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, to Eight Arch Brewing Co on a 10-year lease. From left, May Palmer of Harry J Palmer Ltd, Steve Farrell, Brewer and Founder of Eight Arch Brewing Co, and Bryony Thompson, a Vail Williams’ Associate. The business is named after the eight arches of historical landmark Julian’s Bridge in the minister town. An expanding brewery in Dorset has raised a glass to the future with a 10-year lease on a warehouse which has been transformed into a production centre and tap room. In a deal through property consultancy Vail Williams, Eight Arch Brewing Co signed up to 5,748 sq ft of space at Unit 1, Stone Lane Industrial Estate, Wimborne. Following a six-figure investment in equipment and fittings, part of the ground floor has been converted into a high-tech brewery, with a tap room for customers on Fridays and Saturdays at specified times, and seating areas inside and out. Eight Arch Brewing Co, named after the eight arches at nearby historical landmark Julian’s Bridge in Wimborne Minster, relocated from smaller nearby premises. Founded by brewer Steve Farrell in 2015, the business, which has pale ale Square Logic as a best seller, employs five people and sells beer primarily in and around the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation. The detached two-storey building, with a mezzanine floor and previously occupied by emporium Toad Hall, is owned through the commercial property arm of Harry J Palmer Ltd, the Wimborne-based property developer. Steve said: “We are a Wimborne brewery owned and run by a Wimborne born and bred guy and we want to continue to grow from our Wimborne home. This signing of the 10-year lease on our new premises underlines our long-term commitment to Wimborne." “This is our third brewery in Stone Lane during ten years of Eight Arch with each move prompted by growing demand for our products and because of the popularity of our Tap Room." “The founding of Eight Arch represented the first time in 80 years that an independent brewery had made and sold beer in the town." “We’ve had an incredibly warm welcome from the local community since moving in and look forward to striking up more supplier partnerships with pubs, clubs and restaurants which champion ‘buy local’ and are also looking to reduce transport emissions and costs.” Vail Williams, which has its Dorset office in Bournemouth, advises on the commercial property interests of family-run housebuilder Harry J Palmer Ltd. Bryony Thompson, a Vail Williams’ Associate working out of the consultancy’s Bournemouth office, said: “The vacant warehouse at Stone Lane Industrial Estate serves as the ideal expansion location for Eight Arch Brewing Co." “Steve and his team have worked tirelessly to create bigger and better premise for their national award winning beers and Tap Room. " May Palmer of Harry J Palmer Ltd, which was established in 1938 in Wimborne and is a member of Dorset Chamber, said: “It’s lovely to see new life breathed into the vacant warehouse, creating new jobs, inward investment and doing our home town proud.” Eight Arch Brewing Co produces hop-forward pale ales to full-bodied stouts, winning awards in regional and national competitions held by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). These include the IPA Corbel being named National SIBA Bitter & Strong Pale Ale Cask Champion in 2017, and Square Logic becoming National SIBA Session IPA Small Pack Champion 2020 and National SIBA Overall Small Pack Champion 2020. According to SIBA figures, there were 1,815 active brewers in the UK at the beginning of this year, with 211 in the South West, generating employment for 10,000-plus people.

Digital games can contribute to and support the well-being of children if they are designed with the needs of children in mind, according to new research from UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight. The study shows that well-designed digital play experiences can allow children to experience a sense of control, have freedom of choice and experience mastery and feelings of achievement. They can also help children to regulate their emotions, feel connected to others, and find joy in creating and exploring as well as acting on new ideas. These types of experiences are vital for children’s well-being and can even support their development. Bo Viktor Nylund, Director of UNICEF Innocenti, said: “For decades, people have often assumed that playing digital games is somehow bad for children, undermining their well-being. But our new study paints a far more complex picture – one in which these games can actually contribute to children’s well-being and positively support them as they grow up.” “But not all children are impacted positively by games, and – crucially – not all games are having a positive impact on children. In fact, for games to support the well-being of children, game designers must take the needs of children into account and design games that support those needs,” Nylund said. Anna Rafferty, Senior Vice President of Digital Consumer Engagement, the LEGO Group, said: “This exciting research from UNICEF and leading academics shows that safe and inclusive digital play can have a profoundly positive impact on children’s lives." "We are proud to be partnering with like-minded organisations to understand how digital experiences can be designed in a way that puts children’s well-being first. These findings will empower responsible businesses to create a digital future where children are safe, nurtured and equipped to thrive.” Father & Daugther playing games Digital producers can and should design for the well-being of children This research was produced as part of the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project, an international collaboration between organisations that believe the design and development of digital technology should support the rights and well-being of children. The project was co-founded by UNICEF and the LEGO Group and is funded by the LEGO Foundation. The study found that games can support children’s senses of autonomy, competence, creativity and identity, as well as help them regulate emotions and build relationships. But to support one or more of these aspects of well-being, digital games need to contain certain features. For example, to support children’s sense of autonomy, a game could put them in control, allow them to make decisions about gameplay and encourage them to develop their own strategies to progress. Or to support creativity, a game could allow children to freely explore and solve problems or create their own characters or narratives. Bo Viktor Nylund said: “This research helps us understand not only how games can impact the well-being of children, but also helps the producers and designers of these games understand what elements they can include to support children. We hope they will consider these findings as they design the games our children will be playing in the future.” Safety and security of children playing digital games – a vital topic which is already the subject of much research – was not as strong a focus in this study, but it was still found to be of fundamental importance to protect the well-being of children. This research – which was produced in partnership with the University of Sheffield, New York University, City University New York and the Queensland University of Technology – establishes that digital games companies and games designers can and should support the well-being of children through the games they produce, convincingly demonstrating that digital play has a particularly positive impact on children’s well-being when it responds to their deep interests, needs and desires. A report on the research and its findings will be followed later this year by the launch of a guide to assist businesses to incorporate these findings into the games they design.

Charlotte Dujardin rounded off an excellent week at the I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival at Hickstead, winning a third Grand Prix title. The World number five brought her Grand Prix victor Imhotep back for Sunday’s I.C.E Horseboxes CDI3* Grand Prix Special, where she once again topped the leader board with 81.362%. Her mentor and team-mate Carl Hester and Fame were second with 78.660%. Charlotte said: “I’ve had a fantastic week with both my horses, finishing off the show with the Special with Imhotep, and I felt like he did one of his best tests that I’ve done." The 11-year-old Imhotep picked up nines and tens for his piaffe and passage work, as well as his pirouettes and final halt. “There was a rider error in the ones [one-time changes] but apart from that I was absolutely thrilled. It’s great preparation to make these mistakes here and hopefully get them all out of the way. Each time you do a test you feel like you’ve learned something. By Paris, hopefully there’ll be no more mistakes.” At last year’s European Championships, Charlotte and Imhotep were part of the gold medal-winning team as well as picking up two individual bronze medals. Their impressive Hickstead performance this week will have no doubt helped their selection campaign ahead of this summer’s Paris Games, when Charlotte could go ahead of cyclist Dame Laura Kenny as the British female athlete to have won the most Olympic medals. Imhotep is the more likely contender for the Games, but in her Freestyle winner Alive And Kicking Charlotte has another potential championship horse in the making. “With Paris in mind, it’s something we’re really focusing on, we’re really busy trying to get everything in tip top shape,” she said. “They’re very different horses. Pete is like being on a spring, he’s extremely bouncy and very powerful, and he’s quite big and wide to ride. Whereas Audrey [Alive And Kicking] is smaller, much neater, and a totally different mover to Pete.” It was Charlotte's first time competing at Hickstead since the birth of her daughter Isabella in 2023. “It has definitely put a perspective on my career. Before having Isabella, this [riding] was my life, and I was so focused on doing this all the time, whereas now being a mum has made me realise what’s important. Being a mum is the best thing in the whole world, she’s my number one priority. Going out there to compete is all about going out there to make her proud, so it’s fantastic that she can come and watch me here and be a part of it.” Photo Credit: Boots and Hooves Photography

Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has been granted use of the Royal Warrant by His Majesty King Charles III. Royal Warrants are awarded to companies who have regularly supplied goods or services for a minimum of five consecutive years to the Royal Household. King Charles III first granted a Royal Warrant to the Faversham-based brewer in 1998, in his former role as the Prince of Wales, for Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy. The drink dates back to 1774, and was originally produced by Thomas Grant and Sons in Dover before moving to Maidstone, where it lasted until the 1950s. Shepherd Neame bought the liqueur in 1988. In 2014, the Prince of Wales gave permission for the Royal Warrant to be used on bottles of Shepherd Neame’s Spitfire Amber Ale. Named after the legendary Supermarine Spitfire, this Kentish ale was first brewed in 1990 to commemorate the Battle of Britain which was fought in the skies above Kent 50 years earlier. Shepherd Neame Chief Executive Jonathan Neame said: “We have a long association with the Royal Family, and are incredibly proud to be among the first UK businesses to be awarded a Royal Warrant by His Majesty King Charles III." "As Britain’s oldest brewer, we take great pride in preserving the traditions of our long brewing heritage, creating quality products using the finest locally sourced ingredients, so it wonderful to have our efforts recognised with this special honour.”

Willmott Dixon has been awarded the UK’s most prestigious business accolade for the second successive year. The company was again recognised by the annual King’s Awards for Enterprise, this time for Sustainable Development. Last year, it won an award in the category of Promoting Opportunity. This is the fifth time Willmott Dixon has achieved this accolade since 2014, and the third time it has been recognised by the awards for its work in Sustainable Development. This latest King’s Award for Enterprise follows progress Willmott Dixon has made towards a Net Zero future for itself, its people, customers and supply chain, including: Reducing carbon relative to turnover by 81% since 2010. Achieving carbon neutral status for eleven years. Gaining a growing volume of work to deliver net zero in operation projects. Cutting avoidable waste from sites and investing in circular economy schemes and shared learning. Creating an innovative salary sacrifice car scheme to help its people buy low emissions vehicles. Developing solutions to support customers’ net zero ambitions like the Energy Synergy service and Community Solar products. Engaging with supply chain partners to address scope 3 emissions. As one of the UK’s largest family-owned construction and fit-out companies, Willmott Dixon employs over 2,000 people. It has set the challenge to be zero-carbon in its own operations without offsetting by 2030 as part of the company’s ethos to leave a positive legacy for future generations. Graham Dundas, Group Chief Executive, said: “The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the preeminent way to recognise outstanding achievements by UK businesses and it’s very humbling that this award has been bestowed on Willmott Dixon for a fifth time." “Our purpose is to leave a world fit for future generations, both by reducing the impact of our operations and by delivering future-climate-ready buildings for our customers that use less carbon in construction and operation." “This latest King’s Award for Enterprise, following last year’s award for Promoting Opportunity, will help galvanise even more our determination to support a Net Zero future for our society. It further recognises the efforts and innovation of our people and serves as another powerful endorsement that we are moving in the right direction toward our ambition to be the UK’s most sustainable construction company.” A total of 252 organisations have been recognised nationally with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

Leading interiors, maintenance and decarbonisation contractor Novus Property Solutions has secured three significant contracts across the Midlands, valued at up to £6.5 million in total. Novus, which operates across Great Britain, has a longstanding reputation for operational excellence across the housing sector, and this delivery has played a key role in securing new contracts with existing clients The Guinness Partnership and Solihull Community Housing. In the highest value of the three contracts, Novus has further expanded its partnership with long term client The Guinness Partnership. Novus’ expert team will deliver whole house retrofit works to 50 properties in Crewe throughout 2024 and 2025 as part of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1 scheme. The retrofit works will be completed through Novus’ dedicated Sustain service, which provides a one-stop-shop decarbonisation service to local authorities and social housing landlords. Social value will continue to play an important role in this partnership, with both organisations working together to deliver an estimated social value contribution of £3.4 million over the past three years across employment, local supply chain, and community and charity initiatives and events. Novus has also secured two significant contracts with returning client Solihull Community Housing. Envelope improvement works programme This contract is over a three-year period with the option of a further three years and will include the upgrading of internal and external communal areas of low-rise buildings. The programme will cover a vast scope of works including the renewal of communal entrance doors, renewal of communal windows, installation of video door entry access control system, replacement of floor coverings to communal areas, lighting upgrade including emergency lighting, replacement of roof coverings to communal flat roof areas, refurbishment of external sheds, decoration of internal communal areas and relaying or replacement of communal paving. Cyclical improvement works programme This contract is also over a three-year period but with the option of a further two years and includes maintenance upgrades to houses, bungalows, maisonettes, and low-rise flats within the north and south of the Solihull borough. The programme will include fence repairs or new fencing works including Picket and Close board or Trip rail to all elevations of the properties and the replacement of gates to front and rear (subject to condition and access). Also included is the replacement of front door canopies, rear outhouse lean to works and PVCu over cladding to properties with timber between windows to ground and upper floors. And not forgetting, new fascias and privacy screens to porches, the replacement of outhouse shed doors and timber/metal windows, felt roofs to sheds/stores/porch pods and bays and the cleaning of gutters and window frames to our properties and communal areas. Commenting on being awarded three contracts in the region, Novus’ Head of Operations, Gary Clay, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded three contracts in the Midlands with clients we have existing and historic partnerships with. Our successful bids for these contracts is evidence of our reputation not only in the region but across the housing sector for a variety of works, and demonstrates our ability in delivering the fundamentals and building confidence.”

Paralympic gold medallist Natasha Baker made a winning return to the dressage arena after a 20-month absence from competition, following the birth of her baby boy Joshua in 2023. Riding Keystone Dawn Chorus, Natasha picked up a double of para-dressage victories at the I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival. On Tuesday, she headed the Agria CPEDI 3* Grand Prix A Grade III test with 74.833%, and repeated her win today in the Grand Prix B with 73.333%. Natasha said: “It’s really good to be back in competition, and ‘Lottie’ was amazing - she really looked after me. Today she was feeling absolutely pumped and ready, and that did lead to a couple of small mistakes, but I'm so happy for my first competition back in such a long time." Natasha has had the ride on Lottie since 2019, and they were part of the gold medal winning team in Tokyo. The pair also won individual silver and bronze at last year’s World Championships in Herning. “She is the kindest, sweetest, cuddliest horse,” said Natasha. “She's just the absolute dream to look after, she's so well behaved but also really brave and confident.” Though her return to competition resulted in a double of wins, their path back into the arena hasn't always run smoothly. “I had a really bad start to the year, unfortunately my Nan was really poorly so I didn't manage to ride a lot in January, and that's just pushed things back a little bit with our preparations. But the last few weeks have gone really well, and Lottie has been feeling amazing. Now I need to get better and stronger, to be able to cope with all of Lottie’s movement.” Becoming a mum has also brought its own challenges. “I'm not going to lie, I thought parenting would be easier to balance than it actually is! I really want to make sure I balance it well, and to make sure I don't miss anything with my son. I want to be there for all of his ‘firsts’, but I also want to be back out performing and being the best that I can be. So it's a juggle, but I'm sure every parent will understand that. Becoming a mum has been a real adventure – I love challenges and this is probably the biggest challenge that I've ever had. But coming into that arena yesterday was just awesome.” Natasha’s son Joshua recently celebrated his first birthday, and he now has an important role of being the number one supporter for his mum. “Yesterday I came out of the arena feeling really happy with my test, then I saw him and just bawled my eyes out,” said Natasha. “It’s amazing being back doing my day job but with him on the sidelines. His dad has also taken time off work so he can be here looking after Joshua while I compete.” A strong showing today will no doubt be a boost to her hopes of selection for this summer's Paralympic Games in Paris. If Natasha gets selected, it will be her fourth Games, and another chance to help Great Britain retain their record of team gold medals. “I had no expectations, I didn't know how Lottie was going come back or what the judges were going to think of us after such a long time out of the arena. But luckily, they seem to still love her. We've got another couple of internationals this year and then we have to see if the team still wants me!” Natasha will be back in action in Thursday’s Freestyle, when she will be revealing brand new music. “It's like nothing I've ever had before, really pop and upbeat. If you're not singing it for the rest of the day, I'll be disappointed!” she added. The I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival takes place at Hickstead (7-12 May) with free admission and parking for spectators. Watch the livestream on Horse & Country TV. Photo credit Spidge Photography

Family Business United is delighted to announce the 8 finalists in the running for the National Family Business Next Generation Ambassador Award which will be presented at a gala event in London on September 19, 2024 as part of the National Family Business Day celebrations. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, "Our finalists represent the next generation of family business leaders from whom one will be crowned the overall winner at the prestigious National Family Business Day Gala Dinner on September 19." "The family business community will come together to celebrate their journeys. Each finalist has a story to tell and the judges are faced with a difficult decision in determining the winner." Our finalists for the Next Generation Ambassador Award 2024, in no particular order, are: Wilda Haddad - Dina Foods Ellie Jobes - Alfred Bagnall and Sons Limited Richard Wilsdon - Britcab Ltd Michael Vieira - Roman Pools Ltd Jamie Keeble - Heck! Food Ltd Justin Wilkins - The Wilkins Group Mia Simpson - Vcare Training Solutions Katy Brown - Sapphire Louvres Ltd The judges will deliberate and determine the winner who will be announced on September at the National Family Business Day Dinner. Find out more about the event here

Family Business United is delighted to announce the 12 finalists in the running for the National Family Business Lifetime Achievement Award which will be presented at a gala event in London on September 19, 2024 as part of the National Family Business Day celebrations. As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, "Our finalists are both family and non-family members who have dedicated significant amounts of their working lives contributing to the success and growth of the family business that they are associated with. Running a family business can be a lonely place and we created these awards to recognise the incredible contribution that is made by individuals within these firms." "The family business community will come together to celebrate their journeys where one of our finalists will be crowned the National Family Business Lifetime Achievement winner. Each finalist has a story to tell and when you read the submissions for each of them the emotion, personal endeavours and devotion to their path is palpable. Selecting a winner is not going to be easy." Our finalists for the Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, in no particular order, are: Allan Reeder - Allan Reeder Limited Calogero Piazza - Roman Pools Ltd Andre Wilkins - The Wilkins Group Kevin McCabe - Scarborough Group International Chris Bence - George Bence & Sons Ltd Steve Collett - Westlands Farm Shop Angela Fan - Study Links International Limited Margaret Reid - Redpath Bruce Property Management Ltd Suheil Haddad - Dina Foods Richard Britten - Alfred Bagnall and Sons Limited Bob Thomson - Vcare 24 Limited Younis Chaudhry - Regal Food Products Group Plc The judges will deliberate and determine the winner who will be announced on September at the National Family Business Day Dinner. Find out more about the event here

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.”