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bristolpost.co .co.uk .uk
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10
JUN
2015
INNOVATION SPECIAL
BRISTOL VENTURES INTO THE FUTURE More than 100 local companies showcase their amazing inventions at Venturefest Bristol and Bath – pages 6-11
EURO WINDFALL
GREAT EXHIBITION
BRISTOL CONNECTED
Firm secures a 1.5 million euro grant for research – page 3
New stand the future of exhibiting at events - page 5
Bosses should talk in everyday language in a crisis – p4
Proud to support Bristol as European Green Capital Keeping people moving and communities prospering. EPB-E01-S3
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Property
Parking policy and high rents ‘having impact’ ● RISING rents, lack of supply and residents-only parking plans are resulting in more and more company owners registering their interest in commercial office space outside of the city. That is according to Gemma Day, 30, director of Weston Gateway Business Park, based at the Junction 21 Enterprise Area in Weston-super-Mare. She said she was seeing inquiries flooding in from Bristol firms for space at Enterprise House, a 26,000 sq ft commercial office build that offers suites from 2,500 sq ft for businesses. The building is set to be completed by the summer of 2016 and Gemma, pictured, says it is likely to be at capacity before a spade hits the ground. She said: “The level of interest from firms in Bristol and across the South West looking to take space at Enterprise House is unprecedented and shows that sky-high rents, lack of supply and policies from local government that aren’t always business friendly, are having an impact.” Business owners can get £16.50 per sq ft against £25-plus in the city for Grade A BREEAM-rated space. Last week, Bristol mayor George Ferguson said he did not think residents’ parking would see firms leave Bristol for North Somerset or elsewhere because Bristol was such an attractive place to be based and to live.
Motoring
‘Demand for charge points will increase’
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● BRISTOL Mayor George Ferguson has found an unlikely supporter of one of his motoring policies. Bristol City Council, led by Mr Ferguson, spent £1 million installing charging points in the city. But the Bristol Post recently revealed they had been used less than once a month on average since being installed in 2012. However, Paul Williams, head of agency at commercial property firm Bruton Knowles in Bristol said critics of the programme – which aims to provide a network of 200 plus charging points in and around Bristol – had failed to factor in future demand. “For once, Bristol is ensuring the infrastructure is there to serve future usage levels rather than trying to identify locations once green travel has really taken off,” he said. “Although we have not always seen eye to eye with Bristol’s mayor on traffic and particularly parking issues, this is one occasion when we believe the city is getting it right. We must have the carrot before the stick. “Demand for electric car charging points may not be sky high at the moment, but it will increase over time as more motorists switch over to electric or hybrid vehicles.”
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Bristol Post Business Awards 2015
“ I am very excited to be joining ForrestBrown. Having witnessed the growth in the uptake of R&D tax credits from within HMRC, where my caseload doubled over seven years, it is clear that this is a fascinating and growing area. Malcolm Henderson
Tax credits Consultancy signs up ‘voice of expertise’ for new role Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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RESEARCH and development tax consultancy has hired a former HMRC expert as it looks to continue its high-speed success story. ForrestBrown, based in Clifton, Bristol, has appointed former HMRC tax specialist Malcolm Henderson to a newly-created role of R&D technical specialist. Malcolm has worked in various HMRC roles for more than 25 years, the last 10 as a tax inspector in the Portsmouth Incentives and Reliefs (I&R) Unit, where he acted as an expert on tax inquiries relating to R&D tax credits.
A key part of his role was to develop uptake of the R&D tax credit scheme, which he did through presentations to businesses in a range of industries, but with a particular focus in the pharmaceutical sector. It means he will be in familiar territory at ForrestBrown, educating entrepreneurs to the potential tax breaks they could be benefiting from, as well as acting in a quality-assurance capacity for claims before they
are submitted to the taxman. The appointment is another boost for the fast-growing firm, which is a finalist in the Start Up Business of the Year category at the Bristol Post Business Awards. Managing director, Simon Brown, said: “Malcolm is a highly-respected tax specialist both internally at HMRC and among the many external clients he worked with during his time there. He was a familiar voice at the end of the phone for my team – a real voice of expertise. “With insights into what HMRC is looking for in a high-quality submission, his input will be hugely valuable in terms of preparing optimised, yet technically robust, claims, as will his ability to assist us from a business development perspective.” Malcolm said: “I am very excited to
be joining ForrestBrown. Having witnessed the growth in the uptake of R&D tax credits from within HMRC, where my caseload doubled over seven years, it is clear that this is a fascinating and growing area. “One of the first things we had to teach ourselves was to keep an open mind. An R&D claim for an apparently mundane object may come in – say a bedside table – but it would turn out to be constructed with an innovative, anti-bacterial material, which helped fight the spread of infection in hospitals.” In its first 18 months of trading, ForrestBrown has recouped over £15 million for clients and so far boasts a 100 per cent success rate. The Bristol Post Business Awards, in association with UWE Bristol, take place at the Passenger Shed on June 25.
Sponsor profile
Tailored service benefits employees AON is dedicated to delivering and managing ‘best in class’ cost-effective employee benefits solutions to clients of all sizes, geographies and industries. Our experience and knowledge of the benefits market and employee engagement arena, underpinned by our leading global technology platform, underpins our high-
quality, proactive client service. Who we are? Aon Employee Benefits is one of the most experienced and well-respected employee benefits consultancies, providing employee benefits advice, technology, administration and broking services to companies ranging from large corporates to SMEs. What do we do? Our expertise
ranges across flexible and online benefits technology, health and wellbeing, pensions and auto-enrolment, total reward, benefit communications, employee financial management, risk management and international benefits. Why are we different? We don’t believe one size fits all. Each of our clients benefits from our tailored ser-
vice and innovative approach. We can help you deliver sustainable, appropriate and engaging benefits designed perfectly for your employees. Find out more at www.aon.com.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Technology
Sound investment Pioneering firm secures funds for tech revolution Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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SMALL company has secured a 1.5 million euro European grant for its research, which looks set to revolutionise markets from cars to home appliances and computer games. Ultrahaptics, based at the Engine Shed in Bristol, has developed a unique technology that uses ultrasound to project sensations through the air. People can ‘feel’ touch-less buttons, get feedback for mid-air gestures or interact with virtual objects. It has been awarded the money – roughly £1.1 million – from the European Commission under its Horizon 2020 programme supporting small and medium-sized businesses across the EU. Only 37 of the 614 applications were successful. Chief technology officer, Tom Carter, said: “The funding means we can accelerate our engineering roadmap and get to market faster. “The immediate result is that we will be expanding the company here in Bristol.” Many believe the company is on the brink of something huge. Tom started exploring ultrasound technology during the final year of his master’s degree at the University of Bristol and continued to develop the idea as the basis of his PhD studies. He founded Ultrahaptics in November 2013 after recognising the commercial potential. Since then, the fledgling tech firm has been on an upward trajectory. In December, Steve Cliffe was brought in as CEO after the firm closed a £660,000 seed investment funding round investment. Steve joined from Plessey Semiconductors, where he was business development director.
● The technology in action; below, Tom Carter, left, and Steve Cliffe Then in January, Michael Tobin, a former chief executive of FTSE 250 technology company Telecity Group, joined as chairman. Bringing in such an experienced management team shows how Ultrahaptics sees the huge potential to be a global business, not just a small firm playing with ‘cool’ tech. The company launched an evaluation programme, where it invites potential customers to try out its technology and research how they could use it in their markets. The car industry, games and home appliances are all thought to have potential. Turn on the kettle with a motion of your hand, change with a
pre-determined gesture... Interest is strong with a number of what the company calls ‘tier one’ companies enrolled onto the programme. Steve told Business: “It really is an exciting time for Ultrahaptics – the team is growing quite quickly. We were two people in November and we will grow from 12 to 15 through the month of June.” Most of the new hires will be engineers, but the firm is looking for commercial staff, too. Steve said: “The next step for the company is to build out the engineering team, which will allow us to accelerate the technology roadmap and also support a growing number of customer development requirements. We also
will be building out the commercial team. “The early applications are being driven by our customers, where we fully expect to see several working prototypes this year and production to commence with some applications towards the end of next year. “We have been extremely encouraged by the speed at which our customers wish to move in markets such as computer, gaming and automotive.” He added: “The Engine Shed is a great place to start and grow a business, with all the help and support they provide. Also, Bristol is a great place to attract and retain quality engineering staff.”
Recruitment
Growth soars as cash flow conundrum solved Trevor, a former UWE student who started work as a mental health nurse with the NHS over 10 years ago, said: “We felt frustrated because we couldn’t grow as quickly as we wanted to and it was simply the cash cycle that was holding us back. “We had a weekly payroll for our staff, but usually had to wait a couple of months to get paid by clients. “This added to our costs as the interest on borrowing was over ten per cent. “It had a knock-on-effect on other areas of business, such as not being able to take on more staff to meet the growing demand. It was an area we needed to change – and quickly.” Trevor, who has worked as an area manager with Avon and Wiltshire mental health trust, said: “Hayley
● Trevor Mapondera and Hayley Chiba managed the whole cash-flow issue and dealt with the banks, so we could focus on running our business. It was like a weight was lifted off our shoulders. “We wouldn’t be where we are
today if it weren’t for Hayley. Instead, we would be plodding along and unable to grow because of lack of capital.” The business, which has its headquarters in Bradley Pavilions, Bradley Stoke, is set to take on another 300 nurses within a year – bringing its team of available staff to 500 – and to open a branch in Gloucester this summer. Hayley, who has worked as a finance manager for the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and lives with her son and partner in Westbury Park, said: “Cash flow problems can affect a company’s ability to make money. Strong cash flow allows a company more flexibility with its business decisions and potential investments.”
Old boy Tony returns to build uni’s future ● IT’S been 25 years since Tony Syddall graduated from the University of West England with a degree in construction management, but now he’s back... building the new students’ union. Tony is project manager in charge of the £9 million building for contractor BAM Construction. He is also using the experience to give something back as he has been working with three students in their placement year from UWE construction programmes. Tony said: “Things have changed, of course, since my time here when I stayed in halls of residence in Coldharbour Lane. I used to have a beer here, but the campus was dotted around the city. After I got my degree, I was self-employed as an engineer for many years, and joined BAM in 2007. I came here after creating a refuge for people in crisis in Pilsdon, Dorset – a project that won the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award. “We enjoy a very strong relationship with the university. One of our management team lectures here on new technology and our Facebook page keeps the students informed of how the project is going. “Their new building is two structures on split levels, and we’re doing some additional service works to help the university with future expansion.” BAM, based in nearby Harry Stoke, expects to finish work this summer in time for the building – which includes a bar, a shop, a dance floor, coffee shop, meeting rooms, offices and a plaza – to be ready for the new academic term.
Travel
Workers spend 5pc of salary on commuting ● A FIFTH of Bristol workers spend five per cent of their salary simply getting to and from work. The findings come from a survey of over 4,000 senior business people across the UK and around 240 in Bristol by workplace provider, Regus. With train fares and petrol costs continuing to rise, the results show that more than a fifth (21 per cent) pays out more than five per cent of their salary on commuting. The average proportion of pay spent on commuting by UK workers is now four per cent, a rise from three per cent in 2010. Commuting costs are thought to be contributing to a rise in the number of professionals looking to work flexibly.
Get in touch Assistant Editor (Business) Gavin Thompson Call 0117 934 3336 Email gavin.thompson @b-nm.co.uk Twitter @gavin_thompson1 Advertising Robert Rodgerson Call07584 003229 Email robert.rodgerson @b-nm.co.uk Advertising Jane Chapman Call 01179 343025 Email jane.chapman @b-nm.co.uk
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A HEALTH care recruiter is set to see his company’s turnover increase sixteenfold this year after getting outside help to manage cash flow. Trevor Mapondera, 35, set up Nurseline Healthcare Limited in 2011 and the firm recorded a profit in its first year. But its income masked serious cash flow issues, with wages paid ahead of receiving payment from clients. The firm, which offers cost-effective nurse recruitment to healthcare providers, sometimes had to turn away contracts despite having a team to carry out the work. The company then called in finance specialist Hayley Chiba, of Better Numbers, and within six months she has helped it to increase its growth by 40 per cent.
Construction
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Bristol Connected ● Linda Cohen, of Velopost
● Dave Mason, of Kingsdown-based Mentor Media Training
Pictures: Jon Kent
● Pete Lloyd, Simon Bates, Helen Wright and Amy Morse
Media tips Handle a crisis with some ‘care’ Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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OMPANY bosses need to talk in everyday language at times of crisis, a media expert told business people at Bristol Connected. Dave Mason, of Kingsdown-based Mentor Media Training, said: “Don’t use words like ‘apologise’ and ‘regret’. Human beings say ‘sorry’ when someone is hurt.” He said in a crisis companies should engage with the media rather than take cover. But he urged them to follow a simple approach. “We advise people to adopt the CARE message,” he said. That is: ● Show Concern immediately and say sorry if anyone has been hurt ● Then A is action. This is what we will do and put it right ● R is reassurance – we will do everything in our power to make sure this doesn’t happen again ● And E is engage with families, the media and the authorities to keep them up-to-date. He hailed Richard Branson as the best example of this approach, with the reputation of the Virgin brand remaining strong despite tragedy such as the recent Virgin Galactic crash. Dave has years of broadcast experience and now trains businesses to deal with the media. “We don’t just train people to be good speaker, we try to get people to tell their business story well to all kinds of media,” he said. “That’s so-
● Above, Helen Carpenter, Carrie Brassley and Inge Dowden
● Left, Helen Blenkinsop and Kevin Quick
● Linn Waite and Toby Sawdon cial medial, citizen journalists with mobile phones and it’s traditional media. For many organisations that’s frightening to deal with.” He was speaking to more than 30 business people at the latest Bristol Connected event, which took place at the Radisson Blu in Broad Quay, in the city centre. Bristol Connected is a networking
event organised by the Bristol Post and South West Business to give people a relaxed setting in which to make new business connections. Linda Cohen shared with the audience the story of cycle mail service Velopost, which has now grown to 45 delivery staff. The family-owned business recently started producing its own
stamps for Bristol and put its first postbox in the city. But businesses and organisations such as medical centres make up many of its customers. She said the business was sustainable and affordable, thanks to a low-cost base and that people were more engaged by an addressed letter than an email.
Earlier, Chris Young, from the Radisson Blu, told how visitor numbers were up across Bristol as a whole. He welcomed the arrival of planned new hotels, including the Premier Inn and Hampton by Hilton, as good for the city. And he revealed the strangest thing ever left by a guest in a room at the hotel was a prosthetic leg!
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Manufacturing
Stands deliver Flexible displays may be the future for exhibitions
● Paul Runacres, Clip’s sales and marketing director
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Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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COMPANY that builds exhibition stands has launched a product that it believes represents the future of exhibiting at events. Clip Exhibition and Display, which employs more than 50 staff in Bristol, has spent a year developing the product, which is called Refresh. The Pucklechurch-based firm be-
lieves it is an industry first that will bridge the gap between a simple shell and expensive full-blown stands. Doug Gosling, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the exhibition and display sector, has been appointed by Clip to head up the launch of the product. The system is designed to be low cost, but flexible. It is made from fabric that is easily reconfigured into any shape or size, using the same components but without the need to use tools. Doug thinks business-owners will be able to create a product that can be used for internal presentations and
conferences, as well as at exhibitions. He said: “Refresh can be a pop-up stand or a purpose-built stand – it can be whatever you want it to be and will save business owners money and time, regardless of what sector they operate in. “Unlike other stands, the development and versatility of Refresh makes it future-proof.” Sales and marketing director, Paul Runacres, said: “We’ve invested hundreds of thousands to produce Refresh, which is easy to assemble, easy to transport, modular, multi-purpose and looks great, and you don’t need to
hire outside contractors to construct it if you don’t want to.” The company, which has a turnover of £8.5 million, designs and builds exhibition stands for companies of all sizes and works with a host of firms across the South West and internationally including Thatchers Cider, HSBC, Nando’s, Hilton, Google, Westons Cider, BT and GSK. It recently invested in building a 13,000 sq ft live lounge to showcase its own work. Clip will be launching the new product at its live lounge at the end of the month, followed by a London launch soon afterwards.
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Energy-saving rules ‘offer firms rewards’ ● COMPANIES view new energysaving rules as an obligation rather than an opportunity to reduce overheads because of the Government’s hard line on fines, according to a Bristol-based resource efficiency specialist. Ecosurety commercial director, James Piper, below, thinks too many firms are unaware of the lasting financial and reputational benefits of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme as a result. The business, based in Aztec West, analysed the views of 200-plus members eligible for the scheme, who must submit an energy assessment to the Environment Agency by December. At least a quarter of all businesses that fall under the scheme are yet to act, despite the approaching deadline and risk of fines, the research suggests. About 7,000 large businesses in the UK are obligated to carry out an ESOS assessment. That could equate to just over 1,700 burying their heads in the sand. James said: “Our outreach suggests many company boards are still ignoring this opportunity, possibly because they were bombarded with warning messages about ESOS. “Many of our members have been approached by assessors, but the message about the big savings, plus the environmental benefits, really hasn’t been communicated effectively. It’s definitely been more stick than carrot and as a result significant numbers are simply switching off.” But he said: “This opportunity is about so much more than avoiding fines, it’s about sustainable, long-term financial rewards, and protecting a company’s often hard-won reputation.” ESOS applies to organisations that employ more than 250 people or with an annual turnover of more than £38.98 million, plus a balance sheet value of more than £33.48 million. Assessments of energy use on site and in transport need to be renewed every four years, while non-compliance can lead to firms being fined up to £50,000.
Training
Making an impact on IT staff service cent are delivered virtually. New Horizons is a global IT training franchise, headquartered in California but with several operations set up around the UK. The company’s deal with Your Impact has been struck by Highbury College in Portsmouth, which owns the New Horizons franchise in Portsmouth and Birmingham. Sue Gilkes, managing director of Your Impact, said: “This new relationship is the perfect partnership, as both companies can add a completely new stream to their offering which complements perfectly what they already do. “So for example New Horizons trains a lot of IT apprentices and there is now exciting potential to
provide them with customer service, helpdesk and troubleshooting skills – everything else that an IT apprentice would need outside of the technical side of their training. “We now have a completely new outlet, which is bound to help us raise our turnover. “I expect that we will more than double our virtual delivery, which makes up 80 per cent of our sales, so turnover will nearly double too.” Paul Rolfe, IT director for Highbury College and managing director for the New Horizons UK franchise, said: “Many IT departments let themselves down with their lack of softer skills like customer service and it’s now time for these companies to address these issues.”
● Paul Rolfe and Sue Gilkes
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TRAINING firm Your Impact is aiming to double turnover by helping IT departments improve customer service skills. The professional services trainer will work with IT training company New Horizons to provide IT departments in organisations across the UK with a broad range of services. The firm will provide soft skills training to complement the technical know-how of New Horizons. Your Impact is based just outside Bristol in Chipping Sodbury, and specialises in performance training for the IT sector, with a client list which includes Microsoft and construction and engineering firm Sir Robert McAlpine, providing a range of performance-related courses of which 80 per
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The Big Interview
I REALLY CREDIT BRISTOL IN THE S When your work is also your passion, it can lead to something magical as IMDb founder Col Needham tells Gavin Thompson when they met at Venturefest
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N old film is like a fine wine, says Col Needham. The entrepreneur, who has made his living from movies thanks to his IMDb website, last week watched his 9,000th film. “It was Alfred Hitchcock’s The Pleasure Garden,” says Col, 48. “It’s his first film.” Despite claiming to be “the world’s biggest Hitchcock fan”, Col had never seen it before. “Old classic films are like fine wine,” he says. “I save films I’ve always wanted to see for the right time. When that comes along I will uncork them and watch one. “So although I’ve been a huge Hitchcock fan for 25 years I had never watched it but when I was coming to my 9,000th film I thought it was the right time.” Col has been in Bristol since 1988, so it’s fitting that his favourite actor is fellow Bristolian Cary Grant. He’s saving some of his films for a yet to be determined special occasion. “There are four early Cary Grant films I’ve yet to see,” he says. “All very early ones, films he made between 1932 and 36. I could binge watch them
Vital statistics Name: Col Needham Title: Founder and CEO Company: IMDb (part of Amazon) Age: 48 Education: Audenshaw Grammar School, Manchester. Studied computer science at Leeds University.
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but then I would never have another Cary Grant film to see.” If films are indeed like fine wine, Col has the world’s best stocked wine cellar. If that’s true then this is a man with the world’s largest wine cellar. He is the founder and CEO of IMDb, or internet movie database, a website with information on more than three million film and TV series. He founded the company 25 years ago but sold it to Amazon in 1996, a move that was more risky than it sounds. “Back then Amazon was an online bookseller based in Seattle,” he says. “We were a profitable UK-based business. Even people who worked for us thought it was a risk.” But it worked out well, and Col is proof that selling doesn’t have to mean an exit from the business. “I traded my IMDb shares for Amazon ones,” he said. “It didn’t work out too bad.” The company has always remained Bristol-based, though it also has offices in Seattle and Los Angeles. “In Bristol we manage the world’s largest database of film and television information,” says Col. “When people send us information to be incorporated into the database, pretty much all of that is done in the Bristol office. That’s an 85 million item database which is in Bristol and always has been.
“Last year, we added more than one third of a million titles to IMDb. They weren’t all films and shows made in 2014, we’re still filling in gaps from the 1920s or Indian films from the 1960s. “We’re at the point now where we have over three million titles. 10 per cent were submitted in the last year and the size of the database has doubled in the last five years. Here we are 25 years old and we’re growing at those kind of rates. It’s crazy but in a good way.” After a quarter of a century, IMDb finally has a proper home. The firm moved to the 16th floor of Castlemead tower block in Bristol city centre on Monday with space for 40 people and options to grow into more space if needs be. “Since 2011 we had a serviced office but now we’ve opened a full Amazon office that’s like any Amazon office you might get in London, Paris, Seattle or LA,” says Col. “It’s nice to be on a level footing with any other Amazon office around the world, and that it’s proudly in Bristol.” Prior to 2011, all the team worked from their homes. Col moved house in 2004 but kept the old house on and went there to work every day on his own. It’s part of the firm’s quirky history which somehow fits well into Bristol’s independent spirit. “I really credit Bristol in the success of IMDb,” he says. “I don’t think it would have grown had I been in any other city. “There are plenty of technology companies, there’s a history of media here – the BBC’s been here 80 years – and with IMDb sitting at this intersection between film and technology, it meant that when as a start-up we needed to hire our next person it was straight forward to find someone with the right combination of skills.” As the company has grown, Col has found Bristol is a selling point both for attracting and keeping those people... mostly. “Sometimes what happens in a company like ours with an entrepreneurial spirit you inspire your people to leave to start their own companies,” he says. “I love the mixture of architecture and culture here,” he adds. “We live in a country lane, my commute is 12 minutes and 12 minutes the other way and you’re going for a country walk. There aren’t many places that blend the advantages of city living with the outdoor opportunities. “I love it. We’ve raised our kids here and hopefully, they’ll stay.” And what’s next for IMBd? “Our aim is to be with our customers whenever they engage with film or television content,” says Col. “Our mobile app has been downloaded 115 million times. More than half our traffic is now on mobile when five years ago we were just on the web. “We are on Amazon Fire and TV devices, the way we see that is to take that experience onto other devices so they have IMBd on whatever device they are watching on and has all the extra information they might want. The plan is to make everyone as big a fan of film and TV as I am.
My working day I travel a lot to film festivals or other IMDb offices. Typical day? There isn’t one but it ranges from sitting with the team talking about feedback from customers and new products, to planning the next things for IMDb all the way through to coming to something like Venturefest to speak to people and inspire people to start their own businesses. Three weeks ago I was walking a red carpet in Cannes 10 paces behind Natalie Portman.
“I feel very privileged because it doesn’t feel like work even when it is.” Col first came to Bristol to work for HP after graduating from Leeds Uni-
versity. “After graduating, in my mind I had two options,” he says. “Stay on and do a PhD or come and work for HP Labs. A couple of years earlier HP had opened their first cor-
“ Our aim is to be with our customers whenever they engage with film or television content,” says Col. “Our mobile app has been downloaded 115 million times. Tracey Bentham, family
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
SUCCESS OF IMDb
Venturefest Bristol and Bath
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Engine Shed ‘is driving force for city’ THE Engine Shed in Bristol is the equivalent of the 17th Century coffee shops where people came together to create, according to the boss of Tech City UK. Gerard Grech, above, was in the city for Venturefest Bristol and Bath, which took place at the Engine Shed and next door Passenger Shed yesterday. “This is where people are meeting and talking about what they are going to do together, what they can co-create,� he said. Gerard believes the two cities are well placed to succeed in emerging areas such as smart cities, adding Bristol’s heritage in aerospace made its tech sector stronger. “As we see the digitisation of established industries, we are seeing this magical touch point between hardware and software,� said Gerard. “This is where the internet of things and smart cities comes in. “It is so exciting to see Bristol taking the
strong initiative with the Bristol is Open scheme. These are the areas where I think Bristol has excelled through its multi-disciplinary capabilities and will continue to do so.� He pointed to the Tech Nation report into the UK’s technology clusters, which found Bristol employed the most people in the creative and digital sectors outside London. Areas where the city scored well included software development and user experience of development. “That’s how humans use technology,� said Gerard. “The idea of smart cities is not just about technology but making technology empower people and change the way they behave. People have to be an integral part of the process and that is somewhere that Bristol and Bath is strong.� Gerard praised a number of local companies, including the Neighbourly social network which connects businesses with communities, and last minute going out deals app Wriggle.
â—? Col Needham appeared at VentureFest Bristol and Bath.
� Movie mad Col Needham, from Bristol, who set up IMDb, the world’s largest database of film and television information Picture: Chas Breton
My downtime I watch films! I also like to swim. And I’m on the board of a charity called Into Film which runs 12,000 film clubs in the UK encouraging kids to watch film, write about it and eventually tell stories and make films.
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porate research lab outside the US. This was a world class research lab and as someone studying computer science your dream job would be to work for an international company which was investing in research. “They had chosen Bristol for access to local talent, convenient travel, access to transport infrastructure and available space.� Many of the same reasons for which companies continue to come to Bristol today. And the presence of global players such as IMDb means that story is still being told.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Venturefest Bristol and Bath
INVENTION CONVENTION FIRMS PUT More than 100 local companies descended on Venturefest Bristol and Bath at the Passenger Shed yesterday to display their amazing inventions. Gavin Thompson reports from the showcase
Duel app - the next big thing A NEW competitive picture duelling app could be the next thing to take the digital world by storm. Duel, created by Bristol based Daredevil Projects, is something of an antidote to spending time chasing followers on social media, instead encouraging people to interact with their friends. Dubbed the “illegitimate child of Draw Something and Snapchat” by its creator Paul Archer, Duel revolves around pairs of images, with a game-like element that requires at least two people in order to play. Players can either upload a single photo, give it a title, and then challenge their friends to respond with their own image, or they send their friends a pair of “duelling” photos, and ask them to decide which they prefer. Players can ask for decisions on anything, from what to wear, what to buy, to where to go, and in turn they get to influence the outcome of every Duel they see. There are no comments, no likes, players simply vote for the best. The UK launch follows a successful beta stage, and after winning the KITE Startup Pitch for Brand Partnerships at US tech show SXSW 2015, which was judged by executives from Unilever, L’Oreal and Coca-Cola. The beta app already has a dedicated user-base who “duel” everyday, and it is being trialled at The O2 arena, around sport and entertainment events. Players are able to share their duels via any social platform, and their friends, fans or followers can vote on the duels within those networks. Duel was created by Daredevil Pro-
● Above, “which outfit should I choose?”; below, Paul Archer ject Studios, which is based in Bristol and Greece, and makes mobile and social products that encourage people to have adventures. Daredevil was founded by Paul Archer, and incubated at WebStart Bristol and SetSquared, and became resident at Pervasive Media Studios and has won a place at a Microsoft Venture’s Microsoft Innovation Centre. Paul said: “Duel is an antidote to shouting into a social media abyss – it’s a photo-duelling app that people can play with their
tight network of friends, the ones who really matter to them. Those people whose opinions people actually care about. “Having travelled around the world in a black cab with my best friends, which was ridiculously difficult but also fantastically fun, I was inspired to make an app for my friends and I to challenge each other via our phones.” The app is not just aimed at groups of close friends, but also at the rising number of “super user” You Tube and Instagram stars and the brands that court them. Paul added: “We’ve created Duel hand in hand with the new generation of internet stars, because they see their fans as their friends – it’s how they build their networks, and so they have a very direct relationship with their followers. Duel integrates with their existing social platforms, and offers interactivity and engagement in a way that no other photo app is doing.” The founder believes Bristol is the perfect launchpad for the app. “Bristol is a hotbed of talent and creativity, and the people that live here have a way of thinking and being that is different to the mainstream, which very much fits in with Duel’s ethos,” he said. “The quality of life in the South West also makes it a very attractive place to launch a business.” Stephen Fraser, social media manager, The O2, said; “I’m excited about Duel, particularly for brands looking for a new way to engage with that elusive millennial market. It’s bold, irreverent, playful and addictive – everything you want in a game-changing app.” Duel is backed by the high-growth tech arm of Downing Ventures. Matt Penneycard, head of Downing Ventures, said: “Duel is an extremely attractive proposition for brands, influencers and enterprises that are desperate for more affective ways of reaching digital consumers.”
Signal change in mobile technology
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● A BRISTOL company showed off its latest communications technology at Venturefest. Blu Wireless Technology demonstrated its 60GHz Lightning modules, which could be the future of mobile communications. As mobile communications move to 5 or 6G consuming more and more data, it gets harder and harder to get a good enough signal to broadcast any distance. Blu Wireless, based at the Engine Shed, has developed more focused beam technology that sends the data where it needs to go, and is clever enough to find the right destination and go around people and other objects. You can even attach it to a lamppost, so no need to put up a big mast.
The technology is already being used in Bristol, as part of the Bristol is Open experimental network. Mark Barrett, of Blu Wireless, said: “The Lightning module represents a total system solution for the next generation of flexible gigabit capable backhaul technologies. “The unique combination of low profile 60 GHz phased array technology, gigabit modem and adaptive mesh networking using SDN ‘Openflow’ techniques will deliver lower TCO and scalable data delivery capabilities to service the increased data demand of mobile networks.” ● Blu Wireless Technology’s 60GHz Lightning module and firm founder Henry Nurser
Wand that has the magic formula ● RESEARCHERS have created a magic wand to test structures for flaws without damaging them in the process. A spinout from the University of Bristol, Inductosense has invented a handheld device which makes uses embedded sensors to take ultrasonic measurements. Non-destructive testing is a group
of techniques used in science and industry to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage. It is an essential safety measure but usually expensive and time consuming. The new device - called Wireless And Non-Destructive or Wand for short - is cheaper and easier to use.
Revolution with school run app A NEW app could revolutionise the school run, helping parents find safe but greener and healthier ways to get their children to class. Walking buses and cycling trains have been springing up around the country organised by proactive parents or community groups. They mean pupils get to school safely by foot or by bike, escorted by adult volunteers. Much like a regular bus or train, there are pick-up times and designated stops along the route. The new Crocodile app shown at Venturefest helps parents find the nearest walking bus and books their child in as well as checks progress and confirms they have arrived safely. The idea won the recent Bristol 2015 Green Capital Digital Challenge, part of a year-long festival celebrating innovations in green technology. Kevin Ramm, a sustainability solution expert, said: “We were shocked to discover that every school day in the UK around 40 per cent of primary school children are dropped off by car. “We also learned that a high proportion of rush-hour traffic in towns and cities is due to school-runs by car. High traffic volumes cause continued
poor air quality in UK cities, linked to asthma and other health problems. Walking buses and cycle trains offer a great alternative to commuting to school by car.” As well as providing an easy tool for parents to engage in more environmentally friendly ways to get their children to school, the app also generates useful analytics for schools and walking bus sponsors. The Crocodile team hopes this will help schools to understand trends in walking bus activities and encourage them to introduce reward schemes for pupils, classes or year groups that adopt greener travel habits.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
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THEIR PIONEERING IDEAS ON SHOW RBS challenge offers chance of eco success
It means users can more easily test for flaws or changes in structure such as a building or aeroplane cabin. Dr Anthony Croxford, from Inductosense, said: “Our technology has the potential to significantly ease the pain of non-destructive testing by providing fast, reliable and low-cost measurement. “We’ve had great feedback from industry, particularly in the oil and gas and power generation sectors.”
● Kevin and the Crocodile team – Chris Thurling, Jon Waring, Carl Sargunar and David Smith
● Cheng huan Zhong, of Inductosense, with the wand that can detect flaws in structures without causing damage
1 VENTURER Consortium
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● The VENTURER Consortium, made up of a range of South West academic organisations and companies from across different sectors showcased its driverless car, the Wildcat, which will be trialled in the Bristol region as a way of exploring the feasibility of driverless cars across the UK.
2 Renishaw’s 3-D printed titanium bicycle
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● Global engineering company Renishaw has developed the world’s first metal 3D-printed bike frame for bike designer and manufacturer, Empire Cycles – producing a leading mountain bike that’s 33 per cent lighter than the original and extremely strong.
3 Open Bionics’ prosthetic robotic limbs
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● Open Bionics showcased its 3D-printed prosthetics, including a new robotic hand made from recycled plastic. The robotic hand is produced via 3D-printing as this ensures flexibility of the manufacturing process and means the devices are more accessible. The lightweight and low-cost robotic hand is made from flexible material, giving a unique gripping ability.
4 Wessex Water’s Bio-bug
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● Wessex Water transforms waste food and water into bio-methane gas to use as fuel for the city. Wessex Water showcased the Bio-Bug at Venturefest – the first VW Beetle to run on bio-gas produced from human sewage, which can run for a whole year on the waste flushed down the toilets of just 70 homes.
5 Fabulous Beasts
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● Drawing on the laws of nature and the stories of creation myth, Fabulous Beasts is an innovative new digital/physical hybrid game. Players take turns to stack objects into a balancing tower on a sensing platform which plays out wirelessly on a nearby tablet. The game is an independent challenger in the ‘games to life’ market currently dominated by Skylanders, Disney Infinity and Amiibo.
6 CycleEye
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● Fusion Processing’s ground-breaking road safety system CycleEye is a custom unit comprising cameras and radar mounted on the sides of buses and trucks to alert the driver to the presence of a cyclist. The invention was born out of a growing concern over the number of motor vehicle accidents involving cyclists. The key is its ability to distinguish the cyclist from background road clutter, including other lampposts, railings and other vehicles.
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Kevin added: “There is also an expected educational benefit – research has shown that children who walk, scoot or cycle to school arrive more alert and ready to learn.” Kevin and the rest of the Crocodile team – Chris Thurling, Jon Waring, Carl Sargunar and David Smith – are all passionate about the environment and worked on the app in their spare time, alongside their day jobs. They won £50,000, which will help them work on the app and test it in the Bristol and Bath area. For more information, follow @crocodileapp on Twitter or visit www.crocodile.org.uk.
BRISTOL innovators will be able to test their green inventions in RBS branches and buildings citywide. The RBS Bristol Innovation Gateway is looking for new ideas to reduce energy use, water consumption and waste, and opened for applications at yesterday’s Venturefest Bristol and Bath. The bank is already trialling low-carbon technology in its Trinity Quay office and its NatWest branch at Fishponds as part of last year’s Innovation Gateway initiative. This inaugural scheme was open to innovators and small-to-medium sized businesses worldwide and saw ten win the opportunity to test their new products in selected RBS buildings and branches across the UK. Now RBS is setting up a Bristol-focused version of the challenge as part of Bristol European Green Capital 2015 and specifically Bristol 2015’s Go Green scheme. Go Green, jointly organised by Business West and Low Carbon South West for Bristol 2015, is asking organisations in the city to create and implement an action plan to improve their green credentials. The RBS Bristol Innovation Gateway has three aims: to help RBS and NatWest save more energy, water and waste; to nurture new, brilliant ideas and to help local innovators and SMEs to accelerate their ideas to market. Winners will be able to test their products in the Trinity Quay building and the Fishponds branch. Matt Hatcher, NatWest’s director of commercial banking for Bristol, said: “Small businesses and innovators often struggle to get the opportunity to pitch their ideas to larger corporates, which means it’s often difficult to get the chance to prove their brilliant ideas can work. “Trials and test beds like the one we are offering are crucial for innovators to accelerate their access to market.” Two of the winners from last year’s Innovation Gateway were at Venturefest. Syed Ahmed, MD of Savortex, said he felt that Bristol would gain a lot from the RBS initiative. The firm supplies smart hand dryers which were piloted in two RBS buildings and have now been installed more widely across the bank’s estate. The dryers contain patented sensors which transmit data to a website on the usage of a washroom. This allows cleaners to plan in advance which need to be attended to first, for instance. In the first four months of use it has eliminated almost a million paper towels and saved the bank about £18,000. Syed said: “Taking part in the RBS Innovation Gateway has been transformational for our business. In a matter of months we have gone from start-up to a company which has won contracts with some of RBS’ suppliers, we have had national publicity and access to all the connections the Innovation Gateway has brought us.” To find out more visit http://innovationgateway.rbs.com.
Invented in Bristol: Six cool things on show at Venturefest
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Venturefest Bristol and Bath
● The Airbus stand
Pictures: Michael Lloyd
● Mark Napper and Robert Higham, of Airbus, with a model of the Bristol Eco-Flyer
Spirit of adventure... Showcase provides dazzling insight into what future holds Xopspw Uhuzlss
Business@b-nm.co.uk
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USINESS and technology leaders from across the world descended on Bristol yesterday as part of an event showcasing the best of the region’s enterprise and innovation. Venturefest Bristol and Bath took place at the Passenger and Engine Shed by Temple Meads, and saw more than 2,000 delegates attend. There were over 140 exhibitors at the event, highlighting why Bristol and Bath are at the cutting edge of business technology. Much of the excitement at the event surrounded a keynote speech by IMDb founder Col Needham. IMDb is the world’s number one movie website, and Mr Needham runs the company from its Bristol office. He discussed the reasons for IMDb’s success with Professor Durden from Bath Spa university’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Among other keynote speakers was Scott Wilcox, director of technology for SXSW. Mr Wilcox created SXSW Eco, a conference for business leaders which “celebrates the power of design, technology, and business to drive global change”. Mr Wilcox gave an insight into technology trends and opportunities that are prominent in the United States, and how eco-technology has developed in recent years. The conference was opened with a welcome address from Leo Johnson, the co-founder of Sustainable Finance Ltd, which offers advice on sustainability to financial institutions. Mr Johnson, who is an ambassador for Bristol 2015 European Green Capital, presented on the ‘Turnaround Challenge’ that faces businesses and cities. These involve global mega-trends which affect growth opportunities, and the technological response required to deal with them. He also chaired a panel debate on the future of sustainable aviation. Members of the panel included representatives from Airbus and Rolls-Royce.
● Above trying out some hi-tech kit; below, visitors browse at Venturefest
● Lucy Grainger, of Renishaw, shows the world’s first metal 3D-printed bike frame to Simon Lewin, of The Green Lab Airbus had a strong presence at the event, as they sponsored the Advanced Engineering Zone and had an exhibition space displaying their new Eco-Flyer design. The aircraft manufacturing powerhouse, whose UK branch is based in Filton, was showing off its zero-carbon emission aircraft that was launched this year, coinciding with Bristol’s year as European Green Capital. “The Eco-Flyer is a two seat, electric aircraft, which is powered by batteries. It is a major contribution from us at Airbus, as a supporter of
Bristol as European Green Capital,” said Robert Higham, who worked on the project. It is the first aircraft to be completely manufactured in Bristol since Concorde and was created primarily by Airbus engineers on graduate and apprenticeship schemes. “Airbus are very proud to be part of the Bristol community, and really the heartland of engineering and technology. “We feel by sponsoring this zone we’ve helped attract other, smaller companies to come along”, said Kath-
erine Bennett, Vice President of public affairs for Airbus. Bristol and Bath lies at the heart of one of the largest aerospace clusters in Europe, with 14 international business having bases in the region. There were also a number of new businesses showcasing their work at the event’s Start-Up Village. These companies are all less than two years old, and displayed prototypes of their products in the Engine Shed. One of these start-ups was the Crocodile App, which snapped up a £50,000 cash prize in April as the
winner of the Bristol 2015 Green Capital Digital Challenge. The app helps parents and schools organise and co-ordinate “walking buses” to school. This means that children are picked up and walked to school by volunteers, in an attempt to reduce car travel around the city. Parents can follow the child’s route and receive a message when their child has arrived at school. The app aims to engage children by rewarding them for complete a certain number of walks and is launching soon.
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● James Wilcox, of Toshiba Research Europe, shows visitors his display
● Neil Woollam, RBS, and William Brown, Savortex; right, John Mitchell and Chris Hayes of Skanska
● Joe Gibbard of Open Bionics on hand for demonstrations
● Above, a look inside the VENTURER Consortium’s driverless car, the Wildcat GALLERIES GALORE
MORE PICTURES AND VIDEOS Check out our website at SouthWestBusiness.co.uk
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● Left, Peter Whiting of Grow Bristol
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The back page
Your digest of the week in business
People ● Eight business leaders have been appointed to the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership’s board, including five new faces. The new representatives on the board are: Simon Bird, chief executive of The Bristol Port Company; Nick Horne, chief executive of Knightstone Housing Group; Esther McMorris, chief executive and founder of Bath-based management consultancy Nine Feet Tall; John Pritchard, European chief executive of GKN Aerospace’s aerostructures division in Filton; and Neil Way, managing director of family-run Jeff Way Electrical Services. They join Bristol Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair, former head of production at the BBC Natural History department Kalpna Woolf and James Durie, of Business West, who have been reappointed as business representatives on the newly-formed board. Colin Skellett has been reappointed as chairman. He said: “These appointments demonstrate the level of ambition and vision for the future of the West of England as the home of knowledge, innovation and quality of life. “The business representatives lead successful organisations, who work across all parts of the West of England in sectors that are vitally important components of our plans for sustainable economic growth.” ● Businessman and chairman of Business West, Stephen Robertson, has been appointed as visiting professor in the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of the West of England (UWE) in recognition of his contribution to business. In addition to Business West, Stephen works as a non-executive director on the boards of Hargreaves Lansdown plc, Clipper Logistics plc and Timpson Group, as well as a number of smaller businesses. Stephen said: “I look forward to contributing to the Faculty of Business and Law as well as the next generation of business leaders studying there. “It is vital that we continue to grow links between the world of business and education. “UWE already has an outstanding reputation for developing entrepreneurs, I hope I can share my learnings from business to
● Staff at shipping and postal services firm MHI and sister company Bascom BMS who have been taking the green option to get to work
● John Pritchard
● Esther McMorris
encourage ‘work-ready’ graduates.” Professor Steve West, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England and Business West board director, said: “Stephen is extremely well connected and is in a good position to represent the Business School in situations where we would not normally have a presence.”
Places ● Online takeaway delivery service Just Eat has moved to new offices in Bristol, taking 10,057 sq ft at Broad Quay House, right. The firm follows supercomputer firm Cray, which last week opened its European HQ in the same building in Prince Street, Bristol. Carlos Morgado, chief technology officer of Just Eat, said: “Technology and innovation is at the heart of Just Eat and our success in recruiting exceptional talent in the city over the past year has given us the confidence to establish a permanent residence here. “With Just Eat’s new Technology
● Neil Way
Innovation Hub in Bristol providing space for almost 100 engineers, we are excited to have access to the brilliant pool of tech talent based throughout the South West.” The Standard Life Investments Heritage With Profits Fund owns the building and was advised by JLL and DTZ on the deals, while Martin Levy Commercial advised Cray and GVA advised Just Eat. ● Construction company Beard, which has offices in Swindon, Oxford and Guildford, is opening an office in Bristol after buying a period office in Clifton. The firm acquired Langford Lodge, pictured right, at 109 Pembroke Road, Clifton, from Merrifield Ltd for £1.47 million. Langford Lodge, previously occupied by construction consultants Gleeds, is a period office building with 18 on-site car parking spaces. Beard chief executive, Mark Beard, said: “We are delighted with the acquisition of Langford Lodge, which strengthens Beard’s
● Nick Horne
● Stephen Robertson
operational presence in the South West. “We’ve been looking for high-quality business premises in Bristol for some time, and this building’s convenient location will make us easily accessible for both our staff and our customers.” Scott Harkness, head of commercial, Carter Jonas, who acted on behalf of Beard in the acquisition, said: “Bristol’s commercial property market is strong, and office buildings in this most desirable part of Clifton are always highly sought-after.” Beard, which has an annual million turnover of £88 million and last year won the PWC West of England Business of the Year Award, is currently carrying out a £5.3 million conversion of Norfolk House – the former HM Revenue and Customs tax office in Water Lane, Bristol – into high-specification student accommodation. Carter Jonas acted on behalf of Beard; Burston Cook acted on behalf of Merrifield Holdings Ltd.
● Simon Bird
Success ● Staff at shipping and postal services firm MHI and sister company Bascom BMS have been donning Lycra and taking to two wheels (or two feet) to get to work. The firm has been mapping progress through smart phone app Map My Ride, aiming to reach a collective 1,000 monthly miles through the company and has achieved just that in May, topping 1,080. Managing director, Paul Brown, is a green enthusiast and can often be seen driving his Tesla electric car to meetings, charged via solar panels the firm installed last year. Paul said: “Always looking for ways in which we can cut down on emissions, I am hugely proud of everyone who works at MHI and has been contributing towards us not only meeting, but surpassing, our 1,000 miles target. “We are committed to our green agenda, truly helping keep Bristol green. We aim to keep beating those targets and increase those miles.”
Opinion
It’s time for Government action over business rates system
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T’S high time that the Chancellor, and our new Conservative Government, wore their ‘pro-business’ stripes with pride and start to help, rather than hinder, UK businesses. Under the coalition Government, three consultations on business rates were introduced, discussed and tinkered with, none of which amounted to any real change. In fact, the only thing they will be remembered for is their postponement of the business rates revaluation, from 2015 to 2017, more than anything it did to help businesses struggling with an unwieldy and
Uhyr Zpni
Chief executive CVS
opaque business rates system. I speak on behalf of CVS, and of our 50,000 largely SME business clients, when I say that now is the time for action. Business rates account for £28 billion (four per cent) of annual income for the Government. But if the new Government is serious about being pro-business and if it wants to achieve its fiscal targets without choking off growth, it needs to put
adequate resources into the Valuation Office Agency as well as change the culture around business rates. Greater efficiency, transparency and fairness must be central to any reform. It would also be hugely beneficial if the Valuation Office Agency were able to disclose and substantiate the calculations by which an occupier’s business rates bill has been arrived at, and I think I speak for the majority when I say that actually understanding a tax bill can relieve some of its sting. If the new Government wants to make good in its commitment to eliminate the budget deficit by 2018, while
avoiding any increase in income tax, National Insurance and VAT, then improvements to the business rates system are essential. Only the other week, I wrote an open letter to the Chancellor on behalf of CVS and our clients, setting out our recommendations for action. These included: ● Bringing UK firms greater transparency and better access to the evidence behind their tax bill. ●Taking business rates into the 21st century through the best use of digital technology. ●Supporting the smallest firms by removing them from business rates
altogether ● Retaining a five-year cycle of revaluation and a property-based assessment method which gives certainty and predictability and allows businesses to budget and forward-plan ● Providing businesses with the confidence they are being taken seriously by adequately resourcing and investing in the Valuation Office Agency. I am ready and willing to assist in this process of improvement and to offer my own experience to support the new Government in making such improvements.