Business Direction 72

Anniversary plans are underway at the Safari Park

Pages 26-27

MORE THAN JUST THE NUMBERS

Ballards LLP Chartered Accountants offer a full compliment of services to support your business across its entire life cycle. From expert tax advice and accounts compliance to strategic planning, recruitment and digital transformation.

) Accounts & Taxation

) Transaction Services

) Wealth Management

) Recruitment Services

) Digital Transformation

www.ballardsllp.com

chartered accountants

International Trade

Businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire import from and export to markets all over the world. International trade is critical not only for business performance and growth, but also for overall economic growth.

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce are trusted to help British goods reach customers overseas. The Chamber continues to supply Export Documentation services for companies and deliver an Import and Export Customs Declaration service via the ChamberCustoms service. The complex world of “Docs and Decs” can be a challenge for those new to this business undertaking, and even the most seasoned professional can run into problems navigating the necessary paperwork for their shipments.

As part of our Business Manifesto 22-23, the Chamber pledged to continue to deliver international business support and advice and maintain a global network through the International Chamber of Commerce, 120 Embassies and High Commissions around the world. The Chamber plays an important role in keeping goods moving internationally, with our translation service, ATA Carnet service and Letters of Credit service, as well as promoting the latest international trade news, events webinars and updates.

As such, I am delighted to introduce the latest edition of Business Direction entitled ‘International Trade’.

Celebrating their 50th Anniversary this month, we are thrilled to feature West Midlands Safari Park in our Big Interview. Gain insight and knowledge from our Cover Features with Bishop Fleming and ETL Systems all about trading internationally.

Best regards,

Sharon

Our Patrons are:

Charities of the Year for 2023 selected at the Chamber!

We’re delighted to announce that we have selected two charities to support as our ‘Charities of the Year’ for 2023! Amicii Dog Rescue, based in Worcestershire and Yeleni Therapy & Support, based in Herefordshire were selected by a random generator and we can’t wait to start working with them!

Sharon Smith, H&W Chamber CEO said “In order to offer greater support to our Charity Members, we have decided to commence our Charity of the Year Programme for 2023. We are delighted to have chosen both Amicii Dog Rescue and Yeleni Therapy & Support: two very worthwhile and deserving charities. We look forward to supporting them throughout 2023.”

Nicky Heath, Founder at Yeleni Therapy & Support said “Here at Yeleni Therapy & Support we are thrilled and delighted to have been chosen as a Charity of the Year 2023 by H&W Chamber. We look forward to sharing our

What is an LSIP?

growth and development throughout the year with our local business community.”

Ann Pursey, Founder at Amicii Dog Rescue UK said “We are absolutely thrilled to have been selected as one of the H&W Chamber of Commerce charities of the year. We think this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our work in rehoming rescue dogs and to raise the profile of our animal welfare activities within the two counties.”

We are looking forward to meeting with the charities to discuss fundraising ideas for the upcoming months.

Time to Talk Day at H&W Chamber

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest conversation about mental health. The campaign encourages families, communities and workplaces to come together and open up conversations. People are encouraged to talk and listen to each other to help share experiences and challenge the impact of stigma around mental health. Herefordshire & Worcestershire

Chamber of Commerce recognise the importance of their team’s health and wellbeing at work by supporting campaigns like this one. A voluntary group within the organisation have taken on the roles of ‘Stamping Out Stigma’ or ‘SOS’ Champions to support the health and wellbeing of the Chamber team.

Dawn Hardman, Director of HR at Herefordshire & Worcestershire

Chamber of Commerce said: “Supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our team is a priority for us here at the Chamber. We recognise the importance of looking after our staff and that our people are our most important asset. That’s why we have continued with a voluntary group to provide regular wellbeing activities.

Time to Talk Day is an opportunity for people to come together, talk and listen. We wanted to create an opportunity for our teams to take some time away from their desk to share their thoughts and feelings.”

Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIPs) were created to put employers more firmly at the heart of the skills system to help ensure businesses and people have the skills they need to thrive and grow, alongside improving local productivity and international competitiveness.

How can you get involved?

We need your help to form both the Worcestershire LSIP report and the Herefordshire LSIP report, and shape future skills and the labour market. The purpose of the project is to understand the skills training requirements in the next 3-5 years within different sectors and then bring together the views of employers and trainers to help look at innovative ways to deliver future training.

We need your views on how you see training evolving in your sector. How have skills shortages changed how you work, and does this provide innovative training ideas for the future?

If you’re a Herefordshire or a Worcestershire employer or educator, contact our teams today:

Worcestershire LSIP: 01905 673600

Marches LSIP: 01952 208227

Mike Forrester: Chair’s Report

2023 presents a challenging start, and the business environment remains a constant battle. While some supply chains are returning to more typical timescales, increased cost and skills shortages remain. The Chamber can signpost Members to a number of support services, so please contact your Account Manager to discuss what might be available for your business.

The Chamber are delighted by the news that almost £40 million of funding will be shared between Herefordshire and Worcestershire as part of the government’s £2bn Levelling Up Fund.

The Hereford City Transport Package and Malvern Theatres Bid are among 100 projects across the country to receive special funding.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “…we are backing more than 100 projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities across the United Kingdom. By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.”

We look forward to supporting the businesses involved throughout 2023 and beyond - and the outcome of the projects being funded.

As we get into 2023, the events programme is back in full swing with numerous events being organised. There is something for everyone and I look forward to catching up with our Members and meeting new businesses at these events. So, please take a look at the events calendar at: www.hwchamber. co.uk/events-and-training-calendar

The popular Chamber Business Expo returns on 9 March 2023 at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. This event is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of your brand, generate new sales leads and expand existing business relationships. I personally enjoy this event and would recommend attending along with the 800 guests expected on the day.

The BIG event of the year, of course, is the Chamber Business Awards which are back for 2023, sponsored this year by Herefordshire Council. A full list of categories can be seen at: www.hwchamber.co.uk/events/ business-awards

As a past winner, I can confirm the benefits that come alongside entering an Award are invaluable, including a great boost to staff morale, a PR opportunity, a powerful tool to raise your profile and a way to stand out against your competitors. It will be a sell-out event once again with over 700 attendees - which leads to your opportunity to enter for one of the 16 categories. Applications and submissions can be made here: www. hwchamber.awardsplatform.com. If anyone would like to discuss the process, please contact me via the Chamber.

Following a recent Business Leaders dinner with Geoff White (author, speaker, investigative journalist, and podcast creator covering cyber and organised crime) everyone attending was probably shocked at the scale of cyber-crime and the ease at which supposedly secure networks can be hacked. I followed this up by attending the Midlands Centre for Cyber Security. Based on Skylon Park, Hereford’s Enterprise Zone, the centre is positioned to become a key player in the Cyber Valley that spans across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire and is home to 15% of the UK’s top 600 cyber companies. Backed by the expert academic team from the University of Wolverhampton’s Cyber Research Institute, the centre supports businesses, develops their skillsets, and leads in cyber security testing, research and development. The centre team offer advice as to how you and your staff can be more aware of hacking risks, ways to reduce the risk and mitigations during and following an attack. With the news that the value of cyber-crime exceeds that of traditional crime, taking steps to protect your business is essential.

I wish you all well and hope to see you soon, Mike.

In conversation with Mark Smith

Q: How did you start doing what you’re doing?

A: I applied for a life-long job with the Black Horse (Lloyds Bank, not the local hostelry!) in sleepy Suffolk and have been riding the old nag for 40 years since!

Q: What does a typical day look like?

A: The good – Client, prospect and professional partner meetings - in person, MS Teams or occasionally a simple call – to ensure I stay close to their strategic plans and operational requirements.

The bad – Starting a little earlier and ending a little later than ideal for your well-being; skipping a healthy lunch and eating far too much junk food because you’re committed to what you do (not at all good for a type 1 diabetic with a long-term chronic lung condition!)

The ugly - The inevitable internal challenges that go alongside working within any blue chip!

Q: What are your notable highlights to date?

A: Personal – Marrying my lovely wife; five marvellous children who have six of their own growing children between them: two equally marvellous stepchildren. All unique, as we all are.

Physical – Two London Marathons (1994 & 1997) but slowing down now and well on the way to fell-walking the 214 Lakeland Wainwrights, mainly trailing behind my gazelle-like wife - 25 to do.

Commercial – 40 successful years with Lloyds Bank across a wide range of roles - relationship, risk and operational, across Corporate, SME and Retail banking teams.

Community – Leading local fund-raising opportunities which have contributed over £75,000 to Herefordshire & Worcestershire hospices and foodbanks in the past 6 years.

Q: What’s the key to your success?

A: Being yourself; stop worrying about climbing the corporate ladder; put others first; know your imperfections; get organised.

Q: Where can you mostly be found after work?

A: If you mean 9-5, still AT work in my home office, until Mrs S returns from her daily toil…then watching The Chase.

Q: Best piece of advice you’ve received?

A: Be kind…not always easy, but always the right thing to do even if we all fall off that horse from time to time.

Mark Smith is the President of Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Banking Relationship Director at Lloyds Banking Group.

Head to www.youdobetter.co.uk to discover how pay-as-you-go PR can work for you and your business.

New President Mark Smith chats with Chamber Member Ruby Edwards from You Do Better PR

Is Mediation and other alternatives to the traditional Court process the way forward in Family cases?

‘Yes’ is the resounding answer from two senior family law solicitors at Thursfields Solicitors. Laura Williams and Hannah Nicholls are also trained mediators and are witnessing firsthand the benefits to client’s that resolving their family disputes outside of the Court arena can bring.

The use of mediation and other dispute resolution processes has been widely encouraged by senior family judges and other professionals who work with children and families for some time, however it has only more recently started to gather more publicity and popularity with lawyers and their clients.

Why is this? The overwhelming pressure on the Court’s is certainly a factor, which is resulting in court proceedings taking significantly longer to conclude. It is not unusual for cases involving disputes over child arrangements to take over 12- 18 months to resolve (and even longer in some cases), and for cases involving the dividing of family assets significantly longer. Not only does this place an enormous emotional strain on children involved, and the family, but it also means legal costs are increasing significantly.

But it is not only the delays and attributable costs of the court system which are resulting in the increasing participation in mediation and other processes. The Court process, for dealing with all types of family dispute, is unpredictable and complex. There is no guarantee that a Judge or bench of Magistrates will make a decision that you feel is right for you or your family. They do not know you or your children and only have a snapshot of insight into the family dynamic. Although your lawyers can advise you on the considerations that the Court must have when making informed decisions, they cannot tell you with any degree of certainty exactly what order a Court will make. This is because the Court has a wide discretion when making Orders in family cases, and what one Judge may feel is fair and appropriate in the circumstances, may be notably different to that of another.

The Court process is also combative in nature. It heightens tensions and conflict rather than appeasing it. This can lead to long term and

irreparable damage being caused to family relationships, individual family members mental health, and the ability of that family to be able to parent their children in a way that they want to and what will be of most benefit to their children in the long term.

Mediation offers an alternative where couples and family members can attempt to address and resolve their issues in a neutral, safe, and impartial environment. A trained mediator will assist by facilitating discussions in an attempt to resolve issues which are in dispute. The aim is for families to find an informed way forward which they decide for themselves and having control over decisions which can work practically, financially, and emotionally for them in the long term. The process allows for parties to continue to take legal advice in the background should they wish to so that they can be assured they are making informed decisions.

Other processes such as Arbitration, early neutral evaluation, collaborative law, and solicitor round table meetings should also be explored with clients early on in the family breakdown, as they are also processes designed to limit conflict and assist in reaching resolution at an early stage.

Court proceedings will of course still be necessary in certain circumstances, but it is important that full consideration is given, both at the outset and during the process, as to whether an alternative can and should be implemented in order to provide the best possible outcome in the long term.

For advice contact Hannah Nicholls and Laura Williams on 0345 20 73 72 8 or info@thursfields.co.uk

The global microchip shortage has created a ripple effect across numerous industries, including the business sector.

Some suggest that the shortage has been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, while others believe that this situation has been in play for many years, not just as a result of the pandemic.

Koray Kose, an analyst at research firm Gartner, argues that the shortage was due, in a large part, to the swift rise of 5G which drove up demand, as well as the US’ choice to stop selling semiconductors and other forms of technology to Chinese tech giant, Huawei. This decision led to multiple chip makers from outside of the US putting in orders from the Chinese firm. Kose also points out that another manufacturing issue which has contributed to the shortage is that there are two different ways of producing chips, one of which is more expensive and is only used for more advanced devices. This has led to many lower cost chips being required to be used across even more consumer products, necessitating this technology to be sourced owing to unprecedented demand.

The surge in demand for consumer electronics has created difficulties for businesses to keep up with the high demand for laptops, smartphones, and other technology products. Additionally, the shortage has affected the production of data centre equipment, including servers and storage devices, which are crucial for businesses to store data and provide cloud services.

Various industries such as the automotive industry, consumer electronics industry and communications sector have been greatly impacted by the shortage. It has, for example, caused significant delays in car production, leaving automotive businesses struggling to keep up with client demand, reduced availability

and higher prices, which has resulted in lower profits for some automotive manufacturers.

It has also particularly impacted businesses who had to change their work approach from an office environment to a remote working environment during the pandemic, which required their employees to have laptops, tablets and other technology in order to do their day-to-day jobs. To exacerbate the problem, chip factories also shut down during the lockdowns.

The shortage has caused supply chain disruptions and led to higher prices for these essential devices, putting a strain on businesses budgets. This can cause difficulties for companies looking to upgrade their technology, making it increasingly hard for them to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Using a Managed Service Provider can help organisations mitigate these issues. MSP businesses are now seeking alternative sourcing options and reviewing their supply chains to reduce their dependence on a single source of microchips. While the effects of the shortage may continue in the short term, MSPs are becoming more resilient and better prepared to handle future disruptions.

EBC Group can help your business overcome these challenges. With our extensive expertise and experience in managing IT services for businesses, we can help provide a solution to the microchip shortage by offering essential technology solutions to ensure your organisation success during this time. We can also provide businesses with essential data centre equipment, such as servers and storage devices, ensuring your clients have the technology they need to provide cloud services and store data securely. For more information, contact us online or call us on 0121 3680119.

The great microchip shortage and how it may be affecting your business

The law firm for life

Sam Pedley

Trading while insolvent – the key points to note

When a company fails and becomes insolvent it is inevitably a difficult period for its owners, its shareholders and of course, its customers.

Unfortunately, it can be the case that when an insolvent event is triggered, and the company continues to trade, a variety of questions begin to arise around the consequences for its directors and those who have sat round the boardroom table.

UK insolvency laws are historically far-reaching and complex. First and foremost, it is no surprise that wrongful trading is a statutory offence which forms part of the Insolvency Act 1986. A director can face substantial consequences if they decide to continue trading the business when insolvent or where there is a risk of insolvency, part of s214 of the Act. This can include a declaration by the Court that the relevant director must make a personal contribution to the assets of the organisation to pay creditors, with the sums determined by the Court.

Additionally, under s213 of the Insolvency Act, a director can be found guilty of fraudulent trading where the Court determines that any of the business was conducted with an intention to defraud its creditors. If a director is deemed to have had knowledge, and dishonesty is proven, they might also be found liable to contribute to company assets in order to pay creditors in the event the company is determined to be insolvent. However, a key difference between s213 and s214 is that this particular offence is broader and applies to anyone who was involved in carrying on the business fraudulently.

Other sources of directors’ liability Directors and officers can also be held liable for their failure to file for insolvency. It is also possible for directors to be found personally liable if there is a breach of any fiduciary duty, wrongful trading, fraudulent trading, or a contravention of environmental and health and safety legislation.

A whole host of other criminal sanctions can apply and disqualification from being a company director is possible for a period of up to 15 years.

The powers of directors and their options

Despite an investigation into their insolvent company’s dealings, a director may be uncertain around what powers they have following liquidation or other reorganisation proceedings. If there is to be a reorganisation outside of the formal insolvency process, then directors will retain their powers of management and their focus should be on ensuring a smooth and efficient restructuring.

A moratorium can act as a form of breathing space for the ailing company. Directors will retain general control of the company actions, however there will be a licenced insolvency practitioner who will be appointed in order to maintain a degree of oversight.

In the situation of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), directors will remain in control, albeit with the oversight of both the nominee and supervisor of the CVA.

When the company finds itself in the often-difficult position of being liquidated, the powers of the directors

will end, unless the liquidator agrees following consultation with creditors and shareholders through formal channels.

Where the company is going into administration, the powers of the directors to exercise management functions or other actions that otherwise interfere with the powers of the administrator themselves, will end unless there has been prior consent by the administrator.

This is a deliberately brief summary of the process involved, the pitfalls, and the options available should a company find itself insolvent. It is a hugely complex area and one that requires accurate and intricate legal advice.

If you are looking for further information or advice, you can contact partner Sam Pedley in our Commercial Litigation department through samuel.pedley@mfgsolicitors.com, or call 01562 820181.

Salary & Benefits Report 2023 has been released

The Salary & Benefits Report 2023 in partnership with Hewett Recruitment has been released. In November and December 2022, businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire were asked to share, in confidence, the salaries and benefits they offer to employees. It is well documented that people are the most valuable resource to any business; they are the heart of any organisation.

However, in the challenging times businesses are facing, recruiting, and retaining staff remains a significant challenge in the current labour market. The Salary & Benefits Report allows us to establish best practice across the two counties, benchmarking pay and benefits in multiple roles. This creates a vital resource for local businesses, supporting your recruitment and retention goals for the near future.

93% of those surveyed in this report attempted to recruit staff over the past 12 months. Engineering, Sales, Finance, and Manufacturing were the sectors where businesses were experiencing the most difficulty in recruiting.

The report also provides a summary of the options that businesses, who are looking to supplement lower salaries with a strong benefits package, currently offer. This is demonstrated by the fact that 75% of companies offer working from home, and 78% offer flexible start and finish times. This is a result of a change in how certain employees are thinking and fitting their work around their personal lives. People now consider flexible working and annual leave allowance just as important as their salary and it has never been more crucial to compare the salary and benefits that your business offers in order to attract and retain staff. We can also see more companies are offering benefits this year compared to last, as 83% of companies in this report offer free training to employees, compared to 78% last year and 55% of companies offer enhanced sick pay compared to 45% last year.

Alongside recruitment and retention difficulties, businesses are also facing numerous challenges due to the rising cost of living driven by a rise in food and material prices, increased energy costs, and inflationary pressure. In QES Q4, 76% of businesses stated inflation as a factor of concern for businesses and 65% of businesses stated energy costs as a further factor of concern. This highlights the increased pressure firms are under from crippling inflation figures as well as the pressure to settle their energy bills this winter. However, the number of businesses reporting that energy costs were a cause for concern to their businesses was reduced to 65% in Q4, from 82% in Q3. Therefore, from the data we can see that the energy support

package for businesses has relieved some of the pressure on them, albeit energy costs remain a significant challenge, dependant on further clarity by Central Government on price caps post March 2023.

The estimated number of vacancies fell by 65,000 in the most recent quarter to 1,187,000. Despite five consecutive quarterly falls, the number of vacancies remains at historically high levels. The fall in the number of vacancies reflects uncertainty across industries, as respondents continue to highlight economic pressures as a factor in holding back on recruitment. Therefore, the challenging labour market seems destined to continue as the cost-of-living crisis shows no sign of easing in the next few months (Labour Market overview, UK –Office for National Statistics, 2022).

In the current challenging labour market, it is as vital as ever for businesses to review the pay and benefits packages that they offer to employees. The data shows that businesses in Herefordshire & Worcestershire are struggling in recruiting for all sectors and this report will hopefully assist your work on recruitment and retention. The Chamber will continue to provide advice and guidance to businesses to help them through the current challenging times.

Laura Hewett, Owner/Director of Hewett Recruitment, commented on the Salary & Benefits Report 2023, and said “The launch of the Salary & Benefits Report 2023 seems

to have been more anticipated than ever this year, with well over 300 companies sharing their data. The double-digit inflation rate and its impact on the cost of living, has put further financial pressure on businesses competing to attract and retain employees. People are more likely to have their heads turned for salary growth, whereas 6 months ago other factors may have weighed heavier in their decision making. Companies are clearly keen to keep pace with these demands, whilst carefully balancing costs as we head into a likely recession.

The word ‘recession’ often conjures visions of mass-unemployment. However, given the scale of the skills shortage and the sizeable gap between supply and demand of skills, the predicted softening of the economy will still leave us with similar labour market challenges. So… now is not the time take our foot off the gas when it comes to finessing our employee offering.

That said, once compensation packages are where they need to be, pay alone will not keep people engaged in employment. We all know that people don’t leave companies, they leave bosses. That is because no-one has a greater impact on a worker’s day-to-day experience and attitude than their direct manager.”

You can find the report at hwchamber. co.uk If you have any questions in relation to the report, please contact the Policy department at the Chamber at policy@ hwchamber.co.uk

Barrs Court Engineering Ltd celebrates its 40th anniversary this year

Founded in 1983 and owned and managed by the second-generation of engineers, Barrs Court Engineering has come a long way in the past four decades.

With a focus on long-term financial sustainability, the company has successfully adapted to meet the changing needs of its customers, diversifying its services from providing solely precision engineering to include specialist fabrication and architectural metalwork.

Innovation is currently a key priority for the company, and it has invested heavily in new automation and digital manufacturing systems, including shop floor data collection.

Barrs Court Engineering has also recently acquired new capabilities in sheet metal processing, CNC plasma cutting, and CNC bending.

Despite being a small operation, the company is committed to authenticity and environmental sustainability. It has pledged to join other Herefordshire businesses in achieving net zero emissions by 2030 and is certified in ISO 14001. It also uses renewable energy sources like biomass fuel and solar PV.

Barrs Court Engineering offers a broad range of products to industrial, marine, and architectural markets, including CNC machining, production fabrication, bending, polishing, and bespoke metalwork like glass

balustrades and staircases. The company has built long-term relationships with both large and small companies across the region and the UK, and has worked with one major OEM for nearly 40 years. The quality of its products adheres to international standards, with ISO 9001 and EN 1090 certifications.

Toby Kinnaird, the company’s Managing Director, says “I’m grateful for the support of our staff, customers, and suppliers. Our priority is to continue to develop and improve our products and services, never standing still to remain resilient and ensure we stand out in the market. Thank you for being a part of our success story.”

www.barrscourt.com

We build relationships, not just parts

Precision Engineering

As an established sub-contractor to OEM manufacturers, we provide scheduled production, batch manufacture, and one-off prototyping. We offer a wide range of services including machining, fabrication, and assembly of precision-engineered products. Utilizing state-of-the-art CNC machinery including mill-turn and 5 axis machining with automated load and unload capability.

Contact us

Fabrication

Over 40 years of experience supporting industrial, marine and architectural customers. We have full fabrication facilities including sheet metal, cutting, profiling and bending. We bend tube up to 50mm diameter with radii down to 1.5xD. We offer Mig and Tig welding of ferrous and non ferrous metals. Our in house finishing supports brushed or mirror polished surfaces. We can assist with designs using 3 D CAD modelling.

Call +44 (0)1432 353 450 or email info@barrscourt.com web barrscourt.com

Arborist recognised with major industry award

A Kidderminster arborist who has overcome his fear of heights to excel in the profession has been recognised with an award from a major industry organisation.

Edd Acutt, 30, recently completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in Arboriculture at Pershore College and works for a local housing association to maintain trees and other plants on its sites.

He has been presented with the Royal Forestry Society Certificate in Arboriculture in recognition of his high standard of academic work and practical skills.

Edd had previously worked in the ground maintenance team at Community Housing in Bromsgrove and for six years helped to maintain the grounds of sheltered housing properties.

An internal vacancy opened for an arborist and Edd jumped at the opportunity – despite having a dislike of heights.

Edd spent three years on the apprenticeship, due to the disruption by the pandemic, but is now thriving in his new role as an arborist.

He said: “I was very pleased when I found out I had passed my end point assessment, and to get this extra certificate as well is great.

“I’m actually a carpenter by trade but I’ve been working outdoors the majority of my career and can remember gardening as early as nine-years-old.

“At the age of 28, the opportunity presented itself to progress and take up a new role as an arborist, so I took it, despite hating heights!

“I’m looking forward to progressing now and working my way up the ladder, taking on extra training, earning more qualifications and furthering my career.”

John Hancock, trainer/assessor in Arboriculture at Pershore College,

said: “Edd is enthusiastic, driven and a skilled arborist. He is a very deserving recipient of this certificate.

“He benefits from having a great employer who has given him opportunities to continue his development.

“The Royal Forestry Society Certificate is a well-regarded qualification in the industry and will help to ensure Edd’s continued progression in the industry that he loves.

www.wcg.ac.uk

John Hancock and Edd Acutt at Pershore College

Say hello to easy collaboration with a Sharp printer from Clarity Solutions

Advancing technology means the latest range of A3 colour printers from Sharp make collaboration effortless.

Their new built in Microsoft® Teams connector enables direct and secure access for printing from or scanning to your Microsoft Teams channel.

Integrate seamlessly with cloudbased business apps, mobile connectivity, and industry-leading system and data protection features alongside all the usual speed and quality of output you would expect from Sharp

The hardest part is deciding which model to go for, but with over 25 years’ experience, Clarity Solutions can help you choose the right multifunctional printer for your business and if you’re a limited company you can offset 130% of the cost of a new machine against taxable profits if you buy it outright before 31st March 2023

Our cost-effective local support and maintenance of your printers covers toners, parts and labour and we can also solve IT based printing/scanning issues including a bespoke scan to Gmail solution to address recent global changes with this function.

People value and respect their differences

They use these differences to enable great problem solving, creativity and innovation

These are the kind of workplaces I aim to inspire through training teams, groups of leaders and coaching/mentoring people on a one to one basis.

People use positive language to constructively challenge each other to move teams and businesses forward Managers and leaders inspire and motivate others and coach them to be the best version of themselves. egpeopledevelopment.co.uk

This is the way great organisations achieve success and typically we don’t learn these techniques for business success at school, college or university or through our technical training.

International Contracts

With the world looking very different, it’s important that you ensure your contracts are fit for the international market and comply with international standards. There are risks, but there are certain steps you can take to help prevent them.

Investigation: It is essential to conduct due diligence on the overseas company including personnel, financials and licences. Choosing the wrong distributor can in some cases result in criminal liability for you personally - if it engages in illegal activity that might attract liability for you too.

Simplification: While it is important to have a distribution contract in place, an overly complex contract can end up unenforceable or difficult for the distributor to understand. If they don’t understand it, they won’t know what you expect.

Governing law: Many UK exporters choose the law of England to govern their distribution contracts and give the courts of England the right to settle disputes. However, English judgments may be unenforceable in some foreign countries.

Liability - A contract can only protect you so far. It can protect you well against breaches of contract by the distributor, but it cannot protect you from tortious claims, administrative claims, or criminal liability.

Other criminal law: A UK entity is required to monitor its supply chain compliance with the Bribery Act 2010, the Criminal Finances Act, and the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (UK businesses with £36m or more annual turnover must make annual statements against slavery and trafficking in their supply chains).

For more information, please contact Robert Capper, Partner, Head of Commercial Team 01905 744 814 | 07909 970 323 rcapper@hcrlaw.com

The Power of Apprenticeships

The image of Apprenticeships and the value they can bring to a business has improved immeasurably in recent years. However, it is fair to say that for some the word “Apprentice” still conjures up stereotypes of manual labour for school leavers who “were not right” for the University path…but this has never been more wrong.

Apprenticeships now cover a vast range of job types and levels…anything from Health and Care services through to Accountancy or HR, Engineering or Digital skills…from Level 2 all the way up to Level 6-7, equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree. What’s more, these are no longer geared at school or college leavers, but rather the entire breadth of the labour market.

Employers are increasingly looking to Apprenticeships as a means of not only recruiting but also retraining and upskilling existing employees or helping them achieve formal qualifications in their role. Investing in your team not only means you reap the rewards of their enhanced skills but also of the increased engagement that is engendered by you investing

in their futures. This is certainly something Hewett put a lot of stock in, with 2 team members shortly to start their Apprenticeships in pursuit of their Level 3 Certificate in Recruitment…just in time for the start of National Apprenticeship Week on February 6th!

So next time you are looking at the “gaps” in your workforce…perhaps take a moment to see who you already have that can help fill them. Capitalising on existing levels of commitment and loyalty of people who already share your company values can have huge benefits to not only your business but also the individuals concerned. To find out more about how workforce planning can support your business growth then please get in touch with Ben Mannion on 01905 613413 or ben@hewett-recruitment.co.uk

Michaela & Dom, Recruitment Consultants

Millie, Industrial Consultant & Maisy, Recruitment Apprentice

Robert Capper

Apprenticeships and their value to the workforce of the future

Mark Smith - Commercial Banking Relationship Director at Lloyds Banking Group and President of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce - shares his positive approach to apprenticeships.

Mark says: “Lloyds Bank see apprenticeships as an essential part of the commercial economy. We’re thrilled to be able to support and shape the future of the workforce - in every sector - ensuring that the expertise of today continues into tomorrow.” Indeed, Lloyds Banking Group celebrated the recruitment of its 10,000th apprentice with a series of events earlier this year to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2023.

The Group’s apprenticeship schemes have grown over the years. Only six roles were available in 2012; now, the company employs around 200 apprentices. They also provide 30 apprenticeship programmes available to around 1400 people, starting from level 2 - GCSE equivalent - to level 7, equal to a master’s degree. Over the years Mark has been delighted to work with and support Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association (HWGTA), one of the leading apprenticeship organisations in the two counties. HWGTA supports employers from small local businesses up to large international companies in recruiting, developing and training their apprentices. Many other local organisations also celebrated their successes with a variety of events including open days, careers fayres and a double-decker ‘apprenticeship bus’ which hit the Worcestershire roads.

Mark concludes: “It is of utmost importance that we continue to develop the workforce of the future through apprenticeships and beyond.”

We’re thrilled to be able to support and shape the future of the workforce.

Mark Smith

Mark Smith, Commercial Banking Relationship Director at Lloyds Banking Group & President of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Blue Print takes steps to meet 2023 head on!

We might be in the middle of an economic crisis with prices rising and budgets squeezed but at Blue Print Direct Mail in Droitwich, they have been recruiting to make sure they have the right staff to meet client needs this year.

They have recently been in the fortunate position of recruiting several new members of staff with the purpose of these hires being to bring more of the processes behind mailings in-house, thus affording greater control, flexibility and cost effectiveness. They are able to design, artwork, audit/sort data, print, personalise, enclose and release to the mail network themselves. They do not act as a print management company simply passing on client’s work to a third party with a mark-up included.

This is what makes them stand out in the direct mail industry and make a difference to client relationships.

“We have had clients report that they find us very supportive when they are working with us and we’re keen to demonstrate that to others who use direct mail as part of their marketing activity” says Jo Widdowson, Marketing Manager.

For more information on how Blue Print Direct Mail can help with your print and direct mail requirements, email sales@bpdm.uk

Terms and Conditions of Sale – why are they important?

Increasingly gone are the days when you can just do a deal on a handshake. A litigation aware customer base, regulatory requirements, and good customer care, calls for the need to have agreements recorded in writing.

Generally speaking, terms and conditions set out the basis on which the parties are going to contract, what is being supplied, when and for how much, and importantly what the parties remedies would be if things go wrong.

It is important to ensure that terms and conditions are regularly reviewed – at least once a year and certainly whenever you change how you do business – move online, use different delivery methods, change the way you take orders or change the type of products/services you sell.

Different rules apply where your customers are private individuals (consumers) or businesses. The sales platform may also attract special rules regarding the information you have to give and how a contract might be cancelled. The type of product/service you sell may also

DEFRA’s new five-year plant biosecurity strategy features Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries

One of the country’s leading commercial nurseries based in Hereford is featured as a case study in DEFRA’s recently published five-year plant biosecurity strategy – it also quotes the company’s Production Manager, Kyle Ross. The document covers areas of potential regulation and opportunity and explains how increasing domestic production will make an important contribution to reducing the risk of importing harmful pests and pathogens.

Andy Johnson, Managing Director of Wyevale Nurseries, says: “We’re delighted to be included as a case study in this strategy document. The case study relates to how we were an early supporter and adopter of the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme, which we’re very proud of.”

DEFRA’s comprehensive, five-year plant biosecurity strategy, which has just been published and runs from 2023 until 2028 is available here: www. gov.uk/government/publications/ plant-biosecurity-strategy-forgreat-britain-2023-to-2028

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk

attract special rules regarding when it could be considered faulty. It can be extremely useful and is sometimes compulsory to record these things in your terms and conditions.

Thursfields’ Commercial Team can assist you in ensuring your terms and conditions work for your business.

For more information call 0345 20 73 72 8 or email info@thursfields.co.uk

L-R - Rob Chrzan, Phil Moore, Russell Hall, Nicola Winning and Amy Mayo

L-R - Managing Director, Andy Johnson & Production Manager, Kyle Ross

Let’s raise a glass for hospitality

Local hospitality is well and truly back in business.

Conference centres and hotels are heading into the year with newfound confidence and a real spirit of optimism.

The fact that the region’s hospitality has emerged from pandemic pessimism into a bright new-look future is due, in no small part, to the local community. Their unwavering levels of loyalty and support have helped even the smallest business survive the darkest days, and played a massive part in the sustained recovery.

Coming through Covid has made us all appreciate the importance of our local pubs and restaurants so much more. And simple things that we took for granted – like going out and socialising – are more valued than ever. We all now recognise that the hospitality sector is the real hub of the community… a place to meet, chat, make friends and network.

Business innovation and willingness to adapt to change have also been a major

key on the roadmap to recovery. New trends in technology and innovation were bubbling under the surface pre-Covid, but now ordering a pint by app or booking a restaurant takeaway are mainstream. And we’ve all taken to new ways of enjoying our leisure like ducks to water: staycations, outdoor eating, pop-up dining, enhanced safety and hygiene, and sleek online service

are part of the new norm and here to stay. These are just some of the positives to come out of all the turmoil and prove that while the speed of change has been immense and unprecedented, hospitality is well up to the challenge.

Regional hospitality is well on the road to recovery. So here’s to a prosperous, sustained future!

COURTYARD LOUNGE PRIVATE HIRE

Fabulous private parties and events. From wedding receptions to baby showers, family gatherings to staff parties, and everything in between. We take care of your special day and can tailor a package just for you and your guests.

Featuring: Private Bar, Outdoor Terrace, Lounge Area, Dining Area, on-site parking, sound system, and much more!

For more information about hiring The Courtyard Lounge contact foodanddrink@courtyard.org.uk

Wellbeing Webinar

On Tuesday 17 January, Worcestershire Works Well hosted a Wellbeing Webinar for members of the scheme. Guest speakers from across the county joined the event on the day to share information that the attendees could take back to their workplaces, in order to support their team’s health and wellbeing.

We were pleased to welcome Sarah Baldwin and Agnieszka Kudrej from Morgan Motors as guest speakers. Sarah and Agnieszka gave an insightful presentation about Morgan’s Worcestershire Works Well journey to achieving their Level 1 accreditation. Many ideas were shared about the innovative health initiatives they had implemented, leaving us all very inspired!

We also welcomed Charlotte Webb, Financial Consultant, who gave us lots of ideas around implementing financial wellbeing initiatives in the workplace. Webinars are exclusive to Worcestershire Works Well members

ISO Quality Services Ltd

ISO QSL have shown dedication to their employees’ health and wellbeing since they won their first Special Award for their work with a mental health nurse within the company. As they continue to support employees, ISO QSL have won their second Southco Special Award for their “Wellbeing Promises” to their team.

The company have implemented Wellbeing Champions, which are reviewed annually to allow all members of the team to get involved in the initiative. Staff members at ISO are able to put themselves forward to be a Wellbeing Champion and are then chosen at random to fulfil the voluntary role. The team of Champions meet regularly to discuss their plans for the upcoming year.

Staff input is extremely important to ISO QSL, and they have recently communicated with the wider team to ask where they would like to see efforts focused. These communications help to encourage new starters with the company to feel welcome and included in these initiatives. Efforts are made to

ensure the wellbeing activities are accessible to all and significantly relevant to everyone.

Debbie Farr, HR and Facilities Director at ISO Quality Services Ltd, commented: “We want to listen to what people really want and not just use our wellbeing initiatives as a ‘tick-box’ exercise. Our staff here have come to expect that we have their health and wellbeing at the heart of what we do, and that we will offer things that are beneficial, useful and of some value.“

Some of the activities that ISO have organised as part of their WWW accreditation include days out to play darts and enjoy food from local restaurants, walking challenges, a popular book club and a fun-filled day out to Blackwell Adventure.

Sarah Baldwin and Agnieszka Kudrej

Good health and wellbeing brings many benefits for all of us

With most adults spending a substantial proportion of their daily lives in the workplace, employers can play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of the workforce. This may include ongoing workplace health promotion, raising awareness of particular health issues and supporting employees to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Making changes in the workplace to improve health and wellbeing not only reduces sickness but also creates a more positive work force. Simple measures to prevent and manage ill health can have benefits for both the employee and the employer and can lead to: reduced sickness

increased productivity

a competitive edge motivated workforce reduced turnover of staff retention of experienced staff enhanced company reputation attracting new staff and customers. Businesses across Worcestershire have committed to putting the health and wellbeing of their employees at the heart of everything they do. Working towards a Worcestershire Works Well Accreditation has had so many benefits for businesses, including the positive impact for employees. Since the scheme has been running, we have been delighted to welcome so many businesses in the area onto the programme, and see so many achieve their accreditations.

Below are some of the pictures we have enjoyed receiving over the years!

Redhill Manufacturing moves to purpose-built new premises

It’s good news from Redhill as the Redditch-based manufacturing company is now fully operational from new, fully equipped, purpose-built premises located at Lakeside Industrial Estate.

The move comes following a major fire at the company’s premises in May 2022, forcing Redhill to operate from a temporary facility while the new building was being equipped. The new premises are fitted with some of the latest equipment available on the market, including a new Nukon ECO 315 4kw sheet fibre laser, spot welder, band saw, notcher, fly press, chop saw and Coastone electric press brake, delivering new levels of efficiency and capability.

Sales Director, Ross Anderson, comments: “We are hugely proud of our new factory, which enables us to extend our range of ‘Well Built in Britain’ access, handling and storage equipment across the UK and Europe. We look forward to showing visitors around.” To find out more about Redhill, please visit www.redhillmanufacturing.co.uk

Duncan Sutcliffe

Newly Elected Worcestershire Ambassador

As the Managing Director of the widely known, fourth generation family insurance brokers, Sutcliffe & Co, Duncan Sutcliffe supports many local initiatives and good causes, as well as being a trustee of a range of charities.

Duncan Sutcliffe, says, “It’s a privilege to join the Worcestershire Ambassadors as they support Worcestershire in many ways, helping to engage with charities and businesses across the county. I am looking forward to working with the Worcestershire Ambassadors on many projects and further strengthening their ethos of supporting the community and industry excellence.”

The Worcestershire Ambassadors are a group of individuals that share a common passion for the county of Worcestershire. They support and promote Worcestershire as a place to create business opportunities, invest, live, work and visit, as well as supporting local people and charities through various campaigns.

As the successful business owner of Sutcliffe & Co with numerous awards, Duncan Sutcliffe leads his team into 2023 with plans for growth, as their team expands, and new services are added to their portfolio.

For more information about Duncan Sutcliffe, contact the Sutcliffe Head Office on 01905 21681 or alternatively email enquiries@ sutcliffeinsurance.co.uk

Work

XP Training Ltd

Work XP Training Ltd is a local training and work experience provider, based at the Malvern Hills Science Park. Offering a unique combination of workshops, training programmes, online software developer training and work experience packages, starting at just £48 per person for a half-day workshop.

The training is aimed at young people hoping to or starting work for the first time. It is also suitable for people changing their career and wanting a skills boost. With an emphasis on work readiness and business etiquette, the training and experience provided can help build confidence and set appropriate expectations, benefitting the employer by helping the new recruit to be productive sooner. Workshops include, Basic Telephone Skills, Business Writing Skills, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Digital Skills and Employability Skills. For further information contact: info@workxptraining.co.uk or call 07784 921756 www.workxptraining.co.uk

For any training suggestions, please email training@hwchamber.co.uk

There are many reasons why UK companies choose to trade internationally. Business growth and increased market share, increased sales and profits, and to spread risk are to name a few, but what about the disadvantages of trading globally.

What are some of the challenges that businesses can face daily when interacting with their foreign business associates?

Some of the immediate disadvantages that spring to mind are potential cultural and language barriers. Communication in business is key to developing great business relationships and ensuring that your goods and services move freely and efficiently and reach the consumer in good time. Poor communication can lead to delays in goods and services and potentially increased costs, dissatisfied customers, poor customer service ratings and ultimately a loss in repeat business, which could leave your reputation in tatters!

So, what are the skills needed to ensure that you can successfully navigate your business relationships across the water when trading internationally?

Here are our top 3 recommendations:

1. Develop your communications skills - take time to develop both your written and verbal skills. It’s essential for any business professional who aspires to expand their business into global markets.

2. Improve your networking abilities - networking is no longer confined to attending a meeting via platforms like Teams or Zoom or attending an event. Creating a global networking base on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms is now becoming the norm. Be familiar with what social media platforms are preferred in which countries and which ones are a definite no go!

3. Emotional intelligence and resilience – building these critical skills and having the ability to understand those you engage with, especially where there may be cultural or language barriers, are hugely important. These skills will allow for a deeper connection; a greater perspective and appreciation of others’ needs and help build and retain meaningful working relationships.

Of course, you don’t have to be trading internationally to develop these skills. Any business professional or business would benefit from investing in training to upskill or develop their team. The Chamber offer a broad portfolio of training courses, leadership workshops and international trade courses to support and grow your people and business. To find out more, visit our website: hwchamber.co.uk/training

We would like to hear from you!

Whilst continuously expanding the training offering, the Training department are always looking for new ideas for courses. It’s great to understand what topics will be most beneficial to local businesses.

For any suggestions, please email training@ hwchamber.co.uk

More information about each training course and upcoming dates can be found on the Chamber website - www.hwchamber.co.uk/events-andtraining-calendar

“As a company grows, communication becomes its biggest challenge”

– Ben Horowitz

Training & Development

March Courses Dates

Managing People in the Team

Wednesday 1 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members

Location: Worcester

Digital Reporting & Google Analytics

Tuesday 7 March, 9.00am-12.30pm

£90+VAT Members / £110+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Managing Performance in the Team

Tuesday 7 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members

Location: Online

An Introduction to Digital Marketing & PR

Tuesday 14 March, 9.00am-11.00am

Free for Members / £110+VAT Non-members

Location: Online

Effective Time Management

Tuesday 14 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

IOSH Managing Safely® (4 day)

Tuesday 14 March – Friday 17 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£495+VAT Members / £595+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Mental Health First Aid (1 day)

Thursday 16 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£200+VAT Members / £250+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training

Tuesday 21 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Online

Employment Law update

Wednesday 22 March, 10.00am-3.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Introduction to Project Management

Wednesday 22 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Fire Marshal Training

Thursday 23 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£90+VAT Members / £110+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Assertiveness and Confidence

Wednesday 29 March, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Online

April Courses Dates

Emergency First Aid

Tuesday 4 April, 9.00am-4.30pm

£90+VAT Members / £110+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Introduction to Microsoft Excel

Wednesday 5 April, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Role of the Team Leader

Thursday 6 April, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

Creating a Customer Care Culture

Monday 17 April, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Online

Stress Management and Resilience

Wednesday 19 April, 9.00am-12.30pm

£90+VAT Members / £110+VAT Non-members

Location: Online

Internal Auditor Training

Thursday 20 April, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members Location: Worcester

7 Steps to Closing the Deal

Wednesday 26 April, 9.00am-4.00pm

£160+VAT Members / £200+VAT Non-members

Location: Worcester

We would like to hear from you!

Whilst continuously expanding the training offering, the Training department are always looking for new ideas for courses. It’s great to understand what topics will be most beneficial to local businesses.

For any suggestions, please email training@hwchamber.co.uk. More information about each training course and upcoming dates can be found on the Chamber website - hwchamber.co.uk/events-and-training-calendar

Safari star attraction celebrate a golden year

West Midland Safari Park celebrates its 50th birthday in April. Managing director Chris Kelly looks forward to - and back at - the park’s enduring appeal.

In April 1973, Sophia Loren, star of the golden Hollywood age, opened the Park while cuddling a lion cub.

This year, the animals are centre-stage as the 200-acre site celebrates its gold milestone. Anniversary planning is well underway, with a big dinner fundraiser for conservation and further celebrations included in the Park’s seasonal events.

And despite the huge challenges of the past three years, the Park’s expansion plans are firmly on track. Last year, a record 850,000 visitors came through the gates, consolidating the Park as one of the UK’s top attractions.

The 200-acre site has seen huge changes since it opened in the grounds of Spring Grove country house, Bewdley. In those early days, the baboon troupe stole the show with some crafty escape routines. These culminated in a souvenir raid on local gardens - mostly from washing lines - before the cheeky primates were safely enticed back for good by big bowls of fruit.

Back then, animal numbers were far less and included a turkey, bees, a guard dog, “and lots of fish,” Chris remembers as a regular early visitor with his family. “If you managed to get out with wing mirrors and wiper blades intact, you were doing pretty good!”

Today - while the baboons are long gone - there are over 1,000 animals representing 118 species, and the park is acclaimed for its conservation work. “I’ve seen many changes in the 40 years I’ve been visiting the park, but none more so than in the three years since becoming MD,“ Chris adds.

His own legacy at the park is already assured, with a baby giraffe - born just before Christmas - named after him. “He already answers to his name,” he laughs.

When Chris - a former Aspinall Foundation director - joined the Park, he did so on the proviso that the animal accommodation and enclosures were modified. This work is almost complete and includes a huge elephant house “perfect for

breeding. We’re waiting for a bull elephant to join us this spring, while our own young bull will relocate to Noah’s Ark in Somerset.”

By the end of June, West Midland Safari Park will also have 26 luxury Safari Lodges featuring various exotic animal habitats.

Work starts on four hippo lodges in October, while old buildings have made way for night-time hippo grazing.

“We’re also re-introducing monkeys; pygmy marmosets are set to join us by the summer. We don’t have any plans for baboons though,” he chuckles.

Chris acknowledges the tremendous on-going support offered by the Park’s French owners, The

Looping Group, whose multi-million-pound backing secured the ambitious expansion and breeding programmes.

“We’ve also sent £50,000 to the Ukrainian Zoo Appeal, and support conservation units around the world,” Chris explains. “Nearer to home, we continue to build on great community links, working with local food banks and other charitable causes.”

The cost-of-living storm hasn’t made it all plain sailing though. “With inflation running above 10% and the prices of supplies soaring, we have had to look at and adjust the prices of our tickets, but people can still save money by booking early online through our new booking system.

“The biggest impact has been in energy, labour and animal food. Energy costs have been kept down through pre-buying, and there’s plans to install solar panels on newer buildings. A couple of the animal houses have biomass heating systems, so we aim to produce our own biomass too.”

One area where cost isn’t a factor, however, is animal feed. “We have to be absolutely sure about sources as we can’t risk contamination. Our animals’ welfare is always our top priority.”

Looking ahead, Chris concludes: “We are all extremely positive about the future. It wouldn’t be possible without such massive on-going support, so thank you to everyone who supports and visits us.”

Here’s to the next 50 years…

Anniversary planning is well underway, with a big dinner fundraiser for conservation and further celebrations included in the Park’s seasonal events.

Find out more about West Midland Safari Park at wmsp.co.uk

Take the plunge for export success

Exporting has its challenges but also massive growth potential. Chris Walklett, Tax Partner at accountancy experts Bishop Fleming, says now’s the time to start your overseas journey.

Businesses that export are more profitable, grow quicker, have more resilience, and their people and intellectual property develop faster.

Successful exporters are also statistically far more likely to have a business plan, says Chris. “You might know the challenges, but how do you make the next effective move with no strategy?

“Company mindset is also important. Are your people entrepreneurial or do they look for reasons not to do the groundwork? This applies to all kinds of businesses and at all levels.

“You have to be willing to put in the research on marketing, people, infrastructure, external support, finance etc, to draw up an informed plan backed by credible data.”

Brexit also presents well-documented challenges, but opportunity for growth remains.

Chris says, “For many the logistical starting point has been setting up a subsidiary in Europe, with the Netherlands a popular choice.

“Demand has ramped up infrastructure costs etc., but it’s well-connected, and English is widely spoken. Once set up you regain a foot hold in the EU that you might have lost due to Brexit. He adds, “Our Dutch office is currently helping a client set up a subsidiary. It’s a fairly straightforward process, and the initial set up cost is relatively inconsequential.”

A wide mix of businesses, big and small, may be considering exports, but in Chris’s experience, there’s a common perception that it’s too much hassle.

While Brexit has had an undoubted impact on paperwork, he believes that once again it’s all about the right mindset. “Don’t try ‘world domination’. Identify the key markets you might sell into – the low hanging fruit - and research the support you need locally. Make mistakes and learn lessons in one or two different markets, and then take that learning forward – to either penetrate these new markets further or build into new ones.”

He adds, “It’s also important to remember the EU isn’t our only export market. We are negotiating trade deals with non-EU countries, mirroring in part the EU agreed international trade deals. On 1 February 2021, the United Kingdom (UK) formally requested accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is a free trade area made up of 11 Pacific Rim countries, and accounts for 8.4 of UK exports.

“Of course, there are logistical challenges, but the world is a big place, and you don’t have to dominate every market.”

Bishop Fleming has member firms in over 100 countries, so is well placed to identify potential growth areas. “For example, if a client is looking at the US market, we can guide them through practicalities like local state taxes. Also, each state has subtly different rules, so we would look at the best areas to start selling into first.

“Likewise, you may need to identify a distributor or agent to help you sell into your chosen market. A local business advisor will be invaluable in helping you stay compliant in tax and legal issues.

“Remember there are certain costs for selling into markets before you’ve even sold anything. The more countries you sell into, the more your costs are duplicated. Your business plan should ensure your working capital cycle is properly funded with support from the bank or other backers.”

And finally, we are all well aware of the media negativity swirling around the economy, but Chris points out that trading conditions are difficult globally.

“You’ve got two choices: roll over and surrender or say we’re going to work up a business plan, identify the actions that we know are within our control and go for it. There’s massive

opportunity to grow your business profitably by embracing the challenges. Don’t let someone else beat you to it!

“Building out your support network is a key action. Government agencies can provide support; accountants like Bishop Fleming with global connections can manage expectations and set realistic goals. Partnering with the right bank is crucial, and some are developing research tools for overseas markets. The Chamber of Commerce also has groups and forums that are great at exploring solutions to common challenges.

“It won’t be easy, but business success rarely comes easy. The worst case is that you end up learning a lot of lessons and have evolved (hopefully) a written business plan. The best case – the growth mentioned at the start of this article. You will also benefit the UK economy –from a country perspective, export is the loan that doesn’t need to be paid back.”

Visit bishopfleming.co.uk/internationaladvisory-hub for more information.

Bishop Fleming LLP is a member firm of Kreston Global, an international accounting and advisory network. They offer free initial international advice both in the UK and in country. Email cwalklett@bishopfleming. co.uk for details.

Chris Walklett, Tax Partner at Bishop Fleming

The first steps to international trade

ETL Systems enjoy huge success in the global satellite communications market and have won three Queen’s Awards for International Trade. The key to overseas success? Be brave and bold, says Sales and Marketing Director Andrew Bond.

Making the move from national sales to international sales is daunting, but ETL Systems are a leader in their field. They design and manufacture RF distribution equipment, and distribute to a wide-ranging export market including broadcast, telecoms, and government and defence. As a hugely respected global brand, they are exceptionally well-placed to share their expertise and knowledge with local businesses.

However, there is never room for complacency, as Andrew explains. “The first thing we’ve always said is ‘be brave and be bold’. It’s important to get out there and be seen.

“But it’s also important to be humble as there is always competition. This is why the look and feel of our marketing constantly evolves to stay ahead of the game.”

So where to start with exporting? Andrew says, “It’s important to have a set of terms and conditions. T&Cs are a comfort blanket - people may not read them, but they provide a great framework for contracts, especially when dealing with a foreign entity.

“The most crucial point in T&Cs is money - setting up payment and currency requirements, and bank accounts to handle the three staple currencies, Euros, dollars and pounds.

“The other point to consider is transfer of ownership. This makes it clear the product is owned by the exporter throughout the whole shipping process until payment is finally made.

“Use international credit checkers like Dun and Bradstreet or Experian to ensure potential customers are able to follow through with actual business and payment.”

Andrew adds, “The most important thing to demonstrate as a business is credibility. So whether you love or hate trade shows, they work for us because we can physically show our products and services, and prove we’re genuine.

“I’d like to emphasise that you can’t just ‘sit’ behind a website and distribute catalogues. You need to go out and meet real people. See them face to face because they will love you for it. Our international customers are fascinated by British people, and as a nation we are very good at selling ourselves abroad.”

He adds, “The Chamber provided a huge amount of initial support to ETL Systems through training and business advice, and access to UK trade and industry grants. Funding like this helps advertise our products globally. By this I mean getting on a plane and standing in front of a customer or meeting them at a trade show.

“We couldn’t have built those relationships, and been able to properly learn about, bid and win new projects, if we hadn’t taken the time to know the people in the first place. The ’travelling salesman’ is still very important.

“Our team has done an awful lot of air miles over the years, but the hard work has paid off. When I first started, there

were three people in international sales. Now there are 25!”

Trust is a key factor too. Andrew says: “It’s important to work with people and partners you can trust in any industry. And it goes both ways, so we rely on an excellent network of overseas sales agents, who have also become close friends.”

Being a reliable export partner is very important. “You need to be aware of trade tariff codes, VAT import duties, shipping and customs clearance costs, and Incoterms. Will any of this add to your price?”

Andrew concedes that Brexit ‘red tape’ has complicated European exports. “There is a lot more paperwork, and we are calling on the government to simplify the process. In the meantime, we help our customers fill in the necessary forms.” Gov.uk and cbi.org uk are good starting points for advice. He also highlights the Chamber’s networking opportunities, adding, “Hereford is very lucky to have the local technology centre, to share notes and advice. It really helps if you feel you’re not alone, especially for young start-ups with limited time and funds.

“ETL Systems is a local success story, and we are very open to sharing our export expertise and networking opportunities. It would be nice to help other companies gain that experience and confidence.”

For an informal chat, drop Andrew a line at andrew.bond@etlsystems.com

www.etlsystems.com

Andrew Bond, Sales & Marketing Director at ETL Systems

Helping local businesses across borders

In an increasingly connected world, businesses of all sizes operate across borders. This can involve a myriad of legal intricacies and complex regulations due to the unique laws for each country. We help organisations forge a path free of legal issues, allowing you to focus on what you’re good at.

Our international offering is based out of our six hubs, including America, Australia, China, India, the Middle East and Europe. Our international team includes dual-qualified lawyers and several of our solicitors are members of the International Bar Association.

As a member of Law Exchange International (LEI), an association of law firms serving clients doing business in the world’s major commercial markets, we have access to the expertise of 37 independent law firms across five continents and 31 countries, who all share our commitment to excellence.

America

Our American hub is based within Boston and reflects the vibrant city itself; being our most commercially active hub with significant clients. The litigious approach adopted by American colleagues means that our advice must be a match to the combative nature of the US market. Led by Partners Natalie Minott and Rob Rice, our American hub has worked with many British companies who want to establish themselves in the United States or need assistance with their US legal issues.

We have a substantial network in Boston and call on lawyers from many different firms depending on what our clients need.

China

Our Chinese practice is led by Nicolas Groffman, who spent 16 years practicing as a lawyer in Beijing and Shanghai. Our years of experience in China have provided us with an exceptional understanding of the local legal and economic landscape, and means that we have personal ties with China, not just businesses. We draw on the resources of more than 40 lawyers at different firms in China, all with expertise in different areas of law.

We also have a strong network of friends in Chinese business, commerce, government and politics through our own connections and do as much Chinese legal advice work in-house as possible, to avoid China’s cyber security law and its restriction on lawyers’ abilities to guarantee confidentiality. Where necessary, we draw on the expertise of trusted lawyers in China.

India

In India, our collaboration with the Mumbai-based India Law Alliance enables us to provide advice on multi-jurisdiction transactions. Lawyers in both firms share experience and skills which benefits clients and allows us to advise on the subjects that matter most to our clients in the UK-Indian corridor. The hub is led by Partner Syed Alam.

This depth of experience, including representation of clients in the lower courts, right up to the Apex court, means our clients enjoy the same level of service in their Indian business transactions as they do in the UK.

Europe

Our European hub, based in the Netherlands, allows us to introduce our clients across the world to those closer to home. Close relationships with legal advisers based throughout Europe ensures our clients are served in a timely, cost-effective and expert manner. We’ve acted for a variety of European companies, advising on the acquisition of UK assets as well as assisting those withing to establish operations in wider Europe.

Australia and the Middle East

Our Middle East base, in the heart of Dubai, means we are now able to provide expertise to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. We’re helping businesses from the UK establish a presence in the Middle East, and advising Middle Eastern businesses on their dealings in the UK. The hub is jointly led by Partners Raj Pahuja and Richard Morgan.

On the other side of the world, our Australian hub, covering all six Australian states, provides legal and commercial support to law firms, Australian businesses and citizens. Partner Claire Holford leads the hub, helping to shrink the distance between the UK and Australia.

For further information on how we can support your local business across borders, please get in touch.

Leadership Development 6-part programme, in partnership with 3WH

The Leadership Development Series enters it 5th year and we have compiled 6 new topics to infuse leaders and ignite curiosity and development.

Wednesday 24 May 2023

Topic: Communication, the good and the bad Communication is always a challenge and the more people in your organisation and channels you use, the more lines of miscommunication can arise. Understand how you can ensure good communication by taking some very clear and repeatable steps.

Wednesday 19 July 2023

Topic: Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity can be your secret to success in this complex world, but inclusion remains a struggle for many organisations. Learn how to become an inclusive leader so everyone feels seen, heard, and acknowledged in your team.

Wednesday 20 September 2023

Topic: Culture that sparks performance

Culture within a business exists whether you focus on it or not. Discover how you can create a culture that reflects your company values and how to be the role models who bring it to life.

Wednesday 22 November 2023

Topic: Motivation through coaching

You can’t motivate anyone, but you can create an environment that helps others to become motivated. Develop your essential coaching tools that unlock capability within your people.

Wednesday 24 January 2024

Topic: Managing change

Most change is thrust upon us and forces leaders into reactionary mode. Understand how to be proactive in change management when everything feels out of control and help others to feel safe and supported.

Charity Forum

Wednesday 21 March, 9.30-11.30am

Primrose Hospice, St Godwald’s Rd, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 3BW

Free for Members/£20.00+VAT Non-members

At this forum attendees will have the opportunity to network with likeminded peers and also hear from our Member guest speaker and our Worcestershire Charity Partner of the Year Amicii Dog Rescue!

Held at Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre in Bromsgrove. You’ll hear all about their mission to enhance quality of life for people with life limiting illness in North East Worcestershire; in addition, they provide care and support for families, carers and friends.

Wednesday 27 March 2024

Topic: Tackling imposter syndrome

We all feel out of our depth at times. Learn how to notice imposter syndrome understand it, and conquer it in yourself and others in your business.

Each workshop will run from 8.30-11.00am and take place at the Bank House Hotel, Bransford, Worcestershire, WR6 5JD or via Zoom for virtual attendees.

In person attendance single workshop £60.00+VAT £80.00+VAT

In person attendance full series £295.00+VAT £395.00+VAT

Virtual attendance single workshop £50.00+VAT £70.00+VAT

Virtual attendance full series £275.00+VAT £375.00+VAT

Important Information:

In person attendance bookings will include refreshments, printed course notes and face to face group work/networking.

Virtual attendance bookings will be streamed live via Zoom from the venue with the same course content and breakout rooms will be used for group work. The sessions will not be recorded for viewing at another time.

Full series bookings cannot be mixed and matched. Find out more on our website - www.hwchamber.co.uk/training/ leadership-development-series

Economic Business Conference 2023

Thursday 30 March, 8.30-11.30am

Graeme Hick Pavillion, Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road, Worcester WR2 4QQ

Free for Members/£50.00+VAT Non-members

Join us at the annual Economic Conference to connect with businesses and listen to representatives from across the community who will signpost support, outline existing projects and look ahead to 2023/24. The Chamber will also launch their 2023/24 Business Manifesto.

We are pleased to announce our guest speakers:

Grahame Chaplin, the Bank of England’s Agent for the West Midlands & Oxfordshire Shevaun Haviland, Director General at the British Chambers of Commerce

Tom Barton, Co-founder of Honest Burgers

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust Staff Recognition Awards

Ensuring hospital staff have a rewarding, supportive and inclusive working environment, as well as having the right skills to provide high quality care and put patients first, lies at the heart of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s People and Culture strategy.

an extended Family Leave policy; signing The Smallest Things’ Charter setting out how staff will be supported through early childbirth; signing the Menopause Workforce Pledge; and being awarded ‘Veteran Aware’ status by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).

partners to the DRPG studios to share inspirational stories from across the Trust.

The Trust, which runs the Alexandra, Kidderminster and Worcestershire Royal hospitals is proud to announce a number of developments and improvements in recent months which support this aim.

These include achieving Timewise Flexible Working accreditation; being named an Employer with Heart after putting in place

New

Recognising the achievements of a workforce of over 6,000 staff is also imperative, and the Trust’s recent Staff Recognition Awards saw nearly 1,000 nominations from hospital staff and patients and relatives across 14 award categories. The event, which was funded by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity with the help of a generous group of business sponsors, welcomed 370 NHS staff and

SME Solicitors in Worcester has announced that Liz Stirk (nee Meddings) has been made a Partner in the firm. Liz is Head of SME’s Residential Conveyancing department.

Liz Stirk joined SME Solicitors, based in Sansome Walk, in 2013 as a secretary and has progressed since then. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (FCILEx.)

Liz Stirk says: “I am delighted to have been invited to become a Partner here at SME Solicitors. This is a busy and thriving time for residential conveyancing and I am very happy to be part of the strategic planning that the Partners develop for the firm and to be heading the department going forward.”

SME’s Senior Partner Ian Stirzaker comments: “Through hard work, personal organisation, self-motivation and a first class attitude, Liz has developed into a truly indispensable senior member of the team. She has an excellent understanding and appreciation of the Residential Conveyancing department: its needs and its market. We are delighted that Liz has agreed to become a Partner here.”

SME Solicitors is a full service firm of solicitors based at 8 Sansome Walk, Worcester. For more information please visit www.smesolicitors.co.uk

Felicity Davies, Deputy Director of People and Culture, said: “We want to ensure we have a just, learning, and innovative culture where staff can feel respected, valued, included and well at work. We are also incredibly proud of our health and wellbeing support, and the improvements being driven through our BAME, LGBTQ+ , Disability, and Spirituality and Faiths networks.”

For further information on the range of career opportunities available at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as the support available to all staff, visit www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ work-for-us

Benefitting from Triangular Transactions outside of the EU

When the UK left the European Union on 31st January 2021, companies were no longer able to benefit from the Triangular Transaction VAT simplification when purchasing and supplying goods in EU member states.

i n one EU country by an intermediary in another EU country, and then sold to a customer in a third EU country. The goods are moved directly from the supplier to the customer, without moving into or out of the intermediary’s country.

The VAT simplification allowed these goods to be used without the intermediary being liable for VAT in either the supplier’s or the customer’s country.

After Brexit, UK based intermediaries are no longer able to use their UK VAT number

for the application of the EU triangulation rules. However, they are still able to benefit from the incentive; UK companies are able to register for VAT in any EU member state without having premises in the country.

This one-time VAT registration will allow a UK company to continue to benefit from Triangular Transactions where their supplier and their customer are within the EU.

For more help and advice with VAT, contact our team on 01905 777600

A Triangular Transaction is when goods are purchased from a supplier established

Liz Stirk

Starting the Wellbeing Conversation

In recent years, discussions around mental health and wellbeing have been less stigmatised. Yet with mental illness still affecting one in four people each year across the UK, and many more impacted by stress, low mood or burnout, it’s important we keep this topic on the agenda and give people the time and attention they deserve.

There is a real power in opening up and having a conversation with your team members, showing them you value their wellbeing and you’re there to put additional support in place if needed. Of course, it’s always important to encourage those who have (or think they may have) a mental health condition to seek professional advice.

But in addition to that, or where a team member is struggling with stress, low mood or a specific problem which is impacting their happiness, simply starting a conversation with them can make a big difference. Wellbeing support at work is essential not only for individuals, but also the overall productivity and success of the company itself. If you’re a manager or team leader, you can support your team in the following ways:

1. It can be difficult to open up, but some people find it easier to talk to someone they don’t know as it eliminates the worries they have about being judged. If you have an Employee Assistance Programme in place, it’s vital that employees know (and are reminded often) how to access it and what they can use it for.

2. Asking ‘how are you?’ doesn’t always invite the other person to open up about their wellbeing. That’s why it’s good to try and start conversations in different ways. It might be as simple as asking someone how they feel today or whether they’ve had a good day. Or maybe you could focus on their work first, by asking if their workload is okay and whether there’s anything you can do to alleviate any work-stresses they are experiencing. Following up with someone if they’ve mentioned a problem to you previously is also a good way to show you’re really listening and that you care about their wellbeing.

3. Team bonding is more essential than ever, giving staff members the chance to get to know each other better in a more relaxed setting. This makes it more likely for them to build genuine connections and be able to share worries and concerns with each other, and shows the value you’re placing on their individual and collective wellbeing.

So go ahead, start a conversation today – a powerful way to show support to your team.

Visit www.paycare.org/workplace-wellbeing for more tips about implementing or developing your company’s wellbeing strategy.

International Trade: with no delay at the border

International trade is still within reach for most UK businesses and still a crucial proportion of turnover for many. But if borders and bureaucracy, tactics and taxes are creating hurdles and headaches, the very least that you can do is to ensure your website reaches that audience.

A website is more likely to be a successful sales tool if the customer knows what they are going to pay in their own currency, can see the local taxes and view a transparent, total price. Equally, your customer needs to be confident about international deliveries and returns. An eCommerce platform needs to be able to show import taxes and likely delivery times.

Site speed has a big impact on conversions. If the website is hosted in one country and sales come in from another, your website will be slow compared to local and national competitors in-country.

What you want is

An international hub or regional warehouse might help avoid shipping rates, import taxes and delays, but the website must still make everything easy and clear; regardless of your strategy and logistics.

Regional Chamber member - We Are The Missing Link, has extensive experience and expertise when it comes to building-in and managing all of the web-based pre-requisites for international trade. They have also seen an increasing demand for a highly specialised service that includes website design and build, system integration, development, maintenance and protection globally.

Director Trudy Macklin explains; “Site speed has a big impact on conversions. If the website is hosted in one country and sales come in from another, your website will be slow compared to local and national competitors in-country. The whole buyer experience can be improved by regional caching or a regional hosting set up. As important, is language translations and although Google Translate has improved, it shouldn’t be relied upon. Your website really need to be optimised in the best way, at a distance .”

• a bright, stand-out-from-the-crowd, professional website.

• an easily navigable and reliable e-commerce store.

• and fully functioning, CRM/ERP back-office support systems.

• all working in synergy and realising your business goals.

We are an established, family-run business in Herefordshire, offering to advise, build, optimize, host and develop your online presence … and everything required to support it … from the customer journey to cyber-security protection.

For more information contact We Are The Missing Link - for a friendly discussion about reaching an international audience in the best way possible.

(0845)

Trudy Macklin

Movers & Shakers

Read about the latest movers & shakers for this issue.

Nifty Communications continues its growth with the high-profile addition of golf pro James Brown, who joins the agency as business development manager.

Brown joins from the PGA [Professional Golfers Association], where he helped the global sports brand and individual pros understand and amplify their value. He now joins Nifty as they continue their quest to become the UK’s leading sports marketing agency by 2025.

James has joined Nifty as its business development manager, recruiting clubs and organisations looking to unlock new, sustainable revenue streams through monetised distribution of their content. The agency, which works to a shared-risk model, can generate thousands of pounds a month which is currently being left on the table by sports clubs and organisations.

Nifty Communications CEO, Christian Collison, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome James to the team. His career, network and knowledge of elite sport will be invaluable here at Nifty and we look forward to seeing him thrive in this new role.”

James added: “I couldn’t think of a better way to start the year than joining Nifty Communications. I’ve only been here a short amount of time but have been blown away by the team’s expertise and passion.”

If you’re interested in working with Nifty Communications, or would like any more information, please visit www.niftycomms.com

Promotions add up at Worcestershire accountancy company

Worcestershire based accountancy and tax firm, Ballards LLP, has recently made three promotions across its corporate and private client departments.

James Griffiths is stepping up to the role of Senior Audit Manager where he will lead a team working with large corporate clients across the region.

Adrian Sidaway, who will work alongside Mr Griffiths, has moved to the role of Audit Manager.

Tamara Shaw, who is both a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, becomes Private Client Manager where she will provide high end tax advice and planning to individuals.

Ben Allman, Partner at Ballards LLP said, “Professional development and promoting from within is a key part of what we are about at Ballards. We take great joy in investing into people and watching them progress through their careers. Both Tamara and James joined the firm on our graduate programme and so it has been great to see their development. I would like to congratulate all three

Hazelton Mountford team member, Sophie Gibbins, has been promoted into the role of Account Executive in recognition of her hard work.

Sophie joined Hazelton Mountford in 2018 in an administrative role working with the Referencing team before joining the Let Property department as an Account Handler in 2019. Sophie is a Let Property Specialist and provides advice and assistance for Property and Rent insurance to Landlords, Tenants, and Letting Agents.

On becoming an Account Executive, Sophie says: “I’m thankful for all the support and encouragement I have had over the last few months, and am looking forward to taking on new challenges in this role.”

The move comes as the team expand, looking towards a positive future.

Gordon Hazelton, Group Managing Director, comments: “Sophie absolutely deserves this promotion. She started her career with us from scratch and I’m very proud of her achievements. We love to grow our own team and invest in our existing people.”

For more about careers at Hazelton Mountford please visit www.hazeltonmountford.co.uk

on their achievements and wish them luck in their new roles.”

Although the firm promotes from within, due to growth in recent years, the firm has made more than 20 new hires over the past 12 months taking headcount to over 100 and also has a number of key vacancies still to be filled.

Business Development Partner, Steven Jones said, “We have ambitious but realistic growth plans for the firm for the coming years, and this will require recruiting a number of staff going forward. We are always keen to hear from talented individuals who share in our passion for providing market leading advice and we encourage interested applicants to get in touch and find out more.”

Nifty Communications Hits A Hole In One With PGA Pro

Hazelton Mountford’s Sophie gains promotion to Account Executive

James Brown

Sophie Gibbins

L-R - James Griffiths, Adrian Sidaway, Tamara Shaw, Ben Allman

Marches LEP launches £1.5million energy grants scheme – with £20,000 per business available

A new £1.5million scheme to help businesses improve their energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions has been launched by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Marches Energy Grant is open to all businesses in the region and offers a free energy efficiency audit and grants of up to £20,000 towards more energy efficient equipment to cut power bills and emissions.

The grant is part of a £4 million package of measures introduced by the Marches LEP to safeguard the region’s energy security, make sure power is being used as efficiently as possible and develop a flourishing and sustainable economy.

Rachel Laver, Marches LEP chief executive, said the Marches Energy Grant would offer vital financial support to businesses of all shapes and sizes in every corner of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin at a time when it was most needed.

“The soaring cost of energy is one of the biggest issues to impact business in recent years and the Marches LEP is leading the response to the crisis,” said Rachel.

“Our Marches Energy Grant will offer free advice and grants of up to £20,000 for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures for businesses from all sectors and for community buildings across The Marches.

The grant would form up to a 40% contribution to the overall cost of energy improvement work at any company which successfully applied for it.

The LEP brings together the business community, the public sector and academia to drive economic growth across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, and has invested £196million in the region over the last decade.

For more information about the Marches Energy Grant and to start an application visit www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/ marches-energy-grant

Make net zero a reality with our free advisory support

Taking action on climate change can sometimes feel overwhelming. The first step a business can take is to measure its current carbon footprint and assess where emissions can be reduced.

Worcestershire County Council has launched a new programme, aimed at supporting businesses across the county to reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs.

Making carbon reduction easier

The Clean Growth Programme provides businesses with free specialist decarbonisation advice and individual assessments to identify where existing energy consumption can be reduced and energy efficiency improved.

In addition to the advice, businesses will gain access to Worcestershire’s Decarbonisation Portal, which allows businesses to measure their carbon footprint and generate clear, long-term decarbonisation plans.

To be eligible to apply, you need to be a Worcestershire SME in one of the following sectors:

Manufacturing (including science and medical, food and drink)

Information Technology (Cyber Security/digital)

Business and Professional Services (restricted to business to business and non-brokerage services)

Agri-technology

Construction

Transport and logistics

Tourism

Why now?

Cutting your carbon footprint brings a host of benefits, not only to the environment, but to your organisation, increasing your efficiency, resilience, competitiveness, positive branding, and cost savings.

To find out more, please visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/decarbonisation_ reviews or email BusinessDecarbonisation@worcestershire.gov.uk

Rachel Laver

Changes to Capital Gains Tax

In recent months we have seen a constant stream of tax changes here in the UK, with high-profile updates to Capital Gains Tax rules coming into force in April.

These changes will impact individuals and trustees of estates. They are complex rules but the changes will essentially see higher taxes on profits made from the disposal of assets significantly reduced from April.

How

many businesses are really at the heart of their community?

More than 60% of the operational firefighters across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are on-call. This means that they don’t work full-time at a fire station but have regular, steady jobs that allow them to respond promptly to emergency situations as and when needed.

Spread across 25 fire stations, these individuals play a key role in their communities and are vital to the resilience of the two counties.

By allowing one of your employees to serve as an on-call firefighter, you know that you’ll be helping to make a difference every time

they respond to an emergency incident, help save a life, and protect the people in your community.

Interested in releasing an employee to serve as an on-call firefighter? For more information, visit www.oncallfire.uk/employer-advice or email oncalldutysupport@hwfire.org.uk

When should I forward a phishing email?

Reporting phishing attempts is a proactive way to help protect yourself and your business. Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated in their methods so understanding what phishing is and how to protect yourself is becoming increasingly important.

If you have received a potential phishing email you can forward it to report@ phishing.gov.uk . The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is a UK government organisation that has the power to investigate and take down scam email addresses and websites.

To give an example, the current annual exempt amount as things stand for individuals is £12,300. From 5 April, this amount will be halved to £6,000, whilst from April 2025, it will be reduced again to £3,000.

These are significant changes we expected from the Treasury and it is clear that anyone thinking of disposing of an asset should consider doing so before the end of this tax year.

For more information or to ask any questions, Chamber members can email Giles Scott at Chamber patrons mfg Solicitors through, giles.scott@ mfgsolicitors.com

The term ‘phishing’ is used to describe cyber-attacks by email where the aim is often to make you visit a website or click on a link or an attachment, which may download a virus onto your computer, and steal passwords, bank details, or other valuable personal information. As our inboxes fill up on a daily basis with many benign emails, a phishing email may go unnoticed. A phishing attack can install malware, sabotage systems or obtain intellectual property and money.

Remember: Never click on any links within suspicious emails. If you do accidentally click on a link or attachment on a phishing email you should report this to your IT team without delay. Reporting phishing emails will help reduce the number of scam communications you receive. It helps to protect others from cybercrime online too!

Contact the Sutcliffe & Co Team on 01905 21681 to discuss additional ways to safeguard your business with Cyber Essentials Certification and cyber insurance.

Giles Scott

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue

Certificates of Origin are international trade documents that show the origin of exported goods. They are completed by exporters and are certified by a Chamber of Commerce.

There are two types of Certificates of Origin, United Kingdom Certificates of Origin which are accepted by most countries around the world and Arab-British Certificate of Origin which are used when dealing with Arab League nations.

The origin of a product is where it was produced, manufactured or processed.

It can seem complicated when considering items that have been made in the UK but using raw materials imported from another country. Here’s an example to help:

If a strawberry is grown in the UK then its of UK origin.

If logs are imported from China and made into a chair in the UK, then the chair is seen as UK origin as the logs have been processed into something else. It is important to know the difference between where something is shipped from and where it has been manufactured or produced.

When applying for a UK Certificate of Origin or an Arab-British Certificate of Origin, you need to provide proof of origin to the Chamber.

Not every country has a Certificate of Origin requirement but for those that do, one will be required to clear goods through overseas customs.

Even when dealing with a country that does not require them, they may be necessary when dealing with a Letter of Credit or a customer may request one for other reasons.

There are certain kinds of evidence that are acceptable on their own as proof of origin.

It is important to know what kind of evidence would be accepted by a Chamber when processing a Certificate

of Origin. If you submit evidence that can’t be accepted, this could hold up the application, and has a knock-on effect in holding up your goods at the border. Examples of the kinds of evidence that would be accepted:

Manufacturers invoice

A Certificate of Origin signed by the overseas issuing body.

A Letter from the manufacturer on their company headed paper with clear product descriptions or codes. Evidence that can be accepted with other supporting evidence (at least 2 of the below must be provided):

Link to Manufacturers website proving that they manufacture the products.

Photographic evidence which shows the country of origin “Made In”

Supplier invoice clearly showing origin for each item. Email or letter from supplier stating the origin of each product.

We have many years of experience in assisting exporters and issuing them with a wide range of documents used in international business. We are authorised by HM Government and nationally accredited to certify Certificates of Origin (United Kingdom and Arab) and UK EUR1 certificates, invoices and other documents as required in International Trade and also ATA Carnets for temporary movement of goods.

Members receive up to 50% discount on most export documents.

For more information on any export documents contact us on:

T: +44 (0) 1905 673614 or email internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk

Understanding the Rules of Origin and why they are so important when it comes to exporting

The world of export documentation can appear to be difficult and complicated to those who are new to international trade, even the seasoned exporters can experience problems when completing the necessary paperwork for their shipments.

International Trade Courses

Basic Export Documentation (V)

1 March 2023 , 10:00-12:00

Incoterms 2020 Rules (V)

2 March 2023, 10:00-12:00

Export Customs Declarations (V)

6 March 2023, 10:00-12:00

Advanced Export Documentation (V)

8 March 2023, 10:00-12:00

Overview International Payments (V)

9 March 2023, 10:00-12:00

Import Duty & VAT Management (V)

16 March 2023, 10:00-12:00

What’s New? Update on Customs & International Trade (V) 20 March 2023, 10:00-12:00

Please visit the Events & Training Calendar for the most up to date information about all of our upcoming International Trade Courses. Courses may be subject to change from the time of printing.

Meet Our International Trade Team

Our International Trade Advisors are on hand to support you with any questions you may have. For further details, please don’t hesitate to contact the team on 01905 673614 or email internationaltrade@hwchamber.co.uk.

Kayla Ball Martyn Richardson Emma Harris

People to do Business With

Care Handle 0333 188 3500

www.carehandle.co.uk/carehandle/ourstory-care-handle-meet-the-team/ Cheltenham

Carrie Emily Coaching 07841 593512

www.carrieemilycoaching.com

Hereford

Clandestine Training 07540 596105

www.clandestinetraining.com

Hereford

CXCS 01981 590514

www.cxcs.co.uk

Lyonshall

Decanters Ltd 01299 250560

www.decanterevents.co.uk

Kidderminster

Simply Prosperity 07879 634754

Bromsgrove

Granary Hotel Villa Limited 01562 777535

www.granary-hotel.co.uk

Kidderminster

Gravitas Medical Solutions Limited 01432 675007

www.gravitasmed.co.uk

Hereford

Hereford First Aid Ltd 01432 611 933

Hereford

Hewson Business Support Limited 07971 839547

www.hewsonbusinesssupport.co.uk

Droitwich

Impact Mortgages 07494 314753

www.impactmortgages.org

Hereford

Insight6 07493 892143

www.insight6.com

London

KeepTheLearningBurning Ltd 07738 598771

www.ktlb.co.uk

Worcester

Limelite People Group Ltd 07984 337175

www.limelitepeoplegroup.com

Bromsgrove

Mr Mulligans Worcester 01905 697010

www.mrmulligan.com/worcester

Worcester

Peter The Speaker 01527 401254

www.petvictus.com

Redditch

RK Bookkeeping 07799 403074

www.rkbookkeeping.co.uk

Barnt Green

Severn Trent Connect 07882 988647

www.st-connect.co.uk

Coventry

Business Partnership 07462 374127

www.business-partnership.com

Broadway

Start2Finish 07538228216

www.start2finishva.co.uk

Tewkesbury

The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust 01905 885777

www.gkcct.org

Upton Snodsbury

The Orchard at Munsley 07974 249656

www.theorchardatmunsley.co.uk

Near Ledbury

TIEM Design 07714 856271

www.tiem-design.com

Stourport-on-Severn

West Midlands Compressors Ltd 0800 002 5131

www.wmcompressors.co.uk

Worcester

Mentor gets professional recognition

Simon Hyde, CEO at FAUN Zoeller (UK) Ltd, was thrilled to announce that he had received the “POWER UP” mentor programme official Institute of Leadership and Management membership status. He also said, “As I have mentioned many times, I’m a great believer in supporting the next working generation. This scheme is all about providing opportunities for students to learn, gain experience, knowledge, and help from professionals who have experience of working life.”

Mentee gets professional recognition

A Year 13 student at Trinity High School and Sixth Form Centre in Redditch, Libby McCann, has just completed her “POWER UP” mentee requirements to be awarded community membership from the Institute of Leadership and Management and the Power-up Business Mentor Programme, which is in operation at Trinity High School.

The Power-Up Mentor/Mentee Programme training is delivered by Milford Research & Consultancy Ltd on behalf of the Power Up Mentor Foundation CIO (Charity reg. 1200077). The programme helps business leaders to become professionally accredited mentors for student mentees aged 14 to 18. The school students also have the opportunity to gain professional recognition through the programme.

To find out how you could become a professional mentor for your local school Contact Dr Robert Milford on: (01386) 335878 or email: robertmilford@milfordresearch.co.uk

People, planet, profit – show you care

Showing that you care about your local community is a great boost for business.

Business today is not just about profit –although that’s very important, of course. It’s also about being socially responsible and creating sustainable practices so that your customers, investors and society at large will see you in a positive light.

It’s also proven that employees are drawn to work for businesses with a good public

image, and getting actively involved in good causes is great for workplace morale. Encourage your employees to come up with great ideas for socially responsible initiatives, and make sure they are involved every step of the way.

Adopting corporate social responsibility is a win-win in every way: not only does it have a positive impact on the workplace, it’s brilliant for your brand because it attracts customer trust and respect.

Your business can demonstrate corporate social responsibility in lots of different ways: by raising money for charity, supporting the environment, championing good causes, and even creating good, transparent working conditions.

There’s no ‘right way’ to be a good corporate citizen … so why not start local, build community trust and add lasting value. The rewards are huge!

Lifesaving charity Arrive Alive teams up with Sky Blue Adventures for 2023

Two unique organisations based within the heart of England have teamed up in 2023 to raise vital funds for voluntary operated lifesaving vehicles for West Midlands Ambulance Service Community First Responders. Arrive Alive is Britain’s only registered charity of its kind dedicated to funding voluntary operated emergency medical assistance.

Sky Blue Adventures was founded by Paul Reeve following thirty years working in the emergency sector himself. His passion for the great outdoors and global adventures has grown into a global company organising events all year round following its launch in 2012. Adventures such as treks, walking expeditions, fire walks and abseils have taken place in various parts of the world from the UK and Ireland to Tanzania, Australia and Borneo.

“Arrive Alive is a fantastic local charity helping provide a life saving service to the people of the West Midlands in support of the Ambulance service. We have had the pleasure of spending time with the Arrive Alive team, they’re incredibly passionate about helping them raise much needed funds for the procurement of a further community ambulance. It is an honour for Sky Blue Adventures to be able to work with the charity and to support them in their fundraising endeavours. We have pledged as a company to donate 5% of our annual profits to make a contribution towards their fundraising targets.” – Paul Reeve Founder of Sky Blue Adventures. To keep up to date with events for 2023 visit www.arrivealiveresponse.co.uk or www. skyblueadventures.com

Are you an employer based in Herefordshire or Worcestershire looking to do more to support your staff?

Support for those caring for others

Do you have staff that are working and looking after a family member or friend who needs help because of illness, age, disability, or addiction? Yes – then you have working carers in your workforce!

Did you know 1 in 7 employees in the UK is in a caring role outside of work, and this number is set to rise dramatically. Working carers often have busy family lives as well as juggling work and caring. Often staff are struggling to balance these demands but there is help available.

Our Carer Friendly Employer Network is a network of likeminded employers striving to do more to support working carers . Becoming a Carer Friendly Employer Network member demonstrates a company’s positive attitude towards staff members with caring responsibilities outside of work. Employer members are able to access a range of resources and opportunities designed to enable them to support their working carers more effectively. This includes:

Regular carer clinics for staff in their workplace

Invites to a range of member events and meetings

Unlimited access for Line Managers and HR staff to Carer Awareness e-learning

Discounts for workplace carers seminars on legal, financial and health and wellbeing

Access to a private members resources library

Bespoke development support to grow your businesses approach to carer support

Access to a dedicated carer support helpline for both managers and staff

Regular e-newsletter with updates, tips and interesting articles

Find out how you can join by contacting Jane Taylor : jtaylor@carersworcs.org.uk

Or visit : Carer Friendly Employer Network | Worcestershire Association of Carers (carersworcs.org.uk)

For more information visit our website: www.carersworcs.org.uk

The team at Hazelton Mountford extend a warm welcome to new starters Leanne

Morris and Sammara Ahmed

Leanne says: “I’m very excited to join Hazelton Mountford and to start a career in insurance. I’ll be working within the growing Let Property team and starting the Cert CII training programme as soon as possible.”

Sammara joins with over 8 years’ experience within the insurance sector, specifically Property & Liability Underwriting, Construction Underwriting, Insolvency and Commercial Broking including Financial Lines. She says: “I like to bring a bit of cheer and fun to the world of insurance – something that I feel is so important and should be easy to understand.

My aim at Hazelton Mountford is to build relationships with my clients and offer my professional help/advice by breaking down insurance jargon and helping you understand what you are covered for!”

Gordon Hazelton, Group Managing Director, comments: “We enjoyed a great start to 2023 with both Leanne and Sammara joining the team. Soon, we will be onboarding more new starters and are encouraging students locally to connect with us and consider apprenticeship opportunities that are opening up. The future for Hazelton Mountford is bright and we’d love more people to shine with us.”

More about Careers at Hazelton Mountford can be found on their website: www.hazeltonmountford.co.uk/careersat-hazelton-mountford

University Chalks Up Another Sustainability Award

A scheme to encourage sustainable food choices at the University of Worcester has received a national award for sustainability.

The University achieved Silver in the recent Green Apple Environment Awards, which recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice.

Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded another Green Apple Award for our environmental work. As a University we are deeply committed to tackling the climate crisis and to working collaboratively to find solutions and encourage behaviour change. Our students, staff and wider community all share in the belief that we all have a part to play, and this award is testament to their efforts.”

This Green Apple – the latest of 6 – has been earned by the University introducing a series of successful interventions to encourage people think about the food they eat and promote more sustainable choices, The University has now been invited to The Green World Awards in Florida, USA next spring to represent the UK. To save carbon dioxide emissions, the University plans to be represented virtually.

For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk

Leanne joins the insurance broker to support Sophie Gibbins in the expanding Let Property department as Account Handler.

Leanne Morris and Sammara Ahmed

University of Worcester wins Green Apple Award

Accuracy in R&D Reports as HMRC take a closer look

on R&D claims at present by HMRC. There is also rumour, that HMRC’s auditors may not sign off their accounts, as they are concerned that some of the R&D claims that have been submitted to HMRC and subsequently processed, may be fraudulent.

To summarise:

It may be clear to you that you are undertaking innovative and qualifying activities for R&D purposes, however, it needs to be presented to HMRC in a clear and understandable way to evidence that it meets the criteria for relief. Your advisor should ask you for detailed evidence of the work before making a claim as there is a much greater level of scrutiny

So, there will now be a greater level of checks for all claimants, even those that are legitimate. The quality of a report is not something to compromise on and although it may be additional work, it’s a far cry from the potential work required in the case of a full enquiry. Ultimately, as a Director, you will sign off your company tax return and R&D report, and thus, you must be happy that the contents are complete and accurate. Our experts will work with your technical staff directly, either by writing up reports ready for your review and commentary or by providing specific review points from your draft write-ups if that’s the preferred method of completion. Whichever process works best, we will tailor it around you.

Remember, as a Director, you ultimately need to be happy that the report substantiates the claim being made, and that the claim is accurate and genuine. HMRC is undertaking much greater checks on claims and additional information may be required.

Be very wary of providers suggesting they can make a claim with limited information as you are ultimately responsible for the submission, not the firm you are engaged with.

We will work with you in a way that suits you best in order to capture high-quality supporting evidence, whilst maximising the relief and minimising any perceived burden of completing it.

If you have any queries regarding an existing claim or would like to discuss our services further, please don’t hesitate to contact Gina Gardner at gina.gardner@ballardsllp.com

Making Businesses Green, it’s not easy, or is it?

Ballards LLP Chartered Accountants, Digital Transformation Partner, Sean Devlin discusses.

Budgets are tightening, consumers are struggling, and you might be asking yourself if you can afford to be green. Then throw into the mix, the dizzying array of choices or approaches and seemingly contradictory advice; doing the right thing can feel impossible. Below are a few ways in which you might encourage some industrially green shoots.

Stop or reduce unnecessary activities

The easiest way to be green aligns nicely with lean principles… These are things like unnecessary transport, extra steps in processes, unnecessary checks, or leaving lights on. This sounds basic, but we so commonly find these small things add up to significant savings. More significantly reviewing your core processes can yield great green gains. An efficient process is inherently greener and cheaper.

Go digital

I know, I know, you have been doing it for years and there are so many good reasons to print paper and transport it back and forth between sites, but you really don’t need paper (in 99.99999% of cases). Yes, there is a footprint to digital products, but with the efficiency you can gain with digital products, it’s rare you wouldn’t more than offset this. Also, fewer physical assets mean more flexibility as to how and where you get work done.

Work with your suppliers

A huge and commonly ignored chunk of our carbon footprint are what materials and products we buy in, if you want to be greener ask your suppliers what they are doing to reduce their footprint. Maybe there are ways you can work together to be both cost-effective and greener.

Grants Grants Grants

There are loans and grants available and emerging all the time for SMEs looking to be green, ranging from renewables to insulation to technology implementations. Take a look and see what might be available for you.

If you would like any more information or to discuss some of the possible funding available, please don’t hesitate to contact Sean Devlin on sean.devlin@ballardsllp.com.

Gina Gardner, Corporate Tax Manager at Ballards LLP Chartered Accountants discusses.

Gina Gardner

Sean Devlin

New Audit Partner Strengthens

Bishop Fleming’s Growth Ambition

Leading audit, accounting, tax, and advisory firm Bishop Fleming has recruited a new partner as it seeks to build on record-breaking performance last year. Bishop Fleming has welcomed Gary Woodhall as Audit Partner to its Worcester-based team, taking the firm’s overall partnership to 40 for the first time.

The firm’s audit team, which is now led by 15 partners, posted record fee growth of 23% in 2021-2022. And with the addition of a new Cheltenham office in 2022, the firm is now focussing on ambitious growth targets in the Three Counties and West Midlands.

Gary, who brings a wealth of experience from several managing and executive director roles in the Midlands, said: “I am delighted to join Bishop Fleming and excited by the vision that the business has for the future. I am particularly looking forward to working with clients and prospects across the West Midlands. Bishop Fleming is a fantastic opportunity for me to be able to offer my skills and knowledge to clients in an exciting and growing market.”

Bishop Fleming has recently invested in its Worcester base with a significantly refurbished office. With the recent integration of Bespoke Tax Accountants, the firm’s Worcester and Cheltenham offices now have a combined team of nearly 100 people across the three counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire and have plans to increase this headcount further.

Shropdoc has selected EBC Group as their new IT Partner

Shropdoc, a provider of urgent primary care services, has selected Managed Service Provider, EBC Group as their new IT partner. A thorough tender process was carried out in which EBC Group were chosen to help Shropdoc enhance and futureproof their IT infrastructure.

Investments include a modernised IT infrastructure, including pro-active server monitoring and back-up, firewalling and Multi-Factor Authentication.

Mike Bridges, Director of IT at EBC Group comments ‘‘We’re delighted to be chosen as Shropdoc’s new IT provider. We work with a

wide range of charities, so understand their unique requirements and the importance of providing them with a fully managed and supported solution from an expert provider.” For more information about EBC Group’s products and services, please contact hello@ebcgroup.co.uk or 0121 585 4400

West Midland RFCA welcomes 1000th Armed Forces Covenant signee

West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA) are pleased to welcome City of Birmingham Rockets as the 1000th company, within the West Midland RFCA region, to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and pledge their support to the Armed Forces community.

The Armed Forces Covenant was introduced by the Ministry of Defence in 2014 and is used across the country for businesses to pledge their support to the Armed Forces family. The organisations who hold a Covenant recognise the value serving personnel, both Regular and Reserve, veterans and military families contribute to their business and our country.

The City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club was founded in 2003 by the Chief Executive Officer, Robert Palmer. The club has a substantial community programme that engages between 800-1,000 young people each week, a performance programme consisting of 16 teams, including men’s, women’s and youth teams, competing nationally; and an educational academy programme which provides elite level basketball in partnership with academic delivery. The club competes in games with teams from across the country and are based at their home court at the Nechells Wellbeing Centre in Birmingham.

Robert Palmer, Chief Executive Officer of City of Birmingham Rockets commented, “We are extremely proud to be the 1000th West

Midlands Armed Forces Covenant signee. This is an extremely special moment for our organisation.”

Companies are continuing to deliver on their pledges of support towards the Armed Forces community. This can be seen in the number of organisations recognised by Defence through the Employer Recognition Scheme. Within our region, there are currently 123 employers who hold a Silver Award and 49 employers who hold the Gold Award.

On behalf of the West Midland RFCA, a sincere thank you to all of the organisations who have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant within our region. If you are yet to sign and would like to find out more please contact the West Midland RFCA Employer Engagement Team on wm-ee@rfca.mod.uk

Say hello to health and wellbeing

Having a wellbeing strategy in place is important for the performance of your business and your people.

Numerous studies have shown that employee wellbeing is linked to greater productivity, motivation and satisfaction. Westfield Health aim to transform people’s mental and physical wellbeing to create happier, healthier employees and more resilient businesses.

Whether that’s mental health support, gym management, health cash plans or wellbeing webinars, Westfield Health will work alongside you to improve your employees’ health and wellbeing.

Chamber Primary Health Plan

Exclusively available to Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber Members, the Chamber Primary Health Plan starts from £6.13 per employee, per month and allows staff to claim money back, up to set limits, for things like sight tests and glasses, dental bills, therapy treatments and consultations. The plan also provides access to a range of valuable health and wellbeing services including:

DoctorLine – Speak to a practising UK GP or clinical pharmacist 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There’s even the option to have a webcam consultation.

24 Hour Advice and Information Line including up to six sessions of structured counselling – Confidential guidance on medical, legal or domestic issues, with online resources.

Expert Medical Opinion/Best Doctors – An expert second medical opinion from a world leading specialist.

Gym Discounts – Discounted memberships at local gyms.

Westfield Rewards – Discounts and special offers at hundreds of retailers, restaurants and destinations.

Find out more by visiting hwchamber.co.uk/support/advice/ protecting-your-business/chamber-primary-health-plan

Moneycorp Services & Benefits

Are you importing, exporting, paying for a service abroad or receiving international funding? Moneycorp are here to help.

How Moneycorp can help Chamber Members:

Exchange more than 120+ currencies

Make payments 24/7 with secure online access

Fast, secure online transactions

Market updates to keep you informed of currency movements

Highly competitive exchange rates whenever you trade

Competitive pricing giving you access to more than 14 liquidity providers

Moneycorp offer great exchange rates sourced through a panel of liquidity providers with funds safeguarded in segregated client bank accounts. You will receive on-going support from a dedicated account manager with the option to arrange deals online or via the phone, and help in managing currency volatility and risks associated with foreign exchange.

Find out more by visiting hwchamber.co.uk/ support/finances/moneycorp

Growing Pains of a Business

“When my son was a teenager he developed Osgood Schlatter’s disease. This condition is where there is significant pain in ligaments, as the tibia hasn’t finished growing and isn’t quite strong enough to withstand the strain on it.”

Our business, which has been growing since its launch in 2008, is also a teenager and has been experiencing some of those painful symptoms too.

As the business grows, there is a challenge to all entrepreneurs, to face up to their role and focus on changing with the background knowledge that we are all ‘promoted to our own level of incompetence’.

These challenges have included: managing more people and all that comes with it, recruitment, training and development, welfare and appraisals - much of which is learnt as you grow. It has been vitally important to find the right people and consultants to help us with areas such as HR support and marketing as well as recruiting the right people for the right role.

Recognising our own strengths and weaknesses - and being vulnerable about those - has been key to our growth. This happens at different stages of the business and as we approach having 30 staff, it appears that we are being stretched again. Another growth-spurt.

As this new growth occurs, we’re having to learn to take a step back from certain areas and trust others to do what we have once done. In truth, they often do it better than us, if we will only allow them to work to their strengths. We have certainly seen this in the areas of compliance and operations, where growth has been abundant because of our actions in empowering our team to take the lead. We would encourage other business leaders to do the same.

We have often undertaken strategy days and are about to embark upon another.

Our focus this time will be operations. As a growing firm, with our ligaments stretching, we want to ensure we not only maintain but improve our standards of service and quality. These strategy days generally take the form of 3 sessions:

1. What is - This is a “brutal honesty” session about what’s good and what’s not so good in the business, at this point in time.

2. What could be – A dreaming session with no boundaries or limits.

3. What will be – A pragmatic session resulting in some SMART goals, designed to take us to some focused dreams. Reflective time away from the office together is very productive - not making

BUSINESS DIRECTION

Business Direction, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s full colour bi-monthly publication. Designed and produced by business people for business people, with a total readership of over 10,500.

Please send all submissions to marketing@hwchamber.co.uk

MARKETING TEAM

01905 673600 (option 5) marketing@hwchamber.co.uk

EDITORIAL & SUBSCRIPTIONS

01905 673 639 hwchamber.co.uk/ business-direction

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

time for this is not smart. As with my son, who is no longer a teenager but in his mid-20s, the pains are gone and another set of challenges appear,” concludes Simeon. Hazelton Mountford are an independent provider of business insurance, private clients’ insurance and a tenant referencing service. Established in 2008, the team remain people-centric and always treat clients in accordance with their core values: Personal Service, Expertise and Integrity. To find out more about the local firm and how to enter a career in insurance with them, please go to their website: www.hazeltonmountford.co.uk

Contact Simeon direct at: simeon@hazeltonmountford.co.uk

Distinctive Media Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle, NE1 6UF distinctivegroup.co.uk

ADVERTISING

Angie Smith

Business Development Manager, Distinctive Media Group Ltd 0191 5805472 angie.smith@ distinctivegroup.co.uk

FEATURES EDITOR

Karen Southern karen.southern@ distinctivegroup.co.uk

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher accepts no responsibility for omissions or errors within this publication. Editorial submissions are included at the discretion of the editor. The opinions expressed in articles and letters within this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber. All offers, promotions and competitions appearing in Business Direction are the sole responsibility of the advertiser/ promoting party and Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce does not accept any responsibility for any representations made within them.

Do you own a business property? Want to save tax?

SAY HELLO TO ZEAL.

WE’RE LOCAL TAX ADVISORS WHO AIM TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT TAX.

How

Based in Worcester, the team at Zeal help owners of business property claim tax relief on the ‘embedded fixtures’ found in and under their buildings. Owners we help are receiving on average of £35,000 in tax savings from HMRC, many also claim significant sums as a cash tax rebate for tax they have unknowingly overpaid.

Zeal are offering a 10% discount to readers of Business Direction.

Quote code: BUSD0223

Why Zeal? Zeal offer a free site survey and estimate of the potential tax savings available. Unlike accountants we are property tax and surveying experts and do not charge any fixed or upfront fees. Our claims are usually completed within 4-6 weeks, plus our clients rate us as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot. Ready

CLOSE YOUR TALENT GAP

Access new skills and grow loyal employees

APPRENTICESHIPS

Expand your workforce with WCG, the largest apprenticeships training provider in the West Midlands, training 2000+ apprentices in over 60 sectors annually.

T LEVELS

Like the idea of an apprentice but need a short-term solution? Take on a T Level student for a 45-day placement and help them kickstart their career.

From September 2023, WCG offers T Levels in:

• Business (NEW)

• Construction

• Craft & Design (NEW)

• Digital Support Services

• Education & Childcare (NEW)

• Engineering & Manufacturing

• Health (NEW)

• Media, Broadcast & Production (NEW)

INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS

Trial a potential apprentice or employee by offering a work placement that’s completely flexible to your business needs.

Find out how WCG can help your business gain a competitive edge today by contacting our Business Development Team:

0300 135 6940 employerenquiries@wcg.ac.uk

wcg.ac.uk/worcsemployers