Inspire September 2023

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Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Inspire and the first for me as the new CEO of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce.

It is a privilege and a pleasure to be joining the team to build on the work done by Briege, who I know was very popular in the county’s business community.

You’ll be able to find out more about me and my plans for your Chamber on pages 36-37 and see another delightful photo of my dog, Daisy.

One of the things I want to do over the next few weeks is to try to meet as many of our members as I can, so please try to come along to one of the events we have coming up. I can see the Chamber has a great programme of activities, covering a wide range of themes.

The Hertfordshire Zero Carbon Conference is one I am particularly looking forward to. I have heard what a success it was last year, discussing a topic that is so important to us all. The clock is ticking for businesses to lower their emissions and it really helps to bring everyone together to help break down some of the challenges.

And with two great keynote speakers, it is definitely worth attending. It would also be worth spending a few minutes reading the article on pages 20-22 about Hertfordshire’s green economy.

I’m delighted that the Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Shevaun Haviland, will be our guest speaker for the October Chamber lunch.

I’ll be interested to hear how businesses around the UK are coping in the current economic climate and hopefully pick up some key takeaways to help us support the organisations throughout the county. Please join us if you can.

I know it’s only September and nobody wants to be thinking about Christmas just yet, but I see we have a Britain’s Got Talent winner joining us for our festive lunch at Sopwell House. Our AGM will be held immediately before the lunch and I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

And if it’s too early to start talking about Christmas, it’s definitely too early to be thinking about 2024. However, our Women in Leadership conference has already been planned for Friday, 1st March with an early bird ticket price, so you may want to get that one in your diary.

If you see me at any of the events, please come and say hello.

Julian Carter Chief Executive Officer Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce

Editorial and General Enquiries

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce York House, Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, Herts, AL9 5AD

Tel: 01707 502180

Email: enquiries@hertschamber.com

Web: www.hertschamber.com

Publisher Ian Fletcher

Benham Publishing Limited

Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park,

Hertfordshire home to a world class thriving and diverse creative industries sector

Famous for its links to the Harry Potter film franchise, Hertfordshire’s burgeoning creative industries sector is a hive of activity with a growing number of film studios establishing themselves in the county.

The Harry Potter film franchise made Leavesden its home for more than 10 years and the production crew saved many of the iconic sets, props and costumes that were created especially for the films. This treasure trove of artifacts is on show at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter giving Potter fans an exciting glimpse behind the scenes and the chance to get up close to famous props and costumes.

Hertfordshire is also home to smaller production companies like Pearldrop, a video production business thqt thrives on collaboration with other firms on creative projects.

Award-winning video and animation content producer and director Rob Finlay also lives and works in Hertfordshire, and his clients include Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertsmere Borough Council and Elstree Studios.

It is not only film-making which is making its mark in the region. Mayhem Theatre, founded in 2007, is a multi-purpose performing arts studio, offering first-class tuition for children and adults in all aspects of performing, including dance, film-making, costume designing, choreography, and much more.

There is a next generation of skilled creatives ready to join the sector, thanks to an array of high-quality college courses tailored to the creative industries. North Herts College, West Herts College, Hertford Regional College and Oaklands College and the University of Hertfordshire provide accessible courses for all subject areas within the creative sector.

And, of course, with its rich history, iconic landmarks, beautiful landscapes and pretty villages and towns, Hertfordshire itself plays a starring role in the creative industries sector as the perfect place for a film location.

Warner Bros. continues to champion the creative industries

Warner

Tour London –The Making of Harry Potter gives visitors the chance to step on to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series. Visitors can discover the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall, board the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾ and grab their earmuffs as they venture into Professor Sprout’s greenhouse. There is time to enjoy a cold Butterbeer in the backlot café before they marvel at the grandeur of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, all before wandering down the iconic Diagon Alley.

The Harry Potter film series made Leavesden its home for more than 10 years. As the books were still being released while the films were being made, the production crew saved many of the iconic sets, props and costumes that were created especially for the films – just in case they were ever needed later on in the series. Once filming wrapped on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2010, the production crew were left with a treasure trove of thousands of intricate and beautifully made artifacts, many of which wouldn’t have been saved on a typical production.

The team behind Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter wanted to preserve and showcase these iconic props, costumes and sets so that Harry Potter fans could experience the magic of filmmaking first-hand. Many of the original cast and crew returned to reassemble the sets and record their memories from filming, and on 31st March 2012, the Studio Tour opened its doors.

The Studio Tour proudly showcases the British talent and artistry that went into creating the Wizarding World. Visitors can discover a world of talent that went into bringing the story from page to screen and learn about creative roles such as costume design, set design, prop making, camera operation, sound, music and Foley and hair and makeup.

The Studio Tour continues to champion the creative industries through its awardwinning education programme that teaches cross-curricular lessons to school students as part of their visit. The programme was created to stimulate young minds as they discover the extraordinary artistry, technology and talent that went into creating the Harry Potter film series.

Visitors will discover a world of talent that went into bringing the story from page to screen and learn about creative roles such as costume design, set design, prop making, camera operation, sound, music and Foley and hair and makeup.

Bros. Studio

Exclusive reveal of the Hogwarts Express – at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Dumbledore’s Office

Hertfordshire a vibrant hub for the creative sector

The growing number of film studios establishing themselves in Hertfordshire has meant investment and a real focus on film production in the county, which has been beneficial to smaller production companies like Pearldrop. The county itself is full of history, beautiful landscapes, landmark buildings, villages and towns, meaning it’s a perfect place for a film location.

Colleges like North Herts College, West Herts College, Hertford Regional College and Oaklands College and the University of Hertfordshire provide high-quality and accessible courses for all subject areas within the creative sector. This means that within Hertfordshire there is a large number of people developing their skills ready to join the thriving and dynamic creative industry here. In addition to the already existing pool of creative professionals, including videographers, editors, scriptwriters and animators, this means it’s a great place to run a video production company now and in the future.

Hertfordshire’s creative industry thrives on collaboration. Pearldrop frequently partners with Hertfordshire-based advertising agencies, marketing firms and other creative organisations to deliver complete solutions for clients inside and outside of the county. It’s exciting to see these partnerships grow and develop. With over 122,000 businesses registered in Hertfordshire, spanning a huge range of industries, there are always interesting and unique organisations and companies wanting to tell their story through creative and engaging video content.

Hertfordshire’s strong third sector also provides plenty of opportunities for creative companies like Pearldrop.

“With many local and national charities operating from the county, we’ve had the chance to work on a wide range of important and fulfilling campaigns that have real impact on people’s lives.”

“Running a video production company in Hertfordshire and being part of the creative industry is extremely exciting. We love creating impactful visual stories that leave lasting impressions on audiences and propel our clients forward on their journeys. The vibrant and collaborative atmosphere

of Hertfordshire’s creative and business ecosystem has played a significant role in our growth and success. We’re evolving and adapting and look forward to continuing to contribute to the dynamic world of creativity and making a positive impact in the business landscape both in Hertfordshire and beyond.”

With over 122,000 businesses registered in Hertfordshire, spanning a huge range of industries, there are always interesting and unique organisations and companies wanting to tell their story through creative and engaging video content.

Award-winning filmmaker

Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts

Founded in 2007 by Nicole May and Alex Purves, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts is a multi-purpose performing arts studio, offering first-class tuition for children and adults in all aspects of performing. In 2017, Nicole took on the running of the school while Alex stepped aside to become a trustee of the organisation and he continues to regularly offer his help and support. Located in Hoddesdon Town Centre, the Mayhem building is a renovated brewery barn with links to Christie’s Brewery dating back to the 1700s and provides a focal point for the arts in East Hertfordshire.

As a multi-purpose hub, situated at the heart of the community, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts facilitates a wealth of creative activities from dance to filmmaking to sewing courses. It also opens its doors to many local groups and clubs to run classes of their own.

Rob Finlay is an award-winning video and animation content producer and director living and working in Hertfordshire.

After graduating from the University of Bristol with a BA Hons in archaeology in 2003, Rob immediately set up Previsualisation Ltd, an award-winning 3D visualisation company. Enlisting the support of TV personality Tony Robinson, the team produced Recycling Land, an animated educational film that won the Creative East Awards Best Non-Broadcast Award 2007.

Headhunted in 2009 by integrated web developer Solutions Ltd, Rob built the company’s first video and animation department and attracted a raft of new clients including Thales and KPMG.

In 2011 Rob set up EFD Ltd, a business offering web, social and video services to a broad range of clients based out of the world-famous Elstree Studios. He developed a global film and animation competition for children and young people called A Sense Of... Partners included Creative England, Spotlight, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Elstree Studios and Royal Opera House Bridge. The project enabled hundreds of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds get a foot on the film industry ladder. In 2015 the project won a Hertfordshire Business Award and a gold trophy at the Marcom Awards.

During 2018 Rob took up a full-time position at CIMA as producer/director. Establishing the organisation’s first video and multimedia department in the UK, Rob’s role was critical for the growth of the global team. He oversaw conceptual and educational programmes, live webcasts and studio productions in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Today Rob is freelance working for a range of local and national clients, including Hertfordshire Constabulary, St Albans City and District Council, Local Government Association, Clarion Housing, Hertsmere Borough Council, Elstree Studios, Gristwood & Toms and BRCGS.

In the past three years, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts has expanded its own services to include creative and visual arts, to offer weekly sessions designed to stretch and challenge students, introducing them to new skills and encouraging their personal creativity to become skillful, dynamic performers.

Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts is currently the only performing arts school offering this in the borough and it welcomes everyone. From complete beginner to advanced, all ability levels and ages are welcome.

As the world continues to evolve in the visual arts sector, more and more TV and Film is being produced than ever before – especially here in our own county. Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts feels funding, resources and opportunities for young people need to be available. It is vital that students can access the creative arts as a hobby to nurture skills that could lead to a future career. With the expansion of film studios across Hertfordshire, more job opportunities and career paths are opening than ever before.

Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts aspires to play a pivotal role in inspiring Generation Alpha to become young filmmakers, lighting technicians, costume designers, editors, as well as directors, choreographers and performers. Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts believes

Headhunted in 2009 by integrated web developer Solutions Ltd, Rob built the company’s first video and animation department and attracted a raft of new clients including Thales and KPMG.

that the creative sector needs to find a way to connect with the parents and guardians of creative children and make them aware of the opportunities this diverse and inclusive industry can offer.

Over the next five years, Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts would like to expand its community services borough-wide and hopefully gain new partnerships to support bursaries, sponsorships and funding which will enable it to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts currently provides weekly SEN drama and dance classes for adults and hopes to expand this to children and teens in the future. Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts believes that everyone, regardless of ability or age, should have the opportunity to enjoy a creative outlet to express themselves, and Mayhem Theatre and Creative Arts classes and services offer just that.

Paul J Rose

Multi-award-winning voice actor

Paul J Rose is a voiceover artist based in Borehamwood and working with clients all over the world. His first experience behind the microphone was in 1989 when he hosted an eight-hour road show for Comic Relief.

Over the next few years he went from hospital radio to satellite radio and even enjoyed a short spell on a pirate station off of the coast of Tel Aviv.

As an actor, he worked with a number of wonderful amateur dramatic companies in shows including Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls and Fiddler on The Roof. The lure was always the chance to work with different voices, but could he do it professionally?

Working alongside his regular job in sales, Paul recorded everything from mobile phone ringtones to radio commercials and web videos, slowly building up a portfolio of clients. His work into the corporate sector increased, as well as eLearning.

His big opportunity arose when a dubbing studio was looking for an actor who could play multiple characters – a 34-part drama series from China needed to be translated into English on a tight budget. The studio rose to the challenge with Paul playing all three of the principle male roles and an ensemble cast of dozens of supporting characters.

That same studio is now a Netflix partner and Paul has had the pleasure of voicing numerous characters on children’s shows, including the award-winning Go Go Cory Carson, Chip and Potato and Storybots.

Paul works primarily from his home studio and is always happy to travel if the project demands it. He also now works as an MC for Awards Shows and is looking forward to returning for a second year as host of the NHS Staff Excellence Awards at Wembley Stadium. For more information visit: www.pauljrose.com

Sky Studios, Elstree

Sky Studios Elstree, Hertfordshire’s brandnew state of the art studio facility, is well and truly up and running having wrapped its first production and with all major building work complete. Locals may have noticed the new hero archway above the studios’ main entrance, marking a new chapter in Hertsmere’s creative industry.

The studio is made up of 12 stages starting at 10,000 sq ft and going all the way up to 40,000 sq ft. More recently over 6,000 solar panels were installed across the rooftops and the site has electric golf buggies to get around. This is all part of the environmental ambitions of the studios as it aims to be the most sustainable film and TV studio in the world. But not only that, Sky Studios Elstree has exciting plans to ensure that opportunities are available to young local people. The studio has just finished recruitment for 12 new team members to join them as part of their Content Academy scheme where school leavers and graduates receive first-hand experience in a busy studio world. And there are more exciting plans to come.

The studio has also committed to working with local businesses and organisations, an example of which is the partnership with JPA Workspaces. The two companies met at a Chamber event, and it soon became clear that there was an opportunity to partner as both have a high focus on sustainability. Fast forward a few months and Sky awarded JPA Workspaces a seven-figure contract to source and deliver more than 10,000 pieces of recycled furniture.

The studio also wants to give back to the community and has formed partnerships with many local charities, including Sebby’s Corner and WD6 Foodbank, which they support through donations and volunteer hours.

Sophie Owen Street, Project Lead for Sky Studios Elstree says: ‘We’re so excited that we’re at the final hurdle. We can’t wait to work even closer with local suppliers and charities as well as create even more opportunities for young people across the local area as we embed ourselves into this truly historic film and TV borough.”

King Bee a highly creative animation and digital marketing studio

King Bee is a highly creative animation and digital marketing studio located in the Elstree Studios, Herts, UK.

With over 20 years of experience, it has produced diverse animations for a range of brands and storytellers. Its studio is well known for its exceptional creativity and friendly approach. Its work includes brand promo and explainer videos, animated series, educational and training content, and much more.

It prides itself on the positive spirit of its team and the joy of the creative process that each member brings. It is able to respond quickly to clients’ needs and save time and money while still delivering high-quality production values.

Notable projects include animations on The Voice, parenting videos for mental health charity Place2Be, explainer videos for PepsiCo and Unilever, music videos for famous artists including Christina Perri, animated series on CBeebies and having its animators feature on the most recent series of The Apprentice.

In terms of innovative strategies, King Bee has its own original IP, including an animated band Soul Jump that offers a unique experience for families to share that hasn’t been done before in this way.

King Bee has worked with Visit Herts to launch its own original animation workshops to inspire a new generation of filmmakers. It has piloted these at the Museum of London and is also developing a new innovative animation tool using AI.

King Bee’s goal is to grow the business into a multi-faceted agency that is not only able to provide animation services, but one that operates as a full creative studio. It is doing this by updating its branding and messaging, collaborating with other businesses to be able to offer joint services that use both sets of expertise to provideinnovative and effective solutions. For more information visit: https://kingbee.co.uk/ The

Long Night

It is time to start managing your exposure to Inheritance Tax

As accountants and business advisors, we want families in Hertfordshire to maximise their investment in the next generation of business owners.

Putting a few simple measures in place is all it takes to minimise your exposure to Inheritance Tax. Making the most of relevant reliefs and exemptions can make a big difference in helping to pass the family enterprise down.

We’re offering fellow Hertfordshire Chamber members a free Inheritance Tax calculation together with suggestions on how it can be mitigated.

touch with Paul Attridge and his team to find out more.

01992 550847

Azets Estate and Inheritance Tax Planning

Alot of our work at Azets concerns all kind of taxes, but when carrying out estate planning, both those undesirable certainties come into focus.

Many advisers say that Inheritance Tax is the only voluntary tax, and this is because good planning can effectively mitigate the liabilities.

Regional Tax Partner at Azets, Paul Attridge, sets out the things you need to consider in planning within your estate:

• Having a will: Most people believe that their estate will automatically be distributed to their spouse and/or children if they die without a will (called intestacy) but this is not the case. Everyone should have a will so that their wishes on death are carried out.

• Making efficient gifts in the will: Certain gifts featured in a will are exempt from tax or attract tax relief. These should be considered when drafting a will.

• Lifetime gifts: If one’s estate is reduced by making gifts in lifetime, then clearly the Inheritance Tax liability can be reduced. These gifts need to be considered carefully within the family to ensure they are successful and appropriate.

• Using trusts: By putting assets into trust, younger generations can have the benefit of assets in the lifetime of the transferor. This can be tax efficient and help families with the costs of living.

• Putting money into tax efficient investments: There are many tax efficient investments that are exempt from Inheritance Tax and others that push some of the liability into the future. These should be considered if gifting to individuals or trusts is not suitable.

We are here to help

At Azets we offer advice on estate planning both from a tax planning angle and from an investment perspective, through Azets Financial Planning.

The Azets team are here to help families plan their estate, so that when people pass away, they know that their wishes are met and that the decisions they have made with regards to their assets give the most help to the wider family, especially with respect to their tax liabilities.

Azets will:

• Look at the current Inheritance Tax situation and quantify the tax due.

• Make recommendations for making gifts.

• Suggest investments to make.

• Consider, and advise on the use of trusts.

• Help with the implementation of any advice given.

For more information on your Inheritance Tax exposure, speak to a member of our local team today. Please see Azets’ Inheritance Tax calculation offer to Chamber members on the opposite page.

‘In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes’ Benjamin Franklin, 1789

‘We need your help’

‘Help us to help you’ is the message from the Chamber as the second phase of the Governmentfunded Local Skills Improvement Plan gets underway.

The Chamber was invited last year to lead the Herts LSIP, a three-year plan to look at where the skills shortages are and how they can be addressed to ensure that organisations will not face the same challenges currently being experienced in recruiting the right people.

John Woodruffe, LSIP Project Manager, said: “We are keen for employers to come forward and speak to us, to tell us the problems they are having now and what problems they can see on the horizon, whether it’s for young people entering work for the first time, or the older generation needing to learn new skills.

“A key objective of the LSIP is to connect businesses, within an industry-based framework, with the relevant colleges and training providers in the region to help codesign and empower skills highways that will give people the skills they are looking for.”

The first phase of LSIP finished earlier this year and the results of the information gathering can be read in the final report submitted to the

Department for Education that is now on the Chamber’s website.

Having established where the skills shortages lie through research and events attended by the 10 priority sectors – advanced engineering and manufacturing; community care; creative industries; digital and IT; hospitality and tourism; life sciences; logistics; professional services; property and construction; and sustainability – the stage is now set to put plans in place to educate people in the right areas.

“It’s early days, but our goal has to be more people taking up apprenticeships and more companies engaging with our colleges and university to help develop the courses that will teach the relevant skills.

“The key thing will be signposting, ensuring that a young person leaving school knows where to go for the training they need to fulfil their ambitions, whether that’s directing them to a training provider or a website. The information has to be readily available to help them plan a career path with the skills they need to succeed.

“We have less than two years to turn this around. We’ll be planning more events with businesses to tell us exactly what it is that they need.”

John is aware that reaching parents is also important to help them understand the options that are open to their sons and daughters. While there has been a move away from the belief that every child needs to go to university if they want a career, apprenticeships are still not given the respect they deserve.

“People need to think differently. Nowadays, there are many different routes for teenagers leaving school and they shouldn’t be viewed negatively for not wishing to go to university. Not everyone is suited to university and that’s OK.

The importance of the LSIP work cannot be understated. Businesses need to play their part to ensure their needs are met. Skills that were relevant 10 or 20 years ago may not be relevant now, but the training providers need to know what skills are relevant to be able to teach them. Candidates also want to know that employers are engaged in their training.

“If we don’t put plans in place now, workforces of the future are going to struggle. The outlook would be grim. This is an ongoing process and we won’t solve everyone’s problems in two years, but we can’t ignore what is happening.”

To get involved, visit https://www.hertschamber.com/lsip

As the Local Skills Improvement Plan enters its second phase, businesses are being encouraged to get involved.

The key thing will be signposting, ensuring that a young person leaving school knows where to go for the training they need to fulfil their ambitions, whether that’s directing them to a training provider or a website. The information has to be readily available to help them plan a career path with the skills they need to succeed.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES AND LIABILITIES

Successful business people often become company directors. But what duties and risks does it involve?

John Wiblin, Partner in the Dispute Resolution team, answers the difficult questions that few people ask before accepting the role.

Please note the contents of this article are given for information only and must not be relied upon. Legal advice should always be sought in relation to specific circumstances.

Tried and trusted since 1819

Q Is there any qualification or training required to become a company director? A

Any adult can be a director as long as they have not been previously disqualified from holding the position or they are an undischarged bankrupt. The percentage of directors who have any formal business training is very small.

Q Does the law take account of the fact that most company directors have no training in their role? A

Not at all! Judges hold directors to very high standards. One might say that there is a significant disjunct between the casual way in which most well-intentioned people take on the role and the serious approach the courts take to director conduct.

Q Why do people become company directors? A

In my experience, mainly because accountants tell them they should form a company and be its director! And that is generally good advice because having a company means that personal liability can be avoided in most cases. And there can be tax advantages. It is not the accountant’s fault that the role comes without any training in how to conduct a board meeting and so on.

Q Where do company directors commonly get into trouble unwittingly?

AMinority shareholders may complain that the director is not acting in the interests of all shareholders and point to failures to comply with company rules that the minority say has caused them to lose out. And, if it becomes apparent that the company may not be able to pay its debts,

the director’s conduct at that point may be placed under a magnifying glass by a liquidator and a court if the company is wound-up.

QIs there any danger you would particularly alert directors to?

A Company law requires a director’s personal effort and involvement in the business and the application of their independent judgment to decisions. But in the real world, roles tend to be assigned to specific people. When someone has not been pulling their weight for some time or, worse, has done something improper, the other directors may be asked to explain why they did not know about it. It can be an uncomfortable position to be in after a company has failed and a liquidator is asking these questions.

Q Do you have any concluding thoughts?

ABeing a director can be rewarding but it can also be challenging when you are new to the role. A mentor in the form of a more experienced director in a similar industry can be helpful, and a junior director will come to rely on their accountant and commercial solicitor. It cannot do any harm to have a quick look at chapter 2 of the Companies Act 2006. An internet search engine will turn it up readily. The list of duties of a company director can be found there.

A progressive firm of specialist solicitors advising individuals, families and businesses

Growth is direction of travel on Strand PR’s journey

No-nonsense marketing and communications agency looks ahead to ‘exciting future’ after celebrating 10th anniversary.

Organic growth is a ‘natural evolution’ for no-nonsense PR and communications agency Strand PR, the Chamber’s newest patron.

The company, which has been a member for more than six years, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.

Founder and Managing Director Laura Pearce, who started the company with just one client from her dining room, is keen to see the business keep moving forwards as it continues to provide a broad range of marketing and PR services from traditional PR, through digital advertising and award-entry writing.

She said: “The future is exciting at Strand PR. We have an expert team delivering brilliant work for our awesome clients and growth is a natural evolution.

“As a business, our growth to date has been the result of recommendations and this continues to be a focus for us. Nothing beats third-party endorsement.” Many of those recommendations have come through membership of the Chamber.

“As a business looking to establish itself within the county, it was the natural choice to want to join the Chamber. I’d visited smaller Chambers but the breadth and variety of membership within the Herts Chamber represented opportunities to help expand our reach and connections across the entire county.

“As a member, the most important thing is you get out of it what you put in. The Chamber is what you want it to be for your own business.

“In addition to networking, there’s a whole host of workshops and events with incredible guest speakers that impart knowledge and expertise.

“I recently attended the Economic Outlook event hosted by Handelsbanken. Having those kinds of insights are really important, not just for Strand PR’s business growth, but to accurately advise our clients.”

While the Chamber has provided many new leads, including the Chamber itself which has worked with the agency for two years, Strand PR’s client list stretches well beyond the county borders. The agency works with a broad spectrum of organisations, from a village pub to Nest, the Government’s pension provider. Strand PR’s reach even extends over the border into Scotland having been contracted to work with Business Energy Scotland, a Scottish Government-funded programme.

“I am so proud that we have national clients and I’ll confess I sometimes have to pinch myself… especially on those days when I get a random call from a distiller in the Orkneys looking for press support.”

Strand PR started small and has continued on a steady path of growth. Laura is a proud supporter of the Chamber’s Entrepreneur Foundation and is able to offer valuable insights to those individuals developing their vision. The experience gained as a young woman starting her own business is inspiring for those looking emulate her success.

“I was only 22 when I started Strand and having other business owners share their advice was instrumental in helping me make key decisions. And now it’s time to be able to pay it forwards.

“One of the great things about the Chamber, and one of the key reasons we decided to become patrons, is that everyone supports each other.

“Every Chamber event, whether as patron or not, is an opportunity to connect, collaborate and grow and we’ve met some incredibly diverse individuals and organisations.

“The Chamber team, especially Mary Sykes, is a world of information. Staying up to date with county news helps us to advise and support our clients.”

While the future is looking bright at Strand HQ, growth is not without its challenges, mainly around recruitment.

Laura knows that hiring the right people is vital. Recruitment is an area that Strand PR focuses on, knowing that having the best people, with the right skillset, allows the company to continue delivering the best service for clients.

But in the current climate, it is becoming harder to find the right people with the right skills. Across the UK there is a growth in demand for staff, but poor candidate availability.

“It isn’t just here at Strand; a key challenge facing most businesses across the county is the skills shortage. As a growing business, we are always looking at our next hire.

“Being closely involved with the Chamber team on delivering the Herts Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) will undoubtedly reveal things we didn’t know and opportunities to capitalise on.

“This is such an important piece of work, not just for us, but for all businesses in the county. We have to identify where the gaps are and work with the training providers to ensure the right skills are being taught.

“If we fail to do that, companies are going to face continued struggles to recruit. If their growth is stunted, it doesn’t just affect them, it affects the whole economy of Hertfordshire.”

Caring about your customers’ experience is crucial to business growth

Imagining how the customer would feel is paramount to the success of managed service provider Croft, which has grown from 16 staff members to over 200 in three years. CEO Mark Bramley talks to Sarah Dale.

Providing the personal touch to customer service is essential to keeping happy clients returning again and again, says Croft CEO Mark Bramley.

The company was established in 2006 as Mobile Account Solutions but four years ago, Mark bought out one of the founding partners and they rebranded to Croft moving from a purely telephony business to a managed service provider.

Croft is a member or Patron of several Chambers of Commerce across the UK. Mark is a Patron of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, which was the first one the business joined.

“It’s important to me to be a Patron,” said Mark.

“We joined Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce four years ago. It embodies our approach of ‘Think national, act local’. Although we now have 13 offices with over 200 members of staff, our Hertfordshire office is our headquarters and having local exposure and local referrals within the Chamber is important. The Chamber is a great forum for like-minded people to get together.

“Some of our clients are also members. It is a tremendous community for disparate businesses to talk about common problems we have. It is also great exposure and an opportunity for people to mingle. The social events are not only a pleasant way to spend time, but they are informative and enlightening.”

Mark says the biggest challenge affecting running and growing a business has been the change in the way workforces work, with more people working from home or having a hybrid model.

“It makes it harder to ensure quality control,” he said.

“It’s, of course, important that we have a team that can work from wherever, but it makes it harder to ensure that the correct message is reaching the customer. It’s hard enough with 13 offices but if we have 50-70 people on any given

day working from home, how do we ensure that they have all got the help they need and when they need it?”

To counteract this issue, Croft has “invested quite heavily” in its intranet and Teams to ensure people can reach each other quicker and more efficiently.

“One of the other challenges is if you are in an office and overhear someone saying something wrong, you have that instant ability to help and teach,” he added.

Mark’s advice to people starting out in business is ‘obsess about your customer’ to ensure you are always considering the client experience when providing a product or service.

“We have grown from 16 people to over 200 in three years; that’s a ridiculous amount of growth, so we are always thinking about how we can keep the personal touch,” he said.

“Do they feel that we care about them and their business and their problem? Will they put down the phone at the end of a call and feel like they have had a good customer experience? Every new business should be able to answer why their clients would choose them.”

Mark is “extremely confident” that Croft will continue its growth trajectory.

“We need more connectivity and more technology to make our lives better,” he added.

“I am extremely confident that as long as we continue to care about the customer experience, we will continue to grow.

“We continue to look for acquisitions around the UK – we have made 22 acquisitions within the last three years – and we have some more lined up for the next couple of months.

“When businesses grow, they can depersonalise but it’s important to keep the personal touch as you scale up. That’s how we differentiate ourselves.”

Mark’s advice to people starting out in business is ‘obsess about your customer’ to ensure you are always considering the client experience when providing a product or service.

PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Manufacturers, and sellers of goods at all levels can be held liable for a range of alleged product defects. Product Liability claims can be made based on one, or more, of these alleged defects:

„ Design Defect – a flaw in the design of the product, which makes it dangerous even when manufactured correctly.

„ Manufacturing Defect – a defect caused by something that went wrong in the manufacture of the product. Unlike a design defect, this fault will appear in some products but not the entire product line.

„ Marketing Defect – inadequate or non-existent warnings about a product’s intended use, or incorrect instructions which can lead to the product being used in a dangerous way.

Even with the best intentions and most rigorous testing processes, your business may face a Product Liability claim. This could be due to:

„ A customer using a product in a way you hadn’t considered, resulting in injury.

„ A manufacturing fault impacting a small number of products.

„ A design error that is missed during the testing process and only comes to light after the product has reached customers.

„ A material or chemical used in product manufacture is deemed harmful to health, despite previously being considered safe.

„ Historic claims – a company can still be held liable even if none of the current owners or employees of a business were present during the time an alleged faulty product was manufactured or sold.

What is Product Liability Insurance?

Product Liability Insurance is designed to cover the cost of compensation to anyone who is injured, or whose property is damaged by a faulty product. Associated legal costs will also be covered under a policy, but not the cost of replacing the defective product itself.

It’s important to consider that even if you successfully defend a Product Liability claim, legal representation and court fees throughout the lengthy process can be incredibly costly.

A Product Liability policy will normally only cover damages and legal fees up to the agreed aggregate policy limit. It is therefore important to consider the realistic worst-case scenario when deciding your policy limit.

Speak to an expert

If you are unsure on the level of Product Liability cover you require, are starting out on a new business venture or looking to expand your current business’ activities, get in touch. We take the time to understand the unique risk factors for every client and can advise the best cover to protect your business.

Manufacturers and Retailers can protect themselves financially from Product Liability claims by ensuring they have Product Liability Insurance with the appropriate policy limits in place.

Hertsmere aspires to be the first-choice location for business

Hertsmere aspires to be the first-choice location for business and jobs and is working to be a place where business thrives; where individuals will want to come to live and work; and where they will be able to do so in a safe environment.

Hertsmere Borough Council is focusing on harnessing existing opportunities; enabling new opportunities to come forward; attracting new inward investment and continuing to provide support to businesses.

As the economic challenges hit the residents and businesses of Hertsmere, the council is striving to support them to move forward and ride the current ‘economic storm’, by putting useful training and skills in place and identifying skills gaps to help businesses grow and provide more jobs for residents.

Hertsmere is currently seeing a range of new developments coming forward, with residential schemes being delivered across the borough, along with the delivery of additional studios in Borehamwood. Work continues on a new Local Plan for the future growth of the borough.

The council recently launched its cycle hire scheme with Beryl Bikes in Borehamwood and is looking to expand this provision beyond Borehamwood in the near future.

The council is here for local businesses and there are a number of projects currently in place to help them. The council offers training, networking, one-to-one business advice, mentoring to become carbon accredited, as well as working with all residents to equip them for employment. It is also working closely with partners such as the Chamber of Commerce, DWP, the LEP and the Growth Hub to identify skills gaps and ensure residents are training to fill those gaps for local businesses.

Hertsmere is an excellent strategic location for business. With its proximity to London, direct access to major roads and excellent connections to the London airports, it is an attractive commercial proposition for investors. Hertsmere is a growing business community. The council works hard to ensure that local businesses feel valued and have the right training and tools to grow and flourish to achieve their full potential. All businesses, irrelevant of size and sector, are important to the council, which looks to help them wherever it can to ensure a rounded community. It is always looking for new ways to help them and work with many support partners and funders to ensure their access to support is as wide as possible.

The majority of residents live in one of the four main towns of Elstree and Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Radlett and Bushey, while the rest of the borough offers pretty villages and plenty of open spaces. The borough’s schools, public and private, are some of the best in the country and the area also has high quality homes, well established employment areas, multiple film studios, Elstree Aerodrome, and many leisure opportunities, making the area an attractive location to invest, live, work, study and visit.

Potters Bar is the perfect location for Bishop’s Move

Bishop’s Move has over 20 offices nationwide and its latest in Potters Bar is proving indispensable to Hertfordshire customers.

With over 165 years of experience as a leading business removal company, Bishop’s Move has a wealth of experience moving all types of businesses, including education, retail, warehousing, offices and laboratories, to new locations, providing storage, recycling and clearance services within its core service offerings. This national removals and storage company is equally well known for its domestic and international services.

Just 15 miles from central London, its Potters Bar warehouse offers an array of secure storage functions for Hertfordshire businesses, from the simple storing of furniture and equipment to more complicated stock holding and archiving, all easily trackable through its digital inventory system. Usefully located for local business and educational facilities, direct HGV access to the M25 and A1 allows the company to serve its fast, strategic logistic services to Cambridge, Peterborough, London and beyond.

Senior Development Manager, Greta Read, said: “I have personally lived in Hertfordshire all my life. I have seen it grow and change and develop and many companies have come into Hertfordshire because of its excellent transport links, the numerous universities and schools and the continued infrastructure growth.”

Despite its nationwide reputation, Bishop’s Move prides itself on being a business that works with and supports local communities, especially in Hertfordshire. The company works with charities, Sense (Barnet) and MIND, to ensure that unwanted items from office relocations are responsibly reused or recycled while at the same time raising much-needed funds for these valuable charities. It also offers businesses the chance to offset carbon created during their relocation by planting trees and restoring important natural habitats with the World Land Trust.

“Bishop’s Move, as part of AGM Group, is always looking for ways to work with local people and develop sustainable offerings to our clients,” added Greta.

“We are fortunate to have a team that are all passionate about striving for success and working with multiple companies to ensure we are always providing everything our customers need. From our charity work, dedication to sustainability and recycling, high-quality service and so much more.”

www.bishopsmove.com/business-removals

To celebrate our 20th Anniversary, Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline is inviting you to take part in Tea & Cake for HDAH. All the money raised will go to supporting those affected by domestic abuse.

To celebrate our 20th Anniversary, Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline is inviting you to take part in Tea & Cake for HDAH. All the money raised will go to supporting those affected by domestic abuse.

To celebrate our 20th Anniversary, Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline is inviting you to take part in Tea & Cake for HDAH. All the money raised will go to supporting those affected by domestic abuse.

It’s very easy to take part. Sign-up using the email address below and we will send you a host package with guidance and tips on how to get started. It is up to you to choose when, where and who attends your event. You can host it at home with friends, at work with colleagues or fundraise in your local community. Ideas, resources and full instructions are included in your package, as well as how to collect donations and send them to the charity. Be sure to take lots of pictures so we can include them in our social media updates!

It’s very easy to take part. Sign-up using the email address below and we will send you a host package with guidance and tips on how to get started. It is up to you to choose when, where and who attends your event. You can host it at home with friends, at work with colleagues or fundraise in your local community. Ideas, resources and full instructions are included in your package, as well as how to collect donations and send them to the charity. Be sure to take lots of pictures so we can include them in our social media updates!

It’s very easy to take part. Sign-up using the email address below and we will send you a host package with guidance and tips on how to get started. It is up to you to choose when, where and who attends your event. You can host it at home with friends, at work with colleagues or fundraise in your local community. Ideas, resources and full instructions are included in your package, as well as how to collect donations and send them to the charity. Be sure to take lots of pictures so we can include them in our social media updates!

Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline is a free, confidential support and signposting service. It is often the first port of call for a victim, survivor, family member, professional or perpetrator seeking help. As well as supporting around 2,400 callers a year plus many more through our website, the Helpline runs a confidential email service, holds educational sessions and raises awareness through campaigns and resources within the community.

Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline is a free, confidential support and signposting service. It is often the first port of call for a victim, survivor, family member, professional or perpetrator seeking help. As well as supporting around 2,400 callers a year plus many more through our website, the Helpline runs a confidential email service, holds educational sessions and raises awareness through campaigns and resources within the community.

Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline is a free, confidential support and signposting service. It is often the first port of call for a victim, survivor, family member, professional or perpetrator seeking help. As well as supporting around 2,400 callers a year plus many more through our website, the Helpline runs a confidential email service, holds educational sessions and raises awareness through campaigns and resources within the community.

SIGN-UP TODAY!

SIGN-UP TODAY!

Email

Email

impact

SPONSORED FEATURE

Towards a greener Hertfordshire - a burning platform for change

By Lucy Gravatt, Director of Partnerships & Communications, Hertfordshire LEP

Rising global temperatures have created an urgent and compelling impetus for change both at home and across the world. On Monday 3 July 2023, the Earth’s average temperature reached a new high, topping 17 degrees Celsius since records began. With southern Europe baking in 45 degrees Celsius heatwaves, triggering wildfires and mass evacuations, low pressure systems have brought heavy rainfall and risks of flooding to the UK.

Public and private sector leaders across the county are working together to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with Hertfordshire Growth Board identifying climate change as one of its key missions. Engaging with the local business community is a priority, and vital to delivering long term sustainable growth, supporting the green economy and driving up access to skilled talent to meet environmental challenges.

With several strategic partnerships in place, the county is well placed to deliver on its agenda for high quality place-making and sustainable design and build. Already a pioneer in the built environment, and with new garden town developments coming forward in Harlow Gilston and Hemel Garden Communities, Hertfordshire is committed to accelerating its housing delivery to meet pent-up demand for good quality, affordable housing but not at the price of the planet.

Local authorities and the affordable housing sector have formed the Hertfordshire OSM (Offsite Manufacture) consortium and a guide has been produced to speed design, planning, manufacture and pre-assembly of construction. Building Futures, a partnership of nine Hertfordshire local authorities, led by Hertfordshire County Council, aims to promote, facilitate and recognise high quality sustainable development across the county. Its services include access to expert and impartial advice via its Hertfordshire design review panel. The Building Futures conference will take place later this autumn, bringing together planners and developers to support high quality place-making and environmental principles.

Another key strategic alliance is the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP), which consists of all 10 district and borough councils, the county council and

In the latest in our series looking at Hertfordshire’s key growth sectors we focus on the green economy and how the county is responding to climate change. With the Earth hotting up, there is a burning platform to take action now and ensure that future development is not at the expense of the environment.

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). It is identifying joint work programmes on environmental, climate change and wider sustainability issues including water, biodiversity, transport and carbon reduction. One of the ways local planning authorities can help to make sure that future development can positively impact the environment is through biodiversity net gain (BNG). Leaving habitats for wildlife in a better state than before development will become a legal requirement for most planning applications in England from November.

Hertfordshire County Council has responded positively to this challenge by developing one of the UK’s first site-matching services. This connects developers looking for suitable sites with local landowners offering land for BNG or

ready grown BNG units. The County Council has also set a target to enhance nature across its own land and water by 20% by 2030. It is also the lead authority for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. A Hertfordshire Nature Recovery Partnership of public, private and voluntary sectors is being set up to create and take forward an agreed set of local priorities to help green the environment by identifying areas for improving habitats, and using natural solutions to mitigate flooding and the impacts of climate change.

Regionally, Hertfordshire also has a strong role to play in influencing the green agenda and advocating to Government on climate change policy. The East of England Regional Climate Change Forum (RCCF) was formed in early 2022 by the East of England LGA. It is chaired by Hertfordshire County Council leader and

Hertfordshire Growth Board Chair,

Richard Roberts with Matt Partridge, CEO, Stevenage Borough Council, as lead CEO. Hertfordshire also leads on the Climate Adaption sub group.

Cllr Richard Roberts said: “From building new homes to protecting green spaces and growing our economy while cutting carbon emissions, Hertfordshire is perfectly placed to lead the way on sustainable place-making. Our strength is in the range and depth of partnerships forged across local government, business and communities with a shared determination to do even more to create a cleaner, greener and healthier Hertfordshire.”

Cllr

From building new homes to protecting green spaces and growing our economy while cutting carbon emissions, Hertfordshire is perfectly placed to lead the way on sustainable place-making.

Hertfordshire’s Green Economy

Understanding the value of green industries to the Hertfordshire economy will be key to its future growth. A new report commissioned by Hertfordshire LEP and Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter (Herts IQ) has found that the low carbon environmental goods and services sector is worth £5.8bn in sales to Hertfordshire’s economy in 2021/22, employing over 40,000 people across 2,000 businesses. Over the next four years, this is set to nearly double to £8.3bn. This brings huge potential for new ‘green’ jobs, businesses and re-skilling opportunities as the county transitions to net zero.

Putting this into context, this sector was worth £205.7bn in 2020/21 to the UK economy, generated by over 75,700 businesses that employed over 1.2 million people in the sector. And while the sector saw similar recovery to the rest of the UK from the economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, carbon finance was an exception in Hertfordshire in that it saw 1.1% growth, potentially because of some activity moving out of London. The report also found three sub-sectors that are particularly strong in Hertfordshire: Building Technologies, Alternative Fuels and Vehicles, and Geothermal.

Hertfordshire’s net zero targets are expected to drive significant employment growth, from around 39,000 in 2021/22, to up to 1.2m in 2050, in the core sector and chains and networks of supply. This employment growth, if based within Hertfordshire, presents opportunities for this sector locally to expand services across the wider UK and globally.

This scale of employment growth forecast could deliver far-reaching socio-economic benefits. We know only too well the impact that poor air quality has on health, often affecting the poorest in our communities and putting an additional burden on the NHS. Taking action now to help fix our homes, some of the leakiest in Europe, by reducing energy consumption and emissions through retrofit would help tackle health inequality and put more money in the public and individual homeowners’ purse. It also brings tremendous opportunities for local residents to upskill and retrain.

Earlier this year, social housing landlords secured a total allocation of £105m, including match-funding, from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Hertfordshire LEP has identified that over 5,700 social housing properties across the county will benefit from around 18,500 retrofit measures to be installed over the next two years.

The LEP is leveraging this funding opportunity to help build capability and capacity within our new and existing workforces and supply chains. This will be necessary to keep pace with supply and demand pressures to meet net zero emissions targets by 2050. Currently a lack of necessary skills risks creating a bottleneck, significantly reducing delivery potential.

In May, Hertfordshire LEP brought together housing associations, landlords, developers, local authorities and FE colleges to help

address this issue, by developing the skills needed to deliver good quality retrofit measures and make our existing housing stock greener, warmer and healthier.

Following this workshop, the LEP is now holding a series of in-depth regional retrofit skills meetings with each of the four FE colleges. This will help local skills providers meet the retrofit skills needs of our housing associations and their construction managing agents. Two meetings have already taken place – West Herts College in the south west of the county and Hertfordshire Regional College in the east, with two more to follow.

In addition, Future Supply Chain and ‘Meet the Buyer’ events are also planned, showcasing the retrofit growth opportunities for our businesses and how they can access this pipeline of work.

Gill Worgan, Principal and Chief Executive, West Herts College, said: “We are delighted to help drive sustainable house building in Hertfordshire by providing the skills so desperately needed for this growing and vitally important sector to thrive.”

Helen Pollock, Clean Growth Manager, Hertfordshire LEP, said: “This investment in social housing will help lift some of our families most in need out of fuel poverty. It has wider consequences too for a variety of trades and supply chain SMEs, enabling them to step up and meet the retrofit and greener homes challenge. This, in turn, could help spearhead a local retrofit skills revolution and drive future business growth.”

As the demand for these skills increases, Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (www.hopinto.co.uk) has updated its directory of green careers. This creates opportunities both for young people wishing to enter into this sector and those wishing to re-train. The options are wide and varied, be it in companies that create green goods such as electric vehicles or companies that work to reduce the use of natural resources and produce clean energy. Whatever the offer – green jobs are on the rise and play an essential part in growing the Hertfordshire and UK economy.

The main reasons for people taking out larger loans from family and friends are high house prices, rising interest rates and a difficult mortgage market, borrower credit history, student debts and tuition fees. For example, many families are offering loans to help their offspring get a foot on the housing ladder and clear their student debts a bit quicker and friends are helping their friends to purchase investment properties.

These loans have pitfalls for the unwary, so it is critical that you take expert advice, so you are aware of the implications before committing to any loan.

Key factors you need to consider: Affordability

Ask yourself whether you can afford to make the loan. Consider possible changes in your circumstances – would lending the money leave you enough of a buffer? Think carefully about the consequences to your personal relationship with the borrower.

Consider whether the borrower can afford the loan. Will they be able to repay it within a timeframe that you are happy with? Sometimes in these situations the ‘borrower’ is really looking for a gift and has no real intention of repaying

and lending between family and friends

It has always been common to lend small amounts of money to friends and family members on an informal basis. Few people bother with a written legal agreement, and even fewer ask for interest to be paid on the loan. Increasing numbers of people are starting to take larger loans from friends and family members.

the money. This may not even be a conscious decision on their part but it is essential to be clear on this. You might decide that you want to make a gift (perhaps of a smaller amount) to avoid bad feeling and potential complications associated with a loan – but both parties should be aware of the decision to make a gift and why.

Legal implications

It is possible that your loan may be regulated by the consumer credit rules of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). If it falls under the FCA regulations, there is a risk that any loan agreement may be unenforceable. A number of exemptions are available but these should be checked.

A written loan agreement should be considered because, by setting out your conditions in writing, both you and the borrower can agree the terms and the repayment with full awareness. For example, a written loan agreement trumps any misunderstanding of the borrower that a gift was intended in the event of a repayment issue.

Security

It may be decided to secure the loan if there is a risk of non-payment. If the security is over land, tread very carefully and take advice as it is possible that your loan could be subject to separate FCA rules on regulated mortgage contracts.

Interest

Very few family loans charge interest but it is more common for loans between friends. You should consider whether you will lose earnings on the money so it could be a good idea to charge at least the same interest that you would earn on the money if it stayed in your possession. Charging interest will also discourage the borrower from viewing the loan as a gift. Remember that if you do charge interest it is taxable income in the eyes of HMRC.

Enforcement

If the borrower does not repay in accordance with the terms of the agreement, it is your choice as to how to proceed. The first step is to talk to them – establish what the problem is and whether it can be resolved. You may wish to vary the terms in the initial agreement (to give them more time to repay, for example). If the agreement has been breached and you want to take legal action to get your money back you will need to seek legal advice.

If you would like help setting up a loan for a friend or family member, get in touch with our specialist commercial lawyer, Simon Porter, who has a wealth of experience in this area of financing.

Simon Porter, Senior Associate, Company Commercial

more than just legal experts. We’re trusted advisers who take the time to really understand your issues.

Upcoming Events

With our members and benefit partners we have designed our events programme to cover a variety of topics:

Magistrates Employer Recognition Scheme

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce are delighted to announce the launch of the Magistrates Employer Recognition Scheme (MERS), taking place virtually on Wednesday 27th September from 10:00 – 11:00am.

MERS encourages employers to support the role and work of magistrates and inspire others to do the same.

The scheme offers a tiering system for employers depending on the level of assistance they provide. This includes pledging to encourage new magistrates and promoting the role.

The scheme is a great way for businesses in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire to give back to the community and support a uniquely important civic role.

We will hear from high-profile guest speakers, including members of the judiciary, who will explain the importance of participating in this scheme and what it means for your business.

Company Directors: Responsibilities and Liabilities

We hope you can join us for this free to attend breakfast seminar on Thursday 28th September, from 08:45 – 11:00am, at Ware Priory.

During this seminar, solicitors from Longmores’ commercial team will:

• Describe how a company with directors is structured

• Clarify the relationship between directors and shareholders

• Outline the duties of directors

• Explain how liability and priorities change the minute you think your company may not be able to pay its debts

• Share tips and solutions to help you mitigate risk so you can focus on your business priorities with a clear understanding of your role as a director

This event will be beneficial to both new and existing directors who would like a summary about their responsibilities and liabilities, so they understand the rewards and risks of being a director.

Wednesday 27th September 10:00 – 11:00

Via Zoom Member: FREE

Non Member: FREE

Thursday 28th September 08:45 – 11:00

Ware Priory, Ware Member: FREE

Non Member: FREE

Meet & Learn how Herts Chamber membership can support YOUR business!

Join us for a complimentary networking breakfast specifically for businesses not currently Herts Chamber members, who want to learn how membership benefits can support their organisations ‘Connect, Collaborate & Grow’. There will also be ample time for networking. Herts Chamber members are also welcomed.

Established in 1924, the Herts Chamber is a privately run membership organisation that can open doors for local businesses and organisations of all types and sizes by helping them to grow their profile and connect with other businesses locally, nationally and globally.

As one of 53 British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) accredited Chambers, Herts Chamber members can benefit from this association nationally and through business groups located around the world.

Tuesday 3rd October 08:30 – 10:30

Stevenage Football Club, Stevenage

Member: FREE

Non Member: FREE

Hertfordshire Zero Carbon Conference

This event, sponsored by Hatfield Park, RO Group and Hertfordshire County Council will provide guidance on how we can take a more practical approach to sustainability to achieve targets and deliver significant impact locally as well as nationally.

We are very excited to have our two keynote speakers:

Lucy Siegle - UK-based journalist and broadcaster and opinion leader who specialises in climate and nature coverage. She is passionate about taking climate and nature stories outside of the climate bubble.

As a reporter and presenter on one of the UK’s most longstanding and most watched TV shows, BBC1’s The One Show, she has taken the problem of single-use plastic and wider eco issues to millions of homes in a way that is relatable and relevant.

Steve Malkin - Founder and CEO of Planet Mark, a sustainability certification that recognises continuous improvement, encourages action and builds an empowered community of like-minded individuals who make a world of difference.

In our opening keynote, Steve will make sure that everyone in the room has a clear understanding of the carbon jargon, like what are the three scopes of emissions? What is the difference between net zero and carbon neutral? And most critically of all, what does your organisation need to do within the next 12 months to be ready for legislative requirements cascading down through supply chains to affect businesses of all sizes? This will act as a vital scene-setter for the day, making sure that we can all play our part in this race to net zero, together.

Our conference programme will include:

• Keynote speakers

• A panel discussion and Q&A session

• Breakfast, lunch and refreshments

• A choice of breakout sessions

• An exhibition

• Networking opportunities

Friday 6th October 09:00 – 15:45

Rothamsted Conference Centre, Harpenden

Member: £135.00 + VAT

Non Member: £150.00 + VAT

Upcoming Events

Customs Procedures and Documentation

This online, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) accredited course is designed to help delegates understand procedures required to move products in and out of the UK. It will also provide you with the information you need to be able to understand how to comply with customs.

Course trainer Jeff Lewis MBA BSc MIEx will cover:

• What is the World Trade Organisation and what do they do?

• What are the main roles of HMRC?

• Under what circumstances can goods be considered as wholly produced in the UK?

• Explanation of the term ’free circulation’

• What is an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)?

• Explanation of the transition from CHIEF to CDS

• The importance of goods being classified correctly and the responsible parties

• What do Procedure Codes tell HMRC?

• The different types of duty or tax that may be applicable when importing

• An explanation of the Methods of Valuation for Import

• Customs Special Procedures and the benefits they offer importers into the UK

October Chamber Lunch

Join us at the October Chamber Lunch, taking place at DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree on Thursday 19th October 2023, sponsored by Hertsmere Borough Council

Come along to this event for a delicious lunch, a chance to catch up with existing business contacts and use the opportunity to meet and network with new potential clients.

We are looking forward to being joined by our guest speaker Shevaun Haviland, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Shevaun will share the BCC’s current view of how businesses are coping in the economic climate, including views/recommendations.

Friday 13th October

09:30 – 12:30

Via Zoom

Member: £350.00 + VAT

Non Member: £400.00 + VAT

Thursday 19th October

11:45 – 14:15

DoubleTree by Hilton London

Elstree

Member: £45.00 + VAT

Non Member: £55.00 + VAT

Top Brand and Digital Marketing Strategies to Get You Your Ideal Client

Join us on Tuesday 24th October, 08:30 – 10:30 at Cloud 9 Leisure, for a business breakfast with award-winning agencies Midnight Blue and Amber Mountain Marketing to hear how to streamline and elevate your brand to get your ideal client to find you.

Midnight Blue is the purpose-driven brand builder for SMEs in Hertfordshire. Taking inspiration from local leaders, it brings clarity and creativity to every project it does. Amber Mountain marketing delivers results-driven digital marketing support for ambitious SMEs and leading UK brands.

Streamline and elevate your business brand through strategy, identity and social and learn digital marketing strategies to get your ideal client to find you.

Midnight Blue and Amber Mountain Marketing are combining forces to show you how.

Topics covered will include:

• Why consumers connect with a brand story

• How your brand story can deliver growth

• How brand helps deliver better, targeted marketing

• Digital marketing strategies that support growth

Tuesday 24th October

08:30 – 10:30

Cloud 9 Leisure, Hemel Hempstead

Member: £20.00 + VAT

Non Member: £25.00 + VAT

Virtual Networking Opportunity

Wednesday 25th October

11:00 – 12:00

Via Zoom

Member: FREE

Non Member: £15.00 + VAT

The next Webinar Event of the series that Herts Chamber has organised, is a networking event, designed to continue supporting our members and non-members.

Join us on Wednesday 25th October at 11am and enjoy the powers of networking, providing the chance to meet with a variety of different business people in an informal atmosphere, to

listen and share experiences while working remotely.

Each participant will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business.

N.B. Any non-member attending this meeting who subsequently signs up for Chamber membership within one week (i.e. by 01/11/2023) will receive a full refund of the cost of attending this webinar.

Baldock Industrial Estate fire

Herts Chamber was invited to attend a meeting held by Hertfordshire County Council, North Herts Council and the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership on Thursday 13th July in relation to the fire which severely affected the many businesses located on the Baldock Industrial Estate.

The fire, which started on Tuesday 11th July just after 6pm, was declared a major incident by the emergency services after it severely damaged/ destroyed more than 40 business units, many of which were razed to the ground due to the severity of the fire.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the impacted businesses and was organised to offer support to all those affected. There were more questions than answers at the meeting, however, as the Fire Brigade was still in attendance at the scene as there were still pockets of fire being managed.

It was clear to see that the Baldock business owners involved in this tragedy are a tight-knit business community and their passion and support for each other was extremely evident. The local authorities, emergency services and other local organisations all quickly rallied together to understand how they could best support and assist the affected businesses and keep them informed of the changing situation.

The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce is here to support any of the business owners affected by this tragic incident and our contact details have been published to all should anyone wish to contact us.

Recognition for Frances

Frances Harris, Internal Export Manager has been, without any doubt, the mainstay of not just the Chamber’s export team, but the Chamber itself for over 35 years.

Although not continuous service, Frances did leave the Chamber for around three years in the 1980s but then saw the error of her ways and returned to open arms! She is by far the longest serving member of staff at Herts Chamber, and is still years, thankfully, from retirement. Her knowledge and experience in exports are, understandably, unsurpassed with her fount of knowledge. Frances also receives praise from grateful exporters for her helpful attitude and speedy turnaround of documentation. Frances goes out of her way to help, occasionally even dropping off urgent documentation to businesses on her way home, thus literally going that extra mile.

Frances has lost count of the number of CEOs she has worked under during her time at the Chamber and has seen many changes, including several office moves. Frances takes everything in her stride, her witty and, at times, understated humour and acute observations of human life, keep us all laughing. Not only a valued member of the team but also very popular.

Outside of work Frances is a keen Trekkie and a big, big fan of dogs, particularly terriers. Having lived in Hatfield all her life, Frances is supportive and proud of her hometown which she knows backwards.

Frances thoroughly deserves this recognition for her length of service, and we all hope she carries on her excellent high standard of work for years to come.

Herts Go Green and Grow

Agroup of passionately committed organisations including Net Zero International, KGK Genix, JPA Workspaces, Estu Global and Insight MCL, the Herts Go Green and Grow Group has now been meeting for 18 months becoming an invaluable networking tool for like-minded organisations across Hertfordshire.

The aim of the group was to raise business and community awareness of the need to reduce greenhouse gases and address common challenges through informal engagement and a safe space to ask those ‘big dumb questions’ we are all learning.

The cross-industry mix of participants includes larger organisations such

as CAE Technologies; Mitsubishi and the RO Group; local authorities including Broxbourne and Hertsmere Borough Councils; SMEs including SA Law; Hillier Hopkins; Longmores; Cariad; Indigo Tree and The Boffin Lab and charities including Herts Young Homeless. This diversity provides a unique sounding board underpinned by a wide range of shared knowledge, expertise and, most of all, friendly faces.

With six of the top 10 global risks over the next 10 years identified as environmental in the 2023 Global Risk Register, carbon reduction is no longer a speciality forum or niche subject but clearly a business essential for survival and, importantly, growth.

For Hertfordshire businesses targeting public money, stringent requirements are already in place, e.g. organisations wanting to deal with the NHS must commit to and

publish a net-zero target of 2045 or earlier. The first local authorities hope to be carbon neutral by 2028 with a further 104 by 2030, so if we want to work with them, we need to reflect their thinking.

To win day-to-day business with larger organisations, the increasing minimum expectation for suppliers is an ability to demonstrate responsible operation, including commitment to Net Zero 2050, scope 1 and 2 emissions calculations and basic carbon/waste planning. Director level commitment is essential, otherwise actions will never become embedded and behaviours will not change. As Chamber members we all want to help our businesses grow. Developing our environmental credentials is now a fundamental part of future business development planning and a sound long-term investment. This does not mean high outlay and high spend but it does

mean starting the conversation at all levels in our businesses now. You may be surprised and find these conversations lead to savings and efficiencies which improve the bottom line.

From November, Herts Go Green and Grow will be more widely available to members and bookable on the Chamber’s events website, so look out for our new name, coming soon. Meetings will be bi-monthly with published agendas so members can commit time accordingly. Tell us what areas you are struggling with or what challenges are stopping progress and we will do our best to help.

With 18 months down, some great connections and more importantly friendships made, we are looking forwards to the 18 months of HGG&G.

Fiona Edwards, JPA Workspaces.

Christmas Chamber Lunch

Hertfordshire Chamber is delighted to be holding its popular Christmas Chamber Lunch, at Sopwell House on Friday 8th December 2023.

The Chamber team are looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year and enjoying a delicious lunch with friends and colleagues at this luxurious venue.

The Chamber is excited to be joined by Lance Corporal Richard Jones, the only magician to have ever won Britain’s Got Talent. A world-class celebrity magician, he can be seen entertaining at corporate events, royal parties and in theatres around the world. Richard has had sold out UK tours, headlined in the West End and is one of the most highly viewed entertainers on TV globally.

As well as being a leading TV magician, he is also the UK’s most in demand corporate entertainer and an ambassador of The British Army.

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce AGM 2023

The Chamber is holding its AGM at Sopwell House before the Christmas lunch. Please note, booking to attend the AGM does not automatically secure a place at the Chamber Lunch.

To book these events please visit our website www.hertschamber.com

**SAVE THE DATE**

Women in Leadership Conference

Registration will begin from 09:00 with the conference due to start at 09:30, and close at 15:30.

Our conference programme includes:

• Keynote speakers

• A choice of breakout sessions

• Panel discussions

• An exhibition

• Networking opportunities

HEADLINE SPONSORSHIP

We are offering the opportunity for three companies to join as headline sponsors of this conference.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Four free places at the event (Equivalent to £500 + VAT).

• The opportunity to give a ten-minute introductory presentation at the conference.

• Your logo featured on the event webpage.

• Your logo featured in an edition of Inspire magazine.

• Your logo featured on all collateral regarding the event.

• The opportunity to host your own exhibition stand during the conference.

• The opportunity to display your own collateral and banner in the main conference hall.

• Inclusion in the social media campaign and all marketing regarding the event.

£3,000

+VAT per sponsor

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

We are offering the opportunity to sponsor a breakout session at this event.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Two free places at the event (Equivalent to £250 + VAT).

• The opportunity to deliver a 60-minute breakout session (topic to be agreed with HCoC).

• Your session featured on the event webpage.

• Your session featured in an edition of Inspire magazine.

• Opportunity to display your own collateral and banner at the event.

• Inclusion in the social media campaign and marketing regarding the event.

• Your logo and session description featured in the conference programme.

£1,500 + VAT

EXHIBITION STANDS

This event will include exhibition stands, with products and services relevant to the delegates at this conference.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• One free place at the event (Equivalent to £125 + VAT).

• Your logo and description featured in the conference programme.

• The opportunity to display your own collateral and banner at the event.

• Inclusion in the social media campaign and marketing regarding the event.

£295 + VAT

If you are interested in sponsoring or presenting at the event, please contact bookings@hertschamber.com

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a member of the Chamber, please make use of the early bird rate of £121.50 + VAT which ends on 5th February 2024. #KeeptheHeartinHerts

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce is excited to be holding its Women in Leadership Conference at Sopwell House, St Albans on Friday 1st March 2024.

Your LinkedIn account may be at risk from cyber criminals

Over the past few weeks large numbers of users have reported being locked out of their accounts and many have reported account hijacks and takeovers. The implication is that there is an ongoing campaign by threat actors to obtain and take over a mass number of LinkedIn accounts.

While LinkedIn has not officially confirmed this, cyber analysts have noted that search terms such as ‘LinkedIn account hacked’, ‘LinkedIn account recovery’ and ‘breakout’ rose by up to 5,000 per cent recently. There has also been a steady rise of complaints on forums across the net with many users citing LinkedIn’s failure to respond to calls for help.

The attackers appear to be attempting to gain control of a large number of LinkedIn accounts by using leaked credentials or brute forcing. While the type of accounts being targeted do not appear to be connected, the effect of the takeover attempts can lead to temporary lockout for account holders – something which many users are currently experiencing.

LinkedIn account holders using multi-factor authorisation and strong passwords appear to be able to recover their account after a period of time has elapsed.

However, users without these security protocols are reporting having lost their accounts altogether. Once they have gained access to the account, the criminals will quickly replace the host email with one of their own, locking out the legitimate owners permanently. While the motive behind this current campaign is unclear, some users report being asked for a small ransom payment, so there may be a financial motivation.

Pundits have also commented on the fact that fake and hacked LinkedIn accounts are often used to launch credible phishing and malware attacks. In December 2022, over 100 million fake accounts were closed by LinkedIn and Meta, and with this opportunity being removed, it remains a distinct possibility that cybercriminals could be forced to shift towards compromising legitimate accounts.

What should I do if I have a LinkedIn account?

As stated at the top of the article, there is no confirmation from the host company itself that a large-scale campaign is underway, but their silence, along with the surrounding circumstantial information suggests that now is not the time do nothing.

If you have a LinkedIn account, now is a good time to review your security settings, enable 2FA, and switch to a unique and long password. Go to your LinkedIn security settings page to find out more.

Secondly, users are encouraged to monitor their inbox for LinkedIn notifications that a new email address has been associated to their LinkedIn account, this is an indicator that a compromise is taking place. Also, if you have been hacked, make sure to report to LinkedIn and also to Action Fraud (see below).

If you would like further guidance about how you should protect yourself online then simply join the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre, a police-led company, for free today. We will help you understand the fundamentals of cyber security and what you should be doing today to protect your accounts.

How to report a cyber attack

Report all Fraud and Cybercrime to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad).

The Police Cyber Security Company – the National Management Centre –has added its voice of concern to the ongoing media reports that LinkedIn may be experiencing one of its most significant cyber hacks to date.

Rothamsted Conference Centre is a purpose-built events and conferencing venue in the heart of leafy Hertfordshire, uniquely situated to host local, national and international events, conferences and meetings.

We are focused on delegate wellbeing, providing healthy food, access to nature and a range of vegan and vegetarian options as standard.

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce members can save 10% on room hire at our Conference Centre by booking and hosting their event before December 31st, 2023. Quote "Herts Chamber" when booking.

Class of 2023 SBC Catalyser Programme ‘graduate’ with flying colours

Over the course of eight weeks, the 2023 cohort, pooled from an extremely competitive field of companies across the UK, were supported by a team of mentors to refine their commercialisation strategies.

Delivered in collaboration with Triple Chasm, the programme utilises the latest data and digital technologies to support early-stage innovation and help tackle the challenges faced by fledging companies in translating ideas into viable products with commercial, social and environmental impact.

During this hands-on programme, each start-up meticulously analysed its strategy across 12 meso-economic vectors utilising the Triple Chasm tools, and actively engaged with 36 industry experts through 11 panel discussions.

The 14 sessions covered market space definition; proposition framing; customer definition; distribution marketing and sales; technology development; IP management; product and service synthesis; manufacturing and deployment; human capital; funding; strategic positioning and business models.

At the Demo Day on 14 July, start-ups presented their strategies and asked for feedback from an audience of experts after being guided throughout the programme by the transformative Triple Chasm strategy framework.

The selected companies taking part were: Consone AI; Genenet Technology; Kuano; Neobe Therapeutics; PentaBind; Plurify; RS&RS Scientific; Stratosvir; Turing Biosystems and VasoDynamics.

Each company was asked to prepare a five minute presentation that set out

their refined approach followed by a 10 minute Q&A session with the audience. As part of the closing ceremony, awards were handed out to the following three companies:

• Most catalysed: Plurify

• Most mature: Vasodynamics

• Most complex market: Neobe Therapeutics

VasoDynamics (VDL) are developing a platform of investigational medical products for the prevention/reduction of cancer therapies induced severe mouth ulceration, skin damage, and hair-loss.

Dr Fiona Li - CEO, VasoDynamics (VDL) said: “We have been very privileged to be involved in this SBC Catalyser Programme. As part of the Demo Day, we had to go through what we learned, dissecting our company strategy and give a plan for what we are going to do in the coming months and years.”

Ten startups at the intersection of therapeutics and techbio have celebrated completing Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst’s Catalyser Programme by pitching their ideas and commercialisation strategies to an audience of investors, experts and invited guests.

Presenting the awards, programme lead Marco Delise, PhD, Entrepreneurship & Business Development Director, congratulated all the participants.

He said: “The calibre of the 2023 cohort was particularly high and today’s pitches demonstrated both the quality of expertise delivered and the commitment of all the companies involved. Over the course of eight weeks together we built up a really strong sense of community and fellowship. That support does not end here. We will be tailoring more accelerator programmes

to suit their needs and those of tech-bio companies taking part in future Catalyser programmes.”

In 2021, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst ran its first Data-Driven Advanced Therapeutics Accelerator (DATA) programme which was focused on execution. As of 31 March 2023, companies that went through this programme had secured £14m investments, with 86% of deals at seed stage and 14% at venture stage.

For the 2023 Catalyser Programme, SBC chose to focus on helping tech-bio

Find out more about the Catalyser Programme here: www.stevenagecatalyst.com/accelerate/programme/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGuaVoggIjY

companies to refine their commercialisation strategy after it spotted a gap in the market.

Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst is now planning to run a Catalyser programme every year.

Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE, CEO, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, said: “Today marks the culmination of a very successful programme. I wish the ‘Class of 2023’ every success for the future as they embark on the next stage of their growth journey.”

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During this hands-on programme, each start-up meticulously analysed its strategy across 12 meso-economic vectors utilising the Triple Chasm tools, and actively engaged with 36 industry experts through 11 panel discussions.

From left, Marco Delise, PhD, Entrepreneurship & Business Development Director, Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE, CEO, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst and Dr Fiona Li - CEO, VasoDynamics

inspires Hertfordshire businesses

Getting your business seen, recognised and noticed!

The sense of belonging it can encourage can ensure employees take greater responsibility for their collective actions. It can also act as a great leveller encouraging everyone to take an equally professional approach as they are part of the same team.

3Drakes is a family business owned by Doug and Marci Lee. They also employ their daughter and their nine-year-old son who cannot wait to take over. They are a leading supplier of personalised clothing, accessories, workwear and corporate clothing for customers throughout Hertfordshire, London and the whole of the UK since 2015.

with lots of small companies often employing one to ten staff but still want a uniform to promote their business.

As well as their normal work they also undertake special projects. They recently worked with one of HRH King Charles’ charities, the Royal Countryside Fund to produce an A2-sized tapestry to be presented to one of their supporters. Each letter had to be individually created and embroidered and took over four hours to run on the embroidery machine. In creating the tapestry, they used sustainable threads that are made from wood pulp.

The importance of using uniforms as a marketing tool for a business has undoubtedly led to a focus on branding and imagery. The wider availability of branded workwear is one tool available to marketers to help boost image, improve customer perceptions, and make employees feel more like part of a team.

A recognisable uniform means a recognisable brand. The more ways a customer can connect to your brand, the more they will remember to come to you when they need your services. A strong uniform can also act as a fantastic advertising strategy, as potential customers may have access to the brand while they are on the move.

If a member of staff is wearing a uniform, it is likely they will be more aware of their actions as they are easily identified by their uniform. Being more aware is likely to result in more positive behaviour, which will create a positive impression of your company and ultimately will influence how your customers feel about your brand.

Uniforms, as well as providing awareness, can be important for safety – from hard hats to hi-visibility garments – and without it many workers would be at risk every day.

Whether it be head-to-toe uniform, a simple shirt or a badge, a uniform can also evoke trust in a company from consumers, patients, customers and importantly, their very own staff. They can help employees feel a valued part of the company, thus creating a sense of pride.

Embroidery and printing of your logo on to your organisation’s clothing is an effective way to promote and identify your business. They supply and brand polo shirts, sweatshirts, company shirts and fleeces, jackets, corporate clothing, hi vis, hospitality clothing, health wear and many other types of clothing.

In April 2023 they moved into new premises in Welwyn Garden City and purchased a Direct to Film printing machine, the first of its kind in Hertfordshire. DTF printing allows for high quality detailed imagery to be printed directly on to garments without expensive costs associated with screen printing – in fact at 3Drakes they do not charge set-up fees.

The DTF print capability sits along side their embroidery machines of which they have four head and single-head options and vinyl printing. There is no minimum order and no set-up fees. They have an eclectic range of clients, supplying clothing and workwear: dance schools, uniform suppliers, sports clubs, colleges, children’s nurseries, museums, and restaurants to name a few, along with some well-known events and companies, including Notting Hill Carnival, David Lloyd Leisure, Elizabeth Scarlett along

They recently had the pleasure of working with the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce to produce branded T-shirts and promotional cotton shopping bags.

Georgia Nicholls, Event Manger at the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said “Doug Lee was a pleasure to work with, he was very professional and helpful the whole way through the process. The Herts Chamber team were very impressed with the quality of the finished products, and we will definitely be using 3Drakes again in the future.”

As well as producing work for the Chamber, they are also on the Entrepreneur Foundation that has given them access to some excellent presentations and support that have led to them being able to focus on where they want to take the business and given practical advice on how to get there.

To find out more about the ways 3Drakes can help to promote your company through clothing and merchandise email to Doug@3drakes.co.uk

3Drakes DTF printer, the first of its kind in Hertfordshire

Embroidering a jacket

Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire

mployer cheme

Magistrates Employer Recognition Scheme

h encourages

The Magistrates Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support the role and work of magistrates and inspire others to do the same.

Nomination Process

Any employer in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire can nominate themselves for an award.

y p y re and B themselves for an award. dshire ployer heme

Any employer in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire can nominate themselves for an award.

S I G N U P T O D A Y !

S I G N U P T O D A Y !

S I G N U P T O D A Y !

S I G N U P T O D A Y !

"We are delighted to endorse the Magistrates Employer Recogn Scheme The Scheme rightly rec employers who support their em to volunteer as magistrates

"We are delighted to endorse the Magistrates Employer Recognition Scheme. The Scheme rightly recognises employers who support their employees to volunteer as magistrates."

Robert Voss CBE CStJ

Robert Voss CBE CStJ

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordsh

Robert Voss CBE CStJ

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshir

"We are delighted to endorse Magistrates Employer Recogn Scheme. The Scheme rightly reco employers who support their emp to volunteer as magistrates.

Susan Lousada

Susan Lousada

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordsh

Susan Lousada

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire

Robert Voss CBE CStJ

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire

For more information

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire

For more information, please visit: www.hertschamber.com/mers

For more information, please visit: www.hertschamber.com/mers

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❛❛ I’ll be getting to know the team, how they work and how they work together. I’ll look to re-establish the current values and consider if we need new values to live by and what our shared mission is.

Welcoming our new CEO

The new CEO of the Hertfordshire Chamber is looking to build on the existing foundations laid by his predecessor to grow the organisation as he moves into the hotseat.

Julian Carter is eager to start his new role and says he has no immediate plans to “rock the boat”, but is keen to continue growing the membership and supporting more businesses across the county.

In an interview before his first day, he also spoke about the need to get more workers back into work.

He joins the Chamber with an enviable track record in venture capital, setting up and advising on a range of mainly tech-based businesses throughout his career.

He says: “I just want to bring all that experience to my local county and I’m excited about the journey ahead.

“I think there’s great potential in the Chamber. Briege achieved a great deal during her tenure and that’s given me a solid foundation to grow from.”

Julian would like to double the current membership during his tenure and will be looking for innovative ideas to achieve that goal.

“We have got to be very creative though, in attracting new members, thinking outside the box and being always mindful of maintaining and improving value-add as the Chamber enjoys a high membership retention rate.

“If I can identify a growth area that we can efficiently scale without incurring additional costs or impacting the level of service, then that’s what we need to be doing.”

Using his background in technology, Julian would like to introduce systems into the Chamber to streamline processes and ultimately benefit the membership.

“The first thing is to understand what members want from their membership and that we are continually providing value-add and we’re always ahead of the curve. We need to understand emerging trends and provide the support and education to our customer base to adopt them.

It’s important to be connecting companies with each other. I’d like to bring more technology into the business to help us connect companies more effectively.”

However, he is quick to point out that he will be thinking more about evolution than revolution.

“The first thing is to maintain stability during a leadership transition. I don’t want to come in proposing lots of big ideas and changes. I firstly need to understand the business and gradually introduce and validate new processes and systems.”

“I’ll be getting to know the team, how they work and how they work together. I’ll look to re-establish the current values and consider if we need new values to live by and what our shared mission is.”

Julian, who grew up in Scarborough, started his career with an apprenticeship in printing technologies. As the father of two teenage boys, he has a keen eye on the opportunities that exist in the workplace, not just for young people, but also the over 50s.

“I am very keen on learning by doing and apprenticeships are becoming much more in vogue now. I’m thinking about my sons’ futures and I would encourage them to take an apprenticeship because you can study for a degree at the same time, avoid getting into debt and actually be able to do the job at the end of it. It’s also quite likely that you may get taken on by the sponsor company.

“I really want to get all workers back in the workplace. I think there’s a lot of ageism still out there in the market. When you consider that the working age population will reduce by 25 per cent by 2050, employers need a change of mindset to avoid this looming challenge.”

Julian, who spent time in Dublin before moving in 2007 to his wife’s home county of Hertfordshire when they started a family, enjoys quiet downtime away from work in his village.

“To me, success is getting the balance right across all aspects of life. One thing I do every day is thank my lucky stars because I am very grateful for what I’ve got.”

Julian Carter joins the Chamber and talks about his plans for supporting the membership, delivering technological innovations and addressing the skills shortages.

‘Monumental’ challenge for NHS to keep hospitals fit for purpose

The NHS is facing a “monumental” challenge to ensure its hospitals are fit for purpose as well as driving down carbon emissions and addressing a backlog of maintenance issues.

Innovation and speed are key to delivering efficient and adaptable buildings that meet the needs of patients and staff.

Anastasia Chrysafi, health strategic framework manager for construction giants Willmott Dixon, says the NHS is in an unprecedented situation with highrisk backlog maintenance costs being reported by more than 80 per cent of all Trusts, which must also prioritise meeting net zero targets. At the same time, clinical service provision must remain accessible, driving a need to provide upgrades and refurbishment in live environments. She said: “The challenges facing healthcare are huge; the need to improve efficiency, address backlog maintenance, decarbonise estates and meet net zero targets are just the start.

“When you factor in healthcare buildings that are fit for purpose, supporting both patient treatment and recovery as well as our NHS workforce, it’s clear the task is monumental.”

Willmott Dixon is among the suppliers working within the ProCure23 framework to help address this. The framework provides quick access to an NHS capital projects team, which understands the operational pressures of the health service.

This sees companies like Willmott Dixon work closely with NHS Trusts to gain detailed feedback from patients, carers and staff at elective surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres to inform development of new facilities.

“The framework allows partners to work together and develop efficient processes and solutions, such as repeatable rooms and standard components.

“These alone have saved the NHS millions so far, as well as tackling how it responds quickly to surge hub requirements and winter bed pressures. Willmott Dixon has completed more than 100 healthcare construction projects across England and Wales in the past decade. As well as new builds, the company is also accomplished in refurbishment and upgrades in live environments on acute, mental health and community care facilities.

Anastasia said: “Speed of delivery is essential to deliver healthcare facilities as promptly as possible, without compromising quality.” For further information about Willmott Dixon’s projects within the healthcare sector, visit willmottdixon.co.uk

Collaboration sets a compelling example for local businesses to unite

The partnership between ONE YMCA and Future Digital Systems, ignited at the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Summer Gala, is a heartening example of community-focused collaboration. Stemming from a shared commitment to social welfare, this alliance has blossomed into a beacon of positive change.

However, this collaboration transcends immediate impact. It underscores the potential of businesses and nonprofits synergising their efforts for community welfare. By pooling resources, expertise and networks, these partnerships address pressing needs and fortify the region’s social fabric.

The partnership is exemplified by Future Digital Systems’ generous contribution – an interactive touch screen table – to the High Trees Family Centre in Broxbourne. More than a piece of technology, this gift fosters connectivity, learning and inclusivity. Families visiting the centre can now engage in collaborative educational activities, bridging generations and forging stronger bonds.

Amid increased scrutiny of corporate partnerships, the union between ONE YMCA and Future Digital Systems shines as a model of impactful corporate philanthropy. It’s a fusion of business acumen and social responsibility, radiating positivity that elevates lives and nurtures communal resilience.

This partnership aligns with the “Keep the Heart in Herts” campaign by the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. This collaboration sets a compelling example for local businesses to unite with nonprofits, ushering in an era of community-centric alliances that empower individuals and amplify the collective spirit.

In an interconnected world, the collaboration between ONE YMCA and Future Digital Systems reminds us that united efforts yield boundless change. As the partnership continues to flourish, its positive reverberations will leave its footprint on the Hertfordshire landmark. Thank you to the Herts Chamber for making it possible for these two organisations to connect.

Future Digital Systems are Hertfordshire’s premier supplier of environmentally friendly print technology.

For more information visit www.fdsgroup.co.uk

Empowering Futures through Collaborative Support

Humanitarian aid experts brought their support a bit closer to home when they provided sports kit and footwear for youngsters taking part in a Herts-led initiative.

Goods for Good, which supports people living in poverty across the globe, worked with Herts Sport Partnership (HSP) to deliver a Fit, Fed and Read session as part of its annual summer activity programme.

The Watford-based charity provided 400 highquality branded sports kits and footwear for each of the youngsters who attended a Fit, Fed and Read celebration event hosted by partners, child clothing brand My 1st Years, at its warehouse.

Rosalind Bluestone MBE, Founder and CEO, said: “At Goods For Good, our fundamental mission is to bring together the corporate and charity sectors, to create lasting positive change. We stand as a bridge, forging connections between corporate responsibility and charitable impact, with a commitment to driving transformative change in disadvantaged and deprived communities.

“In a remarkable display of unity, compassion and shared purpose, Goods For Good facilitated an event that exemplifies our core values in action. Supporting our charity partner, Herts Sports Partnership, the event helped hundreds of disadvantaged children in Hertfordshire.”

HSP’s Fit, Fed and Read programme offers a unique opportunity for Herts children aged eight to 11, who are on free school meals or within families facing disadvantage, to engage in cultural, physical and educational activities.

Rosaline said: “Fit, Fed and Read is more than just a summer camp; it’s a holistic approach to nurturing young minds and bodies. The programme recognises that the challenges facing disadvantaged children extend beyond their immediate circumstances, permeating their physical well-being, education and overall prospects.

“By offering a combination of sports activities, nutritious meals and educational enrichment, the programme addresses multiple facets of a child’s development.”

At the heart of Fit, Fed and Read lies the transformative power of sport. Beyond the sheer joy of play, engaging in sports equips children with essential life skills, from teamwork and discipline to goal setting and resilience. For children from marginalised backgrounds, this exposure opens doors to experiences they might not otherwise encounter, fostering selfconfidence and a sense of achievement.

The significance of such programmes cannot be overstated. By bridging the opportunity gap and providing a holistic approach, these camps create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the summer months. They foster a sense of possibility, hope and ambition among disadvantaged children.

“Goods For Good is dedicated to fostering change through the transformative power of sport and we are proud to be able to support the programme for a third year. These kits represented pivotal support for this year’s Fit, Fed and Read programme and this event represented an embodiment of shared purpose and a commitment to creating a brighter future for those who need it most.

“The event served as a reminder that change is not borne of solitary actions but is realised through the collective determination of those willing to make a difference. This collaboration is demonstrative of Goods For Good’s ethos for connecting corporate resources and charitable passion to create a catalyst for positive transformation.”

Tech-Driven Growth: The Transformative Power of Software Development for Small Businesses

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Tailored software can empower small businesses to overcome obstacles and unleash their full potential, positioned ahead of competitors. Unlike off-the-shelf software, custom solutions meet your specific needs, turning ideas into reality and providing a competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate.

Bequeathed, a regulated fundraising company, experienced the pivotal role of custom software, partnering with the award-winning Herts-based software development firm Tier 2 Consulting to build the foundation of their business – an online will-writing platform.

Jonathan Brewer, Founder and CEO, Bequeathed, said: “We rely heavily on technology but don’t have an in-house development team.

We trust Tier 2 to handle that side of things for us. The team at Tier 2 is not only driven and outcome-oriented but also approachable and easy-going.

“Tier 2 provides accurate cost and certainty. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bill from Tier 2 which was more than was estimated, and when funds are tight, that’s incredibly important.

“This relationship gives us the confidence to make big decisions and know Tier 2 can support us.”

With a strong business relationship lasting over a decade, Tier 2 Consulting worked in partnership with Bequeathed to develop an accessible web experience, integrate with PayPal, and implement a robust reporting system – resulting in enhanced functionality, improved user experience, and increased business opportunities for Bequeathed.

In addition to building custom software, Tier 2 Consulting offers post-implementation support and maintenance services – ensuring that Bequeathed’s platform continues to function smoothly and efficiently.

Having a reliable partner to support your evolving needs as your business grows can be instrumental in driving your business success.

If you’re a small business owner looking to unleash the potential of custom software development, consider scheduling a free, no-obligation strategy call with Tier 2 Consulting today.

Quote ‘Chamber’ to sales@tier2consulting.com

Visit: www.tier2consulting.com

Custom software has the potential to revolutionise startups

small businesses, providing vital support as you navigate challenges and drive growth.

If you are looking for a venue steeped in atmosphere with period architecture dating back to medieval times or a modern and spacious venue with all the latest hi-tech facilities, then Ware Priory is for you.

Set in seven acres of picturesque riverside gardens, it is the perfect place for a romantic wedding and an equally inspirational conference or meeting venue.

Ware Priory was founded in 1338. It is a building that has, for 700 years, served as a focal point for the community and the town of Ware. In turn it has been a friary, a house and a convalescent hospital and now serves as the offices of Ware Town Council and as a venue for weddings, conferences, events and banqueting.

Ware Priory itself is a Grade I listed building, which has a distinctive choice of individual

Welcome to Ware Priory - a premier venue in Hertfordshire

character rooms named after significant people in the history of the building. Painstakingly restored in the mid-1990s, some of the original building materials, including wattle and daub, stonework and Victorian murals have been uncovered and preserved as features of interest. The most recent refurbishment took place in the Conservatory (pictured). As well as a new floor, the midsize function room has been equipped with a new ceiling and blinds, new lighting, fresh panelling and paintwork

and a lovely new bar design. The neutral colour scheme gives a modern and contemporary feel while being sympathetic to this traditional space.

Adjacent to Ware Priory is Fletcher’s Lea. Built in 2006, it offers a bright and contemporary atmosphere for any event or function. It works as a beautiful wedding venue, hosts exhibitions, conferences, product launches and concerts and can also be used as a 220-seater cinema. The tranquil surroundings of both buildings provide a beautiful and relaxed setting for any event.

Ware Priory are now promoting their very popular Christmas Party Nights. Choose from a Festive Christmas Buffet or a Classic three-course Christmas Meal and then dance the night away with DJ and entertainment. Prices start from just £43 per person. These are ideal for groups to come together and celebrate but private parties are also available. To find out more visit www.warepriory.co.uk

Award-winning Pages Care Farm Mending Mindsets in Nature

Elstree-based animal and horticultural farm offers an alternative approach to overcoming the barriers faced by people with mental health and special educational needs.

Launched in 2021, Pages Care Farm is a structured and hard-working private therapy farm aimed at building self-confidence and equipping people with transferable skills for dayto-day life and the workplace.

Winner of our Inspiring Hertfordshire Diversity & Inclusion Award, owner Nathalie Simpson and her dedicated team truly believe in the healing power of the outdoors, especially the benefits of caring for animals for all people involved, as individuals and teams.

Since launching a successful term-time pilot of group skills therapy projects and mental health rehabilitation programmes alongside a North London-based special educational needs school in Brent, Pages Care Farm aims to extend its reach into Hertfordshire, in collaboration with local authorities and healthcare trusts.

In a further bid to transform the way mental health needs are catered for in the Home Counties, commercial sponsors and corporate partnerships are being sought to secure the future growth of Pages Care Farm’s unique facilities.

“Our philosophy is very simple. We’re a downto-earth farm where everyone and everything is equal, and that includes our animals, many of which have been rescued. We teach practical farm and livestock management and horticultural maintenance, to promote autonomy and build critical social skills. We are not a play farm or petting zoo. Instead, our work directly improves employability and boosts social skills,” says Nathalie Simpson, Owner, Pages Care Farm.

The unique blend of outdoor therapy and animal care makes Pages Care Farm ideal for corporate teams to interact with nature in the outdoors, in pursuit of workplace wellbeing goals and to combat the mental health crisis we face.

We welcome Pages Care Farm as new members to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and invite you to discover more about the work they do and how you can get involved at www.pagescarefarm.co.uk

Ware Priory is one of the premier conference and wedding venues in Hertfordshire and is where the past and present unite.

Embracing Cinematic Luxury: A home away from home at DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree

The DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree holds the rare distinction of being more than a hotel; it’s a sanctuary that beckons guests to embrace comfort and familiarity.

But there’s more to this haven than meets the eye – it’s a place where the magic of movies seamlessly intertwines with contemporary luxury, an ode to the area’s celebrated history as a film hub.

Beyond its thematic allure, the hotel offers open spaces that effortlessly bridge the gap between work and leisure. Chaplin’s Bar & Restaurant provides an ideal setting for productivity or a leisurely lunch. Whether you are seeking a tranquil workspace or a delightful culinary experience, the hotel anticipates and caters to every need.

Step into one of the 135 refurbished guest bedrooms, where contemporary design converges with comfort, creating an ambience that feels stylish and inviting.

The bathrooms, with their spacious layouts, provide an oasis of relaxation, inviting guests to relax and unwind.

A Festive affair like no other: Unveiling “Lights, Camera, Christmas” at DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree

An experience designed to bring the magic of cinema and the warmth of the holidays to life. Whether you’re planning a festive gathering with loved ones or seeking to embrace the holiday spirit with friends or colleagues, the doors are open to welcome you into an ambience of warmth and festive cheer.

The hotel caters to a diverse range of preferences, offering everything from lively festive party nights to leisurely lunchtime gatherings, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Lussmanns - five unique and charming venues across Hertfordshire

The Lussmanns Sustainable Kitchen group is known for its environmental credentials, excellent customer service and delicious food, using locally sourced produce which is cooked to perfection.

The five Lussmanns Sustainable Kitchen restaurants in St Albans, Harpenden, Hitchin, Hertford and Berkhamsted, are housed in charming, historic and central buildings, and all within easy reach of London. The latest restaurant to join the Lussmanns group, Berkhamsted, is a beautiful Grade II listed Georgian building on the High Street. The St Albans restaurant is a light-filled two-storey brasserie in the shadow of the stunning cathedral. An 18th-century former coach-house just across from the village green is home to the Harpenden Lussmanns, and the Hitchin and Hertford restaurants are in partially Grade II listed buildings in the middle of these bustling picturesque Hertfordshire towns.

Each venue offers pretty and unique private or semi-private rooms and spaces for smaller gatherings or functions, from eight to 24 people. But they are also each available to be booked for exclusive use, holding between 50 and

100 people, and giving a unique and individual, but always elegantly designed, backdrop for any event; from family get-togethers to wedding receptions, milestone birthdays to business events, fashion shows to charity fundraising functions.

The Harpenden and Berkhamsted restaurants also have large stunning walled gardens, into which guests can spill out of the main restaurants easily and seamlessly, into the sunshine.

The multi-award-winning Lussmanns Sustainable Kitchen restaurant group is recognised for its sustainability ethos over the past 20 years, using renewable energy, recycling waste, sourcing thoughtfully farmed and fished produce. “We provide beautiful, charismatic venues for your event, large or small,” says founder Andrei Lussmann, “and we have something for everyone in terms of style of building and interior, but I think what makes Lussmanns different is that these are also venues with a conscience.”

Over the past 20 years, the Lussmanns sign has been a familiar and popular sight across Hertfordshire, and the restaurants have become an integral part of their communities.

Give FOOD WASTE the chop

The upstream carbon cost of this uneaten food is huge. It’s estimated that if food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China, with this uneaten food responsible for 8% of global emissions1

Rethinking how we shop and cook means it’s easy to reduce this waste – and allow householders to save up to £720 a year, according to WRAP2

• Storing food in the best way can keep items fresher for longer. Checking the temperature of your fridge (4 degrees) and freezer (-18 degrees) is a quick win, as is using air-tight containers for extending the usable life of many items.

It sounds quite a small step, especially as many of us believe we create minimal food waste, but eating our food is more impactful than buying solar panels or electric vehicles. In fact, it features in no less than 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

WasteAware, the waste partnership of all councils across Hertfordshire, have been researching this topic in detail for the last 2 years, and have developed a simple 4-step plan for reducing food waste. Why? Their primary research from analysis of resident bin waste showed that 24% of the average household’s bin was food that could have been eaten – not eggshells and peelings, but edible food.

This fact is shocking enough, but what the team also found is that we’re not just talking fridge leftovers and soggy carrots, but large amounts of food in it’s prime. They saw discarded items that were still in peak condition even after being disposed of, transferred into the collecting vehicle and tipped onto the floor. Shiny tomatoes, spring onions in bunches, complete loaves of delicious soft bread, huge chunks of cheese, meat and veg. All grown (or reared), processed, packaged, transported, bought, taken home… and dumped.

In fact, figures show that 50-70% of all the food we throw away could have been eaten.

Keep in touch

• Planning your meals based on what ingredients you have available can be a gamechanger. There are several webpages and apps which offer meals based on an available item. Checking inventory before going shopping is a key step, as many of us buy items habitually without checking what we already have available first, leading to duplication and waste. Choosing recipes which use ingredients that need eating first.

• Shopping from a list can reduce the cost per shop by £11 as you’re more likely to stay on track and not get swayed by tempting offers or additional items… which, if unplanned, might be more at risk of being thrown away.

• Eating what you have sounds obvious, but often the abundance of food means we are trying to manage more than we can use. Planning portion sizes means cooking just what we can eat. Adapting meals to use whichever items are on hand or planning in a ‘use up day’ to put available items in a soup/curry/omelette/ pasta sauce.

An easy way to share these messages with staff is to include a link to the #WorthSaving campaign in your bulletin, newsletter, or intranet. Contact the #WorthSaving team via the webpage, www.wasteaware.org.uk/worthsaving to request posters, leaflets, adverts, or to book a talk on this or other waste-related content. Several companies have borrowed the events kit, including games, banners, recipe cards, giveaways and display items, for stalls in high-footfall areas – get in touch to discuss your requirements.

1 How cutting your food waste can help the climateBBC Future

2 Saving money On Food | Love Food Hate Waste -WRAP 2023

Sign up to our monthly e-bulletin https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/updateme/ @HertsWasteAware @HertsWasteAware www.wasteaware.org.uk

With efforts to reduce carbon footprints high in the minds of many, you might be surprised to read that the biggest impact any of us can have is to reduce the amount of edible food being disposed of.

Leading national experts and businesses join BCC Workplace Equity Commission

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has announced the launch of the BCC Workplace Equity Commission, with members including Stonewall Chair Iain Anderson, Ayesha Hazarika MBE, Women of the World founder and CEO Jude Kelly CBE, and Scope CEO Mark Hodgkinson.

Convening national experts, business leaders and representatives from the UK and international Chamber networks, the group will produce recommendations for Government and business to progress the ED&I agenda in the workplace.

The Commission will examine workplace equity from several angles, including age, disability, race, gender and LGBTQ+, while also considering the intersectionality of these factors. It will look at how employers can be supported to unlock the talent and potential of all individuals in the workforce. This is the first of its kind body of work from the BCC as the organisation takes a leading role in furthering equality, diversity and inclusion across the UK economy.

The Commission is part of the organisation’s three-year workplace equity campaign, the inspiration for which came from the findings of the BCC International Women’s Day research, published last March, that surveyed 4,000 people.

The Commission held its first meeting on 19th September and the inquiry will run over 12 months.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “True equity across our workplaces is not only important for

our society, it is also imperative to the functioning of a healthy economy.

“This Commission will look at how employers are currently addressing ED&I issues in the workplace, and the impact this has on the recruitment, retention and progression of a skilled workforce – an issue of particular relevance given today’s incredibly tight labour market.

“We are delighted to have renowned national figures, such as Iain Anderson and Jude Kelly CBE, joining us to bring their expertise and lived experiences to the group. Together with industry and Chamber leaders, our aim is to deliver a pragmatic and ambitious ED&I roadmap for businesses and Government that will leave a lasting and meaningful impact on workplaces across the UK.

Sarah Howard MBE, Chair of the BCC, said: “The motivation to develop this Commission was born out of the stark findings from our International Women’s Day 2023 research which highlighted the work that remains to be done to enshrine full gender equality across our economy.

“However, the need to create a truly equitable economy goes far beyond International Women’s Day; we cannot solely limit our ED&I focus to the issue of gender equity. With the help of top-

class experts and business leaders, this Commission will be examining a range of issues requiring attention, in a bid to truly embed equity into our workplaces.”

Herts Inclusive Theatre was thrilled to win the British Chamber of Commerce’s Equality Trailblazer Award in Autumn 2022, following them picking up the award for Diversity and Inclusion at the Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards in June 2022. Winning both awards really highlighted that the organisation champions diversity and promotes inclusion, in their workforce, their customers and any community outreach work.

Now to have been invited to be part of the BCC’s Workplace Equity Commission really shows that no matter how small an organisation, if you are really championing what you believe in and embedding it within every aspect of the organisation it really shines through.

This is an exciting period for Herts Inclusive Theatre, which has been celebrating its 21st anniversary year since October 2022, and earlier this year launched a workplace focused ‘Inclusion Training Programme’ supporting businesses with inclusion and diversity within their companies in a knowledgeable, fun and interesting programme.

To find out more information visit www.hit-theatre.org.uk

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE HIRE AN APPRENTICE

Hart Learning & Development are here to help you attract, retain and develop the best emerging talent in the market.

We specialise in providing apprenticeships to drive your business forward. Our expert teams work with you to identify the right training for the right people at the right stage in their career.

ƒ HR Support

ƒ Business Administration

ƒ AAT (Accountancy)

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IT STARTS WITH WHY

Our

Why is the reason we exist.

is the question we are an answer to.

Technology has an awesome ability to transform, there is no other industry that will drive more change for years to come. But technology will only make that difference when combined with knowledge, passion and empathy that people can bring.

Our service led approach supports you, your team and your business, providing a process that is commercially flexible. Our approach is what makes us unique.

At CAE we place our customers at the core of everything we do. We’re agile, and we focus on understanding what’s required, and recommending and implementing solutions that deliver a truly tailored approach.

thisiscae.com

Growing Your Business with Advice

“What support is available for my business?”

is a question we get asked frequently and many businesses that we speak with are often initially disappointed to hear that the support available to them may not always be in the form of a business grant.

Funding can provide a shortterm solution and fuel the growth of your business.

Selling more products and services may also generate cash, but neither of these solutions offer any guarantee of business success.

There is no arguing that funding is important, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing that’s important to your business. Other things that your business needs to get right to achieve consistent and robust growth include:

Your offer - A good starting point is to evaluate your offering and whether it still meets your customers’ needs. Do you need to modify what you do, and the way you do it, too? Do you have a sustainability proposition?

Operations - Are you able to deliver what your customers need, when they want it, and at a price they are prepared to pay?

Marketing - Is your marketing creating the enquiries that you need to generate more sales?

Sales - Do your sales team and their processes ensure that you can convert ‘interest’ into orders?

Your team - What skills does your business need? Upskilling existing staff and/or do you need to recruit? Supporting wellbeing in the workplace can reduce absenteeism, presenteeism, improve motivation and staff retention.

Finance - Do you truly understand where all the money is going? Do you know exactly where you make money and where you spend money?

Legal Property Experts

in association with Penman Sedgwick LLP

Karabo Mclean-Salmon - Conveyancer (MCILEx)

Hertfordshire Growth Hub Can Help

Speaking with a Hertfordshire Growth Hub adviser, who will take the time to listen, can have a valuable impact on your business, by providing you with impartial advice, or by simply clarifying your own thoughts around developing the business, your team and overcoming challenges.

Our experienced advisers take time to understand your requirements and, through discussion, identify any other potential areas before offering advice. They are knowledgeable of available support programmes, and have a network of connections to assist you, saving you valuable time from searching for solutions.

“I am always keen to hear from them [business adviser] because they provide specialist support. I know that I can’t do everything myself and need experts to provide that extra knowledge, particularly during this rapid growth in the company.”

Steve Jack, Managing Director Gem Cable Solutions

Get in touch with us today via email at enquiries@hertsgrowthhub.com, or speak to one of our Business Information Advisers, by calling us on 01707 952777 (9am–5pm, Monday–Friday).

Streamlining Conveyancing Transactions: An Overview of the Fourth Edition LPE1 Form with Building Safety Act 2022 Revisions

The Building Safety Act 2022 came into force in June 2022 and has since led to the Fourth Edition of the Leasehold Property Enquiries form (LPE1) being introduced earlier this year.

The LPE1 is a questionnaire which is a standard part of the conveyancing process, designed to gather essential information about leasehold properties and enhance transparency and efficiency in leasehold property transactions. The form provides crucial information to prospective buyers (and lenders) to ensure their interests are protected. However, the latest edition goes a step further by addressing concerns related to building safety, particularly in the wake of high-profile incidents such as the Grenfell fire.

The new edition of the LPE1 now covers the following:

• Whether a Leaseholder Deed of Certificate has been served on the Landlord in relation to the sale of the property or remedial works required on the property.

The Deed of Certificate contains a series of questions answered by leaseholders to enable the landlord to assess whether the lease qualifies for protection against any remediation costs.

• Whether a Landlord’s Certificate has been served. The Landlord’s Certificate confirms whether the landlord is responsible for any defects in the building, and provides information about contribution towards the cost of remediation.

• Whether there is any ongoing enforcement action against the Landlord.

Landlords are required to declare any outstanding enforcement notices, following action brought by the Local Authority. These new enquiries can affect all parties to a leasehold sale. There is an increased responsibility on landlords to provide accurate and comprehensive information related to building and fire safety measures. If a property requires significant remediation or improvement works to comply with building safety standards, it could potentially affect its saleability. Buyers (and lenders) may be more cautious or negotiate the price accordingly. Buyers of leasehold properties now have access to critical information about the safety aspects of the building.

Whether you are a landlord, prospective seller or purchaser of a leasehold property we can provide legal advice regarding the impact that the Building Safety Act will have on your transaction.

If you are looking for legal advice, we can help.

P roblem S olved

JPA Workspaces, the multi-award-winning, accredited workspace experts based in St Albans, recently attended a royal reception hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, as recipients of the first King’s Award for Enterprise 2023 in Sustainable Development.

The King’s Award for Enterprise, announced in April, recognises the outstanding achievements by UK firms in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

JPA Workspaces was one of only 15 UK firms, and the only Hertfordshire business, to be recognised in the Sustainable Development

JPA Workspaces celebrate King’s Award for Enterprise at the Palace

category, and the only St Albans-based business to receive a King’s Award for Enterprise.

Fiona Edwards, Head of Sustainability, JPA Workspaces, who represented the firm at the Palace, said: “The team at JPA have been blown away by this award which is incredible. It confirms our belief that every business can contribute positively to the social and environmental challenges of our time.

“Going to Buckingham Palace was a thrill, but meeting King Charles III and speaking to him was quite surreal. Being given the opportunity to meet other incredible businesses was so much fun – what a night! I was also thrilled to get my JPA Bag across the line and into the grounds!”

Celebrating the best of British business, the reception was also attended by The Duke

and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Environment Secretary Therese Coffey and Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch. This is the 57th year of the Awards and the first year of the King’s Awards for Enterprise, formerly The Queen’s Award for Enterprise. JPA Workspaces will have the use of The King’s Award Emblem for the next five years on their products and to promote their services.

Richard Cooksey, COO, JPA Workspaces, said: “We are delighted and proud to have received The King’s Award 2023 for Enterprise in Sustainable Development which provides a solid platform for our future growth. It is a reflection of the commitment and dedication of the team we are building and we are looking forwards to the future.”

Gold standard employer: Local company Cawleys achieves major recognition

Cawleys, the region’s largest independent recycling company, has been recognised nationally for its investment in staff and commitment to fair pay - achieving the Investors in People Gold Standard and a Living Wage Employer accreditation.

The family-run business was praised by Investors in People for their fantastic communication, staff recognition systems, positive culture, empowered staff and wellbeing strategies.

As part of the accreditation, the waste management specialists were benchmarked against other organisations – achieving an impressive second place against companies in its sector, now sitting in the top three of all Investors in People organisations of its size.

Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: “We would like to congratulate Cawleys on achieving the ‘We Invest in People’ Gold accreditation. It is a fantastic effort for any organisation, and places Cawleys in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.”

Also celebrating this month its accreditation as a Living Wage employer, Cawleys is part of a

movement of businesses, organisations and people voluntarily committing to paying their staff an hourly rate which is higher than the government threshold - addressing the startling statistic that over 13.3 per cent of workers in the regions where it operates earn less than they need to live on.

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that Cawleys has joined the movement of over 13,000 responsible employers across the UK, including household names such as Burberry, Barclays and Everton Football Club. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage, which is based on the cost of living, is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Cawleys, believe that we all need a wage that meets our everyday needs.”

Kirsty Dwan, Human Resources Manager, Cawleys, said: “At Cawleys we believe our success begins and ends with our people. Since achieving the Investors in People Silver accreditation three years ago we have further

developed our strategies and culture to an exceptionally high standard, earning us the prestigious Gold award.

“Employee wellbeing is a key priority for us, demonstrated by our recent Living Wage accreditation. We pay all employees well above the national living wage and we have also recently reduced working hours for all staff, helping improve well-being and work life balance.

“We are proud to be recognised for creating a working environment which inspires, motivates and supports our employees.”

To find out more about Cawleys visit www.cawleys.co.uk

To find out more about Living Wage visit www.livingwage.org.uk

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) celebrates quarter-century milestone

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is celebrating a remarkable 25-year journey made possible by the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire. EHAAT cannot thank you enough for driving their mission of saving lives and providing pre-hospital critical care when it matters most.

As a charity without government or National Lottery funding, EHAAT has been called to 33,500 missions, having saved countless lives and kept families together.

It could not have achieved this quartercentury milestone without the unwavering dedication of the local communities. From donating and fundraising to volunteering and shopping at its charity shops, it continues to make a positive impact in the community.

It continues to be a very exciting time for EHAAT, as this year it has launched its Centre for Excellence, led by a team of clinicians working collaboratively to improve outcomes from illness and injury by striving to reach the highest possible standards, in pre-hospital clinical care through research, innovation and education. As EHAAT moves into next year, it is preparing for the delivery of its second fully owned AW169 helicopter, which will be medically kitted out and is projected to be in service from spring 2024.

Thank you for being a part of the EHAAT journey and for the continued support. Together, we will continue to advance pre-hospital care, build stronger communities, and create a brighter future for all.

If you would like to find out more about partnering with EHAAT, or exploring ways a charity partnership can enhance your business, please get in touch by emailing corporate@ehaat.org

DOHR

– DOHR expansion is par for the course at Hertsmere

AHertfordshire HR firm is feeling anything but “under par” after relocating to the Hertsmere Business Hub at popular The Hertsmere, a golf club in Elstree.

DOHR, run by twice-published author Donna Obstfeld, has been based in Borehamwood for many years.

However, with an increase in team members (five with a new trainee starting soon) and the expansion of Donna’s HR training and business coaching services, the time was right to make the move

Donna explains: “It feels a little funny making the move as Borehamwood has been our home for the past five years and we’ve 'grown up' as a business there. However, with that, we have increased the size of the team and the number of events we run, so a relocation was required. “Obviously the setting is stunning, and I think that our valued team members and visitors will love the new surroundings. They provide both a wonderful sense of peace and also that extra spark of energy and creativity which is going to be hugely welcome in the fast-changing world of HR and employment.”

It has been a busy few weeks for DOHR, as they packed up the office, with Donna being shortlisted as a finalist in the Businessperson of the Year Award category at the Hertfordshire Business Awards 2023.

With those on the horizon and a raft of workplace legislation set to hit the House of Lords for debate, before being rolled out into the ever-changing modern workplace, will Donna and her team have time to practise their game?

Donna suspects not too much: “Working life is all about balance so I will try but I’m not known as a golfer. However, there’s a number of clients that have already been in touch about popping down for a few rounds. I think they meant the first 18, not the 19th but we’re always keen to celebrate their success as their trusted business partner so who knows?!”

Vacancies in construction related businesses are at an all time high and we, like our industry colleagues are facing a skills shortage right now and over the next 10+ years.

MCP is a repairs and maintenance, family business based in Hertford, caring for our customers since 1978.

We are committed to ensuring our people make a positive difference to our residents and their homes.

l We focus on attracting people who match our values first and foremost

l We encourage people with little or no experience to come and ‘have a go’ through our work experience programme

l Our own experienced people love to be mentors and share their experience

l We are working with Herts LEP to partner with local schools, CTP to retrain ex-services personnel and in collaboration with other industry colleagues

l We are starting an Academy to train and upskill apprentices and trainees

www.mcp.community

WELCOME to new members

u Acme Pharma Ltd

Acme Pharma Limited is a privately held and well established pharmaceutical distributor and supplier to the healthcare sectors.

Tel: 01707 331704

Email: info@acmepharma.co.uk

Web: https://acmepharma.co.uk/

Add: Unit 8, Blenheim House, Blenheim Court, 25 Brownfields, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1AD

u Advanced Ozone Products Limited

Advanced Ozone Products provides affordable, dependable and up to date ozone technology to British industry.

Web: http://www.aozp.co.uk

u Anderson Browne Solicitors Limited

Anderson Browne Solicitors is a reputable and forward-thinking firm with a comprehensive offering of high-quality legal services.

Tel: 01279 598008

Email: info@andersonbrownesolicitors.co.uk

Web: https://andersonbrownesolicitors.co.uk/

Add: Sworders Yard, 19E North Street, Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 2LD

u Arrimo Ltd

Arrimo offers value-driven business services to both public and private sector organisations, specialising in digital procurement, governance and financial consultancy, with a particular focus on the health sector.

Tel: 02030 059959

Email: thomas.mizon@arrimo.co.uk

Web: http://www.arrimo.co.uk

Add: 10 Corners, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1RL

u Artemis Cloud Services LLP

Artemis is a proactive provider of managed technology and communication solutions to businesses across London and the South East.

Tel: 02033 265500

Email: hello@artemis.uk.com

Web: https://artemis.uk.com/

Add: Cuffley Place, Sopers Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 4SG

u Autolus Limited

Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation, programmed T cells for the treatment of cancer.

Tel: 01438 901400

Email: c.gray@autolus.com

Web: http://www.autolus.com

Add: Nucleus Marshgate, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 1FR

u BrandStore

BrandStore is a trusted name in the provision of branded merchandise and corporate clothing.

Tel: 01784 918554

Email: naomi@brandstore.co.uk

Web: http://www.brandstore.co.uk

Add: 28 Shearwater Road, Hemel Hempsted, Hertfordshire, HP3 0GD

u C4B Media

C4B Media is your expert full-service marketing and design agency.

Tel: 01763 877110

Email: hello@c4bmedia.com

Web: http://www.c4bmedia.com

Add: 2 Kiln House Yard, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5AY

u CBT British Psychotherapy Limited

British Psychotherapy can offer cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and counselling as four evidence-based modalities to treat anxiety and depression.

Tel: 02081 918757

Email: contact@britishpsychotherapy.co.uk

Web: https://www.britishpsychotherapy.co.uk

Add: Unit 8, Alpha Business Park, Travellers Close, Welham Green, Hertfordshire, AL9 7NT

u Countrifi Networks

Countrifi offer great local service with national standards. Each of the solutions provided, whether it be broadband, wifi security or CCTV, are built around the individual needs of customers.

Web: http://www.countrifi.co.uk

u EcoNomad Solutions Ltd

EcoNomad Solutions is an award-winning agritech startup with a clear ambition: to reduce the environmental impact of livestock small holdings by enabling farmers of any size to vent their animal waste into renewable energy and fertiliser.

Web: http://www.economad.co.uk

u EFR Travel Limited

The EFR Travel group is an independently owned luxury travel company with over 20 years of experience sending travellers around the world.

Tel: 07850 935985

Email: amydrich@aol.com

Web: http://www.efrtravel.com

Add: 43-45 High Road, Bushy Heath, Hertfordshire, WD23 1EE

u Elearn4business Limited

Elearn4business designs and delivers full-scope learning solutions. From design to delivery and ongoing support, the company offers complete learning solution packages that keep you in control.

Tel: 01707 937560

Email: info@elearn4business.co.uk

Web: http://www.elearn4business.co.uk

Add: Business Incubator Centre, Enterprise Hub, De Havilland Campus, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9EU

u Fibron BX Limited

Fibron BX manufactures cables and umbilicals for challenging subsea environments.

Tel: 01992 471444

Email: david.kelly@fibron.com

Web: https://fibron.com/

Add: Unit 2, RD Park, Stephenson Close, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 0BW

u Fortis Foundations Civil Engineering Limited

Fortis Foundations provides civil engineering products and services, with expertise in foundations and piling to the rail, civils, energy, residential and water sectors.

Tel: 01442 731321

Email: will.temperley@fortisfoundations.com

Web: https://fortisfoundations.com/

Add: 5, Concorde Drive, Hemel Hemstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4AW

u Grange Jaguar Land Rover

Grange Motors is a fast-growing and successful, prestigious, franchised, new and used luxury car dealership group based in the United Kingdom that operates as part of the Motor Trader Dealer Group of the Year, award-winning Cambria Automobiles Ltd.

Tel: 01707 299334

Email: stuart.beedie@grange.co.uk

Web: https://www.grange.co.uk

Add: Mosquito Way, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9US

u Hertfordshire

Football Association Limited

Hertfordshire Football Association is the governing body of football in Hertfordshire.It is responsible for all governance, discipline, and development of football in the county.

Tel: 01462 677622

Email: contactus@hertfordshirefa.com

Web: www.hertfordshirefa.com

Add: The County Ground, Baldock Road, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, SG6 2EN

u Intermedia Cloud Communications

Intermedia is a cloud IT application provider hyper-focused on delivering easy-to-use and secure communication and collaboration solutions to SMBs and the partners that serve them.

Tel: 02033 842158

Email: partners@intermedia.co.uk

Web: https://www.intermedia.co.uk/

Add: Bristol and Bath Science Park, Emersons Green, Bristol, Avon, BS16 7FR

u IT-LOGIX Limited

IT-LOGIX is an established IT managed service provider with over 75 years of combined industry experience in providing innovative and expert IT solutions and services to large corporates and SMEs across the UK.

Tel: 02030 055848

Email: gsj@itll.co.uk

Web: http://www.itll.co.uk

Add: Hubspace, 582 Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, London, HA7 1JS

u Lemoncloud Recruitment

Lemoncloud provides recruitment consultancy with a friendly, professional, and honest approach at all times, simplifying the recruitment process for all involved.

Tel: 07835 233857

Email: victoria@employment.com

Add: 25 Greensward, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 4UL

u Lewis Banks Limited

Lewis Banks manufactures in-house, using quality injection moulding machines, specifically designed for use with the high-quality engineering grade materials that it has developed over many years of research.

Tel: 02082 752630

Email: info@lewisbanks.com

Web: http://www.lewisbanks.com

Add: Unit 1 Marquis Business Centre, Royston Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 6XL

u Marlo Clarke Presents

Marlo Clarke Presents is a public speaking company, that specialises in delivering engaging presentations and facilitating discussion on incremental improvement and navigating uncertainty and success management.

Tel: 07725 441636

Email: marlo@marloclarke.com

Web: http://www.marloclarke.com

Add: 9 Barlings Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2AL

u Mitsubishi Electric Europe B V

Manafacturer (electrical and electronic products and services).

Tel: 01707 276100

Email: junko.rao@meuk.mee.com

Web: http://www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

Add: Travellers Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 8XB

u Muvado Money Limited

MUVADO provides independent financial planning and specialises in helping new parents and young families build their ideal life.

Tel: 07563 388691

Email: gregory@muvado.co.uk

Web: http://www.muvado.co.uk

Add: 29 Albert Street, Tring, HP23 6AX

u Pages Care Farm

The mission at Pages Care Farm is to contrast the ‘everyday’ by giving people the freedom and independence to roam outdoors and care for the farm animals, feeding their confidence and building resilience.

Tel: 07961 375151

Email: pagescarefarmuk@gmail.com

Web: http://www.pagescarefarm.co.uk

Add: Pages Farm, Dagger Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire, WD6 3AU

u PHARMExcel

PHARMExcel is an award-winning, full-service Contract Research Organisation (CRO) providing a flexible and innovative approach to clinical trial delivery.

Tel: 01707 325042

Email: info@pharmexcel-cro.com

Web: http://www.pharmexcel-cro.com

Add: Pure Offices, Albany Chambers, 26 Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6SR

u PheroSyn Limited

PheroSyn is a spin-out from Rothamsted Research, the world-leading, non-profit research centre that focuses on strategic agricultural science to the benefit of farmers and society worldwide.

Tel: 07539 695382

Email: info@pherosyn.com

Web: http://pherosyn.com

Add: PheroSyn Ltd, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ

u Planet Mark

Planet Mark certifies and supports 700+ businesses to measurably achieve carbon emission reductions in the transition to a net-zero world.

Tel: 02037 751810

Email: info@planetmark.com

Web: https://www.planetmark.com

Add: 71-75 Shelton St, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ

u Rawesome Drinks Limited

Rawesome make superfood juice shots to contribute to your daily fruit and vegetable intake.

Email: info@rawesomedrinks.co.uk

Web: http://www.rawesomedrinks.co.uk

Add: 75 Oakdene Road, Watford, WD24 6RN

u Reassurance Security Services Limited

Provision of a variety of security services to local businesses throughout the South East includes keyholding, mobile patrol, alarm activation response, concierge service, building cover, unlocks and lockdowns.

Tel: 01707 682670

Email: operations@reassurancesecurityservices.co.uk

Web: http://www.reassurancesecurityservices.co.uk/

Add: Ground Floor, Bishops Court, 17A The Broadway, Old Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5HZ

u Resourcing4HR/4Marketing

The Resourcing4 business is an independently run boutique recruitment consultancy, set up to support HR and marketing professionals at all levels and across all industries, by sharing knowledge and expertise from within these specialist areas.

Tel: 07850 215276

Email: annabel@resourcing4hr.co.uk

Web: http://www.resourcing4hr.co.uk

Add: Cottage Row, Vicarage Road, Wigginton, Hertfordshire, HP23 6DY

u Right at Home Welwyn, Hatfield & St Albans

A local homecare provider delivering personal care and support for you or your loved one when you need it most.

Tel: 01707 682100

Email: welwyn@rightathome.co.uk

Web: https://www.rightathome.co.uk/hatfield/

Add: Weltech Centre, Ridgeway, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 2AA

u RMS for Girls

RMS is an independent school for girls aged 2-18, where building a lifetime love of learning is the ultimate goal.

Tel: 01923 773168

Email: enquiries@rmsforgirls.com

Web: http://www.rmsforgirls.com

Add: Rickmansworth Park, Chorleywood Road, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 4HF

u SIM Imaging/SIMLAB

Service for professional photographers making hand-crafted photo products including leather-bound albums, books, bespoke frames, personalised USB boxes and much more.

Tel: 01707 273747

Email: info@simimaging.co.uk

Web: http://www.simimaging.co.uk

Add: Unit 8, The IO Centre, Hearle Way, Hatfield, AL10 9EW

u Strathallan Business Centre

Strathallan Business Centre provides a range of marketing and sales services as part of its virtual services – which means it can provide a dedicated service to help you market your company and win more work.

Tel: 03333 396003

Email: intouch@strathallanbusinesscentre.com

Web: https://strathallanbusinesscentre.com/

Add: Strathallan House, Midland Road, Hemel Hempsted, Hertfordshire, HP2 4LS

u The Alternative Board (South Herts)

The Alternative Board believes your business should give you what you want from life. It can help you reach both your business and personal goals.

Tel: 07874 383911

Email: abutchart@thealternativeboard.co.uk

Web: https://www.thealternativeboard.co.uk/

Add: 5 Briar Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 9TH

u Vita Financial Planning

Vita Financial Planning is an independant financial planning business working with individual high net worth individuals and small business owners.

Tel: 01707 244450

Email: info@vitafp.co.uk

Web: http://www.vitafp.co.uk

Add: Orion House, Bessemer Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1HH

u Walfinch Welwyn and Bishops Stortford

Walfinch Welwyn and Bishop’s Stortford is a family-run and privately owned home care business. Walfinch is a national franchise brand providing the highest level of quality, compassionate, hourly and live-in care at home across the UK.

Tel: 01920 481600

Email: Ian@walfinch.com

Web: https://walfinch.com/homecare/welwyn-andbishops-stortford/

Add: 15-17 Gentlemens Fld, Westmill Road, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0EF

u Willow Foundation

The Willow Foundation is a nationwide registered charity that provides special days out and at home, special breaks and special treats for seriously ill young adults aged 16-40.

Tel: 01707 259777

Email: Hannah.gray@willowfoundation.org.uk

Web: www.willowfoundation.org.uk

Add: Gate House, Fretherne Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6NS

u Wrimes Cosmetics Limited

Wrimes Cosmetics boasts an expansive facility spanning over 35,000 square feet, accommodating its factory, distribution centre and office space.

Tel: 01438 525999

Email: lewis@wrimes.co.uk

Web: http://www.wrimes.co.uk

Add: Units 1-3 Caxton Gate, Caxton Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2GF

Introducing Paul Robin the new CEO of Hertfordshire Community Foundation

Iam delighted to have recently been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF). With my previous experience as CEO of the Lord’s Taverners, a national charity supporting disadvantaged young people with disabilities and disadvantages through the provision of sport, I bring with me a passion for helping people and I am thrilled to take on this new role.

It is an honour to be given this opportunity. Having been a resident of Hertfordshire for over 15 years, I feel privileged to lead a team that is working towards making a positive impact on the lives of those who most need help in our county. I am excited about being able to contribute to my local community.

HCF’s mission is close to my heart – to inspire local giving, improve the lives of vulnerable people, and create stronger communities across Hertfordshire. For over 30 years, HCF has been providing grants to support small local charities and voluntary organisations.

I wholeheartedly believe in the vital role that small charities and voluntary groups play as the backbone of our communities. They provide refuge to those escaping abusive partners, combat food poverty through food banks,

and address isolation and loneliness with social coffee or lunch groups. Their presence is instrumental in extending a helping hand to those in need.

The demand for HCF’s support has grown exponentially during the pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Through grant funding, HCF continues to back the tireless efforts of grassroots charities that serve local people. It’s worth noting that our grants are only made possible through the support we receive from individuals, families and organisations and that every penny raised stays within Hertfordshire.

Looking forward, I envision a future where HCF develops even stronger partnerships with individuals and businesses to ensure sustainable, long-term support for those in need. We are also committed to embracing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which complement and enhance our grantmaking activities, but also foster a culture of positive change within our organisation.

As the official Charity Patron of the Chamber of Commerce, HCF is developing significant partnerships within the local business community. Our recent collaboration led to the creation of the ‘Keeping the Heart in Herts Charitable Fund’, a unique opportunity for Chamber members to join forces in enhancing the economic and social wellbeing of local communities.

Furthermore, HCF offers a diverse range of options to support local businesses’ charitable and corporate social responsibility goals. Regardless of a company’s size or donation amount, partnering with HCF presents a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in Hertfordshire’s communities.

To learn more about the ‘Keeping the Heart in Herts Fund’ or explore partnership opportunities with Hertfordshire Community Foundation, please visit our website at www.hertscf.org.uk or email me at Paul.robin@hertscf.org.uk

Together we can create a lasting, positive impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals in Hertfordshire.

❛❛Through grant funding, HCF continues to back the tireless efforts of grassroots charities that serve local people. It’s worth noting that our grants are only made possible through the support we receive from individuals, families, and organisations and that every penny raised stays within Hertfordshire.

Helping your business unlock international trade using multi-currency wallets

UKFX Holdings addresses these challenges by offering innovative solutions to businesses seeking to simplify their international financial operations

There has never been a more important time to use a reliable company to manage this requirement for you. At UKFX Holdings we offer a solution to this, whereby we aim to help companies simplify their processes by offering unique multi-currency wallets.

By offering businesses a single multicurrency wallet, we are presenting a practical way for businesses to handle payments and receipts in different currencies seamlessly.

This can help them avoid the hassle of dealing with multiple accounts and potentially reduce the delays caused by currency conversions and traditional banking processes.

Imagine you’re a UK-based business that needs to invoice a client in the United States in US dollars. With UKFX Holdings, you receive a dedicated USD currency wallet in your company’s name. You share the wallet details with your client for them to make the payment directly to your wallet.

Once the payment is received in your wallet, you have the flexibility to convert the USD back into GBP using UKFX Holdings services. This conversion can be done at a favourable exchange rate,

then the converted currency can be deposited into your GBP wallet or local business account.

We help many local companies in and around Hertfordshire ranging from payroll, start-ups, import/export, B2B payments and, of course, smaller businesses.

Moving currency can be a complex procedure, but with the right partners it doesn’t have to be. UKFX Holdings Ltd can help take away the burden of trading and monitoring rates, and manage the process on your behalf, ensuring that you take advantage of the market at the right time.

For more information email: kris@imsfx.co.uk

We are in a heavily regulated world where it’s evident that the challenges of sending and receiving international payments can be quite daunting due to various factors such as banking procedures, sanctions and fluctuating exchange rates.

In conversation with John Woodruffe

❛❛ It is fantastic news for Hertfordshire that we have the agreement from the Secretary of State for Education to proceed to stage 2 of the LSIP. This is a wonderful opportunity for all businesses in the county to get involved. Don’t forget – we need to hear from you, to help you. Do read the LSIP report, sign up to the QR code and keep a look out for the various upcoming events. I look forward to working with you.

1. How long have you been working at the Chamber?

I have been working at the Chamber for five years.

2. What is your job role?

I am now the Project Manager for the Herts Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). My primary role is to ensure that the LSIP contract Herts Chamber of Commerce was awarded by the Department for Education is delivered in a timely fashion over its three-year lifespan.

3. Which Chamber event has been your favourite so far?

The very first Chamber members’ Christmas lunch was my favourite event to date.

4. What is your favourite thing to do on the weekend?

I really enjoy seeing Spurs win!

5. What is your favourite alcoholic beverage?

A few of my favourites are a good English ale, Sidepocket, Timmy Taylor Landlord, Jennings and, in Ireland, Smithwicks.

6. Do you prefer going out or staying in?

For me, it really depends on my mood and the weather, but I do my fair share of both staying in and going out.

7. Do you have any hobbies/particular interests?

My favourite hobbies/interests are football (I am a huge Spurs fan), my family tree and travelling.

8. If you could travel to one place anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love to travel to Tibet (but sadly not allowed).

9. Do you have any pets? If you don’t have a pet, but could choose one, what would it be?

I have a mad bull lurcher and an equally mad kitten.

In conversation with Natalie Cane

1. How long have you been working at the Chamber?

I have been working at the Chamber for seven weeks. I am the newest staff member on the team.

2. What is your job role?

I am the team’s Membership Coordinator. I have been working alongside Amy, Paige and Gill.

I assist with account management and supporting the membership team with renewals and retention, ensuring our members are engaged and feel the value of membership.

3. What is your favourite thing to do at the weekend?

At the weekend I enjoy spending time with my family and catching up with friends.

4. What is your favourite alcoholic beverage?

My favourite alcoholic drink would have to be a gin or a pina colada.

5. Do you prefer going out or staying in?

I prefer staying in rather than going out!

6. Do you have any hobbies/particular interests?

I love history and really enjoy going out for the day to various places.

7. If you could travel to one place anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would love to go to Mexico.

8. Do you have any pets? If you don’t have a pet, but could choose one, what would it be?

I don’t currently have any pets, but hopefully we will be getting a cat in the new year.

❛❛ I really enjoy meeting members of the Herts Chamber of Commerce and finding out all about the varied businesses that Hertfordshire has to offer.

Becoming a member of the Herts Chamber offers the opportunity for local businesses to connect with one another and to ensure that local economy continues to grow within Hertfordshire.

LOCAL MEETS GLOBAL

KMG Partnership in the Group

Following

The biggest privately owned engineering and environmental business in the UK, RSK now numbers over 200 companies, employing more than 12,000 people on six continents.

One of RSK’s principal UK offices is based in Hertfordshire – at Frogmore Road in Hemel Hempstead.

KMG has moved to this site in the last year, now home to more than 300 RSK colleagues from 20+ businesses as well as staff who ‘drop in’ to hot desk, which is becoming the norm across all RSK offices. Of course, we are looking to make best use of our office space, but with the added benefit of sparking collaboration opportunities and knowledge sharing, which makes our business vibrant, innovative and fascinating to be involved with. KMG was also able to assist with the planning and fit out of a new office space for our own team and other colleagues as the site has a rolling programme of refurbishment going on.

For the the benefit of our clients, from within the group, KMG can source a wide variety of construction, engineering and environmental services, whether for a building project, property acquisition or disposal, expert witness reporting or environmental impact assessments. We can bring together professionals for every stage of a project lifecycle, from concept through to end use – land appraisals, site investigation, help with the planning process, bringing together a design team, assembling specialist services (ecology, flood risk assessment, transport planning, landscape architecture, contract administration, development monitoring – to name but a few) – all with a single point of contact, if the client so wishes.

RSK has primarily grown by acquisition over the last few years, seeking out a variety of complementary and innovative businesses both in the UK and across the world, as far afield as Australia, South America and the Falklands.

To discuss any aspect of this article further or to explore any potential projects, then contact me at Lyndsay.Waymont@kmgpartnership.com or call me on 07740 422302.

For general enquiries please email us at info@kmgpartnership.com

To find out more about RSK Group, visit www.rsk.co.uk

There are global opportunities for business units and individuals working within the group. Businesses are supported to achieve organic growth and find collaborative opportunities with colleagues from different fields.

A small but smart team within RSK, KMG Partnership has always been able to deliver excellence, with major projects like the Warner Brothers Studio Tour at Leavesden, the transformation of Luton Hoo into a five-star luxury hotel, spa and golf club, and more recently working on pharmaceutical and life sciences projects in Europe and the UK. Concentrating on our core discipline of structural engineering design, KMG is experienced in distribution, logistics and warehousing facilities, particularly for cold storage and food service clients.

KMG is now part of a new venture, bringing together the civil and structural engineering firms from across RSK Group, in collaboration to pool our skills and resources for larger projects, while retaining our own brands, identities and services that our clients know and trust. Just another way that KMG has the best of both worlds from being part of the RSK Group.

my last KMG update, this time I want to tell you a bit more about having the best of both worlds. KMG is an SME team of structural and civil engineers, but part of the diverse and global business that is the RSK Group.

Lyndsay Waymont

A MIDLIFE CRISIS or does life begin at 40?

Do law firms have a mid life crisis? It feels like they should. Partners come, Partners retire, we trudge uphill through a blizzard (or pandemic) and we simply love hearing about market instability and inflation on a daily basis. Is it time for a meltdown?

40 years after first opening its doors in Welwyn Garden City, Partners Tom, Jolyon and Mounia simply look at each other and burst out laughing. This is the stuff lawyers live for. We veer from one crisis to another. The key point is that we survive and thrive.

The founding fathers, Michael Steel and Michael Briscoe had their own fair share of storms to weather. Former Partners Michael Bottomley and Mark Fowler also joined in the fun. Recessions, SRA reforms, acquisitions, and other such trials only served to create a stronger and more experienced firm.

So, at a time when we continue to get slapped in the face with challenges such as spiraling costs and a nervous property market, why are we looking forward to celebrating 40 years of Ewart Price Solicitors? We’re getting excited because we are growing older and maturing like a fine wine. Age and experience agrees with us. We’ve seen that we can get through the ups and downs and come out stronger. Experience is everything in the legal world and you have added value with a few cuts, scrapes and a wisp of grey hair.

We’re not new kids on the block, but we’re still learning. We never stop listening to our clients and learning. Mounia, Tom and Jolyon are the next generation of Partners so why dwell on the past 40 years? We look back at what gave this firm its foundation and identity. We look forward to the future with enthusiasm and confidence.

Ewart Price opened its doors for business in Welwyn Garden City on 31st October 1983, one spooky Halloween. Whether Michael Briscoe and Michael Steel considered Halloween to be an omen or not, they pressed ahead. Ewart Price & Primhak Solicitors was already an established and respected firm in Hamstead. Welwyn Garden City folk had never heard of them. The Partners had barely heard of Welwyn Garden City. One was from Lancashire but had been living in Kingston Upon Thames, the other was from Edgware. It was like a Tinder blind date with no guarantees. Would the good people of Welwyn Garden City swipe left or swipe right?

The odds were somewhat stacked against them with little or no local knowledge. It does make one wonder what went through their minds on that very first day of opening? Tea with one sugar or perhaps something a hell of a lot stronger? It was British entrepreneurism at its finest. All chips in, no looking back.

Then something amazing happened. The good townsfolk did begin to trust us. They began to trust us with their property transfers, their wills, their family problems. Then these clients began to talk to their friends and relatives from other local towns, and they began to call on us too. It was the start of an incredible journey.

When a client instructs a firm of Solicitors –it is very much a choice. We realise that out of all the firms in the country, the client chose to trust us with their important transaction or delicate legal issue. It’s not the same as going to a shop and purchasing a pair of shoes. We, as Solicitors handle things that are really important to people. Buying a first home or handling a probate because a client’s Mum passed away are major life changing circumstances.

Looking to the future, we remember this fundamental point. These are not just forms to complete or money to transfer. These are real people who trust us with something that they truly value. That’s what we’ve been doing for 40 years and that is what we want to continue doing for at least another 40 years.

(L-R) Jolyon Bland, Mounia Le Gaufey, and Tom Bottomley

MEMBERSHIP Benefits

New Skills Academy

Part of the Be-a Education family

In November of 2013, a single question was asked: ‘What do you want to learn?’

Planet Mark

From there, a vision was born of comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable online course availability. The name behind that vision was New Skills Academy.

When it comes to online schools, there are plenty, but at New Skills Academy we distinguish ourselves amongst the competition with our dedication to your long-term goals.

Our expertly designed CPD-Certified courses, detailed lesson plans and student testimonials all attest to the fact that we take great pride in our course offerings and provide only the best for our students.

All our courses have been certified by organisations such as CPD, RoSPA and CME and our library covers everything from personal and professional development to IT skills and lifestyle.

Members: New Skills Academy offers all Herts Chamber members 70% discount on all 1400+ courses. To claim/find out more about this benefit, please visit your profile in the Members Area.

Planet Mark is an internationally recognised sustainability certification recognising continuous progress, encouraging action, and building an empowered community of like-minded individuals. It’s awarded to businesses, properties and developments that are committed to reducing their carbon emissions.

Planet Mark enables organisations and their people to positively transform society, the environment and the economy through measurement of their carbon and social data, using a unique threestep process: Measure, Engage and Communicate.

As a result of rigorous measurement, a commitment to improvement and engaging their stakeholders in the process, Planet Mark members

can communicate their progress with confidence, transparency and enthusiasm.

Planet Mark’s Zero Carbon Solutions, aligned with the SBTi’s global Net-Zero Standard, also helps businesses to reach net-zero carbon. No matter what stage in your net-zero journey you are on, from committing to a target to creating the action plan needed to get there, Planet Mark can support.

In 2021, Planet Mark embarked on the Zero Carbon Tour, taking a fully electric coach (Carbon Battle Bus) across 45 towns and cities in the UK to demonstrate the need for a net-zero transition. On the road to COP26, Planet Mark illustrated the phenomenal array of actions the business community is taking to play a part in creating a sustainable zero carbon future.

As members of the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce we are pleased to offer all Herts Chamber members a 10% discount on their first year of Business or Property Certification, or for the first Development Certification delivered. To claim/find out more about this benefit, please visit your profile in the Members Area.

THERE’S THE CHRISTMAS PARTY, THEN THERE’S

BE MISSED

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

FIND OUT MORE AT ASCOT.COM/CHRISTMAS

Fixing people problem is key to tackling

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

The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO) 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 past 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 followed by manufacturing 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 past 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.”

inflation

factor in the business community.

The Last Word

LAURA GORDON Best Practice ChairScotland and London Vistage International (UK) Ltd

Q What do you do?

I coach business leaders to help them be the best they can be, both in 121 sessions and also in monthly peer groups of up to 16, where they learn from world class speakers, and from each other. With only one member per sector, it’s entirely non-competitive and they support, challenge, learn and grow together. An incredibly powerful forum for development and growth, Vistage is the world’s largest and longest-standing leadership peer network with around 45,000 business leaders in over 40 countries.

Q Who do you work for?

I’m self-employed, having run my own business growth consultancy for 13 years, but work under licence to Vistage.

Q Why did you join the Chamber?

I met Briege Leahy who is a force of nature, and we hit it off immediately. I attended a couple of great events in fabulous venues, and as I’m new to Hertfordshire it felt like a great way to meet people.

Q How has it helped your business network?

I’ve met some lovely people and acquired a few new members for Vistage. I don’t attend events to get business. I attend to meet people and build relationships. Getting to know people first is really important.

Q What advice would you give someone starting out? Follow your heart – do what you enjoy. Life is too short to not have fun along the way and too many people do what is expected of them rather than what they love doing. As a former corporate lawyer bogged down in deals and transactions, I never felt fulfilled, and craved purpose

and meaning. Now I spend my time with people I choose to be around, doing what I love, when I want. Nothing is more liberating and satisfying.

Q What do you think is the biggest challenge affecting running and growing a business?

Undoubtedly, it’s people. Attracting and retaining top talent is getting harder. The ageing demographic means this will only get harder and with Brexit and the shortage of new workers, wages are soaring and becoming unaffordable for SMEs. That means they need to invest in their cultures and in innovation and training to attract and retain talent. With five generations currently in the workplace all with different drivers, attitudes and demands, it’s challenging for leaders, as is coming to terms with building and sustaining a positive culture in a hybrid environment.

Q What support do you want from government?

It’s very simple. We need to expand and invest in the UK workforce. An immigration policy that welcomes workers to resource our businesses, while directing further education budgets towards apprenticeships and training for the jobs that exist and need to be filled in the next few years.

Q How confident are you your business will grow in the next year?

Pretty confident. Companies that invest in training and development will thrive ahead of their competitors. Particularly for young talent – Gen Z and millennials – who want fulfilling careers where they can learn and grow, this will be a key differentiator in the months and years to come.

www.vistage.co.uk

Patrons

Attracting and retaining top talent is getting harder. The ageing demographic means this will only get harder and with Brexit and the shortage of new workers, wages are soaring and becoming unaffordable for SMEs.

W H E N W E C LIMB T O GE TH E R

CEOs and owners of small and medium sized businesses must often navigate rugged, unpredictable terrain alone. But as a Vistage member, you’re traveling a proven, time-honoured path to new levels of success.

So go ahead and set your sights on that next great peak — because your peers and your guide have your back.

The

24 hour ser vice

Private Chapels of Rest

P i t Ch l f R t

• Bespoke Funeral Plans

• Own Crematorium

STEVENAGE • 01438 316623

HITCHIN • 01462 438422

KNEBWORTH • 01438 812365

BUNTINGFORD • 01763 274111

WELWYN GARDEN CITY • 01707 390018

WELWYN • 01438 714686

HERTFORD • 01992 582052

WARE • 01920 468551

LETCHWORTH • 01462 684292

HODDESDON • 01992 471709

HARWOOD PARK • 01438 812515

HARPENDEN • 01582 762570

Harwood Park

The perfect setting to commemorate the life of your loved one

www.austins.co.uk

Crematorium and memorial gardens created and managed by the Austin family in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside.

www.crematorium.co.uk

Serving the local community for ten generations