THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF DEVON & PLYMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FREE TO MEMBERS
SPRING 2022
Devon’s brightest and best young minds Meet our 30 under 30 NEWS: Babcock’s next generation lab WELLBEING: Dispelling myths of the menopause SUSTAINABILITY: Behind the green wall
Changes to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for commercial properties At the end of 2020 the Governmentset out specific steps it was planning to take over the next ten years in order to meet its net zero emissions commitment.This included a framework for all commercial property to reach a target EPC rating of B by 1st April 2030.
However,from 1st April 2023 this rule will apply to all existing leases.This means it will be unlawful for a landlord to continue to let a commercial property with an EPC rating of less than E,even if the tenant has been in situ for many years.
Unsurprisingly, in the current “climate”, energy efficiency is big news for the property market. It will remain topical for some time as further changes are now imminent in relation to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standardsfor commercial properties in the UK.
There can be no question that commercial landlords need to start planning for these requirements sooner rather than later, including the use of appropriate provisions in commercial leases and this is where GA Solicitors can help.
Since 1st April 2018 it has been unlawful for a landlord to grant a new leaseof commercial property with an EPC rating of lower than E,unless an exemption applies.
David Stone Partner and Commercial Property Solicitor
GAsolicitors.com | 01752 203500 enquiries@GAsolicitors.com
ATTRACT MOTIVATED YOUNG PEOPLE TO YOUR BUSINESS T Levels are coming and City College is looking for businesses like yours. T Levels are new qualifications that have been designed in consultation with employers like you to develop the skills needed for your industry. Benefits of offering T Level placements: improve the recruitment pipeline for your business save recruitment costs by providing the opportunity to see what the young person can offer, on a no obligation employment basis
develop existing staff’s mentoring and management skills build a more diverse and creative workforce address local and national skills gaps by helping young people develop the skills your industry needs. When: from September 2022 Sector/industry areas: childcare and education, construction, digital production and design, engineering, healthcare, manufacturing, science.
For more information about T Level placements, call 01752 305300 and ask to speak to one of our Work Placement Coordinators.
BE PART OF IT 2
Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
MEMBER NEWS
CONTENTS
CHAMBER PROFILE SPRING 2022
COVER STORY Meet our first-ever ‘30 Under 30’ PLUS pictures from our awards ceremony at Buckfast Abbey SEE PAGE 8-15
FIRST WORD 4
Chamber Chief Executive Stuart Elford looks ahead to a packed in-person and virtual events programme in 2022, as well as a number of exciting campaigns
MEMBER NEWS 5
£5m STEMM centre at Exeter Science Park will support 100 new jobs
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Babcock and Plymouth Science Park launch advanced manufacturing lab
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GWR Sleeper service impacted as work to protect vital rail link to South West continues
CHAMBER NEWS 20 Thales Group announced as new patron of the Devon & Plymouth Chamber 21 Thales announces largest-ever intake of apprentices and cyber programme 22-23
How South West Water is supporting Devon charities and good causes
26-27
Young workers and businesses share their Kickstart success stories
WELLBEING
40-41
16-19 Our experts dispel myths of the menopause in the workplace
Pictures from this quarter’s Chamber and member events
42 A warm welcome to all our new Devon & Plymouth Chamber members
SUSTAINABILITY
SECTOR FOCUS
FOCUS FEATURES
30-31 Low Carbon Devon project helping businesses take climate change action
REVIEW 38-39 All aboard Brittany Ferries’ Pont Aven for a French adventure
24-25 SKILLS City College Plymouth - the whole is greater than sum of the parts 28 PEOPLE Businesses come together to support neurodiverse employees 29 FINANCE Is your business getting the best out of the cloud? 32 INTERNATIONAL TRADE Is YOUR business ready to go global? 34 CHARITY Plymouth Citybus unveils bus to mark 40 years of St Luke’s Hospice 34-35 MOTORING Bella Machina 36-37 MOTORING Tackling the ultimate off-road experience in a ‘real’ Defender
Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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FIRST WORD
FIRST WORD THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF DEVON AND PLYMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CONTACT DETAILS Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Unit 5 Derriford Business Park, Brest Road, Plymouth, Devon PL6 5QZ T: 01752 220471 E: chamber@devonchamber.co.uk W: www.devonchamber.co.uk News and articles should be sent to: E: marketing@devonchamber.co.uk Front cover: Our ‘30 under 30’ award ceremony at Buckfast Abbey. See pages 8-15. Published by Cornerstone Vision Ltd 28 Old Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth PL3 4PY T: 01752 225623 W: www.cornerstonevision.com Managing Editor Ian Pilkington Designer Leah-Maarit Jeffery Advertising David Simpson E: dave@cornerstonevision.com Printed by PDS Print W: www.pdsprint.co.uk PRIVACY NOTICE Cornerstone Vision Ltd process personal information for certain legitimate interest purposes, which includes the following: • To provide postal copies of this publication to Chamber member and Cornerstone Vision Ltd customers; and • To offer marketing and promotional opportunities within this publication to Chamber members an prospects. Whenever we process data for these purposes, we always ensure we treat your Personal Data rights in high regard. Chamber Profile is produced on behalf of Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce by Cornerstone Vision Ltd and is distributed without charge to more than 1,500 key businesses and all Chamber members in Devon. The publisher is committed to achieving the highest quality standard. However, views expressed in the magazine are independent and while every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise. The publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format without the prior written permission of Cornerstone Vision Ltd.
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There is much for South West businesses to look forward to this spring and beyond as we come out of Plan B. Our Chamber team is ready to get back out into the world again and we’re working hard to produce the highest-quality events programme possible for businesses across the region, many of which are themed around our key strategic priorities for 2022 – People, Planet and Purpose. We strive to ensure our calendar is packed with chances to learn, collaborate and build powerful new connections, and we have some incredible networking events planned for 2022 - in person, online and hybrid. In January, we travelled to the beautiful Hartnoll Hotel in Tiverton for our first Devon Business Brunch - a series of unique events across Devon each themed around a different, relevant topic. We’re inviting businesses to partner with us for our upcoming events, which offer the perfect opportunity to spread your brand and company awareness to business leaders throughout the South West. Find out more about partnership opportunities for all of our events on the Partner With Us page of our website. To make sure non-members can also get involved in our events, we’ve launched a ‘Bring a Friend’ campaign which also offers Chamber members the chance to bag a free ticket to selected events. It’s all part of our mission to build a bigger and better Chamber for all, one which supports you and your business, from sharing knowledge to promoting health and wellbeing. We know that sometimes, things can feel a little overwhelming – particularly during the added pressures brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/@chamber_devon Like us on Facebook Devon Chamber of Commerce Join us on LinkedIn Devon Chamber of Commerce
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
CHAMBER PATRONS
That’s why we’ve launched a dedicated Wellbeing Hub, which features advice and resources for coping with stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It also contains valuable insights from experts who spoke at January’s Menopause Event with SW Women in Business CIC at China Fleet Country Club. We are running a number of exciting campaigns this year - none more so than our ‘30 Under 30’ programme aimed at individuals under 30 throughout Devon who have made a significant impact in the working world. Together with lead partner Babcock, transport sponsor Go South West and sponsors Real Ideas Organisation, SETsquared Exeter Student Startups and SW Business Support Solutions Ltd, we selected 30 winners who were honoured during a prestigious ceremony at Buckfast Abbey’s Schiller Hall. Find out more about our amazing winners in this edition of Profile. Our Taking Business Digital campaign supported by Devon County Council is also gathering pace, with exclusive workshops taking place in 2022. And as part of our commitment to Net Zero, we have partnered with local sustainability experts Recro Vida Ltd to run a series of free Carbon Net Zero workshops, designed to help you on the first steps of your sustainability journey while improving your organisation’s impact on the environment. Together, we can make a difference.
STUART ELFORD
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DEVON & PLYMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMBER NEWS
MEMBER NEWS New chair at Food Drink Devon as membership hits record levels Food Drink Devon has appointed Greg Parsons, managing director of Sharpham Cheese, as its new chairperson. This announcement comes at a time when Food Drink Devon has recorded its highest ever membership numbers, meaning that it now represents more than 330 food and drink producers, retailers, hospitality venues and related businesses dedicated to serving up the best produce from the county. Mike Young, vice chair, said: “We are delighted to announce Greg Parsons has agreed to become chair of Food Drink Devon, having served on the board for a year already. “He is owner of Sharpham Cheese and also recently set up The South West Food Hub, a community interest company that aims to facilitate public sector procurement for smaller
food and drink producers in the area. “Greg has a wealth of experience in this industry, having worked across manufacturing, sales and marketing for a range of businesses including some really big brands. In all, Greg has worked for over 20 years in the dairy industry and even more in food and hospitality, making him the perfect choice to help Food Drink Devon support and promote its members during this period of rapid change.” Greg said: “I am Devon born and bred and am incredibly passionate about the fantastic local produce in this bountiful area of the country. Combining that passion with my broad industry experience, I hope, will stand me in good stead to take on the role of chair during such a dynamic time for the
NEWS FOR & FROM MEMBERS OF DEVON & PLYMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
organisation and the local food and drink scene. “The past year-and-a-half has been incredibly challenging for the membership but, with such an outstanding network of producers, hospitality businesses and retailers in our county, I am confident that the future is incredibly bright and I am thrilled to be able to play a small part in it.” Greg succeeds Barbara King, former managing director of The Shops at Dartington, who held the position for five years and retired at the beginning of 2021.
Mike added: “Barbara King was a fantastic chair, working tirelessly to direct Food Drink Devon through a strong growth phase, and we knew that she would be a very hard act to follow when she stood down from the role. “We are delighted that Greg has agreed to take up the reins and build on all the amazing work that Barbara has done. On behalf of everyone at Food Drink Devon, I would like to thank Barbara for her outstanding contribution and welcome Greg to his new role.”
New £5m STEMM centre at Exeter Science Park will support 100 new jobs Exeter Science Park’s new £5 million centre for maturing STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and medical) businesses opened its doors in January 2022, providing bespoke laboratory and office space for 100 jobs. The first tenants to move into the 14,000 sq ft George Parker Bidder building, which is built to net zero carbon standards, will cross the road from the Science Park Centre to embark on the next stage of their business growth. They include Concept First, Remit Zero, Securious, Edson Tiger, RX-Info and Dashboard, their move freeing up space in the hub for STEMM start-ups. The new building, just off J29 of the M5, is named after civil engineer and mathematical prodigy George Parker Bidder, who was born in Moretonhampstead on the edge of Dartmoor in 1806 and became President of the Institution of Civil Engineers. A ‘rags to riches’ story, Bidder is best known for his work on the development of the railway system in the 1800’s. He
becomes the latest STEMM icon, alongside Sir Isaac Newton, Alan Turing, Ada Lovelace, and Hedy Lamarr, to lend their names to the centres of excellence at the Park. The opening of the new building comes as Exeter takes 8th position in the UK Powerhouse Report 2022 for the highest projected GVA growth by the end of 2022 at 3%. The research also forecasts that Exeter will see significant employment growth of 1.9% by the end of 2022, placing the city in ninth position nationally.* The George Parker Bidder building has been designed by architects LHC Design, working for NPS South West Property Consultants, and procured using the Southern Construction Framework. Construction was completed by Morgan Sindall Construction. Dr Sally Basker, CEO of Exeter Science Park, said: “This net-zero carbon building has been the fastest turnaround of any building scheme undertaken at the Park, achieving practical completion just 16 months after funding was secured.
“We’re pleased to see the building already 85% pre-let, including a number of businesses moving across from the Science Park Centre, and we already have demand to back-fill their offices.” “Exeter Science Park helps innovative STEMM companies to deliver extraordinary growth and offers space for businesses to remain at the Park through each stage of their lifecycle, which is being realised as we see tenants grow and move through our buildings.” Funding for the build was secured in August 2020 from the Government’s ‘Getting Building Fund’ and allocated to Exeter Science Park by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) from its £35.4 million share of the national pot. The building was one of the first Getting Building Fund projects to begin construction in the area. *Source: UK Powerhouse quarterly economic growth report by Irwin Mitchell www.irwinmitchell.com/ news-and-insights/in-focus/powerhouse
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MEMBER NEWS
Discover Student Talent – Work with PhD Students Solve your organisation’s challenges in creative and imaginative ways by working with the brightest minds. It has never been a better time for businesses to consider developing their ideas through a PhD. With the need to develop new ideas and new products in a rapidly evolving market place, getting genuinely independent, expert and objective input from a PhD, or Doctorates as they are also referred, is a unique way of accelerating any form of R&D. PhDs focus on research projects, usually over 3 years that aim to create new, or build on existing solutions. The University of Plymouth has an impressive and diverse range of PhD options across all areas of our world-leading research that total about 1,000 live PhD projects at any given time. Many of these are collaborations to help businesses achieve a market advantage through
innovative research and gaining access to our cutting-edge world-class facilities. As a business, you can fund a PhD student or engage with a group of doctorate students. This will give you a dedicated and diverse expert resource to focus on a specific business challenge. We can help you find the talent that’s right for you, whether you’re an employer with an established R&D team, an SME looking for specialist knowledge or an entrepreneur wanting some in-depth thinking for areas of growth. Get in touch with Enterprise Solutions to discuss your needs and we can help find the best route forward. There are a variety of options available depending on your timescales and the type of expertise needed.
The benefits to your business include: Dedicated and diverse expert resource to focus on a specific business challenge. Opportunity to explore new in depth thinking for areas of growth. Secure an in depth, value free, external perspective to explore new thinking that challenges existing assumptions. Accelerate R&D ambitions to gain improved profitability and a competitive market advantage. Access to cutting-edge knowledge and technologies. Access to international skills markets. To find out more – Contact our Enterprise Solutions Team by calling 0800 052 5600 or emailing enterprisesolutions@plymouth. ac.uk
Why you should use print for your marketing Cornerstone Vision are print communication specialists and produce Chamber Profile, the Plymouth Chronicle newspaper and printed media solutions for businesses, charities and public sector organisations. Chamber Profile’s marketing lead, Dave Simpson, has a lot to say about print:
The options for marketing your business are more numerous now than they have ever been. I’m sure you’re running multiple campaigns right now for your business. How many of these can you mentally tick off the list? Digital campaigns on social media, online display ads, native marketing through online articles and posts, TV or Radio ads, search engine advertising, email marketing, video content, networking events, billboards, trade shows. And what about that old favourite print marketing? You’ve forgotten about print haven’t you? Or did you decide in a board meeting in 2016 that ‘print is dead so we’ll be spending our money online?’
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Well I have news for you. It’s 2022 and print is definitely NOT dead! Here is why. Firstly if you’ve got this far into this article then I’ve already persuaded you on my first point. That is to say that people generally spend more time reading content that is in print than online. Research from the City University of London found that 18 to 34 year olds spent twice as much time reading newspapers’ print editions than they did with their websites and apps. Don’t get me wrong, online content is engaged with in vast numbers but we often ‘snack’ on online content - we have been conditioned by social media platforms to scroll on from one bite to the next. When we read print we digest more and we’re more focused. There are no ads on the side of the screen to pull our attention away from what we’re reading. No ‘suggested content’ that we click on once we’re only a few lines in to what we’re currently reading. And not even the dreaded pop up!
Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
If you’re anything like me you’re also looking at a screen a LOT throughout the day and print gives that opportunity to give your eyes a rest from screen time whilst still engaging in interesting content.
Did you decide in a board meeting in 2016 that ‘print is dead’ and we’ll be spending our money online? To emphasise my point on the time factor, Facebook IQ state that on average people spend 1.7 seconds engaging with a piece of Facebook content on mobile and 2.5 seconds on a desktop. 1.7 seconds! Seriously?! How much can you really take in in 1.7 seconds? You’ve been reading this article for WAY longer than that and taken in a lot more information. Sponsored content in a printed publication that you know reaches your required audience is a very effective way to market your business and actually stand out from your competitors. A Forbes article in 2020 cited
a trend of companies going back to the long form sponsored article to communicate aspects of their business which they can’t communicate using online and other media options. Important aspects which encourage people to work with you, which you simply can’t communicate in a matter of seconds. Print also engages our brain differently. Research from Temple University found subjects showed greater emotional response and memory for physical media ads a week after seeing them than they did for digital ads. Physical ads also caused more activity in brain areas associated with value and desire. Print is alive and well, and reports of its death are an exaggeration! Whether you need to reach a B2B audience with Chamber Profile or B2C marketing options, Cornerstone Vision can help you maximise print media’s benefits to your advantage. Contact Dave on 01752 225623 or email dave@cornerstonevision.com
The Business Accelerator Program is Back! Our last cohort increased profits by 68.3% & revenue by 42.5% Our business is in helping your business to thrive, with a program comprising 12 high-impact modules, delivering group-classroom-based learning, expert guest speakers, one-to-one sessions, and between-lesson tasks:
1. High Level goals
5. Marketing strategies
9. Operational excellence
2. Financials
6. Developing High performing culture
10. Optimising customer excellence
3. Increasing business value
7. Systems & processes
11. Business growth mindset
4. Customer strategies
8. Structure for growth
12. Business review & future planning
How will you thrive in the new post-pandemic world? The Business Accelerator Program is the catalyst for future growth. If you are responsible for your company’s strategy, take your company’s future into your own hands!
For more information, please contact Tamzin Wallace T: 01752 717577 W: www.gjcadvisory.com E: tamzin.wallace@gjcadvisory.com
Babcock and Plymouth Science Park launch advanced manufacturing lab Babcock International has opened a new state-of-the-art Additive Manufacturing centre as part of a new partnership with Plymouth Science Park (PSP). The facility will allow the aerospace, defence and security company to ramp up its advanced technology capabilities to address critical needs across the engineering and defence support industry and will include the development of a digital and data skills programme in collaboration with PSP. The facility will enable the company to direct print metal parts for the first time as it needs them, increasing efficiency and sustainability. The centre was launched at an industry event and was attended by other technology collaborators including Kingsbury, Renishaw, AMFG and GOM, as well as local MP, Johnny Mercer. The partnership builds on Babcock’s strong relationship with the academic and technology community across the South West, and the local community around Babcock’s Devonport dockyard. Babcock, a proud Patron of the Devon &
L-R, Jon Morley, Babcock’s Head of Manufacturing; MP Johnny Mercer, Ian McFazden, PSP Chief Executive, and Dr Jon Hall, Babcock Chief Innovation and Technology Officer. Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, will use PSP’s new facility to expand its capabilities in additive methods, such as direct metal laser sintering, which enables high priority parts to be produced by a 3-D printer. Dr Jon Hall, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer for Babcock, said: “This collaboration will accelerate Babcock’s
R&D and real-world application of additive technologies.” Ian McFazden, Chief Executive of PSP, added: “We are delighted to be expanding our work in the advanced engineering, defence and security sectors through a new and innovative partnership with Babcock.”
Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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30 UNDER 30
Celebrating Devon’s first-ever ‘30 Under 30’ young business stars The Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce held a glittering awards ceremony at beautiful Buckfast Abbey this March to honour the region’s rising young business stars. Our ‘30 Under 30’ campaign - inspired by Forbes’ long-running feature - recognises and celebrates young talent across Devon. Throughout the nominations process, the Chamber was seeking individuals under 30 in the county who have made a significant impact in the working world. The judging day was held in the boardroom at our Derriford Business Park HQ, where we were joined by Debbie Joce, Gareth Kenward and David Tytherleigh from Babcock International Group; Andy Stuart, Jenny Bishop and Sarah Carroll from Real Ideas, and Alison Jenkins and Colin Jolliffe from SW Business Support Solutions Ltd, with Emily Davies from SETsquared Exeter Student Startups linking up via Zoom. Entries were judged using the following criteria: • The speed with which the candidate has progressed in the working world • Does the candidate have any outstanding accomplishments? • What is the candidate’s contribution to the sustainability of our planet? • Do they have exceptional abilities as an entrepreneur? • What are they doing to benefit the local community? • How do they influence other members of the team? • Potential to become a future leader Our expert panel certainly had their work cut out as they ran through more than 60 nominations, before selecting the final 30 worthy winners. Stuart Elford, Chamber CEO, said: “It was really exciting to be able to tell our first-ever ‘30 Under 30’ that they had been chosen for this truly talented list, and were thrilled they were able to join us at Schiller Hall, together with special guests and sponsors, for a truly unforgettable evening. “The theme for our spring event was ‘Blooming Careers’, which offered the perfect opportunity to reward Devon’s best and brightest young business stars at this unique venue. “Huge thanks to our lead partner Babcock International Group, our transport sponsor Go South West, and fellow sponsors Real Ideas, SW Business Support Solutions Ltd and SETsquaredExeter Student Startups, without whom this wonderful event would not have been possible.” Our ‘30 Under 30’ were each awarded a certificate and recognised for their outstanding achievements. We were also joined on the night by Amber Leach, business and strategy coach and owner of Audacious Lives, who talked us through her journey as an entrepreneur, creative, photographer, speaker, mentor, wife and mother. Find out more about our 30 Under 30 on the Chamber website here: www.devonchamber.co.uk/30-under-30
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
30 UNDER 30
Pictures by Amy Stanford Photography
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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30 UNDER 30
SPONSORS Our headline sponsor
Babcock International Group At Babcock, we recognise the importance of developing and supporting our people at all stages of their career. We take great pride in growing our own future talent, including the hundreds of apprentices and graduates who are based at our Devonport facility. We are delighted to sponsor the Devon & Plymouth Chamber ‘30 under 30’ campaign, which recognises and celebrates talented young individuals across Devon who have made a significant impact in the working world. Plymouth is fortunate to have so many talented young professionals working across a variety of industries and it is great that our partnership with the Chamber means we can formally recognise and celebrate this breadth of local talent.
SETsquared Exeter Student Startups We believe that the future of our communities, our economy and our environment depends upon entrepreneurial minds who can find innovative ways to solve the many real challenges we face. This belief underpins our work in encouraging and nurturing young entrepreneurs through our programmes. Devon is rapidly gaining a reputation not just for its spectacular landscape and environment, but also as a home for tech innovation, entrepreneurialism and purpose-led venture creation. SETsquared Exeter Student Startups are therefore thrilled to be supporting the inaugural year of the Devon ‘30 under 30’ campaign to recognise and celebrate the ambitious, impactful and entrepreneurial young talent in the region.
Our transport sponsor
Go South West SW Business Support Solutions The ‘30 Under 30’ campaign has
Real Ideas Supporting young people to succeed and create the futures they dream of, has always been part of what we do at Real Ideas. To deliver real and lasting change, we have to start with the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators. That’s why we’re delighted to support the Chamber’s 30 Under 30 - to recognise the talent who will lead the way in driving the important social and environmental progress we need. Congratulations to everyone nominated. We celebrate you all and can’t wait to see what you achieve next.
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
allowed us to show the importance of young people within our business. One way that SW Business Support Solutions supports the next generation is by giving them opportunities to excel regardless of their qualifications or achievements, that would often be dismissed by other businesses. One of the largest benefits of having a workforce with 96% under-30s, would be their eagerness to learn valuable skills, in our empowering workplace. We hope the training we give these young people will teach them the skills needed to become the leaders of tomorrow, and potentially our future customers.
30 UNDER 30
Meet our 30 Under 30 winners! Aaron Sherwood
SW Business Support Solutions From being unemployed this time last year, Aaron has worked his way up the chain to become Marketing Project Manager at SWBSS. Once he noticed areas in the business’s social media that could be improved, he used his initiative to found a dedicated social media team which has now grown to over 10 team members - providing jobs for several unemployed young people through the Kickstart Scheme. Aaron has created several sustainability-based marketing campaigns and has progressed the business from 16 social media posts a month to more than 150. He always pushes himself to be the best and ensure work is of the highest quality and consistency.
Adam Carter
Babcock International Group / Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd Since joining Babcock four-and-a-half years ago on the graduate programme, Adam has been promoted into a senior supply chain manager position and now leads the supply chain element for export opportunities. He has worked on one of the UK’s largest Defence contracts and played a pivotal role both within the bid phase, as well as operationalising it by leading all of the transformation elements. Entrepreneurship is key in Adam’s current role, which involves engaging with potential customers to understand their needs, and creating solutions to meet them. He also continues to nurture the development of local businesses within the local community.
Alex Stevens Babcock International Group
Since completing the graduate development scheme, Alex has progressed rapidly to become Head of Supply Chain at Babcock. In support of delivering Warship, Submarine and Naval Base Management projects, he is responsible for the strategy and governance of the supply chain function which comprises more than 300 staff with an annual spend of £350m per annum. Alongside this, he works closely with the Devonport Executive Management Board to deliver against the business’s aligned strategy. Alex has also supported outreach initiatives with local schools, colleges and universities by completing the mentoring programme, Young Enterprise programme, STEM events and attending careers fairs to promote Babcock and the supply chain as a great place for a career.
Brogan Algar Wild Muse Design Co (freelancer)
During her time at university, Brogan worked as a freelance designer with large content creators including Demi Jones from Love Island (UK) and Hannah Ann Sluss from The Bachelor (US). This led to JDO - a multidisciplinary design studio with offices in London, Shanghai and New York - reaching out to hire her as a social media content and junior designer while she completed her final year at Plymouth College of Art. As well as working with international brands and businesses, Brogan has helped several startups across Devon. She has also inspired and supported her colleague, Alex Keitch, Marketing Manager of Wild Muse Design Co, into unlocking her true potential by launching their design studio together.
Bubbles Putnam Putnams.co.uk / Plymouthcontainerstorage.co.uk / Putnamproperty.co.uk Wecutfoam.co.uk / Cosyco.co.uk Bubbles’ manufacturing business, Putnams, continues to go from strength to strength, investing heavily in its online presence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This in turn has seen e-commerce online sales grow by 208%. The company has also taken on more employees to cope with increased demand seen for British manufacturing and buying local. Alongside this, Bubbles has also started and grown a property development company, Putnam Property, which focuses on bringing unloved older buildings back into use and has invested heavily in the sympathetic upgrades of multiple buildings in and around Plymouth. In May 2020 she also started Plymouth Container Storage, which is currently at 98.4% occupancy.
Catherine Edwards Real Ideas Organisation
Catherine joined Real Ideas as an apprentice in 2017 and in just five years has developed and progressed to hold the position of Digital Communications Manager. As well as doing an outstanding job of communicating the vision, purpose and activities of Real Ideas, she has led the communications and marketing of the Illuminate Light Festival, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to the event, and also spearheaded the content creation strategy and campaign for Real Ideas’ 15th birthday in January 2022. As a social enterprise, Real Ideas operates a triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Catherine’s efforts to effectively communicate this broad range of work is key to delivering the company’s social and environmental impact.and the supply chain as a great place for a career.
Charlie Shwenn Barrister, Magdalen Chambers
Born and bred in Devon, Charlie has enjoyed an incredible year. The barrister has expanded his legal practice to involve large-scale property disputes and represented some of the largest companies in the country, as well as strengthening his links with charities including Shelter Plymouth and local community law clinics. Charlie continues to work with students at the University of Exeter, by teaching on the undergraduate Environmental Law module, and also had his first book published on a specialised topic of the law of costs that he wrote during lockdown. He is enjoying returning to in-person work locally and hopes to build on the progress made in the last 12 months.
Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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30 UNDER 30 Chloe Hodgkinson Chlo and Co Media
Chloe took the leap to start her own creative social media agency in 2021 and also became an online coach and creator for female health. She has provided three students with internships, worked with other freelancers and produced/created content and managed socials for more than 20 businesses. After recovering from hypothalamic amenorrhea, caused by over exercising and disordered eating, she decided she wanted to help others recover, too. Her Instagram account (@chlohodgkinson) has nearly doubled in followers during the past year, and she has created journals to help those in recovery and provided online support workshops. Chloe hopes that by being a ‘30 Under 30’ she can “reach more girls, help them and also show myself that I’m doing the right thing”.
Chris Quevatre Ocean City Media
Chris is multi-skilled in the truest sense: a cameraman, editor, producer, director, audio mixer, and all-round gifted storyteller. In April 2021, he took the bold step of leaving his job as an online journalist at the BBC to co-found with two former colleagues the Plymouth-based video and audio production company, Ocean City Media (OCM). Thanks to Chris’s hard work, OCM has quickly gained a strong foothold as a company, with a diverse and growing client list. Chris is a natural teacher, leader, role model and communicator, and learns new skills and techniques every day to stay ahead of the curve in terms of storytelling formats, style and the technology needed to deliver those.
Conor Erb clickbar
Conor is the co-founder of clickbar, an order-at-table marketplace solution which is being rolled out across Exeter over the next few months. On top of building clickbar, he has become the youngest ever Consultant Director at 180 Degrees Consulting, a programme that consults charities in the developing world, and has also co-founded the Exeter Public Speaking Society. In terms of sustainability, Conor has led the consultation of charitable projects that improve access to clean water and education in Rwanda, and promoted awareness around colorectal cancer in Lebanon. Conor will often find a solution in situations where other people cannot. He does all this in a way that brings everyone with him he doesn’t isolate anyone, making everyone feel like they’re part of the larger project.
David Starley Babcock International Group
David completed Babcock’s graduate scheme in May 2021 and joined the Group Environment team as a ‘Low Carbon Engineer’. Over the last year, he has built upon his understanding of corporate sustainability, becoming an expert in carbon accounting following the Greenhouse Gas Protocol approach. Everything David does in his current role contributes towards sustainability and the creation of a better world, and he always strives to share his knowledge and encourage colleagues to take action themselves. As well as shaping Babcock’s global Net Zero strategy, David has also been instrumental in the success of ‘the3engineers’ in securing funding for 4,000 children’s books to be distributed to schools in Plymouth ahead of World Book Day.
Ellie Llewellyn Graig Coffi
Ellie has certainly come a long way in the last 12 months. After setting up a table on the public footpath that ran through her farm at home during lockdown to sell coffees, she has since converted an old trailer into a premium coffee outlet - which has created a real community hub. Ellie only uses sustainably sourced coffee, which is roasted locally, and biodegradable packaging. After her best friend’s dad became terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, she organised a raffle with more than 20 local businesses which raised over £1,000 to help the family. Ellie has now progressed to hosting seasonal markets, and was recently awarded a grant through the University of Exeter’s Start Up Scheme.
Georgia Gadsby Unearth PR
In November 2020, at the age of 22, Georgia launched Unearth PR, a Devon-based PR firm which has grown immensely during the past year - with a 500% increase in new client sign-ons and a 1,800% increase in net profit. The firm’s ethos is that it specifically works with conscious brands. The team also works completely digitally to minimise waste of printed PR and marketing materials. Alongside her success with Unearth PR, she was also promoted to the role of digital PR manager at We Are North UK, a global digital agency. This has given her the opportunity to lead global client accounts and her own team, as well as run Unearth PR.
Gregor Sey Boozy Events & Savora Drinks
Gregor has started not one but two thriving businesses in the past two years. Boozy Ventures t/a Boozy Events was formed in 2020 with his business partner Cameron Esson and is on track to hit £2m in revenue in its third year. He has since grown the Boozy Events team to more than 20 people and was nominated for the Food & Drink ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award. Gregor joined Matthew Walker with Savora Drinks in 2021 as a mixer brand for Tequila, with two flavours: one for Blanco Tequila and another for Reposado Tequila. Despite both these businesses having physical warehouses in Scotland, Gregor has managed them from his home in Exeter. Boozy Events is also a partner of Charlie House, which helps terminally ill children, and the firm has helped to raise more than £3,000 in the last year.
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
30 UNDER 30
Harriet Moore
Plymouth College of Art Students’ Union After graduating from Plymouth College of Art in 2020, Harriet was elected as Student Union President and Student Governor for 2020/21 and re-elected again for 2021/22. Throughout her time in office she has been nominated for several accolades, including the Extra Mile Award in the National Societies & Volunteering Awards. The most notable is an international award for Best Campaign Supporting Student Wellbeing. Harriet was invited to write an essay as part of the Plymouth White Paper, and was also invited to speak at the Society for Research into Higher Education 2021 conference, ‘(Re)connecting, (Re)building: Higher Education in Transformative Times’, in which she spoke about diversifying and broadening student representation and fostering a more connected student community. Her leadership continues to be fundamental to the growth of the Student Union.
Jack Henniker
People & Organisational Development Partner at NHS / Board Trustee at St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth Born and bred in Plymouth, Jack attended Devonport High School for Boys, before completing a BSc (Hons) Business Management undergraduate degree at the University of Plymouth and then gaining a place on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme. More recently, he completed his Master’s in Human Resource Management. His current role as People & Organisational Development Partner sees him acting as the lead specialist within the Urgent, Emergency & Trauma Care Group for all People, Employee Relations, Recruitment, Learning and Development and Organisational Development activity. In March 2021, alongside his brother James, he was approached to join the Board of Trustees for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth - something he is very passionate about.
James Henniker Ministry of Defence (Navy Command) / Board Trustee at St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth Another Devonport High School for Boys pupil (and twin brother of fellow ‘30 Under 30’ winner Jack), James has progressed very far within the Ministry of Defence (MoD), already reaching Grade 7 at age of 24 which is a huge achievement in itself. In another challenging yet successful year, James has led the procurement of a new Naval Base Services contract for Navy Command within Devonport, making history as the largest support programme ever attempted by the MoD. James is a great leader and is well-respected amongst his peers, with many recognising the difference he continues to make within the Devonport Dockyard. He is also on the Board of Trustees for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth with his brother.
James Roddy Colour Digital Print Ltd & Colour Calendars
James has accomplished many things during his time with Colour Digital Print Ltd & Colour Calendars, being instrumental in the development of staff and improving vital areas such as health and safety within the workplace. He has also spearheaded major efficiency savings within the business, in production and the studio. Having been escalated into upper management quite quickly, James has overseen other managers within the business - a very difficult role for someone so young. He has helped to identify issues with these roles, taking some responsibilities away and identifying mismatches of skills and duties. Most importantly, has done so respectfully, with consideration given to staff who have been with the company for decades. This improved infrastructure has resulted in a happier workforce.
Jasmine Galvin
The Family Law Company Jasmine joined The Family Law Company during lockdown, having moved from a different area of law. Specialising in Private Law Children and Domestic Abuse cases means supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community - and Jasmine has worked hard to ensure that the firm can support as many clients as possible while also maintaining the team’s wellbeing. Jasmine is simultaneously studying for her LLM in Legal Practice (virtually) which has involved studying alone at home and taking exams on camera. In the last year she has also completed her Law degree and Master’s in Legal Practice. Despite being early in her legal career, Jasmine has a brilliant understanding of the balance of empathy and technical knowledge needed to support the most vulnerable of our community.
Jess Keast-Towns Make Amends (Shekinah)
Jess has progressed immensely throughout her first nine months in post as a Restorative Justice (RJ) & Family Practitioner. This role involves bringing victims and offenders of crime, often serious, violent, complex and sensitive crimes, into communication to find a positive way forward. As a part of her co-location in local police forces, Jess has given presentations to officers and sergeants to raise awareness of RJ and to ensure they follow the Victims Code of Practice. She has networked incredibly successfully and become embedded within services around Devon and Cornwall passionately working to empower victims. Jess has recently graduated with a First in Bsc (Hons) Sociology from the University of Plymouth, and is now starting the process to be an accredited practitioner.
Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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30 UNDER 30 Laura Scott
The Conscious Candy Company Limited What a year it’s been for Laura Scott. Last year The Conscious Candy Company Limited hit a turnover of £1m and moved into a 5,000 sq ft unit. The business is 100% vegan and uses recyclable plastics (if at all) and biodegradable options. It also uses schemes that replant trees, as well as non-toxic printing materials and inks. Personally, Laura has been shortlisted for Gordon Ramsay’s new series in which she has the opportunity to win a £250,000 investment. She has also been a finalist in the Plymouth Western Morning News for ‘Young Person of the Year’ and for ‘Young Person of the Year’ and ‘Food & Drink Entrepreneur of the Year’ twice at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. She is also a mentor working with University of Plymouth students.
Lewis Breslan
Services Design Solution Ltd Lewis has great enthusiasm and passion for his work and the construction and built environment sector. He continues to make an outstanding impact on SDS, working on high-profile projects in Exeter including the redevelopment of Vaughan Road; refurbishment works at Middlemoor Police Station, and the new IoT Data Centre at Exeter College. Lewis has experience from various healthcare projects across the region and, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has had the opportunity to work on the Exeter Nightingale Hospital redevelopment project. Lewis is upping his involvement with the CIBSE Young Engineers Network South West Committee, and plans to meet on a regular, more structured basis, to help with the planning of events to deliver to local young engineers in our industry.
Maddie Treby
Swolesome Foods Maddie has established herself in the local Plymouth area and further afield by setting up Swolesome Foods, a growing business which specialises in ‘fit foods’. Swolesome recently hit a huge milestone, engaging a stockist in Poland to drive down shipping costs which have been passed on to the customer. Maddie is a keen athlete, training in CrossFit as well as partaking in cold water swimming. She is a big advocate for mental health, female entrepreneurs and for female health in general. Maddie employs other young female staff including those who have young families and is flexible for them working around their home lives, while maintaining a strong work ethic to ensure the customer comes first.
Nathan Vosper Babcock International Group
In the past 18 months, Nathan has completed his graduate scheme with Babcock and moved into a full-time role as a Production Controller. This involves the management of his own team, and managing the overhaul of complex submarine systems. Nathan was earmarked for success at an early age. At just 16, received an Engineering Arkwright Scholarship, which was matched by his IMechE and UKNEST Undergraduate Scholarships while at university. He was also highlighted as a future leader of engineering - something of which he is really proud. Alongside his day job, Nathan has also taken on the voluntary role of University Engagement Initiative Programme Manager. This has involved taking the current level of engagement from the Plymouth site and rolling it out across the UK.
Oleta Forde
Plymouth City Council / The Box Plymouth Oleta has been one of the constants of The Box, Plymouth during a turbulent first year of opening. She has provided a steady hand and has really shaped how the attraction runs for staff and for visitors - during and after lockdowns. Oleta never shies away from sharing her knowledge or experience with other colleagues, and her work as the founder of Plymouth Beach Cleans has helped to support environmental practices at The Box. Her work ethic and interpersonal skills have led to a well-knit front-of-house team who are the backbone of operations on site. She is a respected member of the team and often inputs on all matters that will impact the operation of the building.
Patrick Hutchings
Paddy Hutchings Racing Patrick has seen a great development in his sailing during the past year, especially with launching his own selffunded campaign to compete in the Solitaire Du Figaro. He has secured several sponsors that have allowed him to charter a Figaro boat, currently held at Mayflower Marina. In addition, Patrick has pushed for a message of sustainability in the local area and launched a #Sail4Sustainability project to benefit the local community. The aim of this campaign is to educate children, using the boat to engage young people and encourage them to be more sustainable with their plastic use, and also to try and shift the decisions of companies within the marine industry in the way they use plastic to using more sustainable methods.
Samuel Dunbavin
Fireball Beach Volleyball Ltd Life’s a beach for Samuel, who started his business two years ago (just before the pandemic hit) and has since grown Fireball to become one of the UK’s biggest beach volleyball events companies. He also founded his own tournament, the Southwest Series, and helped to develop several young players from Devon and the South West who are now playing for England. Last year, the team hosted more than 50 events across the region and Wales, including one of only five annual grand slam events. In addition, Samuel continued his career as a player, rising to the rank of No.5 in the UK, and as a team to being the third-ranked team in the country, winning eight medals on the UK Beach Tour and competing for England on the World Tour.
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
30 UNDER 30 Tania Nana
Diversity Business Incubator In the last year, Tania has shown incredible growth with the different projects and events she has organised in Plymouth with Diversity Business Incubator (DBI) - including the city’s Black History Month programme. This featured a scavenger hunt running throughout the month, cooking demos with chefs from different backgrounds, and important talks/conversations. Tania has encouraged us here at DBI to go digital as going digital reduces this pressure to control air pollution. She also has a deep passion for what she does and the work she is trying to do. Tania continues to influence her colleagues with her work ethic and has encouraged some of her team members to get out of their shells and find their voice and passion at work.
Thomas Boyne
Babcock International Group / Devonport Royal Dockyard In his role at Babcock, Thomas has developed into leading small teams and setting people to work on complex packages during fleet time operation of Navy Warships. He has done all this alongside completing a Higher National Certificate HNC, an ILM level 5 Institute of leadership and management and an APM Project management qualification. Being exposed to many new people, processes, and procedures has helped Thomas gain confidence and a better understanding of the way Babcock supports the Ministry of Defence. As well as being an active committee member of the Young Professional Network, he is a proud recipient of Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and also runs a youth centre for 12- to 18-year-olds.
Vicktor Brelsford Fuel Communications As Fuel’s Head of Immersive, Vicktor has had another strong year and has been at the forefront of innovation in the agency. Over the past year he has introduced a series of new ideas which have enabled clients to overcome global challenges and increase sales. Vicktor’s driving goal in the Immersive industry is to create and facilitate the adoption of AR & VR for the purposes of improving B2B interaction, reducing travel, manufacturing costs and enabling faster and more efficient learning experiences. He even introduced a new 3-D shopping experience for e-commerce clients which has increased sales and reduced the amount of returns as a result of a more accurate purchasing decision. His ability to create literally anything continues to amaze and inspire his team mates at Fuel.
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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SECTOR FOCUS: WELLBEING
Dispelling myths of the menopause Menopausal women are the fastest-growing workforce demographic. Therefore, it makes sense that forward-thinking organisations recognise the importance and value of introducing menopause policies and guidance, raising awareness of menopause and putting the right support in place. We teamed up with SW Women in Business CIC to host a special hybrid event at China Fleet Country Club in Saltash which not only looked at the menopause from a women’s perspective but also from the angle of an employer and the HR processes surrounding the issue. Our superb guest speakers on the day were: Carolyn Giles, Head of People & Operations at Plymouth Citybus; Jane Sargeant, Healthcare Account Manager at Nuffield Health; Helena White, Head of HR Services at Delt Shared Services Ltd; Nikki Harris, owner of Women’s Hormone Health; and Briony Goldsmith, Chair of the Menopause Network at the University of Plymouth. Here, our experts discuss the menopause and dispell myths around the issue. Find out more on our dedicated Wellbeing Hub which features advice and resources for coping with stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle: www.devonchamber.co.uk/wellbeing-hub
Carolyn Giles Head of People & Operations Plymouth City Bus
Carolyn Giles is Head of People & Operations at Plymouth Citybus and a long-standing member of SW Women in Business CIC. Here, she gives an update on their activity and how you can get involved. I was delighted to be asked to introduce the first joint event between SW Women in Business (SWWIB) and Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce which focused on the menopause. This event came into being following a highly successful SWWIB event in late 2021 that attracted 115 participants. The conversation has finally been started in the workplace, and maybe thanks to the focus from the BBC and Louise Minchin, as well as a highly popular documentary with Davina McCall.
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We were there to consider a number of factors. The primary issue was to identify how we recognise and adapt to menopausal symptoms in the workplace and where workplaces are getting it right. At the event it was clear that the University of Plymouth’s menopause support network is extremely successful and attracts not just women who may be within menopause or perimenopause, but also line managers and colleagues who want to help. This has helped us to move our thinking towards holding a support network as a Chamber and Women’s networking group. This is important as many members are in small and micro businesses and may not find it easy to get support within their workplace or networks. There are some key facts that make for interesting reading; the ONS states that menopausal women are the fastest growing demographic in the workforce. This is a really important point, and if we look back over previous generations of work, many women did not work during their menopausal years, and that may be one of the reasons the topic remains such a taboo within workplaces. The Faculty of Occupational Medicine tells us that eight out of 10 menopausal women are in work. Of those women, three out of four experience symptoms of the menopause and for one in four those symptoms are serious. It is easy to assume that menopause only impacts on women between 50 and 54 (the average age is 51.4 years). However menopause can be brought on due to medical reasons, surgical reasons, or pharmaceutical reasons. Some men may also experience the symptoms due to medication or being transgender. Perimenopause can take many years and has its own set of symptoms. Equally we heard from women at the
event who had experienced the menopause in their thirties. This created not only the obvious issues around fertility, but led to poor diagnosis due to age, and we discovered through discussion that many of the symptoms can be confused with hyperthyroidism and other medical conditions. Unfortunately not all GPs seem to be well briefed in the symptoms of the menopause and many of the cognitive elements of the symptoms have gone un-treated or unrecognised for many women. The discussion in the room was of a very high calibre and reflected a number of options around diagnosis and treatment, both traditional and alternative. Diet and exercise were discussed along with support from peers and employers. We discussed the options employers have to engage in supporting their workforce. This includes good-quality training for managers, strong policies, support groups and most importantly, opening the discussion. This feels like the start of the conversation at a business network level, and I look forward to engaging more of our colleagues in the conversation so we can support our workforces and enable them to work effectively.
SECTOR FOCUS: WELLBEING Jane Sargeant Healthcare Account Manager Nuffield Health
Jane Sargeant is Healthcare Account Manager at Nuffield Health. Here, she discusses the range of services Nuffield can offer to women going through the menopause, as well and informing members on the series of patient/ consumer events that are being hosted at Devonshire Gym throughout the year. Did you know that Nuffield Health is the UK’s largest healthcare charity? If you didn’t know this, you are not alone. Most people I tell this to are unaware and it
often comes as a surprise when I explain that we are a not-for-profit organisation, investing all our profits back into our purpose which is to build a healthier nation. With our purpose at the heart of everything we do, we focus on the wider impact of our actions on our people, on those who benefit from our charitable flagship programmes, on local communities and on the environment. Our mission is to build a healthier nation and our experts have been working together for more than 60 years to make the nation fitter, healthier, happier and stronger. We achieve this through our industryleading network of 37 hospitals, 114 fitness and wellbeing centres, medical centres and workplace wellbeing facilities. We believe that the best healthcare should help prevent illness by looking after the mind and body. Our holistic wellbeing offering spans physical and mental health — from personal training, health assessments, GP services, physiotherapy, mental health support and surgical procedures to treat health conditions. In 2021, Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary of providing its healthcare services to the people of Plymouth and further afield. Today, we treat a very wide range of specialities from orthopaedics, spinal, ophthalmology, gynaecology, vascular, general surgery, men’s health and women’s health, we also have a private GP, diagnostics and pathology service. In addition to treating private patients, we also support our local NHS Trust. We have two fitness and wellbeing centres in Plymouth; these are in Derriford and the
City Centre. Both clubs offer two of our unique flagship programmes - The Joint Pain Programme and The Covid-19 Rehabilitation Programme. These two programmes are available to the wider public, it’s not a requirement to be a patient of ours or a member of our gym. Members of the public can refer themselves to one our flagship programmes via our website. Registrations are checked and triaged by our team of specially trained staff who tailor the programmes to everyone, their abilities and needs. While the Covid-19 rehab programme is completely free of charge, the joint pain programme does carry a cost of £2 a week. At the end of the course, participants are offered an opportunity to continue visiting the gym by themselves completely free of charge for six months. The physical trainers and physios provide the tools to enable participants to feel confident in continuing to exercise without supervision and often we find that new friendships develop among the group members over the course of the programme which benefits both mental and physical wellbeing. In 2022 Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital is holding 11 complimentary ‘Meet the Expert’ events to enable members of the public to make informed decisions about their health you are all invited! We started the year with a Women’s Health Event to explain menopause, HRT, endometriosis and other aspects of women’s health. Our events can be attended in person and online. Search Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital for more information on our future events or find us on Facebook.
Olivia Paterson registering attendees at the Menopause event Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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SECTOR FOCUS: WELLBEING Helena White Head of HR Services Delt Shared Services Ltd
out of 10 women experiencing menopause symptoms say it has a negative impact on their work. With the right support, there’s no need for women to press pause on their career during this natural transition. But many women suffer in silence unless their employers break the taboo and start talking openly about the menopause at work.
It is a key retention and recruitment issue Women over 45 are a significant and growing part of the labour market. Often women are at the peak of their skills, experience and careers when they experience menopause. With all the recruitment and retention challenges at present, you don’t want to lose employees and you want to do as much as possible to attract candidates.
Duty of care
Helena White is Head of HR Services at Delt Shared Services. With more than 27 years’ HR experience, she provides professional and pragmatic HR support and advice to Delt and its clients. Here, Helena focuses on why there is a spotlight on the menopause right now and what employers should be doing about it. The fastest-growing segment of the workforce in the UK is women over the age of 50. Most will go through the menopause transition during their working lives, while six
Nikki Harris Owner Women’s Hormone Health
As an employer, you have a duty of care and responsibility for employee health and wellbeing under the Equality Act 2010 not to discriminate on grounds of age, sex or disability. The menopause is not a specific protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. But if an employee or worker is put at a disadvantage and treated less favourably because of their menopause symptoms, this could be discrimination if related to a protected characteristic such as age, disability, gender reassignment or sex. Employment tribunal cases alleging menopause-related discrimination are on the rise. Women now feel more empowered by society to raise concerns with their employers. Companies who do not focus on menopause related matters will potentially experience problems.
Nikki Harris is the owner of Women’s Hormone Health and a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist, Dip NT mBANT CNHC. Here, she talks about how our body changes with the fluctuating hormones and what causes weight gain, hot flushes, brain fog, and changes in mood. The menopause happens when ovaries stop releasing eggs, periods stop and the ovaries reduce the amount of oestrogen they produce. The official end of fertility begins 12 months after your last period, while the UK average age of a women to hit menopause is 51. I specialise in women’s hormone health. supporting women in the years leading up to menopause and beyond. I empower women to take control of their health, identifying
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
What can employers do? Like many personal situations there isn’t a one size fits all approach and often providing an opportunity to discuss employee needs will allow for a more comfortable working arrangement. At a basic level employers can consider practical changes which make a huge difference. This may be flexible working hours, more comfortable uniforms or individual desk fans. Sharing of information throughout the year can help inform other members of the team about the impact that the menopause may have on an individual. Start by drip feeding information across your intranet, internal newsletters or blogs. Check that your health and safety risk assessments cover the different stages of the menopause, set up a support network and seek employee feedback. If someone believes a longer-term change to their job would help them with their menopause symptoms they could make a flexible working request. Check that your EAP provider is knowledgeable and has the resources to support your employees (and their partners). Educate and train your managers – the more educated and aware they are, the less embarrassed they will be. You can encourage your managers to talk about the menopause with all staff alongside other equality and diversity and health and wellbeing topics to normalise the topic. The bottom line is, if employees can’t talk about the menopause and line managers aren’t provided with education and support to have conversations, then issues won’t get raised and you will lose productivity, lose productive employees and put the company at risk.
what is causing your symptoms and get to the root cause, addressing what is needed to restore balance. Common symptoms are: • Hot flushes/night sweats • Lethargy, irritability • Depression, mood swings • Anxiety, sleep disturbances, memory problems • Decreased libido Joint aches (increased risk of osteoporosis) Vaginal dryness/pain on intercourse Shrinking of breasts/sore breasts Headaches, migraines, weight gain Hot flushes are due to a decline of ovarian oestrogen (estradiol). Oestrogen helps to control the temperature from the hypothalamus gland in our brain. Oestrogen helps to protect a number of different parts of your body and can show up in symptoms connected with the heart and blood vessels, bones, brain, skin and vagina. Before Menopause our ovaries produce
SECTOR FOCUS: WELLBEING sex hormones - progesterone, oestrogen (estradial) and testosterone. After menopause our adrenals produce small amounts of progesterone and testosterone and our fat cells are our main site of oestrogen production. Other hormones that are important during menopause. Insulin is our fat-storing hormone, an excess of carbohydrates will be stored as fat especially around the middle. Cells also become less responsive to insulin (prediabetic) when oestrogen declines, making weight loss harder. Fat cells produce their own oestrogen, our body knows that this is a way of making more oestrogen = more fat cells = more oestrogen = harder to lose weight. Hypothyroid (underactive thyroid) can have the same symptoms as the menopause. When the body is not producing enough thyroid hormones to keep the
Briony Goldsmith Chair of the Menopause Network Univerity of Plymouth
Briony Goldsmith is Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer at the University of Plymouth – and a champion for its inspirational work in introducing its highly successful Menopause Policy. Here, she shares the story of how the University is helping to lead the way in supporting staff experiencing the Menopause. The University of Plymouth is one of the first universities in the UK to implement a Menopause Policy. Launched in 2018, this was developed with broad consultation spanning many different areas and levels of the University, as well as employee Trade Unions, clinicians, the Women’s Network, Henpicked, other universities and an employee forum.
body functioning properly and show up as symptoms. I use private lab tests to look at the thyroid in more depth. Cortisol is our “stress” hormones and high levels of cortisol increases fat around the middle. If constantly stressed this has a knock on effect on our thyroid. Skipping meals also raises this hormone. In order to feel relief and a release from our symptoms, we must REBALANCE ourselves first. Once we give our body what it needs, then change IS possible. Addressing: Natural decline of oestrogen and supporting other hormones • Key nutrients • Stress • Food • Sleep • Bone and cardiovascular health Mood and movement
We have to accept our body has changed, menopause is not a disease it is a part of our life as a woman. Knowing what is going on with our body and how we can support this is the best way to give our body what it needs at this time. This can be done through food, lifestyle, mindset, movement and targeted supplements and this is what I cover when clients work with me 1:2:1. Ladies, you do NOT have to suffer in silence - I can help. Having extra support can make all the difference when you feel like you’ve tried everything and are still struggling alone. If you are finding it difficult and would like to talk to me privately, I offer a FREE 30-minute call where I can find out more about you and see how best I can help. If you would like to get in touch please contact via email at nikki@nikkiharris.co.uk or through my website: www.nikkiharris.co.uk
Women of menopausal age are the fastest growing demographic in the workplace and are employed across the University of Plymouth. Providing support around menopause is imperative if the organisation wants to retain these skilled employees. Good management is crucial to the wellbeing and performance of an organisation, and so developing managers to understand menopause empowers them to get the very best out of their employees. One of the University’s strategic priorities is to attract, develop and retain excellent staff. Research shows that many women experiencing menopause leave their workplace because they find that having to manage challenging symptoms around work expectations is just too difficult. Others find that managing symptoms mean they perhaps miss out on promotions and training, reduce their hours or lose confidence in the workplace. Creating an environment where employees feel comfortable to ask for support during menopause will ultimately support organisations such as the University in retaining those employees. A key output of the University’s Menopause policy saw Menopause Guidance developed to provide both employees and managers with the support and help to manage menopausal symptoms and challenges in the workplace. Following the successful implementation of the policy, the employee forum continued to meet at a Menopause Support Group. In 2019, the Menopause Support Group became an official Staff Network. The University now has a dedicated and fully-funded Menopause Support Network which is able to invite specialists to deliver network events to talk about subjects such as nutrition, homeopathy, HRT and hypnotherapy.
There is a clear need for these events and they are becoming so popular that they are regularly over-subscribed. The University has also invested in delivering a yearly menopause information session free to attend for employees across the organisation to educate on what menopause is; its symptoms; ways of managing symptoms; thinking about longterm health; and where to get help. This is in addition to a separate session specifically tailored for managers focussing on giving confidence to talk about menopause; supporting a team member or colleague experiencing menopause; best practice; case law and reasonable adjustment; and general ‘do’s and don’ts’. Feedback from these sessions such as ‘life-changing’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘informative’ suggests they are fulfilling a real need and are highly valued by the University of Plymouth’s staff. Based upon the success and impact of the first 18 months of this initiative, the University hopes to continue funding this into the future. Feedback from the Menopause Support Network has been incredibly positive and the number attending the session each month has been growing. There has been a rise in the number of employees stating menopause as the reason for absence which may indicate employees are feeling more confident about giving the genuine reason for their absence. More managers are referring employees to Occupational Health asking for medical advice on how best to support their employee during menopause. All of these examples underlines that the initiative is encouraging an open conversation about menopause in the workplace and the subject is becoming far better understood. For more information, please email briony. goldsmith@plymouth.ac.uk
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CHAMBER NEWS
Thales Group becomes a Patron of Devon & Plymouth Chamber Thales Group has been announced as an official Patron of the Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. A global technology leader, Thales in the UK is committed to being at the forefront of the next great revolution in naval technology - Maritime Autonomy. The firm ensures that its products and services continue to deliver operational advantage to customers in line with their requirements and aims to ensure that servicemen, women and platforms remain safe from existing and emerging threats. David Evans is Thales’ Policy Director for the Underwater Systems Bid, which is particularly prominent here in the South West. Continuing Turnchapel Wharf’s long history with the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and Industry, Thales has created a UK Centre of Autonomy for the development, assessment, and certification of autonomous systems at its new waterfront facility in Plymouth. Turnchapel Wharf is changing the way autonomous capability is developed by enabling rapid exploration and exploitation of emergent and disruptive technologies. This new Centre offers a secure location to conduct a full evaluation cycle for multidomain platforms, with facilities including meeting rooms, office space and network services with adjacent water side facilities including secure, fully-equipped workshops and storage, platform mooring for multiple craft - including Thales’s autonomous capability development platform and rapid access to the water via a slipway. David explained: “We’ve got a team who work out of Devonport Dockyard and another team who work out of Turnchapel Wharf. It’s probably our Turnchapel Wharf site which has been the catalyst
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for engaging with the Devon & Plymouth Chamber. “We selected Turnchapel Wharf because it was the perfect site for our UK Centre for Autonomy. Autonomy is a growing area not only within our business but also in the Defence industry, offshore energy, straightforward shipping and all sorts of other industries.” A former Royal Marine himself, David added: “We’re very close to the Royal Navy, whom we’ve supported for more than 100 years with periscopes and other technologies, and the relationship with them is very important. “It’s back to the future in some ways; the military is leading the way with autonomy whether it’s land vehicles or maritime craft, almost all of the development work has been done through the military. “The work going on in Turnchapel Wharf was initiated by military requirement, but it is being quickly followed up on by the offshore energy world and all sorts of other people who want the technology which we’re developing and testing in the South West.” Thales was also closely involved with the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS), a ground-breaking vessel which is aiming to reflect the historic transatlantic voyage of 1620. The ship was officially launched at a naming ceremony in Plymouth on September 16, 2020 - 400 years after the original Mayflower left the maritime city to cross to America. However, truly following in the footsteps of her namesake, the MAS unfortunately had to cut short its maiden voyage just days after leaving Plymouth in June 2021. She eventually returned to the water in September, with the primary teams behind
the project – Promare and IBM - planning another crossing at a later date. David explained: “The MSubs team (also based in Plymouth) who put it all together used some of our capabilities to support the vessel in terms of real estate at Turnchapel and also the technology.
With more than 80,000 employees on five continents, Thales knows what it takes to succeed on a global scale. “That’s really what Thales’ dominant purpose is. It’s not just a defence company, it’s defence and beyond. Defence is obviously what we major in here in the South West, but technology is where we’re growing most and where we’ve delivered some of our most effective products historically.” With more than 80,000 employees on five continents, Thales knows what it takes to succeed on a global scale. And David says the experienced team is keen to share its knowledge and expertise with Chamber members. “We’ve already worked with some members of the Chamber,” he revealed. “There is an emerging ecosystem for autonomy based around Turnchapel, which offers a focal point for autonomy. “It’s not the only place this is being done, but it is the most prominent of all the sites and we’ve got a lot that we can offer people in terms of supporting their own trials and advising and helping on how they might do things in the future. “For the rest of those involved in the journey, Thales has got plenty to give. Being a technology-driven company, some of
CHAMBER NEWS the expertise we have - these are quite rare qualities in this area, partly because it’s new and partly because it is quite specialist and niche. “I think Chamber members will be delighted to come and see what we’ve done and compare and contrast. Equally, I think quite a lot of members have already approached us and asked us, ‘Can you help us with this?’, or ‘Can you do this?’. “We’ve already worked with the University of Plymouth, and further afield we’ve also worked with the University of Southampton, amongst others, who have used our facilities. “It’s partly to do with the 5G network that runs around Plymouth Sound, Smart Sound, and we’re a link in that which is enormously valuable to lots of people.” Thales is working hard to become a trusted partner for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and academia, unlocking the potential of maritime autonomy and creating opportunities for everybody in a nascent sector.
It has long-standing connections with a number of key organisations, including Plymouth City Council, Bristol University, the South Coast Marine Cluster, The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the University of Plymouth’s Marine Institute, sharing knowledge and expertise for mutual benefit. David said: “By becoming a Patron of the Devon & Plymouth Chamber, it was a recognition that there was an opportunity for us to help people and to benefit from others both from their interest and their work. “We’re currently collaborating with lots of people in terms of research and development, which is not only interesting but is also good work. “A lot of the work we’re doing in Turnchapel is part of the Lancaster House Agreement, which is an Anglo-French project, so we collaborate very, very closely with the team over in Brest. “It’s a great example of Anglo-French cooperation, and it helps to keep Brittany
Ferries in business!” Thales’ position as a Patron of the Devon & Plymouth Chamber reflects its status as a global and regional leader, and as a supporter of businesses in the South West and beyond. Patrons of the Chamber are some of the best-known and respected names in the business community. They are woven into the Chamber’s extensive lobbying activities and become one of our region’s principal voices. Chamber Chief Executive Stuart Elford said: “Thales is a hugely well-known company worldwide, with high-tech solutions, services and products which help companies, organisations and governments to achieve their goals and ambitions. “The sheer breadth of the firm’s knowledge and their position as Patron underlines just what an asset they are and will continue to be to our members. “Our Patrons play a unique role in developing the future of our region and the Chamber is far stronger with Thales’ support and Patronage.”
Thales announces largest-ever intake of apprentices and new cyber programme The number of degree apprenticeships has risen ten-fold since 2015 and, at 126 strong, Thales‘ intake of apprentices this year will be its biggest ever. The result is a growing diversity of apprenticeship opportunities – not only by subject, but also by region with apprenticeships now split across the UK, including Glasgow, Belfast, London, Reading, Crawley and Somerset. Thales apprentices play a key role in creating innovative solutions to meet some of the UK’s greatest challenges, supporting the country’s prosperity. Applicants can expect to be involved from day one in developing the latest ground-breaking technology. Stuart Morgan, Business Systems Analyst and Graduate Engineer, says: “Thales is in a really unique position with its apprenticeship; you’ve got the ability to jump between completely different industries from Space to Rail to Defence. “In most industries, you’ll sit in one team, but we offer such a breadth of what you can do and the opportunities are endless.”
Launching a new cyber-degree apprenticeship programme In addition, Thales is launching a new cyber-degree apprenticeship with a cohort of 10 apprentices in Reading. The new cyber-degree apprenticeship reflects the evolving skills requirement as
we move towards an ever-increasing digital world. The cyber programme is a four-year programme delivered in partnership with QA training; apprentices will work towards a BSc (Hons) Cyber Security Technical Professional Degree awarded by Northumbria University. Nicola Anderson, Head of Apprentice Development for Thales in the UK, explains: “With the new cyber-degree programme, our apprentices will support the development of key cyber and digital technologies, ensuring we can support the new National Cyber Strategy the UK government has recently set out. “I look forward to seeing this programme launch and the benefits it will bring to the business and the UK.”
Thales’ offering was much more traditional in the past, but they now offer everything from Level 2 to Level 7 (post-graduate) with an entry level route into most job routes, including engineering, digital, project planning and cyber. Apprenticeships are an attractive option for students, giving them flexibility to learn, whilst also earning a salary. Thales also have the benefit of working with leading universities such as Warwick, Strathclyde, Cranfield and Loughborough so students will also finish their apprenticeship with an accredited degree. You can find more information about Thales in the UK apprenticeships here: www.thalesgroup.com/en/ apprenticeships-thales
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CHAMBER NEWS
South West Water continues its support for charities and good causes across Devon South West Water recognises the importance of its role in the communities it serves, and is committed to delivering more of what matters to them. The company’s Neighbourhood Fund is supporting communities with well-deserved help and support to build back better from the pandemic. A charity providing activities and support for the elderly in the fight against loneliness and isolation is one of 40 good causes from across Devon to receive vital funding from South West Water.
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Age UK Plymouth has supported older people in Plymouth since 1942. Its mission is to care for and work with older people and their carers in and around the city to improve their quality of life through the promotion of choice, opportunity and independence. The £4,990 grant from South West Water’s Neighbourhood Fund will allow Age UK Plymouth to provide stimulating activities for vulnerable elderly people who attend its Day Care Service at The William and Patricia Venton Day Centre. The service is for those who need additional
support to help them remain living at home and gives valuable respite for carers. Activities include music and singing sessions, theatre group, baking sessions, craft sessions and exercise classes. Starting in April 2021, the Neighbourhood Fund supports community groups and initiatives which will improve the lives of residents in Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Somerset and Dorset by inspiring physical activities, enhancing education, health and wellbeing and delivering positive environmental outcomes. The fund has
CHAMBER NEWS provided around £100,000 to local causes in the region, with around 40 of these based in Devon. The local community groups which are benefitting from the Neighbourhood Fund have been struck by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic due to a limited supply of cash and the inability to receive funds through typical methods of fundraising. David Wood, Chief Executive at Age UK Plymouth, said: “In the City of Plymouth there are 47,600 people over the age of 65, with almost 36% of them living alone. Our centre plays an important role in bringing together isolated people from the local community. “Our funding from South West Water will help us to provide meaningful and stimulating activities for older people to help them feel less isolated and enjoy opportunities for social engagement and interaction with others.” Jo Ecroyd, Customer Service Director at South West Water, said: “Feelings of isolation and loneliness are all too common among older people and the Covid-19 pandemic has
proved to be a particularly difficult time. “Charities and community groups across Devon, such as Age UK Plymouth, do fantastic work in the local area to support some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. We’re very pleased to be awarding them this funding as part of our Neighbourhood fund.”
Successful applicants Other fantastic causes the fund has supported recently include an Exeter-based U13’s rugby team and a Devon-based charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and young people with complex special needs and their families. Exeter Athletic RFC is an amateur rugby club based in Clyst St Mary which formed in 2018 from the merger of Exeter-based clubs Wessex RFC and Exeter Youth RFC. The club received funding for new match dinner shirts. Georgia Parkhouse, Team Manager at Exeter Athletic RFC, said: “Getting involved with sports like rugby is a great way to improve mental health and wellbeing, which is particularly important given the current climate. Our club has provided a positive outlet for both children and adults throughout the pandemic through regular training and matches.
“Thanks to the funding from South West Water we can ensure our U13’s team is well equipped for the season ahead.” Devon-based charity, The Hollow Lane Club, received a £5,000 grant which will allow children with special needs and disabilities to enjoy year-round support through out-ofschool activities in Exeter. The Hollow Lane Club’s Chief Executive, Steve Offord, said: “Feeling isolated and unable to form or maintain friendships are common in families with children with complex disabilities. “Our club offers places to people who are commonly excluded from mainstream clubs and activities due to the nature of their disabilities and high support needs. “Thanks to the funding from South West Water we can continue to provide opportunities for children, young people and families to meet, get to know each other and develop friendship and support networks.” To find out more about the South West Water Neighbourhood Fund, visit www.southwestwater.co.uk/community/ support/neighbourhood-fund
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SECTOR FOCUS: SKILLS
SECTOR FOCUS The whole is greater than the sum of the parts THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE
REGION’S LEADING SECTOR
Chief Executive of City College Plymouth, Jackie Grubb, on the central role that education plays in local communities, the labour market and life enhancing changes for millions of people.
For those who monitor government announcements, the recent Levelling Up White Paper may have piqued interest with the emphasis on placed-based collaborative approaches to education and skills, along with the work of colleges being given a higher priority. Put quite simply, we need better alignment between employment support and skills, between universities, colleges and schools, and between economic development and infrastructure spend and skills. There needs to be a focus on meeting employer needs, stimulating development and enabling joined-up skills, employment and business support. At City College Plymouth we are excited to be part of this momentum with the imminent launch of our Future Skills Centre and the introduction of a new wave of qualifications called T Levels, brought in to help businesses and to have a clear impact on the economy and, more importantly, our region. T Levels are resetting the post-16 educational landscape and with a T Levels hub here in the city, Plymouth and the wider region is in prime position to benefit from what is the biggest shake up to education in more than a decade. Since they were first rolled out in September 2020, these brand-new qualifications are attracting the future stars of construction, engineering, education, health and other sectors that have usually
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fallen under the technical/vocational banner. Developed in consultation with employers, T Levels have been introduced to mitigate the growing skills shortage in a variety of crucial industries. The Government is confident these new A Level-equivalent qualifications will provide both the technical skills and fresh injection of talent that these sectors desperately need to turn the challenges of the future into opportunities. With this confidence comes investment. To support the implementation of the new courses, the Government is providing funding for a select number of providers to set up centres for excellence - of which City College Plymouth is one. Having recognised the importance of the construction industry to the local economy, City College has been awarded more than three quarters of a million pounds to develop a specialist facility that will not only provide training to current and future workforces, but will become a research and development centre that will support other industries with new technologies, products and services. The development of the T Levels Future Skills Centre, which represents a total investment of just over £1million, means employers in the South West can be
confident that their future workforce will have the highly technical skills and advanced knowledge that will further support the current boom already being enjoyed by the local construction industry.
Finding out more To find out more information about offering a T Level placement, please contact us and ask to speak to one of our Work Placement Coordinators by calling 01752 305300. You can also learn more about these qualifications on our website: www.cityplym.ac.uk/tlevels
SECTOR FOCUS: SKILLS
What employers need to know … T Levels and the employer What makes T Levels so distinctive to A Levels is a 20% workplace element, which means students complete their courses with the workplace skills to allow for an easy transition into employment. But as these courses are the technical equivalent to A Levels, they will also allow students to progress to university should they choose to continue with education. As we all know, recruiting new talent can be costly. By providing T Level work placements, you will have access to a stream of potential employees. As a business, you might be thinking about expanding your team or even recruiting an apprentice, and supporting a T Level student will allow you the opportunity to see how this could work in practice without making the full commitment of hiring new staff. T Levels have the same entry requirements as A Levels, so students must have gained their English, maths, and in some cases science GCSEs, by the time they finish Year 11. T Levels provide those students with the potential to successfully complete an A Level programme with an alternative, technical option. By supporting these young people via a T Level work placement, you will be able to trial future employees who could benefit your business. You can shape and develop your future managers without even having to place a job advertisement, saving time and money, and potentially growing a talented and loyal workforce, whilst safeguarding the future of your own industry.
What are the T Level qualifications? From September 2022, City College Plymouth is delivering the following T Levels: • Building Services Engineering for Construction • Digital Production, Design & Development • Education & Childcare (Early Years Education; Assisting Teaching) • Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing & Control • Health (Supporting Healthcare – Supporting the Adult Nursing Team) • Healthcare Science (Assisting with Healthcare Science; Pharmacy Services) • Maintenance, Installation & Repair for Engineering & Manufacturing • Onsite Construction (Bricklaying; Carpentry & Joinery; Painting & Decorating; Plastering) • Science (Laboratory Sciences; Food Sciences). From September 2023, the College will also deliver T Levels in media, hair and beauty, and hospitality and catering, and we expect to offer more occupational specialisms for some of our 2022 courses.
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SECTOR FOCUS: SKILLS
Young workers and businesses share their Kickstart Scheme success stories The Devon & Plymouth Chamber has helped hundreds of young people and small businesses enjoy the benefits of the Kickstart Scheme since becoming a recognised intermediary last year. Introduced by the Government in September 2020, the £2 billion fund aimed to create thousands of high-quality six-month work placements for young people aged 16 to 24 who were claiming Universal Credit. The Chamber worked alongside the British Chambers of Commerce and supported the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to help firms who want to create fewer than 30 placements. Since the start of 2021, the Chamber helped to fill over 400 vacancies with local businesses. Of the Chamber applicants who have completed their six-month Kickstart placements, more than three quarters (80%) have remained in employment or gone back into further education or
higher education. Stuart Elford, Devon & Plymouth Chamber CEO, says: “The success of the Kickstart Scheme proves how important initiatives like this are to businesses who are in need of skilled-ready workers particularly as we look to life after the Covid-19 pandemic. “These Kickstart placements have allowed South West businesses who were not in a position to hire new employees six months ago, the opportunity to train young workers. “The opportunities that the Kickstart Scheme provides to both businesses and young people looking for work are invaluable and it is helping to address the skills shortage with which firms are currently faced.” Find out more about the scheme and its impact on South West businesses on our dedicated Kickstart page here: www. devonchamber.co.uk/businesssupport/kickstart
William bthechange CIC William started his Kickstart journey with bthechange CIC in April 2021 as a research and evaluation assistant. During this time, he worked under the supervision of other employees at bthechange and received training from other workers in the company. He also had regular meetings to support his progress and ensure he was on the right track. William’s skills continued to improve
during the course of his Kickstart placement and eventually he was given training on how to write the applications for grant funding for bthechange, which improved his writing skills as well as his knowledge of how CIC’s secure grant funding. At the end of his placement, William was offered a full-time research and evaluation role with bthechange which he accepted. He is now flourishing in his role and continues to
impress the senior members of bthechange CIC. Businesses like bthechange continue to empower young people, and give them the experience they need to flourish in the working world through the Kickstart scheme.
Roseanna South West Business Support Solutions Roseanna started her Kickstart placement with South West Business Support Solutions (SWBSS) in April 2021 as an administrative assistant. During her placement, Roseanna learned on the job by shadowing more experienced employees within the company, and she also had regular meetings with management to monitor her progress and ensure that improvements were being made. The shadowing of other employees, regular meetings with management and the support from her team allowed Roseanna to improve on many things such as her confidence, administrative skills and her ability to work on a team.
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By the end of her placement, Roseanna had made significant progress and SWBSS decided to take her on as a part-time worker. Roseanna says the experience has allowed her to flourish in a working environment, alleviating her fear of meeting new people, and setting her up with the skills she needs to succeed in future employment. She believes that the scheme would be beneficial to other young people looking for work, allowing them to open up in a working environment and learn new skills. Roseanna is a classic example of the Kickstart scheme aiding in the development of a young person’s skills and confidence.
SECTOR FOCUS: SKILLS
Kyle, Georgie and Frankie SOS Global SOS Global is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to spreading awareness and educating people on the issues that young people face today such
as knife crime, gender dysphoria and drink spiking. It also distributes anti-spiking products such as the ‘Nightcap’, and has sold more than two million units. The company has employed four Kickstarters, three of whom are still working there today - Kyle, Georgie and Frankie. When their Kickstart experience began, Dawn Dines, owner of SOS Global, was looking to build a team of enthusiastic, driven young people to support the organisation in its goals. She ensured the success of these employees thanks to funded training courses through Cosmic and Exeter Connect, as well as regular progress meetings to ensure they were on the right track. Dawn also ensured that her team were as close-knit as possible, having regular team meals and activities to celebrate success and build those working relationships. Since joining the organisation the Kickstarters have flourished, with Kyle,
Georgie and Frankie continuing to improve through training and their close-up mentoring from Dawn, who is currently training Kyle personally in his role which led to him being crowned Employee of the Year for 2021. Dawn’s Kickstarters have demonstrated that with support from their employer, young people on the Kickstart scheme can flourish and be part of a professional team while also supporting each other on a personal level something Dawn believes is key to building a successful, fulfilling company. Organisations like SOS are a great example of how young people can get into a role that benefits the wider community as well as building their skills in the workplace, making professional connections and improving their employability during a trying time for employers and young people.
New Leaf Landscaping & Sheds New Leaf Landscaping & Fencing started its Kickstart journey in May 2021, looking to build a workforce with a younger average age to inject new young talent into the company. From the beginning, Kickstart employees were given in-depth training on how to use heavy machinery required to carry out their projects. They were also given the opportunity to learn on the job by shadowing senior workers and supporting them in carrying out their tasks. Over time, the Kickstarters showed a massive improvement in their self-confidence and took on more independence in their roles and eventually, due to the extensive training and support they received, they were able to work completely independently and give their
own ideas on how New Leaf Landscaping & Sheds can improve its products and innovate. New Leaf has continuously supported its Kickstarters, and when one candidate was struggling to get to the office and various sites due to a lack on transport, the company used the funding from the scheme to pay for a Kickstarter’s full motorbike license, giving him the transport needed to get to work and grow. The Kickstarts at the company have now become an integral part of the business, and having their wages subsidised by the Kickstart scheme has allowed New Leaf Landscaping & Sheds to take on staff and gain valuable employees at a time where much of the world and employers were struggling.
The company not only believes that Kickstart benefits businesses, but also believes in the scheme’s potential to reduce the level of unemployment in the age group that the scheme is aimed towards. New Leaf believes that the scheme gives those highly capable individuals with less qualifications and experience an opportunity to open the conversation regarding employment with businesses that otherwise wouldn’t have been looking to hire them.
Saeed Moulai Applegate Marketplace Saeed Began his role with Applegate Marketplace as a Lead Generation Assistant back in February 2021 after graduating from university. He settled into the role and began training in many different aspects of the business including e-mail marketing, lead generation and selling skills. This helped him to build on his university education and use his degree in a working environment. The role was also beneficial for Saeed as he was able to work and live back in Devon after being away at university. The many different projects he worked on with different departments, allowed him to gain varied knowledge and experience which can be
transferred to a range of different jobs. Saeed also learned a new skill in businessto-business administration and is now able to effectively communicate with senior business officers to further aid the success of Applegate Marketplace. The business says that Saeed is a vital asset to the company, always sharing new ideas on how to generate leads in the sales department. Saeed eventually progressed into a fulltime role as a Supply Analyst, where he continued to receive further training and support from his employer, allowing him to continue to flourish as a successful young person.
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SECTOR FOCUS: PEOPLE
Businesses come together to support neurodiverse employees Employers across Plymouth have come together to form a new network to support their neurodiverse employees and help them reach their full potential. The official launch event on February 24 at Home Park saw some of the biggest employers in the city come together including; Plymouth City Council, Babcock, Pluss, Plymouth Parent Care Voice and the Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, with the aim of educating employers about neurodiversity and sharing best practice to put in place the right adjustments to enable current and future neurodivergent employees to thrive in the workplace. Most people are neurotypical, meaning that the brain functions and processes information in the way society expects, but it is estimated that around one in seven people (more than
15% of people in the UK) are neurodivergent, meaning that the brain functions, learns and processes information differently. Neurodivergence includes attention deficit disorders, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and Tourette’s Syndrome. Neurodiversity refers to the different ways the brain can work and interpret information. It highlights that people naturally think about things differently and have different interests and motivations, and are naturally better at some things and poorer at others. Peter Stokes, Babcock’s Neurodiversity Network Chair based at Devonport, said: “There are many myths around neurodiversity and by establishing this employer network, we aim to work collectively and bust many of these myths, as well as focusing on the stigmas that unfortunately
still exist. For example that dyslexic people struggle to read or write letters backwards, ADHD is a label for naughty children and that autistic people struggle with emotional awareness. “Every neurodiverse person is unique and has their own set of challenges but collectively they also have a range of strong characteristics like creativity and big picture thinking, as well as great problem solving and analytical skills. “Many of the world’s top entrepreneurs are neurodiverse and utilise these skills to their advantage. Some of the most prominent technology firms in the world are realising the strengths these employees bring and actively helping them thrive in the workplace. This network is in place to help all employers and anyone with a condition to bring their best self to work.” Councillor Patrick Nicholson,
deputy leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published new data in 2021 that showed just 22 per cent of autistic adults are in any kind of employment. By establishing strong foundations now will encourage and inspire future generations with neurodiverse conditions to be confident and ambitious when choosing career paths.”
Joint Business Opportunities: Do I Need a Partnership Agreement? Starting a business can be a very exciting and busy time, it can be easy to overlook or delay planning for if things don’t work out. Before you sign up to significant costs it is important to get a written partnership agreement in place to give you peace of mind. It is a matter of fact whether a general partnership exists regardless of your intentions. Partnerships are formed automatically when you go into business with at least one other person or company with a view to make a profit (Actually making a profit is not relevant as it all turns on whether you each have an intention to do so).
GAsolicitors.com | 01752 203500 enquiries@GAsolicitors.com
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A partnership can come into existence before you even start your planned business activity. Planning arrangements such as renting premises and beginning decoration can sometimes give rise to a partnership existing. Whilst partnerships can be a costeffective and efficient method for starting a business, you need to be aware of the risks, and that’s where GA Solicitors can help.
James Peterson Partner and head of team
SECTOR FOCUS: FINANCE
Five steps towards digital maturity:
Is your business getting the best out of the cloud? Adam Croney, Partner at Thomas Westcott Chartered Accountants, describes the five stages of becoming digitally mature and truly harnessing the power of cloud-based systems.
Over the last few years, businesses have moved to cloud-based accounting systems to comply with Making Tax Digital. But your journey shouldn’t stop there. In fact, adopting the software is just the first step towards realising the range of business benefits this technology can provide. In a recent Chamber event, I took members through the five stages of digital maturity. Here’s a quick summary of each step and what it could mean for your business. Getting a Cloud accounting 1. platform in place By now, businesses should already have moved over to a cloud-based accounting system, like Xero and QuickBooks, to meet the requirements of Making Tax Digital. We have helped, and continue to assist, many of our clients to find and set up the best software package. Moving from traditional, paper-based systems to the cloud is a milestone. However, many businesses get stuck at this point without really benefitting from the technology. Establishing a bank feed and 2. invoice automation Transitioning to a cloud-based system means you can automate many of the laborious processes traditionally carried out manually in finance teams. The next natural
step for a business to take after moving to the cloud is to establish a bank feed and set up automated invoicing. This can have a transformative effect on a business because it frees up staff time, meaning employees can focus on more strategic or creative work. What activities could you make time for in your business if you automated some of these processes? 3. Driving efficiencies and improving finance processes Almost any process can be made more efficient once you’re on the cloud. Every business will have different priorities when it comes to choosing which areas to focus on. A firm that spends hours each month handling staff expenses could move to dedicated payment cards. Moving your CRM (customer relationship management) system to the cloud could help you gather and manage complex customer data, enabling you to overhaul your approach to marketing. And, of course, businesses of all sizes and across sectors will benefit from having more efficient credit control processes. 4. Reporting and forecasting Being on the cloud means having constant access to real-time data, giving you an instant and up-to-date snapshot of cashflow. Are you using this to your full advantage? This information can
provide valuable insights into all areas of your business, giving you the tools for sophisticated reporting and forecasting. Moving to this stage of digital maturity means using cloud-based systems to manage your business at a much more strategic level. As accountants, it means we can really add value and provide you with business advice all year round. Operational and sector specific 5. add-ons Those businesses that become digitally mature adopt add-ons to support their operations. This could mean a manufacturing firm using a cloud-based system for stock control or a hospitality business adopting a piece of software to manage complex staff rotas, for example. While it can be overwhelming to consider all the possibilities, remember that not everything will be equally important to your business. It’s about prioritising those areas where cloud-based systems can add the most value. To find out more about how Thomas Westcott can help you to harness the power of cloud accounting, please contact me or a member of the Digital Team: digital@thomaswestcott.co.uk www.thomaswestcott.co.uk
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SECTOR FOCUS: SUSTAINABILITY
Low Carbon Devon project Helping businesses take action on climate change Rosie Mascall, Marketing and Events Officer at the Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon, discusses how the project is supporting Devon businesses to take climate action.
Behind this beautiful green wall is the Low Carbon Devon project which is helping Devon businesses to take action on climate change. The project, based at the University of Plymouth, offers free practical support including internships, access to University researchers and access to inspiring and practical events.
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As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need to take climate action, many enterprises are looking for support with how they can do this. At times we can feel overwhelmed with the task at hand, the complexity of the issues and even confused by some of the jargon used. The Low Carbon Devon project supports enterprises to help navigate these issues. As
we move towards a low carbon economy, the project is helping to connect people with some of the inspiring low carbon initiatives and opportunities available. There is already a diverse range of low carbon work being undertaken by Devonbased businesses. Project Plan B, based in Plymouth, are developing fully recyclable clothes and in Exeter, Two Drifters Distillery
SECTOR FOCUS: SUSTAINABILITY are going beyond net zero, making their business carbon negative through a selfimposed carbon capture ‘tax’. There is some great work happening in Devon and the Low Carbon Devon project is working to increase awareness of this and encourage others to consider what they can do. The project is part of the University of Plymouth which has received recognition as an innovative leader in higher education for sustainability. The project team can tap into the talent and expertise within the University, linking Devon enterprises with researchers who can help them with a particular project or provide general advice. This is a great opportunity for Devon businesses to be able to benefit from the specialised skills, knowledge and resources at the University, helping them to reduce their carbon impact. As well as linking business with researchers, the Low Carbon Devon’s internship programme has built a reputation for providing high-calibre interns, fully funded by the project. So far students and graduates from the University of Plymouth have been placed in around 20 enterprises across Devon to work on a low carbon project. For example:
•
Researching and reporting on the carbon impact within a company’s supply chain. • Investigating and writing a report on future energy markets • Helping the company to understand the steps it would have to take to achieve B Corp status (a rigorous social and environmental certificate) • Gathering environmental intelligence data to help understand pollinator decline. Chris Woodfield, the project’s Knowledge Exchange Officer tells us, “we’re proud to watch these University of Plymouth students and graduates take their knowledge from their degree programmes and put it into action to support the Devon business community, whilst leading the way in sustainable and civic change”. Chris explains that the internship programme is about so much more than practical and professional experience. “The Future Shift internship programme is a curated shared learning experience with access to unique development and changeleadership sessions,” he says. “These sessions are designed to help them become future-fit change-makers, leaders and role models of a low carbon society.”
The Low Carbon Devon project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and can support your business with: A fully funded three-month internship • Practical support from researchers • Up to £7,500 funding for specific collaboration projects via the Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund – application and approval dependent. • A series of free business-focused events and workshops To find out more email sustainabilityhub@plymouth.ac.uk or visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/ sustainability-hub-low-carbon-devon
Join the crucial journey to Net Zero Katie Upton, B Corp and Sustainability Advisor at the Devon & Plymouth Chamber, talks about how we’re helping members work towards Net Zero and also gives an update on our own targets. As part of our commitment to support our members to work towards Net Zero, we have partnered with local sustainability experts Recro Vida Ltd to host a series of Carbon Net Zero online workshops. These have been designed for SMEs and micros, to help you through the first steps of your sustainability journey. The first two of these workshops, Carbon 101 and Carbon Policy, have already taken place, but if you missed them, they are available to watch via our Net Zero Hub on the Chamber website. In the first workshop, we covered the basics of climate change and carbon emissions, unpacking the jargon and myths surrounding Net Zero.
The second focused on what carbon policies are, the importance of having them, what to include in one, and our top tips for making this the best it can be. The next sessions - on April 28 and May 19 - will guide you through the basics of carbon footprinting, helping you tackle the data and then support you to implement your own carbon reduction strategy that can begin right away. Make sure to register via our Net Zero Hub so you don’t miss out! The Chamber’s Net Zero Hub not only links to these workshops, but contains a real wealth of tools, resources, and local support for reducing your business’ carbon emissions. You can also find highlights from our Net Zero Live
broadcast, as well as our Net Zero Directory which contains member organisations who can support you through all aspects of your sustainability journey, from installing solar panels all the way to marketing your green agenda. And if you’ve already made a commitment to Net Zero, you can share your pledge on our Hub, and we will promote this to the wider business community. I’m delighted that the Chamber was able to retain me as B Corp and Sustainability Intern for a further three months. In my role as Sustainability Advisor, I provided individual sustainability support and advice to several member organisations.
In addition, I co-hosted our Net Zero Workshops and completed some project work for Recro Vida in a greater capacity to help deliver their Sustainable Cycling Symposium. As part of my work, I organised our electric cargo bike, which we were very grateful to have loaned by Raleigh. This included supporting one of our directors, James Smith, and his wife, Judith, volunteering for Plymouth Children in Poverty to deliver an environmental children’s book, The Adventures of Scout, all round Plymouth in time for World Book Day. There are so many exciting initiatives in the pipeline, so watch this space!
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SECTOR FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Is YOUR business ready to go global? The Wolferstans business team looks at using international agreements to take your business to the next level.
The world is getting smaller. International agreements and contracts can be a daunting prospect, but they are becoming more and more common as businesses use the internet to reach customers and suppliers across the globe. A business that can enter into agreements that cross borders could have a significant advantage in the coming years. As a result of the impact of COVID-19, many business owners have been far too busy to focus on anything other than adapting to the ever-changing restriction rules and taking a lateral flow test with their morning coffee in recent years. With more businesses now able to consider the opportunities that a postCOVID, post-Brexit world might bring, international agreements look set to be more important than ever to allow business to make use of the always-connected, always-on world in which we live. There is often a belief that there is some form of international law which governs all agreements that do not fall within the borders of one country. While some default rules can be used to determine which laws should apply to an international agreement, there is not the set of internationally binding laws for those agreements that you might expect. To that end, the very first consideration when entering into an international agreement should be which laws will be applied to it and which courts will be authorised to determine disputes arising from the agreement – this is known as the ‘governing law’ and ‘jurisdiction’ of the agreement.
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If the international agreement that you are entering into does not specify governing law and jurisdiction there is a risk that the agreement could be interpreted under different laws, which could have a dramatic effect on the outcome. In a 2012 case, a large UK company failed in its claim to take legal action for misrepresentation because the parties were bound by Danish law, despite the fact that the parties had not necessarily intended for that to be the case at the outset. This has been echoed in subsequent cases. Fortunately, parties can avoid this risk by asking their lawyer to expressly provide that the agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales and to also provide that the Courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction to hear disputes. Following that, it is important that the contract contains the right provisions to reflect the agreement that you have with the other parties. It is better to get the terms right at the outset than to argue over the document if the business relationship with other parties were to turn sour! The laws of England and Wales are widely trusted and adopted across the globe for incorporation into international agreements and many international agreements use our laws for that reason. To take advantage of this, it is important that you take legal advice to make sure that you can have control over the governing law and jurisdiction of your business’ international agreements.
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International Trade Training The need to acquire and update international trade skills to compete in this rapidly-evolving globalised world is both essential and urgent. Need a refresher on international trade? Or do you have new team members who require an introduction to the area? Our export and import training courses provide you with everything you need to know. With over 15 different international trade courses – many of which are British Chambers of Commerce accredited and result in recognised qualifications – the Chamber’s international trade training programme is ever-evolving to meet the needs and demands of current and would-be exporters. Delivered by expert and experienced trainers from Devon-based International Trade Matters, they cover the key skills that are essential to businesses that trade overseas, including quoting and selling internationally, understanding and completing export documentation, managing and operating letters of credit, why and how to use Incoterms® Rules 2020 and legislation of HM Revenue and Customs.
Here’s what’s coming up in 2022: April 2022 April 5 - Preferential Rules of Origin April 6 - Inward / Outward Processing April 7 - Incoterms 2020 April 12 - Understanding Commodity Codes April 19 - Customs Procedures & Documentation April 20 - Export Documentation April 21 - Understanding Exporting
May 2022 May 3 - Methods of Payments May 4 - Import Procedures May 5 - Documentary Letters of Credit May 17 - Agents and Distributors May 18 - Preferential Rules of Origin May 19 - Inward / Outward Processing
June 2022 June 14 - Understanding Commodity Codes
Find out more on our website: devonchamber.co.uk/international-trade-home
SECTOR FOCUS: CHARITY
Plymouth Citybus unveils special bus to mark
40 years of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth Citybus is helping St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth keep the wheels of its vital service turning by showing support for the local charity in its 40th anniversary year.
Tuesday, January 25, marked the day that 40 years ago, the hospice welcomed its first patients. On the same day, Plymouth Citybus unveiled a bus decked out in St Luke’s branding to highlight the much-loved charity reaching such a special milestone. Featuring some of the friendly faces of the St Luke’s team, and
the message of the hospice providing compassionate care for the community for 40 years, the bus will cover routes across the city throughout the year. From its humble beginnings at Syrena House in Plymstock, to the multidisciplinary service it provides today, looking after terminally ill people at home, in hospital and at Turnchapel, St Luke’s cares for up to 300 patients at any given time and supports their families, too. It does this at no cost to those it helps, thanks to local individuals and organisations who fundraise, donate and volunteer to help keep the charity’s service going. Support from local businesses is critical to ensuring St Luke’s resilience so it can reach more people who desperately need specialist care at the end of their lives.
Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus, said: “Many of our team members and customers have been touched by St Luke’s in one way or another. “Branding the bus for the charity is our way of saying thank you for superb care given and helping to make sure the whole city is aware of the brilliant work St Luke’s has done over the past 40 years.” Steve Statham, Chief Executive of St Luke’s, added: “A big thankyou to Plymouth Citybus. Our eye-catching branded bus will raise more awareness of St Luke’s specialist service and the support from our community that makes it possible. “The more local businesses who get behind our charity, the more families we can help over the next 40 years and beyond.”
Pictures by Paul Slater Images
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SECTOR FOCUS: MOTORING
BELLA MACCHINA Stuart Elford tries out the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce and has a lot of fun in a joyful Italian stallion of a car
Alfa Romeo is possibly the most romantic-sounding make of car and the name Giulia Veloce conjures up evocative images suggesting its Italian heritage…I’m just glad that I’m writing about it and don’t have to pronounce it! It is said that you are not a real petrol-head if you have never owned an Alfa Romeo and I have to confess I don’t think I
have ever driven one. Shame on me. So, when the lovely people at Vospers offered me one for a day, I couldn’t wait to try it. I had no idea what sort of car the Giulia was, so when I was handed the keys and pointed in the direction of the low-slung fast-looking saloon I felt a tingle of excitement. The interior has all the features you would expect from a premium performance car and although simple, has every conceivable extra. The sporty steering wheel has all the multi-function features you would expect but also includes a fantastic start-stop button and paddle gear shift that makes you feel like you are in an F1 car. The seat is one of best I have ever sat in, accommodating my 6’3” frame easily with inches to spare
Pictures by Amy Stanford Photography
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and holding me securely in place. Efficiency. Driving through town To the left is an 8.8” colour in the ‘Natural’ setting was quiet display screen with multiple and comfortable but I couldn’t display options including Sat wait to get it on the open road. Nav, communications, As soon as I could infotainment and leave the office I had vehicle settings. to drive to our 30 Its Electronic Beneath that Under 30 Awards Brakeforce is the climate Ceremony at control Distribution was as Buckfast Abbey system and where I would impressive as the be then the meeting Amy acceleration auto gearbox the photographer. and electronic I wanted to get a handbrake. There real feel for the car are lots of cubby holes and so drove over the moors, and storage that include choosing a route that had a bit of connectivity of every type, everything. It was a beautiful late including a wireless charging afternoon and the perfect setting pad. to try out the Giulia. But what really caught my eye The car really came alive in was the fascinating DNA switch, Dynamic Mode and I enjoyed a which changes the driving mode brisk drive winding across the to Dynamic, Natural or Advanced moors. Through the corners
SECTOR FOCUS: MOTORING
A L FA R O M E O G I U L I A V E L O C E UP TO £ 750 DEPOS IT CON TRIB UTION R EPR ESEN TATIVE 3.99% APR *
MATFORD WAY, EXETER, DEVON EX2 8FN. TEL: 01392 285537 WWW.VOSPERS.COM *Offer available on Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. 48 month term. Minimum 17.12% customer deposit required. Model shown is Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce 2.0 Turbo 280HP Petrol with options; 17.12% customer deposit. 8,000 miles p.a. Alfa Romeo Deposit Contribution varies across the range. PCP sales until 31/03/22. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, SL1 0RW. Vospers Motorhouse is a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a number of lenders and may receive commission or other benefits for doing so.
the rear wheel drive car felt completely planted and immaculately balanced, without a hint of over or under steer. I felt safe and secure throwing it through the corners, barely moving in that fantastic and comfortable sports seat. Although the auto box is very good I couldn’t help but play with the flappy-paddle gearbox, which was incredibly responsive and allowed me to flip through the eight gears and select exactly the right revs. If you are going for a quick overtake that is the way to do it – it is effortless. The two-litre 280 bhp turbocharged engine has long legs of acceleration and seems to just keep on revving, reaching 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds and going on to 149 mph. It makes a glorious sound but is not intrusive in the cabin - it’s almost like a distant sporty howl, but inside the cabin is quiet and comfortable; yet you remain completely engaged. The braking, with its Electronic Brakeforce
Distribution, was as impressive as the acceleration, shedding speed effortlessly and remaining completely balanced. This was fun. After the Awards I drove the Giulia back home on the dual carriageway, checking out the various features that keep you safe and in lane. For those of you that are interested in these things it has: Lane Keep Assist, Highway Assist System (HAS), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Traffic Jam Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Driver Attention Assist, Autonomous Emergency Brake and Intelligent Speed Control (which is more than the driver has!). The driver assistance pack on the car I drove is a £1k optional extra, but I can say it made me feel very safe. I can see why you would go for this option if you do high mileage, which really is a ‘belt and braces’ approach, giving you an extra safety margin for a momentary lapse of concentration. In fact, these systems are so clever I thought
I could take my hands off the steering wheel and it would drive me home, but when I did let go for a fraction of a second the car told me off! All too soon I was back at Vospers and handing the keys over. I didn’t have nearly long enough to do all I would normally like to do. For example, I didn’t sit in the back - although I drove our photographer Amy around in the back and she seemed comfortable. I think you would buy this car because you want to have
fun while you drive and really enjoy the journey; it feels like a fabulous, fun toy. That’s the thing about this Alfa, I really didn’t want to give it back; I wanted to keep on playing. The Giulia Veloce is definitely not a boring standard fleet car and it is more than a performance saloon. It is different. It looks different. It feels different. It is…well… different! It is hard to explain, but I think the Italian heritage comes through and you feel like you are in a car that is meant to be enjoyed.
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SECTOR FOCUS: MOTORING
Tackling the ultimate off-road experience in a ‘real’ Defender Devon & Plymouth Chamber CEO Stuart Elford gets to grips with the new Land Rover Defender at Land Rover Experience West Country. When I met Paul Siely - centre manager Will walked us around the outside of the at Land Rover Experience West Country vehicle, explaining that it was totally standard during a ‘Meet the Neighbours’ Chamber - including the tyres - so owners could see event in Exeter, I mentioned that I was lucky what their own cars were capable of. enough to have driven the new Land Rover A true Land Rover enthusiast, Will Defender. talked about the design that harks back I told him it had been kindly lent to me to Defenders of old - including the Alpine by Roger Young Land Rover in Saltash for window and strength block below it. He a Profile article and, while I had been very showed us the removable rubber mats that impressed, I sadly hadn’t been able to take it mean you can practically hose the interior out, off road. along with a host of other practical features. “We can fix that,” said Paul - and so it was But to be honest, I was too excited about with great glee that I accepted his kind offer going ‘off road’ to take much more in. After and drove to Honiton for the ultimate off-road guiding us through all the controls in the car, experience. There, I met my good friend, Will gave us a two-way radio and jumped into Paul Fennessy, who had come along to take a lead vehicle for us to follow. pictures for the magazine. The first obstacle was a deep-water ditch. We were greeted at the centre Selecting ‘Wade Mode’, which shows by Paul Siely and introduced how deep the water is, I took the ... the body to our expert driver for the car through easily and with no day, Will, who assessed our drama. Will explained that the will float and knowledge, understanding only restriction on how deep the wheels lose you can go is that the car is so and experience before giving us a thorough traction before well-sealed that the body will briefing on what we would float and the wheels lose traction the engine be doing. I couldn’t wait! before the engine floods! As we walked across the car Next up was a slippery slope of floods! park to the impressive Defender, wet grass. Will showed us that while the Will said that at the end of the drive he car and its millions of sensors will help gain would ask us if we thought the new vehicle traction in ‘Auto’ mode, by pre-selecting the was a ‘real’ Defender – capable of doing terrain through the simple control and display everything the old one could. system it gives the car a ‘head start’ and you
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have instant traction. It took a bit of persuading, but at one point I had both hands and feet off the controls while going backwards down the steep slippery hill. You feel the clever car and its many systems coming alive to keep control. Taking the Defender through some mud tracks, we came to a hill of deep rocky ruts. We set up the display that videos the terrain ahead and then shows you in real time the ground directly beneath you so you can
SECTOR FOCUS: MOTORING
perfectly position the wheels to maintain until we were nose down with the nearside traction and protect the car. This was rear wheel six feet off the ground. This was especially useful as we crested the hill as you incredibly impressive. could see nothing over the huge bonnet but The time came for us to swap over so that blue sky! Paul could have a go. He is a very experienced Driving into the thick woods, we driver and an engineering geek, so I were now really confident with thought he would be super critical ...the defiant the car and its capabilities as and find fault. But he couldn’t. we used all the cameras and Defender refused He just said: “This is seriously mirrors to keep us clear of impressive – it knows how to to be intimated as it drive off road better than us!” the trees, rocks, walls and water. In fact, it was only edged its way up the As Paul went over all the when Will got out to scout same obstacles, I felt so at slope in supreme ease the terrain ahead that you that I got distracted by the style. realised how incredibly large emails on my phone and it then and steep some of the obstacles dawned on me how incredible this were. car is. It can ascend, descend and traverse But when Will literally climbed on all fours seemingly impossible slopes and obstacles up a seemingly near-vertical mixture of mud while retaining 100% control and doing and rock, Paul and I just looked at each other, minimal damage to the environment in such open-mouthed… there is no way we are going comfort and safety that I can look at emails! up that! We retired back to the comfortable and But Will waved us on and the defiant stylish conference centre for a coffee and Defender refused to be intimidated as it debrief. Will asked again if this was a ‘real’ edged its way up the slope in supreme style. Defender. It can certainly do everything the The final obstacle was a mass of major old one could, but you don’t have to bash boulders that Will guided us carefully over. your elbows on sharp metal, put your back Again, the sensors and cameras came into out on hard bench seats or have weather that their own as we inched forwards. At one point is the same inside the car as outside! If the old the offside front wheel was six feet off the Defender was brute force and ignorance, this ground and then the scary moment came is brute force and intelligence. when we see-sawed on two diagonal wheels Even if you don’t own a 4x4, or never
intend to, I can thoroughly recommend going on one of the Land Rover experiences. They have everything from ‘Young Off Roader’ drives for 11- to 17-year-olds and short ‘Taster Experiences’ to ‘Heritage Drives’ for those who want to experience Land Rovers from every era, as well as full-day corporate and team-building events in the beautiful setting of Wessington Farm, whose fine conference facilities are also available to hire. My sincere thanks to Paul Siely for an enjoyable, exciting and safe day and to our instructor, Will, for sharing his incredible technical knowledge, driving skill and experience with us. It was a day I will never forget.
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CHAMBER FEATURE
All aboard for a French adventure Thinking of flying on your next French business trip? Paul Fennessy explains why you should ditch the airports and jump on Brittany Ferries’ Pont Aven instead. Back in October I had a piece of work crop up in Tours, France, for a few days. I’ve been fortunate enough to keep working throughout the pandemic, but it’s all been work in the UK. Initially I was quite excited, not having been abroad for a year or so, it felt like a bit of a “light at the end of the tunnel” moment from the COVID misery. This quickly gave way to some trepidation about passing through a crowded airport and climbing into a cramped aluminum tube with lots of other people, when the virus was still in circulation. A quick trawl of the airline websites brought further disappointment. Nothing from the south-west of England direct to Tours. The best bet was an enormous detour via Amsterdam or Dublin which took a whole day. A flight to Paris was an option but then I’d need a rental car at the other end and it was proving quite tedious joining the dots. The added complication of taking quite a lot of equipment was starting to put the price up, too.
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The dog needed a walk so I gave up on the puzzle and took him up to Jennycliff. That was where the lightbulb moment occurred, as Brittany Ferries flagship, MV Pont Aven, was steaming into Plymouth Sound in the afternoon sunshine. How could someone who specialises in Transport and Logistics be daft enough to have overlooked the solution on my doorstep? My first family holiday as a child was to Douarnenez in Finisterre, camping out the back of my Dad’s rusty Allegro, and we travelled aboard Brittany Ferries first RORO car-ferry, the Penn-Ar-Bed, to Roscoff. Plymouth Ferryport has been the starting point for family road-trips, ski holidays and motorcycle adventures ever since. Business trips however always seem to start from airports. Why is that? Dog suitably exhausted and back at my work-from-home desk in my garage, I pondered this paradox further and headed to the Brittany Ferries website. It was uncanny just how quickly my ducks
formed an orderly row. I could leave home after dinner on the Tuesday, drive three miles to Millbay Docks, go to bed and wake up in my destination country. Café et croissant, then a straightforward morning’s drive, in my own car, would get me to my afternoon meeting in Tours comfortably. Suddenly the problem of carting all the equipment along with me had disappeared too. Not quite able to believe my good fortune I booked it, smugly saving a fair bit of money on the drive-park-hotel-flight-flight-rentacar combo, too. A colleague’s response was a baffled look and the comment, “Why don’t you fly there?” He was astonished when I explained the logic. Next came the research into all the COVID protocols. This wasn’t as bad as it initially looked and certainly no more complicated than flying. The Brittany Ferries website linked me through to the forms that the French Government wanted filled out and I was already suitably jabbed up. France has been making use of QR
CHAMBER FEATURE
code COVID passes for entry to hotels and restaurants and everyone seemed quite content with the one in the UK’s NHS App. On the day, I drove to Millbay docks ridiculously early. I was expecting long queues leading to a painstaking examination of my documents, which I had diligently completed and laid out on the dashboard in readiness. My eagerness proved quite unnecessary, the port operations were slick and it was over in 30 seconds at the Brittany Ferries check-in kiosk. No more friction than pre-pandemic apart from an extra five seconds to scan my “Pass Sanitaire” QR code. This put me at the front of the queue and early boarding put me right behind the bow doors, in pole position for my drive to Tours the following morning. I was quite surprised how many vehicles followed me aboard, but once I’d made my way up from the car decks to the passenger areas, the ship certainly didn’t feel crowded. I had a wander around on the outside decks but the weather drove me back inside and I headed to the bar for a quick pint before bed. Even before the ship had cast off, the resident singer had taken the stage in the Grand Pavois bar where there was plentiful space for even the most cautious social-distancer. You can’t sit on the quarterdeck in the fresh air and watch dolphins on a Boeing 737, and if you like a bit of elbow-room, this is the way to travel.
The weather forecast was pretty grim for the overnight crossing, but Pont Aven is a big ship, built to work the Bay of Biscay, not like some of the flat-bottomed barges you’ll find shuttling across the Straits of Dover. She took the weather in her stride and I slept like a baby. The biggest advantage of making this trip with Brittany Ferries for me was time. Quite ironic when the alternative can theoretically go 400mph faster. If I’d flown, though, I’d have needed a night in an airport hotel before an early morning flight. On the ferry, I could do two things at once – travel and sleep simultaneously. Not a minute wasted! I got everything done that I needed to in France and with time to spare. After three days of meetings conducted in French, my brain was sautéed so to decompress, I took the scenic route back to Roscoff along the banks of the Loire via Nantes and made sure I had my post-brexit duty-free allowance of 24 bottles of wine tucked safely away in the boot. Back aboard at Roscoff, I connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi and got the report from the trip written up, before heading up on deck for a walk around, in decidedly better weather than the outbound journey. Sitting in the sun, passing the Eddystone on the way home I couldn’t help but be thankful for how easy and efficient this trip had been compared to the faff of the alternatives. It’s
certainly changed the way I’ll look at travelling to continental Europe for work. Brittany Ferries have remained steadfastly committed to the link between Plymouth and Europe through both Brexit and COVID. As they approach their 50th anniversary, they have invested heavily in two brand new cruise-ferry ships - the Galicia and the Salamanca - both of which have now been delivered and are being commissioned for the 2022 season. These two ships are environmentally state of the art, being fuelled by Liquefied Natural Gas instead of Diesel. This allows for a much cleaner burn then Diesel and massive reductions in Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, particulates and also a 25% saving in CO2. Galicia and Salamanca also employ hybrid technology similar to hybrid cars, storing up electric power while the main engines are running at sea to keep essential systems running whilst in port. This negates the need to run the engines whilst in harbour, saving even more emissions and improving air quality, which has to be good for Plymouth. I’m now fortunate to be looking forward to my first holiday since 2019. Chamber CEO Stuart Elford and I are off for another adventure on our motorbikes at the end of March. How are we getting there? Brittany Ferries, of course!
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CHAMBER SOCIAL DIARY
It’s fun to meet - and network
- at the YMCA! The Devon & Plymouth Chamber held a special breakfast networking event in January which included a tour of YMCA Plymouth’s newly regenerated facility. YMCA Plymouth is an education, health and families charity which supports young people and our community’s education, health and family needs. Proudly sponsored by Livewell Southwest,
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this exclusive event included the opportunity to see the charity’s new top-spec gym and experience its state-of-the-art immersive cycle studio, which boasts one of the most advanced spin bike set-ups in the South West. Previously known as the Kitto Centre, the much-loved sports venue saw upgrades delivered by a range of Plymouth and Devonbased contractors, with the new facilities
opening for people to use in September last year. Our guest speakers on the day were Tom Lavis, CEO of YMCA Plymouth & Discovery College, Flippa Watkeys, Employment Support Service Lead at Livewell Southwest, and Helen Hart, the Chamber’s Head of Member Services. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
CHAMBER SOCIAL DIARY
Christmas Networking at The New Continental It was fantastic to see so many of you looking so fabulously festive for our Christmas event at The New Continental in Plymouth. The Devon & Plymouth Chamber was joined by our members, partners and patrons for a fantastic afternoon of networking and delicious food and drink. Chamber CEO Stuart Elford said: “As well as a celebration of the successes of 2021, this was an excellent opportunity for members to connect with other businesses operating across Devon. “We all enjoyed superb hospitality and food fromThe New Continental – simply perfect for the first Christmas meal of the season.” See if you can spot yourself in our gallery below. Pictures courtesy of John Allen.
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CHAMBER NEW MEMBERS
NEW MEMBERS
A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
FROM ACROSS DEVON & PLYMOUTH
CBRE
Matrix ER HR Limited
Four Elements Catering Ltd
Yellowbird
130 Aztec West, Bristol, BS32 4UB www.cbre.co.uk
Seaspray, 7 Trerieve, Downderry, Torpoint PL113LY www.Matrixerhr.com
Unit 17 South Milton Street, Cattedown, Plymouth PL4 0QE www.fourelementscatering.com
76 Fairview Avenue, Plymouth PL3 6DR
Disruption Works Ltd
Poles Apart AP LTD
Plymouth Science Park, 1 Davy Road, Derriford, Plymouth PL6 8BX www.disruptionworks.co.uk
91-93 North Prospect Road, Plymouth PL2 2NA www.polesapartap.com
J and L Cleaning Services 20 Brickfield Close, Plymouth PL1 4PH
Baird House, Darklake Close, Plymouth PL6 7TJ www.tec-construction.co.uk
TEC Construction (Holdings) Ltd
Zarywacz
Devonshire Pie Company Ltd.
11 Furse Hill Road, Ilfracombe EX34 8HN z2z.com
75 Princess Avenue. Ilfracombe EX34 9LW www.devonshirepie.com
Cottages.com
Sobey Fitness 22 Cross Park Avenue, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5AR
Cattewater Harbour Commissioners
Quadra House, Holland Road, Plymouth PL7 5HJ
Sunway House, Raglan Road, Suffolk NR32 2LW www.cottages.com
KAPAR Group
C2 Safety
Plymouth PL6 5QZ www.digitwell.co.uk
Honey Asset Finance www.honeyassetfinance.com
Greenwave Packaging UK Limited
Tungsten West Limited Hemerdon Mine, Drakeslands, Plymouth PL7 5BS
5 The workshops, Cornwall TR16 5AU www.kapar.org.uk
7 Congdons Orchard, Landrake PL12 5FA www.c2safety.co.uk
TCi (GB) LTD
Mary’s Meals
www.tcigb.co.uk
Coombe Fisheries Limited www.coombefish.com
Stamp Out Spiking Matfield, Matford, Exeter EX2 8XR www.sosglobal.org
Newcourt Community Association Newcourt Community Centre, Blakeslee Drive, Exeter EX2 7FN www.newcourtcommunitycentre. com
Yachtee Market Hall, Duke Street, Plymouth PL1 4PS
Unit 6, Claremont Centre, 39 Durham Street, Glasgow G41 1BS www.marysmeals.org.uk
Young Enterprise The Corum Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ www.young-enterprise.org.uk
Harris Law (South West) Ltd South Devon House, Babbage Road, Totnes TQ9 5JA www.harrislawsouthwest.co.uk
Green Tech Uk Flat 7, 5 Nelson Gardens, Plymouth PL1 5RH greentechenv.co.uk
Digitwell Solutions Limited
2 The Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LR www.plymouthport.org.uk
Retain Limited
Splash Projects LTD Suite 2,3 and 4, Strand Court Chambers, 1 Victoria Road, EX8 1DL www.splashprojects.com
Sovereign UK Limited 40 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NG www.sovereigngroup.com
One Plate One Price
Unit 1B, Devonshire Meadows, Broadley Park Road, PL6 7EZ www.retainlimited.com
Private Investigator Mayflower Street Plymouth PL1 1QJ www. privateinvestigator.co.uk/ devon/plymouth
Mendax Ltd Holberton, Yealmpton PL8 1LN www.mendax.co.uk
2a St Lawrence Lane, Ashburton TQ13 7DD www.opop.org.uk
Southwest Training Solutions
Fox-Smith Ventures Ltd Shula, Moorshop, Tavistock PL19 9JX www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-foxsmith
Unit 97, City Business Park, Plymouth PL3 4BB www.southwesttrainingsolutions. co.uk
PH Racing Warraton House Warraton Lane, PL12 4AA Saltash
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY County Conversations April 12, 2022
Net Zero workshops April 14, 2022
Devon’s leading business briefing will take place at Petroc College on 12 April from 8.30am. Speakers include Petroc CEO Sean Mackney, Selaine Saxby MP, DWP’s Kickstart District Account Manager, Sahara Stockwell, Michelle Broadbent from Devon Carers and Mark Ansell will be sharing news and information on how businesses in North Devon can apply for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
Our Net Zero workshops continue in April with experts Recro Vida. Check www. devonchamber.co.uk/net-zero-hub for details and dates.
Crunchy Breakfast April 14, 2022 Join us on Thursday 14 April for a fantastic breakfast and networking event with topics you can bite right into. Starts at 8.30am at the Crowne Plaza, Plymouth.
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Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Business Awards We’ll soon be releasing details of how to enter this year’s Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, stay tuned to our website and social media for more information www.devonchamber.co.uk/ chamber-awards
The Devon Business Show September 28, 2022 Save the date! The Devon Business Show returns after a two-year hiatus, the leading event for businesses, individuals and organisations to connect across the county. Returning to Plymouth Pavilions on 28 September, it will attract businesses from across the county representing a full range of sectors with an innovative ‘zones’ format, complete with interactive displays and sessions through the day. We’re now taking enquiries for exhibition stands and expect interest to be high. To secure your place, contact Helen Hart via email helen.hart@devonchamber.co.uk
CHAMBER PEOPLE
CHAMBER PEOPLE Name: Kyra Taylor-Reid Role: Accounts Assistant at the Devon & Plymouth Chamber What do you do and why do you do it?
Where do you see the future of your organisation?
Currently, I am working at the Devon & Plymouth Chamber as an accounts assistant. I started my role as a Kickstarter and initially I was involved with the administration of the Kickstart scheme. This was extremely fulfilling to see both employee and employer benefit from the same scheme that helped me “kick-start” my career.
I see the Chamber continuing to grow and provide more support for our members through our various events, training courses and general advice and services. I also see us continuing to support our members in their journey towards reaching Net Zero.
What inspires you?
It is better to try and fail than never to have tried at all.
The people around me. I find it extremely inspiring to see others passionate and driven towards something they love. This only pushes me to do the same.
What drives you? The constant desire to improve and be a better version of myself.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
If you could sum up your CV in one word, it would be? Varied.
When it comes to business, do you follow your head or your heart?
appropriate but since moving into my new role as an accounts assistant, this has shifted to me following my head more often.
Describe yourself in five words Determined, Reliable, Accountable, Passionate and Kind
How do you balance life and work? By setting myself clear boundaries and sticking to them! It is a priority for me to manage my time correctly to ensure I am getting everything done while still having valuable downtime.
What’s your favourite quote? Opportunities don’t just happen, you must create them.
Who has been the greatest influence on you? I would have to say my dad has been the greatest influence on me. He has always displayed an incredible work ethic while still putting his family at the forefront of his mind. He has always supported me and gone above and beyond in every way imaginable.
What are you most proud of? I am most proud of returning to Sixth form to complete my A-Levels. At the time I really lacked confidence in my own ability. After taking some time out of school, this allowed me to focus on my future and where I wanted to be. As a result, I returned even more determined than I had left.
I try to follow both where
Spring 2022 Chamber Profile
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Chamber Profile and the Plymouth Chronicle Spring 2022Publishers Chamberof Profile