NetWorks Issue 4: Facing Change by britishirishtradingalliance

NetWorks PEOPLE WHO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HELP PEOPLE

www.bita.ie • Edition 4 • 2019

FACING CHANGE

CONCRETE TO CONTAINERS

BUILDING WITH BRICS

OFFICE POLITICS

How housing solutions are changing

Emerging economies and how they shape the world

Has the #metoo movement changed the workplace?

1 PEOPLE WHO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HELP PEOPLE

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Helping you build a successful business Evans Mockler are a long established and dynamic firm of Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors. We specialise in both the construction industry and the property sector. We are business and tax advisors and recognise that our clients require more than just annual compliance. We understand the many challenges that businesses face, particularly within the construction industry. We work closely with our clients to ensure that they overcome these challenges and achieve their goals. Kindly contact us on 020 8449 9632 if you would like to discuss our range of services and to find out how Evans Mockler can help you build your business.

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Editor: Diane Birch, BITA Executive Director Sub Editor: Laura Watkins

WELCOME

Features Editor: John Reynolds BITA Contributors: Lucy Wickett, Administrator Michael Barrett, TfL Susan Pearson, Pearson Consultancy Group William Holderness Design and Production E jules@stimula.co.uk Printer The Color Company

Sales, Events and Marketing T +44 (0) 7587 035740 E laura@bita.ie

Published by BITA Ltd HEAD OFFICE: The Hive Enterprise Centre, The Old Central Library, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6EX www.bita.ie T +44 (0)1702 417131 E laura@bita.ie

elcome to issue 4 of NetWorks, where we are exploring themes around change. It’s impossible to ignore the vast changes sweeping the globe, 2019 is certainly an interesting time to be alive. I don’t remember politics ever dominating the press quite so much as it is at the moment, from the UK, EU, USA and beyond. With government reforms taking place to ensure workplace legislation keeps up with the requirements of the millennial generation there is an underlying revolution within the working environment. Climate news seems ever present, whether it’s a cyclone in Africa, flash floods in Australia or global protestors rallying against carbon emissions. Building homes for rental instead of sale is definitely a 21st century strategy for developers (page 6-7). So, with this timely prompt, we wanted to consider some positive changes that are impacting us on a regular, if not daily, basis. Change can make lives easier by improving time spent at work (page 48-49), clarifying communications through new technology (page 22), and even impacting where we live (page 42-43). Change will always happen, whether in our personal or professional lives, but if we expect it and adapt when necessary, we should be able to keep up with and benefit from it. Positive change is good, and negative change is an opportunity for growth and learning if viewed right, so give that innovative management idea a break, don’t be closed off to new technology and try out that new vegan restaurant around the corner; change really is as good as a rest!

Terms and conditions NetWorks is published by BITA Ltd. Its entire content is protected by copyright 2019 and all its rights reserved. Reproduction without prior permission is forbidden. Every care has been taken in compiling the content of the magazine, but the publisher assumes no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. Readers are advised to seek professional advice before acting on any information which is contained in the magazine. Neither BITA Ltd or NetWorks accept any liability for views expressed, pictures used or claims used by advertisers.

PAUL WHITNELL President

@BITAIntl @BITAIntl @BITA @BITA_Intl

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CONTENTS 08

PEOPLE WHO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HELP PEOPLE

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14 06

The Corkman at Galliards Helm

Why you Need a Why

UK Based Director of an Irish Company?

A New Day Dawned

Forecasting Economics

The Impact of Variations

Atlantic Avenged!

Ireland, Embracing Diversity and Change

BITA Events

Go for Gold!

New Age Media

Tough Work Ethic Achieves Success

Building with BRICS

New Beginnings

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PEOPLE WHO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HELP PEOPLE Edition 4 â&#x20AC;¢ 2019

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

The Value of Internships

Redevelopment on Track

Sport in Flux

The Changing Face of PR

Thought Change

Healthy Streets

On Seasonal Eating

Concrete to Containers

The State of BITA

Notes from Liverpool

Managing Business Growth

Office Politics

What BITA can do for you

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THE CORKMAN AT GALLIARD’S HELM

or a self-confessed avid follower of politics in these islands and across the Atlantic, the office of Donagh O’Sullivan, CEO of Galliard Homes, has an apt setting, on the edge of Westminster in the heart of London and just around the corner from the home of Channel 4 television. The 50-year-old Corkman, who grew up in Cullen, near Millstreet, was one of seven sons of parents who owned a petrol station and bus- hire company in the village. A graduate of UCC, he has lived in the English capital for 28 years and now runs what is the second largest residential developer in the city, with FTSE-listed Berkeley Group ranking number one. With a staff of 650 and employing up to 8,000 indirectly at any one time, Galliard is majority owned by British businessman Stephen Conway and his family, with senior management, including O’Sullivan, sharing a stake. It has £3.8bn (€4.3bn) of developments under way - typically

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including up to a dozen 20 to 40-storey towers at any one time - and is the 17th largest home builder in the UK, but the ninth most profitable, so it punches above its weight. It’s a long way from when he joined the firm as a contracts manager in 2001, when it had only 25 employees, building 75 homes. Mostly focused on London and England’s south-east today, it also has projects under way in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Exeter, Cornwall and Bath. Its bread and butter is apartment blocks aimed at investors - many of whom buy off-plan - and first time buyers. Some developments are mixed use, with a bit of commercial space. The firm is planning to do more on a build-to-rent basis, where the firm will retain ownership and have a rental income, he said. There are also two hotels at London landmarks under way. One is a serviced apartment style property at Tower Bridge. The second sees Galliard building

and owning the property, while hotel group Hyatt operates the five-star Great Scotland Yard at the original home of the Metropolitan Police in Whitehall, whose moniker was ‘The Yard.’ The model isn’t unusual. Galliard works with a lot of joint venture partners. The firm usually takes between a 20pc and 40pc stake - the latter being the average in each of its developments. “Our partners are a diverse group; from individual wealthy people, landowners, funds, banks and other developers. We’re very flexible, and the growth of the business has been driven by this way of working,” said O’Sullivan. “Investors who make money in the time that their apartment takes to build usually two to two-and-a-half years - will often return to buy from us again.” Several construction partners are Irishowned, including Toureen, Modebest, JRL Group and the largest, O’Shea, with which Galliard frequently partners, and which has over £1.75bn of developments under way in London.

doing it.” The first site has 90 of the units and they start at £99,000 (€113,000.)” Has Galliard ever looked at building in Ireland? “We looked in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland before the crash. But each time I did, we didn’t go ahead. “I couldn’t understand the basic maths, in terms of affordability for the people who’d need to buy the homes to make it a success. Land and development costs, and then what the selling prices needed to be: I couldn’t see how the market could sustain those three elements. “I’m not claiming to be an expert in that I saw the potential for a crash. As we all know, the banks were exposed twice, lending to developers and then lending for mortgages. It was mad. We recruited some people from Ireland in the aftermath of the crash. My Dad sent some recruits our way who needed work as well. Softly spoken, but with a discernible steely resolve never far from the surface, it’s not difficult to imagine the Corkman as a politician - an early childhood ambition was to be the US President, he laughed - although he insisted that he’s never

CONSTRUCTION

had any political ambitions in adulthood. He believes that his personal confidence is better suited to answering to shareholders - who are more engaged with details and results than voters.

‘‘

Earlier this month, O’Shea and Galliard announced they’d bought a €25m site at Nine Elms Park, nestled between the new US Embassy and Battersea Power Station, where they will build a block of 262 apartments. “We have traditionally been very successful at off-plan sales. Of our current book of £3.8bn, we have forward sold about 75pc of that, and it might take threeand-a-half years to build it all out. We like to buy sites where we have something to contribute and are very much about creating primarily homes where people will enjoy living and will want to live. “We do everything, from land acquisition, to the planning, sales and marketing, construction, after-care, and property or estate management all inhouse,” O’Sullivan added. “Traditionally we’ve been very good at helping to regenerate parts of London. With 33 boroughs and 8.65 million people, 75pc of what we build is there, and there are always opportunities somewhere in the life cycle of communities. Britain has a target of building 300,000 homes a year, but to date has only achieved 210,000 at best.” A new Galliard division, Evolve, has four sites in the London commuter

John Reynolds

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Traditionally we’ve been very good at helping to regenerate parts of London. With 33 boroughs and 8.65 million people, 75pc of what we build is there. Britain has a target of building 300,000 homes a year, but to date has only achieved 210,000 at best.

belt, where effectively a twist on coworking spaces will be developed. It would see start-ups and small businesses operating in 700 sq ft units - the size of a small terraced house or two-bedroom apartment. All covered by fast 1Gb broadband, communal facilities are housed in a barn conversion-like building featuring showers, a gym, meeting and kitchen spaces. “People are looking for a better quality of life, and it’s expensive to commute. These cater to a certain section of the market not being served, so we’re

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BUSINESS

s people, we’re naturally resistant to transformation, preferring to keep ourselves on a steady, even footing. So, it’s easy to understand how this attitude can transfer to business. The problem, of course, is that business change is frequent and inevitable.

Fundamentally, your ‘why’ is the reason your business exists, and it should blend with your core principles in a way that’s easy for everybody to understand. For example, if you started a business that creates products from allnatural ingredients that don’t harm the environment, your growth plan should

WHY YOU NEED A

WHY!

Diane Birch on how your business ‘why’ helps the navigation and acceptance of change

Not only that, it’s necessary, as it helps us to learn and grow. It may seem obvious to point out that if we don’t move with the times, we’ll get left behind. Yet many businesses fail to master the art of change management, the very thing that will ensure the achievement of any transformation project. Ignoring the process required to help your teams to accept and engage with your new vision could mean the difference between success and failure of your growth plan. Luckily, mastering the art of change management isn’t as difficult as it sounds. It begins and ends with your business ‘why’.

account for any necessary changes to production as you scale up – without compromising on those ethical values. Your ‘why’ is the key to inspiring and motivating your team, because it’s what will keep everybody going when things get tough. It will shape the actions of your organisation, underpinning all of the decisions you make. A properly communicated ‘why’ will also do the vital job of inspiring your customers…because who wouldn’t want to support a driven and professional company in which everybody not only works to high standards, but clearly loves what they do?

The importance of ‘why’ As a business owner, you will already know what you do, and how you do it. But have you really investigated and communicated why you do it? It may be a classic childhood question, but it will help you properly navigate business change, ensuring you are able to weather the storms of transformation whilst engaging your whole team in the process. The reason is simple. Understanding your business ‘why’ helps everybody stay committed and driven to your vision, and to your growth plan.

Developing resilience through your business ‘why’ We know that, in order for a business to grow, changes must be made to its culture, its specific ways of working, its customer interactions (sometimes, even to its customer base), and its structure. This is no easy task, particularly when you’ve spent years building your business using tried-and-tested methods that have already proved to be effective. For this

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reason, many business owners shy away from enacting major transformations themselves – even if doing so will potentially lead them to better growth and success. By contrast, business owners who understand their ‘why’ can be strong and resilient in the face of even the most disruptive, unpredictable forms of change. This is because they use their ‘why’ to help them visualise exactly what future success will look like, then set flexible objectives and goals that ensure they can achieve it. Think of these objectives and goals as forming a clear roadmap to success. Managing business change: the next steps As we’ve already touched upon, it isn’t enough for you to understand your business ‘why’. Your team must also understand it. (Keep in mind that a business leader who is engaged and enthusiastic about everything their company stands for is extremely motivating in itself!) Your business planning process must therefore account for crystal-clear communication from the top down, as well as anticipating any external forces that could affect your progress, such as a competitor launching a similar product or service to yours. Using your ‘why’ as the foundation, you can ensure all the elements of your brand, from the performance of your product, to the greeting your receptionist uses, can come together to form your own unique standards of excellence. These standards will help to uphold and grow your reputation – so you are able to consistently outperform your competition – as well as instilling an authentic sense of quality into your company’s culture. Executed effectively, the ‘why’ approach will ensure your company is not only able to withstand change but is able to proactively embrace it!

TAKE A PAGE FROM THE HIVE; BEES KNOW THEIR PURPOSE TO THE EXTENT THEY WOULD KILL OR DIE TO FULFIL IT.

Commercial Vehicles A more flexible approach At Enterprise Flex-E-Rent, we know that providing you with the right commercial vehicles requires more than just in-depth understanding of the latest specifications and relevant legislation. That’s why we take the time to understand your business before we make our recommendations. With a rental fleet of over 36,000 commercial vehicles - from standard white vans to large articulated lorries, tippers, temperature controlled and accessible vehicles – we’ll make sure you always have the right vehicle for the job. And, by understanding your business as well as your vehicles, we help you get on the road and stay there. Find out how we can help you do more of what you do best, call 0800 328 9001 or visit flexerent.co.uk

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hile the potential deal or no deal scenarios of Brexit continue to play out, a very real risk has arisen for a number of companies and their directors in the UK and Ireland. Although there are more than 60,000 Irish directorships of UK registered companies there are also a significant number of UK based directors of Irish companies for which Brexit will create significant changes. EEA Resident Director Requirement Companies Registration Office (CRO in Ireland– the equivalent of Companies House in the UK) have alerted service providers to the fact that under Irish company law an Irish registered company must have at least one European Economic Area (EEA) resident director on its board on an ongoing basis (S137 of Companies Act 2014). Many directors based in the UK who are either of Irish descent or UK based companies who have established Irish entities as part of their Brexit planning will need to consider this likely change. Where an existing Irish company has fulfilled this director requirement by appointing a UK resident director they should now consider replacing that director or adding an additional director who is an EEA-resident. It should be noted that this requirement is based on residency, not nationality. Thus for example, a company director of Irish nationality who lives in the UK and has done for a number of years is unlikely to satisfy the EEA requirement in the future which is a question a number of our clients have been considering. S137 Bond It is possible for a company to put in place a Section 137 Revenue Bond which is an insurance policy that CRO approve in replacement of having an EEA resident individual on the board. This insurance policy covers against fines or penalties incurred to the value of €25,000 for noncompliance and covers the company for a period of two years at which point the company will either need to renew the bond or appoint a director who meets the requirement. The bonds are relatively easy to put in place but will have a premium cost to

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ARE YOU A UK BASED DIRECTOR OF AN IRISH REGISTERED COMPANY? Aidan Scollard, FCA reviews the potential significant changes for UK resident directors of Irish registered companies when the UK becomes a third country to current EU legislation

maintain for the two year period. We have put these in place for a number of clients recently. The Exception to the Rule – ‘Real and Continuous Link’ It is possible for the directors of an Irish Company who have no EEA-resident directors to apply to the Revenue Commissioners for a Statement under Section 140 of the Companies Act 2014 which, if granted, will relieve the company from the requirement to hold a Bond or to have an EEA-resident director. The Statement is granted based on the company having a “real and continuous link to the State of Ireland”. The successful

COMPANY DIRECTORS NEED TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE UK LEAVING THE EU AND CONSIDER THEIR OPTIONS.

company will need to satisfy one or more of the following: 1. the affairs of the company are managed by one or more persons from a place of business established in the State and that person or those persons is or are authorised by the company to act on its behalf; 2. the company carries on a trade in the State; 3. the company is a subsidiary or a holding company of a company or other body corporate that satisfies either or both of the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b); or 4. the company is a subsidiary of a company, another subsidiary of which satisfies either or both of the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b). This Statement is granted based on retrospective activity and will generally not be granted to a company that intends to have a real and continuous link to the State. Once the Statement is made by Revenue to the successful company, the Company Secretary can apply to the Registrar of Companies for a certificate that exempts the company from the Section 137 bond requirement or the need to have an EEA-resident director appointed to the board. Application for this exemption to Companies Registration Office must be accompanied by this statement from the Revenue Commissioners and made within two months of the date of the application of the Revenue Commissioners statement. We have helped a number of clients in this area where they can clearly prove that there is a real and continuous activity here in the Irish state.

As with any legal or accounting issue forewarned is forearmed and we would recommend you discuss with your Accounting or Legal advisors the impacts of any of these potential imminent changes to your company structure and planning requirements.

SECTION

NEW TRAINING HUB IN

EAST LONDON

eason Training have forged a solid reputation as construction training experts and late 2018 saw us experience further growth by expanding our portfolio to include training courses in professional services. Following our acquisition by Speedy in December 2018, we now offer an extended range of short courses, NVQs and Apprenticeships in Construction and Professional Services from training centres across the UK. Providing bespoke training solutions to our customers remains one of our strongest focuses as a business and our increased course offering reinforces our commitment to offering flexible progressive training opportunities to

businesses looking to invest in the development of their staff. As part of our ongoing development, we are delighted to announce the opening of the first of our new training hubs in East London (our joint location with Speedy) and will see us open our doors in Lanrick Road in the early summer of 2019. Our plan to introduce new entrants to career paths in the Construction and Professional Services industries and provide bespoke training spaces will see us open a minimum of 10 individual hubs across England. These will facilitate a range of training courses and house

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2019 A YEAR OF

INNOVATION, ALTERATION AND MITIGATION

Julie Barry of RIFT Research and Development writes:

he foundations of UK construction are rooted in innovation, pushing challenging projects to completion across the country every year. However, the chilling prospect of an uncertain Brexit hangs over the whole building trade, while the grinding gears of the economy drag construction output to its biggest monthly slump since 2012. Of course, complex challenges and towering obstacles are nothing new in the building game. The 3rd quarter of 2018 actually saw a leap of 14% in private housing starts, and investment

in new dwellings continues to grow. Meanwhile, sustainable build techniques and modernised construction methods are gathering momentum, with every project presenting opportunities for new materials, approaches and processes. The upcoming government spending review will be setting the tempo for the sector until at least 2020/21. Among the major hopes for it are boosts to grants encouraging UK developments and more aid for start-up firms. Many are seeing 2019 as an opportunity for significant technological reforms, and a closer focus on off-site manufacturing and other

advanced technologies would be a strong step toward cementing that commitment to innovation. With Brexit looming, it’d be all too easy to shrink back into short-term survival planning. That’s why it’s been incredible to watch UK businesses staking a claim to the future through innovation and development. RIFT R&D is committed to making sure that claim is honoured. As Sarah Collins, our head of Research and Development puts it: “2019 promises to be a year of precarious uncertainty for many UK businesses. Being specialists in R&D, we are in a unique position. We can not only assist companies to maximise their claims but also enable them to futureproof their businesses and utilise their R&D in the best possible way.”

THE PERFECT PARTNER

DELIVERING THE PERFECT BATHROOM SOLUTION

To create unique developments, it helps to have a dedicated and responsive partner who is fully conversant with your design and logistical requirements. Whether it’s our inspirational bathroom collections from the Geberit or Twyford ranges, our innovative ﬂush plates or our behind the wall technology, we’ll work closely with you to ensure you have access to the right product for your project. With our unrivalled product availability, delivery, training and after sales support, we not only provide the complete bathroom solution - but complete reassurance that the service you receive will be truly exceptional. Contact us for details on how we can work in partnership to create the perfect development

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FORECASTING ECONOMICS

The weather and economy are inextricably entwined

P WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION, UNANTICIPATED WEATHER CAN CAUSE COSTLY DELAYS.

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eople have been trying to predict the weather for millennia and have been using science to do so for the last 150 years. When Admiral FitzRoy set up what was to become the Met Office in the 1860’s, it was primarily in response to the shocking loss of life in British waters; 7,402 ships were wrecked off the coasts with a loss of 7,201 lives between 1855 and 1860 alone. What started as little more than an advance warning system where harbours were informed by telegraph that a storm was on the way, is now the governmentbacked Met Office, costing £80m annually and employing over 1,500 people. It’s not just about whether to bring an umbrella with you when you leave the house. Back in the 1860’s, fisherman had their lives saved by advanced storm warnings, and farmers could decide whether to hold of on planting crops. Fairs, fetes and markets would be scheduled around them. That impact on businesses and trade continues today, in a much more pronounced fashion. Accurately predicting the weather is now big business, with companies like CSIRO working with private clients in different sectors. The aviation and marine industries are two of the biggest that need access to this data, with adverse weather conditions adding time and cost to trips. Utilities companies are also keenly interested in the weather, and climate in general. Accurate information allows them to know what energy will de demanded on a particular day. If it’s cold, there will be demand for lots of gas for the fire and central heating, if it’s hot then electricity for the air conditioning. Then of course there is trade. The weather has a huge impact on business; in the UK a difference of 1°C usually has a 1% impact on sales. With a

retail sector worth around £300bn, this 1% is equal to £3bn. Clearly the weather is worth paying attention to. Sunny conditions make people more likely to part with their cash, and clothes, drinks and garden tools are all impacted by even small increases in temperature. In the UK, supermarkets are of course in on the act. Sainsburys knows that frost causes an increase in sales of bird seed, milk and soup. When the temperature goes up in spring, they know that hair removal items will increase in sales by 1400%, and BBQ sales will go up by 200%. Tesco has data showing that when the temperature outside is between 20 – 24°C, sales of hamburgers will go up by 42%. Without this predictive information, they might find the shelves bare when people came to buy, or food rotting in warehouses if they ordered too early. The weather even has an impact on marketing the goods. Did you know that on overcast, gloomy days, a negative advert is likely to perform better? Soup sales go up on cold days, and the companies know it – they will look to advertise their product at the best time and will include information gathered from sales trends and impacts of the weather. The Weather Channel was set up in 1982, and now operates as the Weather Company. They are very successfully monetizing the weather. With years of climate data cross-referenced against sales trends in hundreds of categories, they are very good at spotting patterns and selling information to those that will profit from those patterns. When it comes to construction, unplanned for weather can mean costly delays. Different weather variables will impact whether different construction activities can be carried out. Paul Lavelle, Director of Foran Construction, says; “Weather definitely affects us. As a company we are primarily involved in excavating and groundworks, two things that are massively impacted by the climate. We want to get as much advance notice as possible and check the forecasts one to two weeks in advance to plan our operations, and even on the day as well.” If it’s cold enough, mortar can lose its strength, and concrete can freeze before it sets. Too hot and it’s the same problem due to moisture being pulled out of the concrete, which is why construction companies like Foran, measure the temperature on an hour by hour basis

with thermometers on site. If there is too much rain or snow, the amount of extra water will affect the water/cement ratio and affect the strength of the cement. Clearly, in the UK especially, cold and wet weather can cause long and costly halts to developments. Strong winds are probably the most problematic, causing problems in nearly all aspects – formwork, scaffolding, steelworks, painting and so on. “It [adverse weather] can affect our productivity and really slow down operations. Often, we can be prevented from carrying out work and can lose days in the winter and the wet months. The biggest impactor for us is the rain”; says Paul. Wind, heat and fog also carry with them a health and safety risk for operatives. How is this being impacted by climate change? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that “a changing climate leads to changes in the frequency, intensity, spatial extent, duration and timing of extreme weather and climate events, and can result in unprecedented extreme weather and climate events.” Large fires are up to five times more common, and life-threatening storms are affecting more people, more often; 2018 was 2°C hotter than average according to the UK Met office. The cold snap in early 2018 cost the UK economy around £1bn a day, and impacted GDP. The construction industry, unsurprisingly, was also affected; compared with February

Laura Watkins

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BUSINESS

2017, construction output fell 3.0%; the biggest month-on-year fall since March 2013 according to the ONS. So, what is a civil engineer to do? Looking at climate trends as well as short term forecasting is a method gaining popularity, but the occurrence of sudden, extreme weather events are by their nature, inherently unpredictable. Short of battening down the hatches and hoping for the best, careful reading of contracts will be helpful, although not very useful in the short term. According to Laughlan Steer of Silver Shemmings Ash, one of the best methods of combatting climate change is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which has the potential to remove up to 90% of carbon emissions arising from conventional power generation. The UK seems reluctant to take part, having neither carrot nor stick to encourage them to participate. However, virtue might be its own reward, with CSS by-products including “fuels, chemicals and building materials. It is therefore hoped that these additional revenue streams will provide further incentives to participate in this vital activity.” The UK will not be hit as hard as other nations by climate change, and dramatic events like heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, may be offset by long, hot and dry summers causing little impact to the yearly bottom line of most businesses. Checking long-term trends and short-term forecasting can hopefully help businesses mitigate the impact of the weather and perhaps even come out on top! www.bita.ie

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THE IMPACT OF VARIATIONS WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Henry Hathaway, Partner Silver Shemmings Ash LLP

ne of the topics I get asked most about is variations. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such a popular topic that I was asked to address it for the last seminar we hosted for BITA members in March. Although discussed in much more depth at this event, there are a few key matters that business will benefit from knowing. It would appear to be such a straightforward question but usually this will constitute an area of dispute between parties on a regular basis.

entitling the innocent party to terminate and perhaps seek damages. Fundamentally, two questions will arise as to whether a claim for a variation is a valid one. Firstly, what works were contained within the initial agreement and whether the Contract has a mechanism to establish that in fact it is a valid variation and secondly, what is the correct way to value the change? Those two points can be and regularly are misapplied and misunderstood.

What are variations? A variation is an alteration in the scope of works in a construction contract which will include substitutions, additions and omissions. They happen for two main reasons; events occur external to the contract or there are changes in the design, scope or circumstances. They can include but are not limited to alterations to the design, quantities, sequence of work and working conditions, but they ought not to make any changes to the fundamental nature of the works. In some instances, an Employer will attempt to omit work from a scope in order to be carried out by another party, this most likely will cause issues surrounding repudiation of the contract

What is the impact of variations? There can be significant issues when the procedures surrounding variations are not considered properly. Changes to types of product used to complete works can add vast sums to the final costs of the project, and changes to design can lead to delays and more costs. But fundamentally, a party may not in fact realise its true position in terms of value or time which also may need to be addressed on account of a change. Whether or not there is a disagreement over whether an item of work is a variation itself, most commonly it will be the value of the variation that will cause the issue. Usually the argument is on the price and effect on the works. Remember, the rules of valuation, if they

Silver Shemmings Ash LLP runs regular seminars for BITA members on different topics to enable them to more effectively manage their businesses and plan for the future. Next seminar: 19th June 2019, Grange City Hotel from 4pm and focussing on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Taking the Pain out of the Tendering Processâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. 16

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apply, are mandatory, for example JCT sets out a very specific mechanism under Section 5. If in similar character to the work set out in the contract bills and carried out in similar conditions, the value of the variation will reflect those same rates as set out in the contract. If the variation is of a similar character but in different conditions or where quantities or quality are further considerations, then the rates and value will include a fair allowance for these differences. If however, the additional work set out is not of a similar character, the work will be valued as fair rates and prices. This is a sequential approach to how the variation is valued and ought to be taken in order. What do I need to look out for? Contactors are expected to be reasonable and competent when pricing work. The client is not bound to pay for things that a reasonable contractor should have understood to be done. One such example will be in the risk of ground conditions unless expressly excluded. Standard contracts do generally allow the contract administrator to instruct variations to allow the smooth progression and running of the works, however a party should be very clear as to what is and is not included from the outset, as ambiguous language can often lead to delays, additional costs and disputes. How can I protect myself? In general, there must be certainty as to what works are in fact included in the agreement to be carried out. If this is not readily available or understood then there will be considerable difficulty to understand how the variation in fact will exist. This is generally where a dispute will occur. Most likely a party who finds itself in this position will suffer greatly when seeking to establish its right in the first place. Secondly, it is important to understand the mechanics of how the variation is to be valued. These are specific rules and can be readily applied.

Author Henry Hathaway is a Partner with Silver Shemmings Ash and is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin (Civil Engineering) Tel: 00 44 207 167 6602 Email: henryhathaway@silverllp.com More details on our Seminars can be found at www.silverllp.com or by email to seminars@silverllp.com

owing from mainland Spain to Antigua in a glorified tin can, with oars as their motor and determination as their fuel, pitted against one of the planet’s most fearsome oceans, two ordinary men were able to achieve the extraordinary. On Tuesday 27th November 2018, their boat headed due west from Cádiz into the expansive dark blue ocean and the first oar stroke of thousands glided through the water. Their dream became reality, and their gruelling 88-day long endurance test began as they worked to break records, achieve personal goals, raise money for charity, and collect information to help the International Doctoral School in Sea Studies research the impact of plastics on marine life. The journey didn’t come without its trials and tribulations. The lack of sun for

William Holderness

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ATLANTIC?

AVENGED! On Saturday 23rd February 2019 at 9:20am (AST), after 88 days and 4,445 miles, two superheroes touched dry land for the ﬁrst time

the solar panels meaning no power for navigation, communication or fresh water pump; 50ft+ waves that blacked out a clear night sky; a 10ft shark circling for three days and a tempest so terrifying, they remained sealed inside for five days praying for safe passage. Then the real challenge hit; imagine John’s face when the alcohol supply ran out halfway through and he realised

all-male pair to row from continental Europe across the Atlantic east-west non-stop • First Oldest team to row across the Atlantic from continental Europe • John became person to row across the Atlantic from continental Europe • Fastest pair totherowoldest from continental Europe across the Atlantic east-west • First British pair to row from continental Europe across the Atlantic east-west •

Construction Law

he’d have to spend the remainder of the trip sober with only Ricky for company. In spite of all this, as Ricky stood up at the finish, hands on his head and uttered the infamous phrase; ‘Never again’ – we suspect the next challenge will be right around the corner. Against incredible odds and many lows, they completed what they set out to do, and should be immensely proud of how many hearts they’ve touched and people they’ve inspired. A massive thank you to BITA who played a part in the journey and hope you all had as much fun following the Atlantic Avengers as we did.

Property Law

We are a team of leading Construction and Property Law specialists based in the City of London advising our clients in the UK and overseas.

Training and Seminars We regularly provide full day training courses to our clients as well us running our complimentary breakfast seminars. T: 0207 167 6602 | E: contact@silverllp.com 17

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BUSINESS

IRELAND

EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND CHANGE Sarah Murphy - Managing Director, Business Post Events & iQuest

ver 120 cranes frame the skyline of Ireland’s capital. Housing and rental prices soar at an eerily familiar high, Dublin’s infrastructure systems are bending beneath the weight of a heaving population and economy and it would seem the only way to go is up; both literally and figuratively. Down at street level; restaurants, cafés and bars sing with the ebb and flow of conversation, laughter and clinking glasses. The working late lunch has made a welcome return, the ping of the contactless payment has engulfed the city and the gloomy days of austerity seem like a distant folk tale that is reluctantly whispered about in hushed and darkened corners. The boom is well and truly back. May 2019 sees Ireland’s unemployment rate sitting at a low of 5.4%. Opportunities peer around every corner and despite the concerning implications of the looming threat of Brexit, the allure of Dublin as a place to do business has never been more appealing. Highly skilled and well-travelled emigrants are returning home to the emerald isle in their droves, bringing with them a plethora of knowledge from markets and industries If you would like to hear more about the Dublin Chapter of BITA or to get involved, please contact Chapter Chairperson Sarah Murphy on smurphy@sbpost.ie or Laura Watkins on laura@bita.ie

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across the world. 2018 saw the number of Irish emigrants returning exceed the number of people leaving for the first time since the height of the crash in 2009. British, European and global companies are all looking to Ireland as both a natural and attractive location for a business base as our closest neighbour’s exit of the European Union goes through the motions. The Government’s Project Ireland 2040 National Planning Framework report predicts a population growth of 1 million by 2040, with 75% of this to take place outside of Dublin. However, we must question how the country, on both a governmental and a private business level, is preparing its infrastructure development for this growth. In Dublin the only place left to go up is up in storey size and that sparks a whole area of debate, as witnessed after the approval of Johnny’s Ronan’s 22 storey Tara Street Tower last month. It is imperative that businesses look to the regions for development opportunities. The national crane count clearly demonstrates the stark inequality in building activity between Dublin and the rest of the country. Dublin’s 123 cranes, correct as of May 2019, tower over

the 2 in Galway, 2 in Limerick and 7 in Cork. To help address this imbalance, we must see investment in Ireland’s regional infrastructural deficits, including road and rail networks, ports and airports, broadband and energy networks and water and waste services. With all of this in mind, the principles and ideology of the British and Irish Trading Alliance have never been more relevant or important. BITA was founded on the basis of its members being ‘people who know people who help people,’ and this ethos is the cornerstone of its dynamic and diverse Dublin board. It’s members hail from a range of sectors; including the legal, finance, construction, media and professional services industries to name but a few. The membership spans the length and breadth of the country and champions diversity and inclusion. The mandate of the Irish chapter is to develop the commercial and networking opportunities for its members by optimising a dynamic events programme and highly engaged member base. The monthly Thursday evening networking events in The Mint Bar at The Westin Hotel in central Dublin are lively and well attended and give both new and seasoned members a chance to develop new contacts and make new introductions. The Summer lunch at The Westin Hotel and the Christmas lunch at the Intercontinental Hotel Ballsbridge are highlights of the Dublin social calendar with hundreds of members and their contacts coming together to celebrate Irish business success, listen to interesting and educational speakers and build on their professional networks, all while in a relaxed and social setting. On a personal note, having relocated back to Dublin at the beginning of 2019 after almost 10 years living and working in London, I have returned to a muchchanged city and country than that which I left in the height of the recession. It is a country that is motivated and driven, that is embracing diversity and change, that boasts a young, self-assured and highly skilled workforce, that has proven its resilience and earned its stripes during a period of hardship and austerity and has come out the other side. Let’s make sure we grasp the opportunities in front of us, invest in the infrastructure and development needed and lay the foundations across the country to ensure a period of prolonged prosperity and growth.

BITA EVENTS

WHAT’S ON JUN–NOV

We all know that the best and most loyal clients come from relationships that are developed over time, and that people do business with people. Getting yourself ‘out there’ is a sure-ﬁre way of being able to begin forming these relationships, and we offer days that suit every taste and pocket. Our social networking events are free for members and held once a month in each chapter; they are a great way to ease yourself into networking and meet our members and board. Networking lunches are held regularly in each chapter offering exceptional business connections and opportunities; they are increasingly popular. You can book spaces on our website, where you’ll ﬁnd more information on events. Our social media channels and regular newsletters will keep you informed about events coming up as well, so make sure you follow us!

19th June

27th September

8th November

LONDON LEGAL SEMINAR

LONDON CONSTRUCTION NETWORKING LUNCH

LIVERPOOL NETWORKING LUNCH

Join us for another helpful and informative seminar hosted by construction and property specialists, Silver Shemmings Ash at the Grange City Hotel, near Fenchurch Street.

An ever-popular staple in the BITA calendar, we recommend you book very early to make sure you have a seat at this event. Three-course meal with wine, and great networking opportunities.

Anfield is playing host to this lunch where we are anticipating over 100 guests. Sponsors will have the opportunity to present their companies to our members, and everyone will enjoy a fantastic threecourse meal with wine.

LIVERPOOL NETWORKING LUNCH

4th October

29th November

We are excited to be hosting another lunch at the world-famous Anfield stadium in Liverpool, where we will welcome over 100 guests for a fabulous three-course lunch with wine. Get ready for a fun and productive day out in this amazing city.

CHARITY AMBASSADORS GOLF DAY

28th June

5th July

JM CLARK GOLF MASTERS This annual golf event is a must book for many of our members. Held at the London Golf Club in Kent we look forward to welcoming around 20 teams of 4 for some friendly competition and great networking. Once again, we are very happy to have JM Clark sponsoring this event. Contact laura@ europeangolfchallenge.com for more information or to book your space.

DUBLIN CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Join us at the famous Stoke Park Golf Club for the Construction Industry’s very own Ryder Cup. This Charity challenge Cup is a must for all of you competitive golfers out there.

We are delighted to be hosting our Christmas lunch at the InterContinental in Dublin for a second year running. For a joy filled celebration of the year come along and enjoy the festive spirit!

19th October

THE SAVOY BALL AND AWARDS The highlight of the BITA calendar is our annual Gala Ball and award ceremony which offers glitz and glamour, as well as the opportunity to win a coveted ITA award – voted for by our members! The theme this year is 50s Hollywood Glamour.

SOCIAL NETWORKING EVENINGS Our social networking evenings take place in London, Liverpool, Dublin and Edinburgh (with Causeway Exchange) on the second Thursday of the month, and regularly in Cork and Isle of Man. BITAx networking evenings are in London on the ﬁrst Thursday. Check the events page on the BITA website for updates. Check out our website events page www.bita.ie/events for a full list of all chapter events; London, Ireland, Liverpool, Scotland. The Savoy Ball and Awards 19th October

GOLD www.emico.co

COMMUNITY

GO FOR

GOLD!

A CELEBRATION OF OUR MEMBERS’ SUCCESSES, HELD AT OUR PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS CEREMONY

19th October, 2019, Savoy Hotel

Ziggy Seagroatt, LDD Construction

his annual event is the highlight of the BITA calendar, and we make sure we go all out – nothing less than the best for our incredible members! The night starts at 6pm, when our fabulously attired guests arrive for entertainment and music in the reception rooms, before being called for a mouthwatering three course dinner with wine and show-stopping entertainment, with the all-important awards only being around 40 minutes of this amazing night. The theme this year is old-style glamour, Hollywood 50’s style to be specific, so get ready to hark back to the heady days of early rock ‘n roll and true elegance. Those that attended last year were amazed by the entertainment and this year will be not be a disappointment, but no spoilers here, book your tickets early for a night of guaranteed enjoyment. The highlight of the night is of course our awards ceremony where we get the chance to honour our members and shine a light on their incredible achievements and hard work. Last year’s awards were our most lavish yet, but of course we plan to top them this year! We have seven open categories and they are all open to any company that

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feels they qualify – the only criteria; that you are of course, a BITA member. You can nominate your own business or someone else’s, for as many award categories as you think apply. Once the nominations are closed, we will send out forms to every nominee to get a bit more information about why their company should win. The executive and non-executive directors will select 3 finalists for each category, and the winners will be selected by an independent panel

of judges from the BITA membership. The winners will be announced on the night! Last year Work & Wear Direct took home the award for Small Business of the Year, with Director James Mitson saying; “You may or may not have seen the post we put out on LinkedIn which was taken from a famous clip from the Ryder Cup. In the end this had nearly 10k views; it helped get us exposure that we wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for BITA. I would like to say personally what this award meant

AWARD CATEGORIES THIS YEAR ARE:  Small Business of the Year which is open to small businesses including sole traders who employ fewer than 11 people.

 The award for Growing Business is available for companies who can show high growth revenue and profit over the last 12 months.

 Businesses that can demonstrate unswerving commitment to business partnerships can apply for the Business to Business award.

 Our BITA Supporter award is a special one for our members who have worked closely with BITA members and shown dedication to BITA and our values of integrity, passion, communications and delivery.

 The Young Entrepreneur award is for young professionals under the age of 35 who are coming up with innovative business solutions.

 Businesses that keep the needs of the community in mind should be nominated for the Socially Conscious Business award.

 A new award this year, The Charles Darwin Award, celebrates a business that has successfully adapted or created a product, service or process in the face of change – adapt or die!

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COMMUNITY

Alex Thraves, Absorb Films

Laughlan Steer, Julie Camp and Henry Hathaway, Silver Shemmings Ash LLP Colleen McCoy, J G McCoy Engineering

James Mitson, Work & Wear Direct

Danny Tim O’Sullivan collecting the Lifetime Achievement Award with family Vince Caldicott, PCS

BITA AWARDS 2018

to me and my family, especially my dad. My dad was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukaemia in Sept 2017 and in Aug 2018 got given a few months to live. The day after he heard we’d won the award it made him the happiest person in the world. As it showed that all our hard work as a business had started to pay off. I cannot thank everyone enough within BITA for helping make my dad so happy in his final months before he passed away in January this year. He was telling everyone who would listen about us winning this award. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to share this award and memory with my dad for the rest of my life!” In the lead up to the awards, we will arrange for the three finalists to be interviewed with a film crew who will create a short film of each finalist. These are all shown on the night, so all

finalists get publicity and congratulations for making it so far, and the winner announced to collect their award. The calibre of our nominees is very high and it’s a great indicator of the health of a business to make it to the finals. Colleen McCoy of J G McCoy Engineering beat off stiff competition last year to win the Business to Business award. She says; ‘It was wonderful to be nominated and I can’t believe that we won. We have always worked to put our clients and suppliers at the heart of what we do, as we know we can’t operate successfully alone. To have this recognised by our peers and to have been nominated, let alone win, is a great validation of all the hard work we’ve put in over the years.’

Of course, the whole night was enjoyable; ‘the singing waiters were such a surprise; I couldn’t believe it when they one by one launched into song like that! It was a great event to bring family and friends to, even better in light of our win, and we can’t wait to go this year’; says Colleen. Other winners on the night include LDD Construction for Growing Business of the Year, Silver Shemmings Ash LLP for BITA Supporter, Alex Thraves winning Young entrepreneur and PCS won Socially Conscious Business for their work with homeless people in Brighton. We urge our members to nominate themselves or another member’s business for an award this year and get the deserved recognition!

You can nominate your business or that of another member now at www.bitaawards.org www.bita.ie

John Reynolds

TECHNOLOGY

NEW AGE

MEDIA

With new methods of engagement and a wider reach, many traditional quarters are seeing a new online presence

OUTSPOKEN MPS SUCH AS DOMINIC GRIEVE OF THE TORIES, THE SNP’S IAN BLACKFORD, AND CHANGEUK’S ANNA SOUBRY HAVE GIVEN INTERVIEWS FOR THE DIGITAL PUBLISHER.

JOE.CO.UK’S viral satirical videos - some of them set to catchy songs we’re all familiar with - lampooning Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May and Dominic Raab, have effectively become today’s equivalent of 80s satirical puppet TV series Spitting Image. And the founder of the company behind them is Mayo man Niall McGarry. With offices in Dublin and London, his fast-growing digital media firm Maximum Media and its various brands employ 175 people and reaches about 16 million people in these islands. He describes Joe.ie as a teenager and Joe.co.uk [which also has spin-off brands PoliticsJoe, RugbyJoe and FootballJoe] as a precocious five year-old. Europe and perhaps Australia may also hold opportunities for the business, with RugbyJoe in particular showing potential for increasing its overseas audience. “We produce original content and set our own agenda, rather than following and reproducing the same news stories that many other media organisations are,” married father of one McGarry says, as we 22

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chat in the North London office where his business is about to take more space. Her.ie meanwhile, is described as “a smart, current and edgy digital destination for Irish women”, with more than 2.3 million users of its app and website every month, each of which it describes as “a close friend, and an audience that is loyal and vocal.” Over the past several years, Joe.co.uk has become a media outlet that British MPs are increasingly turning to in order to reach new audiences, that have perhaps previously been underserved when it comes to political coverage. In 2016, demonstrating the organisation’s ability to reflect and follow political trends, a video that it made with Jeremy Corbyn was found by news analysis firm Newswhip to have been the most influential political one on Facebook that year. Health and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd broadcast a video of herself reading out shockingly offensive tweets that she received, while one Tory leader hopeful approached McGarry’s team about

breaking the news of his ambition to the Joe.co.uk audience first. Currently living in Galway - from where he makes a weekly commute to London - he grew up in Castlebar in the neighbouring county, and was interested in business and entrepreneurship from an early age. “If I wasn’t running this business, I might’ve got into retail. I would’ve admired the success of Dunnes Stores in Ireland, the family business founded by the Dunnes. At a young age, I organised a school disco and made a bit of money from it. I ran a small landscape gardening business, with a couple of people working with me doing the physical stuff. I remember one time we were struggling to get paid by a customer, and they ended up paying us with a number of surfboards that we had to then sell,” he recalls with a laugh. At a time when some older and more established media organisations are still struggling to make their digital operations work effectively and achieve a profit, don’t be surprised if one of them tries to snap up McGarry and his talented and growing team.

Our unique modern and fun approach to golf days are helping our clients ‘wow’ their guests

‘‘

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

The event was a huge success due to EGC’s fantastic and professional services. They were a great asset and we would highly recommend them. Tim Bresnan, Benefit Committee (England Cricket)

uropean Golf Challenge is a specialist in delivering the perfect golf event. Whether you require event management or a fantastic challenge to add to your day, working with us will ensure the most professional service for your event. Making your golf day memorable is the key to event success, leaving

your guests with an unforgettable and enjoyable experience. We offer well-known and unique Hospitality packages, including “Beat the Female Pro Challenge” , which is a perfect add-on to any golf event, which includes a five star hole in one holiday to the 2020 Augusta Masters. We have a long-term relationship with the Lighthouse Club and have assisted

them in running many successful golf days and raising funds for their important charitably work. This year we are excited to be working with BITA on their golf day at the London Golf Club – a great event with a full day of golf and entertainment and teams from across the construction industry. Whether you want an exclusive feel that will never be forgotten, or a fun event for your work, our attention to detail and forward-thinking approach will help you create your vision, and make sure that your guests have a day of golf to be remembered!

SUPPLYING OPERATIVES ACROSS THE UK AND IRELAND TO MAIN CONTRACTORS, HOUSE BUILDERS, SUB-CONTRACTORS AND SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUILDERS Temporary and Permanent Recruitment Labour & Trades | Professional & technical Site Services & Logistics | Recruitment Process Outsourcing www.easongroup.co.uk | 01923 886 444

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CONSTRUCTION

TOUGH WORK ETHIC

ACHIEVES SUCCESS An interview with Gallagher Group chairman and founder Pat Gallagher “This is our office, Leitrim House, and back in Leitrim, I have a holiday home called Kent House!” says Gallagher Group chairman and founder Pat Gallagher, as we chat in his office in Aylesford, near Maidstone in Kent. Having started out with a £2,000 digger and a first year’s turnover of £36,000 in 1971, he has steadily grown the property, civil engineering, construction and aggregates business to one with over 300 employees - including three of his children (a fourth, one of his daughters, teaches business studies, so business seems to be in the genes) - and a turnover of over £70m. Indeed, construction may be in the wider genes as well. BITA patrons Ray and Des O’Rourke - the owners of engineering and construction firm Laing O’Rourke are cousins of Gallagher. “They’re a pair of geniuses,” he affirms with a laugh. “I’m very ambitious for our business, although unlike the O’Rourkes, I’m more comfortable not having to get on a plane to look at our projects.” Firmly rooted in the local community, the company sponsors local football club

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Maidstone United, and built its stadium. Gallagher, 70, has grown fond of this corner of south-east England in the 53 years since he moved here with his parents when he was 17. “Kent is a beautiful county, and its people have been very supportive of our success. I realise now that I and the Gallagher Group business might not have done as well in London as I have done here. It’s quite rural, with a lot of fruit and hop growing. In some ways it’s almost a home from home, as compared with rural

GALLAGHER RECEIVED THE BITA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN 2017 AND HE PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE ORGANISATION, ITS BOARD, STAFF AND FOUNDER PAUL WHITNELL.

Leitrim. The longer I live here, the more I grow to love it. I also worry about the disruption that might be caused to this area by Brexit. “We’ve stayed away from work in London, but we work in Kent, Sussex and Hertfordshire, and actually as far north as Leicester - where the firm is building Leicester City FC’s training camp, working with McLaren Construction.” The locality is dotted with offices and other commercial buildings that Gallagher’s business has built for blue-chip names including Scania, Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Next, as well as a number of local authorities. As Gallagher gives me a tour of the area, we stop briefly at one of the Scania service centres, where new trucks and coaches are parked up and waiting to be checked over. Two of the trucks are for the Gallagher Group, then on the way to a Marks & Spencer development that’s under way, we pass one of the company’s cement mixers. As we survey the large Marks & Spencer site, it’s evident that the Leitrim man has an eye for detail, and is a perfectionist. We move on to one of the firm’s two quarries, where material from development sites is brought to be sorted or recycled, while the Kent lagstone that’s unique to the site is used in many buildings that the company has constructed. Giant 85-tonne dump trucks are busy at work. Each of them costs about £500,000, Gallagher points out. Does he have any secrets of management to share that he might have learned as he’s grown the business? “There’s really no comparison to learning the hard way. You treat people as you’d like to be treated yourself. With good people around you, do the job right and make money. Pay your bills on time as well. What we do can be a tough business, but if you’re tough with it, you can achieve success.” His own career began as soon as he “could see over the counter,” helping out in the shop his parents had back in Knockacullion in Ireland. Harking back to the village, he has a replica Irish road sign

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beside his house, along with outbuildings and land where he keeps and breeds prizewinning cattle and racehorses. An avid racegoer and breeder, one of the horses is called Knockacullion, with another named Ragstone Cowboy, in honour of the stone from his quarry. “I loved groundwork and civil engineering as soon as I got started. The synergies with the quarry and aggregates, and then property, came later. But wherever I could earn a Pound, I would do whatever work was available, whatever the size of the project. There was no work-life balance. We’d work as many hours as we could all week - I was always wanting to get more and more work done in a day. “Back then, I was also fortunate to find loyal and hard-working people here in Kent, and many of them stayed with me. The business wouldn’t be where it is today without them. It was thanks to them that we kept winning more and more work, and that remains true today,” he adds, reeling off a long list of names. Construction director Ken Baillie, who has been with the firm for 36 years adds that Gallagher has a strategic mind. “He’s always looking ahead. This is a family business, and Pat has installed the importance of caring for all our staff.” Gallagher received the BITA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and he pays tribute to the work of the organisation, its board, staff and founder Paul Whitnell. “Paul has a way of opening the doors for smaller companies and larger ones on both sides of the Irish Sea. We’re buying a lot of pre-cast concrete products from Ireland, for example, thanks to his efforts. The organisation gave a big boost to the profile of the Gallagher Group. “Paul is committed wholeheartedly to BITA and its ethos about people who know people helping each other. He shares my view that there’s no better way of building up relations between Britain and Ireland than through business, and that can be very powerful on many levels.”

‘‘

John Reynolds

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Kent is a beautiful county, and its people have been very supportive of our success. www.bita.ie

RICS is the acronym for the combined emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Initially coined BRIC by Goldman Sachs in 2003 (without South Africa), these emerging economies were predicted by their analysts to be among the world’s leading economies by 2050. Jim O’Neill, the analyst that devised the

responsible for inviting South Africa to join them in 2011. Although, unlike for instance the EU, these countries don’t have political alliances or a trading association, leaders of BRICS countries have regular summits to discuss and lobby for shared goals (including enhancing their representation on the world stage and pursuing the democratization of

BUILDING WITH BRICS How the BRICS countries are impacting western economics

acronym, proposed that China and India would be the fastest growing and lead the world in providing manufactured goods and services, while Brazil and Russia would be the dominant suppliers of raw materials. In the intervening years, China and India have mainly surpassed expectations in their annual GDP growth, however Russia and Brazil have suffered with recession and in the case of Brazil, political unrest. Initially conceived to be a tool to assist investors looking for exciting growth prospects, BRICS have taken on a life of their own. It’s a strange example of ‘if you build it, they will come’; a prominent financial figure developed an idea that grouped four very different countries, linked only by their potential for rapid growth, which has led to an alliance of these nations. The BRICs themselves were

international governance) and an ‘open world economy’. These countries contain nearly half the world’s population; China and India both have over one billion citizens each and represent around 23% of the world GDP. Clearly, they continue to represent exciting investment opportunities, but what about the impact they will have on the rest of the world? The pros and cons of globalisation are intrinsically linked with the ones that impact our relationships with BRICS. Globalisation has meant that countries; their economies and cultures, have increased interconnectedness. It often benefits some of the richest countries who can capitalise on cheap labour in developing nations and sell for high prices in leading economies, but also benefits some of the poorest countries in that

Cape Town, the location of the NDB 2019 meeting for sustainable development.

they can access leading markets and sell cheap goods. This, and global shift have led to a huge amount of companies manufacturing their goods in emerging and developing countries like BRICS. India, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of goods, provide cheap and efficient labour. Countries like Russia and Brazil (along with many other South American countries) are extremely rich in natural resources. Many developed nations with minimum wage laws, health and safety regulations and other considerations have moved to manufacture their products in countries like India to decrease the price of manufacturing their goods. Labour market deregulation and cheap local resources mean that companies can get things done at a smaller expense and a lot more efficiently than if the factory was in a developed nation. The flip side of this coin is the oft reported and seemingly never decreasing sweat shops. The harsh reality of being able to buy three dresses, four t-shirts and a pair of trousers for less than £20, is that somewhere down the line, people and the environment are suffering the consequences. Global shift also affects the jobs available in developed (and developing) nations, including the UK. Manufacturing goods abroad for less money, makes businesses a larger profit and allows companies to grow, which in turn, allows their countries to have higher economic growth. However, this same growth also removes jobs, mainly secondary, but also primary, from the population. Although most primary sector employment has dwindled in the UK due to depleted resources and mechanisation, cheap

played a part. This sector has shrunk by 600,000 people in the last decade leaving only fewer than three million workers employed in the manufacturing sector. A risk with manufacturing products abroad is that it opens the possibility of copying or outright theft, especially in the pharmaceutical and technology industries. This has already been seen in India and China. The impact of cheap goods and increased globalisation can be seen in

many areas and industries. Benefits to developing nations include increased employment opportunities, investment in communities, and improved infrastructure. One of the biggest impactors on the western world from BRICS nations in recent years is steel from China. China accounts for 60% of the BRICS’ total GDP and it is the second largest

economy in the world. Their doubledigit economic growth over the last few decades led to increased domestic demand for steel, and the government invested heavily in this area. When their recent slow-down in growth left the steel industry with a lot of material and a shrinking domestic market, they understandably looked abroad. This has put the steelmakers of other nations, including the UK, under pressure and has led to job losses. China is unlikely to do anything about this, as reductions in production would lead to job losses and unrest for their own people (although

many unregulated ‘illegal’ manufacturers have been shut down). This has led to trade tariffs being introduced by the USA to increase the cost of foreign steel for US based companies. This in turn means that China is looking increasingly to the EU for buyers, already a strong trading partner that will be very reluctant to risk a trade war by introducing tariffs. The UK industry is now being hit from two sides, cheap Chinese steel is being imported and outpricing UK products at home, and the US is much more reluctant to buy highquality and high-value UK steel products in light of the new tariffs. It’s clear that the idea of making things quickly and cheaply which has fuelled western economic growth and created big profits for businesses, can also cause problems. We hear a lot about

Laura Watkins

imports mean that it is often more cost efficient to import resources than get them ourselves. The secondary sector industry is one of manufacturing, and only around 10% of UK workers currently work in this sector. This is also a result of mechanisation, however the trend of businesses to relocate manufacturing to cheaper and de-regulated nations has also

THE INCREASING GLOBAL DOMINANCE OF A SINGLE BRICS NATION IS ALREADY HAVING A MASSIVE IMPACT ON WORLD TRADE AS WELL AS AFFECTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES. this on the global scale, but it has a huge impact on communities. Scunthorpe is one such community. The collapse of British Steel as of May 2019, has propelled the matter into the public spotlight as they seek investment to save many thousands of jobs, over 4,000 of which are in Scunthorpe. This downturn isn’t just due to cheap Chinese imports, Brexit

BUSINESS

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Chinese investment in renewables, Shanghai skyline.

uncertainties being also cited, but it is certainly a factor.Scunthorpe is already a struggling area, with above average unemployment and poverty, so the increasing global dominance of a single BRICS nation is already having a massive impact on world trade as well as affecting local communities. Ultimately, your politics and stake in different industries will impact what

you think about BRICS. They are gaining a greater slice of global wealth which can only be fair after western monopoly for so long. Manufacturing in these nations has led to lower prices for western consumers, and jobs for those in developing nations. We have lost manufacturing jobs in the UK, but employment is still at an historic low and more skilled jobs in the quaternary sector are emerging. Increasing

Investment in BRICS nations is leading to improved well-being for their people in some areas, and improved access to information is making the governments of these nations consider the environmental impact of their actions. China now spends more on renewable energy that any other nation, and Beijing is a world leader in wind and solar power. The New Development Bank (NDB) was launched by BRICS countries in 2015 with $50bn of initial capital, and the NDB president V Kamath promised that the projects to be approved would be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mainly infrastructure and green energy initiativesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which has been borne out, with their 2019 meeting focusing on sustainable development. As the US is pulling back from green initiatives, and other nations are struggling to put the environment before their bottom line, this is welcome news. It is perhaps to these emerging global leaders that we will look for innovation, development and green technology in the future.

The BRICS countries contain nearly half the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population; China and India both have over one billion citizens each and represent around 23% of world GDP. Clearly, they continue to represent exciting investment opportunities, but what about the impact they will have on the rest of the world?

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COMMUNITY

AND A WAVE OF CHANGE

Isle of Man inaugural event, Manchester and Cork prepping up!

he Isle of Man had its first event in April 2019 with Manchester and Cork openings planned for later this year. This growth signals fantastic opportunities for our members to form new connections, and access new markets. The newest chapter of BITA was launched in April 2019. Brendon Kenny, Director of Isle of Man company Ellanstone, says; “I am proud to introduce BITA and to be its first Chairperson. Island businesses and communities will gain great benefit from the contacts, relationships, and support that BITA can create.” With his background in marketing, strategy and innovation, and with a firm presence on the Island, Brendon will be leading the chapter and offering his expertise and insight to new members. At its first networking event in April which saw around 50 attendees gather

ALTHOUGH SMALL, THE ISLE OF MAN HAS GREAT INTERNATIONAL REACH WITH LONG ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS IN MANY INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTIONS.

for one of our popular social networking evenings, Brendon said; “It was a wonderful launch of the BITA Isle of Man chapter and a big thank you to Sancus and Quinn Legal for helping to make the event the success it was.” There are many reasons why the Isle of Man is a great choice for a new BITA chapter in terms of culture and business. They are a leading international business centre renowned for their innovation and high professional standards and have a diversified economy. This ranges from traditional sectors such as construction, financial services and tourism to new, emerging industries such as BioMed, Clean Tec and ICT. Although small, they have great international reach with long established relationships in many international jurisdictions. Moreover, their thriving financial sector was voted ‘International Finance Centre of the Year’ at the International Adviser Product and Service Awards and the Isle of Man is endorsed by the IMF, the Financial Action Task Force and the EU Code of Conduct. It is also a Digital World leader. The e-Gaming sector is headquarters to prominent global market companies and has over 200 digital businesses calling the Island home. This vast digital community is protected by very robust data regulation and cyber security together with strong intellectual property treaties. This is a lot to have packed into such a small area, and we feel that there are a lot of opportunities for businesses on and off the Island.

In addition, the Isle of Man government fully supports new businesses, established businesses and initiatives such as BITA to help a thriving and growing economy. Laurence Skelly, Minister for the Department for Enterprise says; “The success of Island businesses is fundamental to the mission of the Department for Enterprise. The Programme for Government makes a clear commitment to maintaining an ‘Enterprise and Opportunity Island’ where local entrepreneurship is supported.” All of this plus advanced infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology services and a skilled workforce, makes the Island is a great place to do business. The attitude towards both business and lifestyle is ‘The Isle of Man – where you can’. The new Isle of Man chapter will join our chapters in London, Liverpool and Dublin in championing local businesses as well as forging connections with the wider business community in the UK, Ireland and beyond. We are looking forward to building great bridges between the Isle of Man and the rest of the BITA network internationally. www.bita.ie

Lucy Wickett

n today’s business world, companies seem to be looking for one thing; experience. For those who have never strayed from their industries this is not a problem, but for those looking to switch professions or just starting out, lack of experience can severely hamper any job searches. Internships can offer an antidote to lack of experience or enhance a CV, as well as provide exposure to different areas or roles within a company. Unpaid placements have been on the receiving end of negative press as they can highlight the chasm between those that can afford to work for free, and

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One of the main perks of taking an internship is that it offers an opportunity to show off talents and commitment to potential employers. A ‘try before you buy’ situation can be attractive to an employer as an intern has already proven themselves before any contract is signed. It isn’t just young people who advance, businesses can learn a lot from young people too. By introducing new blood, they will gain a fresh insight and perspective into projects and latest trends. Taking a position abroad is also another valuable opportunity, bringing exposure to

THE VALUE OF INTERNSHIPS An interview by BITAx member Lucy Wickett about internships and the value of a placement those who can’t. However, employers do insist on experience, so we got feedback from some of our members who had worked in internships to see what they thought. One of the main benefits mentioned was selecting a career path. If you are struggling to decide what you want to do, an internship can help you try on different professions and different industries. “It can really help you get a different view on the job you are doing, and always looks good on your CV” says Maria, who interned at Silver Shemmings Ash LLP. Even if you already know what you want to do, these positions can help you select the employer you want to work for. Another benefit frequently mentioned, was that if their placement lead to a job offer, they already knew background information about the job, the company and the team, they weren’t turning up cold on the day without knowing anyone, or any of the day to day requirements of the office. Being encouraged to get out of your comfort zone is great for young people who may be caught in a rut or routine of their own; it can be problematic for young adults who are fresh out of college or university as they are surrounded by the same people, going to the same places and in the same town. Internships can offer an escape, exposing younger people to new people and opportunities. They also encourage you to network; this is a fantastic way to get your name out there and it is also great way to boost your confidence. Sometimes throwing yourself into uncomfortable situations like a networking event can make you more confident as you are almost forced to put yourself out there. 30

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representational cross-section of society. Also, with any internship, paid or otherwise, there is no guarantee of a job afterwards. Unpaid positions shouldn’t be common; legally they are only for students where the work forms part of further or higher education, for work experience for under 16s, for volunteers (which is where it can be murky) or work shadowing. Reality can be different. The general feel among our ex-interns is that they can offer a valuable foothold in different industries as well as that crucial experience that employers are always looking for. However, employers should actively work to make sure that they aren’t exploitative. Don’t suggest that internships can lead to paid work if they can’t and remember that interns want useful experience and a real taste of what the industry is like, not practice at making teas and coffee.

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COMMENT

An internship can really help you get a diﬀerent view on the job you are doing, and always looks good on your CV. new cultures and improving language skills. An ex-intern at Central FX, Madubuko, says; “They are a great opportunity to gain real world experience, my internship helped me a lot when I interviewed for a role in the United States.” This extra knowledge and international experience will amplify your marketability and makes you more attractive to potential employers. Unpaid internships occur often in creative sectors like fashion, media and music; there are two sides to this coin. On one side it offers young people the chance to experience being managed, learn the importance of time management within the office and develop strong people skills. For those with little to no experience this can be a lifeline to their desired industry and the opportunity to showcase their talents. On the other hand, unpaid positions can be exploitative and by their nature will only benefit those that can afford to live with zero income for their work placement; whether it be two weeks or six months. This means that those who can afford to live off nothing gain entry; so, some industries that heavily use internships, especially unpaid ones, end up with a non-

REDEVELOPMENT ON TRACK Creating a world class Community and Cultural Centre in NW1

t is a very exciting time at the London Irish Centre in Camden, we have now completed the competition to choose an architect for the redevelopment project and are busy putting together the project team who will help us create a world class community and cultural centre…which happens to be Irish. We have begun consulting with clients, customers and neighbors and will be engaging further with the Irish community over the summer to find out what sort of London Irish Centre you would like to see in Camden. Of course the day-by-day work is vitally important and we are seeing a huge increase in numbers coming to us for assistance. Over the past 9 months we have carried out 3029 client sessions helping 1474 clients with a range of welfare, advice, housing and legal issues. We have recovered over £1.3m in benefit entitlements and distributed over £30k

in small crisis grants to some of the most vulnerable in our community. Three of the team have just returned from Kerry where, with the support from the Kerry Emigrant Society, we brought 30 clients back to Ireland on an all expenses trip of a lifetime. One of the group, Mattie, hadn’t been able to return for over 40 years – as he said ‘I never thought I would make it back, it was like a dream when I woke up the first morning and saw the Sleive Mish mountains’. We had an incredible arts and cultural programme over St Patrick’s week running 25 different events and there is a fantastic schedule planned for the summer and autumn season. And of course if you fancy brushing up on the ‘cúpla focal’ you could join the 375 ‘daltaí/students’ improving their language skills this year. You might also want to visit our Irish library, take a music or dance course or plan a big night out at one of our gigs.

The Irish Centre “Home - from - Home” Relaxation and Entertainment.

Also watch this space for very special events with our host of celebrity artists, entertainers and public figures through the second half of 2019 and beyond. All we can say for now is to put a Save the Date on September 26th for something truly remarkable! We hope you will join us on the journey to create this amazing facility for the community, a place BITA members will be proud to use for meetings, events and entertainment and to bring guests to experience and celebrate the story of the Irish in London. Once again go raibh míle maith agaibh for the initial £10,000 seed money for the project and to BITA members like Pater Halpenny and Don O’Sullivan for all their ongoing advice and support.

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SPORT

INFLUX

The changing face of sport …. What lies ahead?

he cave paintings at Lascaux, hieroglyphs and the earliest written records show that we have always had an interest in sport. Far from always being associated with leisure and entertainment, origins of many forms of sport, particularly athletics, can be traced back to military training and battlefield prowess. Despite this, there are recorded examples of sport for definite entertainment purposes since before 2000 BCE. Humans have always loved spectacle and watching people compete to be the best and proving their worth has been a pastime of our race for millennia. Some of the first sports, including running events and boxing, are still practiced today, whereas others have fallen by the wayside. But what makes a sport a sport? Ask any three people what constitutes a sport and you’ll likely get three different answers. Is it the opportunity to play as a professional (for money)? Is it the competition? Perhaps it’s the physical activity or mental exertion. The Council of Europe charter on sport uses the following definition: “Sport means all forms of physical activity, which through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels”. So, with this criteria, darts and snooker wouldn’t seem to fit the bill.

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The debate around darts has been prominent for over a decade, with discussions on whether to include it in the Olympics. In 2005, Sports England officially recognised it as a sport, however other bodies refuse to do the same. The Olympics committee have said it may be included in future. Yet if darts is accepted, why not other ‘games’? in 2015 the English Bridge Union went to the High court to challenge the failure of Sport England to recognise Bridge as a sport. This might seem absurd, but is there more physical activity in throwing a dart at a board, than shuffling and handling cards? Neither will make you more physically fit, although there is obviously more dexterity and physical skill in darts. Perhaps it’s time that the official definition of sport is given an overhaul? The debates around whether something is a sport or game will continue with the increased monetisation and exposure of traditional games. Poker is a card game, but the amount of prize money, skill and practice involved, leads many to consider it a sport. It is difficult to maintain the definition of ‘physical activity…. improving physical fitness’ for sport when rather sedate sports like angling are traditional holders of that definition. With this in mind, look at the very new contender – gaming. The first known video game competition took place at Stanford University in the US in 1972.

In 1980, 10,000 people attended the Atari Space Invaders Championship to watch gamers compete. In 2016, ESPN started investing in esports leagues and broadcasting competitions and the numbers of players and spectators continues to grow. The Call of Duty 2018 prize pool was $4.17M which was at the lower end of the scale. Fortnite had a prize pool of $19.96M and Dorta 2 for 2018 had a total pool of $41.26M. It seems that there is enough money to make gaming a profession, but what about the audience and competition? There were over 46 million people watching the finale of the 2017 World Championship in Poland, with over 173,000 attendees – more than many toptier sporting events. The competition is fierce, with college scholarship teams and amateur wizzes vying to become the next professional players. Practice hours of 10 – 14 hours a day are common, as are gaming related industries. Professionals also have a very short shelf-life as dexterity falls from mid-20s. Whether you consider gaming, darts and bridge a sport or not will vary depending on your own biases and experience, but you can’t argue with their increasing popularity. Long before ‘games’ were fighting to be recognised as sports, women were struggling to participate. Female sport has come a long way from the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 which women couldn’t compete, but in 1900 they were allowed to take part in lawn tennis, golf,

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croquet and mixed sailing teams. Since then more women’s events have been added, and in the 2012 Olympics, boxing added a female event – the last remaining sport to do so. For brands and media, the rise of interest in women’s sports is an exciting place to look for revenue. According to Nielsen, 84% of general sports fans (in the UK, US, France, Germany, Spain, Australia and New Zealand) have an interest in women’s sports. Perhaps surprisingly there is an even split in interest; of those 84%, 51% are male and 49% female. Equal pay (or at least increased pay) agreements mean that many women can now pursue their sporting passion professionally and increasing interest and audience numbers mean that there is a growth in investment. There have been recent controversies, with Caster Semenya hitting headlines recently; not for her running ability, but her testosterone levels. This is a common issue with many intersex sportswomen and affects transgender athletes as well. The lines are not always clear. A transgender woman, scientist and marathon runner, Joanna Harper, has done research that suggests transitioned athletes do not have an advantage, at least when it comes to marathon running, rowing, cycling and sprinting. The research isn’t complete. Males develop stronger bones than women during puberty, which is not undone by transitioning, and bone strength is an advantage in sports like wrestling and weight lifting. But things are becoming clearer in this area. Joanna’s research has meant the IOC accepts transgender competitors; she does however feel that

there should be an upper limit to the testosterone levels in the blood. “If you’re competing in the women’s division, you should do so with women’s hormone levels,” says Harper. “I understand just how much difference they make.” But what to do in cases of naturally high testosterone in women then? Caster Semenya reportedly has over three times the normal amount of testosterone in her blood than the ‘normal’ upper limit, but is this a natural advantage to be acclaimed, or an unfair benefit of being intersex? The IOC has made their position clear and placed limits on the amount of testosterone a woman can have in her blood while competing, which is yet to be appealed. So, what of other natural advantages, like height in basketball or Michael Phelps’ unique ability to produce half the lactic acid of his rivals? Why are some advantages applauded as natural advantage and others censured as unfair? Another great milestone in sport in recent years is the increased participation and acceptance of differently abled people. Perhaps surprisingly, this isn’t a very recent development. Sports for athletes with impairments have existed for more than 100 years, and the London Olympic Games in 1948 had an organised competition for wheelchair athletes comprised of ex-service men and women. In 1960 these became the Paralympic Games, featuring 400 athletes from 23 countries and since then they have taken place every four years in line with the Olympics. The rise in the popularity of sports for disabled athletes has continued unabated, and games are held across the world in nearly all sporting events. Some,

SPORT

like the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) and the Deaflympics are for those with specific disabilities, whereas others like the Paralympics and Special Olympic World Games are for athletes with any disability. However, this area of sports is struggling. The hope of a lasting legacy of the 2012 London Paralympic Games has not transpired with the amount of disabled people participating in sport or exercise dropping by 10% since the games were held. Barriers

FOR BRANDS AND MEDIA, THE RISE OF INTEREST IN WOMEN’S SPORTS IS AN EXCITING PLACE TO LOOK FOR REVENUE. to participation are myriad, including accessibility of grounds and equipment, to staff training. With a report showing that 7/10 disabled people want to get more active, and Sport England investing £20.3M into recent programmes to encourage this, hopefully we will soon see a change for the better. The majority of these changes have happened in the last 50 years, which is why so much is unsettled and why some sports are only just finding their audiences. With increased reach of social media bringing new fans and their money, it is clear that ‘sport’ as we know it will continue to change and develop. It’s exciting to think about what sport might become in another 50 years.

GAMING – The new sports contender With prize money topping $41.26 million in 2018 and audiences of over 46 million, gaming is fast becoming a top tier sporting event.

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COMMENT

THE CHANGING

FACE OF PR

Judy Hopkins – Partner at Hopkins Communications - Integrated Marketing Communications Agency

ublic Relations (PR) focuses on communication and reputation management and PR professionals serve as storytellers, relaying positive client stories (or mitigating any damage that could weaken a client’s reputation) while building trust and relationships with traditional press, radio and TV journalists. With the advent of social media, smartphones and our growing reliance on a constantly connected world, the notion of ‘unpaid’ or ‘earned media’ within the PR landscape, has well and truly changed, as has the way consumers interact with brands and vice versa. Now, there are many more ways to source media opportunities for clients and each one works towards the same reputation-building goal, while using different strategies to get there. Owned Media This is the content created by you, your company, experts, employees, customers, user-generated content, reviews, webinars,

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videos and podcasts. You control the messaging, whether on your website, blog and/or social media platforms – so get this right first! This information should be at the centre of your business and needs to be optimised, shareable and engaging content for both traditional and digital visibility. Earned Media+ Now you can find journalists on social media too! Twitter and Facebook are sources of news stories for the media (note: they will still fact check!) so stay in touch with them online as well as offline. Digital also opens up your outreach to key opinion leaders, bloggers, influencers, micro-influencers and even investors, so engage (get them to respond to your brand and convert them to advocates) and partner with these audiences as well as with charities, communities and other organisations (which in turn will become ‘shared media’). Paid Media Planning is essential; look at content planning, prospecting, awareness strategy, engagement strategy/lead generation, retargeting strategy – and in that order! With the lack of cut-through with organic posting, it is a must to support your

digital strategy with budget. With that, Incentive PR falls between paid and owned media opportunities where you can build affiliates, brand ambassadors, sponsored content, native advertising and control the message to an extent, if you are paying. Measurement is Key Before you get started, note your current PR and digital metrics and use these as a base for comparison and success measurement following your PR efforts. Your greatest competition is your previous self. Know your objectives – for each campaign, define what is the important business goal and what success looks like, i.e. adopt one KPI (Key Performance Indicator) per campaign. Then at the end of the campaign, re-evaluate before you start the next campaign. Finally, it is imperative now more than ever that PR plays a part in your overall marketing plan and that the messaging across your PR, digital, advertising, events, graphic design, videography, print materials, website and beyond is consistent, with the same goal in mind. Is the right hand talking to the left hand? Does your advertising team know what your PR team is doing, and vice versa?

Hopkins Communications - Integrated Marketing Communications Agency (Cork, Limerick, Dublin and 3AW Global Network Partner, providing coverage in 25 countries worldwide). www.h-c.ie

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BUILDING | CIVIL ENGINEERING | AGGREGATES | PROPERTY

THOUGHT CHANGE How Can Thought Leadership Boost Business Growth?

hought leadership is becoming a more familiar business term, but maybe a misunderstood one. David Lomas, CEO of M3 Media Publishing, explores what thought leadership is, and explains how it is becoming critical in helping a business to differentiate itself from the competition. He comments: “Thought leadership is about developing your personal brand to ultimately grow your business. It’s about building your credibility as an expert, and then using it to engage with both your prospects and customers.” “Thought Leadership is not just for your CEO either, it’s for the others on your team that need to be perceived as ‘expert. They also need a voice.” Some businesses are already recognising the influence and credibility all their team can gain in having their comments positioned in a credible place. David added: “As publishers, we are now being approached more for interview requests from significant businesses and

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organisations, requesting for their leaders to be positioned as experts within our published content.” Building a Reputation “In a competitive field, you need to find ways of reaching your target audience but doing so in such a way that you stand out from others. Our ‘interview-style’ content does this really well, and it allows you to demonstrate a depth of knowledge which crucially, your competitors may not be showing.” Finding the Perfect Platform David concludes: “For thought leadership to be effective, you need the right platform. It is all about gaining credibility, whilst creating a sense of expertise and authority around your business. Our third-party platform, creates the credibility and trust that really helps

David Lomas from M3 Media Publishing

your words resonate powerfully with your audience.” BITA Members Offer With a wealth of experience in content marketing and an impressive portfolio of sector-focused digital magazines, David is in a position to raise the profile of both you and your business. BITA are now working with the team at M3 Media Publishing in creating a strategic partnership of members who wish to work collectively, to reach a much wider yet targeted audience.

Please email us at laura@bita.ie to set up an explorative discussion to find out how you can join us in boosting your business.

Michael Barrett

www.emico.co

COMMUNITY

HEALTHY STREETS BITA MEMBERS COMMIT TO THE CONSTRUCTORS’ CYCLE EXPERIENCE

is paramount to ensure the construction methods implemented do not deter people from using such sustainable modes of transportation. Honorary BITA member, Michael Barratt MBE has been running the award winning ‘roadworks patrol’ for over six years https://ccsbestpractice.org.uk/ entries/tfl-roadworks-patrol/. These involve taking relevant stakeholders (walking and cycle groups, residents, disability groups, emergency services, designers, developers and contractors) on rides and walks though construction areas to actively experience the challenges such groups face on a daily basis. Having such a diverse group

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s part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy launched in 2018, Transport for London (TfL) have adopted the Healthy Streets Approach to help make London’s diverse communities greener, healthier and more attractive places to live, work, play and do business. Part of the Healthy Streets Approach is to encourage more walking, cycling and use of public transport. Many cities around the world are taking a stand to end the toll of deaths and serious injuries reported on the roads by committing to ‘Vision Zero’. London is at the forefront of this approach and the Mayor’s Transport Strategy sets out the goal that, by 2041, all deaths and serious injuries will be eliminated from London’s transport network. To maintain positive outcomes, we require assistance and support from all

It is paramount that construction methods don’t deter people from using sustainable modes of transportation. our partners and stakeholders. However, meeting these targets will be challenging, especially as our population increases. We need more houses, hospitals, schools and infrastructure to cope with this demand and that means a lot of construction. The negative environmental impact associated with construction means more roadworks, HGV traffic, dust, noise and safety concerns for the travelling public especially for those that walk and cycle. It 38

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enables all involved to share their own experiences and perceptions. A positive outcome from the patrols has enabled contractors to take a more pragmatic approach with their highway interventions and to ensure the safety of all road users is being considered. An alternative approach to the patrols, ‘the Constructors cycle experience’ involves inviting senior management to jump on a bike (Santander Cycle) and

MORE HOUSES, SCHOOLS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE NEEDED TO COPE WITH A RISING POPULATION. experience for themselves the benefits of protected cycling and how important it is to ensure they are maintained. This is followed with a presentation, ‘it’s not just about the cyclist’ which looks at methods that can assist contractors apply all-inclusive measures during works, that can benefit themselves and their supply chains. BITA President, Paul Whitnell has taken part on one of these events and has given his full support. To date, there have been seven BITA sessions hosted by companies such as Pod-Trak, Emico, Coinford, McCoy Engineering and Ardent Tide to name a few. So far, all of those that have attended have supplied positive feedback and came away with a lot more to think about. We hope many more companies will get involved and rally to the cause. For more information, please contact Michael Barrett Michael.Barratt@tfl.gov.uk and Noel Byrne noel@ardenttide.co.uk

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SECTION

ON SEASONAL

EATING Changes dictated by the seasons provide chef Richard Corrigan with the challenge he loves

uccessful chef and patron of the Corrigan Collection restaurants in London, Richard Corrigan tells us about his love of food, and the value of eating with the seasons. People often asked me the secret of my success, I would imagine that my success is 100 per cent due to my background. Growing up on a dairy farm in Ireland, where the animals needed to be looked after seven days a week, and understanding of the seasonal variations, where you prepare the land, sow reap and store to carry you through the leaner times in the autumn and winter. Growing up on a farm also teaches you respect for the cycles and seasonality of food. I grew up with the simple idea that the sun comes up and goes down, and with each movement of the calendar, nature has something else to give us. Wild food was a big part of our lives. You’d see a hare popping around, bobbing

from tuft to tuft of grass, and you’d think: he’d be tasty; where is the gun? And you’d be forever looking out for a brown trout or salmon from the river. But remember, you only took what you would be eating for your supper. When it comes to seafood, the coastal waters of Britain and Ireland, with their particular eco-system, are some of the best in the world for growing shellfish, from our lobsters and crabs in the southwest of England to our langoustines in the north, mussels and sea urchins from Barry Bay and so on. As always, though, we have to temper our enthusiasm with respect for what we have and what we could lose if we don’t take care of the ocean. Not many things stop me in my tracks and leave me stuck for words, but a piece of wild salmon... what can I say? One of the things I remember so strongly about living in the country is just going out into the garden to get

your vegetables or a salad for tea, and the older I get the more I value those old-fashioned salads. When I see justharvested asparagus, tender spinach, fresh peas and scallions sitting on a table I sing like a bird and the ideas just start flowing. I hardly ever make the same recipe the same way twice, which can drive some people crazy, but I like cooking on the hoof, being totally ingredients led: what’s good? What’s here? What can we put it with? I’ve always encouraged that. As chefs we crave consistency of quality, and for ingredients to be great. I am very particular about sourcing ingredients, and only use seasonal food. The older I get, the more puritan I become about food, the more I want to leave it alone. I just want to serve great produce from great people and enhance it slightly – but not too much. It’s not about ego, it’s about food you want to eat.

Corrigan’s Collection card available for all BITA members. To register for your card please contact Tara Cronin, Private Dining & Sales tara@corrigancollection.com

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• A glass of champagne for all restaurant bookings made • No room hire or minimum spend along with complimentary canapes for Private Dining Events

• Monthly Draw for all signed up members to attend a master class at Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill or Corrigan’s Mayfair • Exclusive access to Richard Corrigan Events • 15% off any corporate bookings at Virginia Park Lodge 40

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MEMBERSHIP CARD

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IRISH SODA BREAD INGREDIENTS 333g plain flour 165g jumbo rolled oats 4g baking powder 10g bicarbonate of Soda 38g treacle 75g honey 500ml buttermilk 10g salt

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Combine all of the dry ingredients. 2. Mix some of the buttermilk with the treacle and honey and add to the mux with the remaining buttermilk, folding in by hand until fully mixed. 3. Please try to not over work the mix. 4. Form into cakes on floured or parchment lined trays, then dust with flour and cross the tops.

TO COOK Place the tray straight into a preheated oven and bake for 34 – 40 minutes at 180c.

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CONCRETE

TO CONTAINERS THE CHANGING FACE OF UK HOUSING

ousing of the UK has experienced a lot of change in the past half century, from the way it is constructed to the philosophy of housing. People have been trying to find ‘solutions’ to housing for years, from the cramped tenements of Victorian times, to the general lack of affordable housing today. It sometimes pays to look to the past and see what history has to teach us about what it means to have a home. The 1950’s and 60’s saw housebuilding on a massive scale, filling holes in housing stock left by bombing during WW2, and to replace sub-standard and run-down housing. The economy was recovering, and local authority homes were being built at the rate of 250,000 a year, peaking at 400,000 in the 1960’s. The 60’s and 70’s were the time of brutalist architecture, and concrete edifices were a common marker of a government building or tower block. The philosophy behind this was a good one, a socialist ideal where people had their own communities in the sky, complete with hairdressers, shops and all the entertainment they needed. Built in the new style with these socially progressive intentions and with new materials, these new homes were also conveniently made of inexpensive materials and could be completed quickly. It didn’t go quite so badly as J G Ballard predicted, but lack of government investment, high areas of renters and social housing combined with the tendency to clump ‘problem’ tenants together, meant that broken lifts, vandalism and violence were soon commonplace. Many of these blocks have since been demolished – although many have remained and some, like the Brunswick Centre, have even gained listed status. Moving into the 80’s, the mass sell-off of council homes under right to buy depleted the council housing stock and it has never recovered. This has

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meant that many people on lower salaries and those unable to purchase a home were increasingly renting in the private and social housing sector, a trend continuing today. The 90’s were mainly a period of recovery from the bust following the years of growth in the 80’s, leading to the heady heights of the boom years of the 2000’s where average house prices more than doubled from £100,000 in 2000 to around £225,000 in 2007 before the 2008 crash bought the dream to an end. So where does this leave us now? The number of people who live in owner-occupied homes has decreased after (mostly) steadily increasing since

the construction of 300,000 new homes each year. There were 184,000 homes build in 2016/17, and this is increasing which is heartening, however the government’s idea of affordable frequently doesn’t follow what the majority of the population would consider affordable. So what is a younger person to do, especially in high-cost areas such as London and the South East, or those on lower wages or wanting to live mortgage free? Are there any realistic options for those who have been priced out of the housing market, and what can we do to combat the high cost of living? For a start, people are getting more creative and willing to compromise. The first sacrifice on the altar of cost will usually be space. ‘Tiny houses’ are often touted as the solution to housing ills, but with a square meterage far below the Riba recommended size is this a sacrifice too far? Back in ’79, The Jam knew that ‘the public wants what the public gets’ and with the rise of smaller housing there has been a whole movement to accompany it as something to strive for. People now want to move

Tiny houses are often touted as the solutions to housing ills’ the 1950’s; according to research by Bloomberg Economics, home ownership fell from 73.3% in 2007, to 63.4% in 2016. This is a startling fall that masks other trends – notably the decline in home ownership for young people. The IFS has found that for those born in the 1970’s, 43% owned their own home before they hit 27. This figure dropped to just 25% for those born in the late 1980s. This trend is also more pronounced for those in more expensive areas. Home ownership for 25 – 34-year olds in London and the South East has dropped from 64% in 1998, to 32% in 2018. So, the nearly 10% drop in home ownership since 2007 disguises some even more startling information when broken down by age or region. In 2017, Theresa May promised to make “the British dream a reality by reigniting home ownership in Britain once again”, and said she was taking “personal charge” of the effort to solve the country’s housing problems. The then chancellor, Phillip Hammond, promised to ensure

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SECTION

towards minimalism as promoted by Marie Kondo, tidy-mind, de-cluttering and countless other ‘wellbeing’ trends. Clever solutions such as ‘cute’ storage (think IKEA) and a high use of the space available with multi-use furniture (Aleph and others) means that it has never been cooler to live smaller. Modular homes are another way to go. Originating from the post-war quick built homes, these new modular homes are built to a much higher standard. Not just in cost, but attractiveness and quality; the ilke Homes development, Hundred House, won

the Reader’s Choice Terrace of the Future Award from the Sunday Times in 2018. Working with housing associations and local authorities, as well as developers, ilke Homes are aiming to deliver 2,000 homes a year within the next two years. Legal and General have also got in on this action. The finance and investment firm has recently opened a factory in Leeds that manufactures modular homes. Modular homes are far cheaper than traditionally built homes, ilke Homes offer a fully-fitted three-bedroom home from as little as £65,000 and can be built to a high standard. They are normally assembled in one to two weeks and although small, they are larger than the average new-build home. Currently most of their clients are housing associations and others who can buy in bulk, however as more units are bought it will become more common and easier for people to buy one of these themselves. Similar to modular homes are containers. In the same vein as the concrete explosion of the 60’s and 70’s, containers are quick and cheap to build, and can offer living space to a lot of people in a small area. Container City have been specialising in creating spaces from shipping containers since 1998 and have been joined by a host of other companies offering starter homes to private buyers from as little as £9,000, or £20,000 for a higher spec and fully decorated home. Although not all banks will offer a mortgage on a modular or container

home, some do and it is becoming more common, making these options more attractive and possible. In addition, container homes often don’t need planning permission; due to their portable nature they generally aren’t considered to be permanent structures. A more romantic housing solution for those who have a certain practical inclination, could be waterway living. Barges, boats and canal boats make excellent use of the UK’s extensive canal system, even offering an easy way to go on holiday. With costs of a liveable canal boat starting from around £20,000 and the average mooring fees at £3,000, it is an attractive option to many. Hundreds of Londoners have already discovered canal boats as a way of escaping the sky-high rental market, and outside of London this way of living is even more affordable (mooring fees vary considerably). Canal boats can offer a great sense of community and a short commute to

CONSTRUCTION

the office, as well as manageable rents. The down-side to this equation is ongoing maintenance, a necessary practicality in residents, and a home that will never increase in value like a traditional home. In addition, banks can be very reluctant to lend money for a home that can be moved away overnight! The face of housing and how it is used has changed markedly since the 50’s. The home ownership dream is still very much alive, but people are getting on the ladder later and making compromises to do so. And it seems that there are genuine solutions available for those able and willing to think outside the box (or creatively inside it, when it comes to micro-homes). Brutalism might not be to everyone’s taste, but the philosophy was spot on, and the idea of high-quality, high density, cheaply built housing could be the way to go if we are going to make best use of the UK’s limited building space.

www.bita.ie

Laura Watkins

www.emico.co

ADVERTISING IN NetWorks www.emico.co

Our advertisers have found NetWorks the ideal place to reach new customers.

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NetWorks is the exciting magazine you are holding in your hands, published by the British and Irish Trading Alliance (BITA)! This is the fourth issue of the magazine, and we are steadily gaining a wider readership, and covering more diverse topics. NetWorks is distributed through our contacts, online through email and social media, and print copies are posted to all our members and distributed at BITA events in all chapters – London, Liverpool, Dublin, Isle of Man, Scotland and Cork. We have previously featured adverts from J Coffey Construction, KMCO, Enterprise and many more who have found NetWorks the ideal place to reach new customers. NetWorks features articles written by Irish Times Journalist John Reynolds, and people who are experts in their fields. We have covered topics as diverse as nano-technology, crossrail and sport. Each edition has a general theme, and for issue 5 we will be thinking about opportunity. This issue will be published in September 2019. We always want to hear from members that can contribute to future editions, so if you would like to take a space for advertising or write an article, please get in touch with the sub-editor, Laura Watkins. Advertising space is available from as little as £350 and sponsorship of the magazine is £1,500.

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THE STATE OF

BITA

COMMUNITY

EXPANDING INTO THE USA OFFERS EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS

n October 2018, Paul Whitnell had a very busy 4 days. He caught a plane to New Orleans on Wednesday 17th and arrived on the 18th. He spoke at the annual Irish Network USA (IN-USA) conference Thursday night, and then flew back to the UK landing on Saturday – leaving him just enough time to get his tuxedo and get to the Savoy for our Gala Ball and Awards! No stranger to a heavy workload, this was a lot even for him, but he felt it important to work with IN-USA and to look to the future of BITA and the future of our members’ businesses. Irish Network USA is the national umbrella organization integrating the Irish Networks that exist in various cities across the United States. It allows members of the networks to connect with their peers and to develop relationships that will foster success in their business, economic, cultural and sports ventures. The mission of IN-USA is to bolster business opportunities and economic development between the United States and Ireland; to support and encourage Irish Arts and Culture through film, literature, theatre, dance and language; to encourage and promote the mission and expansion of Irish sports, throughout the United States; to support the efforts of local Irish organisations and associations; to serve as a conduit between newly arrived Irish immigrants and their communities in member cities and states. Their aims as an organisation are incredibly similar to those of BITA, and their values are the same as ours – passion, communication, delivery and integrity. As an organisation we are expanding. We get an average of 15 new members every month, and are opening chapters in Manchester, Isle of Man and Cork – 2019 is our year of growth. We are working closely with representatives of IN-USA – Joseph McGill, Imelda Gallagher and Dr. Nigel Alley,

with whom we are arranging a series of podcasts and involvement in exhibitions. Joseph McGill, a Principal at US based law firm Foley, Baron, Metzger & Juip, says; “As President of the Irish Network Michigan and Michigan Irish American Chamber of Commerce, I am excited to participate in the new BITA/Irish Network collaboration. Leveraging established networking groups in the USA, Ireland and England is going to be a game changer for all involved!” Although there is much business to be had in the UK and Ireland – the latter especially experiencing an astounding rate of development recently – we want to be forward looking. The USA is not known as the land of opportunity for nothing, and IN-USA incorporates networking organisation in 23 states and over 3000 members. Imelda Gallagher from Mobilitie says; “I am a member of IN Chicago and delighted that we have the opportunity to work together with BITA to promote the mission and values for mutual benefit.” The MOU that the BITA president signed in October signals our intention for expansion and cooperation with this organisation. We want to be able to offer our members the best opportunities to network and expand their businesses, across the Atlantic or otherwise. Members of BITA will be able to access events hosted by IN-USA as members, and INUSA members will be able to attend our events as well. Dr. Nigel Alley is the US Director of Sales at FLUTURA Decision Science & Analytics. He is an Irish expat having moved to Houston, Texas in 2008. Nigel is the current president of the Houston chapter of Irish Network USA and organizes regular networking events across the greater Houston area. He is also looking forward to growing the relationship between IN-USA and BITA and sees opportunities available for members of both organisations.

Joseph McGill

Imelda Gallagher

Dr. Nigel Alley

Any members that would like to get involved with IN-USA should contact Paul Whitnell (paulw@bita.ie) for information.

www.bita.ie

www.emico.co

COMMENT

NOTES FROM LIVERPOOL

Embracing change while staying true to our roots is enabling our great city to reach new heights

Sarah McCartney, Chairperson of the Liverpool chapter and Marketing Consultant at SLMC-Consulting

t’s hard not to talk about football in Liverpool, our city runs on it like fuel. We’re gridlocked before and after a game, everyone knows the score, and post-match analysis can be heard in pubs and restaurants for days after a match. Even those that aren’t football fans are affected by our local obsession. This is why we were so thrilled to announce our on-going relationship with Anfield as hosts for our networking lunches. This mighty

stadium welcomes us and our guests four times a year, and in the Chemistry Lounge we talk business, networking and community. Aside from football, there is a lot to love in Liverpool. We are a city looking to the future with one foot firmly in the past; we celebrate our achievements in music, culture and sport, but are fully aware that we need to plan ahead for our economy and businesses. We have a thriving service industry, and our tech industry has seen good growth since 2011. Of course, Liverpool is almost synonymous with regeneration. One of the main pillars of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’, the extensive urban development and regeneration is

changing the face of the city. Liverpool Waters is a £5bn investment that will completely transform the northern docks – regeneration of a 60-hectare site – creating a mixed-use space. Combined with Wirral Waters, this development will propel Liverpool into a new age, offering jobs, training, increased capacity for handling business and improved infrastructure. We like to see change in our City, changing demographics have meant new and exciting cultures, art and food have made their way here, and new business means better jobs and opportunities. We know that as much as our businesses are thriving, it will only get better!

Our next networking lunch is on the 28th June, and then again on the 8th November, both at Anfield Stadium. Contact laura@bita.ie to book your space today.

PRECISION

IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD

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BUSINESS

here is a real risk that periods of growth will overwhelm a company and result in a situation whereby the business is managing the directors as opposed to the other way around. Experiencing a period of rapid business growth can be a very exciting time as turnover is increasing and the company is making a name for itself in the industry. However, properly managing the risks associated with business growth and realising the full benefits are not simple tasks. A key tool in our service offering at Evans Mockler is to chair regular board meetings in order to review the performance of the business. We consider the short to medium term operational

and reallocate money where needed, the risk of cashflow problems will increase. The faster a business grows, the more important it is to plan future financial decisions. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stress enough how vital it is to set KPIs, forecast your upcoming cashflow commitments, profits and turnover, and stay organised. You need to develop good habits now and stay consistent with them as your business continues to grow. 2. Engage the right team The employees and subcontractors that you engage are invariably the people that influence the future success of your business. Skill set and culture fit are the most important aspects of hiring

MANAGING

BUSINESS GROWTH Martin Mockler, Partner at Evans Mockler Accountants, Auditors, Business and Tax Advisors, considers the steps you should take to manage business growth effectively

results of the business together with the long-term strategy for the company. The board meetings are held at varying intervals and focus on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) we have identified and agreed with the directors. We also review management accounts and information for the preceding period, together with forecasts and cash flows for the future. An important element of the review is comparing how the business performed against the budget for the period and investigating any related variances. We also carry out an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT test) related to the company and address each of these areas separately. Our experience has enabled us to identify 5 areas to target to help you keep pace with your fast-growing company: 1. Prepare a financial budget for the future It is easy to become complacent when your businesses profits are rising, but if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t adopt a new budget plan

and retaining great people. Your team should reflect the ultimate vision of your company and represent the values, beliefs, behaviours and experiences that make up your business work environment. The growth of your business will demand that you hire additional senior members of your team. One of the common issues we see is the business owners having to spread themselves too thinly as the business grows. It is vital you have an excellent senior management team underneath you as you cannot do everything. 3. Focus on your strengths As your business grows, you need to leverage areas of uniqueness and strength. It is essential to capitalise on the factors that make you stand out from your competitors and identify and focus on your target clients and their needs. Focusing on what you know you are good at heightens your sense of selfsatisfaction, which, in turn, increases performance and productivity, boosting the overall company morale.

There is a danger that as the company grows and diversifies into new areas the core business can be neglected, leading to unhappy clients and reputational damage, so be aware of this risk. 4. Fund your working capital Businesses need to maintain adequate levels of working capital to continue to grow. Growth can put high demands on cashflow due to funding the first few months of larger contracts. A working capital loan or invoice discounting facility can supply you with supplementary funding needed to accommodate new contracts, fund work in progress, update your plant and equipment, expand your office space and engage additional team members. Make sure you get the right loan option for you. 5. Keep reviewing and improving your business Regularly reviewing your standard operating procedures and your wider business model is important. The procedures that may have been successful when your business was smaller may not be as effective now. Having documented procedures for every aspect of your business is essential. This will allow your company to run smoothly and cope with additional turnover. It is also important to identify new goals and put deadlines in place to stay on track for further growth, including financing requirements when required. Maintaining your high level of quality and service together with overall client satisfaction becomes harder to do as your company grows quickly. However following these steps should enable you to manage the process with fewer growing pains. Please feel free to contact us if you would like a chat about our business advisory services particularly if your turnover is currently increasing www.evansmockler.co.uk

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OFFICE POLITICS Has the #MeToo Movement Changed Our Workplace?

n the 15th October 2017, Alyssa Milano – an American actress - tweeted “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet” with the intention to demonstrate the number of people impacted by sexual abuse. The next day, #MeToo had been retweeted more than 500,000 times on Twitter and over 12 million times on Facebook. A new phenomenon had begun. But what impact does this have on organisations in the UK? While the #MeToo Movement is infamously connected with the allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein, the movement revealed that sexual abuse is prevalent within every industry from academia to politics. In the wake of the movement, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) produced a report entitled ‘Turning Tables: Ending sexual harassment at work’. The report collected information from 1000 employees across the UK, covering a variety of industry sectors. Of the people surveyed, three-quarters had experienced sexual harassment at work. The report also highlighted the unwillingness in reporting. Around half of the respondents hadn’t reported their experience of harassment to anyone in their workplace. This unwillingness to report offensive, or potentially illegal behaviour, is attributed to a lack of appropriate procedure within the workplace, uncertainty over who to approach, and little confidence in complaints being taken seriously – this will only change when organisations confront the uncomfortable reality of sexual harassment within their own workplace cultures. To condemn outright harassment is easy, and necessary. But to untangle the multifaceted web of human interactions that make up an organisation, promoting inclusion and opportunity while also upholding fairness, is more complicated. In current society, there appears to be a complex duality of views when it comes to sexual assault and harassment

NETWORKS

allegations. When People Management, an HR publication, requested views and experiences from their readers, the split in opinion was clearly evident. One view, as expected, details unwanted sexual comments in the workplace. While the other mourns the end of “good banter and fun” at work, citing: “These days you are afraid to say anything… the whole thing has gone too far.” The movement has certainly inspired debate and left greater numbers of people feeling empowered to share their stories of harassment, however, the value of #MeToo will only be reflected in the progress organisations make in changing workplace behaviours for the better. But it’s a fine line between sensible advice and being over-zealous. Netflix recently made headlines after an onset runner described its new workplace behavioural policy. These much-mocked rules include a ban on employees making eye contact for more than five seconds, giving “lingering” hugs, and asking for a colleague’s phone number. Driving behavioural change means being prepared for a backlash. A Pew Research Center survey published last April revealed that 51% of respondents thought the spotlight on sexual harassment had made it harder for men to know how to interact with women at work. Another survey by Lean In, found the number of male managers who felt uncomfortable mentoring women had more than tripled to 16 per cent in the wake of #MeToo. Regardless of industry, employers need to seriously consider and assess any risks within their workplace and take actions to prevent sexual abuse. Failure to take preventative actions could leave employers vulnerable to legal claims. When victims do step forward, they need to be respected and protected from any backlash. Employers should ensure that all interactions with the perpetrator stop and the victim gets support to deal with any impacts. While most cases settle outside of court with the victim signing a non-disclosure agreement in return for monetary compensation, this

UNWANTED SEXUAL COMMENTS IN THE WORKPLACE OR JUST GOOD BANTER AND FUN; IT’S A FINE LINE BETWEEN BEING SENSIBLE AND BEING OVER-ZEALOUS.

approach may not be the most ethical as it leaves future employees vulnerable to the same risk. Instead, employers need to take responsibility for protecting employees from sexual harassment by supporting the victim through any legal procedures and dismissing the abuser if guilty. However, there does need to be a balance. While victims of harassment must be supported, it’s equally important that HR takes steps to ensure individuals accused of harassment are not simply tried in a ‘court of public

opinion’. The number of false harassment claims may be minimal, but the cost of an error – as Cliff Richard’s court victory against the BBC demonstrates – can be significant. And while a watershed moment is an important part of any process of sustained change, the measure of impact in a movement such as #MeToo rests heavily in the actions that are taken afterwards. The point is not just to make sure we have suitable policies in place, or to be sure we have the right statements about culture; the point is to make sure people

If any content within this article has raised concerns that you may have in your workplace, or with your current policies and procedures – please feel free to contact me at susan@pearsonconsultancygroup.co.uk

BUSINESS

coming to work are safe, protected, and can flourish. Since #MeToo, we have arguably witnessed a change as big as that which followed the introduction of new legislation to outlaw other forms of discrimination such as age, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation. Sexual misconduct in the workplace is undoubtedly one of the most challenging areas for HR teams at the moment, not least because the current environment is not what we have been used to. Allowing things to continue as they may have been previously is not going to work. It is important to absorb the lessons of the past and embrace the new culture in the future.

www.bita.ie

Susan Pearson

www.emico.co

WHAT BITA MEMBERSHIP

CAN DO FOR YOU

e are ‘the people who know people that help people’, a motto that encapsulates our ethos, and one that makes our organisation truly unique. BITA promotes and grows our member businesses; successfully increasing trade, creating opportunities for business, and improving the relationship between the UK and Ireland. We want to help our members achieve their goals and work to create pipelines and opportunities for SMEs to work with our supporters and patrons who often head large multinationals, offering the right providers of labour, contractors and supplies. We are a non-profit organisation run by head office which takes direction from our Executive and Non-Executive Directors, and Chapter board members. Our board members are made up from CEOs, business owners and key decision makers who offer their time, expertise and contacts to help fuel economic growth. Through their expertise, we can assist our members achieve the success they plan for their ventures. Our chapters are currently based in Dublin, London, Liverpool, Isle of Man and Scotland, and we work with IN-USA, offering strategic coverage for our members. In 2019 we will be opening chapters in Manchester and Cork, as well as strengthening our ties with the USA. Last, but by no means least, we are a friendly organisation made up with members that share our ethos. Attend a

BITA event and you will find a welcoming and interested group of people that want to get to know more about you and your business – with no hard selling. BITA membership is only £200 (+ VAT) a year, and our joint membership, which also gains you full member access to our collaborators Causeway Exchange, a membership organisation network in Scotland and Northern Ireland is £395 (+VAT). To gain exceptional exposure for your business, receive additional benefits and assist in BITA’s future success, we have sponsorship opportunities that start from £2,500. What’s Included in basic membership: Membership that covers all company employees Access to all other BITA chapters and events Your business profile on our website Direct access to key decision makers Exclusive ‘member only’ discounts Special offers provided by our member network Discounts on ticket prices for many BITA events

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PEOPLE WHO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HELP PEOPLE

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• Invitations to events run by BITA associates, often at discounted rates • Promotion of your business through exclusive sponsorship opportunities • Free access to educational workshops • Eligibility to enter the BITA awards, an • • •

award ceremony held at our annual Gala Ball Free posted copy and opportunity to publish or advertise in our magazine, NetWorks Free promotion of your events/products/ services on social media and other media channels, such as the Irish Post The BITA board working to get maximum exposure and create beneficial relationships for you and your business through sponsorship opportunities

With BITA, as with life, the more you put in, the more you get out! Members who regularly attend events and get involved will naturally make more connections and create better business opportunities. We’re a friendly bunch, so if you aren’t sure, contact lucy@bita.ie and ask about events nearby for you to attend and see if we are right for you!

Membership of BITA has benefited Laing O’Rourke by opening up new markets and giving us access to a bigger network of people. BITA is great for the construction industry and has been very useful to us. Declan McGeeney, Laing O’Rourke

HOW TO USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP We all know that the best and most loyal clients come from relationships that are developed over time, and that people do business with people. Getting yourself ‘out there’ is a sure-fire way of being able to begin forming these relationships, and we offer days that suit every taste and pocket. Promotion is another great way to use your membership – engage with us on social media, send us your good news so we can share it, and get in involved with this magazine. The articles don’t write themselves and we need advertising to keep printing, so get in touch and share your expertise with your community or promote your business for more recognition!

Enabling works bulk Excavation ground works rEinforcEd concrEtE structurEs tEmporary works prEcast concrEtE solutions mitchellson Mitchellson House , Stanwell Road , Horton, Slough, SL3 9PF Tel: 01753 684508 Fax: 01753 682130 formwork.enquiries@mitchellson.co.uk rail.enquiries@mitchellson.co.uk plant.enquiries@mitchellson.co.uk precast.enquiries@mitchellson.co.uk