connected July 2018

INSPIRING BUSINESS SUCCESS

ISSUE 68/JULY 2018

The official monthly magazine for Chamber members

GROWTH Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way for any business to grow

PLUS. . . all the news from the Chamber Network Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce 100 YEARS inspiring business success

Sector experts Working with the companies that make Cambridge successful for almost 40 years.

this issue

25

30

29

CONTENTS

33

8

21 5

Chief Executive’s highlights

6-7

Connections

8-9

Influence

10-11

Global reach

12-13

Knowledge

22-23

Cambs & South Cambs Chamber news

24-25

Out & about

27

Ely Chamber news

29

Huntingdonshire Chamber news

30-31

Peterborough Chamber news

14

Protection

15

Ask the expert

33

16-17

New members

34-35

18-19

Romsey Mill

39

Signpost to Grow

20

Matthew Gooding column

41

Insight from Alex Spencer

21

Charity

45-47

Stamford Chamber news Apprenticeships

Events

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce 100 YEARS inspiring business success

connected July 2018 3

welcome from the

EDITOR

Welcome....

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce 100 YEARS inspiring business success

Chief Executive John Bridge OBE DL Editor Sadie Parr

Romsey Mill, our Charity of the Year, attended the Royal Wedding garden party at Windsor Castle and have very kindly shared their experiences with us, turn to page 18 to read more about this unique opportunity.

This month’s guest article is from City College Peterborough who talk about apprenticeships and the benefits they can bring to your business. They also explain the apprenticeship levy and the way that apprenticeships can be delivered.

We’re now taking bookings for our summer events and Cambridge B2B Exhibition. Turn to the events pages for details of these events and how to book your place.

Sadie Parr Editor, connected s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

Published by

Print xlpress

DIARY DATES

Design Richard Thomas Clare Turner Advertising Caroline Baker caroline.baker@trinitymirror.com Membership team Bren Coleman 01223 209811 Paul Gibbons 07759 934111 Cambridge Enterprise House, Vision Park, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9ZR. Tel 01223 237414 Peterborough 6 The Forum, Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6FT. Tel 01733 370809 Email enquiries@cambscci.co.uk Visit cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk @CambsChamber Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce

July 2018

5

An Evening of Safari Networking, Ely

2

Informal Networking Evening, St Ives

8

Charity Cycle Ride, Peterborough

3

West Norfolk Breakfast, Kings Lynn

9

Informal Networking Evening, Ely

4

Informal Networking Evening, Stamford

11 17 LinkedIn as a Sales Tool, Cambirdge

4 July 2018 connected

Big Brain Quiz, Cambridge

18 18 18 19 19

Amazing Benefits of Chamber Membership, Peterborough

Interactive HR, Peterborough

Informal Networking Evening, Peterborough

Amazing Benefits of Chamber Membership, Cambridge

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce

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.

5

Summer Social, Huntingdon

24 25 25 27 Global Business Network, Cambridge

Fenland Quiz & Hog-Roast, Wisbech

Informal Networking Evening, Wisbech

Summer Garden Party, Cambridge

Informal Networking Evening, Cambridge

view from the

BRIDGE

I was privileged to be asked to speak at the recent celebration event marking “30 Years of Innovation” at Encocam where I presented on “The Secret of Success in a Global World” particularly relevant as over 80 per cent of their products are exported. I’m pictured with Founder and Chairman Dr Mike Ashmead, and Fiona McGonigle, Business Relationship Manager at Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority.

Encocam is an engineering and manufacturing company with a passion for developing practical, well designed engineering solutions and world leading in crash test dummies. One of the many attractions at this celebration was the opportunity for visitors to tour Encocam’s factories and engineering facilities and find out more about the different divisions and broad product range.

Our Huntingdonshire Construction and Property Network brings together professionals associated with property development and construction across the region. We recently welcomed Bridge Fibre as a sponsor and guest speaker to hear about the complexity of fibre infrastructure in the construction industry.

I was able to catch up personally with Leigh Partin, Managing Director of Bridge Fibre, Andrew Glover, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Bridge Partners along with Steve Dighton, Chair of The Construction Network and Business Development Manager at Breheny Civil Engineering Ltd, at the event and find out more about the challenges of ensuring good fibre availability for every business.

Based at the Innovation Hub in Cambridge, Bridge Fibre provides full fibre connectivity, hosting and telephony services to SMEs and larger enterprises.

Bradley Rowley, Trade and Information Team Adviser at Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), was a recent speaker at our regular Global Business Network event. EEN assist companies to do business in Europe and beyond through a range of specialist support services and Bradley advised on the availability of the services to help with export and trade and emphasised their free provision.

Whether you are already involved in international trade or considering expanding into new markets, Global Business Network offers a unique informal environment to share experience and expertise. The events are free and take place on a Tuesday evening once a month from 5.00-7.00pm with full details on our website.

John Bridge OBE DL Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce connected July 2018 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.

FIRST CONSTRUCTION NETWORKING EVENT LAYS FOUNDATIONS FOR FUTURE SUCCESSES

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE

#CHAMBERNETWORK connected is a key communication channel for Chamber members who use this monthly publication not only to promote their own news and special offers but also keep in touch with what’s going on within the local business community across the county.

Including an advert in connected will see your company branding, products and services reach over 1,200 companies across Cambridgeshire and South Lincolnshire.

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To book an advert please contact Caroline Baker at Cambridge News on 01223 632234 or caroline.baker@ trinitymirror.com.

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6 July 2018 connected

2018

Building on its already established reputation – Safe Local Trades has teamed up with the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce to lay the foundations for a new networking event.

The jointly run Construction Booth Networking morning was staged at the Peterborough Greyhound Stadium, with the aim of giving businesses within the construction industry the opportunity to meet and network within a relaxed setting.

As well as members of consumer champions Safe Local Trades and Safe Local Services; from areas including IT security, scaffolding, fleet car care and garden landscaping, representatives from similar non-member companies joined the event.

Kerry Cooper of Safe Local Trades said: “This was the first industry related construction event which we ran jointly with the Chamber.

“We were delighted with the turn out, and the feedback from those SLT members and nonmembers who attended has been really positive.

“Teaming up with the Chamber and our own members, Peterborough Greyhound Stadium, ensures that we target the best people as well as support the wonderful business acumen we have right here in the city.”

Kerry added: “We hope that this is the first of many events of this kind.”

widen your

CONNECTIONS

Getting connected at Chamber events CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS 2018 – OPEN FOR ENTRY UNTIL 29 JUNE As well as providing a boost for an individual or team, awards are a great way to give credibility to your business and generate publicity. There is just a short time left to submit your entry.

Business Award categories: • Export Business of the Year • High Growth Business of the Year • Small Business of the Year • Workplace Wellbeing Award • Best use of Technology Award • Education and Business Partnership Award • Employer of the Year • Customer Commitment Award • Digital Communications Campaign of the Year Award Visit chamberbusinessawards.co.uk for full details of each category, read tips on writing a winning award entry and to submit your entry.

Storm in a Teacup gave the opportunity for people to engage, share knowledge, experience and offer support in an informal setting.

Hotel du Vin in Cambridge hosted the event which was attended by a wide range of business sectors.

Organised by the Business Women’s Sector, our next session will be in Peterborough in September.

An audience of 50 came together for an afternoon of networking and racing at Huntingdon Racecourse where they heard from Hayley Williams, Director of Keystone Marketing, who took inspiration from the venue to prepare an observational look at the similarities between horse racing and marketing! Hayley helped us understand how the approach of the sport offers some excellent comparisons for an effective marketing strategy.

HUNTINGDON BUSINESS FAIR SUCCESS FOR MILTON EXECUTIVE CARS “The team from Milton Executive Cars always enjoy exhibiting at the Huntingdon Business Fair. The day is always busy with many diverse companies exhibiting and a wide variety of visitors from all sorts of businesses. This years’ exhibition did not disappoint, and we met many connections, some old and some new and are now following up some great leads. We look forward to exhibiting again next April!”

Claire Thompson, Business Manager, Milton Executive Cars

connected July 2018 7

As a Chamber member you have the power to influence key decision makers and play a leading role in tackling the issues that are preventing your business from reaching its potential, while an experienced team of lobbyists represents your interests in Whitehall.

PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE SIGN THAT WAGE GROWTH CAN’T BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED Commenting on the labour market figures for May 2018, published by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “With unemployment declining and employment levels continuing to rise, the latest data confirms that the labour market remains a bright spot for the UK economy. However, while the latest figures are likely to reinforce the MPC’s hawkish rhetoric, labour market data tends to lag behind the wider economy, so any broader weakening in economic conditions wouldn’t be expected to appear in the figures for some time.

“While regular earnings growth continues to marginally outpace inflation, the decline in UK productivity in the first quarter is a clear warning sign that positive real wage growth should not be taken for granted. While businesses are reporting some upward pressure on pay, sluggish productivity and high upfront business costs are restricting the extent to which wages are able to rise.

“More needs to be done to support firms looking to recruit and grow their business, including tackling the high input costs faced by businesses and addressing the chronic labour shortages that continue to undermine the UK growth prospects.”

Commenting on the labour productivity statistics, Suren added: “The fall in the first quarter is disappointing and shows that the recent pick-up in productivity was relatively short lived. The decline in the quarter was driven by weaker than expected GDP growth outturn in Q1 and the recent pick-up in hours worked.

“The persistent weakness in UK productivity reflects the longstanding structural problems in our economy from a chronic skills shortage, to our creaking infrastructure and the escalating cost of doing business in the UK. Delivering solutions to these key business concerns would help boost investment and drive the productivity gains we need to boost the UK’s long-term growth potential.”

8 July 2018 connected

Evidence of need for Apprenticeship reform mounting Commenting on the Apprenticeship statistics released by the Department of Education, Jane Gratton, Head of Skills at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Since the introduction of the apprenticeship reforms, the statistics have shown a marked decline in the number of apprenticeship starts and, sadly, the latest numbers are no different.

“Businesses are crying out for skilled workers to fill job vacancies and apprenticeships should be very much part of the solution, but the system just isn’t working. For SMEs in particular, the new rules have added to the barriers, complexity and cost of recruiting and training staff. For larger firms, the inflexibility of the system has made it difficult to spend their levy funds as they see best, making it feel more like a tax, and leaving less money available to pay for the training people need.

Businesses want to invest more in upskilling their workforce, and to offer great career opportunities for young people, but this system is holding everyone back.

“There is consensus across the UK business community that the Levy needs reform, yet our calls continue to go unanswered. We are not asking for a complete overhaul - everyone wants this system to work better. Each month the number of apprenticeships is falling, so now has to be the time for government to work with business and training providers to sort things out.”

the power to

INFLUENCE

TIME TO ‘FIX THE FUNDAMENTALS’ FOR UK GROWTH Chamber business leaders from across the United Kingdom have written to the Prime Minister calling for a renewed focus on tackling the barriers to growth and investment in the United Kingdom - and a radical plan for action.

Business communities throughout the UK are concerned about perceived inaction in Westminster and Whitehall on key domestic economic matters where attention and swift action are needed for the UK to succeed after it leaves the EU. Writing on behalf of the 53 accredited Chambers, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British

Chambers of Commerce, says: “Our future success depends not just on Brexit negotiations, but also on the big economic decisions that must be made here in the UK. It is time, Prime Minister, for you to set out a compelling, proenterprise and pro-growth vision for the future, and a bold set of domestic policies to make it happen.”

Key highlights: • Tell business communities across the UK how your government will act to stabilise the faltering training and apprenticeship system and give clarity on migration rules • Visible action to rebuild our rutted and potholed roads, to use the

resources of the state to build more homes, and to speed up the delivery of airport, rail and energy upgrades • Eliminate the significant gaps in mobile and digital connectivity that continue to strangle business productivity and UK competitiveness • Set a new mandate for HMRC and economic regulators to support, rather than pursue and punish, the small and medium-sized firms that can drive future growth • Tackle the huge costs and complexities of the UK tax system • Deliver a far more explicit blueprint to support economic growth in all regions and nations.

connected July 2018 9

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.

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

The courses provide the knowledge to assist with your international trade activities and you will receive detailed notes to take away to build up a toolkit of reference information.

Rules of Origin: Preference and Non-preference Thursday 19 July, 9.15am-5.00pm During this course we will examine the nonpreferential rules for determining the country of origin of goods in accordance with the provisions of primary rules and residual rules.

We’ll identify the preferential origin rules for your own specific products, in order to determine if they meet preference according to the relevant EU Free Trade Agreement.

Cost per course: £250.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £300.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members.

Venue: Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, 6 The Forum, Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6FT Full course outlines can be found at www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk To book, please call Jenni Misseldine on 01223 209810 or email j.misseldine@ cambscci.co.uk The programme of courses will re-start in September: • Export Procedures and Documentation, Wednesday 19 September • Incoterms and Export Licence Controls, Tuesday 9 October • Finance Options: Focusing on Letters of Credit, Tuesday 17 October • Import: Customs Compliance and Savings, Tuesday 13 November • Customs Special Procedures: Focusing on Inward Processing and Outward Processing, Tuesday 27 November • Rules of Origin: Preference and Non-preference, Tuesday 11 December.

10 July 2018 connected

INTERNATIONAL TRADE SUMMIT

2018

The conference aims to provide insight into key topics through panel discussions, keynote speakers and by providing opportunities for discussion with other attendees.

The Summit is a must-attend event for both new and established exporters and is an exceptional opportunity to network with likeminded business individuals and meet contacts from across the globe who can help you take the next step in your exporting journey.

The key themes of the day are: Dealing with the Practicalities of Brexit Six months out from the beginning of the Brexit transition period, this panel panel will bring together experts to discuss the practical implications of Brexit, what the changes at the end of the transition mean for your business, and how you can best prepare and stay ahead of the game. Bringing together experts covering topics such as Customs, supply chain management, employment, contracts and new trade routes, it will help your business to plan for the changes ahead.

The Changing Face of International Trade The face of international trade is changing, with vast opportunities throughout the world. Hear from those behind some of the most innovative and exciting schemes worldwide.

Trading the World - Be Inspired!

The best and most inspirational export advice comes from those that have done it before. Hear from key British business figures as to how we can get more companies exporting and what were the secrets of their success.

The conference takes place on Thursday 18 October from 9.00am-5.00pm at etc venues in London.

extend your

International Q&A

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GLOBAL REACH

Arab Countries Documentation Fees

For a guide to Arab Embassy requirements and Embassy legalisation fees, please visit the documentation section on our website at www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk.

You can select the Arab country you are shipping to for the current up-to-date charges.

Each country makes reference to Stream I and Stream II. Stream I means that the document is certified only by Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce and the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce. Stream II means that the document is certified by Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce and the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, then further legalised by the appropriate Embassy. There are different requirements for different counties, which are often updated, so it is important to check these pages regularly.

The Chambers’ export team are happy to help you calculate your documentation costs, give them a call on 01223 237414.

GLOBAL PARTNER OFFERS In addition to the many services we offer to help exporters maintain their competitive edge in the international marketplace, members also have access to a number of exclusive offers provided by third parties.

Chamber Foreign Exchange Moneycorp can save your business money by creating a foreign exchange strategy tailored to your business needs. Highly competitive exchange rates, low or no fees, free online currency accounts plus access to Moneycorp online, a web-based for

making payments and trading foreign exchange.

Find out more at www.moneycorp.com/chamberfx.

Chamber Credit Insurance Chamber Credit Insurance helps protect your business from bad debts and late payments, and supports you when invoices are not paid. You’ll also minimise the risk when exploring new markets and gain access to market expertise from Euler Hermes, the world’s largest credit insurer.

Find out more at

www.chambercreditinsurance.co.uk.

Half Price International Shipping Taking your business to the world?

Make savings every time you ship with this exclusive half price offer from DHL, leaving you more money to invest in other areas as you establish our business on an international scale.

Available to all Chamber members providing you’ve not shipped more than five times with DHL in the last 12 months.

Find out more at www.simplydhl.com/ uk/chambers.

connected July 2018 11

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

How to get the most from Digital Advertising Digital advertising was the topic of the recent workshop from the Communications Sector.

Mili Ponce of The SMF Group explained the different platforms to consider depending on your audience and how to get the best value and return on investment with the use of digital advertising.

Tips were given to the choice of colour and words to consider on your graphics for the ad which could make all the difference, as well as considering the key words to use which customers would search on.

The next workshop to be delivered by the Communications Sector is ‘Using LinkedIn as a Sales Tool’. Details can be found on the events page 47

Grow Your Business Business took time to reflect their own business growth as well as take part in a thought provoking people development activity at the first of the 2018 series of Grow your Business through People.

Pat Carrington, Assistant Director Skills and Employment for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, set the scene by addressing the importance of skills which is to be seen as a wider business improvement programme. She also highlighted that now is a great time for businesses to access funding and the opportunities for businesses to influence the qualifications of the future.

Local companies Ellgia and Cambridge Commodities spoke about their own business growth successes and how they facilitate growth through recruitment, engagement and retention.

The event was organised by the Chambers’ Learning and Skills Sector and sponsored by City College Peterborough.

The next in the series will be held in Fenland in the early autumn.

12 July 2018 connected

Tackling workplace stress through positive changes AXA PPP healthcare offer some positive changes to help tackle stress in the workplace.

Stress is a natural reaction to having too much pressure in our lives and being unable to cope with demands.

Some stress can be good, but in the long run, it can start to impact your people’s productivity.

According to a health and safety at work report by HSE, over 11 million days were lost at work in 2016 because of stress at work*.

It’s neither possible, nor practical to ‘stress-proof’ your workplace.

However, there are a number of things you can do to support your employees. Prevention is better than cure, so you could tackle stress through positive changes in your workplace: 1. Manage your employees’ workload by prioritising work and eliminating the unnecessary tasks.

2. Provide regular training, to ensure your people can do the work expected of them. You could also regularly review their training needs, to ensure they have the skills and knowledge needed for their job.

3. Stay aware of signs of conflict within your team. Resolving issues at an early stage can benefit your workforce.

4. Make sure your people work towards common and clearly defined goals. Having clear goals will empower your employees and help them succeed in their individual tasks.

5. Provide regular and constructive

feedback. It’s important to support and encourage your team regularly not just at appraisal time but at more frequent basis.

6. Promote exercising through company initiatives and relevant national fitness days. In addition to reducing stress, exercise can increase overall health and wellbeing of your employees.

7. Encourage a healthy work and life balance. For example, you could encourage your employees to take their annual leave. You could also discourage them from regularly taking work home in the evenings or weekends.

8. Healthy eating and exercising can help to tackle stress, so you could consider providing fresh fruit in your workplace.

Most importantly, everyone’s capabilities for measuring pressure are different.

Understanding your individual employees can help you greatly in preventing stress in your workplace.

Find out more about our Chamber Business Healthcare Plan on the membership section of our website *Work-related stress. Health and Safety Executive, 2016.

How is the sugar tax affecting you?

The Sugar Tax Levy came into force during April and Sterling Stock Auditors want to know how it is affecting you and your business.

Small businesses that were prepared for this levy have reported that there is little change to their business, but the full long-term effects are yet to be seen.

If you are noticing a worrying effect of the sugar tax then we have a few things you can try; such as focusing on how you can make more on your healthier drink options rather than how much you will lose on those more sugary drinks.

Make sure you have a wide selection of healthier alternative options and you’ll soon find that the sugar tax levy has given your catering or hospitality business a new opportunity for growth.

If you don’t fully understand how the sugar tax levy affects your business then please view our blog post on our website, www.sterlingstockauditors.co.uk, or contact us directly. We would be only too happy to offer advice and guidance to help you manage the sugar tax levy in a way that is best for your business.

grow your

How to give potential customers a reason to listen

KNOWLEDGE

Accountants advise businesses to prepare for change as Making Tax Digital looms

by Blue Donkey – Intelligent Telemarketing One of the first challenges of any telemarketing call is to convince a potential customer to have a conversation. In general, prospects are busy people and many will want to get you off the phone as quickly as possible so that they can get on with their day.

Although some people try to force their foot into the telephonic door using brash techniques and clichés, the best way to get your call started is to give your potential customer a good reason to listen.

Introduce yourself Rather than simply declaring which company you work for and then leaping into the conversation, give the prospect a brief overview of what your company does and what makes it unique. As well as telling them a little bit about you, it’s important to research the customer ahead of time. Have a quick look around their company homepage

and their social media profile. This should give you enough information to tailor the contents of your call and show them just how relevant your products or services are to their specific circumstances.

Keep positive points at the front of your mind Before you pick up the phone, think of around five points that make your product or service stand out from the crowd. Try to fit these into the conversation early on to get your prospect interested and ensure your message hits its mark.

Listen As well as giving your customers a reason to listen, it’s important that you return the favour. Listen carefully to what they have to say during the call. By being less pushy and putting the customer first, you should be able to stand out from the telemarketing crowd and steer your call towards a successful completion.

How are you using the Apprenticeship levy, Tax or Benefit?

Many of Labour-Tech’s clients and companies across the nation are losing out by not using the apprenticeship levy.

The apprenticeship levy was introduced in April 2017 and is designed to help businesses up-skill existing staff or train new employees to help develop their careers as well as tackle the skills shortage in the nation.

However, after speaking to many clients they’re not using the levy for various reasons... can’t find the apprentices, don’t know how the levy works and many think it’ll cost too much or be too time consuming. After hearing these responses, I attended a few apprenticeship events and spoke to students to learn what they thought about apprenticeships and discovered that students are struggling to find apprenticeships due to a lack of promotion from schools. If they’re interested in apprenticeships they have

to do the research themselves. Although it’s good that students are using their incentive to go out and search for what they want, I feel we should be helping the next generation find the career they’re looking for.

After speaking to both companies and students it was clear that someone should build the bridge between both parties to help businesses grow in the area. That’s where Labour-Tech Recruitment come in, we now have partnerships with local schools/colleges and Universities as well as having our current clientele.

Labour-tech Recruitment’s goal is to improve the skills in the region as well as increasing apprenticeships in Cambridgeshire.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the apprenticeship levy and how it can benefit your business please get in touch. Kurtis@labourtech.co.uk Kurtis Mpundu

Chartered Certified Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers, Bulley Davey, are encouraging businesses to get ahead of the game and prepare for the changes that are coming when the government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative is implemented next year.

Making Tax Digital is the government’s initiative to modernise the tax system in order to make it more efficient and effective, while reducing the amount of human error that currently occurs with keeping records and submitting returns. According to HMRC, inaccuracies on tax returns cost the government over £9 billion a year.

The initiative will first be introduced in April 2019 and will require all VAT registered businesses with a turnover above the VAT threshold of £85,000 to use the Making Tax Digital system to meet their VAT obligations.

Olga Carter, Associate at Bulley Davey, spoke about the changes and what businesses should be doing: “Where in the past with the modernisation of payroll, for example, businesses were given a basic software they could use; businesses required to meet the April 2019 deadline will need to invest in a Making Tax Digital-compliant software for keeping their records and to submit their VAT returns directly from it. Most cloud accounting software is compatible.

“Getting this software shouldn’t break the bank – many cost less than £30 a month to subscribe to – however we’re encouraging businesses to research their options and find the best option for them. The difficulty with many businesses will be in transitioning over to this software and training staff to use it to its fullest. This is why we want people to be prepared so that they’re not moving to a completely new software a month before the change.

“This April 2019 deadline is just a first step in the government’s plans to roll out MTD across multiple areas of tax. In April 2020, at the earliest, it’s expected that MTD will become mandatory for income tax and corporation tax, as appropriate, for all businesses – including landlords – with a turnover over the VAT threshold. In the very long run, it is expected that all businesses will need to be compliant with MTD eventually.”

To find out more about Making Tax Digital you can contact Olga on 01832 273150. connected July 2018 13

enhance your

PROTECTION

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

Why pay attention to Cyber Security?

The volume of attacks is increasing daily, with 46 per cent of companies suffering a cyber-attack in 2016 as compared to 24 per cent in 2015 (figures from Dept. for Culture, Media and Sport).

The impact of attacks, where they prove successful, have the potential to be increasingly damaging as well – diverting resources (both people and money) away from the day to day operations to managing incidents.

These days any size of business needs to be cyber aware - it is not only the remit of the large national / international organisations. The Government’s Cyber Essentials page states: “Cyber criminals don’t just attack banks and large companies - they target any organisation which isn’t properly protected, even small businesses - like yours”.

Cyber Essentials Certification Cyber Essentials is an industry supported certification scheme developed by the UK Government in partnership with the Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises (IASME) consortium, the Information Security Forum (ISF) and the British Standards Institution (BSI). It aims to address concerns that SME’s are not sufficiently protected against cyber-attacks. It is essentially a cyber MOT for SMEs to ensure that their business is putting into place basic measures to better protect themselves against cyberattacks and to mitigate the damage caused by such an attack. It provides criteria for organisations to measure their cyber-security systems by measuring and implementing five key controls, that when implemented correctly, can significantly reduce an organisations vulnerability. The certificate was initially launched in 2014 and is seen by the National Cyber Security Centre ‘as the first step for organisations to take in their journey to protecting themselves in cyber space’.

Getting Cyber Essentials certified Redpalm Technology Services are providing this service to Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce members.

The Cyber Essentials Scheme is a badge which organisations can use to demonstrate to customers, partners, insurers and investors that they have taken set measures to help secure their information and operations.

Cyber Essentials (stage 1) The organisation defines the scope, which is made up of the systems that are exposed to the Internet. The organisation states its compliance with the requirements by responding to the Cyber Essentials questionnaire, which covers the requirements for basic technical protection from cyber-attacks. To complete the process, an authorised signatory of the organisation signs the questionnaire attesting its accuracy. This is then sent to Redpalm Technology Services for review.

Cyber Essentials Plus (stage 2) Having completed Cyber Essentials stage 1, which is a prerequisite to Cyber Essentials Plus, an organisation may choose to undergo a more thorough assessment from Redpalm.

This time the assessment is based on an internal and external security assessment of servers and end-user devices. Once again this directly tests that individual controls have been implemented correctly and recreates various attack scenarios to determine whether a system compromise using basic capabilities can be achieved.

Visit the Protection page on the Chamber website to download the Cyber Essentials brochure.

CRIME AGAINST BUSINESS AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY 14 July 2018 connected

The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NCTSO) has released a new online E-learning tool - ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) Awareness eLearning in order to help businesses raise awareness amongst staff, identify risks and increase resilience against the impact of terrorist activity in your locality and/or supply chain.

ask the

Mental Health in the Workplace Mark Goldsborough is Co-founder, Principal Trainer and Executive Coach of Get Mental Health Training who provide mental health and wellbeing courses, delivered by mental health professionals, to a wide variety of workplaces What is all the fuss about mental health in the workplace about?

It’s about raising awareness and understanding and in turn creating healthier more productive workplaces that are more conducive to staff wellbeing.

The ‘fuss’ comes from increasing expectations on the employer and growing recognition of the positive financial impact of addressing these issues e.g. 45 per cent of all staff absence in GB is mental health related!

Can’t I just ignore it?

Yes, you could simply choose to view your business as process driven and mechanistic rather than reliant on the value your staff add. You could ignore the impact on the bottom line of absenteeism, turnover and stress and to postpone best practice for a while longer.

But should I take notice when MH is not my core business?

Yes, the House of Commons, Financial Ombudsman Service, Skanska, Anglian Water and Cambridge University are examples of who we have trained. All have been creating healthier workplaces (Research by Deloitte in 2017 showed a return of £9.98 for every pound invested in mental health training).

Who should I train?

Training the board raises awareness and shows a strong steer.

Empowering managers improves staff experience.

Investing in mental health champions creates strong sources of support.

Is stress a mental health condition?

No, stress is not a MH condition, it can be seen as a precursor that loads the bases towards mental ill health, remember having some stress can be a good thing, that different people find different things stressful. We need to take note of the intensity and duration of stress.

When does normal distress e.g. anxiety, become a mental health condition?

Three key areas differentiate the normal distress life creates from illness; duration, intensity and the effect on our ability to function. For example, if we feel less anxious when we have checked that we locked our door before leaving the house say five times, then that can be seen as a quirk of character. However, if we need to do this 120 times to the exclusion of all else, including arriving late for work, then the intensity and impact is much greater and we start to think of this as a MH condition.

Is it possible to recover from mental illness?

Yes and likely! The earlier the intervention the faster the recovery.

Can you give me three protective factors for my staff?

1. Control in relation to workload and tasks 2. Improving the emotional literacy of managers 3. Noticing and valuing staff performance.

Where can I get hold of more information?

The October 2017 Thriving at Work Independent Review for the Prime Minister provides an excellent read as well as providing a very clear direction of travel. You can source this directly via a link on our website resources page at www. getmentalhealth.co.uk.

EXPERT

Lack of sleep affects our performance in the workplace.

Supporting businesses to overcome the challenge of sleep deprivation is the sole purpose of Isabelle Edmondson, founder of Good Sleepers.

Two years ago, extensive research revealed the expense of sleep deficiency on the economy: in the UK, it costs us nearly two per cent of GDP. In February 2015 the journal of the National Sleep Foundation published that adults (18-64) require between seven to nine hours of sleep per day so adults who fall below this range are in sleep deficit.

How does sleep deficiency affect our performance and engagement in the workplace?

In this era of 24/7 access to communication, information, digital leisure, retail etc. our ability to make a conscious decision to ‘end the day’ has dramatically diminished in the past decade. Add to the equation poor quality of sleep (eg: apnea), insomnia, jetlag, or unexpected disruptions (eg: children’s sleep issues), and the result is rather catastrophic. Sleep deficiency has become a global pandemic and businesses are paying a very high cost for it: an average of £2,120 /employee/annum to be more precise.

Mental abilities: Nowadays in modern Britain, a lot of jobs rely on the good functioning of a clear mind. Employees are chosen for their ability to judge a situation and take appropriate actions fast. In other words, they require the firing of our ‘thinking brain’, but without the right amount and the right quality of sleep, the brain simply cannot access its higher level of reasoning. Tired people may look ‘ok’ (because their body is fighting fatigue by producing cortisol and adrenalin), but their mental abilities such as contextual judgement, critical thinking, complex reasoning, creativity, and troubleshooting are diminished immediately and significantly. A decrease in mental abilities is difficult to spot at first but the effects will become apparent over time.

Social abilities: A decrease in social abilities is often the first visible symptom to others in the work environment. Loss of awareness and confidence creeps in with bouts of unexpected impatience, lethargy or mood swings. Colleagues will notice a delayed ability to communicate or process information and a diminution in cognitive and memory performances. Fatigue also messes with the hunger-signalling hormones so sleep deprived colleagues are more likely to graze on fatty and sugary food throughout the day, unaware of the extent of their bad eating habits.

Physical abilities: This is the area where sleep deprivation can have the most dramatic consequences. Our body gets affected in two different ways: Firstly, the immune system loses its ability to efficiently fight or recover from illnesses. Sleep helps the body heal and repair, so the cardiovascular system of a chronically tired person is more likely to develop heart diseases, especially in view of bad eating habits highlighted above. Secondly, the nervous system being in constant overload and not able to rest and reset, it cannot perform as well as it should, causing delayed reactions, loss of focus, and a decrease in coordination skills. To top it up, sleep deprivation is counteracted by a survival instinct to take more risks, so the combination can have devastating consequences. Of course most readers will be able to visualise physical accidents such as workshop accidents but this is the same set of circumstances that will get an employee to hit ‘reply all’ instead of ‘reply’ to a sensitive email, or add another ‘0’ to a purchase order, or administer the wrong amount of medication, or tick a box to approve a design process milestone by mistake, etc.

Businesses are becoming more aware of sleep being a primary pillar of health.

Supporting good sleep amongst employees, is not only a way to improve their physical and mental health, efficiency and engagement. It also shows a great level of corporate responsibility. connected July 2018 15

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce 100 YEARS inspiring business success

Would you like to become a Chamber member?

Get in touch today to find out the many benefits.

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

NEW MEMBERS this month

Simex Aerospace Ltd

EUROTURK FREIGHT SOLUTIONS LTD FINSEN TECHNOLOGIES LTD INFINITI MEDIA GROUP LTD IPLAN 4D JARDINE APARTMENTS MEET CAMBRIDGE @MEETCAMBRIDGE OAKWATER PROJECTS SIMEX AEROSPACE LTD THE BOOKKEEPING DEPARTMENT @LYNNEMOFFAT1

Founded in 2016 in Cambridge, Simex Aerospace is an SME build specialising in development and manufacturing of rotary and fixed wing flight simulators. Their product range includes fixed base simulators, virtual simulators, desktop trainers and VR simulators, with the fleet of Airbus A320, B737, AW139 and Bell 412. www.simex-aero.com

EML Electrical Contractors Limited EML Electrical are your local, qualified and experienced commercial and industrial electrical contractors based in Peterborough, covering Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and beyond. With over 16 years’ experience, and as trusted NECIEC members, you know you’re in safe hands when you choose EML as your electrical contractor. www.emlelectrical.co.uk

16 July 2018 connected

news from

NEW MEMBERS

Wintercomfort for the homeless Wintercomfort are a homeless charity based in Cambridge. The charity has been supporting rough sleepers and vulnerably housed individuals since 1991. Alongside providing a basic welfare service, they operate an award winning learning and development programme.

Wintercomfort run two very successful social enterprises providing volunteering, training and employment opportunities for homeless and formally homeless individuals. Food4Food (www.food4food.org.uk) is a catering business supplying the highest quality buffet lunches. Overstream Clean (www.overstreamclean. co.uk) provides cleaning and gardening services across Cambridge. www.wintercomfort.org.uk

THE BOOKKEEPING DEPARTMENT The Bookkeeping Department help and support businesses to give them control of their business finances. They provide a full outsourced bookkeeping service to save you time and money or they train and support business owners to do their own bookkeeping brilliantly using Xero software. www.thebookkeepingdepartment.co.uk

connected July 2018 17

Romsey Mill attend Royal Wedding Romsey Mill’s Chief Executive Neil Perry was one of 1,200 members of the public to be invited, on the strength of their contribution to their local communities, to attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, at Windsor Castle.

Neil Perry commented: “It was an honour to be nominated and I felt that that it was the loving and determined work of the entire Romsey Mill team that was being acknowledged, so we agreed that it would be most appropriate for one of the young people participating in Romsey Mill to have the opportunity to attend the royal wedding with me.”

The young person invited to represent Romsey Mill was Kim Stannard, who has been with the Cambridgeshirebased youth and family charity for several years and now volunteers with them.

Here, Neil and Kim share their highlights of their once-ina-lifetime experience: Kim: “Romsey Mill has been a great support to me throughout all my problems. And volunteering with them to help change the lives of other young people is just amazing.

I was privileged to be given the opportunity to attend the royal wedding.

“We left Cambridge by car at 5.00am. Diane, another team member from Romsey Mill, came with us for the journey.”

Neil: “We arrived in Windsor at 7.30am. There was already a buzz of activity, as thousands of other excited well-wishers, the world’s media and traders selling Union flags and commemorative scarves all gathered for the special occasion.”

Kim: “Security on the streets walking up Windsor Castle was massive. We queued and talked with other people who had been invited. At 9.20am it was our turn to enter the Castle. We received a lovely gift bag and went to find a place to sit.

Neil: “We found a place to sit on the grass opposite the Galilee Porch where members of the royal family would

18 July 2018 connected

arrive and enter St George’s Chapel. Time passed quickly as we talked with other well-wishers and listened to beautiful music played inside the chapel.”

Kim: “Guests started arriving at around 11.00am. I was most excited to see James Corden. Neil recognised others like George Clooney and Clive Woodward but we didn’t have a clue who lots of the people were!”

Neil: “Before the wedding service we enjoyed a tasty picnic lunch provided by Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce.”

Kim: “I didn’t know all the members of the Royal Family, but I recognised Prince William and Prince Harry when they walked right past us. Her Majesty The Queen arrived shortly before midday. She looked great in her outfit.”

Neil: “We heard the wedding service, which was relayed outside the chapel, and enjoyed how it integrated British tradition with more modern touches and Meghan’s AfricanAmerican culture. One of my favourite parts was the personal, passionate sermon by Bishop Michael Curry with its message of power and love.”

Kim: “My highlight was the gospel choir singing Stand

By Me. Actually, all the music sounded amazing.”

Neil: “Following the service we saw the bride and bridegroom looking radiant as they left the chapel in their horse drawn carriage followed by other members of the Royal family and guests.”

Kim: “Afterwards, although I was hesitant, I wanted my photograph taken with a soldier of the Windsor Castle Guard. He wasn’t moving at all and looked very serious.

Neil reassured me that it was okay to have a photograph taken, so I shuffled up to the soldier and Neil took a couple of pictures.”

Kim: “It was an amazing day! I want to thank the people who nominated Romsey Mill and those that helped make it a wonderful experience.”

chamber supports

ROMSEY MILL

EVERYONE NEEDS A BREAK Romsey Mill delivers an array of positive activities enabling young people, children and families to learn new skills, engage in positive activities, make new friends and establish caring networks of support.

However, many of the families and young people that Romsey Mill works with will not be having a break this summer - they won’t be going away on holiday or looking forward to any special days out.

There is a lot of research into the challenges that families and young people face during the summer: The Government recently announced research into the issue of ‘holiday hunger’, exploring how to help the most disadvantaged children benefit from healthy meals and enriching activities during school holidays.

•Children from low income families are most at risk of ‘learning loss’ during summer holidays, impacting on their educational attainment • More children call the NSPCC’s Childline during July and August than any other time, as tensions increase in the home in the summer, and children become more worried and anxious • Low income families find it harder to make ends meet during the summer holidays compared with term-time. 93 per cent of low income parents skip at least one meal a day to make sure their children are fed • The National Citizen Service has revealed that over 50 per cent of teenagers feel isolated during time off from school; with a quarter saying holidays are their loneliest times of the entire year, rising to 29 per cent among girls.

Romsey Mill will run over 30 different and largely unfunded activities, day trips, and residential trips this summer, particularly for those who can’t afford a break, or who find holidays a time of increased isolation and disadvantage.

Mike Farrington, Romsey Mill’s Youth Development Team Coordinator, said: “Lack of structure and focussed activity in the summer can have a negative impact and connotations for our young people.

Their self-esteem and mental and emotional wellbeing can be particularly low if they don’t have anything to look forward to. So, we organise exciting activities like trampolining, climbing or scootering; or workshops for them to make music and get involved in art.”

Mike said: “These experiences provide something to look forward to with excitement - and look back on with fondness, and can often be a catalyst to positive change and transformation in

young peoples’ lives.”

Romsey Mill’s Young Parents Programme has arranged family days out to the seaside and the zoo, for teenage mums and young dads, and a special afternoon tea, just for the mums themselves, away from their children.

One of the teenage mums who went last year said: “The afternoon tea was the first thing I really did for myself after having a baby. Even though it was scary having ‘time off’ it was great to have a laugh and feel like my old self again.

You lose that a bit when you become a parent. It felt great having a treat and enjoying lovely food and company without worrying about anything else.”

Ruth Watt, who coordinates our Aspire team, working with children and young people with autism, said: “Holidays are particularly challenging for children with autism, who find change in routines very disturbing and unsettling. Therefore, we’ll continue to run groups for additional weeks through the summer, so the children can still look forward to something they know and love, and feel safe to be themselves.”

Romsey Mill’s Pre-Schools will go on a family day trip to Denny Abbey. Yvonne Burke, Pre-School Coordinator said: ”We’ll have a lovely morning with our Pre-School community of children and parents, spending time together doing activities the children love, like pond dipping, playing on toy tractors and learning how to milk a pretend cow.”

To find out more contact Neil Thompson, neil.thompson@romseymill.org.

Romsey Mill: Telephone: 01223 213162 Email: info@romseymill.org www.romseymill.org Twitter / Facebook/ Instagram: romseymill

connected July 2018 19

business talk with

MATTHEW GOODING

DELETION EMAIL By the time you read this the four dreaded letters which have been clogging up your inboxes lately should be a distant memory; I’m talking about GDPR. Yes I’m talking about the General Data Protection Act, which came into force last month and had businesses up and down the country frantically checking whether people wanted to stay on their databases.

For about the last 12 months I’ve had various companies and individuals pitching me stories about GDPR, its impact,

and what you should do to mitigate it, each one longer and more tedious than the next. But none of them properly prepared me for the vast onslaught of begging messages I’ve received in recent weeks, most of which I’ve ignored.

Some firms have played it straight, simply requesting that I update my details, while others offered incentives in the form of competition prizes in exchange for my data, which I’m pretty sure is precisely the kind of behaviour GDPR was set up to prevent.

The most threatening message came from a company I won’t name, and simply had the subject line ‘DELETION EMAIL’. It left me feeling slightly concerned about the consequences of not agreeing to

remain on their list, but I decided not to sign up, so we’ll have to wait and see if they have the power to wipe me off the face off the planet, like an unfortunate character in an episode of Black Mirror.

But the prize for most creative GDPR email has to go to Cambridge marketing agency Cofinitive, which decided to redefine the acronym as an act of Good Deed Per Response, pledging to make a donation to Golden Girls Against Cancer every time someone confirmed their details.

The Golden Girls are a team of women from the Cambridge business community raising funds for Cancer Research UK and Maggie’s Centres, with various events planned for the next few months. You can find out more about their efforts at tinyurl.com/ y9zeq8qu, and bravo to Cofinitive for coming up with such a worthy way to make the most of the GDPR situation.

Matthew Gooding is Business Correspondent of Cambridge Business Magazine, produced by Cambridge News & Media.

Helping you thrive in a changing world Accountancy, audit and tax advice. Bookkeeping, payroll and tax returns.

A complete solution for businesses and individuals.

T +44 (0)1733 379 300 E east.midlands@moorestephens.com

www.moorestephens.co.uk/eastmidlands

PRECISE. PROVEN. PERFORMANCE.

Moore Stephens East Midlands is an independent member firm of Moore Stephens International Limited. Registered to carry on audit work and regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. DPS40252 April 2018

20 July 2018 connected

chamber supports

CHARITY

£64,700 raised by trekkers taking on the Sahara, for Arthur Rank Hospice 18 adventurous hospice supporters – who trekked 70 kilometres across the world’s hottest desert in March, in temperatures reaching 40 deg C – have now raised an incredible £64,700!! Each supporter who took part in the once-in-a-life-time adventure has their own connection to the Arthur Rank Hospice and - in a #TeamArthur first a family of three brothers and one sister were amongst the trekkers. #TeamSpencer consisted of siblings, Lloyd Spencer, Jade Plant, Grant Spencer and Karl Spencer. Their Mum, Sandra Spencer, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2014. The family had a last Christmas with their Mum before she passed away on 19 January 2017. Whilst their Mum was being cared for on the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice, the four heard about the Sahara Trek and were inspired to take part. Their aim was to raise a combined total of £10,000 “to help many other families”. Their family fundraising total has now reached an impressive £10,133 (as of 1 May 2018).

The brothers and sister took part in the challenge alongside 14 other members of #TeamArthur, each with their own connection to the Hospice.

Plans are already in the pipeline for the Hospice’s next Sahara Trek, set to take place between 21-28 March 2020, and will also include volunteering with a community project in Marrakech. If you would like to register your interest as an individual or a group, please contact the Hospice’s Community Fundraiser Amy Bidwell, who looks after the Hospice’s Sahara Trek and other challenge events, on amy. bidwell@arhc.org.uk or 01223 675883.

How Maggie’s Centre can support employers, employees and colleagues affected by cancer Across the UK there are more than 560,000 people with cancer who are working, further 63,000 people who want to work and it is estimated that there will be 1.1 million people with cancer in the workforce by 2030.

A diagnosis of cancer can be totally overwhelming and the physical effects of a treatment, knowing how to deal with all the practical, emotional and psychological issues, can knock people sideways.

Maggie’s is a charity that offers free support to people with cancer, their family and friends, from diagnosis throughout living with the effects after cancer.

Our Centre, based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, helps people to achieve the best possible state of psychological and physical health during diagnosis, treatment and during their cancer journey.

In 2017, nearly 8,000 visited our Maggie’s Cambridge’s site; many of them were working or indeed working while

#TeamSpencer give their feet a rest, after a day’s trekking in the world’s hottest desert the Sahara. Left to right: Grant Spencer, Karl Spencer, Lloyd Spencer, and Jade Plant.

Eighteen #TeamArthur trekkers have now raised £64,700 (as of 1 May 2018), after walking 70km in the world’s hottest desert – the Moroccan Sahara.

caring for a loved one. We understand the challenges of going back to work after a treatment or working while undergoing a treatment. And to support employers, Maggie’s is holding a workshop focused on cancer in the workplace.

The workshop will be held on Friday 10 August from 8.00-10.00am at Maggie’s Centre, Addenbrooke’s Hospital. The aim of the workshop is to provide guidance, education and information on how to manage and support employees who have just been diagnosed with cancer, employees caring for a family member or a close friend, to support them and help them return back to work as appropriate. Attendees will gain a better insight into the issues of cancer and be better equipped in setting up open, practical and systematic framework for their organisation.

The workshop is open to anyone who manages a team, for example HR managers, Senior/Mid Managers, Team Leaders. To book your free place please call Andrea Chupacova on 01223 249220 / 07557 265462 or email

andrea.chupacova@maggiescentres. org (spaces are limited, early booking advisable).

Alternatively, if you feel that your organisation or one of your teams could benefit from this workshop, get in touch with us as we can organise a tailored on-site visit.

connected July 2018 21

Ashtons Legal appoints six new Associates The group have been appointed as Associates having successfully completed Ashtons’ Associateship Development Programme.

Congratulations go to Francesca Easter from the firm’s Family Law team

Acquisition paves the way for next generation of recruitment

in Norwich, Fiona Ouzman from Residential Property in Cambridge, Alexandra Chater from Commercial Property in Ipswich, Paul Humphries from the Court of Protection team who are based in Thetford, Rhian Brook from the Commercial Property team in Cambridge and Sarah Duncan from the firm’s Construction team in Ipswich.

Ashtons CEO, Edward O’Rourke, says: “I would like to congratulate all our new

Associates on this achievement, which is richly deserved. These appointments demonstrate the commitment we have to investing in the professional development of our staff. It is always rewarding to be able to promote talented team members from within the firm. These appointments take the number of associates in the firm to 34 - together with our 34 partners, they are working to meet a wide range of legal needs across the region and beyond.”

Start-up Simex gets into training Two years after being founded, Simex Aerospace, a start-up from UK hightech hub Cambridge, is making its first ever show appearance anywhere as it looks to promote its flight simulation technology to flying schools in the region. The company has already

Sam Sales, the entrepreneur behind the leading HR firm call hr, has acquired the Cambridge based recruitment consultancy, Whitehill Pelham (incorporating talentdesk).

The acquisition will bring together the strengths of both recognised and established companies. It presents the opportunity to deliver the next generation of hr and talent search to clients who work with the two firms.

Sam explains: “Recruitment techniques are constantly evolving and we have spent time finessing an innovative client-centric approach within call hr. I am looking forward to working with the team at Whitehill Pelham to apply these skills to their existing expertise in order to secure the best hires for all of our clients.”

Sam’s vision means that Whitehill Pelham and talentdesk, which have grown into a successful business under the leadership of Richard DeNetto, Business Manager, will continue to serve its clients as usual.

Sam will work with existing team members to ensure that exceptional service continues to be provided for clients and candidates, whilst executing a visionary, market leading approach on a much broader scale than ever before.

Her visionary approach, extensive experience and customer focus will ensure that both businesses, and their clients, will succeed together in this exciting new chapter for two of Cambridge’s leading people-focussed businesses.

22 July 2018 connected

Cambridge Regional College win leading Middle East football tournament Football students from Cambridge Regional College (CRC) have enjoyed outstanding success at one of the leading tournaments in youth soccer.

The Dubai Super Cup tournament, held at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, saw 11 countries competing in a series of matches over four days. Having successfully navigated the group stages, winning all six games against teams from Columbia, Dubai, Pakistan and Africa, team CRC lost out in the quarter finals of the Super Cup in a penalty shoot-out against the Renaldo Academy. They faired better in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup, winning 2-1 against Dubai City and claimed victory in the finals against TFA Dubai, with a 2-1 score line.

The students are part of the Cambridge

sold two Airbus A320 simulators to customers in India and Qatar and two Boeing 737 devices to Denmark and the same client in India. Simex, which employs just 10 people, outsources the building of the equipment to a company in Germany, but designs all the software in-house, and carries out final assembly.

United FC Shadow Scholarship scheme run by the College for boys aged 1619. The scheme offers talented footballers the chance to receive both regular professional coaching from UEFA level coaches, and a first-class education to open further opportunities such as university. Running for four years, the scheme has already proved successful, with a record number of students going on to university and higher education.

It has also provided opportunities for students to coach within the Cambridge United youth development system at Soccer Centres, Soccer Schools, Regional Development Centres and even at Shadow Academy level.

As well as taking part in the tournament, the students also enjoyed the opportunity to do some local sightseeing, visiting the Atlantis waterpark on the Palm and the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

news from

CAMBRIDGE & SOUTH CAMBS CHAMBER Gold Award for Sustainability

Revamped meeting space at Hilton Cambridge City Centre Hilton Cambridge City Centre creates bespoke events that can be tailored to your requirements, making each event a unique experience.

Their five contemporary meeting rooms, located in their exclusive events area, have undergone a transformation and have capacity for up 200 delegates, include built in HD equipment, controlled air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. These rooms are adjoined with the large glass atrium foyer; a versatile breakout space ideal for networking, refreshments, drinks reception and entertainment.

Hilton has revamped their Meetings Simplified package, designed to make the booking process simple, quick and easy and have launched a new, allinclusive food and drink offering, giving guest access to free-flowing food and drink throughout their meeting, at no extra cost.

Moreover, Hilton Cambridge City Centre is thriving to promote wellbeing within their meetings, introducing their new THRIVE boxes in order to encourage their guests to keep their body and minds active during their meeting and take a moment to energise.

The Cambridge opens doors to its new store

Pure achieves Investors in People Gold status Described as an achievement of ‘world class best practice’, IIP Gold is only given to organisations who can demonstrate excellence in developing and supporting staff to achieve high performance.

The leading recruitment organisation, was described as a ‘growing, forwardthinking company that prides itself on being a values-led organisation in a market where by far the majority are financially led’. The assessors described how people choose to work for Pure because of this approach and enjoyed the working environment created by the Executive team, and original founders, Gill Buchanan, Ian Walters and Lynn Walters.

Gill Buchanan, Chief Operating Officer at Pure, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a highly desirable accreditation for businesses to hold.

We’re extremely proud of this external recognition of the fact we like to do things differently and our ongoing focus on our company values, which are all based around making Pure a rewarding and positive place to work. We have created a supportive environment where people work flexibly, a culture of teamwork is fostered, and we are passionate about ensuring all our team are fully engaged to go the extra mile for our clients and candidates alike.

Our focus is on establishing long-term relationships as trusted advisors and our targets are focused on outcomes rather than making a quick return.”

The Cambridge welcomed guests to an official launch to showcase the opening of its central Cambridge store.

It offers a vibrant, contemporary space which has already been well received by the first customers through the doors. The new store is part of an overall investment that combines digital and assisted-service technology with face to face expertise.

Andy Jukes, Head of Direct Distribution and responsible for the branch and store network, said: “Our new central

St John’s College is celebrating winning a major accolade for its innovative practices and commitment to sustainable food – the city’s first academic venue to be recognised in this way.

St John’s College catering department was presented with a gold award at the recent Cambridge Sustainable Food Business Awards held at Anglia Ruskin University.

The annual awards honour food companies and institutions in Cambridge which are working to improve their sustainable credentials by signing up to a pledge and award scheme.

St John’s met a wide range of criteria including: implementing a sustainability policy, sourcing local and organic ingredients, sustainable fish and ethical Fairtrade ingredients, participating in a study of meat reduction and monitoring food waste using the latest Chef’s Eye technology.

Bill Brogan, Conference & Catering Manager at St John’s College, said: “It was a great honour to win this award for our commitment to sustainability in our catering operation. Over recent years we have introduced a number of initiatives to improve our practices, including looking at reducing waste and trialling alternative foods such as insects.

“Whilst this is an excellent milestone to achieve, there is always more to be done and we will continue to explore ways to improve even further.”

Cambridge store has a bright fresh look.

It combines technology with expertise from our team members something we know is valued by customers. We’ve not only invested in the store, but our people too; by relocating and training current team members while the building work was underway to create a new central Cambridge team. This training will help them to serve customers visiting Cambridge and satisfy many more of their financial needs and questions.” connected July 2018 23

Send us your photos each month and we’ll include the best of the bunch! Email images direct to s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

New venues for Informal Networking In May we ventured to new venues for our Cambridge and Peterborough meetings. Delegates received a behind the scenes tour of the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough and experienced a live game of Polo at Cambridge County Polo Club.

We will re-visit both venues later in the year.

DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS Chartered Surveyor and Civil Engineering are some of a number of degree apprenticeships offered by Anglia Ruskin University. At the May Peterborough Construction Network Lunch, Mark Rothera explained the benefits of degree apprenticeships, the funding and support available with the recruitment process. www.anglia.ac.uk/degreeapprenticeships

Local support success for a good cause Pippa Ellis, and Natasha Oliver from Beacon Wealth Management Ltd are raising funds in aid of Women v Cancer. In May they set up a bike on St Neots Market Square and took it in turns to cycle an hour each whilst shaking their collection tins and selling raffle tickets which raised £538.

CHEF DE LA MAISON MOVE PREMISES One of Peterborough’s top caterers have moved into new bigger premises at Vicarage Farm Road in Fengate.

24 July 2018 connected

it’s happening

Award success for The Cambridge The Cambridge have been named The MoneyAge Mortgage Awards ‘Mortgage Lender Customer Service of the Year’ at the 2018 annual awards.

OUT & ABOUT

Pure team hits fundraising heights in Three Peaks Challenge A 15-strong fundraising team from East Anglia’s professional recruitment consultancy Pure have smashed their fundraising target and raised over £6,000 for local bereavement charity Stars by completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge.

King’s Ely teacher takes on London Marathon for second time in aid of MIND A member of teaching staff at King’s Ely has raised almost £2,000 for a mental health charity by completing the London Marathon.

A blooming pretty picture Members of the St Ives in Bloom group have been clearing flower beds at the town’s park-andride site to prepare the area for summer planting thanks to sponsorship funding from Mick George Ltd to a value in excess of £1,500.

connected July 2018 25

news from

ELY CHAMBER

Deadline date for entries: Friday 6 July.

Dynamic Creative win for two Design Awards with NODA Dynamic Creative have won two awards for Best Luxury Programme in Pericles (Shakespeare at The George) and best budget Programme in Bonnie & Clyde (Wilburton Theatre Group) in the NODA Awards 2018.

This follows on from last year where they picked up the award for design of Luxury Programme for The Tempest (Shakespeare at The George).

Rob Barton, Creative Director, says: “This does show how Dynamic Creative can work within different budget constraints maintaining design excellence.”

NODA is the National Operatic and Dramatic Association. They have been working to help and support amateur theatre companies since 1899.

The Awards event was held on the 14 May and the winners go forward to the National Judges later in the year.

Thrills and spills at King’s Ely’s annual Hoop Trundle Competitive spirits rode high at King’s Ely’s Hoop Trundle – one of the school’s most historic and fiercely-contested events.

Crowds gathered around the East Lawn of Ely Cathedral for the trundle, which took place after Prizegiving on 4 May and was blessed with glorious sunshine. The event sees the school’s King’s and Queen’s Scholars, dressed in their distinctive scarlet red gowns, racing each other while bowling traditional wooden hoops.

Each year, up to 12 students in Year 12 become King’s Scholars (boys) or Queen’s Scholars (girls) on the basis of academic excellence. They become members of the Cathedral Foundation, strengthening the special link between King’s Ely and the cathedral, and they also qualify for other privileges throughout the academic year.

The King’s and Queen’s Scholars are all great friends but their competitive side was most certainly on display for the Hoop Trundle, which commemorates the re-founding of the school by King Henry VIII in 1541. Having dissolved Ely monastery, which had educated children for centuries, he gave the school its first Royal Charter and inaugurated the first 12 King’s Scholars.

One of the privileges he allowed them was to play games, including the bowling of hoops, in the cathedral precincts. In 1970, the school admitted girls for the first time in its 1,000 year history, and three years later the King’s Scholars were joined by Queen’s Scholars at the request of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the school in 1973.

The winners of this year’s Hoop Trundle were Jacob Cave and Sophie Wood, who were each presented with wooden tankards by the Mayor of Ely, Cllr Richard Hobbs.

There was further fun and frolics at King’s Ely when they raised a record-breaking £1,650 to help support poverty-stricken children and families in East Africa.

Hundreds of students, staff, families and friends of King’s Ely came together on New Field after school in April for Osfest – an annual fundraising extravaganza organised by students in Osmond House.

connected July 2018 27

IS YOUR BUSINESS READY FOR AN AGEING WORKFORCE? Professor Patricia Schofield Anglia Ruskin University

Professor Patricia Schofield is Head of Anglia Ruskin’s Positive Ageing Research Institute (PARI) and is involved in meeting the grand challenge of an Ageing Society, for which the UK government has set aside £90 million through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Tell us about the Positive Ageing Research Institute The Positive Ageing Research Institute (PARI), formerly the Centre for Future Ageing Research (CFAR), is a cross-faculty multidisciplinary institute involving over 130 academics from across Anglia Ruskin University which engages with a range of partners including businesses, charities and government bodies.

What does PARI do?

We try to address the issues that are important for people as they get older, such as workers and their employers, and we bring organisations together to develop applications for funding to enable us to explore the issues and develop solutions to be evaluated.

What sort of solutions?

We look at potential solutions around flexible working, housing, transport, health or technology, so we include for example; music therapy, pain management solutions, dementia management and technological solutions to maintain independent living.

How can we get involved?

The easiest way to get involved regardless of your background is to come along to one of our monthly meetings.

Each month, we have a themed meeting which involves a presentation by an external speaker with an interest in a particular aspect of ageing. Businesses and individuals are welcome to sign up to any meeting that may be of interest or you can come along and present on your work or interests. We also inform our partners of any public events held at the university, where businesses, council representatives and others can network.

If I am an older adult, can I get involved?

Absolutely, we always welcome service users to any of our meetings as we value the input that older adults can bring.

I have a business idea, can I get involved?

Definitely, we are always looking for potential solutions that may involve devices, sensors or apps that can help

older adults remain independent, so we would be very interested in hearing about your work.

How do I find out more information?

You can sign up to the weekly newsletter which updates on all of the projects, publications of the team and upcoming events, by contacting graeme.hodgson@anglia.ac.uk or positiveageingresearchinstitute@ anglia.ac.uk.

You can learn more at

anglia.ac.uk/pari

news from

Deadline date for entries: Friday 7 September

CRC opens new Forklift Truck Training Centre The Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Jay Dyne, was on hand last month to officially open the new Forklift Truck Training Centre at Cambridge Regional College’s (CRC) Huntingdon Campus.

The new training centre will allow CRC to offer RTITB accredited training

HUNTINGDONSHIRE CHAMBER

and licencing, an in-demand skill for businesses across the county and region.

CRC offers a wide range of fulltime, part-time and higher education courses from construction and engineering to media and computing technologies, with campuses in Huntingdon and Cambridge. It is one of the top 10 colleges in the country and the largest Apprenticeship provider in the Eastern Region.

Encocam celebrates 30 years of innovation

Language firm keeps business in the family Anglia Translations Ltd was founded

by Anthony Withers in 1992, while his daughter Mary Gilbey started her career on a different path before joining the business as Sales Manager in 2014.

Mary had studied French and Spanish at university before travelling for a couple of years. She then established herself in various international sales roles. The time became right for her to enter the family business when she joined as Sales Manager, and within two years she became Managing Director.

“My Dad had been thinking of retiring and selling the business. Meanwhile the company I was working for was closing their UK office and to stay with them meant a move to Austria, which I didn’t want,” said Mary.

“I didn’t even give a thought to joining my Dad’s company after university, but after establishing my career elsewhere, it was a good solution for both of us at the time. It would have been sad for him to have sold it, and it gave me the chance to run my own business.

“As he had been thinking of selling the business, it wasn’t being pushed forward and I undertook an active marketing and re-branding campaign. I took over the business as Managing Director in 2016, and I love being in control of what we do. My Dad is still involved as a Director and looks after one particular client. He’s also there for advice, and it’s worked out really well for both of us.”

30 years after Encocam was first started, the privately-owned engineering company held a celebration event for its customers, suppliers and partners.

Focusing on Innovation and International Trade, visitors had the chance to hear keynote speeches, tour the factories and engineering facilities, visit exhibition stands and see demonstrations of the company’s unique capabilities.

As Innovation was a key theme of the event, Founder and Chairman Dr Mike Ashmead explained how Encocam was established in 1988 with the goal of manufacturing aluminium honeycomb to be sold and used all over the world. He described how the company has innovated and grown to now have eight divisions working in seven industries, ranging from energy absorbers and safety test products for the automotive sector, through to architectural panels, motorbikes and racing products all through a desire to meet the needs of customers and solve their engineering challenges.

A highlight for many delegates was the demonstration of the newly installed Impact Sled which, complete with crash test dummy, was operated at 20mph.

Plus there was the chance to meet the Oxford Brookes Formula Student racing team and hear about the racing car they are building, which uses Corex aluminium honeycomb in the chassis.

New MD for FlexiSolar FlexiSolar, the innovative solar carport specialist, is delighted to announce it has a new Managing Director, Keenan Gratrick.

A promotion within the company, Keenan joined FlexiSolar as Operations Director last year to lead the delivery team, which has expanded rapidly over the last two months due to the high level of projects already awarded to FlexiSolar this year.

As well as being a seasoned electrical engineer, Keenan brings over 10 years’ experience specialising in the renewable energy sector; overseeing the installation of circa 800 MW of Solar PV. In his career, Keenan has been responsible for setting up commercial operations and solar park maintenance departments using market leading renewable technologies across the UK and overseas.

Keenan Gratrick commented: “It is with great pleasure that I have accepted the role of Managing Director at FlexiSolar.

It is an exciting time for the company, we are focused on three key areas; solar carports, EV chargers and battery storage, and are about to launch our own EV chargers to market shortly. FlexiSolar has a brilliant team, with in-house design and installation capability, we have a great pipeline of projects lined up delivering in these three key areas.

Our team of installers are currently onsite at Bentley, with the carport installation due to be complete in September. The company is really expanding and I am looking forward to help drive it forward.”

Do you have some exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page?

Get in touch. tel: 01223 237414 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk connected July 2018 29

Do you have some exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page?

Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237414 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

CKH celebrates award win

CLOSE BROTHERS TREASURY LAUNCHES NEW SAVINGS ACCOUNT AIMED AT SMALL BUSINESSES Small businesses across the region can now consider a new, flexible option for their valuable cash reserves.

Close Brothers Treasury, part of Close Brothers Limited, has introduced a Small Business Account (SBA), offering a competitive interest rate (currently 0.95% AER1) on deposits from £25,000 to £1 million.

Unlike a fixed term account, which locks your money away for a longer term, the SBA is a 95 day notice account. So whenever you give notice to withdraw some or all or your funds, it’s just 95 days away. Customers can also top up at any time, making it a convenient way to add to your company’s savings pot.

Andrew Mews, Business Development Manager Cambridgeshire (and Eastern Counties), says: “It’s important that businesses have the right savings account. We hope this account will give small businesses much more flexibility and freedom, backed by the financial strength of Close Brothers Limited.”

To find out how Close Brothers Treasury can support your business, please contact Andrew Mews on 07593 331296 or email andrew.mews@closebrothers.com.

1 AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year. Interest is paid gross of tax. The interest rate displayed is correct as at 14 May 2018.

All product rates are reviewed weekly and listed on our website, closetreasury.co.uk.

30 July 2018 connected

Cross Keys Homes (CKH) is celebrating after its life enhancing ‘All About You’ courses won a well-deserved award at one of the most prestigious awards in the housing sector, the Tpas Awards.

CKH fought off tough competition to be crowned winners of the ‘Excellence in Employment Skills and Training - Landlord’ category, in the Central region finals.

‘All About You’ focuses in on people least likely to participate in mainstream learning, and were designed by CKH’s experienced trainers to get to the heart of the issues that were affecting these individuals the most, and sometimes even lead to their tenancies being put at risk.

The courses, which include basic home maintenance, confidence building, healthy eating on a budget, and accessing essential support services, are targeted at those facing significant barriers to traditional learning. They are delivered in the community and provide one to one support and tailor made training.

CKH’s Chief Executive, Claire Higgins, said: “Winning this award is a huge achievement for CKH, highlighting how we really deliver people focused services that get to the heart of the challenges those living in our communities face, and provide solid outcomes. We are determined to offer targeted support to those individuals who need it most. The ‘All About You’ courses highlight how we reach out to the most vulnerable and excluded with really innovative approaches to help them help themselves. Being recognised by an organisation such as Tpas is a real testament to the hard work of all the team here at CKH to deliver truly people centred solutions. We are all delighted as we are so very proud of what we do.”

There are 10 awards on offer at the 2018 Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards. The closing date for nominations is Saturday 30 June. www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ businessawards

Merger means a new ‘Top 200’ law firm for Peterborough and Cambridge In an exciting development, Greenwoods Solicitors LLP and GRM have merged to form Greenwoods GRM LLP. Greenwoods, an ambitious law firm, has been actively seeking an opportunity to enhance the services it offers and fuel its growth through merger with a London-based law firm. It has taken its time to find the right firm, which shares its ambitions, values and ethos and has found that partner in GRM. Greenwoods’ head office has been in Peterborough for over 70 years; the firm’s Peterborough and Cambridge offices will continue to be a critical part of operations.

Greenwoods GRM will continue to offer the same high-quality, agile and responsive legal services its clients have come to expect.

With 26 partners and 85 lawyers, Greenwoods GRM has established bases in London, Cambridge and Peterborough together with international specialisms including South Korea, Italy and Germany.

Greenwoods’ Managing Director, Robert Dillarstone, will be the Managing Partner of Greenwoods GRM and Jane Laidler, the Senior Partner of GRM, will continue in that role for Greenwoods GRM. Robert Dillarstone says: “The combining of Greenwoods and GRM Law is a merger of two firms from a position of strength and with shared ambition, values and ethos.

“Greenwoods GRM brings together a long-standing London firm with an East Anglian regional powerhouse.

The merger reinforces our ability to meet the needs of regional, City, national and international clients with friendly professionalism and exceptional lawyers.

“This is combined with a ‘think local, act global’ approach to international work, founded on strong links with the expatriate business communities operating in London and across the UK.”

news from

Hunt & Coombs’ charity challenge raises over £1200

Twenty six members of staff from Hunt & Coombs Solicitors plus five dogs undertook their ‘Oundle Team Challenge’ of walking from the Hunt & Coombs office on Thorpe Road in Peterborough to the Hunt & Coombs office in Oundle all in aid of raising money for the firms’ chosen charities of the year - Macmillan and CPSL Mind.

The teams were sent on their way

by Senior Partner, Anna Spriggs, just after 9.30am in the cold and rain and welcomed back by Partner, Paddy Appleton, in Oundle with hot tea and cakes. The winners were the Wills, Trusts and Probate team whose walkers crossed the finish line in only four and a half hours.

Special mention must go to the Crime and Defence team whose walkers and dog were the first to cross the finish line in a spectacular three and a half hours! The rest of the team cycled the route. However not content with cycling from Peterborough to Oundle, they decided to take in the other two Hunt & Coombs offices in Huntingdon and St Neots as well.

The 60 mile round trip and three punctures took them six hours to complete. This was a heroic effort from the whole team - both walkers, dog and cyclists!

Senior Partner, Anna Spriggs, commented: “Despite the constant rain and cold weather, we had a lot of fun completing this challenge and we’re very proud to have raised so much money for our chosen charities in the process. Well done to all those that braved the cold and wet to take part.”

PETERBOROUGH CHAMBER

Robotics is ‘food for thought’ The potential for revolution in food manufacturing through cuttingedge robotic technology was the hot topic discussed during the latest Food Business Breakfast in Peterborough, organised and hosted

by Roythornes Solicitors.

Held at the Kingsgate Conference Centre, Roythornes welcomed more than 100 delegates from across the sector for a morning of networking, refreshments and to share best practice with fellow industry professionals.

Sam Norman, a Director of the OAL Group, led an interesting and lively presentation as the event’s keynote speaker. She talked about the technology OAL are developing to support businesses in the food industry to stay competitive, innovative and overcome the challenges they face. She noted that some of the biggest issues at the current time include stagnant productivity, the implementation of the living wage and Brexit.

Mark Dodds, Marketing Manager at Roythornes Solicitors, said: “Our Food Business Breakfast has become a key staple in the networking calendar for business professionals based in both Peterborough and other areas of the UK. “Improved efficiency, reduced labour costs and reliability are all potential benefits to implementing robotics, and Sam offered an interesting perspective on what this actually means in practice, exploring the use of robots in the sector and how the industry needs to work collaborative in order to stay flexible and compete with organisations within Europe and across the world.”

New Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral The Chapter of Peterborough Cathedral is pleased to announce that it has appointed Tansy Castledine as its new Director of Music. She will take up her post in September 2018.

Ms Castledine has been Director of Music at St Mark’s, Hamilton Terrace, London since 2012. She was also Director of Music at St George’s College, Weybridge for 11 years, where she led the department in giving concerts, making international tours, broadcasting on BBC radio and television, and recording CDs with the choirs.

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Tansy has agreed to join us as our new Director of Music. She will undoubtedly bring a great deal of insight, skill and experience with her and we look forward to welcoming her to the Cathedral community, and seeing the music department continue to flourish under her leadership.”

Tansy said: “I am thrilled to be appointed Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral. The opportunity to continue Steven Grahl’s excellent work and to contribute to the life of the Cathedral community is a really exciting prospect. I am very much looking forward to working with the Chapter to shape the musical provision at Peterborough Cathedral over the coming years.” connected July 2018 31

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news from

STAMFORD CHAMBER

New Director at Talkspace Linda Fogarty-Smith joins the team at Talkspace as a Director responsible for sales, marketing, business development and the implementation of procedures and processes.

Linda is a General Practice Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years’ experience in property and has worked in the private and public sectors on the commercial and residential side.

Linda commented: “One of my first responsibilities has been to look at the re-branding of Talkspace and we have launched our improved and updated website. This reflects the new streamlined approach of the company making it easier for clients, and potential clients, to contact us for our services.”

Visit the new website at talkspacegroup.co.uk

Local Chamber and School hold networking event Delegates heard about the retail and economy of Stamford at a special networking event held at Stamford Endowed Schools and supported by the Stamford Chamber, designed to get more businesses connected.

The Stamford Endowed Schools are delighted to be working with almost 100 local, independent businesses through the Foundation Card programme and the Stamford Chamber are keen to work alongside more local businesses so this joint event allowed Chamber members and foundation partners to network and form new relationships.

The Foundation Card is a discount card, that are available to anyone, which provides cardholders with an exclusive set of discounts and special offers that may be used every time they visit almost 100 businesses in the Stamford area.

The benefits: • Cardholders benefit from exclusive discounts and special offers from local businesses • Participating businesses are promoted by the Schools and gain a new route to market • The SES Foundation raises funds to provide means-tested places at the Schools for local children.

To find out more about the Foundation Card please visit bit.ly/StamfordFoundationCard

Creative offered on-tap from Strawman Beer festival season is in full flow, and thanks to four years of experience in the trade, Strawman have plenty of creative choices ontap for local and national brewers.

Previous campaigns have ranged from bold and nutty, to sweeter nostalgic notes.

An unusual take on heritage saw 1.5 million video views, reaching 3.3 million people on social, during a 2016 awareness campaign for Dutch brewers, Bavaria.

Last summer, aiding the launch

of this historic pilsner on-draught in Manchester pubs, for the first time ever, made an incredible impact – 12.5 million radio impacts, in fact, along with nine million billboard impressions, and bar sales exceeding the target by up to 150 per cent.

It’s been a fantastic journey so far, with a refreshing mix of film, print, outdoor, radio, website, social, and glassware choices all sampled.

If you fancy a pint and a chat, pop by – first round’s on the house!

Do you have some exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page? Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237414 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk connected July 2018 33

APPRENTICESHIPS

New Opportunities and Business Growth

34 July 2018 connected

report on

aving apprentices in your business can bring significant business benefits and did you know that not only can you recruit apprentices but existing employees can also undertake an apprenticeship… from an intermediate level right though to degree and Maters level.

Hiring an apprentice has never been easier and is a productive and effective way for any business to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.

Skills and qualifications of our post compulsory education since the late 70’s has grown significantly, increasing our workforce qualifications. If we take the economists view of Human Capital, linking labour to the organisational performance and how the value of labour could rise, giving appropriate investment ie training or in other words: Learning = qualification achievement = skills gain = productivity gain = wage gain This should signal strong productivity growth…. But looking at the office of National Statistic figures on productive it would appear that productivity has stalled.

So, what has gone wrong?

I would suggest it is because skills need’s to be part of a wider business improvement and support ‘offer’ which requires much more sophisticated economic development strategies and delivery infrastructure at local level with skills and apprenticeships forming part of this.

One area in which you can improve your business productivity and reduce errors is by improving the literacy and numeracy of your workforce. A classic example of this is if you have pickers in your warehouse with poor literacy and/or numeracy, picking errors could occur and this will upset customers, give additional costs for returns and replacements and effect the businesses reputation. However, there is a statutory entitlement for all adults with low level maths and English to be able to access free training for maths and English, so there is no excuse not to do it.

Adult learning gives a strong return on investment with a Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) research paper, showing that a £10 return to the economy for every £1 of Government investment for learning below level 2.

When looking at apprentices it’s an even better picture as there is a reported £26 return on every £1 investment at level 2 apprenticeships and £28 for return at level 3 apprenticeships with BIS stating that 96 per cent of employers who take on an apprentice report benefits to their

APPRENTICESHIPS

business, with 72 per cent reporting improved productivity. Other benefits that apprenticeships contribute towards include: • Increasing employee satisfaction • Reducing staff turnover • Reducing recruitment costs.

So, hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way for any business to grow talent.

The governments’ rapid reform in apprenticeships over the last few years has been second to none but what does this mean for businesses?

There are two ways of delivering apprenticeships and two ways of funding apprenticeships.

If you are a business with a wage bill of over £3m you will pay into a levy pot that can be drawn down to pay for your apprenticeships. As a business you could hire a new employee as an apprentice at intermediate (level 2) or even hire a degree apprentice (level 5). Alternatively, a business can upskill their existing staff up to Masters level on an apprenticeship.

Alongside this, from May 2018 larger employers who pay the levy will for the first time be allowed to transfer up to 10 per cent of their annual funds to another organisation. The change will enable large organisations with unspent levy funding to support smaller employers in their supply chain to recruit apprenticeships.

If you are not a levy paying employee, then you draw down 90 per cent of the cost of the apprenticeship from the government and pay 10 per cent towards the apprenticeship.

For a business that recruits a 16-18-yearold apprentice, you may also be eligible for a government grant of £1,000 per apprentice. The Cambridgeshire and

Peterborough Combined Authority are also very committed to the apprenticeship agenda and if you are an SME with less than 250 staff, they will top up the government £1,000 grant by another £1,000 to give you a total grant of £2,000 and if you recruit a 19-24-year-old apprentice they will pay a grant to you of £1,500. So again, there really is no excuse not to explore this further.

So, when planning your business strategy and especially when looking at economic development strategies and delivery infrastructure, consider the positive impact skills training and apprenticeships can have on your business.

If you would like to discuss this further or find out more about adult skills training and apprenticeships, please do feel free to contact me, for training, retraining and staff development are my passion and City College does have an excellent reputation for delivering adult learning and apprentices, with Ofsted (November 2017) stating they recognised our excellent work with our employers.

We have also listened to the businesses we work with and have just launched our Leadership & Management Academy, offering businesses the opportunity to develop their staff leadership and management skills, from budget management, project management, communication and reflect practice.

There has never been a better time to invest in your business though your staff development than now.

Pat Carrington MBE, MBA Principal and Assistant Director Skills & Employment at Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council.

National Apprenticeship Week at NetSupport

connected July 2018 35

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SIGNPOST TO GROW

Are you a leader or a manager?

As a successful business owner you will need to get to grips with being both a leader and a manager to effectively get your team on board with your business vision and objectives. However, the key to achieving this is understanding the difference between the two roles and how they compliment each other to create a well-rounded leader who gets the most from their team.

The main difference to recognise is that leaders have people follow them while managers have people who work for them.

What do managers do?

If you are responsible for the strategic planning, organising, leading and controlling functions within a business, chances are you are a manager.

Typically, managers also possess leadership qualities too in the form of exercising communication skills, providing team motivation, inspiration and guidance, as well as encouraging fellow employees to raise quality and productivity.

Managers are held responsible for their actions, as well as the actions of their staff. The title manager often brings with it the authority and the privilege to promote, hire, fire, discipline or reward employees based on their performance and behaviour. Staff tend to follow as a direct result of the management title.

The primary role of a manager in your

business is to meet the objectives and goals of your business or organisation, whilst motivating the rest of your staff to both get the best from them and provide development opportunities to support the growth of your business.

What do leaders do?

The main difference between management and leadership is that a leader doesn’t necessarily need to hold or occupy a position of management within your business. It’s not essential for a leader to be an authority figure; a leader could be anyone in your organisation.

Leadership is change-savvy, visionary, agile, creative, and adaptive. As your business grows the original core leaders may find managing staff a challenge, it requires a new set of skills. Fortunately, these are skills your leaders can learn.

Unlike managers, natural leaders are mostly followed because of their personality, behaviour and beliefs.

Leaders within your business should demonstrate a high level of passion and investment in the tasks and projects being focused on. Leaders take a great deal of interest in the success of their work colleagues and team, enabling them to reach their goals to satisfaction

– although these are not necessarily organisational goals.

Your business leaders won’t always display a tangible or formal power over your other employees. Temporary power is often awarded to a leader and can be conditional based on that individual’s ability to continually inspire and motivate others in your business.

Final Thoughts Subordinates of a manager in your business are required to obey orders while following is optional when it comes to leadership. Leadership works on inspiration and trust among your employees; those who do wish to follow their leader may stop at any time.

Generally, the leaders in your business are people who challenge the status quo and push for greater ambition.

Determining a leadership style that works for your organisation sometimes needs some consideration and reflection.

If you would like some advice on how to refine your leadership approach, our friendly Signpost 2 Grow team can put you in touch with the best support to develop a successful strategy. Please contact the team on 01223 967676 or 01733 602060 or visit www.signpost2grow.co.uk/support

connected July 2018 39

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insight from

ALEX SPENCER

How to build a trusted brand in the era of fake news In this era of fake news and data protection breaches from the likes of Facebook, it’s not surprising that many people have had their faith shaken in things they read online.

This may prove to be a problem for businesses who mainly work online and no longer have a physical office or high street presence. That’s why it’s important to prove to potential customers that you are real and trustworthy. To build a trusted brand, you have to create ‘trust signals’ for your customers so that they know it’s safe to work with or buy from with you. Here are our top tips: 1: Be responsive on social media and the phone People will feel reassured if they receive quick answers from you on social media and are obviously talking to a real person.

Alarm bells will start to ring if you don’t answer questions or complaints on Twitter and Facebook but are still making regular

scheduled posts. It raises the question of whether you are a real business or a bot.

Also, some people just want to talk to a real person – so make sure you have a telephone that is answered promptly.

2: High quality brochures Tangible marketing materials such as brochures, catalogues or leaflets reassure people that a company exists beyond its website. If you go to meetings and can leave behind information packs and folders, a customer will see you have invested in your business and know you are a going concern.

If you are posting out a brochure, include a hand written compliments slip – this is a genuine personal touch.

3: Networking Make the most of networking opportunities. Putting a face to a name is one of the best ways for your clients to see there is a real person behind the business.

4: Branding Consistent branding and adhering to strict brand guidelines in all your marketing materials helps you look like a professional organisation that people can trust. If your logo or fonts are constantly changing, people will wonder who you are and what you stand for.

5: Testimonials Testimonials and case studies from real, identifiable, customers are the gold standard of trust signals. If you can get them to be pictured and named on your website you will be able to assure customers of the quality of your work too.

6: Draw up an ethical charter Set out your stall and say how you plan to behave in the work place by drawing up an ethical charter. It immediately helps people to see whether they can trust you as a business.

Customers will appreciate this transparency and it is a great way to encourage staff to adhere to your values so that you keep your good reputation.

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connected July 2018 41

Leading the way Local recruitment agency Ann Pettengell rebrands to mark a new chapter of growth, proving it knows what works when it comes to spotting talent in Cambridge.

C

ambridge recruitment agency Ann Pettengell builds on its established heritage in the city, as it enters a new phase of growth that sees it rebrand to further appeal to its expanding client base, which ranges from local SMEs to global corporations.

The agency’s rebrand represents an evolution of the business to further bolster its offering to the leading sectors that

operate in Cambridge and contribute to the success of the region, whilst sharpening its competitive edge as a recruitment agency in the city. The company will also relocate to an office space in the new development on Cambridge Innovation Park, which will increase floor capacity and cater for continued growth.

An accumulated insider knowledge of the local area means that Ann Pettengell has earned a reputation for understanding the logistical complexities involved in matching the right candidate with the right role. As the city continues to expand, the rebrand sees the agency affirm to both existing clients, and the next generation, that it has its finger on the pulse when it comes to knowing the Cambridge market.

Sarah Flack, client services director at Ann Pettengell, said: “The business has continually evolved over the years, to adapt to the fast-growing, changing landscapes in Cambridge. We’re now ready to enter this new phase of our journey, which will build on the success we’ve achieved through the enduring relationships we’ve built.

01223 350234

jobs@annpettengell.co.uk

“Our new brand represents the extensive knowledge and expertise we hold, and we look forward to working with our broadening range of clients to reach their recruitment goals on all levels.”

Relationships sit at the heart of Ann Pettengell, and this approach has seen the business flourish over the last 40 years.

The agency works collaboratively with its clients to find capable candidates for suited roles, enabling businesses to excel with the appropriate team in place. The company continues to recruit for positions from entry level to executive, capitalising on its scope of expertise to source high-level candidates for senior roles in some of the most distinguished companies in the Silicon Fen, and its renewed visual confidence aligns with this offering.

This new chapter will see the agency continue to develop its established relationships with candidates and clients, whilst building new ones, by providing dynamic and ambitious organisations with quality applicants, in permanent and temporary roles, across a range of sectors.

ITION 2018 IB H X E B 2 B E G ID CAMBR am-4.00pm 0 .0 10 , 18 0 2 R E B EPTEM THURSDAY 20 S A, CAMBRIDGE P S D N A L E T O H QUY MILL

event g in k r o w t e n B 2 B est Cambridge’s bigrogmotional opportunities for your with unrivalled p rs, free speed o it is v 0 5 6 , rs o it ib business, 100 exh tive free seminars a rm fo in d n a s n networking sessio S NOW ON SALE D N TA S N IO IT IB EXH

3m x 2m exhibition stand £370.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £470.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members 2m x 2m exhibition space £270.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £370.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members Outside display/demonstration area - please ask for prices

@CamB2B Organised by

BOOK YOUR EXHIBITION STAND TODAY

Supported by

Call Jenni Misseldine at Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce on 01223 209810, email j.misseldine@cambscci.co.uk or book your stand online at www.cambridgeB2B.co.uk

chamber

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce

EVENTS

100 YEARS inspiring business success

AMAZING BENEFITS OF

CHAMBER

MEMBERSHIP DATE: Wednesday 18 July TIME: 9.30-11.30am LOCATION: Peterborough Chamber, 6 The Forum, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6FT DATE: Thursday 19 July TIME: 9.30-11.30am LOCATION: Milton Hall, Ely Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6WZ PRICE: Free to attend, please register in advance CONTACT: Bren Coleman on 01223 209811 or email b.coleman@cambscci.co.uk Come and learn the real, tangible benefits of membership in terms of financial savings and

increasing revenue and profitability.

Whether you’re looking to generate interest in your services and increase sales, develop your professional skillset, explore new opportunities to do business overseas, or take advantage of the cost-savings and protection available, our extensive membership package offers it all.

You will also discover our latest promotional opportunities and get connected with our benefit service providers.

We will also explain how we can help you engage with others in the Chamber network and across the wider business community.

FENLAND QUIZ & HOG-ROAST DATE: Wednesday 25 July TIME: 6.00-9.00pm, plus informal networking 5.00-6.00pm LOCATION: Elgood & Son’s, North Brink Brewery, Wisbech, PE13 1LN PRICE: £12.50 (plus VAT) Chamber member, £20.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber member CONTACT: Jenni Misseldine on 01223 209810 or email j.misseldine@cambscci.co.uk Battle it out for this year’s trophy in teams of up to four people and compete against members of Norfolk Chamber.

After you’ve had the chance to show off your general knowledge it will be time to enjoy a hog roast with networking in the award-winning brewery gardens.

Informal networking will take place from 5.00-6.00pm at the Elgood’s Visitor Centre and is free to attend.

SUMMER GARDEN PARTY DATE: Friday 27 July TIME: 2.00-4.00pm LOCATION: Cambridge County Polo Club, Lode, Cambridge, CB25 9HF PRICE: £30.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £37.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members CONTACT: Jenni Misseldine on 01223 209810 or email j.misseldine@cambscci.co.uk This year our annual garden party offers the opportunity to reinforce long-lasting business relationships alongside a few games of Polo, so make sure you invite all of your company’s key networkers along. A finger buffet and refreshments will be provided and you are welcome to stay after our event until the Polo matches conclude at 6.00pm

Chamber members can book events online at www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk connected July 2018 45

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce 100 YEARS inspiring business success

Your essential business calendar for the next months.

Summer Social INFORMAL NETWORKING EVENINGS

JULY 2018 2

St Ives (Hunts) Golf Club, St Ives 5.00-7.00pm

4

The Crown Hotel, Stamford 5.00-7.00pm

9

Poets House & Restaurant, Ely 5.00-7.00pm

18 19 25

The Broadway Theatre, Peterborough 5.00-7.00pm

Bradfield Centre, Cambridge 5.00-7.00pm

Elgood & Sons Ltd, Wisbech 5.00-6.00pm

Interactive HR

DATE: Thursday 5 July TIME: 2.30-4.30pm LOCATION: Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon, PRICE: £12.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £17.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members Organised by the Business Women’s Sector Our annual summer social networking event to engage, connect and socialise in a relaxed and informal manor in the lovely grounds of Hinchingbrooke Country Park.

We will also hear a short talk from Westfield Health about Wellbeing in the Workplace.

Cambridge Big Brain Quiz DATE: Tuesday 17 July TIME: 6.00-10.00pm LOCATION: St John’s College, Cambridge, CB2 1TP PRICE: £50.00 (plus VAT) per team of four CONTACT: Jenni Misseldine on 01223 209810 or email j.misseldine@cambscci.co.uk It’s great for networking, but even better for a good old-fashioned night out... in teams of four you will be challenged with questions on culture, entertainment, food and drink, famous people, landmarks and sport as well as the popular picture round – there’s something for everyone!

DATE: Wednesday 18 July TIME: 11.45am for 12.15pm start til 2.00pm LOCATION: Peterborough PRICE: £20.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £27.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members Organised by the HR and Recruitment Sector Whether you are solely or partly responsible for HR in your business, keep yourself up to date with changes to employment law and legislation. At this event our panel of experts will be considering shared parental leave, an aging workforce, and wellbeing and mental health in the workplace.

WEST NORFOLK BREAKFAST DATE: Tuesday 3 July TIME: 8.00-10.00am LOCATION: Knights Hill Hotel, King’s Lynn, PE30 3HQ PRICE: £20.00 (plus VAT) per person CONTACT: Jenni Misseldine on 01223 209810 or email j.misseldine@cambscci.co.uk Network with members from Norfolk Chamber of Commerce at their first breakfast event since they re-launched in West Norfolk. Event includes breakfast and a topical speaker.

46 July 2018 connected

AN EVENING OF SAFARI NETWORKING DATE: Thursday 5 July TIME: 5.00-7.00pm LOCATION: Poets House, Ely, CB7 4EY COST: £17.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £24.00 (plus VAT) non Chamber members CONTACT: Jenni Misseldine on 01223 209810 or email j.misseldine@cambscci.co.uk This event gives you the opportunity to meet new business connections through our popular safari networking. The relaxed but structured format offers guests the opportunity to move around the room and form connections with new business contacts from a wide range of industry sectors.

Followed by a selection of tapas and refreshments.

chamber

RIVERBOAT GEORGINA NETWORKING LUNCH DATE: Friday 3 August TIME: 12.00-2.30pm LOCATION: Jesus Lock, Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AX PRICE: £25.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £35.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members CONTACT: Jenni Misseldine on 01223 209810 or email j.misseldine@cambscci.co.uk A highlight in the Chamber calendar… join us for a two-hour cruise along the River Cam, it’s the perfect opportunity for some informal networking and the chance to treat key clients and staff members whilst enjoying a buffet lunch.

LINKEDIN AS A SALES TOOL DATE: Wednesday 11 July TIME: 9.30am for 10.00am-til 12.00pm LOCATION: Holiday Inn Cambridge, Bridge Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9PH PRICE: £20.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £27.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members CONTACT: Helen Bosett on 01733 370809 or email h.bosett@cambscci.co.uk Organised by the Communications Sector This two hour workshop is for people who are already on LinkedIn but want to take it up a level and get more value from it. Discover how to use LinkedIn effectively as part of your prospecting and sales approach. Attendees will also receive a copy of the e-book written in conjunction with LinkedIn, giving 25 secrets on how to leverage LinkedIn.

EVENTS

CHARITY CYCLE RIDE DATE: Sunday 8 July TIME: 9.30am start LOCATION: Fenland Roaster, Northey Road, Peterborough, PE6 7YS PRICE: £20.00 (incl VAT) entry fee pre-registered £25.00 (incl VAT) entry fee on the day CONTACT: Helen Bosett on 01733 370809 or email h.bosett@cambscci.co.uk Pedal your way round a 50km route taking in some rural villages before returning to Fenland Roaster for a burger.

The entry fee will be donated to Romsey Mill, our Chamber charity of the year.

Global Business Network DATE: Tuesday 24 July TIME: 5.00-7.00pm LOCATION: The Moller Centre, Storey’s Way, Cambridge, CB3 0DE PRICE: Free to attend CONTACT: Helen Bosett on 01223 209815 or email h.bosett@cambscci.co.uk Organised by the International Sector Whether you are already involved in international trade or considering expanding into new markets, Global Business Network offers a unique informal environment to share experience and expertise.

Please visit the Chamber website for full details of Chamber events. www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk connected July 2018 47

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