connected Issue 87 by connected magazine

INSPIRING SUCCESS

ISSUE 87

The official magazine for Chamber members

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DEMYSTIFYING THE PROCESS PLUS. . . ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CHAMBER NETWORK

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this issue

30 5

Chief Executive’s highlights

Member benefits

Protect

8-11

Inform

12 14-15 16 18-20 21

Marketing Insight Ask the Expert Policy news International Trade news UK-EU helpline

22-23

Charity news

24-25

Digital Transformation

CONTENTS

34 26-27

New members

Ely & East Cambs area news

30-32

Cambridge & South Cambs area news

34-35

Huntingdonshire area news

36-37

Peterborough area news

Stamford area news

Networking events

Champions

45-46

Events and Training

cover photo created by: kjpargeter - www.freepik.com

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welcome from the

EDITOR

ISSUE 87 INSPIRING SUCCESS

The official magazine

for Chamber members

Welcome .... Catch up with news across the Chamber Network as members share their news with us in connected and we provide information on our benefits and services. Please turn to page 45-46 to see details of training courses, Chamber events and the first Virtual Global Annual Conference.

ATION DIGITAL TRANSFORM CESS DEMYSTIFYING THE PRO PLUS. . . ALL THE

CHAMBER NETWO LATEST NEWS FROM THE

Chief Executive John Bridge OBE DL

The Chamber are now handling connected advertising in-house and we have agreed some new, more cost effective, prices. Turn to page 48 for our new rate card and please contact me if you would like to place an advert.

To be part of the next issue of connected, please email me your stories by Wednesday 21 April. SADIE PARR s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

Editor Sadie Parr Published and Printed by

www.xlpress.co.uk Design Helen Dwyer Advertising Sadie Parr s.parr@cambscci.co.uk Membership Team Ashleigh Jackson 01223 209812 Bren Coleman 01223 209811 Chamber contact details Clifford House, 2 Station Yard, Oakington, Cambridge, CB24 3AH Tel 01223 237414 Email enquiries@cambscci.co.uk Visit www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk @CambsChamber Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce

MAR 2021 APRIL 2021

Leadership Forum event

Understanding Rules of Origin course

Championing Business session

Supercharge your Email Marketing

Bitesize HR event

Championing Business session

Construction Network

Understanding Importing course

Understanding Exporting course

@CambsChamber

Views expressed in connected are not necessarily these of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply official endorsement of the products or services concerned. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of editorial content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/ or omissions. The editor reserves the right to make amendments without notification.

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Tips to Increase Your Brand Reach

Customs Procedures and Documentation course

Meet the Neighbours networking

Social media: How to Position Your Brand

Leadership Forum event

Championing Business session

comment from the

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Has the pandemic killed the tie for good? So much has changed for all of us over the past 12 months particularly in the way we dress when working from home and spending much of our time on Zoom. Certainly from my perspective I have only worn a tie twice in that period when I used to every working day.

Taking a trip down memory lane as you can see reminds me of how things used to be… will they ever return?

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member

BENEFITS

Benefits of Chamber membership As a member of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, everyone within your company has access to a wide range of benefits and opportunities that enable you to promote your company and generate new business. Whether you’re looking to generate interest in your services and increase sales, develop your professional skillset, explore new opportunities to do business overseas, or save money, our extensive membership packages offer it all. If you trade internationally, our Global Membership Package might be for you – an exciting package of cost-saving benefits and services for companies involved in international trade, plus you receive all the benefits of corporate membership. Overseas markets offer a world of opportunities and the Chamber is here to help you take advantage of them. From informative seminars and documentation services to exclusive discounts on essential international services, we are all set up to help you succeed overseas. If you would like a 1-2-1 review of your membership and more details on the benefits you can access, please get in touch with Bren Coleman, Membership Co-ordinator, on 01223 237414 or email b.coleman@cambscci.co.uk

CONNECT

TRANSFORM

PROMOTE

M B E RS

EXPORT

PROTECT

INFORM

AN OVERVIEW OF THE BENEFITS CONNECT

• Join our social media groups • Access exclusive rates with national companies providing business services • Display our ‘member of’ logo on your website and business stationery.

EXPORT

• A programme of discounted international trade training courses • Expert seminars • FREE foreign exchange health check and discounted foreign exchange from exchange experts moneycorp. As a Global member you can also access the following benefits: • Access to the Tate’s Import and Export Guide • Discounted documentation processing fees 6 connected

• 10 free rejections per year • No processing fee on Arab-British Certificate of Origin applications.

INFORM

• Join our sector groups and help share knowledge and expertise • Discounted online Health & Safety training • FREE Health & Safety review • Access to 750 downloadable documents • FREE HR advice line and support.

PROMOTE

• Discounted advertising rates in connected • Share your news, events and member offers on the Chamber website • Speaking opportunity at Chamber events

• Advertise job vacancies on the Chamber website • FREE listing on our online member directory. If you don’t know how to access the member area of the Chamber website, please contact the office on 01223 237414.

TRANSFORM

• Raise local issues affecting your business through your local Chamber committee • Complete our quarterly economic survey to ensure your views are represented in the results. If you would like to join one of our local Chamber committees, please get in touch with Bren Coleman at b.coleman@cambscci.co.uk

To access these services please visit the protection page on the Chamber website or call our membership team on 01223 237414.

how to

PROTECT

CHAMBER FOUR SERVICES Being a Chamber member gives you access to Chamber Four Services provided by Quest: Chamber HR, ChamberLegal, ChamberH&S, ChamberTax. These services are all underpinned by Chamber Legal Expenses Insurance. The four services include: • One advice line which gives you unlimited access to experienced, specialist advisers covering HR, employment law, legal, health & safety, tax and VAT. Telephone the helpline on 01455 852037

• One website that offers a comprehensive library of over 750 documents that are free to download and can be customised to suit the needs of your business • Comprehensive legal expenses insurance which covers you for employment disputes, tax investigations, property disputes, data protection and more. To find out more about Chamber Four Services, please visit the benefits section of the Chamber website or give the office a call on 01223 237414.

HR Health & Safety Free One 2 One Review Ensure your business is protected… All Chamber members are entitled to a FREE One 2 One Review with a Quest Business Manager. They will be able to discuss how you manage your HR and Health & Safety matters, discuss any issues you may have and assess your compliance status. You will receive an honest assessment of your requirements and if the Chamber services will effectively support you, that is what they will recommend. If however you do need additional support,

which may cost extra, the good news is that there are automatic discounts available for members. For more information or to book a One 2 One review please call 01455 852028 or email hello@questcover.com. Please note you may be asked for your Chamber membership number – call the Chamber office on 01223 237414 if you don’t have this.

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Chamber membership provides access to key information, expert advice and legal protection, enabling you to stay informed, legally compliant and free to focus on what you do best – building your business.

Give your start-up the best chance of securing future investment Navigating the early days of your startup’s journey and commercialising your idea requires substantial amounts of time and commitment. Overnight you need to develop and deploy a broad set of hard and soft skills, not least relationship building, confidence and perseverance. Understanding business and finance will also stand you in good stead when working with incubators, accelerators, tax advisors, lawyers, banks, investors and other finance providers. Our “That Light Bulb Moment” series will guide you through the key stages of setting up and scaling your business. It will sign-

post headline commercial and practical considerations, explain and analyse fundamental start-up topics, help you to avoid common start-up pitfalls and enable you to identify and react to threats and opportunities efficiently. Our first article in the series focuses on the steps you need to take to launch your start-up business and, importantly, lists the questions you need to ask now which will help you to get investors on board in the future. Go to www.greenwoodsgrm.co.uk and search for ‘light bulb’ to read more and to get in touch with our start-up expert, Ollie Flowers.

Ollie Flowers - Start-up & Early-stage Business Lead

FLEXIBLE WORKING IS THE BIG WINNER OF THE PANDEMIC As the anniversary of the first national lockdown approaches – what have employers learned from the professional pressures of the pandemic?

periods of time, they now understand the huge benefits of casting the recruitment net further afield to find the very best person for the job.”

Almost 12 months ago, working from home was unfamiliar to many, and furlough was a term most had not heard of.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that as of October 2020, almost a quarter of the UK workforce were working exclusively from home. This, says Anne, means that location is no long as important a criteria.

However, despite the challenges, many businesses have embraced a new way of working which has led to more flexibility on their part – says Peterborough-based Anne Corder Recruitment. This has resulted in flexible working being the big winner of the pandemic; giving greater scope and opportunity for increased productivity to employers. Anne Corder explains: “The approaching anniversary of the first national lockdown in itself gives little cause for celebration. “However, there are a number of positives that have certainly been gained. Businesses that believed they would only be effective with workplace-based positions have learned that remotely based teams can, and do, function well. As well as seeing an increase in productivity, some organisations have also reported a fall in absence due to sickness. “While pre-pandemic, a vast number of employers were reluctant to allow their staff to work remotely, and / or for long 8 connected

“Flexible and remote working solutions can be seen as added value to an employer brand or proposition. There are rich streams of as yet untapped talent that have been restricted by ‘traditional’ working boundaries. “Pre-pandemic, commuting into the office was sometimes seen as a stumbling block for employer and employee; with the uncertainly of public transport, adverse weather conditions and general travelling distance playing a part in the decisionmaking process. “This no longer matters for roles that can be accommodated remotely. Candidates themselves are now in the driving seat; and we expect to see more of this as the job market re-opens. At interview stage, one of the key questions is around employers’ attitudes to working from home. Location is no longer an obstacle – staff have proved

they can reliably get the job done away from the office environment.” Anne added: “Recruitment teams and their partners can now increase their reach, using a vast UK talent pool, to support their clients’ new recruitment approach. Job boards need to recognise and adjust their geographic fields to allow recruiters (internal and consultancy) to get the role content in front of the right candidates.”

learn and

INFORM

HOW TO HIT THE HEADLINES WITH THE PERFECT PRESS RELEASE Much of the news we deliver and digest can start life as a press release – but how can you ensure that yours attracts meaningful coverage and doesn’t end up in the recycling folder? With social media changing the way many people receive their news, getting your story across in the right way has never been more important in the crowded online world. With the popular #throwbackthursday cropping up on our weekly feeds, it is certainly acceptable to be a little ‘old school’ when it comes to delivering both traditional and digital PR – with newspapers and magazines still playing an important role in community life. Former newspaper journalist and PR manager at Media Matters, PR and digital marketing specialists in Peterborough, Cetti Long said: “Having worked in newsrooms for many years before joining the PR side, it was interesting to draw comparisons on good and bad press releases. “One of the main criteria to getting your business story used is to avoid blatant sales tactics – journalists will see straight through them. Referencing your business more subtly is the better approach.”

information at the top. Journalists won’t hesitate to cut your copy to make it fit their space. Add in background information further down the release. • Include a quote wherever you can – it helps to bring the story alive – whether it is from the company boss launching a new brand, a grateful charity you have donated to or a satisfied customer. • Attach a photo where possible, together with a caption, even if this is just a head and shoulders image of the person quoted or something linked to your brand. Newsrooms cry out for imagery. • Where appropriate, add a call to action; eg telephone number or website link. Getting a link back to your website is a great result; better still, a direct call! • In the notes to editors include your own contact details. Journalists may require additional information or will want to arrange an interview

with your client - help them make that connection. •

Check your copy for any errors.

• Research your media contacts to ensure it reaches the right person. Sending a property story to a sports correspondent is a waste of time. If in doubt, opt for the newsdesk. • Pitch in your idea. Contact the journalist directly with a short synopsis of your story and all the relevant attachments – it is your chance to ‘get in front of them’. • The hard work has been done – sit back and wait for the coverage! Set up a free Google alert with relevant search terms, check your media feed online, buy a local newspaper or enlist the services of a media monitoring agency.

• Powerful and emotive, funny and ridiculous, shocking or sad: whatever the headline, make sure it grabs you or the reader in some way. Make it catchy and to the point. • Think about your audience. What’s the story – how would you tell it to a friend? How are you going to get your message across? • Don’t overwrite! Keep it short and put the most important

Business photo created by kaboompics - www.freepik.com

Cetti has some tips to perfecting and pitching a story you are passionate about:

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HOME LEARNING AND THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL EDUCATION While home-working has been quietly on the rise for several years, the pandemicdriven shift to home-learning for students of all ages has been sudden and dramatic. Overnight, desks and classrooms became tablets and kitchen tables, creating new barriers and challenges nobody could have ever imagined or planned for. This has been incredibly tough for everyone – students, parents and teachers alike – with the stresses on all sides being shared widely in the news and on social media. A key reason for this is because the tools being used for home-schooling today weren’t ever meant to be used by the entire school roll all at the same time – nor as a replacement for in-person learning. As a result, teachers are spending their valuable time juggling IT troubleshooting and battling against buffering, revealing a gaping divide between the haves and have nots when it comes to quality connectivity and ownership of school work-friendly devices. Learning at home using new and engaging digital tools should be an opportunity everyone can enjoy. Indeed, teacher groups

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have suggested that a blended approach combining at-home and classroom-based learning could be here to stay. But is it fair that some areas have better connectivity and online experiences than others? If we’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s that broadband is as important as water and electricity to our everyday lives, and that we need to level up access if all our learners are to benefit from the next-generation of educational tools. This is why CityFibre is building a city-wide full fibre network that will bring almost every property in Peterborough within reach of the fastest, most reliable and highest capacity connectivity available. By doing so, local students accessing full fibre services can be assured of a seamless online learning experience.

Future of education Besides connectivity, a second reason why many students have had a mixed experience of home-based learning is that they haven’t yet had the opportunity to try out more of the digital tools that are now

emerging, and find one that suits them. We all learn differently, and in the classroom it is much easier for the teacher to adapt to different students’ needs. But, from home, a one-size-fits-all approach can exclude a lot of people. The good news is that digital technology has become a platform for the development of new approaches to learning that make it possible to personalise it to the students’ needs, capabilities and learning styles. This is why ‘EdTech’ has really taken off in the UK, with innovators seeing the pandemic as an opportunity to accelerate this unprecedented shift in the way we learn for good. Recent reports measure its growth at 72 per cent during 2020 in the UK alone, citing augmented reality and digital classrooms as being the key areas of development. Of course, the success of innovations like these depend wholly on the infrastructure that supports them. Like charge points for electric cars and connected navigation systems for autonomous taxis, digital connectivity is a crucial enabler of these

learn and

technological leaps in remote education and training.

Immersive Learning Going back to personalised learning, the best and easiest way to achieve this is by creating immersive learning experiences. Can you imagine being able to put on a headset and experiencing the sights and sounds of the Colosseum at the touch of a button, rather than just reading about Rome in a textbook? With technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), this is all a real possibility – at all levels of education. VR simulators, for example, are already being used to train the armed forces and even surgeons. Importantly, AR and VR aren’t bound by the laws of physics, making it possible for learners to experience unfamiliar or even dangerous environments from a safe distance. Already, there are programmes that allow users to dive beneath the sea to study the wreckage of the Titanic or walk on the surface of Mars – so the only limits to ways they can enhance education is the imagination of developers and educators. In addition, because most VR experiences can be enjoyed independently, students can go at their own pace, skipping parts

that they’re already proficient at while spending more time on areas where they want to improve. Already, researchers have found significant benefits to these methods. Studies show that VR and AR technology can boost overall performance by as much as 40 per cent by enabling learning through doing, which is known to double children’s ability to retain information.

A strong connection Ultimately, if remote learning methods and new technologies like digital classrooms, VR and AR are to become accessible to all and more widely used, it’s essential that all homes are supported by digital infrastructure that won’t let learners down. Just as Peterborough needs roads that can handle every day commuter traffic, homelearning requires digital infrastructure that can support today’s always-on digital lives. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case with much of our existing communications infrastructure, which was built to carry telephone signals, not data. Currently, less than 20 per cent of UK premises have access to full fibre, with the majority still restricted by ageing infrastructure which is no longer fit-for-purpose.

INFORM

This is why CityFibre is giving Peterborough a boost by building a new full fibre network that’s not only up to the job today, but futureproofed for the needs of tomorrow. Designed specifically for the digital age, full fibre networks use 100 per cent full fibre technology to carry data at light speed all the way from the home to the point of connection – think of a pristine open highway with no bumps in sight. This gives users consistently faster speeds - for upload and download, near limitless bandwidth (i.e. everyone in your house can work, study, stream or game simultaneously), and connectivity you can depend on. With full fibre, you’ll never need to worry about you or your child missing a lesson at home ever again! With much of the city already able to connect to the new full fibre network, and more homes coming on line throughout the year, CityFibre is making a real difference to the lives of many residents in Peterborough. To check availability, and keep an eye on which ISP services are live in your street, visit: https://www.cityfibre.com/ residential/ Rebecca Stephens, City Manager for Peterborough at CityFibre

we are a hybrid PR and communications company – in name and in deed we are collaborative, working with or as your PR and comms team

we are definitive in our approach and

we are

we are transformative in the results we deliver

insight from

SARAH WEST

Turn Everyday Updates into Killer Content Marketing Content marketing is a powerful part of the marketing mix for many businesses. Blogs, articles, press releases, case studies, guides and social media updates all help attract customers and demonstrate your business’s expertise. They can contribute to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) too. But, how do you find opportunities to create great content when little of note appears to happen? Sarah West, of leading businessto-business marketing agency Full Mix Marketing, explains how. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR Writing compelling content for your business can be a tricky task. Recognising opportunities is the first step, as much of the challenge involved in content marketing is generating or identifying effective ideas. When looking for updates a good tip is to report on something which has ‘happened’. This might include new customers, case studies, anniversaries, or charity involvement. Even if your update isn’t initially compelling, a little background or context can soon weave almost anything into a story. FIND AN ANGLE Before you start writing, you need to determine the right angle. Subconsciously, most people read content by looking for the point. “So what?” they ask themselves! You’ll need to get information across in an engaging, interesting and readable way - even if the subject is dry. You may want to write from a trusted expert perspective or a more light-hearted how-to post. Whichever you choose, remember to leave the reader in no doubt of why it’s of value and why it matters. HIT THE HEADLINES So, you’ve identified an update – and angle – that’s worthy of becoming a blog, press release or article. The headline is the first thing people will see and it will dictate whether they read further. Most journalists will tell you it’s the building block of any great story. If your update isn’t initially very exciting, now is your chance to change that. Think of what it’s really about – innovation, collaboration, success, trust - and create a headline which focuses on that. FIRST PERSON OR THIRD PERSON? Typically, social media, blogs and how-to articles tend to be written in the first person. 12 connected

However, press releases are written in the third person – as if written about your business by an interested party. Often people do not appreciate that the articles we read are frequently written by the business themselves. Effective press releases must be balanced. Too salesy or biased and it will unsettle the reader. Instead of lots of hyperbole, consider using a quote from your Managing Director to get across your sales message. It won’t raise any eyebrows and is much more likely to be absorbed. BY THE NUMBERS The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said: “Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.” This works well for almost any content marketing. Quickly explain the crux of the story and the news or value it may provide. Then, go into more depth, remembering to never stray too far from your angle. Finally, bring it all back to the point and the ‘take-away’ value for the reader. LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA Social media is a powerful tool for many businesses and a great way to get your content out there quickly. Social media posts need to stand out and grab attention. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes and ask “Would I read this update?” Again, whilst traditional sales messages have their place, they are less engaging than genuine updates or sharing other news. IMAGE IS EVERYTHING The right picture is critical to accompany

any content. Along with the title or headline, it has the greatest influence on whether it will be read. Most of us are visual learners. We digest content much better when we can see it. When choosing an image, use one which stands out and reinforces the message of the post. Where appropriate, incorporate your branding or use a consistent style which can become identifiable with your business. SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION An effective content marketing strategy typically has two objectives; to promote your business and to aid in the SEO of your website. Fresh and unique content is one of the most fundamental ingredients of SEO. Even if not many people read your last blog, Google will and may ultimately reward you with more impressions in suitable search results. For the maximum benefits to SEO, target subjects which people are likely to search to locate a product or service like yours. KILLER CONTENT There’s no such thing as a boring subject – only boring writing. With the right approach you can turn even the most everyday of updates into content which informs your readers, invests them in your message and keeps them reading until the very end. If you need help creating winning content marketing for your business, get in touch today: https://www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk

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ask the

EXPERT

Office space configuration has changed

Nicola Ford, Partner, at Plann:d, a division of LOF Office Furniture, answers questions on how lockdown has affected their business. TWELVE MONTHS ON FROM OUR FIRST NATIONAL LOCKDOWN, HOW HAVE YOU HELPED COMPANIES RE-EVALUATE THEIR OFFICE DESIGN AND SPACE NEEDS? While initially our role was adapting existing spaces, installing screens, sanitising stations and providing furniture for people to work from home, this soon changed. It then became more about redefining workspaces

to suit the new way of working. This included reducing the number of desks and introducing agile working, utilising free space for collaboration and breakout as people prepare to return to the office. AS WORKING FROM HOME HAS BECOME THE NEW NORM, HOW HAS THIS CHANGED THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF YOUR BUSINESS? The single greatest change I have seen is the increased need for communication. This isn’t just about ensuring that the business can continue to operate effectively with people no longer able to talk to one another across an open plan office. It’s far more important than that. It’s about keeping an eye out for each other, ensuring mental health is high on the agenda and understanding that remote working is not always easy. LOOKING AHEAD, HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO BE WORKING WITH COMPANIES RETURNING TO OFFICE LIFE AND THOSE STILL WORKING FROM HOME? I don’t believe we will see a mass return to

the office when restrictions are eased. The pandemic has been a catalyst for many businesses to re-evaluate their space needs. We are already seeing large companies choosing to downsize their office spaces where they can. Of course, with this comes a whole new set of challenges, such as storage, collaboration, better usage of space and greater hygiene requirements. I don’t see that our role will have changed that much – we will still be partners and advisors to our clients. There are just more considerations to add into the mix when designing any office space. SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC FIRST HIT, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES TO YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS BOTH LOCALLY AND FURTHER AFIELD? The most obvious is the increased demand for our services. Much more importance is being placed on space planning and, businesses that might have tried to do it themselves in the past have realised that there is a lot more to it – and that it is worth the investment.

The Final Certificate - Beware of the Conclusivity Trap under JCT Contracts What trap? You the Contractor have a JCT Contract with clause 1.9, the Final Account is not agreed, defects period and rectification are done, you say £300K they say £100K. The Final Certificate is issued by the Employer for £100K, you object and say it is £300K. Then 28 days goes by and you ask Arbicon to Adjudicate for the £200K difference. Arbicon say… there is nothing more we can do, the £100K is final and binding. Why? How can that be when you objected? Let Simon Dunkling, Director at Arbicon, explain… WHAT IS THE FINAL CERTIFICATE UNDER THE JCT CONTRACT? The Final Certificate ends the contract, it states the Contract Sum as adjusted, less interim payments and the final payment to 14 connected

be made. It can be issued after the latter of: 1. The end of the rectification period, 2. The issuing of the Certificate of Making Good Defects 3. The issuing of the statement of final adjustment to the Contract Sum. The Final Certificate has the effect of not only triggering the final payment mechanism, but also the conclusivity provision contained at clause 1.9 of many JCT forms. Clause 1.9.2 provides that the Final Certificate becomes conclusive evidence that all provisions requiring monetary adjustments to the contract sum, loss and expense reimbursement, and extensions of time have been effected and finally agreed. In our scenario, the Employer has issued a valid Final Certificate.

ask the

WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE FINAL CERTIFICATE? Clause 1.9.2 provides the parties with up to 28 days from the date the Final Certificate is issued to dispute the effects of the Final Certificate by commencing adjudication, arbitration or other proceedings. If a party starts proceedings, the Final Certificate is then only conclusive in relation to matters not in dispute and the conclusiveness is suspended for those disputed matters until decided in the proceedings. The Final Certificate is subject to the findings of those proceedings. In our scenario, the contractor has not started any proceedings within the 28 days. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FINAL CERTIFICATE IS NOT DISPUTED WITHIN 28 DAYS? If dispute resolution proceedings are not

EXPERT

commenced in that 28-day period, then the Final Certificate becomes conclusive evidence that all monetary adjustments to the contract sum, loss and expense reimbursement, and all extensions of time are agreed and cannot be disputed. In our scenario, the contractor has lost the chance to dispute the £200K difference. Falling foul of the trap. IF I HAVE RECEIVED A FINAL CERTIFICATE THAT I DISAGREE WITH, WHAT SHOULD I DO? Simply refuting the Final Certificate, as our contractor above, does not protect you against the JCT’s conclusivity provisions. If you receive a Final Certificate, you need to act fast and issue proceedings such as adjudication, Arbicon’s speciality… For help and advice call 01733 233 737 or visit: www.arbicon.co.uk.

MAKING TAX DIGITAL:

Digital links and looking ahead Samantha Green, Client Manager and Chartered Accountant at George Hay Chartered Accountants, talks about the impending ‘digital links’ mandate and how businesses can get ahead of the curve in respect of tax administration. ON 1 APRIL 2021, DIGITAL LINKS BECOME MANDATORY UNDER MTD FOR VAT (MTDFV). WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR AFFECTED BUSINESSES? Gone are the days of copying and pasting! When MTDfV was first mandated in April 2019, HMRC deferred the digital link requirement to give business-owners time to adjust to the new rules. This dispensation ends on 1 April 2021, meaning data must be transmitted to the VAT return boxes without manual intervention. Spreadsheets that employ formulas can still be used, on the condition that they are API-enabled to facilitate submission. There must be an audit trail of the data’s digital journey, encompassing every ‘transfer, recapture or modification’ that takes place. If a business is concerned about compliance, it’s worth taking time now to plot the ‘journey’ their data takes

to ensure each stage is via a digital link. Cloud-based packages, such as Xero, will continue to be compliant, provided you are entering all of the data. COMPLIANCE ASIDE, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DIGITAL LINKING AND ADOPTING A DIGITAL APPROACH TO TAX ADMINISTRATION MORE GENERALLY? The main advantages are less human error and greater efficiency. A lesser reliance on manual intervention and more efficient flow of data within the business means business-owners have access to accurate, real-time information which aids better and more progressive decision-making. Technology also benefits us, as we have more time to focus on the advisory input that our clients and businesses value. WHAT IS NEXT FOR MTD AND HOW CAN BUSINESSES GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE? HMRCs latest plans indicate that income tax and corporation tax will be brought into the MTD regime. Early adoption of digital tools and processes is key to getting ahead of the curve and can mitigate the challenges that businesses

face when pushed into a corner by legislation. We are confident that software packages will continue to evolve to help businesses fulfil future obligations. What can businesses either worried about embracing digitisation, or unsure about whether they’re getting the most out of their existing software, do? Contact us to discuss your concerns and current processes; we can talk you through your options and ensure you’re making the most of the tools at your disposal. Changing long-standing practices can be daunting, but there is no growth without change! connected 15

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The BCC comment on Policy news

ONS labour market European Commission data figures for February   adequacy ruling welcomed “While the furlough scheme is limiting job losses, the rise in unemployment and decline in employment levels are further evidence that coronavirus continues to weaken the UK labour market. “With firms facing a renewed cash crisis amid the current lockdown and the prospect of several more months of diminished demand and revenue before many can fully reopen, substantial job losses maybe inevitable if the support schemes wind down as planned. “Although the government’s roadmap provides a way forward, the lack of clarity over the future path of fiscal support has left a damaging cliff edge for jobs and livelihoods. “It is vital that the government support schemes, including furlough and business rates relief, are extended through the summer and wherever possible throughout 2021 to help protect jobs and power the recovery.” Suren Thiru, BCC Head of Economics

BCC Co-Executive Director Hannah Essex, British Chambers of Commerce Co-Exectutive Direct, commented on the decision by the European Commission to grant the UK data adequacy. “With the free flow of data critical to their operations, businesses will be greatly relieved at the granting of data adequacy which removes a costly cliff edge at a time when many are already struggling due to the pandemic and post-Brexit trading conditions. “However, it should not distract from the need to address the many practical difficulties that are currently stifling trade between us. More needs to be done to fix these problems otherwise many firms may simply give up on doing business with the EU. “This should include pushing back the dates for introducing additional scientific checks on animal and plant goods from April and full customs checks on imports from July, and increasing the support available for businesses who need time to adapt to the new trading conditions.”

Delay to business rates review Suren Thiru, BCC Head of Economics, commented on the delay to HM Treasury’s Fundamental Review of Business Rates until autumn. “Delivering fundamental change to this longstanding drag anchor on business has become only more pressing in light of Covid-19. “Delay in reforming a broken system will hamper any recovery by exacerbating business cash flow concerns as part of the fixed cost base that firms can do little to push downward. “The delay in the review underscores the need to urgently extend business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure and provide rates relief to all firms whose ability to generate revenues are severely impaired by the pandemic.”

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We’re your gateway to international trade, providing a unique combination of expert knowledge, essential documentation and the business connections needed to capitalise on new market opportunities overseas and succeed in a global marketplace.

International Trade News Rules of Origin FAQs CAN I EXPORT TARIFF FREE UNDER THE NEW UK-EU TRADE DEAL? As of 1 January 2021, goods exported to the EU are eligible for zero tariffs if the goods meet the Rules of Origin requirements set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and have the right documentation. If not, the goods may be subject to EU tariffs. The same applies for imports to the UK from the EU. WHAT ARE RULES OF ORIGIN? Rules of Origin determine the ‘economic nationality’ of a good. They are a standard part of free trade agreements (FTAs). Rules of Origin require a qualifying level of manufacturing in the country of export to access zero tariffs. This ensures only goods produced in the countries party to the FTA (the UK or the EU) benefit from zero tariffs.

into GB cannot move freely between GB and EU Member States or vice versa. To be eligible for zero tariff export to the EU, these goods still need to comply with Rules of Origin. This means there must be some production in the UK. This applies to EU origin goods as well as to goods from the rest of world. If traders move goods through GB from one EU Member State to another without the goods entering UK customs territory (i.e. without entering free circulation in GB), the goods may not need to meet Rules of Origin. Traders should consider whether they are able to use special customs procedures, such as the Transit Procedure (where the goods are moving through UK customs territory) or Returned Goods Relief procedure (for goods re-exported to the EU).

WHAT IF I AM IMPORTING GOODS INTO GB AND THEN (RE-)EXPORTING THEM TO THE EU?

IF A PRODUCT IS MANUFACTURED IN THE UK USING EU-SOURCED MATERIALS, DOES THAT QUALIFY TOWARDS MEETING RULES OF ORIGIN?

The UK is no longer part of the EU Customs Union. This means that goods imported

The UK and EU negotiated full bilateral cumulation in the TCA. This means that any

EU-originating materials and processing will be treated the same as UK sourced material for the purposes of Rules of Origin (and vice-versa). To be eligible for cumulation, materials must be EU or UK originating (so not just sourced in the UK/EU but originating there). And while EU-originating materials can count towards meeting Rules of Origin, importantly, the processing or manufacturing done in the UK must go beyond insufficient processing in order for the goods to attain originating status. DO THESE RULES OF ORIGIN ALSO APPLY TO OTHER COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THE UK HAS A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT? All FTAs will have Rules of Origin, but these are specific to each trade agreement. Need to understand more about Rules of Origin? Give the International Trade Team a call on 01223 237414 or sign up for our Rules of Origin training course taking place on 23 March, 22 June or 22 September .

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The Chamber is proud to partner with re:TRADE powered by VAT IT to provide clarity and guidance to businesses on the effects of Brexit on trade. re:TRADE is a single solution offering compliance, logistics and VAT services assisting UK businesses struggling with postBrexit compliance and supply chain issues. They provide a free consultation to understand the overall existing supply chain and provide expert guidance on how best to ship goods from the UK to the EU, minimising compliance costs and maximising supply chain efficiency. Services include checking all customs paperwork to ensure full compliance, facilitating VAT registrations in all EU export countries, and linking up EORI and VAT numbers in order to submit Import VAT reclaims to give cash back to businesses. Visit the International Trade page on our website for a link to receive a complimentary consultation.

Coronavirus Survey: cash remains top concern for lockdown-stricken firms across UK Results from the latest BCC survey on the impact of Coronavirus on businesses show they have been pushed to the brink by the effect of multiple lockdowns. Among the sobering findings from the survey of more than 1,100 businesses are: • Three in every five firms (61%) have seen their revenue from UK

customers fall in the last three months • Almost a third (31%) of businessto-consumer (B2C) firms say they will run out of cash in the next three months • A quarter of survey respondents (25%) say they will make staff

redundant if financial support stops in March and April. The leading business group has called on the UK government to set out a clear roadmap for reopening, advancing vaccination and workplace testing plans, and extending key financial support measures for businesses throughout 2021.

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Business conditions worsen Compared to October 2020, 61 per cent of firms reported decreased revenue from UK customers. Only 19 per cent of firms reported increased revenue and 20 per cent reported no change. B2C service firms are significantly more likely to report decreased revenue (74%) from UK customers, as are firms with less than 10 employees (65%). When asked approximately how long firms could continue until they ran out of cash, almost one-quarter (23%) said less than three months. This figure rises to almost one-third (31%) of B2C service firms. Just over one quarter (28%) of firms overall and only one-fifth (20%) of B2C firms have cash for more than 12 months. The results paint a bleak picture of a business landscape which has been severely squeezed by repeated lockdowns and massive changes in trading conditions. The survey results also suggest that without the huge amount of government support given to companies to date, that business failures and job losses could have been much worse. Crucially, more support is needed until firms can fully reopen, with just over a quarter (28%) of businesses indicating they have enough cash to last more than a year. On average, B2C firms are currently operating at only 42 per cent of full capacity, while all firms were averaging 57 per cent capacity against a pre-pandemic level of 75 to 80 per cent. Almost half (48%) of companies reported they still have staff on furlough. 20 connected

Rating the support from government When asked to rate the effectiveness of the various government schemes to support their business throughout the crisis, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), allowing firms to furlough staff, had by far the highest effectiveness rating. More than two-thirds (68%) using this scheme say that it has been very effective, with a further 28 per cent rating it as somewhat effective. Only four per cent said it was not effective. Other schemes with high effectiveness ratings included Government loan schemes (such as CBILS and BBLS) where 46 per cent rated them ‘very effective’ and 44 per cent rated them ‘somewhat effective’, and the local authority

business grant scheme, where 45 per cent rated it ‘very effective’ and 40 per cent rated it ‘somewhat effective’. Business rates relief (49%), VAT deferrals (34%), VAT cuts for certain sectors of the economy (26%) were also rated as very effective.

UK-EU TRANSITION HELPLINE The UK has left the EU and now has a free trade agreement based on zero tariffs and zero quotas. It takes the UK completely out of the EU’s customs union, the EU’s single market and the EU’s entire legal order. This means businesses should continue their preparations to operate in an independent trading nation. All businesses have to make a number of changes to ensure continued flow of people, data, goods and services between

the UK and the EU. You must take action as the UK is no longer in the single market or the customs union. LOCAL SUPPORT The CPCA Growth Hub in Partnership with Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce is on hand to offer you the essential advice and support you need as a business to ensure you can continue trading following the end of the transition period and can guide you to the resources you will require.

GET IN TOUCH If you have concerns following the end of the UK-EU transition period and how it affects your business, please get in touch with the CPCA Growth Hub and Cambridgeshire Chamber team: 01223 209812 / 01223 209816 eutransition@cambscci.co.uk

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CHAMBER CHARITY OF THE YEAR Anna’s Hope For children and young people with brain tumours

Anna’s Hope – 15 years of making a different for children with a brain tumour the region each year and is the leading example for the rest of the UK.

2021 is the 15th year that Anna’s Hope has been helping make a difference to the lives of children with a brain tumour.

As most will know Every Penny raised for Anna’s Hope goes to supporting children with a Brain Tumour and we are delighted to have invested over £1.5million so far in the Brainbow Service. We are also delighted to commit to a further two years funding

ensuring more children will receive this pioneering support. Carole Hughes If you want to help us continue to make a difference to the lives of children with a brain tumour please contact Carole Hughes by e-mail admin@annashope.co.uk or telephone 01780 740492.

Looking back we have achieved so much, like the first Specialist Neuro-rehabilitation Service in the UK for children diagnosed with a brain tumour called the Brainbow Service. It all started shortly after Anna passed away when Rob and I met with Addenbrookes Clinicians and a representative from Tadworth Children’s Trust. As a result of this meeting the vision of creating a service to help Children with a Brain Tumour reach their full potential was developed. It would be pioneering and the first in the UK providing multidisciplinary support from diagnosis, during and after treatment. In 2013 the vision became reality with the launch of the Brainbow Service at Addenbrookes Hospital. It is now helping over 200 children and their families in

EACH to move out of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk offices East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) will not renew the leases on its head office in Milton or regional office in Ipswich, as part of a cost-saving programme responding to a forecasted operational deficit of £2 million over the next 12 months. There are normally some 40 staff based in Milton’s High Street and at Ipswich’s Ransomes Europark. They will now continue a mix of working from home and within hospice buildings as EACH drives down costs, ensuring delivery of its frontline service during a time when retail income and fundraising activities remain significantly affected. Phil Gormley, EACH Chief Executive, said: “Our three hospices remain open and continue to provide care as we focus every penny on care delivery. However, staff in our offices have proved they can work remotely and will blend home 22 connected

working with using office space in our hospice buildings. “Not renewing the leases was a fairly straightforward decision given the times we find ourselves in. This third lockdown, closing our shops, has meant putting over 120 members of staff back on furlough and standing down our 1,700 volunteers. While our fundraisers worked hard over the festive period, our latest forecasting shows an operational deficit of £2 million over the next 12 months. Once again, this illustrates why we need our service delivery underpinned by proper statutory funding.” Last year, EACH only received 16 per cent of its income from statutory sources. Aside from that it relies on over £6 million coming in from trusts, major donors, businesses, community groups, individuals and events, as well as £5 million in income from its retail operation. Fundraising activities have been vastly

reduced as a result of restrictions, such as EACH’s Christmas tree collections that were cancelled. Meanwhile, every time shops have to shut the charity loses around £100,000 income a week. Trying to manage retail activity back to sustainable levels of income in between lockdowns has brought some success, but trading is still not at the levels it needs and has budgeted for.

chamber supports

CHARITY

Introducing Head to Toe Head to Toe is the Charity for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT). Our aim is to provide help and support that goes above and beyond what the increasingly limited NHS budgets can provide, bridging the gap between healthcare and our local community. We help support and empower people to lead fulfilling lives by funding projects that enhance mental health and community care. Our aims are to improve the health and wellbeing of our community and provide hope to those who need our support the most. The projects we run, the support and the funding we provide is informed by local

need and the clinical expertise of our NHS staff. This support has taken many different forms; but has always put the wellbeing of those we support, and our NHS staff, right at the centre. The scale and impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been unprecedented, but the resilience and dedication of our healthcare services in their response has been an inspiration. Much of the funding provided to Head to Toe throughout the last few months has been thanks to the NHS Charities Together national fundraising campaign – which has captured the spirit, generosity, and solidarity of the nation.

We hope to share with you over the coming months how this funding, our donors, fundraisers and friends have helped support CPFT through COVID-19 and where we are in need of more support in 2022 and beyond. Watch this space as we show you exactly where your money and support goes! For more information on the charity please contact Laura Stones, Fundraising Manager on 07749 726071 or email at laura.stones@cpft.nhs.uk

Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice ‘thrilled’ to have Perkins’ support Staff at Cambridgeshire’s Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice are delighted to have been chosen as one of two new charity partners by Perkins Engines Company Limited. Employees at Perkins’ Peterborough and Manchester facilities chose Sue Ryder and Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire (CPSL) Mind as their new charity partners for the next two years. Perkins will support employee fundraising and volunteering activities, including through a matching funds programme. “Everyone here at the hospice is thrilled to hear the news that we have been chosen as Perkins’ charity partner for the next two years,” said Nilesh Patel, Senior Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough. “The power of this collaboration will help us to continue providing our compassionate palliative care for people with life-limiting conditions throughout Peterborough and the surrounding areas. “We are passionate about what we do and through services such as our specialist inpatient unit, hospice at home team and family and bereavement support, we are there for local families at the most difficult times of their lives.”

Support for the Leprosy Mission You may think that leprosy is an ancient Biblical disease, but today someone is newly diagnosed with leprosy every two minutes. Even though there is a cure, sadly leprosy continues to rob people of family, jobs, and dignity. Can you support Leprosy Changemakers like Zaina (pictured) in Mozambique bring life-changing medicine and care to communities. To find our more visit https://bit.ly/2PfekYS or call Shabina on 01733 516090. connected 23

guest article

OLIVER FORDER

How to embrace a world of change with Digital Transformation Digital Transformation is not a new concept. According to Wikipedia, “Digital Transformation is the adoption of digital technology to transform services or businesses, through replacing non-digital or manual processes with digital processes or replacing older digital technology with newer digital technology”1. The first part of this statement is fairly obvious, replacing non-digital or manual processes with a digital counterpart. Take for instance your bank account. 40 years ago, it was completely normal to have a bank book that carried your account balance. A paper booklet that was updated with every transaction when you visited your bank. Each time you wanted to withdraw or add credit to your account you would present your bank book and it would be updated and stamped by the bank teller. Unfortunately for the bank book it has been slowly eradicated to a digital process via a debit or credit card giving you access to your finances 24/7 through the use of ATMs and in the last decade through to mobile and online banking apps. Digital Transformation; from a bank book to an electronic card and subsequently to online services and mobile apps. Over the last 20 years I’ve been involved in a vast number of Digital Transformation projects. Some took literally hours to set up and deploy; others like the bank book took years to be adopted. The purpose of this article is to help demystify how you, as a business leader, can start your next Digital Transformation project without trying to boil the ocean. Digital Transformation can be overwhelming and often difficult to focus on the objectives and outcomes. Keep in mind, very small changes can often yield large results. 1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_transformation

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I started my journey in IT in 1982. For anyone old enough to remember this was the dawn of the home computing market in the UK. As a bright eyed sevenyear-old I was excited to what this box of electronics would do to enhance my life. You can imagine how this enthusiasm quickly tapered off when I was presented with 1,000 lines of code that I had to painstakingly input in order to play a game. In 1982 magazines contained pages of source code with the promise of an amazing experience, all you had to do if meticulously copy the code line by line. No tape cassette, no CD, and definitely no memory stick. The unintended consequence of not having portable storage resulted in a generation of child coders. From lines of code on a page, to tapes and CDs glued to a magazine cover, the entire IT industry has been one continual Digital Transformation project spanning 60+ years. All businesses can benefit from Digital Transformation. It’s not a one size fits all model, but instead, having the ability to objectively look at how your business operates and translate the benefits of Digital Transformation to your business. For instance, real time pizza baking status updates delivered to a mobile app, and employee experience monitoring, are entirely different transformation projects. One is consumer led, the other on talent acquisition and retention. Some of the best transformational projects are a combination of employee insights, customer empathy and leadership’s willingness to change. The biggest challenges for most Digital Transformation projects are adoption, management and a clear vision of what you are trying to achieve. Often the technology is readily available, it’s the implementation or uncertainty that causes the most projects to fail or in some cases never start.

In all the Digital Transformation projects I’ve been involved in, here are the five stand out points to remember. POINT NUMBER 1 – Your team already know your next Digital Transformation Project At arkflux we recognized that we wanted to create a Digital Transformation platform that is accessible to both enterprises and small-medium businesses. Enterprises have deep pockets and the privilege to be able to devote large sums and huge resources to implementing new technologies like automation, AI and machine learning, ultimately leading to further competitive advantages. Everything we do at arkflux has to be accessible from the sole trader through to large enterprises and priced accordingly. As a team, we have a very open culture with everyone being able to suggest or contribute to areas of improvement or change, aligned with individual responsibility. Combine this with a sense of responsibility to our community and now you have powerful purpose that can make a difference. Last year we completed an automation project for a customer. Arkflux automatically generated tasks based on a specific customer journey, aligning team members and the customer to service delivery. It took three hours to design and implement the new automation rules, saving almost one day per week for the employee responsible for task management. That’s a huge return,

guest article

almost 52 days per year of improved productivity for a three-hour investment. In this example, it was a very granular project resulting in a massive benefit to the business. Senior management initiated the openness for change, the employee responsible had the insight to automate the process and collectively the whole business bought into the idea. This is a perfect example of adoption, management and vision defined from the outset. POINT NUMBER 2 – Automation is more than productivity The example in rule number one meant that the entire business process from sale to renew was automated from a single click. Most conversations around automation are focused on productivity gains. What is often overlooked are the competitive advantages or speed of execution. An example of executional speed would be the ability for your sales team to be alerted in real time at the prospect of a customer’s intent to purchase your products or services. Today’s sales operations must work at the speed of life, intent quickly disappears, and consumers make much faster decisions. At arkflux we have helped many businesses improve their speed of execution resulting in an instant improvement to their sales revenue. In one specific deployment, our customer experienced over 60 per cent sales uplift within the first three months. POINT NUMBER 3 – Real time doesn’t mean next week Real time reporting. Sounds simple but actually, this is a complex subject. The world of finance and accounting is currently embracing a huge transformation. Tax reporting is transforming from annually to monthly, reported electronically from your accounting software. This in itself is straightforward, however the implications aren’t. As a leadership team, you should be concerned with how you can analyse your core business software to provide real-time reporting and analytics, especially relating to finance. This will provide rich insights into how you operate and often the results can lead to new discoveries on how to evolve your business. At arkflux, our dashboards contain many different views

of your customer data. This has helped many businesses optimize how they meet seasonal demand based on the analytics provided by the dashboards. POINT NUMBER 4 – Don’t get hung up on industry metrics (NPS and CSAT) Understand your business from your customer’s perspective. I appreciate that a lot of businesses think they do this but in reality, few actually do. As highlighted earlier the best transformational projects start with a clear vision of what they are trying to achieve. Improving your customer experience and ability to engage in a longterm customer relationship, must be at the heart of every business. It takes a very vulnerable leadership team to be open and willing enough to accept that their business isn’t perfect from the viewpoint of their customer. Once you overcome this challenge, you will start to provide more meaningful customer journeys and deliver new experiences. It’s as simple as scheduling regular customer calls or creating customer advisory boards. Think about how your employees and colleagues capture your customer’s experience. If you’re asking your customers what they think to your products or services in isolated feedback surveys, then you’ve already failed. We’ve implemented many projects that walk in the customer’s shoes for exactly this reason. To experience firsthand what it means to be your customer and continually evolve this process. To keep your team and the customer in sync throughout the customer lifetime. POINT NUMBER 5 – Digital Transformation isn’t always internal AI and ML. I get asked the same question time and time again. How do I develop and deploy AI and Machine Learning in my business? The answer typically is you don’t. You don’t have the expertise, access to data scientists or a huge team devoted to modelling and training. However, a lot of software companies do. How software companies are researching and developing products that implement AI and ML should be your primary objective. Not all sales-forecasting products are the same

OLIVER FORDER

and they have different core objectives too. To embrace and benefit from AI and ML involves in-depth conversations with product vendors as opposed to your internal teams trying to create a new ML model. Discover the art of the possible. At arkflux, we’re building new AI and ML models all the time, looking at different ways of analyzing data to discover new insights. Our models are trained on huge real-world datasets over long periods before we even consider releasing them to our customers. As a business, you should take advantage of the investment your suppliers are making in AI and ML. FINAL THOUGHTS In 2020 the world was rocked by a pandemic. Many businesses had to enable home working for the first time. The technology for people to be able to work from home has been available for many years, yet many businesses hadn’t embraced the concept. COVID-19 effectively accelerated the work-fromanywhere adoption by at least 5-10 years. Look at the growth of businesses like Zoom who are more than nine years old. Now we’re seeing businesses divest from office space, new business models emerging like local pop-up working hubs all the way to subscription coffee. This is the perfect opportunity for leadership to be analysing and planning how their business will operate for the next 10 years. COVID-19 presented the world with one huge Digital Transformation project that will probably continue for many years to come. BIO: With over 25 years’ experience in technology, Oliver Forder CEO of arkflux [360Freedom Ltd] has made a career helping organisations and customers take advantage from digital transformation technologies. From cloud services, containers and virtualisation, to proactive security and onto Machine Learning and AI. connected 25

Would you like to become a Chamber member? Get in touch today to find out the many benefits. Tel: 01223 237414 Email: enquiries@cambscci.co.uk

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GMS Accountants Offering support to businesses, our core work is Book-keeping, Management Accounts, and being a Financial Controller. CIMA qualified accountant, with over 10 years’ experience. The values most important to us are honesty and trust, because these are key to a successful partnership www.gmsbusinessaccountants.co.uk

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Dusk Empire An independent streetwear label, born in Cambridge 2015. Everybody asks… ‘but what exactly is DUSK?’ DUSK is an identity of togetherness, based in the heart of the diverse City of Cambridge DUSK, brings the creative together. duskempire.co.uk 26 connected

HR Consultancy and Coaching service, providing on-demand HR and L&D support, and new manager coaching. Considered a people and culture expert, Katie combines practical examples with her down-to-earth approach to cut through jargon, delivering a fresh perspective and a positive impact. www.katieallenconsulting.com

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The Oakridge Centre Murena Property Consultancy Property development consultancy company based in Peterborough. They develop, manage and sell premium and luxury properties in Zimbabwe, UK, Cape Verde and Dubai, UAE. They are dedicated to develop communities and properties that bring happiness to people’s lives. They work with leading developers from across the world to offer property investors a range of real estate brokerage services. They develop high quality residential properties for individuals and property investors who are looking for smart, design-led lifestyle real estate developments and properties. They make luxury living possible for everyday people by offering flexible finance plans. www.murenaproperties.com

We know the realities of the workplace (including the remote world of work); the limitations of time and money; the fallibility as well as the potential of people. We are the safe pair of hands every company needs when investing in the development of people bringing leading-edge thinking to the practicalities of organisational growth and change. We have been there and done that. We are a varied team with knowledge, experience and skills to share. We want what is best for you. For over 20 years The Oakridge Centre has been supporting leaders improve their leadership skills through learning. www.oakridgecetre.co.uk

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Busy Bee Recruitment Ltd expands Senior Management Team Riding on a sharp recovery from several pandemic blows Busy Bee Recruitment Ltd are pleased to announce the hire of Senior Appointment Donna West. Donna joins the organisation as Associate Company Director. Prior to joining the business Donna worked as Head of Technical & Engineering at local recruitment agency Cooper Lomaz and previously as Business Manager at Just Recruitment. Looking to lead the company through significant growth Donna has long term personal visions for the business whilst working closely with Company Founder Kayleigh Bysouth. Kayleigh said: “Donna is a welcome hire to the organisation, a proven business leader with over 20 years’ experience within the

industry. At a time when others may be looking to scale back, we are hoping to be the driving force behind supply permanent and temporary staff to local companies that are looking to grow. Donna will be an anchor of stability and will lead our team by building an inclusive environment in which our employees can grow and do their best work.” We would welcome the opportunity to engage with Recruitment professionals looking for a new challenge and movement into a progressive environment in which they can thrive!

KING’S ELY PUPILS ON TOP FORM IN TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON ASSESSMENTS Creative King’s Ely students have done themselves and the school proud in their latest Trinity College London examinations. A total of 29 students from Year 4 at King’s Ely Junior through to Year 12 at King’s Ely Sixth Form sat Trinity College London examinations in Speech and Drama, Performing Text, Musical Theatre and Acting. An impressive 24 Distinctions and five Merits were achieved. Due to the current circumstances, students had to perform their examination pieces to a video camera rather than to an

examiner in person, something which Matthew Cammelle, Trinity Speech and Drama Teacher at King’s Ely, is delighted did not faze them. Mr Cammelle said: “We are thrilled with these results! This group of students was my first Trinity College London exam cohort since I started at King’s Ely in September 2020. They all did fantastically well and should be as proud of themselves as I am of them.” Trinity College London is a leading international exam board that specialises in the assessment of communicative and performance skills covering Music, Drama, Combined Arts and English Language. The Arts are huge at King’s Ely. Music, Performing Arts, Fine Art, Textiles and Photography are each embedded in the culture of the school, with vast opportunities for pupils of all aspirations. Recent accolades include a 5* review for our original production, Ugly Youth, at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, our boys a cappella group, the King’s Barbers, being crowned National Champions, and the school winning the Art and Craft category at the Education Business Awards.

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Azets celebrates its apprentices in National Apprenticeship Week Azets, regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs, celebrated its 443 apprentices across the UK as it demonstrates its commitment to ‘Build the Future’ - the main theme of National Apprenticeship Week this year. In total, Azets has over 900 students studying professional qualifications and 443 of them are doing this on the apprenticeship route. Between the Peterborough, Cambridge and Kettering offices, Azets now employs 14 apprentices.

Investing in the next generation of talent is a key strategy for Azets, as it looks to further expand its offer and continue to deliver a high-quality service locally to businesses across the UK. Azets is able to offer a varied career path for joiners, with the option to work across different parts of the country and to specialise in different aspects of accounting and business advisory, from general practice and tax to corporate finance, trade and restructuring.

David Whitson-Black, Group Head of Talent Development for Azets, said: “Despite the current economic backdrop, we remain committed to investing in people and to developing the talent of the younger generation, who will be the business leaders and advisors of tomorrow. Young people have been disproportionately hit by the economic impact of the pandemic, so it is extremely pleasing to be able to kickstart the careers of so many and offer them a bright and interesting future.”

NEW APPRENTICESHIP AT CRC Cambridge Regional College and Net Zero Buildings have come together to form an exciting new partnership that will open up manufacturing apprenticeship opportunities across Cambridgeshire. The Construction, Assembly and Installation Operative Apprenticeship, which sits under the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) umbrella of qualifications, will be delivered to around 60 apprentices over the next 12 months.

Deputy Principal, Michelle Dowse, at Cambridge Regional College, said: “CRC is committed to working with local businesses to upskill their workforce, helping them secure competitive advantage, provide employment opportunities and enhance regional prosperity. We have been delighted to work with Net Zero Buildings to build this new apprenticeship programme into our portfolio.”

Jane Carter, Learning & Development Manager, Net Zero Buildings, said: “Cambridge Regional College has been instrumental in supporting Net Zero Buildings to implement the apprenticeship scheme, from planning the delivery of the specialist training to helping access government funding.”

The introduction of the Net Zero Buildings apprenticeship role will see existing staff developing new skills to support the business as well as the appointment of new staff. The company aims to develop and expand its training academy with CRC in 2021 which will see up to 50 apprentices training at any one time.

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Twenty-twenty wonderful Bright year ahead for Guardtech’s busy Design & Build team Guardtech Cleanrooms are off to a flyer in 2021 – with two major projects nearing completion and many more exciting builds on the horizon. The Haverhill-based firm are busy tying up the loose ends on a 600sqm ISO5 controlled environment build in Hull and a 470sqm ISO8 installation in Mullingar, Ireland, as well as tackling the structural and electrical installation of a 150sqm ISO8 controlled environment in Goole. This is alongside an order for two more of their popular CleanCube portable cleanrooms, most commonly used at various UK sites for COVID-19 PCR testing, and a moderate 30sqm ISO8 controlled environment build in London.

news from

CAMBRIDGE & SOUTH CAMBS AREA Fitzwilliam College lends a hand to Cambridge Sustainable Food A Cambridge College has helped to ensure that children in Cambridge and the surrounding villages didn’t go without meal during this half-term. Fitzwilliam College decided to support an initiative led by Sam Dyer at Cambridge Sustainable Food (CSF), an innovative and growing partnership of public, private and community organisations who work together to promote a vibrant local food system with the aim to achieve healthy and sustainable food for everyone. Throughout the COVID crisis CSF have been coordinating emergency food provision to ensure that the vulnerable are fed.

Last year, in October half-term, Fitzwilliam College joined the initiative and chefs created 230 school meals. In December, another 200 meals were donated and distributed to local elderly residents. A further 200 meals were delivered to help families during the half term break. The Fitzwilliam Catering and Events team worked in partnership with Cheese+, one of the College’s suppliers who made their temperature-controlled vehicles available so that the meals could be delivered to the distribution hub. Robert Clarke, Head of Catering and Events,

said: “It has been wonderful to see everyone working together in this way; the College, our suppliers and of course my team who have pulled out all the stops to work on this project with Cambridge Sustainable Food. It feels good to be giving back and I hope that our contribution has helped.”

Greater Anglia named Train Operator of the Year and wins Accessibility award

Princebuild announce the opening of a new office in central Cambridge

Greater Anglia has been named Train Operator of the Year for the second year running at the Rail Business Awards.

The new premises are located just to the east of the city centre and were opened to provide a central base for staff working on the increasing number of contracts that have been secured in the area. One of those contracts is the Cavendish III project where our building Services division Princeenergy are providing mechanical and electrical services for Bouygues UK. Princeenergy have also secured other significant contracts in the area and hope to build on these now that the new branch has been opened. Princebuild also intend to operate part of their insurance services from this branch and will be looking for further suitable opportunities going forward. James Manning, Director of Princeenergy, commented: “With the contracts that we have secured within the Cambridge area over the last six months it was becoming more apparent that we were going to need a more permanent base within the area to effectively deliver the work. “The new premises provides existing staff with excellent facilities and there is plenty of room for further expansion. So far it is working really well for our staff and the delivery of their work. “We hope to continue to develop our presence in Cambridge and the surrounding areas and this new location will certainly help us achieve that.”

Judges praised the operator for improving punctuality to record levels, transforming services by bringing in brand new trains, delivering station improvements and ticketing initiatives, and focusing on community relations work. Greater Anglia also won the Accessibility and Integrated Transport Excellence Award for accessibility improvements provided by the low floor and retractable step and other onboard features of its new Stadler-built regional, intercity and Stansted Express trains. The judges highlighted the increased travel independence brought about by the trains, the consultation work with customers and stakeholders in shaping and finalising their specification and the fact that the trains are a real “gamechanger” for accessible travel. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “To be named train operator of the year for a second year running, especially through the challenges created by the pandemic, is a tremendous accolade and a credit to the hard work and determination of everyone in our team, across the whole of Greater Anglia, to make our service much better for our customers.”

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Cambridge is popular choice with buyers at International Destination Showcase Meet Cambridge was chosen to represent one of just 30 hand-picked English destinations to take part in MeetEngland Virtual 2021, held over two half days earlier in February to accommodate attendees from different time zones.

Scrutton Bland join taskforce to protect vulnerable clients As part of their ongoing objective to ensure all their clients receive a first-class service, Scrutton Bland Financial Services Ltd are pleased to announce that they have joined the Financial Vulnerability Taskforce and adopted its Charter. The Financial Vulnerability Taskforce is a newly created independent body covering the personal finance sector. Supported by the Personal Finance Society, its ultimate purpose is to promote greater understanding of vulnerability, encourage appropriate behaviours and establish good practice amongst personal finance professionals in respect of people who find themselves in vulnerable circumstances. Advisers, financial planners and firms who adopt the Charter of the Taskforce agree to abide by nine commitments, which include: making financial advice easier to understand, placing the client’s interests above everything else, dealing with them sensitively and not labelling them, not making assumptions about a client, and ensuring staff are knowledgeable and appropriately trained to deal with clients who may be vulnerable. Grant Buchanan, Financial Planning Partner, commented on the way that the COVID-19 pandemic has meant his team have reevaluated their approach to how they look after vulnerable and potentially vulnerable clients: “We recognise that the lockdown measures have meant that there are now more clients who may be at risk of becoming vulnerable, including through isolation, mental health issues or anxiety. Whilst we have always had a number of measures in place to look after vulnerable clients, this new initiative brings them together, enabling us to provide a level of consistency in the quality and appropriateness of the advice we give.” 32 connected

Organised by Visit England, the event enabled Meet Cambridge to make appointments with buyers in one-toone meetings, as well as man a virtual stand where buyers could chat with the team, download brochures or watch a Cambridge destination video.

discover Cambridge and to find venues for events ranging from 18 to 1000 people.

Judith Sloane, Head of Meet Cambridge, said: “Over the course of the two sessions we met with 13 buyers in one-toone meetings and many more in the networking hubs and on the stand. The showcase resulted in 350 new contacts which we are now following up. We were delighted to received two firm enquiries during the event itself for 2022, which have already been passed over to our venues.

“There was great interest in the city and it’s very clear that when we can meet again and when travel is easier, groups will be very keen to come here. Our proximity to London, easy access, a wide range of venues and the opportunity to have a very different experience, as well as the potential for business event planners to tap into expertise whilst also enjoying Cambridge’s cultural offerings, were certainly attractive.

“We spoke to attendees from the whole meetings mix: independent planners, incentive agencies, associations and corporate event organisers, all looking to

“We were thrilled to be chosen to showcase Cambridge alongside such other fantastic English destinations and very grateful to Visit England for the opportunity.”

The Cambridge Building Society appoint new Chairman The Cambridge announces the appointment of new Chairman John Spence. John has extensive experience in the banking and housing sectors and has always focused on helping people. A rare accolade, John has received an MBE, OBE and CBE for his services to the Community, Charity and Business respectively. A 32-year career in banking at Lloyd’s TSB saw him achieve several Directorships. His experience includes overseeing a team of +30,000 as their Director of Retail Distribution and having the responsibility of forging industry-wide solutions when holding the role of Director of Policy Co-ordination and Risk. In addition, previous Non-Executive Director roles at HM Revenue and Customs, the Money Advice Service and his responsibilities for Finance, Housing and Planning whilst an Essex County Councillor will allow him to bring invaluable insight to The Cambridge. John’s unwavering energy to make a difference to communities sees him continue his Chairmanship of Spicerhaart, alongside his role as an Essex County Councillor. He has been Chairman or President of various national charities in the disability field and is Finance Chairman of the Church of England’s Archbishops’ Council. Peter Burrows, Chief Executive Officer, comments: “I am delighted that John has joined us as Chair, and look forward to working with him as The Cambridge embarks on the next phase of its journey as a thriving, independent, mutual business. Alongside his business acumen, John’s values and his desire to help people align with our own aspirations at The Cambridge.”

news from

CAMBRIDGE & SOUTH CAMBS AREA

This Land Ltd appoint a new Chief Executive Officer Development company, This Land™ has appointed David Lewis as Acting Chief Executive Officer starting from 1 February 2021. A promotion from within the business, David has been the company’s Strategic Land Director since January 2019 and will replace current CEO David Gelling. David Lewis said: “After setting up the company and guiding it for over three years Dave Gelling has decided to move on to other projects. The board is enormously grateful to him for what he has achieved, including putting This Land™ in a very healthy position from which to face the future.”

This Land™ was established to create quality family homes and David is intent on continuing this vision by focusing on sustainability, energy efficiency, and technology whilst expanding the use of modern methods of construction. David said: “This is a positive new chapter for the business, and I’m excited to be taking on this leading role. I aim to drive This Land forward aspiring to be a leading developer in Cambridgeshire, focusing on delivering quality homes and excellent customer care. With one development finished, another well underway, and three sites to break ground this year, it will be an exciting time for us all at This Land.”

This Land™ will continue to invest in great design, architecture and customer insight and follow the core business values, working together to create a culture of operational excellence.

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Wyboston Lakes Resort appoints new chair Wyboston Lakes Resort has appointed Chelsey Hutchinson as chair of the 380-acre conference, training and leisure resort in Bedfordshire. Chelsey, 34, has spent a decade working across every area of the Resort, including four years as a board director. She will now take over at the helm of the evergrowing business, which includes two state-ofthe-art residential event and training centres, a four-star hotel, brasserie, bar and award-winning spa, 18-hole golf course and water sports centre ideal for teambuilding activities. The site also has land for future enterprise. Succeeding her father in the role, Chelsey, who has a law degree from the University of Manchester and a master’s in hospitality management, is set to make her mark in the hospitality industry. Future enterprise, technology, sustainability, diversity and equality, and staying true to the

Webtec supports the young engineers of the future The Roy Cuthbert Scholarship has been awarded to Thomas Chaplin. The award, which was named after Webtec’s founder, a passionate engineer and entrepreneur who passed away in 2013, is part of the wider UK Arkwright Engineering Scholarship Scheme. Webtec is proud to be a supporter of this prestigious national programme which has been providing scholarships to students since 1991. Webtec recognises the importance of encouraging young talent into engineering and in addition to the Arkwright Scholarships the company also actively supports other programmes including the Primary Engineer® Leaders Award and the Engineering Education Scheme (EES). The highly respected Arkwright Engineering Scholarship is designed to inspire and equip the next generation of UK engineering talent. This year, the programme awarded 300 esteemed scholarships to bright and aspiring 16-year-old students from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with 45 per cent of these presented to female students and 38 per cent to young people from non-selective state schools. “We are passionate to support the next generation of engineers and the Arkwright Scholarship offers a great opportunity to help talented students achieve their full potential. We would like to congratulate Thomas on being awarded the Roy Cuthbert Scholarship and wish him all the very best in his future career,” commented Martin Cuthbert, Webtec’s Managing Director. Now heading into its 30th year, the Scholarship provides young people in the UK with a fully sponsored programme of hands-on experience, professional mentorship and careers guidance throughout their A-levels and Scottish Higher qualifications. 34 connected

company’s family culture will be key priorities for Chelsey. She said: “We’ve made significant investments in developing and refurbishing our venues and products over the past few years and we have a talented team, so it is my ambition that we become an even bigger player in the hospitality world. “Despite all the uncertainty that has come with the global pandemic, I am optimistic and excited for the future and where we can go. I’m very proud of the business and where we are today. We have great people, great products and a great culture.” Wyboston Lakes Resort recently launched a comprehensive Hybrid Events solution and is also recognised as a Covid-secure venue following accreditations from the AA, the Meetings Industry Association and Quality in Tourism. The Resort also holds three gold awards for sustainability.

Laptop donation follows urgent request Housing provider Chorus Homes has donated laptops to a primary school and nursery in St Ives. Chorus, part of the Places for People organisation, handed over nine laptops to Eastfield Infant and Nursery school. Chorus said it had responded to a plea from the school’s Chair of Governors who had issued an urgent request for some equipment for pupils. The laptops will enable home schooling for those pupils who do not have laptops at home. Headteacher of Eastfield, Laura Summerfield, said: “On behalf of Eastfield Infant and Nursery School, we would like to thank Chorus Homes for their generous gift which will help those children who are not able to participate fully in home-learning in lockdown.” Managing Director of Chorus Homes, Nigel Finney, said: “We are glad we are able to offer repurposed laptops to the Eastfield school children, so that local children are supported to learn at home during the pandemic.”

news from

HUNTINGDONSHIRE AREA

New fire station and training facilities for Huntingdon Huntingdon based commercial property developer, Artisan (UK) Developments Ltd, have secured planning permission for the development of a brand new fire station and training centre in Huntingdon for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS). The new facility is to be located on land adjacent to Percy Road, giving easy access to the A141, Huntingdon and the surrounding area. The new development replaces the current station on Hartford Road, which is no longer fit for purpose. The new building represents a major upgrade that will provide CFRS with the essential modern facilities it needs for the vital role it fulfils in delivering a fire and rescue service to the 805,000 people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for years to come. The three acre development will combine the requirements of a fire station and its support areas, with overnight accommodation for the firefighters working a nightshift, together with lecture rooms and additional changing facilities along with offices for support staff, including the occupational health team, health and safety team and operational

support group. The purpose built training area will enable CFRS to simulate realistic exercises for the fire crews and include a four storey training tower, live fire training containers, as well as areas to support incidents involving water and motor vehicles. Councillor Kevin Reynolds, Chairman of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority, said: “We are very excited about the new building and the opportunities it will provide us for the future.

“The project is a significant investment for the Service, and will help us provide effective, reliable and realistic training for all operational firefighters, and will provide much needed capacity to enable the fire service to train more firefighters more often.” With planning permission already granted, the construction phase is scheduled to commence at the beginning of the second quarter of 2021 with completion expected at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

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Cathedral Keys to help secure Peterborough Cathedral’s future Peterborough Cathedral has launched Cathedral Keys, an opportunity for those who love and care for this remarkable place to play their part in its future. Cathedral Keys invites supporters – whether they be individuals, groups or businesses – to pledge a regular monthly amount over three years. Not only will donors be helping to maintain the magnificent building and Precincts as an asset for the city, they will also enable the Cathedral to unlock plans to develop its work as a place of worship, learning, hospitality and service in future years. All those who sign up to Cathedral Keys, whether as a Key Keeper (for less than £2 a week), a Guardian or a Custodian, will receive a bespoke pin badge and, once Covid restrictions are lifted, invitations to special events and briefings at the Cathedral so that they can keep informed about current and future plans.

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, said: “At the Cathedral we are very much looking to the future and using this time to lay a secure foundation for the next phase in our history. We know that people cherish our wonderful Cathedral, which is a place of peace and healing for so many. I hope that Cathedral Keys will give those able to respond a way of showing their support and becoming part of shaping an exciting future together.” Peterborough Cathedral is widely recognised as one of the finest Norman cathedrals in England. It has become an icon for the city of Peterborough and, in pre-Covid times, attracts around 120,000 visitors a year. It is also provides life changing opportunities for people of all ages through volunteering, and for young people through training as choristers and through its schools programme.

Rising star wins top accountancy award Georgie Ground, based in the Peterborough office of Azets, the international accounting, tax, audit, advisory and business services group, has been awarded the prestigious Fleming Birch Prize for 2021 by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), for achieving first place in the local Annual Order of Merit for the Advanced stage examinations. This District Society prize is awarded annually to the top student who has trained in the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire district. The award, which includes a cheque for £200, was presented to Georgie at the ICAEW Midlands virtual prize-giving ceremony hosted by ICAEW President David Matthews. Accountant Georgie joined Azets as a trainee in 2015 and is a double winner of the Fleming Birch Prize having also won the award for the Professional stage examinations last year. Mark Jackson, Managing Partner at Azets’ Peterborough office, said: “We are incredibly proud of Georgie and all she has achieved. The Fleming Birch Prize is just reward for Georgie’s tireless work to become ACAqualified and she is fully deserving of this prestigious local prize. “In Georgie, Azets has one of the brightest young accountants in the country and her success demonstrates the level of competency and high standards we set both in our region and nationally. We are committed to nurturing talent and unleashing the potential of aspiring accountancy professionals like Georgie.” 36 connected

RECOUP work with Ribena Suntory Plastics recycling charity, RECOUP, are based in Peterborough and work across Europe driving forward plastics recycling and sustainability. Their ongoing work on Recyclability by Design Guidelines has helped produce improvements in packaging designs for well-known brands, enabling previously difficult to sort and process plastics packaging to become widely recycled. RECOUP, worked with Ribena Suntory to change their label to enable the bottle to be widely detected at sorting facilities meaning that the bottle is now able to be collected, sorted, and recycled back into new bottles. A prime example of how by working collaboratively with their members and using their knowledge of the plastics recycling value chain, RECOUP, help businesses reduce plastics pollution and fulfil their environmental and sustainability ambitions. RECOUP’s national plastic recycling initiative Pledge2Recycle Plastics also aims to reduce consumer confusion around plastic recycling and educate through schools and Local Authority programmes what can and cannot be recycled kerbside. The charity has led on several anti-litter campaigns including their #stopitdontdropit social media messaging. RECOUP and Pledge2Recycle Plastics would love you to follow them on Facebook, twitter and Instagram and get involved.

news from

PETERBOROUGH AREA

Princebuild and PCRFM help out local charities 2021 has seen the launch of the brand new Princebuild and PCRFM’s Community Charity Challenge on the Kev Lawrence breakfast show. The challenge provides the opportunity for PCRFM listeners to nominate a charity close to their heart to be in with a chance of winning a cash donation from Princebuild. One lucky listener will be chosen at random and will win £50 to be donated directly to their chosen charity. That’s not all… the lucky listener will also get the chance to win a bonus accumulator prize for their chosen charity by answering a 50/50 question on air. All contestants also receive a money can’t buy dual branded Princebuild and PCRFM travel mug! Get the answer right and they win an extra £100 minimum for the charity, get it wrong and the £100 rolls over to the next week. All lucky listeners who take part in the competition will receive a branded gift from Princebuild as a memento, as well as written confirmation of the donation made on their behalf. The competition has been running for four weeks and so far has seen £650 being split between four different charities. The first charity to be nominated was

CDH UK which was nominated by Katie Chapman of Whittlesey. Katie’s son was born with a rare Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and the charity provided invaluable support and advice to Katie as they do to many other parents whose babies are affected by the condition. Katie successfully answered the 50/50 question on air and won a fantastic £150 which will be donated directly to CDH UK. In the second week we saw Ryan Hounsell nominate the Free Kick’s Foundation – a Peterborough charity who provide footballrelated activities for ill, bereaved and disadvantaged children, giving them a day to remember with their favourite football club. Ryan didn’t answer the accumulator question correctly but still won £50 for the charity which he matched with a £50 donation which in turn Princebuild matched totalling a fabulous £150 for the charity. In the third week Lisa Rayment nominated Macmillan Cancer support for her donation. Lisa has been undergoing cancer treatment herself and has had some fantastic support from the wonderful team at Macmillan. Lisa answered her question correctly and won the £200 rollover totalling a fantastic £250 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

In week four Louisa Collins nominated the Galactosaemia Support Group, they support children like her son who suffer from the rare condition Galactosemia. Louisa took a guess on the 50/50 question and secured £150 for the charity. The challenge will be on air every Friday at just after 8.00am, for your chance to take part visit the Princebuild website www. princebuild.co.uk and fill in the simple form.

Cross Keys Homes appoints new Resident Involvement Manager Cross Keys Homes (CKH) is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Chambers, to the position of Resident Involvement Manager. Karen has nearly 20 years’ experience in the housing sector, having worked in a range of customer facing roles including customer services, resident involvement and care and support. She has also been a non-executive elected member of the board of Tpas, England’s leading tenant engagement experts, as well as the Foyer Federation. Karen’s experience and expertise will help CKH develop its already strong programme of resident involvement, which includes its sector leading Residents Board. CKH is one of the early adopters of the National Housing Federation’s Together with Tenants initiative and will be using its strong resident involvement networks to support its adherence to the recently released government white paper, The Charter for Social Housing.

Karen said: “I am really excited to join Cross Keys Homes in this role and really looking forward to delivering our priorities for resident involvement at a time when The Charter for Social Housing has literally just been published, providing very clear statements about what residents should expect from their landlord. Over the next few weeks I will be talking to residents and colleagues to understand what their priorities are and developing our resident involvement commitment and strategy to ensure that we provide opportunities for all residents to have a voice which makes a difference to the lives of our residents and communities.” Claire Higgins, Chief Executive of CKH, said of Karen’s appointment: “I am delighted that Karen has joined us. We place customers at the heart of our business and ensure their voice is heard at every level. As a continually growing and expanding organisation we want to make sure we are developing our resident involvement in line with our growth. Karen is joining us at a really exciting, if challenging time, and I am very much looking forward to working with her to ensure we keep listening and responding to, our customers.” connected 37

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news from

STAMFORD AREA

DUNCAN & TOPLIS LAUNCHES NEW INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY One of the East Midlands’ largest accounting and business advisers, Duncan & Toplis has launched a new international service for companies seeking guidance on overseas trade. Kreston Duncan & Toplis will build on the company’s existing international business services and its membership of the Kreston International network of accounting firms. Kreston International is the 13th largest accounting network in the world, encompassing 23,000 team members in 113 countries across six continents. Duncan & Toplis has become a key member of the Kreston network in recent years, with Managing Director Adrian Reynolds joining the organisation’s world board in 2018. Kreston Duncan & Toplis will be led by Duncan & Toplis Director, Mark Taylor who also leads Kreston International’s Global Tax Group. Duncan & Toplis already works with clients that are active in 44 countries

around the world, including in America, Singapore, Hong Kong, Jersey and France. Under the new Kreston Duncan & Toplis brand, the company’s international team will work with organisations looking to expand overseas and explore new market opportunities. The company will also work with Kreston International colleagues whose clients want to invest in the UK and particularly the East Midlands.

some immediate challenges, the time is right for organisations to look to expand overseas.

Head of Kreston Duncan & Toplis, Mark Taylor said: “There really are new horizons to explore as we move to becoming a more global Britain. With our trading relationships with countries around the world changing, there are huge opportunities for a wide range of businesses, but expert advice and guidance has never been more important.

“Kreston Duncan & Toplis represents one of the boldest steps in our company’s history as we connect businesses across continents. Whether it’s in supporting businesses based outside the UK looking to inwardly invest, or vice versa, there are many ways we can help make international trading a great success.”

“International exports account for around seven per cent of business income in the East Midlands and this was increasing prior to the pandemic. Clearly, coronavirus and Brexit have changed the way many companies must operate, but in spite of

For more information about Kreston Duncan & Toplis, please visit www.krestonduncantoplis.com or for Duncan & Toplis, visit www.duncantoplis.co.uk or contact the team on 0808 169 1196.

“Through our own team of more than 400 experts in accountancy, business advice, tax, payroll, HR, IT and legal services, in addition to our Kreston colleagues all over the world, we can help businesses to connect to new markets, manage the way they trade with existing markets and grow their business on a global level.

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chamber networking

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS

BUSINESS DOESN’T RECOGNISE BORDERS, SO WHY SHOULD WE? Joining forces with neighbouring Chambers, these structured networking sessions are designed to forge new business relationships across county boundaries, and maximise your opportunity to build a profitable network. Attendees will join a break out room for

Due to the success of our virtual Meet the Neighbours event in January we have linked up with neighbouring Chambers to offer two further dates. Thursday 29 April 11.00am-12.15pm Meet members from Cambridgeshire and Norfolk Chambers of Commerce Tuesday 29 June 11.00am-12.15pm Meet members from Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northampton Chambers of Commerce 40 connected

15 minutes where each person gets 30-60 seconds to speak to the break out room. There will be three break out rooms in total. This event is open to Chamber members only. Keep an eye on social media and the website for further details.

Great session – wonderful to see so many people, new and familiar. Just attended the ‘Meet the Neighbours’ networking event with Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce and Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce. I was a little out of my comfort zone but so glad that I attended and looking forward to making new connections and building new relationships. An amazing opportunity for Chamber members to build new contacts and re-connect with people they’ve not seen for a while. A great event.

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chamber

CHAMPIONING BUSINESS GLOBAL TRADE CHAMPION

LOCAL BUSINESS CHAMPION

ARE YOU A LOCAL BUSINESS CHAMPION OR GLOBAL BUSINESS CHAMPION? The Chamber introduced this communitywide business initiative to help foster individual and collective growth, and forge cohesive working partnerships and engagement within our local areas. The inclusive Championing Business programme – incorporating Local Business Champions and Global Trade Champions – is open to all businesses from the smallest independent micro-business to the largest exporter, irrespective of whether they are a Chamber member or not. WHAT IS A LOCAL BUSINESS CHAMPION? An individual or company representative that: • Wants to be part of a community that drives activities for the benefit of the whole community • Has a part to play in the success of our local economy • Has the desire to work collectively to promote, and drive, the economy forward. WHAT DOES A LOCAL BUSINESS CHAMPION DO? Participate! Everyone business has a

contribution to make, and now is the time to help reshape how we progress in our local areas. Here are some of the ideas of where our local businesses can contribute: • Bring experience and knowledge about your sector and location to the community • Provide input into the needs and interests of your business to identify the right type of local growth initiatives • Participate in discussions that identify barriers to growth, and help to take action to overcome these issues • Challenge the relevance and applicability of proposed interventions and strategies • Contribute to consultations on policy issues that support the development and delivery of activities in the local economy (i.e. planning, transport, funding, etc.). WHAT IS A GLOBAL TRADE CHAMPION? An individual or company representative • That wants to create links to do business overseas

• That is actively pursuing import and export opportunities • That wants to share their knowledge to help others conduct business outside of the UK. WHAT DOES A GLOBAL TRADE CHAMPION DO? Trade! We want all relevant businesses to be able to successfully trade internationally. Here are some of the ideas of where our global businesses can contribute: • Be business-ready to trade / take your international trade journey to the next level • Bring expertise to other businesses in our region by offering advice, contacts and resources • Provide input into the needs and interests of your business to identify the right type of international growth initiatives • Explore trade opportunities in new markets through local market access support and sharing country and sector experiences.

To sign up as a Champion, please visit our website: www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/championing-business 42 connected

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TRAINING

Understanding Rules of Origin Tuesday 23 March, Tuesday 22 June, Wednesday 22 September, Tuesday 14 December This course will explain all aspects of the Rules of Origin and Trade agreements and how to understand and comply with them to help companies be more competitive in export markets. Rules of Origin are the major factor in FTA agreements and we will learn how this is calculated and the benefits of having UK Origin.

Understanding Exporting Thursday 15 April, Tuesday 6 July, Tuesday 5 October This course covers all the basic key areas around exporting and will explain the requirements for documentation, plus an overview of country of origin and incoterms.

Understanding Importing Tuesday 20 April, Tuesday 20 July, Wednesday 13 October This course covers all the basic key areas around importing and will explain the requirements for documentation, plus an overview of country of origin and incoterms.

Customs Procedures and Documentation Wednesday 28 April, Tuesday 27 July, Tuesday 26 October 44 connected

The Chamber runs a rolling programme of training courses that culminate in the nationally-recognised Foundation Award in International Trade. Our regular training courses provide the knowledge to assist with your international trade activities. Currently, all courses will take place online via Zoom.

It is vitally important that importers and exporters understand the information required to be submitted, fines and inspections are things that no company wants to endure. This sessions looks at the procedures required to deal with customs.

Incoterms 2020 Wednesday 12 May, Tuesday 10 August, Tuesday 2 November It is essential that businesses understand Incoterms ® as their use is vital for the successful movement of goods between customers and suppliers around the world. This session will explain Incoterms ® and their importance in international trade contracts.

Step by Step Understanding a Customs Declaration Wednesday 26 May, Tuesday 24 August, Tuesday 9 November The training course will highlight what you need to know to complete customs declarations accurately and efficiently both import and export of goods, including taking you through step-by-step guidance on completing the SAD C88 form.

Letters of Credit Tuesday 8 June, Tuesday 7 September, Tuesday 23 November This workshop covers the five main types of payment for exports, from advance payment to open account, including Sight Documentary Collection,

Term Documentary Collection and Documentary Letters of Credit. It includes the use of Bills of Exchange with and without documents. You will gain a better understanding of how important it is to getting it right first time avoiding delayed payment of goods exported.

Inward and Outward Processing Tuesday 15 June, Tuesday 14 September, Tuesday 7 December The course will cover special procedures and the benefits of using IP and OP in your compliance. We will look at the impact of the EU Union Customs Code (UCC) on the application, the requirement for duty guarantees and administrative processes involved in managing IP. As well as reviewing the IP application form and the C99/ C&E812 suspension returns, we will also look at what internal processes are required. Full course details are available on our website www. cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/ training All our training courses run from 10.00am-2.30pm. Cost per course: £280.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £375.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members. To register please visit our website, email s.parr@cambscci.co.uk or telephone 01223 237414.

Currently all Chamber events are being held online. Please see our website for the most up-to-date event listing. Our regular events include Bitesize HR, Leadership Forum, Championing Business and Construction sector events. Invites are sent to all Chamber members with a link to register.

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EVENTS

MARKETING SEMINARS Social Media: How to Position Your Brand Tuesday 30 March, 11.00am-12.00pm Advice to help you decide where you sit in the digital landscape, and how to position your brand so you grab the attention of your target audience.

Supercharge Your Email Marketing Tuesday 13 April, 11.00am-12.00pm

Discover how to engage your recipients, ways to boost your ‘open’ rate, and how to get potential customers to take action.

Tips to Increase Your Brand Reach Tuesday 27 April, 11.00am-12.00pm By reviewing your current brand positioning and looking to see what works you can build a strong brand strategy that will help resonate and connect with your ideal clients.

This session will give you some helpful tips and practical advice on how to increase your brand reach. Places at these events can be registered via the Chamber website.

BCC Global Annual Conference 2021 Return to Prosperity and Growth Summer is coming and so is the first VIRTUAL edition of British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference taking place on 16 and 17 June. The theme for Day 1 is ‘A Year of Challenge and Reflection’, examining how to break through the difficult legacy left by the pandemic and move to a brighter future

Day 2 will tackle the big challenges of today and tomorrow with the theme ‘The Road to Viable Renewed Growth’.

Cost: £125.00 (plus VAT) per day, £180.00 (plus VAT) for both days for Chamber members, £195.00 (plus VAT) per day, £295.00 (plus VAT) for both days for Chamber members

The annual event has a fresh look and a new virtual stage which means it’s accessible to everyone, anywhere in the world.

Tickets are on sale via the Chamber website.

for the UK economy, leading to growth, resilient businesses and jobs.

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