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Welcome to

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.

Business Edge is a Sussex Chamber of Commerce publication.

If you have any stories you would like to tell us about or any comments please drop us an email at enquiries@ sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk

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Business Development Manager, Distinctive Media Group Ltd

3rd Floor Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6UF michele.keeler@distinctivegroup.co.uk

FEATURE EDITOR karen.southern@distinctivegroup.co.uk

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was an enduring symbol of integrity, strength, and continuity throughout her reign. She was always a dignified, gentle, thoughtful, and reassuring presence. She commanded a level of universal respect. We can all learn something from The Queen – she was a supreme leader.

Businesses are run by innovative, dynamic, committed people. We should surround ourselves by those that inspire and motivate us to go further, those that bring joy to our lives and those that help guide us on a journey to being a great leader.

A leader is having the ability to lead. We all have different levels of ability and capability which makes each leader unique. Communication, integrity, innovation, building relationships, being curious and driving change are all key skills.

Becoming a leader starts at home, in school, in our social lives and not just in the workplace. We can inspire and motivate others. We can be symbols of strength. We can help coach and develop skills. We can all learn from our peers, friends and family.

I am always inspired by all the amazing companies and leaders I have had the privilege of meeting through the Chamber’s activities. The knowledge I gain from all of you, motivates me, to be better in the workplace, at home and in my social life.

Share your business news and stories with Sussex Chamber. Call our membership team today 01444 259259.

Ana Christie Chief Executive, Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Creating a safer, more sustainable world at Gunnebo’s Lavis Plant

Gunnebo Group is a global leader in digitally transforming security through the continuous development of smart entrance and secure storage solutions. The company ethos is to ‘create a safer world.’

Naturally, environmental sustainability plays a fundamental role in Gunnebo’s efforts to build toward a safer future.

Maintaining innovative operational leadership is crucial to the firm’s success in meeting its environmentally-friendly goals of becoming resource, climate, and energy efficient by 2024. Already the company has reduced its energy usage by 20% in one of its headquarters. Business Edge spoke to Paolo Compagno, Technical Health and Safety Manager of Gunnebo Group’s Lavis Plant, to get his take on what makes outstanding leadership in sustainability initiatives.

Expand sustainability leadership far and wide

“One of the fundamental things is to work with all employees in achieving your sustainability goals – not just the teams that actively work towards sustainability initiatives in the workplace,” he said.

Since taking a lead role in managing the security firm’s sustainability improvements in 2018, Paolo has collaborated closely with Gunnebo’s Q&E manager in team with the other company managers. Together, they have eliminated 70% of hazardous chemical usage in their operations, developed product packaging customisations using sustainable materials, and set up awareness campaigns targeting staff and suppliers. These are all great achievements, both from an environmental perspective and a cost and business efficiency perspective. For instance, replacing OSB panels with cardboard panels

in their packaging reduced the time it takes for warehouse workers to pack one item by 50%.

Put people at the centre of your environmentally-friendly goals

Paolo notes that, like many industries, the pandemic posed significant execution challenges to Gunnebo Group’s sustainability agenda. “The last two years put everybody and every activity under huge pressure.”

However, protecting people’s health and business operations remain paramount. Therefore, it was important for Gunnebo to allow for a certain degree of flexibility in its plans as the company dealt with the strain of disruptive restrictions.

At the start of this year, company leaders created a small team to re-assess sustainability goals in light of public health concerns. This pivot in strategy was both an ethical and advantageous move for the security brand. It helped them assure accomplishments in the following areas of sustainability management:

Tracking successes in sustainability management

Establishing a sustainability KPI reporting framework, as required by Gunnebo Group. The assessment process uses Worldfavor as its reporting tool. It is used to track sustainability measures, such as reduction of energy consumption, throughout the organisation.

Conducting supplier sustainability audits on Gunnebo’s most critical suppliers by the end of this year (2022).

Communications teams produce sustainability updates, posted to all staff quarterly, keeping them in the loop of ecofriendly developments.

Designers received Solidworks Sustainability training, promoting environmental creative problem-solving skills in Gunnebo’s workforce. Internal training schemes helped the company better monitor and reduce the amount of garbage generated across the organisation by around 25%.

Simple changes like reducing air conditioning running time from 10 am- 5 pm, altering coffee dispensers and water outlets to draw from the mains water supply, and eliminating disposable tableware cost little. However, these measures also help to establish an environmentally-friendly company culture. As a result of these measures thus far, Gunnebo Group’s Lavis plant has reduced its energy consumption by 20%.

By the end of the year, the Lavis plant hopes to switch 100% of its light fixtures to LED bulbs. Currently, LED bulbs cover 70% of the Lavis plant premises.

Success in sustainability is a team effort

“My advice for companies looking to promote outstanding leadership in environmentally sustainable planning is to use a reliable assessment model to monitor evolving business needs.

But, once this is done, it is fundamental to work as a team with all employees and inform them about your policies, assessment criteria, and progress. Always work all together to reach your goals. And finally, don’t forget to celebrate your sustainable achievements as you go,” adds Paolo.

Find out more about Gunnebo Group’s sustainability approach on their website, gunnebo.com/sustainability

Global player in security solutions, Gunnebo Group, showcases its leadership in sustainability within its flagship Lavis Plant in Italy.

Zunoma release whitepaper in partnership with the Post Office

Phil Ouzman Managing Director Zunoma

organisations looking to support customers without access to financial services.

Zunoma has identified that the Payout and Payout NOW! services, in partnership with the Post Office, has helped 120 businesses across the UK to provide financial relief services to 18.3 million individuals.

Approximately 93% of the UK adult population have access to financial services, meaning almost five million UK residents are excluded from financial support or the associated benefits that come with having a bank account. Recognising the need for inclusive financial services, and as the cost-of-living crisis worsens, Zunoma worked with the Post Office to develop the cash dispensary services, Payout and Payout NOW!

Zunoma’s whitepaper details the services, gives examples of the services in practice, and ultimately demonstrates the positive impact a fully comprehensive cash dispensary solution can have for

Additionally, the scheme awarded over 100 asylum seekers with emergency cash within the first two weeks of the government granting asylum protection to persons fleeing Ukraine. The white paper also outlines additional funds available to the UK population, such as the Household Support Fund and council tax rebate.

Phil Ouzman, Managing Director at Zunoma, said: “The Payout and Payout NOW! services are ideal solutions for local government, suppliers and charities to issue payments to vulnerable individuals that may not have access to a bank account and offer some relief from financial strain.

“We are incredibly proud to have worked in partnership with The Post Office to ensure that such a service is now in place.”

Download the full whitepaper here: zunoma.com/payout-whitepaper

What are the benefits of outsourcing?

Sarah Davies Commercial Director The Letting Partnership

Continuity and Consistency

The last few years have seen a significant number of changes within the business world. The question is, how can outsourcing help achieve this?

Capacity for Growth

Everyday owners and senior managers are so busy ‘firefighting’ that they have no time for planning and innovation.

Outsourcing allows you to achieve long lasting and significant efficiencies, build in flexibility, and provide a robust platform to allow you to grow and develop your business. All this can be achieved without having the worry about additional staff, training or that day to day service standards could slip.

One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing as a business owner is that, if you choose the right outsourcing partner, you have a 100% guarantee that your business will continue to offer excellent service without the biggest headache of staff absences, holiday cover and resignations is eliminated.

Transparency and Security

Outsourcing, using client accounting as an example, enables your business to demonstrate an entirely transparent approach, providing clients with the confidence that accuracy, security, will be provided when their money is processed

Knowledge and experience

Continuing to use client accounting as an example -mistakes can lead to financial and reputational damage to your business and more importantly loss of clients.

Outsourcing presents the possibility to hire a team of professionals with a

higher level of expertise at an affordable price. To stay competitive in the market, outsourcing providers have a duty to invest in their staff’s continual training and to improve their skills and qualifications.

Much depends on choosing the right outsourcing provider of course, ensure you do your research and choose a regulated company.

thelettingpartnership.co.uk

Sussex-based digital security firm, Zunoma has released a whitepaper in partnership with the Post Office on ‘the innovative technology behind financial inclusion in the UK’ to highlight the help and support available to the general population following the pandemic.

and hassle outweighs the benefits of outsourcing, but read

Leading teams – it’s a new team when the team leader changes

George Kunnath Director of Executive Education Roffey Park Institute

Leading a team is no easy task. For a leader it is a commitment to give everything within their capabilities to encourage team growth and see positive results. For the team members it is a commitment to apply themselves as much as possible to the goals and ambitions set by said leader. However, no matter how successful a team may be, once its leader moves on there are usually problems.

The problem can often be traced to one issue, a clear understanding that when the team leader is replaced, IT’S A NEW TEAM. It is common for a high performing team leader to move on. If they are good at what they do, they would be in demand for promotion, new opportunities or even be headhunted. This is only to be expected. When they move on the remaining leadership within organisations often take the approach – it’s a good team, we need a replacement manager to keep it stable and improve it. Which on the surface looks like a simple role requirement but in fact within that thinking lies the root of the problem.

When a member of a team leaves and is replaced by another, that new member joins the team by entering an existing team social contract with set norms. He or she has to FIT in with the team. Often if they can’t fit in, they tend to move on to another team or leave. It’s different with a new leader. The organisation’s expectation may be that the new leader fits in with the existing team, but this is wrong. The moment the team has a new leader it is a new team.

The not so popular answer to the interview question of how you will work with the team you are about to inherit would be to make it clear that as the head of the team has changed, it is a brand new team, and your role is to honour the past, but focus the team on the future and being better than the past.

There are a few things you can do in this regard to make this transition in leading teams a success.

Be clear that it is a new team

Don’t beat about the bush. Be direct that with a new head it’s a new team and they have a unique opportunity to shape the new team. People have not changed roles, positions or even desks, but psychologically by getting a new leader, it’s a new team and they need to make that mental shift in their thinking. As a new team you are going to have to go through Tuckman’s stages of team development namely: Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing

Honour the past

Don’t be disrespectful or disparaging about the person you are replacing. Even if you have been appointed to fix a mess. One way to honour the past is to use Appreciative Inquiry. Focus on what was good about the past and the best of the past that they would like to carry forward into the future. Appreciative Inquiry recognises that in everything there is some good that is worth preserving. Give the team space to remanence and acknowledge their success and close the book on the past in a respectful way that enables them to move forward.

Create a positive collective vision of the future

Help the team to develop an image of the collective future they want to achieve as a new team. Get the team to agree on their common results. Art and creativity tends to be a good way to get the team to give expression to this thinking and in the same process it a good way to do some team bonding.

Build trust

The foundation for any new team must be trust. Therefore, the most important investment a new leader can make is establishing trust. This will require the new leader to show vulnerability and be open with the team. It about having an honest discussion about what builds trust and destroys trust in the team. It’s then important to model the behaviours that build trust. roffeypark.ac.uk/open-programmes/ leadership-and-management-courses

Celebrating Future Leaders

Recent events have possibly served to remind us that leadership is about responsibility, authenticity and duty rather than privilege and position. In that context, the democratisation and digitisation of information, with an exponential increase in the speed at which ‘news’ travels, has impacted positively.

Future leaders need to understand how to harness fast communication, responding rapidly to problems, mistakes, opportunities and news. Smarter leaders will recognise that fake news is ultimately and often quickly, counterproductive. It is just as easy to fact-check a story as it is to start one.

The most successful business cultures will, perhaps, be those that pursue openness, vulnerability and transparency. These are qualities that require courage, the courage of conviction, the courage to do the right thing and the courage to confront hard issues.

These are my ‘11 C’s’ of leadership which continue to develop as I keep learning from the great (and some not so great) examples I see globally and locally:-

Clarity (of purpose/goals/individual contribution)

Context (why/what’s the bigger picture)

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

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

Consistency (of behaviour)

Control (of self and of the controllables)

Conscience and Consequences (within our individual ethical framework)

Courage and Conviction (to stay the course and do the right thing)

For business, leadership succession is not always smooth and it is often not easy to identify future leaders. In the current market it is tough to recruit and keep great people and training can be seen as a risky investment, but it remains vital to business growth. Sussex Chamber of Commerce provides a wide range of high quality training which might help unlock leadership talent already in your business.

Rob Clare Chairman, Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Cyber Security during a recession

The news is full of it at the moment; a recession is just around the corner. ‘The recession we have been dreading is about to strike’, ‘it will be the longest and deepest recession since the 50’s’. Industry leaders will be rolling back budgets in anticipation, as revenues decrease. Costs must come down!

One of the first places that companies look to make reductions, is their IT budgets, particularly, the section-headed cyber security budget allocation. Why?

The problem with cyber security is that it can sometimes be seen as a luxury item! Especially when there are jobs and the company’s survival is at stake. CISOs can be hard-pressed to show a return on investment, as you’re budgeting for something that hasn’t happened, but that you’re anticipating your business will be hacked at some point. It’s a tough call.

‘Preparation is the best form of defence’

Recession and the economic strains that come with it are exactly the conditions that cyber criminals relish. That a company’s constituent parts get nervous. It’s a time when employees become stressed because they are concerned about their jobs, and the company’s survival. As cruel as it sounds, ever since hacking began, cyber criminals’ primary attack surface is the people who make up your company.

IT security threats are an issue for everyone in the company. But help is at hand, cyber security needn’t break the bank. Yes, every

company is different. However, creating a company-wide attitude about the importance of ‘making sure the gates, doors and windows are all closed to your data and IT infrastructure, to anybody but the correct personnel that should have access to them, is simple enough. Vulnerability management training is a crucial component in protecting your business environment from cybercriminals.

Is your business prepared?

Every 39 seconds somewhere in the world, hackers are pulling off a successful cyber attack. 81% of all breaches happen to small and medium-sized businesses. Did you know that 97% of breaches could have

been easily prevented with technological solutions that are readily available, today?

‘Identify weaknesses with a cyber risk assessment’

Vigilance about your IT security is paramount in today’s business environment. Get ahead of the situation with technical and procedural controls in place, with a cyber security risk assessment.

To read the four key areas to look at when creating a cyber security roadmap scan the following QR Code with your Smartphone Camera.

Women’s national league club crawley wasps is delighted to announce ex F1 driver and the original ‘Stig’ from top gear Perry McCarthy joins as Co Owner and Commercial Director

Crawley Wasps have been inspired by the heroic successes of the England lionesses and are totally focused on promotion from playing in Tier 3 to moving up to the FA Women’s Championship.

As well as being an excellent team, Perry and Jack are family friends and have been for as long as the Wasps Chairman can remember: “We have a great relationship and I still have a signed photo of him driving at the Le Mans 24 hours that he gave me when I was only 8 years old! Perry is a bit of a legend within the world of motor racing having overcome huge odds to make it to Formula One. He’s now bringing that same determination, enthusiasm, and incredible commercial experience to make sure we bring Championship football to Crawley’’ said Chairman Jack Ayles

Building young leaders on and off the pitch

Last season, Wasps finished strongly under Manager Dan Logue and now, from their new home at Horsham’s Camping World Community Stadium, they are looking to raise their game further.

Perry McCarthy is equally enthused about potential both on and off the pitch: ‘We are in a senior football division and as we progress, in addition to skill development our players will be helped and encouraged as young leaders capable of motivating

themselves and others. Communication is so important in sport and in business and regular and beneficial interaction with their Teammates, Coach, Manager and Trainers are just some of the attributes we’ll look to grow all aimed at creating self-confidence and an unshakable belief in the team and in their own abilities’

Developing Strategic Partnerships

Perry continues: ‘On a personal note, I am still smiling that Jack has presented me with this fantastic opportunity to be a central part of Crawley Wasps and its story going forward. He has done such an incredible job in building and bringing the team to a leading position within Tier 3, and now I am fully engaged alongside him and our great players to help deliver all the commercial backing and resources they require to fulfil their ambitions of promotion soon. As a sponsorship package, we are an excellent fit for community relations and employee engagement, and I would be delighted to hear from any company who may be interested in what we have to offer.

There are so many similarities to motor racing such as focus and teamwork but it’s also about heart and personality and I know we have that throughout the team. I’m looking forward to this adventure and to developing our fan base and partnerships. Get the buzz - C’mon Wasps’’!

Additional information

Crawley Wasps FC is a multi-age group women’s football club from West Sussex with teams ranging from as young as under-11 to the senior first-team which plays in the third tier of Women’s football, playing in the FA Women’s National League Premier Division, where this season they will take on teams such as Watford, Portsmouth and Ipswich Town.

Crawley Wasps was founded in 1991 and have been essential in the successful growth of girls’ football in the West Sussex region as well as helping to pioneer the development of ladies and girls’ football in the south of England, through being a founding member of the Sussex County Women and Girls’ Football League in 2002-03.

New co-owner Perry McCarthy. At the age of 18, Perry had a dream of becoming a Formula One racing driver and it was his talent, drive and determination that took him from working on North Sea Oil Rigs, to Formula Ford Champion and onward to Grand Prix racing. After, Perry raced for several manufacturer works teams in the GT World Championship with five visits to the famous Le Mans 24 hours before publishing is best-selling autobiography ‘Flat Out Flat Broke’ and then going on to become the first ‘Stig’ on BBC Top Gear.

To interview or contact Perry please e-mail: perry@compelleduk.com

Now with Chairman Jack Ayles and Perry McCarthy at the helm, Crawley’s dream is getting closer to becoming a reality, especially now with the Sussex Chamber of Commerce as a keen supporter!

Newhaven - vibrant Chamber in the heart of the community

Newhaven Chamber of Commerce has bounced back since Covid to support the local business community offering a wide range of networking opportunities and social events for business owners.

The Chamber meets weekly for breakfast at the Luna Rossa Italian Restaurant on the quayside and works in partnership with the Newhaven Enterprise Centre offering a free monthly networking lunch. These events are very popular and help businesses engage, connect and support each other.

Newhaven Chamber of Commerce is the powerhouse behind the annual Seahaven Business Awards run in conjunction with Seaford and Peacehaven Chambers. The local business awards celebrate professionalism, creativity, innovation and business excellence. Winners include businesses from every sector, and of every size. A glittering awards dinner is held every year in May in the presence of

the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, the Vietnamese Ambassador, local MPs, Town Mayors, and Chamber Presidents.

Mike Shorer, President of the Newhaven Chamber, said “We have some brilliant local businesses located in the town who are innovative, hard-working and inspirational. Newhaven is a great place to run a business and it still surprises us as to how many companies are located in the town. This year we have had more business owners than ever come along to breakfast and lunch networking events. We listen to their stories and recall them, so that when opportunities arise, we are first to pass on contact details to help them grow their networks. We are eagerly looking forward to the 2023 SBAs, and

are delighted to announce that John Young, TV presenter and journalist will be joining us as host again this year. There are a few sponsorship opportunities available if anyone is interested.”

The Chamber is very active in the community supporting charities and local CIS groups. Everyone from sole traders to larger organisations are welcome to join and details can be found on the website at newhavenchamber.co.uk

If you run, or work for a business in Newhaven, you are welcome to come along to one of our Wednesday breakfast meetings, but please book via the website or give our secretary a call on 01273 517544

How to use workplace values to create a wellbeing culture

Westfield Health believe that every successful wellbeing strategy is backed up by a supportive culture. Their latest research confirms the importance of this link as the majority (86%) of employees surveyed said they’re more productive at work if there’s a good culture and, worryingly, 64% said they’d leave their job if they felt the company’s culture wasn’t a good fit.

Shared values form a critical part of workplace culture and an organisation’s core values should be reflected in its business plan as well as its wellbeing strategy. When assessing workplace values, a good place to start is to gather feedback from people across the organisation to capture different perspectives. A company might ask questions such as:

Finish this sentence: in this organisation we value…

What do we expect of our employees?

What can our employees expect from us?

How are our values reflected in the actions of individuals across the organisation?

What is our organisation’s reputation within our industry?

Are we transparent in our decision-making?

How do we recognise success?

How is conflict handled in our organisation?

How are we prioritising diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace?

Westfield Health’s free interactive e-book, ‘The wellbeing strategy workbook’, is available to download now. It contains three chapters packed with advice, resources and activities to help companies create and measure a wellbeing programme, drive culture change and build positive habits that stick.

For more information about how Westfield Health can support your employee wellbeing strategy, email businessenquiries@westfieldhealth.com

Plumpton aiming to build on record season

Nights are drawing in and the weather is beginning to turn autumnal, which means the focus in the world of horse racing switches from the summer flat to the winter jumps and action returns to Plumpton Racecourse for their 2022/23 National Hunt season.

A beautiful racecourse set at the foot of the South Downs in East Sussex, Plumpton hosts 17 jump fixtures between September and May and they kicked off their new season with a successful Family Raceday on Sunday, September 18, which saw packed grandstands full of families enjoying a day at the races.

Midweek action now takes over for the next few months and after having their best ever season last year – achieving record crowd numbers against an industry-wide backdrop of falling attendances – Plumpton are hoping to build on that success.

“After 18 months without crowds during the pandemic, it was fantastic to welcome racegoers back last season and we were delighted with the level of support we had,” says Dan Thompson, Chief Executive of Plumpton Racecourse. “Hospitality was booked up for nearly ever fixture and it was brilliant to see our customers enjoying themselves at Plumpton once again.

“Hopefully that trend will continue throughout the new season. We’ve got

some excellent racing lined up with plenty of highlights to look forward to including our festive fixtures and the famous Sussex National, which is always a brilliant spectacle, and there is still hospitality availability for most of our 2022/23 fixtures for anyone wanting to join us.”

Heralded as a hidden gem in the world of horse racing, some of the country’s leading trainers regularly send quality horses to race at Plumpton and these horses are ridden by

Sussex Top Attractions

the sport’s top-class jockeys, many of whom are based locally.

Plumpton Racecourse is based adjacent to Plumpton train station, which is served by a frequent service from London Victoria that takes less than an hour, and has all the hallmarks you need for a great day out. If you are interested in visiting Plumpton this season for a day out with clients, staff, or family and friends, visit plumptonracecourse.co.uk to view all fixtures and hospitality options.

Sussex is an exceptional place to visit, to live and to work. Within an hour of London, it has excellent links to the south coast ports of Dover and the Channel Tunnel. With Gatwick Airport within easy reach by rail and road, it’s hard to beat Sussex for its location.

Sussex is diverse and exceptional, with an enviable sunshine record and an outstanding coastline with award-winning beaches. The South Downs National Park stretches across Sussex and offers some of the finest walking country with breath-taking countryside dotted with picturesque villages, traditional market towns and ancient churches.

Sussex Top Attractions presents a unique choice of attractions to visit. There are castles and stately homes, glorious gardens, steam railways, wildlife centres, farm tours, beaches and family friendly parks, water activities, working museums, a Science Centre and much, much more.

Step back in time and see world-class mosaics at Bignor Roman Villa, bask in Regency splendour at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton or see the ruins of Battle Abbey and stand on the site of the Battle of Hastings. For a medieval experience visit St Mary’s House and Gardens, Bramber, an enchanting 15th century timber-framed house.

Sussex has a fascinating range of gardens. Some very widely known, whilst others are undiscovered treasures ready to explore whatever the season.

For family fun there are farms, zoos and aquariums waiting to be explored. From

Harbour Park at Littlehampton and Paradise Park at Newhaven, to Drusillas Park near Alfriston, widely regarded as the best small zoo in the country.

Sussex is one of the best counties to visit, there is everything here for whoever you are, whatever age you are, there is something for everyone!

Make a day out to remember and go to www.sussextopattractions.co.uk for an exciting array of events and to find out about the best attractions Sussex has to offer.

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By Rachel Yeoman, Group Head of Sales at the Chichester College Group (CCG).

In recent years, companies have experienced challenges in recruitment –from struggling to find the right people, to uncovering a real skills gap in certain industries.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s time for employers across Sussex to use the tools, resources and support available to them to ensure their business growth is on the right track.

CCG is a key trainer provider in the South East. We deliver apprenticeships across the region in sectors such as professional services, construction, engineering, service industry, education, health, social care and much more.

Working with employers such as Boeing, Rolls Royce, Taylor Wimpey, Hilton Hotel, RSPCA, the NHS and local councils, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of businesses building and developing talent within their organisations. An apprenticeship is a great way to invest in your staff, giving them the opportunity to upskill and add value to your company.

There are three key ways to introduce an apprentice into your team and, at CCG, we’ll

make sure you know what support you can expect, and how you can take advantage of some of the Government programmes designed to help businesses to level up.

The Apprenticeship Levy

Introduced for UK employers with a wage bill that exceeds £3 million, the levy was introduced to fund growth through Apprenticeship programmes.

The gifting of the Apprenticeship Levy

SME and those businesses who do not qualify for the government’s levy can still benefit from the programme, if they are gifted through those qualifying businesses.

The 5% contribution

Businesses can still take on an apprentice through a simple 5% contribution to the programme so long as they are under the £3 million threshold.

Find out more about how we can support your business through our apprenticeship scheme:

Phone: 01243 812948

Email: salesteamchichestergroup@ chichester.ac.uk

About Rachel Yeoman

Rachel joined the Chichester College Group (CCG) in July 2022 as Group Head of Sales, and has a passion for the Sussex business community and its ongoing growth.

With years of sales experience in media and recruitment, Rachel is no stranger to using key strategy and utilising resources to increase revenue, growth and reputation of businesses.

She’s putting that into action at CCG, aiming to grow the delivery of professional apprenticeships across Sussex.

10 Lessons From 10 Years in Business

I don’t claim to be an expert, and I’m still learning all the time, but I’ve put together some of the key lessons I’ve learned from my 10 years in business.

Look after your staff

We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and hardworking team at Espresso Solutions. With clients to support and deadlines to meet, it’s easy to focus on the short-term demands they’re facing.

However, our people are our biggest asset. So, developing a positive company culture, enhancing their wellbeing and creating an environment where they can enjoy themselves is vital.

Never underestimate the power of partnerships

Espresso Solutions wouldn’t be where it is today without its partners.

We don’t manufacture our own products - we are part of a chain of suppliers and customers. For our business to work, every company in the chain needs to be successful - and we need to work together to ensure we all succeed.

Develop a strong brand identity

Regardless of what your business does, you need a strong brand identity. This doesn’t mean you need to invest in an expensive re-brand. Rather focus on developing

a single distinctive logo and a simple colour palette. Then make sure this is used across everything you do. Our partners often joke that we like to put our logo on anything!

Your business won’t grow if your people can’t

I firmly believe that personal development is key for every business. It’s impossible to hire perfect people that perform straightaway. So you need to invest in your staff to enable them to develop in a way that works for them.

Doing so will turn them into advocates for the business and they’ll be happier, more committed and better at their jobs in turn.

Be present and accessible at events

Since early doors, we’ve supported and been present at trade shows, community and partner events. We’re not a household brand, so the most effective way to connect with our customers and build awareness is through networking.

Being a friendly & supportive presence at these events will help to promote your business & be at the forefront of a prospective customer’s mind when they need you.

Marketing doesn’t need to be perfect to be effective

I’ve definitely been guilty of overthinking Espresso Solution’s marketing and being too focused on striving for perfection.

However our marketing has become considerably more effective since I’ve let go and taken more of a test and learn approach. This allows you to step back and take a more balanced view of what’s working and what’s not.

Managing your cash-flow is everything

This is probably a fairly obvious one, however it’s imperative for us to regularly review our cash flow and forecast. We use this to average out our expected liabilities like VAT & Corporation Tax, and set this aside weekly. This ensures that when the bill arrives, the money is reserved and ready to be used.

Admit to your mistakes and shortcomings

This is something that I’m striving to improve on. To be an effective leader, you need to lose your ego and face up to things you can improve on. This can start with self-reflection, however it’s also immensely important to foster an environment where staff are comfortable with giving you feedback that you take on board.

Know when to let go

When you start a company, you’re responsible for every little task. However as you grow, this is simply not viable. You need to learn to let go and hand responsibilities over to others.

The longer you leave it, the harder it is to let go, and I’m still working on this now.

Celebrate the wins

Inevitably, you will face adversity when running a business, and even when things are going well, there will always be more to be done and improvements to be made. But it’s incredibly important that when you do get wins, even if they’re only small, that you celebrate them with your team and show your appreciation for all their hard work.

2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of my business, Espresso Solutions. Our journey has been unpredictable and testing at times. But far more than that, it’s been exciting, humbling and insightful.

Ryan Page CEO & Founder Espresso Solutions

Jason Webb succeeds father to take on managing director role at ETI

This year, Jason Webb was appointed as the new managing director at Electronic Temperature Instruments (ETI), the UK’s largest digital thermometer manufacturer and exporter of electronic thermometers and temperature probes. Jason, who previously held the role of operations director, has succeeded his father Peter Webb, who co-founded the company in 1983 with his wife Miriam, and held the role of managing director for 38-years. Peter will now take on the role of Chairman at ETI.

Jason Webb Managing Director ETI

The idea of ETI began in Peter’s garden shed. Fast forward to 2022 and its flagship product, the Thermapen One, is used by some of the food industry’s most renowned chefs and Michelin starred restaurants, including Buckingham Palace. The company also makes industrial thermometers for some of the harshest working environments, and wireless data loggers which can monitor and record temperatures in storage and transport facilities and relay it in real-time. It employs over 185 people and has three different sites in Worthing, West Sussex working across numerous sectors including food & drink, industry, hydroponics, hotels & hospitality, and pharmaceuticals.

Since its foundation, Peter has been awarded an MBE from the Queen for services to business,

and ETI has also been presented with four Queen’s Awards, most recently in 2018 for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation.

Peter Webb comments: “As a family business, the reins have been gradually passed over to Jason and I am both delighted and very proud to announce his promotion to managing director. It’s a very exciting time for everyone involved at ETI and I’m confident Jason’s combined level of industry experience gained over the last 12 years, commercial insight, and personal ambition will drive the business forward into a new and successful era.”

Jason Webb comments: “It is an honour to take over the reins from my father. I remember sitting around the dining room table when I was 20 and Dad said, ‘I’m not going to go on forever. Somebody is going to have to come in and help me run this. You can come in and do this.’ 12 years on from the conversation, and we have grown significantly. I know I have big shoes to fill. I know the blood, sweat and tears that has been put into this business for almost 40-years, and I’ve got respect for that. I can only give it my best shot.”

has somewhat strangled practical skills not just in the workplace but in life for younger generations.

Hands-On Manufacturing still alive and kicking!

Emcel Filters, based in Horsham, have certainly found opportunities readily available for companies willing to offer bespoke or low quantity solutions for a number of different industries. We have been making Air Filtration products for over sixty years and recent factors such as Coronavirus and the Ukrainian crisis have provided increased interest for our products. The current trend appears to be providing products designed to suit application rather than off the shelf.

Like all companies we have modernised our approach to certain business aspects having a global presence via our website and social media platforms. Our strength relies on the development of skills within the business, the ability to diversify and provide the customer with a solution that suits their industry, which sets us apart from the competition.

The World moves at a colossal pace towards digital careers, all around the globe you can potentially work from the comfort of your own living room. Even in the manufacturing sector, a drive towards automation and standardisation

A resurgence in practical skills is required, each person is different holding distinct skill sets and not all will be suited to sitting behind a laptop in their own home. We are always looking for local, enthusiastic and skilled people to continue to push our growing business forward.

Jason Allen Sales & Marketing Manager Emcel Filters

invest in

Cloud

Ballard Chalmers, part of the Transparity Group, is one of the UK’s leading custom software development and integration companies specialising in engineering enterprise applications on the Microsoft Platform. Ballard Chalmers is a Microsoft Gold Partner and Cloud Services Provider.

Off-the-shelf applications have a place and a use, however, you don’t get exactly what you want and as it is not designed for you, it never works in quite the way you hope.

If you feel you’ve had to compromise with your needs, the software is unloved by the team or perhaps hard to use or inefficient, then you have reached a need for custom software in the cloud.

Developing new custom applications means designing software to meet your exact organisational needs. Additionally, an existing custom system can be modified, extended, or integrated into a modern cloud-based platform to enhance efficiency and productivity in the modern digital workplace.

This also applies to existing onpremises systems that are functional and working but could be enhanced by accessing cloud features and services.

Being fully in the cloud results in reduced technical overhead, and reduced costs.

Where your business runs on custom software in the cloud, application and infrastructure support is taken care of by the Managed Service Provider.

Since the onset of widespread remote work, the benefits of being in the cloud have become evident. However, having custom applications hosted in the cloud take those benefits to another level.

A digital work environment with custom apps and integrations empowers employees to use all the information and processes they need to work successfully, wherever they are working. To share their knowledge quickly and with ease and acquire help and information from colleagues that they might otherwise not have access to.

Collaboration is the foundation value of the digital workplace; data from all implemented

software systems are integrated so that they can work seamlessly together. This not only makes information and applications available but also promotes cross-location collaboration and knowledge exchange.

As a result, people can focus on their tasks and outputs with a minimum of distraction, and obtain results with greater efficiency, less cost, and greater job enjoyment.

Andrew Chalmers, Co-founder & General Manager Ballard Chalmers Ltd A Transparity Company ballardchalmers.com

Secretary of State designates Sussex Chamber to deliver Local Skills Improvement Plan across Sussex

Sussex Chamber of Commerce are delighted to announce that they have been chosen to lead the development and delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.

Following the successful development of the Trailblazer LSIP for Sussex, published in April 2022, the Chamber have now been designated as the Employer Representative Body to take forward the LSIP for Sussex, as they are rolled out across the country.

Skills shortages are regularly highlighted by businesses as a key recruitment issue, and LSIPs, funded by the Department for Education, aim to put the voice of local employers at the heart of the learning and skills system to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership between employers and education providers. It is hoped this will allow provision to be more responsive to the skills needs of employers in the Sussex labour market.

Sussex Chamber Chief Executive, Ana Christie, said “This designation provides us with the exciting opportunity to continue the work started during the LSIP Trailblazer and bring together employers, training

providers and other key stakeholders across Sussex to continue to respond to the skills priorities and solutions identified within our LSIP report and the associated Future Skills Sussex Improvement Framework”.

The Chamber is one of 32 Accredited Chambers of Commerce which will lead LSIPs across the country, supported by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Jane Gratton, from the BCC, said: “We are delighted that so many Accredited Chambers have been designated by the Secretary of State. The Chamber Network will use its convening power and deep knowledge of their local economies and communities to develop clear plans to address skills challenges faced by businesses. Chambers will bring together local businesses, training providers and a broad range of stakeholders to identify the skills needed to increase opportunities and enable economic growth for the benefit

of everyone in the community. This is an opportunity for employers to shape how their current and future workforce can access the right training to thrive in the modern, more digital and greener workplace. More than 10,000 businesses were engaged in the eight Chamber-led trailblazers.

Building on this learning and success, we will ensure that planning for local skills is aligned with the job opportunities and growth ambitions of employers. An efficient, network approach will enable the sharing of best practice to boost outcomes for people wherever they live, work and train.

Closing the skills gap across all regions and sectors will help build all communities, and we are proud to see, once again, Accredited Chambers at the heart of local growth”.

For further information please contact Claire Witz, Skills Project Director at skills@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk or visit sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk/ Education%20Skills

Jack joins the team, full time

Jack has been working with the LoveLocalJobs Foundation C.I.C. since 2019, delivering inspiring talks and mentoring sessions with students in the Sussex area.

The Dare to Dream programme visits local schools with the intention of spreading positivity and engaging with the students to encourage them to be their best possible selves, personally and professionally.

Dare to Dream starts with Jack delivering an inspirational assembly for an entire year group including teachers, and mentors from a supporting employer. Focusing on

topics that could be affecting the students, such as happiness, low self-esteem, belief and relationships, Jack encourages them to identify their own barriers and helps them find ways to overcome them. Then, alongside volunteers from local businesses, the Dare to Dream programme offers workshops, 1-2-1 mentoring sessions, and workplace experiences with selected underengaged and educationally disadvantaged students, helping to motivate their progression. With Jack joining the team full time, this will allow him to spend more quality time on the programme interactions throughout each day, helping to change the way young people see themselves, their dreams, and their understanding of their undoubted ability.

This is a new and exciting chapter for both Jack and the Foundation, with Jack saying; “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the

Free 1 hour business coaching session.

foundation team on a full-time basis and to be able to offer so much more of my time and myself to the work we do. Coming off the back of such a tremendous year just gone I am really chomping at the bit to get back into schools this academic year and deliver Dare to Dream to even more students across the south and change even more young lives as we encourage the next generation to dream, to believe and to go and show the world just how brilliant they are.”

For those of you that have followed Jack’s incredible radio journey and may be feeling a little glum at the idea of his voice not starting your day anymore, fear not. Jack will still be gracing your airwaves on the More Radio breakfast show periodically throughout the week, and all morning on a Friday.

Free Mental Health Talk

Is the mental health of your staff at the top of your agenda? Is mental health a subject that needs normalising within your company?

As a member of the Sussex chamber, we are offering you a free one-hour mental health talk to your company.

Get in touch to discuss what aspect of mental health you’d like to hear about.

07976 957 044

www.onyoursidetherapy.com

Feeling unsure, confused, uncertain about what to do?

We are in confusing times and business owners know they should be taking action but are not sure what that is. As business coaches and consultants we help provide some clarity and guidance to get you back on track.

During this time every we should be supporting each other, as such we are offering any Chamber member a free 1 hour coaching session (phone or video only).

www.catandra.co.uk/contact

10% discount on all our courses and training events for other Chamber of Commerce members. 01903 778977 or 07734993260

www.teamskills.co.uk

1-2-1 Mentoring – 20% Discount Sessions can be delivered face to face or on-line (or a combination of both.)

The initial session usually has a psychometric element and is charged at £250 - £350 depending on what is required. Members are offered this is at just the cost of the testing - £95

On-going One-2-One mentoring sessions are then offered to Sussex Chamber members at £160 (instead of £200) when three or more sessions are bought and paid for upfront. Quote: Sussex Chamber 20.

www.janetwebbconsulting.co.uk

The MBA partnership scheme offers significant fee support of between £8,000 to £15,000 to you and your employees.

Our aim is to facilitate and develop mutually beneficial partnerships between local and regional businesses and the Business School that support your talent development programme, add to your current and future leader’s training, and provide input from your company back into the MBA and the wider Business School.

www.sussex.ac.uk/business-school/collaborate/sussex-mba-partnership

The LoveLocalJobs Foundation C.I.C. is ecstatic to announce that radio’s very own Jack ‘The Lad’ Hayes will be joining them on a full-time basis.

Christina Fishlock

Head of Community Programmes

Foundation

How to future-proof your sales and marketing strategy

With a potential recession on the horizon, soaring energy costs, labour and supply shortages, the market has never been so uncertain.

Niall Habba Managing Director The Telemarketing Company

In the face of this disruption, every business needs a robust and sustainable sales and marketing strategy. Here are our recommendations to help you build resilience into your approach.

Be strategic - A concrete plan will ensure your team and resources are well aligned to your strategic goals. Use the knowledge and experience of your team and draw on reliable, accurate insight to set your destination and plan a route forward.

Be flexible - Once the plan is in place, continuously review and change course

as the environment changes. Always have a contingency.

Spend well - Keep investing to drive growth but set robust measures for highspend channels and activities to ensure budget isn’t wasted.

Cherish your data – Your database is your greatest asset. Mine existing data for valuable insight and continuously nurture inactive leads, contacts and clients to flush out potential opportunities.

Look after staff - With the cost-ofliving crisis employees are experiencing extremely tough times, so invest in staff wellbeing. Not only is it the right thing to do, happy employees are more productive and will stay with you for longer.

A network of industry partners that share resources and offer mutual support

is also vital in current times. Since 1990, The Telemarketing Company has provided flexible inbound and outbound telemarketing services to hundreds of clients, extending their in-house capabilities and reinforcing their sales and marketing strategies. Get in touch for more information. www.ttmc.co.uk info@ttmc.co.uk / 01273 765000

Drive recruitment and retention with an electric car salary sacrifice scheme

A key issue facing all industries is recruitment, with many businesses asking the question ‘how can we attract and retain talent?’ Mandy Settle, a director in Moore Kingston Smith’s Redhill office with over 20 years’ experience across audit, accounts, corporation tax compliance and business advisory work, helps her clients with business planning, forecasts and advises on internal controls.

Mandy Settle Director Moore Kingston Smith

Amid the great resignation, the huge increase in the cost of living and the lingering effects of the pandemic, Mandy stresses that offering benefits such as the government’s electric car salary sacrifice scheme to your people distinguishes your organisation from other employers, while also improving your Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) credentials.

“The government has committed to keeping the benefit-in-kind rate for electric vehicles at 2% until 5 April 2025. An employer allowing its people to

exchange part of their gross salary for an employer-provided electric car will typically halve the cost of the car to the employee, making electric cars much more affordable. However, many employers haven’t introduced the scheme yet, shying away from it due to perceived complexities, confusing paperwork, and the fear of ending up stuck with a car or a large bill.” Mandy explains.

“But the benefit far outweighs the bureaucracy. Not only is introducing the scheme a great way to help your people, particularly in the times we are currently experiencing, but it’s also an advantage to your business in terms of ESG. Encouraging and providing your people with a cleaner car for their commute will in turn reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Employers adopting an attractive benefits

scheme will gain a competitive edge, while those that don’t may get left behind.”

Find out more on electric car schemes for business at mooreks.co.uk

David Sheppard Managing Director Limpio Office Solutions

all leading makes and models subject to parts being available.

The one thing nearly all manufacturers have in common is laser technology. The process to make a laser print as seen below is complex, uses large amount of heat and energy and creates huge waste to landfill.

No surprise to see Epson’s flagship ink jet range, The Workforce Enterprise, win the MFP line of the year award at the recent PRINT IT AWARDS for 2021.

The Office multi-functional print-scan-copyfax device is no longer the photocopier in the corner that gets kicked every time it jams.

Now it’s the hub of the office for digital document management, archiving, workflow, translation, redaction, and interaction with a host of apps for accounting and document authorisation.

Records of who prints what and how much are overseen to help control and reduce usage. Door entry fobs are used to log and authenticate who is printing what and when.

The MFP market is swamped with more than a dozen manufacturers and countless resellers competing for business, so which one do you choose?

There is no such thing as a bad device, and they all perform well and stand out in various areas.

Buyers need to ensure the service response is to the level they expect, and the service agreement is reasonable in terms of what you pay for and price increases. What compensation do you get if response failure occurs?

Limpio have always offered different levels of direct service depending on customer needs. We use our own version of remote device management software to monitor when toner needs replenishing, gather meter readings, to measure uptime and response times. Device usage shows accurate management information separating mono and colour prints, A3 and A3, scans, fax, and copies. Typical response times are 4 to 6 working hours but on average much quicker.

Whatever printers you have Limpio can provide time and materials-based fixes on

So, what’s new today?

Epson has been around for years and uniquely placed in the market for actively promoting the heat free eco conscious benefits of inkjet printing technology in the MFP space.

The savings in waste, energy consumption, user intervention, and CO2 emissions are plain to see. The heat you feel on a piece of paper after its printed from a laser device represents up to 82% more energy consumption than with an Epson Inkjet device. The smaller space needed to occupy Epson ink jet cartridges represents a saving of up to 96% in consumables and subsequent waste compared with toners for a laser device. The simple structure of Epson Inkjet technology, resulting in fewer stages in the printing process than laser, represents fewer risks of user intervention an Epson Inkjet device.

With all the World, or most of it, meeting in Glasgow to discuss climate change and what needs to change, the arrival of this technology, should appeal to any organisation making a commitment to the sustainability, responsibility and zero CO2.

Whilst Limpio Office Solutions has long and deep relationships with existing laser partners, we truly believe this range cannot be ignored.

The sustainability benefits of Epson’s Inkjet MFPs aren’t a compromise though. The devices boast printing speeds of up to 100 pages per minute with first time copy speeds ahead of laser printers.

The business inkjet technology is a disruptive innovation. Its superior cost benefits, lower energy and serviceability challenge the existence of the traditional laser printer on every level.

To learn more or see a tailored remote showroom visit then please contact dsheppard@limpio-os.co.uk

Whether it’s in the home office or the general office the paperless world talked about in the 80’s is still a long way off.

the

College champions a green tech future

East Sussex College is providing ground-breaking training for a greener future. In October 2022, the College opens a new Training Hub at Hampden Retail Park in an exciting new partnership with OHM Energy. Green tech is set for huge growth in the region, and the new package of training and support will help local green tech and construction companies tackle skills shortages and support local demand, says CEO Rebecca Conroy.

It’s an exciting time for East Sussex College as the region’s first Decarbonisation Academy opens its doors on 7th October. Their collaborative Skills Development Fund project, as part of the FE Sussex Project on Green Technology, seeks to tackle current and future skills shortages in green tech, and ensure the region keeps pace with everchanging needs and trends.

“We’ve spent a lot of time developing our green tech partnerships with over 25 local construction companies,” Rebecca explains. “They have told us what they need both now and in future in terms of new skills and upskilling, which has formed the basis of our specialist curriculum.

“Our innovative and forward-thinking courses have been designed to upskill and provide the resources to support a more sustainable future. We will be offering a range of fully accredited training courses from our new training facility opening in October 2022.”

The Academy - the first of five planned in the region - offers training in both green energy solutions and retrofits.

Courses will cover installation of insulation and renewable energy systems, as well as building services. The main focus is on three interlinked areas:

Green installation of domestic solar/PV, wind and ground/ air source heat pumps

Retrofitting of low-energy lighting and ventilation

New jobs and skills for domestic retrofit and PAS 2035.

If we step back and look at the bigger picture, the overall challenge of decarbonisation both locally and nationally is huge. By 2050, the UK aims to be net zero, which means getting rid of all CO2 emissions in millions of homes and commercial premises.

The work is unprecedented and will require a huge amount of training and re-training

for associated trades and professions. The new specialist Hub will support local authorities, businesses, construction employers and homeowners to improve insulation and install a range of green energy products, ranging from solar and micro-wind installations to house refitting and heat pump technology, reducing energy consumption and offsetting carbon emissions.

“We’ve had fantastic support from companies locally for our new T-Level programmes and we’ve built brilliant partnerships with longevity,” Rebecca adds. “Setting up this project has been a real energy boost for our teams. It will add a lot to what we do and how we do it. The new retail space has already attracted a lot of local interest.”

She continues, “The new Academy will help meet immediate needs in the area. I’d like to thank Eastbourne Borough Council who’ve offered a great deal of support in setting up the Decarbonisation Centre to help us get

New Training Hub at Hampden Retail Park

The model house at the new Training Hub is a showcase for energy-efficient innovation

up and running. The Strategic Development Fund also helped us to invest in resources and set up links with local firms.

“The initiative has shown that we can be really dynamic as a sector: we’ve responded quickly to demand, turned things around quickly, and helped add immediate value. Ultimately, we are supporting the skills agenda and helping turn around the well-being and prosperity of the local community.”

Along with practical skills training, innovation is also central to the Academy.

Rebecca says, “We’ll be demonstrating how old housing stock and offices can be turned into energy-efficient buildings with a model house, showcasing ways to reduce energy consumption so that visitors can see that innovation in action.”

East Sussex College also has a green tech investment underway at its Ore Valley site in Hastings, funded partly through the Hastings Town Deal. There will be significant upgrading of facilities and equipment, and creation of a business hub to house, support and incubate smaller businesses. The College is also part of the South East Institute of Technology Partnership which will focus on the delivery of Higher Education with a focus on Engineering. “It’s received a lot of positive attention from local firms, particularly key engineering employers like TechnoTurn,” Rebecca says.

“They’ve given us lots of honest feedback which has had a big impact on shaping coursework and direction. There’s no complex strategy - it’s all about creating quick and easy access to practical equipment, training and help for their employees, both now and in the future.”

Never before have the working relationships between business and FE Colleges been so important to solving some of our longerterm skills shortages. Through targeted investment and a commitment to real collaboration, there is a real opportunity for big impact in terms of boosting vital skills that companies so urgently need. The work of East Sussex College provides an important blue print for the future.

See East Sussex College’s specialist course areas at esctraininghub.com

Rebecca Conroy CEO East Sussex College

Delivering vacuum technology across the world from St Leonards-on-Sea

The St Leonards based Kurt J. Lesker Company® is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of high-quality vacuum technology for multiple industries, including the semiconductor market, aerospace, R&D, universities, electronics production, optical coating and the solar panel research/production market. From small beginnings in 1954 they have become an internationally successful business and are operating world-class manufacturing and logistics facilities from six global offices, providing customers with quick access to high-quality vacuum products and systems.

Established in Pittsburgh USA in 1954

The Kurt J. Lesker Company® was established in 1954 in the USA by Kurt J. Lesker II, and over the years the company grew into a global business serving customers globally with its own local sales force and representatives.

Opening of EMEIA Headquarters in Hastings

Based on its success in the USA KJLC® (KJLC) decided to expand its business into the UK, and in 1990 Kurt J. Lesker Company Ltd. was founded by Kurt J. Lesker III and Tim Pearce. The UK business started small, initially operating from Tim’s house and using his garage as a warehouse. As the business grew, the company moved into several facilities in and around Hastings.

A further chapter in the success story of KJLC was the opening of their new facility on the Churchfields Industrial Estate in St Leonards-on-Sea. The new facility includes a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, producing high-tech vacuum components used all over the world in semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, renewable energy and many other leading-edge technologies.

The Kurt J. Lesker Company is committed to the Hastings area because of the area’s long history of supporting the vacuum industry, the local knowledge base and the surrounding support network of suppliers.

From their new headquarters in St Leonards, they are serving their customers across the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. To support their EU customers even better they opened a German sister company in March 2022.

Supporting customers during the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted everyone and every business. The Kurt J. Lesker Company® adapted well to working from home for its office staff and kept its manufacturing facilities open to serve the increasing demand of its customers.

The higher demand from its technology customers meant that they navigated through the Covid-19 pandemic without any redundancies and even employed new people as the business continued to grow.

Simon Mansbridge, EMEIA Managing Director and Vice President for Global Product Distribution commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic gave us challenges but I’m proud about how our employees adapted quickly to the new situation and how smoothly we continued to serve our customers during our remote working phase.”

Brexit was a challenging period for the Kurt J. Lesker Company but they managed to navigate well through it. They even successfully opened a daughter company in Germany which is helping to support their European customers.

Company values are key to the success

The Kurt J. Lesker Company has strong company principles which are outlined in their SPIRIT values of sustainability, passion, integrity, respect, innovation and teamwork.

“Our SPIRIT values are guiding all of us in our daily business and I believe that they are the key factor to our success as a company.” Simon Mansbridge said.

As part of their sustainability values, the Kurt J. Lesker Company continuously is looking into sustainable ways to operate their business. At their new facility in St Leonards, for example, they are using 100% renewable energy. For shipping, they are also using 100% recyclable boxes which are made from recycled material.

From humble beginnings in 1990 the Kurt J. Lesker Company is growing from strength to strength. KJLC is expanding quickly in the rapidly growing semiconductor market with an extensive range of vacuum products. They have doubled their revenue in the last seven years and now have over 90 employees in their St Leonards headquarters. The company has ambitious plans to recruit many more employees in the Hastings area over the months ahead, including apprenticeships and internships.

They are having an opening ceremony for their new EMEIA headquarters on Thursday 27th October 2022, including a visit from the mayor to officially open the building!

lesker.com

No Cyber Essentials certification is like a car with no MOT

According to government statistics, 39%* of businesses were targeted by a cyberattack in the UK last year. As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated, and we head into recessionary times, it is even more important for businesses to secure their IT systems, and reduce the risk of a potentially costly cyberattack.

Many business owners don’t realise that whilst most newsworthy cyberattacks target large businesses and enterprises, it is just as common for small businesses to be attacked, as they are less likely to have invested in securing their IT systems.

Andrew Hookway, Managing Director, Extech Cloud, explains why SMB owners should be investing in strengthening their security postures, and achieving Cyber Essentials certification.

What is a Cyber Essentials certification?

Cyber Essentials is a UK Governmentbacked scheme designed to protect organisations against common cyberattacks. There are two levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. Cyber Essentials is a selfassessment, that ensures businesses have controls in place to protect against most common cyberattacks. Cyber Essentials Plus is a more in-depth certification and includes hands-on technical verification.

The Cyber Essentials certification covers firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, security update management, and more. The certification lasts for 12 months and is regularly updated to ensure businesses are protected against novel attack methods.

The importance of cybersecurity for SMBs in 2022

All small businesses are at risk of falling victim to a cyberattack. The most common cyberattacks being phishing, data breaches and ransomware attacks. Any of these could

be devastating for a business, in terms of the cost of remediation, and reputation damage.

Thankfully, many of these attacks are carried out by relatively unskilled cybercriminals and therefore can be stopped by implementing basic security controls. Furthermore, with a Cyber Essentials certification, these attacks are no longer viable.

Five Benefits of a Cyber Essentials certification for SMBs

1. Reduce the chance of falling victim to a cyberattack

The overall goal of Cyber Essentials is to reduce your business’s cyber risk. As the assessment covers most attack surfaces and the associated technical security controls, Cyber Essentials covers all the bases to protect from 80% of common cyberattacks. Although cybercriminals’ methods are constantly changing, these technical controls will typically stop novel attack methods, especially if they are not highly targeted attacks.

2. Gain a competitive advantage

If you own a small business in a competitive industry, a Cyber Essentials certification can help you stand apart from the competition. Displaying the Cyber Essentials certification badge on your website and other marketing materials, shows that your business takes security seriously, and assures customers (consumer and corporate), they are less likely to have their data leaked as part of a customer data breach.

3. Find new business opportunities

A Cyber Essentials certification is mandatory for businesses considering submitting a bid for a contract with the NHS, Ministry of Defence, and UK Government. Many private sector businesses also look for the Cyber Essentials badge of approval when seeking new suppliers.

4. Improve credibility and reputation

The technical controls necessary to obtain a Cyber Essentials certification are relatively simple to implement, and the self-assessment is a quick and easy process. This simple and affordable certification can add significant value to your business as it improves credibility and reputation. Cyber Essentials shows that your business is committed to protecting your customers’ data and taking action to reduce the chance of falling victim to a cyberattack.

5. Free Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber Essentials certification automatically entitles your business to free Cyber Liability Insurance up to £25,000 of indemnity. This also enables access to a 24-hour hotline for reporting cyber incidents, crisis management, and incident response. For businesses that do not already have cyber insurance, this is a perfect option to recover from a small breach or incident. Many cyber insurance providers will also give discounts to businesses that are Cyber Essentials certified.

How to obtain Cyber Essentials certification

For businesses that are not well-versed in the world of cybersecurity, it can be difficult to implement the technical controls necessary to obtain a Cyber Essentials certification. Extech Cloud helps businesses implement the technical controls, and provides additional security services to further reduce their chances of falling victim to a cyberattack.

extechcloud.com

*https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cybersecurity-breaches-survey-2022/cyber-securitybreaches-survey-2022

Andrew Hookway Director Extech-Cloud

Rockinghorse Children’s Charity – Helping children be children

Rockinghorse Children’s Charity makes a difference to the lives of poorly children and their families across the whole of Sussex.

Whether its funding state of the art equipment to help premature babies, toys and activities to help distract children being treated in hospital, or psychotherapy to help young people with cancer, our support helps thousands of children and their families every year.

A hospital stay can be a scary experience for anyone, let alone for a child, so we work hard to make that experience is as good as it possibly can be.

And we have been providing this support since we were set up in 1967 by Dr Trevor Mann as the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

We raise money to provide live-saving medical equipment and additional services with the aim of improving the lives of sick children throughout Sussex.

Along with the Royal Alex and the Trevor Mann Baby Unit, Rockinghorse also supports the Special Care Baby Unit in the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath along with paediatric wards, specialist neonatal units, respite centres and children’s services across Sussex.

As we receive no government funding, we rely on the generous support of individuals, community groups and companies, in fact people just like you.

To find out more about what we do and how you can help, get in touch:

Website: www.rockinghorse.org.uk

Telephone: 01273 330044

Email: enquiries@rockinghorse.org.uk

Auntie Val’s Ability Centre helps those with disabilities

Auntie Val’s Ability Centre helps those with disabilities and long-term health issues in an environment that is understanding and supportive to individual needs. The team helps teach a range of practical skills, theoretical knowledge and gives the opportunity to take qualifications in various areas of work. This enables better prospects for employment.

Coming to work each day gives a sense of purpose and direction empowering them to tackle other activities to become contributing members of society increasing their confidence and self-worth.

Auntie Vals Ability Centre was founded in August 2007 from Auntie Vals home kitchen.

Val used to make home made preserves to sell at the WI Market in Billingshurst. When the market closed the preserves were still in demand from local shops and individual customers during 2007.

During her lifetime Auntie Val worked as a professional Carer looking after young people and supporting families in their own homes. During this time she recognised a need for young people leaving the system with little if any prospects for the future.

Auntie Val’s Ability Centre only employs people with disabilities and is proud that has been awarded the disability confident employer symbol.

Auntie Val’s Ability Centre works with professional partners ie. Job Centres, County Council, British Legion, Treloar School and College and others to provide work experience and training to as many people with difficulties as possible and giving opportunities to improve their lives.

Auntie Val’s Ability Centre is providing a lasting commitment to providing these objectives for future generations.

For more information visit Auntie Val’s Ability Centre at auntievals.com or phone 01903 746748

Up to

Fleetwide

Fleetwide

Fleetwide

Fleetwide

Fleetwide

off

Business Breakdown Cover for Chamber members

£89.08 £248.00 £158.92

£80.12 £213.00 £132.88

£65.92 £198.50 £132.58

£56.96 £163.50 £106.54

£48.13 £120.00 £71.87

Fleet Europe £24.00 £46.50 £22.50

Minibus Rescue £196.67 £332.00 £135.33

Specialist

Specialist

Specialist

£177.49 £314.50 £137.01

£152.38 £247.50 £95.12

£98.75 £166.00 £67.25

Accident

†Based on Fleetwide 3 Standard rates for 3-6 vehicles. All the above prices are per vehicle per year, inclusive of IPT (Insurance Premium Tax). All prices are subject to change. Fleetwide cover does not apply to: specialist vehicles, ie: taxis, mini cabs, hire vehicles, ambulances, police vehicles, vehicles on tradeplates, minibuses, privately owned vehicles (unless used for business purposes), motorcycles and courier vehicles (all of which can be covered on Specialist rates as above), or any vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gvw. Terms and conditions apply. Relay and Relay Plus services are not provided at or within ¼ mile of driver’s home address.

Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer prices are only available while your Chamber membership is current. We reserve the right to review pricing at any time.

Full terms and conditions available on request by calling 0800 55 11 88. Business Breakdown cover is provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services). Relay Plus is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Head Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered Number 88716 (Gibraltar). UK brand address: Acromas Insurance Company Limited, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE.

Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Registered Office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA. Registered in England and Wales number 2414212.

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.

Garden Thyme

Garden Thyme was established 30 years ago we began in design and construction but soon moved over to commercial grounds maintenance.

Last year we decided we would try and help people separately offering some of the services normally included in our maintenance contracts.

Website: www.gardenthyme.co.uk

Telephone: 07947806123

Email: info@gardenthyme.co.uk

British Airways i360

British Airways i360 is the most unique venue for business and private events in the vibrant city of Brighton. Host your event in one of the beachfront rooms with sea views and private terraces or consider hiring the giant glass viewing pod for you and your guests to enjoy the 360o views of the city, the South Downs and the coastline.

Address: British Airways i360 Viewing Tow er, Lower Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2LN

Website: www.britishairwaysi360.com

Telephone: 0333 772 0360

The Arora Group

Our Hotels are located in London, provincial cities and major airports throughout the UK. We thrive on a partnership model with the world’s leading hotel brands.

“We treat our guests like royalty and our staff like family” Surinder Arora, Founder and Chairman of the Arora Group

Arora Crawley, Sofitel Gatwick and Hilton Gatwick Airport are our Southern Cluster, with 47 meeting rooms and 1771 bedrooms between the three Hotels.

Address: Hilton London Gatwick Airport, Gatwick Airport, South Terminal, Horley, RH6 0LL

Website: www.thearoragroup.com

Telephone: 01293 518080

Fowler Clark

Fowler Clark are Mechanical and Electrical Building Services Consultants with over 30 years’ industry experience between them.

We provide professional MEP design and consultancy services in the commercial, residential, industrial and education sectors, working with Clients from concept and preplanning stages through to construction.

Website: www.fowlerclark.com

Telephone: 07540129232

Email: jim@fowlerclark.com

7thSense

7thSense are a creative software and technology company with offices in Sussex, London, Michigan, Florida, California, and Melbourne.

Established in 2004, they are technology innovators that work with the biggest names in the theme park and attraction industries and specialise in providing products that enable storytellers to fulfil their vision.

Website: www.7thsense.one

Telephone: 01903 812299

Email: info@7thsense.one

Letters In Lights

We are a partnership based near Eastbourne. We love to add the extra WOW and the extra FUN to any special event with our 4 and 5 foot lights and latest technology Magic Mirror Photobooths hire. Corporate Events, including Awards Evenings, Christmas Parties, Promotional Events etc and any private celebrations too.

Website: www.lettersinlights.uk

Telephone: 07399 738802 / 07966 239486

Email: lettersinlights50@gmail.com

Total Sense Media

Research shows that the more forms of media used in a campaign the higher your exposure, thereby increasing and optimising sales. Radio, Print and Digital advertising are the most common media used, with one supporting the other. By utilising TOTALSENSEMEDIA’S core brands we can deliver targeted multi-platform campaigns that work.

Website: www.totalsensemedia.net

Telephone: 01444 620400

MYPOS Connect

We develop software for the retail and hospitality markets, including EPOS, Customer loyalty apps and integrated payment processing software. Our clients have typically outgrown a smaller POS system and require systems with links with other software including SAP, Salesforce and many others.

Website: www.myposconnect.com

Telephone: 0845 003 6858

Email: sales@myposconnect.com

The Content Maven

Gain bespoke, strategic B2B content that increases web traffic, generates leads, and helps you build relationships that get your sales across the line. From SEO web copy and blogs to email marketing campaigns, landing pages, case studies, e-books and more; if your sales & marketing uses words, we can help.

Website: www.thecontentmaven.co.uk

Email: alison@thecontentmaven.co.uk

Crawley Wasps FC

Crawley Wasps has helped pioneer ladies and girls’ football across Sussex and boasts over 150 members from Under-10s to our first team playing in the FAWN Premiership. Our home ground is Horsham, and we now seek to grow our commercial partnerships as we aim for promotion to the FA Women’s Championship.

Website: www.crawleywasps.com

Email: perry@compelleduk.com

business matters

new members

Sparc PM LTD

Sparc PM LTD offers branding, design, print, merchandise, and workwear. With over 35 years’ experience in the industry, working with us is like having a new member of staff on your team. One contact for everything your business needs to make a great impression in front of your customers.

Website: www.sparcpm.co.uk

Telephone: 01424 864 509

Email: info@sparcpm.co.uk

Umbrella Insight

The Umbrella Insight platform dramatically helps all businesses with confidential, quantifiable insight. Helping you to understand your business reputation, customer perceptions of your business, whether B2B or B2C. The platform is highly affordable and has many functions, including supporting and retaining staff - all in one platform.

Website: www.umbrellainsight.com

Telephone: 08431221048

Email: hello@umbrellainsight.com

Background

SI Protech has been trading for 21 years, growing from a sole trader to a multimillion £ business . For the past 12 years the company has been located in Littlehampton within a 28,000 square ft of factory. The company employees 38 staff. A critical success factor has been the investment in training for example Technical and Managerial Apprenticeship from L2 to Degree level to meet the challenges of.

Continuous Improvement & Cost downs

SQA

Automation and digital technology

SI

training & events

Training and Events Diary

Members enjoy discounted rates for training

Tailored Training

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.

Foundation Award in International Trade

These courses are delivered online and are structured to match the ten British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) courses. Each course

Training Courses

offers one credit towards the BCC Foundation Award in International Trade and candidates attending six or more courses 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:

£1026.00 + VAT per person (members = 10% discount) £1425.00 + VAT per person (non-members = 5% discount)

Gold & Premier members - You can now use your credit pots to pay for training

Foundation Award in International TradeVirtual Training

4th Oct 9:30- 12:30

5th Oct 9:30- 12:30

6th Oct 9:30-12:30

18th Oct 9:30-12:30

19th Oct 9:30-12:30

20th Oct 9:30- 12:30

1st Nov 9:30- 13:00

2nd Nov 9:30- 12:30

3rd Nov 9:30- 12:30

Foundation Award in International Trade - Agents & Distributors

Foundation Award in International Trade - Preference Rules of Origin

Foundation Award in International Trade - Inward & Outward Processing

Foundation Award in International Trade -Incoterms

Foundation Award in International Trade - Customs Procedures & Documentation

Foundation Award in International Trade - Export Documentation

Foundation Award in International Trade - Understanding Commodity Codes

Foundation Award in International Trade - Understanding Exporting

Foundation Award in International Trade - Methods of Payment

30th Nov 9:30- 12:30

1st Dec 9:30- 12:30

13th Dec 9:30- 12:30

Foundation Award in International Trade - Inward & Outward Processing

Foundation Award in International Trade - Incoterms

Foundation Award in International Trade - Customs Procedures & Documentation

14th Dec 9:30- 12:30

15th Dec 9:30- 13:00

Foundation Award in International Trade - Export Documentation

Foundation Award in International Trade - Understanding Commodity Codes

Management & Leadership Skills - Virtual & Face to Face Training (F2F)

19th Oct 9:30-16:30

Essentials of Supervision & Team Leadership- 2 Days (F2F)

25th Oct 9:30-16:30 Train the Trainer (F2F)

22nd Nov 9:30- 16:30 Introduction to Supervision (F2F)

6th Dec 9:30- 16:30

15th Nov 9:30-12:30

16th Nov 9:30-12:30

17th Nov 9:30- 12:30

29th Nov 9:30- 12:30

Foundation Award in International Trade - Import Procedures

Foundation Award in International Trade - Documentary Letters of Credit

Foundation Award in International Trade - Agents & Distributors

Foundation Award in International Trade - Preference Rules of Origin

Essentials of Supervision & Team Leadership- 2 Days (F2F)

14th Dec 9:30- 11:30 Train the Trainer (Virtual)

Personal Development & Communication SkillsVirtual & Face to Face Training (F2F)

4th Oct 9:30-16:30 Confident & Effective Communication (F2F)

5th Oct 9:30-16:30

Introduction to Emotional Intelligence (F2F)

events

27th Oct 9:30-16:30 Presenting & Speaking to Engage (F2F)

8th Nov 9:30- 11:30 Unshakeable Confidence (Virtual)

16th Nov 9:30- 16:30

2nd Dec 9:30- 12:30

Time Management & Personal Effectiveness (F2F)

Introduction to Emotional Intelligence (Virtual)

9th Dec 9:30- 11:30 Presenting & Speaking to Engage(Virtual)

Events

Virtual & Face to Face (F2F)

5th October 18:00 - 19:30

11th October 08:00- 10:30

12th October 14:30 - 16:00

18th October 11:00- 12:00

19th October 18:00 - 19:30

20th October 10:00-12:00

13th Dec 9:30- 11:30 Confident & Effective Communication (Virtual)

Sales & Customer Service - Virtual & Face to Face Training (F2F)

28th Oct 9:30- 11:30 Selling Skills for Results (Virtual)

2nd Nov 9:30 - 16:30 Great Customer Service (F2F)

5th Dec 9:30- 16:30 Selling Skills for Results (F2F)

An Evening with Jaguar Land Rover (F2F)

Gatwick Airport Regional Update (F2F)

Outlook for the UK Economy (F2F)

Ignite Your Membership (Virtual)

Discover Your Chamber (F2F)

The Ultimate Sussex Network (F2F)

8th November 10:00- 11:30 Grow Your Connections (Virtual)

15th November 09:00- 15:00

Sussex Chamber Business Expo (F2F)

17th November 14:30- 15:30 Ignite Your Membership (Virtual)

21st November 08:00- 10:00 Construction Forum (F2F)

30th November 10:30-12:00

South East Chamber Networking (Virtual)

1st December 10:00- 11:30 Discover Your Chamber (F2F)

13th December 11:00- 12:00 Ignite Your Membership (Virtual)

Members: FREE, Non-members: £15

Members: £18, Non-members: £28

Members: £15, Non-members: £25

Members: FREE, Non-members: FREE

Non-Member Event: FREE

Members: FREE, Non- Members: £20

Members: FREE, Non- Members: £10

FREE for Delegates, Chamber Members can Exhibit for £100 + VAT, Non- Members £315 + VAT including Bronze Membership

Members: FREE, Non- Members: FREE

Members: £30, Non- Members: £50

Members: FREE, Non- Members: £15

Non-Member Event: FREE

Members: FREE, Non- Members: FREE

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

Maybe the Best Kept Secret in the UK for OES and Handheld Metal Analysers

Though known more world-wide, but located in the Manor Royal Business District near Gatwick Airport; ARUN Technology Limited is a well-established company of over 35 years and who have remained dedicated to the design, development, manufacture, sales, and service of optical emission spectrometers since launching the world’s first portable CCD based metals analyser in the 1980’s.

At present, we provide desktop OES spectrometers, handheld Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) metal analysers. We are the Centre of Excellence for Product Sales, Marketing, Applications, Technical and Service Support for all our instruments.

ARUN is part of the Focused Photonics, Inc. (FPI) Group of companies. As a British provisioner of analytical instrumentation, we are a global supplier of market-leading and innovative quality control solutions to the various metal processing, materials research, manufacturing, and casting industries.

ARUN’s internal expertise is vast and extends into the areas of elemental composition testing, end-to-end design, engineering, integration, fabrication, and manufacturing facilities. Because we are a small, but knowledgeable team here in the UK, we can provide answers to your sales queries and respond to technical and service support issues in a timely manner.

Our continued success of supplying innovative and reliable products and services is empowering our clients to optimise their quality check processes, maintain production safety, and improve in-process testing. It is also enabling them to get their products to market quicker with assured reliably.

Keep an eye on the ARUN website and follow us on LinkedIn for exclusives on our Open Days, exhibition participations, newsletters, and new product offerings.

Address: 16 The Brunel Centre, Newton Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9TU

Telephone: +44 (0) 1293 513123

Email: sales@aruntechnology.com

Website: www.aruntechnology.com

LinkedIn: @arun-technology-limited

Retain, Retrain and …. Entertain?

Martin Buckland – Managing Director at HR At Work – answers frequent questions about employee engagement and maintaining high productivity in this challenging market.

In your experience, are there some “easy wins” for keeping your staff and maintaining high productivity?

Yes, in short. Larger business can consider a variety of options such as days off to work in the community, the introduction of a 4 day week, or an extension of the benefits package to include ‘experiences’ or high-prized items like private health/dental.

What about smaller organisations?

Understanding the challenges faced by your employees – such as childcare and the cost of living may bring greater value (and appreciation) than Spa Days or Cinema tickets.

You could adopt a flexible approach to employees struggling with travel costs – whether that be changes to hours (off peak) or location. Perhaps you could expand your hybrid working policy to greater assist employees with nursery and primary age children. The costs of such initiatives can be negligible but the pay off in productivity and good-will can be immeasurable.

How might re-training help me?

Employment has become more transactional over the years and your staff may not think twice about going somewhere else if they feel that the overall package on offer is more appealing. However, you could offer employees the opportunity to upskill and/or retrain within your organisation- whether that is through internal or external learning. Many employees would prefer to stay with their current employer if they see future progression and the chance to ‘get on’ whilst employers benefit from the broadening of knowledge and skills across the workforce.

What has entertaining got to do with it?

Public recognition of a job well done can have huge impact on an employee’s self-esteem and morale (and it’s free!) but how else can you maintain that engagement and productivity? Do you have a social or events committee? They could gauge opinion within the workforce to see what might be of interest. A contribution to an evening out, drinks in the office, a trip to the local museum/ cinema/bowling alley.

Where budgets allow, there are several organisations out there who can offer ‘add-on’ benefits for employees – discounts/tokens/ free meals etc which for a small outlay can bring a real morale boost – and with it a real team feeling – its that kind of success that all businesses strive for, isn’t it?

HR At Work are outsourced human resources, employee relations and health & safety consultants. Whether you need your handbook updating, help with managing a grievance or disciplinary or just some tips on how to get the best out of your employees do get in touch.

hratwork.co.uk

Martin Buckland

Managing Director

4PL consultancy

Trade compliance and Logistics management services

4PL Consultancy is a fourth party Logistics and Supply

Chain Management solution provider aims to provide Trade compliance services and Logistics operation services for different industries.

GLOBAL TRADE COMPLIANCE SERVICES:

Why you need Trade compliance expertise?

• To comply with Import/Export regulations and to manage classification audits by customs authorities.

• To deal with sanctions, embargoes and denied party screening

Why you need classification expertise in Trade compliance?

• To pay right amount of duty to the customs authorities

• To be compliant on Import/export-controlled goods

• To claim benefit of FTA agreements and save duty cost

What happens if we are not complaint?

• Audits and huge penalties for misclassification

• Delay in import/export clearance resulting in supply chain disruptions

Read: HS Classification Audits are Yielding Mega-bucks for Customs Authorities www.3ce.com/hs-classification-audits-are-yielding-megabucks-for-customs-authorities

Logistics Management:

Being an important element of supply chain management, logistics management helps in delivering according to the demands of the customer. By opting for logistics outsourcing from 4PL Consultancy, you can choose the areas that you need support in. Our experts will ensure that they provide a complete resolution of your queries. We also offer logistics control tower feature through our services, which helps in keeping a track of all deliveries in real-time and customs declaration services.

4PL academy:

4PL academy is a venture of 4PL Consultancy which offers CPD accredited courses in Trade compliance and Logistics management. We offer training for students, working professional and corporate trainings.

Visit our website for more details: www.4placademy.com

Contact us: salessupport@4plconsultancy.co.uk

+44

www.4plconsultancy.com

Fowler Clark Ltd

Fowler Clark are Mechanical and Electrical Building Services Consultants based in Sussex and Surrey with over 30 years’ experience in the Construction Industry. We provide professional MEP design and consultancy services in the commercial, residential, industrial and education sectors, working with Clients from concept and pre-planning stages through to construction.

Founded by Jon and Jim in 2020, our main objective is to provide a high quality of service to the clients and stakeholders we work with.

Services Offered:

MEP Design to RIBA Stages 1 – 4 • On-site inspections from RIBA Stage 4 onwards • Energy Strategies • Feasibility Studies • Peer reviews / validation of designs • MEP condition / dilapidation surveys • New-build and refurbishment designs • Design of services upgrades • Value engineering reviews.

What Value will we bring to your Construction Project?

Building Services Engineers are integral to the successful delivery of any constriction project. All too often the building services design is developed towards the end of the detailed design phase, typically once the architectural and structural design has been fixed. Our strategy is to collaborate early with the other design team members, enabling us to address the unique coordination and buildability challenges associated with every project. We help deliver the Client’s vision in terms of functionality and energy consumption, whilst also ensuring the seamless integration of mechanical and electrical systems into the architectural and structural fabric of a building.

How can we help your project meet Energy Targets and Building Regulations?

At Fowler Clark we can undertake energy strategies, dynamic thermal modelling and building services strategy reports to demonstrate compliance with regulatory authorities such as local councils, planning and building control, BREEAM assessors and fire offices. Our design and consultancy service ensures that your construction project adheres to the latest Building Regulations criteria, whilst also keeping cost and efficiency in mind.

Local Support

Fowler Clark are a proud sponsor of Sutton and Epsom Rugby Football Club. We believe that supporting local clubs gives something back to the community and all the amazing volunteers that give up their valuable time.

Please contact us for more information: Email: jim@fowlerclark.com jon@fowlerclark.com

Tel: Jim: 07540 129232 Jon: 07815 908084 www.fowlerclark.com

Nightingale House, 46-48 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, England, KT17 1HQ

Jim Clark Director

Jon Fowler Director

Office banter

Scotsmen could all qualify as harassment on the grounds of race.

Dan Soanes Director, Solicitor

An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman walk into a bar and engage in some innocent banter.

But if they are colleagues going to the bar after work, then banter based on national stereotypes could be anything but innocent and could result in costly employment tribunal claims, as well as serious reputational damage for their employer.

Good natured teasing can turn sour if it suddenly has the label “racial harassment” attached to it.

This may seem to some like an overreaction, but the law does give employees and workers - such as agency workers - a right to sue their employers if they are subjected to jokes and comments on the grounds of race which they feel have created an offensive environment for them. For these purposes, “race” includes nationality, so jokes about Englishmen, Irishmen and

The same applies to jokes and comments shared between colleagues on the grounds of other protected characteristics - sex, disability, sexual orientation, religious or philosophical beliefs, gender reassignment and age.

Employers are liable for the acts of their workers and employees which take place in the course of employment, so it is the employer who ends up being sued, although the perpetrator can also be named as a joint respondent. And, as many employers have found to their cost, this can extend to conversations which take place between colleagues after work and even in WhatsApp exchanges if they are linked to employment. The employer would not be liable for comments made during an entirely private conversation between two colleagues who happened to meet up over the weekend, but with more employees working from home and more work-based communications taking place outside of work hours, even that distinction can become blurred.

So, what can the employer do to protect itself? At a basic level, having a policy dealing with workplace harassment will help, but it will do little on its own. Regular training is vital – in one recent employment tribunal, training which had taken place two years previously was described as “stale”. Most importantly line managers need to be trained and empowered to deal with potential issues on a day to day basis and speak to the perpetrators to nip them in the bud.

The line between friendly banter and harassment is easily crossed – and it is one which can be hard to see. Indeed, to a large extent, it depends on the sensitivities of the person who brings the claim.

To someone who isn’t familiar with employment law, this level of protection can seem inexplicable and unfair on employers. Citizens are not usually legally protected against being offended. The police will not rush to call outs involving reports of crass, insensitive jokes in a public area.

But the workplace is – rightly - different. Workers have a right to come to work and not made to feel humiliated or degraded on the grounds of their race, gender, etc, and employers are responsible for ensuring that this is the case.

To ensure your workplace is free of inappropriate workplace banter, and your employees know where to draw the line you may wish to consider one of our online training courses covering the basics of Equality and Diversity with a focus on Office Banter.

Please visit www.sherrardsacademy.com or contact academy@sherrardslaw.com for full details.

Considering a career in accountancy?

key skills that enable you to provide accurate financial information and interpret data.

Find a firm that covers the areas you are interested in and approach them –many offer apprenticeships providing first-hand experience. Studying whilst working is the perfect opportunity for trainees to build on their skills and many businesses will allow you to continue studying whilst working for their practice to gain a recognised accounting qualification.

For those interested in a career in accounting formal qualifications are desirable. The AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification is a good starting point and will lay the foundations of the knowledge required. To become a ‘chartered’ or ‘chartered certified’ accountant an ACA or ACCA qualification is essential. If you have a relevant degree this may exempt you from taking some of the exams.

Despite the importance of qualifications, these should be obtained in tandem with practical accountancy experience, the value of which cannot be underestimated. Together with applying the knowledge from your qualification, practical experience will ensure you acquire

Therefore, to follow a path in accountancy it is advised you study the right accountancy qualifications, secure an apprenticeship within an established, reputable firm and gain relevant work experience. Becoming an accountant takes time but with dedication and hard work the rewards are truly beneficial.

Honey Barrett Chartered Accountants are based in the South East and offer a broad range of services. There are many opportunities available for those looking to work in accounting.

If you are interested in a career in accountancy, contact us on 01323 412277 and we may be able to help. www.honeybarrett.co.uk

Accountancy is often perceived as an uninspiring career by those outside of the industry but with a strong understanding of numbers and an analytical mind, this could be a rewarding path to take.

Amy James ACA Client Manager, Honey Barrett

Autumn is well and truly here and deadlines are looming!

Summer was a time to relax, but now that Autumn is here and there is the start of a new school year, it feels a bit like that back in the office too! It won’t be long before it’s dark when we leave the office and then it’s Christmas and with that, the filing of your December tax return and paying your March 2022 tax bill and then your personal tax bill.

There’s not much I can do about the latter, but if you get in touch in before the middle of November, there may still be something that we can do to reduce or even eradicate your March 2022 corporation tax bill and as it represents the last chance to discuss, verify and quantify a claim for December 2020 year ends, we might be able to get you a refund in the New Year. That makes December a bit of a double whammy and whilst we are busy with existing clients we have some capacity to add to that your claim.

With December 2020 being potentially the end of your first year coping with Covid, there may be additional scope for changes in manufacturing processes that may have had to be trialed in an attempt to meet the social distancing guidelines, or just a period of innovation while the world around us stopped. Just putting in place systems to work from home or buying screens to allow people to work, won’t cut the mustard. The rules for claiming haven’t been relaxed because of Covid.

If you have undertaken a project where the outcome or the way ahead was uncertain, where the competent members of your team couldn’t readily deduce a solution or where a solution couldn’t be sourced from the internet, then there is potential for there to be a claim. You have to be able to demonstrate that the company was trying to achieve a scientific or technological advance, and that in trying to create the

advance the company faced scientific or technological uncertainty. If you can do that then there is a strong chance that you’ll be able to submit a claim.

That claim could be significant, you can include a percentage of staff time for people working on and supporting the project, you can also include materials that have been incorporated into a prototype or materials that have been scrapped as a result of failures. You can also claim for a proportion of light and heat that may have been consumed during the R&D. If you’ve had to bring in staff from an agency to support the project then their cost to can be included in the claim, and if you are an SME then you can also claim for work that you subcontracted out to a third party.

It is also important that you are able to demonstrate to HMRC the scientific or technical advances that your project was trying to deliver and we will help you to do that. In fact, from next year, your claim will have to include a description of the project and the challenges. This isn’t designed to put companies off from claiming, it is to reduce the prevalence of erroneous claims that have been on the increase over a number of years, some of which could probably be described as fraudulent.

That is where we come in with 17 years of experience in preparing and defending R&D Tax Relief claims, we can help you to identify those projects that meet the criteria for inclusion and discuss future projects. If

you have a large project in mind, speak to us before you commit to it, because you may be able to apply for an R&D grant as well. We can also help you to evaluate the costs that have been incurred in undertaking the projects.

If you would like to have a free no-obligation discussion with our Director, Simon Bulteel, you can book a time that is suitable to you at https://calendly.com/cooden/dicoverybus-edge or you can call us on 0300 373 0026. If you decide to work with us, we’ll get you onboard, we’ll obtain the financial information from you and have a more detailed conversation with the scientific or technical leads behind the projects to obtain information about the project and the challenges that were faced. We’ll then draft the report and provide you with the financial details, you can then review it, suggest changes and then we’ll send it all together with detailed instructions to your accountant to incorporate the information into your tax return and computations.

A Budget for business growth and investment

Kwasi Kwarteng’s first Budget as Chancellor was billed as a mini-budget but was a significant event with a key focus on supporting business to grow the economy. Whether this ambitious Budget will deliver growth remains to be seen but there are a number of short-term financial benefits for businesses and entrepreneurs:

Andrew England Tax Partner, Menzies

Corporation tax will remain at 19% rather than increasing to 25%

The 45% rate of income tax will be withdrawn from April 2023 leaving a top rate of 40%

The 20% rate of income tax will reduce to 19% from April 2023

The 1.25% National Insurance surcharge for employees and employers will be withdrawn from 6th November 2022

The 1.25% dividend surcharge will be withdrawn from 6 April 2023

The annual investment allowance will be set permanently at £1m from April 2023

enabling immediate corporation tax relief at 19% on the first £1m of qualifying spending

New investment zones will be created with significant associated tax benefits

An Energy Business Relief Scheme will be introduced to provide a temporary discount on Energy Prices for 6 months with a review in 3 months.

In addition, the off payroll working (IR35) rules will be repealed which will remove an administrative burden and the associated tax risk from those businesses utilising contractors operating through personal service companies.

The Chancellor has made an assessment that the current tax rates have failed to deliver business growth over a number of years and do not sufficiently encourage international inward investment, business growth or discretionary effort (given a personal combined income tax and NIC rate of 48.25%) nor do they provide sufficient

support to those facing a cost of living crisis.

Whilst these tax cuts may not go as far, or be as targeted, as many would like particularly with specific challenges in certain sectors, they will nonetheless provide some welcome support.

With a reduction in personal tax rates on the horizon in April and cashflow pressures, businesses and entrepreneurs should be carefully managing the timing of any dividend distributions, bonus payments and investment decisions to mitigate tax and optimise cashflow.

Andrew England Tax Partner aengland@menzies.co.uk

Connecting business for over 50 years

Extended Production Facility

The company was actually founded in 1971 by husband and wife team Keith and Kathleen Lacey, supplying high quality cable and wire to the Aerospace and Defence sector.

However, as the current Managing Director, Ros Andrews, explains, “it didn’t seem right to celebrate during the pandemic, so we delayed it until restrictions were lifted.”

Ros, who has been the MD since 2011, added “strangely enough delaying our celebrations until 2022, has also been useful, as we can celebrate the success of some other changes too.”

For much of the last 50 years, K Lacey has focused upon supplying products, backed by industry leading levels of product knowledge and customer service.

Ros added “over the years, we have built a network of excellent suppliers, giving us access to a wide range of fully traceable cable and wire products, many direct from stock, for delivery anywhere in the world.”

However, as reported by Business Edge in 2019, K Lacey has continued to evolve along with its customers.

In response to a 33% growth in demand for cable and wire assembly services, the business has invested further in their existing facility during 2021. Capable of handling both one-off projects such as prototype wiring assemblies, through to mid-volume production, the team work to AS9100 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 Aerospace standards.

“Customers need increasing flexibility, whether that’s to outsource excess workload from their own production facilities, or to use our facility for smaller production runs and integrating with forward scheduling programs such as KANBAN and JIT,” suggests Ros.

K Lacey offers a full-service solution, managing the entire process from component supply, through to inventory management, assembly, delivery and high voltage testing using an MK Test Machine.

The new assembly facility continues to expand, attracting clients from across the UK, and supporting the recruitment of an additional 4 members of staff.

Despite the growth in demand, Ros suggests that “although our business has grown significantly over the years, customer service and product knowledge are still hugely important to us. This is the K Lacey difference.”

High Performance

Ros and her team have been supplying fully traceable high performance cables to the Aerospace industry for over 50

years. Working to AS9100 and AS9120 standards, they are approved suppliers to some of the UK’s largest companies.

Key Products & Custom Cable

K Lacey also offers a wide range of PTFE, COAX, TC12, PVC, Sleeving and Accessories from stock, with clients from around the world benefiting from same day despatch, next day delivery and international shipping.

Building on the theme of flexibility the team also offer custom cable options, responding to flammability, temperature, voltage and environmental considerations for bespoke applications.

Future Thinking

As for the future, Ros is very optimistic “we’re seeing a lot of interest in reshoring supply and manufacture to the UK, so we’re delighted to be part of Made in Britain. There are also some exciting opportunities in sectors such as Renewables, Lighting and Power and Control. We’ve also just completed the national SC21 competitiveness and growth programme, helping to develop our longer term strategy so we can look forward to the next 50 years.”

K Lacey are currently recruiting for Sales and Production Operative positions to help with their current expansion.

ros@klaceycables.co.uk / stacey@ klaceycables.co.uk +44(0)1903 771336

South coast based cable and wire specialists, K Lacey Ltd, have chosen 2022 to celebrate over 50 years in business.

Ros Andrews Managing Director K Lacey (E&D) Ltd

Pictured left to right: Ros Andrews, Managing Director & Stacey Robbins, Director & Sales Manager

Business Foreign Exchange & Global Payments Solutions

As part of our ongoing endeavours to help clients better understand and manage their businesses, The British Chambers of Commerce has identified that many small and mid-sized businesses are being underserved and overcharged by their traditional banks.

To help you navigate the complex and often volatile world of foreign exchange, we’ve partnered with global payments specialists, moneycorp.

Seawhite investing in a Greener Future

Seawhite of Brighton is an independent manufacturer and supplier of art and design materials based in Partridge Green, West Sussex. The company supplies educators and retailers throughout the UK and Europe (with an increasing international presence) and remains a family-run business.

In its early years, the company was based out of a former Brighton pub, selling only PVA adhesive and plastic sheeting to education. However, after identifying an opportunity to produce robust artist sketchbooks, the company expanded, and has since evolved to a 75+ strong workforce selling over 2 million sketchbooks every year – most of which are manufactured in stateof-the-art units here in Sussex.

In August 2022, Seawhite celebrated its 50 th year in business, prompting reflection on what the company has achieved to date, whilst also considering the impact it will make in the next fifty. Operating in a traditionally resource intensive industry, the business recognises how its actions can have far-reaching effects, therefore makes an ongoing effort to trade as sustainably as possible.

Over 80% of Seawhite’s products are made in the UK, with much of the cartridge paper , coloured card and paper ranges produced to Seawhite’s unique specification by a British paper mill. All Seawhite’s papers are made from sustainable sources, and great importance is placed on knowing the provenance – right down to the pulp.

Seawhite have introduced several innovative products to the market, namely the CupCycling™ range of paper and pads, through its partnership with James Cropper PLC. These products are made from recycled single-use coffee cups (from outlets including Costa and McDonalds) and are one of the company’s most significant contributions

to the national reduction of single use plastics. Similarly, Seawhite’s ‘Crush’ papers are made with agricultural waste (corn cobs) using hydro-electric power. Recycled watercolour paper that is certified carbon neutral was also recently introduced.

This year Seawhite completed the installation of solar panels on its Sussex units, enabling the production of sketchbooks and pads to be 100% powered by renewable energy. Replacing all office lighting with low energy LED bulbs has also been worthwhile, as energy prices continue to climb.

With customers emphasizing the importance of CSR, Seawhite have taken steps to build trust through independent audits and accreditation. The business is currently ISO 14001 certified – meaning it is recognised by an international set of standards for commitment to reducing environmental impact. Seawhite is registered with Sedex – an online database that allows buyers and suppliers to share data about how sustainable, responsible, and ethical their business practices are. A top score on Environmental & Social Governance by Dun & Bradstreet (the world leader in producing commercial data and analytics on businesses) provides further reassurance to customers when it comes to sustainable procurement.

With a diverse customer base spanning prestigious institutions, retailers, and artists, Seawhite has become well-established in its field. The business attributes this to

a long-term outlook centred around the sustainable practices mentioned, but also maintaining a large stock, and offering quality, personalised service.

If you would like to know more about Seawhite, please visit seawhite.co.uk . Our Partridge Green factory outlet is open to visitors and stocks the full Seawhite range (plus specially discounted products), open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.