business matters

Ensure your business doesn’t get locked-in to a hybrid cloud environment, says Extech Cloud

Andrew Hookway

Managing Director, Extech Cloud

Sussex based Microsoft Partner Extech Cloud has stated that it can move any server-based business-critical application into the public cloud. This is a significant step in the IT world, and one that will help many of the South’s professional services gain competitive advantage through reduced costs and improved remote working.

“When we talk about the cloud, we mean all IT in the Microsoft Cloud environment and all business-critical applications too,” explains Andrew Hookway, Managing Director of Burgess Hill firm Extech Cloud.

Extech Cloud has been pioneering the use of the latest Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) and is working with Microsoft as part of its development programme. The digital transformation that Extech Cloud delivers is cutting-edge for 2020 and the company reports that there are now no compelling reasons why companies need on-premise servers. Even workloads traditionally not suitable for cloud, like CAD and video editing, are possible in WVD.

“We can publish any business-critical application in Windows Virtual Desktop, as opposed to hosted remote desktop sessions, which means each user experiences improved performance and seamless integration with other software applications” he confirms. “Where it may have taken about 40 seconds to open a business application in the office, users can now load a business application in less than 5 seconds from home.”

For example, Extech Cloud recently carried out a cloud transformation for Hunters Law LLP - a multi-disciplinary law firm with practice areas for property, business, charity, family, and private clients. At the start of 2020, the team were brought in to assist with a new strategic IT direction.

Previously told by their IT company and software owners that it wasn’t possible to put their old apps on the cloud, Hunters Law was being pushed in to a “hybrid environment” where they were to be lockedin to a Data Centre. Although the company didn’t want to be tied down to one supplier, they thought they had no way out.

“We embarked on a complete review of our IT infrastructure with the focus on a modern workplace where our staff could work from anywhere. We chose Extech Cloud as they were able to demonstrate they could pull all of our technologies together properly to make us more efficient, while saving us significant capital expenditure and licensing costs,” says Arif Kamal, Chief Finance & Operations Officer, Hunters Law LLP.

Hunters Law wanted an IT system and infrastructure that worked exactly how they wanted it to. With lots of applications, their whole system was increasingly slow, and they didn’t want to spend significant money on upgrades and licences for marginal improvements. Many of their PCs and laptops were also on Windows 7 which reached the end of its life in early 2020.

Extech Cloud began by auditing the whole IT infrastructure and assets, set an IT strategy, and started modernising everything, including more than 100 user PCs and laptops. It deployed Windows Autopilot, making it easy for everyone to receive their new machines and get working straight away.

The full transition to the cloud was staged in tandem with their Citrix virtualisation software. At first, some of their older applications were not fully integrated into the cloud, but were accessed as before.

Now, Hunters Law takes full advantage of the benefits offered by Microsoft 365 and Azure, with the very latest security and exceptional performance levels. Four pieces of legacy software, including Tikit Partner 4 Windows, CCH Central, CCH Trust Accounts and BigHand now run on the cloud thanks to Extech Cloud’s pioneering implementation of Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD). Plus, WVD allowed Hunters to replace their Citrix platform, saving significant licensing and server costs.

If you need one-off IT support to get your team working remotely more effectively, or to take your whole business operation into the Cloud, Extech Cloud can help. For more information, call a friendly member of the Extech Cloud team.

LoveLocalJobs.com expands to offer specialist recruitment solutions!

To celebrate our 10 year anniversary in style, we are incredibly excited to launch LoveLocalJobs.com Recruitment Solutions.

LoveLocalJobs.com Recruitment Solutions is our new specialist search division, providing proactive recruitment solutions to a variety of leading employers across the region.

This year has been a huge challenge for all of us but it seems several industries such as accountancy, specialist finance and human resources have remained notably busy throughout. Having spoken with our clients through this period it is clear that whilst recruitment activity will be less for the foreseeable future, the need to recruit the absolute best talent in these areas is critical.

To lead this exciting venture, we are doubly excited to introduce Georgina Hayes who joins the team to head up our Accountancy, Finance and Human Resource practice. Georgina and the team will work in partnership with the region’s best employers to strengthen recruitment pipelines, support recruitment strategy and source the very best talent in the market. Georgina has over fifteen years’ experience and has worked within the Sussex area for over a decade. For the last ten years she has specialised

Ruth Weaver

Owner, Purple Cow Office Supplies

Here at Purple Cow Office Supplies we work very hard at standing out from the crowd. To help us achieve this in the busy social media marketplace we created a fictional office environment out of lego pieces and then wove an entire narrative around them. From Alex our Office Manager, to his PA Penny, even incorporating Canteen Carol &

Warehouse Willy.

Georgina Hayes

in the accountancy and finance sector working with both SME’s and blue-chip organisations.

Georgina’s appointment comes at a particularly exciting time for LoveLocalJobs.com as we not only expand our services and geographic reach but we also continue to work incredibly hard to inspire the local next generation with our award-winning foundation arm. Using these figures helped us get across our message of products we stock and sell in an informative but imaginative way. After all stationary is not the most captivating of markets to be in. By weaving a narrative we also managed to offer continuity in our on-line advertising which meant that more people were drawn to the adverts as they enjoyed the content, which whilst it had a sales message about our 20,000 products, was very subtle, and at the same time humorous and engaging. Too often we see adverts with run of the mill pictures and standard wording and after a while it is easy for the mind to switch off and simply glance over them without even noticing A: the company involved, B: the product and most Whether it’s an executive search you need, a contingency solution or a more tailored on-site talent solution, our recruitment team works in harmony with you to provide the most cost effective and efficient solution, every single time.

For more information on how we can help or to get in touch please contact us on info@lovelocaljobs.com or call

Standing out from the Crowd

01273 651100.

importantly C: the message they are trying to get across.

So we will continue to innovate in our marketing strategy and with a strap line of “Fast Delivery Affordable Prices Personal Service” we certainly have a lot to live up to.

Don’t Buy a CRM System!

Coming from a provider of CRM solutions, this may appear to be an odd instruction, but hopefully it works as an attention-grabbing headline. Let me now give you the complete mantra, one which we preach to all businesses who are looking at implementing a new solution - “don’t buy a CRM system - invest in one”.

Mark Ayling Managing Director, Loria Consulting Ltd

We believe that a good CRM solution is something which should not only bring value to your business in the short term, but also evolve and grow with your business, still meeting your requirements many years down the line. This applies not just to the software itself, but also to the provider with whom you choose to work.

Things to expect from your CRM software

A mainstream, fully supported

industry product: We specialise in Sage

CRM. Knowing that behind the product is one of the world’s biggest software companies gives confidence that it will be well-supported and continually maintained, always remaining compatible with the latest technologies and industry/legislative requirements.

A highly configurable product: Sage CRM is one of the most configurable and customisable products on the market – this means that it can be tailored to meet your exact requirements rather than having to endure a square-peground-hole affair where users are forced to work around software limitations because “that’s just the way it works”

Power in your hands: Whilst an initial CRM implementation will typically require our specialist skills, Sage CRM provides an enormous amount of capability for you to configure and customise the system going forward. This is important as not only does it keep costs down, but it enables you to respond quickly to changing business requirements.

Things to expect from your CRM partner

Product knowledge: This is absolutely key to ensure that the features of the software are being used in the most appropriate way. Often, for any given requirement, there are multiple ways of skinning the cat – knowing the best approach to take will not only ensure the most cost-effective solution but ensure that the all-important ongoing system evolution does not hit a brick wall somewhere down the line. It will also ensure the most efficient (and therefore least frustrating) process for users of the system.

Business knowledge: We operate a “business first, technology second” philosophy – its good to be a technical genius (and we do have some of those!) but it is essential that any technical solution is approached with full consideration and understanding of the underlying business requirement. Where we have rescued struggling systems in the past, this is often the main aspect which has led to problems.

Repertoire: After nearly 10 years of implementing Sage CRM across a huge range of industries, there are very few requirements that are completely new to us. As such, we have a huge repertoire of both technical solutions and experience. This not only keeps the cost down (as we are rarely building anything completely from scratch) but also helps a great deal when exploring a requirement as we can give examples of how other business achieve the same thing.

With all of the above in place, your CRM solution should become an investment rather than simply a purchase. It should pay for itself over time, provide a return on investment and become a genuine asset to your business.

If you’d like to discuss your CRM requirement, please get in touch - we offer a free 1 hour consultation for Chamber members. See page 37 for more details.

“Sussex Chamber of Commerce changed its CRM system three years ago. We needed a system which could be developed and enhanced as membership continues to evolve on an annual basis - one that would allow us to track our communications with our customers (both member and non-member) and also track the complexities our membership provides. Loria were able to deliver a bespoke system which is easy to navigate and provides me with the invaluable information needed for tracking and reporting purposes.”

Ana Christie, CEO, Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Construction of brand-new concourse takes off at Gatwick Airport Station

Stage 2 of the station upgrade underway

Work has continued apace at Gatwick Airport station over the summer. The project team have completed critical works to enable them to start building a new station concourse above platforms 5, 6 and 7, as a brand-new entrance into the airport.

The upgrade is due to complete in 2023 and it will deliver a station that befits Gatwick’s status as a gateway to the UK. Commuters, leisure travellers and air passengers will see their journeys transformed, as they benefit from improved accessibility and more space than ever before in a modern, expanded station.

One of the unique challenges of the Gatwick Airport station upgrade is that the station is ‘sandwiched’ within the airport and intersected by airport buildings. As well as taking place in a live rail environment, construction activities must also keep below the invisible Obstacle Limitation Surfaces above the Airport Campus.

In late September engineers tackled strong winds to install a new, heavy-duty crane at the compact work site behind platform 7. The installation of the tower crane was an important success for the project team,

as it will enable the construction of the new station concourse, much of which will effectively take place in the air! You can watch a short time lapse film of the tower crane being built at https://network-rail.

wistia.com/medias/06001c1ztq

Another important milestone for the project was the start of Stage 2 of the upgrade after the successful reopening of platform 7 on 1st November, while demolition work began on the overbridge and platforms 5 and 6, which are now out of service.

To mark the occasion Henry Smith MP for Crawley joined project partners and

MP for Crawley, Henry Smith, on a site tour of Gatwick Airport’s closed platforms 5 and 6 with guests including Martin Harris from Coast to Capital LEP (right), Gatwick Airport chief commercial officer Jonathan Pollard (centre right) and Network Rail Southern Region’s investment director Paul Harwood (left)

stakeholders for a Covid secure tour of the construction site. Mr Smith said: “During such dark days for airports and fewer people currently travelling by train due to Covid-19 it may seem strange to celebrate upgrading Gatwick’s rail station but now is the moment to build back better ensuring that as our economy recovers it does so with the infrastructure to support people and businesses. Investing to expand platform capacity and enhance the passenger experience at Gatwick is timely and I welcome this commitment.”

Changes to train services between London and the South coast: 26 Dec 2020 to 3 Jan 2021 inclusive.

Work will continue over the Christmas period when engineers will:

Install new foundations for a new lift and staircase on platforms 3 and 4 to the existing station concourse. This will be one of five new lifts, four new stairways and eight new escalators to be installed around the station to improve accessibility for passengers. Install a new worksite footbridge to span platforms 3 to 7, which will allow them to continue working on the new concourse while trains pass through the station in 2021.

The works require platforms 3 to 7 and the railway lines that serve these platforms to close for ten days over the Christmas period. With one line available in each direction, there will be temporary changes to train services at Gatwick and across the wider region.

There will be changes to Southern, Thameslink, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway services that use the railway lines through Gatwick, Horsham, Epsom and Dorking over the Christmas period. There is no train service on Christmas Day.

Details on individual journeys, including the times of trains will be available in journey planners such as www.nationalrail.co.uk from December 2020. If you are planning to travel during this period, please allow additional time for your journey, as some journeys may require a change of train.

Advance notice: no trains via Horsham from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 August 2021

Major upgrades along the Arun Valley in 2021, means no trains will run from Arundel to Three Bridges including Horsham and Crawley, and the Mole Valley line between Horsham and Dorking. There will be further weekends of engineering closures on the 24 and 25 July and 31 July and 1 August 2021.

To learn more and sign up for regular updates on the project go to

www.networkrail.co.uk/arunvalley

Honest communication is key during times of crisis

It’s never been more important for SME business owners to keep a level head. This will allow you to not only plan how you are going to get through a crisis but also see the opportunities that inevitably present themselves.

Daniel Ryan

ActionCoach Horsham ActionCOACH, the world’s largest business coaching organisation, has produced a plan with 10 strategies that will empower small business owners to not just survive the current situation, but to emerge stronger than ever on the other side.

Stategy 1, and arguably the most important one, is communication – with your team, your customers, your suppliers and other stakeholders, and the broader community you operate in.

One thing that all good business leaders have in common is their ability to communicate, and as a business owner, now is the time to truly lead your business. This doesn’t mean you need to be a polished public speaker or a pro at Powerpoint – honesty, authenticity and empathy will ensure your relationships with all your stakeholders are strengthened.

Your first and most important line of communication must be with your team. They are looking to you for guidance, and they need to hear from you regularly to feel secure and to stay informed. By being honest with them about the situation you are in and empathetic to their own circumstances, you can create a team that will want to stick with you through the crisis. Great leaders have a clear vision, they remain positive, and they inspire their teams to follow them.

If you haven’t already communicated with your customers, now is the time to do it! While times may be tough for you, they are tough for your customers too. What can you do to help them? Is there an elderly customer of your garden service business whose hedges you know need trimming but who can’t currently afford it? Is there a way you can be of service to your community? The time you spend

2020

Survive and Thrive: 10 Strategies to Help You and Your Business Get Through the Coronavirus Economic Crisis and Beyond helping others will generate enormous goodwill that will be handsomely rewarded as word of your good deeds spread, with the added bonus that helping others almost always results in a more positive mind-set for yourself – win-win!

For more guidance on communicating during this crisis, and the remaining 9 strategies, a free E-book (Survive & Thrive – 10 Strategies to Help Your Business Get Through the Coronavirus Pandemic & Beyond) is available from ActionCOACH.

By Brad Sugars

ActionCOACH® Global 5 /4/2020 Download your free e-book:

https://horsham.actioncoach.co.uk/ wp-content/uploads/sites/96/2020/10/ ActionCOACH-E-Book-Survive-andThrive-COVID-2020-kk.pdf

Leadership in crisis

No doubt once we have learned to live with Covid-19 there will be many thousands of words written about ‘leadership’ and the lesson learned through these challenging circumstances. Much of that will of course focus on political leadership and rightly so. In any context Leadership is a subject that fills a lot of bookshelves and training courses and I don’t have the editorial space here even to tickle the subject.

What the current crisis reinforces for me though are what I consider to be some of the key tenets of authentic leadership. These are my ‘9 C’s’ of leadership; you’ll have your own thoughts and framework, but these help me:-

Clarity (of purpose/goals/individual contribution)

Context (why/what’s the bigger picture)

Communication (almost everything, all the time – anxiety loves a vacuum)

Caring and Commitment (to the cause/goals/team)

Consistency (of behaviour)

Control (of self and of the controllables)

Conscience and Consequences (within our individual ethical framework)

Some of these may resonate, some may not so much.

What we’ll probably agree on is that currently we can’t afford any absence whatsoever of personal leadership in our individual businesses and across our business communities. As we go into the pre-Christmas lockdown now more than ever is the time to stand up and stand for local business. The British Chambers of Commerce will continue to challenge Government to support our business communities who have done everything in their power to adapt and operate safely. When all of this is over political leadership will be judged and voted on.

Leadership is also about listening.

Rob Clare

Chairman Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Essentials for the Digital Economy – Pre and Post Transition

Phil Cottrell, Managing Director of building systems specialists GCL, discusses how improving your infrastructure can position your business for growth.

Everyone in business knows that the economic future of Britain post transition is unclear. The political and economic climate has been constantly changing and there is uncertainty for UK businesses. What you can do for your business however, is to make sure that your core business infrastructure is performing to a high standard, to put your business in the best position to progress, whatever the transition deal turns out to be, 1 January 2021.

The pace of technological change is rapid. In fact, the requirement for businesses to reduce energy usage and to ‘work smarter’ has started, with businesses discovering the cost of improving the workplace’s systems can be surprisingly low.

Building a reliable Digital Core for your business

A reliable network cabling system will underpin all business processes. With increased digitisation of records and systems, in both commercial businesses and public sector organisations, buildings are becoming more dependent on highquality internet access, outstanding telecoms and integrated building management systems. The cabling, energy and electrical systems need to meet specific needs, for now and for the future. A system which meets functional requirements with built-in scalability will improve business processes in the short term and save disruptive works in the future.

Building Energy Management System (BEMS)

A Building Energy Management System (BEMS) is a computer-based approach to measuring, monitoring and managing the performance of building services, such as heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, lighting and security. By reducing the air conditioning by as little as 1 degree Celsius could reduce your annual energy bill by up to 8%

Benefits of BEMS:

Coordinate the operation of various systems

Complete control over your building environment

Closely monitor building energy efficiency

Reduce energy consumption

Can be integrated with Smart

Lighting Systems Your Building’s Facilities Manager can use these systems to monitor building energy usage, to make informed energy saving decisions. BEM’s systems can also be controlled by lighting system software which provides new levels of building intelligence.

Smart LED Lighting Systems

LED lighting is recognised as being a super-efficient way of saving energy costs. The advantages of a Smart Lighting installation are immense and GCL are experts when it comes to Smart LED Lighting Systems as an accredited partner to the manufacturer of the most advanced systems in the world.

Smart Lighting Systems use sensor technology and big data analytics, which deliver solutions for energy savings, space utilisation analysis and optimisation, asset and employee/visitor locating, lighting control that will increase employee productivity, and more. 3rd party applications such as conference room management, hot desking reservation, and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are all made intelligent with real-time data and status of spaces capture. By having a Smart Lighting System installed you will also be potentially able to take advantage of new technologies such as Li-FI which will revolutionise the way we communicate in the future.

Better Control and Much Healthier Light

Installing intelligent lighting controls will ensure you are not using any more energy than you need to. Detection systems which sense movement and natural light can replace your conventional switches ensuring lights are turned off automatically in unoccupied spaces– reducing your lighting expenditure.

If you ensure that 10 lights around your workspace are switched off every night, each year you could:

Save as much CO2 as would be produced by 50 car journeys from

Cambridge to London

Reduce your carbon footprint by the same amount as cutting out 25 flights from London to Paris

A Smart Lighting System will:

Significantly reduce energy usage

Drastically improve the lifetime of LED lights

Provide huge maintenance costs savings

Maintain optimum lighting levels

Combining Data Comms Cable and Smart Lighting Cable as one installation

GCL’s technicians will install the cabling for the Smart Lighting System at the same time as the cabling for voice, data, security and AV – it all runs on the same standard, low voltage structured cabling system. Also, unlike 230Vac cabling, there is no need for electrical distribution boards or separate conduits for lighting thereby saving on installation costs.

Despite the uncertainty of the UK’s impending exit from Europe, every commercial building needs to have high quality network connections, telecommunications and energy-reducing solutions. By adopting a structured cabling system which can be easily adapted to meet your current and future needs, your business will minimise unnecessary operational setbacks in the future.

Put yourself in a stronger position and call GCL to see how you can improve your business efficiency today.

t: 020 3906 6070 e: hello@gcl.uk.com w: www.gcl.uk.com