Business Edge 5

BUSINESSEDGE The magazine of Sussex Enterprise

Better transport links vital to future health of local economy James Dyson interview Exploding the myths surrounding manufacturing

British Chambers of Commerce Accredited

OCTOBERNOVEMBER 2011

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Contents

Welcome

05 09 21 40 04 05 07 08 09 12 13 15 16 19 21

Economic Overview Upfront Upfront World View Opinion Policy News BCC Focus Ask the Expert Spotlight On‌ The Steam Room Start Ups

Contacts Business Edge is a Sussex Enterprise publication.

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

SUSSEX ENTERPRISE Greenacre Court, Station Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9DS

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The Big Interview Cover Feature Training Courses Chamber Feature Events Movers and Shakers MP View New Members The Last Word

This issue looks at the advanced manufacturing sector and explodes the myths surrounding this sector. We talk to member companies, Time 24, B & W Group and Parafix, which are manufacturers and are all optimistic about their sector.

And don’t miss the feature on James Dyson, one of the best-known inventors in the world!

We also hear from member company Marlow Ropes about its experiences of exporting and look at the thriving commercial port of Shoreham and its investment plans for the future.

Finally, we say a fond farewell to David Frost, who has been at the head of the British Chambers of Commerce for eight years and welcome the incoming Director General, John Longworth.

Thank you for all the wonderful news stories and please keep sending them, we are always looking for more. So, if you have anything you would like to tell us, please get in touch on businessedgeenquriies@ sussexenterprise.co.uk.

Our next issue is due out at the end of November and will focus on the financial services sector. We look forward to hearing from you.

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British Chambers of Commerce Accredited

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ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

A change at the top

David set out a strategy to build a credible evidence based voice within government and the media. This centred on identifying problems the business community were encountering and coming up with sensible, implementable solutions. Other business organisations were berating the government, but David took a practical and pragmatic view that they wanted and needed solutions, not aggressive attacks. Over a sustained period with Ministers, their advisers and civil servants, the perception of the BCC as problem solvers was entrenched in their thinking.

This process took a good five years of sustained effort. From the outside you would have needed time lapse photography to notice the difference, but in governmental timescales a seismic shift was happening. The BCC’s increasing influence was largely vested in David, ably supported by the policy team. That has now changed.

As the “off the radar” policy influence with the government grew, so the media coverage also began to increase. Journalists, despite all their current travails, know who the key influencers are and coverage began to grow. The BCC’s broadcast profile is second to none, and its print profile is now not far behind that of the CBI.

David Frost

David Frost has been head of the British Chambers of Commerce for eight years. He stepped down from the job in September this year, safe in the knowledge that he leaves behind him an organisation at the top of its game.

Eight years ago David was brought in to sort out a plethora of problems: financial, governance and weak on its core activity representing the view of the range of British businesses. He has been the catalyst and the driving force behind the transformation that has turned the BCC into the highly influential voice of British business that it now is.

How did he achieve this turnaround? Quite simply by breaking the task down into manageable chunks and not trying to eat the elephant all in one go.

The first task was to turn around the adverse financial situation he faced. He took out activities that added little or no value for

his customers (the 54 local Chambers of Commerce) and initially that meant people and then reduced the fixed cost base of the business (leases). This action quickly brought the BCC back to a profitable position from which it could build reserves to accommodate any adverse situations or changes. In every year of David’s tenure the BCC has made a profit. The finances of the BCC are now in good health.

Without attending to this immediately there would have been no point in tackling the most important issue: profile for Chamber members.

The view at the time was that the BCC was a quiet voice and was not heard. The CBI (particularly with Digby Jones at its head) was the pre-eminent voice and had the ear of government.

David has recruited a very strong team around him so that when he moved on in September, Adam Marshall (Director of Policy) and David Riches (Director of Commercial Services) are in place and adding to the formidable reputation that David has cemented in place.

Together with Neville Reyner, the outgoing President of the BCC, they reformed the governance structure. The democratic link to the membership is still there, but there is now a small business focussed Board (rather than a representative one) that develops and monitors the delivery of a business plan agreed by the network of Chambers.

David’s legacy is all of this, plus 54 Chambers that are seen by government as the only credible delivery network in the UK. Chambers across the country deliver export documents (and have done for 150 years), deliver inward investment support and in many places (including in Sussex) international trade advice. All of this and now the BCC is the co-ordination point nationally for the Local Enterprise Partnership structures.

I give my personal thanks to David. He has made the BCC a strong and vibrant organisation and delivered for you, Sussex businesses. I will miss him as he has always given me sound no nonsense advice. He leaves behind a strong team for John Longworth, the new head of BCC, to build on.

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UPFRONT

Ofsted praises College’s business links The way City College Brighton and Hove engages with local businesses has been praised

by Ofsted inspectors in a report that gives it the grade of ‘Good with outstanding qualities’.

The College, the largest provider of vocational education and training in the city with a cohort of around 10,000 students, was rated ‘Outstanding’ (Grade 1) in the key areas of College life ‘Leadership and Management’, ‘Capacity to Improve’, and ‘Safeguarding’ and for the curriculum area of Visual & Performing Arts & Digital Media. All other areas under consideration were rated Good (Grade 2) including Quality of Provision, Outcomes for Learners, Equality and Diversity and other curriculum areas.

The report states that: “The College’s development and use of partnerships are outstanding. Its use of links with employers provides tangible benefits to its learners, including opportunities for progression to jobs and the development of enterprise and employability skills.”

Energy company opens new offices Darren Simmons and Andrew Evans

ENER-G plc, the UK’s leading energy efficient technology provider, has opened new Research and Development offices at Afon House on Worthing Road in Horsham.

The company’s board of directors officially opened the offices along with the 13 strong team of hardware and software design engineers.

Their Horsham-based Research and Development team are responsible for the design and development of E-MAGINE, a control system that reduces energy usage in buildings by up to 25%.The building energy management system uses the latest in IT and internet technology to control and manage all heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting applications.

The relocation from Enterprise House is part of the company’s expansion plans, which also

include the opening of further facilities in Salford, Manchester. Horsham is home to the firmware and embedded software team, whilst Salford accommodates the hardware team.

Cedric Rodrigues, Director of Research and Development, said: “These are exciting times for ENER-G plc as we continue to invest in research and development to produce next generation products that improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Our team is world-class and at the heart of our business strategy, these new premises will allow them to deliver the innovation and expertise we require to remain competitive in our market.”

Principal Phil Frier, who chairs the Council’s City Employment Skills Group, said: “When I first became Principal back in 2007, I attended a Chamber of Commerce meeting and was really impressed by the vitality and dynamism of the local business people that I met.

“At the time, I felt that it was a priority to work more closely with these businesses to offer further skills training and make sure that we met the needs of for our local workforce to be well educated and have cutting-edge technical skills. I’m therefore delighted that Ofsted has acknowledged that these links with local businesses have become very successful ones.”

Simon Fanshawe, Chair of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said: “By training so many local people, City College is in the driving seat of the city’s economy.”

Tony Mernagh, Chief Executive of the Brighton & Hove Business Forum, said: “Brighton has an incredibly dynamic economy with go-getting businesses that are both light on their feet and very demanding. To satisfy their needs, the College has to be equally light on its feet and capable of meeting the high standards demanded. As its Ofsted result demonstrates, it doesn’t fail either test.”

To find out more about City College’s employer services and training programmes, please contact City Business Skills by email at citybusiness@ccb.ac.uk or call 01273 667756

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CAPITAL LOGISTICS

Simply the best

But that is only half the story because we know that storing items can be as much of a problem as transporting them. That is where our Warehousing and Storage Solution comes into play. We operate 17,000 sq ft of secure, clean and effective storage space and offer regular access to your products at flexible times. When you store items with us, you can be sure that they will be properly looked after with every movement in and out accounted for.

We have also trained our team to work with specialist medical equipment, transporting and installing it and working in highly specialised laboratories. It’s another example of our flexibility and our attention to detail which is where Capital Logistics excel. Two months ago Capital Logistics successfully relocated the complete Scottish Forensic Science Department and all of their hi tech equipment from the head office in Dundee to their new purpose built facility. This involved careful planning and interaction with project managers and heads of department to insure the machinery was not only moved safely and securely but within the time lines given. Capital received high praise for this project which has in turn led to similar projects being undertaken.

Capital Logistics, which is an independent logistics provider based in the heart of Sussex , delivers a comprehensive range of distribution and storage solutions to all types of businesses.

The success of the company has been based on three main areas of operation, each one of which is designed to make life easier for our clients and each one of which sees us focus on efficiency of service.

Capital Logistics is also highly flexible. Over the past 2 years we have branched out into new specialised areas, training our staff in delivering a comprehensive service. Capital have invested in key areas of the business to allow our company to grow, new offices and a new on-line transport and warehousing system are two examples of this. The new system allows our customers to book shipments and track them as well as look at all their stock levels and movements from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. The system also allows customers to use the facility to export information into an excel format so they can report on all aspects of their logistics.

One of our core areas is our UK Courier Solutions service. when you need a consignment delivering quickly, Capital Logistics can help. We will give you a commitment to carry out the delivery efficiently. What’s more, we will go the extra mile. For instance, we won’t leave packages at the ground floor if it needs to be on the third floor. We will make sure it gets to where it is supposed to be every time.

But our success does not stop at the UK borders and Capital Logistics has an efficient International Courier Solution as well. We put the movement of your goods around the globe in the hands of well trained and highly skilled people with years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the industry. Over the last 20 years Managing Director, Lee Power has worked to ensure that the agents he works with globally have the same ethos and work ethics as that of his own company thus allowing him to offer the same level of customer service worldwide. With Capital; you know you will receive a professional and efficient service.

Our highly trained team will oversee every aspect of your shipment, whether it is air, road or sea freight, and will ensure that it gets there safely and quickly and that you are informed of its progress. To make sure that this happens, we work with carefully chosen partners worldwide and can handle both imports and exports, ensuring that the paperwork is all in order to take the hassle out of the task for our clients.

Whatever we are doing, be it delivering or storing goods, our focus remains simple. We are committed to being the leader in local, reliable, cost effective logistic services, with the onus being on complete customer satisfaction.

We are hugely experienced and our expert team works with Managing Directors, Finance Managers and Commercial Directors to get them the very best return on their logistics spend as well as working with Operations Managers, Transport coordinators and Warehouse Supervisors to ensure they receive the efficient service that they need.

As with every business, the best judge of its success is in its client base and a diverse range of manufacturers and distributors, who have had problems with other companies, have switched to us as their preferred supplier for distribution and storage solutions.

Because we are good at what we do, that enables our customers to focus on what they do best without worrying about things like storage and courier problems. It’s as simple as that.

Check you are getting the best delivery and storage deals by calling Capital Logistics on 01444 474400

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UPFRONT

Chichester City Centre Partnership chooses Kabuki for video

Profitnet proves its worth The University of Brighton’s job-creation scheme has recorded impressive results.

Chichester-based Kabuki Productions has filmed a video to promote Chichester’s Business Improvement District (BID) scheme, which aims to raise £1.3 million for the city’s business community.

The scheme, which has already won approval in 128 towns and cities in the UK, including Worthing and Winchester, is a private sector initiative whose purpose is to improve city centres and enhance trading environments.

Kabuki Productions was commissioned to make a promotional video, part of which included interviews with key people from some of Chichester’s leading businesses, including Montezuma’s, House of Fraser, Oil & Vinegar, Amelie & Friends and Seaward Properties, which are all backing BID status for the city.

The money would be generated by city centre firms paying an annual fee for five years equal to 1% of the rateable value of their premises, to go towards initiatives such as regional or national media campaigns for Chichester, improvements to the city and the funding of seasonal events.

Kabuki Productions director Ajay Parekh said: “This is a very important video for the BID initiative and we’ve created a film that puts across its message clearly and concisely with lots of impact. It was great to do some filming in Chichester and meet lots of the city’s businessmen and women.”

Also supporting the scheme ahead and filmed by Kabuki Productions are the Deputy Leader of Chichester District Council, Myles Cullen, the Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by Vice President Louise Fenwick, and the Chichester Business Against Crime partnership.

Profitnet has been developed by the university and rolled out across Sussex over the last five years but only now, as the programme becomes available nationally and internationally under license, is the scale of the success of the scheme becoming clear.

Research into its effectiveness in Sussex showed that: n 72% of participants say they are more innovative in their business thinking as a result of their participation in Profitnet n In 2008-2010, 42 businesses developed 117 new products and 95 new services. n This year alone, the 100 participating businesses have created 11 new jobs n 59% of member businesses have increased their market share

n 86% of member businesses would recommend Profitnet to other businesses.

Profitnet is a business support programme developed by researchers in the Centre for Training and Research Innovation Management at University of Brighton.

Member businesses meet as a closed group once a month to share expertise and offer each other support, advice and feedback in a facilitated session.

Deana Ward, Profitnet Business Development Manager at University of Brighton, said: “Profitnet works because business people have a thirst for knowledge, inspiration and success.”

Recruitment for the 2011/12 programme of Profitnet is under way and any interested business is asked to go to www.profitnet.co.uk for details of how to register.

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WORLD VIEW

The “New” Marlow Ropes, continues to manufacture in Hailsham In this issue we hear from a member company, Marlow Ropes, and its experience of exporting.

Marlow Ropes Ltd was originally established in 1961 having previously been a brand of the Hawkins & Tipson Ropemaking group founded in 1881. In 2005 however, the Company was split up and sold to separate investors.

targeting. If using a distributor or agent, finding the right one is critical and often very difficult – these are the guys who are going to represent you and your brand to the customer, it’s important to get it right.

The “New” Marlow Ropes, continues to manufacture in Hailsham, East Sussex on the same site that has seen rope making for over 200 years. The Company now produces high-tech, niche and specialist rope products for a number of markets and is achieving healthy growth in these difficult times. We service a broad range of sectors - Yachting, Defence, Arboriculture, Rope Access, Safety & Rescue and Marine & Offshore, to name a few.

When starting to export there is help that can be had from a number of different organisations, offering everything from country and business sector reports to trade missions and financial assistance.

Of particular help to us recently has been the UKTI’s “Passport To Export” initiative. It has helped us develop and market our Defence business around the world by helping us with travel and exhibition costs. In addition UKTI representatives in British Embassies worldwide have been a source of local help. Your Chamber of Commerce can also provide assistance, Sussex Enterprise has particularly helped us with export documentation., which when dealing with countries outside Europe can often get complicated.

Don’t forget trade associations either, for example we have found reports and trade missions organised by the British Marine Federation very useful in our Yachting business.

In addition, any bank worth it’s salt should be able to offer help and advice on trading with foreign companies or governments. We recently won a contract in South America and our bank was able to help us navigate the red tape and bureaucracy needed to effect mutually acceptable terms of trade.

Marlow are lucky - we have a well-respected brand that is known across the world thanks to our forebears. However, global competition is strong and a brand is worth nothing if it doesn’t deliver.

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Despite this we only scratch the surface of our potential market and the development of export sales forms a fundamental part of our growth strategy.

We have been lucky in that Marlow is an established and well-respected brand, with export links going back many years. However since 2005 we have had to re-establish ourselves in a number of key export markets as well as expanding into new ones.

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Learning from experience in the hospitality business It was forty years ago that Bruce Stewart founded the Skylane Hotel. Today, he is still involved in the hospitality business and as enthusiastic as ever about it.

His involvement in the Skylane, which is near Gatwick Airport, started in 1971 when he was commissioned by a Jersey businessman to build the hotel, working with a local builder.

He recalls: “Following completion of the hotel build, I was keen to learn all aspects of business.

Today, a hotel opening would be far more structured than in the 70s, with gantt charts to ensure every eventuality is catered for. However, as was my style, I hit the ground running and, having never operated a hotel before, I started to run reception, chambermaid, front-of-house and maintenance, a short, sharp ‘degree’ in the hospitality industry.”

He soon bought the hotel, followed in 1979

by Highley Manor Wedding and Conference Centre at Balcombe and, most recently, Tottington Manor at Edburton. He sold the Skylane Hotel in 2007.

He says: “Both Highley and Tottington are beautiful wedding venues and Tottington Manor is gaining a reputation as a fine restaurant. For me, it certainly has the best tasting beer in

Bruce Stewart, founder of the Skylane Hotel Ltd

the county. It’s a competitive market, but we pride ourselves on doing what we do well and consistently.

“Looking back, my family life did suffer and I’m sure most successful business people will relate to this. The upside is my daughters have recently joined as Directors and it is a whole new experience working together. Business and family need to be separated, but we see more of each other and talk out problems together.

We all have different strengths and make a great team.”

He says he has continued to learn throughout his career, not least that major challenges can happen at any time.

Bruce said: “The miners strike in mid-80s plunged me into a very unexpected and massive overdraft due to the three-day week the country was forced to endure for almost nine months. It

was a truly frightening experience and one that nearly sunk the business. I was amazed at the support I received from my team who took pay cuts to help us pull through.

“More recently, we struggled with planning permission for Tottington Manor’s 4000 foot wedding and conference extension. After seven months we were granted permission and the build is now complete. Forward bookings have justified the £400k investment and I sincerely thank the support of our wonderful customers.

“Tottington Manor is proving to be a worthwhile investment. Many of the staff from the previous ownership remain and are a very professional and hardworking team.”

He also appreciates the support of Sussex Enterprise. He said: “Almost doubling the head count, meant Skylane’s HR function was stretched. Sussex Enterprise’s flexible Emerald service allowed us to bridge this gap cost-effectively.”

And his advice to new entrepreneurs? “No alternative to hard work – vitally important to know your product and your competitors’ products and ensure a proper control of accounts. Always have a cheerful face for the customer and the staff and quality must never falter.” * The Group is on the acquisition trail for additional hotels – anyone with a proposition should get in touch with Sales Director, Sara Calder-Jones, at sara.calder-jones@ tottingtonmanor.co.uk

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POLICY NEWS

Better transport links are vital for the future health of the local economy Mark Froud, Chief Executive of Sussex Enterprise, explains why businesses are counting the cost of Sussex’s failing transport systems Sussex businesses are counting the cost of Sussex’s failing transport system to the tune of £2 billion each year. That is equivalent to £29,000 on average to each Sussex business in the last 12 months, through increased operating costs and a loss of man hours.

Businesses tell us that better transport links east-west along the coast are vital for the future health of the local economy and the greatest culprit in terms of traffic congestion, by far, is the A27. What words spring to mind when you think of the A27? Gridlocked, congested, busy perhaps? If congestion continues to rise as predicted then the increased costs for business in Sussex will be greater than £2 billion in years to come. Where will it end?

Sussex Enterprise has been speaking out for years about the cost of delays caused by the road. We have taken part in many lengthy government consultations to look into how congestion along the A27 can be eased, however, very little appears to have been done to actually tackle the problems. The main government consultations and reports looking into the transport system in the South East over the last ten years are listed below: In June 2009 the Department for Transport (DfT) published its report ‘Guidance to Regions on Delivering a Sustainable Transport System’.

This provides guidance for deciding the priorities

for funding in each year from 2014-19.

This guidance replaces the ‘Draft Guidance to Regions on Delivering a Sustainable Transport System’ (DaSTS) consultation in November 2008.

Prior to this, in October 2007, the DfT outlined its proposed approach to long-term transport planning in ‘Towards a Sustainable Transport System’.

All of this work was preceded by the Government’s report into the transport infrastructure along the South Coast (the South Coast Corridor Multi Modal Study or SoCoMMs) which was completed in September 2002. The study offered a balanced environmental package of road, rail and bus improvements in Sussex. Almost all of which was completely rejected by the Transport Secretary in 2003.

Planning of the county’s major transport infrastructure schemes takes too many years.

I dread to think how much these endless consultations have cost the tax payer but it’s about time someone stepped in and made some decisions about the future of this road.

The main points along the A27 that have been earmarked for possible improvement include Chichester, Arundel, Worthing and Lancing.

These well-known bottlenecks on the South Coast’s major trunk road, have been the bane of thousands of people’s lives for years.

Despite many years of consultation, decisions on most of these schemes have been delayed.

And now, earlier this year, West Sussex County Council published their new 15-year Transport Plan which put improvements to the A27 as one of its top priorities. They are developing options for a package of improvements to the A27 at Worthing and Lancing and to the junctions on the A27 at Chichester to reduce congestion.

They are also aiming for major improvements to the A27 at Arundel, such as a bypass, to reduce congestion and rat-running. The down-side is that all these schemes face limited funding for infrastructure improvements.

We are realistic about the economic situation but, at the same time, Government has made it clear that the private sector needs to create jobs to offset the losses in the public sector. Businesses cannot remain competitive if they lose time, trade and money through rising transport congestion. We need for the Government to stop saying ‘might’, ‘if ’ or ‘maybe’ when talking about future transport policy but to actually start delivering on the urgent need to increase capacity.

The South East, as the UK’s economic powerhouse, is playing a key role in helping revive the country’s economy but even a first rate region cannot operate with a third rate transport network.

All is not lost though, as motorists now benefit from the long-awaited new bridge along the A27 at Beddingham, which crosses the Lewes to Eastbourne railway line. At least one antidote to the A27 gridlock has arrived.

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BCC FOCUS

Building a national consensus for growth In recent months, I have been struck by policymakers’ unanimity of purpose when it comes to economic growth.

Parties of the left and right, across both Britain and the EU, are all seized of the need to boost both business investment and exports – though at times they disagree, of course, about how this can best be done. Growth fever is not confined just to the politicians, however; it has also set in with both civil servants and the wider economic elite Adam Marshall Director of Policy explains.

I do not for one second doubt this pro-growth logic. Indeed, as a representative of British business, it is my job to actively encourage it, ensuring that companies of all sizes and types have stronger prospects to improve their bottom lines and expand wherever possible.

Yet there is a fly in the ointment, or if you prefer, a bitter taste in the growth elixir that the policy elites in Whitehall, Brussels and countless other national capitals are so eager to imbibe.

Put simply, the policy elite hasn’t got round to convincing the public that growth is a good thing. As I travel around the UK, the gap between the policymakers’ and businesses’ views, on the one hand, and the general public, on the other, is simply enormous.

Britons, overwhelmingly, are creatures of the status quo. The desire to protect what we

have, no matter how modest, runs deeper than any desire to take risks, to innovate, or to dream – except amongst a small minority of entrepreneurial or intellectual spirits. And it’s this very attitude – combined with a very powerful and ingrained ‘culture of no’ – that represents the biggest single threat to our national growth prospects in the months and years ahead.

You can see it in some of the newspapers, where opposition to the novel or the risky runs deep in letters pages and comment pieces, from the most august and high-brow national daily to the most shrill red-top.

You see it in debates over hugely important growth projects, such as the simplification of the planning system or the construction of an ambitious new high-speed rail network. The immediate and hysterical reaction from both individuals and some pressure groups when a government says it wants to make the planning process easier and less costly for growing businesses, is to warn shrilly of the concreting over of the countryside and uncontrolled development. When it comes to high-speed rail, the vocal and influential minority of opponents doesn’t even want to hear the arguments in favour – such as the fact that capacity constraints on the existing network will mean ever-higher fares and worse overcrowding in the years to come as space is rationed. The general public, unfortunately, is being won over by these naysayers as well, casting all the pro-growth logic aside.

You even see scepticism about the need for growth on local councils in already-prosperous areas, and even, in private, amongst some MPs fearful of their constituents’ reactions were they to support a new housing development, a job-creating business park, or new public transport lines. The ‘culture of no’ is so pervasive

that it could become a fundamental impediment to growth at the time when we need it most.

When in Spain recently, I happened across an essay written by the eminent economist and sociologist José Luis Sampedro on economic development in Great Britain. Though published in 1947, it could have been written yesterday, referring, as it does, to ‘ese tan opuesto ánimo de un pueblo’. Roughly translated, and in context, this refers to a strong, vital, “anti” feeling amongst the British people – something as much in evidence today as it was over sixty years ago.

So before we despair, can anything be done?

I am under no doubt that it is the role of the business community as a whole to make sure that the arguments in favour of growth are made strongly and loudly – not just to policy elites, but to the British and European public as a whole. We must go back to basics here to ramp up popular support: growth means jobs, higher wages, individual and family prosperity, and the opportunity to get on and move up in an increasingly competitive world. Unless European economies grow, there will come a time when the welfare state is rolled back, our infrastructure decays, and businesses stop investing.

Somehow, the popular imagination has been captured by those who think economic growth is not necessary – and by those who would portray economic growth solely as corporate profits, identikit housing estates, or something diametrically opposed to the interests of the public at large. Now is the time to explode that myth, and the BCC and Chambers of Commerce around the globe must and will be at the forefront of the charge.

Dr Adam Marshall is Director of Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce (www.britishchambers.org.uk).

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Bespoke communication, sales, customer service, rapport, management and leadership skills programmes, assessment learning and development needs analysis, staff induction design, training material authoring, performance appraisal design Call us now on 01273 528287 to find out how we can support you and your business www.corticoachingandtraining.com enquiry@ corticoachingandtraining.com

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ASK THE EXPERT

New Partnership Launched with HR IT solutions provider Sussex Enterprise has formed a partnership with US-based talent management solution provider, SilkRoad technology, who set up in Brighton in January of 2011.

SilkRoad technology is a leading global provider of cloud-based talent management software.

SilkRoad’s solutions not only address the process of managing talent, they also help to strengthen and provide positive, long-lasting candidate and employee experiences that span the entire employee life cycle.

SilkRoad picked the Brighton location for its accessibility to major airports and the fantastic train services into London and connecting cities.

Sussex and Hampshire have a number of large multi-national firms based in the surrounding area and two outstanding universities, which will hopefully provide some top recruits for the company. “It’s such a vibrant city without the

Q

I use temps in my business.

What do the forthcoming Agency Workers Regulations 2010 mean to me and what do I need to do to prepare?

The new regulations come into force on 1 October 2011, affect anyone who uses temporary staff engaged through an agency, and are designed to put temps on an equal footing to those employed directly.

A

This means that from day one of the assignment, a temp will be entitled to use the same facilities as your permanent staff (e.g. car parking, crèche and showers), and to be informed of any permanent job vacancies. After a 12 week

Q

I regularly have to recruit staff, and I know I should really be taking up references, but I have been recruiting for years, and have yet to be caught out. It looks like a time consuming process, so is there a good reason why I should?

A

I guess the first thing to say is that being ‘caught out’ is probably not the best way to look it!

Recruitment, when it works well, is a process that matches an organisation and an individual to each other ensuring that the relationship works for both of them.

Sometimes, an organisation can spend lots of

hustle and bustle and expensive rates of London,” said Jon Holden, SilkRoad’s Director of Channels and Affiliates for Northern Europe. “We have found customers and prospects enjoy a day out to Brighton with the fresh air and excellent facilities it has to offer.”

SilkRoad’s award-winning Life Suite, the most comprehensive suite of talent management solutions on the market, is an integrated set of employer-branded solutions that power businesses with the latest Web 2.0 and social media innovations. SilkRoad provides solutions for recruiting, onboarding & life events, performance management, learning, employee intranets and core HR.The Life Suite is ideally suited for businesses of any size because of its unique and open “start anywhere” architecture – allowing companies to implement the complete suite or begin with one solution and add functionality as

qualifying period, a temp will also be entitled to largely the same terms and conditions (including salary, overtime and holiday) as your employees. Non-compliance could land you with a hefty Employment Tribunal award which may include a fine of up to £5k and a sum for injury to feelings.

Steps to consider before 1 October: n Ensure that all workplace facilities are available to temps; n Ensure that your job vacancies are accessible; n Provide full details of the relevant terms and conditions which apply to your own staff to your temp agency before the temp starts;

time and a significant amount of money on the recruitment process, but spends little effort on the very important but time consuming part of the process, checking that candidates are who they say they are, and are likely to live up to the claims they have made during the interview process. And who hasn’t heard horror stories about candidates who turned out to be exactly the opposite of the person the business expected. And of course, getting rid of surprisingly bad employees takes time even if they only have a couple of days’ service.

Sussex Enterprise has just launched a new online candidate checking service for businesses at a cost of just £11.99 per candidate, and this

If you would like to talk to Jon about the SilkRoad suite of products, then contact him at jon.holden@ silkroad.com or 07789 997370. needed. Example of some of the 2,000 current clients include, Euromonitor, MacAfee, Accenture, Seagate, Bausch & Lomb, Manpower, Citrix, Sony Pictures, Loreal and American Express.

SilkRoad would like to extend an introductory offer to all Sussex Enterprise Members who have a need to power a Talent Management initiative of a 30% discount off their list price for customers that engage with them before the end of 2011.

Gill Edinburgh, Director of Operations, at Sussex Enterprise said “We are delighted that SilkRoad chose Sussex to make their UK base, and we are also thrilled to join with SilkRoad in making our members aware of such an innovative and comprehensive product”.

Jane can be contacted at j.smith@asb-law. com or by calling 01293 603608 n Be aware of terms that apply to your own staff when negotiating agency fees; and n Issue temps with a grievance policy to follow if they have any concerns.

Jane Smith is as a solicitor in the Employment team at asb law [advising clients on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters].

Tania Woodward, HR Consultant can be on 0844 3759 552.

includes a whole range of checks, including taking up employment, education and personal references; checking identity and credit histories; cross referencing data from various sources; and even verifying the legitimacy of passports, green cards and other identifying documents. So if you don’t want to spend this time yourself, why not let us do it for you?

BUSINESSEDGE 15

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5/10/11 15:14:00

SPOTLIGHT ON‌

Shoreham Port Shoreham Port has been in existence for over 250 years. Today it is a thriving commercial port serving customers in the South East of England.

I

t is 5 kilometres long, stretching from Shoreham itself to West Hove with 72 Hectares of cargo terminals and business premises. There are 100 businesses based on the port directly employing 1,400 people. So it is a big player in the local economy.

The port is run by Shoreham Port Authority, a member of Sussex Enterprise, which is a trust set up to operate the port for the benefit of port users. It owns much of the land and provides a stevedoring service, runs two marinas and manages a wide range of business premises.

A port masterplan was produced last year setting out the plans for the physical development of the port over the next 20 to 30 years. This was carried out in conjunction with port operators and local stakeholders. A full public consultation exercise took place last summer and amendments were made in response to comments received.

The masterplan has now been formally supported by the local authorities and commended by the Department of Transport.

It is a practical and realistic strategy with a set of proposals that will encourage new investment in the port and help create new jobs for the local area. It provides greater certainty to port operators, tenants and land owners about the future when they are making their own plans.

It also provides a clear picture to the wider audience of what the port will be like in the years to come. There will be an extra 500 jobs created and improvements in terms of better leisure facilities, public space and environmental protection.

Shoreham handles 900 ships a year, the main cargo being aggregates, steel and timber for the construction industry, but there is also cereals, fertiliser, fish and petroleum. In order to understand the scale and type of port trade in the future an Opportunity Study was undertaken which provided an indication of the potential growth in trade. Taking everything into account a target was set to grow cargo tonnage through the port by 25%.

To accommodate this growth it will need the relocation of some non-port related businesses, more efficient use of terminals and some reclamation from the water within the port to create additional land.

Since the study marketing has been stepped up and already new companies are arriving on the port. Earlier this year we saw some big names move to Shoreham such as Arcelor Mittal - a major steel company - and Stobart Biomass - who supply fuel to wood burning power stations. Partly due to the new business there has been a significant increase in overall cargo tonnage through the port in the first half of 2011.

More and more companies are beginning to see the benefits of Shoreham with the very modern facilities and equipment that now exists such as new warehousing, cranes and the unique Track-a-Pack system where every pack of timber is bar-coded. The Port Authority itself has invested over ÂŁ24 million in the last 5 years in better port facilities and further investment is planned with additional warehousing, a new engineering centre, improvements to the roads and renewable energy generation schemes.

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A very noticeable change on the port’s skyline is the new Parker Steel processing plant now under construction which will be one of the largest buildings in the area at 15,000 sqm.This is a shining example of the port’s ambitions and ability to deliver what it promises.There are advanced discussions with several other companies about building new specialist port facilities and also a new 32 megawatt power station fuelled by bioliquids shipped in by tanker. In addition, it is one of the locations that E.ON is looking at for their Operations and Maintenance Base to service the proposed Rampion Wind Farm off the Sussex coast, due to be built in 3 years time. The other being Newhaven.

As well as port operators there are a wide range of businesses based on the port from electrical and joinery firms to food distribution and music studios with all 70 properties currently let - another sign of the popularity of the port.

An implementation plan has been drawn up following the completion of the masterplan.

The key areas of the port where development is planned are Aldrington Basin, North Quayside, Southwick Waterfront and the Western Arm. A prospectus will be published later this year to find development partners to work with the Port Authority to develop these areas.

Shoreham Port Authority is a full member of the Shoreham Harbour Regeneration Partnership along with Brighton & Hove City Council, Adur District Council and West Sussex County Council. The partnership wants to see major improvements in the wider harbour area that will provide significant new employment and housing. The shared vision for the area is to see over 2,400 new jobs and up to 2,000 new homes provided over the next 15 years. All development will be built to the highest design and environmental standards.

The improvements to the area associated with

the new development will also benefit existing communities.

There are big issues such as flood risk and transport to overcome, but these are being tackled. There has already been £5.0 million spent on road junction improvements and public transport facilities funded from the Government’s Community Infrastructure Fund which has made a real difference along the A259 and at the four railway stations. Also money is being spent on local amenity areas and environmental improvements.

All in all both the port and surrounding communities have a bright future and huge potential to become a key driver in the local and regional economy.

The further information can be found on our website www.shoreham–port.co.uk

BUSINESSEDGE 17

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5/10/11 15:15:53

Concerned about ID fraud?

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Whether you work from home or office, we offer both ad-hoc or regular collections.

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sales@jplmaintenance.co.uk

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Do you still have some of your Training Budget to spend?.... Get value for money with Miris Training

Knowledge – gained on one of our courses will be suitable to use both in the workplace and outside of work.

Look at Training and Development in a new way:

Our core principles are applied to all the training courses that we deliver. Whether the training course is for Health & Safety training or Interpersonal Skills training it will be Professional, Focused, Structured, Interactive, Fun, Practical, Easy to use and Value for money.

We offer Health & Safety training – Our courses are designed to be participative; lots of discussion about the importance of Health & Safety in YOUR business. ● Health

and Safety for owners and managers

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We offer Interpersonal Skills training, otherwise known as People Skills, Soft Skills, Developmental Skills, or in the business I used to work for the - “PINK & FLUFFY” - training. There are various courses that suit everyone working in YOUR business; ● Management ● Succession ● Team

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the Trainer.....and more

Ask yourself just one question – “What is the MOST important resource my business has”?

The answer – Your PEOPLE. They are the life blood of your business; they can make or break a business.

Why chose Miris Training. – It is all about Service.

Experience – 15 years as a trainer and over 6 years in management. Trainer qualification with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Institute for Leadership and Management and the Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring.

Sensible prices – we charge PER course NOT per delegate.

We can train in-house or at our own facility in Crawley to keep costs down. We also have agreements with various local facility providers whose charges are very reasonable.

Simple Training solutions – every course is designed around YOUR business needs. We know just how valuable your time is so every course we deliver for you will be succinct, significant, relevant and delivered in a time effective manner.

Our promise to you is that any training solution that you receive from Miris Training will be centred on your business needs.

Jane Brann Miris Training

www.miris-training.co.uk www.miris-training.co.uk/blog 07595 414 463 / 01293 618881 traininginfo@miris-training.co.uk

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5/10/11 15:16:05

THE STEAM ROOM

Balancing the Books We all know in business that if we are spending more than we earn we will eventually go bust! That applies to us all whether as an individual, a company or even a country.

The

Steam Room!

Each edition we invite a visitor to ‘The Steam Room’ to let off steam on the issues that are bothering them and their business.

The current world crises is the direct result of Governments believing that they can spend their way out of any problem by continuing to borrow and print more money. This cannot work and the up-heaval across Europe is evidence of this. We even disqualify directors of companies who ‘trade wrongfully’ and incur debt when they know or should have known that they wouldn’t be able to pay their suppliers!

Here in England over the last 20 years we have run up mountains of debt and lived beyond our means with naïve politicians being advised by incompetent civil servants and yet I still haven’t heard of a single civil servant being ‘disqualified or dismissed’ for this advice – why not?

At least we now seem to have a Government and Councils across the country living up to the challenge and attempting to balance the books and yet our civil service – yes those who provided the advice and management in the first place are now striking to protect the packages and the gold plated pensions that they effectively awarded themselves.

All this is bewildering to a simple businessman who has spent his life making sure that he could pay his bills and staff and not go bust but what really makes me steam at the ears is the continual harassment of the politicians, council members and yes now even civil servants, who are trying their best to address this crisis by our media. They continually challenge and question any cuts giving hours of media time to any

individual or organisation who wants to criticise these efforts. However not once have I heard them ask what these individual groups suggest Government should cut instead or where the savings should come from.

None of us want library services, education, health, police or indeed any front line services cut, but when the books don’t balance hard decisions need to be made. Our media needs to give a balanced report and make sure any coverage also asks the question if we don’t cut here where will those savings be made? Every politician or civil servant challenged should be allowed to ask where that challenger would rather see cuts made.

We need to have a constructive debate that starts from the accepted premise that savings have to be made. We are spending beyond our budget and if we continue we will go bust and sit alongside Ireland and Greece. London’s standing as a safe haven and world leading financial centre will be lost and the long term effect on UK PLC and our SME sector will be irretrievable. So let’s get real, take the hard decisions and vocally support the actions concerning the essential services whilst improving productivity and efficiency in the Government to ensure that we have a structure and society in which we can all survive and prosper.

BUSINESSEDGE 19

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NEWS

Building supplies company celebrates 25th anniversary Independent builders’ merchant Parker Building Supplies has celebrated a quarter of a century of business in the South East.

The firm, established in the former railway goods yard in Uckfield, has seen continued growth and now employs 150 people at 13 locations across Sussex and Kent.

Expanding into new sectors has been crucial to Parker’s expansion and the company now

runs successful kitchen, garden furniture and landscaping operations as well as its core building supply work.

The firm’s latest branch opening in Seaford has brought seven new jobs to the town and has given the local building sector a major

boost, with customers now able to buy supplies without having to leave the town.

The company has also launched Parker Garden Furniture, with a dedicated indoor showroom at the Group’s headquarters offices on the Bellbrook Business Park in Uckfield.

Operations Manager Phil White said: “Twenty five years is a long time to survive in business but by always looking to expand into new areas while delivering superb customer service we have managed to grow.”

Procurement manager Graeme Combs said: “The company has come a long way since it began in a railway shed in Uckfield but we are now proud to employ 150 people and to operate in a dozen towns across the South East.”

“Twenty five years is a long time to survive in business but by always looking to expand into new areas while delivering superb customer service we have managed to grow.”

20 BUSINESSEDGE

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START UPS

Good things come to those who wait Sometimes you have a good invention that lies dormant in your head until you either forget about it, dismiss it as impossible or eventually act upon it. In the case of Shoreham-based entrepreneur and member David Solomons, it took 17 years to finally take his invention from brain to market. David explains I had this idea when my daughter was born 17 years ago. My wife was suffering from the effects of the caesarean and I had a bad back and neither of us were able to pick up and lay down our daughter without discomfort. So I hit on the idea of a blanket with handles.

The idea was simple but there were several issues with the design that I wasn’t happy with and the idea got shelved until January this year when I told my neighbour, friend and fellow designer Mike Edwards, about the idea.

Mike was incredibly excited about it and we began work immediately creating and testing prototypes until they were satisfied that they had what they wanted.

That was the beginning of the ‘BUNDL’ the world’s first baby lifting blanket. We formed a limited company called Snugglebundl and opened a business account at Barclay in Brighton.

As Mike recalls “Our business bank manager told us that Barclays were running a start-up business award competition with a £50,000 prize for the winner. We were close to the deadline but we thought, well what have we got to lose.”

We entered the Take one small step competition with a two-minute video demonstration of their product and a business/financial plan of the idea. Out of 5,000 entries the judges brought it down to 27 finalists, three for each of the nine regions across the UK. Snugglebundl was one of them and it was now down to a public vote as to who would win. We had just one month to get as many votes as they could.

I have never worked as hard as I did that month.

We did everything we could to get people to vote for us. We learnt an incredible amount about social networking and marketing and,

of course, we rallied the support of all friends and family. The Sussex Enterprise team were fantastic and helped us loads. We hit the streets and cold called thousands of people and asked them to vote but there was no counter so we had no idea how well we had done.

The award ceremony gala dinner was held in London in July and all that hard work was paid off. We picked up the Southern region prize and the £50,000 to help launch the new venture.

We picked up a few testimonies along the way.

Local MP Tim Laughton said “Well done for coming up with a fantastic invention which will help the lives of many parents. Another feather in the cap for Shoreham.”

Barclays Area Manager Keith Fox said. “It is great that we have a winner here in West Sussex.

It is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that exists within the county.”

Snugglebundl has now secured a manufacturer to produce the Bundls in the UK and are busy readying themselves for a launch in September and are already looking at other ideas that they can bring to market hopefully without a 17 year delay!

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

The sense of inno v drives James Dys o James Dyson is one of the best-known inventors in the world, driven on by a belief that everything can be done better. That philosophy, allied with a belief in individualism and strong determination, is what has driven his business career from its early days.

I

n the late 1970s, he had the idea of using cyclonic separation to create a vaccum cleaner that would not lose suction as it picked up dirt. He had become frustrated with his Hoover Junior’s diminishing performance: dust kept clogging the bag and it lost suction.The idea of the cyclones came from the spray-finishing room’s air filter in his Ballbarrow factory, which was making a wheelbarrow with a new type of wheel.

Partly supported by his wife’s salary as an art teacher, and after five years and many prototypes, James launched the ‘G-Force’ cleaner in 1983. However, no manufacturer or distributor would launch his product in the UK as it would disrupt the valuable market for replacement cleaner-bags, so he launched it in Japan through catalogue sales.

Dyson the company was founded in 1993 and the product now outsells those of some of the companies that rejected his idea, has become one of the most popular brands in the UK and is gaining popularity abroad. More inventions have followed.

Looking back on his early career, James said: “I got into design in an unconventional way. I never started out wishing to be an inventor. I studied only arts subjects at school and slipped into the Royal College of Art through the back door.

“I fiddled with wood, got into plastic and drifted into product design. Soon enough I dreamt of being the next Brunel. Convinced that engineering was no more than a state of mind, I began making the products I was designing and moonlighting as a professional maker of things.”

Asked what was his first invention, he said: “It was a high speed landing craft. Jeremy Fry, owner of Rotok, employed me as a designer after leaving the Royal College of Art. He taught me to do things my own way, regardless of how ‘things should be done’. With this root principle, I developed The Sea Truck, a 40-knot, high speed, air lubricated hull conceived as a military assault craft.

“For me, inspiration comes from frustration at something that doesn’t work. Get out and look at things; when an idea comes grab it, write it down, and play with it until it works. Don’t sit and expect ideas to come, otherwise you’ll end up staring at the drawing board.”

James believes that companies must constantly innovate, saying: “In 2001, Mike Rutter, Hoover’s boss, went on television to say that he wished he had bought my idea - so that Hoover could have put it on the shelf and left it there. Hoover failed to innovate; now 1 in 3 homes in the UK own a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Striking out and being bold is in our blood at Dyson. If you don’t

invent, someone somewhere will come up with a better invention that rubbishes yours.

“We’re risk adverse in Britain . I wish I had realised the power of commercialising an idea earlier and not wasted time with the large, slow multinationals who shun change. I was persistent and succeeded. To be successful you have to develop a product that works better and looks better than existing ones.

“This type of investment is long term, high risk and not very British. In the longer view, it is not half so likely to prove hazardous to one’s financial health as simply following the herd.

“The UK has an innate creativity, inventiveness and competitive spirit. The country’s long term performance depends on our ability to generate new ideas and bring them to market.”

One of his current projects is encouraging the next generation of young innovators. He said: “Britain has a great reputation internationally; I want this to be maintained. From my perspective it is frustrating that we produce 22,000 engineering graduates for 37,000 positions. I’m trying to double the number of engineers at Dyson. It’s proving difficult to find people with the right skills and gung-ho spirit.

“I started Dyson with four graduates straight out the Royal College of Art. Quick thinking, creative and fresh, they had new ways of being creative. That’s why I support young inventors and designers through the James Dyson Foundation.

“We’ve just launched the foundation in the United States and recently given a donation of £1 million to help UK engineering students struggling with debt. It is up to business, institutions and the Government to cooperate and provide a fertile bed for growth and inventiveness in Britain.”

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o vation that s on

If you don’t invent, someone somewhere will come up with a better invention that rubbishes yours

BUSINESSEDGE 23

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5/10/11 15:16:42

COVER FEATURE

Exploding the myths surrounding manufacturing It is often said that the UK does not manufacture anything. In fact, the opposite is true and across Sussex are companies introducing new manufacturing techniques and methods. These pages focus on three successful member companies Time 24 - optimistic about the future of manufacturing Step onto any new train in the South of England or on many aircraft and there is a good chance there will be Time 24 product on it.

Time 24 are one of the most established Electromechanical Contract Manufacturers in Europe. 2012 will see them celebrate their 25th Anniversary and they have travelled from their humble beginnings in a converted farm on the Oakendene Estate in Cowfold to a £20

million turnover, 350-employee company with 80,000sq ft manufacturing facilities in Burgess Hill and the Czech Republic.

The business was formed by business graduates David Shore and Mark Willifer. David said: “This was 1987 and getting competitive space on a flexible lease in the boom town Gatwick region was virtually impossible. I remember starting out at Cowfold with only me, a desk and a phone.”

Cowfold served its purpose and the company evolved a world-class customer-base building Control Equipment and electrical/electronic systems for Varian Radiotherapy machines, Thales Simulators, BAE Systems Radars, Bombardier Trains, Invensys Oil&Gas Control Systems, BAE Systems Aircrafts and Rolls Royce Engines. In 2005, the company was officially registered as the 111th fastest growing company in Europe and works closely with companies looking to lean out their processes and outsource non-core manufacturing activity.

Current projects include installing control equipment for Air Traffic Control, building Process equipment for oil platforms, working on the Thales Reality 7 Aircraft Simulator and beginning to exploit the renewable energies market.

Time 24

David said: “Despite the Government taking the concerning decision to place the £4.5 billion Thameslink Rolling Stock programme in Germany, manufacturing is recovering well and this Government does get it.

“They are trying to rebalance the economy with manufacturing getting a greater role. Last year, manufacturing grew by 3.5%, outpacing GDP by 1.3 %.The statistics show that those people making things account for a little under 13% of UK GDP versus about 10% for those lovable bankers. Manufacturing has a key role to play in leading the economy to economic recovery.”

The company has been in Sussex for almost 25 years and a member of Sussex Enterprise for almost 20 years. David said: “Sussex Enterprise have always been incredibly supporting over that period and we also look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

B & W Group always innovating For Geoff Edwards,Vice President of UK Operations for the B & W Group in Worthing, it is the commitment to innovation that’s crucial, along with an international focus.

The Group manufactures its award-winning 800 Series of speakers from its Worthing site and employs 300 staff. Since 2009, this production has incorporated the manufacture of the curved real wood cabinets following a challenging transfer of business and skills from our Danish factory. A further 30 staff are based

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ng

Mike Punter, Managing Director of Parafix

at the Steyning R&D facility developing new technologies and products for all the Group’s global manufacturing needs.

Geoff said: “From the foundation of Bowers & Wilkins in 1966 as a premium Hi-Fi manufacturer the Group has always had global focus. Exports represent more than 90% of the Group’s £125 million turnover.

“Moving components and products around the globe, particularly in developing markets, creates logistics and regulatory issues with which Sussex Enterprise help us.”

And always there is innovation. Geoff said: “The development of the IPOD/MP3 technology provided both a challenge and an opportunity to Bowers & Wilkins. The issue was how to sell a Hi-Fi enthusiasts’ appreciation of quality sound to a generation whose only experience was listening to down-loads on earphones or worse.

“The launch of an iconic designed premium sound-dock “the Zeppelin” using latest sound processing technology and Steyning R&D’s 40 plus years experience of great music reproduction has brought Hi-Fi listening to a new and much larger audience. Not only has the sales of Zeppelin and the follow up products in the computer speaker, prestige headphone and most recently ear-buds markets grown the business, the higher Bowers & Wilkins brand

profile gained has boosted sales of the core loudspeaker and audio products.”

Parafix investing in talent For Lancing-based adhesive tape converter and supplier Parafix, coping with the economic downturn meant sticking closely to its core values of staff training, investment and diversification.

Like most UK-based manufactures, Parafix saw sales dip in late 2008 but the firm has bucked the trend by returning swiftly to profit. Now, on average, we all touch an item containing a Parafix product 30 times a day, whether it’s a mobile phone, a television or our cars.

When the recession hit in the fourth quarter of 2008, Parafix’s response was extraordinary. Under the leadership of Managing Director Mike Punter, the company actually increased its staff training, helping 22 employees gain NVQs up to Level 4 since 2009.This came despite a cut in Government funding support for NVQ training programmes.

The firm stayed focused on customer satisfaction, scoring an 80% repeat business rate and an increased new business win rate, using an advanced online product selector to help customers choose the right product.

Parafix has invested £350,000 in market-leading equipment since 2009, helping to improve productivity and efficiency, and as a result was able to expand, adding a factory in Russia to its already successful overseas operations launched in Hungary.

Diversifying has played a key role in the success of Parafix and the firm now operates in new industries such as life sciences, producing life-changing goods such as blood glucose testing strips.

The recession resulted in a workforce reduction of 30% but Mike made a personal pledge to those made redundant that he would re-hire them once sales picked up. True to his word, more than half have been re-recruited.

As a result of the company’s commitment to its staff and customers, it remained profitable for 2009 and 2010 and has now returned to pre-recession sales.

Mike said: “The core of any business is its people, and by investing in our staff, we managed to ride out one of the toughest trading periods in the last 20 years. We pride ourselves on not only engaging our staff but also delivering exceptional customer service, and we believe this makes Parafix a role model for manufacturing in the region; as strategists, responsible employers and innovators.”

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No looking back for expert employer From food production lines to photocopiers, steel foundries to hospitals – temperature monitoring is a feature of almost every industry. For over 20 years, temperature experts, TM Electronics, have risen to the challenge, manufacturing thermometers and probes for a huge range of markets both home and abroad.

TME’s Worthing-based factory now employs 10-15 workers at any one time, regularly supplying indivdual businesses, SME’s and the cost sector – as well as industry heavyweights like Morrison’s Supermarkets, Farnell and Birds Eye. “We are proud to be a successful UK manufacturer, providing employment and delivering expertise,” says MD, Tom Sensier, who founded the company back in 1990 from a room in his Brighton loft.

So what is the secret of TME’s continuing success? “We realised early on that survival in a global marketplace would require continuous innovation in both design and manufacturing.”

TME’s innovative product range is testament to this principle. Building on the functionality of its high quality MM2000 Waterproof Thermometer, the company broke completely new ground with the unique MM7000 ThermoBar Scan, a Bluetooth thermometer with integral barcode scanner.This innovation logs not only temperature, time and date but also the unique identity of temperature-tested products and locations. As a result, the company has successfully opened up new markets in facilities management and legionella water monitoring.

But it is the company’s expertise in bringing together both clever design and streamlined manufacturing which really sets it apart.TME’s groundbreaking encapsulated handle is the kind of production-sensitive design which underpins the company’s competitive edge.TME designers have also introduced ThermaSprint technology, a new method of manufacturing faster probes, and are already working on the next generation of thermometers even better equipped to match tomorrows’s fast-paced industries. “At TME there’s no looking back – continuous innovation in both design and manufacturing is our guiding principle and the best route to sustainable success.”

For more information

01903 700651 www.tmelectronics.co.uk sales@tmelectronics.co.uk

Looking for Gifts for Clients, Staff and Colleagues? n Quality wine and cheese selections n Bespoke hampers from £20 to £200 n Personalised Cheese and Wine

Evenings for small groups Call to discuss your ideas 01273 481048 Cheese Please,46 High Street, Lewes. East Sussex BN7 2DD

www.cheesepleaseonline.co.uk

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FOCUS ON LEGAL

MAYO WYNNE BAXTER

Social media’s legal challenge Public transgressions, discrimination and breached confidentiality.

Mayo Wynne Baxter’s employment lawyer Martin Williams on the legal issues to negotiate with social networking now a cornerstone of office life.

a

FEATURE

When writing about social networking there is always a danger of being overtaken by events.

Twitter and Facebook dominate today, but not that long ago everyone was talking about MySpace and Friends Reunited. Whatever the changes in platform, the idea of social networking has taken off and appears set to be with us for a while.

The statistics are amazing. At last count 35 hours of video are added to YouTube every minute.Twitter claims that 500,000 accounts are created each day.

Since Google launched Google+ it is said to be gaining users at a rate of 800,000 per day.

So how should employers respond to this phenomenon? There are obvious benefits but, as with any development, there is also the potential for danger.

Employers increasingly use social networking both to advertise posts and to aid the selection process.This raises substantial problems.What if the candidate does not appear on any site? If this influences your process then a section of the community will miss out. Internet search investigations also increase the risk of appointments being discriminatory.That does not mean that they should be ruled out, but the information found online must be viewed with care.

Social media’s impact on bullying is another serious concern. New technology creates another avenue for bullying but it can also make it easier to track. Employers should review

anti-bullying policies and procedures to make a specific reference to cyber bullying on sites away from the workplace as well as tightening the monitoring of internal systems.

Social networking can blur the boundaries between work and play in a way not seen before. There is a careful balance to be struck.

The detail of how this will be achieved depends in large part on the business concerned and the various roles of individuals. Overall, policies need to be drafted so that everyone understands what’s expected of them. Such policies should address the extent to which hand held devices are used at work as well as computer hardware.

Once employees know when and how social networking can be used then training is required on the limits to what can be said. Breaching confidentiality is all too easy through a system that disseminates information instantaneously in a format which prevents effective deletion. Small errors create big problems.

Employers may want to distance themselves from some comments made by rogue

employees. However, if the actions are taken as part of normal work activity this can be a difficult argument to run. Giving proper training and guidance puts the employer in a better place to claim the employee transgressed known boundaries.

None of the issues raised by social networking are new. The difference is the ease, speed, wide delivery and permanence. The conversations that used to be reserved for the pub could never be monitored as effectively as tweets and postings. Comments were said one day and hearsay the next. Now the pub is a global community and comments are graffiti etched in permanent marker. Employers can best protect themselves by setting out their expectations in writing. And, given the rapid changes in technology, such policies should be constantly updated and employees kept informed.

Martin Williams will be covering employment law as part of a free business workshop on 10th November in Lewes from 2.30 till 5pm.

To book visit www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Expertise vital when it comes to making the big move Selecting a new property is a major decision for any business. There are so many things to consider, so many things that can go wrong, so many details to be closely examined before the paperwork is signed.

The challenges presented by the property market is why many business owners and managers turn to specialist companies who are experienced in the field.

That decision makes even more sense when taking into account the past 12 months, with the effects of the recent recession and the slow rate of recovery complicating judgements that need to be made.

Consultants have a vast knowledge of land and buildings available and their expertise is invaluable when it comes to selecting the best one. Their knowledge can save a lot of time.

For those in the know, there are some excellent opportunities available in the Sussex area.

Some companies delay or even abandon plans in difficult trading times, and others proceed more cautiously, but on the flip side, the economic downturn has led to competitive property prices in some areas of Sussex.

Recent surveys of businesses seeking to expand or relocate have suggested that the main considerations when it comes to investing in new property has been the need to keep costs under control and also the impact a purchase or lease may have on company cash flow.That is true of all companies but particularly so for small businesses taking their first tentative steps towards expansion.

It is often said that the best time to invest is in a recession and the same could be said to be true when it comes to property. Moving into somewhere bigger and better is a show of confidence that speaks volumes for clients and prospective clients.

To address those concerns, the number of companies seeking lease arrangements rather than buying outright does seem to be increasing, although there are still companies that prefer the idea of owning their own premises, seeing it as an investment for the future.

Property industry exponents say that they are seeing a slow return in confidence when it comes to investing, a trend being driven by encouraging economic figures which suggest that the economy is on the way back up.

Companies are starting to feel that the time is right expansion again.

When the right site has been selected by the client, property consultants are crucial when it comes to brokering the deals because they understand their clients’ needs, and anxieties, and are able to negotiate with property owners to secure the best terms.

The role of the property consultant when a company has decided to invest is to take as much of the hassle away from the process as possible and that starts with locating the kind of sites that would appeal to a client.

Orega’s business centre at The Beehive near Gatwick Airport provides users with an exciting blend of 21st century state-of-the-art technology and early aeronautical history.

The stunning art deco building was the original Gatwick Airport passenger terminal building. This year, it became the proud recipient of a special commemorative plaque from the Royal Aeronautical Society – only the thirteenth the Society has conferred since launching its heritage award scheme in 2008. The plaques recognise people, places and things that have made a significant contribution to the art and science of aeronautics within the UK – a criterion which The Beehive amply fulfils.

Dating from 1936, the unusual circular building was sympathetically restored and re-launched as a business centre in 2009 by Orega and its joint venture management partner and building owner, The Bland Group. Today, The Beehive buzzes with businesses using its well-appointed serviced offices and stylish meeting rooms, all keen to take advantage of the building’s unique characteristics and excellent location minutes from Gatwick Airport.

Once terms have been agreed, property consultants will also be on hand to offer a continuing service until the move has been made and the client is happily settled in a new home. Even in difficult times, investing in property can make good business sense.

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What is Coaching?

A process that helps clients create and achieve goals: ● Increase profitability by agreed percentage ● Develop a new product or service ● Achieve an effective work / life balance

Why should you use a Business Coach? ● ● ●

An opportunity to explore and develop new ideas An independent confidant The process is highly effective and affordable

Why should you contact Barbara Hibbart? ● ● ●

She helps her clients achieve great results She is an experienced and qualified Business Coach She is approachable and specialises in SME’s

Contact her to arrange an initial discussion - It’s FREE!

Barbara Hibbart T: 01435 865135

E: barbara@hibbart.com

www.barbarahibbartcoaching.co.uk

Conference and Function Room Hire Whether you need to hire a room for training, conferences, meetings, group outings, lunch parties, exhibitions, special occasion, evening activities or a wedding reception - we have a choice of three rooms across two locations with well equipped facilities to meet your requirements.

Number 64 - High Street, Bognor Regis (Situated in the heart of Bognor Regis; Easy access via train and bus) The Aldingbourne Country Centre - Chichester (Situated just off the A27 near Fontwell Race Course with free parking) If you hire a room, you can use a modern, easily accessible venue in a great location.

What's more, your money will be going towards supporting adults with learning disabilities to train towards gaining employment as we are a non-profit making social enterprise.

We Provide

A choice of 3 bookable rooms that can be set up for you in a choice of layouts.

plants & vegetables, browse in the gift shop & indulge in an appetizing lunch or just a coffee in our refurbished café. Open 7 days a week: 10am – 4pm

Use of Data Projector, OHP, Flipchart, DVD, Whiteboard.

The Aldingbourne Trust, Blackmill Lane, Norton, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0JP

Internet access and hearing loop.

A choice of freshly made food and refreshments.

Why not visit the Aldingbourne Country Centre: Our Open Farm Experience is fun for all the family. Observe from afar or get up close, and take time to meet our rare breed animals, which include pigs, goats, alpacas, rabbits, ducks, guinea pigs, chickens and a pony.

They are all very friendly !

Walk through our woodland walk with its pond & children’s play area, buy our organically grown

Phone 01243 542075 | Email: conferences@aldingbourntrust.co.uk | Visit www.aldingbournetrust.co.uk for more details on how to find us.

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REEVES

Invest, grow but be cautious It is widely considered by commentators that the UK economy is bouncing around at the bottom of the economic cycle. Hopefully there will be sufficient demand within the economy to avert a double-dip recession! Andrew Tate, Restructuring and Recovery Partner at Reeves discusses this below.

This state of affairs will not be with us forever and happily we can look forward to the period of economic growth which will come when the austerity measures are behind us. Many successful businesses are looking to invest and grow to maximise their potential when the upturn comes, but with it comes dangers, one of which is over trading. Over trading is a situation where a business tries to feed growing demand with insufficient cash resources. In a nutshell the costs incurred may need to be paid long before the customer pays!

Furthermore, costs can often spiral out of control if a business grows quickly, management often needing to undertake rapid recruitment drives to fulfil customer needs and ‌.. staff will not wait 90 days to be paid!

Andrew Tate

Historically, more businesses fail coming out of recession than do so going in, many many due to over trading, and the economic factors we are likely to face when the upturn comes may well contribute to this predicament. Higher interest rates will make borrowing more expensive, and yet inflation seems to be a constant threat. This will inevitably increase costs which need to be funded.

The competitive opportunities which are available coming out of recessionary times are definitely a prize worth fighting for but it can be an arduous path for managers.

Flexible cash flow funding, such as invoice discounting, can help to contain cash flow pressures, and business planning is essential if an ambitious growth spurt is to be successful. Reeves have a full range of services to help clients plan for growth and also to help them if the plans become stretched and in some cases, fall apart.

Our Restructuring and Recovery team are skilled professionals who will help management to address the danger areas and help them to restructure financial and other resources to manage growth. Often a fresh (and confidential) view and an advisory role at the board table will be sufficient to get a business back on track. Sometimes more drastic measures are needed but every step is considered to save business wealth and integrity.

Contact details If you would like to hear more regarding our Restructuring and Recovery services, please contact Andrew at Reeves on 01634 899800 or email andrew.tate@reeves.co. Andrew will also be speaking at our forthcoming Finance Focus seminars. Andrew’s colleagues, Maxine Reid and Mike Collins will also be attending these.

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FOCUS ON LOGISTICS

EURO2GO

Showing off in Europe –Euro2Go a

Positively thriving on new challenges, Euro2Go has in the past year supported FEATURE world-famous band tours, transported aircraft across Europe, attended world-class sporting events, assisted with national food promotions and shipped a military band to venues in Italy and Switzerland – as well as ensuring hundreds of anxious exhibitors get to their show stands on time.

Starting with just one small van over ten years ago, Euro2Go has steadily grown purely through customer recommendation until today when their fleet of 14 vehicles, together with specialist exhibition trailers, is very much in demand.

An experienced team can provide exhibition support, collecting from your door and delivering to the stand itself, remaining on hand if you wish throughout the event to offer a useful storage facility before returning the materials safely back to your base. They can be that extra pair of hands you forget to pack! Many years of servicing a wide variety of European exhibitions has gained Euro2Go a strong understanding of this market area.

Briefed delivery crews can undertake complex deliveries for new installations. Euro2Go drivers are always equipped with good manners and a willingness to help customers and the vehicles – non-signwritten – can adopt any identity required.

To promote the UK Scrappage Scheme, one tractor unit was given a Union Jack wrap; it turned quite a few heads as it towed a trailer bearing a stretch limousine made from seven scrapped cars.

Euro2Go keep their vehicles, ranging from Sprinter vans to 44 ton lorries, in excellent condition through regular inspections and careful maintenance, ensuring that their customers are provided with a reliable service. Specialist exhibition box trailers have been custom-built to Euro2Go’s own specification, allowing for easy loading from both the side and the rear whilst still providing the security of a rigid body rather than a vulnerable curtainsider.

Contact Euro2Go to discuss your requirements now!

Address: Mill House, Murina Avenue, Bognor Regis PO21 2DB Telephone: 01243 830456 Fax: 01243 869622 Email: team@euro2go.co.uk

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Looking for a transport

solution?

Worthing coaches specialise in providing a quality coach hire service at a cost effective price.

Having provided coach hire for many years we pride ourselves on the friendly and professional service we offer. So whatever your requirements,we are happy to help.

� Quality Coaches* � Air Conditioning* � Refreshment Facilities* � Toilet & Washrooms*

CALL US NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO GET A QUOTE.

0845 389 0633

www.worthing-coaches.co.uk 117 GEORGE V AVENUE, WORTHING, BN11 5SA

* vehicle dependant

Want to work while you travel?

Want to fly business and drive business?

Want to arrive on time, every time?

EXECUTIVE CARS has been built around the needs of the business man and woman. We understand that when your journey starts your business does not stop. With WiFi installed in our vehicles, the wheels of business can keep on turning; prepare for a meeting, catch up on emails or even sit back, relax and watch a movie. A bottle of spring water and the morning’s newspaper complete the mix.

With first class customer service, Executive Cars has grown to become the South’s leading executive chauffeur company, simply by meeting the needs of our customers.

T. 01903 694040 M. 07824831491

www.ExecutiveCarsofWorthing.com

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TRAINING

New Look Training As you are reading this article, we are just about to launch our fresh, new open training course programme.

During the recession, we have spent a good deal of time listening to local businesses and understanding the key skills you will need for the recovery. As a result we have carefully developed a new look programme with a clear focus on practical and relevant courses, which will reflect the needs and demands of businesses today. By investing in quality employee learning, our team of experienced trainers will help give your staff the tools to apply new skills learnt immediately, which will add value to your business and help drive it into a stable 2012.

Here is a taster of some of our new course offerings, in new fresh venues situated in convenient locations around the county.

EXPORT DOCUMENTATION E-Z CERT WORKSHOP – 7th December 2011 A half-day workshop to enable Exporters to send and receive certified export documentation online via E-z Cert. Designed for both new users and current users who would benefit from

a “refresher”. A step-by-step presentation will be given by i2i (service provider) and a representative from the British Chambers of Commerce will also be on hand to answer questions.

SOCIAL MEDIA COURSES Our new reduced price of £100 means that no-one needs to be excluded from the ever increasing demand in modern communication.

So if you are not sure of the difference between a blog and a tweet, but recognise that you need to be ahead of the game in harnessing these new communication methods to create new opportunities for your business, then these courses are for you.

MANAGEMENT COURSES The ability to get the best of out of fewer people and to keep staff focused on the things that are really important for your business are key as we work our way into recovery. We have a range of courses to help hone and develop management skills.

Contact details Just visit our website at www. sussexenterprise.co.uk and check out the courses online, or email us at training@sussexenterprise.co.uk

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Email: info@a-newyou.co.uk

01273 604 444 78 Trafalgar Street Brighton BN1 4EB

www.a-newyou.co.uk A New You is one of Brighton’s key destinations for cosmetic surgery and non-surgical treatments for both men and women.

If you’re not happy with your face or body it can affect your confidence, maybe when you’re going for that new job or on a special date.

Many of our non-surgical treatments are so simple they can be done in an hour and you’ll see the results immediately afterwards.

Today’s look is all about natural-looking enhancements and improvements - like face peels to rejuvenate tired skin for a lovely youthful bloom; vaser laser liposuction, the newest method to reduce stubborn, problem areas like “love handles”, “saddlebags” or “man boobs”. Come and find out about our exciting new treatment, carboxytherapy, for stretch marks and mesotherapy, a popular treatment for cellulite.

We’re friendly, discreet and empathetic, listening to your concerns and giving you all the information you need, including any risks, to make an informed decision and if you need it, excellent after-care.

Contact us now for more information (quoting BE1).

We’ll do our best to make you feel and look A New You!

Looking to fill a part time job, internship, placement or graduate level position?

The University of Sussex can help you to access our students and recent graduates, through our free vacancy advertising service.

Just submit your vacancy details at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/employers and your advert will then appear at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs

Our students and graduates can contribute a wide range of skills to your organisation. We also have a large cohort of international students who can make a big difference to your international liaison or marketing projects.

To find out more contact Andrea Wall, Employer Liaison and Events Manager. Email: andrea.wall@sussex.ac.uk We are happy to offer advice and support.

Careers and Employability Centre, The Library, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QL Tel: 01273 678429

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EVENTS

Sussex Enterprise October & November events 18th October – Bright’n Up Your Benefits 7:30 – 11:30am FREE American Express Community Stadium, Falmer We have recently reviewed our membership service to deliver greater value to our members!

To ensure you are fully aware of exactly how membership with Sussex Enterprise helps to develop and grow businesses all over the county, and the new valuable benefits we have available, we are holding a very special event at the American Express Community Stadium.

This event will give you the opportunity to network with other Sussex businesses, learn about the many benefits Sussex Enterprise membership provides and meet our Membership Benefit partners.

There will also be informal networking opportunities with other Sussex businesses, a presentation from a keynote speaker and tours of the amazing new stadium.

During the morning you will have an opportunity to preview our new and existing benefits, including Regus Gold Card, AXA PPP Healthcare,Your Vehicle provider Alternative Route Finance,Your ICT and Telecoms providers RDF and Focus and Net Stationers, to name but a few! Our benefit partners and Sussex Enterprise staff will be available all morning to help you discover just how membership with Sussex Enterprise helps you save and make money, and protect your business.

For more information about the event, please visit www.sussexenterprise.co.uk,

call 0844 375 9545 or email us at eventbookings@sussexenterprise.co.uk.

This event is limited to one delegate per company. We look forward to seeing you there!

P.S. Go to page 43 to have a look at just some of the new benefits we’re offering our members.

6th October - How to Make More Sales from Linked In 7:30 – 10am FREE FULL Park House Hotel, Midhurst So you want to make more sales.You’ve selected a market to focus on – wise move. So how in the world do you get in front of the people you want to meet? Referrals are great and should be your first source.Think who you know that knows someone else and so on. But there’s another method however that not enough people take advantage of – LinkedIn.To most LinkedIn is a site where you signup, add and connect with others that you know and then rarely come back to again – if ever. LinkedIn can help you get meetings with these target clients. Join us and our industry experts to find out how you make LinkedIn work harder for you and increase your bottom line.

10th October - Sussex International Trade Forum 6:00 – 8:30pm FREE LAST FEW SPACES Sussex Innovation Centre, Falmer, Brighton Calling all business who trade internationally! The Government has made it clear as has the British Chambers of Commerce that we need and export led recovery from the recession. Expand your horizons at our International Trade Forum Event in Brighton. Our focus will fall on Belgium as an interesting market for international traders and we will explore the opportunities available with expert help for experienced guest speakers and support from UKTI representatives.

1st November – The Price Is Right 7:30 – 10am Barnsgate Manor, Uckfield This event will explore pricing strategy and its place within your marketing plan and wider business strategy. Learn how pricing can contribute to more than just profit with an overview of some of the best strategies, such as skimming and penetration pricing, which B2B and B2C businesses of any size can use and how to choose

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EVENTS

se events

3rd November – Goodwood Gala Dinner (Premier Members Only) 6:30 - 11pm Goodwood House, Chichester Guest speaker is Jo Fairley, co-founder of Green & Black’s.

8th November – Sussex Quality Management Forum 6:00 – 8:30pm FREE Offices of Focus Group, Southwick Dispelling the myths surrounding Quality management!

9th November – Business Exhibition in Association with Barclays Bank 5:00 – 9:30pm Hilton Metropole, Brighton 10th November – Better Business Finance Regional Outreach Road Show.

9:00 – 12:30pm Hilton Metropole, Brighton See website for full details.

17th November – Five Ways to Improve Your Bottom Line 7:30 – 10am See website for full details.

Contact details All events can be booked by visiting www.sussexenterprise.co.uk/events

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FOCUS ON TRAINING

ALPHA TRAINING SAFETY SOLUTIONS LTD

Breathing new life into health and safety training Alpha Training Safety Solutions Limited is a health and safety training company with a difference.

a

FEATURE

All of our team are highly motivated, front line emergency service workers, with a wealth of practical, hands-on experience of real life situations.

Alpha Training Safety Solutions Limited currently provide a wide variety of training courses in health & safety areas such as, fire awareness, fire marshal training, abrasive wheel safety training, manual handling techniques, first aid training, confined space working and many other specialist areas. In addition to the standard courses, many more advanced specialist skills training courses can be run at the clients request such as: Working at Height, Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus CABA, Abrasive Wheel and Harness Inspection.

Alpha Training are specialists in Confined Space Training including Rescue Team Training. Our first dedicated Confined Space Training Unit

has arrived on our new training ground in West Sussex. It allows us to run courses directly from our bespoke training centre,Combining a fantastic classroom environment with dedicated Confined Space entry facilities.

Alpha Training also have a separate Technical Rescue Team division (Rescue 2) that provide contract Rescue and Safety cover in industry for Confined Space, Water, Work at Height and other risk areas in industry.

Alpha thrive on delivering high quality, bespoke training that meets our clients’ individual and exacting needs. We have developed interactive programmes that engage and inspire, promoting safer working practices. Health and safety doesn’t need to be dull. An exciting and fun training environment encourages retentive learning whilst reinforcing the right safety messages.

We run regular health and safety training courses in Sussex, the South East, London and across the whole of the UK. We currently work with many local companies and UK/ worldwide organisations. Our professionalism and commitment to training is reflected in our fast expanding client base.

Alpha Training have also achieved ISO 9001 Certification, in the Provision of Health and Safety Training, thanks to the continued commitment of the Alpha team and their constant dedication to customer service and standards. We are also UVDB and Link Up verified, and have a wide range of other accreditations and memberships.

We work hard to make your experience with us unique, real, memorable and fun... breathing new life into health and safety training.

Alpha Training Safety Solutions Ltd The Old Stables, Decoy Lane, Arundel Road, Poling, West Sussex BN18 9QA England T: 01903 871381 F: 01903 871479 E: info@alphahealthandsafety.com Registered Office: The Old Stables, Decoy Lane, Arundel Road, Poling, West Sussex, BN18 9QA

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Services designed around our members.

As the accredited Chamber of Commerce for Sussex, we listen to the needs of our members; continually improving our services to reflect what businesses want and need. We have been working with market-leading companies to offer you relevant, fresh and exciting new membership benefits.

NETWORKING – We’re continuing to provide a lively and entertaining programme of events that allow you to network with fellow members and learn from our experienced speakers. We’ve also launched some new forums including HR & quality management and continuing to hold our popular Sussex International Trade Forum; for those interested in international trade. We also encourage you to maintain valuable contacts through our online communities.

SUPPORT – Your membership gives you access to a legal helpline, legal expenses cover and Member Plus members also have HR documentation access.

ADVICE – All members now have access to NEW business advice factsheets, giving you relevant business advice in the current climate.

We have also introduced a new virtual business MOT for all levels of membership and Member Plus members also now have access to an Annual Business Review; extremely valuable benefits in the current environment.

SAVINGS – We’ve teamed up with RDF Group and Focus Group to launch a new ICT and telecoms service for all levels of membership; delivering the level of ICT and telecoms support your business needs. This service gives you access to heavily discounted broadband, telecoms, hardware and software solutions; a bespoke solution tailored to your business.

We’ve also recently announced our new vehicle benefit provider Alternative Route Finance, offering all makes & models of cars, savings, business finance and much more.

As always, you have access to a number of other savings, keeping down the cost of running your

business; including stationery, utility savings and training courses for your business.

This is just a summary of some of the benefits you have access to. If you would like to find out about any of the new and existing services your membership gives you access to, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us here on 0845 375 9550 or visit www.sussexenterprise.co.uk.

“Hillingar have been members of Sussex Enterprise for 2 years and our experience has been simple – they listen to our needs, they provide consistent quality information, training and support and to cap it all, the membership fee is tiny.” Robert Little, Hillingar Ltd We’ll be showcasing all our benefits at a very special event at the Amex Express Community Stadium on the 18th October. We look forward to seeing you there!

Kipper plus one Haywards Heath-based design and branding agency Kipper has recently added another designer to its team.

Louise Richardson graduated this year from University of Brighton, as well as, during her degree, working on various design projects in a freelance capacity. “It’s great to have Louise on the team; she’ll be a great addition to the creative mix here” commented Kipper’s creative director David Tingley.

Contact details

Kipper team of three

For more information on Kipper see www.kippercreative.com

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MP VIEW

An MP making business a priority in Eastbourne

I

n the run up to last year’s general election, as well as managing an active campaign to win the Eastbourne Seat, I also spent a lot of time thinking through what were going to be my priorities should I succeed.

My absolute number one priority following the election was to focus on the local economy and jobs. Your readers will know very well that the current, difficult state of the economy was going to be the main challenge for any government, of whatever political persuasion and I recognised that the same applies from a micro perspective to each and every constituency in the UK. In my view, however, there is much

that an active business-oriented MP can do to make a difference. As much of my professional background before going into politics was business development, I was determined to roll up my sleeves!

Within a couple of weeks of the election I set up a group called the MP’s Commission; made up of key local trade associations and business people including the Chamber of Commerce, The Eastbourne Hospitality Association, Eastbourne Independent Traders group and the local Council. At the opening meeting I made it clear that it was absolutely vital we do what we can to drive, improve and grow local businesses. I likened Eastbourne to a giant boulder at the top of a hill. Our task was to implement a series of initiatives that would help, metaphorically, to roll the economic boulder down the hill, inexorably

Stephen Lloyd MP Eastbourne & Willingdon constituency.

picking up speed until it becomes unstoppable.

After 14 months we have all worked productively together to give the boulder a series of hard kicks; it hasn’t started rolling yet – but it is wobbling.

Our view – business wise – was that Eastbourne had to raise its game as a town, to a level where we will get through what is probably going to be the most severe economic downturn since the war. If we succeed Eastbourne will be well -placed to grow confidently when the economy turns; which it will. I have been around long enough to know these things go in cycles.

When times are difficult for the economy the first priority, in my view, is to retain confidence. The support, encouragement and sheer determination of local companies, trade associations, the council and the town to what we’ve been doing since the election has been incredibly heartening. This optimism has received

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y

a lift recently in the substantial investment a number of major national companies have made in Eastbourne. These include a proposed £64 million regeneration of our main shopping centre, a £20 million investment in a new Morrisons in Hampden Park, a significant re-investment in the Sovereign Retail Park and a number of branded new stores opening such as The Range. We had a scare though when TJ Hughes went into administration – there is a major TJ’s in Eastbourne – but fortunately another retail company bought four of the core stores and one of them was our branch. I’m reminded of that famous old anecdote from the golfer Gary Player, who said he got luckier the harder he worked!

The sort of initiatives that the MP’s commission have been involved in to energise the local economy include a procurement conference, a jobs programme where I challenged Eastbourne

to recruit 100 apprentices in 100 days – this was achieved after just 19 days and the final figure will be over 170 apprentices – and maximising the business development opportunities through our International Lawn Tennis Tournament this summer. Our efforts ensured that the town was decked out much more than usual by the council. Supermarkets dressed their stores and local shops and schools took part in the window display and poster competition; all to generate excitement, energy and, ultimately, more footfall.

In partnership with the LTA the Commission also provided a ‘tennis passport’ of discounted local offers to 20,000 ticket holders with some excellent results, particularly around restaurant sales. In addition, we’re bringing back Eastbourne Carnival, after a twenty year gap, along with a new mascot for the town – Barnaby Bee – putting the buzz back into Eastbourne.

partnership with the whole community, being a catalyst for change and if necessary, sometimes forcing it. In my view a key part of an MP’s job; to grow business in their constituency. If it’s done right and in a non-party partisan way, it can be a game-changer.

I am heavily involved in a number of parliamentary groups encompassing business areas, not least as Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Town Centre Management. They each, though, have a common theme: what more can I do in Parliament to help grow the economy in Eastbourne, and secure more and better jobs for my constituents?

A simple mantra and one that I keep at the front of my mind every minute of every day.

All these are part of the jigsaw. Working in

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NEWS

Company exports to Baltic States

A couple’s artisan soft drinks business has gone global with an export deal that has put the company on the international map.

Gran Stead’s, which is run by husband and wife team Chris and Rosemary Knox at Mile Oak Farm, Mile Oak Road, Portslade, Sussex, started exporting Gran Stead’s Ginger Wine to Estonia in 2009 when a retailer made contact with the couple via their website. In recent months, they have seen their export trade grow.

Chris said: “At first, we distributed small quantities just to Estonia then last November we had a large order out of the blue from a health food retailer and distributor in Lithuania for their Christmas trade.

“Initially, they ordered a couple of pallets of our Gran Stead’s Ginger Wine, but within weeks they called back to increase the order for a Christmas rush. And now they’ve varied their orders to include our bottles of Gran Stead’s Traditional Lemonade. More recently we’ve had enquires from Poland.”

Peter Warren, International Trade Adviser and food and drinks sector specialist with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in the South East, said: “This demonstrates the range of opportunities that exist for UK SMEs internationally, often in countries that they wouldn’t immediately think of.

“There is good evidence to show that businesses that export are more innovative, productive, profitable and resilient. The success of firms like Gran Stead’s sends a strong message to companies in all sectors, some of which may have been in business for some time but have yet seriously to consider the export option, of the wisdom of internationalising their business.”

Cactus boosts social media marketing “Cactus Language offers a vast range of language training options in a competitive marketplace, so it’s very important to stand out and social media platforms make an ideal tool to engage with existing and potential customers”

Cactus Language has entrusted SiteVisibility to manage its social media marketing.

The key aims of the campaign are to inject some of the passion and fun of the brand into Cactus’ social media presence, and to bring language learning tips and advice to a wider audience online.

Cactus Language operates globally, offering off-the-shelf and tailor-made language courses to people of all ages, backgrounds and ability levels. SiteVisibility has been appointed to oversee its social media campaign, with the aim of increasing brand awareness and engaging with Cactus’ consumers and target audience.

Tinka Carrick, Head of Marketing at Cactus, said: “Cactus Language offers a vast range of language training options in a competitive marketplace, so it’s very important to stand out and social media platforms make an ideal tool to engage with existing and potential customers.”

SiteVisibility Chief Executive Jason Woodford said: “I hope that this is the start of another long and mutually profitable relationship.”

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NEW MEMBERS

Premier Member Northbrook College Further Education Establishment Littlehampton Road, Goring-By-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6NU Sue Dare, Principal T: +44(0)1903 606060 E: s.dare@nbcol.ac.uk W: www.northbrook.ac.uk

Members About You Coaching Personel Coaching 23 The Ridgeway, Woodingdean, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 6PE Paula Lewendon T: +44(0)1273 278852 E: paula@aboutyoucoaching.co.uk W: www.aboutyoucoaching.co.uk Alchemy Training Unlimited Training 44 Goodhew Close,Yapton, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0JA Ron Cole, Owner T: +44(0)7738 666511 E: ron.cole@alchemy.name W: www.alchemy.name Alpha Training Safety Solutions Ltd Training The Old Stables, Decoy Lane, Arundel Road, Poling, West Sussex, BN18 9QA Myra Jackaman, Owner T: +44(0)1903 871381 E: myra@alphahealthandsafety.com W: www.alphahealthandsafety.com Amadeus Performance Equipment Performance Arts Equipment, Acoustic Products & Services Units 1-5 Carewell Farm, St Piers Lane, Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 6PN James Mclaren-Rowe T: +44(0)1424 775867 E: james@amstat.co.uk W: www.amadeus-equipment.co.uk Auditel Business Services 21 Brooklands, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 4TR Denise Wilson, Director T: +44(0)1444 456332 E: denise.wilson@auditel.co.uk W: www.auditel.co.uk/johnwilson

Becker Underwood Ltd Bio Pest Control Harwood Industrial Estate, Unit A1-A3 Modern Moulds Business Centre, Harwood Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7AU Graeme Gowling, General Manager T: +44(0)1903 736921 E: graeme.gowling@beckerunderwood.com W: www.beckerunderwood.com Bizezia Ltd Website Marketing Kingfisher House Hurstwood Grange, Hurstwood Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 7QX Martin Pollins, Managing Director T: +44(0)1444 884221 E: mpollins@bizezia.com W: www.bizezia.com Business Growth Advisor Crawley Business Growth 8 Discovery Mews, Copthorne, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 3JF Yvette Taylor T: +44(0)1342 349425 E: yvette.taylor@ businessgrowthadvisor.co.uk W: www.businessgrowthadvisor.co.uk/ west-sussex Caroline Buchan Barrister & Company Secretary Lawyer 9 Savill Road, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 2NY Caroline Buchan, Owner T: +44(0)1444 482222 E: carolinebuchan@yahoo.com Cityzen Construction Maritime House, Basin Road North, Hove, East Sussex, BN41 1WR John Smith, Director T: +44(0)1273 201159 E: john.smith@cityzen.biz W: www.cityzen.biz Corti Coaching and Training Solutions Development & Training 414 Portland Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 5SJ Janet Woodjetts T: +44(0)1273 528287 E: jan.woodjetts@ corticoachingandtraining.com W: www.corticoachingandtraining.com

CTJT Ltd Training & Consultancy Forum House, Stirling Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7DN Cleland Thom T: +44(0)207 617 7785 E: cleland@ctjt.biz W: www.ctjt.biz Dominique Macneill Translation 20 Black Path, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 5AP Dominique Macneill T: +44(0)1323 485399 E: dommacneill@yahoo.co.uk East Web Media Unit 9 - 10 The Enterprise Centre, Denton Island, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 9BA Stuart Still, Sales Director T: +44(0)1273 616484 E: stuart@east-web.co.uk W: www.east-web.co.uk Evans Cycles Bicycle Retail Chain Camino Park, James Watt Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9TZ Graham Rose, Ride to Work T: +44(0)1293 574988 E: graham.rose@evanscycles.com W: www.evanscycles.com Excel Financial Solutions 68 Penland Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1PH Jeremy Taylor T: +44(0)1444 440097 E: jeremy@ExcelFinancialSolutions.co.uk W: www.excelfinancialsolutions.co.uk Executive Cars of Worthing Executive Cars 108 West Way, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8NB Andrew O’Donnell T: +44(0)7824 831491 E: Info@executivecarsofworthing.com W: www.executivecarsofworthing.com George White Photography Photography 97 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 7AQ George White, Photographer T: +44(0)1273 775774 W: www.gwhitephoto.co.uk

Highley Manor (Balcombe) and Tottington Manor Hotel Conference and Wedding Venues Edburton Road, Edburton, West Sussex, BN5 9LJ Sara Calder-Jones, Director T: +44(0)1903 815757 E: sara.calder-jones@tottingtonmanor.co.uk W: www.tottingtonmanor.co.uk Images on Line Ltd Document Image Processing Systems Unit 2, Telford Place, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1TF Christian Pott, Managing Director T: +44(0)1293 569325 E: Christian.p@imagesonline.co.uk W: www.imagesonline.co.uk Markitsense Ltd IT 132 St. Andrews Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 1HH Tony Armstrong, Owner T: +44(0)1273 782159 E: tony@markitsense.com Marsh Limited Insurance broker Capital House, 1-5 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3SY Kay McMenamin T: +44(0)1444 335267 E: kay.McMenamin@marsh.com W: http://uk.marsh.com MasonLaporte Conflict Transformation Business Services 63 Greenfield Crescent, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 8HL Andrew Mason T: +44(0)1273 551850 E: andy@masonlaporte.org W: www.masonlaporte.org Mediawise Associates Specialist educational consultants 33 Beeches Farm Road, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 2NY Rachel Munns T: +44(0)1892 665017 E: rachel@mediawise-associates.com W: www.mediawise-associates.com NLG Electrical Electrical contractor Merlins, Rodmell, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3HE Nicholas Greaves, Owner T: +44(0)1273 487228 E: nlgelectrical@aol.com

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NEW MEMBERS

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Scream Retail Limited Thunder Toffee Vodka Sylvan House, Castle Walk, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6DB Jon Lilly, Managing Director T: +44(0)1580 201262 E: jon@thundervodka.com W: www.thundervodka.com

Strategic Management Partners Ltd Business & Management Consultants Meadows, 18 Roedean Way, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 5RJ Clive Bonny, Owner T: +44(0)1273 308865 E: clive@consult-smp.com W: www.consult-smp.com

Seraphim OpenMindz Ltd Health & Beauty Queensberry House 3rd Floor, Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6TN Marco Anholts T: +44(0)845 266 6626 E: marco@opmz.co.uk W: www.opmz.co.uk Peter Aylett Consulting Consulting 75 Haywards Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 4HX Peter Aylett T: +44(0)7769 977986 E: peter@aylett.org

Property Management Ascension House, 65b Lumley Road, Horley, Surrey, RH6 7JF Rohit Nathaniel, Managing Director T: +44(0)1293 786536 E: group@seraphim.co.uk W: www.seraphim-uk.co.uk SGM-FX Ltd Foreign Exchange 41 Eastcheap, London, EC3M 1DT Graham Langton, Corporate Foreign Exchange T: +44(0)207 220 1742 E: grahaml@sgm-fx.com W: www.sgm-fx.com Skilled People Ltd

R E R Property Consultants Consultants 16 Laburnham Way, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3SD Ivan Jay, Director T: +44(0)844 276 0036 E: ivan@rerpc.co.uk W: www.rerpc.co.uk Sandler Training Sales Training and Business Advice Longreach, Bosham Hoe, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 8EU Adrian Moss T: +44(0)1243 574500 E: adrian.moss@sandler.com W: www.sussex.sandler.com Schurter Ltd Electronic Component Manufacturers Unit 8 Clock Park, Shripney Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9NH Andrea Thomson, HR T: +44(0)1243 810810 E: andrea.thomson@schurter.co.uk W: www.schurter.co.uk

Streets Ahead Website Design & Hosting Services 8 Meadow Park, East Preston, Littlehampton,West Sussex, BN16 1EG Graham Street, Partner T: +44(0)1903 856976 E: grahamstreet@streets-ahead.com W: www.streets-ahead.com

Recruitment 26 Leeward Gardens, Wimbledon, London, SW19 7QR Keith Simpson, Owner T: +44(0)208 944 6177 E: keith@skilledpeople.com W: www.skilledpeople.com Smartlet.Biz Lettings Agency 124 The Hornet, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7JR Julie Gaitt, Managing Director T: +44(0)1243 537779 E: info@smartlet.co.uk W: www.smartlet.co.uk South Coast Refrigeration Services Ltd Fridge & Freezer Repair Unit H, Durban Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9QT Graham Marsh, Managing Director T: +44(0)1243 871900 E: graham@southcoast.co.uk W: www.southcoast.co.uk SRS Sussex Risk Services Fire & Safety Consultants Newhaven Business Centre, Denton Island, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 9BA Kevin Gorringe T: +44(0)1273 905029 E: sussexriskservices@me.com W: www.srsonline.co.uk

The Wendy House Eco friendly domestic cleaning 11 Bruce Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 5JN Wendy Shaw, Owner T: +44(0)1903 369973 E: alitrav@talktalk.net The Woodhorn Group Ltd Waste Management Woodhorn Business Centre, Woodhorn Lane, Oving, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 2BX Martin Llewellyn, Sales & Marketing Manager T: +44(0)1243 270231 E: martin@woodhorngroup.co.uk W: www.woodhorngroup.co.uk

Wealden Tree Surgeons Tree Surgeons 12 Cinque Ports Way, Seaford, East Sussex, BN25 3UF Roy Duggan T: +44(0)1323 890264 E: royduggan@googlemail.com White Cube Events Events Kilsaran House, Fielden Lane, Crowborough, East Sussex,TN6 1TL Matthew Wright, Owner T: +44(0)1273 240908 E: info@whitecubeevents.co.uk W: www.whitecubeevents.co.uk Windrush Holidays Ltd Holiday Letting Agents Farm Road, Bracklesham Bay, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 8JT Margaret Stevens T: +44(0)1243 673100 E: enquiries@windrush-holidays.com W: www.windrush-holidays.com Yes Promo Products Ltd Promotional Products 47 Church Marks Lane, East Hoathly, Uckfield, East Sussex, BN8 6EQ Shirley Price, Owner T: +44(0)1825 745339 E: sales@yespromoproducts.com W: www.yespromoproducts.com

Vivi Boutique Clothing Unit c, Level 1, New England House, New England Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4GH Lulu Yan, General Manager T: +44(0)1273 567601 E: lulu@viviboutique.co.uk W: www.viviboutique.co.uk

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THE LAST WORD

THE LAST WORD… Each edition we invite one of our contributors to answer some key questions we all want to know the answers to.

This time it’s the turn of David Shore Director of Time 24

1

Which words or phrase do you most often overuse? “80% of the success in any job is in your ability to deal with people”. My time worn cliché.

2

Karaoke song of choice?

I hope you dance- Ronan Keating.

3

What’s your biggest regret?

You can’t saw sawdust - no regrets.

4

5

When and where were you happiest?

Driving round a field in a Pick-up with 14 kids hanging from the Vehicle singing ABBA songs at the top of their voice- priceless.

When was the last time you lied?

I told my young daughters that Sheffield Wednesday are a really good team.

Unforgiveable!

6

What talent would you most like to have?

Song writing.

7

What quality do you most admire in a person? Empathy, integrity, persistence.

Oops that’s three.

8

Which virtue is the most overrated?

I do not believe any of the seven virtues are overrated. I could just do with more of them!

9

Early mornings or late nights?

Early mornings.

10

Deal or no deal?

Deal of course (subject to terms and conditions!?).

11

Tell us a secret...

I came second in the School Sack race in 1969. Well you did ask!

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