INSPIRING SUCCESS
ISSUE 95
The official magazine for Chamber members
PLUS. . . ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CHAMBER NETWORK
A R E N O I T I W S I E U Q N C A A W E N A
GUARDTECHGROUP.COM
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CONTENTS
Connect
28 21
Charity news
8
Transform
22-23
New Members
9
Protect
24-28
Member news
10-13
Inform
30
Growth Works
14-15
Global
32
Training
16-17
Ask the Expert
33
Sponsorship opportunities
18-19
Cambridge Country Club
20
34-35
Events
Marketing Insight
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welcome from the
EDITOR
Welcome .... ISSUE 95 INSPIRING SUCCESS
The official magazine
PLUS. . . ALL THE LATEST
for Chamber members
ER NETWORK
NEWS FROM THE CHAMB
Chief Executive Vic Annells Editor Sadie Parr Published and Printed by
Welcome to the February issue of connected. This month we showcase sponsorship opportunities through the magazine and at Chamber events. Details can be found on page 33. We are also introducing new editorial slots within the magazine. A half page editorial with half page advert is £150.00 (plus VAT) for Chamber members and a full page editorial with full page advert is just £300.00 (plus VAT). Please get in touch with me to book space or to find out more details. This month’s guest article gives an introduction to Cambridge Country Club. We are delighted to have them as a Chamber member and look forward to our Informal Networking Evening with them on Thursday 21 April where you will have an opportunity to see for yourself what they have to offer.
You can also read news from across the Chamber Network on page 24-28. To have your news published in connected please send it through to me along with a photo. SADIE PARR s.parr@cambscci.co.uk
www.xlpress.co.uk Design Helen Dwyer Advertising Sadie Parr s.parr@cambscci.co.uk Membership Team 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 @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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• D IA RY DAT E S • MARCH 2022
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Safari Networking Breakfast, Peterborough
Understanding a Customs Declaration course
Bitesize Workshop: Logistics and Brokerage
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Informal Networking Evening, Huntingdon
Informal Networking Evening, Stamford
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Construction Lunch, Peterborough
Informal Networking Evening, Ely
Informal Networking Evening, Cambridge
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International Women’s Day, Peterborough
15
HR Coffee Club, Huntingdon
Letters of Credit course
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Safari Networking Breakfast, Cambridge
Inward and Outward Processing course
comment from the
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Chief Executive’s comments In January, at the Chambers we took the decision to cancel our events for the month in response to precautions over the Omicron variant. There was a great deal of pressure at the time we made that decision to fall into line with what the Government was saying at the time. That has of course meant a slow start to the year, but we are very pleased with the uptake of tickets for our February events and look forward to forging ahead with our plans for the year, for as long as it remains safe to do so. It is clear that many of our members are happy to come back to face to face events, even in November before Omicron, it was 2:1 in favour of physical meetings versus online. We have some great events coming up in 2022 and want to encourage you to join us in getting some of these into the diary for us all to look forward to. Our Comedy Night & Black Tie Dinner sold out two weeks before the event was due to take place showing us your fantastic appetite for getting out and about again and into the networking scene. We have revamped our international training programme to help companies back up to speed since all the changes that have happened so please do check out our website to find out what we are doing that would benefit you. Our new IT & Cyber Security sector is looking busy as is our HR and Recruitment network. We’re already getting back out into the world and starting to welcome business leaders across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to join us in returning to workplaces and social spaces and helping things begin to feel like a new normal. As part of our efforts to rekindle the Chambers activity, returning to networking and meeting with companies across the county, we have secured hospitality tickets at Cambridge United and Peterborough United for the remainder of the 2021/22 season. This is excitingly giving us the opportunity to connect with members and non-members alike whilst enjoying a good old game of football; something that many of our Chamber members are passionate about. I had the pleasure of attending Cambridge United on 5 February for their FA Cup tie with Luton Town, along with Jeremy Sallis and Seb Noble from BCC Radio Cambridgeshire and Gareth Johns from First Intuition. It was a disappointing result for Cambridge, but the atmosphere was spirited and the fans and players did the team proud.
The previous weekend I was at Peterborough United with Tim Kavahagh and Jamie Starkey from the Peterborough based Kingsley Beverages and Fiona McGonigal from Anglia Ruskin University watching POSH take on Sheffield United. A stimulating match, though not the outcome we hoped for. Here’s to better luck up ahead for our region’s teams! I look forward to watching them progress through the season, and to the many of you joining us to support them. Our plan is to hold a raffle for the four places for the fifth round FA Cup tie that Peterborough have with Manchester City. All profit from the raffle will go to the Charity Anna’s Hope. And of course, it is so important to note that whilst we are forging ahead with our events, we will continue to do our best to promote the safety of delegates and encourage best practice for hygiene, health and safety by working with our venues to take all appropriate measures. This includes the use of hand sanitiser, the ventilation of spaces, and encouraging our staff and attendees to protect each other through sensible decision-making and testing where possible in order to ensure that we each do our best to manage the risks that are of course still with us. I look forward to meeting with you at a Chamber event soon.
VIC ANNELLS Chief Executive
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We provide Chamber members with many opportunities to widen their network of business contacts – building connections, creating opportunities and maximising the benefits of being part of Cambridgeshire’s most vibrant business network.
MEMBER OFFERS Do you have a special offer that is open to members of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce? Upload details to the member area of the Chamber website and we’ll share across the network.
CYBERSCALE LTD CyberScale are a specialist Cyber & Information Security business providing both consultancy and training services to businesses across the UK. Whether you are looking for an assessment of your cyber security position, are developing a cyber & information security strategy or are looking to train your teams to better protect your business, our team of experienced consultants work in a range of sectors from finance, legal & healthcare to manufacturing, aerospace & housing.
Until the end of March you can get 25% off any of our training courses via our member to member offer which you can find on the Chamber website now. You can find out more about the courses on our website www.cyberscale.co.uk.
FREE TRIAL OFFER: Cisco designed hybrid flexible working solutions from Fluid. A huge 84% of businesses will adopt a “work from anywhere” policy post pandemic. You can help to keep your business connected, secure and productive with the new Cisco networking, security, cloud and collaboration solution that helps businesses reimagine how they work while keeping employees safe, connected and productive 24/7. Your free trial offer includes: WEBEX BY CISCO Messaging and meetings for around-the-clock, work fromanywhere collaboration CISCO SECURE ACCESS BY DUO Multi-factor authentication for verifying user identities, devices and applications 6 connected
CISCO UMBRELLA Cloud security to provide the first line of defense against threats CISCO SECURE EMAIL Email security for blocking malware delivered through spam and phishing emails. Powered by Talos. This solution addresses fears over the return to the office, the demand for a safe workplace, and IT tools that connect hybrid workforces in new ways, including addressing the need for a secure and collaborative work environment that is accessible from anywhere, anyplace anytime! To talk to us about this and take advantage of this Member Offer Free Trial please contact Fluid at lt@fluid-em.com or call 07455 019867.
network and
CONNECT
CHAMBER CONFERENCE ROOM AVAILABLE TO HIRE
We have a conference room available to hire for up to 10 people with free parking. Costs: £200.00 (plus VAT) full day, £115.00 (plus VAT) half day. 10% discount for Chamber members. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided for £2.00 (plus VAT) per person. If you’re interested in hiring the John Bridge Conference Room please email enquiries@cambscci.co.uk or telephone 01223 237414
EXCLUSIVE SERVICES FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS Chamber membership provides you with links to national companies providing services at exclusive rates for members. One of this is a Health Plan.
CHAMBER PRIMARY HEALTH PLAN
This low-cost employee reward helps recruit and retain staff, manage risk and reduce absenteeism. Provided by Westfield Health, packages include cash benefits towards routine treatments such as dental and optical, diagnostic scanning facilities, a 24/7 advice line operated by GPs, Employee Assistance Programme and subsidised gym membership. Cover starts from as little as £6.13 per employee, per month, with additional upgrades and partner cover available. Key features: • Exclusive offer for Chamber member companies of all sizes • Available on a corporate paid basis • Four levels of cover to choose from • From just £6.13 per employee, per month • Premiums will not increase with age • No medical required to join • Cover for pre-existing medical conditions (except personal accident acover) • 100% reimbursement, up to set limited, on cash benefits • Immediate cover on all benefits • Worldwide cover available • Optional module available to cover employees’ dependent children • Voluntary upgrades and partner cover available via payroll deductions or individual direct debit • Can sit alongside Westfield Private Health Insurance cover. Best Doctors® A second opinion and peace of mind The Chamber Primary Health Plan also gives staff and their families access to the Best Doctors® service. Best Doctors® can be used to request an alternative assessment, from a world leading
medical specialist, of a diagnosis they’ve received from their local medical specialist. DoctorLine™ Access to a GP 24/7 From anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, staff can pick up the phone and arrange a call back from a practising UK GP. They can even choose to have a webcam consultation. It’s the closest thing to a surgery appointment, but without the wait. If the doctor believes that their treatment requires medication, they can offer a private prescription, usually dispensed the next working day and delivered straight to their door. Westfield Rewards
Making employees’ salaries go further A great way to help policyholders save money on everyday items, this online portal allows policyholders to access offers and savings on a huge range of goods and services from over 1,000 leading high street and online retailers. By connecting with the Westfield Rewards website, your employees can make use of discount codes or purchase reloadable cards. The savings they make are often on top of sale prices, money off vouchers and online promotions, so their money goes even further. It’s retail therapy at its best. To find our more about accessing the Chamber Primary Health Plan please call the office on 01223 237414 and speak to the membership team.
The Chamber offer Level 1 as a benefit to all staff. It is really simple to claim back healthcare fees and the Customer Service team are extremely helpful if you have any queries. connected 7
As a Chamber member you have the power to influence key decision makers and play a leading role in tackling the issues that are preventing your business from reaching its potential, while an experienced team of lobbyists represents your interests in Whitehall.
Two new Members appointed to Cambridge and South Cambs Committee The largest of our regions’ local Chambers – Cambridge and South Cambs - has appointed two new committee members Tony Murdock of TR Global Events, and Graham Wesson of GMS Business Accountants. Tony will bolster the voice of the events and hospitality industry, whilst Graham brings his finance and commercial skills to the existing committee. Tony and Graham join colleagues from Cambridge Regional College, Tees Law, ARU, South Cambridgeshire District Council and MetroBank. Committee Chair, Faye Holland (cofinitive) said: “We are delighted to welcome Tony and Graham to the Committee. These appointments are the beginning of a concerted campaign to build and maintain a Committee that reflects the needs of our area and that can represent our businesses on issues that really matter.” The Committee runs a series of programmes – from big issues like workforce availability and the circular economy; to local policy issues such as responding to consultations on transport and local infrastructure; through to specific tactical projects in areas that are on most businesses agendas - skills development, supply chain productivity and the green agenda. We are also delighted to announce that James Appleby of Tees Law will step into the role of Vice-Chair following Bill Brogan’s retirement. James has been an active member of the Committee since 2020 and co-lead on sector-specific activities during the past few years to increase engagement of and with our members.
The Committee continues to seek a diverse set of members from businesses of all sizes and sectors. Committee members serve a three-year term and interested parties are welcome to express their interest to chamber@cambscci.co.uk.
Number of companies in Cambridgeshire hits record high Latest figures show that the number of businesses in Cambridgeshire reached a record high during 2021 – despite the continuing economic challenges resulting from the pandemic. The total number of registered companies in Cambridgeshire rose to 56,346, up from 54,497 at the end of 2020, representing an increase of 3.4 per cent. During the year 7,476 new businesses were registered in the county. The statistics come from the Inform Direct Review of Company Formations using data from Companies House and the Office for National Statistics. Peterborough formed the highest number of new businesses (2,326), followed by Cambridge (1,536) and Huntingdonshire (1,321). John Korchak, Operations Director at Inform Direct, said: “It is excellent news to see that Cambridgeshire has achieved a record high for the number of businesses in the county despite the continuing challenges of the pandemic. “The retail sector saw the largest number of new companies (1,019) which may be the result of pent-up demand after the lockdowns 8 connected
of 2020 and early 2021. With widespread restrictions on travel and entertainment, people may have looked to spend their income in different ways. This was followed by real estate with 610 new incorporations. “Reaching a new record number of companies demonstrates an active economy with entrepreneurs motivated to invest in new businesses which meet current and emerging demands for goods or services. The overall picture for the UK as a whole is also an optimistic one with the total number of companies now exceeding five million for the very first time.” The UK saw 771,617 new businesses formed, compared to 780,760 in 2020. The overall number of UK companies totalled 5,005,147, a 3.5 per cent increase on the total of 4,837,426 at the end of 2020. This continues a 10-year trend which shows the number of businesses in the UK doubling in that period. Whilst company formations grew, the number of dissolutions across the UK – 606,912 during 2021 – hit a record high. Reasons for this may be that new enterprises set up early in the pandemic may no longer be operating as people have returned to full-time employment or businesses thriving pre-COVID-19 have suffered as behavioural and spending patterns have changed. To see a more detailed picture of company formations in Cambridgeshire – including a full local breakdown, visit: https://www.informdirect.co.uk/company-formations-2021/ cambridgeshire/
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 As a Chamber member you have unlimited access to four services - HR, Legal, Health & Safety and Tax. This includes: 5 Advice Lines – HR, legal, health & safety, tax and VAT 3 Document Libraries – HR, Legal, Health & Safety that contains almost 800 templated documents £1,000,000 Legal Expenses Insurance – includes employment cover and Tax Enquiry cover. Visit https://chambercambs.questcover.com/login or call the helpline on 01455 852037. If you don’t know your log-in details to access this service, please give the team a call on 01223 237414.
Can an employer cancel annual leave due to staff shortages? With the ongoing Covid crisis many employers will face the real possibility of staff shortages as employees isolate to recover from Covid.
ISOLATION
Employers have the right to cancel an employee’s holidays even if the time off has been previously approved by the employer. The employer must however, ensure there is sufficient notice provided to the employee. The employer must explain the business reason and discuss the right of the employee to book the holiday at a future period in the same holiday year. For example, the reason may be due to shortages in staff due to Covid isolation, a new business deadline or substantial changes to the business. Where feasible the employer should look at possible alternatives to cancellation as the employee is legally entitled to take time off in the current holiday year. Employers should consider that such a decision may bring disharmony in the workplace. Some employees may have booked overseas travel and may not be able to cancel their holiday.
CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL
Employers who do not think through this decision with due diligence and do not provide good business reasons to the employee risk a claim for constructive dismissal. Employers should note they will not be allowed to cancel the employees annual
leave if the employee cannot exercise the right to the annual leave before the end of the same holiday year. The employer must give sufficient notice to an employee to cancel their booked annual leave and provide the business reason for the cancellation. The employer must provide the employee the same length of notice as the period of the annual leave booked by the employee. The notice must therefore be served before the annual leave is taken and not if the employee is already off on leave. If on the other hand the employee wishes to cancel their booked annual leave, they would need to provide the same amount of notice as the leave they wanted to cancel. Employers should be mindful of unforeseen circumstances and show some flexibility here for example, any employee’s child becomes sick or there is a family bereavement. Where the reasons are not exceptional the employer does not have to agree to the request if arrangements for holiday cover have been made. Employer and HR practitioners should consider implementing a holiday cancellation policy to address this situation. This article is for guidance only. Please contact the Quest advice service if you require specific advice about a situation or wish to update your HR policies on 01455 852028. Raj Laxman, Employment Law & HR Advisor connected 9
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.
Four things to consider in an IT Support Provider Whether you need IT support for the first time or are thinking of switching providers, we believe these four items will help in your searching. Firstly, customer service is extremely important. How well the provider listens, understands, and adapts to your needs is vital. Also, their tone and language are indicators to how kind and friendly they are. Secondly, the type of contract you make with your provider will set the tone of the relationship. Some IT support providers tie their clients into 12-month contracts or longer. While some can be month by month like ours. This is
something to be mindful of when conducting your research. Thirdly, response times and how quickly the provider responds are crucial in IT support. You should expect some form of communication within the first 10 minutes, but resolution times will depend on how high or low your request is. Lastly, you will want to assess what range of services the IT support provider can offer you. The majority will provide the essentials such as cloud and security services. However, we have come across some companies who can’t offer 24/7 support or Cyber Essentials. Advice from Cambridge Support
Cyber Threats It’s always good to remind ourselves how to keep ourselves protected from cyber threats in our businesses, job and personal lives – let’s take a quick look at some easy wins. Password re-use is possibly the worst habit we have trained ourselves to do over the last few decades. Fortunately, there are solutions to help us with this! Password managers store all your online passwords meaning you do not need to remember them, and keep the actual detail secure. Using three random memorable words to create your passwords ensures they are strong and memorable, but hard for computers to guess. 10 connected
It’s increasingly important to use multiple layers of authentication to verify that it’s you accessing your personal or business data. Typically two types of factors are used which has led to the terms “2FA” or “MFA” (M=Multi). A combination of two things from different groups is required such as what you know, something physical you have access to, what you are (fingerprint, face) and where you are. Just because email is everywhere we can’t be complacent. Phishing emails are still the main cause of data and information breaches, therefore we need to remain vigilant with what we open. Always check the sender, query
whether you were expecting the email, look at formatting and spelling, and question the sense of urgency phishing emails are often sent with. Keeping our devices and the sensitive information they store or enable access to secure is a continuous task. Devices being lost, stolen or tampered with and files being stolen is a risk we all face when we are out in the world. You can easily protect yourself by backing up data, encrypting the device and keeping them close! We also firmly believe that one of the most effective methods is to lock your devices, always. Advice from CyberScale
learn and
INFORM
How to Implement a Cyber Secure Hybrid Working Model Although many of us have become more relaxed in our hybrid-working environments, much of the corporate cyber security responsibility now lies in the hands of each individual employee. The key cyber security issue is that, for employers, every individual is now a potential security weak point. There are six steps an organisation should take to maximise its chances of surviving as a successful hybrid-working business; STEP 1 Review your current security posture and pinpoint any obvious gaps STEP 2 Prepare and deploy new policies and give guidance for secure home-working including issues such as secure router
configuration and device access STEP 3 Implement a staff awareness training programme to ensure everyone is aware of their role in managing the risks of working remotely. STEP 4 Put Cyber Essentials in place to stop the most common forms of Internet-based cyber attack STEP 5 Implement privacy staff awareness training to ensure your staff continue to be compliant with GDPR STEP 6 Implement an ongoing, longterm security strategy based on audits, penetration testing and simulated phishing attacks to ensure your organisation remains secure and compliant.
How IT Governance can help you
Ensure your organisations systems and staff are set up for the unpredictable year ahead with our Simulated Phishing Attack and Staff Awareness Training Programme. Our interactive e-learning course helps employees identify and understand phishing scams, explains what could happen should they fall victim, and shows them how they can mitigate the threat of an attack – ensuring all of your employees can continue to work securely in this hybrid-working world. Advice from IT Governance
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT: Very small businesses and sole traders should consider buying time before April deadline Ahead of the requirement for all VAT-registered business to adhere to Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT, a provision which comes into force on 1 April 2022, Alison Horner, Partner at MHA, says this will be the really hard part of the MTD transition as very small businesses and sole traders will struggle with time-consuming software training larger companies could just about handle, but there are solutions:
“Secondly, exemption from MTD is also available, but only if a business can show that it is not reasonable or practical to use computers, software, or the internet to comply with MTD rules. Depending on the circumstances, it is definitely worth exploring this option even if a business plans to digitalise its tax affairs in the end. Most businesses will not qualify for an exemption though and will have to bite the bullet between now and 1 April.
“A large number of UK sole traders and micro businesses are now in the firing line as HMRC pushes ahead with the digitalisation of tax. From 1 April 2022 Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT will be extended to those VAT-registered businesses with a turnover below £85,000. These firms will be required to register for MTD and to maintain digital records. For many the switch to digital tax will represent a demanding and time-consuming transition. Around 52 per cent of UK registered VAT businesses are set to be affected by this*.
“In the end MTD will improve efficiency. The ultimate goal for businesses should be to view tax documents and information in real time, as opposed to accessing records months, or even years, after the event. Yet, implementation will in many cases prove an arduous process and depending on the circumstances buying time with bridging software or an exemption will make sense for many businesses.” _________________________
“Larger companies got away comparatively lightly with switching to MTD for VAT which started in April 2019. They could afford to either hire the staff with the right computer skills or provide the training for existing employees to handle the systems needed for this digital transition. Very small businesses do not have this luxury.
*Annual UK VAT Statistics 2020 to 2021 Commentary reported that 52% of traders declared annual turnover below £85,000 in the tax year ending March 2021. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/value-added-tax-vat-annualstatistics/annual-uk-vat-statistics-2020-to-2021-commentary#vat-populationand-taxable-turnover
“However, worried businesses can use two relatively quickfire solutions to buy more time. Firstly, for those not ready to take the leap to dedicated accounting software, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets coupled with bridging software, such as QuickBooks Online, can provide a simple, cost-effective and compliant way to submit VAT returns digitally to HMRC. Businesses can produce a ‘9-Box’ VAT return within the spreadsheet and upload this to the bridging software, which connects to HMRC and submits the VAT digitally. This provides a straightforward and cost-effective solution to overcome the challenges the digital switch poses for them. connected 11
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.
Are you getting the best from your current employees? Are your current employees giving you their best? Do either you or they know what their best actually is? WHY DO THESE QUESTIONS EVEN MATTER NOW ANYWAY? As we nationally continue our economic recovery from the pandemic, it seems more and more attention is being placed on developments in our labour market situation. Looking at data from the Office of National Statistics as I write this (21 January 2022), we are told: • The number of pay roll employees is up and above pre-Covid levels, • The unemployment rate (4.1%) is lower than pre-pandemic times, • R edundancies are at a record low, But… • J ob vacancies have reached record levels of 1.2m+ o A cross Cambridgeshire & Peterborough over the last 30 days to 21 January 2022, over 20,000 job adverts have been placed (according to our LMI resource Labour Insight) Today (27 January 2022), the government’s new “Way to Work” scheme was being ‘advertised’ to address this deficit. The government says that it is intended to target those who are able to work but either do not have a job or are earning low amounts. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said an aim of the scheme is to “Help people get any job now, mean[ing] they can get a better job and progress into a career.” (https:// www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60149016) This means that potentially when you advertise for staff, you will be getting applications from a different type of jobseeker 12 connected
– maybe those with potential rather than the finished article. Therefore, would it be better for your business to be able to promote internally, and then take on a worker with potential in a junior position? Hold that thought… It is a discussion for another day and more column space why we have the number of vacancies we have alongside the unemployed population, and that discussion isn’t going to help us now in the situations we find ourselves in. So, getting back to an opening question: How are you getting the best from your current employees? In most cases, people have had to draw on reserves they didn’t know they had over the past near two years - many have had to become more resilient, resourceful and innovative to get through the challenges they have faced. But has anyone truly had the opportunity to reflect on those times and, importantly, apply those experiences to their working environment? For me, writing this with a background in Skills and Education and a current role working in and with Careers and Employability, what is needed now is time – not lots of it necessarily – but time to reflect and regroup as business and individuals. JRR Tolkien said: “…All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us…” Have you taken the time to look at any vacancies you have against the workforce available to you? Have you taken the time to complete a training needs analysis of the gaps you have
versus the skills, experience and qualifications you need? Have you and your employees – impartially and unbiasedly – taken the time to complete an evaluation of what unknown, underutilised, new skills and abilities have been learnt from personal journeys over the last two years? There is an abundance of professional, qualified support that is available to help support and facilitate this reflection. For example, I manage the National Careers Service in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and one of the areas we coach is development of staff in the workplace (we don’t exist just to work with the unemployed or school leavers as is often assumed). Likewise, there is professional, qualified support that exists to train, upskill and qualify your workforce, such as: • Apprenticeships (not just for 16 year olds), • Skills Support for the Workforce (not just for entry level jobs), • Skills Bootcamps (not just for the unemployed), • Level 2 & 3 Courses (not just for those who may have struggled at school) • …all potentially fully funded and free to the beneficiaries. So, what is going to get us through the next period of this pandemic is our perspective: Will we just accept we are in challenging times? or Is it time to take time and rise to the challenge? Nick Speroni, Business Manager and Helena Minton, Careers Advisor, Futures for You
learn and
INFORM
CONSTRUCTION NEWS Repudiatory Breach in Construction Contracts A “repudiatory” breach is circumstances where one party so acts or so expresses itself as to show that it does not mean to accept the obligations of a contract any further. A repudiatory breach is one of such significance that it would provide the innocent party with a common law right to terminate the contract and to claim damages.
WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF THE INNOCENT PARTY?
Where a party has committed a repudiatory breach, the innocent party has the right to either: a) a ccept the repudiation and terminate the contract, bringing the performance of the primary obligations of the parties to an end, or b) affirm the contract (if possible), in which case the contract and primary obligations continues.
that although there has been a repudiatory breach, they are content to affirm the contract (waiving the right to terminate in the process). Whether electing to terminate or to affirm, the innocent party will have the right to claim damages for losses arising from the repudiatory breach. Repudiation in construction contracts is a complex matter, read our full article at https://arbicon.co.uk/blog/repudiatory-breachrights-and-remedies Advice from Arbicon
If electing to terminate the contract, the innocent party must communicate the acceptance of the repudiatory breach, expressly or by conduct. It is recommended that acceptance is expressly communicated to avoid ambiguity. If electing to affirm the contract, it would also be recommended that the innocent party expressly communicate to the defaulting party
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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.
What is localisation and why is it important? Top Tips from Iwona Lebiedowicz, founder of PAB Languages Centre Our world is more connected than it’s ever been before. And as a business owner, I’m always conscious of the next opportunity for growth that these wider connections create for us all. However, failing to adapt your product or service marketing to different regions will impact your ability to grow your business. For instance, your website could have all the elements to be successful, a great design, well-written content, but if you’re only communicating in English, anyone who speaks another language won’t be able to find you. You’re missing out on a goldmine of potential customers, not only in Cambridgeshire but overseas as well. According to customer behaviour research, the majority of website visitors (87%) will not buy products from a website they cannot understand. We’ve found that non-English speaking visitors, whether in the UK or overseas, exited websites within seconds when presented with English-only content. So, if you want to be successful in engaging with and selling to international audiences – you need localisation services. But what is localisation? Localisation involves the process of text translation as well as any or all of the following: • Modifying your content to suit the tastes and habits of local markets
• A ddressing economic, historical, and sometimes political references • Adjusting images, icons, colours to the local tastes and culture • Changing dates, addresses, phone numbers, etc. to fit a local format • Converting to local currencies and units of measure. Localisation isn’t just about getting your language, layout and graphics right though, it can also protect you from awkward situations. Without truly understanding the culture of the people who speak the language, it can be easy to unintentionally offend people. The team at PAB Languages Centre come from all over the world and understands all the elements and cultural references you’ll need to take account of when speaking to your audiences. Our creative linguists will use the right words, the right style, and tone to ensure you are communicating effectively with your international audience. Get in touch today on 07799 772 360 to discuss your project.
Out of Hours ChamberCustoms Since 1 January 2022 we have noticed that many EU imports/ exports are travelling across the borders under inventory linking, and many of these shipments are travelling overnight. Now that your goods have to be pre-lodged before arriving at the border, this means that if cargo inventory linking is required and the manifest is not raised until after 5.00pm, your goods will not be permitted to cross the border in the arriving country because we only usually operate a 9.00am-5.00pm service Monday-Friday. This may result in you incurring port charges and demurrage costs, particularly if goods are coming in over the weekend and will be held for more than a few hours. Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce have put in place procedures for us to ensure any shipments going out overnight or
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at the weekend are covered by us on an ‘Out of Hours Service’. The cost of this will be an additional £10.00 (plus VAT)*. As long as we are provided with the customs declaration instructions by 3.00pm on the day of shipment (or by 3.00pm Friday if a weekend shipment) we will be able to process the declaration and claim inventory out of hours, ensuring your goods can cross the borders smoothly. *additional costs may be applied if the information supplied to us for claiming inventory is incorrect, or other amendments are required to clear goods. To be able to do this, you must ensure that you are providing the relevant container number, shipping vessel details and where possible the bill of lading number. This information is required in addition to any other information you would normally provide us.
extend your
GLOBAL REACH
ChamberCustoms: We are here to help with all your Customs needs Challenges Facing Traders: Brexit, the pandemic, inflation, price hikes (fuel, steel, shipping containers) and skill shortages (e.g. drivers) are all challenges businesses continue to face. Trading businesses must now also be prepared with customs declarations and additional paperwork. From 1 January 2022 full customs controls were introduced at GB borders. All imports and exports will require full customs clearance and tariffs to be paid, without the option to delay these unless the
goods are moving from NI to GB. Businesses tell us it feels daunting - and it’s complicated work. ChamberCustoms are experts in the complex nature of international import and export, with knowledgeable teams based across the UK.
to other brokers at port of entry or exit. You deal directly with our UK based team with direct access to HMRC and all port inventory systems. Email customsdeclarations@cambscci. co.uk or call 01223 237414 to see how we can help you.
We are the only customs broker with connections to all land, air and sea clearance ports in the UK. Unlike other customs brokers, freight forwarders and agents - we don’t subcontract your declarations to offshore processors or
BCC says more must be done to improve UK-EU trade On the second anniversary of Brexit, and with huge lorry queues being reported at Dover, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling for urgent action to improve trade with Europe. With well over half of UK exporters (60%) surveyed by the BCC in November 2021 reporting difficulties in trading with the EU, an increase from 49 per cent in January 2021, it is clear urgent action is needed. Pictures of lorries stacked up on the A20, waiting to get into the port of Dover, also offer a vivid illustration of the problems continuing to impact the operation of the trade deal between the UK and the EU. The BCC has set out five key issues, and the solutions needed, to improve EU trade. ISSUE: Export health certificates cost too
much and take up too much time for SME food exporters. SOLUTION: We need a supplementary deal on this which either eliminates or greatly reduces the complexity of exporting food for SMEs. ISSUE: Some companies are being asked to register in multiple EU states for VAT in order to sell online to customers there. SOLUTION: We need a supplementary deal, similar to Norway’s with the EU. This exempts the smallest firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative and incur these duplicate costs. ISSUE: As things stand CE marked industrial and electrical products will not be permitted for sale on the market in Great Britain from January 2023/4. The same is true for components and spares.
SOLUTION: We need action from the Government to help businesses with these timelines. Many firms are far from convinced about a ban on CE marked goods in Great Britain. ISSUE: UK firms facing limitations on business travel and work activities in the EU. SOLUTION: Government needs to make side deals with the EU and member states to boost access in this area as a priority for 2022. ISSUE: Companies starting to be pursued in respect of import customs declarations deferred from last year. SOLUTION: We need a pragmatic approach to enforcement to ensure companies recovering from the pandemic do not face heavy-handed demands too quickly on import payments, or paperwork.
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ask the
EXPERT
The Power of Processes
Documented processes are an aspect of effective operations which are often overlooked, particularly in smaller businesses. There are two overarching rules when working with processes – they need to add value and they need to be seen as living tools – they need to evolve with your business. So why do you need processes in your business? It’s no coincidence that the use of processes is considered a significant marker in the maturity of a business. The earlier you start building processes into your operations the better. They will always deliver multiple benefits but here are my top three: 1. They allow you to predict and control outcomes. A fixed set of actions result in a fixed outcome. Change the actions and you change the outcome. 2. They provide structure. A process involves multiple fixed points of reference which can be developed, analysed and examined to feed
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into other activities essential to managing your business. 3. They provide clarity. A defined process means that stakeholders understand what to do, how to do it, what the outcomes should be. Reducing confusion, misconceptions and unnecessary activity can only be a good thing, particularly where an activity is customer facing or customer focussed. What can you do with them? The extent to which a process is used within your business will depend on what it covers. However, there is potential for processes to be used for training, compliance management, improvement activities, benchmarking, cost reduction, quality control and more. Where do you start? Decide where formal processes are needed. There are some key areas to start with: Prioritise activities which are audited, subject to legislation or compliance requirements, activities which are business-critical and any areas which require consistent training across all relevant staff. Also consider activities which are creating a lot of ‘noise’ in your operation – unhappy staff, unhappy customers, a lot of firefighting. There is a high likelihood that processes will form part of the solution. What’s the next step? Mapping - mapping simply means documenting how a given activity is carried out currently. Work with the people involved to lay down each step, decision and action they carry out in the activity. Analysis – it may be that there is no need to change the process. However,
where there are problems, this is the stage where you can improve things. Look for duplication of effort, areas of confusion, waste, non-added value effort, delays and so on. Writing-up - having re-jigged the activity to improve it, you can now write up the process. There are plenty of ways to do this – bullet points, cartoon strip, flow chart, formal Standard Operating procedure and combinations of these. When deciding which format to work with consider: Your audience – Language, level, working context. External requirements – stipulations in legislation or quality management systems for example. The complexity of the process – a very simple process could be communicated through bullet points, a complex process may need a combined flow chart and Standard Operating Procedure. What happens now? Having a written process in place is only the start – you now have to communicate and embed the new way of working. Ensure you reach the right people and be prepared to counter some resistance to the change. People take time to adapt so be patient. Longer term, processes need to be reviewed on a scheduled basis as well as in reaction to changes in your operation. And finally – make sure that responsibility for the process is identified and ensure that it is transferred as staff move on. Even the best processes can get lost if this doesn’t happen. If you would like training, help or advice on improving your operations visit my website www.anniemcneely.co.uk or email me at annie@anniemcneely.co.uk
ask the
EXPERT
How to sell on Amazon in 2022 Selling on Amazon has become a common way for e-commerce businesses to find their feet in the industry and gain some much-needed experience and cash. If you’re curious as to how to get started selling on the world’s biggest online marketplace, take a look at some top tips from e-commerce expert Chris Allan from WorldFirst. 1. Research your product With hundreds of millions of active Amazon customer accounts worldwide, it’s important to find the right niche when it comes to product selection. Tap into your area of expertise, research the market, and think about what sets you and your business apart. Once this has been established, find your target audience and decide who you should be marketing your products to. This will be the very foundation of your e-commerce strategy – you’ll then need to refine your target audience as your business plan evolves and identify what the opportunities and challenges are along the way. Top tip: Amazon place some restrictions on what products you can sell through the platform so be mindful that the products you select apply to one of their existing categories. Find out more about getting started with Amazon with this helpful guide - https://bit.ly/3J5LMr8 2. Consider international markets Operating in 16 marketplaces worldwide, Amazon’s vast operational footprint is what attracts sellers to tap into international markets. International expansion is a great way to get your products in front of more potential buyers and in turn drive more sales. Amazon helps break down barriers to
entry, because the infrastructure used to set-up your home market can be applied to overseas territories you plan to target. For example, sellers within the EU can list products on all Amazon marketplaces within the EU from a single account – and Amazon will automatically help you with things like local taxes. 3. Consider your cross-border VAT For any business buying goods or services, the additional cost of VAT on top of the purchase price will have to be factored in. Suppliers will also need to remit that VAT to the relevant tax authority; so if you’re a UK business with an arm in the EU, you will have to consider the different VAT obligations based on where you buy from or sell to. Whether you’re trading in goods or services will also be accounted for. If you’re selling into Europe there could be a six-month waiting list for VAT numbers – which is also important to be prepared for. 4. Source suppliers Once you know what your product niche is, it’s time to find a supplier. With a global reach of over 26 million active buyers across more than 200 countries and regions, Alibaba.com is one of the largest online B2B marketplaces in the world – and likely to be your first stop. Connecting millions of buyers and sellers from all over the world, Alibaba.com is a great place to start connecting with potential suppliers. What’s more, you can also use Trade Assurance, a free transactional protection service that allows you to secure purchases made via the alibaba.com payment portal. It is especially valuable for providing protection in any instance your product does not meet the quality standards as per the agreed contract with your supplier.
5. Review your payment service provider (PSP) Consider using an Amazon PSP partner. Collecting foreign sales in local currency as opposed to being paid back in GBP by Amazon directly can save you a lot in transaction fees, and allow you to maintain foreign currency to re-use if you are purchasing products outside of the UK too. Products like the WorldFirst World Account offer currency accounts based within each Amazon selling location to receive payments like a local seller. For more information on selling via Amazon visit www.worldfirst.com/uk/blog/ or contact Ian.Coulson@worldfirst.com Chris Allan is Senior Ecommerce Relationship Manager at WorldFirst. Having been at the business for nine years, Chris has been working with a variety of clients from small start-ups to large corporates to help grow their online business’ internationally through marketplace expansion and management of their foreign currency requirements.
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chamber
GUEST ARTICLE
INTRODUCING CAMBRIDGE COUNTRY CLUB Whether you want to tone up in the Gym, release the stress of everyday life in our Spa, become a golfing pro or celebrate a special day, Cambridge Country Club is here for you. We have a top-of-the-range wellness centre with state-of-the-art gym, our stunning spa offering luxurious treatments, an expertly designed championship 18-hole golf course, beautiful function suites and more including Barbers, Dermatology Centre and One Body Physiotherapy.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Improve your Health & Wellness and become the best version of yourself by utilising all we have to offer here at Cambridge Country Club. Within the last 18-months we have developed our top of the range facilities, including the Gym, Swimming Pool, Spin Studio and Fitness Studio complete with a fantastic team to help you reach your full potential and see great results from your bespoke and specially designed Health & Wellness journey.
THE SPA
Your visit to the The Spa will give you that well deserved me time. Offering luxurious treatments, tranquil relaxation rooms, a breath-taking swimming pool and heat experience suites, elegant manicure and pedicure loungers and much more – Our Spa will leave you feeling balanced, recharged and restored. We’re pleased to have been a finalist in the good spa awards as best new spa 2021, offering beautiful spa days and treatments.
GOLF
Set in a rural countryside location with rolling hills and many large mature trees Cambridge Country Club Course is an expertly designed, award winning, 18-hole par 72 parkland course that measures 6,529 yards from the white tees. The course features a meandering brook and several lakes to provide a tranquil yet challenging round for all standards of golfers.
EVENTS AND WEDDINGS
Our brand-new facilities are home to three bright, modern and spacious function suites suitable for meetings, exhibition, special events and weddings. The Study is the perfect location for hosting intimate business meetings for up to 14 people. Boasting an air of tranquillity within our beautifully decorated terrace area, The Garden Suite seats up to 80 guests complete with bi-fold doors that open to unveil the well-kept grounds of our championship 18-hole golf course. 18 connected
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GUEST ARTICLE
The Royal Suite is a spectacular space to host an event, with stunning panoramic views of the golf course and accommodating up to 250 guests in a luxury and modern setting. With neutral décor, sparkling chandeliers, and plenty of natural daylight, it is the perfect place to celebrate. The Garden and Royal Suites offer a private entrance and first-class, premium facilities to ensure that you and your guests enjoy that perfectly exclusive special day.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
We have three dining options available at Cambridge Country Club with all new menus designed by our Executive Chef, Lee Scott and his team. From traditional British breakfasts and freshly ground, top-quality beef burgers with crispy skin-on fries in the Spikes Bar, to our stunning a la carte menu in our fine-dining Restaurant, Azure. Or why not sit back and relax when dining in The Lounge with our traditional Afternoon Tea, or our Health & Wellness menu. Our focus in the lounge is to provide a tranquil space, a home away from home, for our guests to relax and enjoy some stunning food. Contact us now on 01223 247365 or email info@cambridgecountryclub.com for more. Facebook @cambridgecountryclub Instagram @cambscountryclub Twitter @camcountryclub
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insight from
SARAH WEST
B2B marketing trends for 2022 For business-to-business marketing, companies are looking for reliable, authoritative and research-backed evidence and opinion on why they should choose a particular product, service or supplier. Influencer marketing is not just for B2C anymore and large brands are already jumping on the influencer bandwagon, from Adobe to GE.
CUSTOMER-FOCUSED CONTENT MARKETING
No matter what digital marketing strategy you’re using, it’s important to put the customer at the forefront when creating content. Once you have identified your target audience, you can create pieces of content aimed towards them. Focus your marketing strategy on engaging with your existing audience and building your database, and you’ll find your messaging reaches those who are the most interested in what you do.
FOUNDATIONS MATTER MOST
As we step into 2022, there remains divided views on how this year will go. Many businesses are feeling positive, as the UK’s vaccine programme has been a success and restrictions are eased. Others are still feeling nervous, worried that business is not bouncing back as quickly as they may have hoped. Whichever camp you fall into, restarting your marketing’s momentum is key to a successful 2022. Sarah West, Managing Director of Full Mix Marketing, shares the B2B marketing trends which could help your business in 2022.
DIGITAL MARKETING IS KING
Social media will remain an increasingly important tool for spreading the word about your business in 2022. LinkedIn is perhaps more than ever the most effective platform but don’t underestimate the power of popular trends. TikTok has shifted the landscape of social media away from status updates and photos, in favour of short video posts. This has bled through to other platforms including those more suited to B2B.
VIDEO WILL REMAIN THE TOP MARKETING CONTENT FORMAT
As in 2021, this next year is likely to see B2B marketers increasingly turning to interactive visual and video content to better engage their target customers. 2022 will see brands and businesses create more video content, whether it’s short videos, short clips like ‘reels’ on Instagram or even live streaming. We may even see businesses taking advantage of TikTok’s huge following and begin advertising on the platform.
INFLUENCER MARKETING IS ONLY INCREASING
Influencer marketing has long been a feature of B2C marketing with celebrities, experts and social media stars all affecting buying behaviour. 20 connected
Even with all these new marketing trends don’t veer too far from the basics. Business growth still comes from the foundational tools in digital marketing. One way to do this is through storytelling. Storytelling has always been key for brand marketing. Your audience wants to know how you have delivered on your promises in a way that has lived up to their needs and expectations. Use storytelling to explain how your product or your business can help solve a specific problem.
THE ADVANCEMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN DIGITAL MARKETING
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a scary idea, in fact it’s been implemented in almost all aspects of business over the last few years. In marketing, AI has led to numerous advances including more intuitive reporting, automating general marketing tasks like monitoring site traffic and boosting search engine optimisation for organic reach. Using AI technology in 2022 can help your business analyse data more quickly, it can also translate data and purchase history into customer behaviours and personalised marketing.
TRADITIONAL AND OFFLINE MARKETING IS STILL KEY
But, as always, it’s not just about digital marketing in 2022! More traditional forms of offline marketing, including physical materials like brochures and presentations, are still a critical element of any businesses’ marketing strategy. In 2022, ‘Phygital’ will be a key buzz word. A blend of ‘physical’ and ‘digital’, it’s the term used to describe utilising both methods of marketing together to provide your customers with a unique interactive experience. It’s a good idea to start thinking about how phygital will come into play for your business. Are there elements of physical marketing (mailers, advertising, events etc) you can use to encourage clients to engage with your mobile app, website or other digital marketing? Considering your client’s customer experience journey is a critical element to ensuring your ‘phygital’ strategy is successful. More help can be found at https://www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk/contact/
chamber supports
CHARITY
Rowan wants you to do something incredible! Cambridge-based arts charity Rowan challenges you to take on a bucket-list experience to raise money for its student artists. The charity, which provides creative workshops and a forest school for adults with learning disabilities, is looking for volunteers to take part in a tandem skydive on 30 April. Following a short pre-jump briefing, adventurous participants will board an aircraft at Peterborough Airfield, climbing to around 13,000 feet. Accompanied by highly experienced instructors, divers will exit the plane and enjoy the thrill of freefall before the parachute opens and they are brought safely to earth while experiencing breath-taking views. Mirka Anderson completed a skydive for the charity in 2010. “I did the skydive for Rowan because it is an amazing creative hub for adults with learning disabilities,” she said. “My daughter Emma, who is 37 and has Down’s Syndrome, has been attending Rowan for the past 12 years and her progress both socially and artistically has been enormous. Her confidence has rocketed, her communication skills are effective, and her sense of humour is bringing smiles to all she encounters every day!” “Everyone who knows Rowan knows that it is a charity that stays in your heart,” said Fundraising Engagement Manager Rose Bloomfield. “We want to hear from all the daredevils out there who are brave enough to jump out of plane to raise all-important funds!”
Those taking up Rowan fundraising places are asked to raise a minimum of £395 through sponsorship. All money will go directly towards the day-to-day running costs of Rowan, where the arts are used as a tool to tackle social exclusion and improve the wellbeing of students. To find out more about skydiving for Rowan, please contact Rowan on 01223 566027 or email rose@rowanhumberstone.co.uk
Chamber Charity of the Year
Anna’s Hope is the leading children’s brain tumour charity in the East of England. We are committed to giving hope to children and young people diagnosed with a brain tumour. Every penny Anna’s Hope receives from those who raise money for our charity goes to helping children and young people with brain tumours.
https://annas-hope.co.uk
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
• NEW MEMBERS • Aravis Business Growth Ltd
Photocentric Ltd
Ascendant – Worldwide Payments
Rapid Solutions (International) Ltd
Build Momentum Ltd
Redwood Bank Ltd
Cambridge Worldwide Academy (UK)
Sherwood Engines Ltd
Cheese +
SimSage (UK) Ltd
CyberScale Ltd
St Peter’s School
DowSocial Ltd
Stageworks Studios Ltd
Endomagnetics Ltd (Endomag)
Subcon5 Ltd
Holiday Inn Express Cambridge West Cambourne
The Hair & Beauty Room Oundle Ltd
Jigowatt Ltd
The One Group
Park Inn by Raddison Peterborough
The Scale Partnership
Peterborough United
CyberScale Ltd CyberScale are a specialist Cyber and Information Security business providing both consultancy and training services to businesses across the UK. Whether you are looking for an assessment of your cyber security position, are developing a cyber and information security strategy or are looking to train your teams to better protect your business, our team of experienced consultants work in a range of sectors from finance, legal and healthcare to manufacturing, aerospace and housing. You can find out more on our website www.cyberscale.co.uk.
A global leader in making payments easy Ascendant is a cross border payment specialist, supporting businesses to achieve process efficiencies and reduce the cost of foreign exchange. Working directly with business owners and their finance teams our solutions support importers, exporters, SME’s and large enterprises. Your Account Manager is on hand to provide expert market guidance and set up our service to effortlessly send single, multiple or many thousands of payments through aPay by Ascendant. www.ascendant.world/uk
Stageworks Studios Ltd
Set in the heart of the beautiful market town Oundle, The Hair & Beauty room is a peaceful, calm and friendly salon offering a huge variety of Hair and Beauty services, including Wedding Hair and Make Up.
Whether you want to try a new class, train full-time or watch a show, there is something for everyone at Stageworks Studios. Founded in 2003 and based in St Neots, we offer a varied timetable of dancing, singing and acting classes for children from age three and adults. We also offer full-time courses for those 16+ who are interested in a career in performing arts.
www.thebeautyroomoundle.co.uk
www.stageworksstudio.co.uk
The Hair & Beauty Room Oundle
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welcome
NEW MEMBERS
Meet Laura Wilson background in feasibility studies, land acquisition and lease administration to start CLM in 2014. I am so fortunate to work with my husband, Hamish is also a CLM director. We have two wonderful daughters, who have also taught me so much already; largely that there is no better negotiator than a child at bedtime!
Connections Legal Management (CLM), established by Laura Wilson in 2014, act on behalf of statutory undertakers, connection providers and private landowners. They manage the negotiation and legal completion of easements, land acquisitions, wayleaves, and consents, associated with new electricity, gas and water connections. Last year, Laura was awarded Businessperson of the Year at the Mercury Business Awards. CLM won Small Business of the Year in 2020, and this year are finalists for Team of the Year at the first ever Great British Wellbeing Awards being held in London, with fellow finalists including Royal Mail, Bank of England Nokia, and The British Academy. We wanted to find out more about Connections Legal Management and how they deliver the difference by simplifying land rights. LAURA, CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CAREER? On leaving school and studying law at college, I worked full time whilst ‘training on the job’ to become an Easement Officer. I then completed my Estate Management degree at The College of Estate Management and was then promoted to Senior Easement Officer. My career took me to Savills, where I became their Capital Programme Assistant. Recognising a gap in the legal market I carved a role for myself as New Connections Manager, responsible for managing the new connections business within the utility team and working with electricity and gas connection providers to procure the legal rights. I recognised my extensive skills in negotiation and
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR CAREER? Pre Covid saw me on the road a lot, visiting clients; established and new. Nowadays, I am either in the office or ‘visiting’ clients via Teams. We have moved our training online which has been a huge success, however we are very excited about returning to faceto-face meetings in 2022. My office days are spent catching up on conference calls, emails and with my team in Ketton. When I started in Land Rights my days were typically very varied and busy. I have worked across many areas of the utility sector allowing me to build up a solid foundation of understanding and contacts. It was invaluable experience to glean the knowledge I required to start CLM and focus on the legal element of Land Rights. Last year, our business strategy was to develop our growing team, so training and 1-2-1 mentoring was a real focus for me; ensuring knowledge gaps were filled and valuable experience was gained. There is a healthy amount of solution-finding and guiding teams in their operations and delivery. Business development and onboarding is always pinnacle, as we consistently attract new clients and are providing specialist advice to the EV and low carbon technology industry. I also am involved with external organisations in my roles as a panellist on the SSEN Expert Panel, becoming a UCEM Associate Fellow and being selected by the City of London Law Society to sit on the Substation Lease review panel. Understandably this role requires a great deal of knowledge and carries a huge amount of responsibility - something I am very proud to be part of.
HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW, AND DID YOU FACE ANY CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY? With determination! There have been many challenges, from how to incorporate a company, through to how to set up a phone and email system, however, I pride myself on knowing my limits. When a challenge has arisen, I’ve stopped, consulted with someone who knows and moved forward with care. Within our company we have aligned ourselves with some brilliant local suppliers; VOIP specialists, IT experts, solicitors etc. and having them supporting us means we can concentrate on our specialism; completing land right agreements! WHAT IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE THAT YOU FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT IN YOUR ROLE? I am passionate about investing in people to build their careers. I feel incredibly fortunate to have carved a career and build a business in the Land Rights industry. It is not an obvious career choice as so little information is out there about where to start and what to study. CLM now employs a team of 16 people, and I am committed to helping them get the best from themselves and what the industry has to offer. We work with some outstanding clients who are committed to best service; in turn we can deliver projects efficiently. By investing in the team, CLM can provide the very best customer service. It is at the heart of what we do and the reason we are here. It makes me so proud to receive positive feedback about the team and their second to none service. 01780755355 referrals@clm-ltd.co.uk www.clm-ltd.co.uk
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER/INDUSTRY? It started with studying Law at college. I have a naturally analytical mind and was considering a career in forensic pathology. By keeping an open mind and accepting exciting opportunities Land Rights found me! connected 23
Do you have come exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page? Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237424 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk
Recruiter recognised for outstanding quality
Anne Corder Recruitment has retained its quality certification for the 27th consecutive year – having risen to the challenges faced by the business world in another turbulent year. The Peterborough-based recruitment firm has again passed its quality review, with inspectors praising the team of experienced recruitment professionals and their “outstanding” management methods.
The recognition comes in a year where the team has continued to embrace the changing working landscape, including liaising virtually and remotely with clients and candidates, alongside driving its own exciting changes within the business.
has upon candidates and clients is clear in our exceptional satisfaction ratings. We are particularly proud of this achievement again this year, not least because of the challenging times everyone continues to face and embrace.
Recognised as the only international indicator of quality, the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 9001:2015 certification demonstrates Anne Corder Recruitment’s dedication to running an efficient and cost-effective business, as well as the commitment paid to the well-being of staff and candidates alike.
“We have continued to operate a ‘business as usual’ in most unusual circumstances and of course we are once again delighted with the outcome and high praise from the inspectors who have recognised our robust and proven working ethos.”
Managing Director Nel Woolcott said: “ISO certification shows our commitment to always meeting the very highest business standards. The positive impact this approach
As part of a more robust audit, which means the company are recertified for the next three years, inspectors spent time reviewing its methods and systems, with an evaluation being made through record verification and sampling methodologies.
Peterborough Cathedral ‘very encouraged’ by safeguarding audit A three-day independent audit of Peterborough Cathedral’s safeguarding arrangements has been described by the Dean, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston, as ‘very encouraging”.
here. Safeguarding remains a high priority and we will continue to develop our work in this area so that we can be a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”
The audit was carried out by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) last November and found safeguarding to be “well embedded in the Cathedral community” and linked with “a culture which understands its importance, and promotes safeguarding as supported by openness, caring and diversity.”
As part of the process the SCIE auditors interviewed 13 members of staff and two volunteers. They also reviewed numerous files and documents, as well as the system for undertaking DBS checks. Comments received from the wider cathedral community via a confidential online survey were also taken into account.
Rather than making recommendations in the report, SCIE instead make a list of ‘Questions for the Cathedral to consider’ to highlight any areas of concern. They are in the process of reviewing all 43 English cathedrals and Peterborough’s audit was the 40th one they have done. On average a cathedral will be given at least 30 questions to consider. In Peterborough’s case there were just 13 items on the list, and some of these had already been identified by the Cathedral as needing attention. The Dean, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston, said: “We are very encouraged by the positive nature of the SCIE audit. It is a tribute to the hard work of the Safeguarding Group at the Cathedral led by Canon Sarah Brown and (since her departure) Canon Tim Alban Jones, as well as our Independent Safeguarding Officer, Tim Hitch, and Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Bev Huff. Over the last four years, through training and communication, we have made it our aim to embed safeguarding into everything we do at the Cathedral. We are glad that this has been recognised but the effort does not stop 24 connected
chamber
MEMBER NEWS
cofinitive named No1 We are delighted to share the news that cofinitive has been named the No1 PR & communications agency in East Anglia for the second consecutive year running. Our multi-award-winning agency has held onto its top spot in the prestigious ‘Image Makers’ rankings - compiled annually in Business Weekly’s coveted 2021 New Year Honours list – after what the newspaper described as “another brilliant 12 months”. Dubbed a “communications powerhouse” last year, we have now received what must be our favourite description to date. In awarding us the top spot again, Business Weekly wrote: “cofinitive has serious class – and attitude in a nice but edgy kind of way”. The newspaper continued: “Founder Faye Holland has continued to build a team in her own ‘get it done with maximum efficiency’ image”. It added: “cofinitive clients are almost inevitably game changers
in their field and globally influential. [Faye] would rather enthuse than bruise an ego but if she believes clients are missing a beat, she does not hesitate to tell them. Suffice to say that Business Weekly has been roundly thanked for recommending science and tech clients especially to cofinitive’s thoroughbred stable.” This prestigious ranking kicks off 2022 perfectly for cofinitive and we are extremely grateful for the recognition and praise for our dedication and work. Faye Holland, founder and director of cofinitive said: “There is so much expertise in our region in this space and we are delighted to be on the list – and we are genuinely humbled to be top again. Congratulations to all the other Image Makers, and the rest of those recognised on the New Year Honours listings – bravo Business Weekly for celebrating the importance of good comms for our region’s businesses.”
Arbicon appoints new Senior Contracts Consultant Arbicon are pleased to announce the appointment of John Elven as Senior Consultant, adding to its expertise in NEC, civil engineering and construction contracts. With a career of over 30 years focussing on dispute resolution and avoidance, John has supported major contracting businesses across the construction and civil engineering industry, providing contractual advice with informed recommendations in situations where disputes have occurred and require practical solutions and resolution. He has exceptional knowledge of NEC contracts and has carried out contractual reviews and screening for NEC, JCT, FIDIC and ICE
contract forms, advising commercial teams on improvements to existing procedures and processes to minimise or avoid disputes. John specialises in the preparation of cases for Arbitration and Adjudication and has frequently acted as Party Representative for payment disputes, extension of time and loss and expense claims, as well as contract termination and contra charge issues. John has gained considerable experience in a variety of construction and civil engineering projects, including building, groundworks, drainage, infrastructure, major roadworks, water treatment works, pipelines, marine cabling, utilities, energy, demolition, and remediation.
Canadian FinTech, Ascendant opensoffice Peterborough AscendantFX Capital Inc, recognised as one of Canada’s top growing companies has opened its first office outside of North America in Peterborough. The financial technology and global payments provider will focus on growing their business client base and valued partnerships by offering technology-driven payment solutions that save customers time and money as they navigate a challenging economic environment. “Having the infrastructure and operational capabilities to expand into the UK market is a significant and strategic milestone for our company,” said Jason Mugford, President and Chief Executive Officer at Ascendant. “Furthermore, our plan is to invest in local
talent, expanding the office to become a hub for the wider European region.” Many of the Canadian and UK team at Ascendant have a historical connection with the area, launching the world’s first business payments foreign exchange platform in 1997, whilst at Thomas Cook, which latterly became Travelex. Ramnath Ramhit, Managing Director UK & Europe, formerly of Thomas Cook, Travelex and HSBC added: “Being rooted in the local business community is important to Ascendant, we see a strong opportunity to work with the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce to help local companies protect margins and save costs.”
For over a decade, Ascendant has worked with thousands of businesses and over 2,000 financial institutions in North America, providing customised solutions to track and send global payments with ease. Ascendant are one of the first to introduce tracking transparency on all SWIFT gpi compatible payments. Tracking payments like a parcel has been a long-standing request from Ascendant’s customer led innovation group. To take it a step further, Ascendant is making this data accessible to customers within their online platform, aPay, as well as through their API solution, aPay Link. Ascendant is at the forefront of innovation in the sector and will continue to drive innovation based on customer needs. connected 25
Do you have come exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page? Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237424 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk
King’s Ely musician achieves place at prestigious conservatoire prestigious London music conservatoire every Saturday, to study Flute. Lauren has been playing the flute since taking advantage of taster sessions in Year 2 at King’s Ely Acremont Pre-Prep. In July last year, she made school history when she achieved a 49/50 Distinction in her ARSM Diploma exam on the flute. This is the highest mark ever achieved by a King’s Ely student and according to Neil PorterThaw, King’s Ely’s Director of Music, is a mark very rarely achieved.
A King’s Ely flautist has secured a place at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Lauren Booth, who is in Year 11 at King’s Ely Senior and who joined King’s Ely Acremont Pre-Prep in Year 1, will be visiting the
Lauren said: “My flute teacher is Liz Hargest, who has been teaching me ever since King’s Ely Acremont Pre-Prep. I love to express myself through my flute and explore all the styles and genres that I can play. I enjoy performing as it allows me to share the music with the audience.” To say that Lauren is an active member of the King’s Ely Music Department would be
a slight understatement. She said: “I’ve been singing for about five years, and have just started playing the piano, as well as playing the piccolo, which is in the same family as the flute, but flute is my main instrument. I’m also part of a few music clubs at King’s Ely, such as Piano Trio, Flute Choir, Chamber Choir, Chapel Choir, Nightingales, Concert Band and Orchestra.” Lauren is the fourth King’s Ely student to be celebrating conservatoire success recently. Ally Bowerman is visiting the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study Voice; Mimi Hughes is visiting the Junior Royal Academy of Music to study Voice; and Polly Casey is visiting the Junior Royal College of Music to study the Recorder and French Horn. King’s Ely is renowned for its holistic approach to education, and this is reflected in the school’s outstanding Visual and Performing Arts provision.
More new Greater Anglia trains in service The roll out of Greater Anglia’s new trains is continuing in 2022, with the first one to enter passenger service this year going into operation on the Southend Victoria – London line, as the train operator continues the programme to replace its entire fleet with brand new trains, giving further improvements in accessibility.
Greater Anglia’s regional, intercity, and Stansted Express services. Greater Anglia’s other new trains, which have two wheelchair spaces and one accessible toilet per five carriage train, so four wheelchair spaces and two accessible toilets when running as 10 carriages, operate on routes in Essex and on West Anglia services.
The introduction of the latest UK-built electric commuter train brings the total number of new trains in the Greater Anglia fleet to 103.
Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s Engineering Director, said: “With the removal of old trains from service, and more brand-new trains entering service regularly, our transformation of the railway in East Anglia has reached another positive milestone.
New trains are now running on every route on the Greater Anglia network apart from between Ely and Kings Lynn, where they will be introduced later this year. The new trains are longer with more seats, plug and USB sockets at every seat, free fast wifi and climate controlled air conditioning. They also have improved accessibility features on every train, such as accessible toilets, wheelchair areas, passenger information systems, call for aid buttons and priority seating – these seats are available to anyone but those who can stand are encouraged to offer them to others around them who may have a non-visible impairment, be pregnant or less able to stand. The arrival of more new trains means that more of the train operator’s old trains have been retired and that, as a result, Greater Anglia’s entire fleet now meets modern accessibility standards. New trains with low floors and retractable steps which bridge the gap between the train and platform run on the majority of 26 connected
“This will make it much easier for people to travel with confidence on our network in future.”
chamber
MEMBER NEWS
DOMINO COLLABORATES WITH CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY Domino Printing is undertaking ground-breaking research with Cambridge University Institute For Manufacturing (IfM) to examine the jetting process in continuous inkjet printers, how the chemicals in inks behave in different conditions and the potential impact on performance. This research is key to ensure consistent and reliable print quality in coding and marking and is leading to Domino developing new formulations which will optimise inks for different production environments. Achieving a clean, crisp code on a beverage canning line requires a very different type of ink to that used for harsh industrial applications, like printing on cables or cement bags. Dr Josie Harries, Group Programme Director, at Domino says: “We are constantly seeking new ways to advance our products, solutions, and services to deliver the best performance and value for our customers. “Part of our research includes an ongoing project to better understand the jetting
process in continuous inkjet printers. We are looking to examine how inkjet formulations behave in every type of atmosphere from hot to icy cold, from sticky to dusty, to reflect all the variables likely in our customers’ plants, so that we can identify which formulations make reliable inks.” Another specific area that is being examined closely is particle build-up, where small ink deposits accumulate within a printhead, meaning more frequent cleaning and potential downtime for the customer. Domino says that the benefit of this research project is two-fold: it helps the industry to better understand how to design printers that offer better uptime; and it informs the ink formulation process so that R&D teams can develop inks which will function reliably within specific printers, and in specific production environments, helping to reduce downtime and waste. Dr Josie Harries concludes: “Collaboration, whether with the IfM, our colleagues,
or external partners, is key to our R&D efforts in this area – it is also one of our core business values, and a central part of how we are working to build expertise within Domino. An issue, or idea, studied in isolation will only progress so far, restricted by the knowledge, experience, and technical capabilities of one entity. By working with the IfM we are not only able to extend our existing testing capabilities, but also benefit from a broader knowledge base.”
The Cambridge new Bury St Edmunds store
The Cambridge Building Society opens its new branch in Bury St Edmunds next week (Monday 17 January). It is the first branch The Cambridge has launched in a new location in more than 10 years. Developers, COEL, have been updating the two story building at 29 Butter Market
in the heart of the town centre, since September, to provide comfortable and convenient customer and staff facilities. “We are tremendously excited to open this new store, which we know customers are eagerly anticipating,” said Chief Operating Officer, Lucy Crumplin. “We’re proud to be bucking the trend for branch closures1 by opening a branch in a new location and offering the face to face service customers still crave, right here in Bury St Edmunds. For us it is about offering a personalised customer experience, from an expert our customers can trust.” The Bury team is led by experienced Store Team Leader, Vaughan Potter, who previously managed The Cambridge’s Ely and Newmarket branches. He is joined by Rhys Davies and Patrick Cowell, who transfer from the customer contact centre, and three new recruits – Matt O’Leary, Beannie Curtis and Alexander Pitt, as well as
Karen White, supporting on a one-month secondment from the Newmarket branch. “It’s an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up,” said Vaughan. “Bury St Edmunds is a great town and I am delighted to be the one to open the doors with this great new team, who are all committed to offering excellent service to this thriving community.” The new store’s ground floor follows the vibrant, open-plan décor of The Cambridge’s recently updated stores in Cambridge, Ely, St Ives, Bar Hill, Histon, Cherry Hinton and Great Shelford. It provides easy access to facilities for less able customers and those with additional challenges. The second floor provides state-of-the-art hot-desking facilities, as well as break-out and refreshment areas. The office area gives The Cambridge’s teams the flexibility for hybrid working, to support a healthy worklife balance.
_______________________________________ 1 Banks and building societies have closed (or scheduled the closure) of 4,299 branches since January 2015, at a rate of around 50 each month. Read more: https:// www.which.co.uk/money/banking/switching-your-bank/bank-branch-closures-is-your-local-bank-closing-a28n44c8z0h5 - Which?
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Do you have come exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page? Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237424 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk
Engineering students set their sights on the prestigious Craftsman CUP Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) based at MOD Lyneham, Wiltshire, launch the Craftsman CUP to BTEC National Extended Diploma Engineering students (year 2) at Cambridge Regional College. A total of nine colleges are participating in the Craftsman CUP, a competitive competition for engineering students. Working in teams, the engineering students must select from a choice of project briefs written to address everyday issues faced by the REME. From November, 25 Cambridge Regional College engineers will start working in competition teams under the mentorship of a REME Engineer. Engineering Lecturer, Habib Rahman said: “The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) have been working with colleges since 2016 to put together this unique learning experience. Students will gain ‘real world’ exposure of the work of the REME through multidisciplinary engineering projects based on problems that the REME engineers face on a
daily basis. The work of our students is essentially supporting the British Army. College students will work in project teams to engineer a solution to a given REME ‘problem’ with an overall team being awarded the Craftsman CUP.” Between now and May 2022, the projects will be assessed by REME mentors within college, and the most impressive design concepts will be selected to progress to the finale at MOD Lyneham. In the finale,
the teams will showcase their design, innovation, and craftsmanship abilities to a panel of REME dignitaries and the winning team will be awarded the prestigious Craftsman CUP (College UTC Project). All students taking part in the Craftsman CUP will achieve their Industrial Cadet Gold Award, as participation in the Craftsman CUP meets the criteria of the industry recognised award, equivalent to the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
This Land announces partnership with Yourkeys Buying a new home is one of life’s most stressful experiences, and so to streamline that process, This Land has partnered with Yourkeys - the award-winning software platform. Yourkeys, the sales platform for housebuilders and estate agents and part of Zoopla, focuses on buyer onboarding and sales progression tools. The company’s online based platform digitally streamlines the new home buying process for housebuilders providing efficiency and visibility to everyone involved. Not only can buyers complete their reservation from the comfort of their own home for any of This Land’s developments, they can also complete ID checks and pay fees, as well as instruct their conveyancer and mortgage broker from the many trusted partners within Yourkeys’ ever-growing network. Once these steps have been completed, the buyer will have total transparency throughout their home buying journey, with 28 connected
Yourkeys providing updates to an email or mobile device every step of the way. Yourkeys automates all the administration, accelerates sales transactions and, for the buyer, removes the stress of purchasing a new home, making it an enjoyable experience. Commenting on the news David Lewis, acting Chief Executive Officer at This Land, said: “We know that the home buying process is convoluted and can be hampered with red tape. Yourkeys is the latest inhome purchasing technology which can significantly speed up the buying process, allowing purchasers to complete their new reservation from their mobile device in a matter of minutes. They can even instruct a solicitor from hundreds of top-rated law firms.” Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson, Managing Director of Yourkeys, commented: “At Yourkeys we’re on a mission to simplify the house buying process for all parties involved and positively transform the experience for
consumers. This partnership will enable us to reach a brand new audience and we’re looking forward to working together closely to ensure buyers at This Land developments have a stress free and transparent house buying journey.”
The Peterborough Mayor’s Charity together improving services
Seeking Support
for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs
Working Together
Can it be done within your work space and
Each year the Mayor of Peterborough sets
benefit us? It could be a sponsored silence,
out to raise as much money as possible for
dress up/down day, bike rides or whatever you
local charities. This year he has chosen Family
feel you could do. Why not have a sponsored
Voice, The Light Project Peterborough and
bake off or a dance off and make it fun!
Supporting Peterborough Veterans. How You Can Help We need as much help as possible to raise funds. The Covid Pandemic and its aftermath has severely impacted traditional fundraising methods.
Raffle and Sponsorship Support We need raffle prizes, however big or small. All prizes accepted gratefully! How about sponsorship for the Mayors ball? A great opportunity to increase awareness of your company whilst raising money for very
Fundraise on Our Behalf
worthwhile causes. Have you considered
Do you have an idea for raising a bob or two?
inviting the mayor to visit your place of work?
HOW DID A GARMENT CLEANING BUSINESS GET OVER £270K OF GROWTH INVESTMENT? With fully funded strategic support, peer learning and funding from Growth Works, to help ignite an impressive crowdfunding campaign. Peters’ Cleaners is a Peterborough-based garment cleaning business that was hit hard at the start of the pandemic. Offering garment cleaning services for fabric items in physical shops that had to close, their revenue halved but their costs didn’t. Through this period came an ambitious business plan to launch new, fully-automated garment cleaning pods that customers could drop off and collect from at any time. The challenge: How do we get people excited about the future of garment cleaning? Ask them to drop their trousers… As Owner and Managing Director, Vicky Whiter, came from a background of working in a traditional business model, there were huge challenges facing her to launch this new idea. Being the only person in the business responsible for the ambitious growth, she needed support to fill the gaps. With the ever-changing digital landscape and wondering how they would generate excitement over the new pods, Vicky knew “marketing is not my strong suit”. Although she spent time upskilling herself in marketing through online courses, she needed an experienced professional marketer on the team. Realising she not only needed financial investment to deliver the initial product launches, but also needed business and marketing guidance, Vicky began to look for support. Through talking to other local businesses, she found out about Growth Works and applied for funding. The solution: Fully funded strategic support, peer learning and funding to ignite crowdfunding campaign Vicky was able to hire a new Marketing Director, Clare, and “go all-in with their marketing efforts”. This position was something that would not have been possible, or deemed as important, before the growth plans with the garment cleaning pods and their grant application. 30 connected
This led to the new slogan of ‘there’s never been a better time to drop your trousers’, and supporting statement saying their pods offer ‘garment cleaning for how we live now’. These marketing messages add a playfully fresh and modern take on garment cleaning, moving away from the traditional expectations. In 2021, Peters’ Cleaners used part of the funding received from Growth Works to hire a professional videographer to launch a high-quality crowdfunding campaign. The crowdfunding campaign they put together well-exceeded their target, raising over £270,000! Without Growth Works’ financial support, they would have not been able to produce such good-quality marketing videos to elevate the campaign to receive more funding. Growth Works offered Vicky both one-toone mentoring and peer support alongside a revenue grant. When joining the peer support programme, Vicky said it helped to give her a support network of “local talent” and that “everyone has been really supportive, not coming across anyone that’s put my ideas down”. This meant she had people available. “When you are isolated as a business owner, especially during covid, it gets really lonely…
being able to go on these chats, meet people and get excited feedback about what you were doing was really nice” Talking in this environment helped to build confidence in herself, in turn making the presentation of her business better. The outcome: Exceeding crowding funding goals and a growing team of award-winners for innovation and technology in Peterborough Vicky has exceeded her original crowdfunding ambition by reaching £276,670 from 235 investors at the time of publication. Peters’ Cleaners’ MD Vicky has recently been recognised for contributions to innovation and technology by winning TWO local business awards, increasing their brand recognition. The revenue grants and support Growth Works has given them the opportunity to elevate their business growth, and in the words of Vicky - “why wouldn’t you get free access to experts?” Could your business benefit from expert support and funding to help you unlock further growth? Get started by registering here: https://www.growthworkscoaching.uk/ get-started/
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chamber
TRAINING
Our regular training courses provide the knowledge to assist with your international trade activities. Currently, all courses will take place online via Zoom.
CHAMBER TRAINING 2022 Course Dates
UNDERSTANDING A CUSTOMS DECLARATION 3 March, 5 July, 3 November This course will highlight what you need to know to complete customs declarations accurately for both the import and export of goods, including taking you through step-by-step guidance on completing the SAD C88 form. BITESIZE WORKSHOP: LOGISTICS AND BROKERAGE 3 March, 5 July, 3 November Gain a snapshot of what is involved with logistics and brokerage: • E ngagement with Forwarders • Understanding Costs • Insurance • D ocumentation - having a good broker and the importance. LETTERS OF CREDIT 15 March, 15 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. INWARD AND OUTWARD PROCESSING 24 March, 1 December The course will cover special procedures and the benefits of using IP and OP in your compliance. UNDERSTANDING RULES OF ORIGIN 29 March, 14 July, 6 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. IMPORT/ EXPORT DIAGNOSTICS WORKSHOP 26 April, 11 August, 24 November This workshop shows companies how to look at their SOPS and compliance, going through key areas of procedures and compliance, preparing for trading internationally either by exporting or importing. 32 connected
UNDERSTANDING EXPORTING 10 May, 8 September This course covers all the basic key areas around exporting. It will explain the requirements for documentation, plus an overview of country of origin and incoterms. INTRODUCTION TO IPAFFS 21 April By the end of this course you will have the knowledge to successfully import live animals, their products and germplasm. BITESIZE WORKSHOP: EXPORT STRATEGY 10 May, 8 September We will discuss the importance of Export Strategy, new or old. Building new international markets is the first stage. Export Strategy: • Market entry • Barriers to understand and overcome • Useful tools and website to help your journey • Assessing needs of customers and capabilities • Making a procedure plan. UNDERSTANDING IMPORTING 19 May, 20 September 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. 7 June, 6 October The course looks at the procedures required to deal with customs. 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. BITESIZE WORKSHOP: EXPORT MARKETING 7 June, 20 September Find out how to market your products and services overseas. • Understanding how countries adopt different methods when marketing your products • Origin plays a key role when dealing with some Countries
• C heck best trading countries - we will show you some useful tools to use • Importance of FTA when exporting. INCOTERMS 2020 21 June, 18 October This seminar will explain Incoterms® and their importance in international trade contracts. BITESIZE WORKSHOP: DOCUMENTATION 21 June, 18 October Having the following set up allows Export and/or Import departments to move goods without delays and extra costs. • Processing and Documentation • Understanding Incoterms • Understanding Commodity codes • Correct Documentation and procedures. UNDERSTANDING LOGISTICS 19 July, 13 October Understand the process of managing how resources are acquired, stored, and transported to their final destination. CUSTOMS PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION Full course details are available on our website www. cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/ training TRAINING COURSES Our training courses run from 9.30am-1.00pm. Cost per course: £250.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £330.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members. BITESIZE WORKSHOPS Our Bitesize sessions run from training courses run from 3.004.00pm. Cost per bitesize session: £50.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £75.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members. To register please visit our website, email s.parr@cambscci.co.uk or telephone 01223 237414.
chamber
SPONSORSHIP
Sponsorship opportunities We have a range of sponsorship opportunities at the Chamber. All sponsorship packages provide great publicity and exposure for an organisation through our event promotional channels and magazine with additional benefits specific to the event. CONNECTED MAGAZINE There is an opportunity to sponsor connected magazine that is published nine times a year. The cost would be £400 (plus VAT) per edition or a slightly discounted £3,500 (plus VAT) for the year and would include the inside front cover, recognition on page 4 and a banner on page 5. INSPIRING SUCCESS
ISSUE 95
CONSTRUCTION EVENTS These events alternate between a Peterborough lunch and a Huntingdon breakfast and attract people in the construction or property industry. Sponsorship of these events is £150 (plus VAT) and gives you two places to attend plus your logo on the website and promotion through social media channels. As sponsor you also have the opportunity for a 20 minutes presentation.
The official magazine for Chamber members
PLUS. . . ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CHAMBER NETWORK
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Taking place at Peterborough Cathedral on 8 March this global day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Sponsorship is £1,000 (plus VAT) which would include your logo on all event promotion, a link to your website from our web listing and a full page advert in our connected magazine. Plus, two tickets to the event and you can take a banner along on the day.
SAFARI NETWORKING BREAKFASTS We hold a number of networking breakfast events across the county throughout the year which are attended by a vast range of business sectors. Sponsorship is £150 (plus VAT) and gives you two places to attend plus your logo on the website and promotion through social media channels. You can also have a five minute speaking slot at this event.
EXHIBITIONS Sponsorship at Chamber B2B Exhibitions starts at just £500 (plus VAT) and incudes a free exhibition stand, logo on promotional materials and on the Chamber website. Please speak with us directly if you would like to be headline sponsor. SUMMER EVENTS – GARDEN PARTY, CHEESE & WINE EVENING ETC. These events seek sponsorship of £500 (plus VAT) and include your logo on all event promotion, a link to your website from our web listing plus two tickets to the event.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH – CAMBRIDGE Sponsorship for this event is £1,000 (plus VAT) and includes four tickets to attend, your logo on all event promotion, a link to your website from our web listing, a 10 minutes speaking slot at the event and you can bring your banner along.
INSPIRING WOMEN’S SECTOR CHRISTMAS LUNCH This event welcomes a guest speaker and is held in Peterborough. Sponsorship is £250 (plus VAT) and includes two tickets to attend, your logo on all event promotion and a link to your website from our web listing. You will also be mentioned on the programme on the day. COMEDY NIGHT & BLACK TIE DINNER 2023 This event generally takes place in Peterborough and attracts 100+ people. Sponsorship is £1,500 (plus VAT) and includes four free tickets to the dinner, the opportunity to bring a banner stand along and we will promote sponsorship via social media channels and on the website plus on the programme on the evening. If you would like any further information, or if you would like to book any of our sponsorship packages, please contact Sadie Parr, Head of Marketing & Events, on 01223 237414 or email s.parr@cambscci.co.uk. connected 33
chamber
EVENTS
Many Chamber events are still being held online but we are working on a programme of face-to-face events to get our members connected again. Please see our website for the most up-to-date event listing.
Safari Networking Here you will have the opportunity to meet new business connections through safari networking. This relaxed but structured format offers guests the chance to move around the room and form connections with new business contacts from a wide range of industry sectors.
Informal Networking Evenings Take this free opportunity to catch up with familiar acquaintances you haven’t seen in ages, mingle with new business contacts and share knowledge and skills with like-minded professionals TBC Huntingdon Wednesday 9 March, 5.00-6.30pm Poets House, Ely Monday 14 March, 5.00-6.30pm The Crown, Stamford Wednesday 16 March, 5.00-6.30pm Cambridgeshire FA, Impintgon, Cambridge Thursday 17 March, 5.00-6.30pm
SAFARI NETWORKING BREAKFAST Tuesday 1 March, 7.45-10.00am Holiday Inn Peterborough West We welcome Kristian Downer, from DowSocial, to this event who will talk us through practical strategies and tactics that businesses can use in LinkedIn to promote and grow their business. Cost: £25.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £35.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members. SAFARI NETWORKING BREAKFAST Thursday 24 March, 7.45-10.00am Madingley Hall, Cambridge Cost: £25.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £35.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members.
Chamber HR Coffee Club Tuesday 15 March, 9.00-10.30am Holiday Inn, Huntingdon Network informally with likeminded HR professionals, share ideas and have a chat over a coffee. This session includes an Employment Law update. organised by the HR & Recruitment Sector Cost: Free to attend but we encourage you to register via the Chamber website
Construction Networking Lunch Friday 25 March, 12.00-2.00pm Peterborough United Football Club Network with other construction and property-related companies at this specialist informal lunch.
To speak with the Chamber team regarding events and sponsorship, please turn to page 33 for details. 34 connected
Many Chamber events are still being held online but we are working on a programme of face-to-face events to get our members connected again. Please see our website for the most up-to-date event listing.
chamber
EVENTS
International Women’s Day Tuesday 8 March 2022 Peterborough Cathedral #BreakTheBias is the theme of the 2022 International Women’s Day. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias. Peterborough Cathedral will again provide the setting for a morning of inspirational speakers, networking and debates to celebrate International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. We are really excited to announce our keynote speaker - Julie Spence OBE QPM, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. Also speaking is Ali Stripling, Community Programme Manager at JLL, an organisation shaping the future of real estate for the better. Table discussions will allow delegates to discuss the journey of barriers we face in life and how to break the barriers at each stage. Cost: £25.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £35.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members. Further details will be announced as they are confirmed on the Chamber website and social media channels.
Huntingdonshire Wednesday 27 April, 10.00am-3.00pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Build new connections, promote your products and services and inspired by a programme of guest speakers and speed networking. Time running out to secure your 2x2m stand £125.00 (plus VAT) Chamber and FSB members £175.00 (plus VAT) non-members
Confirmed seminars: Cyber Security - why should I care? Delivered by Cyberscale Writing a great 60-second pitch Delivered by Ricke Williams, Local Enterprise Manager for Natwest Speed Networking Organised by Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce You can register as a visitor on the day or for the seminars via the Chamber website. For more information, please contact Zoe at z.mccabebrennan@cambscci.co.uk Organised in partnership with the FSB
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WAYS TO SEND YOUR BULK MAIL
CHEAPER?
FIRST MAILING OFFER HALF PRICE POSTAGE ON YOUR BUSINESS MAIL If you are bulk mailing over 4,000 items, we can offer incredible discounts to help your direct mail campaigns. First Mailing have been working to promote and grow businesses for nearly 25 years. From major retail brands to smaller independents, we offer the full range of traditional, social media and digital marketing services. By using a mixture of marketing methods, your exposure will be wider and more impactful. We can produce in-house all your printed products from simple flyers to full colour brochures as well as offering the complete packing and fulfilment services to distribute them in the most cost effective manner. By providing the social media and digital support services, we maximise your chances of interaction with existing clients and new prospects. Our team are based in Huntingdon and are a wise bunch with the mix of experience and knowledge needed to kick start your campaign.
Lets get started... Call us: +44 (0) 1480 450 661 or Visit @: www.firstmailing.co.uk
