BBP Midlands - Edition 67

BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS POST

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Edition 67

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34264 AP_HorseWorld 11/01/2017 12:50 Page 1

Kite Packaging invests for growth Kite Packaging improves warehouse infrastructure in support of continued growth.

Well-functioning warehousing facilities play a vital role in the overall supply chain process and it goes without saying that it’s fundamental for warehouses to achieve both efficiency and effectiveness.

Reducing cycle times and improving customer service is crucial and can be supported with the addition of new innovative solutions. People play a huge role in warehouses and are an important asset, even in the highly automated and system controlled operations of today, warehouses are still heavily dependent upon good calibre people to manage effective operations.

year of strong growth and the need to create efficiency to cope with increased delivery rates from their inbound suppliers.

Through the adoption of a new dock leveller ramp, Kite can now optimise labour efficiency and speed up the process of their warehouse operation. The dock leveller allows loads to be moved in and out of the lorry in a single horizontal movement, by bridging small differences in height between the loading and unloading bay and the vehicle bed, ensuring a smooth and safe transfer of goods. In terms of time the new addition to Kite’s warehouse operation saves over half of the time to off load a hand ball container.

Kite are expanding their site on Torrington Avenue, demonstrating an on-going commitment to investment in the area, acquiring neighbouring commercial property and making changes throughout their warehouse operation to support their rapid expansion and plans for future growth. The focus of expansion is also happening across the group with Kite’s UKwide branch divisions also looking to expand. As a result of this expansion 32 new roles have been created across a broad range of departments from their warehouse operation, IT, marketing, sales, and customer service and credit control.

During periods such as ‘peak season’ many warehouses see a significant increase in activity, whether it’s increased stock turn or rises in the number of orders going through despatch departments. As a company with customer satisfaction at the centre of everything they do, Kite Packaging have taken steps to improve efficiency within their warehouse operation to better serve their online customers.

Health and safety, particularly in busy warehouse operations, is something that needs to be taken seriously. The HSE statistics show that in the past 20 years there has been a downward trend in the rate of fatal injury in the workplace, though in recent years this trend is showing signs of levelling off.

Kite Packaging have recently invested in a new ‘dock leveller’ for their warehouse operation in Coventry. This follows another

For more information on Kite Packaging and their products and services contact www.kitepackaging.co.uk

Birmingham Edition 67 Contents_Layout 1 10/02/2017 13:23 Page 1

C O N T E N T S

Welcome to Edition 67 of the Birmingham Business Post, the free magazine for the Midlands business community packed with news, tips and stories from across the region.

In Business Finance, we look at the credit fuelled boom in consumer spending and the true cost of cheap insurance, while with the housing shortage so much in the news we ask whether the SME sector could provide the answer. Our features on Manufacturing Technology and Business Technology highlight our ever more connected world while our article on GDPR reminds us all to put the recommended data safeguards in place.

We also look at the advantages that serviced or virtual offices can provide business start-ups.

It is National Apprenticeship Week from March 6th10th, now in its 10th successful year the event highlights the importance of apprenticeships to the wider economy. We also look at some of the considerations to bear in mind when choosing an alternative venue for your conference or event.

In the meantime take a look at the website, bbpmedia.co.uk and keep sending your business news and stories to us at newsdesk@bbpmedia.co.uk we love to hear from you.

BBP Media 11 Canalside Office Complex, Lowesmoor Wharf, Worcester WR1 2RR Tel: 08000 807 809 Fax: 01905 726 467 E: hello@bbpmedia.co.uk W: www.bbpmedia.co.uk Publisher: PIL (Europe) Limited Print & Design: Heron Press UK ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduction in whole or part prohibited without permission. Colour transparencies, prints or any pictorial media for this publication are sent at owners risk and whilst every care is taken, neither PIL (Europe) Limited or its agents accept liability for loss or damage. No editorial submissions will be returned unless accompanied by a Self Addressed Envelope.

DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, PIL (Europe) Limited cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor.

Opus VL GDPR - The General Data Protection Regulation Zenzero Solutions The Credit Boom or Credit Bust?

BCRS Business Loans Clark Benefit Consulting Access Credit Management Asset Finance Compared SME Business Finance Lewis Onions Solicitors Fairfield Pension Trustees Have you got it covered?

PIB Insurance Cowens Survival Capability Coface Supercharge Your Business Growth Vizual Management Solutions Sys-Tek Informance Coventry University Enterprises CPIO Intelligentpos Textlocal Conferencing Today Midlands Business Awards 2017 Royal Shakespeare Company Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport The Chip Shed Could Serviced Offices be The Answer?

Alpha Works Huntingdon House Business Centre Innovation Birmingham Campus The Great Apprenticeship Push is on University of Wolverhampton Performance Through People Heart of England Training Can SMEs rescue our housing crisis?

A-Plant Copperfield Windows Voltacon LED Lighting BEST Compliance Capital Stackers Manufacturing and IT High Value Manufacturing Catapult Ochiba Zimmer Group Fleet Maintenance Fleetmatics ACC Freight Management Trevor E W Hickton Workforce Mental Health

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34206 AP _HorseWorld 05/12/2016 16:36 Page 1

The data protection act is changing are you ready?

If you hold data on individuals, you will be affected when the Data Protection Act is replaced by the General Data Protection Regulation on 25th May 2018.

The GDPR directive aims to protect privacy and personal data with clear penalties for those who contravene the legislation.

The changes are significant and compliance will be challenging without data systems providing key GDPR functionality.

Post-Brexit - does this still matter to me?

When the directive comes into force, the UK will still be governed by EU regulations. At a point when the UK leaves the EU, the GDPR directive will be used by the UK as a base for writing a replacement data protection directive. What's more, if UK organisations intend to trade with EU organisations, they will need to adhere to GDPR.

How does GDPR differ from the current Data Protection Act? The key changes include:

• A company must delete data if no longer used for the purpose it was collected

• The subject has the right to be erased if requested

• Firms handling a large amount of data, or sensitive data must appoint a data protection officer (DPO)

• All businesses in the EU must be complaint, as must companies

OPUSVL

Portability

Data must be available in a manner that can be loaded into alternative systems. To meet this requirement, Open Standards should be used. Within this scope is not only the textual data but other files, documents and images.

What to do now:

• Start with adding GDPR non-compliance to the risk register

• Assess the overall impact of GDPR on your business • Investigate legal implications for your organisation • Create a GDPR compliant process for data access requests

• Ensure you can erase personal data without damaging database integrity

• Plan to encrypt all data stored on mobile/portable devices

• Determine how portability requests will be handled

trading with EU organisations

• When data is collected, the purpose of this must be made clear

Data on loan

To understand the principles behind GDPR, you need to consider that any data that you hold has been loaned to you by the owner, and they are in control of who has it and what they do with it. Consent must be freely given for the use of any personal data and the use for this must be made clear.

Technical measures

To ensure compliance, the following technical measures will be required:

Encryption

Installing and maintenance of security systems such as firewalls and regular software updates, and encryption of mobile devices and stored data.

Tokenization

This is the process of substituting personal data with a 'token' such as a number or pseudonym to remove individual identifiers, allowing transactional data to remain.

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Time for action

It is imperative that businesses take steps to ensure compliance. Existing systems need to be evaluated to ensure regulations are met.

For further advice or to find out about GDPR consultancy and analysis packages, please contact OpusVL t: 01788 298 450 e: enquiries@opusvl.com www.gdprready.co.uk

34339 1pg_Transport Warehousing 02/02/2017 14:30 Page 1

GDPR

The General Data Protection Regulation The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is definitely coming into law in May 2018 and will financially penalise organisations that are based in or operate from the EU that are not GDPR compliant.

The GDPR directive aims to protect privacy and personal data with clear penalties for those who contravene the legislation, indeed a business that is not GDPR compliant could face a fine of €20m or 4% of its annual turnover.

The GDPR Conference Europe recently surveyed businesses across the UK to measure their understanding of the prospective impacts of the GDPR. The findings showed an acute need for further training on the implications of GDPR, and how to prepare before it becomes law in May next year.

The survey results showed that 92.3% of businesses believe GDPR is applicable to their business, yet 62% have no plans in place to prepare for GDPR, with the vague belief that because it is EU legislation it won’t really be enforced as we are leaving the EU, not so.

When the directive comes into force, the UK will still be governed

by EU regulations. At the point at which the UK leaves the EU, the GDPR directive will be used by the UK as a base for writing a replacement data protection directive.

What's more, if UK organisations intend to trade with EU organisations, they will need to adhere to GDPR.

As Secretary of State Karen Bradley MP said last October: “We will be members of the EU in 2018 and therefore it would be expected and quite normal for us to opt into the GDPR and then look later at how best we might be able to help British business with data protection while maintaining high levels of protection for members of the public.”

With so many businesses and services operating across borders, international consistency around data protection laws and rights is crucial both to businesses and organisations, and to individuals.

A minority of the businesses surveyed said they were starting to prepare for GDPR with internal meetings and training, but over one third of businesses reported having very limited knowledge of GDPR or what they need to do to get ready for its implementation, causing further obstacles to getting GDPR ready.

Under the GDPR data protection principles set out the main responsibilities for organisations. The most significant addition is the accountability principle. The GDPR requires you to show how you comply with the principles – for example by documenting the decisions you take about a processing activity.

For most organisations which keep HR records, customer lists, or contact details etc, the change to the definition should make little practical difference. You can assume that if you hold information that falls within the scope of the DPA, it will also fall within the scope of the GDPR. The GDPR applies to ‘personal data’ but is more expansive than the provisions under the Data Protection Act, the GDPR’s definition makes it clear that information such as an online identifier – eg an IP address – can be personal data,

meaning that a wide range of personal identifiers can be considered to constitute personal data, reflecting changes in technology and the way organisations collect information about people.

The GDPR applies to both automated personal data and to manual filing systems where personal data is accessible according to specific criteria.

This is wider than the DPA’s definition and could include chronologically ordered sets of manual records containing personal data.

Personal data that has been pseudonymised – eg key-coded – can fall within the scope of the GDPR depending on how difficult it is to attribute the pseudonym to a particular individual.

Given the landslide figure that agreed GDPR is applicable to their business, the survey has shown a distinct need amongst UK businesses for thorough training on the impact it will have on business critical processes.

While many businesses are groaning under the weight of yet more legislation, compliance with GDPR can also be a business opportunity for organisations who get it right to present themselves as trusted, responsible and ethical.

Consumers understand that they need to share some of their personal data with organisations but they rightly expect that information to be kept safe and for organisations to be transparent about its use.

GDPR is coming, ready or not, and ignoring the regulation until it becomes enforceable in 2018 could be a costly mistake.

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34260 AP_HorseWorld 26/01/2017 14:22 Page 1

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34137 1pg._Transport Warehousing 08/02/2017 11:11 Page 1

The Credit Boom or Credit Bust?

Despite the economic uncertainty brought about by the Brexit vote and the lack of clarity as to what the final terms may be, the British public is still happily spending.

Confusion reigns among city analysts who had predicted gloom and doom and a sharp slowdown if the nation voted to leave the European Union. Yet the near 2% growth rate currently forecast by Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England would see the UK in the top rank of developed world nations.

A recent report from PwC paints a similarly optimistic picture, predicting that with potential average annual growth of around 1.9%, the UK could be the fastest growing economy in the G7 over the whole period to 2050.

The UK’s position is sustained by its relatively larger projected working-age share of the population than in most other advanced economies. However, this growth potential depends on the country remaining open to talented people from around the world after Brexit.

In fact with the development of China, Indonesia and India as economic powers PwC predict that the EU27’s share of world GDP could fall to below 10% by 2050, with France out of the top 10 and Italy out of the top 20 John Hawksworth, chief economist at PwC, said: “After a year of major political shocks with the Brexit vote and the election of President Trump, it might seem brave to opine on economic prospects for 2017, let alone 2050. But a longterm view is crucial for

considering areas like pensions, healthcare, energy and climate change, housing, transport and other infrastructure investment. By looking beyond unpredictable short-term economic and political cycles and focusing on fundamentals, long-term growth projections can actually be more reliable than short-term forecasts.”

This optimistic trend is great news for industry, particularly the automotive sector as new car sales surge. The home improvement and construction sectors are benefitting too as householders splurge on extensions and home improvements while even the high street is showing a marked up turn.

Increased consumer confidence thanks to high employment rates, modest increases in pay and lower prices at the petrol pumps and supermarket check outs has boosted households’ willingness to spend, and we certainly are, on cars, household goods and in local shops and major chains alike.

Much of the growth is fuelled by an increase in household debt; a 9.3 % rise in borrowing in February - the fastest pace since 2005, has resulted in households owing £63.3billion on credit cards and £115.3billion in other loans excluding mortgages.

The automotive industry in particular is feeling the bounce, car sales on finance have never been this high – they rose by 22% in just one year alone, and the number of new cars bought with cash borrowed at dealerships surged above one million in the past year.

In excess of £28billion was

borrowed – more than twice as much as just four years earlier.

Rising numbers of households are taking advantage of the record low rates for home improvements, major purchases or debt consolidation. Personal loan rates have fallen markedly over recent years, the average rate on a £10,000 personal loan is now at a record low of 4.3 per cent – or 3.43 if taken out from a supermarket.

Credit is easier to get too, credit scoring criteria has loosened in 11 of the past 12 quarters, which means a higher number of households and businesses have access to cheap cash, and alternative sources of funding. We are not back to pre-crash levels of debt yet, but this level of borrowing and the happy assumption that low interest rates are here to stay presents the Bank of England with a problem. With the economy’s growth being sustained by the rise in consumer spending fuelled by cheap credit, the economy is especially vulnerable to any rise in interest rates.

High levels of debt make it harder for the Bank to raise interest rates, because households and businesses could start to struggle as the cost of servicing debts rises, not just for unsecured borrowing but mortgage debts as well.

Governor Mark Carney has said in the past that the concern is not that households and businesses would stop paying their mortgages and other debts, but that covering these costs would eat into a greater proportion of people’s disposable incomes leaving them with less to spend elsewhere.

This may well be where business starts to feel extra pressure, not just in a falling off of demand but in increased loan repayments and pressure for higher wages including an increase in pension contributions.

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34327 AP_HorseWorld 30/01/2017 09:45 Page 1

BCRS delivers

£33 million to local SMEs

A West Midlands based business loans specialist reveals that it has delivered £33 million to growing local SMEs. BCRS Business Loans has now lent £33 million to West Midlands businesses that are unable to access finance from traditional lenders, as the not-for-profit organisation continues with its commitment to leave no viable business unsupported.

To support the growth of local SMEs, BCRS provide business loans from £10,000 to £150,000 that can be used for a wide range of projects, including working capital, purchasing equipment, recruitment, marketing and much more.

Paul Kalinauckas, Chief Executive of BCRS Business Loans, said: “This is a magnificent achievement for us and is reflective of the increased importance of our sector in funding the growth of businesses.

“We believe in local businesses and appreciate how important they are to the prosperity of our local economy. We understand that getting business finance can sometimes be a problem.

Lack of track record, unreasonable security arrangements, past financial problems or simply not meeting conventional credit scoring methods may be hindering the process.

“With a relationship-based approach to lending, we genuinely love helping small businesses achieve their goals,” concluded Paul.

Any West Midlands based business can expect a fast response when they apply for a loan either by contacting 0345 313 8410 or by submitting an enquiry form at www.bcrs.org.uk

BUSINESS LOANS

BUSINESS LOANS

Our Business Loan Funds have been especially designed to meet the needs of viable businesses that are unable to access finance from traditional lenders.

Small businesses are at the heart of what we do. We believe in what they do. Offering a relationship-based approach to lending, we are able to support local business and the communities they serve in ways few other lenders can.

For us, no viable business should go unsupported.

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34124 AP_HorseWorld 08/12/2016 14:09 Page 1

What’s a good pension trustee look like?

Since the Pensions Regulator launched its 21st Century Trustee initiative at the beginning of the year there has been plenty of discussion around this important topic. As we start our planning for 2017, one sure thing is that this is not going to go away. Both trustee boards and individual trustees need to consider ‘are we fit for the purpose of running a pension scheme?’

Take the time to carry out an audit

Taking time to consider how the trustee board is working, a gap analysis of trustee skills (not just pension skills), how long it takes to make a decision and building this into a ‘business as usual’ function, not something which is filed away and never reviewed again is essential. An audit will help identify any potential weaknesses and as importantly the solutions as to how these can be solved. The audit will help in being effective and proactive in directing and supervising the pension scheme. To do this, trustees have to understand what their roles and responsibilities are and keep them under review. Nothing stands still and certainly not pensions.

Trustee training

Always the elephant in the room, developing and maintaining a trustee training plan is essential for all trustee boards. This is much more than having the base level Trustee Toolkit knowledge. Any training plan has to accommodate the need to get a new trustee up to speed as well as meeting the needs of more experienced trustees.

Once again a ‘Got, Gap, Get’ analysis will help identify potential training needs.

Using advisers training sessions which are usually free is a good source of knowledge as well as meeting fellow trustees who may be grappling with the same issues that you are. Equally, the Pensions Management Institute’s Trustee Group is an inexpensive tool to help trustee training. ‘Just in Time’ training (that is training to be applied immediately) on subjects such as actuarial valuations, trustee report and accounts etc should be a part of any trustee training plan.

Does the Trustee Board have the right skill set?

Just as for different successful companies, trustee boards which are different can be as successful in running their particular scheme. There is no magic ‘one size fits all’ make up for a trustee board. Whilst pension knowledge is important, don’t overlook the soft skills which all boards need. For example, the ability to collaborate with other scheme stakeholders; a board which has diverse skills and backgrounds can avoid the dreaded ‘group-think’, the ability to recognise potential and real conflicts of interest and come up with a proportionate solution and the ability to develop a practical solution are critical skills for every trustee board. This invariably means the board has trustees who feel confident and supported enough to ask the silly question – which is never silly. It means that someone has not explained themselves sufficiently for a trustee to make a decision.

As professional trustees we have worked on these issues for many years and lots of boards of trustees have benefitted from our experience and presence on the board.

And there’s more, lots more.

Telephone: 08454 334 199/07762 320 602 • Email: enquiries@clarkbenefitconsulting.co.uk www.clarkbenefitconsulting.co.uk

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34178 AP_BBP Template 05/12/2016 09:51 Page 1

Access Credit Management Steady, predictable cash flow is the life blood of any business, but ensuring that all monies due are paid as and when they fall due can be a problem for many businesses.

They will carry out a detailed evaluation of your problem debt or portfolio to produce a realistic estimate of the likelihood of collection and recommend and implement a cost effective recovery strategy, doing their best to avoid litigation.

Most small business owners are keen to get on with the exciting job of building their businesses, supplying their goods and services to existing customers, developing new relationships and developing or expanding their product range, while the, admittedly, critical task of good credit management or debt collection can seem a bit of a chore.

Should you be concerned that this level of expertise might be expensive, or that chasing the debt might end up costing more than you’re actually owed, Access Credit Management operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, allowing you to concentrate on what you enjoy and do best – running your business

Some companies choose to outsource their invoices through a factoring or invoice discounting arrangement, and while such arrangements ensure cash flow, they are can be costly both in terms of income and may impact upon client retention.

What we all need is someone who will deal with our slow paying or defaulting customers professionally and effectively without damaging any ongoing customer relationships we may choose to maintain. After all, there can be many reasons why a company isn’t settling the invoice. It may simply have been overlooked, the goods may have been damaged or not to specification, they may be having a few difficulties which will shortly be resolved – all issues which can be handled simply and sympathetically, strengthening the relationship with that customer.

Access Credit Management is proud of their many longstanding customer relationships and proven track record in the industry.

They are widely recognised as leaders in their field and offer many years of experience in dealing with slow paying debtors.

They also have an enviable reputation for securing and recovering outstanding commercial debt from around the world.

Commercial Director, John Cardwell, rather ruefully admits to having over 30 years’ experience of working in consumer and business finance, including setting up Access Credit Management over 16 years ago, so really understands the issues that many companies face. He attributes the company’s success to their ability to evaluate, negotiate and create circumstances within which problem debt situations can be successfully resolved.

John explains, saying, “We take the time to understand your business needs. So, whether you require assistance to develop or revise your company credit policy and procedures, require credit information or need a full or partial outsourced credit control service, we are able to offer a tailored solution that meets with your requirements.”

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John said “We constantly strive to assist our clients to trade with confidence with existing and future customers on a national and international basis and our continued success has been built upon providing a service that meets with our clients' requirements”.

To see how Access Credit Management can assist your business cashflow, give them a call on +44(0)207 305 5059 or visit the web site, www.accesscm.co.uk

34169 AP_HorseWorld 26/01/2017 16:39 Page 1

Asset Finance in 3 Easy Steps Businesses deal with many challenges but keeping up with the pace of change and managing time are real issues business owners face.

To achieve growth, many businesses have to invest in new assets whether that be new vehicles or machinery, equipment or Information Technology and then there is a decision to be made about whether to pay cash or use bank facilities or finance by way of HP or Lease.

Accessing external finance can be time consuming and frustrating. So much time and effort are needed to search the market for the best deal with a funder which has the right credit appetite and which can credit approve a transaction fast.

Recognising that improving access to finance is critical to the UK economy, independent financial services broker, Midlands Asset Finance, has today launched a new online digital platform which aims to simplify the process of sourcing and applying for Asset Finance through its’ new division, Asset Finance Compared (www.assetfinancecompared.co.uk).

Asset Finance Compared has been set up to enable businesses to access and apply for asset finance for transactions ranging from £5k to £100k online - with larger transactions being looked at by their specialist relationship management team.

The online platform compares a wide panel of asset finance funders in 3 easy steps to offer a competitive, instant quote at the touch of a button.

The funder which best matches the customer’s requirements in terms of asset category, credit appetite and price, depending on the customer’s financial standing, is selected.

Unlike other comparison websites, once a quote has been accepted, Asset Finance Compared will not hand off a client to a funder to take forward a proposal.

Instead, with their in-house team, they will work on getting full credit approval on the very best terms. They will take the transaction from the quote stage through to credit and documentation and finally through to pay-out, keeping the customer fully up-to-date with their process.

transform the way that businesses source and secure asset finance facilities up to £100,000, with an instant quote being offered.

“Having undertaken various checks within the platform, we can supply the quote with confidence for established businesses.

“The pace of change is so fast,” he continues. “Being able to trade digitally is essential to support customers’ growth and investment plans.

All businesses need to do is:

“The three simple steps to finance, and the handling of everything in-house, will save the customer valuable time and resource which can be diverted elsewhere.”

1) provide some basic details about the business and amount to finance

To find out more, visit www.assetfinancecompared.co.uk

2) provide details of the asset(s) they are looking to purchase

“The team here has many years’ combined banking and asset finance experience with an aim to deliver an unparalleled service and to make asset finance simpler and more accessible to clients across the UK.

3) obtain an automated, instant quote The site will analyse the information entered and undertake various checks and reference to data before issuing the best single instant quote on an automated basis.

Identification is then verified using online technology by the in-house team, so the transaction can be handled quickly and remotely.

Dave Chapman, Director of Asset Finance Compared, says: “Our new Asset Finance Compared website and business model is an industry first, and it will completely

“Asset finance remains an essential part of the UK’s investment recovery and we are striving to support businesses in increasing their capacity to invest.”

Asset finance is a growing market.

According to the sector’s leading trade body, the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) almost 32% of all UK investments in machinery, equipment and software purchases were funded using Asset Finance facilities during 2015 the year.

visit www.assetfinancecompared.co.uk email hello@assetfinancecompared.co.uk telephone 01773 864 864

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34128 AP_HorseWorld 26/09/2016 11:45 Page 1

The One-Stop Shop for all your Business Finance Requirements In 2008 the banking crisis led to a severe lack of funding for businesses with the banks unable and unwilling to lend. Since then the vacuum has been filled by many new entrants to the market providing alternative sources of finance and often with innovative products. In fact the situation in 2016 is a plentiful supply of money with lenders in competition with each other and offering more attractive terms in a buyer’s market.

The problem now is that despite the unlimited supply of funds, businesses don’t know exactly what is available and therefore how to access the funds and especially to ensure that they are obtaining the most appropriate and competitive products.

SME Business Finance (SMEBF) is an example of a new breed of specialist financiers that acts as a go between linking businesses with funders. Acting as a one-stop business finance shop they offer a mix of their own funds, peer to peer/crowd funding and brokerage facilities where they supply the funds from over fifty other institutions.

Non bank finance includes:

Asset Finance - businesses don’t pay staff 3 years+ in advance so why tie up money in equipment, instead this can be paid for in bite size chunks as it is used and generating revenue. All assets (new and used) can be financed including vehicles, production machinery, catering equipment, IT (including hardware, software, installation, training and maintenance), sports and fitness equipment, furniture, shop fittings, security systems, air conditioning/heating etc.

Invoice Finance - once an invoice has been issued for goods or services that have been supplied this can be used to raise money against. It is possible to obtain funding either against individual invoices or the total debtor book.

Property Funding - commercial mortgages for owner occupied or investment property. Short term funding such as bridging and development facilities.

SMEBF’s prowess is in the knowledge it has about all the different funding available and the credit underwriting policies of all the various suppliers of finance. They obtain all the necessary credit information from their clients and write a proposal that shows the business as a good bet to lend to.

They then marry the proposal with the most appropriate funder including flexibility of terms and competitiveness and then handle.

In effect customers are getting a free business finance adviser whilst they concentrate on their core activity of running their own business.

www.smebf.co.uk

Find us on

It is also possible to raise money against assets that a business already owns.

Business Loans - available for virtually any purpose to spread the costs of projects by up to 5 years. Examples of usage include; acquisition, refurbishment, marketing campaigns, recruitment, paying tax bills, consolidating other debts, stock and general working capital.

If you would like help with your company's funding SME Business Finance would love to meet with you.

Neil Hutton | SME Business Finance

neil.hutton@smebf.co.uk

0121 794 3328

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33857 AP_HorseWorld 22/02/2016 10:42 Page 1

Lewis Onions S O L I C I T O R S

Birminghams finest... specialising in insolvency matters

SMEs and start–up businesses can face difficulties when it comes to financial matters, particularly as often, in the early days, they are run on an extremely tight budget and are thus especially vulnerable during difficult trading periods.

Even in a well-structured business, cash flow and bad debt problems can arise. A major customer may themselves go out of business and default on payments; then again some customers simply choose to defer payment for unreasonable lengths of time. A missed delivery deadline through no fault of your own may result in penalty payments or the order being rejected leaving you with unsold goods and no prospect of payment.

The firm advises insolvency practitioners, directors and shareholders, creditors, debtors, landlords and other third parties affected by the legal and commercial aspects of both formal and informal insolvency procedures. They regularly interact with the Insolvency Service and its solicitors and have a good track record in defending and settling director prosecutions, whether Ruth Shillam such proceedings have been issued Director and senior solicitor or are simply contemplated.

We spoke to Ruth Shillam, a Director and senior solicitor at Lewis Onions who said that seeking advice at an early stage is often key to dealing with issues which may otherwise be terminal. She said, “Our expertise enables us to assist those looking for ways to avoid a formal insolvency procedure. We regularly advise businesses on corporate restructuring, refinancing and streamlining, and, in appropriate cases, we advise on the merits of using a solvent liquidation in a scheme approved by H M Revenue and Customs”.

The firm can assist all those affected by insolvency proceedings on either side including those wishing to acquire assets out of an insolvent estate from an insolvency professional and those wishing to recover sums due by an insolvent entity.

Sometimes several smaller issues, rent or rate rises, increased staff costs, a competitor opening up nearby can all combine to leave the smaller business or start-up concern in such a parlous state that, without the right advice, the business owner may feel, albeit reluctantly, that they have no choice but to “put up the shutters”.

However, no matter how bad things may seem, there is often a way out. Lewis Onions Solicitors are a niche insolvency firm specialising in all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency as well as business turnaround, restructure and recovery.

Their professional team combines broad business experience with a friendly can-do attitude and professional financial knowhow. They offer advice and support to individuals in a broad range of financial situations and their practice is not limited to any particular form of business whether by constitution, size, trade, type or location.

If you are concerned about the financial health of your business, contact Lewis Onions Solicitors about putting a plan in place before things go any further.

Telephone 0121 200 7240 to arrange a confidential discussion with a member of the team, email, LF@lewis-onions-solicitors.co.uk or visit their web site for more information www.lewis-onions-solicitors.co.uk

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34177 AP_HorseWorld 25/01/2017 10:00 Page 1

Before the trustees and the sponsoring employer can assess the risks associated with a pension scheme they must first be clear about their objectives. It is important that the sponsoring employer and trustees are working together towards a common goal. Deciding on and working towards a common objective is assisted by open dialogue. Both trustees and the sponsoring employer need to understand each other’s perspective and concerns.

Fairfield

Pension Trustees Limited

Training on IRM and how it integrates with the actuarial valuation process can be obtained from your advisers as part of the normal scheme meeting schedule (refer to our article in the December 2016 edition).

Clear management of conflicts of interest is also important to ensure the best outcome can be achieved for all parties.

Scheme Risks

“Integrated Risk Management” of pension schemes Sarah Franklin Director Fairfield Pension Trustees Limited

If you work with a defined benefit (final salary) pension scheme you may have heard of the Pensions Regulator’s guidance on “Integrated Risk Management” (IRM). The guidance was published in December 2015 and is applicable for all schemes. IRM is often initially introduced as part of the triennial valuation so you may only be starting to hear about it now.

Sarah Franklin & Jenny Croxall

. .

The major risks in managing a defined benefit pension scheme are

.

funding risk (whether you have enough money to pay benefits), investment risk (whether your assets provide sufficient returns to pay benefits) and employer covenant risk (whether the sponsoring employer is able to support the scheme if things don’t go as well as you anticipate).

Sponsor Risks

It is important also to consider the key risks the sponsoring employer is exposed to, for example Brexit, interest rates, inflation or currency fluctuations. This step identifies if any pension scheme risks are compounded by the sponsoring employer’s circumstances.

Where risks are identified, the trustees and the sponsoring employer should discuss and agree how the risks can best be mitigated and managed. They should also arrange to monitor the risks. Details of the risks in the scheme are usually recorded in a “risk register” or document of “internal controls”.

Fairfield Pension Trustees Limited (FPTL) provides professional independent trustee services to all types and sizes of occupational pension schemes. All FPTL representatives have Level 3 Awards in Pension Trusteeship from the Pensions Management Institute, are members of the Association of Professional Pension Trustees and Fellows of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

Essentially the IRM system aims to help trustees and sponsoring employers look at all of the risks within the pension scheme as one, rather than looking at each risk in isolation, in order to ensure an appropriate level of risk and a balance of risk across the scheme.

We dedicate our time to managing your scheme. We work to really understand the risks both scheme and sponsoring employer are exposed to and then draw up cost effective management, mitigation and monitoring plans all to ensure the long-term objectives are met. We take the burden from you so you can focus on running your business knowing that FPTL is here for the long-term, watching over your scheme and reporting regularly to you on progress. Fairfield Pension Trustees is Your Partner in Pensions.

For further information please visit our website www.fairfieldtrustees.co.uk or telephone 01527 832262 to arrange an initial confidential discussion

We work with you, your scheme and your company on the road ahead.

Our focus is you and what’s best in your situation

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34333 1pg_Transport Warehousing 30/01/2017 16:54 Page 1

Have you got it covered?

John Ruskin’s said: “It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.

“The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better,” these words have never been more appropriate than when discussing business insurance.

The key word here is risk, the very thing insurance protects us from and on which the viability of our business can depend.

Yet by far, the question heard most often from small-business owners is: "How much is business insurance?" The answer will always be “that depends”. It depends on what cover you take out, and that depends very much on the type of business you run and on the type of insurance you require.

In these times of financial uncertainty and given our busy lives it will always be tempting to go for the

apparently most competitive quote without reading the small print in detail and not realising that the cover we have bought, in Ruskin’s words is, ”incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do,” and thus generating the possibility of a huge financial penalty. You wouldn’t dream of driving a vehicle without insurance, being only too well aware of the likely penalties should something go wrong. So why would you drive your business without adequate insurance?

Small business insurance is in principle pretty simple. You make a payment (called a premium) in exchange for the insurance company’s promise to pick up the potentially enormous bill if something goes wrong in the future. The term small business insurance (also called commercial insurance or company insurance), relates to all the types of policies that can help protect your business There's no single "small business insurance policy," and that's just as well, if one policy covered all the accidents, lawsuits, and damages a business might face, the premium would be prohibitively expensive! So to help business owners save money, insurance companies offer different policies for different risks.

Your company may not need every type of insurance, but saving money by not having adequate cover will always be a false economy, it used to be said that the only people who believed in life insurance were the widows of men who didn’t have any.

In some cases, the cost of coverage can even depend on the number of policies a business owner buys. That's because of the magic of bundling: as with discounts available when you bundle cable and Internet together, many insurance providers offer price breaks when small business owners buy multiple policies at the same time.

You can't look in a crystal ball and predict the problems your business will encounter. But you can think about the complications that might

arise when you work with customers, have employees, own commercial property, or drive vehicles.

Some of the policies you may need to consider are Public Liability, which protects your business against accidental injury and property damage claims from your customers, visitors or people you visit. Professional Indemnity which protects you from compensation payments and defence costs if a client thinks you’ve made a mistake or given bad advice and makes a claim against you and Employers' Liability, which covers you against work-related injury or illness claims from employees. In most cases, if you have someone working for you, Employers Liability Insurance is required by law. In the light of the incoming GDPR regulations it would also be well to look at the cover a Cyber Insurance policy might afford you, particularly if your business handles other people’s data.

You should always seek the advice of a reputable, well established insurance broker, and importantly, one who is familiar with your industry who will be best qualified to advise you on the cover your particular business needs from the raft of options available.

Insurance is designed to guard against risk which can result in serious losses if your existing insurance doesn’t cover you adequately, but there is another form of financial loss that you can guard against, with credit insurance, a protection against bad debt. Often thought of as a protection from non-payment of debt when companies are trading overseas, it is becoming more widely recognised as a useful tool in the credit armoury of expanding businesses.

Taking out adequate insurance need not be prohibitively expensive, but not having the appropriate policies in place could prove so expensive that it costs you your business.

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34297 AP_HorseWorld 25/01/2017 10:59 Page 1

pib

Are your Business Insurance needs adequately covered?

When it comes to Insurance there is no substitute for the advice of an experienced independent broker who is familiar with the specific needs of your industry.

Insurance is definitely one of those products where one size does not fit all. If you rely on the services of an independent experienced professional, you can be confident that all possible exposures to your business are reviewed and discussed. Cheaper options are not always best, and by appropriating cover correctly, it is likely that your premiums won’t need to increase. Adding real value and being able to recover following a claim is essential.

PIB is a dynamic insurance broker employing outstanding individuals with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the insurance market.

They are independent, client centric and service focused.

Their focus on market expertise, their ability to offer individual specialised client solutions while developing strong personal relationships has seen the company grow rapidly since inception in 2014.

A series of carefully planned acquisitions has enabled them to offer their range of specialist expertise, products and services to clients throughout the UK adding the advantage of local knowledge to enhance their client offering.

The company’s corporate team in Birmingham is able to offer insurance solutions for General Corporate and Commercial Risks, as well as Motor and Transportation Risks.

Focus and specialisms • • • • • • • • •

Property insurance/ business interruption Employers’, Public and Products liability Cyber & Crime Marine or stock through put options Engineering Inspection / Machinery Breakdown Environmental liability Motor Fleet including Haulage & Transportation Overseas exposures/risks Financial lines

Birmingham Corporate brings together a highly-experienced team of specialists. Most businesses will have requirements for both General and Fleet, and they have dedicated, experienced executives who have extensive knowledge and specialise in these areas.

Having access to a broad range of insurers allows them to provide a very comprehensive solution, while remaining extremely competitive in today’s insurance market.

As Bert Ramos, Midlands Regional Corporate Development Manager, explained, “Our aim is to be a trusted adviser to our clients, managing their corporate insurance placement and risk needs. We are confident that our approach will allow us to provide “Added

16

Value” across a number of deliverables (price, insurance cover, claims support, risk mitigation and benchmarking against peer group).”

Additional Services • Contract vetting services. (Making sure your insurance requirements meet contract terms) • A bond assisting succession planning and directors exiting their business at the right time for them.

• Protection against hacking and fraud.

• In house employment law business.

• In house health and safety division.

• Debt recovery/ aged debt funding/tax funding.

Most brokers claim to offer added services, however when you come to PIB they will provide a full audit and review of your current insurance arrangements, discuss your concerns, and talk about your business, covering the following areas:

Risk Management Services • Seminars to staff on risk and ways of protecting the business.

• Assistance with compliance.

• Assistance with quality procedures.

• Business Continuity.

• Risk Audit.

• Training.

• Business Health check – assets, liabilities, people and reputation.

They will also take a look at what contingency arrangements you have in place and review and advise you on creating a strategy to minimise disruption in the light of an unforeseen event.

Bert was keen to stress, “Our focus is on doing the right things for our clients, doing them well and executing them in an honest, compliant and transparent manner.”

For straightforward, straight talking insurance advice from an independent firm of professional insurance specialists who will be at your side through good times and bad, please contact PIB on 0121 647 7401 email bert.ramos@pib-insurance.com or visit http://www.pib-insurance.com/

34292 AP_HorseWorld 18/01/2017 09:56 Page 1

Buying insurance is a pain, can be expensive and costs time, so it is very tempting to cut corners and take the cheapest and quickest option.

We recommend you take the advice of a good quality insurance broker, but then we would say that, that's what we do. It's our job.

Search online for "cheap insurance" and you will find no As a quality Chartered broker we take our role seriously, end of people offering to save you money, but have you and work hard with you from the start, to help you decide ever asked yourself how the premium savings are made? what you actually need.

When making any purchasing decision on something you Our 40 years of success have not come from being value, do you buy on price alone? expensive, it has come from providing excellent value, top quality advice and insurance programmes that work.

We would guess the answer is "no". Why then when it comes to protecting the things we value do so many of us It's not just selling you protection. We will help you fully just buy on price? understand the contract and, should you need to claim, our experienced team will help you get the best Part of the problem is that you don't find out how good the settlement. protection is until you actually need it, then it is far too late.

Our service will always start and end with you.

Buying good insurance, as with any important purchase, requires time, effort and research. In headline it isn't Contact us to get true protection for everything you value. complicated. If you value the outcome you have a good We have branches throughout the Midlands and one of chance of getting it right, if you don't, you have little our local offices will contact you to start you on the road to chance at all. good value protection.

Insurance isn't just paper, it is protection, it has to work, it has to protect you, and everything you have worked for.

Choose value not price.

01623 649931 info@cowenssc.co.uk www.cowenssc.co.uk

cowens survival capability is a registered trading name of R A Cowen & Partners Ltd - incorporated in England No. 1102951 - Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authorityy

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34246 AP_HorseWorld 19/01/2017 15:28 Page 1

First steps for start-ups Birmingham is one of the UK’s most successful enterprise hubs with more start-ups in 2016 than any other UK city outside the capital. Coface’s Charlotte Truglia explains why credit management should be a priority for its new businesses.

When it comes to business creation, Birmingham has proved it is streets ahead.

According to the latest figures from StartUp Britain1, a national support organisation for entrepreneurs, the city became home to more than 17,470 new businesses last year, up by more than 25% on 2015 and almost double that of Manchester, its nearest rival.

It means that for the last four years, Birmingham has been the most attractive city outside London for start-ups, largely thanks to its advanced engineering, professional services and technology sectors, infrastructure investment and skilled workforce.

And while Birmingham continues to draw-in global companies and overseas investment, the accelerating number of start-ups is perhaps the best indicator of good economic health because they unleash new trading opportunities for existing local firms.

At the same time, it’s worth sounding a note of caution. According to official figures2, of the 17,805 businesses started in the West Midlands region in 2010, only 41% survived five years. No business is more vulnerable than in its first five years and cash flow problems are the number one cause of failure: with their resources already stretched, many young businesses will find it hard to recover from a bad debt.

So while everyone is talking about whether the UK’s Brexit deal and the weak pound will hinder growth, interrupted cash flow is probably the greatest existential threat to new businesses.

It’s easy for entrepreneurs to focus on chasing sales and sadly many fail to address credit management within their business until it is too late. To achieve

18

sustainable business growth, you need to win new customers but you also need to take active measures to reduce the possibility of a bad debt and protect your cash flow. The following five steps should help you stay in control: 1. Consistent credit checking obtain accurate details of each customer and check their financial health and payment history with a reputable credit assessment provider. Credit decisions should always be based on hard evidence and not gut feeling.

2. Written agreements show customers that credit is not an automatic right by insisting on signed contracts, conditions of sale and credit agreements, setting out the interest charges for late payment.

3. Proactive credit control as well as sending out statements and chasing overdue invoices, your accounts team should be primed to monitor customer payment behaviour so they are alert to changes from their established pattern.

4. Communication if you employ sales staff, they should be expected to share intelligence about customers that might affect their credit risk, even if that is at the expense of closing a deal there and then. Avoid bonus schemes that only incentivise sales rather than profit.

5. Protection Coface has developed its online policy, SafeTrader, specifically for companies with a turnover of less than £3 million per year. For as little as 1% of your credit sales, it includes credit risk information, unpaid invoice collection and up to 90% indemnity against losses caused by unpaid invoices. Visit https://cofaceuk.onlinecreditpolicy.com/ for more information.

Implementing an effective credit management policy will enable you to focus time and effort on financially healthy customers from the outset.

And by insuring your credit sales, you will have the reassurance you need to seize new opportunities in 2017.

To find out more about Coface credit insurance, contact us on 0800 085 6848 or email charlotte.truglia@coface.com References 1 Birmingham tops start-up league, Sunday Times, 15 January 2017 2 Business demography UK: 2015, Office for National Statistics, 23 November 2016

34338 1pg_Transport Warehousing 06/02/2017 14:34 Page 1

The 7 Ways Automation Can Supercharge Your Business Growth The behind-the-scenes workings of your business are at the heart of how you deal with your customers, and how those customers can help you grow.

So when you’re looking for pathways towards relatively easy ways to grow, examining your business processes is a starting point which can give you some comparatively easy wins, without the downside of exposure to undue risk.

Automation lets you remove the longest, most arduous and most repetitive tasks from your workforce, giving them the opportunity to re-train to take on more responsible duties, and play a more prominent role in helping you develop your business.

Here are the seven key benefits you can expect for your business through embracing automation: 1. Eliminate boring paperwork: Repetitive admin tasks can be the bane of a small business, taking up a disproportionate amount of time which could profitably be spent on business development. Automation of the storage, indexing and access of your business records not only spares your staff the thankless task of rifling through filing cabinets, but can also organise all that data into useful reports and charts which help you see instantly how your business is performing, and identify areas which need attention.

2. Rev up your turnaround times: In today’s business world, people expect information to be instantly available. But a growing business faces a challenge in making sure this is achieved while also tending to the needs of existing customers. Keeping faithful clients happy while giving those coming on board the information they need about you and your products can be productively achieved through automation.

potential tweaks to your business strategy which will benefit both you and your customers.

4. Set firm and achievable goals – for individuals and your business as a whole: Greater depth of insight into how your business is performing gives you the quality information you need to chart the best course for it to grow. You can instantly see vital data such as revenue per customer, breakdowns of sales figures by season or business type, or performance of your employees against their targets. With all this information shared with them, your staff can be better informed and more easily motivated to target the areas of their working practices which will bring the best results.

5. Control your costs: As your business grows, that’s the time when you’ll discover any deep-seated problems which might hold it back. Scaling up a business without putting undue stress on costs in any one area might prove tricky – but with the help of business growth software, you can identify any pinch points, and adapt your business without it hitting your bottom line.

6. Easily get hold of the knowledge you need to power your growth: When you started out, you might have used the most rudimentary of methods to keep track of your costs and expenses data.

But as you’ve grown, you’ve probably realised that there are gaps in the information you have available about past expenditure, and this can hamper your efforts to keep track of your objectives and possibly nip any problems caused by outdated machinery and

technology in the bud. Knowledge is power, and once you realise this, you’ll see the importance of having the right data to hand which can provide you with relevant and actionable insights to help build a strategy which gives you the best chance of success. So no aspect of your business’s performance need remain shrouded in mystery.

7. Formulate credible plans for the future: A survey by business machinery manufacturer Canon found that a lack of time was considered a primary factor in holding back many SME owners/managers from developing proper growth plans. With all the information resulting from the steps you’ve taken above now at your fingertips, you can focus more clearly on how you want your business to develop in the future – meaning you can concentrate on executing those plans, and deciding how you will re-invest the resulting rewards.

Armed with the best quality information you can get, along with the ability to grow seamlessly, you can change your focus from worrying about the shape of your business’s future to building enthusiasm for it, and instilling your vision among the colleagues and other workers who will help you realise it.

3. Stay on top of KPIs: Key performance indicators are vital for identifying data which shows where your business’s strengths and weaknesses lie.

An automated system can let you instantly measure your progress, and present that information in ways which can pinpoint

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13086 AP v2_HorseWorld 06/01/2017 11:30 Page 1

Saving £6,500 every year across just 30 employees should be of interest!

It is a fact that, for the vast majority of UK businesses, their major cost is their wage bill.

As such, it makes good sense to make sure that your workforce provides good value for money.

This means ensuring you understand vital metrics, such as absenteeism, lateness, sickness, overtime and the like.

Every year, we talk to hundreds of companies who did not realise just how much money they are throwing away by not really understanding and acting upon these metrics. For example, if 30 employees lose just 5 minutes each day through lateness, taking a slightly longer lunch or breaks and so on, then you’re looking at a cost of £6,500 per year, minimum.

To prevent this, Vizual Management Solutions helps

Triggers & Alerts

A good time and attendance system should not require you to go looking for items that require action – it should tell you!

As such, Capture-it provides alerts and triggers when a whole range of events occur, such as lateness, leaving early, lunch too long, overtime to be approved, return from absence and many more.

Fire Register and your Duty of Care

Knowing who is on-site is fundamental to your duty of care.

That is why an automated Fire Register is built into Capture-it as standard. The fire alarm sounds, and low and behold, multiple fire registers are printed automatically for your fire marshals to collect on their way out.

Access Control

best value from your workforce. For example:-

Keeping employees and property safe is a popular requirement. For this reason, access control is built into Capture-it as standard. Factoid: the most common reason an employee ‘forgets’ to clock in, is because they arrived late.

However, with Capture-it you will know what time they accessed your building.

Unplanned, short-term absences can be massively disruptive.

Capture-it alerts you to these, so that you can take action. If you have not heard of the Bradford Factor, then you should.

This is a proven method to track and alert you to unwanted absence behaviour and is built in as standard.

Finally, if you are a manufacturer and wish to record the time spent by employees on jobs, then Capture-it can help.

Employees are able to book on and off jobs, such that you understand which employee worked on what job, when and at what cost.

companies better understand employee activity in claiming back that lost time. Our Capture-it system goes far beyond just recording employee clockings and is a fully integrated

Workforce Management System that helps you get the very

Absences, Lateness & Holidays

Lateness can be tracked and reported in real-time, including letting you know by email.

Job Costing

Holidays are also tracked, with each employee’s entitlement, days/hours taken and remaining balance instantly available. You can even set up rules to make sure that key personnel, such as First Aiders and Fire Marshalls, are not off at the same time.

Payroll Made Easy

Capture-it supports a range of payrolls, with Sage being the most popular. Just a few mouse clicks results in the agreed attendance data being electronically transferred into your payroll. Time is saved and no risk of keying errors!

VIZUAL

Management Solutions Ltd

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To find out more on the ways in which Capture-it will help you save money, whilst better managing your workforce, contact Vizual on 0800 288 8632 or email us at info@vizualms.co.uk

34321 HPD_HorseWorld 25/01/2017 10:24 Page 1

The right solution

for your Automation & Industrial Control applications.

Sys- Tek are pleased to announce that a Web Page Editor function is now available in the latest edition of IDEC's WindLDR PLC programming software, and brings exceptional web enabling capabilities to the new MicroSmart FC6A PLC platform when the latter is connected to the new HMI & Communication Adapter module.

This innovative feature in the latest version of the WindLDR software, which along with the functionality of the new HMI & Communication Adapter module, places IDEC’s new FC6A well ahead of competing Micro PLC platforms in terms of simplifying IIoT systems implementation.

Available now from Sys-Tek, the Staffordshire based UK and Ireland sales and technical support centre for IDEC’s industrial control and factory automation products, the MicroSmart FC6A is a highly modular and adaptable Micro Programmable Logic Controller (Micro PLC) platform that is capable of complex and precise machine control as well as a range of advanced analogue control functions.

The function will enable you to create a user web page and design your monitor screen flexibly, to show allocated data registers and stored values with images and graphs, so that users have easy access to the required information. The pages can then be accessed via any web browser on your PC, tablet or smartphone.

Importantly, these web pages can be configured without any HTML or Java Script programming knowledge, opening the path to many more users wishing to take advantage of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology.

For more information on our products & support please contact:

www.Sys-Tek.co.uk | sales@Sys-Tek.co.uk | 0330 1200 246

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34284 AP_HorseWorld 05/01/2017 14:34 Page 1

®

Tayto improves operational and strategic decision-making with Qlik The Tayto Group is the third largest snack manufacturer in the UK and the market- leading snack and crisp brand in Northern Ireland. Over the past few years Tayto has grown from strength to strength, mainly due to the acquisition of major brands such as: Golden Wonder, Real Crisps, Mr Porky and Jonathan Crisp.

As the Tayto Group had evolved from a number of individual companies brought together under the same ownership, there had been no defined process in place for business intelligence reporting, even though it was recognised that the delivery of information across the group was vital.

Tayto identified that it needed a new business model and business intelligence solution that would combine data from any source and deliver it in a single application. It had implemented Microsoft’s Dynamics NAV as its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and could see that implementing a business intelligence solution would greatly improve the speed at which information could be delivered to the business.

John Delaney, group finance director for Tayto says: “The flexibility of the business intelligence solution was key as we had multiple data sources from the individual companies that we were consolidating.” He continues: “We needed a quick solution and one that would enable us to tap into the power of the data available in our ERP solution, as well as enhancing it with vastly superior analytical tools. After reviewing the marketplace, we arranged a QlikView proof-of-concept day with Qlik Elite Solution Provider Informance and this proved to be invaluable as it convinced us of the advantages of QlikView.” John continues: “Informance demonstrated a great deal of understanding when it came to our businesses’ needs and its consultants proved their ability when it came to interpreting our requirements rather than demanding a rigid specification.”

John says: “QlikView from Informance was an obvious choice as we could see it would operate across all areas of

our business and it stood out from the crowd as the right solution to satisfy our data needs quickly and effectively.”

Informance was chosen to implement QlikView and develop the manufacturing-specific dashboards required by Tayto to improve the quality of information available to its users. Once QlikView was installed, Tayto set about cleansing the data stored in its ERP system to make it reliable to use within QlikView, followed by the development of the right dimensions for use within the analysis. This meant making certain modifications to get the data ready for QlikView.

Initially, QlikView was rolled out across Tayto’s sales department and it rapidly became the only reporting tool being used. It was widely accepted by the users with almost all of them picking up the necessary skills quickly and with little difficulty which encouraged the roll out of QlikView to the next phases which were daily reporting and analysis on: production costs, variances, stock, customer profitability, product profitability, profit and loss and overhead reporting and QlikView now delivers a single version of the truth for all key performance indicators.

Phil Underhill, systems manager at Tayto says: “Mission accomplished! Or so we thought, as today, we are continuing to use QlikView in numerous ad-hoc ways including checking data, amalgamating data from third parties, fulfilling numerous reporting requirements and collating and analysing tasks.

QlikView is also being used as the primary vehicle for collating all of our budgetary data.”

John Delaney says: “Since implementing QlikView, we have seen its use increase greatly as staff have become more focused on improving their knowledge as their time has been released from basic data handling. QlikView has become an integral part of our business and is now a key business system that provides more than just reporting.”

John concludes: “QlikView has paid back our investment many times over, not only by reducing our costs but by providing us with valuable insights that improve our decision-making.”

Register for the live Tayto Webinar on 9th February and see Qlik in action for yourself, email Cathryn.hunter@informance.co.uk for more details.

Informance Limited tĂƌǁŝĐŬ /ŶŶŽǀĂƟŽŶ ĞŶƚƌĞ Warwick Technology Park 'ĂůůŽǁƐ ,ŝůů͕ tĂƌǁŝĐŬ sϯϰ ϲht Telephone: ϬϭϵϮϲ ϲϮϯϰϱϲ Email: info@informance.co.uk

www.informance.co.uk 22

34133 AP_HorseWorld 16/01/2017 09:39 Page 1

innovate 2 succeed 7 Powerful Business Innovation Ideas Business innovation is the process of generating, evaluating and implementing commercially viable new business ideas. They don’t need to be restricted to products and services but can cover every aspect of your business from its overall vision and strategies to its operations and administration processes.

Here we highlight seven areas of your business where innovation could impact dramatically on your business growth, efficiency and profitability.

5. Supply Chain: you will already buy in goods and services as best as you can, but your supply chain can also offer real opportunities for partnering, inward or outward diversification (bringing in-house or outsourcing), off shoring or value chain management.

How innovative have you been in managing your supply chain and could it be further developed and exploited?

1. Business Model: your business model is simply the way your

6. Business Culture: a business’s culture can be

business operates to provide its products or services. Some of the world’s biggest companies achieved renewed success by changing business models that then revolutionised their industries and generated huge growth and wealth. When did you last take a good look at your business model?

described as “the way we do things around here”, Very few businesses proactively manage their culture, it simply evolves. But the culture can be developed to encourage innovation, rather than to hold it back.

Have you ever thought about your culture and whether it could be flexed to support innovation more?

2. Customer Value Proposition: customers don’t just buy products and services, but to fulfil a specific need, want or desire and to relieve their pains and produce gains. This choice of product or service and of provider is rarely as simple as specification, price and availability. There are many less tangible factors that are often equally as important. When did you last review what you deliver?

3. Market Channels: your business will have existing channels to its market for communication (e.g. marketing), for sales, for distribution and for payment. There are ever more options than before in all these areas. When did you last consider new innovative ways of managing your channels?

4. Competitive Strategies: there are two types of strategies ‘optimisation’ and ‘competitive’. Competitive strategies are those which are unique to your business and give you a clear competitive edge over your competition. The majority of businesses don’t have any truly competitive strategies and therefore rely on competing on a like for like basis with competitors. Can you improve and innovate the way that you compete?

7. Market Positioning: is the mapping of your business’s market position relative to that of your competitors based on key parameters such as target market segments, customer profile, price, products & services. Reviewing your market positioning will highlight gaps or reveal new opportunities which have higher growth potential, are more profitable or less competitive. When did you last consider innovating your market position?

The innovate2succeed programme provides tailored support through a bespoke package of modules to help you to become more innovative resulting in your company growing and becoming more profitable.

For FREE advice and support with maximising these and other innovation opportunities within your business, please contact Enterprise Europe Network in the Midlands at CUE E. innovation@cad.coventry.ac.uk T. 02476 236236 W. www.enterprise-europe.co.uk

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34257 AP_HorseWorld 04/01/2017 16:48 Page 1

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33827 AP_HorseWorld 30/01/2017 11:25 Page 1

An EPOS system for any season Seasonal pop-up bars and restaurants are a great addition to the retail and leisure mix and are becoming more and more inventive and relevant to today’s market.

Innovative in style, they are often also the businesses that adopt the very latest in technology.

Comet & Blitzen, a festive pop-up bar in Edinburgh offering a range of craft beers, cocktails, wine and festive tapas, adopted intelligentpos, an iPad and cloud-based electronic point of sale system, to process sales, manage tables and staff, monitor stock levels and provide insight through key business analytics.

till, ensuring a quick and efficient service that works for customers and staff. As footfall is critical for any pop-up, Comet & Blitzen needed an EPOS system that could deliver under pressure.

Robin Knox, co-founder of intelligentpos added: “Mobility and functionality are two key features of intelligentpos that we have been continually improving with every update. We understand the mind-set and operations of our customers and we’ve developed intelligentpos with their interests at heart.”

The latest version of intelligent 4.0 is better, faster and more flexible. Businesses can now edit, create and amend products remotely and synchronise changes simultaneously across all their iPad terminals. intelligentpos can process credit cards, contactless, Apple and Android Pay transactions with great ease and can provides the level of business management that was once only the preserve of major EPOS players.

The choice of EPOS system centred on its ability to cope with the busy seasonal demand that Christmas brings. With any seasonal pop-up, staff need to be able to adapt quickly and easily to transaction technologies as they will only have a short period of time to learn. Co-Founder of Comet & Blitzen, Jamie Reid added that he needed a system that had an easy to use interface and one that would suit the functionality of a pop-up venue:

The already large and constantly increasing number of businesses of all sizes, in hospitality and retail, adopting intelligentpos is testimony to the importance of the EPOS solution and reporting tool developed by the company. intelligentpos is the affordable and efficient way to sell more, generate loyalty, increase profits and grow a business.

EPOS systems are notoriously expensive but intelligentpos remains distinctly affordable from only £39 per month for a single iPad Terminal and £29 per month per device for additional terminals.

“We needed a system that was mobile and relatively inexpensive, so intelligentpos fitted the bill perfectly for us. It was very easy to use and a lot of our customers even commented on how clever our iPad tills looked.” intelligentpos is a free app that is downloaded onto an iPad or tablet. Orders can be recorded at tables rather than next to the

www.intelligentpos.com info@intelligentpos.com 0800 404 5805 or 0333 202 1025 25

34168 AP_HorseWorld 25/01/2017 13:26 Page 1

How to build a lucrative marketing campaign without lifting a finger When it comes to marketing, there’s often an “umm…but”. Whether it’s time constraints, a lack of ideas or budget limitations. However, the solution is here, and my golly gosh is it a winner…

Marketing trends and consumer expectations are always evolving, which is a growing challenge for many small to medium sized businesses (SMEs).

According to mobilesquared.co.uk, at the start of 2016, there were 5.49 million SMEs in the UK. Of these, 40% cite budget as the biggest hurdle when it comes to executing a marketing plan.

In fact, the Centre for Economic and Business Research found that the average SME annual marketing spend is just £24,000. Shockingly, the findings also revealed that only 29% of small businesses allocate an annual marketing budget in the first place.

And then there’s the issue of time.

Sadly, the catch-22 to marketing is that it can chew into this valuable commodity – until now. Thankfully,

there is a solution to these marketing conundrums, and it’s inexpensive too.

The done-for-you marketing service The UK’s number one text messaging service, Textlocal, have introduced a new Bureau service. It’s designed to bring your marketing strategy to life, for a flexible and affordable cost. With this service, businesses can have exciting and informative mobile customer journeys created for them within days.

You can say “que sera sera” to time wasted over conceptualising and implementing marketing campaigns, because this service does it for you.

The low cost means it’s also a great platform for businesses who have never used SMS in their marketing mix to give it a go.

IT’S ALL DONE FOR YOU Send tickets and vouchers

Send loyalty cards

Offers and alerts

32%

90%

98%

of people respond to an offer

of those are read within the first three minutes

of text messages are opened

Campaign data

Customer service messages

REPORTS

To find out more, text “Bureau” to 60777, call 03331 229 409, email hello@textlocal.com or visit our website www.textlocal.com 26

Whether you just need a handful of personalised messages sent to your customers, or a bulk SMS campaign to a large database of contacts; with the Textlocal Bureau service, you can. Each campaign is planned, built, and executed around your requirements.

You’ll also benefit from the experience, ideas, and best practises Textlocal have acquired through supporting thousands of businesses over the past two decades.

Will this service offer a solid ROI? Textlocal’s knowledge and platinum partnerships with the mobile network operators mean they can be trusted to preserve your marketing investment, customer loyalty and brand reputation.

The Bureau promises to deliver messages that customers relate with and respond to, providing a great return on investment for an affordable and flexible cost.

As your campaign progresses, you’ll receive a range of reports that give you a valuable insight into your recipients’ activity, including customer responses and engagement.

Using these reports, the Bureau can then tweak and tailor your campaign to generate the results that your business wants. All content sent will complement your existing marketing campaigns, or those already in the pipeline. So, there’s no issue of your new customer communications looking wildly different in tone.

It really is marketing made simple using a proven and highly effective channel.

34356 1pg_Transport Warehousing 08/02/2017 09:49 Page 1

Conferencing Today All the world’s a conference stage and all the business men and women merely players …

Well players is overstating it a bit, perhaps, but with interactive technology proving one of the key trends in conferencing, along with the demand for unusual event happenings to banish ‘death by powerpoint’, perhaps we can be forgiven for likening delegates to people that might actually be getting a buzz out of attending.

All work and no play can, it seems, make conference a dull boy.

And what a choice of event backdrop business leaders now have. Aircraft hangers, derelict buildings, abandoned railway stations, aquariums, even a war bunker, have all served as stages to be dressed as each individual organiser wishes.

Even theatres are getting in on the act: in the Midlands it’s possible to put your company results, successes, and award-winners under a genuine spotlight while treading some pretty illustrious boards, thanks to the conference offering from the region’s playhouses.

Still the quest for the unusual goes on, although many industry experts now recognise that delegates have become so well travelled and the market is now so sophisticated that some venues, while still a perfect choice and extremely good at what they do, have lost some of their novelty glow.

But the lighthouses, submarines, cave systems, boats and forts (yes, all have been chosen to host corporate gatherings) don’t get it all their own way. There’s much to be said for the ‘traditional’ venues such as country houses, hotels, sports stadia and museums, which still continue to powerfully hold their own.

Companies expecting standard conference facilities are most likely better off at a convention centre. You won’t get many

break-out rooms for team building activities in a submarine, for example.

Neither will the financial director thank you if the creative types get too carried away.

“Black box environments” - basically empty spaces - are hugely popular because they can be transformed into almost anything with clever sets, sound systems, lighting and decor. But that can prove costly and present many logistical challenges with the telecoms and power links.

Other potential strains on the event purse strings include the provision of adequate toilet facilities, the requirement to comply with fire and safety regulations, alcohol licensing and furniture hire. It may even be necessary to import a kitchen.

It’s also worth considering the main business function of the chosen venue. Some might only be available at night - a museum or art gallery for example - resulting in tight set-up times. Reassuringly, many with this challenge are expert at overcoming it but there can also be restrictive policies around smoking, eating and drinking, such as in art galleries, which can also impact upon events.

Venues well versed in hosting business gatherings of all types and sizes do have their own dedicated staff to handle conference customers but not all, so it’s worth remembering that an off-beat choice of venue may have a slower speed of response than that of more dedicated spaces.

None of these are reasons NOT to choose an ‘out there’ venue but the trick is to ensure it supports the company’s objectives rather than dictate how the event is organised.

The up side is that, chosen with care and attention, they will add real value to your event and really help to get your messages across to guests, stakeholders and/or staff, thus justifying any potential extra cost.

So we have new and increasingly unusual venues entering the events industry, but what else is shaping up for a sector which in the UK at the last count, is estimated to be worth £19.2 billion in venue and destination direct spend?

Experts are pretty united in acknowledging the big impact of technology which is making the conference format much more of a twoway process an increasing delegate engagement.

Event-specific apps are being created to provide session forums, Q&A opportunities and topic discussions while voting keypads, photo booths, WebEx streaming and gamification are all becoming part of the conference experience.

Live streaming in particular is the industry buzz-word, and the arrival of Facebook’s own service and Instagram Live is expected to really influence conference organisers to create content for their event in more accessible and immersive ways.

And finally the way to a delegate’s heart is, somewhat surprisingly, through his or her stomach.

Increasing numbers of attendees, it seems, are after healthy and light lunches which are a bit more inventive than a simple sandwich while coffee breaks require a strong hit of caffeine in the morning and a mellow brew in the afternoon.

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34329 2pg_HorseWorld 10/02/2017 12:51 Page 1

Midlands Business Awards 2017 It is that time of year again when innovative and entrepreneurial businesses across the Midlands Region are recognised in an exclusive black tie event, the Midlands Business Awards, hosted by founder, Harj Sandher.

Harj Sandher

The Midlands Business Awards provide a platform for any business, from any industry, across the whole region to celebrate their success story.

Building on the success of the past ten years, 2017 will be even bigger and better both for entrants and sponsors, with a whole new programme and publicity throughout 2016 and 2017, leading up to the most prestigious Awards dinner itself. As we have proved in previous years, valuable PR can be gained by all those associated with the Midlands Business Awards.

The winners in each category will receive their Award at a Gala Dinner on Friday the 24th February 2017, to be held at the stunning Athena in Leicester.

Programme 18.30 19.30 19.40 21.15 22.30

Reception Drinks Introduction Dinner Main Awards Presentation Lifetime Contribution to Midlands Business Award 22.45 Photos Midnight Carriages

The pre event excitement is building with the announcement of this year’s finalists.

Bonita Poole - Nabu Online - Kidderminster Eve Wylie - MEAN Training - Leicester Richard Osborne - eFiling - Blisworth, Northampton

Rightio - Birmingham Nicklin Business Advisors - Halesowen JE-Consulting - Sutton Coldfield Nant Ltd - Bilston Commercial Express - Brierley Hi Auto-Rescue Logistics - Northampton Kare Plus - Telford Aspen Leisure - Wolverhampton The Appliance Recycling Group - Great Bridge West Midlands Ingrams Dental Practice - Coalville Centuries Limited - Longnor Staffordshire Offsite Servers Limited - Birmingham The Dressing Rooms Bridal Ltd - Halesowen InterVision Global Limited - Leamington Spa Advance your Wellbeing - Birmingham UPG PLC - Lichfield Fifteen Digital - Stoke on Trent Contechs Ltd - Warwick SHS Products - Walsall Glazedale Ltd - Nottingham Warwick Music Group - Tamworth Surgins Surgical Limited - Solihull Agilitas - Nottingham Rawa Distribution LTD - Loughborough

Paul Andrews - Mansfield Manor Hotel - Mansfield

DRG Interior and Building Solutions Ltd - Bishampton Worcestershire

Ollie Piddubriwnyj - Fifteen - Ilkeston Derbyshire

Uni-Safe Access - Atherstone, Warwickshire

Midlands and Lancashire CSU - West Bromwich

PET-Xi Training Ltd - Coventry

Comtec Translations - Leamington Spa

Pertemps Network Group - Meriden Warwickshire

For further information on Nominations, Sponsorship and Ticket Sales for the Gala Dinner 2018, please visit

www.midlandsbusinessawards.com 28

34329 2pg_HorseWorld 10/02/2017 12:51 Page 2

Paul Kehoe, CEO at Birmingham Airport with his staff Lifetime Contribution to Midlands Business Award Each year the awards recognise an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to business growth in the Midlands Region. In 2016 the awards honoured Paul Kehoe-CEO at Birmingham Airport Paul has been an active member of the Airport Operators Association, being a Director and Chair of that organisation 2004-05. He is also Chairman of Marketing Birmingham, a member of the Warwick Business School Strategy Board, a Board Harj Sandher and Paul Kehoe Member on the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Chairman of the Skills for Birmingham Advisory Board and most recently Vice President of Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.

Starting on the John Lewis graduate scheme, Andy rose through the ranks to become Managing Director, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the company’s history.

He was the Chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership between 2011 and 2016, helping to build the relationships that have underpinned the economic growth of the region.

Additionally, he has been lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group.

Outside of work, Andy is passionate about the arts, particularly in the West Midlands. He is Vice Chairman of Performances Birmingham Limited, which is responsible for running the City’s Symphony and Town Halls.

In June 2015, Andy was awarded the CBE for services to the national economy. He was named the ‘Most Admired Leader’ of the year by business magazine, Management Today in 2014.

He received the ‘President’s award’ from the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce in for his work in the region. He holds three honorary degrees, from Birmingham City University, Aston University and the University of Birmingham.

Andy is delighted to be honoured and is looking forward to the event, saying it is sure to be a great evening.

As a holder of the Lifetime Award, Paul joins a very exclusive club. Previous winners include Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham Kt, Lord S K Professor Bhattacharyya KBE CBE, Nora Senior, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Sir John Pearce, Professor Sir Robert Burgess and Sir John Egan.

This year’s Lifetime Award goes to Andy Street – CBE (Former) Managing Director of John Lewis Conservative candidate for Mayor of the West Midlands A proud Brummie, Andy Street has combined a career with John Lewis, Britain’s most successful workers’ co-operative, with a host of high-profile economic development roles, working with local and national government.

Andy Street-CBE (Former) MD of John Lewis

For further information on Nominations, Sponsorship and Ticket Sales for the Gala Dinner 2018, please visit

www.midlandsbusinessawards.com 29

34312 AP_HorseWorld 16/01/2017 16:42 Page 1

Pho P Ph hoto b byy S Sar ara Be eau aumon m nt mo

AWAITING YOUR AUDIENCE

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COMPETITIVE DAY DELEGATE RATES DRY HIRE AVAILABLE DELICIOUS IN HOUSE CATERING EXPERT ON-SITE TECHNICAL SUPPORT DELIGHTFUL RIVERSIDE SETTING CHOICE OF MEETING SPACES, FROM 2 - 200 PEOPLE To book this space or discuss hiring one of our other venues in Stratford-upon-Avon, please contact hires@rsc.org.uk | 01789 272290 | www.rsc.org.uk/hires

34328 AP_BBP Template 30/01/2017 09:53 Page 1

The Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport is a stand out art deco building, originally built in 1937 as a headquarters building for the RAF, but do not be fooled by its historic exterior.

Following a £1 million refurbishment, the hotel now boasts a stunning Holiday Inn Open Lobby featuring a To Go Café, proudly serving Starbucks, an E-bar, media lounge and offers 24 hour dining in a relaxing and innovative setting.

If you are looking for a conference or event centre the location, being within 2 miles of the NEC, Genting Arena, Birmingham Airport and International Train Station is hard to beat. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the train station, where there is a monorail connection to the airport, a real bonus for onward travellers. Minutes from the motorway links for the M42, M6, and M5 the hotel also offers complimentary car parking for delegates. With over 90% of the UK market within a 4 hour drive, Birmingham really is a central location for any event.

The Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport boasts 14 fully equipped meeting rooms, including flexible event space for larger events, and accommodates up to 450 for a dinner. The Aspire conference centre is a dedicated conference floor, where your host is on hand to support throughout the event. The Lancaster suite has natural daylight, seats up to 600 delegates in a theatre style and also features a private entrance and foyer area, perfect for exhibition stands and catering.

All meeting rooms are fully accessible, with lifts to all floors and the hotel also has accessible bedrooms.

With 239 bedrooms including executives and suites, many companies choose to book accommodation, to allow their delegates to relax and enjoy the opportunity to network prior to their event. All bedrooms are comfortable and stylish with comfy beds, blackout curtains and the perfect pillow from their menu to ensure a sound night's sleep.

A handy desk and free Wi-Fi will let you catch up with work,

or brew a tea or coffee and relax. Residents can also enjoy full use of the modern leisure facilities, which include a swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi and steam room. Treat yourself or the event organiser to a pamper treatment with Peridot Beauty, which offers 20% discount for hotel guests.

The hotel’s restaurant, Marcos New York Italian Birmingham Airport (www.mpwrestaurants.com), offers an opportunity to dine in affordable glamour.

Enjoy dishes from mouth-watering Italian sharing platters, fresh seafood, home-made pizza and pasta to American favourites such as succulent steaks, burgers and Marco’s special BBQ ribs and lazy fries.

The dedicated events team at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport can design a bespoke package to suit any requirements and budget. If you would like to enquire or to arrange a visit -

R

Birmingham Airport

e: Conference@hiairport.co.uk t: 0871 663 9007 www.HIAirport.co.uk 

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34281 AP_HorseWorld 19/01/2017 14:01 Page 1

CHIP SHED FISH AND CHIPS Everything you would expect from a fish and chip shop only better! That’ s the proud boast of recently opened, The Chip Shed in Warwick.

The business came into being when two fish and chip enthusiasts, Gregg Howard and Dan Chuter, decided to bring the oldest fish and shop in Warwick, which had been trading for more than 100 years, into the 20th century. They bought the business as a going concern and then completely refurbished the restaurant and outdoor courtyard seating area, entirely revamped and re-equipped the kitchen and food serving areas and introduced a fresh new menu featuring all our traditional favourites.

Their decision always was to stick to a traditional menu and to invest their passion and years of experience into creating techniques and procedures to ensure a top quality product every time.

Whether your preference is for fish, scampi, chicken, pies, kebabs, sausages or a veggie option of battered halloumi, you will find everything freshly cooked and delicious, with all the traditional sides on offer.

Both men are very hands-on and involved in the day to day running of the business. They are not simply a member of the National Federation of Fish Friers, the association that works to protect and promote the interests of fish and chip businesses, and is dedicated to raising standards within the industry, but Gregg is actually the President of the Federation. Gregg takes his role in the industry very seriously which naturally flows into his role at The Chip Shed.

Their chief fryer and the Warwick shop manager is Jamie Little who has been in the Fish and Chip industry for more than 10 years. Originally from the Highlands in Scotland, Jamie is now a proud resident of Warwick and shares the founders’ passion and drive to deliver the best fish and chips every time.

Eat in or takeaway, lunch time or evening, the restaurant is fully licenced and during the warmer weather many diners take advantage of the attractive courtyard garden, sipping an aperitif while they wait for their meal to be prepared. Meals for take away customers are freshly prepared too and packed in specialist boxes that retain the heat while preventing the food from going soggy, but of course if you prefer it wrapped in paper, they will be happy to oblige.

To view the menus please visit the web site http://chipshed.co.uk/warwick-fish-and-chips, but best of all, drop in to the shop at 24 West Street, Warwick and try for yourself whether you have ever tasted better fish and chips. s e ar ienc e r 0 yxpe 2 er y e Ov str du in

Corporate Leasing & Finance

Offering a complete financial service to our customers Our funding options include:

Their passion for our traditional favourite is rapidly seeing their reputation grow as the best fish and chip shop in Warwick.

Gregg and Dan are both incredibly enthusiastic about the quality of their product and ensure that all their fish and meat products are sustainably sourced.

Gregg is already an experienced owner of a fish and chip shop and has two other successful businesses already in the region, while Dan translated his passion into being involved in introducing traditional fish and chips to Japan. He says they absolutely loved it!

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s All aspects of computer equipment s Restaurant Refurbishment s Office Furniture s Plant & Machinery s Leisure Facilities s Catering Equipment s Medical Equipment Corporate Leasing & Finance Ltd are proud to support The Chip Shed and we would like to wish them all the best for the future.

T: 01732 753753 E: sales@corporateleasing.co.uk Chiralea House, Addington Lane Trottiscliffe, Kent ME19 5DN

www.corporateleasing.co.uk

34335 1pg_Transport Warehousing 30/01/2017 15:24 Page 1

Could Serviced Offices be The Answer?

You have done the research; you have developed your product, tested the market and refined your offering, what next? An office, but taking that initial step and investing in premises can seem daunting.

The cost of renting premises can be a huge expense. When hiring office space you will usually be bound to a fixed term of 3-5 years and can’t opt-out of the contract if business turns sour In addition you’ll have to purchase all of the necessary communications systems; take on staff, furnish and decorate the interior; and establish your brand in the area.

There is an alternative which offers flexibility, location, equipment, and that comes ready staffed. Serviced offices are rapidly becoming the fastest growing sector within the commercial property market – a great cost effective, flexible option for any start up small business, also with the ability to offer a permanent business home for your company.

Increasingly, serviced office space is able to offer a whole range of office solutions whether that is an out of town open plan space, science park or a state of the art, contemporary office right in the city centre.

The flexibility serviced office space can provide is probably the biggest advantage to your company – with lease terms available on flexible month to month terms, this means your business is not tied down to a long term contract giving you the peace of mind that should you need to, you are free to expand and quickly up or down size according to your business needs.

Another great advantage is being part of a like-minded business community; tech companies will often choose science parks attached to universities where in addition to all the usual facilities there may be test labs, lecture theatres and other high tech companies. Others may prefer a city centre location, while others still may enjoy being part of a creative or craft community; with serviced offices you can take your pick.

Another benefit of serviced offices is that your IT infrastructure can be managed for you by the office operator so that you no longer have to spend precious time calling your IT support if something goes wrong.

A company will still supply their own computers but the network comes with the office. Some operators offer simple IT services, such as a shared network, while others offer a whole range of services for businesses that may require a high bandwidth - such as graphic designers, architects or tech companies.

Incoming calls will be answered by receptionists in the centre, so it is important to check that the operator places a central importance on recruiting and training their people so that they portray the right image for the business.

Serviced offices are already set up and ready-to-use. Everything from communications systems to office equipment will be operational from the second you step in the door, meaning you won’t suffer any downtime waiting for phone and Internet companies to install new lines or set up new gear.

Serviced office operators strive to maintain their staff and technology to the highest standards and will ensure that all of their services and facilities are maintained to the highest quality. When you hire equipment or staff from a serviced office you’re not bound to any contracts and quality is guaranteed.

Another option for small businesses, that has become available largely due to advances in technology, is the virtual office. With this, a business is able to enjoy the benefits of a prestigious address, phone number and call answering service but without actually having an office at the location.

Serviced offices don't just offer businesses a temporary office space solution or small businesses a desk while they are starting up. They also offer permanent solutions to businesses of all sizes because of the flexibility they allow and the services that they provide, taking the hassle and administration out of office space.

While serviced offices will never be a solution for every business - as there will always be those who wish to invest in property themselves or secure a location for a longer term - the flexibility and convenience of serviced offices offer solutions to all types of enterprise.

With a serviced office space you’ll only ever pay for what you use. In addition to the physical space, services and facilities such as copiers, meeting rooms and staff are available as and when you need them.

For example, if you have a meeting with an important client and need to hire a conference room, you can hire one on a per-hour basis.

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34315 AP_HorseWorld 26/01/2017 11:18 Page 1

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34314 AP_HorseWorld 08/02/2017 09:37 Page 1

Flexible Office Space at Huntingdon House When you start out in business one of the primary considerations is where you will work from, there inevitably comes a time when the spare bedroom no longer meets your needs.

Then there is the further consideration of who answers the phone when you are away from base, where do you hold business meetings and are you ready for the outlay required for business standard IT equipment and telephony?

one seats up to 6 people the other between 14 and 25 people depending on the seating arrangements, refreshments can be provided and kitchen facilities are close to both meeting rooms.

To buy or lease a fully equipped office, in a good location and recruit, train and pay staff is, for many, a step too far in the early days. The option that many growing businesses have found works well for them is to rent space within a fully equipped business centre, complete with a full range of back up services and support which will provide an excellent platform from which to grow your business.

Their very affordable pricing structure offers flexibility in the form of monthly rolling contracts, flexible leases, special help for small and start-up businesses and for those who don’t actually need physical office space, Huntingdon House can also offer Virtual Office solutions.

Access is 7 days a week and reception is manned from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Being part of such a friendly and supportive business community has seen many companies grow and prosper, some stay for only a short time before moving on to greater things, but many find the facilities at Huntingdon House so convenient and suited to their needs that they stay on.

A secure on site car park offers a limited number of spaces to rent and bicycle storage. There is metered street parking on 3 sides of the building and a local value NCP car park within 3 minutes’ walk. The building’s security is catered for by a security company based on site.

Huntingdon House in Nottingham is a 1950’s building conveniently located close to the city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from the Victoria Centre and close to the Lace Market with excellent transport and shopping facilities close by.

Huntingdon House is a cost effective, professional solution for the small business or start-up owner, and ideal as a regional branch office for larger concerns. First impressions are important, and it is hard to underestimate the value of professional reception services, including telephone answering and being able to welcome clients into the type of premises that create the right sort of impression.

The business centre offers a choice of bright smartly furnished office spaces from approximately 150 sq ft to 1,000 sq ft. They offer reception support services including, telephone answering, message taking and mail sorting, together with 100 meg broadband and digital telephony, with an IT support team on hand to ensure all the services you require are operational.

For more information please visit www.huntingdonhousebusinesscentre.co.uk You can also email reception@huntingdonhousebusinesscentre.co.uk or call 0115 993 4200 278 - 290 Huntingdon Street, Nottingham NG1 3LY

For that important client meeting or product presentation Huntingdon House has 2 meeting rooms available for hire, both are air conditioned,

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34313 AP_HorseWorld 06/02/2017 10:49 Page 1

THE BEST PLACE TO GROW YOUR DIGITAL BUSINESS All new businesses need a helping hand to get started, and it is particularly helpful for digital and technology businesses to be part of a community of other entrepreneurs in similar fields.

Innovation Birmingham Campus is the leading location for the region’s digital tech community. It provides growth support, office space, meeting and conference facilities, co-working opportunities, start-up mentoring and funding support for innovators, entrepreneurs and investors looking to develop or fund innovative digital start-ups with high growth potential.

Home to over 160 digital businesses, the Campus provides a highgrowth environment for founders of new start-ups and more established scale-up tech businesses. Three support programmes form the core of this engaged community of innovators; Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f), the Serendip Smart City Incubator and Climate-KIC Accelerator programme.

Since it was established in 2009, e4f has successfully supported the creation of over 146 new technology companies who have raised over £12.6 million in funding and created hundreds of new highvalue jobs in the region.

The Serendip Smart City Incubator provides market access and expertise for digital start-ups through close partnerships with major organisations, accelerating the early growth of new business.

By co-locating promising start-up businesses with large, existing commercial partners, Serendip® provides a platform to refine products and services.

This means start-ups can take their business to investors, having already started working with commercial partners who can offer them clear routes to market.

The Climate-KIC Low Carbon Accelerator is the world's first real-life business school for clean-tech entrepreneurs and supports over 150 start-ups across Europe. The two-stage programme supports businesses that are less than three years old, by providing the tools, opportunities and network to transform low carbon business plans into commercial successes. This European grant-funded programme offers grants of up to €20,000, international publicity, market validation and business support.

Further benefits for all Campus tenants include the discounted use of a 200-seat presentation auditorium with 6m+ wide HD presentation screen, free business promotion on the Campus’ digital signage, website and social media channels and access to commercial partners' databases of market influencers, clients and collaborators.

If you are starting or growing your digital technology business, or looking for a hub of like-minded individuals within which to base your digital scale-up, get in touch with Innovation Birmingham Campus today.

All programmes benefit from a range of brand new facilities, 30Gb/sec high speed internet and superfast Wi-Fi connectivity, telecommunication support and PR services. Meeting rooms and event facilities are on site for 2-500 delegates or for a less formal meeting, there are two on site cafés. Companies have 24/7 building access, secure on-site parking and enjoy great transport links.

The on-Campus community also have access to visiting expert sessions, growth mentors, an increasing population of over 1000 digital entrepreneurs and techies; with over 140 annual events including round-table discussions, workshops, showcasing opportunities and investment days.

Entrepreneurs for the Future, (e4f) supports the creation of innovative technology ventures, helping some of the UK's best pioneering talent to reach their full potential.

Start-ups become part of a flexible, highly connected and collaborative environment and benefit from market insight and access to finance. Developers can test their new apps on the latest mobile devices through an on-site, purpose-built Test Lab

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Innovation Birmingham is offering ten readers of the Birmingham Business Post, a month’s FREE co-working space.

To register, please contact Innovation Birmingham at startupsupport@innovationbham.com before the end of February, quoting promotional code: ‘BBPIB’

www.innovationbham.com

34337 1pg_Transport Warehousing 08/02/2017 09:54 Page 1

The Great

Apprenticeship Push is on.

Your country needs you - to recruit apprentices.

They’re hired.

Any employer who isn’t aware of the drive to boost the nation’s apprenticeship opportunities must have been living in an extraordinary bubble because, quite frankly, it’s a message that’s been hard to ignore.

Apprenticeships, which until recently spent several years in the wilderness, are now viewed as a vital part of the effort to shrink the country’s vital skills gap.

They’re now seen as business productivity winners for employers too, enabling bosses to increase staff but not wage costs.

Other benefits include increased flexibility for existing employees who can be freed up to do what they do best, or take on more responsibility, and a simpler, cheaper recruitment process thanks to the existence of high quality training providers dedicated to customising training programmes and accessing funding, among other things.

The Government is doing its bit, too, and the figures are showing signs of improvement.

Those released last year show that in 2015/16, 509,400 started an apprenticeship in England, 9,500 more than the previous year, while the number of those participating in in an apprenticeship scheme was 904,800, up from 871,000.

Of the latter, more than half were women and over 25s accounted for 44%, 19-24 year-olds accounted for 30% and under 19s 26%.

Most were concentrated in the three main sectors of Business, Administration & Law, Health, Public Services and Care and Retail and Commercial Enterprise.

Clearly more work needs to be done if the nation is committed to doing something about the on-going engineering and construction skills black holes.

One of the biggest initiatives in recent times is the introduction of a levy (a 0.5%

tax on an employer’s pay bill above £3 million pa), due to come into force in April and aimed at helping the Government meet its stated aim of training three million new apprentices by 2020. The measure is also introducing more generous subsidies for employers training apprentices in England.

It was estimated that the new tax will raise £2.8 billion in 2019–20, but in recent weeks a row broke out after the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) labelled it ‘poor value for money’.

After its researchers analysed the proposals, the think tank said government spending on apprenticeships in England was only expected to increase by £640 million between 2016–17 and 2019–20, so most of the revenue raised was being spent elsewhere.

Furthermore, the IFS claimed specific elements of the system could end up being particularly damaging to the public sector.

It called for the removal of government targets ensuring 2.3% of every public sector employer with at least 250 workers started an apprenticeship each year, saying they were “not an efficient way of working” and accused the government of failing to make a convincing case for such a large and rapid expansion in apprenticeships.

The report’s author, Neil Amin-Smith, said: “We desperately need an effective

system for supporting training of young people in the UK. But the new levy and associated targets risk repeating the mistakes of recent decades by encouraging employers and training providers to relabel current activity and seek subsidy rather than the best training.

There is a risk that the focus on targets will distort policy and lead to the inefficient use of public money.”

The Department of Education insisted that the reforms were excellent value for money, that quality was at the heart of all its apprenticeship reforms and that it had taken steps to protect the term apprenticeship from misuse.

In the meantime, one of the most highprofile recruitment drives is due to get under way in March - National Apprenticeship Week.

Now in its 10th year and running from March 6-10, it celebrates apprenticeships’ positive impact upon individuals, businesses and the economy. Hundreds of events and activities are lined up across England to showcase apprentices, employers and a decade’s-worth of success.

Sue Husband, director of the National Apprenticeship Service, which coordinates the event, says: “National Apprenticeship Week is an important date in the calendar as it brings to the forefront of everyone’s minds the importance of helping to get more people to consider becoming an apprentice, and celebrates the success apprenticeships bring to business.

“2017 will be no different to past events as it will raise awareness that the time is right for potential apprentices to get the skills they need for a great job, and highlight how businesses can grow their own talent whilst developing the motivated, skilled and qualified workforce they need, no matter what size.”

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34301 HPD_HorseWorld 12/01/2017 16:16 Page 1

Welcome to the Apprenticeship Hub At the University of Wolverhampton, we have been providing students with the opportunities presented by a first class education for over 180 years.

The Apprenticeship Hub is the next step in our investment in the future of our students and the regional economy, providing employers with the solution to maximising their apprenticeship ambitions.

What we offer In response to the development of Degree Apprenticeships and the Apprenticeship Levy, plus strong interest from local employers, we are offering Higher and Degree Apprenticeships to aid the development of higher level professional and technical skills.

Our aim is to: s create apprenticeship opportunities s upskill existing employees to address skills gaps

s drive the growth in the local skills base for

We are working with a network of colleges and training providers to offer employers apprenticeships at all levels, as well as supporting individuals into apprenticeships and their progression into higher level job roles. We have a clear pathway for learners in Health Futures and West Midlands Construction University Technical Colleges.

Developing your workforce Bring real benefits, including higher level professional and technical skills, into your business with new Higher and Degree Apprenticeships from the University of Wolverhampton.

With the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017, there’s no better time to start planning your programme. Our apprenticeships are closing the skills gaps faced by employers, through work-based learning with training costs co-funded by the government.

How we can help Located on the University of Wolverhampton’s City Campus Molineux, the Apprenticeship Hub is a one-stop destination for employers, parents, and apprentices.

employers’ current and future needs.

At the University of Wolverhampton, we’re committed to investing in you and the wider economy. Our new Apprenticeship Hub provides opportunities for budding apprentices to develop desirable skillsets in a real working environment.

If you’re looking to gain professional and technical skills through independently accredited work-based learning, an apprenticeship may be the right choice for you. The Hub provides a range of valuable resources and support, working with employers to place apprentices to meet the needs of local businesses.

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The Apprenticeship Hub is a one-stop destination for employers, parents, and apprentices.

We aim to: U create apprenticeship opportunities U upskill existing employees to address skills gaps U drive growth in the local skills base for employers’ current and future needs.

Visit: wlv.ac.uk/apprenticeships Tel: 01902 321 000 Email: enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

34159 AP_HorseWorld 21/11/2016 13:02 Page 1

Performance Through People Performance Through People have been providing high quality training to companies throughout the Midlands for over thirty years.

We have a strong track record of working with employers and were graded as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for our partnership engagement.

On 1st May 2017 the way the government funds apprenticeships in England is changing. Some employers will be required to contribute to a new apprenticeship levy (payable from April 2017 payroll onwards), and there will be changes to the funding for apprenticeship training for all employers.

We value our customers and have effective account management systems to ensure our clients receive a responsive and flexible service. We understand that each client is different and work closely with them to understand their needs, creating bespoke training packages to be delivered in the workplace or at one of our training centres.

• The levy is set at 0.5% of a company’s annual pay bill with a £15,000 allowance. This means that only businesses with payroll over £3 million will pay the levy.

We offer courses in Management and Leadership, Health and Safety, Engineering (including CAD and welding), IT Skills, Essential Business Skills and Sales and Customer Service Our highly qualified staff can also deliver apprenticeships to your existing staff or to new apprentices. We can support you in recruiting apprentices through our Search and Select service at zero cost.

We offer Intermediate and Advanced Apprenticeships in Business Administration, Customer Service, Accounting, IT, Team Leading and Management, Retail, Warehousing, Hospitality and Catering, Engineering and Manufacturing, Travel Services, Health and Social Care and Oral Health Care. We are also able to deliver higher apprenticeship in Leadership and Management.

• Levy paying businesses will receive a 10% top up to their account and can then access this money to pay for apprenticeship training for new or existing staff.

• Employers who do not pay the levy will be asked to pay a contribution of 10% towards apprenticeship training. There is support available for small businesses and employers with fewer than 50 employees will be able to take on an apprentice aged 1618 at no cost.

• The government will also pay an additional £1,000 to any employer who takes on an apprentice aged between 16 and 18.

• All English and Maths training to support apprentices to reach the minimum standard required will be paid for by the government.

Performance Through People are currently meeting with clients to discuss how their levy requirements can be implemented in the most cost efficient way, to ensure they receive the best value for money.

"With its origins in the chambers of commerce, PTP is an organisation that is well known to local employers. Managers keep a very close eye on developments in the locality and provide positive solutions to employers’ problems and needs. Staff listen to employers and learners keenly, and make improvements to the training quickly." OFSTED 2016

ss e c c u S Your s s e n i s u is our B

For more information please visit the website www.ptp-training.co.uk or give them a call on 03332 408302 39

34279 AP_HorseWorld 01/02/2017 13:36 Page 1

Are you ready for the levy?

Heart of England Training is an Ofsted Grade 1 Outstanding training provider with over 45 years' experience in delivering flexible apprenticeship training solutions across the Midlands.

As a private training provider, we deliver work based qualifications across a number of levels in subjects including Customer Service, Business Administration, Marketing, Team Leading, IT and Warehousing. We also offer Management & Leadership qualifications up to level 5.

We pride ourselves on our approach to delivering bespoke solutions to fit individual business needs and our results speak for themselves. Our achievement rate is 86%* compared to the national average of 71%* and 97%* of employers we work with would recommend us to other businesses.

Heart of England Training is committed to attracting the best candidates and will support you throughout the whole recruitment, selection and progression process. Our training can either be delivered in the workplace or at one of our 5 training centres located within Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester and Rugby.

There are many benefits to investing in apprenticeships for your business. Government statistics show that apprenticeships provide a typical return of £26–£28 for every £1 of investment** and that the majority of employers believe that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce as well providing skilled workers that are moulded to suit the company’s needs.

The apprenticeship landscape is due to change significantly over the coming months. Following on from the Review of Apprenticeships in England, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the government have announced targets to provide 3 million quality apprenticeship starts across England by 2020. To support delivery of this, a new apprenticeship reform will come in to effect from May 2017 to improve provision, simplify funding and increase effectiveness of training.

government allowance, towards the levy. These funds will then be available to spend on apprenticeship training through an online account, once these funds have been used the government will continue to fund 90% of the cost of training and employers will be expected to cover the 10%, this will be the same for employers who aren’t eligible to pay into the levy. There will also be a £1,000 employer payment available for each 16-18 apprenticeship start.

In the meantime, there are still fully funded programmes available for any enrolments before the 28th April, if you’ve been considering putting an existing staff member through a work based qualification or hiring a new 19+ apprentice you may want to consider doing so, before the reforms come into effect to take advantage of the current funding model.

If you would like to find out more about the upcoming reforms or arrange a no obligation meeting to discuss your requirements further, contact Heart of England Training.

One of the most significant changes will centre around funding with an apprenticeship levy and digital apprenticeship service being introduced. All businesses with a total wage bill of £3M or more will be required to contribute 0.5% of this, less £15,000

Heart of England Training Ltd

...training for a brighter future

www.hoet.co.uk | 0800 0281 576 | info@hoet.co.uk *Skills Funding Agency statistics 2014-15 ** BIS research paper 229 (2015) Further education: measuring the net present value in England

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34332 1pg_Transport Warehousing 30/01/2017 15:18 Page 1

Can SMEs come to the rescue of our housing crisis?

The mantra that the nation needs more housing is getting wearisome.

The root causes behind the housing shortage are complex and there is no magic bullet. On the demand side we have a changing demography - a rising population and divorce rates require more houses. On the supply side, too few houses are being built and those that are tend to be for the wealthier market. Although underoccupancy is a serious issue there is little incentive for retired people in larger properties to downsize – stamp duty and negligible interest rates make sure of that.

Although the large housebuilders are building at capacity they are often not building the houses the country most needs. So what is the solution?

The answer lies in a cohesive set of policies across Government. Possibilities include stamp duty exemptions to encourage downsizing along with high yielding government bonds for the surplus cash generated from downsizing, off-site construction (prefabrication), more training to bridge the skills gap, and, importantly help for SME housebuilders.

The financial crisis hastened the decline in the building industry as small developers found it increasingly hard to raise money.

The small developer can be much nimbler than the big housebuilders and can build on the type of small sites in which the large builders will be disinterested.

Cumulatively, these small sites have huge potential when it comes to meeting the demand for new homes. This means infill and smaller-scale brownfield sites – the sort of sites that are less contentious when it comes to seeking planning permission. SME business models require a quick turnaround of projects, leading

to shorter land acquisition to completion times but this requires local authorities to be fast and flexible too – adjectives not usually associated with them!

SMEs could therefore, and should play a crucial role in delivering the new homes we so desperately need. However, to do so, help is needed to overcome the current barriers for the SME housebuilder: Development finance - SME housebuilding finance must become easier.

Many lenders still refuse to consider lending to small housebuilders, no matter how healthy their order books may be. The lack of appetite amongst lenders means that the cost of borrowing is too high to render the majority of small projects viable.

The Government has started to address this problem through a variety of funding schemes for SMEs. One significant support would be for the government to provide guarantees on private loans for small developments.

Small sites - Improving the availability of suitable small sites is vital to empower SME builders. The current focus on the provision of large sites within Local Plans militates against the smaller sites, without which SME housebuilders have nowhere to build. In addition, cutbacks to local authority planning departments have had a detrimental impact on services to developers.

Application process - Once a small developer manages to find a site there are additional barriers to overcome.

The cost of bringing small sites through

the application process, in order to comply with an array of legislation and regulations is disproportionate. That the smallest of micro sites has to go through essentially the same planning application process as a site for 500 homes is uneconomic, can easily jeopardise the profitability of a scheme.

CIL - Smaller builders do not have the economies of scale of the large housebuilders and the types of home needed are smaller with lower profit margins. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charges can make schemes financially unviable. Public money may therefore be needed to make some schemes viable especially if as a society we care about the size and density of our housing.

Governments and banks are quick to tell the industry to build. But it is governments and banks that set the rules of the game, and until the rules change to help the smaller housebuilder, we will not see the homes built that we need.

Governments (of all colours) are rarely great listeners at the best of times and when they do, they tend to listen to the big boys as that is easier for them. We need Government to take seriously the SME housebuilder and enter into a dialogue that will result in a changed climate for them. The National Federation of Builders and the Forum of the Built Environment are pushing hard to do just this - otherwise it will be another can kicked down the road.

David Eaton MBE FCA David is Director of SME Strategies which supports SMEs. He is an active member of both the National Federation of Builders and the Forum of the Built Environment.

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34268 AP_HorseWorld 08/02/2017 16:58 Page 1

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34310 AP_HorseWorld 09/02/2017 15:00 Page 1

COPPERFIELD WINDOWS LTD Fantastic service at no obligation!

Copperfield Windows has seen many changes since Tony Smith (Mr Copperfield) founded the business 35 years ago, in Copperfield Road Coventry, but one thing hasn’t changed and that is the company ethos of a great product backed up by good old fashioned customer service.

Copperfield have also kept up with all the latest innovations in energy saving technology as it relates to windows and doors, and are BSI certified. All Copperfield’s double glazed windows are Energy “A” Rated as standard and are manufactured using the world leading Pilkington “K” high performance, energy efficient glass and the best quality UPV-C profiles. Copperfield can also supply triple glazing, which is the last word for heat and sound insulation.

Although Copperfield originally built their reputation through the domestic market they are equally trusted as suppliers for contract and commercial applications, particularly for local authorities, housing associations and large contractors, and have found that their hands-on approach to customer service is just as appreciated in a commercial environment.

When we asked Craig, what next?” He said “With so many satisfied customers and so many good reports, why change!”

Tony started trading in 1980 as Copperfield Frames, and bought the next door glass company in 1982 to found Copperfield Windows. At the time it was quite a leap of faith, but thanks to his hard work and commitment the new company thrived through good times, and less good. Tony firmly believes that it has been their reputation for good quality materials, workmanship and service, that has seen them keep growing whatever the market conditions may be.

It seems that customers whether trade or domestic across the Coventry, Warwick and Leamington areas will be able to continue to rely on Copperfield Windows for many years to come.

For more information please visit www.copperfieldwindows.co.uk or give one of the family a call on 024 7645 2688 email admin.copperfield@btconnect.com

The business is still very much a family concern, all three directors, Tony, his wife Pauline and son Craig, are supported by other family members who make up most of the 7 strong team, indeed only two members of staff aren’t part of the Smith family.

Over recent years Craig has stepped up as MD although Tony is still very much hands on and very proud of the broad range of top quality products that the company offers. From PVC-U double glazing, energy saving windows, triple glazing, front and back doors, porches, beautiful UK made conservatories, soffits, fascias and guttering all products are available in a fantastic choice of 18 UPV-C colours to say nothing of a range of different types of clear, obscure, patterned and decorative glass, even self-cleaning glass!

Craig explained that customers are looking for two key factors when they install double glazing, security and energy saving. He said, “Security is important year-round and making sure that doors and windows are in good working order and are locked, simply makes sense.”

Copperfield offers anti-bump, anti-pick and anti-drill options as standard on all of the doors that it supplies. Along with multipoint locking, ultra-tough and durable high security, composite door ranges are designed to keep burglars firmly on the outside.

Windows also feature multi-point locking mechanisms and hardware reinforcements, making them far more resilient to even the most determined burglar.

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34244 AP_HorseWorld 01/02/2017 10:19 Page 1

LED LIGHTING

Voltacon – The No 1 Brand for Industrial LED Lights.

Energy efficient LED lighting solutions tailored to your requirements?

Voltacon was established in 2002 with a mission to manage challenging projects in the solar photovoltaic and LED lighting industries, and see challenges as new opportunities to achieve excellence in Electrical Engineering.

The LED Lighting department of Voltacon (known as Ledison Lighting UK) specialises in industrial and commercial light fittings, digital dimming control (DALI) and emergency lighting.

Voltacon uses proven LED technology and the highest quality of electronic components for their premium range of industrial LED lights such as low/high bay lights, and use non-corrosive weather proof fittings.

Customers choose Voltacon mainly because they offer customised solutions, through offering lighting surveys free of charge. Their engineer will visit your premises in order to properly assess your requirements, and come up with products and solutions to ensure the optimal lighting result for your business.

Industrial premises, warehouse and storage areas are some of the most difficult places to light with LEDs but Voltacon have the answers. As the company that introduced the linear LED Bay Light, a 4ft (120cm) ultra-bright modular luminaire capable of lighting

warehouses, storage facilities and even aircraft hangers with a ceiling height of up to 18m. Voltacon take into account the levels of light required for production lines in factories, storage areas and loading bay During their free site surveys they discovered that over 60% of their customers were doing their daily tasks in inadequately lit areas. As Patricia Haber, Marketing Director, proudly told us, “With our bay lights we can achieve up to 600lux on work benches and over 300lux in storage areas.”

How can they help warehouses and large industries?

1. We can achieve up to 75% savings, measurable numbers after the suvey is done (this can be calculated with great accuracy) 2. Increase the lux levels and improve the quality of light 3. Offer a no quibble 5 year warranty (certificate supplied with every installation) 4. Install LED Light nationwide with their in house team of NIECE approved electricians

Lighting spend will be substantially reduced by replacing the commonly used High Pressure Sodium (SON Lamps) with LED Lights which use a fraction of the energy, Voltacon usually recommend replacing the 400W SON with their 150W LED Bay Light (Cabana) and the Linear Bay Light (SKYLINE).

Although Voltacon can supply lighting suitable for ceiling heights from 5m and up to 18m, for lower ceiling heights between 3 and 5m, their best-selling product is the non-corrosive (vapour proof), all weather condition, LED Fitting with integrated LED board which is designed and assembled in their UK purpose build premises.

To join their prestigious client list which includes many household names such as,

.GKN Driveline .Ministry of Defence .BAE Systems .John Lewis Car park .Radisson Blu Hotels

.DIAGIO .P&O Ferries .DHL .NHS .Rolls Royce

and many smaller companies beside.

Book a FREE lighting survey and see what Voltacon can do to improve your lighting and reduce your energy spend.

5. Free of charge collection of the old fluorescent lamps and luminaires.

6. Fully compliant with WEEE regulations (waste of electrical and electronic equipment)

LED LIGHTING

call + 44 (0) 2477 675575 or visit the web site www.ledison-led-lights.co.uk for more information.

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34239 AP_HorseWorld 21/11/2016 15:31 Page 1

Are your properties ready for the NEW energy standards?

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) will be introduced in 2018.

From 1 April of that year MEES will impact the commercial and domestic rental market to its core and in its initial stage will affect nearly one in five of ALL buildings.

In simple terms this will prevent properties in the F or G grade of the current EPC criteria from being rented out after this date; also, the haven of an E grade should not be taken for granted as future plans will inevitably be to set a higher benchmark of a D. “The danger and common misconception with EPCs are that if your property had an EPC undertaken in 2008 and the property was rated ‘D’ you are OK”, said James Skinner, of Halesowenbased BEST Compliance.

“This is simply NOT true, due to the aforementioned reclassification of government standards as to what constitutes a specific grade. We can see in retrospect that EPC ratings fall between half a grade and a full grade every time the approved documents are revised and updated.”

MEES will be rolled out in two stages - from April 2018 for new tenancies and April 2023 for remaining rolling tenancies. It’s all part of government efforts to reduce the threat posed by the built environment to the UK being able to meet its carbon reduction targets for 2020 and 2050.

Tough non-compliance penalties will be enforced by local trading standards departments which can impose civil penalties on a scale according to a property’s rateable value.

Mr Skinner said: “The government has shown its intent by ratifying the Paris Agreement in November, and the underlying policy for the MEES regulations has remained on the statute books; therefore we must assume MEES will apply from 1 April 2018.”

However all is not as grim as first thought.

Best Compliance can give expert advice on how to best approach the new regulations, primary by undertaking a unique survey called an ‘EPC Alpha Plus’.

“We recommend this for any properties with a current E grade or below as they are in immediate danger of falling foul of the 2018 MEES and give a risk management solution,” Mr Skinner said.

“Firstly, we cross-check the accuracy and usability of any current commercial EPC attached to the building. We then undertake an in-depth energy survey, before building up a sophisticated 3D energy model of the property and running it through multiple computer simulations to find the optimum solution(s).

“The owner is then offered alternatives to gain a minimum D rating. However, we do not stop there - our team can also cost the works, working from the simulations to provide estimates to show the payback period for each option.

“Our goal is to find you the most cost-effective and optimum method(s) to reach your required EPC.” Visit http://www.bestcompliance.co.uk/services/buildingcompliance/epc-alpha-plus-meps/ for more information.

As part of its EPC upgrade package, BEST Appliance offers energy-efficient products which can be tailored to fit in with your existing fixtures to reduce overall upgrade costs, as well as greatly reducing your running costs by increasing the overall efficiency of the equipment. For more Information see http://www.epcupgrade.co.uk/webshop/ “One client underwent our Alpha plus survey and for the upgrade cost of £2,000 improved their EPC grade to a ‘B’,” Mr Skinner said. “By increasing the efficiency of the building, we saved them £1,500 a year in running costs, meaning the upgrade cost was recouped in 18 months.”

For more examples of how Best Compliance’s solution has helped other businesses, visit http://www.epcupgrade.co.uk/epc-case-studies/ 45

34204 AP _HorseWorld 02/02/2017 09:35 Page 1

The Investment Landscape is Changing. Are you making double digit returns?

P2P lending and alternative finance companies are revolutionising the traditional banking and lending industries. According to the FCA, £2.7bn was invested on regulated crowdfunding platforms for example in 2015, up from £500m in 2013.

We don’t yet have the FCA’s figures for 2016, but if CapitalStackers’ growing number of investors are anything to go by, there is an increasing and seemingly unstoppable appetite for direct investment and greater returns. The company now has over 150 investors on its books, attracted by returns of up to 20%, transparency of the deals and ease of use.

This month for example, CapitalStackers completed the drawdown of £1.36 million funding for a prestigious development of eight homes in Malpas, Cheshire. The P2P property lending specialist also successfully negotiated £1.58 million of senior funding from a major high street bank, on behalf of the developer Orchard House. The gross development value of the scheme is £5.1 million. Investors on this project now look forward to returns of between 10.7% and 15.6% per annum over the next 22 months with lending at Loan to Value ratios from 55% to 73%.

CapitalStackers is fully authorised by the FCA and recognises that transparency is the key to its success.

Steve Robson at CapitalStackers comments, “Many of our clients are repeat investors, some of whom benefited from returns of up to 22.5% last year on an office to residential conversion we financed in York.

However some are new investors, keen to dip their toe into the P2P property lending market.

“CapitalStackers investment opportunities appeal to a broad spectrum of investors, from conservatively-positioned pension funds to those with a higher risk-and-reward appetite. The minimum investment is £5,000.”

“Compared to pooled lending, such as crowdfunding platforms, the beauty of direct lending is that investors are fully in control of what level of risk they’re comfortable with. They choose the deal, loan amount, layer and return. They like to invest in loans secured against bricks and mortar and have all they need to make an informed decision. So if your money isn’t making double digit returns visit www.capitalstackers.com for more information.”

John Thornley, MD of Fairhurst Estates, has committed funds to a variety of property backed investments over many years in the commercial and residential property sectors. As well as investing directly he now also invests through CapitalStackers. As an expert in this sector he was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detailed financial information provided on the platform. “I literally had no further questions which is unusual. All the information I needed to make an informed decision was provided up front” Patrick Lomax, Founder and Director of Orchard House comments, “I have been impressed with CapitalStackers detailed knowledge of the property industry and finance market. We dealt with an experienced and senior team who absolutely delivered to the brief and exceeded our expectations. They have access to a wide pool of potential investors and delivered within relatively tight timeframes.

We spoke to a number of debt advisors but none came close to the same level of service and professionalism.”

“Technology has also had a huge impact on the way people invest. Investors have direct and easy access to investor platforms and they should also have direct and easy access to any information necessary to weigh up risk and return.”

CapitalStackers To be part of the future of P2P property investment please visit

www.capitalstackers.com CapitalStackers is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Investment through CapitalStackers involves lending to property developers and investors. Your capital is at risk. Investments through this and other peer to peer lending platforms are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Unless otherwise stated, returns quoted are annualised and gross of tax.

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34334 1pg_Transport Warehousing 06/02/2017 15:22 Page 1

Manufacturing and IT There’s a massive shift going on in the once two worlds of manufacturing and IT. They are merging. Two are becoming one. They are earning the bread and butter by going together like bread and butter, nay even as the proverbial horse and carriage.

Maintaining a successful manufacturing business today means bosses can no longer focus all their attention on running the factory and leave all the IT concerns to the geeks in a distant office.

We’re in the digital age of technology and information and manufacturing is becoming part of that.

The days of viewing IT as a useful support tool for helping to complete the 'real work' are done; it is an integrated vital part of the whole manufacturing process and, as such, needs to be an everyday part of operations management.

Not so long ago, the manufacturing modus operandi was to have software created that was exactly right for each individual company. Unfortunately, that could be so time-consuming that by the time the software was finished it was out of date.

Another approach was to mix and match existing manufacturing human resources and finance systems for an organisation’s needs but then little would be done in ensuing months or years to update them.

However, insist industry experts, those bad old days of installing a system, letting it languish until it becomes dysfunctional, and then undertaking a huge, expensive, and exhausting overhaul are over.

If there is anyone who still needs convincing, do some research. There are many accounts out there documenting just how the manufacturing/IT dynamic duo is transforming UK businesses’ fortunes.

Take a quilt manufacturing firm in the North West which, after four years of growth following an acquisition, was being hampered by its IT infrastructure that hadn’t kept pace and was threatening its finances.

It hadn’t moved from the traditional siloed (meaning an isolated single system, process, department, etc.) model of one server for each service, some of which lacked the resources or storage to underpin the service resulting in frequent failures that would disrupt everything from production to dispatch.

Furthermore, if a main server failed, such as the ordering system, the company faced an eye-watering loss of over £1 million in just one week.

Working with an IT infrastructure solutions and services provider, a blueprint was designed to develop and modernise the IT infrastructure which immediately addressed that servers issue.

Other innovations included the development of a disaster recovery environment, the introduction of fully automated fiscal practices to boost speed and accuracy of financial reporting and bringing the transformative power of mobile technologies to the production floor.

In the event of a machine issue, engineers would be on site within minutes, not the hours of previously.

With a full and nimble communications setup, the company became able to connect from anywhere and with any device, pretty much a pre-requisite for any organisation with sites across the UK and Europe.

The times, they are indeed a changing as more and more manufacturers get with the programs - so what can both sectors expect in 2017?

Smarter products for a start, predict some analysts. More and more manufacturers are starting to tap into the potential of smart technology by identifying the applications which fit their services and investing in data-collecting products.

relating to usage, consumer behaviour and note any prominent design flaws and ultimately produce more efficient and cost-effective items offering superior value to customers.

These developments are, in turn, triggering demand for analytical software to not only help improve products and their costs but to assist with other efficiencies, such as the utilisation of human resources, driving productivity, error reduction, and to help them take more informed and strategic decisions.

And it won’t be all about the here and now; the widespread adoption of predictive analytics is already being forecast for beyond 2017.

Using those aforementioned smart sensors, it will be possible to track product demand and distribution, enabling firms to access huge amounts of data which will prove vital in helping them preempt specific trends and events.

For a sector that had, for a quite a while, been considered by many to be dying in Western economies, everything looks pretty lively.

But part of that resurgence involves taking full advantage of and working with new technology. By being innovative, adaptable and accountable, manufacturers can grasp new opportunities and run with them.

In an effort to understand their products’ life-cycles and longevity, manufacturers are now embedding them with sensors so they can gather, manage and store data

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34269 AP_HorseWorld 25/01/2017 12:10 Page 1

The go-to place for advanced manufacturing technologies in the UK The High Value Manufacturing Catapult offers access to world-class industrial-scale equipment, expertise and collaborative opportunities.

Our Centres help manufacturing businesses of all sizes and sectors turn their innovative concepts into commercial applications by accelerating the transfer of technology innovation into economic value.

The Midlands is home to two HVM Catapult Centres.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is inspiring Great British manufacturing by developing innovative manufacturing technologies and processes. The MTC has some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world enabling it to provide a specialised environment for the development and demonstration of innovation to be used on an industrial scale.

A leading proponent of Digitising Manufacturing and home to the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing, the MTC has expertise across a range of technologies.

The MTC works collaboratively with companies of all sizes in diverse industry sectors including aerospace, marine, defence, construction and food and drink.

The WMG centre HVM Catapult add value to UK manufacturing by de-risking innovation in the areas of advanced materials, energy storage and management, advanced propulsion systems and intelligent vehicles.

Working with industry, WMG are accelerating the development and commercialisation of new technologies, products and manufacturing processes. WMG is a leader in digital manufacturing solutions with expertise in a broad range of technologies, including simulation tools, cyber security, manufacturing line informatics and supply chain strategy. In addition, WMG Catapult provides specialist SME support to help firms improve efficiency, increase productivity and develop competitive advantage by applying practical digital solutions.

www.the-mtc.org

www.wmghvmcatapult.org.uk

HVM Catapult +44 (0) 121 506 9780 info@hvm.catapult.org.uk www.hvm.catapult.org.uk @HVM_Catapult 48

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The manufacturing and IT industries are set to become even more intertwined, says Dave Worsman, Director of Ochiba We believe in the UK manufacturing industry. We’ve spent the past ten years working with manufacturers to enhance the world-leading SAP Business One software, to the needs of a wide range of manufacturing companies. If we have learned one thing it’s that there are many unique requirements across the sector.

Ochiba has used SAP Business One to create a leading ERP solution for today’s manufacturers. The Ochiba OPTIONS range has been developed to answer specific manufacturing needs, such as Engineer to Order, Configure to Order and Project Based Manufacture. We find that the majority of manufacturing companies can be more responsive to customer needs, increase productivity and reduce costs by developing their IT systems. With initial investment going into plant, machinery and R&D, we can prove the benefits of investing a little in IT and what it can deliver.

UK manufacturing industry faces some key challenges

The UK is great at innovation and we live in a world where consumers drive requirements and they want ever more choice. Companies are therefore forced to adapt and keep up with the level of innovation and consumer demands, always needing to be ahead of game to get new concepts to market. Solving this fast time to market issue usually drives the need for a change in process and that sooner or later needs support from IT systems.

Manufacturing has changed considerably in the past 20 years mainly due to the nature of changes in the supply chain and the ever increasing demands of consumers, who want tailored products and short time scales. Most sectors have already embraced the lean techniques but the main challenges are now how to ensure systems are driven with the correct forecasts, this is especially true where the end products or systems are hugely configurable and driven by very specific customer requirements.

You either need highly skilled sales, office and technical staff to ensure orders taken are technically possible, or the process needs to be de-skilled and the intelligence built into your IT systems. By using an IT system to provide intelligent forecasting for make / buy decisions and rules based order entry to define product configuration, you can be responsive and get products to market in much shorter lead times.

What will the industry look like in 20 years’ time?

The evolution of manufacturing techniques and equipment will undoubtedly define how manufacturing will look in 20 years.

There is no doubt that the world of ‘Big Data’ and the ‘Internet of Things’ will accelerate the need for product changes and actually shorten the gap between product designers and consumers. This in turn will put more pressure on delivering these changes to market to gain the competitive advantage. A lot of UK companies that have relied on design skills and off shore manufacture may well be forced to bring some of the manufacture back in-house, or at least locally, in order to do this.

Dave Worsman, Director, Ochiba Business Solutions says “It’s always great to hear how we’ve helped make our customers lives easier. Ochiba have been implementing and supporting SAP Business One for small to medium sized companies for over a decade.

Our experience has shown that every business is different and that each company we deal with has their own requirements and complexities.”

Dave Worsman-Director

“We’ve worked extensively with manufacturing companies to develop a portfolio of proven and affordable industry-specific solutions to address their challenges. These prepackaged, fully integrated

industry solutions are designed for efficient, rapid implementation, giving you much more control over project costs and time.”

“Ochiba have a great team of consultants and developers who are our greatest asset, they shape and define the solutions we deliver. Everybody in the company works hard to ensure that we deliver quality solutions that exceed our customer's expectations.”

“With one of the largest dedicated SAP Business One teams in the UK, we have the expertise to deliver a solution tailored to meet your business needs.”

If you’re interested in finding out how SAP Business One can help your company, contact Ochiba Call 0114 299 9430 Email info@ochiba.co.uk Visit www.businessoneexperts.co.uk 5 Hazel Court, Midland Way, Barlborough Links Office Park, Chesterfield S43 4FD

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Fleet Maintenance As a business grows, and new vehicles are purchased, the responsibility of the business owner to ensure that they are well maintained, safe and well driven, becomes ever more complex. Often these responsibilities are delegated to a fleet manager, however, the overall responsibility stays with the business owner.

If a vehicle should become unsafe due to lack of maintenance or repair, the fleet manager/business owner can be held liable for negligent entrustment. As defined, liability is premised upon providing an employee with a dangerous tool or instrument, such as a vehicle, while knowing, or having reason to know, that use of the vehicle creates unreasonable risk or harm to others.

A program of preventative maintenance is the obvious strategy to ensure that you avoid putting your workforce or other road users at risk. Preventative maintenance will also maximise the availability and efficiency of your vehicles and extend their life span.

Scheduled servicing, inspections, and vehicle repairs need to be undertaken regularly and should address: engine oil and filter changes, transmission fluid, fuel system, cooling system, engine and transmission mounts, drive shafts or CV joints, belts and hoses, tune-ups, electrical system components, braking system, steering

and suspension system, tires, wheels, and rims, exhaust system, undercarriage and frame, exterior and interior lights, body, glass, and mirrors, windshield wiper system, horn, seatbelts and seat structures, fluid leaks, and auxiliary systems, which may have been retro fitted.

These scheduled programs are usually based on time (for example monthly), mileage, engine hours or gallons of fuel used. The difficulty for many companies is that just as the vehicles were purchased at different times, and the usage and fuel consumption varies between individual drivers, sticking to a schedule as the fleet grows becomes ever more complex.

While many companies schedule preventive maintenance manually, more and more companies are turning to automated systems. Manual systems, as discussed, can be tedious and timeconsuming to manage, especially for larger fleets but the technology is becoming increasingly affordable even for the smallest fleet.

Computerized systems to schedule maintenance are a natural progression from other widely used technologies such as telematics for monitoring driving standards, mileage and location, and can be easily linked in, thus saving the business owner time and responsibility. They provide a more efficient method for gathering timely reports on all aspects of fleet management, generating reports faster and more accurately, allowing the fleet manager to make timely proactive decisions.

In-vehicle technology is developing at such a rapid rate, with new technology constantly being introduced, either when vehicles are manufactured, or retro-fitted, that it is important to choose a system that can be customized to your specific application requirements.

Depending on your fleet operating requirements, the system should enable you to create customized preventive maintenance schedules, create and track work orders, track fuel

usage, record detailed maintenance histories and tire logs, track accident and claims, manage inventory, and monitor labour, invoicing, and stock reports.

But all this wonderful technology intended to make life easier for managers, and safer for drivers, still relies on one very important factor, the vehicle’s driver or operator. Staff and/or their safety representatives should be fully consulted about the organisation’s policy on safe driving, including the use of in-vehicle technologies that are provided in company vehicles or in staff’s own vehicles that are used for work.

The vehicle operator/driver should always carry out visual vehicle condition checks before starting out each day, by walking round the vehicle to check that all lights, mirrors, tyres and windscreen wipers are in order, that the vehicle is adequately fuelled, and has sufficient oil and water by checking fuel level indicators, even including screen wash.

Where monitoring technologies are used, commitments may need to be given to staff about the way the data gathered is used and confidentiality of information relating to identifiable individuals. There needs to be a clear understanding that the organisation expects everyone to drive within the law, safely and responsibly on work journeys, that in-vehicle technology must only be used as designed, and that the organisation will provide appropriate help and training in the safe use of such technology.

When staff uses their own vehicles for work, (grey fleet) it should be remembered that the employers’ legal duties extend to all equipment, used by an employee at work, whether or not supplied by the employer.

It is all about roadworthiness and ensuring that the vehicles your company uses are safe to drive, not just to keep within the law, but to maximise the efficiency of your fleet, the productivity of your staff and the maximum return on your investment.

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Smart solutions for effective fleet management Paul Miller, Product Manager at Fleetmatics For all businesses, efficiency is a key priority. When it comes to delivering for customers – whether that’s physical delivery of goods, or providing services in time defined slots, the need for smart solutions to monitor and track processes is crucial for a productive operation. As such, fleet managers are under increasing pressure to meet the needs of both customers and the business itself.

Fleet telematics and GPS tracking technologies are already demonstrating their significant impact on businesses, helping to increase fuel efficiency. According to the AA, increasing a vehicle’s speed from 70mph to 85mph can raise fuel consumption up to 25 percent. Multiplied across the fleet a few extra miles per hour can quickly convert into a big outlay on fuel. Of course, the concern for reducing fuel consumption is both an economic concern as well as an environmental one. With the majority of fleet managers placing energy efficient solutions as a key priority, telematics systems helps for ecofriendly business to be championed.

Similarly, telematics helps to drive behavioural change. A big issue for fleets is engine idle time – a driver stuck in traffic or waiting for a delivery with the engine still running wastes up to 3.7 litres of fuel.

Some telematics solutions offer GPS tracking, which can log idle start and stop times, locations of idling, as well road and route stats to help fleet managers make informed decisions on increasing productivity daily. By using a platform that allows the business to view data in a meaningful way, organised by how the fleet is structured, companies are able to make more accurate decisions and respond to customer needs quickly. This, in turn, ultimately improves efficiency, customer experience and lowers costs.

Any business owner knows that it’s not easy to keep employees safe when they’re all out on the road. A vehicle tracking system offers near realtime insight into driver activity, providing notifications when a vehicle exceeds a set speed threshold. This not only ensures that employers are aware when employees drive responsibly, it can also lower the risk of accidents, reduce liability and over the longer term, depending on your carrier, cut insurance costs, and improve company perception.

As well as tracking driver’s behaviour, telematics helps enable both short and long-term financial savings. By using the tracking software, companies are able to refine their payroll system; so contractors are only paid for actual hours worked. Using such technology also incentivizes drivers to adhere to the strict tachograph and driving rules in the UK. Both drivers and fleet managers are able to access near real-time information, allowing them to be rigorous when evaluating how long they have been on the road, and when they have to stop. With the data provided by this technology, the metrics generated are then capable of being converted into a report for each individual driver. Indeed, this is extremely important in a sector where road regulation can dictate business and where project cost drives the revenue.

Efficiency, safety and productivity are recurring challenges for many businesses. As drivers can access the data themselves, they have much more freedom and power over their jobs, helping them to perform better. Consequently, admin time is reduced at a managerial level, allowing business leads to instead spend time expanding and developing the customer base and explore new ways to increase revenue.

A Verizon Company © 2017 Fleetmatics. All Rights Reserved. The Verizon name and logo and all other names, logos, and slogans identifying Verizon’ s products and services are trademarks and service marks or registered trademarks and service marks of Verizon Trademark Services LLC or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

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Experts in road, sea and air transport services

Our wheels have been keeping the country's industry on the move for 20 years, and we want you to join us on the next part of that journey.

An award winning and dynamic business with a multi-million pound turnover, we have always been driven by our customers’ varied freight requirements. From our offices in Iron Acton, near Bristol, we provide road, sea and air freight services to manufacturers and businesses across the UK, specialising in imports and exports across Europe.

We possess a breadth and depth of knowledge, accrued by working successfully with a wide range of industries, that has given us the know-how to deal with anything; from chemicals and machinery through to homeware and food and beverages. We offer full loads, part loads and groupage, plus a range of specialist services to cater for just-in-time deliveries, outsized goods, hazardous and fragile cargo.

Our ethos of not transhipping cargo on full or part loads is welcomed by our customers, we simply collect your shipment and take it to where it is needed without any offloading and reloading in between, keeping transit times to a minimum and ensuring your goods avoid the typical issues faced when they are unduly handled.

We are proud to still be working with clients whom have been using our services since our infancy and are delighted that every one likes working with us because we offer a great service at competitive prices.

So whether the route ahead for your business is exporting or importing contact our expert team for a quotation or to discuss your freight requirements.

Phone: +44 (0)1454 227 500 Email: hello@accfreight.com www.accfreight.com 53

34258 half pg_HorseWorld 10/02/2017 12:37 Page 1

presence that steers us through some of the most traumatic and distressing times of our lives, seeing to all the details and arranging the final goodbye to our loved ones in a tasteful and dignified manner is often then forgotten.

TREVOR E.W. HICKTON LTD

However, the team at Hicktons have been delighted that their services and attention to detail has been recognised by the award of Traditional Funeral Director of the Year by the Good Funeral Guide.

If you are looking for a funeral director on whom you can rely or would like over the phone advice and guidance please contact Trevor E W Hickton on 01384 569569 at any time of day or night.

Trevor E W Hickton are a traditional long established independent, family run firm of Funeral Directors, under the personal attention of Trevor Hickton, who took over from his father and has now, in turn, been joined by three of his children, Ross Hickton Dip.FAA, Dip.FD, Greg Hickton and Jodie Hickton.

The Hickton family have been serving their community since 1909 and have expanded through a process of thoughtful acquisition to having 4 branches across the area, at Cradley Heath, Halesowen, Bartley Green, and Castle Bromwich. It is the family’s proud boast that all clients will receive the same standard of service that has always been associated with the firm from which ever branch.

Under normal circumstances the discrete black suited services of a funeral director tend to go unsung. That quiet, competent

support on your business journey

Congratulations to Trevor E W Hickton for winning Best Traditional Funeral Director

Call us on 0345 072 5555 We can support your business with an account that offers simple, flexible banking, so you can spend more time concentrating on your business.

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34325 AP_HorseWorld 06/02/2017 10:38 Page 1

Workforce Mental Health how to reduce the highest cause of employee absenteeism The issues surrounding mental ill health at work are now so widely recognised that Theresa May raised the topic in her speech when she first arrived in Downing Street as Prime Minister, saying “Mental health problems are everyone’s problem. As a society we must face up to that fact.”

The facts speak for themselves: 1. 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any one year 2. 9 out of 10 people with a mental health problem experience stigma and discrimination 3. The HSE found that stress, anxiety and depression accounted for the majority of almost 70 million sick days per year (11.7 million) , the most of all heath conditions Research carried out by the mental health charity Mind confirmed that a culture of fear and silence around mental health is costly to employers: • •

•

Most responsible employers do, willingly, recognise their obligation to their employees’ wellbeing but feel that they, and their other management team members, don’t have the appropriate skills to help.

Fortunately there is an informative 2 day course, Mental Health First Aid, which is designed to increase awareness of the condition and how to help. You don’t need to have any sort of medical background or prior training; the courses are designed to be accessible to everyone.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health, develop a set of skills which enables them to support someone experiencing mental health issues and provide help on a first aid basis.

The MHFA course is delivered by Elaine Woodward, who has over 30 years of experience of working in the field of mental health, including as a senior manager in the NHS. She is a quality assured instructor, who has attended the seven day instructor training programme accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health. The course is delivered on an open access basis, in central Birmingham, with between 10-16 delegates or can be tailor made and delivered in any location, for a minimum of 10 delegates.

Everyone who attends the course will receive a certificate and a copy of the MHFA manual and workbook, which are both excellent support resources.

To ensure the long term benefits of the MHFA course, Elaine’s experience enables her to work strategically with individuals and organisations to develop plans including policies and procedures to overcome the effects of mental health issues on workforce productivity.

More than one in five (21%) agreed that they had called in sick to avoid work 14% agreed that they had resigned and 42% had considered resigning when asked how workplace stress had affected them 56% of employers said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing but don't feel they have the right training or guidance.

To book an MHFA course or for more information on the strategic solution to mental health issues in the workplace please contact: Elaine Woodward, MSc, DipSW Email: elainewoodward@hotmail.co.uk 55

T: 08000 807 809 E: hello@bbpmedia.co.uk

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