Borough Business Kingston Upon Thames Chamber of Commerce June 2020

BOROUGH

BUSINESS The voice of Kingston’s business community

The Journey to Business Recovery As lockdown eases across the borough, we look at what businesses should consider when they relaunch p16

Inside • Welcome to New Members p4 • Patron News p8 • Digital Poverty p14 • • The Big Interview with Barwell Business Park p24 • The Person Behind the Business p29 •

Issue 17: Summer 2020

Professional training and development programmes to meet your business needs.

At Kingston College we are committed to working in partnership to support your organisation’s skills, employment, Apprenticeship and training strategies.

For a FREE skills assessment or for more information please contact: 020 8546 2151. kingston-college.ac.uk

contents Welcome to New Members 4 Economy 7 Patron News 8-9 New 10 Skills 12-13 Digital Poverty 14-15 Cover Feature - Business Recovery 16-18 Ask the Expert 21 Chamber Events 22-23 The Big Interview 24-25 Health and Wellbeing 27 The Person behind the business 29 A day in the life 30 Top Tips 31 Membership 33 Starting up 34 Editorial and General Enquiries Guildhall, High Street Kingston upon Thames. KT1 1EU. 020 8541 4441 Email: office@kingstonchamber.co.uk Web: www.kingstonchamber.co.uk Chief Executive: Forbes Low Publisher: Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com Published Summer 2020 © Benham Publishing and Kingston Chamber of Commerce Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com Production Manager Peter Wilkinson Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: peter@benhampublishing.com

WELCOME TO

BOROUGH BUSINESS The Kingston Chamber of Commerce magazine for all Businesses in Kingston Since my last lead article for Borough Business, we have all experienced the blunt emotional and economical consequences of COVID 19. It has put a sudden hold on everything we used to take for granted and questioned so many of our personal, wellbeing and business values.

The consequences and long-term health of our borough will not be easy.

I am very proud of the spirit of the business community who have responded to COVID 19 by reinventing themselves and looking at new business models. This is far from easy to do when there is so much unpredictability swirling around. There are many pressures ahead though and we will continue to do the best we can to support businesses.

The use of technology has played a significant part in re-imagining how we can work but even here, the pandemic has highlighted the issues of digital poverty, with many lacking decent broadband or access to laptops or computers.

Kingston Council have had to respond to unprecedented demands to deliver the Government grants and this has been logistically very challenging. They have responded well compared to many other London Councils. There has been regular dialogue with the Chamber and I believe that we have both learnt and benefitted from the closer partnership.

The pandemic has highlighted the inequalities we have in our society.

The growing divide between the haves and the have nots will become even more obvious.

The traditional strengths in Kingston, such as retail, education, the creative sector and hospitality, have all been hit hard. What is vital is how we get active, we cannot afford to be passive. In that spirit, I am delighted to say that the Chamber is hosting an online Kingston Business EXPO on July 8th. Whilst many events are being cancelled, we are determined to create a platform for businesses to network, learn and participate, and enjoy!

I must thank the fantastic Chamber team for their tireless work, under demanding time pressures. They have not ducked or moaned but just kept delivering in difficult circumstances.

For many of you, this period has placed huge strains on juggling family life, elderly parents, work and preventing loneliness to overwhelm.

As we come through this, I hope we take the best parts of our behaviour forward. We will need to have empathy, patience and confidence: an awareness that we are all the same. I heard this the other day and I believe this is where we should all stand.

My health is your health, and your health is my health.

Forbes Low CEO Kingston Chamber of Commerce forbes@kingstonchamber.co.uk

Media No. 1762 Disclaimer

Borough Business is published for Kingston Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in Borough Business are not necessarily those of Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2020. Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

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Patron Members

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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join us

Welcome

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

to our new members Avatar Cleaning Services Ltd John Zapata Restrepo

Peter was thrilled he could get his business noticed online through the Chamber networks

www.avatarservices.co.uk

GetAheadVA - West Surrey Marie Peters

Peppy Group (UK) Ltd Angela Kan www.peppygroup.com

Signature of Coombe Hill Manor Jane Knight www.signature-care-homes.co.uk

www.getaheadva.com/west-surrey

Spark Joy London

Paul Millard Design Ltd

Your Marketing Mentor

Paul Millard www.paulmillarddesign.com

Katrina Hassan www.sparkjoylondon.com

Celia Rizothanasi www.yourmarketingmentor.co.uk

Reasons to join...

Membership of Kingston Chamber of Commerce brings a wealth of immediate benefits to your business.

“ As a small business owner, networking with others through the Chamber is a key way for me to build business relationships and get mutual support.

In these turbulent times it’s even more critical to interact with others who are experiencing similar issues.”

Amanda Cullen

Business Made Simpler Coaching and Workshops for Small Business Owners For more information or to discuss how we can help you, please contact us at:

Kingston Chamber of Commerce T: 020 8541 4441 E: natalie@kingstonchamber.co.uk W: www.kingstonchamber.co.uk Connect with us on

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@KingstonCOC

Kingston CoC

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Welcoming, professional and supportive environment Two successful business Expos; Kingston and Chessington Regular networking events and webinars Local supply chain opportunities and excellent links to the wider local community Advocacy for businesses to strategic partners and MPs in the borough Learning opportunities and affordable training on all business-related matters Coming soon; the new Kingston Borough Business Awards (KBBA)

Find out how to join and learn how others are benefiting from their membership. www.kingstonchamber.co.uk

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

hr dept Porter the Sorter Ask our resident HR expert, Sandra Porter of The HR Dept for advice on your workplace worries.

‘But it was only banter!’

We have recently been managing a sexual harassment claim from an employee against one of our Clients. The employee claims that she received unwanted, offensive and humiliating attention at a work party. The Client has said that they thought it would ‘never happen to them’. We hear that a lot.

Could it happen to you?

Bullying and harassment claims are on the rise in the UK and has been illustrated by the media attention of the ‘#MeToo Movement’. Research has shown that there are a higher percentage of claims from women than men and a higher percentage of claims from employees over the age of 40. The majority of claims are raised against people in managerial positions. So what is bullying and harassment? The terms are often used interchangeably but are different. Bullying describes behaviour that causes distress, harm, offence or humiliation. Harassment is specifically where this behaviour is directed towards a ‘protected characteristic’ like age, gender, sexual orientation, race.

So, if you arrived at your desk this morning to find an email grievance from one of your team regarding behaviour received in the workplace, what would you do?

1) Take it seriously. Even though you will have your own opinion about whether behaviour may have been inappropriate, the deciding factor is how the recipient feels about the behaviour, not what was intended or how others would respond.

2) Review your policy. Refer to the procedural steps as outlined in your Disciplinary and Grievance Policy regarding how to proceed with the investigation.

3) Potential resolution. With grievance procedures it is important to understand what the ‘complainant’ seeks as a resolution. You also have a duty of care to all of your employers to ensure a positive and healthy workplace and may need to take appropriate action to fulfil your responsibility to the organisation.

4) Investigate the complaint. Appoint someone appropriate to investigate the complaint to understand the nature of the behaviour, frequency, witnesses, key events etc.

5) Take appropriate action. Refer to your Disciplinary and Grievance Policy.

This could include an apology, training, demotion, mediation and disciplinary sanctions up to and including dismissal for gross misconduct.

6) Remember that this is stressful for everyone. Ensure that you maintain good communication with those involved and offer additional support for those affected.

The danger is where employers underestimate the liability they have for behaviour in the workplace. Saying ‘Well, it was only banter’, ‘they were only joking’, ‘they didn’t take offence last time’ will be no defence whatsoever. Take a step back and think about if the behaviour in your workplace is appropriate. Take action to reclarify what is and isn’t appropriate with your team if needed……..before you receive a complaint, otherwise it will be too late.

If you have questions for Porter the Sorter, email hrhelp@hrdept.co.uk for consideration for future editions.

The HR Dept are an outsourced HR services provider supporting local SMEs with their people issues and strategy.

For advice on Disciplinary and Grievance Policies and anything else people related call 0345 208 1290.

Always seek employment law advice regarding management of your people issues to ensure that you and your business are well protected from potential litigation risks.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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We care about choice

We care about interaction

We care about dignity

We Care For Your Loved Ones We are passionate about care At The White House Nursing Home in New Malden, we specialise in providing high quality nursing, palliative and specialist care to our residents.

The White House Nursing Home is rated as “Outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission and is also accredited with the GSF (Gold Standard Framework) with ‘platinum’ status for providing recognised standards of care for all residents right up to the end of their lives.

All our care is provided by qualified, experienced and devoted nurses and care assistants through tailored and person-centred care plans.

Digital care planning allows family to see what their loved one is doing ‘live’ through a relatives gateway and care plans can be reviewed online.

Activities can contribute to the integrity of an individuals health and wellbeing which is why social interaction and engagement is an integral part of life at TWHNH.

Please get in touch for further details.

Here at The White House Nursing Home in New Malden, Surrey, we specialise in providing quality nursing care for the elderly.

Our philosophy is to create a secure, happy and homely atmosphere for our valued residents and staff.

Our 30 bed nursing home comprises of individually and beautifully decorated rooms equipped with a range of facilities that include ceiling hoists, 24 hour call-bell systems, digital TV as well as wi-fi.

We are registered to care for a range of nursing needs and provide exceptional, personalised standards of care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The White House Nursing Home Ltd

020 8949 0747

274 Malden Road New Malden

info@twhnh.com

Surrey KT3 6AR

www.twhnh.co.uk

economy

One in ten firms cannot implement government guidance safely Most firms are in a position to partially restart operations as lockdown restrictions are eased, according to the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker.

However, the research also revealed that one in ten firms cannot carry out government guidance and restart operations safely, mainly due to difficulties in implementing social distancing.

The poll, which serves as a barometer of the pandemic’s impact on businesses and the effectiveness of government support measures, received 609 responses.

Encouragingly, the majority of respondents (83%) reported high levels of awareness of the government’s new workplace guidance as sectors of the economy begin to reopen gradually.

Just over a third (37%) of respondents said they could fully restart operations by implementing the government guidance, while 45% said they could do so partially. However, due to social distancing guidelines, it is likely that many firms will see a reduction in demand and will not be able to restart at full capacity.

The majority of employers (around 70%) have furloughed a proportion of their workforce. Cashpoor firms, with less than three months’ cash in reserve, remain more likely to furlough staff.

The number of respondents that have submitted a claim to HMRC and received payment from the The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

government’s Job Retention Scheme is around 85% – a significant increase from the 73% recorded in the last BCC tracker survey.

The furlough scheme continues to prevent firms from having to make redundancies, with very few respondents making any. Employers welcomed the extension of the furlough scheme in some form until the end of October.

The survey also highlights encouraging take-up of the government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme, with more than half (54%) of respondents who attempted to secure a loan reporting success. This is an increase on the 26% recorded in the last BCC survey.

Just over a third (38%) were awaiting a decision on a loan, a decrease on the 58% noted in the previous poll.

Commenting on the results, BCC director general Dr Adam Marshall said: “While businesses have welcomed the publication of official guidance on how they can reopen premises and restart operations, some sectors still require greater clarity from the government on when and how they will be allowed to do so. This is particularly the case for hospitality and leisure companies, which will not reopen before July at the earliest.

“Companies at all levels of readiness to restart, of all sizes, and in every part of the UK will need sustained government support as they navigate the “new normal” with reduced demand and restrictions still in place. Many support schemes will need to be adapted and updated, but must not be withdrawn prematurely.

“HMRC and the Treasury deserve enormous credit for the successful rolling out of the Job Retention Scheme, which is helping huge numbers of businesses to protect livelihoods.

“But the message from firms on the ground is clear: the furlough scheme must become more flexible if it is to help companies bring employees back to work successfully. Furlough has helped businesses to avoid millions of immediate redundancies – and now must be adapted to help firms keep as many of these jobs as possible as they restructure and reconfigure post-lockdown.

“Our results show that the Bounce Back Loan Scheme is continuing its encouraging start. Yet there are many firms out there who are not in a position to take on debt, so the government must consider further expansion of grant schemes to ensure that as many businesses as possible get access to the support they need.”

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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patron news Student Nurses to Receive £5,000 NonRepayable Government Funding Kingston College announced that from September 2020, new and continuing degree-level students studying nursing, midwifery and many allied health subjects will receive a non-repayable and non-means tested Government grant of £5,000 per year to help with living costs.

The Government will also be making available a further £3,000 per year to eligible students studying specialist disciplines, such as mental health nursing, which struggle to recruit students, or in areas of the country that have seen a decrease in student applications. There will also be more help for those paying for childcare.

The grant will be in addition to existing student support. Funding will be offered to existing students as well as new entrants. Students will still have to pay tuition fees of £9,250, though they can obviously still access tuition and maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company.

Access Courses If you are over 19, and interested in a career in this field but don’t have the qualifications to

study a degree, then you could consider taking an Access to HE Diploma. Kingston College offers a wide range of Access to HE Diplomas, including Nursing, Midwifery, Paramedic Science and Science.

Access diplomas are one year, full time or part time and are designed to fit around your lifestyle. They are for adults aged 19+ who have been out of full time education for some time and can provide a progression route to undergraduate study at college or university. If you go on to complete an undergraduate programme, the Access to HE loan will not have to be repaid – it is written off!

The Psychology of Retirement Holland Hahn & Wills have adapted smoothly to working from home, and have used the time to connect with clients remotely and publish some important content. The first piece is a Whitepaper on the Psychology of Retirement – a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the mindset you need in order to make the most of your retirement.

You can download your copy here: www.hhw-uk.com/whitepaper

The second piece is an editable guide to organising your financial affairs, and is an essential planning tool to help families in the event of bereavement – we hope this will be useful, and can be downloaded here: www.hhw-uk.com/organising-your-affairs.

Former student, Assumpta Namazzi, gained a Triple Distinction in her BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care. Assumpta, who is now a first year student at Swansea University studying for a BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing, will benefit from the additional financial support. She says: “Money was always a concern as I was going to be living away from home.

Receiving a non-repayable Government grant will make such a huge difference to my university life.

I work part-time as a healthcare support worker for the Swansea Bay University Health Board Hospital in order to supplement my income so that I can afford my accommodation and fund all that I need. I will not have to work every weekend and can now instead spend more time completing assignments. I will be so grateful to graduate without any additional student debts and without having to rely on my parents to pay for it all.”

In addition to this, HHW have been running online social events and webinars for clients. The most recent one was on 18th June, and addressed how to understand and improve investor behaviour. It was free to attend, and there will be more in the future. Check out www.hhw-uk.com/events for information on all our future events.

If you or any of your family / friends are concerned about the financial impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, or simply want a second opinion on your financial plan and future, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to chat or zoom through concerns to see if we can help to bring peace of mind with a personal financial plan – you can reach us at enquiry@hhw-uk.com.

Improving quality of life for homelessness and people in housing crisis in the borough Canadian and Portland Estates, owners of Riverside Walk, have been working closely with Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness (KCAH), alongside Kingston Council, on trying to resolve issues around homelessness.

KCAH aims to improve the quality of life of both people experiencing homelessness and people in housing crisis in the borough of Kingston. It is a caring organisation, valuing and respecting the dignity, independence and individuality of people experiencing homelessness and people in housing crisis. KCAH works closely with partners within in the borough.

KCAH operates a drop in advice and referral service 5 days a week and also offers rooms in their HMO’s for up to 47 people with a local connection to Kingston

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in its 12 rented houses for a period of up to two years.

KCAH offer the tenant’s ongoing support with benefit claims and life skills such as budgeting and every tenant has a tailor-made Support Plan.

KCAH have remained an open and frontline service during the COVID pandemic and have led with the response from the Government of ‘everyone in’ for rough sleepers in the borough working alongside the Local Authority. The extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic has led to decisive action on homelessness that would have been almost impossible to envisage just months earlier. But obvious questions remain, not least how long is this temporary response going to last. It has been projected that the economic effects of coronavirus could throw another half a million people into homelessness.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

They have also been affected terribly by the COVID pandemic. During this time, it tragically led to the passing of Reverend Peter Holmes, founder of the JOEL project and a major supporter of KCAH, due to Coronavirus. It certainly has hit home how dangerous the virus remains and the continued need for vigilance.

In the past few months, we have donated £5,000 to help them when the pandemic hit.

TK Maxx have also helped in the cause and we believe it is just one example of how the private sector can successfully collaborate with the voluntary sector. It is such a very challenging time for them and the homeless community, and regrettably, will remain so after this time.

patron news Rightmove reports the busiest day of the year, with millions looking into moving. But what does that mean for the housing market since lockdown was eased? Pearson Hards explain the trends and moves in the housing sector.

Since the lockdown started in March, we reported that the housing market was placed on hold. However, with the easing of restrictions in May, we are starting to see the first green shoots of the housing market coming back to life. But will the bounce back be what the property market is hoping for after a bad 2019 caused by Brexit and other political uncertainties?

The housing market has only been open for less than three weeks, but Rightmove has already reported its busiest day on record on Wednesday May 27.

More than six millions visits to its listings were announced, meaning there had been an 18 per cent increase in comparison to the same Wednesday last year. These statistics suggest an optimism that the property market may not have suffered too badly from the Coronavirus pandemic and a new wave of transactions may be about to happen.

However, despite this optimism, the number of sales still remain significantly lower than last year. Estate agents are going to find it difficult to handle the vast amount of enquiries whilst also trying to deliver safe physical viewings which comply with the new social distancing measures.

As travel restrictions will remain prominent for quite some time, second-home buyers are now setting their sights on seaside towns, maybe triggered by people’s priorities starting to shift. With more people potentially working from home for the foreseeable future people are also needing greater space at home. Whether this will be a short-term trend or a change in how buyers are going to be behaving, will show within time.

This would be a welcome relief to the housing market which has suffered in the last year. We have already started to receive some new enquiries since the easing of the restrictions. However, Partners in our residential conveyancing team, Hatice Mustafa and Jonathan Throp, still believe that any ‘bounce’ is likely to be negatively impacted by the effect of the many redundancies that have unfortunately occurred due to Covid-19.

Nonetheless, we still remain hopeful and are willing to provide the best expertise during these difficult times.

Jonathan Throp

Hatice Mustafa

Celebrating 100 years in business This year, Summers-Inman, have been running for 100 years. To celebrate our centenary year, Summers-Inman announced that they are working alongside the charity Together for Short Lives. Our partnership with this charity will help them to continue making a lifetime of difference for families caring for a seriously ill child. Each SummersInman office will be twinned with their local children’s hospice, so our fundraising will be supporting children and families in the communities where we live and work.

Our local hospice is the Shooting Star Hospice (based in Guildford, and more locally, Hampton). Once sociallydistancing measured are eased, we hope to continue with our fundraising, and may be calling upon you to join us for a sponsored walk or tennis tournament – even if it’s just to cheer the participants on, with a cocktail in hand!

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

We have been working closely with Local Authorities and NHS Trusts to ensure that safety is at the fore of every project, as well as maintaining compliance with ever-changing legislation. With the Directors keeping informed of Covid-19 related updates on a daily basis, and transitioning staff to remote-working, we have been able to continue delivering our projects with ongoing reviews of safety measures and best practice. This work has included supplying urgent MRI and CT scanners to hospitals both locally around London and England, as well as making use of schools being unoccupied and completing construction works at an accelerated rate.

IQ in IT - Keeping businesses online in a global pandemic And why security is key to the “new norm” We started preparing our clients for the possibility of a lockdown in February. Back then, a potential lockdown was not seen as imminent or even likely for the UK. We reviewed our clients’ existing business continuity plans and created a pandemic strategy.

We knew we would have to keep their businesses operating by moving their entire work forces home.

Then suddenly lockdown across the UK became a reality and we had to move whole companies to remote working over a single weekend. This brought about some huge logistical and technical challenges for our team. Like our clients, we also had to adapt our business practises to deliver to all our clients quickly but with security at the forefront of everything. We needed to get out to employees’ homes, deliver laptops and other hardware, then login to set up WIFI, install software and systems (even online school for one client) remotely. But most importantly it had to be secure and safe for our clients.

Other businesses might not have had a plan or support to implement one. Many employees will have switched to using their personal computers out of necessity or convenience. Most of these devices will not have the right level of security for a business, creating potentially increased threats to corporate security. Since lockdown started, there has been a huge increase in compromised email accounts, attacks via ransomware and malware, invoice and payment fraud, data breaches and more. Sadly, fraudsters are active, and you must take steps to protect your business.

If you rushed to get everyone online at home, take the time now to check the security on the devices they are using. Make sure your work data is being securely backed up, revisit your business continuity plan and make sure you are secure during this pandemic and beyond.

IQinIT Managing Director Katerina Damcova says: “This shift in working from home is here to stay, the accelerated change was long overdue and many of our clients are already planning to keep this as a standard practice. This means changing and adapting the way we support our clients also, and we have learned that we can do this and do it well. We are embracing the change, you can too as long as it’s secure!”

For help with your cyber security and other IT queries speak to Kat directly on 0330 1224 420 or email Katerina@IQinIT.uk Read more @ https://iqinit.uk/cybersecurity-business-beyond-pandemic/

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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news

University helps NHS and key workers in coronavirus battle Hundreds of face shields to help protect frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic are being produced by a team of technicians at Kingston University.

The protective face shields are being made using laser-cutting and 3D-printing equipment in the university’s workshops at the faculty of science, engineering and computing’s Roehampton Vale campus and at Kingston School of Art’s Knights Park campus.

Using open source instructions put together by Prusa Printers and Protohaven, the team is assembling more than 300 face shields a week which are being donated to a range of NHS and public-facing organisations across the local area – from GP surgeries to care homes, food banks, schools and charities.

More than 25 organisations have so far received face shields and the university is liaising with Kingston’s Borough Resilience Forum to identify further groups in need of the protective equipment.

Having already distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, safety glasses and lab coats from the university laboratory stockpile to Kingston Hospital and Kingston

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Health Centre earlier in the pandemic, the technicians began looking at what else they could do to help.

David Utton, head of technical services in the faculty of science, engineering and computing, said: “We’ve got a fantastic team of technicians here and we were all keen to find a way to continue doing what we could to support the frontline workers putting themselves at risk for us all every day.

“It took a little time to source the materials we needed and there was then some trial and error as we tried different ways of manufacturing the shields. But we’ve now perfected the process and the team is doing an amazing job, producing more than 300 a week across the two workshops.”

avoid hospital admission and prepare clients’ homes for hospital discharge.

She said: “We were so grateful to receive a batch of the face shields from Kingston University.

It’s so important to have protective equipment like this when our staff

and volunteers are out working in the community. Wearing the shields helps to ensure we minimise the risk of infection, keeping our staff healthy and protecting the older people we are supporting. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all involved.”

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE.

One of the organisations to benefit from the face shields is independent charity, Age UK Wandsworth.

Charlotte Allen at Age UK Wandsworth said her team were using the face shields when going out into the community to fit safety rails, key safes and other equipment in older people’s homes, moving furniture for hospital equipment to

0203 8550971 www.pinnaclehealthcare.co.uk

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

"You've just found the best broker!"

A safe return to work post-lockdown?

Kizzy Augustin, partner, Russell-Cooke

It’s a two-way process

Some businesses have now started re-opening and easing employees back into work. But can it be done safely at this stage? assessment, appropriate equipment or tools to carry out work at home.

Health and safety at work what’s changed?

The obligations owed by employers to employees following the Covid-19 outbreak are not new.

Both employers and employees owe key health and safety legal duties.

What is important is the assessment of relevant risks. As an employer, have you done everything reasonably practicable to ensure the risks posed by the virus are minimised?

It’s a two-way duty. Your employees must co-operate with you so far as is necessary to enable you to comply with your health and safety duties.

This may include: • taking reasonable precautions to maintain good hygiene standards • maintaining social distancing • complying with company policies and practices Employees and visitors should declare if they have come into contact or live with any affected persons. The ‘track and trace’ system should help to further limit the transmission of risk. Employees should inform you of any pre-existing conditions or any issue that could affect the reviewed risk assessment.

Be aware that senior managers and directors could face personal criminal liability if the business commits an offence because of their act/omission.

This could mean significant fines for companies and possible imprisonment for individuals.

Businesses should now consider updating risk assessments and company policies to reflect current Government guidance. Showing that guidance has been followed will usually provide evidence that you have complied with your health and safety duties.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

Government guidelines expect businesses with more than 50 workers to publish risk assessments online.

Reporting Covid-19 related incidents The HSE specifies that you should report the following incidents: • an unintended incident at work which has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to coronavirus • a worker has been diagnosed as having Covid-19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work • a worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to coronavirus An employee with apparent symptoms of Covid-19 does not require reporting. There needs to be a medical diagnosis of Covid-19 for the incident to be reportable.

Should employees still work from home if they can?

At the time of writing, the Prime Minister’s advice is to work from home unless it is impossible to do so. As the lockdown continues to ease, you will be taking steps to get your employees back to work.

The HSE initially said there are no increased risks when using display screen equipment (DSE) for those working at home temporarily so there is no need for an additional assessment – but what does temporary mean? The need for a home working risk assessment may change if your employees will be working from home on a long-term basis, a term which is open to interpretation.

As an employer, you should review compliance with existing DSE rules, given the shift to remote working, which may include a new home work station

The health and safety responsibilities you owe to employees working from home are the same as for any other worker.

Those overarching responsibilities under HSWA still apply. There may be additional risks arising from employees working alone without any direct supervision and what impact reduced or no contact with managers could have on their overall wellbeing.

What should employers do now?

1 Follow sector-specific Government guidance including the “5 step approach”: - Carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment and review existing policies in line with HSE guidance and share its results with your workforce.

- Develop strict hygiene procedures.

- Help people to work from home.

- Maintain 2m social distancing where possible. Where impossible, use screens and barriers and keep contact as short as possible.

2 Be accountable for risk management at all levels – senior management and employees.

3 Review your risk assessments and your health and safety policy. Refresh your understanding of your H&S obligations. Remind employees of their obligations to keep themselves and others safe whilst at work.

4 Consult with workers (and trade unions if necessary) and consider those more vulnerable like BAME groups and older employees.

Reassure workers that they will be safe when they emerge from lockdown and keep communication channels open, which may include providing employees with information on what to do if they develop symptoms of the virus.

5 Implement a robust Incident Response Protocol. This should outline how the business will respond in the first few days after an incident and how best to protect the business.

Many businesses say they won’t be going back to work in the way that they did before Covid-19. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Meanwhile UK businesses need to communicate with each other, prepare for a full return to work and monitor the relevant risks. We do need to get the economy moving, but this must not be done at the expense of safety.

For answers to health and safety queries about your employees’ return to work please contact the author Kizzy Augustin

+44 (0)20 3826 7302 or email kizzy.augustin@russell-cooke.co.uk 11

skills

Decorations firm brings cheer in COVID gloom

A Christmas decorations company has produced a stunning visual tribute to NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Christmas Decorators is one of the UK’s biggest commercial Christmas decorating companies with its headquarters in Liverpool and more than 50 UK local offices – including one in south west London.

Whilst the business is busiest over the festive period, it also provides its sparkling decorations for homes and commercial buildings throughout the year.

To offer some cheer during the coronavirus pandemic, the company decided to create a huge “Love NHS” sign that could be transported around the UK and installed on local hospitals to thank NHS workers for their sterling work. Standing seven feet tall and bedecked in lights that sparkle at night, the sign started its journey at a hospital in Liverpool before making its way to hospitals in other areas of the country.

In June it arrived in Kingston, where it was installed for one week at the main entrance of the local hospital.

Mike Rowell, who took over the south west London franchise of The Christmas Decorators in 2018, says: “When I heard about the initiative, I volunteered to bring the sign to Kingston hospital. It’s a great boost for everyone and a small way of saying a big thank you to all of the health workers who have contributed so much during this awful pandemic.”

The company has expertise in all areas of festive decorating, from skilfully decorating an 8ft Christmas tree for the home to manufacturing and designing a 100ft Christmas tree for a shopping centre. Its services have been used for a variety of situations, from Christmas-themed weddings to spectacular festive garlands for home fireplaces, bannisters and doors.

The GDPR Compliance Consultancy secures Cyber Essentials certification body status The GDPR Compliance Consultancy is delighted to announce becoming a Cyber Essentials Certification Body.UK businesses needing assistance in attaining Cyber Essentials certification can now seek the support of The GDPR Compliance Consultancy.

Becoming a certification body saw Howard Freeman, Managing Director; The GDPR Compliance Consultancy, successfully complete an intensive course designed to facilitate businesses through the certification process.

This status is awarded through the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Essentials Partner, the IASME Consortium.

The UK Government recognises the challenge from the current cyber threat and have the ambition to tackle it head on. Cyber Essentials is very much part of the National Cyber Security Strategy and through

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becoming a certification body, The GDPR Compliance Consultancy is making an important and valuable contribution towards the Government’s aim of making the UK the safest place to do business online.

The GDPR Compliance Consultancy can now certify that businesses are compliant with the HM Government’s Cyber Essentials framework. This demonstrates a business’ baseline commitment to ensuring the security of IT infrastructure and protecting their clients’ data from the threat of cyber-attack.

On receiving notification of becoming a certification body, Howard Freeman, Managing Director said, “Becoming a Cyber Essentials Certification Body demonstrates our ongoing commitment to helping SME business owners protect both their business and customer data. We will continue to strive to improve our offering and will look to add Cyber Essentials Plus to further help our customers with their IT Governance” For further information, please email: fiona.ellingham@ opprtunitymarketing.co.uk

Kingston College “opens up” but will still be “going the distance” for a little while yet The College’s update in the most recent Borough Business article explained how it was “going the distance during the Covid-19 crisis” and that it “will be here stronger than ever to play its part in the Borough’s recovery” as the crisis wanes.

So how is the College moving forward following its closure on 20 March 2020?

Almost 3 months since closure and operating throughout that time as a distance learning college, reopening began on 15 June in line with Government guidance. The opening will be limited, cautious and have health and safety at its heart, alongside a consideration of the real educational benefit that can be gained by those students attending. They will include those vulnerable students who will benefit educationally and personally from a return to the College environment and those that need to

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undertake practical assessments to complete their qualifications and were not covered by the Government led decisions about qualifications such as GCSEs and A level.

Only in the last few days Mike Tweedale, Principal was delighted to receive a report from one of the teaching team about keeping up to date with our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners.

She reported that “the students have been really great at connecting with

skills

me during the lockdown period, even though many of them don’t have laptops. One of them, as a vulnerable student was able to join us after weeks of isolation - no family, only student support, we have been keeping in touch with him by phone.

Seeing him on Zoom was a wonderful experience, knowing that he was happy to see his classmates and be part of something again”.

All of us will have read about the challenges of opening schools, and as this article is written of the Government turnabout on the wider opening of primary schools in July. We have all watched television clips of headteachers, teachers and site services staff measuring out classrooms, re-arranging desks and laying out markings on corridors, playgrounds, and cafeterias. Across the borough’s schools similar planning and tasks will have been undertaken.

Very much the same has taken place at Kingston College but a lot more on top as plans are made for the new academic year in September. The College as a General Further Education College with its wide variety of curriculum, and its building design, has its own challenges.

• Navigating the Main College Building’s 11 floors requires for most the use of one of the five lifts – social distancing in those confined spaces poses challenges, reduces lift capacity and priority must be given to those with reduced mobility.

• Whilst fitting 15 students socially distanced in a classroom is one challenge then consideration must be given to; • the engineering workshops where normally apprentices, full time students and those engineers released from work to study for higher programmes, including Higher National Certificates, metaphorically rub shoulders, but now must work safely, socially distanced and be supervised;

• the Arena Sports Hall, Gym, and Dance Studios where sports students learn and are assessed, and others exercise and relax; • the Arena Hair and Beauty salons in which students develop their skills and in normal circumstances provide services to clients, many of whom have been regular visitors to the College for many years; • the Art and Design studios in the Creative Industries Centre at Richmond Road where artists, potters, designers, media make up specialists, photographers and tattooists create and work, benefitting from the creative community around them; • the motor vehicle workshop in which cars are disassembled, assembled, and repaired, full time students and apprentices will need to work safely and often together (but socially distanced) to operate and work with heavy equipment such as ramps; • the College’s industry standard theatre, the ACT, host of so many external events, for example, the International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) and our own excellent productions including those of our BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Media students, studying as part of our partnership with University of West London; • for the immediate future it seems likely that the aeroplane fuselage, acquired from a benevolent airline operator, will need to stand idle as its cramped interior is ill suited to a socially distanced training of cabin crew skills.

Mike Tweedale, Principal, explained that “there’s challenge enough to introduce one way routes around the College, ensure a safe cafeteria environment, socially distanced classrooms and IT suites, safe and socially distanced working areas for staff, and then within the building we need to turn

our minds to also safely operating a hairdressing and beauty salon, a sports hall and gym, an engineering workshop, arts studios and so much more. Opening them safely will be complex and logistically challenging, but these resources provide students with wonderful real life and stimulating preparation for work, so we’re working hard on completing a mountain of risk assessments.”

Whilst the College will be opening its doors to new students in September at present it is likely that most learners will experience a “blended approach” to learning with some face to face teaching and lots being provided on line. Mike explains that “the College must also consider the travel factor with most students living a distance from the College, the potential dangers of infection when travelling by public transport, and the burden on the system at this time. Greater flexibility of timetabling will be one thing, but what I know and have become even more confident of in the past few months is that “generation Z” are indeed digital natives and so IT savvy. What they have achieved, supported so well by the College’s innovative and committed staff, has been breath taking. Whilst face to face learning and strong pastoral support will remain vital ingredients in College life there is no doubt that the Covid-19 crisis has presented all sorts of new opportunities for learning”. Mike is also quick to add as the new academic year looms that the College will “be very alert to those learners where access to broadband and equipment is not so easy, and to those learners where their school before, and College now, plays a pivotal part in an otherwise difficult life”.

Kingston College will be open for business again, perhaps not quite the normal business straight away, but eager as ever to provide safe opportunities to young people, adults, apprentices, employers and the community as the Borough confronts probably its biggest challenge since World War 2.

• the science laboratories where students often work in groups to carry out experiments and practicals which stimulate, stretch their minds, and test their knowledge;

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digital poverty

The digital

DIVIDE

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

digital poverty As the technological revolution gathers pace, it’s often taken for granted that people use a smart phone or have access to the internet. However, there’s a significant portion of the UK population that remains in digital poverty.

lockdown, those without have been left isolated.

This has had a marked effect on the education of young people. Challenging the government on the devastating impact of lengthy school closures on poorer pupils, Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, said that around 700,000 disadvantaged children were not doing homework and did not have proper access to computers or the internet – essential tools for online learning.

Kingston University is trying to gain more insight into how to bridge this digital divide. The organisation has commissioned research, via surveys and focus groups, to explore students’ digital needs. Initial work has already been carried out in a bid to assess students’ access to the online world and the barriers they face.

Academics and researchers are currently sifting through this research to find common trends that could provide a useful benchmark in the fight to tackle the digital divide.

According to the latest government statistics, there are still 5.3 million adults in the UK, or 10% of the adult UK population, who don’t use the internet.

Millions more rely on pay-as-you-go services to make phone calls or access education or healthcare services online.

The coronavirus pandemic has accentuated the digital divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. While those with internet access have been able to work from home and communicate with colleagues, friends and loved ones in the

Martha Mador, head of enterprise education at Kingston University, says: “As the world increasingly moves online, this brings a number of challenges for students, universities, employers and the wider public. When the lockdown started, we had about two weeks of teaching and several weeks of exams to go before the end of the university year. We delivered the final teaching sessions online and enabled online end-of-year exams and assessments so that students could complete their studies for the year.

“However, we discovered that many students did not have the facilities they needed to work effectively. Some were relying on working on a smart phone; some were sharing equipment with other family members; some had poor connectivity, again, perhaps because it was shared. In response to student requests, we have been able to send out about 40 laptops on loan to students, and we’ve also helped many others with dongles and sim cards to enable their technology to work better.

“However, we also know that many people don’t know that help is available. That’s why we’ve initiated a survey of students to identify their level of digital preparedness to continue studying online.

We’re also gathering case studies to find out in more detail about their experiences so we can tailor our support more carefully to them. Data from this research is expected to be available from July.”

The university intends to use the findings to work out ways of providing greater support for students who learn online. It has already made great strides in this respect, adapting course modules to make it easier for students to complete their studies online.

Martha says: “Digital is here to stay and will become more important in our lives in the next few years. This means that we all have to think about ways of breaking down barriers for less affluent or disadvantaged people. It’s not just about providing them with a laptop and secure broadband connection. Many of our students choose not to move home to attend university. This may be an affordability issue, or a social or age-related choice. Others struggle to afford the tube or bus fare to university or don’t want to do the two-hour commute because it’s impractical.

“London is a strange mix of the very affluent and people who are highly disadvantaged. We’ve set up a hardship fund for those who fall into the latter category; some of this funding is earmarked to address digital poverty where we find it.”

That said, there is an inexorable move to digital and online learning, which means that education providers, students, employers and workers have to adapt.

“Those who are not engaging effectively with the digital world are at risk of being left behind,” says Martha. “We need digital skills to connect with others and meet the changing demands of the modern workplace and economy. If we allow the digital divide to remain or grow, there is a danger that this will accentuate existing inequalities. This will damage business competitiveness and prevent social mobility for disadvantaged people.”

“London is a strange mix of the very affluent and people who are highly disadvantaged. We’ve set up a hardship fund for those who fall into the latter category; some of this funding is earmarked to address digital poverty where we find it.”

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cover feature - business recovery

Relaunching LOCAL BUSINESS As we approach the halfway point of what already seems like a long year, the world is moving cautiously from lockdown to recovery mode. Many businesses have begun trading again after a prolonged period of inactivity, staff are getting back to work and the government has set out plans to gradually reduce its financial support for workers and companies.

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

The next few months promise to be anything but business as usual. Strict social distancing rules are still in force and, with scientists confirming that COVID-19 is still very much in circulation, many consumers are concerned about returning to shops and offices. The long-term economic impact of the pandemic is, at this stage, difficult to quantify and there are widespread fears that the road to recovery will be a long, arduous one.

However, recent easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK mean that the first, tentative steps forward on this journey can begin. Locally, in Kingston, preparations are underway to ensure that work environments are as safe as possible for staff and customers.

Companies have been busy putting in place robust health and safety processes and procedures, and strict social distancing measures, to protect staff, customers and the wider community. They have also been working out ways of promoting their products and services and looking after their cash to protect their business in the COVID recovery phase.

distress stood at a record 509,000 at the end of the March, according to the latest Red Flag Alert data from insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor Group. That figure is likely to have risen significantly in the second quarter, with many companies mired in lockdown.

Erin says: “Companies that are currently experiencing financial distress could take a few practical measures to help their cashflow, such as negotiating repayment terms and taking advantage of the government’s financial support schemes. The Job Retention Scheme has been extended until the end of October, which will allow some companies to retain staff for longer while paying only a fraction of their salary. Those who are self-employed can access the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, which has been extended to offer grants of up to £6,570 – ideal for those who have seen work dry up in the last few months. Small business grants and bounce back loans have also been made available, although remember that loans need to be repaid.”

business while doing so. Alternatively, if they have skills in other areas they may be able to offer secondary services to generate income, such as online yoga or pilates classes.

“Over the coming months, companies of all sizes should review their cashflow regularly. Staying on top of it will allow them to gain a snapshot of the financial performance of the business at a given point in time. This will help them to spot the warning signs before the business falls into trouble.”

While businesses are taking steps to recover from the pandemic, what about individuals who find themselves out of work and facing the worst jobs market for a generation?

On the face of it, the situation is bleak – but help is at hand for those living in the borough of Kingston. Kingston Adult Education (KAE) has secured £100,000 of funding to deliver training and mentoring to unemployed people to give them the skills and confidence to find work.

While the government’s financial support package has already helped many businesses, some have fallen through the net. Many that operate under the umbrella of a limited company have been given very limited state support, leaving some facing the prospect of financial ruin.

Erin says: “It’s an unfortunate situation that limited company directors find themselves in. Many take the majority of their income in the form of dividends rather than salary, and some have received dividends from other income sources. It’s therefore more difficult for the government to create a scheme that is fair and manageable.

Erin Snyman, financial accountant at Surbiton-based SAIL Business Solutions – a professional services firm specialising in accounting, HR, tax and contractor services – says: “A lot of businesses will be adhering to the old adage “cash is king” in the months ahead.

The coronavirus pandemic will have taught them the value of conserving cash in the good times so they have a buffer against the impact of economic downturns or unexpected events.

“If they haven’t already done so, company ownermanagers should develop a comprehensive cashflow management strategy. In challenging times, what are the best, worst and likely-case scenarios for the business? Is it possible for the business to survive in the worst-case scenario and, if so, for how long?

Having this knowledge will give them greater visibility and allow them to plan and budget accordingly.”

What about businesses that are already in financial difficulty? The number of companies in significant

“However, there are things that limited company directors can do to improve their cashflow position. Under the current rules, they can furlough themselves and claim from the Job Retention Scheme, even if they are the only employee – although they can’t generate any income for the

“Companies that are currently experiencing financial distress could take a few practical measures to help their cashflow, such as negotiating repayment terms and taking advantage of the government’s financial support schemes”

Sam Burgess, principal of KAE, says: “As an organisation we’ve been around for more than 50 years and our funding has generally been targeted at disadvantaged people. Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic has left a lot of people out of work and created a highly competitive jobs market. It’s therefore vital that people use this time to acquire useful skills that can give them the edge over their peers. Many of our courses have now gone online due to COVID-19 so people can learn in a safe environment.”

KAE courses range from childcare and IT to creative writing, bookkeeping and wellbeing.

The latter subject is of particular relevance in the current pandemic, which has dampened the mood of many people. KAE’s community learning team have responded to this by offering free online wellbeing courses and workshops – the perfect antidote to anxiety stemming from these uncertain and stressful times.

The workshops have been specifically adapted to meet the needs of people struggling with the lockdown. One workshop explores how to develop CONTINUED

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cover feature - business recovery “It will undoubtedly take a while for life to get back to normal. In the meantime, it’s vital that businesses do their best to evolve and adapt to the current situation.” emotional resilience to cope with changing times; another covers self-care techniques that people can practise at home to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Relaxation, meditation and the ability to improve sleep patterns are also on the mindfulness agenda.

What is your business bounce back plan? Across our client base we are supporting many to restructure, introduce new ways of working e.g. remote working, revised terms and conditions and / or completely reinvent themselves. Each option brings significant opportunities and risks.

Sam says: “These workshops are designed to help people with anxiety or those with the propensity to suffer from the condition. Anxiety is a major cause of mental health problems, which has serious ramifications for individuals and employers, so we’re doing our bit to tackle this important issue.”

KAE’s mental health learning provision seems to be having the desired effect. A KAE study showed that 60% of learners with clinically significant mild to moderate mental health symptoms had symptoms that were not deemed clinically significant by the end of the course.

“People used to focus more on physical ailments but now much more attention is given to mental health,” says Sam. “From a workplace point of view, poor mental health can lead to a reduction in innovation, efficiency, productivity and profitability. It’s important that managers take time to understand how to deal with staff who exhibit signs of poor mental health – especially in these uncertain times. Although many employees are starting to return to the workplace, some may be fearful of doing so due to the coronavirus. These fears could range from feelings of mild trepidation to the more serious condition of agoraphobia, which could cause problems in terms of staff absenteeism and workplace productivity.”

Businesses and workers will need to be resilient as they embark on the road to recovery. It’s likely they will have to withstand short-term pain

The different options require a specific approach to manage the people implications. Many employees have adapted to temporary changes to their terms and conditions when faced with such uncertainty but it is important to consider the permanent changes that your business needs to be able to survive and thrive, and to implement these properly.

– the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has warned that the UK economy might shrink by 11.5% this year even without aa second peak of the virus. But there are cautious hopes in Kingston that business will return to some semblance of normality.

Forbes Low, CEO of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, says: “It will undoubtedly take a while for life to get back to normal. In the meantime, it’s vital that businesses do their best to evolve and adapt to the current situation.

“Now is not the time to stay quiet, we have to promote everything positive that Kingston and its businesses have to offer as we move into the COVID recovery phase.

“The Chamber will continue to support our local businesses in every way we can, helping them to build strong connections within the borough and beyond. We all need to show empathy, patience and consideration; these qualities will help bring the confidence back that we will need to move forward.”

For more information visit https://www.sailsolutions.co.uk/, https:// www.kingston.gov.uk/adulteducation and https://www. kingstonchamber.co.uk/

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Business Restructuring.

How to help your business survive and thrive.

The most painful of decisions for many business owners is to restructure and put roles at risk of redundancy. I think this is often even more sensitive and emotional in smaller companies where the relationships with the owner are sometimes closer and more personal.

Six Top Tips to Restructure your Business: 1) Be clear on your business rationale for change. Why are you considering making a change and what will the benefit be to the business i.e. is the objective to find cost savings, increase flexibility, attain different skills, improve efficiency?

2) Consider all alternatives to redundancy? Make sure that you think through the alternatives to achieve the same objectives that would mitigate potential redundancy. Remember that even where you think that there are no other options, employees are not actually redundant until redundancy consultation has been concluded.

Implying otherwise puts you at risk of a claim of unfair dismissal.

3) Make sure that you know the steps and timescales required.

The requirements for consultation

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

depend upon the situation and number of employees affected.

4) Approach consultation as a meaningful conversation.

I have been involved in many consultation processes where those affected have identified options that the owner had not considered, finding a different and more beneficial solution.

5) Ensure that the consultation process is documented and retained.

6) Explore what you can do to support impacted employees. Where redundancies are unavoidable, explore if there is anything that you can do to support them finding alternative work.

Provide access to outplacement support if possible to help them with their CVs, interviews etc.

At The HR Dept we believe in partnering with businesses to help them thrive while fulfilling their obligations to their employees.

If you are a business owner and need any help thinking through the options available to you, need support in implementing changes or would like access to employee assistance support please contact Sandra on 0345 208 1290 or email hrhelp@hrdept.co.uk.

We will provide a 10% discount on our services if you are a Kingston Chambers of Commerce member.

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Bringing your employees back to work?

Julie Leach who runs her own HR & Training Consultancy business, answers some key questions regarding this important issue.

Q: What are the important steps that need to be considered when reopening a place of work?

A: There are a number of areas that organisations will need to consider when they start to reopen. These include undertaking risk assessments for the industry they operate in, ensuring that social distancing guidelines are met, that workplace and personal hygiene standards are maintained, managing employee concerns about returning to work and being mindful of their mental health and wellbeing. Offering appropriate support through an EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) is a good option.

Q: Is there anything in particular that managers/leaders should do for their teams?

A: In addition to the points above, communication is key at the moment. It’s important for leaders to be talking frequently to their teams about how everyone is feeling, what their plans are for re-opening, how they are going to manage that safely and what that will mean for people individually.

We are very used to referring to people as a ‘team’ but where we are at the moment requires us to focus wholeheartedly on each individual and their requirements.

In terms of reopening workplaces, leaders should review and decide which roles are required initially; these may be the businesscritical ones. If it is necessary to bring back a proportion of employees in the same role, ensure any decision as to who is brought back is objective and not discriminatory in any way.

Q: What might be some of the issues businesses face in the next few months?

A: Despite risk assessments being undertaken and shared with employees, some people may just not feel safe returning to work yet.

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It might be the commute they have which involves public transport, the thought of being in a shared workplace or the fact that they live with someone who is vulnerable.

In any of these situations, plus others that may arise, treating these concerns with genuine empathy and care will be important in maintaining positive working relationships.

Continuing to utilise the Government’s Job Retention Scheme via furloughing and working from home should be key considerations in addressing any concerns until an employee feels comfortable.

Ultimately, you should be looking to work closely with the employee to find a solution that works for both parties.

The other issue to be mindful of is where furloughed employees return to work alongside colleagues who have been continuously working for the last few months.

Being aware of any tension this might cause and addressing it by frequent and open communication to everyone about what has happened in the business over the last few months and what future plans are, will help. Empathy and honesty will be key.

Q: Can flexible working help a business to reopen?

A: Yes, I think it can. Flexible working can cover a variety of arrangements such as staggered hours when an employee has different start, finish and break times

from other workers, reduced hours in the workplace and a continuation of remote working that may have been implemented already. Giving thought to whether these options can help a business and then communicating them to employees may help to reopen a business in a way that works for everyone.

Q: Do you think businesses will see an increase in formal flexible working requests as employees seek to create a better work life balance?

A: Yes, I think they will do. Whilst the current situation is different for everyone, I know several people who will be asking for a more flexible approach to their work as their workplaces reopen having enjoyed more family time and no rush hour commute.

This raises a really interesting issue for businesses; should this be the point at which they consider agile working in the truest sense which becomes cultural and the norm for all employees, rather than an ad hoc approach of a handful of people simply working from home a bit more?

As with many issues there is a balance to be achieved but whichever way a business decides to go, having it well thought through and supported by the right polices and documentation will be essential.

Contact Julie on 07789 260126 by email on julie@julieleachassociates.co.uk or via her website www.julieleachassociates.co.uk

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

ask the expert How can businesses help staff adapt to changes brought about by the COVID-19 crisis?

Lindsay Roadnight, Willow Tree Counselling “The first thing employers can do is to recognise that change is inevitable. We live in unprecedented times and the coronavirus is forcing us to make adaptations to our working routines and lifestyles. Some of these adaptations will be temporary, others may be permanent. Getting our heads around this “new normal”, what it looks like and what it means in practical terms, is something we all need to do.

Looking after staff “For many business professionals, this is a stressful time. Some are experiencing increased feelings of isolation and anxiety, especially those who have been furloughed or forced to work from home. That’s why employers must renew efforts to engage with all members of their workforce. This doesn’t just mean checking in with them to discuss progress on business projects. Employers should think about the nature of their staff.

Are they a sociable bunch? Do they get on with one another? If so, employers could organise a social catch-up via Zoom or create a What’s App group so employees can post conversations and images of their life in lockdown.

“Employers should also acknowledge that staff may be experiencing feelings of fatigue

due to working from home. In the office or factory environment, they can catch up with colleagues over a cup of tea or get some exercise walking to the printer or the café over the road. Managers should make a mental note to encourage employees to take breaks regularly when working from home.

“In this fast-changing world, employers need to be kind to their staff by keeping expectations reasonable, allowing autonomy in the role where possible, trusting that they’ll get the job done to a decent standard, and resisting the urge to micro-manage from afar. They should also be kind to themselves so they’re in the best frame of mind to help their staff. In a crisis, there’s a tendency for those at the helm of a business to work harder, not smarter. I’ve reduced my hours to stave off fatigue and it has been worthwhile, making me more alert and effective during the hours I do work.

It is good to talk “I’m currently conducting my counselling sessions via Zoom, which is great, although this does reduce the effectiveness of nonverbal communication such as body language. Work levels have remained healthy but it’s important to remember that counselling doesn’t just benefit people in

times of crisis. If something doesn’t feel right, even during the good times, it makes sense to talk to someone about it.

“COVID-19 will bring lasting changes to the way we live our lives, with more remote working, automation of work processes and greater adoption of technology. Good communication between employer and employee has therefore never been more vital – both now and after the coronavirus has passed.”

•••• Lindsay Roadnight runs Willow Tree Counselling. She works with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, offering short and long-term therapy, and accepts referrals from individuals as well as employers.

Lindsay also runs workshops and offers business support for counsellors, particularly those in private practice.

She is a co-founder of the local networking group, The Counsellors Community, a monthly meet-up in Kingston upon Thames for anyone who is a counsellor or studying to be a counsellor in the local area.

For more information visit www.willow-tree-counselling.co.uk

Support Your Business And Employees

Uncertainty and change affect us all differently.

Get in touch to see how I can support you and your employees. www.willow-tree-counselling.co.uk/business_support The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

counselling@willow-tree-counselling.co.uk

07496 784 532

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chamber events

ONLINE EVENTS As an organisation that thrives on running face to face networking, when the lockdown began, we had to cancel a lot of our scheduled events. In the beginning, our focus was on supporting businesses through the very difficult and challenging times faced by our membership and local business community, however as we all settled into a new work from home environment it became clear that the need to connect was greater than ever. Like most businesses, Kingston Chamber has therefore had to quickly adapt to a more virtual approach; finding new ways to offer

support, workshops and networking opportunities using online technology.

What started as a very daunting task of organising and running online events, has quickly become the ‘new norm’ as they say and it has been so rewarding to see our membership adapt and get involved. We have tried and tested a variety of networking styles, offered informative seminars and Q&A sessions as well as run social evenings such as quiz nights and gin tastings. All while staying safely at home!

Sam berry from No.97 conducting our online Gin Tasting.

Kingston Business EXPO - ONLINE

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www.kingstonchamber.co.uk/event-type/ networking-events/

Forbes Low with RBK Leaders; Caroline Kerr and Ian Thomas for a Business Q&A

There will also be a virtual expo area for people to discover local businesses, they can interact with the virtual stands by watching videos, accessing brochures or chatting to exhibitors directly about their services.

One big advantage of the online format means that attendees do not have to miss out on sessions if they overlap. All the sessions are instantly available to watch on demand after they finish so people can catch up on the full programme at their leisure.

The Kingston Business Expo has become a regular and highly anticipated feature of the business calendar. Faced with the current pandemic we held out as long as possible in the hope that we would be able to run the event, however when it became clear that we couldn’t host a traditional expo we were enthused by the idea of making it work online.

The online platform gives attendees an opportunity to engage at whatever level they feel comfortable, from simply watching a presentation online to engaging with others via the chat and Q&A or initiating a one to

So, why not join us at our next event? Go to our website for the most up to date diary of events and even watch some of those you may have missed.

sticking to your one-minute pitch. Be ready for a new face when the time is up!” Nicolle Anderson from BusinessClan

8th July 2020 The virtual expo for real businesses

Forbes Low, CEO of Kingston Chamber said: “As many business events are being cancelled or postponed, Kingston Chamber are determined to keep the virtual doors open for business. This Expo will be a little different, varied and an opportunity for businesses to engage and learn, from start ups to established”

Online events are certainly here to stay for the foreseeable future, certainly for large gatherings. It is likely that we will continue to run both online and face to face events in the future as this hybrid offering seems to have many benefits and advantages.

one meeting with other attendees. The speed networking sessions are always popular at an expo and we have found a great way to recreate this online too. Participants will be able to meet multiple attendees on a face to face video for a short introduction, having tested it out with our sample group we had great feedback: “Online speed networking is fun! You don’t know who is going to pop into the box on your screen.

The countdown clock makes you very aware of

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

We are grateful to Kingston Council for continuing to support this event, they have generously sponsored every Kingston Expo for the last 8 years and we are so pleased they continue to value this event as an important part of the business support progarmme we offer.

We would also like to thank our other sponsor WPA Healthcare and exhibitors who will be joining us online on the day and without who we could not provide such a valuable event to support our local business community.

chamber events The Kingston Expo takes place on Wednesday 8th July from 9.30am, where we will be joined for the opening session by Sir Ed Davey MP. The programme will include: Digital Skills Stage Covering eCommerce and online sales, SEO and Social Networks

Starting Up or Going Freelance Found yourself redundant due to COVID19? Maybe this is the time to start a new business or become a freelancer and find that work/life balance.

Speed Networking Just like traditional speed networking, you will be randomly matched with other attendees where you can exchange business details and briefly outline what you do or what type of business you are looking for. Two sessions will run during the event.

Economic Outlook The COVID-19 pandemic could do permanent damage to the global economy, dashing hopes for a quick recovery and encouraging governments to ‘onshore’ manufacturing in critical sectors. a return to the pre-COVID economic flightpath seems unlikely, the degree of economic and financial ‘scarring’ is difficult to estimate at this stage.

work. How has the recent pandemic affected our working life and relationships, what to look out for and how we can support each other.

Marketing Strategy B2B Marketing After COVID-19: What Changes and What Doesn’t?

There will also be a series of roundtable discussion: 1: Women in Business during and after COVID Many of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are hitting women disproportionately hard. With limited time and resources (such as childcare) female business owners could be hit harder by the economic effects of COVID-19. How do we ensure businesses run by women so that, in future, we’ll see even more businesses run by women.

Mental Health at Work

2: What has changed for education in Kingston?

Looking after your-self and your colleagues at

The COVID-19 crisis may have taught us how

education might need to change to be able to better prepare our young learners for what the future might hold. What is meant by digital poverty in education? How has the pandemic changed for education providers, not just in the short term, but for the future?

3: The cultural and creative arts: what is their value to the Kingston community The arts and creative sector can contribute to community cohesion, reduce social exclusion and isolation. How does the sector contribute so much to the health of the Kingston community?

Is it still undervalued and what will be the consequences of post COVID on the cultural and creative arts in Kingston?

4: The new role of HR and what is HR doing now HR is playing a significant role in the current climate. How has this COVID period changed the role of HR, the perception of the role and how can it be used as source of positive change for business growth and the employees’ wellbeing?

FREE to attend, register online at

www.accelevents.com/e/KingstonBusinessExpo/ The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

23

the big interview

NHS sterilisation company opens its largest facility at Aviva Investors’ Barwell Business Park STERIS Instrument Management Services (IMS) is opening its largest UK facility at Aviva Investors’ Barwell Business Park under one of the biggest occupancy agreements in South West London this year.

STERIS is a global innovator of Medical Devices and Infection Control solutions. STERIS IMS has more than 20 sites across the UK alone, from Glasgow to Salisbury and most of the major towns and cities in between, including several in London.

The company supports NHS Trusts across the country with Medical Device Decontamination services, and the manufacture and repair of Medical Devices.

As hospitals came under pressure from COVID-19, STERIS IMS supported its NHS customers with donations of PPE, including surgical gowns and sterilization packaging materials that some customers used to make protective face masks.

The new centre at units 1 to 4 Barwell Business Park in Chessington - 41,000 sq ft in area - will be dedicated to the decontamination and sterilization of NHS Medical Devices, including surgical instruments and endoscopes. It is expected to be fully operational

by February 2021 with UK company, Merit Health Ltd, leading the major fit-out. STERIS IMS will process 15 million medical instruments a year at Barwell, a significant increase on the 9 million per annum at its current largest facility in Sheffield.

Sterilization services for Kingston Hospital - a newly-awarded contract – will be based at Barwell, and an existing customer at Epsom Hospital will be relocated there. The new site will also provide opportunities for flexibility and expansion.

STERIS IMS Project Manager, Mark Brown, said: “The move to Barwell Business Park is a significant development for us and a significant commitment.

There is a huge element of planning underway for the facility. We will relocate the existing service from Epsom Hospital as the hospital site undergoes redevelopment

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and accommodate the new business from Kingston Hospital - both are 15-year, long-term contracts. We will also be able to create additional capacity in the London region alongside our already numerous sites which include the Royal London, Homerton, Northwick Park in Harrow and the Princess Royal in Orpington.

“STERIS IMS serves many customers from its existing facilities in London, and the wider region. We are very keen to create additional capacity to provide contingency support to the NHS and our own business

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

as well as develop new business opportunities. This will be our biggest facility in the UK.” STERIS IMS will take its employees to Barwell and seek to hire more as they attract new business, with the expectation that up to 170 employees will be based at the site, from technicians to back-office roles.

“It is very important that we retain our existing staff,” Mark said. “They are highly trained and skilled and they have a huge range of expertise, so retaining them is key. We invest a lot in training, it can take

the big interview 12-18 months to fully train a technician and staff are a key resource. We invest a lot in our people.”

“There is a huge emphasis on the value we give our people,” added Marketing Director Kat Holt.

“CSR is really important. We offer an accredited healthcare scheme, mental health initiatives, free access to GPs for employees and their families, free fruit, training and education initiatives. We invest a huge amount into apprenticeships too.”

STERIS delivers healthcare science, customer service, team leader and management apprenticeships to its employees.

With a gym and café on-site, Barwell Business Park provided local facilities to attract and retain staff but its geographical position was crucial.

Mark said: “It is a key location for customers and staff, as well as for the huge opportunities in central London and the wider London region. Our customers require a short reprocessing turnaround time for their Medical Devices and it’s much easier to achieve this if you are close to your customers and, critically, it is easier to retain and transfer staff to the new facility. Barwell is close to major airports and we regularly have visitors from the

US, including the senior management team, and Barwell is a good location to showcase STERIS equipment, products and services for our national and international customers. It is an aspirational business park where the buildings are of a good standard with nice open areas around them.”

Aviva Investors is a longstanding stakeholder and investor in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. They own the Bentall Centre and Davis Road Industrial Estate as well as Barwell Business Park. The Steris IMS letting, secured through Altus Group and acquiring agent CBRE Industrial, is the largest at Barwell in the last decade.

Colin Lawrence-Waterhouse, Asset Manager, Real Estate, at Aviva Investors, who runs Barwell Business Park, said:“Whilst Steris IMS’s new facility is great news for Barwell, its impact on the health service both within the borough and across the region will no doubt be much more significant.

Barwell offers a different type of industrial product in the South West London market, which attracts high quality occupiers who want a business park environment rather than a traditional industrial estate.

The letting to Steris IMS is testament to the park, its location and the important role it plays as a key employment area within the borough. It highlights the strength of demand in the area for high quality industrial stock and supports our investment strategy of focusing on prime real estate assets in core locations.”

Steris IMS is one of five businesses to take up an occupancy at Barwell Business Park this year with others including Opcare, an innovator in prosthetics, orthotics, posture and mobility devices along with temperature and humidity technology leaders, Stulz and BMW repair specialist, Motorrad Servicing and Repair (MSR). Wheelchair and mobility scooter specialist, Wheelfreedom, has also taken up a lease at Barwell in recent weeks. Kingston borough councillors welcomed the influx of new businesses to the area’s leading employment space.

For more information, photos, or further interviews, please contact: Jolene Hill jolenehill@wlcreative.org.uk The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

25

health & wellbeing

Furloughed workers drinking more alcohol in lockdown One in three (36%) furloughed workers are drinking more alcohol since lockdown began, new research has revealed.

The study from independent alcohol education charity, Drinkaware, shows that a higher proportion of people on furlough are drinking more in lockdown than the UK average (24%).

to avoid spreading the coronavirus, Drinkaware is warning that thousands of workers could emerge from lockdown with ingrained drinking habits.

As the government’s furlough scheme extends to October and a number of people continue to work from home

Of those working from home as a result of lockdown, one in four (26%) people said they were drinking more.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

The charity is urging employers to use the lockdown to support the health and wellbeing of staff.

Drinkaware CEO, Elaine Hindal, said: “As lockdown continues, many are drinking more. Employers who have members of staff on furlough or who are working from home should take note of our research findings.

“The welcome extension to the furlough scheme will be vital for organisations as we navigate the coronavirus pandemic and it is good to see employers also offering flexible working. But this new normal must not lead to an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality, particularly when it comes to the health and wellbeing of the UK workforce.

“Employers must use every opportunity to make sure their staff don’t become disconnected throughout the extended furlough period and must plan for a return to work that prioritises employee health and wellbeing. The consequence of not doing this could result in thousands of people returning to work with ingrained drinking habits that could have an impact on their health – both physical and mental. Drinking patterns, once established, are far harder to break.”

Dr Jill Miller, senior policy advisor at the CIPD – the professional body for

HR and people development – said: “It’s concerning that many seem to be drinking more as lockdown continues.

People are experiencing significant changes to many aspects of their lives and many do not have their usual work routine. Employers should communicate with their employees about the health and wellbeing support available to them, not forgetting those currently on furlough.”

The research, conducted by Opinium on behalf of Drinkaware, surveyed 2,001 UK adults. The study found, of those who are furloughed and drink, more than a quarter (28%) said they were drinking on days they wouldn’t usually since lockdown began.

When applied to those who are working from home and drink, the proportion became slightly smaller (26%). This is compared with 22% of all UK drinkers.

One in seven (15%) drinkers on furlough admitted to having their first drink earlier in the day since the start of lockdown, compared with a similar proportion of those who are working from home (14%). Among UK drinkers, 12% had their first drink earlier in the day since lockdown began.

One in ten said they had had a drink in secret or covered up the fact they were having a drink since lockdown began – almost double the UK average.

“As lockdown continues, many are drinking more. Employers who have members of staff on furlough or who are working from home should take note of our research findings.”

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

27

Private maternity at Kingston Hospital Private maternity Private maternity at at Kingston Kingston Hospital Hospital

We recognise that giving birth is a very special time for you and your family. Our private consultant-led maternity service offers delivery packages which provide you and your baby with the highest level of care throughout your stay with us.

We recognise that giving birth is a very special time for you and your family. Our private consultant-led

consultant obstetrician support you in choosing the right delivery option maternity service offers packages which provide and your baby with the highest level of WeDedicated recognise that givingdelivery birth is a verytospecial time for youyou and your family.

Our private consultant-led care stay with us. maternity serviceyour offers delivery packages providemidwifery you and your with the highest level of one-to-one care baby throughout

Allthroughout our delivery packages include 24-hourwhich care throughout yourpostnatal stay with us. your delivery and stay Dedicated consultant obstetrician to support you in choosing the right delivery option Dedicated On-site support provided by an experienced midwivesthe and a delivery option

consultant obstetrician to supportteam you inofchoosing right maternity All our delivery packages include 24-hour one-to-one midwifery care throughout unit with an excellent reputation delivery and postnatal stay 24-hour one-to-one midwifery care throughout your All our delivery packages include your Our birthing private facilities provide a deliverysuite and and postnatal stay modern On-site support provided by anfor experienced team of midwives and a and safe environment you to welcome maternity unit with an excellent reputation your On-site support provided by an experienced team of midwives and a new baby maternity unit with an excellent reputation Reassurance Our birthing suite and private provide a for

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KingstonPrivateHealth KingstonPrivateHealth.co.uk KPHEnquiries@nhs.net KPHEnquiries@nhs.net

the person behind the business

Gocycle prospers in the fast lane Richard Thorpe, founder and MD of Gocycle While COVID-19 has forced the temporary closure of many businesses, it has driven a surge in activity at Chessington-based Gocycle.

The electric bike provider has been extremely busy in the pandemic, as more people take up cycling in a bid to stay fit and healthy.

Richard Thorpe, founder and managing director of Gocycle, says: “We’re in the fortunate position of being able to help people who want to take up cycling, either as a fitness hobby or a mode of transport to work. In a strange way, the coronavirus has accelerated the adoption of e-bikes, with fewer people travelling by car or on public transport.

“According to our research, e-bike riders have reported improved health and wellbeing and are less likely to use their car. I want the government to recognise the enormous health benefits of e-bikes and the vital role they can play as the lockdown eases. Our research highlights a huge opportunity to make our urban areas healthier and more sustainable places in the long term.”

Gocycle’s mission is simple: to create the world’s best urban electric bikes.

This task began in 2002 when Richard, a mechanical engineering graduate and former McLaren Cars design engineer, established his own business, Karbon Kinetics, to embark upon creating his two-wheeled electric dream. Eighteen years on and that dream is a reality with Gocycle (the trading name for Karbon Kinetics) gaining global recognition for its innovative products, no-compromises approach, stylish designs and pioneering spirit.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

In 2009, after an extensive development process, the business launched the ground-breaking lightweight Gocycle G1 to international acclaim. The G1 capitalised on Richard’s expertise drawn from a 25-year career working in the motorsports and light electric vehicle industry, becoming the first injection-moulded magnesium alloy bicycle in history. It set the foundations that have enabled Gocycle to continually push boundaries with each of its three subsequent models – including the fast-folding Gocycle GX launched in 2019.

This year will see the arrival of the fast-folding GXi, touted as the most rider-focused urban e-bike yet.

“We’ve just had our best month in terms of sales,” says Richard.

“I believe that potentially there could be a 50% growth in this market in future years. This will happen regardless of whether or not e-bikes are promoted by government ministers.”

So, what advantages does the e-bike have over a traditional bicycle? The answer is simple, according to Richard.

“With an e-bike you have 250 watts of power at your disposal,” he says. “You don’t have to be fit to ride ten or fifteen miles – but after riding an e-bike for a few months, your health and wellbeing will improve.

Transitioning from a car to a traditional bike is not easy. Going from a car to an e-bike is – with e-assistance removing many of the daunting elements of cycling – worries about fitness levels, headwinds, hills or arriving to work hot and sweaty.”

Richard developed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, when he was inspired by a competition to develop the first human-powered vehicle to exceed the US speed limit. More recently, he was behind a UK-first scheme to pay his staff 40p per mile for commuting to work by e-bike.

He says: “We can’t wait for government policy to change and it’s no good expecting others to act first. So, we’re starting with what we can do now and taking direct action to reward our employees for making the switch to more sustainable and healthy transport. We urge businesses in the local area to join us and would be happy to speak to them about the initiative.”

For more information visit www.gocycle.com

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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a day in the life

A day in the life of a bookkeeper Clare Mannall, founder of CEM In the six-and-a-half years since Clare Mannall started her bookkeeping business, she has had to bat away several misconceptions that she’s an accountant. While there is some overlap between the two professions, she’s keen to make a clear distinction between them.

“Bookkeeping and accountancy mistakenly get lumped together,” she says. “Accountants tend to focus on taxation and the overall view of a client’s business, whereas bookkeepers get much more involved in the day-today operations of the business.”

Clare’s company, Surbiton-based CEM Bookkeeping and Consultancy Services, collects a wealth of financial data and turns it into tidy financial reports for clients – ideal for company owner-directors who hate number-crunching. CEM also helps companies navigate often complex issues such as HMRC compliance, auto enrolment, automation set up, budgeting, cashflow and management accounts. For Clare’s clients, this

management (CRM) software that can set up reminders so she can see when clients’ tax bills are due or when to chase up client information.

In today’s fast-changing world of commerce, where normal trends have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, she admits it’s difficult to describe a typical day at work.

assists with compliance on GDPR and anti-money laundering regulations. The company is headed up by Clare, whose vast industry experience spans hospitality and finance training (including bookkeeping), hotel management, education management, and teaching finance, entrepreneurship and business in higher education institutions.

“CEM isn’t your average bookkeeping service,” says Clare. “We make it fun and take the pain out of your admin so that you can get your time back to build your business or find your worklife balance again. As well as offering traditional bookkeeping services we’re also business consultants, advising on a wide range of issues including company policies and procedures, cost and stock control, training, mentoring and personal and professional development.”

“There isn’t one,” she says. “I usually get to my desk at around 9.30am and sift through e-mails before tackling my to-do list for the day. One day this might involve chasing up client invoices; another day I’ll be doing auto enrolment or management accounts. I tend to switch between clients rather than spend the morning working on one set and the afternoon working on another set. More often than not I’ll give myself a break during the day; if the weather’s nice I’ll have lunch in the garden, for instance.”

This eclectic career path took another turn in 2013 when Clare decided to launch CEM. It’s a decision she hasn’t regretted and now she’s looking to a post-COVID future with confidence.

Clare is also taking steps to make it easier to run her own business, investing in customer relationship

CEM works with around 25 clients in any given month and has four staff, including an administration officer who

means no more chasing tardy debtors for payment or spending valuable time raising sales invoices.

“The coronavirus hasn’t stopped businesses from needing our services,” says Clare. “In recent weeks we’ve helped businesses to complete Job Retention Scheme applications, for example, and we’ve advised others on their diversification strategies.

“We offer so many different services so we’re well placed to help all types of businesses as the business world recovers from the pandemic.”

CEM Bookkeeping and Consultancy Services Creativity and Excellence in Management

If you would like to find out more about how CEM Bookkeeping can support you and your business please do contact Clare on

020 8004 3680 clare@cembusiness.co.uk www.cembusiness.co.uk

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

top tips

Resilience for Health Erica Ferrar Health & Wellbeing Practitioner www.alittleholisticoasis.co.uk In challenging times, like now, stress can be found at the forefront of people’s minds, but the harmful effects of stress are not inevitable and, by employing some skillful navigation of life events and, modifying the way that you think and behave, you can successfully transform your experience of stress and thrive.

My top 5 game changers in fostering resilience: 1. Change your perception

of stress.

Connecting to the motivation behind your stress can help you to determine whether your response is helpful or appropriate.

Recognising your stress as a challenge or motivation instead of a threat, alters your physical and psychological response to a more positive outcome, boosting your energy and performance and reducing anxiety and depression.

Research shows that those who experience stress, but do not view it as harmful, are likely to be healthier and live longer so, altering your mindset to stress is important in changing how your body and mind responds to it.

2. Letting go of negative

emotions.

There is an inextricable link between emotions and health.

Harbouring long held negative emotions, such as simmering resentments, frustrations, guilt or jealousy, is very draining energetically, undermining your physical and mental health.

The release of difficult feelings and practicing forgiveness, kindness and compassion is very healing.It decreases anxiety and depression and, can boost your energy and immune system, increasing feelings of happiness.

3. Shift your focus.

Our primal instinct is designed to look for the negative or danger in a situation - in the past it was that very instinct that kept us alive.

However, that constant negative focus does not serve us well in today’s world.

Research in neuroscience has demonstrated that it is possible to rewire the brain, so your thoughts and beliefs are not, as previously thought, set in stone. Practicing gratitude is a successful method of retraining the brain to look for the positives. By writing down 3-5 things that you are grateful for, every morning for 21 days, it is possible to reframe your thoughts and beliefs, and achieve improved physical and psychological outcomes.

4. Foster social connection.

Forging connection to others especially in times of challenge stimulates the “cuddle” hormone Oxytocin in yourself and those that you are connected to.

It activates the replenishing emotions of caring, kindness and empathy so, helping others, listening, talking, giving a hug

and volunteering, are all ways of seeking positive connection. In times of social distancing, virtual connection and helping others can have the same effect.

5. Be present Mindfulness is a well-researched and successful tool that allows you to let go of worries and anxieties by bringing your focus to the present moment, with acceptance and without judgment.

Children to CEOs now practice mindfulness for the beneficial physical and psychological outcomes that it yields. It is like flexing a muscle, it gets stronger the more you practice. Just 5 – 10 minutes/day of mindfulness practice is all it takes to start replenishing your energy, and boosting productivity, resilience and personal growth.

“The release of difficult feelings and practicing forgiveness, kindness and compassion is very healing. It decreases anxiety and depression and, can boost your energy and immune system, increasing feelings of happiness.”

Stress or Opportunity? Your Choice.

How choosing your response to stress, puts you in control.

To find out how to change the way you think about stress and, bring balance to your life, please contact Erica at:

Erica@alittleholisticoasis.co.uk www.alittleholisticoasis.co.uk The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

31

retail Kingston prepares for the safe reopening of high streets across the borough

New temporary protected walking and cycle lanes have been created to make public spaces feel safer. With public transport capacity restricted, these new measures will maximise opportunities for people to make safe journeys by foot or cycle rather than by car, as well as help people maintain social distancing in busy areas.

To support our local firms, the council has produced some guidance for local businesses on reopening which is available to download from www.kingston.gov.uk/reopening_guidance.

It also has approximately £1.5m of grant funding available for small and micro businesses, as well as some charities, through the Government’s Discretionary Grant Fund. While this won’t be enough to support every business that needs it, the council’s aim is to help as many as possible with meaningful grants.

The first round of applications has closed but sign up to the Kingston Council Business Update at kingston.gov.uk/covid-19-business to keep up to date with news about the next round. You can also visit www.kingston.gov.uk/business for more information.

As the national lockdown begins to ease, Kingston Council has been working closely with local Business Improvement District Kingston First, local businesses and other partners to prepare for the safe reopening of Kingston town centre and other high streets across the borough.

As people return to our high streets, things are going to look and feel a little different. We’ll all need to continue to be patient and kind as we work together to share the space and keep each other safe through COVID-19.

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Kingston Council has been working with partners and businesses to make the shopping areas feel safe and welcoming and put in place measures to protect everyone who comes into town and enable social distancing.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

membership

Your membership has never been so important to us.

When so many businesses are struggling to overcome the financial and emotional weight of the past months and look ahead at a new, uncertain landscape, I am acutely conscious that any financial investment or subscription has to have true benefits and value. As your local Chamber, we must always view our work from our members’ perspective. What is it that we do for you, with your membership support?

Kingston Council, Kingston First, Kingston University, Kingston College and our local MPs. Before, during COVID and moving forward, these relationships are essential as we provide the platform to channel your business voice and influence local decision making.

As a not-for-profit organisation, all Kingston Chamber income is generated almost entirely from membership fees and invested directly into providing valuable services to support long term and sustainable local business growth. Our remit is to work across the whole Borough: New Malden, Tolworth, Chessington, Surbiton and Kingston.

the broad range of networking events, business support, bite-size workshops for start-ups and two business Expos each year. During COVID, your support has allowed us to provide regular business updates on all the Government grants and schemes and work closely with Kingston Council to ensure that businesses are listened to and communicated with properly and regularly.

Your membership does matter. It matters to us that you get the business, personal and local value.

Your membership helps us to help the next start up or host the next Expo. In these difficult times, I want to say a big thank you for your continuing support and commitment to the Chamber, and the Kingston business community.

The value of your membership goes a long way.

Without it, we would not be in the position to deliver

With your commitment, the Chamber can work with our local strategic partnerships, such as

The Royal Borough of

Kingston

Chamber of Commerce

Forbes Low CEO, Kingston Chamber of Commerce

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

33

starting up

The Video Message Company Sally Bocquet The Video Message Company 07399 679299 sally@thevideomessagecompany.com www.thevideomessagecompany.com

Q1: Tell us a bit about your business?

I create video message compilations for birthdays, retirements, weddings, anniversaries and for just about any occasion. And particularly now, while life is curtailed, I’ve had many requests for all sorts of events people have had to miss out on – for the school and university leavers, for the prom parties and, sadly, too, for funerals.

Q3: What motivated you to set up the business?

All my videos are professionally edited and include messages from friends and family at home and around the world, along with home movie clips, photos and music. They bring people together wherever they are and make a lasting, timeless gift.

I have over 20 years’ experience in the media including working on TV shows like Blind Date and the Big Breakfast and was looking for a creative job that would allow me to continue working while still raising my young family. And It was my experience on This Is Your Life that gave me the idea for this business as the video messages on the show always got a wonderful reaction. When I realised my husband was going to be abroad for a milestone birthday, I decided to make a video for him. I had so many requests from friends and family when they saw it, that it was my ‘lightbulb moment.’

Q2: What gives your business ‘the x-factor’?

Q4: What do you like most about working for a start-up?

Each video is bespoke, and I spend considerable time speaking to the client to ensure I get every detail right so I can make the video truly memorable and personal. And I’m on hand throughout the whole process for technical and creative support.

All the individual messages that family and friends produce gives them the chance to let someone know how much they love and appreciate them.

It also gives them the opportunity to be highly creative and I’ve received hundreds of wonderfully original videos since I started out. There’s been beautiful poetry and songs, choreographed dance moves, highly original fancy dress costumes, crazy talking pets and laugh-out-loud carpool karaoke – I’ve seen it all! I’ve been sent video messages from locations around the world, including from a couple stuck on a remote Indonesian island, from someone precariously balancing on the back of a moped in Bali and another bravely recording his from a paraglider in the alps. The combination of my expertise, coupled with the unique messages, gives my business ‘the x-factor.’

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It’s really exciting starting a new business from scratch. I love the challenge of learning new skills, meeting new people and I enjoy the freedom that working for myself gives and being able to plan my working day around family life.

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

Well, it’s always a huge compliment when someone who’s a household name gets in touch because they’ve seen your work via a friend and want you to create a video for them. And then their friends, in turn, ask you to do the same. Word-ofmouth recommendations have been such a special way of building my business. Most of all though I get huge satisfaction when a client calls to tell

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

me of the wonderful reactions they’ve had from a video they’ve commissioned and the joy and fun that it has bought to so many.

Q6: What has been your lowest moment?

I don’t really have low moments as I find it really stimulating building a business and it’s something I’ve done before when I had a casting agency, casting pop promos and commercials. So, it’s familiar territory for me.

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

By then, I plan to have hired more editors to enable me to grow the business, as it has great potential.

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

Be realistic about the time it actually takes to get everything up and running if you’re starting up on your own, particularly if you’re working from home with day-to-day family distractions. Do join a business or networking group as it can be a lonely experience. I’ve found it really beneficial connecting with like-minded people in a similar situation. And if you put in the hard work and have a great idea at the right time, there’s immense satisfaction in creating a successful business.

You’ve always got to remember that when you’re still burning the midnight oil! Most importantly don’t give up at the first hurdle.

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