Michael Dugdale, Trident Utilities
We operate in a sector that is subject to continuous change, and government change in particular. Whether that be the legislation or the way taxation works across everything from energy supply to climate change levies.
Legislation continuously changes and it causes doubt in the market. However, as consultants, it gives us an opportunity to educate our
customers and try and get ahead of things so those changes don’t have as great an impact as they could have.
Thinking about the energy related operational impact, for manufacturing businesses there’s no point in holding back from embracing net zero and sustainability and energy efficiency because of fears of some legislative change in the future.
You may as well get on and embrace it now because if you can reduce your consumption and your carbon It’s going to add value to your bottom line, regardless of whether the legislation changes.
If I had one wish, it would be for the government to lay out a clear roadmap of what the next 25 years looks like so that businesses can get behind the movement to be net zero by 2050 and start progressing on that journey now.
David Dunwell, Lancashire Mind
Charities in general are faced with constant change. We have to find funding and look around us and diversify, all that stuff, that’s the natural challenge.
As a charity, we still face the same challenges as other businesses. National
Insurance increases are going to hit the charity sector by £1.4bn while statutory agencies in the NHS are exempt.
The charities that deliver services are going to be hit by further costs, it is another chunk of funding we have to find.
Post-lockdown we have had to embrace technology like other businesses. We now deliver virtual services.
We’ve seen more of an acceptance of mental health and wellbeing support. Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing offers for staff are more generally accepted. We are on a journey and there is still a long way to go, in terms of getting support services and culture right for all businesses.
Ashley King, Financial Affairs
Looking at the last 20 years, the only constant in business has been that there have been so many changes.
You’d probably consider a 20-year- old business to be young. Look at what’s happened over that time. We’ve had the 2008 financial crisis, Brexit, a pandemic, the cost- of-living crisis – all these thing. Yet
there are so many great businesses still there.
There are reasons why these businesses continue to thrive and grow and aren’t just surviving. The main thing is they’re proactive rather than reactive.
They’re putting the right things in place. A big one is the team you’ve got around you and having the right people.
About us
Allica are a modern relationship bank, committed to empowering established businesses to succeed. From our award-winning business reward account which has no monthly fees and pays up to 1.5 per cent cashback on card spend, our instant access savings account which pays 4.08 per cent, and lending products such as commercial mortgages, asset finance. Each business also gets access to a dedicated relationship manager.
Tell us what you like about doing business in Lancashire
Lancashire’s established small and medium business community – typically those with around 10-250 staff – are the beating heart of our local economy. These businesses are responsible for around 30 per cent of the region’s employment. However, despite this, many businesses have no direct relationship with their current banks. By combining tailored expertise, local relationships and powerful technology, Allica Bank is built to empower Lancashire’s businesses to succeed.
Tell us your top three hidden gems of Lancashire and why?
As a keen cyclist my favourite place is the Trough of Bowland with its amazing scenery and winding roads. Heskin Hall near my home in Chorley is a regular stop off for my wife and I, for lunch and a spot of shopping. As is Hoghton Tower for the monthly farmers market.
allica.bank
Peter Norris Relationship manager, Allica Bank
Externally, it is having the right accountant, the right bank, the right marketing, so you’ve got people there advising you as you’re going along, people who care about your business, your values, and what matters to you, and then preparing for any changes that may come.
If I had one wish, it would be
for the government to lay out a clear roadmap of what the next 25 years looks like
Dave Walker, Plus 24
Change is what it is. We can’t do anything about it. We know we’ve got a massive National Insurance hike. It is what it is.
We looked at changes to understand how they are going to impact our business but we’ve really focused on ourselves.
We’ve look inward. Are we doing the right thing? Are we servicing our businesses and our clients
well? Are we looking after our staff? Have we got a good culture, are we bringing the right people in?
And if we’re doing all of those things correctly, we think that the business will move forward and, you know, genuinely, it has.
I’m a really big believer in momentum and the businesses that will struggle are the ones who haven’t got momentum through change and through difficult times. When we lose momentum, we really zone in on fixing it.
58 LANCASHIRE BUSINESS DAY
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