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Maxim Barskiy Sibanthracite: role in the evolution of a coal-mining giant

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The metallurgical coal maker rose from an ordinary entrepreneur to an international leader. Maxim Barskiy, an executive known for his projects in the mining industry, proposed a strategy to boost production output and export. The manager helped Sibanthracite become a leading player in the global market.

Maxim Barskiy. Sibanthracite: Development concept

Barskiy Maxim Gennadievich played a key role in increasing the capitalization of several oil companies. He started his career in the investment company Troika Dialog, and in ten years he took charge of the TNK-BP company, tripling its market value.

The manager met Dmitry Bosov, the owner of Sibanthracite, in 1999. In 2001, the partners got involved in the development of the Internet provider Cityline. Maxim Gennadievich developed and implemented a strategy for a large-scale business expansion into regional markets.

Later, at Bosov’s request, Maxim Barskiy helped Vostok Oil to overcome and recover from the crisis. The top executive also completed the oil company’s rebranding and streamlined corporate processes. As a result, the value of the oil company skyrocketed from $60 million to $4.5 billion, while the manager became known in the investment community as a skilled strategist.

Taking note of Barskiy’s ability to achieve spectacular business results, in 2018 Bosov invited him to become the operations manager at Sibanthracite company. By that time, the firm had established itself as a major player in the global coal market.

Barskiy Maxim said in one of his interviews that he was tasked with scaling up the coal mining company. The top executive was expected to help Sibanthracite become a leading global company. Achieving this ambitious goal required a new management approach

Sibanthracite: Journey from scattered assets to a unified group

Maxim Gennadievich Barskiy conducted a rigorous analysis of the company’s operational activities. Based on the data collected, he developed a multi-phase development strategy that enabled the metallurgical coal producer to reduce production costs, expand distribution channels, and maximize revenue.

The manager noticed that two out of three Sibanthracite’s coal-mining entities were developing neighboring mines in Novosibirsk Region. In addition, both Siberian Anthracite JSC and Eastern Mine LLC extracted the same type of coal, anthracite. This led to competition between the two, resulting in lower-end product prices.

That’s why the first step in implementing the strategy was the consolidation of coal-mining assets. Under the leadership of an experienced top executive, the group integrated several regional companies as well as Kiyzassky Mine LLC, a semi-anthracite coal producer in Kuzbass Region.

At the same time, the strongest demand in the global market was for Ultra High Grade (UHG) anthracite. That’s why it is possible to offer customers a full variety of coal types by entering the market with a single product. With the consolidation complete, Sibanthracite was able to capitalize on this opportunity.

After becoming CEO, Barskiy proposed moving to the next phase of the strategy: cutting out the middleman. The group’s representatives held several meetings with the heads of leading companies in the global metallurgical industry. This overture enabled the company to do business directly with its international partners, removing traders from the distribution chain.

Sibanthracite was able to secure leading positions in the Indian and Chinese markets after the termination of the long-standing cooperation with Carbo One, the country’s largest coal trader. Barskiy spearheaded efforts to fine-tune the technological processes needed to create high-grade coal that was in high demand in both countries.

As a result, the coal giant has dramatically increased the company’s profitability and investment appeal.

Sibanthracite: Expansion into new markets

Under the leadership of Maxim Barskiy, Sibanthracite continued to grow the its asset portfolio. The company obtained a license for a second mining site in the Kuzbass region, securing a resource base for the extraction of more than 20 million tons of semi-anthracite coal. In 2019, it registered a base “Lesnaya” which specialized in refining power plant coal.

Production growth required market expansion into new regions. To break into new markets and buttress its already established business positions, the company began to implement the third phase of Barskiy’s strategy: increasing logistical accessibility.

Sibanthracite signed a long-term contract with the Black Sea port of Taman, which emerged as a base for freighters transporting coal to the Asia-Pacific region (APR), with China being the largest buyer in this part of the world. Strategic cooperation with the port of Taman enabled the company to ship cargo in large volumes, which increased the turnover.

In addition, Barskiy also propelled the effort to start exporting goods via the Northern Sea Route. The NKT’s Yug-2 terminal at the port of Ust-Luga emerged as a hub for uninterrupted deliveries of metallurgical coal to South Korea, offering new opportunities for cooperation with other APR countries.

By tapping into the potential of the new sea routes, the company became a leading supplier of metallurgical coal to India and China.

The fourth stage of Barskiy’s strategic plan was to reduce the cost price of the company’s products. The group assumed control over managing production processes in the Kuzbass region, which significantly reduced costs. Later, other companies in the industry followed suit.

Combined, four elements of the strategic plan put forward by Barskiy transformed Sibanthracite into a key player in the global market.

Manchester-based pharmaceutical company, Chiesi Ltd, digs deep for local community action day

Sam Whitear
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Local pharmaceutical company, Chiesi Ltd, held a Volunteer Day for its employees on 30th August as part of its commitment to the community and the environment. Employees spent the day with Blossom Mcr., who promote health through activity, at their local horticultural centre at Wythenshawe Park, in South Manchester, as part of an office-wide initiative. Blossom Mcr. has a Mission Statement which states their purpose as:

“To advance education in the Manchester area mainly but not exclusively by providing year-round education, workshops, learning and provide a drop in to teach the public how to grow their own food, care for plants, garden maintenance, enjoyment of nature and being outside and have a positive impact on health and our carbon footprint by valuing local seasonal produce to connect people with food in the ground and demonstrate how to produce cheap nutritious meals to alleviate food and fuel poverty.”

The company holds its own ‘We ACT – Day: We Actively Care for Tomorrow’ annually. The programme of community initiatives – this year focused on nature – is part of Chiesi’s wider ambition to promote a conscious and different way of doing business, with a positive impact on society and the environment.

Chiesi worked with the team at Blossoms Mcr. to understand how the company could best be of use. The community action day involved a diverse programme of activities, with employees helping to plant, paint, sow, cut, weed, and coppice. Chiesi purchased essential gardening equipment for the day, donating it to the enterprise for future use  and gave a financial donation.  Blossoms Mcr. has a number of local community projects, including the provision of education to local people on how to grow their own produce, a community farm, and a bee club. Chiesi hopes the donations will be used to further the sustainability of the horticultural centre and the ethos on which it thrives.

The activities highlighted Chiesi’s deep-rooted sense of responsibility to contribute to the wellbeing of people and the planet, aimed at reducing impact on the environment and preserving resources for current and future generations. This was visually depicted by the employees’ hi-viz vests with the message “0 Impact”.

“It is really important that we continue to live by our B Corp® values through our actions. This volunteer day at Wythenshawe Park was a fantastic initiative where our employees all came together to make a difference to our local community and the environment, all whilst having fun.” said Tom Delahoyde, Managing Director, Chiesi UK. “We ACT Day is all about leading by example, and Chiesi is dedicated to acting as a force for good in the community.”

The Chiesi Group aims to become net-zero by 2035 and is the first pharmaceutical company in the UK to be awarded B Corp® certification, a hard-won accolade given to companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance. We ACT Day is based on the Strategic Sustainability Plan, initiated by the Group’s European head office based in Italy, which seeks to contribute to some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Top Tips for Vape Retailers

Sam Whitear
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By Peter Styles, Strategic Marketing Manager at LiQuid

The vaping business is booming, and retailers have more opportunity than ever before to capitalise on the growing trends within the category. From the smallest corner shops to major supermarkets like Sainsbury’s and Tesco, vaping products now have pride of place on shelves across the UK and indeed around the world.

If you are a retailer looking to build a range of ‘next generation products’ (NGP), or are wondering how to maximise sales of the range you already have, expert vaping retailer LiQuid has put together this guide on key things to look out for when building and merchandising your offering.

General Advice for Vaping Retailers

This advice may seem obvious to some, but they are vital cornerstones for building a successful retail environment:

Visibility

Drive visibility by using eye-catching display units and promotional materials like posters, stickers, and other creative assets. Some suppliers can provide retailers with a highly-versatile countertop solution. Our modular display cubes, for example, which can be stacked depending on space, are capable of housing up to 10 SRPs. Interchangeable inserts allow for new ranges and promotions to be easily integrated, while secure rear-facing access grants practicality and functionality. Items like this can create a more professional and organised retail environment, which can make or break a sale.

 Positioning of the stock itself is also vital. Make sure things are properly grouped by brand, flavour and strength to make the browsing experience easier for the customer. Taking advantage of the merchandising diamond principles to capture the most of your customers’ attention will make a big difference to your conversion rate.

Point of Sale (PoS) Material

Boost sales potential by utilising a variety of point-of-sale (PoS) materials where possible such as single and double-sided window posters, indoor posters, counter mats, window stickers and shelf wobblers to catch the eye of the consumer and maximise brand impact at the point of sale. Make sure you regularly chase your suppliers for the latest versions to ensure you appear to be at the forefront of trends and promotions in the eyes of your customers.

 

Effective deployment of educational PoS like flyers can also make a big difference in converting vaping products. There is still a significant lack of understanding of vaping products by consumers and, while never a substitute for proper staff products knowledge, using PoS materials that help explain the basics can be very useful in maximising sales.

Availability

Increase customer retention by regularly monitoring stock levels and ensuring that best sellers are always replenished. Ensure your range is supported with a strong selection of e-liquids in varying flavours and strengths.

Vapers come in all shapes and sizes, so we also recommend stocking at least one open system device such as those with refillable e-liquid tanks, and one closed system device such as the LiQuid Air, which uses pre-filled pods; this way you can cater to all needs and personal tastes in-line with current market trends.

 Be mindful of seasonal spikes around Vapril, Stoptober and New Year by ensuring that your stocks are adequately bolstered in preparation for increased vaping retail traffic. Having the above points covered before these seasonal events land will help maximise your profits and ultimately build your reputation as a trusted vaping retailer, alongside any established convenience success.

Product Knowledge

Invest in staff training so that your employees have, at the very least, a basic understanding of the category and are well-informed on new products and their unique selling points. Consumers who are new to vaping will often ask for advice on what products to buy so it’s important that staff are knowledgeable on the different product types and how they work. Being able to answer these questions and guide them on their vaping journey will only strengthen your reputation as a trusted retailer.

Should I Stock Disposable Vapes?

Disposable vapes are a potentially profitable option for retailers with many UK consumers regularly looking to buy the compact devices. However, there are some moral issues surrounding disposable vapes that may give you reason to pause when considering adding them to your NGP ranges.

What are Disposable Vapes?

Disposable vapes come in different shapes and sizes but they all largely conform to the same design principles:

  • An all-in-one (AIO) device assembly
  • Buttonless activation
  • Single use – no recharging
  • An internal chamber containing approximately 2ml of e-liquid
  • A small battery designed to last just long enough to consume the e-liquid
  • A brightly coloured hard, non-recyclable plastic shell
  • The e-liquid inside is always nicotine salts or ‘nic salt’, typically high strength 10 or 20mg
  • Almost all will give an indication of lifespan given in ‘puffs’ – e.g. ‘600 puffs’

Why are Disposable Vapes a Good Thing?

The sheer popularity of disposable vapes alone makes them a highly tempting addition for most retailers’ inventories. They are ‘trending’ everywhere consumers take influence, from social media to shop windows, so it’s hard to leave the house without seeing a disposable vape in 2022.

 

For consumers of nicotine products, regardless of whether they vape yet or not, the temptation is ever-present, which makes them a very easy item to promote and sell as they are relatively self-marketed at this point through the actions of word of mouth and social media.

Recognisable Brands

Stocking brands like Geek and Elf bar, or relative newcomers Elux will immediately generate sales through recognition alone. These brands were the ones to hit UK shelves first, and retain a reputation of quality and reliability as a result. While not without their faults, these brands in particular present greater opportunity for profit than others.

Fast Sellers

The nature of disposable vapes combined with the behaviour of their users makes them extremely fast moving. The fact that an average 600 puff disposable will last at most two to three days translates to repeat business. While some users will pick one up as an alternative to their existing vape for a night out or standalone occasion, there is a whole segment of vapers who have only ever used, and continue to use disposable vapes exclusively.

Dedicated Audience

Despite the rise in disposable popularity, the sales figures for traditional vaping products like 10ml bottles have remained largely unchanged. This tells us that there is a dedicated and entirely new audience buying disposables. The benefit here is that a retailer can enjoy their usual footfall alongside an entirely new customer base by incorporating disposables into their stock.

Why are Disposable Vapes a Bad Thing?

Increasing attention from Trading Standards agents across the UK make these a high-risk/high-reward option. You may enjoy a temporary boost in profits by carrying them; however, you may also face severe reprimand and fines by official authorities for a number of reasons. The worst part is that without a strong understanding of vaping regulations, retailers can fall into these traps without even knowing they are breaking the law.

Youth Access

This has become the hottest debate among authorities. The biggest issue associated with disposable vapes is that they are regularly falling into the hands of underage users. Many of these users have never vaped or smoked previously, which is resulting in a whole new generation having a nicotine addiction.

 

The bright colours, flashy designs, and creative flavours (which often mimic sweets and beverages younger audiences gravitate towards) have faced harsh scrutiny. This has only deepened as time has progressed, and officials are looking to take definitive action to clamp down on retailers to ensure this trend is curtailed.

Illegal Imports

One of the biggest issues of public safety from disposable vapes comes in the form of illegal variants that have flooded the market since launch. Initially, these were introduced by frankly shady van salesmen who acted to capitalise on the sudden trend. Retailers were desperate to keep these devices well stocked and so would accept offers from less reputable salesmen who were in fact touting illegal disposables that do not comply with UK or EU safety laws.

 

Intended for the American and Chinese markets, these devices are 30mg above the legal nicotine limit in the UK – as high as 50mg vs the legal 20mg. This is not always accurately reflected on the packaging. In addition, said packaging does not carry the required warnings and symbols intended to protect consumers from allergens or harmful components. As these devices would not pass UK registration for safety reasons, these devices are a huge unknown, with no regulatory body ensuring banned flavour chemicals like diacetyl (infamously linked to popcorn lung) are not present. They also contain over the legal 2ml e-liquid limit, as they are described as offering circa 3,000 puffs versus the 400-600 typical of legal examples. 

Consumer Wellbeing

Disposables pose a moral issue in terms of duty of care to customers. The nature of nic salt e-liquid means that an extremely high strength like 20mg is very smooth – the experience belays the staggering amount of nicotine they deliver. This plays into the hands of youngsters who are able to puff on them with ease despite the fact that even a legal disposable (20mg, 600 puff) contains as much nicotine as 50 cigarettes. 

Environmental Impact

Disposables present one of the least environmentally conscious products the vaping industry has ever produced. This is because they are single use, are made from entirely non-recyclable material, and contain a cheaply made battery that poses a risk of explosion if exposed to the elements. They contain trace amounts of nicotine and e-liquid residue, which is harmful to a variety of aquatic life and is a general pollutant.

Sell Responsibly

Combining the advice shared by LiQuid with responsible business practices will allow you to enjoy a profitable vape retail experience and create an environment where your customers feel they can get the products and advice they need to make the most of their vaping journey – happy customers will return, and vaping consumers can be fickle – make sure you give them an experience they can’t easily find elsewhere!

Search underway for North West’s best small businesses

Sam Whitear
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The search is on to discover and recognise the region’s best and brightest and best small businesses.

Britain’s biggest business group the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has launched their annual ‘FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards’ which will culminate in a regional final in Manchester city centre, followed by a national final later in the spring.

Small business owners and the self-employed throughout the North West region will have a choice of 12 different categories to enter including best family business, start-up, micro and larger business as well as awards for SMEs that excel with customer service, with their diversity and inclusivity practices and those who shine in their local communities.

The 2022 awards produced a record number of entries and included winners from a wide variety of sectors from across the region, and organisers hope that this year will see an even bigger response from the region’s innovative small businesses.

FSB Regional Chair Chris Manka said: “As we all know this is a very challenging time for small businesses, so this is the ideal opportunity for SMEs to remind everyone of the incredible work they are doing and showcase how important they are to our communities.

“We were overwhelmed with both the quantity and quality of the entries we had last time, and we hope many more of our amazing SME owners and the self-employed will take part this time around to prove again just how diverse and innovative our local small business communities are.”

The 12 FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2022 categories are:

Exporter of the Year
Sustainability Award
Diversity and Inclusion
Self-Employed/Freelancer
Service Excellence
Micro-business of the Year (0-9 employees)
Larger Small Business (10-100 employees)
Start-up Business of the Year
Young Entrepreneur (aged 30 and under)
Business and Product Innovation Award
Family Business of the Year
Community Award

MANCHESTER UNITED ANNOUNCES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THERABODY

Sam Whitear
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Manchester United and global wellness technology leader, Therabody have deepened their relationship by becoming global partners in a multi-year agreement.

The partnership will expand Manchester United’s use of Therabody products and solutions as part of the training and recovery regimes of both the men’s and women’s teams – and showcase their benefits to the club’s global fan base.

Therabody is pioneering the future of recovery and self-care through its ecosystem of solutions that help people feel better, move better, and live healthier lives. Its products are backed by science and bring previously inaccessible technology to everybody.

Therabody’s devices help United’s players meet the physical demands of a sport that involves the use of every muscle in the body, from your brain to your feet; research shows that players cover anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 metres or more in a 90-minute match. Matches are long and fast-paced, requiring constant running and short sprints during active play. Because of this type of activity, proper warmup and cool down is imperative to attaining full recovery and preventing injury.

Manchester United will have access to Theraguns in their training facilities to help improve their athletic performance and prevent injury during practices and matches. Football provides cardiovascular and muscular fitness, but the majority of the work is done by the legs. The team’s access to Therabody’s pneumatic compressions device range, including RecoveryAir’s JetBoots, in the training rooms and on all away trips will be game-changing for their recovery; the devices’ fully wireless design makes it easier and more convenient to relax and recover from anywhere, even fitting in a carry-on suitcase.

Therabody’s ecosystem of wellness solutions including Theragun, the world’s first handheld percussive massage therapy device, RecoveryAir pneumatic compression boots, and Wave Series vibration therapy rollers have been integrated into Manchester United’s first team players’ medical, training, and recovery process for several years, most recently on the Club’s 2022 pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

As part of the global partnership, players, and training staff will participate in education sessions with performance and wellness experts from Therabody University, the company’s educational division. Working with United’s medical team, Therabody experts will develop specific protocols to give players the knowledge to optimise their use of Therabody’s devices, showing how habitual use can assist in accelerating recovery, preventing injuries, and improving overall athletic performance.

Victoria Timpson, Manchester United’s CEO of Alliances and Partnerships, said:

“By gaining access to Therabody’s tried-and-tested range of scientifically backed products and expertise, this partnership will support our players and staff in the pursuit of success on the pitch.

“The partnership also aims to give United’s global audience access to the same in-depth performance education so they too can easily take control of their training and recovery in the same way as their favourite players, through the use of Therabody products.”

Dr. Jason Wersland, Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Therabody, said:

“Manchester United has been at the forefront of utilising our technology to assist with training and recovery for several years and this partnership is a natural extension of our relationship. Educating their players, staff, and passionate global fanbase on the importance of ownership in self-care is paramount to Therabody’s mission. We are proud to work with the most successful club in British football, whose values of innovation and determination, as well as their drive to be a world leader, align perfectly with our own.”

Manchester United joins more than 250 professional athletes, sports teams, celebrities, elite trainers and medical practitioners globally by using Therabody’s ecosystem of industry-leading devices.

Altrincham Law Firm appointed Member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter

Sam Whitear
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Altrincham law firm MLP Law has become the first law firm to be appointed a Member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter – a scheme working to improve employment standards across Greater Manchester.

The firm is part of the latest intake of members to the scheme and is the first law firm in the city region to be appointed. There are only 66 members of the scheme in the whole of Greater Manchester.

The charter, established by the Mayor of Manchester, celebrates excellence in employers across the city region and its 10 boroughs. Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to seven characteristics of good employment to be considered for membership, demonstrating their business’ approach to good employment.

Employment law partner, Gareth Matthews, led the application. He said: “Being appointed as a member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is a real accolade and I’m delighted that MLP Law has been recognised for our efforts to create an excellent working environment for our team. MLP is committed to providing work that is secure, flexible and fairly paid, ensuring our employees are developed, well-managed and engaged, with their health and wellbeing a top priority.”

The seven characteristics of Good Employment that the Charter seeks are: secure work, flexible work, pay, engagement and voice, recruitment, people management, and health and wellbeing.

Manager of the Charter, Carol Halford, said: “MLP is our first law firm across Greater Manchester to become a member of the charter – that is an achievement. They were clearly able to provide examples and evidence of good practice applied across each of the seven characteristics of the charter. Not only were they able to provide examples of current practice, they clearly have ambitions to continue to improve and to share good practice across the GEC network/community.”

Stephen Attree, managing partner at MLP Law, added: “MLP Law employs more than 20 people and their experience as employees is incredibly important to us. We want our team to be happy, valued and confident at work and we make a great deal of effort to ensure that this is the case. It’s rewarding to have our work recognised by the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter and I’m very proud that MLP Law has been appointed a member of this respected scheme.”

NETWORK SPACE SECURES FUNDING TO DELIVER BROADHEATH NETWORKCENTRE IN ALTRINCHAM

Sam Whitear
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The transformation of a brownfield site in Altrincham is being supported with a £23.25 million loan from Trafford Council.

Network Space Developments is set to regenerate the former Cartwright headquarters on Atlantic Street into a mixture of high-quality refurbished space, alongside new builds, creating a modern, multi-let industrial site designed to attract a variety of businesses.

Known as Broadheath Networkcentre, some 205,000 sq ft of accommodation will be delivered across 25 units, with workspace available from 2,100 sq ft to 39,500 sq ft. The development has the capacity to create upwards of 400 new jobs and provide much needed speculative workspace in the region.

Regional sub-contractors will be encouraged to become involved in the scheme, as well as local training and employment opportunities being provided during construction. Once complete, the scheme will have an estimated GDV of £45 million.

A highly sustainable development, the scheme will target BREEAM Very Good and EPC A ratings. Existing steel and concrete structures on site will be reused and recycled, resulting in a significant reduction in embodied carbon within the development. Individual units are designed to accommodate photovoltaic panels to support renewable energy provision and electric vehicle charging will be provided across the entire scheme.

As well as supporting Network Space Developments to bring forward the scheme, the loan from Trafford’s Investment Programme includes a number of conditions to promote environmental efficiency, on-site renewable power, electrical vehicle charging points, space for SME businesses and the use of local sub-contractors and apprentices.

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “The loan fits well with Trafford’s investment strategy and wider council goals, encouraging the creation of high quality employment space in-borough while requiring high environmental standards and social impacts, as well as providing income that can be reinvested in front line services.

“The proposed quality of this scheme and the demand for this type of space from a range of businesses that want to move into or stay in Altrincham gives confidence that it will perform exceptionally well. We are pleased that the developer is re-using a number of existing buildings on site to create modern smaller units that will suit SME occupiers.”

Dan Adamson, group finance director for Network Space, said: “We recognised the importance of this site to the local area when we acquired it just over a year ago. Since then, we have worked collaboratively with Trafford Council. This will be a best-in-class scheme and, together, we will maximise the positive impact of the project, delivering high quality employment space, jobs opportunities, inward investment and economic growth.

“Planning consent is now in place to repurpose the existing buildings, alongside the delivery of new, energy efficient units. We have already received strong enquiries from a wide range of occupiers ranging from local businesses, trade occupiers to last mile urban logistics firms.

“With a prospective occupier already in legals for the largest unit, the strength of the local market is very evident.”

Network Space commenced the demolition in early May and is aiming for practical completion in spring 2023. The loan will be repaid in phases post completion.

Jonathan Williams at Savills and Will Kenyon at B8 have been appointed as letting agents for Broadheath Networkcentre by Network Space. The wider professional team includes Walker Sime, project management and quantity surveying, AEW architects and Spawforths is the planning advisor.

Purpose-driven communications group Social is now a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp).

Sam Whitear
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The Manchester headquartered agency has been recognised for its commitment to the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit.

B Corps are recognised for meeting rigorous social and environmental standards which are assessed across five distinct impact areas of governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

Social, which was recently named as one the UK’s Best Workplaces (Small Business) by Great Place to Work® has taken steps to make governance, management and financial structures more transparent.

The consultancy, which employs 45 colleagues across multiple offices, has introduced five days’ paid volunteering leave for all staff, 30 days’ annual leave, as well as a transparent pay and grading system, along with other changes.

An enhanced environmental policy now applies not only to Social offices, but also reflects homeworking.

To complete the certification process, Social legally embedded its explicit commitment to have a material positive impact on society and the environment into its articles of association.

Among other things this requires Social to publish an annual report setting out its impact. The latest report can be found here.

John Quinton-Barber, Founder and Group CEO of Social, commented: “Social was founded on the belief that businesses can be both profitable and purposeful. Whilst this is something we have always done, it’s an honour to have this cemented by B Corp. It certainly hasn’t been easy, but I couldn’t be more proud of the team that has worked hard over the years to make this a reality.

Having submitted our assessment in 2019, we know this is just the beginning. The world is changing and this achievement will ensure we continue to be transparent, accountable and do what is best for our people and the planet. I’m excited about where this will take us.”

Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Social to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Social are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.

“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that you can do good in any sector. Welcoming Social is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the communications industry. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Social in paving the way for a new way of doing things”.

B Corporations are a global community of more than 5,000 businesses including global brands such Ben & Jerry’s and Patagonia, to independent UK businesses like The Little Soap Company and Nojo London.

Six & Flow recruits Tom Watson from HubSpot

Sam Whitear
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Six & Flow, the Manchester-headquartered growth agency which has also has bases in London, Dublin, Toronto and South Africa, has recruited Tom Watson as its new senior business development manager. Tom has joined Six & Flow from HubSpot where he worked for five years.

Tom will be reporting to Charlotte Utton, Six & Flow’s Growth Director.

Tom’s primary focus will be on helping prospective clients to evaluate Six & Flow’s services, prescribing the right solution and ensuring they are set up for a successful and long-term relationship with the business.

Tom recently relocated to the UK after living in Australia for seven years. Five of which were spent working at HubSpot managing its channel partners in Australia and New Zealand.

Commenting on his new role, Tom said: “Moving back to the UK was a big decision but after partnering with HubSpot’s channel partners in ANZ for so many years the prospect of actually working for a partner really appealed.

Tom added: However, I knew the fit had to be right. Six & Flow is one of the highest performing and most respected HubSpot partners globally, so I’m delighted to now be part of such a talented, knowledgeable and client-focussed team.”

Rich Wood added: “Tom has a fantastic track record and a broad range of experience which is already adding value to the company. His tenaciousness and desire to deliver for our clients really stood out and I’m sure he will become an integral part of Six & Flow over the coming years.”

Manchester-based wi-Q will use the investment to accelerate international expansion and scale the services it provides to the hospitality and leisure sector

Sam Whitear
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Digital payments start-up wi-Q has secured £3m investment from Manchester-based venture capital investor, Praetura Ventures, to enhance its product offering and expand its international footprint.

Founded in 2014, wi-Q provides mobile ordering and payment solutions to the hospitality and leisure industry to help its clients to drive efficiencies and improve guest experience.

Its services include Dash, a platform that allows hospitality venues to manage online food and beverage orders in real-time, and Enterprise, a platform that allows customers to order and pay for food and drink via their smartphone. Wi-Q also helps restaurants and hotels to speed up order management, preparation and delivery, and provides remote ordering technology to allow customers to order via kiosks in store.

Demand for wi-Q’s services has surged following an increased focus on digitalisation in the hospitality sector, something which has been accelerated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on consumer habits. The global mobile device ordering market is set to grow to £159bn by 2025.

The wi-Q team supports a broad range of customers across 32 countries, including some of the world’s largest hotel chains, fast casual dining and home delivery brands.

With headquarters in Manchester, and offices in London and Middle East, wi-Q will now focus its efforts on expansion into the US and the Asia-Pacific region.

Patience Tucker, CEO at wi-Q, said: “I am excited for what will be the most transformational phase for both wi-Q and hospitality technology. The global pandemic has accelerated both the demand for, and adoption of mobile ordering, and hospitality brands will want to have much more than ordering functionality to give them a competitive advantage. With this investment, we are looking ahead to the next chapter that will see convergence of technology to generate revenue and digital engagement. The most innovative hospitality brands are already working with us to bring big data and AI into their wi-Q solution to maximise guest experience and revenue opportunities.”

David Foreman, managing director of Praetura Ventures, added: “wi-Q is an early pioneer in its field, and the team has spent time honing their product market fit which has given them a real edge over the competition. The business has a clear proposition for the leisure and hospitality sector, and it is ready to scale globally and lead this market. We cannot wait to work with Patience and the team, and our experts at Praetura will do everything we can to support them as they grow. Our operational partners have helped to scale businesses across the world, so several will be supporting the wi-Q team with their global plans as they expand their technology into new territories.”

The deal was led by Sim Singh-Landa, Tania Rahman and Guy Weaver from Praetura Ventures’ investment team.

Praetura Ventures was advised by Hill Dickinson and Beyond MA.

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