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All of that was obviously a tremendous hit; like everyone else we battened down the hatches and survived.
With the staycation in the UK very much how this summer will play out, what has the estate brought out that is new?
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We benefit having 12,000 acres on our estate so social distancing is not a problem and our guests love the walks on the estate and the ability to reconnect with nature. In terms of new offerings, we are already seeing great demand for our ‘Trenches and Traps’ experience which combines classic 1960’s Land Rover off road driving with clay shooting. We are also incredibly excited to be offering a gut health residential course in the hotel which aims to rebalance, revitalize and recharge your mental and physical wellbeing during the 5-day stay.
How has the past crisis reinforced the many great things you were doing well before?
It is our belief that the pandemic has made people realise how important it is to live a full and balanced life where their physical and mental well-being is looked after and nurtured. Such initiatives as the construction of our new biomass plant to provide energy to the estate as well as our organic farm that supplies our restaurants across the estate demonstrates our longterm commitment to running our estate responsibly. Combining this ethos with our desire to offer experiences and events that are memorable and authentic and we feel very well placed to appeal to what our customers wish for in the future.
Can you tell us more about the many awards and accolades The Goodwood Estate has won recently?
Winning awards are always fantastic and the past year has been like no other so despite the most difficult of times it feels extra special to have secured The Sunday Times Best Hotel in the Southeast - Regional Winner 2020 and named one of their 80 best British hotels.
Being recognised by the industry as the best eating venue and best wedding venue in the southeast with two Beautiful South Tourism Awards for Excellence 2020/21: Restaurant of the Year for the estate’s field to fork Farmer Butcher Chef restaurant and Wedding Venue of the Year. These were picked from more than 100 applications from across the southeast.
We are also winners of the UK Heritage Awards 2020 for Best Wedding Venue and Outstanding Customer Service.
These are fabulous accolades for the team and a testament to all their hard work. We are so pleased that our doors are open again so that we can show people what is so special about hospitality and weddings at Goodwood.
Select microsoft partner puts decision makers in the picture
When you work for a big organisation, it’s hard to get an accurate picture of what’s really happening on the ground.
By HELEN COMPSON
As Carlene Jackson, founder and CEO of Cloud9Insight, a Microsoft Gold Partner, puts it: “If you’re driving this business just from spreadsheets, which so many organisations are doing today, can you trust the spreadsheets that are retrospectively pulled together and manipulated to tell you the whole story?
“No! But you need to know what’s going on in your business in real time.”
Having cut her teeth at IBM and Sage, where she worked with clients such as News International and Panasonic, Carlene set up Cloud9Insight in 2010.
By then, she had journeyed extensively through the subject of customer relationship management (CRM) and the escalating need for digital transformation by any organisation of an entrepreneurial bent.
“Banks are often seen as being ahead of the game in terms of leveraging technology, so that was my starting point (with Cloud9Insight),” she said.
“Imagine the scenario in which business people do not have to depend on IT teams to be able to make a decision for a customer there and then, knowing who they are and what their transactions have been with them.”
And that is exactly what the Dynamics365 Customer Engagement solution, with its Microsoft Access database at heart, delivers, she said.
Cloud9 itself has grown in tandem with the nation’s digital transformation. Today it has more than 700 clients, the vast majority SMEs, across the UK. After achieving an impressive 60% growth last year, it is on track to grow by another 50% this year.
The growth has been organic, thanks in no small part to the fact there are very few Microsoft Gold Partners in the UK working with SMEs. Most of Cloud9’s leads come directly from the IT colossus. For the first four years, Carlene ran her business from Annecy, in the French Alps, a wonderful place to live with her growing family. Modern technology was the great enabler, until business expansion and the need to be more hands-on in terms of recruitment brought her back to the UK.
Now based in Brighton, in modern offices overlooking the beautiful South Downs, she has 30 members of staff – 12 of them hired in the past year alone.
Far from being cowed by the exigencies of the pandemic, she feels this is the time to snap up the talented individuals out there. She said: “I’m very much of the growth mind-set, which is all about planning and being optimistic.
“It is really important that organisations hire six months ahead of when they will need somebody because, A, it will take them time to find the right person and, B, it will take that person six months to grasp what’s going on and begin to contribute.
“This recession is not going to last forever and there is a huge amount of talent on the market at the moment due to furlough and redundancy. I feel that is a great opportunity for me in terms of adding to my team.”
She has chosen to tailor her services to two specific markets: manufacturing and professional services. In both, the relationship with the customer is paramount, she said. Communication is key.
Cloud9Insight had a turnover of £2.5m last year. Carlene, who recently launched a second business, Vantage Academy, to nurture the up and coming generations of tech talent, is aiming for a £5m turnover and 50 members of staff.
“There is a huge shortage of trained digital talent,” she said. “We want to be part of mobilising that talent and Cloud9 is enabling us to do so.
“I am personally motivated by other people’s success. I want to see people fulfil their potential. That drives me more than making money, to be honest.”
Carlene Jackson
Founder and CEO Cloud9Insight
The value of networking
Attending a networking event is one of the most useful things a business owner can do. It allows industry movers and shakers to meet, mingle and explore new business connections, innovation and opportunities.
As soon as it is safe to do so again, Haywards Heath Business Association (HHBA) will be welcoming members back to its events in order to build those connections between local businesses.
Over the past year, the HHBA has welcomed its members to its online events and is looking forward to reconnecting with them in person as the lockdown restrictions are lifted and it is safe to network in person again. The HHBA has a packed programme of educational and networking events focused on helping businesses in the midSussex area thrive.
“Local organisations are laser focused on generating new business and building back stronger for the longer-term.” Katie Morhen, director of communications agency 52eight3 and a member explains. “Our aim in curating the programme is to deliver relevant and useful content, sharing and connecting local businesses to help boost job growth and the local economy.” For Barney Durrant, of Bluebell Digital and a member of the HHBA, the events programme is a great way of keeping members connected. “The HHBA helps me to stay in touch with local business people with a combination of pure networking events and also really useful educational webinars. The webinars are great as they tend to be business-focused and topical covering areas like council COVID-19 grants or help with marketing and finance.”
The forthcoming content will focus on timely issues which are affecting businesses in the area, with experts offering advice on topics including Brexit, business finance, marketing and sales, and cyber security. The sessions are designed to make it as easy as possible for business owners to attend the sessions, with a mixture of breakfast briefings and evening drinks held at venues around the area.
Clare Jones
Chair, Haywards Heath Business Association
Bringing business together
The Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry is placed in a privileged geographical position covering the whole Chichester district from the Downs to the sea with the cathedral city at its heart.
As a membership organisation we strive to support, celebrate and showcase our members. However, during the difficulties of 2020 we have created a more inclusive environment to reach the wider business community. We have opened our online training sessions free of charge to all businesses and collaborated with other groups for networking in order to offer maximum support.
In order to capture the power of social media we launched a hashtag campaign #lovechibiz last year and invited all local businesses to use it across their platforms. It has been well received and we have run two events to capitalise on this success, bringing everyone together and keeping them informed of local funding and other resources available to them.
Our plans through 2021 will be to run a hybrid programme with an obvious focus on our members, whilst also collaborating with other entities to broaden our reach. The survival and dynamism of our city centres is clearly an issue to affect us all and we are planning a major event for September 2021 - The Chamber Supports the City Centre. Our plans will include a variety of events to not only highlight the value of our city centre but to offer training and advice sessions to the numerous independent businesses that are integral to it. This will be accompanied by a wide PR and social media campaign which will culminate in a reception at a prominent local venue. By putting the Chamber at the heart of all local businesses we hope to enhance both the offering for the wider business community as well as for the Chamber membership itself.
Vicki Meddows-Smith
CEO, Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Finding the funding you need
Faced with the economic impact of the pandemic, government support for UK businesses has remained a key area of focus in 2021 with the Chancellor’s March 2021 Budget Review setting out a number of initiatives aimed at aiding the economic growth and recovery of SMEs as the UK economy reopens.
At the forefront of this plan was the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) as a replacement to previous support measures such as the Coronavirus Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) and Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS).
Launched on April 6th 2021 and running until the end of the year, subject to review, RLS provides a guarantee to lenders and covers a variety of products which companies of all sizes can access, regardless of their turnover. I won’t go into too much detail on the ins and outs of the scheme here but some important points to note include:
To be eligible, businesses must meet certain criteria. For example, they must be trading in the UK and able to demonstrate that they were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. It’s also worth noting that if a lender can offer finance on normal commercial terms without the need to make use of the scheme, they may do so.
Businesses can apply for as little as £1,000 through asset finance, to subsidise investment in equipment, machinery or vehicles, or invoice finance, where firms borrow against outstanding invoices. The minimum facility size rises to £25,001 for term loans and overdrafts. The maximum loan across all products is £10 million per business. Overdrafts and invoice finance have a term length of up to three years, while term loans and asset finance are available over six years.
Personal guarantees (PGs) will not be required for loans under £250,000. It’s then at the lender’s discretion as to whether to take guarantees on higher amounts, with Principal Private Residences excluded from the list of possible options.
RLS differs from CBILS, CLBILS and BBLS in two key ways. The first of which relates to interest payments and fees. Under RLS, interest (and any other associated fees) must be paid immediately by the business, with rates capped at 14.99%. While the approach may vary between lenders, all are required to carry our credit and fraud checks on applicants of RLS. This particular requirement is hardly surprising in light of reports like the House of Commons working group warning that BBLS defaults alone could cost £26 billion. If your business has received funding through CBILS, CLBILS or BBLS, you can apply for RLS provided you meet eligibility criteria. The borrowable amount will depend on the lender’s assessment and amount borrowed through previous schemes.
Other Budget initiatives worth mentioning include the super deduction scheme, arguably the most attractive tax relief on business investment ever offered by a British government, Restart Grants for businesses hit hardest by Covid-19, and another £375 million for the Future Fund: Breakthrough. Whatever you think about the overall impact of this year’s budget on the UK economy, it was relatively SME friendly.
Alongside these initiatives, we expect other areas of the funding marketplace - ranging from commercial mortgages to innovation grants to revolving credit facilities - will remain key sources of finance for businesses looking to pivot in the months ahead. Taking commercial mortgages as an example, the shift in working patterns and acceleration of digitalisation over the last year has sparked a trend of trading businesses looking to reassess their borrowing needs so they can carry out activities like repurposing premises for alternative use. Market activity for Buy-to-Let purchase and Holiday let -
promoted by the trend towards staycations - is also strong.
With many businesses having secured debt, factors like affordability and credit scores are all the more important when considering further financing as a business owner. In recognition of this, the Chamber Finance Finder team is available to help business owners review these areas before proceeding with a funding application. We understand that it can be a daunting process so take time to couple our matching technology, which surfaces the funding opportunities across loans, equity investment, grants and commercial mortgages available to the business, with support from experienced financial professionals. The end result? What we hope is a more holistic and sustainable approach to financing which will help businesses thrive now and into the future.
To find out more about free access to the Chamber Finance Finder, please contact the Chamber on 01444 259 259
Damon Walford
CCO, Swoop Funding
Funding for green businesses
With Government’s legally-binding net zero commitments and time running out to curb climate change, green business has never been higher up the agenda.
Increasingly consumers and investors are expecting businesses to show their green credentials, and regulations – such as the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars – are coming in to enforce it. The Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE) programme is designed to help businesses across Sussex, Kent and Greater Essex make the transition to a low carbon economy. The Programme helps green SMEs grow and improve their energy efficiency through funding and business support.
For environmentally-focused businesses
If you help your customers reduce their impact on the environment or you serve an environmentally-focused industry, then you can apply for a LoCASE Business Growth and Innovation Grant of up to £10,000. These grants can be used for a range of business development projects, including equipment and machinery, product development, marketing, IT, consultancy, certification and accreditation and energy efficiency. Businesses that have taken advantage of a LoCASE Business Growth and Innovation Grant include those supplying or manufacturing renewable energy, energy storage and energy efficiency products, green architects, landscapers and builders, recycling and re-use businesses, environmental advisors and consultants, and many more.
For other types of business
If you’re in an industry that isn’t typically considered a “green” industry, don’t fear. You can still apply for a LoCASE Energy/ Resource Efficiency grant of up to £10,000. These grants are designed for projects that help you reduce your carbon footprint and operating costs. They can cover items such as LED lighting, insulation, heating or machinery upgrades, or renewable energy systems. Similarly, projects reducing waste materials or water can also be covered. Note that grant requests over £5,000 will need to deliver more significant results than lower value projects.
Both types of grant covers 40% of the project’s expenditure. For example, if your energy efficiency project totals £10,000, the grant will cover £4,000 of your costs – so you end up only paying £6,000.
Get involved
The University of Brighton’s Green Growth Platform supports the delivery of LoCASE across Sussex. To find out more, visit their dedicated LoCASE page and get the ball rolling.
www.clean-growth.uk/locase/
LoCASE is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
If you’re not growing you’re dying…
Just like a tree if your business is not growing it’s dying however, as Jim Rohn said “If you don’t like how things are, change it you’re not a tree”.
The driving reason for many entrepreneurs to start a business is freedom - the freedom to work for themselves and have more time to themselves, as well as financial freedom or just the freedom of knowing they are in charge. Yet despite this longing to be in charge, for most business owners the exact opposite is true - their businesses run them.
The owner spends a lot of time, energy and emotion working ‘in’ the business rather than ‘on’ the business – they have created a job rather than a successful business.
The biggest cause for lack of sleep at night is a continuing need to grow the business, or perhaps just survive. So the owner tends to focus on three outcomes: customers, revenues and profits. They focus on the reactive results of their business activities rather than the proactive elements that create business growth. The good news is that it doesn’t take rocket science to grow a business in any industry or in any product or service category. It is vital to understand the key growth objectives that need to be achieved, the marketing processes that need to be implemented, and the key vision and position you want your business to hold in the marketplace. We call this model “Five Ways To Business Growth.” It breaks down the three outcomes – customers, revenues and profits into the simplest activity drivers that will grow the business by focusing on each driver as its own but interrelated activity for growth. These are the five drivers and their associated outcomes:
Driver: Number of leads
Driver: Conversion Rate
Outcome: Number of Customers
Driver: Number of Transactions per customer
Driver: Average Sale per Transaction Outcome: Revenue Driver: Margins Outcome: Profit
Breaking down each of these five drivers and understanding how they can lead to business growth will make the task of growing the business seem less overwhelming. More guidance and a free chart of over 350 strategies to grow your business is available from ActionCOACH
https://hastings.actioncoach.co.uk/ business-support-tools/
Could your innovation help make the UK safer?
If you’re working on a project that could contribute to UK defence or security, there is an organisation that can support you - the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).
Peter Wilkins
Innovation Partner DASA
In this article Peter Wilkins, DASA’s Innovation Partner for the South East, answers some questions about DASA and explains how you can get involved.
What is the Defence and Security Accelerator and why was it created?
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is part of the Ministry of Defence. Our mission is to find and fund useful ideas to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively, and support UK prosperity - so that the UK can keep ahead, and stay safe, by taking advantage of the best innovations across the UK and internationally.
What has DASA achieved?
Since we were formed in December 2016, we’ve assessed almost 4000 proposals from over 1600 organisations, and invested over £130m in over 800 projects. Over 50% of our proposals have come from small or medium sized enterprises and around a quarter from universities. We provide 100% funding for all funded proposals, and we take no equity or intellectual property.
How can individuals or organisations get involved?
DASA run competitions to find solutions to real-world problems. You can find a list of current competitions on our website - search for DASA on the Government site at www.gov.uk. We also accept proposals that fall outside of our current competitions through our “Open Call”. So, no matter who you are or where you work, if you have an idea that you think might be relevant, DASA is keen to hear from you.
I’m always happy to discuss potential ideas. The best way to contact me is through our web portal - just search for “DASA Innovation Partners”.
How outsourcing can help boost business recovery.
As lockdown eases, the pressure is on to recover revenue streams lost since COVID-19 brought us to our knees. However, business owners are naturally hesitant to make major investments in scaling up whilst there is still so much uncertainty around them.
In this context, at a time when we are still finding our feet, an outsource resource can provide the ability to launch new initiatives and tap into new opportunities without risking long-term investment.
Here’s how:
Managing unpredictable requirements:
an outsourced resource enables you to manage fluctuating requirements in the short- and medium-term, with the ability to quickly ramp up if and when you get traction.
Extending capabilities: you can access skills you don’t have such as remote selling, multilingual capabilities or sales development expertise, increasing your ability to attack stretched goals or new markets without expensive recruitment.
Gaining strategic insights: not only does a good outsource agency provide flexible resource and domain-specific expertise, they act as a trusted partner and provide valuable new insights to feed your business strategy.
Increasing productivity: a dedicated outsource resource using bespoke systems and a standardised approach, works in a systematic, productive way and can plug gaps in processes and resources that are undermining your overall effectiveness.
Testing new ideas and approaches:
an outsource option can test and validate your post-COVID strategy and proposition before you accelerate investment.
If you are looking to drive your business forward but lack the resources to do so, you may not have considered an outsource option. Since 1990, The Telemarketing Company has delivered sales support and market insight to hundreds of clients, extending their in-house capabilities and helping them grow. Get in touch to discuss how we can strengthen your sales and marketing efforts post-COVID.
Niall Habba
Managing Director, The Telemarketing Company
info@ttmc.co.uk
Acumen Business Law launches innovative investment fund to support growing businesses post covid
Brighton based law firm Acumen Business Law, has announced its partnership with the award-winning marketing agency Creative Pod, to create an innovative investment fund opportunity for small businesses looking to rebuild and continue to grow, post Covid-19.
The unique initiative offers Sussex based businesses legal advice, plus marketing services, in return for equity in the business as a platform for growth following the pandemic. Led by Sussex based entrepreneurs Penina Shepherd and Matt Turner, the duo are pulling together to support the community and are calling out for like-minded business owners looking to take that next step.
To apply for funding through the Acumen Business Law website: https://www.
acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk/investmentfund/
Acumen Business Law
Acumen Business Law is an awardwinning, innovative and dynamic Law Firm, specialising in Business Law only, offering advice to clients locally in Sussex, as well as nationally and internationally. In a bold move in the legal industry; Acumen Business Law scrapped the hourly rate system and operate a fixed fee-pricing model for all non-contentious matters.
The firm was listed in the Financial Times’ Top 50 Groundbreaking & Innovative Law Firms in the UK and Europe and were voted as the UK Rising Star by the Observer and have won many other prestigious local awards.
We recently spoke to Penina Shepherd to find out more about the investment fund:
Why now have you chosen to partner with Creative Pod to offer this unique opportunity?
It’s been a rough 12 months in the world of business, and we’re finally starting to see a life post Covid-19. As a business owner myself, I am well aware that the unknown can be daunting and businesses looking to recover could well be fearing their future. The world of law can be a complex barrier for many and I feel the time is right to step up and support our local business community. Along with the support of Matt Turner, CEO at Creative Pod, we will be able to assist both on the legal and marketing front under this equity arrangement. Alternatively, companies may only require legal or marketing support, in which case they can collaborate with either Acumen Business Law or Creative Pod as required.
What is the selection process and criteria for businesses to apply?
We’re inviting all Sussex based businesses to apply! Whether it’s a small start-up looking to get things off the ground, an SME in need of a recovery plan post Covid, or an established organisation who requires a little more help and guidance, Matt and I have the expertise within both law and marketing to ensure a business’ long term goals look a lot more achievable.
Penina Shepherd
CEO Acumen Law
What tips do you have for businesses in Sussex looking to rebuild after the pandemic?
It’s important to conduct a situational analysis, to gain an understanding of where your business sits now, compared to where it was before Covid-19. I’d advise business owners to create a roadmap to get back on track, call in the experts for marketing activity, to springboard to the next level, but also ensure you protect your intellectual property and business assets through the correct legal documentation.
Once selected, what’s next for the businesses that receive the expertise from Acumen Business Law and Creative Pod?
We would first like to meet the people behind the business, as they are by far the most important ‘asset’ of any organisation. If they have a business plan in place, we will invite the business to send it through and we will discuss with them the roadmap of the next 6 & 12 months. Matt and I will discuss what level of support is required on the legal and marketing front and agree on a strategic way forward.
Supporting Sussex Exporters
How many people in Sussex realise that hidden in plain sight just outside Steyning, lies one of the world’s most prestigious international diplomatic organisations? Join us on the 16th July for a major event.
Tom Cargill
Chief Executive Wilton Park
For 70 years Wiston House, the 16th century seat of the Goring family, has been home to Wilton Park, the executive agency of the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) responsible for shaping global networks to tackle common challenges.
Numerous government ministers, journalists, academics, business people and others from all around the world have visited Wilton Park over decades for honest, challenging conversations around some of the world’s biggest issues – whether related to trade, defence, diplomacy or international development.
We have come a long way from our roots in 1946 in the original Buckinghamshire home of Wilton Park, when we were established by Anglo-German academic Heinz Koeppler as part of the UK’s efforts to help German prisoners of war, and gradually a generation of influential Germans, consider the needs and challenges of building a liberal and democratic Germany after the tragedy of Nazism. For 75 years Wilton Park has been steadily expanding our work to bring rational, honest dialogue to bear on challenges such as the future of international development, how to defend and promote free and fair global trade, and how to tackle climate change.
Through this time Wilton Park has played a vital role in the economic and social life of the local area, not least because many young couples have been fortunate enough to be married amidst our beautiful buildings and gardens. However, in our 75th year, we want to take the opportunity to deepen our contribution to and links with the communities we have long worked alongside across Sussex.
Rejoining the Sussex Chamber of Commerce is just one crucial step in what we hope will become a growing partnership with local businesses, government bodies, civil society organisations, schools and other groups. I see absolutely no conflict between our local, national and global roles, in fact quite the reverse. Many businesses increasingly understand just how important it is to celebrate your roots and pedigree in order to differentiate and build credibility into your brand. It’s not just an instrument for success though. Wilton Park owes its existence not only to UK taxpayers, the FCDO and partners around the world, but also to our local community, suppliers and staff, without whom we could not function.
So, as we plan for the next 75 years, Wilton Park is investigating different ways we can partner locally and be more widely recognised as a valued corporate citizen. One early initiative we are pursuing is SussExport – a day long event to celebrate, profile and support exporters across Sussex. Hosted at our Steyning home on 16 July, and with kind support from our local MP Andrew Griffith and senior participation from the Department for International Trade, SussExport will combine advice on how and where to export more, with presentations and experiences from some of the regions’ leading brands. Sussex is home to some incredible brands, services and products – whether champagne beating sparkling wines from the likes of the Wiston Estate or cutting edge advanced marine engineering and technology provided by PSM Instrumentation. Businesses big and small have strained every sinew to get through the pandemic, and as vaccination advances and restrictions ease, we will all have to be ready and prepared to get out and make the most of the opportunities to do business, both in this country and around the world. We hope SussExport will provide something of a starting gun and kickstart to these efforts, combining regional focus with practical support and help businesses build back better.
There are still a number of special opportunities to secure particular profile and roles for organisations wishing to sponsor, but we want this to be an opportunity to profile the very best of Sussex exporting capability so keen to welcome applications to attend at all levels from companies eager to profile and boost their exporting expertise.
So please do get in touch, and all of us at Wilton Park very much look forward to further deepening our Sussex links, providing a global platform for local expertise and talent.
16th July - A major event for exporters and those thinking to export
Hosted at our Steyning home with the kind support of our local MP Andrew Griffith and senior participation from the Department for International Trade.
Supporting Economic Growth across the South East
Gatwick’s strong revival will create the dynamic, connected and innovative business environment necessary to diversify the region’s economy
Gatwick commits to work with local partners to ensure the region is attractive to emerging economic clusters, including digital, advanced manufacturing and green technologies
Airport will also support a range of employment, skills, sustainable growth and supply chain initiatives in response to challenges faced in the local area following the pandemic
New report published today shows airport’s revival could generate over 50,000 new jobs and £8.4 billion GVA by 2028 - enough to fund 222,000 primary school places or 70,000 nurses across the region
Gatwick's strong revival is critical to the region's economic recovery and will help create the dynamic, connected and innovative business environment necessary to diversify the region’s economy, according to a new report – Gatwick’s Economic Value.
Diversifying the region’s economy and making it more resilient has become an important objective for several local economic partners following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new report by economics consultants, Lichfields, says that a revived Gatwick would support the region’s economic diversification by making the area attractive to new and emerging industrial clusters, including digital, advanced manufacturing and green technologies.
In response, Gatwick has today committed to continue to work with its local partners and help the region attract new economic clusters and - given the scale of the challenges facing the area following the pandemic - the airport also committed today to develop a range of employment, skills, sustainable growth and supply chain initiatives that aim to:
Grow its workforce and – by reviving the airport - support more jobs across the region than ever before Provide labour market entry points for young people, including through apprenticeships and graduate programmes, and facilitate training in response to technological innovation in aviation and associated sectors
Promote a clean, green recovery by building on commitments to reach net zero for the airport’s own operations and through involvement in UK industry plans to reach net zero aircraft emissions by 2050
Ensure the airport’s procurement and supply chain spending targets businesses based in the region
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport, said: “By working together, we can harness the extraordinary benefits the airport delivers to help the region rebuild, diversify and become more resilient following the devastating impact the pandemic has had on jobs, businesses and communities across the local area.
“As an airport, we plan to maximise the benefits we provide for local people, communities and businesses through a range of initiatives that focus on skills, employment, sustainability and our extensive supply chains, which support many thousands of jobs across the South East.
“We will also continue to work closely with our partners on their ambitious plans to diversify the region’s economy. Many established businesses tell us the airport was an important factor in their decision to locate in this region. We want to build on that by making sure the area is once again an attractive, innovative and wellconnected place to invest and locate a business.”
Ana Christie, CEO, Sussex Chamber of Commerce, said: “These reports provide valuable evidence on just how important the airport is for the region’s economy, not just in terms of the jobs and economic contribution but also the central role it can play attracting new business clusters to Sussex. I’m looking forward to working closely with the airport to turn the predictions in these reports into reality so that together we can make the most of the economic opportunities we have on our doorstep.”
A further new report – The Economic Impact of Gatwick Airport - published today by economists, Oxera, also shows how the return of air traffic to levels forecast before the pandemic would support over 50,000 new on-airport, supply chain and other business-related jobs across West and East Sussex, Surrey and Kent by 2028. These new jobs would be in addition to the 69,000 jobs the airport was shown to provide on-airport, in its supply chain and other business-related jobs during the pandemic in 2020.
Are we there yet?
Four words that used to drive any parent absolutely insane, but after the last 13 months, are probably now music to the ears of a lot of us.
I don’t know about you, but out of an abundance of caution, we didn’t take our summer holiday to Europe last year, and we didn’t take our children to any of the places we might normally have done during the summer holidays. Places like Drusillas, Knockhatch, places they love, but places we thought we should probably avoid just to be safe. So instead, we got a National Trust membership and probably annoyed a lot of people out for a quiet walk in the grounds of many properties around West Kent and Sussex, by taking our three children for days out and picnics!
But this May Bank Holiday weekend, we went out, out! On Friday, my wife went and had drinks with 5 of the school mums, and on Sunday we took our three boys to the Eastbourne Miniature Railway and on Bank Holiday Monday they went to Knockhatch as well. Now, I haven’t yet applied that level of bravery to my business life, I haven’t had a face to face business meeting since early October, but I think we are almost there!
Have I been too cautious? Probably, professionally being an accountant, I see myself as generally risk averse and yet as an entrepreneur running a niche tax consultancy, I know I have to throw off my cloak of pessimism and be more “out there”. That being said, it’s not held our business back, when it comes to preparing R&D Tax Relief claims for many businesses, working over video conference and conducting our technical interviews through this medium, rather than face to face has proven to work and is something that we may continue into the future, if that is what our customers want.
However, even though we have been able to keep preparing claims for those business in Manufacturing and Engineering, where we know them and have been around the factory floor, there has been a semblance of business as usual. For those who we have worked with for the first time during lockdown, there is a nagging thought at the back of my head that by not being present, by not walking through and seeing what is going on and being able to ask questions in the here and now of such a walk, have we been able to identify all of the R&D activities. There are only so many times you can ask is there anything else, anything new, anything that you are doing differently, anything that you have improved, before beginning to sound like that child in the back seat pre-lockdown.
We are almost there, we are seeing the opening up of society, we are able to drink in a beer garden, or eat outside, we are allowed to participate in outdoor sport, we have seen some trial mass participation events, lots of little steps! I still feel that I am giving the stock response, that might be given to the children, “we are almost there, not long to go now!” It is still open ended to some extent, but I am ready to get out there again! I am sure it will be a little bit different at the start, but hopefully, we will get there! So, now to you, how are you doing? How positive are you for the next 12 -18 months of your business? Have you taken out some BBLS or CBILS funding that needs to start being paid back anytime soon?
Have you been doing something new and interesting in your business over your previous 2 accounting years, even prepandemic? Has it involved an element of scientific or technological uncertainty? Has it been ultimately successful? Or did it fail and has had to be put on the shelf for the time being?
If you’ve answered yes to any of those last questions, why don’t you give me a call? I’d love for you to be the first business I come out and see, when we are both ready! We can start with a discovery call, that first little step! You can book one at www.calendly. com/simon-bulteel and we can have a video or telephone call to suit you or you can just pick up the phone and call me on 01424 225345. Let’s finally get 2021 rocking and get you a nice pot of money back in your bank account from a successful R&D Tax Credits claim!
Importance of a budget for business growth
The key to business growth is a detailed business plan supported by reliable budgets and cash flow forecasts. Business growth is a goal of most business owners however growth that happens too fast or without proper planning can come with significant consequences.
A budget and cash flow forecast should be prepared for the financial year ahead. Whilst preparing the budgets considerations should be made for the impact of the increased turnover. For example, are the current premises large enough to facilitate the expansion, how many additional employees will be required to meet capacity, what marketing spend will be needed to obtain the sales growth, will pricing or volume drive the turnover increase.
Once the profit & loss budget is prepared, attention should turn to the cash flow forecast to see where the pressure points will be during the period of growth. Things to consider include; will my stock holding have to increase to meet lead times, can I obtain better supplier payment terms due to increased business, will any new large customers expect longer payment terms than currently offered. This will help to identify if additional investment is needed to fund the working capital requirements. You may of course need investment in fixed assets to fund growth and therefore financing will need to be factored in the cash flow.
Once you have a budget and cash flow completed, it is key to stress test the budget. For example, what happens if my turnover is actually 1% less, what happens if my customers take 45 days to pay instead of 30? This will highlight the reactivity of the budget to changes and whether these changes would cause significant issues.
As you move through the year, the budget and cash flow forecast should be updated for actuals and predicted changes to give a new outturn for the year. This enables business decisions to be made on up to date and therefore reliable information.
If you require any assistance with your budgets and cash flow forecasts please call 01323 412277 or visit
www.honeybarrett.co.uk. Louise Underdown, ACA Director, Honey Barrett Chartered Accountants
Protecting your business in uncertain times.
Most businesses will not be immune to a downturn in economic activity or indeed a crisis economy.
Protect your cash flow
It is essential that for businesses to protect cash flow and stay as flexible as possible during the period of uncertainty. Assess how the change in market conditions could affect your business and amend your forecasts accordingly. Pay specific attention to your Debtors. Many businesses will be in the same cycle and whilst it is a good idea to extend your terms of payment with your supplier's, your customers may attempt to do the same.
Protect your customer base
Your customer base is in many businesses a key pillar for success and is not generated quickly. Consider the implications of any changes you are considering irrespective of whether they are short or medium/long term on this asset. Customers are easy to lose to the competition and not so easy to win back.
Protect your supply chain
A downturn in the economy will have an affect on your supply chain. Any interruption could have an effect on your ability to supply. Where you perceive weakness in the chain find alternatives as a back up. Communicate with your suppliers and work on retaining goodwill even if you need to extend payment terms. Your main suppliers are also key pillars in your business and relationships should be retained if possible.
Plans well advanced for future water resources
Protecting tap water supplies, including during periods of drought or dry weather, is at the centre of South East Water’s minds as the company continues to invest in the future.
Lee Dance
Head of Water Resources South East Water
As one of the region’s key landowners, South East Water works tirelessly to protect its most precious resource to make sure there is enough for everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
One way this is achieved is through the company’s Drought or Dry Weather Plan, which focuses on how it can manage, communicate and operate when water resources are stretched.
It sets out steps the company would take during periods of low rainfall to continue to deliver a reliable water supply for drinking, washing, cooking and cleaning while balancing the needs of the environment.
The latest plan will be available from 7 June to read and comment back on at www. southeastwater.co.uk/droughtplan
Lee Dance, Head of Water Resources at South East Water, said: “The Dry Weather Plan is our tactical operational plan for dry weather and drought. It details the range of management, operational and communications actions we will consider as the severity of the drought increases and then recedes.
“There are a number of new initiatives within this plan we have introduced following recent experience of heatwaves and feedback from our customers. A significant focus has been put on how we engage with our stakeholders and businesses to motivate them to champion water saving initiatives.”
Following the heatwave in 2020, South East Water has funded a number of actions to protect its customers and future generations.
This includes targeted leak reduction across all of its water production sites across the region and upgrading water treatment stations in Sussex. This allows the company to pump millions of extra litres of water into its vast network of underground pipes.
Lee continued: “We experienced a period of unprecedented demand in Summer 2020 following a surge in temperatures across the region coupled with everyone staying at home due to lockdown rules.
“While our reservoir levels were in a healthy position, we were unable to get enough water into the pipes to satisfy the intense demand – sometimes around 100 million litres extra per day than we would normally expect.
“We know many of our customers in the Sussex region were impacted by the demand issue so we’ve prioritised investing in the area to help protect the network against future heatwaves and will be running summer communications campaign this year that aims to encourage everyone to use water responsibly while so many still at home.”
The Dry Weather Plan forms part of the company’s next Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) which is due for publication in 2023 and looks ahead to the year 2100. It outlines what it plans to do to maintain supply in the face of increased population and a changing climate.
The supply of top quality drinking water to businesses across Sussex and the south east is intrinsically linked to the environment around us.
South East Water considers itself to be a guardian of the environment and has once again stepped up its investment to ensure it remains protected.
The company owns or manages 33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve, two local nature reserves and numerous Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Environmental investments include taking part in the EU-funded PROWATER project to understand how nature-based solutions can protect our landscape against the impact of climate change.
Further information on the company’s water resources management plan can be found at: southeastwater.co.uk/yourwateryoursay
The company also has lots of information and advice and top tips for businesses on its website: wholesale.southeastwater.co.uk
