Issue 1 Business Connected East London Spring Edition by Business Connected

East London Edition Issue/ 1February | Spring 2016 2016 Issue 11 January

Business Connected ches in n u la Face to Face st Linondon E oraHead the Cloud?

Juliet Price Managing Director of Park City discusses

Premier b2b magazine

Business Connected launch LinkedIn seminars in Ipswich PLUS...

Networking Events Directory of Business Business Events Features in your area

Suffolk Round-up Business news from Business around the County Networking

Suffolk Job Board The Counties top Local vacant positions Business News

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In this edition... Spring 2016

Premier Partner Scheme

Networking Feature

06-07: Find out more details on

17: Are you networking like a

the Business Connected Premier Partner Scheme and take a look at our current partners.

pro? We look at a number of top tips to help you make most of your networking.

LinkedIn Seminars

Business book Review

08-09: You won’t find many

22-23: We take a look at six

businesses that will disagree that LinkedIn used right can be a fantastic business tool. Book yourself on a seminar to get up to speed.

05: Editor’s Note

top business books, they say successful people read a book a week. Maybe one of these could be your next.

HR Update

The Business Coach

10: In this edition we look at the

26: Oscar Delano’s Dave Pye

effects of alcohol and drug use in

discusses non-executive directors

the workplace.

and does appointing one apply to

16: Networking Events

my business?

Beware the Taxman

H&S Update

14-15: Business Connected

28: Park City Consulting bring us

Premier Partners LB Group bring

the latest health and safety article

us their latest article “Beware the

titled “How to have That Difficult

Taxman”

Conversation”

18-19: East London Round-up

30: Top Tweets from last month

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Premier Partner to

Printers of this Magazine

9 Stepfield Witham Essex CM8 3BN T. 01376 500900 E. Sales@printwize.co.uk W. www.printwize.co.uk

Editor’s Note Welcome to the launch edition of Business Connected East London the sister publication

Get In Touch

of Business Connected Essex and Suffolk. Business Connected aims to provide our readers with a fantastic insight to local

Tel: 01702 513113

businesses, news and events. On the center pages you will find a guide to the great

Email: info@businessconnected.co.uk Or Visit: www.businessconnected.co.uk

business networking events that we run as Richard Pond MANAGING DIRECTOR

well as a whole host of other events locally. If you have an event that you would like to

shout about then give us a call and we will try and feature it in the next edition. In this publication you will also find articles relevant to business today including HR and health and safety in the work place advice, financial / tax updates,

networking tips and much more. We will always run our local news round feature and the latest news can be found at www.businessconnected.co.uk Thank you for taking the time to read our first Business Connected East London magazine and I look forward to interacting with our readers over the coming months.

About us

publication may be reproduced in whole

Business Connected as a brand brings together businesses across a variety of

or in part in any way without prior written

mediums from face to face networking, social media, printed media in the form

permission of Business Connected Ltd.

of this our countywide magazine, and much more. Business Connected is proud

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions.

to be operating the county’s premier b2b magazine, networking events and online portal that focus on the business community of East London. We bring local businesses together via the many platforms that we operate. Our magazine is distributed across the whole county in print and online. Our website, which receives over half a million hits a month is dedicated to up to date

Printed in the UK by Printwize www.printwize.co.uk

business news, a business directory and the number one place to find out what’s going on in East London. You may have heard about the Business Connected Premier Partner scheme which helps businesses be seen not just in print but also online and through our fantastic social media offering. Full details on our events can be found on page 11 including details of our latest venue Business Connected @ The Olympic Park and full details of our Premier Partners can be found on pages 6 & 7 for more info on all things Business Connected please log on to www.businessconnected.co.uk or give us a call on 01702 513113.

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Premier Partner Scheme Are you happy with your current level of business? How often do you promise yourself that you’ll invest more in social media and/ or run regular email and print campaigns, but simply don’t have the time or expertise to do it? Our fantastic marketing offer could be the answer!

Designed to support companies which need to introduce cohesive and co-ordinated marketing strategies or wish to enhance existing marketing strategies, we provide an effective, structured marketing solution at an affordable price.

• Exclusivity — We only work with one company of any type within the county. • Business Connected Magazine - A full page in every edition of our magazine. • Social Media - Yes, you may have a Twitter/LinkedIn/Facebook account but how about a helping hand? We can set up and run your account, interact as a ‘raving fan’ or simply come and give regular training to all your staff. • Email Campaigns - Need to get the message out to the masses? We have a number of options which we can tailor to suit the needs of your business. • Premier Partner Power Hour - Dedicated to Business Connected Premier Partners monthly with expert advice and referral platform. • Networking Events - Many people know Business Connected from our county-wide events and we want you to be part of them. Fancy being a speaker or displaying your branding at all our events • Website - Our Business Connected website gets thousands of visits a day. Being a Premier Partner gives you branding on our site. • Account Manager - Probably the most important feature of the Partnership scheme, our account managers are working around the clock to find leads for our partners, from the many networking events that we attend and run. Our staff are introducing and passing referrals on a monthly basis.

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WHAT’S INCLUDED Exclusivity Full page magazine advert Full artwork and design Two tickets to all networking events and guest tickets Branding at all events Early delegate list to plan your networking Introductions to networkers from Business Connected staff Events for Premier Partners only Members-only log-in to the Business Connected website Web banner on Business Connected website LinkedIn training course for all your staff, on or offsite Promotion of your brand across all of our Social Media Platforms Inclusion on our monthly email newsletter Account Manager to run your campaign and pass you leads

Premier Partners

Premier Partners + Social

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2 hour LinkedIn Seminar How to Increase Sales using LinkedIn! Would you like to win more business using LinkedIn or think you are not making the most of this powerful business tool? If the answer is yes to either of these then you need to come along to our LinkedIn seminar! Below you will ﬁnd upcoming dates of our seminars LinkedIn holds the largest professional network of businesses in the world! For just £39.00 and designed for total beginners through to everyday and advanced users on this seminar, Business Connected’s Managing Director, Richard Pond will show you: • Homepage, Timeline & Toolbars

• Relationship tab

• Profiles & Branding

• Inbox & Notifications

• Sharing an update & Publishing a post

• Company

• Downloading connections

• Groups

• Interacting with new connections

• Privacy settings

• Endorsements & Recommendations

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Upcoming Dates: Upcoming Seminars: Colchester—Tuesday 29th March 2016 Ipswich—Thursday 7th April 2016 Chelmsford—Friday 8th April 2016 Leigh-on-Sea—Tuesday 12th April 2016 Colchester—Friday 22nd April 2016 Stratford—Friday 29th April 2016 Chelmsford—Friday 6th May 2016 Ipswich—Tuesday10th May Leigh on Sea—Thursday 12th May Visit: www.businessconnected.co.uk/linkedin-seminar/ to book a place onto any of these fantastic seminars or give the Business Connected team a call on 01702 513113. “I would highly recommend Richard’s LinkedIn course. I learned exactly what I needed to and have a comprehensive manual now to refer to. The course has encouraged me to get LinkedIn and use it to its full potential.” – Lucy Cracknell, Consultant at Reward Health. “The LinkedIn training is well worth attending and Richard’s clear guidance in using LinkedIn to its full potential was a real eye opener and something I will gladly recommend.” – Anthony Payne, Business Development Manager at Monthind Clean.

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Alcohol and Drug Use in the Workplace The use of drugs or alcohol by employees in the workplace can be a serious issue for your business. Whilst for most people the social use of alcohol and drugs does not have a negative impact on their personal or work life, research has shown that many employers have experienced problems in the workplace due to staff being under the influence of drugs (both legal and illegal) or alcohol. Any person who uses substances at work, or comes to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol will have their performance impaired and can put themselves and their colleagues’ safety at risk. This is not just a problem for construction workers, drivers and machine operators; it can affect an employee doing any job in any industry. Dependency on drink and/or drugs can also lead to mental health problems and increased absence from work. Research by DrugScope and Alcohol Concern revealed that 27% of employers say drug misuse is a problem at work and 60% have experienced problems due to staff drinking alcohol. What is your legal responsibility? You have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of your employees. You also have a duty under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, to assess the risks to the health and safety of your employees. If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence of alcohol or drug misuse to continue working and his or her behaviour places the employee or others at risk, you could be prosecuted. Your employees are also required to take reasonable care of themselves and others who could be affected by what they do at work. The Transport and Works Act 1992 makes it a criminal offence for certain workers to be unfit through drugs and/or drink while working on railways, tramways and other guided transport systems. The operators of the transport system would also be guilty of an offence unless they had shown all due diligence in trying to prevent such an offence being committed. The Road Traffic Act 1988 states that any person who, when driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, is unfit to drive through drink or drugs shall be guilty of an offence. What should you do? It is important that you put in place a “Drug and Alcohol” policy in consultation with staff. The policy should form part of your overall Health & Safety policy and should: • Aim to protect and support those staff that are affected by alcohol and substance misuse and guarantee confidentiality.

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• Make it clear whether the use of drugs will be considered a criminal matter and at what times, if any, drinking alcohol on work premises is allowed. • Treat alcohol and drug misuse as a health, rather than disciplinary matter in the first instance. • Outline the situation regarding absence for treatment and rehabilitation. • Be clear and concise and leave no room for misunderstanding. Some employers, particularly those in safety-sensitive industries, are choosing to adopt alcohol and drug screening as part of both the recruitment process and as a routine part of the job. If you decide to do go down the screening you should make it clear in your Drug and Alcohol policy and check where you stand legally before going ahead with it. Workplace Culture Looking at the wider culture of your organisation may pinpoint areas that lead to drug and alcohol misuse at work. Socialising after work is often encouraged by employers, but where this revolves exclusively around alcohol it can lead to a culture or heavy drinking. Even alcohol drunk or drugs taken the previous evening can affect performance the following day if consumed in excess. Many people use alcohol or drugs to help deal with work related stress and employers should look at the general work environment to see if they can eliminate particular areas of stress if they are experiencing recurring issues of drink and drug misuse at work. Although it is an individual’s decision to control what they consume, their health and safety at work and that of their colleagues is ultimately the responsibility of their employer. Having a clear understanding of the affects of alcohol and drugs in the workplace and how to deal with related misuse issues is as important as any other part of your Health & Safety policy.

Navigating your business through the HR landscape

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Beware the Taxman! Millions of personal Tax Returns are filed with HMRC every year and for the most part HMRC take no further action and these are processed without the need for change. But what happens when HMRC want to check into your Tax Return? What steps do HMRC do to check the figures you have shown? An enquiry by HM Revenue & Customs into your tax affairs can be concerning. Here are some of the key points of the process if you are not used to dealing with them, but being prepared and aware of the process helps.

Recently, HMRC have been concentrating on undeclared rental income with their let property campaign, which gives landlords the opportunity to make a voluntary disclosure. Penalties are always less severe if the taxpayer comes forward first, so if you think you may have undisclosed income you should consider making the first move and seek good professional advice. If you need any advice please contact LB Group on 0208 221 8282 or email charlotte.mottram@lbgroupltd.com. Please note the above does not constitute financial advice and LB Group cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

What triggers an enquiry? HMRC receive information from many sources which enable them to check taxpayer’s records and tax returns for any undeclared income or gains. Most commonly the information provided is one of the following: • Interest figures from banks and building societies (and PPI reclaims). • Pay and benefits from employments. • Property purchase and sale details from Land Registry. • Information shared by tax authorities across Europe.

If the information HMRC holds differs to that on the return, they will open checks into taxpayer’s records, going back up to a maximum of six tax years (assuming there is no fraud involved). This normally needs to be done by HMRC within 12 months of the tax return being submitted. They will give details of the information they believe to be incorrect and the individual can either agree HMRC’s figures, or provide evidence to show that they are correct. Of course, depending on the topic of the enquiry, coming to an agreement may take time and negotiation (and cost). Once the figures have been agreed, and if there is additional tax to pay, it will be time to make a settlement. HMRC will ask how the error occurred to establish whether a penalty will be appropriate. The maximum penalty for a careless inaccuracy is 30% of the tax underpaid, but this can be reduced to 15% for good cooperation. If HMRC rule that the inaccuracy was deliberate then the maximum penalty is 70%, or even up to 100% if there was concealment. Careful negotiation can minimise penalties and HMRC may also suspend penalties if the individual takes steps to ensure that the error does not happen again.

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By Mark Middleton, Director at LB Group, a Top 75 firm of Chartered Accountants, Chartered Tax Advisers and Business Advisers.

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Networking Events Our Events Business Connected operates premium b2b networking events across the South East. We have a different event every week

The format at every event is as follows:

across a variety of quality venues. At each meeting we typically

7:30am open networking

attract between 70 and 100 delegates. Our current venues are

8:15am breakfast

below. There is no membership required just come along when

9:00am Speakers, and prize draws

you can.

9:15am Open networking

At all events we follow the same proven formula, we send delegate lists out in advance, have plenty of time to network, listen to one or two short but informative talks and have a great breakfast. We always make sure there is a real focus on networking. We have some great videos of our events and have a dedicated YouTube channel. So just search for Business Connected and have a look for yourself. All of our venues offer free parking and excellent networking facilities. We also have dedicated LinkedIn groups for each venue, which is just for delegates who have attended each group. This allows you to network before the event with the delegate list, on the day at the meeting and afterwards on LinkedIn. For more information or to book on to one of our events please have a look at www.businessconnected.co.uk/businessnetworking/ or give us a call today on 01702 513113.

Our Current Venues Business Connected

Business Connected

@Essex Cricket Club

@Southend Airport

@Ipswich Town FC

@Colchester United

@The Olympic Park

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Many business see networking as an integral part of their sales approach and here at Business Connected we agree. But which events do you choose? There are free events, monthly events, evening events and more. There is no secret formula but below are a few tips to make sure you get the best from your time networking: 1. Have a strategy. Whatever you do in business it’s always best to have a strategy and this certainly applies to business networking, hopefully if you follow the points below it will help you identify the best strategy for you. 2. Be organised. You wouldn’t turn up to a business meeting without researching the company and the same applies to networking, try to obtain a delegate list in advance, see who is there and if possible engage on social media in advance letting people know you will be joining the group. Bring plenty of business cards and check if the group supplies name badges if not bring one with you. Most networking groups supply lanyards or badges which can hold your business card. If you attend a number of regular groups it is worth investing in a name badge that has your name and company in large letters. The bigger your name the more chance your fellow networkers will remember your name. 3. Dress for the occasion and smile. Most networking events don’t have a dress code but it is always worth checking first. We suggest being comfortable if you wear a suit everyday wear a suit, if you don’t wear a tie to the office don’t feel you have to wear one to network. Some studies have shown that people with an open collar can come across as more open but we think that is a personal choice. The most important thing is to bring your smile. Your fellow networkers want to engage with happy people, generally networking events have a positive vibe and that comes from the people that are there. 4. Get there early and work that room. Turning up late to a networking event especially if you are new to the group makes it harder to join conversation. What impression does it make if you can’t get to a meeting in tine to potential win new clients? If you are early people will naturally gravitate to you and you will become the focus point.

“

“ Are you Networking Like a Pro?

5. Build a relationship. Relationship building in business is key, I am sure you have seen people at networking events running around handing out business cards like it is their last day on Earth. This does not work, we behave that patience is king when it comes to meeting people at events. This doesn’t have to be the same event, many businesses network at a variety of networking groups. Would you buy or swap your suppliers if you didn’t know anything about them or had just met them? No I didn’t think so, so why would they? Listen to them, find out about their business and see what areas you can add value to their business. 6. Share your passion. Win people over with your enthusiasm for you product or service. Leave a lasting impression by telling a story about why you were inspired to create your company. Talking about what you enjoy is often contagious, too. When you get other people to share their passion, it creates a memorable two-way conversation. 7. Follow up, follow up, follow up. It is so important to follow up and to follow up and to follow up quickly. Most businesses and business individuals have a LinkedIn account or at least an email address. Collect your cards, write notes on the back and when you get back to the office send them an email or social media message like: “great to meet you today I found it interesting what you were saying on such and such” not “here is my price list please place an order” if you don’t follow up and have not forged a business relationship yet the chances are when you see them again they are going to be less inclined to discuss that all important business matter you want to put in front of them. 8. Try out a variety of events. As mentioned there are many different networking groups find the one that works for you and stick to it, networking takes time but can be very rewarding if done properly. Remember networking these days comes in form of online and offline LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google + etc are key to you becoming a successful business networker. If you would like to know more about networking in Essex please give us a call on 01702 513113.

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17 38

East London Round up Boris says, “go fund yourselves” London’s Mayor Boris Johnson is doing his best to plug the gap left by government cuts in local authority funding – by inviting service users to pay for their services direct. He has found £730,000 which he will use to top up people’s voluntary contributions, but the main funding will have to come from “crowd funding” sources – or “pay for it yourself”. Under the pre-2010 arrangements, the national system of taxation ensured that money was raised according to wealth and income. It was then spent on priorities set by elected representatives. If you didn’t like what your representatives did, you could change them. You would have to wait until the next election came along, but you could make a change. If they were spending money on the local park but you wanted more money spent on the local library, you knew whom to lobby. The new system relies upon communities, which want to benefit from a service finding other ordinary people who will donate some money to them. Such donations are more likely to come from the poorest in society, as they are the most keen to see the services continue (or start): this is where the concept of “pay for it yourself” comes in. The other side to the new system is the local people lose control. Your elected representatives don’t have control over what is funded – that’s down to what “the crowd” wants to pay in to. “The crowd” is never up for election and you can’t even find them for a chat about whether the park or the library is the most deserving cause. You have until 1st May to get your idea on to the London Mayor’s Space hive page and get the “crowd funding” going. The London Mayor will then give up to £20,000 to the ideas, which generate the most enthusiasm. “Generate the most enthusiasm” is not, of course, the same as “are most popular”. Better off communities are best placed to have the resources to generate enthusiasm. Services such as better childcare and more support for elderly carers may be more popular or even more needed – but the people who depend upon these services are not the ones with the time to go out fundraising.

Lutfur Rahman: is it time for a fair hearing? On 23rd April – St George’s Day – last year, the first directly-elected Muslim mayor, Lutfur Rahman, a man who had won two boroughwide elections in Tower Hamlets, was dismissed from office at the stroke of a pen from a single barrister sitting in the remote High Court. The charges were grave. The Judgement was worse. Richard Mawrey QC, sitting as an Election Commissioner, said that Lutfur Rahman had ‘driven a coach and horses through election law’ – bribing, intimidating and fixing his way to power. To the press and most watching, the case was simple and clear cut. A crook had been brought down. It was so simple that no-one looked into the case too deeply. The heroes of the case – the four who had taken legal action against Rahman – were assumed to be well-meaning local voters. No one stopped to question how these four disparate voters, who cannot have been known to each other before the election, came together so quickly and developed such a strong mutual trust that they were prepared to risk their very livelihoods taking legal action together. No one asked how these four individuals – a man wanted for alleged tax dodging overseas, a UKIP branch secretary with the usual colourful and direct UKIP views, a devout Labour candidate who had not been elected, and a man who had set up his own party to stand for and won a handful of votes – managed, on their own, to investigate and structure a case which examined in detail every aspect of Lutfur Rahman’s Administration and his personal and political practices. No one questioned why the Leader of the Tory Group, Cllr Peter Golds, sat in the public benches throughout the trial and seemed on such good terms with the petitoners’ legal team that he was passing notes to them during the court sessions themselves.

To find the sources to all of these and many more news stories please visit www.businessconnected.co.uk Business news stories are updated every day.

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Hilton’s Canopy Hotel approved for £76m development in Aldgate, East London Hilton Worldwide, which has 35 hotels across the capital, has unveiled plans to launch a £76 million hotel development in East London. The company has partnered with 4C Hotel Group, the site owners, to open Canopy by Hilton, its lifestyle brand, by Aldgate station in 2018. The launch will follow the opening of Canopy by Hilton in Reykjavik, Iceland, this summer. Whitechapel has been transformed by redevelopment in recent years, with the Crossrail train line set to open in 2018. The new development will feature a residential and an office building alongside the hotel, as well as a public garden and a new city square Canopy by Hilton. Prices for a stay are yet unknown but the interior design of Canopy by Hilton London City will draw on the legacy of the Whitechapel Gallery and the melting pot of cultures in the surrounding area, according to the developer. “Aldgate was chosen for its proximity to both the stylish City of London and the more edgy and energetic East End,” said Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. Whitechapel has been transformed by redevelopment in recent years, with the Crossrail train line set to open in 2018. Homes within a 10 minutes’ walk of Whitechapel station could be 26 per cent more valuable than they are today by 2018, according to a research by Knight Frank, which has calculated the expected price increases for properties within a short distance of new cross rail stations.

Council ponders move from £110m building after just three years After spending more than £110m on a new home, the occupants would perhaps be expected to stay there for a considerable time. Yet three years after the second most deprived borough in Britain did just that, Newham council in London is considering moving out of the building it lavished taxpayers money on - designer light fittings alone cost £1,800 each - and back to its old office. One former councillor called the situation “a total fiasco” as the council prepares to return to East Ham after vacating the area for their swanky dockside ‘Building 1000’, bought for £92m with a further £18.7m spent on refurbishment. That move, spearheaded by Newham’s £81,000-a-year mayor Sir Robin Wales, was completed in 2010. A serving councillor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC: “We can’t sell the old buildings - we have got empty premises we can’t sell. So we are paying for buildings but not using them. If someone wanted to move into all of Building 1000 and paid the going rate we would consider going back. Meetings are going on but they are at the officer stage - they are looking into it.” Local government minister Brandon Lewis said: “It’s an amazing thing - spending £111m on a building that was argued by Newham to be saving money and yet they are sitting on empty buildings elsewhere. When you spend that sort of money just on light fittings and £111m on a building, residents looking for good quality services and low council tax will rightly be asking difficult questions of the council.” It is not the first financial fiasco that Newham council has been embroiled in. The borough’s London Pleasure Gardens closed last summer five weeks after it opened at a cost of more than £4m.

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payment facility the business can sell their Spare Capacity to other businesses within the BBX community in exchange for BBX pounds. Accounting for this in a business is simple as one BBX pound is accounted for in the same way as one pound sterling and can be used in any of the 12 countries that the BBX community is established. Carole at Contempo PR has found utilising the BBX facility very simple: “Once I established I could handle another customer I contact my local account manager at BBX who promotes me within the community and sends me an additional client. By using BBX to sell our Spare Capacity we have seen an increase in sales, saved on costs, and improved our bottom line profitability. We spend our BBX pounds on such things as printing, design, roller banners,

business cards, accounting services, business advice, restaurant meals and hotel stays to name but a few! But also as business owners, we can use our BBX pounds on personal purchases too, which adds value to the income from our business. With such a large and varied database of clients using this service, it is a fantastic way to save on your cash flow and at the same time afford the extras within your business. There is such a wide variety of businesses now using BBX within the UK.”

To find out how your business can be involved in creating efficiency go to www.bbxuk.com or call 0333 400 2014.

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Business Book review Title: Awaken the Giant Within Author: Anthony Robbins First Published: 1990 Wake up and take control of your life! From the bestselling author of Inner Strength, Unlimited Power, and MONEY Master the Game, Anthony Robbins, a world leader in the science of peak performance, shows you his most effective strategies and techniques for mastering your emotions, your body, your relationships, your finances, and your life. Anthony has changed the lives of millions across the world with his seminars and workshops. The acknowledged expert in the psychology of change, Anthony Robbins provides a step-by-step program teaching the fundamental lessons of self-mastery that will enable you to discover your true purpose, take control of your life, and harness the forces that shape your destiny.

Title: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Author: Stephen R. Covey First Published: 1989 Stephen R. Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has been a top-seller for the simple reason that it ignores trends and pop psychology for proven principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity. Celebrating its fifteenth year of helping people solve personal and professional problems, this special anniversary edition includes a new foreword and afterword written by Covey exploring the question of whether the 7 Habits are still relevant and answering some of the most common questions he has received over the past 15 years. Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity - principles that give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.

Title: The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America Author: Warren Buffett First Published: 1998 The definitive work concerning Warren Buffett and intelligent investment philosophy, this is a collection of Buffett’s letters to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway written over the past few decades that together furnish an enormously valuable informal education. The letters distill in plain words all the basic principles of sound business practices. They are arranged and introduced by a leading apostle of the “value” school and noted author, Lawrence Cunningham. Here in one place are the priceless pearls of business and investment wisdom, woven into a delightful narrative on the major topics concerning both managers and investors. These timeless lessons are ever-more important in the current environment.

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Title: The Five Temptations of a CEO Author: Patrick Lencioni First Published: 1998 When published over a decade ago The Five Temptations of a CEO was like no other business book that came before. Highly sought–after management consultant Patrick Lencioni deftly told the tale of a young CEO who, facing his first annual board review, knows he is failing, but doesn’t know why. Refreshingly original and utterly compelling, this razor–sharp novelette plus self–assessment (written to be read in one sitting) serves as a timeless and potent reminder that success as a leader can come down to practicing a few simple behaviours that are painfully difficult for each of us to master. Any executive can learn how to recognize the mistakes that leaders can make and how to avoid them.

Title: The Lean Startup Author: Eric Ries First Published: 2011 Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one man band to a multi national organisation. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business. The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. Inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on “validated learning,” rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers really want. It enables a company to shift directions with agility, altering plans inch by inch, minute by minute.

Title: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There Author: Marshall Goldsmith First Published: 2007 America’s most sought-after executive coach shows how to climb the last few rungs of the ladder. The corporate world is filled with executives, men and women who have worked hard for years to reach the upper levels of management. They’re intelligent, skilled, and even charismatic. But only a handful of them will ever reach the pinnacle--and as executive coach Marshall Goldsmith shows in this book, subtle nuances make all the difference. These are small “transactional flaws” performed by one person against another (as simple as not saying thank you enough), which lead to negative perceptions that can hold any executive back. Using Goldsmith’s straightforward, jargon-free advice, it’s amazingly easy behaviour to change. Executives who hire Goldsmith for one-on-one coaching pay $250,000 for the privilege. With this book, his help is available for 1/10,000th of the price.

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Social Media In today’s world, it isn’t enough just to have a website

purchase products and services, and people will take

for your business – your business now extends to social

the time to research online before making a purchase.

media marketing, like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

You need to have a social media presence that is

If your company still doesn’t have social media, now

engaging and helps reassure clients that your business

is the time to act and act fast. Customers more than

is reputable and can be trusted.

ever now are in tune with from whom and where they

We offer full social media management, which starts with a social media strategy. This creates the blueprint to deliver the service your brand deserves. Our services include: 11

Full social media strategy

All posts, mentions and interactions

Construction and design of your profiles

Guaranteed social growth

Professionally crafted posts

Full analytic reports

Research of your products, services and target market

Monthly strategy meetings with your Account Manager

WHAT’S INCLUDED

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Set up and brand new accounts Three posts per week Four posts per day Interact with hashtag hours on Twitter Reply to all interactions Grow followers by a minimum of 150 per month Set up and agree plan to increase following Run competitions if required Detailed blueprint of strategy Account Manager to look after your account Monthly detailed analytics

www.businessconnected.co.uk PRICE

www.businessconnected.co.uk

£200 p/m

Is your company’s social media in the right hands? Social media done right is a major asset to your business. Social media done wrong can be a major waste of time. Having used social media in business for over a decade, we see it as an integral part of our sales and marketing plan but only if done in the right way.

Answer these 10 questions to see if you’re on the right track:

1 2 3

Why? – It’s a really simple question but probably the most important. If you are only using social media because you

“think you should” then you need to rethink. Really look in to

asked all the time. Establish a policy early and make sure all

positioning in your market then your potential followers and

staff follow and sign up to these policies, it will save a lot of

connections won’t. This a very common mistake in business

we encounter is that sometimes social media is forced on an individual or individuals within an organisation who are

headaches in the future.

marketing campaign without a plan so why would you ignore one for a social media campaign?

don’t, this could be a big disadvantage from the start. Most

or want to outsource parts of your social media. In your

your budget from the start you won’t have any nasty shocks

Facebook than on LinkedIn. An insolvency practitioner who

marketing, this includes social media. You may need training

YouTube you may need a professional to help. If you know

who mainly sells b2c is going to have a far better return on

Have we got the right skill set? – If you haven’t or your staff

What is our budget? – A budget is critical in all forms of

Twitter ads. If it’s video content you are promoting through

4 then this should have been answered. A hairdresser

much more success on LinkedIn rather than Facebook.

point. Influencers are very important especially when starting

plan you may have decided to use Facebook, LinkedIn or

What platform? – If you have a good strategy as per question

is looking for referrals from accountants is going to have

influencers within your industry you have a good starting

influencer but one step at a time.

won’t engage well with your connections and followers. Do we have a strategy? – You wouldn’t set a sales and

Who are the influencers? – If you know who are the major

out on a social media journey. Eventually you want to be the

the wrong person or persons for the job. Unengaged people

Who owns the rights to individual’s LinkedIn profiles. Are the company? These are just two of the questions we get

What do we do? – If you are not 100% clear of your

Whose responsibility is it? – Another common problem

of your company it’s essential to have a social media policy. the comments and posts the opinions of the individuals or

the reasons why you should before you invest any more time.

and one that gets magnified on social media.

Do we have a social media policy? – Whatever the size

on the way.

How are we going to execute our plan? – There are many tools you can use to help execute your plan. This should

have been covered when creating a strategy but don’t worry

business owners have to wear a few hats when running a

it’s not too late. Hootsuite, Tweet Deck, Klout and many more

small business. Get yourself on a course before you start.

can help you.

So you have answered the questions above, now you’re ready to get cracking. Don’t forget in your plan to make sure you have a way of measuring ROI, some people say you can’t measure return on investment on social media. These people simply just don’t know how to measure it. 85% of British businesses wouldn’t be using social media for business if there wasn’t a return but it’s your job to measure. Make sure you engage, it’s called social media so be social! Don’t just post sales messages - remember you are looking to build yourself up as an influencer. If you’re struggling with answering any of the above questions then please do get in contact as we can help. You may just need a few hours training or have decided that you simply don’t have time to give your campaigns the time and respect that’s needed. Business Connected offers a full social media management programme starting at just £25 per week. We also have a great team that can come to you for some bespoke training. Give us a call today on 01702 513113 or have a look at our social media page on our website www.businessconnected.co.uk.

At the end of last year in my first article for Business Connected, I offered some considered advice concerning the value to business leaders as individuals in appointing a business coach to help their Dave Pye businesses grow. You may recall that in the sporting world we looked at how appointing a coach had transformed the success of a number of famous sports people including Rory McIlroy, Greg Rutherford and Jessica Ennis-Hill. My conclusion was very much, ‘if it is good for them, it is good for you’. People reading this magazine are true business leaders across this fine county of Essex and, in many cases, across the UK. I want the very best for all of our business leaders and future entrepreneurs and having a navigator along the way is a vital element to both individual and corporate success.

business coach will hold the CEO or business leader accountable. The NED will focus on the Board.

“

Non-Executive Directors: Does “Appointing One Apply to My Business?

2. He or she will ensure that the financial information is accurate and that financial controls are robust and defensible. They will often approve business plans and annual budgets. 3. An NED will participate in the analysis of the performance of the business. He or she will provide a ‘third eye’ for Shareholders, family members, fellow Board members, investors or owners. An NED will want to ensure the business is operating as effectively, efficiently and economically as possible. 4. The NED will ensure the business and the Board operates in line with accepted good practice in terms of Corporate Governance. This applies whether your business is less than 5 people or has 200 employees.

Sometimes though, if you are like me, do you look at a few of the ‘famous’ business magazines, articles, downloads and newspaper columns and think, ‘yes, that all makes sense, but I am running a niche business with less than 20 people’. Or, ‘well, that’s fine for a world leading tech company, but it doesn’t really apply to my business’?

When I set up Oscar Delano our focus was very much on providing both NED advisory services and also Executive Business Coaching. Six months into our success we have sharpened our focus. From 2016 Oscar Delano will focus on NED advisory services for the Essex business community in addition to a specialist focus on recruitment and tech firms as that is my business background.

My focus this week is on one example where, as business leaders, you may feel you have a question and be grateful for some clarity.

We would love to chat to you if this article has sparked any thoughts about how to make your business more robust, more professional and more like a ‘big and proper’ business. If you are thinking of an event to come in your business you may recall that last month we looked at how to prepare your business for sale. If you are seriously considering growing your business and want to consider an NED please give one of us a call.

‘Should my business have a Non-Executive Director (NED)?’ ‘Am I not too small for such an investment?’ Any one of us running a successful business knows the world in which we operate is becoming more challenging and more unpredictable. Of course, that is not necessarily a bad thing! Often running our business is enormous fun and we rise to face the challenges because that’s why we set up in the first place. We may even have a coach or navigator to help challenge us as individuals as we focus on getting the best out of our respective businesses. However, what about the business itself? Have you ever considered appointing someone from outside to help with the pressures which emerge around every corner? If you have a Board (or even just a few people who meet regularly to discuss the operations of the business), who sits on it to challenge your thinking with a completely outside perspective? Your role as a business leader is to lead your people and your Board through the challenges your organisation faces. Would it not help if you could spend maybe a few hours a month with someone who will support the business?

The other service which Oscar Delano and its Associates provided was Executive Business Coaching. Our exciting news for 2016 is that from this month, we have grown and launched a new company, NextGear which is featured elsewhere in this magazine. NextGear focuses on business evolution. It provides people and products in the gap that exists between the franchised business coaching firms and the expertise provided by independent advisors. We are in for an exciting year ahead. We hope that your business continues to challenge you in the months ahead and that you will never think that you are alone from a corporate business point of view or as an individual leader. Have a terrific month or so ahead. No Queen or Adele in this article I’m afraid, but the show goes on for us at Oscar Delano as we cement our place in the world of NED guidance and advice. Rumour has it that 2016 will be a great year for business in Essex. Let’s make it count.

That is one of the key reasons for having an NED working with you. Your business is under more scrutiny than ever. Key aspects of risk, governance, policies, changing customer behaviour – these are just some of the day to day challenges our businesses face whether we run a multi-site 100+ person organisation or a more local, specialist provider to our Essex community. Businesses need good NEDs to work with them.

Oscar Delano & Associates

So, what does a good NED look like?

Tel: 01245 407465

1. An NED is independent. They will offer an external view of the operation and will advise on strategy and implementation. They will also hold the Board accountable for what they are doing. An aligned

Email: dave@oscardelano.com

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Business Enterprise & Innovation Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1SQ

Mob: 07855 444636 Web: www.oscardelano.com

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How to Have That Difficult Conversation Despite the UK economy enjoying a more buoyant economy over the last few years as we have clawed our way out of a global recession, it is the harsh reality of everyday business life that there are still times when we require a significant tightening of the purse strings and have to resort to making staff members redundant. Market fluctuations, closing a factory or simply advances in technology can all lead to a need to reduce the size of the workforce. It is likely that most companies will have had to face the task of having that difficult conversation with its employees at some point in its recent history, and just as likely that they will have to again at some point in the future. In just the last 12 months alone, over 950,000 people have been made redundant in the UK. From an employer’s position there is no doubt that making those tough decisions can keep you awake at night. And whilst it’s a business decision that comes from the top of the organisation, it is more often than not up to the HR department to direct the process and deliver the bad news. At such a devastating time for employees, employers need to ensure they are managing the consultation process to minimise the risks to their business as well as ensuring that employees are treated fairly. Is it a genuine redundancy? A redundancy is a dismissal and, like any other dismissal, it can be fair or unfair. For a redundancy dismissal to be fair there has to be a genuine redundancy situation and a fair procedure has to be followed. A genuine redundancy occurs when the job an individual was recruited to do no longer exists, or an employer intends to cease work in a particular location or there is a need to reduce the headcount. The specific circumstances of the situation dictate which specific procedure has to be followed. For fewer than 20 employees, the obligation is to consult with the employees individually. Where 20 or more employees are to be affected within a 90 day period, a collective consultation must take place, with an elected employee representative. The length of the consultation process depends on the expected number of redundancies. Failure to undertake the correct consultation process and to notify the Secretary of State can lead to criminal prosecution. Indeed a number of directors have been in the headlines in recent years for breaches of these requirements. Getting it right Once you’ve got the legal responsibilities sorted, it’s then time to look at the more “touchy feely” aspects of dealing with redundancy. What is the best way to go about it without destroying your employee’s confidence and at the same time trying to minimise the impact on your company’s brand? It of course depends on the individual circumstances of the employer and employee, but a few simple guidelines can set you off on the right foot.

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Do • Ensure that you follow the correct redundancy procedure and be consistent in your approach. • Communicate well with your employees – not just to let them know the formal arrangements of the process, but to reduce anxieties and reduce the negative impact on the business. • Consider your selection criteria very carefully, ideally with data/ statistics to back up your decision. Using objective, and not subjective, criteria to stand up to scrutiny in a tribunal should it come to it. • Offer opportunities (where they exist) to retrain into another area of the business. It may not be the solution for everyone, but it comes across as a sign of good will. • Offer outplacement support to those who are on the move. An external provider can offer practical support and career guidance to help the transition go more smoothly. Don’t • Use redundancy as an excuse just for getting rid of an employee you are not fond of. It is the job role that is to be made redundant, not an individual. • Rush into the redundancy process without considering other options such as retraining or changing working patterns. • Treat your people as disposable assets – it may leave a sour taste in their mouth. • Be in a hurry to save money and make people redundant before completing the full consultation process – it could cost you more in the long run. Although some redundant employees will inevitably challenge your decision, feeling they have nothing to lose, dealing with your staff honestly and professionally does a lot for good will. Commit to giving them a good reference, help them find potential new positions, give them time for working on their CVs, job searching and interviews if they are still in your employment and put in a good word for them here and there if you can. Redundancy can be a long and difficult process for employers, but at Park City we can take the burden away from you. From the start of the consultation process, right through to outplacement services we are experts at handling such situations in a professional, yet sensitive way, helping your business to protect its employer brand at such a crucial time.

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My name is Karen Gee and my passion is people development. I offer a wide range of coaching, workshops and presentations which are all specially designed to motivate and inspire you and your team, guaranteed to give your business a boost. During my working career, I have spent 34 years working in a range of businesses and sectors. With that wealth of personal experience, I have learnt exactly what works and what doesn’t, and I would love to share that knowledge with you. I have successfully managed various sized teams, consistently meeting challenging objectives, across income, customer service, risk and people management. I am a qualified MBTI practitioner and a “Coaching for Business” coach. The skills I learnt during my qualification enable me to generate and develop MBTI profiles for clients, both team wide and on an individual basis. I create bespoke learning solutions for companies and individuals. I also have some off the shelf workshops I deliver, which you can learn more about on my workshops page: Motivational speaking is one of my passions and I can tailor content to meet the needs of your organisation, and get across the message that you want to send out.

For more information please check my website www.geedevelopment.co.uk. To arrange your free consultation email me on karen@geedevelopment.co.uk or give me a call on 07941618193

SmartPA are the leading experts within the PA, Secretarial and Administrative sector. My name is Jo Trent and as a SmartPA Partner I offer a calm and professional service, built on a foundation of trust, integrity and loyalty - my core values. My strong background in operational and support roles, particularly in the areas of IT purchasing & supplier management, has been gained over the past 18 years working in the City of London. This experience means I have a commercial focus, with close attention to detail, ensuring I can add value and efficiency to your business, whilst helping to reduce costs on your bottom-line. I get immense satisfaction from helping people and love the variety in the work I undertake for my SmartPA clients. Through industry expertise and experience, SmartPA provide the very best in Outsourced Services, Training and Technology to businesses around the world. Established in 2007, we offer cost-effective, flexible support to businesses of all sizes – from start-ups and SMEs to global corporations and International Governments. SmartPA guarantee to improve productivity and efficiency within your back office function, whilst reducing overall costs.

For more information please check our website www.smart-pa.com, call me on 07969 854760 or email jo.trent@smartpasupport.com www.businessconnected.co.uk