Business 15 April 2015 by BGSD-cs

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER

BALANCING THE SCALE-UPS

DITCH THE GREEN BLING

Bristol Post Business Awards deadline looms – see page 2

Why part of Bristol is a hot bed for scale-up businesses – p3

Construction expert calls for fresh green approach – p8&9

APR

2015

TALENT TRAIL

CAPITAL GAINS Why thousands of ambitious and talented people are leaving London and heading for Bristol – p8&9

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Bristol Post Business Awards 2015

Re-evaluation

New valuation of rates finally in the pipeline

● Avonmouth security company Sovereign Fire and Security has entered the Bristol Post Business Awards

Family pride Security company wants to celebrate its success Oh}pu \ovtwzvu

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

HEN Marek Jakubczyk started his security business from his garden shed in Shirehampton back in 1991, he wanted it to sound like the professional outfit it would become. “I rebuilt the shed,” he said. “It was 10ft long by 5ft wide and I called it ‘Unit 2’ to make it sound more commercial. “I used to get some very confused delivery drivers looking for this commercial unit in our residential area.” Professionalism has been at the heart of Sovereign Fire & Security from early on, so appearance was important. And it worked. The firm quickly grew and moved into leased premises before eventually buying a 5,800

square foot purpose built office in Avonmouth two years ago. It says something about the way Marek runs the business that he made the £150,000 purchase, plus fit-out costs, without borrowing. Now the 52-year-old wants to celebrate the company’s achievements so he has entered the Bristol Post Business Awards. He is hoping for success in the family business category. The company has a strong family core, although Marek promotes on merit not nepotism. Brother Jan joined six

months after he started, and both their wives, Ruth and Lorraine, are directors too. “In the early days I was out getting business and my brother was fitting the systems while my wife did the compliance work in the evenings,” said Marek. Turnover has grown from £2.7 million in 2010 to £3.7 million in 2014, although it will be slightly lower this year as the team focuses on profit ahead of revenue. Marek introduced high standards from the start, and was one of the first small independent firms to compete with the national companies on accreditation and standards. Those standards have won business far beyond the Bristol area. “The most important product we offer is customer service,” said Marek. “We supply integrated security solutions at the high end of the scale. “Because of the level of service we offer it allows us to punch above our weight.

“ The most important product we offer is customer service.

Marek Jakubczyk

“We are able to supply very high end service to clients who want to use us outside our normal geographic area.” As the business grows, Marek is working on succession planning, but not so he can retire. “I can’t think of a time when I won’t be doing something,” he said. “But I would like to spend more time doing what I enjoy most, being out there promoting the business.”

● Nominations for the Bristol Post Business Awards close on Friday! To enter or find out more, visit www.bristolpost.co.uk/ businesawards.

● THIS month marked a milestone for firms in Bristol as their future business rates are reassessed by Government. According to CVS, a business rates specialist, businesses in Bristol currently pay around £443 million each year in rates. But Government is now re-evaluating the data behind this figure. Business rates are based on a Government assessment of property values, and April 1 marked the date when Government fixed these values for the next five-year business rates cycle. This means that the rent businesses are paying now will influence their future business rates. The Valuation Office Agency is now calculating the values of all 23,800 commercial properties in Bristol and will, over the next two years, finalise the figures with ratepayers and the city council before businesses get their new bills from April 2017. David Ford, regional director at CVS, said: “This is a significant time for businesses in Bristol as the value of your property as of April 1 will affect your business rates in the future. “Rates are one of the largest and often most burdensome overheads for business and, in some severe cases, have even risen higher than rents. The revaluation is a chance for business rates to step back into line with actual property values. “This particular revaluation was postponed by the Government for two years, so it’s now badly needed and long overdue. Our complex system means that there will always be winners and losers from this approach – it’s good news if your rent has fallen, but you may face a bigger bill if your rent has gone up.” The Government has launched a wide-ranging review into the business rates system, looking at options to reform or replace the tax while the Labour Party has committed to cut and freeze rates for 1.5 million small businesses.

Aviation

Sponsor profile

Organisations team up to showcase city

MAZARS is a top 10 international accounting practice. With 14,000 people operating across 73 different countries, international trade and collaboration is in our DNA, and our clients are businesses who trade, or aspire to trade overseas. We believe that in our competitive marketplace a clear and well executed export strategy is a key element in ensuring that a business stands out from the crowd. The best businesses really understand their place in the market and what makes their products unique. They compete on quality not price and consider export the natural extension to their business activities. The South West is home to

● BRISTOL Airport and Destination Bristol are working together to promote the West of England to airlines and airports from across the globe. The two organisations are showcasing the city at Routes Europe, the continent’s largest aviation event bringing together airlines, airports and tourism authorities, taking place in Aberdeen. As well as attending face-to-face meetings with airlines, the airport will be hosting an exhibition stand at the event, which is attended by 1,800 delegates. This is the third year running Destination Bristol has attended. Meetings in previous years helped secure this summer’s twice-weekly Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) service from Stockholm which brought hundreds of high-spending Swedish visitors to the city.

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International trade is in our DNA many innovative businesses with great products and Bristol has for centuries been at the centre of the UK’s trade links with the world. The businesses of the region are therefore well placed to break out from the constraints of domestic demand and take advantage of the opportunities that a well thought out export strategy provides. Mazars is delighted to support the business awards and in particular the Export award which celebrates the achievements of businesses who have realised the opportunities of a global marketplace and truly stand out from the crowd.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

National survey

Hot seat Bristol constituency in top five for top performing firms BRISTOL WEST’S FASTEST GROWING SCALE-UP BUSINESSES

Oh}pu \ovtwzvu

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

BRISTOL constituency is in the top five for highest numbers of so-called scale-up businesses across the UK outside London. Bristol West has 66 such companies, which have three consecutive years of at least 20 per cent growth in revenues or staff, placing it joint fourth not counting the capital. Cambridge (86), Leeds Central (81), Glasgow Central (71) are ahead and Manchester Central is on the same number. The contrast to other constituencies locally is marked as Bristol East and North West both have nine scale-up companies and Bristol South just five. Bristol West includes much of central Bristol, so it’s no surprise that it outperforms other areas locally, but the size of gap maybe a surprise given that Bristol North West includes the industrial area of Avonmouth and South Bristol is home to a number of manufacturing companies on the industrial estates. Kingswood, despite including the Bristol and Bath Science Park and National Composites Centre, boasts just three scale-up companies, one of which is an arm outsourcing giant Mitie. Filton and North Somerset constituencies are both home to 123 scale-up firms, including precision measuring firm Metryx in Aztec West and Cablecam in Clevedon. Thornbury and Yate has seven, including Aust-based insurance brokers brightside, Weston-super-Mare has four, including long established family business Davan Caravans.

Company, revenue, growth

● Blu Wireless Technology is among the Bristol West high-fliers James Durie, executive director of Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative, said: “Our city is the strongest performing economy outside of London and these latest statistics show that we continue to punch above our weight, using our innovative core to our advantage. “While the number of scale-up businesses is good news on the top level, read between the lines and you will also see there is a lack of cohesion in our economic performance. “A strong city centre is not supported by other areas across the city region, down to such factors as the infrastructure gaps across the area that the business community have been lobbying to address. “As a result, long term sustainable growth hinges on much stronger co-operation between our local authorities, particularly on skills, housing and transport. Failing to do so is letting down the wider West of England population and this should act as

a wake up call for stronger cross-boundary working.” Paul Falvey, tax partner at the Bristol office of accountants and business advisers BDO, agreed but said improvements were on the way. He said: “Major developments in the city such as the South Bristol Link Road, being built as part of the MetroBus scheme, will open up new business opportunities and improve access to the airport. The proposal for a new junction on the M49 could also have a huge benefit for Bristol North West, potentially creating a number of new jobs around Avonmouth.” The figures were complied by Founders4Schools, an organisation which aims to help teachers get the founders of successful businesses to talk to their students. They hope teachers will use the information to contact the founders of growing businesses near to them. Find out more at www. founders4schools.org.uk.

● Owen J, £1.1m, 1,242% ● Home 3 Assistance, £1.8m, 825% ● Intelligenti £2.8m, 727% ● 3Radical, £1.2m, 303% ● Thatcher Mcs, £1.4m, 296% ● Hybrid News, £1.1m, 258% ● Icon Corporate Finance, £1.3m, 188% ● Big Bang Post Production, £2.4m, 175% ● Blu Wireless Technology, £1.3m, 164% ● Intregreon Managed Solutions, £25.8m, 155% ● Channel View Publications, £1.8m, 112% ● Support Services Group, £10.5m, 111% ● Aspect Film and Video, £4.3m, 91% ● Test and Verification Solutions, £5.3m, 87% ● Stuff Advertising, £1m, 72% ● Opus Recruitment Solutions, £18m, 70% ● Find the Engineer Recruitment, £1m, 54% ● People Deliver Projects, £1.6m, 53% ● Vistair Systems, £6.2m, 43% ● Delib, £2.6m, 42% ● Multicom Products, £4.7m, 41% ● Western Power Distribution, £483m, 40%

Manufacturing

Building upturn creates jobs at plasterboard firm THE UK’s biggest plasterboard maker has created 28 new jobs after securing a number of new contracts. Siniat, based in Easton-in-Gordano just outside Bristol, has benefited from the recovery in the construction sector. In February, the business, which employs 410 staff, secured some landmark projects including a contract with Interserve to deliver on five new schools. Other contracts include a £1 million project with Galliard Homes to deliver fire retardant plasterboard

to a new development on the Isle of Dogs, London, and a partnership with McLaren to support Banbury Gateway, an £80 million out-of-town shopping centre near Oxford. Siniat will also be working with building firm Willmott Dixon on two separate projects, a £45-million redevelopment of Benenden Hospital in Maidstone which will include new medical facilities, new operating theatres and an MRI unit,

and the delivery of a new ‘super school’ in Ceredigion which will accommodate 1,000 primary and secondary students. The two firms previously worked together on the new Southmead Hospital where some of Siniat’s latest products were used which save time and money on decorating. Managing director Neil Ash, pictured, said: “We’ve secured an enormous amount of new business already this year

thanks to the quality of our products and our proactive approach to solving our customer’s problems. “This trend is likely to continue, with healthy growth expected in UK construction this year. If we’re making and selling more plasterboard across the UK, it’s a clear indicator the construction market is on the up. “We’re continually looking for bright new talent to help us continue to meet demand. Our success comes from understanding the needs of our customers and developing products that make their lives easier and their businesses more efficient.”

Motoring

Luxury camper shows Bristol’s got talent ● BRITAIN’S Got Talent viewers will have the chance to win the work of a Bristol company which aims to revitalise the camper van industry. Avonmouth-based Horizon Multi-Concept Vehicles converts base level Mercedes Benz vehicles into luxury campers not that a Mercedes is too shabby to start with! One such car, the New Vito model, below, is the star prize in a viewer competition on the prime-time ITV show which returned to our screens on Saturday. The car is built to work both for day to day life such as the school run and for weekends away and road trips. It includes an electronically controlled bed which turns into a bench and an elevating roof. It has room to sleep four adults and one child and is kitted out to designer standards, with

upholstered leather furnishings, Compac Quartz Granite surfaces, and a two burner hob. Sales director James Burt, pictured, said: “We are thrilled that our New Vito model will be featuring on Britain’s favourite Saturday night show. The launch of our New Vito model, the second multi-concept vehicle launched since our start up last year, has been a very exciting period for us. “Being the first company to have converted this particular luxury vehicle, we have experienced a vast amount of interest from customers right across the UK.”

Finance

KPMG offering free advice for joiners ● ONE of the big four accountancy firms will be giving free business advice to companies joining a new accelerator programme in Bristol. KPMG is working with Entrepreneurial Spark, the Natwest-backed start-up hub recently launched at Trinity Quay. KPMG will provide entrepreneurs with advice and guidance around issues such as business plans and investor readiness. It is also adding to a six-figure cash pot prize fund for Bristol start-ups annually, awarded to the best entrepreneurs coming through the programme. Gordon Merrylees, head of entrepreneurship RBS and NatWest, said: “Whilst finance is of obvious importance to these businesses, it’s also the networks, contacts, expertise and mentoring.”

The Bristol MBA

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Find out more Taster session 29 April, UWE, Frenchay Campus, Bristol www.uwe.ac.uk/bristolmba

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Marketing

Chip shop campaign all wrapped up ● A SMALL digital marketing agency in Bristol has wrapped up a big campaign promoting fish and chips. Activation Digital won a digital and social media contract for Youngs Seafood in December and has had customers licking their lips with its campaign to promote the firm’s Chip Shop range. The agency planned, designed and built an interactive app which is hosted on the campaign microsite – www.YoungsChipShop.com – which allows people to choose their favourites items on their fish and chip supper plate, such as mushy peas and ketchup. The answers are collated to reveal nation’s favourite chip shop supper. The site has had 18,000 visits with more than 5,500 people submitting entries, with the results showing that in the South West diners prefer haddock over cod, while the Welsh go for tartar not ketchup. The agency was founded in 2011, specialising in digital marketing for leading grocery brands, creating sales promotions, brand websites and social media campaigns. Based in St Nicholas House in central Bristol, the firm employs nine people plus local freelance workers. Managing director Matt Ramsay, pictured, said the latest campaign was part of an ongoing success story. “The business grew over 40 per cent last year, and we’re planning to do even better this year,” he said. “We’ll do that building on the solid relationships we have with our clients which include Nestlé, KP Snacks, Young’s Seafood and Ocean Spray.” On the campaign, which was timed to mark Young’s 30th anniversary, marketing director Yvonne Adam said: “I can’t wait to find out how the nation eats their fish and chip supper.” The voting has now closed, however, and for those eager to know the results, they will be revealed on the website.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Advice

Food

Sustainability on the menu for caterers

● Sue Gilkes of Your Impact with author Gail Thomas

Learn to let go Delegate to expand, owners told Z|wly{ Rhupzjo

Business@b-nm.co.uk

S a business gets bigger, delegation becomes more important and there are plenty of small business owners who hold back growth because they find it hard to let go. To tackle the problem, IT performance consultants Your Impact teamed up with author Gail Thomas to provide an online platform to help small businesses learn to grow through delegation. The Chipping Sodbury company has designed the platform to help owners and managers who struggle to release their workload and expand their businesses. Research carried out by Gail, founder of virtualpa.co.uk and a long-term Prince’s Trust mentor, shows 63 per cent of business owners and managers believe they could

grow by 20 per cent if they could delegate just 10 per cent of their work. The research also suggests the UK’s SME economy could be boosted by £270 billion per year if this 20 per cent growth was achieved across the board. One in 10 businesses could achieve more than 50 per cent growth but fewer than 15 per cent of business owners say they delegate as much as they could – and 80 per cent admit they need help to do so. Sue Gilkes, managing director of Your Impact, which specialises in performance training for the IT sector, said: “It’s exciting to be involved in Gail’s project and the platform we have designed for the course has massive potential to benefit a vast range of small business owners. “We recognised that the whole point of the programme is to save business owners time, so the online course is easy to use, fun and, most importantly, quick to do! “There is logic and progression and often one assignment builds upon an

earlier assignment. “The idea is to gradually create a shift in mindset, from the business owner believing their time has to be spent on the nuts and bolts of the business to one where they recognise that some tasks are best passed to others, so that they can concentrate on the growth of their company. “So many people are at the point where they have enough work on and want to take on more without letting the quality of service dip. “They go one of three ways: stay where they are; crack under the pressure; or they crack the formula of delegation. “The last of these differentiates one-man-bands from sustainable businesses and can help businesses rapidly increase size at the same time.”

● The online platform can be found at http://thegiftoftime. yourgoalstoday.com and subscriptions to the service cost £4.95 per month.

General Election

Energy supplier puts heat on candidates

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AS polling day draws ever nearer, one Bristol employer is keen to ensure its workforce is well informed before they cast their votes at the General Election. Energy supplier Ovo invited the candidates from the Bristol West seat to take part in a hustings event at its new offices in Rivergate, near Temple Meads. The firm employs about 700 people and many of them packed the atrium to hear the would-be MPs answer questions from head of corporate affairs Jessica Lennard and some of the staff.

Energy and the environment were high on the agenda. Lib Dem candidate Stephen Williams pointed to his party’s “five green laws” to protect the environment, while Kye Dudd, standing in for Labour candidate Thangam Debbonaire, highlighted Labour’s promise for an energy price freeze. Green candidate Darren Hall wanted to see a zero-waste circular economy and an energy system fully powered by renewable energy. While Conservative candidate Claire Hiscott pointed to the Conservative-led Government’s record on

● Bristol West candidates answer questions at the hustings event increasing investment in renewables, setting up the Green Investment Bank and rolling out the Green Deal. The NHS, deficit and rail fares were

among the other topics covered. Ovo’s government relations manager Robert Jeffery said: “Hopefully this has given our employees some food for thought.”

● EAT Drink Bristol Fashion is inviting Bristol businesses to gather to learn and exchange ideas at a sustainability summit. Around 150 delegates will come together in the tipis in Queen Square to discuss how the food industry can strive to operate in a more sustainable way. The event for caterers, chefs, restaurateurs, growers, farmers and suppliers will hear from industry experts on how to successfully create a sustainable menu. It is co-hosted by the Field to Fork Foundation (FTFF), a new community interest company set up by the organisers of Eat Drink Bristol Fashion. Amelia Twine, co-director Eat Drink Bristol Fashion, said: “We created the FTFF to realise our vision to make Bristol the UK capital of sustainable catering by 2020. “The city’s current title of European Green Capital provides a pivotal opportunity to engage the catering industry and start making some real headway. “This summit is an opportunity for catering specialists in Bristol and the South West to take the first step and join us on this journey so that this region can lead the way in sustainable best practice.” Urban growing, slow meat and waste will be key themes with Amy Robinson from Low Carbon South West, Tim Maddams from Green Sauce, Griff Holland from Friska, and Luke Hassell of The Story Organic among the speakers and panellists. The event, Building Sustainable Menus, takes place on Wednesday, May 5.

Graduation

Ceremony celebrates apprentices’ success

● ADVANCED and higher apprenticeship graduates will celebrate their achievements at a graduation ceremony tomorrow. The ceremony is being hosted by Bristol University at Wills Memorial Hall, where the university holds its own graduation ceremonies, with 125 apprentices from across the region taking part. The ceremony, funded by the Education and Training Foundation and Association of Colleges, brings together the region’s training providers to put on an inaugural graduation event. Glenn Catley, a former world champion boxer, will share his inspirational story about how he went from raw amateur to middle weight world champion. Linsey Temple, from GET Training, will tell of her progression from apprentice to CEO. The event is being jointly delivered by the Western Training Provider Network (WTPN) and the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Partnership (GWP), whose members deliver a wide range of apprenticeships across the region. It has the support of Wiltshire Council, Bristol City Council, Swindon and Wiltshire LEP and the West of England LEP. Julia Falaki, GWP manager, said: “We are delighted to be holding this event. For too long the outstanding achievements of the higher and advanced apprentices across the region have not had the prominence they deserve.”

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Recruitment

Onwards and upwards Fast growth forces early move to bigger office Oh}pu \ovtwzvu

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

MARKET research and testing recruitment company has moved into a prime Bristol location after a second year of doubling turnover. People for Research has relocated from Luckwell Road offices in Bedminster to QC30 on Queen Charlotte Street, just off sought-after Queen Square. The move to bigger offices in central Bristol has come as a direct result of two consecutive years of fast growth and the need to make more room for the growing team of consultants and project managers. Managing director Paul Gooding said the firm had planned to grow but the pace had been faster than expected. “The demand for our services has grown far beyond our expectations and we had to bring forward by 18 months the planned office move as a result,” he said. “Our challenge is keeping pace with the speed of growth. The company brings people in to test new gadgets or software as a user, then tells the developers what the experience is really like so they can improve it before releasing products onto the market. Paul said: “Our new location is great, as we have a number of clients close to our new offices – as well as being very central for participants to attend sessions. “We also needed more space for providing a bigger user testing, focus group and viewing facility for our expanding client base – which now includes various government departments and international blue chip companies.” The central location with plenty of parking and good transport links means the new facility will be more convenient for clients and participants alike, according to Paul. “After 25 years on Luckwell Road in Ashton, we’re really excited to be moving to Queen Square,” he said. “The growth of People for Research has been incredible – but it’s hardly surprising, given our approach to participant recruitment best prac-

● Back row from left, Finoula Mountford - assistant project manager, Paul Gooding - MD, Lisa Kirwan - senior project manager, Penny Wilkinson - accounts manager; front row from left, Phoebe Shepherd - assistant project manager, Emma Millington - director of projects, Neale Pritchard - Director, Jess Lewes - marketing coordinator, Kate Parrott project manager, and Helen Brody - assistant project manager tice, responding to the growing needs of the UX (user experience) sector, and our focus on delivering seamless usability recruitment for nearly seven years. And having an excellent team is vital as part of delivering first-class service.” People for Research has become part of the growth in user recruitment and user testing, and is working towards a goal of becoming a world-class leader in user recruitment for testing across Bristol, London, UK and internationally. The company set up the first viewing facility for focus groups and market research purposes in the South West in 1990. Paul said: “We recruit participants to take part in usability tests, whilst managing the process of finding the right people to attend, ensuring they’re also paid the right money.

“ The demand for our services has grown far beyond our expectations and we had to bring forward by 18 months the planned office move as a result. Managing Director Paul Gooding

“It’s all about getting the right participants, who can provide the right information and data. Participants can be testing new products, gadgets,

Roads

Snarl-ups kill workers’ productivity meetings and dealing with incoming cold calls, both of which were highlighted by roughly a third of respondents (37 per cent and 28 per cent respectively). Some 42 per cent said working from home was the answer to finding a productive environment to work outside of the main office. Cafes, with their associated issues of lack of privacy, unreliable internet connection, and background noise, score poorly at just 4 per cent Richard Morris, UK chief executive of Regus said: “Having the option to work from different locations can be enormously beneficial for many professionals – not least by helping them to avoid arduous commutes.

“However, the challenge is in finding the right environment outside of the office to allow people to remain just as, if not more so, productive. “For those without a purpose-built home office, business centres, with their professional, productive working environments, provide an answer. “Not only can workers save time by choosing a location closer to home, many also find that being away from the main office means they are less interrupted by colleagues looking to have impromptu updates and meetings. “Business centres allow busy workers the peace and functionality they need, when they need it.”

eXPD8 ensures bear essentials in place ● PADDINGTON Bear has had a little help on his latest adventure from a Bristol-based business. Retail support services specialists eXPD8 worked with StudioCanal on the DVD launch of the intrepid bear’s film. The firm has been providing support in 2,000 stores across the UK, ensuring that the film is available, appropriately stocked and promoted across the country. Field teams used their tablet technology to show in-store shop staff previews of the film to enable them to talk with more knowledge about the blockbuster and maximise sales potential. Members of the team visited stores after closing hours and on the Sunday before the launch. Paddington made it to the big screen in November 2014 and it became StudioCanal’s highest grossing release ever after only three weeks, reaching a staggering £35 million by the end of January 2015, making it the fastest selling release of the year to date. Sarah Sheffield, category development manager at eXPD8, said: “We were delighted to support StudioCanal with this exciting home entertainment launch. “Managing the launch of a global blockbuster can be a real challenge but our nationwide team, together with our fully integrated IT system, have effectively managed the retail set-up ensuring Paddington’s fans get their hands on the film and sales targets are achieved across the country.” eXPD8 provides retail support services to retailers and film studios across the UK and Ireland. The £22-million turnover company was launched in Bristol in 2003 and employs more than 2,500 staff.

Retail

Aldi store openings brings more jobs

● DISCOUNT supermarket Aldi has followed its growth in market share – last week moving ahead of Waitrose – with growing recruitment too. The chain is looking to fill 75 jobs at its existing outlets across Bristol and is opening new stores in Clevedon and Portishead later this year which will mean more vacancies. Regional managing director Dan Ronald said: “Bristol remains a key city for us, and our existing store vacancies continue to offer significant employment opportunities for people in the area. “We’re looking to attract applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, including supermarket, fast-food and clothing chains, who can demonstrate relevant retail experience, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.”

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IT WILL come as no great surprise to many, but traffic jams have been highlights a the main productivity killer in a survey of Bristol business people. About four in 10 (39 per cent) identified jams as a productivity killer to their working day, according to the latest report by flexible workspace provider Regus. The survey asked business people about interruptions and distractions at work. In fact, travel-related grievances feature heavily in the results; transport delays (26 per cent), and road works (21 per cent) were also shown to be prohibitive to productivity. Other distractions include lengthy

apps and websites: it’s exciting and interesting work. “We’re seeing UX/usability as the next big growth area for digital-related commerce. Companies are needing to get real customer insight that will make their digital commerce work for them – and it applies across the whole digital marketplace. “It’s been an amazing start to 2015, following a doubling of staff last year and again this year – as well as doubling our office floor space with this new relocation in central Bristol,” said Paul. “It’s really satisfying for me after 25 years to see the business continue to grow and remain a leader in our field – despite difficult times in recent years. This demonstrates that well-run, innovative businesses in Bristol will succeed.”

Retail support

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Big Interview

CONSTRUCTION LEGACY AND FUTURE As the construction industry awakes from a recession-long slumber, Gavin Thompson meets the current and next chairman of the Great Western Forum for the Built Environment about the challenges and opportunities ahead

● Peter Harris, right, and Eric Livingston Picture: Dave Betts

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RISTOL should move away from the “green bling” of solar panels and build offices that use less energy instead, according to a construction industry leading light. Peter Harris, director of engineering firm Silcock Dawson based in Colston Tower, believes that approach would make Bristol greener for longer. “Bristol is the European Green Capital, which is fantastic,” says Peter, who is the current chairman of the Great Western branch of the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE). While he is a firm believer in creating a greener future for his children and grandchildren, Peter’s not so sure Bristol is going about it in the right way by requiring that new buildings generate 20 per cent of their energy from renewable sources. “I think sometimes we look at green bling, as opposed to really looking at how we develop our buildings,” he says. “I look at creating buildings which have an ability to moderate their own climate and have less reliance on energy naturally as opposed to putting on solar panels to generate electricity. “The problem with putting on solar panels is they have a lifecycle and have to be removed and renewed after 25 years. They are a planning requirement in the city at the moment, but there’s no legislation in place that says after 25 years you’ve got to replace them. “My view is that you put the same amount of money into the fabric and instead of saying you have to have 20 per cent energy from renewables, you say the building has to have a 20 per cent reduction in carbon emissions. “That way, that 20 per cent reduction stays with the building for its whole life, not just 25 years of a 100-year life. We’re creating a legacy for our kids and their kids and that has to look at how we manage our carbon resources better and the way we do that is by moderating their own climate. “We need to create buildings which meets the needs of the people who are going to occupy it without compromising the needs of future generations and that’s a real challenge to our industry. I see that as the way we should be looking forward to create something we are proud of that lasts the test of time.” But that approach would require a change in mind set from people who use the offices. “We’ve got to get used to doing things differently like not having buildings with ceilings,” he says. “If you don’t have a ceiling the concrete mass absorbs the heat over a period of time so temperature is moderated, then it cools overnight.

“There are no fans, you can’t turn it up and down, it is a building moderating its own climate. We have to become used to working in an environment that is less controlled than it is now. People won’t be able to turn the temperature up or down two degrees.” At 59, Peter has been around the city’s construction industry for more than a few years so it’s no surprise he has a few opinions on how things could be done better. He sees the residents’ parking schemes as hampering businesses in Clifton, for example. “We’ve got clients in Clifton who are destroyed by this,” he says. “The first opportunity they get, they will move. Has it made life better for residents? I don’t know. But it has made it harder for businesses.” And he wonders whether the long-awaited arena will benefit local businesses as much as it should. “From an FBE point of view, we were disappointed there were no Bristol architects on the short list for the arena,” he says. “They were all fantastic architects but I had a message from George (Ferguson) asking for my rates the other day and I thought, we’re paying for this but where is the Bristol involvement?”

He’s concerned at the amount of student accommodation popping up in the city centre, at the expense of office space. “There doesn’t seem to be much grade A office activity and what there is has let pretty quickly,” he says. “But we seem to be building an awful lot of student accommodation and I can only think site yields are at the right levels for that right now but I do feel we are missing an opportunity by giving over a whole tranche of the city to students. “I’m not knocking student accommodation but from a business rates point of view it’s not that good.” One thing Peter is a big advocate for is building relationships. That’s why he’s been a member of the forum since 1983, and why he encourages the rising stars in his own company to follow his example.

“ I think sometimes we look at green bling, as opposed to really looking at how we develop our buildings.

Peter Harris

“I’ve got relationships which go back to 1983 with people and I know them really well,” he says. “It’s easy when everything’s going really well. But when things are not going so well, it means you have the strength of relationships with people you have known for 20 or 30 years to ring them up and say ‘we’ve got a bloody problem, how are we going to sort this out’. It means things are resolved on that level, rather than getting the letter or email that drops in and you think ‘oh flipping heck’. “I know personally the chief executives and chairmen of a lot of organisations in Bristol and I’ve known them since they were at the same junior level as I was. That is invaluable.” The forum is an organisation that brings together different professionals within the construction industry, from designers through to developers, main contractors and suppliers but mostly the first tier rather than smaller tradesmen. This month, Peter hands over the role of chairman to Eric Livingston, a partner specialising in construction at the law firm Thrings, based off Victoria Street. Eric is a little less forthcoming in his views but just as passionate about the benefits of the organisation.

“ It’s important to get Temple Meads to work and to connect to the rest of the city. Finzels Reach bridge will help.

Eric Livingston

“It’s not the classic handshake networking at a breakfast meeting,” he says. “It’s more of a slower build resulting in really strong peer to peer relationships.” The forum holds a few big events, the black tie Brunel Dinner in November, the slightly lighter AGM dinner and then the merry-making Christmas lunch. “The Brunel Dinner is the event to be at within the industry in this area,” says Eric. “We sold 400 covers in just five days last time.” As he looks forward to his tenure, Eric wants to take the reach beyond the city centre with more site visits to projects around the vibrant fringes of Bristol, and perhaps work more closely with the Women in Property networking group. “One thing I’ve got in mind is taking consultation from membership

www.bristolpost.co.uk7i|zpulzz

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

E OF CITY FORUM

Insolvency venture

Eric Livingston Age: 42 Title: Partner at Thrings, specialising in construction, and vice chairman of the Great Western Forum for the Built Environment, becoming chairman later this month First job: Kitchen porter at the local hospital in Southport on Sundays and holidays Education: Law at Bristol University Working day: Nominally 9-5 but there are some breakfast meetings and often a later finish, 7 or 7.30pm and sometimes later. At the moment we have some work with American clients so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re working to their time. Take work home: Work does continue at home. Electronic working keeps us flexible. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a young family so if that means I can leave to see them or go to a parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; evening thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine. Downtime: My children are five and seven so they are a big part of it. They really like cycling in the park, though my little boy is just learning on stabilisers. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m an Everton fan and we took the kids for the first time recently. It was a challenge to get them up there and get them shouting for Everton! TV: Typically a BBC 9pm drama, perhaps a thriller, Line of Duty last year was very good. We watched Wolf Hall which was quite hard to follow!

â&#x2014;? From left, Mark Roach, Kerrie Rees, Frank Nicol and Graham Randall

Ex-BDO head now leads small team fight THE former head of one of the major accountancy firms in Bristol is heading a new insolvency and restructuring venture in the city. Graham Randall was managing partner at BDO until he left earlier this year, replaced by Andrea Bishop . Now he has returned to the Bristol business scene heading up a new office for Quantuma, the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sixth base in the UK. It will be a big change from managing the 160-strong BDO office to leading a small team trying to break into the local market, but Graham is up for the challenge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite the improvement in the UK economy businesses in the region continue to face a wide range of challenges,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are delighted to open a local Quantuma office to provide support and advice to businesses and their stakeholders facing financial stress.â&#x20AC;?

The move sees the insolvency specialist looking to expand further in the region. Graham has 30 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the restructuring and insolvency field and no doubt brings a hefty contacts book to the role. Joining him is director Mark Roach, who has worked in the restructuring profession for over 23 years with SMEs, partnerships and sole traders. He has also worked on a complex project with Barclays Bank and the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as The Royal Bank of Scotland in their distressed customer team. Providing support will be Frank Nicol as assistant manager and Kerrie Rees as an administrator. Frank brings 25 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience and specialises in contentious insolvency and asset tracing and recovery. Kerrie has experience in a wide range of both personal and corporate insolvency procedures.

Peter Harris

and those who come to events to get a feel for what the organisation would like to do,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would like to communicate more effectively, perhaps using social media more.â&#x20AC;? Looking to the future more widely, Eric sees changes in its character but plenty of potential. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There will be a drift of professional services firms down the hill from Clifton, particularly since residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; parking was introduced,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a shift in the city centre too. While the student accommodation and residential properties move into the city centre, the new developments for office space is more focused on the Temple Meads area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to get Temple Meads to work and to connect to the rest of the city. The Finzels Reach bridge will help, but those linkages are crucial.â&#x20AC;? Just like the connections made through networking groups such as the Forum for the Built Environment, they will pay back the investment over time.

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â&#x2014;? The next FBE Great Western branch event is on April 23 at Bristol Zoo Gardens, 6-8.30pm. Find out more at www.fbeonline.co.uk/ great-western/events.

Age: 59 Title: Director at engineering firm Silcock Dawson, chairman of the Great Western Forum for the Built Environment. First job: Worked for Halesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cakes in Clevedon in summer breaks at school and college unloading hot buns from the ovens. I was on the apple and cherry pies. You put one aside and eat it when it was cool enough, then put another aside to cool. Education: Engineering at Bristol Polytechnic, which is now UWE. Working day: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m an early bird so I like to be in before 8 but away by 6pm at the latest. I believe in work-life balance and try to instil in my guys that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not judging you by the number of hours you do behind a desk but by the quality of what you do in that time. My day involves managing the office and numbers but because we are not massive all the directors run their own projects, which keeps us hands on and honest. Downtime: We bought a house five years ago and I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spent five years doing it up. My daughter bought a house last year and I think Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be doing that up next! I like photography, cycling and golf but mostly business golf. I resigned my club membership last year. My wife and I are season ticket holders at Bath Rugby Club and go across for the home games. We support Bath because we live in Somerset. Music: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got close to 1,000 (vinyl) albums. My favourite is Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd. But can happily listen to Madame Butterfly too. TV: The first series of Broadchurch was brilliant, the second was very good.

www.bristolpost.co.uk

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Special report

’

BRISTOL CALLING WAVE OF TALENT

Thousands of people every year are moving from London to Bristol. Gavin Thompson finds out what’s driving those talented people to go West

IKE thousands of other teenagers and twentysomethings, Alexa Mosberger went to London in search of a glamorous big career. After graduating, she found plenty of opportunities. First she joined the National Audit Office, working on projects including assessing whether the elite Olympic athletic programme was value for money. Then, despite not liking football, she moved to the FA before joining a start-up called Future Proof and finally working for online seller Not On The High Street. But she began to feel the pull of the West and when the 32-year-old looked into a move to Bristol, she was blown away by the opportunities. “I was in this bubble where you think nothing is going on outside

“ I think Bristol is having a moment. It’s a really exciting city. My colleagues joke that I’m the ambassador for Bristol because I always tell people how amazing it is here. Alexa Mosberger

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London,” she said. “But I was surprised by how many different and varied jobs there were for me to interview for.” She looked at big companies such as Mitie and Lloyds before settling on a dynamic start-up based in Wick called FD-works, which provides financial advice and services for SMEs, where she has become a senior associate. Alexa hasn’t looked back. “I think Bristol is having a moment,” she said. “It’s a really exciting city. “My colleagues joke that I’m the ambassador for Bristol because I always tell people how amazing it is here. “A lot of people in their 20s think you have got to be in London to get ahead but that’s not true at all, you can get great experience here.” Alexa’s experience is not an isolated one. Between June 2012 and June 2013, 3,290 people moved from London to Bristol, putting the city ahead of Manchester, Oxford and Liverpool and second only to Birmingham as the most popular destination for those fleeing the capital. Tom Higham, 27, has been in Bristol for four and half years. Originally from Cheshire he moved to London to find his fortune but in a tough jobs market was struggling to find the right career path.

“My granddad had an account with Hargreaves Lansdown and he told me they are a great company and I should send them my CV,” said Tom, right. “I did. When I came to the interview it was the first time I’d been to Bristol. They offered me a job and I moved here about a week later. “I haven’t looked back since. I walk 10 minutes to work through a beautiful part of the city, then I can get on my bike and go five minutes the other way and I’m in the countryside.” For Tom, joining a FTSE 100 firm in

Bristol has meant great opportunities. “Coming to Bristol hasn’t held my career back, it has pushed it forward,” he said. “Here I’m competing with 800 people, in a top London firm it might be 2,000. “I’ve gone from one rung above the post room to running the investment help desk, a department of 60 or 70 people.” Equally, there was no lack of ambition when David Pike made the move West. The 39-year-old arrived in Bristol earlier this year to head up the regional restructuring team at KPMG, one of

the “big four” accountancy and advisory firms. “The opportunity was too good to turn down,” he said. “It also intersected with a lifestyle event - the birth of my first child. “I was happy in London, it was interesting work, we had a house so weren’t struggling to get on the property ladder but it struck me as an interesting thing to do at an interesting time in my life.” He had no prior Bristol connections but likes his new home which has “nice architecture, all the right shops, restaurants and cafes, plenty of green space and within easy

reach of Bath, Devon, Cornwall and South Wales”. David said the “weekend prospects” were great but the work was stimulating too, and the 15-minute commute a vast improvement on his life in the capital. His advice to anyone else thinking of making to move is not to hang around. “Bristol has strong growth prospects,” he said. “With electrification of the railway on the horizon it has great connectivity to London too. “I would say get on with it because with Bristol growing there could be

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

QUITS LONDON FOR THRIVING CITY “ The draw of Bristol has always been quality of life and that is still the case. But the big change is that now we are also getting the career opportunities. David Maher Roberts

● Alexa Mosberger, one of the growing number of people who are quitting London to move to Bristol Pic: Dave Betts

● David Pike arrived in Bristol earlier this year to head up the regional restructuring team at KPMG

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IS CHANGING.

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another housing bubble here.” David’s boss Phil Cotton, who heads up KPMG’s Bristol office, believes the presence of so many blue chip companies in the city makes Bristol a viable career choice for ambitious professionals. “Bristol is recognised as a thriving financial services hub,” said Phil, left. “We have 450 people here. In career terms Bristol is pretty fantastic with all the big accountants, banks and law firms. If you are in the professional services, Bristol is recognised as a thriving community.” But Phil was keen to dispel one myth for anyone considering the move West. “Many people come here for the quality of life but that doesn’t mean

you can take it easy,” he said. “People here work very hard – it’s not a soft option.” The appeal of the city stretches beyond the bankers, lawyers and accountants.The recent Tech Nation report found there were 61,000 people working in tech jobs in Bristol and Bath and the growing reputation as a technology hub is starting to drive more talent here. David Maher Roberts, below, is creative and tech sector champion for inward investment agency Invest Bristol and Bath. He works to encourage companies in the field to relocate or open bases here. He’s been knocking on an open door with firms such as digital solutions firm Kainos, Somo, the world’s biggest independent mobile solutions company and Chinese telecoms giant Huawei moving in. And increasingly we are seeing those firms bringing some of their talented people with them. Just Eat, the takeaway food delivery service app recently opened a tech hub in Bristol and has been offering relocation packages to some of its London-based staff. “A lot of their people in the right age group having been grabbing it with both hands,” said David. That right age group seems to be late 20s or early 30s. “Often people have perhaps come from the region or gone to university here and want to come back,” he said. David has also seen many people move here and join the thriving freelance of consulting community, particularly in those tech and creative sectors. “They set up an office here and have a few local clients but keep London clients because it is near enough to do that,” he explained. The trend is something his agency hopes to encourage and is looking into organising events where talented people thinking of moving here can meet socially with chief executives and company founders so they can better understand the potential here. “The draw has always been quality of life and that is still the case,” he said. “But the big change is that now we are getting the career opportunities too, so you can have the career and quality of life together... which makes a potent mix.”

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Business diary Helping tech firms protect their intellectual property: Natwest and Microsoft host free workshop run with asset finance specialists Lombard and IP experts Inngot. April 16 at the Engine Shed. 9am-noon then 1-4pm. Book via Eventbrite. Financial Planning Clinic: One-to-one advice on financial issues and questions from chartered accountant Tony James at The Hive, Weston-super-Mare. Free to pre-start businesses and those trading less than a year or £40. April 16. Book at www.northsomersetenterprise agency.co.uk. Digital Challenge Final and Awards: Finalists from the hack weekend in February will compete for a £50,000 cash prize to develop a software application or game addressing one of five environmental challenges, energy, transport, food, resources and nature. Colston Hall, April 20. www.bristol2015.co.uk Inspiring Women Live! Hotel Du Vin from 6.30-9pm on Monday, April 20. Speakers Nick Fewings, MD of Ngagementworks, talks about behavioural differences, and Dr Helen Featherstone discusses change management. Book at inspiringwomen live.co.uk Finance and business briefing: The Bristol office of accountancy and investment management group, Smith & Williamson, is hosting a briefing to help SMEs get to grips with the latest changes to accounting practices, tax, regulations and company compliance procedures at the firm’s offices in Portwall Lane on April 21 from 8.30am to 11am. Email rebecca.walford@smith. williamson.co.uk

In pictures Book launch hosted by Smith & Williamson

Co-authors launch a thriller THE Bristol office of accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson hosted the official launch of a political crime thriller co-authored by the former Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police Colin Port and clinical psychologist Dr Moira Hamlin, a former chair of the Avon and Somerset Police Authority. More than 120 people attended the event which saw Colin and Moira signing copies of their gritty first novel Look the Other Way, which is set in South Africa, London and Devon – places where both authors have lived and say provided them with a rich source of ideas. Colin said: “The launch event hosted by Smith & Williamson was well attended and it was great to see so many familiar faces. “While I was chief constable, Smith & Williamson facilitated a number of meetings with representatives of the business community in Bristol and across the South West which enabled us to better understand the concerns and needs of a very important group of stakeholders. “We also used the opportunity to

Bristol PA Network: Communicate with clarity with PA trainer Lindsay Taylor at the Bristol Hotel, 5.30-8pm, Wednesday, April 22. Tickets via Eventbrite. Bristol Connected: The Bristol Post’s regular networking event takes place in the Top Bar at Colston Hall, April 23. Sold out!

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The Lord Mayor’s Charity Dinner: Drinks reception dinner, entertainment and auction, in aid of The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal, on April 30. Add your name to waiting list at galadinner2015.eventbrite.co.uk or email info@galadinner2015 .com for sponsorship opportunities. Email your business events to gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk. Events are sometimes cancelled without us being notified so please check with organisers before travelling.

● From left, Mike Leigh, Sir Jay Tidmarsh and John Prior with authors Moira Hamlin and Colin Port explain how the police were funded, organised and operated and explored how we could work together for the benefit of the wider community.” Mike Lea, managing partner at the

Bristol office of Smith & Williamson, said: “We were delighted to host the book launch which marked the start of an exciting new chapter for Colin Port and Moira Hamlin in their re-

markable careers.” The book is about a miscarriage of justice which is taken up by a disparate group determined to establish what they think is the truth.

● Sam and Gloria Babika chat with author Moira Hamlin at the launch; right, guests at the launch, which attracted 120 people

Starting in Business workshop: Business growth consultancy Cool Ventures and Bath and North East Somerset Council host free workshop at Keynsham Civic Centre from 6-9pm. Book at coolventures.eventbrite.co.uk 20 Ways to Grow Your Business: Seminar on how to structure a business for sustainable and profitable growth. Ashton Court Mansion, BS41 9JN, 7.45am on April 22. Contact Mazars.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

In pictures Event staged by Business West, Moon Consulting and City of Bristol College

Firms gather to forge future of construction CONSTRUCTION businesses from all over the South West came together to examine the future of the construction industry in the region and what needs to be done to train the next generation of civil engineers, builders, electricians and plumbers. The event was a joint venture between Business West, Moon Consulting and City of Bristol College and was held at the college’s South Bristol Skills Academy in Hengrove. Speakers included industry leaders Guy Hazlehurst from EDF Energy, Supriya Ray from Bovis Homes, Mike Carter from Skanska Building and Adam Powell from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership. Maria Semak, vice principal corporate services at City of Bristol College, said: “The construction industry is vitally important to Bristol. “This event offered an ideal opportunity for local employers to discuss current changes within the

● From left, Cliff Shaw, Maria Semak (City of Bristol College), Supriya Ray (Bovis Homes), Adam Powell (West of England LEP), Samantha Bunn (Moon Consulting), Dave Harvey (BBC), Nina Skubala (Business West), Guy Hazlehurst (EDF), Mike Carter (Skanska) and Vanessa Moon (Moon Consulting) construction sector, put their questions forward to key players within the industry and share knowledge and good practice. “It’s important as a sector to look at the skills gap and how we as a train-

ing provider can respond to the changing needs of the industry.” Moon Consulting director Vanessa Moon added: “We are delighted to work with employers and educators to ensure the long-term health of

construction in the South West. “Our construction recruitment specialist Samantha Bunn led on this event and has a great understanding of the skill requirements of the sector.”

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

In pictures 2015 Bristol and Bath Apprenticeship Awards

Shining lights Tributes paid to finalists at breakfast reception

ONGRATULATIONS to you all, Bristol Post editor Mike Norton told the finalists in the 2015 Bristol and Bath Apprenticeship Awards at a celebration breakfast reception. “We had so many entries of a very high standard so you have done incredibly well to get this far,” he said. The finalists’ reception was held at GKN Aerospace in Filton, where 103

apprentices are employed on site. The awards, run by the Bristol Post and Bath Chronicle in association with South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS), culminate in a gala dinner at the Bristol City Centre Marriott Hotel on May 20, when the winners will be revealed. But as Mike said, they’re all winners.

● Full report, see page 24 of the main paper

● Patrick Mcleod of SGS College; below, Bristol Post editor Mike Norton

● Fiona Hooper of GKN

Pictures: Dave Betts