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SUPER COMPUTER HQ
REPUTATION REHAB
INSIDE THE ICE RINK
Cray Inc opens its European headquarters in Bristol – p3
UK’s leading woman banker talks the road to rehabilitation – p6&7
Exclusive look inside ice rink to student digs conversion – p8&9
bristolpost.co.uk
www.
03 JUN
2015
BUSINESS PULSE
WHAT GEORGE REALLY THINKS The mayor answers questions on congestion, the environment, skills... and whether residents’ parking will really drive businesses out of Bristol – see pages 10 & 11
Proud to support Bristol as European Green Capital Keeping people moving and communities prospering. EPB-E01-S3
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Technology
Innovation showcase set to be most exciting tech event of year Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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HERE’S less than one week to go until what’s shaping up to be the most exciting technology event of the year. And with so much packed into the schedule for Venturefest, we thought you might need a little help to pick which bits to see. The all-day event at the Passenger Shed on Tuesday, June 9, will showcase incredible innovation from Bristol-based companies. More than 1,000 people are already registered to attend the one-day innovation showcase on June 9, the event will see a raft of exciting digital and tech product launches as well as a long list of expert speakers from across the globe. Here are some of the highlights ● The launch of the HP Hot House Challenge. The HP Future Cities Challenge, exclusive to companies exhibiting and attending Venturefest, is a competition for organisations to submit a disruptive idea or business model that is suitable for public or commercial service which betters peoples’ lives and the environment in a city like Bristol or Bath. Companies can enter to be in with a chance to win £25,000 of support from HP Enterprise. ● The Venturer Consortium will be bringing its driverless car, the Wildcat, which is being trialled in the Bristol region as a way of exploring the feasibility of driverless cars in the UK. Delegates can come along to find out more about the technology and the Consortium itself. ● 09.45: Join the discussion in the TechSPARK Entrepreneurs Club in the Junction, Engine Shed, or hear the KTN sector landscape briefing on the built environment in the QA Training Room, Engine Shed. ● 10.15: UKTI will give a presentation in the Innovation Showcase on how to get the most out of support for
● The Venturer Consortium’s driverless Wildcat car international trade development as part of the Business West Business Support sessions happening throughout the day. ● From midday: At the Innovation Showcase, see Skanska’s smart street lighting technology, its new Sprout ‘immersive’ computing and the latest Virtual Reality technology. Plus, Open Bionics will showcase its 3D-printed prosthetics, including a new robotic hand made from recycled plastic.
● 14:30: Drop in for a one-to-one with the InnovateUK Lead Technologist or look at one of the Innovation Showcase Zones – there is a 3D-printed bike from Renishaw; creative new technologies from the Pervasive Media Studio; and a VW Beetle which runs on biogas.
● 12.30: Pay a visit to the 30 exciting companies in the Start-Up Village, which includes the finalists from the Green Capital Digital Challenge.
● 15.30: Watch a presentation on Intellectual Property in the Innovation Showcase, or a briefing on the Creative, Digital & Design Sector by the KTN Lead Technologies in the QA Training Room. The final High Tech Panel in the Conference Theatre will discuss Robots for Good.
● 13:30: IMDb founder Col Needham’s anticipated keynote starts in the Conference Theatre and will be streamed live around to different locations around the venue.
● 16.30: Business West will present on start-up support & finance, followed by a drinks reception in the Innovation Showcase – hosted by Toshiba TRL at 5pm – providing an
Photograph: Chris Bahn opportunity for informal networking at the end of the day. Andrew Garrard, chairman of Bristol 2015, one of the main sponsors of Venturefest Bristol & Bath, said: “As a world centre for innovation we’re really excited to have the opportunity to bring together Bristol and Bath’s leading businesses, entrepreneurs and thought leaders and showcase their cutting-edge thinking and approach to investors from across the region, country and from around the world. “In Bristol’s year as European Green Capital, Venturefest will also showcase the best green technology innovations from Europe and highlight the environmental contribution made by the West of England.” For more information, follow @venturefestbb or visit www.venture festbristolandbath.com.
Opinion
Companies turning a profit by saving the planet
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NTREPRENEURS and businesses in the West of England are increasingly focusing their attention on the significant commercial opportunities being offered by green tech, the technology which makes a positive change by reducing the human impact on the environment. There are a number of areas ripe for green tech innovation, but right now it is being most disruptive – and profitable – in areas such as energy, city innovation, transport and food. It is profitable because it makes sound business sense. Today, the conservation of natural resources and the use of renewable resources is seen as a business imperative, not just because it is good for the planet but because there are commercial opportunities and there are business risks in corporate supply chains that
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International GreenTech Festival adviser
are over-exposed to needing energy, water or other scarce resources. This is why the global market for low carbon and environmental goods and services was worth an estimated £3.4 trillion, and growing, in 2011/12. As the economic costs of environmental degradation continue to be better understood and therefore priced into Government policies, there will be even more significant market drivers for green tech. Local energy efficiency companies like Secure Controls and Green Running are built on the premise of saving money for home-owners and small businesses. Their businesses
“ There are a number of areas ripe for Greentech innovation ... It is profitable because it makes sound business sense. are not just based on altruistic action to be eco-friendly, but on a clear commercial rationale. Established companies like Stirling Dynamics, Renishaw and CFMS are also broadening their services into green tech as they see evidence of commercial opportunities starting to emerge. This year, as part of Bristol’s European Green Capital year, the city has had the opportunity to shine a light on its existing green tech busi-
nesses, as well as helping to create new ones. A great example of this was Bristol 2015’s Green Capital Digital Challenge where teams competed to develop apps and games that tackle environmental challenges. The future for green tech in Bristol and Bath is looking bright. Next week, many successful green tech businesses and academic institutions, including all four universities from Bristol and Bath, will come together to showcase some of their exciting green innovations at Venturefest Bristol & Bath 2015, part of the International Green technology Festival. Not only are these green tech companies improving our everyday lives, but they are helping to bring jobs and investment to the region which in turn is great news for our economy, both regionally and nationally.
Investment
Bristol still ranks with the best for winning foreign investment ● BRISTOL is the seventh most successful city in the UK outside London for attracting foreign direct investment. According to EY’s 2014 UK Attractiveness Survey, foreign firms made 10 investments in the city in 2014, including new offices for Airbus and Spanish insurance firm Mapfre Abraxas. It was a slight fall from sixth place the previous year, when 12 such projects were carried out. Across the South West, EY recorded 28 foreign direct investment projects in 2014 – up from 27 and the strongest performance seen in the region since 2010. On average, the South West secures 950 jobs a year from such projects and in 2014 that was up to 1,192. Richard Jones, Bristol-based senior partner at EY in the South West, said: “2014 has been another year of sustained growth for the South West, demonstrated by the strongest foreign direct investment performance seen in the region for four years, according to the number of projects secured. “It’s also positive to see Bristol listed in the top ten UK cities for FDI, attracting over a third of all the South West’s projects in 2014. “This year, the Government has announced major transport investment strategies that will greatly improve access to the South West for businesses. This should help to attract more foreign investors and help the region to compete with the rest of the UK.” The top 10 cities were: Belfast, 29; Manchester, 18; Birmingham, 15; Edinburgh, 14; Leeds, 13; Aberdeen, 12; Bristol, 10; Coventry, 10; Glasgow, 9; Milton Keynes, 9.
Recruitment
Firm opens second office outside UK ● BRISTOL-based Resource Solutions Group, one of Britain's biggest independent recruitment firms, has launched its second office outside of the UK within three months of opening its first. The office in central Amsterdam is part of a European-wide expansion programme and will be opened under the group’s Sanderson brand. RSG, which started in Bristol 40 years ago, is headquartered in Clifton Down, where it employs 180 people and reached £220 million turnover in 2014. The new offices follows five years of growth in the UK. Nick Walrond, RSG director in charge of overseeing the EU expansion programme, said: “The Netherlands has seen a good period of growth in the past 12 months, which looks likely to continue, and with this comes an increase in the flexible jobs market. We believe the expansion will help us support our existing customers and also create opportunities for our range of services to be brought to the wider local market place.” It follows an office opened in Munich earlier this year. Headquartered in Bristol, RSG specialises in IT and finance recruitment and business change.
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Technology
Bristol best for super computer firm as it chooses European HQ Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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HE world’s leading super computer business has opened its European, Middle East and African headquarters in Bristol. Cray Inc chose the city ahead of a number of other UK and mainland European cities because of Bristol’s talent and quality of life. Chief executive Peter Ungaro said: “There’s a couple of great universities here and a great work force, it just made sense. We looked at other places across Europe, this one fit the best.” Vice president administration and general counsel Mike Piraino said: “It’s a wonderful city with a great quality of life. We want to grow and we feel it’s a place people will want to live.” He added the mixture of hardware and software skills locally was an significant pull. “They don’t call it Silicon Gorge for nothing,” he said. Cray is the leading super computer maker at the top end of the market. It made 16 of the top 50 super computers and 28 of the top 100, putting it ahead of its main rival, the giant IBM. The Seattle-based firm recently won its biggest ever contract outside of the United States, to provide super computers for the UK Met Office in Exeter. The firm was founded in 1972, making it an old hand in the computing world, but it sees huge potential in the growth of big data. With more organisations gathering large amounts of data through the internet, Cray believes there will be greater demand for super computers to process that data quickly. It has customers in sectors including financial services, oil and gas and life sciences. A super computer will cost upwards of $500,000 (£326,000) but the top ones could top $100 million
SUPERCOMPUTERS WHAT THEY DO
● Communities Minister Ed Vaizey and Cray CEO Peter Ungaro at the opening of supercomputer business Cray’s European HQ in Bristol Photograph: Jon Kent (£652,000). The new office already houses about 30 staff, including sales and marketing and research and development. But the firm is “aggressively recruiting” in what is describes as a very specialist field. It was officially opened by Ed Vaizey, minister for the digital economy, and welcomed by city leaders and the business community. The minister said: “It is exciting to see a recognised technology leader make the UK one of its global hubs. “This sends a very clear message to international organisations about innovation and excellence in the UK technology sector and we hope more companies follow Cray’s lead.”
Rick Chapman, high tech sector champion at Invest Bristol and Bath, said: “Cray’s decision is a testament to the fact that the Bristol and Bath area is seen globally as an economic powerhouse and the home of a world-class high-tech cluster. “The region has a rich heritage and associated skill set spanning an array of disciplines including cloud computing, multi-core processor design and high speed communications, areas of technology integral to the development of cutting edge innovations such as super computers, autonomous cars and robots.”
● Watch Cray vice president Mike Piraino explain why the company chose Bristol online at www.southwestbusiness.co.uk
● SO you’ve invested a few million in a super computer ... what do you do with it? Super computers were once used mainly by governments and universities but businesses are seeing the potential. A Major League baseball team uses one to decide who to send out to bat against a new pitcher. And an ice cream maker uses one to decide how to get the consistency just right. Simon McIntosh-Smith, from the department of computer science at Bristol University, said super computers allow people to build models to test things in a virtual setting. The Boeing 777 was built using only virtual wind tunnels, he said. New medicines such as antibiotics are being tested in this way too. And it has the potential to do away with animal testing. The tech has only been good enough in the past couple of years, but Simon said researchers were already using it to find out which molecules might work in medicines to narrow the field before beginning traditional trials.
Energy
Renewables firm powering 40,000 city homes capacity to generate more than 41,000 homes of renewable electricity annually. Matthew Clayton, executive director said: “Providing our shareholders with a rewarding connection with sustainable energy is at the heart of Triodos Renewables. Growing our community of shareholders and renewable generation by 16 per cent and 18 per cent respectively feels like a very fitting way to start our 20th year of operations. Additionally we are delighted to have successfully commissioned a further three wind farms already this year, putting our shareholders’ investment to work generating more renewable energy. “Nationally renewables are making a very real contribution, having generated almost 20 per cent of the UK’s electricity last year, overtaking power generated by the nuclear
fleet.” The board is recommending a 4p dividend for 2014 to its 6,000 shareholders. At the annual general meeting on June 19, shareholders will be able to vote about the board’s decision. The board also recommends a raise in the share price from £2.15 at the beginning of 2014 to £2.34 per share following the share issue and the commissioning ahead of schedule of the three wind farms in 2015. The company launched its eighth share issue in October 2014, raising a total of £4.1 million and issuing 1,543,721 new shares. The share issue was supported by existing shareholders who contributed 21 per cent of the funds raised. Some 813 new shareholders joined
the company, representing 16 per cent growth in their shareholder community. Over the past eight years shareholders have invested £27.5million into Triodos Renewables, which has been invested in developing the company’s renewable energy generation capacity. On a like-for-like basis it generated 4.5 per cent more renewable electricity than in the previous year and the overall generation of the company increased by 18.6 per cent. This year will mark the company’s 20th birthday. It will be celebrated during the company’s annual general meeting on June 19 at The M-Shed in Bristol.
New pension rules start to hit small firms ● THE next phase of workplace pensions auto enrolment begins this week, with companies with fewer than 30 employees starting to be affected. It means that some companies with as few as one employee will have to comply. Companies will be given staging dates, which is the date on which they have to enrol their employees into a pension scheme. And bosses are being warned to act rather than ignoring the issue. Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Bristol-based Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Many smaller employers are likely to be less well prepared than their larger counterparts, so it is vital to plan ahead. “There are likely to be further policy changes in the near future too, with pension tax relief already under close scrutiny.” He added: “It is also important to note that for employees, this is just the start. The minimum contributions are not enough to buy you a decent retirement income so you should look on this as an opportunity to get to grips with a problem, rather than something which you can now forget about.” As smaller firms are brought into the pensions rules, it means huge numbers of employers will be affected. Between January 2016 and March 2018, employer numbers hitting their staging date will be averaging over 100,000 a quarter. That means there will be big demands on the advisors who can guide them through the process.
Building
Helm backing call for apprentice builders ● BUILDING firm Helm Construction is backing a campaign to steer more young people into apprenticeships in the construction sector. Reacting to Government plans to create more than three million apprenticeships, the Federation of Master Builders has called for more than 200,000 of them to be in the building industry. Helm’s chief executive, Gary Sheppard, said: “According to the federation, more than half UK small to medium builders are struggling to hire the bricklayers and other skilled workers we need to cope with existing construction levels.” Aust-based Helm has ten apprentices and more set to be appointed. It was named small employer of the year at the Bristol and Bath Apprenticeship Awards.
Get in touch Assistant Editor (Business) Gavin Thompson Call 0117 934 3336 Email gavin.thompson @b-nm.co.uk Twitter @gavin_thompson1 Advertising Robert Rodgerson Call07584 003229 Email robert.rodgerson @b-nm.co.uk Advertising Jane Chapman Call 01179 343025 Email jane.chapman @b-nm.co.uk
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MORE than 40,000 homes are now being powered by Bristol green company Triodos Renewables. The company has reported strong growth in 2014, with an 18.6 per cent year-on-year growth in renewable energy generation. It comes on the back of three new wind power projects which were commissioned in 2013. Last year, the company generated enough renewable electricity to power more than 32,000 homes by expanding its portfolio with three new wind projects, taking the total number up to 12 sites with a total generating capacity of 62.9 MW. Two of the projects are based in Scotland and started commissioning ahead of schedule. And with the successful construction of a further three wind farms already in 2015, Triodos Renewables now operates sufficient generating
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Awards
Will it be party time for firm in running for hat-trick of awards? Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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T could be party time for one of Bristol’s biggest private employers. Computershare, which has 1,400 staff based at its European HQ in South Bristol, is in the running for a hat-trick of awards. The firm specialises in a range of services including share registration, employee share plans, childcare vouchers and tenant deposit protection schemes. It was recently named a finalist in two categories at the Bristol Post Business Awards, held in association with UWE Bristol. The firm competing against stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown and recruitment consultancy People Source for the Large Business of the Year title. At the same time it vies with law firm Ashfords, waste management company ETM Recycling and renewables installer Solarsense for the Environmental Business Award. And the company has also been shortlisted for the PwC West of England Business Awards, which has previously been won by big names such as Mitie and Rotork. Naz Sarkar, chief executive for Computershare UK, said: “It’s fantastic that the hard work and talent of everyone at Computershare has been recognised by these two prominent organisations. “It’s been a great year for us locally. With 1,400 people now employed at our Bristol office, we have continued to deliver ground-breaking standards to our clients and increased and improved the services that we offer.
● Guests at last year’s Bristol Post Business Awards at the Passenger Shed
“ It’s fantastic that the hard work and talent of everyone at Computershare has been recognised
Naz Sarkar of Computershare UK “In addition, we believe that environmental responsibility is a vital part of doing business successfully, and have played an enthusiastic role in helping make Bristol greener during its crucial year as Green Cap-
ital.” The Bristol Post Business Awards take place at the Passenger Shed on June 25. Land speed record holder Andy Green will be the guest speaker on the night. Andy is the driver of the Avonmouth-built Bloodhound Supersonic car, which has been built to attempt to break the 1,000mph barrier. Tickets for the black-tie event are almost sold out, at time of writing just two tables remain. To snap them up, please email sarah.wallbridge@local world.co.uk.
Sponsor Profile
Recognising the values of a family run business
WHY the family business of the year award? Well, it kind of chose us really. As the longest trading independent IT Company in Bristol and still family owned, we at BOM recognise the values of a family run business and proud to be associated with the awards for the second year running. As a Bristol-born business and supplier of managed IT services and cloud computing to businesses of all size we feel family run businesses really contribute to the development of Bristol and the surrounding areas. Over the years the City of Bristol has seen many small family run businesses develop in to some of Bristol largest and most successful companies. As a result of these successes
many of those businesses remain in Bristol, offering a great choice of products, service and driving the local economy for local people. The draw to other towns or cities is appealing to many but family run business should remain in Bristol and continue to help drive the cities growth. At BOM we understand the challenge that running a business presents and awards of this type are important in showing that recognition. Such recognition and praise that may just help push us to the next working day for the desire of success when things aren’t quote going to plan. It’s often refreshing to deal with a family run business, where the val-
ues are high and good service is the main focus for retention and growth of its customer base. Where work isn’t just a place, it’s where they share solutions together and work as a team, as family, striving for the best. I believe putting people at the centre of businesses will help deliver the goals, with the very DNA of those in the business wanting the same things. The city offers a great support network and what better place to start than with the family run business. BOM would like to wish all those nominated the very best and look forward to hearing about the goals, dreams, visions and successes that we all share in business.
● Andy Carter of BOM presents last year’s award for Family Business of the Year award to Williams Automobiles
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The Bristol MBA Find out more www.uwe.ac.uk/bristolmba
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Heritage
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New life for harbour’s historic ‘secret’ Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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ORK is due to start on transforming one of Bristol’s best-kept secrets, the Underfall Yard. It is the latest stage in an ambitious ÂŁ3.8 million project to celebrate the yard’s past and to protect its future. Few people today realise the importance of this part of the Floating Harbour, the vital machinery, which prevents flooding, and the boat builders who continue their ancient craft. The Underfall Yard Trust is spearheading a Heritage Lottery Funded project, which will see sensitive repairs to the historic industrial buildings, and the addition of solar paneling, a visitor centre and cafĂŠ. Bristol-based John Perkins Construction start build work this week. The Perkins name will join the ranks of the city’s most illustrious. Those involved in Underfall Yard include famous engineers William Jessop and Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the lesser-known John Ward Girdlestone, who built most of the buildings and the slipway. The ÂŁ2-million programme of building work, part of the overall scheme, is due to finish for Easter 2016. The Heritage Lottery Fund is contributing ÂŁ2.8 million of the total costs, which also cover displays, signage, an oral history project, a schools education programme and events. Construction work will safeguard the red brick buildings, including grade two star listed landmarks the Power House and chimney, and will bring abandoned workshop space back into use. The Underfall Yard is already home to a number of thriving businesses and organisations, including boat builders, a blacksmith and a diving club. Chairman of the Underfall Yard Trust Ian Wilkinson said: “This is a great day for the Underfall Yard and a great day for Bristol. Underfall Yard is an historic gem, the heart of the Floating Harbour. “Our work, supported by the Her-
â—? Marking the start of building work at the Underfall Yard with champagne and a bacon butty, from left, Project Director Nicola Dyer, Chairman of the Underfall Yard Trust Ian Wilkinson, Assistant Mayor Councillor Mark Bradshaw and Rupert Perkins, of John Perkins Construction Photograph: Barbara Evripidou itage Lottery Fund, will see a period of dramatic change, giving vulnerable historic buildings a new lease of life and the people of Bristol a true
understanding of its importance to the city’s future as well as its fascinating past.� The Underfall Yard Trust’s project
director Nicola Dyer added: “This is a truly exciting phase in the ÂŁ3.8million project, where we will see the site transform and improve
Energy
Solar installation only the start schools, libraries, sports centres and other council-owned buildings throughout the city. The partnership aims to bid for large-scale solar projects and multiple installations within the region. Jonathan Davis, Mi-space energy specialist, said: “The Horfield project is the first of three schemes that Mi-space will be delivering in conjunction with BASIC. “The collaboration between the BASIC and a large organisation like Midas is a groundbreaking initiative. “The council gets the benefits of working with local contractors and therefore supporting the city’s economy while buying the security and peace of mind that a large contractor like Midas brings.� Nick Spicer, Your Power operations director and current chairman of BASIC: “It’s great that Your Power, BASIC and Mi-space are delivering the first of three significant solar installations on behalf of Bristol City Council. “This installation will make a sizeable con-
â—? Switching on - from left, Richard Lowe, Investment Programme Manager at Bristol City Council Energy Service with Jonathan Davis, Mi-space Energy and Nick Spice, BASIC
tribution to reducing energy costs and cutting emissions and will hopefully also encourage users of the leisure centre to consider their day-to-day energy use. “As part of the wider solar PV programme launched by the council, this is another clear justification of why Bristol is European Green Capital 2015.�
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THE largest solar panel project to be created in Bristol has been completed. The installation at Horfield Leisure Centre is the first of many similar roof-mounted arrays that will be introduced across the city under the new Bristol City Solar Framework. It has been commissioned by Bristol City Council as the city celebrates its year as European Green Capital. The 100kWp installation was delivered through a partnership between the council’s Energy Investment Service, Bristol-based property services company Mi-space, and the Bristol Area Solar Installers Co-operative (BASIC). The Horfield Leisure Centre scheme involves solar panels able to generate an estimated 90,000kWh of energy a year, reducing the facility’s energy consumption and cutting carbon dioxide output by 50,000kW annually. It also marks the start of the four-year framework to see solar panels installed on a range of community buildings, council offices,
whilst retaining the raw, working atmosphere that everyone who knows the Yard loves. “The visitor centre, with stunning views onto the harbour and boatyard, will be free for visitors and is due to open in Easter 2016.� John Perkins Construction has worked on a number of heritage sites, including Brunel’s ss Great Britain, Goldney Hall and Clevedon Hall Hotel. Contracts director Rupert Perkins said: “Companies rarely have the opportunity to undertake such an historically significant project. “Our work will safeguard Underfall Yard for future generations of visitors, craftsmen and women. “It is especially important that in the European Green Capital Year, our work will include improving this site’s environmental credentials including solar paneling.�
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Business diary Bristol Connected: Don’t miss the next Bristol Connected, the informal networking event run by the Bristol Post and South West Business. Takes place tomorrow night from 6-8pm at Radisson Blu hotel in Broad Quay. Speakers will be from cycle mail service Velopost and Mentor Media Training and the event is a great chance to meet the Bristol Post business team. Register via www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/ business-calendar/ or eventbrite. South Gloucestershire Business Forum Annual Breakfast: Panel discussion features Matt Cross, of Invest Bristol and Bath, Chris Smith, of Marshfield Bakery, West of England LEP boss Barbara Davies, and South Gloucestershire Council director Steve Evans. Friday, June 5, at 7.30am at Bristol and Bath Science Park. Email Strategy& Partnerships@southglos.gov.uk Business Outlook in North Somerset: Speakers include Dr Liam Fox MP, Berkeley Harris, Quality Solicitors Burroughs Day and more. Run by Portishead Chamber of Commerce, on Friday, June 5 at Somerset Hall, Portishead. Call 01275 390620 to book. Venturefest: Showcase for innovation comes to the Engine Shed and Passenger Shed at Temple Meads. June 9. Go to venturefestbristolandbath.com Marketing Expert in a Day: Chartered Institute of Marketing workshop aimed at the owners and managers of small businesses to help them grow. Takes place on Tuesday, June 9, at The Bristol Golf Club, Almondsbury. Email cimevents@cim.co.uk. The Community Apprentice The Auditions: Burges Salmon LLP hosts ‘The Auditions’ on June 11 at 6pm where Mayor George Ferguson will be galvanising 100 volunteers from the Bristol business community to support him in the next series of the city's popular inter-school competition, in which they will be advisers to the community apprentice teams. Find out more via eventbrite or contact envision on 0117 315 5113. Charity mergers seminar: Experts talk about legal issues around charity mergers, including Sue Davie from Meningitis, which formed from merger of Meningitis Trust and Meningitis UK. 10am-1pm on June 18 at Foot Anstey, 100 Victoria Street, Bristol. To book call 0800 408 0050 or email events.team@footanstey.com.
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Investing in the Future: Eden project co-founder Sir Tim Smit is keynote speaker at this Rathbone Greenbank Investments event, which also features short talks from local figures involved in creating a more sustainable future. Part of Big Green Week. Takes place at At-Bristol on June 18. Book at www.biggreenweek.com. Email your business events to gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk. Events are sometimes cancelled without us being notified so please check with organisers before travelling.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
The Big Interview
BUILDING TRUST, CUSTOMER
The banking industry is on a journey to rebuild not just balance sheets, but its reputation, too. Gavin Thompson discusses the road to redemption with Britain’s most senior woman banker, Alison Rose
● Britain’s most senior woman banker, Alison Rose
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HE banks have to rebuild their reputation with business one customer at a time, according to one of the most powerful women in British banking. Alison Rose, who became chief executive of commercial and private banking at RBS last year, admits the financial industry has not been the most popular, but says she is proud of her job. “Everybody comes to work wanting to be proud of what they do,” she says. “I’m really proud to work for RBS and see a great sense of responsibility to our customers and our staff to do the right thing to support them and rebuild this business in the eyes of the customers. “But we have been through some very tough times, I think there are
“ It’s a really exciting initiative and one I feel really passionate about. I think Bristol in particular as a city and a region has a very entrepreneurial culture. Alison Rose still some learnings that we are taking and if there are things on which we are not doing a good enough job then it’s my job to fix them. “Building strong relationships with customers is how you rebuild the reputation of the industry. You’ve got to do it customer by customer.” Alison was in Bristol for the launch of RBS’s partnership with Entrepreneurial Spark, where they are opening a new accelerator hub. She sees this project as part of that rehabilitation. “It’s about supporting new businesses,” says Alison. “As the leading UK bank we have a unique position to play a role in supporting entrepreneurs and new businesses when they go from that early idea to try to grow. You are not at the point where a bank can finance you and it’s the loneliest time for an entrepreneur. “We’ve got bankers who can help them to write business plans and get investor-ready. We’re opening eight accelerator hubs over the next 18 months around the UK, either in our office space or providing office space for free, putting our bankers in to help train and coach and partnering with e-spark to build a programme to support entrepreneurs.” Alison believes RBS can add a lot of value to the entrepreneurs. Businesses which have come through the pilot initiative in Scotland have a survival rate of 80 per cent after two to
three years, compared with 45 per cent across the industry. “The thinking behind it for me is how we can build trust and support,” she says. “We don’t charge for the use of the space or the coaching, they don’t have to be customers of the bank and there is no condition at any point in the future to be, we put prize money in but we don’t take any equity. “The benefit for us is that I put my bankers through the same training programme as the entrepreneurs and that helps educate my bankers to become more business-friendly. “If you are standing in the shoes of the entrepreneur and you are thinking about what they need to make their business successful, that’s very different to how a banker might think. The more I can train my bankers to think like that, the more they will be understanding of the trials a new business goes through. “So I selfishly get a huge amount out of it. If you can take more of these companies through this programme you can stimulate better growth in the UK economy and hopefully, as a result of doing that, in three or four years’ time they might want to come and bank with us, but we don’t make that a precondition.”
She says the bank can also support the start-ups through its contacts. She says: “We bank huge numbers of successful corporates, businesses and entrepreneurs who can be potential mentors, suppliers and customers of these companies, so if we can help connect them and become a focal point to bring the eco-system together, we can add real value to the local economy, and that’s where I think we should be. “It’s a really exciting initiative and one I feel really passionate about. I think Bristol in particular as a city and a region has a very entrepreneurial culture. The type of businesses here give it that feel of a growing, successful economy. The number of entrepreneurs emerging here is high, so if we can help support them we can make a difference.” It is possible that some of the companies formed will become successful and may choose to bank with RBS, but the hub is as much a message to the business community. “Our ambition is to be number one for our customers in trust, service and advocacy and we’ve changed our strategy to put customers at the heart of it, but you’ve got to earn trust back,” says Alison.
“ The clear message from our customers is they want banks who understand them and work with them and help them deliver their plans. Alison Rose “As an industry, the financial sector and banking industry is rehabilitating itself. “I think this is one way we can do what a bank should do, which is reach out and give real value to businesses, entrepreneurs, the community and economy and if we can do that and contribute to that success then that will ultimately drive our success.” For Alison, getting out of London and meeting customers is an important part of that process. “I try to travel around the regions on a regular basis and Bristol is one of our key hubs and a big growth area,” she says. “I’m here to sit down with customers and get the chance to hear from them directly how it’s going,
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BY CUSTOMER
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Chris’s cordless workstation becomes internet sensation
● Chris Elsworth with his invention, the Power8 workshop
ONLINE VIDEO Alison shares her biggest business lesson on South West Business at SOUTHWESTBUSINESS.CO.UK
around £5 million turnover, and I turned up,” she said. “They did spend the whole visit saying, ‘I can’t believe the CEO turned up’, but these are the businesses who are our customers, so I should be spending time with them. “It’s good for them, but I get an enormous amount out of it, too. I don’t think it’s healthy for you if you are just locked away in the boardroom.” One of the messages she has picked up is that bank needs to make things simpler, whether that is the technology or when visiting a branch. But a key message she has been sending back is that the banks are open for business. “We’ve been writing to customers with a bespoke analysis saying if you did need credit, this is how much we could lend you, so that they know we are open for business,” she says. “We’ve issued letters of appetite for almost £12 billion of funding. Twelve months ago people would say, ‘Are you really lending?’ Now they say, ‘Yes you are’.” So the banks are ready to lend. How many takers there are will depend on how well Alison and her peers can rebuild that all-important trust.
stock of the product within 48 hours of the video going live. The team are now awaiting shipments and are taking pre-orders to cope with demand. Chris Elsworthy, managing director of CEL UK, said: “We’re a little stunned by the response to the video as we didn’t even know it was going live originally. “Suddenly our inboxes were filled with thousands of emails overnight, and our website crashed, and we had no idea why. “After investigating further and finding out about the video, we’re obviously delighted with the response. “I invented the Power8workshop many years ago at home, and although it was very successful at the time, appearing on the likes of Dragon’s Den and The Gadget Show, our attentions have shifted a little since. “While we continue to push our
power tool range, the past couple of years have been spent working on our Robox 3D printer – but it’s nice to turn the attention to the Power8 as this is the reason the company began in the first place.” Chris invented the Power8workshop back in 2007. He appeared on Dragon’s Den in 2010 and secured the backing of Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones, but chose to reject their funding after the show. The Power8workshop has also been featured on Channel 5’s The Gadget Show, and has won international awards. CEL are in talks with distributors worldwide about stocking the product, with Maplin Electronics in the UK becoming the latest to feature the range. CEL now has a very successful 3D printing arm to the business, and sells the Robox 3D printer internationally.
Imperial Tobacco takes over US brands IMPERIAL Tobacco has won approval to buy a number of American cigarette brands that will see its market share jump from three to 10 per cent in the United States. The Bristol-headquartered FTSE 100 company is capitalising on the merger of US rivals Reynolds and Lorillard which have been forced to off-load some brands to satisfy competition regulators. Imperial’s acquisition was approved by the US Federal Trade Commission this morning. The $7.1 billion move will see Imperial strengthen its e-cigarette business as it includes the blu brand. Other famous brands which will come under Imperial include Winston, Maverick and Kool.
The move fits with the Ashton-based firm’s strategy to target key growth markets including the US. Speaking when the proposed deal was announced last year, chief executive Alison Cooper said: “This is a great opportunity to transform our US business and secure a significant presence in the world’s largest accessible profit pool. “We plan to build a US brand portfolio through national distribution and create a stronger, more competitive business. We intend to internationalise blu, the US leader in e-cigarettes and enhance its growth opportunity with our know-how. “We expect opportunities for cost
optimisation through integration. “The acquisition of these assets, without historic product liabilities for the cigarette brands, on reasonable terms means that it is expected to offer a return of over 10 per cent, well in excess of our cost of capital in its first full year and is expected to be significantly earnings enhancing in the first full year post completion. “The value this will create for shareholders and the strategic transformation of our position in a key growth market, makes this an outstanding opportunity.” The firm’s share price jumped 87p to 3,371 by 10am following the announcement. Earlier this month Imperial posted six month profits of £959 million.
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what they are seeing and what they are looking for from a bank and talk a little bit about our strategy and talk with our teams on the ground, too. “The clear message from our customers is they want banks who understand them and work with them and help them deliver their plans. “I was talking to customers today and one asked me, ‘How do you measure your bankers now?’ None of my relationship bankers have financial targets, we measure them very simply on client satisfaction scores and the complaints we get from customers. We look at how we are doing in the customers’ eyes. “Businesses want more local decision-making and empowerment on the front line. They want a relationship banker, someone who understands their business. “The great thing about putting a group of customers in a room together is that they don’t sugar-coat it. That’s when I spend a lot of time outside London sitting down with customers.” To keep that connection, Alison insists all her senior team have face-to-face contact with customers, including herself. “I went to a printing customer,
THE video of a popular DIY product invented by a Portishead company has gone viral, with more than 46 million views. The Power8workshop – the world’s first cordless workstation – appears in a simple six-minute clip in which the demonstrator shows viewers the unique features of the product, which was created eight years ago in a home garage. The video was posted on Facebook by a Turkish reseller, Hergunyeni.com, on May 5. Since then, it has received 46 million views, nearly 200,000 likes and has been shared 1.2 million times. Following the clip appearing online, 4,000 distributors and customers worldwide have been in touch with the designers of the product, CEL, a design firm based in Bristol. The company, which also has offices in Hong Kong, sold out of all
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
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Property Matters
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HOW NIGHTCLUB KEPT ICE-RINK
Converting offices into flats has become commonplace in Bristol, but turning an ice rink into a home for 400 students poses a few extra challenges. Gavin Thompson finds out more
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ITH most building projects, the demolition is the easy bit. Knocking down is easier than building something. But when Unite Students decided to turn Bristol’s former ice rink into a new home for hundreds of students, the demolition was a little trickier. It wasn’t so much that the former ice rink posed challenges, but the existing nightclub and music venue, the 02 Academy, under it. “The nightclub, the 02, has a longer lease so the plan was to develop around it,” explained Unite corporate development director James Hunt. “In layman’s terms you’ve got a box with an operational nightclub inside. That kept us awake at night! “You’ve got a nightclub open throughout the programme; above
● Scenes inside the old ice rink which is being turned into student flats - and inset, how Photograph: Michael Lloyd the site used to look
“ In layman’s terms you’ve got a box with an operational nightclub inside. That kept us awake at night!
Unite corporate development director James Hunt
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that is an enormous heavy structure. “We’ve had to create something called a transfer deck which carries the load and transfers the weight to the ground and foundations. It’s a slab made of a special type of concrete that spans the 45-metre length. That’s four and a half double decker buses laid end to end. “There is 25,000 tonnes of structure and all the fixtures and fittings that goes with it on top of that.” The project had been a long time in the planning. Unite bought the site more than 15 years ago but couldn’t develop it until the lease on the ice rink expired. But even with time on their hands, there’s only so much they could plan
for such an unusual job. “The demolition took us nigh on 12 months when it would normally be one or two,” said James. “Until you start you don’t know what you are going to find. Sections of wall had to be removed panel by panel to do it safety.” But James said the project was on schedule and will provide the student accommodation specialist with returns in line with expectations. Unite is based in Bristol, where it employs 300 people. The firm pretty much invented the purpose-built stu-
dent accommodation market. Its flats are a far cry from the stereotypes of slum-like conditions you might imagine of student digs and expectations have stepped up a notch or two since students started paying tuition fees. Facing higher levels of debt, they have become savvy consumers and expect more for their money (a Unite room in Bristol might cost £135 per week, including bills). “On check-in day the number one query is not ‘where’s the bus to wherever’, it’s ‘what’s the wi-fi code’,” said James.
The ice rink site will have 481 bedrooms, split into cluster flats, each room en-suite and with a shared kitchen and dining area between 10. There will be lots of communal areas where you’ll find students hunched over laptops or socialising. Outside, the area will be landscaped and an old public right of way up to Lower Park Row will be improved to suit students heading up the hill towards Clifton. “Students spend a lot more time where they live than in their lecture theatre,” said James. “So the envir-
onment is very important and should contribute to their time at university. “If you are going to go to university and it costs you £9,000 a year before you switch the lights on, once you accept you are going to come out with debt making the most of that experience has to be paramount. Having the right environment around you can contribute to that.” The market is growing, despite those hefty fees. There are already 40,000 students in Bristol and they all need somewhere to sleep. Numbers
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
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DEVELOPERS AWAKE AT NIGHT
● Above and right, artist’s images of the plan and how the finished project would look
0117 287 2101
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are rising and the cap on numbers is lifted from September which means institutions can increase numbers if they can handle them. So perhaps the surprise is that this £26-million project is Unite’s first investment in Bristol, where ii currently has 3,472 student beds, since Phoenix Court opposite Cabot Circus in 2007. “We would love to do more here,” said James. “The demand is there and we are actively considering what is available but we’ll only invest where we see we can develop in the right
location. We are not in the game of going crazy and paying too much for a site because then you have to charge too much rent. We aim to provide high quality accommodation at a competitive rent.” As for the ice rink site, it is not yet decided whether it will be leased to one or other university or be open to students from anywhere to stay. But either way, James is confident it will be fully let come September, such is the demand. So once the rooms go on the market, students had better get their skates on.
To Let - 16-18 King Square, Bristol BS2 8JL • Managed Offices - from 100-524 sq ft (9.3 - 48.7 sq m) • Inclusive terms from £250 per month • Low cost flexible licence agreements available • Convenient location close to Cabot Circus and the M32
Contact: paul.williams@brutonknowles.co.uk BK code: 2795
Partner Bruton Knowles 0117 287 2101 paul.matthews@ brutonknowles.co.uk
The importance of local knowledge THE national Press has reported – apparently without question – how home sales in the postcodes covering Avonmouth and Shirehampton are outstripping the rest of the country, doubling in the past year. The national media may be tipping it as the next ‘regional property hotspot’ but as we all know statistics can be made to say anything. Avonmouth is a close-knit community and while there are certainly some good value property opportunities it’s fair to say Chelsea-by-the-Sea it’s not. The latest figures – which suggest Avonmouth is on the brink of generating its own house price bubble – will seem quite absurd to anybody familiar with the area. But they could be seriously misleading for those living further afield. Londoners looking for that get-away-from-it-all-move out West, for instance, are unlikely to be clued in to the aspirational gulf between Bristol Harbourside and Avonmouth Severnside. Like St Pauls, Avonmouth has had something of a bad press but it is in fact a strong and thriving community, fiercely proud of its tough, independent streak. And although these figures might catch the eye of wantaways in Walthamstow, they do not reflect the reality of life on the ground here – as any Avonmouth resident would be the first to point out. Surely the fact house prices in Avonmouth are some of the lowest in the Greater Bristol area are far more likely to have skewed the picture. Avonmouth is recognised as Bristol’s largest industrial area – and although commercial activity levels are rightly higher than they have been for years, the idea the residential element could generate its own house-price bubble would be scorned by the people living there. Statistics like these – no matter how accurate as far as they go – underline the importance of local knowledge of genuine market value – and the dangers of trusting to tables, charts and figures. The Bristol city centre, Broadmead, Canon’s Marsh, Redcliff, and Spike Island postcodes – which had come second in the national survey into house sales – are far more plausible contenders as residential hotspots.
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In pictures Business Pulse launch at BDO
‘BRISTOL WILL BE A BETTER PLACE Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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HERE’LL be some pain but eventually Bristol will be a better place as a result of residents’ parking and other schemes to cut congestion. That was the message Bristol Mayor George Ferguson delivered to the business community at a launch event for the next Business Pulse survey. The Business Pulse is a joint initiative between the Bristol Post and accountants and advisers BDO, designed to highlight the barriers and opportunities companies face. The Mayor answered questions submitted by businesses on topics covered in the surveys so far, including the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, skills and traffic, which was identified as the number one barrier to doing business locally. In a no-holds-barred interview he explained his congestion policies. “By far the biggest issue is conges-
ONLINE VIDEO Watch the full interview online and take part in the next questionnaire at SOUTHWESTBUSINESS.CO.UK tion and pollution,” he said. “I make no apologies for being tough about that. “It can’t be dealt with in one fell swoop. You can’t say wait until we’ve got better transport before you bring in measures about parking because it’s all so inter-dependent. “We need a bit of patience but we are getting there. We are investing in the city region, £400 million in MetroBus and suburban rail. “We are going to look at a better, smoother running city in three or four years time. “Residents, parking is about much more than residents, parking, it’s about how we use our streets and how we create a better environment. “There was a huge amount of opposition but it is a really key one. We can’t have residential areas being used as commuter car parks. It’s a stupid way of running a city and it’s stupid that we’ve got 55,000 cars coming into the city every morning and 90 per cent are driver only. It’s idiotic. And its not smart. We’ve got to get smarter about these things. “We’ve set up something called Bristol is Open using the university’s
“ By far the
biggest issue is congestion and pollution. I make no apologies for being tough about that.
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George Ferguson
● Paul Falvey, tax partner and head of manufacturing at BDO Bristol speaks at the event with Mayor George Ferguson, centre
Photographs: Michael Lloyd
● Malcolm Emery, of Thrings; Nicola Edwards of BDO; and Mark Lucas of Duncan Lawrie Private Bank
● Martin Newman of Management Kinetics; Dr Stephen Fear of Fear Group; and John Talbot of BDO super computer to enable us with partners to develop smarter ways of doing things. So we will be looking into clever ways of dealing with car sharing and more intelligent traffic control but we can’t turn a historical city into a highway city. “There will be a bit of pain, there has to be a bit of pain before you come out the other end with a better
place.” When questioned about businesses moving out because of the parking restrictions, the Mayor stood firm. “They move to another part of Bristol to be nearer the station which makes a lot of sense but it is not sustainable for people to use residential streets as their commercial car parks,” he said. “There maybe one or two move, what I have discovered is an a lot of people who were going to move anyway use it as an excuse. I don’t think they’ll move to North Somerset or South Gloucestershire because what they benefit in terms of the ecology of
● Alan Bailey of Low Carbon South West and Professor Nick O’Regan of UWE the place, the culture, the nice places to go and eat and drink is much more important than whether or not you’ve got a bloody great car park.” The Mayor also talked up Bristol’s ability to lure talent from the capital. “First of all it’s not London,” he said. “London is overheating and Bristol is the first best stop out of London. We are a brilliant place to live it’s a great place to bring up a family and be a child. “People choose place first. It’s got a great buzz, with great universities, we’ve got so much going on in terms of development and interesting industries and it’s a great place to absorb
culture, we’re becoming relatively successful at sport.” He talked about how the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone was moving the city centre nearer the train station. “We are doing all the right things about the enterprise zone,” he said. “One of my first decisions was to build Engine Shed. That’s proving such a huge success we are going to have to build Engine Shed 2. “At the same time we’ve got people like Salmon Harvester investing in speculative office development and getting really good tenants at record rents for Bristol.
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– FOR PEOPLE AND FOR BUSINESS’
● Julia Husband and Paul Flower of Barclays and Louise Masson of Harvey Nichols at the event
● Chris Mapp of Santander and Tony Stringer of BDO
● Guests at the event at BDO’s office in Bridgewater House
● Jon Payne of Noisy Little Monkey and John Evans of Lloyds Bank
“All that is going it he right direction. I’ve got make sure we invest in things that boost that and spread the wealth.” On skills and jobs, the Mayor said he wanted to bring all the business organisations together to engage with schools, colleges and other training providers. “We’re pretty well off in terms of higher skills but we need to do an awful lot in skills at the lower level,” he said. “I’m really keen that we develop a learning culture across Bristol. I have an initiative called Learning City which brings together all those involved in learning and teaching across Bristol. “Skills is one of the biggest challenges – we’ve got to be able to give what business
needs. I do think we could benefit from bringing all the business organisations together in a hub. I’ve been having the beginning of a discussion about how we bring business together.” And he was frank about his views on council meetings. “Council meetings don’t thrill me,” he said. “You think they’re about democracy but they are really about politics.” Finally, the Mayor described the city he hopes to leave behind when he ends his term in office. “Bristol will look very diverse and it will be culturally interesting,” he said. “But at the heart of that city has got to be a thriving business community.”
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● Nicola Mapp and Aled Morris, Co-op Bank; and Tim Stringer of Integral Build
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
The back page
Your digest of the week in business
People ● A Bristol author has become a finalist in the International Book Awards. Bryony Thomas has been shortlised in the Marketing & Advertising category for Watertight Marketing, a no-nonsense guide for entrepreneurs looking to grow their business with structured marketing. This crowd-funded book has picked up a string of honours since its publication in 2013. It was recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as its Book of the Month in 2013, selected as the Winner of the National Indie Excellence Awards in 2014, and came a close second in the Small Business Book Awards public vote last year. Bryony said: “I got the news about the International Book Awards as I walked off stage from opening a small business expo in London last week. It is such an honour to be distinguished amongst books from across the globe.”
Places
● Skanska has pre-let 3,000sqft (279m²) of office space at 66 Queen Square in Bristol to a Swedish banking group. Handelsbanken has taken the part of the ground floor space, which will be available for occupation in September this year, on a 10-year lease at a rent of £28.50 per sqft (£307 per m²). Alex Jordan, Skanska’s leasing director, said: “This is a great covenant to secure, complementing our main tenant KPMG. There is now just the fourth floor, comprising 3,200sqft (297m²), and the self-contained 72 Queen Square (3,000sqft or 279m²) available to let.”
● The team at Kellaway Group ● Eurobrick managing director John Mayes with, from left, Nicola Haines, Richard Haines, Dena Mayes and James Ball
Situated in the heart of Bristol on the historic Georgian square, the development of 66 Queen Square will complete in September 2015. Alder King and JLL are letting agents for the scheme. Alder King advised Handelsbanken. ● A housing project in Bristol has won a prize for helping to regenerate part of Bristol. Junction 3 (J3), a Knightstone development in Easton, designed by gcp chartered architects, received the Regeneration award at the 2015 RICS South West Awards. J3 has contributed to the significant regeneration of the site and surrounding area, with the creation of 59 new affordable homes, seven business units, a library and learning centre. Jonathan Platt, director at gcp Chartered Architects, said: “J3 is the culmination of seven years dedicated work to create a place that people just want to be. It has completely transformed this part of the city.” Mike Day, director of development and home ownership at Knightstone, added: “We’re so proud of J3 and the contribution it’s
making to the local area, so to see the development being recognised in this way is really rewarding.”
Success ● Brick and stone slip cladding specialist Eurobrick has reached a milestone in 2015 with 25 years in business. Despite two major recessions, the company has seen year on year growth since day one with 2014 being its best year to date. Based in Brislington, Bristol, the company is now the country’s largest stockist of brick slips, introducing its innovative insulated brick slip cladding system to the UK in 1990. Eurobrick’s directors, John Mayes and Tony Hornsby, introduced the
first comprehensively designed X-Clad brick cladding system to the market. John said: “Building methods are constantly evolving in response to external pressures, such as the need for greater speed and efficiency and the skills and materials shortages. It’s products like our cladding systems that provide an answer. “We will continue to work hard to meet the challenges and are confident there is a long-term place in the industry for our cladding and brick slips.” ● Kellaway Group has been given the seal of approval on its fleet operation with bronze accreditation from the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme. The organisation, based in Patchway just outside Bristol, includes Kellaway Building Supplies, Avonside Insulation Supplies, Griggs Timber and Bristol Tile Company. It underwent audit and assessment procedures to secure the prestigious award which is based on the lawfulness, safety, efficiency, and environmental protection of its fleet of 37 vehicles. Group fleet manager Mike Burgess said: “Undertaking this award is voluntary, but it highlights the importance that we place upon safety. Very few fleet operators outside of London operate this scheme but we feel it essential to ensure we are mitigating the risks of our fleet operation.” ● A storage company is celebrating its 10,000th customer in its 10th year. UK Storage Company, which operates from Bedmisnter and Avonmouth, has grown from strength to strength. During that period, husband and wife team, Keith and Cathy Taylor, have not just grown the business but their family too, having three children. Keith said: “It’s been a fun and eventful ride, and to have had ten thousand customers store with us across all our locations is a great achievement. “ Longest standing customer Chris Huxtable has stored with them since 2006 and he presented the two company directors with a birthday cake to celebrate the occasion.
In numbers Inflation (CPI)
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Weekly earnings
Base interest rate
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EAR is an emotion felt by everyone at some time in their lives, but for some it controls their very existence. Fear of going out – agoraphobia – is one such fear. Fear of staying in – claustrophobia – is another. Vertigo, the fear of heights, is yet another. Atychiphobia, the fear of risk, is the one that affects many business people the most. Fear of risk is something many entrepreneurs face almost daily. Will this or that work? Will I waste my time? Will I run out my capital? What will my friends and family think if I fail? Will I make a fool of myself ? All these and many more are ‘fears’ which are expressed negatively. However as an entrepreneur it is essential that you firstly understand your fears and then use them to your
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advantage – turning them to positively drive you forward. In my case I only have to look into the mirror to confront my personal ‘Fear’ every day! Fear is essential. It prevents you stepping out onto a busy road in front of oncoming traffic. It prevents you from going too close to a cliff edge. It stops you taking unnecessary risks. What you mustn’t do though, in my opinion, is let it stop you taking any risks. If you are to grow your business you will need to take risks. It’s how you manage them that will define the out-
come of any endeavour. As an example a baby learns to walk by taking risks. At that stage of human development the baby is unaware of risks, of course. It learns by falling down a few times. This however doesn’t prevent it trying again and again until walking is second nature. The drive to be mobile and experience the freedom walking gives motivates the baby to have another go. I doubt there is any parent who decided on the baby’s first fall that their baby will never walk! No, as a parent you keep getting your baby to stand up and try again until he or she does walk. As an entrepreneur who may have failed it is essential that you learn to confront your fear of failure and try again. Your past does not equal your future. You can succeed. It is essential that you learn something from your
mistakes but don’t be surprised if you repeat a few. I certainly have. Fear, as I say, is a negative word which should be expressed positively. Use the fear of failure to drive you forward in any endeavour. It can be the most powerful word in your arsenal of resources. Fear of lack of knowledge of your subject? React to that fear by obtaining more knowledge. Develop a burning desire for knowledge and your fear will dissolve. Fear of failure? Develop a burning desire to succeed and you will conquer this fear also. Anything is possible and most things are probable with a positive mental attitude. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Use that fear as a motivator and turn your dreams into reality.
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Business current accounts 1.01% State Bank £10,000 deposit of India 0.25% £1 deposit
Business savings accounts 1.85% £1,000 deposit
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Cambridge & 1.75% Counties Bank £10,000 deposit Source:
Opinion
Feel the fear – and turn it to your advantage
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