West Midlands www.iod.com
Summer 2016
Regional Chairman warns of challenging times after EU vote
Region marks return of Chartered Director programme
Star quality Tim Andrews of Hollywood Monster is Director of the Year
Chairman’s welcome
Challenging times for business as nation edges into an uncertain future Jason Wouhra Chairman, IoD West Midlands I penned this article on Friday, June 24th: a day that will now live long in the memory as the day we decided to leave the European Union and the Prime Minister resigned. To the former first: I made no secret of the fact that as a businessman I favoured a Remain vote because it would have brought stability and a firm sense of direction to the economic picture. We can’t ignore the fact that Leave was not the result the majority of IoD members wanted either, but Britain has voted to leave the EU and it is now imperative that our political leaders manage the transition as smoothly as possible. David Cameron will not be one of the leaders handling that transition. I have met the Prime Minister on several occasions, both during his visits to the West Midlands and at No.10 when I was invited, with other IoD members, to give the PM our views on business issues. Putting political opinions to one side, on a personal level I liked him and always felt that the IoD got a fair hearing and that he was on the side of business. Without Cameron in the hot seat the weeks and months ahead are going to be a nervy time for business leaders, who have to know that the Government is focused on maintaining stability while a new relationship with the EU is established. British businesses are resilient and I am sure they will weather this storm. But it is now beholden on politicians to negotiate a deal with European leaders which preserves the ability of British firms to trade easily with the remaining Member States. For all that our trade with the EU has dipped slightly in recent quarters it remains true that the Single Market remains our biggest trading partner. For many SMEs in the West Midlands, and particularly manufacturers, exporting has been the most straightforward way to boost growth, and the easiest market to
access was always the EU. It is to be hoped that the nascent return of exporting we have experienced in recent years will not now be choked off by tariffs, quotas and trade barriers. I try to paint an optimistic picture in these columns but this time I have to be realistic: I think we are in for challenging times ahead. The business case from Leave was always based on speculation and now we can only hope that those predictions of the future for business life prove accurate. The current uncertainty comes after 12 months of positive news: GDP figures for the region have been good, with more jobs created, profitability has been up and there was a feeling of confidence across the region. Worryingly, however, this growth slowed a little as the referendum debate began – I lost count of the number of times other business leaders told me ‘I can’t wait for all this to be over’ – and investment plans were put on hold. It is to be hoped that business will now release the handbrake and make the investment decisions needed to fuel further growth, but I can well imagine people may hold on a bit longer to see how the smoke clears. Continued on page 5
CONTACTS Chairman: Jason Wouhra e: jason.iod@eastendfoods.com t: 0121 359 2199
The Institute of Directors West Midlands membership magazine is published on behalf of the IoD by:
Regional Director/Editor: Calum Nisbet e: Calum.Nisbet@iod.com t: 0121 643 7801
Chamber Media Services, 4 Hilton Road, Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire SK7 3AG.
Sue Hurrell e: sue.hurrell@iod.com t: 0121 643 1868
Advertising sales: Colin Regan t: 01925 292002 e: colinregan001@yahoo.co.uk Production enquiries: Rob Beswick, t: 0161 426 7957 e: rob@chambermediaservices.co.uk
Please note... Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this magazine, neither the IoD nor Chamber Media Services can accept any responsibility for omissions or inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising content. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IoD. The carriage of adverts in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. All articles within this publication are copyright IoD West Midlands. Editorial consent must be obtained before any are reproduced either in printed form or electronically.
Cover picture: IoD’s Director of the Year Tim Andrews receives his award from Peter Maskell of event sponsor BHSF
IoD West Midlands: The Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2ND t: 0121 643 7801 IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 03
News
Former regional director’s royal honour ‘richly deserved’ The IoD was delighted to hear that the West Midlands’ former regional director, John Phillips, received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, for services to business, education and young people. Regional Chairman, Jason Wouhra, said the award was “richly deserved. As well as making a strong contribution to the IoD, John has had a lifelong passion for building partnerships between business and education. “A recent example has been the successful mentoring scheme at the University of Wolverhampton, partnering IoD members, with final year business students. This has been a great way to supercharge the careers of deserving young people in the Black Country. The mentoring concentrates on employability and those all important soft skills.” John said: “This award was a massive surprise and something I never expected would happen to me. I regard it as a tremendous honour but it would not have happened had I not received so much help from enthusiastic members of the IoD who have always been willing to make a difference. “On education I intend to continue my work in promoting business as an exciting, creative and worthwhile career choice for young people”. John’s successor as regional director, Calum Nisbet, said he was delighted with the award: “It is fitting recognition for a great career and service to both the IoD and the wider business community. I am sure I speak for the entire membership when I say ‘well done, John.’ ” John’s retirement from the IoD was marked by a very well-attended party at The Fiddle and Bone Pub in Birmingham in May, which saw many people who had worked with John travelling considerable distances to attend, including from IoD head office in London. John said: “It was a lovely way for me to say ‘thank you’ to all those members and others within the business community who have proved so helpful to me over the years and I am so grateful to the many members who attended.”
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Pictured at the party are, main picture, John with regional chairman Jason Wouhra. Above, left, IoD head office staff Jackie Wellings and Sue Hurrell with Rob Beswick, Chamber Media Services and Richard Butler, CBI; former Birmingham Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jerry Blackett with Earle Wightman, Fiddle & Bone Ltd; (left) cheers, John; and below, former regional chairman Richard Boot with Kate Brackenbury, IoD Membership Director and Vernon George, formerly IoD Director of Regions & Branches
Challenging times after BREXIT vote Continued from page 3 I don’t want to talk down the economy, and we must all be wary of doing just that, but we have to be honest: we could be about to enter choppy waters. As for the EU, there is a strong chance that the UK vote may usher in a new wave of reform as its political leaders finally get the message that it has moved away from the people. How ironic if that was to happen, just as we lose our seat at the table. Let’s finish on a positive note. On our cover, and from pages 8 onwards, you will see pictures and a report on our Director of the Year Awards. It was a marvellous occasion and it was great to meet so many inspiring business leaders. Congratulations to all our winners, but particularly to Tim Andrews from Hollywood Monster. The graphics and print company is well-known across the region, particularly in Birmingham where its giant posters adorn many a building, and Tim was a worthy winner of our Director of the Year Award.
Want to get more involved with IoD policy and help formulate our views and strategies for business? Sign up for Policy Voice - see page 6
Chartered success Congratulations to two of our members, who have both recently been elected as Chartered Directors Richard Pennells, EON UK plc Hanna Sebright, Midlands Air Ambulance, UK
IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 05
News
It’s time to shout louder about what this region has to offer When Calum Nisbet succeeded John Phillips as regional director of the IoD West Midlands he knew he had a hard act to follow... Calum was proud and delighted to take on the role but well aware he was following in distinguished footsteps. He also knew what a big and broad-ranging job he had taken on – representing businesses of all sizes, sectors and geographic locations within a West Midlands region as diverse as it is productive. But Calum’s passion for taking the IoD West Midlands forward and helping the region punch its weight commercially soon becomes apparent. “While I have joined the IoD in what can best be described as ‘interesting times’ for the business community, it is also an exciting time for the organisation and the West Mids region. There is a real sense of energy around the business, with a genuine
focus on continuing to improve the value of membership and make us even more relevant to a wider demographic. “I was very proud to be chosen to succeed John, who has left a real legacy for me to build on and am really looking forward to getting my teeth into the job. There is so much I want to do to support business in the West Midlands and make sure the region’s voice is properly heard nationally. “We are determined to provide members even more opportunity to connect with their peers across the region, with an increase in social and supportive events.” Calum’s impressive and eclectic CV has its roots in the luxury hotel industry before he spent seven years at Yell, managing teams across a territory that mirrors the IoD West Midlands. Since leaving Yell late in 2010, Calum has worked for a number of prestige organisations in the West Midlands, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Library of Birmingham Trust, as well as Birmingham Airport and the People’s Orchestra. As well as a good understanding of business, the
“There is so much I want to do to support business in the West Midlands and make sure the region’s voice is properly heard nationally”
Join the IoD’s Policy Voice Please help ensure the opinion of the West Midlands is heard throughout the IoD! The West Midlands is under-represented on the IoD’s Policy Voice, a programme of short monthly online surveys and quarterly discussion forums held to gauge members’ opinions. It’s free for you to register and you can share your views on key business topics, which are then conveyed to media, government and policy makers as well as monthly articles on IoD.com, in Director magazine and in regular blog posts on director.co.uk
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Register now at www.iod.com/ Influencing/ Policy-Voice
“I think the IoD sometimes hides its light under a bushel. I want us to appeal to widest possible demographic...” 45-year-old also has plenty of life experience, not least from eight months solo travelling in Asia which was “life changing,” and four years in Dublin with his now wife, Genevieve. They have a ten-year-old son Fraser and an eight-year-old daughter Isla and live in a great village in North Worcestershire. But for now all his focus is on the IoD West Midlands – how to deliver more to its members, make it more attractive to potential members and get its voice heard nationally. “I do want to give the West Midlands a louder voice within the IoD,” he said. “We need to punch our weight in the national debates. “I am really looking forward to getting out and about and talking to our members and finding out what they think and need. “My previous jobs have given me a really good knowledge of the West Midlands patch and also brought me into contact with all types of business at all levels. At Yell, a typical day would involve helping the team meet and understand the business needs of owner-managed businesses and SMEs, while more recently I have been working with senior directors of much larger organisations. “I am aware that IoD membership is a ‘nice-to-have’, not a ‘need-to-have,’ so I want us to really deliver value to members. That is not just adding value, it’s talking up what we already do. I think the IoD sometimes hides its light under a bushel. I want us to appeal to the widest possible demographic. “Let’s make the IoD more relevant to more people - and raise our profile. There’s so much good stuff already happening at the IoD – let’s shout about what we do and add to it.”
Lifetime ISA or pension: Which option is right for you? Efforts to boost Britain’s savings culture are continuing, after the Chancellor raised the tax-free ISA allowance to £20,000 and gave younger generations an added incentive to build a nest egg, says Rob Wilson, Midlands Regional Manager at Bellpenny. From April 2017, those aged between 18 and 40 who open a Lifetime ISA (LISA) will get a 25 per cent bonus from the Government on top of the contributions they make towards saving for a first home or retirement. It represents a welcome leg-up for those wanting to jump on the property ladder, but experts have questioned whether choosing an ISA over a pension will be suitable in many cases. Both are tax-efficient vehicles for building up a retirement fund and, regardless of age, they have an important role to play in ensuring we have enough income for our later years. However, it is clear that, for most, a normal pension will continue to be their best option so they do not miss out on contributions from their employer. There is also tax relief on pension contributions, which for higher-rate taxpayers means every £100 they put into their pot costs £60. The Lifetime ISA dominated a Budget in which George Osborne took another step towards boosting the popularity of ISAs by raising the annual tax-free allowance from the current limit of £15,240 to £20,000 by next April 2017. Under the LISA, savers will receive £1 from the government for every £4 they save, up to a maximum annual bonus of £1,000. This payment is available until the age of 50, which means the most tax-free cash anyone could get from the government is £32,000. The downside is that there is a 5% exit fee and the loss of the bonus and resulting interest if the savings are accessed before 60 for something other than buying a first home. There are also fears that many pension savers who use the Lifetime ISA will fail to maximise their retirement income
because they invest in a Cash product rather than Stocks and Shares. But the self-employed, who do not have access to a workplace pension, and higher earners, will find reasons to cheer the new Lifetime ISA, as well as the big jump in the ISA savings allowance. ISAs serve as an additional tax-efficient savings vehicle for those who exceed the cap for pension tax relief of £40,000 a year or fear they will go over the new lifetime allowance of £1 million. And as those earning between £150,000 and £210,000 have just had their annual limit reduced to as little as £10,000, it represents good financial planning to utilise your ISA allowance if you think you might breach either the annual or lifetime cap. In an ideal world, ISAs and pensions should be working hand-in-hand in readiness for generating a tax-efficient income in retirement. Speaking to a Bellpenny Financial Planner will help you to understand why it’s important to utilise all your allowances, whether they are ISA or pension related. It will also help to make sense of the recent raft of changes following pension freedoms and the overhaul of the state pension system. The retirement landscape has shifted considerably in the last year and more may be on the way amid speculation that the Lifetime ISA is the forerunner to a new pensions ISA to replace the current system of tax relief, threatening the 40% rate enjoyed by higher-rate taxpayers. But whatever the politics, the launch of the Lifetime ISA represents an important step towards teaching a new generation about the benefits of saving, particularly for retirement.
Want to know more?
To find out more about Lifetime ISAs and Pensions, speak to Bellpenny on 0345 475 7500. IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 07
Director of the Year Awards
A giant of business takes IoD’s top award Hollywood Monster’s Tim Andrews named IoD’s Director of the Year By Jackie Wellings It was a fine innings from IoD’s first XI as the fifth IoD West Midlands Breakfast Awards event got off to a sparkling early start on June 14, with Edgbaston Stadium’s 1882 Suite buzzing with the chink of Champagne glasses, topping up of coffee cups and the hub-bub of networking. The covers were on at the County Ground outside, and inside too no one knew quite ‘how the ball was going to come off the pitch!’ As the IoD’s new Regional Director, Calum Nisbet, welcomed everyone to breakfast, the sun broke through the clouds and guests began to tweet – among other things – about the wonderful indulgence of Champagne and a full English before 8.30 am on a work day. The #IoDAwards 2016 had begun in earnest. Compere Carl Chinn gave the capacity crowd a potted history of the ground, which had been a meadow of rough grazing land in an undeveloped area by the River Rea. First mentioned in the Doomsday Book, Edgbaston had a value of 30 shillings! Calthorpe Estates developed the ‘Manor of Edgbaston’ into an exclusive suburb of the city over the course of the 19th century. The cricket ground was introduced to add a genteel touch to the area. With a pace bowler’s delivery and a few spins, Professor Chinn punctuated his delivery with the obligatory Brummie jokes and introduced the finalists for this year’s awards, who had all impressed the judges by demonstrating their leadership, innovation, resilience, dedication and focus. Seven categories were up for grabs, including the big one, the Director of the Year title. It was appropriate that this huge award should go to a homegrown giant – Tim Andrews of graphics and printing company Hollywood Monster. He was presented with his award by Peter Maskell – himself a former Director of the Year – from awards sponsor BHSF, and was clearly delighted to be landed the top prize amid such fierce competition. Tim was described by judges as “a force of nature – managing to fit several jobs into a working week, always putting clients first and leading by example from day one. Demonstrating all the qualities of an overall winner: leadership, passion, commitment, innovation, drive and vision, Tim also excels at giving something back to the community.”
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Tim received the Overall Winner’s IoD Certificate, a bottle of Harvey Nichols Champagne and a Leadership Course courtesy of Common Purpose, which was presented by Louise Teboul. Other winners included Liz McKenzie from Wesleyan, who was named Director of the Year in the Large Business category, while Rob Helle of Objectivity and Julian Turner, Westfield Sportscars, took home the same award in the Medium and Small Business categories respectively. Geoff Sewell’s many years leading home furnishings company Cotton Patch were rewarded with the Director of the Year award in the Family Business category, while Dan Boardman-Weston, BRI Group, was named Young Director of the Year. Sharon Redrobe’s transformation of Twycross Zoo saw her triumph in the Not-for-Profit award. Ammo Talwar of Punch Records was Highly Commended for his outstanding commitment to corporate social responsibility, as was Hanna Sebright, Midlands Air Ambulance, in the Not-for-Profit category. Continued on page 10
All our winners: Front row, from left, Dan Boardman–Weston, Jason Wouhra, Tim Andrews and Geoff Sewell. Back row, from left, Liz McKenzie, Sharon Redrobe, Ammo Talwar, John Phillips, Hanna Sebright, Val Wright and Professor Carl Chinn. Back row, Calum Nisbet and Julian Turner
Winners roll of honour Award Category Small Company Medium Company Large Company Family Business Young Director Corporate Social Responsibility Not for Profit
Winners Julian Turner – Westfield Sportscars Ltd Rob Helle – Objectivity Ltd Liz McKenzie – Wesleyan Geoff Sewell – The Cotton Patch Dan Boardman–Weston – BRI Wealth Management
Sponsored by University of Wolverhampton GE Capital - Equipment Finance Chiltern Railways Smith & Williamson Listers
Tim Andrews – Hollywood Monster Sharon Redrobe – Twycross Zoo
Birmingham Airport Harrison Clark Rickerby Solicitors
IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 09
Director of the Year Awards Left, Small Business winner Julian Turner with award presenter Phil Dearden, University of Wolverhampton Right, John Phillips MBE receives the Chairman’s Award from Jason Wouhra Below, Joanne Hodgetts, Harrison Clark Rickerbys, presents Sharon Redrobe with her award
Continued from page 8 All received a bottle of Champagne courtesy of Harvey Nichols and a unique piece of individualised artwork designed by Alice Lester, a student of the University of Wolverhampton School of Art & Design. Alice had the satisfaction of seeing her work being presented to the winners. A special ‘Happy Birthday’ toast and a bottle of Champagne courtesy of Harvey Nichols went to veteran IoD Fellow John Goodman, who was celebrating his 87th birthday on the day. John had received an Honorary Fellowship from Cancer Research for all his amazing work just four days before our event. The Chairman’s Award this year saw Jason Wouhra take to the podium to deliver a heartfelt tribute to outgoing regional director, John Phillips, who had just received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to business, education and young people. He too received a special commemorative piece of artwork to mark the occasion. After the applause had died down we welcomed our keynote speaker,
internationally acclaimed innovation expert Val Wright (www. valwrightconsulting.com). Val’s corporate experience includes tenures during dramatic growth periods at Amazon, BMW, Microsoft, Marconi, House of Fraser and Sema Group. Global clients include Starbucks, Linkedin, Financial Times, DreamWorks Animation and Microsoft. Val walked among the breakfast tables and shared with delegates her delight at being back in Birmingham and her amazement at the stunning transformation of the City Centre. Originally from Stourbridge, but now based in Los Angeles, Val founded her first company at the age of 15 with the assistance of Young Enterprise and was thrilled to see the organisation represented at the event. Also an Alumni of Wolverhampton University, this was clearly a whistle stop tour down memory lane. Val’s 20-minute talk focusing on the habits, skills and practices of the most successful leaders gave the enthralled ensemble a soupçon of wisdom from her latest book Thoughtfully RuthlessSM. Continued on page 12
Awards sponsors and supporters:
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Director of the Year Awards Far left, Geoff Sewell receives the Family Business award from Ian Hill of Smith & Williamson Left, Dan Boardman-Weston was named Young Director of the Year. He is pictured here with Tim Bradshaw of Listers
Continued from page 10 Three key “thought(fully)- provoking” tenets were: “Why does every decision take 60 minutes? Because meetings do! You need to rethink your time and the need for meetings that drain your resources. Make time to say NO – being successful means that you will be asked to take on many more things – and it is OK to say No. Make time to be QUIET – sometimes the contemplative silence yields more than the noise. She explained the rationale behind being ‘Thoughtfully Ruthless’. A thoughtful leader knows everyone’s name and wants to be liked by everyone – until the time comes to make an unpopular decision. A ruthless leader makes bold decisions and pays little regard to how people react to them “ ‘Thoughtfully ruthless’ leaders are neither too thoughtful nor too ruthless but spend their time, energy and resources in achieving their goals - they are the ones who are catapulted ahead of their competitors and their peers.” Val cited Don Mattrick – the new
CEO of Xbox when she worked with them – as a man who epitomised a thoughtfully ruthless leader. You can download a sample chapter from Val’s book Thoughtfully Ruthless at valwrightconsulting.com/ thoughtfullyruthless/. Val’s book, published by Wiley, is also now available on Amazon. Each of our winners received a signed copy of Thoughtfully Ruthless courtesy of the IoD West Midland’s office. The delegates’ raffle prize raised £840, of which £590 was donated to Young Enterprise and £250 to Midlands Air Ambulance. Prizes were two tickets to Madrid, generously donated by Iberia Express. Calum Nisbet thanked all of the sponsors for their support, time and contributions to the event, and gave a thanks and congratulations to all of the finalists as well as the winners. Plaudits, too, to Staffordshire Branch chairman Richard Bisiker, who interviewed all the finalists for a video following the ceremony. Go to YouTube and search for IoD West Midlands to see the footage of the event and interviews.
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Above, Liz McKenzie, Wesleyan, was named winner in the Large Business category, with regional chairman Jason Wouhra. Below left and right, regional director Calum Nisbet presents Ammo Talwar and Hanna Sebright with their Highly Commended citations Below centre, John Phillips accepts the Medium Business Award on behalf of Rob Helle of Objectivity from Gabriele D’Uva, GE Capital
The Eighth Wonder of the World... That was how Albert Einstein described the power of compound interest.
Awards keynote speaker Val Wright mingles with the audience during her speech. Val impressed the event with her no-nonsense, resolute but ultimately thoughtful approach to handling change and turning round and transforming businesses
A packed room for the awards (above and below). Left, IoD West Midlands Sue Hurrell with Ja’afar Gambo, Dori Engineering
Compound interest is the process of earning interest on interest. So if you start with £100,000 and earn £6,000 worth of interest or dividends, the next year you will earn £360 on that additional £6,000. You may be wondering how anyone can get rich on an additional £360. The answer is time. By simply accumulating interest upon interest, a small pot can grow substantially over time. A £100,000 sum growing at 6% would be worth over £300,000 after 20 years. A £100,000 sum with the annual ISA allowance (£15,240) contributed each year would be worth just short of £1,000,000 after 20 years. By starting to save earlier on a regular basis your money has got longer to work harder for you and the power of compounding can start to work. The graph below shows the difference in annual contributions required to have a £1m pot at retirement. A person who starts saving at 20 would have to save £5,000 a year to reach the £1m sum while somebody who started at 40 would have to make annual contributions of £19,000. Compound interest: ‘He who understands it earns it, he who doesn’t pays it’. So get saving sooner rather than later.
For further information on BRI Wealth Management, please contact Dan Boardman-Weston at dbw@brigroup.co.uk. For financial planning matters, please contact Andy Gillet on 01676 523 550 or by email at ajg@brigroup.co.uk .
IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 13
Advertising feature
What’s new in... marketing communication Recently we were flicking through an industry magazine when we were hit square between the eyes with this headline; “Most People Wouldn’t Care If 74% of All Brands Disappeared For Good” Wow! That’s going to be hard to stomach if one or more of those brands is yours (for the record, the article didn’t list the brands). With digital technology developing faster than ever and the marketing landscape continuously changing, it’s not a surprise that some businesses are just plain failing to keep up with trends; but what trends should you be keeping up with? Ad blocking It’s a rising trend with consumers blocking ads that pop up across the internet and social media channels. While ad blocking users still only represent six per cent of the world’s internet population, advertisers are being urged to be aware of the massive cost of ad blocking that is expected to reach $40 billion this year. Why are people ad blocking? Many ads are deemed as being irrelevant to those that are being targeted with users feeling that advertisers fail to deliver meaningful messages.
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It’s all about listening Did you know that internet users create over 30,000 mentions with “where can I buy” phrase monthly? Did you also know that social listening tools enable you to collect such comments in one place and then reach out to prospects? It is being tipped as one of the most effective channels for generating sales and yes, it is all absolutely legal. Social listening isn’t just about generating leads, however. Brands need to understand its crucial importance in brand reputation management and in engaging audiences. Think about internet users as reporters who not only form opinions but share them. … and please don’t ignore comments that concern you, whether they are positive or negative. Interact with your audiences to create a bond / a closer bond with your clients / customers / consumers and to quickly alleviate any crisis situation should you find yourself facing one.
The younger the consumer / client / customer, the more likely they are to distrust brands – FACT. Corporations don’t have the big impact on behaviour preferences that the used to have. 14 | IoD West Midlands Summer 2016
Is it really worth it? Well, Playstation recently reported that it tracks all social media mentions about its brand and gaming in general and responds to users in real time. They report the following results: n 60% more followers on Playstation profile n 55% more Tweets about Playstation n 88% more positive content about Playstation Worth it? A resounding YES! Tell your story and get emotional! According to the Brand Storytelling Report 2015 by Headstream, more than half of consumers are more likely to buy a product in the future if they really love your brand story. n We want to hear stories about real people. n We want to hear stories that we can either relate to or aspire to. With today’s consumers demanding more in terms of customer service, being less loyal to favourite brands and more resistant to traditional marketing messages, brands need to develop a bank of relevant stories and tell them to their audiences in order to make their brands meaningful. Get that meaning back into your brand and engage with your audience and you could very well be looking at a viral campaign which generates organic recommendations, which will always be considered more trustworthy than any corporate messaging. Get emotional and use emotion to help your business stand out from the crowd in a highly competitive marketplace. If you need any further encouragement head to You Tube and watch Simon Sinek’s TED Talk ‘Start with Why’ which, in short, tells the story of how Apple flipped its marketing strategy and instead of telling consumers about ‘what’ it did (as most businesses do) it started with ‘why’ – the core belief and the reason why the company exists. From ‘why’ it moved to ‘how’ (‘how’ they want to achieve this mission) and finally ‘what’ – ‘what’ methods they are going to use to do it. So Apple doesn’t sell computers; it offers a way of thinking and a challenge to the status quo by making their products beautifully designed, simple to use and user-friendly. As Simon says in his TED Talk, “It just so happens Apple fulfil this vision by making and selling computers.” Other examples abound on the internet but include Coca Cola, which doesn’t sell fizzy drinks but offers happiness, while Universal Music doesn’t sell you a song or songs but
Tear Out & Keep Tips:
Apple flipped its marketing strategy and instead of telling consumers about ‘what’ it did, Apple started with ‘why’ , then moved to ‘how’ and finally ‘what’ ... it just so happens Apple fulfils this vision by making and selling computers.”
Tear Out & Keep Reminder: • Make your online (and offline ads) fiercely relevant so you won’t be blocked and / or ignored • It’s all about listening – investigate social listening tools. How could they help your business / brand? • Tell your story and get emotional!
gives you emotions and moments. Engage your client / customer / consumers emotions and you connect with them far more strongly. Influencer marketing The younger the consumer / client / customer the more likely they are to distrust brands – FACT. Corporations don’t have the big impact on behaviour and consumer / client / customer preferences that the used to have. Couple that with the fact that traditional advertising is not as effective as it used to be and we need a new way of thinking.
Internet users in particular have been found to be more likely to trust a favourite blogger than a recommendation from a brand. So bloggers and other influencers do, indeed, have the power to shape opinions and are often seen to be more credible to today’s younger online audiences. In a sense this shouldn’t unduly surprise us. Word of mouth recommendation has always been a valuable source of information. However, with the birth of social media this has become turbocharged. Influencer marketing, as it’s been dubbed, brings measurable results to businesses.
• Think about those who influence your clients / customers / consumers. How can you co-operate with them and get them on board?
Free consultation for IoD members Rachel Hargrave Consulting specialises in harnessing the power of brand and marketing communications to help businesses achieve their desired results faster and more effectively. Using the latest techniques and tools we ensures that our clients are communicating in the most powerful and engaging way possible which, in turn, makes real the results
that they are looking for. For more information about Rachel Hargrave Consulting, or to claim your free of charge initial two-hour confidential conversation (available to all IoD members), please contact Rachel Hargrave on 07976 806 578 or via email: rachel. hargrave@rachelhargraveconsulting.com
m. 07976 806 578 t. 01509 813 913 e. rachel.hargrave@rachelhargraveconsulting.com
IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 15
Events - book on all IoD events at www.iod.com/wmidlandsevents Course director Ian Wilson with students Right, Professor Carl Perrin
Enjoy a unique tour of the ‘faculty of the factory floor’ Visit to The Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Date: Wednesday, September 28 Time: 7.30-9.30am Venue: The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Beresford Avenue, Coventry CV6 5LZ Cost: £10 + VAT (£12) Members and their guest £20 + VAT (£23) Non-Members Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to visit the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) – a facility that is providing a step-change in the way we educate our engineers of the future. Commonly known as the UK’s first ‘Faculty on the Factory Floor’, the collaboration between Unipart Manufacturing and Coventry
University is providing 60 graduates with the opportunity to learn on live manufacturing projects in a state-of-the-art hub in Coventry. The visit includes breakfast, an introduction to the AME Partnership, a tour of the shop floor and a Q&A session. The faculty gives young people access to the best lecturers and professors and takes the theory learned in the classroom direct to shop floor activities where they are faced with real-life time/cost pressures and working as part of an engineering team. AME, which received the Business Partnership title at this year’s Guardian University Awards, believes this approach embeds the learning much quicker and potentially could fast-track students by almost one year. Professor Carl Perrin explained: “We are giving young people the chance to study for
Making social media work for you Making Social Media Work for your Marketing Campaigns Date: Thursday, July 5 Time: 07:30 – 09:00am Venue: Wolverhampton Business School, Molineux Street, Wolverhampton, Cost: Free of charge IoD CPD Certified This seminar is a must for businesses using or thinking of using social media as a
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platform to market their business. Andy Wilkinson, founding partner and managing director of OWB, will look at the factors behind a successful social media marketing campaign and offer quick wins and takeaway tips on how you can improve yours. Andy is a vastly experienced marketer. He has worked for global brands including TNT, BI Group and agencies across the UK and in South Africa.
their MEng, BEng and MSc in a truly world-class manufacturing environment where theoretical skills are entwined with everyday working experience on Unipart contracts. “This will ensure that when they leave us they will be industry-ready and able to have an immediate positive impact on the companies they work for. “We’ve invested over £3m in equipping our manufacturing hub so they have access to a training robot cell, robotic welder, CNC tube bending, a wire EDM and some of the best co-ordinate measuring capabilities in Europe.” AME is much more than just a breeding ground for the next generation of engineers. The overall focus is to improve the competitiveness of UK manufacturing and it is already making inroads into this by delivering seven R&D projects focused on new powertrain solutions. Two of those have already been completed and seen the launch of a new fuel rail for the Ford Fox engine and a lightweight exhaust system for Aston Martin. Both of these technology breakthroughs have been tested and are shortly going to be entering medium-volume production at Unipart Manufacturing. “This proves we can commercialise R&D, something the UK has been guilty of not doing enough of in recent years,” added Carl. “The idea now is to open up our capability to wider elements of the supply chain so that will include involving them in new projects, giving them access to our manufacturing hub and the launch of specialist CPD courses shortly.”
or contact Sue.hurrell@iod.com
Black Country Annual Dinner
A trip back in time, with an eye to economic future
IoD West Midlands Black Country Dinner Date: Thursday, September 22 Time: 18:00 (optional Boat trip) followed by dinner: 19:00 - 22:30 Venue: Dudley Canal Trust, Birmingham New Rd, Dudley DY1 4SB Cost: Early bird booking for members and guests: £55 plus VAT (until end June) From July 1st: £60 plus VAT (three-course meal including wine and canal boat trip) Non-Members: £70 plus VAT IoD members are invited to book for our third Annual Black Country Dinner, and this year we are
dining in style at the Dudley Canal Trust restaurant, The Gongoozlers. Our evening will commence with an early evening trip on a canal boat through the Dudley Tunnel and Lime Stone Mines. On our return we will be greeted with pre-dinner drinks followed by a delicious three course meal and wine. Our speaker is IoD Chief Economist and Director of Policy, James Sproule, who will be giving us a global economic overview of 2016 and also an insight into economic factors affecting the West Midlands. This event has become a highlight of the IoD calendar, a perfect mix of informal networking and incisive speeches in a local landmark attraction.
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Events - book on all IoD events at www.iod.com/wmidlandsevents
IoD Mastermind Groups Mastermind groups are designed to bring business people together to share ideas and concerns in a constructive environment. We encourage you to come along and find out more about how supportive the mastermind concept can be. Mastermind sessions offer a combination of brainstorming, education, peer accountability and support in a group setting to sharpen business and personal skills. The ethos is to provide a positive, informal but challenging and supportive space to discuss issues that confront directors on a daily basis. The format is simple with introductions and feedback before all
members share summary of topics they would like to discuss. The Mastermind groups currently running are: n Black Country, at Higgs & Sons, Brierley Hill n Coventry & Warwickshire, at Ragley Hall, Alcester n Stoke & Staffs at – Weston Hall, Stafford n Women as Leaders – meet at two locations, Le Monde and Mal Maison, in Birmingham New groups are planned for Birmingham, North Warwickshire and Worcester. If you would like to register your interest or find out more, please email calum.nisbet@iod.com or sue.hurrell@iod.com
Stafford and Stoke Mastermind Group Future Dates: Monday, July 25 Monday, September 26 Monday, October 31 Time: 6.30-9pm Venue: Weston Hall, Weston Bank, Stafford, ST18 0BA Cost: £30.00 + VAT The Stafford mastermind group meets at Weston Hall in a private room. The group focuses on supporting each other’s personal development goals. Among the topics discussed so far are business growth, crowd funding, staffing issues and IT infrastructure. The cost of the evening includes dinner with wine.
The facilitator for the events will be Richard Bisiker. Richard is a personal development coach, trainer and author. His experience is well-rounded across the private and public sectors in the UK and Far East. Richard specialises in communication and he is a Master Practitioner of neuro-linguistic programming and other people management techniques.
Coventry & Warwickshire
The IoD Mastermind group for Coventry & Warwickshire meets at Ragley Hall in Alcester, and holds monthly meetings The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 13, from 6pm - 9pm The price is £35 + VAT, with subsequent meetings on August 10 and September 14 Participants enjoy a two-course dinner, including wine. Come along and find out more about how supportive the IoD Mastermind concept can be.
IoD Masterclass
Practical tips for becoming a non-executive director Date: Thursday, September 1 Time: 9:00-11am Venue: Irwin Mitchell Imperial House, 31 Temple St, Birmingham B2 5DB Cost: £50+ VAT (£60) Members £100+ VAT (£120) Non-Members Don’t miss this special event which will help identify what skills you have and need to hone for NED positions and how to distinguish you from the competition. Tips and advice provided within this session will enable you to write a compelling CV and construct a well prepared list of questions before you proceed. Each workshop is delivered by an industry specialist, who will share cutting-edge insight into an ever evolving business landscape drawing on real world experience from within the boardroom. Take
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advantage of this great opportunity to meet and connect with other local business leaders. The speaker for this event will be Jo Haigh, a partner in fds Corporate Finance, with bases in London, Birmingham and Yorkshire, and a partner in the fds Knowledge, a specialist training and development business. Jo is an experienced dealmaker and has bought and sold over 300 companies in the last 20 years, specialising in owner-managed companies. She is a regular presenter for the Institute of Directors on corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions.
Book at www.iod.com/ WMidlandsevents or contact Sue.Hurrell@ iod.com
Join us at an IoD Summer Social IoD Regional Director Calum Nisbet would be delighted to meet as many members as possible over the coming weeks and invites you to join him at one or more of the special Summer Socials organised across the region. Please come along and meet Calum, your local committee and fellow members for a complimentary drink by dropping by anytime between 6-8pm at a location convenient to you. These events are free but please book in advance by emailing sue.hurrell@iod.com
Summer socials diary Thursday, 14 July The Swan at Whittington Old Rd, Whittington West Midlands WR5 2RL
Tuesday, 26 July The Vernon, Droitwich Rd Hanbury, Worcester B60 4DB
Tuesday, 19 July The Swan, 46 Greengate Street Stafford ST16 2JA
Thursday, 28 July The Junction, 212 High St, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9PT
Thursday, 21 July The Mill Bar & Brasserie, (Ricoh Stadium), Phoenix Way, Foleshill, Coventry CV6 6GE
The Swan, Stafford
Thursday, 4 August The 100 House Hotel Norton, Telford, Shropshire, TF11 9EE See you there!
Fascinating look behind the scenes at The REP Women As Leaders - REP Workshop Tuesday, July 12 The Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2EP Free of charge. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to attend a workshop in the wardrobe department of one of the UK’s oldest producing theatres. The REP, Birmingham’s only producing theatre, has kindly extended an invitation for up to 15 IoD members to attend a workshop which will describe how productions are brought to life on stage through wondrous wigs, marvellous masks and an amazing array of costumes. The session will also provide the opportunity to get involved and make an item such as a Fascinator Hat, to take away following the session.
Save the date at Christmas Yes – we appreciate it is still Summer, but we know how busy it can get in December... so here’s an early notice about a Xmas event IoD West Midlands Christmas Social Thursday, 1st December 6pm-8pm It‘s a great way to kickstart the Christmas festivities with friends and colleagues from the IoD network. Watch www.iod.com for more details but for the time being, save the date!
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Chartered Director programme/Director CPD
Birmingham IoD chartered director programme proves global draw Business people from around the world have visited Birmingham to attend the first IoD Developing Board Performance diploma course held by IoD West Midlands. The course attracted delegates from Africa and the United States, as well as across the UK, who all chose Birmingham over London as their chosen venue for study. Eleven businessmen and women took the diploma course at the IoD West Midlands’ headquarters at the Library of Birmingham. Delegates came from Tanzania, Kenya, Germany and the United States, as well as from closer to home, with businessmen travelling in from Milton Keynes, Leicester, Oxford and Stafford. The diploma is the second stage in the route to Chartered Director Status. The first stage is to obtain the Certificate in Company Direction and then the Diploma puts into realistic practice all that was learned on the Certificate programme. During the course in Birmingham, delegates were given scenarios which they had to deal with in their own ‘boards.’ The process was designed to mirror the operation of a real-life board and encourage peer-group support, challenge and stimulation. Bede Lyimo, one of three of the delegates from Tanzania, in East Africa, who works at the CRDB Bank, found the course to be of high
Zaheer Mohammed Esat, Steve Osei-Mensah, Simon Haslam, Martin Mmari, Christopher Carpenter, Jean Pousson, Rose Felix Metta, Shaun Thaxter, Richard Bisiker, Rashesh Joshi, Wayne Gibbard, Mark Evans and Bede Lyimo value. “Getting positive feedback from peers and having the opportunity to practice all the roles in realistic scenarios on a board was very valuable,” he said. Shaun Thaxter from Indivior plc in Richmond, Virginia, USA said: “It was a great course and really good and interesting to meet people with different experiences” Wayne Gibbard, from Santander in Milton Keynes, meanwhile, found Birmingham the perfect location for the course: “I chose to take the course in Birmingham because it is central
and much easier to get to than travelling to London.” Zaheer Mohammed Esat, of DRMG Ltd, Leicester, remarked: “The IoD hosted and organised the course perfectly and I valued the examples of practical experience of running your own board and learning from each other’s experiences as directors.” Anybody who would like more information about the Developing Board Performance course run by the Institute of Directors West Midlands should contact Sue.Hurrell@iod.com
Assessing risk: an applied approach for boards IoD Risk Governance CPD Taster Date: Tuesday, November 8 Time: 8am-10am Venue: Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET Cost: Members £50 (+VAT) Non Members £100.00 (+VAT) This interactive workshop provides a board-level introduction to risk governance, looking at the importance of understanding risk, exploring how your business can prepare for uncertainty, and examining the director’s role in managing risk. Working through a scenario-based case study, you will have the chance to engage with the topic in a very practical way and analyse the situation using a sample risk assessment that prompts thought about different types of risk, including governance, operational, financial,
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sector-specific, and external or emerging risks. This applied approach will help you to understand how risk management supports both the planning and achievement of organisational strategy, and prompt discussion and appreciation of the responsibility that directors have for risk governance across the organisation.
By the time you have completed the session, you will be able to: • Articulate some of the common risk areas for all businesses and organisations • Identify the key principles that boards can use to evaluate risk and manage it in a way that best ensures the effective long term viability of the organisation. Each workshop is delivered by an industry specialist, who will share cutting-edge insight into an ever evolving business landscape drawing on real world experience from within the boardroom. Take advantage of this great opportunity to meet and connect with other local business leaders.
Book: www.iod.com/WMidlandsevents or contact Sue.Hurrell@iod.com
IoD courses deliver boost to directors’ CPD Finance for Non-Financial Directors Date: Monday, July 25 - Wednesday, July 27 Venue: Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2ND Cost: £2,195 + VAT for IoD Members; £2,635 + VAT for Non-Members This highly interactive course provides you with the vital knowledge required of all directors in the modern business environment. You will gain an insight into your financial responsibilities as a company director and the tools to perform your duties effectively. The course will also help you to demystify the world of finance, monitor the financial health of your business and evaluate business plans with confidence, ultimately allowing you to contribute more effectively to boardroom discussion. Director’s Role in Strategy and Marketing Date: Monday, September 5 Wednesday, September 7 Venue: Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2ND Cost: £2,195 + VAT for IoD Members; £2,635 + VAT for Non-Members This practical three-day course introduces you to the key concepts and processes for developing and managing a company’s overall strategy and marketing. Using a highly practical approach that includes real case study examples, the course looks at the principal approaches to marketing and strategic direction and gives you the tools to effectively lead the strategic process. You will be guided through the key parts of this process and have an opportunity for further exploration and practice. Access exclusive post-course e-learning resources to strengthen what you will have learnt during the course and make a step further in managing your company’s strategy.
IoD CPD Taster
Director’s Role in Leading the Organisation Date: Monday, 26 September – Tuesday, 27 September Venue: Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2ND Cost: £1,995 + VAT for IoD Members, £2,395 + VAT for Non-Members This practical course provides you with a valuable opportunity to explore strategic leadership issues and develop a greater understanding of corporate strategy implementation. You will learn how to lead both individually and collectively to create a corporate culture that fosters creativity, innovation and employee motivation. By reviewing alternative approaches and best practice cases, you will soon master the tools, techniques and ideas needed to maximise your organisation’s success. Role of the Non-Executive Director Date: Tuesday, October 11 Venue: Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2ND Cost: £895 + VAT for IoD Members; £1075 + VAT for Non-Members This comprehensive programme is designed to equip you with practical strategies to build your network, raise your profile to secure an appointment, and add value in the boardroom. Gain practical advice from an experienced portfolio non-executive director and participate in interactive case studies. Discover the latest interview tips from top industry head-hunters and put your questions to the course leader, who will offer expert guidance. Incorporated into the programme at no extra is a three course networking dinner.
“The experience gained through the IoD Chartered Director qualification has been invaluable. It showed me that the most important qualities of a director are inspirational leadership, emotional intelligence, strategic vision, selfbelief, empathy, perspective, adaptability especially in times of adversity, and the need to be fleet of foot especially given the pace of change in the business landscape. I also enjoyed the opportunities it provided for sharing ideas and best practice with fellow directors.”
Top 5 things all directors must know Date: Friday, December 2 Time: 9am-11am Venue: The Latitude Club, One Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham B4 6GN Cost: Member £50 +VAT Non-member £100+VAT This interactive workshop will enable you to distinguish the roles of a director compared to the other actors involved in the management and oversight of a business. This practical session will explore the top five things every director must know, looking at the following questions: • Who is a director? • What do directors do? • What authority does a board have? • What personal liabilities do directors have? • What is a conflict of interest? By the time you have completed the session, you will be able to: Distinguish the role of a director from those of the other actors involved in the management and oversight of an organisation. Understand the link between a director’s duty towards the company and their potential personal liability as directors.
Contact our professional development expert Daniel Davidson to find out more about IoD courses and qualifications. +44 (0)20 7766 8801 daniel.davidson@iod.com
Talita Ferreira, Chartered Director and Chief Financial Officer of BMW UK Limited
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News Event report
Take an IP check to keep your business safe
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IoD West Midlands members were given much to think about when David Hopkins addressed them on the important subject of intellectual property. A business engagement officer for the Intellectual Property Office, David is passionate about IP and his expertise shone through at the event held in April to mark World Intellectual Property Day. He challenged the audience to think hard about their IP and ask themselves the two big questions: Who owns it? How safe is it? David urged members to think of their IP as a package of trademark, patents, copyright and licensing. The event began with an interactive exercise in which the audience was given a scenario about a drinks company who had approached a design company to design a label for a new product but had not paid for ownership of the copyright. When the product became successful, the company wanted to launch in Europe, but when they asked the design company to amend the label for a new market the price was increased from £1,000 to £30,000. This was because the design company owned the copyright and
IoD members are recommended to go to the IPO website to take an online IP course and to undergo an IP health-check. It is a subject which no director should ignore.
the label could only be amended by them. An interesting discussion followed as members were asked to think of other potential IP in the product, besides copyright of the label. Several members admitted that, at the end of the evening, they would be going home to check a few things with their own IP. David also stressed the importance of having an IP strategy. This would be very helpful when raising the price when selling your business. Another very interesting presentation followed from Colin Green, formerly Managing Director at Land Rover and Global Marketing Director, who gave an enlightening address on patenting. Colin cited examples of patenting including the Land Rover Hill Descent Control, introduced in 1997, and the All Terrain Progress Control which makes the car more adaptable to off-road terrain. Merchandising and licensing can add considerable value to a business. Merchandising examples which Colin gave were Star Wars and Ferrari who produce a wide range of goods, including clothing and watches, to raise the profile of their products. An example of licensing was the sensors fitted in vending machines which detects if anyone is near the machine and, if not, turns off the lights, saving power and money. Overall it was a fascinating event, from which the audience learned a great deal. IoD members are recommended to go to the IPO website to take an online IP course and to undergo an IP healthcheck. It is a subject which no director should ignore. Pictured at the IP event are, from left, Colin Green, CeeGee; David TrevisSmith, chair, IoD Coventry & Warwickshire Branch; David Hopkins, IPO; Calum Nisbet, regional director, IoD West Midlands.
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Irwin Mitchell boosts Birmingham Real Estate team with partner hire The Birmingham office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed Real Estate partner Martin McQueen as part of its ongoing investment to expand its business team. Martin, who moves from Shakespeare Martineau, is qualified in Scotland and England and specialises in property development and finance matters. Joining a team headed up by Ben Acheson, Martin regularly advises clients in relation to development, acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant and refinancing projects. Commenting on his arrival, Martin McQueen said: “Irwin Mitchell’s Real Estate department is very well respected with significant strength in depth and I am looking forward to working with and being part of such a strong national team. “This is an exciting time to be joining Irwin Mitchell. The firm has recently merged with Thomas Eggar, but in addition to this, here in Birmingham it has continued to make significant investment in building a first class business legal services team.” Ben Acheson, Head of Real Estate at Irwin Mitchell’s
Birmingham office, said: “Martin is a well-respected operator in the West Midlands. He has great cross-border property development, acquisition and refinancing expertise and I have no doubt that he will be a huge asset as we continue to build and invest in the team.” Earlier this year, the Birmingham office of Irwin Mitchell announced the promotion of Corporate associate, Rob Laugharne to partner. Rob, who moved to Irwin Mitchell from Shoosmiths in 2014, has considerable experience in all aspects of corporate law, but has a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and raising finance. He also advises on complex shareholders’ agreements, partnerships and significant joint ventures, particularly in the property sector. Martin McQueen
Irwin Mitchell named in the top four of most active M&A legal advisers Irwin Mitchell has been named as one of the most active legal advisers for mergers and acquisitions work in the UK. Analysis by Experian, the global information services company, has ranked Irwin Mitchell in fourth place within its UK league table, which is based on the number of corporate transactions it has advised clients on since the start of 2016. In terms of regional breakdown, Irwin Mitchell was placed second in the Midlands (ninth Q1 2015), third in the South East, (up from seventh place in Q1 2015), second in the East of England and 10th in the South West (unranked Q1 2015). Chris Rawstron, Birmingham partner and National Head of Corporate at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Securing a top four spot in the league table of the most
active M&A legal advisers is a significant milestone for the team and testament to their hard work in a challenging market. “We are looking forward to seeing how we did in the second quarter of the year and although the impact of the EU referendum has had an impact on deal volumes, I am optimistic that we will retain our top five position and the Birmingham team will have continued to perform well. “I am tremendously excited about the opportunities that exist and firmly believe our team can become the leading UK mid-market corporate practice and a very credible and attractive alternative to some of our more established competitors. This latest ranking is proof that we are making considerable progress and we are all determined to build on it in the future.”
Deal glides through with Irwin Mitchell Irwin Mitchell has advised fast-growing Birmingham utilities payments company Glide on its sale to CableCom, a group specialising in broadband, TV and telephony services for the student and landlord market. Glide, which makes sharing bills simple for tenants and property businesses, delivering one monthly bill for all utilities and services, will become part of the CableCom Group. The Somerset-based group serves more than 250,000 customers across Europe and the UK, providing internet services to high-density properties used by students. Commenting on the deal, Nick Dawson, corporate partner, said: “Glide is a great business and will go on to even greater things as part of CableCom. Helping to realise entrepreneurial ambition is something that’s close to our heart. We wish Glide the very best for the future.” Last year, Irwin Mitchell announced and completed the merger with Thomas Eggar. The deal creates a £250m legal services business, a top-five private wealth legal team and a platform for Irwin Mitchell to significantly grow their combined business legal services operation across the UK
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News Artist’s impression of the new unit, the latest to sign off on a move to Beacon Business Park
Classeq Limited move to Beacon Business Park Classeq Limited, manufacturer of commercial ware washers, has recently exchanged contracts and applied for planning permission to build its new manufacturing facility at Beacon Business Park, in Stafford. Classeq, currently based in Hixon near Stafford was formed in 1977 to provide glass and dishwashing equipment to the hospitality industry. The company has since grown to dominate its sector of the market and was purchased by German-based family owned business Winterhalter Gastronom GmbH in 2004 with a view to increasing their investment in the UK and entering the value product range after 70 years in the market. Growth over the past 12 years means that Classeq now provides an extensive range of ware-washing machines, ice-making machines and accessories for customers in the UK, Europe, Australia, South Africa and Asia. Their 45-strong workforce designs, develops and produces specialist machines for all types of hospitality venues including those with limited space, machines specifically for the Asian market, and even machines for high speed trains in Germany and the rest of Europe. The company also provides a full support service of a nationwide network of technicians and engineers. A strategic review in 2014 led to further extension of the product range, redesign of all existing products and highlighted that they had
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outgrown their existing premises and needed to consolidate their manufacturing and distribution into a single facility within Staffordshire. Planning permission for the new manufacturing facility at Beacon Business Park in Stafford, designed by Stafford-based architects Barnett Ratcliffe Partnership, was submitted earlier this year and validated on 16 May. Construction of its new 3,000 square metre facility will incorporate purpose-built production lines, sales and support offices, meeting rooms and a new showroom in one easily accessible location. The company are keen to incorporate renewable energy within the plant, wherever possible. The new building will add to the dynamic expansion of Beacon Business Park and includes plans for a purpose-built cycle parking area.
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This follows the recent successful completion of a 4,000 square metre UK headquarters at Beacon Business Park for the German construction equipment group Wacker Neuson. Gary Jones, technical director at Classeq commented: “The location of Beacon Business Park, delivering fast access to the entire UK transport network will improve the delivery service throughout our UK customer base and direct access to all the UK ports for our expanding worldwide export shipments. Relocating closer to Stafford also means that our highly trained workforce can cycle to work or take advantage of public transport.” With its plans for expansion and its reputation as an industry leader, Classeq looks set to continue to grow, and hopes to create a number of employment opportunities at its new home in Beacon Business Park in Staffordshire.
The location of Beacon Business Park, delivering fast access to the entire UK transport network will improve the delivery service throughout our UK customer base and direct access to all the UK ports for our expanding worldwide export shipments...
Events extra
Women as Leaders Assertiveness Workshop Women as Leaders: Assertiveness Workshop Date: Tuesday, October 18 Time: 8.00-9.30am Venue: BDO, 2 Snow Hill, Queensway, Birmingham B4 6GA IoD Professional Development is all about challenging your skill of assertiveness. Our perception of our assertiveness affects our energy, confidence, trust or belief in our self. You will get an insight into the way your inner dialogue can perpetuate a negative cycle or break-out into experimentation and positive riskmanaged growth! This is a fun workshop with a light touch to it, run by Richard Bisiker whose training and executive coaching company has worked with tens of
thousands of participants internationally on personal and leadership development, across many cultures and has many positive testimonies from IoD members from previous workshops. You’ll hear about how… • Assertiveness is managed by your own mental filters • How your self-image, attitude and assertiveness comes from programmable patterns • How to re-programme any pattern you choose • And learn how to uncover and smash your own self-made obstacles, limiting values, and beliefs! An essential event.
Success story: Arti Halai is an example of a highly successful woman business leader
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Pictured at the event are (clockwise from top) Craig Holden, Calum Nisbet and Richard Smith; Alexandra Renison, Prof Tony Yates and Malcolm Harbour CBE; Steve Handscomb, Donetta Bradley, Ann-Marie Stanton and Paul Wynn; and Peter Suddock, Jason Wouhra and Janette Rawlinson.
Just the EU facts, please, says business The run-up to the referendum saw business people from across the West Midlands attend an IoD event scrutinising the cases to Remain or Leave the EU. Passionate views were voiced in a lively and informative debate – “EU Referendum: Do you need more information?” – which left delegates more fully informed to decide in advance of the historic vote. The event, sponsored by Barclays Bank at its base at One Snowhill, was organised to help members separate some of the facts from the myths of a highly complex subject. The objective was to provide measured discussion on an often emotive issue and supply reliable information to help the audience make up their own minds. Chaired by IoD head of Europe and trade policy Alexandra Renison, contributors included Johnnie Arkwright, chairman of the West Midlands branch of ‘Business for Britain,’ who strongly favoured exit while Malcolm Harbour CBE, a former three-term MEP, is equally passionate about the United Kingdom staying in. “I was one of the ‘Yes’ campaigners in 1975
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and have absolutely not changed my mind,” said Mr Harbour. “Britain has shaped the single market – and it would be dangerous to walk away now. “If we choose to leave the European Parliament we will not be round the table when rules are made in the future. We would be giving away control - not taking it.” But Mr Arkwright believed leaving the EU would indeed return greater control to the UK – as well as bringing significant trading benefits. “It would enable us to take back some of our laws and cut red tape,” he said. “Also, once we leave, we will be the biggest export market the EU has. “And we will not only be able to negotiate free-trade deals with Europe but also with other countries around the world.” That view was supported by Bill Good, chief executive of Diverco Ltd, who is heavily involved with the Vote Leave campaign. “Our trade with Europe is getting less and less,” he said. “Trade in Europe is stagnating – the rest of the world is where the trade is.” But Tony Yates, professor of economics at the
University of Birmingham, observed that exiting the EU would lead to ongoing and damaging uncertainty for British business. “There would be a very long period, perhaps as much as 15 years, while we worked out just what path we were going to choose, or would be available to us, as we find out the reaction of our international partners to our demands,” said Mr Yates. “This uncertainty itself could be highly damaging.” All speakers were extended great courtesy by an audience which clearly appreciated the opportunity, offered by the IoD, to hear a local perspective on the issue. “We organised debates up and down the country because business leaders were telling us that they needed to hear more practical arguments about whether, and how, Brexit would really affect their company’s future,” said Alexandra Renison. “We wanted to make sure our members had the chance to understand the substance of the issues, so they could be confident they understood the arguments before they voted.”
Chiltern Railways still best in class for right-time punctuality Chiltern Railways remains the top franchised rail operator for right-time train punctuality, according to the latest research released by Network Rail. The official right-time rail industry figures, which are based on the percentage of services that arrive within a minute of their scheduled time, revealed that 83.5 per cent of Chiltern Railways trains were on time against a national average of 64.4 per cent, placing the train operator miles ahead of companies such as Virgin Trains and London Midland. This comes during the year where the train
company extended their network and opened up a new line between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone. Dave Penney, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways said: “It’s been a busy year but we remain committed to providing our customers with a punctual and reliable service. I’m going to be working hard to continue to improve our performance and give our customers what they want; a fast, flexible and reliable travel experience.” Chiltern Railways runs fast and frequent trains between the West Midlands and London
Marylebone and Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone, with a new line to Oxford opening in December 2016. For more information and to view the new performance data, visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/about/ performance/
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83.5 per cent of Chiltern Railways trains were on time against a national average of 64.4 per cent, placing the train operator miles ahead of companies such as Virgin Trains and London Midland.
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News
IoD boost for mentoring programme
by Craig Holden The IoD West Midlands mentoring programme was launched at the University of Wolverhampton in 2011. The vision then was to match final-year students with IoD members who would mentor the students to increase their self-awareness and self-confidence and improve their chances of getting a job upon graduation. The question is, five years on, has it worked? In short, the answer is a resounding yes. Participation levels have grown every year, with the number of students and IoD mentors increasing from just a handful in 2011 to 39 mentors and 45 students in 2016. Of course, numbers can’t tell us everything and equally important is what the mentors and students say. For the mentors, Allan Binstead, managing director of Thermit Welding (GB) Limited, sums up his experience: “The mentoring programme was energising – it was great to give something back, but also to learn more about the aspirations and expectations of the undergraduates who are soon to launch themselves into the job market. “I, like all of the mentors, have been humbled by the skills and talent the students have and I’ve been delighted to be able to help them.” Allan’s comment fits in very well with the reason why the then IoD regional director, John Phillips MBE, set the scheme up in the first place, which is that today’s students are tomorrow’s directors and the future of business in this country. John commented: “As experienced directors we underestimate how much we are able to give to young people finishing their education and having aspirations to build a business career. It is immensely satisfying to be able to help a young person in this situation.” The students get a huge amount out of the scheme. As one put it: “This is one of the most important events that happened to me while at the University of Wolverhampton. It allowed me to get a short internship with Pertemps recruitment agency where I learned how to operate in different business situations and how to communicate efficiently with different individuals. I also learned about CV writing, behaviour during different interviews, time
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management, ability of stress control, etc.” Another said:“... most importantly, I feel the scheme has been motivating and meeting the directors has also inspired me to work hard. My own mentor was friendly, responsive and genuine! He really guided me in terms of my career path, improved my confidence so much and helped me with my CV. I’m super grateful for all his help. I think it’s a brilliant scheme for third year students, to give them an edge, help with motivation and build their confidence.” Finally, and perhaps above all, is whether the students have been successful in securing meaningful employment. Once again, the results are positive – well over 80 per cent of the students who have been through the mentoring programme are now in employment, with most of the remaining 20 per cent going on to study for a further degree. And we’re looking to expand the scheme still further... The good news is that the scheme will continue into its sixth year, under the guidance of our new regional director, Calum Nisbet, with John Phillips still being heavily involved in a project he feels so passionately about. Even better news is the decision to expand the scheme into the Coventry area, focusing on students from The University of Coventry which means we are looking for directors in that area to volunteer as mentors, and replicate the success of the Wolverhampton scheme. The time commitment is less than you might expect. Aside from a briefing session and a couple of group meetings, the minimum time needed is for a one-hour-long meeting per month, October to May. I have been involved in the scheme for three years and would thoroughly recommend becoming a student mentor to any IoD member. As the scheme continues to grow, we need more directors to come forward and volunteer, for both Wolverhampton and now Coventry. So if you’re interested, just get in touch with Jenni Jones (jenni.jones@wlv.ac.uk) for Wolverhampton or Calum Nisbet for Coventry at calum.nisbet@iod.com Craig Holden is an IoD member and managing director of C H Marketing. He can be contacted on craig@c-h-m.co.uk .
Pictured above with Regional Chairman Jason Wouhra are IoD members and students from the University of Wolverhampton on a recent visit to East End Foods’ offices in West Bromwich
Beware of reduced tax relief on pension contributions Ian Hill, an employee benefits specialist in the Birmingham office of Smith & Williamson, explains how changes to pensions contributions are beginning to make their mark Changes to the tax relief on pension contributions, introduced on 6 April 2016, are starting to be felt by executives, high earners and long-serving employees. The new rules establish a taper of an individual’s annual allowance, ie, the tax relief available on pension contributions, from £40,000 to £10,000 for those with adjusted income between £150,000 and £210,000. This includes earnings, benefits in kind, savings interest, dividends and rental income. Directors and business owners should consider the potential impact on themselves personally. However, it is also vital that they consider communicating the new tax rules to any staff members who may be affected. Calculating the effect of the changes To determine whether an individual is affected by the changes to the annual allowance, and whether they face a subsequent tax charge, calculations must be made. The annual allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 that their ‘adjusted income’ exceeds £150,000. An individual’s threshold income must be calculated and then their adjusted income. Threshold income is the individual’s total earned and unearned income for the tax year – of more than £110,000. However, any salary sacrifice arrangements made on or after 9 July 2015 must be included in the calculation of taxable income. If an individual’s threshold income
exceeds £110,000 they will need to calculate their adjusted income. Adjusted income, broadly, represents the value of taxable income from all sources. In addition, the values of any employee contributions deducted from gross income need to be taken into account, as do employer contributions. For members of a defined benefit pension scheme, the calculation is even more complicated. If this amount exceeds £150,000 then they will be affected by changes to the annual allowance. The annual allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 that their adjusted income exceeds £150,000. Many individuals will not be able to calculate their adjusted income until after the tax year has ended, by which time pension contributions will have been made and they may find out they have unwittingly incurred a tax charge. The tax charge is calculated by adding the excessive level of pension contributions to an individual’s taxable income – in effect, the excess is subject to their marginal rate of income tax. Bringing forward unused pension contributions from previous tax years may be the only option to mitigate the tax due on excessive pension contributions. This may be particularly pertinent for individuals, such as business owners, who face spikes in their employer pension contributions.
What employers can do to help As an employer, you may want to consider alternative ways to remunerate staff. Tackling this issue depends on how much employers want to assist those affected by the new rules. The potential problem for employers is that they may be unaware which employees will be affected. Adjusted income includes not only salary, bonus payments and employer pension contributions, but also income from other sources, such as dividends and property. From a governance perspective, employers may want to ensure that their staff are not caught unawares with what could be a substantial tax charge and can do this by providing a wider financial education programme. For some individuals it may be of benefit for them to retain high pension contributions and incur the subsequent tax bill, for instance individuals who have neglected pension contributions. For others, a cash flow problem may exist and there may be a more effective way to remunerate a high earner. Ultimately, high earners have their own individual needs and motivations and a range of options may be needed. However, by offering advice and practical solutions you and your business will be better placed to retain your important staff members.
Want to know more?
To discuss any of the issues raised in this article contact Ian Hill on T: 0121 710 5200 E: ian.hill@smith.williamson.co.uk W: smith.williamson.co.uk
Smith & Williamson has been looking after the financial affairs of individuals, families and businesses for more than a century. The firm offers accountancy, tax, financial advisory, investment management and private banking services to a range of clients, from individuals and families to entrepreneurial businesses, SMEs, mid-large corporates, professional practices and non-profit organisations.
Disclaimer
By necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview and it is essential to seek professional advice before applying the contents of this article. No responsibility can be taken for any loss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis of this publication. Details correct at time of writing. The tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. Smith & Williamson LLP: Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International. Smith & Williamson Financial Services Limited: Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate all of the products and services referred to here.
IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 29
BHSF
Is your business heading for an iceberg? Today’s employees can often be battling issues which have a detrimental effect on their own wellbeing and, ultimately, on their productivity. Whether relating to their work or personal lives, worries which keep individuals awake at night are almost always hidden beneath the surface, creating a perilous ‘iceberg’ of underlying problems and anxieties. This not only has the potential to threaten an individual’s physical and mental health, it can also pose a danger to their ability to perform at work. It could therefore have a serious impact on employee retention and the operational success of the business. According to Brian Hall, managing director of Birmingham-based BHSF Employee Benefits Limited, many company directors are missing a trick when it comes to maximising the productivity of individuals. As Brian explains, it is possible for businesses to get the best from their employees and build a resilient workforce by being proactive when it comes to employee wellbeing. Taking a pre-emptive strike can mitigate the risks from factors which can affect an individual’s behaviour in the workplace. This approach can also assist with recruitment and retention in an increasingly competitive labour market. A myriad of issues are affecting employees and yet are not at all obvious to line managers or employers. In many cases, these issues may also be largely unacknowledged by the individuals in question. As such, employees are simply not receiving the support they need, and the scale of this problem for today’s business leaders cannot be underestimated. Over time, unhappy employees will fail to perform or even turn-up to work. In our experience, only half of employees return to the workplace after a three-month absence, so a strategy of early intervention in navigating the hidden dangers of the iceberg is vital. The important first step to building a happy, productive and loyal workforce is to give employees the tools to manage their own physical and mental wellbeing. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are increasingly being hailed as game changers when it comes to building resilience among employees and are now widely recognised for the part they play in acting as the ‘first line of defence’. The BHSF EAP has been modelled around a new proactive approach to workforce wellbeing, which is based on ‘self-help’ and promoting a positive workplace
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culture to mental health. As well as a 24-hour helpline which offers confidential access to a telephone counselling service 365 days a year, workplace training and line manager support is also provided. Tailored to different working environments, this can cover effective stress management techniques, but even more crucial is training to help individuals recognise signs of stress in themselves and others, so they are empowered to act on situations before they get to the point of no-return. There is so much to be gained from this approach for business leaders. Showing a clear commitment to employee wellness will not only help employers reap the rewards of a more engaged workforce, they may also find their holistic benefits offering gives them the edge when it comes to recruiting and retaining the very best – and most productive – employees. In our experience, employers who consider themselves at risk from the ‘iceberg’ must waste no time contemplating the hidden dangers to the ship, but seize on the opportunity for change.
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Whether relating to their work or personal lives, worries which keep individuals awake at night are almost always hidden beneath the surface, creating a perilous ‘iceberg’ of underlying problems...”
Why join the IoD?
‘The IoD can take you to a new level ... it puts you in touch with individuals that you can learn strategically from...’ People often ask ‘why join the IoD?’. One member explains why he believes it has been hugely beneficial to his business and his own personal development Dave Kearns has no doubt that the IoD is the “best business organisation there is” and has played a significant part in helping him establish Expert Investigations as a leader in its field. Dave has been a member of the IoD West Midlands for 14 years and has taken advantage of many of the services it provides. He strongly recommends both that business people seeking to take their company to the next level should join, and also that those who already are members ensure they are fully utilising the range of benefits that membership brings. “The IoD is without doubt the best business organisation there is,” he said. “It is a natural step up for Chamber of Commerce members when they want to expand. “The Chamber is great for small businesses that aren’t VAT-registered and need that sort of business support at the start, like I did. And it is excellent for people looking at getting into new markets and exporting. “But the IoD can take you to a new level from that £100,000 turnover to a £500,000 turnover or from a three or four per cent profit margin to a nine or ten per cent. “It puts you in touch with bigger businesses and those individuals with more experience that
you can learn strategically from. I tell most people to join the IoD because for £400-odd a year you are not going to get better value. “I know the IoD does advertise itself but I still don’t think people really understand all that it entails and even some of its members don’t use things like the research facility. I have used that a few times and it is brilliant. You phone somebody and say ‘can you research this?’ and you get the results in 24 hours! “There are other great benefits too, like room at airport lounges, reduction on hotels and networking opportunities like the Mastermind groups. “We have done two Mastermind sessions at Ragley Hall and everybody is very excited about it. A lot of people in it are of similar personalities and we are all learning from each other’s experiences in business. “But not only that, we are having a great time socially because when we are not talking about business we are enjoying each other’s company and learning about facets of life that we don’t know much about. “Every business person has a personal background unique to them and that’s fascinating. The Mastermind groups are a brilliant idea.”
“The IoD can take you to a new level - from that £100,000 turnover to a £500,000 turnover or from a three or four per cent profit margin to nine or ten per cent...”
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New members
The following business leaders have joined the IoD in recent months David John Adams Leigh Allen Judith Armstong Simon Azzopardi Owen Barton Philip Hugh Base Andy Bass Andrew Beach Graham Charles Biggs Josh Birbeck Steve Bott Donetta Bradley Richard Bromwich George Bryan Lorley Burt Russell Buxton Paul Cadman Jim Campbell Eva Cartwright Andrew Collett Ian William Constance John Coombes Richard Coughlin Jane Elizabeth Dale Jon Dale Michael Davis Daniel Downes Omer Farooqui Lara Fatah Richard Foster Petra Gale Robert Goodall Keith Green Charles Hamer Alison Hartopp Sally Jones Srikrishna Juloori Sally England Kerr Raja Khan Adam Kiani Tom Kollen Claire Lawton Mark Lesniak Nick Lewis Paul Loran Laoiseach Lynch Al Martin Paula Maxwell Mark Morris
Barclays Bank Plc Q2M Ltd Millennium Point Trust Thycotic HomeXperts Ltd Offsite Servers Ltd BassClusker Consulting Ltd Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd Rural Services Partnership Ltd HomeXperts Ltd Efficient Thinking Solutions Ltd Braddons Decorators Kingspan Insulation Ltd Drayton Manor Park Ltd House of Lords Russell Buxton Consultant Futura Group Sutherland Campbell International Ltd The Teaching Assistant College Ltd GfA Elektromaten UK Ltd Advanced Propulsion Centre UK Ltd Comau UK Ltd The Hub BHSF Phi Lighting England Athletics Industrial Refrigeration Services Ltd Chemex International Ltd Alfa 5 Ltd Natech Ltd Xceeda Group Capita Medical Reporting Capita Mortgage Software Solutions Hamer Associates Ltd Natech Ltd A and P Transport Worchestershire Englands Safety Ltd Inteb Managed Services Personal Trainer Ltd Gruhme UK Ltd Acorn Support Great British Store Ltd Great British Store Ltd Eneco UK Ltd Wesleyan Assurance Society Aspen Medical Perspective Matters Ltd Lagan Group Ltd
Membership benefit “Some members don’t use things like the research facility. I have used that a few times and it is brilliant. You phone somebody and say ‘can you research this?’ and you get the results in 24 hours!” Dave Kearns, Expert Investigations
Ngqabutho Mpofu C2C Be Well Ltd Amanda Nuttall Strategic Proposals AJN Ltd Michael Egan O’Callaghan The Penn Group Timi Oludayomi Studio 14 David Parr Glassolutions Saint-Gobain Ltd Steve Peak Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Christopher Pote Devote Ltd Michaela Joy Pound Aspray24 Ltd Tobias Alexander Robinson Cross8 Ltd James Edmund Rutherford Anglo American Plc Karen Rutter Barclays Bank Plc Catherine Jeanette Salmon Contain It Packaging Ltd John Scott Carter Thermal Industries Colonel Steven Smith MBE Action on Armed Violence Adam Smith Intrepid Minds Ltd William Spilsbury 360 Degree Connections Ltd Wayne Richard Starr Verint Systems Ltd Mark Stirrup Capita Medical Reporting Jonathon Stott Hamer Associates Ltd Peter Stoddart SA Group Ltd Peter Templeton Quanta Fluid Solutions Andrea Thompson Rolls-Royce Adam Thompson Hill & Smith Ltd Mark Thorn Marches Care Ltd Martin Tufft Mainline Digital Comunications Ltd Helen Elizabeth Tuft Drayton Manor Park Ltd Leisa Jane Turner Joy Global (UK) Ltd Zeynep Turudi Truede Ltd Sebastiano Vito Viviani Vicki Wentworth Wesleyan Assurance Society Tahir Wasfe Karzan International Ltd Matthew Weaver Objectivity Ltd Geoff Williams Bayley Hills Simon Thomas Wills Pinnegar Hayward Ltd Benjamin Young Archenfield Risk
Follow IoD West Midlands on social media @IOD_westmidland IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 33
Charity spotlight
Wesleyan-backed appeal hits £600k mark for support centre at Birmingham Children’s Hospital The UK’s first support centre for children and their families at Birmingham Children’s Hospital is a step closer to reality after fundraising, driven by financial mutual Wesleyan, hit the £600,000 mark. The initiative to build the palliative care support facility in the gardens of Birmingham Children’s Hospital is on course to reach the £1 million needed by the end of the year. Magnolia House, located in the gardens of the hospital, will be the UK’s first purpose-built support centre for families who receive life-changing or difficult news while at the hospital. Work has already begun at the site, due to open in September, and the money raised by Wesleyan and the charity’s other supporters will go towards completing private counselling rooms, a lounge, a play area for brothers and sisters of terminally ill children and a peaceful
garden for residents and families. Aside from Birmingham-based Wesleyan’s jam-packed programme of events, one of its big drivers of raising the much-needed cash has been a specially commissioned book, The Unstoppable Maggie McGee. More than 7,000 copies have already been sold, with well-known retailers backing its sale including Selfridges and Waterstones. Liz McKenzie, Wesleyan’s Chief Operating Officer and chair of its Charity Advisory Committee, said: “The fundraising so far has been incredible; we’re grateful for everyone who has supported our work – but there is still a long way to go. Magnolia House reflects Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s tireless mission to provide the best possible support for its patients and their families. “With the building work now well underway we will continue to push forward, together with
Pioneering brain-injury unit opens its doors A pioneering facility dedicated to the care of young adults with acquired brain injuries or complex disabilities has opened its doors. The highly anticipated Nightingale House is located in the heart of Derby and was opened by the city’s mayor, Councillor Paul Pegg. The former private nursing and midwifery hospital and later a Macmillan unit on London Road, underwent a £1.5 million renovation project to transform the property into a home offering residential and short breaks services for young adults with complex needs. It was developed by award-winning established care providers, Progress Care Solutions, which has a portfolio of specialist residential facilities across the West Midlands and has now added Nightingale House to the East Midlands region. Its chief executive Bal Dhanoa is a well-known member of IoD West Midlands, The home boasts spacious communal areas and outside space with a sensory garden and a ‘city living’ feel which appeals to the younger client, state-of-the-art sensory room and specialist hydrotherapy bathing facilities. It has eight residential suites adapted and designed to meet individual requirements along with four additional rooms for clients wanting a short break stay. Claire Haynes, managing director at Progress Care Solutions, said: “With Nightingale House, we want to create a unique environment designed to provide support and rehabilitation for young adults looking to progress in their lives and work towards living independently, whilst giving them the opportunity to build friendships and relationships with others who face similar challenges in life. “Nightingale House is beautifully designed to create a comfortable home from home atmosphere for our clients rather than having a clinical feel. As part of the rehabilitation programmes for many clients, it is important that they feel very much a part of the community.”
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the charity, towards the £1million target. Our work with The Big Read in the summer and the ongoing efforts of all those involved will ensure that Magnolia House is ready to start making a real difference.” As the charity’s largest corporate donor, Wesleyan will continue its commitment to raising its £750,000 pledge towards the million pounds. Upcoming activity includes a partnership with The Big Read, a literacy project that will take place this summer across the West Midlands, where it will launch its own ‘The Unstoppable Maggie McGee’ book bench at the Library of Birmingham. Do you want to get involved? To get involved, find out more about the Magnolia House project or to buy a copy of the ‘The Unstoppable Maggie McGee’ book, please visit www.unstoppablemaggie.co.uk.
Cllr Paul Pegg cuts the ribbon, watched by (left) managing director Claire Haynes and Bal Dhanoa, chief executive.
I love this story! It’s beautifully told and I love the way it shows the power of the imagination to take you wherever you want to go... a great story and has something to say to all children... Malorie Blackman Children’s Laureate 2013-15
In association with a number of wonderful partners, Wesleyan has published a magical children’s story book, ‘The Unstoppable Maggie McGee’ Visit www.unstoppable maggie.co.uk to find out more 100% of the £6 cover price is donated to Birmingham Children’s Hospital www.facebook.com/ unstoppablemaggie
Members’ Feature
Not a bad place to call ‘the office’ Alan Granger expands on the delights of working out of Ragley Hall An elegant Grade One-listed mansion, Ragley Hall is the centrepoint of a magnificent 6,500-acre estate of rolling parkland. Alan, an IoD West Midlands member, has been its chief executive for 15 years and can testify that the job, like that of any CEO, has its challenges and pressures. The same ones that apply to any business, in fact, plus a few that do not apply to most. Like striving for commercial profitability while respecting and maintaining an estate which has been the ancestral seat of the resident family for more than 300 years. That’s a big, complex job. But Alan’s not complaining. “There are very few days when I don’t want to come into the office,” he said. “It is a fantastic environment to work in. A special place.” The Ragley estate, nestling in breathtaking countryside near the Warwickshire and Worcestershire border, is certainly special. But on a business level, the same gruelling fundamentals apply there as anywhere. “Just like for all businesses, it is tough for us,” Alan said. “Like everyone we are dealing with rises in tax-liability, the cost of inputs rises in VAT and the cost of employing people while all the time people expect to pay less for services. “We’re no different to any other business in having to deal with those factors. Where we are different is that we need to be commercially effective but, at a place like this, it is not just about profit. It is also about doing the right thing.” Ragley Hall is home to the ninth Marquess
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and Marchioness of Hertford and their four children and has been the family seat since 1680. It was almost 1,000 years before that – 711AD – that Ragley was given to Evesham Abbey by the King of Mercia. There’s some serious history to the place. But that history almost ended in the 1950s - and would have done if not for the tenacity of one small boy. For the first half of the 20th century Ragley Hall stood empty as the family resided in London. It was used as a hospital for injured airmen during the Second World War after which the trustees wanted to demolish it – only for nine-year-old Hugh Hertford, the eighth Marquess, to forbid it as he intended to live there one day. Ragley Hall escaped demolition. Instead came reinvention. The spectacular place held obvious commercial opportunities and in 1958 was opened to the public for the first time. Since then the quest to exploit those opportunities has been ongoing, though Ragley is far from just a visitor attraction. There are five strands to its business. Rental income and the farm are the two biggest income-streams, each generating around £1.5million per year alongside the house opening business, the retail butcher’s and woodland businesses. The estate employees 45 staff full-time and more than 40 seasonal. Plenty then for Alan, who came to Ragley from the smaller Audley End estate, near Saffron Walden, and his team to keep ticking over. “The big challenge is finding the cash to do all the things we want to do,” he said. “We
need a lot of people and people are expensive. We have a lot of assets but they are mostly tied up in property, so we have to generate income. “Maintenance costs on the hall alone run to hundreds of thousands of pounds per year. The hall is a significant burden for the estate to maintain – but the reason the estate is here is to look after the hall. “It is a big operation. When you think of everyone who live or work on the estate there are probably around 600 people whose livelihoods are directly connected with it.” To safeguard those livelihoods, this ancient ancestral seat has diversified. It hosts all manner of events from car rallies to wedding receptions and conferences to cricket matches. Filmmakers have been seduced by its grandeur. Ragley has featured in TV productions as wide-ranging as Dr Who (The Girl in the Fireplace in 2006), Vanity Fair, The Scarlet Pimpernel and antiques auctioneering show Flog It. “We have to make the most of this wonderful place,” said Alan, “but of course within the constraints of the hall being Grade One listed. We cannot and certainly wouldn’t wish to go down the theme-park route. “Our challenge is similar to that facing the National Trust: to excite people about what is essentially the natural landscape and offer them an old-fashioned day out in a beautiful place.” There are few more beautiful places in England than Ragley Hall. As well as a long history, it has, it appears, a bright and busy future.
“We have to make the most of this wonderful place within the constraints of the hall being Grade One listed. We cannot and certainly wouldn’t wish to go down the theme-park route...”
How Jaguar was saved... by the man who held its reins The 1970s were years of great peril, not only for most British companies, but also for the nation. The London Stock Exchange was worth less in the mid-1970s than in 1940, strikes were plentiful and national morale was low. In Saving Jaguar by John Egan we hear the story of not only how Jaguar was saved from extinction but how John believes Britain was saved by the Thatcher Government, without whose help the company would not have survived. The story starts in 1979 when Michael Edwardes, the chairman of British Leyland, offered John the chance to run Jaguar Rover Triumph, but with the Labour Government and the trades unions still in charge, he felt it was an impossible task. A few months later, with a change of Government, with its new attitude towards union power, he offered again, this time Jaguar on its own. With Margaret Thatcher aligning the unions’ responsibilities with their duties John felt this made it a possible, if risky venture. Michael also intimated that Jaguar could earn its independence from BL if John could turn around the heavy losses. His first day at Jaguar was dramatic: the workforce was on strike, protesting against the imposition of a BL-wide pay grading structure.
The Jaguar men saw themselves as more skilled than the volume car makers, and bitterly resented being lumped together with them. John’s first job was to persuade unwilling shop stewards to help get them back to work. There were enormous problems – productivity, quality, lack of skilled engineers, and most of all, our suppliers’ quality. The XJ6, newly face-lifted by Pininfarina, was a beautiful car and would be the saviour if quality could improve. John embarked on a “hearts and minds” programme to enthuse the workforce and wrest control from the unions. Supplier problems, were tackled – amazingly the company was pushing on an open door, and the improved results were dramatic and swift. Meanwhile, union power was being curtailed, first by Michael Edwardes’ disciplined approach to negotiations - ‘No’ meant ‘No’ - and the Government’s equally tough stance – no more beer and sandwiches at No. 10. Norman Tebbit, as
Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, backed the company with £100m to be invested in a new model programme. The big boost came with US sales. Since Triumph and MG had disappeared, dealers in America had only Jaguar to sell, and when the quality improved, they set to enthusiastically make the sales we needed to be profitable. The turnaround was swift and within four years Jaguar was in profit and ready to fly. The fundamentals of the turnaround are as relevant today as they were 30 years ago concentrating on quality and value for money, creating continuous improvement processes, ethical leadership with good two-way communication, thus allowing every employee to bring brains and enthusiasm to work, as well as their hands and feet. They were dramatic times but again and again Jaguar was pulled back from the brink, and built the foundations for what is a great success story today. • Saving Jaguar is available from Amazon.
Established in 2004; Auriga work with clients to manage debt and help reduce financial hardship for their customers Changing lives everyday
Auriga’s services include: Grant Assessments Organisational Grants Benefit Checks Income Maximisation Customer Representation Debt Advice Training to recognise vulnerability Our clients retain us year on year because our passion and focus is on providing oustanding customer service and care for their customers.
By 2020 Auriga will have helped 2 million people to reduce their financial hardship For more information about Auriga Services visit www.aurigaservices.co.uk Contact 0121 321 1324 or email office@aurigaservices.co.uk IoD West Midlands Summer 2016 | 37
Charity spotlight
Business urged to back DEBRA for Josh’s sake Josh lives in the West Midlands and, like any 13-year-old, enjoys computer games, being with his friends and playing sports. But he has a condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) which results in his skin blistering and tearing, causing him intense pain and leading to infection and scarring. A side effect of Josh’s constantly healing skin is that his fingers have started to fuse together and he has undergone painful surgery to separate them. EB also affects his mouth and throat, which once led to a terrifying experience when some food became stuck in the lining of his oesophagus, causing him to choke. He had to be coaxed back to eating with the help of his EB specialist dietician, who is part-funded by DEBRA. He also has a gastrostomy button in his tummy so that extra nutrition can be given directly into his stomach. DEBRA is the national charity that supports individuals and families affected by EB. There are at least 5,000 people living with this devastating condition in the UK and nearly 20 per cent of the work by the DEBRA Community Support team focuses on people in the Midlands – giving advice, emotional support and helping people apply for statutory assistance. Thanks to our supporters DEBRA has been able to help Josh and his family in many ways including dietician support, home visits by the DEBRA Community Support team, help towards an electric wheelchair which Josh needs for his independence, use of a DEBRA holiday home, and attending DEBRA’s educational and social events throughout the year. DEBRA also funds a range of research projects including one seeking to minimise the incredible ‘itch’ associated with EB, which can make life very uncomfortable. Find out more at www.debra.org.uk/ itch-project Josh’s mum, Toni, says: “We don’t know what the future holds. We try very hard not to think about it, taking each day as it comes. We try to encourage Josh to live as normal a life as possible as we don’t want him to miss out because of his EB, but we can’t help but worry about him.
£500
buys an airconditioning unit to help someone with EB sleep “We are so thankful for the money DEBRA is investing in research and hope one day for a treatment that will make Josh’s life less painful.” DEBRA would like Midlands-based businesses to get involved, so please: • nominate a staff member to join our Midlands Appeals Council (corporate representatives who hold fundraising events and use their professional contacts to raise awareness) • choose DEBRA as your company’s Charity of the Year • invite a DEBRA representative to give a talk to staff, or hold an information stall • enter a team into the DEBRA Little Aston Charity Golf Day on 9th September • enter the Great Birmingham Run or another challenge event to raise sponsorship • make a corporate donation. £500 could buy an air-conditioning unit to help someone with EB sleep more comfortably. £1,000 could fund the extra needs of a child with EB, buying an adapted buggy, special bed linen and a food blender. £6,500 would cover the annual running costs of a DEBRA holiday home.
£1,000
funds an adapted buggy for a child, special bed linen and a food blender.
£6,500
cover the annual running costs of a DEBRA holiday home.
Want to know more? To find out more please go to www.debra.org.uk where you can find Josh in the ‘Real Life Stories’ section. To contact your local DEBRA representative call 07557 561502 or email Lorraine.Rudge@debra. org.uk
New IoD base for Edinburgh IoD members who do business in Scotland should note that the IoD has a new base in Edinburgh, at 10 Charlotte Square. It’s a great location,10 minutes’ walk from the main train station and just a few doors down from the First Minister’s residence. The new members’ lounge is a 3,000 sq. ft member venue and director development facility. It is free to use for members and their guests, boasting a new members’ lounge alongside a hot desk workroom. There are also a variety of meeting rooms for hire for between two and 12 people, with splendid views across Castle and Charlotte Square Gardens. There is no need to book – just sign in with your IoD membership details. Free wifi and refreshments are available in the lounge. To book private rooms for larger scale meetings contact the IoD on 0131 557 5488. For more details see www.iod.com/scotland
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