B4 Buckinghamshire Issue 3

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE EDITION

B4

Magazine

ISSUE 3 WINTER 2012

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Shaping Education for Business Buckinghamshire New University helping students secure full time employment

Are Family & Friends Good for Business?

Simon Deans of BP Collins looks into the risks of working with friends and family

Change is the New Stability Urban Media’s Elton Boocock embraces change

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So What is B4?

B4 is the fastest growing business to business network, providing over 500 businesses in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire with four great platforms to promote and connect their businesses. It's a business network with a difference where we facilitate face to face contact with other Members at B4 events held in iconic locations.

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4 Effective Platforms to Help You Connect 1

B4 Magazine - Packed with great features, news and promotional articles mailed free to 3,000 business decision makers (separate circulation of 3,000 in each county)

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B4 Website - Upload press releases direct to the site and promote forthcoming events and seminars. All B4 articles printed are uploaded to the business directory on the site.

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B4 Events - Meet other B4 members at high quality B4 events in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire...Why not even bring a guest?

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B4 Workshops - Promote your business to other B4 members at our workshops, a great way to get your message across.

Why Become a Member?

Memberships are specific to one area, not all, and gives your business a listing in the back of your chosen area B4 Magazine. A listing on the business directory of the relevant B4 website but access to all B4 events in all areas (restrictions may apply due to capacity limitations and we do have some Platinum Ambassador only events). Members can also promote their status on company e-mails and websites with our new B4 Member icons

Why Not Upgrade to an Ambassador?

Becoming an Ambassador gets a face to represent your business in the B4 community. Your chosen Ambassador will feature alongside your listing in the magazine directory, on your on line business directory listing and also in the Ambassadors’ section on the B4 website. Being an Ambassador gives you something in common to approach other B4 Ambassadors throughout the network.

The rate to become an Ambassador is £250+VAT per annum.

Become a B4 Member in less than 24 hours Here's what we need to get you started: 1. Your Logo - high quality is a must and in one of the following formats: jpeg, eps, pdf, ai 2. Between 50 and 300 words about your business - See the website for some great examples 3. Basic contact details - Basic contact details e.g. Address, telephone number, email address Our system will automatically generate a user name and password (which you can change) and you are ready to put up your first Press Release. But Don't Worry! There's a helpful online guide to assist you and we're always at the end of the phone.

Join B4 for as little as £150+VAT per annum B4 Membership is based on your number of employees and not the number of staff who could attend events: Rates start at just £150+VAT for sole traders and other single person entities.

Rates increase to £250+VAT for 2 to 5, £375+VAT for 6 to 20 and so on. See www.b4-business.com for full details.

What about Editorial in the Magazine?

Looks complicated? Well it's not! We can set you up to have your picture taken at our associate's studio. We can get one of our freelance PR or Editor to interview you. You have Full Editorial Control so, nothing's printed without your agreement. Editorial pages start at £500+VAT and we can do almost all of it for you! Just ask!

Get Connected to our Growing Community Now:

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www.b4-business.com Contacts If you want to contact B4 Magazine Telephone: 01494 373183 info@b4-business.com Publisher B4 Magazine is published by Designs On Ltd, The Firs, Headington Hill, Oxford, OX3 0BT Chairman Colin Rosser colin@designs-on.co.uk Editor Richard Rosser editorial@b4-business.com Art Editor Keith Simpson artwork@b4-business.com Assistant Art Editor Rob Scotcher rob@b4-business.com Assistant Editor Lorna Dodson assistanteditor@b4-business.com B4 Events Tina Rosser events@b4-business.com Proofreader Sue Rosser Editorial contributors Elton Boocock James White Kelly Stroud Lucy Holmes Michael Barratt Phil Strachan Simon Deans Tony Thomson B4 Photography Rob Scotcher Carli Adby Gleed Photography Studio Photography Gleed Photography www.gleedphotography.co.uk

welcome to B4 Welcome to Issue 3.

We have recently held a B4 event at Williams F1 in Oxfordshire which was attended by over 240 members of the growing B4 community, which now includes over 600 businesses in the Thames Valley.

The event encapsulated everything that B4 is becoming – a fantastic platform for businesses in the Thames Valley to meet, face to face, and do business. We had businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to national organisations, from a wide range of sectors, but, most importantly, we had businesses from different counties making connections.

In the past few months, I have had more people talk to me about the positive outcomes from being a B4 member than ever before. I am hearing about plenty of instances where members have chosen other B4 members because of that simple fact. They feel a B4 membership gives a certain level of endorsement, or they have met the other member in question at an event which has given them confidence to do business with them. That’s how B4 can work for you, it can help put your business in the spotlight in the magazine, on line and face to face and that’s half the battle. The rest is down to you.

As the year draws to an end we look back on our launches in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire in 2012 knowing that there is so much more to do in both areas before we can begin to reflect the success B4 has enjoyed in Oxfordshire over nearly seven years. It is coming, and the more we can get businesses working with each other across the network, confidence will continue to grow that B4 can secure your company results. Why not give me a call personally and I will be delighted to explain how your business can benefit from B4 membership.

In this issue of B4 Buckinghamshire, we welcome Ruth Farwell, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Bucks New University. Ruth has overseen a remarkable period of transition at the University and highlights, in our lead article, the strides made in engaging students with the wider business community. This is a theme we will take into our Business of Education supplement in the next edition of B4 Buckinghamshire, which you can read more about on page 68.

Inside

28. BP Collins Written by Simon Deans

32. Urban Media Written by Elton Boocock

Enjoy B4 and all the best for 2013.

Subscriptions For free Subscription, please contact: Telephone: 01494 373183 info@b4-business.com

Richard Rosser Editor

35. InTouch CRM Written by James White

Each business with a Buckinghamshire postcode is entitled to one free copy per issue.

For additional copies and for businesses outside of Buckinghamshire, there is an annual subscription charge of £25.

© Designs-on Ltd and B4 Magazine.

Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure that the content of this publication is accurate and correct in every way, the publishers cannot be held responsible or liable for any inaccuracies or errors within the publication. Information reproduced from this publication is permitted with the express permission of the publisher and the advertiser, where relevant. All information is correct at time of going to press.

B4 Magazine is printed by

www.stonestheprinters.co.uk

About

B4

Magazine

B4 Magazine was established to provide Oxfordshire businesses with a clear voice to raise their profile and to help businesses connect. With B4 Berkshire and now B4 Buckinghamshire, we hope to achive greater success now that the model has been established and refined. Direct mailed to three thousand business decision makers in Buckinghamshire every quarter, and with a further four and a half thousand copies circulated to key outlets, featured businesses and made available at B4 events, we hope to make our mark in Buckinghamshire businesses. See more at www.b4-business.com.

B4 is funded by paid for display advertising and editorial, although some editorial is granted without charge at the discretion of the Editor. Please call us to find out how you can get involved.

WHY NOT FOLLOW B4 MAGAZINE AT @B4Bucks

54. B4 Box Office Written by Kelly Stroud

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16 Shaping Education for Business: Kelly Stroud Interviews Bucks New University's Professor Ruth Farwell.

20 Avocet: Avocet's Roger Bibby talks to B4 about the company's SME Corporate Finance Services.

LEAD

ADVICE

26 The Fish Partnership: Is your business ready for RTI and Auto-Enrolment?.

28 Do Family and Friends Make Good Business Partners?: Simon Deans of BP Collins investigates.

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11 B4 News 14 Newbury Racecourse

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PROPERTY

24 You Can Mix Business with Pleasure!: Undoubtedly one of the county's most secure new developments.

SPOTLIGHT 32 Urban Media: Change is the new stability.

38 Ultimate Car Control: Are you concerned about your exposure under Corporate Manslaughter Laws?.

60 Platinum Ambassador Spotlight: David Robertson, Commercial Director, Buildbase.

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www.b4-business.com

B4 contents 46

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46 Coutts: The outlook for the Eurozone and the UK economy.

22 First Move: Significantly improve your marketing R.O.I. by linking your websites, advertising, e-Mail and direct mail with cross media marketing.

FINANCE

SERVICES

35 And the Winner is?: B4 Platinum Ambassador, InTouch CRM, win The Software Satisfaction Award: Best Small Business CRM System.

42 London & Counties: B4 Buckinghamshire delivers results for London & Counties Office Supplies.

50 Strangebrew: Potent and intoxicating, but reassuringly inexpensive.

56 HR2YOU: Showing no signs of letting up with continued expansion.

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EDUCATION

36 Creating Client Futures: Business and Education working together at Bucks New University and Aylesbury College.

31 R&R

31 The Tree at Cadmore End is Blooming: Indian and European cuisine with a dash of Jazz.

52 The Oakley Court: Need a break?

Need a venue? The Oakley Court has it all.

54 Sign-up for B4 Box Office: Why be sofa bound when you can enjoy live events in style?

62 The Old Swan and Minster Mill: Just a short drive from Buckinghamshire you will find this haven, immerse yourself in its tranquility.

64 Lancaster London: The best views in town? Probably!

www.b4-business.com

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CONTACTS 7

B UC K I N G HAM S HI R E

B E RK SH I RE

B4 Platinum Ambassadors We would like to thank our B4 Platinum Ambassadors for supporting B4 Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. To find out more about joining them and over five hundred B4 Member companies, please call us on 01494 373183.

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Residential Letting · Property Management

meet oxfordshire

With annual memberships starting at £150+VAT*, entitling you to a business directory listing and unlimited press release, event, job vacancy and offer uploads, it’s no wonder our membership is increasing daily.

Members are also invited to events in all B4 areas, up to 12 per annum. Call us now on 01494 373183 to book your membership or e-mail sales@b4-business.com for more details.

The B4 Website – the most efficient way to network your business from your PC! *Quoted rate is Membership for single person businesses. Rate increases for 2 to 5 employees to £250+VAT, 6 to 20 employees to £375+VAT per annum, £500+VAT for 21 to 50, £900+VAT for 51 to 100 and £1200+VAT for over 100 employees. The Ambassador scheme is separate and subject to a different charge.

B4

Corporate AS A COMPANY, HOW DO YOU SAY ‘THANKS’ TO YOUR STAFF, YOUR CUSTOMERS OR SUPPLIERS? c WE HAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR YOU. vouch have been providing fantastic offers to the general public for over three years now, great places like:

with more vouchers coming up for sale weekly c It’s a great way for you to buy a voucher at a 50% discount (at least) and say ‘thanks’ to someone for their hard work. Corporate vouch offers you the opportunity to buy 12 vouchers for the price of 10* c Just call 01865 742211 quoting ‘Corporate vouch’ and we can put a package of vouchers together for you. c To see the full range of vouchers, click on the vouch logo on the www.inoxford.com site c Follow vouch on Twitter or sign up for the e-newsletter at www.vouchoffers.co.uk

giving you much more for less *the credit you get for the two vouchers you don’t pay for is equivalent to the average of the 10 vouchers you do pay for.

B4 news High profile appointment for Handelsbanken in Aylesbury Handelsbanken, the Swedish bank creating a storm in the UK with it's local and traditional relationship bank offering are coming to Aylesbury - exciting news indeed for the local professionals, SMEs and residents.

The added bonus, excuse the pun, (it should be noted that Handelsbanken do not pay bonuses to staff) is that they have secured the services of a well known face to B4 Bucks as Branch Manager Derek Beards, formerly Senior Commercial Manager with Lloyds Banking Group (pictured).

Handelsbanken in the UK has been phenomenal, Aylesbury being the 137th branch (120 opened in the last six years!). We have a unique approach of delivering a local decentralised service with our customers at the heart of everything we do. My Aylesbury team will have a level of autonomy not matched by our competitors. This will enable us to provide a highly personalised and very competitive banking service to both Corporate and Individual customers. We believe in traditional banking values whilst delivering modern banking.

Photography: Andrew Gleed

This will be banking just the way you remember it!"

Derek comments, "After 32 years with Lloyds, boy and man, the timing and circumstances felt right to make a change. I am delighted to have joined Handelsbanken and am excited to be opening a branch in Aylesbury, early in 2013. The growth of

Contact: E: debe04@handelsbanken.co.uk T: 07739 817176

Corporate Traveller Running your business is challenging enough without having the headache of planning travel arrangements. What is the best airfare, the nearest hotel, do I need a visa?

That is where a travel management company comes in, according to Oxford based Corporate Traveller, which specialises in providing travel services to companies spending £50k to £2 million annually on business travel.

“Many small to medium sized businesses assume that they will be better off booking their own business travel online, but the internet will not give you impartial advice on which airline to book, the best route and the best fare especially if you are

new to a destination,” explains Graeme Milne, general manager, Corporate Traveller UK. All Corporate Traveller clients have one local account manager who looks after their travel personally and is an expert in finding the most direct routes and competitive fares. An expert account manager will take care of everything, freeing travellers up to concentrate on closing the deal.”

For more information call Mike McGuire on: 01895 263095 or 07837 326100 or email: michael.mcguire@corptraveller.co.uk

Mercator Business Owners Club marketing agency. Her presentation was well received judging by the number of requests for further information & follow up meetings.

Avocet Investments recently co hosted another very successful Mercator Business Owners Club event at The Crazy Bear in Beaconsfield, Bucks.

The subject was “Getting The Best From Your Marketing Budget” by Angela Ellis of Stop The Train

www.b4-business.com

Mercator Business Owners Club was established in November 2009 & is co-organised by Avocet (SME Corporate Finance), The Fish Partnership (Accountants), Machins Solicitors LLP, Chiltern Consultancy (Wealth Management) & Stop The Train.

The next Mercator event on 19 March 2013 will again be at The Crazy Bear & cover Business & Personal Tax Implications of the Chancellor’s latest

fiscal manoeuvring.

A full English breakfast will precede this presentation.

Places by invitation - are free but strictly limited for this business coach free event, so interested parties should contact Roger Bibby urgently to secure a reservation.

T: 01494 726173 E: roger.bibby@avocet-investments.com www.avocet-investments.com www.mercator-club.co.uk

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Woman of Achievement win for Bucks’ Entrepreneur of the Year Ceri-Jane Hackling, Managing Director of Cerub PR, has won Employer of the Year as part of Sue Ryder’s Women of Achievement Awards.

The Women of Achievement Awards recognise women across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire who have excelled in their field. CeriJane won the award for the positive effect she has on her team.

Ceri-Jane established Cerub PR, a High Wycombe based PR agency, nine years ago and has built up a team of dedicated employees and a strong client base.

Ceri-Jane is very involved in the business community, as a founding member of The High Wycombe Connections Club, a committee member of the Bucks branch of the Institute of Directors and as a mentor for the Young Entrepreneur Society where she offers support and advice to young entrepreneurs.

Ceri-Jane comments: ‘I’m really proud to have won Employer of the Year, I’m honoured that my staff nominated me for the award and to have won is fantastic. The competition was incredibly strong and I was up against some amazing, inspirational women.’ www.cerubpr.co.uk

Introducing The Clare Foundation’s New Chief Executive – David White The Clare Foundation welcomed its new Chief Executive, David White, following the retirement of Mike Elliot.

David has 25 years experience in the voluntary sector working with over 60 charities as CEO, Trustee, Chair and Consultant. Having worked with charities including InterHealth, Keech Hospice Care and Y Care International, David has a wealth of experience which he looks forward to contributing in his new role.

David explains: ‘It’s great to have the opportunity to put my experience to good use and help other charities be more effective and efficient. The Clare Foundation has an influential role to play; there will be challenges but more importantly, significant opportunities to offer invaluable support to

charities.’

Dedicated and passionate about the voluntary sector, David will be focussing efforts on encouraging new tenants to take up residence at the Charity Hub in order to maximise opportunities and create a collaborative network for existing tenants. In addition, The Clare Foundation will concentrate on developing services to help other charities increase their effectiveness.

The Clare Foundation is a registered UK charity offering commercial methods, business expertise and entrepreneurism to the voluntary sector through training, mentoring, sharing best practice and networking. www.theclarefoundation.org

Personalised mobile marketing campaign management TagItScanIt is a highly cost-effective methodology for using QR codes (and NFC tags) to track and record response data from marketing campaigns, to help increase sales, improve knowledge about relative campaign effectiveness and generate real-time market research.

In short, it gives every marketing manager and media planner the tools to justify their existence and plan ever more effective campaigns.

TagItScanIt provides a bespoke, consultative service that delivers detailed intelligence, which enables you to reestablish intimacy with your customers,

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Which many would describe as the holy grail of direct marketing.

John Wanamaker, of the famous Philadelphia department store family, is reputed to be the author of the oft-repeated comment, “I know that half my advertising doesn’t work; the problem is, I don’t know which half.” Not any more, John.

TagItScanIt will give you all the knowledge you need to make better advertising decisions (and all other marketing media).

TagItScanIt Turns Looking Into Leads

www.b4-business.com

B4 news Bledlow Ridge Inaugural “Ridge Off Roader” 10K Run All proceeds from the event will go to supporting the Bledlow Ridge School charity.

The event will be fun for runners, supporters and spectators alike, with various attractions available at Race Headquarters, located at the School: a bouncy castle for the children, hot drinks, bacon sandwiches, and massages available to runners before and after the race. There will also be a one kilometre (just over half a mile) race which anybody, young or old, can enter on the day.

On Sunday 28th April 2013, more than two hundred runners will take to the footpaths, bridleways and lanes of the Chiltern Hills around Bledlow Ridge. They will complete a ten kilometre (six and a quarter mile) route through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, starting at Bledlow Ridge School, dropping down into Saunderton Valley, up to spectacular views from the top of Lodge Hill, then back down into the valley before heading back up onto the ridge, for an enthusiastic welcome home from supporters including children and parents from the school.

The event is licensed by UK Athletics, and advance entries will cost £11 for adults and £6 for juniors who are members of affiliated running clubs; £13 for adults and £8 for juniors who are not affiliated; and entries on the day will cost £15 for adults and £10 for juniors.

Everybody who completes the race will receive a medal and a goody bag.

Ben Park, Chairman of the Race Committee, said: “I’m absolutely delighted by the encouragement we have had from everybody involved in the

preparation of this event. It will raise extra funds for our much-loved school, and we have carefully prepared the route so that runners of all abilities can enjoy an undulating course through truly beautiful countryside. I’d particularly like to thank all the landowners who have reacted so positively to our discussions with them about using the rights of way across their land.”

Tom Tipper, also from the Race Committee, added: “The event raises money through entry fees from the competitors, and also through sponsorship from local businesses and organisations. If you would like to support us and have your company prominently featured on event literature, the website and runners’ bibs please contact us.”

Runners will be able to enter the event by either sending an entry form in the post or completing an online form, both of which can be found soon at the website, www.ridgeoffroader.co.uk. Please register your interest by sending the team an email at ridgeoffroader@btinternet.com, or using the contact form on the website.

Wycombe Business Expo 2012 hailed a success The only B2B event sponsored by Wycombe District Council, Buckinghamshire Business First and LloydsTSB Commercial took place on Friday 2nd November in High Wycombe. Now in its 3rd year this showcase event is firmly established on the local business calendar.

“Creating a truly innovative B2B event that resonates with the business community is our ongoing aim”, says Hilda Stearn. “As a founder of the Expo I believe passionately in the business

community helping itself and this is a fabulous example of just that! The Expo is different: it is a not-for-profit event organised by local entrepreneurs where exhibitors and visitors alike enjoy a ‘business conversation’ rather than the ‘hard sell’ so often experienced at similar events.

This year’s feedback has been very encouraging and our thoughts are now turning to 2013!” she added. www.wycombebusinessexpo.com

Christmas At Coworth Park This is a three-night celebratory affair and beginswith Christmas Afternoon Tea and predinner champagne on arrival, followed by dinner in either The Barn or Restaurant Coworth Park – depending on guests’ preference - on Christmas Eve, ending with a car transfer to Sunningdale Parish for Midnight Mass.

The following two days include festive breakfasts, lunches and dinners, tea and cakes served alongside entertainment by Coworth Park’s pianist.

www.b4-business.com

The Tower House cinema will be showing the Queen’s speech; complimentary Chocolate Masterclass with the hotel’s chocolatier and a Wine Tasting Masterclass available for adults on Boxing Day, while kids can attend a cookie decorating class in the hotel’s kitchens; a behind-the-scene tour of the hotel; nightly story time with cookies and milk for young guests; membership to the dedicated Coworth Park Kids club and much more. ‘Christmas at Coworth Park’ is available from Monday 24th December 2012. www.coworthpark.com

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An inspired choice of venue The Oakley Court Hotel has vast experience of hosting major conferences in stunning surroundings making it an inspired choice of venue. Hold your conference at Oakley Court and you’ll impress, captivate and inspire your delegates.

We guarantee the very best in service standards offering conference suites and executive boardrooms within a prestigious location. Our unique rooms range from original rooms in the Mansion House which are over 150 years old with high ceilings and original features, to a purpose built function room called The Boathouse on the banks of the River Thames.

It’s not only the picturesque riverside setting that creates the wow factor; extensive leisure facilities, fine dining and impeccable service all play their part in creating a memorable conference.

At A Glance UÊDedicated Meeting and Conference Coordinators UÊ virence facilities for up to 170

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delegates – indoor pool, gymnasium,

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tennis and 9 hole par 3 golf course

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The Oakley Court, Windsor Road, Water Oakley, Windsor SL4 5UR. 01753 609988 www.principal-hayley.com/theoakleycourt

B4 news RSM tenon Promote Chris Newell To Director RSM Tenon has further strengthened its team in Marlow with the promotion of Chris Newell to Director.

Chris is a qualified insolvency practitioner and chartered certified accountant with extensive experience within the corporate restructuring field and dealing with distressed accelerated disposals of businesses. Chris has experience across a wide variety of sectors ranging from trading nursing homes to selling race horses. Recent assignments have included working on a number of companies within the property and construction sector.

promotion and look forward to building on the success of RSM Tenon in Marlow by developing strong working relationships with local professionals in order to provide solutions to often challenging problems. ” Peter Hughes-Holland, Partner at RSM Tenon in Marlow commented “This promotion is welldeserved as a reflection of his expertise, experience and commitment to delivering the best outcomes for those companies and professionals who engage our services.” www.rsmtenon.com

Chris commented “I am delighted to receive this

B4 Berkshire Event at Newbury Racecourse – 16th January, 2013 The Racecourse Newbury in Berkshire is not only a top sporting venue but also a first class conference & events venue. Home to the famous Hennessy Gold Cup, Newbury offers some of the best horseracing in the country with raceday hospitality to match. Join us for the first B4 event of 2013 for a day’s racing and networking.

member already, come and join us as our guests to find out more about B4 and network with existing members.

Just open to 100 and just under 50 places remaining at time of going to press. Register at www.regonline.com/B4NewburyRacecourse.

Event times: 12.30pm to 4.30pm

This is a great opportunity for members from all areas to meet eachother as the event is open to all B4 Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire members and their guests. If you’re not a B4

For details about a coach being organised from Oxford, contact: editorial@b4-business.com

Inward Investment Opportunities Put Bucks on the Map Guests were joined by professional services organisations Harwood Hutton and Parrott and Coales who highlighted the key benefits of being based in the county. These visits were followed by a dinner at Cliveden where ICT global leaders such as Microsoft and Cisco were questioned on everything from upcoming technologies to their location choice and staff retention.

Following the visit, Philippa Batting, Managing Director of Buckinghamshire Business First, said: As the inward investment vehicle for Bucks, Buckinghamshire Business First aims to increase the numbers of international businesses moving to the county. As such, on 13 November 2012, 30 UKTI representatives from around the world visited Buckinghamshire to find out for themselves what the county has to offer potential investors.

www.b4-business.com

Hosted by Buckinghamshire Business First and Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, visitors from the US, Asia, Europe and South America, enjoyed visits to Marlow based SAS, world leaders in analytics software, Bucks New University, Pinewood Studios and motion capture specialists Centroid.

‘The visit was a huge success and gave visitors a taste of just what the county has to offer. We are delighted to say that in the last year we have seen a significant increase in enquiries particularly from the creative and media sector which is a good sign of future investment into the county and the creation of much needed jobs.’ www.bbf.uk.com www.ukti.gov.uk

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SHAPING EDUCATION FOR BUSINESS Buckinghamshire New University has made a positive impact on the tricky educational roadmap that students are required to navigate in order to gain and remain in employment.

With Professor Ruth Farwell at the helm as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, the University benefits from strong leadership coupled with a distinct clarity of vision to shape education through addressing the needs of students as well as businesses in Buckinghamshire. By Kelly Stroud.

“When I first came on board, the University was split between three campuses.

The majority of facilities were not fit for purpose. For example, our marketleading courses in the area of music production didn’t provide students with access to the equipment they would be expected to use in industry.”

Buckinghamshire New University earned full university status in 2007, just one year after Ruth Farwell left London South Bank University to take up the role at Bucks, with an objective of converting it from a university college.

“We debated various estates strategies and eventually took the decision to sell off two sites and to consolidate. We also took on a new site at Uxbridge, where our nurse education is based, in a strategic decision to strengthen the relationship with NHS London in order to ensure our students are based closer to the hospitals where they undertake placements and will eventually work.”

The University currently has nearly 9,500 students enrolled on a combination of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, in addition to work-based foundation degrees. Keen to develop those already in employment, Bucks also offers a wide variety of professional and short courses.

Bucks New University has achieved success in its short history and has developed a good reputation for its industry-linked courses. Ruth explains what attracted her to leave the bright lights of London for a county with a unique entrepreneurial spirit that boasts the most start-ups in the UK. “I was appointed to the position of Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive in 2006 with the initial aim of achieving university status, but it was about more than just that,” explains Ruth. “The college already offered degrees, the challenge was to provide a vision centered around its strengths and identifying what those strengths were in the first place.

“It was important to determine what kind of university we wanted to be. There is now a clearly established vision of employer-focused education which has been developed around Bucks’s early culture with its essence still shining through. We operate a friendly and supportive environment for students and staff.”

Bucks was shortlisted for a 2012 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Award for the Estates Team’s role in managing a £62 million campus redevelopment programme which has been at the core of Ruth’s strategy.

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The University has invested heavily in its centralisation with the consolidation of its previously divided Wellesbourne and Chalfont campuses into a renovated and expanded High Wycombe campus.

In addition, the Uxbridge campus provides students with healthcare simulation facilities that are state-of-the-art and enable a much more hands-on learning approach. These include a full sized ward and a fully-equipped operating theatre and recovery room/high dependency unit, which together feature all of the essential clinical learning environments to ensure simulated learning experiences with the latest interactive manikins are both realistic and accurate for students and for NHS employees.

Ruth explains: “We invested returns from selling two campuses, borrowed money and used reserves, not only in nurse education but across the board covering music production and drama performance too. When we have visitors, for example from hospitals to Uxbridge, and from a UKTI delegation from around the world to High Wycombe, they’re extremely impressed with our facilities.”

The investment has paid off in more ways than one. In September 2012, Bucks became one of the largest providers of adult nursing training across London following NHS London’s higher education allocations for the next three years.

In addition, the University has gained contacts with NHS South of England to provide nursing education programmes for the NHS in the Thames Valley.

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B4 LEAD

“There is now a clearly established vision of employer-focused education” Prof Ruth Farwell

These partnerships are growing from strength to strength with Bucks training more than 350 nurses each year.

The state-of-the-art Gateway building in High Wycombe also boasts a learning resource and technology centre, events hall, gym, sports science laboratory, dance, drama, music and video production studios, library and meeting rooms. In 2010 the building was the proud winner of a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award for architectural excellence.

Forming alliances to increase visibility Ruth established a clear vision for Bucks New University from the outset with the full support of a strong team around her. The aim is to ensure Bucks is a leading professional and creative influence, shaping higher education for the benefit of people and employers.

In order to achieve this, Ruth has developed a clever and impactful personal strategy, effectively implemented to strengthen the University’s proposition. This is focused around three areas to ensure the University gains increased visibility by forming strategic alliances.

1. The national and higher education sector Ruth is in the middle of her second term as Chair of GuildHE, one of two recognised representative bodies for higher education in the UK. The organisation is involved with lobbying to persuade the Government, politicians and official groups on issues around higher education and also provides

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members with an abundance of support through information, networking and events.

successes, for example, our campaign for superfast broadband,” explains Ruth.

Ruth is also on the board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), which is responsible for distributing public money for higher education to universities and colleges in England, and ensuring it is used to deliver the greatest benefit to students and the wider public.

“My aim is to work with the local business community to identify missing skill sets that we and our educational partners, as providers of education, can help to fulfill by providing businesses with direct access to students that have developed the skills required to help business prosper. By identifying the current employment gaps, we can help businesses to plan, grow and evolve.”

2. Educational partners Bucks has strong partnerships with local colleges in the region to help provide students with an option to study closer to home. This includes Aylesbury College, Amersham and Wycombe College, and the University is also a major partner in the new Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) which is soon to be built in Aylesbury and will provide 14-19 year olds with the opportunity to take full-time, technically-oriented courses of study specialising in construction and IT. 3. Local businesses The University is locked into the local business community and was one of the first investing members of Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF).

Ruth also sits on the board of the Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP).

“The BTVLEP is a real success which I believe is due to the commitment from the outset to ensure we have an equal number of business people and local authority as part of the board. It is a real meeting of minds and we are genuinely seeing real

“The University is committed to Buckinghamshire’s contribution to economic growth by helping businesses to recruit the right people now. We also aim to ensure that in five years time, there are not the same skills gaps as there are at present. Our aim at Bucks is to prepare a pipeline of people with the right kind of skills and attitude.”

Lost in translation It isn’t uncommon to hear employers complain of recruitment issues. The terms: ‘good people are hard to find’ or ‘we just can’t find the right person’ would have been experienced by most of us in the business community.

Ruth says it is all down to lack of communication: “Through my work with local businesses, I know that employers often don’t know where to look for the right kind of employees. Equally, young people who are trying to get into work are saying they don’t know what employers want. They read a job description and still ask what the job is about. The two need joining together and that’s how BTVLEP and its educational partners can really help.”

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Master yyour Master our ffuture uture Choose Bucks C hoose Bu cks New New University University Looking to further your ca career reer and enhance your knowledge?

We W eo offer ffer fe ca career-focused reer-focused postgraduate and p professional rofessional courses in: s Art & Design s Business & Management s s Child Children Young s ren & Y oung People Peo s s Computing & Information T Technology echnology s s Dance & Performance s s Education s s Engineering s s Fu Furniture rniture s s Health & Nursing s s Law s s Music & Event Management s s Production Production s s Psychology s Security & Safety s s Social W s Work ork s Sport & Fitness s s T Travel Aviation. s ravel & A viation.

P AN OSTG DP RA OP ROFE DUA TE EN S We EV SION d E 5-7 n NIN AL pm esda G y3 ,H 0J igh Wy anu com ary be 2013 buc B Ca ks. ook mp ac. uk/ onlin us ope e

Many courses start in January or February 2013.

Part-time options a are re available.

Find out mo more re today:

0800 0565 660 advice@bucks.ac.uk bucks.ac.uk/courses

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B4 LEAD It is no secret that the county has a lower proportion of 20-29 year olds. Despite its proud claims to be the most entrepreneurial county in the UK, the profile of a typical start-up is often somebody older, perhaps in their 40s, potentially coming back to the county or starting a second career.

much emphasis on readying students for employment but we also need to look at how that is facilitated. It isn’t just about equipping people with the correct skills, students need to consider becoming a rounded professional which includes developing important capabilities such as networking.

providers, are fundamental to the delivery of the University’s strategy.

Ruth champions the need to lower the age demographic in Buckinghamshire and it can only be achieved by providing young people with greater opportunities that will in turn reflect the needs of employers:

“There is a real chance for prospective employers to take an interest in students at an early stage. By investing in an individual’s education, through part sponsorship or funding, it is possible to ensure that person fits with your organisation developing the right business acumen in addition to skills from the outset.

Ruth concludes: “In year six of my role, I’m hugely pleased with what we have been able to achieve.

Everyone at the University has really been supportive of me since day one.

“The demand from students for courses isn’t necessarily in the areas where job vacancies exist.

An emphasis needs to be placed on getting messages to people who are making choices about what to train for. For example, we know there is a recruitment need for engineers, which recently hasn’t been a popular subject for students to take.

We therefore need to work on actively selling those roles to present them as an attractive career with great prospects.”

“Awareness of business now starts in school with students opting for business studies. It is important that awareness is facilitated early on but with that comes additional responsibility of ensuring young people are well-rounded individuals. Students need to be encouraged to engage with higher education, further education or schools in order to contribute to society later on in life.”

The University’s partnership approach keeps Bucks relevant and up-to-date and ensures students are prepared for the real-life challenges of the 21st century workplace.

“Moving forward, we are very clear about what we want to be. The aim, as it has been since I arrived, is to look after students in addition to links with employers to provide employer-focused education.

We will continuously try to develop this area as it really does serve the higher educational purposes of today.”

Through Ruth’s forward-thinking attitude, Bucks hopes to retain some of the 20-29 year olds that graduate each year to seek employment within the county.

Through her work with BBF, Ruth is currently involved in establishing a virtual employers group.

The aim is to generate an exchange of information about businesses and industry providing people with a useful resource in one place for recruitment needs.

The future Bucks New is a leading modern university, driving professional and creative excellence. The courses offered are intended to prepare graduates for employment as well as enhancing professional competence for those already in employment.

Equally, with the thriving and prosperous business community that Buckinghamshire has to offer, those students who fled the nest to study elsewhere at 18, may even come to realise that life a little closer to home most definitely has its perks.

Ruth explains: “There are gaps to be filled on both sides, for job seekers and recruiters. There is so

Externally, partnerships with employers, public sector commissioners and other educational

Contact: 0800 056 5660 or advice@bucks.ac.uk or see bucks.ac.uk

PARTNER WITH BUCKS Buckinghamshire New University is keen to develop alliances with the local business community and would like your input in shaping education to suit employer needs.

The University also offers business support services, conferencing facilities, consultancy services, knowledge transfer partnerships, production services and recruitment services.

To find out more about the services and training available at Bucks New University, please contact the For Business team on 01494 522 141 ext.

4022, or email: forbusiness@bucks.ac.uk

There is the chance to improve knowledge and expertise within your business or workplace by offering training to employees whilst in work, with a range of short courses and continuing professional development opportunities on offer.

With an ‘open door’ policy, the team is happy to discuss services for businesses, individual entrepreneurs, public and voluntary sector organisations.

If you would like to explore the opportunities for educational partnerships, please contact Sally Skea on 01494 605253, or email: sally.skea@bucks.ac.uk

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19

B4 ADVICE

Photography: Andrew Gleed

AVOCET

B4 went along to talk to Roger Bibby, to learn all about Avocet and its SME Corporate Finance Services. From their early beginnings to their current position and found out just where their name came from.

IN THE BEGINNING Avocet was established 11 years ago by Roger Bibby after a mercurial career taking in major corporates like Shell & Redland, a main board position at Barbour Index plc & leading 2 MBIs with Robert Fleming & British Linen Bank financial support.

Avocet focuses on helping SMEs (typically 500k £10m turnover) with: Business Finance: sourcing new bank facilities, invoice discounting, leasing, commercial mortgages, bridging loans, business angles Business Advice: helping an Owner grow the business, creating & implementing successful price increases & offering strategic advice Business Sales & Acquisitions: exit strategies, finding buyers/sellers, negotiating price, assistance in examination of draft legal documents & Project Management of the whole sale process Over the years it has advised a steady stream of owners on sourcing finance & selling their businesses, from hi tech to manufacturing & distribution & professional firms- Avocet sold a firm of lawyers in July 2012.

generations of politicians” A WORK IN PROGRESS Since 2001 business for Avocet has steadily increased with 70% of enquiries now coming from Referrals (including from 3 of the top 10 UK Accountancy Firms), 25% from Avocet’s own Newsletter & 5% from the Breakfast Seminars it runs on Owner Exit Strategy & SME Funding issues.

The Avocet Newsletter is published to 450 organisations, six times a year by post, and has a queue of professional sponsors wishing to place their own profile/article within its pages.

“The Avocet Newsletter

is published to 450 organisations, six times a year by post, and has a queue of professional sponsors wishing to place their own profile/article within its pages

”

WHY THE NAME AVOCET? Comments Roger: “The Avocet became extinct as a breeding bird in England for over 100 years before re-colonising successfully in Suffolk in the late 1940s, & then becoming a regular breeder elsewhere in England. That ability of regeneration & wading through mud for its food seemed synonymous with the typical SME.”

According to the latest Bi Annual Readership Survey it is read cover to cover within 7 days by 90% of respondents. Its irreverent style (“the Private Eye of SME Corporate Finance” according to one professional reader) may have something to do with this, coupled with its track record of forecasting trouble ahead, including the demise of HBOS, the Crunch, the “corrugated recovery” of peaks & troughs, & more recently Clydesdale’s exit from business finance & zero GDP growth in 2012 when others were pencilling in + 1.5% !

Adding “Just as the Avocet became extinct as a breeding bird through shooting & indifference, the SME in spite of its importance to the economy, arguably more than the much lobbied City contribution, has always been ignored & abused by

MARKETPLACE DIALOGUE “Just because a client or prospect is not active with Avocet at any specific time, does not mean we should ignore them…. The newsletter is therefore the perfect medium for keeping in touch &

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generating ‘surprise’ instructions after several years.

However we also publish Information Guides on subjects of interest to SMEs (publications on Sales Ledger Finance & Leasing have both had to be reprinted twice), & run a successful Business Owners Club (www.mercator-club.co.uk) where an SME owner can talk freely with fellow owners without running the gauntlet of life coaches etc which bedevil so many networking events” CURRENT MARKET TRENDS Whilst 2009 was the year for Avocet raising finance for SMEs to stay alive, 2012 has had some more encouraging features which seem set to continue into 2013: An epidemic of Business Valuations: often and unusually from owners preparing early for their exit – in one case 17 years early, so that the two entrepreneurs could properly mould their company according to their retirement ambitions and ensure no price realism gap 12 months from Sale !

MBOs & Business Sale instructions: Thatcher’s children having missed the boat for Exit in 2007/8 have returned to the market to sell up, often to a loyal & competent Management Team Growth Finance: ignoring the media induced gloom, there are businesses growing or seeking to grow & currently Avocet is helping 7 businesses raise in total just under £2m.

Roger’s final quote is “Ignore the doom & gloom & having recognised & sought to minimise the risk, grab the opportunity NOW whilst others continue to wait & miss the boat…. the South East economy is now definitely growing albeit at a slow trajectory” You can contact Roger on 01494 726173 or Email him at: roger.bibby@avocet-investments.com www.avocet-investments.com

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SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE YOUR MARKETING R.O.I. BY LINKING YOUR WEBSITES, ADVERTISING, E-MAIL AND DIRECT MAIL WITH CROSS MEDIA MARKETING. Part 4 of the story of Modern Direct Marketing. A successful mixed media campaign has to have a balanced blend of ingredients that are good for your wealth.

22

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B4 SERVICES Once the dominion of big brands and super budget black holes, Integrated marketing is a realistic possibility for SME’s.

Easier and cheaper than ever before integrating online and offline direct marketing is just the first step of fully integrated marketing communications, which is the process for managing customer relationships. Because integration is normally so difficult to do for large companies, due to silo based budgets and management protectionism of their budgets. The SME has a massive advantage in the marketplace to engage with their customers through different media.

Simultaneously capturing the attention of highly targeted individuals to start one to one conversations and then to convert into revenue. An integrated campaign synchronises the impact of communication to increase profitable relationships whilst reducing the overall cost of running a series of single channel campaigns.

The idea, art direction, writing, all fit into the single campaign thought, whilst each is

They were shown the same material twice – once using projection to reproduce the on-line, virtual experience, and once printed on cards to produce the physical experience. The scanners then measured activity in different areas of the brain, to assess how the processing of marketing messages was affected by the media used.

What once might have seemed a novel concept, thoroughly integrated campaigns have become a key part of today’s marketing landscape. Today’s consumers see brand messages echoed across so many different channels that it’s difficult to imagine a time when the majority of marketing campaigns were platform specific.

The results turned out to be surprisingly simple: The “real”, physical materials caused a much deeper level of emotional processing than the virtual ones. This indicates that tangible materials are more likely to become embedded in memory, and because they also generate more emotion they’re more likely to provoke positive brand associations.

In an integrated campaign, the ads, direct mail, public relations, and all other aspects of a campaign must be consistent in tone. After all, the goal is to achieve a seamless communication with the audience that extends across a variety of channels. But for an integrated campaign to be great, it takes more than just consistent messaging across the board. Today’s best campaigns do more than just repeat themselves. A truly excellent integrated campaign takes the multiplatform approach to the next level by using each channel to feed into an overarching story.

It’s clear that virtual media allow you to connect better on a one-to-one basis. And consumers enjoy interacting with them, but for keeping your message top of mind, nothing beats mixing our senses to form a better memory and better engagement. Using the power of the internet and digital media to reach a larger audience allowing you to start a

Looking at the entire communication cycle will help you deliver a good brand or product story, breaking it down from the simplest forms of

“Integrated campaigns are no longer just mirrors of the same message repeated in different channels. Rather, each channel feeds into a greater brand story.” adjusted for the relevant media type. Timing and planning is the key to success, by ensuring that all forms of communications and messages are carefully linked together to deliver sustained exposure to your brand or product. If you just consider one aspect of integration to be direct mail, it is proven to boost your return by up to 26%. A comprehensive study discovered that adding DM to the marketing mix pushed ROI up from £2.81 to £3.40 for every pound spent. But not just the financial aspects are affected, emotional engagement has been proven to be significantly affected just by the feel of paper in your hands.

The Royal Mail commissioned a research agency and wanted to understand whether there are any differences in the communications effectiveness of physical and virtual media. Working with scientists from the Centre of Experimental Psychology at Bangor University, research participants were hooked up and passed through medical-grade scanners, in a process derived from the scanning techniques used in modern hospitals.

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better one to one relationship, then doubling, tripling or quadrupling the communication channels and synchronising your message in a campaign is more likely to increase your conversions, and more likely to drive customers where you want them for the best result, a purchase, a quote, a dialogue.

So, where do you start?

As with all marketing you need to be clear on what you want to say and when you want to say it. Planning, planning, planning, is critical to coordinating your efforts.

Releasing a press article, followed up by an event and notifying your customers through the post, email, web page adverts, press adverts so they can register their interest on a landing page, phone call or response mechanism. A coupon in a mail pack that they send off that confirms the value and releases the code via email and mail that drives traffic to your website and causes purchases through cross-sell and upsell techniques.

the beginning, middle and end, to a chapter by chapter involvement.

After all a good story can be very compelling, especially if you can participate in it.

Integrated campaigns are no longer just mirrors of the same message being repeated in different channels. Rather, each channel feeds into a greater brand story. It’s no longer enough to simply hit a multitude of channels with “consistent messaging.”

Instead, marketers need to weave a branded tapestry in which each message contributes to a greater whole, with each message acting as a smaller piece of a greater story.

With more tools at marketers’ fingertips than ever before, the ability to build a brand story is only getting easier. And as digital technologies gain increased acceptance among consumers, the capabilities of each platform can only expand. www.firstmove.co.uk

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YOU CAN MIX BUSINESS AND PLEASURE! Michael Barratt tells B4 readers about an exciting new deveopment in High Wycombe Visiting a business client far from home can be a tiresome, boring and costly exercise, especially if it means staying overnight for several days – or even weeks. Most hotels are expensive, lonely places.

And “budget” hostelries are not exactly holiday homes!

But if you’re scheduled to do business for a spell

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in High Wycombe and district, there’s a remarkable new opportunity to turn a tiresome stay into something more like a welcome break, truly a home from home.

Too good to be true? Not a bit of it. I’ve just been to the offices of Risk Management Security Services in the Old Courthouse – and in this listed historic

building I found spanking new apartments which really do offer the prospect of a pleasurable stay.

They’re fully serviced and beautifully designed with luxurious modern furniture which would grace the most exclusive holiday homes – really comfy double beds, spacious lounges with every conceivable technical aid including WiFi, broadband

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B4 PROPERTY

and multi-channel television. The kitchen would please the most fastidious chef and visitors will find a welcome pack with basics like bread and milk waiting for them when they arrive.

And, as you might expect from the Risk management, there’s the most technically advanced security round the clock and a car park under permanent CCTV observation.

But luxury living (at a remarkably low cost – cheaper even than most “budget” apartments) is not the only advantage, because the location of the Courthouse means that there’s a plethora of places to visit within the shortest of walks into the town centre – theatre, cinema, health club facilities,

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“as you might expect from the Risk management, there’s the most technically advanced security round the clock and a car park under permanent CCTV observation”

a huge shopping centre and both Morrisons and Sainsburys supermarkets close at hand.

It¹s not only the visiting business person who¹s bound to be attracted by the Courthouse Apartments local companies will surely jump at the opportunity to secure lets for a variety of periods to accommodate their clients or short-stay staff.

Having spent a large part of my professional life “overnighting” on television assignments, I looked at these apartments with envy. I could have actually enjoyed staying there if they’d been available in my day! www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk

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B4 ADVICE

IS YOUR BUSINESS READY FOR RTI AND AUTO-ENROLMENT? From April 2012, HMRC is introducing RTI (Real-Time Information) which will radically change payroll procedures for all businesses. B4 gets the lowdown from The Fish Partnership.

RTI will require all employers to start providing employee PAYE, National Insurance and Student Loan information to HMRC at point of payment every month and not just at year end as currently.

Described as one of the most fundamental changes to payroll reporting requirements in the past five decades, RTI is set to come into effect in less than six months, but Buckinghamshire chartered accountants The Fish Partnership are warning businesses of being unprepared for the change.

Paul Laird, a partner at The Fish Partnership, which is based in High Wycombe, said: “It is of great concern when we read that many small businesses are unaware of the introduction of RTI and how it will affect their business, let alone prepared for it.

“As an employer, you will continue to give your employee a form P45 when they leave but you no longer send forms P45 or P46 to HMRC

”

“The introduction of RTI is the most significant change in payroll reporting to have been introduced in 50 years, and will mean employers will need to take more time to submit information to HMRC. “If you're an employer, each time you pay an employee you will need to submit deductions, such as Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) and starter and leaver dates if applicable.

“You will need to include the details of all employees you pay, including those who earn below the NICs Lower Earnings Limit (LEL), while an employer will no longer submit an end of year return (forms P35 and P14) and the starter

26

and leaver process is simplified.

“As an employer, you will continue to give your employee a form P45 when they leave but you no longer send forms P45 or P46 to HMRC - instead you must submit all starter and leaver information as part of the Full Payment Submission (FPS).

“There will also be an automatic penalty regime for those employers who fail to comply.”

Companies already reporting in real time will not be affected by the change, neither will those who outsource their payroll.

Fellow partner at the firm Martin Sheehy says that those businesses that do their own payroll, may benefit from outsourcing to firms like The Fish Partnership.

“The upcoming challenge of transition to RTI may mean that businesses find they need to outsource their payroll functions to an external company, like ourselves,” he said.

“By outsourcing, companies will be removed from the administrative burdens associated with RTI, allowing them the time to concentrate on their own business affairs, while also reducing overheads.

“Payroll bureaus have the flexibility to deal with changes in payroll regulations, offering cost-conscious, affordable results, with services customised to meet clients’ specific needs.”

Paul is also reminding firms of their obligations under Auto-Enrolment – the new government scheme launched from October 1 this year where all employees will need to be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme.

“Employers need to be reminded about the current Auto-Enrolment process

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that began a few months ago, starting with the biggest companies with more than 120,000 or more employees,” he said.

Paul is warning businesses of the dangers of not complying with the new legislation.

“Employees aged between 22 and State Pension Age who work in the UK and earn over £8,105 per annum will need to be enrolled into an existing scheme, a newly set-up scheme, use the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) or through a combination approach.

“If you have eligible employees then you will have to take action,” he says.

“Other employees can also ask to be enrolled, and all employees have the right to opt-out or cease pension scheme membership.”

The auto-enrolment process must be repeated every three years for those that opt-out, but employers are to be given flexibility around the date they en-role employees by allowing a six month window for this activity.

Minimum employer and employee contributions are based on qualifying earnings (in 2012/13 terms between £5,564 and £42,475 including bonuses, commissions etc) and will be increased in line with a statutory instrument set up by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

The minimum contribution is phased from 2012 to 2018 and rising from 2% in October 2012 to 8% in October 2017 onwards.

The minimum contribution rate is:

“Failure to do so will result in stiff penalties, if you do not heed an initial warning, and a wake-up call of a fixed £400 fine. Persistent offenders will be fined based on number of employees, starting at £50 for one to four employees rising to

“If you have eligible employees then you will have to take action, Failure to do so will result in stiff penalties

”

£5,000 per day for more than 250 employees.”

The Fish Partnership can guide you through both processes, ensuring you are not caught out by the changes.

“We would urge anyone who may be affected by the changes to contact an expert accountant to discuss how you can make your business compliant with the new legislation,” said Martin.

October 2012 to September 2016

October 2016 to September 2017

October 2017 onwards

To find out more about RTI and Auto Enrolment contact experts at The Fish Partnership now.

Total

2%

5%

8%

For more information visit www.fishpartnership.co.uk

Employer

1%

2%

3%

Employee

0.80%

2.40%

4%

Tax Relief

0.20%

0.60%

1%

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27

B4 ADVICE

DO FAMILY AND FRIENDS MAKE GOOD BUSINESS PARTNERS? Over a fifth of all the UK's businesses are family-owned. Together, they employ more than nine million people and make a multi-billion pound contribution to the country’s coffers. Article by Simon Deans.

Indeed, research shows that family businesses have the highest levels of staff loyalty and job satisfaction and, despite the economic downturn, many have demonstrated solid growth which they are set to build on over the next five years.

The flip side of all this positive news is that family-run businesses are sometimes accused of inefficiency and favoritism as family members earn fast-track promotion and are given a longer leash than their hard-working colleagues.

The same can apply equally well to companies set up with friends, where the lines become blurred between working relationships and good friendships, with either side sometimes afraid to stand on too many toes.

Simon Deans, partner and practice group leader in the corporate and commercial team at leading Buckinghamshire and Thames Valley law firm B P Collins LLP, says while familiarity can help build loyalty and success, it’s important to have the legal niceties fully in place.

“Legally speaking, family businesses or those set up with friends are no different to any other business and the basic rules still apply,” he said.

“The difference is that there tends to be a much greater element of trust and less formality, which can cause problems if relationships sour or expectations are not met.

“It can be very difficult to step back and say ‘what are the things that could possibly go wrong’, there is a tendency to do less advance planning and to think everything in the garden is rosy for much longer.

“It’s important too to keep your ‘business head’ on at all times and not let your judgment be clouded because you are working with those close to you. With family especially, it’s

28

important to balance personal feelings and emotion with the needs of the business.

“In addition, family businesses need to make sure they promote the right people into the right jobs rather than rely on family ties; it can be much more difficult to remain objective and in turn that can affect other working relationships.”

He warns that very often people aren’t always aware of the wider range of issues involved in setting up a company. These can range from agreeing contracts with suppliers and other stakeholders, potential liability to third parties, leases for premises, employment contracts, national insurance payments and shareholder agreements. All these things have a price tag

“It’s important too to keep your ‘business head’ on at all times and not let your judgment be clouded because you are working with those close to you

”

attached, so are easy to put off, but the potential cost of sorting out a dispute is usually far greater.

It is the shareholder or partnership relationship which is one of the most important starting points. It is essential to consider early on the distinction between income, capital value and control, thus ensuring clarity around the participants' objectives. A formal agreement will not only outline what happens if one

shareholder wishes to leave and sell his or her shares, or what happens on death or divorce; but also deal with other related issues, such as if one shareholder later feels he or she is making a superior contribution which is not being recognised.

Without this and other key business agreements in place, the lack of formality and processes in place can have a major impact on the future sale of any business.

Simon warns that, with a greatly reduced funding pot in the market and greater caution, potential buyers will easily be put off if the structure isn’t fully in order.

“The number of deals being undertaken is far lower than pre-recession and where they are happening the buyers are going through very serious due diligence; if the processes aren’t there then they get nervous more quickly and it doesn’t take a lot for the deal to fall through,” he said.

When relationships go wrong Close family relationships, such as a husband and wife led business or civil partners working together can further complicate the issue, and Simon says it makes sense to plan for a variety of scenarios, from separation or divorce, to incapacity or death.

“If a relationship breaks down and each individual is a shareholder, it can have a catastrophic impact on the business,” he said.

“Equally, if the worst happens to the owners and they lose their lives together in an accident there will inevitably be a lot of employees and other individuals depending on that business for their livelihood.”

One solution is key man insurance, which ensures the business has enough capital to

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“If a relationship breaks down and each individual is a shareholder, it can have a catastrophic impact on the business

”

continue to function or cross option insurance to enable someone else – possibly another family member or trusted members of the management team – to buy into the company.

Is a trust a good idea for a family business?

At some point though, business owners do have to consider their own mortality and it's at this time many think about putting their business into a trust structure, particularly where other family members are interested in continuing the business.

This can be a wise move as it divorces the ownership from the business and allows family members to benefit from the business’s continued success, without having to actually be involved in the business.

Anyone considering such a move will need to consider carefully the tax implications of various alternatives and the trustees will need to recognise that there can be greater elements of risk for them.

They will have a duty to their beneficiaries and can find themselves split between doing what is right for the business and what is right for the benefit of the shareholders.

“If you are a business owner or have shares in a private business, and you are talking to an adviser about estate planning or private wealth planning, which might include putting your shares into trust, then our advice is make sure you have a corporate lawyer involved as well,” he concluded. www.bpcollins.co.uk Simon Deans - Partner, Practice Group Leader

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Photography: Andrew Gleed

It is the trustees’ responsibility to evaluate the risks and decide on the course of action which best serves their beneficiaries, and they need to know the extent of their legal exposure especially if, for example, the company is being sold and warranties need to be given.

High Wycombe to London Marylebone from ÂŁ6 one-way *

Plus 2FOR1 entry to 100’s of top London attractions including Madame Tussauds, Tower of London and more.

B4 R&R

THE TREE AT CADMORE END IS BLOOMING Renowned for unusually offering both Indian and European mouth-watering dishes on its menu, the Tree Hotel at Cadmore End has now added Jazz nights with Tim Dawes as a string to their bow.

With their international Sunday buffet and curry nights hugely popular, this year the Tree Hotel at Cadmore End also started offering traditional curry take-away tiffins for lovers of Indian food and for the eco-conscious.

Television and radio presenter, Paul Ross who regularly comes to the Tree Hotel at Cadmore End says: “Tiffins - delicious, value for money and environmentally friendly. Get yourself along to the Tree at Cadmore End – it’s so much cheaper and tastier than a normal takeaway for two.”

for the business accommodation package, perfect for colleagues who have travelled for an overnight stop and want home from home accommodation.

The hotel is offering event and meeting organisers a package which includes a three course dinner, overnight accommodation and a full English breakfast. Rates start from £85 per person inclusive of VAT. A recent survey conducted by the Tree Hotel at Cadmore End showed that quality of food came out on top in determining where the general public want to go to eat (94%) followed by price at 67%.

Kavita Pal, Managing Director of the Tree Hotel at Cadmore End who has been running restaurants for over 10 years says: “The demand for quality food has not wavered through the recession, in fact, to keep customers in this economic climate you have to ensure you keep your returning loyal customers as well as attract new business.

Although price doesn’t top the list, customers are being careful with their money especially with expensive months like December coming up!”

The survey also showed that eating seasonal food is important to over 50% of people with only 5%

“The demand for quality food has not wavered through the recession, in fact, to keep

customers in this economic climate you have to ensure you keep your returning loyal customers as well as attract new business

”

Hotel room bookings online have also increased by 14% in the last two years at the picturesque venue near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. The growth in business comes at a time when owners, the Omshanti Group, have just opened new hotel, Bocardo, which occupies two floors above Jamie’s Italian in Oxford.

Business customers also receive an exclusive rate www.b4-business.com

Searching online for offers has become customary with 82% of people looking online for offers some or most of the time and 90% of people often viewing a new restaurant’s website before going.

With a third of respondents eating out four or more times a month and a huge 89% of people trying a new restaurant at least once every six months there is increased competition to get new customers in and convert them into regulars.

saying it was of no importance. Over 70% of people think a restaurant should change its menu quarterly. Customers are also much more aware of where the food is sourced as the survey showed that 80% of people would like to eat sustainably sourced fish in a restaurant. http://cadmore.treehotel.co.uk

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“I have seen so many people resisting change. If they would simply accept that change is now our only constant, the misspent energy could be put to better use�

Elton Boocock - Urban Media

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www.b4-business.com

B4 SPOTLIGHT

CHANGE

IS THE NEW STABILITY It doesn’t seem that long ago that everything was stable, when you could rely on things to remain the same; an era when you could have a ‘job for life’, but now it has all changed. We speak to Elton Boocock, Internet Marketer for the last 15 years about change. His company Urban Media has embraced change and is seeing the benefits.

How do you embrace change and why do we all need to?

Firstly, let’s answer the question of whether we all need to. I have a builder friend. Our worlds could not be further apart. My industry changes every month, whilst laying bricks (in his words) has not changed since the Romans. So why does he need to embrace change? Well, he may be laying bricks in the same way, but how do you find work when the Yellow pages is no longer used by the majority of people? The local newspaper is seldom scanned, so you need to be online. You need a website and you need to be on the top of Google, but even that is not enough. Now we have social media and whilst it may not be the first place a builder may think of attracting work, we all like to get a referral and social media is actually the perfect place for this.

It is the new word of mouth!

Regardless of how hi-tech or lo-tech our industry is; we need to embrace changes on many levels. This is easier said than done. I would say the first thing is to accept the fact. It sounds simple, but I have seen so many people resisting change. If they would simply accept that change is now our only constant, the misspent energy could be put to better use. So, step one is to genuinely come to terms with how life is going to be. It will be changing and changing at an ever faster pace. The only way to avoid this is to get out! For most of us, that is either not an option or we are not ready to ‘get out’ just yet.

It may help to look for the opportunity in change. We have recently acquired a website design company in Wiltshire to increase our reach as a result of that business owner deciding it is time to move on from this constant pace of change. This has meant a big change for us, but it’s also a big opportunity. There is a big element of learning new things. I would be open enough to say at times it has been like the swan; calm above the water, paddling frantically

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below, but that is good. We have been able to bring new and better solutions to clients as a result and that means opportunity.

Your own industry is renowned for change, how do you cope with that?

It is easier to be in an industry that is consistently changing than to be in need of an industry that is consistently changing. For us, it is just a way of life. We know that next year Google will change its algorithm (way of creating its listings) over 500 times again, just as it has for many years so far. We know that social media will change too. 12 months ago, Google+ and Pinterest were not on the radar for a lot of people. Because we get into a pattern of continual research, we stay on top of all of this change. The challenge, I believe, is if you need to use these mediums but it is not your industry. How people stay up to date and carry out their day job is more of a challenge.

You have 2 choices and neither is easy. You can choose to try and stay on top of it all or outsource to an internet marketing company.

The former means hours of your time attempting to stay up to date, filtering all of the information, misinformation and plethora of experts. The latter needs budget and you still need to choose. To give some idea, we have specialists within internet marketing to break the subject down even further. We have specialists for Pay per Click, Natural Search Optimisation (SEO), YouTube marketing, Facebook, Twitter etc. etc. So, just finding an internet marketing company isn’t enough. All of this makes your decision hard. The simple answer is to take up references. We can all present our best case studies, talk to someone’s existing clients.

more emphasis on social media. Google will continue to dominate and most people will get more actual business through Google search than on social media, but your social media presence will affect your Google positions. This means it is no longer optional!

People right now are ignoring Google+ as it seems irrelevant and just another social network. Go against the tide on this one.

Remember, it is owned by Google. Resistance is futile. If you want good Google results, make friends with Google. The same can be said for YouTube. This is also owned by Google and it’s no coincidence that Google shows video in its main search listings.

Mobile will become even bigger in 2013. It is now really important that your website is mobile friendly. You will hear more people saying things like ‘responsive design’ or ‘mobile website’. This simply means that your website works really well on a mobile device. Currently 60% of all web page views take place on a mobile device.

I expect that to increase in 2013.

Outside of internet marketing, I think there will be an increase in those that have weathered the storm for too long and are choosing to shut up shop. This is another change that brings opportunity for those still in the game. We are actively looking for more acquisitions and expect there to be plenty of opportunity in 2013.

The main thing is to see change as a positive thing. Embrace it as the way business is going to be from now on and find in it, energy, not pressure. www.urbanmedia.co.uk

What do you see as the major changes ahead?

2013 will be a really interesting year. In terms of internet marketing, there will be more and

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B4 SERVICES

L to R: Matthew Ruddle - Customer Service Director intouch crm, James White - CEO intouch crm and Giles Brandreth - Guest Speaker/Presenter

AND THE WINNER IS?

Intouch CRM wins The Software Satisfaction Award: Best Small Business CRM System, at this years Software Satisfaction Awards. Article by James White - CEO intouchcrm Well, knock me down with a feather! We won the best small business CRM system award at The Software Satisfaction Awards this year. A huge accolade not only from the industry but also from our customers.

The Software Satisfaction Awards are voted on by users of the system, so this means we had tremendous feedback from our customers that put us in first place for the Best Small Business CRM system of the year.

To say that I was touched by the recognition from our customers doesn’t really reflect the feelings of gratitude I have.

At Intouch CRM we are totally customer focused and it’s a delight that our users recognise that.

As a UK based software company we are often compared to much larger US based providers with very deep pockets and fancy marketing programs.

We spend our time finding out from our users what they like about the Intouch CRM system and more importantly, what they want us to spend time improving.

Our latest release of the system was based solely around user feedback and features they wanted to see included in the software. We took all the feedback on board and set the developers a task of integrating as many of the customer requests as they could in the latest release of Intouch CRM. So if you are a user of the system or are thinking www.b4-business.com

of adding the benefits of a comprehensive small business marketing platform and CRM system to your business, then you can be assured that here at Intouch we listen to our users, take their feedback on board and get our heads down to make sure we are constantly improving the system to deliver what our customers want.

The Software Satisfaction Award is a nationally recognised award so the prestige from winning it will have huge benefits for our business and means we now have a truly independent testimonial about

“At Intouch CRM we are totally customer focused and it’s a delight that our users recognise that

”

the value of our system. We are lucky to have regular feedback coming into the office telling us how much users like the system, which is very much appreciated.

However, having an independent validation to all the work we are doing is a big pat on the back for all the team here at Intouch CRM. One of the key elements that meant we pipped the competition to the post for the award this year, was the usability of the system and how easily customers and in particular new customers, could

start making use of the huge range of tools in the system. For us here at Intouch CRM, usability is a key factor to giving your customers a delightful experience.

The Intouch marketing system and CRM tool has a huge range of features, including robust email marketing, text message marketing tools, survey tools, calendar and task management to name just a few. Making these intuitive to all users, is a constant challenge and we are always looking at ways to help our users get the most from the system as quickly as possible.

In support of this goal we are developing a comprehensive learning resource that not only helps customers get the most from the system as quickly as possible but also means that we are able to share some of the knowledge we have developed on what marketing tools and strategies work best. Think of it as a Marketing Masterclass.

We will let you know as soon as we are ready to launch.

We like to think that it is effort and ideas like this, helping our customers become more successful that played a factor in us winning this award.

So to all our customers and fans we wish you a prosperous end to 2012 and a hugely successful 2013 from all of us here at the ‘Award Winning’ small business CRM system of the year! www.intouchcrm.co.uk

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Pauline Odulinski and Ruth Farwell with business leaders and HRH Prince Andrew at Aylesbury College for the lunch with business leaders

CREATING CLIENT FUTURES BUSINESS AND EDUCATION WORKING TOGETHER

Business and education partnerships are quickly becoming a key driver in both the attractiveness of areas for inward investment and for creating a one-stop shop for the delivery of education, skills and research needs.

The development of a partnership between Bucks New University and Aylesbury College is lighting the way in this exciting new frontier. The partnership has become attractive to businesses as it provides a skills and education escalator through all levels of education from certificates to research degrees, delivering a range of education programmes, skills development activities, research, enterprise, shared service options and a wide range of other products and services.

By linking with District and County Councils, the UK Trade & Industry (UKTI), Bucks Business First, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Chamber of Commerce, the partnership has become a key driver in encouraging businesses to move to the area. A number of major companies have visited Buckinghamshire recently, with a view

to setting up either head or ancillary offices in the county, and the University and College, as well as the new Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) offer was high on the agenda.

In November, a delegation of UKTI representatives visited Buckinghamshire to look at the opportunities for ICT companies. They visited Centroid at Pinewood and One Media Publishing.

The delegation also visited the University, where the partnership pitched the many reasons for working together with local education establishments, which can make employment a more attractive proposition for both new employees and those already working for the company.

Business engagement is a top priority for the College and University. Prof Chris Kemp, Pro Vice

Chancellor at the University and Director of Business Engagement at Aylesbury College, said: “In today’s changing education sector, institutions can no longer rely on Government funding to bring in income and must develop a diverse range of income sources to survive.”

Prof Kemp’s answer to this change in funding mechanisms is to market a portfolio of products and services to companies and local authorities, which meet their needs in a changing political and economic environment.

The development of Buckinghamshire UTC has been pivotal in the creation of major partnerships to provide integrated delivery to companies in the mobile phone, computing and construction sectors.

The UTC has attracted Taylor Wimpey, McAfee, CISCO, Esri (UK), Hewlett Packard and Microsoft to

Andrew Freeth and Lisa Rendell of Aylesbury College with Rodney Mallinson Chairman of the FSB South Buckinghamshire and Aylesbury Branch, and David Knowles-Leak, FSB Regional Chairman at the launch of the Bucks Business Hub

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www.b4-business.com

B4 EDUCATION

Sarah Newell with the Hospitality Apprentices with the WOW awards

name but a few of the myriad of companies battering down the doors to be partners with this new development by the Government which offers a new concept in education. Beverley Flanagan, Principal of the UTC, said: “The development of a more vocational education, creating students who are ready for work, has captured the imagination of some major companies who are investing time and money in supporting this new development.”

Buckinghamshire UTC is one of the first thirteen UTCs to be opened in the UK.

in any region, and for the College and University to join forces with a strong business bias can only be helpful to our cause.”

Both the Principal of the College, Pauline Odulinski, and the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Ruth Farwell, have worked tirelessly to create this departure from the traditional education and skills focus. The aim is to create a new type of school for 14-19 year olds which presses all of the Government and BIS buttons and will continue to support Buckinghamshire’s claim as the entrepreneurial heart of Britain.

who are ready for work, has captured the imagination of some major companies”

The development of a more focused push to attract large companies and SMEs has come at an important time for Buckinghamshire, with Bucks Business First and the LEP driving both inward investment and the business sustainability agenda.

Phillippa Batting, CEO of BBF and the LEP said: “Education is one of the most important activities

Andrew Freeth and Lisa Rendell at Aylesbury College are also launching a Business Hub to attract SMEs in the area to use a purpose built centre where they can host meetings and utilise a range of business services including a library and wifi internet access. For a small fee, a business can access all of these services for a year. By providing

The College and University are working with both BBF and the LEP on a series of projects to attract more business into Buckinghamshire and to ensure that any existing business has the chance to grow and be sustainable.

“creating students

such services, educational institutions can get the best from their business links and establish client needs as they move forward in partnership. In this way, businesses can offer the institution support and guidance in what they do, as well as activities that benefit the institution and its staff and students.

One area where there is a huge resurgence of interest is Apprenticeships. With the development of the Higher Apprenticeship scheme, which enables those in the workplace to attain a higher qualification whilst working, there are now a series of possibilities for businesses in obtaining and developing their employees’ skills. Sarah Newall, who runs the apprentice scheme at Aylesbury College, said: “We now have a range of delivery mechanisms across the vocational sector where we can support the development of business employees from the first level right through to the highest levels.”

Prof Kemp concludes: “It is this type of development that is revolutionising the education sector and the partnership between Aylesbury College and Bucks New University is at its cutting edge.” www.aylesbury.ac.uk

Chris Kemp working with sport and business in his role as a board member of Bucks Sport

www.b4-business.com

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ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR EXPOSURE UNDER CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER LAWS? Employers face unlimited fines, or even prison, over crashes involving company car drivers. New B4 Platinum Ambassadors, Ultimate Car Control, specialise in empowering drivers of high performance vehicles with a level of car control that is unsurpassed, worldwide.

Did you know that?: 1. The number of business drivers involved in fatal road accidents EVERY YEAR is 1,000. 2. The number of cars crashed whilst being driven for business use every single day of the year is 150. 3. The chance of a fatal road accident happening for every 25,000 miles driven is just 1 in 8,000.

4. The potential fine for your company if convicted under the new Corporate Manslaughter Bill is unlimited. 5. The potential prison sentence for negligence in discharging duty of care under the Health & Safety at Work Act is two years.

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The Answer - Advanced driver training courses specifically designed for senior executives, VIPs and those with access to high performance vehicles Ultimate Car Control specialises in empowering drivers of high performance vehicles with a level of car control that is unsurpassed, worldwide. We teach advanced driving techniques that allow you to remain in control of your vehicle, reacting safely and confidently, even in extreme circumstances. This level of

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B4 SPOTLIGHT skill becomes instinctive - we call it Driver Encoded Knowledge. The courses have been designed for all those with access to high performance motor cars, including not just owners, but immediate friends and family as well, ensuring all are able to approach their driving with the required skill and competence to remain safe at all times.

a lot more than I had expected, the course was very powerful at showing me the legal side of running a business and having company car drivers without coming across as being a lecture. We are changing our processes and transport policy as a result! Great fun with some very interesting facts and a great time with some very experienced and professional drivers.”

Respected lawyers and business risk insurance experts working in the field of road safety agree that the unique Ultimate Car Control system provides you and your business with the maximum possible protection.

UCC founder, Robb Gravett, has a unique driving sensitivity and awareness that has been developed from his many years of highly successful racing at the forefront of motorsport worldwide. Robb is a former British Touring Car Champion and winner of numerous races and car championships across the world.

“empowering drivers of high performance vehicles with a level of car control that is unsurpassed, worldwide

”

Four lucky B4 Ambassadors spent a day with Ultimate Car Control, and CIS’s Richard Marsh certainly derived maximum benefit. “The Ultimate Car Control course I was invited on with the B4 was a real eye opener! Like most busy business people I am guilty of multi-tasking in the car and although I like to think I am a good driver, and capable of handling speed, I certainly learned

www.b4-business.com

Years of success at the top of international motorsport has meant Robb has been able to reinvest his skills to develop a series of unique training programmes to protect drivers at every level of risk. The courses are incredibly empowering and provide the driver with the skills required to be able to react and adapt to the critical motions of car control.

Full course details at www.ultimate-dek.co.uk

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Oxfordshire is guaranteed to get everyone thinking Meet Oxfordshire is the first point of contact for anyone considering the county for a meeting, conference or event. Our services include free venue finding and accommodation bookings.

www.meetoxfordshire.com contact us now call 01608 731802 Follow us on Twitter @meetoxfordshire

news The Racecourse Newbury fascinating facts HRH The Queen celebrated her 86th Birthday at Newbury’s Dubai Duty Free Weekend. She’s a regular at the racecourse.

Jessie J’s Party In The Paddock concert brought a record crowd of 28,000 people this summer.

The world’s most expensive racehorse Frankel claimed victory in the Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury this April by a clear five lengths.

The Grandstand has a whopping 1000m² of pillar free floor space and a five metre high ceiling, ideal

for product launches, presentations and exhibitions.

The prestigious Royal Box is available as a meeting space and for weddings hosting up to 48 guests.

In 2012 the racecourse has launched three newly refurbished areas, the Champagne Hall, Wine Cellar and Beer and Banker.

The face of the Olympic Games Clare Balding launched her new autobiography at the racecourse on 22nd September.

When Bond came to Newbury The Racecourse Newbury has been giving wannabe Bonds the chance to have a trial run at its themed Christmas Parties which brought Casino Royal to life in the Grandstand.

Guests were transported into their very own Hollywood reality with a Vodka Martini on arrival and the chance to try their luck at the roulette tables before sitting down to a four course Christmas Dinner cooked by the in-house chef team. Guests

came licensed to thrill in fancy dress and prizes were awarded for the best dressed Bond, Bond Girl and Bond Villain.

If you missed out on this year’s extravaganza and would like to be amongst the first to hear about next year’s theme, register your interest for Christmas 2013 by emailing: Christmas@racecoursenewbury.co.uk

Take over The Racecourse for your next conference 2012 saw the refurbishment of several key event spaces in the Hampshire Stand making it available as a three level meeting and conference space.

racecourse. The Hennessy, with a capacity of up to 250 people, offers an outstanding venue whether it is for a reception, a meeting and/or a dining experience.

Guests can be greeted in the Champagne Hall, a 126.76m² stylish, light and open space with minimalist and stylish decor, perfect for a reception for up to 500 standing before the main meeting takes place in the iconic Hennessy on the second floor. Its three glass walls provide spectacular panoramic view of the beautiful Berkshire countryside, as well as a complete view across the

Delegates can finish the day with networking in the new intimate space offered in the Wine Cellar. A, 241.96m² cosy room with authentic Hennessy cognac vintage prints graphics, sophisticated and smart furnishings and paintwork, as well as its own wine cellar located behind its spectacular wrought iron gates, the cellar is sure to be the place to relax and reflect on the events of the day.

Grand events in the Grandstand For larger meetings and exhibitions, the Grandstand provides three floors of flexible event space. This is perfectly placed to host 3001,000 people for exhibitions, conferences and award dinners.

This is further complemented by the 300 acres of surrounding Berkshire countryside in the grounds of

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the racecourse, ideal for teambuilding events after the main event. Newbury’s location on the M4 corridor makes this ideal for bringing different company divisions from around the UK together.

For more information please call the Event Team: Amanda Ellis 01635 39671, Anna Warner 01635 39651

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B4 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE DELIVERS RESULTS FOR LONDON & COUNTIES OFFICE SUPPLIES Paul Milbourn, Managing Director of London & Counties Office Supplies, talks to Richard Rosser about the satisfying results achieved from his appearance in the last edition of B4 Buckinghamshire.

Following the responses from our article in B4 Buckinghamshire Issue 2, I am very pleased to be able to report that we gained several pieces of new business from the companies that responded to our Office Supplies Survey.

Without exception, the completed surveys showed that the Companies who took part were paying too much for their office supplies and they were very pleasantly surprised at the savings we were able to achieve for them. The good news is that these savings now benefit their bottom lines rather than those of their previous suppliers.

Some Companies taking part questioned how we could be so competitive and the answer is simply because of our group buying power which we can and do pass on to our customers.

The other main attraction was our ISO 9001 Quality Management and ISO 14001 Environmental accreditations which were considered to be added bonuses showing that not only are we well run but that our business also cares for the planet.

Many of these companies wished to receive confirmation that we performed in a consistent and reliable manner and that we would not increase our prices as soon as we had won their business.

However, after having been assured by speaking to some of our long term customers, we were able to set up their trading accounts in order to allow them to begin to enjoy the considerable savings we can deliver.

Our customers benefit from our sophisticated and comprehensive online ordering system which makes placing orders and keeping control of their budgets very simple.. It also allows multi-location customers to set spending restrictions if required and to generate a suite of reports to show the products purchased by and delivered to individual cost centres and locations in the country – in short, the perfect information for busy Owners, Finance Directors and Facilities Managers.

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However, London & Counties is much more than a stationery company. Our range also includes Inkjet & Toner Cartridges, Catering & Janitorial Supplies, Office Machines, Furniture, Business Seating, Printing and Promotional Merchandise so that our customers need only one supplier to assist in the running of their total office supply chain. Using just one supplier consolidates their purchasing power to gain better pricing and reduces their internal and normally “hidden” operating costs.

“If you are interested in exploring the potential savings you could be making, please take the time to contact us, complete our survey, and we will be pleased to get back to you with the good news

”

We know that generally people are busy running their businesses and do not seem to have the time or inclination to review and analyse their office supplies expenditure. However, by using the London & Counties Survey, it is quite a painless process and the results invariably show considerable savings potential and a feeling of being valued by their supplier rather than just being seen as another account number.

Our Office Supplies Survey The London & Counties Survey will only take up to 45 minutes of your time and won’t cause any disruption to your normal business routines. It is completely free of charge and we guarantee 100% confidentiality The Survey is key to seeing exactly what business benefits your organisation can capture and will involve us conducting a comprehensive study of your Company’s business supplies purchases, services and usage during the previous six to twelve months.

Our proposal Within 10 days of completing the Survey, we will provide you with a comprehensive personalised report detailing the benefits and savings you can make. Based on our survey findings, the Proposal will explain how our cost reduction system will drive down your costs and maximise workplace performance. We guarantee that we will offer you tangible savings and operational controls that can be implemented without a loss of quality or service.

At London & Counties, we are committed to working with our Clients for the long term, not just the first order and we have the depth of experience and range of products to meet all business supply needs. As you will discover, consolidating all your product and services requirements to one supplier will not only save you money, but it will also enable you to become much more efficient.

For more information, please call 01494 791 221 or e-mail paul@lacosltd.co.uk www.lacosltd.co.uk

Make it your New Year’s Resolution to save money on your Office Supplies requirements.

If you are interested in exploring the potential savings you could be making, please take the time to contact us, complete our survey and we will be pleased to get back to you with the good news. www.b4-business.com

B4 SERVICES

“At London &

Photography: Andrew Gleed

Counties, we are committed to working with our Clients for the long term, not just the first order�

www.b4-business.com

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HERE AT THIRDWAVE, WE ASK: IS SANTA CLAUS THE IDEAL EMPLOYER? Thirdwave’s Tony Thomson tells B4 readers all about the business of being Santa Claus. Just how does he manage his business to deliver presents consistently year on year?

Looking briefly at Santa Claus’ business, it is clear that he has a very unusual business model. The business can be split logically into • Market research • Manufacturing • Distribution While this all seems fairly normal, when the business is analysed in detail, it is not even remotely normal. The first thing we note is that the market research is conducted in the utmost secrecy - so secret that even parents have no idea who is involved. Secondly, the manufacturing, which ostensibly occurs at the North Pole, is vast in breadth of items manufactured and in volume, yet it is not visible from any satellite or other surveillance system. Even more incredible is the fact that there are no external signs of transportation to and from the site nor is there any visible transportation infrastructure. Yet based on the sheer quantity of goods manufactured, there must be thousands of truck loads of raw materials arriving every day. Then, as the goods are manufactured, the storage requirement must be beyond comprehension, yet on the one day a year when delivery occurs, every present arrives at the right place at the right time. St Nick gets it right all the time! It is interesting to spend some time analysing his business model.

Market research How does St Nicholas, (Santa Claus), gather information about every child throughout the year to make sure they have been good? And what exactly does he mean by ‘good’? Clearly he cannot be collecting this information by himself. He must have a large group of people monitoring and collecting data on every child in the world. At the same time, these people must be totally nonintrusive or we would know exactly who they are.

So, St Nick must have a covert army of millions of people whose only job is to monitor children’s behaviour. They must have qualifications in psychology or they would not be able to draw appropriate conclusions from the information they glean. So, what attracts them to the job and how does St Nick handle the inevitable churn in staff.

There must be a full time recruitment team whose job is to covertly solicit for CVs. There have to be a 44

huge number of these CVs and they all need to be read and checked before anyone is interviewed.

Once the CVs are read and people are invited for interview, how does St Nick manage the millions of rejection letters for those who are unsuccessful so that he can be assured that they don’t ‘let the cat out of the bag’ about what they have applied for?

Then, what about keeping the motivation of the market researcher’s who, being well qualified, must have other job offers all the time?

Manufacturing What about the elves? They must be engaged in manufacturing for the whole year to meet demand, but how do they know in sufficient time what toys and presents each child wants? Think about the logistics! How does St Nick keep a covert supply of

“how do they know in sufficient time what toys and presents each child wants? Think about the logistics!” goods flowing into the North Pole without his manufacturing premises being noticed? Google may have created an imaginary island, but this is a far more clever illusion since the size of St Nick’s manufacturing operation dwarfs the whole of the Chinese economy. How does he do it? There has never been a hint of any disputes, no industrial action, no unfair dismissal claims, no conflicts, no malcontents. He must have cracked the very essence of good management, while the rest of us are wallowing in our inadequacies. I would love to know what methods and processes he employs, to manage his workforce. What appraisal system does he use? How does he agree objectives with each elf in his work place, how does he ensure that he does not breach Elf and Safety regulations?

Distribution This is by far the most amazing part of St Nick’s business. He manages to deliver all the gifts to

every child in just one night using a simple sled pulled by reindeer. Here we have to believe that he uses similarly attired and shaped associates in an enormously well organised sleight of hand.

Thousands of people attired all the same and in identical sleds pulled by identical teams of reindeer must take some organisation. Manufacturing a spaceship or ocean liner must be child’s play by comparison! Yet once more, we never hear of any recruitment drives, and we never hear of any disgruntled or sacked employees. There are never any staffing problems, and the delivery is flawless year after year since the 16th century or earlier. An amazing feat of management!

Behind these key front-end business activities, there has to be an enormous team of supporters handling Administration, Manufacturing, Goods Inwards, Goods Outwards, Elfcare, Logistics, Recruitment, Purchasing, Quality Control, Bonded Warehouses, Transport, Corporate, Stabling for the Reindeer etc The list goes on and on, but here’s the most amazing thing - this is totally covert and makes the CIA or MI6 look like amateurs.

To get to this level of business while keeping everything under wraps must require a learning and development group that is second to none.

Everyone involved in St Nick’s business must be fully committed and totally reliable. They never seem to have any illnesses needing a sick note and they work tirelessly and willingly. They must be highly motivated and you simply have to conclude that Santa Claus must be one of the best employers on the planet and consequently must have excellent management systems in place.

While Thirdwave cannot guarantee that your management skills will be as good as St Nick’s, we can certainly help you get on the right track to good management, and who knows maybe your company will get to be as effective as St Nick’s.

So if you need to develop your staff, call Tony Thomson on Thirdwave. 01628 487 912, or email us on info@thirdwaveweb.co.uk www.thirdwaveweb.co.uk www.b4-business.com

Photography: Andrew Gleed

B4 SERVICES

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45

COUTTS B4 were invited to the Coutts branch in Oxford to meet Alan Higgins, the bank’s chief Investment officer for the UK and local client partner Maggie Bradley in advance of a Coutts client presentation at Said Business School. The key topics discussed were the Eurozone crisis and the outlook for the UK economy, with a particular focus on record low interest rates. By B4’s Richard Rosser and Lucy Holmes.

As his job title suggests, Alan is responsible for managing the UK-based investment portfolios at Coutts, although as a voting member on the Investment Strategy Committee, he also has a significant influence on shaping the bank’s overall global investment strategy. With more than twenty years of experience of managing client money in the City, Alan has embraced uncertain economic and stock market conditions before.

We begin our conversation with Greece – a country that has been on the precipice of financial meltdown for more than two years now. The Eurozone crisis it triggered shows little sign of easing and its perilous financial state is a huge concern - not just for Greece but for all of Europe.

Alan believes that it is absolutely vital that Greece stays in the Eurozone. “Contagion is the key word when discussing Greece,” he said.

He recalls Argentina’s currency devaluation in 2001 when its banks were closed for a couple of days.

“When they reopened, 10,000 pesos had plunged in value to just 2,000,” he said. “If that happened in Greece – given 24/7 news on the television and the internet - investors would immediately rush to find a safe haven for their euros in Germany, France and Spain.

“This will mean those unfortunate enough to have their money tied-up in banks will suffer. This is contagion. You can imagine the BBC interviewing an old Greek lady who complains, ‘‘I had 20,000 euros and the government has taken the money off me’.”

Alan draws some comfort from German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who he believes understands the contagion risk, hence her support for Greece.

He added: “Not all German politicians are behind Greece and that’s why there’s so much noise about the situation. If Greece pressed ahead with devaluation, you can just imagine if you lived in Spain, Italy, Portugal or Ireland that you would think to yourself ‘I’m not getting paid any interest so I may as well take the money out of the bank’.”

The Coutts view is that Greece could leave the Eurozone - and Alan admitted that if that were to happen the damage would be very hard to contain.

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If Greece exits the euro, other countries could follow and that would be “pretty catastrophic”, he said.

He added: “Nobody will forget the knock on effects of Greece leaving the euro. Just imagine if a customer of ours is looking to buy a villa in Portugal in five years time. They won’t have forgotten Greece and will want the price of that villa to be very low to be attractive. It’s all very well everyone predicting Greece will leave because the signs all point to it, but the implications and ramifications of a Greek exit are disastrous, and we at Coutts don’t think this has been fully appreciated. We understand contagion and think this will prevent a Greek exit.”

Low interest rates here to stay Alan believes that record low interest rates will be around for many years because inflation and spending cuts will be the tools used to help Britain reduce the deficit over time.

He said: “There seems to be a general consensus that interest rates will stay low, but our view is that rates will stay low for multiple, multiple years. It’s one way of paying off debt and the link with Greece is this… companies, governments, individuals, have too much debt…..what can you do? You can default - Greece has already done that once and it may have to do so again. Or, you can grow your way out.

“There are several emerging markets with strong growth, and, actually, to be fair, the US has shown strong growth because taxation revenues have started to strengthen. Or you can inflate it away, as has been suggested in the UK. But not in the 1970’s style inflation that a lot of people might imagine, but more subtly, in fact just like we are doing now.

“So base rates at near zero, inflation at 2, 3 and 4%. If you do that for long enough, that does help to return the debt. In the UK our deficits are too large even for that but a bit of austerity and a bit of inflation is basically where we are going.”

Alan said that when he talks to clients who want to invest, he suggests that they should take “any interesting source of fixed income they can get”.

Coutts, he said has five portfolios, which includes a portfolio made up of 100% bonds to one which

is invested 100% equities. But its strongest performing portfolio is focused on bonds and fixedincome - and it’s up about 7% net of fees over the past year.

He added: “With any bank, you won’t get a return on instant cash, but most banks will offer rates paying around four times base rate, including Coutts, if you are prepared to tie your money up for a period of time.”

Despite all the gloom, Alan is optimistic that the UK will avoid another deep recession – even though he admits that the data might hint otherwise.

“The official GDP numbers show economic growth has been zero or slightly negative for quite some time. Unemployment has been coming down quite sharply, and unemployment is more reliable than GDP which is distorted by things like people writing computer programmes from home, the new digital economy, things like this which are really difficult to capture in an official GDP. “Even in 2009, to give you a flavour, GDP growth came out as -0.4 and the press said we were going back into recession. Many journalists were saying ‘doom and gloom’ but the number today is +0.4 and we still don’t have 100% reliable data. We get a swing from negative to positive because we have more information. So things aren’t good in the UK but they’re not quite as bad as the GDP data indicates.”

Alan is favouring equities that pay decent dividends and that are relatively cheap to buy. “It seems to us that severe recession isn’t going to take away your dividends, so the question is whether the price right.

“In the UK, the dividend yield is, a not unreasonable, 4%, and getting somewhat more technical, the price earnings ratio (the price you pay for profits) is about 12 times earnings, which is below average.”

Despite the uncertain outlook Alan does not think it is an unreasonable time to invest – especially for those who can afford to take a longer-term view.

He believes that the Eurozone will “muddle through” and that Germany will pay whatever it takes to keep Greece in, while low interest rates will be here for another five years.

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B4 FINANCE

“there seems to be a general consensus that interest rates will stay low, but our view is that rates will stay low for multiple, multiple years”

“We may advise clients to stagger some money in, over six months or so. If you are in diversified bonds, we may advise clients to increase risk a bit and take a bit of goal and equity risk in the portfolios.”

In advance of the Coutts client presentation, Maggie gave an insight into what the Coutts clients have in store.

“Of course everyone wants an answer but there are no simple solutions. Our clients are given advice based on their absolute circumstances and we have to take many different factors into consideration, such as their age, their income, tax bracket, what assets they have already got, what their experiences have been. Ultimately, they have got to go away feeling very comfortable with what you’re proposing.”

Coutts, said Maggie, prides itself on the close relationship it has with its clients and what many need is reassurance.

She added: "We have very specialised services in terms of investments. I think a large proportion of our clients are looking for someone who is going to be a steady pair of hands looking after their wealth going forward.

“The relationship we have with our clients is vital because if you are seeing someone consistently, you are going to have to face up to their questions when things are tough - as well as take the plaudits when things go well. The relationship we have with our customers is crucial and has always been a key component of what we do. It’s why our advice is and has to be well-researched.” www.coutts.com

The information in this article is not intended as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities or any other investment or banking product, nor does it constitute a personal recommendation.

The value of investments, and the income from them, can go down as well as up, and you may not recover the amount of your original investment. Past performance should not be taken as a guide to future performance.

Opinions constitute our judgement as at the date of issue and are subject to change.

Alan Higgins, Chief Investment Officer

www.b4-business.com

47

4X B BO

E OFFIC

ue ions Leag p m a h C hip & sea Premiers al & Chel n e s r A e for t a alf way lin Football king the h rd Bridge ts overloo ason ticke mirates and Stamfo se IP V 6 Access to es at the E home gam + VAT use at all on 5 per pers From: £9

Rugby Union - Twickenham Ticket only & debenture lounge hospitality packages available at the QBE Autumn Internationals (England v N. Zealan d, Sat. 1st Dec) and at the RBS 6 Nations (England v Scotland 2.2.13, England v France 23.2.12, England v Italy 10.3.13) From: £295 per person + VAT

C

Rugby Union – London Welsh RF

d) – 15.12.12 – Xmas Party theme 10 persons, Old Deer Park, Richmon for e Tabl x (1 oble Gren v RFC h London Wels am Stadium, Oxford – 28.12.12 (1 x Private suite for 10 persons, Kass London Welsh RFC v London Wasps am Stadium, Oxford) – 6.1.13 x Private suite for 10 persons, Kass London Welsh RFC v Harlequins (1 From: £95 per person + VAT erages (approx. £50 per person). e: £750 + VAT excluding food & bev Special offer price to B4 Box offic discount to the usual price.

This represents more than 10%

Horse Racing at Cheltenham B4 Box office can offer a private box for 16 guests in the exclusive Queen Mother Stand.

Available at Festival Trials day 26th January 2013 or a day at the prestigious Festival itself, 12th - 15th March 2013 excluding the Gold Cup. Boxes in the QMS are extremely difficult to get hold of in the general market as they are privately owned.

The stand is located to the left of the Main Grandstand (as you look out onto the course) and overlook the Grandstand Lawn and the course. All boxes have balconies and the stand also has a rear balcony that overlooks the Parade Ring. Box holders are not restricted to using only on-course caterers and may bring their own picnic lunches and drinks.

We can advise on all the catering options.

Prices on application.

at Holland Clay pigeon shooting d & Holland, Northwoo vanced to ad experiences for novices Half day clay shooting ay to Saturd shots available Monday hments, + VAT (includes refres n rso pe r pe 5 £7 m: Fro 5 persons) minimum group size

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ALL THESE FANTASTIC OFFERS AND OTHER EVENT IDEAS CALL B4 BOX OFFICE NOW Telephone: 01451 812237 (lines open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm) Email: info@altisconsulting.co.uk (we will respond within 24 hours) B4 Box Office powered by Altis Consulting Ltd (head office: Cotswold Business Centre, Rissington Businesss Park, Upper Rissington, GL54 2QB)

B4 FINANCE

COUTTS HISTORY The John Campbell beginnings In the Spring of 1692, young Scot, John Campbell of Lundie, set up business as a goldsmith-banker at the sign of the Three Crowns in the Strand, London. The earliest records show not only did Campbell supply plate and jewellery, he offered a comprehensive banking service: discounting bills, making loans and taking deposits. Many of his customers were his fellow countrymen, including his clan chief, the powerful Duke of Argyll. In 1708, Campbell took another Scottish goldsmith, George Middleton, as partner. John Campbell died in 1712. That year, Middleton married his daughter, Mary.

The Middleton years Middleton was heavily involved with the business of the French financier, John Law. This, combined with the bursting of the South Sea and Mississippi Bubbles in 1720, led to Middleton stopping payment for three years. In 1727 George Campbell, the founder’s youngest son, joined Middleton and in 1744 a third partner, David Bruce, entered the Bank. The goldsmith element of the business had declined since the 1720s.

When Middleton died in 1747, the surviving partners called themselves simply “Bankers of 59 Strand”, the Bank’s home from 1739.

The Coutts family The name Coutts first appeared in the title of the Bank in 1755. James Coutts, a Scottish banker, was taken into partnership by Campbell on his marriage to Mary Peagrum, granddaughter of the founder. When Campbell died in 1760, James invited his youngest brother, Thomas, to join him. In January 1761 the Bank became known as James & Thomas Coutts. When James retired in 1775, the Bank’s title changed to Thomas Coutts & Company, which it was to remain until Thomas’ death in 1822.

The Bank flourished under Thomas and his partners Edmund Antrobus, Edward Marjoribanks and Coutts Trotter. The long reign of George III was a period of major political, social and economic change. Coutts’ customers were involved with such events as the American War of Independence, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and the opening of India and the Far East.

Thomas’ customers, many of whom were also friends, ranged from the monarch to the Covent Garden cowkeeper.

The Victorian era During the Victorian era, the Bank had to face new challenges in a fast-changing world.

Developing industries were hungry for investment . New and successful joint stock banks meant fierce competition for the oldestablished private banking houses. Coutts’ name inspired confidence in the Bank during his lifetime. It was Angela Burdett-Coutts as the heir to the name and fortune, who was seen as the public face of the Bank in the Victorian period.

Into the 20th Century The Baring crisis of 1890 forced a number of banks to re-assess their position. Coutts & Co, after much careful consideration, decided to change its status. In June 1892 the Bank dissolved the partnership and became an unlimited liability company. 1904 saw more change. After 165 years at 59 Strand, the Bank moved to its current site at 440 Strand.

The merger of the Westminster Bank and the National Provincial in January 1969 meant that Coutts came to form part of the larger NatWest group.

Modern times Throughout the 20th century, Coutts opened more branches. The first West End branch outside 440 Strand was opened in 1921 in Park Lane. In 1961 the bank opened its first out-of-town branch at Eton. Coutts embraced modern technology, becoming one of the first banks to bring in machine-posted ledgers in the late 1920s. In 1963 it was the first British bank to have a fully computerised accounting system. In 1987, Coutts gained international representation when Coutts established operations in Geneva. In October 1990, Coutts and NatWest decided to strengthen their representation internationally and the Coutts Group was created when subsidiaries already owned by Coutts and NatWest (including Handelsbanken) were merged.

The acquisition of the NatWest group in 2000 established Coutts as the wealth management arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

For further information please contact: Maggie Bradley 01865 389039 (Oxford) Tim McInerney 0118 373 3513 (Reading) John Mullally 01753 709040 (Eton) www.coutts.com

Coutts is the Wealth division of Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Coutts serves clients from over 40 offices across the world offering tailored wealth management, banking, trust and tax services. Coutts is headquartered at 440 Strand, London with offices in other key international financial centres in Zurich, Geneva, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. Coutts has a robust regional network comprising 26 offices in 23 locations in the UK. Coutts provides access to the local expertise of Private Bankers and Wealth Managers coupled with the intellectual capabilities of the business’s international investment team and specialist advisers to ensure an exceptional experience for all clients, regardless of their location.

www.b4-business.com

“I think a large proportion of our clients are looking for someone who is going to be a steady pair of hands looking after their wealth going forward”

Maggie Bradley, Client Partner

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Phil Strachan of Business and Brand Alchemists Strangebrew shares with Richard Rosser how clients of all shapes and sizes can benefit from investing in his special brew of ‘London quality at Glasgow prices’ Having spent 12 years on the consultancy-side in London working almost exclusively with multinationals and premium global household name brands, Phil Strachan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to any project he works on. Add to this the fact that prior to that he spent 14 years on the client-side in the marketing departments of major blue chip multinationals running premium brands such as Nescafe and you can begin to grasp the value he can add to any business or brand he works with.

“At one point trading as QED (Quite Extraordinary Design), my business partners and I employed 22 people and we were based in the converted Clergy House of St Michaels Church in London EC2. The Church itself had become the London Architectural Salvage Company which was one of London’s largest and longest established architectural antiques and salvage businesses. They were fantastic premises to run an Identity and Design business from but combined with 22 people to pay each month, our overheads and operating costs were quite high.”

Nowadays, trading as Strangebrew, Phil offers his special blend of client-side and consultancy-side experience and expertise from a low overhead base in Berkshire, meaning that businesses and brands of all shapes and sizes from one person start-ups to long established businesses and brands can benefit from an injection of what he calls Business and Brand Alchemy.

London quality at Glasgow prices Having previously spent many years refreshing, revitalising, re-energising and relaunching major brands such as Alpen, Foster’s Lager and Pontin’s Holiday camps to name but a few, more recent projects Phil has delivered have been much more varied. These have included the repositioning and relaunching of Aylesbury College, the creation of a Motivational Speaker brand for a sports and TV personality, and brand identities for a Martial Arts and Personal Trainer, an Accounting Practice and a Training Consultancy.

“My overall aim is to deliver real value, what I call

London quality at Glasgow prices, and that means business and brand identities that really work rather than just nice logos which all too often don’t. There is an inordinate amount of money wasted on an awful lot of very ordinary work, design for design’s sake, when what is required is an investment in something that truly captures and communicates the essence of a business or brand. Branding, Identity and Design, interlaced with creativity and innovation, are all part of a business or brand connecting, communicating and engaging with its target audience but in order to achieve this effectively, you firstly have to know exactly who the target market is, what the business or brand needs to be seen to stand for and what its competitive advantage is. It is all about adding value.”

Necessity is the mother of re-invention So why then do we see so many businesses and brands relaunching and being as you say refreshed?

“It may well just be that they did not get it right in the first place, but while the objective is obviously to build successful brands that will be sustainable and stand the test of time, the simple fact is that key business environment factors such as market conditions, economic climates and competitors are constantly changing. In such instances, necessity really is the mother of re-invention, requiring Businesses and Brands to respond in order to continue to prosper by re-inventing, re-branding, refreshing, revitalising and relaunching themselves as appropriate. Events like new competitors coming into a market can prompt such action but the aim has to be to always stay ahead of the curve. This means being creative rather than reactive in order to remain in control in your designated market/sector and making sure that you are building a strong and valuable brand rather than an ineffectual and effectively worthless bland. It is all about leading from the front and staying ahead.

It is important for businesses to periodically stand back, take a long hard look at themselves and assess how they and their brands are positioned because even if they themselves are not changing, the odds are that their competitors are and so are the needs of their customers and consumers. The

problem is that they are often too close to their businesses to be able to see this for themselves”.

Faith, hope and too little clarity “Businesses and brands need to know and communicate their “why” to their selected target markets but the truth is that all too many businesses and brands out there are operating with blind faith, relying far too much on hope and with too little clarity in terms of what they really have to offer and how they need to position and present themselves. All too often they don’t really know their USP or their potential to build sustainable competitive advantage That’s precisely why I put particular emphasis on making sure that I fully understand the business and/or brand of any new client, their objectives and aspirations, their competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats because it is only by distilling the essence of a business or brand that I can identify how best to free its spirit by helping them to think brand – not bland.

There are many businesses and brands out there that could really benefit from taking a good long hard look at themselves right now and it’s a great time for getting back to basics. They should make it their New Year’s resolution to re-evaluate the strength of their competitive situation and identify any action required refreshing their presentation or rebranding, relaunching or revitalising their businesses. In today’s recessionary market conditions, only the strong will survive and this can be a very cost effective way and a very sound investment in order to ensure that they emerge from these difficult times strongly positioned and with a secure future ahead of them.”

Contact Phil Strachan on 07770 753 975 or by email phil@strangebrew.co.uk if you would like to arrange an initial no cost, no strings attached meeting to discuss how an injection of Business and Brand Alchemy from Strangebrew could be of benefit to your Business or Brand. www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

STRANGEBREW 50

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B4 SERVICES

“My overall aim is to deliver real value, what I call London quality at Glasgow prices, and that means business and brand identities that really work rather than just nice logos which all too often don’t

”

Phil Strachan

POTENT AND INTOXICATING, BUT REASSURINGLY INEXPENSIVE www.b4-business.com

51

THE OAKLEY COURT It was late August and we were making our way down the M4 to Windsor. Ironic really that recent guests at our destination, the fabulous Oakley Court Hotel in Windsor, included our victorious Olympic GB rowers. They’d have fared much better in the monsoon conditions which accompanied us throughout our fifty minute trip from Oxford.

But as we entered the hotel’s drive and parked outside reception, the clouds cleared and the sun shone on Oakley Court. Maybe the rowers had left some Olympic gold dust

The Oakley Court, part of the Principal Hayley Group of hotels, sits amid thirty seven acres of immaculately chiselled gardens and lovingly manicured lawns. There is even a private stretch of the River Thames running past the hotel, so no wonder it is a sought after venue for weddings, celebrations, conferences or short breaks.

A short drive to the heart of Windsor, The Oakley Court is the perfect venue for two, a corporate group or, as we discovered, a family of four. We arrived in time to relax in our room – two adjoining rooms creating a huge space. Ours, well after a fight it was ours, was slightly larger with a huge walk in dressing area. The kids had an Oakley Court teddy bear on the pillow – a welcome touch, even for fifteen year old boys (yes I know you’ve got it Ed!).

We had time to freshen up and even enjoy a glass of wine, with the compliments of the hotel, and made our way to dinner. In July 2012, The Dining Room at The Oakley Court Hotel was awarded a prestigious AA2 Rosette award. Just 10% of restaurants nationwide have one Rosette, so this gives you an idea as to the size of head chef, Michael Mealey and his team’s achievement.

52

Using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, it was obvious to us that the restaurant was a priority and not an after-thought as in so many hotel restaurants. Almost full on a Thursday, there were clearly locals dining in the restaurant which bears testament to its glowing reputation. The service was first class and the food impressive. During the day or on warmer evenings, it would be nice to eat al fresco on the terrace overlooking the river.

Between us we enjoyed, for starters, slow cooked chicken terrine with shitake, foie gras and fig compote, oven roasted pigeon with roasted pumpkin, puy lentil and cumin and the children went straight for their main courses off the children’s menus (well, Ed actually devoured two himself – one burger and one chicken!).

For our main courses, Tina chose the 48hr pork belly with garlic purée, braised red cabbage, sweet parsnip and “crispy crackling”, whilst I had the pan roasted cod with red pepper, baby aubergine and chorizo risotto. All plates were cleared – an astonishingly good meal for all of us. We even had room to sample the delectable desserts - apple mincemeat with pain perdu, cinnamon and toffee apple, star anise and muscavado mousse with

orange liqueur and glazed Orange and two dark chocolate ganaches with milk chocolate and port ice cream.

Pleasantly replete, we went back to the room to relax and slip into a long, comfortable sleep.

Morning was a different day – beautiful blue sky, with the sun beating down on the lawns where guests were enjoying their early morning strolls. We had ordered breakfast in the room and after an assortment of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, Frosties, apple Danish and croissants, we decided to go with the flow and walk around the gardens.

As we watched the boats go by, we could fully appreciate the appeal of The Oakley Court.

Relaxing, first class service, excellent food and wonderful facilities. The Oakley Court really leaves you wanting for nothing.

FACTS ABOUT THE HOTEL Overview With impeccable attention to detail, unbeatable service and within easy reach of Heathrow and www.b4-business.com

B4 R&R London, The Oakley Court is ideal for a range of different events. Whether you're planning a meeting for 5, a conference for 500 or a teambuilding training day, The Oakley Court has the facilities and space you need. And with its stunning location and tranquil setting, the hotel is a simply beautiful backdrop for your wedding.

Nearby With local attractions including: Windsor Castle, Ascot Racecourse, Legoland and Thorpe Park and fantastic onsite leisure activities, The Oakley Court is also the first choice for family breaks and weekend breaks in Windsor.

Meetings & Events The Oakley Court is just twenty minutes from Heathrow Airport and forty minutes from London, making it an ideal location not only for business meetings and conferences, but also for entertaining key clients, product launches or quite simply thanking your team.

Choose from a wide range of flexible spaces able

to cater for five to five hundred people. Traditional rooms with natural daylight and unique conference facilities such as the Boathouse on the river or the Walled Garden, where you can put up a marquee for up to 500 guests or even land your helicopter.

The 7 acre Oakley Court Field is ideal for larger scale team building activities such as quad biking or clay pigeon shooting.

Leisure Facilities Relaxation comes easy to guests with thirty seven acres of landscaped gardens, leading right up to the secluded banks of the River Thames. In addition to boat hire, there is also the croquet lawn, the snooker room and the full facilities of the Oakleaf leisure club, including an indoor swimming pool and gymnasium and beauty treatments.

Within the grounds there is a par 3, 9 hole golf course, ideal for both beginners and more experienced players.

Within the secluded walled garden there are 2 tennis courts that have recently been re-surfaced

“Relaxing, first class service, excellent food and wonderful facilities.

The Oakley Court really leaves you wanting for nothing

”

and upgraded in partnership with Wilson. Racquets can be hired from the club.

Inspirational Training As a training professional you want the perfect training venue in Windsor - The Oakley Court delivers.

Ideally situated just minutes from the heart of Windsor, The Oakley Court incorporates an inspired setting with an enviable position close to all major transport links. Combining stunning Gothic architecture and elegant suites, this inspirational training venue combines a first class training venue with beautiful grounds and a private stretch of the River Thames.

Food & Drink The Oakley Court is a stunning venue for a private dinner or celebration for anything up to 180 people within the hotel, or more within a marquee in the walled garden and grounds.

as ornamental ceilings, wood-panelled floors and sash windows, and of course the backdrop of manicured lawns and the meandering river create a stunning dining setting. Take some time out and enjoy the lounge menu and afternoon teas, or perhaps a beverage from the wide selection available in the stylish and comfortable bar.

Events at Oakley Court Whatever event you’re planning, at Oakley Court, a stunning event venue in Windsor the hotel can help you to deliver a night to remember.

The hotel will help you as much or as little as you want to put together your special event in Windsor.

From menu planning to setting up the room, arranging entertainment or theming, the special event co-ordinators will work with you every step of the way. And with the new special events banqueting package the costs are easy to manage too. www.principal-hayley.com/theoakleycourt

Flexible dining options offer a range of styles, from an informal hot or cold buffet, a fine dining celebration dinner to a full scale gala dinner.

Throughout the hotel, special historic features such www.b4-business.com

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Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

B4 Box Office launches in partnership with Altis Consulting to provide readers with exclusive access to a plethora of high profile sporting events coupled with bespoke VIP treatment to enhance the spectator experience. By Kelly Stroud.

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B4 R&R Whether your passion is rugby, football, cricket, horse racing, or any other event that regularly features on the UK sporting calendar, you can now expect access to one of the best seats in the house through Altis Consulting.

With unforgettable added extras ranging from the opportunity for an informal chat with a well-known sports personality, through to a fully managed bespoke, high-end corporate hospitality event, guests can’t fail to leave feeling impressed, irrespective of the result!

Exclusive offers currently available through B4 Box Office are: • London Welsh vs. Wasps (28 December) or Harlequins (6 January) at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium – a box for ten people with sit-down meal • RBS Six Nations tickets (February/March) • Cheltenham Festival tickets (March) • Premiership and Champions League tickets To find out more, contact T: +44 (0)1451 812237 and quote B4 Box Office. or see p 157.

The face behind Altis Consulting Founded in 2005, Altis Consulting is headed up by Charlie Allen, former Commercial Manager of the RFU during England’s finest chapter, which saw the team triumph in Australia to lift the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Commenting on why he took the plunge to establish his business seven years ago, Charlie explains: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the RFU but I had an idea for my own company and was starting to find working in one sport fairly limiting.

“Using existing contacts, I established Altis Consulting, based at the Cotswold Business Centre.

We now host corporate hospitality events at most of the high profile sporting fixtures in the UK and abroad. We have also crossed-over to the entertainment sector with strong links to the O2 in Greenwich and the Royal Albert Hall.”

Altis Consulting more than doubled its turnover year on year for the first three years, levelling off during the recession when corporate hospitality budgets were slashed. This hasn’t stopped Altis Consulting carving out its niche in a competitive market.

The company has experienced record breaking results in 2011/2012 in both sales and operating profit due to considerable business conducted on behalf of senior management teams for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

“Our point of difference is our specialisation in bespoke corporate hospitality or entertainment management in watched or participation sporting events like golf or shooting days. We also offer nonsporting event experiences like opera, ballet or rock concerts. Above all, we provide a truly confidential and personal service.”

Altis Consulting currently has an enviable client base spanning International and UK businesses from a range of sectors in addition to various high net-worth individuals from emerging markets that visit the UK to enjoy our prestigious sporting calendar.

Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Altis Consulting would like to reach out to businesses closer to home.

“Oxford is a fantastic location for business with great inroads to London in addition to commanding its own place on an international stage. The calibre of businesses in the area would most definitely benefit from the services we have to offer,” comments Charlie Allen.

“Taking a prospective client to watch an event they feel passionate about and sharing that experience with them can only help to reinforce and strengthen a business relationship moving forward.”

Altis Consulting is built on a solid business model making its services accessible to SMEs as well as Corporates.

The company offers debenture seat brokerage services at Twickenham, Wimbledon, Lord’s and Wembley along with season ticket management at Premiership football and club rugby. It also offers a buy and sell service across sport and entertainment on a ticket only basis making it possible to obtain access to the best events in the UK and abroad, for a range of different budgets.

Altis Consulting is currently organising spectator experiences for the 6 Nations, Ashes cricket 2013, British Lions June/July 2013, Ryder Cup Gleneagles September 2014, Football World Cup and the Summer Olympics in Brazil 2014 & 2016 respectively.

There’s nothing like watching a sporting event live and with B4 Box Office, there is no longer any excuse for being a fair weather fan. Why be sofa bound when you can now enjoy it in style!

To find out more, contact T: +44 (0)1451 812237 and quote B4 Box Office. www.altisconsulting.co.uk

“Taking a prospective client to watch an event they feel passionate about and sharing that experience with them can only help to reinforce and strengthen a business relationship moving forward

”

Charlie Allen - Altis Consulting

www.b4-business.com

55

HR2YOU

In Issue 19 of B4, we met Sarah Morris of HR2YOU. Young, engaging and determined, Sarah spoke to us about her energetic plans for HR2YOU. Just over a year from her first B4 article, everything is still as fresh, vibrant and on the same path, but this time it’s all bigger and better. A beaming Sarah Morris tells Richard Rosser about great strides for HR2YOU.

The background provided in our first article with Sarah is important and it helps sets the scene.

With fifteen years sales, management and generalist HR experience, Sarah’s background within different market sectors and organisations has given her an incredibly invaluable understanding of her clients’ collective needs.

What strikes me about Sarah is that despite her years she has a wealth of knowledge in both business and human resources. It's really quite astonishing the progress the business has made in three short years which is down to the dedication and standards Sarah has set herself and the company.

So where did it all start to change for Sarah?

“Genuinely, looking back at the past two years, it’s really hard to believe that the business has come so far. I’ve been really lucky with the relationships I have built with my clients and their success has contributed to the success of HR2YOU.” Modest as ever, Sarah explains that this is a world away from where she would have imagined to be in year three of business, yet she is extremely excited about not only growing her clients’ businesses but HR2YOU as well.

Sarah has to pinch herself that she now heads up a team of five, with plenty of scope on the horizon for further expansion. “It's amazing that this time 2

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years ago I would never have thought that by now I’d be running a business with five members of staff who are qualified in health & safety, employment law and payroll, adding even more value to the level of service we can provide to our clients.”

HR2YOU now has an impressive portfolio of clients, many of whom are expanding. The company has just started a new relationship with a large automotive company in Essex helping with their new Helpdesk. For expanding clients, HR2YOU is helping with back office processes, recruiting sales teams, implementing a management development programme and commission structure as well as helping with their ISO standards and Investors in People criteria. This has all given Sarah the taste for more.

been able to cope so far with clients pushing into new arenas and we have managed without problems. I have a real appetite to grow this business, I have a thirst for knowledge and love to find out more about businesses in new sectors and relish the challenge of a new client in a completely different sector with its own dynamics.”

Sarah is rightly proud of what she has achieved and believes that relationships with her clients are at the root of her business. “It speaks volumes that all of my customers are still with me. It’s all about building long term relationships and I really believe that becoming part of the senior management team for many of my clients allows me to understand what motivates them as a business and as an employer.”

Sarah explains that as the company has grown it has also allowed her to work on bigger and more interesting projects, including delivering ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) training courses, presenting at a number of events including B4 workshops, working with clients on extensive national expansion plans, implementing and managing a new sales team including designing commission structures to incentivise staff.

The future looks exciting for Sarah and HR2YOU with new ventures in training, plans to work more in London and develop the network of HR2YOU offices. I wouldn’t bet against this young lady delivering that and more over the next two years.

For more information about HR2YOU and talking to Sarah about your HR requirements, contact Sarah at info@HR2YOU.co.uk.

“I want to expand HR2YOU further now. I can see how we can develop further and have ambitions to develop HR2YOU offices in other regions. I’m not afraid of growth as I have seen how we have

www.hr2you.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 SERVICES

“It speaks volumes that all of my customers are still with me. It’s all about building long term relationships”

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Sarah Morris

www.b4-business.com

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M a g a z i n e s

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D i r e c t o r i e s

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C a t a l o g u e s

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C o m m e r c i a l

the cream of british printing since 1826

www.stonestheprinters.co.uk

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F i n a n c i a l

PLATINUM AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT:

D AVID ROBERTSON C D ,B OMMERCIAL

IRECTOR

UILDBASE

In the first of a series of profiles on B4 Platinum Ambassadors, we throw the spotlight on Buildbase’s Commercial Director, David Robertson. Dave’s tale is very much that of a local lad done good, climbing the ranks to the position he now holds in one of the country’s leading builders merchants. David was talking to B4’s Richard Rosser.

I have had the privilege of witnessing David’s fantastic qualities first hand, albeit I spent most of the time following his vapour trail from Paris to Oxford. Nonetheless his leadership, motivation and single minded determination were the reason we embarked on the B4 bike ride last year. If it wasn’t for David, I wouldn’t have launched the first B4 bike ride and most certainly wouldn’t have completed it. That’s all down to David’s infectious enthusiasm and his can do attitude which must be an enormous asset to his colleagues at Buildbase.

So where did it all begin for this likeable lad from Oxford Born and educated in South Oxford, David was an exceptional sportsman, captaining Oxfordshire County Under15’s and 16’s football.

He went on to captain England’s Under 16’s winning team in the Euroman European Championships, winning Man of the Match in the final and Player of the tournament following in the footsteps of Liverpool’s Steve Heighway no less.

David also made schoolboy appearances for Crystal Palace & Reading before joining Coventry City for apprenticeship trials. Having missed out on becoming a professional he joined Marlow Town and played to a very high standard of semi Pro football.

David qualified as a Carpenter – Joiner - Wood Machinist when he left school and also passed a BTEC in Building studies. He joined local builder’s merchant, RJ Johnsons, in 1987 as a telephone salesman. When the business was acquired by Grafton Group plc in 1996 and rebranded as Buildbase, David was already a key member of the Johnsons team and was quickly recognised and his career progression soon began.

Photography: Rob Scotcher

He’s very much a man in demand and his willingness to dig deep and help out mean that every minute of every day are precious. Before we start the interview, David is trying to find a ten minute spot in his hectic schedule to have a meeting with a colleague, much easier said than done!

Having recently reached the 25 year milestone at Buildbase, which David admits still puts a smile on his face, David recounts his fascinating rise. “My first role at the old R J Johnson was working in telesales,

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but I was quickly promoted to a Sales Representative role and shortly after that, Field Sales Manager and then Key Accounts Manager.

“In twelve years on the road I developed a fantastic portfolio of clients, many of whom have become close friends. In 2000 I was promoted to Regional Sales Manager in London and spent five years commuting from Oxford to London where I was concentrating on building a team of salespersons to grow the London business. I then became the Regional Director for North London in 2005 where I was responsible for sales and operational budgets.

“In 2006 I came home, working as Regional Director Central Region in the office that I had actually built many years ago above Johnsons in Cowley. I spent six happy years at Johnsons before my recent promotion to Commercial Director of Buildbase, a more strategic role where I link the support centre, head office, and suppliers to the sharp end of the business, the 146 branches.”

David is very much a people person, as he admits.

“I’m at my best dealing with staff, customers and suppliers. I have never forgotten my roots, which helps me to deal with any situation. I am constantly taking calls from staff and the key thing is that I have been there and done it in my career which helps to come up with a logical answer. I love the challenge of getting the last ounce out of my team and relish the role of team leader – like getting you up that bloody hill!” Yes thanks Dave!

According to David’s colleagues, he is always smiling and one was heard saying ‘you know he’s coming because you can hear him whistling before you see him!”

But it’s not all sunshine. Through the smiles David has had to deal with a tough economy, personal loss and plenty of hard work. “We enjoyed the boom time of the late1980’s and 1990’s when everyone was building, but the last few years have been very difficult. I have to thank two people who mean the world to me. I will always be very grateful to both of them for their contributions to my career and life. Martin Lee, now retired from Buildbase, took me on in 1987 and was my MD and a real father figure. Martin helped me to become the person I am today. Another key person in my life

was Peter Butterfield. Sadly, Peter is no longer with us after passing away earlier this year. Peter was also my MD and was without doubt the cleverest person I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

Always there for me when I needed advice, without Peter I wouldn’t have made the progress I have.”

Outside of the office, David has led many fundraising campaigns, including extensive charity work for the Oxford Children’s Hospital. David championed a campaign to raise £55,000 to fund the adolescent waiting room and beat this total to raise £63,500. David and several colleagues walked 55km in one day as part of this initiative, despite the fact that he had a full hip replacement at the tender age of 39 due to a sporting injury.

But a little hip replacement was never going to stop this bundle of energy! He was the true inspiration behind the B4 bike ride, having asked B4 to join him on the London to Paris ride for Macmillan the year earlier. He certainly showed those of younger years a clean pair of pedals on more than one occasion and was always the first up the tortuous hills. Everything that David does is portrayed in a way which makes you want to get involved, and all of us on that ride last year have so much to thank David, and his wife Jane, for.

In his spare time as well as his passion for road cycling he is also a keen golfer and walker, climbing Snowdon and Ben Nevis last year and also likes to visit his daughter who is living and working in San Francisco.

David’s love of life, and his work, is refreshing and it’s great to be in his company. “I love to be happy and I love people to be happy at work too and in their lives. It might be work but we may as well enjoy it!”

“We have seen some very difficult and challenging times in our trading sector over the last few years, but thankfully there are signs of improvement and I am pleased to say that Buildbase are more prepared and focused to dealing with Trade & Retail customers than ever before” Visit one of Buildbase’s 146 branches today and if you hear or see a happy chap whistling, remember to say hello. www.buildbase.co.uk

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

“ I love the challenge of getting the last ounce out of my team and relish the role of team leader” David Robertson

www.b4-business.com

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With over sixty five acres of picturesque Cotswold countryside surrounding it, Lana de Savary, wife of well-known international entrepreneur, yachtsman and philanthropist Peter de Savary acquired the Old Swan & Minster Mill in May 2010. Located in the village of Old Minster, Minster Lovell, between Burford and Witney, the 18th Century mill, where we stayed, is alongside the River Windrush. The Old Swan is an authentic six hundred year old inn.

We arrived for our overnight stay far too late. It was almost 8.30pm on a Friday night when Sam and Liz checked us in and I recommend you at least take the time to properly relax in the room or the bar before dinner. Whilst Sam walked Tina to the Minster Mill side of the complex, I drove from main reception to the Mill’s dedicated parking area and met them there (literally 20 seconds away). The Swan side was fairly quiet, but as Sam opened the door to The Mill, the warmth and happiness that was to accompany us during our stay hit us. A roaring fire to one side, jovial guests all around, this place had atmosphere. Our room was up a flight of stairs off the bar.

The room was perfect. A huge comfy bed, period furniture and a fantastic bathroom. The heart of this former mill had been retained but the luxury had been added in ample measure.

Sam showed us around and left us to a quick sip of Sloe gin before we headed back down the stairs to the restaurant.

Unfortunately we had to bypass the thriving bar which looked great fun and full of character (and characters!) as we were late for our table. We were welcomed by Emma, who was bright, engaging and very knowledgeable, and talked us through the specials and answered our questions politely and enthusiastically. I have to say, at this point, that ALL of the staff at The Old Swan and Minster Mill were a delight throughout our stay. So often you’ll pass someone in a hotel, a chamber maid, senior management, the gardener, and you won’t get a squeak out of them. This place is very different.

Everyone says hello, everyone is friendly and everyone has a smile on their face – it really is a genuinely happy place.

Tina pipped me to the Seared Dry King Scallops (which were as great as they sounded – I pinched

“The honey-coloured stone of the Cotswolds, weeping willows, thatched roofs and the rushing waters of the River Windrush make this one of England’s most enviable settings” 62

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B4 R&R

THE OLD SWAN & MINSTER MILL It’s hard to imagine a more idyllic place, less than an hour from Buckinghamshire. It’s all too easy after a busy week to just down tools and unwind, but take my advice and take the trouble to visit The Old Swan & Minster Mill just once – I guarantee you’ll want to go back. Richard Rosser reports for B4. one when she wasn’t looking) and I had the Old Swan Smoked Salmon (served warm). The salmon was delicious, although not cut traditionally, it was a perfect opener. We stayed fishy for mains as Tina had the Bream from the specials board whilst I opted for the Oxford Gold Beer Battered Brixham Haddock with chips and mushy peas.

The presentation of the food throughout was first class, but the imaginative layout of the fish and chips on a wooden board with small pot of vinegar and mushy peas was fun and very appealing.

The meal was wonderful, and we were accompanied by a couple of gin and tonics and a glass or two of Chablis along the way. No room in the inn for dessert I’m afraid – we were well and truly beaten and the bed was calling. We left a wedding party to have the fun and enjoyed a peaceful night’s rest.

I had booked a show around the grounds for 10am and was up and ready to see my host, Amber, in The Old Swan. It was only when we started to walk around that I really started to appreciate the beauty that surrounds this mini village. The backdrop of never-ending gardens, wild-flower meadows, orchards and the surrounds of what remains of the ancient Royal Hunting Forest of Wychwood, make the Old Swan & Minster Mill quintessentially English. The honey-coloured stone of the Cotswolds, weeping willows, thatched roofs and the rushing waters of the River Windrush make this one of England’s most enviable settings. Large chess boards are playfully dotted around the gardens, ducks quack from small ponds on the

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periphery of rooms and everywhere you look you see the rich dividends of hard work and considerate planning. I could have walked around all day, in every nook and cranny you see something to delight, something to engage, something to connect you with the nature that engulfs this oasis.

The only thing missing was another night’s stay – to really appreciate The Old Swan and Minster Mill, make a weekend of it!

Lana de Savary has done a fantastic job of restoring the hotel. All of the bedrooms are en-suite and offer all the modern facilities, including complimentary wi-fi access. New formal gardens, a traditional vegetable garden and one of the countries largest wild flower meadows (forty acres) were created alongside the River Windrush.

Besides the restoration, a number of new additional facilities and services have been added.

The completion of an architecturally stunning Dining Room – the Minster Room, two Yon-ka Spa Treatment Rooms, a super modern gymnasium and work-out area, vegetable & herb gardens which supply the kitchen as well as a children’s petting farm.

And with over three miles of superb fly-fishing and coarse fishing, the Old Swan & Minster Mill is set to become one of the countries great fishing destinations.

There are also three meeting rooms and five syndicate rooms with main rooms offering natural daylight and a maximum capacity of fifty five.

Equipped with free internet access throughout, LCD

and plasma screens, along with audio-visual equipment are available too. The Old Swan is ideal for a teambuilding event or seminars and with the River Windrush and Forest of Wychwood on its doorstep, the location provides the perfect opportunity for a themed country pursuits teambuilding event. Quad-biking; fishing; horse-riding; zip-wiring; falconry; archery - the list is endless. The team of dedicated conference co-ordinators can arrange a bespoke event, tailored to your requirements. The facilities are quite breath-taking and demonstrate the versatility of the estate.

My tour ended with a peek inside the new private dining room, The Minster Room. This was being prepared for the aforementioned wedding party and looked wonderful. Equally perfect for business lunches and dinners, thickset oak beams form bold lines around the room, leading to a large inglenook fireplace which takes centre stage. Architecturally stunning, the new room resembles the historical era, coupling traditional architecture with a modern twist, in the same vein as the bedrooms. With a capacity of forty eight, The Minster Room creates a dramatic atmosphere, for both individual dining and larger private parties.

Before we left, we had time for a spot of breakfast and a cheeky home made pain au chocolat. A hearty smoked salmon and scrambled eggs saw us happily on our way back home with a taste for life in the country, a yearning to go back, content that we had discovered a real gem. www.oldswanandminstermill.com

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LANCASTER LONDON

B4 spent a few days in London enjoying the delights of Lancaster London with arguably the best views in town.

Overlooking Hyde Park and with picture perfect views across the city in all directions, it was hard to stop staring in awe.

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B4 R&R

“There are many things that keep our guests returning to Lancaster London again and again, but there is one more tangible element that has left our guests impressed countless times - the views”

It has become something of a tradition to visit London before Christmas with the family, an opportunity to spend some time together and enjoy the capital ‘all dressed up’ for the festive season. With a 15 year old and 12 year old going on 18, it’s hard to tempt them away from i-this and i-that, but it didn’t take a vast amount of persuasion once the offer of a weekend staying at one of London’s most iconic hotels was on the table!

As we arrived in London, the rain was lashing down and it was wonderful to pass the car keys to the porter who whisked the Beetle to, no doubt, enjoy a comfy night alongside some grown up cars in the hotel garage. We were shown to our suite on the 7th floor and as the bell boy explained how all the gadgets and gizmos worked, we were all just staring, not at him but at the views over London. It www.b4-business.com

was an eerie experience to see an almost panoramic view of London as we darted from one room to another, spotting the landmarks as if it were a game. The London Eye was lit up, the BT tower was towering nearby and so it went on – we could even see Wembley Stadium. Morning would bring more detail to this wonderful canvas as Hyde Park, right below us, came to life.

And then we began to take on board the vastness of our room – a wonderful lounge with the most inviting sofas, huge plasma screens, our own dining table and more. We had been transferred to an oasis and were four kids in a sweet shop. We had interconnecting rooms, and for four people it was a perfect amount of space to relax and unwind for the weekend.

We had some time before dinner to toast our good fortune with a drink from the mini bar – we hadn’t

actually done anything but why not?! Mindful that we had to make our 8pm dinner reservation for Island Grill, we unglued our eyes from the fabulous views and made our way downstairs.

Island Grill didn’t let us down as we continued on our journey of euphoria. Sitting down to eat as a family was a rare joy in itself, but to cap it off with great food and drink made this a weekend to remember. We enjoyed a breakfast banquet in the room and really, when the time came, struggled to check out!

As the website says, ‘There are many things that keep our guests returning to Lancaster London again and again, but there is one more tangible element that has left our guests impressed countless times - the views.’ www.lancasterlondon.com 65

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Call 01865 7742211 42211 toda today ay or e-mail e-mail editorial@b4-business.com editorial@b4-business.com

Communication Communication Partner Partner

Media Media Partner Partner

Support Support Vehicle Vehicle Partner Partner

Fitness Fitness Partner Partner

H Hotels otels Restaurant Restaurant Partner Partner

Banking Banking Partner Partner

Accommodation Accommodation Partner Partner

2013 2013 preferred preferred charities. charities. More More to to be be aannounced. nnounced.

Finish Host Finish LLine ine H ost

B4 contacts P

CONTACTS DIRECTORY Advice..................................................................................................................................................71 Business Services....................................................................................................................71 Conference, Events & Venues......................................................................................71 Education.......................................................................................................................................71 Finance...............................................................................................................................................73 Health & Leisure........................................................................................................................73 HR...........................................................................................................................................................73 IT & Telecommunications..................................................................................................73

ADVICE

A M B A S S A D O R

A

Manufacturing...........................................................................................................................73 Science & Technology..........................................................................................................73 Marketing & Design..............................................................................................................73 Transport..........................................................................................................................................73 Retail....................................................................................................................................................73 The Wider B4.................................................................................................................73 & 74

BUSINESS SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT

VENUES

Automatic Vending Association A Jonathan Hilder Chief Executive Officer

Hartwell House A Jonathan Thompson Director & General Manager

t: 01494 568 960 w: www.ava-vending.co.uk

t: 01296 747444 w: www.hartwell-house.com

London & Counties A Office Supplies Ltd Paul Milbourn Managing Director

West Wycombe Estate t: 01494 524411 w: www.west-wycombe-estate.co.uk

Thirdwave A Tony Thomson Managing Director

t: 01494 791 221 w: www.lacosltd.co.uk

Chicheley Hall t: 0800 085 1660 w: www.chicheleyhall.co.uk

t: 01628 487 912 w: www.thirdwaveweb.co.uk

CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING

The Tree Hotel t: 01494 881183 w: www.cadmore.treehotel.co.uk

ACCOUNTING Fish Partnership P Paul Laird Partner t: 01628 527956 w: www.fishpartnership.co.uk

BUSINESS ADVICE

RSM Tenon t: 01628 478 100 w: www.rsmtenon.com Avocet Investments Ltd t: 01494 726173 w: www.avocet-investments.com The Compliance Bureau t: 07771 733 788 w: www.compliancebureau.co.uk

LEGAL B P Collins A David Stanning Partner t: 01753 889995 w: www.bpcollins.co.uk

BUSINESS SERVICES BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS Federation of Small Businesses A Rodney Mallinson Chairman t: 01628 602 983 w: www.fsb.org.uk Institute of Directors t: 01494 718699 w: www.iod.com

Partners With You Limited t: 01923 842435 w: www.partnerswithyou.co.uk

CHARITIES Horizon Sports Club A Anita Templar Club Chairman t: 01844 345432 w: www.horizonsc.org.uk Buckinghamshire Community Foundation A Richard Dickson Director t: 01296 330134 w: www.thebucksfoundation.org.uk

EVENT MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY The Active Network A Banks Holcombe Head of Business Development t: 0207 313 5744 w: www.activenetwork.com

EDUCATION COLLEGES Aylesbury College P Pauline Odulinski Principal and Chief Executive

SECURITY

t: 01296 588588 w: www.aylesbury.ac.uk

Risk Management A Security Services Peter Smith Managing Director t: 01494 441 805 w: www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk

Buckinghamshire P New University Anne Whitehouse Head of Corporate Communications t: 01494 522 141 w: www.bucks.ac.uk

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES CONFERENCES Kents Hill Park Training & Conference Centre t: 01908 358000 w: www.kentshillpark.com

Call us now on 01494 373 183 to join the growing B4 network.

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THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION I N

A S S O C I A T I O N

W I T H

B 4

M A G A Z I N E

Book your place now B4 OXFORDSHIRE EDUCATION The Business of Education will be circulated to 9,000 business decision makers in the Thames Valley, inserted into the first editions of B4 in 2013. A mixture of educational establishments and businesses will be included in the publication, providing each with the opportunity to promote how they interact whilst at the same time promoting, for educational establishments, their facilities, courses, performance and other points of interest and, for businesses, and overview of what the company does and other points of interest.

There is no fixed structure to this publication, so although the following points are suggestions of content that could be included, they are by no means definitive and each educational establishment and business can promote itself how it wishes in order to get its message across.

Please see overleaf some examples of editorials which have featured in previous editions of B4 Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

You can view these articles in full on line by visiting the article archive at www.b4-business.com for each county website.

FOR EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS • About the establishment • Quotes from or interview with the Head or Principal • How the establishment interacts with the local business community • How local businesses can interact with the establishment • Courses on offer – MBA, even courses in self improvement • Benefits of a student attending the establishment • Outcomes of a student attending the establishment • Section on League Tables (if relevant) • Quotes from students • Images of the establishment • Partners the establishment has worked with in the local business community with case studies

FOR THE BUSINESSES • About the business • Quote from or interview with the Chief Executive or Student Programme Director • How the business interacts with the local educational community • How local educational establishments can interact with the business • Benefits of students working with the business • Quotes from students who have worked at the business or current employees who joined, initially, as students • Typical opportunities available to students • Educational establishments the business has worked with in the local community with case studies

T O B O O K O R F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , C A L L B 4 O N 0 1 8 6 5 7 4 2 2 1 1 T O D AY

B4 contacts FINANCE

MANUFACTURING

PUBLIC RELATIONS

BANKING

ARLA Foods t: 0113 382 7000 w: www.arlafoods.co.uk

Esplin PR A Louise Esplin Freelance PR Consultant

Metro Bank plc A Junaid Mumtaz Local Director High Wycombe t: 07983 409228 w: www.metrobankonline.co.uk

MARKETING & DESIGN

TAX PLANNING

B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Managing Director

Your Money Friend Ltd A Ted Yeates Managing Director t: 01235 838542 w: www.yourmoneyfriend.co.uk Wealth and Tax Management t: 01908 260418 w: www.wealthandtax.co.uk

HEALTH & LEISURE

ADVERTISING

PSYCHOLOGIST Dr Lynda Shaw t: 07967 271274 w: www.drlyndashaw.com

TRANSPORT TRAVEL

t: 01865 742211 w: www.berkshire.b4-business.com

Chiltern Railways A Rob Brighthouse Managing Director

DESIGN

t: 08456 005 165 w: www.chilternrailways.co.uk

Blink Design & Print P Keith Simpson Senior Designer t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com

LEISURE ACTIVITIES The Sculpture School t: 07810 480884 w: www.thesculptureschool.co.uk

t: 07775 678237 w: www.esplinpr.co.uk

MARKETING Strangebrew P Phil Strachan Proprietor t: 07770 753975 w: www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

RETAIL Buildbase A David Grimsdale Divisional Director South East t: 01438 364627 w: www.buildbase.co.uk Coffox Ltd t: 07736 950673 w: www.coffox.tel

RECRUITMENT

First Move Direct Marketing A David Amor Managing Director t: 01494 539300 w: www.firstmove.co.uk

Dr Lynda Shaw t: 07967 271274 w: www.drlyndashaw.com

Urban Media A Elton Boocock Founder

t: 0118 968 1100 w: www.readingfc.co.uk

HR CONSULTANT

t: 01494 538441 w: www.urbanmedia.co.uk

Rhodes House A Martin Gubb Director of Finance

PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM PRODUCTION

t: 01865 270918 w: www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

Andrew Gleed Photography A Andrew Gleed Owner

Lady Margaret Hall P Bill Kemp Head of Conference Services

t: 01494 718557 w: www.gleedphotography.co.uk

t: 01865 611079 w: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

Adby Creative t: 020 3239 1084 w: www.adbycreative.co.uk

Williams F1 Conference Centre A Brendan Caffrey Conference Centre Manager

Piers Photography t: 07787 505786 w: www.piersphoto.com

t: 01235 777900 w: www.williamsf1conferences.com

HR

HR2You P Sarah Morris Owner t: 07789 711997 w: www.hr2you.co.uk

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS DATABASE MANAGEMENT InTouch CRM P James White Managing Director t: 0845 310 9973] w: www.intouchcrm.co.uk

Take One Business Communications Ltd t: 01494 898919 w: www.takeonetv.com

THE WIDER B4 Reading Football Club Limited P Sir John Madejski Chairman

Nominet A Lesley Cowley OBE CEO t: 01865 332211 w: www.nominet.org.uk

Call us now on 01494 373 183 to join the growing B4 network.

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M TE A O U R JO IN

Exciting Business Development Manager position "ASIC SALARY a a DEPENDING ON SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE /4% a

"ASIC SALARY a a DEPENDING ON SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE /4% a

Due to expansion, The In Oxford Group has an exciting opportunit opportunityy available for a Business Development Manager to join their high achieving sales team.

The role requires excellent abilities in business development as well as superb account management and direct sales skills. ou will be expected to achieve set personal targets as well as contribute to the over all team target. overall YYou YYour our dutie duties will be: ss 33ALES FOR BOTH " -AGAZINE AND 6OUCH THE GROUP S VERY OWN VOUCHER SCHEME ALES FOR BOTH " -AGAZINE AND 6OUCH THE GROUP S VERY OWN VOUCHER SCHEME ss 00ROMOTE AND SELL PRODUCTS TO A COMBINATION OF EXISTING CUSTOMERS AND NEW PROSPECTS THROUGH MEETINGS WITH CLIENTS AT THEIR ROMOTE AND SELL PRODUCTS TO A COMBINATION OF EXISTING CUSTOMERS AND NEW PROSPECTS THROUGH MEETINGS WITH CLIENTS AT THEIR PPREMISES TELEPHONE MAIL AND E MAIL REMISES TELEPHONE MAIL AND E MAIL 7ORKING CLOSELY WITH THE 3ALES 4EAM TO ENSURE PROSPECTS ARE MANAGED TO MAXIMUM EFFECT ss 7 ORKING CLOSELY WITH THE 3ALES 4EAM TO ENSURE PROSPECTS ARE MANAGED TO MAXIMUM EFFECT 7ORK CLOSELY WITH THE -ARKETING $EPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY NEW AREAS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ss 7 ORK CLOSELY WITH THE -ARKETING $EPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY NEW AREAS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES -ANAGING AND MAINTAINING ACCURATE RECORDS ss ANAGING AND MAINTAINING ACCURATE RECORDS ss 00ROVIDING PROFESSIONAL AND ACCURATE WRITTEN QUOTES AND PROPOSALS IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER ROVIDING PROFESSIONAL AND ACCURATE WRITTEN QUOTES AND PROPOSALS IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER ss ""UILDING EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW AND EXISTING CUSTOMERS UILDING EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW AND EXISTING CUSTOMERS -ANAGING OWN CLIENT BASE TO MAXIMUM EFFECT ss ANAGING OWN CLIENT BASE TO MAXIMUM EFFECT (ITTING ALL ACTIVITY TARGETS ss ( ITTING ALL ACTIVITYY TARGETS ss 44EAM WORKING EAM WORKING ss ##OMPLETING ALL +0) S IN A TIMELY FASHION OMPLETING ALL +0) S IN A TIMELY FASHION for this role you must have: TToo be considered cons s s %XPERIENCE IN AN OUTBOUND 4ELEPHONE SALES TEAM % XPERIENCE IN AN OUTBOUND 4ELEPHONE SALES TEAM s s (AVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SALES ACHIEVEMENTS (AVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SALES ACHIEVEMENTS s s %XCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS % XCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS s s %XCELLENT )4 SKILLS % XCELLENT )4 SKILLS ss !!BILITY TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS BILITY TY TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS ss &&LEXIBLE AND ENERGETIC APPROACH LEXIBLE AND ENERGETIC APPROACH 'OOD TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS ss ' OOD TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS (APPY TO WORK AS BOTH PART OF A TEAM AND ON YOUR OWN ss ( APPY TO WORK AS BOTH PART OF A TEAM AND ON YOUR OWN

TTo o appl apply, apply yy,, please send your C CV to richard@inoxford.com 01865 742211 or call Richard on 0 1865 7 42211 for more information

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RESTAURANT REST TAURANT AURA

AWARDS AW WARDS ARD

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Bloxham School A Nick Irvine Marketing Director t: 01295 724332 w: www.bloxhamschool.com Blenheim Palace P John Hoy Chief Executive t: 01993 810501 w: www.blenheimpalace.com Oxford Fine Dining Sue Randall Managing Director

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t: 01865 728240 w: www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk BDO LLP A Julian Frost Lead Partner 0118 925 4400 www.bdo.uk.com Haslams Surveyors LLP P Conrad Hill Managing Partner 0118 921 1500 www.haslams.co.uk

B4 is designed by Blink Design & Print e: studio@on-the-blink.com t: 01494 373183 w: www.on-the-blink.com

Grow and protect your wealth with a financial health check...

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e focus solely on providing face-to-fface advice and offer a dedicated, personal wealth management ser vice to build longterm, trusted relationships with our clients. Together, we would look to create a working plan, providing you with a clear direction towards meeting your financial goals. This includes clarifying your objectives and researching all of the options available to you.

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