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Voice&VisionofSurreyBusiness| September-October 2013 www.surrey-chambers.co.uk | ÂŁ3.95 (where sold)

Economic Growth in Surrey See centre pages

Have Your Say:

Focus On:

Chamber Events:

Men and Women Different but Equal pg 14

This edition we focus on Guildford pg 20

Book your place now! pg 44

Contents

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Voice & Vision of Surrey Business September-October 2013 www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

Welcome to theChamber from our Chief Executive Louise Punter

We have been leading on a number of investigations to make sure that any strategic decisions taken locally have been well informed by our local businesses.

Surrey Connects is creating a Surrey Digital Strategy identifying what support is needed by local businesses to ensure that they remain competitive and are using all the tools and techniques available for them to perform in a global market.

Without downplaying the importance of supporting today’s young people to get into work, in future there simply won’t be enough younger people for all the jobs that need to be filled. By 2021, it is projected, there will be 110,000 fewer people aged 35-49 than there were in 2006, but 264,000 more aged 50-64. The State Pension Age is rising and the Default Retirement Age has now been abolished.

More importantly, many older workers would like to work longer but could need support from their employers to do so through measures like: flexible working hours; lifelong learning; the opportunity to change jobs; healthy work environments; and (for the unemployed) the chance to find work which matches their skills. Many employers have voiced concerns about how they will be able to manage an ageing workforce (e.g. how to manage a dignified exit for an older worker), while others see opportunities (e.g. In retaining experienced employees and making up for the reduction in younger workers).

This ‘demographic time-bomb’ means employers need to get a lot more flexible and open-minded about whom they recruit.

At Surrey Chambers we are running some focus groups to develop management tools to help SME’s prepare for an ageing workforce.

We want these tools to be developed with business leaders who run SME’s. We would also like to gather ideas about managing an ageing workforce; any concerns; and innovative approaches which have been tried in supporting older workers.

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Introduction Chamber News Member News Have Your Say Business News 24 Hours With...

MP Comment Ask the Expert Spotlight On...

Getting Started Cover Feature

Editorial and General Enquiries

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Big Interview Technology Showcase Patrons View Chamber Chatter Chamber Events International Trade Chamber Chat New Members Member Benefits Movers & Shakers

Production Manager

Surrey Chambers of Commerce Unit 14a, Monument Way East, Woking, Surrey GU21 5LY Tel: 01483 735540 Fax: 01483 756754 Email: info@surrey-chambers.co.uk

Fern Badman Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: studio@benhampublishing.com

Chief Executive: Louise Punter Finance: Caroline Cherryman

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Media No.

Editor Ella Parkes Tel: 01483 735545 Email: marketing@surrey-chambers.co.uk

Publisher Benham Publishing 4th Floor, Orleans House, Edmund St, Liverpool L3 9NG Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Published September 2013 © Benham Publishing

Advertising and Features Jane Gercken Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: janegercken@benhampublishing.com

Disclaimer The Chamber is published for the Surrey Chambers of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members in the county. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Surrey Chambers.

Views expressed in The Chamber are not necessarily those of Surrey Chambers of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2013.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content.

Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

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Introduction

A word from our

President

As I write this column, the papers are full of headlines about house price booms and a British economy which is forecasting continued, albeit fragile growth. The recovery of the UK economy is not a short term project and really needs the combined unity of all agencies to ensure that it is sustainable and positioned for long term prosperity.

There are very positive signs from the local authorities in Surrey that they are tangibly embracing the need to invest in infrastructure in order to support local business. This has the significant benefit of retaining our strongest companies whilst also attracting inward investment into the county.

I have experienced at first hand the development and impact of McLaren F1 organisation within Woking and I drive past their factory every day as well as regularly cycling in the surrounding countryside. The planning process was understandably protracted and contentious prior to the development of Mizens Farm for the site of the McLaren Centre. There was an undeniable impact on the green belt and the immediate wild life, however the development proceeded with strong backing from the local Council due to the perceived economic benefits.

With hindsight that was a great decision. The factory has proved to have a relatively discrete presence whilst being an impressive headquarters for the team. Woking itself has benefitted significantly from

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the employment opportunities as well as the presence of a world class brand and manufacturing capability.

We need visionary leaders who have the ability to make those great decisions and not be faced with a barricade of intransient gate keepers.

Development must be sympathetic, controlled and ultimately negotiated, but should not be thwarted on principle.

I was delighted to read that new Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has put forward his paper on forward guidance to provide some certainty in the market regarding future interest rates. This has to be a positive initiative and has the scope to provide some stability and certainty in a fledgling recovery climate.

I am grateful to Dan May of Ramsac Limited for all his work as President over the past two years. Louise Punter has a great team of people who are passionate about supporting Surrey business and I would like to thank Dan for his work encouraging and in shaping that team.

Kevin Hurley Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Over the last few years we have experienced unprecedented cuts in public spending as the Government tries to balance the country’s books.

It hasn’t been enough. We still have to borrow billions each year to pay for our trimmed-down services.

Across the country, front line services are creaking. As the service of last resort, the police feel this acutely. Where other services are subsiding, the police find themselves having to step in. That might be to provide a place of safety to someone with a mental illness when there aren’t enough beds in mental health units or to ferry a patient to hospital when there aren’t enough ambulances available. These things then impact on the police’s availability to do their own job.

It seems to me that we have reached an impasse: we aren’t making the savings we need to put the country on an even financial keel, and the cuts made so far are pushing our services to a point where they can’t always meet demand.

Cutting a bit deeper or taxing a bit more will not fix this. Our problem is structural.

Public service leaders across the South East are working together to see what we can do about this situation for the long-term. The police forces in the region are already collaborating and we are moving forward on a number of fronts to join up and share more functions. It is my hope that in the future we can merge the 41 county police forces in England & Wales into fewer, larger organisations, which would save a fortune in leadership, management and structural costs.

In Surrey we are also working closely with the Council and other public services to see where that kind of collaboration can cut across different services. One project of particular interest is considering how all of the blue light agencies work together and how we can best respond when people need us. There are obvious synergies in what each service does and it is right we seek to make the most of those.

This country has a deep attachment to its public services - people are rightly proud to live in a society which takes care of its own so comprehensively. We are fortunate to live in this country. However, we must not let our attachment to the ways our public services have traditionally been delivered be their undoing. I believe that with a positive and open-minded approach, it is possible to liberate future generations from a legacy of debt without compromising on the essential services they expect from the state.

Now is the time to be bold.

ChamberNews The High Sheriff of Surrey, Dr Helen Bowcock Over the last four months, since I became High Sheriff, I have had the great privilege of visiting some of Surrey’s leading charities and have been given an insight into their importance to the county’s economic and social health.

Take for example Transform Housing and Support, an organisation that purchases property and manages housing projects taking care of the most vulnerable and challenging people locally and, in many cases, enabling them to become economically active. Guildford YMCA is another good example.

Although technically they are charities they have to operate as highly efficient businesses although of course they do not make a profit.

Heathrow helps SMEs connect to growth Local SMEs offered insights into Heathrow business opportunities Heathrow is urging small and medium sized businesses to sign up to a series of events which could boost their trade opportunities locally, nationally and globally.

Registration for the 17th annual Heathrow Business Summit, designed to connect SMEs to growth opportunities, opens today with events taking place in October and November.

Local SMEs are being encouraged to register now for the first part of the summit - a series of free networking and advice workshops in October held in each of the five boroughs surrounding the airport. At the events SMEs will hear from the local Chambers of Commerce about how to connect with other local businesses, Heathrow’s procurement team about business opportunities at Heathrow and how to access them, and UKTI about opportunities in emerging markets across the world. Attendees will also hear tips and advice about how to put together a successful tender and how to ‘sell’ their own offering to new business prospects.

Cool2Care, founded in Surrey, is an innovative, customer focused social enterprise giving parents of disabled children flexibility and control in selecting and managing care arrangements. It also gives great flexibility to its employees, delivering value at every point of its operation. A trip to Redhill Aerodrome provided a fascinating glimpse of another organisation entirely focused upon value.

From this airfield the Air Ambulance operates a service that makes a dramatic difference to medical outcomes, receiving no funding from the state but relying entirely upon donations and funds from the public. Its success in raising the necessary £6million per annum is a clear indication of the esteem in which it is held.

Tickets are now also available for the second part of the Heathrow Business Summit, which will take place on 13th November. This one day event will offer SMEs the chance to ‘speed date’ with up to six Heathrow-based national and international businesses that have live business opportunities, as well as networking with up to 60 more businesses that will be showcasing their opportunities on the day. SMEs are advised to book early in order to secure the limited number of fifteen minute long ‘speed meetings’.

In June I helped to raise funds for Fredericks Foundation to provide its service in Surrey.

Although the head office of this micro finance charity is in Lightwater it has not had the means, until now, to manage micro loans in Surrey. Its impressive capacity to enable the unemployed to become entrepreneurs relies not only on the availability of finance but also upon mentoring. All of these organisations are models of entrepreneurship and demonstrate that, in the way that they deliver social value, they are also important contributors to the economy.

The not-for-profit Summit was conceived 17 years ago in recognition of the central role that Heathrow plays in connecting SMEs with new business opportunities through its own supply chain, around the airport and across the world. The aim is to help SMEs better understand where these opportunities lie and how to access them. Since the Heathrow Business Summit began, an estimated £90million in new business has been won by local businesses, as a result of new partnerships forged at the Summit.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow’s Development Director, says: ‘Heathrow is the UK’s gateway to the world and plays a pivotal role in connecting SMEs with local, national and international markets. Over 320 businesses operate on the airport and many more, including two thirds of the UK’s top 300 companies, have set up close by to benefit from the airport’s operations. We urge small and medium sized businesses to seize the opportunity to attend the Summit and take advantage of the connections that Heathrow can help them forge.’

Parveen Thornhill, UK Trade and Investment’s (UKTI) Regional Director for London, says: ‘High growth markets are changing the face of international business and the opportunities for firms to grow faster and create further jobs are immense.

This event gives small and medium sized businesses the opportunity to meet buyers and win business. The advice workshops are about doing the preparation. We want companies to access the range of services and support offered by UKTI to help them win business and succeed internationally.’

Heathrow plays a critical role in linking the UK to new, emerging markets with as much as £600bn of trade taking place through Heathrow’s airline networks each year. Earlier this year Heathrow and Asia House produced a series of guides1 for SMEs who want to trade with the emerging economies to the East. The guides have been written in collaboration with trade bodies, associations and British Embassies to offer expert tips on business culture, language and market opportunities in eight Asian economies: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Registration for both events is now open and further information can be found at www.heathrowbusinesssummit.co.uk

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ChamberNews

Enterprise M3 Meet the Buyer

Comment from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)

On the 3 October Enterprise M3 LEP is running it’s first ever Meet the Buyer event covering the North Hampshire/Surrey area. A previous event in the Southampton area generated deals worth an estimated £6.25 million. Surrey Chambers of Commerce is working in partnership along with 13 other authorities and chambers including Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, who are hosting the event.

Rising retail sales strengthens hopes for Q3 growth, says BCC

Kathy Slack regional director of Enterprise M3 said: “Enterprise M3 is committed to helping local companies to access the help they need to grow and we are delighted to be supporting this key event which matches local suppliers with big buyers and opens up new business opportunities.

We hope that this event will follow in the footsteps of successful Meet the Buyer events in Heathrow and Southampton and become a regular feature of the business calendar.”

We have a variety of organisations such as: Colas Limited, Vitacress Salads, Jewson Limited, Veolia Environmental, Imtech Traffic & Infra UK Ltd, Skanska Ltd, Linde Material Handling, University of Surrey, Amazon Filters, Motorola, Surrey Police, Weir Mineral Europe, Service to Business at Guildford College, Aspire Defence, Augustawest International, Qinetiq, De La Rue, BAE Systems and Babcock.

24 Private Buyers and 11 Public Sectors Buyers are looking for: • Air Conditioning Services & Equipment • Building - Raw Materials • Building Services & Construction • CCTV systems • Chartered Surveyors & Contractors • Cleaning & Hygiene Services • Corporate Services • Electrical Contractors & supplies • Engineering Services • Fire Prevention Equipment & Systems • Fire Prevention Training • Health & Safety Training & Consultants • Hotels, exhibitions, Conference and Events Venues & Services • HR Services • IT Services • Management & Consulting • Manufacturing • Marketing & Communications • Office Furniture & Supplies • Catering • Soft Skills training & Consultants • Transport, Logistics & Distribution • Waste Management

Meet the Buyer creates opportunities for local suppliers to make new contacts all in one place on one day. The meetings for suppliers will last 10 minutes and just enough time to meet and assess a supplier and discover various innovations and progressions, then agree a second meeting if applicable.

The Enterprise M3 Meet the Buyer event is a partnership between the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, Guildford Borough Council, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Spelthorne Borough Council, Surrey Heath, Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council and Woking Borough Council.

Suppliers in the Enterprise M3 area pay £99 for up to six designated appointments and to complement the event there is also a FREE Procurement workshop for Public Sector on 12th of September and a FREE Sales training on the 19th of September.

For further information please email meetthebuyer@hampshirechamber.co.uk

• Retail sales volumes for July 2013: up 1.1% on the month; up 3.0% on the year • There was strong growth in supermarket sales, boosted by the sunny weather • The share of internet sales within total sales continues to increase Commenting on the retail sales figures for July 2013, David Kern, Chief Economist at the BCC said: “We are now seeing a clear upward trend in retail sales, and these figures suggest that the pace of GDP growth in the third quarter will continue at a modest pace. Some commentators have suggested that strong retail sales, while other areas of the economy remain weak, will lead to an unbalanced economic structure. We don’t share these concerns, as although we would like to see more growth coming from investment and net trade, it is better to rely initially on domestic demand than to have no growth at all. And while net exports are not as strong as we would like, there is an improvement – a point that many commentators ignore. To maintain business confidence we should focus on the positive features of our economy. In addition, increasing the flow of credit to growing businesses and keeping inflation low will help to gradually rebalance the economy.”

What’s going on in Surrey It is great to see the heightened activity in some of the Surrey Boroughs to encourage a vibrant community.

Businesses in Camberley Town Centre are working in partnership under the Collectively Camberley Business Improvement District (BID) to fund agreed additional projects and initiatives to improve the local environment and enhance the identity of the area.

Experience Guildford is doing the same and is enhanced by The Guildford Fringe making its mark in July with some outstanding theatre and the promise of expanding this over the next few years to create an event similar to the Edinburgh Fringe. Woking has been working on a number of initiatives including a renovated town centre and incubator space for growing businesses. The combination of a conducive business environment with excellent leisure offerings is what makes Surrey a great place to be.

For more information go to www.surrey-chambers.co.uk or call us on 01483 735540.

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MemberNews

Accelerating your Business Growth in an Improving Economy With signs of a growing economy and an upturn in business confidence it’s time to review the options you have for growing your business.

The start point for most company owners is to increase their existing sales and marketing activities. With an improving market an increase in well targeted activity should yield positive results. A focus on organic growth is a natural first step utilising your knowledge of existing markets and trying both proven and new strategies.

In seeking to accelerate growth ensure you pay attention to your existing customers both as a direct source of business and as a source of referrals and introductions.

To achieve significant growth and a step change in the size of the business – and to get a head start on your competitors – there are additional growth paths to consider: Acquisition: There are many options for an acquisition to transform your business

prospects and scale. You might consider targeting a local competitor; a similar business in another area; a key supplier; a route to market or distributor; or a complementary business that increases your portfolio of products or services.

Joint venture: Where a full acquisition might not be viable the same target businesses can be excellent prospects for a joint venture or a business alliance. A well-conceived and executed agreement to collaborate can yield many of the benefits of an acquisition without the same scale of investment.

Franchising: In the UK franchising is an under-utilised growth strategy, certainly compared with USA or Australia. In essence the growth of your business is fuelled by the energy and investment of

Brooklands College Anita Winter, Apprenticeship Manager at Brooklands College visited another local employer to present them with a £1500 government grant cheque just for employing an apprentice.

Photo from left to right: Michael Lavatoria (Level 2 Apprentice), Rachel Steed (Chief Financial Officer, Steel Storage Europe Ltd), Anita Winter (Apprenticeship Manager, Brooklands College) and Arkadiusz Stefaniuk (Manager Steel Storage Europe Ltd).

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The grant incentive is available to any business who employs less than 1000 employees, are new to Apprenticeships or haven’t enrolled a new recruit or existing employee onto an Apprenticeship programme in the previous 12 months.

The local employer, Steel Storage Europe Ltd, a global leading supplier in the design and construction of self-storage facilities, needed to fill a skills gap and found that the Apprenticeship framework was ideal for bringing younger employees into the workforce who could benefit from the experience and knowledge of their current workforce. Rachel Steed, Chief Financial Officer at Steel Storage Europe Ltd commented ‘The one off payment of £1500 and the free government funded College based training was a great incentive to employ an apprentice and we found that the training offered at Brooklands College suited our workforce needs’.

your franchisees. Your role as business owner changes to focus on the success and growth of those who have invested in your business - their success is your success.

These growth strategies are open to any ambitious business. If the economic conditions for the next few years are more positive, the cost and availability of finance more predictable and the opportunities for business owners more attractive, it is a great time to consider a real acceleration in growth. Our role is to help you plan and deliver the step change in your business that the improving economy can yield. So what are your plans?

Ian Parker 07966 777797 ian.parker@the-infinite-group.com Most apprenticeships are workplace training and employment programmes which lead to recognised work based qualifications for apprentices and better skilled and motivated staff for employers.

Apprentices usually learn on the job, in the workforce, for a minimum of four days a week and spend one day a week in college learning the technical skills and underpinning knowledge of their chosen industry.

Recently, Anita has also had the pleasure of handing over a 5 other grant cheques of £750 from ALPs (Association of Learning Providers), who also run a financial incentive scheme, to local employers who have chosen Brooklands College as their apprenticeship training provider.

Brooklands College offer apprenticeships in a wide range of industries including: Business Administration, Construction, Engineering (Manufacturing & Mechanical, Motor Vehicle Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Hairdressing, Childcare, Catering and Customer Services. If you would like to find out more about either becoming an apprentice or employing an apprentice and the government funding that may be available to you get in touch with Brooklands College on 01932 797 920.

MemberNews Mr Ron Dennis CBE opens new Semmco facility in Woking Mr Ron Dennis, CBE, Chairman McLaren Automotive and McLaren Group officially opened the new Semmco high-tech facility in Woking representing the best of British manufacturing.

The 13,000 square-foot vast engineering facility will assist Semmco dramatically, increasing it’s production and manufacturing capacity to complete orders it receives from around the world for customers such as First Scot Rail, East Midland Trains, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Luthansa, Qantas and many more.

Originally based in Winton Lea Industrial Estate, Semmco decided to remain in Woking to retain existing very experienced staff. The decision to move to Goldsworth Park Industrial Estate was made to facilitate Semmco’s expansion capabilities and its proximity to the M25. The new facility underscores the exceptional growth of Semmco, where production output has doubled in the past three years.

“The new facility will help assist Semmco’s growth, particularly in the export market which is set to represent 30% of company turnover in the coming years” said Mr Stuart McOnie, Managing Director of Semmco Ltd.

The opening of the new facility in Woking marks another milestone in Semmco’s history, it being the 21st year of the company. Starting with two employees in 1993, Semmco has grown to 29 employees in 2013.

“Although small in comparison to the McLaren Group, our philosophy is the same – innovation, creativity and commitment to excellence. With financial backing from a local bank and continued support from loyal staff, the future of Semmco is bright and the best of British manufacturing is guaranteed.” said Mr McOnie.

Balmy summer sunshine amidst the rolling Surrey Hills provided the perfect backdrop to an entertaining afternoon of thrilling sport as two upcoming polo teams, the DJ Cats and Boscom battled it out in the finals of the inaugural HFS Milbourne Cup which took place at Hurtwood Park Polo Club, Ewhurst on Friday 14 June.

Speaking at the official opening of the new Semmco facility, Mr Ron Dennis, CBE, said: “In life there are many times when a helping hand can do so much. I am here today at Semmco to give a helping hand. It is with great pleasure that I officially open this facility and I wish Stuart and his team every great success in the future.”

Ward Williams sponsor Weybridge Cricket Club Ward Williams have been established in Weybridge for more than 20 years and have always supported and been active in the local community. The sponsorship of Weybridge Cricket Club seemed like the perfect opportunity to maintain this involvement.

The funding that is kindly provided by the sponsorship partners helps Weybridge Cricket Club to promote cricket within the local community. Children from all across the local area attend the colts training sessions where they receive professional coaching and progress to play cricket against other local sides within the leagues.

The life blood of any club is it’s colts section as these are the players who often go on to play cricket as adults for the senior teams, and in the case of Weybridge, have gone on to play at county and international level. Running a club like Weybridge, whose senior teams play at the highest levels within the Surrey Championship takes a great deal of organising and Weybridge are lucky to have a core group of hard working volunteers all of whom do it for the love of the club. The

DJ Cats claw their way to victory in HFS Milbourne Cup

Jeremy Keefe - Chairman of Weybridge Cricket Club and Malcolm McKinnell – Co-Founder & Partner at Ward Williams.

First XI are currently vying with Wimbledon and Sunbury for the top of the Surrey Championship Premiere League and the Second XI are currently top of their Premiere League with twenty points in hand. Over recent years the clubhouse and changing rooms have been enlarged and refurbished and three new all weather outdoor nets have been installed. The members bar in the clubhouse is open all year round and various social events are held each year to help raise funds to fund the club but Weybridge Cricket Club, like most clubs, couldn’t afford to do all this without the support of their sponsorship partners.

Guests of HFS Milbourne, the Guildford based financial advisors, turned out in force to watch these talented mixed teams in action in what was a hard fought match, with the DJ Cats only securing victory in the final few minutes of play. Top England players Claire Donnelly and James Glasson impressed onlookers with their skilful play and fast pace, whilst England team mate Tarquin Southwell provided the running commentary whilst captivating guests with an introduction to the ‘sport of kings’ complete with props and colourful anecdotes from the intriguing world of international polo.

Rod Milne, joint managing director of HFS Milbourne says “If you consider that you can fit nine football pitches into one polo pitch you can really appreciate the skill and stamina of the players and the ponies. Polo is a great spectator sport and the speed, strength and manoeuvrability of the ponies is quite a spectacle. The event has been an excellent opportunity for us to relax with our colleagues and business associates in an informal environment, the perfect way to spend such a fine summer’s day.”

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MemberNews Investec Ashes Cycle Challenge raises £250,000 for good causes

ELM/RHLA Group sponsors Aldershot Town FC in show of support and belief in the future of the club

After 4.5 days and 340 miles cycling in temperatures often exceeding 30OC, the Investec Ashes 2013 Cycle Challenge team reached Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday 17th July, having raised over £250k for a number of local charities, as well as the Lord’s Taverners.

Newly-rescued Aldershot Town FC has just gained an ‘ethical’ partner in Elm. The newly constructed Community Stand, which will accommodate up to 250 new spectators, has just been adopted by Elm (Ethical Leasehold Management) Ltd, part of the RHLA Group, a member of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

Over 70 cyclists, including staff from Investec Wealth & Investment and their guests, took part in the ride which covered all five Ashes Test grounds, starting at Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground on Saturday 15th July and taking in Emirates Old Trafford, Trent Bridge and the Kia Oval, before finishing at Lord’s in London.

Cricket legend Mike Gatting OBE and TV celebrity diving judge Leon Taylor took part in the challenge, as did former England international cricketer Allan Lamb (Milton Keynes to Lords), internationally renowned tenor Sean Ruane, and three Ashes winning ladies Isa Guna, Ebony Rainford-Brent, and Caroline Atkins.

Mike Gatting OBE, the former England Ashes winning captain, said: “It’s been a gruelling few days, especially in this heat, but there has been a fantastic team spirit all the way. Everyone helped each other along and we’ve managed to have fun at the same time. But not forgetting what this has been all about – raising money for some really good causes, such as the Lord’s Taverners and many other local charities. We’ve had amazing support and it’s thanks to the hard work, great organisation and fundraising efforts of everyone involved that this challenge has been such a success.”

Justin Yeldham, senior investment director, Investec Guildford said: “One of the highlights for me was meeting some of the kids that benefit from the Lord’s Taverners minibuses. It certainly gave me the added inspiration required to get over the hills.”

Simon Tabb, investment director, Investec Guildford said: “A 5 day heat wave including some incredibly steep hills, made the journey tricky, but we were supporting some very worthy causes!”

The Investec Ashes 2013 Cycle Challenge has raised enough money for a number of Lord’s Taverners minibuses to enable disabled and disadvantaged young people to access sport. It will also support other charities including the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Cancer Research, The Willow Trust, BASICS, Rainbow Hospice, Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT), Eden Valley Hospice (Carlisle), The One Foundation, The Teenage Cancer Trust, Pink Ribbon Foundation, Little Acorns, Royal British Legion, Meldreth Manor School, British Heart Foundation, Guildford Eye Hospital, Jesuit Missions, DRASACS, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Sheffield United Community Fund, Parkinsons UK, Great Ormond Street and the Danny Porter Charity.

“The Elm Community Stand will make available around 250 free seats for local charities, disadvantaged community members and those people who may not have previously had the opportunity to engage with football at a local level.

It’s is such a positive move and something we’re keen to be a part of,” says Shalford resident Lorraine Collis, Chief Executive of the RHLA Group, the property management experts, who have been based in Aldershot for 40 years, and who are totally committed to the local community.

Lorraine Collis opened the ceremony alongside Baroness Warsi and Chairman of the club, Shahid Azeem, who led the consortium, which saved the club from folding at the beginning of the month.

Lorraine says: “We’re very excited to be supporting the Shots as they are at the heart of the Aldershot community here and mean a great deal to local people. The club also has a real commitment to the community just like we do as a long-standing employer in the town”.

Nicky Banger, head of commercial affairs at Aldershot Town, says: “We’re delighted with ELM’s sponsorship, which shows fantastic support. It’s a generous sum and demonstrates great belief in us and our future as we start a fresh chapter in the history of the club. Thank you so much, ELM! “It’s very fitting that we should be naming the ELM Community Stand after ELM as it’s such a communityminded business.”

Participants in the cycle challenge represent nine offices of Investec Wealth & Investment across the country - Sheffield, London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Cheltenham, Guildford and Bournemouth, and also include guests from the ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board) and Lord’s Taverners.

For further information please see www.investecwin.co.uk/cycle or contact: james.bedingfield@investecwin.co.uk.

There is still time to sponsor Mike Gatting and the team, visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/Investec Ashes2013CycleChallenge.

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MemberNews Consult Hyperion launches Mobile Money Practice UK independent technology consultancy launches specialist unit focusing on mobile money Consult Hyperion, the leading independent technology consultancy in the field of secure electronic transactions has launched the Mobile Money Practice, a specialist unit focusing on the growth area of mobile money.

Consult Hyperion’s Mobile Money Practice offers substantive, experience-based mobile money consultancy services from a team of people with extensive experience of delivering results in mobile money solutions across emerging markets. The Practice is headed by Paul Makin, in collaboration with Susie Lonie, who worked together on the development of M-PESA. “Consult Hyperion has been active in mobile money since the technology’s earliest days, when it was engaged by Vodafone to assist in the development of the M-PESA service in 2004,” said Paul Makin. “We offer unparalleled experience across all aspects of this highly specialised field.”

The Mobile Money Practice marked its launch with a high profile speech from Paul Makin and Susie Lonie on the controversial subject of mobile money interoperability at the TM Forum Africa Summit in Johannesburg on 6th August and with the launch of a white paper on mobile money interoperability. http://www.chyp.com Tel: 01483 301 793

How remarkable is your business?

When I’m working within a business reviewing the customer experience I always ask them to imagine the conversation or the feelings and thoughts they’d like their customers to have when they’re on their way home from doing business with them.

by Caroline Cooper of Naturally Loyal

Caroline specialises in customer service training and helping businesses give their customers an exceptional experience so prompting repeat business and naturally loyal customers who spend more, cost less to serve, and refer more business.

Give people a reason to talk about you Everyone has an expectation these days for good service. So if you want to get people talking about you and ultimately telling all their friends or colleagues you need to be constantly looking for ways to do that little bit extra. It doesn’t have to be lavish, just that extra inch (that still leaves something in store the next time) to make your customer’s notice and make it really difficult for them to ever contemplate not coming back to you.

Find something that’s the exception.

Identify the things that are of perceived high value to your customers but relatively low cost to you so you can give added value. Do something to give people a real reason to talk about you. It’s the exceptional and unexpected that gets you noticed and remembered.

Don’t fall at the last hurdle……

Who is the very last person your customers encounter as they leave, or the very last place they see? If your customers collect goods or luggage from a collection storage point how comfortable or long is the wait?

12 theChamber

Does your receptionist, doorman, security guard or delivery driver reflect the culture and level of service your customer receives elsewhere? If your customers take a visit to the toilets, leave via the back exit to the car park or see inside your delivery vehicle is there anything on route you’d rather they didn’t see, smell or hear?

Whatever your business, reflect on what your customers remember most about their experience with you? What happens in the last few moments of your meeting or their visit or at the end of the project will undoubtedly influence their lasting impression.

Identify the little finishing touches that can leave your customers with that little touch of magic that will stay with them for weeks, months or even years to come.

And if nothing else, a sincere heart felt thank you in person goes a long way.

T: 07887 540914 E: caroline@naturallyloyal.com www.naturallyloyal.com

MemberNews

National recognition for Surrey business Something Big Woking-based marketing and creative communications agency, Something Big, has been shortlisted for the Croner Employer of the Year award at this year’s National Business Awards. Now in its twelfth year, the National Business Awards is the UK’s premier, cross-industry accolades for enterprise excellence.

Something Big, a fast growing small business employing 29 people, is one of ten finalists including well-known household brand FedEx Express.

Shortlisting judge Nita Clarke, co-founder, Engage for Success, said: “An innovative management style and a strong engagement ethos, involving families and community as well as recognising and dealing with the challenges of growth, underpins Something Big’s commercial success in a crowded marketplace.”

Sally Pritchett, director, Something Big, added: “We’re incredibly proud of this achievement, particularly as we’ve been shortlisted against hundreds of businesses including some pretty big household names.

The fact this award is about our team is also very important to us. As good employers, we are as passionate about our people as we are our clients and work, and we place a lot

of emphasis on supporting our employees both inside and outside the workplace.”

The 2013 National Business Awards finalists have a collective global turnover of more than £341 billion, covering activities as diverse as telecoms, construction, entertainment, publishing and manufacturing.

The winners will be announced at a blacktie awards ceremony on 12 November 2013 at the Grosvenor House, London.

Dame Helen Alexander, chair of judges for the National Business Awards, said: “These organisations and leaders represent exceptional success over the past year. The environment has been tough; these are the firms leading the way to growth. There’s a broad spectrum of sectors represented, as well as organisations of very different sizes, reflecting the diversity of British business and the vitality of our economy.

Congratulations to all our finalists.”

The Something Big team celebrates being shortlisted.

theChamber 13

HaveYourSay

Men and Women – Different but Equal?

Following the success of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce “Men and Women – Different but Equal” event held at the Mandolay Hotel, Guildford in September and the current “Business is Good for Equality” campaign by the British Chambers of Commerce in partnership with the Government Equalities Office, we decided to kick off this new opinion feature asking our members their thoughts on gender equality in the workplace.

“What’s clear to me, is that while there will always be challenges, the vast majority of employers want the best for – as well as from – their employees, and they absolutely don’t need convincing of the positive business case for equality in the 21st century workplace! But, many smaller firms told me that they don’t always feel they know enough and they want to be confident that they are complying properly with the law.

“I also think being more open and transparent about gender issues will drive forward real change. That’s why we created our ‘Think, Act, Report’ initiative which encourages companies to report on action to improve gender equality in the workplace. More than 90 companies, covering over 1.6 million employees, have already signed up. I hope they will inspire many others to follow suit”

Have Your Say...

Claire Dee, director and founder, Claire Dee Communications, says: “Clearly, men and women are different, but in the workplace they should be considered equal if the work they are doing is the same. Why should a female director on a management board be given less responsibility or pay than a male peer simply because of her gender? I believe in equal rights for equal roles.”

Thom Gibbons, Director, Callmaster Mobile, says: “The event held by Surrey Chambers threw up some interesting points and reiterates the importance that both men and women can bring different qualities to a business.

And that this variety makes for a versatile, dynamic and competitive organisation.

However it is imperative to draw employers

14 theChamber

attention to this matter, as inequality is still present in the workplace and Surrey Chambers of Commerce are working with the British Chambers of Commerce to communicate and improve this.”

Elaine Hickmott, Business Alchemist, EH Enterprise, says: “As humans we are equal. As men and women we are different and difference brings value and opportunities in our dynamic modern world. I believe that embracing, understanding and acknowledging our differences provide powerful routes to overcoming prejudice in all walks of life; no matter whom you are or where you live”.

After visiting various chambers across the country (including Surrey) as part of the BCC Equality campaign last spring; Jo Swinson, Minister for Business and Minister for Women and Equalities, commented:

Think, Act, Report is a voluntary initiative to help improve gender equality in the workforce. It sets out a simple, step-bystep framework to help companies think about key issues such as recruitment, retention, promotion and pay. Signing up commits organisations to think about gender equality, take action where they identify areas for improvement where needed and report on their progress. It is flexible, recognising that every business is at different stages, so it is up to the business to decide what steps to take and what they publish.

For more information on the Think Act Report initiative visit: www.gov.uk/government/policies/creatin g-a-fairer-and-more-equal-society/ supporting-pages/think-act-report You can download the British Chambers of Commerce report on equality from www.britishchambers.org.uk/publication s/BCC-Equality-report.pdf

BusinessNews How To... Set Up a Social Media Strategy For Your Business Maybe you are already on Twitter or Facebook as yourself. Perhaps your business has a LinkedIn page. You may still feel quite frustrated about social media for business. Should your company be active on social media? How can you measure its effectiveness? How much will it cost? How much time will it take?

You may have been told that your business needs to be on social media and you may even have existing social media accounts.

It’s getting the time to do anything with them that’s the problem.

Maybe you’ve attempted to understand how to get most out of social media by attending seminars or reading articles; perhaps you’ve outsourced some of your social media work and hoped for the best.

The results just don’t seem to be there and you’re struggling to see what the point is. If any of this sounds familiar, read on.

What Is Social Media?

There is a lot of money being made out of making social media sound more complicated than it really is. Of course in its totality, it is complex, but if you approach someone for advice, you should leave feeling clearer about the topic; not more overwhelmed. You don’t have to be on social media but you need to be in a position to understand the implications of your decisions on your business. The

uneasiness many professionals and business owners are left with leaves a great opportunity to exploit the knowledge gaps and make the whole concept of social media seem baffling and frustrating.

When talking to social media consultants, do remember: if they can’t explain it simply, they don’t understand it well enough.

With that in mind: what IS social media, exactly? I tend to summarise it as “a way for people to connect to other people and to the brands and celebrities they like.” The key concept about social media is that it’s social. The media is merely the tool with which to chat, share and network. Check what happens when you are at a trade show shrewd enough to create its own Twitter #hashtag - you’ll be able to talk to people across the exhibition hall and arrange a meeting at your stand.

And this leads to an insight that I hope will help you: it’s all about the people and connecting to each other. Not a one way announcement channel; not a way to

Getting to grips with Google+ – a quick guide for small business owners Are you using Google+ yet? Since its launch in January 2012, Google+ has attracted in excess of 300 million users but it’s still lagging way behind Facebook’s 1 billion users.

Maybe this can be attributed to it being a little less intuitive than Facebook to get to grips with.

Here is my quick guide to the main features of Google+:

Creating Circles Circles enables you to categorise your Google+ contacts into distinct groups, a handy feature to keep work contacts and social friends separate. You can create as many circles as you want and can include contacts in more than one. You then decide what content to share with each circle.

You can also join Google+ Communities, circles in which you may find likely business prospects – you can think of these public circles rather like joining groups on LinkedIn.

Become an Author If you’re a blogger, adding your name to Google Authorship is a must – then any content you write will be picked up by

Pia Long is a writer, social media manager and a lifelong learner. She is also an experienced B2C marketing professional and a perfumer (so quite possibly a polymath). She is currently working as The Head of Words for Thunderbolt Digital, a fullservice digital agency in Farnham, Surrey. You can send her an email at pia@wearethunderbolt.com.

advertise, not something you can set out into carefully constructed ROI spreadsheets. You must give of yourself freely. How much and where depends on the size and type of your business. We’ll talk about that in the next issue.

Google, strengthening your reputation as an author and helping your search results positively on Google itself.

Add Photos A great feature is that you can specify which images to share with your various circles, again making it easy to separate business from pleasure.

Hangouts and Huddles!

Two good ways to interact with other people in your circles, you can ‘Hangout’ with any amount of others using video chat, or you can ‘Huddle’ and enjoy a group chat via your mobile (Android only at present).

Personally, I think the biggest attraction of Google+ is the ability to categorise people into distinct circles for sharing your content, and the SEO benefits of authorship, particularly if you are a prolific blogger or use a content marketing approach for your business.

Sarah Orchard Vice Chair & Small Business Champion The Chartered Institute of Marketing - Surrey Branch Twitter @cim_se www.cimsurrey.co.uk

theChamber 15

24HoursWith...

...Natasha and Esther,

joint Directors at accounting4contractors For this accountancy practice it’s far more than simply number crunching. The joint directors believe that no obstacle is too big, as was demonstrated at the end of August when the pair undertook the grueling Nuts Challenge army assault course to raise money for a worthy local cause.

With a background in IT project management Natasha and Esther enjoy the challenge of re-engineering processes to save money or time and have recently reworked the payslips of one client so that its workers could see the weekly hours they had worked which immediately removed confusion with pay.

“Many clients come to us having been in business for a couple of years using spreadsheets to record sales and expenditure” Natasha explains, “As part of our service we provide free access to Xero, cloud based accounting software, and help to transfer records into the software for far greater management reporting and professional invoicing capabilities. One client in particular didn’t know which products to focus on in the coming year but after we presented them with their ‘Sales by Item’ report for the past 12 months they have a clear vision of where their future lies.”

Natasha Baker says “We really get to know our clients and enjoy scheduling time in our diaries to meet with them over a coffee. It’s this personal touch that makes each day more interesting and hopefully shows that we are real people with a passion for helping”.

People buy from people and everyone in business needs someone who can prepare their accounts, but accounting4contractors want to be more than that. Their model is refreshing with clients offered fixed monthly fees for an all-inclusive service. Clients are encouraged to work with Natasha and Esther throughout the year, rather than simply delivering a box of invoices and

16 theChamber

receipts at year-end! Esther Guy explains, “By collaborating in this way we can provide real time advice which is truly tailored to meet their needs”.

She goes on to say “We love the fact that our client base is so diverse. As you would expect from our name a large proportion of our clients are contractors working in the City, but we also work with limited company directors and sole traders in other sectors including a courier service, personal training business, builders across all trades, an audio visual provider, a ceramics studio and many more”.

Esther Guy says “We started the business expecting to spend 90% of our time on accounting tasks and whilst our day is largely driven by our clients needs we do have a structure in place which enables us to develop our own brand too. This includes dedicated Twitter activity (usually Tuesday evenings on #SurreyHour), sending regular newsletters, the obligatory updating of our company Facebook page and much more”.

Needless to say both directors agree that each day presents it’s fair share of challenges, (usually involving HMRC!) but they believe that overcoming the obstacles is part of the enjoyment - after all you can only experience the thrill of the downhill if you’ve slogged your way up in the first place!

Check out www.accounting4contractors.co.uk to find out more or call us on 01737 652 852.

MPComment

A word from...

Anne Milton MP The economic roller coaster has been an easier ride for Surrey than for many other places across the UK. Guildford is the largest town in Surrey and has a significant impact on the County’s fortunes. Guildford has previously been in 1st place as the most competitive ‘city’ outside London. There are good signs that the marked levels of economic growth since 2010 will continue.

For Guildford computing, financial services, pharmaceutical, computer gaming, digital and creative technologies and advanced manufacturing have all played their part.

Surrey is home to some 62,000 businesses, of which nearly 5000 are in the town of Guildford. 99% of these are SMEs and just over a 10th of these are new enterprises. The number of SMEs in Guildford has increased 2.6% from last year, and a quarter of Guildford’s SME’s are now in the professional, scientific or technical industry.

Surrey also boasts unemployment statistics well below the national average. In 2012/13, the number of Job-Seekers Allowance claimants fell by a fifth - 965 people. Encouragingly the number of JSA claimants under the age of 25 fell by over a third during the same period and the numbers of young people in Guildford not in work, education or training schemes remains one of the lowest in the country.

Surrey County Council are to be congratulated at what they are doing to help apprenticeships. The National Apprenticeship Service statistics show apprentice numbers amongst 16-18 year olds in Surrey increased by just under a fifth, 690, in 2012/13. In Guildford, unemployment stands at 1.7%, down 2.3%

from this time last year. Both Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils in my constituency are both acutely aware of the role business plays in making Guildford, Cranleigh and our surrounding villages and such good places to live and work.

Whilst there is still some way to go, we continue to make impressive progress toward an economic recovery. We all have a role in the well being and the economic development of our area. It is good to see such encouraging figures however with success comes some difficult challenges.

No article can be complete without a moan about the state of our roads! But with some of the heaviest traffic use in the country keeping up with repairs has been a huge challenge for Surrey County Council. They have got to grips successfully with some but if you add the road congestion, the costs of public transport whether you are a private citizen or the local council, it’s not easy living with economic success. Local people are good at taking tough decisions if they feel involved in the decisions making process - housing and our transport infrastructure are where we need to make a start.

“Whilst there is still some way to go, we continue to make impressive progress toward an economic recovery.” theChamber 17

AskTheExpert

How to keep energy levels stable throughout the day Our bodies have a mechanism for keeping energy levels constant; this is called blood sugar balance. Supporting this mechanism can improve energy, weight control, concentration, mood, memory, sleep and stress tolerance.

Optimal blood sugar balance is characterised by continual slow rises and falls of glucose levels. This is controlled by the hormone insulin. However, eating sugar in the form of refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks and snacks, and too many stimulants such as caffeine causes sharp rises and subsequent falls in blood glucose. Eating like this gives you a rush of energy, but can then leave you feeling tired and craving sweet sugary foods. It can also lead to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

Chicken and Chickpea Curry (serves 4)

4 skinless chicken thighs chopped into bite size pieces Half jar of curry paste (we like Patak’s tikka masala curry paste*) 4 tablespoons plain yogurt Dash olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 1 ‘thumb’ size piece of fresh ginger either grated or chopped 1 clove garlic crushed

Key points to follow 1

Eat a low sugar diet – including hidden sugars found in processed food, fruit, bread, pasta, sweetened yoghurts etc.

Get in the habit of reading food labels!

2 Include some protein at every meal. Protein keeps you fuller for longer and slows down how carbohydrates break down to glucose. Eat 3 meals per day and avoid skipping meals 3 Aim not to snack but if more than 5-6 hours between meals, consider a healthy, low sugar snack, to include a little protein 4 Always eat a good breakfast to kick start your metabolism. Try a nut based muesli or poached egg on brown bread. Avoid processed breakfast cereals 5 Increase fibre – eat more vegetables and pulses 6 Dark dense bread is preferable to while and fluffy. Try spelt and rye breads.

7 Reduce coffee and tea. Increase water and herbal teas. Aim for 1.5 litres of water/non caffeinated drinks per day 8 Reduce fizzy drinks, pies, pasties, cakes, processed food.

9 Reduce alcohol. Avoid drinking on an empty stomach – occasional glass of wine with a meal is relaxing!

10 Exercise regularly – brisk walking for 30 minutes 3 x per week is a good start!

Sarah Zorab www.sarahzorab.co.uk Email: sarah@sarahzorab.co.uk Tel: 07990 572990

1 fresh red chilli (optional), chopped 1 x 410g tin chopped tomatoes 1 x 410g tin of chickpeas A 250g bag of fresh spinach Put the curry paste and yogurt in a bowl with the chicken, mix very well until all the pieces are well coated in the mixture, marinate for as long as you can (10 minutes to overnight- the longer the better) Heat the oil in a non-stick pan, add the chopped onion, garlic, ginger and chilli. Fry for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden coloured. Add the chicken, stirring until all the pieces are golden. Add the tomatoes. Half fill the empty tomato can with water and add to the curry. Open the tin of chickpeas, rinse under water and drain well. Add to the curry. Stir well, bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes with a lid on.

Check the curry from time to time, so ensure its not drying out (if so, add some more water). If you think the curry is too watery, then take the lid off for the last 10 minutes so that the curry ‘reduces’.

Stir in a bag of fresh spinach to wilt the leaves (or half a bag of frozen spinach) just before you are ready to eat.

Serve with basmati rice and a green salad *Note: the other half of the jar will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.

theChamber 19

SpotlightOn

Guildford – Securing our economic future The Borough of Guildford has a good story to tell in terms of the economy. It is home to a number of world-class companies with centres of excellence in the games, space and telecoms sectors amongst others. It also has an outstanding retail, tourist and heritage offer – the Telegraph recently reported that Guildford town centre is (outside London) the ‘luxury retail centre of the UK’. Guildford is in addition home to the University of Surrey with an outstanding track-record in securing employment for its students and for its research base which includes the development of a 5G Mobile innovation centre. The University also owns Surrey Research Park with 120 plus companies located across a range of leading edge technologies.

Whilst this is a positive analysis, there are some real challenges to the future prosperity of the borough. Congestion, weakness in infrastructure, skills shortages and housing supply have all been identified by businesses as limiters to growth. As many of our large employers are internationally focussed, the fragility of the Global economy with a recent slowdown in the emerging markets can have an impact.

It is also important for the overall health of

20 theChamber

the society in which we live, that all our residents benefit from a strong and vibrant economy so social enterprise schemes and programmes that continue to support the unemployed will continue to be important.

Guildford Borough Council is fully committed to sustained growth going forward and in July published a revised economic strategy to take account of the

current economic conditions, and the changing policy environment. It is also a key driver in influencing the work we are doing with the development of our Local Plan. In addition, the role of our local enterprise partnership Enterprise M3 is also particularly important to us and our strategy closely reflects many of the themes in the LEP’s own document: ‘Strategy for Growth’.

SpotlightOn Guildford named luxury shopping capital Guildford is now the “luxury shopping capital of the UK” according to new research by Experian. Good news indeed.

There are five key pillars in our strategy that we will be focussing on going forward: Leadership: To succeed, Guildford must work in partnership with business, the University, our Business Improvement District in the town centre, key players in the tourism and rural industries (both of which make a significant contribution to GDP) and many others.

Infrastructure: We will meet the challenges of congestion in the town and seek a strategic improvement in the A3 and our gyratory system. The re-development of North Street and the Slyfield Regeneration Project are key initiatives.

Skills: We are committed to delivering the right skills for businesses to grow. Working with our partners including Guildford College, we will seek to increase further the take up of higher-level apprenticeships (in particular) and the provision of outstanding careers advice in schools.

The research (conducted excluding central London) put our town ahead of Kingston upon Thames, Reading and Tunbridge Wells, all of which are also very popular shopping destinations. This is apparently down to our proximity to London and the commuter culture here, that we have nearly 7000 households commanding incomes of over £100,000 and, more importantly we attract a retail spend of £900m.

shopping destination, do we run the risk of putting off the slightly less “well off” customers? We all know that Guildford caters for all budgets, but national stories such as this may give a slightly one sided picture to the rest of the world.

We have a college and a university on our doorstep and the student population is an important element of the town centre economy. I for one wouldn’t want to see them put off from coming here because we are deemed too expensive.

Great! Let’s keep them coming! We have a beautiful town centre with real retail and heritage draws. It is no wonder that prestige brands such as Anthropologie and the top end cashmere retailer Pure Collection have chosen Guildford as the place to open their newest stores. To hear that we draw more of the area’s wellheeled to shop, eat and drink here is indeed heartening.

So although I welcome the news that we are ahead of our neighbours as a spending destination, the team at Experience Guildford will continue to push the town’s attraction to every possible customer.

Young, old, rich or not, there is something for everyone in this lovely town.

A word of caution must be added here though. If Guildford is lauded as a luxury

Experience Guildford http://www.experienceguildford.co.uk

Enterprise: Many SME’s are not sure where to go for business support, so we will work closely with Enterprise M3 as they develop a new Portal for local businesses to access some of the excellent programmes available to support growth and access funding.

Innovation: The borough is already home to a very high proportion of knowledge based R&D rich Webusinesses. We are committed to supporting the University of Surrey’s ‘vision for enterprise’ which capitalises on our outstanding sectoral clusters, building a strong angel investment landscape and ‘agile innovation’ where students are taught both technical and entrepreneurial flair.

Our new strategy was developed by the Economic Development team at Guildford Borough Council and it has been well received. It is an evolving piece of work so we welcome your views. We are here to help you company make the most of what the borough has to offer, so please contact us to see how we can help.

Chris Burchell Local Economy Manager Guildford Borough Council Chris.burchell@guildford.gov.uk View our revised economic strategy at http://www.guildford.gov.uk/economicstr ategy

theChamber 21

SpotlightOn

Guildford Fringe Guildford Fringe Theatre Company, who have recently joined Surrey Chambers hosted the first ever Guildford Fringe Festival in July just past. It was a hugely successful month full of theatre, comedy, bands, cabarets, rehearsed readings and guest speakers. Plans are underway for Guildford Fringe Festival 2014 which will be a multi venue festival for the arts.

As well as running the festival Guildford Fringe Theatre Company also produces theatre throughout the year, their aim is to produce professional theatre in unconventional spaces in and around Guildford. So far they have produced one musical (The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown) and 2 plays, (Me, As a Penguin by Tom Wells and Owls in the Moss by Arvid Larsen) with plans to have a programme of four shows in 2014.

For now though the focus is on Guildford’s only professional adult pantomime! Cinders the adult panto is running from 12th December until 21st December and tickets are available now from www.ticketsource.co.uk/GuildfordFringe For group bookings please email boxoffice@GuildfordFringe.com as we will offer discounts depending on how many are in the group. It will be a perfect night out for a work do, please do get in touch.

Please visit our website for more details about us at www.GuildfordFringe.com.

At Guildford Fringe we also supply entertainment for weddings and corporate parties so please do keep us in mind and get in touch if you have any enquiries.

Nick Wyschna Managing Director

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BusinessNews

GettingStarted

Changing Workplaces Getting Started From finding property to completion: moving but with no tears.

“I wish I knew you offered that service. It would have been so helpful for our move”.

Businesses often say they underestimated the significant time and the numerous tasks involved with a move of premises and wished they’d had help.

Growing or downsizing, dealing with a workplace relocation, refurbishment or change, when trying to manage your usual work and main business, can put already busy managers and staff under considerable pressure or at risk.

Mark Potter, Director of Workplace Moves, says: “we can manage all elements of an organisation’s move project from start to finish, from finding premises, through acquisition to move-in and post-move support. We’ll get you moved

on time, within budget and with minimal/no business interruption. And you still have total control. All types and size of organization, typically 20-200 employees, can benefit.”

The service can include, e.g.: • Detailed planning/ budgeting • Property searches • Lease/terms negotiation • Communications and cultural change (for stakeholders, management and employees) • Tendering for/managing design and build work • Resources for IT or other special equipment moves; • Negotiating service contracts A no-charge session is also offered for any business to help them consider all the steps that will be needed.

T: 01483 760800 E: info@workplacemoves.co.uk W: www.workplacemoves.co.uk

Name:

Barnaby Milbourn

Business Name:

Calm Legal

Start-up Date:

08/02/2013

Website:

www.calmlegal.co.uk

Q1. Tell us a bit about your business?

We are a group of fully qualified legally trained field agents. We work for private and corporate clients undertaking a diverse range of work from surveillance and fraud investigations to personal injury and road traffic accidents.

Q2. What motivated you to set up the business?

Whilst looking to start another company I met a friend who worked in the industry and was looking to further his career in investigations. After a few meetings, business plans and a lot of research CALM Legal was born.

Q3. What gives your business the ‘x-factor’?

Unlike competitors all our agents are qualified to work in the profession. We have a range from ex HMRC customs officers to members of the Crown Prosecution Service. To maintain our professionalism all agents must attain a minimum of a Level 4 qualification, this ensures the quality of our work.

Q4. What did you find most challenging when starting up the business?

Juggling my time between the day to day running of the business to get a constant source of income coming in and marketing the business to increase the amount of business for the future and expand.

Q5. What has been your greatest business success to date?

Recently signing up with a large legal provider in the industry as a preferred supplier, as it will significantly increase the workload and profitability of the company. It was a hard battle as we were considered too small to apply but my persistence and quality of work won through.

Q6. What has been your lowest moment?

The first 3 months of endless meetings, applications and promotions for the company to get our name known seemed as though it was a losing battle, but eventually the tide turned!

Q7. In terms of business achievements, where do you want to be within the next 5 years?

My business plan was staged to allow the company to grow and change as it reached certain targets. I am currently through the first 3 stages and aiming to go nationwide by the end of this year.

Within 5 years time I intend to have several regional offices and expand the business into a more diverse range of services.

Q8. What would your top tip to someone thinking of starting up their own business?

Don’t get bogged down in the detail of what you plan to market and how. Build flexibility into your business plans and make sure you do lots of customer research to find out what your market is, not what you think it should be. The key to a successful business is the ability to adapt and change to its circumstances.

24 theChamber

BusinessNews Surrey Chambers welcome new member BaxterStorey BaxterStorey is the UK’s leading independent food service specialist.

Our heritage is built on the culinary expertise and the professional training and development of our people.

We employ more than 7,000 people at over 700 locations, and provide food service excellence to our clients and customers in business and industry.

BaxterStorey’s core principle is to serve the best quality food, sourced and prepared locally using the finest

Midgley Snelling LLP urges non-doms to ensure tax affairs are in order Weybridge-based chartered accountancy firm Midgley Snelling LLP is advising non-UK domiciled individuals to ensure that their tax affairs are up to date as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launches a new campaign targeting remittances.

HMRC has written to tens of thousands of ‘non-doms’ – individuals who are resident in the UK but treat another country as their permanent home – reminding them that tax may be due on remittances for 2011-12. A remittance refers to money or assets brought into the UK, either directly or indirectly.

The campaign is targeting non-doms who chose to pay tax on the remittance basis for 2011-12, meaning income and capital gains generated overseas are not subject to tax in the UK unless remitted to the UK. However, HMRC is concerned that some non-doms may not fully understand what a remittance is, resulting in errors being made when completing tax returns.

Midgley Snelling is now urging any nondoms who are unsure of their tax status, even if they have not received a letter from HMRC, to seek professional advice as soon as possible to ensure that their arrangements are fully compliant.

Tax associate Leo Bentley, who specialises in advising non-doms, said: “Many nondomiciled UK residents may be unwittingly omitting information from their tax returns because they are not aware of the need to report to HMRC. “The rules determining what constitutes a remittance can be very complex and purely

innocent arrangements could be caught, resulting in future interest and penalties if found to be taxable when HMRC makes enquiries in the future.

“Although not everyone receiving a letter will owe any tax, HMRC’s desire is that the letters will prompt some recipients to review their arrangements and come forward if they believe they have made a mistake, resulting in additional UK tax liabilities.

“If you are unsure what is regarded as a remittance, it is vital that you seek advice at the earliest opportunity to ensure your tax affairs are in order. As with any tax matter, it is always advisable to take prompt action, rather than waiting for HMRC to catch up with you at a later date.”

Midgley Snelling is the founding member of MGI, one of the largest alliances of independent audit, tax, accounting and consulting firms in the world, giving it access to the expertise of thousands of professionals across the globe.

For further information, please contact Midgley Snelling LLP on 01932 853393 or email@midsnell.co.uk, or visit www.midsnell.co.uk.

produce. Through our chef and barista academies, we provide focused and dedicated training to front line teams helping them to become the best in their profession and to build a career for life.

Simple ideas with maximum security Surrey Chambers of Commerce members Sheppard Glass appreciate that your business is your livelihood and understand the importance of protecting it.

The reach and talent of BaxterStorey’s business enables us to draw on an extensive pool of expertise within the food service sphere in the UK, providing it with a strong foundation to share and distribute best practice both locally and across the country.

For more information, please visit www.baxterstorey.com

Every now and then you come across a simple and effective idea that you know it deserves to be shouted about. It’s hard we know to get enthused about yet another safety feature. But for once, this little gem is cost effective practical and makes perfect sense.

Penkid provides the benefit of extra security, the restriction of how much a window can be opened prevents burglars from being able to use the window as an access point. The restrictor is ideal for

offices, hotels, schools, factories – the list is endless!

Sheppard Glass have a wealth of experience in everything there is to do with glass, including windows, mirrors, glass shelving, lead lights, stained glass, beveled glass, lead and film design, UPVC, UPV bonding, secondary glazing, double glazing and frame realignment.

For more information contact Tel 01483 821 541 www.sheppardglass.co.uk

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CoverFeature

New report dispels myths surrounding sources of high growth Businesses with rapid growth potential occupy all sectors and locations in England, and can be at any stage of their lifecycle. That’s according to the inaugural GrowthAccelerator annual report which contains insight gathered during our first year supporting 6,000 businesses with high growth potential across England. The new study dispels many myths surrounding the source of high growth and echoes much of what I am seeing ‘on the ground’ amongst Surrey’s businesses today.

I am working with a cross section of rapidly growing companies, from established manufacturers and decades-old family businesses to younger media and marketing firms.

Their strategic challenges vary considerably, but they all have the capacity to achieve rapid growth, irrespective of age or sector. These businesses also span Surrey’s towns and villages, proving that high growth is definitely not the preserve of cities.

Their presence is partly symptomatic of the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that has characterised the county for decades, and partly due to typically ‘Londoncentric’ businesses springing up either as ‘lifestyle relocations’, or to benefit from our proximity to the capital.

One company we are working with develops bespoke ramps allowing wheelchair access to buildings. With a globally relevant product, the management team sees the huge potential offered by multiple international markets, and with GrowthAccelerator support, is putting in place the foundations to drive export growth in the long term.

Another Byfleet-based supplier of hoses has taken the strategic decision to boost business by exploring export opportunities further afield than Europe, specifically in Asia, the US and South America, which we are helping them to do.

Perhaps most interestingly, the GrowthAccelerator report reveals that it is the business leaders themselves that hold the key to unlocking growth potential. I am currently working with a number of management teams and business leaders whose appetite for growth is unmistakable and whose focus on putting in place the strategies to achieve that, unshakable.

The drivers of ‘high growth’ can no longer be assumed. We are seeing businesses boom regardless of age, sector or location, as long as they possess the right attitude, the right ambition and the right focus. By seeking expert advice and coaching, ambitious managers in Surrey can break down barriers to progress, drive their businesses towards rapid growth and continue to generate jobs and economic prosperity in the region.

One of the greatest indicators of this ambition is the increasing appetite for export that we are seeing in Surrey.

Mark Addy, Growth Manager mark.addy@growthaccelerator.com. www.growthaccelerator.com

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Superfast Surrey connecting the county

Superfast Surrey is a project funded by Surrey County Council, BT and The Department for Culture Media and Sport.

This hugely complex engineering project aims to bring access to fast, reliable fibre broadband to 99% of the county’s homes and businesses in the more rural, difficult to reach areas by the end of 2014.

Superfast Surrey’s ‘programme area’ will provide fibre access to an additional 84,000 homes and businesses.

As more and more services are delivered online, having access to fast, reliable broadband is increasingly important to homes and becoming essential for businesses. Whether running a business from an office, or home environment, fibre broadband can bring a host of benefits and opportunities.

It’s not just about being able to surf, upload or download data quickly. Even when several users are on the same connection, it will be possible to upload photos, video files or complex graphics to the internet in seconds. Employees and customers will be able to send and receive large files easily with less time spent waiting for complex web pages to download. Video communication becomes more of a reality allowing people to join from various locations, even internationally. And with an improved website presence customers will see and access services online, speeding up processes and reducing costs.

Small businesses need to remain competitive in today’s challenging economic environment.

Fibre broadband makes cloud computing much more accessible, allowing online applications and data storage to be downloaded on a payas- a -per user basis, reducing hardware and software capital expenditure. Employees will be able to work more easily remotely, improving work life balance and reducing carbon emissions.

To keep up to date with the programme’s progress, visit www.superfastsurrey.org.uk and use the post code checker to find out more about your local area.

CoverFeature

Business Connecting…

It’s not just all about the money All too often it is more about a service or expertise that is required. Have you considered how you can help? Perhaps you think that you can’t offer any help?

Over the past few months I’ve been connecting in Sheerwater & Maybury, Woking to identify projects that could use a little help.

I have been seconded from Marks & Spencer where I have been a project manager for 17 years; I was looking for a new opportunity to learn more about people. I applied to join the programme because I am passionate about the power of community both where I live and where I work. The Business Connectors Programme is a needs-led Programme which aims to galvanise business as a force for good within 200 areas in England.

The programme is supported by £4.8m from the Big Lottery Fund and aims to recruit and support more than 670 UK business connectors over five years.

The premise of the Programme is simple.

Private sector organisations second their talented staff for 9 to 18 months to act as Business Connectors. The role is to connect businesses with community voluntary sector organisations.

The areas of focus for Business Connectors are Employment, Education, Enterprise and Social Cohesion. The aim is for connections to represent the start of a sustainable longer term relationship between the business and the community or voluntary sector organisations.

Perhaps you’d like to look at joining the Business Connectors Programme? With companies such as Marks & Spencer, Capgemini, Fujitsu, Lloyds, Greggs, Sainsburys already involved. It not only has a great benefit to the community, but to your business and employees also.

If you want to find out more please drop me an email and I will be happy to meet with you. You’ll be amazed the positive impact a local business working in the communities really helps tackle local challenges. Just by harnessing the expertise and energy of local business people.

Kathryn Tibble-Taylor Kathryn.Tibble-Taylor@bitcconnect.org @KathrynPlanA

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BigInterview

Is confidence back in the commercial property market?

by Steve New of New Ballerino

Construction gives a clear view of an Economy’s health, and the fact that the UK’s construction industry has reached its highest level of activity since June 2010, is a good indication that the economy is heading in the right direction.

This increased confidence, along with a number of large companies relocating in the Surrey area and taking up a significant amount of the grade A space has created a rise in the number of speculative office schemes and comprehensive office refurbishments. Hopefully the following article will answer some questions you may have about the current state of the commercial property market and provide evidence of the improved confidence in the office sector in Surrey and a positive outlook for the future.

Property and occupational requirements have been decisions most businesses have deferred over the past few years, uncertain of what lies ahead. Some occupiers have just renewed leases or let break options elapse.

Whatever you do, just don’t miss the boat.

With supply of good quality property in short supply and demand on the increase are we starting to see change?

Developers certainly think so. The message is clear, the market is improving and speculative development is on the rise, with at least one or two new speculative office schemes underway in most Surrey towns.

But it is not just the large office schemes which are seeing real growth. This is the case across both industrial and offices whatever the size.

At New Ballerino, we are experiencing first hand an increase in enquiries across the board on all our schemes. Specifically in Woking Town Centre, One Christchurch Way, a fully refurbished 26,000 sq. ft. grade A headquarter office was completed earlier this year. With a distinct brise soleil façade the building offers from 5,400 sq. ft. upwards.

In Chertsey, there are two major new office schemes available, Eastworth House providing 7,900 - 32,000 sq. ft. and Abbey Groves, a self-contained building of 18,600 sq. ft. In both instances, developers have carried out comprehensive refurbishments, retaining car parking and improving significantly the energy efficiencies of the properties.

Another factor which will see a reduction in some of the older style offices is the Governments recent ‘Permitted Development’ policy, which will allow landlords and owners, for a limited period of 3 years, the change of use from class B1(a) offices to class C3 residential without the need for planning permission.

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Eastworth House, Chertsey

In summary, if you are thinking of the next step forward for your business and it includes a new property, our advice is to act now before it is too late!

Is now the right time to consider a property move?

Steve New, managing director at New Ballerino addresses a number of the more frequently asked questions When is the right time to commence a search for new space?

As you would expect, the time frame does depend on the circumstance surrounding the move itself. For example, if it is a case of expanding the business and the existing lease or license is short term, then a move can normally be facilitated within 6 months subject to finding the right property. If the move is being triggered by a lease end or break, an occupier should be preparing a move between 12 – 18 months prior to the date the company requires occupation.

Do we really need to start looking for property 12 -1 8 months before we need it?

The short answer is yes; in our experience identifying the right property is just one of the many hurdles you will encounter. The property market provides a false economy for occupiers. Occupiers see town centres and industrial estates full of agents letting and sale boards, but as an occupier starts to refine their search the number of options starts reducing.

BigInterview

When we have found the right property, what is the next step?

Subject to whether you have appointed an agent to act on your behalf or whether you intend to represent yourself, the next step is negotiating acceptable terms for both you the tenant or purchaser, and the landlord or freeholder. Specifically for leasehold property, rent free periods are still common place in this market, however the length is dependent on a number of factors such as the lease length you will commit to, covenant of the tenant, timescales and the headline rent being paid. It is also affected by the scarcity of the accommodation.

I’ve found the right property and agreed acceptable terms. What’s next?

As part of the negotiations, make sure you get a second opinion with respect to the condition of the property, whether that means you have a friendly builder or employ a qualified building surveyor. Remember, if you are taking on a full repairing liability the property becomes your responsibility. In many cases, Landlords will consider attaching a schedule of condition to the lease or indeed rectifying the defects before your occupation.

Once you are satisfied the property is in good order and the terms are acceptable, solicitors will negotiate the lease. Ideally, appoint a solicitor with commercial conveyancing experience, as they will be used to negotiating leases inside and outside the landlord and tenant act, as well as having experience dealing with alienation and rent review clauses.

Are there any other hidden charges?

There should not be any hidden costs, however make sure you are aware of all the running costs at an earlier stage. Unless you have agreed an ‘inclusive deal’, most rents whether on offices or industrial property will be exclusive of local authority business rates, estate or service charges and running costs of the property itself. Specifically with respect to service charges, these normally relate to multi-let offices and can range in costs depending on the services the Landlord is providing.

What else should we be aware of?

1 Alterations to the property – if you are intending installing a mezzanine floor or partitioning up an office, you will require a license for alteration from the Landlord. This needs to be documented whilst negotiating the lease otherwise you will incur additional legal costs from the landlord.

Abbey Groves, Chertsey

One Christchurch Way, Woking

2 Connectivity – as we rely so heavily on the connectivity in our buildings, carry out an early review of the infrastructure.

3 Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): this is how efficient the property is, the criteria is between an A - G, and the closer to A the more efficient the property is.

The information is provided by New Ballerino and Co, and is based on our opinions of the property market. For further information or if you wish to discuss a property acquisition or disposal please contact Steve New. New Ballerino offers a full range of property services:• PROPERTY ACQUISITION • DISPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS • INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ADVICE • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • BUILDING SURVEY • RATING • RENT REVIEW NEGOTIATIONS

Tel: 01932 568844 www.newballerino.co.uk

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TechnologyShowcase Welcome to our first Technology Showcase, and what a showcase it is The UK and the south east has a wealth of amazing technology companies; large and small. All key to our economy; all with stories to tell. But how often do we celebrate their achievements or take time to ponder their impact on our everyday lives?

The water we drink, the cars we drive, our favourite gadget.

Well, Surrey Chambers and I decided it was time to start celebrating and the Technology Showcase was born. The aim is to bring you insights into and perspectives on a range of technology talent; from manufacturing to IT to engineering and beyond.

And who is helping us launch our first Showcase? Four great companies that shared stories ‘ignite-style’ at my first TechNite event in Surrey; electric-drag bike world records, titanium composites in space, making sense of big data and electromagnetic compatibility management of the 2012 Olympic Park. Brilliant!

Happy reading Elaine PS ‘TechNite 2’ is on 17 October 2013. To contact me about TechNite or our Technology Showcase please email elaine@ehenterprises.com Elaine Hickmott is a Business Alchemist. Her strategic business development services help technology companies increase profit and generate value-added opportunities. www.eh-enterprises.com

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TISCIS - From Space To Deep Sea TISICS Ltd is an innovative materials company. Formed in 2005 from a management buy-out of QinetiQ’s fibre reinforced titanium composite group, they develop and manufacture high performance silicon carbide fibre which when combined with titanium using their proprietary processes creates high-strength composites. temperature applications. In addition it is less than half the weight of steel and does not need the environmentally damaging or toxic coatings often used for steel protection.

Weight reduction is especially important for aircraft and TISICS is working on systems for engines, landing gear and wings to help aircraft meet future emissions limits. Lower weight and corrosion resistance are also important for deep water oil production due to the increasing use of remotely operated vehicles to install equipment and systems that need to be on the sea-bed for many years with faultless performance.

Titanium is considered exotic, but is their metal of choice. Its low density and corrosion resistance make it ideal for demanding applications from deep water oil production to aircraft and space systems.

TISICS fibre reinforced titanium matches and often exceeds the strength of steel; the general engineering material of choice for high-strength and high

Stephen Kyle-Henney, Managing Director (pictured with a TISICS component) says, “we are all dependent on space for data, navigation, communications and earth observation like weather forecasting. Lighter satellites and launchers will make access cheaper and easier and TISICS is developing parts to ensure the UK has a technical advantage to support our world class space industry.”

Currently the only European supplier of silicon carbide fibre and titanium composite technology, TISICS is working to raise government and private investment to ensure they industrialise the technology first, for the benefit of the UK’s high value manufacturing industries.

For more information on TISICS please email Stephen at skylehenney@tisics.co.uk.

Thoughtified Simplifying Big Data Thoughtified Ltd applies simple solutions to complex big data problems in a variety of sectors. It specialises in Web and mobile platforms, with a passion for dashboards and easy-to-understand analytics.

A University of Surrey spin-out and SETsquared member, Thoughtified was set up in 2009 by Georgios Michalakidis and Aaron Mason (pictured). While pursuing their PhD’s, they decided to apply their software skills to answer a simple business customer question: “How do I make sense of my data in a cost-efficient manner”.

Initially self-funded, the business successfully won matched-funding from the Technology Strategy Board for projects in healthcare, conservation, facilities management and business analytics. They developed prototypes using Ruby on Rails, an agile Web development framework with a vibrant community, which gained market traction after its second major release in 2007 (and Twitter’s use of the framework for most of their services around the same period).

Little did the founders know that, by building a platform that would collect vast amounts of data from sensors, process these data and generate visualisations (all in secure, scalable Cloud environments), they were contributing to the then less popular Internet of Things (IoT).

Georgios explains, “the term IoT was invented by Kevin Ashton, a British technology pioneer and co-founder of the MIT centre that created RFID and other global sensor systems. It is used to describe a system where the Internet is connected to the physical world via ubiquitous sensors. Apparently more than 30 billion devices will be wirelessly connected to the Internet of Things by 2020 and we know that our technology will play a major role in storing, making sense of, and presenting the wealth of data being generated in today’s interconnected world”.

For more details on Thoughtified and their solutions please visit www.thoughtified.com or email Georgios at georgios@thoughtified.com.

TechnologyShowcase

Record Breaking Weald Technology Weald Technology Ltd is an engineering and manufacturing consultancy focusing on sustainable and low-carbon transport. It was set up by Phil Edwards in 2010, initially researching zero-emission motorsport. Phil explained the logic behind this... “Motorsport demands high quality and ultra-efficient solutions. The projects we do push the boundaries of green transport for everyone, leading to vastly improved road vehicles.”

This time he has a far more ambitious target. The quickest American electric drag-bikes are covering the quarter-mile, from a standing start, in less than 7 seconds at 200mph, and that’s where the latest challenge is aimed. This requires a motorcycle with 1,000hp of clean energy, accelerating to 60mph in under a second; all from electric power.

With a bespoke motor and controller design, and incorporating some very smart ‘green’ technology, it’s starting to take shape.

Projects like this aren’t cheap though, and Phil has spent much of his time over the last few months raising the funds.

They hit the ground running when their first design (pictured) set the UK record for electric motorcycle drag-racing in May 2011.

Records are there to be broken though and their main adversary, Kingston University, beat them at the Brighton Speed Trials in September that year… Phil naturally had to do respond.

The team are STEM ambassadors (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), regularly visiting schools to talk about what it takes to design and build such immense machines.

Phil told us his motivation… “As a lifelong designer and engineer I am passionate about the value that scientists and engineers bring to the UK, and I’m proud to help inspire the next generation when they consider their career choices.”

For more details on Weald Technology and the world record please visit www.weald-tech.co.uk, the project website, www.ev1000.co.uk, or email Phil at phil@weald-tech.co.uk.

ERA Technology Engineering The Olympics Since its foundation almost 93 years ago, ERA Technology Ltd has continuously evolved and adapted to meet the changing technical and commercial needs of its clients.

From its main office in Leatherhead, and UK and overseas satellite offices, ERA provides asset safety, reliability and availability consultancy services; touching many aspects of our daily lives; from the electricity, gas and oil we use to power our homes and cars; the transport we use for business and pleasure; the medical facilities and equipment that preserve life; to the media systems we switch on and watch at the end of a hard day.

In 2010, ERA was chosen to provide EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) management services for the Olympic Park in Stratford (pictured). With experience on other prestigious projects such as Heathrow Terminal 5 and the redevelopment of King’s Cross Station, ERA was well placed to provide a tailored EMC assessment of the Olympic Park environment. After assessing the EMC threat from the ‘brownfield’ site, ERA worked closely with the Olympic Delivery Authority and the numerous contractors constructing the facilities in Stratford to minimise the risks from electromagnetic interference. The site was highly complex in nature; with 10 separate rail lines, a power station, electrical substation, 100 km of high voltage cabling and some 200 km of buried mains distribution cabling. Add to this a vast and complex array of communications, security and safety critical systems and a state-ofthe-art media centre servicing 20,000 broadcasters and journalists.

Simon Brown, Technical Director at ERA, said “London 2012 was an immense success for Team GB and the country alike. ERA is immensely proud to have played a small, yet significant, role in this amazing spectacle.”

For information on ERA Technology and their services please visit www.era.co.uk or email info@era.co.uk.

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InternationalFinance

Proud sponsors of the Reigate squash teams

Global Transaction Services (GTS) is specialized in money transmission and foreign exchange services for international businesses and those that provide services to them. The management team of GTS has unique experience in the provision of software, web-based technology, and the definition of processes for financial service providers throughout the world.

• Increasing security by ensuring that you know as soon as possible when payments are made or funds are available • Increasing security, efficiency and reducing costs by allowing, in certain circumstances, the creation of IBAN’s (International Bank Account Number) for receipt of international payments • Making it rapid, easy and cost effective to transfer funds around the world in a range of currencies

Allocation of funds

Daniel Barrs, CEO GTS itself is the culmination of those experiences: bringing innovation to one of the largest economies in the world where making international payments and crosscurrency transactions is still fraught with difficulties.

Using your GTS account, you can create subaccounts, allowing you to give your customers all separate IBAN’s. This means that when your customers pay you, the funds will automatically be segregated in your account; saving you time and giving

you full traceability.

Reduced charges on international transfers Thanks to our international banking network and liquidity, we are able provide international transfers at a lower cost than banks, but also avoid intermediary bank charges when sending funds across the Atlantic.

GTS can help corporations worldwide, of all sizes, cultures and product specialisation to limit the risks inherent in international activity on which the world’s economy increasingly depends.

Foreign exchange-cost and risk

Our unique approach will simplify your corporation’s business decision processes and improve profitability by: • Removing or reducing the cost of currency exchange • Removing or reducing your risk of loss on exchange

James Mallaburn, Compliance Officer

Danny Barrs, Founder

We offer 24 hours, 7 days a week foreign exchange services, with immediate delivery. This allows you to get live quotes, and process live FX deals online, at better rates than banks. We provide accounts in over 20 different currencies, and encourage clients to keep their funds in their original currency to avoid excessive transaction costs.

www.globaltransactionservices.co.uk Email: info@globaltransactionservices.co.uk Phone: +44 (0)1293 782 988 Address: 9 Massetts Road, Hereford House, Horley, Surrey RH6 7PR United Kingdom

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Company number: 7867696 MLR Registration number: 12672689 FCA Registration number: 577159

PatronsView

Twitter - Trolls and Businesses Many businesses are either already using or considering using twitter as a marketing tool. For the “one man band” the decisions made about what to say, to whom and how to say it is entirely in the business owners control. But for larger businesses responsibility for tweeting is delegated to senior employees and they may in turn delegate the task to more junior employees.

The problem with tweets is once they are out there you have no control over where they go. A whole new vocabulary has developed from the relatively innocuous “re-tweet” through to the decidedly unpleasant “troll”.

electronic communications network” covers internet communications generally.

All this is somewhat similar to the problem employers had with email when it first became a common business tool.

Employees sent inadvisable emails to small groups of people and then seemed surprised when their supposedly “private joke” went uncomfortably public. This often had a “blow back” adverse effect on the business.

Businesses should be fully aware that they can be held “vicariously liable” for the actions of their employees when acting in the course of their employment. That concept has been around for years – think of the employee in the warehouse who injures someone whilst driving the fork lift.

There is a defence that can be argued if you can demonstrate the employee was “on a frolic of his own”. A rather quaint phrase for showing that what the employee was doing had nothing to do with his legitimate duties.

Under the Communications Act 2003 it is an offence to send by means of a “public electronic communications network” a message that is grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or of a menacing character, It is also an offence to use such a network to send a message that the sender knows is false and is for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety. The term “public

Business should not forget this when considering their use of Twitter as a business medium. An employee who is authorised to use the business twitter account for marketing purposes but takes it into his/her head to be aggressive or abusive is a danger not just to your reputation but also to your pocket. Losing a good customer is bad enough but it will be adding insult to injury if you are also sued.

Make sure you have updated your policies in your Staff handbook to include clear guidelines as to what is expected of employees authorised to tweet on behalf of the business. Equally important is making sure your employees know that policy exists.

You should consider whether you want to clearly categorise aggressive, abusive or misleading tweets as gross misconduct.

The law is struggling to catch up with new media trends and the relative anonymity of the internet. The recent well publicised Twitter attacks on MP’s and other social campaigners has raised the profile of the problem and we can expect the Government to take a pro-active approach to tackling this. You should take the same pro-active approach only you can deal with it a lot faster.

If you would like further advice on this subject, or any other Dispute Resolution matter please contact Herrington & Carmichael LLP’s Dispute Resolution team on 01276 686222 or drteam@herrington-carmichael.com

theChamber 33

PatronsView

Here be Dragons!

As he and I attended the same school, I like to keep tabs on what young Evan Davis from Form 1C is up to from time to time, which is how I came to be watching Dragons’ Den one day.

One of the two new Dragons is Kelly Hoppen, a renowned British interior designer, and it was her reaction to a pitch from a company that sells “gourmet” wraps, that caught my attention.

The two company owners have spotted a current food trend and their aim is to offer food from around the world, all conveniently packaged in some sort of wrap. They clearly knew their numbers and were working hard to build their business and the wraps they’d brought for the Dragons to sample were excellent. The two men were smartly dressed and they presented their case well, but Kelly delivered a broadside when she questioned them on their lackluster branding.

The product was presented as premium quality, but as Kelly pointed out, think of Mexican or Thai food and it has colour and beauty, whereas the menu on display looked as if it belonged in a roadside fast food café.

It transpired that in the three years the entrepreneurs had been developing their business, they had spent “not a penny” on branding or marketing and for that reason, Kelly wouldn’t consider investing in their business: there was no visual impact, no style, no flair – it just didn’t wow her.

So the moral of this tale is that branding and marketing should always be considered a fundamental part of your business, not simply a glossy finish to be

applied as an afterthought. Who knows how it might have turned out in the Den for the owners of Wrap It Up! if they’d understood that from the start.

Marian de Kretser Partner Foster de Kretser Design Consultants marian@fdk.co.uk 01483 243565 For your FREE copy of our e-book “Good Design is Good Business”, visit http://www.fdk.co.uk/blog-posts/gooddesign-is-good-business/

Join a Party Night The party will be in full swing throughout December so come along and join in the fun. The food will be fabulous, the wine will be flowing and the music will be playing, making our Join a Party Nights the perfect way to welcome in the festive season and experience Foxhills at its festive best.

Available:16th - 20th December £55.00 per person Tickets include: an arrival drink, 3 course set menu, half a bottle of wine per person, coffee & mince pies, crackers & novelties and a disco until Midnight.

Festive Lunches & Dinners For a unique and highly memorable way to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to special clients, colleagues, family or friends, why not treat yourself and join us for lunch or dinner. Choose from our awardwinning Manor Restaurant, The Summerhouse Restaurant, Bar Nineteen or The Clubhouse. For an extra treat, ask us about our stunning private dining rooms located in our 19th century Manor House or for larger events our self-contained Clubhouse.

Lunches from £34.95 per person Dinners from £39.95 per person

Private Lunches & Dinners For an extra treat, ask us about our stunning private dining rooms located in our 19th century Manor House or for larger events our self-contained Clubhouse.

To make an enquiry call 01932 704451 or email Christmas@foxhills.co.uk

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PatronsView Anthony Lalsing ACA CTA is a corporate tax manger at Menzies Chartered Accountants in Woking.

Research and Development – Not just for geeks!

Economic growth in the UK accelerated in the second quarter with all core industries showing expansion for the first time in three years signalling Britain’s recovery is gathering pace, but how is R&D linked to this economic growth?

01483 755000 Well let us ask this question: What do a software company, a shipbuilder, a construction company and a manufacturer of kitchen knives all have in common?

Answer: they have all made successful claims for R&D tax credits in the past.

R&D is not all laboratories, lab-coats and lasers. Far from it. Innovation is thriving across all UK business sectors, and the government is rewarding companies that invest in solving technological problems, advancing knowledge and improving processes.

Too many businesses are still unaware of the tax relief that they are legitimately

entitled to under the generous R&D tax relief scheme, believing that R&D is primarily for high-tech companies with laboratories; whereas the reality is that many SME businesses are making successful R&D claims across a wide variety of sectors.

We helped local companies make claims for £18 million of qualifying R&D expenditure and save over £2.5 million in corporation tax for accounting periods ending in the 2012 financial year. We also helped loss-making companies recover £1.1 million in tax credits.

The UK has a strong history of scientific

and technological innovation and the government recognises the important contribution that innovation and the exploitation of associated resources can make to economic growth. As a consequence, the government is keen to promote these areas and make the UK a globally competitive location for innovation and the development and holding of intellectual property.

For further information and to find out how you can save money by making a R&D tax claim, contact us at www.menzies.co.uk.

Here you can also sign up to one of our free workshops.

Secure your Future with a Professional Qualification at Guildford College If you want to progress in your career, extend your competence at work or secure your future, then a professional qualification could be just what you are looking for.

Professional qualifications are becoming increasingly popular in a wide range of industry sectors, as they not only help to provide employees with industry-specific skills but can also demonstrate a commitment to training and career development. What’s more, in todays super competitive employment arena, professional qualifications can help you to stand out from the competition and give you an edge when applying for that new job or internal promotion.

Research for the CIPD, the professional body for HR practitioners, shows that once you’ve gained a professional qualification it can have a really beneficial impact on your entire career as they can potentially add tens of thousands of pounds to an employee’s lifetime earnings.

With the new term approaching, Guildford College is offering professional courses in

law, management, marketing, accounting, project management, purchasing and HR accredited by the major industry chartered bodies including the Association of Accounting Technicians, the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Available at various levels, the qualifications incorporate knowledge and skills specified by the relevant industry awarding body, combined with practical examples of how to apply this in your career. The courses are part-time, last on average between one and two years and are mainly delivered in the evening to fit around work commitments.

Courses start soon, so if you are interested in applying you should contact the College directly on Tel: 01483 44 85 85 or visit www.guildford.ac.uk

Nicky Betts, CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing “The CIM course allowed me to work full-time and study in the evenings, gaining essential work experience and a qualification at the same time.”

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BusinessNews London racecourses look forward to themed Christmas party nights Sandown Park, Kempton Park and Epsom Downs Racecourses are getting in the festive mood with as they look forward to their popular Christmas party nights, with each racecourse offering a distinct theme to provide a fun and varied choice for Christmas party planners.

Packages include customised corporate and private events, as well as sharer options taking place on selected dates throughout December.

Sandown Park Racecourse is transporting guests back in time with its Victorian themed Christmas packages, re-creating the traditions and magic of Christmas past.

Priced from £50 per person, the package includes a mulled wine reception and a ticket to Sandown Park’s splendid Victorian festive fair before a delicious three course dinner and a night of dancing to a disco and DJ, all taking place in the setting of a 19th Century festive London.

A unique festive favourite, Kempton Park Racecourse is welcoming back its hugely

36 theChamber

enjoyable Reindeer Racing Christmas party nights, starting from £59 per person.

Rudolph and friends won’t be the only fourlegged stars in action this year, as there will also be the inaugural Kempton Park Shetland Pony Grand National and a unique opportunity for corporate bookings to get involved in a hilarious turkey costume race (advance entry, subject to availability). Having collected a warming Winter Pimms on arrival, attendees can meet the reindeer and ponies then place their bets and cheering their favourites before enjoying dinner and dancing back indoors.

Visitors to Epsom Downs Racecourse will enjoy an evening of 1920s glamour, elegance and a not-so-silent-night as the

venue is transformed to the glittering party atmosphere of the roaring 20s. From £55 per person, attendees will be treated live jazz at a sparkling wine reception before a sumptuous three course feast and dancing the night away in the luxurious setting of a beautifully decorated suite boasting stunning views over the world-famous racecourse.

Alice Everitt, conference and events marketing executive-London, said: “Christmas is an extremely important time for our business, so we ensure our packages are designed to offer our guests a unique, fun and memorable experience.

With the impressive array of themes on offer this year, Christmas 2013 is set to be an unforgettable experience for all involved.”

BusinessNews

Support the UK’s leading military charity Combat Stress is the UK’s leading military charity specialising in the care of Veterans’ mental health. Founded in 1919, our aim is to ensure that Veterans receive the right mental health care, in the right place, at the right time.

TECHNOLOGY TIP Windows XP & Windows 8 Tony Richards Managing Director, Computer Strategies

Hopefully by now most of you have heard that Microsoft will not be supporting Windows XP after 8 April 2014. Microsoft Office 2003 will not be supported from that date onwards either.

Windows XP is the major area of concern because critical security updates will not be available after this date which means that Windows XP PCs could very soon become targets for security breaches thus leaving companies vulnerable. For this reason we are recommending that all our clients upgrade their XP machines before this date. We rarely recommend upgrading Windows software so we are recommending the replacement of all Windows XP computers.

The question I am being asked is - should we go with Windows 8 or Windows 7?

Windows 8 is a radical change in the user interface. I am pleased to see that in October Microsoft are releasing an upgrade to Windows 8 called version 8.1. This has softened the radical jump to Windows 8.

We treat conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders. Our services are free of charge to Veterans. To help Veterans rebuild their lives, we provide a range of services: A 24-hour Helpline (tel: 0800 138 1619) for Serving personnel and Veterans, and their families.

Community Outreach – delivered by a UK-wide network of regional teams providing practical and clinical support.

Short-stay clinical treatment – often with other Veterans – at one of our specialist Treatment Centres, in Ayrshire, Shropshire and Surrey.

At the moment, Combat Stress is

working with over 5,200 Veterans – more than at any time in our long history. This includes 396 Veterans who have served in Afghanistan and 724 who served in Iraq. Demand for our services is rising: 1,700 Veterans contacted us for help in the financial year 2012-2013.

If your business or the business you work for would like to adopt Combat Stress as your Charity partner no matter how large or small your organisation is you can help our exService men and women today.

Please do so by contacting, Katie Skilton, Corporate Fundraising Officer on 01372 587158/ Katie.Skilton@combatstress.org.uk who will be delighted to hear from you.

Not all software will work on Windows 8, so in those cases when you do not want to upgrade that software, Windows 7 is the best bet. Otherwise I recommend moving to Windows 8. Firstly it is the future and furthermore at Computer Strategies we have found that Windows 8 is very reliable.

Whilst running Microsoft Office 2003 does not have the security vulnerability issues of Windows XP, it is now 10 years old and may cause compatibility issues with other software so we recommend upgrading that at the same time as Windows XP. Furthermore the software is often tied to the machine and therefore cannot be used on another machine.

Whilst this might all seem bad news and more expense I can assure you that the new machines will run really well and productivity gains will be had. The cost of the machine will be proportionally lower than the machine it is replacing. Lastly if the screen on the PC has not been replaced during its life I strongly recommend getting a new screen.

The bigger the better. It just makes the working experience so much better and is better for everyone’s eyes.

If you would like any help with the suggestions above please contact us.

Tel: 01483 238260. Or visit www.computerstrategies.co.uk

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BusinessNews have no holiday, sick or redundancy pay benefit or income guaranteed.

Zero Hours

Recent press coverage has now revealed the extent of the numbers of staff engaged under zero-hours contracts, not only Sports Direct but at other big names including Abercrombie & Fitch, Amazon, Boots, Cineworld, McDonalds, the Tate Galleries and even Buckingham Palace.

An employment tribunal claim has been brought on behalf of Ms Gabriel-Abraham, against her employer SportsDirect.com over its use of zero-hours contracts. Ms Gabriel-Abraham claims that zero hours contracts discriminate against part time workers.

While meeting the terms of the Employment Rights Act 1996 by providing a written statement of the terms and conditions of employment, a zero hours contract contains provisions which create an “on call” arrangement between the employer and the employee.

The employee agrees to be available for work as and when required, so that no particular number of hours or times of work are specified. The employee is expected to be on call and receives payment only for those hours worked.

The contract does not oblige the employer to provide work for the employee or guarantee to provide them with any work at

Whilst these arrangements may be ideal for some people such as students or retirees who want occasional earnings, seasonal work or are able to be flexible about when they work, others have the risk of unpredictable hours and earnings with have no guaranteed shifts or income.

The potential abuse by management as a tool to reward or reprimand employees for any reason or no real reason raises issues about how workers rights can be protected.

This has led to a government review of the breadth and impact of zero-hours contracts with politicians calling for chains to offer at least minimum guaranteed hours. Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has suggested that zero-hours contracts may be subject to legislation but ruled out a complete ban and considered looking at changing the rules for workers allowed only to work for a single employer. He will decide in September whether to hold a formal consultation on specific proposals to ensure that zerohours contracts are used correctly.

The use of zero hours contracts has increased considerably since the recession of 2008 particularly in low-paid sectors creating insecurity to the worker who will

Helena Woodward-Vukcevic, specialises in general commercial litigation and employment law at law firm Hart Brown, http://www.hartbrown.co.uk

all. This provides flexibility to employers whereby they do not necessarily have to pay their staff during quiet periods whilst keeping them available on short notice for when they are needed.

Business Gone Wild!

2013 has been another exciting year at the Resort with the launch of ‘ZUFARI: Ride into Africa!’ an off-road safari truck adventure where guests can get up close to live safari animals including white rhino, giraffe and grevy’s zebra. This is a great experience for corporate guests that have used the ride during their conference or GPS treasure hunt teambuilding activity.

ZUFARI can be seen from the hotel beyond the Wanyama reserve creating stunning views for those enjoying lunch or dinner in the restaurant or a drinks reception on the terrace. Now the giraffes have settled into their new home at Chessington, giraffe feeds are available for those looking for a once in a life time photo opportunity and a great story to take back to the office. The giraffes aren’t the only animals to appear in corporate events - meerkats, binturongs and snakes have entertained guests in both the conference centre and Explorers’ Outpost, the venue based in the theme park.

Chessington World of Adventures Resort has already welcomed thousands of corporate guests this year to experience Business Gone Wild, which launched in 2012. This includes all corporate packages and services ranging from conferences and teambuilding to hospitality and rate agreements for bedrooms.

The Events team based at the Resort has been inundated with enquires from local businesses to multinational blue chip companies for exciting events. This ranges from 2 person boardroom meetings in the safari-themed Resort Hotel, up to hiring the entire theme park for 10,000 guests.

With Summer coming to an end, the Events team are already organising bookings for this year’s Mardi Gras inspired Christmas Party nights which include welcome drinks, 3 course dinner with live music and DJ until late.

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All Business Gone Wild enquiries can be sent through to resort.enquiries@chessington.co.uk

BusinessNews

Debt Recovery Court Proceedings The idea of issuing proceedings against your own clients is often unappealing for small and medium sized business owners. Therefore, this month I will focus on the questions I get asked about whether or not issuing proceedings is the most sensible step to take.

Q1 – I have sent out three letters chasing the unpaid invoice and I have tried calling twice. However, my client appears to just be ignoring me but I don’t want to damage my relationship with them going forward as they may stop engaging my services?

The question you need to ask yourself if whether a client who employs you but does not pay for your services is a client you actually want to have? Would you take on more work from them even with your current invoice outstanding? If the answer is no then bringing a claim in the court is unlikely to damage the relationship more than the damage already done by them in not paying your bill.

If you look at it from the other perspective it usually helps. For example, if you are invoiced for a service that your business has had the benefit of and then despite voicemails, emails and letters being sent you still fail to pay or even speak to the person who you owe money to, would you then be surprised if a court claim is issued against you? Indeed issuing proceedings can prompt communication and once they have paid your bill it is not uncommon for parties to continue to trade albeit on amended credit arrangements.

Q2 – My customer has been in touch and told me they are struggling financially. They are going to be at least 3 weeks late making payment. I have always had a good relationship with them but I do need to be paid. What should I do?

The fact that your customer is still communicating with you is hopefully a good thing. However, the fact they are admitting that they are having problems paying their bills is of concern and you want to make sure you are the first to be paid if possible. Issuing court proceedings where you know they are unable to pay may not be the most conducive to resolving the matter.

I would suggest in these circumstances that you speak to your customer to see if

they can afford to pay part of your outstanding bill now on the basis that you agree to not take any action on the balance until at least a certain date in the future. By getting a part payment now you at least have ensure you get something if they are unable to pay the balance later. If you are really concerned that your customer may be insolvent you may be prepared to offer a deal, such as if they pay 80% of the outstanding debt then you’ll write off the balance. Any such offer should be done on a without prejudice basis.

Q3 – I feel that I have no choice but to issue proceedings but I don’t want to damage my client’s credit rating. Is there anything else I can do?

The actual commencement of court proceedings will not impact on your client’s credit rating. The court claim will only show up once a county court judgment has been entered. Therefore, proceedings can be used as a means of negotiating as if you issue and the client does not defend the claim, then there is no automatic procedure for judgment to be entered. The court will only enter judgment when you ask them to do so. Therefore, issuing a claim makes the debt a priority for your client but you can then speak to them and confirm that if they now pay the debt no judgment will be entered against them.

Furthermore, even if a county court judgment is entered, providing the debtor pays within a month of the judgment being entered they are entitled to apply to the court to have the judgment cancelled. This means that it would not show up on any credit check against them. Therefore, even entering judgment may not have a detrimental impact on their ability to get credit.

If you have any questions you wish to pose or want further information on Herrington & Carmichael’s debt recovery service which starts from just £20 plus VAT, please contact Jill Lipscombe on 01276 686222 or drteam@herrington-carmichael.com.

Q: I’m writing a business plan for my start up, what should I include?

Start by thinking about who is going to be looking at the plan and what they will want to know and keep this in mind when writing it. All business plans will look a bit different but the general structure should include: • • • • • •

•

• •

•

Intro and contents Executive summary (you write this last!)

The business concept in a nutshell What type of business it is, e.g. sole trader, partnership, limited company State the business objectives, e.g. to deliver bespoke photo frames at affordable prices Summarise the market and your position in it. Include external market research and statistics or commentary supporting your argument to give a potential investor reassurance.

Operational information: outline how the business will work, include details of marketing activity, channels of distribution and key processes – such as on line sales systems.

Organisational information – outline the team and their skills Financials – the essentials are a profit and loss (income and expenses), a balance sheet (list of all your assets and liabilities) and a cash flow showing when cash comes in and when it goes out, which will help identify any periods where extra support or funding is needed. If you need funding: state how much, what it is for, what the projected return is and when this will be achieved. Break-even points are often helpful to establish how much you need to deliver/sell to turn a profit.

List all assumptions used. Investors like sensitivity or scenario planning i.e. if sales are lower than expected by 15 per cent or costs of delivery increase.

Include a risk analysis

Most importantly- be realistic!

Think outside the box, it doesn’t have to be a written report; it may be easier or more relevant to make a video or use PowerPoint.

Business plans can be dry reading, so think how yours can be different to capture interest. Talk to Ward Williams if you need help with this. www.wardwilliams.co.uk

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Free your business ideas with a fee-free loan We have £2.5bn to lend as part of the Funding For Lending Scheme. So why not clear a space in your diary and find out how a fee-free loan can help your business Call 0800 001 4351 (Text Relay 18001 0800 001 4351) Search: RBS Business Lending or speak to a member of staff in branch

Please note that the FLS cannot be applied to overdrafts, or business credit cards.

Usual lending conditions apply. Structured Finance and Real Estate Finance are excluded.

The funding is available due to our participation in the Government’s Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) and is limited to £2.5 billion, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Security may be required for which a fee may apply. Over 18s only.

ANY PROPERTY USED AS SECURITY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE YOUR HOME, MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.

BusinessNews

ResourcefulMe In April 2012 the world was looking rather grim.

I’d just been made redundant for the second time, this time from my role as commercial director for a local newspaper group and it came when I was still coming to terms with the breakdown of my marriage of 21 years; which had happened just over two years previously.

At the age of 53 I found myself living alone again and in a very dark place mentally. But I was very lucky. I had some good friends who helped me.

Very gently they coaxed me to look for some support. In truth I didn’t need much coaxing I was realising all by myself that I needed it.

So I looked at therapy and coaching; I bought book after book and read article after article in magazines and online. I looked at self-development and personal growth programmes like NLP and The Master Key System and they all had one thing in common.

They all said that the answer to my problems lay inside me.

This was not very comforting and certainly not the answer I was looking for; as I read and researched more and more, I finally understood what these books were saying and came to the conclusion that the answer lay inside me. But at the same time another question came up: What actually is it that is inside us?

By Gordon Bromley, Surrey Academy Chairman

As a leader are your people your No 1 priority?

Company’s often claim their most important asset is their workforce but do they really mean it?

Ultimately the key driving factors behind most successful companies (excluding having enough working capital/cash) are:• Great products or services with competitive advantage • Great customers who buy from you (and repeat) at prices that make sense to your business model

After some time I realised that I was accumulating a lot of knowledge in this area. To the point where I could put it down on paper and actually start to answer the question; what is it that’s inside us? And this is how ResourcefulMe was born.

• Great staff to make it all happen through every stage of the business cycle

ResourcefulMe identifies the 29 core personal qualities that equip us to deal with the vagaries and vicissitudes of life; whether in our personal or professional lives.

As a business leader have you ever even consciously thought about the question?

We are living at a time of the most rapid and turbulent innovation that the human race has ever experienced. The explosion of products and services that have come from the Information and Technology revolution has created a huge level of uncertainty and unpredictability, for businesses and individuals. The consequence of this is that more people are living with a greater degree of uncertainty about their future than ever before. This is causing greater levels of stress and people are increasingly becoming disengaged with their jobs and the organisations they work for. This means that we need to call on our personal resourcefulness more than at any other time.

ResourcefulMe helps people to identify their personal qualities and abilities; so that they can access and activate their resourcefulness to help them deal with the change and uncertainty that is with us now and will be with us for many years to come.

ResourcefulMe is published by CallistoGreen and is available on Amazon.

Picture credited to the Woking Advertiser

The People Priority

Dene Stuart dene.stuart@iwanttobe.co.uk

So which is the most important?

If you were forced to list them in order of importance how easy would that decision be for you?

Ultimately does it really matter?

I think it does matter and for 99% of businesses I firmly believe staff are the most important asset and that leadership behaviours should always clearly demonstrate that the company ultimately puts staff and people issues as their No1 priority – even, if push comes to shove, above valued customers.

All three elements are vital but without great people, committed and operating as a team to service your customers you have no future. As a leader your personal No1 priority is to lead people not products, services or customers and convince your people that you put them first.

Fortunately it’s not an all or nothing decision but here are some simple but effective ways of demonstrating to your people that you genuinely put them first.

• Publish dates for staff communication meetings 12 months in advance and don’t ever move them.

• Insist that agendas for all internal meetings, including your board meetings, start with HR and People issues before moving on to financials / customers etc • Insist managers diarise and commit to 1:1 reviews and appraisal dates with direct reports 12 months in advance with postponements monitored.

For more information about joining an Academy for Chief Executives group in Surrey contact Gordon Bromley at gordon.bromley@chiefexecutive.com or call him on 07802 461431.

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ChamberChatter

Social Media Facebook Check out the latest pictures from our events on our Facebook page!

42 theChamber

ChamberChatter

Twitter

LinkedIn

What is going on @SurreyChambers...

Surrey Chambers members join our linkedin Group and connect with other chamber members!

DigBizSurrey

@DigBizSurrey - 28 Aug @SurreyChambers We customised the #digital Surrey Manifesto based on your views find out what you said at - http://ow.ly/nQfWv

Guildford Fringe

@GuildfordFringe - 20 Aug @SurreyChambers very excited to be a member. I missed out on the cocktail evening though!!

Surrey Chambers

@SurreyChambers - 16 Aug Hope everyone enjoyed the Elmbridge Breakfast yesterday, looking forward to seeing everyone again in Redhill next Thursday. #WellConnected

Natalie Davies

@natdavies1973 - 15 Aug @SurreyChambers - my first breakfast meeting with Surrey Chambers - thank you, great networking event #itsnotwhatyouknow

Sally Pritchett

@Something_big - 14 Aug Thanks both you for all your support, success comes from great business community around us :) @ClaireDeeComms @SurreyChambers

Surrey Chambers

@SurreyChambers - 6 Aug Are you involved in selling products online? Then do not miss out on this years Big eCommerce Conference @theBigeCommerce

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ChamberEvents

These are the key events coming up in Surrey Chambers’ calendar Tues 15 October

Fri 18 October

Thur 7 November

Members Networking Evening

Confucius on Leadership with John Adair

Corporate Finance Workshop

MEMBER BENEFIT Come along and network with likeminded business people free of charge, a benefit of your Surrey Chambers of Commerce membership.

Price Members:

FREE

Non Members: £30.00

John Adair, the celebrated expert on leadership training, shows how Confucian philosophy can help you become a better leader today. He demonstrates how, far from merely being interesting ideas from centuries ago, Confucius's sayings, or Analects, will help you to develop the confidence, characteristics and skills you need to be the best leader you can be.

Price Members:

£15.00

Non Members: £30.00 Location:

Holiday Inn Surbiton

Time:

18.00-20.00

Location:

Time:

The Refectory, Guildford Cathedral, Guildford 08.00-09.30hrs

Guest speaker Keith Robson, Director, Enterprise and Growth, University of Surrey Keith is Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of Surrey, spanning both the private and public sectors, raising academic research grants as well as venture capital for commercial opportunities in electronics, bioengineering, medical devices, ICT and nanotechnology.

Price Members:

£22.00

Non Members: £37.00 Location:

The County Club, Guildford

Time:

17.00-19.00hrs

Sponsored by: Penningtons Solicitors

Thurs 17 October

Open 18 Hole Stableford Golf Competition Surrey Chambers Golf Society events are open to all business people to attend, join us with your own team of 3 or 4 players or as a solo player and we will place you in a team.

Coffee & bacon roll on arrival, tee off from 08.45 hrs, two tee start, 18 holes of golf and a four course carvery lunch.

Price Members:

£80.00

Tues 29 October

Wed 20 November

The Future of Gatwick Airport

Business Women in Surrey

Guest speaker: Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, London Gatwick

Join us for a delicious cream tea and indulge yourself in the totally relaxed, yet lively atmosphere of the Pennyhill Park Spa’s Themis restaurant. This ladies afternoon give you the opportunity to meet with like minded people, entertain your clients, share issues and widen your own network of customers, suppliers, neighbours and competitors.

Gatwick has submitted to the Airports Commission a proposal for a second runway – positioned to the south of the current site. Gatwick has provided a robust and compelling case outlining why the next runway should be built and believes it is the most affordable, sustainable and deliverable solution for London and for the UK.

Price

Price

Members:

£22.00

Non Members: £90.00

Members:

Location:

Tandridge Golf Club, Oxted

Non Members: £15

Non Members: £40.00

Location:

08.00 – 17.30

The Mandolay, Guildford

Location:

Time:

Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa

Time:

08.00-09.30hrs

Time:

15.30-17.30hrs

Sponsored by: V3 Print Group

FREE

All prices are exclusive of VAT

44 theChamber

ChamberEvents

Chamber Connections – Breakfasts Get Connected! – These breakfasts provide a relaxed and informal opportunity to meet and discuss local issues with decision makers, share best practice and widen your network of customers and suppliers.

Connect – Belong – Succeed Price Members:

£15.00

Non Members:

£30.00

Special Members Only Offer – 2 places for £25.00

Thurs 10 Oct

Tues 5 November

Chamber Connections –

Chamber Connections – Epsom

Elmbridge

Speaker:

John Coupland

Location:

Epsom Downs Racecourse

Time:

08.00-09.30hrs

Location: Time:

The Hilton Hotel, Cobham 08.00-09.30hrs

Friday 15 November Thurs 17 October

Chamber Connections – Woking Chamber Connections – Redhill

Venue:

Holiday Inn Woking

Location:

Chapters Cafe, Doynings, Redhill

Time:

08.00-09.30hrs

Time:

08.00-09.30hrs

Sponsored by:

ramsac

All prices are exclusive of VAT

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InternationalTrade

International Insight with Chris Blenkiron Surrey Chambers has been instrumental in encouraging more businesses to begin exporting or to target additional countries.

We are delighted that a recent survey of over 4,500 businesses by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that the number of exporting firms continues to increase particularly amongst chamber members.

Here at the Chamber we are pleased with this increase and want to assist in the growth of UK companies who export. One way in which we have been trying to do this is through our DHL offer. Chamber members can receive 50% off shipping if they have not shipped with DHL more than

five times. We also want to raise awareness of the benefits of penetrating certain markets and on the 26th September hosted in partnership with NatWest ‘A Passage to India’ highlighting all the benefits of the Indian market and how companies can gain business there.

As always please contact me if you have any international trade related queries or if you would like to put an article in our international trade newsletter.

Living abroad and international links increase likelihood of exporting A survey of more than 4,500 businesses by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that the number of exporting firms continues to increase. The survey also shows that those who ‘think global’, either because they have previously worked abroad or they collaborate with international partners in business, are far more likely to export than those with little international experience.

Rebalancing the UK economy towards exports is vital for growth, so the British Chambers of Commerce is calling for more efforts from the government to place students and graduates in international business placement schemes, to encourage the employers of tomorrow to build their companies with a global perspective in mind.

Key findings from the survey: • Three of the main factors that encourage businesses to trade internationally among current and potential exporters are: collaboration with overseas partners, such as a joint venture (78%); previous work experience abroad (60%); and being part of an international business group (54%) • 68% of non-exporters who express little ambition to do so have never lived abroad, compared to 57% of current exporters

46 theChamber

• Nearly one-third of current exporters surveyed (28%) have lived abroad for more than a year, compared to 19% of respondents who do not export and are unlikely to do so in the future • Four out of 10 potential exporters cite family ties as an influence on their decision to trade overseas • More than half of potential exporters (53%) see international links between their local communities and overseas communities as influential to their decision to trade abroad The BCC is calling for an international business placement scheme, which could help unemployed graduates undertake research in new markets. In addition, a Business Erasmus-style scheme would enable students to spend time abroad building global connections. As more than half of potential exporters see international links between domestic and overseas communities as crucial to their decision to

export, the BCC welcomes the government’s ambition to develop the network of British Chambers and business groups overseas as a practical platform for exporters to access new markets.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce: “As the world becomes an increasingly open and interconnected market place, it is vital that companies ‘think global’ and develop a mindset that is naturally geared towards exporting and entering new markets. It is fascinating to see that nearly a third of businesspeople who trade overseas have lived or worked abroad for more than a year.

International experience like this builds export skills, so we should look to encourage more people into international placement opportunities, as this would provide global connections to the exporters of tomorrow.

“We must secure Britain’s future as a leading exporter if we are to transform our economic recovery from good to great. To persuade potential and reluctant exporters to become dynamic, international traders, we must foster the global connections that are so valuable to those looking to export.

Chambers of Commerce are in a unique position to build partnerships with business communities through our overseas Chambers, and to raise awareness of the export support available both at home and abroad. These sensible measures will enable firms to grow, take the leap, and help the UK win the ‘economic war’ the Prime Minister has so often spoken about.”

InternationalTrade Three new global advisers set to give Surrey firms a boost

Country Profile:

Brazil

Three new Surrey-based International Trade Advisers (ITAs) have been employed by Government export body UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to help improve the fortunes of local firms.

From a Commercial Officer in Portugal to a Middle East expert, former business owners and heads of important local firms, the ITAs will share over 50 years of export experience.

Lewis Scott, South East Regional Director for UKTI said: “The South East is the strongest exporting region in the country, but we need more firms exporting if we are to reach the targets set by the Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green of 100,000 new exporters by 2020. One of UKTI’s main selling points is its locally based ITAs who are able to offer firms one-to-one advice and support to become exporters. Our new ITAs take the South East region’s total up to 41, and offer an enviable

combination of expert overseas private and public experience to help firms succeed overseas. We are striving to increase the number of exporters across the UK to help secure long term sustainable economic growth, and this is just one of the ways we are hoping to do it.”

The new ITAs have been employed using the funding announced in the Autumn Statement 2012: UKTI were awarded an extra £70 million to their annual budget over two years to recruit more advisers and expand existing services and help for UK companies to export.

To get advice to export contact UKTI South East on 08452 789 600.

Lewis Scott, South East Regional Director for UKTI

Population: 196.6 million Capital City: Brasilia GDP: $2.518 trillion Value of Imports: $187.7 billion Value of Exports: $199.7 billion Main Imports: Machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics Main Exports: Transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos Exports to the UK: £2,800,504,758 Imports from the UK: £2,321,911,871 Strengths of the market: It has one of the world’s most rapidly developing economies and a GDP per head that is greater than either India or China As the fifth-largest country in the world, with a population of about 190 million, its market is huge The UK is one of the largest investors in Brazil and the two countries enjoy a strong and historic trading relationship. In 2010 bilateral trade reached almost £5bn, making Brazil the UK’s most important trading partner in Latin America Brazil has natural resources in abundance, a developed industrial base, high standards in scientific research and substantial human capital Due to economic reform in the 1990s it has the potential to be one of the most dominant economies in the world by 2050 Opportunities: The sectors offering the greatest opportunities for British companies include: Agriculture and agricultural equipment Building and construction Environmental technologies Electrical and nuclear power Air transportation Oil, gas and mining

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ChamberChat

5 minutes with...

WUWO steven@wuwomedia.com 07961994000

Why is Woking a good base for your business?

I realised that there were many creative young people in the area that did not have an out-let for their passions, WUWO Media are setting up a ‘Skills Training Centre’ so we are able to teach skills that can help young- people get into employment. We are looking for support from other businesses in the area to help us achieve this and have had some great success.

Who is your target market?

We have a strong focus on 20-40 year olds, people that want to explore, drink coffee with their friends and who are still able to go out and have fun in the evenings. The internet generation feel at home with our magazines due to its sharp entertaining snippets of information, that are easy to digest and effortless to read.

What differentiates your business from competitors’?

WUWO Woking magazine are here to change the quality of regional magazines, with a sharp design, great content and celeb interviews. We also look at editorial in a very different way, positive, creative and have cross-platform methods to get advertisers in front of wider audiences.

What thing would you wish for Woking between now and 2014?

I am very happy with Woking, I feel that things are moving nicely with all of its development plans. I would just like to meet more business people that are trying to improve the area.

What advice would you give to businesses looking to set up in your local area?

Describe your business to someone who doesn’t know about you.

WUWO Media are a design and entertainment agency that specialise in working with the current fast-paced information culture. We are able to find new routes to new audiences and produce measured results within each project we take on. We understand there is a new generation of consumer who is looking for something different.

Our first project is WUWO Magazine and we produce 30,000 copies monthly that are aimed at 20-40 year olds, we distributed in London, Woking, Watford and soon in St. Albans. We work alongside companies such as the o2, Royal Albert Hall, Paramount, TFL and we are soon to introduce a local sales team to recruit companies in Woking that are reaching out to our audience.

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Café Rouge has the best coffee, network and meet as many people as possible to see if you share common interests. We run an entertainment company and found another Woking company called Dreaming Fish who we have collaborated with - as they do fantastic video work, they now offer to film our celeb interviews, which we post on-line.

How does your business use Social Media and the web to support its business activities?

We run three magazines and have established a great social media plan which we will soon use in Woking for WUWO Woking magazine. We have over 15,000 twitter followers and over 4,000 on facebook for our London magazine and jointly receive between 20-50,000 website hits per month. We have learnt how to engage our readers online by not selling to them and just offering on-point editorial.

Why did you decide to join the chamber?

Really keen to connect with business’s that want to create positive change to the Woking and Surrey areas.

NewMembers Surrey Chambers of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies: Handelsbanken Redhill Barclays Bank plc (Epsom) John Artis Ltd White Lodge Centre ReEnergise Ltd The Hazelhurst Trust DEBRA MTI WEB Design

MemberBenefits

e-shot e-shot have partnered with Surrey Chambers to provide helpful, informative email marketing advice in plain English.

The email marketing accounts start from just £9.99 + VAT per month! This account gives you unlimited mailing to up to 1,000 email addresses and what’s more a free template, free training webinars and ongoing telephone and online support.

Chamber members taking e-shot accounts will be able to benefit from exclusive benefits such as a bespoke template, a one-to-one online training session and a custom domain for £50 saving £250.

CTS International Disposables Direct Ltd The Meath Epilepsy Trust Handelsbanken Epsom SAV United Kingdom Ltd BaxterStorey Ltd IGF Invoice Finance Ltd KRL (Kingscote Rojay Ltd) Collectively Camberley Ltd Pro-actions (Surrey) Ltd Finlay Associates Thunderbolt

AXA PPP As part of your existing Chamber membership you have access to two services from AXA PPP healthcare at no additional cost.

Personal Business Assistance If poor health ever keeps you away from work, anxiety about how everyone else is coping is the last thing you need. The Personal Business Assistance service from AXA PPP healthcare will ease some of your worries while you get on with recovering. The service includes responding to phone queries, sending and forwarding emails, writing letters and sending faxes.

Sutton Winson Ltd Business Connectors Programme Pure Perceptions Ltd Brooklands Radio S and B Enterprise Acuity Training RGC Jenkins & Co Surrey Hills Enterprises Guildford Fringe Theatre Company

Health at Hand Few things matter more than the health of you and your family, so when you’ve got a nagging health worry it can be hard to focus on your work. But how do you know what information to trust, or when it’s time to make a trip to the doctors? AXA PPP healthcare’s telephone based health information service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

This service is staffed by nurses, midwives, pharmacists and counsellors, offering peace of mind for employees and their families.

For more information please contact Surrey Chambers of Commerce on 01483 735540.

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Movers&Shakers Tony Eden, Area Director Surrey & Sussex, RBS Business & Commercial Banking RBS is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, a large international banking and financial services company that provides a wide range of products and services to personal, business, commercial and large corporate and institutional customers.

At RBS our team of dedicated relationship managers work across Surrey & Sussex, supporting local businesses. The team are committed to working with customers to understand, and help them achieve, their business goals. This level of support is also complemented by specialist sector teams who can add value for customers operating in many niche fields.

For more information on how we can support your business contact Tony on 07780595857.

Joanna Margus, Relationship Director, Surrey, RBS Commercial Banking RBS is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, a large international banking and financial services company that provides a wide range of products and services to personal, business, commercial and large corporate and institutional customers.

At RBS our team of dedicated relationship managers work across Surrey, supporting local businesses.

The team are committed to working with customers to understand, and help them achieve, their business goals. This level of support is also complemented by specialist sector teams who can add value for customers operating in many niche fields.

For more information on how we can support your business contact Joanna on 07909687135.

Whiteoaks Strengthens Senior Leadership Team

by Promoting Hayley Goff to the Board Farnham, Surrey, 1st August, 2013 – In a move that significantly strengthens its senior management team, Whiteoaks, a UK-based technology PR consultancy, has announced the promotion of Hayley Goff to its board of directors. In her new role, Goff will primarily focus on client services, drawing on her extensive experience at Whiteoaks, coordinating large scale pan-European programmes for a range of leading hi-tech companies.

Goff joined Whiteoaks in 2004 as project manager. Since then has held several senior posts within the company before becoming a senior account director in 2010. Most recently, she was associate director, a role which included responsibility for two Whiteoaks account teams, overseeing campaigns and offering strategic advice to a wide range of international technology clients.

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