Cloud accounting solution business iplicit has bolstered its commercial team with the appointment of enterprise resource planning (ERP) expert Luke McKenna, as its new senior business development manager. Having worked for industry organisations such as Sage, WorldPay, Ion Industries Ltd, and most recently as senior business development manager at AccountsIQ, McKenna has signed to start at iplicit on May 1, and brings over a decade of industry knowledge to the team. “I’ve spent the majority of my career dealing with a variety of accounting software and ERP offerings,” explained McKenna ..read more

Mental health and wellbeing platform Govox has undergone a full rebrand and website overhaul courtesy of integrated marketing agency The Bigger Boat. Providing more than 250 organisations with mental health support and management insights around employee wellbeing via its monthly check-in platform, Govox has ambitious international growth plans, and aims to become one of the world’s leading mental health check-in platform providers over the next three years. Having raised 150% of its seed funding target in quarter four of 2021, the relaunched website and brand are key components in the acceler ..read more

Business services and workplace solutions specialist, OT Group, has secured prestigious ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification in recognition of its information security management system (ISMS) expertise. Forming part of the larger Paragon Group, the UK-headquartered business was accredited by Global Accredited Certification Body NQA, and the certification applies to the Office Depot UK, OfficeTeam and OT Wholesale brands. Administered by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), ISO 27001 sets the bar on how to manage information security. The standard is an internationally recogni ..read more

Creatives in Kirklees are being asked to shape what future support might look like for the district’s creative community as part of a new initiative launched by Wilson’s Republic – in conjunction with Kirklees Council and the University of Huddersfield. In a bid to explore a fresh approach to business support within the creative sector, community interest company Wilson’s Republic is looking to bring together a wide range of creative specialists, working at all levels, covering everything from design, illustration, art, photography, music, fashion, architecture, digital, and more. Over 100 of ..read more

Specialist high voltage engineering firm Smith Brothers Contracting Ltd, has been appointed to provide ICP and EPC works at the new battery storage site for SUSI Partners and Eelpower’s joint venture in Halesworth, Suffolk. Yorkshire-headquartered Smith Brothers will deliver a turnkey solution – from initial design and EPC works to final testing and commissioning. Once complete, the 132kV development will provide over 50MW of flexibility and balancing services to UK Power Networks (UKPN). Acting as the independent connection provider (ICP), the contestable connection will see the team deliver ..read more

Yorkshire-based firm Northern Accountants has expanded its workforce with the appointment of three key hires following a year of record growth leading to a 30% increase in revenue. The trio of recruits coincide with promotions for existing colleagues too, as the business focuses on continuing to build its industry-leading service levels and innovative products offering for small and medium-sized companies. Joining as head of internal services, Toni McCoy will oversee the internal services team to ensure clients receive the highest levels of service and delivery. An experienced management accou ..read more

US-based sports retailer Lids has opened its first four European stores – adding 234 sqm to its UK footprint. The launch forms part of a wider plan to increase the brand’s international presence, representing the first of many physical stores planned across the continent. The vision for the initial quartet of retail outlets has been brought to life by commercial interiors specialist Agilité Solutions – which completed the fit-out of shops in Covent Garden and the 02 Peninsula Square in London, Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex, and Churchill Square Shopping Centre in Brighton. “Lids sells 30 m ..read more

Network owner Digital Infrastructure and its ISP BeFibre, are ploughing on with their next-generation full-fibre roll-out, having announced the next nine areas on the forward plan. The alt-net hit the headlines back in December 2021, when it unveiled that it had access to £100m of private investment to support its goal to deliver FTTP connectivity to 80 towns and cities – and 1,000,000 properties – by 2027. Homes are already ready for service in Brentwood, with Worcester, Clacton on Sea, Crewe and Nantwich also imminent. Utilising OpenReach’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA), engineers hav ..read more

Specialist communications firm Scriba PR has upgraded its West Yorkshire premises by adding an additional 984 sqft of real estate – and completing a full fit-out of its Huddersfield HQ. Following a steady stream of recruitment throughout 2021 – and with more new faces set to join in the coming weeks – the team had outgrown its existing space and needed additional room to carry out some of the more creative elements of its work. Almost doubling its space overnight, B2B media outfit Scriba PR has extended its existing 1,200 sqft office within Heritage Exchange, Lindley, to encompass an adjacent ..read more

Award-winning communications agency Scriba PR is encouraging youngsters to get their creative juices flowing, with the launch of a short story competition in conjunction with World Book Day (3rd March). Having named children’s literacy organisation Grimm & Co as its ‘charity of the year’, PR specialist Scriba kickstarted the competition as part of a wider fundraising initiative which sees the 14-strong Yorkshire-headquartered team aim to drum up £8,000 over the course of 12 months, in celebration of the agency’s 8th birthday last year. Acknowledging the power of creative writing in cogniti ..read more