THE FIRST WORD
almost all our contracted hours in the office, with only 5% of workers – about 1.7 million people – based mainly at home, according to the Office for National Statistics. During the pandemic, this increased nine-fold to 15.3 million people. Such a seismic shift in working culture hasn’t just had an impact on productivity and mental
I
health, but it’s also placed a huge burden on cyber security capabilities as the avenues in which hackers can access sensitive data have multiplied exponentially. The details of these trends and what businesses can do to combat increased vulnerability will
be explored at the Chamber’s upcoming event series, titled Lockdown Your Data: East Midlands Cyber Security Week, from 1 to 5 March. It will include some of the region’s most respected cyber space leaders from companies including Air IT, Highlander and RDS Global – many of who are featured in this edition of Business Network as they offer a high-level perspective on how to stay cyber-safe during and beyond the pandemic (see pages 33, 64-66 and 79). Our big interview (p28), meanwhile, is with Professor David Mba, who leads on research
and enterprise as pro vice-chancellor at De Monfort University (DMU), the Chamber’s new artificial intelligence and cyber partner. He talks about how DMU is building a reputation as a regional centre of excellence for
cyber security, as well as reeling off a list of exciting applications of AI – a technology that’s now evolving from tech buzzword to real-life use cases with the potential for significant improvements in areas such as business, healthcare and education. This isn’t just a cyber edition, however, and we also take a look at some of the many
developments in the world since our last issue was published – including lockdowns (p37), HS2 (p38) and, on p58-59, what the Brexit deal means for businesses and why it’s led the East Midlands to bid for freeport status. It all hints towards another interesting year ahead – but one that will be far removed from the relative cosiness we felt just 12 months ago.
Best wishes, Dan Robinson Editor, Business Network
n years to come, we may look back upon 2019 as an oddity, such were the relative freedoms and economic prosperity we enjoyed in the calm before the Covid storm. It was also a time when, for those of us in desk-based jobs, there was an expectation to spend
CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2021
NEWS UPDATE 4 MEMBER NEWS East Midlands business leaders named on New Year Honours List
26 APPOINTMENTS Promotions at Purpose Media and expansion for Anicca Digital
THE BIG INTERVIEW 28 Professor David Mba, pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at De Montfort University, on the future of AI and cyber
32 PATRONS NTU centre dedicated to medical devices
34 CHAMBER NEWS An economy treading water, survey reveals
SUSTAINABLE EAST MIDLANDS 56 Nottingham's 2028 vision for net zero emissions
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 58 Unlocking the benefits of a regional freeport
POLITICS
60 An opportunity to redefine a city centre landscape
FEATURES
62 ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES Being prepared with business finances in 2021
64 FOCUS FEATURE Post-Covid cyber trends
68 APPRENTICESHIPS Understanding digital degree apprenticeships
72 Apprentices as part of your Covid recovery plan
TRAINING & EVENTS 74 How to add value as a salesperson
Editor Dan Robinson T: 07764 431028 E:
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Contributor Jasmine Thompson
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DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY 76 Keeping your website or e-commerce store secure
BUSINESS SUPPORT 81 LEGAL Avoiding a Brexit-induced staffing crisis
82 FINANCE Business interruption insurance and Covid-19
85 SKILLS Not the right time for an apprentice? Think again
86 PROPERTY Hotel development for Island Quarter
88 MOTORING Nick Jones tests the Honda Civic Type R
89 INFORMATION Top tips on tendering in the Covid season
COMMENT 90 THE LAST WORD New Chamber president Eileen Richards MBE comments on the latest issues
business network February 2021 3
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