We are delighted to announce that Laura Wilson has secured her place as one of the newest members on the SSEN Connections Expert Panel for South (SEPD) Commercial/Industrial/Consultants.
Independent of any ICP or IDNO, CLM are able to offer support in a transparent manner, providing representation for industry stakeholders.
Thank you to everyone who voted for Laura!
Huge congratulations to CLM Director, Laura Wilson, who on Friday, was awarded Businessperson of the Year at the Mercury Business Awards 2021!
The CLM team had a wonderful time celebrating with Laura and championing all the winners and finalists who highlight the talent and innovation of our region.
Accepting the award from Chris Needham, landlord of the Danish Invader pub in Stamford, Laura said: “This award might have my name on it but I would not be standing here without our incredible team who are fully supportive of our company goals and values.
“A massive thank you should also go out to my fellow director and husband, Hamish Wilson; he stands beside me through everything and I could not do this without him.”
Speaking later in the evening, she added: “I’m still shocked and overwhelmed at receiving the award.”
Laura said one of the priorities of CLM has been to create a strong team that does not cut corners to achieve the right results.
“The business is running its successful apprentice scheme for a second time, and is at an interesting point of growth.
“We’re focusing on the environment a great deal, with the installation of technology such as electric vehicle charging points at some of the sites we are involved with,” she said.
Runners up for the Businessperson of the Year were Anna Morrish of Quibble Content, a digital marketing agency based in Uppingham, and Leisa MacKenzie from Bluebird Care Stamford and Rutland.
Thank you so much Rutland & Stamford Mercury for SUCH a fantastic evening…Sharron Marriott & Kerry Coupe, your prestigous events Greetham Valley are memorable for all the right reasons!
On Wednesday, the CLM team celebrated The Brilliant Breakfast by raising funds for The Prince’s Trust, an initiative which will change lives for young women in the UK who need support, helping them wake up to a more positive future. A grand national total of £839,000 was raised which will allow the Prince’s Trust to reach 559 young women.
Every single donation from each Brilliant Breakfast hosted will make a real difference to a young woman – whether that’s helping an isolated young woman travel to a 2 week course that will help her gain work experience or unlocking her confidence on a 12 week personal development course which builds practical and emotional skills to take that next step into work, education or training.
The Prince’s Trust are already planning the next Brilliant Breakfast. Please put 10 – 16 October 2022 in your diary and make sure all your friends and colleagues know it’s the week we’re all going to come together over delicious breakfasts and make a real difference to the lives of young women in the UK!
What a fantastic evening we had, celebrating Ella Bryant who was a Finalist for Regional Apprentice of the Year at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards 2021.
Huge congratulations Ella, you have worked so brilliantly since joining CLM almost 2 years ago and are a testament to ‘dream big, stay positive, work hard and enjoy the journey’ ~ Urijah Faber
A thoroughly well deserved accolade!
The CLM team celebrated the company turning 7 this week with a wonderful, socially distanced, picnic at scenic Rutland Water. The team and their families gathered to play frisbee and tennis and to enjoy a delicious buffet from Medish in Stamford.
2021 has brought much to celebrate at CLM, and turning 7 has been a wonderful milestone. It has also been a great opportunity for the team to catch up with each other away from the office!
‘Powering Our Net Zero Future’…in a nutshell
As identified in the recent government white paper, Coronavirus has taken a heavy toll on our society and on our economy. We are informed that we must ‘rebuild our economy, building back better and levelling up the country’ meanwhile the inter-generational challenge of climate change remains. Unchecked, the impact of rising global temperatures represents an existential threat to the planet. So, it makes sense that building back better means building back greener. At CLM we strive to simplify the complex, in order to ensure transparency and to unite engaged parties in making a positive impact on the future. Here, we have condensed the recent Energy White Paper highlighting the much discussed ten-point plan and what it means to us globally, as a nation, as well as consumers.
The UK has set a world–leading net zero target, the first major economy to do so, but simply setting the target is not enough – we need to achieve it. Failing to act will result in natural catastrophes and changing weather patterns, as well as significant economic damage, supply chain disruption and displacement of populations.
Tackling climate change will require decisive global action and significant investment and innovation by the public and private sectors, creating whole new industries, technologies, and professions. But fighting climate change offers huge opportunity for both growth and job creation. The global markets for low-carbon technologies, electric vehicles and clean energy are fast growing: zero emission vehicles could support 40,000 jobs by 2030. The white paper puts net zero and the effort to fight climate change at its core, following the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. The Ten Point Plan sets out how government investment will leverage billions of pounds more of private investment and support up to 250,000 jobs by 2030.
The shift to net zero will affect us all. The white paper presented a vision of how we make the transition to clean energy by 2050 and what this will mean for us as consumers of energy in our homes and places of work, or for how businesses use energy to produce goods and services. It addressed the transformation of our energy system, promoting high-skilled jobs and clean, resilient economic growth as we deliver net-zero emissions. As the world looks to recover from the impact of coronavirus on our lives, livelihoods and economies, we have the chance to build back better: to invest in making the UK a global leader in green technologies.
The ten-point plan focuses on increasing ambition in the following areas:
Following on from the ten-point plan and the National Infrastructure Strategy, the Energy White Paper provides further clarity on the Prime Minister’s measures and puts in place a strategy for the wider energy system that:
We are reminded on a daily basis why we need this Green Industrial Revolution: climate change is having a real effect on our planet. In order to meet the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, the world must collectively and rapidly reduce global emissions to net zero over the next 30 years. Success will mean we are less exposed to flood and heat risks and preserve our national security, our prosperity, and our natural world which are threatened by the global disruption of climate change.
The domestic agenda
Clean electricity will become the predominant form of energy, entailing a potential doubling of electricity demand and consequently a fourfold increase in low-carbon electricity generation. We must secure this transition while retaining the essential reliability, resilience and affordability of our energy. Traditionally, households have been passive consumers of energy from fossil fuels, but trends are rapidly evolving.
Smart technology is unlocking new opportunities to give consumers more control, choice and flexibility over their energy use. We are seeing retail offers that will help consumers engage in the market and save money in the process.
Electric vehicles will accelerate this trend. By using a smart charger when powering up an electric vehicle, consumers will play an essential role in helping manage electricity demand, avoiding the expensive peak periods. Increasingly, consumers will also be able to export energy from their electric vehicle back to the grid. In doing so, they could significantly reduce energy costs and help maximise the amount of solar and wind energy used to charge a vehicle.
And some local communities are coming together to establish their own approach to managing energy demand in their areas. Smart local energy systems are community-based initiatives which bring together a range of energy issues, typically including heat, power and transport, to reduce emissions in an integrated way, while also promoting local jobs and businesses. Local Authorities are key to delivering these systems by combining energy into their wider statutory work on housing, transport, waste and planning, making delivery more cost-effective and preparing for a net zero future.
The white paper’s scope is vast and urgent, and its publication has been well received by most. On the same day it was released, Jonathan Brearley, Chief Executive of Ofgem welcomed the “ambitious programme to build a fairer, greener energy system”. Whilst its greenness and fairness leap from every page, so too does the obvious, but implied, cost to deliver it.
At CLM we continue to highlight changes and developments within our industry which will invariably impact Land Rights, legislation and in turn our clients.
At CLM, wellbeing in the workplace is a fundamental priority.
Our commitment to our teams’ wellness reaches further beyond implementing initiatives introduced by Mental Health Awareness Week, in May. We are proud that our evolving CLM practices have been in place since Laura Wilson established the business in 2014.
As we prepare to welcome on board new members to the team, we are thrilled that they too will be able to enjoy working in an culture which truly cares that they are healthy, thriving and inspired to be their best each day!
As the financial year comes to an end and we are embedded in 2021, it seems fitting to recap on events and learnings of the last 12 months.
To quote Construction News, ‘The challenges of the past year have been immense, and the next 12 months are unlikely to be a quiet ride’, so balancing resilience and unpredictability, with informed preparation will be key during the continual new normal.
Since Covid, CLM have continually levelled up in terms of business improvement. Not only ensuring that our current client portfolio received our very best service, but we also welcomed new business. We referred to our business strategy and concentrated on business capability, delivering continuous improvement, and creating sustainable success. This clear and collective vision has ensured we are all working with the same shared objectives in mind and achieving outstanding results for our clients.
Our team have adapted seamlessly to working from home, thanks to technology introduced and integrated at the start of 2020, ensuring we could respond rather than react to the pandemic. It has been a record 12 months in many respects for CLM, including number of completions, delivery time and number of new clients.
Our team’s commitment to wellbeing is evident in how each member lives and breathes our company core values of Capabilities, Accountability, Integrity and Respect. As a business, we use several channels to open up healthy debate among the team; from one to ones, mentoring and engaging team meetings.
‘Supporting the wellbeing of employees of SMEs is literally the key to financial success’, according to Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People. In the last 12 months Investors In People have identified three overriding priorities emerging for SMEs, regardless of sector:
1. Training
It is imperative to invest in proper training for managers. A good manager can be transformative, empowering employees to grow and develop their potential. The lack of sufficient training can have a very negative impact on the prosperity, health, and wellbeing of many companies. Training and development at CLM have come in all forms, from intensive leadership qualifications, online training via RAU and Peterborough College to 1-2-1 coaching sessions for those new in role. We have developed all team members with in-house training ensuring we are a flourishing, inter-skilled team.
2. Workplace culture
In a world where #BeKind is the global request, the ‘human’ manager is key for successful workplace culture. Good social relations in the workplace are very important, and concerted and creative efforts need to be made to reduce social isolation for employees working from home. At CLM, directors Laura and Hamish Wilson, have kept in close contact with the team, not only through team meetings and calls, but also by acknowledging birthdays with a gift, card and Golden Ticket day off, work anniversaries with a Little Hamper Co gift delivered to home as well as a ‘Spring has sprung’ delivery from Bloom & Wild for each team member. Despite Covid, our team dynamic thrives as we aim towards returning to the workplace and supporting each other as we do so.
3. Work life balance
‘According to Van Zyl, one in three employees of SMEs are working carers (including parents) – a sector of the working population that has been particularly adversely affected by COVID-19. A 2020 survey by Working Families found that this group prioritise their families over anything else and it is the ‘always on’ culture (made worse by working from home) that they struggle with the most. Having honest conversations about workload expectations and allowing flexible working for all employees will enhance wellbeing and motivation, as well as fostering gender equality in the workplace.
‘Mental health – it’s a hot topic. By facilitating conversations about difficult or taboo topics employers are showing that they recognise for their employees there is life beyond work that they value. It also demonstrates that it benefits everyone if employers are understanding about any issues that arise along the way.
‘With 2020 being the year it has been, looking after the mental health and wellbeing of employees has never been more important. Many are facing the challenge of feeling isolated by working from home, losing touch with colleagues due to furlough or dealing with grief should they lose a loved one to COVID-19.’
CLM is extremely fortunate to employ an incredible team of individuals who care, not only about their clients and projects, but also each other. This has always been demonstrated in the workplace but ever since the first lockdown the team have supported each other in a variety of ways using the resources available to them.
Over the last 12 months, the CLM team have risen to the challenges of the pandemic by demonstrating a variety of valued characteristics.
Our team are at the heart of resilient leadership, with a specialised management structure, focusing on:
‘In some ways, the coronavirus has acted as a shot in the arm for the industry. We’ve seen greater cooperation and collaboration with great leadership. If I had to pick one thing out, then it has to be what may be called a productivity revolution; the industry has to prepare to work in a different way.’ ~ Wates group commercial director Simon Potter
We are fortunate enough to work with clients who are committed to providing their customers with the highest level of service. Our ethos echoes that and we work intrinsically with our clients ensuring the CLM team is trained directly in line with their customer service standards. We continue our company promise of reducing project risk from unknown third parties, providing a professional approach, ensuring clients are aware of risks as well as cost certainty.
We are a small team who make a big impact; our team are thriving during these unprecedented times and this truly confirms their professionalism and conscientiousness, for which CLM is recognised. We are enormously grateful to our committed and conscientious clients who, with our dynamic team, continue to deliver some exceptional results!
Connections Legal Management (CLM) is an award winning, family-owned company established in 2014, who act on behalf of statutory undertakers and landowners to negotiate and manage the relationship and legal processes involved in new electricity, gas and water connections. The role that CLM play in this specialised field is demanding and rewarding with no project ever being the same.
Due to the continued growth being experienced within the business, there is a need to recruit an experienced Consultant Land Agent to take on an active case load, managing legal agreements between stakeholders to aid the delivery of easements, wayleaves and transfer/lease agreements.
| Job Title: | Consultant Land Agent | Travel Required: | Yes |
| Location: | Ketton, Rutland | Position Type: | Self employed – part time with option of future full time employed position |
| Level/Salary Range: | Flexible hours, paid on an hourly basis Incentive bonus to be discussed |
Duties would include, but are not limited to:
The main requirements of this role will be:
CLM prides itself on its friendly, relaxed and supportive working environment where the focus is working together as one team to ensure the highest level of service is delivered to its clients. It is imperative that the right candidate possesses the behavioural qualities needed to fit in with an established and growing team. The behaviours that are essential for success within this role include, but are not limited to:
To Apply: Please send your CV and covering letter to [email protected]
The Grain Store
63 High Street
Ketton
Stamford
PE9 3TE
Call: 01780 755 355
