Arts & culture

Walk for refugees A charity campaigning for the rights of refugees has again enlisted the help of poets and writers from the University of Kent.

Refugee Tales, now in its sixth year, normally organises a walk with refugees, asylum seekers and immigration detainees across the South East, telling stories along the way, but with coronavirus restrictions all activities had to be held entirely online.

Co-organiser of Refugee Tales and Director of Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group, Anna Pincus, said: “We are also inviting people to walk in their area, following government guidelines and to send in photos of bridges they see, to emphasise that we are very much connected.

Three books of refugee tales have been published, see www.refugeetales.org/books

In-car entertainment Summer nights will drift into fi lm fantasy, as Dreamland Margate converts to a socially distanced drive-in cinema during August.

The vintage amusement park, celebrating its centenary this year, is preparing to welcome motorists to enjoy a selection of movies projected on to a large HD outdoor screen. And at £35 per vehicle, it can prove a reasonably priced evening out for all the family.

Dreamland members can claim 10% discount on car tickets when booked in advance. Matching masks

Natty dressers now have the chance to protect themselves from Covid-19, with a matching shirt and mask made by Savile Row’s fi rst female tailor, Alexandra Wood.

She has created a collection of exclusive, head-turning facemasks with matching shirts, made from luxury cotton and supplied either ready-to-wear or made-to-measure for customers to a personalised design. The masks are washable and sustainable.

Alexandra who founded and runs an exclusive Savile Row tailoring business, knew her customers wouldn’t be happy with run-of-the-mill designs and came up with the idea of producing stylish items.

For every made-to-measure shirt order, customers will receive an exclusive, matching face mask to accompany their new creation and Alexandra will donate 30% of profi ts to the NHS.

Arts students are showing off their end-ofyear art work online, because of Covid-19 restrictions.

The showcase for Canterbury Christ Church University’s School of Creative Arts and Industries (known as Scandi) is seen as the best opportunity

Online exhibition to exhibit work when personal viewing is impossible.

Lecturer and self-employed web designer Shelley Bartlette, who led the project, said: “The school had been discussing ways to share end-of-year student work during lockdown, since the normal performances and exhibitions were not possible. They decided this would be the perfect opportunity to create a schools’ student showcase website to exhibit the material and serve as a promotional tool for future students.

“This presented a wonderful opportunity for students to get involved in a ‘real-world’ project and gain valuable experience of working for a ‘live’ client.”

https://schoolofcreativeartsandindustries.com

A time to reflect I have to take my hat off to Kent County then. Could you imagine the impact the pandemic Council and all the local authorities in would have had on business back then? No structure Kent. All too often the public sector takes for home working, no way of communicating other a bashing and is branded as being too slow than by fax or post. With offi ces, shops and factories and bureaucratic, but in response to shut, things certainly would have ground to halt. Covid-19, I have to say a big thank-you on When I look now at the tiny device, I often feel is behalf of businesses across Kent. glued to my hand, it is certainly a life-saver in terms

Last month, I had my work anniversary – 30 of business. My mobile phone acts as a portable years at the Chamber. If you think that is half offi ce, connecting me with people in so many ways. my life, it’s quite a scary thought, but it got me It feeds me information, it assists with my accounts refl ecting on where the time has gone and how and also off ers me options to sit back, relax, listen to over those years things have changed. music or watch something of interest.

I remember my fi rst day, a manual typewriter, I remember my fi rst day, a manual typewriter, We certainly have come a long way. I wonder no internet, no emails, no internet, no emails, if those looking back in 2050 will wonder how we no mobile phone, the no mobile phone, the managed to conduct business in 2020. No doubt highest bit of tech in highest bit of tech in technology will continue developing at a rapid the offi ce was the fax the offi ce was the fax pace, taking with it our ways of working and our machine. machine. capabilities. We have certainly We have certainly There is no doubt the economy has been hit by come a long way since come a long way since the pandemic and quite possibly worse is to come,

Jo James OBE, chief executive, Kent Invicta Chamber

C H A M B E R

C O M M E N T

but without the advances in technology things could have been so much worse.

The real opportunity lies in how we take the new ways of working we have all very quickly had to adapt to and build on them to really drive things forward.

I hear so many people saying “I just want things to return to normal”, but if we do we will in a way be moving backwards. The pandemic has opened the eyes of so many to how embracing digital can not only safeguard your business but off er opportunities and those that not only survive but thrive through this, will be the ones that adapt, CONTACT

learn and innovate.

Storytime for heroes

The work of an illustrator and her mum in supporting NHS workers with mental health issues aff ected by the stress of dealing with Covid-19 has been praised by the founder of the Clap for our Carers campaign.

Annemarie Plas said a book produced by Taaya Marjorie Griffi th and her mother, retired teacher Naomi Lumutenga, showed how much the NHS meant to everyone in the country. She added: “Initiatives like these prove to me, and I hope to all, that we need each other. Over the last few months we have proved that we can be there for each other.”

Taaya and Naomi collaborated to produce “Our Covid-19 Heroes”, an illustrated book which charts the role played by workers across a number of sectors during the pandemic. The easy-to-read format book is suitable for all ages and not only highlights the work done by the medical profession, but also the vital services provided by everyone from supermarket staff to the Royal Mail.

Taaya, who lives in Essex, said the endorsement by Annemarie was overwhelming, adding: “This has been such an extraordinary time in everyone’s lives and we wanted to do something positive to help. So we decided to work together on the book with all of the proceeds going to support Frontline, which looks after the mental health of frontline workers.”

Naomi, who lives in Maidstone, said work on the book had supported her through a diffi cult time: “I lost my mother who was in Uganda and could only watch the funeral on Facetime,” she said. “This has really helped.”

Naomi said: “We were thinking of all the retired NHS staff who went back to work and of the mental and emotional stress the crisis put on so many people. We can only imagine the sense of helplessness so many health staff must have felt.

“This is why we decided to do the book to give to a charity which provides this vital mental health support.”

Our Covid-19 Heroes is available at £5.99p from Swanky Portraits online.

›Naomi (left) and Taaya › Michael Gietzen in front of Identity’s red-lit HQ in Eastbourne

Red light support A campaign to publicise the critical condition start to see income generation until 2021. That is a of live events and the entertainment industry fact that will not change following the lockdown.” across the UK has been supported by an He outlined suggested initiatives for the Eastbourne businessman. government to consider for the immediate and

MD of Identity, Michael Gietzen, said the Light longer term, including: it in Red campaign was vital to highlighting the Immediately making it clear to local authorities diffi culties facing the sector in the pandemic. He that, as part of the supply chain, the retail, said: “Unlike other industries, there is no set date hospitality and leisure grant is open to the industry for live events, shows, festivals and performances and the £51,000 limit depending on regional etc to restart after the Covid-19 shutdown. The variances should be removed. industry has come together and lit up key venues The fi nancial burden of running a business by across the nation and of course, our 30,000sq ft off ering other forms of recovery grants on cost of HQ in Eastbourne.” commercial rent, lease payments, insurance and

The #LightItInRed action was inspired by business rates, tax breaks should be removed and #NightofLight in Germany which saw more than banks asked to give longer mortgage holidays to 9,000 buildings, monuments, landmarks, offi ces businesses in the sector. and homes illuminated in “Emergency Red” on 22 “The government needs to understand off ering June, to raise the awareness of the public and the loans is not enough, because there is no certainty,” government. Michael said.

The live events, entertainment technology, He also suggested the government should allow leisure, performing arts and TV and fi lm industry an extension to the furlough scheme, an essential is worth more than £100 billion to the annual lifeline for employers in the sector to retain economy and was the fastest growing sector in the highly skilled staff and to extend the support UK before Covid-19. for self-employed subcontractors. Pointing

Michael said: “Companies like ours need the out “our sector’s workforce is made up of 72% government to review immediately fi nancial self-employed freelancers and without the right support for our industry, and proposals for the support, we are in danger of losing our workforce longer term, as we work in a sector that will not to other sectors.”

As the UK moves out of lockdown, I take this opportunity to thank our members for their continued support and inspiring contribution to local communities and The voice C H A M B E R C O M M E N T residents throughout the Sussex region. It was wonderful to recognise so many Sussex Business Heroes. I remind members and the wider business of Sussex community of our pledge to dedicate our full resource, reach and reputation locally and nationally through the British Chamber of businesses Commerce to keep business moving and to protect jobs. We continue to promote and, where needed, helping to safeguard millions of jobs and provide Our work is vital in championing the issues test and challenge the daily decisions of policy fl exibility for employers; the introduction of the threeour members face – lobbying legislators, giving makers that impact our business community. month suspension of VAT payments; income support our members a stronger voice at national and

Over the months of crisis, and weeks of for the self-employed; support for start-ups, SMEs, international levels and playing our part in rebuilding lockdown, the Sussex Chamber and my team high-growth companies and apprenticeships; and business and the economy. have worked hand in hand with the British protection for commercial tenants. We encourage all our business members to Chambers and the government to campaign for The work of chambers lobbying on behalf of our maximise the many free business support services pro-business policies to help companies and the members and off ering vital business support is more available to them to rebuild their business and reform available to them to rebuild their business and reform economy to survive. important than ever, as we face the biggest economic the Sussex economy.

The eff ectiveness of our advocacy, for the downturn this country has ever experienced. There issues businesses face during these uncertain times, has led to funding for employee retention, the extension of the furlough scheme, which is are many businesses, sectors, individuals and young people still facing challenges and destined to require further support in the coming months. CONTACT Ana Christie, chief executive, Sussex https://www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk/article/the-member-benefits-you-can-use-today Chamber of Commerce @sussexchamber

Caution over CGT Tax and wealth specialists Kreston Reeves are warning of the possible been the target of many recent tax changes and may feel unfairly targeted at a impact on business of the government’s proposed changes in Capital time when they are facing Covid-related rent holidays from tenants.” Gains Tax. Holiday home owners, or people with second homes are also at risk from the

Director with Kreston Reeves Jo White explained: “The government has changes to the CGT rate, said Jo: “If they are an additional rate taxpayer, they made historic levels of spending into the UK economy to help businesses and could face a CGT rate of 45% on any gain from the sale of property and will have individuals through the coronavirus pandemic. We know that a review of just 30 days to settle any liability. Many may inevitably choose to hold on to taxation was likely to follow and Capital Gains Tax (CGT), much overlooked in property seeking rental incomes instead.” recent years, is an obvious and easy place for government to start.” Jo said the news about possible changes to CGT rates ran counter to the

Jo warned: “Buy-to-let investors with portfolios held personally or in government moves to stimulate the property market with its Stamp Duty corporate structures will feel these changes if they look to sell parts of their holiday. The changes could also hit individuals holding shares and family trusts portfolio or shares in the company that holds property. Property investors have are also likely to be hit by any changes to capital gains tax rates. “The sale of shares whether by an individual or a family trust is liable to capital gains. That is currently capped at 20%, but could increase to as much as 45%, assuming the If you need help creating a CGT rates are aligned with income tax rates. mobile-friendly website for your business... “We would not be surprised to see shares ‘dumped’ in advance of any changes to CGT rates, but would remind investors and family trusts that any sale of shares should be driven by a wider and long-term investment strategy and not by tax alone.” Finally, Jo appealed for entrepreneurs to beware: “Business owners that have not yet started the exit process will have little realistic chance of securing a sale in the timeframes available, but those who are well into the sale process can still take advantage of current reliefs. CGT is charged at the point of unconditional ...the solution is contract exchange, not completion. It may be that contracts can be exchanged and the completion date stretched to allow sale details to be ironed out. This is 01622 674488 obviousgroup.co.uk not without its risks and advice should be taken.”

Where now for the high street?

Online commerce has not sounded the only death knell for traditional high street retail. That began in the 1970s, when the out-of-town superstore revolution began.

I was part of those heady times, as a graduate trainee criss-crossing the UK opening a new 100,000 square foot monolith every two weeks. Suddenly, these stores off ered unparalleled value and choice, with food and non-food items under the same roof – a retail experience enticing the customer with baking smells, in-store demonstrations, fresh meat, fi sh and deli counters, bargain ends of aisles and, fi nally cafes. Yet just fi ve years earlier I was earning pocket money working in my local delicatessen, cutting cheese to order, weighing all sorts of loose goods from sacks and delivering to local housing estates. When the suppliers came in, they would be ushered into the back for a cuppa and a leisurely placing of weekly orders.

I became a national buyer and understood how the buyer/supplier role had changed almost overnight. The supplier had been king, but now such buyers could dictate terms for shelf, window and aisle space, knowing that the volumes would be too great for the supplier to ignore, even for those leading brands.

In time, own brand items – then in their infancy – would become better known as quality products, instead of simply the cheapest. The UK shopper was immediately entranced and prepared to drop the convenience of the regular neighbourhood shop for a trip to a superstore,

THE LAST WORD

Rosemary French thinks there is little point in reminiscing

where friends and family were likely to work and meet, where the bus stops were and where parking was ample and free. Meanwhile, the high street over the next 40 years struggled and stagnated, slowly to begin with, then rapidly after 2000, with the arrival of online shopping.

There is little point in reminiscing, because retail already looks quite diff erent and will be even more unrecognisable soon. Even superstores are struggling to make a decent profi t, although home deliveries have considerably helped, at a cost to margin.

Value, convenience and choice continue to drive shoppers, as they always have. Latterly, shoppers have added “experience” and, in the past fi ve years, “reputation” and “privacy”. Shoppers increasingly want to deal with ethical, responsible, and sustainable retailers (off - or online). Companies who will take care of their personal data, in these days of cyber fraud. Post-lockdown, personal safety is a new requirement and the “bricks and mortar retailers” are immediately at a disadvantage. If retailers understand and target their shoppers, they can design their platform to off er physical space and relationship, but where does this leave the high street?

It really pains me to say it, after my retail career, but I have to agree with those who say that the high street will retain only those shops that can off er a truly competitive edge, many of which will be simply click and collect showrooms. Our high streets will return to being a large part residential, as they did in Victorian times, with fewer shops interspersed with cafes, pubs and restaurants, and buildings off ering leisure, education, healthcare and offi ce space.