Sector Focus


EY invests in young talent


Accountant EY has recruited more than 1,000 graduates and apprentices across its UK offices this year. EY’s Birmingham office


welcomed an extra three graduates and apprentices than it did in 2019, including 15 who took part in the firm’s ‘virtual’ summer intern placement programme. Of the 64 new joiners, 49


were graduates, 13 were business apprentices and two were digital degree-holders. In addition to the full time, permanent joiners, a further 15 took part in the virtual internship and four in EY’s Business Academy programme, designed to give year 12 students work experience. Just under half of the


student recruits (43 per cent) were women, up from 38 per cent last year, and 41 per cent were people from a ethnic minorities, which includes three per cent black students. Simon O’Neil, office managing partner at EY in the Midlands, said: “It’s also particularly satisfying to see that our 2020 intake is made up of 48 per cent female recruits and overall 55 per cent are people from ethnic minorities, which continues to build the tremendous diversity in our teams. “Young talent is essential to


our future business success and to shaping the skills we will need to remain competitive. I’m proud that we’ve maintained our commitment to student recruitment this year and that we’ve honoured all the conditional offers we made prior to A-level results.” As part of the firm’s efforts


to attract more diverse students, 30 per cent of the work experience places on the EY Foundation’s Smart Futures/Our Futures programmes will be offered to black people for the next five years from September 2021. Justine Campbell, EY UK&I managing partner for talent, said: “Diversity and inclusion are key priorities for EY, and I’m pleased by the progress we’ve made to improve the diversity of our student intake this year. “However, we know there’s


more we can do which is why we introduced new diversity targets last year and announced a series of commitments on black representation in July.”


56 CHAMBERLINK November 2020


Finance


Celebration as RSM helps protect jobs


Audit and tax firm RSM, which has an office in Birmingham, has helped save more than 700 jobs after preventing a restaurant business and a footwear chain from collapsing. RSM experts advised on the successful restructuring of


the Thai Leisure Group (TLG) and Aldo UK, the UK arm of Canadian shoe chain Aldo. TLG’s company voluntary arrangement (CVA) – the


second it has entered to in less than a year – was agreed by 90 per cent of its creditors. TLG was founded in Leeds in 2005 and has 20


restaurants under a number of brands, from casual dining chain Thaikhun to the more high-end Chaophraya. Ian Leigh, managing director of the Thai Leisure


Group, said: “We are delighted to have just had our CVA approved.


‘The CVA allows us to move forward to better times’


“I would like to thank the landlords across our 20


sites and our bank Santander for their ongoing support of our company. I would like to thank our numerous suppliers for standing by us, and all our loyal, hardworking employees. “The CVA allows us to move forward to better times.


For their expertise and support throughout the process we are grateful to the team at RSM - particularly Stephanie, Gordon and Damian.” Aldo UK had 13 stores, of which five were closed, and


was sold to Birmingham-based Bushell Investment Group (BIG). The company was the UK arm of Canadian firm Aldo,


which itself filed for bankruptcy protection in May, after shutting its stores because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the UK, RSM was appointed as administrator at


Damian Webb: successful outcome


Support for female entrepreneurs


A specialist in entrepreneurship at NatWest bank is to focus on helping female-run ventures. Matthew Jenkins, who is NatWest’s business growth


enabler, said he would be looking to provide specialist support to female entrepreneurs as part of the bank’s commitment to supporting women in business. He is an ambassador for women in business, and


holds an accreditation in NatWest’s ‘Everywoman’ programme, which supports female business owners to turn their dreams and ambitions into a reality. Part of Mr Jenkins’ role is to provide one-to-one


mentoring support or by helping entrepreneurs connect with a business network. He will also be running regular events on topics such


as marketing a business, protecting a business from cyber risks and the financial support landscape, as well as networking events. He will also support new and developing businesses


achieve their potential through NatWest’s ‘Business Builder’, a digital tool is on hand to provide help with all aspects of getting businesses off the ground, and which utilises a wide range of online learning and workshops. Mr Jenkins said: “Running a business brings many challenges but the last six months has exacerbated these and has brought incredibly challenging time for


all but, as we look the future, it’s essential the local eco-system continues to support businesses across Birmingham as they move forward. “We know there are new enterprises that have


developed over this period as well as those that have had to adapt, diversify or even change, and I look forward to working with our partners support further growth in Birmingham. Matthew has more than 19 years’ experience in banking


and finance and has spent the last four years specialising in business development and entrepreneurship. *Businesses in Birmingham and the West Midlands


striving to help the environment are being invited to apply to NatWest’s Birmingham Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme. As part of its climate change commitments, NatWest


has decided that at least 25 per cent of its October programme intake will be businesses whose main offering supports sustainable environmental activities. NatWest’s digitally-based three-month programme


will include specialist one-to-one mentoring, group workshops, access to specialist networks and supply chains including those in the climate sector, as well as support from the bank’s various programme partners, who include Dell Technologies, Pinsent Masons, Equifax, Deloitte Propel, FreeAgent and Hiscox.


the same time, and the business has since traded successfully until its sale. RSM said the sale was supported by the Aldo Group and would maintain and strengthen the Aldo brand within the UK. Lee Bushell, the principal of BIG, said: “This is an


exciting opportunity and builds on our recent retail investments. Working with the Aldo Group we believe there is a real opportunity to develop this globally recognised brand in the UK.” RSM partner Damian Webb said: “These two


transactions illustrate that there is a future for traditional retailers. “Although trading is


difficult it is clear that if parties work closely with their stakeholders it is possible to secure a successful outcome which benefits all parties.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72