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SIMPLY SOLD!
TEACH THE WORLD TO PIN
BUSINESS PULSE
Healthcare insurance firm’s Bristol arm sold to rival – page 4
Team creates pioneering new social media course – page 3
Firms back their instincts on apprenticeships – pages 8&9
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MAY 2015
MINISTER’S VISIT
‘WE’RE BACKING YOUR AMBITION’ New Business Secretary delivers key speech in city where he grew up above his parents’ shop – pages 6&7
A greener Bristol is a greater west. EPB-E01-S3
#GreaterWest
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Property
‘Good time’ for landowners to think of selling ● LANDOWNERS looking to capitalise on future housing developments need to start looking 10 or 20 years ahead, according to one expert. Developers are once again building up their strategic land portfolios ready to accommodate future housing schemes. Suitable sites are in particularly short supply around the north Bristol fringe, according to the Bristol office of commercial property specialists Bruton Knowles. Partner Richard Brogden, pictured, said large-scale housing developments in the area had eaten into available supply – but more would be needed to satisfy demand in the years to come. “Landowners need to be looking beyond the developments at Filton Airfield and Emersons Green - which are already active and consider where developers will be looking next,” said Richard. “Land in likely locations adjoining big cities such as Bristol will realise far in excess of the £10,000 per acre average we are now seeing in many parts of the region. This is why this is such a good time to move on a parcel of land. Landowners who might be thinking of selling should move now to take advantage of the large amounts of investment cash out there – along with historically low interest rates. “Developers try to ensure they have a three-year pipeline, but they are looking to buy land now ready for the next stage of development. “The Bristol north fringe is likely to see further residential development and landowners should be moving to market now if they are to take full advantage of current market conditions.”
Energy
Confusion over bills hurting city firms
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● ONE in 10 Bristol business people don’t understand their commercial energy bill. The figures come from energy and water consultancy Utilitywise, which also found 63 per cent of local business people were unable to identify that E or A readings mean estimated or actual, whilst almost a fifth (18 per cent) did not understand the term unit rate. The issue is not confined to micro and small businesses of one to 49 employees; one in six of those employing 50 to 249 staff nationally reported that they too don’t have the skills they need to make sense of their regular statements. Utilitywise deputy chief executive Andrew Richardson said: “Businesses need help to navigate the energy market. The terminology can be confusing, but it’s important to get a handle on it because it impacts a business’ bottom line.”
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Taxation ● Anton Lane, centre, and the team at Edge Tax
Competitive Edge Tax team in the running for major industry award Z|wly{ Rhupzjo
Business@b-nm.co.uk
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SMALL team of tax experts from Bristol is competing with the big boys as a finalist in the national Taxation Awards 2015. Edge Tax, based in the Vantage Office Park in Hambrook, is up for the Tax Investigations Team award in the industry competition that is organised by Taxation magazine each year. Specialising in helping clients with tax investigations, the company consists of just seven staff and is led by brothers Anton and Jerome Lane.
It is the smallest firm in the award category, competing alongside the likes of Grant Thornton UK, which employs 4,000 staff in 25 offices around the country. The winning entry will be announced tomorrow night at the finals at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Tax investigations specialist, Anton Lane, has 18 years’ experience working in the profession, managing tax investigations and disclosures as well as identifying solutions for private clients, families with wealth and family SME businesses. He said: “Edge Tax LLP was founded with the principle to provide clear, complete tax advice to individuals and businesses, with a particular emphasis on identifying practical solutions.
“And it shows in our growth. We have doubled the number of investigations clients in 2014, to the extent that investigations now contribute almost all of total revenue, compared with 25 per cent in 2012. We are also planning to increase our tax investigation cases by a further 30 per cent this year. “This, of course, reflects a wider issue, that businesses are increasingly susceptible to investigations and that there has been a hardening stance from HMRC. “However, with our proud 100 per cent dispute resolution success rate, we think we’re a good place for people to come. Intermediaries and clients want to work with us because we make tax fun and take the some, but not all, of the pain out of disclosures.
We have a great team, with a strong client base not only in Bristol and the South West, but also in the Midlands, London and the South East. “Winning this award would be a great result for all of us at Edge Tax and a great reward for all the hard work we have put in this year.” It is not the first time that Edge Tax has been shortlisted for the awards. In 2013, the company made the final cut for Best Tax Consultancy Firm, before deciding to specialise in the twin fields of tax investigation and risk management. A spokesman for the judging panel at Taxation magazine, said: “To be shortlisted highlights the quality of the entries in a record breaking year and shows intelligence, customer focus and vision.”
Services
New jobs on the way as beauty salon expands A BEAUTY salon on a Bristol high street has bought the neighbouring property and plans to expand and create new jobs. Lucy Bamber (pictured), who owns Icon Beauty, set up the salon in Gloucester Road five years ago. As a result of its continuing success, she has bought the property next door, knocking through to create a bigger salon with six treatment rooms, nail stations and a relaxation area. The expansion will allow Lucy to offer new services, such as laser hair removal and body treatments, and packages such as spa days on top of the existing range of treatments including waxing, facials, massage, spray tanning, manicures, pedicures,
gel nails and non-surgical facelifts. The salon already employs four beauty therapists and a receptionist and now Lucy, 34, intends to recruit up to three more therapists, with possibly more in the future. She said: “The business has continued to grow and has been more successful than I could ever have imagined, and I have totally outgrown the premises I started in. The property next door has been empty for the five years I’ve been here, so I approached the owners and they said they were willing to sell to me.
“It is very exciting. The potential is massive with this new space. The business can carry on growing – the possibilities are endless. I can bring in lots of new treatments and specialist machines and start offering treatment packages as there will be a lot more space and new areas for clients to chill out in. I hope to create something of a real urban retreat. “I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to purchase this property on this street. Gloucester Road is ever-evolving, with fantastic new businesses. It’s nice to be a part of it and to renovate
one of the last remaining empty shops to improve the area. There is such a sense of community and I have a lot of support from other businesses and from the community. I used local building firm Bespoke Builders for the work because I wanted to keep the work within the community. They have been excellent.” When the shop’s owners told Lucy they were willing to sell to her, she approached her NatWest relationship manager, Gary Giles, for help in obtaining finance. He helped Lucy secure a commercial mortgage towards the purchase of the shop. She has also bought the flat above. “Gary has been exceptional,” said Lucy. “He is always so helpful.”
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Digital
Social media Course will provide the tools to help businesses ‘fly’ Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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BRISTOL-BASED digital marketing consultancy has been chosen by Tech City UK to create an online training course to help entrepreneurs make more of social media. The course will be the latest offered by the Government-backed Digital Business Academy, which aims to help UK companies and employees do more business online. Valuable Content, which was founded by Sonja Jefferson and Sharon Tanton 15 years ago, has been tasked to produce a course on the best way for businesses to use the latest social media platforms. The idea behind the academy, which was launched in November last year in partnership with University College London, is to offer an easy way of providing learning materials not usually available outside a university, so that as many people as possible can access it. Sonja and Sharon, who are based at Spike Island, are known for their book Valuable Content Marketing: How to Make Quality Content the Key to Your Business Success. Sharon said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for us as our entire ethos is aimed at helping business owners understand the opportunity the digital world can provide – and then giving them the tools to help their businesses fly. She added: “We are very proud to be representing Bristol in the Digital Business Academy as we believe the city and wider region is at the absolute centre of digital creativity and online thinking and look forward to bringing that buzz to the course.” Originally offering eight specialist, free online business courses, the academy has received more than 12,000 registrations since launch.
● Sonja Jefferson, left, and Sharon Tanton from Valuable Content
This has led to an expansion of the courses, with new ones set to open in September, including the one to be created by the Valuable Content team. Richard Dennys, head of Digital Business Academy, said: “Once businesses embrace and understand how to be a part of the growing digital economy it can be a step change in their business. “Social media is a huge part of that, but it is often perceived by time-poor business owners as an ‘add-on’ – something people think they have to do rather than want to. “We were looking for an organisation that could cut through these
“ This is a very exciting opportunity for us as our entire ethos is aimed at helping business owners understand the opportunity the digital world can provide. Sharon Tanton
ideas and provide real-world savvy and flair when creating the course, while bringing practical business tools to the table. “Valuable Content are all that and more – we are very excited to start working with them on building a course fit for today’s entrepreneurs. “Also coming from Bristol, one of the Europe’s most digitally aware cities, means we can leverage the expertise of the Bristol cluster and allow us to feed that back into the Digital Business Academy learning community.” Find out more at www.digitalbusinessacademyuk.com/.
Engineering
Rolls-Royce axes 600 jobs in marine division ● ENGINE-MAKER Rolls-Royce has announced that 600 jobs are to go in its marine division. The cuts are on top of 2,600 jobs being lost in the aerospace part of the business, about half of which have already been made. The new losses follow a trading update that warned the firm was going to take a £350 million hit on currency fluctuations, caused by it operating in different markets. The marine business employs around 6,000 people in 34 countries. About half the cuts will be in Norway, but other sites will be hit, too. Bristol is home to 3,500 Rolls-Royce workers, mainly in defence but a number in marine, too, with the MT30 marine gas turbine assembled and tested at the Patchway site. However, a spokesman for Rolls-Royce said: “In the UK, fewer than 30 roles are expected to be impacted and they are in support functions/administration. We are not giving details of where those jobs would be at this time.” Mikael Makinen, Rolls-Royce president-marine, said: “We are transforming our marine business and while we are making good progress on cost, the effect of low oil prices means we have to continue to look for further efficiencies. “It is never an easy decision to propose reductions in our workforce, but it is a sign of the challenging market in which we operate. We will work closely with employees and their representatives as we manage this change. “The future prospects for the marine business remain bright, and we are focused on maintaining our position as a technology leader, but we must drive further cost reduction today so that we are ready to grow tomorrow.”
Get in touch Assistant Editor (Business) Gavin Thompson Call 0117 934 3336 Email gavin.thompson @b-nm.co.uk Twitter @gavin_thompson1
Facilities
Mitie ‘well placed’ for growth as profits increase FACILITIES management company Mitie has posted a rise in profits and revenue. The firm, based in Emersons Green, Bristol, delivers a range of services across the UK, managing facilities and other contracts to allow businesses to focus on their core work. The FTSE 250 company employs about 70,000 people, 8,000 of whom
are based in the South West, with several hundred at the Bristol HQ. The results for the year ending March 31 saw revenues up 5.8 per cent to £2.2 billion and operating profit before other items increasing by 0.9 per cent to £128.6 million. Chief executive, Ruby McGregor-Smith, said: “Mitie has made good progress this year. We have repositioned the business and
lowered our risk profile. Our facilities management business accounts for about 85 per cent of group revenue and is a UK market leader. “We see considerable opportunities across our markets to provide clients with higher quality, innovative services that save them money. We also see this as a positive environment in which to start and grow new businesses, and we plan to
back entrepreneurs to do this through our £20 million ‘Mitie Model’ entrepreneurial fund. “We are only as good as all our people, and supporting and developing them is critical to our ongoing success. “With a substantial order book and sales pipeline, we are well placed to deliver consistently strong growth.”
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Cities
LEP welcomes commitment to devolution THE West of England Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed the Government making devolution to cities one of its first priorities. Chancellor George Osborne (pictured) gave a speech in Manchester – which has already been granted more control over transport, planning and even health spending – saying he would like other areas to follow. Colin Skellett, chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, which covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset, said: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to provide greater devolution from London to the regions. “The West of England LEP region, under the combined leadership of our four unitary authorities, university and business community, has already shown how it can make tough decisions and deliver major economic and infrastructure projects, including our £300 million MetroBus and MetroWest schemes, and £213 million worth of key projects through the Local Growth Deal agreed with government, which will boost economic growth and create jobs in the area. “We are also working collaboratively to use the £1 billion funding from our City Deal to drive much-needed infrastructure projects in the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and the five enterprise areas that we have identified as priority growth areas in the West of England.” He added: “We are encouraged that the Government is continuing in its commitment to have more decision-making in the regions.” Any new powers, however, are likely to be dependent on far greater collaboration between the four local authorities, which could become a stumbling block. While Bristol has an elected mayor in George Ferguson, he is only mayor of the city as defined by the local authority boundary, not the wider area.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Insurance
Travel
● The Simplyhealth building in Black Boy Hill
Simplyhealth Bristol staff and office sold to rival Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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RIVATE health insurance provider Simplyhealth has sold a key part of its business to Axa – including its Bristol office. The sale of the private medical insurance business for an undisclosed sum will see the majority of the 390 Bristol-based staff transferred to Axa. Axa, which already employs 500 people in Bristol, is understood to be taking over the recently opened Simplyhealth offices in Whiteladies Road, overlooking Clifton Downs. Only around 20 staff in Bristol will remain with Simplyhealth. It is unclear where they will be based. When asked about the future of staff in the private medical insurance business, Simplyheath chief executive, Romana Abdin, said: “We
thought really long and hard to make sure we found the right people to sell our private medical insurance business to who would carry the future of that business forward. The employees were an important focus for us.” Simplyhealth, which employs 1,700 people in total, will now focus on what it calls the ‘everyday health’ market through its cash-plan schemes that give people money back for eye care, dental treatment, physiotherapy and more. “Our ambition as a business is to be recognised as the market leader in everyday health,” said Romana. “Over the last 18 months we have talked to 250 employers, corporate clients and practitioners and 5,000 of our own customers and consumers in general. “Nearly 90 per cent said ‘we want to be responsible for and in control of our health and we are prepared to pay for those services’.” The move looks ahead to how an under-pressure NHS may redefine what kinds of care it offers, shifting
the onus onto private care for services such as physiotherapy. Romana said the firm was keen to expand its services further into mental health, too. Keith Gibbs, chief executive of Axa PPP Healthcare, said: “With its well balanced, stable book of business, Simplyhealth’s private medical insurance business will be an excellent addition to AXA PPP healthcare and this agreement has presented a rare opportunity to acquire complementary business in the UK. “Both companies share a commitment to offering outstanding customer service, supporting their local communities and being an employer of choice. “We look forward to working with Simplyhealth and its intermediary partners to ensure a smooth transition, providing excellent service and continuing cover for all individual and business customers.” The future of Axa’s current office in Aztec West is not believed to be affected by the deal.
Record for airport as growth continues ● MORE than half a million passengers used Bristol Airport in April – a record for the month. The tally of 538,879 is an increase of 7.1 per cent on the same period in 2014. It was the 13th consecutive month of growth at the South West’s largest airport. Chief executive, Robert Sinclair, pictured, said: “Growth in passenger numbers supports investment in facilities such as the eastern terminal extension, which will create additional space and seating, as well as a wider choice of shops and restaurants. “It also demonstrates to airlines the strength of the market for air travel in the South West as we work to attract exciting new routes to add to the 100-plus already on offer from Bristol.” Charter and scheduled airlines carried more passengers, with standout figures for bmi regional, which saw traffic grow following the launch of new services to Paris and Düsseldorf. Brussels Airlines, easyJet, Ryanair and Thomas Cook also recorded strong growth in April and with charter airlines starting their summer programmes in May, further growth is forecast. New destinations on offer include Bilbao, lsle of Man, Porto, Gibraltar and Catania (Sicily) with easyJet, and new Thomson flights and holidays to Cape Verde, Paphos (Cyprus) and Hurghada (Egypt) from Thomson. In addition, Wizz Air will enter the South West market for the first time, with twice-weekly flights to Katowice in Poland from June. Development of passenger facilities to cater for this increased demand continues, with the eastern terminal extension scheduled to open in July. Earlier this year, Bristol was named the world’s most punctual airport in a league table measuring on-time performance, compiled by leading global aviation provider OAG. It was based on more than 43 million flight records. However, airport bosses are keen to remind passengers to leave plenty of time to catch their flight in the busy summer season.
Property
Work may start soon on major office scheme
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NEW speculative development in Bristol could be about to start, according to one property firm. This year, the first two speculative office schemes in Bristol since the recession are being completed – 2 Glass Wharf and 66 Queen Square – but while several other planning applications have been submitted, work is yet to start. Now experts at property consultancy Bilfinger GVA say the 200,000 sq ft Aspire scheme in Victoria Street could be about to get under way. They also say discussions are going on around other major pro-
jects, Bank Place and 3 Glass Wharf. Bilfinger GVA has assessed office take-up in the big nine regional cities, including Bristol, in the first quarter. It found something of a slowdown, with city centre take-up in Bristol of 106,164 sq ft, compared with the five-year quarterly average of 128,344 sq ft. Likewise, out-of-town, actual take-up was 67,365 sq ft, compared with the quarterly five-year average of 75,943 sq ft. In the city centre, that could be as much about a lack of supply as demand. Firms understood to be looking to
move, and therefore fuelling that demand, include lawyers Foot Anstey, which wants 20,000 sq ft of office space and Fraser Nash, 25,000 sq ft. However, out-of-town demand could be slower. Richard Kidd, director and head of offices at Bilfinger GVA in Bristol, said: “There has certainly been an ongoing buzz around the regional office markets’ recovery, with actual take-up rates in all cities having very positive figures this year and record take-up rates in 2014. “Out of town, due to the record take-up in north Bristol during 2014,
there is now a chronic undersupply of buildings able to offer 20,000 sq ft or more, although two buildings that will come onto the market in 2015 are St James Court, Almondsbury and 800 Aztec West, but with refurbishment required these will not be available for occupation until 2016. “However, further (out of town) speculative development is unlikely to start soon, as demand levels have been subdued at the start of 2015.” A spokesman for CBRE, which is the agent marketing the Aspire site, declined to comment on when the scheme would start.
● Richard Kidd, director of office agency at GVA in Bristol
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Food
Exports
Shiner on a roll in export league table
● James Liang, who founded Hotcha three years ago
Hotcha Takeaway chain to launch 100 stores in five-year expansion Oh}pu \ovtwzvu
Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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BRISTOL takeaway chain is going national with the opening of its first franchisees under a major expansion plan. Chinese takeaway chain Hotcha plans to open 100-plus stores across the UK in the next five years. The first new franchised stores will be launched in the North West and South East of England. The announcement comes on the back of the launch of a store in Bath, which was due to open its doors on Monday, but unlike the franchises will be operated by Hotcha. Hotcha, which serves up freshly-made Chinese dishes for collection or delivery, was founded three
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years ago by entrepreneur James Liang, who spotted a gap in the market for the UK’s first national Chinese takeaway brand. There are nine Hotcha own-operated stores in the South West, which has represented the first stage of the company’s growth strategy. James said: “I am delighted to welcome our new franchisees who, with their background in business, catering and the franchise sector come with a wealth of experience and represent the next chapter in the expansion of the business across the UK. “We look forward to welcoming more franchisees in due course. They can either sign up to operate one outlet or can invest in a portfolio of stores.” Hotcha’s franchise recruitment programme is focused on existing entrepreneurs, investors in the franchise sector and new entrants with a
solid business background in areas such as business development and marketing. The company has transformed the way Chinese fast food is prepared and delivered. It has established central systems designed to simplify the preparation and delivery of its menu, which means franchisees don’t need a background in Chinese cuisine. In order to standardise product quality, improve margins and reduce staffing costs, all core ingredients,
“ We look forward to welcoming more franchisees. They can either sign up to operate one outlet or can invest in a portfolio of stores.
including meat, fish, marinades and sauces, are prepared by Hotcha’s central production facility. Ingredients are then sent to stores every week, where they are used to prepare dishes in line with Hotcha’s house recipes and presentation styles. A central call centre has been created to streamline ordering and payments processes, allowing stores to focus on fulfilling orders and customer service. The firm has also appointed Vicky Robinson, who joins as sales and marketing manager. Vicky is one of several recruits from Domino’s Pizza and will be responsible for developing and implementing effective marketing strategies and overall brand development. The company has grown to sales of £4.5 million in just three years, targeting families, young professionals and students.
● BRISTOL firms have been named among the fastest growing UK exporters. Skateboard manufacturer Shiner, based in Aztec West just outside Bristol, was ranked eighth, the best in the region in the Sunday Times BT Business SME Export Track 100 league table. The table ranks private small and medium-sized companies with the fastest-growing international sales over the last two years. Shiner’s partnerships with large retailers on the continent boosted international sales to £3.8 million last year. British Corner Shop, based in Iron Acton, South Gloucestershire, was 91st, having grown international sales by 37 per cent to £5.7 million. The firm, led by Mark Callaghan (pictured), sells popular British food such as Marmite and Weetabix abroad, both to ex-pats and, increasingly, native buyers. It was recently named a finalist in the Exporter of the Year category at the Bristol Post Business Awards. Pukka Herbs, based in South Bristol, was 93rd, having grown exports by 36 per cent to £8.4 million. The business sells herbal teas to markets including Scandinavia, Japan and Australia, with Germany and the United States its fastest growing markets. And payment software develop Creditcall is 95 in the rankings, growing exports by 35 per cent to £2.8 million in 2014. The United States is its biggest export market, with its technology used to power payments in a range of devices, used everywhere from restaurants to New York’s parking meters. Danny Longbottom, managing director, UK SME at BT Business, said: “I would like to congratulate the businesses recognised in the inaugural Export Track 100, who are proving it’s not necessarily size that determines international success. These businesses have used a combination of self-starting ambition, smart use of technology and sheer hard work to punch well above their weight in the global market. The fruits of their labour are contributing to a strong and diverse UK economy.”
Television
Post-production firm’s studios move forward to working closely with Fiona and her team to help The Bottle Yard Studios continue to grow as a creative centre of excellence.” Fiona Francombe, site director at the studios, said: “For the first time we are able to offer a complete post service to productions based with us. “Having them right here on site, means that their skilled and experienced team can be on hand to productions whenever they are needed, which is hugely convenient. “Our tenant community has grown extensively in the past year and I’m pleased to say that we’re now home to a full range of facilities companies who can support productions at almost every stage of the production
process, from pre-production to wrap.” The Farm Group also has bases in London’s Soho, Manchester and Los Angeles. It works on big name television shows including Indian Summers (Channel 4), Made in Chelsea (E4), and ITV1 hits The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. It has won a host of Emmy, RTS and Bafta prizes since it was founded in 1998. Other recent additions to the Bottle Yard’s tenants include location supplies company Location One, music and sound design company Radium Audio and Filmscape Media, a supplier of film and television equipment in the UK.
● Senior editor Cas Casey, left, and operations manager Duncan Armstrong at The Farm Group's Bristol base
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AN award-winning post-production company is the latest firm to open a base at the Bottle Yard Studios in South Bristol. The Farm Group is no stranger to the film and television studios in Hengrove, having delivered on-site post production services to the Channel 4 gameshow Deal or No Deal since the programme relocated to the site in 2013. The firm will extend its offering to other productions shooting at the studios and across the region. It means there are now 15 businesses operating from the studios. The Farm Group founder Nicky Sargent said: “We’re thrilled to be expanding the services we can offer in the South West and are looking
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
The Big Interview
IF YOU’RE WORKING HARD, WE’RE RI The new Business Secretary Sajid Javid visited his former home city of Bristol to speak to business leaders and entrepreneurs. Post Assistant Editor Gavin Thompson reports
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USINESS Secretary Sajid Javid chose Bristol as the place to unveil his first policies of the new Government, pledging to back small business to grow the economy. He told of how his mum and dad had instilled within him an entrepreneurial spirit as they ran a clothes shop in Stapleton Road in the city. He said he understood the needs of small business and pledged to: ● Make it easier for small businesses to use ‘primary authority’ where they only need to seek advice from one local council rather than each council in every area in which they operate; ● Give bodies which represent small businesses more power to challenge unfair payment terms from big suppliers and introduce a conciliation
“ If you are behind a shop counter, the wheel of a van or a new invention then we are right behind you. If you are striving to do what my parents did a generation ago here in Bristol, then you have my utmost respect and total support. Sajid Javid
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service to settle disputes without costly legal fees; ● Stop EU regulation being implemented in a way that holds back business. The Business Secretary addressed an audience of 60 business leaders and entrepreneurs at the Engine Shed business centre in Temple Meads. He said the location captured everything that was great about Bristol’s past, present and future. “It’s the perfect spot for me to talk about the Government’s plans in the city where I learned almost every important thing I know about business,” he said. “The business in question was my parents’ clothes shop beneath the flat I shared with my four brothers.” He joked: “It is the basis of my deep knowledge of ladies’ clothing. I’m certain no male MP knows more than I do about women’s wear.” The Government hopes his story will chime with business owners and that they will feel they have a voice within Cabinet who understands them. Sajid went on: “But most important, it was the culmination of my parents’ ambitions. They came to this country in 1964 with dreams of a better life.” The minister’s father started working in a cotton mill, then drove buses and at weekends ran a clothing stall first at a local market and then secured pitches at more markets further afield. “Meanwhile mum was back at home
● Business Secretary Sajid Javid speaking at the Engine Shed Photo: Jon Craig
making clothes for the stall; the sound of my childhood was her Singer sewing machine hammering away in the background,” said Sajid. He said the hard work paid off when they finally got a shop in Stapleton Road, which he described as “the soul” of the family where they all mucked in at all hours. “I used to love wearing that money belt and serving the customers,” said Sajid. “Our fortunes fluctuated with the day’s takings. It instilled in me a belief in hard work, enterprise and reward. “I know what it’s like to run a small business.” The Business Secretary talked up the last Government’s achievements, with record levels of employment and 750,000 new businesses created. But he was quick to admit they didn’t deserve the credit. “Government isn’t responsible for the entrepreneurial boom,” he said. “That’s down to individuals, people with the guts and gumption to risk everything starting something from scratch. “Thanks to you, Britain can look forward with greater confidence.” He said Britain was a nation of shopkeepers... and plumbers, florists and cafe owners. As to what he will do to support those small business owners, the minister said he would continue to cut regulation. He admitted it would be harder to match the claim of £10 billion of red tape cut in the last Parliament but said it would be done with the help of businesses who could provide the evidence of where unnecessary regulation holds them back.
BUSINESS LEADERS WELCOME MINISTER’S NEWS ● BUSINESS leaders welcomed the visit of new Business Secretary Sajid Javid, who chose Bristol to launch the new Government’s proposed Enterprise Bill. West of England Local Enterprise Partnership chairman Colin Skellett said: “We welcome the Government’s plans to reduce red tape and provide much needed support to enable businesses to do their business. The West of England is one of the UK’s most economically successful regions and the most productive of all the core city LEP regions. “The University of the West of England produces more
He said the new Enterprise Bill, which will be part of the Queen’s Speech next week, would “first and foremost” serve small business. “Now we are going to tackle European regulation head on, ensuring we implement EU law in a way that doesn’t put UK business at a competitive disadvantage,” he said. “We’ll build on the success of our strict ‘one in, two out’ rule.” The minister said expanding and simplifying rules on so-called primary authority would boost business. He said: “Primary authority allows a business to get advice on regulation from a single local council, which must then by respected by other local councils and reducing the time and cost to business of having to obey mul-
entrepreneurs than any other university in the country and Bristol has the highest number of business start-ups of all the core cities, so we need to ensure they have the best possible conditions in order to flourish.” Bristol Mayor George Ferguson asked the Business Secretary to support the idea of a “Western Powerhouse” that would stretch from Swindon to Swansea, although the minister said the Government would back devolution only where local authorities showed a high level of cooperation. The new minister made his
tiple masters. “It reduces operational costs and allows them to focus on expansion. Thanks to primary authority, cheesemakers don’t have to display their products on wooden boards in one place and steel platters in another. “Yet only tiny fraction of small business who could benefit are, so we are going to simplify it making it far easier for small businesses to access and to extend its reach.” He also addressed the issue of big companies squeezing smaller suppliers over payment terms, sometimes even charging them to remain a supplier and deducting that charge from bills owed to the smaller firm. “This pattern of behaviour is an outrage,” he said. “It is bullying pure and
speech at the Engine Shed business centre in Temple Meads. Nick Sturge, director of both the Engine Shed and the SETsquared incubator based inside it, said: “The minister said this bill would make Britain the best place in Europe to start and grow a business – this is great news, and as SETsquared, Europe’s number one business incubator, is the best place to start and grow a technology business, we have the perfect eco-system here in the West of England, for really exciting growth.” Karl Wills from Pelipod, a company that has been part of the
simple.” He said in the last Parliament the Government introduced legislation come into effect in April forcing large firms to report payment terms. “Now we are going to widen powers of representative bodies to act on behalf of their members to challenge unfair payment terms,” he said. The scheme will be subject to a consultation later this year. A small business conciliation service, similar to one used in Australia, will be established to help small business settle their problems with large corporations without the legal costs and hopefully enable them to maintain business relationships by reaching mutually satisfactory agreements.
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
IGHT BEHIND YOU
Airbus
Governments urged to carry out safety checks on A400M PLANE maker Airbus has asked governments flying its A400M military transport plane to carry out new safety checks following last weeks’ crash in Seville. The plane is assembled in Spain but the wings are made at the aerospace giant’s Filton plant just outside Bristol. Four crew members were killed when an A400M crashed during a pre-delivery test flight earlier this month. Airbus Defence and Space, an arm of Airbus Group, sent an alert informing operators about specific checks that must be carried out on the fleet. It said: “To avoid potential risks in any future flights, Airbus Defence and Space has informed the operators about necessary actions to take. “In addition, these results have immediately been shared with the official investigation team.� Operators of the plane, which includes the RAF, must carry out one off checks on the electronic control units on each of the aircraft’s engines before they next fly. Airbus has added new tests that must be carried out in the event of a change of the engine or control unit in future. The manufacturer said the move was the result of its own internal analysis, independent from the on-going official investigation. The first RAF A400M was named City Of Bristol, in honour of the aircraft’s links to Bristol and Filton where Airbus employs 4,000 people. Those links go beyond Airbus however as the huge turboprop engines are designed by
Bristol SET Squared centre based a the Engine Shed since February, was one of those introduced to the minister. He said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity that SETsquared presented in being able to speak with the Secretary of State and to give Pelipod a higher profile. “The minister liked the product and the concept and could see it being of real use for delivery to businesses as well as consumers. It was interesting to hear the proposal for the inclusion in the Queen’s Speech and it will be very exciting to see that delivered.�
â—? See the full speech at southwestbusiness.co.uk
â—? An Airbus A400M in flight Rolls-Royce in Patchway, also just outside Bristol, in partnership with French and German firms. Britain is not the only air force flying the plane, Spain, Turkey, France Germany and Malaysia have also taken deliveries so far. It is not yet know what impact the crash and this update will have on the future schedule of the transporters, which was designed to replace the Hercules.
VAT - ‘WE WILL LOOK INTO NEW EU REGULATIONS’ â—? NEW Business Secretary Sajid Javid promised to look into how new EU regulations are hampering small digital businesses. From January this year VAT is charged in the EU in the country where goods are bought, not sold. And while in the UK, firms are exempt from VAT if they turnover less than ÂŁ81,000 a year, that is no longer the case for those exporting online to the EU. It has meant extra costs and red tape – exactly the sort of thing the new Government has pledged to remove. The issue was raised by Derek Ahmedzai, co-founder of Bristol-based crowd-funding platform Fundsurfer, during a question-and-answer session with the new minister at the Engine Shed. He said: “Small and micro businesses are disproportionately affected by the new EU VAT rules on digital services and some have decided to stop trading rather than face the costs of compliance.â€? The minister said EU-wide tax changes could be “very difficultâ€? to change because it was not up to just one country. “But sometimes we can get others to see the benefits for everyone, not just Britain,â€? he said. “I will take a closer look at this.â€?
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The minister also committed the new Government to the review of business rates, called for by the Bristol Post’s #RealRatesReform campaign among others. He told the Bristol business community: “My message to you is clear; if you believe in the values of hard work and enterprise we think along the same lines. If you are behind a shop counter, the wheel of a van or a new invention then we are right behind you. “If you are striving to do what my parents did a generation ago here in Bristol, then you have my utmost respect and total support.�
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Business Pulse |
The new Government has pledged to create more apprenticeships. Our latest Business Pulse report examines whether they work for businesses and what more should be done to support them
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THE BUSINESS CASE
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ESPITE all indicators pointing to improved business confidence and a strengthening economy, the skills gap remains a concern for many companies. In some quarters this has led to increased championing of apprenticeship schemes, with the Government stating that there has never been a better time to employ an apprentice, and businesses that do reporting an average rise in productivity of £214 a week. With this in mind, the sixth Business Pulse report, published today by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP in partnership with the Bristol Post, examined the business case for apprenticeships among
“ There has never been a better time to employ an apprentice, and businesses that do report an average rise in productivity of £214 a week
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companies in Bristol and the greater city region. The survey was shaped with input from a steering group including Bristol Mayor George Ferguson, Colin Skellett (chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership), James Durie (executive director of Bristol Chamber at Business West) and a wide cross-section of local business owners. Over half (56 per cent) of those questioned said they already employ at least one apprentice, while 93 per cent of respondents believe apprentices are important or very important to the regional economy. When the former were asked why they made the decision to hire an apprentice, nearly two thirds (65 per cent) highlighted that it was a key part of the business strategy and vision. Other popular reasons included the need to fill a specific skills gap (45 per cent) and to inject enthusiasm and new ideas into the business (35 per cent). Of those surveyed that do not currently employ any apprentices, the majority (54 per cent) said it was simply because there were no relevant roles in the business. Paul Falvey, tax partner at BDO in Bristol, said: “The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) estimates that apprenticeships contributed £34 billion to the UK economy last year. “It is very encouraging therefore that the vast majority of businesses
● Testing work at Renishaw's workshops near Wotton-under-Edge
We understand value of giving people a solid grounding ● ENGINEERING firm Renishaw has been training apprentices long before it became fashionable. Gareth Hankins (pictured left), director, group manufacturing services division at Renishaw, explained why. He said: “Our apprenticeship programme was established in 1979 and today we have 114 apprentices in training for manufacturing, engineering and software, with 27 set to be taken on at our South Gloucestershire
in Bristol and the wider city region recognise not only the benefits that apprenticeships can bring not just for individual organisations, but also to the regional economy as a whole. “But what’s even more pleasing than this is that businesses appear to be determined to back their instincts, with more than half (53 per cent) of those we questioned stating they will increase apprenticeship numbers at their company over the next three to five years. “If this commitment is realised than there could be significant be-
nefits for the local and national economy. Our Mid-Market Manifesto identifies research from the think tank Demos, which identifies that for every 1,000 employees in England there are just 11 apprentices, compared with 39 in Australia, 40 in Germany and 43 in Switzerland. “If England as a whole caught up with the number of apprentices that exist in such comparable economies, Demos forecasts an additional £4 billion would be contributed to UK GDP annually.” The Government has committed
Case study offices this year. “We understand the value of people being given a solid grounding in the practical aspects of engineering, from the ground up. “Even during tougher economic times we continued to invest in taking on apprentices and graduates because we see them as the lifeblood of the business.”
over £1.5 billion to apprenticeships in the last two years, with figures from the National Audit Office, Cebr and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimating that the UK economy gets somewhere between £18 and £28 back for every pound of government investment. However, respondents to the latest Business Pulse survey believe more could be done. When asked what would encourage more companies to implement apprenticeship programmes, a quarter identified the need for more tax breaks and one in
Gareth believes greater cooperation between big firms and their suppliers could be the way forward to increasing the skills base in the wider economy. He said: “If appropriate mechanisms were to be put in place, then we are also open to the concept of larger companies training more apprentices than required to benefit those smaller engineering companies that may not be able to support their own apprenticeship schemes.”
five called for improved grants and subsidies. Responding to the findings, Colin Skellett, chairman of West of England LEP, said: “Ensuring we have a workforce equipped with the skills that businesses need is the key to economic growth across the West of England. “Apprenticeships are increasingly providing opportunities for young people and adults alike to secure high quality employment with relevant training, leading to qualifications equivalent to GCSEs up to university
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
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FOR APPRENTICESHIPS degree level. “With nearly half of all employment predicted by 2022 to feature highly skilled roles and over 8,000 people starting an apprenticeship last year across the West of England alone, apprenticeships can play a significant role in creating jobs and driving local economic growth now and for years to come.”
“ It is very encouraging that the vast majority of businesses ... recognise the benefits apprenticeships can bring to the regional economy as a whole
“ Ensuring we have a workforce equipped with the skills that businesses need is the key to economic growth across the West of England
“ Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a good route into a job or to help develop those already employed ... But there is still much to be done to take this further
Paul Falvey
Colin Skellett
James Durie
James Durie, executive director of Bristol Chamber at Business West, added: “Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a good route into a job or to help develop those already employed, and act as a ‘win win’ for both the apprentice and the business. But there is still much to be done to take this further. “In an increasingly knowledge fo-
cused economy and as our economy continues to grow, it must be supplied with a good labour supply ready and equipped to work. Apprenticeships will have an increasingly important role to play in ensuring this is achieved.” Paul added: “An increase in the number of high quality apprenticeships on the scale needed is unlikely
to be wholly publicly funded. What is needed is collaboration between education, industry and government to improve the awareness of apprenticeship programmes and harness the potential for bridging the skills gap. “Businesses can play a key role by developing links with local schools, offering work experience placements
and information about the apprenticeships they offer, while schools’ careers services should provide up-to-date information on jobs available and advice on the skills and qualifications that will help to access them. “This will feed through to a highly skilled workforce that can drive growth in the decades to come.”
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Business diary Energy costs workshop: Energy management consultancy Utilitywise hosts workshop to support businesses on changes in legislation coming into force later this year with the introduction of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). From 10am til noon today at the Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel & Spa. Bristol and Bath Apprenticeship Awards: An evening celebrating the best apprentices in the region, organised by the Bristol Post and Bath Chronicle in association with South Gloucestershire and Stroud College. Tonight at Bristol City Centre Marriott. Tickets www. bristolpost.co.uk/apprenticeship Think Big Act Small: Chartered Institute of Marketing director of customer experience Chris Daly reveals marketing insights on some of UK’s most respected SMEs with Tim Chater, co-founder of Koji Drinks. Takes place at The Gables Hotel, Fairfield tomorrow at 2pm. Email cimevents@cim.co.uk. South West Business Launch: Join us to hear about the exciting re-launch of our business news and information platform SouthWestBusiness.co.uk. Takes place at UWE Frenchay Campus from 6pm on Thursday, May 21. Email sarah.wallbridge@local world.co.uk to register. Business Pulse: Showcase of the BDO Bristol Post Business Pulse survey results plus the chance to ask the mayor about issues raised from the surveys at BDO LLP’s Bristol office on, Wednesday, May 27 at 12.30pm. Sign up and submit a question at https://www.surveymonkey.com/ s/XHFFP9H. South Gloucestershire Business Forum Annual Breakfast: Panel discussion features Matt Cross, of Invest Bristol and Bath, Chris Smith, of Marshfield Bakery, West of England LEP boss Barbara Davies, and South Gloucestershire Council director Steve Evans. Friday, June 5 at 7.30am at Bristol and Bath Science Park. Email Strategy&Partnerships@ southglos.gov.uk. Venturefest: Showcase for innovation at the Engine Shed and Passenger Shed at Temple Meads. June 9. Find out more at venturefestbristolandbath.com
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
In pictures The Business Showcase South West at Colston Hall
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Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
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USINESS leaders, owners and managers packed out the Colston Hall for a showcase of the best of the South West. The Business Showcase South West returned to the Bristol venue and this time spread over two days to pack in more delegates, speakers and exhibitors. Director Jamie Breese said: “There were many highlights to this year’s showcase from the keynote speakers and seminars, to the Networking events, the CEOs’ drinks reception, and the exhibition stands. “We learnt from industry icon Gerald Ratner about resilience and recovery, from the Dragons’ Den success story, and creator of the Reggae Reggae brand Levi Roots about being true to yourself, from ‘millionaires’ mentor’ Bev James who wrote the business best-seller Do It! or Ditch It!, and LinkedIn expert Mark Stonham.” He said he had been impressed by the talent exhibiting too. “I am consistently impressed by the region’s business talent, their innovation, creativity and enterprise,” said Jamie. Catherine Bendall from New World Business Centre in Warmley was among the exhibitors. She said: “This was the first year we attended and met a huge number of other companies and professionals that took interest in what we had to offer as well as hearing all about their services. “I am sure we will do business following on from these leads and we are very much looking forward to next year and hopefully exhibiting with companies that we have started working with following this year’s exhibition.” Tina Parker, of Bristol-based business advisers Nozey Parkers, added: “The Busines Showcase South West 2015 was an incredible event. “I usually have stands at other business shows in the South West, but Jamie’s event was so completely different. “The calibre of delegates, speakers and other exhibiting companies was so much higher than I had experienced before. “Within the first hour I had concrete leads that will more than pay for the stand costs. This is the show to exhibit at if you are a SME business in the South West!” The showcase was sponsored by Enterprise Rent-a-Car, First Great Western and Barclays.
● Left, the Business Showcase South West at the Colston Hall
Charity mergers seminar: Experts talk about legal issues around charity mergers, including Sue Davie from Meningitis, which formed from merger of Meningitis Trust and Meningitis UK. 10am-1pm on June 18 at Foot Anstey, 100 Victoria Street, Bristol. Call 0800 408 0050 or email events.team@footanstey.com to book.
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✔ Want to see your event here? Post details on the ‘business calendar’ at SouthWestBusiness.co.uk
Events are sometimes cancelled without us being notified so please check with organisers before travelling.
● Exhibitors at the event including representatives from GWS Media and the Chiropractic Centre
Pictures: JonCraig.co.uk
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
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two-day showcase of South West’s best
● ‘Millionaires’ mentor’ Bev James, who wrote the business best-seller Do It! or Ditch It!, addresses the event. Above, creator of the Reggae Reggae brand Levi Roots talks to guests. Right, Gerald Ratner meets other attendees.
For the apprentice • • • •
The chance to "earn while you learn" by taking home a wage Gain valuable practical work experience Work towards a nationally-recognised qualification 90% of Weston College apprentices are offered permanent positions by their employers at the end of their training programmes.
For the employer • • • •
Proven increased productivity Reduced recruitment and training costs Improved staff morale and increased staff retention rates You may qualify for AGE grant funding; you WILL receive outstanding support from Weston College
Find out more:
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Email: apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk Call: 01934 411 594 Visit: www.weston.ac.uk/apprenticeships
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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
The back page
Your digest of the week in business
People ● SEVEN business people behind organisations ranging from a charity helping enterprises in developing countries, an electronic product design specialist and an IT recruitment company have been shortlisted In the institute of Directors (IoD) South West Director Awards. They are: Vashti Seth, founder of charity Deki; Tim Stringer, divisional director of Integral Build; Karl Loudon, co-founder and managing director of digital transformation agency TRW Digital; Sandie Foxall-Smith, above, group CEO of The Regard Group which supports people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and autism; Darren Ryemill, founder and CEO of Opus Recruitment Services; Paul Mullen founder and director of the Bristol and Bath Science Park-based company Cubik Innovation; and Neil Way, managing director of Jeff Way Electrical Services. The awards aim to celebrate achievements across the region, bring all parts of the enterprise community together and focus UK-wide attention on South West success. They seek to highlight outstanding business people across both the public and private sectors. IoD South West chairman Richard Ayre said: “The entries this year demonstrate the breadth of enterprise and innovation in the region. These awards showcase some of our most exciting businesses and leaders and I am continually surprised and delighted by the quality of the field.” The winners will be announced at a celebration event on Wednesday, June 17, at Bordeaux Quay, Bristol, and will go on to compete for the national awards in the autumn.
behind-the-scenes action, so I’ve had the spark from a very young age.” Colin Badcock, general manager at DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House added: “I’m thrilled that Brady has joined us. He has an excellent track record and his ambition and drive will ensure we maintain the high standards our customers now expect.”
● Above left, Brady Smith, DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House in Congresbury; above right, Jack Appleton and Chris Shellard; below, from left, Neil Mullen, Neil Way, Alastair Mitton and Andrew Harding ● Property consultancy Alder King has made two key new appointments in its Bristol office. Jack Appleton has joined the firm’s expanding planning team as a senior planner, having moved from London. He is initially focusing on Alder King’s growing number of student accommodation planning applications on behalf of regional and national developer clients. Chris Shellard has been appointed as a property manager in the management services team after seven years with St Modwen Developments. His primary responsibility is the property and asset management of Unite Students’ commercial property portfolio, maximising the income streams and capital values of its 130-plus retail and leisure units across the UK. Martyn Jones, senior partner of Alder King, said: “Jack and Chris
both bring valuable experience and expertise to two strong growth areas of our business.” ● Law firm Bond Dickinson LLP has announced two new partnership promotions in its Bristol office bringing the total number of partners in the Bristol office to 32. Andrew Harding has been promoted to real estate partner. He joined the firm in 2012 and has helped build Bond Dickinson’s real estate investment and development practice, leading on real estate advice to clients in the hospitality and leisure sector. Alastair Mitton has been promoted to IT partner in the technology sector, focusing on large IT and technology projects that have a strong regulatory bias. He is also an expert in data protection matters. The firm has more than 250 people based in its Bristol office, one of eight offices across the UK.
Managing partner Jonathan Blair said: “We’re very proud of the talent we have developed within the firm and will continue to promote from within.” ● A new operations manager has been appointed at the region’s premier hotel to oversee the day-to-day running of a four-star North Somerset venue. Brady Smith, 26, has joined DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House in Congresbury, North Somerset, where he will ensure the 200-strong team continue to deliver outstanding experiences to guests. Having worked in the hotel and hospitality sector since he was 14, Brady brings a wealth of experience. Brady, who lives in Bedminster, Bristol, said: “I’ve always loved the hospitality industry; I think it’s in my blood! My granddad’s best friend owned a hotel in Oceanside, California which we used to visit regularly and I got to see all the
● Darren Ryemill, founder and CEO of a Bristol established international recruitment company, has won the inaugural ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award at the Recruiter Awards for Excellence. This is the first year that this significant award has been presented at the UK event for the recruitment industry. Darren is the founder of the recruitment company, the Opus Professional Services Group, which has a transnational bricks and mortar presence in Bristol (HQ), London, Australia and Amsterdam. He said, “I’m overwhelmed to have won the award and feel very privileged to have won such an accolade that recognises the hard exertion of not only myself, but my ever growing team who are continuously working to reflect and surpass the standards we have set for the industry!” ● Ashfords law firm has appointed two partners and promoted ten solicitors to associate. These appointments bring the Bristol-based firm’s total number of partners to 71 and total number of Associates to 44 and reflects the firm’s continued growth and commitment to staff and Partner development. Tom Biddick has been promoted to partner in the Ashfords Trusts and estates team and Jane Ireland is now partner in the Ashfords corporate team. Mark Jury, partner and joint CEO said: “We are delighted to welcome both Tom and Jane to the firm’s partnership and we are pleased to see such a high round of associate promotions.”
Opinion
We can all make the world a better place with Fair Trade
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AIR trade bananas from Dominican Republic, fair trade coffee from Uganda… we’ve all grown familiar with the labels on the supermarket shelves in recent years. But what does ‘fair trade’ really mean? And why should businesses, as well as individuals, make it a priority? Let’s take a look into this because early in July the subject will be centre stage here in Bristol as we host the ninth International Fair Trade Towns Conference – a huge honour for the city, now in its tenth year as a Fair Trade Town, as well as a major boost to our local economy. More than 400 delegates will be descending on Bristol, some 200 from overseas. But I wonder just how many people realise that fair trade goes well beyond ethically sourced foods and beverages? And that being fair trade
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Initiative Manager at Business West, Director of Go Green Business and the Vice-Chair of the Green Capital
can actually be good for business? We’re all acquainted with the concept of ‘free trade’ – open markets where goods and services are sold and exchanged without international restrictions or tariffs, a necessary condition for ambitious entrepreneurs and nations to succeed. But the very fact that ‘free trade’ has no moral or ethical obligations attached can make it very ugly indeed, and Bristol still carries a conscience about the practices that made it the hub of the ‘Transatlantic Trade Triangle’ in the 18th century.
For free trade to operate to the benefit of everyone, and not just the few, it needs to be fair as well. Idealistic nonsense in a cut-throat global economy? Not quite. Two centuries on, and Bristol is one of the most active members of an international community working to ensure that ethics plays a key role in doing business. Ethics such as ensuring that those in supply chains aren’t exploiting or endangering their workers or using slave labour. Ethics such as buying goods from sustainable sources that haven’t endangered habitats or inflicted a massive carbon footprint for the sake of supplying foods out of season. So you know that if you have purchased a fair trade banana, it hasn’t been grown using forced or child labour and that sensible health and safety measures are in place – rights that we in Britain expect for
ourselves. And if your necklace is made with fair trade gold, you know that it has been mined by people who get a fair price for their dangerous work – enough to plough back into their communities in the form of clean water and schools. Extrapolate that to all the goods and services we source and – one day – we might just rid the world of the modern slavery industry, which is currently estimated to exploit up to 30 million people. And we might just grow the food we need without destroying the planet along the way. These are the same codes that inform the green agenda we are pursuing as a city. More than 800 businesses and organisations have signed the Bristol Green Capital Partnership Pledge, which is to make Bristol “a low carbon city with a high quality of life for all”. Further, more than 150 businesses are participating
in the recently launched Go Green Business scheme, which provides a pathway for businesses wanting to integrate sustainability through all aspects of their business. Choosing to buy and use ethically sourced goods and services such as fair trade is integral to both initiatives, demonstrating that your business is a force for good within the community. Increasingly, consumers, other businesses and the Government are seeking out companies that take sustainability seriously – selecting fair trade or other ethically sourced goods and services needn’t add to the cost of your supply chain and will act as an extra reason for people to choose you over your competitors. You can call it the Fair Trade ‘premium’. Or you can call it ‘making the world a better, fairer, greener place, one bit at a time’... something we can all play our part in.