Midcheshire Independent Issue 198

NOVEMBER 2026 18 Independent BUSINESS MACCLESFIELD-based Nexer Digital has been appointed by national homelessness charity Crisis to overhaul the digital services used by more than one million visitors to its website each year. The design agency will redesign and rebuild the Crisis website, with the new plat- form expected to launch in early 2027. The brief will see Nexer Digital create new online journeys for people expe- riencing homelessness as well as donors, fundraisers, campaigners, volunteers and community partners. Crucially, people with lived experience of home- lessness and users with accessibility needs will be involved in the design and testing of the new service. The project will span research, content, design, development, accessibil- ity, data and testing, with the new website built using Umbraco 17. For Crisis, the new platform is intended to make it easier for people experiencinghome- lessness to find support and community resources, while simplifying the process for supporters wanting to donate, fundraise, campaign or take part in events. It will also be designed to give Crisis’s internal teams a more manageable platform and allow the charity to com- municate the impact of its workmore effectively. Hilary Stephenson, Managing Director of Nexer Digital, said: “Crisis’s website has an essential role to play. It must help people access sup- port while giving supporters clear and simple ways to take action and see the difference their supportmakes. “We’ll begin with the people who use the website and what they need from it, including members with accessibility needs and lived experience of homelessness. By embedding inclusion from the outset, we cancreateanonlineexperience that works better for everyone. “We’re incredibly proud to be working with such a pivotal national charity. With ending homelessness also a key prior- ity for the PrimeMinister, Andy Burnham, this project feels especially significant to us as a NorthWest-based agency.” IS an apprenticeship scheme right for your business, and where do you begin? Currently there are apprentice- ships available a range of occupa- tions across many industries in the UK. If you’re looking for a boost for your small business, consider an apprenticeship scheme. Once only the domain of big busi- nesses, apprenticeships are now a credible option for many small busi- nesses looking for a cost-effective way to recruit fresh talent. However, many business owners are put off by the perceived amount of administra- tion required to get started. Is an apprenticeship scheme right for your business, and where do you begin? An apprenticeship scheme is a combination of study and work for people over the age of 16. The scheme is intended to equip appren- tices with the skills and knowledge for a specific job or industry. Busi- nesses, irrespective of size, can recruit an apprentice. The dura- tion of their apprenticeship can range from 12 months to five years, depending on their level. Hiring an apprentice is a long- term investment, and many organ- isations we work with see it as an ideal opportunity to create a work- force trained from scratch – shap- ing employee’s work habits from the offset and aligning them with company culture. The National Apprenticeship Ser- vice says that the estimated gain for employers is between £2,500 and £18,000 per apprentice. Apprentice employers have also seen increased productivity in their existing work- force and apprenticeships are a great way to plug a widening skills gap in our industry. Let’s take it step-by-step. Decide on the level of appren- ticeship you want to offer. Appren- ticeships are divided into different levels so it’s important to estab- lish which one is most suitable for your business: ● Intermediate: level 2 (GSCE) ● Advanced: level 3 (equivalent to 2 A Level passes) ● Higher: level 4,5,6 and 7 (founda- tion degree and above) AN accounting and business advisory group has expanded with the acquisition of Altrin- cham-based E M Accountancy. Ascendis Group, which is head- quartered in Wilmslow, was advised on the acquisition by law firm Bermans. Founded in 2017 by Paul Emmer- son and Jayne Mullock, EMAccount- ancy has a team of four and a national SME client base, with a particular specialism in providing services to opticians’ practices. Ascendis Group is a full-service firm providing audit and accounts, business, tax and private client advisory services alongside finan- cial outsourcing, fractional finance director and financial controller support, corporate finance and business funding. Through strate- gic partnerships, it also provides wealth management and financial planning services. Its client base spans a diverse range of sectors, from technology and digital to property, healthcare, recruitment, online retail and distribution and financial services. The acquisition marks the latest stage of growth for Ascendis Group, which was founded by managing director Richard Fleming in 2004 and now has a 40-strong team. The group recently moved its headquarters from The Colony in Wilmslow to Sandfield House in the town centre, increasing its office space from 3,000 sq ft to 4,400 sq ft to accommodate its contin- ued growth. A CONGLETON manufacturer whose products help transform playgrounds, parks and public spaces around the world has welcomed council lead- ers as part of the Made in Cheshire East programme. Thermmark Ltd, based on Radnor Park Industrial Estate in Congleton, designs, manufactures and installs thermoplastic playground markings and road marking products that sup- port learning, physical activity, play, safety andwayfinding. The company’s products include colourful educational games, activity trails and sports markings for schools, nurseries and public spaces, helping transform outdoor areas into engag- ing learning environments. Building on this success, the busi- nesshasdiversified in recent years into roadmarking and specialist infrastruc- ture solutions, supplying customers and projects across international mar- kets worldwide. The visit formedpart of the council’s Made in Cheshire East initiative, which celebrates the borough’s diverse manufacturing sector and showcases businesses that are contributing to the local economy through innovation, investment and job creation. During the visit, Cheshire East Council leader Councillor Nick Mannionanddeputy leaderCouncillor Michael Gorman met the Thermmark team and heard about the company’s growth ambitions, manufacturing Agency lands Crisis transformation brief Business expansion Cllr Mannion, Neville Robson, Cllr Gorman pictured at Thermmark (Image: Cheshire East Council) From Congleton to playgrounds worldwide Currently there are apprenticeships available a range of occupations across many industries in the UK. (Image: Gov .co.uk ) How to set up an apprenticeship scheme ● Degree: level 6 and 7 (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) ● The National Apprenticeship Ser- vice has lots of useful advice on which level you should consider on its website. Apprentices will be trained for a range of jobs within that sector, alongside ‘soft skills’ like commu- nication and responding to feed- back. The amount of training they get depends on the apprenticeship they’re doing, but they typically last for eight months. Anyone aged 16-21 can do a foun- dation apprenticeship. They’re also open to people aged 22-24 if they’re: ● A care leaver ● A prisoner or on prisoner leave ● Have an education, health and care plan Finally, apprenticeship units give employees the chance to do short and flexible courses that will give them the knowledge and skills that your small business needs. Though they’re not formal apprenticeships, they’re based on apprenticeships and are based on sectors where there are skills shortages in Eng- land, such as AI and construction. They must work for you, be over 19 and spend over half of their working hours in England. As your apprentice will be learn- ing on the job, a proportion of their time is taken up with training. You will need to find a training provider to work alongside to deliver your apprenticeship scheme. If you don’t pay the apprentice- ship levy, the government will pay 100% of the cost (up to the funding band maximum) on the training of an apprentice if they are: ● 16-24 years old ● Aged 15 (if the apprentice’s 16th birthday is between the last Fri- day of June and August 31) For all other apprentices, it’ll be a 5% cost from you, with the rest covered by the government. From October 1, 2026, you could be eligi- ble to receive a hiring payment of up to £2,000 when hiring apprentices aged 16-24. Create an account to fund and recruit apprentices to advertise apprenticeships and give access permissions to relevant people inside and outside your organisa- tion. Use it to add details about your company, your PAYE scheme and your apprentices. The apprenticeship agreement details the skill, trade or occupation that the apprentice will be training for; the name of the apprenticeship they’re working towards; the start and end dates of the apprentice- ships; and the amount of training you’ll give them. On top of that you need to sign a training plan with your apprentice. processes and investment in new products and technology. These include a new tactile paving range designed to help guide visually impaired people and the develop- ment of a newmanufacturing process designed to improve efficiency and support future growth within the sector. The Made in Cheshire East pro- gramme highlights the strength, diversity and innovation of the bor- ough’s manufacturing sector, helping businesses share their stories and inspire future investment in the area.