Surrey Chamber of Commerce Magazine Voice and Vision

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Voice&VisionofSurreyBusiness| March - April 2015 www.surrey-chambers.co.uk | ÂŁ3.95 (where sold)

Preparing Young People for the world of work Page 26

Spotlight on Epsom & Ewell pg 12

Health and Wellbeing pg 32

Reasons to be cheerful in Surrey's smallest district

Looking after your own wellbeing

Big Interview pg 27 Find out what it takes to join an Army Reserve Geographic Squadron

Chamber Chat pg 50 5 Minutes with Furniture Link

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Contents

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

March - April 2015

Welcome to theChamber from our Chief Executive Louise Punter Working together to ensure a workforce ‘fit for purpose’ The first week in March celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage businesses from across the county to engage with young people – whether through apprenticeships or alternative schemes - as these students are our employees of tomorrow.

When we speak with local businesses they tell us that there is a mismatch between what they are looking for in their staff, and the skills, experience and attitude offered by prospective candidates. Skills will decide who wins and who loses in a 21st century economy – yet employers across the UK constantly say they struggle to find employees, particularly those leaving education, who have the right skills to succeed in the workplace.

The world is changing at a rapid pace. If Britain doesn’t keep up, employers who are unable to access the skills they need or those unwilling to invest in training will lose business to

other firms at home and abroad. Simple measures, such as investing in quality careers education, making employability a key measure for schools, and supporting interaction between pupils and local employers, will deliver more jobs and growth in the long-term.

Government, schools, colleges and employers must all work together in the coming months and years to ensure that the UK has a workforce that is ‘fit for purpose’. Failure to do so risks consigning generation after generation to a less prosperous future. Surrey Chambers of Commerce will continue to work with our partners and members to ensure this skills gap is bridged, providing Surrey businesses with the skills needed for developing our future workforce.

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Introduction Chamber News Member News Spotlight On...

Big Interview Members News International Trade 24 Hours With...

Cover Feature

Editorial and General Enquiries 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

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Health and Wellbeing

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Ask the Expert

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Legal

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Technology Showcase

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New Members

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Chamber Events

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Member Benefit

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Chamber Chat

Production Manager Mark Etherington Email: studio@benhampublishing.com

Media No.

Chief Executive: Louise Punter Finance: Caroline Cherryman

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Editor

Disclaimer

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

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. © 2015.

Publisher Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited 3tc House, 16 Crosby Road North, Crosby, Liverpool L22 0NY Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com

_________________________________________________

Advertising and Features

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.

Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

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

Published March 2015 © Benham Publishing

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Introduction

A word from our President

Kevin Hurley

In favour of youth employment

Police Commissioner

Youth unemployment in the UK is now three times higher than that of adult unemployment, with more than one in five in this age group stuck in limbo, having left the classroom with nowhere to go.

The number of “Neets” 16 to 24 year-olds Not in Education, Employment or Training, peaked in 2011 but has continued to stay high since the end of the recession.

The UK apprentice initiatives are commendable but need to be strategically focused to ensure they are properly supporting progressive endeavour and not just chasing statistics.

A recent survey of almost 3,000 companies reveals that 9 out of 10 businesses believe school leavers are unprepared for the world of work. More than threequarters report a lack of work experience as one of the key reasons young people are unprepared for work.

One of the largest users of the UK apprenticeship initiative is Morrisons the supermarket chain.

They have applied the apprenticeship system in training 52,000 of their staff on checkout procedures and other basic tasks.

The clear consensus is that there needs to be far great interaction between schools and businesses such that the education experience dovetails with the requirements and aspirations of the workplace.

Whilst I am sure they meet all the scheme requirements, I don’t think it is a great long term return for the tax payer and a far cry from the sturdy manufacturing proposition which is needed if our economy is to flourish.

Such is the example of the German model where 60% of students undertake a vocational track often with a blended 3 year apprenticeship. That system is driven by the sturdy manufacturing industries in which Germany specializes and delivers a sustainable pool of skills.

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Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner renews call for force mergers

With budget pressures beginning to put some smaller police forces on the brink of collapse and forcing others to slash jobs and service levels, the case for mergers gets ever stronger.

What an unforgivable misuse of public money it is to prolong this system of 43 different forces, each with their own expensive HQs, Chief Officer teams and PCCs whilst front line services - response, neighbourhoods, traffic, public protection to name just a few - are being cut back to the bone.

Chief constables support mergers. The most senior police officer in the land, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, supports mergers.

Even the Home Affairs Committee has expressed the view that mergers should be allowed in some instances.

Ask the public what they want from the police.

I do it for a living and I can tell you that no-one tells me they want more chiefs or politicians or expensive

headquarters. People tell me they want more police out there on the front line, getting after criminals, solving cases and supporting victims.

Businesses in particular need our support. We rely on them to generate the tax revenue required for a just society, yet increasingly we hear of shopkeepers that have given up reporting shoplifting because they have no confidence it will be investigated.

Sadly, with the potential loss of more than 30,000 police officers and staff in the coming years, on top of the many thousands already gone, it seems likely the situation will only worsen. But by merging forces we could save up to £2 billion every year, money that could go back into the front line services that keep residents and businesses safe.

Ministers must heed the advice of the police experts and seize that opportunity.

Chamber News

Download the new Chamber App Surrey Chambers of Commerce are pleased to announce the launch of their new Members’ app. The app is available for download now on either iPhone, iPad or Android devices and contains a range of features to help members get more value for their membership.

British Chambers Conference: time well spent but more action needed

Once downloaded, our news feed will come straight through to your app, along with all our social media feeds.

Having all these updates in one place will make it easier for you to keep up to date with what’s going on at the chamber including local business news, our extensive events programme and services for members. It also means you can quickly catch up at a time to suit you – when you’re waiting for a meeting, sat on the train, or simply having a 5 minute break.

The app contains a full event listing for 2015 which also allows you to add an event directly into your phone’s calendar and also click through to book your places. New events will appear in the listing automatically as they are added.

We’ve also added a full membership directory to the app to help members network with each other and find new clients or suppliers.

Each member page includes full contact details, a location map and also usually a live website link. Simply tap to visit their website and see if they fit your requirements, and then tap again to either phone or email them directly.

catch up on important information in a way that suits their busy lives. I think Chamber members will find this app really to be a really valuable resource”. You can find out more at www.footprintmedia.co.uk/surreychamber.

We will be using the app throughout the year to canvas your opinions on local developments, news and events, as well as over the next few months to discuss proposals by the main political parties in the run up to the general election and how they might affect local business.

To download the app, go to your app store and search for ‘Surrey Chambers’.

Finally the app contains contact details for all the team here at Surrey Chambers to make it easy for you to get in touch, wherever you are.

The app has been produced for us by member firm Footprint Media whose co-founder Simon Turner has been in business in Surrey for over 25 years.

According to Simon “Apps are the future for business communication as they make it so much easier for users to

At the invitation of Surrey Chambers, I recently travelled to London to attend the British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference. And it proved to be time well spent. Thirty speakers, 10 hours and five coffees later, I felt informed, inspired and fired up to get back to Surrey and do business.

The content was rich and varied – from media stalwart and FT commentator Martin Wolf, to Heathrow Airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye, and rugby legend Clive Woodward.

And, of course, the good and great of the political world, and with this year being the general election, in spades! Enter David Cameron, George Osborne, William Hague, Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, Ed Balls, and Chuka Umunna. Their attendance is testament to the influence British Chambers of Commerce has on Whitehall via the extensive lobbying it does on behalf of its thousands of members across the UK. Of the many subjects discussed - import, export, talent, technology, taxation, education the role of women stuck firmly in my mind.

David Cameron called for more women on boards as without them “we are excluding half of the real talent”. This follows a review from Lord Davies back in 2011 recommending that UK listed companies in the FTSE 100 should be aiming for a minimum of 25% female board member representation by the end of 2015.

And we’re almost there, with the current figure around 23% and no all-male FTSE 100 boards.

And then there is the issue of women in parliament: or lack of.

Nick Clegg announced “there are too few women in parliament and at the highest rungs of government and more must be done”. Agreed; but with around 150 female MPs to 500 male MPs that’s a lot more to be done. The Theresa Mays and Harriet Harmans of this world are formidable but all too rare.

Perhaps, by the end of 2015, with a refreshed parliament, this statistic will have also improved?

It’s time now for less talk and more action.

Claire Dee is director and founder of Claire Dee Communications, and an active member of the local business community, including sitting on the Surrey Chambers Council and co-chairing its Business Women in Surrey group.

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Camberley

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Member News

Godalming’s Haines Watts sponsors SME leadership seminars The Godalming office of Haines Watts is sponsoring a series of SME leadership seminars with The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).

Haines Watts has joined Metro Bank, Hart Brown solicitors and JFP Strategic Planning in sponsoring the seminars, which aim to bring together owners and directors of SMEs to discuss practical aspects of leadership and learn from each other’s experiences.

There were two speakers at the first event - Major General Stuart Skeates CBE - Commandant RMA Sandhurst, and Chris Brindley – managing director of Metro Bank.

The supper seminar was well attended by members of the SME business community in the south east, particularly SW London, Slough, High Wycombe, Reading, Southampton, Guildford, Farnham and Camberley.

The next SME leadership seminar will be held in May. Barry Potter (2nd from right), Partner at the Godalming office of Haines Watts, at the Leadership seminar.

For details please email Jane Gregory at jgregory@hwca.com

Surrey businesswomen find inspiration in Tandridge More than 100 women joined forces to share their stories and experiences of setting up and running businesses in Surrey.

Be Inspired: Make it Happen! was the brain-child of Rosemary French OBE, executive director of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative, who was recently awarded an OBE for her services to women in business.

She said: “At any one time, 10% of women are thinking of starting their own business and yet there is little hands-on advice and support available. In my experience, one of the most valuable sources of support is the encouragement that women can bring each other. For this reason, we organised a networking event for local businesswomen, sponsored by the Gatwick Diamond Initiative, Tandridge District Council and Oxted-based Talent Gateway with support from Surrey and Sussex Chambers of Commerce.” Held at the Surrey National Golf Club in Chaldon, interest in the free event was so high that it ‘sold out’ with over 100 local women in attendance.

Inspiring speakers at the event included Nici Jupp, managing

director of Talent Gateway, a company providing flexible recruitment and business support services. Many of the people they place are experienced, skilled women who are looking for more flexible or part-time roles in business. Nici explained: “Many of the women I meet are searching for part-time work locally in order to use the skills and experience they gained during their career. For employers willing to embrace flexibility, it’s a win-win situation.”

daughters is self belief.” She went on to describe the council's approach to supporting businesses in the district, a great proportion of which are small start up businesses, run from people's homes and often by women trying to balance child care needs with a determination to succeed commercially.

Paisley Kemp, who runs a business locally, said: “I had read about the event and decided to drop in. I run two businesses and I was really inspired by the speakers and learned so much, including the importance of finding a mentor who can help me along the way as well as some good suggestions to fund our growth plans.

Louise Round from Tandridge District Council, talked about her journey from Law to becoming the chief executive of a local authority.

She told the audience: “The key to success in overcoming some of the challenges women still face in the workplace is a willingness to volunteer to do things, even when you are not sure you can, and to be curious about everything. I find that most things are interesting if you are interested in them! The single greatest gift parents and our education system can give our

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Member News

Officially the best in England Surrey’s Fetcham Park wins title at the Wedding Industry Awards 2015 Last Thursday saw Surrey’s Fetcham Park crowned as The Best Town/City Wedding Venue in England at a glamorous ceremony at Café de Paris in London.

Creativity in spades at Surrey Business School Farrow Creative absolutely love the Surrey Business School. Not because they are ranked in the top 20 in the UK

by The Guardian and Complete University Guide.

Not because they are academically rigorous and practically relevant or for their many accreditations.

We love them because they are normal and understand that business isn’t always about the hardest, largest and fastest. It’s about people.

And that’s the bit most of us at some point or other find difficult.

Sam Farrow, managing director of Farrow Creative has been asked to deliver three talks to undergraduates at the university this year as well as mentoring MBA students. The first of my talks will focus on bullying in the workplace, something she has experienced numerous times in her career.

The second is about personal branding online, both hilarious and hideous! The last is to sixth form visitors to the university and the opportunities before them.

Do they have a duty to consider higher education in our free society?

Big subjects. Great course.

Go consider for yourself www.surrey.ac.uk/mba Sam Farrow, Farrow Creative – www.farrowcreative.co.uk

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After winning the regional final in November, director Laura Caudery once again was called to the stage when she and the Fetcham Park team were named as being the best in the wedding industry.

“To say I’m delighted is an understatement. I always wanted to provide a wedding venue with a difference; a wedding venue that puts the couple at the heart of

everything we do,” says Laura.

“The awards means so much because The Wedding Industry Awards are the only client-voted regional and national awards in the UK so it’s thanks to our couples – and an expert judging panel – that we won.”

In the three short years since Laura launched Fetcham Park into the wedding world, she has transformed the way wedding

venues operate and are perceived.

From her team’s deeply personal relationship with clients and to their innovative use of social media and collaborative, creative alliances with other industry professionals, Fetcham Park is one of the best-known and most visible brands in a highly competitive and selective marketplace.

“Every year, the competition for the top titles gets hotter and hotter and the judges all commented on the skill, dedication and commitment displayed by the national finalists and choosing the winners was harder than ever.”

With the UK wedding industry being worth an estimated £10billion annually and hundreds of suppliers in competition with each other, to be crowned national champion is no mean feat.

Fetcham Park is undoubtedly worthy of the title – ‘Best Town/City Wedding Venue’ and couples looking for an inspiring, warm and beautiful location for their wedding need look no further.

Corporate Rotary Membership Founded in 1905, Rotary is an international organisation of local clubs, 26 of which are in Surrey. The total membership worldwide is over 1.2 million with some 25,000 associated clubs in around 170 countries and geographical regions.

The object of Rotary is to provide humanitarian service to the community at local, national and international level; encourage high

ethical standards in all vocations; and to work for goodwill and peace in the world.

Originally a male organisation, Rotary membership is now dual gender and a recent innovation has been the introduction of corporate membership which allows a company or corporation to become a member of a local club and designate up to four employees to attend meetings and participate in the club activities.

Clubs meet either for breakfast, lunch or an evening meal and in recent years Rotary has become much more relaxed and less demanding particularly with regard to

attendance. There is now no minimum attendance rule and members are simply asked to support their club to the best of their ability as individual circumstances permit.

It is hoped that corporate membership will provide a vehicle to encourage companies and corporations to participate in the above objects of Rotary and fulfil their self-impose charitable and humanitarian obligations.

The essence of Rotary is fulfilment, fellowship and fun.

For further information about Rotary go to www.guildforddistrictrotary.org. uk or for an application form to join contact Anne Coakley anne@acoakleyandco.co.uk Tel: 01252 702218 Fax: 01252 702818.

Member News

GTM helps add wow appeal

Headline acts for local music event Two sensational tribute acts, along with Britain’s biggest Motown phenomenon, have been confirmed for Farnborough’s hugely popular live music event this summer.

Surrey-based Global Travel Management is accustomed to dealing with emergencies around the world but as 2015 got under way one of its first response calls was closer to home.

The annual Grand May Fayre on Woking’s Wheatsheaf Common, organised by Horsell Scouts and Guides, found itself without sufficient funds to promote an exciting new attraction requested for this year’s event - a top-ofthe-range, professionally run, climbing wall.

On hearing of their plight GTM managing director Scott Pawley stepped in to sponsor the new attraction that is expected to add “wow appeal”.

Horsell Explorer Scout Leader and chairman of the organising committee, Richard Mackie said: “We are incredibly grateful to all of this year’s amazing sponsors and for the extra support Global Travel Management is giving to allow us to fund this exciting new activity. All proceeds we raise will permit us to continue our aim of providing youngsters in Woking with first class girl guideing and scouting activities.”

“We’ve been holding this free to enter event for 37 years now and lots of families look forward to it but at one point we weren’t sure if we would be able to find financial backing for the climbing wall.”

Scott, who was himself a volunteer scout leader for 10 years and part of the organisation for 20, says: “We were happy to help out. I believe small and medium-sized enterprises have a role to play in supporting the local community. It’s why we sponsor a number of local groups and events and give our support to individuals on our team who volunteer or work in the community.”

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Picnic To Music In The Park, which raises money for local hospice Phyllis Tuckwell, will take place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July, at the King George V Playing Fields in Farnborough.

On the Saturday, the event will play host to the Counterfeit Stones, whose popularity has gained them

bookings from British royalty and famous international celebrities, and led them to be dubbed by Mick Jagger himself as ‘the most famous Stones band in England’.

Saturday’s line-up also boasts Counterfeit Police, one of Europe’s principal tribute bands.

The Magic of Motown will then take to the stage on the Sunday,

returning to perform after their 2013 success and this time bringing their all-new show to town, celebrating 50 years of Motown music.

The event, which is organised by the Rotary Club of Farnborough, has taken place every other year since 2001, and raises a huge amount of money for the Hospice, which provides specialist end of life care to patients, relatives and carers facing a terminal illness, in West Surrey and North East Hampshire.

Early Bird tickets for this spectacular event are now on sale at www.pth.org.uk with a fixed price of £17 until 1st June (u-12s are free).

Gates will open on both days at 5pm ready for the music to start at 7.30pm, followed by grand firework finales both nights at 10.30pm. Refreshments will be available, but please bring your own picnic.

Generating leads in a digital marketplace At Rispin Marketing and Performance Training, our focus is always on helping businesses maximise their reach, both with their existing customer base and untapped potential.

With over 20 years in sales and marketing solutions, Vanessa Rispin heads a talented team of creative professionals devoted to their clients’ success.

Rispin Marketing understands the importance of effective lead generation, and works tirelessly to help SME’s make the most of their online potential. Utilising tools like slideshare.net, alongside highly effective educational presentations and skills training, Rispin helps clients synch their real-world message with their online presence.

Slideshare, when implemented properly, can be incredibly powerful in lead generation and as a marketing tool. It allows businesses to easily upload and share infographics, documents, videos, PDFs, plus presentations and webinars. These embed-able files can be shared across platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, connecting such presentations to potential leads already searching for their interest.

Providing internet marketing services, website development, and training in

business technology, Vanessa Rispin specialises in communicating the complexities of digital marketing tools with easily accessible language and concepts, allowing business leaders to expand their share of the marketplace.

Effective lead generation is just one of the key approaches employed by Rispin Marketing, with a keen

understanding of how businesses small and large can perfect their sales approach through targeted messaging. Visit their website at www.rispinwebmarketing.com or contact them directly for a free marketing assessment, and join their email newsletter for ongoing tips and tools for generating leads faster and growing sales.

Member News

Drones are revolutionising the way we see the world But how do you know what to look for in a company that offers commercial services using drones?

Drones are seldom out of the newspapers these days. Over the last year they have exploded into the public’s consciousness – but unfortunately not always for the right reasons. There have already been reports of near misses with airliners and arrests of operators who have been flying drones dangerously. But is it all bad news?

The number of applications for drone technology has been rapidly increasing over the last 12 months as people have begun to appreciate their immense versatility and practicality. From aerial photography to aerial filming, search and rescue to the rapid delivery of life-saving equipment, infrastructure inspection to parcel delivery – drones are here to stay and promise to be an enormous force for good.

Now that drones are readily available, the number of people buying them and offering commercial aerial photography services has gone through the roof. Unfortunately, not all these operators are aware that there are legal regulations governing the safe use of this technology, and

hence there are many operators out there without the necessary licences, insurance and competence to operate drones safely.

Horizon Imaging has been involved in the commercial drone aerial photography industry since 2007, and were one of the first companies to be granted a ‘permission for aerial work’ by the civil aviation authority in 2010.

This ‘permission’ requires the operator to: • Hold adequate insurance • Be suitably trained, and • Have written a detailed manual describing their operating procedures, risk mitigation strategies and maintenance schedules Before you work with any company that uses drones, always ask to see their CAA ‘permission for aerial work’ first. If they cannot show it to you then they may be operating illegally and should be avoided.

For more information please visit Horizon Imaging’s website: www.horizonimaging.co.uk and check out the white ‘Guidelines’ link at the bottom of the homepage.

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Spotlight On

Reasons to be cheerful in Surrey’s smallest district The borough of Epsom & Ewell lies about 15 miles south west of London and among its biggest attractions for businesses seeking to invest is the quality of life that it offers and the easy access to a skilled workforce.

As the smallest district in Surrey, it has a population of about 77,000, and while the majority of people live in the urban areas of Epsom, Ewell and Stoneleigh, large areas to the south of the borough are protected open space.

Recent surveys have shown that residents have above average qualifications, their health is generally good and life expectancy is high.

The borough also has relatively low levels of deprivation, with high levels of employment and high wages, although some parts are amongst the most deprived in the county.

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Also important to investment is the fact that Epsom is a university town with the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) at its heart.

North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT), providing both further and higher education, is based in Ewell and the internationally renowned

independent co-educational boarding and day school, Epsom College, is also based in the borough.

All of which means that the borough is a good place to do business. Indeed, the area is the base for a number of national and international companies.

“The borough also has relatively low levels of deprivation, with high levels of employment and high wages, although some parts are amongst the most deprived in the county.�

accessibility to the advantages of London and the wider south east; 52% of the borough is green open space and these spaces are well used both by local residents and others.

Among small businesses that have made the area their home having been impressed by what it has to offer is Barton Freight Services, a small, family owned freight forwarding business.

Clare Moss, Director, said: “We moved to Epsom in January 2013 and can honestly say it was an excellent decision.

“Having come from an industrial estate in Croydon, the fact that we can now immediately access the town centre is great for our staff, clients and suppliers alike.

“The variety of shops and restaurants and other services offer fantastic choice and we have various public parking options to offer to our visitors.

“Our proximity to the Post Office, banks and stationers mean that all of our day to day needs are well catered for. We even have the lovely Rosebery Park and other open spaces close by to exercise the office dog or just take a break.

Events at Epsom Downs race course also give us an excellent corporate entertainment opportunity.

“All in all, there is nothing we need as a small company that isn’t catered for by Epsom and we are very happy here.”

Epsom Racecourse is internationally famous for being the home of the Derby and the racehorse training industry has a local economic significance.

The shop vacancy rate is considerably lower than the national average and the area boasts a number of retail hubs, including a modern shopping mall, traditional independent shops and major retailers.

Supporting the borough’s tourism and leisure sector, the area benefits from significant areas of open space including Epsom Downs, Nonsuch Park, Epsom Common, Horton Country Park and the Hogsmill Open Space.

There are also a number of parks, recreation grounds and golf courses.

The extent of open space is particularly striking in a borough with such easy

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Spotlight On

A market town in every sense - more than Salts and Horses Guy Fraser reflects on the attractions of Epsom Surrey enjoys the often underplayed distinction of hosting more international company headquarters than any other county in the UK. Prominent names include Toyota GB, Premium Credit and its home grown flagship WS Atkins. Other less well known but also substantial entities include Brookfield Aviation, OTC Direct and Pfizer UK. Just a few names cover a huge range of industries and professions from automotive and consulting engineering to finance, pharmaceuticals and a company who will provide you with qualified airline and security staff or indeed an airliner anywhere in the world.

In addition of course there are many thriving SMEs of which the Epsom Downs course is undoubtedly the most famous.

Part of running any business is the ability to reach and meet customers easily. The Downs and an attractive town centre with its clock tower and market makes having an off-site meeting somewhere pleasant very easy. The Downs also provides a natural event hub with a magnificent view making it host to not only horse racing and pop concerts but also the Surrey Chamber monthly breakfasts and a number of other business shows.

“Surrey enjoys the often underplayed distinction of hosting more international company headquarters than any other county in the UK. Prominent names include Toyota GB, Premium Credit and its home grown flagship WS Atkins.”

Epsom had a relatively late but interesting rise to prominence, in 1618 a herdsman, Henry Wicker discovered a water hole, which was found to possess ‘purgative properties’.

Samuel Pepys records the salts retailing at 5 shillings an ounce and visiting Epsom to drink the waters in 1667, and carried on writing. So yes, the Epsom salts do come from here. Horse racing followed about century

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later when Lord Derby organised a race meeting.

The rest as they say is history.

Still very much its own town rather than a suburb, Epsom is separated from the London sprawl by heathland yet only just over half an hour from both Victoria and Waterloo and within easy reach of the M25.

Much of Surrey is also accessible by a short train ride or half hour car journey, and, of course, you can also cycle.

Guy Fraser is a Miller Heiman B2B sales coach, helping a wide range of clients thrive through navigating complex buying structures and building more effective client relationships. visit www.customercompetence.com

Spotlight On

Forfront celebrates 17 years of success in Surrey In 1998 construction started on the Millennium Dome, the Spice Girls were number one in the singles chart and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was first broadcast. At the same time, four people launched a small technology company called Forfront in Godstone.

17 years later and the Dome has become The O2 arena, the Spice Girls are long gone and Chris Tarrant can’t get on TV for love nor money.

However, Forfront is still based in Surrey. Only now it’s one of the county’s leading software houses and digital marketing specialists with headquarters in the centre of Epsom.

In 2001, Forfront struck gold with its email marketing product e-shot™ and the company grew dramatically. Since then, eshot™ has sent over 93 billion emails for thousands of clients including household names like Barclays, Siemens, the NHS and Mitsubishi. The term "e-

shot” has even entered public consciousness as a word for an email marketing campaign, much like Hoover or Google became much more than simply brand names.

However, e-shot™ has always been just one element of Forfront’s repertoire. The company concentrates on effective digital marketing plus creating important bespoke software, mobile apps and websites. Forfront also prides itself on its human approach; providing first class customer support and dedicated account management to nurture valuable, long-term relationships.

Despite having clients based all over the UK and beyond, Forfront places a priority on supporting local businesses, helping them adapt to new technology and undertake more profitable digital marketing. This was part of the reason for establishing a partnership with the Surrey Chambers of Commerce in 2013, to give something back to the county that has been Forfront’s home for almost two decades.

Forfront recognises that the local area is a big part of its heritage and as a result it has hosted a variety of networking and educational events, including a free marketing event in November 2014. More than

that, the company’s strong community values are highlighted by longstanding support of the Children’s Trust charity in Tadworth.

Although Forfront has experienced much success over the last 17 years, it still strives to aid businesses in Surrey to reinforce the vigorous local economy.

Whether a client wants help increasing brand awareness and generating leads through digital marketing or requires development of a software project, new website or cuttingedge mobile app, Forfront offers outstanding service on your doorstep.

“Despite having clients based all over the UK and beyond, Forfront places a priority on supporting local businesses, helping them adapt to new technology and undertake more profitable digital marketing.

This was part of the reason for establishing a partnership with the Surrey Chambers of Commerce in 2013, to give something back to the county that has been Forfront’s home for almost two decades.”

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Big Interview

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Big Interview

Businesses urged to support Army Reserve Most business people like to support staff who seek to put something back into their communities, but mention the Army Reserve and some of them may have second thoughts because of the unique challenges involved.

Thoughts of losing valued members of staff to long tours of duty in war zones can, understandably, make some bosses nervous but supporting staff who wish to sign up can actually prove an excellent move on the part of a business, bringing benefits to employee and employer alike.

One of the organisations which is encouraging businesses of all sizes to consider supporting the idea is the Surrey-based 135 Geographic Squadron Royal Engineers, the only unit in the Army Reserve to support 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic).

The Regiment, a specialist Royal Engineer unit, provides geographic support to all elements of UK Defence, ranging from raw data collection, including surveying, and information management through to terrain analysis and mapping.

Its members have served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Cyprus, Bahrain, Kuwait, Germany, Canada, Kosovo, Italy, Austria and Sierra Leone, both on operations and training exercises in recent years, as well as supporting UK-based work on the likes of flood defence.

mobilised for lengthy periods, we ensure that all our soldiers and recruits know that they must expect to be deployed.

“However, we do it as intelligently as we can, working with both recruits and their employers. We know that deployment is something that concerns employers and we have learned a lot from our experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a tripartite approach between us, the recruit and the company they work for.

“Also, recruits may not necessarily be sent abroad, they could just as easily be deployed in this country, as has happened in times of flood, for example. We do a lot of work in local communities” For Major Wasilewski, the advantages of supporting the Army Reserve can be felt by employee and employer alike.

He said: “There are many advantages for someone joining up as well as the companies they work for. It is no accident that companies sending staff away on training courses select Army-style ones because the quality is so high.

“We train recruits in skills which they can not only use in the Reserve but also in their day jobs, including developing leadership, teaching them transferable skills such as surveying and obtaining driving and forklift licences, and giving them valuable experience. They can take all these skills back into their day jobs.

“That is why we say that there are many advantages for employers as well, not least the training. It is estimated that if an employer were to send a member of staff away on the courses that a recruit undergoes, it would cost them on average £9,000 a year.

“If the business supports an employee to become a reservist, they get those skills without having to pay for them. It can only benefit a business to have well-trained, confident and experienced staff.

“We understand employers’ concerns that they may lose a member of staff for a prolonged length of time and we try to work as closely as we can with them but we would argue that the benefits far outweigh any concerns that they may have.

“We are seeing more and more businesses, large and small, supporting the reserve because they can see the advantages. Being based in Surrey, we are keen to increase our recruitment in the area.”

135 Geographic Squadron’s Officer Commanding, Major Charles Wasilewski, who is based in Surrey and worked as a management consultant before joining up to become a Regular soldier, said that he was not necessarily seeking people with Military experience.

He said: “Our recruits tend to be people who are keen to do something to help their community and their country and see joining “Thoughts of losing valued members of the Army Reserve as a way of staff to long tours of duty in war zones can, achieving that. understandably, make some bosses nervous but “Although it is advantageous if we recruit someone with the kind of supporting staff who wish to sign up can actually skills that we require, or someone prove an excellent move on the part of a business, who has been a Regular, that is not necessary because the standard of bringing benefits to employee and employer alike.” our training is so high.

“We will make sure that recruits are You can contact the Squadron at trained in everything they need, 135 Geographic Squadron RE, Mercator House, Welbeck taking them from zero to hero.

Close, EWELL, Surrey, KT17 2BG “All we ask is that our recruits be Tel: 0208 393 0981/2 prepared to give up 27 days a year, most of which tends to be at Email: 42engr-135SqnGroupmailbox@mod.uk weekends.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/135GeoSqn “We are very clear with them, Wordpress: 135geo.wordpress.com though. The Reserves have always been essential to the nation’s military Twitter: twitter.com/135GeoSqn capability, and whilst the majority of Instagram: instagram.com/135geosqn Army reservists are unlikely to be

theChamber 17

Members News

Exhibition of works by one of the world’s most significant artists to be shown in Woking ‘Damien Hirst: New Religion’ is to be on show from 28 March until 5 July 2015 at The Lightbox gallery and museum in Woking.

The exhibition will show a series of silkscreen prints and sculptural editions by one of the world’s most significant contemporary artists.

‘New Religion’ is being shown in association with Paul Stolper Gallery and The British Council and explores the relationship between science, art and religion - themes that have dominated Damien Hirst’s 25 year career as a thoughtprovoking and at times controversial artist.

Damien Hirst first came to prominence as a leading member of the celebrated Young British Artist movement in the 1990s. This group,

which included Tracy Emin, Sarah Lucas and The Chapman Brothers, were known for their openness to materials and processes, entrepreneurial attitude and shock tactics which they used to create a buzz around their exhibitions. Hirst’s most infamous piece, a shark preserved in formaldehyde entitled ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’, embodies this desire to shock using the themes of science and mortality.

The exhibition, ‘Damien Hirst: New Religion’, is made up of 44 silkscreen prints and four sculptures which move from the Creation of the World, through the Stations of the Cross and towards the Last

Image credit: The Fate of Man, Courtesy Paul Stolper Gallery © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2014

Judgement. These prints surround an altarpiece holding a cedar cross studded with gem-like pills, a sculpture of a child’s skull, a heart wrapped in barbed wire and

pierced by needles and razor blades all cast in silver, and a large carved marble pill.

For more information please visit www.thelightbox.org.uk

How to create an engaging conference - meeting ideas

Workplace meetings are an important part of the corporate fabric. In fact, meetings take up 40million hours each week.

According to a survey of 2,000 working adults by electronics firm Sharp, these meetings are far from effective in many cases. In fact, 7.5million of those hours are deemed a waste of time.

It is crucial that delegates stay alert and engaged. More than half have seen a colleague’s head drop during the meeting and a third of us confess to drifting into a daydream.

And to avoid being caught falling asleep mid meeting, one in ten have made an excuse to leave a meeting because it is so boring and four in five think they would actually be more productive if they stayed at their desks instead.

Six in ten workers say the meetings drag on too long; more than half blame the speaker for being boring; a fifth claim they

18 theChamber

have wanted to contribute to the discussion but weren’t given the opportunity.

People are often looking for meeting ideas to create an excellent session. But from the findings clearly the key here is to use an engaging speaker, keep it as short and concise as possible and allow group participation where possible.

We also find that bringing something fresh into the meeting can make a huge difference.

Ice breakers and energisers also help the meeting stay interesting. This can involve a short session at the start of a meeting which gets everyone awake, alert, and working together with music so they are ready for the meeting ahead.

The Rock & Roll Experience deliver music based team building, ice breakers and energisers as well as corporate entertainment with live bands and after dinner events.

Their events are unique, fun, engaging and inherently team building.

Visit www.rockandrollexperience.co.uk to see the full range of what they offer.

Members News

TechNite5: Igniting and Uniting Great news for Surrey’s talented technology community; TechNite5 is coming to town on the evening of Thursday 21 May 2015.

British Chambers of Commerce The Greatest Investment Rule

Created and organised by owner of EH Enterprises and Surrey Chambers’ Technology Ambassador, Dr Elaine Hickmott, TechNite5 will bring together representatives from a range of technology companies for cool conversations, positive connections and inspiring ‘ignite-style’ talks.

“When I launched the first TechNite event my vision was to create a positive wave that supported all types of technology companies by helping them meet, connect and share ideas.

And that’s exactly what has happened”, explains Elaine.

“TechNite5 will be even more special as it is taking place at The Surrey Technology Centre, hosted by Surrey Incubation”.

Sarah De'Lacy, head of incubation for the University of Surrey agrees, “We are delighted to be hosting TechNite5 at The Surrey Technology Centre in May. Elaine’s previous TechNite events have allowed local technology companies, start-ups and established, to network and share stories in an informal, friendly environment. We are really excited to be part of this to help further support the local tech start-up community”

TechNite speakers always come from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. They are a key element of the whole experience and the TechNite5 line-up is set to ‘wow’ the audience again.

May’s speakers include Nick Sharples, CEO and founder of TorqBak and Steve Swindon, CEO of Basemap.

TechNite5 is free, invitation-only and designed for directors, managers and owners of technology companies.

For more information please contact Elaine on elaine@eh-enterpises.com.

“TechNite speakers always come from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. They are a key element of the whole experience and the TechNite5 line-up is set to ‘wow’ the audience again. May’s speakers include Nick Sharples, CEO and Founder of TorqBak and Steve Swindon, CEO of Basemap.”

The investment markets love to highlight the “big, the butch and the bold”. The star fund managers are often portrayed in the press as investment giants standing astride the market.

The reality of course could not be further from this media fiction. The facts show us that 80% of fund managers can’t even beat their benchmark, and those that actually do beat it, can very rarely ever do it consistently.

The great secret of the investment world though is based on the phrase (that it is) “Time in the Market - Not Timing the Market”. You will often hear self styled investment “gurus” talk about their great decisions in investment and how they timed their move so perfectly. The reality is that of course on occasion they might get it right, but the reality is that one off wins rarely become consistent performance.

There is one set of numbers that I often quote that put such investment arrogance into its proper context. The Barclays Equity Gilt Study produces an annual set of figures which gives us a simple insight that if granny had invested £100 in the stock market 68 years ago you would now have the somewhat disappointing value of just over £9,000. If however she had wisely decided all those years ago not just to invest that modest sum, but also reinvest all the dividends over that time, your final sum seems to go through a transformation. Thus instead of a paltry sum that would have barely kept pace with inflation, your total would now be in excess of £177,000.

So what was more important - trying to time the peaks and troughs of the market as it’s going through its gyrations, or merely enjoying the silent benefit of compounding the value of your investment slowly but surely over time?

So who needs the egos of those illusory investment “giants”, when time turns out to be your strongest friend?

Call 020 7760 8777 or Email: information@7im.co.uk

www.7im.co.uk

theChamber 19

International Trade

ExportSurrey: flying the international flag in Surrey ExportSurrey celebrates its first birthday this March and so Surrey Chambers of Commerce looks back at the successes the programme has already achieved over the past 12 months.

ExportSurrey acts as a signpost service that helps businesses get the advice they need in today’s competitive global market.

The programme also provides expert training, webinars and informative networking events on a variety of related international trade topics; from exploring new markets to training staff on the mechanics of exporting. Previous events have covered country specific topics

including everything you need to know about trading with countries such as India and China, providing attendees with a wealth of knowledge, support and contacts.

This month ExportSurrey focuses on the export opportunities in Mexico and Brazil on 12th March in Woking.

The event will include the opportunity to network with businesses whose personal export journey will provide delegates with invaluable information

and insight into these rapidly growing markets.

ExportSurrey have also welcomed some exciting international delegations to the county, with business people coming from across the global from locations such as; Asia, Poland, USA and India, to meet with local organisations and develop strong relationships between these nations.

ExportSurrey works one-to-one on a daily basis with Surrey based companies looking to export their products and services abroad.

DreamingFish Productions - a production company specialising in corporate video and animation - approached ExportSurrey after trading overseas for the past few years and wanting to focus more strategically on international markets.

Phil Miller, managing director, DreamingFish Productions: “We had meetings with ExportSurrey and as a result of this, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). Since these meetings have taken place we have gained two new US clients, as well as building the level of work we do for existing customers in the US and Australia.

“Following the success of these two projects, we have launched a new

online animation product targeted at SMEs in the UK, US and Australia, with New Zealand and Singapore following shortly. Singapore was not even on our radar until we attended an ExportSurrey webinar.

“We are very grateful to ExportSurrey and UKTI for their continued support in helping us realise our international ambitions and look forward to continued collaboration in the future”.

Project lead Sarah Butcher comments: “British products are in high demand around the world and the global profile is at an all time high. Only 1 in 5 British SME’s are already exporting their goods and services so the potential for growth is enormous.

“We aim to make sure Surrey businesses have every chance of success when entering these new markets allowing them to reap the benefits of trading internationally. We very much look forward to continuing this programme in 2015, and getting Surrey business on the international map - making our county the place to do business with!”

Global Travel Management - Award Winning Business Travel Specialist

GTM puts the world in your pocket - tailoring corporate travel to your needs Kingsway House, 123-125 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey. GU21 6LR Tel 01483 747321 www.g-t-m.co.uk

20 theChamber

International Trade

About ExportSurrey Surrey Chambers in partnership with Surrey Connects launched ExportSurrey in March 2014, to actively promote the business benefits that trading overseas can bring.

The service, headed by project lead Sarah Butcher, links local businesses with practical support to help them export for the first time or expand on existing activities into new countries.

For more information and advice on trading internationally contact Sarah on sarah.butcher@surrey-chambers.co.uk or follow @ExportSurrey

theChamber 21

24 Hours with

24 Hours with Thinkers Live As one of the leading events and entertainment businesses in London, the ThinkersLive office is a hub of creativity. The imaginative team helps deliver interactive business training, exceptional entertainment and experiential marketing concepts - it’s not just your regular office…

14.00pm:

Training technique demonstration

The training team have just wrapped a half day session of their media training course for an external corporate client, we regularly volunteer as their guinea pigs so that they can try new things to keep the course fresh and relevant. The aim of the course is to help people cope with pressure both in and out of the workplace but it uses out of the ordinary techniques.

Soon, we find ourselves sticking our tongues out at each other and mimicking Eastenders characters. Never a dull day…!

15.00pm:

9.30am:

‘Live love in’

11.00am:

Brainstorm

The day starts with Emily, our Events co-ordinator talking us through any enquiries we have received overnight.

The team is briefed and we all put forward ideas for our clients and share any new contacts we may have made which could help.

Here we have a team brainstorm to get our creative juices flowing ready for any creative briefs we receive that day.

Following this, each team member talks us through their successes from yesterday and any challenges they may have faced.

12.00pm:

We then talk about our individual tasks for the day.

We aim to not only provide corporate entertainment but also help clients to conceptualise their event ideas.

Top secret production meeting!

We’ve recently put forward a brief for a top secret (very well known!) client and are finalising the on-site logistics. It’s one thing to come up with engaging ideas but another thing entirely to deliver it on time and within budget.

We pride ourselves on our ability to do both!

13.00pm:

Team lunch

A wise man once said “without change there is no innovation”. For us, that means getting out for a team lunch at least twice a month. We head to local pizza joint Santore for a catch up and some fresh air.

It’s a great opportunity for team building and for eating cheese!

22 theChamber

‘The return of Kirsty’

Events assistant Kirsty returns from Confex, a conference for professional event planners, venues and corporates looking for new suppliers. Each year we refresh our database and our new contacts include marshmallow printers and liquid nitrogen ice cream suppliers!

17.00pm:

Visit from a magician

Our office is quite often filled with performers due to the line of work we’re in. Today we have a visit from mindreading magician, Neb. Neb has just been booked for one of our clients, Arsenal and has come in to say hello and show us some of his new tricks. It’s a fantastic end to the day and one that certainly left us all mind blown!

As the day comes to a close the sales team head off to a networking event at The Gherkin which we’re providing a surprise act for; the fun never stops!

Do get in touch to find out what we can do for you, from event entertainment to captivating yet enlightening media training.

emily.furlow@thinkerslive.com

Legal

ERS F F OMEMBER L IABERS C E SFPOR CHAM

0 6 1 £ y ! l d n a O per he 5) 9 1 lly £ code S2B a u (us iscount king)

d oo ply hen b p a ( w

One Day Business Courses Quality Business Training at Affordable Prices!

Developed and delivered by qualified trainers with relevant and extensive business experience.

Choose from: New to Team Leading 24 April, 12 June Understanding Employment Law 24 April, 12 June Finance for Non-Financial Managers 13 March, 8 May, 26 June Starting a New Business 20 March, 15 May, 3 July Growing Your Business 27 March, 22 May Cyber Security 17 April, 5 May, 3 July All courses run from 9am-5pm Refreshments, lunch and parking included VAT exempt

Limited places - don’t miss out, book today!

Book online now at: www.servicestobusiness.net Or call 01483 44 85 30 for more information 23 Services to Business Guildford College Group Stoke Road Guildford Surrey theChamber GU1 1EZ

Apprenticeship

Enabling learning providers ALPS Partnership Limited (ALPS) is a non profit making organisation, dedicated to supporting learning providers, employers and learners to achieve their potential.

ALPS is a network of work based and classroom providers comprising of independent providers local and national, colleges, voluntary and charity organisations. Members deliver vocational training mathematics and English alongside national recognised qualifications where the majority of work is focused on programmes of Study, Traineeships and Apprenticeships.

ALPS has worked with Surrey County Council to deliver over the past three years an employer grant to Surrey employers which has supported employers to take on an Apprentice aged 16-18. This has meant more opportunities for these young people enabling them to enter the world of work with an apprenticeship giving them an opportunity to work with an employer and growing the workforce of Surrey. Surrey Chambers promote the grants and then employer enquiries are passed to ALPS.

ALPS works in partnership, and the links and support we have from the Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Surrey County Council, and more recently Enterprise M3, ensure we are able to meet our objectives.

Enterprise M3 have recently commissioned ALPS to deliver events throughout apprenticeship week, through this we have been able to deliver employer breakfasts and we have built an Apprenticeship employer ambassador network who will work with us to promote apprenticeships to other employers.

A suitable provider will then speak with the employer to find the most suitable young person. Providers advertise on behalf of the employer on the National Apprenticeship website and will search and find a suitable range of candidates for the employer to interview. After this stage and when the employer is ready to offer the young person the provider will support the employer with the training of the apprentice.

During apprenticeship week ALPS network will be delivering a large market place event to learners and employers which is being hosted at Guildford College.

24 theChamber

ALPS is working with Enterprise M3 and Surrey County Council to deliver a celebratory event on the 24th June 2015 for apprentices completing their level 3 or level 4 programmes.

This event is a first for Surrey and we are very excited to be holding it at Guildford Cathedral.

The Apprentices will be robed in full graduation attire and will have the opportunity to bring a guest. This is a very exciting event and it is hoped will become an annual activity.

ALPS is running the Opportunities Fair at Epsom racecourse on October 13th. This will be the fourth year running we have worked in partnership with Surrey County Council on this exciting event.

Employers and providers set up a market place with activities for young people to have a go at vocational opportunities and have a taster in areas they may not have considered.

ALPS are always looking for employers to come to this event and would welcome enquiries from employers across Surrey. Nearly 2000 young people attend this event and it is becoming more and more popular each year.

What our employers are saying about ALPS members.

“Apprentices help support an efficient professional business. We've worked with ITS for many years because the training's great, professional and integrates well with our in-house programme, Patrick Peja, Toni & Guy, Woking.

Ayla Cerri, Business apprentice working in Camberley, former retail

worker and bartender: “I have had the best year of my life; I have become a professional person and I am now doing what I love. This is the beginning of my career and the rest of my life! It was scary at first, but I would do this leap of faith again and again given the chance. QA can really change your life. I was supported from the moment I gave in my CV, through my interview and all the way along my course. I am now ready to complete in six weeks and I couldn’t have done this without the help of my assessor Julie from QA. It’s been an amazing experience and I could not have gained this experience anywhere else.

I’ve worked with teams and customers that I never imagined I would, learnt more than I thought I could achieve and my confidence in my role is increasing all the time.

I’m so excited to progress onto a Level 4 Project Management apprenticeship; it will be a big step up but I will have the support of QA and my employer, so I know that I can do it!”

Lucy Edwards joined us in 2013 as an apprentice and was by all accounts a model student.She steadily picked up more and more challenging work over the year and when this came to a conclusion we decided to offer Lucy a permanent role in the Investment Division of the business. Lucy was always eager to learn and happy to undertake greater tasks so when an opportunity arose in the Development Division we decided to give Lucy a chance at supporting my quantity surveyor and administering our development projects.I could not be more delighted at how fantastically well Lucy is doing in her role. She is also now extending her training, paid for by the Malins Group, undertaking a Diploma Course in Interior Design. I truly believe that Lucy is a perfect example of how the apprenticeship scheme should work.

For more information please contact info@alpsurrey.co.uk www.alpsurrey.co.uk

Cover Feature

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ͻ ůŽŶŐƐŝĚĞ ĂƉƉƌĞŶƟĐĞƐŚŝƉƐ͕ : ĐĂŶ ŽīĞƌ ƋƵĂůŝĮĐĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ ĞŵƉůŽLJĞĞƐ ƚŽ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ Ă ŚŝŐŚůLJ ƐŬŝůůĞĚ ǁŽƌŬĨŽƌĐĞ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ &ŝƌƐƚ ŝĚ Ăƚ tŽƌŬ ĂŶĚ &ŽŽĚ ^ĂĨĞƚLJ

άϭϱϬϬ ƉƉƌĞŶƟĐĞƐŚŝƉ 'ƌĂŶƚ ĨŽƌ ŵƉůŽLJĞƌƐ zŽƵ ĐŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĞůŝŐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ Ă άϭϱϬϬ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŐƌĂŶƚ ďLJ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ĂŶ ƉƉƌĞŶƟĐĞ ŝŶƚŽ LJŽƵƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͘ ƐŬ ƵƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ^ƵƌƌĞLJ 'ƌĂŶƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ : dƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĐĂŶ ĂƉƉůLJ ĨŽƌ͘

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ǁǁǁ͘ũĂĐĞ-ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ

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Cover Feature

Paving the way for young people to enter the jobs market Preparing young people for the world of work is crucial for the future success of business, whether it be apprenticeships, college education or company training schemes.

National Apprenticeship Week, which was held in March, highlighted the potential of the opportunities on offer.

Held every year, the event aims to increase the awareness and take-up of apprenticeships and traineeships.

As part of the week, businesses were encouraged to share their pledges to take on apprentices.

Since 2010, two million young people have started an apprenticeship in England, and at any one time, there are up to 25,000 apprenticeships available on ‘Find an apprenticeship’, the official apprenticeship vacancy matching site managed by the National Apprenticeship Service.

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Also: • 88% of apprentices stay in employment after finishing their apprenticeship • Since 2010, more than two million apprenticeships have been started in England • There are 1,500 different apprenticeships on offer in more than 170 industries • Businesses report an average increase in productivity by £214 a week when they hire apprentices • Data revealed in that latest Apprenticeship Index (Jan 2015) shows there was a 28% year on year increase in apprenticeship vacancies posted online on the apprenticeship vacancies website • Women have the edge: of the 851,500 apprenticeships participating in 2013/14, 51.9% were female and 48.1% were male

Any business thinking of taking on an apprentice or expanding its current programme receive dedicated support from the National Apprenticeship Service, which supports, funds and coordinates the delivery of apprenticeships throughout England.

The service offers free, impartial advice and support to employers looking to recruit an apprentice for the first time or expand their current apprenticeship programme. Some businesses may be eligible for a £1,500 VAT free apprenticeship grant. These funds are to help smaller businesses with fewer than 50 staff recruit a new apprentice aged 16 to 24.

To find out more, search for apprenticeships on www.gov.uk.

How our graduate scheme helps us to attract leading talent

By Charlie Silvester, Head of Operations at Bibby Financial Services

How an apprenticeship from the Guildford College Group can benefit your business As one of the largest apprenticeship providers in the area, the Guildford College Group offers more than 30 types of apprenticeships at mixed levels.

With apprenticeships available at Guildford and Merrist Wood College, they offer courses in many specialist areas from animal care to health and social care.

Apprenticeships offer a fresh approach to growth and bring many benefits to the employer.

First of all, apprenticeships improve your bottom line, they deliver real returns, help to improve productivity and make companies more competitive. Also, training an apprentice is more cost effective than hiring pre-skilled staff, leading

to lower training and recruitment costs.

You can also use an apprenticeship to motivate your workforce and fill the skill gaps, as they are designed to deliver skills designed around your business needs, and apprentices are also proven to motivate your workforce as they are eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company who has trained them!

In an article published by gov.uk in December 2014, it is reported that 88% of apprentices stay in employment after their apprenticeship has ended with 67% staying with the same employer.

Also, 96% of employers who have taken on an apprentice have reported benefits to their business, with 72% reporting that an apprenticeship has increased their productivity or the quality of their product.

With the introduction of the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) of 16-24 year olds, why not hire an apprentice? The aim of an AGE Grant is to help eligible employers to offer young people employment through an apprenticeship programme, by providing them with a grant of £1,500 to encourage them to recruit an apprentice for a minimum of 12 months. If you employ under 50 people, then you could be eligible.

Claire Belderbos, sales and marketing director of Belderbos Landscapes Ltd in Surrey, said “We value the opportunity to train an employee at the start of their career, so they learn the correct approach and skills required when working in high-end residential gardens.

Our apprentice is a keen learner, takes advice on board and the landscape team are always enthusiastic about having him work on their team! We would highly recommend taking on an apprentice to other employers.”

If you want to find out more about an apprenticeship or taking on an apprentice, please call the Guildford College Services to Business hotline on 01483 44 85 30 or email employers@guildford.ac.uk.

As the UK’s leading independent SME funder, we’re delighted to announce that this month we have re-launched our graduate scheme to find the country’s leading talent for roles across the UK. Our scheme - which is now accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) - kick-starts the career of graduates throughout the country and we currently have positions available in our Slough, Banbury and Manchester teams.

The scheme forms part of our wider recruitment strategy to attract the country’s leading talent across a range of disciplines including sales, marketing, risk and operations.

Unlike other graduate schemes - which typically focus training on one area - we offer our candidates valuable, hands-on experience across a range of positions. This gives them a holistic and unique understanding of the business, which is a great way to kick-start their professional development.

We provide training over 18 months and successful graduates benefit from personal mentors who offer support and guidance throughout this time.

Our previous graduate scheme was widely praised and helped us to take-on a number of employees, some of whom remain with the business today.

The best example of this success being our commercial director, Edward Winterton, who joined Bibby Financial Services as a graduate in 1996.

Throughout the country, we have great people and our commitment to professional development helps us to work as one team. We want to continue to attract leading talent across all areas of the business and to continue to be a great place to work, which is why our graduate scheme is so important to our future ambition.

We’re confident that by adding the CMI accreditation and expanding the areas the business candidates train in, we can encourage even more graduates start their careers at Bibby Financial Services.

Formed in 1982, Bibby Financial Services is part of the Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, a 200 year old business services company. We are the UK’s leading invoice finance provider, supporting over 7,000 businesses in more than 300 industry sectors.

Further information about our graduate scheme and other careers at Bibby Financial Services can be found at: www.bibbyfinancialservices.com/meta/careers Alternatively, to find out more about our cashflow solutions for businesses, call us on 0800 91 95 92.

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Cover Feature

Group keeps Communication is key to on delivering running a successful placement For more than 20 years, Waverley Training Services have been delivering apprenticeships across the county.

Their fully trained professional assessors have built successful relationships with their clients and their trainees.

Here is an account of one such successful partnership: The Malins Group is a property development and investment company based in Weybridge.

Lucy Edwards joined them as an apprentice in 2013 doing a Level 2 Business Administration qualification through WTS. Her assessor, Sharon Gooch, describes her as a ‘model student’, producing some excellent written work which reflected what she had learnt within the company as she progressed through her qualification, which she completed in October last year.

Lauren Atkins, Managing Director of The Malins Group, describes how Lucy ‘steadily picked up more and more challenging work over the year and when this came to a conclusion, we decided to offer Lucy a permanent role in the Investment Division of the business’.

Lauren said: “Lucy was always eager to learn and happy to undertake greater tasks so when an opportunity arose in the Development Division we decided to give Lucy a chance at supporting my quantity surveyor and administering our developments projects.

‘I could not be more delighted at how fantastically well Lucy is doing in her role.

She is also now extending her training, paid for by The Malins Group, undertaking a Diploma Course in Interior Design. I truly believe that Lucy is a perfect example of how the apprenticeship scheme should work.”

This is one of many success stories where a young person is given the opportunity of work and the employer is able to offer the training and experience which benefits their company.

If you are interested in finding out how an apprenticeship scheme could work for your company, contact Waverley on 01252 725872 or e mail wtsadmin@waverley.gov.uk

28 theChamber

By Ollie de Kretser, PR & Online Communications Manager, FdK Design Consultants

Young people looking to begin their careers are having a tough time right now.

A recent British Chambers of Commerce survey of 3,000 firms found that 9 out of 10 thought school leavers were not ready for employment, and more than half said the same with graduates.

Three-quarters of companies surveyed put the situation down to a lack of work experience; however, half said they did not offer placements themselves.

Of the companies offering internships, there are still a large number that are unpaid, preventing a lot of talented young people from applying, and adding to the notion of ‘birth before worth’.

In the same vein, young people don’t think they are getting enough support from the government and a recent British Future survey found that young people think senior politicians pay more attention to big businesses and celebrities than to them.

It’s a catch-22 situation, but placements remain to be one of the best ways for young people to get real-world experience and they can bring a number of benefits not only to them but also to businesses.

Last year, here at FdK we set up a pair of yearlong internships to help prepare the next generation of designers for the industry. It not only provides them with real-world experience and an opportunity to develop their skills, but it also provides us with a fresh perspective on design problems and helps us be more efficient in our work.

For businesses looking to set up a placement, we can’t stress enough the importance of communicating with young people before you think about anything else.

When we begin our design process with a client we always start by listening. Until we have listened to our clients and know what they want to achieve, we cannot know what to design or indeed if they need design at all.

The same logic applies here and understanding what young people want to achieve and what their strengths and limitations are means you can tailor your placements to give them the best possible opportunities while also providing you with measurable benefits.

Good communication can also save you from rushing to set up a placement that your business might not be ready for and will help you prepare for the future.

Placements should never be set up simply to tick boxes, they should be high quality and beneficial to both parties.

Why not take on an Apprentice for your Business?

Get Involved

Surrey County Council Grants ÂŁ750

Opening Doors and Building Potential ALPS Partnership Limited (ALPS) is a non-profit making organisation, dedicated to supporting learning providers, employers and learners to achieve their potential.

ALPS is a network of work based and classroom providers comprising of independent providers - local and national, colleges, voluntary and charity organisations.

Members deliver vocational training in Mathematics and English alongside national recognised qualifications where the majority of work is focused on programmes of Study, Traineeships and Apprenticeships.

ALPS works in partnership with the Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Surrey County Council and Enterprise M3 to ensure we are able to meet our objectives.

each (40 available)

ALPS and Surrey County Council provide an employer grant to support Surrey employers who take on an Apprentice aged 16-18.

Contact april@alpsurrey.co.uk if you have taken on an apprentice since April 2014 who is under 19 and living in Surrey.

Celebration event for Apprentices 24th June 2015 Guildford Cathedral

ALPS is working with Enterprise M3 and Surrey County Council to deliver a celebratory event for apprentices completing their level 3 or level 4 programmes.

This event is a first for Surrey and we are very excited to be holding it at Guildford Cathedral.

The Apprentices will be robed in full graduation attire and will have the opportunity to bring a guest.

Please contact sue@alpsurrey.co.uk if you would like to find out more.

Surrey Opportunities Fair Epsom Racecourse 13th October 2015

Our fourth year working in partnership with Surrey County Council on this exciting event.

Employers and providers set up a market place with activities for young people to have a go at vocational opportunities and have a taster in areas they may not have considered.

Nearly 2000 young people attend this event and it is becoming more and more popular each year.

If you are an Employer looking to take on young Apprentices and would like to attend this event please contact april@alpsurrey.co.uk.

If you would like any information about getting involved with Apprenticeships in Surrey please contact Sue or April on

info@alpsurrey.co.uk or 07900 918357/07867 690224

G ov er n m ent Funded

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Workplace Qualifications

APPRENTICES ENTIC C

Every employer sh shou ho ld have one!

Contact us to discuss the benefits of employing an apprentice within your company

Your company could really benefit by taking on an apprentice WTS can off fer appr p enticeships in: Business & Administration Customer Service Social Digital Media Team Leading and Management Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools Debt Recovery ITQ

Telephone: 01252

725872

wtsadmin@waverley.gov.uk 30 theChamber

The Pump p House, Kimbers Lane, Farnham GU9 9PT

Development

Guildford College students inspired after attending British Chambers of Commerce annual conference Guildford College business students attended the recent British Chambers of Commerce annual conference, ‘A Business Plan for Britain’, held at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Central London to hear some of the country’s senior politicians and business leaders speak about the future of Britain’s business growth.

Students Alex Taylor-Rose and Elijah Jago made the trip to London with Guildford College’s head of business development, Ben Geeson for this national business event which was an important pre-election debate with speakers including politicians Prime Minister David Cameron, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as well as business leaders John HollandKaye, chief executive of Heathrow Airport, Angus Thirlwell, chief executive and co-founder of Hotel Chocolat.

The conference was broken down into sections: ‘Doing Business with the World’, ‘A Business Plan for Britain’, ‘Britain’s Business Future’, ‘Will Devolution Work for Business?’ and finished with a speech by Sir

Clive Woodward OBE, 2003 Rugby World Cup winning head coach and Team GB director of sports at London 2012, titled ‘The Business of Winning’. His speech focused on the four things which make up the ‘DNA of a Champion’: talent, the ability to learn, coping with pressure and the will to work hard and succeed.

Throughout the day the students were also given the incredible opportunity to network with business professionals, leaders and politicians. Level 3 business student, Alex Taylor-Rose, will be studying business management at university next year and hopes to gain the expertise and skills needed to set up his own business in the future, by working for a wellestablished company. He said “I felt that I got a lot out of the day,

especially the motivation to set up my own business and become as successful as some of the speakers at the event. It was also inspiring to hear about how the young entrepreneurs have setup and grown their companies at an age similar to mine.”

Ben Geeson, head of business development at Guildford College, said “The day was very informative, and I felt that the students and I got a lot out of it.

It was great to give them an opportunity to attend such a high profile event, and I feel that they took a lot away from the experience in terms of their own inspiration to succeed and the part they have to play in the future success of the country’s business growth.”

Why action man wins over the accountant every time when it comes to business planning When you go on a trip do you just hop in the car with no idea of a destination and no navigation tools? ... of course not!

Many business owners don’t have a map for their business, even though most think planning is essential to success they have little time or energy to develop a financial budget that then isn’t believed and won’t be used.

The point is, a budget is only the financial consequence of actions you’ve identified you are going to take to get something different from what you have now - the budget isn’t the plan at all - the plan is the ACTIONS YOU NEED TO TAKE TO GET SOMEWHERE.

Follow these steps for an effective and valuable planning process: 1. TAKE STOCK: Take a simple snapshot of where your business is now, and trends over the last 9-12 months. Think about what you’ve been doing differently over the period that has affected the trends in sales and profits.

Look at the numbers/types of clients you sell to, what you sell, where you sell and how you’ve won new clients. Look at what you’ve changed.

2. DREAM: Think where you want the business to go to - bigger? Smaller?

Same? Allow yourself to dream - create a vision in your mind of what you want the journey of your business to be over the coming years.

Jennifer Raines is the CEO of Your Right Hand Finance Team. Her team of 30+ commercially focussed finance managers and financial controllers work part time within growing companies, where the business owners need and value financial information and control, but don’t need the time, or the expense, of a full time person.

3. CREATE: Flesh out the picture - how many customers? Products? Average revenue? Client retention? Staff numbers? Premises? Don’t restrict yourself, just create your future business in your mind. Capture key numbers compare your performance now against your future numbers and identify the “gap” between them.

4. ACTION PLAN: Brainstorm actions you can take to change your key numbers - have a mindset that says anything is possible rather than “I can’t do this because”. Prioritise actions, those that are most important or will get the biggest improvement, set times against them.

The business owners know that their YRH finance person, who may work with them from as little as one day a week, looks after the day to day book keeping and accounting tasks, and focuses on accelerating the cash coming in. And they have management information that is relevant, insightful and commercial valuable.

5. NUMBERS: Now let the numbers “fall out” of the action plan – get help on the financials if this isn’t your bag or you don’t have the time. Do some sensitivity testing (what if?)

6. EXECUTE: Get on with it! Focus on the next 12 months and give yourself 5 top priorities, more than that and nothing gets done properly. Get your team working with you – share your vision and share the action plan.

7. MEASURE & ADAPT: action commitments against delivery and measure financial performance against plan every month – take adjusting action as needed and keep focussed.

Good luck!

And don’t let the accountants tell you a plan is all about numbers… because they’re wrong!

If you want to talk about what information you want or should be looking at, and how you can easily get it, call me (Jennifer) or a member of my team on 01252 820002, we’re more than happy to help you get what you need.

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Health and Wellbeing

Prostate Cancer awareness With March being Prostate Cancer Awareness month, and prostate cancer being the biggest male cancer killer in England and Wales, Mr Simon Bott, Consultant Urology Surgeon at Spire Clare Park Hospital, provides some key information about this incredibly common cancer.

What is the prostate?

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a gland which sits immediately below the bladder surrounding the urethra, the drainage pipe, and creates half of the semen, so none of us would be conceived naturally without the prostate!

The prostate grows throughout a man’s lifetime, starting the size of a walnut around age 20 growing on average to the size of a plum by age 70. For some men, it may grow to the size of a small orange.

How common is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is incredibly common, and unfortunately leads to over 10,000 deaths a year in England and Wales.

Interestingly almost all men, if they live long enough, will develop prostate cancer but most men will never know they have it and die of something unrelated. Only a small proportion of men will get a ‘high risk’ form of prostate cancer which requires treatment to prevent/delay the cancer spreading.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

There are not normally any symptoms of prostate cancer until the tumour is a reasonable size. Urinary symptoms such as getting up in the night and poor flow are

32 theChamber

normally due to benign (non-cancerous) changes in the prostate. PSA blood tests performed by a GP can provide a means of early diagnosis, however these tests are not fool proof but remain the best available test at present. Prostate cancers are also diagnosed by ultrasound scans, biopsies and multi-parametric MRI scans.

Treatments for prostate cancer A biopsy details how aggressive and extensive the tumour is which provides treatment options. Roughly 50% of men are put on active surveillance, whereby a careful eye is kept on the cancer but no treatment occurs until a sign that the cancer has become more aggressive, avoiding side effects such as urinary leakage, loss of erectile functions and bowel and bladder frequency.

For more aggressive or extensive cancers treatment is needed to cure the cancer.

This can be achieved either through keyhole surgery to remove the prostate or by some form of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy can either be given externally and shone into the prostate or internally by implanting a small seed into the prostate, known as brachytherapy. These treatments are

offered to patients when the benefits of treatments will outweigh the risks which include urinary leakage, loss of erectile function and bowel and bladder frequency.

In certain men the prostate cancer itself can be treated with ultrasound (HIFU) and therefore do not suffer side effects associated with the treatments that involve treating the whole prostate.

This is still somewhat controversial as it was for breast cancer 20 years ago when the whole breast used to be removed.

Nowadays the standard treatment is to remove just the cancerous lump.

I am sure that prostate cancer will go along the same lines in the future.

Spire Clare Park Hospital, in Farnham, has an excellent team of Consultant Urology Surgeons dedicated to providing investigations and treatments for a wide range of urological conditions including kidney and bladder issues, incontinence, vasectomy’s and prostate cancer and disorders.

Health and Wellbeing

Surrey osteopath wins national CAM Awards 2014 Karen Brewer, osteopath at Balance-Rite Osteopathy Clinic in Chertsey, has won the Outstanding Practice award at the CAM Awards 2014, after being nominated by many of her patients.

Looking after your own mental well being

Osteopathy is more widely known to help with conditions such as bad backs and joint pain, however, the testimonial that clinched it for Karen was that of a fifteen year old patient, born prematurely and a lifelong sufferer with an undiagnosed bowel condition, from which she suffered terrible constipation and experienced no 'urge or sensation ' of when to go to the toilet.

By the age of three she endured incredible pain every day and was having to undergo general anaesthetic to manually evacuate her

bowels for her, every two weeks. Eventually, after in excess of 90 in-patient stays and 47 anaesthetics, it was decided that a colostomy bag would be fitted, at the age of six.

This was fitted for seven years and it was eventually reversed at the age of thirteen, but within weeks things started to go back to the way they were.

She was in constant pain, with no medication being able to successfully manage her bowel movements.

She would shut herself away in the toilet, for hours at a time, after taking multiple doses of strong laxatives to help her relieve her constipated bowels and then just had to sit and wait.

Karen heard of her case and offered to try and help, within two sessions the patient began to improve and by five sessions was feeling the urge to move her bowels.

Now experiencing regular bowel movements and after nearly 15 years of top doctors from Guys to Great Ormond Street drawing a blank, she lives the life of a normal teenager.

Her mother wrote "it is nothing short of a miracle, what Karen has achieved!"

Get more information about osteopathy at www.balance-rite.co.uk

To coincide with International Women’s Day this March, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is urging women to pay more attention to their mental well-being.

Successful business women often juggle a number of roles such as running a household and caring for children or elderly parents, or perhaps even both, as well as holding down a job. Their time poor lifestyles can mean that are particularly at risk of neglecting their own health.

While there are no significant differences between the numbers of men and women who experience a mental health problem overall, some problems, for example, depression are more common in women.

One in four women compared to one in 10 men will require treatment for depression at some time in their lives.

Surrey and Borders, a leading provider of mental health, drug and alcohol and learning disability services, offers a number of therapies to help people who are suffering from mild to moderate mental illhealth through its improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) service.

Mental health problems covered include: anxiety and stress, panic attacks, depression including pre and post natal depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and eating difficulties.

Many of the treatments IAPT offers are based on talking therapies, known as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), These can help a person to change their thinking and behaviour to improve their mental wellbeing.

You can find out more about mental health and what we offer by becoming a member of Surrey and Borders Partnership.

Membership is free and anyone over the age of 14 can join. You will receive the quarterly newsletter and be able to attend, for free, any of our informative and educational events which cover a range of mental health and learning disability topics.

For more information, please contact the membership team on 01372 216158 or email them at engage@sabp.nhs.uk

theChamber 33

Health and Wellbeing

2015 is an exciting year for the Samson Centre The Samson Centre for MS is a self-funded charity in Guildford providing physiotherapy and support for people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis. Without regular physiotherapy and exercise, muscles become weaker and people with MS become more disabled.

In addition to the specialist neurophysiotherapy provided at the Centre, there is a fully equipped gym and a baric oxygen therapy room with two individual oxygen chambers where members can receive pressurised oxygen which can help relieve some MS symptoms. Reflexology and massage are also available one afternoon a week.

The Samson Centre for MS does not receive any funding from the NHS, MS Society nor government and relies heavily on donations and a calendar of fundraising events each year in order to cover its ongoing costs which are in excess of £200,000 each year.

2015 is an exciting year for the centre as a small extension is being built onto the main hall and this will provide three more private physio rooms and an equipment store

room. There is currently only one private physio room and with our membership having grown to over 140 members and more physio based exercise classes being held, we are struggling for space.

Over the next two years we need to raise £650,000 to provide a large baric oxygen therapy suite and a counselling / meeting room.

We are currently only able to treat two people at a time in our two individual oxygen chambers, and by having a dedicated oxygen therapy suite with a 6 person oxygen chamber in it, we will have the capacity to treat many more people than currently. If you are able to help with this large fundraising campaign in any way, please contact Jackie at the Samson Centre for MS on 01483 459120.

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34 theChamber

Ask the Expert

Do I need an architect?

make building surveyors skilled designers and contract administrators.

This follows through to the RICS examination process.

Do you need an architect when embarking on a building project?

Well, you will certainly need a professional advisor who is skilled and trained in the design and construction process. But an architect is not the only choice.

Chartered building surveyors are wellversed in design, specification and contract administration of building projects – in fact everything required for a successful project.

All universities offering accredited Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) building surveying degrees put a great emphasis on the skills necessary to

We recently arranged the construction of a new combined garaging and ancillary store building in Surrey for a client. This was within the grounds of two, grade II listed buildings and demanded a flexible and pragmatic approach to achieve what was required within the planning restrictions.

Our clients are delighted and convinced that the evolution of the design in the planning phase has resulted in a better building than they had envisaged.

by Dominic Earley, partner, Grillo LLP Chartered Surveyors

work, that of surveys of condition.

These regularly take them into existing buildings and provide valuable wisdom about what works for buildings and their occupants and what doesn’t.

It is an unfortunate truth that we are often called in to act as expert witnesses between clients and builders who have not involved a professional designer and

contract administrator. We are asked to manage the process, or otherwise to put right defective work by other less able designers.

If you are considering embarking on a building project, either commercial or residential, you may well consider consulting a chartered building surveyor.

It could be exactly what you need.

Contact us for an initial consultation to see how we can turn your vision into a reality.

Visit our website www.grillopllp.com

The great advantage that building surveyors offer is that their training and experience are technically focussed.

The practical effect of this means their designs tend to be less about pretty pictures and more about buildings that work and fulfil the client’s needs. These skills are enhanced by the second element of a building surveyor’s main

www.c2cbusiness.org.uk COAST TO CAPITAL REGION PARTNERS

5

BRIGHTON, HOVE & LEWES ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP COASTAL WEST SUSSEX PARTNERSHIP CROYDON DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL PARTNERSHIP GATWICK DIAMOND INITIATIVE RURAL WEST SUSSEX PARTNERSHIP

One-to-one support to address your business needs Your local Business Support Navigator will guide you to the right local and national schemes, advice and support to help your business develop and grow.

5 To be put in touch with your local Navigator, call Coast to Capital on 01403 333840

Delivered on behalf of the Greater Brighton City Region

theChamber 35

Legal

Charles Russell Speechlys Guildford Office lands agricultural expert Charles Russell Speechlys’ Guildford office has hired solicitor Jonathan Thompson to boost its services to private clients.

Jonathan previously practised in the North East of England and East Anglia and brings extensive experience in landed estates, rural property and agricultural law advice.

Jonathan is a fellow of the Agricultural Law Association and he joins the 20 strong landed estates sector at the firm.

Jonathan said “I am delighted to have joined Charles Russell Speechlys, to be able to provide agricultural and rural law advice out of our Guildford office to our landed estate clients and their professional advisers, to complement that

36 theChamber

given by my tax and trusts colleagues.”

Sally Ashford, head of private wealth services in the Guildford office said “Our proven ability to offer highly technical tax planning and trusts advice to landed estate owners and businesses, is complemented

by Jonathan’s knowledge and experience of agricultural law, agricultural tenancies and providing advice to landed estates.

We look forward to continuing to provide expert advice to our landed estate clients on a range of private and business issues”.

The firm’s Guildford office has recently moved into new premises at One London Square, Cross Lanes to accommodate their substantial growth over the last few years.

Charles Russell Speechlys is one of the UK’s top 30 law firms and was formed by a merger in November of Charles Russell and Speechly Bircham.

The firm now has 170 partners and 500 lawyers and provides services to businesses and individuals, including private wealth advice. Part of the private wealth offering is advice to landed estates, including tax and trusts planning, agricultural law and rural property advice.

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Members News Are you inspiring or just instructing the next generation of business leaders?

In search of excitement Local charity, St Catherine's Hospice, is inviting Surrey Chambers’ thrill seekers to take part in their brand new challenges.

By Ray Lamb, leadership coach at The Learning Corporation In a complex, volatile, and uncertain world, a ‘top-down’ leadership style cannot sustain growth, innovation and creativity.

Leaders who collaborate will survive and thrive. Unlocking and using the ideas of teams, partners, suppliers and individuals is the way forward.

The 2013 Ketchum Leadership Communication Monitor report describes open and transparent communication as the number one characteristic of an effective leader, yet only 24% of people around the globe believe leaders are effective.

We have a whole new generation of fresh thinking individuals coming into the workplace who, if captured and inspired, will be the key to leading the world back into prosperity and solve the seemingly unsolvable problems of today. This generation are familiar with collaborative and informal environments – they can wear what they like to school and university and have good relationships with teachers, where they are on first name terms and openly discuss feedback on their work.

They use two-way communication constantly – via social and traditional media – and usually several methods at once; democracy and respect in all areas of their lives is expected. Yet often, when they enter the workplace, they meet a traditional ‘command and control’ leadership type where communication is one-way, slow, sapping of energy and inappropriate for the needs of modern business.

Forward-thinking business leaders are capturing and inspiring this new generation and thriving in a challenging and everchanging business landscape by using collaborative leadership techniques.

So what is collaborative leadership?

“Working collaboratively helps businesses to unearth new solutions in a dynamic and more productive way,” says Louise Punter, chief executive of Surrey Chambers of Commerce. “Businesses need to keep up with the evolving workplace landscape in order to thrive. By taking a collaborative approach, leaders can create a mutually beneficial working environment and reach innovative solutions to drive their businesses forward, benefiting all involved.”

38 theChamber

Colleagues are invited to don their superhero capes and abseil 100 feet down the outside of the Sandman Signature Hotel in Crawley,

for the charity's Superhero Abseil, sponsored by fellow GDB members, Elekta.

An exclusive corporate team abseil day is taking place on Friday 17 April and registration is only £25 with a required fundraising target of £150. Any company entering a team of 10 or more will bag themselves a free place for their CEO. Laura Kelly, corporate fundraiser for St Catherine’s, said: “This is a really fun and unusual new challenge for groups of colleagues who want to make an important difference to local people. We are aiming to raise a heroic £11,000 through the abseil, which will make a huge difference in helping us to reach the £5.5m we must raise every year to continue caring for local people with a terminal illness.”

And the excitement doesn't stop there, moving further afield St Catherine's has just launched its first overseas challenge, the Vietnam Hill Tribe Trek. The team of trekkers will have a once in a lifetime experience, challenging themselves and forming strong bonds with their fellow travellers.

For every day of the trek, each trekker will help raise enough money to provide five hours of vital hospice care to someone with a terminal illness.

St Catherine’s Hospice provides end of life care and support to terminally ill people and their families across Crawley, Horsham, East Surrey and Mid Sussex. To find out more about how your company can get involved please contact Laura Kelly, corporate fundraiser on 01293 447 365.

Ten years of quality T2 Consulting has announced the achievement of its ISO 9001 recertification, taking them into their tenth year of UKAS accredited quality management.

T2 Consulting provides a variety of IT-related services, including IT service improvement programme management and bespoke software development.

As with all good processes, having a standard, tried and tested way for managing the generic aspects of customer satisfaction and continual improvement means they can devote more time to individual needs where one-size never fits all.

As announced in the last issue of Surrey Chambers magazine, T2 Consulting has collaborated with Precisely ISO (Admin4QS Ltd) to design, produce and host an elearning environment for members of its ISO 9001 scheme for small businesses.

Providing continual access to dynamic training material that

matches learner needs at every stage of their development, e-learning environments are an evolution from traditional computer based training (CBT), more commonly thought of as the electronic, but static, incarnation of a standard course. At the same time they maintain the established advantages of online training such as repeatable

quality, customer-led pace and green credentials.

The e-learning environment designed and hosted by T2 Consulting for Precisely ISO 9001 is now available and included in the scheme price - contact Mandie Bell for information. For more information about e-learning solutions contact Tracey Torble.

“As with all good processes, having a standard, tried and tested way for managing the generic aspects of customer satisfaction and continual improvement means they can devote more time to individual needs where one-size never fits all.”

Members News

Radisson Blu Edwardian to host Magna Carta Replica To mark this year’s 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, Radisson Blu Edwardian, London, as the official hotel partner to London’s Magna Carta 800 commemorations, has announced they will play host to a replica document in central London.

The replica copy of the 1297 charter supporting public freedoms will be on display for visitors in the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Bloomsbury Street hotel and Radisson Blu Edwardian, Guildford hotel from 23rd March.

The 1297 charter, on display at the City of London Heritage Gallery from 1st June – 1st October, is considered to be one of the finest 13th century Magna Cartas still in existence. Details can be found at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/mc800.

“We’re delighted to be the official hotel partner to the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. We recognise the importance of a strong heritage – we’re proud of ours, having been a London brand since the opening of our first hotel in 1978. Our properties are perfectly located across the capital and in Guildford providing the ideal base when visiting the Magna Carta sites at both the British Library and Runnymede,” said Linda Plant, Group Director of Sales from Edwardian Group London.

In September, together with support from Radisson Blu Edwardian, London, the newly developed Magna Carta Trails and supporting website were launched. In commemoration of the milestone 800 year anniversary of the Magna Carta six new geographic tourist trails, each covering different aspects of the Magna Carta’s story, have been devised. Running from London through Salisbury, Durham and the Midlands, the trails last two or three days and can be found at www.magnacartatrails.com.

BDO invests in premier office space in Guildford Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP is poised to move into one of Guildford’s newest premier office locations as part of its continued expansion and long term investment in Surrey.

BDO is set to relocate its Guildford practice to 31 Chertsey Street in the Spring, having signed a ten year lease. It is taking more than 10,000 sq ft of the office space to accommodate its growing team.

The move comes just two years after the successful merger between PKF and BDO and demonstrates the firm’s long term commitment to Guildford, Surrey and the business community.

BDO, which has been based at Park Street for 25 years, has experienced considerable growth in the last two years with headcount almost doubling to 110 people.

UK-wide BDO employs 3,500 people across 21 offices. In the south east, BDO has offices in Guildford, Gatwick, Reading, Southampton and London.

Partner in charge of BDO in Guildford, Richard Faulkner, commented: “We have gone from strength to strength in the last two years and this was the natural next step for us.

“With our 110-strong team soon to be working together all on one floor, we are confident that we will continue to build on our success and provide even more of what our clients are looking for.”

The team at BDO acts for a wide range of mid-market businesses and individuals in Guildford and Surrey.

Adapting in 2015 to a candidate driven market It doesn’t seem so long ago that employers and recruiters were enjoying working with huge numbers of candidates across all levels. However throughout the course of recent months confidence to hire key positions has become much stronger and this in turn has now led to there being fewer potential candidates in the available pool of talent.

Today's businesses really need to work harder to stay close to their existing staff. Spending the requisite time with current team members to ensure all is well, conducting timely appraisals and identifying any issues will be time well spent and place you in a good position to retain key members of staff.

If you do need to replace someone, ensure you give yourself as much time as you can. If you are able to work with an agency, you will find it beneficial to build a relationship with a local company as these recruiters will be far more familiar with the local talent pool. Try to meet with your recruiter in person so they are better placed to really understand

your business. This relationship will make all the difference to ensure you hear about the best candidates as soon as they come to market.

One final point. Employers will also experience an increased risk of counter offers and/or see candidates achieving more than one job offer. It is worth bearing in mind that candidates will look at the whole package when accepting an offer – benefits, working conditions, team environment, location, future prospects. Do make sure you spend the required about of time to ensure the future candidate appreciates the medium term picture that you can offer them.

... works with finance and accounting professionals resident locally in the Surrey area recruiting for both Public Practice and also for commercial businesses in the local area.

If you would like to have a confidential chat please contact Lisa Wintrip on

01372 364 160 www.fletchergeorge.co.uk

theChamber 39

Technology Showcase

And in the beginning...

Legend has it, and the man himself concurs, the term ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) was first used by Kevin Ashton in 1999 while speaking at a conference about radio frequency identification (RFID) and Procter and Gamble’s supply chain.

Welcome to the Technology Showcase Welcome to our Technology Showcase.

I confess to writing this edition in the cafe of a wellknown supermarket. In fact it is actually an ideal location to let thoughts of this issue’s theme run wild. Why? Well, this time we are looking into the world of the Internet of Things.

I hope you enjoy reading and if you have any interesting technologyrelated stories or news to share please drop me a line at elaine@ehenterprises.com.

Elaine

Kevins premise being that the bulk of information on the internet and computers had, at the time, been collected and collated by human endeavour with all the accompanying inaccuracies and time constraints.

In an environment made up of tangible objects, what if computers were able to collect unadulterated data on ‘things’, unfettered by human constraints? Wouldn’t this allow us to monitor, track and measure everything to help manage waste and reduce costs?

Skip forward to 2015 and these insights have long since become a reality. Systems are now in place to support consumer, community and industrial applications. Smart cities, e-health, smart water (more of that later) and smart agriculture are now possible thanks to Internet of Things technologies.

Before we touch on these areas let us consider a more consumerfocused example, the supermarket / cafe experience.

Dr Elaine Hickmott is Creator of The Diamond Effect and Technology Ambassador for Surrey Chambers of Commerce. www.eh-enterprises.com

40 theChamber

Super-charged service or burgeoning big brother?

Imagine the scenario, an individual walks into a supermarket, not only does a sensor register them as ‘headcount’ data, which can contribute to managing checkout

resourcing, the presence of their loyalty card gives them an identity.

Previously collected data shows their shopping preferences and patterns and when a sensor locates them at the appropriate aisle a special offer voucher for a known product of choice is sent to their smart phone. On reaching the checkout they use their loyalty card and printed on their receipt is a voucher, valid only on that day, for a cake to go with a frothy coffee. Past data trends have indicated that, if it is a Friday, they usually visit the cafe.

Despite the fascinating technologies and amazing possibilities, on another level consumer-related Internet of Things scenarios like this make me feel slightly uneasy. While potentially making our lives easier, the quantity of data collected and the way it is interpreted can actually build a startlingly rich portrait of our lives and behaviours.

These issues of privacy and security are challenges that cannot be underestimated as momentum builds. In an article for ‘Business Technology’ Rod O’Shea, director of IoT for Intel, explained, “The industry must assure people that their privacy is being not only protected, but also respected. Achieving both requires a re-think in how technologies are designed and deployed.”

As with any developing technology, the impact, applications and implications of the Internet of Things extend far beyond the technical detail. It is also important to remember that the consumer arena is only one of a broad range benefiting from Internet of Things technologies. Many other exciting new developments are evolving in industrial and enterprise-focused sectors; including those helping to manage scarce resources and improve operation efficiency.

Natural resources receive the IoT touch We are blessed with an array of technology talent in Surrey so it comes as no surprise that the county is home to a company operating at the forefront of applying Internet of Things technologies to controlling water sources. Though its work with Basingstoke Canal, built in the eighteenth century, Aquamatix is providing real-time monitoring to conserve water and reduce energy consumed by canal operations. The company is supplying leading edge technologies from the Internet of Things to provide a variety of tools for canal rangers to monitor water levels and flows and pumping station activity. Canal users will also be able to access information online; the aim is to help improve

their enjoyment and understanding of the canal and its environment.

Laurie Reynolds, managing director of Aquamatix recently told SETsquared Surrey, “We have been working with Basingstoke Canal for over two years to develop this innovative solution to their water management challenge. We are excited to be part of a team realising a tangible benefit for canal users by applying Internet of Things technology to this unique environment, and creating the first smart canal!”

Laurie and Aquamatix are definitely well placed to help solve some of the challenges we face with water management and conservation both globally and at home.

If you would like to learn more about Aquamatix please visit their website www.aquamatix.net.

Connectivity: A few words about data and devices Ironically, to date, the connectivity at the heart of the Internet of Things movement has not yet been extended into a universal, joined up standard for the IoT market. The reality is companies continue to build web-connected devices to their own platform standards which in turn may have implications for interoperability, data sharing and compatibility. Bearing in mind Gartner’s prediction of 4.9 billion devices in use within the IoT industry by the end of 2015, the

need to reach standardisation continues to grow in importance.

Fortunately, the UK government-backed HyperCat Initiative is currently addressing this issue; its aim to create common, secure standards and protocols which will allow devices to talk to each other and understand data regardless of make and location. As well as being good news for the IoT industry, it is even better news for our county as Surrey-based software company, Flexeye, are lead partners of the HyperCat Consortium.

Led by chairman and CEO, Justin Anderson, the company has been a key player in the Internet of Things phenomenon for many years and is also known for the Innovate UK funded Eyehub project. Its contribution to the local community includes applications which enhance safety and security on the University of Surrey campus and allow Guildford Borough Council to measure noise within the town and use the information to make improvements.

The connectivity and data-sharing power of the Internet of Things, whether in a smart city context, in our consumer lives or in an industrial setting, bring opportunities and challenges.

Whatever new technologies and changes are on the horizon, with organisations like Flexeye pushing the boundaries on standardisation and applications, the future for Internet of Things certainly looks bright.

If you would like to learn more about Flexeye please visit their website www.flexeye.com.

Calling all technology companies!

Join Flexeye, Aquamatix and other expert speakers for discussion and debate at Surrey Chambers’ Internet of Things event on the evening of Thursday 23rd April 2015 at the University of Surrey. You will gain insights into the opportunities brought by the Internet of Things and learn how others are already taking advantage of the potential for new applications and services.

For more information please contact Carol Squires on carol.squires@surrey-chambers.co.uk.

Part of the Technology Forum series of events.

TeenTech Surrey 2015: Call for sponsors!

TeenTech Surrey is our county’s flagship STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) event. Its interactive, hands-on format unites young people and employers and continues to encourage and inspire our next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians. To sponsor this fantastic oneday event please contact Dr Beccy Bowden, CEO of Satro, on teentech@satro.org.uk

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Software Solutions

Looking after your workforce with Frontier Software Looking after the workforce, and paying them, is an important function in any business.

Whether it is a dedicated HR officer role, or assigned to another member of the administration team, these tasks can be made simpler and easier when they have the backup of a first class HR system. Frontier Software is a leading force in providing integrated HR software solutions, with more than 1500 clients in 15 countries, and can provide that first class system.

Frontier Software’s comprehensive human resource integrated solution, chris21, offers a complete HR solution with a range of additional modules including payroll, learning & development, e-recruitment, employee and manager self service and time and attendance. chris21 creates a centralised, virtual HR office and allows extensive maintenance of HR information with one time data entry and a flexible, user-friendly report designer. chris21 builds a complete history of every employee and allows enquiries and reports on career history, equal opportunity data, addresses, allowances/benefits, salary history and security and auditing. TPS and LGPS returns are included as standard functionality.

The Payroll Management module features comprehensive payroll rules to meet statutory compliance, stringent payroll requirements and comprehensive auditing and security facilities. All payroll parameters can be user-defined

according to business and statutory requirements and include unlimited number of allowances / benefits, deductions, pension / superannuation schemes and history; taxation rules, tax codes, pay points (office or department), company policy regarding paid and unpaid absence, bonuses, etc and costing and cost splitting.

The software is Real Time Information (RTI) and autoenrolment complaint and has successfully passed the HMRC PAYE Recognition Scheme. chris21 historical data is always available, even when an employee leaves the organisation.

Reports and payslips can be produced in electronic format as well as traditional print. A wide variety of standard payroll reports are available to satisfy the diverse needs of business managers, including payroll, financial management, statutory, auditors and external agencies.

Where organisations have a payroll function, the Frontier Software payroll management module offers a flexible and comprehensive approach to payroll administration and ensures that employees are paid accurately, on time and in accordance with legislation.

For the third year, Frontier Software has successfully passed the HMRC PAYE Recognition Scheme. chris21 is an open platform offering true scalability. It can accommodate 1-1,000 users, whilst the database can hold information on an unlimited number of employees.

Data migration and/or conversion from legacy systems is achieved by using the Smart Import/Export Manager, a simple to use and cost effective solution.

Frontier Software also provides extensive support following each installation. “We employ HR and payroll professionals,” says Michael Howard, Founder and Managing Director, Frontier Software.

“Our support covers project management, helpdesk, user training, data conversion/migration and software upgrades.”

“chris21 historical data is always available, even when an employee leaves the organisation. Reports and payslips can be produced in electronic format as well as traditional print.

A wide variety of standard payroll reports are available to satisfy the diverse needs of business managers, including payroll, financial management, statutory, auditors and external agencies.”

Client support also includes legislative changes and updates and software enhancements.

The Frontier Software website is a 24/7 communications hub for providing the latest information to clients. Users can access product information, book training courses and user group meetings, update contact data and review helpdesk queries.

For those businesses with limited resources, Frontier Software also offers a Payroll Outsourcing service.

From two UK processing centres, the Payroll Outsourcing Service offers traditional ‘process and deliver’ type bureau arrangements through to outsourced and fullymanaged service contracts, all with automatic legislative updates.

The service is BACS approved and can include secure online access to payroll data, HR and accounting data with unlimited Helpdesk support. Individual payroll requirements or anomalies specific to the education sector can also be accommodated. “We offer a high standard of customer care,” explains Michael Howard.

“We also acknowledge that customer relationships are vital in delivering a successful service.

Cost reduction, flexibility, accuracy and trust are our customers’ main requirements.”

Frontier Software professionals are well-qualified and experienced in all aspects of payroll administration and management. Many are former payroll managers with formal qualifications.

The service is supported by a full Business Continuity Process and disaster recovery service.

To find out more about the Frontier Software HR and payroll integrated software solution and services, call 0845 370 3210, email sales@frontiersoftware or visit www.frontiersoftware.com.

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Members News

Clandon Wood shortlisted for Toast of Surrey Business Awards 2015 Clandon Wood Surrey Hills Natural Burial Reserve has been shortlisted for the Toast of Surrey Business Awards 2015 in the Green Award category.

Surrey Chambers reveals Surrey’s top businesswomen Surrey Chambers Business Women in Surrey (BWiS) revealed the top 10 women on its inaugural Top Businesswomen in Surrey List this week (10 March) at a special flagship event to celebrate International Women’s Day. Held at the WWF Living Planet Centre in Woking, 120 guests listened to inspiring speeches from senior women including Rosemary French of Gatwick Diamond, Jenny Tomley from Redaway Blackmore, Rio Tinto’s Anne Stevens, Darshana Ubl of Entrevo, Tracey Horner from CARE International, and MP for Guildford Anne Milton.

The common theme from all was women should celebrate their achievements in the workplace much more and shout from the rooftops about their successes.

The BWiS 2015 Top 50 Businesswomen in Surrey List was then revealed, with certificates and flowers for the top 10 presented by Surrey Chambers chief executive Louise Punter, and BWiS co-chairs Sally Pritchett, director, Something Big, and Claire Dee, director, Claire Dee Communications.

Louise Punter, chief executive, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, said: “It was a fabulous evening with lots of talented women and men in the room keen to celebrate all that is great about businesswomen in Surrey. Success can be defined in a multitude of ways, so nominations from all walks of life were invited, and we received over 70 in total with 4,000 people voting to determine the final list.”

The BWiS 2015 Top 10 Businesswomen in Surrey are: • Adele Parks - Author • Beverley Cuddy - Dogs Today • Caroline Harrap - Surrey Life • Helen Collins - Surrey Police • Helen Parlane - Colgate-Palmolive • Louise Stead - Royal Surrey • Marilyn Scott - The Lightbox • Perdita Hunt - Watts Gallery • Robyn Dunwoodie - Miller Brands • Sarah Giles - Projectfive

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Clandon Wood is located in West Clandon in Surrey and was officially opened by the Mayor of Guildford in June 2013, since then it has become an award winning burial ground. In 2014 Clandon Wood was voted the Best Natural Burial Ground in the UK, gained Green Flag status from the Keep Britain Tidy charity and won Cemetery of the Year 2014/15 voted by The Good Funeral Awards.

Judges at the Funeral Awards said that one of the reasons that Clandon Wood won Best Cemetery of the Year, was due to a

combination of outstanding client care, combined with the creation of a sacred space. Clandon Wood is a special memorial landscape that provides some therapeutic benefit to the bereaved.

Simon Ferrar, Business Development Manager of Clandon Wood said, “We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for the Toast of Surrey Business Awards 2015 in the Green Award category.

We have worked very hard to create a green space that not only supports an abundance of wildlife but that provides families with somewhere quite special and

unique to hold a funeral. Natural burial is for any denomination whatever your faith or beliefs and is calm and unhurried. We never hold more than two funerals a day.”

Natural burial creates new and sustainable environments for wildlife. The body is buried in its natural state, in a shallow grave, using a biodegradable coffin such as willow, natural pine, banana leaf, recycled cardboard or even a simple woollen shroud. Considered land management practices enable the cemetery to be used for burials whilst creating a beneficial, natural resource for nature.

Natural burial also provides an obvious solution to the growing shortage of burial space in local authority cemeteries across the UK and is a really responsible and ecologically sound alternative to cremation. Clandon Wood is also the first natural burial ground to join forces with a local authority, providing Mole Valley District Council with their burial provision when they run out of space in a few years time.

To find out more about Clandon Wood please take a look at the website at www.clandonwood.com or call the office on 01483 479614.

Company offers safety training Shield Associates are specialists in delivering bespoke personal safety training to private, voluntary and public sector organisations.

They have a network of experienced, Home Office-qualified instructors and the courses are nationally accredited All of the instructors are serving or retired police officers that have delivered training to thousands of people.

Those who could benefit from the training include: • Lone Workers (e.g. – carers, estate agents, parking wardens, bus drivers, debt recovery agents etc.)

• Those interested in self-defence and escape training

• Those managers and staff undertaking public facing roles • Teachers and support staff, especially those in special needs environments • College & University students, especially those taking gap years or undertaking extended foreign travel • School children in transition years or leavers programmes.

• Managers and staff undertaking foreign travel • Vulnerable groups or individuals

New Members

Surrey Chambers of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies: Alpha Fry Ltd (Fernox) Justin Schildkamp Manufacturing

01483 793200

Attractive Marketing Nicola Macdonald 07565 382803 www.attractivemarketing.biz Marketing & PR Balance-Rite Osteopathy Clinic Karen Brewer 01932 988684 www.balance-rite.co.uk Health & Social Work Binalogic Consulting Ltd Dee Stevens 01483 533882 www.binalogic.co.uk IT and communications Bright Leadership Ltd Daniel Lewis 01932 820878 www.brightleadership.com Training & Education Business Doctors Karen Espley 07979 866453 www.businessdoctors.co.uk Business Support Claridge House Kirstie Sessford 01342 832150 www.claridgehousequaker.org.uk Charity CT Trade Missions Lyndsay Snowden Miscellaneous

01892 673435

Dazzle & Fizz Parties Charlotte Brisco 01932 961422 www.dazzleandfizzparties.co.uk Leisure Excell Design Richard Excell www.excelldesign.co.uk Marketing & PR Feefo Paul Squires www.feefo.com IT and communications Fish Climb Trees Melanie Loizou Business Consultants

Fletcher George Recruitment Ltd 01372 364160 Darran Crellin www.fletchergeorge.co.uk Recruitment & HR

Sarah Henbrey Coaching & Consulting Ltd Sarah Henbrey 07411 483319 www.sarahhenbrey.co.uk Recruitment & HR

Horizon Imaging David Hogg 01483 610535 www.horizonimaging.co.uk Marketing & PR

Setfords Solicitors Joshua Shuardson - Hipkin 01483 408780 www.setfords.co.uk Legal

Men Rock Paul Johnson www.menrock.co.uk Retail/wholesale

Silks Event Promotions Ltd David Clark 07511 371137 www.silkseventpromotions.com Leisure

Mumbu Nick Garnett www.mumbu.com Recruitment & HR

08456 432459

07976 811518

Nicky Kriel Social Media Nicky Kriel 02032 863144 www.nickykriel.com Marketing & PR

Tenzor Ltd Igor Zax www.tenzor.co.uk Business Consultants

Peer Productions Claire Knight 01483 476825 www.peerproductions.co.uk Charity

Terzo Digital Ltd Neil Tubman www.terzodigital.com IT and communications

Pepperpot Digital Ltd Trevor Fordyce 02037 711980 www.pepperpotdigital.co.uk Marketing & PR

The Alternative Board (West Surrey) Leslie Woodcock 01306 713344 www.guildfordwoking.thealternativeboard.co.uk Business Support

Peregrine Cloud Ltd Tony Foy 01483 661445 www.peregrinecloud.com IT and communications

Tigerlily Childcare Surrey Division Lorraine Clements 02033 940593 www.tigerlilychildcare.co.uk Recruitment & HR

01273 964065

Preface Studios Arps Patel 01252 820022 www.prefacestudios.com Marketing & PR

02033 624209

Property House Marketing Nikki Ackerley 01483 561119 www.propertyhouse.co.uk Marketing & PR

07887 547093

Sutton Green Golf Club Bernard White 01483 747898 www.suttongreengc.co.uk Leisure

Rispin Marketing and Performance Training Vanessa Rispin 07835 562760 www.rispinwebmarketing.com Marketing & PR

07775 708426

Town & Country Cleaning Lee Turner 08452 222000 www.townandcountrycleaning.com Miscellaneous Uplander Ltd James Inman www.uplander.co.uk

01483 200440

Virgin Active Mark Townsend www.virginactive.co.uk Leisure

01784 419350

Woking Schools Learning Partnership Ruth Murton 07711 038341 Training & Education

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Chamber Events

Key events coming up in Surrey Chambers’ calendar Business Women in Surrey at Pennyhill Park

25 March 2015 Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa, Bagshot Member £22.00 Non Member £40.00 15.30 - 17.30pm

Chamber Connections

Spelthorne and Runnymede Breakfast 1 April 2015 Holiday Inn Shepperton Member £12.00 Non Member £20.00 08.00 – 09.30am

Generate more leads, grow your business 7 ways to maximise your online presence 2 April 2015 Export House, Woking Member £12.00 Non Member £20.00 08.30 - 10.30am Identify which digital marketing tools will ensure you reach the most prospects searching for your products or services online. In simple nontechnical language, learn how to move ahead of your competitors online.

Learn how to save time, focus your efforts and generate the most leads from your website.

Chamber Connections Woking Breakfast

8 April 2015 De Veres Venues – Gorse Hill, Woking Member £12.00 Non Member £20.00 08.00 – 09.30am

Badminton Networking Event 10 April 2015 Lightwater Leisure Centre, Lightwater Member £10.00 Non Member £15.00 18.00 - 20.00pm

Chamber Connections Elmbridge Breakfast

14 April 2015 Burhill Golf Club, Burwood Road Member £12.00 Non Member £20.00 08.00 – 09.30am

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Chamber Events

Incoterms

Half day course for exporters 15 April 2015 Export House, Woking Member £125.00 Non Member £175.00 09.15 – 12.30pm Using the correct Incoterm (FCA, FOB, CIF) is an essential part of any international trade contract. When goods are shipped in international markets the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Incoterm defines clearly for both the seller and the buyer which party is responsible for the costs, risks, delivery and obligations for the goods during their transit. This course will provide an up-date on the changes and highlight the main differences between the old and the new terms.

Chamber Connections Reigate and Banstead

16 April 2015 Reigate Heath Golf Club Member £12.00 Non Member £20.00 08.00 – 09.30am

The One Hour MBA 21 April 2015 Forfront Offices, Epsom Member £10.00 Non Member £20.00 18.00 – 20.00pm For professionals looking to develop the knowledge and skills needed to fast-track their business careers, an MBA (Master of Business Administration) is an essential ingredient for success. Surrey Business School would like to invite you to this informative taster session.

Open 18 Hole Golf Competition for The Presidents Cup at Foxhills Golf Club 22 April 2015 Foxhills Resort & Spa Member £76.67 Non Member £100.00 12.30 - 21.00pm

Afternoon Tea

at the 16th Century Langshott Manor 23 April 2015 Langshott Manor, Horley Member £20.00 Non Member £30.00 15.30 – 17.00pm Surrey Chambers would like to invite to afternoon tea networking event at Langshott Manor. Langshott Manor, an exquisite four red-star hotel in Surrey. This remarkable venue blends classic character with contemporary and well-thought design.

Members Networking Evening 28 April 2015 Toyota HQ, Burgh Heath Member Free Non Member £30.00 18.30 – 20.30pm Get Connected! Join members and non members for another networking opportunity. Networking is a sure fire way to creating sales and ultimately growing your business. Developing fresh, new and long lasting business contacts is a constant need for any business wishing to succeed. The question is, “Are you networking enough”?

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Members Benefits

Chambers members special offer!

Affordable business training at Guildford College If you’re a business owner, a freelancer, self-employed or a company employee and feel that certain aspects of your commercial knowledge could do with brushing up this Spring, then the Guildford College Group might have just what you’re looking for!

Services to Business (the commercial arm of the group) introduce the launch of a range of one-day short courses in response to demand from local businesses in the Guildford area.

All courses have been developed and are delivered by qualified trainers who have relevant and extensive business experience, with the ability to adapt the context of each course in relation to specific business goals.

Initially offering a range of six courses, delegates can choose from courses such as; Understanding Employment Law, Cyber Security and Finance for Non-Financial Managers, New to Team Leading/Newly Appointed Managers, Starting a New Business and Growing your Business.

These courses will appeal and be beneficial to enterprises of all sizes, with more being added to the portfolio within the coming months.

The college’s new head of Services to Business, Ben Geeson, explains that “We are really excited to be offering these short courses. Training is a proven way to strengthen the workforce and ultimately grow the business. The courses we are putting on will bring real added value to the local business community.”

Usually offered at £195, the college is pleased to offer chambers members a special discount price of £160 per head, which includes refreshments, lunch and parking.

For more details or to book a course, visit www.servicestobusiness.net. To claim this special offer, please use the discount code S2B upon booking. With limited spaces, these great value, popular courses will sell out fast so book your place soon to avoid disappointment!

Guildford College also offer apprenticeships and is dedicated to providing businesses with cost effective, productive and a motivated workforce. If you have considered hiring an apprentice or would like more information about apprenticeships, please contact Services to Business on 01483 44 85 30 or email: employers@guildford.ac.uk

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Town & Country Cleaning joins Surrey Chambers of Commerce Town & Country Cleaning has joined the Surrey Chambers of Commerce with a challenge to the Chamber.

Lee Turner, Managing Director of Town & Country Cleaning said, “We are proud to be a full member of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce and look forward to attending many events.

My challenge to the Chamber is to drive more relationships / referral between members and to lobby for SME business to get paid sooner”.

Town & Country Cleaning is a leading independent company with experience of contract cleaning since 1977 and many of our customers and staff have been with us for over 10 years. We are corporate members of the BIFM (British Institute of Facilities Management), ISO9001 accredited, insured to £10m and committed to our stated values with a focus on customer care.

Member Offer: • FREE No Obligation Consultation • FREE Report – 15 Things to Consider with Selecting a Cleaning Company • 10% OFF for all Chamber Members Contact: info@townandcountrycleaning.com www.townandcountrycleaning.com

A new state of the art website for Raycross Interiors With stunning new kitchens, bathrooms & bedrooms recently completed for clients, it was the ideal opportunity for Raycross Interiors to totally transform their existing website and launch a fabulous new state of the art website.

The site has been designed so whichever device you are viewing the site on, it will be responsive… so you can take Raycross Interiors with you everywhere you go!

Take a look for yourself at www.raycross.co.uk and see an enviable portfolio of completed customer projects, along with all the latest trends in kitchen, bathroom & bedroom design.

With their unique interior design service, the same person from your initial consultation through to your project completion,

Raycross Interiors delivers an outstanding customer service.

To celebrate the launch of the new site, Raycross Interiors are giving Surrey Chambers readers the chance to win a cookery class with our colleagues at Surrey Hills Cookery School.

Simply go the Raycross Interiors Facebook page and ‘LIKE’ it and you will automatically be entered for your chance to win. Last date for ‘LIKES’ will be Friday 20th March 2015.

Terms & Conditions of entry apply - for further details, visit www.raycross.co.uk/blog To fully appreciate their Kitchens, Bathrooms & Bedrooms visit the extensive showroom in Byfleet Village, Surrey where the speciality coffee is always free-flowing and home-made baking will certainly tempt your taste buds!

For further information visit www.raycross.co.uk

Member News

Eleanor Lemon awarded 2014 APFS Award by the Guildford Insurance Institute Eleanor Lemon, a Chartered Financial Planner at the Guildford office of Smith & Williamson, the accountancy and investment management group, has been awarded the 2014 APFS award at the recent ceremony for the Guildford Insurance Institute.

The award recognises the highest scores in the CII AF5 Financial Planning Process qualification.

Eleanor Lemon said: “I am delighted to receive this award in front of so many of my peers. I really enjoy working with private clients and I am looking forward to taking on more responsibility following my qualification.”

Eleanor joined Smith & Williamson in 2014 in the financial services department and provides independent financial planning advice to private clients. Eleanor has previously worked with private clients for over a decade.

The award dinner was held on 6 February 2014 at GLive where Eleanor was invited as a guest of the institute’s president, William Simms.

Andrew Yonge, associate director of financial services at Smith & Williamson said “We are very proud that Eleanor has achieved such an award for her efforts.

She is an asset to the team and this award demonstrates the commitment of Smith & Williamson to ongoing development and professionalism.”

The Storage Pod - ideal for de-cluttering your house With spring fast approaching, are you thinking about selling your home?

If so a good de-clutter will help! It can help your home to look more attractive and spacious in the photos and also when it comes time for the viewings. Here at The Storage Pod we have come up with some advice to help you with the de-cluttering process.

Have a look around your home, make a list of all the little bits that you keep meaning to do and all the things you want to tidy away and work through it. Simple paint touch ups can make a huge difference, as can putting away that pile of magazines and DVDs! A buyer will want to see the true potential of your property and what it will look like with their furniture in it. Some might find that difficult to visualise so help them out by minimalizing unnecessary décor and furniture, but make sure to keep some of your own personality in the property to show it’s a well-loved home.

There’s nothing better than walking into a house smelling of home baking or fresh coffee, or why not try some fresh cut

flowers near the entrance and use a few lightly scented plug-ins.

Once you have all your excess items boxed up, give us a call on 01932 353700 or email info@thestoragepod.com and we can estimate the size Pod you will need to keep your items in.

We have sizes to suit your needs, from a telephone booth, up to a double garage, and lots of sizes in between. We also sell packaging materials.

Don’t miss our amazing ‘Half Price for up to 3 Months Storage’ and ‘20% off Boxes’ offers!

Top Guildford accountancy firm announces successful merger Top 20 UK accountancy firm, Wilkins Kennedy LLP’s Guildford office, has just announced a successful merger with fellow Guildford-based firm, McPherson’s.

Based on Chertsey Street, McPherson’s has offered accountancy services to small and medium sized businesses from London to the south coast for the last 25 years.

In November 2014, McPherson’s merged with Wilkins Kennedy, bringing a further range of services and offerings to their flourishing portfolio, including personal and family finances, tax planning and small business services.

This is not the first successful merger for Wilkins Kennedy LLP, who as a firm announced a merger with Hampshire-based firms Matthews Mist in 2013 and also with CW Fellowes later on that year.

Ken Young, partner for Wilkins Kennedy Guildford said: “McPherson’s is a wellestablished name in the accountancy field in its own right, so merging with Wilkins Kennedy makes for a good match and will bring a number of new opportunities to us. We’d like to take the chance to say welcome on board to the new staff from the McPherson’s team to the Wilkins Kennedy family.”

Keith McPherson, who is the owner of McPherson Accountancy said: “We’re so pleased to be merging with one of the top names in the accounting industry and a smooth and simple process made the transaction even easier.

We are looking forward to our future with Wilkins Kennedy.”

Wilkins Kennedy LLP has two offices in Surrey, along with 14 other offices in the south east of England – www.wilkinskennedy.com

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Chamber Chat

5 minutes with...

FurnitureLink Explain FurnitureLink to someone unfamiliar with the business: We are a Surrey wide charity that collects unwanted furniture and household goods then offers them for sale as "affordable furniture for all". We are primarily staffed by volunteers who contribute over 600 hours a month to the project, we serve over 3500 Surrey families a year by diverting 150,000 kgs of goods from landfill.

What 3 words would you use to explain your company?

Friendly, caring and supportive.

What differentiates your organisation from others?

We have a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;can doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attitude towards clients and want to make their lives easier. A number of our customers have one or two dramas to contend with and their experience of FurnitureLink is made so much easier as the volunteers staffing our showroom & manning the van may also have known hardship and can offer empathy but not sympathy at this difficult time.

A good number of clients visiting us go onto volunteer as they "want to put something back" for gaining free or low cost items.

What is your vision for the future of the business?

We are looking to establish a workshop within the next 3 months to repair, recycle and create pieces of furniture, offering valuable opportunities to marginalised individuals to learn and grow whilst contributing to FurnitureLink's KPI's.

We would also like to mirror our Guildford showroom operation in other areas of Surrey which we are working on at the moment.

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What advice would you give to a company considering setting up in Surrey?

Surrey is a fine county and served by great infrastructure. We are ideally placed in all respects and have no shortage of skills to fill any given post. I get the impression that the council are never looking to "just" sit back and that they are constantly looking to evolve and improve the business platform.

Surrey has towns and countryside so there are clients for most types of business, even if like us they are looking to operate on a local level.

If you were telling another business person about the chamber what would you say?

Its well worth joining and they host more events than you could ever hope to attend, all of which are relevant and well constructed.

There is always someone you can get advice from on the end of the phone and point you in the right direction.

And finally, as a Surrey business, what do you see as the local key factors for success/growth over the next 12 months?

I think the roads in and out of Guildford could be improved especially in and out of Slyfield Ind Est which I know is on the radar of the council.

Apprenticeships Good for Business 96% of employers who take on an apprentice report benefits to their business

88% of companies who employ apprentices believe that they lead to a more motivated workforce 77% of businesses who take on apprentices believe they make them more competitive Apprenticeships offered in over 35 subject areas.

Our dedicated Apprenticeships team are here to support you throughout the recruitment and selection process ÂŁ1500 grants available. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out - call us today!

More than 100,000 employers use Apprenticeships to attract new talent, re-skill existing staff and tackle skill shortages.

Why not join them and see the benefits for yourself?

For more information: Visit www.servicestobusiness.net Call 01483 44 85 30 or Email employers@guildford.ac.uk

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Heathrow expansion

In every corner, they’re in our corner.

By the Airports Commission’s own figures, expanding Heathrow will create up to 180,000 new jobs and deliver up to £211 billion of economic benefits the length and breadth of Britain.

From the British International Freight Association to no fewer than 30 Chambers of Commerce, as far apart as Kent and Inverness.

Which explains why we’re getting support from all parts of the country, and all corners of the economy.

They’re joining the growing support behind building on the success of Britain’s world-class hub airport.

From residents in our local boroughs, to other UK airports including Aberdeen, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Because they know the best place to connect Britain to future growth – is the place that already does.

heathrow.com/takingbritainfurther

#TakingBritainFurther

Source: Airports Commission, “Heathrow Airport North West Runway: Business Case and Sustainability Assessment”, November 2014.