Business 07 October 2015

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RATES REFORM

BAD MANAGEMENT

WELSH WORRIES

Reaction to Osborne’s shock business rates shake-up – p4

Why we’re all being run by accidental managers – p12&13

Airport right to fear tax change, warns biggest carrier – page 7

Business bristolpost.co.uk

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07 OCT

2015

THE BIG INTERVIEW

BUILDING GOOGLE WHO’S WHO Meet the Stokes Croft man heading a team of geniuses creating people search engine dubbed Project Whoogle – See pages 8&9

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www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Growth

Taxing work Clampdown presents new job opportunities at EdgeTax Rupert Janisch Business@b-nm.co.uk

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SMALL tax consultancy from Bristol is on a recruitment drive after a 400 per cent increase in new clients who have been notified by HMRC that they are suspected of tax avoidance or evasion.

A clampdown by HMRC in the South West and Wales on unpaid taxes, primarily on income tax and VAT, has seen a dramatic growth in the number of Code of Practice 9 (COP9) letters issued this year.

The letters do not specify which areas of the individuals tax affairs are under suspicion and are effectively invitations to make full disclosures of all tax mitigation activity to the authorities.

Edge Tax, which is led by managing partner Anton Lane and is based in Hambrook in South Gloucestershire, is dealing with a fourfold increase in new customers facing investigation.

The company, which employs six staff at its offices in Vantage Office Park, is now looking for an accountant and a tax manager to join the team.

Anton said: “We predicted last year that, as a result of HMRC taskforces moving to the South West and Wales and due to a reorganisation of its tax investigation teams, that enquiries of this kind would increase in this region.

“We have noticed a rise in Accelerated Payment Notices being issued, a rise in the number of people wanting to disclose through the let property campaign and also the offshore disclosure facility comes to a close in December. All of these have contributed to the need for us to take on new skilled staff.

“But the main reason is the increase in new clients being issued with COP9s. These are only issued when HMRC suspects a serious loss of tax through fraud or evasion, so they need to be treated accordingly.

“We are a small unique practice that excels in our market.

“While we are small, we pride ourselves on performing more proactively and with a more personal

● Anton Lane, centre, and the team at Edge Tax

approach than our larger competitors.”

Anton said that research issued by HMRC in October 2014 was a useful guide to demonstrate where they will consider making enquiries and potentially issuing COP9s.

He said: “The Measuring Tax Gaps 2014 Edition, issued by HMRC last year, shows that the tax gap is 41 per cent with income tax, National Insurance Contributions and Capital Gains Tax, alongside 39 per cent on VAT. “By groups, 44 per cent of the tax gap falls among SMEs and 27 per cent

“ COP9 notices are only

issued when HMRC suspects a serious loss of tax through fraud or evasion, so they need to be treated accordingly among large businesses. These are the areas where the investigation is likely to come and the types of organisations which should make sure

their affairs are in order.

“A client shouldn’t simply assume that HMRC won’t know or find out about another irregularity. HMRC do not inform a recipient of a COP9 enquiry notice on what their suspicions are, because it is for that recipient to choose to make a full and complete disclosure.

“Where the recipient chooses not to cooperate, HMRC will investigate and may take any action they deem necessary, from taking tax they consider due, securing assets, or even beginning criminal investigations with a view to prosecution.”

Engineering

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Rolls-Royce reveals further cuts to workforce ENGINE maker Rolls-Royce is making more job cuts, this time in its marine division.

The firm revealed to the to the stock exchange that an extra 400 jobs would go worldwide on top of 600 announced in May 2015.

It is understood most of the cuts will be in support and admin roles rather than engineers and production staff.

A Rolls-Royce spokesman said: “These proposed reductions will mainly be management and indirect roles, across the business.

“At this stage, and until we have gone through appropriate consultation, we cannot give exact details of where the reductions will be. We will

be consulting with our employees and their representatives over the coming weeks and months, and expect the reduction to be completed by the end of 2016.

“We need to speed up the transformation of Marine, and act quickly to reduce costs in light of the rapidly deteriorating market, mainly due to the impact of low oil prices. We want to give our employees a clear indication of the scale of reductions we need make in the future.”

The company’s marine division employs 5,800 people worldwide,

around half in the Nordic countries.

Rolls employs more than 3,000 at its plant in Patchway, just outside Bristol, mostly in the defence side of the business but a number in the marine side too.

The marine staff in Bristol largely work on naval projects, such as the MT30 marine gas turbine engine, whereas it is the oil and gas sector which is under-perfor ming.

The firm aims to reinvest some of the savings into research and development projects.

The company has endured a bumpy ride as it looks to keep the business

on track of late.

Just last year, Rolls-Royce announced 2,600 job cuts in its aerospace business worldwide, most of whom have now left the business.

And in February it revealed a whopping 96 per cent fall in pre-profits from £1.7 billion to £67 million.

However there has been investment locally too. It spent £18 million in a new test and repair facility for the TP400 engine which powers the Airbus A400M military transport plane and plans to open a composite technology hub in the coming years, developing ways to use new light-weight materials in its engines.

Investment

Lloyds Bank shares to be offered to all ● PENSIONERS and investors will be queuing up to buy a piece of LLoyds Bank after the Government announced it will give the public the chance to buy at least £2 billion of shares.

The Government bought Lloyds to save it from collapse in the midst of the financial crisis in 2008 and has been slowly selling off its stake to institutional investors as the bank recovers.

But it has revealed that a big chunk will be sold to the public, sparking memories of the privatisation of utilities in the 1980s when people snapped up shares in the likes of British Gas. Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Bristol investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, believes demand will be very high again.

“Wild horses couldn’t drag investors away from this share sale, especially given the discounted price and the dividend stream Lloyds is expected to start churning out,” he said.

“Pensioners in particular are likely to respond to a trusted high street brand with a decent yield when interest rates are so low.

“Lloyds is already the most popular share held by our clients who have taken advantage of the new pension freedoms to invest rather than buy an annuity. Next year’s share sale is likely to attract even more silver savers to the bank’s cause.”

Investors will be offered a discount of five per cent to the market price, and will be offered a bonus share for every ten shares bought and held for a year, subject to a maximum of £200 in bonus shares, to encourage them to hold onto them.

Bricks & mortar

Record profits for property company ● PROPERTY company Knight Frank has reported a record profit of £162 million for the financial year ending March 2015.

Profit across the group was up 20 per cent from £136.6 million the year before and turnover rose from £392.7 million to £443.1 million.

Group chairman Alistair Elliott said that had been achieved whilst continuing to invest in recruitment and expanding the firm’s global platform.

Looking ahead, Alistair added: “At a time when activity in commercial occupier markets is increasing in many cities around the world, we see the return of rental growth drawing more investor interest.”

Steve Oades, who heads up the Bristol office, said: “Knight Frank’s highly successful performance nationally and internationally over the past 12 months has been reflected in the West of England, too, where we have achieved a number of milestones including transacting over £170 million of investment deals involving some of the city’s best-known buildings and the UK’s biggest investors.

“These included the £32.8 million acquisition of 66 Queen Square, the new Bristol offices of KPMG. Our office and industrial agency teams also performed superbly throughout the year.”

www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Protection

Bright future New clothing firm is helping to make a safer world

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COMPANY offering innovative safety wear is seizing a major stake of the $1.5 billion global high viz market as it expands rapidly across the continent.

Fhoss Technology, a British start-up based in Weston-super-Mare, supplies personal protective equipment (PPE) to help illuminate workers.

The wearable technology is the first significant change to high visibility garments in many years, featuring battery-powered strips on top of normal reflective material allowing employees to be clearly visible in low-light conditions.

Founder Andy Kimitri says the company is revolutionising workplace safety around the globe, with products now being imported to America, Australia and Europe.

Products are manufactured in Cambodia and have already been adopted by more than 200 construction customers including Network Rail, London Underground, Balfour Beatty, Skanska and Amey.

Since the company was founded, sales and turnover has more than doubled in each year, with 2015 forecast to achieve more than 500 per cent growth year on year.

Andy hopes the technology will save the lives of staff working in dangerous situations around the world.

He said: “Fhoss Technology has made huge waves across several industry sectors with wearable technology that improves workforce safety and empowers customers to achieve higher productivity.

“Fhoss has been successful in introducing its products across a number of industry verticals. In rail we have worked extensively with TFL London Underground, who is looking to roll out our wearable technology across its network in the coming months.

“In the highways industry we are engaged with a number of well-known contractors including Balfour Beatty, A1+, Skanska and Aggregate industries to name a few.

“Another exciting development is our recent partnership with Towergate Insurance. The UK’s largest broker has recognised the reduced risk that our products create when

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Digital

Top online brands to share their secrets ● SENIOR figures from some of the biggest online brands will be sharing their marketing secrets in Bristol.

Pinterest’s UK marketing manager Lizzy Sibley, Airbnb’s European, Middle East and Africa marketing manager Holly Clarke and Thane Ryland, global lead social analytics and insights at Microsoft will be among the line-up at Online Influence West.

They join Twitter’s head of content Europe for Twitter Paul McCrudden, Advertising Standards Association chief executive Guy Parker, Jeremy Waite, Salesforce head of digital strategy, and Keith Lewis, Zurich UK social media lead.

The conference will also include quick fire panel debates and meet the expert sessions.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network with top senior executives, learn about the latest digital trends and gain key industry insights.

The event will take place on October 16 2015 at the Mercure Hotel in Bristol City Centre.

There are only 200 places. For more information visit www.onlineinfluence.net.

User experience

Company director is named ‘leading light’ ● Fhoss Technology safety wear on the London Underground; below, Andy Kimitri used by work forces that operate at night.

“Towergate will take the increased safety and reduced risk that Fhoss wearable technology brings to the workplace and use this to drive down insurance premiums for a company that uses Fhoss.”

The idea of Fhoss Wearable Technology was originally conceived while Andy worked in the hospitality industry in Weston-super-Mare.

He felt he could help distinguish security personnel in case of an emergency and later realised the product would be beneficial to the industrial world.

Fhoss was developed over three years alongside expert input from

Network Rail and Transerv Scotland to ensure its products complied with the much stricter standards required for the hi-viz industrial market.

As the firm developed its products, it wanted to ensure that it met all international standards to enable strong export growth, which it has achieved.

The global high visibility garment market is worth $1.5 billion (£1 billion) and growing, and the company is exploring every opportunity to seize a major stake.

Andy continued: “Exports are important to us in that it helps us minimise the impact of seasonality.

“Naturally our products sell better in the winter months, so when we

have summer in the northern hemisphere, we can maintain growth in the southern hemisphere countries.

“For regions such as the Middle East more works happen at night due day time temperatures and for the Nordic regions there is far less daylight, creating obvious opportunities.”

The firm continues to go from strength to strength, with a continually expanding team and new partnerships being established.

Andy added: “The future is very much centred around wearable technology and internet of things.

“Fhoss has some exciting developments in the pipeline and later this year will introduce some very exciting new product developments that will further help enhance workforce wellbeing, safety, comfort and effectiveness.”

● A DIRECTOR of a Bristol company has been nominated as a leading lights in her sector.

Emma Millington, pictured, director of projects at People for Research, has been nominated as one of the British Interactive Media Association’s (BIMA) Hot 100 in the digital and interactive media sector.

People for Research helps user experience agencies and digital marketing agencies to recruit users.

She said: “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be given this accolade and to gain this level of recognition in such a competitive industry sector as the digital and interactive media space further boosts the reputation of Bristol-based business People for Research as a leading light across the country in this area.”

Confidence

Businesses hit by global economic uncertainty 34 per cent.

• Business confidence dropped seven points but remains high at 64 per cent.

James Durie, pictured, executive director of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative, said the results made “tougher reading” with a decrease in key indicators against both the previous quarter and the same period last year.

“Last quarter we saw some signs of a bounce back after a slow start to the year, but the last three months have seen a shift back in

this,” he said.

“Whilst anecdotal evidence points to more positive conditions, our economy appears to have been hit by the seasonal effect of the summer period and growing global economic uncertainty.”

He said a turbulent time in the global economy had take its toll, including a Monday in August when Chinese markets lost hundreds of billions in value in one day.

“With these events taking place during the period of this survey of local firms, the downbeat results

should perhaps come as no surprise,” said James.

But he added it wasn’t all bad news. “A couple of weeks ago we heard that employment rates, wealth and salaries mean Bristol is one of the five most affluent places to live in the UK, he said. “High profile events are helping put us more and more on the world map. With Banksy’s Dismaland, the Arcadia Spectacular and Bristol’s year as European Green Capital, you can see why business confidence remains high at 64 per cent.

“We may be experiencing some hurt to our growth for now, but looking forward there are still reasons to be positive and optimistic.”

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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BUSINESSES are finding times harder, with sales, cash-flow, recruitment and confidence taking a hit in the last quarter.

Business West’s survey of more than 300 businesses in Bristol and the West of England found most major indicators were down on the previous quarter.

• Domestic (42 per cent) and international (29 per cent) sales fell by eight points and twelve points respectively.

• Recruitment dropped one point to 32 per cent, and expectations to take on staff in the next three months decreased three points to 32 per cent • Cashflow decreased six points to

Get in touch

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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Business rates

Shake-up Councils to take control of rates Gavin Thompson

“ Fixing the current broken system of financing local government will be a huge boost to local growth, help attract business and create jobs.

Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk

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RISTOL and other local authorities in the region will be given control over business rates in one of the biggest shake-ups to the tax regime in a generation.

Councils will be able to cut business rates to make their region more attractive to businesses or even raise them to fund road, rail or other infrastructure projects.

But the move will come at a price, as the Exchequer plans to end the core grant from Whitehall.

The Bristol Post has campaigned for local control over business taxed under its #RealRatesReform campaign and business groups have welcomed Chancellor George Osborne announcement... but want more detail on how it will work.

By the end of the Parliament, local government will be able to retain 100 per cent of local taxes – including all £26 billion of revenue from business rates – to spend on local government services.

A Treasury statement said: “Fixing the current broken system of financing local government will be a huge boost to local growth, help attract business and create jobs.

“The government will also abolish the Uniform Business Rate and give local authorities the power to cut business rates to boost enterprise and economic activity in their areas.

“Local areas which successfully

The Treasury promote growth and attract businesses will keep all of the benefit from increased business rate revenues. At the same time, the core grant from Whitehall will be phased out, and local government will take on new responsibilities.”

Areas with elected mayors will also have the power to increase rates to fund infrastructure, however this is aimed at the Government’s favoured cross-authority metropolitan mayors and it is not clear yet whether Bristol will be included.

Business rates have been set centrally since 1990. They are collected by local councils but the money goes to central government,

while council’s are given a central grant.

Since 2013 councils have been able to keep a portion of rates but this announcement goes much further.

The announcement caught many on the hop and while many welcome the principle, they want to see the detail.

Mark Owen, right, regional chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses for the West of England and Gloucestershire, welcomed the new initiative.

“The FSB has been calling for radical thinking on business rates and this surprise announcement certainly fits that bill,” he said.

“The devil, as ever, will be in the detail but we certainly hope that our local councils will look at this as a great opportunity to work with the small business community to our mu-

tual benefit and help create genuine local prosperity and jobs.

“We now look forward to hearing more about the proposals which we hope will ultimately lead to a fairer business tax and one which will mean the Bristol area keeps more of the money created by its amazing small businesses.”

CBI director general Mark Mistry said: “If this bold announcement on business rates is a way to cut them, then it will spur councils to take a pro-growth approach, and has the CBI’s support. But this must not be a way to increase rates without the consent of the local business community.”

Simon Walker, director general of

the Institute of Directors, added: “Businesses are excited about the prospects for devolution, and the promise to devolve business rates will give local authorities a greater stake in the success of their local economy.

“Businesses have been clear that they want enterprise to be put at the heart of the devolution agenda, and the Chancellor appears to be doing just that. More than sixty per cent of IoD members back local politicians being given the power to set business rates.”

But Business West manager director Phil Smith was more cautious and criticised the lack of consultation with businesses.

“Here in the South West we are constantly hearing cries of the impact of a broken business rate system,” he said. “So it is odd for the Chancellor to announce major changes to business rates without consulting with the business community that ultimately foots the bill.

“Greater control of business rates could give local authorities more incentives to cultivate local business growth and invest in local economic improvements. However when surveyed our members voice strong scepticism that local authorities have the track record or capabilities to deliver and there is a real concern about a lack of accountability of many town halls in listening to local businesses and getting the basics right.

“The detail of the Chancellor’s plan is critically important.

Businesses will want assurances that greater local control over business rates does not translate to more taxes with little or no business benefit.”

Knowhow

Social media From employed to unemployed in 140 characters...

After the first legal judgment on the misuse of Twitter by an employee, Jayne Nevins from Bristol based DAS Law discuss how employers and employees can keep themselves out of trouble

GAME RETAIL LTD VS LAWS

● Social media has had an impact on the workplace; below, Jayne Nevins

● The case involved a risk and loss prevention investigator, Laws, hired by Game Retail who was alleged to have made offensive, non-work related comments on Twitter.

An employee reported him and he was dismissed for gross misconduct. He brought a successful unfair dismissal claim to tribunal.

The company appealed, however, and the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that comments on Twitter could not be viewed as private as they could be viewed by anyone who followed Laws.

The employer only needed to show the comments could have caused offence and that other staff or customers could have read them.

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THE Game Retail Ltd vs Laws judgment showed the prevalence of social media in today’s culture and the decision gives employees, employers and HR directors plenty to think about when offering guidance on social media usage.

For employees: ● Avoid using your private social media to discuss your employment – prevention is better than cure. ● If you do post about your employment, ensure your employer is not identifiable and consider whether the post could damage your employer and their reputation. ● Bear in mind that even if a post is not work related, you could face disciplinary action and dismissal depending on the circumstances.

● Check if your employer has a social media policy in place and familiarise yourself with it. ● Consider who you follow and who follows you – is your private account more work oriented than you

thought? ● Be tech savvy; learn how to use privacy settings and consider who can view your posts. ● Remember, more and more employers check your social media presence when you’re applying for

jobs; make sure there’s nothing on your social media you wouldn’t want them to see.

For employers: ● Ensure you have a clear, well drafted social media policy

highlighting actions which could result in disciplinary action.

Consider including in the policy that disciplinary action could be taken against an employee whose use of a private account could impact on your business. ● Communicate your policy to employees effectively; provide training where appropriate. ● When disciplining an employee, have regard to how many people can see the tweet, its link with the workplace and any complaints received. Consider all the relevant facts and consider the most appropriate course of action. ● Be mindful of balancing an employee’s freedom of expression and the impact of posts on your business interests and reputation. Is there a need to take disciplinary action in the circumstances or would an informal discussion resolve the matter? ● Always seek legal advice prior to disciplining an employee for misuse of social media.

DAS is a leading provider of legal expenses insurance and legal assistance to millions of people in the UK. Its Legal Advice helpline handles thousands of legal queries every year. Its team of experts regularly deals with employment disputes.

www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Digital

New chief executive for internet platform

Retail

Disability aids We just want to make life a little more fabulous...

Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk

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BRISTOL company that is revolutionising the disability market by producing stylish but practical living aids has signed a deal to supply high street giant Argos.

Blue Badge Company’s colourful range, which includes walking stick bags, lap trays and wheat warmers, is now available on Argos online, marking another major step forward in bringing disability products into the mainstream.

The high street giant is the latest in a string of big name retailers to stock Blue Badge Company products, coming just a few months after a deal with Halfords.

The Montpellier firm will sell 12 Blue Badge permit covers, four leather display wallets, Radar Keys and five lap tray designs through Argos.com.

As the second biggest online retailer in the UK, the Argos contract is an important win for Blue Badge Company, which was started just four years ago by a designer who was fed up with what she saw as the universally dull, clinical products available to disabled consumers.

She enlisted the help of friend, Ellen Green, and sitting in the bedroom of her small house in Bristol, the pair started hand-stitching hundreds of eye-catching Blue Badge display wallets.

The company has now sold more than 100,000 of the wallets across the UK and expanded to produce a range of attractive living aids.

Its workforce has grown to 20 in the past two years, after winning contracts to supply 2,500 Boots stores nationwide, the Post Office, Halfords and now Argos.

Turnover has quadrupled in the same period from £64,000 to £250,000 and looks set to hit nearly £400,000 this financial year.

With an ageing population and 12 million disabled people in the UK with a spending power of £200 billion, the company’s success reflects the growing demand for desirable living aids and universal accessibility.

Following an appearance on the hit BBC2 show Dragons’ Den in August, its following has grown even larger.

Ellen, 30, who became sole director two years ago when her friend left to pursue other projects, wants their designs to be viewed as desirable products which bring a bit of joy to people’s lives as well as being practical living aids.

“We’re on a mission to invigorate and revitalise everyday products for people with challenging health conditions, to make life a little more fabulous for everyone,” said Ellen.

“My dream is to see our products sitting alongside mainstream desirable household gift items and, for the first time, to bridge that gap between the mainstream market and the disability market.”

All its products are British made and about 40 per cent of the workforce either has a disability or is a primary care giver.

This ensures the team has a firsthand appreciation of various disabilities, from mental health issues to physical impairments.

“Because of the way we manufacture, we can provide jobs and training for those with limited work

● Ellen Green and, inset, one of the colourful blue badge holders options, like people who have domestic responsibilities or disabilities,” said Ellen.

“I believe a company is only as strong as the team behind it.

“Providing work for people who

find it more difficult to access employment really boosts personal confidence and team moral.

“It also adds to our understanding of customers and their needs and wishes, which is key.”

Construction

Wainwrights in ‘bold move’ to new plant WORK has started on an £8.5 million asphalt plant in Avonmouth.

John Wainwright & Co, or Wainwrights, has been at its existing Moons Hill Quarry on the Mendips since 1898.

The independent Somerset company supplies high-quality stone, premium aggregates, asphalt and formation material to a growing client base throughout the South West.

Its new 4.5 acre Avonmouth site is set to launch early next year on the back of the upturn in the economy.

The firm needs the plant to fulfil its growing order book and to take ad-

vantage of future business opportunities and the move is being supported

by Barclays.

Chief executive Peter Barkwill said: “The new facility is a bold move for our company and we believe now is the right time to invest and build on our reputation for quality, service and efficiency. The site is ideally located within one mile of the South West motorway network giving us access to a range of additional markets throughout the region.”

The company employs nearly 180 people – with plans to take on more soon – and is expected to turn over

● Staff at the new asphalt plant being built in Avonmouth more than £35 million in the current financial year.

John Squier, relationship director, corporate banking at Barclays, said: “This is an exciting time for Wainwrights which continues to demon-

strate substantial growth in revenues from their portfolio of products.

“With an impressive client base, strong management team, the company is firmly on track to achieve its future growth objectives.”

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● NEIGHBOURLY– the internet platform that connects local community projects with companies that want to make a difference – has appointed a new chief executive.

Luke McKeever, below, brings a track record in growing successful international technology businesses.

The move sees founder Nick Davies focus on building the Neighbourly movement as the company’s chief activist.

Luke has been CEO at Portrait Software, a UK-listed customer interaction optimisation specialist that was acquired by Pitney Bowes for £44 million in 2010, and OB10, a global trading network acquired by Tungsten Corporation for £100 million in 2013.

He first joined Neighbourly as chairman in September 2014. He will now oversee day-to-day operations as Neighbourly looks to move from an ambitious UK startup to a rapid growth, international organisation.

The company recently closed its third funding round and announced a move into the Netherlands as its first overseas expansion.

The platform, based at the Engine Shed in Bristol, launched in July 2014 with the aim of helping community projects find support.

It saw major brands to pledge almost £2 million and some 6,500 volunteer days to local community causes in its first year.

The business recently brought in Lloyd Buxton as head of client engagement and Annette Mercer as head of operations, to help continue the rapid scaling of the business.

Nick, right, said: “Neighbourly has made huge strides this year. As we grow, we need an experienced eye on ensuring we continue to deliver a positive impact for companies, and the causes and volunteers in local communities.

“Luke’s knowledge and his belief in our purpose make him the perfect match for the CEO role. It also gives me the time required to concentrate on driving awareness and understanding of Neighbourly’s role in transforming the intersection between business and society, to the benefit of local communities.”

Luke added: “In our journey so far, it has become increasingly clear that we are not just building a company – we’re also building a movement of like-minded individuals and businesses.

“Driving that type of social change is a full-time role and Nick is the natural leader of these conversations. As CEO I look forward to working with Neighbourly’s talented team in a day-to-day capacity, getting everything in place as we prepare to make an even bigger impact in 2016 and beyond.”

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www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Construction

Building boost Homes scheme creates jobs ● An artist’s impression of a typical street scene at Taylor Wimpey’s Scholars Chase development in Filton

Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk

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OUSE-BUILDER Taylor Wimpey Bristol is set to create hundreds of jobs after acquiring an area of land for development.

The firm has bought land to the east of Coldharbour Lane, close to the University of the West of England.

It has planning consent for up to 550 new homes along with community space and a nursery.

Named Scholars Chase, the new development is expected to create 100 jobs for people working on site, as well as an additional 200 jobs through the supply chain. It is estimated approximately 70 new homes will be completed each year at Scholars Chase, with the first occupants expected to move in next summer.

Managing director Keith Simmons said: “We’re delighted to have secured the land in Filton and are look-

ing forward to starting work on site.

“The project will bring many benefits to the town and the region as a whole, including the creation of much-needed housing as well as new employment opportunities plus significant investment in the local com-

Finance

Hospitality

Hargreaves Lansdown in advice switch

Lord mayor officially opens newest hotel

● BRISTOL investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown will no longer be providing “independent” financial advice.

The company says it has made the change to keep costs down for customers.

It argues that in order to be classed as independent, advisors are obliged to research a vast range of over complicated, opaque, risky or expensive investments for customers.

By restricting its advisory service to what it sees as the investments relevant to customers, the firm says it can simplify its fees and is removing the minimum portfolio size restriction on offering advice by phone.

Head of communications Danny Cox said: “This change will set the groundwork for us to simplify and reduce our advisory charges, develop our telephone based service and increase the use of technology to improve the efficiency of the advice process.

“At the same time we want to ensure everyone who wants personal advice can have advice and are removing our minimum portfolio requirement.

“In reality investors will see very little change in what we offer.

“We shall continue to offer the same broad range of investment advice, including portfolio management, investment and pension advice, retirement planning and inheritance tax mitigation as we do now.”

The firm will now offer telephone advice subject to a minimum fee of £495.

However the FTSE 100 firm, which won the large business category at this year’s Bristol Post Business Awards, has built the majority of its success on DIY investors over the internet rather than those opting to take advice.

● BRISTOL’S newest hotel has now opened its doors.

Called Hampton by Hilton, the hotel is located on the corner of Bond Street and York Street and forms a major conversion of what was York House, a 1960s office block.

Managed by Focus Hotels Management Ltd, it includes 186 bedrooms in the heart of the city and is headed by general manager Imran Ali. Creating 45 jobs and representing an investment of £20 million, the opening of the hotel follows an increase in demand for quality rooms in Bristol as the city attracts more business and tourism.

The hotel will also provide much needed accommodation for those attending events once the building of the new arena near Temple Meads is complete.

Imran said: “It’s great to be open and I’d like to thank the Lord Mayor for officially opening this fantastic new venue.”

munity. The economic benefits that a new homes development brings to an area are very much the same as those brought by a factory opening, and with manufacturing across the UK in decline, house-building is moving into the gap, bringing support to the

local jobs market and supply chains.”

According to the Home Builders Federation (HBF), 4.3 jobs are created for every new home built, due to the impact the construction industry has on the wider economy. Taylor

Wimpey Bristol has also helped to provide young people with the necessary skills to acquire a job, after recruiting new apprentices earlier in the year following the Bath and Bristol Apprentice Fair hosted at the Fry Club and Conference Centre at its Somerdale development.

The firm will also provide contributions to the local community, as part of the planning agreement with South Gloucestershire Council.

Those include £500,000 towards part of the Hengrove MetroBus route and £50,000 towards improvements to the Frome Valley Cycle route; £1.4 million towards the provision of additional primary school places; contributions towards open space, including local allotments, and £700,000 towards outdoor sports facilities.

Taylor Wimpey’s Scholars Chase will comprise a selection of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five-bedroom houses.

Property consultants Alder King acted on behalf of the land’s previous owner in the sale.

● From left, PJ McGrath, hotel owner, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith and Imran Ali, general manager, at the opening of the new Hampton by Hilton, Bristol City Centre

Investment

Financial firm reviews its long term strategy FAMILES, entrepreneurs and retirement will be the main focus for accountancy, tax and investment management group Smith & Williamson.

The firm, which has a flagship Bristol office, revealed details of a review of its long term strategy as it reported a rise in profits and income.

John Erskine, partner and head of investment management at the Portwall Place office, said: “As part of this review, family office services, later life planning and entrepreneurs have been identified as key areas of focus and investment over the coming years, providing services which draw on the strength of our complement-

ary financial services.

“Our pooled funds business has also been prioritised and it has recently been reorganised to create a core of actively managed funds.”

Nationally, the group reported an eight per cent rise in income from £199.1 million to £215.1 million and an increase in profits from £36 million to £41.1 million, excluding new charges relating to the Financial Compensation Scheme.

John added: “Notwithstanding volatile market conditions, the hard work and focus shown by colleagues

over the past few years has built strong momentum in the business that is reflected in the current year’s results.

“We are well placed to take full advantage of future opportunities and are committed to continue investing in our people, infrastructure and business development to ensure we capitalise on our current favourable position. At the same time, we recognise that this investment is likely to have an impact on profits in the current year.”

Mike Lea, pictured, managing part-

ner in the Bristol office, added a note of caution about the economy but opportunity for the firm.

“We are cautious about the short-term outlook for the UK economy due to the persistently challenging economic and geopolitical conditions in Europe,” he said.

“We believe changes in the financial services environment will create opportunities for us; for example, the internationalisation of clients coupled with the importance of the UK and London as a global centre, developments in pensions and the impact of retail distribution review on the wealth management sector – all of which point to change and potential opportunities.”

www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Accountancy

EY expands city office as fee income booms ● PROFESSIONAL services firm EY has increased the size of its Bristol office by 10 per cent in the past year.

The firm, one of the big four accountants, now employs 331 people in its South West headquarters.

The increase was revealed as the firm announced results, with its fee income breaking the £2 billion milestone in the UK. Income nationally rose eight per cent from £1.9 billion to £2 billion for the year to July. Profits went up six per cent from £412 million to £437 million.

Locally the year saw the firm hire Karen Kirkwood from a rival, coming straight in as an equity partner.

Four new executive directors, Tony Trussell, Eleanor Meredith, Chris Gilbert and Eleri James, won promotion.

Richard Jones, pictured, South West senior partner, said: “Investing and developing our people, as well as ensuring we have an inclusive culture, have been vital to our success in recent years, and this continued this year.

“We appointed a new partner and four new executive directors who, along with the large number of graduate, school leaver and experienced hires we took on, will help to grow our business in the years to come.

“The South West is an important market for EY, as confidence returns we’re seeing increased demand from our clients to help them drive growth in the UK and internationally, which has given us significant competitive advantage in the market.

“All of our core service lines have grown and our Financial Services practice is going from strength to strength, developing new opportunities and services. As a firm, we’ve got real momentum and over the coming years we’ll continue investing to help our clients, communities and people thrive.”

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Aviation ● Ryanair has four planes based at Bristol Airport but high taxes could hamper any expansion

Ryanair boss Bristol is right to fear tax break for Welsh airport Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk

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RISTOL Airport is right to be worried about the prospect of the Welsh Assembly gaining the power to set passenger taxes, according to a senior figure at Europe’s biggest airlines.

The Welsh Government looks likely to be given the power to cut or abolish Air Passenger Duty, along with the Scottish Parliament.

That would mean airlines would pay less tax to fly from Cardiff Airport, which Bristol Airport bosses believe could cost thousands of jobs.

David O’Brien, chief commercial officer at Ryanair, told Business that Bristol was “right to be worried”.

“Cardiff is not well served at the moment,” he said. “If the Welsh Government cut APD we could get twice the profit per passenger flying from Cardiff – and if you think that we are one of the most profitable airlines in Europe, you can think what that would mean for Bristol.

“There’ll always be a market here in Bristol but in terms of developing more challenge routes such as the business routes where the small and

medium sized businesses want to fly to build new markets, Bristol will find itself the victim.”

David described air passenger duty as “an ill-advised tax to begin with” and said if it was scrapped across the UK, the Government would recoup the money through VAT as visitors would have more to spend.

He described Bristol as a well managed airport but said that it was hard for airports to do much to improve their competitiveness because any measures fell short of the negative impact on profits of the tax.

“UK Airport Passenger Duty costs us about 18 euros per passenger,” he said.

“Our profit per passenger is in the order of 10 euros so you can see why that’s a negative influence on capacity allocation to the UK.” Ryanair, which is Europe’s biggest airline based on the numbers of passengers carried, will be expanding further in the coming years.

It has huge numbers of new planes on order, made up of 180 Boeing 737 800s and then 200 of the manufacturer’s new 737 Max from 2019.

Just four of its fleet are based in Bristol, where it employs about 120 pilots and cabin crew and supports a total of 1,660 jobs on site.

But as the fleet grows, the numbers

● David O’Brien might here not rise. David said the airline is looking at where the growth will come, with Central and Eastern Europe offering the biggest opportunities.

“We look at our utilisation of our aircraft,” he said. “For us that’s not time in the air but number of flights.

The further we fly, the more fuel we use but passengers aren’t keen to pay more to fly to southern Italy than the north. They just think they are flying to Italy.”

Britain and Bristol, he points out, is on the edge of Europe, which means it’s more cost effective for the firm to add new flights to Warsaw from Cologne than Bristol.

He added much of the growth in the UK’s aviation market has been helped by the strength of currency.

“Britain should be mindful of following winds that sterling’s strength has given them that won’t always be there,” he said.

Bosses at Bristol Airport, which is in the midst of a £180 million expansion, believes a Welsh cut to passenger duty that wasn’t mirrored in England would mean: ● The loss of 33 routes at Bristol Airport. ● The loss of one million passengers per year. ● £843 million per year lost to the region’s economy. ● The loss of around 1,500 jobs at the airport and dependent businesses. ● Shelving of plans to introduce direct flights to long-haul destinations such as America, the Caribbean and Middle East from Bristol.

Ryanair, which first came to Bristol in 1997, has just announced its summer schedule from Bristol, with 29 routes expected to carry 1.5 million passengers on holidays, business trips and family visits.

Tech

Hat-trick of nominations for Cubik Established three years ago by managing director Paul Mullen, the company has gone from strength to strength, rapidly expanding its client list of inventors and quadrupling team size.

With big ambitions for the future Cubik works across a range of sectors and has recently added Ministry of Defence-approved suppliers and multinational companies to its portfolio.

Due to this rapid growth it is also looking for a move to a bigger space inside the science park.

Paul said: “To be shortlisted at the BEEA awards really underlines Cubik’s progression is a short space of time and really demonstrates how

the team has grown, improving the robustness of our processes and delivering quality and satisfaction to our customers.

“It also highlights the ethos of this company, our dedication to partnering with UK, innovators, SMEs and academics, transforming ideas and concepts into tangible products and systems.”

Paul described the shortlisting as a “a great way to recognise the team’s ability and talent”.

He added: “However, this shortlist means a great deal because now we are in our third year, we are on the cusp of leaving behind our start-up status”

● The Cubik Innovation team “We’ve had endless sleepless nights, lots of hard work and a lot of coffee, but winning this award would be the cherry on top of a fantastic

year.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony for the finalists held at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham.

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ELECTRONIC product design consultancy Cubik Innovation is in the running for its third award of the year.

The firm, based at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, has been shortlisted for Start-up of the year at the British Engineering Excellence Awards.

The announcement tops a successful year for the firm, which has already been named Start-up of the Year at the Bristol Post Business Awards, held in association with UWE Bristol, and picked up highly commended small business at the Institute of Directors South West Awards.

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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

The Big Interview

SO, WHO IS TOM? YOU’LL HAVE TO How do you find out all the public information about a person? Gavin Thompson meets Tom Savage, the entrepreneur solving that problem by creating people search engine, dubbed Project Whoogle

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TOKES Croft is Bristol’s cool quarter. Gritty, urban, colourful and claustrophobic with counter culture. It’s in your face. As you walk up Stokes Croft from the affectionately named Bear Pit underpass, you would pass the heavy grey door nestled between a bicycle shop and a paint store without a glance.

Yet in a small office on the other side something big is happening. It’s home to the Bristol base of PeopleGraph. If there is one company from the city’s burgeoning digital scene that could become a global star, and become part of our daily lives, it’s this one.

PeopleGraph is the creation of entrepreneur Tom Savage and it’s his sparse office that is found here.

“A third of all searches online are

Vital statistics

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Name: Tom Savage Title: Founder, formally I’m CEO but that doesn’t mean much for a small business Age: 36 From: London Education: Degree in business at Edinburgh and masters in business at Oxford First job: When I was at university I set up the entrepreneurial society and we created a project out of that to organise expeditions.

It later became a company called Blue Ventures.

for people,” says Tom. “But if you are researching someone there’s no way of finding out the public information that’s online.

“We’re building a people search engine. Like a Google for people, I call it Project Whoogle.

“We are not hacking into private information, we’re just making it easier to find the public information.

It could actually benefit privacy because if you know what’s out there you have a chance to control it.”

So far, the team has indexed more than two billion profiles on the web and has built the algorithms and architecture that enable it to work out who is who.

“We’ve just patented a lot of that work,” Tom says. “It’s at the cutting edge of what we describe as big data.”

How does it differentiate one Bill Smith from another?

“We’ve built artificial intelligence algorithms that determine who is who much like you or I would do,” Tom says. “If you were looking through the first 100 pages of Google we are doing much like you would do, looking at indicators like they

are at the same company, have a similar photo and so on.”

It’s easy to see people using it, but what about the business model?

“We are still early in our development and a lot can change,” says Tom. “The nature of a tech start-up is you don’t necessarily have to have the answers. What we do want to build is something that you or I or anyone in Bristol or elsewhere could use to help find the people we wanted to more efficiently.

“If you wanted to find a doctor to deal with a certain problem, an expert in a certain subject in Bristol or if you wanted to hire somebody with particular skills...”

He believes the engine will also help people better understand and use their own network. We all have networks of friends or professionals but we don’t know all the skills those people have. This tool will enlighten us.

The company’s story is not typical of a Bristol start-up. Like some of its peers, it is a member of SETsquared, the accelerator for high growth companies backed by Bristol University and based at the Engine Shed. But that’s where the parallels end.

Tom studied business at Edinburgh University and while there started organising expeditions with a friend. After graduating, they decided to turn it into a business, called Blue Ventures.

“We were trying to build a business model that would allow us to continue doing what we were enjoying while at the same time spearheading a conservation project in south-west Madagascar,” he says.

He worked for three months at an investment bank, which he describes as a “smash and grab” raid to save some money, then went to Madagascar to find the right spot, settling on somewhere a 24-hour drive from the nearest telephone.

Money remained a challenge so in order to avoid having to pay himself a salary, Tom secured a place on a masters business course at Oxford University. “It was kind of a hack,” he says... “it was pretty busy year!”

The company is still going strong but Tom moved on to other social enterprise projects, including co-founding Tenner, which challenges the next generation of entrepreneurs to turn £10 into something special.

Next came an environmental re-

cruitment business, started after he was approached by one of his former tutors at Oxford.

“It went exceptionally well for the first couple of years,” says Tom. “We had offices in London and San Francisco. And then the recession came along and environmental recruitment was about one of the worst businesses to be in. We hadn’t lost money but decided it was no longer the opportunity we had thought so we closed up shop.”

After a year’s break living in Kenya, Tom came back to the UK with his idea for a people search engine. He knew it would only become reality with the right people on board.

“I spent six months looking for a suitable technical co-founder,” he says. “I identified about 2,000 people and interviewed 200 before choosing my business partner (Razvan Dinu). We started the company and took part in 500 Start-ups acceleration programme based in Mountain View, Silicon Valley.”

During this time Tom lived in the van, parked on the streets of Paulo Alto.

In May 2014, Tom came to the West Country. “I’ve always loved Bristol,” he says. “A lot of my good

friends are here so I ended up moving here. I don’t really like London but I love what Bristol stands for. I love the size of the city and the independent alternative ethos it has of challenging the system.”

Stokes Croft then seems a perfect fit, not just for his office as Tom has bought a house a stone’s throw

My working day When I’m in the office I try to work on whatever the most important thing is at the time. I try to do what needs to be done to let the geniuses do what they need to do. I travel to Bucharest or to meet investors.

away too.

He finds the city a breath of fresh air.

“I love that in Bristol people like you for who you are, not what you do,” he says.

While Tom, the CEO and founder of PeopleGraph, is in Bristol, his team are based in Bucharest. Fit-

tingly for an oping a peop decision to se taken in part search for tal home of Tom’ the country is clever people.

“The idea o gine sounds s scenes that’s a lenge,” says T on I hired su geniuses. M ex-Twitter, Fa won medals at and informati are some of th the world.”

Managing a miles away is a up. But in thi works.

“I keep out o am a servant l do is make su much more am the chance to He says whe engineers the or 100 times level down an them to mana Trust runs t

www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

O WHOOGLE HIM... take stock sometimes and not get excited about technology simply for technology’s sake.

“Fifty years ago technology promised us more leisure time yet we spend more and more time at work,” he says. “Despite the fact we are richer and have better technology than before, we are lonelier, more stressed, more medicated and more therapised than we have ever been. We don’t stop and think about why are we continuing to push ourselves so hard, what does it achieve?

“My talk is trying to find that place between the wonders of innovation, for example medical innovation, and some of the technology which doesn’t benefit our lives.”

Tom says he’s excited by amazing medical developments, for example,

My downtime Flyfishing, if I find I’m not being creative and need some thinking time, I might spend the afternoon fly fishing. Kitesurfing, cycling and spending time with friends and family.

“ I keep out of the way.

I am a servant leader, all I am there to do is make sure my team, who are much more amazing than me, have the chance to do the best they can.

r an organisation develpeople search tool, the to set up in Romania was part because of its own or talent. Romania is the Tom’s co-founder but also try is home to some very ople. dea of a people search ennds simple but behind the hat’s a huge technical chalays Tom. “That’s the reased such a crack team of . My developers are er, Facebook, many have als at international maths rmatics olympiads – they e of the best developers in d.” ing a team more than 1,000 ay is an unconventional set n this case, Tom thinks it

Everyone in the 10-strong team knows how much everyone else earns and how much equity they have in the business. There are no holidays – you just take time off when you want it.

The team is deep in development and starting to build products on top of the infrastructure so it can take its work to market.

It has about 12 months funding left, from a £1 million pot of capital raised last year but the next step is to raise some big money and Tom is currently talking to major investors.

It’s a crucial time and, true to form, Tom is doing things his own way.

He’s going to spend the next month living in a tent in Somerset.

It’s part of a talk Tom will be giving at TEDxBristol on November 11, titled Is Ambition Killing Us? There’s no doubt that Tom himself is ambitious. His CV is a long list of achievements that don’t happen without drive. He’s a past winner of the title Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award and European Innovator of the Year.

He’s founded several companies and social enterprises.

But he believes society needs to

● Tom Savage is speaking at TEDxBristol at Colston Hall on November 11. Tickets and more details are available at www.TEDxBristol.com.

Manufacturing

Pioneering work to develop non-rust pipes for oil industry A TESTING rig to help the oil and gas industry make the most of new lightweight composite materials has been unveiled.

The rig, funded by Shell, will be available for all companies big and small across the sector at the National Composites Centre in Emersons Green, Bristol.

Developed by the centre with Shell it will pioneer testing of composite pipes that don’t rust and how they might be used in the industry.

It’s a major landmark for the centre, as it looks to extend the use and expertise in composites to more industries.

The material is becoming widely used in aerospace because it is strong yet lightweight, meaning it helps aircraft to burn less fuel.

But it has always had potential beyond, with interest from not just oil and gas but automotive, marine and even construction.

Within oil and gas, it is thought the material could help firms as they have to drill deeper to find harder-toreach reserves of natural resources.

Ultra-lightweight, corrosion free pipe systems could have a game changing impact on the industry, significantly lower the costs of a number of applications as pipes that don’t rust don’t need replacing and enable new uses.

The opportunities for composite materials extend well beyond pipes; other uses include deep water infrastructure needed to filter and process the oil on the seabed as well as ratings, railings, ladders, blast protection structures and other top side equipment.

By working with the centre, Shell hopes to be able to develop its technology faster.

Graham Harrison, oil and gas sector lead at

the composites centre, said: “One challenge facing the composites industry, as advanced materials make their way into new sectors, is the need for appropriate standards to provide end-users with the assurance that new products are fit for purpose.

“Without such standards, oil companies cannot adopt innovative new products and the composites pipe fatigue rig will provide an ability to test against and influence those standards. The NCC is therefore focusing on the end users, equipment suppliers, those who deploy offshore infrastructure, and leading global standards bodies which are developing such standards.”

Earlier this year, Innovate UK awarded one of its largest ever grants to a consortium led by pipe-maker Magma Global, BP, offshore installation contractor Subsea7 and the NCC. This, and a number of other promising leads, has resulted in the NCC deciding to appoint a technical representative in Aberdeen.

Ian Phillips, chief executive of the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, added: “Accessing the latest research and design capabilities within the fields of composites, forming and advanced manufacturing will provide the oil and gas industry with unrivalled opportunities to innovate and address the complex technical challenges it faces.

“It is essential that we collaborate more effectively and learn from other industries.

“This new partnership with three of the high value manufacturing centres will support this agenda and help to accelerate the pace of innovation in the industry.”

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out of the way,” he says. “I vant leader, all I am there to ke sure my team, who are ore amazing than me, have ce to do the best they can.” s when it comes to software s the best of the best are 20 mes better than the next wn and you have to trust manage themselves. runs through the company.

Tom Savage

but not the iPhone 6s.

How does his own company make things better? Tom says he wants to make it easier for people to connect or communicate... then get out of the way.

“Through technology I’m trying to get people to use technology less,” he says. “There is some technology which helps speed up our ability to find the thing we are looking for and others that try to distract us as much as possible.”

He cites Google as a good example of the former – a successful search means you find what you want as quickly as possible.

Those distractions are part of the reason Tom thinks such a pivotal time for the business is exactly the right time to spend his nights sleeping in tent in a Somerset field. The change of scenery will help him focus and the distraction-free environment will give him time to think big... although he has checked that there is a mobile signal, just in case.

It has been said it’s hard to raise money here, but Tom doesn’t believe a Bristol company can’t grow.

He cites the success of ClusterHQ and Brightpearl as proof that Bristol companies can raise money from Silicon Valley and elsewhere.

If PeopleGraph is equally successful we may see the Bristol office grow and hire more of our local talent. Whether it’s long-term future lies here, Romania or San Francisco is less certain.

But regardless Tom will keep coming back to Bristol. If and when ‘Project Whoogle’ becomes a multi-million-dollar business, it’s success will have been shaped by Bristol and the charms of Stokes Croft.

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Focus on start-ups | Sponsored by THEME SPONSOR’S NAME HERE.

Property Matters

MAKING TEMPLE MEADS A VIBRANT The appearance of Bristol city centre is being transformed by major works.

However, a demographic change has been under way for some time. Business examines the commercial shift towards Temple Meads

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Y the time construction work currently under way to reconfigure roads around Broad Quay and Colston Avenue has been completed, Bristol city centre will have undergone its latest metamorphosis.

However, a less visible but nevertheless significant demographic transition has been taking place in the heart of Bristol for some years.

Major businesses have been moving towards the area around Temple Meads railway station, part of which is in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. The previously derelict land has become Bristol’s business district, and is now home to major companies including Burges Salmon, IBM, BT Osborne Clarke, Bank of Ireland, Deloitte, IBM, Canada Life, Bond Dickinson and HSBC. In recent months, Colliers International has moved from Broad Quay to the grade A office building at 10 Templeback, while PwC officially relocated its Bristol office from Great George Street to Grade A premises at Glass Wharf in Temple Quarter.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of office buildings around The Centre are no longer workplaces, but are being turned into residential flats or student accommodation.

The former Greyfriars complex in Lewins Place – consisting of two linked tower blocks of 15 and eight storeys – is to become 130 apartments, while the nearby Art Deco style former Electricity House, former home of the South Western Electricity Board (SWEB), has been turned into 85 apartments which have just last week gone on sale.

Student housing schemes that have been launched or are being built in former office blocks in the city centre include accommodation run by Vita at the former Raphael House office building on Colston Ave, and by Urban Creation at neighbouring Stonebridge House.

Nearby in Rupert Street, Drake House and Nelson House have been turned into student dwellings by Unite Students, while conversion work is underway at Froomsgate House for student accommodation

Move takes us to commercial heart of city Case study ● THE Colliers International regional office in Bristol, which covers the South West and South Wales, recently relocated to Grade ‘A’ waterfront offices in the Temple area.

Head of office Tim Davies said: “Our move to the 10 Templeback office building beside the Floating Harbour means the South West regional office of Colliers International is now based in what is widely regarded as Bristol’s most prominent office developments.

“This statement building reflects our position as a major international real estate advisor, but this was not the sole reason for our recent move from Broad Quay, where we had been based for 15 years.

“The move means we are now strategically positioned in the Temple area, close to other leading businesses in the commercial heart of the city, and within easy walking distance of one of Bristol’s major transport hubs at Temple Meads Station, with excellent connections for rail, bus, taxi, ferries, cycle routes and roads.

“As head of European industrial and logistics at Colliers, in addition to being in charge of the Bristol office, I am only too well aware of the huge importance of location from a business perspective and I am confident our new office within the most desirable office location in the city will help drive our growth and development.

“I have worked in the city for over 25 years and there has never

company Fusion, and the former magistrates’ complex for The Student Housing Company.

Barra Mac Ruairí, strategic director for place at Bristol City Council, predicts more businesses will move to the Temple area in next decade, and that at the same time the city centre will gain a new vibrancy as dated office blocks are converted for

● Tim Davies, Colliers International been a clear and obvious central business district.

“The development of the Temple Quarter has changed this perception and now every leading professional firm wants to be here.

“The new Colliers office at Templeback is not within the Enterprise Zone, but it is right next to it near Temple Bridge, and

residential use.

He said: “Temple Meads is an important gateway to the city and the region. The area will change rapidly over the next 10 years as previously derelict pieces of land around the station are developed and the electrification of the Great Western mainline dramatically reduces journey times to London.

means that our employees and visiting clients are just a short walk from transport facilities, and the benefits of this will soon be enhanced by shorter train journey times resulting from the electrification of the Great Western Railway line.

“The sustainability of our new location is further enhanced by

“Not only will Bristol become even more accessible; it will have the space to accommodate many more jobs and businesses that may rely on these transport links.”

He added that Bristol city centre will benefit from the shift of businesses to the Temple area, as older office blocks could be put to new uses.

sustainability of the Templeback building, which has features including energy efficient boilers, photovoltaic cells, self-dimming lights and cycle spaces and showers.

“This is all in keeping with our sustainable business ethos, and our support of Bristol’s role as European Green Capital.”

“Modern cities thrive from having a mix of uses and often it’s the case that retaining existing buildings gives us not just a reminder of the city’s history but makes it more characterful. Reuse of buildings can also be more sustainable,” he said.

“Bristol has seen its share of office buildings in the city centre being converted to residential or student

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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

11

Expert eye

In association with

ENTRANCE TO CITY CENTRE Quality of office space was the deciding factor

James Vowles Building Surveyor Bruton Knowles 0117 287 2101 james.vowles@ brutonknowles.co.uk

Don’t abuse exemption for listed buildings

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Case study ● DOMINIC Toller opened his nationwide online estate agency Agentonline.co.uk at One Temple Quay, Bristol, earlier this year.

He said: “The location of One Temple Quay and the quality of the office space was a major factor in my decision to base Agentonline.co.uk here.

“It might seem rather strange that this sort of detail should matter to the managing director of an online estate agency business which covers the whole country and has no need for high street premises.

“However, an attractive and easily-accessible working environment is essential for Agentonline.co.uk to attract high calibre personnel to provide clients with a professional telephone response service 24 hours a day, seven days a week – something not offered by other online agents.

“After some two decades spent working in the financial and property sectors, I was very much aware that a quality setting matter would be vital to attracting and retaining the right people.

“As a result we are now based on the fifth floor of One Temple Quay, which has an in-house canteen,

secure parking, cycle parking and showers, and is just a short walk from the station, and also within easy reach of buses, road links, and cafes.

“The Temple area is now known as Bristol’s prime business district, and I very much wanted

accommodation, often in cases where redevelopment or refurbishment for continued office use isn’t viable.

What’s important is that these new uses don’t sit in isolation but instead fit well within Bristol’s rich cityscape.”

The redevelopment of the Temple area will be accelerated by the opening of the Bristol Arena, according to Mr Mac Ruairi, which will create hundreds of new jobs, and lead to tens of millions of pounds in additional spend in the region.

Further momentum will be created by the £1.7 million Engine Shed project, brought forward by Bristol City Council in partnership with the University of Bristol, which has seen the refurbishment of Brunel’s Old Station into a business space that in its first year of operation provided accommodation for over 300 jobs and added £7 million to the local economy.

Barra said: “In the future, the

Temple Meads area will be totally regenerated: it will be a vibrant, sustainable, green and well connected welcome to the city.

“It will be an exciting place for people to live, play and work. It will be a hub for creative, high-technology and low-carbon companies, and a centre for knowledge and innovation.

“The area’s strengths in financial and business services will develop further too.

“The region will be one that is recognised worldwide for its enterprise successes, and will attract new and start-up companies, as well as tourists and visitors.

“It will also continue to attract investment from established companies overseas and across Britain. Initial estimates suggest that around 400 new businesses could be accommodated in the Enterprise Zone, leading to around 17,000 new jobs over its 25-year lifecycle.”

● Dominic Toller, Agentonline.co.uk Agentonline.co.uk to be part of this professional community.

“A decade ago, I would automatically have looked for office space in Bristol city centre, as this was where most major office buildings were located at that time.

“Things have changed

Property of the Week

considerably since then. The city centre has extended east and south as a result of the opening of Cabot Circus, and modern office blocks have been constructed on former post-industrial wasteland in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, near Temple Meads Station.”

WNERS of Bristol’s many listed buildings may be breathing a sigh of relief that their properties will be exempt from strict new energy performance rules due to come into effect in 2018 – if the minimum EPC requirements would unacceptably alter the property in the context of its listed status.

We have been warning against complacency – and are advising clients of the advantages of ensuring listed buildings are kept in tip top condition.

Owners need to consider the improvements that could be made to their buildings to ensure they remain viable.

If they suspect their building would have an EPC rating of less than E, which is the minimum standard required under the Energy Act 2011, then they may be commercially disadvantaged when trying to lease their building, as they will not benefit from energy efficiency savings that owners of unlisted buildings have had to make.

It’s important to bear in mind that any alterations will require listed building consent to be obtained as required by current planning legislation.

If landlords do look to make alterations they need to consider a suitable programme for undertaking the works in order to minimise disruption to tenants, whilst at the same time allowing them sufficient time to obtain the consents required to undertake the works.

Early consultation with the local authority conservation officer will help determine the works that could be undertaken to the building should landlords look to improve the energy rating of their property.

The Energy Act 2011 has set Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for buildings in both the domestic and non-domestic private rented market – landlords will need to ensure their properties achieve a Minimum Energy Efficiency standard of E.

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www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

In pictures Bristol Distinguished Address Series - The Annual Bolland Lecture

‘MANAGERS NEED MORE TRAINING Ian Mean Business@b-nm.co.uk

H

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OW many times have we looked at and listened to a new manager in a business and wondered how did he or she get there?

Well, it was probably by accident.

And when that conclusion comes from one of British industry’s most senior managers you have to sit up and listen.

That’s exactly what the audience did when Mike Clasper CBE gave the annual Bolland lecture at the University of the West of England to mark the start of the new Distinguished Address Series.

He has a pedigree second to none in big business as the current president of the Chartered Management Institute, chairman of Coats Group plc as well as a senior independent director at Serco plc and chairman of Which?

Ltd. Mike has also been chief executive of the British Airport Authority and chairman of HMRC – all that from a long background in senior positions with Procter & Gamble, which is regarded as one of the world’s best managerial and marketing stables.

Here is a man with thoroughbred

● Mike Clasper management blood coursing through his veins.

“I think it has always been true that there has been good and poor management,” he says. “But I think one of the real issues today is that we have a lot of what I would describe as ‘accidental managers’.

“They have not been developed and trained as managers before they are actually put in charge of a lot of people. Often, they have proved them-

selves in technical areas like accountancy or engineering and then somebody says go and run this group of people.

“The great ones have enough raw talent to succeed but a lot flounder and when they flounder the people working for them suffer, they suffer and the organisation suffers. So, I think, it’s a real problem.”

So, why aren’t managers given more training and more personal development?

“It is quite surprising that there is a belief that management is not a profession. Somehow, it is something you pick up along the way and also you can’t teach it – that great leaders are born and not taught.

“I don’t believe that at all. But it’s that – the fact that management is not thought of as a profession.”

Mike believes the result of this thinking is that often managers do not get the training they need and deserve for perhaps four or five years, and along the way cuts in training budgets just do not help their overall development as people managers.

“At the end of the day we are short changing our people and we are short changing our organisations,” he said.

He sees interpersonal skills as being key to a good manager in a world of ever-increasing automation and technology.

ONE MILLION MORE MANAGERS BY 2020 ● The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) predicts some 1 million managers will be required in the UK by 2020 .

This and the fact that only one in five managers received training has led to University of the West of England (UWE) to invest in a number of initiatives to support the region.

UWE’s Faculty of Business and Law and CMI recently announced a joint partnership to offer professional accreditation

“What it means is that people you are leading have complexity and difficult tasks. You have to motivate, teach and mentor to be a great leader.

Not enough people get that today as they approach leadership roles.”

What advice does he have for students setting out on their careers?

“The graduate jobs recruitment market is just so competitive now. So, I think they actually need to start very early. I think internships are very important – trying to find ways to get to good interpersonal skills.

“They need to be very self-aware – if they are developing or not? My advice

alongside academic qualifications.

The Partnership with CMI will mean some 400 Undergraduate and 50 MBA students will receive CMI professional accreditation as part of their degree.

Information about these courses can be found here: MBA - http://courses.uwe.ac.uk/ N12212/2016, or for undergraduate degree http://courses.uwe.ac.uk/ N201/2016.

to graduates is to be self-aware and if you are not developing take action.” ● The Bolland Lecture which Mike Clasper gave at UWE was established in 1976 to commemorate Dr Robert Bolland, who held the post of Director of Bristol Polytechnic from its foundation in 1969 to his death in 1974. In 1992, Bristol Polytechnic gained university status becoming the University of the West of England.

● Details of the Bristol Distinguished Address series in partnership with the Bristol Post can be found at http://www1.uwe.ac. uk/whatson/ bristoldaseries.aspx

www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

IN HOW TO BE MANAGERS’

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Business diary Netwalk for olderpreneurs: Walk and talk considering healthy you, healthy business, running a business as an olderpreneur. Takes place on Thursday, October 15, gather Bristol Folk House at 9.15am for 10am start back by noon. Aimed at business people over 50. Cost £10, book via eventbrite.

Online Influence West: Pinterest’s UK marketing manager Lizzy Sibley, Airbnb’s EMEA marketing manager Holly Clarke, global lead social analytics and insights at Microsoft Thane Ryland and Twitter head of content Europe Paul McCrudden are among speakers at this event at Mecure Hotel, Bristol, on October 16.

Find out more at http://www.onlineinfluence.net /oi-west Preparing your business for sale: Free half day seminar jointly hosted by ActionCOACH Bristol & North Somerset, Burton Sweet and the HR Dept. It’s aimed at owners of businesses with sales between £250K-£30m who want the option of selling or creating a business that works without them. Leigh Court, 8.30am on Friday, October 16.

Employers’ pensions Seminar: Punter Southall is hosting a pensions seminar on Wednesday October 21for employers and pension scheme trustees.

Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb, who was the architect of many of the recent changes to pensions, is guest speaker.

Contact the events team on 0117 202 0449 or at dcevents@puntersouthall.com.

GALLERIES GALORE

FOR MORE PICTURES Check out our website at bristolpost.co.uk/business

Natwest Legal Sector Conference: Now in its fifth year, the conference will look at how law firms can exploit new channels to market, improve profitability and partner performance and deliver business strategy via alternative funding structures. Speakers include Dez Derry of mmadigital, Stephen Gold of Stephen Gold Consulting, Peter Scott of Peter Scott Consulting and Colum Smith from McMillan Williams Solicitors Limited. Takes place on Wednesday, October 21 at Temple Quay, Bristol. To register visit https://www.mmadigital.co. uk/natwest/ Bristol Post Green Capital Awards: Celebrating the achievements of businesses, communities and individuals in making the city a greener and better place. The gala ceremony takes place on November 12 at Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre. To nominate or buy tickets, visit www.bristolpost.co. uk/greencapitalawards.

Global MSC – Technology and Innovation in the Security Industry: With speakers from chief constables to Big Brother Watch, Global MSC’s annual conference is a high profile industry event. November 9 and 10 at the Bristol Hotel. Email events@globalmsc.net.

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Post your events online at southwestbusiness.co.uk Events are sometimes cancelled without us being notified so please check with organisers before travelling.

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www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

In pictures Just Eat launch

Talent Future looks tasty as Just Eat opens ‘innovation hub’

O

NLINE takeaway food ordering platform Just Eat officially opened its Bristol innovation hub, after taking out a 10-year lease on 10,000 sq ft of office space at Broad Quay House.

The opening is a result of the company’s plans to expand its technology development activity in the UK. The office will be populated by software engineers and developers working on all core business projects alongside the London team.

The Bristol office will focus on developing and strengthening e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and electronic point of sales systems.

These innovations will benefit restaurant owners and consumers.

The company recently published the first economic impact study of the UK takeaway sector, which found the industry is worth £620 million to the

South West economy and supports 17,300 jobs throughout the region.

Group chief technology officer Carlos Morgado said: “Bristol is an ideal location for our tech innovation hub due to the dynamic technology talent pool. The city is host to a cluster of technology companies and worldclass universities, as well as being culturally rich.

“The quality of life is also exceptional which we feel will appeal greatly to our employees.

“The innovative office is already home to 50 employees, and we have ambitious plans to grow this significantly in the coming months.”

Ross Gardiner, a graduate recruit who recently joined to work at the Bristol office added: “Just Eat is on an amazing journey, revolutionising the takeaway industry and bringing great benefits to consumers and restaurant owners.

“It’s exciting to be part of such an innovative team, and seeing the impact of your work on millions of customers and thousands of small

businesses up and down the country is very rewarding.”

To mark the opening, members of the team took part in a sponsored 140

mile bike ride from the company's London office to Bristol in aid of the children's charity Starlight, raising more than £1,000 for the cause.

PIC’s official launch in the South West.”

Barrister Darren Lewis from St John’s Chambers spoke about costs budgeting and management at the seminar.

“Cost budgeting is a very prominent subject that is affecting people

in the industry,” he said. “This cost update was a useful opportunity for people to ask questions and understand the impact the changes have on them and provided a space for legal minds to come together and share insight and knowledge, key to moving with the recent changes.”

In pictures PIC seminar

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Legal experts get update on cost changes MEMBERS of the legal community attended a costs seminar; learning more about the impact of recent changes on victims of medical negligence and personal injury.

Led by keynote speaker Dominic Regan – a qualified solicitor who acted as an advisor to Lord Justice Jackson on the recent overhaul of costs budgeting and management – the event was hosted by claimant-only costs experts PIC. The event, which welcomed prominent legal professionals from across the region, covered a number of controversial changes which have ‘overhauled’ the industry in recent years – including the introduction of capped costs, the ruling on proportionate costs and the rollout of cost budgeting.

Attendees stayed after the seminar celebrate the official launch of PIC’s first office in the South West.

The session, which took place at St John’s Chambers in Victoria Street in Bristol, had insight from costs litigation Barrister Darren Lewis, as well as PIC’s litigation project man-

● Barrister Darren Lewis speaks at the seminar; right, Dominic Regan agement and budgeting expert Reuben Glynn.

Professor Regan said: “The law of costs is trickier now than ever before.

Get it wrong and risk getting paid nothing. It is as simple as that. Wise guidance is of the utmost importance.”

John Plunkett, who heads up the PIC South West office, said: “The seminar was very successful, with many of the region’s leading legal players joining us to hear from the experts themselves about the impact of recent changes within the costs law industry, as well as to help celebrate

www.southwestbusiness.co.uk

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

15

In pictures Simmons & Simmons party

Law firm celebrates milestone at museum LAW firm Simmons & Simmons celebrated the third anniversary of the opening of its Bristol office.

The company marked the milestone by hosting a client reception at the M Shed museum in Bristol.

Partner Mahrie Webb spoke at the event, saying that the firm had grown from 15 people in 2012 to more than 100 today, including more than 50 lawyers.

“Our growth in Bristol reflects the significant progress we have made since we opened,” she said.

“We receive consistently positive feedback on the quality of our people in Bristol and on the work we do, and

we look forward to continuing to grow.”

She also spoke about the firm’s culture, its art collection and, in particular, its sponsorship of I’m Staying, a neon artwork commissioned by the Bristol Biennial in 2014 that moves to different locations around Bristol in response to public vote.

“It’s a work that demonstrates our commitment to the arts and our commitment to Bristol,” Mahrie said.

Guests also heard from Hannah Clark, the artistic director of Bristol Biennial and Shaun C. Badham, the artist who created I’m Staying.

● Left, Lauryn Mann, Erin Hookey and Heather McMaster during the drinks reception to celebrate law firm Simmons and Simmons’ birthday at M Shed Pictures: Dan Regan

● Right, Hannah Clark, Shaun C Badham and Dee Hedd ● Left, James Chapman and Scott Townson

GALLERIES GALORE

FOR MORE PICTURES Check out our website at bristolpost.co.uk/business

● Jonathan Hammond and Gemma Slater ● Ian MacKinnon (centre) chats to other guests

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● Rosanna Piper-Gill enjoying the party

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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

The back page

Your digest of the week in business

People ● Keynsham-based Almeda has brought in Ben Arbery, 42, who joins the family business as associate director. He will work alongside Brady George, who recently took over the facilities management firm from his father Gary as managing director.

Ben spent 15 years working within the financial services industry, initially as a financial adviser and mortgage broker and latterly as a financial services assessor. He worked for a host of companies including John Charcol and the Cooperative.

In his new role Ben, above, will be responsible for working with existing clients, developing new business and helping the senior team to take advantage of new commercial opportunities.

Despite only being a few weeks into the job Ben has already been impressed by Almeda’s influence in the city. He said: “In my first week I met the team at the Arnolfini, a building that Almeda manages, and I was so energised about the positive things they had to say about us and the difference we are making.” ● Architects AWW has appointed Jamie Furse, below, as its ninth director in the firm’s 40th year in business.

Jamie joined in 2006, and has led a number of award-winning projects including work on Finzels Reach, Imperial Tobacco headquarters and the grade II listed Computershare offices in Bristol. Most recently he was project leader for the transformation of Narrow Quay House office building, in the city centre. A significant proportion of the space was let off plan, the first such letting in the area for over three years. The project has been shortlisted for Insider South West Office Development of the Year.

An experienced master planner, Jamie’s specialisms are within the

● Agnieszka Czapiewska and Kasia Nowak office and residential sectors. He also has extensive experience in acute and primary healthcare and extra care developments.

Richard Francis, practice director, said: “Jamie is an invaluable addition to the team of directors.

2015 finds AWW well placed for further adventure both at home and increasingly internationally, secure in the knowledge that our succession plan will lead the practice to even greater heights.” ● Kasia Nowak and Agnieszka Czapiewska have been brought in as head of housekeeping and front office manager respectively at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Bristol City Centre hotel on Redcliffe Way. The appointments follow improved occupancy levels and an increased appetite for both business and leisure travellers to visit Bristol and stay in quality accommodation.

Also, with the ongoing recovery in the economy the hotel has seen businesses start to release the purse strings, leading to an uptick in conference and event business.

This has resulted in a need to appoint managers to cater for this increase in demand and expected levels of service.

John Dowling, general manager at the hotel said: “These new appointments are fully deserved.

“It’s important that we have in place the right people who can provide the service and high

standards expected from all our guests. This is vital especially as Bristol emerges as a destination of choice for both tourists and business people alike.

“With DoubleTree by Hilton also being a well-known worldwide brand, making sure service levels are consistent is also key so that regular users of DoubleTree hotels are not disappointed during their stay.”

Places ● An empty Bristol office building has been sold to a private buyer. Acting on behalf of a private investor, Colliers International has sold 1970s office block Kenham House, right, in Wilder Street, St Paul’s.

Chris Dawson, director in Colliers international’s development consulting and agency team said, “Our client has held this building for many years as an office investment, and earlier this year it became 100 per cent void.

“Our client considered applying for a ‘prior notification’ or full planning consent to change the building’s use from office to residential in addition to other options for the site, but has decided to exit given the opportunity to sell now.

“The sale was negotiated quickly, completion having taken place earlier in September.”

● The freehold interest in a group of five industrial units in Clevedon, North Somerset, has been sold for £1.75 million.

Acting on behalf of The Conygar Investment Company PLC, Colliers International sold Units 5A, B, C and 6A & B at Tweed Road Industrial Estate in Clevedon to a private investor represented by Deloitte UK. The multi-let property comprises five units housed within two industrial, terraced warehouses totalling 30,800 sq ft and producing an income of circa £147,000 per annum. The sale yielded just under an eight per cent return.

Richard Coombs, director of national investment at the Bristol office of Colliers, said: “Demand for industrial investments in established locations continues to be popular among a range of buyers. There was strong interest in the Tweed Road units from property companies, high net worth investors and some managed funds.”

He added: “Demand for industrial investments are as high now as any time in the last 18 months, and despite the usual slowdown in volume of transactions over the summer break we are predicting a strong fourth quarter.”

Success ● The Castle School, Thornbury, has been recognised for the work it does to bridge the gap between Education and the world of work. Winner of the British Chambers of Commerce Regional Award for ‘Business and Education Partnership’, its Premium Partnership scheme, which was set up four years ago, has built, long-lasting relationships with businesses ranging from multinationals such as Renishaw to SMEs in the local area. Together, the school and its 70 business partners raise aspirations, run projects that challenge and inspire students, and help young people develop the soft skills and attitudes that are so important in the workplace. The scheme is now operating at Marlwood School and will be rolled out to other schools.

It will go on to the national award on November 26 in London. To find out more contact Tess Wilkinson at info@premium-partners.co.uk.

In numbers Inflation (CPI)

0.1 1.0 1.8 0.5 3.99 20 Inflation (RPI)

Weekly earnings

Base interest rate

% % %

%

Ave mortgage rate % Corporation tax % Main rate Business current accounts

1.01% State Bank £10,000 deposit of India 0.25% £1 deposit

Business savings accounts Hampshire Trust Bank

1.50% £5,000 deposit

1.49% State Bank £10,000 deposit of India Source:

The Phone Box Millionaire

Understanding our fellow human beings is a business essential

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O

CTOBER sees Black History Month taking place in Bristol and there is a whole series of events to attend if you’re interested in this essential part of our heritage.

One of the things I love about business is that essentially it is non-discriminatory. If you have a product or service that the market wants, it has no preference as to your ethnical origins.

Judging someone by the colour of their skin is a ludicrous way to assess their character. We live in a multicultural society where business has global export intentions so understanding our fellow human beings is essential. Especially if we are to sell

Stephen Fear Fear Group

them goods produced in Britain.

I have friends across many nationalities and who are proponents of various religions too. I see no difference in whether they are good or bad people based on either religion or ethnicity.

There are many black entrepreneurs who contribute enormously to the wealth in our society. People like Levi Roots, Piers Linney and Wilfred Emanuel Jones to name but three.

I understand there are 10,000 black owned businesses in London who con-

tribute millions of pounds to our Exchequer and provide a huge number of jobs too. I’m not sure how many black owned businesses there are in Bristol but given the city’s rich cultural heritage it doesn’t seem enough.

Last year I co-hosted a series of shows on Ujima Radio with my friend, the black author and presenter, Roger Griffith, where we discussed various business related topics including encouraging people from disadvantaged backgrounds to start their own businesses.

We weren’t especially encouraging black and Asian people to join in the enterprise revolution but as the show was broadcast from the heart of St Paul’s in Bristol it certainly leant that

way. And why not?

The UK needs more entrepreneurs from varied backgrounds and that includes every skin colour and religious preference too. We all want a prosperous Britain and should be aiming to spread the word that regardless of background and other potential disadvantages it is still possible to succeed.

It shouldn’t matter where you are from, it’s where you’re going that counts. I see many new entrepreneurs in my role as Ambassador and Entrepreneur in Residence at The British Library in London and have never even thought about their skin colour or religious beliefs when assessing the potential of their idea.

Bristol is an amazing place which has produced some equally amazing people. Its history is steeped in the slave trade but its future should not be trapped by it.

We must never forget the suffering caused to a people who were often treated worse than we treat animals today. It was barbaric and something that Britain should never forget which is why events like Black History Month are so important.

It shouldn’t be forgotten either that Victorians sent very young white boys up chimneys and to work in satanic mills for 12 hours a day.

Times move on but memories must remain so future generations remember not to repeat our past mistakes.