connected issue 93 by connected magazine

INSPIRING SUCCESS

ISSUE 93

The official magazine for Chamber members

PLUS. . . ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE CHAMBER NETWORK

this issue

CONTENTS

Connect

Protect

28-31

8-10

Global

Ely & East Cambs area news

12-15

Inform

34-35

Huntingdonshire area news

Transform

36-38

Peterborough & Stamford area news

Charity Cambridge & South Cambs area news

Ask the Expert

Smart Energy

Marketing Insight

Growth Works

New Members

Out & About

18-19

24-25

44-45 46

Chamber Events Chamber Training

Guest article – Wyboston Lakes

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welcome from the

EDITOR

ISSUE 93

Welcome ....

INSPIRING SUCCESS

The official magazine

PLUS. . . ALL THE LATEST

for Chamber members

ER NETWORK

NEWS FROM THE CHAMB

Chief Executive Vic Annells Editor Sadie Parr Published and Printed by

This month we introduce Wyboston Lakes as our guest article and explain how their business has grown. If you would like to be considered for a double-page spread, please get in touch with me. I’m delighted to see so many members advertising this month. Our advertising rates can be found on page 47. Advertising in connected is a great way to showcase your business across the ChamberNetwork. To place an advert in the next edition please send me an email. Have you entered our Cambridge Quiz at Cambridge United? This will be a great evening to put your general knowledge to the test and compete against other

Chamber members. Turn to page 44-45 to find out how to enter. We look forward to seeing you there. SADIE PARR s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

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

• D IA RY DAT E S • NOV 2021

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce @CambsChamber

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

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DEC 2021

Letters of Credit course

Cambridge Quiz

Netwalking, Peterborough

Understanding Rules of Origin course

Inward and Outward Processing course

Netwalking, Cambridge

Christmas Lunch, Cambridge

comment from the

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Chief Executive’s comments We have made some changes to the way that we operate at the Chamber and as part of this I am delighted that Kamla Sooriah and Patrick Davis have joined the team. Kamla is our new Head of Membership who will spend most of her time in the Peterborough and Stamford area to grow connections and build positive relationships with businesses. With previous roles at The Great Northern Hotel and Walnut Technology, Kamla already has a large network of connections in the area. Patrick is our Digital Marketing Apprentice who is on day-release with Cambridge Regional College to secure his Digital Marketer Level 3 qualification. He is supporting the Marketing and Events team with external communications. It is great to have them both working for the Chamber as we move forward and focus on re-building the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough economy. We have a number of events planned over the coming months but our Christmas Lunch is a key date in the Chamber calendar. We are really pleased to have secured Imogen Grant as our keynote speaker. Imogen is a GB Olympian from Cambridge and missed out on a rowing bronze medal by 0.01 of a second. More details about Imogen, and the event, can be found on page 44 and we really hope that you will be able to join us.

At the time of writing there has been much coverage on the news around the use of face masks. I would like to reassure you all that at Chamber events we follow the most up-to-date government guidance and any measure stipulated by the venues that we attend. We encourage anyone attending events to take a lateral flow test that morning and to wear a face mask in communal areas of the venue until we are in our allocated room. VIC ANNELLS Chief Executive

Chamber Christmas Lunch Friday 10 December, 12.00-3.00pm St John’s College, Cambridge Turn to page 44 for full details

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We provide Chamber members with many opportunities to widen their network of business contacts – building connections, creating opportunities and maximising the benefits of being part of Cambridgeshire’s most vibrant business network.

CONNECT

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OFFERS

As part of your Chamber membership we give you to links with national companies providing business services at exclusive rates to Chamber members. Once of these links is with Swoop for Chamber Finance Finder. This fantastic new digital service is dedicated to making finance work for SMEs. With Swoop finance experts to guide you through the process, accessing finance should be easier than ever. The Chamber Finance Finder simplifies and speeds up the funding process, matching member businesses with the right funding opportunities across loans, equity investment, grants and commercial mortgages.

HOW TO BUY MORE TIME REPAYING YOUR CBILS LOAN

If you borrowed money to get through the pandemic, you may have been hit recently by a demand for repayment. The Chamber Finance Finder is always finding ways to make financing work for SMEs - not the other way round - and can now offer interest-only loans up to £250k for 12 months under the Recovery Loan Scheme. A large number of lenders are now getting accreditation under the scheme, which means the market is changing almost daily. It can be confusing, but the experts at Swoop are here to help.

If you’re looking to get some extra cash into your hands for whatever reason - upgrading equipment, taking on new staff or refinancing loans you took out previously, this could be a great option. Thanks to the Finance Finder’s clever tech, you can check your eligibility in minutes without affecting your credit score. Visit the website and register today > https://swoopfunding. com/cambridgeshire-chambers-of-commerce/

photo created by pch.vector - www.freepik.com

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

how to

PROTECT

CHAMBER FOUR SERVICES As a Chamber member you have unlimited access to four services - HR, Legal, Health & Safety and Tax. This includes: 5 Advice Lines – HR, legal, health & safety, tax and VAT 3 Document Libraries – HR, Legal, Health & Safety that contains almost 800 templated documents £1,000,000 Legal Expenses Insurance – includes employment cover and Tax Enquiry cover All the above are included in your membership subscription.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW FOUR SERVICES COULD HELP YOUR BUSINESS Can you force your employees to get vaccinated? Chamber HR can advise on what you can and cannot do. Lots of employees are desperate to take foreign holidays. Do you understand the latest restrictions and do you know what advice to give them? Chamber HR can advise on the latest rules and regulations. As the Government clears the way for employees to return to work, are you sure you have the up-to-date health & safety measures in place? Chamber Health & Safety Service can help with advice on the latest regulations. Are you trading with companies in the EU? Do you have questions or concerns? The Tax Service can help – unlimited access to tax and VAT advisors.

Are you looking to reorganise your business? Does this involve redundancy? Chamber HR can help – unlimited advice and access to documents. Free One2One Reviews and additional bespoke services available. Are you having problems with landlords, property issues or commercial contrcts? Chamber Legal can help – unlimited access to legal advisors and documents. Are you having issues with debt recovery? Chamber Legal can help – access to advice and template documents plus a full recovery service available if required. Are you worried about an HMRC investigation? HMRC are more active than normal – specifically looking for businesses that have made fraudulent furlough claims. If you need advice Chamber Tax can help.

Visit https://chambercambs.questcover.com/login or call the helpline on 01455 852037. If you don’t know your log-in details to access this service, please give the team a call on 01223 237414. connected 7

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

There are many exciting things happening in and around the International Trade Department over the coming months CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS:

With the team now all trained as Customs Agents, they can offer Customs Declaration Services, including Transit T1 and Cargo claiming, and in November the team will be making the switch from CHIEF to CDS for entries. The new CDS system is replacing CHIEF after decades of use, and the new system is designed to make things much smoother for all concerned. Alongside this, the team are working hard to set in place an exciting new tool called Exabler, which will enable information to be entered by the importer/exporter directly into a program which then allows the team to review the information before the details are then sent direct into CDS. This new system should assist in helping the team to process more applications and in a shorter

timescale, which in turn means your application is processed and back with you much quicker.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE:

Our International Trade Team Leader, Karen Cash, has recently joined the BCC Trade Policy Committee, where she will be getting involved with other Chambers across the network, and the committee will cover the latest developments on policy, communications and engagement with the UK Government, overseas governments, and international institutions such as the WTO and WCO. International Trade Week, commencing 15 November, saw the launch of our new training course covering IPAFFS and the changes coming to those who export goods of animal or animal origin.

Doing business with China has never been easier Doing business with China has become critical to UK SMEs buying and selling internationally. With China experiencing exponential growth over the past few decades, it has evolved from being a closed economy into a global consumer hub. This means it’s now easier than ever before to find a manufacturing or wholesaling partner. In the past, trade fairs such as the renowned Canton Fair were the main channel of business. The traditional way of doing business has, however, faced competition from companies such as the Alibaba Group in recent years. One of the largest B2B e-commerce marketplaces in the world it connects 26 million active buyers across more than 200 countries and regions, allowing customers to source, pay, and manage products all through one ecosystem. To find out more contact Karen.Grewcock@worldfirst.com 8 connected

extend your

GLOBAL REACH

Fall in trade will hit UK SMEs forced to shun EU exporting, warns tax expert A fall in trade between the UK and EU shows UK SMEs are shunning EU exports, a leading tax expert is warning. Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows a second consecutive monthly fall in trade, with the effects of Brexit and the global pandemic resulting in the total exports of goods, excluding precious metals, falling by £1.3 billion (4.6%) in August 2021. This was in part due to a £0.6 billion (4.3%) fall in exports to the EU. Total exports of goods, excluding precious metals, in the three months to August 2021 decreased by £1.2 billion (1.5%). Peterborough-based Lucy Sutcliffe, National Customs Director and Head of Customs at Azets, the UK’s largest regional accountancy firm and business advisor to SMEs, with offices throughout the South East, including in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, believes the fall in trade between the UK and EU is a result of a failure to support EU exporters. She said: “Small UK businesses have been completely overwhelmed by bureaucracy and the additional time and cost it takes to trade across Europe. New duties, border delays and transport costs are pushing UK SMEs into rethinking trade with the EU. “The UK’s focus has been on facilitating and streamlining the importation process and easing the associated documentary demands. It has not focused on assisting exporters. “The temporary customs easements implemented by the UK since Brexit, such as deferred declarations, extensions to the UKCA safety marking of products, product labelling. and the numerous health certification requirements, are not reciprocated by the EU. This means UK exporters to the EU have been faced with extra documentary and tariff burdens from day one.”

Lucy Sutcliffe is urging UK businesses to prepare for new border processes when the extensions and deferral period ends. She added: “UK businesses importing products from the EU should be ready to comply with the UK’s new border processes. Businesses should make sure they maintain good communication with suppliers and ensure that all relevant paperwork is provided in a timely manner to avoid delays at the frontiers. “VAT registered businesses should consider using postponed VAT accounting to avoid having to pay Import VAT at the frontier and become aware of all the special duty reliefs that can defer or exempt them from customs duty. These measures will help cash flow and ease the bureaucratic burden.”

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New data shows export recovery remains flat amid disruption to supply chains A survey of 2,600 UK exporters has revealed that the recovery in export sales has largely stalled in Q3. The proportion of firms reporting increased sales rose only three points (to 30%) from Q2 (27%), whilst the proportion reporting decreased sales fell by just two points (Q3:26% / Q2: 28%). The balance of manufacturers reporting increased export sales was +7%, down from +8% in Q2.

Proportion of UK exporters reporting increased export sales (30%) rose slightly from Q2 (27%) The balance of service sector firms reporting increased export sales was +6%, up from –7% in Q2. Respondents cited issues arising from the supply chain crisis, as well as Brexit related problems, as the main causes of difficulties with export sales. Some said that they had ceased exporting to the EU altogether due to issues such as red tape and delays at borders. Respondents also pointed to the surging cost of shipping as a serious issue, with one firm noting a single container

from China rose in cost from £2100 in the previous year to £15000, as well as the shortage of lorry drivers as impacting export sales. Elsewhere, UK exporters were slightly more likely to report increased investment plans (30%) than non-exporters (25%), although both groups remain at historically low levels. However, on other key indicators such as cash flow, both groups were broadly aligned – 34% of exporters reported increased cash, compared to 33% of non-exporters, while 23% of exporters reported a decrease, compared to 22% of non-exporters.

boosting measures now. “Exports of goods are key to our economic recovery from the pandemic, but trading conditions remain fragile, and businesses need further supportive measures. Everything from the new UK-EU trading conditions to raw material costs to the costs of container hire in overseas markets is constraining export growth and supply.

However, proportion reporting decreased sales remained stubbornly and historically high at 26%, while 45% report no change

“More focus needs to be given to lowering business costs with trade partners and addressing non-tariff barriers, which present roadblocks to exports. The government must also acknowledge the scale of the problem in shipping markets. “The UK government should act now to reintroduce SME Brexit Support Grants and use its export strategy, and the Spending Review, to provide stronger export finance. It should also work with the accredited Chamber network to kickstart overseas exports from SMEs across the UK.”

Responding to the findings, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, William Bain said: “A whole range of factors is currently providing sustained headwinds for our exporting firms to operate in. This data must act as a warning to take export-

Recovery in manufacturing exports began to fall back slightly from previous quarter

UK - NZ Free Trade Agreement The UK and New Zealand Prime Ministers reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. The AIP must now be negotiated into a treaty, which could take several months. The final FTA is expected to: • Lower tariffs on agri-food and motor vehicle exports • E stablish a new skilled labour mobility scheme with recognition of professional qualifications • Create new rules to stimulate green trade • Have an ambitious digital trade chapter.

in services trade with New Zealand, with particular strengths in insurance, pensions, travel, communications, other financial services and intellectual property.  “New Zealand-UK trade is currently between £2-3bn per annum. When this agreement is translated into a final free trade agreement it should provide new opportunities for UK exporters as well as resulting in some small falls in the price of New Zealand wine and other goods imports.

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, commented: “Business will welcome an Agreement in Principle between the UK and New Zealand covering trade in goods and services.

“UK road vehicles, pharmaceutical and other manufacturing exporters will welcome these improved trading terms, with cars accounting for a fifth of all UK goods exports to New Zealand. The agreement on green trade also has the potential to set a new benchmark on a commitment to sustainability within free trade agreements globally.

“We particularly welcome the intention to agree comprehensive chapters on market access, labour mobility and professional qualifications, digital trade, and green goods and services. In the year prior to start of the pandemic, the UK had a £366m surplus

“We look forward to engaging with the UK Government and the New Zealand Ambassador in the final stages of these negotiations and to giving our views on the draft text at the earliest opportunity.”

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A R E Y O U A P A R E NT C AR E R ? Y O UR E M PL O Y EE S J U S T M I G H T B E !

L E T ' S WO R K TO G ET H ER Signposting: - Our Parent Reps help parents engage with professionals across Health, Education and Social Care.

Forum: - Participate in service delivery and join informative events for parent carers in Peterborough. - We work in co-production with service providers on behalf of parent carers to shape local services according to need.

Community Engagement: - We run Orton Goldhay Community Centre and organise family-based events, activities and trips.

Family Voice supports and empowers parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities. We can help you identify and support carers within your organisation. We couldn't do it without the help of businesses like yours. Corporate partners have helped us in many different ways. Visit www.familyvoice.org/corporatepartnership to find out how we can work together.

Short breaks: - Accessible & affordable holiday caravans by the coast.

Call us

Email us

01733 685510 office@familyvoice.org

Tag us

Registered Charity No. 1171389 (CIO)

Find us

Visit us

Facebook: www.familyvoice.org/ Goldhay @fvpcommunity Community corporate-partnership Centre Instagram: @family.voice PE2 5QP

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

Flex working requests must work for businesses and employers Caroline White director at The HR Dept Cambridge and North Herts Proposed changes to employee rights, to legalise flexible working requests on the first day of a new job, must work for businesses and employees alike, says The HR Dept. The SME human resources outsourcing expert has broadly welcomed a Government move to speed up the process of giving employees more flexibility around working hours and location. But the company, which provides support to more than 6,500 SMEs around the UK, said the arrangement needs to work for businesses too. Arrangements such as job sharing, compacted hours, annualised hours or phased retirement may suit both male and female employees but may not be in the best interests of the business. The HR Dept suggested that smaller businesses in particular may struggle to absorb resulting costs of communications, contractual and policy changes. And it also raised concerns over productivity, retention and recruitment, which can disproportionately affect smaller businesses when compared to their larger competitors. Under the proposals, which were put out to consultation, employees would no longer have to wait for six months before submitting requests for flexible working. In turn, employers would have to respond to requests more quickly than the current maximum of three months, and offer reasonable justification for refusing any requests. The consultation is part of the Government’s Good Work Plan programme, under which The HR Dept has represented the views of UK SMEs since it was set up in 2018. Caroline White, director The HR Dept Cambridge and North Herts, urged 12 connected

the Government to consider the implications for SMEs, which employ 60 per cent of the UK’s private sector staff. “My concern is the impact any new rules will have on the smaller businesses we represent in the Cambridge and Hertfordshire areas. “While we of course recognise the benefits to employees of proposals to support better work life balance, there are always knock-on effects of new legislation and it is usually smaller businesses which feel those the most. “Greater flexibility over working hours and place of work can of course help smaller businesses attract and retain the best employees. However there are also costs to consider, for example with internet security, health and safety implications once the home becomes the workplace, new technology requirements and additional training requirements. “There may be resentment from those without children towards the flexibility given to those with. In a small business this is hard to manage. At an incredibly challenging time for small businesses in particular, with many struggling to stay afloat, changes need to be properly thought through before implementation in law. “Currently, the rules allow for rejection of a flexible working application based on costs, administrative concerns, productivity or recruitment issues. Will these be seen in future as justifiable reasons for refusing a request? “Business owners must balance an understanding that flexible working request laws consist of a right to request, not a right for the employee to have whatever they want. At present the onus is on the employee to demonstrate how a change in their employment contract would impact

on the company. Hopefully that will remain the case. “Owners must take these seriously though, or risk tribunal – particularly if care of children or disabled people are involved, bearing in mind the potential for discrimination claims.” Caroline White said it is important to recognise the variety of flexible working patterns available: “Hybrid working – a mixture of office and home-based working – is becoming more common but flexibility doesn’t just mean where you work. It includes giving the employee more say over which hours they work, supporting parents with requests at school holiday time, allowing flexibility for carers, giving breaks when required, potential job sharing, and so on. “These ideas were first mooted in the 1980s. Maybe it’s time to redesign these concepts for the 2020s with SMEs at the forefront. As ever, it’s those smaller businesses which are least catered for in the national debate, even though they make up 60 per cent of our nation’s employees.”

learn and

INFORM

Reap the benefits of bringing personality to your LinkedIn page personality behind your business, increase engagement and make LinkedIn work harder for you as a marketing channel: 1. Celebrate milestones Don’t be afraid of ‘blowing your own trumpet’– particularly if you’re doing it in a way that celebrates the achievements of your hard-working team. Sharing good news and milestone achievements about anniversaries, awards and business growth can be a big morale boost for your team, whilst also demonstrating to a wider audience the knowledge within your business – positioning you as experts in your field.

Okay, it’s time to get personal - well, when it comes to LinkedIn at least! Some will say that LinkedIn has become too much like Facebook – it’s not about B2B interactions any more, but simply people looking to get engagement by sharing the most emotive content (whether that’s related to work or not). But to get meaningful engagement on social media, LinkedIn included, we know we need to be producing content that really appeals to people. Here are six tips from Amy Bull – head of content at Peterborough-based PR and digital marketing specialists Media Matters – that you could try to show the

2. Run a ‘meet the team’ campaign Ask your team members if they would be up for taking part in a mini ‘meet the team’ campaign on your company’s LinkedIn page. This could be as simple as sharing a few facts about a team member on your page – helping people to ‘get to know’ who’s behind your business. This can really help show the personality behind your business, particularly in the world of remote working. 3. Share advice directly from your team Ask a knowledgeable team member to answer a question in a few sentences and share this advice on your page. This could be top tips from a customer services representative on maintenance for one of your products or the head of a department focussing on something relevant to your sector that’s hit the headlines recently. And if they are feeling particularly brave, why

not ask them to do this in video format? 4. Enable your employees to be active on their own profiles Don’t forget that it’s not just about your company’s LinkedIn page, but what your employees are doing on their profiles too. You’ll want your employees to be positively engaging with your company posts but also reinforcing the good work you’re doing on your page with posts of their own. Consider investing in some LinkedIn training to help equip your team with the knowledge – and confidence – to start sharing on their own profiles. 5. Share the results of your hard work When you see engagement increasing on your LinkedIn page, share this achievement with your team. Let them know that it’s their involvement and own content creation that is helping to fuel that engagement. It brings to life just how effective LinkedIn can be as a platform and naturally encourages more people to ‘get on board’! 6. Show the faces behind your business Don’t be camera shy! Whether you’re on a team outing together, or you’re sharing the latest product advice from a sales representative, use photos to help people put a face to a name. It can be as simple as sharing a great headshot photo of a team member alongside a relevant post or capturing a few action shots from a team building day

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Vaccination Support for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Employers The pandemic is still with us and Covid 19 has not gone away. Case numbers are still high in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and hospitalisations and deaths are still happening. It is anticipated that Covid-19 will be circulating in our communities for some time to come. Encouraging employees to get vaccinated is a vital way that local employers can keep their workforce healthy and reduce absence due to illness. The Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective and has been incredibly successful at reducing severe illness and hospitalisation. Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council together with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group are providing pop up vaccination centres at workplaces. Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough via: www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk Employers have a key role in increasing vaccine uptake: • Providing information about vaccination alongside supportive policies and practices can promote confidences amongst employees • Workers who are hesitant at first may become more confident after seeing co-workers get vaccinated • Mobile clinics can return to a workplace at different times on multiple occasions • Staff members do not have to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to get a Covid-19 vaccination • The Covid-19 vaccination is free of charge for all. Dr Gary Howsam, Chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The COVID-19 vaccination is still our best protection from Coronavirus. We’re asking all employers in our area to encourage their staff to get the vaccine, to stay safe and stay working. “It’s now easier than ever to get your COVID-19 vaccine in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with the Vaccinators on Tour

providing daily walk-in clinics as well as a number of pop-up sessions in the area. Simply visit www.thevaccinators.co.uk to find a walk-in venue near you, or if you prefer to book your appointments you can still do this through the National Booking System via www. nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling 119.” For an up-to-date list of current walk-in centres and pop-up clinics in your area visit: www.thevaccinators.co.uk For translated materials in multiple community spoken languages see: bit.ly/3fqxaWZ Also available is a ‘workplace vaccine information pack’. This resource gives trusted vaccine information to employees and includes support to communicate with your staff members about the benefits of vaccination: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pyw6u7gwfsdeyc0/AAAHTviHQQnR0OOXU7rIwM0a?dl=0 Alongside a visit from the pop up vaccination team you can also access free trusted vaccine confidence training for Line Managers https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/covid-19-vaccineconfidence-training There are also free, bespoke Q&A sessions for staff. Email Vaccinations.CV19@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for availability. • Staff members do not have to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to get a Covid-19 vaccination • The Covid-19 vaccination is free of charge for all Other useful sources of information: CIPD have a helpful guide on preparing for workplace vaccination https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/emp-law/ health-safety/preparing-for-covid-19-vaccination ACAS have a free e-learning module on how employers can best support staff to get Covid-19 vaccinations https://elearning.acas.org.uk/

What is Cyber Essentials and do you need it? Our government believes all businesses need Cyber Essentials, large or small, and we agree with them. Cyber Essentials is a government-driven initiative providing guidance to help you measure your company’s defenses against cyber threats. The basic scheme is an online self-assessment and will help your business validate its cyber security setup. If passed, you receive a certificate, which will give you an advantage over your competitors. It helps demonstrate to your clients and customers your commitment to cyber security and that you are safe and compliant. The assessment must be conducted every year. The standard cost of the basic Cyber Essentials certification is £300 (plus VAT). Cyber Essentials Plus takes the assessment to another level and is assessed by government approved bodies. The price of the Cyber Essentials Plus is dependent on your organisation, size, and security setup. If you are looking for prove to yourselves and your customers that you take IT security seriously, you should consider the Cyber Essentials certification. To find out more, we are happy to answer questions and either help you or point you in the right direction. Please do not hesitate to contact us on 01223 901900, email us at ask@cambridgesupport.com or visit www.cambridgesupport.com 14 connected

PRESENTS

The

VACC NATORS on tour DAILY COVID-19 VACCINE WALK-IN CLINICS 1ST AND 2ND DOSES* 7 DAYS A WEEK, 8.30AM-4PM *2ND DOSES AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS 8+ WEEKS AFTER 1ST DOSE

AstraZeneca (aged 40+) AND Pfizer vaccines (16+) at: Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech City Care Centre, Peterborough (until 7 November) The Eatons Community Centre, Eaton Socon The Grafton Centre, Cambridge The Oaktree Centre, Huntingdon Chesterton Indoor Bowls Centre, Cambridge Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough (ALSO MODERNA) Longer clinics (Pfizer/AstraZeneca) 8.30am-7.30pm: Mondays: Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech Tuesdays: City Care Centre, Peterborough (until 7 November) Tuesdays: The Eatons Community Centre, Eaton Socon Tuesdays & Wednesdays: The Grafton Centre, Cambridge Thursdays: The Oaktree Centre, Huntingdon Thursdays: Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough (ALSO MODERNA)

Please note you cannot walk in for your booster vaccination

VISIT WWW.THEVACCINATORS.CO.UK TO FIND A WALK-IN SITE NEAR YOU #TheVaccinators

thevaccinators.co.uk

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

East of England Chambers of Commerce issue rallying call for Sizewell C supply chain opportunities The plan to build a new nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast has been formally backed by all six chambers in the East of England region. The leading business bodies have come together to encourage businesses in their area to sign up to the Sizewell C supply chain portal sooner rather than later so that they are ready for the hundreds of opportunities as and when the Government give the green light. As one of the vital cogs in the Sizewell C wheel and as a key part of the Development Consent Order for the power station, local businesses will have a prime role in the building of this new power plant, with over 2,400 local jobs being created, and a confirmed promise to spend at least £125m per year locally, throughout the 10-12 years of construction (£1.5bn over the construction of the nuclear new build). John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said: “According to an Ernst & Young report, the expected construction programme alone stands at around £4.4bn of work which will be available for East Anglian firms to tender for and we hope secure a large slice of this opportunity An opportunity of this scale rarely comes along and we want Suffolk, and other regional businesses to be ready and able to bid for these works to benefit our economies.” Denise Rossiter, Chief Executive of Essex Chamber of Commerce, added: “Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has a team dedicated to the Sizewell C Supply Chain, and their role is to ensure that local and regional businesses are ready and able to respond, when the call to arms is made by Sizewell C. We want the partnership between our regional Chambers to elevate this project and see us exceed the targets set by EDF and Sizewell C Consortium for the building of Sizewell C.” As part of their agreement to build a nuclear power plant in East Anglia, EDF has also promised to attract 1500 new apprenticeships, and to leave a legacy of skills and opportunity in our region. Adding his support to the combined venture, Justin Richardson, Chief Executive of Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, stated: “We urge our businesses to sign up to the Sizewell C Supply Chain Portal and start discussions with Ashley and his supply chain team based at Suffolk Chamber. This is the best way they can get

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the advanced notice of workshops, training seminars and meet the buyer events, as well as getting informed the moment work packages become available.” Chris Sargisson, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Executive, commented: “We don’t just want to see local business working on their own in this project. We urge you to join with other likeminded business and create joint ventures to fully showcase your collaborative skillsets.” Agreeing with Chris’s sentiments, Briege Leahy, Hertfordshire Chamber’s Chief Executive, continued: “The last 18 months have been really tough for many businesses. A project like this, giving businesses clarity on where growth can be achieved, especially by spreading risk and working together, is a real positive. By working in collaboration, our members and wider business community can learn and grow together, and that will be such a positive legacy of this project.” Vic Annells, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chamber, explained: “In addition to creating a supply chain for the Sizewell C build, the team are also working closely with the local councils and LEP who are leading the charge to ensure that suitable actions are taken to develop a resilient workforce that can handle the huge array of large scale projects on the horizon. From 1,000 welders, to 300 people working in the food and catering service, there will be a huge amount of people needed to make sure Sizewell C happens on time.” Concluding, Ashley Shorey-Mills, Head of Suffolk Chamber’s Sizewell C supply chain engagement, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for East of England businesses and the huge variety of regional Chamber members to come and work together, to showcase the best of what our counties can offer an infrastructure project like this. But the real exciting thing, is how we will be combining to create a supply chain infrastructure that is ready to take full advantage of the inward investment and growth that sectors such as energy will bring to our region over the coming years.” The Sizewell C supply chain portal can be accessed at: www.sizewellcsupplychain.co.uk

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EXPERT

Mental Health First Aid signs of someone who’s struggling, get the right support in place in good time and thereby minimise the impact on day-to-day living for the benefit of both the employee and the employer. What’s more, providing mental health support makes employees feel valued, which in turn promotes loyalty, commitment and motivation. As an MHFA instructor how do you approach what could be a sensitive topic?

What experience do you have in Mental Health First Aid training? I am a registered instructor with MHFA England delivering on-line and classroombased MHFA-certificated courses, training people to act as that first port-of-call, like a physical first aider, but for mental health. I’m also a qualified teacher with 35 years’ experience in training adults and young adults in a wide range of contexts. Why does my business need Mental Health First Aid? 17.9 million work days were lost due to mental health issues in 2019/20 in the UK; that’s an average absence of 21.6 days per year, per employee, suffering with stress, anxiety or depression (hse.gov.uk). As you can see, when mental health issues are not well supported, your business also takes a hit. Having well-trained Mental Health First Aiders can help to identify the warning

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It’s important to understand and recognise that we all have different histories when it comes to education and, for some people, just being in a learning environment can be stressful. Understanding how adults learn and what the barriers to learning might be is fundamental, but mental health training has particular challenges. We must be aware that participants in mental health training may find some of the content highly emotive and that some issues can be triggering for those with ‘lived experience’ of mental health. Many come to training because they have their own experiences and want to help others. As a trainer I need to be aware that someone’s experience may influence their views on what helps with a given issue. Of course, everyone’s experience is different so what helps one person may not be the right approach for another and a First Aider has to be mindful of that. What is the role of a Mental Health First Aider? Just like physical first aid the main priority is to preserve life and provide support

until professional help can be sought. It’s not a First Aider’s job to diagnose but to offer a non-judgemental listening ear and to signpost to information and sources of professional support. A well-trained Mental Health First Aider will be able to spot the warning signs and know how to approach someone to begin a conversation. They can also provide information to help the business adopt positive approaches in support of employee well-being. What do Mental Health First Aiders say? Many Mental Health First Aiders claim that this is the most important course they have done. “This course was the best course by far I have ever been on.”“Excellent course which provides a really solid knowledge base together with good case study examples.”“This course has really opened my eyes to a subject I thought I had some understanding of.” How can I arrange Mental Health First Aid training for my organisation? If you’d like to know more about MHFA England there is comprehensive information on their website. If you’d like to know more about the training and how to sign up, please contact Teresa Weston tweston.consultancy@gmail.com 07900 888954. Bespoke training and discounted rates are available for charities and not-for-profit organisations. If you’ve been following the extensive mental health debate throughout the pandemic and want to help, then considering Mental Health First Aid is an ideal place to start.

ask the

EXPERT

Onerous Construction Contracts Before entering a construction contract, subcontractors and contractors should check if it is onerous. Simon Dunkling, Director at Arbicon, explains the top 10 key points to be aware of. 1. Payment Provisions A construction contract must contain payment provisions that comply with the Construction Act, including an adequate mechanism for determining the payment schedule, providing a final date for payment, and providing for the giving of a payment notice not later than five days after the due date. 2. Defects and Retention Clauses that make payment conditional on performance under another contract, for example the issuing of the certificate of making good defects under the main contract, or those drafted to only release retention to the subcontractor on completion of the main contract, are noncompliant with the Construction Act and payment of the retention can be forced. 3. Set-Off Clause Be cautious with set-off clauses, those that not only allow deduction from sums due, but also require reimbursement to the employer could cause cashflow problems. Clauses which allow the employer to set-off sums due under one contract against sums reimbursable under a different contract may also be problematic. 4. Design Responsibility Design responsibility can be a common point of contention and dispute, and if not fully understood, can lead to vulnerability to unexpected cost, time, and being

contractually required to undertake design over and above what was intended. 5. The Right to Extension of Time and/ or Loss and Expense All standard forms of construction contract allow for an extension of time in the event of certain delaying events, and for loss and expense against certain matters. The JCT form contains a comprehensive list of events that allow an extension of time, whereas a bespoke form may contain significantly less. 6. Condition Precedent A condition precedent is a clause that makes the rights under a contract clause pre-requisite on the fulfilment of a prior obligation. Understand the obligations that arise, as a failure to comply could lead to your contractual rights being diminished or lost altogether.

provides a very short time to challenge the certificate or decision.

7. Acceleration Omission and Supplementation Bespoke clauses allowing the employer to alter the scope of the works and programme to suit their own requirements are very unfavourable and if identified, consider the acceptance of such commercial risk.

DEALING WITH ONEROUS CONTRACTS

8. Termination Provisions Review termination provisions and understand what rights and remedies they provide the parties. 9. Conclusivity Provisions A conclusively clause is designed to provide finality and certainty, and to prevent disputes from being prolonged for an extended period. Consideration should be given to any conclusivity provision that

10. The Particulars It is important to check that the particulars of the contract are accurate as basic errors, vagueness, or ambiguity can often creep into the contract and lead to significant issues.

It is always best to examine a construction contract closely before it is entered into, onerous contracts may be apparent from the start of the works or when unavoidable circumstances occur such as material shortages, delays or unpredictable costs. By understanding the contract terms and provisions from the outset, disputes can often be avoided. To find out more, call or email Arbicon: 01733 233737 advice@arbicon.co.uk Full article can be viewed at www.arbicon.co.uk/blog connected 19

insight from

SARAH WEST

How to use marketing to launch a product, service or innovation Through continual drip marketing, you can build brand awareness until your target customers have the time to consider your innovation.

EMBRACE AIDA

AIDA is a simple model which describes the journey your marketing needs to take a customer or business on before they buy: A – Attention I – Interest D – Desire A – Action When planning the marketing mix to launch for your new innovation, it’s important to take this a step at a time. First, your marketing must grab attention, before piquing interest.

BE REALISTIC

Innovation is more important than ever in modern business and a critical part of the B2B environment too. So, if your business is planning to launch something new and unique, how can you use marketing to ensure your innovation is a success? Sarah West, Managing Director of B2B marketing experts Full Mix Marketing, shares some tips:

MARKETING FIRST, DEVELOPMENT SECOND

It’s easy to convince yourselves that your proposed new product or service will sell. Whilst it doesn’t pay to be cynical, it’s a good idea to conduct some research before you invest time and money in your innovation. Carefully define who your innovation is targeting and put yourselves in their shoes. Ideally, conduct some genuine market research by speaking to existing or potential customers but be careful not to encourage them to say what you want to hear. Customers will have to embrace your new innovation in the cold light of a busy day… Try to analyse the reasons why your innovation might face resistance. An understanding of any barriers can help target your product or service at those more likely to buy.

SELL THE SIZZLE, NOT THE STEAK!

It’s easy to become fixated on the technical features, particularly with complex, scientific, financial, engineering or technology-based products and services. However, the benefits of your product or service may be much more compelling, so think of the best way to communicate them. If you can’t communicate the benefits quickly, succinctly and convincingly, a busy business person may dismiss it. Avoid going down the route of ‘doing-down’ the competition. Instead, use communications to lead customers to the same conclusion you’ve reached about your new innovation.

MARKETING MOMENTUM

As with B2B marketing of established products and services, drip marketing is the best weapon for new innovations. Drip marketing is the continual marketing of a concise message through multiple marketing channels. Even if your innovation has the potential to revolutionise how people interact with whatever you deliver, it takes people and businesses time to embrace change. 20 connected

Whilst a lot of innovation fails to deliver against the business’ expectations, the innovation is rarely bad. The business simply underestimated the challenge of encouraging busy customers to take notice. Many new consumer products (e.g. food, electronics, cars) have a marketing budget that’s as big as their development budget. However, setting a marketing budget needs to be realistic. In order to realise a return on investment, work out the intensity of marketing you’ll need and the period you’ll need to maintain it before you get meaningful results. Marketplaces can be frustratingly slow to react to innovation, so air on the side of caution!

MAKE A PLAN AND STICK TO IT

Marketing is all about feedback – analysing results and listening to potential customers. A common mistake is to panic if results are not immediate and to prematurely cease or change your marketing. If you make sound choices when establishing your marketing campaign, have faith in the decisions you made. Only change them when the evidence clearly indicates something can be improved.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

However much you might anticipate a particular strength or benefit will be the sources of sales, something else may prompt that final buying decision. Many of the greatest innovations in history – like Coca Cola and the mobile phone - have ended up being used for a purpose different to that originally intended!

WHAT IS THE RIGHT MARKETING MIX?

Direct marketing through email, social media, telesales or events can be highly effective if you know who your customers are. The press and websites love new developments so using content marketing, PR or social media to create a buzz can be very powerful. Digital marketing is an important part of any campaign to put your new innovation in front of the decision makers you wish to target. However, don’t underestimate the impact of something physical such as a brochure or flyer. They can be widely retained and actioned. Likewise, the busiest stands at many trade events are those launching a new product, service or innovation. A specific launch event can also be a great way to engage existing customers and create media buzz. More help can be found at www.fullmixmarketing.co.uk

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Here are a few great services we offer: Same Day – we specialise in same day dedicated deliveries and are a trusted partner for many companies large and small with no hidden surcharges. Online tracking – you can track your delivery every step of the way. Our software provides real time information on where your delivery is and digital PODs. HBC Logistics are a local but experienced courier company. After thriving in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire (as our namesake suggests) we are rapidly expanding and can offer same day dedicated deliveries of all shapes and sizes across the UK and into Europe. We have recently won Best use of Technology awarded by the Hertfordshire Chambers of Commerce for our award winning software that underpins our first class service.

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chamber

OUT & ABOUT

Discovering science Networking in Ely through networking

Poets House welcomed us back in October for another evening of networking.

We were delighted to hold our October Cambridge Informal Networking event at the Cambridge Science Centre. The Centre is all about empowering children and young people to discover science for themselves through hands-on activities. The charity exists to: • Spark scientific curiosity within every child • F uel self-belief in children and young people who doubt their own potential • I lluminate pathways into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers • Showcase Cambridge science and innovation. They do this by engaging directly with people of all ages at the centre and out on the road, as well as working with teachers and schools to give a crucial extra dimension to curriculum teaching. As an educational charity, they help establish the value of STEM subjects as vital skills for day-to-day life and future careers. Pictured: Lesley Fettes, Director of Network Design, hands-on with one of the activities.

Photo Credit: Headshots & Beyond

Graduate Hotel launch party Sadie Parr, Head of Marketing & Events, and Karen Cash, International Trade Team Leader, were guests at the Graduate Hotel launch party last month. Sadie commented: “It was a fantastic opportunity to see the venue and sample some items from their menu. There was a range of entertainment during the evening including a trio of singers, photo booth, disco and a man that created a poem after a brief chat with you. “A very enjoyable evening and we look forward to holding an event with The Graduate next year.”

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chamber

GUEST ARTICLE

Wyboston Lakes Resort launches series of new ventures as event business grows One of Bedfordshire’s leading business venues has launched a series of new business ventures that will give businesses and individuals both within the resort, and further afield, the opportunity to grow and flourish. The ventures include Landing Pad which includes, serviced offices, branded training space and co-working; Wyboston Venue Management, a new specialist service to help venue and hotel owners make the most of meetings and events business; and a major refurbishment of The Waterfront Hotel Spa & Golf.

Landing Pad The first initiative for the 380-acre resort, which comprises two residential conference venues, a four-star hotel, spa, 18-hole golf course, restaurants, bars, and a nature reserve, is to expand its serviced office facilities. The resort has secured planning permission to add 11,000 square feet of extra space to its existing offices and is launching Landing Pad, offering serviced offices, branded space and co-working options in the hotel. The office space can be divided up into units to suit the individual tenant, available on flexible monthly terms, and in an environment that can encompass break-out areas, hot-desking, dining and social facilities, and a host of booths, pods and semi-enclosed spaces that lend themselves perfectly to a modern and flexible way of working. Branded training spaces are provided to long-term partners for bespoke training 24 connected

needs, with space that is clearly branded with a business’s own identity but run and managed by the resort team. Wyboston Lakes is actively looking for an additional partner to take some available space. The work to create the new co-working space will start in November as part of a refurbishment of the hotel. The coworking space is expected to be ready by March 2022. Landing Pad is designed to give companies the style of space they need, whether that is a serviced office, branded space or a coworking space, and to adapt as their needs change. Adaptability is the essence of the proposition. Steve Jones, Managing Director of Wyboston Lakes Resort, said: “The way businesses use space has changed recently, particularly since the pandemic. They want to be in control and not tied into something that may not suit their needs in 12 months’ time. Landing Pad will give them options to take less space, or more if they need it, combined with the benefits of access to the rest of the facilities available within the resort.”

Wyboston Venue Management A second venture is Wyboston Venue Management (WVM), a new specialist service to help venue and hotel owners make the most of meetings and events business. The service is designed to suit the needs of venue owners and investors who feel they need an experienced operator to help them achieve their objectives in the meetings and events sector or those who have a venue or hotel conference facility

Steve Jones that needs re-focusing and revitalising, or owner directors looking to step back from the business. Jones said: “We have an award-winning senior management team with superb experience both at Wyboston and in previous roles, in generating increased revenues, transforming venues to be ready for the latest generation of planners and delegates and in maximising their green credentials. The fact that last year we were chosen to host one of the governmentorganised pilot events to test Covid security measures is a strong testament to our operational standards.

chanber

“The team can now bring their expertise to a venue and replicate what they have achieved here at a fraction of the time and cost that it would take with a new team.” From assisting to operating on a full management contract, Wyboston Lakes Resort is seeking to build long-term partnerships with a handful of organisations that share its values and commitment to high standards and quality of service. A management contract will cover all aspects of the day-to-day running of the property and include monthly reviews, budget and business planning, financial, HR, sales, marketing and PR strategies, as well as repairs and maintenance and management of IT systems. While there are many companies that offer a similar outsourcing service in managing hotels, Jones says there are very few that specialise in a management service specifically for venues operating in the meetings and events sector. With the team’s expertise, Wyboston Venue Management is already generating considerable interest.

Major refurbishments A third project is the extensive refurbishment of the 103 bedroom

GUEST ARTICLE

Waterfront Hotel, its restaurants, bars and public areas. The work is due to start in late November and to be completed early in March 2022. This will bring three new event areas to the hotel, a new bar and brasserie and great co-working space.

prestigious organisations. The venue even continued to host events, most notably a series of essential training events for the NHS. The recent refurbishment of The Willows Training Centre, The Salix and The Woodlands Centre is also paying dividends.

This follows a major £5m makeover of The Willows Training Centre,The Woodlands Centre and Salix Venue recently.

Looking ahead, Jones concluded: “We are very excited about the future of Wyboston Lakes Resort as we launch new business initiatives while seeing a surge in event business. Our ventures have been planned for some time and now is the right time to move forward. We must continue to evolve and develop as a business – we can’t stand still.

Investing in the resort’s meetings, training and events spaces is proving to be a wise move as demand for events at Wyboston Lakes Resort in 2022 is increasing well ahead of pre-pandemic years. To be precise, event bookings for next year are 65 per cent ahead of 2019 and previous years. For the rest of 2021, there is a significant volume of events – almost three to four times the level that is normally expected. The resort’s provisional base to year-end is well over 200 per cent more than previous years.

“We’ve got an outstanding team and we think our latest developments are not only right for the business but something that gives our team a positive future. We want them to feel part of a business that is always evolving, which in turn will provide opportunities for those that want to grow.” www.wybostonlakes.co.uk

This success can also be attributed to the fact that the Wyboston Lakes Resort team remained proactive throughout the crisis. The team introduced robust Covid protocols and secured three certificates for Covid-safety from several

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chamber supports

CHARITY

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity recognised as one of best employers in Eastern region Arthur Rank Hospice Charity is delighted to have achieved gold accreditation in the Best Employers 2021 Awards. The accreditation was awarded after more than 150 colleagues participated in a staff survey, which took place in July 2021. The Hospice’s services are provided from its Shelford Bottom home in Cambridge, the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech, and the Charity has five high street shops (in Cambridge, Cottenham and Shelford) as well as a Retail Hub (in Sawston). Best Employers Eastern Region brings together employers across the East of England to form a community that enables leaders and organisations to continuously develop and improve their culture, colleague engagement and workplace environment. Since its beginnings in 2012, more than 29,000 staff surveys have been completed! The Judges commented: “There is clear intent from the Board and the management to harvest feedback from their employees, demonstrating an openness of mind to listen, support and pro-actively seek to improve the working experience of everyone.

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity first achieved gold accreditation in 2018. Gemma Manning, HR Director adds: “It is great that we have built on our success and continue to be recognised amongst a very select group of organisations as one of the best employers in the eastern region. Our Staff Survey results show improvement in every area, except one which has maintained. We are now engaging with colleagues and trustees to form our action plan which will enable us to maintain our already high standards and develop in areas that we can improve.”

Certificate of Accreditation This is to certify that

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

“Given that Arthur Rank Hospice is a charity, operating in a very challenging sector during a pandemic, they have striven to be the best that they can be, given their budget limitations. “Alongside good policies for personal advancement for each employee, it is perhaps the ‘little things’ – the afternoon tea invites from the senior managers to the employees, the gifts on return from furlough and the provision of ‘Arthur’s Shed’ to provide space for overwrought individuals to chill, that have so impressed us. It spells an atmosphere of genuine kindness and says, ‘We care’.”

has achieved Gold Accreditation

Lynn Walters Executive Director Pure

Date: 1st October 2021

George Sik Director of Assessment eras Limited

Expires: 30th September 2022

Runners pound the streets of Cambridge and raise more than £13,000 for EACHbest employers in Eastern region Runners took to the start line and represented East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices at the TTP Cambridge Half Marathon. 23 people flew the flag for Team EACH – setting some impressive times and collectively raising more than £13,000. Among them was EACH Director of Fundraising Kevin Clements, who recorded a time of 1h 52m, and Trustee Brad McLean, who stopped the clock in 2h 18m. Brad was interviewed in the build-up to the event, saying he was supporting the charity as a thank you for the help he and wife Debbie received after losing son Stanley when he was just 18 months old, in July 2012. The Cambridge Half Marathon, first run in 2012, is regarded as one of the biggest and most beautiful events of its kind in the UK. It is one of the county’s biggest mass-participation events and the flat, single-loop course took runners on a scenic tour of the city, 26 connected

passing the Round Church, King’s College, Fitzwilliam Museum and The Backs. More than 9,000 people took part, with thousands more lining the streets, for the most high-profile event in the city since before the start of lockdown. EACH Community Fundraising Manager, Tina Burdett, said: “What an amazing job our team did. It was a fantastic day and all the runners’ hard work, dedication and preparation paid off. “They posted some amazing times and to raise so much money really was exceptional. “We’re definitely over £13,000 and still waiting on final donations. It’ll make such a difference in terms of the care and support we offer children, young people and families across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.” If you can fancy taking part in the 2022 Cambridge Half-Marathon you can register your interest by emailing community@each.org. uk Entries will open soon as the event is returning to its usual spring slot and will take place on Sunday 6 March.

Want to have fun with brilliant, exciting science?

Come along to Cambridge Science Centre! Discover science at 44 Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7ED & Grand Arcade, Cambridge, CB2 3BJ You can even bring your adults along, too!

See you there ….. BE CURIOUS, ALWAYS! For everything you need to know, visit us at cambridgesciencecentre.org

Do you have come exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page? Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237424 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

Cambridge offers landlords top slicing buy-to-let mortgages The Cambridge Building Society has relaunched its buy-to-let ‘top slicing’ mortgages to enable landlords to top up rental shortfall from other income. This will directly benefit landlords with disposable income, where rental income falls short of repayment criteria. Loans of between £20,000 and £750,000 are available to landlords with top slicing permitted on up to three mortgaged rental properties at up to 75 per cent loan-to-value (LTV). “We’re thrilled to be able to introduce top slicing back into our lending criteria, this has proved extremely popular when previously available, and will undoubtedly make things easier for our landlords after a challenging period,” said Tracy Simpson, Head of Lending. “We are always looking for ways to support our customers and being able to consider each case individually through our underwriting service, means we can tailor our offering to the unique circumstances of individual landlords.”

The criteria are available across the Society’s standard buy-to-let range, and include two-year discounted and five-year fixed rates, through its in-house mortgage advisers and intermediary network and for new purchases or remortgages.

cofinitive wins PR Industry award for second year running engagement, scooped the ‘Best Use of Content’ award once again, this time for our client Kao Data, a specialist data centre within the UK Innovation Corridor, which counts the UK’s most powerful supercomputer amongst its prestigious clients. Our winning submission centred around the intensive four-month campaign we designed for Kao Data which included a series of contentdriven features, thought leaders and integrated social media campaigns to inform, intrigue and generate interest, as well as showcase Kao Data’s outstanding green credentials.

cofinitive is delighted to announce that we have won an award at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Pride (East Anglia) Awards for the second consecutive year.

Our hugely successful #KaoinCambridge campaign also included organising a select roundtable event which explored how Cambridge would stay ahead of the game as the UK Centre of Science, Technology and Innovation whilst respecting the city’s green ideology against a backdrop of excessively high data usage.

Our Cambridge-based PR & Marketing consultancy, which specialises in strategy, marketing, PR, branding and

Focusing on one of the key issues and concerns for Cambridge carried significant weight, and, out of this

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event, came an important idea: the pressing need for an HPC and AI roadmap for Cambridge which has subsequently been progressed by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Business Board. cofinitive was only one of two Cambridge-based companies shortlisted across all the award categories. In reaching their decision, the CIPR Pride judging panel, which is made up of experienced PR professionals, said: “Your work has been judged as the best in your region by leading PR experts and to win an award is a fantastic achievement. Congratulations.” cofinitive founder and director, Faye Holland said: “We are enormously proud to have won this award, and to have done so against such tough competition and for the second consecutive year running is an honour. Every award we win is just further confirmation that we are an excellent team who are committed to doing the very best that we can for each and every one of our clients.”

news from

CAMBRIDGE & SOUTH CAMBS AREA

DOMINO PRINTING CELEBRATES DUAL SUCCESS AT REGIONAL MAKE UK AWARDS 2021 A Cambridge company is celebrating a successful evening at the regional Make UK Manufacturing Awards 2021, taking home awards in two prestigious categories. Domino Printing was nominated in four separate categories this year, including Health and Safety, Developing Future Talent, Business Growth & Strategy and Innovation. At the regional awards for the Midlands and East, held at the University of Warwick and in person for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team walked away with the Health and Safety accolade, and the runner-up prize for Developing Future Talent. The Make UK Health and Safety Award recognises progress in improving the occupational health and safety culture of a workplace. Domino was awarded this accolade for its in-house development of two new systems – a QR-code-driven reporting tool allowing instant reporting of incidents or ‘areas for improvement’ as and when they are noted by employees, and an intuitive database for accurate assessment of hazardous substances. The Award for Developing Future Talent commends businesses which promote diversity, develop talent, and build skills among employees. Domino was awarded the runner-up prize in this category for its commitment to building in-house expertise through continual learning and development, as well as ongoing projects to ‘make Domino a great place to work’. Carl Haycock, UK Printer Operations Director at Domino, says: “It

was a real privilege to be together in person once again with so many great manufacturing companies. I am delighted that Domino was able to get up on the stage twice and showcase our brand – this is a real credit to the work the whole team has done in the areas of both health and safety and talent development.” Charlotte Horobin, Region Director for Make UK in the Midlands and East of England, added: “These awards are a testament to the dynamic companies and individuals working within engineering and manufacturing. The sector remains at the heart of creating wealth in the East of England and as we re-build our economy, there will be a bright future for companies and individuals that make the most of their talent.”

Magpas Air Ambulance deliver life-saving training Magpas Air Ambulance have been working with Cambridge Regional College to deliver CPR and Defibrillator training to students at the Cambridge and Huntingdon campus as part of the Empower Freshers’ Fair. During the training, the students explored the work of Magpas, learning some alarming statistics of survival rates in the UK for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. After a short presentation

and demonstration of how to perform emergency CPR, the students were able to take to the floor to have a go at carrying out this life-saving treatment for themselves using the resuscitation equipment and defibrillators. In total more than 288 students and staff received the training throughout the week. Student Engagement Manager, Steve How said: “Being able to offer our students this essential training is invaluable. The students have acquired a new life-skill and have learned, first-hand, that undertaking CPR and using a defibrillator is not as daunting as they might have thought. We are extremely grateful to Magpas for giving our learners this opportunity.” In addition to their emergency work, Magpas works in the community to educate people on the importance of knowing how to perform CPR and use defibrillators to help save the lives of those experiencing cardiac episodes. Nicola Cooper, Community Training and Engagement Officer, added: “I have been so impressed by the enthusiasm of the learners involved. CPR is such an important skill and watching the learners grow in confidence throughout the session was wonderful to see. Those who attended the training could be a future life saver, so to see this many people trained was extremely satisfying. I look forward to coming back to CRC in the future.” connected 29

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Kershaw Group Welcome in New Directors The Kershaw Group, a building services company based in Cambridge and Oxford, is pleased to announce the appointment of two new directors. Paul Oakman, who has over 35 years of experience in the building services industry, has joined Kershaw Mechanical Services as Managing Director. Paul has a broad business understanding as well as the ability to identify and manage risk and opportunity. “We are delighted to appoint Paul to this position; he brings a wealth of experience, and in his capacity as Managing Director, he will use his strong skill set to review current operations and all of their associated procedural functions, to harmonise best practise across the business,” said Ian Greenstock, Kershaw Group Executive Chairman. “I am pleased to step into the role of Managing Director, at what is an exciting period for the organisation,” Paul said of his appointment. “As our industry starts to emerge from the uncertainty of Brexit and the impact of COVID 19, I can see many new opportunities on the horizon and my focus will be on leading the business forward through the next stage of its development as we expand further the range of services we are able to offer our clients”. Paul will work closely with Ian Greenstock and

the other company directors to ensure that the company’s systems are in place to provide exceptional customer service, and that it is on track to meet its ambitious strategic growth goals. The Group is also pleased to announce Kate Deveraux’s appointment to the position of Finance Director. Kate has held a number of senior leadership positions, including over eight years in the construction business, and will play a key role in driving strategic growth, transformation and process and system optimization. Ian Greenstock commented: “We are happy that Kate will be joining Kershaw’s senior management team as a seasoned Finance Director. She brings the necessary abilities, experience, and dedication to assist Kershaw to meet its ambitious growth targets.”

Kate Deveraux

Speaking of her appointment Kate said: “I am thrilled to be joining Kershaw Group; it is a fantastic opportunity to work with a leader in the building services industry, and I am looking forward to working closely with the entire senior management team,” Kate will be working closely with Andy Crouch, who previously held the role and who remains with the organisation, overseeing the larger external financial relationships and future strategy of the business.

Paul Oakman

Meet Cambridge holds ‘Welcome Back’ drinks reception

Meet Cambridge, which has a portfolio of more than 50 venues – including the Cambridge Colleges as founder members, hotels and other spaces – arranged a ‘Welcome Back’ gathering in the gardens of the Crausaz Wordsworth Building at Robinson College. More than 30 people attended the outdoor event to celebrate meeting once again and to enjoy the drinks and canapes, which had been specially chosen for their low carbon footprint, reflecting the use of local and seasonal ingredients. Judith Sloane, Head of Meet Cambridge, said: “It was wonderful to finally be able to meet up and to thank clients and venue representatives in person, for all their 30 connected

support, after so many months of seeing them via Zoom and Teams. There was a real buzz at the event; everyone was very enthusiastic at being able to start welcoming conferences and meetings once again. “I’d like to thank the team at Robinson

College for holding the event in their lovely garden in the evening sunshine and for providing excellent refreshments. “Although there is a way to go, there’s no doubt that there is a real appetite for in-person events once again – and this drinks reception certainly showed that!”

Photo credit: Perry Hastings

After 18 months of restrictions on holding in-person events, the official conference and meetings bureau for Cambridge and the surrounding area has celebrated the gradual return to live events by holding a drinks reception for clients and venue representatives.

news from

CAMBRIDGE & SOUTH CAMBS AREA

New facilities herald positive start to the term at St John’s College St John’s College has installed a 30m x 10m timber structure in Second Court which has a total capacity of 100 and been specially configured to house a bar, buttery and dining room. Already proving popular with students, Fellows and staff alike, the space is open every day from 8.00am-11.00pm. Bill Brogan, Catering and Conference Manager, said: “This timber structure is already working well whilst our refurbishment project is underway, providing a very light and sociable space for all members of the College community. “We looked at a number of alternatives and chose this one after seeing a similar structure at Clare College.

The Catering Team at a Cambridge College is looking forward to offering the full student experience this term, including using a new temporary space whilst existing facilities are being refurbished.

“Not only do we have a new space but the team is back and really looking forward to returning to our usual range of services including formal halls, tastings and social activities. Over the last year we have carried out staff training on Zoom, ensuring that everyone is updated on new policies. “I’d like to thank everyone in our team; they have all shown great flexibility in adapting to the ‘new normal’ and rapidly changing requirements. We all feel positive about the year ahead.”

Stone King has again been recognised for its legal expertise by independent guide Legal 500 A client said of the firm’s Public Sector work: “Stone King offers us a wide range of specialists and a lot of practical experience in the sorts of queries we bring to them. Their responsiveness is much better than other firms with which we have worked and this is aided by a quickly-developed understanding of our context, corporate personality and our risk appetite – invariably, Stone King solicitors meet us where we are.” Tamsin Eastwood

Roger Inman LG

Head of Immigration Julie Moktadir was named a Leading Individual by the guide, with the Immigration Team scoring a high Tier 2 ranking. “It’s a real pleasure to work with Julie Moktadir who acted for me in my recent immigration application. Her professional knowledge, competence and efficiency are most helpful and reassuring. In addition, with her warm personality and excellent

Julie Moktadir communication skill, she is approachable and makes me feel very much at ease especially during these difficult times of Covid,” said a client. Roger Inman, Head of Education, was praised by the guide for “his high level of pragmatism and political astuteness to his support for us.”, with Public Sector achieving a high Tier 2 rating.

The firm’s Employment Team was also recognised by the guide as was its Corporate and Commercial Team with Partner Tamsin Eastwood named a key lawyer. A client testimonial says of Tamsin: “She was so helpful. She was quiet and sensitive with immediate understanding of the work that was needed. She was greatly efficient for me and my family.” The firm has five other offices in England and retained its top tier rankings for the key areas of Education, Charities and not-forprofit, and Crime. connected 31

news from

ELY & EAST CAMBS AREA

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Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce appoints Harvey Bibby as Chair of Ely & East Cambs Chamber Committee The Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce (CCC) is delighted to announce Harvey Bibby has been appointed to chair the Ely & East Cambs Chamber Committee. He will be taking over from Jo Evans who will still remain on the Chamber Board. Harvey is Marketing and Development Director at Grovemere Property Limited and has been instrumental in the growth of Lancaster Way Business Park, Ely. He is also qualified Chartered Surveyor and Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, with 20 years’ experience in the commercial property sector. Speaking about his new appointment, Harvey said: “I am delighted to be taking over as Chair of the Ely & East Cambridgeshire Chamber Committee. Jo has done a fantastic job over the last four years and has provided a great baseline for me to build from. East Cambs is in an exciting business growth phase and my new role will be to engage with the local business community and make sure their voice is heard both locally and within Central Government. I aim to prioritise faceto-face networking events and encourage all member and non-members to engage as often as they can.” Harvey is taking on this position, and his role on the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Board, with immediate effect. Vic Annells, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, said of the appointment: “I want to thank Jo for her four years of being in the hot seat, and four years as vice-chair, and helping us to navigate some challenging times and I am pleased to see she will remain a member of our team. I am so pleased that Harvey has now taken on this role, having been on the committee now for eight years it is great to see him taking on this leadership role and I have no doubt his experience will benefit our membership and all businesses in Ely and East Cambridgeshire. I am really looking forward to working with him and seeing our Chamber going from strength to strength as we emerge from the Pandemic together.” 32 connected

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Roythornes grows team with 23 new appointments Alconbury-based top 200 law firm Roythornes Solicitors has boosted its team and offering with the appointment of 23 new starters since July, ranging from trainee to partner across its five offices. Five new recruits join its ranks at the Alconbury office – including Mary Sargent, who joins the team as a real estate solicitor, strengthening the natural resources department. Further afield, Ben Arrowsmith, a planning expert, has been appointed as a senior associate in the Birmingham office and in the Spalding HQ, senior associate Nadine Wealands re-joins Roythornes after two years at another firm. The Nottingham office has also seen a 60 per cent increase in head count, bolstered by the appointment of contentious trusts and probate specialist Jak Ward, who joins as a partner. Alongside Jak in the Nottingham office, Nicola Grange has been appointed as a senior associate specialising in landlord and tenant work within the real estate team and Kylie Wood joins the growing agricultural property team as a solicitor. In his new role, Jak will be responsible for supporting clients with contentious probate work and making Roythornes the go-to firm across the Midlands and East Anglia for this niche area of law. Jak said: “I’m really excited to be joining Roythornes as it’s an agile, fast-growing, and

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ambitious law firm – the sheer number of individual specialists is incredibly impressive and enables them to punch alongside some national heavyweights. “Working within the litigation team and beginning to build the contentious trusts and probate specialism is something I’m very much looking forward to. It’s a very interesting area of law – encompassing anything from challenging a will or pursuing an inheritance claim, right through to advising on disputes between executors and trustees and the way in which an estate has been mal-administered. “It’s also a real growth area of law so, with my career dedicated to civil and commercial litigation specialising in contentious probate work, we have an opportunity to put Roythornes at the forefront of the field. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and working closely with the team to support our clients.” As well as a raft of partner, senior associate, and associate hires, Roythornes has also seen its new cohort of trainees begin their contracts, with seven new starters joining a variety of teams this month. Vember Mortlock, Managing Director at Roythornes, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome our 23 new starters. We pride ourselves on our specialist approach to not only the law but

supporting our clients. It enables us to work on a national level from our five regional offices and support with really impressive cases. Jak’s knowledge, experience and passion will be invaluable for growing yet another niche area of law and I’m really looking forward to seeing the direction he takes the department. “Our key sectors are booming, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, we’ve had a fantastic year. Our housing and development team was recently appointed on several high-profile panels, strengthening our presence in the residential sector. There has been a lot going on in the agriculture sector too, as farm business get ready for a new postBrexit agricultural policy, and the natural resources team has also been inundated with enquires as more and more businesses join the green agenda. “We’re very proud to have a number of industry experts within these teams, continually putting our work on the national stage.” Roythornes, a top 200 national law practice that adopts a one team ethos across its Alconbury, Birmingham, Nottingham, Peterborough, and Spalding offices. It prides itself on building longstanding relationships with clients, which include major blue-chip companies, family businesses and private individuals, based nationally and internationally.

news from

HUNTINGDONSHIRE AREA

Local financial company recognised as one of the best, for the third year in row, by The Money Marketing Awards Fresh start for waste firm A St Ives waste disposal company on a mission to help people free up valuable space in their homes for 2022. CBS Waste is taking bookings for customers who want to have an end-of-year clearout and make a fresh start for the New Year. The company specialises in domestic and commercial waste disposal and recently launched mini skip services which can be booked online. Customers interested in booking a domestic waste collection can contact 01480 220434, email info@cbs-waste.org or request a free quote online at cbs-waste.org

Local Financial Planning Company, Beacon Wealth Management Ltd, have been recognised as one of the best ESG advice firms in the 2021 Money Marketing Awards. Company Director, Tony Larkins, commented: “We were delighted to be shortlisted for the third year running. We are extremely proud of our Ethical Portfolios, which have been running for over 10 years, and to have that recognised by such a prestigious awarding body is a privilege. We are a small but mighty team, that put our clients at the heart of what we do and being shortlisted for this award helps us to showcase this to our clients, and potential clients. With an average return so far this year of over 13 per cent, we really feel that we have earned our place at the table.” Beacon Wealth Management are based in Kimbolton and have won a number of awards in their 20 years of service.

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New role offers recruiter Rebecca professional and personal life balance When it comes to working – recruitment specialist Rebecca Moore firmly believes that there is a job for everyone. The experienced recruiter and hardworking mum of two has recently joined the team at Peterborough-based Anne Corder Recruitment, turning the effects of the pandemic into a positive. While her family-run nursery photography business was forced to fold following the impact of lockdown, Rebecca enjoyed quality time with her husband and two young children she would otherwise have not been able to experience. She said: “During lockdown, I was able to spend so much time with my family, and I loved it - it really did make me re-evaluate what I wanted to do going forward. I have worked in many offices over the years, but lockdown and the pandemic has given rise to new

opportunities which allow me to enjoy the best of both worlds. “I have worked in recruitment for 15 years, and when this fantastic opportunity arose at Anne Corder Recruitment, it gave me the opportunity to fulfil two of the most important things I want in life – to be a good mum and a good recruiter. “I think we have all learned that remote and flexible working is something to be embraced, offering the opportunity to enjoy a work/ life balance. I can take my children to school and be back at my desk for a 9.00am meeting – that’s the beauty of something that should not be taken for granted.” Rebecca added: “The pandemic gave me the chance to stop and re-set. I am passionate about my industry, and I firmly believe that there is a job for

everyone; it’s simply a case of matching the right candidate to the right role. “We know there are job seekers out there and we would urge employers to trust and believe in their recruitment partners – they are key in helping them to recruit the right person for a particular position.”

Pilot Fish finalist Commercial finance brokerage, Pilot Fish, has been named a finalist in three categories at the most prestigious awards in the finance industry. The company, who support business owners and property investors to source finance was shortlisted for Best Commercial Broker, Best Bridging Broker, and the Service Excellence award. The shortlist puts Pilot Fish ahead of some of the largest brokerages in the country and it is the only business from our region to be selected. The Bridging and Commercial Awards have been going for over a decade and recognise finance firms who lead by example, are innovative and deliver exceptional client service. Catherine Lidgley, Head of Marketing and Engagement, said: “I work with an exceptionally talented team of finance professionals whose breadth of knowledge allows me to drive a strategy that seeks to educate and empower our clients, enabling them to make informed financial decisions. 36 connected

“When the pandemic struck, we had to quickly adapt how we offer our services. Some incredible innovations were made including our media hub which gives clients access to free downloadable resources along with The Pilot Fish Academy, the first of its kind free online property finance training. The team worked incredibly hard to deliver advice

and support as well as placing bounce back loans and CBILS facilities that enabled local businesses to adapt and survive. “It’s a fantastic honour to be recognised as one of the best commercial brokerages in the country in the year that we celebrate our tenth anniversary. It’s testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.”

news from

PETERBOROUGH & STAMFORD

Princebuild celebrates 50 years of trading On 7 October 2021 Princebuild reached the golden milestone of 50 years in business. To celebrate half a century of delivering building and maintenance services in Peterborough and beyond there will be a year’s worth of charity fundraising and staff rewards. The family run company, originally known as Eccleshare Construction Ltd, was founded by Derek Asplin and Stuart Pudney and was initially located on Princes Street in Peterborough. Over the years the company has consistently maintained an excellent reputation for reliability, efficiency, high quality and enviable customer relations. From the humble beginnings of its small Peterborough office back in 1971, Princebuild Ltd has extended its operations so that today it delivers a national, multi-disciplined service. In addition to the Peterborough head office, Princebuild also has branches at Spalding, Cambridge, London, Northampton and Market Rasen and also operates specialists divisions; Princeenergy and Princeinteriors. The company has remained a strong family affair, with Derek and Stuart’s sons Mark Asplin, Dale Asplin, Jon Pudney and Matthew Pudney now taking the company forward as shareholders, along with board members Paul Baker and James Manning. Mark and Dale also have sons working in the business two of whom have recently received promotions to Senior Project Managers.

Founder Stuart Pudney commented: “It has been amazing to watch the company develop over the years and both myself and co-founder Derek Asplin are proud of the business it has become. “I have had the pleasure of working with some fantastic staff over the years and although admittedly it has been hard work at times, we have always pulled together as a team and got through it. “I’m really looking forward to this year of celebration and hope we can give a little back to our employees who work so hard to make the company as successful as it is.” Planned celebrations include; a golden ticket draw for staff, a fun day for employees and their families, a special golden edition of the annual ‘Blingo’ fundraiser and the aim of raising £50,000 for charity in the 50th year. One staff member has even signed up to complete a 50 mile run to help boost the fund raising! Matthew Pudney, Director, commented: “It’s a very proud day when my fellow shareholders and I see the business that our fathers founded and introduced us to, celebrate 50 years of trading. “Along with our board directors and professional and dedicated team the company continues to grow and go from strength to strength and there has been no more testing time for being in business than the past 18 months. “We look forward to the next year where we will celebrate and continue to support our local communities, as we have always done.” connected 37

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BBC’s Tom Heap, returns to Peterborough to discuss, climate change and plastics Peterborough based charity, RECOUP, bring brands, retailers, recyclers, Local Authorities, and Waste Management companies together for the first time in two years to discuss climate change and net zero aspirations in relation to plastics recycling. Vic Annells, Chamber CEO, was invited as a guest to attend both the Conference and pre-conference dinner which enabled the Chamber to promote the work within Peterborough and Cambridgeshire driving the sustainability agenda. The Chamber were also able to network with businesses and organisations from across the wider plastics resource and recycling value chain, and gain insights and knowledge about the drivers for change and technical developments within plastics recycling. This unique event at KingsGate Conference Centre, brought together 400 delegates with some delegates attending in person others were able to tune in online. Tom Heap, TV Presenter and host of Radio 4 ‘Costing the Earth’, was delighted to return once again to moderate the morning discussions and commented “the virtues and values of plastics have really come to the fore over the last 18 months, in helping protect us from the spread of the virus.” Heap added that the day’s discussions seemed to “incorporate the science of plastics materials, facts and fiction, good and bad and what’s changing in the chemical and design of plastics production and the impact on the wider environment.” Paula Chinn, WWF UK, threw down the gauntlet to the industry, with a reminder of the quote from Tanya Steele, CEO WWF-UK: “We’re the first generation to know we’re destroying the planet and could be the last to do anything about it”. Chinn called on the industry to” Face the fact that 90 per cent of global biodiversity loss and water stress, and half of all carbon emissions come from

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resource extraction and processing (UNEP) … Plastic packaging contributes four per cent to this total but is the frontline, a visible touchpoint for many consumers.” Chinn continued: “Capital investments constrain us, but we have to make changes to systems to think of elimination, consumption reduction and reuse. Collaboration is critical to support citizens to consume less.” Collaboration continued to be a strong theme throughout the day with Mike Baxter, Corporate Affairs Director, Berry BPI, lead the charge calling for the industry to recognise that only by working together can change happen at the pace required. Baxter called on Local Authorities to “be positive and say we don’t want to push back the collection of films and flexibles; we want to start working on it now! Retailers and Brands are showing it can be collected, and it can be recycled.” Collaboration and exploring new ways of working are proof that changes can be made. Exeter Council received praise for their commitment to helping collect plastic films and created a closed loop collection scheme collaboration with JayPlas International. Sainsburys have also rolled out collection of films to over 600 stores. It is clear organisations are working together innovative recycling solutions can be found. RECOUP is proud to be playing a part in facilitating discussions to drive change forward. RECOUP, not only bring together sectors of the industry, but work closely with Local Authorities on citizen engagement and education programmes using the Pledge2Recycle Plastics brand. For more information about RECOUP, the work they do including how to join as a member please contact www.recoup.org

GO GREEN FOR THE QUEEN! That is the message to residents and businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as Her Majesty prepares to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Next year marks 70 years of the monarch on the throne, and to celebrate the anniversary and create a lasting legacy, a UK-wide tree planting initiative named The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) has been established. The unique scheme involves inviting people to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee,” with everyone encouraged to plant trees from October when the tree planting season begins - through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. With a focus on planting sustainably, the QGC will encourage the planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the nation, which will benefit future generations. And to drive the push locally, both Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council are working with the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Julie Spence, to raise awareness of the QGC and to work with residents, groups, schools, businesses and other partners to encourage and support their participation. Trees planted in the current planting season and the next one (October 2022-March 2023) can be badged under the project. So far, trees have been planted in three local schools: Woodston Primary School in Peterborough, Spring Meadow Infant & Nursery School in Ely and St Philip’s Church of England Primary School in Cambridge. Julie Spence, The Queen’s representative in the county, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful initiative to ensure a lasting legacy which reflects Her Majesty’s remarkable contribution to public life. I hope businesses will join me in helping to make our area even greener and push us towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral. I would encourage everyone to visit the official website for more information.”

As well as leaving a lasting legacy for the Queen, the tree planting will support the environmental ambitions of both authorities, including the target to achieve zero carbon emissions. It will also help remedy the fact that the county is among the least wooded areas of the UK and will create an improved natural environment for residents. Everyone is invited to take part and it is easy to get involved – whether you are an expert gardener or complete novice there is something you can do. This ranges from individuals planting trees on their private land to businesses setting up tree planting projects with employees. There is plenty of help and advice available - including what types of trees to plant and how to look after them - at the Green Canopy website https://queensgreencanopy.org/ and on the Cambridgeshire County Council website www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/

CONTACT DETAILS

Edward Groome (Executive Officer to the Chief Executive and Leader) Cambridgeshire County Council, Shire Hall, Cambridge, CB3 0AP Phone: 01223 703512 Email: edward.groome@cambridgeshire.gov.uk connected 39

A STRAIGHTFORWARD SOLUTION IN A WORLD WHICH IS ANYTHING BUT If the last couple of years has taught us anything, it’s that businesses need to expect the unexpected. A period of massive political and economic change has meant trading has been extremely difficult, in particular for small- and medium-sized firms, who will have seen their cash flow significantly hit.

SOME CERTAINTY IN UNCERTAIN TIMES Recent times have been anything but straightforward for businesses and many are looking for ways to take control of their finances. The good news is that getting a smart meter for your business is a small change that could make a big difference. A smart meter allows businesses to wave goodbye to estimated billing by securely and automatically sending meter readings to your energy supplier. That means that you receive accurate bills, rather than estimated bills, allowing you the certainly of paying for exactly what you are using. Plus you can also wave goodbye to time spent submitting regular meter readings, allowing you to focus on bigger things.

DOING YOUR BIT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT As Glasgow hosts COP26 this year it’s a good reminder of everyone’s responsibility to become more conscious of their environmental impact.

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Regardless of whether your business has three employees, or three thousand, we all should be aware of how much energy we’re using, and a smart meter is a step in the right direction. From the moment your smart meter is installed, you’re helping create a smart energy system which could ultimately help reduce all our carbon emissions. A smart meter is a positive step in taking control of business outgoings and if your firm has 10 employees or less your business could be eligible. To find out more please click here: https://bit.ly/3gUVb9Y You can also contact your energy supplier or broker. It could be one of the best calls you make this week.

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HOW GRANT FUNDING CAN HELP YOU GROW

Accessing finance can be a real stumbling block to business growth.

Limited budgets mean no working capital, little investment in equipment and materials, and a general inability to source expertise to help you prepare and enable growth. At Growth Works, we can help overcome these issues. Alongside fully funded strategic growth services, we offer revenue and capital grant funding to businesses in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough so they can ‘get growing’ and fast. But what sorts of things could our grant funding help you achieve? Here are just a few of the ways our clients have taken advantage: • Grow your online business How easy is it to do business with you? Perhaps you open up demand with e-commerce systems, or augment your website to incorporate new lead generating features, or develop app software to give you customers an enhanced brand experience. Consider what our clients have done, and use grant funding to develop your digital ecosystem to get a healthier pipeline of sales prospects. • Scale sustainably This month’s COP26 summit has exemplified that a global focus on climate change and net zero initiatives are hastening businesses to step up their sustainability game – for themselves and their customers. This could involve greener supply chains, reducing waste, more sustainable products. Use grant funding to buy in expertise, machinery, or premises that will help you scale sustainably. • Invest in your leadership Are you all in? You’ve made some excellent decisions to get where you are now, but these next steps will need you to raise the bar. You can’t revert back to business as usual, you’ll need to

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be challenging the norm and leading your team to constantly adjust, optimise and execute. Use grant funding to support your leadership development and continually be in the right mindset to drive growth. • Launch new products or services Some of our clients have used grant funding to identify and refine new products or services with support of a multidisciplinary team of experts, like product designers, scientists, engineers or technologists that can work with you and your team to expand your portfolio. Or alternatively, if you already have something in the pipeline, use grant funding to build a robust product marketing strategy. • Skills development Have you got the right skills in your team? New skills have to constantly be embedded. The ‘making it happen’ is generally done by your team after all, and they need to be motivated and empowered by the right training, experience and resources for them to be successful. Use grant funding to source this incompany training that will intrinsically help you grow. • Get cash flow savvy Growth companies consume cash. With your successful growth comes a need for more working capital, which eats away at your margins that you need to fund new investment. And unfortunately, that’s why some growing businesses, go bust. You can use our grant funding to help support your new investment, or alternatively, work with experienced accountants to ensure your forecasts, cash flow and financials are accurate, achievable and inform your business strategy.

READY TO GROW?

If you’re ready to get started (of if you still have questions) we’re ready to help. Take a moment to complete an online diagnostic to tell us a bit more about your business and one of our Growth Advisors will follow up to guide you through next steps. www.growthworkscoaching.uk/get-started

How does your business complete customs declarations? Ask us how we can help ease the stress of customs declarations for your imports and exports. We can help you ensure your goods clear customs at entry points across the UK so there are no delays or extra charges.

Page 19 Customs advert.indd 1

Call t h Cham e Intern ber ationa l Trade Team to 01223 day on 23741 4 30/08/2021 16:19:40

chamber

EVENTS

Many Chamber events are still being held online but we are working on a programme of face-to-face events to get our members connected again. Please see our website for the most up-to-date event listing.

Chamber Christmas Lunch Friday 10 December, 12.00-3.00pm St John’s College, Cambridge

Join us for our annual Christmas Lunch in the most magnificent hall within the Colleges of Cambridge. Not only will you enjoy a three-course festive menu, but you will also have the opportunity to make those final 2021 connections through networking with local businesses. Enjoy some mulled wine or sparking elderflower on arrival before a fabulous three course meal in the beautiful surroundings of the Great Hall - a splendid room housed in a 16th century building with an impressive hammerbeam roof and fine old linen fold panelling.

Our guest speaker is British rower Imogen Grant. Imogen made her senior GB Rowing Team debut at the first World Cup of the year in 2018, going on to become World U23 champion the same year. She’ll be talking to us about finding strength in adversity, overcoming heartbreaking disappointment, and persevering in the face of it all. Her story is truly exciting and inspiring and she’s here to tell us that she isn’t done yet. There will also be a Christmas raffle in aid of our Charity of the Year, Anna’s Hope. This amazing charity supports children facing treatment for a brain tumour, as well as their families, and provides specialist neurorehabilitation in partnership with Addenbrooke’s Hospital. If you would like to donate a raffle prize, please get in touch with Zoe McCabe Brennan for more information. Cost: £50.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £60.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members

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chamber

EVENTS

CAMBRIDGE QUIZ – last chance to enter your team Wednesday 24 November 6.00-10.00pm Cambridge United Football Club, Signature Suite, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LN Taking place in the city of excellence, your team of four will be challenged with a questions on a range of subjects – there’s something for everyone. It’s great for networking, but even better for an office night out with the added bonus of a buffet before the winners are announced and the trophy is presented. Places are limited, book now to avoid disappointment! Cost: £20.00 (plus VAT) Chamber member, £30.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber member Save 10% when you book a team of four – email your team details to Zoe for the discount to be applied. Chamber members can book online. For more information, or to book your team, please contact Zoe McCabe Brennan, Events Co-ordinator on 01223 237414 or email z.mccabebrennan@cambscci.co.uk including your company name, all delegate names and job titles, and a contact telephone number plus your team name.

NETWALKING In association with Living Sport, these events attract businesses of all sizes from a wide range of industry sectors and most importantly, they are free to attend.  Wednesday 1 December: Netwalking in Peterborough City walk to see the festive lights. Starting venue Great Northern Hotel. Wednesday 8 December: Netwalking in Cambridge Our walk will start and finish at Metro Bank and be a circular route around central Cambridge. Please register your place via the Chamber website.

SAVE THE DATE

Huntingdonshire Business Fair Wednesday 27 April, 10.00am-3.00pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Keep an eye on the website and social media to book your stand at the early bird rate. To speak with a member of the Chamber team regarding events and training, please contact Zoe McCabe Brennan, Events Co-ordinator, on 01223 237414 or email z.mccabebrennan@cambscci.co.uk connected 45

chamber

TRAINING

Letters of Credit

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

Inward and Outward Processing

Tuesday 7 December The course will cover special procedures and the benefits of using IP and OP in

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

your compliance. We will look at the impact of the EU Union Customs Code (UCC) on the application, the requirement for duty guarantees and administrative processes involved in managing IP. As well as reviewing the IP application form and the C99/ C&E812 suspension returns, we will also look at what internal processes are required.

Understanding Rules of Origin

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

Rules of Origin are the major factor in FTA agreements and we will learn how this is calculated and the benefits of having UK Origin. Full course details are available on our website www. cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk/ training All our training courses run from 10.00am-2.30pm. Cost per course: £280.00 (plus VAT) Chamber members, £375.00 (plus VAT) non-Chamber members. To register please visit our website, email s.parr@cambscci.co.uk or telephone 01223 237414.

NEW FOR 2022 AN INTRODUCTION TO IPAFFS

IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed Systems) is a webbased service for the application for, and issuing of, Common Health Entry Documents (CHEDs) for imports from outside the EU and EEA of live animals, their products and germplasm. By the end of this course you will have 46 connected

the knowledge to successfully import live animals, their products and germplasm.

UNDERSTANDING LOGISTICS

This course will cover a number of points around logistics including: • Definitions of transport • Differences with pallets • Cargo and marine insurance • Hazardous goods and dangerous goods notes

• Understanding commodity codes • The role of your customer and the paperwork • AEO.

UNLOCKING THE DOORS TO GLOBAL TRADE One-hour bitesize workshops looking at strategy, marketing, documentation and logistics.

KEEP CONNECTED #ChamberNetwork

CHAMBER MEMBERS SAVE 50% ON ADVERTISING RATES The official magazine for Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce members puts you in touch with people you want to do business with. Content includes expert opinions, local business success stories, Chamber events and features key strands of Chamber membership – Connect, Export, Inform, Promote, Protect and Transform. Our new rates are affordable for everyone. CHAMBER RATE Quarter page £50.00 Half page £100.00 Full page £200.00 Back page £300.00 Inside front £300.00

NON-CHAMBER RATE Quarter page £100.00 Half page £200.00 Full page £400.00 Back page £600.00 Inside front £600.00

All prices are plus VAT Save 10% when you book 3 or more editions. To place an advert please contact Sadie Parr: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk

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connected issue 93

Articles inside

Peterborough & Stamford area news

Growth Works

Ely & East Cambs area news

Smart Energy

Cambridge & South Cambs area news

Inform

Protect

Ask the Expert

Out & About

Transform

Connect

Guest article – Wyboston Lakes

Marketing Insight