Essex Edition Issue 16 October / November �2015
The Corporate Covenant A two way relationship between Employers and Defence
PLUS...
Networking Events Directory of Business Events in your area Business Features � Essex’s Articles from finest businesses Essex Round-up Business news from around the County Premier Partners The Business Connected Partnership Scheme
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In this edition...
October/November 2015
Lead Feature
Top Tips
08-09: Read how The Corporate
26-27: Top Tips to help make
two-way relationship between
Law in association with Redwood
Employers and Defence.
Clarke.
Covenant is designed to build a
sure you get paid. Written by TM
6-7: Premier Partner Scheme
HR Update
Oscar Delano
10: Fiona Cowie poses the
28: Premier Partner Dave Pye
question: “How much will Pension Auto Enrolment Cost your business?”
explains why All CEOs Deserve Their Own Executive Coach.
CBHC launches Business Hub
Work Experience Health & Safety
14-15: CBHC launch
30: Juliet Price of Park City talks
local businesses maximise their
taking on Work Experience
profitability and growth.
Students.
Gender Equality Feature
Telecoms Update
18-19: Lynn Walters, director
38: Premier Partner Shahram
Entrepreneurs’ Academy to help
at Pure Resourcing Solutions,
about Health and Safety when
Bagherzadeh discusses five
discusses achieving gender
important considerations when
diversity in businesses of all sizes.
moving to VoIP.
Cyber Security
Social Media
22: Paul Rolison discusses “Why
44: Is your company’s Social
now is the time to start talking
24-25: Essex Networking Events
42-43: Essex Round Up
Media in the right Hands?
about it.” 46: Top Tweets from last month
www.businessconnected.co.uk
3
Radio
Mobile
Online
TV
Editor’s Note I hope you enjoyed your summer and welcome to the latest business connected
Get In Touch
Essex magazine. This edition sees a number of great features. Our cover and lead feature celebrates the relationship between
Tel: 01702 513113
employees and defence. We take a look at the latest Cyber Security Issues, top tips for
Email: info@businessconnected.co.uk Or Visit: www.businessconnected.co.uk
getting paid, 5 important considerations Richard Pond MANAGING DIRECTOR
when moving to VoIP, how much will pension auto enrolment cost your business?
Achieving gender equality in businesses of all sizes and why all CEOs deserve their own executive coach. CBHC launch their business hub and we read about Auditel’s latest business challenge. Our center pages
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ BusinessConnected
Follow us on Twitter @Connected_Essex
highlight a number of fantastic networking events that take place across Essex. For more information on all things Business Connected please see below.
About us Business Connected as a brand brings together businesses across a variety
All rights reserved. No part of this
of mediums from face to face networking, social media, printed media in the
publication may be reproduced in whole
form of this our countywide magazine, and much more. Business Connected
or in part in any way without prior written
is proud to be operating the county’s premier b2b magazine, networking
permission of Business Connected Ltd.
events and online portal that focus on the business community of Essex.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure
We bring local businesses together via the many platforms that we operate.
accuracy, no liability can be accepted for
Our magazine is distributed across the whole county in print and online. Our
any errors or omissions.
website, which receives over half a million hits a month is dedicated to up to date business news, a business directory and the number one place to find out what’s going on in Essex. You may have heard about the Business
Printed in the UK by Printwize
Connected Premier Partner scheme which helps businesses be seen not
www.printwize.co.uk
just in print but also online and through our fantastic social media offering. Full details on our events can be found on page 24 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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5
Premier Partner Scheme The Business Connected Premier Partner scheme is designed to support companies who need to introduce a co-hesive and co-ordinated marketing strategy or a company who wishes to enhance an existing offering. We provide companies with an effective, structured solution at an affordable price. How often do you promise yourself that you’ll invest more in social media, run regular email and print campaigns but simply don’t have the time or expertise to do it? Our Premier Partner scheme could be the answer. To view our video testimonial have a look at our Premier Partner page on our website
To find out how to become a Premier Partner and to see if
www.businessconnected.co.uk/premier-partners/
your business category is still available then give us a call today and we can pop in for a chat and run you through the many features of becoming a Business Connected Premier Partner. 01702 513113.
4 EXCLUSIVITY – We only work with one company of any type within the county.
4 NETWORKING EVENTS - Many people know Business
Connected from our countywide events and we want you to be part of them. Fancy being a speaker or displaying
4 BUSINESS
CONNECTED
MAGAZINE
full
your banner at all our events? Being a Premier Partner of
page in every edition of our magazine. We print and
Business Connected gives you tickets and access to all of
distribute 6000 copies, email 50,000 copies as well as
our events from Ipswich to Southend and everywhere in
uploading to the Business Connected website and social
between.
-
A
media sites.
4 SOCIAL MEDIA - Yes, you may have a Twitter/Linkedin/
4 WEBSITE
- Our Business Connected website gets
thousands of visitors a day, being a countywide news based
Facebook account but how about a helping hand, we can
website we are the number one place to find business news.
set up and run your account, interact as a ”raving fan” or
We are offering our Premier Partners prime advertising
simply come over and give you regular training to all your
space throughout the site.
staff.
4 EMAIL CAMPAIGNS - Need to get the message out to
6
4 ACCOUNT MANAGER - Probably the most important
feature of the Partnership scheme. Our account managers
the masses? We have a number of options which we can
are working around the clock to find our partner’s leads,
tailor to suit the needs of your business. From monthly
from the many networking events we attend and run to the
newsletters, your logos and links on our email campaigns
list of leads. Our staff are introducing and passing referrals
or simply a help with data.
on a daily basis.
www.businessconnected.co.uk
within the BBX Community. 3. Vortex received BBX pounds. 4. BBX sourced a sponsorship opportunity (Legends Cars) for Vortex. 5. Vortex paid for the sponsorship with their BBX pounds leaving their cash flow intact.
Current Essex Partners
Result = Vortex have paid for Sponsorship with Exhaust Systems. (picture below)
Turn your spare capacity into something you want. Call BBX on 0333 400 2014
M A N Fleet Radio www.heart.co.uk
Transportation www.manfleet.co.uk
Loyalty Reward System www.grouptrader.com
Trade Exchange www.bbxuk.com
Leadership and Management Training www.lighthouse-group.co.uk
Printers & Copiers www.geerings.co.uk
Marketing www.allthingsscene.co
Bookkeeping www.redwoodclarke.com
Zone 1 About Geerings Zone 2 Print Management, Mobile Printing & Data Security Zone 3 Document Management
Sound Financial Planning Group The Retirement Planning Specialists
Financial Planning www.soundfp.co.uk
Zone 4 Managed Print Services
CBHC Launches ‘Investor Matchmaking Service’ Zone 5 Courier & Outsourced FD Equipment Demonstrations toCloud Provide Local Businesses with a Successful & Accounting Freight Services Route to Funding www.cbhc.uk.com www.inxpress.com Zone 6 3D Print
Renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit, Essex is home to a large number of thriving companies, using their unique ideas and initiative to generate business that makes a vital contribution to the economy. Despite the many success stories coming out of the county, a lack of funding and a lack of knowledge on how to access the right funding, are common barriers for start-ups during
Lending www.fleximize.com
www.cbhc.uk.com
in a position to access funding, if required. At the same time, we work with a number of high wealth individuals looking for good quality investment opportunities, so it makes sense for us to establish a service which effectively bridges the gap and supports both parties to achieve their desired outcome.”
TO companies receiving investment.
THE WORLD
Public & About Gary White: Gary is the Business Development direct Business Speaking He has a background in industry and com qualified in a large PLC in the food indus www.simboc.com owned a successful accounting practice f the Business Connected offer price of £57 for the whole day including refreshments (offer code “BIZ57”)
“The tax reliefs afforded under the Enterprise Investment Motivational speaker Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme speaker provides a huge incentive forInspirational high wealth individuals to Event speaker seek out investment opportunities which in turn, provide Business speaker new and growing businessesConference with a golden opportunity to speaker access much needed funding.”Speaker coach David Bell is an award-winning businessman, speaker and entrepreneur who is helping businesses and their owners to make the impossible possible.
“In order to be viewed as an ideal investment there are also other factors that come into play – as well as If you want to be inspired, motivated and captivated qualifying for EIS or SEIS, companies must demonstrate then David will certainly take you on a journey that may include a twister to the world of Oz and even a real USP’s, have a strong sales growth history and trip down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, but watch
“As part of the service, we draw on our Financial Director the early stages of setting up and running a business expertise to give a company and for more established 28091 CBHCM.O.T.’ advert - We Chronicle - new logo a full ‘business companies as they look About CBHC: help prepare and outline to accelerate growth CBHC is one of the largest independent firms of a solid business plan, and expand. accountants in the Essex and East London region establish key KPI’s and with branches in Chelmsford and Canary Wharf. To combat this, CBHC Intellectual Property as We pride ourselves on going above and beyond Chartered Accountants, New well as determine what the traditional accountancy remit, to support our London road, Chelmsford, sets them apart from their clients more fully with their business venture. have launched an ‘Investor competitors. Once satisfied While compliance and taxation are at the heart Matchmaking Service’ which Logo usage that the company is in of what we do, our comprehensive portfolio of aims to provide a successful Straplines the right position to seek integrated financial services help clients transform 5route to funding for local Colours funding, we connect the their business, ultimately improving their bottom companies. Utilising their Fonts business with a suitable line. Our commitment to personal service means Financial Director expertise, investor within our network,” we work with client to create a bespoke strategy, CBHC works with a business Gary added. support them with our broad commercial expertise, to ensure the key criteria and help them to achieve their business goals. required to qualify as an Initiatives that help ideal investment is met businesses gain access before connecting them with the company’s strong to funding have been a key focus of the government for network of investors seeking Enterprise Investment Incorporating several years. In 2004, the Enterprise Investment Scheme Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) was introduced to help smaller, higher risk trading (SEIS) opportunities. There arequalifying two approved straplines that can be companies secure funding by offering tax reliefs to combined with the Auditel logo. Director at CBHC, Gary White, Business Development individual investors who purchased new shares in those said, “A core element of what we do involves proactively companies. It has become more popular since 2011, when The logo may also be combined with the web address. helping our clients to create effective business models George Osborne simplified the scheme and raised the enable them to accelerate growth increase level of tax relief, with official figures showing investors Thethat preferred position of the logo is and bottom right of bottomline. this depending involves ensuring they are poured £1.4bn into EIS in the last year alone. thetheir page, but this Part mayofvary on the content
Telecommunication www.loopvoiceanddata.co.uk
In 2011, the Chancellor also launched the Seed Enterprise We hope our ‘Investor Matchmaking Serv Investment Scheme (SEIS) to help small, early-stage more companies to take advantage of the companies raise equity finance by offering a 50 per cent secure the investment they need,” Gary a income tax relief to those investing up to £100,000 in a For more information about CBHC’s ‘Inv qualifying start-up. The latest figures show the uptake of Matchmaking Service,’ please contact the SEIS nearly doubled to £155m in the year April 2014, Book for the 23rd July S earlier P E Awith K I almost N G 1,900 Gary.white@cbhc.uk.com up from about £80m a year Speaker Masterclass and receive
H&S www.parkcity.co.uk
Auditel style guide
plan, have professional and in outmanagement for the twist and turns as Davidleadership explores the yellow brick road with you at his side! place and have good financial controls and reputable The question is how will your story finish? Will it Directors.” be “The end” or “To be continued”? accountants or Financial
28/04/2015 09:41 Page 1
“ Very informative, inspirational and useful.” Graham Manfleet
For more information and to book: www.thespeakerexpert.com /speakerx
becoming a partner in CBHC, making him to help other company owners achieve su theirs. Genuinely passionate about helpin
grow, Gary specialises in developing and successful strategies which improve long and is an expert in cash flow forecasting accounting. He is also heavily involved in clients, and is constantly implementing n improve the quality of CBHC’s service po information, please visit: www.cbhc.uk.co
“This is where our gold partnership Xero really “Excellent presentation,with very inspirational.” Pennypays Rollo “ Thanks a million software times, amazing.” Ernest Attah dividends. The cloud accounting allows us to access a company’s real-time financial data and get an the impossible possible? How can David help you to make Call us now to learn instant snap-shot of their business health so we canmore on 0333 1500 136 hello@thespeakerexpert.com | www.thespeakerexpert.com provide strategic advice on key areas of their business and highlight the essential information that sets them apart as an ideal investment.”
Printers www.printwize.co.uk
“So far local businesses have been slow to seize the opportunity for funding available under the EIS and SEIS.
Straplines
Lowering the cost of doing business
Office Furniture www.century-office.co.uk
HR & Auto Enrolment www.aewizard.co.uk
Recruitment www.prs.uk.com
Cost Management www.auditel.co.uk
and space available.
Taking cost and purchase management to a new level
CBHC Chartered Accountants, Carlton House, New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0PP
T: 01245 495588 E: info@cbhc.uk.com www.cbhc
www.auditel.co.uk
Research & Development Tax Advice www.randdconsulting.co.uk
IT Support & Consultancy www.yellowspring.co.uk
CRM and Automation www.abundant-solutions.biz
Business Coaching www.oscardelano.com
www.businessconnected.co.uk
7
Supporting the Country’s Defence Personnel In July 2013 the Government’s White Paper pledged a more open and honest relationship between the Country’s Employers and Defence. The Employer Recognition Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister to recognise the valuable contribution Employers make to the Defence of the Nation. The scheme is three-tiered; Bronze, Silver and Gold with each Award representing a differing level of support.
The Bronze Award is for those Employers who pledge their intention to support Defence and take a positive stance towards members of the Reserve Forces, either existing or prospective employees at the same time as promoting the fact that they are an Armed Forces-friendly Employer.
The Silver Award recognises employers who actively demonstrate the support made in their Corporate Covenant and employ at least one member of the Armed Forces Community of any area pledged, be that a Reservist, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, Service Leaver or military spouse. Employers must be nominated for a Silver Award by a third party via the Employer Recognition Scheme website. Silver Award winners will be recognised at Regional events.
Gold Awards are awarded to Employers who proactively advocate and support Defence, communicating their commitment both internally to employees and externally through the wider community through established policies and examples of support.
The MoD will continue to support business needs, including by providing training and support to those leaving the Armed Forces as they transition to employment in civilian life. To find out more, or to arrange a meeting, email Kristina Carrington, your Regional Employer Engagement Director on ea-empsp@rfca.mod.uk. Employers are able to self-nominate for a Bronze Award online by answering a series of questions declaring their intention to support Defence but at Silver and Gold Employers must be nominated by someone outside of their organisation and have signed the Corporate Covenant.
The Corporate Covenant is designed to build a two-way relationship between Employers and Defence and acts as a guide to assist Employers in deciding how they can offer support. There are two core statements that must be included: • In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved. • No member of the Armed Forces should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to
any other citizen.
A Corporate Covenant can be adopted by a business or charity organisation of any size and from any industry, whether you are an employer of a member of the Armed Forces Community or simply wish to publicly acknowledge your support for the Armed Forces. You can choose to support Defence in a number of ways:• Promoting your commitment • Supporting Employment of Veterans • Supporting the employment of service Spouses and Partners • Offering flexibility on leave for Spouses and Partners especially around operational commitments • Employing and support Reserve Forces employees • Supporting your local Cadet Units and Cadet Instructors • Actively participate in Armed Forces Day • Offer a Discount to the Armed Forces Community • Any additional commitments you would like to support
All Corporate Covenants are to be signed by a person in authority who can ensure that commitments are implemented and maintained. If you wish, you can have your pledge co-signed by a member of the Armed Forces and there is the potential to have your pledge co-signed by a Minister. The Armed Forces Community can contribute real value to business, both as employees , who bring a wealth of skills and experience, and as customers. The scheme encourages the Armed Forces Community to do their bit to nurture this two-way relationship. We ensure the needs of companies are considered alongside those of Defence and the Armed Forces Community.
For more information please visit: www.earfca.org.uk
Publicise your Corporate Covenant commitments
through your website or
by displaying a poster in your business
Display the Corporate Covenant logo
Larger businesses may wish to support the creation of
Armed Forces Community
Groups and networks within their organisations
You may wish to honour Armed Forces Day
How much will Pension Auto “ Enrolment Cost your business?
“
Fiona Cowie
As a small business there is a strong
This may be the Managing Director’s secretary, office manager,
possibility that you do not already have
payroll administrator or you. Decide what makes sense in
a company pension plan for your staff.
your Company and decide whether the additional work has a
Workplace pensions and auto enrolment
material impact on the person’s job role. You may need to give
for small business is therefore a totally
a pay increase or you may need to recruit or increase someone’s
new concept and will increase what is already likely to be one of your biggest overheads, your staff costs. When other costs in your business increase, you take steps to understand this and make changes to offset the increase where you can. So it makes sense to do the same with the new workplace pension rules.
hours? Last but definitely not least, you need to set up a qualifying workplace pension plan time before your staging date, the date when your legal obligations begin. There may be set up costs for the pension plan and you may need to engage with a workplace pensions specialist to help guide you through the process. The
When will the auto enrolment costs hit my business?
Centre for Economic Business Research (CEBR) estimates that a
If you had a PAYE scheme on 1st April 2012 or have set one
run up to their staging date.
up since then, you have been allocated a Staging Date by the Pensions Regulator. This date will be sometime between now and 2018. If you do not know your date, you should check this using your PAYE reference number at www.aewizard.co.uk. You will need to assess your staff against age and earnings criteria
small business will have 33 separate admin tasks to perform in the
Finding the right support to help you select a suitable pension plan and guide you through the process is crucial to ensure that you complete workplace pensions quickly and easily in your business.
from this date to work out who needs to be included in automatic enrolment.
Our top tips • Don’t underestimate the impact that the new workplace
What are the main auto enrolment costs?
The obvious cost is employer pension contributions. Workplace
• Start looking at your workplace pensions costs early to work
pensions and auto enrolment means that you, as the employer,
have to pay minimum pension contributions into a company
possible.
pension plan for employees who have been automatically enrolled. These contributions are being phased in starting at 1% of qualifying earnings, increasing to 2% in October 2017 and 3% in October 2018. There are also minimum total contributions of
pension rules will have on your business.
out how you are going to pay for it and to mitigate where
• Choose your support carefully as costs can quickly escalate.
Work out what you will need specialist support on and
what you can do yourself.
2%, 5% and 8% respectively, although you can ask your staff to pay the difference. Secondly, you will have additional payroll costs. For a small
For more information, please contact Fiona Cowie on 01245 349492. Fiona is owner of Essential HR
business, we believe the best place for the assessment of your
Solutions based in Chelmsford. As a pension auto
staff for auto enrolment is through payroll. You may need to
enrolment guru, Fiona is also the ‘go to’ person for
upgrade payroll software or pay an additional fee to your payroll
any business needing to deal with the new legislation.
provider for the additional auto enrolment processing. You
Essential HR Solutions is able to provide a range of
should discuss this with your payroll provider to find out how
cost-effective workplace pension support solutions
much they will charge.
from complete project management through to an
Thirdly, there are staff costs. You need to have someone in your business who is responsible for workplace pensions who will oversee all of the regular pension auto enrolment activities.
10
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online self-service toolkit, AE Wizard, specifically designed for small business.
Incorporating
The One-Stop Solution for Your HR and Pension Auto Enrolment Needs
How we can help you Easier Staff Management
Easier Auto Enrolment
Let us take away the worries about managing your staff. We will free up your time so you can focus on your business. Let us reduce your fear of making a wrong HR decision.
We will take away the pain and hold your hand every step of the way. Quick, easy and cost-effective support. From full consultancy through to a self-service toolkit - you choose what works best for you!
HR support, providing priority access to advice whenever you need it.
guide you step by step through the new rules and manage the planning and implementation in your business.
Tailored HR Solutions Essential HR Solutions Club for retained
Flexible Workplace Pension Solutions Full auto enrolment support on a fixed fee to
Pay As You Go HR advice to dip in and out only when you need us. HR project support on a fixed fee for
AE Wizard, our innovative online, self service
those bigger jobs.
toolkit for small business providing a very costeffective alternative to consultancy support.
www.essentialhr.co.uk | www.aewizard.co.uk
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All Things | Scene ‘Over
50% of businesses have no
defined marketing strategy in place.’
W r O l N k you tain l a C
o oun o b to ting M tion ke nsulta r a M Co
Call us now to find out how we can help your business reach new heights!
All Things | Scene
W: allthingsscene.co E: info@allthingsscene.co T: 01702 292 161
www.cbhc.uk.com
CBHC LAUNCH ENTREPRENEURS’ ACADEMY TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES MAXIMISE THEIR PROFITABILITY & GROWTH Leading experts from a range of business disciplines form ‘Business Growth Hub’ to provide advice on best practice and mentorship to local entrepreneurs.
CBHC, said, “As Financial Directors, our focus is not on recording the past but on taking our clients on a journey into the future - we work with entrepreneurs to identify what they want to achieve with their business and their life and then help them to develop a clear strategy to deliver those goals. A core element of this process is identifying the key areas of the business that require focused attention and 28091 CBHC advert - Chronicle - new lo improvement to achieve their desired outcome.
AUGUST 2015: Whether you’re a newly launched start-up at the beginning of your journey or a well-established business looking to expand your market presence, accessing the right support and expertise across each of the key About CBHC: areas of your business CBHC is one of the largest independent firms of - will have a significant accountants in the Essex and East London region impact on your longwith branches in Chelmsford and Canary Wharf. term success and serve We pride ourselves on going above and beyond to maximise profitability the traditional accountancy remit, to support our and growth.
While entrepreneurs are often highly skilled in their area of specialism, to grow profitably in the current market place clients more fully with their business venture. While they need to master That’s why CBHC compliance and taxation are at the heart of what several key areas and Chartered Accountants, we do, our comprehensive portfolio of integrated this is where the right New London Road, financial services help clients transform their advice and guidance have formed a business, ultimately improving their bottom line. can really strengthen ‘Business Growth Hub’ Our commitment to personal service means we their business’s consisting of leading work with clients to create a bespoke strategy, capabilities and help advisors, investors support them with our broad commercial expertise, them achieve ambitious and service providers, and help them to achieve their business goals. targets in a much from various business shorter timeframe than disciplines, to launch if they were to go it alone. an ‘Entrepreneurs’ Academy’, that aims to provide the expert insights on best practice and We recognised that forming a ‘Business Growth mentorship local entrepreneurs need to ensure Hub’ was not only a natural extension to the their business optimises its capabilities, gains service we already offer but would also serve to a competitive advantage in its marketplace and plug an important gap in the market. The idea is achieves rapid business growth. to provide both clients and local businesses with access to a strong network of strategic partners Gary White, Business Development Director at
CBHC Chartered Accountants, Carlton House, New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0PP
ogo
that have been carefully selected based on their expertise, experience and proven track record of running a successful business and who can individually and collectively support them in addressing the growth issues they face today. The ‘Business Growth Hub’ will consist of monthly meetings in which strategic partners will deliver expert insights on specific business related topics ranging from business growth, coaching and management development to sales and marketing strategies, IT solutions and purchasing and procurement. As well as providing guidance on best practice, the aim is to facilitate discussion and the sharing of realworld challenges and solutions. As part of their ‘Business Growth Hub’ membership, entrepreneurs will also benefit from CBHC’s outsourced financial director services and will receive a full business M.O.T that includes establishing their business goals; identifying their key profit drivers; setting 28/04/2015 09:41 Page 1 targets; and developing an improvement action plan to measure again future performance. Members are also expected to contribute towards driving their own success by committing to taking action within their business between meetings and providing feedback on performance on a monthly basis.
of strategic partners who have established themselves as leaders within their respective fields and are willing to share their wealth of knowledge and experience to help other entrepreneurs build better businesses and brighter futures. As an example, one of our strategic partners has successfully built a multi-million pound import business in a matter of years and now has key contacts for the best manufacturers in China within a diverse range of industries. For an entrepreneur looking to get in to this line of business, this information is priceless – not only will it save them years of researching and developing the right contacts, but the knowledge of best practice and mentorship will help accelerate their business growth rapidly.” For more information, on CBHC’s Business Growth Hub, please contact Gary White: gary.white@cbhc.uk.com
We are fortunate at CBHC to have built a strong network
T: 01245 495588 E: info@cbhc.uk.com www.cbhc.uk.com
Auditel launches business ch
£10,
Are you up for “Can’t afford that new sales person?” “Been told there is no budget to attend that trade exhibition?” Well, by taking part in the Auditel challenge and freeing up cash that is currently being misspent, you can have all of the above and use these funds to help your business grow to the next level!
Strategic Cost Management Benefits businesses by helping them achieve: • Competitive advantage • Improved efficiency in the business • Financial survival of the business • Accelerate performance A recent Auditel survey showed that 70% of businesses have no strategic approach to dealing with costs. Companies simply do not have the internal resources to undertake this exercise effectively in terms of time, people and money. I am passionate about helping companies to stop throwing money down the drain and at Auditel we deal with over 125 costs on a regular basis for our clients.
16
www.businessconnected.co.uk
hallenge to save 4 companies
,000
the challenge? So I want to issue a challenge to all of you. We are looking for 4 companies to take part in a challenge which is for me to save each of these £10,000 per annum in 6 months. Initial work up to £10,000 savings completely free of charge with a fee payable once £10,000 exceeded. It’s not about price but service is paramount. Participants have to be prepared for their details to be used for marketing purposes and updates provided at Business Connected events.
So who wants to help your businesses and take advantage of this challenge? Businesses will be chosen subject to certain criteria.
Tel: 01279 722167 Mobile: 07803 246737 Email: lee.freeman@auditel.co.uk Lee Freeman, Auditel
www.businessconnected.co.uk
17
Achieving gender equality “ in businesses of all sizes organisations in the region to develop talented, aspiring female
government targets to achieve a gender
leaders.
balance across leadership positions, why Lynn Walters
“
While many listed businesses have been set
shouldn’t the smaller, private companies in our region also be following suit? Lynn
Walters, director at Pure Resourcing Solutions, sets out the business benefits of gender diversity in businesses of all sizes.
Over 30 organisations have already participated since it launched in 2014, providing their female talent with a great forum to develop their professional networks and reach their full potential. But the programme isn’t just about giving people leadership skills. It also helps women identify barriers at work that may prevent them from
There are numerous pieces of research which demonstrate the
getting into director-level roles, such as a lack of flexible working
benefits of having an equal balance of men and women in senior
which could help achieve the right balance between work and home
positions. According to Opportunity Nows report on ‘The Business
life to be able to effectively manage their careers and progress.
Case for Gender Diversity’ encouraging female potential could raise
Changing a workplace culture takes time, effort and persistence,
an extra £23 billion a year for the economy through the resulting
and through the programme more organisations are being given
business growth.
the guidance and support required to create workplaces which
Since government targets were introduced five years ago the number of women on FTSE 100 boards have risen from 12 per cent to 23 per cent. But gender diversity is a business issue for all organisations. The best performing businesses, whatever size or sector, achieve high performing teams because they attract, retain and develop the best talent at all levels, regardless of gender. I would encourage organisations in Essex and East Anglia to take
encourage women’s senior careers. FACT FILE: Leadership advice for aspiring business women There is also more which women can do to push themselves forward for leadership roles. Here’s four pieces of advice from previous delegates of the Women’s Leadership Programme: 1. Be proud of who you are
their own proactive steps, rather than waiting for government
If you pretend to be someone you’re not, you may well end up
targets to impact on them. Examine your organisation’s progression
making decisions that’ll make you and others unhappy. Be the best
pipeline to see if there is an equal balance of men and women
version of yourself, and be proud to contribute ideas that come from
working their way up. If not, take the time to establish what barriers
your experience of being a woman.
or unconscious bias could be preventing this. If you don’t know why
2. Control your own destiny
women fail to climb the career ladder at your organisation, you can’t make any changes. Do they lack confidence in getting their ideas heard? Or are they put off going for promotions if director jobs are mainly occupied by men? Dig out the root causes and find positive solutions. It is worth taking the time and effort as evidence shows that
Have the self-assurance to push yourself forward instead of expecting someone else to recommend you for that coveted senior position. Don’t be afraid to remind your employer what you’re capable of, but balance this with sensitivity and intelligence – there’s a difference between genuine self-assurance and arrogance.
organisations with an equal gender balance at senior levels have a
3. Share experiences with your peers
more collaborative and creative approach to problem solving. These
Many women avoid talking about work-related problems with their
businesses make better decisions, and are more considerate on how
peers, but finding a mentor to answer your questions and listen to
issues will impact on their people, as well as to the bottom line.
you without judging could unlock your leadership potential if you’ve
Our aim is to inspire organisations to create rewarding work environments where any barriers to progression are removed and everyone is able to work in a way that makes them feel productive and engaged. To support this we have developed a Women’s Leadership Programme to help both local employers and employees to make some of the changes needed. Created with People and Performance it has been designed to help more
18
www.businessconnected.co.uk
previously been held back by your own fears. 4. Think beyond your boundaries Learn to think beyond your usual approach. What hasn’t worked before? Why? How can you shift your perspective to try something new? Being more resourceful can get you places, and your creativity will get you noticed.
A true partner for all your recruitment needs… • • • • • • •
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19
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Our clients range from automotive manufacturers and fleet, leasing and finance companies, to franchise and independent dealers of all sizes. We donate a large amount of our proceeds to local charities/worthy causes and are at the moment in discussion with several local groups/individuals to see how we can help them.
Cyber Security
Paul Rolison, Yellowspring Ltd
“
“
Why now is the time to start talking about it
The latest PWC Information Security
lost sales and reputational damage.
ever more present. The acceptance of
Breaches Survey commissioned by HM
The
suffer
unexpected emails and the opening of
Government shows that security breaches
disproportionately more and with some
their attachments is a key contributor to
continue to grow in number and impact
businesses unable to sustain the damage
a breach where malware is installed and
across large and small business alike.
caused and never recover.
access to systems provided to cyber
90%
smaller
business
often
The nature of breaches are changing with
of large organisations
attacks from external sources continuing
% of small businesses
to attack although smaller businesses
to grow. Larger businesses are more prone
74
may simply not know that they have
had a security breach.
been attacked as the available budget
Up from 81% a year ago.
and resource to monitor attacks is not
Up from 60% a year ago.
available. The ‘Denial of Service’ type of attack is continuing to reduce from a high
The report sampled large and small business across the UK and in both size categories the rise in breaches is significant. Some security commentators say that almost all large business have suffered a breach but just don’t know that they have – potentially a more worrying statistic. Of those surveyed 59% expect the number of security incidents to grow over the coming 12 months and will continue to increase their spend to seek better protection
through
technology
and
people skills. The impact on businesses will inevitably be measured in terms of additional costs,
22
www.businessconnected.co.uk
point in 2013. Whilst external attacks continue to play a large part in the breaches recorded, the Human Factor remains a big issue for large businesses in particular. The need to ensure that a security culture is developed and maintained within a business is
criminals.
75%
31%
of large organisations of small businesses
suffered staff related security breaches in the last year. Up from 58% a year ago. Up from 22% a year ago.
There are clear business benefits to be gained from developing and maintaining a Cyber Security strategy and include:less disruption caused by breaches; confidence that the business can protect valuable data, both that of the business and of its clients; ability to secure contracts
69%
of large organisations
38
% of small businesses
were attacked by an unauthorised outsider in the last year. Up from 55% a year ago. Slightly up from 33% a year ago.
requiring security standard accreditation; and many others. For more information about Cyber Security contact Maria West on 01268 494160 or email maria.west@yellowspring.co.uk
you started talking about Cyber Security? Isn’t it about time
If you hold sensitive information about clients, customers or any Third Party, are you sure your security measures are sufficient to protect against the growing number of Cyber attacks?
Cyber Essentials is a Government initiative designed to help responsible businesses demonstrate that they take Cyber security seriously and have implemented controls to protect data held about their clients and connected parties.
Yellowspring has the skills and experience to help you develop your security using technology and importantly process controls, and if certification is required Yellowspring can guide you through the process.
Telephone Maria West on 01268 494 101 to arrange a meeting or email: cyber@yellowspring.co.uk Yellowspring Ltd Astra House, Christy Way, Laindon, Basildon, Essex SS15 6TQ.
www.yellowspring.co.uk/cyber
Essex 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
Business Connected
Business Connected
Business Connected
@Essex Cricket Club
@Southend Airport
@Ipswich Town FC
@Colchester United
@The Olympic Park
24
www.businessconnected.co.uk
The Best of the Rest OCTOBER October 5th & October 19th 5pm - 7pm Success in the City. Location: The Bayhorse, Chelmsford, CM2 0LG. Cost: Free October 6th 7:00am - 9:00am Friends of Braintree Town. Location: Braintree Town FC, CM7 3RD. Cost: Free October 6th 8am - 10am Bishops Stortford Chamber of Commerce. Location: Great Hadham Golf Club, SG10 6JE. Cost: £15 October 7th & October 21st 7am - 8:30am EBN Basildon. Location: The Burstead Golf Club, Little Burstead, CM12 9SS Cost: Membership £195 Breakfast £10
October 9th 1pm - 3pm Billericay Professionals Lunch. Location: Bar Zero, Billericay, CM12 9DZ. Cost: Free October 16th 1pm - 3pm Chelmsford Professionals Lunch. Location: The Chop Bloc, Chelmsford, CM2 6QR. Cost: Free October 23rd 12:00pm - 3:00pm Friends of the City expo. Location: Chelmsford City FC, CM1 2EH. Cost: Free October 29th 8:30am Hoskins Golf Event. Location: www.hoskinsgolfevents.co.uk. Cost: £25 October 30th 12:30pm - 3pm Harlow Professionals Lunch. Location: Park Inn, Harlow, CM18 7BA. Cost: Free Every Thursday 7.00am - 8.45am CBBC. Location: The Secret Gardens, Chelmsford, CM1 3BL. Cost: Membership £75 Breakfast £10
NOVEMBER November 2nd & 16th & 30th 5pm - 7pm Success in the City. Location: The Bayhorse, Chelmsford, CM2 0LG. Cost: Free November 3rd 8am - 10am Bishops Stortford Chamber of Commerce. Location: Great Hadham Golf Club, SG10 6JE. Cost: £15 November 4th & 18th 7am - 8:30am EBN Basildon. Location: The Burstead Golf Club, Little Burstead, CM12 9SS. Cost: Membership £195 Breakfast £10
November 13th 1pm - 3pm Billericay Professionals Lunch. Location: Bar Zero, Billericay, CM12 9DZ. Cost: Free November 19th 7am - 9am Friends of the City. Location: Chelmsford City FC, CM1 2EH. Cost: Free November 20th 1pm - 3pm Chelmsford Professionals Lunch. Location: The Chop Bloc, Chelmsford, CM2 6QR. Cost: Free November 26th 8:30am Hoskins Golf Event. Location: www.hoskinsgolfevents.co.uk Cost: £25 November 27th 12:30pm - 3pm Harlow Professionals Lunch. Location: Park Inn, Harlow, CM18 7BA. Cost: Free
Every Thursday 7.00 - 8.45am CBBC. Location: The Secret Gardens, Chelmsford, CM1 3BL. Cost: Membership £75 Breakfast £10
For more information on any of these events please call Richard on 01702 513 113
www.businessconnected.co.uk
25
Top Tips to help make sure 1.
Know who you are dealing with. Sounds really obvious but is not only crucial but very often got wrong.
2. You can deal with someone as an individual, as a sole trader, as a partnership or as a limited company. Identify which
they are as soon as you start dealing with them – not later on during the trading relationship! As some do to their cost…
3. Get their full legal name whatever capacity they are dealing in AND check what they tell you, so do a credit search
or a search at Companies House.
4. Once you know who they are you need to start making provision for if they don’t pay you. Start collating information
on them to keep for later on.
5. Ensure that on all orders, invoices and paperwork you have their correct title.
6. If you are dealing with a limited company get a guarantee from the directors.
7. Ensure that the personal guarantee is in a deed as there is no need for there to be consideration. So signed and witnessed with the witness putting their name, address and occupation.
8. As soon as the invoice is overdue do something about it. In my experience the longer a debt is left, the harder it is to recover. So have a good system of credit control in place.
Reasons for dealing with bad debts promptly:
9. Firstly the person or company may be hard to find! Then they will often say that they think it’s
outrageous coming after them after all this time, and try to suggest that you are in the wrong for leaving it and pursuing them after all this time! Then you have the problem that any financial information that you hold is likely to be out of date!!
10. Also if they are starting to get into financial difficulties get in first to have a
chance of getting your money back- many times sued, got judgment and then charging order when acting for a finance company clients –result = they were a secure creditor so good chance of getting their money if person/company went down.
11. When you start trading with someone keep any financial information that you
get, i.e keep details of any bank accounts that you pay money into or receive money from. Find out who they are dealing with, what premises they have and so on. The more you find out the better chance you have of recovering money you may be owed later.
12. Make sure that all the orders you receive are in writing so that it is clear
what the order is and who placed it. Likewise make sure your invoice mirrors the order. It is quite common for them not to!
13. If there are changes to the order or in the case of building works, extras and
similar make sure that any changes are documented. It is very common for someone to deny there were any agreed extras and extra costs. If it is in writing very difficult to argue!
26
www.businessconnected.co.uk
you get paid
14. During your dealings with the customer keep your credit checks up to date because their credit ratings do change and
that is the time to decide if you want to keep giving them credit…
15. If they don’t pay an invoice without good reason- don’t carry on blindly dealing with them, find out why it hasn’t been
paid and decide if you are happy to carry on dealing with them….
16. If they haven’t paid without good reason get proceedings issued and get a judgment. The sooner you have a judgment
the sooner you can take steps to enforce it – more of which in part 2.
17. You should also make sure that you get all that you are entitled to under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act
1998. Compensation of £40 for £999 or less, £70 for £999-£9,999 and £100 for anything over £10,000. This is per invoice so it can amount to quite a lot.
18. Interest is allowed under the same legislation at 8.5% from the date when the invoice became due to date of demand.
19. In conclusion: Remember is it vital to know who you are dealing with, to carry out and keep up to date credit checks, to
get as much financial information about your customers as you can, document all orders and changes and if they don’t pay act swiftly - all of these things will give you the best possible chance of recovering your money! Written by TM Law www.tm-law.co.uk in association with Redwood Clarke www.redwoodclarke.com
www.businessconnected.co.uk
27
All CEOs Deserve Their “OwnWhyExecutive Coach
“
Dave Pye
The role of a coach in athletics has been at
I have been working in business for 25 years mainly in the
the forefront of much of the media in recent
recruitment sector which means that I love asking questions and
months. Just last month Jessica Ennis-Hill
finding out what motivates individuals to be successful. I have
returned to world class competition having
worked alongside some of my sectors’ most innovative and fun
taken time away with her new baby and
people and have enjoyed a stellar career along the way.
she won Gold at the World Athletic Championships in Bejing. She took time out to thank her coach, Toni Minichiello, for his support, advice and hard work as he helped Ennis-Hill to rise to the very top of her sport once again. Our own Alistair Cook praised the England batting coach as he lead England to another victory in the Ashes. And, you may never have heard of the name Dan Pfaff if it wasn’t for Greg Rutherford’s astonishing success in Bejing when
When I faced both a personal challenge and a business challenge I put both things together to create Oscar Delano & Associates. The organisation brings together my passion for supporting senior Executives as they grow their businesses and working with great people. You can’t know what you don’t know however, you can talk with someone who can see a different angle or suggest another view.
he became World Champion to add to his Olympic, European and
Oscar Delano clients range from big data analytic companies to one
Commonwealth Gold Medals. (Pop quiz question – who are the
of Essex’s premier dental practices. It is a varied bunch but all have
only other four Britons to hold all 4 of the major championships
one thing in common: each leader wants the absolute very best for
Golds? Answer at the end of the article).
their businesses. Each leader wants a coach to point out something
Injury had all but destroyed Rutherford’s chances at the last World Championships in Daegu in 2011 but with the assistance of “an unparalled coach in Dan Pfaff”, Rutherford redesigned his technique to ensure it never happened again. In many respects our business leaders of today are equally as ‘famous’ and at the forefront of public perception as many of our athletes. Eric Schmidt of Google has stated many times that business leaders should have a coach. Bill Gates worked with an executive coach and insisted his top team had access to the support and guidance that a coach can give. If it is good enough for our top performers in sport and is clearly good enough for our leading world business people, why not you? If you are a successful business leader and, I am assuming that you are to be involved with Business Connected, isn’t it time for you to think about….you. Who from outside your business can help you address questions such as:
new or to listen to a viewpoint in absolute confidence or to advise on a new direction. Also, each leader like me shares a passion for Essex, in my opinion the leading county for innovation and creativity in our country. I am married to a wonderful wife and have 6 fantastic kids. I am an inveterate traveller and, as you might have guessed, a very keen sports fan. The business I run supports those parents who have lost a child at a very young age in memory of Billy Pye, my son who died at birth 10 years ago this month. If you fancy meeting up to see if we could work together I would be delighted to do so. Forget all the bumpf about what you think coaches can and can’t do. The reality is about the chemistry between the two people and the passion for the business shared with the leader and their support. I wish you every success as you become the Greg Rutherford or Jessica Ennis-Hill (or Eric Schmidt!) of your business. If I can help a little along the way in a confidential way then please call. The answers to the question by the way are that, along with Greg, only Daley Thompson, Sally Gunnell, Linford Christie and Jonathan
• What do you feel may be the big hurdles in your business?
Edwards have held all four major championships Gold medals.
• How do you feel about your business right now; today; this
Oscar Delano & Associates
week?
Business Enterprise & Innovation Centre, Anglia Ruskin University,
• What methods are you using to bring resolution to a
problem that has been bugging you?
• How would it impact your organisation if this problem wasn’t
28
resolved or if it was resolved more swiftly?
www.businessconnected.co.uk
Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1SQ Tel: 01245 407465 Mob: 07855 444636
Email: dave@oscardelano.com Web: www.oscardelano.com
Room 5, 88A High Street, Billericay, Essex, CM12 9BT 01277 658868 | www.redwoodclarke.com
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Work Experience Health and Safety Giving young people the opportunity to undertake work experience placements is an excellent way for them to gain an insight to the working world, learn new skills and help them decide what they might like to do with the future. It rests on our local businesses to
Juliet Price, Park City
As in any workplace situation, a
proportionate approach to risk should
be taken when thinking about Health &
Safety. The HSE highlights some common
myths about employing young people and
welcome students and provide this opportunity whilst
those on work experience:
understanding it might be their first experience of being in
Myth: Under 18s cannot be employed
a working environment.
on construction sites for work or work
With respect to Health & Safety (contrary to what some might think), the process
experience.
of taking on a work experience student should be simple and straightforward with
Truth: As long as the work is properly Risk
very little additional administration needed beyond what they already provide for their existing employees. The key responsibilities for employers briefly comprise:
assessed and the relevant controls are in place, there is no reason why a younger
• Ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of
person should not be employed on a
the placement student.
building site.
• Appraise the risks that the placement student is exposed to and share any
Myth: Schools must carry out workplace
significant findings of the assessment with the student.
checks before sending pupils on work
• Provide general induction and specific training in respect of the tasks to be
experience placements and visit the
undertaken during the placement.
workplace in advance of every placement.
• Provide general health and safety information, instruction, training and
Truth: There are no legal requirements for
supervision.
those arranging the work experience to
• Meet all statutory health and safety requirements such as conducting risk
premises in advance, although they should
assessments. • Report and accidents or injuries to the placement organiser. • Ensure disability related adjustments are provided.
carry out workplace assessments or visit the satisfy themselves that the employer taking on the pupil has the necessary Health & Safety risk management procedures in place. In most situations, a simple telephone call
Back in 2013, the Government announced its commitment to reducing any burden
should be enough.
on employers to encourage them to take on more workplace students. Several key
Myth: Employers need to carry out a
outcomes have been welcomed by businesses:
separate risk assessment when taking on
• The insurance industry has committed to treat work experience students as
work experience students.
employees for the purposes of insurance against bodily injury and confirmed
Truth: As long as an existing risk assessment
that simply giving work experience opportunities to students will not in itself impact on insurance premiums.
considers the relevant factors for young
employees, there is no need to carry out
• The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has issued guidance providing clarity
a specific assessment for work experience
on employer’s obligations with regard to risk assessments, making it clear that
students.
if workplace risk has already been assessed with young people in mind, a
As an employer, if for whatever reason you
business does not need to repeat this for each new young person and/ or student.
decide that work experience students are not for you, it’s probably best not cite Health
• The Department for Education and Ofsted have published a guide to clarify
& Safety as the prohibiting factor unless you
the health and safety responsibilities for educational establishments organising
have a very genuine reason to as it is likely to
work experience placements.
be the case in only a very few circumstances.
If the business does not already employ young employees and hasn’t done so in the last few years, it may be necessary to review the risk assessment, but this would then suffice for all young workers and work experience students.
30
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Bringing Health & Safety expertise to your business
Talk to the experts Call us on 01206 752100 or visit us online at www.parkcity.co.uk Real people, real experts, real time Park City Consulting Limited Tel: 01206 752100 Fax: 01206 752400 Email: consulting@parkcity.co.uk 894 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 9YQ
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5 important considerations “when moving to VoIP
“
VoIP is a mature technology and businesses of all sizes are taking Shahram Bagherzadeh
advantage of its benefits. In fact, hosted telephony has been around longer than
you think. BT Centrex was an early example in the 1980s. We understand there’s a lot to consider. If you are audting your business telephony and thinking about making the move to hosted VoIP or VoIP connectivity, look before your leap. Here are 5 key considerations: 1. Check your Data connectivity Without good data connectivity, VoIP performance is hampered. Make sure to test your internet connection to determine you can have quality ADSL for voice traffic, or if your existing ADSL can handle voice traffic as upload speed is critical. Upload speed is
too late, and you are liable for any excess
measured in megabytes per second (Mbps). This is the actual
call charges. Make sure the VoIP service provider
bandwidth that is available on your computer.
you use has security measures in place to prevent
2. Understand service and network configurations
Toll Fraud.
Technology can be complicated or as simple as you want it to be
Also, if you have voicemail, make sure you use a
When it comes to VoIP, it’s easy to let the provider do what they
minimum of 5 digits for your password and change
think is best. To make sure they are making the best decisions for
the password on regular bases to avoid any hacking.
your service, here’s some points to investigate: Make sure the VoIP
5. Support
provider prioritises voice over data on a network not router level. You’ll also want to make sure that you have a SLA (service level agreement) for your Voice ADSL/EFM/FTTC/Ethernet, as normal ADSL doesn’t have any SLA. Be aware that any ADSL connection that carries on a single analogue line will require up to 2 weeks to settle to find the actual speed before you can run voice over it.
No two hosted VoIP providers are the same. Make sure the provider you choose can offer the service you require. Check out the responsiveness of their support. The last thing you want is to be held in a queue if your telephony is experiencing quality issues or worse, service outages.
3. Check the hosted telephone system infrastructure
The benefits of VoIP are vast. The technology is scalable, making it
Choosing your hosted VoIP provider is just as important as making
advancing technology as your investment in hardware is kept to a
the choice to move to VoIP in the first place. Ask questions to make
minimum. This of course reduces your capital costs. VoIP is also easy
sure the provider you choose has infrastructure that is up to task.
to implement, compared to traditional telephony. It’s also easier to
Ask where the hosted system resides, in which data center. Make
maintain. A hosted solution means that your provider deals with
sure the 2nd or the 3rd dataswitch is not in the same data center or
it. There’s no need for you to worry about if your window server
in a different country. All of these factors impact the resilience and
application will need to be refreshed for your hosted telephony. Plus,
performance of the system.
VoIP also ensures disaster recovery and should be at the core of any
4. Check the Security around the service
well-planned disaster recovery strategy.
There are many VoIP providers who are now are offering VoIP
The reality is that VoIP can represent a big opportunity for
without investing in the security of the service. Today, Toll Fraud is more prevalent and costing the UK more than Credit Card Fraud. Any good VoIP platform should be able to offer you Toll Fraud, which means they can pick up on high call volumes and shut the
easy to expand as your business grows. It’s also easier to keep up to
businesses, but it doesn’t necessarily suit all. If you need any more help making the decision to move to VoIP or choosing the right VoIP solution for you, contact us now for a no obligation discussion about VoIP. We are only a call away and we are happy to help.
system down (your system). This can be done with a cap on call spend. As soon as spend hits that cap, no one will be able to make any calls. Most companies only alert you about the Fraud, which is
Tel: 01206 848 090
Email: info@loopvoiceanddata.co.uk
Web: www.loopvoiceanddata.co.uk
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www.businessconnected.co.uk
R & D Consulting T: 01245 905 145 | info@randdconsulting.co.uk www.randdconsulting.co.uk
Are you missing out on Research & Development Tax Credits?
R & D Consulting was formed with the simple aim of helping all eligible companies in the UK claim R & D tax relief.
We are a specialist firm who employ industry experts and only offer advice regarding R & D Tax Relief, so there is no need to change your current accountant to use our services. In fact a lot of our clients come from a referral network we have in place with accountancy firms who do not offer R & D tax advice themselves.
D O Y O U WA N T T O SPEAK AND PRESENT LIKE AN EXPERT? SPEAKING TO THE WORLD
Book for the Wednesday 9th November Speaker Masterclass and receive the Business Connected offer price of £57 for the whole day including refreshments
Motivational speaker
(offer code “BIZ57”) For more information and to book: www.thespeakerexpert.com /speakerx
Inspirational speaker Event speaker Business speaker Conference speaker Speaker coach David Bell is an award-winning businessman, speaker and entrepreneur who is helping businesses and their owners to make the impossible possible. If you want to be inspired, motivated and captivated then David will certainly take you on a journey that may include a twister to the world of Oz and even a trip down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, but watch out for the twist and turns as David explores the yellow brick road with you at his side! The question is how will your story finish? Will it be “The end” or “To be continued”?
“ Very informative, inspirational and useful.” Graham Manfleet “Excellent presentation, very inspirational.” Penny Rollo “ Thanks a million times, amazing.” Ernest Attah
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How can David help you to make the impossible possible? Call us now to learn more on 0333 1500 136 www.businessconnected.co.uk hello@thespeakerexpert.com | www.thespeakerexpert.com
New Office. New Showroom.
Concept l Design l Delivery l Installation Century Office are a leading East Anglian office and contract furniture supplier, with over 40 years’ experience in the industry. We provide workplace solutions and offer a tailored approach for small businesses, large corporations and educational facilities as well as architects, interior designers and dealers. Find out more at www.century-office.co.uk.
Essex Round up FRP Advisory raises £14,581.09, for Little Havens Children’s Hospice FRP Advisory, the leading business recovery firm in Essex, recently held its biggest-ever marketing and fundraising campaign – a charity triathlon, exclusively for their professional contacts. “The response was phenomenal, we couldn’t be more pleased,” said Brentwood office Partner, Glyn Mummery: “We set ourselves a target of raising £10,000 for Little Havens Children’s Hospice and thanks to the support of our business community and our additional sponsors, Barclays Corporate Essex and Gener8 Finance Ltd, we’ve exceeded that target.” Glyn continued: “We worked very closely with the Hospice and by teaming up with them, we had a mixture of expertise and the added bonus of increasing awareness about the incredible work they do. The whole thing came from a casual idea I had at work one day, and it mushroomed from there. It also embraced FRP’s core values leadership, collaboration, results-driven, actionable and measurable, which made it even more worthwhile. Our aim now is to make it a permanent fixture in the corporate calendar and from the feedback we’ve had, we know it will be bigger and better next year.” Despite it being the inaugural event, over 140 people took part, raising £14,581.09, for Little Havens Children’s Hospice.
5 new hires for Baker Tilly in Chelmsford! Accountancy firm Baker Tilly has expanded its team in Chelmsford with the appointment of 5 new trainees. The group of trainees will be working across the areas of Tax, Assurance and Accounting & Financial Reporting. Tom Lines will be joining the Tax team, Lewis Brown and Joe Down will be in Assurance and Tom Moss and Amy Rodgers will be working in Outsourcing, part of the Accounting and Financial Reporting service line. Richard White, Managing Partner at Baker Tilly’s Chelmsford office said: ‘‘It is fantastic that we’ve taken on so many new starters at our Chelmsford office this summer. These trainees are the future of the firm and it is important that we continue to invest in the best talent that the region has to offer.’ The new recruits will start their Baker Tilly careers on an intensive training course and will continue to study towards their professional qualifications including Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certificates throughout the next five years after which they will be fully qualified.
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www.businessconnected.co.uk
Stansted Airport reveals 18 brands set to open at revamped departure lounge Jet-setters can take their pick of 18 new shops set to open at Stansted Airport’s revamped departure lounge. Fashion brands Lacoste, Joules, East, Oasis and Superdry will launch in autumn along with Dune London, Sunglasses Boutique and Portuguese accessories brand, Parfois. Hugo Boss, Ted Baker, Mulberry, Swarovski and Accessorize will return to the departure lounge, which is in its third and final phase of a £80 million makeover. Danish coffee and juice company, Joe and the Juice, Dutch retailer, Hema, which sells stationery, games, toys and homeware, will join the line-up along with gadget shop, Red 5, and Best of the Best airport competitions company. For the first time, holiday-makers will be able to enjoy a beauty treatment at new Cloud Spa while they wait for their flight. Andrew Harrison, managing director, said: “The £80million investment project to transform Stansted’s terminal and departure lounge is now in its third and final stage and I’m delighted to unveil the line-up of global and high street brands, returning favourites and exciting new concepts that have secured their positions and set to open for business later this autumn.”
Question Time Evening Business in Essex Date: Thursday 22nd October 2015 Location: Anglian Ruskin Chelmsford Campus, Essex, CM1 1SQ On the evening of the 22nd October 2015 The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and our sponsors will be hosting a Question Time evening at the Anglia Ruskin University campus in Chelmsford. The Question Time event will focus on business in our region and include a number of topics such as business rates, car parking, business development & growth, business support, pensions, national living wage, employment and export to name a few. The panel will consist of a media representative, a local Essex MP, a representative from Essex Police, a business entrepreneur, and a representative from the education sector. For more details please visit www.simboc.com/fsb
For more from around the county and to find the sources to all of these and many more Essex news stories please visit www.businessconnected.co.uk. Business news stories are updated every day.
www.businessconnected.co.uk
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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
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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.
8
5
marketing campaign without a plan so why would you ignore one for a social media campaign?
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Top tweets from last month
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@Birdluckin Next Friday is the 1 year anniversary of @HarlowPros - We cannot believe a year has flown by already! http://www.harlowprofessionals.co.uk
London Southend @SouthendAirport Sep 21 For the third year running @WhichUK names @SouthendAirport the ‘Best in Britain’ - congratulations to our staff!
Heart Essex @HeartEssex Sep 11 Congratulations Martin and Su - 15 years of waking up Essex! x #HeartBreakfast
Backhouse Solicitors @BackhouseLaw Sep 12 Find out about our starring role on #SkySports on our #Facebook page
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Boost your business with superfast broadband The UK Government’s ambition is for Britain to have the best superfast broadband network in Europe, with minimum download speeds of 24Mbps becoming the new standard. As part of a national programme led by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), the Superfast Essex programme (co-ordinated by Essex County Council), along with delivery partners BT and Gigaclear, is building new broadband infrastructure across the county. So far, the Superfast Essex programme has enabled over 45,000 homes and businesses to access superfast fibre broadband – over one third of the programme’s current target of 120,000. The programme’s ultimate aim is that by 2019, 95% of Essex will have access to superfast broadband.
Harness the power of superfast broadband With many businesses already able to take advantage of faster, more reliable communications with clients and prospects, fibre connectivity is having a massive impact for small and medium sized businesses in particular – helping them enjoy benefits that until now have been reserved for larger corporate enterprises. Superfast fibre can also help you to: • Grow your business globally • Be resource efficient and cost effective • Have a more reliable connection with your clients
SUPERFAST ESSEX
Find out how your business can benefit at www.superfastessex.org/forbusiness To help you make the most of superfast connectivity, look out for our FREE workshops coming up in January and February 2016 on the following topics:
• • • •
Building Financial Resilience Blogging for Business Social Media Strategy for Business Cloud-Based Systems
Find out how to get superfast broadband today
www.superfastessex.org/forbusiness
Do you have a LinkedIn account but need a helping hand to make it work for you? Our bespoke training course will help, this includes: • How to download your contacts to Excel including their email addresses • What to post and when • What groups to join and how to set up a company page • Privacy settings to see who is following you or to hide your profile Plus much more...
We can offer 1-2-1 training or group training to suit your requirements at your offices or our training suite Call today for more details 01702 513113