connected Issue 89

INSPIRING SUCCESS

ISSUE 89

The official magazine for Chamber members

TECHNOLOGY HUB

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this issue

7

16

25

28

CONTENTS

18

34

5

Chief Executive’s comment

20-21

Guest article

6

Connect

22-24

Cambridge & South Cambs area news

7

Face-2-Face events

8-9

Transform

10

Protect

12-13

Global

14-15

Inform

16-17

Ask the Expert

18-19

Charity news

25

Ely & East Cambs area news

26-27

Huntingdonshire area news

28-30

Peterborough area news

32

Member offers

34-35

New members

36-37

Events and training

38

Marketing Insight

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welcome from the

EDITOR

ISSUE 89 INSPIRING SUCCESS

The official magazine

for Chamber members

Welcome ....

During May we were delighted to hold some face-to-face events across the county and you can read more on page 7. One of our hosts was DC Intelligence based in Waterbeach who have written this month’s guest article on the centre pages.

LOGY HUB

TECHNO security offering resilience and PLUS. . . ALL THE LATEST

ER NETWORK

NEWS FROM THE CHAMB

Chief Executive Vic Annells Editor Sadie Parr Published and Printed by

We are currently planning our Autumn events programme which we look forward to sharing with you next month.

Thank you for continuing to contribute your stories to connected and to the members that have placed an advert. There are some great advertising options available;

please turn to page 39 for the current rate card and get in touch with me if you are interested in placing an advert.

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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JUNE 2021 JULY 2021

29

Meet the Neighbours networking

Should We Trust Our Gut Instinct?

14

Understanding Exporting course

7

22

22

27

6

Rebuilding the Greater Cambridge Supply Chain post Covid

Crossing Continents – Moving goods under Transit

Netwalking, Huntingdon

Customs Procedures and Documentation course

20

Understanding Importing course

comment from the

At the time of writing, I have been Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce for a month and what a full-packed month it has been.

make technical skills training more responsive to employers’ skills need, and tailor provision to the challenges and opportunities most relevant to the local area.

A key highlight has been meeting our members at Return to the Workplace events that we held at member venues across the county from 17 May. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you face-to-face and I look forward to meeting many more of you in the near future.

I hope to be able to share more details with you in the next issue of connected.

I have also been working on the Local Improvement Skills Plan with Shaun Hindle, Chair of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and member of our Learning & Skills Sector committee. The Local Skills Improvement Plan will help bring employers, colleges, other training providers, and local stakeholders together to set out the key changes needed to

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

VIC ANNELLS Chief Executive

connected 5

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. photo created by jannoon028 - www.freepik.com

CONNECT

CONNECT THROUGH CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP

Widen your network of business contact through benefits and opportunities offered through your Chamber membership.

• Attend Chamber events – both in person and online • Join our social media groups • Access partner offers with exclusive rates for Chamber members • Enhance your credibility by displaying our ‘member of’ logo on your website and business stationery.

CHAMBER EVENTS We have a number of events coming up over the next few weeks.

Turn to page 36-37 for information and details of how to register.

With restrictions starting to ease our Membership and Events teams are talking with our members and Sector committees and starting to pull together a calendar of events with more face-toface events taking place from the Autumn. Keep an eye on our website for details.

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @CambsChamber Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce

Access partner offers We have a number of partner offers you can access as a Chamber member.

CHAMBER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

discount on the cost of breakdown cover with the AA.

HALF PRICE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

exclusive offer with DHL. T&Cs apply.

CHAMBER FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Moneycorp can save your business money by creating a foreign exchange strategy tailored to your business needs.

CHAMBER PRIMARY HEALTH PLAN

cash plan from Westfield Health offering cash benefits towards routine treatments.

CLOUD SOLUTIONS

DC Intelligence Ltd offer cloud solutions that are highly cost effective.

HEALTHCARE COVER

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce are pleased to introduce AXA Health for their business healthcare cover.

Visit https://www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/ member-benefits/partner-offers/ for full details.

Promote that you’re a Chamber member Display our ‘member of’ logo on your website and business stationery to promote that you are a Member or Global Member of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce.

To obtain the logo, please email your request to s.parr@cambscci.co.uk 6 connected

Member of

Global Member of

network and

CONNECT

Face-to-Face events a hit with Chamber members From 19-26 May we held face-to-face events in Peterborough, Cambridge, Ely and Wisbech which were a welcome return for our members attending.

Zoom has been great at keeping people connected over the last 14 months but it was so refreshing to see people take the opportunity to connect face-to-face.

We received some positive feedback from our members:

“Thank you for organising this. It was so refreshing to be out meeting with people again. Some familiar faces to catch up with and some new connections made.”

“Great event - thanks for organising.

As others said so good to talk to people for REAL, not on Zoom etc. Have just booked for the next Ely meeting.”

“Thanks for hosting and organising, great to finally see people again.”

“Great to be back to some face to face networking! Looking forward to the next one, and fantastic to make some new connections.

Thanks to all involved.”

Thank you to our venue hosts Brightfield Business Hub in Peterborough, DC Intelligence in Waterbeach, Poets House in Ely and The Boathouse Business Centre in Wisbech.

Each event followed strict guidelines laid out by government and the venues that hosted us.

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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.

JOIN YOUR LOCAL CHAMBER COMMITTEE Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce is made up of six local Chambers covering Cambridge & South Cambs, Ely & East Cambs, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, Peterborough and Stamford.

Each local Chamber committee is made up of member companies from a wide range of sectors bringing their own experience and expertise to the group.

You can play a leading role in tackling issues in your local area through joining the committee of your local Chamber. You can have an input into helping the Chamber lobby local MPs on matters of local, regional and national economic interest.

If this is of interest to you, please email chamber@cambscci. co.uk and specify the local area you would like to join and we will arrange for the Chair of that Chamber to get in touch with you.

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC SURVEY Thank you to all our members that took part in the recent Economic Survey.

The survey submissions are being collated and once complete we will be able to share the findings in the next issue of connected and on the Chamber website.

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Don’t forget you can see the latest Monthly Economic Review on the local Chamber pages of our website. This briefing provides an easy-to-use commentary on the key domestic and international economic indicators for UK businesses.

BE PART OF OUR INTERNATIONAL SECTOR GROUP As well as coping with Covid-19 and the restrictions imposed on businesses, we have also had to adapt to the changes that Brexit has enforced on companies trading internationally.

We will be re-launching our International Sector Group over the next couple of months and are looking for individuals to join the committee to shape the group and discuss the events and seminars we should be running going forwards to support our local importers and exporters.

If you have expertise in International Trade, or are an exporter or importer with issues that need support to resolve, and would like to be part of this group please get in touch with Karen Cash, Export Team Supervisor at the Chamber, who will be working with our existing Chair and committee to help move this sector forward. Please email k.cash@cambscci.co.uk or give Karen a call on 01223 237414.

the power to

SURVEY SHOWS MAJOR SECTORAL DIFFERENCES IN HOW FIRMS HAVE ADOPTED FLEXIBLE WORKING PRACTICES DURING THE PANDEMIC The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have released new figures showing that over two thirds (66%) of businesses surveyed were offering remote working to employees. The data, from a survey of over 900 businesses conducted in April 2021, also shows nearly three quarters of businesses expect to have at least one employee working remotely over the coming year, with the average expectation among those firms being just over half of their employees working remotely.

There were some major sectoral differences in the results – 80 per cent of B2B services firms (such as finance and law) were able to offer working from home, while only 61 per cent of manufacturers and 54 per cent of B2C services companies (such as hospitality and retail) offered this. For manufacturers and B2C service firms 21 per cent were not able to offer any of the flexible working options proposed, in comparison to only seven per cent of B2B service businesses.

A new BCC survey of more than 900 UK firms shows that remote working was by far the most common form of flexible working offered at 66% - however only 54% of B2C services firms could offer it, against 80% of B2B services firms Flexitime or staggered hours were offered by 38 per cent of firms and part time hours by 36 per cent, while working from different locations was on offer from 32 per cent. Only 15 per cent offered all jobs flexible as standard and the proportions offering options such as job sharing (8%) and self-rostering of shifts (7%) were low.

When asked what they considered barriers to implementing remote working in their businesses 55 per cent of firms said staff morale or mental health and well-being. In addition, 30 per cent of respondents pointed to fairness to staff whose roles cannot be performed remotely. Firms also cited monitoring productivity (28%), poor internet connectivity (26%) and issues with IT (24%) as barriers to implementing remote working.

There were further sectoral divides in the responses. For instance, 53 per cent of manufacturers cited requirement for physical presence to operate equipment, whist in B2C service firms the proportion was 35 per cent and B2B service businesses only 16 per cent. 39 per cent of manufacturers also

TRANSFORM

72% of businesses say they will have at least one member of staff working remotely over the next 12 months, with those firms expecting an average of 53% of their workforce to be working at least some of their hours remotely cited fairness to staff whose roles cannot be done remotely, the figure being 29 per cent for B2C service firms and 25 per cent for B2B services.

British Chambers of Commerce Head of People Policy, Jane Gratton, said: “During the pandemic, many employers have learned how to manage and motivate people working from home. They’ve also experienced the advantages of an agile workforce, in terms of diversity, skills and productivity. It’s vital that businesses have access to clear guidance, information and best practice resources to help them embrace the broadest range of remote, workplace and flexible working options as we emerge from the pandemic.

“These results show that nearly three quarters of firms will now continue to benefit from a remote working option during the coming year. But it’s clear that some firms and individuals are facing barriers to remote working with many employers concerned about the impact on team morale and employee wellbeing.

“Working from home is by no means the only way in which people can work flexibly. There are a great deal of flexible options available to all businesses including those which require onsite presence, for example, job sharing or selfrostering of shifts. Businesses need to attract the best people with the skills they need to be successful and flexible working enables employers to unlock new pools of talent. Offering flexible working opens the door for businesses to find the talent they need to fuel growth and rebuild our economy.”

Mental health and wellbeing of employees were cited by 55% of respondents as a barrier to remote working. Others mentioned requirements for face-to-face contact with staff or customers (41%) and requirements for physical presence to operate equipment (33%) as barriers connected 9

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 Members have access to four key services as part of their membership provided by Quest.

You have unlimited access to a bank of expertise and information to ensure your business is compliant and safe.

• Five advice lines • Over 750 template documents • £1,000,000 of legal expenses insurance.

CHAMBER HR

If you have a team of staff in place, or are recruiting new staff, it is vital to get it right. While your people can be your greatest asset, they can also be your biggest liability.

Chamber HR provides: • HR advice line – unlimited access to experience professionals, 365 days a year • Website – over 400 template employment documents • Insurance – employment tribunal cover.

Chamber HR can help you with every aspect of HR and employment law including: • Recruitment and selection • Induction and probation • Contracts of employment • Employee handbook • Plus much more covering the lifecycle of an employee.

CHAMBER LEGAL

It is essential to have access to free legal advice when you need it.

Chamber Legal provides: • Legal advice line – unlimited access to professional legal advice • Website – almost 200 templated commercial legal documents • Legal expenses insurance – cover includes property disputes, data protection, jury service etc.

Chamber legal can help and advise you on most legal matters including: • Contract disputes • Debt recovery • Online trading • Property disputes.

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CHAMBER HEALTH & SAFETY

Chamber H&S is all about compliance – it is the easiest and cheapest way to get Health & Safety compliant.

Chamber H&S provides: • H&S advice line – unlimited access to H&S advice • Website – over 100 core H&S documents including a special section of ‘Getting Started in Health & Safety’ • Insurance – cover to defend HSE prosecutions.

Chamber H&S can help you with core compliance: • H&S policy • Risk Assessments • Fire Safety • Working at heights • Plus much more.

CHAMBER TAX

Chamber Tax provides advice on both tax and VAT issues.

Chamber Tax provides: • Tax advice – unlimited access to experiences tax advisors • VAT advice – unlimited access to VAD advice • Insurance – tax enquiry cover to defend HMRC enquiries or investigations.

Chamber Tax can help you with: • VAT and tax return form help • VAT registration • Corporation tax calculations • Property income and expenses • Plus much more.

HOW TO ACCESS FOUR SERVICES

Advice lines - call 01455 852037 (members only) Website – log-in via www.chamberhr.co.uk and select your Chamber If you need your log-in details or membership number please contact Hilary Pawley on 01223 237414.

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

International Trade News Important Information: EUR1 Movement Certificates An EUR1, also known as a ‘movement certificate’, enables importers in certain countries to import goods at a reduced or nil rate of import duty under trade agreements between the UK and partner countries.

EUR1S FOR SERBIA AND ALBANIA We have received confirmation from HMRC that Chambers can now issue EUR1’s for Albania and Serbia.

As a reminder, Jordan has now entered back onto the list of countries that can be provided with a UK EUR1 also.

Full guidance information on EUR1 forms can be found on the GOV. UK website.

For further information please speak with our International Trade team on 01223 237414 or email internationaltrade@ cambscci.co.uk

EUR1 DECLARATIONS UPDATED HMRC have now updated their guidance for the declarations to be made on page 4 of an EUR1 application as follows: (a) Exporters who have manufactured/produced the exported goods ‘The goods shown on the movement certificate were **manufactured/produced by the exporter and are classified under (4 figure tariff heading). They satisfy the appropriate qualifying process in the preferential agreement **Delete where appropriate (bi) Exporters who have bought in goods for export in the same state (goods manufactured/produced in the UK) ‘The goods shown on the movement certificate were **manufactured/produced in the UK and are classified under (4 figure tariff heading). Evidence of their originating status in one of the forms specified on GOV.UK is held by **me/us.’ ** Delete where appropriate

(bii) Exporters who have bought in goods for export in the same state (goods **manufactured/produced in any other country) ‘The goods were imported from…………………… (Name of country) under cover of a **movement certificate /invoice declaration and are being re-exported in the same state. The goods are classified under…………’ (4 figure tariff heading). ** Delete where appropriate According to HMRC, this declaration can only be used in very specific circumstances relating to the UK Israel FTA. These declarations will be updated on electronic systems.

REPLACEMENT EUR1’S HMRC have said that they cannot think of any circumstances where it would now be appropriate to issue a Replacement EUR1 though they are still referred to in some of the guidance.

If you feel you need to issue a replacement EUR1 please speak to our International Trade team for guidance by calling 01223 237414.

Meet the International Trade Team

Karen Cash Export Team Supervisor 01223 209804

Kerry McGann Export Officer 01223 209809

Liz Lane Export Officer 01223 209808

or email them at internationaltrade@cambscci.co.uk 12 connected

Hilary Pawley Membership & Export Officer 01223 209807

extend your

ATA Carnets

GLOBAL REACH

Origin Exclusions on a Certificate of Origin

These documents are becoming more common since Brexit and temporary entry into the EU is now likely to require this type of document. Carnets now apply to over 70 countries around the world.

If you are excluding goods from a Certificate of Origin application and stating (for example) this document covers lines 2, 5 and 7 on invoice number XXX you need to provide an explanation as to why. This can be a covering note for manual applications or an email note or system note for electronic applications.

It should not be a common occurrence to exclude items as all exporters should be actively seeking to confirm origin / manufacturer information when purchasing goods.

This requirement comes into effect immediately, and the Chamber will consider each application individually.

For clarification please speak to our International Trade team on 01223 237414.

You can obtain a Carnet quickly and simply by using our online system.

Start the process by registering at https://www.ecert.sgs. com/uk/new-company?DSParam1=56 For more information, please contact the International Trade team on 01223 237414 or email internationaltrade@ cambscci.co.uk

Global Membership Benefits If you’re a Global Chamber members, did you know you receive these additional membership benefits: • Online access to Tate’s International Trade Guide, the leading international trade reference publication • Significantly discounted export documentation processing fees • 10 free documentation rejections per year • One hour of on-site documentation assistance from the International Trade team – when Covid restrictions allow • Additional discounts on our translation service

• Ask the Chamber and seek advice and expert opinion from our International Trade team on export and country requirements • No processing fee on Arab documentation applications.

If you would like to review the benefits of global membership, please get in touch with Karen Cash on 01223 209804 or email k.cash@cambscci.co.uk

Customs Declarations We can process your Customs Declaration for both imports and exports.

A simple onboarding process enables us to provide a contract allowing us to complete these declarations on your behalf.

Three members of our International Trade team are trained to complete a swift and hassle free turnaround of your entry.

Prices are competitive within the market and can be negotiated depending on the number of declarations anticipated on a monthly basis.

If you have any questions, or want to know more, please contact the International Trade team on 01223 237414 for more information or email customsdeclarations@cambscci.co.uk connected 13

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.

MONITORING YOUR BUSINESS Some business owners will know this, but monitoring your business is very important.

Not just looking at the sales and costs but the balance sheet as well.

For some, including me, you are likely to think this is a given, but throughout my years it still comes as a shock that some business owners are not aware of what is going on.

Over the years I have experienced numerous over-payments to different organisations, not just suppliers but also pension providers. Un-chased debts dating back two or more years, balances on accounts which no-one knows about.

A point here is cold hard cash, we need cash to survive, we need cash to pay our employees, our suppliers and HMRC, without it a business may not survive.

When we work with a new business, one of the first actions we take is to review the

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balance sheet, this is everything outside the profit and loss for a business. The balance sheet will in basic terms tell you what you have, what you are owed and what you owe. For us, this is as important as the profit and loss. Yes, we need to make a profit, but if we are not managing what is going on behind the scenes we might get in trouble.

Working through the balance sheet can be time consuming, and in some cases complicated, you need to understand what the balance sheet is telling you and then work out how you got there. For us, the most important reconciling item is third party independent data, for example a bank statement, which can be reconciled against all transactions posted to the bank account in your accounting software.

Where to start - we would start with the aged receivables and chase any outstanding debt, we want to get as much

money into the business as possible. Then look at any over payments to suppliers, and request this is refunded. Then can come the more complicated bit, and where an expert will help, reconciling payments to elsewhere, reconciling the bank and looking for onerous payments.

Unfortunately, you cannot take what the balances are telling you, we’ve work for an organisation where the pension liability was zero, but when this account was reconciled, the business had overpaid the pension provider more than £10,000. This is not small for any business, and who’s pocket would you rather this be in.

It is better to take your time, ask questions, prod, and poke, ask for evidence. This is your business, your money, your livelihood.

If you want to understand more, please contact GMS Business Accountants on 07739 828423.

learn and

INFORM

Smarter entertainment: How full fibre can transform our downtime and upgrade our lives Rapid growth of home broadband has changed all of our lives and has had a transformative impact on the entertainment we consume. Netflix, which started life as a home DVD rental company, realised that with speeds continuing to get faster they could empower people to stream directly onto their screens.

Now, Netflix is an industry giant. By the end of 2020, it had a total of 200 million subscribers, enormous revenue numbers and more than 500 new TV shows and movies preparing to launch.

Also known as ‘Over The Top’ services, PWC predicts a surge in revenues in the space - from $46.4 billion in 2019 to $86.8 billion in 2024. In parallel, global data consumption is also predicted to rise significantly in that period, from 1.9 quadrillion megabytes to 4.9 quadrillion megabytes.

This explosive growth wouldn’t be possible without robust broadband infrastructure, which is why CityFibre is working to bring full fibre technology to towns and cities across the UK, including across the East of England region.

Full fibre networks, unlike many of the copper-based ‘fibre broadband’ services available, use 100 per cent fibre optic cables to carry data at light speed all the way from the home

to the connection point. This gives users speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps for upload and download, near limitless bandwidth and connectivity users can depend on.

These networks won’t just make streaming TV and movies easier.

According to a report, the UK video games market generated £7 billion in 2020, driven by increased use due to the pandemic. Of that, some £4.55 billion was spent on software and a staggering 85 per cent was on digital rather than physical boxed games.

That goes some way to understanding Sony’s decision to launch two versions of its next-gen PlayStation 5 console, one with a disc drive and one without.

With the latter, that means games must be downloaded via the internet – and with games getting bigger, that puts enormous strain on digital infrastructure, unless you have gigabitspeeds powered by full fibre.

Of course, it’s not just within the home that full fibre can make a colossal difference. With events back on the horizon, organisers are looking to grab attention in an increasingly competitive landscape and full fibre has a part to play in that.

One example is a partnership between Vodafone and Wasps rugby club, where

they used 5G – underpinned by full fibre - to transform the fan experience at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry (which benefits from a connection to CityFibre’s network). For fans in #5Gamechanger seats, they were able to use a smartphone to livestream footage from 360° cameras around the pitch and enjoy an augmented reality experience at half-time.

And further innovations are underway, like the 5G Festival project in Brighton which aims to stream live music gigs to audiences across the globe by integrating 5G into venues in the city.

Again, none of these experiences would be possible without full fibre. With technology driving so much change in the entertainment landscape, it’s vital that the East of England has a digital infrastructure which supports the innovations we know are coming – and the ones we’re yet to discover.

To find out more about CityFibre and our work across the East of England and to register your interest in services visit https://www.cityfibre.com/ residential/

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ask the

EXPERT

Organisational culture towards inclusive workplaces. Having the conversations to challenge ourselves on our authenticity requires courage and honesty, and can, at times, be uncomfortable. However, the short-term discomfort is almost always outweighed by the long-term pay-off of truly inclusive ways of working, increasing engagement, innovation and financial performance.

In a year where social and political discussions have continued to take centre stage in the media, it’s impossible for organisations not to recognise the impact these will have on their employees.

Katie Allen, HR Consultant and Coach of Katie Allen Consulting Limited, explains the steps leaders can take to improve their organisational culture, and make equity and inclusion an integral part of their working lives.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION MOST LEADERS FACE IS WHERE TO START. THE ANSWER TO THIS - AT THE BEGINNING. IT’S DIFFERENT FOR EVERY BUSINESS, SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS? The first area that needs consideration in any organisation is the authenticity in its approach to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for its people. The biggest barrier to inclusion is a lack of authenticity. When we, as leaders, say all the right things to make our people feel seen and heard, but then fail to take the action required to make truly lasting change, this performative approach to inclusion can actually do more harm than good.

Instead, we need to look for any barriers to authenticity that may exist, and take action to remove them. Examples of this could be making a public statement in support of groups like Black Lives Matter or hosting an event in celebration of International Women’s Day, but adopting workplace practices that actually place black colleagues at a disadvantage (often unknowingly), or failing to take steps to address the gender wage gap.

Making a real connection between what we say we will do, and doing it, is hugely powerful in moving the dial 16 connected

THE POSITIVE ARGUMENT FOR DIVERSITY HAS BEEN WELL RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED, BUT FOR MANY, LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARDS INCREASING REPRESENTATION WITHIN ORGANISATIONS. WHAT CAN BUSINESS LEADERS DO TO HELP ADDRESS A LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THEIR TEAMS? Firstly, it’s important to recognise that one person alone cannot be diverse. It is the whole makeup of a team or environment that is either diverse, or homogeneous. The first question to ask in an organisation that is trying to diversify its workforce is “what are the barriers to access that exist?”.

These can range from the language used in job adverts, the selection methods used in recruitment and the benefits and working arrangements made available. Taking steps to remove these barriers will see an increase in the diverse range of talent we can attract to our organisations, allowing us to create teams with greater perspective and capability. Improving access and acting with authenticity will not only attract fantastic new talent to our businesses, but will improve connections within our existing teams too, making it much more likely that good people will want to stay with us!

IT’S COMMON TO SEE DIVERSITY IN GROUPS REDUCE AS SENIORITY IN ORGANISATIONS INCREASES. WHAT CAN SENIOR LEADERS DO TO HELP IMPROVE DIVERSITY AT ALL LEVELS? This is where senior leaders need to “lean in” to courageous conversations. Being honest about what we know of our development programs, talent reviews, routes to promotion and access to coaching, mentoring and sponsorship. Are there any barriers to advancement that may exist for colleagues from minority represented groups, that don’t exist for their straight, white, cisgendered or non-disabled counterparts? Again, these conversations can be uncomfortable, but having them is a necessity to address any underlying bias or disadvantage that may exist.

There is so much positivity that can be found when our employees are able to bring their true and authentic selves to work. As leaders we need to understand that we don’t always have all the right answers, but we can ask the right questions, and listen and be guided by our incredible teams of people.

Remember: • To increase inclusion - look for barriers to authenticity • To increase diversity - look for barriers to access • To increase equity - look for barriers to advancement One size doesn’t fit all, so as a consultant and coach, I help organisations and individuals review their values and working practices, understand and remove barriers, and lead with courage, connection and curiosity as human centred leaders.

ask the

EXPERT

Microsoft 365 questions Rupert Davey, Managing Director at ctm IT Support, has as the answers.

DO I NEED TO BUY THESE SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM MICROSOFT?

WHAT IS THE BEST SECURITY FOR MICROSOFT 365 EMAILS?

No, you do not. We believe that around a third of UK businesses, between 10 and 500 users, use Microsoft 365 with many buying directly from Microsoft at public prices. We have recently launched a product called Nimmbus CSP which allows UK businesses to purchase Microsoft 365 subscriptions at a discounted rate of at least five per cent.

Register at www.nimmbus.com now.

We would always recommend Microsoft 365 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforced and set up. This will stop over 99.9% of account compromise attacks! It’s free too.

WHAT IS THE BEST APPLICATION TO USE FOR MY EMAILS IF I USE MICROSOFT 365?

The best application to use for emails that are through Microsoft 365 would be Outlook. This application covers all bases of what would be required. You can send and receive emails, organise a calendar and make calendar/meeting requests via the integrated service of Microsoft Teams.

DO I NEED A SUBSCRIPTION TO USE OUTLOOK? No, not necessarily. If you have Microsoft Office 2016 or Microsoft Office 2019 as a perpetual licence, then you can use Outlook 2016 or Outlook 2019. However, for the best experience, a subscriptions to Microsoft Business Standard or similar, is recommended. These subscriptions include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams, as well as others not available in the perpetual licence. You also get included upgrades with a subscription, so you’re always on the latest version.

WHAT IS A GLOBAL ADMINISTRATOR AND SHOULD I BE ONE? A Global Administrator (aka GA) is an elevated permission assigned within Microsoft 365, that allows selected people to administer and access your Microsoft 365 tenant. Not everyone within your business should be a global administrator, normally there are a few selected people who have these rights. However, we would suggest against having these rights assigned to your main Microsoft 365 email account and have them on a separate account where possible. A GA level user can access everything.

WHAT IS A MICROSOFT CLOUD SOLUTION PROVIDER? A Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider or CSP for short is a Microsoft Partner that can manage and sell Microsoft Subscriptions on behalf of Microsoft. These subscriptions still come from Microsoft. We’re a Cloud

Solution Provider and serve all our UK Customers with subscriptions at a five per cent discounted rate. You can have more than one CSP connected to your Microsoft 365 tenant. Register for savings at www.nimmbus.com now.

IS IT OFFICE 365 OR MICROSOFT 365?

ARE THEY THE SAME? Microsoft recently (April 2020) announced the renaming of Office 365 to Microsoft 365 to encompass a wider product range.

Although the name change, both Office 365 and Microsoft 365 have their own different product groups; Office 365 E3, for example, and Microsoft 365 Business Standard, this is where it can be confusing!

However, your Cloud Solution Provider, should ensure that you have the correct subscriptions for your business needs.

WE’RE NOT ON MICROSOFT 365. HOW DO WE SHIFT OVER? There is typically a one-time migration cost, then on-going costs for the subscriptions which will be required. Normally the migration of email and data is done in one complete action. This means that all your emails will migrate from your old provider onto Microsoft 365, with no loss of email, no downtime and you will keep your email addresses, it will just be from a different provider. Here at ctm IT Support, we would be more than happy to help with the migration and the Microsoft 365 Subscription supply via Nimmbus CSP.

If you would like to feature on our Ask the Expert pages, please email the editor at s.parr@cambscci.co.uk to reserve your space. connected 17

CHAMBER CHARITY OF THE YEAR

COVID-19: The Challenges and the Learning for Anna’s Hope COVID-19 impacted every aspect of life for us all, and our thoughts and hearts go out to those who have experienced loss at this time.

The nationwide lock down meant that the routine support Anna’s Hope provides through the Brainbow Service had to stop with little warning. In May 2020 a new system was implemented called Attend Anywhere, which allowed the Anna’s Hope Therapists to conduct appointments online. This required creative approaches to providing the rehabilitation therapy children with a brain tumour require but the use of online appointments had many benefits including less travelling time, a more relaxed environment at home and increased flexibility with appointment times and length. In addition members of the Anna’s Hope Therapy team often travels many miles a week across a huge geography in the East of England which means they cannot see as many children at home they would like to see. As a result of online appointments they are travelling less and can see more children more frequently.

Initial feedback from parents indicates that they appreciate the benefit of not having to travel which can often be stressful. Instead of the long journey the child and parents can relax at home in preparation for their therapy session.

There are vast amounts of learnings from last 12 months that the Brainbow Service will be taking forward to become part of the normal working patterns and whilst the team are looking forward to seeing the children back in the outpatient spaces resuming activities that had to be put on hold, we will be seeking feedback from the children and their families on new ways of working.

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chamber supports

CHARITY

Discover Cambridge from a fresh perspective on foot by taking part in an alternative version of Bridge the Gap! Through August and September you are invited to explore the beauty and uniqueness of Cambridge, by taking part in a novel alternative to the city’s traditional Bridge the Gap Walk.

The family-friendly fundraiser can be completed in one day, or over several days, between Friday 13 August and Friday 10 September, raising funds for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill.

Bridge the Gap, sponsored by The Cambridge Building Society, has historically hosted upwards of 2,000 walkers each year, who have enjoyed a close-up view of the City, stunning Cambridge University Colleges and their beautifully manicured gardens.

Last year, with Colleges closed to the public, the organising committee provided a walk with a difference, which was well received by participants who helped to raise over £17,000 which was shared equally by the two much loved local charities. The feedback from the 1,300 who took part was overwhelmingly positive, enjoying the opportunity to take part in something unique, despite not being able to complete a more traditional Bridge the Gap walk.

This year, with access to the Colleges still limited, the Bridge the Gap committee have come up with another fantastic walk, showcasing well-known and loved parts of the City. As well as providing previous participants and newcomers with some familiar historic sights, this year’s walk will take in some of the beautiful and overlooked aspects of the city - and learn more about the City than they knew before! The committee believe they have worked hard to create an event which they anticipate will attract long standing supporters of both charities, as well as providing a wonderful chance for Cambridge residents and for people throughout Cambridgeshire to reengage with the City.

The carefully crafted route, which covers a distance of about five miles, will be selfguided and can be completed at participants’ own pace and convenience, over a time period and day of their own choosing.

The route will include locations and highlights that have not previously featured on Bridge the Gap walks, as well as featuring details in familiar places that may have previously escaped walkers’ notice.

The event opened for registrations on

Wednesday 26 May, great value at £8 per person, with those under 16 able to take part for free. The fee covers the event pack, which includes a guide booklet filled with route directions and interesting facts; a map detailing the route, and a special activity for those wanting an extra challenge, whilst they walk. Participants will also receive a link to a special podcast prepared by media partners Cambridge 105 Radio, providing further stories and insights about what can be expected along the way.

All proceeds including any sponsorship raised by those taking part, will be split evenly between the benefitting charities, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill. The route is wheelchair and pushchair friendly, although those taking part should be aware that as this is a self-guided walk and unlike the traditional Bridge the Gap walk the route will not be marshalled, and participants will be responsible for their own safety.

Chief Executive for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Sharon Allen, said: “Bridge the Gap is a highlight of our year for colleagues, volunteers and supporters. The last year has really encouraged us all to take a moment to look around, value what is on our doorsteps and we’re confident those taking part will really enjoy what we have planned. We may not be able to offer our community the traditional Bridge the Gap experience, but we are delighted to be able to provide an opportunity to put a date in the diary and something special.

The money raised through this event is so crucial in funding our vital services. Our care is available 365 days a year, 24 hours a

day and every single person who signs up is supporting our compassionate team to help us to make every moment count for our patients and their families.”

Neil Perry, Chief Executive at Romsey Mill, explains how participation in this year’s Bridge the Gap charity walk will also benefit people living in Cambridgeshire: “Bridge the Gap is a brilliant example of Cambridge at its best! People from different situations coming together to participate in a unique event and, in doing so, contributing towards the vital work of two local charities.

We love putting this event together and are confident that everyone who takes part will have fun and enjoy themselves. We also know that their participation will help to generate essential funds towards the work of both charities, helping to ensure that vital care and support reaches those in our county who need it most.”

Peter Burrows, Chief Executive Officer at The Cambridge Building Society, adds: “We’re delighted to partner with Bridge the Gap, in what is now our thirteenth year as headline sponsor. The Cambridge proudly supports Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and Romsey Mill, and the help they provide to vulnerable people in our community. This a fantastic community led event and we’ll be encouraging our customers, and team members to get involved by putting on their walking boots.”

Over the 20 years since it began, more than 38,000 walkers have taken part in Bridge the Gap and over £570,000 has been raised for local charities. connected 19

Meet DCI

Having worked closely with the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce for some time we have kindly been invited to write a short piece to explain who we are, what we do, and why we chose to base ourselves in Cambridge.

The company was founded by a small group of individuals who had spent many years working with large enterprise organisations designing and implementing cost-effective technology strategies saving clients many millions of pounds. We then decided it was time to create DCI and use our knowledge for the benefit of clients no matter what their size, and today we work with everyone from hyperscalers to one-man start-ups.

Based in Cambridge, today we offer a number of complimentary services to local businesses, such as: cloud (private and public), colocation, IT consultancy, and even a TechHub and coworking space where businesses and individuals can work, network with likeminded individuals, meet technology partners, and even host events in our large event space, all within the same building.

Some of you may have attended the Chambers’ “Return to the Workplace Networking” event we hosted on 20 May and have already seen the space if you had a tour of the building. Sadly, the TechHub and coworking space has been closed since the start of lockdown but we will be reopening very soon.

Whilst expanding into other parts of the UK we decided to base ourselves in Cambridge due to the number of technology startups in the area. We’ve spent many years working with large enterprise organisations, however working with smaller, more agile, organisations is what truly excites us. We know the challenges faced by start-ups, we were once one ourselves, and we believe we can add real value working with infant companies, guiding them on their journey to success, providing support, introducing technology partners and investors, and of course leveraging our expertise to address the technical issues start-ups often overlook only to realise they can’t scale as their company starts to grow!

Basing ourselves in Cambridge was certainly the right move for us, we’ve had the pleasure of meeting some great people and worked with some exciting clients as a result.

Our colocation offering is the only one of its kind in the area and offers full Tier 3 resilience and security. With resilient power 20 connected

and connectivity, on-site power generation and fuel for seven days, we can keep your business up and running no matter what happens to the national grid. In addition, our on-site power generation supports the entire building, including the TechHub and coworking office space, so you really can keep the lights on whilst others suffer the consequences of a power cut.

Our cloud offering is the jewel in the DCI crown. Cloud can come with painful hidden costs as many have discovered all too late!

Unlike other cloud providers we can fix costs rather than hitting customers with unexpected retrospective bills. We work closely with clients to fully understand their business and requirements and provide a concierge service working closely with them during the onboarding process ensuring they aren’t purchasing more than they need whilst also having the flexibility to scale up or down in order to react to demand. Our list of cloud offering is comprehensive, including: Virtual Data Centre, PaaS, IaaS, DRaaS, cloud backup, Kubernetes, Containers, SD WAN, virtualised 5G, HPC, and of course extensive security features, including Microsoft 365 antivirus and backup!

We are constantly adding new features ensuring we’re able to provide clients with the latest technologies and maintain interoperability with other clouds. Unlike other cloud operators we work with our clients to develop the solutions they require, for example an AI client recently required a non-standard Kubernetes implementation, we developed the required features and today they are a very happy customer with a cloud solution that works the way they need it to!

Lastly, there is our R&D arm. As a company we love to innovate, whether cloud functionality, 5G, edge, or solutions to increase IT density and energy efficiency. For example, we currently have a solution which allows us to install 60 Intel CPU’s in a single 2U rack mountable chassis! Each micro server is the same size as a credit card, requires no AC cooling, and is ruggedised making them ideal for both high density data centre and edge solutions.

We’ve also developed solutions for liquid cooling IT rather than using air, the result being approximately 70 per cent reduction in energy consumption, the ability to repurpose the waste heat, and greatly increased IT density.

If you would like to pay us a visit and find out more about our products and services, or our innovation in liquid cooling, micro servers, and edge data centres, feel free to contact our CTO, Chris Ward-Jones at chris.ward-jones@dci2.com connected 21

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SEND student embraces passion for horticulture Cambridge Regional College Supported Intern, Zara Downs, recently approached local garden centres for support in implementing the Huntingdon campus horticulture project she created during lockdown.

Describing her project plans, Zara said: “When we first went into lockdown, I was thinking I could update the sensory garden, which has since become known as the Reflection Garden. When I was at home doing online learning I was drawing a design for the reflection garden and my tutors liked my design.”

Zara has written to a variety of local garden centres seeking their support and was thrilled to receive an offer to support her project. Zara has subsequently been to meet the Community Champion to accept a donation of seeds and will now begin planting ready for summer.

Zara Downs

Supported Learning Job Coach, Libby Capstick, who has been working with Zara over the last few years, said: “I have

had the pleasure of seeing Zara develop and progress into a confident learner who works hard to offers lots of ideas when working on new projects. Zara is very keen to develop the Reflection Garden into a quiet space for staff and sensory place for students.”

Zara attended Shuttleworth Farm College, where she spent time alternating between projects with animals and projects with plants, landscape, and horticulture. It was during this time that Zara discovered her passion for gardening.

Zara added: “At Farm College, I knew in my mind that I would be good at gardening because I knew what I was doing looking after plants and wildlife. This is when I decided to myself that I would like to become a professional gardener.”

Upon graduating from Farm College, Zara enrolled with Cambridge Regional College, Huntingdon campus, to gain employability skills and study Horticulture with the Supported Learning team.

DOMINO EXPANDS PORTFOLIO WITH NEW SMART VISION SYSTEMS A Cambridge company is helping its customers to reduce risk and optimise productivity with the launch of state-of-the-art technology which can check product codes automatically and eliminate potential and costly errors.

Domino Printing is introducing the R-Series, a range of smart vision systems which can check a wide range of codes used by manufacturers across a broad spectrum of industries, including dates, batch numbers, barcodes and 2D-printed codes.

The launch follows Domino’s acquisition of Lake Image Systems, a market-leading producer of automated vision-based inspection systems, last year.

Specifically designed to work on production lines with Domino printers and coders, the R-Series eliminates the need for manual code validation and inspection, significantly reducing the risk of an incorrect code leaving a manufacturing site unnoticed.

Andy Barrett, Portfolio and Requirements Director at Domino said: “Coding errors pose a significant financial risk to manufacturers – and this goes much further than the risk of manufacturing waste and need to rework incorrect stock. If left to enter the supply chain, an incorrect code can necessitate a product recall, which is not only costly in terms of logistics but can also damage the long-term value of a company.

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“With the R-Series, we can offer our customers a range of integrated vision systems that automate the checking of every code, so that unidentified coding errors become a thing of the past.”

The launch highlights Domino’s ongoing commitment to ‘Do more’ to help customers improve production efficiency and reduce manufacturing waste by delivering ‘best-in-class’ customer experience through products, services, and expertise.

news from

CAMBRIDGE & SOUTH CAMBS AREA

Guardtech’s growth goes on as Hannah heads to Haverhill Hannah West has been appointed as the Haverhill-based firm’s new Operations Coordinator, but plans are afoot to also strengthen their Installation and Design teams in the coming months.

Mrs West has more than 12 years of admin experience – eight of which were spent operating in the construction industry – and she is delighted to be returning to work in a section that she finds compelling.

Hannah West Guardtech Cleanrooms are bolstering their ranks again – and it looks set to be the first of many in the coming months.

“Construction has always fascinated me,” she said, “so I’m really happy to be back working within the industry. Everyone here at Guardtech has been so nice and welcoming – I already feel part of the team.”

Having already drafted in five new members of staff in the past six months, Guardtech’s Operations Director Conor Barwise revealed that a continued surge in activity for the business has meant that even more new faces could be imminent.

“The Design & Build side of our operation is going from strength to strength, with a series of amazing projects recently completed, others currently underway and more still on the horizon,” he said.

“It is inevitable that we will be looking to bolster our talented teams with bright new additions over the coming months.”

Tees sweeps several awards at Cambridgeshire Law Society Excellence Awards Tees, the local law firm with offices in Cambridge, Bishop’s Stortford, Royston, Saffron Walden, Brentwood and Chelmsford were delighted with double success in receiving both the Excellence in Technology and Innovation and Residential Property Team of the Year Awards at the Cambridgeshire Law Society Excellence Awards held on Zoom in April.

Tees were also Highly Commended for Injury Litigation Team of the Year, and Private Client Associate Chris Claxton-Shirley received a Highly Commended as a Rising Star.

The Excellence Awards celebrate the legal community of Cambridge across various categories, with the awards being decided on criteria such as excellent client service, technical capabilities and response to the Covid-19 challenge.

Stephanie Boyce (President of the Law Society of England and Wales), The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP (Solicitor General) and Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawWorks (as Charity Partner) attended the Awards ceremony which was sponsored by Rathbones Investment Management. The Judging Panel was chaired by Ian Mather and included Mark Winchester (Rathbones Investment Management), Greg Mueller (AstraZeneca), Paul Smith (Handelsbanken), Graham Martin (Barclays Corporate) and Fiona Hotston Moore (FRP Advisory).

Clare Pilsworth, Family Partner and newly appointed Head of Tees’ Cambridge office accepted the Excellence In Technology and Innovation Award: “Tees has been investing heavily in technology long before the pandemic hit, but we have also

continued that investment throughout the past year. Winning this Award is testament to the decisions we’ve made as a firm to be at the forefront of innovation and technology in the region and also the hard work of our IT team on the implementation, integration and training, enabling our solicitors to provide a seamless client experience.”

Julia Turner, Senior Associate and Head of the Cambridge Residential Conveyancing Team gave a heartfelt speech receiving the Award for Residential Property Team of the Year.

“This Award means so much to the team - we have worked through unprecedented times, delivering a high quality of service. Our demand has grown substantially and our success is thanks to the consistent hard work of our team.”

Group Managing Director, Ashton Hunt, said the firm’s success in the awards was ‘fantastic and very well deserved. He commented: “Tees has made significant investments in technology over the past eight to 10 years, which has meant that we have been able to successfully navigate the pandemic whilst continuing to deliver an excellent service for our clients. Continuing to invest in the best technology to support our people remains part of our core strategy and I am truly delighted that the firm’s efforts have been recognised in this way.” connected 23

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Stone King LLP appointed to The National Society’s first legal panel Law firm Stone King LLP has been appointed to the first panel established

by The National Society (Church of England and Church in Wales) for the Promotion of Education, also known as the National Society, to provide legal advice on their education activities and remit.

Stone King partner Lee Coley said: “It is both a huge honour and responsibility to be appointed to the National Society’s legal panel to act on a range of matters that include those of great importance which have a national impact on Church of England and Church of Wales schools.”

Lee, who was recently appointed as Diocesan Registrar and Legal Secretary to the Bishop of Bristol added: “Stone King has built a strong reputation for providing expert legal advice to Church of England dioceses and schools over the years.

We are delighted to bring that experience and expertise to the panel and, through our advice, to support the National Society in its work.”

Stone King is joined by Winkworth Sherwood and Fieldfisher Waterhouse law firms to provide legal advice to the National Society which promotes and supports church schools and Christian education in line with the Church of England and Church in Wales. The panel’s legal advice covers six areas – major education legislation and actions as a result of legislative changes, operational matters, specific commissions, full briefings and updates as well as support for educational issues involving the Church in Wales.

Local business-owner completed 874 miles in five months for SEND charities 2021 has been one of ups and downs so in January 2021 Chris Walthew, one of the Owners at Clip ‘n Climb Cambridge and Climb Quest Milton Keynes, decided to set himself a challenge to run the 874 miles between Land’s End and John O’Groats, through the virtual Lejog End to End challenge. He completed this on 22 May having averaged 10k per day over the last five months.

Chris had two motivations for doing this: raising much needed funds for two local charities, Spectrum and Macintyre, and helping his own mental health in the lockdown.

“The challenge has given me a target that I’m in control of working towards and achieving. This has given me a huge boost to deal with all the current uncertainties of life and business, helping me focus my energies on doing my best with what I can do something about. I have always been into sport, but not running more than 10k at a time.

During these five months, I completed two marathons, and many half marathons, so I’m really proud of how much my running has improved.”

Both charities have strong links to both climbing centres.

Spectrum provides events and support for families of children with Autism, additional needs and disabilities.

Based in Cambridge, they are rapidly expanding their reach, supporting families throughout the country. Clip ‘n Climb Cambridge has gifted them a climbing session each month for families they support.

Customs brokerage you can trust, from your local Chamber of Commerce

Need help with Customs Declarations?

MacIntyre provides learning, support, and care for more than 1,200 children, young people and adults who have a learning disability and / or autism, throughout the country. They have just started a six-week programme of activities for young people they support at Climb Quest Milton Keynes.

Give Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce a call on 01223 237414 and speak to the International Trade team

At the time of writing, Chris had raised £1,500. If you’d like to donate, please visit https://buff.ly/3v13Qw6

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ELY & EAST CAMBS AREA

King’s Ely student offered rare ‘joint first study’ at Royal College of Music

Polly Casey

A King’s Ely pupil has accepted her offer from the Royal College of Music (RCM) to study both the French Horn and the Recorder.

The Royal College of Music Junior Department (RCMJD) rarely offers students ‘joint first study’, so Polly Casey, who is in Year 9 at King’s Ely Senior, has quite a busy schedule ahead of her when she starts to visit the RCM every Saturday, starting in September.

Neil Porter-Thaw, Director of Music at King’s Ely, said: “We are all delighted for Polly. She is an exceptional musician who excels in

both French Horn and Recorder, and she is a great credit to her teachers and school. There is no doubt she will thrive at the RCM, and we look forward to watching her musical journey over the coming years.”

As a student at the RCMJD on Saturdays, Polly will enjoy fantastic chamber and orchestral opportunities, with at least two hours of chamber music coaching each week.

The RCM is one of the world’s greatest conservatoires, training gifted musicians from all over the world for international careers as performers, conductors and composers.

It’s celebration time for Masters Logistical, who have been awarded BRCGS Accreditation for storage and distribution Masters Logistical offer 3PL warehousing and distribution services, collecting from across Cambridgeshire and East Anglia and delivering throughout the UK. BRCGS is a market-leading brand and consumer protection organisation that helps build confidence in the supply chain, their Global Standards for Storage and Distribution set the benchmark for good working practices and helps to assure customers their products are stored safely, legally and in a quality environment.

Already ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 registered, it was only natural that Masters should apply to BRCGS to gain their certified accreditation which provides the customers of those certified with complete peace of mind and the assurance that the supplier consistently works to a very high standard.

Masters were accredited by BRCGS this month, their experience and diligence enabling them to achieve accreditation on their first attempt.

Managing Director Paul Upton is delighted with the outcome: “We are extremely pleased to have achieved the BRCGS accreditation; this will allow our business to continue its growth with controlled and audited procedures. BRCGS accreditation allows us to venture into new sectors with the knowledge that we offer the highest industry standards.”

4. Site and building standards - This covers the conditions and layout of the Storage Warehouses and also looks at elements such as security.

5. Vehicle operating standards sets requirements for the actual vehicles and includes temperature controls, vehicle security and the physical condition of the vehicles.

6. Facility Management - This requires management of both storage and vehicles and includes cleaning, pest control, maintenance, and waste disposal.

7. Good Operating Practices sets requirements for the operation of the warehouse with sections on receipt of goods, product handling, stock rotation and release procedures.

8. Personnel Training requirements and expectations on personal hygiene.

While Masters have always upheld these standards, they are delighted that such a high-profile and independent, third-party assessment body has judged them to be of such high quality.

To gain this accreditation, Masters were assessed against the following eight critical criteria: 1. Management commitment measures to demonstrate that senior management is committed to achieving high standards of product safety and quality and looking for continuous improvement.

2. Hazard and risk analysis to identify hazards that may affect product safety or quality and ensure controls are in place to reduce or eliminate the risks.

3. Quality Management System - This requires a documented system of working and effective management of purchasing and customer contracts. connected 25

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New Vegware waste collections Envar Composting and Countrystyle Recycling have partnered with Vegware to launch collections for compostable food service disposables in Cambridgeshire.

This follows the recent announcement of Countrystyle Recycling’s expansion into the Cambridgeshire area, through operations at its Thetford depot and from the St Ives composting facility of its sister company, Envar Composting.

Countrystyle’s new trade waste collection service and Envar’s composting capabilities together bring sustainable solution waste management to catered offices, college restaurants and schools. All used Vegware containers, cups and cutlery (made from plants using renewable, lower carbon, recycled or reclaimed materials) can now go in the Countrystyle food waste bin. Within a maximum of 10 weeks of collection, Envar Composting’ processes will transform these materials into high quality compost for application to local horticulture and farmland.

Countrystyle’s Business Development Manager, Joe Hemsley-Rudd, added: “This new partnership enables Vegware to deliver its commitment to ‘Close the Loop’, a solution for foodservice customers in the Cambridgeshire area. Countrystyle’s close working connections with Envar Composting enable us to deliver a truly local closed-loop recycling solution.”

Countrystyle’s dual pod collection vehicles are already making their rounds in the Cambridgeshire area and our team is on

hand to take enquiries about Vegware and any food waste collections.

Countrystyle Recycling and Envar Composting are part of the family-owned Heathcote Holdings Group of resource management companies and Countrystyle’s operations are based out of Envar’s flagship composting facility at St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

This facility produces quality PAS100 and CQP certified soil conditioner for the agricultural, viticultural and horticultural markets, as well as manufacturing quality biomass fuels.

Collections will be made using one of Countrystyle’s dedicated dual pod vehicles, which has the added benefit of reducing the carbon footprint of collections and limiting waste miles to Envar Composting’s treatment facility at St Ives.

New video explores Hydraulic Troubleshooting Webtec, a Global specialist manufacturer of hydraulic measurement and control products, has released a new training video which focusses on troubleshooting when the unexpected happens.

Presented by industry expert Steve Skinner, this is the fifth video in Webtec’s Education Series and describes a logical step-by-step process to ensure that any problems are diagnosed and rectified as quickly and accurately as possible.

Using the 10-point suggested system, this training will enable personnel, with the right equipment, to diagnose unexpected breakdowns efficiently.

Webtec’s Education Series aims to help engineers increase their knowledge and skills in the hydraulics and fluid power industry and are all available free of charge from the companies’ website.

To view this and the full series of training videos please visit Webtec’s Education page at https://en.webtec.com/education/ training-videos/ 26 connected

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HUNTINGDONSHIRE AREA

Wyboston Lakes Resort confirmed as one of the UK’s Best Companies to Work For Wyboston Lakes Resort has earned 45th place in the UK’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list 2021.

In the Top 75 Best Companies to Work for in the East of England, Wyboston Lakes Resort was ranked 21st and also at 10th in Leisure & Hospitality’s 20 Best Companies to Work For. The conference, training and leisure venue also achieved its highest Best Companies Index (BCI) score of 753.7, based on a scale of 1 to 1000.

This accolade is testament to the people and the culture we maintain at Wyboston Lakes Resort. With business picking up substantially, this will be valuable for the future success and growth of our business.”

The 380-acre leisure and business resort employs more than 200 people across two modern conference venues, a fourstar hotel, spa, 18-hole golf course and extensive serviced offices.

These achievements are in addition to securing Best Companies’ 3-star accreditation for the second time, based on employee feedback, which means the venue is considered a ‘world class’ employer in terms of employee engagement.

Accolades from Best Companies are regarded among the UK’s most comprehensive and coveted, with a rigorous process determining the merits of organisations from all industries, by assessing the methods in which they encourage, motivate, and engage with their employees.

Managing Director Steve Jones said: “We are thrilled to be in the top 50 companies this year. This is a proud moment for us, particularly after such a challenging year.

The list is compiled using scores (on a scale of 1 to 1000) from employees’ responses to questions within the Best Companies survey on a range of factors

Steve Jones including leadership, pay and work-life balance. Ratings are then determined from that score, ranging from ‘One to Watch’ to one star acknowledged as ‘very good’, two stars as ‘outstanding’ and three stars as ‘world class’.

Do you know everything that is included in your Chamber membership?

You have access to a wide range of benefits and opportunities that enable you to promote your company and generate new business Get in touch today and arrange for someone in the membership team to give you an overview of the benfits available to everyone within your company

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Industry standards clean sheet for recruiter despite pandemic challenges

Anne Corder Recruitment has retained its quality certification for the 26th consecutive year – having risen to the challenges faced by the business world in a 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.

Recognised as the only international indicator of quality, the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 9001:2015 certification demonstrates ACR’s commitment to running an efficient and cost-effective business, as well as the commitment paid to the well-being of staff and candidates alike.

And all this in a year where businesses have been faced with making challenging decisions while facing the uncertainties presented by working through a pandemic.

Anne Corder said: “ISO certification shows

our commitment to always meeting the very highest business standards. The positive impact this approach has upon candidates and clients is clear in our exceptional satisfaction ratings. We are particularly proud of this achievement this year, not least because of the challenging times everyone has faced.

“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.”

Inspectors spent time reviewing the company’s methods and systems, with an evaluation being made through record verification and sampling methodologies.

Consumers flock to have uplifting beauty and wellness Stressed out consumers are flocking to have wellness and beauty treatments as salons reopen and lockdown starts to lift.

The pandemic has challenged consumers’ sense of wellbeing and many are taking charge of their health more than ever before. According to a recent Ipsos MORI survey, commissioned by The Health Foundation, 94 per cent of those taking part said they were more concerned about the risk to health and wellbeing as a result of the knock-on impact of coronavirus on lifestyles than about contracting the virus itself.

Beauty and wellness centres like Salon

by Alwalton Hall, which has a philosophy rooted in wellness, say they are seeing a marked difference in bookings as consumers make health and wellbeing a priority in the wake of the pandemic.

General Manager, Kate Thorpe Jones, says: “One of our key differentiators at Salon by Alwalton Hall is our environment, which tends to make every treatment we do feel restorative.

Additionally, we only use products that are pharmaceutical grade, and so they are much higher quality than you would get 28 connected

in your average beauty salon – and these are proving very popular.

“The demand for both wellness and beauty treatments has been unprecedented since lockdown started to lift. People seem more focussed on their health and wellbeing and are looking for treatments to make them feel good.

“The demand for uplifting facials and relaxing massages has been particularly high - but specialist holistic healing treatments such as aromatherapy using natural plant extracts (to promote physical and emotional health) and essential oils (to help relieve anxiety and stress) are also proving very popular.”

With over 140 days of lockdown closure in 2020, the health and beauty sector has been one of the most impacted during the pandemic. According to the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF), hair and beauty businesses saw an average loss in turnover of between 45–57 per cent over the last year. According to the report, three out of five beauty businesses entered 2021 with no cash reserves. However, they are now more in demand than ever.

Maggie Jones, owner of Salon by Alwalton Hall, says: “When we couldn’t open, we used that time constructively and kept our whole team engaged. We have always held fast to the belief that, if our therapists were continuously training and developing, that would translate into happy clients. And it has.”

news from

PETERBOROUGH AREA

Hegarty Solicitors recognises expertise in family law and conveyancing Local law firm Hegarty Solicitors, with offices in Peterborough, Stamford and Oakham has announced the promotion of two of its experienced legal advisers to Associates of the firm; Lesley Knight, in the Hegarty Solicitors family department, who celebrates 20 years at the firm this year after joining in 2001, and Sarah Martin, in the conveyancing team who joined Hegarty Solicitors in 2012.

Lesley Knight is based in Peterborough and specialises in all matters concerning family law, including divorce, separation, financial relief, domestic violence, in addition to Children’s Act matters such as contact and residence issues, child abduction and forced marriages.

Lesley is a member of Resolution, as well as the Peterborough and District CILEx branch for Family Law and the Peterborough Family Law Group.

Lesley commented: “I am delighted with my promotion to Associate and I am grateful to the firm for the opportunity this brings me to continue to promote, develop and nurture the family department here in our Peterborough office.”

Sarah Martin specialises in all aspects of conveyancing on residential properties together with land law matters and is based at the Hegarty Solicitors Peterborough office. With many years’ experience in both residential and commercial conveyancing, Sarah offers a well-rounded approach, is extremely conscientious and dedicated to providing a high standard of client care.

Sarah said: “I look forward to continuing to work hard to deliver an excellent service to my clients, both new and existing, and am delighted to be recognised by the firm.”

Tim Thompson, senior partner at Hegarty Solicitors, commented: “We are pleased to announce the promotion of Lesley and Sarah. The promotions acknowledge, not only their legal expertise, but their dedication to providing a high standard of client care, and a commitment to sharing their knowledge and expertise within the firm.

“These promotions are a reflection of our dedication to delivering the highest levels of expertise to our clients across the full range of legal services we provide, and recognition of the commitment and dedication of our staff through what has been an extremely challenging year.”

Lesley Knight

Sarah Martin

Do you have something to shout about?

Send your good news stories to the Editor for inclusion in next issue of connected Email s.parr@cambscci.co.uk connected 29 Membership.indd 1

30/05/2021 15:57:38

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

Moore launches new Probate Service Chartered Accountants Moore East Midlands has launched a new Probate Service to complement their existing Trusts and Estates and Inheritance Tax planning services.

Probate services were historically only offered by solicitors, but in 2014 the law changed to allow specially accredited accountants to undertake noncontentious probate work too.

Matthew Grief, who is heading up the new service, is a Chartered Tax Adviser and a member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).

Matthew said: “You may not have considered using an accountant for probate services, but there are some

real advantages. As accountants we have more knowledge in respect of the taxation and accountancy requirements than traditional probate practitioners.

When asked to act for existing clients we already hold a significant amount of information in relation to their financial affairs which can make the whole process far less time consuming.”

Matthew added: “Our service is completely flexible. We are happy to work with you to keep costs down if you can do some of the more straightforward, administrative tasks yourself, or, if you prefer, we can handle everything on your behalf.”

Moore East Midlands is offering its new service to both existing clients and new clients. Prices start from around £1,500.

For more information or to get a bespoke quote, call 01733 397300, email east.midlands@moore.co.uk or visit www.moore.co.uk

The Future is Green: Survey confirms Roythornes commitment to sustainability offices, and a further 86,640 by not driving socially, saving the equivalent carbon to 66 return flights from London to New York.

Ann Barrasso, Operations Director and green team champion at Roythornes, said: “Sustainability and protecting the environment around us is more important than ever and it’s vital that we make a conscious effort as a team to mitigate our carbon footprint where possible as small changes can make a big difference to the planet.

Roythornes Solicitors commits to becoming one of the region’s most sustainable law firms, saving seven tonnes of carbon last year, following a survey that explored changing attitudes towards carbon emissions and wider sustainability among its staff.

The survey found that 15 per cent of respondents showed a recent interest in swapping their energy supplier to a renewable source or ditching their car for an electric bike.

Results also showed that the firm saved 375,158 miles by not commuting into 30 connected

“We commissioned the survey to gauge the commitment of staff, so we were pleased to see that people are making a concerted effort to protect the planet by shopping locally, recycling more, composting their waste and even installing solar panels.”

Last month, the firm held a ‘Green Week’ promoting sustainable activities. This included a virtual presentation about the firm’s sustainability initiatives and internally circulating articles about recycling.

Roythornes also encouraged its staff to take responsibility in improving the environment through a company-wide challenge in which employees were rewarded with points for their eco-friendly activities.

This follows an impressive effort during lockdown, when the firm reduced its carbon emissions by 45 per cent (between October 2019 and December 2020).

Roythornes implemented a number of initiatives such as switching from paperbased forms to electronic forms, which saved just under half a million sheets of paper and significantly cut down the emissions of running the printer and producing the ink.

Ann added: “As a firm we’ve made huge steps to reduce our carbon emissions, saving seven tonnes in the last year through the purchase of 100 per cent renewable energy in our Spalding office, and achieving 85 sustainable acts for our 85th anniversary. Not only are we saving the planet by taking small steps but we’re also supporting national and international environment charities.

“The results of the survey are really promising and we hope that it will inspire other companies to make definitive steps towards reducing their environmental impact too. Every small act to help the environment makes a difference in the fight against global climate change.”

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SAVE ON MICROSOFT 365 PRODUCTS ctm IT Support launch savings platform for Microsoft Office 365 subscriptions If you could save five per cent on your overheads you would, right?

Since the launch of Nimmbus CSP, we have seen a big growth in our customer base and saved UK businesses real money.

Now available to all UK businesses, not just ctm IT Support customers, savings start from five per cent off Microsoft 365 public pricing.

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Register at www.nimmbus.com and set us as one of your Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers to save.

Helping companies recover from Covid Businesses are still fighting for their lives. The hardest hit will have to consider whether to downsize to survive while the booming businesses could be weighing up upsizing.

CBS Removals is part of CBS Group which offers other services including space management, fit outs and restoring a property to the required standard of a landlord.

CBS Removals, based in St Ives, is working with businesses to meet their needs as we prepare for post-pandemic times.

Sister companies CBS Cleaning and CBS Waste can also clean and handle waste disposal respectively at an old premises too. Contact 01480 220434 for a quote today.

The company offers commercial removals services which includes the moving of stock, fittings and fixtures and dilapidations.

Their team can also clear out an old premises and help with the setup at a new location too.

Complimentary one-on-one consultation with our VAT and Trade experts re:TRADE, powered by global leader VAT IT, is the one-stop supply chain solution addressing Brexit trade challenges such as shipping, EU customs clearance, VAT registrations, and Import VAT reclaim. re:TRADE makes it simple and cost-effective to move goods cross border and transition your business operations to the ‘new normal’ post-Brexit.

For any queries relating to post-Brexit trade, your supply chain, or how to reclaim Import VAT email gabrielle.magnani@vatit.com or visit https://calendly.com/vatit-gabrielle/retrade

Stagecoach Rewards This online platform allows our passengers to sign up for free and then redeem discounts from our retail, hotel, restaurant and leisure partners by showing their bus ticket.

Businesses can sign up as our partners for free and will then get free brand exposure in return for providing a discount.

Further details can be found on the website here: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/ promos-and-offers/national/stagecoachrewards

Do you have an offer to share with other Chamber members?

Upload your offer to the Chamber website and it could appear in the next issue of connected.

32 connected

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Tel: 01223 237414 Email: enquiries@cambscci.co.uk

• NEW MEMBERS • Anglia Cathodic Protection Services Ltd

IDEALER Ltd

Anvil Alloys Ltd

iM Med Ltd

Cambridge Support Ltd

Ison Distribution Ltd

Claire Hunter Coaching

Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar LLP

Domainex Ltd

Normal Wilson Management Consultants

EdgeSence

Spirus Marketing

Embrace Child Victims of Crime

University Centre Peterborough

Global Market Solutions Ltd

Claire Hunter Coaching

Claire Hunter Coaching provides career and leadership coaching to individuals. My belief is that satisfaction and fulfilment in life are achieved when individuals discover and pursuit their true passion, find their life purpose and do what they love. I want to make a difference by inspiring you to achieve your dreams and potential. www.clairehuntercoaching.com 34 connected

EdgeSense EdgeSense provides businesses with unparalleled insight into their assets. By combining state-of-the-art machine learning technology with our plug-and-play hardware and software platform, our intelligent sensors can be used across any industry to improve efficiency and safety whilst reducing running and maintenance costs. angus@circuit-builder.com

welcome

NEW MEMBERS

Proforce Security & Events Hub4Parts Limited The official supplier of spare parts for Herbert vegetable handling equipment and exclusive manufacturer of Plastic Grading Screens. This family business is run by Andy Hubble, Herbert’s ex-Commercial Manager, and his wife Max, who also has many years of experience as Herbert’s Sales Office Manager.

Since Opening in 2017 the company has delivered manufactured and sourced parts all around the world including Australia, Canada, Israel, mainland Europe including Eire and of course the UK. www.hub4parts.co.uk

A security company that specialises in the supply of security services.

We ensure peace of mind to our clients by providing the highest levels of security provisions for their companies, their assets and the safety of their personnel.

We strive to maintain a safe and secure environment for them to carry out their day to day operations, all individually tailored to meet our client’s requirements. www.proforce-sec.com

Ter (UK) Limited Based in Milton, Ter (UK) Limited is part of the Ter Chemicals Distribution Group, one of the leading European distributors for speciality chemicals and raw materials.

The company was founded in 2012 to further strengthen the group’s increasing pan-European network and is now an established leader in the importation, storage and distribution of speciality chemicals, intermediates, and food ingredients. www.teruk.co.uk

Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar LLP A law firm specialising in most areas of law, both private and commercial. Our lawyers pride themselves on their professional, friendly, cost effective service and are happy to help no matter how big or small the problem is.

Within Cambridgeshire we have offices in Peterborough, Wisbech, Ely and Isleham and more further afield in East Anglia at King’s Lynn and Thetford. www.mcp-law.co.uk connected 35

chamber

TRAINING

Understanding Exporting

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

Understanding Importing

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

Customs Procedures and Documentation

Tuesday 27 July, Tuesday 26 October It is vitally important that importers and exporters understand the information required to be submitted, fines and inspections are things that no company wants to endure. This sessions looks at the procedures required to deal with customs.

Incoterms 2020

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

36 connected

The Chamber runs a rolling programme of training courses that culminate in the nationally-recognised Foundation Award in International Trade.

Our regular training courses provide the knowledge to assist with your international trade activities. Currently, all courses will take place online via Zoom.

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

Letters of Credit

Tuesday 7 September, Tuesday 23 November This workshop covers the five main types of payment for exports, from advance payment to open account, including Sight Documentary Collection, Term Documentary Collection and Documentary Letters of Credit. It includes the use of Bills of Exchange with and without documents. You will gain a better understanding of how important it is to getting it right first time avoiding delayed payment of goods exported.

Inward and Outward Processing

Tuesday 14 September, Tuesday 7 December The course will cover special procedures and the benefits of using IP and OP in your compliance.

We will look at the impact of the EU Union Customs Code (UCC) on the application, the requirement for duty

guarantees and administrative processes involved in managing IP. As well as reviewing the IP application form and the C99/ C&E812 suspension returns, we will also look at what internal processes are required.

Understanding Rules of Origin

Wednesday 22 September, Tuesday 14 December This course will explain all aspects of the Rules of Origin and Trade agreements and how to understand and comply with them to help companies be more competitive in export markets.

Rules of Origin are the major factor in FTA agreements and we will learn how this is calculated and the benefits of having UK Origin.

Full course details are available on our website www.cambridgeshirechamber. co.uk/training All our training courses run from 10.00am-2.30pm.

Cost per course: £280.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £375.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members.

To register please visit our website, email s.parr@cambscci.co.uk or telephone 01223 237414.

Many Chamber events are still being held online but we are working on a programme of face-to-fae events to get our members connected again.

Please see our website for the most up-to-date event listing.

chamber

EVENTS

Should We Trust Our Gut Instinct?

Wednesday 7 July, 10.00-11.00am The first in a new series of events hosted by our Inspiring Women sector will be asking what exactly is a gut instinct and should we trust it?

Most of us will recognise that funny feeling we get when something is troubling us or when something just does not feel right.

How many of us make decisions, sometimes very important ones, based on our feelings as opposed to looking for facts to base our decisions on?

Join in a fascinating discussion style event to discover when and where we should, or should not, trust our gut instincts – both at work and at leisure.

Register via the Chamber website.

Rebuilding the Greater Cambridge Supply Chain post Covid Thursday 22 July, 1.00-3.30pm This event takes place online via zoom Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Anglia Ruskin University are hosting a free-to-attend webinar to discuss the issues facing the food and drink supply chain.

As we continue to follow the Government roadmap to recovery, businesses and their customers are wondering how the impact of Covid-19 will reshape consumer activity and routes to market.

Join our experienced panel of buyers, suppliers and innovative thinkers as they explore different themes and be part of the journey to shape the post-Covid supply chain.

Register your free place via the Chamber website.

NETWALKING They’re back! Our popular informal Netwalking events, in association with Living Sport, attract businesses of all sizes from a wide range of industry sectors and most importantly, they are free to attend.

Netwalking in Huntingdon Wednesday 14 July, 3.30-5.30pm Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Brampton Road, Huntingdon, PE29 6DB This walk takes place in Huntingdon and consists of a gentle walk around Hinchingbrooke Country Park followed by refreshments. Parking is charged up to 6.00pm and is £1.00 for up to two hours.

Register for this event via the Chamber website.

Crossing Continents - Moving goods under Transit

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS

Thursday 22 July, 2.00-3.00pm The volume of goods being exported from the UK under the Common Transit Convention has increased significantly since Brexit.

• Why is this method of import and export becoming more popular and how does a trader access the service?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages to using Transit?

• What is the role of a consignee and a consignor?

• What does it cost to move goods in this way?

Join us to find out answers to these questions and hear from the British Chambers of Commerce Director of Trade Facilitation and Chamber Customs and also experts from HMRC. Register via the Chamber website.

Tuesday 29 June, 11.00am-12.15pm Meet neighbours from Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northampton Chambers of Commerce.

Joining forces with neighbouring Chambers this event is designed to forge new business relationships across county borders and maximise your opportunity to build a profitable network.

Attendees will join a break at room for 15 minutes where each person gets the opportunity to speak to the room.

This event is for Chamber members only. Please register via the Chamber website.

To speak with a member of the Chamber team regarding events and training, please contact Sadie Parr, Head of Marketing & Events on 01223 237414 or email s.parr@cambscci.co.uk connected 37

insight from

SARAH WEST

Successful B2B Marketing Tactics for the Public Sector and Charities MAKE IT A WIN-WIN SITUATION

used by the public sector, particularly social media. LinkedIn can be very effective at reaching decision makers and Facebook can be effective at creating general awareness in the local community which quickly trickles through to businesses.

Busy businesses are reluctant to engage with things outside their day-to-day agenda unless they feel there is a benefit. With public sector and charity marketing, the most alluring bait is often marketing itself!

Increasingly, content marketing is critical.

This can include press releases, blogs, infographics, statistics, how-to guides, reports and apps. Content must be of value and interest to the intended audience. Keep in mind who it’s for and why they might choose to read it.

Public sector and charitable organisations typically require businesses to do something or take action to support their initiative or cause. Marketing-wise, it’s critical to identify a motivating factor.

Engaging with businesses can be critical for many public sector organisations and charities. However, businesspeople are busy and many may feel they don’t have time to get involved.

Sarah West, of leading B2B marketing agency Full Mix Marketing, takes a look at some considerations and tactics:

BUSINESSES ARE DIFFERENT

When embarking on targeting businesses, it’s good to keep in mind the difference between Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-toConsumer (B2C) marketing.

Consumers (you or I) typically make purchases to satisfy an emotional need, like hunger. They need little interaction with the brands they choose and tend to make decisions on their own.

However, businesses tend to make more rational purchases of the things they need. The decision process is longer and involves more people. They need more information and like to have longer-lasting relationships with the brands, suppliers and partners they choose.

Burst marketing (an intensive campaign over a short period of time) often works well for reaching consumers as they tend to make rapid and less informed decisions. However, drip marketing is typically more effective for reaching businesses, where a mix of marketing channels are used to communicate a consistent message over time.

Businesspeople often want to be seen by others to be making good decisions. This is something which the public sector and charities can use to their advantage…

38 connected

If the business engages with your initiative, project or fundraising – which often centres on supporting an area of the community or environment – the business can promote its involvement for its own advantage!

How to promote this involvement is not always obvious, so be creative and persuasive. Paint a picture with which busy businesses can engage.

WHO SHOULD YOU TARGET?

If you are looking to change behaviours (often true for public sector organisations) or raise awareness (often the aim of charities) then it’s important to approach businesses of sufficient size and status.

Businesses with existing charity involvement or a CSR (corporate social responsibility) policy are often most receptive. As the reward is positive public relations, businesses who already have a notable profile are often best.

Senior management or directors of businesses are often most accessible and receptive. However, do not underestimate the ‘pester power’ of more junior staff who may be personally invested in the aims of the campaign or initiative.

TACTICS FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Public sector campaigns often focus on preventing, preparing-for or dealing-with issues which may impact businesses.

Public relations can be critical. It’s important to gain wide awareness of the initiative. Local and business media are often receptive but can be cynical too. Hosting or attending business events (covid-permitting) can raise awareness.

Direct marketing by mail or email is perhaps the most immediate way to target businesses. Digital marketing is increasingly

TACTICS FOR CHARITIES Charitable organisations have at their heart a purpose that makes them special.

They often operate under constrained budgets and close scrutiny. Their marketing strategy has to be sensitive to the emotive nature of what they support but be impactful enough to be noticed above other charities.

Personal relationships are often critical in gaining support. This is why so many charities employ teams of fundraising staff to build close ties with businesses.

Public relations can be very powerful, particularly if you use existing relationships with businesses to attract others. Local press, media and social media tend to be receptive and being an active member of the business community - both at events and online (particularly LinkedIn) - can be very effective.

Again, direct and digital marketing are great for targeting business decision makers and influencers. However, the cost needs to be considered for smaller charities.

Content marketing can also be key. However, don’t underestimate the impact of something physical – such as a brochure, flyer or newsletter – as they can be widely retained and actioned.

EMPATHY Businesses can be an enigma to public sector organisations and charities. However, successfully engaging with them often stems from simply understanding what they value and communicating in a way which resonates.

More help can be found at www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk

KEEP CONNECTED #ChamberNetwork

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