Business Direction 58 by Distinctive Media Group Ltd

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FOR BUSINESS GROWTH Business Direction

Issue 58 November/December 2020

TECHNOLOGYION AND INNOVAT S FOR BUSINES GROWTH ction Business Dire

Issue 58 cember 2020 November/De

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 ‘Infrastructure – The Foundations for Success’ edition is Wednesday 25 November 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

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

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FEATURE EDITORS

Helen Compson helen.compson@distinctivegroup.co.uk

FIRSTWORD

AN UNPRECEDENTED 12 MONTHS

Chamber News

The November/December edition of Business Direction marks an end to an unprecedented year. Businesses have been faced with extreme circumstances and restrictions resulting in economic results not seen since the global financial crisis in 2008/09.

Business News

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As it stands the UK economy is recovering, at a slower rate than hoped for, however a second lockdown would be catastrophic for business and must only be introduced as a last resort. The government’s approach to keep as much of the economy open as possible is welcomed by Chambers and businesses across the world. We would urge the government to consider the Chamber of Commerce’s ‘5 tests’ (www.hwchamber.co.uk/chamber-ofcommerce-5-tests) before further restrictions are put in place.

Business News 14

Chamber Training

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We are also encouraging more support to be introduced to help businesses experiencing more negative impacts of a local lockdown, as well as supporting sectors that are unable to operate fully in the current climate. The next six months are going to be critical for businesses. Consumer confidence and demand need to continue to improve for businesses to have the most chance of weathering the ongoing storm that the pandemic has triggered.

Feature

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Big Interview

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Business News

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The continued uncertainty is having a profound impact on businesses, both in terms of their confidence in future turnover and profitability and their willingness to commit to investment plans. According to the latest figures demonstrated in the Quarterly Economic Survey Report for Quarter 3, businesses expect their turnover to decrease over the next 12 months. There is still a long way to go to return to pre-Covid confidence levels.

Policy News

Skills

Business News

Events

Two Counties

Movers and Shakers

New Members 39

Not only have businesses had to deal with the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, but they have also had to wait for the results of year-long talks between the UK and the EU on what the country’s relationship will look like with the European Union post 2020. The British Chambers of Commerce have outlined to government the most important areas where there is insufficient information for businesses to prepare for the end of the transition period. Key issues such as whether businesses can expect added administrative costs or what level of tariffs they will face are yet to be decided.

International Trade

In good news, September also saw the live broadcast of the Chamber Champions Awards. The ceremony recognised the hard work and charitable efforts of local businesses and individuals.

Member Services 49

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People to do Business With

Business News 45 Charity News

Business News

Last Word

The virtual ceremony saw 8 awards handed out to Herefordshire and Worcestershire businesses and with many others highly commended. This ceremony shone a light on the fantastic support for each other and the local community from our local people and it was a pleasure to showcase their achievements and compassion for each other. 25 businesses also went on to be celebrated as ‘UK Business Heros’ by the British Chamber of Commerce. The November/December edition of Business Direction: ‘Technology and Innovation for Business Growth’ will focus on those businesses who have implemented new technology or shown great innovation to adapt their services in a time where flexibility and evolution is key. This month we welcome cover feature stories from the brand-new Midland Quarter, a cyber security project managed by Chamber Patron Members, the University of Wolverhampton as well as interviews from Worcestershire Innovation Senior Project Manager and innovative local business MyQSafe.

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.

First Word

We wish all businesses a wonderful Christmas and New Year period and encourage you to all keep each other safe. We look forward to starting 2021 with you, and would welcome discussions with Members and Non-members on the issues that your businesses are currently face with as well as any concerns for the future. Best wishes Sharon

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Our Patrons are:

November/December 2020

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

CHAMBERNEWS

IN CONVERSATION WITH CHAMBER CEO

Chamber staff members dressed in yellow to mark YoungMinds #HellowYellow campaign

TIME FOR CHANGE CHAMPIONS MARK WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY Here at the Chamber we recognise

This month, Ruby Edwards, Owner of You Do Better PR, chats with Sharon Smith, CEO of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. Sharon heads up the 8th largest Chamber in the UK, having joined as Director of Finance and Corporate Services in 2007, which supports over 4000 businesses a year across the two counties. The award-winning Chamber has achieved a fantastic representation of gender equality on their Board, Area Council, within their senior team and within the company. The team firmly believe the diversity of skills that this brings to their organisation maximises high performance in their teams and, in turn, provides better solutions for their Members and customers. Ruby talks with Sharon about supporting busy businesses, doing a Master’s degree at the age of 40 and being an inspiration.

Sharon Smith, CEO Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

To read the full feature please visit here: www.youdobetter.co.uk/2020/10/08/inconversation-with-sharon-smith.

the importance of having discussions about mental health. Saturday 10 October 2020 marked World Mental Health Day. Having a colleague in your corner can make all the difference, so the Time to Change Chamber Champions have run several activities to help raise awareness and battle the stigma around mental health. As well as a virtual mental health-themed quiz, some of our staff dressed in yellow on Friday 9 October to support YoungMinds, and have also set up ‘12@12’ - weekly exercise classes run by our Membership Executive Ollie, LIVE from the Chamber’s Facebook page, to improve our staff and our Members’ wellbeing. For more information on how your business can get involved with ending mental health discrimination, please visit www.time-to-change.org.uk.

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING GOES VIRTUAL! The Chamber recently held its latest ever popular Macmillian Coffee morning with a socially distanced theme, over Zoom. Sarah Diston, Area Fundraising Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support gave an update on how vital the service they provide is and how the current situation has impacted the support that they can offer. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. It also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer

can have, and campaigns for better cancer care. The World's Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan Cancer Support's biggest fundraising event. Each year, people in the UK and worldwide host their own Coffee Morning. The donations received go towards Macmillan services. In 2016 alone, World's Biggest Coffee Morning raised £29.5 million. In 2019 over £27 million was raised which provided funding for 516 Macmillan nurses for the year. www.macmillan.org.uk

November/December 2020

BUSINESSNEWS

COMMERCIAL PROTECTIONS EXTENDED The government has extended the measures protecting commercial tenants from forfeiture (due to non-payment of rent) and Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) until 31 December this year. Essentially, the extension means that, subject to any further changes, commercial landlords will not be able to exercise the right to forfeit, or rely on CRAR unless 276 days of unpaid rent is owed (or 366 days for enforcement notices given on or after 25 December 2020), until the beginning of next year.

HYDROGEN HEATING THE FUTURE FOR WORCESTER BOSCH One of the benefits of being a heating appliance manufacturer at this moment in time is that innovation is being welcomed and somewhat demanded. The carbon emissions from heating and hot water production account for around 15% of the UK total. Consequently there is a real and pressing requirement to reduce this to zero. With some 23m homes being heated by gas and around 1.5m off the gas grid and therefore heated by either oil or LPG. Innovation by either creating a gas and oil with zero emissions within or alternatively using a different type of heat source that again has either zero or nearly zero emissions present Worcester Bosch with a great opportunity. In September the heating manufacturers installed their first Hydrogen Ready boiler at a site in Northumberland, for over 3 years they have been running at their Worcester Headquarters in laboratories however, this was the first one installed off-site. There is a huge interest in these innovations, from the UK and also as far afield as Australia. These examples of innovation will not only guarantee the future of Worcester Bosch but also create more jobs here in the heart of Worcester. www.worcester-bosch.co.uk

The latest extension however, is likely to place further pressures on some landlords’ own financial positions particularly where tenants have simply refused to pay rent, even when they are able to. It should be noted that the extended moratorium simply defers when landlords are able to exercise any remedies they may be entitled to, and that tenants remain liable for any outstanding rent (together with interest, subject to the terms of the lease). In the meantime, the government has therefore made it clear that tenants should try to meet their obligations and pay their rent, should they be able to do so. Landlords may also be aware that the government published a ‘Code of Practice for commercial property relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic’ on 19 June. This was an attempt to encourage collaboration

mfg solicitor Jessica Moore

and transparency. However, the Code is entirely voluntary. For the time being, landlords continue to have a reduced number of remedies in which to exercise against tenants, and may therefore need to consider alternative recovery methods, such as issuing a debt claim against a tenant, pursuing guarantors and drawing down on rent deposits. It’s a tricky time and therefore professional advice should always be a landlord’s first port of call. Further information can be obtained by contacting jessica.moore@mfgsolicitors.com, or calling 01562 820181. www.mfgsolicitors.com

IS THIS THE END OF THE OFFICE? With so many of us working from home, is this the end of 9 to 5 as we know it? John Dillon, Managing Director of Worcestershire commercial property consultancy GJS Dillon, thinks that office life still has its benefits:

business owners to take professional advice as walking away from a commercial property isn’t as straightforward as you might think.” www.gjsdillon.co.uk

“I think we all miss the social interaction and spontaneity. During lockdown I missed walking through the office and chatting to my team as between them they come up with some fantastic ideas.” “So I don’t think it’s the end of the office, we’re just adapting to our changed circumstances. Hot desking is a good way for employers to offer flexibility and serviced offices are a good option too. As in the 2008 recession, companies are downsizing and looking for smaller premises. If that’s the case, we’d advise

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

John Dillon, Managing Director of GJS Dillon

BUSINESSNEWS

INNOVATIVE NEW ‘ANTI-SPLASH’ SMOOTH OPEN AERATOR Malvern manufacturer Neoperl has introduced a new innovative aerator designed to open slowly and delay the initial high flow of water from a tap, preventing any splashing when the kitchen tap is first turned on.

CENTENARY LOOMS FOR EXPORTING YARN-BREAKAGE MANUFACTURERS Ninety-nine years ago, Harold Stanier returned home as a Royal Flying Corp Pilot and invested his savings in a knitting machine. He spent wisely, as his drive and technical skills allowed his textile business to grow rapidly.

This new ‘Smooth Open’ aerator incorporates an integral damping element that ensures a deliberate delay in the flow range and prevents heavy spray when the water hits the sink. It’s also very easy to retrofit onto a tap, providing a great solution to any splashing problem. It’s especially suitable for taps with a large drop height between the spout and sink but great for electronic taps or generally filling glasses, cups and pots too. The smooth open feature is available as an aerated or laminar (non-aerated) water stream and there are versions available in standard sizes to suit many taps.

Stream and flow control devices are often fitted in the spout of new washbasin, bath and kitchen taps and in many cases a new aerator can be retrofitted to these taps to improve performance. They shape the water to produce a non-splashing stream and add air to make the water pleasantly soft. Combined with a flow regulator, they control the flow of water, reduce plumbing noise and save water and therefore energy. www.neoperl.net

Almost a century on, the business is still owned by the same family but now located in picturesque 300-year-old buildings in rural Herefordshire. New House Textiles has moved with the times, but Harold would still recognise the ethos that underpins the business today. The company is now mainly concerned with interiors, employing RCA trained designers to create fabrics and accessories for interiors, much of which is exported. However, for over 50 years New House has also been designing and manufacturing yarn-breakage detector systems for the textile industry. Systems that Harold first designed to solve yarn-handling problems in his own factory. Today with high-speed looms, 1000’s of ends go into modern looms so knowing when a yarn has broken, is critical to avoid faulty fabric.

Award-winning Worcestershire gritting and snow clearance company, AA Salt have taken its next growth steps following a move to a second premises and a five-figure vehicle fleet investment.

Germany is still the home of the world’s most advanced textile machinery and New House are proud that their yarn-breakage detectors are part of the supply chain. New House have successfully completed orders this summer despite Covid-19.

AA Salt, which helps hundreds of businesses keep their premises safe by gritting and snow ploughing car parks and access roads in the winter months, has relocated its operations base to a 12,500 square foot storage and operations facility in Cowsden, near Upton Snodsbury.

www.newhousetextiles.co.uk

NEW PREMISES AND £40,000 INVESTMENT AS WORCESTERSHIRE’S AA SALT MOVES TO NEXT LEVEL

The move doubles the size of the firm’s operational capacity and adds a second site

on top of its headquarters in Himbleton. The move to a second site has also seen a £40,000 investment into a new gritting vehicle to help the company handle the growth in the number of customers looking to use their snow clearance and salt spreading services. Ben Tanner, Sales and Operations Director, said: “The new Cowsden site is exactly what we need as it not only gives us the operational space we need, but it also has the capacity to cope with further growth in the years ahead.” www.aasalt.co.uk

November/December 2020

Your local, award winning legal experts THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN TRADING ONLINE With all the uncertainty about whether great swathes of the country might find itself in some kind of lockdown in the lead up to Christmas, more businesses are focusing on moving their businesses online in a bid to retain customers and find new sales. ARE YOU SELLING TO BUSINESS USERS OR CONSUMERS? You need to consider if the customer for your goods or services is using them for a personal or business need. A consumer is defined as an individual acting for purposes that are wholly or mainly outside of that individual’s trade, business, craft or profession. This is critical because there is a raft of legislation in place to protect consumers against business sellers, whereas if you are trading with a business user, there is a lot more scope for you to protect yourself by limiting and excluding clauses. In addition, consumers will usually have a 14 day right of cancellation, which means you will need to have systems and procedures in place to comply with the legal requirements e.g. dealing with returns.

ARE YOU SELLING GOODS OR SERVICES? Again, this sounds like an easy question, however there is specific legislation applying to the nature of what you are selling. For example, if your customer has to pay a fee to access material on your website, is that goods or services? Legislation includes provisions dealing with what information must be provided in advance to your customer, quality standards to which your goods and or services must comply and options with regard to cancellation partway through any contract.

Stuart Price

WHO PAYS FOR DELIVERY?

And I don’t just mean this in the sense of paying for the courier or postage costs. We have all seen the example of a frustrated delivery driver throwing parcels over a gateway or fence where there is no answer at the door. If the goods are damaged has your business taken into account the costs of replacement goods in its profit forecast? Will you have any rights against the courier and how can you prove where the fault lies?

“RETURN OFFENDERS”

Some shoppers will try to replicate the High Street experience by ordering multiple goods online, for example if they are not sure of the correct size, or to replicate the changing room experience “try before you buy”. These consumers are taking advantage of the 14 day cooling off period (there are only limited specific exclusions where consumers don’t have this right) and it’s a common problem for online sellers. It is possible to provide that the customer has to pay the cost of returning goods, however is this enough of a disincentive? The seller still needs to have systems in place to deal with returned goods. What if those goods have clearly been used (the dress worn for Saturday night and returned

on Monday)? To protect against this type of loss the seller needs to be very clear about making deductions from customer’s refunds where goods are not in a re-sellable condition.

POSSESSION IS 9/10THS OF THE LAW It may be an old adage, however it’s still pertinent in modern day trading. For any seller of goods or services, the best protection is to be paid in advance. Since the introduction of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, a consumer who spends between £100 and £30,000 on items on their credit card, can hold the credit provider equally responsible if things go wrong. This is why there seems to be less fear around about paying for items that the buyer has no tangible evidence of. Beware, however that if there is a third party involved between the seller and the credit card (for example a payment processor such as Paypal) then these rights are lost. If you would like to know more about how to protect your business when trading online, contact Stuart Price on 0121 227 3371 or on Sprice@Thursfields.co.uk.

CHAMBERNEWS

TECHADVICE

HOW HAS COVID-19 ACCELERATED THE DIGITAL WORKPLACE? There are differing opinions on whether the future of the workplace will be in the office, working from home or a mixture of both. What most would agree with is that the technology tools and practices that were adopted over the lockdown period are likely to stay with us longer term. So, what have been the changes and what does your business need to do to ensure your IT environment provides your team an efficient, flexible, and secure way to work?

AGILE WORKING: Whether this is fully working from home or just more flexible workspaces, having the technology in place that will enable your business to operate in the most efficient way is a must. Many businesses are encouraging their staff to work in the spaces that they can be most productive; from home when conducing calls and video meeting and in the office for relationship building, problem solving and strategic planning.

VIDEO MEETINGS: Although video technology has been with us for some time, it was not until the lockdown that holding meetings via video became truly mainstream. Whether your chosen option is Teams, Zoom or something else, having the right connectivity for video conferencing is vital, especially if lots of your team are accessing it at the same time. There is a range of compatible hardware available from headsets to full meeting room conferencing equipment that will provide you with the best impression.

COLLABORATION TOOLS: When lockdown forced most people to work within their homes many organisations sourced solutions that would enable their team to continue collaborating with their colleagues, suppliers, and clients. The most wellknown and frequently used collaboration tool is Microsoft Teams. Part of the Office 365 platform, it will already be familiar to most organisations and acts as a simple way to file share, chat, video conference and even be used as a telephony solution.

ONLINE INTERACTIONS: Many organisations found moving their products and services online a much quicker and more cost-effective way to interact with their customers, especially thanks to tools such as video or live chat. The up take in digital interaction also saw a new wave of fist time internet users who are likely to continue as the need to shop and prebook anything from gyms to restaurants is likely to increase.

DIGITAL GROWTH: Whilst it has been an extremely difficult period for some organisations, others have accelerated their plans towards

digital transformation to meet new demands. A few examples include; Streaming media: Netflix attracted an additional 26 million customers in 2020, largely due to a surge in use during lockdown. Video communications: Zoom, which although fairly unknown at the start of 2020, now has almost 13 million active users. Collaboration tools: Microsoft Teams users jumped 70% to 75 million daily users. EBC Group understand that having the right digital tools and solutions is key. Their team of digital specialists will work with your organisation to improve existing IT processes, whilst planning and implementing a range of digital solutions to meet the demands of both your customers and employees - no matter their location. From cloud, connectivity and telephony to collaboration platforms, security and data management. For more information on EBC Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digital workplace solutions please contact hello@ebcgroup.co.uk or 0121 585 4400, or visit ebcgroup.co.uk.

Bring your team together with simple, cost effective digital workplace solutions. Cloud | Connectivity | Data Management | Security | IT Support 08

www.ebcgroup.co.uk November/December 2020

ADVERTORIAL

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Are you EU-Exit ready? The UK exited the European Union on January 31, 2020. A transition period is now ongoing while negotiations to establish a future relationship beyond December 31st take place. If these talks don't produce an agreement, a ‘no-deal’ EU-Exit is still possible. Businesses of all sizes and sectors must be aware of the changes ahead in order to not see any detrimental impact. Many businesses may not even know that they will be affected and must prepare.

We can help: Our team of international trade experts can offer you and your businesses a wealth of support. From training to 1:1 telephone support plus digital events, you can choose a way to find all of the information you need.

EU-Exit Related Training We have a range of virtual training courses for businesses and individuals who want to receive training on all EU-Exit related rules and changes in order to get fully prepared for when the UK leaves the EU. Delivered by Strong & Herd LLP.

Brexit 6-Month Checklist

9 November 2020

10.00am - 12.00pm

FREE PLACES*

Export Customs Declarations

23 November 2020

10.00am - 12.00pm

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Export Customs Declarations

24 November 2020

10.00am - 12.00pm

FREE PLACES*

Basic Export Documentation

3 December 2020

10.00am - 12.00pm

FREE PLACES*

*Limited fully funded places available for Worcestershire businesses delivered on behalf of Worcestershire County Council.

To find out more, email: internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk For Members outside of Worcestershire, prices start from £75.00 plus VAT

1:1 Telephone Support Use our telephone support service for all EU Exit related questions. 01905 673613

Delivered on behalf of Worcestershire County Council

EU Exit Advisory Let us support you with your EU-Exit related queries and frequently asked questions. 01905 673613

POLICYNEWS

INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY SET TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE IN RECOVERY According to the data gathered by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce from over 3000 calls to local businesses since the advent of lockdown, 34% of businesses in Worcestershire and 16% of businesses in Herefordshire have had to adapt their products and services in the past 5 months. Although COVID-19 has decimated immediate investment intentions, or certainly caused businesses to pause on cash heavy projects, it has also shifted the demand for how products and services are delivered. While there is no doubt that COVID-19 has caused immense disruption to the economy, and by extension the businesses operating within it, the legacy of this crisis will also be characterised by innovation and the implementation of new technology. The implementation of digitalisation and automation are likely to accelerate, as businesses are forced to deliver their products and services online in the absence of face to face visits and events. As businesses began to stabilise approximately 2 or 3 months into lockdown, the number of enquiries relating to the provision of support to develop or redesign websites and explore digital platforms rocketed. In some cases, this could have a longer-term structural impact on how certain sectors operate. For example, in the retail sector the proportion of online sales rose to record levels in April and May

as non-essential retailers were forced to close. In May 33.4% of all sales were made online, up from 19.6% in February, before the pandemic. Although the proportion dipped to 28.1% in August as retailers reopened, online sales were still 46.8% higher than February’s pre-pandemic levels, suggesting the trend of moving away from the traditional high street is accelerating. The immense demand for the government’s innovation based ‘Future Fund’ would appear to provide further evidence that businesses are changing rapidly as a result of this crisis. The Future Fund was formulated to support the UK’s innovative businesses that are currently affected by COVID-19. These businesses have been unable to access other government business support

The immense demand for the government’s innovation based ‘Future Fund’ would appear to provide further evidence that businesses are changing rapidly as a result of this crisis. Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

programmes, such as Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), because they are either pre-revenue or pre-profit and typically rely on equity investment. On its opening day, the value of applications for the Future Fund totaled more than £450 million, surpassing the £250 million HM Treasury made available for the entire scheme. As of August 18 2020, £588.3m worth of convertible loans had been approved for 590 companies since the scheme was launched on 20 May 2020. The appetite for innovation is clear. As businesses compress working hours, digitalise processes to facilitate home working and reduce the time spent travelling across counties and countries, the time saved can be used to innovate and to look at what efficiency and productivity gains can be made by utilising technology more effectively. In the Chamber’s 2020 Employment Report, in partnership with EBC Group and Hewett Recruitment, we are investigating the benefits and challenges of remote working, which technologies have been adopted or increased as a result of COVID-19 and whether businesses intend to change their technology investment plans. The report will be released early in the new year. To view previous Chamber reports visit: www.hwchamber.co.uk/ support/policy/quarterly-economicsurvey/.

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BUSINESSSUPPORT

NEW SPACE AT UPTON BUSINESS CENTRE IS IDEAL FOR MANUFACTURING COMPANIES The owners of Upton Business Centre are currently seeking additional occupiers, following the expansion of the site by 2 acres. Malvern Hills District Council granted permission for the expansion project earlier this year and there is now a secure compound extending to approximately 70,000 sq ft. Smaller compounds from 15,000 sq ft are available. The expansion amounts to a 50% increase in lettable space at the Centre which is on high ground in Welland Road, Upton, close to Great Malvern, Worcester and Tewkesbury. The site is owned by father and son Martin and Mark Wilesmith who pride themselves in providing a well-maintained and efficient environment for their tenants. Upton Business Centre has excellent motorway links to the M50 and M5 and is a popular location for small and medium-sized businesses. There are

currently 9 units at Upton and a further 31 units at Link Business Centre in Malvern which is also operated by the father and son duo. Martin Wilesmith says ‘The space would be ideal for general industry use and it is a well-maintained site with high levels of security. We differ from many business park owners in that we have the flexibility to respond quickly and can work with the tenant to tailor the premises to their specific requirements. There are no working hours limitations at the site which suits our existing tenants very well as they can receive and dispatch deliveries out of hours’ Current tenants at Upton include national companies such as Greenthumb Lawn Treatment Services, RSK Raw Ltd and BR Hodgson Ltd which supplies key services to the construction industry. One of the main advantages of the site is its secured hard surface yard area which provides plenty of storage for material and equipment. There is a mix of spacious commercial/industrial units ranging on the existing lettable space ranging in size

from 600 to 3,500 sq ft in size and there is ample parking available. Martin adds ‘In terms of the type of tenant we are seeking, the newly expanded area would be ideal for a manufacturer that is looking for extra room to undertake their work, have office space and somewhere that provides storage. Although many businesses have been badly affected by the pandemic, that’s not the case for everyone. It really depends on the demand for the goods which are being made.’

SHOW YOUR PRIDE IN OUR COUNTY AND MAKE IT WORCESTERSHIRE We are celebrating what is best about Worcestershire’s fine produce.

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From A-class asparagus to perfect plums, Worcestershire has much to be excited about when it comes to food and drink.

Worcestershire

Find out more about the campaign, and how you could become a part of it at:

Food&Drink

WWW.ONEWORCESTERSHIRE.COM/MAKEITWORCS 012

November/December 2020

BUSINESSSUPPORT

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BUSINESSNEWS

VISICON IS SUPPORTING SME AUTOMATION MONTH Daniel Martin, Tax Manager, Bishop Fleming

FUNDING FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES Technology is at the forefront of the government’s industrial strategy, with significant investment in technology and innovation high on their agenda. This is prevalent in the government’s R&D policy. HMRC continue to incentivise businesses that invest in research and development by offering up to 33p for every £1 spent in a qualifying activity by a qualifying small or medium enterprise. It is often surprising how widespread the legislation is, and the amount of qualifying activities which remain unclaimed. A successful claim could result in a cash refund within 28 days of submission; therefore, it is also a quick form of finance in an otherwise difficult market. Furthermore, a successful claim can, in certain circumstances, be shown above the line, improving the profit position of a company and making them a better prospect for investors.

In the current uncertain times, working smart and embracing technology is becoming the quickest and most successful way of growing your business. However, what technology to use and how to go about implementing it, is often a stumbling block. We are finding that businesses know they need to move forward and incorporate automation but where to start? Visicon are offering free automation assessments and virtual Cobot demonstrations to SME’s. The automation assessments will help customers decide where you can benefit most in your production from automation. They can then advise where implementing vision and or Cobots may help streamline your production. It’s that simple. Virtual Cobot demonstrations are available to show you how simple, easy and safe Cobot products are to use. If you have an interest in looking at this rapidly used technology but not sure what it looks like and how it can be used, an online meeting can be arranged where you can discuss software and the many areas it can and currently is being used in. www.visicon.co.uk

To find out more about claiming R&D tax credits or how Bishop Fleming can help your business please contact Daniel Martin, Tax Manager: dmartin@bishopfleming.co.uk, 01905 732123.

Senior Partner & Mentor, Peter McCann

ZOOMING IN ON UNEMPLOYMENT Innovative unemployment mentoring business CertaintyOne are partnering with Work Horizons to adjust its technology services to deliver expert content via cutting-edge technologies such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Work Horizons is a digital platform backed by professional leadership career coaches, providing guidance and support to businesses and individuals. Rob Ball, Director of Work Horizons, said: “With technology at its heart, Work Horizons has needed to adapt to the new ‘abnormal’ ways of working throughout lockdown; as a result, technologies such as Zoom and Teams have now become second nature. There is a new dynamic to the world of work and the way employees behave – it is instant, it is response, and most importantly it is online.” CertaintyOne leader Peter McCann, who is based in Ledbury, is launching a brand-new Three Counties focused Resilience Club service. This is a six-stage Zoom/Teams programme to help individuals recover from the shock of redundancy; creating fast ‘passport to success’ CV’s, interview training, and LIFO 360-degree profiling for career changes. Peter said: “We strongly believe that innovative use of technology is changing the employment and redundancy landscape for the better.”

www.bishopfleming.co.uk

www.certaintyone.com

PHOTOCOPIER CONTRACTS – THE WAY FORWARD IN UNCERTAIN TIMES Ken Taylor, Sales Director at Clarity Solutions, has some cost-effective solutions if you’re paying for a large multifunctional printer in the office that’s barely used now more people are working from home. Firstly, even if you have a lease agreement with a finance company, your supplier should be able to restructure it so you can change your machine for something more suitable, desktop printers for example.

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If your contract is due to end soon ask your supplier if they will extend it on a more favourable in-house pay as you go basis until the business situation is more stable. Many machines can be set up so your staff can print to them from home, which works well if you still have people in the office; see if your supplier can set this up for you. www.claritysolutions.co.uk Clarity Solutions Sales Director, Ken Taylor

November/December 2020

ADVERTORIAL

CLEAN BUSINESS GROWTH IN WORCESTERSHIRE Worcestershire is a great place for businesses to be green.

LED Lighting, heating, compressors, new equipment, electric forklifts and fast shutting warehouse doors etc. LOCOP has grants of up to ÂŁ100,000 for:

There is a growing eco-system of support, advice and funding for businesses which can be found at:

Solar panels, energy storage, biomass boilers, air and ground source heat pumps etc.

www.business-central.co.uk/clean-growth

FUNDING INNOVATION IN LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGIES

FUNDING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLES

The innovation strand of LOCOP supports businesses to develop and commercialise low carbon technologies and services which help others be green.

Lowering energy bills can make a big difference to your bottom line. If you are seeking to reduce carbon and costs within your business, the Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) and Low Carbon Opportunities Programme (LOCOP) can help. BEEP & LOCOP offer: 12 hours of free support to advise on energy efficiency or appraise renewable energy opportunities. Both have tailored recommendations. BEEP has grants of ÂŁ1,000 - ÂŁ20,000 for:

Businesses receive free and bespoke 12 hours of support, which can for example, help consider markets, funding streams, scaling-up, IPR protection, technical collaborations and tackle barriers. Grants of up to ÂŁ50,000 can fund: equipment and materials demonstrations and testing IPR protection

accreditations prototypes marketing Contact Details Email: sustainability@worcestershire.gov.uk Visit: www.business-central.co.uk/clean-growth Call: 01905 677888 BEEP and LOCOP are receiving funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020

w w w.instant s c ener y.c o.u k Professional and qualified in horticulture Established in 2009, Instant Scenery is a premier gardening, design and grounds maintenance company offering a wide range of horticultural and gardening services across Worcestershire. Our enthusiastic, qualified team are passionate about creating beautiful gardens for our clients and we pride ourselves in delivering exceptional customer service alongside a high professional work ethic. We offer the following services for both private and commercial customers:

For further information or if you would like to discuss making a booking, please contact us on: e: info@instantscenery.co.uk

Tel: 01905 347105 | www.instantscenery.co.uk f t

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESS LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR With the UK starting to come A BUSINESS LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY? out of the worst pandemic If you are unable to act on behalf of in our history and businesses your business it may affect or ultimately hopefully starting to get back invalidate your insurance, causing to some form of normality, problems with any potential future claims. many business owners and Without a Business Lasting Power of directors will be relieved that Attorney banks may freeze a business their crisis management strategy, contingency planning and support account if an owner or director is unable to act. This means that employees or from Government schemes have creditors could not be paid from the enabled them to survive. Whilst businesses may have come through the worst, I wonder how many business owners have considered preparing Business Lasting Powers of Attorney to cover events were they unable to make decisions in relation to their businesses. A Business Lasting Power of Attorney sets out how decisions will be made should a business owner or director lose capacity or are unable to act for the business, for example due to being out of the country, in hospital (for whatever reason, including COVID-19) or have had an accident.

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business bank account. Additionally, should there be an overdraft in place the banks could insist on this being paid in full immediately otherwise it would start looking to crystallise company assets to service the debts.

The only course of action without a Lasting Power of Attorney in place would be for someone to apply for a deputyship order, which can take between 9 and 10 months to obtain. The simple preparation of a Business Lasting Power of Attorney in advance would prevent any problems from arising.

For further information or to set up a Business Lasting Power of Attorney please email us at admin@whitehorsewills.com or visit our website at www.whitehorsewills.com

November/December 2020

ADVERTORIAL

BLOCKCHAIN AS PART OF EVERYDAY BUSINESS If you buy or sell anything, you will encounter blockchain sooner or later - contactless payments, subscription models, wearable devices, fingerprint or facial recognition; all are increasingly familiar to us. But what are the advantages and disadvantages and where might you encounter difficulties? Nicola McNeely, head of the national technology team at HCR, assesses the pros and cons. Covid-19 has already contributed to our society becoming increasingly cashless, operating largely on contactless payment systems. Generally, it’s cheaper to pay via blockchain, so it’s favourable for the merchant and the customer, even for small purchases – no credit card or merchant acquirer fees for processing, and only small change of hands fees to the wallet service provider. What are the benefits? It is cost effective – on the whole, transferring digital assets (such as cryptocurrency or cryptoassets) or stable coins from wallet to wallet on the blockchain is significantly cheaper. That’s why it has such potential in financial services. It cuts out the middle man, because the assets transfer directly peer to peer. Once a block is created, it can’t be deleted or tampered with, so it is also secure. What about the risks? Cash and blockchain share a vulnerability to misuse. Blockchain can be easier to trace than fiat currency or commodities and blockchain technology can in fact be used for crime prevention. The global regulation of blockchain is evolving almost daily. Looking to the future How will blockchain change how we do business and interact with each other? • •

Peer to peer payments - people are becoming more comfortable paying directly using existing technology. Providing financial equality - blockchain can be used to rebalance financial access difficulties faced by those marginalised in society. • Tokenisation - the transfer of physical assets to the digital world - can be used as a means of payment or transfer e.g. stable coins which are pegged to either fiat currency or a commodity. • Crypto assets - crypto assets or ‘digital assets’ allow diversification into multiple new asset classes. Investors can either participate directly or, in some countries, institutional investors (banks, pension funds etc) can hold and have custody of crypto assets. Blockchain is maturing and we are seeing the emergence of new business uses; there are huge potential opportunities for businesses to benefit from this technology.

For more information and advice, please get in touch with Nicola McNeely at nmcneely@hcrlaw.com or on 07870 261 520. Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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SKILLS

GOVERNMENT KICKSTART SCHEME IS LIVE FOR BUSINESSES TO APPLY Businesses can now access the brand new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme, which intends to create new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country via the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. The 6-month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The first placements are likely to be available from November.

MAJOR EXPANSION OF POST-18 EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO LEVEL UP AND PREPARE WORKERS FOR POST-COVID ECONOMY The Prime Minister has set out plans to transform the training and skills system, making it fit for the 21st century economy, and helping the country build back better from Coronavirus. Adults without an A-Level or equivalent qualification will be offered a free, fully-funded college course – providing them with skills valued by employers, and the opportunity to study at a time and location that suits them. Higher education loans will also be made more flexible, allowing adults and young people to space out their study across their lifetimes, take more high-quality vocational courses in further education colleges and universities, and to support people to retrain for jobs of the future. Apprenticeship opportunities will also be increased, with more funding for SMEs taking on apprentices, and greater flexibility in how their training is structured. These reforms will be backed by continued investment in college buildings and facilities – including over £1.5 billion in capital funding. More details will be set out in a further education white paper later this year.

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Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions. If your organisation is creating fewer than 30 job placements, the first stage of your application must be made via Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, as you are not able to apply directly. The Chamber are collating businesses for the Department for Work

& Pensions (DWP)/government, bringing them together for those who want to create less than 30 placements. Businesses who are interested in registering can do so by visiting the below webpage and the Chamber will get back to you with further information. www.hwchamber.co.uk/support/ kickstart-scheme

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION LAUNCHES NEW SKILLS TOOLKIT The UK government has launched a new Skills Toolkit with additional courses that target employers, prospective learners and employees among others. One in three people have used online learning to help them get a better job. On average, online learning can boost your annual pay by £3,640 too. A 2018 LinkedIn survey showed that more than half of the senior leaders and managers surveyed identified soft skills – like leadership, problem solving and project management – as their number one development priority. The Skills Toolkit can help you build these skills, as well as offering short courses on networking,

communication, personal development and wellbeing. It can also help you refresh your knowledge on basic digital skills, such as using office programs like Microsoft Word or Excel. www.theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk

TOP MARKS FROM AKADEMIK! When Exam results were released a few months back, it was not only the students who passed who were celebrating. Maria from Akademik, Russian – English translator and tutor was also celebrating when she found out that 3 of her students received top marks. Two received an A* with the other achieving an A grade in their A level exams.

During the 7 years Maria has been conducting the exams at Bromsgrove School her students have achieved top marks as a rule. Akademik provides translations, interpretation from Russian to English and English to Russian and tutoring. www.akademik.co.uk

Mark Beet, The Head of Modern Languages at Bromsgrove School, where the exams were conducted, said: “Maria conducted our A level and GCSE Russian oral examinations with great efficiency and professionalism. She put the pupils at ease and managed to get the most out of them in the examinations. I would recommend her without hesitation.”

November/December 2020

BUSINESSNEWS

DRPG TAKES CLIENTS ON THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES Creative communications group DRPG’s flagship thought leadership event ‘DRPGBIGtalk’ usually hosts 150 delegates. With this year’s move to virtual, the event attracted over 1000 delegates from across the globe. Hosted in a virtual world theme park created using cutting edge browserbased WebGl modelling, the three-day event brought communications professionals together online to see what is possible in the world of virtual events and provide them with the key insights needed to help futureproof their comms strategies in the current climate. Each interactive ride within the virtual theme park was filled with engaging content from information on wellbeing, D&I, technology, CSR and research and insights, to gamification, social walls and a virtual reality roller coaster. DRPGBIGtalk was made up of a mix of live and on-demand sessions. Speakers included June Sarpong OBE, the BBC’s David Meade, Professor of Happiness Bruce Hood, Lord Digby Jones, Justin King and Ortis Deley from the Gadget Show.

The internet is the first place most people starting their buyers' journey. The target audience has replaced paper with a screen. Businesses with a great internet presence are reaping the rewards of their investment compared to those that have little or no presence. Dagmar Mackett, Global Development Director at DRPG, said: “By focussing on valuable content delivered in an unique and engaging way, we set out to prove that virtual events are a viable and in many cases a preferable alternative to physical ones. Virtual experiences are the future and there is no question that they are here to stay, so let’s get them right. We had delegates log in from Hungary, Australia and Germany and panelists joining us from the Netherlands and Russia as well as many other locations; a truly global experience.” www.drpgroup.com

TALISMAN PLASTICS IMPROVE IN-HOUSE PRINTING CAPABILITIES WITH KEYENCE HYBRID LASER MARKER The new hybrid laser, comprised of a YVO4 crystalline material and a conventional fibre, transfers to the plastic target with heightened accuracy, meaning Talisman can now offer printing of barcodes, QR codes, logos and imagery onto their popular Taliloc, Enviroloc, and Easiloc products.

HAS THE APPROACH TO ONLINE MARKETING SHIFTED PERMANENTLY?

using the software, which both programs the print design and verifies the print has been carried out accurately, ensuring QR codes and barcodes function properly. www.talismanplastics.co.uk

James Mulvale, business development manager, said: “The acquisition of the Keyence laser marker will provide a whole new level of customisation potential for our customers.” “The hybrid laser means we get much clearer and crisper printing without reducing cycle times.”

But once your prospects are aware of you and have found your website, how do you engage with them and convince your visitors to buy into your proposition? There is a unique and simple answer provided by Herefordshire-based C4B. Website visitors are engaged directly on the website. They are then qualified before the sales team are invited to connect with them then and there. The solution, called C4B ‘Connect’, is an innovation of traditional webchat. Designed specifically for sales, Connect uses software developed in-house and a team of professional receptionists. As well as filtering out non-sales enquiries, the team collects relevant sales information before connecting qualified prospects directly with the clients’ sales team. James Lloyd of C4B stated “Connect works by simplifying the buying journey. We seek to capture the prospects interest whilst they are in ‘buying mode’. It’s a simple idea that has amazing results. The market is full of webchat that captures information and passes it on via email. Connect facilitates the critical first interaction between buyer and seller, driving sales and customer experience. C4B Connect is driving significant sales success in high involvement purchases like property and care home residency." For further information on how C4B can benefit your business, contact James Lloyd at james@c4b.live. www.c4b.live

Keyence’s MDX series laser marker was installed at Talisman’s Malvern plant in July, with the laser company providing training to all injection setting staff on

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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FEATURE

DEDICATION OF CARING TEAM EARNS FIVE STAR REVIEWS Severn Angels Healthcare Ltd fills both temporary and permanent posts for nurses and healthcare assistants across a range of health and care settings. Spiwe Mhondiwa couldn’t be more proud of the team she has built at Severn Angels Healthcare Ltd. And that has never been more true than now, for the 300 or so nurses and healthcare assistants on the company’s books have certainly shown their true mettle during the pandemic Despite the barrage of statistics and media headlines highlighting the dangers, there has been a collective determination to remain at their posts come what may. Founder and manager of Severn Angels, Spiwe said: “No-one was prepared for this pandemic and no-one knew what to expect, but what I do know is that we have excellent staff who have worked very hard to continue providing safe and effective care. “We have dedicated staff who, despite knowing that as healthcare professionals they are at greater risk of catching Covid-19, they still want to get out there into the care homes to help make sure residents are looked after properly.

They take all the correct precautions and wear the right PPE, but at the end of the day, it isn’t themselves they worry about. “They say ‘that could be my mum or my grandmother or grandfather … ‘ “They take all the correct precautions and wear the right PPE, but at the end of the day, it isn’t themselves they worry about.”

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A registered nurse herself with 15 years’ experience embracing both the health and care sectors, when Spiwe launched Severn Angels it was with the aim of doing things, well, just better.

and care-givers.

Superlative customer service was her starting point.

“We have clients with nursing homes and others who run NHS care settings and in both cases, we work with the management teams, providing advice and support wherever we can,” she said.

Today the agency supports more than 20 care homes across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the West Midlands and she knows, hand on heart, they can rely on Severn Angels. Its recruitment process is thorough – the calibre of its staff high. But good customer service is as much about the staff as the clients, said Spiwe. “We treat our staff with dignity and respect and we listen to their concerns, so yes, we aim to provide our staff with the best in customer service too. “Because if we treat them right, they will go out and represent Severn Angels to the best of their ability. They will be committed to their jobs and in that way, contribute to the ethos and standing of the agency itself.”

Staff are adept too at spotting where improvements can be made, internal feedback that is invaluable to Spiwe when she, in turn, is talking to clients.

“I have been a nurse on the hospital floor and in a care home, so I know what the challenges are and what issues staff might have to deal with – I can put myself in their shoes. “That enables us to work with our clients on the forward planning of care, to ensure that their elderly and vulnerable residents are looked after properly, no matter what the situation.” Further information is available by visiting the website at www.severnangels.co.uk or ringing the agency on 01905-930707 and choosing ‘option 1’.

The client feedback and reviews Severn Angels has been receiving, particularly this summer, are something else Spiwe is rightly proud of. Five star reviews are the norm and many of the comments are, indeed, about the professionalism of Severn Angels’ nurses

November/December 2020

CHAMBERNEWS

UNIQUE WORCESTERSHIRE APPRENTICESHIPS AT WCG being a predominantly land-based college.

Employers across Worcestershire are being encouraged to benefit from new government apprenticeship incentives and secure their workforce of the future. WCG is one of the region’s largest apprenticeship providers and specialises in the training of those working in land-based industries. The college group is delivering the latest apprenticeship standards from its colleges at Pershore and Evesham. Apprenticeships covered include Veterinary Nursing, Arboriculture, Agriculture, Equine, Animal Care and Horticulture, including Golf Greenkeeping and Sports Turf. Pershore College is also the only provider in Worcestershire offering apprenticeships in Land-Based Service Engineering, working with primarily horticultural machinery.

It has a proud 60-plus year history of supporting the next generation of workers in those industries and apprentices benefit from expert tutelage. Mark Eden, Director of Work-Based Learning at WCG, says many employers aren’t aware of the new government incentive scheme and the college will support them in accessing funding. He said: “We’re finding that lots of employers, especially those of a smaller size, aren’t aware of the new incentives that have been made available by the government for apprenticeships. “At WCG, we are working to signpost employers to the right support and using our expertise to ensure employers get the most out of their apprenticeships. “We pride ourselves on the individuality of our apprenticeships in Worcestershire, it’s not a ‘one size, fits all’ approach but instead each apprenticeship is tailored to the individual.

supporting your workforce and provides huge return on investment in the long term.” WCG offers a wide range of apprenticeships in a variety of industries. For more information, contact: E: employerenquiries@wcg.ac.uk T: 0330 135 6940 W: www.wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships

“With the new government incentives, now is the perfect time to take on an The college is a national centre for apprentice, especially if a business hasn’t Auditel adunique 120 x 185mm_B.pdf horticulture and is in the region1 for17/08/2020 done so 13:57 before. It’s a cost-effective way of

Grow your business by cutting your utility costs!

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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CHAMBERTRAINING

VIRTUAL TRAINING IS HERE TO STAY! For a long time, virtual training has been on the rise, but now more than ever businesses are looking for an alternative option to classroom training. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the whole country in lockdown, with businesses across the two counties shutting their doors and working remotely since March. Therefore, many businesses are now looking for a flexible alternative to traditional classroom training, to help lower costs, eliminate unnecessary travelling and to help ease employees demanding work schedules. With government guidelines changing on a regular basis, the Chamber Training department has made the decision to run all courses as virtual sessions until at least 31 March 2021. The safety of our staff and customers is our main priority and we want to ensure businesses are still able to access training, despite the current circumstances. Having delivered virtual training to over 300 delegates since mid-May across 60 different course dates, the majority of our training courses are now available as virtual sessions, with many being revamped to suit the virtual learning environment. We have also added in a number of new courses to help businesses restart and recover. Upcoming courses can be found on the next page, but take a look at some of the new training we have on offer:

GETTING YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE This course is a 2-hour training session this is designed as an introduction to the three main website hosting platforms available: Squarespace, Shopify and WordPress. Each delegate is able to claim a free trial for one of these platforms by attending this course.

WORKPLACE WELLBEING AWARENESS This course is aimed at those who want to gain the necessary skills to have an open conversation and recognise the signs and symptoms of common workplace wellbeing issues. It also looks at strategies to normalise mental health and wellbeing discussions in the workplace in order to reduce stigma and discrimination.

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LEADING CHANGE This 4-hour course gives delegates an insight in how to lead change in the workplace effectively. Presented as an interactive workshop this course will improve delegates effectiveness in how they manage change, through examining how people will deal with change and to successfully manage individuals and teams through change.

GENERATING LEADS VIRTUALLY Businesses are learning to adapt their sales techniques around the new virtual world, but what is the most effective way to generate new leads? This short course is aimed at those who wish to develop their networking skills to generate new leads and sales appointments from new and existing clients, virtually and where face-to-face meetings are not possible.

EXCEL HINTS, TIPS & USEFUL FEATURES Are you using Excel effectively? This course demonstrates a whole host of hints and tips within Excel, to make the operation of the application simpler and more efficient to use. In this course we look at the different features throughout Microsoft Excel and how they can be used to complete tasks more effectively.

New virtual training courses are continuously being added to the fast-growing portfolio, all courses can be found on the Chamber website here: Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find what you are looking for? Email training@hwchamber.co.uk with your course suggestions.

November/December 2020

CHAMBERTRAINING NOVEMBER COURSE DATES

NOVEMBER COURSE DATES

DECEMBER COURSE DATES

Successful Telesales Tuesday 3 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT for Members £200+VAT Non-members

Professional Telephone Techniques Thursday 19 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Workplace Wellbeing Awareness Friday 4 December - 10.00am-12.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members

Introduction to Shopify – Part 2 Tuesday 3 November - 2.00-4.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members

Microsoft Excel Hints, Tips and Useful Features Thursday 19 November - 10.00am-2.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members

Introduction to Microsoft Excel Monday 7 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

IOSH Managing Occupational Health & Wellbeing Thursday 5 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Search Engine Optimisation – Part 1 Tuesday 24 November - 2.00-4.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members

Intermediate Microsoft Excel Tuesday 10 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Assertiveness and Confidence at Work Tuesday 10 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Email Marketing Tuesday 10 November - 2.00-4.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members Managing People in the Team Thursday 12 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Workplace Wellbeing Awareness Friday 13 November - 10.00am-12.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members

Role of the Team Leader Wednesday 25 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

DECEMBER COURSE DATES Search Engine Optimisation – Part 2 Tuesday 1 December - 2.00-4.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members Managing Performance in the Team Tuesday 1 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Effective Time Management Wednesday 2 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Internal Auditor Training Tuesday 8 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members Search Engine Optimisation – Part 3 Tuesday 8 December - 2.00-4.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members Employment Law Update Wednesday 9 December - 10.00am-12.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members Introduction to Digital Marketing & PR Thursday 10 December - 2.00-4.00pm FREE for Members £85+VAT Non-members Search Engine Optimisation – Part 4 Tuesday 15 December - 2.00-4.00pm £60+VAT Members £85+VAT Non-members Introduction to Project Management Tuesday 15 December - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Getting Your Business Online Tuesday 17 November - 2.00-4.00pm FREE for Members £85+VAT Non-members Intermediate Microsoft Word Tuesday 17 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members IOSH Working Safely Wednesday 18 November - 9.00am-4.00pm £160+VAT Members £200+VAT Non-members

Whilst we are continuously expanding our online offering, please let us know if there are any training courses you would like the Chamber to deliver in the future. All up to date courses can be found on our website: www.hwchamber.co.uk/events-and-training-calendar. We are looking forward to welcoming delegates back to the Chamber office for future courses. For more information on any of our training courses, please see our website or email our training department on training@hwchamber.co.uk.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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FEATURE

DIGITAL SOLUTION TURNS TRADITION OF QUEUING ON ITS HEAD By HELEN COMPSON

The beauty is in the simplicity of a new virtual queuing system, designed by a barber balancing the demands of drop-in appointments with the rigours of pandemic control.

Ellis Campbell, who owns EC & Co on Broad Street, Worcester, says it is so simple, he doesn’t know why it hadn’t been thought of before. But when the Wall Street Journal got in touch to ask him for an interview, he suddenly got an inkling of the interest MyQsafe was generating. “That was pretty cool,” he laughed. Ellis established his barber shop with two school friends in 2010, when he was just 21. The three of them have worked there together ever since. The age-old tradition of the drop-in appointment (“I didn’t want to switch to a booking system, because people don’t turn up”) only really became a problem come Covid-19. Overnight, the queues that spoke of a healthy business became the possible harbingers of ill-health. “I didn’t want to force people into having to commit to an appointment,” he said, “but I did need to create a bit of flexibility in the queuing system.” After much investigation, his ultimate solution was inspired by the little hand-held, buzzer-alerts used by restaurant chain TGI Friday. If would-be customers could book their place in the queue, but then go off and do whatever else they wanted to while waiting, they would return, Ellis reasoned. “By going to that barber shop, say, in the first place, they are committed, because they’ve gone out of their way to do so.” All a customer need do is use their mobile phone to scan the MyQsafe QR code displayed and bob’s your uncle, they are in the virtual queue. They are free to roam until they receive notification it’s their turn in the chair. Ellis and his MyQsafe business partner Dean Nicholas worked with Green Gorilla Apps on developing the system.

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It went live on July 4th this year and it wasn’t long before Ellis realised it would equally be of use to businesses outside of the hair and beauty industry it had originally been designed for. “There has been interest from not only across the UK, but Europe and America too,” he said. “It’s growing each day. “Businesses in New York are interested, which is where the Wall Street Journal connection came from, I think. “Industry and the way we operate is changing all the time now, particularly because of the pandemic, so all sorts of businesses – a lot of retail brands – are contacting us.” MyQsafe is currently being trialled throughout Solihull’s Touchwood shopping and entertainment complex, which houses more than 80 stores, 20 bars and restaurants and a nine-screen Cineworld cinema. “They are looking at it with a view to managing the Black Friday and Boxing

Day queues, among other things, so we really are edging into the retail side of things,” he said. And, of course, the system has been well and truly tested at EC & Co barbers, where you will still find Ellis in his usual place on the shop floor. He said: “Since we launched the app in July, it has registered 11,300 actions by around 8000 clients and out of them, only one person has failed to return for his appointment – and he came back the next day to tell us he’d dropped his mobile phone and smashed his screen. “It just shows, once people have been to your premises and scanned the QR code, they feel committed.” Ellis’s ambition is to turn MyQsafe into such a recognised brand that when people see the logo and the QR code, they know instantly what to do. “Queuing is such a British thing, but there is a better way of doing it now,” he said. www.myqsafe.co.uk

November/December 2020

FEATURE

BUSINESSES BASKING IN THE WARM GLOW OF WINN By HELEN COMPSON

Eight minutes 20 seconds, that’s how long it takes sunlight to reach earth. And also the title of the first WINN Wednesday as it launched back in 2016, an event designed to nurture the rich collaborations that are driving innovation and productivity across Worcestershire. Jess Antley, senior project manager for WINN, (Worcestershire Innovation), said: “Our WINN Wednesday networking events are really about shining the light on the fantastic innovation happening in the county and the opportunities for businesses to get involved and be a part of our WINN planning to ensure market-led activity.” The Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire LEP programme also illuminates the way ahead – joining WINN can be the first step on the journey for budding entrepreneurs. The programme takes a three-pronged approach backed up, crucially, by the European Regional Development Fund. “First and foremost, WINN is about providing business support that is relevant and tailored to our business community,” she said. “It does not take the generic ‘one size fits all’ approach. “The fact we are also able to offer our Proof of Concept grant is a hugely successful and an important element too. “We have a breadth of support that is in some way a bespoke ‘choose your own adventure’, something businesses asked for as we built the programme.” With the county’s core sector mix of cyber and defence, advanced manufacturing, agritech, medtech and, increasingly, creativetech firmly in mind, WINN’s three-pronged approach can be summarised as: people and ideas, places and infrastructure, and business environment. The WINN Wednesday networking events that are key to ‘people and ideas’ originally took place in the University of Worcester Arena.

They attracted a satisfyingly diverse cross-section of the business community, with representatives from big business to SMEs and retirees to students looking for their entry point. Now, the events are online, courtesy of The WINN Show, launched in response to the pandemic. “We have more than 1200 businesses in our community,” said Jess, “and what WINN continues to do is celebrate the wonderful, vibrant mix we have across the county – there is just so much going on here! “The main aim is to provide opportunities and an ecosystem where people can meet, showcase their ideas, achievements and developments, and get the support to take their ideas forward.” Collaboration is key, she added, whether that means facilitating chance meetings of like-minded individuals pooling ideas and resource in a joint project or joining together on mass to make initiatives such as The Kiln co-working premises and the Betaden tech accelerator viable, just two of the ‘places and infrastructure’ projects WINN supports. After bringing people and their ideas together and forming places and spaces they can use, the focus is then on creating a ‘business environment’ in which they can thrive. The Proof of Concept grant available for businesses looking to develop new products, provides grants of up to 40% of the total cost of a project up to £30,000.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

In addition, there is WINN’s annual Make It Happen Challenge, in which the best idea wins a package of support to accelerate their business idea including £5,000 in cash and £10,000 worth of business support. And then there is the Innovation Launchpad, offering 12 hours of support tailored to the individual. Jess said: “Again, this is bespoke support, because we want it to be as relevant as possible to the business concerned and due to current circumstances, we are now able to provide them online. “There are two parts to it. The first phase is their Mission and comprises of transformational coaching and business planning support in a totally unique interactive experience. “This is all about the mind-set and getting them into the zone in which they can develop their ideas. “Once they have gone through that, they can pick and mix what they would like to focus on next – perhaps marketing, supply chain management or learning presentation skills – in a further six hours of specialist professional support.” And finally, as part of the Launchpad, members are also registered on WINN’s Innovation Platform, where yet more connections are made and many a fruitful conversation begins. https://winn-hub.com/ JAntley@worcestershire.gov.uk

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BIG INTERVIEW

£9M INVESTMENT ARMS THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBER CRIME By HELEN COMPSON

60% of those effectively hit fold within six months of the attack

The new £9m Cyber Quarter on Hereford Enterprise Zone’s Skylon Park can truly be described as a shot in the arm for the UK’s third industrial revolution.

65% of all large UK companies reported a breach last year

For at its heart is the advanced cyber security needed to inoculate Britain and its digital technology companies against the ubiquitous hacking that has blighted the second industrial (digital) revolution and now threatens to pervade the third. Cybercrime is hot on our heels as we advance into the brave new world of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things - and the figures are as shocking as they are stark. A major insurance group reports that: 43% of cybercrimes are targeted at small businesses

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17m people in the UK were victims of cyber-crime in 2018 Cybercrime currently costs the UK between £18 billion and £27 billion a year In short, the new Cyber Quarter - Midlands Centre for Cyber Security, to give it its full name, is a natural development, a necessary next step in the evolution of the Cyber Valley that runs across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. Andrew Manning Cox, chairman of the Hereford Enterprise Zone, said: “The Cyber Valley is home to 15% of the top 600 cyber companies in the country the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy recognises it as the largest such cluster outside of London. “There is GCHQ for starters, which is key to a lot of the cyber work of course, and

then there’s Hereford’s background in defence and the armed forces – the MoD and the SAS are both here. “The vision behind the founding of the Cyber Quarter is that it will be a very useful anchor for the Cyber Valley as a whole.” A joint venture by the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council, the Cyber Quarter has also benefited from the largesse of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and the European Regional Development Fund. Ultimately, this Midlands Centre for Cyber Security will act as a national hub for representatives of business (big, small and in between), government, international organisations, academia and civil society to enhance and consolidate both national and international security. Part and parcel of its footprint is the high quality office space made available to those working in the fields of cyber consultancy, security testing, Research & Development and continuous professional development training services, an offer

November/December 2020

BIG INTERVIEW

made all the more attractive by the academic expertise emanating from the university’s Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute. So if a business needs a security assessment of its services or processes, or requires help in achieving compliancy with industry standards such as ISO or GDPR, or wants its systems or products tested for vulnerabilities, the ability and know-how is to hand. Andrew said: “It is important that businesses have the ability to test their products and processes safely and securely and can then go on to gain competitive advantage as a result.” Not only had there been a tremendous rise in the number of cyber-attacks in recent

years, but also a marked increase in the level of sophistication. The lone hacker had been left in the shade by the organised criminal gang and, in turn, the rogue nation state. “The third industrial revolution is under way,” he said. “Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, they are all happening now and leading to a lot of great, positive development. “But, it is also a haven for hackers. The view is that when your toaster is connected to your internet, then someone else can start operating your toaster, if you aren’t careful. “The Cyber Quarter will be a great boon in helping businesses fight back by giving

“The Cyber Quarter will be a great boon in helping businesses fight back by giving them a secure environment in which to develop and test their products, and there couldn’t be a more natural choice of location than Hereford Enterprise Zone, given the number of cyber businesses here already.”

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

them a secure environment in which to develop and test their products, and there couldn’t be a more natural choice of location than Hereford Enterprise Zone, given the number of cyber businesses here already.” The enterprise zone was established 12 years ago to help meet the evolving needs of the existing security and defence businesses scattered across Herefordshire. Today the county boasts more than 80 such businesses, and it is expected the 110-acre brown field site that is the Skylon Park will push that number up significantly. There are currently 43 businesses on the park, employing 820 people. Another 1200 jobs are forecast as those businesses grow. “The Cyber Quarter is one of the two big developments on the enterprise park this year,” said Andrew. “We have deliberately kept space around it to allow room for a cluster-effect to develop.” So while the building that has just gone up will act as an incubator, providing office and research facilities as well as access to business consultancy and support, there is also room to ‘mushroom’ in the very planning-benign environs. The Cyber Quarter was a catalyst for expanding the cluster in the Cyber Valley generally, he said, whilst at the same time its very presence would strengthen the bridge graduates crossed between university and cyber firm.

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BUSINESSNEWS

EBC GROUP PRAISED FOR CUSTOMER RESPONSE DURING COVID-19 Workplace technology providers EBC Group are celebrating success having been praised for their customer response throughout COVID-19.

HAZELTON MOUNTFORD INNOVATE TO SUPPORT THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH AN APP FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS Hazelton Mountford, based in Worcester City centre, have developed an innovative app to support their customers with proactive insurance claims. Director, Jake Mountford, says: “As many people are aware, motor insurance costs have risen in recent years and are likely to continue to rise. Reporting claims can be tedious and time consuming and we’d like to save our customers time and inevitable stress in the insurance claim process. The causes of claims are numerous but being proactive can help lower the cost for our clients.” One of the biggest costs to the insurance industry stems from delayed and incomplete reporting, so the Hazelton Mountford app seeks to allow drivers to report the claim directly to them (and in some cases, directly to insurers) as well as to clients’ own offices in only a few minutes and at the time of the incident. The app prompts and aids the driver to capture the key information for handling and more importantly defending your claim. www.hazeltonmountford.co.uk

With the lockdown forcing many of their clients to work from home, EBC Group saw an increased demand on their IT support desk, with 4 times the number of tickets and double the amount of phone calls from customers who found themselves in difficult working circumstances and often required immediate help. Despite their own team finding themselves in an unfamiliar working environment, EBC Group upheld quality customer service, going above and beyond the hours expected to ensure all issues were dealt with efficiently and effectively. As a result, the response from their clients has been overwhelmingly positive and acts a testament to the excellent support EBC Group continues to provide.

Tanya Cunningham, Director of Finance and Corporate Services at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Everyone on the helpdesk has been excellent and instrumental in supporting us over the last few months. Their team have been brilliant, always helpful and very understanding, going above and beyond for all tickets raised.” www.ebcgroup.co.uk

APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEMS ENABLE A SMOOTHER RECRUITMENT PROCESS Due to recent changes in the recruitment market, both the quality of applicants and the time to hire has increased. Businesses are now seeking new technologies to help manage this process.

Kerris Crook HR Consultancy has invested in such recruitment software to support clients. Further information can be obtained by contacting Kerris at kerris@crookhr.co.uk. www.crookhr.co.uk

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can enable job adverts to include screening tools in the form of pertinent questions, and automatically acknowledge all applicants immediately. The technology also provides an automated interview booking system. Multiple job boards and recruitment agencies can be linked to the ATS should they be required for more niche roles, enabling all applicants to be reviewed and liaised with through one system. Hiring managers can be provided with access to all or only shortlisted CVs and can also see any notes made after each interview.

INNOVATING PRODUCTS FOR THE CATERING AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TO MANAGE COVID-19 Due to COVID-19 restaurants, pubs and cafes are having to make changes in the way they provide services to their customers to keep them safe. Adding extra steps to maintain social distancing as well as to keep areas clean that are used by both customers and staff. As a printing company, The Droitwich Sign and Print Co print menus for many

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of these establishments. During one such printing run MD Mark Hanson was thinking about the number of times one menu will get handled, not to mention what happens when it starts to get tired and the laminate begins to peel.

traps, but can also be wiped clean with disinfectant. These are now being used successfully by their clients. www.dsandp.co.uk

Using an innovative new material to print menus onto meant that they are not only more durable, thus reducing germ

November/December 2020

INNOVATION FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS. Optimec have supplied quality optical inspection and measurement instrumentation to the global contact lens manufacturing industry for over 40 years. Following the retirement of Optimecâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner in June 2020, its assets were acquired by two new independent limited companies, Optimec Metrology and Optimec Systems, both of which are led by former Optimec staff. Both companies were established during the turbulence of the Coronavirus pandemic, hence business practices such as cloud-based infrastructure and new video-conferencing platforms were implemented. This allowed a smooth transition, ensuring continued quality of service to new and existing customers.

REINVIGORATION OF THE BENCHMARK Optimec Metrology continues to manufacture and supply the highly successful Optimec range of benchmark instrumentation in Malvern, UK to the global contact lens, intraocular lens and associated manufacturing industries. The instruments are essential in enabling manufacturers to inspect the quality of their products, as well as to measure and check the parameters, ensuring that they meet the stringent requirements of international quality standards. They are proud to support and promote British manufacturing with 80% of revenue being raised from worldwide exports to over 35 countries. Optimec Metrology uses the latest CNC manufacturing techniques and its experienced technicians assemble a wide range of instruments to exacting standards using the highest quality materials and components, which are all sourced from within the UK. Rigorous quality control and testing prior to dispatch ensures the demanding requirements of its customers are consistently met. The contact lens manufacturing industry is innovative and dynamic, so Optimec Metrology itself is focussed on providing its own highly innovative solutions to support the industry. Working closely with local specialists and key personnel within the contact lens industry, ongoing

development and investment in both existing instruments, and exciting new products, are at the centre of its business strategy and key to its continuing success. www.optimecmetrology.com

AUTOMATING NEW IDEAS Optimec Systems took on the development and manufacture of the innovative is830 instrument range. Using OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) technology, the is830 has been disruptive in the contact lens market since its introduction and has now been installed at most major manufacturers worldwide. Analysis of manufactured parts using precision, non-contact and non-destructive OCT technology has proven invaluable for customers, providing much needed data to improve their processes and product throughput. To ensure the company can continue to innovate and remain an industry leader, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Aston University and Optimec Systems is currently in progress to expand its OCT measurement capabilities.

measurement capabilities to be integrated into automated production processes. The is830-Auto has already helped a key UK customer achieve significant increases in output and reductions in scrappage losses. Optimec Systems are focussed on exploring potential applications and providing far reaching benefits to many more customers worldwide. Optimec Systems forges close links with customers to find tailored solutions and ensure swift development times, essential in meeting the demands of this fast-paced industry. www.optimecsystems.com

A pivotal product for Optimec Systems is the is830-Auto, making OCT technology more accessible by allowing unique and novel

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESSNEWS

THE CART SHED CHARITY RECOGNISED AS ONE OF UK’S BUSINESS HEROES BY THE BCC Recognised for their community contribution by creating a ‘virtual woodland’ for high risk clients during lockdown, The Cart Shed Charity have been named as one of the British Chambers of Commerce UK Business Heroes. In September, the charity was awarded with the ‘Accomplishments in Adaptability Award’ at the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Chamber Champions Awards. As a result of this, they were nominated for a BCC Business Heroes Award and were selected to be featured as a case study. The Cart Shed Charity created a ‘virtual woodland’ in response to Coronavirus, enabling the charity to continue to support over 100 individuals during lockdown. Their team of traditional craftspeople and occupational therapists, familiar with

ancient woodcraft tools such as billhooks, froes, shave horses and pole lathes, found themselves having to learn how to use digital solutions to maintain contact with the people the charity supports. Finding themselves in a critical situation, due to the high risk of suicide and self-harm amongst their clients, The Cart Shed had to create – at speed – a meaningful, purposeful programme that delivered a service which replicated what normally happened in the woods. The British Chambers of Commerce are proud to recognise Business Heroes across the UK. The UK Business Heroes campaign was launched earlier in October to recognise the incredible work that UK businesses are doing, in the most challenging of years. Katie Eastaugh, CEO of The Cart Shed Charity said:

INNOVATING RECRUITMENT FOR TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES Sourcing and hiring the best talent for a growth business can often become an all-consuming job for a founder of a

“Since the Chamber’s nomination, we’ve received funding from HM Government and the Lottery to develop our innovative ad-hoc virtual woodland therapeutic service; exciting opportunities for Herefordshire in challenging times.” www.thecartshed.co.uk

HEREFORD-BASED YELENI SUPPORT’S DOORS ARE NOW BACK OPEN Health centre and cancer charity Yeleni are thrilled to welcome clients, familiar faces and new, back to the centre for complementary therapies and beauty treatments. Those living with and beyond cancer and the general public have been thrilled to be able to access face-to-face complementary support for physical, mental and emotional health. Yeleni offers a full range of complementary therapies from acupuncture to yoga. By supporting Yeleni, paying clients are enabling them to offer a free personalised programme of complementary therapies, self-help techniques and on-going friendly support to anyone at any age living with any cancer.

tech growth company. Understanding and knowing the right skills to look for in a candidate, having the time to invest in searching for someone, coupled with focusing on hiring the right people, not just the ones that agencies send, is difficult. In response to this need The Talent Hackers have developed a model where they become your in-house

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The Cart Shed Charity accepting their Chamber Champion Award earlier this year

Since March, Yeleni have been pleased at the success of their new services: telephone helpline and be-friending service, free on-line daily wellbeing experiences and telephone/Skype initial assessments for new clients living with cancer. These services will continue.

recruiter when you need them, working

for tech growth companies can

closely alongside the business to

experience. As skilled recruiters,

attract the right expertise, matching

The Talent Hackers knew that

personality to the organisational

implementing a sustainable direct

Every aspect of their environment and therapy delivery has been considered, to ensure the safety of clients and the team.

culture.

hiring process would attract

www.yelenisupport.co.uk

They understand the challenge of

candidates directly.

speed, scale and culture that hiring

www.thetalenthackers.com

November/December 2020

BUSINESSNEWS

EXCELLENCE IN EMPLOYABILITY CHARTER The Worcestershire LEP virtual Conference saw the launch of the ‘Excellence in Employment’ Charter for Worcestershire. Louise Hewett, Founder and Director of Hewett Recruitment and Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the LEP have been working on this initiative (together with Worcestershire CIPD and the REC) which aims to support local businesses to improve and refine their employment practices.

KIMAL UTILISING INNOVATION FOR OVER 50 YEARS

As the pandemic unfolded, the basic principles of the charter remained the same, but there is now an urgent need to focus on the plight of our young people in the region. Encouraging business to work with education and find ways of providing much needed work experience, careers advice and apprenticeship opportunities have become a priority. Other key principals include developing leaders of tomorrow, ensuring a workplace training strategy throughout employee’s stages of employment is available to address changing technology and taking full advantage of the diversity and talents available. Flexible hiring approaches have reached us at warp speed in recent months. The charter aims to help identify the tools and flexible work practices and workplace models needed to achieve a productive workforce with the right skills and talents in place.

Since its inception in 1964, Kimal has always been passionate about improving patient outcomes through innovation. In fact, the company introduced numerous innovations to the UK, predominantly from the US. Hewett Recruitment Director, Louise Hewett

Louise Hewett will be chairing the ‘Excellence in Employment’ steering group on behalf of the LEP who will be pulling together experts in their fields to host leaders round tables, workshops and other initiatives to support local business. To sign up to the charter and share your commitment to grow and succeed as a recognised great employer in Worcestershire email louise@hewett-recruitment.co.uk. www.hewett-recruitment.co.uk

APPLIED PRINCIPLES SOFTWARE PROVIDE FOOD FOR THOUGHT As one of the UK’s best-known family-owned food manufacturers, Wrights Food Group is staying true to its founding principles of quality, innovation and integrity by investing in paperless technology provided by Chamber Members Applied Principles, to assist its skilled, 600-strong workforce.

enables dynamic business critical decisions, digitalised traceability, improved efficiencies, reduced waste and delivers greater operational flexibility. www.applied-principles.com

Pershore-based Applied Principles software will enable the transformation of existing paper checks, inspections and audits by using hand held devices to capture and manage quality and operational data in real-time. The consistent real-time process information will be generated by the Applied Principles software which

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

In the early days, this involved distributing the technologies of other large healthcare companies. However, in the early nineties, Kimal switched its focus to that of a trusted manufacturer. Using its established knowledge of the cardiology market, and its resources and capabilities for innovation, Kimal launched the first customised cardiology procedure pack in the UK. Today, a Kimal procedure pack is used every 17 seconds around the world, a true testament to the company's dedication to innovation. Kimal have funded and completed projects such as the creation of a new R&D facility at its UK manufacturing facility, the completion of a new 140,000 sq ft distribution hub in Worcester and a state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Cairo, Egypt. Today, Kimal's innovation programme is busier than ever. Having launched the first closed system CVC in the world, to the first closed system acute renal catheter, both designed to reduce the risks associated with traditional technology; the patient remains at the forefront of Kimal's innovation activities. In parallel, Kimal continues to pursue R&D projects which reduce the company’s environmental impact through re-design of existing products and utilisation of alternative eco-friendlier materials. www.kimal.com/en

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November/December 2020

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GROWAGRI Supporting development in horticulture and agriculture

FUNDING FOR BUSINESS IN WORCESTERSHIRE AGRI-TECH! Pershore College is now accepting applications for its GrowAgri Worcestershire grant programme to support Worcestershire-based enterprises to diversify into new agri-tech markets. GrowAgri Worcestershire, a £1.5m 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. Grants of £1000 upwards will support Worcestershire companies to make capital purchases needed to develop innovations to improve efficiency, profitability and resilience in these key sectors. The grant programme can support up to 40% of the purchase price (inclusive of VAT) of capital equipment, with grants ranging from £1,000 to £9,999. Grants are available to any small and medium size enterprise registered in Worcestershire that is eligible for ERDF funding, subject to state aid exemptions.

For more information go to wcg.ac.uk/growagrigrants or call 0300 135 7179.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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EVENTS

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHAMBER CHAMPIONS AWARDS WINNERS Business Contribution to Charity Award, sponsored by Worcestershire County Council Level Peaks Individual Contribution to Charity Award, sponsored by Sequani Accomplishments in Adaptability Award, sponsored by the Midlands Engine Investment Fund

Dene Hazelwood, from Kingsford Events, said: “As we have had to move to the virtual world of work, participating in the H&W Chamber virtual networking events have been a great opportunity to get Kingsford Events’ name in front other like-minded organisations across the two counties.”

The Cart Shed Charity Kindness in the Community Award, sponsored by Worcester Bosch Jackson Family Funeral Directors Compassionate Customer Care Award, sponsored by EBC Group Apreco Limited

Melvin Munden - Worcester Community Trust Exceptional Employee Award, sponsored by mfg Solicitors LLP Sarah Hewlett - Jackson Family Funeral Directors & Juliet Wilde - Celtic Marches Beverages Successful New Skill Award, sponsored by Malvern Panalytical George Davies, Central Roofing and Building Services Ltd

All Chamber Champion 2020 Awards winners and runners-up will automatically be submitted to the British Chambers of Commerce for a 2020 UK Business Hero Stamp. A limited number of stamps will be issued to businesses across the country to pay tribute to them, recognising their contribution and demonstrating that they have gone the extra mile to support their local community during the Coronavirus outbreak.  A national promotion campaign will follow to showcase the UK Business Heroes and their stories by sharing a selection of case studies, across a range of business sectors, sizes and locations.

VIRTUAL HR CONFERENCE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEWETT RECRUITMENT The annual HR Conference will take place virtually via Zoom on Thursday 12 November between 9.30am-12.30pm. Hear from relevant industry speakers and enjoy the networking opportunities and group discussions throughout the morning in the ‘breakout rooms’. We are pleased to announce our guest speakers: Date: Thursday 12th November Time: 9.30-12.30pm Sponsor: Hewett Recruitment Speaker: Sally Morris, Partner, mfg Solicitors

The Chamber Events Team are pleased to announce that the virtual networking events will continue through to 2021. The bi-weekly sessions have proven to be a success amongst members, with more than 500 attending from April to October.

Barry Hancox - Onside Advocacy

Valiant Volunteer Award, sponsored by Blue Print Direct Mail

VIRTUAL NETWORKING IS HERE TO STAY!

Topic: Employment Law Update

A mix of guest speakers and networking in smaller groups has been an ideal way - under the circumstances - to all stay in touch and to share with others how they are adjusting.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Lunchtime Networking with breakout rooms Tuesday 10 November 12.00-1.00pm Lunchtime Networking with Guest Speaker Thursday 26 November 12.00-1.00pm Lunchtime Networking with breakout rooms Thursday 10 December 12.00-1.00pm

Speaker: Louise Fisher, HR Manager, Morgan Advanced Materials Topic: How times have changed – a HR perspective Speaker: Mark Smith, CEO, Level Peaks Topic: Keeping the team motivated, focused and happy Cost: Members £15.00+VAT Non-members £20.00+VAT To book onto any webinars, please email events@hwchamber.co.uk.

To book onto any webinars, please email events@hwchamber.co.uk or keep up to date with all of our latest online events at www.hwchamber.co.uk/events-and-training-calendar

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November/December 2020

TWOCOUNTIES

BETADEN MARKS SECOND ANNIVERSARY WITH INVESTMENT LANDMARK The commercial technology accelerator based at Malvern Hills Science Park is celebrating its second anniversary with the news that cohort founders have secured over £250,000 in investment since its inception. Unlike other accelerators, which mainly work with start-ups to develop initial business ideas, BetaDen provides support to commercialise those ideas, helping cohort businesses map out their route to market and develop their networks to become ‘investment ready’. Linda Smith, CEO of BetaDen, said: “Time has flown since we welcomed our first cohort of businesses to BetaDen and, while it has inevitably been a learning process for everyone, we are delighted with the returns the accelerator is now starting to deliver.” “22 technology-related businesses have either been through the BetaDen programme or are currently working with us, securing over a quarter of a million pounds investment in that time.” “Crucially, these start-up businesses have created six new full-time roles in the area, with half of our most recent cohort also opting to take up the offer of a six-month license at the Science Park where they are continuing their business journey.” Applications to join Cohort 4 at BetaDen will open in mid-November. www.beta-den.com

Chief Executive of the Marches LEP, Gil Hamer

MARCHES SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANT LAUNCHED A new £630,000 grant scheme to help small businesses across the Marches which have suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has been launched. Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 are available through the Marches Small Business Recovery Grant, which will help both tourism businesses and those in the wider economy. Only small businesses in Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire and Herefordshire with up to ten full-time employees and who can demonstrate a negative impact due to the Coronavirus crisis are able to apply. The grants will be available for projects running between November and January. Costs can cover specialist advice or equipment to address immediate needs in response to Covid-19. Gill Hamer, Chief Executive of the Marches LEP, said: “We know the tourism industry in our region in particular has been ravaged by the impact of Covid-19 and these grants will offer some essential help at a time of great worry and stress. The impact on the wider economy has also been profound and we know from our own research that it is smaller businesses which have often been put at most risk.”

PERSHORE COLLEGE LAUNCH CALL FOR GRANT PROPOSALS TO SUPPORT WORCESTERSHIRE AGRI-TECH SECTOR The grants of £1,000 upwards will support Worcestershire companies to make capital purchases needed to develop innovations to improve efficiency, profitability and resilience in the horticultural and agricultural sectors. The project is part of GrowAgri Worcestershire, a £1.5m joint initiative between the college and the European Regional Development Fund, which also delivers tailored business support to SMEs operating within agri-tech and agri-food industries. The initiative aims to support business growth, increased productivity and the introduction of new products, processes and services and is open to all small to medium-sized Worcestershire businesses eligible for ERDF funding. GrowAgri Project Manager, Mark Harwood-Browne, said: “This grant funding will help Worcestershire-based enterprises to diversify into new agri-tech markets by supporting them financially when making capital purchases which they need to expand.” Selected businesses will have to be eligible for funding from the European Regional Development Fund. For more details please contact Project Manager Mark Harwood-Browne on 07809 163008. www.wcg.ac.uk/growagri

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership region has been allocated £215,000 to support tourism businesses and £415,000 for businesses in other sectors through the European Regional Development Fund. www.marcheslep.org.uk

FASTERSHIRE SET TO BEGIN THE ROLLOUT OF NEW ULTRAFAST BROADBAND NETWORK IN LEDBURY The rollout is part subsidised by Fastershire, Herefordshire Council’s partnership with Gloucestershire County Council to bring faster broadband to the two counties, however, the majority of the new network in Ledbury is a result of a significant commercial investment by Gigaclear. Fastershire has helped increase superfast coverage (30mbps or above) to over 92%

of properties according the latest figures from ThinkBroadband, but in doing so, has also helped increase the coverage of the new Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) technology. Currently 26% of properties in Herefordshire can access ultrafast FTTP broadband, which is more than double the national average. www.fastershire.com

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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"I would happily recommend them to anyone wanting to get more exposure through social media." “They are proactive, full of great creative ideas and are always there when I need them." Let us help your business find its digital voice. Get in touch for an informal and informative chat – info@be-everywhere.co.uk 0191 850 5990 or visit www.be-everywhere.co.uk

"Working with Be Everywhere has assisted us in taking a more strategic and holistic approach to communications across our social media channels."

November/December 2020

CHAMBERNEWS

IS THE UK THE MONEY LAUNDERING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD? A new investigation has revealed that the UK is a hotspot for money laundering, with an estimated £90 billion laundered each year through the City of London alone. In this article, risk and compliance experts Intelligencia Training share further insight. In late September 2020, a major leak known as the ‘FinCEN Files’ exposed the UK’s significant role in facilitating global corruption and money laundering. A subsequent investigation by a global consortium of investigative journalists highlighted the need for improved defences in the UK financial sector and a reform of its red tape approach to compliance. As a result of the leak of law enforcement data, global banks have come under

increased scrutiny from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who state the quality of anti-money laundering controls is persistently falling short.

the problem was unknown, with particular areas of weakness including property and online transactions.

The FinCEN Files revealed that global banks had transferred a staggering $2 trillion (£1.6 trillion) in suspected ‘dirty money’ over the last two decades.

The report called on the UK government to regularly review efforts to minimise money laundering and it should not compromise in its provision in the face of post-Brexit trade deals.

Commenting on the leak, Mark Steward of the Financial Conduct Authority said:

Adding to the report, Ben Wallace, Minister for National Security, said:

“What surprises me still is there is a view in some quarters that anti-money laundering systems and controls is a lot of money for nothing in return, and it’s a huge bureaucratic exercise in red tape rather than something that’s really important.”

“It is wrong to think of money laundering as a victimless crime.

He further added the FCA have a number of cases in the pipeline and no major bank in Britain hasn’t been or isn’t currently subject to an ongoing investigation. The scrutiny of money laundering and anti-money laundering regimes isn’t something new to the UK. Following a report on economic crime last year, a Treasury committee said the true scale of

Those with dirty cash to clean don’t just sit on it, they reinvest it in serious organised crime, from drug importation to child exploitation, human trafficking and even terrorism.” Intelligencia Training, who recently began delivering the first apprenticeship programme specific to the role of Risk and Compliance Officers working in financial services, emphasise that investment into effective training and qualification progammes is crucial if the UK is to combat its money laundering problem. A spokesman from Intelligencia Training commented:

What surprises me still is there is a view in some quarters that anti-money laundering systems and controls is a lot of money for nothing in return, and it’s a huge bureaucratic exercise in red tape rather than something that’s really important.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

“The delivery of training in this subject area has already proved successful in enhancing the knowledge and skillset of those involved in anti-money laundering and as technology evolves and we enter an age of digital money and payments, it is critical, now more than ever, to ensure parity of skills across sectors.” For more information, visit www. intelligenciatraining.com/riskcompliance-officer or contact info@ intelligenciatraining.com / 01925 876051

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MOVERSANDSHAKERS

Marine Trade Insurance expert Clive Carter

BLUE PRINT WELCOMES TWO APPRENTICES TO GROWING TEAM Blue Print Direct Mail of Droitwich is pleased to announce the arrival of two new apprentices, Rosie Molnar, Trainee Bookkeeper, and Hannah Matthews, Trainee Account Manager. Rosie will be learning the bookkeeping part of the business and completing her Level 3 AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting. Hannah will be training in the account management part of the business and will be completing a Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship.

HAZELTON MOUNTFORD WELCOME MARINE TRADE INSURANCE EXPERT TO THE TEAM Clive Carter joined Hazelton Mountford in 2020 enabling the Independent Insurance Brokers to offer bespoke policies designed for the requirements of the marine trade, including Narrowboats, Dutch Barges and Widebeam vessels. Director, Jake Mountford says: “With Clive’s experience and knowledge of the market, Hazelton Mountford can now obtain tailored boat insurance and marine trade insurance products for their clients.” www.hazeltonmountford.co.uk

www.blueprintdirectmail.co.uk

NEW MODEL INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING (NMITE) INTRODUCES ITS NEW CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Professor Beverley Gibbs joins at a time of significant forward momentum for the proposed higher education institute particularly around the transformation of its future learning space where Professor Gibbs’ input is vital to ensure that it reflects NMITE’s model of learning by doing. Professor Gibbs has an engineering degree from Loughborough University, an Executive MBA from Cranfield University, a PhD from the University of Nottingham and is a qualified social scientist which very much links to NMITE’s liberal engineering mission. She is a Chartered Engineer, a Professional Member of the Institute of Materials, Metals and Mining, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. www.nmite.ac.uk

NEW STRATEGIC ACCOUNT MANAGER JOINS THE CHAMBER The Chamber has recently welcomed Jon Freail as the new Strategic Account Manager. He brings with him a wealth of

Ian Bond has joined the leading Midlands law firm Thursfields Solicitors as Head of Wills and Estates.

experience and we are thrilled to have him

Mr Bond specialises in trust formation

as part of the team.

and administration, wealth succession,

Of his appointment Jon said:

estate planning and making wills, and is

“I am delighted to have joined the Chamber as your Strategic Account Manager, continuing the Chambers long

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THURSFIELDS APPOINT TOP PROBATE LAWYER TO HEAD WILLS AND ESTATES DEPARTMENT

experienced at dealing with high value and complex estates, especially intestacy matters.

history of providing comprehensive

On his appointment, Ian Bond said: “I’m

support to the local business community.

very excited about my new position at

I am really looking forward to building

Thursfields and am delighted to be joining

upon the excellent relationships that

such a well-respected team in the region

the Chamber already have with you and

with some fantastic colleagues.

adding value to your business.”

www.thursfields.co.uk

NEW POLICY EXECUTIVE JOINS THE CHAMBER The Chamber is delighted to welcome Arjun Heir as the new Policy Executive. Of his appointment Arjun said: “I’m thrilled to have joined the Chamber and am looking forward to continuing the excellent work of the Policy department partnering with businesses through thought-leadership.” As the leading voice of business for the two counties, the Chamber can support you in getting your views heard and represented locally, regionally, and nationally.

November/December 2020

NEWMEMBERSPROFILE

MEDIA AND DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY THINK OUTSIDE SOCIAL At Think Outside Social, their aim is to provide you with an accessible, friendly service to enable you to achieve the aims of your organisation, whether that be business big or small, a charity, or a community organisation. They look to simplify the online process for you from start to finish. With strong attention to detail and the ability to think outside the box, Think Outside Social will work with you to perfect your online presence and boost your business. Think Outside Social started life in 2013, running successful online community forums. This was followed by writing in newspapers and magazines for a number of years before working as a social media executive, winning regional and national awards in digital campaigning and social media. Think Outside Social is now a stand-alone social media and digital marketing agency, putting together that experience into somewhere you can be assured of an approachable, professional and authentic experience. www.thinkoutsidesocial.com

AUTHENTIC COLOMBIAN COFFEE PROVIDERS FRANCINI CAFÉ DE COLOMBIA 25 years ago, while part of a logistics team dedicated to organising exhibitions around the UK, Francini came upon the opportunity to have his stand and soon realised the need for high-quality smooth coffee served at events. Here, his vision to offer a product so personal and completely unique began to bloom. It took 14 years to perfect his trade and fully develop the brand vision. In 2009 Francini took the plunge and added his characteristics, his name and his culture to his coffee beans that you all know and love today.

HEREFORDSHIREBASED COACHING COMPANY CERTAINTYONE As a coaching company, CertaintyOne’s mission is to offer sustainable long-term help for those who have already lost jobs. Many individuals may find themselves worried about becoming re-engaged after a long period of furlough, or they may be aware of an internal consultation about job reductions which could affect them. Getting your CV prepared and submitted to a potential new employer quickly can place you at the top of job applicant queues. By being flexible in their service delivery techniques, CertaintyOne can continue to provide a wide range of quality unemployment support services during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Developing his corporate image that saw the creation of the logo and identity in the following years, it was finally time to open up his very own shop here in the picturesque city of Worcester.

Peter McCann and his expert team of supportive associates have many years experience in redundancy, outplacement and leadership coaching. With a proven track record of helping over 60% of clients get back into some form of work, they help individuals adopt a creative approach to job hunting, as well as supporting people during times of difficulty.

www.francinicafedecolombia.co.uk

www.certaintyone.com

NEW MEMBERS 3D LEADERSHIP LOOKING TO COLLABORATE WITH CHAMBER MEMBERS 3D Leadership Ltd is a small Malvernbased firm of Coaching Psychologists, specialising in Management & Leadership Development and Coaching. They have been established since 2007 and relocated to Malvern in 2013. Time over lockdown was well invested with all of their programmes now currently being assessed for accreditation by the Institute of Leadership & Management.

3D is currently looking to recruit 6 local business managers or leaders to one of their Authentic Leadership coaching groups that will be focussing specifically on ‘leadership after Covid’. The group is being run to generate chapter material for an up coming Open University book. If you are interested in joining the group please contact Dr Tony Fusco on: tony@3DLeadership.co.uk or call 07956 188645. www.3DLeadership.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Tony and Toni of 3D Leadership

039

INTERNATIONALTRADE

EU EXIT AND CROSS-BORDER TRADE: A LOOK AT SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR UK BUSINESSES The UK exited the European Union on January 31, 2020. A transition period is now ongoing while negotiations to establish a future relationship beyond December 31 take place. If these talks do not produce an agreement, a ‘no-deal’ EU Exit is still possible. Whether there is a ‘deal’ or ‘no deal’, there will be implications for cross-border trade and as such companies need to understand how EU-Exit will affect them. This article highlights just some of the changes and implications for cross-border trade after EU-Exit. A more in-depth checklist can be found via the link at the end of this article.

CUSTOMS FACILITATION Will your business handle new customs, safety and security declarations in-house or with a third-party? For the export of live animals or animal products, do you have the right documentation (e.g. Export

Health Certificate)? Drivers will also require correct documentation. Has the business considered the requirements for certain types of goods to enter through border inspection posts and/or designated points of entry?

EU TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH THIRD COUNTRIES The UK will become a “Third Country” after December 31. The, UK government has indicated its intention to secure the benefits of existing EU trade agreements with other countries, but businesses may need to consider a situation where conditions and terms are changed and preferential trade terms are no longer available.

GREAT BRITAIN-NORTHERN IRELAND-REPUBLIC OF IRELAND After the transition period, the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland will apply. The protocol will see Northern Ireland following EU Single Market rules for goods, remain aligned to EU rules on customs and VAT, while still remaining part of the UK’s customs territory and VAT area, and still able to benefit from UK trade agreements.

INCOTERMS Knowing the International Terms and Conditions of Service (INCOTERMS) will assist in putting together correct contract terms to reflect any potential changes of status e.g. becoming an exporter or importer.

SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE How resilient is your business supply chain

040

(importing and exporting) to potential border delays and subsequent production processes? Are there contracts which include penalties for late delivery (see above)? Continual contact with and adjustment of your vital supply chain touchpoints (e.g. logistics providers, inventory/operations management) to ensure supply chain resilience will be required.

RULES OF ORIGIN IN EU-UK TRADE Even if a zero-tariff trade agreement with the EU is completed, companies will still need to prove that their product is of UK origin to benefit from this. As a supplier,

November/December 2020

INTERNATIONALTRADE

your customer may ask you to provide proof of where you source your content. This may also mean auditing your own local suppliers to understand where they source the products from.

TARIFFS ON EU TRADE Businesses should consider the potential impact of a situation where there are tariffs between the UK and the EU – based on the EU Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff. If there is no trade deal between the UK and EU what would the impact of the MFN tariff be on prices/costs? Also, in the event of “no deal”, what would the effect be of the proposed temporary tariff regime?

Other crucial organisational and business operations and functions firms may need to consider for their preparations for EU Exit include: HR and Workforce Taxation (VAT and Corporation) and Insurance GDPR Corporate Structure

planning, including those areas listed at the end of this article, can be found at the following website: www.britishchambers. org.uk/page/post-transition-brexitchecklist. Please don’t hesitate to contact the International Trade Teams at the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber for details of EU Exit

Registration/Certification/Currency/ Intellectual Property/Contracts

International Trade training courses,

Individual EU-27 country procedures for international trade

EU Exit advice and consultancy. For

A detailed checklist to support EU Exit

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

EU Exit related webinars as well as further information please email internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk.

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LOCAL CEO SAYS HAVE A PLAN We interviewed James Syree, CEO at Ballards LLP Chartered Accountants, for brief comments on the current climate HOW ARE YOU FINDING THE MARKET AT THE MOMENT? The market is still very buoyant at the moment. Now more than ever business owners are turning to their accountants to support them through a challenging climate. It is essential for all businesses to have a plan and this means looking at areas such as cost control, tax efficient structuring, having strong management information and even reward schemes to retain key staff. Contrary to what we are hearing in the media, we are still seeing a lot of clients grow at the moment. But of course, it all depends on which end of the market you are operating at.

YOU MENTION MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, IS THIS THE KEY? Well I don’t know about the key as such, but it is essential to understand your

business operations to make informed, strategic decisions. Your accountant should be supporting your business by helping you interrogate your KPIs and even creating bespoke dashboards to help you analyse the data. Software such as Xero and Quickbooks are excellent tools to be able to look at your business’ data on a real time basis and this is something we are very keen on.

REMOTE OR BRICKS AND MORTAR? Our own offices are open although we operate using online software and so staff can work in whichever location is best suited to each assignment. As for the country as a whole, only time will tell. One issue with the business community pushing down the remote working route is the potential issue of defaults on rental agreements. This will naturally have a knock on effect on landlords and pension funds owning commercial property.

FINAL THOUGHTS? Although I am mindful of the gravity of the economic situation, business is about evolution. In one way, this is an opportunity for businesses to further

develop, streamline and get a handle on KPIs. Certain sectors will undoubtedly feel the brunt of any potential downturn and so it is essential to be speaking to professional advisers such as accountants to ensure you have as much strategic input as possible.

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November/December 2020

MEMBERSBENEFITS

WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST TECH EXPERIMENT? As we round the corner towards the end of 2020, I usually like to spend this part of the year reflecting on the previous 12 months and making plans for the next. …well, there’s certainly been a lot to reflect on this year. And many of the plans we’re making come with an awful lot of caveats and question marks. COVID-19 has provided us all with enough emotional and mental strain to last a lifetime. From a business point of view, everyone has run a gauntlet of money worries, staffing concerns, and changing practices. I started thinking about the steep learning curve and rushed preparations we all faced with shifting to a predominantly remote (and often reduced) workforce. It has been the world’s largest experiment in the ability of businesses (and schools and everything) to adopt new technology and swiftly adapt to a changing landscape. So what have we learned from this experiment? What worked? What didn’t? And what do we do with that information?

WHAT WORKED FOR US AS A TEAM?

As a tech company that offers a cloud based solution, we were already pretty well placed to transition our whole team out of the office. Everything we did was already cloud based, from our phones to our CRM, so no one was reliant on their actual work PC. Many companies who’d never been interested in using cloud services suddenly found themselves in a race to get signed up, set up, and trained up on them. That shift from in-office software to cloud services that has been happening over the last decade suddenly ramped up. The market analyst firm Canalys have found that investment in cloud services climbed by 31% in Q2 across the globe! Some companies were also suddenly faced with a question of the security of how people were accessing all of this business data. People who never heard of or expressed interest in using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) were scrambling to get set up…and get their team using them reliably. Similar to our heavy use of cloud technologies, our previous commitment to the security of our infrastructure and general practices gave us a real edge in our transition to remote working. Any member of our team that had possibly even considered maybe working from home on an occasional basis was already set up. They’d completed our security requirements for BYOD (bring

your own device) and now just had to find a corner of their home to set up. This meant that when the word came to move out of the office and into lockdown, we only had a small group of people who needed to get their computers set up. And our whole network was already secure, so they could access it without worry. As a business we were lucky. We had already jumped on the cloud bandwagon and taken the necessary steps to ensure the security of remote access. So when lockdown hit, it was just a matter of changing where we were sitting. …at least when it came to the tools we needed to do our jobs.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR US?

The first thing we found when we went into lockdown was a loss in that old team spirit and comradery. We all missed those incidental chats we had in the kitchen or across our desks. People felt isolated. We also found that our awareness of what was going on in our own team and in other departments was reduced. Because we didn’t hear our sales team on the phone, we didn’t always know how busy they were or get familiar with the names of new customers. We didn’t hear the training or support calls, so couldn’t lend a hand and send over a tip to one of our colleagues. In short, our ability to support each other suddenly disappeared and we all felt the lack. Now we already had a service that would allow us to video call, but we’d never really needed it before. Or at least not often. Like so many companies, though, that changed fast! A recent article from the Financial Times (dated 19 July), found that a certain video conferencing service that shall remain nameless (let’s call it Boom) found that use of their services increased by a factor of 20. That’s 20 times more video calls than before anyone had heard of Coronavirus.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

We introduced a morning Tea & Toast session before the start of the day. Instead of just chatting or calling to discuss something, we adopted video calls to have these longer conversations. Now inevitably, those longer “work” conversations often ended with a digression into a more general chit chat. But it would have done that in the office too and I personally think that made a real difference to rebuilding the community feel of our team.

WELL…WHAT NOW? It’s going to be a long time before the world is “back to normal.” And there’s no way to know what other big changes might be coming our way. You can’t always predict these things, but you can help to protect yourself from business changes. I’ve always said that spending the time to draw up plans for business continuity is important. But in this instance, our discussions about people working from home due to adverse weather meant that we had already thought about VPNs and video calling. Taking the time to imagine and plan for possible interruptions to your business is the best way to ensure you’re prepared for something you didn’t imagine. My mistake was not thinking about how this would affect our emotion wellbeing, because I never saw that kind of interruption lasting more than a day or two. But you can believe I’m going back to our plans and thinking about it now. Graham Anderson, is the CEO and founder of OpenCRM, one of the UK’s leading customer relationship management systems.

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Think Outside Social 07917 701257 Social & Digital Marketing www.thinkoutsidesocial.com

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November/December 2020

BUSINESSNEWS

MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY LOOKING TO IMPROVE SERVICES PROVIDED ACROSS TWO COUNTIES Herefordshire Mind is delighted to be part of a new transformational project working to change the way mental health services are delivered within communities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

to suit their needs and help them access the right community support and mental health support for them. The learning will be used to help transform mental health services across the country.

The New Local Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams have launched in Herefordshire and Worcestershire as part of a national pilot to improve community mental health care.

www.herefordshire-mind.org.uk

The teams are made up of specialist mental health practitioners, local GPs and representatives from the voluntary and community sector and they will be adopting a new approach to supporting people with complex mental health difficulties outside of a hospital or mental health unit.

CHRISTMAS DEMAND MAY SEE BUSINESSES AT TIPPING POINT

Across Herefordshire, Herefordshire Mind will be providing on the ground community mental health link workers to work with individuals in a bespoke way

Many businesses have been planning for it for months. In fact, many have been at Christmas Peak levels and beyond since March. While parcel carriers and retailers have adapted pretty well in the main to the increased demand through COVID, especially given cost-cutting exercises implemented to keep them afloat, further pressure will undoubtedly be placed on the rest of the supply chain as more sale events launch thick and fast, starting in October and running through to mid-January. Coping with these spikes in demand will put extra pressure on warehousing. The winners this year will be those who can adapt to overnight changes the quickest.

DR Derek Farrell (L) and Tom Taylor (R)

TWO MEMBERS OF STAFF FROM THE UNIVERISTY OF WORCESTER NAMED IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONORS LIST Tom Taylor, Assistant Director of Security and Operations has been awarded a British Empire Medal for his commitment to student wellbeing and fundraising. Tom Taylor, said: “Recognition for this award is just as much about the hard work and commitment of the team as it is mine. I am lucky to be surrounded by a team who are very supportive and able to respond professionally in many ways to support staff, students and visitors.”

Dr Derek Farrell, Principal Lecturer in Psychology and Course Leader for the MSc in EMDR Therapy at the University of Worcester has been appointed a Member of the British Empire for his services to Psychology. Dr Derek Farrell said: “I’m very humbled and extremely delighted, I didn’t think these kinds of things happened to people like me.” www.worcester.ac.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Rob Leek, Director at Iglu, said: “Is this as simple as having access to temporary resource you can turn on and off like a tap? Partly, yes, but getting short notice temporary expertise - extra pairs of hands, that also knows what it's doing, will be more of a challenge, especially as some of the streamlining actioned to date has removed the resource that would ordinarily manage the situation.” With years of experience of operating in and adapting to high volume, seasonal events, iglu can help. For further information please contact Rob Leek at rob@igluassociates.com. www.igluassociates.com

045

MAAC-2020-205 Business Direction Ad.pdf

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046

November/December 2020

CHARITYNEWS

HOSPICE CHARITY’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 SHORTLISTED FOR NATIONAL AWARD Acorns Children’s Hospice, which provides care and support to life limited and life threatened children and their families, has been recognised in the Breakthrough of the Year category at this year’s Third Sector Awards, which recognise the achievements of charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. The charity’s Covid-19 emergency response – designed to provide care to the most vulnerable families in the region caught up in the pandemic and included the unprecedented decision to temporarily close one of the charity’s three hospices and offer it to the NHS – has been shortlisted for the category which celebrates charities that have introduced new and different ways of working.

LITTLE PRINCESS TRUST REACHES MAJOR MILESTONE The Little Princess Trust has reached a major milestone thanks to the brilliant efforts of their staff, supporters, and partners. They have now provided a grand total of 10,000 wigs to young people who have lost their own hair due to cancer treatment and other conditions such as Alopecia.

these plans allowed us to continue to prioritise children’s hospice for the most vulnerable and support the wider response of the NHS and social care system.”

Toby Porter, Acorns Chief Executive, said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Third Sector Awards and honoured to be recognised at national level.”

Following the temporary closure of its hospice in Birmingham for the first time in its 30-year history, Acorns then redeployed its staff to its other two hospices in Walsall and Worcester.

“Acorns was determined to step-up and

www.acorns.org.uk

The wigs help to restore the confidence and identity of the young recipients at what can be a very tough time in their lives. But the charity has only been able to run its free service thanks to the wonderful backing of its huge family of supporters who, in many cases, ensured their hair donations were accompanied by much-needed

MFG DONATES £1,000 TO KEMP HOSPICE’S RESILIENCE FUND APPEAL

fundraising. The charity is also very grateful to the many hair professionals across the UK who form part of LPT’s official network of approved salons and ensure the wigs are fitted with compassion, care and a great deal of

Staff from mfg Solicitors have donated £1,000 to KEMP Hospice’s Resilience Fund Appeal as the charity focuses on different fundraising methods to keep its services running as normal during the pandemic.

skill.

Kirsten Bridgewater, a partner at mfg Solicitors, said: “KEMP Hospice does an outstanding job in supporting individuals and families across Wyre Forest.”

people and provide 10,000 wigs

“We hope the donation will help boost the Hospice’s fundraising drive and ensure as many nurses as possible can get out to local homes to help patients and their families during this difficult time. It’s a vitally important service to our community.” Lawyers at mfg Solicitors are also involved in KEMP Hospice’s annual will writing initiative which has raised thousands for the Kidderminster charity. KEMP Hospice, based in Mason Road in Kidderminster, was founded in 1969 and provides specialist care for

Phil Brace, Chief Executive of The Little Princess Trust, said: “It is important to say that we have only been able to help so many young thanks to the continued support we receive from so many wonderful people.” www.littleprincesses.org.uk mfg Partner, Kirsten Bridgewater

people affected by life limiting illness and gives support to those who have been bereaved in the Wyre Forest and surrounding areas. They help ensure patients are treated with dignity and are given choices about their care, along with enabling them to access services to improve their quality of life. www.mfgsolicitors.com

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

047

BUSINESSNEWS

INTURI TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS HELP BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED WITH TECHNOLOGY The Inturi brand was created by Clare Kay and her husband Toby as they recognised the importance of providing businesses, both local and global, with appropriate technology that would lead to improvements in revenue. Currently Worcestershire County Council are offering up to £25,000 capital and revenue grant support (50% match funded) to Worcestershire SME businesses in the form of Sustain and Grow Grants. If your business is transitioning to remote working Inturi can put you on the right path to your technology solution and advise you how

you can secure a grant for the change over. Inturi is a Microsoft Certified Partner and specialises in helping customers with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. www.inturi.co.uk

JACKSON PROPERTY IMPLEMENT 3 NEW FORMS OF TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE CLIENTS ONLINE INTERACTIONS

The other two advancements are game changers for clients looking at properties. Jackson Property started doing virtual walkthrough tours on clients houses in 2019. This gives a great first impression of a property and makes it a better Covid safe way to see that a property is suitable, rather than just the standard professional photos and floorplans. The biggest and best advancement is an interactive virtual immersive experience through partners at Matterport.

As businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire continue to restart, rebuild and recover, NatWest’s Business Growth Enabler Deborah Norton will be supporting businesses as they move forward following lockdown. In her role, NatWest will work with local partners to champion the potential of businesses and support business owners as they develop and grow. This may be through one to one mentoring support or by helping entrepreneurs connect with a business network. Deborah will also be running regular events on topics such as marketing your business, protecting your business from cyber risks and the financial support landscape together with networking events to bring the local business community together. Deborah will also support new and developing businesses achieve their potential through NatWest’s Business Builder. This digital tool is on hand to provide help with all aspects of getting new businesses off the ground, with a wide range of online learning and workshops.

Nathan Jackson, Director at Jackson Property

The first advancement is for a free instant online valuation, so clients can have an understanding of the property market and a guide range for their property.

NATWEST’S BUSINESS GROWTH ENABLER SUPPORTING BUSINESS RECOVERY

For more information please do get in touch with Deborah by emailing Deborah.Norton@rbs.co.uk. NatWest’s Business Growth Enabler Deborah Norton

Property, said: “Interactive online viewings of properties have been in the making for Estate Agents for some years and we managed to implement them over 18 months ago. These have been a huge change in how clients can see properties and interact with them before deciding to view in person. This has significantly reduced our viewings to sale ratio for clients, viewers times being less wasted and more importantly in todays situation, giving a Covid safe way of people seeing houses and looking back through the videos after they have had an offer agreed.” www.bill-jackson.co.uk

Nathan Jackson, Director at Jackson

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November/December 2020

MEMBERSSERVICES

CHAMBER OPENS PORTAL FOR BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR LESS THAN 30 PLACEMENTS AS PART OF NEW £2 BILLION KICKSTART SCHEME Businesses can now access the brand new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme, which intends to create new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country, via the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. The 6-month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment. They will be available across a range of different sectors in England, Scotland and Wales. The first placements are likely to be available from November. There will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job. Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage

for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions. The scheme will allow employees to create job placements for young people. At a time where cashflow is a key concern for businesses, this fully-funded scheme will be welcomed by those businesses looking to bring young people into the workplace and develop new talent for the future and also offer the opportunity to help grow and develop younger workers. If your organisation is creating fewer than 30 job placements, the first stage of your application must be made via The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, as you are not able to apply directly. The Chamber are collating businesses for the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)/Government, bringing them together for those who want to create less than 30 placements. Businesses who are interested in registering can do so by visiting here www.hwchamber. co.uk/support/kickstart-scheme and the Chamber will get back to you with further information.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Sharon Smith, CEO of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, commented: “At a time where businesses are looking for alternative ways to fill their employment gaps, this brand new Kickstart Scheme will give businesses access to work-ready young employees and will allow local businesses to help grow and develop talent, in a similar way to how the Apprenticeship scheme has been utilised by businesses.” “The Chamber are working together with the DWP in order to support the application process for businesses who would like to offer less than 30 placements. I would urge all businesses to apply for this scheme whether they are looking to offer 1 placement or 30, the Chamber will be here to support businesses in accessing this opportunity and the many benefits that this will bring businesses.” More information on eligibility and how to apply please visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/ support/kickstart-scheme.

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LASTWORD

SELCRAFT UK EMBRACE THE CHANGE WITH USE OF VIRTUAL REALITY TO AID DESIGN Chamber Members Selcraft UK are well-respected Medallists, Insignia and Badgemakers and understand how it’s always been a necessity to move with the times and embrace the changing technologies. Since 1973, when Selcraft was founded, the team have tried to innovate wherever possible. For example, a major contributor to their continued success was employing computer aided design (CAD) into their business culture back in 2000. Originally all designs were drawn by hand, to sketch the draft idea, through to a hand painted image showing how the item would appear when made in metal. Director, Carl Huxley, says: “This used to be a highly labour intensive, time-consuming and costly exercise. It was also fraught with difficulties, should the client decide the item be a different size or appearance soit would literally go back to the drawing board. “Initially the technology for CAD was humble compared to its evolution to present day and certainly as it will evolve in the future. Now Selcraft use virtual reality – and sometimes augmented reality – to support our work. Times have changed and we love changing with them to ensure our clients enjoy the best end result.” Selcraft’s usual protocol for special commissions is to commence with a black and white draft design using CAD and present this to their client for approval or comment. Should a change of size and detail be required then there’s a straightforward and expedient process: as getting this part right is the foundation stone for all the CAD artworks that follow. Carl continues: “The protocol we have in place is mutually beneficial and ensures that both Selcraft and its clients are securing an audit trail of the agreed design. It’s also a lifeline for continued success and customer retention.” Next, the team use CAD to add some life to the design with the introduction of colour and more specific details. In addition, Selcraft utilise CAD to create a virtual reality image of the item to be

050

made. This is as near as the team can get to actually making the physical item.

materials due to client demand thanks to the implementation of this technology.

Carl says: “To date, Selcraft have used CAD virtual reality on many prestigious and valuable special commissions, which verifies its purpose and proves its worth, especially when compared to the days of old it is technological, innovative and its function is to lead to a faster turnaround of sales orders and promote business growth.”

Carl concludes: “Ultimately even CAD is restricted to some extent as to how life-like an item can appear but compared to not so very long ago this is to our mind a real game-changer that truly establishes our credentials as a company leading its field, not just locally but also nationally and globally, with a commensurate increase in business growth and ultimately, more opportunities to trade.”

A further aspect of CAD virtual reality enables Selcraft to offer designs of the items whilst in production allowing clients to utilise the images for their own sales promotion - whether through their websites, e-shots, newsletters or hard copy catalogues. Virtual Reality is a proven winner for both Selcraft and their clients. Selcraft are now undertaking more special commissions covering not only metal products but also textiles and other

“I thoroughly recommend embracing innovation and technology to increase business opportunities – you never know what’s around the corner, even in times like these.” More about Selcraft’s special commissions, CAD design and use of virtual reality can be found on their blog: www.selcraft.com

November/December 2020

A PASSION

FOR PEOPLE LEGAL ADVICE KEEPING PACE WITH TECHNOLOGY

Keep our team at your side as your technology develops - contact Nicola McNeely, Partner, Head of Technology

07870 261 520 nmcneely@hcrlaw.com

www.hcrlaw.com

MOTIVATE, INSPIRE, RETAIN

TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THE GOVERNMENT APPRENTICE SHIP INCENTIVE

The Government has announced details of a new incentive payment available to all employers who hire a new apprentice. The incentive is available between 1st August 2020 and 31st January 2021. Age Of New Apprentice

Incentive Payment

16 - 24

£2,000

25 +

£1,500

This payment will be in addition to the existing £1,000 incentive payment that the Government already provides for new apprentices aged between 16-18, and those aged under 25 with an Education Health Care Plan, where that applies. WCG Apprenticeships are the only training provider in Worcestershire to offer apprenticeships in the following areas:

• • • •

Agriculture Animal Care Arboriculture Equine

• Horticulture Inc. Golf • •

Greenkeeping & Sports Turf Land-based Engineering Veterinary Nursing

HI APPR RE AN EN RECE TICE AND IV E U P TO

£3,00 0

Contact our Business Development team who will be able to help you negotiate the new incentives so that they benefit you in the best way possible:

0330 135 6940 | employerenquiries@wcg.ac.uk

wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships