Business Scene March 2012 by Business Scene

Serving 5,000 deciSion-makerS in and around Peterborough

ESSENTIAL READING FOR LOCAL EXECUTIVE LEADERS

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Inside this issue Latest news and views, including: Lights! Camera! Ouch! Meet the businessman who makes a living from falling down New ingredients for the ‘cookie’ recipe Revised privacy rule will affect firms’ websites Sixty years of work How employment has changed during the Queen’s reign

Losing sleep? The big issues keeping workers awake at night

HEADlines Up close and personal with Mike Lane, the man behind the acclaimed city-based CAMRA Beer Festival

MARCH 2012

ESSENTIAL READING FOR LOCAL EXECUTIVE LEADERS

Welcome ew rules driven by the EU come into force in a few weeks’ time, designed to regulate use of website ‘cookies’. In a nutshell, a cookie is a small memory file a website leaves on a person’s computer, so the next time the person visits that site, his or her details (anything from a delivery address to a dress size) can be quickly and automatically recalled. Those in favour of cookies say they save a lot of time and tedium, reducing the need for online form-filling. Others complain that cookies also store browsing habits and thus prompt tailored behavourial advertising. Some consumers find this disquieting, labelling it privacy invasion akin to Big Brother. And they worry their payment details and passwords might end up in the hands of unscrupulous traders. The new rule means website users will be able to choose whether or not cookies are deployed: businesses running websites in the UK will need the consent of their site visitors in order to store cookies on users’ computers. Ethical business leaders wanting merely to sell products efficiently and promote services effectively may well fume about time-consuming red tape and the increasing complexities of e-commerce, but those websites flouting the regulation will be penalised by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). For many consumers, cookie rules are merely part of corporate minutiae – most of which doesn’t concern them as much it does the chief executive, who lies awake worrying about everything from fragmenting channels and a customer-centric strategy to emotional innovation (see page 7). The majority of consumers view business as a jobs provider (see page 5) and themselves as kings of commerce, with websites as their slaves and computers their cybercastles. To ensure they don’t pull up the drawbridge, turn to page 11 for details of how the law affects your organisation.

The Business Scene Team Publisher Heidi Semple Editor Sally Hooton Sub editor Carol Randall Design Jim Counsell Advertising Charlotte Charlesworth Address: Old School House, Great North Road, Wittering, Peterborough, PE8 6BX

Telephone: +44 (0)1780 783613 Email: info@scenepublishing.co.uk www.thescenemagazine.co.uk

SCENE

News – Business is a ‘force for good’, Brits agree. John Longworth comments on latest research into how local communities benefit from the private sector

Finance expert columnist Nick Ash looks at shareholder agreements and says you should keep your options open

Legal Eagle Jenny Moseley explains new ingredients for the ‘cookie’ recipe and how it will affect businesses

Drive – Motor man Tim Barnes-Clay reports that the Nissan Juke is head-turning and slightly zany

Clicks & Mortar – Diane Smith tells how one city company successfully set up a virtual London office

Webwise – Get to know about SEO, says our digital expert, Stan Nyokas

Workforce – Colin Nottage, our health and safety guru, answers your H&S qustions

Skillset – In the six decades since HM The Queen took the throne, employment statistics have changed dramatically, says a national report. PLUS take time for self-assessment – but not the taxing kind, suggests our skills coach David Grundy

Off Duty – Our tour guide Jane Price explores the most populous island nation in the Caribbean – Cuba

CONTENTS

What’s On – Dates for your diary, PLUS how business leaders can get behind the mayor’s charities

Serving 5,000 executives in and around Peterborough

Campaigner Julie Fernandez highlights ‘blue pound’ power

Dominique Turpin looks at key issues keeping executives awake at night

Businessman Riky Ash frequently sets the film world on fire

Meet Mike Lane: the man behind Peterborough’s famous beer festival

NEWS

MARCH 2012

NEWS Apprenticeship funding unveiled new £6 million round of Government funding has been allocated to support thousands of degree-level higher apprenticeships. The extra cash comes on top of a £25 million boost for the Higher Apprenticeship Fund launched last July by Prime Minister David Cameron. From this month, businesses and training providers can bid for a share of the £6 million fund,

David Cameron.

which will support development of thousands of new higher apprenticeships in sectors including aerospace, energy and renewable technologies. The Prime Minister also announced the opening of the £250 million employer ownership pilot investment fund for bids from businesses in England to support vocational training. Small companies will be offered an incentive of £1,500 to hire their first young apprentices, an initiative which is expected to support up to 40,000 new apprenticeships over the next

year. David Cameron said: “By making apprenticeships a gold standard option for ambitious young people, we are sending a message that technical excellence is as highly valued as academic prowess. “By focusing investment where it is most needed to deliver sustainable growth and offering real ownership of vocational training to employers, we are equipping businesses with the skills they need to rebalance our economy and distribute opportunity more widely.” l Earn and learn – see page 20.

Cash flow under scrutiny Government drive to help business owners get paid on time is being backed by the Forum of Private Business. The forum is joining with commercial credit reference agency, Graydon UK, in researching small firms’ attitudes to managing invoice payments and cash flow. Launched last month, the Government’s Finance Fitness initiative involves a co-ordinated

Intiative launched to end late payment ‘scourge’ set of announcements offering information, guidance and support to aid businesses struggling with late payment, which is an increasing problem that decimates firms’ cash flow. According to a recent

Go purple, city firms told national charity is encouraging businesses in Peterborough to ‘Go Purple!’ for a day and support a special event highlighting the dangers of kidney disease. Kidney Research UK is making its colourful appeal in the run-up to World Kidney Day on Thursday March 8. With 7,000 people in the UK waiting for a kidney and only 2,500 transplants each year, the charity hopes people will help increase awareness about the effects of kidney disease. Professor Neil Turner, chairman of Kidney Research UK, said: “Kidney disease is still largely overlooked as a serious illness so we want World Kidney Day 2012 to make people aware of the condition and its risks. Although it’s a serious message, we want to convey it in

an engaging way through World Kidney Day events and use of the charity’s signature colour: purple.” Local businesses can take part by organising purple-themed events and handing out leaflets about kidney health and organ donation. Emma Long, Kidney Research UK’s fundraising manager for East Anglia, said: “Anyone can participate in World Kidney Day: whether it’s a purple coffee morning or a purple-themed raffle, it doesn’t matter; as long as you’re raising awareness.” Email pictures of events to form part of a World Kidney Day gallery on the charity’s website. The best photo will win £100 of high street shopping vouchers. Email: gopurple@kidneyresearchuk.org or visit: kidneyresearchuk.org/worldkidneyday or email: emmalong@kidneyresearchuk.org

Graydon UK survey, 51 per cent of businesses reported that late payment has become worse during the past Phil Orford. year, with 45 per cent believing it could threaten investments and 20 per cent that it could even affect their ability to continue trading. Phil Orford, the forum’s chief executive, said: “Late payment has long been the scourge of small firms, preventing growth and threatening their very survival – but there are steps business owners can take to minimise the problem. Often, they are not aware how to implement a few practical measures. That’s why the Government’s current drive is so important and, by gauging our members’ views about cash flow, we hope to provide the information necessary to push the prompt payment agenda forward even further.” The forum has produced a new practical Get Paid! guide with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Experian and the Institute of Credit Management. Visit: www.fpb.org

Accountancy in search for class of 2012 Peterborough-based accountancy firm is looking for trainees to take part in its 2012 training scheme. Rawlinsons has up to three vacancies for post A-level students at the firm’s offices in Lincoln Road, starting in September. The trainees will be supported while studying for the Association of Accountancy Technician qualification – the equivalent of a degree – and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) qualifications – leading to them fully qualifying as accountants. Partner Mark Jackson, who oversees the scheme, said: “We’re looking for people with the ambition to become accountants, excellent numeracy skills and commitment to study alongside working.” For details, email: mark.jackson@rawlinsons.co.uk

Entrepreneurs should enter the Dragon’s Den he popular TV programme Dragon’s Den is searching for new entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas for investment. The BBC will be auditioning throughout the coming months. For details, email: dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or visit the site: www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden

‘Make it Great in Britain’ to boost manufacturing campaign has been launched to promote and applaud modern manufacturing and counter the opinion that ‘Britain doesn’t make anything any more’. It will culminate in the Make it in Great Britain exhibition, featuring cutting-edge British manufacturing at the Science Museum in London, to coincide with the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. The campaign will also feature the Make it in Great Britain Challenge, a national competition to find the most innovative British pre-market products, processes and concepts, which will be become part of the Make it in Great Britain exhibition.

Visit:makeitingreatbritain.bis.gov.uk

MARCH 2012

NEWS

Business is ‘a force for good’, Brits agree he overwhelming majority of people believe businesses are ‘good’ for Britain as long as they comply with the law, pay their taxes, and make a profit. The findings, from a survey of more than 2,000 members of the British public carried out by ComRes for the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), show the support of 82 per cent of citizens for British business – and also that 73 per cent believe local businesses benefit their communities. Nearly half believe new or international companies will generate economic growth here in the UK, compared to only a fifth saying this will come from government. The survey also shows Brits are not particularly optimistic about the future: only 14 per cent think the economy will improve in the next 12 months; the majority (67 per cent) believe unemployment will get worse. The research is part of the BCC’s Business is Good for Britain campaign, which launched this month to highlight the role of business as a positive force for UK recovery, success of local communities and individuals.

How the public views business 82 per cent of survey respondents believe businesses that comply with the law, pay their taxes and make a profit are good businesses (65 per cent l

believe this is the case no matter what sector they are in). l 73 per cent agreed that local businesses play an important role in their local community. Chambers of Commerce believe businesses are at the foundation of their local communities and help to create the wealth which allows them to thrive. l More than two-thirds of those surveyed believe a company’s first priority should be their employees, while only 29 per cent believe it should be to their owners and shareholders. This highlights tension between different business objectives, with the public clearly less favourable toward business profits than to provision of employment. l Only 31 per cent believe the public sector is better than the private sector at delivering economic growth and jobs, suggesting that most of the British public consider the private sector to be the UK’s real ‘economic engine’. But 59 per cent agreed with the statement ‘the UK is no longer a major trading nation’. In fact, the UK is the world’s third-largest exporter of services and tenth-largest exporter of

Golfers boost charity coffers A

lmost £3,000 was raised at a Peterborough business’s charity golf day. Every year, Premier Kitchens and Bedrooms stages a golfing competition in aid of charity. Its most recent beneficiary was the NSPCC’s Peterborough Business Support Group, which helps fund valuable support for vulnerable young people in and around the city. More than 30 teams of four took to the greens at Elton Furze on the outskirts of Peterborough. Cash was raised through team entry, a raffle and various competitions staged during the day. Business Support Group chairman Chris Collier, said: “We were thrilled that the NSPCC was

Above: Premier Kitchens and Bedrooms founders Iain and Alison Forsythe present the cheque for £2,910 to the Business Support Group’s chairman Chris Collier (centre). chosen for the occasion. A big thank you to the team at Premier for all their support for the event.”

Above: John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce.

manufactured goods. l The majority of people (54%) believe ‘businesses make a fair contribution to supporting public services’ – although for people aged between 18-34 this dips to 47 per cent. This suggests younger people are more disillusioned with the business community. The public’s prediction for economic growth and how they see businesses’ future role l 79 per cent of respondents believe creating new jobs should be a high priority for UK firms, compared to generating a profit (43 per cent). l Nearly half said new companies and international companies will generate economic growth, while only 20 per cent believed this would come from central government. This result suggests that future government actions must focus on supporting and empowering business growth. l Only 14 per cent of people expect the economy to improve over the course of 2012. This underscores the need to persevere with measures to stimulate business growth, while reducing the deficit. l The majority expect (67%) unemployment to get worse, with only seven per cent expecting improvement. This is in line with the BCC’s latest economic forecast which predicts unemployment will reach 2.77m by the end of this year. John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses up and down the country are

doing their utmost to find new markets and grow their firms, despite the difficult economic challenges they face. “The British public is savvy and recognises that business is a force for good. They are the ones that live and work in business every day. But it is those in government, the policymakers and the commentators that we need to convince. “Business is at the centre of the economy, and only the private sector will drive recovery and help deliver public services, like education, healthcare and pensions. It is the foundation of local communities, creating the wealth that helps them thrive, providing hard-working people with purpose and self respect, and employment and training for those who want to learn. “More than two-thirds of people said the private sector is better at delivering growth than the public sector. While the public sector has a vital role to play, the private sector is our real economic engine. “It is worrying though, that more than half said Britain is no longer a major trading nation. There are thousands of fantastic companies in this country, both in manufacturing and services, that bust this myth. And there are thousands of others who have products ready for the export market, but they need support and encouragement to break into new markets and boost their orders overseas. “The British public thinks job creation should be a high priority for UK businesses. But businesses can’t do this alone. The Government must create the best possible environment to allow firms to grow. Cutting burdensome red tape and implementing its promised credit easing measures would give companies the confidence they need to take on more staff. “What’s more, it is concerning that many members of the public think profit should not be one of business’s top priorities. But without profits, businesses can’t generate employment, pay more in tax or expand into new markets. Profit and success are an essential part of enterprise and our future prospects.”

NEWS

MARCH 2012

Chambers raise hospice funds embers of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce have raised £2,684 for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, by purchasing raffle tickets at a series of events throughout 2011. The charity works with the NHS to support patients, their families, staff and volunteers at Arthur Rank House, which provides specialist palliative care to adults in Cambridgeshire. Dr Lynn Morgan, chief executive of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, said: “The generosity of companies in Cambridgeshire is truly fantastic and this will be a great help to patients and their families.” Above: John Bridge OBE, chief executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, presents the cheque to Dr Lynn Morgan.

Don’t miss out on the ‘blue pound’ local businesswoman claims companies may be missing out on vital sales by failing to cater for people with disabilities. Julie Fernandez – an award-winning disability rights campaigner – says it’s time companies acknowledged the power of the ‘blue pound’; a phrase coined with reference to the blue badge used by disabled people. An actress starring in TV shows such as The Office and Eldorado, Julie started her business venture last summer with award-winning jewellery designer Sarah Payne, who is based in Hampton. Together they have transformed their craft centre in Ellington, near Huntingdon – Bee Crafty – into a centre for people of all ages and crafting abilities. It features a fully stocked craft

shop, workshop and demonstration area and has full disabled access and toilets. Julie said: “So many businesses really are failing to spot a terrific opportunity – the chance to make their shop or premises fully accessible to people with disabilities. There are currently more than ten million disabled people in the UK. “That’s a lot of opportunities that many businesses can ill-afford to miss given today’s tough economic climate.” One of Julie and Sarah’s key priorities when launching Bee Crafty was to ensure their premises was fully accessible to disabled people. Having lived with brittle bone disease since childhood, Julie knows from personal experience what it’s like to be unable to access a building or shop because of their

Left: Actress and award-winning disability rights campaigner, local businesswoman Julie Fernandez. Inset: Sarah Payne. inadequate facilities for disabled people. She said: “So many businesses really haven’t done enough to make their premises disabled-friendly. Very often, this means we can’t get in to spend our money. “I am often with someone when I shop, so that means two people who can’t spend!” Even simple changes can make a difference and don’t have to cost a fortune, she added. “There is money out there to help you pay for the major changes – so please investigate. It could be a very smart move for your business.” beeingcrafty.co.uk

Need finance? Here’s how to get it inance for growth or for a new venture is a critical issue for entrepreneurs – and a seminar being staged in Market Deeping this month will show them how to secure it successfully. The seminar at the Eventus Business Centre, Sunderland Road, Northfields Industrial Estate, is designed to provide a broad overview of the key issues around seeking finance: how to prepare the business case and pitch it to potential investors/funders and what’s involved in the process. The event is recommended for majority shareholders and directors of privately-owned businesses seeking finance for growth and also for private individuals seeking finance for entrepreneurial acquisition or start-up ventures. During the seminar, practical advice will be on offer for maximising opportunity and minimising obstacles around funding ambitions, such as: l What are the appropriate sources of finance for each stage of your business venture? l How do you best prepare your business case and funding plan? l The importance of securing intellectual property l Preparing for due diligence l What grants are there out there for you? l How do you find prospective investors?

What about your presentation and the elevator pitch? l How do you manage the process (and your expectations)? Doug l Timetables, project Garforth. management and external advisers – how do you pull it together? Also under discussion will be the ten most common mistakes made in seeking finance and tips on how to avoid them. There will be opportunities for networking before and after the hour-and-half-long presentation. Tickets are £20 plus VAT per person. Presenter Doug Garforth, director of Route to Funding, has an extensive background operating at CEO, main board director and senior management levels within both the public and private sectors, within small, medium and large enterprises. With experience across all aspects of business in numerous industry sectors, his operational management and consultancy roles have included extensive experience of business restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, funding, business brokerage and the post-acquisition management of transitional change. To book, visit the website: www.eventbrite.co.uk or call 0115 8229028. Or email for details: info@routetofunding.co.uk l

MARCH 2012

COVER STORY

Losing sleep? There are five major issues currently facing companies and keeping senior executives awake at night, says Dominique Turpin. ight now, of course, the health of the global economy and unpredictable exchange rates are top of the list of concerns keeping executives from sleeping soundly. But, in my conversations with business leaders around the world, I’m also hearing that more and more marketing-related issues are taking up senior management time. Brands, customer insights and social media are not just matters for marketing departments. They are vital business issues that are

increasingly being discussed at executive level, too. I would highlight five issues, in particular: 1. Customer focus Although not a new issue, this is still high on everyone’s agenda. And it will stay there because – as we all know – implementing a customer-centric culture is not simple. It’s easy to say: “I love my customers,” but it’s trickier to show it. Having a smart marketing strategy is not enough to gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the

Dominique Turpin is the Nestlé Professor and president of the Switzerland-based international business school, IMD. He co-directs IMD’s Orchestrating Winning Performance program.

market. What is likely to make the difference is well-executed implementation – something companies still struggle with. A second aspect of customer focus is to provide the ‘right’ product or service to the market. Nobody wrote an email one day to Steve Jobs saying they needed an iPhone or iPad. Similarly, very few business leaders ask themselves: “What are my customer headaches?” But this is such a good starting point. If you can provide a product or service that solves a customer headache, you can be sure to be on the right track. Thirdly, in many cases, companies still continue to be organised by products and not by customers. Big firms such as Nestlé are trying to change that, but much more needs to be done in this area. Ultimately, customer-centricity is about creating the right corporate environment to ensure that everyone in the company has the incentive – not just money – to add value to the customer. 2. Polarisation of segments in developed markets Since the start of the economic crisis, consumer behaviour in developed markets has become more polarised. High-end and low-end

categories are growing in volume, and everything in the middle is increasingly being squeezed. In other words, western and Japanese companies are telling us the consumer wants the best or the cheapest. Look at the prices of espresso machines, for example. A few years ago they ranged from €100 to €800. Now they go from €50 to €1,350 and volumes are up at the low end and the upper end. It’s a similar story with cars, beers, ice creams or women’s underwear: Victoria’s Secret is booming, cheap imports from India and China are flooding the markets and all the brands in the middle are getting squeezed. The value proposition of mid-range products is less and less attractive, due to the fact that their quality is not a differentiator any more. Consumers are happy with ‘good enough’ quality products at attractive prices. 3. Branding and innovation In a world where every Chinese factory is already ISO-certified, the ultimate differentiator is your brand. Brands are built with many components, but a key element Continued on page 8 >

COVER STORY

MARCH 2012

Continued from page 7

of brand strategy is innovation. Indeed, innovation is the bloodstream of a great brand. If you don’t innovate, you run the risk of being quickly perceived as ‘dusty’ and the competition will leapfrog you. Branding is also the key to building customer loyalty. While in the 1990s measuring customer satisfaction was on every marketer’s agenda, many have come to realise that customer satisfaction alone is not enough any more. This is the reason more and more companies (mine, too) have embraced the concept of the NPS (Net Promoter Score). You might like driving your Toyota very much, but the ultimate question is whether you would recommend Toyota to a colleague or friend. This willingness to recommend is

the strongest indicator of your own intention to buy Toyota again and it’s the best way of measuring consumer loyalty to a brand. Since competing on price is a difficult strategy to sustain, the other challenge is to build your brand with as many emotions as possible. Without emotions, all you have is a product. The more emotion you put into a product, the more iconic the brand will become. 4. Challenges from new global players The world’s centre of economic gravity is shifting from developed markets to emerging ones and, in the next five to ten years, we will see many more global brands coming from fast-growing economies. Look at China,

with AIGO (potentially the next Samsung?), Geely (the new Toyota?) and Lining (the next Adidas or Nike?). Or look at Latin America, with fast-rising brands such as La Martina in Argentina (the next Ralph Lauren?), Havaianas in Brazil (the next Crocs?) and Kidzania in Mexico (the next Disney?). Emerging-market brands need to provide something that western brands do not offer, which is very challenging; but it is happening as demonstrated by the examples above. Emerging brands are starting to challenge their more developed rivals, not only in the value segment but also in the premium space and with a very focused value proposition. They are especially competitive in areas such as technology

The more emotion you put into a product, the more iconic the brand will become.

and fashion, where tastes change quickly and people are always looking for new products and lifestyles. 5. Social media and the digital consumer Many companies are struggling to understand and exploit social media. Even big and famous FMCG firms struggle to really understand what is going on. This is partly because many marketers are often 50-plus, while the majority of social media users are teenagers. Moreover, you can’t really learn about social media by reading books, because things have already changed by the time the research is conducted and the book comes out. What should your company do? I would suggest three things. First, get yourself involved in social media and understand the people who use them, because they are your customers and clients of tomorrow. Second, get young people to lead your efforts in social media marketing and trust them, even if it may be a bit difficult at the beginning. Third, don’t forget that many senior consumers also use Facebook and Skype to stay in touch with their children and grandchildren. A related challenge is how to reach digital consumers most effectively as mobile applications become more sophisticated and widespread. We are seeing more Augmented Reality (AR), where consumers can see an advertiser’s video by downloading a mobile app and using it to scan a code on a traditional print ad. IMD is one of the global AR pioneers, and we’re working on a number of innovative developments in this area. These are exciting and challenging times and companies that can get to grips with these five issues will certainly earn themselves a big advantage in the marketplace.

MARCH 2012

BUSINESS BREAK

BUSINESS BREAK Lights! Camera! Ouch! iky Ash is not your conventional businessman. Not for him an office, a desk or a briefcase. Neither does he require a shop window, a factory floor or any staff. Instead, he relies solely on himself – literally. Riky is a stuntman. What the Americans would call a fall guy. A skilled action man; he is highly trained but appears on screen to be risking life and limb, stunt doubling for the likes of Ronnie Corbett, Norman Wisdom, Celia Imree, Fiona Bruce, Paul McGann, Ralph Little, Indira Joshi, Brian Murphy, Hermione Norris, Griff Rhys Jones, Stephen K Amos, Dani Harmer and many more. A qualified television and film stuntman and stunt co-ordinator, a member of Equity and a drama school graduate, Riky entered this potentially injurious world with a background in martial arts – he is currently a Sixth Dan at Shaolin Kung-Fu. Super fit, he joined the Equity Stunt Register in 1993 and has been working ever since, taking part in more than 500 productions and around 1,000 stunts. He featured in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book Of Records, as the world’s most versatile stuntman – successfully and dramatically falling off everything from extreme heights to horses. Born in Nottingham in 1967, he moved to the Peterborough region six years ago. He said: “Stunt work is one of the most

dangerous jobs ever, although the Equity Stunt Register does have the best safety record in the world: we are professionals who are constantly training to perfect our skills. “To be a stuntman you have to be in peak physical fitness: you can perform at any age as long as you are fit and strong. We have stuntmen in their 60s who still work. I am also a co-ordinator and can set up the stunts and look after artists’ safety. So, in my senior years, I can migrate over to more co-ordinating work. However, I love doing the stunts myself and, at 44, I am in top physical condition, so will continue performing as long as I enjoy it.” Watching some of Riky’s show reels (www.fallingforyou.tv) can make the viewer cringe at the thought of the crunch. But Riky has not taken too many bad falls. He said: “I haven’t had as many injuries as one would think, although there have been lots of cuts and bruises! My worst injury was while performing a 70-foot ‘dead man’s fall’ from a tower block in east London, for the ITV

drama ‘Lenny Blue’. I landed very badly and had a suspected broken back. Fortunately, being supple from my Kung-Fu training saved me and my injuries were muscular. But it did lead to some years of physiotherapy and I suffer lower back pain constantly from that injury. Yet, it is the nature of the beast when you do stunt work: it is very dangerous!” The work has taken Riky around the world, filming in various exotic locations on land and also out at sea, in caves and on top of extreme heights.

Above: Riky Ash undertakes a spectacular cliff jump. Left: Riky sets the stuntman world ablaze. Far left: Riky drives through a brick wall in a TV commercial. Bottom left: Riky doubled for Norman Wisdom in the hit series ‘Last of the Summer Wine’.

But, aside from his screen work, he is also a motivational speaker. Called ‘Successfully You’ (www.successfully-you.tv), it’s a business which he says is “very busy and much less dangerous!”. He has even found time to write a book: ‘With Confidence’, a self-help tome promoting positivity. In 2009, Riky featured alongside Richard Branson and Bill Gates as examples of global success stories, in the business book: ‘Secret Of My Success’, by Jamie X Oliver. Not bad for someone who ‘falls’ so often!

Get your enterprise featured on our Business Break page. Email your details to: info@businessscene.co.uk

LEGAL EAGLES

MARCH 2012

LEGAL EAGLES Employment Business bears brunt of cybercrime law update T half-day training seminar on manging sickness absence in the workplace is being staged in Birmingham on March 15. Managing sickness absence is one of the most difficult tasks facing businesses and this practical course will cover the legal background to the issue and provide suggestions on how to manage it effectively. The seminar will cover: l Practical tips for managing sickness absence, including long and short-term absence. l When to get and how to use medical evidence and fit notes. l Sick pay, holiday pay and PHI cover. l Dealing with malingering and regular short-term absences (the ‘Friday Monday’ syndrome). l Disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2012 and stress at work claims. For full details, visit: www.symposium-training.co.uk

he cost of cybercrime to the UK economy amounts to £27 billion per year, a Goverment select committee reports. This figure breaks down to a cost of £3.1 billion for the individual, £2.2 billion for the Government, but a whopping £21 billion – the lion’s share – for business. The report says businesses suffer from high levels of IP theft – estimated at around £9.2 billion per annum – and industrial espionage. It adds: “In all probability and in line with our worst-case scenarios, the real impact of cybercrime is likely to be much greater.” Calling on the Government to do more to educate people about protecting themselves online and advocating a major publicity campaign to

do so, the report revealed: Online identify theft in 2011 cost individuals £1.7 billion. l Online scams cost individuals £1.4 billion. l Scareware (where cyber criminals trick users into downloading harmful software) cost individuals £30 million. The report cited statistics from McAfee that 38 per cent of respondents to the latest Norton Cybercrime Report had suffered a malware incident. Malware was the most common attack vector, followed by online credit card fraud and network profile hacking. Andrew Miller, chairman of the select committee, said: “Government departments need to realise that better public information about computer safety could save huge numbers of people the hassle of having their personal details stolen.” l

The report concluded: “Businesses need to look again at their defences to determine whether their information is indeed well protected. Encouraging companies in all sectors to make investments in improved cyber security, based on improved risk assessments, is likely to considerably reduce the economic impact of cybercrime on the UK.” Kevin Wright, of Ely-based IT Governance, said the report would act as a catalyst for government to overhaul how it treats cybercrime. He added: “Cybercrime grows in parallel with development of technology. But those in power lag behind in education, training and adequate policing. “Some say cybercriminals will always be ahead of the game – that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to bridge the gap.”

Keeping your options open ross options and shareholder agreements: every business should have them. But most don’t. When you set up a business, there are a million and one things to do and inevitably some things get pushed to the back burner. Shareholders and Cross Option agreements are prime examples of things we all should have, but never get round to. I was sitting with an accountant the other day and asked him one of my favourite questions: “What happens to the business if something happens to you?” He turned and tapped the desk of his office manager and said: “He gets it.” My second question threw him off balance: “How will that happen? Your shares will go to your wife!” Cross options: At some point, a business may be confronted by the critical illness or death of one of its founders. A cross option agreement gives

surviving shareholders the right (but not the obligation) to require the deceased shareholder’s personal representatives to sell the shares to them. It also gives the personal representatives the right (but not the obligation) to require surviving shareholders to buy the deceased shareholder’s shares. By combining these options in a single agreement, each side has the option of ‘forcing’ a sale of the shares. Cross option agreements should also oblige each party to insure their lives under a life insurance policy for a value which reflects the value of their shares. The proceeds of the policy should be held on a trust for the other shareholders who will be the beneficiaries. These proceeds provide remaining shareholders with the cash to buy the shares of the deceased shareholder. The structure of the cross

Shareholder expertise from Nick Ash Nick Ash is director, will and probate services, Tancreds. Email: nick.ash@tancreds.co.uk or call: 01778 341490. Details here: www.tancreds.co.uk

option is vitally important for taxation planning purposes. Tax relief for both inheritance tax and capital gains tax can be lost if the documentation is not properly structured. Shareholders agreements: These are critical to the running of a business if a dispute arises. A shareholder’s agreement is a contract between shareholders of a company, in which they agree how the company will be run. They all agree they will use their voting power in the company to ensure the terms of the agreement are complied with for as long as they are all shareholders. A shareholders’ agreement should be considered

when there are between two and 20 shareholders in a company. Shareholder agreements vary, but the typical agreement is designed to protect all parties against a majority using voting power to the detriment of the others. Without the agreement, a company is under the control of those who hold a majority of the votes at a directors’ or shareholders’ meeting. Majority decisions are fine for day-to-day matters, but most shareholders want to have their say or be able to block a major change. A shareholders’ agreement will specify decisions which require unanimity.

MARCH 2012 LEGAL EAGLES

New ingredients for the ‘cookie’ recipe ith every passing day, we’re learning more about how we might deal with the new ‘Cookie Law’ (actually, a revision of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003). And it isn’t just about cookies, but all technology which stores information on the equipment of a user, whether it is web beacons, flash cookies, HTML5 local storage, bugs or any other widgets. It’s the law and, however difficult, expensive and time-consuming, it’s going to become strictly compliant: it’s not going away. The law came into force last May and, thankfully, the UK regulator – cognisant of the difficulties – gave us a year’s grace . . . but doesn’t expect us to sit around doing nothing. The ‘half-term report’ from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) summed it up by comparing the implementation so far with a schoolteacher’s favourite clichés: ‘could do better’ and ‘must try harder’. So, what’s the ICO advice, in a nutshell? 1. Check what type of cookies and similar technologies you use and how you use them. 2. Assess how intrusive your use of cookies is. 3. Decide what solution to

obtain consent will be best in your circumstances. So, not prescriptive, which some find unhelpful and others, like me, are thanking their lucky stars for because, in the true spirit of British law, we are allowed our own interpretation. We also have a bit more fortune than some of our European counterparts. The ICO says that prior consent must be obtained ‘where possible’, realising that it may take a bit of engagement before you can gain consent, and allowance has been given by the ICO for ‘implied consent’ neither of which appear often, if at all, in other European interpretations. Implied consent is not a panacea, particularly for the most intrusive of cookies, which are likely to be third party cookies planted with (or without) your knowledge on your users’ terminals. It’s the third party cookies that are at the far end of the spectrum and will take the most effort to deal with in a compliant fashion. And dealing with those is likely to mean new contractual terms with all of your suppliers and potentially arrangements with their suppliers, too. Whatever happens, you can bet your bottom dollar that the website owner is likely to

Jenny Moseley – a director at Opt-4 (opt-4.co.uk) – explains how the new privacy rules surrounding electronic communications affect businesses. be held ultimately responsible. At the near end of the same spectrum are ‘strictly necessary’ cookies that are categorised as cookies required to run the site; keeping tabs on what’s in your shopping trolley or not having to complete registration details again to get on to your online bank account. But, don’t think that you can expand the ‘strictly necessary’ exemption too widely; it’s ‘strictly necessary’ for the user and not for you. Helpful guides Bodies like the Internet Advertising Bureau, the International Chamber of Commerce (UK) and the UK Direct Marketing Association are publishing helpful guides about icons that the user will eventually become accustomed to, definitions of the main types of cookie and how to gain consent, whether it is ‘implied’, ‘meaningful’ or ‘explicit’ and how to explain the function of the different types of cookie to the user. And there’s the rub. Consumer education is going to be at the root of gaining consent and what we don’t need is a plethora of pop-ups, banners,

icons and text that mean different things. If we are to get into the hearts and minds of consumers and get them to accept that our sites are transparent and responsibly run, then we need consistency. But we face an uphill struggle. Research by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, commissioned by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport, tells us that 41 per cent of those surveyed were unaware of the different types of cookies; 37 per cent had heard of cookies but did not understand how they work or how to manage them on their computer. We can take some comfort if we follow the ICO’s updated guidance which says, in summary, “. . . come May 26, when our 12-month grace period ends, there will not be a wave of knee-jerk formal enforcement actions taken against those who are not yet compliant, but are trying to get there”. So, get auditing, assessing and developing solutions to fit your website activity, now. You won’t get it all done, but you won’t be at the top of the ICO enforcement list either.

MOTORING

MARCH 2012

DRIVE usiness Scene’s motoring columnist TIM BARNES-CLAY is in two minds about the Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T Tekna he has been road testing.

Head-turning admire Nissan for being different. It stands out from the crowd at the moment because it has dared to produce a car which is definitely like Marmite; you either love it or you hate it.

The Juke is certainly an odd vehicle. At first glance, it doesn’t appear fast, but it is; it doesn’t give the impression of being comfortable, but it is. Do you see where I’m going here?

The Nissan Juke: a little motor which is big on style.

As I write this, I still can’t make up my mind whether I like the car or not! It’s fun to drive – mainly because it zips away from a standing start easily, albeit in a highly-strung manner. On the other hand, I don’t like the lack of load space because, as a dad of two, I need a boot which is bigger than the Juke’s. That said, if you’re going away on holiday or business, it is adequate for your flight case and your partner’s travel case – as long as the luggage is small and rectangular. The Juke is a mixed bag really. The two-wheel-drive model I tested could easily work for someone who wants a slightly zany company car to stick out from the convoy of German executive models on the daily commute. It is also an ideal vehicle for pure leisure; if you’re into towing, this little motor will pull up to 1200 kg

MARCH 2012 MOTORING

Tim Barnes-Clay

It stands out from the corporate crowd, is innovative, dynamic and has emotive appeal. But does he like it? Well, yes . . . and no!

and slightly zany (braked). And there is also a four-wheel-drive version available which will, in wintry or muddy rural surroundings, give plenty of extra grip. But, whatever the reason for driving it, you’ll find the car is definitely one that draws looks. So what is the Juke all about? Well, the idea is that it brings all the benefits of the popular Qashqai into a more compact package. It is what’s known as a ‘crossover’ vehicle, because Nissan has merged the rugged appeal of an SUV with the emotive appeal of a sports car. As the fourth such model in Nissan’s European range, the car injects some much-needed dynamism into the small car segment, offering British motorists an alternative to the traditional, uninspiring hatchback. It seems that innovation is central to every part of the Juke’s design and, inside, you are greeted with the ‘Nissan

Above, the Juke in profile and (below) central console detail.

Dynamic Control System’. This is a central command and display module like no other; it allows you to alter dynamic drive settings as well as to easily control functions such as climate control. What’s more, the system adopts different displays, colours and h 134 mp : d functions depending e e p s l Max cs on the mode selected. h: 8.0 se p m l o 2 tr -6 e .9 l0 turbo p mpg: 40 v d 6 It all adds to the fun 1 e r in e b l Com 4 cylind 00 rpm of being behind the 1618 cc 6 : 5 e t in a g 8 n 8 lE 200 rpm (bhp): 1 -5 r 0 e 0 wheel of this 0 w 2 o t p : 177 a l Max 1200 kg ue (Ib/ft) ) nonconformist, yet d rq e k to x ra a lM eight (b very capable, car. towing w l Max The Juke on test 9 g/km 5 d 1 a : 2 ro O lC 5 on the here, in flagship e: £18,09 l Pric ‘Tekna’ trim, has enough room for four and, with its rent √ 1.6 turbo and 188 l Diffe k√ horses under the l Quic √ fortable bonnet, it’ll l Com X undoubtedly set all l Boot

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occupants’ pulses racing. With a 0-62 mph sprint of 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 134 mph, you can feel that Nissan meant this car to have a sporting, hot-hatch character. It does feel slightly skittish and edgy, but that just adds to the entertainment. You might think then that this petrol-powered version of the Juke is a juice-guzzler. Well,

surprisingly, it’s not – it returns a very reasonable 40.9mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 159g/km. The Juke is manufactured alongside the Qashqai, Qashqai+2 and Note, at Nissan’s high-tech manufacturing facility in Sunderland. The 1.6 DIG-T Tekna will set you back £18,095 on the road.

CLICKS&MORTAR

MARCH 2012

CLICKS&MORTAR Setting up a virtual London office ne city firm has been preparing for a successful 2012; aiming to increase turnover and expand into London . . . virtually. As part of its expansion plans, health and safety specialist RSP Safety Services – of Gravel Walk, Peterborough – has opened a ‘virtual’ London office. The company first put the infrastructure in place to enable the new base to be set up: calls are automatically transferred to its Peterborough headquarters and mail sent on by a service company. RSP’s director of training, Diane Smith, said the expansion was “an obvious next step which we have been planning for some time”. She continued: “We already had technology, back-up systems, a powerful server and Cisco IP

phones in place.” There have been other developments at RSP with London-based clients in mind: “We have brought in video based e-learning for fire safety and other e-learning packages for computer workstations, manual handling and stress awareness. These solutions are really popular and are ideal for most of our new London-based office worker clients.” She adds: “We are particularly excited about the new web-based health and safety management system as we have been looking for such a system for the last 12 years. It allows companies to have improved control as all records and documents are stored together, including training records and inspections.” The company has also

helped delegates achieve top marks in an internationally recognised exam. Lisa Childs of Diane Smith. Widget UK in Stevenage and Michael Curtis, Rachel McIntyre and Rachel Duggan from Letchworth-based SMT-Sybex, all achieved a merit pass in the CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health) Level 3 Health and Safety in the Workplace exam. The qualification, which should be refreshed every three years, provides delegates with a clear understanding of why their organisation has health and safety policies and procedures, how they relate to each other and the law and best practice. For more about RSP, visit the website: www.rspsafety.co.uk

Stop the leak with e-plumbing lumbers should turn to the Internet to garner more customers and boost business. A new infographic to help plumbers get online has been launched by Yell: ‘Stop the leak’ highlights the opportunity for plumbers to market themselves better by having a website. It also outlines the active customer base they may miss out on if they do not adapt to the online world. Google statistics show that there are 823,000 searches for the keyword ‘plumbers’ nationwide, every month, so those without a website could be missing out on business. More details here: marketing.yell.com

MARCH 2012 CLICKS&MORTAR

’Clicks and bricks’ SEO: why it’s vital blur boundaries as for all businesses retailers go mobile L he value of mobile retail marketing will reach $15 billion globally by 2012 as digital adspend moves to mobile and mobile coupons gain acceptance. This is a growth of 50 per cent over 2011. That’s the finding of a report from Juniper Research, which reveals that the smartphone and, more recently, the tablet, have increased the capabilities of both the modern shopper and the mobile retail marketer. Businesses now have new marketing channels to attract the mobile shopper but, equally, the shopper has more access to competitive product and pricing information before making a purchase. Also, traditional boundaries between physical (‘bricks and mortar’) retailing and online ‘clicks’ retailing are blurring as mobile bridges the gap; fundamentally disrupting the ecosystem with a new breed of ‘clicks and mortar’ retailing initiatives emerging. But the report stressed the importance of mobile marketers using the most appropriate channels to connect with the mobile shopper and the danger

of assuming the mobile app is the answer to every requirement. It also stressed the need to obtain subscriber opt-in to gain trust and David Snow. ongoing loyalty. The report’s co-author, David Snow, said: “Mobile retailing is undergoing rapid change. We are starting to see an ‘arms race’, as the power of the mobile channel equips both the shopper and the retailer with capabilities they never had before. Each side has to keep up with the other and gain an advantage in order to clinch the purchase transaction in their favour.” Other findings from the report include: l Mobile point of sale technology and Near Field Communication (NFC) Proximity Marketing are areas of rapid innovation. l Mobile retail marketing spend in North America and Western Europe is accelerating faster than in the Far East and China. The Mobile Retail Marketing white paper is available here: www.juniperresearch.com

Homes sales prompt M donations arket Deeping-based Comptons Property Agents has started to donate money for every house it sells, committing to give between £100 and £200 to charity each time a sale completes. The initiative launched last September and has attracted almost 60 charitable fund members across Peterborough, Stamford, Marketing Deeping and beyond. Members include sporting groups such as Deeping Rugby Union Football Club, charities including Shine and Peterborough Streets, and community groups like Deepings Community Trust. Those selling a house through Comptons are given a list of fund members and, after the sale is complete, are asked to pick one to receive a grant of £100 from

Comptons’ profits. Those who state one of the charitable members at the start of the home sales process, will see the donation doubled to £200. Becky Compton, from Comptons Property Agents, said: “People really want to support their local community and if someone is selling their home, Comptons and our charitable fund provides something different which will directly benefit dozens of local organisations. We’re glad to have started the process of awarding grants after receiving so many applications from groups wanting to become a member.” Call Comptons on 01778 343417 for further details.

ast February, Google decided to improve the user experience by implementing the ‘Panda’ algorithm update. This was to make sure that the most relevant content is presented to web users when they are searching for a specific topic, rather than just the content that has most backlinks.

IT expertise by Stan Nyokas Many businesses believe that having lots of backlinks will put you on the first page of Google, but good content with fewer backlinks will also do well on that first page. Before the Panda update, the Google search engine worked by computing the significance of a webpage on the amount of ‘votes’ it received and this was translated in the form of inbound links to a specific page. Google also analyses the significance of webpages that take part in the voting process. Consequently, pages which are themselves ahead in the rankings are very important – they carry more authority and help make other pages they link to important. One factor to note here is that Google’s technology doesn’t involve human intervention in any way. It uses a secret algorithm to study and rank the information gathered by Google ‘bots’

(robots) from all over the Internet, for the ranking of pages. But there is much more to this process than just inbound links. Unlike alternatives, such as Bing or Yahoo, Google is an Internet search engine that is hypertext-based: it evaluates all the content on each website and factors in fonts, paragraphs and the precise positions of terms around the page. At the moment, Google is putting the maximum focus on the quality of the content, its uniqueness and the position of the hyperlink (contextual anchor) in the text as key criteria for ranking a page in the search. This is done by examining all information displayed on every webpage. So, backlinks are no longer the most important factor in search engine optimisation; the content is. How often your website is updated is also important. The Google query process Google has a simple three-step procedure for handling a query submitted in its search box. When the query is entered, the web server transmits it to the index server – which lists all content gathered by various Google ‘bots’. This is similar to the index of a book. The query then proceeds onto the document servers, which retrieve saved pages on the topic being sought. Short page explanations or snippets are then produced to match the query. All these results are returned to the user in less than a second! Google updates the index by recalculating the Page Rank (named after Larry Page, Google co-founder, who created this ranking algorithm) of every webpage they have indexed. The time throughout the update – a few weeks: the index is massive – is called the Google Dance. Google will be deploying another big change in their algorithm in the coming weeks.

Stanislas Nyokas is founder of iTotalMarketing, Peterscourt, City Road, Peterborough. Call 01733 294551. www.itotalmarketing.co.uk

WORKFORCE

MARCH 2012

WORKFORCE Windows firm has quality code certificate of quality has been awarded to a Stamford-based independent double glazing specialist. TGUK Windows has joined the Trust Mark Certificate scheme, which conducts onsite inspections then approves and endorses reputable and trustworthy tradespeople. Based in Scotgate, TGUK Windows director Simon Twiddy, said: “This scheme – part of an organisation licensed by the Government and supported by consumer protection groups – gives peace of mind to households.” The Trustmark accreditation scheme ensures companies sign up to a recognised code of practice.

I’m an employee, get me out of here! Team-building turns workers off, says study e may be a nation of good sports, but most British workers think company team-building events can be excruciatingly awkward and don’t help improve how they work with colleagues. A survey by Vodafone UK and YouGov suggests employees would prefer to be able to communicate with each other better at work rather than having to build rapport via shared adrenaline-rush experiences or in ‘trust’ exercises. The research among more than 1,000 British employees uncovered examples of silly activities, including enduring bikini-clad ‘bed baths’ and massages from colleagues, holding lingerie parties and

eating crickets as part of a ‘bush tucker trial’ style event. While the majority of workers surveyed (66 per cent) have been made to do some form of team-building activity, more than half (54 per cent) don’t feel that doing more would help them work better with their colleagues. Peter Kelly, enterprise director at Vodafone UK, said: “British companies are spending a huge amount of effort in building more effective teams. This research confirms that people place more value on open, collaborative and flexible ways of working than one-off exercises. Many genuine team-building activities can be valuable, but ultimately businesses need to get the basics right – focus on how employees

work day-to-day and give staff the tools they need to be able to do their job best.” According to the survey, adrenaline experiences like speed-boating and bungee jumping are considered the least effective activities. Most effective are social events like going out for a drink or a meal, volunteering and charity work and a more supportive atmosphere at work.

MARCH 2012

Digital media skills: demand outstrips supply here is an increasing for in-house staff is demand for digital increasing in these marketing specialists in cost-conscious times. the Peterborough jobs She continued: “It is market, according to a trend we are seeing in city-based agency, Anne other parts of the country, Corder Recruitment. too, where marketing Recruitment partner, technology, and demand Wendy Deaton, said: for it, is outpacing the “We are getting more supply of trained staff to and more requests from fill positions. We are companies, both being briefed on large and small, more and more of for people with a these types of background in roles as digital marketing companies out as businesses there struggle recognise the to find the growing right calibre importance of this Wendy Deaton. of people. area of marketing. “There seems to But there definitely seems be endless seminars and to be a shortage of workshops focusing on candidates with relevant the benefits of digital experience in and around media to companies and the Peterborough area.” why they should be Digital marketing, engaging in this form which incorporates search of marketing, but a engine optimisation, distinct lack of training Google analytics, pay per to meet the demand for click advertising and the in-house staff. whole range of social “Given that media is media, means companies one of the key sectors in can now measure much Peterborough’s economic more accurately whether growth story, it is their marketing activity surprising that we should is working. see this training and Thus, the demand recruitment dilemma.”

WORKFORCE

Your health and safety questions answered Colin Nottage has practical advice nce again, there have been some fantastic responses to this column and some of them I am able to print! Michael has just started an IT business in Spalding and wrote to see what his health/safety responsibilities were. To begin with, you do not have to do too much. If you are employing fewer than five people, the paperwork burden is reduced. Over that figure, I recommend you talk to a health and safety professional. Most quality advisors will meet – free – with no obligation. But back to Michael’s question – you need to look into the following: Risk assessment – Think about your place of work, what can cause harm and what to do about it. Keep the assessment simple; your main hazards are electricity, display screen equipment and sitting at the desk for too long. Electricity – If your equipment is less than five years old, I don’t think you have too much to worry about. There is a need for Portable Appliance Testing for some equipment, but it usually does not need to be annually for computers. Office environments can be three-to five years between tests. Visually check the device and, if there is obvious damage, don’t use it and check to make sure your plugs and sockets are RCD protected. Display screen equipment – Get your workstation comfortable; clear all the clutter from on top and under your desk.

Make sure your screen and chair are adjustable and have your eyeline into the centre of the screen. Turn the screen away from the window or put some blinds up to minimise glare. Finally, drink plenty of water. This will mean you have to go to the loo and you have to get up and move around! Another question came from Jim, who has been working in Peterborough for many years. He has some maintenance work that needs to be completed on his property and wondered what he needed to check when choosing a contractor. My advice: get a good reference or a recommendation from people you trust. Also, look a bit further – make sure they have employers’ and public liability insurance and ensure they provide quality risk assessments and method statements for the work. Ask them to demonstrate employee competence if they are using plant or equipment and, if they employee more than five people, ask for their health and safety policy. Generally, the more effort you put into contractor selection the better the job runs. For a template for a display screen assessment, risk assessment or contractor selection, contact me.

With a background in engineering and manufacturing, Colin Nottage runs Stamford and Bristol-based consultancy Safety Horizon: colin.nottage@safetyhorizon.com or Freephone 0845 689 0075. www.safetyhorizon.com

SKILLSET

MARCH 2012

SKILLSET Top marks for ‘earn and learn’

Final call – go digital, firms told

ore than 700 young people are now studying for apprenticeships at Peterborough Regional College and City College Peterborough. Peterborough Regional College (at the Eastfield Road/Park Crescent site) now has 550 apprentices studying for a range of careers including bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, engineering, marketing, leadership and management, and sport activity leadership. City College Peterborough (Brook Street) now has 157 apprentices taking part in courses as diverse as customer service, childcare, business administration, motor vehicle, hairdressing, business improvement techniques, and digital and creative media. City councillor John Holdich,

cabinet member for education, skills and university, said: “Business leaders tell me they need young people who have the right skills and we are working with our colleges and schools to make sure that happens. “Apprenticeships are good news for young people, businesses and, ultimately, the local economy.” Apprentices are paid employees of a company. They typically spend four days a week at work and one day at college. Brian Redshaw, vice-principal (resources and business innovation) of Peterborough Regional College, said: “Apprenticeships are a great way of people earning while they learn job skills which will set them up for the world of work in their chosen career. An apprenticeship is the unsung

Above, from left: Coun John Holdich, Brian Redshaw and Pat Carrington.

option for young people, as it gives them a real alternative to traditional academic study. “It is an excellent way of starting a career and they are a great way for employers to mould an individual, allowing them to train their employees and get skilled workers for their business.” Pat Carrington, principal at City College Peterborough, added: “More and more businesses recognise the benefits of an apprentice. It is important businesses continue to provide opportunities for young people and harness and develop the skills they bring to the workplace.”

ew forecasts predict the web economy is likely to double by as soon as the year 2016. The study, commissioned by Google, assumes that in four years’ time nearly 50 per cent of the world’s population will be Internet users and businesses worldwide are being warned this is a final call to ‘go digital’. The report by Boston Consulting Group highlights the need for businesses to develop online platforms as smart phone, tablet and social media use is on the rise worldwide. Consumers can now be targeted on the move as well as in the comfort of their own home or workplace. Findings suggest that by 2016, mobile devices could account for 80 per cent of all broadband connections.

MARCH 2012

SKILLSET

Britain at work, since 1952 espite the worst economic recession in the Queen’s reign, there are still millions more people in work today than in 1952, and working life in Britain has been shaped by the interaction of a number of economic and social forces. In this year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a newly published CIPD work audit has considered the changing landscape of work in the UK and the phenomena that have shaped it, including: the changing gender balance; the effects of de-industrialisation and the rise of the service economy; and shifts in occupational structure.

In the sixty years since Queen Elizabeth II took the throne, work continues to be a central part of everyday life. But how has it has changed? A special work audit by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) finds out. The report finds today’s workforce is more productive, more prosperous, more unequal, more stressed and more workless. Here are some of the findings: l There are now some 29 million people in employment in the UK, six million more than in the 1950s, but there has been no increase in the total number of hours worked each week. The UK has thus undergone a process of informal ‘work-sharing’ since the 1950s, with a fall of ten hours in the length of the average working week. In the 1950s, only four per cent of people worked part time; now the proportion is one in four (6.5 million). l The value of output produced by the economy has quadrupled since 1952: the workforce is now more productive, enabling society to enjoy a higher standard of living for the same amount of work. Brits are working smarter and less hard than in the 1950s.

l In 1952, only one in five had a washing machine, one in ten a telephone, one in 20 a fridge. Almost no-one had central heating. Fewer than half of all households had a TV. Today, workers are more prosperous, but the pay gap has widened. l Only a small minority of staff today say they would ‘go the extra mile’ for their employer, while reported rates of workrelated stress has increased in the latter decades of the Queen’s reign. The rapid advance of digital information technology in the workplace has created opportunities for greater employee autonomy, including scope to do more work from home, but also resulted in information overload, blurred the boundaries between work and non-work time and enabled more sophisticated monitoring and surveillance of employees. l Whereas 60 years ago well over two-thirds of people in paid work were men – and virtually all men of working age had a job – male employment has fallen to 53 per cent. While the female

working age employment rate has risen from 46 to 66 per cent since the late 1950s, the male employment rate has fallen from 96 to 75 per cent. l The number of manufacturing jobs has fallen from 8.7 million in 1952 to 2.5 million now, the share of manufacturing jobs in total employment falling from over a third to eight per cent and the share of skilled manual workers in total employment has fallen from 18 to ten per cent. The share of people in managerial, professional and technical jobs has risen from 25 to 44 per cent. And the share of people employed in ‘personal services’ and ‘sales and customer services’ has risen from six to around 16 per cent. l In 1952, there were 9.5 million members of UK trade unions (40 per cent of employees). By 2011, that number had fallen to 6.5 million (26 per cent). l The level of registered unemployment in 1952 (350,000) was only a third of today’s corresponding measure (the count of people receiving Jobseekers’ Allowance).

Self-assessment doesn’t have to be taxing!

❝

We can try to avoid making choices by doing nothing, but even that is a decision. Gary Collins, self-help author.

❞

ast month, most people were fully aware that the self-assessment tax had a strict deadline and failure to complete a return, even if you owe nothing, means you will incur penalties. Normally, the deadline is

Skills expertise with David Grundy

January 31. This year, the tax office announced it would not charge interest on tax due for the 2010-11 tax year under self-assessment until midnight on February 2 – because some of its staff had planned to strike at the end of January, the original deadline day. Good news! Every cloud really does have a silver lining, then! Isn’t it funny how we can remember and take time to focus on a tax self-assessment and yet sometimes (often) people and

businesses just don’t take time and space themselves to stop, reflect and review: self-assess. Perhaps this is something you could benefit from? How often, when given time to really think, have you remembered old solutions to new problems? It’s funny, too, how people will often feel more comfortable and give really honest answers when talking to someone ‘outside’ their normal loop. For example, skills coaches, such as myself, provide a confidential and safe environment, a different

perspective, a challenge to stretch or change. This month’s tips are: 1. Put your goals where you can see them every day. 2. Break it down into milestones – so you can see and celebrate progress. 3. Reward yourself – give yourself 30 minutes a week to self-assess you and your business. 4. Identify one action that would make the biggest difference and stick to it.

David Grundy is managing director of Tuit Achievements and offers a free 30-minute taster session. Email: david@tuitachievements.com or telephone: O1733 210464 or 07894 705293. Twitter: tuitdoit Facebook david@tuitachievements Web: www.tuitachievements.com

TRAVEL

MARCH 2012

OFF DUTY

Spotlight uba has it all: history, architecture, culture, music, entertainment, bio-diversity, a pleasant climate and stunning beaches. What a fabulous place for a holiday! Add that to Cuba’s revolution and its heroes – such as Che Guevara, Fidel Castro – and you have a heady mix. On holiday in Cuba you will certainly feel you have gone back in time – with classic cars and crumbling architecture in abundance. It’s an evocative and

Cuba is a tropical blend of curious characters and unforgettable experiences. Right: Showtime in Havana. Left: A typical apartment building in Havana. Above: Vintage cars are still used daily as taxis.

memorable experience; one that will immediately intrigue you and soon win you over. But hurry! Times are starting to change, both inside and outside Cuba. The Cuban people who live in the time warp that is today’s Cuba can be forgiven for hoping improved prosperity may indeed be just around the corner. Over decades, they have become conditioned to waiting and making do with what is to hand, while enjoying life however it comes – every Cuban seems to have a PhD in positive thinking! An intoxicating blend Cuba is an intoxicating blend of Spanish, French, English, US and Russian influences, mixed and transformed in the tropics and enlivened by the friendly, redoubtable and resilient Cuban people. If you want to see and experience a country like no other, go to Cuba . . . and go there soon! Cuba might be about to change so experience this Cuba before it moves on.

MARCH 2012 TRAVEL

Travel correspondent JANE PRICE says Cuba is a fantastic place for a holiday – but get there soon, before it changes.

on Cuba Above left, the historic Nacional Hotel in Havana and, above right, one of many five-star, beach-front hotels in Varadero.

Sample the wonderful old hotels in Havana, such as the Nacional or the Saratoga, with their authentic flavour of old Cuba, or enjoy bang up-to-date luxury in one of the Melia chain of hotels – try the Habana or the Cohiba. Make sure you take in the wonderful Tropicana Show in Havana – an unforgettable experience of traditional music and dancing. Have a pre-show dinner in one of the many restaurants nearby and make a whole evening of it. Try to book seats in the first few rows – you will be so close to the action your nose will be tickled by the feathers on the showgirls’ costumes! Direct flights These days, Cuba is very accessible, with Virgin

flying direct to Havana, and Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson offering year-round direct charter flights to the main holiday destinations of Varadero, Guardalavaca, Playa Pesquero and the quieter Cayos – Coco, Santa Maria and Guillaume. I advise my clients to try to book a twin centre holiday the first time they go to Cuba – three days in Havana followed by ten or 11 days in one of the many beach-front properties is the perfect mix, with hotels ranging from three star to five star. Both Cosmos holidays and Virgin offer packages, or contact your travel agent to tailor your holiday.

Sunset over Cayo Coco and (inset) don’t miss the shows in Havana.

One of the many beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the Cayos.

or details of the breaks featured here, contact: Jane Price at Hays Travel.

Tel: 08000 141 833 or 01733 808330 or email: jane.price@hays-travel.co.uk

or visit the web page: www.hays-travel.co.uk/janeprice

DIARY DATES

MARCH 2012

DIARY DATES February 28 Spalding, Red Lion Quarter, Sage Restaurant. Bank of England Business Panel Event. Free to members of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, £10+VAT for non-members (7.30am-9.30am; includes breakfast). To stimulate discussion on any aspect of the economy with a representative of the bank. Also, a source of intelligence on how businesses are faring in the region. Book tickets (places are limited), call Charlotte Robson on: 01522 523333 or email: Charlotte.Robson@lincs-chamber.co.uk

March 5 Peterborough, Stilton, The Bell Inn. ‘Business Builder’ evening (6pm-9pm), entitled: 7 Keys To P.E.R.F.E.C.T. Communication. Another evening is being held on April 17, same venue – ‘Ideas Factory’. Find out more from The Business Club – tel: 01733 513003 or visit: www.the-businessclub.org March 23 Oakham, Barnsdale Lodge hotel. Breakfast Networking (7.30-9.40am, price: £10). Organised by the newly-launched Rutland & Stamford Business Network, started by Deborah King and Ben Callaghan in response to local demand for a forum to share business ideas, information and group discount-buying benefits. Breakfast meetings are staged fortnightly at Barnsdale; evening seminars, golf and sailing events are planned. Visit: rsbn.biz or email: deb@rsbn.biz or tel: 01572 770352. March 29 Stamford, The William Cecil hotel. Evening Networking and Seminar, 6-7.30pm, price: £10. ‘Useful ways to use Mobile Phone Marketing’, by Gordon Diffey, the Internet Marketeer. Details on the website: rsbn.biz or email: deb@rsbn.biz or tel: 01572 770352. March 30 Grantham, Belton, De Vere Belton Woods. Selling on the Internet – eBiz byte seminar. Free breakfast meeting (8.30-10.30am) explaining the basics of online selling and giving a jargon-free overview of the technologies and procedures involved. Aimed at SMEs interested in starting an e-commerce venture, the event is hosted by Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Delegates do not need technical knowledge. Call Charlotte Robson for details on 01522 523333 or email: charlotte.robson@lincs-chamber.co.uk

Preparing to pack a punch! IG hitters from the world of business and boxing have teamed up to offer sporting fans a ringside seat at a major event in Peterborough next month. Regional event and conference venue Exec Peterborough, at the city’s East of England Showground, has been chosen to host the first professional boxing event in the city for five years – with the event being streamed live to fans via YouTube. A crowd of around 2,000 is expected at the championship headlined boxing tournament, which will be packing a punch on Friday March 9. Well-known boxing promoter Robert Waterman is the driving force behind the professional event, backed by local businessmen Peter Fraylich, Rob Barrowman and Stewart Howe. The event, which is fully licensed by the British Board of Boxing Control, will once again put Peterborough on the map as a major venue for top sporting events – with the

Top: Businessmen Peter Fraylich and Rob Barrowman with Exec Peterborough MD Keith Dalton (centre) Right: Boxing promoter Robert Waterman.

prospect of more to come. Robert said: “Exec Peterborough is a great venue, the team here is fantastic to work with and we are hoping this will be the start of regular high profile boxing shows in the city. “We are expecting a huge crowd and, for those unable to get a ticket, the whole event will be streamed live on YouTube.” Exec Peterborough

managing director Keith Dalton, added: “This is a major coup for the venue and for the city. To be chosen to host the first professional boxing event to be held in Peterborough for a number of years is fantastic – not only for us, but for the many, many boxing fans in and around the city.” A full line-up of boxers is still being finalised, but big local names on the bill will include Caine Brodie, Jake Dyer, former Big Brother contestant JJ Bird and ‘Polish Express’ Marcin Marczak. Tickets will raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Prices range from £30 for unreserved seats to £50 for ringside seats and £75 for diners. Telephone: 01733 882565 to book. Last November, Exec Peterborough hosted the World Seniors Snooker Championship, which was televised live to an estimated 1.5 million people by Sky Sports.

Mayor’s charity ball: book tickets now he Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor Paula Thacker MBE, is calling on business leaders and local people to support her charities by enjoying a ball. The prestigious, annual Mayor’s Charity Ball is being held at the Marriott Hotel, Lynchwood, Peterborough, on Saturday March 10. The evening will be a black-tie affair with a silver and black theme and will begin with a cocktail reception at 6.15pm, followed by a four-course meal served from 7.30pm. There will be live entertainment and guests will have the opportunity to bid for special lots in a silent auction

and win prizes in a raffle. A photographer will attend so revellers can have a memento of the evening. Proceeds from the event will go to the mayor’s charities: Royal British Legion Women’s Section and Kidney Research UK’s ‘Find a Cure for Alex’. Tickets are £45 per person. Coun Thacker said: “The ball is always a fantastic night out, giving people the opportunity to put on their finery, feel special and enjoy a memorable evening. “Members of the public have traditionally supported the ball and I am looking forward to meeting local people and business leaders who have got

Paula Thacker MBE.

behind the event to raise money for the mayor’s charities.” To buy tickets, call the mayor’s office: (01733) 452319 or email: mayor@peterborough.gov.uk

MARCH 2012

PROFILE

MARCH 2012

HEADLINES

Business Scene gets up close and a little bit personal with executives around the region. Here, we focus on the life and times of local businessman and the city’s CAMRA Beer Festival chairman, Mike Lane. Name: Michael John Lane Biography: Born in Peterborough in1952, I went to Walton School, then the King’s School until 1969. I started my career with Baker Perkins before moving to Molins in 1977, developing my work and travel experience with frequent trips to Europe, Middle/Far East and Africa. I married in 1976 and in 1983 along came my daughter: yes, she had to be called Penny Lane! My son Chris arrived a year later. Penny has given us grandchildren Rhiannon, Megan and Charlie. In the early ’90s, I joined French company, Cermex SA (based in Dijon – great for food/wine!), looking after the sale of hi-tech packaging equipment. In 2007, I became managing director of the UK operation in Huntingdon. My hobby is chairing the CAMRA Peterborough Beer Festival Organising Committee. This event now attracts up to 40,000 visitors during the last week of August for good real ales and live music from bands not often having the

opportunity to play here. All this is managed by volunteers giving up their time to make it work. My first job was: In the Central Planning Office and Spares departments at Baker Perkins. Manufacturing everything from baking machinery to print presses really was diversity on a grand scale, seldom now seen. This was when I became interested in mechanical engineering and industrial equipment. Are you a technophobe or a technophile? Technophile with a technophobe’s mentality! I am keen to try new technology, but like to be close to Google when patience runs out and I must get a man to ‘fix it’. But my dream job would be: A long-haul airline pilot. I have taken around 800 flights to many different countries. I still love to watch the world go by at 35,000 feet, trying to figure out landmarks. I like to spend my time off: Chasing the sun; I dislike the UK weather from October to May so visit sunnier climes such as Egypt, Greece or the Canary Isles. My family also

Chasing the sun in San Francisco with his partner Sue Peck, naming a lifeboat and enjoying the city’s CAMRA Beer Festival: Mike Lane, past and present. gives me a huge amount of Festival 1 at Redcar, PBF2 at pleasure and it’s chaotic fun Mumbles, PBF3 a Relief Boat when we’re all together. and PBF4 at Skegness which Enjoying different ales links came into service last spring. with my involvement on two My dream dinner party CAMRA committees, branch guests would be: Peter Kay, and beer festival, and I love makes me laugh; David supporting local pubs. Gilmour, long-time guitar hero; What’s your favourite brand? Kate Bush, intellectual song Without a doubt, Pink Floyd. writer and performer; Pam Oh sorry, brand! Possibly Ayres, should be poet Thornbridge Brewery’s Jaipur laureate. Nothing too serious! IPA; a very special beer. And the food would be: My finest hour was when: I Spicy, whether Indian, Asian was asked to name a lifeboat or North African – as long as at Redcar and have since it’s enjoyable and shared in named three more – each good company. one christened with a pint of At my funeral, please play: Oakham Ales bitter (more Comfortably Numb by Pink relevant than champagne). Floyd and I Did It My Way by I am surprisingly good at: the Sex Pistols. Naming lifeboats! During our If I ruled the world, I would: last 30 beer festivals, our Reduce the duty on real ale, customers have donated increase the duty on beer loose change to the Royal that needs CO2 to dispense National Lifeboat Institution, it to compensate, and providing funds for FOUR encourage support for lifeboats: Peterborough Beer traditional local pubs.

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