Sussex Business Times - January 2015

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SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

ISSUE 384 FREE

10

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MONEY

HOW BUILDING YOUR OWN HOME COULD BENEFIT SUSSEX

EXPERT

ADVICE FROM LOCAL SUSSEX BUSINESSES

+

WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MASERATI GHIBLI

EXPORTERS: WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IN 2015 TOP 10 EXPORT TIPS FROM KELLY HOPPEN MBE

Sponsored by

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE BOSS OF THE YEAR?

Award winner Matt Parkinson of Gene Commerce speaks to us about his journey from start-up entrepreneur to Boss of the Year

THE CREDIBLE VOICE FOR THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY

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SBT Welcome MEET THE TEAM

Lee Mansfield, Managing Director/ Publisher

Simon Skinner, Group Director

John Keenan, Editor Zoe Thomas, in Chief Editor

Harriet Weston, Production Manager

Amy Watson, Junior Designer

Clare Fermor, Operation Director

Jon Goodwin, Business Development Manager

Amelia Wellings, Accounts

CONTRIBUTORS

Dominic Kitchin, Director of Saxonbury & Kent Ltd

Tracy Ewen, Managing Director at IGF Group

Sarah Edmunds, MD of Sarah Edmunds Legal

As the last trembling notes of Old Lang Syne fade into the chilly January morning, it’s time to shake off the festive hangover and turn our minds to the year ahead. Analysts and economists have already submitted their dreary predictions for 2015, with phrases like ‘looming political uncertainty’, ‘stalled growth’ and ‘eurozone worries’ splashed across the headlines. But is it really all doom and gloom? Economic growth may not be quite in line with forecasts but according to the European Commission and British Chambers of Commerce, we can expect a 2.4% boost to the economy in 2015. Investment in small business is still looking positive, with investors continuing to pump millions into UK-based businesses. With this injection of financial support, entrepreneurship is booming across the country and increasingly innovative startups are launching in ‘Silicon’ hotspots like London, Cambridge, Manchester and our very own Brighton. SMEs are still a key part of the British economy and in this issue we look at how exports could help small businesses become powerhouses for job creation and growth generation in Sussex (p30). Export Week supporter and cover star this month Kelly Hoppen also offers her top 10 tips for getting into exports.

Elsewhere in this issue we celebrate the local heroes flying the flag for business at last month’s Sussex Business Awards; I had the pleasure of reviewing the beautiful, unexpectedly modern Alexander House Hotel near East Grinstead; and our Editor-in-Chief John Keenan meets Penina Shepherd, founder of Acumen Business Law in our Made in Sussex feature (p66).

For Sussex Business Times, 2015 is set to be an exciting year with big changes to be announced in the coming months…watch this space.

Happy New Year!

Christina Ewbank ACES Facilitator

Vicki Chisholm, founder of Tiger-Lilly’s Administration

Nigel Lambe, founder and Chief Executive at the Velo Cafe

Editor Zoe Thomas

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Contents SBT Issue 384

SBT

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ssex

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SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

ISSUE 384 FREE

10

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MONEY

HOW BUILDING YOUR OWN HOME COULD BENEFIT SUSSEX

EXPERT

ADVICE FROM LOCAL SUSSEX BUSINESSES

+

WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MASERATI GHIBLI

EXPORTERS: WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IN 2015 TOP 10 EXPORT TIPS FROM KELLY HOPPEN MBE

Sponsored by

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE BOSS OF THE YEAR?

Award winner Matt Parkinson of Gene Commerce speaks to us about his journey as from start-up entrepreneur to Boss of the Year

THE CREDIBLE VOICE FOR THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Sponsored by Gene Commerce www.gene.co.uk

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk Group Director: Simon Skinner simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk Operations Director: Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk Business Development Manager: Jon Goodwin jon@sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk Managing Editor John Keenan journalistjohnkeenan@gmail.com Editorial: Zoe Thomas zoe@lifemediagroup.co.uk Production Manager: Harriet Weston harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk Design Assistant: Amy Watson amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk Subscriptions: Linda Grace linda@lifemediagroup.co.uk Accounts: Amelia Wellings amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Published by Unit1, Swan Barn Business Centre, Old Swan Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2BY Printed by Gemini Press, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6NZ

All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Sussex Business Times Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of Life Media Group LTD. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Sussex Business Times Magazine assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisement contained within Sussex Business Times Magazine. All prices featured in Sussex Business Times Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

Copyright Life Media Group LTD 2014 ©

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News

View the latest local and national business headlines

Spending it

Spending It this month is all about the best cars and car accessories for the new year

Events

Sussex Business Awards – We catch up with some of the winners…

Money Matters

Juno Wealth offers ten financial planning resolutions that will hopefully help make 2015 a prosperous one

Export

Kelly Hoppen MBE supported British Export Week with a list of Top Tips on ‘Exporting a Business Abroad’

Sponsored Cover Feature

Award winner Matt Parkinson of Gene Commerce speaks to us about his journey from start-up entrepreneur to Boss of the Year

Property

How building your own home could benefit Sussex

Tried and Tested

This month SBT’s Zoe Thomas stays and dines at the Alexander House Hotel in East Grinstead, she tells all here...

Chamber News

All the latest news and events from ACES

Motoring

SBT previews three new cars: the Volvo XC90, the Maserati Ghibli and the Suzuki Vitara

Ask the Experts

Four local business experts advise on relevant issues

Made in Sussex

This month’s home grown hero is Acumen Business Law

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SBTLocal News Sussex Police Launch Strategy to Tackle Business Crime Sussex Police has launched a business crime strategy following a national definition of business crime set by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Business Crime Forum (NBCF).

The crime is defined as “any criminal offence that is committed against a person or property that is motivated by the connection of that person or property to a business”.

Sussex Police’s new lead for business crime, Chris Neilson, said: “A key driver for any local economy is the success and stability of businesses, which provide employment and sustainability within Sussex, and economic prosperity is at the heart of thriving communities.

There is currently a gap in crime reporting and what information and intelligence we receive. It is vital for us to improve and close these gaps, and to understand that business crime is not a victimless crime.

“We look forward to exploring innovative solutions to tackle business crime with our partners.”

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Seeks Record Number of Apprentices

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that the company is seeking a record number of candidates for its 2015 Apprenticeship Programme. 16 places are available, the highest number of annual apprenticeships since the programme launched in 2006.

The Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Apprenticeship Programme provides people aged 16-24 with the opportunity to train at the Goodwoodbased manufacturer of the world’s best-selling super-luxury cars. The apprenticeships last for up to four years and combine on-the-job training with classroom-based studying for nationally recognised qualifications.

The programme has been designed in

conjunction with several local colleges.

The selection process is designed to guarantee recruitment of the very best candidates who have the opportunity to develop with the company following a successful apprenticeship period.

The successful applicants will join the programme in September 2015, working alongside skilled craftspeople in leather, wood, paint, engineering and assembly roles. There are currently more than 40 men and women in active apprenticeships at the Home of RollsRoyce at Goodwood, West Sussex.

Applications for all Rolls-Royce Motor Cars positions should apply online at: www.rollsroycemotorcars.com/careers.

The closing date is 31 January 2015.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has Hit Back at Critics Who say the Labour Party is Anti-Business Speaking during a visit to the Small Batch Coffee chain in Hove, Mr Balls said the next Labour government will freeze small business rates and give firms financial support to take on young apprenticeships.

He said: “I understand business concerns. We want to help all businesses not just some. We want to create a strong economy.

“Unless you love businesses and the people that create jobs you won’t be able to help them. We want to bring business rates down and help small firms take on more apprentices.

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“We want to help small firms take on the big companies, not the other way around. We will make sure big companies pay their share of tax and that small firms have a fair crack of the whip.

“We understand it is a problem for small firms to take on young apprentices.

We will help firms with the costs of taking on apprenticeships. That is something we can do immediately.”

The shadow chancellor’s remarks come in the wake of his warning shadow cabinet colleagues - apart from the shadow health and international development secretaries - that their departments, should they make it to

government, will have to cut every single year until the deficit has been eliminated.

Mr Balls denied that the Labour vote was being squeezed between surges for the Green party and UKIP. Last month (Dec) a Labour Councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean on Brighton and Hove City Council, has announced he is joining UKIP. Councillor Farrow has been with the Labour Party for more than 25 years - including four in Brighton and Hove.

Earlier this year he was deselected to fight for his seat at next year’s elections after a party row.

Mr Balls said: “When working people look closely at UKIP policies - such as charging to see your GP, for example - they will not support them. When a councillor is deselected and then pops up in another political party you have to look very closely at his behaviour.”

SBTLocal News New Healthcare Deal Drives Growth and Recruitment to West Sussex A deal to supply adhesive components to a global healthcare firm will boost a Sussex manufacturer’s turnover by more than 15% and create up to 12 new jobs.

Parafix, based at Lancing Business Park in West Sussex, specialises in converting adhesive tapes into a range of products.

The company has signed a new four-year exclusive deal to supply components to an advanced healthcare business operating in the worldwide market, which will help boost turnover from £9m in 2013 to £11m in the current period.

To service the contract, Parafix will recruit up to 12 new staff and its factory will introduce a second shift for the first time in the company’s history.

That will see the operation of

and more efficiently, which allows the customer to go to the market with a better quality product at an attractive price, giving them a market advantage.

“We now have one of the most advanced adhesive tape converting lines in Europe.

“We anticipate further growth as this customer will be looking to us to supply more of the components we already provide them with.”

production lines extended from 7am to 3pm to 6am to 10pm.

It has also invested more than £400,000 in new machinery and facilities, supported by a £300,000 asset finance facility from Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance, which allows the firm to borrow against its assets.

Commercial Manager Steve Barwick said: “This investment enables us to manufacture these components to a higher standard

Coast to Capital Supports ‘The Big Bang Fair South East 2015’ Businesses are being urged by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership to sign up early to support next year’s Big Bang Fair South East.

The action-packed day of inspirational activities, shows and workshops is aimed at increasing young people’s enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and encourages them to consider careers in industries where STEM skills are important.

Earlier this year, 5,300 young people attended the annual event and organisers hope next year’s offering will attract even more young people. The 2015 event, which will take place in the South of England Showground on Tuesday 30 June, is being supported by a £5,000 contribution from Coast to Capital, the local enterprise partnership for Brighton and Hove, Croydon, Gatwick Diamond, Lewes and West Sussex.

Sussex Enterprise Rebrand as Sussex Chamber of Commerce Sussex Enterprise, the largest business membership organisation in East and West Sussex, has been formally renamed as ‘Sussex Chamber of Commerce’ in conjunction with the national network,The British Chambers of Commerce.

The company has undergone a complete rebranding, aiming to project

easy-to-understand, clear and consistent messaging to help improve the economic environment.

Ana Christie, Chief Executive of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, said: “Sussex Chamber of Commerce has been proud to provide local businesses with fantastic contacts, expert skills and advice for over 70 years. The rebrand is an excellent opportunity for us to hone our business approach and champion future growth.”

Midnight has Scooped a Top Gong for Ten Years Running Jessica Beales, senior account executive at Midnight Communications was named Freshest Young PR Professional at theFresh:PR awards staged in Manchester.

The Brightonbased PR outfit has been a winner or a finalist in the competition to recognise excellence in the Under-30s age band for the last 10 years.

Caraline(CORR) Brown, Managing Director at Midnight, said: “I could not be more proud to see Jessica maintain our winning tradition and collect this very well-deserved honour.

Her success is testament not only to her ambition and outstanding communication skills but also to the superb training that Midnight offers.”

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SBTLocal News South East Manufacturers End 2014 on 16-Year High Manufacturers in Sussex and across the South East region ended the year on a high, with firms reporting output and orders at their highest levels for 16 years, according to the EEF/BDO Q4 Manufacturing Outlook survey.

The survey by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP and manufacturers’ organisation EEF shows that a balance of 67% of local manufacturers have seen growth in both order books and output in the final quarter of 2014.

The hugely positive figures mean the South East is the best performing manufacturing region in the UK. One driver of growth is the electronics sector, which has some of the strongest sectoral results and has continued to punch above its weight locally.

UK-wide, a buoyant domestic market has helped secure the strongest annual growth rate across the sector this year since 2010.

This continuing growth and optimism among local manufacturers has seen investment levels soar for a net 70% of firms - again the highest level in the UK

- indicating they remain confident about their prospects for 2015.

Recruitment intentions have fallen slightly in Q4 2014.

The one area of caution, however, is in exports. Geo-political risks, global uncertainty and the weak performance of the Eurozone are contributing to poor export orders across the UK. Kevin Cook, partner and head of manufacturing at BDO in Gatwick, says: “Ending on such a high comes as welcome news to our regional economy.

Manufacturers are set to start the year with strong order books and output forecasts. Importantly, with capital expenditure soaring to 70%, they seem

confident of a future worth investing in.

“Companies still face challenges, especially in overseas markets. Working against the headwinds of poor export markets, the strength and resilience of regional manufacturers has shone through again this year.

“What’s exciting is that manufacturers would have even more growth potential if the right support was in place.

Jim Davison, South East Region Director at EEF, says: “2014 has proved to be a strong year for South East manufacturers. As we steam into 2015 firms will be viewing next year with confidence mixed with a healthy dose of realism.”

Apprenticeships Boost Local Businesses In recent years university graduates have been losing their appeal to employers in favour of young people who have not only gained a recognised qualification but have real experience in the workplace under their belts.

Momentum behind apprenticeships has been building for some time. In the past year online applications alone have increased by almost one third (National Apprenticeship Service 2014), with popularity amongst forward-thinking businesses growing as apprentices prove good for business.

Long established and local independent letting agents, HAS Property Management hired apprentice, Emily Christodoulou earlier this year as a way to enhance their business and to develop young talent with the skills and experience specific to their business.

Tammie Cook, Director of HAS

Property Management said: “Taking on Emily as an apprentice has enabled us to expand our team with another talented member of staff. She is able to gain hands on experience in the ways of our business, as well as developing her business skills which is great for HAS. We are committed to developing talent for the

future and hiring an apprentice is a cost-effective way for us to achieve this.”

Apprenticeships combine a real job role with a local employer and classroom-based learning to ensure apprentices are ready to hit the ground running after gaining their qualification.

The Let’s Do Business Group (LDBG) provide apprenticeships through their Business Skills Academy in Business Administration, Enterprise, Customer Service and Retail.

Graham Marley, Chief Executive of LDBG commented: “Apprentices bring with them a wide range of benefits, from increased productivity and staff development to a fresh injection of ideas and a cost-effective way to build a talented workforce for the future. You could play a key role in a young person’s development whilst growing your business.”

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HOW TO PLEDGE TO OWN HOW TOGROWN PLEDGE TO OWN HOW TOGROWN PLEDGE TO

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an online pledge form Visit: www.owngrown.org.uk and complete Call the Own Grown an online pledge form line: 451795 Visit: www.owngrown.org.uk and complete Find us on Twitter: @owngrown1066 Call the Own Grown an online pledge form line: 451795 Find us on Twitter: @owngrown1066 Visit: www.owngrown.org.uk and complete Call the Own Grown line: 451795 an online pledge form Find us on Twitter: @owngrown1066 Call the Own Grown line: 451795 Find us on Twitter: @owngrown1066

Apprenticeship, School visits, CV/interview skills, You could pledge: Work experience, an Support for sector events, Mentoring Apprenticeship, School visits, CV/interview skills, You could pledge: Work experience, an Or tell us you have a great idea!

Support forifsector events, Mentoring Apprenticeship, School visits, CV/interview skills, Or tell us you have a great idea! an You could Work experience, Support forifpledge: sector events, Mentoring Apprenticeship, School visits, CV/interview skills, Or tell us if you have a great idea!

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THE OWN GROWN PARTNERS WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE THEM TO BRING THEIR HUGE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT & EMPLOYABILITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE THE OWN GROWN PARTNERS WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE THEM TO BRING THEIR HUGE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT & EMPLOYABILITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE THE OWN GROWN PARTNERS WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE THEM TO BRING THEIR HUGE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT & EMPLOYABILITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE

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OWN GROWN FULL PAGE SUPPLEMENT.indd 1 10/12/2014 16:44 THE OWN GROWN PARTNERS WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE THEM TO BRING THEIR HUGE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT & EMPLOYABILITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE OWN GROWN FULL PAGE SUPPLEMENT.indd 1

OWN GROWN FULL PAGE SUPPLEMENT.indd 1

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10/12/2014 16:44

SBTNational News Is Mobile a Priority for your Business?

According to a recent Mobile Benchmarking study, 43% of leaders in mobile commerce say re-platforming mobile sites is the biggest priority for them over the next 12 months.

The study, conducted with Knowledge Partner, Moxie, also reveals that it’s predicted to be the end for individual branded apps and augmented realty.

Respondents from the likes of leading travel, cosmetics and toy brands amongst others, have speculated that these functions will disappear in the next 2-5 years.

The results of the 3 biggest challenges faced in advancing mobile developments came out as: lack of in-house skill; understanding the impact of customer behaviour, and technology advancements.

Andrew Mennie, VP & General Manager of Moxie EMEA stressed that technology providers have a responsibility to “make delivery of the mobile optimised, app integrated experience as seamless as possible.”

Ed Miliband Sets Out Labour’s Plan for Cutting Deficit • Capping child benefit rises at 1% • Selling off ‘unwanted government assets’ The Labour leader also said he would make savings of £500m in local government by merging some of England’s 46 fire authorities and scrapping the scheme that rewards councils for the amount of new homes built in their area (New Homes Bonus).

Party leader Ed Miliband outlined Labour’s plans for reducing the nation’s deficit.

To eliminate the deficit by 2020, Miliband promised ‘sensible reductions in public spending’, which would include: • Stopping winter fuel allowance for ‘the wealthiest pensioners’ • Getting rid of police commissioners

Bank of England Promises ‘New Era of Transparency’ The Bank of England has promised to publish full transcripts of crucial Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings where interest rate decisions are taken – but there will be an eight year lag.

The eight year lag means that the first batch won’t be published until 2023.

At present an audio recording is made during the meetings that is then destroyed shortly after. Minutes summing up the debates between members are published two weeks after the decision is made.

As of August 2015, the minutes will be made available on the day the decision is revealed to provide clearer information on why said decisions were made.

The Bank’s quarterly Inflation Reports containing growth and price forecasts will be made on the same day.

The reform comes after recommendations were made by the former US Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, who was enlisted by the Bank’s Governor Mark Carney to review their transparency practices.

“The combination will mark a step change in how this institution is run,” said Mr Carney at a recent press conference.

“They will make us more accountable to the British people.”

Google Listed as UK’s Best Place to Work Google employees have voted Google as the best place to work in the UK. The web giant’s ‘cool culture’ helped it stand out from the competition, what with its stylish London headquarters and famously lax staff policies.

Close behind was Microsoft, voted

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third best place to work - just behind department store John Lewis at second place.

Despite its excellent reputation, Knightsbridge tourist destination Harrods came in at 12, beaten by management consultancy Accenture and Jaguar Land Rover, which both made the top five.

The top-25 list was compiled by UK jobs website Glassdoor, which based its results on insight and feedback from its users spanning the last year.

Users were asked to rate their overall satisfaction with their company, what they thought of the CEO’s leadership skills, workplace benefits, culture, values and work/life balance.

SBTNational News Businesses to Thrive in 2015, According to Business Trends Report Businesses are on track to enjoy continued growth in the first half of 2015, even as the Eurozone’s economic prospects deteriorate, according to the latest Business Trends report by accountants and business advisers BDO LLP in Southampton.

The BDO Output Index, which tracks UK businesses’ order books, held steady in November, suggesting that GDP growth over the next three months should be comfortably above the long term trend of 2.25%. The Output Sub-Index for the manufacturing sector fell as weak Eurozone growth continued to undermine export orders. However, this was cancelled out by a rise in the services sector Sub-Index, which accounts for three quarters of UK economic output. Overall, this should put companies in a strong position for continued robust growth next year.

Despite UK businesses’ underlying strength, the BDO Optimism Index, which tracks how businesses expect orders to develop over the near term, fell between October and November.

This was largely driven by stalling growth in the Eurozone, the UK’s main trading partner, and demonstrates the

vulnerability to faltering concern. Despite international growth.

UK employment The dip should be levels being on the seen as a tempering of up, income tax confidence rather than receipts for the year a slide back into difficult have been lower business conditions. than expected.

BDO’s Employment This suggests that Index, which records the quality of jobs companies’ hiring being created is intentions over the next low, while much is three months, rose in being made of job November. This is the creation as evidence fifteenth consecutive of economic policy monthly rise in the success.

Employment Index “Although the and puts it at a new Chancellor has been Malcolm Thixton, Partner record high as we head careful not to trumpet and head of BDO LLP in towards 2015. it, one of the reasons Southampton Commenting on the UK is such an the findings, Malcolm economic bright Thixton, partner and spot in Europe is the pragmatic and head of BDO LLP in Southampton, said: flexible approach that he has taken “Despite the gloomy and deteriorating to his deficit reduction plan. With UK Eurozone economy, businesses are government borrowing continuing to successfully weathering the storm and be very cheap and ‘red lights flashing’ are on course to enter 2015 on the front in the world economy, we think that the foot, sustained by solid and continued government should do more in terms growth. of investment in infrastructure to create “However, delve a little deeper and well paid jobs and keep the recovery one developing trend poses cause for surging onward.”

Aston Martin Raises Funds to Expand Super Car Range Aston Martin is hoping to raise £100-£150 million from investors to expand its range of premium sedans, hybrid models and crossover SUVs. The luxury sports car brand has suffered in recent years from ageing models causing it to miss out on the boom in sales of luxury cars that has seen the market value double across the globe.

At the unveiling of the DB10 concept car due to star in Spectre, the next

Bond film, boss Andy Palmer said 2015 would be a ‘busy year across the globe’ for Aston Martin.

However, a recent report shows that the plans for expansion could be held back by existing debt of £410 million, which is due to mature in July 2018.

Plans for an upgraded strategy are expected to be announced at the Geneva Motor Show next year.

Instagram Races Ahead of Twitter for First Time

Instagram recently announced it had reached a grand total of 300m active users per month, putting it ahead of social media giant Twitter with 284m users.

Instagram is a photo-sharing network that was bought by Facebook in 2012, two years after it was launched. CEO Kevin Systrom said the site has the potential to ‘change the world’ and that the company would ‘continue to grow’.

The site provides an excellent tool for businesses, allowing brands to tell stories visually to a growing audience.

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2015 RACEDAY fixtures APRIL

AUGUST

Tuesday 21 (Eve) Season Opening Race Evening

Wednesday 5 Festival of Racing - Day 1

Tuesday 28

Thursday 6 Festival of Racing - Ladies Day

MAY

Friday 7 Festival of Racing - Day 3

Tuesday 5 Wednesday 6

Sunday 23 Family Festival

Friday 29

Monday 24

JUNE

Tuesday 25

Tuesday 2

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday 10

Monday 7

Tuesday 16 (Eve)

Monday 24

Tuesday 23

OCTOBER

Tuesday 30

Tuesday 6

JULY

Thursday 15 Season Finale

Tuesday 7 (Eve)

www.brighton-racecourse.co.uk 01273 603580 | info@brighton-racecourse.co.uk *Terms & conditions apply. For full terms and conditions, race times and details of the event please visit our website.

Brighton Racecourse encourages responsible gambling. www.gambleaware.co.uk. Please drink responsibly. www.drinkaware.co.uk

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J5188 BRN Fixtures 2015 A4 v2.indd 1

21/11/2014 09:01

14 09:01

Spending It

Drive for Success

Spending It this month is all about the best cars and car accessories for the new year

ALCOSENSE ONE The AlcoSense ONE has been designed to be as easy as possible to use. To do a breath test all you need to do is turn the unit on, wait for it to count down to zero, then blow until it beeps and shows your reading. Easy! £29.99. www.alcosense.co.uk

JAGUAR XE

GARMIN DASH CAM™ 10 Garmin Dash Cam is an easy-to-use high-definition driving recorder with 2.3” LCD display. £139.99. buy.garmin.com

The Jaguar XE redefines the concept of the sports saloon and will be the driver’s car in its class. Its lightweight construction, streamlined styling, luxurious interior and outstanding ride and handling are testament to company founder Sir William Lyons’ vision: Model prices start from £26,995.00. www.jaguar.co.uk

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Spending It

THE RANGE ROVER SPORT SVR The first Land Rover to wear the new high-performance SVR badge, the Range Rover Sport SVR is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in a breathtaking 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds) and on to an electronically limited top speed of 162mph (260km/h). £93,450.00. www.landrover.com

BMW I KEY COVER STRAWBERRY SCENTED AIR FRESHENER Sweeten the scent in your car or home with this super little strawberry air freshener. You can make the enjoyment last much longer by leaving the strawberry partly inside the bag. £2.95. www.dotcomgiftshop.com

With its clever balance of colour, logo and a perfect fit, the cover for the BMW i key offers the ideal mix of appealing design and effective protection from scratches or other damage. Available for: BMW i8, BMW i3. From £14.81. www.bmw.co.uk

GARMIN NÜVI® 2699LMT-D nüvi 2699LMT-D has the luxury of voice-activated navigation. Speak, and your device intelligently responds; your hands can remain on the wheel.

Of course, you can also navigate using the touchscreen interface. £199.99. https://buy.garmin.com

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Spending It

TOMTOM GO 500 The fully interactive GO with TomTom Traffic, Lifetime Maps, Advanced Lane Guidance, Fully Interactive Screen, Speed Cameras, Free Updates, 3D Maps and much more! £179.99. www.tomtom.com

BMW GENUINE NATURAL AIR CAR FRESHENER BMW Natural Air is a convenient solution for bringing fragrance into the cabin. This air freshener is delivered with a holder that can easily be attached to each of the BMW air inlets and be fitted just as quickly with a fragrance stick of your choice. £14.59 www.bmw.co.uk Sold by www.amazon.co.uk

MERCEDES-BENZ CLA SHOOTING BRAKE

360 GRIP CAR MOUNT HOLDER The U-Grip jaws allow holding any mobile phone from an iPhone 5 to a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and anything in between. The new cradle gives you the freedom to place your device in any convenient place in your car and just drive. £19.99. http://osomount.com

The CLA Shooting Brake will initially be available with a choice of two diesel and three petrol engines as well as with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. It goes on sale in January 2015, with the first models going to customers towards the end of March 2015.

Price TBC. www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

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Best of Sussex Business Celebrated in Brighton

One grand venue, 500 three-course dinners, one award-winning comedian and 16 winners at the Sussex Business Awards – here we catch up with some of the winners…

For the 26th year running, the Sussex Business Awards Events took place to honour the talent, hard work and innovation demonstrated in the local business community over the last year.

The evening ran smoothly throughout, from the sparkling wine reception in the Grand Hotel Brighton’s gorgeous Regency Room, to the ceremony itself in the Empress Room, decked out in spectacular bright pink and blue under-lighting.

After dinner, 16 trophies were presented by Hove resident and TV regular (Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow) Simon Evans, whose dry, witty routine went down well with the 500-strong audience.

Winners and runners-up were chosen in a rigorous selection process prior to the ceremony. Judges including

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Wealden District Council, HSBC and Sussex Business Times were tasked with scoring entries, conducting interviews and finalising their decisions under the Chairmanship of Mike Herd, Executive director of the Sussex Innovation Centre.

Each finalist was asked to produce a short video explaining why they deserve

“if you have real, genuine passion for what you do, you surround yourself with amazing people and you work as hard as you can, anything is possible!” to win an award, all of which were broadcast on the night.

Winners included Blue Forest, which builds spectacular tree houses for private clients including Madonna and Natasha Kaplinsky, and Aspen Pumps

of Hailsham, a water extraction business dealing with over 100 companies across the globe.

Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa near East Grinstead beat competition from the award’s venue itself to win ‘Best Place to Entertain Your Clients’, with General Manager Ian Heath saying: “We are extremely pleased to have been awarded ‘Best Place To Entertain Your Client’ in recognition to our commitment to excellence. Following great demand, it has been a very exciting year for the hotel with the launch of a new bar and the opening of 19 new garden suites where we are now able to accommodate large groups for both business and pleasure.”

Entrepreneur of the Year was won by Gary Peters of Love Local Jobs. Gary said: “Given I was the class room joker at school who enjoyed messing about more than studying, this really is proof that if you have real, genuine passion for what

Sussex Business Awards 2015

Sussex Business Times

Chris Bailey, Miles Torrent, Charina Attwood, Charlotte Wright, Ashlee Newton, Shaun Bedford, Simon Carter.

Drinks reception before the 2014 Sussex Business Awards Dinner.

Cllr Brian Fitch, Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Nora Fitch, Margaret Field, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Peter Field, Dr Davina Redman, Brian Redman, Simon Fanshawe

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Photography by ©Julia Claxton

you do, you surround yourself with amazing people and you work as hard as you can, anything is possible!

“That said, I couldn’t have done this without the support of our amazing partners, my amazing friends and family, the hardest working colleagues I have ever worked with and my wife and best friend Kate who has stuck by me every step of the way!

“I had a fantastic night and would wholeheartedly recommend any business to get involved next year!”

All Sussex Business Award categories are highly coveted, with winners benefiting from greater credibility, publicity and reputation. Former winner Nick Dunn of Boing Splash Media said: “Winning the Award for the AR:Tz app opened up a wealth of networking opportunities for the business, at the same time giving credit to the team who put the company together and validated the risks taken during our first two years.”

Starting, running and growing a small business is no easy task, and few people receive the recognition they deserve for so much hard work, dedication and sacrifice over the years. The Sussex Business Awards are held each year to do just that – to recognise excellence in business and award deserving businesses with a stamp of credibility that will help them to grow and benefit the local economy in the future.

Chair of the Judges Mike Herd said: “The standard of entries this year was higher than ever and it took a business with a real ‘wow factor’ to take the top award.

“The judges were simply blown away by Blue Forest – truly a world leader in its field with a very exciting future. Importantly, too, it retains a real commitment to Sussex, with 40 per cent of its business remaining in the region.

“This was another brilliant year – and a fantastic night.

Congratulations to every business that took part because the depth and quality of entries was hugely impressive.”

Sussex Business Awards 2015

Sussex Company of the Year - Blue Forest (Sponsored

by Morgan Sindall)

Chairman of the Judges - Mike Herd Mayo Wynne Baxter Table

The Award for the Most Promising New Business - Preston Insurance Brokers (Sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter) Checkaprofessional.com Table

Photography by ŠJulia Claxton

The Responsible Business Award - ILG (Sponsored by Checkaprofessional.com)

Andrew Cheesman, Eleanor Harris, Tony Mernagh

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And the Winners were:

The Entrepreneur of the Year - Gary Peters, LoveLocalJobs.com (Sponsored by Sussex Business Times)

The Award for the Best Customer Service Sponsored by Domestic & General WINNER: BSW Building Services Limited

Social Enterprise of the Year Sponsored by Legal & General WINNER: East Sussex Wheels 2 Work CIC

Best Place To Entertain Your Clients Sponsored by Absolute Brighton WINNER: Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa

The Boss of the Year Sponsored by The Argus WINNER: Matt Parkinson, Gene Commerce

The Responsible Business Award Sponsored by Checkaprofessional.com WINNER: ILG Most Sustainable Business in Wealden Sponsored by Wealden District Council WINNER: Furniture Now! The International Business of the Year Sponsored by HSBC WINNER: Aspen Pumps

Ruth and Amy Anslow

The Award for Innovation in Business Sponsored by Sussex Innovation Centre WINNER: Safeguard Europe Ltd The Award for Healthiest Workplace Sponsored by Domestic & General WINNER: Chichester College The Award for the Most Promising New Business Sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter WINNER: Preston Insurance Brokers

Young Sussex Businessperson of the Year (16-25) Sponsored by Sussex Downs College WINNER: Liam Hackett, Ditch the Label The Sussex Businessperson of the Year Sponsored by Mazars WINNER: Tracy Smith, Homes Partnership The Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by Sussex Business Times WINNER: Gary Peters, LoveLocalJobs.com Sussex Company of the Year Sponsored by Morgan Sindall WINNER: Blue Forest The Small Business of the Year Sponsored by Sussex Enterprise WINNER: Ambiental Technical Solutions The Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity Sponsored by Heart FM WINNER: Kevin Byrne, Checkatrade.com

The Boss of the Year - Matt Parkinson, Gene Commerce (Sponsored by The Argus)

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January

Business Events In Sussex About: Subjects covered, but not limited to, include: • What are the roles and

responsibilities of a supervisor/ team leader?

• Managing friends and colleagues and getting the balance right

• Choosing the right management style for you and your team

Essentials of Supervision and Team Leadership When Thursday 8 January 2015, 9:30am Where The King’s Centre, Burgess Hill

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• Motivating your staff to do their best • Delegating responsibilities to others effectively • Handling difficult situations assertively - including a workshop on your own issues.

Price £295.00 + VAT per delegate Book www.sussexenterprise.co.uk/diary/booking-information/17783/

Sussex Events & Networking

Turn Your Idea into a Live Business About:

1066 Country Branch Networking Breakfast

Got a great idea, but not sure how to make it into a profitable business? This workshop will show you how.

When Wednesday 14 January, 9:15 - 17:00 Where BMECP, 10A Fleet Street, Brighton, BN1 4ZE Price Free Book www.letsdobusiness group.co.uk

You will learn how to: • Identify why your customers will want to come to you • Identify who your potential customers are • Make the right financial decisions • Build business foundations that will lead to long-term success You will also hear a case study from a new local business, take part in a Q&A with an accountant and have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas. You will come away from the workshop with the practical tools and the vision you need to become a more successful business owner!

Women in Networking

About: The Federation of Small Businesses is the UK’s largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the selfemployed and owners of small firms. The FSB hosts this networking breakfast event every third Thursday of each month.

When Thursday 15 January 2015, 6.45am Where Azur (downstairs) at the Marina Pavillion, St Leonards-on-sea Price £8 Book fsb.east.sussex@googlemail.com

About: Join this women-only monthly lunch for networking at Ladies lunches run by Chloe Eason of Willing Legal Services. The event offers a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food – as well as those all important business networking opportunities.

When Wednesday 14 January 2015 Where Buxted Park Hotel, Buxted Park Hotel, Buxted, East Sussex, TN22 4AY Price £22.00 Book chloe@willinglegalservices.co.uk

21 Putting you www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk in the driving seat

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“The message from the Government is if you want a prosperous retirement it’ll be up to you to provide it”

Ten New Year Resolutions for Your Money

As we head into the New Year, Juno Wealth offers ten financial planning resolutions that will hopefully help make 2015 a prosperous and secure year for you

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Money Matters

7

1

I will save some money Financial on a regular basis Advice It might be your daughter getting married, it might be one or more of your children going to university – or it might be a more sombre reason. But at some stage in all our lives we are going to need savings to fall back on: so make a resolution to save on a regular basis in the New Year. Better to save first and spend what you have left than spend first and then save – because as we all know, there probably won’t be anything left!

2

I will admit I’m going to get old We don’t just mean feeling old after one Xmas party too many – we mean you should make 2014 the year when you have a thorough review of your pension planning. Taking some action now could well save you a lot of heartache later on. The message from the Government (and any subsequent Government) will be simple: if you want a prosperous retirement it’ll be up to you to provide it.

3

I will check what I’m paying on my mortgage Interest rates have been very low for some time now, but 2015 may

well be the year when they start to creep up. If that happens mortgage rates will go up as well. So review your mortgage to make sure that it’s competitive and that you’re paying as little as possible.

4

I will review my life cover and protection policies It’s always worth keeping these policies under review, both to make sure that you have adequate cover and to make sure that you are still paying a competitive rate for the cover you have in place. The cost of protection can and does fluctuate and as with your mortgage, it will cost you nothing to ask us to review the arrangements you have in place.

5

I won’t pay the taxman more than I need to Couldn’t we all agree with this one? If you’re saving on a regular basis make sure you use your ISA allowances and look at the tax efficient ways in which a pension can be used. Far too many of us are inadvertently paying tax that we simply don’t need to.

6

I will use all my tax allowances Even sophisticated investors often forget to make use of allowances such as the annual Capital Gains Tax allowance (don’t forget that a married couple can both use the individual CGT allowance).

And despite the threshold going up, Inheritance Tax is another area where a small amount of planning can pay significant dividends.

I won’t forget about my investments How often do we see new clients with a portfolio of investments that hasn’t been looked at for years? If you do have investments, make sure you keep them under regular review.

I won’t obsess about my investments The other side of the coin – the investor who is constantly tinkering with his investments, so that whatever gains he might have made are wiped out by dealing costs. Remember that investments are for the long term: they need to be regularly reviewed – as we do with all our clients’ portfolios – but as the old wealth warning reminds us, they can and do fluctuate in value.

8

9

I won’t get sentimental We’re not talking about your personal relationships here, but about investments you might have held for a long time. One of the best things a regular review from your professional adviser does is highlight areas of your portfolio which are underperforming. And irrespective of how much money a particular holding might have made you ten years ago, if it is under-performing now it may well need to be changed.

I will keep in touch with my professional advisers on a regular basis Everyone’s personal circumstances change, and their financial planning needs change accordingly. That’s why we’re so keen on regular reviews and regular meetings and, as all our clients know, we’re always available should you have any questions.

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www.junowealth.co.uk

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Money Matters

Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 2014 A Brief Round Up

Changes Announced: Reform of residential property stamp duty Under the previous system, £2,500 was levied in stamp duty when a house was bought for £250,000. Thanks to stepped increases, buyers who bought a house for £25,001 paid triple the stamp duty, simply because they fell into a different bracket.

In his Autumn Statement, the chancellor announced an immediate change to this system. Instead, rates will apply only to the part of the property price that falls within the bracket when it is bought.

This means that no stamp duty will be due on the first £125,000 of a property, but once it goes over, 2% is required.

Between £250,000 and £925,000, 5% will be required; up to £1.5m 10% will be required and anything higher than that will be taxed at 12%.

Changes to Tax Allowance George Osbourne has expressed an

aspiration to give everyone a tax free allowance of £12,500 - however the number is still a way off the mark. Instead, he announced that by April 2015, the tax-free allowance on income will be £10,600 instead of the current £10,000.

He has also raised the threshold on 40% tax to £42,385 - £100 more than expected.

Changes to tax on savings The chancellor has announced an increase of £240 on tax-free Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to £15,000.

Previously, savings in an ISA lose their tax-free status when the owner dies.

Their spouse is required to pay tax on the savings thereafter. Now, the chancellor has announced that ISAs will preserve their tax free status even after the death of the owner.

Changes to Travel From May 1 next year, Air Passenger Duty for children under 12 will be abolished and the following year, the same will happen for under 16s.

Fuel duty has been frozen.

Changes to Business: A boost to bank lending for SMEs has been announced, with the Tresury guaranteeing up to £500m of new bank lending.

It has also pledged £400m to extend Government-backed venture capital funds that invest in SMEs. The Funding for Lending (FLS) scheme to boost bank lending to firms will also be extended for another year. John Allan, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said: “The FSB

Putting you in the driving seat

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www.carmyke.co.uk

is delighted to see the double small business rate relief remain for another year and a full review of the outdated business rates system, something we’ve long argued for.”

Also commenting on the Autumn Statement, John Cridland, DirectorGeneral of CBI said: “These major changes on stamp duty and business rates will be a shot in the arm for families and growing firms as they look towards 2015.

“The targeted focus on enterprise is right, but business innovators would have liked to see more on research and development (R&D) to boost UK investment.

“International tax rules are in urgent need of updating, but the decision for the UK to go it alone, outside the OECD process, will be a concern for global businesses, and moving the goalposts on offsetting losses risks creating a worrying precedent.

“We welcome the continued commitment to deficit reduction, but real challenges lie ahead to reduce future public spending, and fresh thinking on public services will be essential.

“In the long term, growth is about people, science and infrastructure, and we warmly welcome the financial support for postgraduate science students.”

Photography: Creative Commons, M. Holland ©

Chancellor George Osbourne released Financial his Autumn Statement on 3 December 2014, Info providing an update on the Government’s plans for the economy based on the most recent forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR was established in 2010 in order to provide an independent analysis of the UK’s public finances. This year’s Autumn Statement looks at the forecasted performance of the economy between the years 2018 to 2019, to show how the government intends to balance the budget within a five year time frame.

Fantasy Tree Houses: It’s Serious Business

We meet Blue Forest, the award-winning Sussex-based business that designs and builds this latest trend in luxury living…

After watching Blue Forest accept ‘Sussex Company of the Year’ Advertorial at last month’s Sussex Business Awards, we’re keen to find out more about what Chair of the Judges Mike Herd described as: “Truly a world leader in its field with a very exciting future.”

In the last few years Blue Forest has attracted a vast amount of attention from national media, including the Daily Mail, The Observer and the Sunday Times.

Looking at the online portfolio of the brothers’ creations, it’s clear to see why.

These aren’t the old clap-board and bed-sheet tree houses you probably tried to make as a child. These are fantastical constructions; forest hideaways – the stuff of dreams.

The inspiration, Simon tells us, comes from the boys’ childhood in East Africa.

“Andy and I were born and brought up in Kenya. We returned to the UK in 1985 and moved to live on my grandparents’ farm in the Sussex Weald.

“Both of us have a real love of the great outdoors and spent much of our time climbing trees or building zip-wires and things... to cut a long story short we haven’t really grown up! As then, much of our inspiration comes from the great outdoors and the trees we build in. We are fortunate enough that our office is located on the stunning Eridge Estate,

so we’re not short of fantastic views and inspiring scenery.”

The business kicked off after Andy, having gained a degree and extensive experience in timber construction, built a canopy walkway and tree house for a friend in Kenya, and realised he could turn his talent into a business.

When the recession struck in 2008, the brothers were forced to make a strategic business decision to aim solely at the higher end of the market, focussing on bespoke luxury constructions over £15,000 in value. Since then, the business has expanded – now employing an in-house team of 12 and serving high net-worth commercial and private clients including Madonna, Natasha Kaplinksi and Alton Towers.

When asked why tree houses have become the next ‘big thing’, coveted by anybody who’s anybody, Simon answered: “I think tree houses have always been popular... just perhaps not quite as elaborate as the structures we build now! Certainly in England they date back to the 17th century.

“We’ve worked really hard over the past 12 years to develop our expertise to a level where our clients can consider a tree house as a viable structural option for even the most serious and commercial project, such as the tree houses we are now building for Alton Towers.”

The excitement and magic of a secret hideaway never truly leaves us, Simon believes. “Tree houses have always

symbolised imagination and creativity and I think this is the reason they continue to excite people. For private individuals, tree houses are certainly a luxury item and many of our clients are very wealthy...

I think the trend goes beyond this though. All our clients are drawn to the individuality of our tree houses.

“For commercial clients, a tree house will set them apart from the competition.

For a private client it is something entirely unique, designed around their requirements and trees. It is a space for the family to enjoy and hopefully somewhere they can escape the busyness and complexity of modern life.”

Blue Forest builds tree houses that are not only imaginative, high tech and innovative, but long-lasting too – made from high quality, eco-friendly timber and finished beautifully with premium fixtures and fittings.

Some of the team’s projects include: Blue Forest’s largest private tree house: A 200m square two-storey tree house in Georgian style with a solid oak frame and a domed room peppered with 1,500 lights, like a starry sky.

The Enchanted Village: New accommodation at Alton Towers featuring 10 tree houses accessed by decked footpaths and high-level rope bridges.

Each tree house will be themed and designed to fit into the surroundings as naturally and sustainably as possible.

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 25

Senior Firefighter Tackles Management Hurdle

Paul Vine, a firefighter from Southampton, had often thought about studying for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He knew it would help further his career. Last year he signed up and he’s loving it.

Paul said: “I have always wanted to complete an MBA. I’ve Advertorial seen others within the organisation complete the course and had heard how rewarding, interesting and appropriate it was.

“The fire service is going through a period of huge rapid change – as is most of the public sector – and all the areas of the course, including finance, marketing and operations, are playing an important role as the public sector increasingly has to behave like a business.

“The MBA has given me access to current knowledge and thinking to help me and my teams through present and future change.

“Learning strategy helps create an understanding of why some organisational decisions have been made, together with the ability to influence strategic decision making either at board

level or departmental level in the future.

“My advice to anyone thinking about doing an MBA is do it. It’s demanding and having an understanding partner helps, as well as being able to read fast, but it will definitely pay off.”

Portsmouth Business School offers three options to study for an MBA. The part-time Executive MBA, which is taught in two-three day blocks over two years to suit the needs of busy working professional; the Master of Business Administration (full time) is offered over one year; and the Master of Business Administration (with Business Placement) is a two-year programme specially designed for students who wish to combine study and work. All courses are taught by specialists in their field, including experts in leadership, strategic management, marketing and finance, to ensure the MBA builds a strong foundation of knowledge and skills invaluable to businesses of all sizes.

Rewarding, challenging and fun: Senior firefighter Paul Vine on the MBA

The course offered at Portsmouth is AMBA-accredited and includes seminars and visiting speakers alongside lectures in finance, operations management and marketing, with an overall core theme of strategy and leadership.

More details about the course, scholarships and programme details can be found at www.port.ac.uk/mba.

Show you mean business. Go back to school.

Portsmouth Business School’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) will provide you with the opportunity to develop your strategic problem-solving skills whilst mastering the latest business knowledge and practice.

• • • • •

Develop your management abilities Benefit through innovative work-based learning Generous scholarships Taught part-time in three-day blocks over two years Accredited by the Association of MBAs

To find out more about our wide range of degrees, come along to one of our regular open evenings – details of which can be found at www.showyoumeanbusiness.com.

‘The MBA is a key to unlocking the doors to senior and executive level management roles.

The pace of the course allows me to carry out a full time international sales role at the same time as studying.’

Katie Ilincariu Europe and South America Sales Manager, Fosse Liquitrol 26 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

For more information or to apply: T: +44 (0)23 9284 4888 E: mba.admissions@ port.ac.uk W: www.port.ac.uk/mba

o ng

h

Your Options for Startup Funding Darren Fell, Managing Director and Founder of Crunch Accounting offers funding advice for growing businesses

“More funding options are beginning to emerge, as forward-thinking entrepreneurs develop new ways to harness technology and connect founders to funders”

Funding is one of the biggest Financial challenges when growing a Advice business – and the source of many sleepless nights for startup founders up and down the country. Indeed, as the founder of two successful businesses, I’ve had to deal with more than my fair share of funding headaches and heartbreaks.

Thankfully, it is getting easier.

More funding options are beginning to emerge, as forward-thinking entrepreneurs develop new ways to harness technology and connect founders to funders. So what options are out there for startup funding, what are the pros and cons of each,

and which option is best for your business?

Angel investment

This is basically the kind of investment that happens on Dragon’s Den. An ‘angel’ is usually a relatively wealthy individual, looking to get a higher return on their investment than they could in banks or property, for example.

Angels have deep pockets and will usually invest anywhere between £10,000 and £1 million. In return, they’ll want a high return on their investment, usually expecting 2.5x their original offering. Although they may not ask for a huge amount of equity in the company, they will usually expect some say in key business decisions.

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk Drive tomorrows cars today27

www.carmyke.co.uk

Money Matters

“According to Nesta - the charity that supports innovation in the workplace - in 2013 crowdfunding sites helped small businesses raise more than £500 million”

One problem you might have with angel investment is that they’re highly risk-averse and will usually take between three to six months before they decide whether or not to invest - that’s time some founders just don’t have.

In terms of finding an angel, they could be anyone, from a friend or next door neighbour, to a serial entrepreneur found through the Internet. Angels often invest through a network, as this gives them a greater pool of experience, which helps with due diligence.

Venture capital investment

Venture capital is secured through venture capitalist (VC) firms, which are managed pools of income. These firms are owned by some of the wealthiest people in the world, so there’s the opportunity to get large amounts of funding. VCs tend to invest anywhere between £300,000 and £3 million on average, but have been known to fork out in excess of £20 million.

VC firms expect a lot for their money, however. They’ll want rates of return between 38% and 48% a year, and will ask for a large chunk of equity

Darren Fell, MD and Founder of Crunch Accounting

to go with it. Be cautious that if you start giving over 50% equity to one party you risk losing control of your own company.

Although generally willing to take more risks than angels, VCs will take a painfully long time in scrutinising the ins and outs of your company before investment, taking as long as a year in some cases.This can be an extremely frustrating process, and you’ll need to work out how to fund your business while you wait. They’ll also always put their profits first, which could end up doing more harm to your business than good.

Loans

Taking a loan can be preferable if you don’t want to give up any equity, meaning you can keep complete control of your company. The trade off is that you’ll obviously have to pay the money back, plus interest, whether or not your business is making a profit.

Treating customers Fairly

28 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

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There are a number of options available. One of the most widely used business loans is a secured loan, which involves putting down an asset as security for the money you receive. A secured loan provides access to a lump sum payment which can be paid back on a monthly basis at an agreed rate of interest.

Invoice finance is an interesting choice of loan which allows you to sell your unpaid invoices to a loan provider who will then commission a collection company to ensure payment is made.

This choice is excellent for those struggling with cash flow problems, as you’ll receive a lump sum equal to around 90% of outstanding invoices.

Finally, peer-to-peer (P2P) loans have recently taken off - a form of unsecured loan where lenders are connected with borrowers through an intermediary.

The interest rates are either set by the lenders through an auction process, or

Money Matters

by the intermediary, and are dependent on the borrower’s credit score.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding allows you to bypass traditional forms of business finance and seek funding from a broader audience. There are several different versions, but the basic premise is that you pitch your business through an intermediary website like Kickstarter or Indiegogo and the public can choose whether or not to back it.

According to Nesta - the charity that supports innovation in the workplace - in 2013 crowdfunding sites helped small businesses raise more than £500 million. Generally, because you’re pitching to the public, there’s more chance for you to get funding for slightly wackier ideas - as long as you have an outstanding pitch. For example, someone from the USA raised

over $55,000 to make a potato salad.

Dreams do come true.

So what do these public backers get in return for their investment? Well, that depends. On the bigger sites, it’s usually gifts or “perks” that improve depending on the amount you’ve donated.

For example, if you’re pitching a new product, smaller backers might get a thank you card, and larger backers might get to try the prototype - it’s entirely up to you what you choose to offer. Take care, however, as some companies have ended up overpromising and spending most of their investment on fulfilling perks.

One criticism of this kind of crowdfunding is that it’s hard to attract serious amounts of

investment by just offering perks.

However, equity crowdfunding is another variation that potentially solves this issue. Companies like Crowdcube and Seedrs allow businesses to offer actual shares in their companies in return for backing. This inevitably attracts more serious backers, looking to actually get a return on their investment, rather than just a novelty t-shirt or branded coffee mug!

I personally think this is a very promising option for startup funding, because it offers you more flexibility than seeking single investors, but also attracts higher calibre backers. I’ll certainly be following the success of companies like Crowdcube very closely in the future.

For more information visit www.crunch.co.uk or call 03333 310 472

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Export

EXPORTERS:

What You Need to Consider in 2015

Carl Hasty, Director of SmartCurrencyBusiness.com offers advice for exporters in the new year

Where do Companies go for Exports Advice?

66% Websites and social media 53% Professional services (bank, accountants etc) 44% Logistics provider 32% Chamber of Commerce 29% Trade associations 19% Market specialist 17% Embassy 9% UKTI

30 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

Exporting is high on the government’s agenda to boost Export growth across the UK. Studies show that companies that export their products or services overseas do better financially than those that limit themselves to local markets. Put simply: exporting = faster growth.

But the idea of selling overseas in unfamiliar markets can be scary.

How do you overcome language and cultural barriers? How do you find out about the laws, or get the right documentation for your business? How do you even handle money between countries?

There are all kinds of challenges and barriers thrown up by exporting, leading the majority of Sussex-based businesses to dismiss the opportunity altogether.

Despite reservations, the latest statistics from HMRC reveal that the South East continues to be the biggest regional exporter in the UK, with the total value of exports for the first half of 2014 at £22.66 billion.

Lewis Scott, UK Trade and

Investment (UKTI) South East’s Regional Director, said: “Exporting is the key to boosting the fortunes of the UK. Here in the South East we produce and manage a wide range of products and services for which there is demand both at home and abroad, from finance and professional services to food processing and aviation.”

There are a number of local organisations providing advice and support for businesses looking to go global. In November 2014 Coast to Capital, a local enterprise partnership, supported UKTI’s Export Week campaign by organising a variety of events highlighting the importance of international trade. Coast to Capital offers ambitious businesses grants of up to £250,000 to export overseas.

Lancing-based adhesive manufacturer Parafix received a Coast to Capital grant for nearly £100,000 to buy new machinery, create 10 new jobs and get a ‘vital foothold’ in the overseas market.

Michael Punter, Managing Director of Parafix, said: “New machinery was the key here, as none of our UK competitors has the technology to match the capabilities of this machine.

Export

UK Trade & Investment is part of the “Coast to Capital’s grant allowed for Government Department for Business immediate growth and also increased Innovation and Skills (BIS) and can capacity for the future. It’s not just about offer a wide range of services and this one project – what they’ve helped activities to help you trade successfully us do will make a massive difference overseas. For impartial and tailored going forward. Short term we’ve created advice from an experienced and locally new jobs, long term we’re in a position based International Trade Advisor or to keep them. This has opened up local knowledge from one of the Market new horizons and possibilities for our Experts based in many of the Embassies company.” around the world contact UKTI: Coast to Capital Board Member Mike Call 08452 789600 La Rooy said: “Our region already has a Email info@uktisoutheast.com significant presence in export markets, but we need to grow stronger, and Coast Growth Acceleration Programme to Capital is keen for companies to The programme is heavily subsidised by overcome any fears or reservations they the Government and is in six stages and may have. Some would-be exporters includes: are put off by issues such as cultural 1. Self check differences, or a lack Are you determined of knowledge about to grow your overseas markets.

“Some would-be business?

That’s where we and 2. First contact our partners are able exporters are put off With a growth to help, by facilitating by issues such as manager to explore networking your ambitions opportunities, where cultural differences, 3. Exploring companies learn detail from the experience or a lack of To run through the of those already knowledge about GROWT operating in similar Hmapper™ markets. overseas markets” 4. Identify “Taking the To focus on plunge is often your priorities for the biggest step growth including export – once you’re in the export market, it 5. Growth Coach becomes self-perpetuating, with many Meeting your dedicated growth coach businesses experiencing increased and getting started confidence, greater economic stability 6. Starting Work and enhanced reputations. The benefits Beginning your drive for rapid growth are clear, not least from UK Trade and Investment statistics that show 60 per www.ga.businessgrowthservice. cent of productivity growth is through greatbusiness.gov.uk international trade.”

The Sussex region benefits from easy Enterprise Europe Network access to overseas markets thanks to – South East Gatwick Airport and ferry links to France.

The Enterprise Europe Network Mike continued: “At the moment, the EU helps local companies practice accounts for nearly 50 per cent of British better business in Europe by offering exports, but Asia makes up just 17 per cent. Between them, exports to India and trading advice, links with partners to co-develop your technology, or helping China, two of the world’s fastest-growing markets, currently account for less than 4 you find like-minded investors to join per cent of British overseas trade. There’s your funding bid. huge potential in both markets.”

Get Support for Exports

There is a growing variety of support for Sussex businesses looking to get into exports: UK Trade & Investment Helping companies win business overseas

To meet an Enterprise Europe Network trade advisor, speak to Paul Toben on 01634 820483 or 07770 667783. Alternatively, email him on paul.toben@bsk-cic.co.uk or info@enterpriseeurope-se.eu.

Trade balance data to date The deficit of trade in goods and services fell from £2.8 billion in September to £2.0 billion in October, according to a report released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) this week. The ONS also reported a £0.2 billion increase in exports, to £42 billion, and a £0.6 billion decrease in imports, to £44 billion.

The rise in exports is encouraging, but still phenomenally distant from the Government’s goal of achieving £1 trillion in exports by 2020. UK exports to the EU increased by £0.1 billion, as did UK exports to countries outside of the EU. This year, I have been stressing the point that, given the stagnation of the Eurozone, and the fact that there exist many other markets elsewhere, the UK should be striving to accelerate exports to countries outside of the Eurozone and the EU. UK exporters need to focus on emerging markets in particular, like China. China’s move towards a freefloating currency has the potential to expand its involvement in international trade, not just in terms of exports, but also in terms of importing from countries like the UK. UK exporters need to seek opportunities and cut costs wherever possible.

What UK exporters need to consider in 2015

1. UK businesses selling their goods

and services abroad need to be informed of the opportunities present in exporting to countries outside of the Eurozone, especially those with emerging economies. They need clear guidance on how to access support from the Government, for instance, by working with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

2. They need to know that funding is

not the only aspect of finance – once funding has been secured, businesses need best-practice knowledge about how to handle the funds and cut costs. They may face a wide range of costs, from costs incurred by logistical strategies that have not been optimised, to hidden costs.

3. Given the growing uncertainty

around global risk, currency markets are liable to shift significantly. UK exporters need to know how to plan their currency exchange strategies in advance in order to save money and mitigate risks on currency costs.

Putting you www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk in the driving seat 31 www.carmyke.co.uk

Export

Top 10 Export Tips from Kelly Hoppen MBE

2

Kelly Hoppen MBE supported British Export Week with a list of Top Tips on ‘Exporting a Business Abroad’. As a proud ambassador of the GREAT Campaign and whilst working closely with UKTI over the years, Kelly not only promotes Quintessentially British brands abroad but is also an extremely successful exporter herself

1

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH

4

Contact UKTI and use the expert International Trade Advisors (ITAs) to help you research your target markets and potential customers.

TEST

Take part in overseas events, trade fairs or missions to test markets, attract customers, appoint agents or distributors and make sales. UK Trade and Investment’s (UKTI) Trade Access Programme provides grants to companies to attend trade shows and missions worldwide.

SEEK OUT SUPPORT AND ADVICE

PLAN

Have a business plan and the necessary capital. Talk to your bank and UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export finance provider, well in advance. If pitching to an investor they’ll care more about how you’re going to a.) get to revenue, b.) scale it over the first year, and c.) retain those customers. Plan your responses in advance.

5

78

There are several organisations that are dedicated to supporting overseas trade - such as UKTI, UKEF and Chambers of Commerce, as well as specialists in banks, law and accountancy firms. Their support will be crucial. Seek support from your peers too - deliver your pitch to a friend and ask them to pose the tricky questions to you so that you are fully prepared.

32 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

3

KNOW THE CURRENCY

Understand the currencies you will need to deal with. Talk with your foreign exchange provider early, as they can give you insights into the potential currency risks.

APPRECIATE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Failure to take account of different cultures can lead to damaging and costly mistakes. This could range from causing offence by not observing correct protocol to inappropriate packaging and marketing.

MEETING WITH INVESTORS

When preparing to pitch to an investor, it’s important to know your pitch inside and out, and have multiple lengths stored in your brain. This doesn’t mean learning it by rote but practice the content and deliver it confidently. Include your learnings in your investor pitch. Investors like to see the market research you’ve done.

Wherever possible, include positive testimonies from real customers.

6 9

START SMALL It’s tempting to pursue multiple markets. Don’t.

Begin by focusing on one or two markets.

GET PAID

It’s easy to overlook the risk of non-payment. Establish the credit rating of potential clients and guard against non-payment through letters of credit or credit insurance. UKEF can provide advice and insurance where the private market can’t help.

BE PATIENT

10

It won’t happen as quickly as you anticipate. Local customs and legislation can slow things down.

Virtual Office

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 33

Sponsored by

What Does it Take to be Boss of the Year?

Award winner Matt Parkinson of Gene Commerce speaks to us about his journey from start-up entrepreneur to Boss of the Year - By John Keenan

Company Profile Name: Gene Commerce Started: 2013 Founder: Matt Parkinson Deals in: E-commerce, helping businesses attract, convert and retain more customers Specialities: Magento website building, insight, strategy, performanceled design, intelligent technology, creative online marketing

34 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

For a successful Cover entrepreneur, Matt Sponsor Parkinson at Gene Commerce in Brighton is a selfeffacing soul.

His staff nominated him for ‘Boss of the Year’ in the Sussex Business Awards and he duly picked up the gong at a glittering ceremony at The Grand hotel on Kings Road, in December.

But he heaps the praise for the firm’s success on the staff.

He said: “We started August 2013.

Prior to that I’d worked in agencies for about 10 years. I had an agency in Brighton which became a victim of a client being put into administration.

They dragged us down overnight. I almost lost my house and had about a month where I was trying to sort stuff

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out. I was approached by a couple of clients and they were insistent that I set something up.”

Along with four partners he had worked with, Mr Parkinson decided to set up Gene Commerce.

He said: “We decided that our skill set was very suited to e-commerce. We had done a lot of e-commerce over the last 10 years as part of the full service mix. It was a growth area and we knew we were good at it. We decided to do one thing and do that one thing well.

“We were fortunate to kick off the new business with an old client called Sweat Shop. I think the approach we try to take is that we want to be their partner. Our client at Sweatshop understood that. She knew she could trust me implicitly.

She knew the clients’ interest came first.”

Matt said that from his experience running full service agencies in the past, he wanted to create a new type of agency.

“The first thing was to make sure it was employee- owned.

Everyone here has as a stake in Gene. That encapsulates our team ethic.”

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 35

Sponsored by

“Our clients are driving our growth, we know that if we continue to improve their businesses we will remain successful”

ABOVE: The Gene Commerce Team at the Sussex Business Awards when Matt won Boss of the Year

36 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

He outlined five founding principles for the fledgling firm.

1. To be challenged 2. To work with people we liked 3. Make sure the work has a purpose 4. Get results 5. Have fun He added: “This isn’t fluff. Every month we have a retrospective meeting and remind ourselves of these principles. We didn’t want to get into the daily grind that other agencies get into. We don’t do ad hoc jobs. We have a road map. We are interviewing the clients as much as they are interviewing us. We are a proactive partner.

“This is a difficult sell - clients don’t like to make a long term commitment. But it gives us a certain amount of autonomy to go and explore ideas, research, be very reactive to commercial needs. It gives us the freedom to present out of the box thinking to them.

“We were fortunate to win, at the beginning of this year, Hornby Hobbies contract. It’s a fantastic brand and it was a defining moment for us because we were up against nine of the biggest agencies. We were fortunate to be able to prove ourselves – and some of the

development, such as pre-ordering, we did, was a game changer for them, as we said it would. That gave them the confidence to commit to us.”

Matt said that in Brighton it’s difficult to attract and retain the right talent.

“Our recruitment policy is based around apprenticeships now. I’m bringing in young people and training them from the ground up. Dave Macaulay the first apprentice I took on, is 19; he’s a shareholder in the business and he is probably one of the best developers I’ve worked with in 15 years. That commitment is reciprocated. I’m getting commitment and energy from him. Treat young people like adults and they will respond.

“Our clients are driving our growth, we know that if we continue to improve their businesses we will remain successful.

After being done in by the banks last year and going through the mill of venture capitalists, I want to be beholden to noone. Margins are very important to us.

Growth for growth’s sake is not.

“I want us to be the go-to agency for e-commerce internationally.” www.gene.co.uk

Sponsored by

When asked what makes Matt a great boss, his team said...

Nicola

Nicola May Said: “Matt really does deserve to be named boss of the year. Since I joined the team in March, it is clear to see that Matt genuinely cares about everyone in the team. He gets involved and supports each of us. He wants everyone in the team to grow and develop their skills.

Happily funding our development and enabling team members to get qualifications that they can carry with them throughout their careers.”

David McCaulay Said: “Matt has continuously gone out of his way to help me progress through my career from an apprentice to a fully certified developer. Providing every instance of support as I needed it to progress and always being open for having chats about anything. He is the most generous and giving boss I could of ever asked for!”

Hob Adams Said:

“Matt has always been there as an inspiration and shows that through good and bad times we should always remain positive and we will come out on top. He is someone who will always give you his time and make you feel as vital to business as anyone else.”

Matt is a rad Dude!!!”

Mark Wallman Said:

Paul Barrett Said: “Matt gave me a job when I returned to the UK from Australia and since then my role has changed beyond all recognition. Matt gave me the autonomy to define my own role and I’ve been able to learn a huge amount from him about the runnings of a company...he’s also been quite useful when I was buying a house!”

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 37

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You will learn the good and the bad, how to plan a Magento project and how you can get the most out of Magento.

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Money Matters

How Building Your Own Home Could Benefit Sussex

The 208,000 new homes target set by the government means Sussex is set to change dramatically over the next few decades – now Sussex Homes Hub is urging locals to take ownership of the county by building homes on their own land.

“Demand for new homes is many times higher in the South East.

Employment is higher, profits for house builders are much higher”

A new homes building target for England has Property been set for 230,000 houses each year for the next 20 years.

That’s nearly 5 million new homes, and Vince Cable is pushing for the number to be increased to 6 million.

The Sussex Homes Hub believes the influx of housing will cause enormous changes to our towns, villages and countryside.

If the lower figure is divided equally between the 48 ceremonial counties in England, it will equate to approximately 104,000 new homes in each county or 208,000 new homes across East and West Sussex.

But in reality, we know the number

of new homes will not be divided equally across northern and southern counties.

Demand for new homes is many times higher in the South East.

Employment is higher, profits for house builders are much higher and Sussex is officially the UK’s sunniest county. There is more space in Sussex than the Home Counties, yet it is still commuting distance from London, so a disproportionate amount of these new homes will be built in East and West Sussex.

Under the new National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and the Localism Act of 2011, new homes quotas have now been set for each region to meet. The house builders are delighted. But London has already said it cannot meet its target

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Property

“In the current 15 year plan, West Sussex has already committed to building over 21,000 new homes and East Sussex Council has already committed to building over 17,000 new homes”

of 42,000 new homes each year, or 840,000 new homes over the next 20 years, and many of its numbers have been pushed out to the Home Counties and surrounding counties.

Surrounding regions are already struggling to meet their quotas of new homes, and again, this has put further pressure on other regions within commuting distance of London. Sussex is taking a big hit already, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

In the current 15 year plan, West Sussex has already committed to building over 21,000 new homes and East Sussex Council has already committed to building over 17,000 new homes. Together this is no more than 38,000 new homes for Sussex.

But these figures don’t come close to the 208,000 plus new homes the government tells us we should be anticipating. So where will East and West Sussex find room for potentially a further 170,000+ new homes in addition to the 38,000 already planned?

To put some perspective on size, currently there are: • Approximately 360,000 households/ dwellings in West Sussex • Approximately 248,000 households/

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dwellings in East Sussex • 114,000 households or dwellings in Brighton and Hove • 55,196 households or dwellings in Chichester • 41,000 households or dwellings in Hastings • 42,000 households or dwellings in Lewes • 2,000 households or dwellings in Henfield • 455 households or dwellings in Bolney By looking at the size of our counties, we can easily see that anything close to the projected figures will have a phenomenal impact on all of us.

Impacts on local communities The impact of thousands of new homes on the towns, villages and countryside around Sussex will no doubt be significant. With new homes comes the need for new schools, new businesses, new recreational areas and improved infrastructure. In November, councillors in Hangleton and Knoll, near Brighton & Hove, discussed plans for 380 new homes on Benfield Valley Golf Course. Conservative councillor Dawn Barnett said that, while she understood the need for more housing,

Property

Sussex Downs Photo Dominic Alves ©

Why you should build your own home: • Some profits from the new homes will be kept in Sussex, rather than taken back to the other counties, where most of the volume house builders come from • It will provide work for Sussex tradespeople, rather than the ‘out of county’ builders that most incoming developers contract the work to • It will increase the likelihood of more attractive homes being built in Sussex, rather than standard ‘house types’ from volume builders • It will reduce the number of volume builders’ new homes on Sussex’s green fields “We just don’t have the infrastructure to accommodate these proposals – that’s what everybody is saying. I just don’t think it’s a viable option. We don’t have the roads, we don’t have the NHS dentists, we don’t have the schools to cope with nearly 400 houses – that’s at least 800 more people including their families.

“It’s far too much for this area. This is a bungalow area and there’s talk of four-storey buildings– and it’s not going to be local people living in these houses. They will be priced out, and we’ll still need the social housing for the people of Brighton and Hove.”

The proposals will be revised and put to Brighton & Hove City Council before a decision is made in March 2015.

Nicolas Guerin, Managing Director of the construction company behind the plans, Bouygues development, said: “We have invited residents from around Benfield Valley to a public exhibition to discuss the potential of increasing the amount of publicly accessible green space, improving its quality and accessibility, giving new and better access routes to the Downs, as well as using 30% of the site to create ecological homes to help meet the local community’s housing needs.

“There are no fixed proposals at this stage and the purpose of the exhibition is to work with the community to ensure that any development that does happen on the site benefits local people.”

Local resident Ian Farrell, 65, told The Argus newspaper: “I admire the use of the space in the plans, and if it was affordable housing for the youngsters of Brighton and Hove then I would support it, but I don’t think that’s going to be the case.

“And the plans for four-storey houses don’t feel right to me either.”

The same story is unfurling in areas all over the county. Horsham District Council’s plan between now and 2031 involves the potential building of 11,800-14,600 new homes. Like the Benfield Valley development, a public consultation will be held whereby local residents can assess for options for future housing numbers.

Build Your Own House Most of the new homes will be built by volume house builders on greenfield land, but planning laws have been dramatically relaxed and there is now provision for thousands of people across Sussex to build their own houses. The potential benefits of local people taking ownership of of this are huge.

‘Get Sussex People Building’ is a campaign heralded by Sussex Home Hub, a facilitating company that provides information and helps people get started on building their own new homes.

Managing Director and founder of Sussex Home Hub, Julia Arnold, explains: “If hundreds of thousands of new homes are going to be built in Sussex, whether we like it or not, we want to make sure the people of Sussex benefit. Not just the ‘out of town’ builders and developers who are taking advantage of this situation.

“There are tens of millions of pounds to be made from building these new homes across Sussex, and we want to turn this into an advantage for Sussex residents and Sussex tradespeople and professionals who work in the property industry.

“Anyone who owns a piece of land, or even a garden in Sussex, may be able to make thousands of pounds themselves by building their own new home, and we provide the information and contacts they need to do it themselves, step by step.”

www.sussexhomehub.org

Sussex Downs

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Graduate Interns

The smarter way to expand your business

Want to add new talent to your business?

“They were without exception, spectacular and grasped a complex business model quickly.”

The University of Brighton can help you with free advertising for your role to any graduate in the local area.

If this sounds like something that you’re interested in, please get in touch with Rebecca Duffy, Employment Engagement Officer at the University of Brighton.

If you’d like some more information, go to this page: www.brighton.ac.uk/internships

If you’re a small to medium business, we can help you benefit from a grant to help fund a graduate intern. If you’ve got less than 250 employees and have a turnover of less than £50m, we want to hear from you!

Internships can last for at least six weeks with a view to lead on to permanent employment.

Our schemes are perfect for companies based in the Sussex area. Chris Cragg, CEO of Immersive Album, has taken on not one but five graduates after they successfully completed internships through one of our programmes.

Chris says that the graduates contributed hugely to the success of the company.

42 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk You can email r.l.duffy@brighton.ac.uk or call us on 01273 642 863.

Sussex Business Times advert A4 2014.indd 1

30/10/2014 12:45

14 12:45

Cycle to Work

DIY Bamboo Bicycles Vela Cafe owner Nigel Lambe discusses the rise of build-your-own bicycles made from bamboo I thought that I had probably heard it all when I saw the Cycling Vegetarian Shoe shop in Brighton, but no, apparently not. There is a ‘new’ global trend sweeping the world that started 120 years ago in Wolverhampton – The Bamboo Bicycle.

Last month, more than 50 people gathered in Brighton at the Velo Café to hear the words of the Bamboo Bicycle Club founders James Marr and Ian McMillan. Nearly three years ago, engineer James started to build bamboo bikes in his garage and ended up with a workshop in Hackney teaching likeminded enthusiasts how to build their own custom framed Bamboo Bicycles.

Not only do they run workshops, but they have also created the most amazing box of tricks, which you buy to build your very own bamboo bike in the comfort of your home. The kits cost about £2,889 and you will need to add another £250 for a single speed setup, or £500 for a geared version.

So what is it about bamboo that makes it such an efficient material for building a bike frame? It is stiffer than aluminium, as strong as steel and more carbon neutral than all of the above. Bamboo absorbs four times as much shock as a steel framed bike that in turn makes it a smoother ride.

A supplier in Kent imports the bamboo into the UK and James will go there and pick each piece of bamboo by hand using an intuitive feel for what will and will not work.

We often lament various different industries that have disappeared over time in this country. Not so long ago there were over 500 bicycle manufacturers in the UK. Now only a handful of niche manufactures are left. Nearly all mainstream bikes are now built in Taiwan.

In fact, two years ago all of the bikes in the Tour de France came from just two different factories in Taiwan.

The Bamboo Bicycle Club are a community-based organisation committed to giving bike or engineering enthusiasts the ultimate experience that they can then transfer to their own story. Each bike is unique.

They do not see their focus changing to a mass manufacturing company.

They have built just about every type of bike, including a single speed, fat bike, racing road bike and even a tandem. They have as yet to try a penny-farthing but are looking into the possibility of growing the bamboo into shape.

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Hotel & Lunch Review: Alexander House Hotel Alexander House Hotel East Grinstead Address: Turners Hill East Grinstead West Sussex England RH10 4QD Main Hotel Telephone: 01342 714914 Reservations Telephone: 01342 859 702 Web: www.alexanderhotels.co.uk

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It was 9am. Usually I’d be in the office, bleary eyed and Review drinking the first of too many teas. But the office doesn’t have Roman pillars, sun-loungers or a monsoon shower. Nor does it have 25 treatment rooms and a private Zen garden with an outdoor hot-tub. If it did, I’d be doing a lot more overtime.

I blotted the thought of work from my mind and enjoyed another languid lap around the exercise pool – which was darkly tiled and mysterious, blissfully empty. This was a far cry from the chlorinated, artificially turquoise pools I’ve found in hotels before. No floating plasters or screaming children here.

Just bliss.

On first inspection, Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa promises a classic country house experience. 17th century architecture, 6ft fireplaces, opulent chandeliers and gamey menus.

Does it deliver? Not quite. On the approach up the driveway the previous night, I had remarked to my boyfriend how much the hotel’s new Cedar Lodge building looked like the University

- By Zoe Thomas

campus I used to live on. It was a nice campus, mind. All pale wood and plate glass windows – but a campus nonetheless. I couldn’t help but feel that it just didn’t belong on the grounds of a stately home.

The Concierge showed us around the main part of the house, explaining as we went that the original wing – built in 1608 – was lived in for some time by Percy Bysshe Shelley’s grandmother and a few other notable figures over the centuries. The newer wing, housing the aforementioned Utopia Spa, was added in 2006.

The extension is pleasantly in keeping with the original Jacobean architecture, unlike the domineering two-storey Cedar Lodge complex added in September, which we accessed via a gravel path a few metres from the hotel’s reception.

We entered through the automatic sliding doors into the foyer, complete with a mega TV, deconstructed chandeliers and a life-sized horse made out of bits of driftwood. The smell was of new things. Vaguely chemically – unlike the musty, oaky, smokey smell of the main house.

It seemed to me like an entirely

Tried & Tested in East Grinstead

different hotel; contemporary to the max, with not a hint of the original redbrick mansion next door. It was pleasant in its own way. Our room, a Duluxe Garden Suite named after the National Trust estate ‘Knole’ in Kent, wouldn’t have looked out of place in a New York penthouse. Our concierge revealed it had 57 square metres of space in total, a floor space not too far off my own flat.

Left to our own devices, my boyfriend and I began exploring the suite – looking in cupboards, draws, sifting through the ‘bits and bobs’ packets and inspecting the refreshments on offer (including home made biscuits). I was mightily impressed. It seemed every

detail had been thought of – there was even ‘My Booky Wooky’ by Russel Brand and Al Gore’s ‘The Future’ in the TV stand, and a smart hook-handled umbrella in the wardrobe should one fancy a morning constitutional in the drizzle.

Cedar Lodge may not have presented the country house experience I was expecting, but once I’d adjusted my mindset – and seen what was on offer behind the double doors in the huge en-suite, I decided it didn’t matter. A pristine stand-alone two-person bath tub gleamed invitingly beneath designer lighting, flanked by his-and-her basins and pots of

“It seemed to me like an entirely different hotel; contemporary to the max, with not a hint of the original red-brick mansion next door”

45 Putting you www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk in the driving seat

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Tried & Tested in East Grinstead

luxurious bath stuff. The walk-in rain shower opposite was also big enough for two. It was clear this suite was made for romancing - especially considering the four options of mood lighting on the wall, ranging from ‘let’s just read and go to sleep darling’, to ‘we won’t be needing room service for a while’. But alas, it was 8:30pm and dinner awaited us in the main house. The bubble bath would have to wait.

There were two choices for dining at Alexander House. AG’s, offering a fine dining experience with 3 AA Rosette food, classic round tables and silver service – and Reflections, a trendy bar/ cafe style restaurant. We were really hungry and liked the sound of ‘relaxed dining’ with ‘homegrown favourites’ and the Champagne Bar, so we opted for Reflections.

The service was brilliant – our waitresses were friendly and chatty, willing to recommend dishes (go for the cheeseburger over the pork belly if you’re hungry). My boyfriend took their advice after his starter of ham terrine.

I chose smoked salmon, goats cheese curd and beetroot salad (delicious), followed by a main course of arancini with watercress veloute, a soup-like sauce thickened with egg yolks, butter

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and cream. I also opted for seasonal greens and french fries as sides. As usual, my eyes were bigger than my stomach and I found the mushroom arancini filling enough without the chips.

The chef got a bit carried away with his blow torch on the creme brulee I chose for dessert, and the segments of orange inside gave it a slightly bitter

“This spa would be perfect for anyone in need of a day of R&R – you can relax with a book in between luxurious treatments” edge. I must emphasise though that this was my only criticism of the whole meal, and I still managed to demolish half of it.

It’s always nice to wake up in an emperor-sized bed in a five star hotel.

Especially when all the morning has in store is a swim and a cooked breakfast.

As I’ve already mentioned, the spa was beautiful; modelled on classic Roman baths with a large exercise pool,

hydrotherapy pool and spa pool. We tried all of them, and even braved the December drizzle to immerse ourselves in the steaming hot tub outside. This spa would be perfect for anyone in need of a day of R&R – you can relax with a book in between luxurious treatments, or head to Reflections for refreshments and afternoon tea.

It’s pure indulgence – but don’t we all deserve a little every now and then? I noticed in the ladies changing rooms there were even hair grooming stations with GHD hair straighters, so you can head straight out in the evening after a pampering session. That’s if you didn’t make an appointment at the hotel’s professional hair salon, nail bar or pedicure station first.

Breakfast was yet another indulgence, offering a beautifully presented continental buffet with a variety of home-made granolas, cereals and fruits – in addition to a menu offering full English breakfasts and specialities including eggs benedict and salmon and scrambled egg. In addition to this we also enjoyed tea, coffee, orange juice and a selection of breads and pastries.

Although Alexander House wasn’t the grand old country pile I had imagined, the unreserved mishmash

Tried & Tested in East Grinstead

of contemporary with antique was certainly different – and I found it interesting. Where else would you get a Champagne bar in a 17th century library? Guests in Cedar Lodge can enjoy a feeling of space and independence away from the main hotel. Each suite is like a self-contained apartment. They might not boast four poster beds or opulent antiques, but the decor is simple and stylish: luxury for the 21st century – a piece of the city tucked away in Sussex woodland.

If you’re overworked, tired and looking for a holiday that doesn’t require a four hour flight beforehand, Alexander House is the perfect choice. With WiFi in every room, even the most dedicated workaholics can enjoy a stay here, and excellent meeting facilities mean teams can collaborate too.

For further information, contact 01342 859753 or email sales@alexanderhouse.com

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Success Story

The Hastings ‘Mumpreneur’ on a Mission to Support Businesses

An interview with Vicki Chisholm, founder of Tiger-Lilly’s Administration benefit of not having to employ extra What’s the staff or worry about the extra resources thinking behind Advertorial and regulations that employees bring to the name? the business.

It’s been just Not many VAs offer this, but I offer over two years training in Mailchimp, CRM Systems, since I decided Quickbooks (accounts Software) and to launch Tigersocial media.

Lilly’s Administration and Secretarial Services Ltd. My decision to launch What have you found challenging? came from my company secretary I was 26 when I launched my business, role within a counselling firm. It was and what I found was that, due to a part time role and I knew that long how young I was, it was very easy for term I wanted more from life. I wanted others to take advantage of my kind to continue to help others (I worked supportive nature due to my naivety in social care for 10 years before as a newbie in the business world. It this). I saw an opportunity to put my has been an amazing rollercoaster skills, enthusiasm and ambition into ride and the learning I have done in play. I’m a mum of three children these last two years has completely too, so being the business owner, changed my perspective on life and I could work around my parental business. I’ve always had ‘an old head commitments. on young shoulders’ but it has proven Once I decided I was going to quite difficult for some people to want to ‘launch’ I didn’t want a basic name. work with a young I wanted something ‘mumpreneur’. that was different.

“The learning I The biggest So after a brain have done in these learning curve I storming session I last two years has have faced is the decided on ‘Tigerrealisation of my Lilly’s’. The reason I completely changed determination, I chose this was due my life perspective had no idea I was to the tiger being my and business so strong minded.

Chinese birth year and it also resembled determination” How has the my personality. The business grown? lily – this came from Just before we reached our second my children. They are lilies to me, anniversary, I moved into an office beautiful and naturally content. To space at the 1066 Business Centre, me it is a personal branding that is excited that I was no longer working part of my family. I have treated my from home with my assistant. business as a baby and will continue I also pledge with the Hastings to do so.

Own Grown Initiative and for the second time this year I took on another What does Tiger-Lilly’s Admin do? work placement, who is becoming a It is a virtual assistant service / virtual permanent team member in January PA (depending on what the business 2015. Recently we launched an owner needs), freeing business advert with the Sussex Coast College owners from the admin, social media, Apprenticeships scheme, another email marketing, telemarketing, opportunity for a local member of our bookkeeping, customer service, community to join our fabulous team in design and day-to-day tasks.

2015.

Our service offers support in the lonely world of business. It is no What do you have to offer clients? different to having a PA work on There are many reasons our clients your behalf, but provides an added

utilise our service, but here are three: 1. Cost effective – utilising a package or pay as you go 2. Skilled staff save time – we have the skills that save our clients time 3. Our friendly approach – we do not appear corporate; we offer our clients the friendly down to earth approach they need, professionally, and effectively.

What do you love about business?

I thrive on job satisfaction and variety.

Being able to take the stress away from clients’ day to day tasks, relieving their pressures and empowering them to meet their goals is what I enjoy more than anything. Supporting others is my life mission and I look forward to supporting many more business owners over the next year. With our staff team growing and our services expanding it’s such a thrill to be able to offer this service to businesses nationally and eventually globally too.

Contact us now: admin@tigerlillysadmin.co.uk 01424 728947

www.tigerlillysadmin.co.uk

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Chamber News

The Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex ACES Member News

Photography Darren Wood © (Creative Commons)

The Airports Commission Public Consultation: Gatwick Airport’s Second Runway

ACES believes that the economy of East Sussex needs a second runway at Gatwick Airport for the resultant growth it will bring.

Our young people have been the hardest hit by the recession and need proper careers to provide for the future of our county. We believe the second runway will bring over 120,000 jobs to the airport itself, the supply chain across Sussex and new businesses that will migrate to the area to take advantage of this growing international airport.

If you agree that Sussex needs a

second runway in Gatwick, please take a moment and record your support here:

Jeremy Taylor CEO The Gatwick Diamond

www.gatwickobviously.com/mailinglist-sign-up/choice

As a business organisation, the Gatwick Diamond represents 350 members with 50,000 staff. Earlier this year we consulted our membership and found that 92% were in favour of the second runway at Gatwick Airport.

Manor Royal Business Park opened 60 years ago and developed a strong airport economy in the South. Large businesses moved here in the 1950s and a strong supply chain developed across Sussex.

Christina Ewbank attended the Airports Commission Public Consultation to give support to the Gatwick Diamond from the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex (ACES).

For details of the business argument, here is a précis of Jeremy Taylor’s excellent speech.

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Chamber News

As the airport expanded, we have built a £21bn sub-regional economy centred on the largest business park in the UK. Within the region, there are a large number of business representation organisations, so I also speak today on behalf of a number of these, representing in the region of 10,000 businesses and an employee workforce in excess of 200,000. These organisations’ research shows a similar level of support for the second runway at Gatwick as within our organisation.

In our view, an airport brings economic diversity and this is very well evidenced at Gatwick. In terms of our membership, only 12% are in the aviation, airport or tourism related industries. The area boasts many household name companies that choose to be here as a result of the communications (air, rail and road) and skilled people in the region.

The Gatwick Diamond is home to 45,000 businesses with an employee workforce of 400,000, and has six industry sectors which are particularly strong: • Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, • Financial and Professional Services, • Life Sciences, Health Technologies and Medical Devices, • Environmental Technologies • Food and Drink • Aviation, Airport and Tourism One major employer in medical devices, Elekta, has recently committed

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to investing tens of millions into a global centre for research, creating hundreds of high-end manufacturing and research jobs.

The other leading company in this field, Varian, is also based in Crawley. They are both here because Gatwick and the surrounding infrastructure brings them closer to their supply chain and their clients.

“By developing Gatwick, there will be enhanced resilience in the London network with two world class airports where competition means lower costs and higher standards for the customer” There is no question that the second runway will bring an increase in Employment levels, particularly as Gatwick has a real impact on the local economy; 43% of Gatwick’s operational spend is with local suppliers.

There is understandably some concern over how these jobs will be filled.

We have already seen the plans to develop public transport and the road infrastructure around Gatwick, which will allow other areas to rightly benefit.

We can see employment opening up for those who live in disadvantaged areas

along the coast and into London. And while those employees are working here, they will in turn spend money in the local area.

Furthermore, the Gatwick Diamond currently has a daily outflow of 110,000 commuters who work elsewhere. We are sure that a significant proportion of those would rather work locally than have to travel.

I would now like to talk about competition and demonstrate why growing Gatwick is better, not just for the region, but for the country.

One of the key benefits to come out of the sale of Gatwick in 2009 has been the increase in competition on routes.

This can be shown in the price differential achieved between Heathrow and Gatwick on the Moscow Domodedovo route.

A search for a 4-day return direct ticket in early February, with luggage and reserved seats showed £138 from Gatwick versus £1,198 from Heathrow.

As a business person looking for new opportunities, the majority of SMEs will choose the former price.

In a similar search for tickets to San Francisco from Heathrow, there was only a £70 differential between competing airlines at the same airport.

I am not here to attack individual airlines, but to demonstrate that, should the next runway be built at Heathrow, airlines will congregate and there would be less competition; the price of trading internationally will rise.

Creating capacity at Gatwick will also bring better and more affordable connectivity to the regions. Air connectivity to London is vital to those further parts of the country where road and rail travel are impractical and more expensive.

Even at the maximum of £15 per passenger, the relative difference in landing charges means that Gatwick will still be affordable for domestic airlines, and far more affordable than Heathrow.

Resilience In business, it is important to have a capacity to cope, particularly when things go wrong. By expanding Heathrow, the airport capacity will be concentrated in one place. By developing Gatwick, there will be enhanced resilience in the London network with two world class airports where competition means lower costs and higher standards for the customer.

Advert Nov_Layout 1 14/10/2014 12:38 Page 2

in East Sussex Travel costs a hub is diminishing and, with only Travel costs to the departure point 14% of London’s travellers using are of great interest to the business it as a hub, why should aviation (Aas Trifast Company) community, they are to the leisure policy be structured around the traveller. I wouldounded like toinillustrate this office by at convenience of thosecrash few?

However, the DotCom in 2001 a small rented devastated and profits just a few top of Uckfield High that Street in referencing one the of our businesses As I statedsales earlier, thereinare short months, and the two Midlands factories 1973, Mike Timms and Mike Roberts has a French parent and so travel to and questions to be addressed. had to be closed as the focus was intensified established their business after through Paris is becoming a necessary part of working their for Around into Asia. 250 businesses are likely disenchanted a large industrial groupseen in business. Only this year we have to A lose theirofpremises.

We have been change senior management in 2007 Birmingham that restricted their creativity and thewith 2008 the recession resulted in the near Paris back on the Gatwick route map. working airport to address and individualism.

Company, with 2008 revenues Previously, this company had spent thiscollapse and itofisthe encouraging to see that down to £84m with substantial losses, and in They focused on sourcing and selling over £130,000 in travel costs reaching Gatwick is looking to support any March 2009 the two previous retired CEOs industrial fastenings to light assembly (Malcolmthat Diamond andrelocate.

Jim Barker) were Heathrow.industries in the South East at a time when ex business has to invited back by the shareholders to rescue stock deliveries could take as long as three With more routes coupled with We do expect the airport to the business. weeks from the larger industry market the improvements in public transport provide on-campus office and leaders. Their core values were “look By 2010 profitability started to recover, as did access toprofessional, Gatwick, be theprofessional, costs of provide travel other employment space, but there the share price. outstanding service, sell on value rather than to Gatwick are coming down while the will be a question over leasing In 2011 a major automotive bolt the cheapest price, maintain dynamic cash convenient ‘travel to and airport’ footprint is care rates, particularly for some of the and manufacturer was acquired in Malaysia, management motivate and take in May 2014and a leading domestic appliance of your staff”. expanding. warehouse storage businesses that are in the currently safeguarded Affordability land.

The Gatwick option is the most We would encourage the airport to affordable for the country. We also work with local authorities and other speak as taxpayers, and let’s not forget developers to find alternative and that the business community is an affordable sites for those businesses enormous contributor to the Exchequer. as they are an important part of the If there was a simple choice between local economy. a scheme that could cost £billions of There is also a concern on the public money, when a privately funded impact on skills availability. We alternative is available, then it does not can see that there are a number of make sense, especially in these difficult initiatives that should address this times, to pursue the one that will be and look forward to greater detail funded from taxation. should Gatwick be taken forward.

Gatwick has assured us on many As I mentioned earlier, there is a MBE and Jim Barker occasions Malcolm that it isDiamond self-financing good opportunity to change local and that there will be no cost to the people’s commuting habits and so fill into screw business in Italyjobs was brought taxpayer. In 1978, manufacturing of specialist fasteners a number of these from those was started in Uckfield, with subsequent the Group. who already live here. factories established in Northampton and TR’s major customer sectors include Future ofTelford Aviation in the 80’s.

In terms of the construction Automotive, Domestic Appliances, As has been quite clear inTRthe itself, the large new In themade late 80’s, IBM selected as their most workforce Electronics and Distributors – all of which are eligiblefindings, component supplier to be enjoying organic growth.

Commission’s the future of trained in development at Westfield Croydon zero defect/on time deliveries to a new aviation growth is hard to measure. In willInjust finishing as Gatwick’s Junebe 2014, TR announced the best sales, assembly facility that relied on “Just In Time” profits and share price for a decade, 2003, lowdeliveries cost aviation was as line. construction work starts.

Thosenow straight to theirseen production with 1,150 staff spread across 17 countries. led to TR being a a blip, yetSuccessful we nowcompliance see that EasyJet builders, engineers and other Trifast Plc is based in Uckfield and along with single source supplier with IBM, which then and Norwegian carry the vast majority construction professionals could TR’s sales, distribution and manufacturing attracted other major telecoms on site. As the facilities employs 150 staff site of Gatwick passengers, while some1990’s surge then move to theover Gatwick manufacturers to TR. The massive largest local employer, the Company sector carried to a full LSE almost in the electronics Charter airlines are pursuing a low itcost immediately. maintains close links with both the Uckfield listing as a PLC in 1994 named Trifast. model of operation.

Chamber Commerce founder Our final ofquestion is afor the member By 2000, sales turnover of the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex Most interestingly for me,peaked is howat £120m Commission itself, as we can sales, and by 2001 three component (ACES) and the local Community College. business factories travellers that the isimpact ofannual a second hadhave beenincreased established intheir Singapore, see The College the main provider of ‘A’ Malaysiaan andairport Taiwan, with and Level candidates for TR’sWhilst 2 year NVQ use of Gatwick, thatsales used to runway on residents. we Business facilities in Southern Ireland, Studies Apprenticeship scheme. be called distribution a ‘bucket and spade’ airport. fully understand and empathise Norway, Sweden, USA, Holland, Hungary and Despite global uncertainty there is clearly But no longer. years, we with the relatively small number China, In plusonly eightfour around the UK. a feeling amongst TR management and have seenThe anCompany increase where 20% of people that will be affected by had become global by staff that there are grounds for cautious are business travellers, in multinational real UK based following its formerwhich optimism for is theafuture continuing noise, there much, much growth wider customers to lower cost economies of their business as sales for year ended numbers key is now 7.6m. area and population that will benefit March 2015 are forecast to reach overseas – mainly Asia and Central/ The future of Europe. the ‘hub’ model is also economically. £150 million.

Eastern under question as aircraft manufacturer We feel it is important that the order books show a far higher interest in economic impact is taken across an aircraft that will serve two points directly. area measured by a 90 minute travel The idea of London maintaining itself as zone.

TR Fastenings - Best Profits for 10 Years

F

www.acesalliance.org

Chamber News

ACES Battle Chamber of Commerce www.battlechamber.org.uk

Bexhill Chamber of Commerce 01424 842892 www.bexhillchamber.co.uk Crowborough Chamber of Commerce www.crowboroughchamber.co.uk Eastbourne UnLtd Chamber of Commerce 01323 641144 www.eastbournechamber.co.uk East Sussex County Council 01273 481570 www.eastsussex.gov.uk Federation of Small Businesses 01424 754686 and Regional Office 01323 482018 www.fsb.org.uk/eastsussex Hailsham Chamber of Commerce 01323 310531 www.hailshamchamberofcommerce.co.uk

Hastings Chamber of Commerce 01424 205500 www.hastingschamber.co.uk Heathfield Chamber of Commerce 01435 865858 www.heathfieldchamber.co.uk The Institute of Directors 020 7766 8866 www.iod.com Lewes Chamber of Commerce 07917 382316 www.leweschamber.org.uk Locate East Sussex 0844 4159255 www.locateeastsussex.org.uk Newhaven Chamber of Commerce 0800 107 0709 www.newhavenchamber.co.uk Peacehaven Chamber of Commerce 01273 586222 www.peacehavenchamber.co.uk Seaford Chamber of Commerce 0800 881 5331 www.seafordchamber.co.uk South East Local Enterprise Partnership 01245 431469 www.southeastlep.com Uckfield Chamber of Commerce 01825 722607 www.uckfieldchamber.co.uk Wealden District Council 01323 443322 www.wealden.gov.uk

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Test Drive

SBT previews three new cars: the Volvo XC90, the Maserati Ghibli and the Suzuki Vitara

52 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

Motoring

Preview: Volvo XC90

We take an advance look at Volvo’s latest supersized family car

Volvo is safe. It’s the car you dream about COMFORT when you’ve got children, a labrador and a 4-bed house in the suburbs. For years the Swedish manufacturer has built its reputation on safety. It engineers wholesome, sensible cars, but cars that are also undeniably handsome. If they were human, Volvo cars would be 6ft 6 Scandinavian hikers with muscular arms and chiselled jaws.

But they would also be fleece-wearers, partial to a nice cup of tea, a good book and an early night.

The new Volvo XC90 is no exception.

Bigger and chunkier than its popular saloon and estate cousins, the new 7-seater SUV has everything you could want from a premium family car, from mod-con safety features, to comfortable seats and in-car entertainment.

It’s the first Volvo to carry the company’s newly designed iron mark on the grille, which is more prominent than it has been in the past, with the iconic arrow slashing across the front with an air of Nordic confidence. Teamed with the new ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED headlamps (shaped like a hammer lying sideways), and the front of the XC90 makes a surprisingly striking visual impact.

Inside the car, the eye can’t help but be drawn to the giant tablet-like screen at the centre of the dashboard.

This is the control-hub of the car, with touch-screen and voice control freeing up space on the dashboard where physical buttons would have been.

Drivers and passengers can even use the panel to access Internet-based products and services. This includes navigation, online radio, payment for parking, music streaming and the ability to mirror smartphones on-screen. For added efficiency, the screen even lets the driver know when it’s time for a service.

To know if a family car is really up to scratch, it has to be put through the ultimate test: a long journey. Is there going to be enough space for all the children, the dog and everybody’s luggage?

In terms of front seat legroom, the XC90 offers 40.9 inches. Compared to other SUVs - that’s not particularly staggering. For example, the Toyota Sequoia enjoys 42.5 inches of front seat legroom, while the Toyota Highlander has a positively wafty 44.2 inches.

However, the XC90 is far from cramped - and Volvo has actually redesigned its seats to free up space in the second and third rows. The seats themselves have been ergonomically designed to fit the curvature of the human spine, with plenty of adjustment possibilities to fit each person’s individual needs. Even massage. Yes, the Volvo XC90 comes with inbuilt massage seats, introducing a whole new reason to take long car

trips. Small children can take advantage of an integrated child booster cushion in the centre seat, but this is optional.

Long gone are the arguments that ensue when one family member complains about being too hot while the other’s shivering at the back. A fourzone climate system ensures individual settings can be programmed for occupants in the front seats and second row, while a separate unit operates in the third row.

Still, despite the XC90’s modern features – the new model still retains the heart of a Volvo. Its’ safety and support features are second to none, with Volvo describing them as ‘the most comprehensive and technologically sophisticated standard safety package available in the automative industry’.

The car can actually detect what is happening during a collision, ensuring the front safety belts are tightened to keep occupants in position. To help prevent spine injuries, energyabsorbing functionality between the seat and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can arise when the car encounters a hard landing in the terrain. The XC90 is also the first car in the world to automatically brake if the driver turns in front of an oncoming car.

All in all, the XC90 is clever, safe and sensible – but it is also beautiful in a simple sort of way. Classically Volvo.

Price: Ranges from £37,115, to £43,615 depending on variant chosen.

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Motoring

Preview: Maserati Ghibli A quick glance at the sportiest saloon around

The brand new Maserati Ghibli is LUXURY the bigger, smarter, grown-up successor to the V8 grand tourer from ‘67 and the V6 twin-turbo coupe from ‘92. Today, the new-look Ghibli is an executive saloon – an all-Italian design that combines the functionality of a bigger car with clear traces of its sporty ancestry.

The exterior is similar in ways to its 2014 cousin, the Maserati Quattroporte GTS, although it is a foot shorter and more rounded towards the boot end. The Ghibli has the edge on the Quattroporte thanks to its sportier, more contemporary looks – accentuated by the muscular rear mudguards, frameless door windows and twin exhaust tailpipes.

Inside it gets racier, with the ergonomic three-spoke leather-clad steering wheel acting as the control panel for the the car, alongside the 7”

54 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

multimedia display which shows the car’s data and navigation.

A two-tone colour combination on the leather dashboard and seats emphasises the car’s sporty feel, with contrast stitching highlighting the exclusive hand-crafted feel.

FIve passengers can fit comfortably into the car, making it an ideal vehicle for both business and family life.

Underneath the bonnet the Ghibli’s 3 litre Twin Turbo V6 engine is designed to achieve even lower fuel consumption and emissions while still giving the sporty performance Maserati drivers expect. It achieves 330 HP (243 kW) at 5,000 rpm and, when the Sport button is pressed, 500 Nm available at engine speeds from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.

The new model has been awarded two prestigious and internationally recognised ratings for passive safety: five stars EuroNCAP rating and the top safety pick.

Key Stats • Engine speed at max. power output: 5,000 rpm • Peak Torque: 500 Nm • Max speed: 163.4 mph • Boot capacity: 500l • Fuel tank capacity: 80l

Motoring

Preview: Suzuki Vitara A stylish city car that invites drivers to ‘express themselves’

Ever since its market launch in 1988, the Suzuki Vitara series STYLISH has earned acclaim for stylish, city oriented designs, compact, easy to manage dimensions, comfortable on-road performance, and genuine offroad capability. The series has evolved through changes in body size and powertrain. Now, more than 25 years after the original model’s debut, the Vitara heritage is embodied in a fresh sport utility vehicle incarnation. The all-new Vitara has smaller dimensions to meet contemporary needs. It incorporates Suzuki’s cutting-edge ALLGRIP four wheel drive system and advanced safety and connectivity equipment, it also enables owners to express themselves through various personalising options.

The new Vitara will go into production at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary in early 2015, and will then make its

market debut across Europe. It will later be exported around the world as Suzuki’s global compact SUV.

Concept 1. Instantly recognisable Suzuki-SUV looks The new Vitara inherits the styling of its series and Jimny series and brings it up to date in a brand new exterior design.

2. The performance benefits of ALLGRIP and a superior chassis Large diameter wheels and the high ground clearance of an SUV yield plenty of off-road capability. In addition, an ALLGRIP system with four modes that the user can choose to suit the road surface and driving conditions assures great on and off road performance.

3. Personalisation that enables owners to express themselves Owners can combine a range of

exterior and interior items to express their individual personalities.

4. Advanced navigation and safety features An audio system with smartphone connectivity gives access to advanced navigation features (available with higher grades). Furthermore, the Radar Brake Support system (available with certain grades) offers cutting-edge safety by using milliwave radar to prevent or mitigate collisions.

5. Superior fuel economy The new Vitara meets contemporary demand for great fuel economy. Weightsaving measures including extensive use of high-tensile steel making the body outstandingly light and rigid.

Powertrain technologies including a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission also help save fuel. The new Vitara with two-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission has CO2 emissions of just 123g/km.

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Photography by Andrea Allen © (creative commons)

Advertorial

Christmas...

It’s So Last Year

Steve Cropper, MD of Gemini Print reflects on the holiday period that was and the future in store for 2015

“Like rows of patient pigeons all lined up on my desk, window sill and filing cabinet - some with sad curling corners”

It’s January 5, and my first day back at work in 2015. I was one of Looking the lucky ones here Back who had the entire week off. Opening the door of the office, the first thing that hits me is the somewhat tired looking Christmas decorations still decking the halls and walls of the office.

Ahh they are so last year!

Job one - get them packed away immediately. I, for one, am well and truly over Christmas and New Year at this stage. Walking into my own office, I’m confronted with the full season’s range of Christmas cards! It’s like rows of patient pigeons - all lined up on the window sills, filing cabinets, on my desk - some with sad little curling corners now (yes, its

hard being so popular!). Job two, put the cards in the recycling bin. But before I do that, I can’t resist one last look through them, one by one, before I drop them into the basket. I just want to remind myself of who they’re all from, who bothered to scribble a few lines to me and wish me a good 2015. Ah yes, John Peters, Sally Jane, Kate and Shaun, Gerry from the building next door, Joe from one of our top suppliers, … and so on. Ah that’s better – a nice clear office space now.

But it gets me thinking…. It takes a lot of effort to send a Christmas card or any card for that matter. And that’s why when the same question comes up every year – without fail: “Shouldn’t we just send an e-card to everyone?” I’m glad I always say ‘No’. Not just because we’re a printing company but because

Call Gemini on: 01273 464884

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Advertorial

Finely printed invititation

e-cards, e–messages, e-invitations, even e-brochures are just not the same as the real McCoy. They don’t show the same thought, the same kudos, the same effort, the same appreciation, the same love ….and they generally are not revisited and re-read!

Would you revisit, or reread a Christmas e-card in January. Would you even read and save it after you’ve first opened it? Honestly? Of course not!

It’s nice to take that one last look through the cards, to remind myself how popular I am! Joking aside - it’s lovely to remember everyone and what they have done during the past year for you, with you or because of you.

There is something about print that you find hard to ignore. You think before you bin – and, because there’s always, or nearly always, a space on your desk for it – at least for a while!

It’s the same with invitations. There is nothing more lovely than a beautifully designed and finely printed invitation.

Some invites I have received have

fantastic finishes, and the effort put into designing something beautiful to send to someone makes the recipient feel important. Someone had to write your name, put it in an envelope, address it and post it. What an effort – they must really want you to attend. It’s just not the same by email! There is no comparison.

And that’s it really. Great design + great print = impact. Which brings me to our Award for Best Design For Print Award 2015. We’re working with Brighton Fringe to award the best designs for any printed Fringe promotional material.

So any designers, creatives or Fringe participants: get your designs in. All details are on the Brighton Fringe site.

So that was Christmas. The day we planned for, shopped for, stressed about for over three months. And it’s over. We’ve all arrived safely in 2015 and the cards are still here to prove it!

Print is permanent, it requires effort and imagination - it’s a winner. With that thought, I have a spring in my step – it’s good to be in print.

Steve Cropper, MD ofGemini Print

For more information visit: www.gemini-brighton.co.uk, www.gemini-print.co.uk www.gemini-west.co.uk and www.gemini-digitalprint.co.uk

or visit: www.gemini-print.co.uk

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ASK THE

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EXPERTS

WE ASK THE EXPERTS TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

Q

A

How can Christmas affect cash-flow for small businesses?

Tracy Ewen, Managing Director at IGF Group

The Christmas period and the first weeks of January are often a critical time for small businesses – almost as many managing directors, clerical assistants and finance department staff are on holiday at this time as during

Q

A

the summer. As a result, payment due dates slip as cheques aren’t signed and small businesses often experience real problems with cash-flow. Christmas may be the giving season, but don’t expect all of your suppliers to pay on time!”

At this time of year, having access to a flexible level of finance, particularly if it’s linked to the volume of sales, can help many business owners avoid having to resort to costly bank overdrafts to see them through or, worse still, the company credit card, both of which can exacerbate their cash-flow positions in the short term.

The hangover after Christmas could be felt more keenly by many firms if they come back after the break to find that there isn’t sufficient cash-flow in

the business to keep them going until those delayed payments and New Year’s new orders start coming through.”

The problem could have an even greater impact this year as economic growth moves up a gear. The rate of growth expected over the next few months has the potential to make cash-flow shortages this Christmas even more uncomfortable than during the downturn.

0845 601 1316 callmeback@igfgroup.com www.igfgroup.com

What changes did you see in the property market in 2014?

Sarah Edmunds Legal

Last year was an interesting year for us property lawyers. Following the recession, a few measures have been introduced to keep us on our toes, encourage growth of the housing market and make the conveyancing process more accessible.

info@checkaprofessional.com 58 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

We started to see more of our clients utilising the government’s “Help to Buy” scheme, introduced to help first time buyers raise a larger deposit, giving them more mortgage opportunities and at better rates.

However, unfortunately, the lending criteria became far more stringent in 2014, resulting in fewer mortgage products being available and mortgages being made available to fewer people.

We saw some great changes to the National Conveyancing Transaction Protocol, instigated by the Law Society, aimed at making the process of buying and selling property more collaborative and efficient, including the introduction of new Property Information and Fittings and Contents Forms.

In December there was finally a reform Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) – now 98% of people buying property in England and Wales will make a (in some cases substantial) saving. Before the reform, SDLT was calculated at a flat rate on the whole of the purchase price.

Now you will only pay the rate of tax on the part of the property price within each tax band. So, for a purchase price of £270,000.00 you would pay tax of £3,500.00 instead of £8,100.00. Good news for most but you will pay more SDLT if you are buying a property for more than £937,500.00.

Last year was a great start for change in the property market and the way in which properties are bought and sold and there could/should be a lot more to come. We hope to see the property market picking up further in 2015.”

0808 901 9042

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WE ASK THE EXPERTS TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

Q

Why is staff autonomy the key to increased sales?

A

It’s been scientifically proven by the Princeton Neuroscience Institute that the brain hates clutter and complexity. You have to make it simple for customers to do business with you.

Make it easy and not only will they do business with you but they’ll also recommend their family and friends to you; that is how you increase profits and encourage more people to buy your services.

An example of this is Radisson Blu Hotels. Their ‘Yes I Can!’ policy for the staff ensures that all front line staff are given the autonomy to give a 100% positive experience to their guests.

It’s important to put policies and

procedures in place for your employees to deliver great customer experience.

For example, let’s look at invoicing. By using an online invoicing/book keeping system and giving the relevant people within the team access to certain areas of the system, they can easily see if an invoice has been paid. So if a customer calls, they can access the necessary information, feedback to the customer, and even re-send the invoice if necessary.

This improves the experience for the customer because you are waiting for them to see if they’ve received it – and taking the necessary action if they don’t.

It also works well for the company using the system as it saves time, and makes it easier for the staff to complete their work.

Employee empowerment and autonomy is vital if you want to ensure customer experiences are delivered at a high level.

Many SME’s do not think about the policies and procedures that have been created and how they impact on the customer, and many do not take time to check if there is anything that is causing a negative experience.

And it’s not just the customers you are

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upsetting, in my experience employees are also frustrated by this. They feel they have no control over the policy but nevertheless are left dealing with the fall-out from customers who are unhappy about their experience.

Your employees are your most valuable asset. Not only can they help you grow your business by giving customers a great experience that leads to referrals and recommendations, they also often have firsthand experience in dealing with customer enquiries; so they know what works and what doesn’t, and they know where the ‘problems’ are that can negatively impact upon their ability to deliver great customer care.

So take a look at your policies and procedures – do they help or hinder the customer experience? Ask you employees for their feedback. Actively encourage front-line staff to tell you about their own experiences of dealing with customers and ask them how it can be improved. And most of all, give them autonomy to make the decisions needed to deliver a positively memorable customer experience.

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It’s DIrty BusIness – But It Pays

We speak with Jason Fry, MD of PaV It about why agile working is the future of business

Managing Director of Fresh Cleaning Services LTD explains how a few careful tactics turned his small corporate cleaning business into a growing success - Turn to page 31 to find out more

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ADVERTORIAL

www.kssairambulance.org.uk juliec@kssairambulance.org.uk 01622 833833

Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance For many years the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance has been saving lives and helping people who are seriously ill or injured. And this year (2015) the charity celebrates a significant anniversary, its Silver Jubilee.

The charity was established 25 years ago in Kent by Kate Chivers and over the years has developed to provide world class pre-hospital medical care across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In effect, they take A&E directly to the scene of medical emergencies.

In 2013, the charity became the first and remains the only air ambulance in the country to provide a 24-hour Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) responding to an average of between 1-2 calls a night in addition to the 4-6 calls they respond to by day.

About 42% of the incidents attended by the air ambulance are road traffic crashes; 15% are medical emergencies; 15% are falls and 10% are sporting related injuries. However, the medical team can be called out to a wide range

of trauma and medical incidents day and night.

The team deliver enhanced medical skills directly to the scene, which may include clinical procedures and blood transfusions, before the patient is transported to the most appropriate hospital for their needs.

All this costs money, currently about £6.5 million a year, and almost all of this is raised through the generosity of the public, organisations and businesses across the region.

Corporate support is invaluable in helping to not only raise awareness and funds for the charity, but also support in other ways.

Many businesses choose to support by electing the air ambulance as their chosen charity. One such business is Ansvar Insurance who are based in

East Sussex. They chose to support the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance with a team of their own employees who volunteered to visit the base and help out with the charity’s Christmas draw.

During the charity’s silver anniversary year, a car is being raffled and by the end of 2015, one lucky winner will be able to drive off with a brand new MINI. The car will be exhibited at venues throughout the year or tickets can be bought online at www.raffle.me.uk

To find out more about the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ammbulance visit www.kssairambulance.org.uk or for further information about working with the charity contact Julie Clare at juliec@kssairambulance.org.uk or ring her on 01622 833833

62 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

www.kssairambulance.org.uk

Social

SBT

Society

ARPR team cutting cake

Review 10th Anniversary, New Offices and New Agency Launch

Long established Sussex agency Aneela Rose PR celebrated its 10th anniversary last night at a packed out event in its brand new offices in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

To co-incide with the birthday and office move, Aneela announced the launch of its sister agency Purple Rose Digital – a specialist Social Media company.

The move into The Martlet Heights in Burgess Hill town centre now allows the Roses to fully blossom with the much needed additional floor space. With an expanding team of ambitious Roses, now sevenstrong and new recent client wins, the big decision was taken to move into a more central location to cope with the demands of a growing agency ARPR’s new office is an inspirational haven for big ideas complete with beautifully branded and imposing floor to ceiling pillars. Incorporating two meeting rooms – an executive one which can be used for presentations and training and a Lego room with a post-it note wall to aid creative brainstorming and interactive play! There is also a chill out zone with bean bags, sofas and SMART TV for relaxation and watching movies.

ARPR 10th birthday cake

Alex and Sally Pitt (Tracmaster UK)

Heather Barrie (Harries Coffes), Sandra Kadan (Accelerated Marketing & Mailing), Debbie Silvester (Eckington HR)

Audrey and Becky Simpson

Lisa Hallewll (ARPR designer), Harriette Conroy (ARPR), Jeremy Jalie (Vision Aid Overseas), Aneela Rose, Abi Sen (Senabi)

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Photography by Graham Franks ©

Aneela Rose

Social

Review Tree House Chestnut Snowman Spectacular 2014 Chestnut Tree House’s Snowman Spectacular Ball on Saturday 6 December confirmed its place as the highlight of the Brighton calendar and added to its growing reputation as one of the leading charity events outside London, raising an incredible £415,596 on the night for the Sussex children’s hospice.

Guests were wowed by an exclusive live performance from international singing star, Lulu and her band, who performed her hits – including ‘Shout’ - getting the audience on their feet dancing and singing along.

The 560 guests enjoyed an exclusive evening of magical entertainment in a winter wonderland setting inspired by Raymond Briggs’ iconic Snowman.

Other celebrities at the Snowman Spectacular Ball included DJ, Pat Sharp, back for the second year to play a special set for guests to dance to, TV presenter and Dancing on Ice star, Laura Hamilton, Brighton crime author, Peter James, TV actress and Chestnut Tree House Patron, Julie Graham and footballers Paul Jones (also a Chestnut Tree House Patron) and Kerry Mayo.

The Chestnut Tree House Volunteers

Peter Cornwell with Alice & Lottie Lulu on stage

Thomas Eggar headline sponsor with Lulu

West Sussex Print (sponsor)

Photography by Graham Franks ©

Kerstin Jagfeldt & Guy Clinch

Amber Burns, Hannah Dray & Angela Parker

64 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

Mariles (Lisa) Kelly

Social

Launch of R. L. Austen Jewellers, Chichester

A sparkling welcome from Louise

Richard Austen with store owner Mandy Sargeant

Music from Vaughan Williams String Quartet

Mandy Sargeant with Dave Towers, Gary German and Rob Butcher

Nome Enser and Sean Martin

Sonia and Ray Collins

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Photography by Graham Franks Š

The official opening and ribbon cutting from Richard Austen, Mandy Sargeant and Alan Franks

Raymond and Sheila Parsons celebrating their Diamond Anniversary

Home Grown Hero

Made In Sussex:

Acumen Business Law

M

C2

Penina Shepherd, founder of Acumen Business Law, Hove, tells John Keenan how she broke the mould to start her own firm

Why did you set up Acumen Business Brand Law? Focus I was frustrated with the legal industry.

I read a lot about business. Often my bedtime book will be about business because I’m fascinated with the human side of business, the mind-set of the business leaders, the way they run the business. The world of business has moved on so much and the legal industry was lagging behind.

I had my third child on March 1 2007 and six months later I started the business. My husband is an artist who has his own studio and he is very supportive. Otherwise the children would have starved!

I rented one room in Audely House in Hove. I didn’t have one client but I had a vision. Then the recession hit but I decided not to participate in it. There was still business out there I just had to make sure some of it came my way. I had a fantastic seven years. The FT listed us as one of the most ground breaking and innovative law firms in Europe in 2010. The Observer voted us a UK rising star. We remained profitable through the recession.

What gave you the edge over your competitors?

Our story really helped. When you go to a networking event people will introduce themselves with a list of facts.

You switch off. We had unique story.

Even our name marks us out - we are not called Shepherd Business Law. If you are in an industry where everyone is called by the founder’s name, you should call yourself something different. The fact that we specialised in business was unique.

Other law firms will get you a divorce one

initiative’s which were different. I set up the Acumen Business Club which is in its sixth year now. It has 50 members. It is a confidential forum where they can share issues with each other. Our Acumen Business Convention attracts well-known names every year like Jackie Gold and Levi Roots.

What made you take the step to hire other lawyers?

My average hours were 10 till midnight.

I was doing everything. I was scared to recruit. What if business was slow? But I thought back to my original vision and I didn’t want to be a sole practitioner - so I had to take the risk and employ someone. I asked myself: “What’s the worst that can happen?” I recruited someone who had children and was looking to come back into law on a part time basis and she is still with me. Since then we have gone from strength to strength and in November we opened the Gatwick office. day, they’ll draft you some terms and conditions the next day. It’s like you want a loft conversion - do you get a painter and decorator or a loft specialist?

The second bit was our unique charging system. From the outset we charged fix fees for all non-contentious matters. That was revolutionary. Most clients don’t call the lawyers unless they have to because they will be charged.

And I talk a lot! I wanted to create a business that can form relationships with clients. How can you form a relationship if clients are afraid to call you?

The most important thing is the culture and ethos of the law firm. We don’t have secretaries. All our business cards are direct dial. I want the firm to look, feel and smell like a business.

I decided to engage in businesses

What is the difference between opening the new office in Gatwick and starting out?

I have a recognised brand behind me now. I am not on my own. A big difference is the economic climate so much better. We had a fantastic launch with 270 people. Most law firm networking events can be a bit dull. Our opening party featured a Zebra-themed dance performance. All guests were greeted with a glass of champagne on arrival together with an Acumen cash card worth £300.00 to use on legal fees.

The launch is the first step in many more that we need to take to form and grow the Acumen Family in Gatwick as we have done in Brighton and Hove. I know that we will give it our all to make it a success.

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