Borough Business October 23

Welcome

to Borough BUSINESS

The Kingston Chamber of Commerce magazine for all Businesses in Kingston

As I write this, I struggle to believe we are entering the last quarter of 2023. It has been a very active year for Kingston Chamber and there is still much more to do.

The launch of the Kingston Borough Business Awards 2024 was held at FUSEBOX in September, and we were delighted to welcome key stakeholders, partners, sponsors, collaborators, and past winners. With uplifting speeches from our Headline sponsor, Kingston University, and gold sponsors Kingston Council and Kingston College, the launch emphasised just how important the Awards are to the business sector in Kingston. To read more, see page 24-25.

The true value of these Awards is to celebrate and showcase the amazing business sector we have in this borough. A number of last year’s winners were nudged to enter. They were either too modest or felt they did not have a good enough story. How wrong they were! The awards are truly open to all types and sizes of business so take a look and tell your story.

We are very excited to have the Chessington Business Expo back on Thursday 26 October.

Sponsored by Kingston Council, this is such a unique day of business support, a wealth of business advice to be shared and absorbed, speed networking, business seminars and a Kingston University hackathon. We have remodelled the structure a little this year so we will be having advisor zones so if you need to chat about your business, the stand holders will be there to help you. This energising day will be focused on helping your business grow further so sign up today for this free to attend event!

I am delighted to announce that a new business support programme will be coming soon to Kingston. With the invaluable Kingston Council support, the Chamber will be managing the Go Business programmes. This has just been agreed and so more information will be coming but watch this space as it will have plenty to offer you and your business.

Steve Jobs, the originator of Apple, once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

For me, this ‘trust in something’ is found in hard work, our values, humility and a collective effort. It is in the details and in observing a lot around us. We have to pay great attention, constantly, to what happens every day. The need to be aware of so many little pieces that could make a difference to how we improve.

As we head to the end of this challenging year, I would like to express our appreciation of the hard work from many of our Kingston Chamber members. Many businesses continue to dig deep in their determination to survive, innovate and succeed and we recognise these immense efforts. Your support at all our Chamber events has been wonderful. Thank you and take care.

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

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Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Published

Autumn 23 © Benham Publishing and Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Advertising and Features

Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

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David Wright Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: dave@benhampublishing.com

Media No. 1904

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 or any political comments expressed in Borough Business are not necessarily those of Kingston Chamber of Commerce which is apolitical. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2023. 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.

Patron Members

Forbes Low CEO

Kingston Chamber of Commerce forbes@kingstonchamber.co.uk

Scale Today, Profit Tomorrow

Being successful in the competitive landscape of online selling requires the targeted adoption and deployment of the available tools. This is an ongoing exercise to leverage a variety of tools and eco systems to give your business the edge.

The online space is developing at an ever-increasing pace. New technologies, software offerings, social media platforms, marketing strategies and shopping platforms – the list goes on. Our strategy is to employ tried and tested solutions whilst also keeping our eyes on the emerging landscape.

Where there is not the right technology available for us to use for you, we are able to develop tailored software, app and website solutions.

With a background in developing across web, eCommerce and mobile apps – we have a rounded knowledge of what is possible.

We have a dedicated team of individuals, working towards your success, with a combined 30+ years of experience doing the same for other clients growing and selling online.

We revel in the success of our clients. Our clients are the most important part of our team bringing their experience, knowledge and insight.

Our clients come from different sectors of the retail market from home electronics, fashion and home wares through to health and pharmaceuticals.

Image by Brooke Cagel at Unsplash

Porter the Sorter

‘Dad, pull your socks up or you’re out!’

When SME owners start a business, we often need to access all of the resources available to us to get the business off the ground. We seek support from those around us that we trust, have the skills we need and are keen to see the business succeed. Often this can involve family members or personal friends. But how do you run a business and maintain healthy relationships?

Business is business, right? But it’s not as easy as that. It can be a minefield where you have personal relationships that extend between the business owner to different team members across the business.

We have a client who has his dad, wife, brother and aunt all as members of the team! It’s more like a family tree than organisation chart. They manage the family dynamic really well but there are definitely things to be aware of to prevent there being issues.

Over time it is challenging to be able to address any issues of underperformance or misconduct

between family members. So, what can you do to navigate the minefield?

• Be clear with all family members the reasons why being consistent about expectations across the whole team is important.

• Create job descriptions to give clarity on every role in the business to help manage performance.

• Be wary of discussing family issues when at work. Create separation by agreeing to keep all family conversations outside of the workplace to prevent anyone from feeling alienated.

• Be transparent with other team members that it may feel unusual, but they have your permission to raise any issues and disregard any relationships, where appropriate.

• Use an impartial third party / outsourced HR service to investigate or take corrective actions where required.

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 managing relationships in the workplace 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.

President’s Message Showcase your skills at KBBA

Welcome to this edition of our magazine. I had the privilege to be invited to the launch of the KBBA a few weeks ago. It was fantastic to hear our headline sponsors talk with so much passion and enthusiasm about the value they believe the awards bring to our community.

Whatever business you work in or run, there is a category which will allow you the opportunity to showcase your skills, talent and contribution to our community so please do enter.

The Chessington Expo is nearly here too, another great event for networking and showcasing your business, please add the date to your diary, Thursday 26th October.

Finally, as many of you will know Kingston Charitable Foundation is my charity of choice and Hicky, her team and I are busy planning some fundraising events. We are starting off with a Christmas Giving Fundraising Quiz, which is going to be on ‘Giving Tuesday’ on 28th November at The Boaters Inn so watch out for more details as we confirm them!

Julie Leach President, Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Welcome to our new members

Corinthian-Casuals FC secretary@ccfcltd.co.uk www.corinthian-casuals.com

The Bentall Centre contactus@bentallcentre.co.uk www.bentallcentre.co.uk

One Global Ltd

John Bendel john.bendel@one-global.com www.one-global.com

Eloquent Intelligence Emmett Brosnan info@eloquentintelligence.com www.eloquentintelligence.com

Leaf Consulting Mike Hide www.leafconsulting@aol.com

Neon Bear Accountancy

Pete Freeman pete@neon-bear.co.uk www.neon-bear.co.uk

Add Agency Ltd Alison Blake alison@addagency.co.uk www.addagency.co.uk

Total Managed Document Solutions Simon Vine simon.vine2@tmdocumentsolutions.com tmdocumentsolutions.com

Zoco Networking Nick Blanchard nick@zoconetworking.co.uk www.zoconetworking.co.uk

CR Marketing Services Caroline Robins caroline@crmarketingservices.co.uk

Televenture Consulting Limited Nick Badham nbadham@aol.com

Parallel Notion Coaching Annamie Athayde annamie@parallelnotion.co.uk www.parallelnotioncoaching.co.uk

Integral - Redesigning Humanity Jason Grant jason@integral.me www.integral.me

Reasons to join...

BUSINESS PROGRAMMES

THE NEW BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMMES

Go Business will offer two, comprehensive business support programmes, Go Start-Ups and Go Growth. These will provide specialist webinars, Business Model Canvas reviews and one-to-one mentoring.

For more details about these exciting programmes, please visit www.kingstonchamber.co.uk

FUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY: HOSTED BY:

The Royal Borough of Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Why accolades and awards are so important for local businesses

By Neil Parsons, Managing Director, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting UK

Some businesses may look at awards programmes as the preserve of global organisations, but the reality is that they are equally as important to smaller, local businesses.

Award programmes such as the Kingston Borough Business Awards (KBBA) not only provide recognition and prestige to local businesses, but also serve as a means to motivate and inspire other companies to strive for excellence and make positive contributions to their local community. They can also help raise awareness around the importance of sustainability, community engagement, and inclusivity in the business world.

Having participated in the KBBAs for the past two years, my team at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting UK has found the programme a unique opportunity to align themselves with business leadership in the Borough and engage with other key stakeholders.

If it’s your first time considering the programme, bear this in mind. Entering awards is a great way

to showcase your business and get recognition for the hard work that you and your team have put in. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate the value and impact of your business and highlight the successes you have achieved.

Beyond all this, entering awards can be good for business; helping to increase your brand

Ambitious about Autism

Kingston College, Ambitious about Autism and Kingston Chamber of Commerce are delighted to be hosting an Encouraging our Neurodivergent Workforce networking breakfast on Wednesday 11 October.

We estimate one in six students of our around 2,500 students each year will have an EHCP and that number is increasing. Local businesses, Career/ SEND Leads from local schools and stakeholder

groups are invited to learn more about autism and consider how businesses recruit a future neurodivergent workforce.

The morning will begin at Kingston College’s Kingston Hall Road Campus with a networking breakfast from 8.30am, keynote speakers, training from Ambitious about Autism and a panel discussion followed by an information marketplace hosted by local providers.

To RSVP and for any queries please email employability@kingston-college.ac.uk.

awareness. Even if you don’t triumph on the night, other businesses will certainly become more aware of your brand’s presence in the industry, and awards ceremonies are great opportunities to network and celebrate with other local businesses as a community.

www.wolterskluwer.com

College launch fundraiser for fire-hit cricket club house

Following the fire at Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club that destroyed the club house earlier this month Kingston College have set up a Just Giving fundraising link on the College’s social media as their Men’s Football Academy trains there.

The College also use the facilities and storage space. The club and grounds are also home to Harlequins Amateur rugby, Bedfont Sports FC and other community groups.

You can donate at Justgiving.com

Simply search ‘HWRCC The Wick’ in the fundraiser section.

Welcoming a new season

It’s hard to believe we’re saying farewell to summer already, but as we get ready to welcome a new season, we’re looking back at a busy few months at Summers-Inman.

As well as taking on new endeavours, we’ve also seen a number of our projects, particularly in the healthcare space, reach completion. In the role of Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager, we have supported enabling works to install imaging systems in hospitals across the UK, including Cornwall, London, and Manchester.

A particularly interesting site visit was to one of our Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) sites, where off-site manufacturing methods offer innovative and cost-effective solutions for our projects. We believe that visiting these sites in person is important, and allows us to fully appreciate the construction process.

We also welcomed several new staff members over the summer period, including a new Senior Quantity Surveyor and a Business Development and Marketing Coordinator who has joined us as a Kingston University graduate.

Most recently we attended the Kingston Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Lunch at the lovely French Table in Surbiton. The event was incredibly popular, and it was a pleasure to make new connections with local women in business.

www.summers-inman.co.uk

Understanding Lasting Powers of Attorney LPAs

There are many misunderstandings and misconceptions about Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), therefore we hope this provides a useful overview of what an LPA does, how it works and how to request one.

5 reasons to have an LPA

1. One in three people aged over 65 will develop dementia, so it is important to ensure that finances and health will be looked after if you can’t deal with those matters yourself.

2. If you lose mental capacity and do not have an LPA no one can access your bank accounts to pay for your care or your bills without involving the court.

3. You get to choose who can make decisions for you when you are unable to do so. Your next of kin can’t automatically make decisions for you and if you don’t have an LPA, the court may need to appoint someone to act for you.

4. If no one can operate your bank accounts it might leave your family vulnerable, even when trying to pay for something as simple as a household bill, as Kate Garraway has found following her husband Derek Draper having to be put in an induced coma after contracting Covid-19.

5. You can clearly state your wishes such as the circumstances in which you would want your home to be sold or types of medical treatment you would not wish to receive.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?

An LPA is a legal document by which you (the donor) give authority to others (your attorneys) to act for you and make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make those decisions yourself. This might be because you have dementia or because you are in a coma following a bad accident for example.

There are two types of LPA:

1. Property and financial affairs. This covers matters such as paying bills, buying and selling property and managing your investments.

We also welcomed several new staff members over the summer period, including a new Senior Quantity Surveyor and a Business Development and Marketing Coordinator who has joined us as a Kingston University graduate."

2. Health and welfare. This covers decisions around your care and medical treatment.

How do you put an LPA in place?

An LPA form needs to be filled in. The form is quite lengthy and, if not completed correctly, it can be rejected at registration by the Office of the Public Guardian.

You can request we put together an LPA for you at any time, simply contact Claire-Louise in the Wealth Management team on either clsmith@pearsonhards.co.uk or call us on 020 8949 9500.

www.pearsonhards.co.uk

Kingston Large Employers Forum

What does ‘large’ business mean in a Kingston context? There are only about 20 of these meeting the official’ definition of 250+ employees in the borough - think Unilever, Chessington World of Adventures - but between them they provide at least 10% of borough jobs. If we extended that definition to employers of 50 or more staff (large in our context) this rises to around just 130 businesses, likely to be providing at least a quarter of all borough jobs.

This means there is a relatively small number of businesses that bring a disproportionate economic benefit, through employment and local purchasing - while also sharing a range of opportunities and challenges including transport needs, recruitment and skills, and environmental considerations.

This is why we’ve initiated the Kingston Large Employers Forum - to bring shared attention to some of the borough’s strategic issues and opportunities. It reflects a part of the council’s objective to deliver ‘Together’ - a key theme of our new Council Plan. The forum kicked off in June with a focus on skills, employment and recruitment and the next on 2 November, will include a focus on a new economic development strategy for the borough, and how to address shared recruitment challenges.

A day out with HH&W

Holland Hahn & Wills were delighted to welcome more than 75 clients to their annual summer party at Hampton Court Palace Golf Club at the beginning of September.

It was a superb day, the sun was shining – thankfully so was the air con! We were entertained by traditional dancing from London Kim’s Dance Group and were treated to delicious food. It’s a delight to welcome our clients to these events, where friends are reacquainted. We are very grateful for the loyalty shown by our clients, exemplified by the fact that many are already friends because they have referred their nearest and dearest to us for financial advice and reassurance over the years.

Hicky Kingsbury, commented that it was “A truly gorgeous day at a stunning venue! It was lovely to see old friends and make new ones. London Kim’s Dance group were incredible in their traditional dance performances.”

At HHW we very much enjoy chatting to our clients in an informal setting. We very much look forward to helping your families, colleagues and friends for many years to come.

www.hhw-uk.com

If yours is a borough-based businesses of 50+ employees and you’re interested in being involved, do get in contact: business@kingston.gov.uk

Kingston University rolls out sector-leading Future Skills programme

New students enrolling at Kingston University this autumn are set to be the first to benefit from an innovative model of education designed to equip them with the future-proofed skills needed for career success.

All first-year undergraduates will participate in Navigate modules, before progressing on to further expand their skills and knowledge through Explore and Apply modules during the second and third

years of their degrees, as part of the new Future Skills programme. The sessions will ensure students on every course acquire the skills most valued by employers, including problem solving, critical thinking, communication and creativity.

The University's Director of Student Development and Graduate Success, Ali Orr, said: "Ensuring our graduates are able to call on this broader skillset to meet the changing needs of employers is absolutely vital, particularly as they prepare to enter a rapidly

evolving world of work where many of the jobs they will eventually hold don't yet exist."

The programme builds on research with more than 2,000 major businesses undertaken as part of the University's Future Skills campaign, which has garnered widespread support from business and industry leaders, government policy-makers, politicians and peers.

For more information visit

www.kingston.ac.uk/futureskills

Cybersecurity event is a big success

In partnership with Barclays and The Kingston Chamber of Commerce, we were thrilled to host a dynamic Networking & Cybersecurity event. This event provided a valuable forum for both newcomers and experienced professionals to delve into the pressing topic of cybersecurity in today's business landscape.

Every business, regardless of its size, is becoming a target for cybercriminals. Recognising this, our aim was to demystify the vast realm of cybersecurity.

Our discussions revolved around key areas such as Personal Security, Business Security, Cyber Essentials, Data Loss Prevention, the significance of Backup in Cyber Security and the practicality of Table-Top Exercises for businesses.

In essence, these gatherings underscore the urgent need for businesses and individuals to bolster their online safeguards, promoting a secure and trustworthy digital environment.

A special thanks to Barclays for offering a fantastic venue, and to all the local businesses that participated. It was a pleasure connecting with you all!

Every business, regardless of its size, is becoming a target for cybercriminals. Recognising this, our aim was to demystify the vast realm of cybersecurity."

TOP TIPS for dealing with HMRC furlough enquiries DON’T PANIC!

LATEST GUIDANCE ON DATA SCRAPING FOR ONLINE

In late August, 12 data protection authorities based around the world (the DPAs) – including the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office – issued a joint statement that advises social media companies and website operators to implement “multi-layered and procedural controls” to prevent unlawful data scraping and to encourage compliance with applicable laws on protecting personal data.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), commonly referred to as ‘furlough’ was introduced by the UK Government in March 2020. While relatively unheard of prior to the pandemic we have, since March 2020, been consistently hearing or using this word.

• increasing user awareness and understanding of the privacy settings they can activate when visiting/using their websites

In this article Sheetul Sowdagar from Russell-Cooke gives some top tips to wrap your head around furlough fraud and dealing with enquiries.

“Data scraping” generally involves the automated extraction and re-use of data from the web – often relating to personal information that is “publicly available” on social media websites or other online sources. Organisations may use computer programmes such as “spiders” or “bots” for such purposes.

You may or may not know that the Oxford English Dictionary defines furlough as “to give somebody permission to leave their duties for a period of time”.

However, data scraping can be used for illegitimate means – from cases reported to the DPAs over recent years, they have identified a number of data privacy concerns arising from use of data scraping technologies (particularly those that have the capacity to collect vast amounts of personal data).

In the press, we have seen increasing mention of ‘furlough fraud.’ It has recently been estimated that the UK Government is likely to write off £4.3 billion pounds in furlough fraud.

More broadly, data scraping techniques (like other technologies) are dynamic and evolving - businesses must therefore remain vigilant to new opportunities where unlawful data scraping can compromise the privacy rights of individual users. While these measures seek to prevent unlawful data scraping, it will likely have implications on businesses that use scraping for legitimate, commercial purposes. For example, a business that carries out research & analysis may use scraped data to identify trends/behaviours among individual users.

the furlough scheme to help retain their employees during the pandemic may receive queries from HMRC. These could even be in cases where only legitimate furlough claims had been made.

These include exploiting scraped personal information for targeted cyberattacks, identity fraud, profiling and surveillance, unauthorised political or intelligence gathering and unwanted direct marketing or spam. In such cases, the individuals concerned were unaware that their data was scraped from their accounts/profiles on social media (or other) websites, which can undermine their trust in the organisations that run these sites.

What is furlough fraud?

show your intention of being cooperative, but will also help address any issues, without the need for escalation.

For further details, go to https://ico.org.uk/media/about-the-ico/ documents/4026232/joint-statement-data-scraping-202308.pdf to access the joint statement.

Tip 3: Make sure you review your records and keep copies.

Data scraping: other legal implications for data scrapers

Help – I’ve had a query from HMRC

Below are some practical tips to help you respond to any queries received.

Any business which hosts data online is at risk of third parties scraping their data.

Examples of furlough fraud could include:

Tip 1: Do not panic!

Recommendations from the DPAs for website operators at risk of scraping

• Furloughed staff being asked to continue to work;

To tackle unlawful scraping, the data protection authorities have recommended that website operators apply a “combination” of technical and procedural controls that is “proportionate to the sensitivity of the information” that they hold. For example, businesses who host data at risk of scraping may want to consider:

• Claiming furlough pay for staff who did not qualify for the scheme;

• Claiming furlough pay for ‘made up’ staff;

• Over-claiming furlough pay;

Understand that HMRC may be following up leads or simply asking questions to ensure that all claims made were done so properly.

This will allow you to refresh your memory and more importantly have all your documents ready to disclose to HMRC if needed.

Data scraping can be carried out for legitimate purposes, but use of scraping does present a number of risks. Aside from privacy concerns, data scraping may have other legal implications for businesses that use these practices –for example:

• where the scraping involves the extraction and re-publishing of a substantial part of someone else’s material (e.g. text, drawings, logos, songs etc.) then that could constitute infringement of copyright. Similar considerations will apply even where businesses “link” or “frame” information set out on another website

Tip 4: Be transparent.

In the event you realise that a mistake has been made, or any overpayments have occurred, make sure you promptly inform HMRC.

• the scraped data may have come from an original source that contains copyright-infringing content

Tip 2: Do not bury your head in the sand.

• setting up a team or specific roles within their organisations to protect against, monitor for, and respond to scraping activities

• identify data scraping activity (e.g. bots), such as by using CAPTCHAS, and blocking the IP address where such activity is detected. A CAPTCHA is a Completely Automated Public Turing test that tells computers apart from humans – a common example is where a user is required to look at a set of pictures and identify the ones which contain a specific object

• Not passing the full amount of furlough pay to the furloughed employees;

• Deliberately providing false information to receive furlough pay from HMRC.

• limiting access per hour or day by one account or other account profiles, or from where unusual activity is otherwise detected

While it is understood that only a very small minority intended to defraud HMRC, it is known that HMRC have started ramping up their investigations and actively following up on tip-offs received. Many business owners in the UK who had accessed

While it is easy to get distracted in keeping the business running, it is important to understand that this is not going to go away. If you cannot find time yourself to engage with HMRC, then make sure you instruct an adviser who can do so on your behalf.

• making use of legal actions such as having terms and conditions that require consent before data can be scraped, or “cease and desist” letters to enforce deletion of scraped information (and confirmation of the same)

• where the scraped data involves a compilation of information that is arranged in a systematic or methodical way, this may constitutes a “database”, whereby the original database maker has a claim against the business carrying out such data scraping. This is known as the “sui generis database right” which is exists independently of copyright

Tip 5: Keep records for a minimum of six years. Even if you were successful in addressing any queries and the matter was subsequently resolved, do keep your records for a minimum of six years to assist you with any potential future queries.

As highlighted above, website operators may contain strict and enforceable terms of use which prohibit unauthorised data scraping from their websites. In summary, there are various legal requirements and restrictions which businesses must bear in mind in the context of data scraping.

We can help

Get in touch

It is often too easy to say that we ‘will deal with this later’ and soon enough a month or more has gone by. It is always better to be proactive and start engaging with HMRC as soon as possible. This will not only

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If you have any questions in relation to this article, or are seeking legal advice on a data scraping matter, please contact Imanpreet Suthar on imanpreet.suthar@russell-cooke.co.uk

It goes without saying that if any actions are being taken against you by HMRC, please seek independent legal advice urgently. Contact our senior associate Sheetul Sowdagar in our professional regulation team, for help.

Employability Skills & Work Experience: Creating Employees of the Future

For students studying at Kingston College employability skills development and work experience is a compulsory and incredibly valuable element of their study providing them with the progression opportunities needed in an ever more competitive employment market.

The college is delighted to work closely with employers and organisations and is always keen to discuss opportunities with contacts looking for support or to raise the profile of their business by meeting our students or hosting them for work experience.

There are many benefits to embarking on a relationship with STCG (South Thames Colleges Group), including:

Extra Resource

Work experience students can help to support staff

New Expertise

Our students can provide your company with up-todate expertise. For example, you may be going through a company re-brand and need a graphic designer

Recruitment Opportunity

Hosting work experience students allows you to trial potential future employers

Community Reputation

Students share good experiences with friends and family which could enhance your reputation as a business in the local community

Staff Development

Encouraging current staff to mentor or supervise work experience

New ideas

Young people often bring fresh ideas and approaches and may help revitalise your organisation

When organising a work experience placement for you we will carefully work with you to select the most appropriate candidate for your business needs. We can provide students for placements with a variety of key skills to contribute to specific business departments.

You can offer student placements from as little as one week, or up to 45 days for those students studying the new T Levels. The length of time is dependent on the sector you are in, what the student is studying and the skills you will find useful. If you are not sure where to start, contact our work experience team. We can help you decide what you need and introduce you to suitable candidates.

Level 2 Media students recently took part in work experience for Surrey County Cricket Club. After an initial briefing with the club’s Disability

Development Officer, they spent an amazing day filming Disability Day on 15 May at The Kia Oval. This inclusive and inspiring event gives young people across London and Surrey the opportunity to try out sporting activities, and we were there to capture the fun. The Media students worked well in teams and were professional in their approach onsite. They then worked on editing the footage for promotional use by the club.

Kingston College are also currently opening a new Enterprise and Innovation Hub. Located in the library (LRC). Open one day a week from Wednesday, 15th November 2023. The Hub will provide a springboard for students, paving the way for their entrepreneurial journey.

Students will be able to get crucial advice on freelancing, business plan development, cash flow forecasting, marketing, legal registration procedures, documentation, HMRC tax returns etc. Students will also be able to access business mentors and funding to take their ideas developed in the college out into the wider community.

If you are interested in work experience opportunities please contact Clive Lissaman, Head of Employability at Kingston College: Clive.Lissaman@stcg.ac.uk

When organising a work experience placement for you we will carefully work with you to select the most appropriate candidate for your business needs. We can provide students for placements with a variety of key skills to contribute to specific business departments.”

Level 2 Media students recently took part in work experience for Surrey County Cricket Club.

Want to help your team embrace technology and AI…just remember to FUEL their enthusiasm!

The speed of new technology disruption seems to be accelerating. Studies have predicted that as many as 375 million jobs may be at risk to automation by 2030. Against this backdrop, you might expect growing enthusiasm to invest in new skills. So why aren’t we seeing a rush from established professions to become more technology savvy?

The Slothful Induction Fallacy… and other ways to rationalize avoiding new things.

We spend much of our early careers fighting to establish ourselves, to reach a level of competence and comfort. Also, as we enter our middle career years, the early romantic vision of work is replaced by increased cynicism.

A byproduct is a much-reduced appetite to embrace new things, to experiment, to keep striving, because rather than feel we are playing catch up… we instead feel we’ve earned the right to relax and breathe.

This dynamic distorts how we relate to new things. “Sure...” we say, “technology is going to completely change our industry in 10 years… but by then... my stock options will have vested.” Or perhaps, “yeah technology will change everything… except my clients’ are always going to want me to navigate this for them. They’ll never transact online.”

How Do You Help Your Colleagues Avoid Sleepwalking Toward Obsolescence?

The key is to reframe the subject to make it more appealing and engaging. In basic psychological terms, the best approach is to find ways to make the exploration of new skills something that has independent and personal appeal for each individual.

We have captured a few suggestions for doing just this under the acronym FUEL:

F - Make it Fun:

Gamification is an example of this. Introducing something new in the form of a game or competition. If you can point to examples of new technology that have a fun dimension… you are halfway to reframing it from chore to entertainment.

U - Make it Useful:

We find it fascinating how many things get done around the house nowadays based on watching a YouTube video? If you can find something small that could be fixed today by applying ChatGPT… suggest your team tries it to see what happens.

E - Make it Easy:

It is critical that trying something new isn’t too daunting. Fortunately, most entry examples to AI are extremely user friendly. Remember, however, to keep the bar modest… at least at first.

L - Make it Light:

In our experience it is easier for people to experiment and try new things if they are encouraged and not judged. We recommend recognizing all attempts kindly and generously. Role model this yourself. Share your own stumbles as a great example of honest and authentic endeavor.

A Career Carol: A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How to Navigate Them by Dr Helmut Schuster and Dr David Oxley is published on October 13th by Austin Macauley Publishers and is available on Amazon.

Drs Schuster & Oxley, longtime friends and work colleagues launch the first book in the Shey Sinope saga on October 13th.

They bring their considerable experience as energy executives, HR leaders, and social scientists to successfully navigating the four big existential crisis we are all likely to face across a 40-year working lifetime.

1.Jobs lost, jobs gained: What the future of work will mean for jobs, skills, and wages – McKinsey, November 2017

Dr Helmut Schuster and Dr David Oxley

"We spend much of our early careers fighting to establish ourselves, to reach a level of competence and comfort. Also, as we enter our middle career years, the early romantic vision of work is replaced by increased cynicism. "

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Winners of New Malden design competition announced

A team of architects has won the competition to create a ‘gateway’ public space in New Malden.

The design team formed of Hayatsu Architects, Hortus Collective and 121 Collective have been named winners of the A Gateway to New Malden competition.

Kingston Council partnered with the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) to launch the new design competition earlier this year.

An exhibition of the six shortlisted designs was hosted, as well as an online survey.

A jury made up of industry experts, community stakeholders and the council then used local feedback received and other success criteria to choose the winning scheme.

The team’s design - Unearthing New Malden - was judged to provide the best solution to enhance the green space at the Fountain Roundabout, increase biodiversity and access to nature, and create an inclusive and attractive public space for the town

Design concept for ‘Unearthing New Malden’ by Hayatsu Architects, Hortus Collective and 121 Collective.

centre that celebrates New Malden’s character, culture and heritage.

The design team will continue to engage with the local community as they finalise designs for the space. The council is aiming for work to start on site next year.

at 121 Collective, based in Tolworth, studied. Hortus Collective is an emerging landscape design practice based in East Sussex and Sheffield.

Councillor Lesley Heap, Chair of New and Old Malden Neighbourhood, said: “We were delighted to receive so many high-quality submissions as part of the design competition, and thank you to all of those who let us know their feedback as part of our initial engagement.

Hayatsu Architects is an architecture practice led by Takeshi Hayatsu, a senior architecture lecturer at Kingston University, where many of the team

Let’s

“Exciting schemes like this help us to improve our public spaces and bring life into our high streets. “As a council, we are focused on placing history and heritage at the heart of our regeneration projects, which is why it’s lovely that we’ll be working with a local design team who really understand the uniqueness of New Malden and our vibrant community.”

Talk High Streets

Animating New Malden High St

New Malden local businesses and communities have come together, working with New Malden Rotary Club, to deliver a package of town centre animation that can include colourful banners and lights illuminating high street trees.

This autumn New Malden town centre will celebrate its Korean community across a weekend event, delivered by Korean British Cultural Exchange, highlighting Korean food, heritage, and culture, supporting food businesses in New Malden and local producers.

The pandemic highlighted the need for businesses to work closer together, and working with the Rotary Club, New Malden will see the establishment of a new business forum and online hub directly responding to this need.

Chessington North business parade

A programme of business engagement, support and town centre events delivered by Community Brain will bring local business together and animate local shopping parades.

Animating Kingston Town Centre

Kingston Town Centre’s independent quarter, Old London Road, will come alive across the coming months with outdoor events bringing together food and culture, celebrating local independent businesses.

The town centre will thrive with creative activity this autumn with Creative Youth’s cultural trail, bringing together international culture, cuisine and connecting local businesses and local creatives. Local trade will be promoted and supported through new innovations by Kingston Pound, encouraging town centre visitors to shop local.

Tolworth animation programme

A programme of business engagement, support and town centre events delivered by Community Brain will bring local business together and animate local shopping parade

Surbiton Food Festival

Surbiton Food Festival will shine a spotlight on local food and drink businesses in the centre of town, directly supporting local business and providing opportunity for increased trade.

Exciting schemes like this help us to improve our public spaces and bring life into our high streets.”

Korean Ambassador visits Kingston as Kimchi Day motion passed

Green Flag award win for Canbury Gardens

Kingston Council has passed a motion to declare November 22 International Kimchi Day. The motion was passed during a visit to the area by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Mr Yeocheol Yoon.

This year marks the 140th anniversary of KoreanBritish diplomatic relations, with many celebrations planned across the UK and the Republic of Korea.

The Royal Borough of Kingston is home to the largest Korean community in Europe.

The Ambassador visited to attend July’s full council meeting where the Kimchi Day motion was passed. Kimchi is pickled, fermented vegetables and is the national dish of Korea.

In 2013 UNESCO recognised Kimjang, the process of preparing kimchi, as part of Korea’s intangible cultural heritage.

The date marks the 22 health benefits of the food and the various ingredients used to make kimchi. The dish is also traditionally prepared around November, ahead of winter.

The Ambassador’s visit was also an opportunity to celebrate and honour the contributions of Korean residents and businesses to the borough.

He attended a reception organised by the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Diane White at the Guildhall, along with representatives from the borough’s Korean communities and businesses.

Leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch said: “We are immensely proud of the rich diversity and multiculturalism of the borough and recognise the fantastic contributions of communities from all over the world.

“We have a well-established tradition of celebrating Kingston’s Korean and wider East and South East Asian heritage through events such as the annual Kingston Korea Festival - which includes the Korean Harvest Festival and the Kimjang Festival.

“Our new commitment to marking Kimchi Day each year, on 22 November, is a fitting way to enhance the celebrations of the central role Korean communities play in the cultural life of our borough.”

His Excellency Mr Yeocheol Yoon said he was deeply moved by the Kingston’s passion for kimchi and the Korean community.

“I will endeavour to ensure that my diplomatic activities contribute to the development of the Korean community in Kingston upon Thames,” he said.

“In that regard, I note with gratitude that today’s agenda for council included the motion for designating Kimchi Day.

“I believe that Kimchi will spice up our friendship and provide the famous ‘fermentation process’, which will further deepen our mutual understanding.

Canbury

Gardens has achieved Green Flag accreditationthe international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

The award reflects the council’s commitment to protecting and enhancing Kingston’s green spaces for current and future generations.

The award noted the space’s public facilities, range of play equipment and the fact it is used by friends’ groups to host monthly meetings and discuss community issues.

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: “Canbury Gardens is a vital green space for the community in Kingston, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.

“The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”

Councillor Noel Hadjimichael, Ward Councillor for Canbury Gardens Ward, added: “Canbury Gardens is a special place which attracts thousands of visitors each year, not just from Kingston, but from each corner of the borough, London and beyond.

“We’re incredibly proud of the borough’s green spaces which provide so many with somewhere to relax, unwind and socialise within easy reach of the town centre.”

The work of the Friends of Queen’s Promenade group has also been recognised with a Green Flag Community Award for their dedication to caring for and improving the riverside.

We are immensely proud of the rich diversity and multiculturalism of the borough and recognise the fantastic contributions of communities from all over the world."

Kingston Mayor Cllr Dianne White, His Excellency Mr Yeocheol Yoon, Deputy Mayor Cllr Richard Thorpe and Cllr Andreas Kirsch. Image by Kingston. gov.uk

po

Kingston Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be back for our sixth Chessington Business Expo.

There are three objectives for the Chessington Expo.

1: To give access to quality, business support

2: To provide an exciting programme to learn from

3: To bring people and businesses together

We would like to express our gratitude to Kingston Council, as our Expo Headline sponsor, for their support and backing for this event. The Chamber have regular conversations with the Council and we are aware how much they value the health and environment for businesses to succeed in the borough.

The Chamber are delighted to be back at Chessington School who have been a great partner for the event and continue to raise the educational bar in the community. We have a floor made up of advisor zones who bring their expertise and skills for visitors to tap into.

There is a diverse business programme at hand and we hope that all our attendees find it informative, interesting and provide plenty of food for thought. It is also very important to remember the strength of simple networking - you never know the power these conversations can have. Enjoy the day!

Headline Sponsors

Supported by

MARKETING BUSINESS SEMINAR

Making your business communications clear, authentic and impactful with Martin Booth, LeBoo Media

How do we get our messages understood and have impact? If you want a successful business, effective communication is critical. By making your communications clear, you will build better relationships with your employees, colleagues and clients.

FINANCE BUSINESS SEMINAR

How to manage your budgets and cashflow work for you with Clare Mannall, CEM Bookkeeping and Barclays Bank

Whether you are an SME or an individual, the principles of making your finances work for you are the same. At this seminar, you can learn how you can increase control your costs, manage your budget and how to discuss issues with banks, available finance support while still having a sustainable, enjoyable business/lifestyle.

Hosted by

The Royal Borough of Kingston Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS LEADERS ROUNDTABLE

How to grow, manage and enjoy your business with Kayak PR, 7 Dots and MB Associates

This roundtable discussion is a great opportunity to learn, and ask questions, from three local successful, business leaders, with very different sectors backgrounds, as they share their journeys.

Kathryn Hughes, Kayak PR

Kathryn is a strategic PR and communications professional with over 20 years’ experience.

Sam Page, 7 Dots

Sam is co-founder and CEO of 7DOTS a digital agency that creates captivating experiences for brands who dare to dream bigger.

Monica Bradley, MB Associates

Monica is an award-winning mortgage broker and founder of Cheam-based MB Associates.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

DIGITAL BUSINESS SEMINAR

Smart Connections: Amplifying your Social Media Presence with AI with Celia Rizothanasi, Queen Bee of LinkedIn

Adopting AI in social media marketing presents a myriad of opportunities for enhancing engagement and optimising strategy. In this seminar Celia will demystify the complexities of AI, offering a guided exploration into how AI can be effectively and ethically harnessed to overcome these challenges and significantly uplift your social media marketing efforts.

KINGSTON UNIVERSITY HACKATHON

How to grow sustainable and financially strong businesses with Amanda Baker and Dr Martha Mador, Kingston University

Participate in this problem-solving workshop and work with fellow expo participants to tackle challenges around business growth. Join us to at this exciting event to broaden your professional network, co-develop ideas and solutions for new or improved products and services, leading to sustainable and financially viable futures!

London stands tall as a global city making positive change across the world

James Watkins, Head of Policy and Public Impact at London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, talks to Sarah Dale about new initiatives adopted by the LCCI to benefit London and its business community and their work to forge stronger international links

James Watkins has recently returned from a “moving and emotional” business trip to Ukraine to build on the work LCCI Chief Executive Richard Burge and his team started in January.

“What struck me most was how determined the people are, their resilience and their positivity,” said James, Head of Policy and Public Impact at LCCI.

Igor Bartkiv, Ukraine Project Officer at LCCI, accompanied James on the trip, which included visits to Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv.

“Our trip was to build on the incredible visit by Richard in January,” said James, who has been inspired to learn Ukrainian to further assist his work with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.

“We achieved a number of successes. We signed an agreement which will bring the UK and the UAE together to support Ukraine; we are working with the Ukrainian Government and SMEs in Ukraine on how to engage with the UK market; we have agreed to develop an online platform to bring Ukrainian and British businesses together; and we are working with another Ukrainian Government department to work on identifying Joint Venture projects.

“It was a very practical visit, but it was very emotional too to be honest. The resilience of the people is remarkable. I have never been to a country at war before, so I knew I had to be mentally prepared before I went. In Lviv, there was an air raid warning because a Russian missile struck nearby.

We were talking to small business owners when the news of another missile attack came through. We went for a walk in a park in Kyiv and there was another air raid warning, but there was nowhere for us to go so we kept walking. A woman was singing Hallelujah and a ballet dancer was dancing and they just carried on. Normally, there would be applause, but everyone just stood together and took a moment.”

The LCCI and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce are working together to hold regular webinars for Ukrainian businesses in addition to face-to-face

meetings in Krakow, Poland and Dubai.

The Chambers formed strong links through working together during Eurovision, which was held in Liverpool in May.

Another way the LCCI is hoping to support the Ukrainian business community is by working with London Fashion Week in February to showcase Ukrainian fashion designers.

Further afield, 12 London-based businesses went with Marta Kozlowska, Head of International at the LCCI, to Bangalore in India for a Start-Up Festival. This global approach to working with businesses has led the LCCI to offer an international membership.

“London is a global city and it is about recognising our responsibility as such,” he said.

In London, the economic landscape is “looking good”, says James.

of poor air quality and the tragic case of Ella Adoo Kissi-Debrah who lived near the South Circular Road and died as a consequence of poor air quality, and we believe it is right to take action he said.

“It should not be seen as an extra tax during the cost-of-living-crisis. At the same time, we needed to look at the practicalities of the scheme.”

Mayor Sadiq Khan’s announcement to widen access to financial help to every Londoner with a non-compliant vehicle from 21st August and extending the “grace period” of the scheme so business owners can comply has been hailed a success.

“We lobbied for the vehicle scrappage scheme to be available to small businesses and that now covers three vehicles per firm,” he added.

“We were also pushing for a grace period because the Chinese Government has put a delay on the release of rare earths which are used in micro chips used in the production of electrical vehicles. One of the other suppliers of rare earths is Russia which has been hit by sanctions. Now as long as you can show proof that you have bought it, you will be given a grace period.”

They are also lobbying against the “stringent cuts” to Arts Council funding.

“We can fall into the trap of talking down London, but fundamentally, London contributes over 20% towards UK GDP and it’s still the base for Fintech, the pharmaceutical industry, some American films are filmed in Soho, most of the gaming is designed here. London is still driving the economy forward, thanks to the entrepreneurialism of our business community doing an incredible job. Our members are optimistic and so am I.”

The LCCI has recently become an officially accredited Living Wage employer.

“We felt that, as a team, to be successful we have to be ethical and have to do the right thing and lead from the front,” said James.

“We are really proud to be a Living Wage employer and we believe passionately that it is the decent thing to do and that it is good for the economy too.”

As well as supporting its members, one of the key roles of the LCCI is to lobby the Government on issues that are pertinent to the business community such as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), cuts to arts funding and Government support for SMEs.

“The LCCI has always accepted the evidence the Mayor of London has provided regarding the effects

“The arts in London provide £46 billion of revenue in the UK which is quite staggering,” he said.

“Just before Christmas, the Arts Council announced the stringent cuts. This was very harmful. London is the gateway for tourists across the UK. To cut the arts in London is levelling down the whole country. We have written to the Arts Minister and the Arts Council to urge them to reverse the cuts and, at the very least, to stop any further cuts.”

Another issue the LCCI is keen to tackle is the safety of female Chamber members who have expressed rising concerns following the high-profile criminal cases against some Metropolitan Police officers. They are working with both the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police to ensure misogyny and racism have no place in any community.

“We are in a dialogue with the police and recently set up a business crime group looking at the safety of women, cyber and IT crime, retail crime and financial fraud,” he said.

“We will be working with the police and local authorities to ensure the safety of all our boroughs. I do genuinely think we are moving forwards to generate positive change.”

From left to right - Olena Shyrokova, President of the UAE - Ukrainian Business Council, Igor Bartkiv, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ukraine Project Manager, James Watkins, Head of Policy and Public Impact at London Chamber of Commerce and Industry listening to Gennadiy Chyzhykov, President of the Ukrainian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

We are really proud to be a Living Wage employer and we believe passionately that it is the decent thing to do and that it is good for the economy too.”

Making his Mark

Nestled on the banks of the Thames, next to Hampton Court Palace, sits The Mitre, a quirky boutique hotel blending the old with the new and the local with the worldly.

The 1665 Brasserie – named after the date when the original inn was built for guests of nearby Hampton Court Palace – has a majestic centrepiece bar, wine room and two beautiful terraces overlooking the river, perfect for outdoor dining.

Award-winning chef Mark Jarvis recently joined the restaurant as Culinary Director and is keen to put his stamp on the venue by bringing in new Executive Chef, Andrew Cole, and team of 12, and tweaking the menu to include tantalising new dishes.

“My favourite thing to cook is fish,” said Mark, who began his apprenticeship chef training when he was 16. “I love fish. I love anything local and sustainably produced. I like it when the ingredients and flavours steal the show. I can do all the fancy techniques but, for me, simple ingredients can turn into something amazing. “To cook fish, pan fry it first so the skin turns crispy and then cook it on the grill. Serve it with a herby salsa. Simple but delicious.”

The 41-year-old chef began his training in London restaurants before spending three years under the mentorship of Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire.

“When people ask me which chef has had the most influence on me, it has to be Raymond; he is like my Dad,” said Mark. Whilst Raymond remains a major influence in Mark’s career, it was his Nan Ruby who first inspired the chef to roll up his sleeves and give cooking a go.

“I always wanted to be a chef,” said Mark, whose awards include GQ Chef of the Year. “My Nan Ruby used to cook all the time. She was from a big family and would make roast dinners and show me how to preserve things to make things last longer. She also made lots of cakes.”

Following his inspirational time with Blanc, he returned to London working as Head Chef at The Blueprint Café before he joined the Bingham Hotel in Richmond as Executive Chef. He then decided to take his culinary journey across the world by working across Dubai, Asia and Europe for nine months.

“When I was in Asia, I was a consultant for a fine dining restaurant and worked directly for the owner,” he said. “I would wander down to the food stalls in Malaysia and find out what the locals ate. “I’ve worked in a lot of Michelin starred restaurants and I am a fine dining chef.

Working in high end cuisine tends to be similar dishes so finding out local dishes and the different ingredients people used was inspiring. It has definitely influenced the way I cook now. “We use a lot of ingredients but if you’re poor in Malaysia then lemongrass can go a long way, you find lots of different ways to cook with it.”

Mark opened his own restaurant, Anglo, in 2017, which has been awarded three rosettes, is in the Michelin guide and won The Caterer’s Best Newcomer award. “Every single newspaper review was five star and we were A.A. Gill’s final review before he died,” he added.

A good restaurant is never about just one person; we work together on new menu options,I love being inspired by an idea and having a play in the kitchen.”

Above: Mitre’s new Culinary Director Mark Jarvis.

Right: One of Mark’s dishes

Mitre, which is a member of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, he is working with his team on a new menu. “A good restaurant is never about just one person; we work together on new menu options,” he said. “I love being inspired by an idea and having a play in the kitchen.

One of the new dishes is gin-cured salmon served with soda bread made in-house. We are converting downstairs and opening a bakery; we make our own focaccia, cheese biscuits. During Covid, I turned my London restaurant into a bakery and it was something I wanted to introduce here. “We’re also introducing a fish and chips Friday. People are always surprised because I am a fine dining chef but I love fish and chips! Our fish will be cooked in a local beer batter and served with triple cooked chips and mushy peas. “This is an amazing location. I was sitting on the terrace with Raymond having a drink the other evening and looking out on the river. It’s beautiful and, of course, we’re next to a palace!

The Mitre is one of three boutique hotels in the acclaimed Signet Collection. It has 40 individually-styled bedrooms and suites, a private dining room, meeting space – including the wonderfully quirky library – and a pamper room, offering treatments for guests and locals alike. The hotel regularly hosts exclusive dining experiences, wine tastings live music and more, and is currently gearing up for another busy festive season, and is perfect for team parties, festive feasting and Christmas escapes.

THE KINGSTON BOROUGH BUSINESS AWARDS WERE OPENED IN SEPTEMBER AT FUSEBOX.

We were delighted to welcome our Headline Sponsor, Kingston University, represented by the Provost, Professor Helen Laville; our Gold sponsors, Peter Mayhew-Smith, Group Principal and CEO, South Thames Colleges Group and Cllr Andreas Kirsch, the Leader of Kingston Council.

No matter your shape or size of business, there are categories to match you. The KBBA are a great way of recognising the hard work of your employees, allows you to show how your business is different from your competitors and is also an opportunity for self-reflection, to focus on your achievements.

The KBBA celebrates the positive impact of local businesses across the Borough of Kingston.

Categories

Best Charity / Social Enterprise of the Year Award

NEW Best in Digital Communications Award

NEW Best Freelancer/Sole Trader of the Year Award

NEW Best Health and Wellbeing Provider Award

NEW Best in Property of the Year Award

Sponsors

Rotary Club

ABLE

KINGSTON BOROUGH BUSINESS AWARDS2024

LeBoo Media

IQ in IT

Pearson Hards Solicitors

Best Independent Local Retailer of the Year Award DoubleTree by Hilton, Kingston

NEW Best in Sport and Fitness Award

Best Start Up of the Year Award

Developing Young Peoples’ Skills Award

Excellence in Customer Experience Award

Excellence in Hospitality Award

Excellence in Professional Services Award

Outstanding Business Social Impact Award

Outstanding Green Business Champion Award

NEW Removing Barriers Champions Award

Forbes Design Associates

Kingston University

Kingston College

Holland Hahn & Wills

Russell-Cooke Solicitors

Kingston First

Unilever UK & Ireland

Kingston Council

GOLD SPONSORS

CATEGORY SPONSORS

The Royal Borough of Kingston Chamber of Commerce

HEADLINE SPONSOR

MEDIA PARTNER

Fixing people problem is key to tackling inflation

A survey of almost 5,000 UK firms of all sectors and sizes by the British Chambers (BCC) has revealed that recruitment issues remain a significant factor in the business community.

The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (ORO) shows that the percentage of firms facing recruitment difficulties has fallen just three percentage points from the historical high of 82% in Q4 2022. This has now remained above 75% for the last two years.

Attempted recruitment in Q1 was virtually unchanged from the previous quarter, with 60% of those surveyed looking to find staff (59% in Q1 2023). While recruitment difficulties are being experienced across the economy, the construction and engineering and the hospitality sectors were the most likely to report problems with 86% of firms reporting difficulties (up from 81% and 83% respectively in Q1). This is closely manufactured on 81% (83% Q1) and then professional services on 77% (79% Q1).

Of the firms in the construction and engineering sector facing recruitment difficulties, 76% faced difficulties in finding skilled manual/technical workers. However, for hospitality businesses that struggled to recruit, 69% faced difficulties in finding semi/unskilled workers.

Just over a quarter of firms (27%) reported an increase in their training investment plans over the last three months (the same as Q1), while 14% reported a drop (also the same).

The data shows that the main factor for increasing prices is now coming from wages rather than utility bills or raw materials.

With concern around utility costs dropping, 63% report these as an issue (74% in Q3 2022), the number of firms reporting labour costs as a source of pressure has risen to 68% (67% in Q1) and is now the lead cost pressure. Although, overall, the percentage of firms expecting their prices to rise fell below 50% for the first time since Q3 in 2021.

Jane Gratton, Head of People Policy at the BCC, said: “The tight labour market continues to ramp up wage costs, fuelling inflation, and creating huge difficulties for businesses. With the Bank of England expected to increase interest rates again, it is vital that Government boosts efforts to increase the supply of labour to help break the cycle.

“Firms are being squeezed on all sides. With 36.8 million jobs in the economy there are more employment opportunities than ever before. But we also have low unemployment, and over a million jobs are currently left unfilled. Firms cannot fulfil order books and are turning down new work.

“They are caught in a vicious circle where the lack of people holds back growth and reduces opportunities for investment, including in training – part of the long-term solution.

“While firms can do more to make workplaces more flexible and jobs easier to access, the government must redouble its efforts to support people into work.

“But where there is evidence of critical national skills shortages, that are crippling business sectors and pushing up wages, the government must look again at the role immigration can play in easing difficulties in the short term. This includes making sure the criteria for the Shortage Occupations List are proportionate and realistic, as well as expanding access to youth mobility schemes.

“Access to a skilled workforce is a major concern for businesses across the UK. The longer these shortages continue, the more long-term damage is caused. Government has made a start but has yet to shift the dial. If we are to get the economy growing again, we need more action, now.”

The tight labour market continues to ramp up wage costs, fuelling inflation, and creating huge difficulties for businesses. With the Bank of England expected to increase interest rates again, it is vital that Government boosts efforts to increase the supply of labour to help break the cycle.”

In conversation with…

Ilona and Robyn of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce team were joined by Hicky Kingsbury, Kingston Charitable Foundation, and Julie Leach, Julie Leach Associates, and current president of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, to discuss their exciting developing collaboration, plans for the future and how Kingston Chamber of Commerce has supported their business journeys.

Julie Leach julieleachassociates.co.uk Hicky Kingsbury kingstoncf.org.uk

Next, will be the Kingston Borough Business Awards, and finally the presidential year end event in May, which we’re really excited about. We’ve talked about a few ideas between us – we’ve got some plans!

Julie: We’re doing some more talking about that, but if at the end of my presidential year, more people in the borough know about Kingston Charitable Foundation, then I will feel that I’ve served my purpose and we’ll have raised some money along the way.

Can you both share with us how you met and how you became involved with Kingston Chamber of Commerce?

Julie: Julie Leach Associates is my business; I offer outsourced HR support and management development workshops to small and medium-sized businesses.

I was introduced to Hicky and the charity by a mutual friend of ours, Amanda Cullen, who I knew through the Chamber, she is also a Trustee of Kingston Charitable Foundation. The charity was looking for some help and support with HR, so I provided them with that.

I set my business up about six years ago and wanted to meet new people and network. I tried several networking organisations, and then attended one via the Chamber, and it was just amazing – it wasn’t salesy or pushy, I met genuine, talented lovely people, many who became good friends.

Hicky: Absolutely, Amanda had known Julie for such a long time, and she thought we could work well together, so we met online, and Julie did some incredible work with us.

We used to be ‘Love Kingston’, and during those eight-years we awarded 53 grants to local community organisations. Then, at the height of the pandemic, we launched Love Kingston as an independent charity, which later became Kingston Charitable Foundation.

As soon as we launched independently in January 2021, we continued with our Kingston Chamber of Commerce membership, as there are special rates for charities and it’s just a great way to meet local people in the community and go to events. We love being members and it’s always our first port of call! Especially when we’re looking for any services, we’ll always look at the directory, which I think is excellent!

What are the rest of your plans for the next year? How do you see our partnership evolving?

Julie: For me, it’s about continuing to raise the profile of, and raising money for Kingston Charitable Foundation. I think there’s a lovely connection between my business, Hicky, the Charity, and the Chamber, so my plan is that we grow and develop that. As President, I get to choose some events that we will run together. Hicky, can you talk about that in more detail?

Hicky: I mean, some of its secret squirrel, but we can definitely talk about some!

We’re looking, firstly, at the Christmas Giving Fundraising Quiz, which is going to be on ‘Giving Tuesday’ evening 28th November at The Boaters Inn by the River, because who doesn’t love a pub quiz? We’ll be doing it to launch our Christmas Giving Week, which is a match funding event where the Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust have offered us a donation, and we will be requesting donations from our supporters to match fund it.

Kingston Chamber of Commerce is about to launch Kingston Borough Business Awards 2024 Are you both attending? And why would you recommend people participated in the Awards?

Hicky: I’m looking forward to attending, I’m very excited, it’s the highlight of our year! We saw some really great friends last year who also won, such as 7Dots and Sam Page, who is one of our trustees, and who won the Responsible Workplace Award. It’s a wonderful event to come and meet people, especially those we’ve supported with a grant such as Janine Martin from the environmental charity, Sunray Recycle, who attended in this incredible outfit that she made from recycled banners. It‘s just one of those events that you go to where everyone really comes as themselves, and it’s always interesting.

Julie: I will definitely be attending and would recommend that people enter. It’s a really good opportunity to focus on and articulate everything that you’ve achieved. It can also help you identify what you might want to achieve in the future as well.

Read the full article on https://www.kingstonchamber.co.uk/blog-post/julie-hicky-interview/

I think there’s a lovely connection between my business, Hicky, the Charity, and the Chamber, so my plan is that we grow and develop that."

The Art of Wellbeing

MA&Y ‘the art of wellbeing’ are experienced specialists in self-defence, fitness, yoga, meditation, and martial arts, providing excellent tuition in a safe, supportive, and family friendly environment.

Our schedule evolves to suit the needs of our members and we currently have classes in Vinyasa Yoga, Gentle Yoga suitable for Pregnancy, Post Natal Yoga, Pilates, Krav Maga, Women’s Self Defence, Fitness, Personal Training and from the ages of 4, both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Choi Kwang Do. We also offer regular workshops, seminars with world renown speakers and our very own 18-month Yoga Teacher Training course accredited with Yoga Alliance Professionals.

MA&Y was founded in September 2014 by husband-and-wife team, Julian Johnson, and Gaia Persico. Ever since then our goal has been to offer a safe space for everyone to feel welcome, whether brand new to exercise or professional athletes, an environment where all can progress at their own pace. The team proudly knows all of the members personally, which means we can tailor classes and training according to individual needs.

We have helped students from all backgrounds become fitter, more centred, calm and relaxed, especially those dealing with extra personal challenges. However, most join to be part of our friendly and sympathetic community.

Whether wanting a more relaxing breath and meditation class or an active, cardio based, self-defence session, our students have become empowered with life skills to help develop mentally

and physically. We always wanted to help people through health and wellbeing, and the biproduct of this is that we not only have an amazing teaching team, who have embraced this vision, but also supporters who wish to join us on this journey.

Through teaching group classes, private tuition and corporate events, we have built up a following of support and a solid membership base of nearly 250 students; some who have been training with us from the beginning. We have always gone the extra mile in customer service and looked after our members by offering free classes, events and socials throughout the year. Along with our specialisms, we carved a niche in the fitness and leisure market that provided something a little different for those who were ‘bored with the gym’.

MA&Y is also a proud supporter of our chosen charity Women’s Aid. We continue offering free Women’s only self-defence workshops and through the years have raised awareness and over £2200 to this amazing cause.

In March 2021 we opened our first professional fulltime studio in Earlsfield (opposite the station). The building was old and the property had been in a state of disrepair for 12 months. After four months of 12-hour days, seven days a week of renovation and refurbishment we officially opened our bespoke club in July 2021. We are honoured that

this has become an oasis in the heart of Earlsfield, a place to escape the hustle and bustle of London living and a welcoming centre created specifically for everyone’s health and wellbeing.

For further information visit www.ma-y.co.uk

We have helped students from all backgrounds become fitter, more centred, calm and relaxed, especially those dealing with extra personal challenges.“

5 minutes with Steve Drake

Q Who are you?

Steve Drake, I am a director UK Business Mentoring (UKBM) covering London, Surrey and Sussex. UKBM was formed 14 years ago to provide first-class support to SME business owners.

In Chapter 1 of my working life, I had several senior leadership roles in both blue-chip and SME companies in the FMCG retail sector across strategy, marketing, commercial, sales and operations.

In Chapter 2, I am now drawing on this wealth of experience to help SME business owners develop both themselves and their businesses to move from surviving to thriving.

Q What's your business all about?

I'm dedicated to helping SME Owners grow their businesses. Better and quicker. Many entrepreneurs become bogged down in daily operational challenges, leading to stress, long hours, and a sense that rewards are elusive. While inherently risk-takers, they may not grasp the unknown risks they face as they venture into uncharted territory.

This is where I come in. As your Business Mentoryour "Challenging Friend" - I offer business expertise, a fresh perspective, and a wealth of experience to guide you, stretch your boundaries, and provide unwavering support. I'm your sounding board, confidante, and cheerleader, rolled into one.

As businesses expand, Owners must shift from working IN the business to working ON it, requiring new skills and knowledge for effective leadership. Failure to adapt leads to stress and stagnation. Opting for UKBM mentorship means gaining a strategic partner, a tailored growth strategy, accelerated skills development, increased confidence, and a consistent accountability partner to ensure your success.

Q Ideal Customer?

My ideal client is an ambitious SME Owner with a team of between 5-50 people. That is, those that have moved beyond the early start-up/micro business phases and are now hitting the ‘Wall of Frustration’ with likely stagnant growth, lack of strategic clarity, poor team engagement and performance challenges, or not enough regular focus on the financial and operational measures. These Owners will see and feel a very quick positive impact from working with me.

Q Three words to describe yourself?

Adaptive, enterprising, enthusiastic

Q Biggest achievement?

My most significant achievement has been the accumulation of business experience over many years, diverse companies and across many roles. Along the way, I was privileged to have run an international retail business in a large global company and later also work in a small SME business working in a close collaboration with a large UK supermarket chain. So, I’ve been both the ‘big guy’ and the ‘small guy’. Great learning!

Q Biggest gripe?

Closed mindsets and negativity. Don’t waste the opportunity for life-long learning.

Q Sporting Hero?

The Great Britain Men's Eight rowing crew at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Their gold medal triumph came from their commitment to excellence, teamwork, resilience, and attention to detail.

They were the unfancied “2nd team” crew. They were not going to win using conventional rowing strategy. They went as hard as they could from the off, surprising the other crews, and held on to win. Brilliant! Look up “Will it make the boat go faster” on YouTube for the full story.

Q Biggest tip for success?

Clarity of purpose, build resilience …. oh, and get a mentor!

Q Your inspiration?

I'm most inspired by 'everyday heroes’, often found among SME Owners. People who embody the entrepreneurial spirit in pursuing their visions, showing great resilience and creativity in the face of continuous challenges. Their success stories are guiding lights as to what is possible. The more of these we can help create and sustain the better for us all in society.

Q Philosophy in Business?

Help others to be successful. Honest and professional, always acting with full integrity and respect confidentiality. Modern thinking. Traditional values. I will add value to you and your business. If you don’t agree, then you do not have to pay the invoice. No quibbles. Guaranteed.

Mobile: 07723 508932

Email: steve@ukbusinessmentoring.co.uk

Web: ukbusinessmentoring.co.uk/businessmentors/steve-drake

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/stevedrakeukbm

I'm dedicated to helping SME Owners grow their businesses. Better and quicker."

THERE’S THE CHRISTMAS PARTY, THEN THERE’S

CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON AT ASCOT WITH SHARED PARTIES OR BESPOKE EVENTS

FIND OUT MORE AT ASCOT.COM/CHRISTMAS

Sally Baker Photography