Business
Week
WED
11 SEP 2013
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Directors’ horror show ● MAKE-UP artist Victoria Hemmings has to commute to London for much of her work, including the most recent Dido video. But with more filming coming to Bristol at the Bottle Yard studios, that is changing. The 30-year-old horror fan from Temple Cloud gave a demonstration of her talents to Institute of Directors members during a tour of the studio, while husband Tom, 31, endured the zombie makeover.
It’s time to flash the cash to bring growth Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk NOW is the time for Bristol business to splash the cash, according to the man at the head of the chartered accountants’ professional body. Accountants might be traditionally keen to keep their wallets shut – but on a visit to Bristol, Michael Izza, right, chief executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, urged those holding the purse strings to spend. Speaking exclusively to the Bristol Post, he said: “Now is the time to make that decision. If you want to hire that new person, if you want to buy that piece of machinery, now is the time because the opportunities are going to be there for you to grow in 2014.” Mr Izza said there was “a great deal of cash” in the UK corporate sector which firms had been holding on to citing a lack of confidence. But the ICAEW’s own confidence monitor, published with business
analysts Grant Thornton, shows that confidence is growing. The report found that in the South West, turnover rose 4.2 per cent in the past 12 months and gross profits and sale volumes by 3.3 per cent. It predicts a 6 per cent rise in turnover in the next 12 months, 5.2 per cent rise in profits and 5.8 per cent rise in sales. Mr Izza said: “The message is that the economic recovery does
appear to be strengthening.”. And Mr Izza, 52, pointed to lower-thanexpected levels of unemployment – with many firms having cut hours rather than people – as an indicator that when the orders started to come in, businesses would be well-placed to act quickly. He praised Bristol’s economic strength, highlighting the creative sector and the lack of dependance on the public sector.
Chartered accountants ● PICTURE a chartered accountant and you probably think of a small-town, high-street practice. But many people running big companies are trained chartered accountants. Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown, founders of hugely-successful Bristol investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, started
as chartered accountants – as did the two most powerful businesswomen in the city, Mitie chief executive Ruby McGregor and her Imperial Tobacco counterpart Alison Cooper. ICAEW chief executive Michael Izza said this is because it provides a strong grounding in finance, strategy and business leadership.
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He said: “Bristol is a creative centre and that is an industry which is well placed to maintain a good, strong position against international competition. “It is not the sort of thing that is going to disappear because the factories move somewhere else to cut labour costs. “Creative people like to live in this area because other creative people live here and because of the lifestyle.” He said that in times of difficultly, some parts of the country looked for help and handouts but Bristol chose to innovate. Mr Izza said: “For example, when the liquidity crisis hit the banking market, and lending to small- and medium-sized business started to dry up, some of the first inquiries I had about alternative sources of funding, such as crowd funding, were in this area.” VIDEO: NOW’S THE TIME TO SPEND
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW? See Michael Izza’s answer on our website: bristolpost.co.uk
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Attract top executives but avoid recruitment costs ENTREPRENEURS from six growing businesses will pitch directly to a range of executives in a bid to recruit support at an event in Bristol next week. The Pitching for Management event takes place at the Burges Salmon offices in Glass Wharf from 4pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 17. It gives the chance for company owners to avoid recruitment costs and attract the senior executive or non-executive support they need to grow their businesses. Pitching for Management is a series of UK events and, sponsored by Saffery Champness, is returning to Bristol for the third time this year. James Tottle, founder of Space Cadet 56, pitched for a business-development director at the last Bristol Pitching for Management event. He said: “I am a relatively new business. Before I pitched in Bristol, I had not pitched or spoken about my product (a multimedia iPad book) to a group of businessmen before. From the event I have made a contact that is producing 100 copies of my book to give out to hospitals and schools, with a second contact in talks to help in the future.” Visit https://pitchingformanagement bristol10.eventbrite.co.uk/ to book a place at the event.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Filming takes place in former sherry store
Look behind the scenes of city’s mini Hollywood Driving through Hengrove you would hardly know the area was fast becoming the heart of the South West’s television industry, as more productions take advantage of the huge film studios. Business Week’s Gavin Thompson went inside to take a look
I
T was the car park that clinched the deal to land Sky One sitcom Trollied. When the gamble was made to convert the former Constellation Wines bottling plant in Hengrove into a film studios, it was unlikely anyone thought the presence of a car park outside would be a crunch factor in winning a big piece of business. But Bottle Yard site manager Fiona Francombe says you never know what might be a deal maker or breaker. She said: “What they liked was that you could look out through the windows and see the car park outside. “It did not matter that the cars changed and move because supermarket car parks have such a high turnover. That is what made them come here and not go to London.” Production company Roughcut signed to make three series at the site and turned one of the big old tank houses into a full-size supermarket. Fiona said: “There are some differences. The aisles are wider to allow the cameras to track better but the checkouts work.” Currently the aisles are home to a big trolley full of Walkers Crisps, left over from the filming of an advert starring Gary Lineker last week. In another of the tank houses – once used to store giant tanks of sherry bottled and then distributed from the site – is a Bailey’s caravan, in situ to film promotional material for the Bristol firm. They are signs that the decision to become just the third council in England to own a film studio – Manchester and Ealing being the others – was not so crazy as it may have sounded at the time. Fiona said: “Since the Bottle Yard opened, the total inward investment that has come into Bristol because of the Bottle Yard – ie programmes that
would not have come here without it – is £16.7 million. The cost has been around £750,000 over the three years.” The sprawling site of huge former tank houses – the tallest is 70ft high and once contained two giant vats of sherry that size – is beginning to attract small satellite businesses. TR TV Film and Media Services, a scaffolding firm, sits next to Martin Peters Grip Services – and nearby is SetSmith, a firm of set builders. All are hoping to make a living from being on hand for the productions that come and go from the site. That eco-structure is vital to the future success of the studio, and success breeds success as the more expertise is on hand locally, the more likely productions will choose to come to Bristol. The land was first bought by the city council with housing or development in mind. But speculation that the BBC was going to move Casualty out of the city, combined with the realisation that the very large industrial buildings would be less than straightforward to demolish, changed things. Desperate to keep a show that was reported to be worth £24 million to the city’s economy, the council offered to use the space for a new BBC studio. When that failed and the skyline of Holby melded from Bristol into Cardiff, a feasibility study was launched into whether the site could be a success as a commercial film and television studio. The idea was to bring in new investment to replace some of what losing Casualty had cost the economy. It seems to be working. The council, with no experience of the industry, brought in Fiona as a consultant to run the site, and officials such as council project manager Andy Tyas have learned the ropes quickly.
● Above and below, members of the Institute of Directors tour
Seeing Is Believing Day
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Bosses aid young unemployed SENIOR managers from big business spent a day looking at the extent of the city’s youth-unemployment problem and how they could help. The Seeing Is Believing Day was organised by Business In The Community, a charity that aims to build resilient communities, diverse workplaces and a sustainable future. Phil Cotton, senior partner at accountants KPMG, who led the visit, said: “The statistics around Bristol’s youth-unemployment problem are
frightening – 12 per cent of young people in Bristol have no qualifications, compared with 10.6 per cent nationally. Businesses need to get more involved to tackle the issue, and this is an important first step for local business leaders to see for themselves the impact of youth unemployment and think about how they can help.” The day, sponsored by Bristol City Council, included senior managers from Nationwide, Space Engineering, handbag maker Mulberry, and
● The council’s Chris Hacket and Tulip Ltd’s Nick Long
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Setting the scene
the Bottle Yard film studios in Hengrove
Pics: Dan Berlin info@photosbyberlin.co.uk
Most of the studio’s business comes from television, as the lack of sound proofing and the presence of large supporting pillars in many of the cavernous tank houses put off bigger-budget projects with grander scales and higher levels of demands. But there is certainly money to be had from the television industry. Fiona said: “A typical six-episode television drama will turn over £4 million in six months.” And the industry moves quickly. Once a show is commissioned, executive producers can be scouting for locations within a couple of weeks. They start spending money in the third week – and by week eight there might be 40 people working on a project that is yet to start filming. Fiona compares the Bottle Yard to a hotel. She said: “We give visiting productions a place to work with no difficult leases. They can pitch up and start. It is similar to a hotel but on a bigger scale and with industrial buildings.” And unlike many hotels, there is somewhere to park your car.
What’s been filmed at the Bottle Yard... ● THE first project was Five Daughters, a drama mini series about the 2006 Ipswich murders. Then came Inside Men, a BBC drama about three security workers who plan a heist. Mariah Mundi, starring Michael Sheen and Sam Neill, was the first feature film shot at the studios. It is due for release this year. Four-part drama The Fear chronicles the story of crime boss Richie Beckett. New Worlds, starring Joe Dempsie of Game Of Thrones fame, is a four-part history drama for Channel 4 set in the 1680s. Deal Or No Deal is moving to Hengrove from its Paintworks home
Hopes that move will attract extra finance
Bristol aims to become social-enterprise city MOVES are being made for Bristol to be recognised nationally as a social-enterprise city. The aim is to raise the profile of the sector, attract extra finance and help to make a bigger contribution to the local economy. Colin Skellett, chairman of the Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This is already a strong sector and we have high hopes that it will go from strength to strength by galvanising a wide range of entrepreneurs
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Bristol should be recognised as a leader in this sector
Stephen Parsons of Quartet Community Foundation
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who are committed to the cause and will work together to achieve their shared aim.” The Bristol and Bath Social Enterprise Network is led by a group of social entrepreneurs, practitioners and support organisations. Stephen Parsons, chairman of the Quartet Community Foundation and the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Social Enterprise Sector Group, said: “Bristol should be recognised as a leader in this sector.”
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insurance firm Zurich. Delegates visited Oasis Academy Brightstowe to meet students, discuss their aspirations and answer questions. The group also visited Tomorrow’s People – a charity dedicated to helping young people into work – to talk to youngsters affected by unemployment and discuss how businesses can become more accessible employers. Delegates visited housing charity 1625 Independent People to meet a group running a catering social enterprise, and find out more about the Clothes Line Project which encourages businesses to donate work clothes which are then passed to young people for interviews.
● MEMBERS of Bristol’s business community had the chance to get a taste of the movie business during an unusual networking event. The Institute of Directors invited members to tour the Bottle Yard film studios in Hengrove. As well as touring the set of Sky One sitcom Trollied and getting a sneak peak at the new Deal Or No Deal set under construction, the visitors were able to try filming a scene or watch a make-up demonstration. Rebecca Tregarthen, organiser of the event, said: “It was only as recently as 1998 when the creative-services industry was first recognised by Government as an economic driver. “Today it generates around £8 billion for the economy and growing. The South West is where we are experiencing some of the fastest expansion and the Bottle Yard is one of the best examples of our how we are capitalising on that opportunity for growth. “Many of our IoD members are involved in the creative industries in some way. This visit was not just a tour but aimed to show our commitment as an organisation to supporting the Bottle Yard going forward and help facilitate the right connections for aspiring young talent with business and education.”
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Open day at city hotel after £5m makeover ● THE 201-bedroom DoubleTree hotel on Redcliffe Way is now complete after a £5 million makeover. Businesspeople are invited to take a look around the hotel, by Hilton, during an open day on Thursday, September 19. Alongside the bedrooms, the newly-refurbished hotel boasts meeting rooms, and facilities for conferences, events, weddings and dining. An interesting feature of the spa hotel is a 17th-century kiln, once used for making Bristol glass, which now forms the Kiln Restaurant. John Dowling, hotel general manager, said: “The refurbishment has transformed the hotel and restaurant dramatically to offer quality accommodation and a quality place to eat. We are looking forward to showing people around. If Bristol is serious about attracting more business, more tourists and more visitors, it needs to provide accommodation of this quality.” For more details about the open day, telephone 0117 926 0041.
Renewable-energy firm gains Green Deal status ● SOLARTECH Ltd has become one of the first renewable-energy companies to be awarded the Government-backed Green Deal Installer status. The firm, which has an office in Aztec West, has met the new PAS 2030 standard which is required to install a range of energy systems under the Green Deal scheme. These include domestic and commercial applications such as condensing gas-fired boilers, under-floor heating and renewable technologies such as solar photo voltaics, solar thermal systems and ground and air-source heat pumps. Shaun Taylor, managing director of SolarTech, said: “It is an excellent opportunity for householders and small businesses to finance improvement measures to their property, without the need for any upfront payment as it is repaid though the projected savings you can make on your electricity bill.”
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Profile: Sara Lewis Managing director of Ascent PR, part of Berkeley Communications Group In brief Age: 43. Sector: Public relations. Size of company: Ascent PR contributes to a group turnover of £3 million. Born: Henley-on-Thames. Educated: A little. First job: Sales administrator for a printer manufacturer, Kyocera. Influences and inspirations: One of the people I am always inspired by is Simon Sinek. He recently said: “Dr King gave the ‘I have a dream’ speech not the ‘I have a plan’ speech. It’s our dreams that change the course of history.” Other influences in my life are of course my colleagues, clients – and not forgetting my fantastic family. Irritations: One of my biggest irritations is receiving letters that are littered with basic grammatical mistakes, especially when they come from an authority. Hobbies: As well as directing a local amateur dramatics pantomime, I also enjoy the odd clay pigeon shoot and scouring the Lonely Planet for holiday destinations off the beaten track.
Q&A What first inspired you to become involved in business? While child-minding for a sales director one evening, he gave me a new laptop to evaluate whilst he was out. When he returned, I sat him down and said it could be improved, as the finance package didn’t integrate with his word package (bearing in mind this was before the days of Windows). He then told me about a job opportunity with Psion, a
technology business in the handheld device market. He was so passionate about technology and business as a whole that when I was offered a role, I jumped at the chance. I haven’t looked back since.
mid-20s to travel in Africa gave the opportunity to reflect on my career and consider the areas of my work I truly loved. On my return, I applied for role in a London PR agency and the rest, as they say, is history.
Looking back is there anything you would have done differently in the course of your career? There isn’t anything I would change, my career has been colourful and varied. However, taking time in my
What part of your job do you enjoy the most? I know its clichéd, but every day is different from the next. I feel privileged to work with a huge variety of companies and on a
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variety of strategic and tactical activities. But if there’s just one thing that I really love about my job, it has to be winning new business. I still get a buzz every single time. What piece of advice would you give to anyone considering setting up their own company? People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. Think about your why, it’s the power behind your goals and passion.
Bristol festival commissions survey
Women ‘held back by risk-taking worries’ WORRYING about taking risks holds women back in business, a study for a festival of female entrepreneurship has found. Women Outside The Box takes place in Bristol next month to encourage more women to go it alone. The research, which compared attitudes towards risk of male and female business owners, found men were much more likely to take a risk in order to fulfil their professional ambitions and build their business more quickly and on a much bigger scale. The survey questioned 150 business owners across the South West. Double the amount of women – 43 per cent – than men surveyed thought that “throwing in your job to take
a trip of a lifetime” was highly-risky behaviour, compared to 21 per cent of men. When it came to business risk, women seemed less willing to invest to the hilt. For example, while 34 per cent of men surveyed would not think twice about remortgaging their house to fund their business plans, only 17 per cent of women said they were prepared to do so. Men were also found to be much more willing to invest in hiring the staff they needed to grow their business quickly, with 68 per cent of those surveyed saying they would invest in taking people on to ensure their firm
reached its full potential. But only 25 per cent of females who own a business are willing to invest in employing people, held back by the fear that they might not succeed. Women Outside The Box founder Joni Farthing said: “The research shows that women are still holding back when it comes to thinking big, taking a chance and really going for it. “The point of putting on the festival is to encourage women to adopt a she-who-dares attitude and fulfil their true potential.” Women Outside The Box is on Monday, October 7 at the Ar nolfini.
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
2,000 product lines
LOOKING FOR A FIRM YOU CAN TRUST?
New shop aims to offer value A NEW shop aimed at giving people value for money has opened on Gloucester Road. Bargain World has replaced the Credit Cruncher store on the busy street. The double unit at 163-165 has been bought by the Hussain brothers, who previously ran a budget store called Pound House Plus on Keynsham High Street. Sawa Hussain, 41, said: “We saw this as a real investment opportunity. It is very rare that a store of this size becomes available on Gloucester Road. There is a lot of footfall and a large student population in the area, so we are excited about our future here.” Mr Hussain will be running the business with his brothers Iqbal and Manzoor. He said: “People are always looking for bargains and value for money, and that is what we aim to give them.” The store has more than 2,000 product lines, including branded goods, catering for needs including DIY, stationery, toys, luggage and sweets. Credit Cruncher occupied the site from the early 1980s until this summer, when the landlords, Abrahams and Johnson Ltd, decided they wanted to sell the building.
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One of Bristol’s top entrepreneurs reveals his key to success
Want business glory? Then scrap meetings!
“
Exclusive Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
We do not have meetings because they are a waste of time. People are empowered to run their section of the business
Peter Hargreaves
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Hargreaves and Bristol City Football Club majority shareholder Steve Lansdown 30 years ago and has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become one of the most successful companies in the UK, right the way to the FTSE 100. It now employs 748 staff, with all but 59 of them based in Bristol at the firm’s Harbourside office. Mr Hargreaves said he hopes Bristolians are proud of the company’s success. The firm’s revenue was up 22 per cent to £292.4 million, from
£238.7 million the year before. And it added 76,000 new customers, taking the total to 507,000. While most customers are over 50, because “that is when people start accumulating capital”, the firm has been particularly successful with junior ISAs for under-18s, with 32 per cent of the market. The firm will be paying a dividend of 14.38p per share and a special dividend of 8.91p per share. That will be worth around £40 million for Mr Hargreaves, who sees that as a reward for taking risks and investing three decades into the business. He said: “I could have had an easy life as a chartered accountant working in a practice and not taking risks.” Mr Hargreaves said that much of the money will go back into supporting other businesses through investment.
Chance to see your design on kitchenware HOUSEHOLD products maker Brabantia is launching a competition to design prints for its range of kitchen canisters. The Nailsea firm says the Pimp Our Print contest is open to anyone, regardless of age or experience. Communications manager Anne Slaats said: “This competition is about recognising upcoming designers and showcasing their talents. We are looking to the latest generation of creatives to come up with a fresh design that captures the spirit of today, much as our iconic Patrice design did 40 years ago.” The popular Patrice design, created by Patrice van Uden and featuring flowers, was launched by Brabantia in 1970. Those entering the Pimp Our Print competition are encouraged to let their imagination run wild and embrace a broad range of styles and mediums including modern art, street art, photography, illustration and textiles. Any medium will be accepted as long as it can be uploaded and reproduced digitally so that the public can vote online. Designs need to be an original creation and uploaded via www.brabantia.com/design in .jpg format by 22 October. The winner will see their print and name appear on a range of Brabantia canisters, and potentially a whole product range, and get a three-day trip for two with tickets to Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2014 in Milan.
Price includes: • Private coach travel from your local area • Three nights’ dinner, bed and cooked breakfast • Visits to Cartmel and Hawkshead • Entrance to Holker Hall • Journey on the Cumbrian Coast Railway • Return journey on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway • Coach journey along the Kirkstone Pass • A cruise on Ullswater
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ONE of Bristol’s most successful businessmen has revealed the secret to his firm’s huge success – not having meetings. Last week Hargreaves Lansdown posted another year of record results, with profits up 28 per cent to £195.2 million before tax, from £152.8 million the year before. Co-founder Peter Hargeaves told Business Week that the success is down to “being one of the best-run companies in the country”. He said: “We watch every penny, we employ excellent people, we empower those people to make decisions and we do not have crazy meetings. “We do not have meetings because they are a complete waste of time. “People are empowered to run their section of the business.” He said that good customer service is vital, and that the best marketing for the firm is its clients. “It is all about word of mouth,” he said. The firm was formed by Mr
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Prints competition
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Advertising feature Among the exhibitors are: West Of England Local Enterprise Partnership: A new local skills service providing free and impartial advice and support for your business. There is a need to improve the employability of young people entering the labour market. Crucially this is about additional competencies that young people need to secure their first job. The West of England skills team are linking with education to develop innovative models of engagement to deliver the highest quality workforce of tomorrow. To get involved in encouraging young people to enter your profession visit; www.westofenglandlep.co.uk/people-and-skills; E info@woeskills.co.uk T: 01275 378892
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● The Best of Bristol Business Exhibition takes place on Tuesday, September 24, at the Ashton Gate Conference Centre
No barriers to trade at city’s business show WHEN it comes to spotting business opportunities, it pays not to be blinkered. That is why at the Best of Bristol Business Exhibition there are no walls between the stands. Organiser Neil Kinnerly said: “We do not put up walls between the exhibitors. It is about making sure there is an opportunity for businesses to network behind them, in front of them and beside them with the other businesses in the room as well as the delegates.” This open approach to networking has clearly paid off. Neil said that more than £1 million of new business has been generated from the exhibition since it started five years ago. The exhibition at the Ashton Gate Conference Centre on Tuesday, September 24, is the 14th such event organised by Neil. It is set to be the biggest yet, with 120 exhibitors booked. What those exhibitors will get is a great-value way to meet new clients, whether delegates or fellow exhibitors. Neil said: “There is a real buzz when you walk in. You get 120 to 140 exhibitors and 300 to 400 people in before the show even opens. There is a lot of business done just between the exhibitors.” He said that the show offers great value, especially for small and medium-sized firms. “Some exhibitions would charge £1,000s,” said Neil. “Here, if you are a Best of Bristol of Federation of Small Businesses member, you can exhibit for as little as £100. It only takes one lead to make your whole day worthwhile.”
The event typically attracts more than 500 delegates. So, with two or three people on each stand, there are 800 to 1,000 potential customers in one place. Another attraction for exhibitors – who are typically people offering services to other companies, from graphic designers to accountants and social-media consultants, is the chance to support other local businesses. Neil said: “It is a great opportunity for local businesses to not only network but to buy services specifically from local companies.” Bristol City Council is a supporter of the event. Neil, 51, believes the reason it got involved was because the exhibition supports its aim to encourage people to buy local. “Our event is a perfect forum for that,” said Neil, who pointed out that the exhibition attracts mainly Bristol businesses as well as some others from the South West. The theme of buying local is backed up this time with Bristol Pound organiser Ciaran Mundy giving one of the three seminars. Others will be by Bristol News and Media media-sales director Hussain Bayoomi, and Becca Thurston, a skills adviser for Local Enterprise Partnership. ● Best of Bristol Business Exhibition, sponsored by Activia Training, is on Tuesday, September 24, at the Ashton Gate Conference Centre, open from 10am to 3pm for delegates. Delegates go free. Exhibitor prices range from £200 to £300, with a 50 per cent discount for FSB members. There is ample parking, and disabled access. Hot food and drinks are sold on site.
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Business West: Business West, the largest membership organisation in the region, represents and works with 16,000 businesses. It provides a full range of advice and support services from how to start, develop and grow your business to expanding overseas. Visit Business West at stand 124 to see how it can help your business. See www.businesswest.co.uk. Eco IP Communications Ltd: At Eco IP we take the time to understand the challenges your organisation faces today and in the future. We will provide an effective, innovative telecommunications solution that is tailored specifically for you. For further details or to book your free communications review call Paul on 0117 9112992 or email paul@ecoip.co.uk. Come and visit us at stand 106.
Grosvenor Park: Grosvenor Park has money to lend to small- and medium-sized enterprises. It offers specialised solutions for the arrangement of debt finance, capital restructuring and equity finance. It assists business start up, expansion and recovery, advises on business strategy, and provides resources to support restructuring. Grosvenor Park can lend money to help you grow. Call 0800 181 4011, fax 01934 628268 or email info@grosvenor-park.co.uk. Calvium Ltd: Thinking of creating an iPhone and Android app? For friendly advice visit Calvium on Stand 68. Calvium are mobile app development specialists. Everyone’s got an app in them and we developed AppFurnace to let you create yours. From teachers to designers, it’s a great way to make apps. Our next teacher training day is 1 October. Email hello@calvium.com or call 0117 370 8875 Twinfield: Twinfield is Europe’s largest online accounting solution. Providing all the benefits of cloud accounting, Twinfield gives you access to real-time information about your business anytime, anywhere on any device. Available for a fixed monthly fee, Twinfield is a scalable solution designed to grow with your business, and is rapidly becoming the software of choice for entrepreneurs and accountants. To find out more visit www.twinfield.co.uk or come and talk to us at stand 111. Bristol City Council: Supporting Local Business: ● Are you in business? ● Want to do better? ● Want to save costs and help the environment?
● Looking for new premises? ● Uncertain of legislation or regulations? ● Not sure where to go for advice? We are proud to support the
Best of Bristol Business Exhibition, please visit our exhibition stand. Email: bristol.futures@ bristol.gov.uk, tel: 0117 922 2928
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Best Of Bristol Business Exhibition EPB-E01-S3
The One Stop Shop For All Your Business Services Tues 24th Sept 2013 10am - 3pm Free Entry Ashton Gate Conference Centre For event details call 0117 911 4223
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Clubbers out in force to show that disco fever is staying alive in Bristol
Best in the West? No, city student is best in the world
● Pryzm nightclub has opened on Bristol’s Harbourside. The Luminar Group has spent £1 million rebranding the former Oceana. Clubbers Nicole Slade, Emma Champagnie, Danielle Sealy and Emma Bates enjoy their night at Pryzm
New nightspot’s launch weekend attracts 5,000 Gavin Thompson Assistant Editor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
PHOTOS ONLINE
GALLERIES GALORE Go online for more photographs from this event. bristolpost.co.uk
● A BRISTOL student has achieved the highest marks in the world in the latest Chartered Institute of Management Accountants exams. Simon Wilshire studied with First Intuition in Bristol, and works for Wessex Water as a business-performance manager. The 26-year-old, pictured, came top in the final, and toughest, level of the CIMA examinations (T4 Part B), beating nearly 5,000 other students across the world who were registered for the exam. Simon said: “The exams were really tough but I had a lot of support from First Intuition in Bristol, where the tutors were exceptionally helpful, and from my employer, Wessex Water. “The qualification has enabled me to evaluate problems in a logical and analytical way, as well as giving me tools and knowledge for decision making.” To become a chartered management accountant, students need to complete 10 professional-qualification exams across four years, requiring personal study and dedication. This is complemented by three years’ experience which can be gained while studying. David Johnson, of CIMA South West England, said: “Simon has shown fantastic dedication to come top in these exams.”
High Court gives go-ahead to Bristol firm’s purchase ● AIM-LISTED Bristol-based financial services firm Ultimate Finance Group could be bought by Manchester-based Renovo Group plc. In a statement, the Bradley Stoke-headquartered business declared that the High Court had given the go-ahead for the takeover “to effect the recommended acquisition of UFG by Renovo Group plc”. According to Ultimate Finance Group, the acquisition remains conditional in part upon the London Stock Exchange Limited agreeing to admit the existing Renovo shares and the new Renovo shares to trading on AIM, as well as the confirmation of the capital reduction. Renovo describes itself as “a biopharmaceutical product company and a leader in the discovery and development of drugs to reduce scarring, improve wound healing and enhance regeneration of tissue”.
● Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Faruk Choudhury, was among the guests to officially launch the Pryzm nightclub on Canons Road at the weekend. Here Mr Choudhury meets Peter Marks, chief executive of The Luminar Group, the club’s owner. The Luminar Group owns 53 nightclubs nationwide
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IT was a hot opening night for a Bristol club relaunched after a £1 million investment. Fire breathing and pyrotechnics welcomed more than 5,000 clubbers who turned out at the weekend to see Pryzm, the new look and name for Oceana. Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Faruk Choudhury, was among the guests to officially launch the Canons Road venue. The £1 million investment, by owners The Luminar Group, has taken eight weeks to complete and created 30 jobs for young people who have joined the existing 65-strong team. Mr Choudhury said: “Pryzm is a stunning venue and I am confident it will be a big pull for residents and visitors to Bristol. “Any successful city has a thriving late-night economy, creating both wealth and jobs, and on behalf of Bristol we are delighted that companies such as The Luminar Group are looking to invest here.” As well as the fireworks, there were showgirls on stilts, and an illuminated robot which was reported to be
the biggest attraction of the weekend. Pryzm Bristol’s general manager Ken Getgood said: “The opening weekend was a huge success, firmly establishing the club as Bristol’s premier nightspot. “Customer feedback was really positive, especially on our new luxury booths with table service, and guests loved the dance vibe.” The club has lined up a number of celebrity appearances aimed at its target market. Personalities set to appear include stars from reality-television shows Made In Chelsea and Geordie Shore. The club now features three distinctly-styled music rooms and a VIP lounge, as well as the latest in sound and lighting systems. The Luminar Group is the UK’s largest nightclub operator with 53 venues nationwide, including a further nine Oceana clubs which will be rebranded Pryzm over time.
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Movers and shake-ups Who’s going where and doing what in Bristol’s business community WHEN Jonathan Webb’s patients come to him with sports injuries, they can be assured he understands how they feel – because he was an international sportsman. Jonathan played rugby for Bristol, Bath and England until he retired in 1993 when the game was on the cusp of turning professional. “I didn’t think I would be able to carry on doing both. “By that stage in 1993 I had two kids, was a registrar, living in Bristol, working in Switzerland and the time required for rugby was growing. “It used to be all done on evenings and weekends but that was changing. “When I first started playing for England we would meet on Thursday lunchtime for a weekend international, by the time I left it was Wednesday mor ning. “I would run out of holiday very early in the year.” Jonathan, 50, who lives in Abbots Leigh, is amalgamating his clinic specialising in knee surgery with the Nuffield’s new Chesterfield Hospital in Clifton, which opens next month.
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When I first started playing for England we would meet on Thursday lunchtime for a weekend international, by the time I left it was Wednesday morning. I would run out of holiday very early in the year.
Jonathan Webb
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He said the move would give him the chance to offer first class patient care with the most up-to-date facilities and equipment. “I’m very passionate about utilising the latest day-stay techniques to ensure fast patient recovery and rehabilitation,” he said. “The fact that the Chesterfield Hospital will champion minimally invasive surgery and offer five star patient care makes us the perfect fit.” Turning back to his sporting past, Jonathan, who played 33 tests for England, said: “It helps break the ice. People love reminiscing. “Although it sometimes makes the consultations a bit longer than they should be – we spend a bit of time chatting about their knee and a bit of time reminiscing.” Jonathan is proud to have cared for three Olympic gold medallists – whom he would not name due to patient confidentiality. But he said his time as a fullback helped most when treating keen sporting amateurs, who were not always taken as seriously as profes-
sional athletes. “I know how important it is to them,” he said. Jonathan, who has four children and has been married for 25 years, is proud that he was able to balance his medical career and playing rugby for so long. “At the time it was incredibly hard work but the rewards were fantastic too,” he said.
EPB-E01-S3
● Ian Howse
● Steve Ashworth
Rugby career ● Jonathan Webb played 33 tests for England, including the World Cup final against Australia in 1991, in which he scored two penalties. He scored 296 points for his country in total. He played for Bristol from 1984-1990 then Bath from 1990-1993.
● Ian Howse has been promoted to partner at Deloitte. Since joining in 2009, having previously worked with the Audit Commission, Ian has built up the firm’s public sector team in the South West from scratch to become one of the most successful in the region. He leads the team which provides audit and advisory services to over 20 clients in a variety of sectors including healthcare, education, emergency services and local government. Denis Woulfe, practice senior partner for Deloitte, said: “Ian’s drive and commitment will, no doubt, enable us to continue to grow our presence in this important sector.” ● Steve Ashworth, an experienced employment tax senior manager, has been promoted to associate director at Smith & Williamson. Steve has progressed quickly up the ladder at the accountancy and investment management group, which has offices on Portwall Place, Bristol, since joining as a manager less than six years ago. Previously at HM Revenue & Customs, Steve has over 25 years’ experience in PAYE tax and National Insurance across a wide variety of industries, with a particular focus on the food and drink sector. Mike Lea, managing partner of the Bristol office, said: “Steve is professional, highly motivated and an excellent communicator. He has a clear passion for employment tax and supporting the business community in general.”