Paul Cooper

🚀 Recruiting Top Salespeople in the Tyre Sector: Challenges Ahead 🚀 In today's competitive market, finding high-quality salespeople in the tyre sector is no easy feat. The UK tyre industry is facing several unique challenges that make recruitment particularly tough right now. Firstly, there's a noticeable skills gap. Many experienced sales professionals are nearing retirement, and there aren't enough new entrants with the necessary skills to fill the void. This generational shift is creating a talent shortage, making it difficult for companies to find candidates with the right blend of experience and expertise. Secondly, the tyre sector is undergoing rapid technological advancements. From smart tyres to advanced data analytics, the industry is evolving quickly. Salespeople need to be tech-savvy and adaptable, but many candidates lack the necessary technical knowledge. This mismatch between the industry's needs and the available talent pool is a significant hurdle. Lastly, the economic climate is adding pressure. With inflation and economic uncertainty, candidates are more cautious about changing jobs. They seek stability and are less likely to take risks, making it harder for companies to attract top talent. This cautious approach is understandable but adds another layer of complexity to the recruitment process. Engage with us in the comments below! What challenges are you facing in recruiting top salespeople? Or visit highbridgetalent.co.uk to see how we can help. #Recruitment #Sales #UKBusiness

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Here are the manufacturing stories you should know about today, 7 January, all rolled up into one easy to digest article 👇 - Government launches new Steel Council to safeguard future of industry - UK new car market records second successive year of growth but private demand remains lacklustre - Samuel Taylor Ltd appoints new Technical Sales Manager - Lean workshop kickstarts Technoset Ltd.’s £650,000 factory improvement drive - SWIFT AND WHITMORE LTD taps into £10k of support to ‘green’ operations - Vertical Aerospace harnessing AI to speed development Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gurFYnr4 #ukmfg #ukmanufacturing #shoutaboutukmfg #supportukmfg

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As the UK automotive aftermarket undergoes rapid changes, Straightset Ltd has remained a steady force in the industry. In this interview, Andrew Bates, Managing Director of Straightset, reflects on a year of challenges, resilience, and growth. Q: How would you summarise the past year for Straightset? 2024 has been a transformative year, not only for our business but also for the industry as a whole. At Straightset our biggest focus has been on developing our workforce, we’ve invested in more internal training than ever before, fostering collaboration and strengthening our team from within. In a dynamic industry, it’s the people in the business who truly drive success, and this has been a standout area for us. Q: What do you see as the most important factors contributing to Straightset’s success in such a challenging environment? Without question, our people are our greatest asset, we’ve made team development a priority, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment. While we focus on delivering high-quality products to end users, it’s the dedication and expertise of our team that sets us apart. Read the full article here 👇🏼 #AftermarketNews #AutomotiveAftermarket #QandA #AftermarketIndustry

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Automotive sector can be driver behind turbocharged UK industrial and economic growth, says SMMT chief The Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) has said the automotive sector can be the driver behind turbocharged UK industrial and economic growth. In his latest CEO update on Friday, Mike Hawes said: This week’s long-awaited announcement of an industrial strategy, with government’s Invest 2035 green paper, presents a fresh opportunity to turbocharge UK industrial and economic growth. Automotive can be the driver of this and, as SMMT set out in our Vision 2035 report, with the right conditions has the potential to deliver an economic boost worth more than £50bn during the next decade. https://lnkd.in/ecE__aPF

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Seeking advanced manufacturing and engineering business for sale opportunities, view criteria via the link below. Looking forward to your contact with any potentially suitable targets. #mergersandacquisitions #corporatefinance #crossborder #manufacturing #engineering

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With thousands of SME suppliers in every sector, how do OEMs and tier ones find the ideal supplier? At the recent JOSCAR event, the subject of supply chains was a big talking point and how this is affecting OEMs. With the increased importance of robust supply chains to final delivery, finding the ideal supplier is more important than ever before. With OEMS such as BAE Systems having around 16,000 suppliers, how do supply chain professionals begin to make the right choice? There will always be a focus on performance and delivery, but in modern supply chains innovation and problem solving are just as valuable. For SMEs bombarding procurement teams is not the answer; witing for the appropriate opportunity, and then bringing a solid proposal is the route to success. Above all else building good relationships is key. This is achieved with trust on both sides. What do you think, how do SMEs and  OEMs navigate this? Let me know in the comments. #engineering #suppliers

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Turning frowns upside down: how unhappy customers can be a valuable source of learning for your business. 📚 For more information on our sales training call 07711177794 or visit https://lnkd.in/e_C-E_Cg #CustomerFeedback #LearnFromMistakes #FeedbackIsKey #SalesTraining #Experts #SalesSupport #greatermanchester #businessgrowth

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“Our business values focus on these three elements.” ActionCOACH’s Mike Moss chats to Chris Ramsden from Gateway Chassis Solutions Ltd on @Business Spotlight Yorkshire. Chris, shares the incredible story of how he completed a Management Buyout (MBO) in just 10 days, navigated the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, and turned the business into a thriving success. See the full video: https://lnkd.in/eArCUT3X #ActionCOACHHarrogate #BusinessValues #SuccessStory #ManagementBuyout #BusinessSpotlight

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Halfords Group plc’s share price shot up after the publication of financial results that both acknowledged market headwinds and reported the acceleration of the motoring retailer’s “Fusion” retail plan. Halfords stock was trading in London at £151.36 a share, up 12.62 per cent during the last five days. Market confidence is clearly high, however, financial analysts also warned that Halfords faces an “uphill struggle” in the execution of its ambitious plans. https://lnkd.in/ejknpfvZ

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Growth opportunity for #Shropshire manufacturing SMEs! As part of the Shropshire Manufacturing Growth Programme you have access to GROWTHmapper, the market-leading SME business diagnostic tool. What is GROWTHmapper? Developed by business experts and backed by over 30 years of experience, GROWTHmapper is specifically designed for manufacturers. This tool has already empowered over 30,000 businesses to navigate their growth journey with confidence. Benefits of GROWTHmapper: ✅Benchmark Your Business: Analyze where you stand in comparison to the industry standards. ✅In-depth Insights: Get a detailed report that highlights not only what's working but crucial areas for improvement. ✅Team Alignment: Align your senior team's perceptions with actual business needs to foster unified growth strategies. 👥 Participate with Your Team: Up to 6 senior team members can engage with the tool, ensuring comprehensive insights into your business’s operational and strategic aspects. Why Join the Shropshire Manufacturing Growth Programme? ✅Dedicated support from experienced Manufacturing Growth Managers. ✅Up to 40% grant funding to implement business improvement projects valued up to £10,000. ✅Access to exclusive workshops and expert advice to translate diagnostic insights into actionable growth plans. 👉 Get started now! Visit our website for more information or contact us directly to learn how #SMGP can support your business: shropshire-mgp.co.uk Oxford Innovation Advice Shropshire Council

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🎉 SUPPORTING UK BUSINESSES 🎉 Clear Business Finance helps a UK company specialising in sheet metal manufacturing to secure a cash injection totalling £54,497 to facilitate an upcoming VAT bill. Well done team Clear! 👏 It’s a familiar feeling for business owners across the UK, you discover a VAT bill is due and realise your working capital could potentially be drained away. Any projects that are currently in mid-flow, or upcoming investments are possibly jeopardised. Spreading this expense over a 3-month term can allow you to fulfil your HMRC obligations while avoiding large peaks and troughs in your outgoings throughout the year, ultimately helping you to protect your cash flow. We thank Premium Credit Ltd (one of our handpicked lending partners) for their support with this solution & we look forward to helping many more UK business owners gain access to the right financial support. 👍🏼 Clear Business Finance - We compare over 60 of the UK's leading funding providers, helping our clients to secure competitive terms every time. 📞 01277 239943 📞 #BusinessFinance #FinanceBroker #BusinessLoans #VAT

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New Post published on the Garage Equipment Association website by Post author: totalkare-hdws-ltd TOTALKARE NAMED BEST MANUFACTURING EMPLOYER IN THE UK Totalkare is thrilled to announce its recent accolades in the Best Companies 2024 rankings, which recognise us as the UK’s leading manufacturing employer. The company was honoured as the #1 Best Manufacturing Employer in the UK and #30 Best Mid-Sized Company to Work for in the UK, underscoring Totalkare’s commitment to creating an outstanding workplace. This year, Totalkare’s overall ranking was maintained at “Outstanding” — following the success of the company’s recent b-Heard employee engagement survey. Totalkare also earned the distinction of being the #20 Best Company (of any size) to Work for in the West Midlands, affirming its position as a regional leader in workplace excellence. The b-Heard survey assessed employee engagement across a comprehensive range of factors, aligning results with Best Companies’ 8 Factors of Workplace Engagement. Key findings from the survey reflect Totalkare’s strong culture of collaboration and social responsibility: 93% of employees are happy with their work life balance 92% of employees feel proud to work for Totalkare 89% of employees feel the management team actively listens to feedback from the wider business The recognition came as part of the Best Companies 2024 ‘Big Reveal’, where Totalkare’s HR Manager, Jack Webb, spoke with BBC’s Sally Nugent about the company’s approach to employee engagement, wellbeing and about our RULE initiative which aims to foster a deeper cross-departmental understanding across the business. Reflecting on the results, Totalkare CEO David Hall commented, “We have always strived to foster a positive culture, and it’s fantastic to see this reflected in our staff feedback and high rankings in Best Companies. Competing alongside highly reputable employers across sectors in the West Midlands and nationally, this achievement showcases our commitment to employee wellbeing and a balanced work-life environment.” Totalkare’s focus on enhancing employee experience continues to be a priority, with recent office expansions, improved pension schemes, gym access, and regular social events. “Our engagement rate has grown each quarter, and we’re dedicated to enhancing these benefits even further,” added Hall. ............................................................................................ for the latest news and updates in the industry visit www.gea.co.uk

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Car output slips in October as UK and EU markets stall - British car production down -15.3% in October with 77,484 units rolling off factory lines. - Output for home and export markets declines -4.7% and -17.6% respectively. - Latest production outlook downgrades expectations as new car markets in UK and overseas stall. - News comes as industry calls for urgent action with weak EV demand and unsustainable business costs undermining UK manufacturing. https://lnkd.in/eZDvUjja

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Bristol gamification business goes into administration 🎮💼 Bristol gamification company, 3radical, has gone into voluntary liquidation, with Christopher Errington and Paul Ellison of KRE Corporate Recovery Limited appointed as joint liquidators. Electric Guitar PLC, a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), acquired the business last May but revised trading projections by 3radical's management presented to Electric Guitar's Board meeting last November, required more funding than was currently available to the Group. Continue reading... https://lnkd.in/et4ddSAc #technology #innovation #finance #admin #gamification #gaming #bristolnews #bristolhour #businessnews #businessintelligence

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The new 2025 ABP Guide to Retail Charges – supported by 3M - is now available for everyone on the ABP website: https://lnkd.in/ezwXpbfr The updated guide comes into effect from 1 January 2025 and has been renamed as the “ABP Guide to Retail and Non-Contract Charges” to reflect its widespread use. The headline labour rates for 2025 are unchanged from the 2024 edition. Some of the main changes for 2025: -         Energy cost supplement is reduced to £25 per job -         Charge for BS10125 compliance OR an increased VM approval charge -         New “Environmental Investment and Sustainability” charge to replace the PAS2060 charge as this ends in autumn 2025 -         Removal of sanitisation charge -         Mobility Solution Charge replaces courtesy car fee -         Generally Improved presentation and layout The 2025 edition was compiled following a meeting of the steering group (4 November 2024) which is comprised of a mixture of repairers, motor insurers, vehicle manufacturers, accident management companies / credit hire companies and technical experts. It is a guide only and a guide for RETAIL work. It is not a guide for contract pricing between insurers and repairers. BACKGROUND The ABP Guide to Retail Charges came into prominence in the Coles v Heatherton case heard as an appeal at the High Court (Commercial Court) in June 2012. In essence, the case involved subrogation (where one insurer claims back the repair cost from another insurer) and featured RSA v a number of insurance companies. The 2012 High Court ruling said: • The measure of loss in a case where the damaged vehicle has been repaired is the reasonable cost of repair, but that “is not necessarily the repair cost actually incurred…” • The cost of repairs should be determined by reference to what an individual would pay for repairs if they arranged them personally - even if the repairs were in fact arranged and paid for by the insurer.

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Allow us run a scenario past all UK SME manufacturing businesses. 🚙If you had the option to test drive a car for 6 months without having to pay for anything, and after 6 months you could decide to hand it back over to the dealership at no cost or decide that this is the car for you and you want to go ahead, finance it and pay the monthly payments, does that sound like a great offer? 💡Well, guess what? For UK SME manufacturing businesses, @Total Control Pro are collaborating with the SMDH to offer an equally amazing offer (but for software, not cars). What does this mean for you? SMDH has provided funding, allowing us to offer new clients access to our incredible operational management platform DynamxMFG. This includes: ⚙️ Setup and Onboarding, including an onsite day 📃 DynamxMFG License for 6 months for up to 10 users If you would like to know more or find out if we could be the right fit for your company, book a discovery call with our team! https://zurl.co/zRyX #Manufacturing #SME #DigitalTransformation #TotalControlPro #DynamxMFG #Innovation #UKManufacturing #SMDH

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