Today we publish out list of the East Midlands businesses and business leaders to watch in 2022 – companies we think will be making fresh headlines in the months ahead and doing their bit to help Britain prosper.
Digital Ethos
Luke Tobin, the CEO of Leicester-based marketing company Digital Ethos, was recently named in the top 50 as most ambitious business leaders for 2021 in a list supported by The Times.
Born and bred in Leicestershire, Luke was featured as one to watch because of his forward looking expansion strategy.
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Last summer it acquired Boxed Red, an agency based in Knutsford, Cheshire. The deal was the second for the business, which has its head office in Oadby, on the outskirts of Leicester, and operations in London, Bristol, Birmingham, York and Edinburgh.
Management said it would pave the way for growth across both brands.
Digital Ethos works with clients such as Acclaim Driving, Accurist watches, Staffcircle recruitment and the French tourist board, covering SEO, PPC, Web Design, Social Media and PR.
Boxed Red marketing has worked with companies including Barratt Homes, Redrow and STA Travel.
Over the last 12 months, the company has expanded internationally, opening an office in Hamburg, Germany, as well as in Canada as well as new 海角视频 offices in York and Manchester. The 36-year-old, from Loughborough, said the business was started in his bedroom in 2015.
Zellar
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The one-shop sustainability platform was set up to to help Leicestershire businesses reach Net Zero by 2030, well ahead of government targets.
Supported by the Leicester Business Gateway and LLEP it celebrated its Leicester launch with an event at The National Space Centre celebrating the 70 companies across Leicestershire already going green by joining Zellar.
They include NS Engineering, MWS Ltd, DPI (海角视频) Ltd, KS Composites, James Sellick, Countrywide, Boards4Agents, Three Point Design Ltd, Rosie Made a Thing Ltd, Pure Table Top, Northfield Farm Ltd and R&T Ensor Ltd.
Zellar helps businesses tap into growing consumer demand for green business by making sustainability an accessible and affordable reality for small businesses. It provides the most efficient pathway to Net Zero, from £125 per year on a subscription basis.
Take Me (Group) Ltd & ADT Taxis
Owner of ADT Taxis for nearly two decades, David Hunter is the CEO of Take Me (Group) Ltd, a local network of private hire and transport companies.
Its mission is to build a synergistic group of taxi companies which can work hand-in-hand, increasing value and profit.
Take Me is continuing its nationwide expansion plans, acquiring new firms to create a national infrastructure based on local expertise from well-established taxi firms. It has already acquired ADT Taxis, Steve’s Taxis, VGT Taxis, Westside Taxis, Intercity Private Hire, Tower Cabs and TC Cars.
海角视频 Flooring Direct
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The boss of one of the fastest growing companies in the East Midlands was named 2021 LeicestershireLive Business Executive of the Year.
Jason Ashby, the founder of Hinckley-based 海角视频 Flooring Direct, picked up the top award at the black tie celebration which took place at the Leicester Tigers Welford Road stadium.
Mr Ashby was also named top executive within a large business – beating Brian Duffy, chief executive of the Watches of Switzerland Group, and Jon Jorgensen, chief sales officer at Loughborough-based business software specialist Access Group.
Launched with a £299 website investment in 2005 海角视频 Flooring Direct is now one of the biggest online flooring retailers in Britain and sells everything from wooden floors to laminates, vinyl flooring and underlays to the public and trade.
It is now expanding into selling carpets and Mr Ashby said he hopes to hit £1 billion of turnover in the coming years.
It has a 12 per cent share of the category with B&Q taking a 15 per cent market share.
In October 2020, it took on a 54,000 sq ft unit in Coventry to complement its headquarters in Hinckley, creating around 50 new jobs.
Access Group
Big things are happening at global business software developer Access Group, which recently moved its headquarters to Leicestershire.
Speaking to BusinessLive recently one of the men behind the tech unicorn, which he valued at £3 billion, says he expects it to overtake Sage Group as the 海角视频’s biggest software company within two years.
Access Group chief sales officer Jon Jorgensen said he believed it was well on the way to becoming the biggest software company in the 海角视频 having acquired 18 smaller businesses in its last financial year and on track to take on a similar number in this one.
The business is in the process of recruiting 500 more staff, and has seen revenues rise 50 per cent in the last year to around £500 million.
At the official opening of the group’s new global headquarters in Loughborough, Mr Jorgensen said they were already contemplating building a second block next door to make room for further growth.
Mr Jorgenson was part of the original MBO of Access Group.
Cool as Leicester
Gabrielle Miller runs Cool as Leicester, a highly rated website with a strong social media presence which highlights the best places to eat, drink and party in Leicestershire.
It is now Leicestershire’s largest online magazine, is home to Leicestershire’s only music guide, sponsored by PPL PRS, and is also the region’s only weekly leisure e-news.
Followers can find out its hidden gems, exciting events and fun stories through its website, newsletter and social accounts.
Gabby is regularly out and about posting updates on new venues and older pubs, bars and restaurants around the county which people might not have heard about.
Here Instagram, Facebook and Twitter fans love her posts.
Gabby said she wanted to provide information about what’s happening in the city – which was where the idea for Cool As Leicester was born.
Phoenix Brickwork
In 2021 a Derbyshire bricklayer who launched his own business after being made redundant hit trading milestone of a £25 million turnover and the announcement of new jobs.
Christian Watson, who grew up and still lives in Belper, recruited six new staff to grow his business, Phoenix Brickwork.
He also revealed plans for his brickwork, scaffolding and drywall contracting business to expand into London and the Home Counties.
Mr Watson said: “I have worked on some fantastic projects like St George’s Park in Burton on Trent, St Mark’s student accommodation in Lincoln and Banbury Gateway Retail Park in Oxfordshire, but it is now time to expand and explore new projects across Greater London and the South East.”
Hey Campers
A couple who turned their passion for camping into a business hope will benefit from British demand for holidays as lockdowns lift.
Trudi and Adam Lilley launched new motorhome hire business Hey Campers, in Coalville, in the National Forest.
The couple have been campers for more than a decade, and have been motorhoming for the past five years.
They spotted a business opportunity after renting out their first motorhome when they weren’t using and have since grown their fleet, with more vans planned.
The pair, who have run an accountancy consultancy together for the past seven years, have now taken on new premises in the north west Leicestershire town.
Trudi said: “There’s so much uncertainty around holidaying and travel restrictions at the moment, but understandably, people are desperate for something to look forward to.
JB Kitchen
Foodies in and around Birstall, Leicestershire, now have an enticing new option when it comes to dining out.
Food delivery business JB Kitchen has just opened its first restaurant in the Leicestershire village, serving freshly-made, top-quality food using ingredients from local producers.
The new venue, in Lambourne Road, opened its doors to diners at the start of December.
Brunch items such as smashed avocado and eggs, ham, duck egg and chips, and sweet potato, spinach and chorizo hash are available at breakfast and lunch (12.15pm - 4pm).
Other lunchtime options include main meals such as smash burger and fries, venison corn tacos, and curried cod loin, sandwiches with fillings including fish finger and tartare and steak, onion and Stilton, and special plates including festive afternoon tea, ploughmans and JB Kitchen's highly regarded beef Wellington.
JB Kitchen was started during lockdown in April 2020, by professional chef Jordan Brady, who had been furloughed from his role as executive chef at a local pub company.
Minibikers
Minibikers is an award-winning national learn to cycle training programme for children aged from 18 months to 10-years-old.
The business delivers training directly to schools, community centres and Leisure centres.
It is also a junior bike specialist selling children's lightweight bikes and accessories nationally.
The Leicester business was founded by Yasin and Kelly Imir in 2015.
Over the last year Minibikers experienced exceptional growth in sales and have expanded to Wales, Brighton, Nottingham, Rugby and Yorkshire.
It will continue to expand their training across the country in 2022, and is very proud to be part of the NatWest Purpose-led Accelerator.
Minibikers won the Small Business Growth & Development Award at the 2020/2021 LeicestershireLive Business Awards.