Inside 5 hospitality & events 8 women in business 18 big interview 20 digital & technological innovation 21 business matters 28 new members 32 training and events
the magazine for sussex chamber of commerce members
April/May 2022
Digital &Technological Innovation Sussex Chamber of Commerce
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
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Rockinghorse Children’s Charity needs your help.
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Score 55 goals, bake 55 cakes, run 55km - it’s up to you! To find out more about how to get involved and what your support will mean to young people across Sussex, get in touch: www.rockinghorse.org.uk
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contents
April/May2022 business edge
Sussex Chamber of Commerce
Sussex Chamber of Commerce currently represents over 1,000 member businesses. Membership of Sussex Chamber of Commerce offers access to invaluable business advice, money saving benefits, networking opportunities and provides a voice for businesses at a local, regional and national level. Business Edge is delivered free of charge to all Sussex Chamber of Commerce members as well as key business decision makers across the county. It has a circulation of 4,000 copies per issue.
Welcome to our Business Edge magazine! Digital and Technological Innovation Digital technologies have advanced far more rapidly than any other industry. Technologies have transformed society and enhanced connectivity, access to services and trade at great speed. This is disrupting almost every industry and these changes herald the transformation of entire systems, production, management, and governance.
Business Edge is a Sussex Chamber of Commerce publication.
This revolution has created new skills
If you have any stories you would like to tell us about or any comments please drop us an email at enquiries@
we shift to a greener economy.
sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
life and allow new products and services to
SUSSEX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
increase efficiency and personal lives, such
Unit 4, Victoria Business Centre, 43 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill RH15 9LR
food or a taxi, or making payments remotely.
requirements and will continue to evolve as
Ana Christie
There is potential to improve the quality of
Chief Executive Sussex Chamber of Commerce
as buying products, watching films, ordering
can allow a business to transform, innovate and boost economic growth.
Digital technologies have taken a quantum leap at all levels creating a digitally
This type of innovation can generate
Distinctive Media Group Ltd 3rd Floor Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6UF Tel: 0191 5805990 www.distinctivegroup.co.uk
enhanced ecosystem.
positive change to strengthen the business
ADVERTISING
and growth. Businesses now need to
PRODUCTION & DESIGN
Angie Smith, Business Development Manager, Distinctive Media Group Ltd 3rd Floor Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6UF Tel: 0191 580 5472 angie.smith@distinctivepublishing.co.uk
Businesses demonstrate agility and success through their digital initiatives. Technology
environment.
How is your business innovating?
can play a pivotal role in aiding recovery
As members of Sussex Chamber, you can
integrate technologies including AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), 5G
share your news updates and how your business is adapting and innovating – share this on social media and tag us in @
connectivity, and cloud computing.
SussexChamber, share via our website news Digital and technological transformation can
or send your free Business Edge editorial.
offer enormous opportunities such as using
FEATURE EDITOR Karen Southern karen.southern@distinctivegroup.co.uk
big data to improve efficiencies, creating
Ensure you are making the most of your
robust technology-powered supply chains, as
membership and maximizing the benefits. Call
well as new ways of working. These initiatives
our membership team today 01444 259259.
E-BOOK www.issuu.com/distinctivepublishing
CONTENTS DISCLAIMER Distinctive Media Group or Business Edge cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries. No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Business Edge.
welcome
3
business matters
hospitality and events
5
digital & technological innovation 22, 24
chamber protect
7
business matters
25
digital & technological innovation
26
women in business
8-9
21
business support
10-11
new members
28-29
digital & technological innovation
12-15
finance focus
30 -31
big interview
18-19
training & events
32-33
digital & technological innovation
20
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
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April/May2022 june/july 2019 business edge
Why Exhibiting Your Business Pays Dividends… As the final preparations get under way for the 2022 Brighton & Hove Business Show, we discover what makes business exhibitions so worthwhile.
Michael Monk Founder and Owner Brighton and Hove Business Show
Hundreds of businesses will attend the Brighton & Hove Business Show at The Amex Stadium Brighton on June 23rd 2022. Many will be visiting the event to make new connections and find great local suppliers. Others will be putting their products and services in the spotlight with exhibition stands. Among this year’s exhibitors are brands whose names are synonymous with local networking events and business expos. They have learned that face-to-face marketing is one of the best ways to showcase their unique selling points. Showing others, in person, the benefits their business delivers is easy when you have a captive audience. The Brighton & Hove Business Show brings everyone together in one place, on one day. It makes the process of promoting a business and what it does more efficient and convenient. With good footfall there are more and more opportunities to network and generate leads. Mike Monk is a seasoned exhibition & networking specialist. He has been organising Expos for the past few years and explains: “Having an event like this on your doorstep makes reaching new customers
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easier. Our exhibitors benefit from great exposure - without having to travel too far from their base or spending a fortune.
With top keynote speakers and seminars
“The key benefit is that the Brighton & Hove Business Show raises the profile of local brands and those who want to grow their business locally”. They can meet potential customers in person and demonstrate what they do and how their services or products can be of benefit to other businesses. With opportunities to sponsor elements of the show, take part in networking events and learn from inspirational, industry-leading speakers, there is a lot going on to attract visitors.
inspirational ideas to drive growth in the
Our workshops offer outstanding promotional opportunities. We recommend that people visiting the expo bring plenty of business cards - to ensure the connections they make can be followed up on.”
in a relaxed environment where everyone
Brands opting to reserve a portion of their marketing budgets to attend business expos benefit from online promotion before, during and after the event. This further raises the profile of exhibitors by putting their brand in front of new audiences. Getting exposure on leading social networking platforms is important and can drive traffic to exhibitors’ profiles and websites.
spotlight? Why not book a stand at the
Mike explains: “Business Exhibitions like the Brighton & Hove Business Show have a ripple effect because they connect with people across multiple platforms.
www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
led by experts from a cross-section of industries, a business exhibition offers local economy. Many of those attending free events are looking for innovative ways to not just grow their businesses but make them more efficient. With customer engagement, automation and digital sales high on the agenda, there’s plenty to learn from carefully chosen speakers. Of course, one of the biggest plus-points of exhibiting your business at this event is that it is great fun. You get to meet new people wants to connect and find out what you do. Not exhibiting at the Brighton & Hove Business Show? You can attend the event for free. Want to put your business in the Brighton & Hove Business Show on… Thursday June 23rd 2022 10am to 3pm at The Amex Stadium Brighton. Visit our website: brightonandhovebusinessshow.uk
Connecting Businesses… To find out more call Mike Monk on 01273 286133 or Mobile 07885 490266 or email him mike@brightonandhovebusinessshow.uk
tel: 01444 259 259
hospitality and events
june/july 2019 business April/May2022 businessedge edge
SussExport 2022 Do you know that hidden in plain sight just outside Steyning, lies one of the world’s most prestigious international diplomatic organisations? For 70 years Wiston House, the grand 16th century seat of the Goring family, has been home to Wilton Park, the executive agency of the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, responsible for shaping global networks to tackle common challenges. Gemma Funnell Client Relations Manager Wilton Park Executive Agency
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 bring the right people together in dialogue to tackle the most challenging issues of our time. Conversations unlock ideas, tap into potential and shape solutions.
On Friday 8 July, with kind support from our local MP Andrew Griffith, we will be hosting SussExport 2022. Launched last year, we hope to continue our kickstart to the post COVID efforts and combine regional focus with practical support and help businesses to build back better. SussExport is a unique event, giving local businesses and international trade ambassadors the opportunity to engage with the Sussex growth story. We want you to join the discussion on why Sussex is a great place to do business with the rest of the world. As well as senior participation from the Department for International Trade, SussExport will combine advice on how and where to export more combined with presentations and experiences from some of the regions’ leading brands.
To attend SussExport or enquire about our sponsorship packages, please contact us at sussexport@wiltonpark.org.uk. 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.
Mairon Freight UK - BTCC sponsorship continues Mairon UK’s sponsorship continues within BTCC! We can now reveal that we are levelling up our commitment to the support, especially going into a brand-new era of car’s using hybrid engine’s. Our sponsorship over the last few years has been with Tom Ingram, a driver of talent that deserves the title, last year it was great to be trackside and, in the pits, supporting him. Ash Horn Business Development Manager Mairon Freight Management (UK) Ltd
2022 look’s to be a very exciting year and as a result for the upcoming season we have partnered with EXCELR8 Motorsport to increase our sponsorship in the sport. You will see our logo on not only Tom Ingram’s car but also…. Tom Chilton who has joined the team for the upcoming season! Our logo will visible on both car bonnets and the team have done an incredible job on the livery this year, they both look incredible. CEO Tommy Watson had this to say – “For Mairon it’s a big achievement to be able to do this, it shows the hard work the team back at HQ in Washington, West Sussex have put in and without them we wouldn’t be able to do this. In freight forwarding no two days are the same, and the challenges not only us but the whole industry has experienced in the last year
were unprecedented, coming out of what we hope is the other side as a business we have huge ambitions” EXCELR8 Motorsport continue to go from strength to strength, they are creating something special, and we can’t wait to see
what unfold’s this season. We wish all four driver’s that EXCELR8 have running in the BTCC 2022 the best of luck for the season, and we will see you at Donnington Park Circuit on the 23rd April. ash@mairon.co.uk
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
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April/May2022 june/july 2019 business edge
Demystifying Search Engine Optimisation
Change Change and the need to rethink, adapt and innovate are constants in business life. In fact, so important is this to business and overall economic growth that the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, or BEIS, which replaced the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in July 2016, employs around 5,000 staff who are responsible for: business industrial strategy science, research and innovation energy and clean growth climate change Amongst their stated 2021-2022 strategic priorities are to unleash innovation and accelerate science and technology throughout the country to increase productivity and UK global influence
Stephen Clark CEO&Founder, Prophecy Marketing
factors that search engines use to assess what position they should have in SERPs. However, it is worth noting that this is not a one-off exercise that can be tackled intermittently. The digital landscape is
What is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)? SEO in simple terms is optimising a website so that it climbs higher in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). The target of effective SEO is to position your website on page one, ideally in the top three results so that your customers can find you easily.
How can you improve your SEO? Optimising websites used to be simple, however as search engines have become more sophisticated with the use of algorithms informed by artificial intelligence, the techniques required for effective SEO have become more advanced. Google, for example, assesses over 200s factors when deciding where to rank a URL in search results. They look at everything from the specific keywords, content quality, page design, website speed, backlinks,…the list continues. To improve a website’s performance, brands need to address all the different ranking
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always evolving, and search engines are constantly changing their algorithms.
How do you know if your SEO needs work? To check if your SEO needs attention, place yourself in the shoes of your customer and do some searches. Don’t just search for your brand name, try other search terms that customers might use. If your company is not on page one for these searches, then your SEO needs work.
Request a complimentary SEO audit If you want to know more about how you can improve your websites’ performance,
back long-term growth: boost enterprise by making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business World events, be they pandemics or wars, will always dictate short term priorities and the same is true in business, and it’s useful to zoom out sometimes to get perspective. Beyond the immediate challenges of supply chains, of input costs and of consumer confidence, the need to innovate is a constant; to try and do things better, improve quality, enhance customer service, be more efficient and as business leaders do all of this more authentically and empathetically with our teams. To strengthen the UK’s status as an innovator and place to do business, BEIS committed to £14.9 billion R&D spending in 2021/22. Our challenge in the ‘affluent’ South-East is to ensure that funds flow into our region (ideally proportionate to our contribution to GDP!) and the Sussex Chamber continues to lobby to that effect on behalf of our members.
we can provide a complimentary audit and one hour of consultancy detailing its
Rob Clare
performance, plus a plan to upgrade it.
Chairman Sussex Chamber of Commerce
Email Stephen@prophecy.marketing or call 01273 234 686 to book your audit, or visit www.prophecy.marketing/free-seo-audit
www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
tel: 01444 259 259
business chamber matters protect
june/july April/May2022 december/january 2019 business business 2018edge business edge edge
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women in business
Victoria Back Managing Director
Abi Newbury & Louise Underdown Managing Directors
RH & RW Clutton
Honey Barrett Chartered Accountants
RH & RW Clutton is an independent premier estate agency and property management company in East Grinstead, Petworth and Guildford. We have been in business for nearly 280 years and Victoria Back has been Managing Director for just 8 of those years and it feels like both a huge privilege and a huge responsibility to be at the helm of such a long-standing and successful business.
Honey Barrett Chartered Accountants offer a broad range of high quality, specialised services to businesses, individuals and medical professionals across the South East.
We provide a comprehensive range of property services to support clients as they buy, develop, rent, invest, manage and sell property on a residential and commercial basis. We understand the needs and requirements of our clients and pride ourselves on our personal and approachable service. “Our heritage and our local reputation are extremely important to us, and I am very conscious of the need to preserve that history whilst ensuring we are always ahead of the game to continue to truly flourish.” We are very excited to be opening up a new office in the centre of East Grinstead in April, which will be a dedicated base for our award-winning Residential Estate Agency and Lettings Team. The new West Street office will provide us with a prominent shopfront from which to build even stronger partnerships with our clients and applicants and to showcase our knowledge and expertise in the local area as well as enabling us to be even more involved in the local community. We look forward to welcoming you to our new office at 1 West Street, East Grinstead RH19 4EY or contact us for more information on property sales and lettings. Tel: 01342 410122 Email: agency@rhrwclutton.co.uk www.rhrwclutton.com
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April/May2022 business edge
www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
Having joined Honey Barrett in 2002, Abi Newbury FCA took over as Managing Director in May 2020. She is an expert medical specialist accountant, heading up the firms medical department and on the executive committee of the Association of Independent Specialist Medical Accountants. Abi enjoys working closely with her clients to help achieve the best results for their businesses. A previous winner of the ‘East Sussex Business Mother of the Year’ award, Abi is a proud Mum to Benjamin and Scarlett. Louise Underdown joined Honey Barrett in 2014, while qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. She was promoted to Director in 2018. Louise won an ICAEW award, achieving the highest average marks of a non-graduate internationally. She works closely with the firm’s corporate clients on tax advice & planning, plus forecasting, analysis and audits. Like Abi, Louise is a Mum, juggling her career and son Jack. Both Abi and Louise discovered a passion for accountancy at a young age and continued to work hard to fulfil their aspirations. There are many career paths that can be followed in an accountancy practice environment. Government funding is now more accessible allowing Honey Barrett to offer exciting opportunities for trainees. Abi and Louise’s vision for Honey Barrett is to continue to grow the firm including providing opportunities that encourage women and those with families to reach their full potential. Tel: Abi on 01424 730345 or Louise on 01323 412277 email: abi.newbury@honeybarrett.co.uk and louise.underdown@honeybarrett.co.uk www.honeybarrett.co.uk
tel: 01444 259 259
women in business
june/july 2019 business April/May2022 businessedge edge
Sue Brand
Caroline Milton
Managing Director
Partner
RDB Star Rating
Menzies LLP
RDB Star Rating was established by Sue Brand in 1997 to design and develop a national benchmark system for classifying care, services, and facilities at residential care homes.
As a business owner with a young family, I understand only too well the challenge of balancing motherhood and my career whilst still finding time for myself.
The RDB model and assessment tool was developed after lengthy consultation with the broadest range of interested parties. It is client focused in its approach, responsive to the home‘s client group, and encompasses a diverse range of care standards, varying from the way personal care is delivered to the management of the home and its personnel. It is now widely recognised that RDB Star Rating is a leading authority on measuring care ‘quality’ provision on a scale of two to five stars. The importance of the scheme is to enhance transparency to prospective customers and purchasers of care, enabling them to make an informed choice when they are at their most vulnerable. The RDB Star rating system is designed as a dynamic and responsive measurement tool to ensure the assessment is comprehensive, dependable and focused on the needs of the residents The RDB accreditation/Inspection is conducted annually and is holistic, objective and development in its approach and takes between two to five days, depending on the registration category and the size of the home.
At Menzies LLP, I manage 60 staff in our Leatherhead office and am Head of our Manufacturing sector. I acknowledge this is a privileged position and find I am an important role model for the women of the firm. It is important to demonstrate getting the Work Life balance equation right. This is facilitated through a number of family friendly policies at Menzies. Initiatives such as our agile working policy allow us to work flexibly, creating time for me to attend sports days or pick the children up from school. I have worked hard throughout my career to drive positive change for women and am proud to be part of a firm who truly recognises and rewards individuals based on their talent and what they can bring to the firm. At Menzies, we have a committee of staff and partners who are continually implementing new ideas to improve our working environment. They have a dedicated focus on diversity and inclusivity and have helped raise awareness of a number of issues which impact women in business, e.g. this month we focused on women’s health.
Tel: 01273 411 811
As a firm who employees 50:50 men and women at the start of their career, it is really rewarding to see more women becoming Partners. In January this year we appointed 6 new partners, 50% of whom are women.
Email: rdb@rdbstar-rating.com
Email: cmilton@menzies.co.uk
www.rdbstar-rating.com
www.menzies.co.uk
RDB Star Rating, 8 Tungsten Building, George Street, Fishersgate, West Sussex, BN41 1RA
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
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business support
April/May2022 business edge
The Sherrards Academy – building your Employment Law knowledge and skills Sherrards is a leading specialist employment law firm, providing employment law advisory services, HR consultancy and employment related training to clients throughout the UK. The Sherrards Academy is a learning and development platform incorporating a full range of online employment law and HR related training courses. The Sherrards Academy UK Employment Law Course has been designed for people managers and HR professionals looking to acquire or reinforce their knowledge of UK employment law legislation. The course blends direct contact with an experienced, specialist employment law solicitor with engaging learning content, accessed 24/7 via the Academy website. Our UK Employment Law Course is certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles, and delegates who complete the course can record 8 CPD hours. To find out more please visit www.sherrardsacademy.com Sherrards 4 Albourne Court, Henfield Road, Albourne West Sussex BN6 9DB Tel: 01273 834120 email: academy@sherrardslaw.com
www.sherrardsacademy.com
Sherrards Generic Academy ad half pg BEM 22-01 v3.indd 1
Why not join us for a special Chilean wine tasting evening? We are holding a friendly wine tasting evening, featuring five different wines from Chile with a charcuterie sharing board on each table. Our expert will talk you through all these delicious wines. £25.00 per head at the Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne at 6.45pm on Thursday 19 May 2022.
11/01/2022 09:34
The perfect way to have a team building day! • • • • •
Walking in the South Downs National Park Qualified knowledgable walk guide Walk to match your fitness Seven Sisters hike/Cuckmere River stroll Sussex pub lunch with local produce
We can build your day around you, just call us!
Book early as places are limited: 01323 737271 info@fizzonfoot.com
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• Accompanied by our wine connoisseur • Vine to Wine tour of prize-winning vineyard • Tutored wine tasting by the on-site wine maker • Transport included
www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
Tel: 01323 737271 Mobile: 07971 851777 @fizzonfoot fizz on foot @fizzonfoot www.fizzonfoot.com info@fizzonfoot.com
tel: 01444 259 259
business support
june/july 2019 business April/May2022 businessedge edge
A Pothole, Outsourced IT and Microsoft Remote Desktop Story… As in the classic convention of fairy tale storytelling, it typically starts off with a hero or heroine performing a task and then being rewarded. The best of them usually has an insurmountable event and then some magical assistance thrown in for good measure! The Cast The The The The
Handsome Prince – Who else? pothole played by the pothole fire breathing dragon – the car relay service magical assistance – Microsoft Remote desktop solution
My story is set against the backdrop of the A27. Whilst the car in the picture is not my car, the pot-hole in question that took out my tire, could have swallowed a 4x4. The glass-shattering bang that came with the tire exploding would have made even the most seasoned SO-19 officers duck down. However, it was a sunny day and my car had already sent a text notification automatically, to the breakdown service. I glanced at my watch, it said 11:30 am.
17:27pm, the breakdown service finally turned up… I’m sure you can imagine what I thought about that. The absolutely killer line, was when the driver turned up and said:
‘I was just around the corner, not 10 minutes away, but they sent me somewhere else’. So that was my Friday. All the work I had planned to do. Luckily, I had my laptop with me. I switched on the mobile hotspot facility in my car, powered up my laptop and connected to my office files, using Microsoft remote desktop app.
The RDS App allowed me full access to all our company files, so that I could work on proposals, create documents, go over various projects, sign off on orders, all without a problem. So, for my reward – RDS saved the day. Things can go south with your IT, so it’s good to have a backup plan – where you can work remotely from the cloud, with a software package in place to get your business back up and running just when you run into life’s potholes. No dragons were harmed in the writing of this story.
ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 27001:2013 Certified
IMAGINE HAVING ACCESS TO ALL THE BEST IT SERVICES.
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CNC provide the most comprehensive range of IT services in the South East including: – IT Support & Outsourcing
– Hosted Phones & Mobiles
– Internet Connectivity
– Security Services
– Installation & Infrastructure
– Cloud & Hosting
– IT Hardware & Software
– Disaster Recovery
– Cloud e-Mail Archiving
– Apple Support
– Mobile & Remote Access
– Virtualisation
– Off-Site Data Backup
– Office 365 & Azure
We would love to talk to you and offer a Complimentary systems & security check-up with no obligations to use our services.
— 01273 386 333 — sales@cnc-ltd.co.uk — www.cnc-ltd.co.uk
Celebrating 25 Years in business
1996—2021
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digital and technological innovation
April/May2022 business edge
How Extech Cloud helped a start-up business in the financial sector When financial services provider, Verdant Financial Planning was founded in 2020, the founder recognised the importance of choosing a dependable, flexible and easily accessible IT solution, which has supported the company in getting to where it is today. Andrew Hookway Managing Director, Extech Cloud
Putting its IT system completely in the Cloud with Extech Cloud from the start has not only helped Verdant Financial Planning to run smoothly and effectively, it has also enabled successful growth. The business began with just one employee, growing to a team of eight staff, just eighteen months later. Verdant Financial Planning originally approached Extech Cloud for expert advice because we have experience working with start-up businesses in the wealth management industry. On the guidance of the highly experienced and professional Extech Cloud team, Verdant Financial Planning opted to position its IT network completely in the Cloud. As the team today is based in different parts of the country, the flexibility of the IT
solution provided by Extech Cloud has also been valuable, enabling collaboration across multiple locations. Being established in the Cloud is a step towards one of Verdant Financial Planning’s long-term goals, which is to become a carbon neutral business. Extech Cloud has also helped with specifying suitable
hardware, providing support in backing up valuable data, and ensuring compliance and cybersecurity, alongside day-to-day support as needed. Find out more about how we helped Verdant Financial Planning, by reading the case study on the Extech Cloud website. extechcloud.com
Bluelite Group announced as finalists in prestigious Regional FSB Awards The Bluelite Graphics Group has been announced as a finalist in the Environmental/ Sustainability category of the South East Region Federation of Small Business Awards 2022. Lorraine Avery Managing Director, Bluelite Group
“We are delighted to be shortlisted for this award which recognises the journey that Bluelite is on to minimise its carbon footprint and reduce its environmental impact, in partnership with its employees, suppliers and customers.
The award is designed to recognise the most ethical, socially responsible or green business that has helped to drive environmental improvements across their business and/or the wider green economy. Bluelite, based in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, has been at the forefront of vehicle livery design and application for more than 30 years and places sustainability at the core of its operations, as Managing Director, Lorraine Avery explains:
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“It’s also good to see that our core markets of publicly funded emergency services fleets are increasingly focused on supply chains contributing to sustainability goals. “Bluelite is accredited to ISO 14001 for environmental management and we use independent assessors to chart our progress on our sustainability journey; we constantly challenge ourselves to do better.”
www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
In recent years, Bluelite has introduced a number of measures to reduce its environmental impact, including investing in renewable energy generation to reduce its carbon emissions, along with the use of low solvent inks, LED lighting and adoption of electric vehicle service support. The awards event is being held on 25th March at Hickstead International Showground, Haywards Heath, when the winners of all 12 categories will be announced. The winner from each category secures a spot in the prestigious UK final later in the year and a chance to be crowned the UK Small Business of the Year. bluelitegraphics.com
tel: 01444 259 259
April/May2022 business edge
digital and technological innovation
A tale of two products – 5 routes for innovation in an SME Will Patrick, Commercial Director at FermionX Group on how different approaches to innovation has resulted in 50 years of a success. Will Patrick Commercial Director FermionX Ltd
As a contract electronics manufacturer, this year also marks some important milestones for two of our key product brands, something we wouldn’t be doing without a focus on innovation. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of our Seward Stomacher® laboratory blenders, 2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of our Airbox Asbestos Air Sampling Pumps. Both manufactured by us at our Worthing factory, two very different products, but both sharing a common theme. Each are top of their field in technological innovation and global sales. Something of an achievement for a family-run CEM from West Sussex.
Innovation through legacy Our Seward Stomacher® paddle blender range, used in sample preparation microbiology, is referenced in thousands of protocols and scientific papers. Invented in 1972 at the very start of the processed food era, it was created to prepare samples for food manufacturers. It was critical in working out ‘use by’ dates and food safety, and still is. Today, Seward Stomacher® blenders are used across a huge range of applications, from cancer treatments to cutting edge microbiome research. Over 8 million samples are prepared every day in a Seward Stomacher® paddle blender.
Innovation through peer learning Innovation has been vital in keeping Seward and the Stomacher® lab blenders at the forefront of sample preparation. Stuart Ray, our resident microbiologist and European Sales Director is always on hand to discuss new protocols with customers. His scientific background has been critical in our ability to offer customers added value. This peerto-peer relationship has played a large part in the development of new products, from sample bags designed to survive intense heat and processing, to the latest Seward Stomacher® EVO paddle blender.
Innovation through necessity In an industry where single use plastics have long been a necessary part of the
sample testing process (it’s not possible to reuse or recycle plastics that have been contaminated by pathogens), the Stomacher® EVO lab blender offers the chance for laboratories to reduce their plastic waste by way of a patented ‘shelf’ that can be inserted into the Stomacher’s® chamber. This simple innovation means that labs can use smaller plastic bags for the same tests. This has the potential to change plastic consumption and waste disposal costs for laboratories around the world (remember those 8 million samples prepared a day in a Stomacher®, each one in a single use plastic bag!). A huge reduction in plastic use and waste in one innovative change.
Innovation through common ground Asbestos testing and removal regulations differ country to country, but asbestos is a global problem affecting the health of millions of people. We didn’t want to simply focus on creating an Airbox Asbestos air testing pump that delivered the minimum in terms of current standards and regs. Instead, we talked to global customers, we researched global regulatory standards and we developed products to suit each market – to a point. We very quickly realised that to try and appeal to every customer would create an impossible production line. Working with end users and distributors, we
identified target markets and focused on building a key range of five Airbox Asbestos Air Sampling pumps. We created a product offer that we could maximise on our production line, but one that had a solution for our main markets and beyond.
Innovation through exception Alongside our core products, we designed an Airbox asbestos pump that goes beyond most global asbestos regulations. With a range of features including flow compensation, live Bluetooth data, and downloadable test reports, the Airbox Dataflow future proofs our product line for the next few years, or at least until global regulations catch up with the level of compliance the Dataflow has to offer.
FermionX - Innovation in practice So, what is best practise when it comes to being an innovative SME? Within the FermionX Group, we are celebrating anniversaries because we have looked to innovate our products, but only when we can see a clear purpose and deliverable advantage. Here’s to the next 50 years! fermionx.com seward.co.uk airboxsp.com
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digital and technological innovation
April/May2022 business edge
25 years on: the impact of technology on ABC Translations This June marks the 25th anniversary of ABC Translations; we’ve been thinking about how our business and indeed the world of work have changed in that time, but also how the fundamentals have stayed the same. Technology has, naturally, been the biggest driver of change. We thought we were fairly tech-savvy when we started out – we had a website, email, broadband rather than dialup (remember that nasty modem noise?) and the latest version of Microsoft Office. However, even then, the bulk of work arrived to us by post, fax and phone, and most of our customers wanted hard copies of translations mailed to them. A quarter of a century on, and 95% of documents are received and sent electronically. Moreover, with the current pandemic even law firms and courts are beginning to accept electronic copies of certified documents. All our files are stored in the Cloud, we use online systems for banking, accounting and credit checking. Our Zoho account incorporates our CRM, project management system, electronic mailing, website chat function and enquiry forms – things we couldn’t have considered back then. Many more translators now use CAT (computer-aided translation) tools too. These are not the same as machine or automatic translation (think Google Translate) but include translation memory software and terminology management software which allow linguists to reuse previously translated text and automatically search for approved translations of technical and specialist terms. These can speed up the translation process and assure consistency, whilst maintaining the human touch necessary to ensure accuracy of context. Covid has accelerated the technological changes; no surprise there. For our interpreters, their day-to-day has altered almost unrecognisably. There have always been the occasional telephone assignments, but the vast majority of jobs took place in person: in barrister’s chambers, law offices, courts, prisons, hospitals, conference rooms. Now an online meeting via Zoom, Teams or the bespoke court video service is the norm, and in-person bookings with the associated expense of additional time and travel are much rarer. Longer assignments with multiple attendees will always work better in person, but a short conversation to gather information or explain the meaning of documents can be achieved much more simply. As for those of us who used to be based in the office, we’ve embraced working from home and continue to do so; it’s made us work smarter and given the team a better work/life balance. Of course, our translators
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and interpreters have always worked remotely, but it was a definite shift of culture for all in-house staff. Teams has been our lifeline; we ‘chat’ all day, both about work and life in general, share files, make jokes, have meetings via phone and video, answer and transfer calls. One positive side-effect of remote working is a major reduction in our energy usage as a business. We are now almost paperless, with a corresponding drop in our need for other stationery: pens, clips, staples, envelopes, print consumables. No one is commuting to the office any longer (just as well, with the current cost of fuel!); many more meetings are held online, and those that aren’t are usually accessed via public transport. We’re well aware of our digital carbon footprint though, so we continue to ensure that we don’t send more emails (or copy in more recipients) than required and that our website is as eco-friendly as possible. Digital technology is powerful, but we need to remain aware of the hidden environmental costs.
an online quote system, we can still chat to customers by phone. Some correspondence with suppliers might be automated, but it’s always important to have times when we’re including chat about holidays, family, theatre shows we’ve seen, festivals we’re looking forward to. That essential human touch, that makes the work worthwhile. Where technology aids the conversation, rather than hindering it. abc-translations.co.uk
A couple of the fundamentals haven’t really changed in any material way, though. Attention to detail, thorough proofreading and a good knowledge of our clients are still the cornerstone of our service and always will be. And still of vital importance is the contact between staff, translators, interpreters and clients. We might all be working from home, but we still value our real-life catch ups over brunch to discuss strategy and brainstorm. Even if we have
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Julie Roff Director, ABC Translations
April/May2022 business edge
digital and technological innovation
Introducing Cellnex UK Reflecting on what has been the most extraordinary two years, I have been struck by how telecommunications and digital connectivity have served as the lifeblood for businesses, families, friends and communities. Indeed, I hate to think how much worse the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic would have been had it hit 20 years ago - when the UK’s fixed and mobile telecoms infrastructure had a fraction of the capacity of today and before the advent of social media and digital apps. As the world adapted to the so-called ‘new normal’ ways of working, learning, and connecting from afar, Cellnex UK also underwent significant changes in how we work, all the while operating as a provider of critical national infrastructure and upgrading the infrastructure that supports the UK’s 4G and 5G mobile networks.
So who are we? Cellnex UK is part of Cellnex Telecom, Europe’s leading mobile telecoms infrastructure provider. Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Cellnex Telecom operates in 12 European countries. Since 2019 Cellnex has committed investments of £6.1billion in the UK including the acquisition of Arqiva’s telecoms business in July 2020. Cellnex UK is the country’s largest independent mobile telecoms infrastructure provider, with millions of people relying on us for connectivity every day. We partner with all four of the UK’s Mobile Network Operators, the emergency services and hundreds of private businesses to meet the ever-increasing demand for ultra-fast connectivity. Our work is integral to the roll-out of 5G, which is forecast to boost the UK economy by £15.75 billion by 2025.
Closing the digital divide A key area of focus for Cellnex UK is helping to reduce digital exclusion, a problem both highlighted and exacerbated by the pandemic. Further to ensuring that our infrastructure provides connectivity to even the most rural areas in the UK, we’re supporting the Government in its ‘levelling up’ programme, aiming to ensure that no place or person is left behind as our society becomes increasingly digitised. Last year, Cellnex undertook significant activity to support local Covid-19 relief across all countries that the Group operates in. This funding has allowed us to work with local charities and NGOs to help those most vulnerable to digital exclusion. An example of this is our
partnership with The UK Community Foundations: together, we’re providing devices, connectivity and digital skills training to ensure people from disadvantaged or rural communities can learn, work, apply for jobs and connect with family and friends virtually. We’re also spearheading a campaign called “Speed Up Britain”, which calls for reforms to the Electronic Communications Code to enable the UK to deploy connectivity upgrades faster and more effectively. The campaign aims to close loopholes that are slowing down the UK’s progress in achieving 95 per cent 4G coverage in the UK and that are ultimately disadvantaging those without reliable connectivity.
low latency and excellent security, private networks are central in helping organisations in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, ports and construction unlock the benefits of digital transformation and Industry 4.0.This year will see us continue the development of a 5G private network for Bristol Port and Gravity Smart Campus with our partners at WECA (West of England Combined Authority), and begin the deployment of our 10-year contract to provide a private 5G network at BasingView, Basingstoke’s central business district.
Cellnex UK and The Sussex Chamber of Commerce
A connected future
I’m very excited to be joining the Sussex
Looking ahead to five, ten, fifteen years from now, I truly believe that our work will drive sustained economic and social progress through connectivity and innovation. Our infrastructure provides high connectivity for transport systems such as railways and ports, supports the technologies required to develop connected smart-cities, and boosts the entertainment and leisure industries by creating fully connected experiences in stadia and shopping centres.
Chamber of Commerce and to start
In 2022, we’re laying the foundations for a fully connected future, and our work begins right in the heart of Sussex. Last year, we were awarded a 25-year contract with Network Rail to provide uninterrupted, high-speed connectivity for passengers on the Brighton-London mainline route. At its peak, 1,700 trains and 300,000 people pass through the route each day. Work for this project is well underway, with fibre already deployed along a large section of the track from Three Bridges down towards Brighton. Through a combination of improved cellular internet, mobile reception and fibre services, this project will make a real difference to passengers and local communities all along the route. Our private networks business is also a key priority. Offering high bandwidth,
building new relationships with local organisations and communities. With one of our biggest long-term projects taking place here, Sussex is incredibly important to our business, and I look forward to future opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.
David Crawford Managing Director, Cellnex
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advertorial
April/May2022 june/july 2019 business edge
Invest in your future Take on an apprentice Taking on an apprentice improves productivity and motivation while helping to fill important skills gaps in your business and your industry. With over 50 years’ experience, we are extremely proud to deliver apprenticeships to more than 1,000 employers in a wide range of industries, including construction, business, catering, hospitality, engineering, care, retail, horticulture and more. To find out how we can work together contact our apprenticeships team: Call: 01243 812948 or email apprenticeships@chigroup.ac.uk For general information visit our website ccgtraining.ac.uk
to advertise or contribute to GREEN BUSINESS JOURNAL advertising: barrie.miller@ distinctivegroup.co.uk editorial: karen.southern@ distinctivegroup.co.uk
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business advertorial matters
june/july 2019 business April/May2022 businessedge edge
How to talk to about mental health at work “I think your approach and personality is perfectly suited to the career that you have chosen, I’m very happy we had you as our tutor.” Employers have a legal responsibility under the Health & Safety at Work Act to take care of their employees. But what happens when we notice that someone is struggling? It can be tempting to avoid those difficult conversations. The ones where you speak about things that aren't comfortable; pain, fear, anxiety, mental ill health. Yet these are the conversations that make a real difference to people's lives. Bringing things into the open makes them more manageable. Discussing things makes it easier to understand others. Being open to hearing how others feel, helps you to understand and support them. You are not there to diagnose or tell someone what to do. Although it can be difficult to know what to say on what can be a sensitive subject, your listening ear will help someone to feel better, or to find the courage to seek support with their health and wellbeing. If you aren't sure where to start, then check out our five key tips for a healthy conversations around mental wellbeing, and see some of the suggested questions below. This isn’t an exhaustive list and its not designed to be prescriptive, just a pointer in the right direction….
like?" Open questions allow the person space to express themselves and allow you to gain greater understanding of how the issue is affecting the person.
When discussing something that is potentially difficult, it can be helpful to broach the subject whilst you are doing something else, such as driving, or going for a walk. Being next to each other and chatting naturally rather than face to face where you can't look anywhere but each other can be less stressful and make it easier for someone to open up.
3. Don't try to fix it. It's so tempting, particularly when it is someone you really care about, to try to resolve all the issues, but it is often more helpful to just listen carefully. The person may have tried a number of ways to resolve the problems they are facing so unless you have been asked directly for advice, it’s better to just listen.
4. Don't treat them any differently. If you want to provide support then do the things you would normally do. Sometimes the simplest things like a message to say Hi! or sharing a silly video, or a memory of a good time that you shared can be enough. Let them know you are thinking of them.
And listen carefully to the answers, so the person feels heard and understood. It's OK to ask open questions such as "How does that affect you?" or "What does that feel
90% of people still fear discrimination at work if they reported a mental health issue. Open conversations about mental health are more important than ever. Anna at Stratus Coaching is aiming to change the conversation on mental health. Together we can understand a bit more about mental health and wellbeing, overcome stigma and discrimination, and learn how to spot the signs of someone who may be struggling and start a conversation. If you would like a list of conversation starters on mental health, details of upcoming webinars, Mental Health First Aid training, in-house training or advice around developing a wellbeing strategy for your teams, then please contact Anna Golawski:
anna@stratuscoaching.co.uk 07799334594
5. Be patient. 1. Ask open questions
90%
2. Time and place.
www.stratuscoaching.com
People may not be willing to open up right away. But if they feel that you are willing to have the conversation then they are more likely to seek you out when they are ready to talk.
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business big interview matters
august/september december/january April/May2022 june/july 2019 2018 business edge
Acumen: a law firm with a twist (or two) Just a stone’s throw from Hove seafront lies a law firm with a difference. CEO Penina Shepherd explains how Acumen Business Law and Acumen People Solicitors broke the mould. Back in 2007, Penina decided it was time for change in the legal profession – change that it was reluctant to embrace. Having been a high-flier in several top 100 law films, she was genuinely frustrated with the prevailing ‘fuddy duddy’ outlook. “The world of business was modern and agile,” she explains, “but the legal profession was lagging behind. “I wanted to offer a different kind of service, but it was like pushing water up a hill. The feedback was, well, this is how things have always been done.” So, while on maternity leave with her third child, Penina decided to strike out on her own. “I was determined to shake off the aloof image associated with the industry, and offer an unpretentious, approachable service – something that was truly unique.”
Even setting up Acumen was unconventional. “Generally, solicitors setting up a new law firm will bring clients with them. But when I opened my office (15 years ago this September), I had a desk, a chair, a computer… but no clients! “ This soon changed. Despite facing a sudden double whammy of serious illness and global recession, Acumen Business Law quickly found its feet with its friendly, down-to-earth approach. “At first I thought my business couldn’t survive the initial obstacles, but then I just picked myself up and carried on,” Penina reflects. “To spread the message about what set us apart I networked nonstop and wrote blog after blog about legal issues long before it was trendy. “The very first thing I did once I set the firm up, was replace the traditional client hourly rate with fixed fees for all noncontentious matters. Fifteen years ago, this was revolutionary. I felt that had to change because, under the hourly rate charging system, clients felt unable to even indulge in pleasantries as the clock was ticking and it cost them money! “I didn’t want to base my customer relationships on that perspective, so now the initial meeting is free of charge, we scope the work and set a fixed fee for all non-contentious matters.” When Penina took on her first employee (who is still with her today), another legal trait went out of the window – the office hierarchy. Acumen’s internal workings had to be a breath of fresh air too, so the official pecking order was scrapped.
Penina Shepherd CEO
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It’s this kind of dynamism that earned Acumen a listing in the FT’s Top 50 Groundbreaking & Innovative Lawyers in the UK and Europe, a UK Rising Star vote by The Observer, and many local business accolades. (As if that’s not enough, Penina is also bestselling author of The Freedom Revolution … and a headline speaker to boot!)
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“I wanted to make work fun and professional, and have everyone run the business together, right down to choosing office equipment,” Penina adds. “That eliminates the ‘water cooler terrorists’, the people who complain behind your back and cause ‘them’ and ‘us’ divisions. If everyone has a say, this doesn’t happen!” Indeed, Acumen Business Law’s expansion into legal services for private individuals -- Acumen People Solicitors – came about through an office chat. “Normally this kind of decision is made by the partners and announced to staff, but it was a collective agreement to branch out and it’s been a huge success.” Today, Acumen Business Law and Acumen People operate as two separate offerings with different websites and marketing, but with the same ethos, behaviours and values that make the firm so successful overall. They also share unique branding. “We are obsessed with zebras,” Penina says. “They feature in our marketing collateral, in a
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business big interview matters
june/july April/May2022 december/january 2019 business business 2018edge business edge edge
The Acumen Team
massive boardroom mural, there’s even a life-sized model in the lobby. “The zebra stands out in the wild because it’s black and white. It’s a head turner among all the brown and grey on the savannah. We like to think Acumen stands out in the legal world in the same way. It also works because people often think the
law is black and white but, in practice, it is more than 50 shades of grey...!”
work was done at cost. The attitude was ‘Let’s get through this together’.
Penina reflects on how she thought it was ‘game over’ when lockdown hit. But once the shock subsided and the team regrouped, they realised the local business community needed them more than ever. “We provided free Covid related legal helpline advice and regular updates, plus any Covid related legal
“I freely admit I was in the depths of despair to begin with, but it ended up being our second most profitable year ever – totally unexpected, but so rewarding.”
“The zebra stands out in the wild because it’s black and white. It’s a head turner among all the brown and grey on the savannah. We like to think Acumen stands out in the legal world in the same way. It also works because people often think the law is black and white but, in practice, it is more than 50 shades of grey...!”
Community spirit is very important to Penina, which is why she launched the Acumen Business Convention back in 2009. This colourful event, featuring keynote speakers, networking, entertainment - and zebras, of course - returns to the Grand Hotel Brighton on 8 June 2022. “Our last convention in November was a sellout,” Penina concludes. “This year we are excited to have Heather Mills as our keynote speaker! As always there will be lunch, drinks, live entertainment and an inspiring line of speakers.” Super Early Bird tickets are sold out, but there are still some early bird tickets left at acumenbusinessconvention.co.uk. More details about Acumen’s services can be found at Acumen Business Law and Acumen People.
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digital and technological innovation
April/May2022 june/july 2019 business edge
Dare to Dream at Adur & Worthing’s OneStopYouth Employability Hub Adur and Worthing Councils and the Love Local Jobs Foundation are working in partnership to deliver the Dare to Dream programme for a cohort of 18–24-year-olds looking to start their careers. Dare to Dream is an inspirational programme giving young people the confidence they need to fulfil their potential. Christina Fishlock Head of Community Programmes LoveLocal Jobs
The Youth Hub pilot is an exciting new extension of the work already delivered by the Love Local Jobs Foundation and is hoped to create additional opportunities for young adults to gain access to the same boost of positivity, self-belief and employability skills that has proven so effective for young people across Sussex in recent years. he programme consists of three one T day sessions which have taken place in January, February and March, involving an inspirational delivery from Jack the Lad, the well-known former host of the Breakfast Show on Heart FM, who is now on air with
More Radio, followed by mentoring, and the programme will end in workplace tours. Delivered around core themes of selfawareness, mindset, gratitude, resilience, teamwork and employability, inspirational speaker Jack has teamed up with business mentors from leading local employers including Kreston Reeves, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and Best Connection. The mentors are using their own experiences and knowledge to support the core themes of the programme to help drive and motivate the young people. Joanne Wood, coordinator of the OneStop Youth Employment Hub said, “It’s absolutely wonderful to see so many of our young adults take part in the programme. Jack ‘The Lad’ Hayes built a great rapport with them, and they listened with interest to all he said. The mentors were so welcoming to the young adults, listening and responding to them with warmth and kindness.”
Mascol Events Light boxes During the lockdown we have re-designed our light boxes to make them more versatile by basing them on 1.2m sections, allowing for multiple sizes to be built and with a very narrow footprint, it lends itself to various options where normal screens won’t fit. The graphic cover can then be used over and over, making them very economical for multiple events. Steve Cole Managing Director Mascol Productions
The internal Led lighting is now on both sides, giving a very even spread of light and with the frames all breaking down into small sections, it makes them very easy to transport both around the country and abroad. Photographic printing ensures that the results are truly inspiring, leaving the client with the true wow factor no matter what we print. New thinner frame. LED lights to both sides giving even spread. Slim depth with easy fit feet. Easy transport with purpose designed flight cases. Available in various sizes. info@mascol.com
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business matters
june/july 2019 business April/May2022 businessedge edge
The critical path to a successful fit-out or refurbishment Delivering a commercial fit out, refurbishment, relocation or upgrade of facilities is a major investment in both time and resources. At Phoenix Systems we have narrowed down the critical path to ensure maximum returns when investing in the future of your business. Julian Ridley Contracts Manager Pheonix Systems
Planning Where do I start? Fit out or refurbishment projects are challenging. They require various expertise and skillsets to collaborate at the right time to be delivered successfully. We believe, the start of this process can be split into two areas of thinking. One, defining the requirements of your business. Two, reviewing the ways you can improve the way you work, promote productivity, or inspire success. Once you’ve identified the needs of your business space, you can create a project brief. A successful project brief includes defined goals, a project scope, an allocated or estimated budget, and a realistic timeframe. If you struggle to complete this, we recommend asking a specialist to provide an idea of timeframes and costs of similar works.
Consult / Design The right team will be essential to your project’s success. Selecting the right team within your business is of the utmost importance. In our experience it’s best to select a project lead with the right personality to engage with your team internally and liaise with your fit out specialist and other external project contacts. When to seek professional advice / consultation? In our opinion, it’s best to engage with your chosen Fit-Out partner as soon as you have a comprehensive project brief and an internal project team. Early engagement will allow a company like us to evaluate your project brief. Choosing a fit-out partner who can consult, design and deliver your project, will not only be making your life easier, but will allow you to make the right choices at the right times, avoiding any wasted time or resources.
The project brief should be developed into a draft design. This will include an initial site survey, meeting and discussion to develop a budgetary costing and draft design. This process may take between 1-2 weeks. For fast track fit out or refurbishment projects the budget costing stage may be negated and moved straight to the comprehensive quotation stage.
Specify / Appoint This stage should begin with a fact-finding mission. From detailed site surveys to design led discussions, the aim should be to fill in gaps and test the draft proposals. Your new work environment will now start to take shape. Provided your team has gathered the information required, your fit-out partner will likely need a 2-4 week window to provide an ‘initial proposal’. This will include a developed design, key design features, schedule of works and detailed costings. Taking your draft designs from conception to accurate reflection of the works involved. The initial proposal can then be reviewed. We encourage our clients to ask questions and provide as much feedback at this stage as possible. We recommend your project lead spend some time involving all parties in the design. Upon further discussion changes are likely to take place and a final proposal created. It’s now time to appoint and progress. This is where the fun takes place; samples and site visits of similar works in your
area are a great way to develop your understanding of the final proposal.
Manage / Deliver With the aid of your fit-out specialists you should now gain the necessary permissions from landlords and building control, etc. In the background your fit-out partner will be compiling a construction phase plan. Once received the build process can begin, likely to take between 6-18 weeks dependant on your projects’ complexity or scale. We recommend weekly or fortnightly site meetings to ensure your team stay engaged with the project through this process.
The Move / Support Project handover will now be immanent. Furniture should be fitted, and your Fitout specialist should be given the time needed to finish the works and ensure its completion is tested and setup for your business needs. We advise that an induction meeting take place to ensure the setup of your new facility is fully understood and maximised. Part of this process will include an O&M manual providing your project team with the necessary test certificates, warranty details and cleaning / maintenance information. Finally, your project should be complete with a support system in place for any defects or future alterations. A full staff review may allow a final check that the space includes all items required.
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digital and technological innovation
April/May2022 june/july 2019 business edge
An ever-changing digital marketing world It may seem counter intuitive to expect a higher quality digital marketing service for a lesser price, however the current trend towards automating day to day mundane tasks such as reporting systems and onboarding information is ensuring that admin costs for marketing services are on the wane. This allows a more involved and friendly service, when compared to other digital marketing agencies that have a high administrative burden. For digital marketing firms, prices are largely remaining steady in relative terms and inflation being what it was, has led to only marginal year-on-year increases, due to intricate processes becoming more and more credibly automated, thus reducing the administrative overhead of digital marketing and technology-minded businesses. Search Engine Optimisation for example, has traditionally been a tough nut to crack for many businesses and agencies alike, with high admin costs, lots of data of which to make sense and repetitive manual tasks, however with the improvement in automation and technology and APIs with abundant, structured and organised data from the giants such as Google, in-house proprietary software such as that developed and utilised by Byzz+ is paving the way to a more manageable workload, significantly improving service quality and customer happiness. The irony is, that by its very nature, these systems allow for a much more human
approach to account management, really letting agencies such as Byzz+ understand what makes a client’s business tick, while giving the time needed to properly prepare and implement strategies, ensuring that campaigns are; and remain optimised for the best possible return for clients.
If you are looking for help with your digital marketing and need some structured and relevant guidance or advice, give Byzz+ a call, or visit our site at byzzplus.com today, and we will be glad to help.
So, what does this mean? In summary, by using automation and technology to assist with the client journey rather than frustrate it, Byzz+ are providing a high quality, high availability, and highly optimised digital marketing, PPC and search engine optimisation service to clients for less than traditional agencies, allowing small businesses into the marketing performance realm of companies that have traditionally been larger. The result is better for everyone involved, and as well as giving small businesses, sole traders and micro-entities a leg up, it is also much fairer to their end customers by giving them more choice and value for money in an ever-increasing digital marketplace.
Matthew Sidnell Co Founder, Byzz+
PRICING We know what it’s like when it’s impossible to find out the cost of something so we want to be upfront and clear about our prices. We are proud of our spaces and our service and we hope our prices reflect the level of excellence you’ll experience during your event. S A M P L E P A C K A G ES SILVER includes wifi, tea & coffee, flip chart, projector
bespoke • simp e • professional cost per delegate: £22-£40 (based on total number of delegates attending) GOLD
includes wifi, tea & coffee, flip chart, projector, organiser parking & cold lunch buffet cost per delegate: £32-£50 (based on total number of delegates attending)
Contact us: CityCoast Centre, North Street Portslade, East Sussex BN41 1DG 01273 433433 judith@citycoastcentre.co.uk citycoastcentre.co.uk
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P L AT I N U M includes personalised, segregated wifi network, tea & coffee, flip chart, projector, organiser parking, breakout rooms, executive food choice cost per delegate: £65-£75 (based on total number of delegates attending) minimum number of delegates for silver & gold packages is 10 minimum number of delegates for platinum package is 20 silver package for first floor hire only
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business advertorial matters
june/july 2019 business April/May2022 businessedge edge
Horsham District Mystery Trails
Mystery Trails for your business
Whistlestop Arts have been commissioned by Horsham District Council to create a set of free outdoor mystery trails in seven towns: Billingshurst, Henfield, Horsham, Pulborough, Southwater, Steyning and Storrington. This project seeks to add new opportunities to experience Horsham District’s market towns and provide support for our high street businesses.
The Mystery Trails offer fantastic free team-building and social opportunities for businesses. Whether connecting people after months of working from home or getting together for a social, the Mystery Trails provide the opportunity to explore, work together to solve clues and for an extra bit of competition, you can time the teams and see who finishes first!
These immersive and exciting trails will have broad appeal and aim to connect people with place, commerce and community.
Puzzles to solve
FREE
The ERDF’s Welcome Back Fund supports Horsham District Mystery Trails enabling communities to enjoy their high street as they solve puzzles and get to know the businesses and what they have to offer. It will stimulate additional footfall and spend in the market towns and help to promote what our high street businesses have to offer. The trails will act as springboards for further exploration of local culture and heritage.
Horsham District Mystery Trails launched at the end of March 2022 and runs for at least 12 months. Visit whistlestoparts.org for more information and to register for the Mystery Trails newsletter.
short courses in hospitality
Designed for businesses and individuals located in the Horsham and Mole Valley districts, our free hospitality skills and regulatory courses can be delivered at Crawley College, at your premises or at a place near you.
an me sc
All courses certified
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Call us to find out more: 01293 442344 hospitalityskillsbuffet.co.uk
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by Chichester College Group
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digital and technological innovation
April/May2022 business edge
Repurposing buildings to improve wellbeing As people around the world return to their offices, the impact workplaces have on our daily lives is being measured with increased frequency – and scrutiny. Phil Cottrell Managing Director GCL Building Technologies
Throughout 2021, policymakers set their sights on opportunities to advance and support health and wellbeing in buildings and organisations. And this focus looks like it’s only going to get stronger this year, and beyond. It may be gaining momentum in our postlockdown world, but the idea of “WellBuildings” properly started to gain traction with the WELL Building Standard TM. Launched in 2014 by Delos and administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), it was the world’s first building certification that focuses exclusively on human health and wellness.
How Are Well-Buildings Measured? As well as supporting your workforce and how they work, eg, allowing flexible scheduling, to be considered for a WELL Building Standard, you also need to leverage the actual workplace with wellbeing in mind. This can include providing access to dedicated wellbeing spaces or offering remote work policies – anything that focuses on supporting people’s health and productivity.
Can Existing Buildings Be WellBuildings? Absolutely. And retrofitting or repurposing buildings rather than replacing them is much more environmentally friendly. According to the Government’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s report, “the greenest building is the one that is already built”.
Can GCL Help with Repurposing? We certainly can. As a specialist smart buildings services provider, GCL has a proven track-record of delivering sustainable end-to-end repurposing and smart building services. We harness new and innovative technology and put the health and wellbeing of your staff at the forefront of any work we carry out. As a customer-centric company that only ever works with environmental and wellbeing consequences in mind, our specialties – which align with WELL – include:
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Structured IT cabling and fibre optic installations – for better communication and productivity Security, access control and CCTV – for property and employee safety and peace of mind Smart building services including LED lighting systems – to help reduce energy consumption and waste Our multiple smart building services are designed to make the project easier to manage and reduce the number of precious commodities used in the installation processes. Naturally, this lessens the environmental impact, but it also means better wellbeing due to less upheaval as well.
Smart LED Lighting Systems for Better Wellbeing Smart lighting systems use sensor technology and data analytics for space analysis and optimisation, employee/ visitor locating, lighting control, and more – all factors that can help with occupant wellbeing. A huge benefit to wellbeing provided by smart LED lighting systems is their ability to offer circadian lighting. This supports health by minimising the effect of electric light on the human circadian rhythm. In essence, this system produces an artificial ‘sunrise to sunset’ effect which travels through illuminance levels and colour spectrums from a warm colour spectrum
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(2,700K) to brighter, cooler (6,500K and upwards) and back again. The result is a more natural working environment and one that is proven to enhance employee efficiency and make the workplace a more comfortable environment.
Wellbeing Considerations During IT and Network Relocations If you’re considering commercial relocation to a space that supports the Well-Building certification and want to ensure positive wellbeing across your workforce, a smooth transition is critical. Ideally, you’ll want your staff to continue working throughout the move and have fully operational workspaces when they arrive at their new location. Relocation is an extensive project, particularly when it comes to IT and network transfers such as re-cabling, audits, server and infrastructure relocation. Working with a specialist means you can leverage working with fewer companies, allowing your management team to concentrate on other essential aspects of the move. As working culture continues to evolve into a more holistic space, rather than just to work, the buildings themselves need to be equipped to reflect and support this. At GCL, we are passionate about helping to create sustainable spaces that work for businesses as well as with their people.
tel: 01444 259 259
business matters
April/May2022 business edge
Do you have to be mad to run a business Do you have to be mad to run your own business? It helps. Running a business is both tough and challenging. You have to wear numerous hats - be skilled in many subjects and able to steer yourself in many directions. Navigating company law, VAT and Brexit, It’s tough. bank account regularly to check if a customer has paid.
Working 9 - 5 seems idyllic at times, when you get home, you can forget work until tomorrow. Not so, with your own business. Composing emails and
Nigel Grosse Director, Solo Nutrition
raising invoices at 2am because you can’t sleep until its completed; chasing an order or shipment to a customer when it is late or missing, checking your
After twenty-five years (and trading during a pandemic) would I have it any other way? Absolutely not. When a customer says they respect and appreciate your product, those2am emails are worth it.
5 things you can do today to help to secure your business’s cyber security. Chris White, Head of Cyber and Innovation at The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East shared his 5 things you can do today to help to secure your business’s cyber security. 1. Use strong passwords and store them securely Complex passwords can often be difficult to remember, which often leads to people choosing weaker passwords or repeating them across multiple accounts.
2. Double up your cyber protection Two-factor authentication (2FA) is designed to help stop cyber criminals accessing your accounts even if they obtain your passwords. It ensures that any new device trying to log in or make account changes needs a second layer of security before access is given.
3. Regularly backup your data and isolate it How long you would be able to operate without business-critical data, such as customer details or payment details? To help keep your files and data safe, you should secure digital backups with a password or encryption and keep them isolated from their associated network.
4. Update your software
We are here when you’re ready, but in the
Good cyber security practice means keeping computers, devices, applications, and software patched and up to date, and where you can, add the use of two-factor authentication with strong passwords.
meantime, you can see what we’re up to by following our social media channels or learning more about us on our website secrc.co.uk/membership.
5. Pay attention to detail While people can often be the weakest link in the chain, educating colleagues will help them become your strongest asset in protecting your business. The key to security awareness training is to equip all your employees with a level of awareness to combat cyber threats. The police-led centre offers a free-ofcharge to help level the playing field for smaller businesses in the South East who want to improve their cyber safety but don’t really know where to start. This is not a membership package that puts heavy demand on you, instead it gives you access to regular simple, easy to follow guidance, tools, and resources as well as the opportunity to have a jargon free 1:1 conversation to help you understand your current business cyber related risks.
Chris White Head of Cyber & Innovation South East Cyber Resilience Centre
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
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business digital and matters technological innovation
august/september december/january April/May2022 june/july 2019 2018 business edge
Vehicle Signwriting and Wrapping is the best way to market your business when you are on a budget If you’re running a small or medium sized business in Sussex, you’ll be aware of vehicle signage. Everything from scooters to lorries can be wrapped in vinyl to make an eye-catching marketing statement. But if you thought that vehicle signage was just for big business running a fleet of vehicles, you’re missing out on the power of graphics for your brand awareness and marketing campaigns. add a short code for texts and track the number of texts you receive add a QR code or URL that links through to a unique landing page where you can measure the number of hits and other useful metrics advertise a special discount or deal and keep track of how effective the offer is in terms of increased sales With all these methods, keep it as simple and memorable as you can so it stays with your customer if they don’t have their smartphone close at hand. With their unparalleled reach, costeffectiveness and visual appeal, vehicle wraps and signwriting are a match made in heaven for your SME. If you’re interested At The Sussex Sign Company, we work with small and medium enterprises to maximise the benefit they can get through vehicle signwriting and wrapping.
How can vehicle graphics market your SME? Vehicle signage gets seen by thousands of people per day, making them one of the most affordable ways to raise brand awareness. They’re particularly effective when you’re in traffic, either moving or stationary, but they can also grab attention when you’re parked outside the office or on a job. Turning your car or van into a mobile billboard is an effective way of taking your marketing message and brand directly to your target demographic. That makes vehicle signwriting much more costeffective for small businesses. A simple oneoff payment and a highly effective design makes this type of marketing more effective than newspaper or radio ads, with much lower costs per impression.
Is vehicle signage right for your business? So, is signwriting right for your small business? Vehicle signage is highly effective
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for many types of businesses, but can be a perfect fit for your small business: if you’re hyperlocal: if your business relies heavily on local clients, a sign written car or van will showcase your brand to your target market, keeping it top of mind if you’re in a visual industry: a vehicle wrap is a great way to showcase your work to potential clients if you’re in business in graphics, design, or photography
in finding out more about opportunities to build your brand and achieve the best return on investment, then contact us at The Sussex Sign Company, sussexsigns.com We have the experience and expertise to help you create and install a wrap that really boosts your brand.
if you run a small fleet of vehicles: if you’re in vehicle recovery or food delivery, matching designs across your vehicles can promote brand consistency and awareness, giving your company a professional appeal.
The average ROI of your vinyl graphics. Measuring ROI (return on investment) depends on several factors, including when and where you drive your vehicle and how effective the design is. However, there are some simple steps you can take to measure the reach and effectiveness of your vehicle signage: provide a unique phone number and track the number of enquiries you receive through it
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tel: 01444 259 259
Norman Mayhew Managing Director, The Sussex Sign Company
Avantguard Security Ltd Unit D1, Arundel Court Park Bottom, Arundel West Sussex, BN18 0AA 01903 890261
01903 890261 01903 890261
www.avantguardsecurity.co.uk Avantguard Security holds SIA Approved Contractor Scheme Status for the provision of Security Guarding & Key Holder Services
business new members matters
august/september december/january April/May2022 june/july 2019 2018 business edge
Welcome to Sussex Chamber of Commerce Membership of Sussex Chamber of Commerce can help you increase profits, get the best from your people and find new clients. Also, it saves you money, gets your voice heard and puts you in contact with even more businesses. New Affiliated Chambers & Associations
D&D Oriental Food Import and Export International Services Ltd D&D Oriental Food Import Export International Services Ltd is an importer and exporter of a wide array of food and general care products from various countries for sale and distribution in the UK. The company has been in business since 2020 and distinguishes itself through competitive and timely services. Address: Top floor, 80 Brighton road, Worthing , West Sussex, BN11 2EN Website: https://www.dndorientalfood. com/
Cellnex UK
Collier Pickard
Cellnex is Europe and the UK’s largest and fastest-growing independent owner and operator of wireless telecoms infrastructure and is integral to the successful rollout of 5G. With the wireless infrastructure foundation that we deliver across rural and urban areas, Cellnex UK connects everyone, everywhere.
Collier Pickard is a boutique provider of digital technologies for communication and relationship management. We have implemented over 400 CRM, sales automation, e-marketing, customer service and web solutions which automate the mechanics of customer and prospect handling. We help SMEs and divisions of global organisations achieve their strategic goals.
Address: Cellnex UK Head Office R+, 4th floor, 2 Blagrave Street, Reading, Berkshire,RG1 1AZ Website: www.cellnextelecom.co.uk
Address: The Old Calf House Chevening Road Sundridge Sevenoaks TN14 6AB Kent Website: https://www.collierpickard.co.uk/
Telephone: 020 4526 8553
Telephone: 01959 560410
Telephone: 07449124350/07944 562810
Corinthian Benefits
Corpay
Byzz +
We help hundreds of SMEs save costs and create bespoke company benefits and wellbeing programmes, across Pensions, Protection and Perks. Our one-to-one financial advice for each employee increases engagement, understanding and appreciation. We’ll meet you in person to understand your company, culture and what you want to achieve
Global businesses trust Corpay to power their international payments, execute plans to manage their currency risk and support their growth around the world. We aim to deliver unmatched service and expertise with respect to moving money globally. To learn more, contact our FX specialist Martin Boshell at martin.boshell@corpay.com or on 077 4862 1771
Byzz+ is a full-service creative digital marketing agency that helps start-ups and small businesses who are finding their feet in business.
Address: Longford House, 19 Mount Ephraim Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1EN
Address: 40 Strand 4th Floor London WC2N 5RW
Website: https://corinthianbenefits.co.uk/
Telephone: 077 4862 1771
Website: byzzplus.com Telephone: 0330 8181 888
Telephone: 02081896146
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www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
tel: 01444 259 259
business new members matters
june/july April/May2022 august/september december/january 2019 business business 2018 2018edge business business edge edge edge
Geo-Environmental Services Limited Geo-Environmental Services Limited are geotechnical and environmental consultants and site investigation specialists, supplying deliverables that range from phase 1 desk studies and agricultural land assessments, through to on-site intrusive investigations, which are used to provide ground models for contaminated land assessments, as well as foundation, pavement, road and drainage designs. Address: Unit 7, Danworth Farm, Cuckfield Rd, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, BN6 9GL.
Prophecy Marketing
PSC Global
Prophecy Marketing is not a traditional marketing agency, nor are we a digital marketing agency or even a social media agency – we are an agency to help companies deliver on performance through effective marketing activities designed to meet their specific business needs.
PSC Global is a forward thinking, specialist gasket and kitting manufacturer that delivers value through supply chain solutions. Our passionate and talented team pride themselves on their collaborative approach, and our customer-focused mentality delivers reduced working capital, on time results and exceptional service.
Address: Prophecy Marketing Ltd., Sussex Innovation Centre, 1sft Floor, Science Park Square, Brighton, BN1 9SB
Address: 15/16 Hazelwood Close Worthing West Sussex BN14 8NP
Website: www.prophecy.marketing
Website: www.psc.global
Telephone: 01273 234687
Telephone: +44 1903 207 101
Website: http://www.gesl.net Telephone: 01273 832972
OFFER
Geo-Environmental Services Limited The Cyber Resilience Centre for the SouthEast (SECRC) is a police-led, not-for-profit partnership between academia and business. We exist to help businesses in the region improve their cyber resilience with our FREE membership which, together with our monthly newsletter, provides easy-to-follow guidance, tools, and resources. Address: 4 Quinton Parade, Coventry, CV3 5HW, UK Website: www.secrc.co.uk
Free advertising offer for Chamber Members Body: Blue Billboard are offering 25% of free airtime budget to any advertising campaign purchased on our network. Reach over 1 million customers a month by advertising on our digital screens. Located throughout the county, our screens have an 80% engagement rate. With our powerful data analytics we can target the customers you need to reach. jason@bluebillboard.co.uk
OFFER
Electronics manufacturing experience keeping your products in production Need some help understanding how best to manufacture your electronic product or component? Looking for a new way to work with your electronics manufacturer? With over 40 years manufacturing experience, we can help! All Sussex Chamber members will receive free tooling and stencils (part of the manufacturing set up costs) on first orders over £3000. Talk to us today. sales@fermionx.com
01903 946165
01903 524600
www.bluebillboard.co.uk
www.fermionx.com
If you’re a member – why not refer someone, we have a generous referral scheme – that saves both you and your referral on membership costs. For more information call us on 01444 259259
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
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finance focus
April/May2022 june/july 2019 business edge
“What do you mean I can claim R&D Tax Credits for that?” It’s a phrase we often hear when we sit down with a potential new client that has responded to one of our adverts or editorials. “It’s just what we do!” is another common response when we sit down and discuss projects with companies across a vast spectrum of industries but particularly engineering firms and manufacturers. As we start 2022’s exhibition season, if your company is going to be exhibiting, just check to make sure that you are claiming the most rewarding tax relief for a UK company. If you are not claiming R&D Tax Relief, R&D Tax Credits or RDEC, then you might be missing out! Why are you exhibiting? Have you got a new product? Have you made some further improvements to your existing product lines? Have you had to experiment and make iterative improvements to your products? Yes, I know it’s just what you do, but companies like yours are also getting some very generous support from the government for that! Why aren’t you? Just look at the exhibitions that are coming up where your company might be exhibiting and where we have been able to help companies with a relevant claim. Packaging Innovations & EMPAC – we’ve been supporting a company with claims for their work on developing high-quality papers derived from Straw. More recently they’ve been working on a fully recyclable pad for soft fruit packaging that meets all of the requirements for Food Contact Materials. We’ve also prepared a claim for a company that designs cutting equipment for both industrial and agricultural uses, one of the projects we claimed for was to redesign a piece of equipment to accommodate a sacrificial blade. The original machine had a blade that had a significant life span, but was incredibly difficult to replace leading to significant down time, redesigning their equipment so that the blade could be removed quickly and more frequently with little fuss, had a significant impact and was the result of a technical innovation.
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and another who is undertaking a variety of different projects across the railway network including projects to improve isolation and earthing of the overhead lines and the Installation of a First of a Kind Static Frequency Converter within Network Rail. Intralogistex – we are just about to start work with a tech start-up that has developed location optimization software that can be accurate to 10cms, which is far greater accuracy than GPS, imagine how that could change your warehouse management, materials handling and picking and sorting activities. All of these companies have one thing in common, they weren’t claiming R&D Tax Credits and now they are.
Making Pharma – we’ve been working with a specialist lab that supports the BioPharmaceutical Industry to experiment with pre-clinical activities such as assay development and testing samples, the assay development is the area most likely to be eligible, as the testing of samples is general routine in nature unless they have to design a completely new test.
One of the best things about the legislation is that you can claim for your two previous financial years. This means that you are likely to be able to claim for most of the costs of developing the product, service or software that you are going to be exhibiting at these shows. But you’ll need to be quick you don’t want to “miss the boat”, the opportunity to claim expires on the second anniversary of your company’s accounting year end. So a 30 April 2020 year end can still make a claim up to 30 April 2022, but if the claim is submitted on 1 May 2022, it’s too late.
Railtex and Infrarail – we’ve been working with a company developing a model to use solar power to power the railway network
As you might have guessed, we are experts in R&D Tax Credits and their application. We’ll talk through your projects with
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you and help you to determine whether they represent an advance in Science or Technology. We’ll then tease some fundamental information from you and your team on the scientific and/or technological challenges that you faced during the development period and then we’ll work with your financial team to evaluate the money and time you have spent on developing the solution. Our 100% success rate and over £5m in tax refunds for our clients in 2021, shows that we know what we are talking about. If you’d like to start your journey or find out more, we offer a free no-obligation discovery session, we’ll ask you some questions, listen and maybe ask one or two dumb follow up questions, then we’ll let you know whether we think there is a potential to claim and whether we can add value to the process. You can book a discover call at a time that suits you by following this link https://calendly.com/cooden/dicoverybus-edge or you can call us on 0300 373 0026.
tel: 01444 259 259
https://ca lendly.co m/ cooden/d icoverybus-edge
https://calendly.com/cooden/dicovery-bus-edge
0300 373 0026
training & events
august/september december/january April/May2022 june/july 2019 2018 business edge
Training and Events Diary
Members enjoy discounted rates for training Tailored Training
course offers one credit towards the BCC Foundation Award in
Sussex Chamber can provide company bespoke training courses which is a fantastic way of designing one of our training courses to suit your business needs. This is a cost effective way of training a group of your employees at the same time, on a date that suits you and at the premises of your choice.
International Trade and candidates attending six or more courses
Foundation Award in International Trade
£1026.00 + VAT per person (members = 10% discount)
These courses are delivered online and are structured to match the ten British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) courses. Each
£1425.00 + VAT per person (non-members = 5% discount)
and obtaining six or more credits received the Award. Note: receive a discount when booking any six of the courses at the same time. The following prices will apply:
Training Courses Gold & Premier members - You can now use your credit pots to pay for training Foundation Award in International Trade Virtual Training
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Management & Leadership Skills - Virtual & Face to Face Training (F2F)
12th April
9.30 - 13.00
Foundation Award in International TradeUnderstanding Commodity Codes
7th April
9.30 - 11.30
Essentials of Negotation- Virtual Training
19th April
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International Trade Customs Procedures and Documentation
11th May
9:30 - 16:30
Introduction to Supervision F2F
20th April
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International TradeExport Documentation
Personal Development & Communication Skills Virtual & Face to Face Training (F2F)
21st April
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International Trade Understanding Exporting
10th May
9:30 - 16:30
Time Management & Personal Effectiveness F2F
3rd May
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International Trade Methods of Payment
12th May
9:30 - 16:30
Confident & effective Communication F2F
4th May
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International TradeImport Procedures
1st June
9:30 - 16:30
Train the Trainer F2F
5th May
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International TradeDocumentary Letters of Credit
2nd June
9:30 - 16:30
Presenting & Speaking to Engage F2F
17th May
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International Trade Agents & Distributors
3rd June
9:30 - 16:30
Unshakeable Confidence F2F
18th May
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International TradePreference Rules of Origin
7th June
9:30 - 16:30
Essentials of Negotiation F2F
19th May
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International TradeInward and Outward Processing
Sales & Customer Service - Virtual & Face to Face Training (F2F)
7th June
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International TradeIncoterms
27th May
9:30 - 16:30
Great Customer Service F2F
8th June
9.30 - 12.30
Foundation Award in International TradeCustoms Procedures & Documentation
31st May
9:30 - 16:30
Selling Skills for Results F2F
www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
tel: 01444 259 259
training & events
june/july April/May2022 december/january 2019 business business 2018edge business edge edge
Events Virtual & Face to Face (F2F) 21st April
10:00 - 12:00
The Ultimate Sussex Network (F2F)
Members: FREE, Non Members £20.00
10th May
08.00 - 10.00
Outlook for the UK Economy (F2F)
Members: £18, Non-members: £25
12th May
08.00 - 11.00
Sustainability in Construction (F2F)
Members: £30, Non- Members: £60
17th May
10.00- 11.30
Grow Your Connections (Virtual)
FREE
10th June
14:00- 17:00
Platinum Jubliee - Afternoon Tea (F2F)
Members Only: £28
We are currently finalising dates for our events – both virtual and face to face. For Sector-Based Forums, Bank of England events, Social gatherings, MP events, Purely Networking and many more, go to the following link on our website for an updated list of all of our events: www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk/events
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER YOU’RE WELL CONNECTED
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advertorial
April/May2022 june/july 2019 business edge
Intelligencia Training Named As FE Weekly & AELP Apprenticeship Provider Of The Year For Protective Services Category From a record number of entries, the countries best apprenticeship training providers and employers were unveiled at the Annual Apprenticeship Conference Awards 2022. At the ceremony on 22nd March from a record-breaking 370 entries, judges selected 24 award winners. Specialist apprenticeship training provider, Intelligencia Training, were named as winners in the Protective Services category.
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Shane Mann, Managing Director of
the expansion of apprenticeship
This award is testament to the fantastic
FE Week’s publisher Lsect and AAC
opportunities in the sector and have
work that all of our teams deliver,
awards co-host said “Tonight we
been at the forefront of curriculum
bringing such variety of professional
have proved that there is so much
development for both Intelligence
experience from industry to ensure
to celebrate in the apprenticeship
Analysis and Counter Fraud
the most relevant apprenticeship
sector. The providers, employers
Investigation Standards for a number
programmes and clear measurable
and individuals we’ve recognised
of years. We have now qualified
impact within their sectors.”
represent the innovators, risk-takers
hundreds of intelligence personnel
and pioneers that are not only doing
You can read more about Intelligencia
that are making considerable
amazing things for apprentices but
Training and their levy funded
differences across a varied range of
are also proving that apprenticeships
apprenticeship programmes at:
sectors and are already making a
are a first rate pathway through
considerable impact with our counter
education.”
fraud investigation curriculum across
Intelligencia Training’s Director
another diverse employer and learner
of Education, Ian Richardson,
demographic. Our focus on bespoke,
commented “It is a fantastic honour
role specific curriculum and real
for our contribution to the protective
opportunity to ensure application
services sector to be recognized
of skills within the analytical and
amongst such considerable
investigative environments is at the
competition. We are passionate about
centre of our success.
www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
www.intelligenciatraining.com
tel: 01444 259 259
Find your digital voice! Engaging your brand with audiences that matter.
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Thinkers Challengers Innovators Leaders DISCOVER THE SUS SE X MBA FIND OUT MORE
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