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B4 MAGAZINE B E R K S H I R E E D I T I O N I S S U E
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S P R I N G
2 0 1 4
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM Ross Wilson of Wilson Partners talks to B4 about what really makes a successful team
THE VINEYARD
W W W . B 4 - B U S I N E S S . C O M
LEAD: WILSON PARTNERS
B U I L D I N G
B R I D G E S
THE RACECOURSE NEWBURY
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BR ROW OW N S R E A D I N G U nit R7 he O racle Ce ntre, R eading, RG1 22AG AG Unit R7,, T The Oracle Centre, Reading, Telephone: 0118 950 3137 Email Telephone: Email:: browns.reading@mbplc.com www.browns-restaurants.co.uk ww w.browns-restaurants.co.uk
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B ROW RO W N S W I N D S O R The Promenade Barry Avenue Windsor SL4 1QX Telephone: 01753 831 976 Email: browns.windsoradmin@mbplc.com www.browns-restaurants.co.uk www.browns-restaurants.co.uk
www.b4-business.com Contacts If you want to contact B4 Magazine Telephone: 0118 317 7183 E-mail: info@b4-business.com Publisher B4 Magazine is published by Designs On Ltd, The Firs, Headington Hill, Oxford OX3 0BT Chairman Colin Rosser colin@inoxford.com Editor Richard Rosser editorial@b4-business.com
Welcome to B4 Welcome to Issue 8
There’s a real sense of positivity and purpose as we enter 2014, certainly amongst the wide range of B4 customers. 2013 saw uncertainty and flickers of hope but, without getting too carried away, there’s an
Events Director Tina Rosser
optimism in the air which should enable us all to be more confident in the year to come.
Art Editor Rob Scotcher rob@b4-business.com
That positivity was certainly in evidence at the first 2014 B4 Berkshire event at The Racecourse Newbury where Chief Executive, Julian Thick and his fantastic team welcomed almost one hundred B4 Ambassadors, Members and guests to enjoy an afternoon of great racing, superb hospitality and excellent company. A
Assistant Editor Lorna Dodson assistanteditor@b4-business.com Proofreader Sue Rosser Editorial Contributors Jackie Jarvis Kelly Stroud Louise Esplin Lucy Holmes Tracey Jefferies B4 Photography Richard Shymansky Rob Scotcher Studio Photography Richard Shymansky of www.hillsandsaunders.co.uk
Meet The Writers
great way to start the networking year for B4 Berkshire. Don’t miss our event at Donnington Valley on 10th
18. Great Teams Breed Success! from Ross Wilson
July and hear from our cover feature, Ross Wilson of Wilson Partners, who will be our guest speaker.
We’ve started the year with a brand new cover look – we hope you like it. Richard Shymansky of Hills and Saunders (see inset photo) took the picture of our lead article subject, Ross Wilson (read more on page 18). How would you like to grace one of our future covers? Why not get in touch.
We have a packed issue for you, full of great content and interesting features. We cover our event at The Racecourse, Newbury, hear from Richard Knight of Focal Point Advertising Solutions and meet Field Seymour Parke’s new boy, John Barker. We have contributions from Rob Goddard, Founder and Managing Director of Evolution Complete Business Sales, Graham Turrell of High Ground Property Investment and Peter Mark of Outer Space. Read also about the miracle of Bigger Brighter Bolder’s Success Groups, find out how The Sandhurst Trust links leaders and BDO LLP give us a street-level view of business sentiment in the Thames
24. Focal Point Advertising from Richard Knight
Valley.
Thanks to all of our contributors. Enjoy B4 and have a great 2014!
Subscriptions
Richard Rosser Editor
For free Subscription, please contact: Telephone: 0118 317 7183 E-mail: info@b4-business.com
About Our Cover
Each business with a Berkshire post code is entitled to one free copy per issue. For additional copies and for businesses outside of Berkshire, there is an annual subscription charge of £25.
Richard Shymansky, who runs Hills and Saunders Photographers with his wife Zoe, has been taking pics for B4 Berkshire since our launch, so it was only right he had the honour of taking our new style shot for this issue. See more about Hills and
32. HighGround Property Investment from Graham Turrell
Saunders at www.hillsandsaunders.co.uk. Thanks Richard! © 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
About
Magazine
B4 Magazine was established in 2006 to provide Oxfordshire businesses with a clear voice to raise their profile and to help businesses connect. With B4 Berkshire, we hope to achieve greater success now that the model has been established and refined. Direct mailed to three thousand business decision makers in Berkshire 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 a mark in Berkshire businesses. 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 connect with our networks in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. See more at www.b4-business.com which will give you access to both Oxfordshire and Berkshire networks, and now also Buckinghamshire. WHY NOT FOLLOW B4 MAGAZINE ON
50. The Vineyard from Richard Rosser
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18 Great Teams Breed Success: Ross Wilson of Wilson Partners talks to b4 about what really makes a successful team
32 The High Ground of International Property Investment: How HighGround are helping clients to build property portfolios in some of the best locations on the planet.
LEAD
PROPERTY
36 Why now is the time to ‘Think Outside The Box’: Peter Mark talks to B4 about his latest business venture into ‘Outer Space’
34 R&R
34 Offers from the B4 Ambassadors
41 The Royal Military Sandhurst: Thanks to The Sandhurst Trust this national icon of world renown is available to you! 62 Draw on our Experience and Build on our Success: KMP, awardwinning RIBA Chartered Architects, talk to B4 about the integrated endto-end offering of this family owned business
50 A Magical 24 Hours at The Vineyard: Hosts to three B4 events and popular amongst B4 members, this is truly a special place for any occasion
12 NEWS
12 Events around Berkshire 13 B4 Events 15 B4 News 49 CIS News
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68 WIDER B4
68 K West Hotel: Classy, vibrant and oozing style - A favourite amongst those in the music industry. 70 The Iconic Lancaster Hotel: B4 reviews this grand and stylish hotel at Hyde Park.
www.b4-business.com
B4 contents 26
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26 An Appetite for Growth: Field Seymour Parkes welcome Partner John Barker to their corporate group.
24 What Lies Ahead for the Food and Beverage Sector?: Jim Rogers of Grant Thornton LLP talks to us about the key challenges being faced as well as opportunities for growth
SPOTLIGHT
ADVICE
28 New Warehouse Helps SME Drive Growth: Toby Electronics completes a 15,000 sq ft warehouse extension thanks to a six figure funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking
46 The Secret of Maximising the Value of Your Business: An interview with Rob Goddard of Evolution Complete Business Sales - specialising in taking private companies from preparation through to exit.
38 The Miracle of Music: How BBB helped Lisa Macaulay to release a groundbreaking book about the impact that music training has in developing a child's brain. 44 The Business Barometer Report from BDO LLP: A street-level view of business sentiment in the Thames Valley. 55 B4 You: A selection of some of the finest establishments in the B4 region
22 EVENTS
22 The Racecourse Newbury recap: B4's exciting networking event at the stunning Racecourse Newbury 66 Business In Oxford 2014: Engaging, Informing and Inspiring Oxfordshire businesses
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MARKETING 42 Whatever You Do, Don't Stop Advertising!: Focal Point cover the often forgotten alternatives of outdoor and out of home advertising and the huge benefits offer. 64 Strangebrew Brand Alchemy: A reassuringly inexpensive yet very special, extremely potent and highly intoxicating brew of Branding, Identity and Graphic Design
www.b4-business.com
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CONTACTS 9
B U C K I N G H AM S H I R E
B E R K S H I R E
B4 Platinum Members We would like to thank our B4 Platinum Ambassadors for supporting B4 Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. To find out more about joining them and over six hundred B4 Member companies, please call us on 01183 17 7183.
OX F O R D S H I R E
With annual memberships just £250+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 per company entitling all employees to attend B4 events. The Ambassador scheme is separate and subject to a different charge of £250+VAT for the first Ambassador and £99+VAT for subsequent Ambassadors. Call us for more information or visit the B4 website at www.b4-business.com and click on B4 Membership.
B4
B4 diary Event Organiser
Venues
Nettlebed Hospice, Joyce Grove, Nettlebed, RG9 5DF
Date
3rd May
30th Apr
Time
10am 4pm
12pm 3.30pm
Event Details Special occasion and bridal fair. A stunning range of brand new ladies formal, bridal wear and accessories will be available for sale at great prices. Come and pick up a bargain for the summer season! Entry £1 incl. free parking and welcome drink. Contact the team on 01491 641070, bbox@sueryder.org.uk, or visit http://www.sueryder.org/in-your-area/Nettlebed-Hospice
Hennerton Golf Club Mothering Sunday Carvery on 30th April – spoil your mother with good home-cooked food with all the family - £18.95 for 3 courses, £15.95 for 2 courses and children up to the age of 12 pay their age. We will also be holding free Tri-Golf sessions for juniors from 2.30pm. Book your table on tel: 0118 9401000.
Hennerton Golf Club Ladies Golf & Coffee Morning on Thursday 8th May - £15 per player for coffee & Danish pastry and 18 holes of golf. Entry forms are available from the website
8th May
9am www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk. For more information email info@hennertongolfclub.co.uk
Hennerton Golf Club, Crazies Hill Rd, Wargrave, RG10 8LT 18th May All Day
Hennerton Golf Club Open Day – we welcome you to try the course for free on Sunday 18th May and see all that Hennerton has to offer. We will be showcasing all the club facilities from our beautiful golf course, clubhouse function rooms, meeting room, and golf tuition. All are welcome of all ages. If you would like to book a tee-time, please call the Pro-shop on 0118 9401000.
19th Sep
9am
Hennerton Golf Club Senior Open Day on Friday 19th September: 18 holes Better Ball Stableford Competition £55 per pair for coffee & biscuits on arrival and two-course carvery after play. Entry forms are available from the website www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk. For more information email info@hennertongolfclub.co.uk
Madejski Stadium Conference Centre, Reading, RG2 0FL
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Supper at the Madejski Stadium on Thursday 3rd April 2014. A fun evening including musical entertainment and serving RAF guest speakers.
3rd Apr
7.30pm
£24 per person or £220 per table of 10 (includes two-course supper and wine) and cash bar. All proceeds will go to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. To book, or for more information, contact Bryan Kettle at bryan.kettle@rafbf.org.uk or Fiona Yates at fiona.yates@rafbf.org.uk
B4 Members can feature their events on this page, subject to availability – please get in touch for your complimentary listing.
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www.b4-business.com
M A R C H
events
BATTLE OF THE BUSINESS MINDS QUIZ HEYTHROP PARK RESORT (team of 4)
Thursday 20th March 2014 6pm to 8.45pm
BODLEIAN LIBRARY
2014
Wednesday 2nd April 2014 A P R I L
6pm to 8pm
BUSINESS IN OXFORD 2014 CITY & COUNTY SAÏD BUSINESS SCHOOL
J U N E
Wednesday 23rd April 2014 AYLESBURY COLLEGE
Thursday 12th June 2014 6pm to 8.30pm
BLACKWELL’S
Thursday 3rd July 2014 J U LY
7pm to 9pm
Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa
Thursday 10th July 2014 6:30pm to 9pm
REGISTER FOR ALL EVENTS AT WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM USINESS.COM NESS.CO t: 01865 742211 e: events@b4-business.com a: The Firs, Headington Hill, ill, Ox Oxford, ford, OX3 0B 0BTT
Meetings and Events at Donnington Valley Golf Club No two meetings or events are the same, from the moment you arrive, to the moment you leave we have someone dedicated to look after you. We will ensure we meet your precise objectives and tailor your day to meet your individual needs for your corporate event. Just a shor t distance from Newbury town centre and just minutes from the M4. Meeting Rooms We have an array of rooms available for you to choose from depending on your needs. Whether you choose to host a private meeting, a product launch, a private lunch or dinner, an infformal ormal one to one or an evening par ty we have the per fect room fo or you and your guests. Meeting Rates There are plenty of reasons ffor or you to keep coming back to hold your corporate event with us at Donnington Valley. Summer Breakfast Club rate from £20+V VAT Available from 6.30am – 8.30am Day Delegate Rate from £30 inc.V VA AT Book a full day delegate meeting for 8-20 delegates between April August 2014 and we will of fer you a free round of golf in the afternoon. Subject to availability, Golf tee times from 2pm. Prices quoted fo or minimum of 8 delegates.
Get a fresh perspective
Meetings at Donnington Valley Golf Club from £30 per person.
Free parking Natural daylight with beautiful views Personal Service 5 minutes from J13 M4 Outdoor break out areas For full details see our website: www.donningtonvalley.co.uk/golfmeetings.asp www .donningtonvalley.co.uk/golfmeetings.asp ch14’ or call us on 01635 551199 and quote ‘B4Mar ‘B4March14’
golf
B4 news “Jack” by Helen Victoria Bishop Divorce and separation is inevitably a very difficult time for families, especially when there are children involved. Even the most amicable of splits can be devastating for the children. At a time when parents are wrapped up in their own emotional turmoil and working out the practicalities of the split and the financial repercussions it can be difficult to take time out to ensure the children are coping with the changes.
To help children deal with the issues of blame and the practicalities of having two homes, I have utilised my experience as a family solicitor to write a short illustrated book called “ Jack” to help children aged 4 to 11 come to terms with the changes in their life. Having a tangible object such as a book can really help children open up and share their emotions and concerns. The book is endorsed by “Resolution” ( Family Law Association) and can be purchased via Amazon or
through Waterstones for £6.99. If you are struggling with family separation and you would like some free advice contact Family Matters at Turpin and Miller on 01865 406038 or 01865 406009
A growing business is great news, but can bring its own problems Mike runs a successful insurance company. This year turnover has increased by 20% and his team has grown to 25. Everything sounds great, but the reality is a bit different. Mike feels overwhelmed; he’s working all hours but his to-do list is getting longer. The new people aren’t properly trained and customers are complaining. Sales are up but not profits. Mike is too busy firefighting to sort it out.
processes don’t support this bigger business. He needs a new framework for sustainable growth. A Business Review will highlight what’s in place – and what isn’t – and provide a plan for Mike to manage his business, freeing up his time and reducing costs. To discuss how a Business Review could help you save time and money, contact Susie Collings at Exilia. www.exilia.co.uk
Mike’s underlying problem is that his systems and
Open Day at Reading’s Technical Training Venue MCP's technical training specialises in practical learning programmes for upskilling engineers, technicians and operators.
enhanced skills and competency from their people or for self-employed technicians looking to develop their skills.
UK Businesses now require a more flexible, multiskilled workforce. In the past a mechanical fitter would need an electrician to disconnect a motor from a pump. Now with basic electrical skills, the fitter can recommission the motor and get the machine up and running quicker.
Come along to our Open Day and see for yourself the facilities at Swallowfield in Reading. Bring along your technicians and try out the training rigs and hear how MCP’s courses can help improve your production output and save money. Buffet lunch.
MCP focuses on high-frequency, low-risk tasks to make the most impact on your bottom line! The training will appeal to companies requiring
Full information from Sarah James: sjames@mcpeurope.com MCP: 0121 506 9034 www.mcpeurope.com Open Day March 13th – 10.00-14.00
The Sandhurst Trust: Linking Leaders The Sandhurst Trust is a charity, established to maintain the ethos and traditions of the Royal Military Academy and to promote leadership. As part of this we can offer to the local business community the opportunity to visit and use this iconic venue, steeped in history, the training ground of future military, political and national leaders (Churchill, Montgomery, King Hussein and his son the present King Abdullah of Jordan are among the noted ‘old boys’); where better to inspire your team?
www.b4-business.com
Hold a meeting, reception, lunch or dinner here: • Unique prestige rooms • Onsite Caterers • Bespoke Packages for meetings, receptions, lunches and dinners Or take a tour: Group tours (minimum 10) last roughly 2 ½ hours, take in the most important historical sites and include refreshments. For more information please contact us on T: 01276 412000 E: info@sandhursttrust.org E: director@sandhursttrust.org W: www.sandhursttrust.org
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B4 news Looking for inspiration on your next natural stone project? Why not visit us at one of our forthcoming shows: • National Homebuilding & Renovating Show NEC, Birmingham 27th-30th March (Stand A123) • Southern Home Building & Renovating Show, Sandown Park, Surrey 28-29th June (Stand 554) Contact us for free tickets. We’ll be showcasing our latest Spanish and Italian stones - many new to the UK market. If you’re not able to come to either of the above, we’ll be happy to meet you at our Winchester
showroom to discuss your requirements. Or you can check out our resources page: www.news.amarestone.com/resources FAQs, hints and tips on choosing, installing, cleaning and maintaining stone, brochure and image gallery for inspiration. Call us on 0345 260 80 70 and we’ll be happy to provide you with a no obligation quote or simply chat through the options. Steve and Denise Turner.
Business in Oxford, 2014
BUSINESS
Staged at the impressive Said Business School in Oxford, this event will not only provide 300 delegates with a full programme of inspirational presentations, but there will also be ample opportunity to network with other delegates and engage with our exhibitors.
announced, come along and fine out all about business in Oxfordshire and plans for the future. Featuring thirty six 15 minute presentations, networking and a range of Oxfordshire exhibitors, this event is open to all. Buy your tickets now at www.businessinoxford.com.
Featuring Harley Davidson, Blackwell’s, Darbys LLP, Thames Valley Police, Said Business School, Oxford City Council, Begbroke Science Park, Activate Learning, Grundon Waste Management, Oxford Innovation, Experience Oxfordshire and more to be
For sponsorship, presentation and exhibition queries, please call B4 on 01865 742211. This event is brought to you by B4 Magazine. See page 66 for more information.
Wow - B4 Berkshire really works! It certainly did for us at Bigger Brighter Bolder Our article in B4 Berkshire Issue 7 was our first involvement with the magazine and it has really paid off for us. Quite literally, within 3 days of the magazine being mailed out, we had one very interesting enquiry and one solid meeting booked in the diary with a potential new Client. Within a week, we had converted a very good project with another new Client. It really doesn’t get much better than that. We are really pleased that we took the well placed advice from one of our Success Group members.
We do various different types of marketing for our business and have been dubious about magazines - but the amount of time taken coupled with the return on investment makes B4 magazine one of our best investments so far. Bigger Brighter Bolder and our Success Groups have really benefitted and it speaks volumes for the effectiveness of B4 Magazine. We are now recommending B4 Magazine to others and I know that several of our Success Group members have already decided to follow our
example by running articles in B4 Berkshire. What more can we say – B4 Berkshire really works – see our second article on pages 38 and 39 in this issue. Tracey Miller and George Swift – Bigger Brighter Bolder www.biggerbrighterbolder.co.uk
Living In comes to Reading and Windsor
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Living in Oxford has been providing Oxfordshire with what’s on information and great reviews for 12 years (see www.inoxford.com). We are now expanding and have started this expansion with new Twitter accounts for @LivingInReading and @LivinginWindsor.
and events. We are also looking for Official Living In reviewers in both areas and businesses (restaurants, hotels, events, shops) to be reviewed. We are also looking for a representative in the area to grow the titles – a great part time role initially which can grow with you.
If you are based in Reading or Windsor, why not follow us and we will re-tweet your news, reviews
Please call us on 01865 742211 for more information about how you can get involved.
www.b4-business.com
SOME WOULD TRY ANYTHING TO GROW THEIR ATTENDANCE.
OTHERS WILL MAKE THE SMART CHOICE! ACTIVE Network’s Event Technology is optimised to enhance the attendee experience while automating and simplifying the registration process.
Make the right choice. ACTIVE Network, SMART technology for SMART events. See more at: www.activenetwork.co.uk/B4 Email us: Connect.emea@ACTIVEnetwork.com Call us: +44 (0) 207 554 0900
GREAT TEAMS BREED SUCCESS!
The value of real teamwork was instilled in me from a very early age and probably more than ever when I made the rash decision to leave home in my teens. Suddenly there I was fending for myself, living in the YMCA Hostel, hustling at snooker and driving taxis to make ends meet and see myself through my Chartered Accountancy training. But it didn’t take long to find that I wasn’t alone when my housemates at the YMCA soon became part of my extended team. We helped each other in many ways.
I subsequently carried out a management buyout of a business in Windsor which became the fastest growing accountancy firm in the UK before selling it in 2000 to a Plc.
In my early twenties, like many Glaswegians, I went overseas. I took up a contract in Jamaica, West Indies and In those days there was very limited access to phones and all the other gadgets which make communication today so easy.
What makes a successful team? • Business leaders can be manufactured over a period of time. • Actual leadership is when someone with the experience, knowledge, interpersonal skills and more besides allows them to lead the strategy and carry their whole team with them. • In any position of leadership you must always be prepared to make difficult decisions. • Leadership applies to groups within businesses, not just the MD or CEO. Leaders emerge on all levels.
My wife and I set out on a fantastic journey both literally and metaphorically. The experience set the tone for much of what followed later in life. I returned to the UK in the late 1970’s armed with great experience gained from living and working in a foreign country. I had worked closely with two Chinese/Jamaican entrepreneurs who have gone on to huge success. It was a learning curve for me and I will be forever grateful for the time they invested in me. 18
I stayed on as Chairman of the Thames Valley of the Plc for a number of years before then joining Wilson Partners, a firm started by my two sons. They had spent a number of years establishing themselves in the City before setting off on their own journey towards building a successful business.
Challenges • We have been going through a period of financial uncertainty across the globe – personal and
corporate budgets have been squeezed, we’ve seen examples of major civil unrest, there is limited finance available to SMEs, graduates have qualifications businesses don’t want or need. • BUT it’s not all doom and gloom – the UK economy is knowledge based. Business society here is based on innovation and new ideas which are the envy of the world. The economy would also appear to be on the move in the right direction. Let’s get ahead and stay ahead! Teamwork • A truly great team can be made up of people who may be unequal in experience, talent or education, but together are equal in their commitment to working together to achieve the goals before them for the good of the organisation, its customers and each other. • Teamwork requires commitment and a willingness to accept the uniqueness of those around you. • To build a real team and get results you need to inspire people to share your vision, and respect each individual’s contribution to realising it. • Inspiring your people is not necessarily solely related to business but can also be through some of the corporate social responsibility initiatives such as the firm’s chosen charity and getting the team involved in a variety of ways, all of which not www.b4-business.com
B4 LEAD
only helps the charity but also promotes the ethos of teamwork. What makes a winning team? • Great people with passion and energy. • People with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. • People who operate with the guidance of excellent systems and processes. • People who provide outstanding service and products to excellent customers. • Sharing common goals. • Having a clear business plan with a vision that can be articulated to everyone in the team. • You need to have a vision for your team and your organisation. Bring every decision back to whether or not it will help you reach that vision. Getting the best from your team • Good people will always bring you opportunities, profitability and shareholder value. All you need to do is get the best from those people. • Make meetings work and make them enjoyable; don’t just have meetings for meeting’s sake. • Agree the rules of engagement – do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it. • Consider your wider team, which includes www.b4-business.com
customers and suppliers. Work out different ways to interact with your customers for their benefit as well as your own and ask for feedback - feedback is, after all, the breakfast of champions. • Give (and receive) positive feedback. • Don’t forget your internal customer/supplier relationship. Your team are your own customers; give them a great experience. Networking • Never underestimate the power of your network. • Networking, like any other talent, comes naturally to some but others will need to work at this valuable skill. • Your network is one of the most valuable pieces of intellectual property you will ever possess and needs to be carefully looked after – both your internal and external network. • Social media lets you know who your contacts are and how you are connecting with them, so use professional online networking sites, such as LinkedIn. Managing change • Change is all around us – don’t fear it but embrace it! • Change is about innovation, and innovation is key to much of what we do in business. It’s a mindset,
a fundamental part of a company’s ethos. • Just look at the way technology has come on in the past 20 years – iPads, iPhones, Cloud technology, apps and the advancement of social media. The development of the World Wide Web is astounding, yet as there is increasing demand for internet anytime anywhere, I wonder where it might go in the next 20 years? • In order to manage change we need to embrace it, and accept that doing so might carry risks. The alternative, however, is far worse – complacency kills a business. • We need to use technology to drive efficiency by ensuring our systems and processes are the absolute best they can be. A good analogy can be seen in Formula 1 racing cars – in a sport where the minutest of adjustments is the difference between winning and losing, technology is vital in squeezing every bit of efficiency from these vehicles. I look forward to the changes in the 2014 season and to how the teams rise to the challenges. • Continuous positive change is what sets exceptional businesses apart from the rest. • We need to drive excellence in our service levels and never forget that everything starts with the customer. Our teams need to be tuned into the external environment. 19
Know what your competitors are doing... and do it better! • Competition is fierce – customers have more choice than ever. We need to be consumer led and consumer focused. • Ask yourself: • Who are your competitors today? • Who might they be in the future? • What don’t you know about them? • What are they offering? • What makes their offering inferior, or possibly superior, to your own? • Is your competition’s offering changing? • Watch and learn from the competition – don’t however merely copy them! Communication • Communication is fundamental to everything we do. • Be prepared to do more talking – emails have their place, but a poorly worded email can cost you business. • Work with your strategic partners, including your suppliers, to understand each other’s issues and subsequently benefit from each other’s successes. • Most of all, listen to your customers; these can be your external customers or the customers within your team, to whom you provide a service. Training & Development • High quality businesses should have a commitment to training at all levels, from directors to newest recruits. • Offer careers, not jobs, to your people. • Invest in young people. It’s not the responsibility of businesses to be a finishing school for education, but it makes good business sense to
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have an ongoing training programme from the moment someone joins an organisation. It may even by an integral part of why they stay with you long term. • Don’t write off hard to reach people until you’ve given them the best chance. Every business has its “acres of diamonds” - it’s just a question of finding them and giving them an opportunity to shine! The lifetime customer • The lifetime customer is one who will buy goods and services from you regularly and at an increasing rate as their business grows. The financial value of a lifetime customer is what makes them the “Holy Grail” for most businesses. • Developing a lifetime customer means focus on growing the relationship and never forgetting that there are predators out there that are keen to poach your customers. • You need to plan to over-deliver constantly. That way you are different. That way you are memorable. That way you are talked about at dinner parties, school fetes, squash clubs, golf clubs – everywhere! • Remember – news of great service travels fast. News of poor service, however, travels faster and can haunt you for years. • Use your website as online collateral. Get found! Get chosen! The rules of over-delivering • “No” is not an option. Ever. You need to go the extra mile... and then some. • Offer the service you would wish to receive. Think of your best and worse service experiences and learn from them.
• Do a SWOT analysis and ask yourself some key questions: • How well do you know your customers and their businesses? • Their industry? • Their issues? • How often do you speak/meet with them? • How often can you say you really add value? • How can you argue that your service is better than your competitors’? • Get involved where you can and use your network to help their business. If you can’t help, make sure you know someone reliable who can. Fit for business • Be physically and mentally prepared for the rigours of anything life and business may throw at you. • Sport has a huge influence and unites people. After work, it is the largest form of mass civil participation, transcending geography, politics, class, race, culture and religion. • Sport and business both involve competing in environments where small margins can make a huge difference. Both are areas where personal relationships are put at risk as rivals compete for a handful of places in an elite team. For further information please refer to: Ross Wilson, CA FIoD, Wilson Partners Limited Tel: 01628 770 770 Mob: 07831 551 569 Fax: 01628 878 360 http://uk.linkedin.com/in/rosswilson01 ross.wilson@wilson-partners.co.uk www.wilson-partners.co.uk
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THE ROYAL BOX EXPERIENCE CONFERENCES AND EVENTS AT THE RACECOURSE NEWBURY Regularly visited by monarchs over the past 100 years and boasting spectacular views of the racecourse, the historic Royal Box is the perfect location for celebrating those special occasions and will add distinction to any business meeting. A completely self-contained private space comprising of an entrance hall with a grand staircase leading to two main rooms, it offers everything that you require to make your meeting a success.
01635 40015 RA RACECOURSENEWBURY.CO.UK CECOURSENEWBURY.CO.UK twitter twitter.com/newburyraces .com/newbur yraces
facebook.com/Newbur facebook.com/NewburyRacecourse
1*
2*
3*
4*
FINE DINING FOR CONFERENCES AND EVENTS AT
THE RACECOURSE NEWBURY The Racecourse Newbury showcased its wide range of food and drink options on offer for conference and events, at the B4 Ambassadors networking event on Wednesday 15th January. A 75-strong guest list, which included representatives from Santander, Lloyds Bank and the University of Oxford, experienced firstclass dining from the Racecourse’s new day delegate menu in the unique setting of the racecourse Champion Suite, with panoramic views of the course. The food was a sample from the conference and events menus and featured Spanish chicken, roast supreme of salmon with sweet potato, leek and cauliflower Mornay and for dessert, a mango and passion fruit torte followed by tea and coffee. Amanda Ellis, Conferences & Events Business Development Manager commented: “We’re pleased to be able to offer a wide range of delicious and fresh food prepared in-house by our own brigade of chefs. The skills of our head chef Darren Fairminer set us apart from other conference and events venues by making the food served at corporate events an experience in itself. Going forward we are aiming
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to educate our target audience about the exceptional quality and overall experience available at The Racecourse Newbury.” Guests at the event enjoyed the hospitality in the Champions Suite which was theirs exclusively for the day. With a balcony overlooking the finishing line of the racecourse, this is the ideal place to still be a part of the action. A tour of the racecourse’s other facilities was available for those looking for inspiration when organising their next conference or event, with capacity across the venue ranging from as few as 2 – 1,000 people. The Grandstand has three floors of event space with 1000m² of pillar free floor space perfect for larger exhibitions while the exclusive Royal Box is ideal for board meetings of up to 50 people. Guests were also greeted by the new Chief Executive of The Racecourse Newbury, Julian Thick who offered free family raceday tickets to all attendees.
NEW DAY DELEGATE PACKAGE FOR 2014 The new menus offer a range of favourites as well as the inclusion of some healthier options, guests can select from simple sandwiches through to our healthy salad bar featuring superfoods and key nutritional ingredients. Packages start from £35 per person and offer a quick and simple way to compliment your day at a unique and stylish venue. 1*, Julian Thick – CEO – Newbury Racecourse 2*, Richard Rosser – MD – B4 Business 3*, Lizzie Thompson – Conference and Events Coordinator – Newbury Racecourse 4*, Amanda Ellis - Conference & Events BDM – Newbury Racecourse
www.racecoursenewbury.co.uk
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B4 EVENTS
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WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SECTOR? As the wider UK economy continues to move onwards and upwards, what lies ahead for the UK food and beverage (F&B) sector in particular? Our recent ‘Hunger for Growth’ report surveyed executives across the sector to get a sense of the key challenges being faced as well as opportunities for growth. The good news is there was a lot of optimism. Increased investment For the first time in years, many businesses expect to build or expand factories. Like most sectors, the recession had a profound impact, forcing many to postpone investments and reduce innovation, making a return to investment priorities welcome. New facilities and better technologies all help to bring greater efficiencies in production and the fact that businesses expect profits (not just sales) to increase in 2014 highlights that, while a lot of work has been undertaken out of necessity, to maximise efficiencies during the lean times, businesses are continuing to look for even greater improvements to drive healthier margins. As a large proportion of consumers continue to be driven by price considerations, the application of new equipment to enhance productivity will be essential in order to fend off margin pressures.
The export opportunity The UK us a significant net-importer thanks to both the type of food that is produced here and the consumer demand for foreign produce that exists. However, our report found that many in the sector are anticipating significant growth in exports over the next two years, with an expected increase of at least 25% in the number of UK businesses looking to sell their products abroad. There is increasing appetite for British brands abroad – highlighted by the fact that several famous UK brands are now foreign owned. Particular growth opportunities are being seen in emerging markets like southeast Asia and China where the emerging middle class consumers have a fondness for British brands, but closer to home companies such as Tyrells have been very successful in selling its products to French consumers for example.
The report also found that more than three quarters of F&B executives plan to increase spending on product development (82%) and information technology (IT, 78%). Product development is aimed at both fulfilling supermarket demand for innovative new products or product variations, but also to generate or maintain better margins. The investment in IT has two main drivers, the first is to assist with efficiencies internally, and the second is from an external perspective to generate opportunities from social media, which is becoming increasingly important for branded businesses and products in particular.
“Businesses are also
Sourcing locally vs. importing Locally sourced goods continue to be an important consideration for retailers and consumers and businesses have invested to maintain and improve product integrity and to apply more rigour to their supply chains. UK sourcing is not always the most feasible option when pricing and consumer demand is taken into consideration. However, it is likely that the bar for standards of imported products will continue to rise, which will benefit businesses that focus on quality.
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under pressure from regulators to ensure that they keep ahead of changing regulations, which is an additional burden to deal with
”
Exporting does offer enticing opportunities, but only for those businesses willing to do their homework — studying local regulations, meeting with incountry retailers and wholesalers, potentially teaming up with local partners, completing market research on price points and competitors, thinking about transportation and supply chain issues as well. It's vital to understand an market before entering it. Overcoming industry concerns Despite the widespread optimism across the board there are some industry 'concerns' to overcome. First and foremost, F&B companies remain
concerned about costs, with many anticipating further rises in 2014 for every cost studied – from energy costs and research and development to labour and raw materials. Innovation and new product development are not cheap. And whilst consumers are starting to appreciate that good quality food comes at a price, the costs often have to managed by the manufacturers and producers. Businesses are also under pressure from regulators to ensure that they keep ahead of changing regulations, which is an additional burden to deal with and again, can be more difficult and diversionary for less well-resourced businesses. Seizing growth in 2014 It’s interesting to reflect that many of today’s most popular F&B trends were actually niche markets only a decade ago. The continued growth of segments like gluten-free, for example, highlight just how quickly the industry is moving. In the UK in the past year the volume of food sold was down for the first time on record due to both the economic environment and efforts to reduce food waste. Shopping habits are changing too with both online grocery shopping to the wider use of convenience stores both continuing to increase. Such a diverse combination of food trends helps to create widespread opportunity for F&B businesses. The savviest of these will continue to conduct research on product-category growth rates, incorporating demographic, market and competitive factors. The sector is surrounded by change and uncertainty so to succeed, businesses will have to be open-minded in offering value to customers. With a big opportunity for growth on the horizon, those who most quickly associate themselves with the evolving market conditions will get the first slice of the pie. Jim Rogers, Partner, Assurance, For Grant Thornton UK LLP. T 0118 9559 114 E jim.n.rogers@uk.gt.com
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B4 ADVICE
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B4 SPOTLIGHT
AN APPETITE FOR GROWTH John Barker, Partner at Field Seymour Parkes LLP in Reading recently joined the firm’s corporate group and specialises in banking and finance. The good news, according to John, is that there’s a positive move amongst the firm’s clients to take on debt and a genuine confidence to invest is flooding back. John has advised on a number of high profile and complex transactions (including the original funding for The Eden Project) and comes with a reputation for being ‘great technically and a pleasure to deal with’ (Chambers UK). John graduated with a law degree from Magdalene College, Cambridge, and then moved to Norton Rose in the City and the Middle East. John has spent more than 10 years in Reading with Osborne Clarke and Boyes Turner before joining FSP in January 2014.
the market coming back as it is.” By his own admission, John is a significant investment for FSP. “I think the investment in me is already paying off judging on the amount of work coming across my desk which demonstrates the increasing appetite for specialist advice on the banking and finance side.” So with a renewed optimism, does John see interest rates moving soon? “I’m obviously not an economist, but I can’t see the Bank of England putting interest rates up quickly and, interestingly, whilst they say that the unemployment rate is going down it’s not necessarily translating into an increased productivity, to the same degree. So, I think there are a lot more jobs but we are not necessarily as productive as a nation as we could be if more people were in work. I think there is still
“We’ve already worked well together in my short space of time here and I’m looking forward to providing more of our clients, with practical and valuable advice”
“My role at FSP is to help our clients in their dealings with the banks, and as GDP increases and unemployment reduces, there’s a real appetite to borrow. Our clients are looking forward and want to gear up so that they can invest and grow. Let’s face it, they’ve been firefighting for years and now want to get back to investing in their businesses. “FSP saw the opportunity to add to their corporate offering and my specialist banking background has helped to bolster the team. We have also taken on Mike Loftus who is a very experienced senior banking professional. Mike was previously at Clydesdale and before that, HSBC. He’s a well known face in the market and he can help us to structure deals in the right way for our clients to give them the best chance of succeeding in their applications. “We’ve already worked well together in my short space of time here and I’m looking forward to providing more of our clients with practical and valuable advice. Mike, for example, can help clients get to a term sheet stage and I can then advise them on putting a legal document in place. Our two pronged attack will be invaluable to our clients and will put FSP in a really good place, especially with 26
some slack that they will want to see this used up before they start putting the rates up. Obviously greater employment is nothing but a good sign and evidence that we are slowly but surely returning to normality, but I can’t see them putting rates up in the immediate future. Maybe at the back end of this year, but there is a lot of water to flow under the bridge before then.” So, if you’re looking to invest, John would be pleased to hear from you. “Yes, we would be delighted to help in whatever way, if anyone needs or wants some guidance as to their lending options and their lending terms, then we would be delighted to help. We advise commercial and investment banks, borrowers, finance companies and venture capital firms on a full range of loan, security and investment transactions, including real estate finance, projects, bridge finance, acquisition finance, restructuring, cross border lending and swaps and derivatives. We typically look at facilities of between half a million and twenty million pounds.” Tel: 0118 951 6296 E-mail: john.barker@fsp-law.com
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Meetings at the Forbury A luxury five-star hotel in the heart of Reading, the Forbury is a beautiful 23 bedroom hotel designed for both business and pleasure. Our four meeting rooms boast the latest technology and are both stylish yet functional providing the ideal location for meetings and events. All our meeting rooms are fully air conditioned with natural day light, all also offer complimentary Wi-Fi. We offer a range of bespoke packages for both day and residential meetings, full details of which can be found on our website, www.theforburyhotel.co.uk. Whether you are looking for a meeting space for a couple of hours or a couple of days, our beautifully appointed meeting rooms can be tailored for all.
Any of our other public rooms can be used for meetings also. The Lounge is available for impromptu meetings while the Library is ideal for more formal events. For larger events our Eden room is ideal, hand painted flowers cover the walls of what was the original council chambers along with the original fire place. Ensuring your meeting is memorable for all the right reasons. For presentations, lectures or film screenings, we can offer our own private Cinema. A maximum of thirty guests can be seated in Italian leather seats ensuring their comfort and attention is focused in the right direction.
The Cellar provides the perfect venue for business meetings, a boardroom style table and luxury chairs that present you in the perfect position, suitable for meetings for up to twelve guests.
www.theforburyhotel.co.uk events@theforburyhotel.co XN ‡ Tel: 0118 9527 770 The Forbury Hotel, 26 The Forbury, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3EJ
NEW WAREHOUSE HELPS OXFORDSHIRE BUSINESS DRIVE GROWTH A family-run electronic components distributor from Oxfordshire has recently completed a 15,000 sq ft warehouse extension thanks to a six figure funding package from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Banbury-based Toby Electronics was founded in 1983 by Tim Portlock and his father James, and has since grown to be one of the leading distributors of electronic hardware and components in the UK, exporting products to Europe, Asia, Brazil and the United States.
one percent discount on all interest payments for the life of the business loan. The new extension signals further growth for the company, with the extra space allowing Toby Electronics to begin manufacturing some products at its Banbury site instead of importing from Asia and other parts of the UK. The company is also planning on recruiting five new members of staff to help cope with the expected increase in demand.
Since James’ retirement ten years ago, Tim and his brother Jim have continued to grow the business, recently winning a contract with a major international electronics manufacturer which will see Toby Electronics’ annual turnover reach £8.7 million.
Tim Portlock, managing director at Toby Electronics, said: “The new warehouse extension is a significant step forward for Toby Electronics. Not only will it allow the business to grow and diversify, but also help increase our visibility within the market place – proving that we can handle big contracts from large companies despite being an SME.
After being turned down by their previous banking partners, the brothers approached Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking which provided them with the £880,000 loan for the warehouse project under the Funding for Lending Scheme, which offers a
“The support that the relationship banking team provided was invaluable, not only helping to guide us through the building process, but also offering us the specialist help and instruction needed to expand our exporting opportunities overseas.”
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Graham Reed, relationship director SME Banking, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “When Tim and Jim approached us with their expansion plans, we could immediately see the potential growth that the extension could bring to the business. “Toby Electronics is a brilliant example of a familyrun business that understands the need to modernise and expand in order to continue to grow. Thanks to the launch of the website five years ago, the business has seen the demand for its products from across the world increase dramatically, and the new extension will provide the capacity and logistical infrastructure needed to continue with the expansion. “We are passionate about helping our business customers looking to expand their horizons both at home and overseas. We have a team of dedicated relationship managers who can offer specialist advice and guidance on the wide range of funding options available to support these plans.”
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B4 SPOTLIGHT
LLOYDS BANK COMMERCIAL BANKING Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking provides comprehensive expert financial services to businesses of all sizes, from start-ups, through to small businesses, mid-sized businesses and multinational corporations. These corporate clients range from privately-owned firms to FTSE 100 PLCs, multinational corporations and financial institutions. Maintaining a network of relationship teams across the UK, as well as internationally, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking delivers the mix of local understanding and global expertise necessary to provide long-term support and advice to its clients. Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking offers a broad range of finance beyond just term lending and this spans import and export trade finance, structured and asset finance, securitisation facilities and capital market funding. Its product specialists provide bespoke financial services and solutions including tailored cash management, international trade, treasury and risk management services. Its heritage means it has an unrivalled understanding of business needs and a proven track record of supporting businesses across the sectors and regions. Taking a relationship approach, it provides support to its clients throughout the economic cycle. www.lloydsbank-commercialbanking.com
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OCCUPYING THE HIGH GROUND OF INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY INVESTMENT B4 caught up with Graham Turrell of High Ground Property Investment, just back from a visit to Hungary showing clients around a luxury thermal spa resort - Just one of many such trips that Graham has made in the course of the last year. We wanted to find out more about how his Company is helping clients to enjoy what appears to be excellent income from their savings and to build property portfolios in some of the best locations on the planet.
With hotel and interests all over the world, Graham’s travel diary is, he jokes, one of the perks of the job! As well as Hungary, in recent months Graham has accompanied his Clients to their up and coming luxury hotels and spas in places as diverse as France, Turkey and Wales. Others lined up over the coming year are Brazil, Thailand and the West Indies. HighGround is truly independent, with no tie-ins to any investment management organisation or property developer and is therefore able to be highly selective. “We have a very carefully chosen panel of commercial property investments which really represents around just 5% of what’s out there” Graham says. “One of our most important roles is to keep a close eye on the market and keep
the early days. And that meant being different from the outset. He shares the belief that property investment should be possible without the hassle of being a landlord. However, everywhere he looked, it seemed that investing in property meant the investor running a mini-business. “I felt sure that there had to be a way of getting all the benefits of property ownership but without the headaches. I felt that I’d worked hard to earn the money to invest and now I simply wanted that money to work hard for me!” said Graham. HighGround has found a niche market in property investment. They have demonstrated it delivers on the promise of greater gains for the money invested as well as the security of an asset in bricks
taken off more recently is the ‘hotel room ownership’ concept - where ordinary investors like you and me are able to own a single hotel room as titled property. The benefit is enjoyment of the lion’s share of the income that room generates as well as the likely growth in the property’s value over time. “It’s true property ownership with your name on the deeds” says Graham, “but with a lower investment than most forms of property. There are typically much higher net yields available and in certain cases the property can be purchased through a personal pension as well as regular cash investment”. Graham says “We’re very different from estate
what has really taken off more recently is the ‘hotel room ownership’ concept – where “ordinary investors like you and I are able to own a single hotel room as titled property and enjoy the lion’s share of the income that room generates ” check on which are the safest and most secure for our investors - and which to avoid. But with years of experience and a rigorous selection process, we’re able to sort the wheat from the chaff.” As an experienced property investor himself, Graham set up HighGround in 2007 with the very deliberate intention of providing the service that he himself had wished he’d had from his brokers in
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and mortar. This is without all the pains of inadvertently becoming a landlord with all the attendant pressures. Continued Graham, “The concept of investing in hotels really isn’t new. But it’s the large Institutional investors and banks that have traditionally funded new hotels in exchange for security and income on the capital once the hotels open. What has really
agents and we don’t do holiday homes or buy to lets. Our focus is on getting the best return on investment for our clients as securely as possible. That said, the fact that there’s often the option of enjoying their own luxury property for a week or two a year comes as an enjoyable bonus! “An important part of what we do” explained Graham, is help our clients to discover their real
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B4 PROPERTY
financial goals for independent property income and then work backwards to establish the steps needed to be taken at the outset. We show them what is possible with their available funds and help them plan to achieve their aspirations. There’s an old saying that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago - but the second best time is today.
in their property should they wish, and we’ve options to cater for that too.” Says Graham, “With renewed investor confidence this year, we are really gearing up our joint venture programme to provide the most comprehensive support for our partners and their clients including site visit opportunities, product briefings and great sales and marketing support”.
“The most exciting challenge for HighGround in recent years has been getting this radical message across to both experienced and novice property investors alike. The overseas property market can be something of a minefield without the right expertise behind it and mistakes can easily be made when going it alone.”
Giving something back An important part of HighGround’s existence is to give to selected local causes. But rather than just give from profits, they practice what they preach, funding the purchase of investment property and giving the lion’s share of the generated income to charitable causes. Graham says “It’s something I’m passionate about. We’re building a portfolio of property from our own product range specifically to generate sustainable regular income for our chosen causes.
How does HighGround market to investors? “Firstly, we host a Seminar Programme with our growing panel of joint venture partners. These evenings introduce our own Clients to the services of our partners such as directly authorised financial advisors, solicitors, tax accountants and other investment service entrepreneurs. The focus is firmly on education and presenting investment choices that attendees may not have considered before. We’re looking to grow this partnership network further in 2014. “Secondly, most investors these days go online to research investments. HighGround invests heavily in reaching these folks at an early stage of their research. We aim to stay at the forefront of this revolution, as we offer expert guidance through webinars, blogging, online investment guides and social media. Our software helps educate our online visitors and ensures we’re talking to the right people at the right time. “Finally, many investors naturally like to try before they buy, and as was mentioned at the outset, HighGround offers relaxed accompanied viewing trips to our investment locations around the world. We tend to be the bridge between investor and lifestyle buyers. While our emphasis is on customers earning sustainable income, many buyers like the idea of enjoying a week or two a year
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Blazing a trail of high standards In what is an unregulated market, HighGround recognises the importance of meticulous research on its offerings. It has developed its Gold Standard approvals system to ensure that every property on its panel meets a 300 point checklist based on its experience in the industry. For further peace of mind, HighGround is a proud member of the Association of International Property Professionals (AIPP) and abides by its code of conduct. Graham says, “I believe this should be the minimum requirement for any brokerage in the industry and, as such, we’re looking to go further still by offering the highest quality training and continuous professional development schemes for our wider team of sales and joint venture partners ”. If you would like to find out more about investment opportunities through HighGround Property Investment or about opportunities to join the partnership network, please contact Graham Turrell by phone on: 0800 612 6601 or by email at gt@highgroundproperty.co.uk. – Or register your interest at http://news.highgroundproperty.co.uk/partners-intro www.highgroundproperty.co.uk
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Oxford Event Hire was established in 1990 with a clear vision to provide premium quality products and unbeatable service for both private and corporate clients in the events industry.
A centuries-old retreat hidden in the River Thames, Monkey Island Hotel offers the perfect setting for everything from weddings to weekend getaways to an evening of fine dining.
C: Kieran Lynch | E: info@oxfordeventhire.co.uk | T: 01865 760158 | W: www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk
E: info@monkeyisland.co.uk | T: 01628 623400 | W: http://monkeyisland.co.uk
L’ORTOLAN
THE FORBURY
Free
Lunch for two
25% Off
Your food bill
Free lunch for 2 when booking private dining for at least 8 people. Housed in a former vicarage on a leafy lane in Shinfield, L’Ortolan offers an exceptional dining experience. Terms & Conditions apply.
It makes every moment of your stay a special memory. It’s in the smile that greets you and in the warmth and friendliness you’ll feel while you are here.
C: Sally Albin | E: sally@lortolan.com | T: 0118 988 9107 | W: www.lortolan.com
C: Peter Farquhar | E: reception@theforburyhotel.co.uk | T: 01189 527770 | W: www.theforburyhotel.co.uk
HEYTHROP PARK RESORT
DARBYS
Round discounts
£20 pp Mon to Fri - £25 pp Sat & Sun
From £180
Will, and free annual review
Heythrop Park Resort has undergone refurbishment of the Health Club & Spa, the 18 hole golf course to championship standards and opening a second hotel, a new 197 bedroom four star Crowne Plaza..
You – and your business - can also get free legal advice on any issue you have. Individuals or families should go to www.purplelegal.co.uk and businesses should go to www.bluelaw.co.uk.
C: Tracy Stanton | E: info@heythroppark.co.uk | T: 01608 673333 | W: www.heythropparkresort.co.uk
C: Simon McCrum | E: info@darbys.co.uk | T: 01865 811256 | W: www.darbys.co.uk
THE OXFORD WINE COMPANY
10% Off
At our 4 retail outlets Voted Best Independent Wine Retailer and Wholesaler in the UK 2011 by Harpers Wine & Spirit Magazine. Named Regional Wine Merchant of the Year 2007/2010 by the prestigious International Wine Challenge judges. C: Theo Sloot | E: theo@oxfordwine.co.uk | T: 01865 301144 | W: www.oxfordwine.co.uk
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35
WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO ‘THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX’ Peter Mark talks to B4’s Richard Rosser about his latest business venture into ‘Outer Space’. Specifically, he covers why, when it comes to the need to create extra living, working or leisure space, for many people there can be a much less disruptive, much less invasive, much quicker and much more cost effective way to achieve this. Interestingly, the answer lies in Outer Space – find out why below. So, what is the reference to Outer Space and Thinking outside the Box all about? “It is really very simple. For very many people, our current economic climate brings with it the challenge to create extra living, working or leisure space without the need to make an expensive house move with all the accompanying disruption and inconvenience this can entail. The good news is that whether you need to create a quiet studio or home office, an extra room for children living at home or maybe returning home or a self-contained annexe to provide personal space for an elderly relative, we now have the perfect solution for many people to make the very best use of the space available in every situation and in the most flexible and versatile manner. That’s because the quickest, least disruptive and most cost effective way to increase your usable space is to ‘think outside the box’ of your existing dwelling and take advantage of space that you have available in your garden. That’s why the business is called Outer Space. The resulting outer space created by these outdoor garden rooms ultimately becomes an asset that will last for decades and add value to your home – by becoming an integral part of your home but one which remains sufficiently apart so as not to be intrusive.”
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How are Outer Space buildings constructed? “Every Outer Space bespoke timber garden building is solidly constructed using sustainable timber, fully insulated and double glazed and can incorporate power, light, plumbing and any other services our Clients may want. This is because, unlike for example a summerhouse, our bespoke Outer Space timber buildings are intended for all year round use either as a garden studio, office, gym, children’s playroom, music room, granny annexe or spare bedroom. Importantly, each one is architect designed and finished to complement your house and garden. We offer a full end-to-end turnkey service from conception to maintaining the building after completion because all our Outer Space buildings are RIBA Chartered Architect detailed and designed (to an extent that exceeds the building regulations required for current housing) and we manufacture, assemble and install each and every bespoke building. Unlike other suppliers, with Outer Space this includes providing the base, footings and drainage too. Foundations are vital to the longevity of any building and we therefore offer this as part of the project for quality control purposes. Our research into the market has indicated that many of our
competitors tend to pass this vital aspect of the project back to the Client to arrange with local labour. Whilst we understand the benefit to our competitors in this approach, we think that for quality buildings with an expected life in excess of 30 years, our Clients will understand that with foundations being such an important part of the project, this vital element should be controlled and carried out with the same care and expertise as the building itself. Foundations can often be ignored as they are not part of the project that is visible, but if they are not correctly formed, they can jeopardise the quality of the whole project – over time, even if not immediately. Because Outer Space buildings are specially designed and manufactured to meet the requirements of the permitted development regulations that came into force in 2008 and were refined in 2013, they do not, depending on the intended use they will be put to, necessarily require formal planning permission. But Outer Space can advise you on all those issues. From initial contact, each of our Clients has a designated point of contact to guide them through the entire process and there is continual monitoring of each project with a survey completed by each customer at the completion of each contract. This
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B4 PROPERTY
buildings are based on a “ modular and highly versatile design principle that is easily adaptable in order to create a building to meet the individual sizing requirements and specifications of any prospective Client
”
covers items such as service experience at each stage of the project and this feedback is analysed as part of our customer experience training. We do not employ high pressure sales staff – just professionals to listen to your brief and help you achieve your vision.” At Outer Space, we offer truly bespoke products not just bespoke sizing offerings of our own styles or models. “Outer Space buildings are based on a modular and highly versatile design principle that is easily adaptable in order to create a building to meet the individual sizing requirements and specifications of any prospective Client. With our own in-house Architect ensuring that each building meets not only the requirements of the planning and building regulations but also the precise requirements of each individual Client, no two buildings need ever to be the same. On the subject of individuality, there are various additional internal items that can be included, such as toilets - both chemical and traditional, kitchen areas and shower rooms and we also handle the electrical connection of the building to the mains with our fully qualified electrician.
traditional pitched roof and wall finishes to enable the customer to match the existing style of the main home exactly or choose a contrasting style if preferred and all Outer Space roofs have a 10 year guarantee. And to finish things off, we also offer landscaping services to the garden on completion of installation, a service which very few of our competitors offer.” So, are you ready to think outside the box and to begin to explore Outer Space? “If you have a need to create specific extra space, call us on one of the numbers below to find out how a bespoke Outer Space timber building could help you to extend the boundaries of your thinking and provide a versatile and affordable additional room for your home – with the minimum of disruption.” www.outerspaceuk.co.uk The Garden Office, Hillbrow, Coombe Lane, Naphill, Bucks HP14 4QX Tel: 01494 257 482. The Cottage, Audley End Business Centre, London Road, Wendens Ambo, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JL Tel: 01799 521 734.
WHAT’S
INCLUDED...? Survey Design Planning Permission Manufacture Base Installation All Services Construction Maintenance
P P P P P P P P
We take care of everything, all for a fixed price, so that you don’t have to.
Externally, we offer a comprehensive range of
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37
DISCOVERING THE MIRACLE OF MUSIC IN UNLOCKING A CHILD’S FULL POTENTIAL Fresh from being interviewed on the nation’s most famous sofa for BBC Breakfast alongside her Britpop hero, the Finnish-born author is back where she started, at Bigger Brighter Bolder’s Success Group in Newbury. Backing her all the way is George Swift, motivational coach and director of Bigger Brighter Bolder, a firm that he runs with his partner Tracey Miller. Liisa was one of the first members of the Success Group, and attributes her membership of the group as the major reason the book was written. Like many of us, Liisa has been hampered on occasion by a lack of self-belief, and regular attendance at Success Group has proved to be the perfect foil. Liisa said: “Success Groups was crucial in making sure that I followed through and wrote the book alongside creating a complementary product called “Moosicology” that helps parents develop their children’s innate musical skills. By setting small, achievable goals and being accountable, I was able to complete the book, making it the only piece of writing I’ve ever finished despite writing since the age of 3! A book is never going to be urgent but if you commit the hard work, it will reward you later. My BBB Success Group really gave me the faith I needed to trust myself.” 38
As well as the backing of George and Tracey, Liisa says the support shown by fellow Success Group members has been invaluable. Everyone at Success Groups was extremely supportive and pushed me onwards “Having completed the research, it took me a year to write and was so intense that Success Groups is about the only thing I remember from that time! It was great to have the support of the group and it felt like I’d committed to being a writer; it wasn’t a secret. Sometimes when you talk about something that means so much to you, people can be negative or judgmental, but everyone at Success Groups was extremely supportive and when needed pushed me onwards. “It was a bumpy ride emotionally as it was a huge risk to spend time and money researching the book and lacking self-belief was a massive problem; I kept thinking “I’m not a scientist, who am I to write about it?” but the group helped me get through the solitary process of writing and made me realise that this amazing research had to be put out there and shared with parents.” George adds: “The book came kicking and
screaming into the world – it was not an easy birth! Liisa often says that she doesn’t see projects through as she lacks faith, yet she’s managed to write a best-seller, to be endorsed by an A-list musician, and her work has been extremely well received by academics. It’s exactly the kind of outcome I envisaged when we set up Success Groups to help develop the mindset for success. “The wonderful thing is that everyone in the group felt immensely proud of Liisa when her book was published and when she appeared on TV. We played the video in the session and everyone applauded as she did an incredible job. We had an inkling of how much she was suffering from nerves, but could see her cope admirably and continue to put her point across in an articulate and focused way. Having been encouraging her for a year, the other members of the group knew how much work had been put into it and felt it was their success too. It has inspired yet another member to write a book, making a total no less than four new authors in our Wednesday morning group!” We stretch entrepreneurs to think and be Bigger, Brighter and Bolder “Liisa felt like she didn’t belong in a business group, www.b4-business.com
B4 SPOTLIGHT
Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay isn’t the only person who is as proud as Punch of her new book, The Music Miracle; The Scientific Secret to Unlocking Your Child's Full Potential. The 30-year-old music educator from Newbury has just hit the top of the Amazon parenting charts with her groundbreaking book about the impact that music training has in developing a child's brain, academic success and social skills. As well as selling quickly among eager parents, the book has also received critical academic acclaim from University Professor & Psychologist David J. Hargreaves of the University of Roehampton, and Alex James from Blur. Here she talks of what she describes as the miracle of Bigger Brighter Bolder’s Success Groups in developing the mindset for success in order to unlock an entrepreneur's full potential.
but here she feels supported, despite the vastly differing nature of people’s roles, businesses and goals. BBB Success Groups aren’t like other groups – they are communities of entrepreneurs whose shared values transcend aspirations and goals. We believe that entrepreneurism requires creativity and a mindset for success and Liisa is a prime example of combining both. There’s been real respect for Liisa and gushing interactions online. When I read some of the feedback, I was proud that we’d created a unique community for entrepreneurial development that combines a system of goalsetting, accountability and ongoing personal and business development. We stretch entrepreneurs to think and be bigger, brighter and bolder and to follow that through with consistent and constant success focused activity.”
of our founder members, bringing a real energy to the environment. It’s very refreshing to have her in the group as she has quite a different energy to “traditional business owners”.
Liisa originally met George at a talk and she joined him as a life coach client. “I remember her coming up to me at the end with her husband, Trav, and saying she “needed someone to make me do stuff”. I knew there was a real spark in terms of how we thought and saw the world and recognised she needed confidence and mentoring amongst other things. She was a one-to-one client for a while, but loved the idea of Success Groups and became one
Liisa said: “‘Build It’ makes it happen and makes it tangible. There are phases that stretched my dream, allowed me to fully connect to the creative aspects of the project as well as keeping it on track until its final completion. It made sense more and more and saved me so much time when I used it in all areas of my life. It encourages you through a process and gives you a glimpse of where you want to be and then leads you to that place.”
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“I’ve loved watching Liisa grow in confidence in group situations and really embracing business aspects as well as developing her creativity. What’s been great is that the other members have gained from her perspective too as she’s diverse but incredibly driven.” ‘Build It’ makes it happen Of particular assistance, says Liisa, was George’s unique ‘Build It’ programme, designed to help people take a creative idea through to completion in a cohesive, structured fashion.
George added: “Liisa is one of our best loved members. She’s come a long way since she joined and is definitely one of the most creative members of the group. She came with huge amounts of creativity and the group has supported her through developing the practical aspects of business and goal achievement. In turn, Liisa has inspired many in the group to be more creative. I’m so chuffed at what Liisa has achieved because this is exactly what Success Groups and the ‘Build It’ programme were designed for.” www.biggerbrighterbolder.co.uk
George has kindly offered all B4 magazine readers free access to all 6 sessions of the ‘Build It’ programme worth £197. For more information on Bigger Brighter Bolder or BBB Success Groups and to get your free access to the ‘Build It’ programme, go to: www.biggerbrighterbolder.co.uk/b4
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B4 PROPERTY
THE SANDHURST TRUST LINKING LEADERS preserving heritage – and promoting and promulgating the Army’s approach to leadership. Through a programme of ‘leadership encounters’ it will introduce to the Academy alternative and complimentary perspectives on leadership, and provide opportunities for interaction between the Academy, its alumni and other leadership-focussed organisations. Its events will foster an enduring sense of belonging and connection among the Academy’s alumni (both UK and overseas). Through conferences and the publication of occasional papers it will assist the Academy’s academic departments in reaching a wider audience and thereby enhance the Academy’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence it its fields. At the same time, principally through such events and managing appropriate private and corporate use of the Academy’s facilities, it will generate income both to sustain itself and to fund facilities and activities to enhance the Officer Cadet experience.
the British Empire. It can host a seated dinner up to 130 or a larger number for a reception or buffet. Bigger groups can, during Academy recess or on leave weekends, make use of the Old College Dining Room (up to 300) while smaller groups can enjoy the intimacy of the Lord, Overseas or Conference Rooms. Buffets and receptions can also make use of the Wellington and Marlborough Rooms – memorials to two of Britain’s greatest military heroes. Lecture facilities can also be made available.
Now, its somewhat younger and lesser known offspring, the Sandhurst Trust, can make it accessible to you (and, no you don’t have to do any marching, shooting or assault courses!).
….and it will open Sandhurst’s doors to a wider audience, most especially the business community of its local area.
The Trust would also be delighted to hear from business leaders who would like to receive invitations to our leadership presentations.
The Sandhurst Trust, was established in 2003 (then as the Sandhurst Foundation) to promote the improved understanding and development of leadership beyond the Academy and to link the Academy with the society it serves. Recently relaunched, it has a newly articulated focus on supporting the Academy – especially through promoting esprit de corps, sustaining ethos and
Through the Sandhurst Trust, local businesses, whether corporate or SME, may make use of the Academy’s beautiful and historic ‘prestige rooms’ such as the Indian Army Memorial Room. Built originally as the Academy’s chapel and still illuminated by beautiful stained glass, this room was converted after India’s independence to be an enduring memorial to the Indian Army’s service to
For more information please contact us on 01276 412000 director@sandhursttrust.org or info@sandhursttrust.org or see our web-site www.sandhursttrust.org.
With the Doric portico of its historic Grand Entrance instantly recognisable worldwide, the Royal Military Sandhurst is a national icon of World renown. Synonymous with excellence in leadership, it has been the nursery of kings, prime ministers and statesmen as well as generals. King Hussein and his son the present King Abdullah II of Jordan trained here, as did Montgomery and Churchill. Today it trains around 600 young men and women a year (average age 24) on the 44 week long Commissioning Course for service as officers in the British Army. Alongside them overseas students from some 29 different countries also attend the course prior to service in their own countries’ armies. Others complete shorter course before being commissioned into the Reserves or as specialist officers (doctors, Chaplains etc).
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For groups who would like to know more of the Academy’s history, or how it trains the British Army’s officers to face the challenges of modern conflict, the Trust offers guided tours; or if the splendour of military pageantry appeals, tickets may be obtained for the thrice-yearly Commandants’ Parade – the full dress rehearsal for the Sovereign’s Parade at which officers are formally commissioned.
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STOPPING ADVERTISING TO SAVE MONEY IS LIKE STOPPING YOUR WATCH TO SAVE TIME Richard Knight of Focal Point Advertising Solutions met with B4’s Richard Rosser to cover the often forgotten alternatives of outdoor and out of home advertising and the huge benefits they often have to offer. “It might not be that you are thinking about stopping advertising completely, but doing the wrong advertising or not monitoring your advertising is almost as crazy, as is not knowing how your customers find you and how you need to appeal to them. So, here’s a question for you – How often do you review your advertising - or are you still doing the same things you have always done with the attitude that if you get more money coming in than there is going out, then you must be doing ok. As the owner and founder of Focal Point, I have been offering traditional, non-traditional and innovative forms of advertising to local, regional and national companies since 1987. We are specialists working in the Outdoor and out of home industry and in the last 26 years I have never met anyone who has the same level of
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expertise and who specialises in just this sector of the market. It is a sector that consists of billboards, bus shelters, train station posters, buses, and taxis just to name a few services offered. The industry has changed greatly since we started with just a handful of services to currently over 50. Most of the
“Whatever you do, don’t just stop advertising”
services we offer would not even be on the radar of most businesses when they are looking at their advertising strategy because they either don’t know about them or perceive them to be out of their price bracket. The good news I have for you is that most businesses could afford a number of the services we offer. “
We are well placed to give you sound professional advice “Because we purely specialise in this sector of the advertising industry, we are best placed to give you sound professional advice and we can tailor an advertising campaign that will reach your target market with minimal wastage and maximum exposure. When I set up the business with a business partner, there were literally only 4 or 5 services - which meant that there was going to be a great deal of wastage. But with the expansion of the industry, this is no longer the case and there is at least one service we offer that will work for most businesses and enable them to reach their target market both effectively and economically. Pretty much all the services we offer can be cherry picked, so even if you just want just one bus shelter
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B4 MARKETING
or one strategically positioned poster for a very short term promotion, we can offer you this. Furthermore, I guarantee that you will be surprised at the affordability when compared to other forms of advertising you may currently be using to promote your business.”
All I would ask is that you give us a try – call and speak with myself, Denise, Sarah or Fiona in my office and you will very quickly discover how highly client and customer service is placed in our work ethic.
their business and searching for businesses and offers via their mobile phones. Finally, here are a number of tips to ensure a successful advertising campaign and please feel free to use them or pass them on:
Do you have a mobile marketing strategy? We don’t charge for advice “In the 26 years since I set up Focal Point, business has in many ways become very much more complicated and there are so many things we have to think about. I know from speaking with a number of businesses, that we all try to get our head around everything and try and do it all ourselves, but we can’t - because we just don’t have the time. The great news I have for you is that we don’t charge for advice. We only charge if you buy any of the advertising services that we offer you - and you would not pay us any more than you would pay by going direct to the major suppliers. By working with us, you will get someone who understands the business, someone who will co-ordinate it for you, and you will get the services of a company and a team of staff who care about you as a person and as a customer. I don’t think that we would still be in business after 26 years if we did not have this philosophy. I don’t apologise for blowing my own trumpet. I know how good we are at what we do and firmly believe that we are the best. I also believe that we should all blow our own trumpets a lot more than we do and that we should not be embarrassed about doing so.
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Do your customers search for you on their mobile phones? Would you like to be able to connect and keep your customers informed of any offers and promotions you run via their mobile phones? We
“we all try to get our
head around everything and try and do it all ourselves but we can’t - because we just don’t have the time. The great news I have for you is that we don’t charge for advice
”
are also able to offer advice and support to help you develop a mobile marketing strategy either through services we offer or through trusted suppliers.
1. Forward planning – think ahead. Don’t make rash decisions you will regret 2. Know the dates you are planning to run a campaign and book space in advance 3. Know who your audience is and how they are likely to find you 4. Target your audience and advertise where you are likely to reach them 5. Be effective with your budget 6. Make sure the design of your advert matches the format in which you are advertising 7. Have a clear, bold message and a strong call to action or attention grabber 8. Be careful how much text you use 9. Refresh your message often 10. Use an experienced professional specialist Whatever you do, don’t just stop advertising If you want to find out if an outdoor and/or out of home advertising campaign might be the most effective and affordable way to promote your business, please contact Richard, Denise, Sarah or Fiona by phone on 01256 767837 or by email to Richard@focal.co.uk – but don't just stop advertising
A mobile marketing strategy is vital to most businesses as more and more people are running
www.focal.co.uk
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A STREET-LEVEL VIEW OF BUSINESS SENTIMENT IN THE THAMES VALLEY …helping to inform decisions on growth, investment and employment in the region
Accountants and business consultants BDO LLP, in conjunction with marketing specialists C8 Consulting, have published the results of the fifth Thames Valley Business Barometer. Taken from a survey of businesses across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, North Hants and South Bucks, this regular report provides a snapshot of business sentiment across the Thames Valley and has created a picture of emerging trends over the last few years.
16% 5%
The latest survey ran for six weeks during October and November and included in-depth profiles of five Thames Valley businesses: Cloud Distribution; Leasedrive; The Ridgeway Group; Stoke Park and Distribution Technology and a roundtable discussion of the results by members of the Barometer Panel.
79%
“the key economic battleground has shifted from one of austerity to helping businesses achieve sustained growth.
”
In the prev previous ious quarter turnover turnover... overr... ... Increased Decreased Remained emained the same
79% 5% 16%
Business confidence improves The indicators would seem to be pointing to a brighter future for UK businesses. Figures released at the end of last year are pointing to a gradual recovery in the UK economy, with economic growth and consumer spending both rising. BDO’s latest Business Trends report, published in January 2014 and covering the entire UK economy, showed a rise in business confidence for the eleventh consecutive month, pointing to an economic recovery which will gather pace in the first half of 2014. In the Thames Valley we are seeing a similar story. In the latest Thames Valley Business Barometer survey business leaders across the region have exhibited their highest levels of confidence since the survey began, with 79% telling us that their confidence in the economy had improved over the last quarter while only 4% felt that it had deteriorated. This is a significant change from the results we saw in the first quarter of 2013 when almost half of those who took part felt that the economy was flat and only a third believed that economic confidence had improved. Today, businesses appear to truly believe that the UK economy has turned a corner and over three quarters of those surveyed are preparing for robust growth in 2014. Almost 80% of businesses say turnover has increased These renewed levels of confidence can also be seen in the figures for pipeline, turnover, profit and headcount. 79% of respondents had seen an increase in turnover with most telling us that they expect this to continue into the first quarter of 2014. In the first quarter of 2013 only 65% reported an increase and in the last quarter of 2012 the figure was just 46%.
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previous ious quarter headcount... In the prev Increased Decreased Remained R emained the same Declined to comment
49% 16% 34% 1%
34%
1% 16%
49%
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looked o 1% % Not to innovate n
12% %
Prop Property operty y& infrastructure i frastructur t ct infr astructure
Recruitment c itment e 22% 2 Recru
29% Improved mp proved Imp working g practices practices ti
34% T Training raining g& development l mentt develop
35% Product/ Product/ serv ice service delivery
45% Sales & marke marketing ting
50%
55% Customer serv service ice
Use of technology
57% product/serv ices New product/services
Improved Improved product/services product/serv ices
66%
B4 SPOTLIGHT
Areas in which companies have innovated
No Change
57%
Change rep reported orted on the availability R RI ÀQDQFH I ÀQDQFH
33%
Since the start of 2012 about 40% of businesses had consistently reported increasing the number of people they employ. In the latest survey this had risen to 49%, with slightly more stating that their headcount is likely to increase again next quarter. As the economy continues to recover, we would expect to see hiring intentions continue to rise with businesses becoming gradually more open to hiring new members of staff.
Easier e
Headcount rises across the region
Harder d
Declined e e to comment o e
Easier access to finance
3% %
7%
This has been the first barometer report where we have seen businesses feeling positive about access to finance. 33% believed it had become easier; a dramatic increase from the start of 2013 when only 14% found the availability of finance easier and the end of 2012 when the figure was just 4%. Innovation is an important business driver
Declined Declin e ned d to comment comm mment n
3% %
Deteriorated Dete e erior o ated d
4% 4 %
Stayed t d the same a
14% 14%
Following a period of slowly improving fortunes, the indicators now appear to show that the key economic battleground has shifted from one of austerity to helping businesses achieve sustained growth. While we look ahead with optimism to 2014 we suggest that business leaders must start thinking about what they need to do to prepare for a growth market rather than a recessionary one. What needs to be done differently? Are their propositions still appropriate and are their key selling points still meeting a market need? This may require all of us to just take a moment to think about how we prepare our businesses for the year ahead as the economy starts to grow.
79%
Two thirds had looked to improve existing products or services whilst just over half had brought new ones to market. The main reason that organisations had innovated was in the belief that it will help them to outperform their competitors, while longer term innovation would help them to future proof the growth of their company.
al level In term termss of the gener general R RI HFRQRPLF FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH I HFRQRPLF FRQÀGHQFH LQ WKH Valley alle in the last quarter Thames Valley quarter resp ondents believe this has... respondents
Improved
In this survey we looked at the importance of innovation to businesses. 94% stated that innovation was either very important or fairly important to their business while 88% believe that investing in innovation had been effective in helping them to achieve their business aims and goals.
THE FULL RESULTS OF THE SURVEY… …can be accessed via the BDO LLP website (www.bdo.co.uk/news/thames-valley-business-barometer) or the C8 Consulting website, the founders and inspiration behind the Twenties Club (www.c8consulting.co.uk/twenties_club) The next Thames Valley Business Barometer survey will take place in the spring. Please contact ian.white@bdo.co.uk if you would like to get involved or join the Thames Valley Business Barometer group on Linkedin to continue the conversation on the region’s business economy.
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WHAT’S THE SECRET OF MAXIMISING THE VALUE OF YOUR BUSINESS AND SELLING IT FOR ALL IT ’S WORTH? An interview with Rob Goddard, Founder and Managing Director of Evolution Complete Business Sales who specialise in taking private companies from preparation through to exit – with the commitment of a team with over 20 years combined M&A experience and hundreds of successful sales worth £billions in transactional value. Q. Rob, you’ve been a business sales adviser for many years and have a background in financial services and banking. What made you choose this as a career? For me, it was a natural progression; I’d been a banker and a financial adviser and I know how important selling a business is to the owners. It’s probably the largest financial transaction they will ever make and usually a once in a lifetime experience. The majority of owners don’t start a business with the intention of selling it, particularly family businesses. For SMEs, they start with an idea, usually doing something they are good at and believe there’s a market for. The same thing applies to me; I’d been a business sales adviser for several years before deciding to start my own company, Evolution Complete Business Sales. Now there are 18 people working in the company, we have a healthy client base, a large international database of potential acquirers and some first class partners in the legal and financial professions. Q. So what’s different about Evolution CBS? From a client perspective, I think the fact that we will advise business owners whether or not the business is ready for sale and likely to achieve the price they expect. That led me to think about those people with businesses that weren’t quite market ready and couldn’t exploit their obvious potential. So, we launched our Value Improvement Programme, a growth to exit service that gives business owners the extra horsepower they need to fine-tune their companies for exit, within a defined timescale. We are also just about to launch a new service, called Fit 4 Investment, to help small businesses pitch for investment funding. I don’t know of any other advisers that give business owners such a comprehensive range of tools to help them achieve the sale price they hope for. Q. When owners come to you, have they already made up their mind to sell? Not always. Some will have talked to their accountants to get an idea of what the business is worth but that’s usually the extent of their knowledge. Q. How would they know when to sell? The million dollar question! The financial answer is when the business is growing and at least 3 years before it starts to plateau and needs further investment. In other words, it can show a sustained level of profitability and growth yet still has potential
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to increase. Growth potential is vital. A buyer doesn’t want a business that’s maxed out as they will need to invest significantly more to get the growth they need, invariably leading to a low offer. Often they require that the business owner stays on for a period of time to achieve that growth and share the risk with them. In that scenario I would always recommend that owners ask themselves when was the last time that they had a boss! In reality, most owners decide to sell because they want a life-style change. That can be for personal reasons or to start another venture but also because they are tired of the business; they’ve put everything into it but can’t see themselves running the business for another 10 years or more. Q. What’s the first question you are asked? How much is my business worth? Actually, it’s a very sensible start. You may have an idea of the price you want, but there’s almost always a gap between that and what a buyer would realistically expect to pay. It is possible to reduce or even bridge that gap, which is why early preparation is so important. People talk about grooming a business for sale as if it’s just a cosmetic makeover; it isn’t. By the time a deal comes to due diligence, any superficial measures you’ve taken will come to light – and it will cost more in the long run. Q. So what can a business owner do to improve the sale price? That’s a big question. The most obvious answer is to improve the financials – but that’s just one of a range of actions that can be taken. Concentrate on maximising value, get in the mindset of a buyer and see your business from a different perspective. Get as much advice as you can. There are some businesses that are ready for sale but the majority have work to do to achieve a premium price. So my advice is to start preparing early – at least 12 months ahead. Business owners want to convert the value they’ve created in the business into cash; cash that will fund their lifestyle post-sale and that won’t get diluted through poor deal structures and unnecessary tax. Let me give an example: Intellectual Property – most business owners look at the cost of patents and then drop the idea. I’m not a Patent Lawyer, but if advice is free then take it. Sometimes that patent can be worth extra
millions. For example, take a business that had good revenue, was profitable with good growth potential, was not in a sexy industry and there was a bit of property. The company produced a device, which they patented. It wasn’t expensive to massproduce and its intrinsic value massively outweighed it costs. Using a standard valuation method, that business would have been valued at £3milion. The final offer was over ten times that amount – because that device was a non-tangible, or “hidden” asset and strategic buyers (of which there were several) knew they could get a first rate return on their investment – so they paid more. The buyer knew that his post-acquisition strategy, which was based on operational synergies, would reduce that ROI to under 3 years, making it an extremely compelling investment for them. Q. Is every business saleable? In theory, yes; it depends on the price. In practice, the answer is no. With many small businesses, the fact is that the owner is the business; in other words, revenues are largely dependent on the owner’s contribution – that may be because the owner is the only salesperson or holds the key relationship with the top customers. Whatever the reason, for a buyer, it would be like buying a car without an engine rather than one with a finelytuned engine. Take the owner out of the business, and there’s no business left. Our chief concern is to achieve a successful sale for our Clients. If a company is not, in our opinion, going to achieve that, we will say so; it’s far better for an owner to get the business in shape for sale. Failure to prepare is one of the main reasons a business fails to sell. Not only does it waste time and money, it can threaten the continuation of the business and take years to recover. The time and cost spent in preparation more than justifies the time spent in early preparation. There is also a benefit to us – one of the key “magic numbers” for our sector is conversion rates – the proportion of companies we sell of those we take on as Clients; at the moment, our conversion rate is 84%. So, we are selective about who we take on; it’s bad business to take on companies that are not ready for sale. Far better to help them grow the business for a few years and take them to market when they are most likely to achieve a successful sale. We have a team of 7 Associate Directors that do that very thing.
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B4 ADVICE Q. Now that the economy is picking up, are you expecting a surge of business owners looking to sell? I think business owners are still a little wary. In any event, it’s not essential to have a booming economy to sell a business for a premium price. What is essential, is finding the right buyer – by that, I mean one where there is business synergy between the buyer and the potential purchase. They need to see how they can grow profits, whether that’s from cost rationalisation, cross-selling into the combined client base, acquiring key skills that their workforce can provide or extending their own product/service range to reduce competitive pressure on their own business. The danger for business owners, as the UK grows, is that there will be many more comparable companies on the market, often referred to as the “baby boomer effect” - people who set up businesses and were born between 1946 and 1966, making it harder to stand out from the crowd. The result will be that buyers will have much more choice and so only the best businesses will achieve the highest offers. Q. What advice would you give an owner considering sale? Talk to a specialist adviser and get some initial free advice and information, then you will have a starting point. Do this well ahead of your planned exit date. We find that many owners don’t want a one-to-one meeting in the initial stages. That’s why we offer free Masterclasses on how to prepare a business for sale which are run by ourselves and one or two of our professional partners, usually a commercial solicitor and a tax specialist, so business owners get the maximum amount of information on every aspect of selling a business; the next one is on 20th March in Basingstoke. Don’t take the assets out of the business – I’ve seen many cases where Clients decide to take massive dividends or bonuses just before going to market and are then surprised when they don’t achieve the price they wanted. You will get a far better return through a successful sale at a premium price than taking dividends and putting them in the bank. Know your numbers. Anyone who’s ever watched “Dragons Den” will know that an investor will want to understand the key numbers in your business so they can believe in your forecasts. Get your paperwork in order. Your adviser will need 3 years statutory accounts plus management accounts and a 2 year forecast. When you get to Due Dilligence, you’ll need to have employee, client and supplier contracts, any shareholder agreements, details of leases etc. It’s a good idea to get systems in place early so you free your time to meet with potential buyers armed with the information on your business that you will need. Most importantly, don’t take your eye off the business. A major benefit of using specialist advisers is that they conduct the sale process for you – so you keep running your business. The last thing you want in a sale situation is for the business to go downhill.
In my 13 years of selling hundreds of small to medium sized enterprises, I have spoken with over 5,000 owners, providing advice and guidance. My cumulative experiences, tips and guidance are contained in my new book “The 11 Commandments and 7 Cardinal Sins of selling a business”.
Finally, be absolutely sure that you are prepared, emotionally, to leave the business. “Seller’s Remorse” is the biggest reason sales fall through – the owner backs out at the last minute. It’s almost a fear, even though they know why they wanted to sell and have planned their life “after sale”. Incidentally, this is why business advisers charge retainer fees. I can’t think of any business that would work for 6 – 12 months for nothing, not even a deposit!
For the first 100 B4 Magazine respondents, I will forward a copy with my compliments. Just email me at info@evolutioncbs.co.uk
Contact: Evolution Complete Business Sales Limited on 0118 959 8224 or www.evolutioncbs.co.uk
SPECIAL BOOK OFFER!
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news
Photograph by Graham Lacdao
CIS Designs State of the Art IT Systems in Custom Built IT Suite at St Paul’s Cathedral An update to our article back in 2009 “CIS Appointed IT consultants to St Paul's cathedral”. Oxfordshire based IT consultancy company Computing Information Systems (CIS LTD) has now been the appointed IT consultant at St Paul’s Cathedral for over 3 years. Appointed in 2009 by the Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral, CIS were specifically hired for their solution based IT consultancy, with a reputation in keeping with St Paul’s world-famous dome. CIS were hired in an undertaking during 2009 to advise and design from the IT perspective on the multimillion pound Chapter House refurbishment scheme. The project being to design a state of the art server room and IT systems for all of St Paul’s IT needs, both now and in the future, underground deep inside the expansive buildings at St Paul’s. The Chapter House is the central administrative and management building for the Cathedral and had to be ‘decamped’ into short term office space at others sites near the Cathedral, keeping all staff working, communications lines connected, and IT in service for everybody at the Cathedral, logistically a challenge.
the depths of St Paul’s, whilst keeping the system running, before moving them into their new locations. The systems have all been upgraded and redeployed into the new IT estate, giving St Pauls plenty of new capacity and features to deliver to the staff and even the public. St Paul’s has worked alongside CIS in the move, upgrade, installation and now ongoing planning and design of the whole IT infrastructure. Using the latest in Green technologies the server room monitors its own moisture and temperature in the air, and adjusts it accordingly. By 2015 when the project finishes the server room will also recover all of the exhausted heat from the servers in the room and store that heat underground to be drawn on later by heat pumps used around the Cathedral and the main Cathedral buildings. A very efficient way of storing normally wasted heat from a server room.
CIS carried out this project successfully, and purpose built a new state of the art server room in
CIS has designed a multi platform virtualization infrastructure that harnesses the best in technology solutions and resiliency, meaning the Cathedral systems are always on, this design is in line with, but a scaled back version of CIS’s own private cloud hosted in the UKs most secure datacentre. CIS
Photograph by Peter Smith
Photograph by Graham Lacdao
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succeeded against much larger IT companies through the tender process due to its extensive and in depth knowledge of virtualization technologies and its specialist and consultative approach. The completed project will not be finished until 2015, but significant progress is being made, additional works are now being added in terms of security, firewalling and the ever growing demand for wireless and the ability to connect your own device, something St Paul’s provides for both its staff and eventually the public, in a secure, managed way using the latest in Sophos technologies installed by CIS. "We are delighted to be working with CIS, the project has been well organised from start to almost completion, CIS have been well organised and innovative right throughout the process, we have grown used to them being an extension to our IT department. CIS deliver a prompt professional service with trusted knowledge we can rely on at all times." Gerald Wynter - Head of IT, St. Paul's Cathedral www.cisltd.com www.stpauls.co.uk
Photograph by Peter Smith
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A FINE TREAT B4 have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with The Vineyard over the past three years. Hosts to three B4 events, this is truly a special place for any occasion and we often hear of B4 members returning for lunch, for dinner, or just to spoil themselves in the spa. We returned for a magical 24 hour stay.
I arrived at about 6pm, with Tina already relaxing after a ‘wonderful’ treatment in the spa. The Vineyard Hot Stone Ritual had left Tina floating around the room – not literally, that would have been spooky! The massage uses hot stones and essential oils, the heat of the stones penetrating more than hands ever could, resulting in much needed relief to aching muscles and joints. Hot stones are placed on the chakra points (ok, I got that bit from the brochure!) to bring ‘balance and harmony’. I frantically tried to play catch up and get to Tina’s level of relaxation, but could only find a few pebbles on the decking outside our room and a box of matches. ”Not quite the same, is it?” Tina exclaimed smugly. It was worth a try… I settled for a bottle of cold beer and Tina had a gin and tonic as we finished getting ready. The bar at The Vineyard, adjacent to the restaurant, is the bar you’d build if you won the lottery. An open fire, sumptuous sofas and a collection of ornaments, books and furniture that all exude style. We enjoyed a glass of champagne, all in our own time. There’s no rush at The Vineyard… time really does stand still. If we didn’t know what was around the corner, we could easily have stayed in there all night, catching up after a busy week, enjoying each other’s company in this most enchanting place. Truth was we couldn’t wait to enter the restaurant, as I’ve said in previous reviews, like an amphitheatre spiralling down to a floor with eight or nine occupied tables comprising a mixture of couples and businessmen.
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This was our fifth visit to The Vineyard and you tend to develop an affinity with a place like this, a deep seated respect for its lofty standards and exceptional service. There’s a metal balustrade separating the higher level of diners from the floor below and one diner, obviously late, rushed down with his suit carrier and case, and proceeded to hang his suit carrier from the balustrade above. OK you’re late, but respect this place, it’s a work of art – move your blinking suit carrier. Fortunately, one of the extra special Vineyard staff spotted the offending suit carrier and took it somewhere out of sight. This place has a perfect balance to it and shouldn’t be treated like a baggage hall… tut tut! Rant over! Back to the main event, and we decided to go for The Discovery Tasting with 5 perfectly matched wines from lesser known areas around the
THE DISCOVERY TASTING Pressed confit foie gras, rhubarb, ginger, spiced bread Hand dived scallops, carrot, lemon, hazelnut Cherry wood smoked oxtail, fillet of beef, onion, pied bleu White chocolate and passion fruit terrine, exotic purée, coconut Seasonal farmhouse cheese platter, quince, fennel bread
world.The delivery of each dish is an event in itself, with two members of staff presenting our dishes at the same time, one giving a detailed overview of not just what we are about to eat, but how it has been cooked. Hot on their heels, our sommelier brings our next wine to the table, again giving us an in depth account of the wine, where it is from and how it will combine with the flavours of the course, thus reinforcing why it has been chosen. Replicate this across forty or so tables of at least two guests per table and you can get an idea of the military precision which goes to running The Vineyard. But you don’t get that feel, you get a feel of grace, of control and of unwavering quality. It’s a place where you can give yourself to the restaurant, you can let the highly trained staff takeover… I’d have eaten anything if I was told it tasted good! Ok it’s a treat but there’s room for several treats in the year in our lives, surely? And if the food and wine aren’t sufficient reward for a long week, then a retreat to our two tiered room, with a lounge area sitting below the raised sleeping area provided the perfect setting to unwind for the night with a nightcap. We took breakfast in the room after a glorious night’s sleep, a light scrambled egg with salmon, breakfast tea and fresh fruit. All served beautifully, immaculate crisp linen and brightly shining cutlery. And if I do ever win that lottery, I’ll be booking in for a week, because a night is not a treat, it’s a tease… ensuring The Vineyard is a haven you’ll just have to return to… again and again.
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B4 R&R
LEARN ALL ABOUT WINE AND GET QUALIFIED IN A DAY The Vineyard is now running Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) courses throughout the year. All courses are run by a WSET Certified Tutor, result in an internationally recognised qualification and include a three course lunch with matching wines each day. Level 1 Award in Wine This one day course is suitable for anyone who has an interest in wine and would like to know more about the different wine styles, food and wine pairing and the correct way to store and serve wine. As this is an introductory course, no prior knowledge is needed. £150 per person
Level 2 Award in Wine and Spirits This informative and structured course is run over three days and is ideal for enthusiastic amateurs and those looking to enter the wine industry. The course covers the major grape varieties, regions of the world, food and wine pairing, sparkling wines, fortified wines and the major spirits. £385 per person Level 3 Award in Wine and Spirits Perfect for wine enthusiasts, this detailed and structured course is run over five days (five weeks) and provides a detailed analysis of the principal wines and spirits of the world. You’ll also develop your analytical tasting skills in an indepth tasting where you’ll learn to identify product style and quality. £675 per person Stay the night from £229 per room including breakfast. Discover more about the WSET courses at The Vineyard www.the-vineyard.co.uk/WSETcourse.asp or call 01635 589453.
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MORE ABOUT THE VINEYARD Always mix business with pleasure Located just off the M4 corridor and only 45 minutes from Heathrow, The Vineyard offers a convenient and easy location for meetings in Berkshire. With four meeting rooms, each offering flexible space and a functional design. So whether it’s a small meeting or a larger conference that you are organising, The Vineyard provides the perfect venue for all meetings in Berkshire. If you have something really big in mind, why not opt to have the whole place to yourself. What's new The largest meeting space and private dining space, the California Suite, is now looking even better than ever having had a complete makeover in January. Be one of the first to have your meeting in the California Suite and enjoy the fresh new, contemporary look and feel. The rooms, spa and restaurant Stay the night in 5 star luxury, and wake up refreshed and inspired. The traditional bedrooms and contemporary suites, complete with generous marble bathrooms, ensure a peaceful night’s sleep ready to start the working day. The award winning spa, rated one of the best in the UK, provides the perfect place to unwind after your day meeting in Berkshire.. Exclusive activities Everyone needs a little motivation now and again, and The Vineyard have put together an exclusive range of activities to inspire and stimulate the mind, including wine cellar tours and the chef’s table with Executive Chef, Daniel Galmiche. Why not take the
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special art tour and discover the history behind the artworks and artists such as Henri Martin, Ronald Searle, Boris Smirnoff and Doris Zinkeisen? The Vineyard can also organise unique experiences in and around Berkshire for you and your team, such as a trip to Highclere Castle (location of Downton Abbey), a hot air balloon ride or a race track day at Silverstone. To round off your meeting in Berkshire, why not offer your clients or team a little Vineyard keepsake such as a Peter Michael wine, a chef’s jacket or Daniel Galmiche’s French Brasserie Cookbook. Be rewarded for your loyalty and sign up to the Pink Pelican Club. 30,000 bottles, 3,000 bins, 100 wines by the glass As the Wine & Restaurant Director, Alan Holmes oversees The Vineyard's extensive cellar holding 30,000 bottles, a fair few of which are Californian award winners, including a unique collection from our own flagship home-estate Peter Michael wines. The wine lists are always a 'work in progress' as The Vineyard is always looking for new and interesting wines to add for guests to enjoy. The Vineyard were recently awarded the Champagne Taittinger Condé Nast Johansen's Wine List Award 2014 - 'Best Choice of Wine by the Glass'. Wine Schools James Hocking, Director of Wine for The Vineyard Cellars and Alan Holmes, Wine and Restaurant for The Vineyard, have put their heads together and come up with an exciting wine school programme that will leave you wanting more!. Just £30 person. See the website for more details.
Private Wine Tasting Why not create a private wine tasting event your own? Choose the number and styles of wines you'd like to taste, and leave the rest up to the experts. From the art of wine tasting and aromatic grapes to your very own blind tasting experiences, The Vineyard’s sommelier team can create the perfect wine experience for you and your group. See the website for more details. Wine Dinners – go on a food and wine journey Renowned for food and wine pairing, The Vineyard’s exclusive wine and food dinners are events not to be missed. Join The Vineyard for the Chocolate and Wine Dinner in April, The Judgement of Paris Dinner in May or the Rise of the Microbrewery Dinner in June. See the website for more details. Private Dining Sometimes you just want to enjoy a private dinner in a small group and other times you may find yourself organising a much larger private affair. Whatever you’re looking for, The Vineyard has an array of private dining options to offer and will be pleased to discuss with you about how they can make your private dining experience a memorable one. Reserve your table online or call The Vineyard on 01635 528770 www.the-vineyard.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 01865 252799 Follow us on Twitter @meetoxfordshire
With unrivalled expertise in all aspects of commercial printing from business cards to brochures, Advent can accomplish the most sophisticated spectrum of high quality print work with ease. PROUD TO PRINT
B4 Magazine ADVENT PRINT GROUP 19 EAST PORTWAY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ANDOVER, HAMPSHIRE, SP10 3LU TEL: 01264 359359 FAX: 01264 359358 EMAIL: info@advent-colour.co.uk www.advent-colour.co.uk
B4 YOU A selection of some of the finest establishments in the B4 region
MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER
L’ORTOLAN
HEYTHROP
RESORTS
RESORTS
HOTELS
HEYTHROP PARK
HARTWELL HOUSE
EYNSHAM HALL
Heythrop Park Resort is a unique venue set in 440 acres of stunning Oxfordshire Countryside. Dating back to 1710 this quintessential English country estate seamlessly combines elegance with style and boasts two individual hotels: the elegant DeVere Venues Heythrop Park Hotel and the stylish Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Resort also offers a championship 18 hole standard golf course, health club & spa together with state of the art conference facilities.
Hartwell House is one of the Stately Homes of England, just one hour from central London and Heathrow and Luton Airports, and two miles west of Aylesbury. Its most famous resident was Louis XVIII, exiled King of France, who lived there with is Court for five years. Situated in 90 acres of landscaped parkland in the Vale of Aylesbury, Hartwell House provides a country house setting, adding lustre to every social occasion.
Lloyds Bank Commercial a big Banking provides financial support the and to manufacturers located across Berkshire. Given their importance, we are actively encouraging manufacturers in Berkshire to take advantage of the reduced borrowing costs, particularly through the £80 billion Government. Given their importance, we are actively encouraging. A bit more copy to fill it out just a little more.
A: Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5UF T: 01608 673 333 W: www.heythroppark.co.uk
A: Oxford Rd, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8NR T: 01296 747 444 W: www.hartwell-house.com
A: Eynsham Hall Hotel, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 6PN T: 01993 885 200 W: www.eynshamhall.com
HOTELS
HOTELS
HOTELS
HAWKWELL HOUSE
MACDONALD RANDOLPH HOTEL
THE FEATHERS
Hawkwell House Hotel Oxford has high quality accommodation, conference facilities and makes a great wedding venue. Hawkwell House hotel is close enough to Oxford for you to dream of the Spires, and just far enough off to ensure your reverie isn't interrupted by the revelry of the students. The main hotel has now has 62 bedrooms including two luxury suites.
Our Macdonald Randolph Hotel is the leading 5-star hotel in Oxford and part of The Macdonald Hotels' Signature Collection. We offer luxurious accommodation, award-winning food and a sensuous spa haven in the heart of this world-famous university city. Located in Oxford's city centre, our hotel is a landmark building with elegance and charm aplenty.
There are just 16 bedrooms and five suites at The Feathers. They come in all shapes and sizes – the very antithesis of corporate uniformity. Return to your own personal favourite, or enjoy a pleasant surprise each time you visit. Since our refurbishment in 2010, we’ve added in some boutique twists, with lush fabrics, funky lighting, free-standing stone basins and the guiltiest pleasure of all, a decanter full of jelly beans.
A: Church Way, Oxford, OX4 4DZ T: 01865 749 988 W: www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk
A: Beaumont St, Oxford, OX1 2LN T: 01865 256 400 W: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk
A: Market Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1SX T: 01993 812 291 W: www.feathers.co.uk
Vouch Offer: vouchoffers.co.uk
B4 YOU HOTELS
HOTELS
HOTELS
THE FORBURY
THE OAKLEY COURT HOTEL
THE OLD BANK
We stay with you…This promise drives everything we do. It makes every moment of your stay a special memory. It’s in the smile that greets you and in the warmth and friendliness you’ll feel while you are here. In every corner and at every moment, you’ll notice an attention to detail that shows our passion and belief. It’s the very essence of the Forbury, like spending time with an amazing family.
The Oakley Court is one of the finest and most renowned country house hotels in England, situated in picturesque Windsor and within easy reach of London, Heathrow airport and the M4. The hotel is a peaceful setting with attractive rooms decorated in a traditional country house style. For pure indulgence and the ultimate luxurious stay in Windsor, choose one of our junior suites with unrivalled views over the river.
The Old Bank hotel has 42 luxury bedrooms. The proportions of the Georgian property have been retained leading to rooms feeling large and airy. Many of the rooms have unrivalled views of famous Oxford landmarks. The bedrooms with marble bathrooms are all adorned with the owners private art collection. All of the rooms are fully air conditioned and have complimentary wireless internet access, water and home-made biscuits.
A: 26 The Forbury, Reading, West Berkshire, RG1 3EJ T: 0118 952 7770 W: www.theforburyhotel.co.uk
A: Windsor Rd Water Oakley, Windsor, SL4 5UR T: 01753 609 988 W: www.theoakleycourthotel.co.uk
A: 92 - 94 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BJ T: 01865 799 599 W: www.oldbank-hotel.co.uk
HOTELS
HOTELS
GETTING AWAY
MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER
THE VINEYARD
LOWER MILL ESTATE
Stylish, luxurious and romantic - the awardwinning Macdonald Compleat Angler Hotel is part of The Macdonald Hotels' Signature Collection and offers you the perfect accommodation for a magical stay by the riverside. Quietly situated on the banks of the River Thames and within easy reach of Heathrow airport, our hotel in Marlow is the ideal spot for taking to the water - we even have our own private launches and boats for hire.
We want you to enjoy our food and wine so much we added a 5-star hotel and Spa. Then we filled it with everything you'd expect for a comfortable night, and some things you might not. Like one of the finest private art collections this side of Hearst Castle. Only a short drive away from Highclere Castle, The Vineyard provides the perfect hotel destination for Downton Abbey fans and the historically curious alike. There's a lot to be said for California dreaming.
The Lower Mills Cotswold Estate is just over 550 acres of unspoiled countryside based in the beautiful village of Somerford Keyne just outside Cirencester in Gloucestershire. Our luxurious holiday homes estate is based around eight lakes and two rivers (Netherwood Lake, Somerford Lake Reserves, Neigh Bridge Lake, Cotswold Water Park) surrounded by acres of untouched woodland full of wildlife waiting for you and your family to explore.
A: Marlow Bridge, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1RG T: 0844 879 9128 W: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk
A: Stockcross, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG20 8JU T: 01635 897 513 W: www.the-vineyard.co.uk
A: Lower Mill Lane, Somerford Keynes, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BG T: 01285 869 489 W: www.lowermillestate.com
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B4 YOU RESTAURANTS
RESTAURANTS
RESTAURANTS
BROWNS OXFORD
BROWNS READING
GEE’S
Browns in Oxford was our second restaurant to open and is quite a landmark in the city. The building was a Morris garage for many years until we converted it into an English brasserie. Even though we’re in the city centre, the view from our windows is pure England. We’re just across the road from St Giles Church and a beautiful terrace of 18th century houses. We offer delicious food, a unique atmosphere and a great choice of wines, beers and cocktails.
Reading is one of the UK’s top ten retail destinations. Browns is within easy reach of the Oracle, one of the main shopping centres with over 80 high street names that span from high fashion to spectacular gifts. Steeped in history, Reading also has a 1,400 year heritage, a medieval monastery and 850 listed buildings. Come and soak up the atmosphere at Browns where you can relax and enjoy one of our classic dishes and a legendary Browns cocktail.
Food is best described as Mediterranean with some dishes designed for sharing, & dishes available in two sizes to suit different appetites & times of day. Food reflects the continued interest in the source of ingredients, seasonality & the variety & richness of our Oxfordshire produce. Simply prepared & expertly cooked in our kitchen incorporating a wood fire oven & charcoal grill.
A: 5-11 Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 6HA T: 01865 511 995 W: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk
A: The Oracle Centre, Reading, RG1 2AG T: 0118 950 3137 W: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk
A: 61 Banbury Rd, Oxford, OX2 6PE T: 01865 553 540 W: www.gees-restaurant.co.uk
RESTAURANTS
RESTAURANTS
RESTAURANTS
L’ORTOLAN
LE MANOIR
QUOD
Reading's only Michelin starred restaurant, with modern French cuisine by Executive Chef Alan Murchison. L’Ortolan offers an exceptional dining experience - perfect for social and business occasions. We are delighted to be amongst the winners of 4 AA Rosettes at the 2013 AA Hospitality Awards. Receiving a fourth rosette puts L’Ortolan among the top restaurants in the UK, where the cooking demands national recognition.
Dining at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is an experience that will stay with you forever. Described as “a twist of imaginative genius”, Raymond Blanc’s dishes utilise the freshest, best quality ingredients. The two-acre kitchen garden produces 90 types of vegetable and 70 varieties of herb. Le Manoir’s wine cellar is home to around 1,000 different wines from around the world. Around 60% are of French provenance.
Quod is a vibrant bustling space that is the meeting place for locals for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper as well as drinks. Various specials, many sourced from our own Rofford farm, adorn the blackboards. Diners can enjoy live jazz every Sunday. Quod restaurant offers the rare luxury of a restaurant with free parking in the middle of the city. There is a spectacular heated terrace where diners can enjoy a morning coffee, the superb value 2 course lunch or a cocktail.
A: Church Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9BY T: 01189 888 500 W: www.lortolan.com
A: Church Road, Great Milton, OX44 7PD T: 01844 278 881 W: www.manoir.com
A: 92 - 94 High Street Oxford, OX1 4BJ T: 01865 202 505 W: www.quod.co.uk
Ambassadors Card Offer: b4-business.com
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B4 YOU RESTAURANTS
RESTAURANTS
RESTAURANTS
THE OLD PARSONAGE
THE RED LION
THE TROUT
Reopening in March 2014, our restaurant & bar will serve breakfast, elevenses, a great value set lunch, afternoon tea & an all day a la carte menu. The new interior will retain its intimate clubby, bohemian atmosphere with new furniture & an enhanced collection of eclectic oil portraits from the Bloomsbury period. We will continue to serve simple yet innovative, predominately classic British cooking, influenced by the seasons & abundant native produce.
Tucked behind George Street, in between Oxfords main theatres, The Oxford Play House and The New Theatre, The Red Lion Oxford holds the biggest and most beautiful beer garden in the City. Inside you will find cosy corners to escape the hustle of bustle of the shops and tourist attractions. Chef's freshly prepared menus and our carefully selected wines, ales and beers are served all day every day.
Nestled on the banks of the River Thames and steeped in history this 17th century pub is a unique setting to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our traditional pub building has been stylishly refurbished to make it the perfect place to find a cosy corner and take time out whilst enjoying some of our Chefs' seasonal dishes and our great selection of wines, ales and lagers.
A: 1 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6NN T: 01865 310 210 W: www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk
A: 14 Gloucester Street, Oxford, OX1 2BN T: 01865 726 255 W: www.redlionoxford.co.uk
A: Godstow Road, Wolvercote, Oxford, OX2 8PN T: 01865 510 930 W: www.thetroutoxford.co.uk
GOLF CLUBS
GOLF CLUBS
GOLF CLUBS
FRILFORD
HENNERTON
MAGNOLIA
Frilford Heath is located to the South of Oxford on 500 acres of glorious undulating Heathland and is one of the best venues in the south of England. Rarely can a club offer three championship golf courses that allow the opportunity to revel in their classical or modern challenge! The original Red Course was laid out in 1908 by five times Open champion JH Taylor measured 721 yards less than today’s 6915 on its par 72.
You will find a friendly and warm welcome at Hennerton. There is a good balance of monthly club competitions and social golf as well as plenty of time when the course is free for those who just want to play. Hennerton Golf Club was opened by Bernard Gallacher in 1992, when it was a 9-hole course. He was delighted with the beauty of the countryside and the advantages made of the natural variation of the hills and the valley in the design of the course.
Welcome to Magnolia Park, a Golf and Country Club that offers you the opportunity of playing what we believe is one of the country’s most challenging and picturesque golf courses. A sweeping championship 18 hole course of around 7,000 yards, constructed to the very highest specifications, our course is suitable for every golfer whether you are a beginner or professional.
A: Oxford Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 5NW T: 01865 390 864 W: www.frilfordheath.co.uk
A: Crazies Hill Road, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8LT T: 0118 940 1000 W: www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk
A: Arncott Road, Boarstall, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9XX T: 01844 239 700 W: www.magnoliapark.co.uk
Vouch Offer: vouchoffers.co.uk
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DRAW ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND BUILD ON OUR SUCCESS Buckinghamshire based Peter Mark, Managing Director of KMP, the award winning RIBA Chartered Architects, Surveyors and Project Management practice, talks to B4’s Richard Rosser about the integrated end-to-end offering of his long established family owned business. “What certainly sets us apart from other architects is that for the convenience of our Clients, we also offer full in-house Surveying and Project Management services which has the considerable benefit of KMP being able to combine vision and design flair across a project with the necessary considerations of practicality and cost. KMP, originally and until recently The Kenneth Mark Practice, was founded by my father in Saffron Walden in 1980. We have maintained a consistent presence across the South East over the last 4 decades and we are well known and respected for providing quality in every aspect of our work. Historically, we have in the main undertaken commissions for domestic and corporate Clients throughout Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Sussex and London but our success has led us more recently to extend and expand our home counties coverage. We are now extending more into Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire where we are very actively building collaborative partnerships with related trades and professions. To reflect this, our Saffron Walden office is now run by our Principal Architect, John Patterson, to whom 62
initial enquiries should be directed while I am developing our business in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire ” A broad range of experience “Our wealth of experience includes working on new houses, extensions and conversions, listed buildings, churches, schools and even a windmill! In addition to our Architectural, Surveying and Project Management services, we are also Party Wall Surveyors and Construction (Design and Management) Co-ordinators and we have extensive experience in supervising Cyclical Planned Maintenance for Housing Associations and on-going estate management for corporate Clients. We offer a full service not just for listed buildings, but also for the design and construction of new buildings. We are able to offer a full architectural and surveying service, together with renovations and improvements to existing buildings and extensions and conversions. Our broad range of experience includes prestigious and small-scale projects for both individual domestic and corporate Clients – and one recently completed project for a private Client (the fourth project that we had successfully completed for
him) was a stunning contemporary beach-side residence with all modern facilities on Millionaires Row on Brighton Seafront’s Western Esplanade, alongside properties owned by Adele, David Walliams and Fat Boy Slim.” A wide range of commissions “We are happy to accept a very wide range of commissions from preliminary services only ie up to Planning and Building Regulations stages, through to full service commissions including preparation of specifications, tender invitations, supervision of works on site and agreement of the final account with the appointed contractor. Our preliminary service would typically include taking instruction and preparing a brief for the project, carrying out the necessary survey work, preparing sketches for approval and planning consultation and preparing reliable estimates of cost. For this preliminary service, we would agree a fixed fee before starting works and this would then not be varied. If required, we can also provide a high quality Project Management service. We also offer a professional advice service to persons thinking of buying a property or to those www.b4-business.com
B4 PROPERTY
ARCHITECTURAL
SERVICES Why use an Architect? When you appoint an RIBA Chartered Architect, you are employing someone who has undertaken seven years of training – no other building professional is trained in design and construction to such a level of expertise. An architect will help you achieve your aspirations and add value to your project through good design and sound construction management. A good architect will save you money.
seeking advice on the potential in a property before they offer it for sale.” We offer end to end peace of mind “In response to an enquiry, KMP offer an initial complimentary face to face consultation to Clients in order to discuss their possible requirements, ideas and budget. We advise Clients of our Architectural Services fee structure and also, if requested, we would provide some initial sketches and outline design proposals. Assuming that we are then appointed and outline plans and budgets are agreed, we would make any Planning Permission Applications to the Local Authority and Building Regulations on behalf of our Clients and, if required, Listed Building Consent would be applied for. Once planning permission is received, we would then proceed to prepare a specification and compile a list of suitable building contractors, obtain competitive tenders and, through our surveying department, we would draw up building contracts. We can also provide full end to end Project Management and inspect the entire works to www.b4-business.com
ensure that the project is delivered on time and on budget in accordance with the agreed specification. KMP will help you understand from the start how to extract the most from your budget and deliver a transparent menu-based costing so that you can choose only the elements you require.” Above all, we pride ourselves on our service and commitment to our Clients Concluded Peter, “No matter what the nature of the project is, at KMP we pride ourselves on our commitment to offer a highly personal service by working very closely with every Client to help them to realise their vision for their projects”
How to select an Architect Clients often appoint an Architect based on a recommendation from acquaintances. This is understandable if your project is similar. However, it is most important to ensure that you and your Architect are compatible. Your Architects must convince you of their creativity, their listening skills and their ability to get things done. Are they RIBA Chartered Architects? This will guarantee a code of conduct and a level of professionalism. Be aware that some people call themselves ‘Architect’ without formal registration.
If you would like to discuss how KMP could be of assistance to you, please initially contact John Patterson, Principal Architect on 01799 521 734. Regarding enquiries relating specifically to Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire or Berkshire, please contact Peter Mark on 01494 257 482
Can they offer other disciplines in-house (e.g. surveying, structural engineering and project management)? In the end, this will ensure a smoothly run project and will help contain costs.
www.kmpractice.co.uk
Is their experience appropriate to your project? How many other projects are they working on? Will your project be treated as a priority?
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STRANGEBREW – REFRESHING THE BUSINESSES AND BRANDS THAT OTHER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS CANNOT REACH Strangebrew’s Phil Strachan talks to Richard Rosser about why his reassuringly inexpensive yet very special, extremely potent and highly intoxicating brew of Branding, Identity and Graphic Design experience and expertise is refreshing, revitalising and re-energising businesses and brands of all shapes and sizes across the Home Counties. So, what is the special formula? What are the magic ingredients? “I don’t think that it is any great secret. There really is no top secret formula, no magic ingredients. Having said that, my authentic blend of London quality at Glasgow prices seems to just hit the right spot and go down very well. If there is any special formula or special ingredients involved, it is just about taking my 14 years plus of Client-side brand marketing experience and mixing it thoroughly with over 20 years consultancy-side experience specialising in the areas of Branding, Identity and Graphic Design” The result is a ‘Think Brand – not bland’ approach that seems to go down very well with business and brands of all shapes and sizes ranging from Professional Practices through to Breweries, Automotive Technology businesses and just recently a Wine Merchant and Importer. What they did all have in common, and where Strangebrew really does deliver, is that they all knew they wanted to stand out from the crowd, in Strangebrew speak, to be Brand - not bland. “In the case of existing businesses, it was mostly a question of them looking to move up to the next level, sometimes with a slight change of direction and often to punch above their weight, and for me to help put in place the wherewithal for them to do so. My promise to them, and my challenge to myself, is to be able to add value to businesses and brands of all shapes and sizes by providing them with the foundations upon which to build. It is a challenge that I really enjoy and it enables me to bring freshness to businesses and brands in any market. It also keeps me fresh too – there really is no formula. Recent challenges include a healthy mix of a Social Media Client, a Photographer, an Architectural Practice, a Business Development Specialist and a business operating in the Sustainability field. Most often what is involved is a deconstruction process designed to identify what they are really all about and have to offer followed by a reconstruction 64
process designed to put them back together again - but in better shape and with a better offering.” In Strangebrew’s case, much of the new business comes from referrals from extremely satisfied Clients whose business has benefitted from an injection of Phil Strachan’s special brand of Business and/or Brand Alchemy. Says Phil “There can be no better demonstration of a Client’s satisfaction with what you have done for them and I have had some Clients referring me on to other potential new Clients even before I had nearly finished working on their projects. For me, that speaks volumes.”
“What they all had in common, and where Strangebrew really does deliver, is that they all wanted to stand out from the crowd, in Strangebrew speak, to be Brand - not bland.
”
Business also comes from people who have read about Strangebrew and want to know more about how Phil could help them to Think Brand – not bland. Continued Phil, “A few months ago, I had a call completely out of the blue from someone who had read about Strangebrew in B4 magazine. They were looking to set up a new business and, in their words, wanted it to be ‘Brand – not bland’. They also liked the idea of my ‘London quality at Glasgow prices’ proposition – which I know, having worked from London for 10years, is precisely what I deliver. Admittedly, nowadays I use a little creative
licence since I actually deliver it from my Berkshire base rather than from Glasgow where I was born and raised! This was exactly the type of Client I look for and can really help. They wanted more than just a logo – they wanted to create a business and brand that would stand out from the crowd. As is most often the case, they got a lot more than they expected, including input on vision and strategy.” What is the best example of Strangebrew being able to add real value to a business and its brands by refreshing, revitalising and re-energising their presentation? Phil reckons that it was, quite fittingly, the brewery he took on the journey of maturity from being a town’s biggest micro-brewery to being the town’s biggest Brewery. Explains Phil, “It was a very good business, brewing a portfolio of wonderful, some award-winning, Real Ales. But getting a business with the mindset of being a town’s biggest micro-brewery to spend a relatively modest four figure sum for a new grown up Corporate Identity and similarly refreshed and grown up Identities for its portfolio of Real Ales took more than a little convincing. In very sharp contrast, two and a half years later they seemed to take a whole lot less convincing to invest £600,000 in plant and premises to triple the Brewery capacity and to create six new full-time jobs in order to keep up with the increased demand that had occurred. In less than three years, investment in Branding, Identity and Graphic Design went from being regarded by them as a debatably necessary luxury to being recognised as an absolute competitive necessity. The most interesting fact is that all I did was to honestly re-align the presentation of their business and their brands with what they actually delivered. They were a quality brewer with high quality awardwinning Real Ales but you would never have guessed that from their Corporate Brewery Identity or from their brands as represented by their pumpclips on the bar.
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B4 MARKETING If you think about it, we all hate when a business promises something and then fails to deliver. But in business, if you are delivering a high quality product or service and experience and yet you fail to promise such, you can be missing out big time. You might be overlooked and not stocked by key retailers you need to be listed by who don’t think you look good enough. Equally, you might be rejected by potential key business partners who don’t feel you match up to their own high standards and you might not be discovered or sampled by the very people you are targeting and who are key to your success. Underselling yourself so seriously is commercial suicide – and it does not have to be that way It is quite incredible how many businesses and brands simply fail to promise, to their own cost, the high quality of the product or service that they deliver. As a direct result, they fall way short of connecting, communicating and thus engaging effectively with their selected and deserved target markets. These are often businesses that have been established for some time but the quality of their presentation and what they communicate has become outdated as their presentation and offering has been far outstripped - not only by the quality and nature of what they themselves deliver, but also by their competitors and by the expectations of their target market. In short, they are in serious need of re-appraising and refreshing and revitalising not only their presentation and communications but possibly also their business name and Identity. Often, such businesses are spending (and largely wasting) money on advertising or promoting their offering or re-doing their website when the simple truth is that such monies could be very much better invested by firstly going back to basics with Strangebrew and then promoting with renewed confidence and success. The simple truth is that there is not much point in delivering a premium product or service if your perceived promise and what you are promoting is of something much less. Similarly, there is not much point in spending monies on promoting an offering that falls way short of the value and experience that you deliver. If, like the micro-brewery detailed above, you would like to have the problem of having to invest in your business or brand to triple your output capability in order to keep up with demand after an injection of Business and Brand Alchemy from Strangebrew, call Phil Strachan on 07770 753 975. Find out how, by helping you to ‘Think Brand – not bland’, he can refresh, revitalise and re-energise your business and/or brand. www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk
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ENGAGE
INFORM
INSPIRE
BUSINESS ‘A Catalyst for Collaboration’ Wednesday 23rd April, 2014 11.30am to 7.30pm
www.businessinoxford.com
In association with
Official Charity Partner
BUSINESS
Background to the event We are all fortunate to be in business in Oxfordshire. Centrally located with a vast range of thriving businesses, Oxfordshire is not only blessed with some of the world’s leading minds, it is surrounded by beautiful countryside and a rich history which is a magnate to businesses, staff and tourists. But we don’t celebrate this. We don’t shout about it enough. So why not start now? This event will provide Oxfordshire businesses with
the opportunity to hear presentations from public and private organisations and businesses within the county which are designed to engage, inform and inspire. Let’s find out why Oxfordshire has such a bright future, let’s find out how we can work together for our mutual benefit and discover what the future has in store for us as businesses, employers, employees and residents.
delegates with a full programme of inspirational presentations, but there will also be ample opportunity to network with other delegates and engage with our exhibitors. For ticket, sponsorship, programme advertising and presentation opportunities, please see more details in this brochure or visit the event website at: www.businessinoxford.co.uk
Staged at the impressive Said Business School in Oxford, this event will not only provide 300
Event Structure We will be theming the presentations in what we will refer to as ‘PODS’, with each POD having up to four x fifteen minute presentations. There will be nine PODS, and we will be running three simultaneously in three time slots. So, guests will only be able to pick three PODS in the different time slots. We therefore recommend businesses wanting to draw on as much information as possible from this event to register for tickets for up to three members of staff.
The nine PODS will take place in the Harvard Lecture Theatres. There will also be two Key Note speeches in the Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre which all guests will be able to attend.
This is the first year of what we hope will be an annual event. We hope you enjoy the event but we are always open to ideas for improvement.
Tickets for the event generally are now on sale. In March, we will be giving those that have purchased tickets the opportunity to register for their preferred PODS on a first come, first served basis. Richard Rosser B4 Events
Confirmed Speakers Please note speakers confirmed at time of going to press although more speakers will be added in the lead up to the event.
Peter Turfano, Peter Moores Dean, Saïd Business School
Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council and Board Member of the Local Enterprise Partnership
Sally Dicketts CBE, Group Chief Executive of Activate Learning
Rob Lindley, Vice President and Managing Director ENMEA, Harley Davidson
Simon McCrum, Managing Partner, Darbys Solicitors LLP
Wendy Tindsley, Managing Director – Business & Innovation Centres, Oxford Innovation
Richard Venables, Director, VSL
Matthew Cashmore, Digital Director, Blackwell’s
Stephen Roscoe, Technical Director, Grundon Waste Management
Francis Habgood, Deputy Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police
Giles Ingram, Chief Executive, Experience Oxfordshire
Dr Caroline Livingstone, Manager, Begbroke Science Park
STAY IN TOUCH! Follow us on Twitter, Sign up for the B4 e-Newsletter at www.b4-business.com
K WEST
HOTEL & SPA In the first of two London hotel reviews, B4’s Editor stayed at the impressive K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd’s Bush, conveniently located for the annual visit to Westfield shopping centre. Oozing style, a fun and vibrant ambience and buckets of class, K West Hotel & Spa provided the perfect destination at the end of a busy week.
Now here’s a first, we left Oxford on time, aiming to be in Shepherd’s Bush for 6pm. We had a good run in to London for a Friday night and rolled up to the hotel bang on time for our show around with Lucy from Luxe PR. The hotel’s contemporary vibe attracts those from the music and media industries who enjoy the proximity to the nearby O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and the Apollo. The hotel lobby merges with the stunning bar and a real Friday night feel filled the air and I made a mental note to get to the room and
Hill, Portobello Road and Kensington, all just a short walk away, but the big one, Westfield, is literally just over the road. As we were shown to our rooms, I was stunned at just how large the room was. A defining characteristic of all 220 guestrooms is the generous space, with the smallest being just under 300 sq ft. The rooms have luxurious, oversized beds and a calming colour scheme of soft taupes, creams and browns. Modern touches including LCD flat screen TVs, sandblasted glass, and original artwork
areas, which are fitted with Bose surround sound entertainment systems, a 42” plasma screen television and ultra-comfy sofas. Two-metre square beds and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are also staples in the suites. Even the bathrooms have been fitted with designer Philippe Starck doubleended baths and fixtures. K Lounge replicates the city’s buzzing nightlife. Every Friday and Saturday, top DJs play from 10pm until 2am, while the hotel’s expert mixologists create exotic cocktails for a distinctly cool crowd.
“Every Friday and Saturday, top DJs play from 10pm until 2am, while the hotel’s expert mixologists create exotic cocktails for a distinctly cool crowd” come straight back down to order a quick beer before dinner… no I don’t need to make mental notes, these sorts of tasks don’t usually slip my mind! As well as Westfield, K West is close to some of London’s most fashionable areas such as Notting
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give the rooms a distinctive K West stamp. Given our proximity to central London, the rooms provide incredible value for money. At the upper end of the scale, the six spectacular K Suites offer the ultimate experience. Dramatic walls of glass divide the bedrooms from the lounge
The chic venue features a stunning black granite bar with intricate mother-of-pearl detailing, illuminated by two impressive drop-column chandeliers. In the daytime, K Lounge provides a stylish retreat to relax and chill out. But at night it provided the perfect target for that beer, oh, and that g and t, that coke and that lemonade – yeah
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B4 WIDER
thanks kids for your help, I’ll manage all four drinks from the bar to the room…..I almost deserved a cheeky ‘starter for ten’ beer before making my way back to the room! Perched on a mezzanine floor above the bar, K
pudding found its way on to the table at the end of an extremely enjoyable evening during which the ground rules were laid for the next day’s shop, rules which no less than 12 hours later, as we revisited the Kanteen for breakfast, had been, in the grand manner of two goldfish, completely forgotten.
unique ‘Sun Meadow’ offers specialist light therapy to treat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and the ‘Vanity K’ nail bar is the place to be pampered. The spa also features a twinkling hydrotherapy pool, sanarium, sauna, dry flotation tank, aromatic herbal steam room and fully equipped K Fit gymnasium.
“K Spa introduced the first ‘Snow Paradise’ to London, which mimics the Finnish experience of alternating between freezing and steamy environments” West’s modern restaurant, Kanteen, offers high quality food and a sociable atmosphere. Experienced Head Chef, Eduart Berisha has created an inventive menu focusing on modern British cuisine to satisfy the cosmopolitan clientele. Ever changing artwork adorns the walls and is available to buy, not that we did, I was terrified about our trip to ‘shopping heaven’ as Abi put it. Your heaven maybe, my hell. We enjoyed an excellent meal including an Angus beef burger, roast belly of pork and a couple of chargrilled sirloin steaks. Somehow a sticky toffee
Nonetheless, we were set up for the day with a hearty breakfast and enough fruit and naughty pastries to keep us going until late in to the afternoon. Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to try out K West’s Spa, but judging by its awards, it sounded fantastic. Awarded the top rating of “5 Bubbles” in the 2013 Good Spa Guide, K West’s holistic spa offers a range of exclusive treatments. K Spa introduced the first ‘Snow Paradise’ to London, which mimics the Finnish experience of alternating between freezing and steamy environments. The
With prices at K West starting from £125 per room per night, and the K Suites from £540 per night, I challenge you to find a more relaxing, more exciting venue for your London trip. Just don’t tell the others you’re so close to Westfield because that’s where it all goes horribly wrong. www.k-west.co.uk
“As we were shown to our rooms, I was stunned at just how large the room was. A defining characteristic of all 220 guestrooms is the generous space
”
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LANCASTER LONDON Standing proudly over London’s Hyde Park, Lancaster London is one of the capital’s most iconic hotels with panoramic views to match. B4’s Editor and family made the short journey from Shepherd’s Bush to enjoy this first class hotel for the second time in as many years. Written by Richard Rosser.
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B4 WIDER
After a day’s shopping at Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush, you just want to relax. I’d spent the day not girlie enough to follow the two girls around and not cool enough to tag along with Ed, the 16 year old. I was in middle-aged limbo. It had even crossed my mind that I might just be lunching on my own, like a coach driver waiting patiently for the other passengers to enjoy themselves. At least the coach driver is getting paid – I was paying for the privilege of my family exclusion. Ultimately we found eachother, purely by chance, like the happy ending of a black and white Saturday afternoon film. The setting wasn’t quite as romantic – I don’t remember seeing Cary Grant against the backdrop of Superdrug, but we were together and made our way to the car park and over to our home for the night. We couldn’t see the kids for bags in the back seat – overnight and that day’s purchases – and as we drew up on the forecourt of the hotel, the porter gulped as he saw not just a family of four but enough bags to rival the most seasoned shopper’s daily spoils. We were ushered to the front desk where we met Claire, who had kindly facilitated our weekend in London, for a tour of the hotel. The hotel’s location makes for the perfect base. Close to the shopping areas of Oxford and Bond Street, the internationally acclaimed West End theatres, not to mention countless museums and key tourist attractions, Lancaster London is almost pivotal. And as I found out the following morning, it’s a great location to go and stretch the legs and give my new trainers a test drive in Hyde Park, which is literally just over the road. For a tailored experience with oodles of character and charm, Lancaster London will not leave you disappointed. There are 416 superb rooms across 18 floors. Guests have the choice of a city or park view, but for the ultimate stay, why not book in to the Hyde Park Suite, the Radnor Suite, the
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Connaught Suite, the Fountain Suite or the Presidential Suite which are all beautifully designed and provide the best views from the upper floors of the hotel. The Superior and Deluxe rooms offer king-size or twin beds, stylish seating areas, and plush bathrooms. All rooms are fully equipped with modern facilities such as air-conditioning, satellite television, mini bars, en-suite bathrooms and power showers. Not widely known are Lancaster London’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) accolades. The hotel has been rewarded with awards such as ‘AA Eco Hotel of the Year 2012’, Considerate Hoteliers’ ‘Considerate Hotel of the Year 2012’ and the Green Tourism Business Scheme’s ‘Gold Star Award 2012’. The hotel is a champion for the humble honey bee, and was the first hotel in London to cultivate beehives on its roof in 2009.
“For a tailored experience with oodles of character and charm, Lancaster London will not leave you disappointed” Equally impressive are the hotel’s wide ranging dining options. In Issue 26 of B4, we reported on the excellent Island Grill which has been awarded the top Three Star rating by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The modern European menu, created by Head Chef Darren Marshall, features the finest ingredients that change with each season. The contemporary split-level space offers beautiful views across Hyde Park to enjoy whilst dining.
Government for its authentic cuisine. It is renowned as one of London’s best Thai restaurants, with dishes created by the all-lady kitchen brigade managed by Head Chef Nongyao Toopchoi. The service was impeccable and after our day’s exertions (theirs spent buying things, mine spent trying to find them buying things) we polished off at least five bottles……of water! The food was superb and our sharing platter to start a real hit with all of my new found family. Nipa Thai has a classy feel to it but you’re not made to feel as though you need to stand on ceremony….the emphasis is certainly on relaxing and enjoying the occasion, and we certainly enjoyed a special evening in each other’s company. Lancaster Lounge, on the first floor, is the ideal place for coffee and cocktails. The hotel’s proximity to the Peter Pan Statue in Hyde Park has led to the creation of the Peter Pan Afternoon Tea, which includes a selection of fine teas, Lost Boys’ Sandwiches, Mrs Darling’s Scones, and an assortment of pastries and cakes. Lancaster London is one of Europe’s leading and most flexible meeting and banqueting venues. Its conference rooms, which have recently undergone an £11.5m refurbishment, have the ability to cater for all sizes of events, from small business meetings, to large receptions for up to 3,000 people. As a result, this four-star hotel has been voted “Best UK Hotel” in the “Meetings” category by the readers of Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine six times in ten years. The cuisine for all banqueting is provided by Head Chef Richard Partridge. Weekday rates start from £179 per room per night, whilst weekend rates start from £159. Why don’t you make a bee-line for Lancaster London? www.lancasterlondon.com
On this visit we were booked into the awardwinning Nipa Thai, which has received the prestigious ‘Thai Select’ award from the Thai
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10%
DISCO THE C UNT ON OR BADG PORATE EU 31 MA NTIL RCH
B4 contacts P
CONTACTS DIRECTORY Advice..................................................................................................................................................73 Business Services....................................................................................................................73 Charities & Government Organisations.....................................................74 Conference, Events & Venues........................................................................................74 Event Managment Technology..........................................................................74 Education........................................................................................................................................74 Finance..............................................................................................................................................74 Health & Leisure.......................................................................................................................74 Travel........................................................................................................................74
ADVICE LEGAL Field Seymour Parkes A Penelope Garden Associate 0118 951 6312 www.fsp-law.com Gardner Leader LLP A Derek Rogers Managing Partner 01635 508080 www.gardner-leader.co.uk Morgan Cole LLP A Michael Stace Partner 0118 955 3000 www.morgan-cole.com Turpin & Miller A Emily Boardman Partner 01865 770111 www.turpinmiller.co.uk Clifton Ingram LLP A Carl Rae Partner, Dispute Resolution 0118 957 3425 www.cliftoningram.co.uk Penningtons Manches LLP 0118 982 2640 www.penningtons.co.uk
ACCOUNTING BDO LLP A Simon Brooker Lead Partner 0118 925 4488 www.bdo.uk.com Grant Thornton UK LLP A Jim Rogers Assurance Partner 0118 955 9114 www.grant-thornton.co.uk Wilkins Kennedy 0118 951 2131 www.wilkinskennedy.com
BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS Institute of Directors, Berkshire Branch A Barry Lewis Chairman, Berkshire Branch 0118 942 9608 www.iod.com
BUSINESS ADVICE The FD Group A Trevor Wilson Chief Executive 0118 948 1080 www.theFDgroup.co.uk
FSB A Richard Knight East Berkshire Branch Chairman 01256 767837 www.fsb.org.uk
Parfitt Cresswell 01753 271640 www.parfittcresswell.com Strategic Finance Director Limited 07967 681774 www.strategicfd.co.uk
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group 01753 870500 www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk
BUSINESS SERVICES BUSINESS CONSULTANTS
Bracknell Business Club 01256 767837
Beacon Sales A Barry Luff Managing Director 07813 898936 www.beaconsales.co.uk MCP Consulting and Training Sarah James Marketing Executive 0121 506 9034 www.mcpeurope.com
JFP Strategic Planning 01344 872230 www.jfpstrategic-planning.co.uk
Click Berkshire A Harriet Slingo Owner 07725 740311 www.clickberkshire.co.uk The Business Wealth Club 01869 278900 www.thebusinesswealthclub.com
Thomas International 01608 659910 www.thomasinternational.net
Bbite 07836 205262 www.bbite.co.uk
A
HR..........................................................................................................................................................74 IT & Telecommunications.................................................................................................75 Marketing & Design...............................................................................................................75 Printing.......................................................................................................................75 Public Relations...............................................................................................................75 Media......................................................................................................................75 Property & Building...............................................................................................................75 Restaurants & Bars............................................................................................................75 Retail....................................................................................................................................................75
Pareto Lawrence Ltd 0845 241 0207 www.paretolawrence.co.uk
Direct 2 PA A Emma Watts Executive PA 0118 932 6698 www.direct2pa.com
A M B A S S A D O R
BUSINESS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
A
Archway Business Solutions Ltd 0118 324 0135 www.archwaybusiness.com
INSURANCE Coversure Insurance 0800 093 57 80 www.coversure.co.uk Vision Vehicle Solutions Ltd 01628 780011 www.vision4accidents.com
SECURITY RISK Management Security Services 01494 469189 www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk
Wilson Partners 01628 770 770 www.wilson-partners.co.uk www.b4-business.com
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CHARITIES & GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS RAF Benevolent Fund Paul Hewson Regional Director - London, Home Counties and South England 01296 656586 www.rafbf.org.uk The Sandhurst Foundation A Daren Bowyer Director 01276 412000 www.sandhurstfoundation.org
EVENT MANAGEMENT
TAX PLANNING
The Active Network 0207 313 5744 www.activenetwork.com
Your Money Friends A Ted Yeates Founder 0208 123 1193 www.yourmoneyfriend.co.uk
Lime Blue Solutions 01628 780211 www.limebluesolutions.com
CATERING SERVICES
BEAUTY
Philip Dennis Foodservice P 01993 700030 www.philipdennis.co.uk
Electric Hair A Alan Short Director and Salon Manager 0118 957 1010 www.electric-hair.com
Berkshire Community Foundation 0118 930 3021 www.berkshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk
EDUCATION
Sue Ryder 0800 917 8123 www.sueryder.org
Reading College P Lesley Donoghue Principal 0118 955 4300 www.reading-college.ac.uk
CONFERENCE, EVENTS AND VENUES
Reading University 0118 987 5123 www.reading.ac.uk
Malmaison P Richard Lockstone General Manager 0118 956 2300 www.malmaison.com
FINANCE
Oakley Court Hotel P Richard Smith Sales Manager 01753 609988 www.principal-hayley.com/theoakleycourt The Bird in Hand Country Inn 01628 826622 www.birdinhand.co.uk Fredrick’s Hotel, Restaurant & Spa 01628 581 000 www.fredricks-hotel.co.uk The Forbury Hotel A Peter Farquhar General Manager 01189 527770 www.theforburyhotel.co.uk Monkey Island Hotel A David Maisey General Manager 01628 623400 www.monkeyisland.co.uk Macdonald Windsor Hotel A Beverley Molmans General Manager 0844 879 9101 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/windsor
VENUES The Vineyard P Marwan Hemchaoui General Manager 01635 528770 www.the-vineyard.co.uk
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HEALTH AND LEISURE
BANKING Metro Bank 0203 402 7620 www.metrobank.plc.uk
SPORT Reading FC Limited P Sir John Madejski Chairman 0118 968 1100 www.readingfc.co.uk Hennerton Golf Club 0118 940 1000 www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk Newbury Racecourse P Amanda Ellis Conference & Events Business Development Manager 01635 40015 www.racecoursenewbury.co.uk
Handelsbanken 0118 959 5444 www.handelsbanken.co.uk/reading
Magnolia Park P Mark McGeehan Golf Pro 01844 239700 www.magnoliapark.co.uk
Lloyds TSB Commercial P Paul Smart Area Director Thames Valley, SME Banking 01442 233261 www.lloydstsbbusiness.com
The Jockey Club A Matthew Foxton-Duffy Regional Head of Marketing - South West 01242 537608 www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
RBS Corporate Banking A Donald MacDonald UK Head of Deposits & Director, Professionals 07768 427379 www.rbs.co.uk/corporate.ashx
LEISURE ACTIVITES
Santander Corporate Banking A Paul Robinson Relationship Director 0118 921 1621 www.ukcorporatebanking.com
TRAVEL
Coutts Reading A Robert Woodthorpe-Brown Client Partner 0118 373 3509 www.coutts.com/locations/reading Barclays Corporate 07766 362053 www.barclayscorporate.com Metro Bank 0203 402 7620 www.metrobank.plc.uk
Nirvana Spa 0118 989 7500 www.nirvanaspa.co.uk
Livingstone’s World of Travel Ltd 0844 888 8383 www.livingstonesworldoftravel.com
HR Crispin Rhodes A Sharon Pugh Partner 01189 414941 www.crispinrhodes.co.uk HR2YOU P Sarah Morris Managing Director 07789 711997 www.hr2you.co.uk
www.b4-business.com
B4 contacts IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS IT SERVICES In Touch CRM P James White Managing Director 0800 056 6452 www.intouchcrm.co.uk Security Exchange Ltd. 01491 683710 www.securityexchange24.com
TELECOMMUNICATIONS Everything Everywhere P Mike Tomlinson Small Business Marketing Director 07968 107671 www.everythingeverywhere.com
MARKETING & DESIGN ADVERTISING B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Managing Director 01865 742211 www.berkshire.b4-business.com Focal Point Advertising Solutions 01256 767837 www.focal.co.uk
DESIGN Clever Little Design 01628 627853 www.cleverlittledesign.co.uk Blink Design & Print 01865 742211 www.on-the-blink.com Voyage Design 01189 835510 www.voyagedesign.co.uk
MARKETING Strangebrew Brand Alchemy P Phil Strachan Proprietor 07770 753975 www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk The Social Media Café A Amanda Hill Founder 0844 3305679 www.amanda-hill.org.uk Glooo Robin Parker Partner 01865 595707 www.glooo.co.uk
Synergis 01628 857460 www.synergismarketing.com
PROPERTY & BUILDING
PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM PRODUCTION
Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Marketing and IC Development Director 01865 261400 www.oxin-centres.co.uk
Hills & Saunders A Richard Shymansky Photographer 07878 162452 www.hillsandsaunders.co.uk
PRINTING Advent Colour P Mike Ackerman Sales Director 01264 359359 www.advent-colour.co.uk
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SERVICES
Absolutely Offices A Beryl Huntingdon Managing Director 01256 316500 www.absolutely-offices.co.uk Berkshire Centres at: Crowthorne Enterprise Centre 01344 751 600 www.crowthorne-ec.co.uk
Dartnell UK Ltd 01635 278568 www.dartnell.co.uk
Lily Hill House 01344 317 900 www.lilyhillhouse.com
Solutions in Ink 020 7917 2964 www.solutionsinink.com
INTERIORS
PUBLIC RELATIONS Evokedset A Nicola Denovan Director 0844 870 8025 www.evokedset.com Esplin PR A Louise Esplin Freelance PR Consultant 01235 850115 www.esplinpr.co.uk Morgan PR A Nigel Morgan Founder 0845 00 33 666 www.morganpr.co.uk
MEDIA Reading 107fm P Tony Grundy Acting MD 0118 986 2555 www.reading107fm.com
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Amarestone 0845 2608070 www.amarestone.com
RESTAURANTS & BARS Browns A 0118 950 3137 www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/locations/reading L’Ortolan Sally Albin Marketing Manager 0118 988 9107 www.lortolan.com Java & Co. 07736 950673 www.javaandco.co.uk
RETAIL Buildbase A Tim Felton Regional Director South 01635 573716 www.buildbase.co.uk Vintagenie www.vintagenie.com
Gavin Jones A Martin Ford Business Development Executive T: 01932 833833 W: www.gavinjones.co.uk Grundon T: 01491 839212 W: www.grundon.com
First Move Direct Marketing 01494 539300 www.firstmove.co.uk B4 is designed by Blink Design & Print e: studio@on-the-blink.com t: 01865 742211
www.b4-business.com
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Join Our Club Experience country club living right here in Newbury
7 day golf membership Gold level health club membership Discounts on dining Free studio classes Individual, joint and family memberships From £160 per month
For full details see our website: www www.donningtonvalley.co.uk/CountryClubMembership.asp .donningtonvalley.co.uk/CountryClubMembership.asp or call Slavka on 01635 551188 and quote ‘B4Mar ‘B4March14’ ch14’