Business Direction 53

Business Direction

2020: THE DECADE OF NEW BUSINESS

Issue 44 52 53 July/August January/February 2018 2020

FIRSTWORD

A DECADE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES

ction Business Dire

I’d like to wish everyone across Herefordshire and Worcestershire a very Happy New Year. I do hope that over the Christmas break businesses took the opportunity to enjoy the well-deserved relaxation and have recharged their batteries ready for the new decade.

CADE 2020: THE DE ESS OF NEW BUSIN 53 52 Issue 44 uary 2020 gust 2018 January/Febr July/Au

BUSINESS DIRECTION Business Direction, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s full colour bi-monthly publication. Designed and produced by business people for business people. Distributed to 4,000 businesses.

The deadline for the 'Rising Cost of Business' edition is Wednesday 29 January 2020 Please send all submissions to businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk

EDITOR

Rahim Bas 01905 673 639 businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk

EDITORIAL & SUBSCRIPTIONS

businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk 01905 673 639 www.hwchamber.co.uk/business-direction

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Distinctive Publishing, 3rd Floor, Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle, NE1 6UF www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk

ADVERTISING

Helen Flintoff Business Development Manager, Distinctive Group 0191 5805990 helen.flintoff@distinctivegroup.co.uk

FEATURE EDITORS

Helen Compson helen.compson@distinctivegroup.co.uk

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher accepts no responsibility for omissions or errors within this publication.

Editorial submissions are included at the discretion of the editor. The opinions expressed in articles and letters within this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber. All offers, promotions and competitions appearing in Business Direction are the sole responsibility of the advertiser/ promoting party and Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce does not accept any responsibility for any representations made within them.

The final months of last year saw Britain’s first December general election since 1923 and resulted in a landslide victory for the Conservative party in the form of a new majority government. Following the results, the political map of the United Kingdom looks significantly different, giving the Prime Minister a clear mandate to follow through with Brexit. With the new majority Conservative government, we hope that this will now put the country on a clearer path to the 31 January EU exit deadline.

3

First Word Chamber News

4-5

Business News

6

Policy News

11

Business News

16

Skills

18

Business News

19

Chamber Business Training 20-21 Chamber Events

22-23

Business News

26-27

Big Interview

28-29

The New Year means that the focus is shifting towards the annual Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, which is set to return for its 19th year on Thursday 2 July 2020 at the University of Worcester Arena. The awards last year saw 8 winners go on to enter the British Chambers of Commerce’s Business Awards 2019, which resulted in HW Chamber member Bishop Fleming being recognised with the Workplace Wellbeing Award along with being named as national Business of the Year.

Feature

30-31

If you would like to get your business ready to enter this year’s awards, we are holding a workshop on Thursday 23 January to meet judges and help prepare your application for the entries opening on the next day.

International Trade

Along with the annual Chamber Business Awards, we are excited to countdown to the first Business Expo of 2020 in association with Hewett Recruitment.

The popular exhibition will once again return to the Three Counties Showground in Malvern on Thursday 12 March, and is free for both Members and Non-members to attend.

20/20 Business Challenge

The Expo welcomes over 120 exhibitors from a range of business sectors, hosts a dedicated Network Zone for you to make valuable new contacts and is a great way to raise your profile with others in the Herefordshire and Worcester business community.

Stands for this event are still available, yet limited, so please do get in touch with our Events team on events@hwchamber.co.uk to book yourself onto this great event.

And finally, in this issue of Business Direction we will be focusing on 2020 as the decade of new business.

We shine a spotlight on businesses that will be using the new decade as a launchpad to grow their business, welcoming Rural Media as our Big Interview with subsequent features from ETL Systems and Spire South Bank Hospital.

34

Visit Worcestershire

Two Counties 35 Worcestershire Business Central 40 Movers and Shakers

42

New Member Proflies

43 44-45

People to do Business With 48-49 Charity News 51 52

Member Benefits 53 Last Word

54

28-29

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a successful 2020.

Best regards, Sharon Sharons@hwchamber.co.uk

52

Our Patrons are:

January/February 2020

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

03

CHAMBERNEWS

NEW EDITOR FOR BUSINESS DIRECTION The Chamber is delighted to introduce Rahim Bas as Business Direction’s new Editor and the organisation’s PR Executive.

NEW FUNDING FOR HEREFORDSHIRE BUSINESS AND CULTURE Earlier this year, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce and Rural Media announced that they were successful in their bid to receive funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to develop a new series aimed at linking together business and culture in the area.

Business & Culture Working Together is a collaboration between the Chamber, the Herefordshire Business Board, and lottery funded Herefordshire’s A Great Place and Rural Media to put a spotlight on why the county is a great place to live, work and visit.

The project itself will see the creation of powerful films, commissioned from Rural Media, which previewed at free seminars that took place around the county in December 2019.

H&W Chamber would like to wish former Editor, Lucy Allen, all the best in her new and exciting adventure before her return in summer 2020.

Speaking of the last 2 and a half years, Lucy said: “I’m pleased to be leaving Business Direction in Rahim’s very capable hands. With a wealth of expertise and a keenness to bring fresh ideas to the table, I’m excited to see how the magazine is transformed over the next six months.

“I’d also like to take this chance to thank the local business community for making my role as Editor so vibrant and interesting. I very much enjoy reading each and every story that I receive. I’m excited to see the growth of local businesses over the next few months, and will enjoy my new role as a Mum, and avid reader of BD!” To contact Rahim, please email rahimb@hwchamber.co.uk.

The six-part seminar series, facilitated

by Martin Head, Managing Director of Cloudscape Media, welcomed a variety of speakers from several Herefordshire institutions that embody the ethos of ‘business and culture working together’.

More information regarding Business & Culture Working Together can be found online at www.the-shire.co.uk

Lucy Allen and Rahim Bas

FREE E-GUIDES TO HELP BUSINESSES PLAN FOR THE CHANGES AHEAD October saw the Chamber Network launch three Brexit e-guides to help businesses understand the changes to Rules of Origin, Tariffs and Customer Declarations in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) believes that businesses should be able to prepare for all scenarios, and will continue to lobby for government to avoid a disorderly no deal exit scheduled to take place at the end of January. The free e-guides will clarify the changes made and more importantly, how they apply to you and what result it may have on your business.

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has a range of services available to support your business in order to get prepared for post-Brexit operations.

To download the three free guides please visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/ free-e-guides-to-helpbusinesses-plan-for-thechanges-ahead

GIVE AS YOU LIVE NAMED SMALL APPRENTICESHIP EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

04

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate its category winner in the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2019, Give As You Live. The Evesham-based company were revealed as finalists earlier this year, alongside their category competitors Payara and The Priory Forge.

new qualification, Sharon Smith, CEO at H&W Chamber of Commerce, said: “With companies becoming increasingly aware of the need for a skilled workforce, it is important to recognise and celebrate the contributions made by employers and the apprentices themselves and their achievements.

Judges commented on the high level of competition for this year’s awards, with all three finalists very worthy of the winner’s title. Speaking of the importance of young people working with experienced staff to gain job-specific skills alongside a

“The Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards put a spotlight on the future workforce and strengthens the importance of businesses supporting alternative routes into roles. I’d like to wish Give As You Live a well-deserved congratulations for their

Winners Give As You Live pictured

hard work this year.”

For further information on the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2019, please visit www.worcsapprenticeships.org.uk

January/February 2020

CHAMBERNEWS

SUCCESS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AT NATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2019 Bishop Fleming have been crowned as winners of the Business of the Year 2019 & Workplace Wellbeing Award at the British Chambers of Commerce Awards 2019.

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards in July 2019, before going on to win their title regionally.

Bishop Fleming Chair, Ian Smith, commented: “I am over the moon that we have been recognised as 2019 Business of the Year, to have so many quality finalists from Herefordshire and Worcestershire shows what amazing places our counties are for business and what a great Chamber we have supporting us.”

Eight companies from across the two counties were invited to the Gala Dinner on Thursday 28 November, held at Tobacco Dock in London, to find out the results of the highly anticipated national awards.

The winners were selected after successfully being named finalists in the

Applications for the Chamber Business Awards 2020 will open at the end of January. To find out more information, please visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/ events/business-awards

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS FREE RADIO CASH FOR KIDS ‘MISSION CHRISTMAS’ To help support children across the two counties who have had a tough start to life, the Chamber joined forces with Free Radio Cash For Kids to support its annual ‘Mission Christmas’ project.

The Cash For Kids campaign supports children living in poverty, with an illness or disability or who may have been subject to neglect or abuse. With 1 in 3 local children living in poverty, Cash For Kids asked the local community to donate an extra present for those who would otherwise wake up with nothing on Christmas Day. The Chamber encouraged colleagues and Members to drop off any donated gifts to its Worcester Office to help support Mission Christmas. In 2018, the project led to almost 7,000 disadvantaged local children across the West Midlands receiving gifts following the generosity of the local communities in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The Chamber, on behalf of Cash For Kids, would like to thank the local business community for their kind-heartedness in December. www.freeradio.co.uk/mission

Staff at Bishop Fleming celebrating double award win

CHAMBER RECOGNISED WITH BRONZE AWARD

QES RESULTS SHOW LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND UNCERTAINTY The results of the final Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) 2019 confirmed business confidence in profitability and turnover has deteriorated over the last 12 months.

This comes after the results of the previous quarter (Q3) where capital expenditure dropped to its lowest level locally since 2012. The two counties identified exchange rates remaining competitive and corporation tax as the most significant area of concern.

The absence of political clarity and unprecedented uncertainty has meant that business has been unable to bounce back throughout the year - Q1 results saw some of the worst figures since 2012/2013.

It is vital that the government takes heed of the figures in this report and allow businesses to get back to focusing on the fundamental components to business growth. By failing to reach an agreement over Brexit, government is not facilitating business growth.

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it has been presented with the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. Organisations that are recognised with the Bronze Award pledge to support the Armed Forces community and seek to take a positive stance towards Reservists who are either existing or perspective employees.

The Employer Recognition Scheme was launched in 2014 to commend employer support for the wider principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

The Chamber has been added to the list of businesses who have already been recognised for their support towards the Armed Forces community. We will now be working hard towards achieving the next level of the Employer Recognition Scheme over the coming year.

To find out more about the scheme please visit

For more information on the QES and results, please visit www.hwchamber. co.uk/support/policy

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

05

BUSINESSNEWS

PENSONS NAMED FOOD AND DRINK BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Pensons at Netherwood Estate was awarded with the Hereford Times Food and Drink Business of the Year. In what was a special night for the food hotspot based on the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border near Bromyard, this prestigious award will be added to the list of accomplishments that the ingredient-led restaurant has been awarded with so far this year.

Earlier this year, Pensons was also named in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2020, along with its win in the Sustainable Lifestyle Awards, this is due to the local produce used by highly acclaimed chef Lee Westcott.

Airband Engineers on the move

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER SHORTLISTED FOR INDUSTRY PRIZES Airband is in the running for two of the categories at the 2019 Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) Awards – Outstanding Contribution and Best Technical Solution.

and gained greater industry recognition in the process; these nominations and our other shortlists and wins this year within the telecoms industry are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole Airband team.

The INCA awards were launched in 2018 and celebrates the rapidly evolving independent broadband industry in the UK.

“In our award bid, we profiled our fibreto-the-premises solution, RuralOptic, which incorporates overhead fibre delivery, enabling network growth to be achieved.”

Airband Founder and Director, Redmon Peel, said: “2019 has been an amazing year for Airband. We’ve grown rapidly

Peta Darnley, Netherwood Estate and Pensons Managing Partner, commented: “When we opened nine months ago, we wanted to put local and sustainable at the heart of what we do and create a strong sense of place.” www.pensons.co.uk

www.airband.co.uk Pensons’ employees celebrate award

HEREFORDSHIRE SOFTWARE EXPERTS TO DELIVER AFRICA CHARITY TRAINING Herefordshire-based Formus Professional Software has stepped in to assist the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation to improve how it collects vital medical data from its clinics in remote parts of Africa.

06

the call came appealing for help on behalf of Elizabeth Glaser, I was keen to get involved.

I really do believe that software is one of the best ways that you can help a company be more efficient or productive nowadays, to save money or to deploy valuable resources more effectively.

Two of the company’s Technical Consultants are heading out to eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) to deliver four free days of ‘train the trainer’ instruction on how to use Microsoft’s PowerApps platform. PowerApps has been developed so that anyone, technically minded or not, can create their own apps. For Elizabeth Glaser, the idea is for 30 of their volunteers and staff to learn how to create their own apps for storing and uploading medical information when out in the field and then teaching their colleagues how to do the same.

how many tested positive and how many exposed new-born babies remain HIV negative. Having instant access to secure, accurate data is a critical concern for the Foundation, allowing its staff to make immediate, well-informed decisions about the treatment a child requires.

The Foundation currently collects data on how many women have tested for HIV,

Glenn Powell, Formus Professional Software’s Founder and Technical Director said: “When

“But this wasn’t really about the technology.

It was about an opportunity to work with an organisation that’s clearly so driven and motivated in its work. When you talk to the people at the Foundation, they clearly care deeply about what they do. Setting up this four-day workshop and sending two of our team out there; it felt like the least we could do.”

To learn more about the charity, please visit www.secure.pedaids.org/page/ contribute/donate www.formuspro.com

January/February 2020

HOLDING ON FOR A BUMPY RIDE WHAT IS BUMPING? Bumping is a term that is heard of when talking, primarily about redundancy situations. To put it in simple terms bumping is a process of moving a potentially redundant employee (A) into another role and dismissing the employee currently performing that role (B).

Therefore, for it to be a true bumping situation moving employee A into another role must be the cause of employee B losing their job.

CHOOSING WHO YOU SHOULD BUMP Whether to use or consider bumping and who you should choose to bump are important questions that employers and HR professionals need to think about. In the case of Fulcrum Pharma (Europe) Ltd v Bonassera and another UKEAT/0198/10 the EAT gave some guidance. It was stated that the following should be considered: Whether or not there is a vacancy.

How different the two jobs are.

The difference in remuneration between them.

The relative length of service of the two employees.

The qualifications of the employee in danger of redundancy.

Any other factors applying to the particular case.

MUST AN EMPLOYER CONSIDER BUMPING? Although there is no legal obligation to consider bumping, it can be the case that if employers do not consider bumping then the dismissal of an employee that they have made redundant can be considered unfair. However, it is important to remember that such cases are fact specific.

Therefore, although it is not compulsory

James Monk

to consider bumping it could be argued that it is best practice for an employer/HR professionals to always consider whether bumping is a possibility and a paper trail should be kept to show that bumping has been considered even if it is concluded that bumping would not be appropriate in that particular situation.

In addition, when the employer is meeting with the employee in redundancy consultation meetings and discussing ways that redundancies could be avoided such as reducing hours and job sharing etc suitable alternative posts could be discussed with the employee including posts where it may mean that bumping would be applicable.

There are several cases where a dismissal has been considered unfair due to the lack of bumping consideration. One such case can be seen below: a human resources team was made up of two employees; a HR manager

supported by a HR executive. It was decided that they no longer needed the HR manager and therefore the HR manager was made redundant, the HR executive was not included in the pool of potentially redundant employees. It was decided that both HR employees should have been in the pool and therefore the manager’s dismissal was unfair. In particular, it was noted that the manager had previously carried out the executive’s role and the executive had previously covered the manager’s role when she was on sick leave.

If you would like further advice regarding this or any other employment issues that you might have then please feel free to contact the Thursfields employment team who will be happy to help.

James Monk Senior Associate Solicitor 0121 227 3366 jmonk@thursfields.co.uk

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

DATA WITH NO BORDERS: WHAT THE US CLOUD ACT MEANS FOR YOUR UK DATA? A new landmark agreement between the UK and United States has been causing much debate, with the world's first ever CLOUD Act agreement enabling US authorities to demand data directly from tech companies, without legal barriers.

It will compel US technology companies including Amazon, Google and Microsoft as well as any US owned company to allow access to their customer data. But what is the CLOUD ACT, and how will it affect UK businesses?

WHAT IS THE US CLOUD ACT? The CLOUD Act (Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act) regulates how US citizen and company data, that is physically stored outside of the US is handled. Those who handle US data must do so according to the laws of the USA, with the new act allowing US authorities to access all types of data, whether personal or not.

Although primarily effecting US Internet, service and cloud providers or their

08

European branches, The CLOUD Act also applies to European customers of US companies whose data maybe processed and stored by a US company, such as Google, Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure. But what does this mean for your data?

AN ATTACK ON PRIVACY? Knowing who has access to your data, and your clients data is a key component of the newly enforced GDPR laws, which are strictly regulated throughout Europe. However, the CLOUD Act actively contradicts these privacy laws, by allowing US Authorities unlimited access to UK and European corporate data, if stored and processed by a US company.

Although implemented as means of assisting in serious criminal investigations and terrorism, the CLOUD Act itself has potentially created new security flaws when it comes to the protection of data. By granting insecure or unencrypted access to authorities, ‘backdoors’ may be opened that would create vulnerabilities that at some point are likely to be discovered and taken advantage of by unauthorised third-parties, potentially putting millions at risk.

Quite simply, only IT service providers and cloud providers with headquarters and data centres in Europe, can offer true maximum security to UK and European businesses. Processing data in Europe alone is not sufficient for effective legal protection, it not only comes down to the location of the service, but also who stores and processes it.

Any business looking to store their data remotely would be well advised to do their research into the organisational set up of the service providers, and should question who has possession, custody and control of the data.

EBC Group understand your data is important, and both our primary data centre located in Birmingham BT Tower, and secondary data centres located in the West Midlands and Bristol, are privately owned meaning we don’t outsource any services to a third-party, ensuring we have access to your data and systems 24/7.

For more information about EBC Group’s data storage, contact hello@ebcgroup. co.uk or 0121 585 4400, or visit www.ebcgroup.co.uk

January/February 2020

BUSINESSNEWS

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

09

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

LONE WORKER SAFETY SOLUTIONS It is an employer’s responsibility to provide a duty of care to carry out risk assessments of any work-related activities which present a risk to personal safety.

What is a lone worker? The Health and Safety Executive describes a lone worker as those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. This includes job roles such as care workers, housing officers, district nurses, social workers, estate agents and construction workers.

An effective policy should be in place that identifies who might be harmed, the dangers they may face and any measures that can be taken to prevent and reduce the risk of injury.

LoneAlert from amica24 can help safeguard your lone working employees. We offer a range of LoneAlert devices and flexible monitoring options to provide the right type of protection your staff need and deserve.

On average 6 million people work alone in the UK. This figure is expected to rise as the continued change in working habits forces more remote working. Lone workers are everywhere. They have many faces and work in many industries. Are your lone workers safe?

A lone worker device is a piece of technology that is designed to provide monitoring and an alert system to ensure lone worker safety.

Our monitoring options consist of either you monitoring your own lone workers, or we can monitor them for you.

Our full monitoring option means that our friendly, highly- trained operators at our 24/7 Monitoring & Response Centre handle all alerts and escalations, taking all the

agreed actions to locate your lone worker and get them the help they require.

For more details and options that are available please call 0345 130 1469

AMICA24 SUPPORTING THE HIDDEN CARERS IN THE WORKPLACE Nearly 1 in 7 workers in the UK are juggling work and a caring role so if you are an employer with more than 7 staff the chances are you will have a working carer on your team!

3 in 5 of us will end up looking after a loved one at some point in our lives and supporting the carers in your workforce isn’t just good for your employees; it’s good for business. Research shows that supporting staff to effectively juggle their home and work life, and continue in employment, holds valuable benefits for the business, including: Staff retention Reduced absence Increased productivity Improved morale At amica24 we are working closely with Worcestershire Association of Carers (WAC) to help provide support and advice on a range of assistive technologies, which can help carers and support them to remain in work; whilst having the reassurance that a loved one is safe and well.

This can be provided in the way of alerts, alarms and passive monitoring systems.

010

These are all linked to our 24/7 monitoring and response centre in Kidderminster.

Across Herefordshire and Worcestershire many employers are joining Working For Carers, led by Worcestershire Association of Carers, which is an local initiative bringing employers together to build carer friendly places of work and help businesses to identify, recognise and support their work force.

Parkinson’s Epilepsy Learning disabilities For more information on how amica24 can help or to get advice from WAC contact Jane Taylor at j.taylor@carersworcs.org.uk or visit www.amica24.org

Our technologies can support a whole range of conditions including: Dementia Falls prevention

January/February 2020

POLICYNEWS

2020 BRINGS NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND OBSTACLES FOR BUSINESSES As business enters a new decade, it seems fitting to reflect on the trajectory of the business community and local economy.

The vast array of quantitative and qualitative research carried out by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce provides some interesting insights into the future of business in the coming years and allows some tentative predictions to made.

The data suggests that businesses will become increasing reliant on digital infrastructure and dependent on connectivity superior to that which the market currently provides. For professional services, faster digital connectivity will allow remote working and the use of cloud-based systems.

Many businesses believe that this will facilitate the introduction of more flexible and progressive working practices. For manufacturers, better digital connectivity will be necessary to move into Industry 4.0 and reap the productivity gains of a wireless process, driven by data and machines.

Although business growth will be largely contingent on improved digital connectivity, people will remain at the heart of business. In the short term, businesses will be relieved by the signs that the labour market has softened. On a longer-term basis, the diversification of products and services – particularly in regard to the work place processes used to deliver them – will place new

demands on staff and their skill set.

Providing in-house retraining for the ageing workforce will be essential for businesses operating in the context of this demographic change. Businesses will need to coordinate with schools and influence careers advice if they are to ensure that the young people leaving education have the right skills to gain employment in industries currently struggling to recruit.

To remain competitive businesses will also need to focus on the ways in which they attract and retain their staff.

The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce have compiled a comprehensive Salary & Benefits report in association with Hewett Recruitment.

This report contains data given by 350 businesses across the two counties to give a detailed breakdown of salaries and benefits offered by a range of businesses in varying sectors. This insight will be essential for businesses focussing on their people in 2020.

Societal concern for climate change and the environmental impact of human activity will place additional pressure on business to produce sustainable solutions.

Considering ways to reduce environmental impact will prove very beneficial to certain businesses. Innovation and technology in this field is likely to be led by the private sector, where commercially viable solutions will lead the way. New businesses will emerge as demand for sustainable solutions grow, such as those who produce products from sustainable materials or those who can offer efficiency gains by altering processes.

Trade is perhaps the area where the greatest uncertainty lies, given that the future trading relationship between the UK and EU is yet to be determined.

Clearly businesses will continue to import

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

or export regardless of the myriad of potential routes the EU exit negotiations could take. The primary concern for businesses who export or operate internationally will be the global economic slow-down and the potential escalation of the trade war between the USA and China.

Efficient, convenient and fast public transport will remain key to unlocking the potential of the UK economy which sits outside of London. Greater physical connectivity will be vital in allowing businesses across the county to reach their full growth potential. The risks associated with low investment in the road and rail network are high for Midlands based businesses. As businesses repeatedly report that attracting staff to the two counties remains challenging, connecting the county to other conurbations across the UK will facilitate the flow of people, ideas and technology. Research suggests that a holistic approach to the delivery of infrastructure projects, new business premises and the development of new homes will be crucial. A joined-up approach which aligns the supply of these projects to the demands of both businesses and their employees is much needed.

It’s an exciting time to be in business.

Although the unprecedented levels of uncertainty associated with the EU Exit negotiations can often eclipse the domestic narrative, it has never been more important for businesses to take the time to lift their head above the parapet and take in the opportunities on the horizon.

To download your FREE copy of the Salary & Benefit Report 2019-20 visit here

011

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Severn Angels Healthcare Ltd has expanded its services into supported living services for people with poor mental health, mild to moderate learning disability and autism. The nursing agency, which is based in Worcester, is going from strength to strength. Severn Angels currently supplies quality temporary and permanent nurses and healthcare assistants to nursing homes and a range of health and care settings.

“We pride ourselves on recruiting and supplying only competent, committed and compassionate nurses and healthcare assistants,” said manager Spiwe Mhondiwa, “and our clients are very happy with our services.”

Besides organising nursing agency services, the company has also expanded into providing accommodation and support to individuals with the above conditions. A Registered Nurse with more than 15 years working in the health and social care sector under her belt, Spiwe Mhondiwa is an expert. She cares and is passionate about what she does.

The supported living care service aims to provide a safe and homely environment

We pride ourselves on recruiting and supplying only competent, committed and compassionate nurses and healthcare assistants that promotes empowerment, independence and choice. It is also designed to enhance the tenant’s daily living skills, with the goal of enabling them to move onto a less supported setting.

Our aims and objectives To provide support that is tailored to each tenant’s individual needs.

To empower tenants to lead as independent a life as possible

Spiwe Mhondiwa

012

To provide services that are non-discriminatory

To provide a service that takes into account each tenant’s preferences, wishes, personal circumstances and individual abilities.

To provide our tenants with support of the highest quality within their own home environments.

For more information, please visit www.severnangels.co.uk or call us on 01905-930707 and choose ‘option 1’.

January/February 2020

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

Having a big audience is one thing, knowing how to engage them is another.

GROWAGRI Supporting development in horticulture and agriculture

e: info@be-everywhere.co.uk t: 0191 5805 990 www.be-everywhere.co.uk

ARE YOU READY TO JOIN THE AGRI-TECH REVOLUTION IN 2020?

An innovative new project aimed at promoting entrepreneurship to support Worcestershire’s agri-tech sector will launch its FREE programme of talks and workshops in 2020 at Pershore College.

GrowAgri Worcestershire, a ÂŁ2m joint initiative between the college and the European Regional Development Fund, is tasked with supporting the development of technologies that increase efficiency in the horticultural and agricultural industries.

22 & 23 JANUARY A two-day event exploring vertical farming and hydroponics, and will feature a talk by Peter Lane, VicePresident from the Association of Vertical Farming. He will be joined by leading industry experts in hydroponics, aquaculture, artificial lighting and water filtration.

26 & 27 FEBRUARY Based in Bromsgrove but we travel to you and train on your software Courses include Excel, Power BI, Word, PowerPoint and all the popular software packages We also run courses in Presentation Skills, Negotiation and Influencing Skills and many more

Participants will learn about the key features of drones and their commercial applications in horticulture at a two-day aerial management event. Developed by DroneAG, established leaders in drone technology, this is an ideal opportunity for commercial drone users to investigate how they can diversify into the agri-tech revolution.

Full course list on our website Classroom Training and 1-1; Beginners to Advanced Get in touch for more details

To book on either event or for more information go to wcg.ac.uk/growagri or call 0300 135 7179.

Established in 1993

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

013

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

YOUR POSITION IN THE MARKETPLACE: WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT? Everyone who has ever read a book or blog about sales and marketing, tried to break into a new industry, or really heard anything about the best way to run a business will have heard about the importance of USPs. USP stands for Unique Selling Point and essentially means that every business needs SOMETHING to make them stand out against the crowd.

If I asked you, right now, “What makes your business different?”, what would be your answer?

It can be a difficult question and something that is often hard to put into words. But most people will be able to list a few USPs and also the areas where they’ve had the most success.

BUT ARE THESE ACTUAL DIFFERENCES—ARE YOU REALLY THAT DIFFERENT FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? The most illuminating way to find out, to me anyway, is to ask your customers why they decided to go with you rather than your nearest competitor. Find out what they think makes you different. Trust me, it can be eye opening.

For example, if Burger King asked you what made them different to McDonalds, what would you say?

You might prefer one to the other, but at the end of the day, both serve fast food… specialising in burgers.

Speaking of McDonalds, one of the things that really stayed with me from the Ray Kroc’s account of his involvement with McDonald's growth is when he was asked what his business did.

As you might expect, he said that they server burgers. But his investment coach corrected him and said that he was actually a property developer!

At the time McDonald’s were (and remain) one of the largest real estate owners in the US.

AND THIS JUST INTRODUCES ANOTHER ELEMENT IN THE USP QUESTION. What do you think makes you different?

What do your customers think are your differences? And now we can add: what differences matter in business?

These are questions that the big brands ask themselves all the time.

014

Going back to Burger King, they might say that their main USP revolves around the way they make and prepare their burgers. Their customers will say that it comes down to the ability to customise their order. But in business terms, their main USP could be a lower threshold for franchise investment. (I just made that up for this article…please don’t sue me.)

You can see that there is no “single” USP that makes my fictious Burger King example special. The things that make them unique are all about who is asking the question.

AND THIS GOES FOR EVERYONE Here at OpenCRM, we are, at a high level, “just “another hosted CRM product…you have no idea how difficult it is to say that, but at one level it is true.

For some businesses, our most attractive feature is that we have a solution that can help mid-market businesses better manage the whole customer journey. So, the difference is the breadth of application and therefore its functionality in helping business achieve efficiency.

For others, it all comes down to location and personality. We are a modest sized UK business and therefore we understand the pressures of UK businesses. We’re also a nice bunch of guys and gals that you as a customer can get to know, establishing a closer relationship. And that’s a big USP for us when we come up against our larger overseas based competitors.

makes you different" I always pause for thought.

Not because I don't know but because I need to understand what the question means to the asker…what they’re really asking me.

SO HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT ALL OF YOUR USPS ARE? For starters, you’ll already know a lot of them. You will know WHY you wanted to start a business (or join a particular company). You’ll have a good idea where you sit within the market and how you compare to your competitors.

When it comes to discovering those “other” selling points, the best place to go (in my opinion) is direct to your customers.

Through conversations, surveys, and online reviews, you will start to narrow down why they’ve decided to build a relationship with you. And stay with you.

Use this information to build on your existing marketing strategies and your business will grow…and then you’ll have even more opportunity to find out why your customers chose you.

It’s a never ending cycle.

Graham Anderson, is the CEO and founder of OpenCRM, one of the UK’s leading customer relationship management systems.

So, when someone asks me "tell me what

January/February 2020

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

40TH ANNIVERSARY IN BUSINESS With much to celebrate on the business front and change forecast for 2020, we caught up with Louise Hewett, founder of Hewett Recruitment. From changes in technology to getting the right person in the right seat, read on to find out more about recruitment across the area for 2020.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE APPROACHING YOUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN BUSINESS? It means a celebration is required! It’s the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I’m very proud of what we’ve all achieved so far and we have ambitious growth plans. I believe our core values have played a huge part in our sustained success, they may have been tweaked slightly over the years but the belief in bringing together a team of talented people who act with integrity and love what they do goes a long way to creating value and providing a service that delivers “recruitment as it should be”.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY RECRUITMENT AS IT SHOULD BE? Well it’s not only about filling jobs! Our first task is often advising clients on how to enhance their employer brand to help attract and retain the best talent.

Our in house marketing resource works closely with clients often creating PR opportunities, joint marketing campaigns, videos and sharing social media expertise.

Recruitment is more of a science these days and our specialist consultants manage the process to secure that elusive talent through their in-depth knowledge of their sectors and the advanced technology and tools at their disposal.

IS CSR IMPORTANT TO YOU? Our voluntary work in the community is part of what makes us tick. I think it’s in the genes. My mum was always getting involved in various charities and it’s just become part of who we are. Our team enjoy taking part in various activities from jumping out of planes to marathons etc; in fact we’re celebrating our 40th by raising 40k for local charities in 2020. This will culminate in a finale charity event next year and we are all very excited about that!

WILL IT BE HARD TO MOVE IN TO THE CHAIRMAN ROLE NEXT YEAR? Good question! To which I answer an emphatic NO. We have been preparing for this transition for the last couple of years – I now have two very dynamic and capable directors in the shape of my daughter Laura Hewett and Ben Mannion,

who is virtually family – having been at primary school with Laura many moons ago - they have always been firm friends.

Over the last 12 months we’ve developed our plans for growth and moved to superb new offices to enable us to engage the best talent within our industry. Our team enjoy flexible working and supportive personal development enabling them to achieve excellence and autonomy in their role. We look forward to welcoming new specialists to our team particularly in the areas of Engineering and IT. I will very much keep my finger on the pulse of the business while Laura and Ben drive our plans forward with the team. Exciting times ahead!

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE RECRUITMENT INDUSTRY EVOLVING? In my role as director of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, I’m fortunate to play a small part in helping to shape the direction of the industry. I was also a founder member of the Future of Jobs Commission in London. It’s clear that our role will continue to evolve as we embrace technology and digitisation.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

New jobs and skills will emerge that haven’t even been thought of yet and others will become obsolete. It’s time for disruption before being disrupted; creating new workforce strategies and exposing untapped pools of talent for our clients. We recently enjoyed sharing our expertise with the top Worcestershire businesses at a series of consultations held by the WLEP. Our consultative role as trusted advisers to businesses has become an integral and valued support to employers looking to enhance, or work towards becoming employers of choice in this people competitive environment.

We love technology but our clients want knowledge, advice and support in this fast moving business environment. So in answer to your question – it’s speed and efficiency of technology enabling more time for the consultative approach for business = ‘right person in right seat’.

015

BUSINESSNEWS

NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR COUNTY CRICKET CLUB Worcestershire County Cricket Club have announced two new additions to their board.

Emma Hallam was co-opted to the Board and approved by Members at the 2019 AGM, Emma will bring a wealth of experience to the board, as Senior Manager for large corporates at HSBC. With their ambitious plans, the County Cricket Club sought additional board representation in areas such as Marketing, Human Resources and Operations, this resulted in Elaine Chandler also being co-opted onto the board. Elaine is head of HR at Universities and Colleges Admissions (UCAS), having previously held senior HR roles at Worcestershire County Council.

These new signings will help ensure that the success on the field is replicated off the field also for Worcestershire County Cricket Club. www.wccc.co.uk

NEW FOCUS FOR 2020

Bishop Fleming celebrating their year of success

LOCAL ACCOUNTANCY PRACTICE LOOKS TOWARDS A NEW DECADE OF OPPORTUNITIES 2020 brings the start of a new century of business for professional services firm, Bishop Fleming.

After a hugely successful centenary year in 2019, Including winning the prestigious BCC Chamber Business Award for Best Business 2019, the firm aims to be the most rewarding accountancy practice in the UK for its clients, people and communities.

The Bishop Fleming team, across all seven offices and with help from their clients, raised over £120,000 for charities serving their local communities. This included sponsoring the Bath Half, completing the Three Peaks Challenge and a team walking 100 miles in 4 days for St Richard’s Hospice.

2019 turned out to be a successful and eventful year for Tree-survey business Focus Ecology. As winners of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s Micro-Business of the Year, the business will also celebrate its 10-year anniversary in February 2020, and it has decided that now is the time for a rebrand.

Focus Ecology has now become Focus Environmental Consultants.

The rebrand was in recognition of the increased range of services that the company now offers. The new name allows for plenty of scope for growth and will look to develop its existing services and provide more complementary in-house solutions for clients.

The company looks well-rooted for the new decade of business and has made ambitious plans for the next number of years to offer a landscape architecture service and topographic surveys to provide a real one-stop-shop for its clients both new and old. www.focus-ecology.com

Chair at Bishop Fleming, Ian Smith, said: “We are so incredibly proud to have won Business of The Year and the Workplace Wellbeing Award. The double-win speaks volumes about the people and culture we have here at Bishop Fleming. www.bishopfleming.co.uk

Staff at Focus Environmental Consultants celebrating their rebranding success

MIDLANDS HONOURED WITH SILVER AWARDS FOR ARMED FORCES EMPLOYERS 15 Herefordshire and Worcestershire businesses were presented with the prestigious Silver Employer Recognition Scheme award at a ceremony held in October at the iconic National Memorial Arboretum. Silver Award employers must demonstrate support, and actively communicate the company’s status as an Armed Forces friendly organisation.

Members of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce were honoured with the award, including the likes of Global Radiodata Communications Ltd, Kinetic Six Ltd, Level Peaks Associates, Spectra Group, and finally, Ubi-Tech (3R) Limited.

016

The Chamber would like to wish congratulations to all businesses that were nominated.

Representing the Chamber at the event, Director of HR, Dawn Hardman, said: “It was a privilege to be invited to the Silver Awards and hear about how local employers are actively supporting members of the Armed Forces. The Chamber has recently been awarded with the bronze accreditation to show our support for this initiative."

To find out more about the scheme, please visit www.gov.uk/government/ publications/defence-employerrecognition-scheme

January/February 2020

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

017

SKILLS

FURTHER RECOGNITION ACROSS THE TWO COUNTIES FOR APPRENTICES IN THE AREA Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards winners

320 PEOPLE ATTEND WORCESTERSHIRE APPRENTICESHIPS AWARDS 28 of the county’s best apprentices, apprenticeship employers, careers leads, schools and training providers were celebrated in front of 320 people at Treetops Pavilion, West Midlands Safari Park on Thursday 14 November.

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcester Local Enterprise Patnership, said: “It's always such a pleasure to be a part of the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards.

“It is an opportunity to recognise the achievements of employers, training providers and participants working together to inspire the future workforce in the country.”

Included within the 12 categories was Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year which Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce proudly sponsored, this was awarded to Give as you Live, which provides an easy way to raise funds for charity just by shopping online.

For further information on the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2019, visit the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website www.worcsapprenticeships.org.uk

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association welcomed a combined 500 guests to its Annual Apprentice Awards Evening held in each of the two counties in November 2019.

Each year the employer led, not for profit training provider, welcomes families, friends, employers and special guests to an evening of celebration to showcase the work of the learners of the previous year.

Engineering and Commerce Apprentices were awarded their qualification certificates followed by a presentation of Special Awards which go to the highest commended apprentices in their specialist area, and year of study.

This year’s special guest speaker was explorer and campaigner, Belinda Kirk, who has worked with explorers such as Bear Grylls and Ray Mears. Belinda gave an inspirational talk about her travels, how she has helped others to overcome adversity and encouraged attendees to step out of their comfort zone. www.hwgta.org

Mark Stansfeld, local entrepreneur and Chair of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP)

FELLOWSHIP AWARDED TO POPULAR LOCAL BUSINESSMAN AND CHAIR OF WLEP As part of this year’s graduation ceremonies, Mark Stansfeld, local entrepreneur and Chair of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP), was named a Fellow of the University of Worcester following his outstanding work and over 30 years’ experience in his field.

As well as chairing Airband, giffgaff and previously working closely with the likes of 02 UK, Mark has a wealth of experience in telecoms and technology, and helping businesses to become some of the fastest growing in the country.

From his time spent in role as Chair of WLEP, Mark has played an essential role in driving the 5G Testbed in Worcestershire – allowing the county to be at the forefront of the next technological revolution – and changing how we communicate in the future.

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Mark on his exceptional achievement, and looks forward to continuing to work closely with him as we integrate 5G into the county.

This year’s Special Award winners in Herefordshire

www.wlep.co.uk

MARCHES LEP BACKS UNIVERSITY PROJECT WITH £5.66M FUNDING DEAL Three new centres to train the next generation of engineers could be built on Hereford’s Enterprise Zone after the Marches LEP agreed a £5.66m funding package for the city’s proposed new university. The decision follows a submission of a business case to the LEP from the New Model in Technology and Engineering (NMiTE) supporting the development of new learning and teaching facilities.

The go-ahead by the LEP Board follows the initial £2.34m deal signed in August which has been used to support the transformation of the former Robert Owen Academy in Blackfriars Street, now known

018

as Blackfriars, for future students to learn practical engineering skills.

NMiTE is aiming to address the shortage of skilled graduate engineers in the region across the advanced manufacturing, agri-engineering, data, defence, resources security, and sustainable/smart living technology sectors.

Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, President and Chief Executive of NMiTE, said: “This is welcome news for NMiTE having received its full support from the Marches LEP of £8 million. We are looking forward to the new developments at the Enterprise Zone.”

Photographed: Elena Rodriguez-Falcon speaking at the Chamber’s Business Expo in March 2018

www.marcheslep.org.uk www.nmite.ac.uk

January/February 2020

BUSINESSNEWS

THE 2025 TELEPHONE NETWORK SWITCH-OFF & THE MOVE TO A CLOUD BASED TELEPHONE SYSTEM Openreach announced some time ago that they will be transferring their networks from analogue & digital to IP (internet protocol) networks. As a result it will no longer be possible to maintain the public switched telephone network (PSTN), which includes ISDN Lines (mainly used by businesses) and analogue PSTN lines (that most people have at home) beyond the 2025 date. PSTN lines will still be used beyond this date to run broadband but not for voice calls.

Some companies are advising that the date is 2020 but this is the date when Openreach will stop taking orders for any new ISDN products, not switching off the network completely. A cloud system does have many benefits but ensuring that you have suitable connectivity in place is key.

this have several cost benefits but it means the software on your system will never become outdated and the call quality is fantastic. www.redlinetele.com

Rather than having a traditional telephone system hosted on-site, this is instead replicated in a large data centre. This allows for great flexibility with a huge range of features on offer. Not only does

MFG HERE TO DEAL WITH CONTENTIOUS PROBATE CLAIMS

FIRST STATION TO BE OPENED IN WORCESTERSHIRE FOR OVER 100 YEARS Construction is complete at the brand-new impressive Worcestershire Parkway station.

Rail Industry partners and Worces­tershire County Council have confirmed that the standard rigorous rail industry “Entry into Service” process is also near­ing completion.

It will benefit from the introduction of the new Cross Country and GWR time­table, the latter covering all GWR ser­vices across Western England and South Wales, representing the greatest change on the GWR network for over 30 years.

Contentious probate refers to all claims which involve a deceased’s estate and includes claims where a will may not be valid, or where a reasonable financial provision for an individual who was closely connected to the deceased has been overlooked. It can also include issues with the administration of the estate.

Chamber patrons mfg Solicitors have a nationally-recognised team of solicitors whose expertise is focussed entirely on the bringing and defending of contentious probate claims – with a nationwide track record of cost-effective resolution.

The team, which is based at the firm’s Kidderminster office, includes partners Suzanne Lee, Robert Weston and Associate, Andrew Chandler.

If Chamber Members wish to find out more about contentious probate issues they can contact Andrew Chandler at mfg Solicitors by calling 01562 820181 or email andrew.chandler@mfgsolicitors.com www.mfgsolicitors.com

Some key peak services to and from London will take less than 2 hours, and passengers will be able to get to Cardiff in 1 hour 23 minutes and to Nottingham in 1 hour 49 minutes.

The 500-space car park will ensure that passengers will have no difficulty parking.

UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON KICKS OFF NEW SPONSORSHIP DEAL The University of Wolverhampton has announced a new sponsorship deal with Walsall FC. The sponsorship means that sports students will benefit from the partnership as they are able to work with players and coaching staff at the Club, as well as gaining insights through guest lectures.

The partnership also sees the Saddlers benefit from the University’s sports facilities at its Walsall Campus which has recently undergone a £1 million regeneration. This includes new hi-tech equipment like the edge 3D motion capture technology and an environmental chamber to replicate nearly any climate imaginable.

The University will also see their branding appear at the team’s Banks’s Stadium as sponsors of the away stand.

The station will also be served by the number X50 bus on its routes from Eve­sham to Worcester via Pershore and has taxi ranks and drop off points.

The announcement comes during the University’s new sports curriculum, which has been developed to focus on students’ future career aspirations and job prospects.

For more about the project visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/parkway

(L-R) Stefan Gamble, Chief Executive Officer at Walsall FC, Dr Ross Cloak, Course Leader for Sport and Exercise Science at the University and Dr Richard Medcalf, Director of the Institute of Human Sciences at the University.

Andrew Chandler, mfg Associate

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

www.wlv.ac.uk

019

CHAMBERTRAINING

www.hwchamber.co.uk/training

NEW YEAR – NEW COURSES! As we enter a new decade, the Chamber training department begin by reflecting on the past year of training. 2019 saw us run over 130 public training courses and over 50 bespoke days at various companies across the two counties and beyond. As well as this we delivered HR Consultancy services to over 8 different businesses, totalling 12 working days and a handful of 1-2-1 coaching sessions along the way.

WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS Our newest course in the portfolio, this Mental Health Awareness Course provides participants with comprehensive knowledge and confidence of how to support, recognise and signpost a person in the workplace who is suffering with mental ill health.

With an addition of three new Health and Wellbeing courses; Mental Health First Aid Champion, Workplace Mental Health Awareness and IOSH Managing Occupational Health & Wellbeing, our training portfolio is continuously expanding, with plenty more to come in 2020.

Throughout 2019, we introduced new trainers for some of our courses, a whole office refurbishment, which gave our training rooms a brand-new look and lastly, but by no means least, we had a new member of the team. Amanda Swingewood joined us in July. Whilst dividing her time between the Events and Training department, she plays a key role in the day-to-day running of the training department.

The future of business is extremely important to all of us, and our staff are the key part in our business success. Chamber Business Training offers a wide range of courses, whether you need to solve an immediate skills gap or a long-term training provider to deliver a series of training solutions.

Throughout this coming year, use your New Year’s resolution to develop your staff in areas to compliment their strengths and focus on mindfulness throughout your business. We offer training across a wide variety of topics including; Personal Development, Sales and Customer Care, PR and Marketing, HR, Legislation and Regulation and Information Technology plus many more.

These are just a taste of the new courses we have on offer at the Chamber, if you would like to receive updates on any new training and upcoming course dates, please email training@hwchamber.co.uk to sign up to our mailing list.

All training course information, including upcoming dates can be found on our website: www.hwchamber.co.uk/training

020

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CHAMPION This one-day Mental Health First Aid course is an internationally recognised training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.

Having delivered 5 training days throughout 2019, this will be a big feature of our 2020 portfolio.

IOSH MANAGING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & WELLBEING We are proud to be one of the first training providers in the country to deliver the brand new IOSH Managing Occupational Health & Wellbeing training course. This course provides practical advice and tools for managers to help create healthy and productive place of work.

January/February 2020

CHAMBERBUSINESSTRAINING

TRAINING CALENDAR JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 JANUARY COURSE DATES Email Marketing Tuesday 14 January - 9.30am-1.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members An Introduction to Digital Marketing & PR Thursday 16 January - 9.30am-1.30pm FREE for Members £110+VAT Non-members Introduction to Project Management Friday 17 January - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members PowerPoint for Presentations Friday 17 January - 9.30am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Communicating for Success Tuesday 21 January - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Employment Law Update Wednesday 22 January - 10.00am-3.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Managing Performance in the Team Thursday 23 January - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Conducting Effective Team Appraisals Tuesday 28 January - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members IOSH Managing Occupational Health & Wellbeing Wednesday 29 January - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

FEBRUARY COURSE DATES

FEBRUARY COURSE DATES

Quality Manager Training Monday 3 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £236+VAT Members £295+VAT Non-members An Introduction to Digital Marketing & PR Tuesday 4 February - 9.30am-1.30pm FREE for Members £110+VAT Non-members IOSH Working Safely Tuesday 4 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Assertiveness and Confidence at Work Wednesday 5 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Creating a Customer Care Culture Thursday 6 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Managing People in the Team Tuesday 11 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Google Analytics Thursday 13 February - 9.30am-1.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members HR for the Non HR Managers Thursday 13 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Finance Skills for Non Finance Managers Monday 17 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Train the Trainer Tuesday 18 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Effective Professional Proofreading Wednesday 19 February - 9.30am-1.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members Advanced Microsoft Excel Thursday 20 February - 9.30am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Introduction to WordPress Tuesday 25 February - 9.30am-1.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members Successful Telesales Tuesday 25 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Introduction to Microsoft Excel Wednesday 26 February - 9.30am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Effective Time Management Thursday 27 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Emergency First Aid at Work Thursday 27 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members

Role of the Team Leader Thursday 30 January - 9.30am-4.30pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Search Engine Optimisation Thursday 30 January - 9.30am-1.30pm £90+VAT Members £110+VAT Non-members

For more information and bookings contact us on 01905 673 611, training@hwchamber.co.uk. or www.hwchamber.co.uk/training Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

021

CHAMBEREVENTS

www.hwchamber.co.uk/events

BOOK YOUR STAND AT THE REGIONS’ BIGGEST BUSINESS EXPO Sponsored by Hewett Recruitment

The Spring Business Expo will take place on 12 March 2020 at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. This is your chance to meet new suppliers, generate sales and increase awareness of the products and services that you offer to over 800 attendees.

Statistics from our last event in October; 100% of exhibitors surveyed met new connections at the Chamber Expo, with 86% of them forecasting sales in the near future as a direct result of gaining these leads.

95% of attendees surveyed met new connections at the Chamber Expo, with 78% of them rating the variety of businesses exhibiting at the event above 8 out of 10.

What our Exhibitors say; "Great first experience of exhibiting, the event was well organised both before & during. A great networking breakfast and there were lots of varied businesses attending." – Hill HR Consultancy "Fisher German have been exhibitors at the Expo for many years, we really enjoyed the experience and felt that our aim to increase brand awareness was successful." – Fisher German "A good networking event – we were first time exhibitors and were pleased with the outcome & took away some useful contacts." - Hay Wines Exhibition stand bookings start from £299.00+VAT, for all information about the Expo including booking forms, please contact the Events Team on 01905 673624 or visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/events/business-expo

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SERIES NEW FOR 2020 Sponsored by 3WH The Chamber is pleased to announce a new programme for 2020, in partnership with 3WH. Aimed at professionals from all sectors and of all sizes, the highly interactive six-part personal leadership development programme allows delegates who manage people to learn more about what it takes to be an exceptional leader, build high-performing teams and lead change with confidence and conviction.

Wednesday 22nd January Leading with Vision, Integrity & Authenticity

VENUE AND TIME FOR EACH WORKSHOP:

Wednesday 20th May Leading Talent - how to engage multi-generations through engagement & development

Bank House Hotel Spa and Golf, Bransford, Worcester WR6 5JD, from 8.30-11.00am Attendees are advised to have an up to date DISC Profile for their current role, to ensure the content is relevant. A DISC profile can be purchased for this series for £100.00+VAT through the Chamber.

COST: £299.00+VAT Members for 6 Workshops £399.00+VAT Non-members for 6 Workshops £59.00+VAT Members for 1 Workshop £79.00+VAT Non-members for 1 Workshop

022

PROGRAMME DATES AND TOPICS:

Wednesday 18th March Leading as a Coach – how the best leaders use coaching as their ultimate tool

Wednesday 22nd July Leading with Clear Goals – providing fabulous feedback and creating culture of accountability Wednesday 23rd September Leading Continuous Improvement & Innovation - how to embed CI tools and methodologies to stay ahead Wednesday 18th November Leading with Motivation – learn to create a positive change in workplace culture during uncertain times

ARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE CHAMBER AWARDS? Sponsored by Folk 2 Folk Entries for the Annual Chamber Business Awards open on Friday 24 January 2020, the black-tie ceremony with over 650 attendees will take place on Thursday 2 July at the Worcester Arena with entry free for Members and Non-Members.

Award categories include: NEW – Commitment to the Community Award sponsored by Sanctuary Group NEW – Excellence in Sustainability sponsorship available Best use of Technology sponsored by TechTeam Employer of the Year sponsored by University of Worcester Excellence in Customer Service sponsored by Air Products Excellence in Innovation sponsored by Malvern Hills Science Park Exporter of the Year sponsored by Malvern Panalytical Family Business of the Year sponsored by Harrison Clark Rickerbys Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace sponsored by Cargill Protein Europe High Growth Business of the Year sponsored by EBC Group Manufacturer of the Year sponsored by OGL Computer Micro Business of the Year sponsored by Worcestershire Business Central Most Promising New Business sponsored by mfg Solicitors LLP Small Business of the Year sponsored by Orchard Valley Foods The Professional Services Award sponsored by Worcestershire County Council All winners will be automatically entered into the Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Folk2Folk, this award crowns the winner of winners for 2020.

The Chamber will also be hosting an informative event on Thursday 23 January at the Worcester Cricket Club from 8.00-9.30am, where attendees will learn how to navigate the new online entering system and also hear top tips from judges.

Entries close at 4.00pm on Friday 27 March 2020. Please visit www.hwchamber.co.uk, for more information.

January/February 2020

CHAMBEREVENTS

NETWORKING CALENDAR JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2020 JANUARY Worcester Women’s Business Forum in association with Bishop Fleming Wednesday 15 January - 9.30-11.30am Pensons Estate, Tenbury Wells WR15 8RT FREE for Members £20+VAT Non-members

FEBRUARY Hereford Women’s Business Forum in association with Hereford Racecourse Tuesday 4 February - 9.30-11.30am Hereford Racecourse, Roman Road, Hereford HR4 9QU FREE for Members £20+VAT Non-members Worcester Curry Club in association Sharpmonkeys

Redditch HR Forum

Thursday 6 February - 5.30-7.30pm

in association with Hewett Recruitment

Ashleys Indian, 11 The Tything, Worcester WR1 1HD

Wednesday 22 January - 9.30-11.30am

£20+VAT Members

Thorlux Lighting, Merse Road, Redditch B98 9HH

£35+VAT Non-members

FREE for Members & clients of Hewett Recruitment £35+VAT Non-members

Herefordshire Networking Breakfast in association with Albion Computers PLC Wednesday 12 February - 7.30-9.30am

Leadership Development Series

Green Dragon Hotel, Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9BG

in association with 3WH

FREE for Members

Wednesday 22 January - 8.30-11.00am

£20+VAT Non-members

Bank House Hotel Spa & Golf, Bransford, Worcester WR6 5JD £59+VAT Members £79+VAT Non-members

Is your business ready to enter the Chamber Awards?

Thursday 23 January - 8.00-9.30am Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road, Worcester WR2 4QQ FREE for Members & Non-members

Sustainability Forum Friday 24 January - 8.00-10.00am EnviroSort, Woodbury Lane, Worcester WR5 2DF FREE for Members & Non-members

Worcestershire Networking Lunch Thursday 30 January - 7.30-9.30am Manor Hill House, Swan Lane, Upton Warren, Bromsgrove B61 9HE FREE for Members £20+VAT Non-members

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Maximise your Membership Friday 14 February - 8.30-11.00am TBC FREE for Members Worcester HR Forum in association Hewett Recruitment Wednesday 19 February - 9.30-11.30am Chamber of Commerce, Severn House, Prescott Drive, Worcester WR4 9NE FREE for Members & clients of Hewett Recruitment £35+VAT Non-members Worcestershire Networking Breakfast in association with Collate Systems Wednesday 26 February - 7.30-9.30am The Office Canteen, Unit 9, Great Western Business Park, McKenzie Way, Worcester WR4 9GN FREE for Members £20+VAT Non-members

SAVE THE DATE Food & Drink Conference in association with mfg Solicitors Tuesday 24 March - 9.00am-12.00pm Pershore College, Avon Bank, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3JP FREE for Members £20+VAT Non-members

023

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

FREE UPSKILL TRAINING PROGRAMME LISTENS TO NEEDS OF BUSINESS construction, engineering, horticulture and many more.

A free training programme for business professionals aged over 50 has been working with employers to ensure it helps to meet the skills gap in Worcestershire.

The sessions will be delivered across WCG’s three colleges in the region, Evesham College, Malvern Hills College and Pershore College, and typically last up to one day.

Business professionals are being urged to take advantage of Train 4 Success, which is being delivered by college group WCG and is funded through the European Social Fund.

The training programme was launched in 2019 to upskill workforces across the region in small and medium sized businesses.

Since being launched, WCG has been surveying employers and professionals to ensure that the offering for 2020 caters to the skills needs of businesses in Worcestershire.

Training sessions will include management, HR, IT, computing, accountancy, first aid,

But the college group will also be tailoring sessions for organisations if they have specific skill needs, and also come into workplaces to deliver the sessions.

Adrian Barradell, from Train 4 Success, said: “Having the right employees in place, with the right skills set and then retaining them, is a key challenge for many employers.

“Train 4 Success was launched in 2019 to help to meet this need. In particular, it helps to close skills gaps for mature workers.

“Training options for 2020 include team leadership and management, cybersecurity, public speaking, company mentoring, working with children,

pesticides in agriculture, vehicle maintenance and much, much more. It is therefore very varied.

“What’s more, if your organisation has a specific area that you’d like training in, we may be able to tailor a bespoke package for you and come to your premises.”

For more information, go to www.wcg.ac.uk/trainforsuccess or call 0330 135 7218.

We’re not “just another” RFID company…

We like to get involved – to understand your processes, your pain points. Only then will we apply our many years of collective experience to deliver a cost-effective solution perfectly matched to your application, no matter which industry you’re involved in.

labels | barcoding | RFID

Lovett Road, Hampton Lovett Industrial Estate Droitwich Spa Worcestershire WR9 0QG Telephone: 01905 794779 Email: info@fairfieldgroup.com Web: www.fairfieldgroup.com

Businesses will apply RFID tags to several billion items this year, giving each of them a unique digital identity and allowing them to make better business decisions – it’s now less of a science project and more just good business practice, in line with the emerging trends of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things.

How could this help your business? One way is that RFID can help improve efficiency – for example in inventory control or logistics. With bar codes, you need line of sight to scan the code. With RFID, however, you can scan what’s in the box without opening the box, saving you significant time. With barcodes, you can only read one at a time – with RFID, you can reads hundreds within a second or two.

We’d be happy to show you how it all works and the effect it could have within your organization. We could either encode the inlays for you, or provide everything you need to produce your own encoded tags or even a custom solution which will integrate into your existing manufacturing system.

So, we think you’ll find we’re not “just another” RFID company.

Member

Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!

024

January/February 2020

LEGALMATTERS

LAWYERS AT A LAW FIRM IN HEREFORD HAVE ONCE AGAIN FIGURED STRONGLY AS LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD IN A NATIONAL GUIDE CONSIDERED TO BE THE “WHO’S WHO” OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. “National directories like this are clearly highly competitive and for a lawyer or team to be recognised in this way is a tremendous achievement. Chambers is a well-respected guide, so we are extremely proud to be so well represented again this year

The Chambers & Partners legal guide has been helping people find the best lawyers and law firms for more than 30 years through a national ranking system compiled by a team of experienced researchers.

Lanyon Bowdler, which has offices in Hereford and Bromyard, as well as across Shropshire and North Wales, is listed in nine different areas of law in the 2020 guide including both the family and agricultural and rural affairs teams in Hereford, Worcester and surrounding areas.

The firm also has 14 individual lawyers included in the guide and managing partner, Brian Evans, said the recommendations were well-deserved.

He said: “We are delighted with the new rankings which are all the more pleasing

Brian Evans

because the guide is based on independent research and interviews with our clients, solicitors from other firms, and other professionals.

“I like to think this reinforces our position as a leading law firm people know they can trust. It highlights the strength of our firm across a wide range of legal services - a valuable endorsement of the strength and expertise of our team.

“It means our lawyers have been assessed

by Chambers researchers and received a rating based on what our peers and clients say about us and their own independent research.

“We are extremely grateful for all the positive feedback which has allowed us to maintain such a prominent position in the guide.

Lanyon Bowdler features strongly in the guide each year which is a tribute to the high standards we continually set ourselves in delivering the best service for our clients.

For more information about Lanyon Bowdler, visit the website at www.lblaw.co.uk or call 0800 652 3371.

Our People, Your Team

Transparently priced, practical advice and support delivered by legal specialists in Herefordshire Our specialist corporate, commercial property, dispute resolution and employment lawyers provide support to help you grow and protect your business, giving you a solid foundation to build upon

To find out more about the services we offer call us on 01432 378379 Beaumont House, Offa Street, Hereford HR1 2LH • 44 High Street, Bromyard HR7 4AE

info@lblaw.co.uk www.lblaw.co.uk Shrewsbury • Bromyard • Conwy • Hereford • Ludlow • Oswestry • Telford

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

025

BUSINESSNEWS

COMMUNITY HELPS TO RAISE MORE THAN £15,000 FOR THE LITTLE PRINCESS TRUST Thousands of pounds were raised for The Little Princess Trust (LPT) when the charity held a fundraising ball near its Hereford home. The event at Lyde Arundel took on a Swedish theme to mark LPT's move to offer its free service overseas.

LPT is now working with Carl M Lundh to ensure its wigs are now being given to children in Scandinavia who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment. More than 200 guests enjoyed Swedish food

and danced to music from Abba's Angels while an auction helped raise more than £15,000 on the night.

Phil Brace, LPT Chief Executive, proudly informed all present that the charity is now one of the biggest funders of research into childhood cancers in the UK. The charity also provides 2,000 wigs each year to young people who have lost their own hair due to cancer treatment and other conditions. www.littleprincesses.org.uk

Little Princess Trust Co-Founder and Research Manager Wendy Tarplee-Morris welcomes Sophie Lenormand and Ulf Rittemar, from Carl M Lundh, to the charity's Swedish ball.

EBC GROUP WIN NATIONAL CLOUD AWARD Helen Davenport, Partner

MAKING THE MOST OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR BUSINESS “AI is already affecting most aspects of our lives including business; where it is being used to solve problems by using big data to inform key decisions. Organisations are beginning to see the capabilities that AI can provide and are using these to produce and gain real value from their data, whether it be for internal purposes or for clients.

“With the additional cost-savings from implementing AI systems, employers should also focus on upskilling their current employees.

Joined by a host of businesses from across the UK, the prestigious ceremony held at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London, recognises the very best of the UK’s IT industry.

The award for Cloud Project of the Year celebrates the partnership between Managed Service Provider, EBC Group and Solicitors Talbots Law, following a £1 million investment in a new state-of-the-art IT infrastructure.

Group Managing Director of EBC Group Richard Lane commented ‘‘We are absolutely thrilled that our project with Talbots Law has been recognised on a national level. EBC Group continues to push forward and invest in cloud technology, with our new data centre housed at the iconic BT House-BT Tower in Birmingham city centre, allowing us to provide the very best of private, shared or hybrid cloud solutions.’ www.ebcgroup.co.uk

“As with all new technology, the subject of regulation is one that needs to be addressed. It is fundamental to address the potential pitfalls of new technologies and have regulations in place to address them.

There is currently no specific legal provision for the regulation of the development or the use of AI applications in the UK; however, a range of existing regulatory regimes may overlap this territory and be used to some extent to regulate these activities.

We expect the new decade to bring clearer policy developments.” www.gowlingwlg.com

026

PRESTIGIOUS HONOUR AWARDED TO MALVERN PANALYTICAL Malvern Panalytical’s Mastersizer 3000, which is a particle size analyser, was among the products being awarded with the SelectScience Seal of Quality. The award recognises laboratory products that have consistently received the highest review ratings from scientists around the world and is named after leading online publisher SelectScience.

The awards are given to only around 0.1% of products on the SelectScience website and are allocated in line with strict criteria based on the quantity of reviews a product has received and the average rating of those reviews.

The Programme, launched in 2017, has been hailed by industry leaders and described as providing ‘invaluable’ information for scientists.

The Malvern-based business was a small number of organisations to receive the prestigious award at a special presentation ceremony hosted by CEO and Co-Founder of SelectScience, Arif Butt and Editor, Lois Manton O’Byrne, at Lab Innovations 2019, Birmingham, UK.

EBC staff celebrate award

www.malvernpanalytical.com/en

January/February 2020

BUSINESSNEWS

LESK ENGINEERS GOES ROBOTIC Lesk Engineers in Worcester has invested around £200,000 in a new Mazak Quickturn 250MY machine and a 6 axis three arm Universal Robot. This will enable the company to produce precision parts for the Aerospace, Machine Tool and Rail industries on a 24 hour basis when needed.

LESK Engineers and their new machine and Universal Robot

The University of Worcester has been presented with the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community Award at the Times Higher Education Awards 2019.

With accuracies of 30 microns and being Aerospace accredited this will give Lesk Engineers the ability to increase both the type of components they can make as well as improving capacity.

Jim McBride, Chairman of Lesk Engineers, said: “Once we are fully familiar with this technology we will certainly be investing in many more of this type of robot. Our

future lies in upskilling our engineers, being more efficient and having greater flexibility to manufacture complex components” www.leskengineers.co.uk

APPLIED PRINCIPLES BRANCHES OUT TO SOUTH AFRICA Applied Principles is excited to announce the opening of its branch office in South Africa. The investment into the African market is a direct result of the company’s rapid growth and will serve the growing list of customers in the region.

In September 2019 Applied Principles confirmed the opening of its South African branch with Johan Olivier, Service Delivery Manager – Africa, in charge of the day to day running. Since July 2018 the business has experienced phenomenal growth in South Africa. Applied Principles has been trusted to standardise and enhance the business operations for Afarak Group, Elmacast Engineering, Adlam Engineering, Afrigrit, Jubilee Metals Group and JB Marks Local Municipality.

UNIVERSITY AWARDED TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION 2019 WINNER

The award was the result of the inspirational work by the Association for Dementia Studies, established by Professor Dawn Brooker. The team develop practical ways of working with those living with dementia, whilst delivering education programmes, resources and publications that enable staff to provide skilled care.

In total, the University was shortlisted in six award categories, including; University of the Year, Outstanding Support for Students, Datapoints Merit Award, International Collaboration of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community and finally Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year.

The University was also named as Stability institution of the Year at the Green Gown Awards, which means that they will now go on to represent the Colleges and Universities of the United Kingdom at the global awards. www.worcester.ac.uk

JJ Kotze, Managing Director, commented: “The opening of the branch office is a big step forward for our company. It enables us to comply with all the South African laws and regulations and puts us in a position to accelerate our marketing and sales plans for the region.” www.appliedprinciples.eu

HEWETT RECRUITMENT TO HELP FILL 40 NEW POSITIONS FOR NEW KIDDERMINSTER WAREHOUSE Chamber Patron Member Hewett Recruitment has been tasked to find 40 new employees for a new warehouse opening in Kidderminster.

The recruitment drive is scheduled to be held over December and January and will be for a range of positions including “temp-to-perm” warehouse operatives and Bendi/Flexi drivers.

To see such investment being made in the local area is fantastic, the 12,000 square metre site at Stourport Road has been in

the process of being refurbished and now is ready to open.

Director of Hewett Recruitment, Laura Hewett, said: “It is fantastic that a global organisation has chosen to invest into Kidderminster and we are delighted to partner with them.”

This comes after a busy few months for the recruitment company, who has recently relocated their offices to a larger site in Diglis, in the Worcester area. www.hewett-recruitment.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Caption: TVH warehouse logistics Manager Martin Packer with Hewett Recruitment Director Laura Hewett

027

BIGINTERVIEW

GOING FOR GROWTH Creative industries pour millions into the local economy, a fact not lost on commercial-charity hybrid Rural Media. We hear about a film company breaking the mould.

Such is one company’s determination to give the rural communities of the West Midlands a voice that it has caught the ears of royalty and the BBC alike.

His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex, for one, is planning a visit to the Hereford studios of film and digital arts production company Rural Media which, in its drive to give isolated communities and young people a platform, is making waves.

When chief executive Nic Millington launched the enterprise 30-odd years ago, it was just him and a personal assistant and an aspiration to use his passion for film productively.

“I was inspired by 1960s European art film and so on,” he said. “I have also carried with me from those very early days a real awareness of and frustration that young people, in particular, don’t have a voice.

“Rural Media has a mission to bring the power of film and creativity together with young people and communities that are not faring very well to give them that voice.”

Whilst enjoying the continued support of the Arts Council, the company has expanded to employ 18 members of staff. Each year it also works with

around 80 freelancers, mostly drawn from Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.

In recent years, it has ramped up its investment in broadcast-standard production equipment to the extent that Rural Media’s clients – among them, West Midlands businesses, local authorities and public services providers – no longer need to travel out of the region to access studio time.

Nic said: “We have invested so heavily in high-end production and post-production audio and video technology that, really, it means in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Marches we probably have the highest quality production facility outside of Bristol and Cardiff.”

The studio complex is key to the two very distinct halves that make up the enterprise.

On the one hand there is Rural Media Charity, which supports schools, community groups and individuals in the making of films that have a well-defined purpose, whether that be to raise awareness of a specific issue or to influence change or simply to celebrate an aspect of rural life.

And on the other hand, there is Rural Media Productions, the commercial arm that makes the whole enterprise possible.

From video to film, social media to broadcast television, the team is adept at taking ideas from concept to screen, whatever size that happens to be.

“The business model in which a charity then has a trading subsidiary is not

Nic Millington

unusual, but I do think for an organisation such as ours it is fairly pioneering,” said Nic. “The production company is working at a number of different levels, doing a lot of commercial and corporate production work in sectors ranging from retail to the food and drink industry to local authorities to tourism.

“When a client commissions work from us they have the added satisfaction of knowing the profits are channelled across to the charity and used to deliver participatory projects in disadvantaged communities.”

Rural Media’s ethos of social inclusion is matched by its dedication to providing the best there is in the way of training and talent development – and that is what has caught the eye of the BBC. Having already produced the Midlands’ contributions to Channel 4 series Random Acts, a showcase for young artists taking their first steps into film, early in 2019 Rural Media was commissioned by BBC Arts and Arts Council England to deliver New Creatives, a national project to introduce new artistic talent across the BBC’s television, radio and digital platforms.

Working with up and coming talent in the 16 to 30 age bracket, the team is overseeing the creation of a hundred new pieces of work.

“36 of them will be moving image and 60 audio,” said Nic. “On top of that, there will also be four interactive pieces especially for the BBC.” “Several of the films have already gone out, on BBC 4. The films are not only supporting the young artists in their professions, but also shining a light on the incredible wealth of talent in our region.

028

January/February 2020

BIGINTERVIEW

“Between them, they are talking about an amazing range of topics – imaginatively – from dating to disability, abuse to fashion.”

Key to the production arm’s work is the training Nic describes as ‘support and development for the creative industry’.

It runs a BA Honours degree course in short film making with Herefordshire College of Art, and a film academy with the British Film Institute for 16 to 19 years old.

Both are designed to give young people a taste of real life in the industry.

But Rural Media’s business approach is typified by the project it is currently running in conjunction with Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

“That is about bridging the gap between the business and cultural elements in our communities – we’re crossing the dance floor, so to speak,” he said. “The range of creative businesses now developing in counties such as Herefordshire is surprising.

“It might be a games business or a design company or an architectural firm, and, yes, film, TV, video and web development, but they are springing up in these rural counties and yet the other business sectors, such as manufacturing and

Creative industries in the UK generate over £100bn annually and employ two million people, and by 2030 it is expected to employ a further one million. agriculture, are largely unaware of these creative companies on their doorstep.

this case on the overall topic of growth and expansion.”

“This project aims to bring the two sides together, to see what we can learn from each other and do together.”

Completing the circle, the company also sits on the Herefordshire Business Board, which in turn feeds directly into the Local Enterprise Partnership.

The three films produced for the project were premiered last month at a county-wide series of Round Table meetings. They have been designed to inspire “a big conversation” on subjects such as apprenticeship programmes, the creation of an online resource, corporate responsibility, and what business can offer culture and what culture can offer business.

Nic said: “This is a fairly typical example of how Rural Media facilitates conversation, in

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

As Nic says, “Creative industries in the UK generate over £100bn annually and employ two million people, and by 2030 it is expected to employ a further one million.

“Creative industries are growing faster than any other economic sector, so it is important counties such as Herefordshire and Worcestershire realise the creative sector will be an important area of growth over the next five to 10 years.”

029

FEATURE

ETL SYSTEMS: A LEADING COMPANY ETL Systems designs and manufactures radio frequency (RF) equipment for satellite communication. Established in 1984, the company’s headquarters in Madley, Herefordshire, has 150 members of staff. There are more offices in the UK, US and Middle East.

The equipment manufactured here in the heart of Herefordshire is used within the defence & government, telecoms, broadcasting and satellite operation markets, with their equipment being used by 75% of the main NATO governments.

GROWTH The company invests heavily in their research and development to meet the changing needs of the global satellite industry. With this comes the importance of investing in staff learning and development. “We want our staff to build their career with us,” said human resource manager Jessica Stone.

In the last financial year alone, 50 training days were provided at a cost of £30,000. Next year’s spend includes further education courses, such as HNCs in Engineering, and a leadership development programme. Recognising and developing internal talent is critical for succession planning and business growth. Last year, ETL invested in some of their leaders by working in partnership with the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce on the Leadership Development Series. Jessica said: “Next year we are very excited to be further investing in our leaders for the future by launching our in house leadership development programme.”

THE FUTURE ETL is a founding sponsor of Hereford’s New Model in Technology and Engineering (NMiTE) University. Jessica said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with the new university on a range of exciting projects designed to nurture new talent for our industry. This will also aid our recruitment strategy by widening our talent pool.”

Despite the challenges posed by being a rural company, recruitment has gone from strength to strength. Jessica said: “Our staff are at the heart of everything we do. The last few years we have increased our headcount from 115 to 150 staff and we continue to drive growth and recruit across the business in a range of disciplines.”

With the launch of its own internal graduate scheme and training programme, ETL has ensured it will attract many more suitable new recruits.

His Royal Highness was greeted by our Managing Directors, Ian Hilditch and Esen Bayar,” she said. “It was wonderful to see him speak to so many members of staff and ask about their particular roles here at ETL.

The company has received many awards, including the Queen’s Award and ‘Exporter of the Year 2018’ from the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. In November, HRH The Prince of Wales visited the company in recognition of its many achievements.

“His Royal Highness was greeted by our managing directors, Ian Hilditch and Esen Bayar,” she said. “It was wonderful to see him speak to so many members of staff and ask about their particular roles here at ETL.” Prince Charles said during unveiling of a commemorative plaque: “What you all do is remarkable and is of enormous importance to Herefordshire and to the country. It is wonderful to see such skilled engineering being applied in this particular field. Clearly you are producing very high quality, high standard equipment which is used to great effect by customers in over 180 countries. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you go from strength to strength.” www.etlsystems.com

030

January/February 2020

FEATURE

SPIRE, A WORLD CLASS OPERATOR Spire South Bank Hospital in Worcester sits centrally amongst the group’s 39 hospitals stretching from Edinburgh to Southampton, providing world class treatment when it is needed.

South Bank offers a range of specialities, said Director of Clinical Services Carole Brooks. “We offer elective care services, from routine surgery for hernias and cataract removal to major surgery including bowel resections, gynaecological surgery, orthopaedic joint replacements and spinal surgery.”

Opened over 30 years ago, South Bank now routinely performs around 6,000 operations a year. This is in addition to the thousands of outpatient consultations and minor procedures. On a relatively small footprint, there are 25 beds, three operating theatres, including a laparoscopic or ‘keyhole’ theatre, a JAG accredited (gold standard) endoscopy suite, a dedicated eye centre, a breast care centre and an imaging centre offering the latest diagnostic services.

Carole Brooks

While South Bank cares for patients undergoing extensive surgery and those having cancer treatments, it does not have high dependency/intensive care facilities.

“People are aware of the competing pressures and challenges facing the NHS, including waiting times,” she said. “We work closely with our NHS colleagues, contributing by offering services to relieve the aforementioned pressures.

“If you need medical treatment and have either private medical insurance or the means of paying for yourself, we can help you.

“But this doesn’t just go for private patients, we also treat NHS patients in some specialties and often people don’t realise this - you can ask your GP to be referred to a private hospital for NHS treatments.”

Alongside all healthcare providers, Spire is subject to strict regulation and oversight by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

“Patient safety and quality of care is our top priority,” said Carole. “We ensure that staff are skilled at providing our patients with the highest standards of care.

“Our consultants come from across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Birmingham and many work for the NHS in addition to the private sector. By doing this and through strict consultant governance, we maintain the highest quality of clinical care in outpatient, diagnostic and inpatient care.”

The consultants are involved with the management of the hospital and the team works closely with the chairman of the independent Medical Advisory Committee.

Carole said: “He is an NHS consultant and represents one of the many layers of scrutiny that, together, ensure we make efficient decisions about clinical services and hospital management.”

With over 300 members of staff, there is a big focus on training, staff retention

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

and ensuring staff have a voice. “Our staff morale is high and everyone works hard to provide the highest quality of clinical care and customer service,” she said. “We are proud of our links with the University of Worcester, where we support the education of student nurses and physiotherapists through clinical placements at our hospital.”

The hospital also reaches out to GP surgeries across the region by offering free training and education for clinicians, their way of taking knowledge and expertise out into the community. “Our consultants work collaboratively with GPs and have strong relationships with primary care,” Carole said. “Being present and supporting the local community where our patients, staff and their families live is important to us. In addition to education, we also offer free public health information events and support our chosen charities, this year being Maggs Day Centre and Worcester Snoezelen.”

As for the future, Carole stresses the hospital is always developing and taking on the latest advances in medical technology.

This month (January) heralds the advent of day-case hip replacements, for patients fulfilling the criteria. “We’re one of the first hospitals in the area to perform them,” she said. “Historically, patients were in hospital for four nights. Then, with the introduction of minimally invasive surgery it decreased to one night and now some patients can go home the same day.”

Further pioneering services recently undertaken include the use of amniotic tissue in the treatment of dry eye syndrome, and DIEP, which is a reconstructive surgical procedure for some patients following breast cancer treatment. Carole said: “We are very proud of the service we provide to the patients of Worcestershire and the surrounding area.” www.spiresouthbank.com

031

DIGITALINNOVATION

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR BUSINESS Business software for stockists, distributors and wholesalers

Stock & Warehouse Management Improve eďŹƒciencies & productivity

CRM Enhance your customer service

Quote & Order Management Increase sales opportunities

eCommerce & Channel Integration Drive your business forward

Purchasing & Accounts Boost proďŹ tability

Sales & Company Reporting Full visibility of your business

Discover the power of OGL software software@ogl.co.uk | 01299 873 873 | ogl.co.uk/software 032

January/February 2020

DIGITALINNOVATION

TRADITIONAL SALES IS DEAD. LONG LIVE SOCIAL SELLING. Every business needs to make sales. All other business activities ultimately stem from sales. If the sales dry up, eventually all other work dries up too.

Technology has changed the sales landscape beyond all recognition. Have you caught up? At Collate Systems, our mission is to help 1,000 organisations generate new sales through the smart use of technology.

Gone are the days where you will see high returns on investment from cold calling, cold contacts, or face to face networking only. Social networks, and specifically LinkedIn, have created unparalleled opportunities for rapid sales growth.

Afterall, the mission of LinkedIn is clear: ‘To connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.’

Aligning yourself with these productivity boots and greater success is the brave new world of social selling.

SO, WHAT IS SOCIAL SELLING? According to LinkedIn themselves; ‘Social selling is about leveraging your social network to find the right prospects, build trusted relationships, and ultimately, achieve your sales goals. This sales technique enables better sales lead generation and sales prospecting process and eliminates the need for cold calling.

Building and maintaining relationships is easier within the network that you and your customer trust.’

To break it down even further, before you can make a sale, you need to influence people. There are widely considered to be 6 factors of influence: ‘reciprocity’ – people giving back after having received something, ‘scarcity’ – the desire to have more of something that there is less of, ‘authority’ – the willingness to follow the lead of credible, knowledgeable experts, ‘liking’ – saying yes is easier to someone you like, and ‘consensus’ (aka social proof) – looking to the behaviour of others to inform our own.

Reflect on these factors through the prisms of ‘traditional sales’ and ‘social selling’. With traditional sales, you may have brief encounters either during phone calls or face to face where you need to demonstrate all 6 of the factors

of influence in short periods of time and without having any evidence to support your claims.

Yet, when social selling, a more considered approach can be taken to demonstrating the quality and value of a service, offering or proposition. Public forums of comments and ‘likes’ allow for rapport to be built over time; social proof can be established at a distance by observing the engagement a seller receives from other trusted buyers.

By the time a call or meeting is arranged, both parties can relax a little knowing that they’ve made the right choice about who to speak with, and how to allocate their important time.

ARE YOU WINNING ENOUGH BUSINESS? Most people are not winning enough business via LinkedIn for 3 clear reasons; time, consistency and skill. We are proud to have a decade long history of identifying technological solutions to problems people encounter. When we decided to disrupt the sales industry, we did it by thinking about how to solve the problems of a lack of time, the need for consistency and a required skill, predominantly through the lens of software. That’s how we arrived at being able to offer our customers 40-50 hours of sales activity week in, week out for a fraction of the cost of employing a salesperson.

on 4 qualities – ‘creating a personal brand’, ‘focussing on the right prospects’, ‘engaging with data and insights’ and ‘building trusted relationships.’ That’s why our services include social selling experts who bring these qualities in abundance when reflecting your brand and company on the LinkedIn platform.

Sales has changed. Understanding how to get the best sales opportunities requires a new combination of technical and social skills. As one of the Directors of Collate Systems, I have personally ensured that I am accredited by LinkedIn for growing business on the platform, marketing on the platform, building personal brand, best practices for their sales platform and more.

These things matter as we care about the quality of our work and doing the best job we can for our customers.

Lots of companies will cling to traditional sales for years to come. Those that make the move to social selling properly are set to reap the rewards that the LinkedIn mission statement aspires to.

For more information about improving your sales and lead generation, contact Collate Systems on 01684 439 673 or email Martyn: martyn@collatesystems.com

Real human engagement remains a critical pillar for success. In the end, people buy from people. The most successful social sellers become so, because they focus

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

033

VISITWORCESTERSHIRE

NEW STATION TO BRING VISITORS IN 2020 As we roar into the twenties, rail users will be able to take advantage of faster, more frequent services thanks to the new Worcestershire Parkway. 2020 will see the biggest timetable change to the Great Western Railway network since 1976, increasing the number of trains arriving from Paddington Station into the county.

NEW PRODUCT INNOVATIONS FROM OLPRO New for 2020 is the View Caravan awning - a superb new caravan awning from local camping and caravan experts OLPRO, who are synonymous with stylish and practical design. Not only do you get a fully inflatable awning (300cm or 420cm wide), it comes with the porch which can be attached for extra space. It has proper curtains on its fully removeable front panels, plenty of room and tinted skylights.

Thanks to previous upgrades to dual tracks and better train times along the Cotswold Line, Worcestershire is now attracting more international visitors wanting to escape London and discover the UK’s heritage and history. www.gwr.com/about-us/ modernising-gwr/worcestershire-parkway

THE GRANGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL The Grange Boutique hotel is set to open its doors in early 2020. Located in the village of Upper Arley on the Arley Estate, it will be less than 2 minutes walk from the River Severn.

The beautifully converted 3-story Georgian house has 10 double bedrooms, a further 2 feature suites and 2 honeymoon suites, all with ensuite bathrooms.

OLPRO has been designing and making campervan awnings for 6 years now but this is the first OLPRO Caravan awning and is just as cool as everything else the Worcestershire team create for the great outdoors.

Rooms are suitable for individuals, or The Grange can be booked exclusively for a family gathering, shooting party or corporate event.

Visit their website for more information www.olproshop.com/collections/ campervan-awnings

www.arleyestate.co.uk

EU FUNDING TO SUPPORT NEW BUSINESSES Additional European Funding for tourism businesses with up to 50 full-time employees has now launched. This programme is specifically for helping new businesses start up as well as smaller existing businesses to grow. It is likely to be the last tourism-focused funding for Worcestershire before the end of the European Programme.

The minimum grant available has been lowered to £20,000, and the maximum is £175,000. Grants need to be matched and in most cases they will cover 40% of the eligible costs. This means your project can be as small as £50,000, or as large as £430,000.

034

While there will be many projects that could fit the criteria, priority will be given to ones that: Create new or grow existing visitor businesses Develop infrastructure to connect rural visitor assets Future proof the visitor experience, investing in technology to bring the experience to life Support the use and provenance of Worcestershire food and drink For further information please visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/ rdpe-growth-programme

January/February 2020

TWO COUNTIES

NEW INTERNATIONAL COMPANY LOCATES IN

WORCESTERSHIRE Aspenify, the internationally recognised work management software company, has just launched its new UK business at Malvern Hills Science Park in Worcestershire.

With offices already in USA and Asia, the firm chose to be situated within Worcestershire’s high profile site due to is access to high-quality office space, and support network with the expertise to facilitate the successful launch of a UK company.

Photograph credit to ETL Systems

HEREFORDSHIRE MEMBERS RECEIVE ROYAL APPROVAL On Tuesday 5 November, Herefordshirebased ETL Systems Ltd was visited by HRH The Prince of Wales as part of the launch of the Gilpin 2020 Festival.

The event celebrates the county’s town of Ross-On-Wye as the birthplace of British tourism. Other local businesses and residents were also thrilled to be greeted by The Prince of Wales as part of his royal outing.

ETL was commended for its global success in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in the category of International Trade three times. The day concluded with HRH Prince Charles meeting the 120 on-site staff and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to recognise the hard work and success of all who work for ETL.

Also receiving a royal visit was media charity Rural Media, who hosted a visit from HRH The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO Prince Edward at the end of November.

The official visit was a fantastic opportunity to put the creative cultural and heritage work of the county of the map. Lady Darnley, Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, accompanied HRH as he met key project funders and commissioners who have made the work that Rural Media does possible over the last 27 years. www.etlsystems.com www.ruralmedia.co.uk

NEW HEREFORDSHIRE FLAG UNVEILED

Aspenify were able to expand to the UK thanks to support from the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Patnership (LEP), who provided valuable support to the incoming company.

Director of operations for Aspenify UK Ltd, Marin Hanney, said: “We’re delighted to be able to launch our UK company covering national sales and services from Malvern, thanks to the support of Worcestershire LEP. “As we continue to grow our UK and European operations we will collaborate with our local customers and partners to help bring their playbooks to life.”

This new arrival builds on Worcestershire’s fast-growing reputation as a magnet for leading tech firms and the county’s recent shortlisting at the World Communication Awards 2019 in the 5G leadership category.

Flying high above the county’s Cathedral is the brand-new Herefordshire flag design which was unveiled at the end of 2019.

www.aspenify.com

A competition to find the new design saw entries from all over the UK submitted. The winner, an artist from Kent. Jason Saber’s unique concept was chosen by the people of Herefordshire from the final 5 entries – shortlisted down from a registered 695 entries - a UK record for any flag competition.

Aspenify’s new UK business based at Malvern Hills Science Park

Jason Saber’s design consists of a large illustration of a bull’s head, from Herefordshire’s famous breed, with three wavy stripes in blue and white to represent the River Wye and the county’s red soil.

Photo credit: www.flaginstitute.org

The new flag will be flown from public buildings on special occasions and gives the county a refreshed feeling, with a flag that better represents their proud rural history.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

035

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

HOW YOUR BUSINESS CAN SURVIVE YOUR DIVORCE Your marriage is coming to an end, but you still have a thriving business; can it survive the fall-out and what part does it play when it comes to working out your financial settlement?

If your soon-to-be-ex partner is also your business partner, the first step is to value each of your interests in the business because they will affect the final financial settlement when you divorce.

VALUATION Realising that value, to come to a fair settlement without destroying the company, is important and also open to negotiation.

If you already have a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement, a court is likely to give great weight to a properly drafted and considered agreement when dividing assets on divorce, especially if it relates to a specific issue. This will offer considerable protection to the business and shareholders, and could potentially save considerable legal costs and sleepless nights.

In any case of business assets forming part of a financial settlement, the courts have two key roles: to establish the value of the parties' interests in the business

to decide how that value should be reflected (if at all) in the final financial distribution.

The business can be valued with the agreement of both partners in the divorce, or by order of a court – the valuation used will be the most recent open-market valuation. Older valuations might be important where one partner wants some of the value ring-fenced or discounted because it existed before the marriage, or was set up after the marriage broke down.

NET ASSET OR EARNINGS? A net asset valuation is the most common when dealing with a business which has significant assets on its balance sheet, such as a property investment company.

But for an on-going trading company, an earnings basis valuation is most common – this is based on a level of earnings comparable to similar businesses with a known market value, alongside other financial measurements.

Factors affecting its value include: significant post-separation growth, because of one party's efforts

If you already have a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement, a court is likely to give great weight to a properly drafted and considered agreement when dividing assets on divorce, especially if it relates to a specific issue.

036

when business interest reflects a discount for a minority interest its lack of liquidity so that cash extraction will significantly inhibit its trading ability its susceptibility to risk (e.g. the impact of Brexit) the importance of one person in the business and the effect of their departures on its value.

FAIR SETTLEMENT Although both parties usually have a strong claim to share (equally) in all matrimonial property built up during the

January/February 2020

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

marriage (i.e. the product of their joint endeavours), they may have a much less strong claim to share in non-matrimonial property, and the question is whether the business comes under that second heading.

If so, the court will aim for a fair financial outcome by, for instance: dividing assets to give the parties a proportionate share of liquid and illiquid assets applying discounts to illiquid assets transferring shareholdings between parties

treating the business as an income-generating resource and ordering periodical payments to the spouse.

It may be complex, and you will certainly need expert advice, but your business can thrive beyond your divorce.

Most people do not want ongoing business ties post-divorce, but sometimes shareholdings are divided between the two spouses – if, for example, there are insufficient assets to meet capital needs and the business has a substantial value.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

More usually, one party retains the business, with the other receiving a lump sum, periodical payments or a combination in lieu of any interest.

Nadia Davis, Partner Family Law Direct Dial: 01905 678551 Mobile: 07985 615 895 Email: ndavis@hcrlaw.com

037

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

Bring your - wellies Oldcastle is set in 50 acres of beautiful grounds set within panoramic backdrop views of The Malvern Hills. Said to be the original settlement of Colwall village it was Founded by Sir John Oldcastle, a good friend to Shakespeare who was a character reference for Henry IV’s Falstaff.

The Jacobean family house is a charismatic, dog loving, friendly country house destination within easy reach to a direct London train line in the village and regional motorways. Surrounded by natural Malvern spring fed water features, lakes and ponds the location boasts many beautiful pub and dog walks right on your door step!

Offering a very attractive setting for private events, civil wedding ceremonies and corporate events, including guest accommodation.

Private and tranquil, the venue can comfortably host intimate or large events when needed for up to 300 guests inside and several thousand outside, with the use of private grounds around the venue and several modern and traditional spaces within the property.

Equipped with all the benefits of 21st Century technology within a traditional setting, the venue can accommodate any event F&B needs with our own in house licensed bar and catering team.

Oldcastle, Evendine Lane, Colwall, Worcestershire, WR13 6DT 07955 179114 | contact@oldcastlevents.com | weddings@oldcastleweddings.co.uk

01905 676169

01527 872525

info@gjsdillon.co.uk

GJSDillon.co.uk

10 Years of serving the Business Community and proud winners of

Experience Worcester’s rich porcelain heritage in a beautifully refurbished setting where 250 years of design and innovation are elegantly re-presented.

We provide a special and unique venue for meetings, events and celebrations; professional presentation facilities are available, and bespoke catering and experience packages can be tailored to your requirements.

Museum of Royal Worcester, Severn Street, Worcester WR1 2ND T: 01905 21247 www.museumofroyalworcester.org Open Monday to Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 10 am – 4 pm ‘Royal Worcester’ and the C51 crown device are registered by and used under kind permission from Portmeirion Group UK Ltd to whom all rights are reserved.

038

January/February 2020

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

County’s First New Station in 100 Years Will Open Early This Year This is the process where all the new equipment and facilities are being tested and commissioned and as such is very complex and involves a wide range of stakeholders.

Construction is complete at the brand-new landmark Worcestershire Parkway station - the first station to be opened in the county for over 100 years.

Rail Industry partners and Worcestershire County Council have confirmed that the standard rigorous rail industry “Entry into Service” process is also nearing completion.

Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure Cllr Ken Pollock said “The station, in conjunction with the new timetable launched this month, is set to revolutionise rail travel to and from mid Worcestershire. The positive impact it will have on our local economy and communities will be transformational.”

It will benefit from the introduction of the new Cross Country and GWR timetable, the latter covering all GWR services across Western England and South Wales, representing the greatest change on the GWR network for over 30 years.

To Let

Some key peak services to and from London will take less than 2 hours, with a fastest time of 1 hour 49 minutes, and passengers will be able to get to Cardiff in 1 hour 23 minutes and to Nottingham in 1 hour 49 minutes.

The 500 space car park will ensure that passengers will have no difficulty parking.

The station will also be served by the number X50 bus on its routes from Evesham to Worcester via Pershore and has taxi ranks and drop off points.

The station also has the benefit of secure bicycle parking and a secondary pedestrian and cycle access via Woodbury Lane.

For more about the project visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/parkway

New and Refurbished Industrial Units Pleasant and Convenient Location For enquiries please call

01384 569556 or 01299 822731 Wilden Industrial Estates Wilden lane, Stourport-on-Severn DY13 9JY

enquiries@wildenestates.co.uk

www.wildenestates.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

039

WORCESTERSHIREBUSINESSCENTRAL

www.business-central.co.uk

HOW WORCESTERSHIRE BUSINESS CENTRAL IS HELPING BUSINESSES PREPARE FOR EU EXIT THE CLIENT Filtration Service Engineering Ltd (FSE) is a Kidderminster-based firm which designs and manufactures chip management and coolant filtration systems for many of the world’s leading machine tool suppliers and end users.

FSE have been in business for over 50 years, and the firm currently employs over 70 people - designing and manufacturing all of its products at its factory in Worcestershire.

HOW WORCESTERSHIRE BUSINESS CENTRAL (WBC) HELPED FSE’s Production Manager, George Roche, contacted WBC to ask for advice for how to mitigate the uncertainty in the lead-up to the countries EU Exit.

George said: “To a large extent, our major concern was that of import and export. We import some products for our manufacturing process from Europe and the rest of the world, and we also export our products internationally. We therefore needed to make sure that whatever happens, an agreement can be reached so we can export without delays, and that we have our documentation ready.”

WBC has provided FSE with information relating to these concerns, and given assistance relating to tariffs, VAT changes and potential currency fluctuations following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

As well as important EU Exit-related information, Mr Roche spoke at length to WBC about potential funding

opportunities to enable the firm to continue to grow despite any possible negative economic news.

From initial meetings to communication about potential grants and upcoming Prepare Your Business for EU Exit seminars, George praised WBC’s communication throughout the process.

He also highlighted the speed of response to his questions from WBC staff, and praised the depth of information and ease of use of the WBC website.

“The website is a good tool for information across several areas, especially for SME business, where employees or owners have to use and know multi-skills that transfer between HR, Development, and Management etc,” said George.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR FSE WBC is currently helping enable FSE to access grants via the Business Growth Programme, based on an investment of £60,000 in new welding equipment.

George has stated that this new equipment is likely to allow the firm to employ several additional members of staff.

040

FSE are also keen to lower their carbon footprint, confirming their intention to ‘improve the premises we currently have to become a slightly eco-friendlier environment’.

To help FSE achieve this noble aim, WBC has been advising the company on how to access support via the Worcestershire City Council Business Energy Efficiency Programme.

HOW WBC CAN HELP YOU Does your business require assistance to help you prepare for the EU Exit? If so, WBC is here to help.

To find out more about how WBC can support your business please contact 01905 677 888 or email info@business-central.co.uk Book you FREE place on a 'Prepare Your Business for EU Exit' workshop on the WBC website www.business-central.co.uk/events/ categories/brexit-2

January/February 2020

MOVERSANDSHAKERS

CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP HIRES NEW HEAD OF FILM

THORNE WIDGERY OPENS ITS DOOR TO NEXT GENERATION OF ACCOUNTANTS

Senior video professional, Carl Timms, has joined DRPG as the new Head of Film. With over 20 years’ experience in film and video, Carl is an award-winning Director and Producer with a background in both large-scale corporate accounts and small independent film.

Ben Roberts, Alex Lancett and Kyle Day have all joined Thorne Widgery's apprenticeship programme and have begun their studies.

Carl commented: “This is a dream opportunity to work with a company whose skills encompass the full communications sector. I also love the “anything’s possible” attitude, which is always something I’ve tried to bring to my own video projects. I look forward to leading this team and working with them to make terrific video content.” www.drpgroup.com

KYLE JOINS THE PLANT HEALTH PROFESSIONAL REGISTER A Production Manager at one of the UK’s leading nurseries based in Hereford has successfully completed a competency exam to become an Associate on the Plant Health Professional Register.

Kyle Ross from Wyevale Nurseries has joined the register organised by the Royal Society of Biology, which aims to develop plant health skills and create a community for plant health professionals.

The Plant Health Professional Register demonstrates skills against the GB Strategy for Plant Health and Biosecurity and encourages continued professional development in plant health.

Ben joins with a good knowledge of the business environment thanks to his degree in Business Management. He will be working with a variety of clients in the accounts department alongside his ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) studies.

Meanwhile, Kyle and Alex join the team straight from college having completed their A-Levels.

Rosie Hopkins, Account Director

PINSTONE TEAM EXPANDS WITH TWO NEW RECRUITS Specialist agri-food PR and marketing agency, Pinstone, has taken on two talented new recruits, who will help meet the needs of the growing business.

Rosie Hopkins has returned to the company as an account director, following a two-year stint heading up a digital rural business. Meanwhile Ali Parker has joined Pinstone as an account executive, after completing the NFU’s graduate programme. www.pinstone.co.uk

www.thornewidgery.co.uk

www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk

Clare Regan, Lisa Morrison and Maynard Burton

MFG GROWS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TEAM SCOTTISH SUCCESS PROMPTS TEAM EXPANSION Manufacturer and waste solutions provider, Egbert Taylor, has announced plans to grow its presence in Scotland following the appointment of Adam Ramsay, who joins the team as Area Business Manager.

Adam comments: “Whilst Egbert Taylor is rapidly growing its presence within Scotland, there is huge potential to extend its reach even further. As someone who is new to the waste industry, I expect to approach the sector with a new perspective and a fresh pair of eyes. I very much look forward to working alongside Kevin as we continue to build the brand in the region.” www.egberttaylor.com

042

Rachel Parkin, Rachel Roberts, Jenny Staples and Syed Alam

PROMOTIONS TAKE LAW FIRM OVER 100-PARTNER MARK

SME SOLICITORS APPOINTS NEW BUSINESS SERVICES PARALEGAL

Five new partners have been announced at Harrison Clark Rickerbys, taking the firm’s number of partners over 100.

Worcester city centre law firm SME Solicitors has announced the appointment of Nicky Curtis as a Paralegal in its Business Services department.

Syed Alam in real estate (Worcester), Rachel Parkin and Rachel Roberts in employment and immigration (Cheltenham), Jenny Staples in corporate (Wye Valley) and Marieta van Straaten in insolvency (London) are the latest to make partner in the firm which has eight offices across the country.

Nicky comments: “I’ve enjoyed my progression from residential conveyancing to commercial property and now business services. There are clear differences between all areas but also some similarities which complement each other. Everyone here at SME is all welcoming and I already feel part of the team.”

www.hcrlaw.com

www.smesolicitors.co.uk

Chamber Patron, mfg Solicitors, has strengthened its Commercial Property team with the appointments of a new Partner and an Associate.

Clare Regan has joined as a Partner and Divisional Head of its widely respected Commercial Property team.

Representing some of the commercial property industry’s biggest brands in a career spanning 23 years, Clare brings an expertise in the purchase, sale and development of retail, office and industrial property portfolios across the UK. The firm has also added Associate Lisa Morrison to the team. Lisa brings 22 years of Commercial Property experience, including having acted for major institutional lenders. www.mfgsolicitors.com

January/February 2020

NEWMEMBERPROFILES

SIMPLY PODIATRY LIMITED Chamber Members are encouraged to welcome Simply Podiatry to the network, a newly opened podiatry clinic at Beckett’s Farm. Podiatrist ‘Light Summan’ qualified from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh in July 2012, with a degree in Podiatry BSc (Distinction).

INTRODUCING ERGROWNOMICS Ergrownomics is an award-winning British manufacturing company, launched in 2015, producing raised planters to facilitate the compact growing of herbs, vegetables and salad crops. As a system it is entirely unique, offering both a soil-based hardware, and a software accompaniment with all the necessary guidance to grow reliably and productively.

Since its beginning, it has been driven to provide solutions to the challenges of 21st century living, addressing a depletion of outdoor space, increased rental activity, and a new ecological awareness - including a reduction in

chemical usage, and an increased drive towards self-sufficiency.

Its product has levels of functionality and an engineering quality, incorporating a fully modular design with in-built drip-irrigation, patented plant training, and sophisticated under-drainage.

Light and his family moved to Sydney, Australia, and worked there for six years at a private clinic. The Summans then returned to the UK in May 2019, and opened up Simply Podiatry later that year in August.

Light specialises in general footcare and nail surgery, and is HCPC certified and a member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. www.simplypodiatry.co.uk

All of this is underpinned by the company’s uncompromising ethical standards, determined to break the mould of the garden sector with a class-leading warranty, and 50-year design life. www.ergrownomics.co.uk

NEW MEETING AND EVENT CENTRE OPENS IN MALVERN Malvern Radio has now officially opened following a six-month £25,000 refurbishment. The premises, which were previously the town’s Conservative Club, had been empty for some years before local resident Chris Winstanley converted the site into the event centre.

Councillor Samantha Charles visited the space recently and said: “It’s a superb space for meetings, events, training and cinema nights in the heart of Malvern.”

The refurbishment has created two rooms for hire, with a third room and kitchen due to be developed in 2020. The Lounge Bar has a cosy café/bar style and can accommodate up to 50 guests for smaller, less formal events, whilst the event space can accommodate up to 60 seated or 120 standing for meetings, training and presentations.

www.malvern-radio.com

Malvern Radio can be booked with preferential rates, and all bookings include complimentary tea and coffee.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

3 COUNTIES PHOTOGRAPHY 3 Counties Photography delivers high quality contemporary professional portrait photography, commercial photography and event photography on location in Malvern, Cheltenham and Worcester.

The company is pleased to provide images that are suitable for business websites, literature, and LinkedIn. It can also offer a fast turnaround of great images in a professional, efficient and friendly way. 3 Counties Photography is able to shoot at a location of your choice be it in your home, office, shop, workshop, studio or factory.

No matter what the size of the shoot, its portrait photography services will produce images which you can use on the web, social media, corporate literature and business platforms. www.3countiesphotography.co.uk

043

INTERNATIONALTRADE

SUPPORT FOR GETTING BUSINESSES BREXIT READY In mid-September 2019 the Chamber bid for, and won, a government grant to support businesses in their preparations for a possible “no-deal” Brexit on 31 October 2019.

The Chamber ran twelve half-day Brexit Essentials training courses, delivered by International Trade consultants Strong and Herd LLP, across a number of venues in Herefordshire and Worcestershire throughout October 2019. A total of 170 delegates from 95 companies attended the workshops.

In addition to, and following the format of the courses, a FREE Brexit-Ready International Trade Preparation Essentials Guide was produced in association with Strong and Herd LLP and distributed to almost 3,000 businesses across the two counties. The guide explains step by step how your business can navigate the potential changes surrounding Brexit.

Request your FREE copy by emailing internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk

GET THE WORKFORCE TRAINED FOR THE NEW DECADE. INCOTERMS® 2020: It is important to regularly review your terms of business in international trade. Incoterms® are being revised in January 2020. This a good opportunity for delegates to not only understand the revisions, but also consider their commercial terms more generally.

The next date is: Incoterms 2020 Tuesday 4 February 9.30am-4.30pm £270+VAT for Members £275+VAT for Non-members visit: www.hwchamber.co.uk/product/ incoterms-2020-2/ to book your place.

COURSES FOR NEW AND INEXPERIENCED EXPORTERS: As the UK market becomes

The next upcoming dates are:

increasingly competitive,

How to Build Overseas Sales – Essential Tips for Exporting Wednesday 26 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £250+VAT for Members £275+VAT for Non-members

businesses are looking at export as a way of increasing their revenue and profit streams from less competitive overseas growth markets. Three courses for new and inexperienced exporters are being offered by the Chamber of Commerce to support them at the beginning of their international trade journey.

044

How to Select and Manage Overseas Distribution Channels Tuesday 25 February - 9.30am-4.30pm £250+VAT for Members £275+VAT for Non-members How to Price Goods for Export Markets Thursday 27 February - 9.30am-12.00pm £250+VAT for Members £275+VAT for Non-members For further information please visit: www.hwchamber.co.uk/training

January/February 2020

INTERNATIONALTRADE

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE (CEE): AN ACCESSIBLE AND BUOYANT EXPORT MARKET FOR LARGE AND SMALL HEREFORDSHIRE AND WORCESTERSHIRE BUSINESSES. 9 September 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

“Since the transition to a market economy three decades ago, Central and Eastern Europe has enjoyed a golden age of growth. The ten countries of Central and Eastern Europe within the Single European Market – Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – recorded on average a 114% increase in GDP per capita between 1996 and 2017 compared to an increase of just 27% in the European Union’s Big Five economies: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom” (McKinsey and Company – 2019). The CEE region has also become one of the most attractive places to invest globally.

CEE will not regain its status as a global growth engine and now sits between Western Europe and other developing countries in terms of GDP growth, but it

does represent a geographically close, exciting and opportunity-filled destination with less commercial, political and economic risk than other high-growth global markets such as South East Asia.

Central and Eastern Europe:

Is uniquely positioned to access approx. 110 million consumers with increasing purchasing power.

Has multiple sector opportunities across multiple countries.

Has a projected GDP growth rate of greater than 3%, two times the rate expected for the Eurozone.

Has very low barriers to trade, most countries are part of the Single European Market.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

In addition, the region is very accessible; Prague, for example, is just 2 hours flight time from UK airports with low associated travel (and time) costs.

And, although not as great as they once were, significant commercial opportunities continue to exist across multiple industry sectors including: Food and Drink, Consumer Products, Automotive, Engineering, Education, ICT, Health, and Defense & Security.

For those businesses who have not considered the CEE region as an accessible potential export destination, particularly for small businesses without the deep pockets for international market development in long distance markets, the business case for the region is strong and warrants closer investigation. Please contact our International Trade team to discuss opportunities in this exciting regional market further. internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk

045

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Taking Recruiting and Vetting to a different level

We’re ready for Brexit, are you?

New immigration rules and checks for every business, landlord and recruitment firms will come into force after Brexit. More responsibility will be placed on each company /landlord. Foxtrot International Vetting can assist in all your regulatory and company requirements.

How? We can verify Visas, documents, identification cards and driving licences instantly. A CV can be checked in under 24 hours. If required, we can check work history up to 15 years previous. This takes up to 72 hours.

the UK, we can obtain information on companies, directors and persons of interest. Our systems operate worldwide, the level of our investigative skills are vast.

Social media investigations going back up to six years, see the social side of your candidate. For businesses and individuals pursuing trade outside

But it’s not all about Brexit. Our services have, and always will, help solicitors and private investigators too.

You ask the questions, we don’t just give you the answers, we give you the facts. foxtrotvetting@outlook.com | www.foxtrotvetting.co.uk | 0330 113 6352

046

January/February 2020

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

A HEALTHY WORKFORCE IS BETTER FOR BUSINESS By encouraging employees to look after their health can have a great impact on the productivity of a company. Taking an interest in the health and wellbeing of your employees can not only show that you care for your workforce but also means that if your staff feel happier and healthier, they are usually more productive whilst at work.

BMI The Droitwich Spa Hospital understands that it is important for businesses to provide their employees with helpful information and resources with regards to their health and wellbeing and that is why, as a local business, BMI The Droitwich Spa Hospital works with local people to ensure they are cared for and their needs are met.

With over 30 years of experience in performing surgical procedures and

delivering consistently high-quality inpatient and outpatient care, BMI is the largest provider of healthcare in Britain. Providing a wealth of specialities and services your employees can seek advice from BMI’s expert consultants on the following areas: orthopaedic surgery; general surgery; gynaecology; urology; plastic surgery; cardiology; ophthalmology; ear, nose and throat; podiatry; rheumatology; physiotherapy; diagnostics and imaging; gastroenterology; vascular surgery; and dermatology.

BMI understands that having a full and healthy workforce is extremely important to businesses and for this reason BMI The Droitwich Spa Hospital provides fast access to diagnosis and treatment, allowing patients to have rapid access to a consultant of their choice, flexible payment options to spread the cost of treatment, six months aftercare and an all-inclusive treatments with a fixed price up-front.

Our hospital is home to a fully equipped physiotherapy department, imaging department with scanning facilities to ensuring that all your employees needs are catered from consultation to aftercare.

For more information on how your employees can benefit from the services offered by BMI The Droitwich Spa Hospital, please contact our Patient Liaison Officer Jeanne Showell – 01905 793307 or enquire online by visiting bmihealthcare.co.uk/ droitwich

We strive to ensure that all patients who walk through doors of the hospital are cared for in the best possible way, with 99.1% of patients stating that they would recommend BMI The Droitwich Spa Hospital to either their friends or family.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

We work with local employers to assist in educating their employees on health and wellbeing and assisting with getting employees back to fitness.

047

NEWPEOPLETODOBUSINESSWITH BEWDLEY

HEREFORD

MALVERN

NRJ Ltd

Action Coach

Aspenify UK Limited

07539 781143

01633 415368

Outsourcing & Consultancy Services

Business Coaching

www.nrj.ltd

www.actioncoach.co.uk

BROADWAY AFH Wealth Management

01527 577775 Independent Financial Advisor www.afhifs.co.uk

EIJKELKAMP FRASTE UK LTD

Black Mountains Botanicals

01981 510646

Business Managing Software www.aspenify.com

IDmap Research UK

02082 421963

Distillery www.blackmountainsbotanicals.co.uk

Education and Training www.idmap.uk

Epic Global Group Ltd

Marionet Consulting

01432 341234

07785 537331

Engineering www.epicglobalgroup.net

Consulting www.marionet.co.uk

07834 410868

Ergrownomics Ltd

Mining & Quarrying

01873 890007

PERSHORE

www.EijkelkampFraste.co.uk

Domestic, Contemporary, Container Growing www.ergrownomics.co.uk

Faith Property Services

Global Bearings & Transmissions Ltd

Home Instead Senior Care Hereford

01527 577866 Bearing Distributor www.global-bearings.co.uk

Green Breeze Ambient (UK) Ltd

07828 878989

01432 804000 Care Providers www.homeinstead.co.uk

The Right Equity Release

07790 543630 Equity Release

Fragrance Solutions (Hotels)

JM HSE Solutions Ltd

01527 833657 Health & Safety

KIDDERMINSTER Blind Bolt Compnay

01299 272955

www.jmhse.co.uk

Specialist Fastenings www.blindbolt.com

Laura Goodwin True Potential Wealth Management

Coversure Insurance Services

07772 728042

01562 227532

Independent Financial Advisor

Insurance Services www.coversure.co.uk/kidderminster

www.lauragoodwin.tpllp.com

First Point Cleaning & Maintenance LTD Project Pebble

01527 822640 Manufacturing & Design (Boats)

Simply Podiatry Ltd

07367 511626 Podiatry www.simplypodiatry.co.uk

DROITWICH Denning Digital

01905 779376 Digital Marketing Consultancy www.denningdigital.com

EVESHAM Digital Services

07904 875029 Digital Marketing Consultancy www.digitalservices.org.uk

01386 244474 Property Maintenance Services www.faithpropertyservices.co.uk

Food Safety Logic

07930 423804 Food Safety Training & Consultancy www.foodsafetylogic.co.uk

Monde D'or Ltd

www.gbamb.com

048

07766 023152

07495 527199 Commercial Cleaning & Maintenance www.firstpointcleaning.co.uk

Norgroves Sales and Lettings

01562 822004 Sales & Letting Agency www.norgrovesalesandlettings.co.uk

Personal Touch Recruitment Ltd

01386 550623 Clothing and Garments www.mondedor.com

REDDITCH Design Built Exhibitions Ltd

01527 69132 Manufacturing & Design (Exhibition Stands) www.designbuiltexhibitions.co.uk

STOURPORT ON SEVERN Frontline Cleaning

01299 489951 Cleaning Services www.frontlinecleaning.co.uk

National Fire Solutions Ltd

01299 663888 Fire Safety

01562 228609 Recruitment Consultancy www.personaltouchrecruitment.co.uk

UPTON UPON SEVERN

PSC Flooring Ltd

Nemi Miller Photogroaphy

01562 702047

07956 272672

Idustrial Flooring Experts www.pscflooring.co.uk

Photography www.3countiesphotography.co.uk

LEDBURY

WORCESTER

Cotton Orchard

Apex Medical Corporation

01531 660373 Retailer & Consumer Goods www.freestylequiltframes.co.uk

01905 774695 Specialist Medical Supplies www.apexmedicalcorp.com

January/February 2020

NEWPEOPLETODOBUSINESSWITH Bransford Financial Planning Ltd

Guest Homes Ltd

Vamos Theatre

01905 885232

07808 174505 Air Bnb Locations

01905 312921

Financial Services www.bransfordfinancial.co.uk

Theatre Company www.vamostheatre.co.uk

Iglu Associates Limited Dave Dewett

01905 950921

West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre

07714 094065 Project Management (Supporting SME'S)

Management Consultancy www.igluassociates.com

01905 611655

Laura Wellness Centre

Enterprise Retirement Living

07538 575349 Retirement Village www.erl.uk.com

FaB PR

07816 238175 PR Agency www.fab-pr.co.uk

Focus Ecology

01905 780700

07931 256034 Psychologist www.laurawellnesscentre.com

Mighty Creative Communications Agency www.mightycomms.co.uk

08452 415985

Fred’s of Worcester

Rubix Associates Ltd

07972 195252

Café www.fredsofworcester.co.uk

Project Management (Supporting SME'S) www.rubixassociates.co.uk

Go Green Experts

Sensory Direct (UK) Limited

Business Consultancy www.gogreenexperts.co.uk

07972 823511 Sports Club www.worcesterfutsalclub.co.uk

OUT OF AREA Hillside Brewery and Events

Quantum Construction Consultants Ltd Construction Consulting www.quantumcc.co.uk

07711 217205

Worcester Futsal Club

01905 887690

Surveys & Reports(environmental issues) www.focus-ecology.com

07947 685168

Counselling & Advice Services www.wmrsasc.org.uk

01452 830222 Craft Brewery www.hillsidebrewery.com

The Impact Mentor Ltd

07870 629690 Buiness Mentoring www.bethanbishop.com

01905 670500 Manufacturer & Retailer www.sensorydirect.com

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

049

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

Last year our corporate partners helped fund 1,200* lifesaving missions.

Can you help make our next Mission Possible?

We are passionate about creating bespoke partnerships with Midlands businesses that are mutually beneficial. As your charity partner, we can help increase engagement with your company’s brand, whilst you help us fund lifesaving missions in your area.

Are you in the business of saving lives? midlandsairambulance.com/corporate

0800 8 40 20 40 pam.hodgetts@midlandsairambulance.com *Fiscal year 2018/19

R

West Mercia Women’s Aid assists women and children affected by domestic abuse. Demand for services continues to grow, despite major reductions in public sector funding.

As a local charity, every penny donated to West Mercia Women’s Aid will help fund their wide range of services, including a 24hr Helpline, refuge, group programmes, and support for children and young people.

If you would like to make a donation or fundraise on behalf of WMWA, please contact our Fundraising Team. fundraising@wmwa.org.uk @WestMerciaWomensAid @WMWomensAid @WMWomensAid 07870 916688

050

January/February 2020

CHARITYNEWS

MORRISON’S FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PRIMROSE HOSPICE SJL FOUNDATION RAISES OVER £37,000 FOR ACORNS AND START-UP BUSINESSES SJL Foundation, founded in June 2019, raised a total of £37,229.43 at its black-tie ball held at the Bank House Hotel back in November.

The night consisted of a charity auction that had prizes which included a round of golf with some of Worcestershire Rapids’ Cricketers and hire of a classic Morgan motor car. The event was hosted by popular BBC Radio Presenter, Dave Bradley.

Founder and Trustee of the SJL Foundation, Simon Lancaster said: “Saturday’s ball was one of the set piece annual fundraisers of our newly registered charity.

“It is extremely humbling to see so many people pull together, and we couldn’t do it without them.”

Chief Executive of Acorns, Toby Porter, said: “We’re extremely grateful to SJL Foundation for organising this magnificent event and to everyone who attended.

The Morrison’s Foundation has donated £17,654 to Primrose Hospice, a local charity that provides free care to patients and their families with life limiting conditions.

Heather Coughlin, Head of Family Support at Primrose Hospice, said: “We are so grateful to Morrisons Foundation for generously giving Primrose Hospice £17,654 towards the vital services we provide children who have been bereaved.

“It means we can continue to provide vital care and support for children in north east Worcestershire who have lost a loved one.

Our Family Support services are provided free of charge to anyone who has lost a loved one, regardless of whether their loved one had contact with Primrose before they died."

Gareth Worton, Community Champion at the Morrisons store in Bromsgrove presented the donation to the charity.

He said: “I’m really pleased that we were able to help Primrose Hospice. The charity is really well known in the area, both by customers and colleagues, so it’s great that the Morrisons Foundation has been able to help them.” www.primrosehospice.org

THE UK SEPSIS TRUST PRESENT SEPSIS AWARENESS DAY AT WORCESTER WARRIORS In the UK alone, 52,000 people lose their lives to sepsis every year. To help combat these staggering figures, The UK Sepsis Trust held a Sepsis Awareness Day in December 2019 to raise awareness of the life-threatening condition.

The event coincided with Warriors Women vs Bristol Bears Women in the Tyrrells Premier 15 fixture. The main aim of the event was to raise awareness of sepsis, but it aimed also after to set a new women’s rugby attendance record for a match at Sixways, which was achieved.

The UK Sepsis Trust hosted the staff, ambassadors, fundraisers and supporters in a dedicated Sepsis Lounge.

The day also incorporated the Trust’s ‘Schools Against Sepsis’ programme alongside live entertainment in the form of DJ Joel Corry (featured on ITV’s Love Island), family fun activities and a mini-tag rugby tournament.

The event was organised by Cube Management, the Cube team is a group of industry experts who possess a huge amount of knowledge and experience, covering a diverse range of events in the world of sport as well as many other areas.

“Its support means Acorns can continue providing care for some of the most remarkable children and families across Worcester and the West Midlands.” www.sjlins.co.uk/foundation

www.cubemanagement.co.uk

WORCESTERSHIRE AMBASSADORS RAISE £35,000 THROUGH CHARITY BALL The Worcestershire Ambassadors has raised £35,000 through its annual charity ball – with the organisation’s two chosen charities, the Worcestershire Community Trust and St Paul’s Hostel, set to benefit.

Over 350 people attended the 60s-themed event at West Midland Safari Park which saw performances from live bands and a 60-strong choir, as well as a gin raffle and auction all held with the aim of raising as much funds as possible.

Kevin Powell, Chair of the Worcestershire Ambassadors said: “Our annual ball is our

flagship event and I was delighted to see so many Ambassadors and businesses attending.

“To raise such an amazing total is the icing on the cake and I’d like to personally thank Ambassadors Tracey Hopkins and Judy Owen who organised a wonderful event which will live long in the memory. Our charitable focus for this year is mental health and both our chosen charities have vital roles to play in helping people who are struggling.” www.worcestershireambassadors.com

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

051

20/20 BUSINESS CHALLENGE

LOCAL COMPANIES RALLY BEHIND HOSPICE TO RAISE £20,000 IN 2020 Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is proud to be supporting St Richard’s Hospice’s 20/20 Business Challenge – the first of its kind for the Worcester-based charity.

The hospice provides care for adults with a serious progressive illness, helping to improve their quality of life from diagnosis, through to treatment and to their last days – whilst supporting the families of the patients in its care.

St Richard’s Hospice is currently raising funds for the Build 2020 Appeal to develop a larger base in the city so that more patients and families can be cared for in Worcestershire. The funds raised in the 20/20 Business Challenge will go towards the final growth plans.

The inventive project requires 20 local companies to sign up to the challenge, with the collective aim of raising more than £20,000 to help expand the care in the city.

Each team that is signed up will be given £50 to grow into a larger donation by fundraising in innovative ways to help the Chamber and St Richard’s to meet the overall goal.

The challenge will run from 1 January to 31 March this year and will culminate with a special awards dinner where the grand total will be announced, and prizes will be awarded to those involved.

Speaking of the 20/20 Business Challenge, Sharon Smith, Chief Executive of the Chamber, commented: “I’m delighted that Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is supporting St Richard’s Hospice in its latest fundraising scheme.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed supporting past projects, like the Worcester Stands Tall campaign and the Big Beach Party, and I know our colleagues are looking forward to coming up with creative ideas to raise money of the hospice’s care.

“It’s fantastic to have our Members Neoperl, Handelsbanken, The Kiln and Shrubbery Dental Practice involved in the

052

From L-R: Ria Simons, Fundraiser at St Richard’s Hospice, Gabriella Fryer, Marketing Manager at the Chamber and Kevin Gates, Managing Director at Neoperl

project, but I’d like to encourage even more local companies to get involved to help us reach the £20,000 target.”

Ria Simons, Fundraiser at St Richard’s, said: “This is our first challenge of this kind and we are excited to work with a variety of organisations. There is a world of possibilities for fundraising – from holding a bake sale, to taking on a skydive, it’s totally up to the teams taking part.”

business-challenge. To get involved with or to show your support for the 20/20 Business Challenge, please contact Ria Simons, Fundraiser, on rsimons@strichards.org.uk

From sports days, to cake sales or even something more adventurous, those involved are encouraged to come up with the most inventive way to generate the well-deserved funds needed for the challenge.

For more information and fundraising tips, please visit www.strichards.org.uk/20-20-

January/February 2020

MEMBERBENEFITS

WELCOME TO OUR LATEST STRATEGIC MEMBERS

CLARENDON CARE GROUP LTD Clarendon Care Group is an independent company dedicated to providing luxury care homes within the UK. It was formed in 1994 and since then it has grown to have 7 Care Homes in its portfolio providing the full range of care for its residents.

Whether you are evaluating local care homes for yourself or a loved one, Clarendon is always welcome to arrange a visit to any of its homes and find out for yourself how friendly the staff are and the supportive, caring environment that it strives to provide. The company also provides residential, nursing, dementia and respite care led by highly trained nursing teams.

NEW YEAR, NEW MEMBERSHIP How to make sure you make the most of yours…

We hope that you enjoyed your Christmas break and have returned to work after the New Year ready to take on new challenges, build relationships and explore your business growth.

As we step into 2020 with our 1,500 strong membership across the two counties, we thought we’d give you a gentle reminder of how you could be making the most of your Chamber membership with us.

LOGIN TO THE CHAMBER WEBSITE If you haven’t already, make sure you’ve logged in to the Chamber website with your username and password. Your Account Manager is on hand to help you if you need to reset these. Make sure to explore the Members Area to update your newsletter preferences, check out your Member to Member offers and view all benefits available to you for free as part of your membership with us.

REFER A FRIEND FOR 10% OFF YOUR RENEWAL PRICE* If you recommend a friend to us who isn’t already a Chamber Member, and they join, you can receive up to 10% off your membership price on renewal. Speak to the membership team on 01905 673 600 to find out more now.

BOOK YOUR PLACE ON OUR NEXT MAXIMISE YOUR MEMBERSHIP EVENT Our Maximise Your Membership events are a great way to meet our meet CEO, Sharon Smith, and the wider Chamber team, including your Account Manager, our Events & Training department, the Marketing team, the International Trade advisors, our Policy department and more!

Find out how you and your business can be getting involved with all aspects of the Chamber to support you on your business journey.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Clarendon’s excels at maintaining the highest standards of residential elderly care with care plans centred entirely around the requirements of the individual. www.clarendoncare.co.uk

BERRYS In 1890, two local farmers, John and Edmund Berry, established a firm to advise fellow farmers in tenant-right and valuation matters and to conduct auctions in the local area. The brothers were then joined by Levi Bagshaw and traded for many years as ‘Berry Brothers and Bagshaw’.

The influence and expertise of W. C. Farnsworth CBE and later Leslie Northen OBE, both of whom held the office of President of the Agricultural Division of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, established a national reputation for the firm.

In 2000, the firm expanded with new offices in Shrewsbury and at that the time, decided it was right to consolidate its name and practice as Berrys. In October 2013, Corbett Chartered Surveyors became a part of Berrys with Ben Corbett managing the newly opened Hereford office. In July 2015, BNE became a part of Berrys, bringing new commercial services. www.berrys.uk.com

053

LASTWORD

REMOTE WORKING IS THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS “Remote working - we’re all doing it,” says Chamber Member Ruby Edwards. Owner of You Do Better PR, Ruby is an advocate for telecommuting. Indeed, all of the You Do Better team work remotely and it’s the business model that’s underpinning the growth of the Agency into 2020 and beyond.

Working remotely has grown exponentially in the UK (and worldwide) over the last decade. Its growth goes together with the benefits it attracts. For example, it’s widely reported that there are marked decreases in costs, travel and subsequent environmental impacts, sick days, stress and other negative effects on mental health and an increase in positivity, diversity, creativity, retention rates and talent-pool.

As noted in Forbes: “Hiring remote means you are able to hire the best possible talent anywhere on the planet, and allowing those people to choose quality of life over the rat race is a serious draw for the person you are looking to hire.”

For those reasons, and more, remote working is here to stay.

Known across Worcestershire as the pay-as-you-go PR Agency, the team at You Do Better PR are based all over the country and often even further afield: one associate is currently taking a gap year and travelling across Europe, writing a piece of work and subsequently emailing it across to HQ prior to deadline.

Like others, the You Do Better business model is to work with associates rather than employees, enabling them to manage peaks and projects as well as tap into specialist talent when needed.

Ruby operates a flexible approach and each associate is guided, supported and mentored as much or as little as they like, although all are encouraged to be creative and play to their strengths.

Indeed, the ethos of You Do Better is flexibility, from their pay-as-you-go approach to PR – making it easy and affordable for businesses to try out public relations and see how it fits with their organisation without paying expensive retainers or ongoing costs – to the way the team integrate with each other.

You Do Better actively promote collaboration both within the team and with their stakeholders. They undertake a variety of projects, from interim management of global campaigns for high profile clients to liaising with Sales Directors or Marketing Managers within Worcestershire-based SMEs and the

Remote working really is the future of business.

management of regular press releases, blogs and social media.

Ruby says: “I’ve adapted my working life to fit with my priorities: supporting a child with a life-threatening medical condition, including numerous spells in hospital, raising two children as a sole parent and wanting to continue a career - despite the odds. I’m passionate about supporting others through the various pathways of working life and learning whilst we go, so running the agency in this way is the perfect fit for me and them.”

Teams that work remotely often tap into various methods of communication including Zoom, Slack and WhatsApp, Cloud-based storage and sharing options, short productive meetings in co-working spaces and are forward-thinking about how they work together.

Ruby continues: “Our overheads are low, and our systems, processes and procedures are simple and robust. I have a laptop, a smart phone and a superb team of like-minded, creative and talented people who work hard: we don’t need to be in the same room, or country, whilst we do it.”

“Remote working really is the future of business.”

054

January/February 2020

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

THERE IS LIFE AFTER SEPARATION. WE HELPED 738 PEOPLE FIND THEIR NEW FUTURE LAST YEAR.

“

“

The end of a relationship can be stressful and complicated; uncertainty and fear about the future make that situation even more difficult.

Sorting out assets and finances is one way in which I can help to make the road ahead easier – reaching a fair outcome will help you to take the first steps towards a new chapter in your life.

Nadia Davis, Partner, Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Talk to us: 01905 612 001 Website: www.hcrlaw.com Harrison Clark Rickerbys Ltd is authorised and regulated by the SRA

APPRENTICESHIPS MY THBUSTING CONFUSED ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS? FIND OUT THE TRUTH FROM THE EXPERTS!

BUSINESS BREAKFAST BRIEFING With all the changes to Apprenticeships in recent years, there are a lot of myths being circulated which don’t tell the true story of what Apprenticeships are, how they work and whether they could benefit your business.

Come along to our Business Breakfast Briefing and we’ll debunk these myths by giving you the correct answers.

EVESHAM COLLEGE Davies Road, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 1LP Friday 24 January 2020 8am – 9.30am FREE on-site parking

Visit wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships for more information.

BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE NOW:

wcg.ac.uk/bbb info@wcg.ac.uk