Sussex Business Times - Issue 403 2016

SBT SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING WHAT WAS THE CLIMATE LIKE BEFORE BREXIT, AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE?

WELCOME THERESA MAY!

SBT LOOKS AT THERESA MAY’S POLITICAL BACKGROUND, ADDRESSING SOME OF HER DECISIONS THUS FAR

+

MOTORING: WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE INFINITY Q30

FRED THOMAS OF BUSINESS EAST SUSSEX:

SUPPORTING BETTER BUSINESS SUSSEX BUSINESSES TIMES GOT IN TOUCH WITH FRED THOMAS, BUSINESS SUPPORT NAVIGATOR FOR BUSINESS EAST SUSSEX, TO DISCUSS WHAT IT IS THEY DO FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN EAST SUSSEX, AND TO PICK UP ON SOME OF THAT INVALUABLE ADVICE FOR OUR READERS

SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

ISSUE 403

FREE

Open Day 24 September 2016

HURSTPIERPOINT COLLEGE

hppc.co.uk Admissions: 01273 836936 or registrar@hppc.co.uk

2 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

HurstCollege_SBT_Sept2016_aw.indd 1

26/07/2016 14:29

016 14:29

SBTWelcome MEET THE TEAM

Lee Mansfield, Managing Director/ Publisher

Simon Skinner, Clare Fermor, Group Director/Editor Operation Director

Jenny Ardagh, Deputy Editor

Thomas Allen, Features Editor

Jess Saunders, Features Editor

Lou Dobson, Sales

Elliott Mansfield, Sales

Geoff Diamond, Sales

Harriet Weston, Production Manager

Amy Watson, Amelia Wellings, Production Designer Financial Controller

CONTRIBUTORS

Neil Taylor, Sales and Marketing Director at Admiral Security

David Mellor, Business Mentor

Glen Foster, Head of Partner Channel at Xero

We’ve had our token British summer – more than one day of sun is good enough for us – and the turmoil that came from our vote to leave the EU seems to have calmed down. For now.

This month, we take the Brexit focus to one of the most vital industries to our global economic growth: manufacturing. We look at the previous year’s climate in the manufacturing industry and compare to now, speculating over the impact of Brexit.

With our generation-changing news, we also welcome in a new Prime Minister (some may welcome less than others), who has made her mark on politics and the country with her stern words and bold actions. Some, or one of her appointments may have come as a shock to us all, with Boris Johnson taking the post as Foreign Secretary, and her stance on Trident has caused media waves.

Having been born and bred in our sunshine town of Eastbourne, East Sussex, we look at her past, her present and what she hopes to bring to the future of a post-Brexit UK. There has been a lot going on in the entrepreneurial community in Brighton this month, with Opportunity Knocks and the Entrepreneurial Spark Awards. We have been following ESpark very closely for over a year now, so we were glad to attend the awards ceremony and celebrate with the Chiclets. See pages 26 – 28 for an overview of events last month.

We’ve got some good and informative reading in both our health and finance sections. SBT looks into how pregnancy can become more of a curse in business than a blessing for some women, what their rights are as employees and how employers should be dealing with the non-issue. Our finance section underlines some of the most important factors in debt recovery and what barriers businesses face when recovering invoices.

Elsewhere, we have our usual Ask the Expert section, Made in Sussex, motoring, lunch and hotel reviews.

Michael Dent, Managing Director, Inprova Energy

Christina Ewbank, ACES Facilitator

Fred Thomas, Business Support Navigator, Business East Sussex

Happy reading!

Jenny Ardagh Deputy Editor

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 3

SBTContents

Issue 403

SBT

ISSUE 403

FREE

SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING WHAT WAS THE CLIMATE LIKE BEFORE BREXIT, AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE?

WELCOME THERESA MAY!

SBT LOOKS AT THERESA MAY’S POLITICAL BACKGROUND, ADDRESSING SOME OF HER DECISIONS THUS FAR

+

MOTORING: WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE INFINITY Q30

FRED THOMAS OF BUSINESS EAST SUSSEX:

SUPPORTING BETTER BUSINESS SUSSEX BUSINESSES TIMES GOT IN TOUCH WITH FRED THOMAS, BUSINESS SUPPORT NAVIGATOR FOR BUSINESS EAST SUSSEX, TO DISCUSS WHAT IT IS THEY DO FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN EAST SUSSEX, AND TO PICK UP ON SOME OF THAT INVALUABLE ADVICE FOR OUR READERS

SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

Cover: Fred Thomas, Business Support Navigator, Business East Sussex www.businesseastsussex.org.uk Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 007 Group Director/Editor: Simon Skinner simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 017 Operations Director: Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 007 Sales: Lou Dobson lou@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 007 Elliott Mansfield elliott@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 012 Geoff Diamond geoff@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 013 Deputy Editor: Jenny Ardagh jenny@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 011 Features Editor: Jess Saunders jess@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819019 Production Manager: Harriet Weston harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 010 Production Designer: Amy Watson amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 018 Subscriptions: Linda Grace linda@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 015 Accounts: Amelia Wellings amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 007 Published by Life Media Group, Unit1, Swan Barn Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, Hailsham, BN27 2BY Printed by Berforts 17 Burgess Road, Ivyhouse Lane Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 4NR 01424 722733 www.berforts.co.uk 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 2016 ©

4 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

06 12 14 17 23 26 38 42 46 48 56 62 66

News

View the latest local and national business headlines.

Debt Recovery

What are the barriers to your debt and invoice recovery and how is it possible for this to get so out of hand?

Spending it

Make your working life easier and tidier with SBT’s selection of must-have office accessories, including some high-tech additions and some other slightly upgraded classics.

The Future of Manufacturing

What was the climate like before Brexit, and how will it affect the future of the industry as a whole?

Welcome Theresa May!

SBT looks at Theresa May’s political background, addressing some of her decisions thus far and her future plans for the country.

Opportunity Knocks & Entrepreneurial Spark

SBT attends the the Opportunity Knocks event as well as the Entrepreneurial Spark program Awards evening.

Cover Feature: Business East Sussex

Sussex Businesses Times got in touch with Fred Thomas, Business Support Navigator for Business East Sussex, to discuss what it is they do for the business community in East Sussex.

Health

We take a look at women’s rights and the topic of pregnancy at work, along with the frequent problems and unanswered questions pregnant women face during their every day jobs.

Charity

Working with the best people can ensure that you get ahead.

So, what effects can be achieved when these skills are put to use for the force of good?

Tried and Tested in Sussex

Jess Saunders takes a trip to Brighton to enjoy lunch at Mojo Coffee House, while Jenny Ardagh stays at the Hotel Du Vin for a one night break in the historic Brighton Lanes.

Motoring Simon Skinner reviews the Infinity Q30, plus all the latest motoring news.

Ask the Experts

Local Sussex business experts advise on relevant issues.

Made in Sussex This month’s home grown hero is Argyll Environmental.

3

Bookings in your pocket Download our new free app and get all of our meeting rooms at your fingertips!

FREE TEA & COFFEE

FOR EVERY BOOKING MADE VIA THE APP DURING APRIL,MAY & JUNE* Through our app you will be able to book meeting rooms in all of our 31 Centres. Using the apps simple interface you can choose a location, date and time and we’ll do the rest.

Download today!

• Book meeting rooms • Find Basepoint events • Workspace calculator • Location maps and directions

Available on iOS & Android devices

*Terms and conditions apply and are available online at basepoint.co.uk/offers.

Crawley

Haywards Heath

Newhaven

Shoreham

01293 817721

01444 849250

01273 615090

01273 467585

basepoint.co.uk basepoint.co.uk

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 5

SBTLocal News Wave Leisure Scoops Best Employer Award

Heritage Trust Sing Praises of Ellis After Church Restoration

Wave Leisure Trust, the charity and social enterprise which promotes wellbeing, fitness and healthy lifestyles across East Sussex has just been named ‘Best Employer’ in the 2016 Lewes District Business Awards, held at Lewes Town Hall with over 200 of the District’s leading business people, sponsors and judges in attendance. Duncan Kerr, CEO of Wave Leisure, explained how the award was the result of the Trust’s commitment to their ‘Passionate about People’ strategy and continued engagement with its staff and partners along with their shared passion for using activity to help people overcome challenging situations, saying: “I’m so proud to accept this award on behalf of Wave; it’s a huge honour to be recognised as the ‘Best Employer’ in the Lewes District.”

Ellis was highly commended at the Sussex Heritage Trust Awards for their work at St Mary the Virgin Church in Old Town. The building is a 12th century Grade I church and demands only the most specialised care and repair.

Larry Patching, who led the team from Ellis, said: “We had to ensure the work carried out remained in keeping with all of the original church features.

Various specialists were employed on site, who have been making and restoring clocks all over the world since 1844.”

Two new metal handrails were installed in the south porch in the style of a bishop’s crook to improve accessibility into the church, which

Cooking Fit for a Princess; Steamer Trading Equip Top Chefs

Steamer Trading are proud to have been involved in a Royal Fundraising Gala at Houghton Hall, hosted by The Duchess of Cambridge. The party was in aid of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice, the charity which Kate became a patron of in 2012. Steamer Trading provided much of the cooking equipment which was used by the five top chefs to prepare a special meal for Kate, William and 80 guests.

A special five course meal was created and cooked by Michelin starred chefs who were presented with a beautifully crafted, bespoke Yaxell Super Gou knife, engraved with a Japanese translation of their name.

6 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

the judges described as, ‘imaginatively designed and blended in extremely well’.

The church remained open throughout the project and disruption was kept to a minimum to allow scheduled services (weddings and funerals) to take place, including concealing the scaffolding.

Midnight’s MD Elected to Board of International PR Network The Managing Director of PR agency, Midnight Communications, Caraline Brown has been elected to the board of PR Boutiques International (PRBI) - a global network of 38 boutique firms in 12 countries. Midnight is the UK representative.

Caraline Brown said: “PR Boutiques International enables Midnight to offer its clients a truly international network of like-minded agencies that we can send

into action at very short notice. I am delighted to represent the UK and to have been elected to the board by my colleagues overseas.

PRBI is a growing, exciting organisation, having added three new members – from Southern California and Tokyo – in just the first half of 2016.

I look forward to serving on the board as it celebrates its tenth year.”

PRBI’s annual meeting will be held in June 2017 in Berlin, Germany.

Sussex Vehicle Specialists, OSV LTD, Announce New Improved Website Strong sales at OSV LTD over the years has led to a company expansion, new premises, and four new members of staff joining the team. To say thank you to their customers the brand have recently invested in a serious overhaul of their website and online services, with the aim of providing a one-stopvehicle-information-shop to make the car purchasing and hiring process simpler.

The new OSV website features a complete vehicle resource centre with videos, articles and ebooks, downloadable guides and searchable content, which will be continuously

updated with the very latest information.

The site will also provide an up-to-date list of every new car available within the UK, with a fresh new design, a revamped newsletter, and up to the minute pricing details.

Visit: www.osv.ltd.uk

SBTLocal News SMEs in South East to Benefit from Free Cyber Security Advice Over 500 SMEs in the South East will benefit from free cyber security advice.

Cyber attacks are one of the biggest threats facing businesses in the UK, with the economy losing £20 billion per year to security breaches.

Organised by Sussex based IT service provider PAV i.t. Services LTD, the businesses will each receive a free 16 page advice booklet providing the essentials and best practice protocol to review their existing security procedures.

Jason Fry, Managing Director at PAV I.T. services, said: “The advice booklets are essential reading for any business that needs to know more about cyber security and how to implement policy.

We urge companies to read the booklets and seek professional advice.

Businesses will also be able to download a free digital version of the booklet by visiting www.pav.co.uk/cybersecurity

Midnight Makes Final of Leading Regional PR Awards Midnight Communications has been shortlisted for the best Corporate and Business Communications Campaign in the forthcoming CIPR PRide Awards 2016.

The consultancy has been recognised for its outstanding work in the South of England and Channel Islands region for its work with law firm Thomas Eggar.

The campaign secured nearly 350 items of coverage in the past year – a 20% increase on the previous year - delivering a potential audience reach of over 866m.

“We’ve been proud B2B specialists for 21 years and this announcement is the icing on the cake!” said Managing Director, Caraline Brown.

The CIPR PRide Awards recognises the outstanding talents and achievements of public relations practitioners across the UK’s regions and nations. They are the most prestigious and rigorously judged awards of their kind.

For further information, please visit www.midnight.co.uk

Caroline Ansell Becomes Chair of Influential Backbench Education Committee

Eastbourne and Willingdon MP, Caroline Ansell has become chair of an influential Conservative backbench committee tasked with looking at education policy.

The 1922 Education Committee will act as a conduit between MPs and the new Education Minister, Justine Greening to advise and formulate manifesto pledges for the next General Election.

Former teacher, Caroline, said: “This appointment is a great honour and I intend to bring my experience to bear to help formulate policy that will improve standards in education but also acknowledge and do more to help teachers who are rightly concerned about workload.

“I will be meeting with the Education Minister very soon to discuss these issues. Justine knows Eastbourne after visiting Ocklynge Junior School last year when she was international development secretary and I know she is passionate about education.”

New Arrival Injects Over 20 Years Planning Experience to Vail Williams’ Crawley Office Suzanne Holloway joins the Gatwick regional team as an Associate in the company’s planning discipline, assisting in regional business development, planning advice and site assessments for land supply.

Suzanne brings a total of 22 years planning experience to the Crawley team, with 21 of those years spent with the local government facilitating a range of developments predominately for strategic

commercial property developers.

She has previously worked in regeneration and development facilitation and, for the last 10 years, Suzanne has worked alongside policy development projects.

She gained this invaluable experience at Crawley

Borough Council as a Principle Planning Officer before joining the Vail Williams team.

Peter Sudworth, Regional Managing Partner at Crawley said: “We’re really pleased Suzanne will be joining our team. Her experience is broad and will benefit us and our clients greatly.”

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 7

SBTNational News BT to Improve on Broadband Quality & Give More Control to Openreach

Plan of Action to To Kick-start UK’s Shopping OnNeeded Mobile Top £53bn Stuttering By 2024 Economy

BT is giving more control to its Openreach network division to have more of a say over investment. Rival telecommunication providers who are relying on BT Internet’s network systems have accused the national holding company of not investing enough money and, therefore, providing consumers with a poor quality of service. This has caused regulator, Ofcom to threaten its break up unless they decide to improve broadband access throughout the country. Businesses and homeowners everywhere have had ongoing problems with BT and have been unable to rely on secure and trustworthy Internet connection.

The UK economy was already showing signs of slowing ahead of the EU referendum, according to the latest Business Trends Report. This month’s report reveals that the rising uncertainty ahead of Brexit dragged business output and business optimism to a threeyear low for the second month in a row.

David Eagle, Partner at BDO LLP, said: “We are at a crucial moment where we must be sensible in protecting the UK economy. We need

Look out for ATM Fraud

According to Financial Fraud Action UK, fraud at ATMs has risen to £32.7 million in the last year and now Brits are being warned to ‘be fraud smart’ as a new wave of cash machine scams are sweeping the nation.

Barclays have recently released a video to the nation in a bid to raise awareness of this issue, showing a woman watching a man at a cashpoint enter his private pin number. In a bid to distract the man, she drops some money and, while he turns around to help her, her ‘team mate’ who can be seen on the next cash machine, swaps the man’s card with a fake one. The oblivious man then walks off with his fake card and money, meaning the thieves are successful.

a plan of action now that gives businesses the added confidence to progress with investment plans.”

As a way of reassuring UK businesses, BDO proposes that the government acts fast to input a three point plan to stabilise the economy and position us for growth: 1. Encourage prosperity in the manufacturing regions 2. Solve the productivity puzzle 3. Inject more cash into the economy For more information, contact David Eagle at david.eagle@bdo.co.uk or call 01293 848950

Businesses Could Face Huge Foreign Worker Recruitment Charge Brexit has prompted a surge in enquiries to immigration lawyers with businesses concerned for their future weeks on from the EU Referendum.

Simpson Millar’s Head of Immigration Emma Brooksbank reported a huge rise in calls from EU migrants hoping to secure permanent residence and a similar surge in enquiries from businesses employing foreign workers who face a new tariff as the UK exits the EU. Emma warns the bill for recruiting employees from overseas could hit a

record £2,675 – or more. She said: “When you add up the sums, the immediate cost of taking on an overseas worker could soon be £3,250 per employee or more – and that doesn’t even take into account the cost of recruitment, legal fees and regulatory administrative costs.”

The Immigration section on Simpson Millar’s website has seen a 1,100% increase in enquiries since the Brexit vote was announced, driven by a 290% increase in unique visitors.

FSB Responds To Record Strength In Job Market The latest UK jobs numbers show unemployment falling to 1.65 million, down by 54,000 from the previous period, with the unemployment rate now at 4.9%. Wage growth has risen slightly - with average earnings, including bonuses, up by 2.3%. However, with the figures collected before the EU referendum result, many business owners are

8 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

cautious about the future health of the economy.

The latest Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Small Business Index, also taken before the referendum, revealed small business confidence at a four year low following the largest annual drop in the Index since it started in 2010.

Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said: “Small businesses are already

dealing with considerable new cost challenges, including the National Living Wage and pensions auto-enrolment deadlines. With the result of the EU referendum bringing even greater uncertainty about the future – small business will need reassurances from Government that it will support them and listen to their needs throughout the coming negotiations.”

Do you subcontract out your expertise to help others improve their offering?

Great withfor R&D You do.taste What of dosuccess you get back that?

Tax Relief for brewers of craft beers Think of the BBC’s MasterChef...

It’sDozens not just technology manufacturing of skilled chefs, and restauranteurs and companies food critics arefor subcontracted temporarily that can apply R&D Tax Relief.

Entrepreneurial to the BBC each season MasterChef.of pounds brewers canfor now claim backofthousands These experts pool their knowledge against costs connected with research and development togetherBrewing to help develop new talent, industry with projects. is a competitive which amateur cooks emerging from the process, constantly has to address the public’s thirst for new better equipped to deliver a consistently avours and products. In an environment like this, high quality product, tailored to best opportunities to research rawofingredients and try out new address the tastes and needs today’s production methods and taste combinations are almost marketplace. inexhaustible.

The experts obtain extra credit for their contribution, whether that be via

The Hackney Brewery is another good example of a business that could examine recouping costs for R&D. Brewers Tristram Stuart and Jon Swain spent time developing Toast Ale. They source left over fresh bread from artisan bakeries, then slice, toast and mash it, adding the breadcrumbs to malted barley, a mixture of hops, yeast and water. Prots from the sale of the ale, which is stocked in a number of different outlets in the UK, go to Feedback, an environmental organisation that campaigns to end food waste.

an increase in clientele, furtherTax media Simon Bulteel, from Cooden Consulting, is an R&D Inventive brewers can contact Simon at Cooden Tax opportunities or an enhanced reputation in how this tax tax relief specialist.

He recently discussed Consulting for R&D Tax Relief advice the industry; all of which, supported the sizes with relief can be applied to brewers of by various (www.coodentaxconsulting.co.uk). He works directly with provision of a cash injection, enable them Craft Beer World. The Charles Wells Brewery in Bedford businesses, as well as via Accountants, Solicitors and to further progress their own careers or represent your business in sifting out the to comply with regulatory procedures, are a wonderful example of precisely the sort of project Patent Attorneys. Simon will ascertain if you are eligible businesses. relevant information to help you submit particularly in the latter case, in the thatWhen couldconsidering qualify for subcontracted R&D Tax Relief.

Masterfinance Brewer for this specic taxa relief undertake thethe claim work strongand application under R&D Tax industry.

Chris Read spent “…a lot of time researching brewing process for you.

He is currently processing a for a in more precise business terms, which may Relief scheme RDEC. Think of claim us as the Are you engaged in that type of archives, looking for traditional malt and hop recipes and hop processor that also manufactures hop products or may not relate directly to the Food and icing on the cake, adding that touch offor subcontracted work? HMRC Tax working out how best to evolve them for modern tastes”. the brewing industry.

Cooden Catering Industry, a parallel can be drawn sweetness toConsulting your perfecthas blend of tasty Relief for applications submitted with small scale, specialist companies and innovative by subcontracted businesses He then went on to the development work with his raw successfully helped businessesingredients. with claims between £3k working in the providing If you are a business MasterChef, we under Research and Development ingredients andtechnology “arrived atsector; a blend of Galaxy, Simcoe and £300k. their expertise to larger businesses to can help you win your just desserts.

Expenditure Credit (RDEC), is currently and Goldings Hops, alongside various lighter malts, to develop online processes in order to 11% of defined R&D associated costs.

Which business owner wouldn’t raise a glass to that? create a traditionally bitter and hoppy IPA with a soft, modernise, streamline and improve their At Cooden Tax Consulting our own modern, tropical  avour.” clients offering to the public, or perhaps www.coodentaxconsulting.co.uk expertise enables us to successfully

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT TAX RELIEF SPECIALISTS RAISE A GLASS TO SPENT £50K ON SUBCONTRACTED PROJECTS? CASHR&D BACK FROM HMRC TALK TO US ABOUT R&D TAX RELIEF Call COODEN TAX CONSULTING NOW!

100% Success No Claim, No Fee Call us on: 01424 225 345

@CoodenConsults

Office 10

Charter House

email us on: info@coodentaxconsulting.co.uk

www.coodentaxconsulting.co.uk www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

43 St Leonards Road

Bexhill on Sea

East Sussex TN40 1JA

9

Platinu

Local Virgin VOOM Semi-Finalist

A local Brighton-based music entrepreneur who made it to the semi-finals of Richard Branson’s VOOM 2016 competition is pledging to disrupt the traditional record label model by discovering and developing musicians through video content Harriet JordanWrench, a 31 year old entrepreneur Entrepreneur from Brighton, recently beat thousands of entrants in an impressive feat to make it through to the final 40 of the Virgin Media Business VOOM competition. Thanks to this platform and support from Good Story charity, it is now looking to take her business to the next stage of growth.

After previously working with top industry names, including Ed Sheeran and Jessie J, Harriet launched Secret Sessions on YouTube five years ago, giving filming opportunities to upcoming artists.

After identifying that the music industry is making it harder for artists to earn money, Harriet’s business aims to provide musicians with brand partnerships through video content and live shows, improving their chances of success.

Two years ago, Harriet approached Good Story, a Suffolk based charity that helps ambitious entrepreneurs with funding and mentoring. Now, after receiving investment to launch a new website, Harriet has launched Artist Accelerator, which allows artists to upload content and interact directly with fans. Artists also have the chance to win investment from brands including The Hospital Club.

Harriet, who has already been approached by a number of investors during the VOOM process, which included pitches, a public vote and a 29-hour Pitchathon to find Britain’s brightest business, commented:

10 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

“Becoming a semi-finalist has really benefited my business as it has been a great experience to work through the structure of putting a five-year business forecast together.

I’ve already been approached by investors which is fantastic and the new website has proven a hit with over 300 artists already signed up and 10,000 music fans visiting the site.”

Malcolm McAllister, Chairman of Good Story, who helps mentor

Harriet, is looking forward to where Harriet’s business will take her after this exposure, adding: “Everyone at Good Story is incredibly proud not only of Harriet, but also how we have helped her take Secret Sessions from an idea in her head to the current website. We think big things lie ahead for Secret Sessions as Harriet is really passionate about supporting upcoming musical talent. We are delighted that our charity could be a part of Harriet’s journey too.”

Platinum_visitor_Layout 1 26/07/2016 13:06 Page 1

HASTINGS EXPO 2016

THE NO.1 B2B SHOW RETURNS TO

THE HASTINGS CENTRE THURSDAY 29 SEPT 10AM-4PM WITH A SPECIAL THEME TO CELEBRATE THE 1066 BATTLE! TO REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE VISITOR ENTRY GO TO WWW.LETSDOBUSINESS.ORG/HASTINGS

A Growth Engine for the UK

With Reggae Reggae Sauce’s

Levi Roots Our special guest speaker

TWO FREE GOOGLE SEMINARS SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER SPEED NETWORKING EVENT

LET’SDO BUSINESS B2B EXHIBITIONS 2016

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 11

Money Matters

Show Me The Money What are the barriers to your debt and invoice recovery and how is it possible for this to get so out of hand? SBT’s Jess Saunders caught up with Alan Wood from professional certificated provider of enforcement services, (or if you’d prefer, Bailiffs) Penham Excel who took us through the idea that we can all work smarter to be paid what’s due to us Unless you are one of those rare businesses that take its payment Finance up front for your product or service, you are likely to have had an unpaid bill or invoice at some point. Maintaining good cash flow is a real challenge for almost every single business out there, but is also absolutely essential for future growth and success.

The job of recovering unpaid invoices typically sends most people in to a cold sweat and invariably gets pushed down the ‘to do’ list. It’s something that gets relegated to the ‘may do if I find time’ list, ultimately finding itself failing to make it on to any list at all, so is forgotten completely.

Jess Saunders: So, Alan, why is recovering unpaid invoices such a chore and what are the barriers?

Alan Wood: One of the main reasons for failing to pursue an unpaid invoice is a lack of resources or suitably trained staff to deal with this task. I frequently see this job being passed down to a secretary or receptionist who has been offered little or no training and typically does not have any background in debt

12 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

recovery or speaking to customers in this regard. The job of debt recovery requires a certain set of skills and a junior member of staff may simply make a quick phone call or send a standard letter, which might not be enough to provoke payment.

Another main reason debt recovery is overlooked is the fear of losing a customer or having that customer bad-mouthing your reputation.

Far too many companies fail to understand how effective a good debt recovery procedure is for your cash flow, reducing stress and only resulting in a loss of a customer when you decide. Everybody has to reach a point where you draw a line in the sand and say future business with this company or individual is too risky. It is important that, within your debt recovery procedure, your staff understand what that trigger point is.

JS: What is a good debt recovery procedure then?

AW: The first and most important thing to consider is the accuracy of the customer information. When setting up an account or starting a quote for a job, think of what information you might need at the end of the process should they decide not to pay.

This might sound obvious, but include details such as: • Full postal address including unit or house number • Full name(s) of those who are being billed • Senior personnel not just a company name • Landline, mobile phone numbers and email addresses • Date of birth (if appropriate) and if you can’t obtain a date of birth, a rough age can be really helpful

“Far too many companies fail to understand how effective a good debt recovery procedure is for your cash flow, reducing stress and only resulting in a loss of a customer when you decide”

Money Matters

when trying to trace someone where father and son have the same name (for example).

Depending on the type of credit being offered, you might want to run some of your own checks as to their ability to pay, or some sort of address verification. Of course, this is something that we might be able to help you with.

One of the biggest and most frequent issues when recovering unpaid invoices is a lack of communication much earlier in the process. I have been amazed over the years how many companies fail to set out their payment terms at the point of sale or quotation. A customer will always think they have 30 days plus, but a kitchen fitter (for example) might, and usually does if independent, expect payment on completion of the job. This misunderstanding is often the flash point for what turns in to a breakdown in customer relationships and potentially non-payment.

Establishing a procedure is simple enough, you need to allow for an escalation from ‘gentle reminder’ to ‘final notice before court action’ and set out how many letters you feel are appropriate.

Will you supplement these letters with text messages and emails? Both of which are rapidly becoming an essential part of any debt recovery process. Over what period are you prepared to send these forms of communication before passing it to your solicitor or an enforcement agent?

Sending random letters with vague threats of further action will prod the odd person into paying, but to encourage payment from a more hardened nonpayer, they will have learned that these are typically empty threats and, in my experience, they generally won’t pay until

a third party specialist is involved. Much of this is down to client relationships; you spend a lot of time and, sometimes money, building client relationships and your late or non-payers will play on that relationship giving never-ending excuses and promises to pay.

Create an effective debt recovery procedure tailored to your exacting needs and stick to it!

JS: And if someone were to take this to court, would it cost the earth?

AW: The judicial process in this country is pretty straight forward, so long as you can demonstrate the debtor has been given sufficient time and notification to pay their debt. You can do this yourself via Money Claim Online (www. moneyclaim.gov.uk) or via your preferred solicitor, who would obtain a County Court Judgement (CCJ). Both options are quite straight-forward. Court papers are then issued to your customer and they will have 28 days to pay; or they get a chance to stand in front of a judge and present their case. If, after this, the judge is satisfied that your debt is due and the debtor has still not paid, a CCJ is awarded and you can then instruct a County Court enforcement agent, or for a small court fee, and transfer the case to a High Court Enforcement Agent.

They are likely to attend quicker and, in my experience, be more proactive as well as having access to software for tracing, address verification, asset checking and investigation work if needed.

JS: Isn’t that a little heavy handed?

AW: Well, since April 2014 all enforcement action now comes under the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2014 and requires a Notice of Enforcement letter to be issued to the debtor, thus giving them 7 clear days to contact the Enforcement Agent with an offer to pay, or with any potential vulnerability before the enforcement agent attends. These 7 days do not include the day of posting, the day of delivery or bank holidays so in reality it is 10 days+ before any door step enforcement action can commence.

JS: Thank you for your time, Alan – there’s some great advice there.

If you need help setting up your own debt and invoice recovery procedure or would like to know more about the best debt recovery solution for your business, Alan and his team offer a free, no obligation consultation with free training.

Contact: alan.wood@penhamexcel.co.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 13

Work It!

Make your working life easier and tidier with SBT’s selection of must-have office accessories, including some high-tech additions and some other slightly upgraded classics MACBOOK The thinnest and lightest Mac ever with every component meticulously redesigned to create a Mac that is just two pounds and 13.1 mm thin. The new MacBook features a stunning 12-inch Retina display that is the thinnest ever on a Mac, an Apple-designed full-size keyboard which is dramatically thinner and highly responsive, the all-new Force Touch trackpad that brings a new dimension of interactivity to the Mac, an incredibly compact USB-C port for data transfer, video out and charging in a single connector, and a new battery design that maximizes every millimeter of space to deliver all day battery life. From £1,049. www.apple.com

WACOM BAMBOO SPARK This smart folio allows people to take handwritten notes to capture, shape and share ideas. Once written on the notepad in Bamboo Spark, no idea is ever lost. With the push of a button, Wacom’s new product synchronises what has been written or sketched on the paper to the Wacom Cloud, storing it for later refinement. The Bamboo Spark can also convert handwriting to text. £119.99. www.wacom.com

‘ARTVERUM’ ABSTRACT DESIGN GLASS BOARDS Magnetic glass board with concealed fixings, for use with super-strong magnets and/or liquid ink chalk markers. A truly stylsih addition to any workspace. Choice of 2 sizes; 48x48cm and 91x46cm. Stands 15mm off the wall. £67.80. www.boardsdirect.co.uk

14 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

EPSON WF-3640 This Wi-Fi and Ethernet 4-in-1 printer features fast business-quality printing at up to 19ppm1 and two 250-sheet front-loading paper trays for increased productivity in the office. The 8.8cm touch-screen and intuitive control panel deliver easy menu navigation. This multifunction printer is the ideal way to increase productivity and reduce your printing costs. £229.99. www.epson.co.uk

PEERLESS SPECIAL EDITION COLLECTION OF FINE WRITING INSTRUMENTS NEW YORK This pen has been etched with architectural detail reflecting aspects of NYC’s famous Art Deco style skyscraper- still the tallest brick building in the world- the Chrysler Building. Available in ball point pen and fountain pen styles, it is platinum plated and embellished with a Swarovski® crystal in its classic conical top. The fountain pen style includes a rhodium plated, 18CT solid gold nib. Ballpoint styles at RRP £275 and fountain pen styles at RRP £495. www.cross.com

WESCO RED BIG DOUBLE BOY RECYCLING BIN This Wesco bin in red combines iconic design and modern quality to deliver a recycling bin that is both beautiful and practical. With its dual 18L inner buckets, this bin makes its incredibly easy to sort out your recycling while enhancing your office design. £175. www.binopolis.com

THE SCANSNAP IX500 This powerful desktop scanner is an essential for any office. It is the scanner that intuitively guides the user through every step of the scanning process.

It also allows users to access their documents anywhere and anytime through cloud connectivity. Highlights include: • Scan to and view across a range of popular cloud services • Wirelessly scan to your PC, Mac, iPad® / iPhone®, Android™ and Kindle™ devices • A host of automated settings designed for effortless scanning • Scan your everyday documents, from business cards to A4 and even A3 • Scan to: Word, Excel®, E-mail and SharePoint® amongst others £300-£400. www.fujitsu.com

REPRODUCTION EAMES OFFICE CHAIR EA119 The Reproduction EA119, inspired by Eames’ creation is manufactured to the highest standards with a polished aluminium base on castors – glides available - and quality wool upholstered ribbed padding in a choice of colours.

High backed and leather versions are also available. £349. www.pash-living.co.uk

VARIDESK PRO PLUS 36™ The Pro Plus 36 is a standing desk sized to accommodate those with dual-monitor setups or larger workspace needs. The two-tiered design with separate keyboard/ mouse deck gives you plenty of room for basics and accessories with the added convenience of never having to move any components when raising or lowering your VARIDESK. £335. uk.varidesk.com

EB-W32 As a versatile and portable office projector, the EB-W32 offers a vast range of benefits to the modern professional. With 3LCD technology and a White and Colour Light Output of 3,200 lumens, the projector produces a crystal clear, high resolution image.

With a WXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution, the picture could not be more precise.

Setting up the projector and using it couldn’t be easier. £593.99. www.epson.co.uk

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 15

The World’s First Internet Connected Hearing Aid We thought you’d like to be the first to know about our revolutionary new hearing aid – the Oticon Opn. Open up to a world of endless connectivity possibilities Oticon Opn’s built-in Bluetooth lets you wirelessly connect with all the devices in your home. From smartphones and TVs, to alarm systems and hands free kit in the car, you can now hook up with them all without using a streamer around your neck.

For a FREE Hearing Health Check visit the state-of-the-art facilities at our Eastbourne Hearing Centre or call on:

01323 436660 quote ref LCAD5048

4 Gildredge Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4RL www.hiddenhearing.co.uk

How do you choose a reliable tradesperson? are committed to helping and protecting consumers by finding traders they can trust and rely upon, that’s why we support the Think Jessica campaign who also work to protect the vulnerable in their homes.

We understand that it can be difficult finding a reputable trade, which is why since 1998 has been a FREE service giving you the background information you need to make a confident decision when inviting trades into your home.

Call

Our trades and services have been vetted to high standards. In fact a minimum of 18 considerations are carried out including ID, references, insurance, qualifications and professional memberships. Then we monitor their work on an ongoing basis by collecting feedback directly from you, their customers.

now on

0333 0146 190

16 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

SO WHEN YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT CHOOSING YOUR NEXT TRADESPERSON, TAKE THE GUESS WORK OUT OF YOUR DECISION AND DON’T BE THE VICTIM OF A ROGUE TRADE.

The Future of Manufacturing Following on from our article last month about Industry 4.0 and how the manufacturing industry has some catching up to do, we now look at how our decision to leave the EU may further damage the manufacturing sector. What was the climate like before Brexit, and how will it affect the future of the industry as a whole?

The recent EU referendum result has caused much Insight controversy across the country, with many company owners and workers becoming more and more concerned about the effects this national change might have on their businesses. Following on from the new Prime Minister, Theresa May’s appointment, along with the uncertainty of the future decision to be made on the continued membership of the European Union – which will take place within the next two years – business owners and UK manufacturers in particular have been left with their own worries of how such an exit could cause problems for their companies and employees.

Approximately 185,000 EU nationals

work in the UK manufacturing sector and, according to The Manufacturer’s Organiastion, 50% of the UK’s exports go to the EU, while just 15% of the £11 billion the EU invests in innovation each year actually ends up in the UK. The UK manufacturing sector - at least the majority of those within it - had a lot to say about the possibility of coming out of the EU, strongly supporting the ‘remain’ campaigners by arguing how important Union membership is from a manufacturing business point of view. As a whole, there are very little business leaders and owners within the manufacturing sector who believe that there will be any kind of gain from Brexit, and vice versa, but at the moment it’s too soon to tell whether this is the case or not.

One of the main concerns UK

“Over 400 businesses took part in this survey, and of these, 27% stated that ‘potential’ Brexit was having damaging effects on business, while 8% said it was having a strongly damaging impact” manufacturers have on this topic is that the decreasing level of trade access to the European market will affect the production of manufacturing. A recent survey conducted by Markit/CIPS back in May - over a month before the allimportant vote took place - showed that foreign demands for goods from UK

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 17

The Future of Manufacturing

factories fell for the fifth month in a row due to the fact that customers were not willing to commit to any kind of financial investment. What was frightening for businesses was that these figures have continued to drop months ahead of the referendum, so what kind of near-future problems will this pose for businesses now the vote has favoured Britain to leave the European Union?

Over 400 businesses took part in this survey, and of these, 27% stated that ‘potential’ Brexit was having damaging effects on business, while 8% said it was having a strongly damaging impact. In addition, back in 2014 the UK gained more Foreign Direct Investment trade than any other European country, which has pretty much been the case in recent years too, however this is likely to decrease during the current uncertainty period following the outcome of the referendum. In the eyes of a large amount of investors, the UK’s access and communication with the European Union is a crucial part of their investments, which could also become the cause of damaged relationships between investors and UK manufacturers. Another possible issue is the requirements surrounding cross-border trading. The current requirements are likely to be changed to new and, potentially more complex and confusing requirements.

As well as concerns surrounding the decreasing amount of trade, there is also a large amount of worry around the safety of jobs. The EU is Britain’s largest trading partner (over 50% of the UK’s exports go to the EU) and, where so much produce was exported from UK factories to the EU, a large amount of jobs will be affected. A representative from the Trade Union Centre (TUC) spoke about the likelihood of lost jobs postreferendum: “What’s absolutely clear is that jobs would go. And not just any old jobs, we’d be losing high-pay, high-skilled and high-productivity jobs. We’d lose manufacturing jobs that pay £100 a week more than service sector equivalents.

These are good jobs in the regions outside of London that need them the most.” He continues: “Our manufacturing sector, still battered and bruised by the recession, would be hit hard, and inequalities between regions would get even wider. That’s why leading firms such as Airbus UK and BMW Mini have come out so strongly against Brexit.”

Jobs have been cut for the last five

18 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

The Future of Manufacturing

months, although the pace of job losses has slowed down since May, emphasising the uncertainty surrounding this subject for businesses everywhere.

Sussex Business Times got in contact with Moore Stephens – one of the world’s major accounting and business advisory networks – who conducted their own survey back in November and December 2015 in an attempt to gather information surrounding businesses and their views on how they think their companies will grow (or fail), along with their individual worries and concerns for the rest of 2016 and upcoming years.

Moore Stephens’ latest annual survey showed that a large amount of manufacturing businesses had a reasonably tough year last year, with

“Only 50% of manufacturing OMBs are confident about hitting their financial targets in 2016, in comparison to 68% in other business sectors” just under a third of OMBs in this sector stating that their businesses had performed better than expected, and as a result, along with the conclusion of the referendum, they are less confident about

the success of their businesses in 2016.

During their survey, Moore Stephens analysed over 400 results – 74 of these from businesses in the manufacturing and engineering industry. They found that one of the main reasons business owners in the manufacturing sector were disappointed by their business’ performance last year was due to European conflict – a factor which is bound to soar this year following on from the recent vote. In addition, the rising costs of materials and a decrease in demand for products and services also added to their list of unfortunate reasons, alongside the unhelpful weather (which is, unfortunately very frequent and ongoing for UK businesses) and competition with cheap Chinese products. In the wake of – let’s face it – at least 7 year’s worth of legislation drafting and renegotiating, competition with China is also unfortunately highly likely to soar above record. On the other hand, the manufacturing OMBs who lapped up more success during 2015 stated that their reasons behind this were down to larger contract wins, a focus on cost control and efficiencies and high-quality customer service – an element to business that all companies will benefit from.

Only 50% of manufacturing OMBs are confident about hitting their financial targets in 2016, in comparison to 68% in other business sectors, suggesting that the manufacturing and engineering industries are likely to be hit harder than any other sector. On the other hand, 61% of manufacturing OMBs are confident about their general outlook for this year, in comparison to 77% of all surveyed business owners. Survey participants listed the main reasons why they are not so optimistic about their businesses in 2016, including shortages of skilled workers, poor economic conditions, delays to defence contracts and increased competition.

We’ve all experienced the difficulties that come with fluctuating, or bad exchange rates – especially since 23rd June. OMBs in the manufacturing sector, as the survey showed, see exchange rate fluctuations as a large risk factor for the rest of 2016 and for years to come. Over half of those surveyed (53%) made this point, over double the amount of OMBs across other sectors of business. As well as this, just under a quarter of the business owners surveyed

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 19

“It is clear to see that some businesses, in desperation, are prepared for a loss in order to make a gain, with 16% of businesses stating that they are likely to downsize their business�

stated technological change was also a damning factor, which explains why 72% said they would be investing in new technology and IT equipment.

So how did manufacturing OMBs foresee that they were going to overcome these issues? The resulting list of strategies that manufacturing OMBs are likely or sure to take on during 2016 include: staff training (90%) and expanding UK customer base (85%).

Staff training was at the top of their agenda, with expansion close behind – this was rather than aiming for more trade from other European countries, which seems like a sensible aim in hindsight. New production techniques and the launching of new products and services were also suggested, along with changes in business strategy and cost reduction. It is also clear to see that some businesses, in desperation,

20 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

are prepared for a loss in order to make a gain, with 16% of businesses stating that they are likely to downsize their business, despite the fact that will almost certainly lead to other, more small-scale, personal issues for workers, such as loss of jobs. Additionally, just under half of the surveyed manufacturing OMBs said they are intent on restructuring their supply chains during this year, possibly as a way of negotiating better terms and decreased costs and, although this could result in a small loss of suppliers, it is likely to build stronger relationships between the chosen suppliers. By strengthening these relationships, businesses will reduce the risk of failed or unsuccessful supplies and related problems caused by this issue. We will see over the next two years whether our decision in June may have deeply affected any relationships we currently have, and equally if it revives or ignites better relationships elsewhere.

Overall, the effects of Brexit on the manufacturing industry and general businesses alike is still unknown, with some businesses expecting trade levels to drop, while others feel they are likely to find new and even better opportunities outside the European Union and, ultimately, all businesses and workers can do at this moment in time is be prepared to make changes to their companies and workforce. Contrary to what the survey by Moore Stephens found, unemployment levels across the board seem to be at an all time low. However, there are warnings that our vote to leave the EU may still have its surprises, downfalls and even crises in store for us yet, with the impact still not making itself known. For now, we can only wait out the storm.

Celebrating over 120 years of fine cuisine and exceptional personal service.

Conference and meeting suites 10 to 100 delegates Day delegate rates from £32.50 Celebrations and private dining Licenced for wedding ceremonies up to 100 guests

81 en-suite bedrooms with corporate rates available

Hydro Hotel • Mount Road • Eastbourne • BN20 7HZ Telephone: 01323 720643 • Email: sales@hydrohotel.com www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk Web: www.hydrohotel.com

21

22 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Theresa May

Welcome Theresa May! Theresa May, born in Sussex’s very own town of Eastbourne Insight on October 1st 1956, has stepped up as the UK’s brand new and second-ever female Prime Minister. Given the circumstances of her promotion and her stance on Brexit, it’s no surprise that there’s some controversy across the nation. As such, May’s incumbency will not be easy and we’re all asking the question: will she live up to our expectations?

Theresa’s parents were successful people, giving her inspiration and motivation from a young age: likely one of the factors that pushed her to become the respected figure she is today.

Theresa May had a very varied school-life, attending both private and state schools and, as well as this, going on to earn a place at Holton Park Girls’ Grammar School, based in Wheatley.

After her school days were over, Theresa earned a place at the University of Oxford where she studied geography, graduating in 1977 with a second-class BA degree. Although now a well-known and respected political figure, Theresa May took her first job (post-university) at the Bank of England, where she worked for 6 years. As a determined young woman, Theresa kept pushing forward, earning herself a job at the Association for Payment Clearing Services as Financial Consultant – a role she kept for 12 years.

During this period of her life, both of her parents passed away, yet she didn’t let this affect the career that she had worked (and continued to work) so hard to get.

Theresa May’s political career didn’t actually start until 1986 when she worked as a Counciller of Education for the London Borough of Merton. She served this position until 1994, alongside the role of Deputy Group Leader and Housing Spokesman. It wasn’t until the 1997

Theresa May - Photo by UK Home Office ©

Following on from the recent EU referendum result, which led to David Cameron stepping down from his role as our Prime Minister, SBT looks at Theresa May’s political background, addressing some of her decisions thus far and her future plans for the country

“Her work ethic and care for the country she lives in no doubt was the critical factor in gaining the title of Prime Minister” general election that the new Prime Minister was elected as the Conservative MP for Maidenhead.

Now having entered Parliament, Theresa took on several roles, including Shadow Spokesman for Schools, Disabled People and Women for William Hague’s Opposition team in ‘98. Theresa has held numerous positions within Parliament since then, including Shadow Cabinet from 1999 to 2010, and she also became the first female Chairman of the Conservative party from 2002 to 2003.

Her hard work and dedication meant Mrs May was delegated the role of Home Secretary in 2010, which led her to

become the longest-serving Conservative Home Secretary for over 100 years. Her work ethic and care for the country she lives in no doubt was the critical factor in gaining the title of Prime Minister, appointed on 13th July after a tumultuous time to say the least.

Theresa May is undeniably taking on an incredibly important and difficult job, and this has once again caused debate amongst the nation. Having received an influx of post-Brexit emails containing statistics, predictions and opinions, it seems the majority of the country – or our county at least - has May’s support, including Caroline Ansell, who has worked closely with the new Prime Minister on a number of occasions. Caroline, who was appointed as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Eastbourne, says: “I supported Theresa from the start and I’m delighted she will be our Prime Minister.

These are challenging times and now the hard work begins to leave the EU, unite the party and country and get the best possible trade terms for the UK.” She continued: “I’m also extremely pleased Theresa has recognised the Government must do more to help working people who have often felt their voice is not listened to. This One Nation approach is a must if the country is going to heal, it is a must for the people of Eastbourne and it is a must if everyone is going to feel they have a stake in Britain’s future.”

Ellen Walsh, Practice Leader at Grant Thornton Gatwick also added to the long line of congratulations: “We congratulate Theresa May on becoming the next Prime Minister and look forward to working with her to build a vibrant United Kingdom.

Her swift appointment will be welcomed by the business community, providing stability and an experienced leader as Prime Minister in this time of uncertainty and change.”

Continuing on the subject of Brexit,

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23

IF

Theresa May

Ellen said: “Alongside the international negotiations which follow the EU referendum, we support domestic reforms that build a more vibrant economy across all parts of the UK and provide longer term stability and sustainability. This should include increased investment in infrastructure and innovation to support growth in all our communities. In terms of getting the best deal for the UK in Brexit negotiations, we would encourage a focus on the trade and talent that will continue to support our dynamic economy. Brexit negotiations need to ensure the UK continues to benefit from the Single Market in goods and services. In a recent Grant Thornton survey, leaders of midsized businesses identified this as their number one priority for the government post referendum.”

Theresa May made her speech, outlining the steps and improvements she plans to make for our country and answering the burning questions that are on almost everyone’s minds after the unforeseeable result of the EU referendum. During her speech, the Prime Minister said: “As we leave the European Union, we will forge a bold, new, positive role for ourselves in the world. And we will make Britain a country that works, not for a privileged few, but for every one of us. That will be the mission of the Government I lead, and together we will build a better Britain.”

One of the main changes the new PM plans to bring to the table, and one element she seems to have emphasised the most, is to create an economy that is beneficial to everyone and not just the privileged minority. Financial decisions, she promises, will be made with the working, middle and upper classes in mind. Equally, she promises that ‘we will not be defined by Brexit - but instead build

N

Theresa May wears pink for Breast Cancer Campaign - Photo by UK Home Office

the education, skills, and social mobility to allow everyone to prosper from the opportunities of leaving the EU.’ This is a bold promise that we can only hope will be kept.

One of Mrs May’s first and most important decisions was on yet another topic that splits most rooms: whether to renew the Trident initiative. With previous leaders avoiding the question of a hypothetical big red button situation, Theresa May’s bold answer caused some outrage across the media, with comments batted around such as: “Theresa May says she would kill ‘100,000 men, women and children’ with a nuclear bomb.”

Her standing was a strong one, and ruthless of course, but her reasoning valid, very much a part of playing the ‘political game’ that arguably resides in the Cold War era, stating: “The whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies need to know that we would be prepared to use it.”

In addition, the new Prime Minister has been and will continue to be a renowned

Wikepedia - The London House of Parliament - By Mike Gimelfarb

24 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

feminist, additionally supporting equality across the board, having spoken out to back gay marriage on a number of occasions, despite voting against the legalisation of adoption by gay couples back in the early 2000’s.

Inevitably, May has faced comparisons to our previous and first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher – at times accused of echoing her very voice. So, in true fashion, ‘girl power’ will continue to prevail as Mrs May is expected to appoint a record amount of women to senior positions within the Government – from a third to half – as she adapts her cabinet.

George Osborne, Michael Gove, John Whittingdale, Nicky Morgan and Oliver Letwin have all already been pushed aside by the new Prime Minister, whilst just four positions have remained the same.

Although perhaps a slightly ruthless move to shift so many positions in the eyes of many critics, and some may say an almost ludicrous move on the part of Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, others will undoubtedly view her first moves as a sign of strong leadership and professional focus. Theresa’s reformed cabinet now consists of figures with a range of different views, with around a third previously supporting the ‘leave’ campaign during the build-up to the EU referendum.

With such a split-vote on the issue of Brexit across the country, the cabinet quite rightly must represent the views of the nation; the arrangement involves people from both sides of the vote, making a fair outcome for most more likely. Coupled with Theresa May’s promise of equal opportunities across the board, things are looking hopeful for our little island. It’s not often that we at SBT get to indulge our concept of Made in Sussex to such a degree, so here’s hoping!

Ifie attr alth we bee com Sh fit s

F

If y ag ww bee som

Ifie new the wit sel

W

IFIELD GOLF CLUB New Business Membership Package

Ifield Golf Club is proud of its beautiful parkland golf course set in the most attractive surroundings within the Crawley district. It was built in 1927 and although primarily a members club, Ifield is renowned for providing a warm welcome to green fees and societies. The resident Professional Jon Earl has been at the club for over 30 years, nothing is ever too much trouble and golfers come from far and wide to select golfing equipment from his fully stocked Pro Shop which offers extremely competitive prices. It also now offers a new custom fit service using Trackman to ascertain what will be the perfect golf clubs for you.

From only

£650

BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP BRONZE

12 fourball vouchers for use Mon-Fri - £650

SILVER

18 fourball vouchers for use Mon-Fri - £900

GOLD

18 fourball vouchers for use Mon-Fri and 6 fourball vouchers for use Sat/Sun after 1pm Vouchers are valid for 1 year

All packages include: USE OF THE CLUBHOUSE FREE WIFI FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE EXCELLENT CATERING 2 DISCOUNT BAR CARDS 25% DISCOUNT ON ROOM HIRE 35% DISCOUNT ON TRACKMAN EXPERIENCE

If you haven’t already visited this hidden gem of a golf course, you can get a good idea of the treat you are in for by logging on to the club’s website www.ifieldgolf.com to view the latest hole by hole flyover which has just been produced. Neil Soane of Red5 Photography has managed to capture some wonderful footage of the course as well as some beautiful photography.

Ifield recognises the time restraints on working people and has just introduced a new Business Company Membership Package, where it is the company that is the member and not the individual. This enables total flexibility on who can benefit within your company. It is perfect for rewarding staff; clients; customers or yourself and golfing friends. Ifield offers three categories of Business Membership: www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25 3

WWW.IFIELDGOLF.COM TELEPHONE NO. 01293 520222

Money Matters

A Celebration of Entrepreneurship

Last month was a busy month for entrepreneurs in Brighton, with the Opportunity Knocks event as well as the Entrepreneurial Spark program Awards evening. Both with heavy involvement from NatWest and with a large focus on the huge talent we can find in Sussex, we were delighted to attend both inspiring and celebrative events

Opportunity Knocks Last month, the leaders of some of Sussex the most successful Events startups in Sussex came together to reveal the secrets of their success, offering information and advice to the abundant audience that attended. Following on from the first event in Gogarburn, Edinburgh, back in 2014, Opportunity Knocks travelled to Aberdeen and is now set to appear in major cities across the UK. Opportunity Knocks is a collaborative event, bringing together the best entrepreneurial talent and business experts and, on Wednesday 6th July, NatWest, Entrepreneurial Spark, Cobb

26 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Digital, Brighton & Hove Chamber, Angels Den and the University of Brighton came together at the Opportunity Knocks event – supporting the south east’s startup businesses – which took place at the Sussex County Cricket Club in Brighton.

The day, set up to help and give inspiration to hopeful entrepreneurs, informed the audience of key success stories of well-structured companies who have victoriously grown their own business. As well as having personal insight and the ability to know and understand the challenges SMEs face these days, the experienced speakers offered up advice and provided information on how to best succeed.

In addition, budding entrepreneurs heard from inspirational speakers and

panel experts, as well as having the opportunity to attend case study-led seminars. These seminars focused on a range of topics, such as crowdfunding, intellectual property and growth finance, meaning there was something interesting for all kinds of entrepreneurs.

The event saw successful entrepreneurs, including the founder of Star Syringe, Marc Koska, Acumen Business Law’s CEO, Penina Shepherd and NatWest’s Development Manager, Fiona Anderson (who was a great attribute to SBT’s last roundtable event back in May, Entrepreneurship: Helping Us, Helping Them), all of whom passed on their knowledge, advice and personal experiences to the thoroughly determined crowd. Fiona said of the event: “NatWest

Entrepreneurial Spark

is delighted to be supporting Opportunity Knocks to showcase the entrepreneurial talent in Brighton and the south east. It’s exciting to see pioneering events like this emerge when the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem partners come together.”

During the day-long event, representatives organised and carried out a Dragon’s Den-style pitching masterclass as a way of preparing promising members of the audience for the perfect pitch – a very beneficial element to hopeful entrepreneurs.

Award-winning Acumen Business Law’s Penina Shepherd, who has previously been crowned ‘Entrepreneur of the Year for the South by the British Chamber of Commerce’, shared an inspirational speech based on ‘Thriving on your Passion’, which is also the subject of her new book: The Freedom Revolution.

During her talk with the audience, she spoke about her background, introducing the term “entreprewhore” to describe her journey of climbing the corporate ladder rather than her dreams. She also informed people that money should not be the motivation, but if you follow your passion, you’re more likely to succeed financially. During her speech, Penina listed her seven top tips for a successful startup: • Pursue your passion and you will thrive • Give something to the community • Overestimate yourself • Take full responsibility • Have a positive mindset and attitude • Be extraordinary • Never give up As well as Penina’s valuable insight, Opportunity Knocks introduced Mark Koska, who is the founder of LifeSaver and the K1 Auto-Disable Syringe, which

the World Health Organisation credited for saving over 10 million lives since 2001.

During his appearance at Opportunity Knocks, Marc told the audience of 200 promising entrepreneurs to ‘focus on the problem before the solution.’ Marc invented the K1 Auto-Disable Syringe as a way of targeting the fatal re-use of injection equipment, which has proved to be the world’s 9th biggest cause of Hepatitis every year. His view is that, by advising entrepreneurs to fully understand the problem before worrying about the solution, you are provided with a lot of confidence as you grow your own business.

Overall, Opportunity Knocks was a very successful event, with hundreds of hopeful and determined entrepreneurs taking in the advice and inspiration handed to them.

Entrepreneurial Spark Awards On Wednesday 20th July, at the home of Brighton’s Entrepreneurial Spark in Preston Road, an evening of celebration ensued with the Entrepreneurial Spark Awards. Headed into the room where the prizes would be handed out, there was a fantastically vibrant and excited atmosphere fueled by the anticipation of the grand total of £30,000 up for grabs.

As readers will know, Sussex Business Times has had a close relationship with the Entrepreneurial Spark program, attending many an event in Preston Road and over the year we have gotten to know some of the growing start ups – and the ‘chiclets’ themselves – fairly well.

These awards are designed to recognise the individuals within the program, their achievements throughout their 18 months within it, the challenges they’ve overcome, their personal development as well as the development and success of their business. Some came into the program with simply an idea, some with more of an already established business plan or a company already up and running, so the program – and this room – was filled with a huge variety of inspiration and entrepreneurial talent.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27

Entrepreneurial Spark

Care Training, aiming to help young The first award presented was the people with emotional or circumstantial GoDo Award, which presented 3 issues to overcome. businesses with a prize of £3,000. This The Acceler-8 Award was given to award highlighted 3 chiclets who had the business that had made the most shown the most initiative throughout the significant progress over the past program, taken action where possible 3-6 months; one that had seen an and necessary and showed a willingness exponential growth to be challenged. The in sales and user worthy winners were announced out of 6 “The Entrepreneuring numbers; had secured funding; and had nominees: Control Awards are a great developed personally Freq, Nourish, and opportunity to and in the business Shuttle.

The nominees Shuttle, an reflect on everything world. were 5 Squirrels, integrated our Chiclets have Iberica Delights and management system OMGTea Ltd, with startup run by David achieved over the Founder of OMGTea, Williams since past six months, and Katherine Swift taking October 2015, were the prize of £7,000 for on of the big winners celebrate how far her business. for the evening, also Last but certainly picking up the Chilcet they’ve progressed” not least was the Choice Award with a Entrepreneur of the Moment Award. prize of £1,000.

Awarded to ‘a business and entrepreneur Next up was the pitching competition, who has built a sustainable new product which saw chiclets come up to the front or service that has global potential in and pitch their business. Although each the sector they operate within’, this put in their all, and were thoroughly was certainly the most special award impressive, there had to be 3 winners, of the night, aiming to recognise the which were: Brighton Ceilidh Collective, sheer determination, dedication and a lively ceilidh band and host company opportunity-hungry attitude of the winning headed up by Louise Wells (also a lively chiclet and their business growth. and extremely passionate character); The fantastic prize of £10,000 was OMGTea, a Matcha Green Tea, health awarded to a business which the food and education company; and Social

28 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Entrepreneurial Spark team described as having grown exponentially over the past year; quadrupling sales, redesigning their website, taking on 4 more members of staff and beginning their exporting journey. Bare Biology took the gaundlet – a huge achievement for Founder and CEO, Melanie Lawson, who has featured in previous editions of SBT, namely in the Entrepreneur’s Roundtable hosted in May of this year alongside NatWest.

Unfortunately, Melanie couldn’t attend the evening but the pride of winning was nonetheless rife with other members of the program, the Entrepreneurial Spark team and a Bare Biology colleague who took the prize on Melanie’s behalf.

We then had a closing speech from Entrepreneurial Spark co-founder and CEO, Lucy-Rose Walker, who commented: “The Entrepreneuring Awards are a great opportunity to reflect on everything our Chiclets have achieved over the past six months, and celebrate how far they’ve progressed. Our Brighton entrepreneurs have accomplished some amazing feats in recent months, from raising substantial investment to creating jobs, disrupting the market, and creating a positive impact on the UK economy, and I would like to say a massive well done to them all!”

Fiona Anderson, Entrepreneurial Spark’s very own Development Manager, gave a heartfelt speech on the success of the businesses involved, and what a pleasure it was for NatWest to be involved in such a programme.

She highlighted some particular successes and impressive statistics from over the past year, including the £1.4 million investment that the bank has put into Entrepreneurial Spark businesses, the 100 + jobs that have been created in Brighton alone, the 140 businesses that have been set up and the £90,000 worth of prize money that has been given out to chiclets after the awards evening.

Fiona covered some highs in the year, including the success of entrepreneur, Aadam Patel, the growth of 1V1 Football (run by chiclet, Richard Philp), and the two awards that Entrepreneurial Spark have won in London. They were also named Business Enabler of the Year at the most recent Manchester Business Awards and have grown to be the largest supporter of SMEs in the UK. A huge congratulations to all winners from us and all the best for the future!

QU

WHO AM I DEALING WITH?

Let Your REPUTATION DO YOUR MARKETING FOR YOU!

ARE THEY INSURED?

SATISFIED CLIENTS?

EXPERIENCE?

Brought to you courtesy of our sister company

QUALIFICATIONS HELD?

ESTATE AGENTS MORTGAGE BROKERS FINANCIAL ADVISERS LEGAL SERVICES OPTICIANS SOLICITORS COSMETIC SURGEON SURVEYORS HAIR & BEAUTY ACCOUNTANTS THERAPISTS DENTAL VETS IT

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

Today, clients are looking for an informed choice when choosing a professional service and Checkaprofessional’s new online service is providing just that.

The Checkaprofessional website will give instant access to all professional service providers who have agreed to be vetted by us and continuously monitored by their clients, who can post verified feedback on the site. It will provide a FREE one-stop shop to finding the right professional service for a client’s particular needs.

Find out about the unique advantages Checkaprofessional membership could provide for your online marketing. www.checkaprofessional.com

0808 901 9042

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 29

Roundtable

The Next Roundtable: Infrastructure, Housing and Commercial Development

After the resounding success of our last roundtable event, discussing Entrepreneurship, we announce our next roundtable discussion for September on the topic of Infrastructure, Housing and Commercial Development in Sussex In partnership with NatWest Bank, Sussex Business Times (as Round part of Life Media table Group) has been hosting a series of discussion events over the past 6 months in order to address regional and national business issues: particularly those that affect businesses operating across the Sussex region.

These events have been very successful so far, with our most recent event attracting an audience of over 50 people to discuss entrepreneurship in the community of Brighton.

Each event has hosted a panel of prolific businessmen and women with views to share on topics of interest to them, their company, their community and the future of Sussex as a growth region.

We have taken these discussions to different areas of Sussex in order to achieve a diverse range of opinions and to tackle issues that affect towns and cities differently. So far, we have hosted roundtables in Hastings, Crawley and Brighton. Now we are headed to Horsham to discuss:

30 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Infrastructure, Housing and Commercial Development Where: Horsham NatWest Branch When: September (Date TBC) The agenda will include themes such as: • The housing market in Sussex • Residential developments • Commercial developments • Gatwick expansion plans – where is the decision process at?

• Commercial opportunities as a result of a Gatwick expansions • Business premises and the struggle with cost, space and availability • Prioritising and funding transport schemes • Infrastructure developments: primarily A21 improvements • Rural vs. urban infrastructure developments • Green Infrastructure • Government funding and grants

Broadcasting for the Sussex Business Community Life Media Group’s TV & Broadcast division will be filming all SBT & NatWest Roundtable events; subsequently circulating edits via the Sussex Business Group website and all associated social media platforms.

These edits will include a number of short, bite-sized (by question/topic) edits along with a full version edit for those who want to take in the entire conversation from start to finish. You can watch the footage from previous roundtables on the SBT website: www.sussexbusinessgroup. co.uk/round-table These edits will also be available via our guest’s platforms and will be available to share/embed via the Life Media Group YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/1PaMccs Get Involved If you or a representative from your organisation would like to be involved in this roundtable and occupy a seat at this or a future SBT & NatWest Roundtable Event, please get in touch with Simon Skinner or Lou Dobson by calling 01323 819007.

Be Carewise With Your Clients

A Reliable Route To Protecting People When Paying For Care The right advice at the right time for the right funding solution

Most people wouldn’t take out a mortgage without Advertorial financial advice, yet many don’t think about this when it comes to paying for care. Good financial planning is vital.

There are a wide variety of options available to pay for care and it can be difficult to know what is right for each person. We recommend letting your clients know how Carewise can help.

Carewise was set up by West Sussex County Council, the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA), Age UK West Sussex and West Sussex Partners in Care to provide trustworthy, independent advice about care and support and the most cost-effective funding solutions.

This October 5th Carewise is hosting a unique event for solicitors who provide advice to clients who are considering planning and paying for long-term care for themselves or a relative.

This is a free CPD event where delegates can hear from leading experts in the field of financial planning for laterlife and find out about the advantages to solicitors of establishing close working relationships with local financial advisers.

Guest speakers will include Tish Hanifan - Founder and Joint Chairman of the Society of Later life Advisers (SOLLA) - and Dave Seager - Development Director at Society of Independent Financial Advisors (SIFA).

The conference will take place on Wednesday 5th October from 10.00am to 1.00pm at County Hall North Horsham (Parkside) - Chart Way, Horsham, RH12 1XH. To register an interest in attending the conference please email andrew. porsch@westsussex.gov.uk or phone 0330 22 22403 by Friday 26th August.

(Places allocated on a first come first served basis to suitable applicants).

Carewise includes a panel of locallybased independent financial advisers

specialising in planning for later life - all are members of SOLLA. They provide advice from across the market and can help people to preserve their savings and assets for as long as possible.

To provide people with added confidence they are all approved by Trading Standards’ Buy with Confidence scheme, Disclosure and Barring Service

checked and trained in safeguarding adults.

To find out more about Carewise go to www. westsussexconnecttosupport.org/ carewise or phone Adults’ CarePoint on 01243 642121 and ask for an information pack.

How am I going to pay for my care?

‘Be Carewise for your clients’ A reliable route to protecting people moving into care

Information and advice

Choosing care could be one of the most expensive Conference: decisions you make and good advice is vital.

Wednesday 5th October from 10.00am Carewise was set up by West Sussex County to 1.00pm at County Hall North Council, Age UK West Sussex, West Sussex Partners What can I afford?

Horsham (Parkside) - Chart Way, in Care and the Society of Later Life Advisers. It Horsham, RH12 1XH. offers independent, specialist financial advice about choosing and paying for long-term care. Contact Carewise now to find out more.

01243 642121 01243 642121

Will I have to sell my house?

Choosing care could be one of the most expensive decisions you make and good advice is vital.

Carewise was set up by West Sussex County Council, Age UK West Sussex, West Sussex Partners in Care and the Society of Later Life Advisers. It offers independent, specialist financial advice about choosing and paying for long-term care. Contact Carewise now to find out more.

01243 642121 www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org/ carewise

carewise@westsussex.gov.uk

www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org/ www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org/carewise carewise www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 31

carewise@westsussex.gov.uk carewise@westsussex.gov.uk

Choosing care could be one of the most expensive

No matter your passion, we have the purrrfect course for you...

Childhood Studies, Health & Technology

English, Humanities & Languages

Bexhill

Sports Science & Public Services

College

ACTION

Business, IT & Social Sciences

Creative & Performing Arts

Science & Maths

32 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

bexhill6thformcollege

@BexhillCollege

bexhillcollege

www.bexhillcollege.ac.uk

Get CareerAhead

The University of Sussex has become the first university to take on a brand new scheme to help international students develop the best employability skills possible Employability is key in the eyes of a student; for their future, for Education their continued success and for all that hard work to be worth it. They need to come out of education feeling like they have the right skills to get the job they want, or at least the means by which to develop those skills.

A recent survey showed that 97% of students recognise the importance of developing employability skills, so once they’re out of the system, they quite rightly expect to put their developed skills to good use; 79% of students expect to be in a graduate-level job within six months after graduating.

So how do they go about developing those skills? Most often, they gain employability skills through going out and getting work experience or undergoing an internship. Over 90% of students describe gaining an internship or work experience during their studies as either ‘essential’ or ‘somewhat important’ in

called CareerAhead, which is the helping secure a job in their preferred first programme of its kind, focusing sector. on improving international students’ Equally, as the job market gets more employability skills, aiding the fact that and more competitive, the education more and more students across the sector has to up its game; to keep up globe are looking with the market and outside their home to battle against country for quality others in the fight “A recent survey education that to win students. At showed that 97% of will give them an this point in time, students recognise the advantage over students come importance of developing others in their to the UK in their employability skills, chosen career thousands to get so once they’re out of path. a good education, CareerAhead is and post-education the system, they quite a service designed employability must rightly expect to put their to do just that reflect that. developed skills to good to give students Study Group, use” a head start in a Brighton this competitive based global graduate leader in Higher employment market by helping them Education for international students become confident, highly skilled and works closely with universities and extremely employable graduates. With education partners around the world more and more universities and schools to create and market innovative study looking to attract international talent, pathways for students. They recently such a service that stands out from launched a new employability scheme

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 33

Education

James Pitman, Managing Director, Higher Education UK and Europe, Study Group

the rest is hugely beneficial. We asked James Pitman, Managing Director of Higher Education UK and Europe, Study Group why this was important.

He said: “A 2014 British Council survey revealed employability as one of the most important reasons the UK appeals as an international study destination.

It’s therefore imperative for any higher education institution, looking to attract the brightest and best non-EU students, to demonstrate its leadership in this area.”

Study Group analysed graduate employment market data to identify the main skills that students need for success and built the programme into the University of Sussex International Study Centre (ISC) foundation and pre-masters courses. The scheme was introduced after consulting with students, partners, teaching staff and agents and identifying employability as a vital area of focus for students and in September 2015, 520 students began the initial programme at University of Sussex, where it was piloted before now launching at various other universities across the UK. It will ultimately be introduced across all of its UK ISCs.

James Pitman, commented: “Employability is high on the agenda for international students. Career prospects came third in a 2014 British Council survey of important factors for international students, demonstrating that they realise businesses want more than just academic knowledge. Soft skills such as communication and creativity have become important differentiators, and the CareerAhead scheme has enabled us to provide better value for students by delivering quantifiably better student experiences and outcomes.”

As James explained, with this program, students leave the ISC and progress to degree study equipped with skills relevant to employment markets in their home countries, plus a personal career development plan, a CV and a personal statement. They also have an understanding of how graduate recruiters assess candidates and the skills that are important for their chosen career. James added: “We piloted the CareerAhead scheme at The University of Sussex International Study Centre, and over 570 international students

have completed it so far. It has boosted international student engagement with on-site careers services, which is great for any progressive university that wants to show it is focused on graduate employment.”

As one of the leading universities for research and development in the country, this puts the University of Sussex in a good place for becoming an international education hub also.

Clare Mackie, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Sussex commented: “We welcomed the CareerAhead programme’s integrated approach as a way of increasing student engagement with careers services. We recognise how important it is to help students with their careers and equip them with the necessary skills to succeed not just in their degrees, but also in the workplace.”

James concluded: “If more universities throughout the UK offer forward thinking careers services then the UK’s reputation as the best place to pursue higher education can only be enhanced. As the number of international students looking for an education abroad is increasing by at least six percent year-on-year, this country’s universities’ employability services could make a serious difference to student recruitment in future and the UK’s £18 billion education export industry, which is the second biggest contributor to our balance of payments after financial services.”

To find out more about Study Group and CareerAhead, go to www.studygroup.com or email partners@studygroup.com

34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

B L

E L

W yo pa

Sk

ESO

Re

Co Soc

Qu

Ap Ass

Ph ww

Courses Start Autumn 2016

Bexhill Adult Learning Centre Evening and Part-time Learning at Bexhill College Want to learn a new skill? Need to gain a qualification to help you further your career? Interested in trying something new? A daytime or evening part-time course at Bexhill College can offer the opportunity to do both.

Skills for Life Courses ESOL, English, Maths and other skills.

Recreational Courses

bexhillcollege.ac.uk/part-time Call: 01424 215746 ext 208 Email: adultlearning@bexhillcollege.ac.uk

Main College Site Bexhill College, Penland Road Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN40 2JG Free Parking. 2 mins drive from Ravenside

Jameson Mews Jameson Mews, Jameson Road Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN40 1EG Free Parking. 2 mins walk from Station

Cookery, Sugarcraft, Languages, Art & Craft, Creative Writing, IT Skills, Social Media, Local History, Photoshop and more.

Qualification Courses Apprenticeships (Childcare, Business, Hairdressing, Hospitality, Health), Assessor Courses, GCSEs (English, Maths, Biology) and more.

Phone for a free prospectus today or go online at www.bexhillcollege.ac.uk/part-time and view all courses available.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 35

The Choice Is Yours:

Through-School Or Stand-Alone Prep School?

Choosing your child’s education isn’t easy, so SBT looks at the advantages of different types of schooling and what Hurstpierpoint College has to offer

When parents are considering independent Education education for their children, they need to decide between a stand-alone prep school or a throughschool where children move up to the senior school from Year 9.

Independent education is separated into four stages: Pre-Prep for ages 4-7 (Reception to Year 2), Prep for ages 7 to 13 (Year 3 to 8), Senior School for ages 13 to 18 (Year 9 to 11) and Sixth Form for ages 16 to 18 (Years 12 and 13).

Most parents are aware of the differences between the independent and maintained sectors, however the benefits of a through-school education are often understated.

Through-schooling provides a smooth transition during the important phases in a child’s school life, offering stability and consistency to minimise the disruption of moving schools.

There are significant educational

36 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

advantages in through-schooling, with league tables showing that academic achievement is likely to be high. It allows teachers and parents to track the child’s progress from the age of 4 -18 and enables prep and senior school staff to work cohesively towards a smooth transition for the child from one stage of school life to another.

Senior school teachers are subject specialists and may teach across both schools, which benefits younger children greatly as they often have the resources of the whole department to call upon.

The move up to Year 9 can prove quite daunting for some children in adapting to new ways of teaching and learning, making new friends and finding their way

around a new, larger campus. Some will take this in their stride, but for others, the continuity of moving up to the next stage in a school they already know can increase a child’s confidence. These children will understand how the school runs, can help settle in those who have joined from other schools and benefit from mixing with the newcomers as they move from being a big fish in a small pond to a little fish in a bigger one.

Not many stand-alone prep schools offer the same range of extra-curricular activities that a through-school can. Shared campus facilities are generally more extensive and allow younger children access to senior school facilities such as swimming pools, theatres, sporting

“One of the most important factors for parents in choosing the right school is to consider whether their child will be happy and thrive”

equipment and the general outdoor space.

Through-schools offer busy parents a one-stop-shop for their families with many employing a wrap-around care scheme which allows working parents to drop off their child before school commences and to collect them after supervised prep or activities at the end of the day. There is also a discount for siblings attending the school at the same time.

The idea of a through-school does not suit everyone. Some parents prefer to keep their options open by choosing a stand-alone prep school that prepares its pupils for Common Entrance, which means the choice of senior school can wait a while. Others find the smaller, more intimate community offered by a stand-alone prep is a more comfortable introduction to school life.

One of the most important factors for parents in choosing the right school is to consider whether their child will be happy and thrive. Open Days can help greatly with the decision-making process as they provide an excellent opportunity for parents and their children to view the facilities of potential schools and meet the heads, teachers and pupils to get a feel for the ethos, ambience and spirit. A personal tour of short-listed schools on a normal working day should follow, which can be tailored to individual requirements, allow for a more detailed discussion with the Head and, above all, enable parents to make a more informed decision on whether the school might be the right fit for their child.

Hurstpierpoint College offers through education from Reception to the end of the Sixth Form years with key entry points at Reception, Year 3, Year 7,

Year 9 and Year 12. Pupils are welcome to join Hurst, subject to the College’s admissions procedures, at any of these points and sometimes in other year groups, provided there is space available.

The next Hurst open morning will take place on Saturday 24th September, you can book your places on line at www.hppc.co.uk or by contacting the admissions department on 01273 836937.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 37

Business East Sussex:

Supporting Better Business

Where do you go for business advice and support? Fortunately, it’s not always a question of money when it comes to reliable advice services. Business East Sussex is a government funded, free growth hub and support service, offering impartial expert advice for businesses across the county, no matter what their size, to grow at their best.

Your business means everything to you; it Cover is your successes; it is your failures; it is a Feature huge part of your life.

But business is hard and when the going gets tough, well the tough doesn’t have to get going without a bit of support.

Business East Sussex (BES) is a government funded growth and support service, delivered by the Lets Do Business Group on behalf of East Sussex County council, that offers clear and impartial guidance to you, the business owner. Since its inception in July 2015, BES has helped more than 600 businesses across East Sussex to startup and grow, and its continuing aim is to help businesses reach their full potential in a friendly and approachable way.

It can be very difficult to access reliable, consistent and high quality advice, especially without leaving your pockets near on empty. Along with the massive growth of the Internet has come an

38 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

a high quality service at absolutely no influx of advice: ‘top tips’, short cuts to cost to you. success and general guidance. However, The team of Navigators and Finance as with most information online, this Managers at Business East Sussex are material can be overwhelming, unreliable there to act as facilitators, pointing you in and, sometimes quite frankly wrong. It’s the right direction and impossible to decipher giving the best contacts what’s trustworthy and “BES can offer that to help your business what’s not when behind with trusted suppliers. a computer screen, and perfect balance Getting the right advice you can never know – experienced, benefits everyone – the credentials (or lack thereof) of the person friendly and trusted your business’ success is a large part of what giving that advice. consultants providing steers our economy in You are faced with a choice: either take your a high quality service the right direction and it should be our aim as chances with the digital at absolutely no a community to come gurus, or pay however together and help each much it takes to get a cost to you” other. Many businesses good quality service. face problems in many Over 30% of people different forms, whether it’s issues with turn to their friends, families or colleagues employees, corporate premises or to for advice when it’s needed, and another do with finances. A large problem that 19% would simply turn to an internet businesses – in particular SMEs - face search engine, but the team at BES can is lack of funding, but an even larger offer that perfect balance – experienced, problem is not knowing where to go friendly and trusted consultants providing

Education: Bexhill College

to get that funding or not being able to access it. The government has identified access to this kind of business support to be a huge problem, with fragmented and patchy information available, and not directly available to those who may need it. With 39 growth hubs around the country, that information suddenly becomes far more available and easy to access, acting as a central repository for business support. Even if you feel you do know how to solve your business’ problems, and you believe your company will work its issues out on it’s own, businesses who take advice from independent organisations are up to 20% more likely to succeed, so why take the risk? Sometimes you need a fresh, unbiased pair of eyes to scour through any issues, or just to look at your business plan or finances.

Business East Sussex has a highly comprehensive and trusted provider list for just these sorts of problems, putting you directly in touch with the best available organization should you need it.

The Team The Business East Sussex business navigators all come from business backgrounds, often running their own successful businesses. They are more than able to share knowledge and advice with others in need, as they have been there before themselves and have experienced everything from growth and good times to hard knocks and setbacks.

Fred Thomas, one of the Business Support Navigators for Business East Sussex, ran his own business for 17 years and has a real understanding of

by providing fair and impartial support to connect businesses with sources of guidance, advice and finance. We are a free Growth Hub. What does the Growth Hub do for local businesses in East Sussex?

We offer individual practical support through our team of navigators. They provide a fresh pair of eyes on your business, access to resources and information on key business subjects and connections to organizations and bodies that can help you and your business achieve your ambitions.

Fred Thomas, Business Support Navigator for Business East Sussex

the issues and opportunities that face businesses in the region. Fred, who can help with access to finance, marketing and growth planning, business planning, structure, route maps and much more, hosts monthly live Q&A sessions on Twitter (#AskFred) in order to give free business tips and advice.

As the face of the business and growth hub, Sussex Businesses Times got directly in touch with Fred, to discuss what it is exactly they do for the business community in East Sussex, and to pick up on some of that invaluable advice for our readers.

Hi Fred. So firstly, what are the company values and aims of Business East Sussex?

Our aim is really to assist the growth of businesses and the local economy,

How important is collaborating, like you do with organisations and like local business do with you, for the growth and success of businesses in East Sussex?

Although I have run my own business in the past, I make no claims to say that I have all the answers when I’m talking to business owners. The difference is now I, and my clients, have access to a large, and growing, network of providers of business support, technical business resources and the skilled and knowledgeable team at the Let’s Do Business Group to call upon. I actually wish that there had been something like the Growth Hub available when I was in business.

How do you see the current business climate in the region at the moment?

What are the main business focuses and/or issues that you see most?

The businesses I`m connecting with are generally focused on improving their business or becoming more sustainable.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 39

Cover Feature: Business East Sussex

It is widely understood that businesses that seek guidance and support are most likely to survive and succeed.

There are many, many issues that face a business owner on a daily basis and we help to provide relevant suggestions to overcome these individual issues.

However, the more popular help required can be as simple as wanting to chat over a new business idea to gain an informed second opinion, access to finance which can prove tricky to find the right kind of finance at the right time for your business and help with strategy and business planning.

Does Business East Sussex support startups? How do you help them?

Simply, yes. Startups are the successful businesses of tomorrow.

In East Sussex today there will be 10 new businesses starting up, all with ambitions great and small. Of that 10 it is likely that in 5 years 40-50% of them will have ceased trading. Around 40% will be doing OK, employing perhaps, and paying their taxes, 10% will be the high growth businesses of the future. It is believed that of those businesses that stop trading in the first 5 years only 30% had any sort of business plan. So in the old adage, failing to plan is planning to fail.

And that is where we can come in by offering new businesses, the advice, guidance and access to the finance that they need to get underway in a structured, planned way and we hope the opportunity to succeed as they want.

What is the most rewarding part of being a part of Business East Sussex?

I appreciate it may sound clichĂŠd but I do have a genuine interest in helping to make a positive difference to businesses. There are an increasing number of businesses that, when I initially saw them, were struggling for a variety of reasons but are now becoming much more successful as a direct result of my guidance and navigations. This keeps me coming back for more!

Have you noticed the uncertainty created by the EU referendum affecting local businesses at all?

What’s your advice for moving forward not knowing the particulars of Brexit?

Of course there is uncertainty at

40 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Cover Feature: Business East Sussex

I see, so aside from those you’ve mentioned, who are your partners and how do you work with them?

Over the last 12 months we have been working hard to build a comprehensive database of local providers and partners that will allow us to offer relevant navigations, such as the Chambers of Commerce, East Sussex County Council, the University of Brighton and the other premium HE/FE facilities throughout East Sussex. We also partner with quality local support providers who conform to our service level agreements. We work closely with great national providers who can make a big difference to the businesses of East Sussex such as the FSB, UKTI, EEN and Innovate UK to name a few.

the moment in the local business community. Lots of people have many different ideas about what will, or may happen over the next few years, but no one really knows for sure. However, what I have seen since the referendum is a surprisingly positive attitude, even from business owners that voted to stay in!

It seems to be an acceptance of: OK, this is where we are, so what can we do with this? I have spoken to a number of exporting businesses recently and they all seem to be looking to the Far East markets where UK made products can claim a premium.

Therefore, working with organizations such as UKTI, Chambers of Commerce and UKEF can give businesses the knowledge and confidence to step into the export arena for the first time or grow their export business. We can make those connections and to other areas of support for exporting businesses.

How do you work with campaigns, for example the UKTI’s Exporting is GREAT campaign, or government campaigns and other business projects to better the service you give?

I think this is an example of the value of the growth hubs. As a business owner you are usually either left with a night time trawl of the internet and the possibility of not finding what you want or information that is out of date or inappropriate, or doing what around 35% of businesses owners do and that is to talk to their mate down the pub (and yes, that is a real figure!).

The Growth Hubs are the recognized conduit for the dissemination of business advice and support now (there are 39 across the country) and as such are the first port of call for governmental bodies and organizations wishing to reach a local business community.

Our website carries information and links to government bodies and campaigns whilst our social media activity, including #ASKFRED brings up to date current topics.

You can get in contact Fred email Fred.Thomas@ldbgroup.co.uk or join the #AskFred Twitter conversation via @BizESussex Alternatively, ‘Like’ Business East Sussex on Facebook: facebook. com/BusinessEastSussex

Case Studies Gary Barlow from Skinners of Rye explains how Business East Sussex helped them find funding for his exciting new premises move: “I’d heard about government grants, so I went onto the internet and looked through the search engine results, and found Business East Sussex. Business East Sussex is very professional. They knew exactly what was available – after I gave them all my information, they told me what was possible and what was available, and directed me to the right location.

“Yes, government grants are available, but when you get one, if you haven’t got the services of businesses like Business East Sussex, it would be a minefield; you just wouldn’t know where to start. With people like Fred, and the team at Business East Sussex, it is just so much easier to know what grants are available and to make it happen in the right period of time.”

Uckfield based Chartered Surveyors, Oldfield Smith didn’t know where to go in their search for a new employee. Fred put Director, Richard Oldfield in touch with Stephen King of the Lets Do Business Group who work in partnership with Sussex Coast College to provide Advanced Apprenticeships. Richard said: “He introduced me to his Employability Skills Tutor, Gail Lalljee, who took me through all the steps in taking on an apprentice, what to expect and what would be expected of us. She has been a fantastic support and guide through the process and really has made it simple and straightforward for us.

“Having listened to our needs, she presented the options and then arranged for interviews, which is how we came to take on Jack. At 18 years old he had proved his academic ability by securing good A-Level grades before starting with us. He has integrated well into the office and now has a key position providing administrative support for our Directors and technical staff.”

Visit the BES website for more information and to register for free business tips and advice: www.businesseastsussex.org.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 41

Health

Discrimination Against Pregnancy and Maternity Leave:

What are your Rights?

Sussex Business Times takes a look at women’s rights and the topic of pregnancy at work, along with the frequent problems and unanswered questions pregnant women face during their every day jobs

Recent studies have shown that in the UK, approximately Health 440,000 women every year pursue work right through their pregnancy.

Not only this, it was also revealed that around two-thirds of these women return to work very soon after giving birth, proving that pregnant and sleepdeprived mothers are just as determined and hard-working as the next person.

However, unfortunately almost half of these women experience some kind of disadvantage or maltreatment during working hours, simply due to falling pregnant or taking maternity leave - both every woman’s right.

This has become a heated topic after an increasing number of women seem to be losing out on existing or future job prospects because of their pregnancies. One case study mentioned on BBC Radio earlier this year focused on a woman whose desired and much-deserved promotion was taken away from her after informing her boss that she was pregnant, shining a very negative light on what should be a celebration.

Here at SBT, we are firm believers that pregnancy is not a disadvantage to a woman’s productivity, nor is it a disadvantage to a business. Instead of CEOs and managers dismissing pregnant women due to their condition, women should be offered alternative working conditions to best suit their job role as well as their general welfare.

42 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

“A recent report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission shows that the number of women who lose their jobs for getting pregnant has almost doubled, as has the number of working mothers reporting discrimination” After hearing many stories about pregnancy and maternity discrimination taking place in the working environment, Joeli Brearley founded the ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’ project, which supports women facing these problems and exposes the frequency of this ongoing issue. Speaking to us on this topic, Jeoli spoke passionately: “The project is run by a group of impassioned volunteers and we now have a large community of

women who want to fight for recognition, respect and change.”

The main mission of ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’ is to completely eliminate pregnancy and maternity discrimination, as well as ‘protecting and empowering its victims’, according to the Pregnant Then Screwed website. (www. pregnantthenscrewed.com).

“A recent report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission shows that

Health

“For employers, pregnancy can feel like a challenge but with the right attitude and through good communication, you can eliminate any negative impact this could have on your business, leaving you with a happy and dedicated member of the team” the number of women who lose their jobs for getting pregnant has almost doubled, as has the number of working mothers reporting discrimination,” stated Joeli. “The language used by businesses when discussing pregnancy is negative; pregnancy is seen as a burden to the workplace and this means that 50% of discrimination cases start from the moment a women announces she is pregnant. Despite this, research has shown that if companies look after pregnant women and new mothers, they will reap the benefits through loyalty, dedication and hard work.”

Joeli, who is a mother herself, then went on to speak about her own experience of unfairness in the work environment, which led her to struggles in her day-to-day life: “I was sacked by my employer two days after I informed them of my pregnancy. The experience had a negative effect on my mental health and it wasn’t until after I had my baby and started to meet other mums that I realised how systematic this problem was.”

Businesses everywhere will plainly know the ‘risks’ that come along with taking on female employees – it is foreseeable that at some point, one or more of your women workers could fall pregnant, so why are women so frequently penalised for carrying new life? And what actually are your rights as a pregnant woman or a mother on maternity leave?

According to the government website, pregnant employees have four main legal rights; paid time off for antenatal care, maternity leave, maternity pay or allowance and protection against unfair treatment or discrimination – something a large amount of businesses seem to dismiss. Additionally, company owners or managers are obliged to assess the

possible risks to the woman and her baby, for example; heavy lifting, standing or sitting for long periods of time, long working hours and exposure to toxic or harmful substances. Once a risk assessment has been completed, it is then the job of the employer to take adequate steps in removing these risks, whether it is by changing the employee’s working hours or offering a different kind of work. If an employer is to ignore or dismiss these factors, they are at risk of breach of contract, which is why it is especially important that women know and understand the legalities surrounding this issue.

Joeli concludes: “For employers, pregnancy can feel like a challenge but

with the right attitude and through good communication, you can eliminate any negative impact this could have on your business, leaving you with a happy and dedicated member of the team.”

For details surrounding your legal obligations at an employer or your rights an employee, visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission website: www.equalityhumanrights.com You can also visit: www.pregnantthenscrewed. com or visit their twitter page, @pregnantscrewed for more information.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 43

Book Review

SBT Recommends: I DON’T WORK FRIDAYS

By Martin Norbury

I Don’t Work Fridays is the latest book written by the Scalability Coach and Business Mentor of the Year 2015, Martin Norbury. Here SBT gives an insight into what the book is about and why anybody in business, those thinking of starting a business, or simply anybody who is interested in business, should read it for themselves

Essential Reading

Here is a short snippet from the ‘I Don’t Work Fridays’ Introduction...

Are some people just born lucky or

naturally brilliant?

I’ve never been much of a ‘people’ person – although I am a person who understands a lot about people.

Just like all of the other discoveries that we are going to explore through the pages of this book, that was something I learned much later on in my journey.

It was only by looking back and getting under the surface of those experiences, that the ‘Scale’ philosophy for creating and managing business growth ever saw the light of day. The process was there but it needed defining in order to release its potential and turn it into something I could share.

It is an interesting observation, and far more common than you’d imagine, that successful people often don’t know how they got there. Many of the pioneers,

44 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

gold-medallists, award winners and inbuilt, instinctive behaviours that drive multi-millionaires of our world simply the great and the good to live amazing can’t understand why other people lives can become learned behaviours for aren’t like them. Often it is only by anyone. soul-searching and self-examination The same goes for successful that they can even businesses and their start to get a handle on owners. If you have what they do differently. that spark which led “Useful Lessons Typically it is only when you to go out on for any budding other people start your own and chase business person, studying their seemingly the dream, or even however, for those if you were led there super-human instinct who are looking and passion that the through circumstance rest of us can learn for hoops to jump and necessity, you the processes and are already half way through or a motivations that make escaping the quick-fix, it’s not a to them tick. So, if many of norm. That is a partial miracle ‘get-richthe greatest people who compliment, but it quick guide” ever lived can’t tell you is mainly meant as what makes them so an encouragement. different, it seems logical You see, no one ever to conclude that they genuinely were won a race by doing really well at the just lucky enough to be built that way. beginning but not finishing. Likewise, If that is true, then life is pretty unfair, the business that shows potential although nobody ever said that it was then fades away or barely touches the supposed to be fair! surface of average is as far from the The really exciting news is that those headlines as it is a healthy bottom line,

Book Review

but if you have started and you still believe the dream is achievable, then I salute your courage and your quest for a solution. If you keep on reading, I promise to show you the ‘how’ which will reward the ‘why’ you started in the first place.

The fact is that we can all be better than we were yesterday and the cumulative effect of daily progression, applied throughout the rest of your life, would make more difference than you could possibly imagine – for you and ultimately for those that mean the most to you. Think about that for a while.

The very same principles and rules that drive excellence in ‘above average’ individuals can be applied to businesses. This book has been written to teach you how to apply scaling to your business, through the lessons that I have observed and learned through a life of dance, magic, rebellion, tragedy, entrepreneurship and major corporate directorship.

Our Review In I Don’t Work Fridays, entrepreneur and scalability coach Martin Norbury takes the reader through the story of his career up to the present day, populating the pages with brief asides and using his experienced hindsight to show the

reader how his path and decisions shaped his future and the lessons he was learning - whether he was aware of them at the time or not! He carefully explains why the entrepreneur is the wrong person to grow their business, and reveals a set of simple tools to help any striving entrepreneurs achieve sustainable growth and realise their ambitions. Martin’s words give a muchneeded confidence boost whilst also keeping any ambitious feet firmly on the realist-ruled ground.

The book contains a wealth of very useful lessons for any budding business person, however, for those who are looking for hoops to jump through or a quick-fix, it’s not a miracle ‘get-richquick guide’. Without trying to tell the reader how to be successful, it equips you with the thought process to make it happen by your own means, which I believe is the ideal tactic and best means of truly learning. The book focuses a fair amount on highlighting transferable skills and training the business mind with successful scalability principles so that any potential that’s already there can be expanded.

Written in straightforward language and with relatable personal experiences, I Don’t Work Fridays is a concise and

even amusing read for anyone at any stage of their business career. The key messages to take away are messages of determination, simplicity, motivation and effort; that hard work pays off, but the best ideas aren’t necessarily the complex ones.

This book is definitely one that will stay on my shelf, and one which I will refer back to in order to broaden my knowledge and relearn important business principles.

Overall an easy, enjoyable and thoroughly informative read, and one that I would thoroughly recommend.

I Don’t Work Fridays, by Martin Norbury, £11.99. amazon.co.uk

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 45

Come Together

Working collaboratively is something that almost every business must learn to do in order to be successful. It’s a must, to be able to pool resources and skills, and working with the best people can ensure that you get ahead. So, what effects can be achieved when these skills are put to use for the force of good? Sussex Business Times recently put the theory to the test

Just a short while ago, the Sussex Business Times hotline rang Charity out in the office with an unusual request.

The call came in from Lottie Dowdeswell, who represents a charitable care home, based at the rear of the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne. Lottie was keen to ask us if we knew of anyone who might be willing to sponsor the overhaul of the home’s communal lounge area, as they were becoming threadbare and increasingly in need of a lick of paint.

Scratching our heads, as we did, we decided to take on the challenge, and with Lottie taking the reigns, we quickly rounded up a number of businesses that wanted to support the project. All Sussex -based operations and some with national and international reach, the weight of the support from such a breadth of business sectors, has been heartening.

The supporters of the project have come in the shape of Brewers Home, who will be supplying design support, expert advice, product and labour, Newmans

46 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

of the rooms to ensure that they are used business solutions, Sanders Property to their full capacity. The carpet was Management/Ginger and Sanders property rentals, Barwells Quality Solicitor, the first comment made by all, which I agreed was definitely in need of updating.

Price & Co accountants, Hidden Hearing Secondly, the walls needed to be Eastbourne and The Checkatrade brightened up but with no funds to carry Foundation. out the work, we needed a plan!

We spoke with Lottie Dowdeswell, “It was tough initially, finding contacts Activities Coordinator and Fundraiser to pursue for the for Berry Pomeroy support but I found and she gave us “The residents are very Linkedin to be a an overview of the excited about the new great resource and project from her lounges and can’t wait it lead me to most perspective: “I joined for them to be finished & of the supporters the team here at ready to be enjoyed for for the project as Berry Pomeroy in many years to come” it stands. As soon February this year as we had a few and fell in love with Lottie Dowdeswell - Activities companies on board, the warm and happy Coordinator and Fundraiser and thankfully, it got attitude of the staff - Berry Pomeroy simpler to secure and residents; the the remaining place has a really businesses. and I am truly grateful to all positive feeling about it. As I looked those who are supporting us as we run a around and became familiar with the fantastic charity which helps so many in communal rooms through my work as the activities coordinator, I felt the lounges their advanced years.” says Lottie.

“I can’t wait to see the finished result! downstairs were a little dark and dated It really will be a joyous occasion with so I got chatting to the residents and plenty of cocktails for the residents and staff on what they would ideally like out

Brewers Albany Wallpaper

staff to enjoy in celebration. The beautiful wallpaper from the Albany range as provided by Brewers Home will look fantastic. I know it will because they have a clever app on their website, which allows you to try different wallpapers ‘virtually’ before you buy, so we are sure that we’ve made the right choice. With support from Brewers Home throughout the renovation, we have received nothing but the best advice, knowledge, products and overall help. With so many beautiful products and clever ideas coming from Brewers Home, and at such fantastic prices, you can afford to be stylish.”

Lottie added: “I am so pleased that the final six (as I like to call them) came together to help such a worthy cause; Berry Pomeroy is a great place to live and work and we would like to thank Sussex Business Times, the ‘final six’ and the team at Brewers Home for their help, generosity and kindness in the project.

We are jointly hosting a networking and celebration event with Sussex Business Times and everyone’s invited. Information for this will be circulated via SBT’s newsletter so if you’re not signed up - do it now! We hope to see you there.”

We also spoke with Stephen Ash, Solicitor and Partner at QS Barwells: “We are proud to be involved with the refurbishment of the lounge at Berry Pomeroy Care home. We have a specialist team to deal with later life legal issues so we understand how important it is for people to be happy and comfortable in their surroundings if they are living in a care home. Berry Pomeroy has a fantastic reputation for respecting and caring for the individual residents and creating an environment that is friendly,

Before the Berry Pomeroy refurbishmemt. Keep an eye out for the September issue of SBT for the final result

Berry Pomeroy

caring and tailored to each individual needs. In that sense, it shares the same values that we do as Solicitors – offering personal legal advice about wills, powers of attorney, tax and probate.”

Stephen continued: “As a local business we are rooted in the community and depend on building good relationships with our clients and other local business. By visiting Berry Pomeroy and finding out what daily life is like for the residents it helps us to better advise our clients if they are faced with the decision about entering a care home for the first time, which can be a daunting experience. Similarly, the team at Berry Pomeroy can build an understanding of the importance for their residents to have their legal affairs in order; be it making a lasting power of attorney so their family can assist with managing their financial

affairs, to making a will and funeral plan to ensure their wishes are followed in the event of their death. Often a brief chat with a legal specialist can resolve any niggling questions an individual may have put off for years and usually leads to a huge sense of peace of mind (our fixed prices help too). It’s been great to work together with Berry Pomeroy and the other companies involved in this project.

We hope it will make a long-lasting difference to the lives of residents there and we’re looking forward to working together on similar projects in the future.

We’ve already discussed holding a combined Dementia awareness seminar so there are a few things in the pipeline.”

Talking to Hidden Hearing, Eastbourne, we were told: “We put our customers first because we care about their needs and quality of life. Berry Pomeroy supports residents who have very similar needs to our own customers so the opportunity to reach out further and support people in the local community felt like a great idea to us. We have supported a variety of charities over the years from Help for Heroes, Hearing Dogs, Computers 4 Africa and most recently Music and the Deaf. This project is a little more unusual but it has been great to work with others and pull together to create the support for this project.”

The works are taking place as we go to press and we will follow up in the September edition of Sussex Business Times with some pictures of the finished spaces for all to see what can be achieved when great businesses come together.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 47

Lunch Review:

Mojo Coffee House For this month’s lunch review, Sussex Business Times takes a trip to Brighton town to enjoy lunch at Mojo Coffee House

Mojo Coffee House Brighton

Address: 23 Queens Rd, Brighton BN1 3XA Telephone: 01273 779320 Web: www.mojocoffeeclub.co.uk

48 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Located on Queens Road, with a twin shop on Lewes Road, Review Mojo Coffee House is the ideal place for a relaxing and comfortable lunch, right in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Brighton, making it the perfect pit stop for commuters and students alike.

Before even walking in, my mum and I were enthusiastically greeted by two out of the three polite and friendly staff working that day, who made a point of introducing themselves and the coffee shop they seem very proud to be working in. When walking in my initial thoughts were of how small the shop was, building up concerns of an unrelaxing lunch if it were to fill up with people. However, when walking past the counter – which hosted a plentiful fresh cake display - I came across another, almost hidden part to the building, offering the customers who may not want to endure the street commotion - a large amount of peace and privacy.

One thing that impressed me the most was the interior design. The front of the building featured lovely round wooden tables, all situated near the huge front window, allowing customers to watch the world go by while eating their lunch.

With the counter directly in front of the door, visitors will also get a warm-hearted welcome from the sociable staff, just as I did - bound to put a smile on anyone’s face. The white walls meant the shop was bright and cheerful and were nicely contrasted with several arty photographs on one side, while the enormous menu board took up the other wall, chock-ablock with the never-ending list of lunches and drinks available to us. As I continued round the shop I came across a beautiful stone fireplace, perfect for cosy winter nights. My favourite attribute to Mojo Coffee House, was by far the lighting, which had been uniquely created by the manager’s husband, who put jars over the bulbs – something I had never come across before in any coffee house or restaurant, for that matter.

Although a table had already been

Tried and Tested in Sussex

reserved for us, we were told by the manager to sit anywhere we wanted as she gave us a menu each, proving that the happiness of their customers is their main priority.

We followed the stairs up to the second part of the building, where we decided to sit for the duration of our lunch, and were accompanied by a variety of music to suit every mood. This half of the shop was almost the opposite of the first half, which I think made the acsthetics all the better. Three low tables were placed along the left-hand side, each with a number of luxury leather armchairs – which we picked straight away! The walls were made half of vertical wooden beams while the top half consisted purely of mirrors, providing a lovely combination of modern and rustic designs. The overall area, along with the small bookshelf and flowers on each table, gave off a cosy cottage or living room vibe, making us feel very at home during our visit.

The staff, who provided us with pleasant service, came up to our table to take our drinks order, along with politely giving us the choice of ordering our food straight away, or enjoying a drink beforehand. We decided to wait for before ordering our food, so I opted for the Happy Days Mojo – a smoothie consisting of banana, forest fruit, yoghurt and honey, while my mum chose the iced late with hazelnut syrup.

Almost moments after ordering our drinks, they arrived at our table in oldfashioned jugs with a straw, and were served with a smile. I was again, given the option of ordering food or waiting, we decided to wait again, as the anticipation of trying my colourful smoothie was eating away at me. Even if we had waited an hour for our drinks, it would have been worth it, as they were beautiful and refreshing; perfect for this hot weather.

Now content and quenched, we went up to the counter to order our food. I opted for the chorizo, chicken, mozzarella and tomato Panini, while my mum went for the goat’s cheese, red pepper, tomato and pesto Panini. After waiting no more than 10 minutes, our food was served to us, each meal accompanied by a mixed lettuce salad and garnish, along with the offer of a glass of iced water.

Both Panini’s were full to the brim with the different ingredients, but full to the perfect level, so we could taste all the wonderful individual flavours. During our meal, which we both thoroughly enjoyed,

the attentive staff came to our table at least twice to ensure that everything was okay and ask if there was anything else we needed.

After inhaling our food and almost unable to take another bite, one of the managers came to clear our plates almost immediately, and asked us if we would like to have a taster of their brand new signature dessert dish, which we couldn’t turn down. He came back with, what they had named, an Affogato – chocolate fudge brownie and ice cream in an espresso, which sounded strange to me at first as a non-coffee drinker, yet I was delightfully surprised. The vanilla flavoured ice cream was the perfect supplement for the sharp taste of coffee, while the chocolate fudge brownie was beautifully light – the perfect dessert after a meal.

Overall, the divine food along with

“The divine food along with the impeccable service and funky interior made for a perfect lunch”

the impeccable service and funky interior made for a perfect lunch, and I left with only one minor complaint – the lack of ventilation down the back end of the shop. Aside from this, my visit to Mojo Coffee House made for a wonderful and unique experience, the perfect place for a lunchtime bite.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 49

Hotel Review:

Hotel Du Vin

With the Bistro Du Vin celebrating some changes, Jenny Ardagh reviews the dining experience and Hotel Du Vin facilities for a short break in the historic Brighton Lanes The Hotel Du Vin & Bistro has always been somewhere Review I’ve walked past and thought ‘I’d like to stay there one night’ – of course, with the job I have it’s a wonder why I haven’t taken action on this thought before.

When I received my invite to an evening celebrating the changes that have been made within the Bistro, I was very glad to accept and go just that little bit further: to book a review of the hotel.

The website boasts of the hotel’s position on the seafront in Brighton: “Take a pebble. Throw it. That’s how close you are to the seafront,” which is exactly true. Tucked away in the oldest part of the city, in the South Lanes, the charming, gothic-style exterior immediately brings some character to the hotel and to the surrounding alleyway (which, admittedly, doesn’t hold much to boast about itself). First built by a wine merchant in 1695, it has appropriately kept to its roots, offering al fresco dining under vine-covered beams, rustic, almost ‘steam-punk’ style lights hanging exposed to create a very cosy and protected atmosphere. My guest

50 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

and I walked into the courtyard, met by a crowd of people all enjoying the al fresco fish stand, packed with fresh lobster claws, crab, prawns, shrimp, smoked mackerel, smoked salmon, salmon fillet and oysters. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try an oyster but the rest was divinely fresh-tasting and delicious. I was just off to get another serving when the food opportunities indoors caught my eye – a huge buffet filled with Sunday Roast.

There were Yorkshire puddings the size of an adult hand, beautifully succulent

Hotel Du Vin Brighton Address: 2 Ship St, Brighton, BN1 1AD Telephone: 01273 855221 Web: www.hotelduvin.com fillet of beef, chicken, pork, rack of lamb, roast potatoes, glazed carrots and a range of sauces to accompany it all. And if you weren’t full enough after all this, there was a surplus of cheeses awaiting you upstairs, with crackers and chutney, plus profiterole or apple pie ice cream for dessert, cocktails flowing and champagne and ales to taste. Suffice to say, I was very satisfied by the end of the evening, and I truly felt like I had tasted the entire Bistro menu. As such, I am happy to say that everything was absolutely delectable

and I will be going back to the Bistro Du Vin with friends, colleagues or whoever will agree to a lunch with me.

I spent some time admiring the interior of the bar area before heading to my room. The overall feel was as if you’d stepped into a gothic-turnedmodern wine cellar, combined with a shabby-chic barn renovation. Wooden beams protruded from ceilings and walls, the furniture was sophisticated, laid back and comfortable; velvet and dark studded leather chairs with antique style coffee tables were dotted around the room next to the very inviting and modern-looking bar. Upstairs hosted more armchairs reminiscent of a traditional coffee house, facing double French doors that opened out onto a terrace overlooking the courtyard below.

Everything had a very circular flow feel to it; you could walk from the courtyard through the bar area, up the stairs and back down to the courtyard again very easily, which was perfect for a do like this.

There are 49 rooms at the Hotel Du Vin – something you wouldn’t think possible on first looks, but there is in fact a huge amount of space surrounding the main area. Here the hotel promises super-soft Egyptian cotton linen, big fluffy towels, roll top baths and drenching monsoon showers.

Our room was a Standard Double although there is a choice of Standard Twin, Superior Double, Junior Suite, Sea View Suite and Cristal Suite – just off of the courtyard itself. The room was wellsized for a one night stay, with a very modern and pristine bathroom including a monsoon shower. The only slightly disappointing thing was the lack of light – because we were in a room essentially enclosed between two buildings, we only had the one very tiny window out to the world on the door itself. This proved to be quite disorientating in the morning, waking up to a pitch-black room and having to use artificial light much more than is necessary in the midst of British summer. Luckily though, there was good air conditioning, which I was thankful for on a hot night. We had a plasma TV, a sound system with iPod connection facility, a Queen-sized (and very comfortable) bed, a set of armchairs and table and all the trimmings you usually find in a hotel room.

So, my sleep was a sound one, and I looked forward to trying the breakfast the next morning. Up bright and early to

get back to work at a vaguely acceptable hour, I headed to the dining room and chose my usual – which as some of the more astute readers may have noticed is an Eggs Benedict. I like to think it’s so I can get a fair comparison, but truth be told, I’m simply a creature of habit. The menu had the usuals, with a few wild cards thrown in, such as a healthy full English with carrot and ginger sausage, tomato and spinach. I must admit, I found the prices a little more than I am used to for a breakfast, in particular the ‘country table’, which seemed a tad too much for a fairly simple collection of croissants and yogurts. Nonetheless, my breakfast was perfect.

The stay had all the character of a night away in Brighton, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. The Bistro and dining options overall at the Hotel Du Vin are fantastic for a client lunch or

“I have had a few meetings here myself and have always felt it to be an ideal combination of relaxing and sophisticated” dinner, or even celebratory drinks after work. I have had a few meetings here myself and have always felt it to be an ideal combination of relaxing and sophisticated. My stay was perfectly enjoyable for one night, but I would recommend a Superior Double or Suite for two people if you’re staying for a longer period of time, just for that added comfort.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 51

Chamber News

The Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex Join your local Chamber of Commerce - listed here - and you automatically become a member of The Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex (ACES). This gives you access to 4,000 members across East Sussex, the Best4Biz Conference 2016 at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on Friday 14th October and these business pages where you can share news about your business free of charge

Business round table takes place in Bexhill with Huw Merriman MP Representatives from the local business community gathered at the seafront Cooden Beach Hotel in Bexhill to meet Bexhill and Battle MP Huw Merriman and to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the area.

The Business Breakfast event was hosted by Peter Mills, Barclays Corporate Relationship Director. Twenty five people attended the event with owners and managers of local businesses joining representatives from Bexhill Chamber of Commerce, Sussex Chamber of Commerce, the Council and Barclays.

Businesses represented at the event included a local museum, retailers, a property company, care homes, solicitors, accountants and a business finance consultant.

Huw Merriman MP talked about his view of the current situation in Bexhill and his optimism about the local scene.

He acknowledged the challenges for businesses locally caused by the uncertainty around the EU referendum result and described the broader challenges facing the area including the transport infrastructure, particularly the problems with Southern Trains.

52 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Chamber News

The question and answer session and discussion covered a range of subjects including the availability of commercial premises, parking issues, the Apprentice Levy, the challenges of the housing market and the Broadband and 4G network coverage.

Huw Merriman MP said: “I am grateful to Barclays and their business customers for giving me their views on the local and national economy.

I recognised their concern and uncertainty following the European Union referendum. I hope that those attended were reassured that my focus remains on delivering the local infrastructure which businesses need to deliver economic growth. I also hope that there was reassurance that our Government will not make knee-jerk reactions but will sensibly negotiate a better deal for Britain in the EU. I am optimistic that we can do so.”

Peter Mills said: “This event was a great opportunity to bring together business managers and other representatives from the area for a really positive and practical discussion. Our customers locally are doing well with a strong desire to expand and real increases in businesses revenue and there is still a feeling of confidence in the area.”

Panda Boxes Clever For Cancer Research Prayaag Panda, a graduate placement at Ellis Building Contractors, recently took part in a boxing event for charity.

The budding construction manager took a break from working on the multi-million pound development of luxury homes on King Edward’s Parade Eastbourne and donned boxing gloves to raise money for Cancer Research.

Prayaag said: “I raised £500 for Cancer Research UK. The whole experience was unlike anything I had ever taken part in. I managed to help a fantastic cause, get into better shape and win my first fight at The Grand in Brighton!’’

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53

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

Chamber News

in East Sussex

Heritage Trust Sing Praises Of10 Ellis TR Fastenings - Best Profits for Years Trifast Company) After(AChurch Restoration

F

ounded in a small rented office at the top of Uckfield High Street in 1973, Mike Timms and Mike Roberts established their business after becoming disenchanted working for a large industrial group in Birmingham that restricted their creativity and individualism.

They focused on sourcing and selling industrial fastenings to light assembly industries in the South East at a time when ex stock deliveries could take as long as three weeks from the larger industry market leaders. Their core values were “look professional, be professional, provide outstanding service, sell on value rather than the cheapest price, maintain dynamic cash management and motivate and take care of your staff”.

However, the DotCom crash in 2001 devastated sales and profits in just a few short months, and the two Midlands factories had to be closed as the focus was intensified into Asia.

A change of senior management in 2007 and the 2008 recession resulted in the near collapse of the Company, with 2008 revenues down to £84m with substantial losses, and in March 2009 the two previous retired CEOs (Malcolm Diamond and Jim Barker) were invited back by the shareholders to rescue the business.

By 2010 profitability started to recover, as did the share price.

In 2011 a major automotive bolt manufacturer was acquired in Malaysia, and in May 2014 a leading domestic appliance

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

From left to right: Frank Clarke, Clarke Roofing, Larry Patching, Ellis Building Contractors, Ian MacKellar and Canon Mendel from St Mary’s Church Malcolm Diamond MBE and Jim Barker

A project In to1978, restore the oldest church fasteners in Two new metal handrails were manufacturing of specialist intoalso screw business in Italy was brought washas started in Uckfield, subsequent the Group.

Eastbourne resulted in awith top heritage installed in the south porch in the style of factories established in Northampton and award for Telford Ellis. in the 80’s. a bishop’s to sectors improve accessibility TR’s majorcrook customer include Domestic Ellis was highly commended at the intoAutomotive, the church, whichAppliances, the judges In the late 80’s, IBM selected TR as their most Electronics and Distributors – all of which are Sussex Heritage Trust Awards their as, ‘imaginatively designed eligible component supplierfor to be trained in described enjoying organic growth. defect/on time deliveries new work at Stzero Mary the Virgin Churchtoina Old and blended in extremely well’.

In June 2014, TR announced the best sales, assembly facility that relied on “Just In Time” Town. The building is a 12th century Larry would to thank profitsadded: and share“Iprice for alike decade, now Ian deliveries straight to their production line. with 1,150and staff Canon spread across 17 countries.

Grade I listed church and demands only a MacKellar Mendel from St Successful compliance led to TR being Trifast Plc is based in Uckfield and along with single source supplier with IBM, which then Mary’s the most specialised care and repair.

Church and our working partners TR’s sales, distribution and manufacturing attracted other major telecoms The team from Ellis Building at Clarke facilities Roofing. employs over 150 staff on site. As the manufacturers to TR. The massive 1990’s surge largest local employer, theresults Company Contractors restored the church tower, always, the best are electronics sector carried it to a full LSE “As in the maintains close links with both the Uckfield as a PLC in 1994and named Trifast. listingweathervane including the clock face, achieved through close collaboration Chamber of Commerce a founder member and madeByextensive repairspeaked to theatoriginal andofthe of the inspecialist 2000, sales turnover £120m the application Alliance of Chambers East Sussex sales, and by 2001 three component (ACES) andand the local College. stonework. experience skillsCommunity needed to factories had been established in Singapore, The College is the main annual provider of ‘A’ Larry Patching, who led the team complete highly sensitive work on Malaysia and Taiwan, with sales and Level candidates for TR’s 2 year NVQ Business facilities in Southern Studies Apprenticeship scheme. from Ellis,distribution said: “We had to ensureIreland, the buildings of this age and importance.”

Norway, Sweden, USA, Holland, Hungary and work carried out remained in keeping The church Despite globalremained uncertaintyopen there isand clearly China, plus eight around the UK. andand a feeling amongst TR management with all of the original church features. operational throughout the project The Company had become global by staff that there are grounds for cautious Various specialists were employed on site disruption was kept to an absolute following its former UK based multinational optimism for the future continuing growth including stone masons andcost clockmakers, minimum to allow scheduled services to lower economies key customers of their business as sales for year ended March 2015 are forecast reach to take – mainly Asia Central/ who haveoverseas been making andand restoring such as weddings and tofunerals £150 million.

Eastern Europe. clocks all over the world since 1844, place. working on well-known landmarks such as Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle and Big Ben.” www.acesalliance.org

www.acesalliance.org

54 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

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

Quality Solicitors Barwells support Berry Pomeroy Care Solicitors – offering personal legal advice about wills, powers of attorney, tax and probate.

As a local business we are rooted in the community and depend on building good relationships with our clients and local business. By visiting Berry Pomeroy and finding out what daily life is like for the residents it helps us to better advise our clients if they are faced with the decision about entering a care home for the first time which can be a daunting experience. Similarly, the team at Berry Pomeroy can build an understanding of the importance for their residents to have their legal affairs in order; be it making a lasting power of attorney so their family can assist with managing their financial affairs, to making a will and funeral plan to ensure their wishes are followed in the event of their death. Often a brief chat with a legal specialist can resolve any niggling questions an individual may have put off for years and usually leads to an huge sense of peace of mind (and we offer fixed prices too so it’s not as expensive as you might think!).

QS Barwells are proud to donate £500 towards the refurbishment of the lounge at Berry Pomeroy Care home.

Stephen Ash, Solicitor and Partner at the firm said:-

It’s been great to work together with Berry Pomeroy (and the other company’s that have donated) on this project that will make a long lasting difference to the lives of residents there and we’re looking forward to working together on similar projects in the future. We’ve already discussed holding a combined Dementia awareness seminar so there’s a few things in the pipeline’.

‘We have a specialist team to deal with later life legal issues so we understand how important it is for people to be happy and comfortable in their surroundings if they are living in a care home. Berry Pomeroy has a fantastic reputation for respecting and caring for the individual residents and creating an environment that is friendly, caring and tailored to each individuals needs. In that sense, it shares the same values that we do as

QualitySolicitors Barwells

Established 1896

Changing the way you see lawyers.

01323 411 505 www.qualitysolicitors.com/barwells

Let your business skyrocket.

Delivering streamlined office efficiency, offering an integrated range of equipment and services coupled with outstanding aftercare and support.

Newman help businesses to work a better way.

Proud to be supporting Berry Pomeroy

www.newmanbs.co.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 55

Motoring

Test Drive Infiniti Q30 1.5 Premium Tech Manual

I’m still moderately in essence. I took my first look at the fascinated by the car in the flesh and I was transported Infiniti brand. It’s back to my youth and days of playing Luxury a company that cars with my good friends on the seems to have crept banks of the school field. Hot wheels up on us through were, and probably still are, the best clever marketing toy cars around - they were well built, campaigns and elements of witchcraft; overstated, bullish and strong. Most aligning themselves early on, as they importantly, they rolled for longer and did with motorsports were faster than all and notably, Red Bull. of the others. No “The design team at question.

All of that seems like a distant memory Infiniti have managed It was all down to now and the brand their huge, sprung to refine this look, has concentrated on wheels and that’s resulting in a car building cars. Decent what caught my that boasts the cars at that. attention first with It’s fair to say that the Q30; ‘those’ aforementioned they have a certain wheels. Someone class” ‘signature’ style; an has actually designed aesthetic mixture of and recreated a fully class and boy racer-esque flourishes functional, real-life Hot Wheels car. and a far cry from their parent Brilliant! company, Nissan’s current range.

These 18” light alloys came with 5 That’s certainly the case with the Q30 (double) spokes and were accented anyway. The Q30 is a sort of hot-hatch with red for good measure, so looking

56 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

mean and punctuated by the body shape, which only served to say, ‘look at my wheels’ and ‘look at me’.

Somehow, the design team at Infiniti have managed to refine this look, resulting in a car that boasts the aforementioned class. The Q30 carries elements of styling that wouldn’t be out of place in the Jaguar range; in fact, the front grill has a lot in common. That said, this is an entirely more curvaceous car. It looks a little bit mean and sturdy but suggests that it will look after you so far as your safety’s concerned, at the same time, bullying other cars from your path.

Jumping into the driver’s seat, it’s very quickly apparent that the car also includes an impressive variety of gadgetry: fitting of the £27,550 price tag, (£28,950 with the optional Infiniti InTouch navigation system). The seats are full of pitted leather - along with the dashboard. It has electric everything and is extremely comfortable.

The interior of this car really is a good place to be; you feel cocooned, safe and sound.

Speaking of sound and importantly, there’s a 6-speaker sound system, fed by your choice of CD or smartphone connectivity, rear view camera with sensors all round, voice recognition system and automatic air conditioning.

Strangely, though, no DAB radio!

What’s going on there? I’ve become very used to listening to my favourite BBC 6 Music station in cars of recent times and for it to suddenly disappear is quite disconcerting.

So what about the drive? Well, as many readers will already know, I’m not a huge fan of manually operated engines with too many gears. This 1.5, 6 manual geared car from Infiniti has a 1.5l Diesel engine and maintains my philosophy on the point. There are too many gears, not enough torque in at least half of them and you need to change gear with alarming frequency.

On paper, this Q30 hits 62mph in 12 seconds but felt a little slower than that - especially with the irritating extra gear changes.

In addition and with a little help from ‘those’ wheels, the Q30 from Infiniti corners incredibly well. It sticks to the road and almost urges you to push the point when it comes to the physics of traction (let’s not forget that we’re in the embodiment of a Hot Wheels car).

Still, it’s no sports car, and for all of the attitude and styling, I couldn’t help but feel being left a little short in the performance stakes. The look of this car promises something that simply doesn’t arrive once you enter via the space age, keyless system. The grunt isn’t there and I can’t help but think that, if Infiniti had squeezed the potential of this impressive 1.5D engine into 5 gears, it would be much more fun.

Overall, and even if it doesn’t sound too much like it, I am impressed with

the Q30. It’s a solid car. Too many gears, for sure, but all-round and for the money, it’s a good choice if compared to the more expensive competitors in this space like the Volvo V40 D4 (for example). All mod cons; all except for DAB radio that is, it boasts many attributes and looking across the range, some offerings at price points that may start to give some of our more recognised manufacturers sleepless nights; Infiniti is a company that is getting it right.

Price (inc extras): £28,950 On sale: Now Engine: 1461cc 4-cyl diesel 107bhp @ 4000rpm, 192lb ft @ 1750-2500rpm Gearbox: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive 0-62mph: 12.0sec Top speed: 118mph Economy: 68.9mpg, 108g/km CO2

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 57

SBTMotoring News Coys Announce Auction at Fontwell Park During Britain’s Greatest Classic Motoring Week on the Monterey peninsula in August with a world-class concours, international auctions and fantastic historic racing at Goodwood; all running throughout the week and all held within the South East of England.

“We are delighted to announce this auction in the heart of Sussex and to be in the same orbit as other auction houses around these exciting series of events.”

International auctioneers Coys are delighted to announce an exciting new auction to be held on Thursday 8th September 2016 in the heart of the Sussex Downs within the historic grounds of Fontwell House, just a few furlongs from the world-class Goodwood Revival meeting.

The first week of September is set to be one of the most important weeks in the British classic motoring calendar, with a significant international Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle, major auctions in London and Sussex and what is considered the world’s greatest historic race meeting taking place at

Goodwood on September 9-10-11.

Only a few miles up the road from the action at Goodwood, the Coys ‘Thoroughbreds and Vintage at Fontwell’ auction will take place in the elegant gardens of Fontwell House, behind the traditional horse racing course.

Chris Routledge, CEO of Coys, said: “Early September is very much the British equivalent of events taking place

Mr Jaguar’s ‘Purrfect’ Saloon Lurches to Auction

Living Life as a Bentley Boy in New Film Featuring Wlliam Medcalf

Manufactured in 1961 at the Coventry factory, the car was delivered to Sir William in January 1962 and registered to his Wappenbury Hall address in Warwickshire. Not just any ordinary Jaguar, this Mk X was one of the very first “Zenith” cars produced and made specifically for Lyons to use as his daily driver and finished to his very personal and exact specification.

Lyons clearly demanded only the very best and this top of the range car houses a 3.8 litre, 6-cylinder engine, which could have whisked him along Warwickshire’s roads at speeds of up to 120mph.

The current owner purchased the car in 2014 and then decided to subject it to a long term, comprehensive restoration to near concours standard, carried out by Jaguar specialists under his supervision. The car was then transferred to the Jaguar Heritage facility in Coventry, returning to its production site after 50 years.

Now back to its original and exceptional glory, it will be sold at Silverstone Auctions’ most prestigious sale of the year, estimated to sell for between £75,000 and £100,000.

58 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

The 10-minute piece was filmed in the beautiful Sussex countryside, in the areas surrounding William Medcalf’s workshop and headquarters in Liss. This area not only provides the perfect driving roads but also shows England at its very best.

William tells the story behind his life-long passion for vintage Bentleys, and how he feels the cars should

be driven today.

“Anything with wheels should be raced. Everything with wheels should be driven to the limit,” he says. He also takes us on a tour of William Medcalf Vintage Bentley, providing an insight into why his business is regarded as the only place to go for vintage Bentleys, be it sales, service, race preparation or parts.

UK Car Production Hits 16-Year High After reporting their 11th consecutive month of growth in June, UK car makers have stated that production grew 10.4% to 158,641 units; the highest level for the month since 1998, when volumes reached 172,232.

The performance closes the industry’s best first half for 16 years, 1 with 897,157 cars rolling off production lines so far in 2016 – up 13% on the same period last year as billions of pounds of earlier investment in new models came to fruition.

Exports have been driving volumes,

with year-to-date demand up 14.9% to 695,139 units, while production for the domestic market also grew 7.1%.

UK Automotive is export-led, with 77.8% of cars built in the UK destined for more than 100 overseas markets, but the majority of which are headed for the rest of the EU. The UK automotive manufacturing sector has grown dramatically over the past few years and now employs 169,000 people, including many skilled EU nationals recruited to fill vacancies which the local labour force could not meet.

FRESH CLEANING SERVICES LIMITED

CLEANING SERVICES Fresh Cleaning Services are a Sussex based family owned commercial and domestic cleaning company. Fresh Cleaning has been established for over 10 years.

We pride ourselves on the personal touch to each individual client. Our staff are fully trained, achieve high standards which we except and maintain for our clients.

WHAT WE OFFER: • Office Cleaning • Stripping and resealing floors • Carpet Cleaning • Consumables provided • Free estimates and advice • Drive ways, patios and flag stone jet washed • Washroom services • Fully insured • Competitive rates • Testimonies available • Initial ‘spring clean’ to all new contracts • Visits from management to client sites

d.stephens@fresh-clean.co.uk • Tel: 07976 568241 • www.fresh-clean.co.uk www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 59

Berforts Ltd if you’re buying print, please make sure you talk to us

17 Burgess Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4NR Please mention the Lithographic printing 60 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

Sheet-fed digital printing

Sussex Business Times magazine when contacting us

Berforts Ltd f you’re buying print, please make sure you talk to us

g

nting

inting

Lithographic printing Sheet-fed digital printing B&W digital web printing Print on demand Variable data printing Print finishing

Please mention Sussex Business Please mention the Sussex Business Times magazine Times when when contacting us contacting us

Mailing and fulfilment

b a w

Worldwide distribution

ng

nt

tion

berforts

17 Burgess Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4NR. Tel: 0142 a world of print

ltd

Email: sales@berfor

ngs, East Sussex TN35722733 4NR. Tel: 01424 722733. Fax: 01424 721777 01424 • sales@berfort.co.uk • www.berforts.co.uk

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 61

Email: sales@berfort.co.uk · www.berforts.co.uk

SBT

ASK THE

SBT Ask the Experts is sponsored by

EXPERTS

WE ASK THE EXPERTS TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

EXPERT

Neil Taylor, Sales and Marketing Director at Admiral Security

What basic security and safety measures does my business need?

Today, many people discuss the risk of cyber security and data loss online, but what are you doing to protect your brick-and-mortar business?

During work hours, how easy is it for someone to just wander off the street and into your offices? Making sure that there are CCTV and Access Control procedures in place allows you to monitor exactly who is coming in and out of the building and when – ensuring your business and its employees are safe.

There are simple ways that your

EXPERT For small business owners, getting paid on time is crucial for success.

But, invariably, not everyone can or will pay up when they should, so how can you encourage faster payments and improve cash flow in your small business?

1. Discuss payment terms from the get go Getting the payment terms sorted upfront means there won’t be any confusion further down the track. It also sets the

info@checkaprofessional.com 62 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

business can ensure it is protected; checking that all locks and windows are secure and if employees leave late, making sure they know the correct procedure to lock the building securely (e.g. how to work the alarm systems).

What is the cost of burglary to the workplace?

Everyone is at the risk of crime, especially SME’s, where loss can significantly impact the day-to-day running of the business.

The cost of a burglary to a business is on average £13,570. This cost can include anything from loss of equipment, loss of wages, number of days closed and even emotional distress.

Furthermore, you may be held liable if your employees suffer loss by theft whilst at work, so making sure your business and employees are properly protected with systems to secure your business is essential to avoid suffering severe losses.

What happens if you publicise your companies’ activities online?

During holiday periods such as summer or Christmas, be aware that publicising that your company is closed or less employees are in attendance could draw in unwanted attention and put your company at risk to unwelcome individuals. Having intruder alarms and CCTV that can be monitored remotely can act as deterrents as well as give you peace of mind.

Contact Admiral Security today on 01737 855900 or visit: www.admiralsecurity.co.uk for expert advice on how to keep your business and employees safe.

Glen Foster, Head of Partner Channel at Xero client’s expectations around payment before you start the work.

2. Maintain detailed records of inventory and time This will save time when it comes to creating the invoice and will make sure none of the details are missed. It also means you can instantly let your client know if your work is going beyond the budget.

3. Make invoices clear and easily understood List the details of the job in a way that makes sense to the client, as any sort of confusion can lead to a lag in payment. Personalise your invoice with your business logo and your bank details to speed up the payment process.

4. Use online invoicing and implement payment services Xero offers an online invoicing feature that encourages collaboration with your clients. Changes made to invoices are instantly updated, providing you with information about whether the invoice has been received, and also whether it’s been viewed. This, coupled with a payment service, can help get that payment in up to two weeks quicker.

5. Keep track of late payments When your payments become overdue, send reminders, monthly statements or make phone calls. Having a process that helps streamline invoicing can reduce the amount of time you spend chasing your payments. www.xero.com/uk

0808 901 9042

SBT

ASK THE

SBT Ask the Experts is sponsored by

EXPERTS

WE ASK THE EXPERTS TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

EXPERT

David Mellor, Business Mentor

‘How do I choose the right business partner’ is a question I get asked regularly by clients. So here are 10 things to look for in a business partner and why.

3. Is it all me, me, me?

A partner must source work for everyone in the business – not just themselves.

1. Do you share a similar code of conduct?

If you don’t feel comfortable letting this person loose on your best client without you being there, there’s no point in going any further.

6. Do they put the client first?

They must believe this and genuinely do it.

2. What’s their track record?

You need evidence they can do what you’re looking for, consistently well.

EXPERT

4. Can they talk the talk AND walk the walk?

They might have technical excellence but they have to communicate well, too.

5. Can they seize the initiative?

You need someone who can spot opportunities and capitalise on them.

7. Are they confident and courageous?

Don’t mistake these traits for arrogance.

They should have the confidence to walk away from deals if they feel compromised or conflicted.

info@checkaprofessional.com

9. Are they authentic?

An individual’s authenticity reflects directly on the reputation of your firm.

10. Do they have technical excellence?

Their know-how, expertise and experience must add value to your business, so rate each attribute out of 10. You want a total of at least 70, with no single score below five.

I’d recommend a trial period too, and provision for an orderly dissolution of the partnership if things don’t work out. If you have an ounce of doubt, don’t do it. www.davidmellormentoring.com

Michael Dent, Managing Director, Inprova Energy Wholesale gas and electricity prices have jumped following news that the UK’s key gas storage facility could be shut down until Spring 2017. This will leave the country extremely tight on gas during the coming peak winter period.

Are business energy prices rising?

Double trouble could be in store for gas and electricity prices this winter due to gas supply problems and the Brexit effect – creating financial pressures for regional businesses.

8. Do they have business acumen?

They should be able to take a holistic view of the business and the marketplace before reaching commercial decisions.

Brexit effect This problem is made worse by the Brexit effect, which has helped push prices towards nine-month highs due to the collapse in value of the pound. Because the UK is a net importer of gas and coal, which are traded in dollars, the slump in the pound could lead to higher energy prices in the long term.

Fix contracts early The energy market looks very volatile indeed. We believe that local businesses who are due to renew fixed contracts

now and in 2017, should conclude negotiations as soon as possible.

While nothing is ever certain in terms of energy market forecasting, there’s every indication that the market is rising, so risk averse businesses would be better to settle soon.

Flexible contracts can be safer Flexible contracts can provide the best protection against market fluctuations by allowing energy to be contracted in chunks over a period of time, rather than fixing at one point and having to take the price that exists at that moment.

Further information: www.inprovaenergy.com Contact our Bexley Hill office on: 0330 166 4444.

0808 901 9042 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 63

Networking in Sussex

SBT

Society Lawyers Expand To Brighton

London and Sussex law firm, Warren’s Law & Advocacy celebrated the opening of its fourth office and new base in Brighton with guests, including the President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Jonathan Smithers, on June 30th.

Founded in Eastbourne 25 years ago by well-known solicitor, Rodney Warren, the firm has its roots in criminal law and in recent years it has diversified and grown significantly.

The new office, headed up by Anthony Waller and Dominic Murphy, will work hand-in-hand with the firm’s other offices at Old Bailey in central London, Lewisham and Eastbourne.

Located on Middle Street, Warren’s Law, Brighton will focus on providing specialist advice on all types of dispute resolution, family and education law, litigation as well as general and corporate crime.

Rodney Warren, Founder and Senior Partner commented: “We are delighted to have an office in the heart of the city - it perfectly complements our full service offering across the South East and while we deal with many high profile cases, we always provide the same exceptional personalised service to every client, irrespective of the size or nature of the case.” www.warrenslawbrighton.co.uk

64 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

0333 600 1234 0333 600 1234 18/03/2016 16:16 20/01/2016 12:58:47 20/01/2016 12:58:47

Hire Our Studio!

Our brand new, flexible studio space includes one of the largest infinity coves outside London and can be ‘dry’ hired or booked with some of the best creative professionals in the region.

• Product photography - including 360 degree modeling • Promotional films for web • Portraiture and group/team Photography • Full design & production services • Comprehensive kit list with both LED & strobe lighting For more information or to arrange a viewing contact Amy Watson at amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk or call 01323 819018

introducing...

Snack Box

healthy snacks for the office The Edgar’s Snack Box offers nutritious, low calorie snacks, which helps keep metabolism charged and energy levels high whilst satisfying cravings.

£5 off your first order

Our clients include:

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 55 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 55

call now to claim your discount code 0844 579 3999

Life at Berry Pomeroy At Berry Pomeroy we are dedicated to providing our Residents with the best possible care, maintaining their dignity and encouraging their independence. We aim to provide a homely and welcoming environment for them to enjoy and continue to live with as much independence and freedom of choice as possible.

Contact us now: 01323 720721 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk info@berrypomeroy.org.uk | berrypomeroy.org.uk

65

Made In Sussex

Made In Sussex: Argyll Environmental

Argyll Environmental is a premier risk management consultancy, specialising in environmental due diligence and risk assessment for property and land. SBT looks at their journey and where their success so far will take them in the future

Not a week goes by without a headline appearing in the Brand news relating to an Focus environmental issue, risk or concern; whether it’s flooding, subsidence, sink-holes or contaminated land. With more and more properties being developed, including those on brownfield sites, the need to assess and understand any potential environmental risk is vital from a risk management point of view for developers but also for future investors, owners and tenants.

As a city that is committed to sustainability, it is no surprise that Brighton has developed quite a reputation for environmental expertise and with demand for specialist environmental data and consultancy on the up, Brighton-based Argyll Environmental has witnessed significant growth. Since it was established back in 2004, the company has grown to a team of 24 and over this time has established a close relationship with the University of Brighton.

Simon Boyle, Argyll’s Environmental Law Director coordinates an MSc course module in Environmental Assessment and Management and around half of its employees are from Brighton University.

The team has recently relocated to larger

offices in Queens Road, Brighton, to enable further expansion to take place.

Reflecting on when the company was founded, Chris Loaring, Argyll’s Head of Consultancy confirms: “We initially set up to provide environmental due diligence and risk assessment data and reports for property and land transactions. This was primarily to law firms and, such was our success, that we quickly found ourselves providing this service to the majority of the UK’s top 50 law firms.”

Argyll soon expanded its services to include flood risk and in 2011 was acquired by Landmark Information Group significantly expanding the depth of knowledge it could provide and consequently strengthening its services.

Continues Chris: “Since becoming part of Landmark, it has really enabled us to scale our operations and broaden into new service areas. Today we work with a huge variation of clients – from global private equity asset managers, housing associations and property developers, through to planners and architects. We give them the environmental analysis they need to help them make fast and informed investment and management decisions, as well as ensure that appropriate insurances, environmental indemnity or remediation is put into place.”

Chris Loaring, Argyll’s Head of Consultancy

Looking ahead, Chris explains that several new launches are planned, including the start of a series of Environmental Breakfast Briefings: “We’ve got a busy time ahead with a range of new services in the pipeline, including a land-use decision-making application, which will make a big difference to those looking to redevelop brownfield sites. We are also keen to share our knowledge and expertise and establish our Queens Road office as an education centre for those wanting to learn more about environmental analysis. With this in mind, in early September we will be holding our first Environmental Breakfast Briefing, and invite professionals from the Sussex region to come and find out more about specific areas of interest.”

The first briefing will focus on brownfield development and feature a presentation from renowned expert Stephen Sykes on the challenges of brownfield development; plus it will include a special preview of some of Argyll’s new services.

For further information on Argyll Environmental visit http://www. argyllenvironmental.co.uk or call 0845 458 5250.

66 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

We’ll help you make more of your business, for free.

Would you like to start a business?

Would you like to expand your business?

Would you like help with funding your business?

If you would, #AskFred @BizESussex

We offer clear and impartial guidance at no cost, to inspiring business owners.

For a helping hand, get in touch: 0844 415 2260 www.businesseastsussex.org.uk info@businesseastsussex.org.uk 8th Floor, Ocean House, 87-89 London www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 67 Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex. TN37 6LW

68 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk