connected Summer 2024 edition by connected magazine

Chief Executive

Charlotte Horobin

Editor

Sadie Parr

Published and Printed by

www.xlpress.co.uk

Design

Lee Watts

Advertising

Sadie Parr

s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

Membership Team

Montse Esquino 01223 209811

Jack Wilson 07564 054922

Chamber contact details

Clifford House, 2 Station Yard, Oakington, Cambridge, CB24 3AH Tel 01223 237414

Email enquiries@cambscci.co.uk

Visit www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk

@CambsChamber

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce

@CambsChamber

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

Welcome to the Summer edition of connected

It’s been a busy few months with the General Election, CambsB2B North and listening to your views at a number of forums and roundtable events. This edition we update you on everything that’s been happening across the region and provide details of forthcoming events, including CambsB2B South and our next Business Leaders Lunch, plus member news from across the county.

We have also welcomed Dr Ilona Karpanos to the Chamber team as International Trade Advisor. If you need help to enter new markets, or support with logistics, please do reach out to her directly at internationaltrade@cambscci.co.uk. A full overview of the support we can provide can be found on pages 14-16.

To feature in the Autumn edition of connected please submit your content, or book your advertising space, by Monday 23 September. Advertising options, and current rates, can be found on page 12-13.

Your content helps us to produce connected each quarter so please continue to contribute your news and advice.

Sadie Parr, Editor

CEO comment

This month marks a year in post as the Chambers Chief Executive Officer, and what a year it’s been.

Not only have we transformed our own activities and events programme, but I’ve had the pleasure to represent the Chamber at number of engagements including charity dinners, conferences, political engagements, garden parties and working closely with our local authority colleagues. We’ve

even snuck in the odd 5K and half marathon for good measure. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with so many of our members already and this has been supported by an amazing Chamber team and Board of Directors.

Thank you for not only welcoming me as CEO, but for your continued support of the Chamber and the wider team. I look forward to working with you all to support your businesses to grow your business locally, nationally and even globally.

The General Election took place at the beginning of this month and saw a change in UKs Parliament and Government. I would like to congratulate our local representatives and look forward to working alongside them to help ensure your business voices are heard both locally and in Westminster. More details on the election result can be found on the following pages.

With the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) results for Quarter 2 being released this month, along with the change in Prime Minister,

Chamber Patron Members

I urge you to take the time to complete our next QES in August. Your responses are used to form a picture of the local economic prospects as well as contributing to the regional analysis which is known to be held in high regard by the government, Bank of England and economic commentators. You can read more on the latest results on page 8.

In June we brought our biggest flagship event to the North of the region at KingsGate Conference Centre, Peterborough. With over 60 exhibitors and 500 business representatives in attendance it was one of the most immense events the Chamber has held. We would like to thank all those who came along and look forward to welcoming you back to Duxford this November for #CambsB2B South. To see the full highlights from #CambsB2B North, turn to the centre page spread.

Lastly, I would like to welcome our new Patron members; Cambridge Support, FORA and North Cambridgeshire Training Centre. We are delighted to have your support and look forward to working with you.

General Election 2024

The business community welcomed the calling of a General Election on the 22 May to take place on the 4 July, with the hope that whatever government was elected, they would bring stability and growth to the economy.

The Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce is committed in supporting the needs and interests of the Cambridgeshire business community. We understand the challenges that local businesses face and the importance of reliability and assistance from their Parliamentary representatives.

The election is a crucial event that shapes the future of the economy, it is important for local businesses to be informed about potential implications on the business environment. It is imperative that we work alongside the local representatives to ensure businesses receive clarity on what to expect from them over the next four years.

Charlotte Horobin, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce said: “I’d like to congratulate every MP who has been elected across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Stamford and wish all the best to those MPs who have worked on behalf of the region for a number of years, but no longer hold their seat.

“We know that stability and a competitive business environment is extremely important to drive the confidence to invest. We will continue our extremely strong engagement with key stakeholders to ensure that we can tackle the key issues including developing a future workforce, unlocking the planning system, investing into road, rail, energy, water, digital infrastructure and boosting international trade. We have a region with so much to be proud of, we look forward to working with the new Labour Government to exceed our potential.”

On a national level Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, congratulated Labour on its decisive general election victory and has pledged to work with the new Government to boost economy.

In a press release she said: “Congratulations to the Labour Party on their victory after a long and hardfought campaign.

Image: Freepik

“The public have delivered them a clear and decisive parliamentary majority – hopefully they will use this mandate to provide the stability and certainty businesses crave.

“How we revitalise our economy was hotly debated throughout the past six weeks, and it is encouraging to see they have many policies which clearly align with our recommendations.

“But after a gruelling election the really hard work starts now. We need to see action from day one on pulling together a coherent industrial strategy for the long-term, which places a strong emphasis on harnessing green innovation.

“Closing the skills gap, growing exports, boosting productivity and harnessing the power of AI won’t happen overnight.

“And businesses will also want to see early movement on pledges around business rates reform and improving our trade relationship with the EU.

“None of this will be easy, and our new Government should not be expected to do it alone. But our entire Chamber Network and the 51,000 businesses it represents will be ready to put their shoulders to the wheel and help.

“If our firms succeed, then our communities prosper, the economy grows, and the wealth needed to support our public services is created.”

Our local Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Stamford representatives:

Pippa Heylings MP Liberal Democrat, South Cambridgeshire

Daniel Zeichner MP Labour, Cambridge

Ian Sollom MP Liberal Democrat, St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire

Charlotte Cane MP Liberal Democrat, Ely and East Cambridgeshire

Ben Obese-Jecty MP Conservative, Huntingdon

Sam Carling MP Labour, North West Cambridgeshire

Andrew Pakes MP Labour, Peterborough

Steve Barclay MP Conservative, North East Cambridgeshire

Alicia Kearns MP Conservative, Rutland and Stamford

The manifestos set out by each party last month stemmed from the results of the first quarter of the year, disclosed in the BCCs Quarterly Economic Survey. With the new change in the UK’s Parliament and Government going forward it is crucial to have your say on your business to help shape the future of the business economy. We would appreciate hearing your voice in the QES for Q3 set to go live from Monday 19 August. More details to follow over the next month on our socials.

Quarterly Economic Survey: Business confidence continues to tick up in Q2

The BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey – the UK’s largest and longest-running independent business survey – shows measures of business confidence and business conditions slightly improved in Q2 2024, albeit from a very low base.

38 per cent of firms (compared with 36% in Q1) said they had seen an increase in domestic sales over the previous three months, while 43 per cent reported no change, and 20 per cent a decrease.

After a static picture in Q1, business confidence has increased slightly in Q2. 58 per cent of firms say they are

expecting an increase in turnover over the next year compared with 56 per cent in Q1. 29 per cent expect no change and only 13 per cent expect a decrease.

With inflation easing to target –the data also reveals that fewer firms (39% compared to 46% in Q1) expect to hike their own prices in the coming months.

The survey, which was conducted between 13 May and 10 June of nearly 5,000 firms across the UK (91% of whom are SMEs - fewer than 250 employees) - also reveals that despite improved trading conditions most firms are still not increasing investment.

David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The latest results from our QES show that both business conditions and business confidence have improved, albeit from a relatively low base.

“The last four years have seen SMEs deal with one crisis after the other, from Covid lockdowns to supply chain breakdowns and new trade barriers with the EU. As some of these crises have ebbed, more SMEs are regaining confidence and reporting increased sales and cash flow.

“The data also show that concern about inflation among businesses has dropped to levels last seen in 2021 as fewer firms expect to raise prices. A Bank rate cut later this year will help bring down borrowing costs.

“However, investment levels remain a long-term concern and significant sectoral divergences remain, as sectors such as hospitality and retail continue to report far tougher trading conditions.

“The new Government should capitalise on the confidence momentum and focus on addressing skills shortages, trade barriers, and unlocking the potential of AI and green innovation.”

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To discover how Auditel is helping companies just like yours on their journey to Net Zero without the usual associated costs, please contact:

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Have your voice heard

At Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce the Member Voice is at the very core of everything that we do and has been for over 100 years. It’s a great honour to be able to do my part to strengthen that voice through local engagement. Across the county we hold local events for members where they can share with us their successes and opportunities but also their struggles and pain points. With the announcement of the General Election on the 22 May we looked to engage with as many members of the business community as possible so we could echo to Parliamentary Candidates what the voice of business was saying. Read below to see where we have been and where we are going next.

Connor Butler, Engagement Manger

Cambridge & South Cambridgeshire Forum

Welchs Transport - 22 April

Businesses from across the county came together at Welch’s Transport in Duxford to talk about a whole host of topics, but with a primary focus of Net Zero. Managing Director Chris Welch shared with those in attendance the journey to Net Zero

at Welch’s so far, showcasing one of their new EV trucks and delving into the challenges the logistics industry faces in regards to Net Zero.

Fenland Business Forum

North Cambridgeshire Training Centre - 3 June

Chamber Patron North Cambridgeshire Training Centre hosted local businesses for a tour of their state-of-the-art facilities and a state of trade roundtable discussion. Phil Stittle, Executive Director of Business Development, and the team welcomed attendees who raised concerns around local transport infrastructure, apprenticeships and how to access the apprenticeship levy and access to childcare.

Huntingdonshire Business Forum

Huntingdon Racecourse - 5 June Health and Wellbeing was the main focus of the event which took local businesses to Chamber Patron Huntingdon Racecourse in collaboration with Living Sport. Businesses came together for a roundtable discussion where national infrastructure project East West Rail and skills were talked about as well as many other matters. Racecourse General Manager Daniel Craggs then took businesses for an exclusive walk of the course.

Cambridge & South Cambridgeshire

Fora Cambridge - 26 June

Members of the local business community were invited to join the Chamber at Patron Member Fora at their facilities in Cambridge. Guests enjoyed tours of the building and a drinks reception. There were lots of amazing conversations and Fora invited attendees to come back and visit with a complimentary day pass.

Peterborough Business Forum

Peterborough Cathedral - 2 July

Businesses from Peterborough and beyond joined the Chamber for a networking event just two days before the General Election. This event was kindly hosted by Peterborough Cathedral. Andrew Carter, Chief Executive at Centre for Cities spoke about why Peterborough is the second fastestgrowing city in the country and what challenges it needs to overcome to continue to grow sustainably.

What’s coming up…

Cambridge & South Cambridgeshire

Stagecoach - September TBC

Fenland

Anglian Water

Chatteris

13 September 9.00 – 11.00am

Huntingdonshire

Grafham Water

4 September 9.00am – 12.00pm

Peterborough Nene Park Trust

September TBC

East Cambridgeshire

Kings Ely - September TBC

Private Business Roundtables

The Chamber hosts private business roundtables with a wide range of interesting speakers and local stakeholders. These meetings provide a space for candid conversations to ensure that the Member Voice is heard. Here’s some of the roundtables we have held recently.

Darren Jones MP

British Sugar - 21 March

Members met with Darren Jones who at the time of the roundtable was Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Andrew Pakes the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Peterborough. This was a great opportunity for local business leaders to share their insights around issues such as skills, the planning system and business grants with a member of the Shadow Cabinet.

Anthony Browne MP

Zeiss - 26 April

Anthony Browne, MP for South Cambridgeshire and Parliamentary Candidate for Mid Cambridgeshire and St Neots, met with local business leaders at Zeiss in Cambourne. Anthony shared insights from his role as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport

around the decarbonisation of transport. Local businesses shared concerns around education funding, planning and sustainability.

Ben Obese-Jecty

Anglian Water - 24 May

Shortly after the General Election was called Members met with Ben Obese-Jecty, who is the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Huntingdon, to share their wants and needs from a future local MP and national government. Topics such as inward investment, international trade and the importance of local place arose in the discussions.

If you wish to keep up to date with what is coming up in your local area visit our website.

Get connected

Grow your knowledge and build your connections at Chamber events. See what we’ve been up to over the last few months.

Ely Networking

June saw our monthly Ely Networking incorporate a thrilling cyber-security escape room hosted by Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU). From decoding encrypted messages and using a UV flashlight to find hidden codes, everyone had their detective hats on to solve the cyber security crime. It was a great way to sharpen our problem-solving skills and deepen our understanding of cybersecurity challenges. It was amazing to see, how collaboration and diverse thinking led everyone to solve complex puzzles under pressure.

#CambsB2B North

Last month saw us take on Kingsgate Conference Centre in Peterborough to hold our first flagship event of the year in the North of the region.

Throughout the day we held:

• A Business Leaders Breakfast

• Two insightful panel discussions

• Two speed networking sessions

• Drinks reception

• Full hall of exhibition stands

To find out more and see how you can get booked onto #CambsB2B South in November, turn to our events page.

Connect your business

Help connect with other like-minded and new businesses by promoting yourselves in our official Chamber magazine.

Showcase yourself in our magazine that is circulated to over 2500 local businesses each quarter.

Within connected, we feature articles, local events, market leaders, ones to watch and so much more.

To place an advert, please email marketing@cambscci.co.uk

Sponsorship Opportunities

Over the next six months, we have a range of events that have a variety of sponsorship opportunities available.

These range from networking, CambsB2B, local forums and more.

To get involved, please contact our Events team at events@cambscci. co.uk.

If any of the events featured within this magazine are of interest to you, please email or call 01223 237414

Chamber Primary Health Plan

The Chamber is proud to be in partnership with Westfield Health, who offer a health plan exclusively to Chamber members.

The Key Features include:

• Corporate paid plan

• Premiums that don’t increase with age

• Pre-existing medical conditions covered (except Personal Accident)

• Immediate cover on all benefits

• Voluntary upgrades and additional adult cover available.

For more information please visit the partner offers page on the Chamber website.

Global News

AI & translation – Looking Beyond the Hype

In today's interconnected world, the ability to communicate across linguistic barriers is more crucial than ever. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in addressing these challenges, supposedly revolutionising the field of translation.

But is the hype to be believed?

Mary Gilbey, Managing Director of Anglia Translations Ltd, explores the various facets of AI in translation, from its capabilities and applications to its limitations and ethical considerations.

Understanding AI in Translation

At its core, AI in translation involves using machine learning algorithms to interpret and translate text or speech from one language to another. This technology relies on natural language processing (NLP) systems to comprehend the meaning of content and produce coherent translations. While AI has made significant strides in accuracy and efficiency, it cannot entirely replace human translators. Human expertise is indispensable for capturing nuances, cultural context, and ensuring accurate communication.

Applications of AI in Translation

Machine translation is not new in our industry. We have been working with Neural Machine Translation (NMT) for many years and machine translation plug-ins have become an integral part of Translation Memory tools. AI-powered translation tools are widespread in today's digital landscape.

They range from everyday tech, such as language learning apps, foreign language subtitles and web browser tools to sophisticated language systems (Large Language Models or LLMs) used in professional settings, such as Translation Memory software.

These tools facilitate real-time translations, enhance global communication, aid in cultural understanding, and support various sectors such as tourism, international business, and healthcare.

Real-World Impact of AI in Translation

The impact of AI in translation extends beyond convenience; it plays a pivotal role in global communication, cultural exchange, and accessibility to critical information.

For instance, AI facilitates the translation of multimedia content, simplifies document translation, and enhances accessibility through subtitles and live event translations. Moreover, AI has enabled significant advancements in sectors like medical services, where accurate communication can be a matter of life and death.

Limitations of AI in Translation

While AI excels in many areas, there are inherent limitations that must be acknowledged. AI struggles with nuance, creative content, and highly specialised fields where context and cultural sensitivity are paramount.

Building a brand is all about storytelling and emotional connection to your audience, which is very difficult to achieve with machine translation or AI.

Languages with complex grammar structures, dialects, or limited data availability pose significant challenges for AI translation, often leading to inaccuracies and misunderstandings.

And perhaps most importantly, we must be aware of hallucinations. Essentially AI is not always accurate. The big risk here is that we assume output from AI is beyond doubt, and it is often taken as a given to be completely factually accurate.

Ethical Considerations

The use of AI in translation raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding bias and cultural sensitivity. AI models trained primarily on data from certain languages or cultures have been known to produce biased or stereotypical translations. Moreover, automated translations can inadvertently distort meanings or fail to capture cultural nuances, potentially causing offence or misinformation.

Best Practices for AI-Assisted Translation

The translation industry does have a vast amount of data that will make a difference to AI translations and how it can be used in our processes. We are just not at that point yet. To harness the benefits of AI while mitigating risks, it is essential to integrate human expertise into the translation process. Human translators provide essential insights, ensuring accuracy, cultural appropriateness, and effective communication.

At Anglia Translations Ltd we have always emphasised a collaborative combination of technology and human translators to deliver high-quality translations tailored to specific needs. But machine translation is not necessarily fit for purpose for all translations. It is definitely not appropriate for creative marketing content that is being used to build your brand and help you to better connect with your international audience. To ensure cultural relevance in translation requires a human touch.

Looking Ahead

As AI technology continues to evolve, its role in translation will undoubtedly expand. There’s no doubt that future advancements will address the current limitations, improve accuracy, and enhance cultural sensitivity.

However, human involvement will remain indispensable in ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of any translated content, since AI can’t replicate the human experience.

Conclusion

AI is transforming the landscape of translation, offering unprecedented opportunities for global communication and accessibility. While AI tools facilitate efficiency and convenience, they must be used wisely, with awareness of their limitations and ethical implications.

By leveraging AI alongside human expertise, we can bridge linguistic divides and accelerate overseas business growth effectively, while preserving the integrity and richness of diverse languages and cultures.

In summary, AI in translation represents a dynamic intersection of technology and human ingenuity, shaping how we connect and communicate in our increasingly interconnected world.

If you're interested in learning more about AI in translation or exploring our translation services, which we offer in over 50 different languages, feel free to reach out to the team at Anglia Translations Ltd.

We're committed to delivering accurate, culturally sensitive translations that meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.

Chamber strengthens international offering

The Chamber is delighted that Dr Ilona Karpanos has joined the team as International Trade Advisor.

The Chamber has undergone a significant transformation to become an accessible, relevant and forward-thinking organisation, ensuring that the voice of business is heard locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. This appointment will help to support international trade between Cambridgeshire and the world.

Ilona is an experienced project manager and consultant in international business development with almost 20 years’ experience in international trade, including research on specific markets and market activities, and working with both SMEs and large companies across different industries.

On her appointment as International Trade Advisor, Ilona commented: “With my extensive expertise and practical knowledge in international business, coupled with my PhD academic background in political science and international relations, I am looking forward to putting my skills and experience to use to support the work of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce.”

Ilona also holds an MBA in marketing, MA in international business and BA in finance.

Charlotte Horobin, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ilona to the Chamber to strengthen our international trade offering. Her expansive knowledge will support companies across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Stamford to embark on their journey to trade internationally, to assist companies with entering new markets and help importers and exporters to grow their international footprint.”

Labour landslide – what’s the impact on Sterling?

The UK electorate spoke, and as the opinion polls predicted, the Labour Party won a record landslide victory. With the polls consistently showing a 20-point gap, the FX markets had already looked at and ignored a change of UK government.

After 14 years of Tory rule, a change was always likely, more so with the selfinflicted turmoil of recent years. Many voters complained before and during the campaign, both political parties are much the same, the cynics say ’whoever you vote for, the government still get in’.

Pre the election, the now Prime Minster Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves were at pains to present a carefully crafted expression to the markets of fiscal responsibility.

Securonomics coined by Reeves retained a focus on the 2023 market chaos after the short-lived stewardship of Truss and Kwarteng. The mantra of sticking to fiscal rules, presenting any spending commitments with cash raising policies was a key requirement to fend off the media, and calm market perception. As a result, the Pound is ignoring UK politics.

Markets like to know what to expect, and react strongly to fiscal impacting surprises (Brexit, Kwarteng cutting the top tax rate). The expectation is Labour will stick to the status quo, so the markets have continued to focus on interest rate differentials for the G10 currencies.

Year to Date, Sterling is the top performing currency in the G10, posting two-year highs (over 1.19) against the Euro and in the top quartile of recent

ranges against the US Dollar (1.2875). Continued Sterling strength led us to update the forecasted ranges slightly. Against the Euro, we now see the range of opinions at 1.1350 to 1.21 for the rest of 2024. Versus the US Dollar, we see 1.2150 to 1.3250 by the same contributors.

Labour have stated a keenness to improve the UK’s relations with the EU, economically re-entering the customs union would be most beneficially thing that they could do. In the next parliament term that is highly unlikely even though they have a huge majority to push through very bold policies. Labours plans are reliant on UK growth sustainably achieving levels above two per cent, something the country has failed to do in this century. Slow or no growth forecasts for the latter part of 2024 and 2025 would start to weigh on Sterling outside of the interest rate carry story. The markets would expect taxes and government borrowing to go up, both of which will dampen output confidence in the economy.

In summary, for most of 2024, Sterling should be buoyed by higher interest rates than its peers. Medium to longer term, the markets forecast for UK growth will start to be a catalyst or a dampener.

The European Union’s changing political landscape is something to watch out for, a shift from the centre to more right leaning parties across many member countries feels like it could be Euro negative. The US growth under Joe Biden has only been beaten by Gerald Ford & Jimmy Carter in the past 50 years. Biden has matched Donald Trump and yet the race for the White House at the end of the year is too close to call. The US public are not feeling the upside of this growth, and Biden cannot break the negative narrative from the cost of living crisis, as such Trump is perceived by many to be better for the American economy than Biden.

*a caveat for readers, copy for this article was submitted pre the UK general election.

Cambridgeshire headquartered, Ascendant would love to hear your views and perspective on The Pound, its expected performance, and the impact to your business. Just contact us on the email below. Ascendant offers Chamber members a free review and benchmark of their current supplier, contact us to hear how we are reducing the cost of foreign exchange for local businesses, and putting relationships at the heart of our customer focused service.

karen.benson@ascendant.world

ATA Carnets

An ATA Carnet has been issued to Peru in support for a charitable rowing adventure. The Endurance Limits Expedition Team are rowing from Yurimagaus in Peru, all the way across the country, through the tip of Columbia and then the entire width of Brazil, finishing when we hit the Atlantic Ocean in September 2024.

The ATA Carnet, often called the "passport for goods," will streamline temporarily exporting the necessary equipment to Peru, including the team's rowing boat, ensuring a hassle-free journey.

This event marks a first for temporary export and showcases the power of international collaboration in supporting vital fundraising projects.

To find out more on how we can help with your ATA Carnet needs, please email internationaltrade@cambscci. co.uk

Access our Trade Services

Customs & Supply Chain/Logistics:

Our International Trade Department understands the urgency of efficient customs clearance. We expedite the process to minimise delays, and keep our members informed throughout each step to provide peace of mind.

We ensure your shipments cross borders smoothly, legally, and cost-effectively. Let us take the hassle out of international trade for you.

Transportation and Supply Chain Solution

We supply a comprehensive range of fast, reliable, cost-effective International Air Freight, Sea Freight, Road Freight, On Board Courier and Courier forwarding services. This service is supplemented by our Import and Export Customs Clearance which includes:

• Import and Export Clearance: We handle all aspects of customs clearance, from documentation and duty calculation to the release of your goods

• Tariff Classification: Our International Trade Department assists in properly classifying your goods to ensure accurate duty and tax calculations

• Customs Documentation: We prepare and manage all required customs documentation, including invoices, bills of lading, and certificates of origin

• Customs Compliance: We ensure that your shipments meet all import and export requirements, including inspections, permits, and licenses

• Duty and Tax Optimisation: We work to minimize your tax liabilities by exploring available exemptions, deductions, and duty reduction programs

• Consultation and Advisory: Our International Trade Department is available to provide consultation on trade compliance, tariff rates, and customs regulations, helping you make informed decisions.

Letter of Credit presentations

Although a Letter of Credit remains the safest method of export payment, preparation of shipping documents covered under this system requires great care and attention to detail, not to mention shipping and banking expertise.

Many exporters face multiple problems when preparing Letter of Credit compliant documentation, including:

• Late presentation of documents to the bank

• Delays in payment

• Discrepant documents and associated fees

• Too much time spent dealing with documentation

• Inconsistent service/information

• Ongoing training needs for staff in L/C compliance.

Our service includes:

• Taking care of your credit from the outset, be it the checking of documentation to ensure that it complies with the terms of the credit, or the raising of documents such as invoices and packing lists, liaising with exporter and shipper every step of the way

• Downloading of L/C directly from selected banks

• Arranging authentication and legalisation of documents if required

• Presenting documents (electronically where possible) to the bank and ensuring that payment has been made.

To access any of these services, please contact our International Trade Team today on 01223 237414 or email internationaltrade@cambscci.co.uk

Summer Drinks Reception

Our annual Summer Drinks Reception was a huge success, hosted at the most stunning venue, The Old Hall in Ely. The afternoon consisted of networking in the sunshine, enjoying delicious canapes, drinks provided at the Prosecco and Aperol Spritz bar and a DJ playing the perfect music to suit.

The Old Hall overlooks Ely Cathedral, with views for miles, and was the perfect location for this event.

Thank you to Grovemere Property for sponsoring the drinks reception. Harvey Bibby, Development Director and Chamber Board Member, is a huge support and we greatly appreciate his time and effort with Chamber activities.

A welcome address was given by Bishop Dagmar, East Anglia’s first female Bishop, before a champagne prize draw was announced, provided by Lord Pestano.

Thank you to Nate Lansdell of A Smile A Day Photography, who snapped away during the event, providing us with some beautiful photos of the event. A huge thank you for supporting our events.

If you’re interested in sponsoring one of these events in the future, get in touch with the team at events@cambscci.co.uk

The practical advantages of building your LinkedIn company page

Does your business have a LinkedIn company page?

Company pages on LinkedIn have been around for some time, but other than making your business logo visible on personal profiles, I never saw much value in investing time in them.

But, in 2023 LinkedIn started getting serious about company pages, rolling out more functionality. I now strongly recommend business owners actively build their company page alongside personal profiles.

Why do you need a company page as well as a personal profile?

Put simply, LinkedIn company pages allow you to showcase your business and team, while personal profiles are all about your personal brand.

The benefits to business owners of building a Company Page include:

3 ✅Increased business reach and awareness

3 Greater professionalism and increased credibility

The ability to showcase your products, services and team

3 Nurturing existing and potential customers more easily

3 Enabling employees to display your business logo on their profile.

3 Opening up paid advertising opportunities for your business.

But don’t focus on your company page at the expense of your personal profile. Build them in tandem as personal profiles have distinct advantages also:

3 Effectively your personal brand landing page

3 Great for connecting with peers, potential clients or partners on a personal level

3 More appropriate for sharing personal content alongside business content

3 Personal profile content will typically be seen by a wider, more engaged audience.

Start with a clear objective

There is no cost to setting up a company page, so they are attractive to businesses of all sizes. As with any marketing activity, approach the development of your company page with a clear objective in mind.

Do you want to:

• Get your business more widely known by your ideal customers?

• Make it easy to get in touch with you?

• Attract high-calibre talent to your team?

• Increase your reach and audience beyond just your personal profile?

• Help your business be found more easily on Google?

LinkedIn company pages can help you achieve all these objectives and more.

Setting up your company page

Setting up your company page is simple - log into your personal LinkedIn account on a desktop computer, click the ‘For Business’ icon in the top menu bar and select ‘Create a Company Page’.

It’s useful to think of your company page as you would your website landing page, especially as it will be even more dynamic once you start sharing content and engaging regularly. It’s worth putting effort into completing each section, making sure they are clear, compelling, and consistent with the company branding you have established on your website and other online channels.

If you do nothing else, ensure you have a compelling header image and call to action, a clear and compelling about section, contact details and consistent brand logo. Then make sure you, and everyone in your company, link their personal profile to the company page by updating their Experience section.

How to develop your company page

Develop a content strategy and regularly share new content

You want people to engage with your company page, so it’s vital to breathe life into it via an appropriate content strategy.

While your company content will typically be more businessrelated, don’t fall into the trap of being impersonal or overly salesy. Give prospective customers a sense of your organisation through your page and don’t be afraid of sharing behind-thescenes content – It’s human and engaging.

Grow your company page followers

With engaging content underway, you can invite people to follow your company page. LinkedIn gives each organisation 250 invite credits each month. Bear in mind you can only invite personal connections to follow your page, so continue to build them on your personal profile.

Employee advocacy and amplification

Employee advocacy is vital to gain real traction for your company page on LinkedIn. Employees who willingly comment and reshare your company’s content are your best ambassadors.

Continued overleaf

Their activity will also vastly expand the page reach across their personal networks.

Only company page admins can invite connections to follow a company page, so we recommend adding multiple admins to widen the pool of potential connections.

Amplifying the reach of your company page

To accelerate growth further, your page admins can like, follow and engage with others - both personal and company contentas your company page. This allows you to widen your reach and impact further, engaging with others in your industry as well as prospective customers while demonstrating your expertise.

Reviewing performance

It’s easy to ignore performance metrics or swamp yourself in data when it comes to assessing the effectiveness of your company page.

We recommend identifying the metrics that matter to you - these should be selected to demonstrate whether your company page is delivering against your objectives. These could simply be audience growth, more focused on lead generation, or clicks and traffic to your website.

Make sure you have the right resources

Developing your LinkedIn strategy, producing regular content, and assessing performance regularly to optimise your approach requires a level of expertise and can be time-consumingespecially as LinkedIn continually evolve the platform, adding new features.

If you’d like the weight of social media management lifted off your shoulders, consider outsourcing it to a specialist agency who can develop a bespoke plan focused on delivering results to achieve your objectives.

For more support, follow Dan Ince on LinkedIn or visit brandworkssocial.co.uk

Mastering AI integration with comprehensive policies

With the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, integrating it into business operations presents both immense opportunities and significant challenges, especially regarding data privacy and ethics. This is where adopting comprehensive AI policies becomes crucial. These policies ensure compliance with stringent data protection regulations, safeguarding the organisation’s reputation and customer trust.

AI systems must process vast amounts of sensitive data, necessitating robust data privacy measures. A well-crafted AI policy addresses these concerns by outlining ethical guidelines and principles to mitigate risks like bias and discrimination. For example, Amazon’s AI hiring tool faced a significant backlash over gender bias, highlighting the importance of ethical AI practices.

Legal and regulatory compliance is also vital. Regulations such as the GDPR and the proposed EU AI Act exemplify stringent standards aimed at ensuring data protection and ethical AI use. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines and reputational damage. An AI policy keeps organisations abreast of legal requirements, fostering compliance and accountability.

Data privacy forms the cornerstone of any AI policy. Essential measures include data encryption, access controls and regular vulnerability assessments. An AI policy formalises these practices, ensuring systematic data privacy protection that enhances customer confidence and loyalty.

Developing an AI policy involves engaging stakeholders, defining AI principles and staying informed of regulatory developments. Strong leadership support and adequate resources are crucial for successful implementation.

Additionally, a comprehensive training programme can ensure smooth policy adoption and prepare employees for AI-driven changes. An AI policy is indispensable for responsible AI use, enabling organisations to innovate while maintaining trust and confidence.

How IT Governance can help you

Our Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Template, developed by AI experts, offers detailed guidance for incorporating your values, obligations and goals. It covers essential aspects like roles, policy statements, data policies and risk management. Access the template through CyberComply via DocumentKits and streamline your AI policy development with ease.

Menopause in the workplace

As summer approaches, employers are being urged to address the hot topic of menopause in the workplace.

When it comes to subjects to shy away from in the office – the menopause will more than likely be at the top of the list for many.

But with research showing that high numbers of women are considering handing in their notice due to the impact of the menopause, employers are being encouraged to give the oncetaboo subject time and a place in their company’s policy.

Figures suggest that a staggering seven million women of menopausal or perimenopausal age are currently working in the UK.

According to a survey at the end of last year* of more than 2,000 working women aged between 40 and 60 , a worrying 23 per cent considered quitting their job as a result of feeling unsupported at work.

In addition, Research from Bupa has shown that almost a million women have left their jobs because of menopausal symptoms, while CIPD research shows that around one in six people (17 per cent) have considered leaving work due to a lack of support in relation to their menopause symptoms.

Peterborough-based recruitment firm Anne Corder Recruitment is leading the call locally for a better understanding and management of menopause in the workplace.

Managing Director Nel Woolcott said: “These figures show that many women continue to suffer in silence until it’s too late. For those who are impacted by the effects and symptoms of the menopause, it can be a lonely, embarrassing and confusing time in their lives.

“Not everyone wants to share their feelings of anxiety over meeting a new client or talk about the hot flushes felt while presenting to members of the company board. However, these can be real scenarios which many women find difficult to talk about, for fear of being ridiculed or not taken seriously.

“While every workplace has to recognise and act upon the legal

rights of women in pregnancy, the menopause is a seldom-discussed workplace matter, and yet it’s something that negatively affects hundreds of thousands of women every year.”

Menopause typically affects women aged between 45 and 55. Recent studies show that the 50-60 age bracket of those in employment is the fastest growing age group, in part a result of the trend towards an ageing population.

Research has also shown that lack of sleep and other menopausal symptoms can also lead to sickness and absenteeism, impacting not only on the individual, but their company as a whole.

Nel added: “Employers should and can take steps to ensure that women going through the menopause continue to feel valued and supported.

“After all, many of these members of staff may have been with the company for years. We would really encourage line managers to keep the lines of communication open and empathise with what is effectively a health condition.”

Line managers play a vital role in supporting colleagues with menopausal symptoms:

• Be confident about your role in managing and supporting colleagues with menopausal symptoms

• Understand and reduce the barriers that could potentially prevent a colleague going through the menopause transition from performing and/or developing to their full potential

• Identify appropriate workplace changes or adjustments to support team members and help them thrive at work

• Encourage and promote an inclusive working environment in which everyone is treated fairly

• Encourage women to attend any routine medical appointment and be supportive of any appointment they are seeking to make as a result of their symptoms.

Ingrid Fawcett, co-founder of Midlife360 CIC (a new grassroots social enterprise supporting midlife women in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough) said: “Menopause is for everyone to understand and empathise with, however you identify.

“Many women in perimenopause don't realise that how they are feeling is just that”.

There are 39 menopause symptoms (although some say 62 symptoms) with only a few discussed.

“While the physical symptoms are easier to identify, the mental issues including anxiety, confidence and brain fog are harder to recognise”.

“Many women do not wish to be defined by their menopause. Each woman will experience it differently and over a different time period.

“With age comes seniority - losing that knowledge and experience due to lack of understanding of the challenges of menopause is costly and avoidable.”

• Survey UK workplace-healthcare provider SimplyHealth

Auditing your IT system

An IT audit allows businesses to gain insights into their IT systems and understand how they can improve performance and security. For organisations of any size, IT systems and infrastructure are essential for daily operations. It is therefore important for businesses to regularly audit their IT systems to make sure they are running efficiently and securely.

What is an IT Audit?

An IT audit involves the evaluation of an organisation’s IT, operations, and controls. An audit provides a detailed assessment, providing insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the IT systems and infrastructure. By completing regular IT audits, businesses can keep their systems secure, efficient, and compliant.

Why are IT Audits Important?

For businesses of any size, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations is crucial. Failure to adhere to compliance standards can be detrimental to your business and even result in penalties. IT audits help companies to remain compliant and ensure all legal requirements are met.

IT audits are also used to identify and mitigate risks such as cyber-attacks, data breaches, and system failures. Audits highlight any issues, allowing businesses to take steps to strengthen their security and protect their data. This helps to safeguard the organisation, their reputation and can potentially prevent financial losses.

Businesses can also use IT audits to improve the efficiency and performance of their IT systems. By auditing their systems, organisations can find areas of inefficiency and take steps to address them. As well as this, regular audits can help to protect against data corruption and loss, maintaining business reliability.

Environment Reviews

An Environment review provides a detailed overview of your IT infrastructure, highlighting opportunities, benefits, and potential risks to your business. At Cambridge Support, our team of experts conduct a thorough environment review to ensure your IT systems are managed effectively.

A detailed audit provides valuable insights into your current IT setup and potential risks and vulnerabilities. If your IT system faces performance issues, an environment review can find the source, helping you resolve the issue.

Disaster Recovery

Disaster recovery involves security planning with tools, policies, and procedures to protect your organisation. In the event of a disaster, recovering critical software, applications, and data quickly is essential. Our team can guide your organisation through a live disaster recovery test, plan your recovery strategy, and recommend areas for improvement.

Disaster recovery testing helps you understand how to prepare and make a quick recovery, should a disaster take place. Our experts perform risk assessments and business analysis to identify vital IT systems and write contingency plans to restore important business functions with minimal disruption.

Security Audits

We understand the importance of protecting your business against cyber threats. A security audit involves examining your IT systems to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. The main objective is to ensure your cyber security is up-to-date and can effectively respond to potential cyber-attacks.

About Cambridge Support

At Cambridge Support, we offer a range of IT audit services, including environment reviews, disaster recovery testing, and security audits, all designed to meet the unique needs of your business.

Cambridge Support is an IT support and security services provider helping small and medium sized business manage their IT. Our team of IT experts work with a variety of technologies including Windows and macOS, providing support and consultancy for improving your IT infrastructure. If your business requires help, feel free to contact us today on 01223 921000 or ask@cambridgesupport.com

On 13 June we brought CambsB2B to the North of the region and celebrated pride in place and regeneration with the organisations who are at the heart of progress in the region.

We kicked the day off with a Business Leaders Breakfast, sponsored by Azets. We were delighted to have national, regional and local updates on the economy and plans for the future from Alex Veitch, British Chambers of Commerce, Al Kingsley, Chair of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Business Board, and Mark Jackson, Azets, after enjoying a networking breakfast.

The official opening attracted a large crowd with our CEO Charlotte Horobin, Mike Greene (Success Is A System) and Al Kingsley giving the opening speeches before the day got underway

Speed networking was a huge hit! With two full rooms across the day, it was chaos and we loved it, with participants saying the sessions were the best way to make a large amount of connections in a short space of time.

Panel 1 of the day featured discussions around 'developing your local talent pipeline'. Expertly hosted by Nel Woolcott of Anne Corder Recruitment, with speakers Sam Squire from Inspire2Ignite, Michael Moriarty from Mick George, Rachel Nicholls from Inspire Education Group and Oliver Papworth from Marshall Skills Academy, giving guests much food for thought on education, alternative routes for the younger generation and recruitment.

Panel 2 featured discussions on regeneration, expertly led by Mike Greene, with speakers Ian Currie from Sizewell C Supply Chain, John Barker from Newlands Developments, Joanne Sainsbury from Arup and David Bendell from Oxford Energy Academies, sharing their thoughts on the local supply chain, sustainability and the rapid progress and future of Peterborough.

Nate Lansdell of A Smile A Day Photography was our official photographer and didn't stop all day, joining the Chamber team in being in many places at once, getting every shot possible.

CambsB2B South

CambsB2B South is returning on 13 November and stands are available to book at an early bird rate. Sponsorship is also available. Please see more at www.cambsb2b.co.uk

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is dedicated to empowering local businesses to access the skills and training necessary to fuel growth and foster inclusivity. We engage directly with local employers to gain insights into specific skills requirements and to pinpoint the most critical gaps in our region's workforce.

The Combined Authority continues to focus on prioritising efforts to enhance the skills and training opportunities for local residents. This includes supporting the establishment of a new university in Peterborough (ARU Peterborough), which will align its offerings with the needs of local employers. Moreover, the Authority is committed to promoting apprenticeships and skills boot camps, both highly effective for upskilling, improving growth, productivity, and staff retention.

We understand the unique circumstances of local residents, the economy, communities, and the providers of education and training, including independent training providers, further education colleges, and local authorities. We aim to support learners and their families in raising aspirations.

Our goal is to:

• Achieve a high-quality skills offer tailored to the needs of our three different sub-regional economies (The Fens, Peterborough, and Greater Cambridge)

• Develop a dynamic skills market that responds to the changing needs of local businesses

• Empower local residents to access education and skills to participate fully in society, raise aspirations and enhance progress into further learning or employment.

Growth Works with Skills

At Growth Works with Skills, we're dedicated to driving the growth of businesses throughout the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region. We understand that the right people are the cornerstone of success, which is why we specialise in matching businesses with top talent, providing targeted training solutions, and ultimately catalysing business expansion in the region. We are a free to access service offering fully funded support

Our mission is simple: to forge meaningful connections between employers and learners, propelling businesses forward through strategic growth initiatives. We're committed to arming employers with the essential skills and strategies needed to fuel their own progress. Leveraging our extensive expertise and vast network

spanning industry and education, we excel at closing skills gaps, enabling businesses to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent.

By partnering with leading training providers and educational institutions, we empower job seekers to upskill and navigate their career paths with confidence. What's more, we streamline the process of accessing vital funding, seamlessly connecting employers and individuals to the resources they need to thrive. From the initial consultation to the realisation of tangible outcomes, we're equipped with the tools, knowledge, and resources to support your skills requirements at every stage of your journey.

We invite all businesses to take advantage of our comprehensive training needs analysis (TNA) to pinpoint any skill or knowledge gaps hindering growth or productivity. The insights gathered will inform tailored conversations aimed at addressing your organisational needs and delivering the support necessary to achieve both your current objectives and future aspirations. Visit Growth Works with Skills website: www.growthworkswithskills.com

Visit Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority website: https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk

Growth Works with Skills internships

Growth Works with Skills is committed to providing high-quality internships, each funded up to 50% through UK Shared Prosperity fund (UKSPF), for employers seeking to expand their teams with talented interns. These internships require a commitment of between 16 and 30 hours per week over a duration of 13 weeks, with compensation at least meeting the national living wage to those of 21 years or above, or if under 21, national minimum wage applies.

Our aim is to offer valuable opportunities to individuals who are currently outside the workforce or formal training, helping them overcome barriers and build brighter futures.

Benefits to employers

Here are just a few of the numerous benefits to taking on an intern:

Talent Discovery: Uncover hidden gems and discover fresh talent through innovative recruitment methods like Assessment Task-based recruitment, revolutionising the way you find your next star employees.

Financial Support: Access match funding opportunities to recruit interns, opening doors to talent acquisition that may have seemed out of reach otherwise.

Infusion of Energy: Inject a burst of new energy into your workplace, fostering an environment of creativity and growth while building a pipeline of potential future employees.

Innovative Thinking: Embrace the influx of fresh ideas and unique perspectives brought by interns, igniting creativity and driving productivity and innovation to new heights.

Mentorship Opportunities: Growth Works with Skills can provide support to enable your organisation to mentor not only interns however, also to your existing staff, nurturing leadership skills and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within your organisation.

Expert Support: Gain access to invaluable resources such as Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and personalized guidance from our Skills Brokers and the Growth Hub, empowering you to seize growth opportunities and propel your business forward.

To find out more about Growth Works with Skills internships email internships@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk

Further info

Key email address: Skillsteam@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk

Ask the Expert

The Importance of Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus

What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against common online threats. It provides basic security controls to safeguard against 80 per cent of the most common forms of cyberattacks. The certification process involves a self-assessment where organisations answer questions regarding their cyber security practices and technical controls. This is then assessed by an assessor from a Cyber Essentials Certification Body.

What is Cyber Essentials Plus?

Cyber Essentials Plus is an advanced certification level that includes the same security controls as Cyber Essentials but requires additional verification. Unlike the self-assessment, Cyber Essentials Plus involves an audit to ensure the implemented controls are effective. This audit includes vulnerability tests and an in-depth technical assessment, providing an additional level of assurance that the self-assessment does not provide.

Why is Cyber Essentials important?

Cyber Essentials is crucial because it helps businesses implement basic cyber security measures, reducing the risk of threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Achieving Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates a commitment to protecting sensitive data, enhancing reputation and customer trust. It also helps in complying with regulatory requirements and provides a competitive advantage, especially when bidding for public sector contracts.

What are the additional benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus?

Cyber Essentials Plus offers several benefits, including:

1. Enhanced Security Assurance: The audit and testing provide greater assurance of the effectiveness of security measures.

2. Improved Credibility: The rigorous assessment enhances the certification's credibility, making it more valued by both clients and stakeholders.

3. Identification of Vulnerabilities: The in-depth technical assessment can help identify vulnerabilities that might have been overlooked during the self-assessment or you may have no visibility of.

4. Increased Protection: The thorough Cyber Essentials Plus certification process helps protect against more sophisticated cyber threats.

Is Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus beneficial for all types of businesses?

Yes, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications are beneficial for businesses across all sectors and sizes. The basic principles of cyber security are universally applicable, and the certifications can help any organisation enhance its cyber resilience, protect sensitive information, and improve stakeholder confidence. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), these certifications can be particularly valuable as they provide a cost-effective framework for improving cyber security. By understanding and implementing Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, businesses can significantly strengthen their defences against cyber threats and demonstrate their commitment to protecting sensitive information, thereby gaining a competitive edge and fostering trust among their clients and partners.

How do businesses obtain Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications?

To obtain Cyber Essentials certification, businesses need to complete a self-assessment questionnaire covering key areas such as firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management. This self-assessment is then assessed by a certification body. For Cyber Essentials Plus, businesses must first achieve Cyber Essentials certification. Following this, an independent certification body conducts an on-site or remote audit and technical assessment, which includes vulnerability scans and tests to ensure that the security controls are properly implemented and effective.

Contact Information

If you would like to start your Cyber Essentials journey or are considering Cyber Essentials Plus as a next step, please reach to us and we would be happy to support.

• Tel: +44 (0)1480 775555

• Email: contact@starswift.co.uk

• Website: www.starswift.co.uk

Taking the tension out of public speaking

An expert Q&A with speechwriter and presentation trainer Jonathan Steffen

In your experience, Jonathan, what do people find most difficult about giving talks and presentations?

Without doubt, the pressure they put on themselves. While some people naturally enjoy the limelight, many do not. They view public speaking as an ordeal which they can only get through by delivering a flawless performance. As they are not natural performers, their performance is unlikely to be flawless. Failure is therefore pre-programmed, causing them anxiety long before they ever get on stage.

So if people aren’t ‘naturals’ at speaking in public, what can they do?

The thing to remember is that any audience wishes to enjoy a good performance. Typically this is construed as a demand, generating a fear of disappointing the audience’s expectations.

Looking at it the other way round, however, audiences generally feel a fair degree of goodwill when a speaker embarks on a talk. They want the speaker to succeed, for that will give them as listeners a better experience. Understanding this is the first step to developing the confidence to speak effectively in public. The audience is potentially right on your side, and you can leverage that.

How does this work in practice?

All audiences want to feel comfortable. They may wish to be informed, enlightened or entertained, depending on the specific context, but they always want to feel at their ease. Putting them at their ease is the key to creating the conditions for the successful reception of a speech.

When you are speaking in public, you control the discourse. You speak, and everyone else has to listen. This puts you in a very powerful position – even if you don’t feel very powerful at the time! By focusing on the needs of your audience rather than on your own anxieties, you can tailor your presentation to their needs, thus fulfilling their hopes for a positive experience.

And how do you do this?

By presenting them with meaningful content at a time when what they need is precisely that: to hear meaningful content. Success rather than failure is therefore pre-programmed. Believe in what you have to say – and believe that it’s of value to your listeners, too.

Can this be trained?

It can, even without a trainer. Whether talking to the walls, recording yourself on a smartphone, or delivering your presentation to a confidante behind closed doors, it’s always good to get used to the sound of your own voice and the look of your own gestures.

It’s also essential to become thoroughly familiar with your material, whether you will be reading from a script on the day or extemporizing from a few bullet-points. What is your key message? Or, to express it more meaningfully, what do you want to leave people thinking about? If your words are going to put pictures in people’s minds, what should those pictures be?

So, entering the minds of the audience is important?

It’s more than important: it’s essential. If you can make your presentation a meeting of minds in this sense, success will come as a matter of course.

Any last tips?

A very good ploy is to follow the practice of actors when delivering a soliloquy: make sure you are speaking directly to an individual member of the audience at any given moment. Pick one out, speak to that person, and then pick out the next as you go on with your presentation. By that means, you’ll speak convincingly to everyone – because everyone will feel that they’ve been involved in a mental dialogue with you.

In need of support with a speech or presentation?

Just email js@jonathansteffenlimited.com or connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonathansteffen

Further information: www.jonathansteffenlimited.com

Writing an effective press release

Spreading good news about your business can raise your profile, demonstrate leadership and benefit your SEO.

However, there are two key challenges –what to write about and how to write it!

So, Sarah West, founder of East Anglia’s leading B2B marketing agency, Full Mix Marketing, has put together a few top tips to help anyone creating a press release for content marketing:

What can I write my press release about?

A press release shares interesting, relevant and new information about your organisation. Written in third-person, it’s most effective when announcing genuinely newsworthy events like new products or contract wins. However, if such events are scarce, consider commenting on industry topics, such as predictions or changes in customer needs. This helps demonstrate your organisation’s leadership.

Remember, a press release reports actual or upcoming events. If a member of your senior team expresses an opinion on something which impacts your market place or customers – that can be news!

Including a key fact can support your press release. For example, if discussing your company’s growth or a market opportunity, a genuine statistic adds perspective.

Our clients are often amazed at how we can turn a minor development – or an opinion they’ve not yet publicly expressed – into a successful press release!

Give your press release an intriguing opening

There are two key approaches to creating a press release – headline first or headline last.

Headline first involves creating an intriguing headline to guide the article's subject from

the outset. Alternatively, headline last begins with outlining the article, jotting down ideas before creating a headline that fits the content.

A compelling headline is important as it grabs attention right away. It should be brief, intriguing and reflect the main message of the press release. The opening paragraphs then build upon the headline, providing a concise overview of the story and the parties involved.

It's effective to adopt the 'inverted pyramid structure' favoured by journalists, which presents the most important information first. This format helps journalists extract key details quickly and allows readers to grasp the article's significance without reading to the end.

Write in journalise

When writing about your company, it's tempting to use superlatives to describe what you do. However, journalists don’t write like that – they strive for balanced and objective reporting.

To increase the likelihood of your press release being published without extensive rewriting, try to be as unbiased as possible. You can still highlight your company’s successes, innovations, products and services - but focus on being descriptive rather than superlative.

Use quotes to your advantage

Including quotes from key individuals in your press release has two benefits.

First, it provides insight into the perspectives of those involved and explains the importance of your news. Second, quotes allow you to highlight your company's achievements without unsettling the reader. While journalists avoid superlatives, your Managing Director can freely praise the company in a quote!

Quotes from clients or partners can also endorse your organisation. But you must get permission, typically by proposing a quote for approval rather than asking them to write one themselves.

Keep to a manageable length

Press releases typically run about 400 words, providing enough space to tell your story and background. Journalists prefer short sentences and paragraphs with minimal punctuation. Complex sentences should be broken into smaller, more bitesize chunks. There can be varying levels of understanding among your target audience and journalists, so it’s best to keep your language simple and avoid jargon.

When possible, focus on the benefits of your news rather than its features. If you’re using acronyms or technical terms, consider spelling them out at least once.

Towards the end of your press release, include 'boilerplate' content about your company – typically a short paragraph detailing what you do, your history and standout achievements.

Have your distribution strategy ready

A press release is only as effective as the number of places which choose to publish it. Before writing, create a database of the publications and websites you want to target. When sending it out, attach the press release and 'sell' the topic in your email. State why you believe their readers would be interested and explain why it’s important!

Don’t hesitate to follow up if you don't receive a response. Publications receive many press releases and yours may simply have been missed!

Getting your press releases and content marketing right

Press releases are a powerful way to boost awareness for any business. Many trade publications welcome press releases and even the smallest developments can generate successful articles.

If you need any further help with PR and content marketing, visit www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk

Introducing the Chamber Info Hub:

Your Guide to Getting Started in Skills and Training Solutions!

We are thrilled to unveil our new Chamber Info Hub! After months of dedicated development, this resource is designed to help employers navigate the skills landscape in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The platform offers employers information on getting started with understanding or resolving skills gaps and signposts to regional partners that can help. The platform will support businesses in upskilling their employees and improve awareness of learning and training opportunities.

What Can You Find on the Info Hub?

The site allows you to search by sector or region, making it easy to explore key sectors in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough or to find specific information relevant to your area. Here's a glimpse of what you can discover:

• Navigating the Education System: Gain insights into the variety of options available to employers who are struggling to ensure they have the workforce they need to grow.

• Partners in your area: Connect with organisations who can provide support and guidance.

Key Sectors: Learn about various sectors, including Life Science, Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Tech, and more.

Why Explore the Info Hub?

Every business needs skills. If you have skills, or you want to prevent future skills gaps then this resource helps point you in the right direction.

So, if you’re finding the skills and education system hard to navigate, this site provides simple and digestible overviews, with no long or convoluted sentences, just the concise information that you need to know.

This resource can assist you in identifying the best options for your business. Whether you are looking for effective, convenient, or even free training solutions, the Info Hub has it all.

LSIP Activities Update

Annual Report:

Look out for the upcoming annual report which is scheduled for release later in July. This report will provide detailed insights into the progress made in resolving employer skills shortages since the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) in August 2023.

Take a Look!

We encourage you to explore the Info Hub today at https://chamberinfohub.co.uk/ and discover how it can benefit your business.

Your feedback is important to us, so please share your thoughts at lsip@cambscci.co.uk.

We’d love for you to stay connected with us on social media with the hashtags: #LSIP, #ChamberNetwork, and #CambsChamber.

Chamber Four Services

Included in your Chamber membership is Chamber Four Services covering HR, Legal, Health & Safety and Tax.

How to access these services

Advice lines - call 01455 852037

Document libraries - access via https://chambercambs.questcover.com/login and use your unique credentials to enter the site.

If you don’t have these, please contact the Chamber on 01223 237414 or email enquiries@cambscci.co.uk

Chamber HR is an employer focused HR service, providing:

• Unlimited access 365 days for the advice line

• Experienced Advisors

• HR Document Library

• Covers the lifecycle of an employee in a company’s employment.

Chamber Legal is a Legal Advisory Service, providing:

• Unlimited access to an advice line

• Experienced Advisors

• Legal Document Libraries

• Legal Expense Cover.

Chamber Health & Safety, providing:

• During office hours – unlimited access to an advice line

• H&S Document Library

• Includes all key compliance documents and guidance notes

• Includes Health & Safety policy/ risk assessments/ fires safety etc.

Chamber Tax is a specialist advisory service, providing:

• During office hours - unlimited access to an advice line

• Access to specialist tax advisors and VAT advisors

• Insurance – covers tax enquiries.

Passionate About Print

Solving

Artwork and Design

360 Law Services Limited

NEW MEMBERS

GPC SKILLS LTD

Affinitas Global Ltd HBSL

Alchemie Technology Limited

Auditel

Hyperiondev limited

Keblelight Group Limited

Brave Agency Kev Limited

Cambridge Support NCTC

Carmels Fabrication Limited Neurobox

Communigage NOCN

Design Principle Studio

Flagship Partners

Fora Space Ltd

Oculus Knowledge Consulting

Pebble People Development Ltd

Regency Power Generation Limited

GCE Hire Fleet Renata Drumond Interiors

Geek Design

Gevander Trade Finance

GMV Freight Ltd

Shearline Precision Engineering Ltd

The Cambridge Lady

Xpress Datacom Supplies Ltd

A big Thank you to Novotel Cambridge North for hosting an amazing five-course dinner for Charlotte to celebrate one year as Chamber CEO

MEMBER NEWS

Peterborough Positive hosts summer of free city centre events!

There’s a vibrant feel to Peterborough city centre this summer with a series of FREE events and activities to entertain everyone.

If you’re in need of some relaxation, then check out informal yoga sessions in the grounds of Peterborough Cathedral once a month on Saturdays until September. Spaces are limited, so keep an eye on Peterborough Positive’s social channels for ticket information.

And if you fancy flexing your muscles at the competition then get down to Cathedral Square on 10th August for the return of Peterborough’s Strongest.

Athletes go head-to-head in a thrilling competition in events including atlas stones and a truck pull. There are also children’s challenges to sign up for on the day

To end the summer excitement, get your popcorn ready and enjoy a family film with a nautical theme on a big screen in Cathedral Square on 18 August.

For more information and details of other events being organised by the city’s business improvement district, visit www.peterboroughpositive.co.uk/ events

Eve Taylor Awarded Damehood for Exceptional Contributions to business.

Eve Taylor, founder of Eve Taylor London, has been appointed as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours List. This prestigious accolade recognises her unparalleled contributions to business in the aromatherapy and skincare industry.

Eve Taylor, a pioneering force in the skincare industry has dedicated over six decades to advancing the art of aromatherapy and aromatic products. Her eponymous brand, established in 1968, has become synonymous with high-quality skincare products that harness the power of natural ingredients. Taylor’s innovative formulations and dedication to education have set industry standards and inspired countless professionals worldwide.

"I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this recognition," said Dame Eve Taylor. "My journey has been driven by a passion for empowering others through beauty and wellbeing. This accolade is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the incredible team at Eve Taylor London and our unwavering commitment to excellence."

In addition to her groundbreaking work in aromatherapy and skincare, Dame Eve Taylor is celebrated for working full time at the age of 92; with an ongoing commitment to supporting her loyal therapist customers on a daily basis. As Dame Eve Taylor embarks on this new chapter, she remains committed to driving high standards and positive change within the skincare industry and beyond. Her focus will continue to be on the development of world class products that promote both inner and outer wellbeing.

All-female leadership signals exciting new era for Cambridge Wireless

We’re delighted to announce that Olu Orugboh is the new Chair of the Board at Cambridge Wireless. Olu has joined the organisation’s new CEO, Michaela Eschbach, in creating an all-female leadership at Cambridge Wireless for the first time in the organisation’s 20-year history. These appointments signal the start of an exciting new era for Cambridge Wireless as it seeks to widen its reach and engagement across the tech ecosystem.

In her new role as Chair, Olu Orugboh brings with her more than two decades’ experience in Founder and Senior Leadership roles, driving businesses through change and migration into digital environments. Olu is Cofounder and CEO of Black Talent & Leadership in STEM, a cross-industry initiative focused on addressing the underrepresentation of minority talent with a focus on the Black talent skills gap in STEM and in doing so, make it easier for companies to attract, retain, empower and grow this talent within the sector whilst addressing the urgent need for digital skills. She is also Founder and CEO of Synergy Solutions, a consultancy which helps companies to stay at the forefront of technology.

Speaking on her new appointment as Chair of the Cambridge Wireless Board, Olu Orugboh said: “I am

honoured to be part of this historic moment. As a trailblazer, Cambridge Wireless and our community continues to lead the way with shaping our technology landscape whilst delivering impact, sustainability and industrywide transformation. We remain committed to placing our members at the heart of all that we do and in doing so deliver our mission to help our members network, learn and grow.”

In addition to Olu’s appointment as Chair, awardwinning businesswoman and entrepreneur, Michaela Eschbach, has now started in her new role as CEO of Cambridge Wireless, bringing with her an impressive track record as a Founder and Director. The combined forces of Olu and Michaela in the top leadership roles at Cambridge Wireless mark a significant new chapter in the organisation’s history.

In another first, the Cambridge Wireless Board now comprises predominantly female board members who each bring with them a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience. In addition to Olu Orugboh as Chair and Michaela Eschbach as CEO, the Board now includes:

Paula Rogers-Brown (Head of Communities and Ecosystem Engagement for Connect: Health Tech at University of Cambridge)

Julie Bradford (Techno-Economic Analysis Head at Real Wireless)

Collette Johnson (CEO at Cambridge Product Marketing and Cambridge Judge Business School mentor)

Sylvia Lu (Chartered Engineer and Corporate Strategist at u-blox).

Michaela Eschbach, CEO, Cambridge Wireless said: “These new appointments are a direct reflection on the values of the Cambridge Wireless community who vote for our Board. Our members’ votes have recognised the vital role that women play in transforming and innovating the tech ecosystem. I am delighted that our members have positioned women front-and-centre in driving Cambridge Wireless forward. I’m excited to embark on this journey of transformation with Olu, the Board and the Cambridge Wireless team to deliver value to our members.”

dbfb Announces Stuart Smith as Head of Public Sector to Spearhead Growth

dbfb, a leading innovator in telecommunications solutions, proudly announces the appointment of Stuart Smith as the new Head of Public Sector. Stuart brings a rich history of over 25 years in the Public Sector, with significant roles at global technology providers such as Nokia, Zayo, and Exponential-e, as well as collaborations with Microsoft, Cisco, and HPE Aruba.

Aligning with dbfb’s strategic achievement of securing a place on the prestigious Crown Commercial’s Network Services 3 Framework in 2023. Stuart’s appointment marks a key step in our commitment to the Public Sector. In his pivotal role, Stuart will spearhead the Public Sector goto-Market Strategy, a critical component of dbfb’s plan to broaden its impact and leverage technology innovations for community benefit.

His decision to join dbfb from larger organisations

Ensors appoints their 21st Partner

stems from a desire to contribute to a nimble, growth-oriented company that can quickly adapt to technological advancements and implement changes that bring sustainable benefits to local communities across the UK. Stuart’s impressive track record includes roles in extensive regeneration programmes that have revitalised urban areas, transformed Public Services and bolstered local economies.

Stuart shared his vision, stating, "Joining dbfb represents a fantastic opportunity to harness a growth mindset in a smaller, more agile organisation. This setting allows us to rapidly respond to technological changes and deliver significant, community-focused benefits. I am excited to drive our Public Sector strategy, bringing innovative solutions that will enhance community services and our nation’s infrastructure."

Simon Pickering, Managing Director of dbfb, added: "Stuart’s extensive experience and proactive approach are exactly what dbfb needs as we expand our reach across the UK. His expertise will be instrumental in positioning us at the forefront of digital innovation and community service."

As dbfb continues to expand its presence and influence within the UK's telecom sector, Stuart’s leadership will guide the company toward greater national impact and continued excellence in service.

Ensors Chartered Accountants welcomes experienced Private Client Partner Emma Taylor-Bunting to the practice. With experience in both corporate tax and personal tax planning, Emma will be based in the firm’s Cambridge office at Victory House as a specialist tax advisor.

Prior to her appointment, Emma served as Tax Partner at a highly respected accountancy firm based in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. She obtained her Association of Tax Technician qualification (ATT) in July 2007, becoming a Fellow of the Association in 2020, and a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) in July 2013. Emma began her career in the legal sector and was called to the “Bar” in July 2003. She later transitioned to accountancy to specialise in Tax.

With Emma’s prior legal experience and tax knowledge, she will provide comprehensive support and assistance for clients in managing their taxation affairs. Emma is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), specialising in capital taxes planning for families, to provide effective succession solutions for clients and future generations

Cambridge office Partner, Mark Upton, says of the appointment: “We’re thrilled to welcome Emma to our growing partnership. Her extensive experience and skill set will add further excellence to our Tax team and provide additional expertise for the benefit of our clients”.

Domino Solutions protect patients from counterfeit medical devices

Domino is working with manufacturers in the sector to deliver a range of coding solutions – including 2D Data Matrix and QR codes (two dimensional codes) – which can improve traceability throughout the supply chain and enable futureproofing of their production lines ahead of forthcoming regulations.

Over the next four years, all medical devices will require a unique device identification (UDI) code registered in EUDAMED, the Central European Database for Medical Devices.

Incorporating a broad range of products, medical devices cover everything from bandages and personal protective equipment (PPE) to pacemakers and ventilators. The implications of counterfeit medical

Leading Tech Integrator FWD-IP, and Cambridgeshire County Council’s ICT service successfully deliver latest campaign for improved technology in schools across East Anglia

The collaborative partnership joined forces to improve Wi-Fi and internet speed in over 50 schools as part of government-backed ‘Connect the Classroom’ campaign. FWD-IP, tech specialist in critical communications, security solutions and audio visual, has worked in

devices can also vary greatly, from not performing quite as intended to putting patients and healthcare staff at serious risk of harm.

To enable advanced traceability of individual products, Domino has now introduced a portfolio of coding solutions that can deliver reliable and accurate information, graphics as well as the latest 2D (two dimensional) Data Matrix and QR codes which have the potential to include detailed product information and up-to-date user guides in an accessible digital format. Technologies include thermal inkjet printers for such items as facemasks, digital thermal transfer overprinters for flexible packaging, foils, films and labels on needles; and carbon dioxide laser coders for use on blister foil for disposable contact lenses. The company also has a range of fibre lasers for direct marking medical devices including hearing aids, implantable pacemakers and handheld surgical instruments.

However, Domino has emphasised the benefit to medical device manufacturers who choose to equip their production lines with technology to enable both EU MDR (European Union Medical Device Regulation) compliance and serialisation.

Bart Vansteenkiste, Global Life Sciences Sector Manager at Domino says: “The addition of serialisation via 2D codes for medical devices is only a small step beyond what is already required under existing EU MDR compliance – but one that can help to reduce the risk of counterfeit medical device products further and bring many untold benefits to both end-users and manufacturers.”

partnership with The ICT Service for over 20 years delivering enhanced technology to schools and educational settings across the region. The ICT Service and trusted tech partner, FWD-IP, have now concluded the latest DfE programme ‘Connect the Classroom’ (CtC) which has provided grant funding to eligible schools to upgrade and future-proof their wireless network and help optimise learning environments for teachers and pupils alike.

The CtC campaign was designed to ensure schools are meeting Wi-Fi connectivity standards to provide a fully functional signal from a wireless network throughout the

entire school or college buildings and externally, where required. Wi-Fi 6 is a newer, improved wireless standard offering significant improvements over the previous version. These improvements include significantly improved speeds, better performance in high density areas, improved power efficiency and an enhanced security posture.

The campaign aims to enhance schools’ network infrastructure, significantly improving both wired and wireless connectivity. By upgrading to a robust and reliable network system, schools can avoid common issues such as weak Wi-Fi signals, slow speeds, and random disconnections that lead to classroom disruptions.

John Chapman, Head of The ICT Service, comments;

“We are proud to have partnered once again with FWDIP to support this significant DfE-funded initiative as it forms part of ours and Dfe’s ongoing strategy to help schools shift to more cloud-based solutions. We aim to bridge the digital divide in education, moving away from traditional, locally hosted hardware solutions to a more flexible, cloud-based environment.

CAW Celebrates matrix Re-accreditation!

We are thrilled to announce that The College of Animal Welfare/CAW Business School, based in Godmanchester, has successfully achieved matrix re-accreditation following a comprehensive inspection carried out between the 15-18 April 2024. This achievement underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional information, advice and guidance (IAG) to our students, employers and those looking to study with us.

The matrix Standard is a prestigious benchmark for organisations to assess and measure their IAG services. Achieving this re-accreditation is a testament to the high standards we strive to uphold; ensuring that our services are accessible, effectively managed, and of the highest quality.

During the inspection, the inspector noted that staff at the College are well qualified for the role they deliver and that they are passionate about supporting students

These cloud-based edtech solutions offer the latest education focussed functionality to help teachers teach, and pupils learn. Our collaboration with FWD-IP was once again exemplary as we aim to keep empowering education through technology integration.”

Managing Director of FWD-IP, Stuart Grainger, adds; “ We are pleased to play an integral part in helping future-proof schools and combat common tech issues. By upgrading the critical infrastructure and providing enhanced edtech, it is designed to support innovation, efficiency and creativity in the classroom.”

FWD-IP work with multi-academy trusts and county councils to support advancements in education through technology integration: critical communications (Wi-Fi, blown fibre, network design and installation, structured cabling, datacomms, telecoms); security solutions (CCTV, door and gate access systems) and audio visual (digital signage, interactive screens, video walls, PA systems). The ICT Service is Cambridgeshire County Council’s ICT advisory and support service for schools since 2000. Together, they offer chargeable services to schools and settings in Cambridgeshire and beyond.

in a manner that is tailored to their individual needs. Our commitment to providing high quality and effective student focussed IAG was demonstrated by the senior leadership team and down through the organisation.

College Principal, Barbara Cooper, commented “I am thrilled to celebrate our matrix accreditation. The report highlighted several key aspects of our approach: our dedication to recognising and addressing the diverse needs of our students, our clear communication of IAG to stakeholders, and the ongoing support provided throughout our students’ educational journey. Furthermore, our students themselves have praised our comprehensive approach to welfare, safeguarding, and career-focused IAG. This recognition marks our commitment to, not only meet, but exceed the expectations of our college community."

As we celebrate this achievement, we also look to the future by building on the strengths identified and considering the development suggestions. We thank all our staff, students, employers and partners for their hard work and commitment, and contribution during the inspection. Together, we will continue to ensure every student can achieve their full potential.

Guardtech shortlisted for three gongs

The Guardtech Group have been shortlisted for a total of three awards at the London Construction and SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards.

The Haverhill-based cleanroom design and build experts are up for Best Enterprising Business and Family Business of the Year at the SME Cambridgeshire showpiece, as well as the Marketing Team of the Year gong at the London Construction Awards.

Both shows take place in September, with the SME Cambs Business Awards taking place at Cambridge Marina on Thursday 5 September before the Commercial Team head to Novotel London West in Hammersmith on Friday 27 September.

The Group were previous winners at the 2022 SME Cambs Awards, with portable cleanroom solution CleanCube scooping the Innovation Award, while the same business

Greater Anglia celebrates International Women in Engineering Day 2024

Greater Anglia is shining a light on a vital role played by one of its female employees, as part of this year’s International Women in Engineering Day.

The day, held annually on 23 June, promotes the work of female engineers across the globe, and aims to encourage more women to study and work within the profession.

This year, the train operator for the East of England, is focusing on Erika Dileo, who works at Cambridge sidings as a Yard Movement Controller.

Erika is from Italy and joined the railway in 2017 where she worked at Cambridge station as a dispatcher. The role included checking trains were safely departing from the platforms and helping customers with queries.

“I was working there until 2020, but then I was looking for

was a finalist at the London Construction Awards the same year in the Product Innovation of the Year category.

Marketing Manager Joe Shackley was delighted to hear the news of his team’s nomination, praising the tight-knit unit of Commercial Director Mark Wheeler’s Sales and Marketing Team.

“It’s great news,” said Shackley. “We’re super proud of the content we produce and the way we get our message out there – so to get some recognition for our hard work and creativity is amazing.

“We’re a really tight Commercial Team – with some brilliant people consistently coming up with fresh, new ideas on how to promote the excellent work our Design and Install Teams do. The fact that everything we construct is always so good certainly makes our lives lot easier.

“Both nominations are testament to the great work all our teams do day in, day outww and we now can’t wait to attend two exciting events.”

The Guardtech Group offer a ‘holistic total cleanroom package’, with every aspect of cleanroom design and build covered through their five businesses Cleanroom Solutions (turnkey), Guardtech Cleanrooms (modular), CleanCube (portable), Isopod (rapid-assembly) and Isoblok (pre-fab portals).

They also offer a wide range of cleanroom-grade furniture and equipment solutions, Cleanroom Service Plans and Decontamination Programmes to ensure all of their clients’ cleanroom requirements are taken care of.

something different – as much as I like to be in contact with customers, I knew I needed something more operational,” she said.

“The job came up, I applied, did an interview and passed a couple of tests – and got the job.”

Erika is now responsible for the 30 train arrivals and departures to and from the sidings every night. She also oversees the safety of everyone within the team during her 12-hour shifts.

“The Yard Movement Controller role is all about organising trains to be in the right place, ready to go out the next morning, after they’ve been refuelled and had a top-up of sand for the brakes,” said Erika.

“It’s like the Tetris online puzzle challenge, only with trains –and much, much more responsibility.”

All of Erika’s tasks involve clear and concise communication, which is vital for safety.

While engineering is a male-dominated industry, Greater Anglia has a well-developed diversity and inclusion strategy, one strand of which is increasing the number of women in the workplace.

Erika and the team are eager to see more women apply for roles.

“I am proud to be in engineering – sometimes you may think an engineer is someone with greasy hands or something like that, but you can be operational engineer too.

“If you want to get in the railway, I would say try - and don’t be scared that you’re a woman. There are so many positions in engineering too.

“It’s a job that everyone can do – the railway is for everybody, every gender, sex or nationality, there is no discrimination and it’s a very open company.”

Wyboston Lakes Resort continues to be More Sustainable

‘More Sustainable, No Apology continues to be the ethos driving Wyboston Lakes Resort’s unstinting commitment to introducing new initiatives that make the venue more sustainable.

The current focus of Phase Two of its Green Energy Roadmap is now approaching completion. Along with storage batteries, a total of 3065 solar energy panels are being installed on the roofs of The Woodlands Event Centre, The Willows Training Centre, the Waterfront Hotel and the Knowledge Centre, an investment of £2.3m. Once this is completed – in the next few weeks, the Resort will have in total 1.4 Megawatt hours of solar panels and 1.1 Megawatt hours of storage batteries. A new video shows clearly how the work on The Willows Training Centre has been completed, By contrast, a spectacular Living Wall containing more than 5000 plants has recently been installed and planted, creating an attractive new sustainable feature that also helps the environment. Compatible with this is the introduction of bee hives across the site, managed by local beekeepers.

Meanwhile the Resort’s Room2Grow scheme continues to flourish. So far since its launch two years ago more than 46,000 guests have chosen to have a tree planted on the 380-acre grounds rather than have their room cleaned.

Louisa Watson, Marketing Director & Sustainability Lead at the Resort says, "At Wyboston Lakes Resort, sustainability is a core part of our identity. We are deeply committed to creating a greener future and continuously seek innovative ways to enhance our sustainability efforts. Our recent advancements in solar energy and the introduction of the Living Wall and bee hives are just a few examples of our dedication. We are proud of the positive impact we are making and look forward to sharing our journey and insights with visitors at The Meetings Show."

Howes Percival appoint strategic land development Partner in Cambridge

Howes Percival has added strategic land development expert Tim Bacon as a Partner in its Commercial Property team in Cambridge.

Tim specialises in strategic land work and property development, including promotion, option and collaboration agreements and acts for promoters and landowners across the east of England, drawing on over 30 years of experience in all areas of property related matters.

The appointment strengthens Howes Percival's existing team in the east of England to create a centre of excellence

in the strategic land sector, where Howes Percival has expertise second to none. Led by Partners Steven Beach and Michaela Henson in the Cambridge office, alongside Anna Spriggs, who joined the firm last year, and backed by a topclass planning team, the firm will have one of the strongest offerings in East Anglia.

Howes Percival Partner Michaela Henson commented, "We are delighted to welcome Tim to the team. Tim brings a number of clients with him and considerable expertise in the strategic land sector where landowners, promoters and developers are seeking to enhance the value of land for their mutual benefit by obtaining planning for residential, commercial or mixed-use development.

"Despite difficult economic conditions, property values in the eastern region continue to be strong and developers are keen to ensure they have a pipeline of development land coming through in future years. This work continues to be a growth area for Howes Percival.

"We are already known for the all-round strength of our commercial property offer in East Anglia and our cradle to grave service for developers, but we are keen to build further on our specialist services by bringing in the best experts. We will continue to invest in our people and in attracting the best property talent to support our clients across the region."

Howes Percival's Commercial Property team has a reputation as one of the largest and most skilled across the central and eastern regions. The team acts for many household names, including some of the country's largest housebuilders, commercial developers, investors, lenders, business owners, charities, landowners, construction firms and public sector organisations.

SustainableTech4Good™ takes surplus tech, securely data erases it with full certification, and repairs and refurbishes it for reuse in addressing digital inclusion

We have already distributed 6,234 devices for digital inclusion, 1,212 of which have been within Cambridgeshire. We work with 109 charities and other delivery organisations to get devices to the people who need them most.

Our solution is already supported by significant business partners in Cambridgeshire, we were delighted that the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce chose to make a difference to people in the local community by having us repurpose their surplus tech. Thanks to their participation, we have been able to donate laptops to Huntingdon library, which will be used to provide digital access for people without their own device, either through loan or use within the library. Digital access is essential for even the most fundamental tasks in our increasingly digital world. Reusing devices in this way not only supports our local community, but is also sustainable, saving e-waste, CO2 emissions and the extraction of scarce raw materials. Please email Hello@sustainabletech4good and make a real difference to people’s lives, while being kind to our environment Join the Sustainable Digital Inclusion Revolution™

Cambridge Building Society supports new charity partnerships

The Cambridge Building Society is delighted to announce Emmaus Cambridge, Jimmy’s Cambridge, and The Property Angels Foundation UK as its charity partners for 2024.

Emmaus Cambridge works to combat homelessness in the local community, by providing shelter, meaningful work opportunities, and support to people experiencing homelessness. Their residents, known as companions, all live and gain skills at the community located in Landbeach, where they accept and sell pre-loved goods ranging from furniture, clothing, homewares, and electricals.

Donna Talbot, Chief Executive at Emmaus Cambridge, said: “We deeply appreciate the generosity of The Cambridge Building Society, they fully understand the importance of home and the security a home provides. Their combination of donations and volunteering hours will go a long way in helping us with our mission of supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.”

Last year, The Cambridge answered the call and donated £6,000 in response to a break-in which targeted their workshop and serves as a hub for essential maintenance work on the site while providing people with valuable skills in construction and property maintenance.

At its AGM in 2024, the Society presented Debbie Jones, Emmaus Support Manager, and Jon Dyer, Emmaus Companion (Resident) with a cheque for £600. The money was raised from donations made for each vote they received from their members on their resolutions – 30p for online and 25p postal votes. Jimmy’s Cambridge also received £600.

Jimmy’s is a community-based charity that supports housing and support for people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge. The charity also opened the first all-year round night shelter. Jimmy’s works with each person to provide options, tools, and skills to support them on their journey, developing a tailored pathway to independence.

Cat Strawbridge, Communications Manager at Jimmy’s, said: “We’re delighted to partner with The Cambridge as one of its charities of the year partners for another year, and to continue the great work we’ve been doing to combat homelessness in Cambridge. Having the backing from such an iconic Cambridge business means so much to us and to the work we do helping people out of homelessness.

“Knowing we share common interests of investing in and supporting communities in Cambridge is incredibly important as we can be confident the impact of this partnership will be even further reaching than the fundraising alone.

“The fundraising and financial generosity last year of their team members and business cannot go unmentioned too. With fundraising and matched funds raising in the region of £11,000.”

The Angels Foundation UK is a local charity that supports families who have fled domestic abuse. Through its ‘Back to Life’ project it provides those affected and in need with furniture, flooring, home comforts and social introductions.

Last year, the charity received the full amount available from The Cambridge Building Society Community Fund, a £10,000 grant, which facilitated their ambitious plans to support more people fleeing domestic abuse.

Their successful grant application had a surprising outcome, on receiving the grant The Angels Foundation UK found the confidence to progress from being a Community Interest Company (CIC) to a registered charity, which has given them further funding and referrals opportunities.

Caroline Deeprose, CEO of The Angels Foundation UK, said: “We’re delighted The Cambridge has chosen us as one of their Community Partners this year. We’re incredibly excited at the opportunity this provides for both us and The Cambridge. We’ll be able to build on the transformative work we’ve undertaken since receiving that fabulous grant last year.”

The Cambridge works alongside local charities that shares its enthusiasm and focus for supporting vulnerable people in the local area, to empower them to realise their full potential.

Peter Burrows, Chief Executive at The Cambridge said: “I am delighted to expand our charity of the year partnership to three incredible charities, all of which do great work to help people with different issues around homes and housing, a cause very close to our heart.”

“It’s great to see our partnership with Jimmy’s continue for another year, after seeing the support the charity received last year from our team members through their fundraising efforts.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Emmaus, including supporting them following their break in last year, and our team members have voted to help Property Angels after seeing the inspiring work that they do with victims of domestic abuse. We look forward to supporting all three charities as they work to bring help to those in need.”

Cofinitive recognised with international PR and Communications industry elite

Cambridge-based PR & Comms agency, cofinitive has been listed in PR Week’s Top 150 PR agency rankings for a third consecutive year.

Once again, cofinitive is the only agency in Cambridge, and across Cambridgeshire, to be recognised and included in the prestigious annual listings, which are compiled by the PR industry’s ‘bible’, PR Week.

Cofintive has been ranked No 62 nationally in the Technology PR specialists category – and at No 63 in Agencies Outside London, having risen three places in a very challenging market.

The last 18 months have been tough in the technology sector. Whilst some companies have received significant levels of investment, many have been victims of a very tight investor landscape, and this has had an effect not just on the use of marketing and PR agencies, but on employment – with even global tech giants such as Meta,

Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC)

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough

Jumpstart is a grants and support programme for start-up businesses launched in 2021 by Business & IP Centre (BIPC)

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough – a provider of free and lowcost business support and advice to start up business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors. Keystone were involved in both the design and marketing of the inaugural programme, working in collaboration with the BIPC team to name, brand, launch and promote it.

Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet announcing spending cuts and job layoffs.

cofinitive founder & director, Faye Holland said of the news:

“cofinitive continues to feature in PR Week’s Top 150 annual listings because we offer something compelling to our clients and have done so for the last decade. Our methodology of integrated PR & Comms, powered by decades of robust strategy expertise, helps clients to drive sales as well as brand awareness, establishing reputation and leadership position at the same time which is critical when costs are under scrutiny.

“We are proud to be able to immerse ourselves in the innovation and startup culture so prevalent in Cambridge, and we consistently add weight to our region’s reputation as the UK’s Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation. Talk to us to find out how we can help you with impactful comms – locally, nationally and internationally.”

PRWeek is the world's leading PR & Comms publication, with a global PR destination combining the US, UK and Asia, and providing news, analysis, insights and opinion on the latest and most critical issues in the PR industry.

Newly scaled up and boosted by funding provided by two local district councils, Jumpstart 2023/24 had a prize fund of £75,000 to share with up to 24 local start-up businesses. With sponsors on board and several administrative changes made to the application process and eligibility criteria, the team at BIPC knew the marketing and communications plan for the programme would need a jumpstart of its own. Impressed by the impact Keystone had made during the launch of Jumpstart in 2021, we were invited back to help drive engagement during this next phase.

Kicking things off with an initial scoping workshop, we uncovered insights from the previous two years of the programme’s history and

set some clear goals for the 2023/24 programme.

1. Maintain Momentum: Build on previous years’ interest and excitement.

2. Reach New Audiences: Increase awareness among local entrepreneurs and start-ups.

3. Increase Geographical Reach: Target specific locations and widen outreach.

4. Showcase Application Ease: Highlight removal of previous barriers.

5. Assist with Eligibility: Promote support events and application criteria.

The Solution: Development of a targeted, multi-channel campaign plan, maximising opportunities to reach eligible entrepreneurs

It was clear that in order to maximise reach, our marketing and communications plan would need to include messaging issued through traditional channels such as PR and social media, alongside direct engagement with stakeholders, former winners and other influential individuals.

We started by creating a set of core Jumpstart messages, branded images and videos that would work across a variety of marketing channels. Developing audience-specific messages that followed the same “script” ensured that the Jumpstart story was clear and consistent from start to finish. This was particularly important given the relatively strict application criteria – clear and consistent messaging would build confidence with both prospective applicants and those invited to help promote the programme on behalf of BIPC.

Some of the campaign’s tactics included…

Traditional PR and social media: Used to distribute messages about the programme’s key milestones – from launch to the application deadline.

Stakeholder engagement: Creation and distribution of a toolkit to ensure they could amplify our messages about Jumpstart both accurately and with confidence within their own networks.

Prospect nurturing: Tailored messaging that would sell the Jumpstart programme opportunity during multiple, identified touchpoints with prospective applicants.

Past winner champions: Video and still image content that shared the stories of past winners, designed to inspire prospective applicants.

Judges and mentors: Prepared messaging that easily enabled them to promote their own involvement in the programme and inspire interest from their own networks.

The impact: Cross-county measurable reach that directly converted into high quality awards applications

Thanks to our campaign, the BIPC team received a high number of good quality applications from across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Our activity successfully gained:

• PR coverage across multiple local newspaper titles

• 20% increase in Facebook followers

• 9% increase in LinkedIn followers

• Nearly 400% increase in impressions on Facebook and LinkedIn, with engagement rates of over 8% gained on LinkedIn and an increase of nearly 300% in clickthrough rates on Facebook

In January 2024, 30 businesses were invited through to the next stage of the process – a “Dragon’s Den” style live pitching their business to the judging panel. This stage was followed in March 2024 by a celebration event where the names of the 22 overall winners were announced, along with the prize money they would receive from the £75,000 prize fund.

We partnered with Keystone for our flagship BIPC Jumpstart

programme, and their support was exceptional. From the very beginning, Keystone took the time to understand our unique needs, goals, and challenges.

Following the delivery of our very first programme, we were supplied with fantastic templates that would give us confidence and independence for the second Jumpstart cohort.

Naturally, as our third cohort received three times as much funding, we knew we would be in safe hands working with Keystone again. Hayley and Katherine brought creativity, professionalism, and strategic insight that significantly enhanced our marketing efforts. They delivered outstanding results and exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend the Keystone team for their expertise and dedication.

Networking & Outdoor Activities

Wednesday 4 September, 9.00am-12.00pm

Grafham Water Centre

Business Leaders Lunch

Enjoy a prosecco reception, twocourse sit down lunch, connect with other business leaders and hear a fascinating presentation from Team BRIT

Friday 6 September, 12.00-3.00pm

Huntingdon Racecourse

Stamford Networking

Tuesday 17 September, 5.30-7.00pm

The Crown, Stamford

Fenland Water Recycling Centre Tour & Networking

Friday 13 September, 9.00-11.00am

Going Global – Panel Discussion and Exhibition

Join us at this exciting event where we’ll be inspiring businesses to start/grow their exports, featuring a panel discussion, clinics and a mini exhibition.

We’ll also be showcasing the Chamber’s international trade capabilities and provide a platform for members who provide services in this space.

Wednesday 25 September, 8.00-10.30am Alconbury Weald

AI in the Octagon

The Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce & The Ely Cathedral Business Group invite you to this prestigious event held at Ely Cathedral.

The subject of AI is often at the centre of many discussions in today’s world, and it can polarising. We will have a range of speakers who will delve into the pros and cons of using AI and you will leave with an enhanced understanding of an ever-growing technology.

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday 26 September, 6.00pm onwards Ely Cathedral Safari Breakfast & Exhibition in collaboration with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday 8 October, XR Lab, West Suffolk College

Ely Networking

Monday 28 October, 5.30-7.00pm

Poets House - Sponsored by Grovemere Property.

Business Women’s Christmas Lunch

Friday 29 November

Stamford Christmas Drinks

Tuesday 10 December

Chamber Christmas Lunch

Friday 6 December

Further details to be announced.

We are constantly updating our website with new events, keep up to date and book your tickets at www.cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/events

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