Business 20 November 2013

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FREEZE OUT RISING BILLS

LAWYER GOT SOUL

ARE YOU IN THE PICTURE?

How businesses can cut costs and beat higher energy prices

Ex-shoe seller, cyclist, Bristol pound fan and law firm partner

We’ve been out and about at business events across city

Business bristolpost.co.uk

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20

NOV 2013

FUTURE TECH

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT Sound-activated camera triggers fundraising success EPB-E01-S4

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www.bristolpost.co.uk/business

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Food and drink

Home delivery meals

Bath Ales move in to Colston Hall’s café

Meal delivery service wins top UK award

● BATH Ales and the Colston Hall have made a centre for foodies and concert-goers as the brewer takes over the café bar and restaurant within the concert hall.

Independent brewer Bath Ales is known for its beer range including Gem, Dark Side and Wild Hare. But it also has a growing range of drinking establishments, including Bristol’s craft beer bar, Beerd, The Hare on the Hill, The Wellington and Graze Bar, Brasserie and Chophouse in Queen Square.

Having successfully won a competitive pitch, Bath Ales took over Colston Hall’s Café Bar in the

A BRISTOL franchise that supplies home-delivered ready meals was more than a little delighted to win the chain’s customer service award.

The Bristol Wiltshire Farm Foods team received their award from comedy legend Ronnie Corbett at ceremony held at the Four Pillars Hotel, Wotton-under-Edge.

The Avonmouth-based franchise has been delivering its meals to customers around Bristol for 20 years.

Sales and marketing director Robbie Pender said: “This is recognition for all our efforts in providing our customers with the service we feel they rightly deserve.

“We are always striving to find new ways to improve our service and to be acknowledged in this way is very rewarding.”

The franchise came top out of 73 Wiltshire Farm Foods businesses.

Many of the firm’s customers are older or less mobile people who cannot get to the shops so easily, or just people who don’t have the time to prepare home-cooked meal but want something fresher than a supermarket ready meal.

● From left, Ronnie Corbett, Robbie Pender, sales and marketing director; Adam Michallat-Cox, managing director; Fiona Michallat-Cox, HR director; and Ben Haynes, Wiltshire Farm Foods director

new foyer area on November 14 and will reopen the 40-seater restaurant on the upper ground floor in the New Year.

Both venues will undergo a refurbishment at the start of 2014.

Robin Couling, managing director of Bath Ales, said: “Colston Hall is a landmark institution in the heart of Bristol, so we’re thrilled to be working with the venue and its operator Bristol Music Trust.

“Our business is going from strength to strength and, alongside strong sales of our beer, this is being driven by innovation in our retail division. As we look to continue our expansion plans, 2014 is already shaping up to be a very busy year.”

The existing team will remain in place in the Café Bar and will be augmented by some of the core Bath Ales team.

In 2009 Colston Hall completed the new foyer featuring meeting spaces, restaurant and Café Bar.

Get in touch Assistant Editor (Business) Gavin Thompson Call 0117 934 3336 Email gavin.thompson @b-nm.co.uk Twitter @gavin_thompson1

Writer Rupert Janisch Email business@ b-nm.co.uk Advertising Robert Rodgerson Call 07828 941469 Email rob.rodgerson @b-nm.co.uk

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Advertising Jane Chapman Call 01179 343025 Email jane.chapman @b-nm.co.uk Advertising Simon Coy Call 07736 900 705.

Email simon.coy @b-nm.co.uk

International

Tax advice firm is growing fast Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk

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BRISTOL company that specialises in tax and legal advice for American businesses is aiming to double it size in the next three years.

Nair & Co has a low profile in the UK as most of its customers are overseas but is a growing Bristol success story.

Chris Stone, a former chief executive of Fitness First with a background in mainly high-growth companies, has recently been appointed chief executive officer and has ambitious plans.

“The business is growing pretty strongly at the moment and that

means we are recruiting,” he told Business.

“We have just made some additions to our Bristol office that takes us to more than 80 people and we are hoping that over the next two to three years we will double the size to 150-160.”

If you’ve never heard of Nair & Co, that could be because 98 per cent of its revenues come from the US. And while he would not be drawn on figures, Mr Stone said the privately owned firm, based in Lewins Mead, was growing at around 15-20 per cent.

The new boss hopes to achieve even faster growth through investing in the sales team – currently just three people in the United States and one in Asia. He believes increasing that will lead to big gains.

“The opportunity is vast,” he said.

“We estimate we have about a two per

cent market share with just three salespeople covering the whole of the US. “We think we can find a lot more opportunities by putting money into a bigger sales and marking team, I have no doubts about the market being there.”

Mr Stone, pictured, believes the company’s British base works in its favour in the US market, where it advises firms on how to do business in international markets.

“Americans love it,” he said.

“The UK has a great reputation for high standards of corporate governance and education.

“The clients are in the US but we support them from Bristol and our operation in India to do business in

Best deals - How the numbers stack up Business savings Inflation Business current CPI accounts accounts Bank of India

1.01% Cambridge & 1.8% £10,000 deposit Counties £10,000 deposit 0.25% Bank of £1 deposit Cyprus

Cooperative Bank

0.12% United Trust £1 deposit Bank

0.1% Bank of Unity Trust £25,000 deposit India Bank

1.75% £1,000 deposit 1.5% £500 deposit 1.49% £10,000 deposit

1.45% 0.05% Earl Shilton £1 deposit B. Society £10,000 deposit Allied Irish Bank

0.05% National 1.36% £500 deposit Counties BS £1,000 deposit

Source: Business Moneyfacts - moneyfacts.co.uk

2.2 0.8 0.5 3.99

Weekly earnings

more than 50 countries around the world.

“It is highly skilled, highly knowledgeable work. British people at that level tend to think instinctively internationally. As soon as you leave our small island you either have to deal with a foreign language or foreign currency so it’s in our mindset. In America, the domestic market is so big, you don’t have that.”

GROWING FAST

BUSINESS NEWS Our reporters file on the move, and you can keep up to date out and about via the mobile versions of our website

Corporation tax % %

%

Base interest rate % Ave mortgage rate %

23 20 13 10

Main rate

%

Small profits rate – below £300,000

Employer NI rates .8%

Standard rate on earnings above £148 per week

.4%

Employees in salary-related pension scheme earning up £770 p/w

bristolpost.co.uk/business

National average petrol prices .33p

130 137 139 70

Unleaded

.69p Diesel

.12p Super unleaded

.66p LPG

Source: PetrolPrices.com

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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Technology

Oil and gas

Camera innovators click at fair

DPS in multi-million deal with Chinese firm

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

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COMPANY behind innovative ways to make your camera snap has become of the most successful fundraisers on crowdfunding investment site Kickstarter.

Triggertrap has secured £290,386 in pledges – smashing its £50,000 target – for Redsnap, a camera trigger for time-lapse photography.

It capped off an amazing week for the St Paul’s-based firm, which was also named best company at technology and innovation fair VentureFest.

Chief executive Haje Jan Kamps, 32, said: “We had a great show, it was really inspiring to speak with so many other local businesses.

“There is so much innovation happening in Bristol, and it’s all too easy to forget that when we’re getting on with our everyday lives. An event like this really brings the innovation bubbling to the surface.”

The firm used the exhibition to show off a camera triggered by screaming, getting guests including Bristol Mayor George Ferguson to have a go.

Haje added: “We had lots of fun; at first, people were a little hesitant to shout at our camera, but the VentureFest visitors, and fellow exhibitors, soon got into the swing of things.

“To win the best company award in the Innovation Showcase was immensely flattering, as there were so many incredible companies showing off their ideas, services, and products at Venturefest.

“It just goes to show that making a lot of noise – both literally and figuratively – goes a long way!”

The event, at the UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre, was organised by Science City Bristol in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board and other sponsors.

The event featured 40 companies in the Innovation Showcase as well as pitching sessions and keynote speakers including Mr Ferguson and South Gloucestershire Council chairman Councillor Ian Boulton.

SEE PAGES 6&7

● Mayor George Ferguson tries out the Redsnap camera

● ENGINEERING firm DPS Global has won a multi-million pound contract to design a cylindrical vessel for extracting and processing oil in the North Sea for growing player Dana Petroleum.

Portishead-based DPS is working closely with Chinese ship-building firm Cosco to design facilities to separate and treat oil, gas, sand and water extracted from the field.

The facility will produce clean oil for off-loading via shuttle tanker and treat water so that it can be discharged to the sea.

The equipment will be installed on a new vessel with a cylindrical hull, which allows the extraction process to continue uninterrupted even in bad weather by reducing the need to rotate to face on-coming waves.

The development project will be completed next year, with oil extraction to begin in early 2015.

Neil Young, managing director of DPS Global, said: “By improving the efficiency of extracting and cleaning sand, water and other materials, as well as stabilising the pressure and temperature of the oil at sea, our engineering and technology is helping reduce the cost of extraction, whilst ensuring best available technologies are used to minimise environmental impact.”

“This deal reflects our successful strategy of significant investment in engineering excellence and research and development as well as our close working relationships in China”.

DPS employs 136 staff in Portishead.

Taking care of mealtimes - and our community ● The Triggertrap team of Matt Kane, Haje Jan Kamps and Helena Vieira, with trophies

ONLINE SEE VENTUREFEST VIDEOS ONLINE Film from future-tech event at BRISTOLPOST.CO.UK/business

3D printing

Bristol firms join 3D printing project where Hieta and Sysemia are based.

Mike Adams, chief executive officer at Hieta Technologies, said: “One of the biggest challenges our industry faces is how to commercialise 3D printed products. We expect this project to completely redefine the boundaries of additive manufacturing and prove that a large number of the same object can be produced at a competitive cost.”

Hieta Technologies was founded two years ago and started with a virtual office at the Park before moving to a bigger six-person office in October. It plans to move to a bigger office in the New Year.

Mr Adams said: “The possibilities are endless. Imagine a situation where the whole world can take part in this process, with 3D printing done at home, in the office, at hospitals, in schools. This could open the doors to all sorts of every day products being ‘printed’ by anyone who has access to the technology.”

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TWO Bristol companies have joined forces with international technology firm Renishaw to break new ground in 3D printing – the process of building objects layer on layer rather than cutting and bolting bits together.

While 3D printing has been around for some years, it isn’t yet repeatable on a large scale.

Additive manufacturing company Hieta and software developer Sysemia are working with Wotton-under-Edge-based Renishaw, the UK’s only manufacturer of a metal-based 3D printing machine, to scale up the process.

Funding has been provided by the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board – an organisation set up by Government to stimulate and support business-led innovation. The project’s aim is to produce 50,000 recuperators per year, a device that recovers waste heat in engines.

The project started from a partnership that began at the Bristol & Bath Science Park,

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Training

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Property

Recruitment

Stalled housing sites are being unlocked

Cabinet Office choice ● DAVID Hansom, a partner from Bristol law firm Veale Wasbrough Vizards, has been chosen by the Cabinet Office to join a training programme to bring people up to date on new EU procurement directives.

● Lord Mayor Faruk Choudhury, left, plays table football with Ryan Speed in the reception area at the Photo: Dan Regan BRDR20131113B-001_C opening of the new Opus Recruitment office in Castlemead

Growth is the goal for recruitment company Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk

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RECRUITMENT company will be making use of its own expertise after it moved into a bigger office with plans to hire more staff.

Opus Recruitment Solutions has taken the third floor of Castlemead near Cabot Circus and hopes to grow its Bristol workforce from around 40 to 60 next year.

Sam Jenkinson, marketing manager at the firm, said: “These are exciting times for us, we are a growing organisation.”

Opus was in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 250 of fastest

growing firms in the UK last year, and hopes to make the list again this year when it is announced next month.

Last year Opus Recruitment Solutions turned over £9.3 million but is on track to achieve £12 million for the year ending December 31. Next year sights are set closer to £20 million.

The company was founded in Bristol by entrepreneur Darren Ryemill in 2008, specialising in IT recruitment.

It targets the top 20 per cent of the market, including people who aren’t looking for a job.

Mr Ryemill said: “The best candidates aren’t necessarily looking for work, in fact the truth is they are rarely looking as they are often very well looked after in their roles, because they are valued.

“As we want to provide our clients with the best candidates on the market it makes sense that we build relationships with these exceptional candidates even when they are at their most inactive on the job market.”

The firm has since expanded to open a London office and has launch two off-shoot brands, Baltimore, which specialises in public sector recruitment, and its newest idea, Talentcubed.

Talentcubed is a social networking platform bringing together employers and potential future workers such as talented students.

Unusually, it doesn’t charge employers to advertise vacancies but instead hopes to attract lots of people to use it and then find ways to make money from the date at a later stage.

● LAND and development specialists CJH Land believe growing confidence in the housing market will help revitalise the city’s social housing programme.

The percentage of affordable housing required at new developments had created sticking points which pushed a number of sites in Bristol onto the back burner.

Simon Park, who joined the Flax Bourton-based land sale agency this time last year, said: “The residential sector is improving again and developers are far more confident they will be able to sell the houses they are building.

“Back in 2007, some local authorities in the South West were demanding that up to half of the homes on any particular development should be classed as affordable. Then as the market slowed, we saw developers successfully challenge or amend those figures at the planning stage or on appeal.

“Developers on some of the larger schemes within Bristol and neighbouring authorities argued that it was simply not economically viable for them to provide the social housing element being sought.

“But whilst market conditions remain difficult, confidence in the housing recovery is increasing and local authorities will once again be looking to developers to ensure that an acceptable percentage of homes on any given development will be earmarked for social housing.

“As we move further away from the downturn, the number of stalled sites around the country should start to diminish and hopefully the number of affordable homes will begin to rise.”

In addition to the 400 affordable homes already delivered in the region, Simon estimates that CJH Land is working on unlocking a further 1,500 new affordable homes in the advanced planning stage over the next few years.

The firm helped broker deals at Emersons Green East which will see 2,000 homes built on a 150-acre site bordered by the Avon Ring Road in the South and the M4 to the North and Westerleigh Road to the west.

The company has also signed off on a deal at Congresbury which will see 29 new homes along with 12 commercial units built on the redundant Mendip Mills site on Mill Lane.

Environmental technology

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Joining forces for green sector TWO Bristol-based organisations have announced a joint venture to support the burgeoning environmental technology and services sector in the city and wider region.

Low Carbon South West, one of the largest trade associations of its kind in the UK, and recruitment specialists Moon Consulting, have joined forces to provide environmental technology and services organisations with access to highly skilled individuals in this sector.

Low Carbon South West will use its networks of contacts in the sector to identify skills needs, whilst Moon Consulting will draw upon its talent pool to fill them.

In the West of England, the environmental technology and services sector employs more than 21,000 people in some 2,000 businesses.

Alan Bailey, chairman of Low Carbon South West and founder of

environmental technology and services specialists Brunel Industries, said: “This venture will not only help our members and local businesses to source skilled workers but will also help us to identify any shortfall in skills, and to address these quickly. This development comes just at the right time as we expect to see further growth in the environmental sector in the region, particularly on the back of the city’s status European Green Capital.”

Peaches Golding, principal consultant at Moon Consulting, said: “A key requirement for the sector is attracting experienced leaders.

“With our proven track record for providing specialist recruitment support in the industry and Low Carbon South West’s diverse network of organisations, we are looking to drive growth and prosperity throughout the sector.”

● Peaches Golding, Principal Consultant at Moon Consulting, and Alan Bailey, Chairman of Low Carbon South West and founder of environmental technology and services specialists Brunel Industries

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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Online retail

Market research

Tycoon’s wife sets up website offering best in designer jewellery

New Hong Kong office for city marketing firm

Rupert Janisch Business@b-nm.co.uk

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HE wife of the boss of a multi million pound aluminium firm has launched an online designer jewellery company from her home in Clevedon.

Susan Cawley, wife of Easton-based Universal Aluminium Systems managing director Peter Cawley, has now launched her new venture Kalila Blue.

Launched with a glamorous event held at The Cellar Bar in Hill Road, Clevedon, earlier this month, the company is aimed at providing a better quality of online shopping for designer jewellery for special events and celebrations.

The company is also planned to help the charity work in which Mrs Crawley is involved.

OFFERING THE BEST

BUSINESS NEWS ON THE MOVE Our reporters file on the move, and you can keep up to date out and about via the mobile versions of our website bristolpost.co.uk/business Mrs Cawley said she decided to develop and launch the designer jewellery retailer business after struggling to find perfect presents in one easy, accessible place online for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, births, baptisms and wedding anniversaries for family and friends.

Kalila is Arabic for “dearly loved”.

All profits from the new business will go to a charity Susan helped to set up called Motov8 which mentors young people, helping them to get support and work-based advice for their future.

The charity will also be looking at ways it can help and mentor young people in Clevedon in coming

● Susan Cawley has launched her new venture Kalila Blue months.

The launch event brought together a number of friends, business colleagues and family, to celebrate the online jewellery business launch as well as showcasing some of the designer jewellery ranges from companies like Virtue, Frightlings, Lily Blanche and Tartan Twist.

The Kalila Blue website offers a single website for customers to source special gifts, whilst also offering hints, tips and advice on a dedicated designer jewellery blog.

Mrs Cawley said: “The launch event at The Cellar Bar was a fantastic evening, attended by friends, business colleagues, and with local

people popping in to check out our displayed ranges of designer jewellery.

“The food and drinks were fabulous, and we’re all raring to go with Christmas coming.

“The website looks wonderful, and our designer jewellery ranges all come with a 20 per cent order discount throughout November as a welcome gift from us.”

Kalila Blue will stock the latest ranges from well-known brands to up-and-coming jewellery designers including Tartan Twist, White Ice, John Rocha, Alchemy, Frightlings, Virtue London, Sheila Fleet, Virtue Drops, Lily Blanche and more.

“ We’re all raring to go with Christmas coming...

The website looks wonderful, and our designer jewellery ranges all come with a 20 per cent order discount throughout November as a welcome gift from us.

● A MARKET research company which was founded in Bedminster in 2003 has celebrated a decade in business with the opening of its first international office.

Consumer Intelligence, which employs 65 people in its offices in Great George Street and Lower Lamb Street, also has remote staff around the globe.

But it opened its first international office in Hong Kong earlier this month and is now helping companies in the Chinese region to better understand their market.

During their 10 years in business, Consumer Intelligence has established itself as an expert in market research.

The company’s customer base now includes some of the world’s leading banks, insurers and price comparison web sites, as well as some Government offices.

Its reputation for helping companies improve their service and profitability has meant Consumer Intelligence has already been asked by clients to open offices in Hong Kong, the United States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

Ian Hughes, founder and CEO of Consumer Intelligence, said: “It has been an amazing 10 years and we are really excited about where these new developments take us.

“I am really grateful to our customers and the team here. It’s been hard work, but we are really seeing it pay off with this new global development.”

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Susan Cawley

Shopping

Clifton centre manager visits Parliament to get green award “What a great year it’s been and it’s all thanks to centre staff, the tenants and their staff – a tremendous team effort.”

As a result of its latest success, the Clifton Down centre has been invited to have its winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow its example.

It will also be considered to represent their country in the European Business Awards for the Environment.

The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries.

Social enterprise wins £10,000 grant

● Rikki Teml with his Green Apple Bronze Award trophy

● A COMPANY that inspires young people to learn about robotics and computing has won a £10,000 grant.

Bristol-based Robotic Educational Systems and Technology (Restech) won a Santander’s social enterprise development award to help fund the expansion of its robotic education workshops.

Restech provides workshops to schools and local young people on robotics, computer science and programming.

The Santander award will help it build a website with an online learning platform and buy equipment to use in its robotic workshops.

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THE manager of Clifton Down shopping centre visited the House of Commons to accept an award in recognition of the centre’s environmental achievements this year.

Rikki Teml visited the home of Parliament in London to collect the Green Apple Bronze Award Trophy.

The award is Clifton Down’s third green gong of the year, after it managed to save energy, send no waste to landfill and significantly cut its waste management costs.

The Whiteladies Road precinct competed against more than 500 other organisations from across the UK in the Green Apple Awards.

Mr Teml said: “I’m delighted and proud that the centre has been recognised for its efforts and it’s a credit to everyone associated with the centre.

Robotics

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

In pictures: Business people out and about Smith & Williamson creative industries event at Creative Common BRISTOL film-makers, animators, digital marketers and graphic designers were among the guests who gathered at Yurt Lush on Creative Common for a discussion and networking session.

The event, organised by the Bristol office of investment management and accountancy group Smith & Williamson, featured a panel discussion exploring post-recession opportunities for the sector.

Chaired by Fraser Bradshaw, chief executive of Bristol Media and chief executive of creative marketing agency saintnicks, the panel included David Sproxton, executive chairman at Aardman Animations; Laura Marshall, managing director at Icon Films; Chris Thurling, digital media specialist and founder of 3Sixty; Paul Appleby, chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and Steve Ashworth, associate director at Smith & Williamson, which has a dedicated media services team.

Discussions covered a range of topics, including opportunities to develop home-grown skills, access funding and build on Bristol’s strengths as one of the top creative centres in the UK.

● David Sproxton of Aardman Animations, Rachel Baber of Smith & Williamson, and Steve Ashworth of Smith & Williamson

● Nick Dean of Adlib, Laura Garwood of Smith & Williamson, and Alex Pearn of Clink Clink

● Fraser Bradshaw CEO of Bristol Media and creative marketing agency saintnicks; Chris Thurling of 3Sixty, Helen Bassett of Smith & Williamson

● Steve Vincent of Express Systems, Rebecca Tippett of Smith & Williamson, and Jay Neale of Express Systems

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Be Your Own Boss at City Hall, Bristol WOULD-BE entrepreneurs had the chance to find out what it takes at a Be Your Own Boss event at City Hall.

Keynote speakers included Lorna Perks from LornaLou, who is a self-employed inventor, and designer and Alex Poulter from East Bristol Bakery.

Both were able to share their experiences of getting into business.

The event was organised by Bristol City Council, start-up support organisation Outlook Bristol and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Ms Perks said: “The journey to becoming your own boss can be a bit of a rocky road at times. It took me almost three years from the first idea to launching the business, with plenty of interesting experiences along the way.”

● Scenes from the Be Your Own Boss event including speaker Alex Poulter from East Bristol Bakery, above

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

7

VentureFest at the UWE exhibition and conference centre

Business diary

MORE than 800 people attended an innovation and technology exhibition in Bristol.

VentureFest, at the UWE exhibition and conference centre, gave 40 companies the chance to show off their wares in the innovation showcase. Others attended as delegates, sponsors or took part in workshops and clinics.

Alastair Watson, director of organisers Science City Bristol said: “This was the best Venturefest Bristol yet.

With more great companies in the Innovation Showcase, and more delegates through the door than ever before, there was a real buzz in the exhibition hall all day. There was so much good networking going on,

● Defence Procurement Research, Technology & Exportability exhibition: An opportunity for buyers and suppliers to experience the latest innovative technologies in defence procurement. Today, November 20 at the UWE Conference & Exhibition Centre. ● Bristol Distinguished Executive Address series: Rupert Soames, chief executive of Aggreko talks about the energy crunch. City Hall from 5.45pm, today, November 20. ● The Hive Preview: Chance to find out about The Hive, flexible office space for start-ups and growing business. Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare, 5.30pm, tomorrow, Nov 21.

BRING THIS PAGE TO LIFE Get our new app (by searching Bristol Post on the App Store or Google Play) and use it to scan this picture to see video of singer Lori Campbell performing at VentureFest it was difficult to get people into the main stage area for the keynote speakers!

“The people I spoke to during the day were all very enthusiastic about the talent and innovation of businesses and entrepreneurs in the South West.

“From reusable spacecraft to green bike hire and robotics to interactive gaming, Venturefest Bristol had an amazing spectrum of new ideas and inventions on display.

“The showcase companies had the chance to speak to investors, grant funders, professional supporters, coaches and collaborators.

Everyone told me that they had a great day, and that it was very worthwhile. Some even believed that it could be the turning point they have been looking for to grow their technology business.”

Winner of best company in the Innovation Showcase was Triggertrap, with best newcomer Open Hand Project. Best pitch went to Maplebird (a company aiming to make the world’s smallest UAV) and highly commended went to Spuddy (two Bath University students).

● One to one clinics: MDs are being encouraged to step away from their day to day work and take an hour to consider growth opportunities with an expert from Business West. Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, tomorrow, November 21.

● Scenes from the event, including South Gloucestershire Council chairman Councillor Ian Boulton trying out a robot, left; and Mayor George Ferguson addressing the event, below

Distinguished Executive Address, speaker Peter Ayliffe, at Bristol City Council Chamber PETER Ayliffe, who led Visa Europe, as president and chief executive, who is now chairman of Monitise, was the main speaker at last week's Bristol Distinguished Executive Address series, organised by the University of West of England and sponsored by the Bristol Post.

Mr Ayliffe, who was born in Weston-super-Mare and started work for Nat West in Bristol, spoke on the challenge of growing business in the digital age.

He was interviewed before the address at Bristol City Council Chamber by Ian Mean, content director for LocalWorld, which includes the Bristol Post.

The series is described as providing a unique opportunity to hear about the challenges, issues and decisions being made at the highest level of strategic leadership and is delivered by the Bristol Business School in partnership with Bristol City Council, Business West, CBI, CMI, IoD and the Post.

● CBI South West Annual Dinner: Guest speakers are Alastair Campbell (pictured), Tony Blair’s former press secretary, and CBI deputy director general Neil Bentley. Brunel’s Old Station, tomorrow, November 21. ● Architects overseas workshop: UK Trade and Investment and the Royal Institute of British Architects is holding a workshop to encourage architects to develop international business opportunities at Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, on Friday November 22. To register email events@uktisouthwest.org or call 0845 60 60 969 ● Spike Design Open Day: Free advice with expert business advisor John Hector and Carole Sartain of Creative Skillset, with lunchtime talk from Rights TV’s Jane Hyndman on issues facing start-up freelancers at Spike Island, 10am-4pm, Wednesday, November 27. ● Portishead Chamber of Trade and Commerce’s business breakfast: Brewer’s Fayre, Gordano Gate, 7.30am to 9.15am on December 6. Tickets are £12 for members and £15 for non members from www.portisheadchamber.co.uk. ● Send your business events to gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk

Get in the picture Send us photos from your event, with names please, to business @b-nm.co.uk

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● Scenes from the event, with speaker Peter Ayliffe, top left; Mr Ayliffe with David Potter of the Chartered Management Institute, and Steve West and Nicholas O’Regan of UWE, top right

● Horizon 2020 Launch: The Horizon 2020 programme is the European Commission’s fund for R&D for SMES. This event can help firms learn how to apply for a share of the money. HP Labs, November 21. Book at www.horizon2020 launch.eventbrite.co.uk

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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Energy costs special

TIME TO CUT YOUR POWER BILLS Businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of being energy aware. Rupert Janisch reports.

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ITH most of the big six firms all recently announcing price hikes, with winter coming and household bills being a politically expedient issue, the cost of energy is a hot topic.

Only last week, the National Audit Office suggested that above inflation increases in energy prices could be expected for the next 17 years.

Now with a growing acceptance of the importance of environmental issues – on social, ethical and financial grounds – the relationship between energy prices and the bottom line of a business has never been more critical.

Most business owners will be aware that the cost of electricity forms a significant proportion of company overheads.

● Greg Corrigan, left, and Fraser Ebbs of Burleigh Portishead

“ We know

manufacturers who have saved £100,000 a year through careful management of their energy use

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Angus Taylor Angus Taylor from the Bristol office of property specialists Bruton Knowles said: “Energy costs are among the biggest overhead that industrial property occupiers in the Bristol area face and they are rising steadily.

“At the moment they represent 10 per cent of the costs faced by many businesses.

“Making savings in energy costs has a direct impact on the bottom line, which means that properties that are more energy efficient are now more attractive and attract occupiers faster. As a result we are seeing a huge rise in the number of renewable energy schemes in businesses across the region.

“The combination of funding available from grants and incentives and the ability to sell energy back into the grid is proving very attractive. We know manufacturers who have saved £100,000 a year through careful management of their energy use.”

A recent study from AXA Business Insurance uncovers how little adjustments to running their business could add up to some big savings for the UK’s growing number of SMEs. AXA calculates that some companies could save themselves up to £1,435 per year if they were to make some small changes, reckoning that UK SMEs together could be throwing away a massive £2 billion.

Of the £1,435, AXA reckons that an average of £399 could be saved per year simply by switching energy sup-

Powered solely by green energy supplier ● PORTISHEAD-based design and print business BurleighPortishead has become North Somerset’s first sustainable design and print supplier by converting to 100 per cent renewable green electricity.

The business is now solely powered by electricity from green energy supplier Good Energy. This is in addition to their other environmental commitments using vegetable oil inks, recycled and carbon balanced papers and recycling all their production waste.

BurleighPortishead was created in 2012 by the merger of two long-established family run companies, Burleigh Press and Portishead Press. They came

plier.

And what many business owners may not appreciate are the number of different ways of saving energy.

Some of these are straightforward ones which individuals may even do in the home but ignore when at work.

They can be simple as turning out

Case study together in purpose-built premises to form one of a new generation of creative communications businesses. Both had already made sustainability a top priority.

Sales and marketing director Fraser Ebbs said: “We are really pleased to become the region’s first sustainable design and print business. Carbon reduction is becoming increasingly important for local businesses and this decision goes a long way towards our goal of becoming 100 per cent carbon neutral. Carbon reduction offers significant benefit to our

clients too, as we contribute to reducing their own carbon reduction targets and meeting their wider environmental objectives. For them there is no cost implication so it’s being viewed as a real winner.

We carried out a lot of research before deciding upon Good Energy as our supplier. They demonstrated that they are the most ethical in the market place and are very different from the large energy suppliers who often offer green tariffs as a bit of ‘green wash’. Good Energy believes in the principles of renewable generation, which is why they are chosen by organisations like the National Trust, Greenpeace and the Green Party.”

lights when leaving a room, boiling smaller amounts of water in a kettle and not leaving computers on standby.

Others may be more expensive and form significant investments which may take time to see a return.

Replacing computer servers with

more efficient versions, for example, is a big financial outlay.

Other measures are cheaper. You can install energy-efficient LED lighting which uses a tenth of the electricity of conventional lightbulbs and lasts for over well a decade. And although the cost of each bulb may be

fivefold the savings repay themselves within a matter of months.

And there are other business incentives, too. Some companies recognise the marketing advantages of being seen as green, ethical and therefore a positive association to do business with.

So where can a company turn for support and advice?

The West of England Carbon Challenge (WECC) is a network of businesses and organisations based in and around Bristol that are working to be greener, improve their resource efficiency and cut their carbon footprint.

It was an initiative that was set up

by Forum for the Future in 2008 and is now run by Low Carbon South West (LCSW).

And, with just over a year to go until Bristol is crowned European Green Capital in 2015, LCSW are actively seeking new members to join the network.

Amy Robinson, spokeswoman for LCSW, said: “The West of England Carbon Challenge works like a carbon fitness club – working out as a group is much more fun than going it alone, and fellow members can offer support, advice and encouragement, with an element of friendly competition!

“It’s really important for businesses to get on top of their energy and resource use, as many are quite literally pouring money down the drain if they aren’t measuring their consumption.

“In addition, consumers are increasingly seeking out greener goods and services, and this is a trend that is only going to increase into 2015 when the spotlight is on Bristol as the UK’s first European Green Capital.

“We hope that SMEs can see that going green is a great business opportunity – we are here to provide the tools, support and encouragement they need to make the most of it.

Many companies in Bristol have implemented environmental management plans with the help of the Business West Improve Your Resource Efficiency Scheme (IYRE) which is called Go Green Bristol.

The campaign is shortly due to find out if they have received a second round of European funding to continue their project.

But although funding can be of help in implementing new measures, a key message is still that companies should invest some time assessing their processes to be more efficient and save money, as many improvements can be made at low cost or for free.

Top tips for businesses to save energy: Advice from Business West’s Go Green campaign ● 1. Utility and business service tariffs. Shop around, use a free energy broker, or comparison websites if you work at home. If you receive a renewal letter, respond or you’ll be automatically rolled onto a new contract, often with higher charges. Other measures include group purchasing and re-scheduling work activity to make use of cheaper rates. ● 2. Lighting. Lighting can account for up to 40 per cent of electricity use in buildings.

Minimise – switch off unnecessary

lights; use timer switches or sensors; check your lighting design matches demand; replace or remove fluorescent tubes that are not working – failed tubes still use power. ● 3. Appliances and Equipment.

Turn on PCs’ power management features; encourage employees to switch off computers and monitors and unplug laptop and phone chargers when not in use. Set your printers to duplex and greyscale print by default, buy energy efficient kit and turn it off when it’s

not being used. ● 4. Cooling. Air conditioning is an increasingly expensive way of keeping buildings cool. Ensure the thermostat is not set too low, switch if off when the building’s empty, install solar blinds and keep maintain equipment properly. ● 5. Heating. Service boilers regularly and make sure temperature settings are reasonable. Many offices are overheated and reducing settings by just 1 degree C can save 10 per cent from heating bills

● 6. Water. Many organisations pay higher water costs than necessary, so investing a little time and money in a simple water management plan could save you money and reduce your water consumption by up to 80 per cent.

Keep an eye on your water bills and watch for unexpected higher costs – it may be that there’s a leak you don’t know about. Fit water saving devices where possible and work out if there can be any savings on usage throughout the business.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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AND BOOST YOUR BUSINESS

Law firm leading the way

● Mike Gupwell, environmental expert for Gregg Latchams

Photograph: Michael Lloyd BRML20131115B-004_C

● IF you had visited the offices of a firm of solicitors 20 years ago you would have been surrounded by piles of paper – reams and reams of printed case studies and statutes. Visit Gregg Latchams today and there’s barely a file in sight.

Gregg Latchams was crowned Carbon Champion 2013 for its outstanding achievement of reducing its energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions by 27 per cent between 2011 and 2012 as part of its participation in the West of England Carbon Challenge (WECC).

The firm, which is based in Queen Square, formed a dedicated Green Group to become heavily engaged in reducing the firm’s energy consumption by taking measures such as ensuring office space is used more efficiently, setting duplex printing as the default option, introducing twin monitors, and recycling 95 per cent of all firm waste.

And it has also aimed to become, where possible, a paper-free office, storing all its files digitally on two

Case study very slim virtual servers, which not only uses a lower amount of electricity but also emits less heat, minimising the server room air conditioning requirement.

Efficient lighting, car sharing and easy wins such as turning off the lights – the idea is to combine several small measures to combine into significant savings.

Mike Gupwell, a member of Gregg Latchams’ Green Group, said: “When we decided to commit to the WECC we were not sure how or whether we would achieve the 10 per cent reduction target.

“I am delighted that the energy saving message has been so enthusiastically adopted by everyone at Gregg Latchams and through little adjustment we have achieved a significant carbon saving.”

Gregg Latchams has also won the Bristol Law Society Legal Sector Alliance award for Environmental Responsibility in both 2011 and 2012.

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www.bristolpost.co.uk/business

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Big Interview

SHOE SALES BACKGROUND GAVE Gavin Thompson meets the law firm partner who has gone from way out there to become mainstream without letting go of his beliefs.

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HE path from shoe seller to partner in a leading law firm is not a well trodden one. But then Stephen Clarke has always liked to go his own

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way.

The 59-year-old cycles to work every day, rain of shine. Not that unusual now, but Stephen has been doing so for 20 years.

And in his spare time, he’s a director of the Bristol pound, the local currency introduced to support independent traders by keeping money circulating within the city.

Do such outside interests prompt raised eyebrows from his peers at Clarke Willmot LLP, where he heads the construction division?

“Probably,” he admits. “But the strength of a partnership is you have got people who are very different.

“It took me a long time to understand that. I used to take on employees who were exactly like me, what you need is a mixture of people – people you might not want to go out for a drink with but who are, for example, very good at spreadsheets.”

And the more environmental stuff

that once colleagues may have thought were “wacky and hippy” is starting to reap commercial rewards as companies look for green credentials when deciding tenders for work.

But on the whole, Stephen likes to keep his interests separate. He has not, for example, pushed his partners to accept the Bristol pound for their legal services yet. And even within his professional life, he has more than one approach.

“There are two types of lawyers, contentious and non-contentious.

Most people either work on contentious – that’s disputes – or non-contentious – drawing up contracts,” he explains.

“In construction we do both. I put together contracts for large construction projects and also handle disputes between companies, such as who is at fault if the roof leaks. They require totally different mind sets.”

Many of Clarke Willmott’s customers are small and medium sized businesses and Stephen feels his background helps him with those clients.

“I was in business. I had a pub-

Vital statistics

My working day

Name: Stephen Clarke Age: 59 Born: Bristol!

School: St Brendan’s Brislington (when it was run as a boy’s school by the Christian Brothers).

First job: Paper-boy in Hotwells then summer job at Fry’s in Keynsham.

Hero or inspiration: Thich Nhat Hanh (inspirational Buddhist teacher) and Jackie Dziekanowski (below, the nearest Bristol City have ever got to George Best) plus I was fooled by Tony Blair.

Wake up: 7.15 Breakfast: Muesli Start work: 9am Typical working day: I wear different hats on different days; when I am in the office I lead a small team of very specialised construction lawyers putting together construction projects and resolving disputes. The other days I work on social enterprises around Bristol; especially the Bristol Pound which is a project to support independent businesses which I am very involved in.

Go home: 7pm would be my average; I am a slow starter in the morning but speed up during the afternoon. Ask my secretary; all my dictation arrives as she is leaving…

Do you take work home/attend evening functions? I attend quite a few evening functions but try not to take too much work home; I am a Blackberry slave though.

● Favourite book Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel and TV show Breaking Bad

My downtime Perfect weekend: Bristol City winning; nice meal with the family (including my two adult daughters); bit of jazz with my partner Pat and a drink with some mates on Sunday evening.

Favourite book or film or TV show? Book would be Bring Up The Bodies (about Ann Boleyn) by Hilary Mantel. TV shows are Breaking Bad, Homeland and Match of the Day (plus I regret to say I have a soft spot for The X Factor).

Hobbies: Reading, walking, good coffee (check out Small St Espresso), football ( I am going to Brazil for the World Cup) and friends.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

LAWYER A FIRM FOOTING Bristol City in particular. Stephen is a busy man. Yet he fits in his Bristol pound work.

“Where do I find the time? I don’t really know. I fit it in a at evenings and weekends.”

Those weekends are also taken up with the aforementioned passion for Bristol City. Which if nothing else goes to show you can’t be successful in all your endeavours.

“I didn’t choose Bristol City. I was taken to a game when I was eight years old, and that was that,” says Stephen.

“The highlight of the year so far was beating Bristol Rovers in the Capital One Cup,” he says. That the best moment comes in the early stages of a relatively minor competition about sums up the rest of City’s achievements this season. But Stephen’s not overly critical.

“I have to applaud Stephen Lansdown. What a thankless task. He has stuck with every manager, supported them, given them money to spend and things have got worse.”

But he’s more optimistic when it comes to the city of Bristol.

“In a recession, lawyers are the first to feel the downturn as the deals stop,” explains Stephen. “But we are

“ I didn’t choose Bristol City. I was taken to a game when I was eight years old, and that was that Stephen Clarke

● Photo: Dan Regan BRDR20131114E-005 places sometimes,” he says, with a smile.

The company now has 60 or so partners nationwide with offices in London, Manchester and Southampton, although the Bristol office, in Bath Street, remains the largest.

As a born-and-bred Bristolian, Stephen likes to champion the city, hence his involvement in the Bristol pound. Something he takes seriously in his own spending choices.

“If I am going for an evening meal and there are three restaurants and one of them takes the Bristol pound, then I’ll go to that one,” he says.

“But I haven’t gone as far as George (Ferguson, the city mayor) who will

go to buy a bike, and if they don’t take Bristol pounds he’ll say ‘I can’t buy it but I’ll come back next week and if you take Bristol pounds by then, I’ll buy it’.”

He’s delighted with the progress the currency has made, thanks largely to the three years of planning that went into it.

“We only have one chance to get it right,” he said. And now that expertise is being used to help other cities considering setting up their own local pounds, including Liverpool, Manchester and Oxford.”

With a senior role in a law firm, a wife and two grown-up girls, and a passion for football in general and

Profile Ben Reynolds Group general manager Eclectic Bars and Po Na Na nightclub in Bristol

Age: 38 Born: Welwyn Garden City, Herts Educated: King Edward VI, Totnes, Devon and Greenwich University First job: Saturday lad in a sports shop and then worked in sports shop every summer when I was growing up. I think that’s why I have such a mad addiction to buying new trainers.

Influences and inspirations: Martin Johnson for his drive and physical presence which means he is a natural leader and probably the best ever England captain, and Clive Woodward for how he masterminded and perfected the art of preparation for the big games leading up to lifting the world cup. My outlook in business is leading from the front and try to be the best prepared you possibly can be!

Surround yourself with great people and organise them into a great team!

Irritations: Promoters can sometimes make false promises – I’m pretty wary of that now.

Hobbies: I love football, rugby, and tennis and my two-year-old boy takes up pretty much all my time.

What first inspired you to become involved in business?

There was an area manager who acted as my mentor for a long time when I worked at Whitbread.

He was really inspirational, and I still use the knowledge and skills I learned from him today.

Looking back is there anything you would have done differently in the course of your career? I wouldn’t change anything, but looking back, I wish I could have foreseen the change in the student market. Students have had a large increase in fees which has changed the amount of disposable income they have which has in turn affected their drinking patterns and the growth of drinking at home before going out.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most? I love entertaining. Hosting our new VIP room is great fun!

What is the key challenge facing business in the UK today? In today’s increasingly difficult financial climate, all businesses must strive to remain competitive but without compromising quality. In our business you need to be continuously creative with your entertainment offer and ensure the service and standards you are offering are second to none.

What can Government do to help businesses thrive ?

Because there is no VAT on food, supermarkets can subsidise their discounts on alcohol, allowing consumers to purchase drink very cheaply and stay at home to drink. However, pubs, restaurants and bars have to pay 20% tax on both food and drink. This is a huge disparity which needs to be addressed by the Government.

What one piece of advice would you give to anyone considering setting up their own company ? Pay a visit to www.brave.org.uk/ – BRAVE is an independent, not-for-profit organisation based in Bristol and has helped thousands of entrepreneurs to start and run successful and profitable businesses in Bristol.

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lishing business and a retail business. I started out selling shoes in Campden Market in the mid-1970s, then went on to have five shops,” says Stephen.

“I got a bit bored of selling shoes and decided to re-train as a lawyer.

“It means I understand how business people work. I understand how SMEs work because I had my own.”

Stephen started up the construction team at Clarke Wilmott in 2001, and despite the name, has no family link to the firm’s Somerset origins, though he confesses it can be useful.

“When I say I’m Stephen Clarke from Clarke Willmott it does get me

also one of the early professions to feel the upturn and we have definitely felt a sea change in the last six months.”

Although, while that will be good news for lawyers, it won’t be good for everyone.

“One of the things that happen in a really bad recession is banks will support companies that they might otherwise not because the assets have no value,” he says, adding that when things picked up, those assets gained a value and it might be better for the bank to stop supporting a fir m.

And in terms of his own profession: “Lawyers thrive on change. If you start a new project, that’s a change and there are things that need doing.

Insolvency is a change too, it’s rough on the client but there is a lot of stuff to sort out.”

So while things are changing, the legal profession is happy. And there has been plenty of transformation in Bristol, not just economic but social too.

“It has been extraordinary watching the change in Bristol,” exclaims Stephen. He points to the increase in cycling as evidence of the direction people are taking.

“It can be as hard to find somewhere to park your bike now as your car, because that many people are cycling.

“We need more cycle paths. The Bristol to Bath cycle path is so busy it’s like the M6 for bikes.”

So the rest of us are catching up with Stephen. And if the rise of cycling is anything to judge by, come 2031, we’ll all be spending Bristol pounds.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Up and coming

Movers & shake-ups The future of business

The latest appointments news. Send your news to business@b-nm.co.uk

Start-up loan

Sports clinic is up and running Rupert Janisch

● KNIGHT Frank in Bristol has promoted Nick Snowden to partner in its recently formed residential valuation, investment & development national division.

The move follows a period of sustained recovery in the residential development market and re-emerging mixed-use development market.

In addition, Andy Smith, senior surveyor in the office agency team, has been promoted to Associate.

Head of office Steve Oades said: “These promotions are well deserved. We are fortunate enough to have some very talented people within the Bristol office and these promotions are in recognition of this.”

Business@b-nm.co.uk

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SPORTS therapy clinic has started up on Church Road in St George thanks to a £6,000 loan. Shawnika Sergeant has set up the Up and Running Sports Therapy Clinic after becoming too busy to treat clients from home.

The new business premises will enable her and her new therapist colleague to treat sports and general injuries for anyone from professional sportspeople to recreational athletes and office workers.

Ms Sergeant has set up the clinic after being given a loan of £6,000 from the South West Investment Group, under the Government’s Start-Up Loan Fund scheme.

The 23-year-old from Speedwell said: “I became very busy from word of mouth and the room I was using at home was very limiting. Expansion was required and that’s when money became an obstacle.

“Finding premises with a good location with enough space for two treatment rooms, client parking and no steps for my clients who struggle to walk has been one of the biggest hurdles.

“Now the business is up and running the best thing is being able to walk into the foundations and know I built it.”

Shawnika was recommended by a friend to go to SWIG for business finance. Delivering the government-backed Start-Up Loan Fund in the South West, SWIG recognised that Shawnika and her business were ideal candidates for the funding.

To support with the business planning, SWIG referred Shawnika to Brave Enterprise in Bristol to receive fully-funded advice with the business

● Shawnika Sergeant, at her new sports therapy clinic plan.

Emma Smith, business advisor and mentor at Brave supported Shawnika with her loan application.

“Shawnika is ambitious, talented and hardworking and deserves every chance to make her business successful. It just goes to show that a little bit of investment and support at

Photograph: Barbara Evripidou BRBE20131107B-004_C

the right time can help small businesses grow and create jobs.

“The Start Up Loan scheme is excellent in that it has an easy application process, an attractive interest rate and enables us to provide the business owners with some business advice and mentoring free of charge, both prior to application and for the year afterwards should a loan

be awarded.”

Shawnika trained in Sports Therapy at the University of Gloucester and gained experience working extensively with football and rugby clubs in the local area, providing pitch side assistance and pre- and post-sports therapy as well as working individually with players and other athletes.

● AWARD-winning financial planner Emma Hall is set to apply her skills to the personal investment, income drawdown and inheritance tax sectors at Clifton Wealth.

Emma, 29, was named “2010 Newly Qualified Financial Advisor of the Year” in the Financial Adviser Life and Pension Awards.

In her new role, she is keen to focus on female investors: “I often find that women are much more comfortable talking to other women about their financial circumstances and I’m very keen to help them.”

Education

Ex Renault garage is mechanics’ classroom A FORMER Renault garage has been transformed into a state-of-the art education centre for Weston College motor vehicle students.

The £1 million refurbishment at the South West Skills Campus on Locking Road includes two large workshops, two computer suites and two hi-tech

classrooms.

Applications have doubled for motor vehicle courses and now lecturers are seeking more employers to offer apprenticeships and work experience.

Motor vehicle lecturer Ian Aldridge said: “Last year we had 60 full time students, this year we have over 120 training with us.

“Many want to be an apprentice and are in desperate need of an employer to support their training.

“The Government wants to add work-based experience to fulltime education and we want more employers who need Level 3 students to help them access the working environment.”

Education

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College project for adults with disabilities CITY of Bristol College has developed a programme for adults with learning difficulties and disabilities (LDD) with Pattersons, a city-based supplier of cleaning and catering supplies.

As part of the pre-entry or

entry programmes at the college, students are able to undertake work experience with local employers as part of their course to gain valuable work experience.

Now it has teamed up with Winterstoke Road-based Patter-

sons to offer work experience to LDD adults.

Under the scheme, the students are assigned a college placement officer who offers advice and support to the employer throughout the student’s placement.

● SIMON Gilbert has been appointed land director at Barratt Bristol as the housebuilder plans to expand operations in the South West.

Simon, who joined the group in 2007, is overseeing land buying and his appointment follows the opening of new headquarters for Barratt Bristol at Aztec West.

“We have a good pipeline of land for the next 12 months which will provide valuable new homes for buyers in the region for several years to come,” said Simon. “We are looking at a wide range of sites which will offer the kind of homes that are required in these areas.”