“THE SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES SHOW FOR EAST SUSSEX”
22 MARCH
2017
WINTER GARDEN EASTBOURNE
SPONSORED BY Big 2 Futures Show www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk #BIGFS2017
www.bigfuturesshow.org.uk
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SBTWelcome MEET THE TEAM
Lee Mansfield, Managing Director/ Publisher
Jenny Ardagh, Deputy Editor
Elliott Mansfield, Sales
Simon Skinner, Clare Fermor, Group Director/Editor Operation Director
Jess Saunders, Features Editor
Geoff Diamond, Sales
Darren Sinden, Sales
Harriet Weston, Production Manager
This month was truly a time full to the brim with events, and so in this edition, Sussex Business Times gives you the lowdown on the many proceedings we had the pleasure of attending; the Digital & You event in Burgess Hill being the first, with Sussex Business Times’ Editor, Simon Skinner, closing the event by hosting his own Q&A panel. SBT also attended the first ever Brighton Business Expo at Brighton Racecourse. We also introduce Mums Enterprise Ltd and their upcoming event set to take Brighton by storm next year – Mums Enterprise Roadshow, as well as preparing you for 2017’s Big Future Show. Thomas Eggar takes our cover this month, explaining in detail the reasons for the merge of their two original companies; Thomas Eggar and Irwin Mitchell and how this will benefit their many loyal and dedicated customers.
Amy Watson, Production Designer
CONTRIBUTORS
Rob Hilborn, Head of Strategy at Broadband Genie
As we truly settle in to the cold winter months, Sussex Business Times fills you in on all of the goings-on ahead of the Christmas period. In this November issue, we report back on some of the key issues facing our infrastructure sector, and take a look at housing, commercial development and the outcome of the airport expansion debate with leading figures at NatWest and Gatwick Diamond Business.
Louise Hopkins, Director at Recenseo Ltd
Tim Cobb, Cobb PR
Our finance feature this month focuses on the state of the Pound following on from the Brexit result back in June this year – yes, we’re still talking about it, but who isn’t? – while our health section is based on National Workplace Week. We also take a look at the importance of digital branding and the recent online relaunch of huge retailer, BHS. Alongside our lunch review at Limetree Kitchen in Lewes and our hotel review at The Bull in Ditchling, we have our usual Ask the Expert columns, and Chamber news (this month from Brighton & Hove Chamber) along with our Made in Sussex – with Blue Sky Books! I hope you enjoy your November read!
Nick Leavey, Head of Commercial Property, Coffin Mew
Vicky Brackett , Regional Managing Partner at Irwin Mitchell LLP
Kelly Ball, Managing Director of Positive Outcomes
Jess Saunders Features Editor
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SBTContents
Issue 406
Cover: Vicky Brackett, Regional Managing Partner at Irwin Mitchell LLP www.irwinmitchell.com 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: Darren Sinden darren@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: Anne Greenwood anne@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 ©
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News
View the latest local and national business headlines.
Spending it
Christmas is a time for giving... Spread your love with this selection of gorgeous gifts from W.Bruford.
Sussex Events
After attending Digital & You last month as its media partner, Sussex Business Times gives you a run down of the business event, which took place in West Sussex.
NatWest Roundtable
SBT and NatWest get together for another roundtable on Infrastructure, a pre-roundtable discussion in Sussex.
Finance
We look at the state of our currency after Brexit and ask what SMEs in Sussex can do to manage the consequential risk.
The Rise of Viticulture
Suzanne Craig, Partner at Knill James Chartered Accountants explains the increasing desire for start-up vineyards in Sussex and the tax implications that come along with it.
Cover Feature: Irwin Mitchell LTD
SBT gets the low-down on the Thomas Eggar and Irwin Mitchell merger and speaks to Regional Managing Partner At Irwin Mitchell LLP, Vicky Brackett.
Health
SBT takes a look at the topic of workplace healthcare, corporate medical insurance and how your staff should and can best be benefited from health schemes at work.
Tried and Tested in Sussex
Sussex Business Times’ Features Editor, Jess Saunders, enjoyed a three-course meal at Limetree Kitchen in Lewes.
Chamber News
Sussex Business Times has partnered up with Brighton & Hove Chamber this month to bring you all the latest news.
Motoring
Simon Skinner test drives two new cars; The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer and Peugeot 2008 Allure.
Ask the Experts
Local Sussex business experts advise on relevant issues.
Made in Sussex
This month’s home-grown hero is Blue Sky Books.
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SBTLocal News Jon Maile Promoted to Parnter at Grant Thornton’s South-East Office
Business and financial adviser, Grant Thornton UK LLP, has promoted Jon Maile to Parnter of their South East office. Jon is Head of Audit at the firm’s Gatwick office and works with dynamic businesses in Surrey, Sussex and Kent. Having initially joined the firm as a graduate trainee, Jon has come through the ranks at the firm. He has extensive experience in working both with businesses with established international operations and those who have ambitions to expand their business overseas, as well as with entrepreneurial mid corporates and listed companies, Jon is a specialist in financial reporting under both IFRS and UK GAAP. Jon commented: “I am delighted to join the core leadership team at Grant Thornton as Partner. I will use this opportunity to cement our commitment to delivering quality and excellence to our clients in the South-East.”
BD Foods Creates 40 New Jobs in Hastings Hastings-based food manufacturing business, BD Foods is expanding into purpose-built new premises and creating 40 new jobs with help from funding provided by East Sussex County Council. Since 2001, BD Foods has grown from a start-up company with just three members of staff, to its current size where it employs over 100 local people. The company is expanding rapidly and now has a turnover of £7 million a year as a result of 15 years of strong and sustained growth. Plans for a new factory were drawn up and BD Foods approached Hastings Borough Council and Locate East Sussex for support. The new factory, due to be completed late 2016, will see
an additional 40 new permanent jobs being created and will provide 10,000 sq. ft. of space next to BD Foods’ main production facility; exactly what BD Foods needs to grow. To find out more about how Locate East Sussex can support your business, visit www.locateeastsussex.org.uk
Brighton Fringe Announces £10,000 in Bursaries as 2017 Registration Opens Brighton Fringe has announced more than £10,000 worth of bursaries to help those who would like to take part in 2017’s festival. Arts of all kinds – dancers, spoken word artists, poets, young performers, those working in theatre, literature and so on – are all welcome and can all apply for funding and mentoring support when they register. For those who aren’t familiar with the event, Brighton Fringe is an open-access arts festival, meaning anyone with a show or event can take part and share their talents with the local community. Not only does this give new performers a chance to flourish but allows established artists to take creative risks.
Last year’s Brighton Fringe event saw over 930 different shows and events come to Brighton for 30 days in May and June. Those wanting to take part in this year’s Brighton Fringe event have until 20th January 2017 to apply, but those who apply before December 9th will receive special discount on the registering cost. For more information visit www.brightonfringe.org or call 01273 764900.
Starr Trust Celebration Night On October 12th the Starr Trust held its sixth Celebration Night, a very special evening that celebrates the lives and achievements of the young people that the charity has helped throughout the year. Almost 200 people came together at the Sussex County Cricket Ground, where sponsors, businesses and supporters had the chance to meet the young people whose lives have been transformed by their generosity. Nicole Carman, Starr Trust Press
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Manager said “What a wonderful evening: The Boundary Rooms at the Cricket Ground were buzzing and we were thrilled to see so many of our supporters there, including our lovely Patron, Robin Cousins. Local businesses attended like The Hilton, Brighton & Hove Buses and many more, all of whom have helped us raise an incredible £80,000 so far this year, and we’re so grateful for their continued support.”
If you know someone living in the BN postcode area, aged 10-18, who would benefit from an award, then email mel@starrtrust.com
SBTLocal News Winners of the P.E.A. Awards Announced at BAi360 tower in Brighton Founder of the P.E.A Awards, Jarvis Smith commented: “Our award categories represent the pillars required by a functional society. When they’re done well, we won’t just survive – we’ll thrive. We used four criteria: innovation, inspiration, success and scalability.” The award categories included Business, Energy, Food, Health, Pioneers, Homes, Money, Regional, Resources, Technology, Transport and Travel, while
just some of the award winners included Nessie Reid (who lived with two cows for five days in a bid to investigate the current state of farming and its environmental impact), Big Lemon, Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, Circuitree Energy Independence, Green Mop and MCB Seafoods. For more information on the P.E.A Awards and its winners, visit www.peaawards.com
Movers and Shakers: New Appointment at PAV i.t Claire Berry has joined IT services and solutions specialist, PAV i.t as a Service Operations Manager. She joins the team with a spectrum of experience in the IT sector, having spent 3 years as IT Service Delivery Manager at Equiniti and 17 years at The Body Shop, where she managed the end to end IT processes for the company’s stores across the world. Claire will be responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the PAV i.t ‘front door’ of IT service operations to
make sure that the services it delivers are fit for purpose and aligned to customer requirements. Claire commented: “I’m really excited to be joining PAV i.t’s team of consummate professionals at what is a pivotal time for the business, as they look to expand their client base and continue to be at the forefront of IT services and solutions for SMEs and companies across the UK.
Autumn Ball at Glyndebourne in Aid of Chailey Heritage Foundation On the 17th September, 300 guests came together at Glyndebourne for a glamorous autumn ball in aid of Chailey Heritage Foundation. Hosted by TV & radio presenter Katie Derham, the event raised £50,000 towards the Foundation’s new DREAM Centre Appeal. The DREAM Centre Appeal is an ambitious and exciting project to transform the current assembly hall, which was built in 1958 and is no longer fit for use, into a state-of-theart purpose built indoor facility, which will help disabled young people of today and the future to experience a whole range of arts and physical activities. The campaign is now live, and people are invited to make The DREAM Centre a reality by visiting chf.org.uk/DreamCentre for more information about the project and ways to donate.
Trio of Awards for Companies Helped by Locate East Sussex Three companies supported by Locate East Sussex have claimed awards at this year’s Best of East Sussex Business Awards to celebrate the cream of the county’s business. The ACES event was held at the De La Warr Pavilion on Thursday 13th October, attracting businessmen and women from across the county for a glamorous evening hosted by Radio 4 Presenter, Timandra Harkness, including a threecourse meal and live music. Winners of the Start-up Entrepreneur of the Year were Rory Myers and Matt
Woodhouse, owners of Half Man! Half Burger! on St Leonards seafront, while Surrey NanoSystems won The Innovation Award and also paid tribute to the services provided by Locate East Sussex. Overall Business of the Year was named The Source, the new underground skate park on Hastings seafront which was created from the derelict White Rock Baths. For more details about Locate East Sussex, visit www.locateeastsussex. org.uk or email enquiries@ locateeastsussex.org.uk
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SBTNational News
Photography © My another account (talk) | Wikicommons
Government Injects New Plans to Compensate Rail Passengers Rail passengers will soon be able to claim compensation under new government plans if their train is more than 15 minutes late. Currently, passengers are only able to make claims if their transport is delayed by at least half an hour, but passenger and rail industry groups are supporting the new plans. In addition to this, the changes – which come following the recent issues with Southern Rail – will ensure 100% compensation of the single fare ticket value for delays between 60 and 119 minutes. The new compensation thresholds are as follows: • 25% of the single fare for delays of 15 to 29 minutes • 50% of the single fare for delays of 30 to 59 minutes • 100% of the single fare for delays of 60 minutes to 119 minutes • 100% of the total ticket cost (including if it is a return) for delays of two hours or more.
Mind the “Tax” Shopping OnGap Mobile To Top £53bn By 2024 the implementation Tax Partner and Head of HPMG in the UK, David Bywater has commented following the recent tax gap analysis published last month by HMRC: “Headline figures show the PAYE tax gap is much reduced and HMRC highlight that Real Time Information is likely to have made a significant contribution. Better quality data and increased compliance are also likely to have contributed to the reduction from £4bn in 201314 to £2.8bn in 2014-15. However,
of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital proposals represents a daunting change for many taxpayers. The resources required for the initial switch will be a significant challenge for many businesses and this could adversely impact the tax figures in the short-term. “There may be challenges ahead for HMRC in keeping the indirect tax gap under control as we expect the UK’s decision to leave the EU will have a disproportionate impact on indirect taxes (such as VAT) as well as tariffs and customs duties.”
Travis Perkins to Close 30 Branches Travis Perkins, one of the UK’s largest builders merchant, is set to close 30 of its branches, putting approximately 600 jobs at risk. The company, which has 2,060 stores around the country, employs 28,000 people, a large amount of whom are experiencing growing concerns surrounding the security of their jobs. Due to recent weak sales in plumbing and heating, profits for the company are
likely to be lower than expected at the end of this year. The firm is closing branches of Travis Perkins, Benchmarx, BSS and PTS, but not its DIY store, Wickes. Chief Executive of Travis Perkins, John Carter said: “It is still too early to predict customer demand in 2017 with certainty. Given this uncertainty we will be closing over 30 branches and making further efficiency driven changes in the supply chain.”
Regional Law Firm Recognised as Top Graduate Employer as it Welcomes 2016 Recruits Coffin Mew has been named a winner in two categories of the prestigious Lex 100, the student guide to the UK’s best law firms to work for. This achievement coincides with the firm welcoming a spate of new trainee recruits. Coffin Mew has proudly welcomed nine outstanding trainees to work across its Brighton, Portsmouth and Southampton practices. With each trainee focussing on a specific sector of legal practice, Coffin Mew is committed to developing the next generation of bright legal minds.
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Pascale Devlin, who joins the Family team at the firm’s Portsmouth offices, commented: “Coffin Mew stood out to me as a progressive and modern law firm with a clear vision for the future. Since starting my training contract I’ve been given a lot of responsibility and been fully involved with the running of cases. Compared to many of my law school peers, what I’ve experienced so far during my training contract stands out immeasurably.” www.coffinmew.co.uk
Mums on a Mission SBT takes a look at the challenges facing mums in business and introduces Mums Enterprise Ltd
By 2025 the ‘mum economy’ will be worth an estimated Events £9.5 billion, and will create an additional 13,000 jobs, taking the total employed by ‘mumpreneurs’ to approximately 216,700. Despite these influencing figures, very few mums carry out what they want to do in life because of the challenges they face every day. Many mums find that the risk of failure holds them back from starting up a business idea, while lack of confidence can also prevent women reaching their goals; being out of the workplace for some time often knocks a woman’s confidence in her skills and abilities. Time and money also often prevent mums from starting their own business ventures; juggling a house, children and work is one hell of a challenge and many feel that there is never enough time in a day. The Mums Enterprise Roadshow, coming to Brighton in February 2017, aims to support women facing all these challenges and help them start their very own ‘mission to the moon.’ We spoke to Founder of Mums Enterprise Ltd, Lindsey Fish to hear her story and how she managed to overcome the problems mums in business face…
What made you start up your business? I had my baby, Molly, in October 2013. When it was time to think about what to do after maternity leave I weighed up all the options: part-time job locally, return to my city job but drop a day, be a stay at home mum for a few years or start a business. I still had the desire to do something; I didn’t want another child right away so I decided to start planning a business. How did you overcome ‘The Fear’? I left school at 16 and did an apprenticeship for an exhibition organiser so I had the ‘event bug’ early and I continued to climb the corporate career ladder in events and marketing. At the time of deciding what to do I felt that all those 14 years working for other companies was all training to get me to this point of planning and launching my own business. It felt like the stars had aligned for me; I felt I was ready and that now was my time. I knew it was risky but I felt confident that I could do it. How do you juggle childcare and business? When I started up in 2014 Molly only went into childcare 8 hours a week. Now she goes to a childminder for 12 hours
a week and the local nursery for 9, when I am extra busy my childminder is so flexible so can take her for longer if need be. The most important thing is being able to manage your own diary. I can decide when my meetings are and have complete control over my day. Usually my routine goes; childcare, work, Molly time, dinner, bath, bedtime. Then I can do more work. It’s up and down but it works for me. Molly is now 3 and I am actually expecting another baby! Lindsey and Creative Director Lucy Chaplin are bringing the Mums Enterprise Roadshow to the AMEX Stadium on Thursday 23rd February 2017. It is the exhibition for mums on a mission whether they are starting-up, growing or just not-knowing. The event is FREE for visitors to attend and there are a selection of affordable exhibitor options available to relevant organisations. Request an exhibitor pack at www.mumsenterprise.events/ brighton-exhibitor
www.mumsenterprise.events/brighton-exhibitor www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
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Christmas
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Gift Guide
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Christmas is a time for giving... Spread your love with this selection of gorgeous gifts from W.Bruford
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Inspired by Brufords, Arndale Centre, Eastbourne BN21 3NW. www.inspiredbybrufords.com 01323 410264
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1. PANDORA - Petite Memories – Large Locket, £120.00, Petite Memories set of 3 charms, from £25, PANDORA 2. Swarovski – Funk Earring, £74.00, Inspired by Brufords 3. Swarovski – Funk Pendant, £79.00, Inspired by Brufords 4. Armani – Renato Watch, £199.00, Inspired by Brufords 5. Ti Sento – Pear drop stone set pendant, £165.00, Inspired by Brufords 6. Carat – Classy Pear Sapphire Drop Earrings, £327.00, Inspired by Brufords 7. Bering – Ladies Ceramic, £269.00, Inspired by Brufords 8. Swarovski – CrystalDust Cuff – available in other colours, £59.00, Inspired by Brufords 9. Thomas Sabo – LoveBridge Skull Bracelet, £160.00, Inspired by Brufords 10. Links of London – Hope drop pendant, £75.00, Inspired by Brufords 11. Breitling – Colt, £2,380.00, W.Bruford 12. Baccarat – Fleur De Psydelic Blue Pendant – available in other colours, £340.00, Inspired by Brufords 13. TAG Heuer – Ladies Link, £1,250.00, W.Bruford & Inspired by Brufords 14. Swarovski – Funk Ring Set in Rhodium, £99.00, Inspired by Brufords 15. Swarovski – CrystalDust double wrap bracelet – available in other colours, £79.00, Inspired by Brufords 16. Jersey Pearl – Dune Tahitian Mother of Pearl Cuff Links, £80.00, W.Bruford 17. PANDORA, Patterns of Frost, Winter Moments Charm, £55.00 PANDORA 18. PANDORA – Vintage Allure Silver Drops Bracelet, £50, PANDORA 19. PANDORA – Vintage Allure – Alluring Cushion Ring, £70.00, PANDORA www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 11
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Money Matters
Digital & You: A Great Success
After attending Digital & You last month as its media partner, Sussex Business Times gives you a run down of the business event, which took place in West Sussex
On Tuesday 18th October, more than 150 visitors attended Sussex the Digital & You Events business event at The King’s Centre in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. Overflowing with media specialists in SEO, social media, digital marketing and cloud solutions, the event – organised by the Open 4 Business initiative of Mid Sussex District Council and digital media agency, Purple Rose Digital – was a free to attend affair for businessmen and women around Sussex looking to learn from insightful business experts during Q&A panels and talks, interact with likeminded business people, network and discover the ways in which businesses can be promoted and become more successful – and Sussex Business
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importance of keeping up with the times Times was proud to represent what was and becoming familiar with the latest to be a ground-breaking event. insights and digital solutions to help push The Digital & You event consisted of along their businesses. Kerry Watkins, inspiring panels and owner of Social Brighton seminars hosted by speakers from national “It is better to use – a company that the region with and award-winning one or two social provides social media training companies, such media platforms for businesses large as Pure360, Cloud and small – explained: Solutions and RocketMill, really well – the “It is better to use one along with professionals ones that your or two social media from Social Brighton, Digital Davidson and target customers platforms really well the ones that your Hilton Sharp & Clarke. use – than to use –target customers use – It is a known fact that all of them badly” than to use all of them the digital landscape is badly”. Head of Content forever changing and at digital marketing agency, RocketMill, innovating – just take a look back to our Jon Norris said: “It is about audience Digital Tech feature in our October issue targeting and engagement. Planning and – and more and more businesses, both producing content should always be led national and local, are understanding the
Events in Sussex
by an understanding of your audience, including the devices, language and platforms they use.” The doors of the event opened for registration at 11:00am and Head of Digital and Customer Service at Mid Sussex District Council, Simon Hughes welcomed everyone in, summing up what was to be expected from the day. Tom Bowen, Senior Strategy Advisor for Hilton Sharp & Clarke kicked off the event with his talk on the ways in which Cloud Acocunting can benefit a business, also offering advice on how to best use Cloud Accounting software. Following on from this, RocketMill’s Head of Data and Insight, Rhys Jackson also gave his talk on his secrets to online success, saying: “Insights are only valuable once they are used to drive change. Spending time and resources on collecting digital analytics without using them is like winning the lottery and never cashing in your ticket. Account Manager at Cloud Technology Solutions, Stephen Hannon followed with his speech on the use of Google Apps. Google Apps for Work has been successfully transforming businesses for the past 5 years, helping them become more agile and keeping pace with modern methods of working. Creating truly collaborative workspaces increases team efficiency, saving businesses not just money, but valuable time too. The ability to work with a colleague in real time from any device encourages productivity levels to increase. Further informative and inspirational talks from RocketMill, Social Brighton and Pure360 took us near the end of the event. As a proud media partner
of the regional event, Sussex Business Times’ Editor-in-Chief, Simon Skinner also attended, and hosted a Q&A panel to the many budding businessmen and women in attendance as a way of rounding off the day. The newly appointed Deputy Leader at Mid Sussex District Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Finance, Jonathan Ash-Edwards concluded: “We were thrilled to have secured so many prestigious digital thought leaders and organisations to be part of Digital & You. Thank you to the event’s sponsors
Aneela Rose and Simon Hughes
– Gatwick Diamond Business, Sussex University and Federation of Small Businesses – to Purple Rose Digital for providing exceptional media and event management, and to the exhibitors who all contributed to making this such a success.” For more information on the event, visit www.o4b.org.uk
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Money Matters
Brighton Business Expo 2016 Following on from the Brighton Business Expo, which took place at Brighton Racecourse on Thursday 20th October, Sussex Business Times gives you the lowdown of the event On Thursday 20th October, Brighton Racecourse hosted Sussex the Brighton Business Events Expo from 10am to 4pm, a free business event that aimed to bring together local and regional businesses alike for interesting and informational seminars from business experts, as well as the chance for businessmen and women to network with likeminded people. As a free to attend business show, Brighton Business Expo aimed to attract (and succeeded in attracting) businessmen and women of all kinds and from all sectors of business, whether they were from an already existing business just looking to grow and improve, from a start up in its early stages or just simply looking to explore the idea of starting up their own company or organisation. The event hosted an interesting exhibition hall, which held a total amount of 72 exhibitors. Franchisee of the Brighton Business Expo 2016, Mike Monk told SBT that the event had a total attendance of
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for entrepreneurial businesses, followed 360 people including exhibitors.” As well by a talk on removing the barriers as exhibition stands, the event also saw to successful marketing by Natalie a range of inspirational and influential Montagnani. Further seminar speeches seminars hosted by a variety of different from Julie Nicholds, businessmen and Andrew Abaza, Emma women with different “The event also gave Pearce, Neil Laughton areas of expertise, plus people in attendance and Sas Huntwood took a networking café, visitors to the end of the allowing spectators the opportunity to which finished at and exhibitors to chat source valuable new event, 4pm. with, tell their stories suppliers, forge new Mike Monk continued to and take in advice on the overall success and information from partnerships and of this year’s event: “The other business people. relationships first Brighton Business The event also gave in business” Expo was received very people in attendance well. We had some the opportunity to great feedback from exhibitors and source valuable new suppliers, forge new partnerships and relationships in business visitors alike saying how the event met their expectations and had a great feel and showcase new ideas or products, about it.” giving their businesses a nudge in the The social media community was also right direction. on the event’s side during the exhibition, The Brighton Business Expo 2016 was with thousands of tweets and Facebook the host of a number of speakers with posts being sent out throughout the expertise in different areas of business. day, highlighting who was present at the The day was kicked off by Paul Samrah event and available to take inspiration from Kingston Smith Accountants, who and advice from. Mike also said: “The key gave his speech on the top 10 tax tips
Events in Sussex
note speakers were well attended and the majority of the seminars were well supported throughout the day, plus the speed networking proved to be very popular. On the day of the Expo, we had over 1,000 tweets and retweets!” Despite this year’s event only just having passed, a date has already been set for the Brighton Business Expo 2017, providing you with plenty of notice to book exhibit stands or visitor tickets incase you missed 2016’s event. The Brighton Business Expo 2017 will be taking place on Thursday 5th October, yet again at Brighton Racecourse following the success of the previous business show. Exhibitors have already promised to re-book for next year’s event, showing the true impact the day had on local and national businesses. Concluding the summary of the Brighton Business Expo 2016, Mike said: “A number of exhibitors have said they would like to re-book for next year and I have also had some great testimonials that will go up on the website along with photographs and videos that were taken during the event, showing the businessmen and women considering attending next year what they should expect. The date for next year is Thursday October 5th and I am also looking at running an Expo in West Sussex in April 2017. There will be more news to follow about this event, so keep your eyes peeled!” For more information on next year’s event or to book exhibitor stands or visitor tickets, please visit www.b2bexpos.co.uk.
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Money Matters
The BIG Futures Show
The Skills and Opportunities Show for East Sussex On 22nd March 2017, The Big Futures Show is back for another year, providing businesses and educators the opportunity to share what they can offer, and for students to be inspired by their futures Discovering the right career path is an overwhelming Sussex and often confusing Events process. Alongside revising for GCSEs and A Levels, thinking about the future for some young people can simply feel like too much. Employability and skills fairs all over the country aim to make this time as easy as possible; The Skills Show and Skills London are just a few examples. However, these large-scale employability and skills events aren’t accessible for a whole range of students in areas outside of London, namely the South East, so many schools introduce their own school hall tabletop events. As much as this is encouraged, students in Sussex should be offered the same caliber of careers
one high profile and sustainable event, advice, the same level of opportunity and meaning there’s only one date in your the same experiences to discover that diary rather than two, three or four. opportunity as those in the Capital. With schools across Sussex and The Big Futures beyond attending, plus Show (BFS) is an bodies and annual employability “For businesses, education businesses offering and skills fair run it offers a advice, information by the Eastbourne and interaction on Education Business fantastic their stands, the show Partnership at the opportunity to is much more than Winter Garden in Eastbourne. BFS offers engage with and ticking a CSR box. For it offers a the many benefits inspire students businesses, fantastic opportunity to of national shows that will be their engage with and inspire with a strong mix of businesses, employers future workforce” students that will be their future workforce. It might and educators in one inspire them to enter your room; to educate and inspire young people on their way into the industry, or even to work for a particular working world. The Eastbourne Education firm. Given a show guide, including a unique workbook prior to the event, Business Partnership works with a wide students come prepared to learn more variety of partners to consolidate local about their future; they know exactly ‘careers education’ experiences into
www.bigfuturesshow.org.uk
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Events in Sussex
what they want to know and where to gain that information from. Parents are also welcome to attend The Big Futures Show to encourage this discovering process and see for themselves what opportunities are out there for their children. Parental encouragement and support is such an important part of these key years in a young person’s life, so parents are invited and encouraged to come along. Potential employers will be looking for tomorrow’s talent, and will be explaining what qualifications they are looking for and what training and apprenticeships they can offer in the workplace. Colleges and Universities will also be on hand to show what they have to offer, where it fits with employers’ requirements and what they are looking for in students. Last year was a huge success, with feedback suggesting benefits all round; to businesses, to schools, to students and to parents. Zoe Wilson, Business Development Manager at Ellis Building Contractors Ltd, who attended The Big Futures Show last year commented: “Last year we attended a number of careers fairs, but BFS was by far the best in terms of organization, promotion prior to the event, the running on the day and the potential for engagement with students and parents alike. “We took 4 members of staff to hold the stand at BFS, and they had a wonderfully enthusiastic response from student attendees, who they were constantly talking to. We used the day as an opportunity to get the word out there that construction isn’t just handson work, but there is a huge element of white-collar work too; most young people don’t realise that 50% of the industry
is professional, such as marketing, contracts management and surveying, and that there is lots of opportunities for females too. We chatted to them in the hope that we broaden their perspective of the career paths on offer to them.” She added: “Next year, we will certainly be going back to BFS, and in addition we get so much out of this one event that there’s no need to go to any others!” This year, the show is offering something a little ‘extra’: The Big Futures Show Extra. This is an all new pre show event co promoted with Eastbourne Chamber & Sussex Business Times taking place on 2nd March 2017 at The View Hotel on Eastbourne seafront. Aimed at both exhibitors, employers and businesses, BFS Extra aims to help with presenting and engaging show visitors - whether that is BFS and students or any other trade show. It will also offer help and advice across a broad range of topics related to attracting and employing young people. The event will consist of 3 presentation sessions of about 2 hours each, whilst outside of the auditorium there will be breakout zones for apprenticeship and training providers. BFS Extra is free to BFS exhibitors 2 tickets for a full stand booked and 1 for a marketplace or charity stand. Others not exhibiting at BFS are welcome to attend at a fee of £25 + VAT per delegate and online booking will be available shortly.
Features of BFS Extra include; • A series of speakers explaining how to prepare business for BFS and exhibitions in general. To educate in the art of selling / engaging all ages from an exhibition stand • How best to acquire and monitor results from an exhibition stand • Understanding qualifications • Offer face to face contact with a range of apprenticeship providers to help discuss what is on offer and tailoring business needs • Meet senior teachers to learn about modern qualifications and student preparedness • Discuss with teachers and school governors what business wants from education • Find out about disability employment
Facebook @BigFuturesShow Tweet @BIGFuturesShow #BIGFS2017 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
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The Infrastructure Debate
The Infrastructure Debate:
A Look at Connectivity, Housing, Commercial Development and Brexit The Government have made their decision for a third runway at Heathrow. With huge support for an expansion at Gatwick from Sussex businesses and MPS, SBT takes a look at some opinions in the community as well as discussing the wider infrastructure climate around the Gatwick area. We talk housing, Brexit, the digital economy and connectivity with expert voices from NatWest and Gatwick Diamond Business It’s been a hot-topic of debate for over a year now; Heathrow Debate vs. Gatwick. Now, after decisionmaking has been prolonged, pushed and avoided for so long, we finally have our conclusion: Heathrow is to have a third runway. The Government’s decision follows the unanimous and unambiguous recommendation of the Airports Commission last summer after a two and a half year, £20m study. The Commission had previously confirmed that expanding Heathrow would have the biggest economic benefits for the UK and can be done while reducing noise for local
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communities and in accordance with EU air quality law. So, the winning ticket goes to Heathrow. Contrary to the Commission’s beliefs, and now to Government’s decision, an expansion at Gatwick seemed to be supported by the majority in Sussex, with businesses and MPs deeming it as a move in the right direction for the economy, and acting as a catalyst for improved international relationships. The Sussex Chamber of Commerce has released various statements over the past year regarding the decision, as have MPs across the county, business owners and locals to the Gatwick area. The Chamber’s most recent announcement was one of unbiased relief – a decision made creates a level of certainty that
simply wasn’t there for businesses in both the Gatwick and surrounding Heathrow areas. The Sussex Chamber stated: “Last December, the Sussex Chamber of Commerce commented on the Government’s decision to delay a definitive choice for at least 6 months. The announcement that Heathrow was the ‘airport of choice’ came under scrutiny for environmental concerns, with the airport already operating outside the legal limit on emissions. Today’s decision could come with further setbacks; the runway will take more than a decade to be built, with legal cases and consultation prior to MP’s voting next year contributing to further delays. “It is incontestable that the UK sorely needs to expand airspace capacity;
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Heathrow, given the opposition it faces. “The fact is we need to build airport capacity at pace, especially post-Brexit, and the country needs to get into the habit of future-proofing its infrastructure, not just reacting when the situation is urgent. We need to tell the world we remain open for business and I believe increased capacity at Gatwick will do that.” Supporters of the Gatwick expansion seem to be holding strong on their views, and with the Government’s say only an initial announcement at this point – an official vote is yet to come – the plans maintain their strength and deliverability. Gatwick Airport’s Chief Executive, Stewart Wingate said: “We are disappointed as we do not believe this is the right answer for Britain. Gatwick has put forward a credible financeable and deliverable plan for expansion. “It is a plan that can guarantee growth and guarantee certainty for Britain. We look forward to studying the full reasons behind the Government decision in detail. “The challenges facing Heathrow have
A two-runway Gatwick CGI
hopefully the Governments choice to the decision wasn’t made in favour of build at Heathrow will give businesses in Gatwick with its clear economic benefits the South the opportunity to finalise plans to the region. One new runway is not put on hold by the drawn out decision.” enough to give the UK the aviation Adam Marshall, Director General of capacity it requires to trade the world the British Chambers of Commerce successfully. Airports like Gatwick, commented: “Put Birmingham, Stansted, simply, it’s about and others with growth “For business time. Successive aspirations should communities around governments also get the chance to the rest of the UK, have prevaricated expand and grow in the for far too long connectivity into an future.” in the face of a Caroline Ansell, expanded Heathrow is blindingly obvious MP for Eastbourne critical, even as regional need for more and Willingdon airports develop their runway capacity. also expressed her own links to overseas Businesses disappointment: “I business destinations” am very disappointed will now want assurances that the Government has - Adam Marshall, British the final approval approved expansion Chambers of Commerce process for at Heathrow and not Heathrow’s new at Gatwick. Despite runway will be smooth and swift, so this, I remain convinced Gatwick is that construction can begin as soon as more deliverable, more sustainable and possible.” more affordable and I will continue to He added: “Building this runway will campaign for it to expand while there not only boost business confidence, remains uncertainty over a third runway at it will also help firms access export opportunities, and attract investment from both UK and overseas businesses. “For business communities around the rest of the UK, connectivity into an expanded Heathrow is critical, even as regional airports develop their own links to overseas business destinations. This new runway must be viewed as much about connecting the regions and nations to the world as it is about capacity for London and the South East.” However, David Sheppard, Chairman of Sussex Chamber of Commerce didn’t seem quite as optimistic: “The Sussex Chamber of Commerce, and many businesses in Sussex are disappointed
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The Infrastructure Debate
not changed. Our message today is that Gatwick stands ready to proceed when the time comes.” Heathrow of course welcomed the Government’s decision to support its expansion, and have announced that they will ‘begin work to deliver the new runway that will connect all of Britain to the world, bringing new jobs and economic growth to every nation and region of the UK’ - as their most recent statement reads. A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We welcome the news that Heathrow is the Government’s preferred site for a new runway and look forward to hearing the full details later from the Transport Secretary. “Expansion of Heathrow is the only option that will connect all the UK to global growth, helping to build a stronger and fairer economy. “We await the full details, but Heathrow stands ready to work with Government, businesses, airlines and our local communities to deliver an airport that is fair, affordable and secures the benefits of expansion for the whole of the UK.” When it opens (due in 2025) new airport hub capacity will allow up to 40 more long haul destinations, apparently making Britain the best connected country in the world. However, there are concerns within the south east business communities that this ‘hub’ of connectivity may infringe on other airports in Britain, for instance making Birmingham, Manchester, Stansted and even Gatwick not only less desirable for travelers but also less able to offer flights to the best of their ability. Ahead of, and in addition to our usual roundtable events in association with NatWest, we caught up with Jeremy Taylor, Chief Executive of Gatwick Diamond Business, and Daryl Gayler, Regional Director for NatWest, London and the South East and on the Coast to Capital LEP to discuss Sussex’ status as ‘open for business’. First, we found out what their views were on the airport
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Jeremy Taylor, Chief Executive of Gatwick Diamond Business – the region’s largest independent business membership organisation. Jeremy is also the Director of the Manor Royal Business Improvement District (BID). expansion debate, unknowing of the outcome, and how this decision could potentially impact upon the overall infrastructure climate. Then in true roundtable fashion, we discuss the more far-reaching infrastructure and connectivity issues affecting Crawley and the wider Sussex region, housing affordability and of course the potential outcome of Brexit: what uncertainty looks like in Crawley.
Daryl Gayler, Regional Director for NatWest bank, London and the South East. Daryl also sits on the executive board of the Coast to Capital LEP - a local enterprise partnership with Gatwick Diamond Group.
any surprise in there. So if the Government does decide Heathrow, then we are just wasting time and effort. There’s been suggestions of tunnels and bridges to compensate for the expansion. There’s also the fact that there will be MPs resigning and councils challenging the Government, though I think the Government would be wise to say they will look at Heathrow but in the meantime Gatwick should get on with the planning; how they will fund it and what the impact is on the local infrastructure. When the Government So by the time this is released, makes the announcement, it will lead to a the government will have made 3 month consultation and the big thing that its decision on whether it will be we must have in consultation is the impact Gatwick or Heathrow for expansion. on the ‘losing’ airport/area. If they say it’s What are your thoughts? Heathrow, we ought to be looking closely at Jeremy Taylor: From what everyone is saying, and the murmurs around the area, what the impact is on the development of Gatwick and the south east. That’s not just the decision is likely to be Heathrow. an economic impact, that’s environmental Politicians tend not to surprise us too as well because what seems to have much anymore; if we look at Autumn passed people by is that if Heathrow does Budgets and Statements there’s never get a third runway, it will have an impact on Gatwick’s airspace. The planes that are going in and out of Gatwick will be lower, therefore increasing the issue of noise levels, due to Heathrow traffic above. We will probably get more demand in the night period too. So, even if it is to be Heathrow, there will be a significant negative impact on the Gatwick area, particularly for residents. I would hope this would be properly explored. If they were to decide Gatwick, we’d be cautiously delighted. One
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that the common ownership of the two runways in Gatwick is anti-competitive. So to then put a third runway at Heathrow becomes anti-competitive because they’ll have so much market power in one place, making it difficult Daryl, from your own standpoint, do you think that the decision will bring a for any other airport. In addition, the large amount of the air quality gain that certainty that people are craving? Heathrow claim is based on the fact that Daryl Gayler: I’m not sure the decision no one else can grow. So it doesn’t mean will bring much certainty. Either way, that Heathrow will affect the air quality we’re waiting 9-10 years before we get less, it just means that they’re taking up a second runway whichever way it goes. more and more of the national total – so We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that other airports will struggle. Gatwick itself there’s a compelling can grow, stay within business, let alone the legal limits and “The structure of what leisure-related have a much smaller need for increased they’re looking to do impact on air quality, capacity. Having the funding, the impact which allows places lived and worked it would have on the like Birmingham, in this area all my local community, the Newcastle and life, I’ve seen the opportunity to boost the Manchester to growth of Gatwick economy etc. - is such a continue to grow and the way in which good story for Gatwick” as well as giving Stewart Wingate resilience to the has improved it, so - Daryl Gayler, Regional Director network; with two it would be a real for NatWest bank, London and the runways at Heathrow, shame if Gatwick South East two at Gatwick and wasn’t encouraged one at Stanstead, to pursue its plans. plus one just down the road, you end up The structure of what they’re looking to do - the funding, the impact it would have with three airports serving the city. If one on the local community, the opportunity to is affected by, for example weather, then you have others to pick up the service. If boost the economy etc. - is such a good there are three runways at Heathrow and story for Gatwick, so it would be a real there’s an issue, there’s no capacity at shame if Heathrow were given the goahead at the detriment of Gatwick. Even if Stanstead to pick up the slack. It’s very much a case of putting all your eggs in it was a phased introduction, I would like one basket. to see the expansion go ahead. of the things we need to make sure of is that local authorities, who will have to deal with the planning and infrastructure, are properly resourced.
Jeremy: In terms of value to the country, one of the things that’s really important is
So the area around Gatwick Diamond has one of the lowest unemployment
rates in the UK. What would you say are the main challenges for the region to maintain this whilst also growing? Jeremy: It’s a double-edged sword actually. I can remember in the 90s, Crawley was reported as having the fastest growing unemployment in the country. The issue for Gatwick Diamond is around the ability for people to live here because it’s a quite expensive area – although not as expensive as London – and cost of housing is quite high relative to average wages. In addition, gaining value for money with housing is an issue, and it’s a problem for employers to find and keep people in the area. That may change, depending on what happens when we leave the EU, as we have quite a large migrant population living and working in the area. One of our members is in transport logistics and distribution – they have around 200 staff, 80% of whom are EU nationals, so obviously they’re wondering about what Brexit actually means and how that affects their rights to live and work here. Having said that, I understand that by the time we get around to Brexit in its fullness 80% of that migrant population will be eligible to stay working. It is an ongoing challenge to attract and keep the right talent for the area. Are you sensing optimism or pessimism from customers about Brexit, Daryl? Daryl: I don’t think its optimism, unless you’re an exporter, but I wouldn’t say however that at this stage it’s absolutely pessimism either. There’s a little bit more
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The Infrastructure Debate
On one track you’ve got global exchange ‘wait and see’ at the moment; people rates and the possibility of tarrifs, and the are uncertain about how the situation will confusion happening in Brussels; then play out and how quickly it will play out. on the other track you’ve got a variety of I think the biggest concern I have is that businesses who are thinking they might we’ve perhaps beaten ourselves up in not make payroll, not knowing what’s a fit of depression. If confidence lapses going to happen in then I think investment November, how they decisions could get put “One of the are going to cover the on hold, which is a large Christmas break, how things that I concern. Some of the investment decisions believe – but I try they will get to the end of March for the end that were being spoken not to say too of the financial year about or even made, often - is that a and will they know by and the growth plans downturn is good January 2017 what the and acquisition activity will be deferred or put on for organization” negotiation is going to look like? hold, and then eventually The other thing that’s will just disappear. At quite interesting is the this stage, I’m not sure anything changes attitude of business owners as well. day-to-day, but it’s a bit more about We obviously had the crash in 2008, what’s going to happen in the next 12-18 and life became very difficult. One of months. The confidence levels are the the things that I believe – but I try not most concerning. to say too often - is that a downturn is good for organisation. People need Jeremy: I think it’s a very fair comment. help and people need to be in a room of We can talk ourselves into a spiral and businesses talking to one another; they we need to be mindful of that. There need to be getting out and talking about are two things here: one is that the local products and services. In the times when economy is almost following two tracks.
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you open the door and the work simply comes in, networking and getting advice and support is less needed. That drive people get from a financial downturn or difficult time makes a big difference in business; having it a bit harder than usual pushes people to go out and do, to find something. Daryl: I think it definitely depends on the sector. If you’re a manufacturer looking to do your export activity, then the shortterm impact has been pretty positive. If you’re someone who imports a lot of raw material, then suddenly the cost of production has gone up by 10 or 15 per cent and it has an immediate impact if you can’t pass that onto the customer. So there’s definitely some immediate financial impacts, and looking at some of the other sectors, for example Kent-based fruit growers, who have routinely brought in a lot of European labour at peak times, the question is how long are they going to be able to source that labour? Same with the construction sector also. Elsewhere, I believe it’s essentially business as usual. Jeremy: Talking about migrant labour –
Heathrow Expansion CGI
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not worth their while, financially or in time, to commute down here. They’re better off going North West into London. The wage differential and the time it takes is not significantly beneficial enough not to. For the Sussex commuter, London is a bit of a problem unless you’ve got a particular skillset, but Gatwick is in fact a good balance between what you can earn in, say Hastings, and that hour journey. That is if the train runs on time. Croydon are very supportive because they’re building massively in terms of units and they see that people could be quite willing to go against the flow and come into the Gatwick Diamond area. The other thing is the amount of daily outflow that we have. Crawley attracts people in but the Gatwick Diamond itself have around 30,000 people a day travel out of the region and work elsewhere. What could we do to grow the jobs that keep them here, and therefore minimise the amount of commuting that needs to happen, so improve quality of life?
and this is one of the things that hasn’t really been touched upon – someone coming over from a European country, who was earning a living wage that was worth 1.29 Euros to the pound, now is suddenly only getting around 1.09 Euros to each pound. So immediately the pound is far less attractive. We do get a large amount of people come here to earn some money, but as soon as you lose that much in the pound due to currency changes, it poses a problem. Daryl: There is also the challenge that, when you try to find accommodation in this area, it’s not easy. So there’s definitely a shortage of local, affordable housing, therefore you’ve got people commuting, which isn’t cheap and it’s putting pressure on logistics – people getting in and out of the area. That’s a much broader challenge than just Brexit, but it does highlight the difficulties when people want to work and live here. Jeremy: A few years back there was talk of investment modelling regarding the decision people make about commuting. For the Kent commuter, it’s
It sounds as though there are a few planning strategies going on that almost conflict with each other. How can we tackle the affordable housing, firstly? Jeremy: Manor Royal had successfully got an exemption from turning office space into residential, and then we heard 2 weeks later that the government has a proposal that you can turn warehouse and distribution space into residential, so we had to go through the whole process again to apply for an exemption. It has had a knock on effect; it’s had a big impact on available space, particularly in Crawley, Horsham, Horley, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead, and it’s getting that balance. The way it can be balanced is through things like the North Horsham development, which has got employment land, then the other side up towards Horley, which Reigate and Banstead are leading on, which would be about 150 acre business park of high-end business accommodation. The challenge on employment land is going to be around warehouse and distribution space. Daryl: Housing has been an area that Coast to Capital has steered clear of for a while because it’s so politically charged and a difficult one to crack, but certainly it’s an area that we’re keen to have a view on. We’ve got a separate housing task force that was set up by Jonathan
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The Infrastructure Debate
Sharrock, our Chief Executive, which will report back to the board in a couple of months or so. This includes a variety of people from all walks of life: house builders, housing associations, planning authorities and people with experience in that area. The take away from that will almost certainly be that there’s a shortage, but it’s a case of how creative we’re prepared to be in filling that gap. Converting existing property isn’t the only answer. Business needs to actively expand. There are various projects under way, but it needs to be something we’re working on year in and year out because there’s no denying that there simply isn’t enough affordable housing. What issues do you see affecting businesses specifically in Crawley? Jeremy: I think this lies in digital. Crawley has fantastic intellectual property, some great manufacturers, engineers and research and development. We also have a growing digital economy, but one of the issues for the area is how we capture ourselves as digital. One of our members moved out of the Gatwick Diamond area recently to Brighton purely because the talent that they need wants to work there. That’s a challenge for the region; we could embrace digital more – it would be lovely to have ultimately total wifi in Manor Royal. Superfast Broadband is no longer quick enough, but we’ve got it. In Chichester, we’ve got this digital tech hub being built by the university and a company in Horsham is doing hugely creative things with gaming platforms. So we have the means, but we just need to really get going with driving the tech startups in this area. So Chichester is a digital hub, as is Brighton, so the issue here may be connectivity? Daryl: There are plans afoot, I think for the Brighton mainline – plans for an upgrade. The idea is that the level of connectivity between Brighton and London needs to be improved. It’s quite a fast service though and would be easily improved by taking out some of the small bottlenecks. The issue though is the east-to-west connectivity I think, whether that’s the M25 or A27 going east to west. There are huge issues with joining up Eastbourne and Hastings with Chichester and that’s not an easy one to fix. Jeremy: There are a lot of people on that route who want a faster journey, but don’t
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want the issues that come alongside the infrastructure – they don’t want a motorway running next to their house or the hassle of the build. Which I totally understand, but one can’t come without the other. You both work closely with bringing businesses together (a ‘stronger together’ attitude). How do we go about continuing that, especially with so much uncertainty, to improve the issues we’ve discussed? Jeremy: I think the main message for businesses is to belong and be involved. We have a fantastic voice in Gatwick – we mobilise 35 regional organisations, representing around 50,000 employers, writing into the Prime Minister about why we support Gatwick expansion on a regular basis. That’s a very strong voice to have, and that’s just one example, but we need the business community to join in with our ventures. I’m always very keen to say to my members that they need to tell me what they think, what their opinions are so that we can act on it. Plus, we can connect businesses in ways that they don’t really understand till they ask – we put organisations
together, which leads to the most wonderful things happening. Daryl: That’s certainly something we’ve spent more time thinking about – how we capitalise on the size of the portfolio that we have. We’re working with around a third of the SME corporate market, so we’re trying to create a platform for businesses to work together and feed ideas off each other. We are running a lot more events around sector themes, rather than purely economic in nature, creating thought-leadership material and allowing business leaders to come together in a relaxed environment and talk about the important topics that they’re facing in their industry and sector. People have certainly appreciated us doing that, and I think it’s the same with the Local Enterprise Partnerships – there’s a role for LEPs to provide that glue that connects the private, public and local sectors with the small, medium and large businesses. Suddenly when these people come together, projects that simply wouldn’t have happened actually do happen. It’s all about joining people together, whether it’s the banks, the LEPs or Jeremy’s organisation. It’s a shame that it doesn’t always happen.
Wave has Community Health and Wellbeing at its Heart Sussex Business Times introduces Wave Leisure and takes a look at the many health programmes they offer... Wave Leisure Trust (Wave) is a not-forprofit Trust and social Advertorial enterprise, working to inspire active lifestyles by providing high quality, affordable and accessible health and fitness facilities and activities for our community. The Wave Team works to get people moving more and to be at the heart of the improvement of health and wellbeing in its communities, through increasing participation, reducing health inequalities and increasing accessibility and social inclusion. Wave’s Community Engagement Team, headed by Liz Allsobrook, has acted as the enabler to engagement with community leaders and groups in the identification of barriers to all forms of participation. The Team actively engages in the Seaford Seniors Forum and Seaford Health Stakeholders Forum where they have identified a range of requirements for those with health needs. This has led to the participation of Old School Medical Practice in a pilot scheme to support the engagement in activity for those with a diagnosed health condition and the addition of a GP to the Board of Trustees. Wave has designed and is delivering a number of programmes and communityfocused initiatives. These include
re:balance™ (weight management programme), Cardiac Rehab sessions and Strength and Balance classes to assist with fall prevention. Wave’s Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator works to ensure that the community has every opportunity to remain fit and healthy. Wave’s GP Referral Scheme operates throughout the Lewes District and Wave’s Co-ordinator works with GP surgeries and provides a service where residents and patients with medical conditions whose health would benefit from leading a more active lifestyle can be referred. The scheme benefits those with a range
of conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, mobility, stress and mild/moderate depression. Wave regularly meets Parish, Town, District and County Councils for feedback and reports on the services being delivered, needs being addressed and the sharing knowledge about gaps in provisions. Working with Public Health, local councils and housing associations, Wave has identified a need for the development of impact reporting to enable the development of services across the district. Wave has also been working with Local Community Development Organisations, 3VA and Action in rural Sussex (AirS), and has identified access to services for improved health and wellbeing as a barrier to activity. This is being taken forward with Wave working with Priory School and the Mountfield Road Partnership, on the Let’s Talk Sport project. Funded by the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Let’s Talk Sport uses team sport and activities as ways to engage with young people who are at risk of dropping out of education, demonstrating poor behaviour or participating in risky behaviours. Further development of Let’s Talk Sport has enabled the provision of positive engagement in activity as part of developing sustained behaviour change.
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www.waveleisure.co.uk | info@waveleisure.co.uk
Plan Ahead to Pay for Care Take some time to think about planning for care in the future... Most of us don’t think about care until it affects a Advertorial loved one or we need to consider it for ourselves, but it’s good to know what information and advice is available when you do need support. For example, did you know that you can seek financial advice about paying for long-term care and support for yourself or someone else through the Carewise care funding advice scheme? Getting good financial advice in advance is essential, because long-term care could be one of the most expensive choices you make after buying a house. In West Sussex it can cost up to £50,000 a year for care in a residential care home. There are a variety of ways to pay for care, such as selling or renting out your house, a deferred payments agreement, a care fees annuity and equity release, and whether you choose to put your pension into an annuity or an investment or withdraw a lump sum now could affect your care options later. As people are living longer and need to fund a greater period of retirement
“As people are living longer and need to fund a greater period of retirement than before, it makes sense to include potential care costs in your financial planning for the future” than before, it makes sense to include potential care costs in your financial planning for the future. The Carewise care funding advice scheme can help with that planning. Carewise was set up by West Sussex County Council, Age UK West Sussex, and the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) to provide information and advice about paying for long-term care.
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 To find out more go to www. westsussexconnecttosupport.org/ Council, Age UK West Sussex, West Sussex Partners in Care and the Society of Later Life Advisers. Itcarewise or phone West Sussex offers independent, specialist financial adviceCounty about Council’s Adults’ CarePoint on 01243 642121. choosing and paying for long-term care. Contact Carewise now to find out more.
01243 642121 01243 642121
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www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org/ www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org/carewise carewise
carewise@westsussex.gov.uk socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk
Choosing care could be one of the most expensive
In For a Pound: A Look At The Economic Impact of Brexit The events on June 23rd left almost half of the country in a state of shock and, perhaps even despair. Now we are finding the Pound in a sticky situation, creating a dangerous level of uncertainty in business. We look at the state of our currency and what SMEs in Sussex can do to manage the subsequent risk Nobody knew what the outcome of a Brexit vote Finance would be, and more importantly, nobody knew what would occur within this waiting period we currently find ourselves in. With the triggering of Article 50 seemingly a long way off still, the impact is being heavily felt through the state of the Pound itself. In turn, the effect of the weak pound is being felt uniformly across the country but, as a study by FEXCO Corporate Payments suggests, unevenly across British business, with smaller firms bearing the brunt of higher import prices. All UK businesses that import either raw materials or finished goods - have seen the prices they pay their foreign suppliers rise since the Brexit referendum earlier this year. However, a sharp spike in import prices has meant
number of foreign currency purchases that many small and medium-sized firms made by SMEs was a relatively modest have had to curtail their imports. 7% down on the same time last year. “The Pound has declined in value as However the average transaction size the prospect and reality of the UK leaving was 29% less than in July 2015 as the EU develops,” commented Jonathan companies sought to Watson, Chief Analyst rein in spending. Two at Currencies.co.uk. He “Importers of raw successive months added: “Importers of raw materials or anything of reduced import materials or anything spending suggest that from overseas will find from overseas will SMEs are growing a declining pound is find a declining increasingly wary of driving up their costs pound is driving importing, which has a and decreasing profit large impact on Britain’s margins. These costs will up their costs economic standing both be outweighed in some and decreasing in the EU and further respects for companies profit margins” afield. selling overseas but for David Lamb, Head of UK based firms they Dealing at FEXCO Corporate Payments, will struggle as they raise their prices to explained: “Four months on from consumers, leading to less economic Britain’s vote for Brexit, the Pound is still activity amongst those employed in low worth 10% less against the Euro and skilled and low paying occupations.” 12% less against the Dollar than it was The study by FEXCO Corporate on the eve of the poll. Payments found that, in July, the total
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Money Matters
Ask the Expert: What are the strategies businesses can use to limit risk at such an uncertain time? • Forward Contracts. With forward contracts, you buy a currency now with a small deposit – typically 5% - that enables you to lock into a specific rate. However, you only pay the remainder when you actually need the money. The fixed rate protects you from the potential for a sharp move against you when you eventually make the payment. Forward contracts can usually be fixed for up to a year.
“Such sustained Sterling weakness has driven up prices for all importers, but the behaviour of small and medium-sized businesses suggests they are feeling more pain than most.” Looking more directly at SMEs in Sussex, Jonathan speculates over the impact closer to home: “A weak pound makes UK goods less costly to overseas purchasers, so Sussex exporters will benefit from their goods being cheaper to sell overseas.” He added: “A weak pound makes buying goods from overseas more expensive, which means manufacturers buying raw materials from overseas and supplying to a UK market will find life difficult versus manufacturers selling overseas. With a 15% movement lower on the Pound on a trade weighted basis rising prices will be unavoidable in many areas for Sussex, just like the rest of the UK. What this news creates is further uncertainty, and this has an inevitably negative effect on all forms of business. Jonathan points out: “Generally speaking, business flourishes where there is certainty. Where there is uncertainty, investment and spending in the economy is held back as consumers and business wait to see what happens.” But as we well know, businesses often – if ever – have the luxury of waiting to see what happens; they want to know how their year is looking and they need to put a financial plan in place. The research by FEXCO indicates
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that large companies and public sector organisations are much more likely to use hedging strategies when buying from overseas. David explains: “Products like forward contracts allow them to lock into a favourable exchange rate and protect themselves against adverse currency movements.” However, as David points out: “Small firms that don’t hedge against this risk leave themselves open to costly dips in the Pound’s value. Our data shows they are trying to mitigate the risk by making smaller import purchases than they did at this time last year – but this bodes ill for their abilitys to grow.” David advise firms to hedge against risk in whatever capacity they can, and to properly account for the volatility of currency markets. Jonathan had his own advice for businesses in Sussex: “Business can tackle the uncertainty by making plans in advance and utilising contingency planning. Certain types of plan can mitigate the damage from the uncertainty. If companies are purchasing from overseas contracts which fix exchange rates, it will mean prices to consumers and other business are fixed well in advance to avoid shock price rises upsetting consumers and business. Business can also look to plan for the future by opening dialogue with suppliers and customers well in advance to discuss the issues that may arise.”
• Limit Orders. This is where you set a target exchange rate, at which, if achieved in the markets, you will buy your currency. Limit Orders are useful if you have upcoming payments but you are not restricted by tight deadlines and therefore have time to try and achieve a better exchange rate than what’s available at the current time. This tool provides assurance to businesses that, should the ultimate exchange rate be achieved, even if that occurs in the middle of the night, their trade will be triggered automatically. • Stop Loss Orders. This is where you set a minimum exchange rate, which, if achieved in the markets, you will buy your currency. Stop Loss Orders are often used where there is a high risk or concern of adverse movement in exchange rates, enabling clients to protect their bottom line and reduce the risk of exposure to such negative movements. David Lamb, Head of Dealing at FEXCO Corporate Payments For more information or advice, visit www.currencies. co.uk or www.fexco.com
Confidence control panel
You can participate in this year’s survey and read last year’s report and sector specific white papers on our website: www.moorestephens.co.uk/sectors/owner-managed-businesses MS_ChiSeminarOMB_SBTAdvert_03.qxp_Layout 1 19/10/2016 15:23 Page 1
77%
/ certain to invest staff in training are likely toin invest staff training are likely / certain
66%66%
57%
will seek cost reductions
57% 57% will seek cost reductions will seek cost reductions
77%
are likely / certain to invest in staff training
85%
66%
expect 2016 to be better than 2015
77%
85%
expect to bethan better than 2015 expect 2016 to2016 be better 2015
Following on from the successes of our 2015 Moore Stephens Annual Owner Managed Business (OMB) survey this year will see the launch of our 4th edition. Covering topics such as the impact of Brexit, including associated risks and concerns, and business aspirations, our annual OMB survey brings to light trends within the OMB marketplace, encapsulating both business and market performance and confidence. Trends identified in last year’s survey include cross-sector skills shortages and the concern of domestic competition. Last year we listened to just under 500 respondents from across all business sectors and from entities with headquarters in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as a few based offshore and further afield. We will be launching this year’s survey on Thursday 10 November, welcoming responses ahead of Christmas 2016.
85%
are confident about the general outlook for 2016
Tell us how you feel...
Confidence control panel
are confident about the general are confident about the general outlookoutlook for 2016for 2016
Are you an owner managed business?
Confidence control panel
Investing for success in 2016 Investing for success in 2016 Investing for success 2016 The owner managed businessin view The owner managed business view
The owner managed business view Owner managed businesses
Owner managed businesses
Owner managed businesses
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PRECISE. PROVEN. PERFORMANCE. PRECISE. PROVEN. PERFORMANCE.
PRECISE. PROVEN. PERFORMANCE.
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Economic update for Owner Managed Businesses Join us on Thursday 1st December, 8am - 10am, at Vicar’s Hall, Chichester for an economic update by the world renowned Henk Potts from Barclays. With Brexit on the horizon it will be interesting to hear his views on what the impact will be for the UK and Owner Managed Businesses. We will also introduce our 2016 Owner Managed Business Survey. If you would like to attend, please register your interest by contacting Lindsey Whitehead: 01243 531600 / chichester@moorestephens.com
09/03/2016
Henk Potts joined Barclays Bank in 1998 working as a Stock Market Analyst focusing on UK equities. In his current role, Director of Global Research & Investments for Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, Henk analyses a wide variety of asset classes, including equities, currencies and commodities, as well as ascertaining and explaining the effects of macroeconomic changes on financial markets. Henk has regular television and radio commitments and writes columns for various national UK newspapers and personal finance magazines.
Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants City Gates, 2-4 Southgate, Chichester
T www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 01243 531 600
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www.moorestephens.co.uk/south
09/03/2016 11
M.W Pyle Roofing
Sussex Business Times takes a look at yet another successful Sussex-based business, M.W. Pyle Roofing and speaks to new owner, Jamie Walsh about his journey in the roofing trade and his (now) company in particular M W Pyle Roofing Ltd, an Eastbourne-based Sponsored roofing company, Feature has been trading successfully in Sussex, the South East and surrounding areas for over 35 years. Over these decades, the business has established an outstanding reputation for high quality work at very reasonable rates, and for anyone wanting to see just how exceptional the end results are, just head over to their website and check out their portfolio. The company now employs a fully qualified and determined team of staff, with a total of twelve employees, operating in all areas of the roofing trade to produce the best results there possibly can be. All of M.W. Pyle Roofing’s employees also pride themselves on the full package,
30 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
many people believe that slating and tiling with each staff member operating and are the only procedures covered by this complying with all health and safety service. However, M.W. Pyle Roofing is procedures – with all of the horror the host of a wide range of professional stories out there, this can often be a services, including: worry for customers and • Slating business owners alike, whether it be regarding “Speed, efficiency • Tiling • Guttering injured employees or and a same day • Chimney repair more damage done to a property. Additionally, service, wherever • Chimney repointing • Chimney removal just for customer peace possible, are • Velux roof window of mind, M.W. Pyle • Installations Roofing welcomes considered • Single ply flat roofing regular inspections essential to their • Kemper liquid applied undertaken during or on completion of work. roofing service” flat roofing Not only this, but As their website says, the company also “speed, efficiency and stretches further to meet the needs and a same day service, wherever possible, requirements of their customers, with are considered essential to their roofing additional services in Bird Prevention. service”, and customers can rest assure Many towns in the South – Eastbourne in that M.W. Pyle Roofing can do the job, particular, we can vouch for! – can suffer and to a high standard. with excessive amounts of seagulls and When considering the term ‘roofing’,
www.mwpyleroofinguk.co.uk
Education: Bexhill College
pigeons and, not only can these animals be disruptive and noisy, they can also be damaging to buildings. M.W. Pyle Roofing can install bird prevention systems, such as spikes and wires to protect your home or building from the chaos that these birds can create. Win-win! Sussex Business Times got into contact with Jamie Walsh, the (now) owner of M.W. Pyle Roofing, who told us his story and how he came to be the owner of the business years after starting as his very first job: “I’ve been roofing for 25 years, so a long time now! I qualified after studying at Falmouth college and started working for the company as soon as I finished there. My uncle owned the business at the time so, luckily for me, I was able to start the job straight away. What was a reasonable sized business then has, over the years, taken off and we now provide our services all across the the South East and London. I was in a partnership for 15 years, but recently took on the business as my own. Of course, this has come along with a lot more responsibility, but working in the business for so long means I have the knowledge behind me to continue down the successful road we have been on for 35 years.”
Contact us now on: 01323 767 955 or mwpyleroofing@mail.com www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
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The Rise of Viticulture Suzanne Craig, Partner at Knill James Chartered Accountants explains the increasing desire for start-up vineyards in Sussex and the tax implications that come along with it
The desire to buy local produce, and the growing ‘slow Finance food’ movement, have resulted in increased custom for many food and drink producers in the UK over the last few years. Changes in the UK’s climate, which have seen weather conditions rival that of France’s renowned wine regions, have helped the UK’s wine industry in particular. This has been evidenced by an increase in vineyard start-ups here in the South East - HMRC has received 65 applications to start a vineyard in the last year, which is double the number from two years ago. All individuals pursuing the dream of exercising their entrepreneurial muscles will face the same question: “which business structure should I adopt?” This question must be addressed at the very start of the business, as the ultimate decision may vary between vineyards for different reasons. However, many start-
32 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
up vineyards are not always aware of the tax implications of different business structures. A number of vineyard start-ups will have prepared a sound business plan for both grape and wine production, and therefore will have a good idea of how much expenditure is involved in establishing a vineyard - and the likely return on that capital. For example, it’s not uncommon to have to wait four years to generate a profit from a vineyard business. As a result, trading losses would be generated up until that date. This trading loss can be used very wisely if the business structure has been set up as either a sole trader or a trading partnership, traditional, or trading as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). In this scenario, the loss arising in the first four tax years can be carried back against the general income of the three years prior to which the loss was made. This may be particularly attractive to those who paid higher rate income tax of 40% and above when employed, as the tax repayments
Money Matters
is likely to contain such assets which can be a great help in the difficult first include electrical systems, plumbing, few years. air conditioning systems and the like, There is a restriction on the maximum but the specialist nature of wineries can amount of loss relief available being the often mean that the savings to be made greater of £50k and 25% of net income for a claim can be substantial. Recent for the tax year concerned. However, it’s changes to legislation have meant that an attractive relief that may assist cash the scope for claims on expenditure flow in those challenging years. A further of second hand capital assets are restriction applies to LLPs, whereby the restricted, but new builds are not so loss is limited to the capital contribution affected. into the partnership by the individual It is very important that any new start partners. up assesses at an early stage the level of Involving an accountant at the start eligible expenditure, as this may provide of the business, when establishing material cash flow advantages in the the appropriate structure, will enable early years of the business. the business owner to undertake Although not available to considered tax planning. However, unincorporated businesses, another the tax ‘tail’ should never be allowed valuable state-backed relief can be to ‘wag’ the commercial dog and, obtained through the making of research consequently, there may be other and development (R&D) tax credit reasons why a different business claims. The government is currently structure would be more appropriate for extremely the vineyard. keen for UK Regardless businesses to of the business “The government is demonstrate structure, certain currently extremely keen innovation in reliefs maybe a competitive allowed through for UK businesses to global market. the application demonstrate innovation Small and of the capital in a competitive global medium allowance system. Every market. Small and medium enterprises (SME’s) can UK business enterprises (SME’s) can obtain an possesses obtain an enhanced enhanced an Annual Investment deduction on relevant R&D deduction on relevant Allowance spend, equating to 130%” R&D spend, (AIA) of £200k equating which permits to 130%. qualifying capital Thus, on a £100k R&D project this will expenditure of up to that amount to provide £230k tax relief. In the event of be written off against profits or indeed a loss-making situation, losses can be create losses in the year of acquisition. surrendered in exchange for a 14.5% tax Vineyards are typically capital credit refund on the loss attributable to intensive with large initial outlays such the R&D expenditure. as tractors, sprayers and, if a winery is In addition to discussing business involved, significant allowances may be structure with a business advisor, it is claimed. also essential to involve tax specialists In addition to the AIA, if expenditure who will be able to ensure that the is incurred on energy or water efficient business takes advantage of the reliefs plant and machinery, these will also which are available to this growing qualify for 100% allowances beyond the industry. AIA. It is relatively easy to identify items of ‘loose’ plant and machinery but there is another layer of complexity for assets Written by which are embedded within a business Suzanne Craig, property, such as a winery. High Partner at Knill specification buildings such as wineries James Chartered may comprise up to 35% or 40% of Accountants. eligible plant. Every commercial property
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 33
Cover Feature: Irwin Mitchell
Stronger Together Following on from the news earlier this year that two of the UK’s leading law firms, Thomas Eggar and Irwin Mitchell were merging together, Sussex Business Times gets the low-down on this collaboration speaking to Regional Managing Partner at Irwin Mitchell LLP, Vicky Brackett about what the merger means for the business and clients Stronger together seems to be a running Cover theme for 2016; it’s a mantra that’s long Feature been used in all walks of life. Unfortunately, the proven success of its theory seems to have been forgotten by a solid 52% of the population this past year, but fortunately business still holds the sentiment close to its heart. We became aware in May this year that two of the UK’s leading law firms, Irwin Mitchell and Thomas Eggar were merging together. A promising collaboration which meant creating a £250 million dynamic legal services business (which they say will place the firm 11th in the UK law firm rankings), aiming to combine both their areas of extensive expertise to significantly grow the spectrum of legal services provided to their many loyal clients across the UK. Since the merger, the [now] sizable firm, Irwin Mitchell LLP now has 16 offices across 14 British cities, including Birmingham, Bristol, Chichester, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Southampton, and covers the different areas of law; Personal Legal Services, Business Legal Services and Private Wealth Services. The collaboration has already posed some clear benefits: the Thomas Eggar and Irwin Mitchell merger doubles the turnover of Irwin Mitchell LLP’s Business Legal Services
34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
team; makes the company a Top 5 and where does it leave the provider of services in the real estate business now? sector; and almost doubles their Thomas Eggar’s strategic plan was corporate and commercial sector to add strength and depth to its full practices, as well as providing their service offering to business and personal clients from all areas of the nation with an clients and to grow specific areas of increasing level of legal expertise. expertise. This strategy was born out The worry with of an extensive client mergers such as this is feedback plan, which “After only 9 always one of personal enabled us to identify service. Considering months the teams enhancements we Thomas Eggar’s very could add to our are integrated prominent presence service offering which in the South East, and and our client would improve our SBT’s of course very value proposition for feedback shows invested interest in and our clients. Our aim us that clients are was (and remains) care for businesses and service users in benefiting from our to be an advisory the region, we were partner to our private wider range keen to find out what clients and business of services and this collaboration clients. would mean on both a Merging into a bigger teams” small and large scale. larger firm was one We spoke to Regional of various options, Managing Partner at Irwin Mitchell which we agreed could help us achieve LLP, Vicky Brackett who, as Managing our strategic objectives. Our early Partner at Thomas Eggar for over 4 years discussions with Irwin Mitchell revealed previously, has seen the merger process an ambitious business sharing our first hand and continues in her new role growth plans. It was looking to build to ensure that Irwin Mitchell LLP is the its private client and business services best it can be. teams and had a great infrastructure – national footprint, good IT support, Vicky, please talk us through the strong teams – to achieve that. merger between Irwin Mitchell and Culture was top of our list in terms of Thomas Eggar – what were the considerations and having joined the considerations behind this decision firm we are confident that the firms think
Education: Bexhill College
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 35 Vicky Brackett with Irwin Mitchell CEO, Andrew Tucker
Cover Feature: Irwin Mitchell
We have the capability to invest in our clients; to listen to their feedback and improve our service always. We are “local” to most national clients and understand the markets in which they work be that geographic or sector. Gaps in service lines, which we had in Thomas Eggar because of our size, are now filled.
similarly about their people engagement, client service and approach to client relationships. The business now forms part of the 11th largest law firm in the UK. Our business services team would be a top 50 firm in its own right and our private client team is one of the top 5 in the UK. After only 9 months the teams are integrated and our client feedback shows us that clients are benefiting from our wider range of services and bigger teams. Have there been many internal changes with regards to team members or job roles? Yes. National Head of Planning, Head of Private Client (SE), National Head of Commercial and Head of Conveyancing for the firm are roles held by former Thomas Eggar partners. I have joined the Business Services Executive Board and the main Executive Board as CEO of Litigation. There are great opportunities for our people and teams in the enlarged business. What does a merger like this between two very distinct, but equally successful law firms mean for clients on both sides? An even better client experience. Our
36 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Some clients may be worried that this merger will change the fundamental values of Thomas Eggar and its customer service offering. How have/will the ideals, ethos and philosophies of Thomas Eggar be carried through within this merger? Thomas Eggar was a firm that cared about its people and its clients. A firm which built strong relationships; listened to its clients and supported its people so that they enjoyed their work; were engaged and therefore interacted positively and with energy with its clients. Irwin Mitchell shares those values and philosophies. Postmerger, the firms have worked together closely to understand how each firm operated and we have identified each team’s “best bits” and invested to make combined client base benefits from a those “even better”. Irwin Mitchell has wider range of capability; strength and listened to Thomas Eggar and Thomas depth of teams and most importantly a Eggar has listened to Irwin Mitchell. firm which can offer a holistic approach The integration process has been to protecting our clients’ personal or collaborative, constructive and driven by business interests and our joint ambition to helping to ensure their make the firm a great “Almost all teams success. Our ambition success. Both firms had is to ensure our client have been at their heart a service standards strengthened. relationship-driven continue to improve as Our corporate ethos and were the merged firm grows. experts at partnering team has doubled with clients to The customer in size. Whilst size service ethos of understand their personal and isn’t everything, the Irwin Mitchell LLP business lives. The matches with your ability to offer up joining of the firms own then? talented teams with Yes – very much creates a business, that is proactive, strength and depth so. Both firms ambitious and were originally is important” energetic, which entrepreneurial, private hopefully clients enjoy. client firms. That shared Our knowledge of our clients means that foundation and a history of working with we can use our extensive client base to individuals creates a service driven, client connect people for mutual benefit. Our centric work ethic. Irwin Mitchell cares legal capability is a given; our strength is about its clients and its people. It is the in building relationships. foundation of its success. So, how do you see the merge benefiting current and future clients, more so now than previously?
Many businesses change, adapt and grow – sometimes without much upheaval and sometimes with a lot
Cover Feature: Irwin Mitchell
of disturbances within the company. How has this merger journey affected colleagues and partners within Thomas Eggar? Thomas Eggar was a strong, united team committed to this merger. That sense of unity and purpose has been critical to the success of the merger. We were clear about why we wanted to do this and could articulate to our people the value we saw in the combination. That strong team ethic has survived the merger. There have been really good days and some not so good days as we have grappled with new systems, tried to understand a 16 office network, worked through new client lists and met new colleagues and of course nothing is ever done in the same way in two businesses. What has been vital in the process is that both firms welcomed each other; we picked out the processes in each firm, which were the best rather than the bigger firm telling us what to do, and we shared a common goal of communication to everyone about what was happening. We continue to enjoy our journey. It’s arguable that Irwin Mitchell and Thomas Eggar have previously had different focuses (in terms of services as well as areas of the UK) and different specialties, mainly simply due to each company’s history and background. Will/have you navigate around this? As I have mentioned before, our histories and foundations are in fact remarkably similar. Both firms started locally (South Coast for Thomas Eggar and Sheffield for Irwin Mitchell) and had a business, which looked after individuals, and small businesses in its region. The growth stories are also similar – an expansion into business services to match client demand. Both firms also chose a route into working in the personal injury market – Irwin Mitchell were just fantastic at this and became famous (the top firm in the country) for that type of work. But the roots are the same. Irwin Mitchell has demonstrated to the market that it knows how to build a brand and reputation. We are really pleased to be joining it at a time when it is adding to that brand, its expertise in business services and services for private individuals. Are there any legal areas that you feel will be particularly strengthened or improved upon with the addition of the Irwin Mitchell team?
Irwin Mitchell Locations
In joining with Irwin Mitchell we have added services including regulatory and white-collar crime, private wealth services and pensions. Almost all teams have been strengthened. Our corporate team has doubled in size. Whilst size isn’t everything, the ability to offer up talented teams with strength and depth is important. Our offering to the Private Wealth market whilst strong in Thomas Eggar, now adds a substantial London international private client team. What does success look like to you? Has this been something that’s changed? Success to me is (and has always been) happy engaged people enthused and committed to delivering the highest level of client service. If we get this right then the business will grow and achieve its ambitions. It is an exciting story and a great place to be at the moment. I feel privileged to be part of the team creating this new firm.
What’s the most exciting thing about this development in your opinion? New people, new clients, new opportunities – the potential is enormous. Some of our readers may be business leaders in a similar situation to Thomas Eggar’s situation a year or so ago. What advice would you give a company considering a merger, or perhaps in the process of one? Collaborate as a team to ensure you understand what you are trying to achieve. Be consistent in that story and test everything about the opportunity that you can to see if your objectives can be delivered. Communicate well throughout and beyond. Do not underestimate the power of change – lots of positives but it also creates uncertainty and that needs strong and convincing leadership. Sleep when you can and don’t book any holidays! www.irwinmitchell.com
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 37
Money Matters
The Importance of Digital Branding
Following on from the recent news that BHS had closed down as a bricks-and-mortar retailer, we heard news that the once retail giant is launching online. SBT takes a look at this shift from traditional to online retail and how digital branding can positively impact the success of a business
Earlier this year, the latest Eurozone figures were released, Focus showing that 14 high-street stores are closing in the UK every day. The ongoing and steady closure of bricks-and-mortar stores is happening at the same time as 65% of internet users in Europe shopping online. In particular, people aged between 16 and 74 are using the internet once a day at the very least. Figures released back in August this year revealed that overall non-food online sales increased by
11.2% in July in comparison to previous months. There’s been a clear correlation between older retailers struggling in the current industry, with many slowly declining as they fail to gain footing when it comes to digital sales – some of which, even without an online platform. Digital sales and having a highend digital platform has been hugely important in recent years, with a reported 69% of 55 to 64 year olds purchasing goods online. Additionally, the amount of men shopping online has also increased by 25% from 2008 to a whopping 77% in 2015, whilst
“Offering an appealing and frictionless online customer experience is vital to attracting and securing your brand and loyal consumers”
© Gibboboy777 | Wikicommons
amongst women, there was a 26% rise to 75%. What can’t you do on the internet these days? You can carry out banking, purchase goods, promote over social media platforms, communicate with buyers and clients – the possibilities are endless. Offering an appealing and frictionless online customer experience is vital to attracting and securing your brand and loyal consumers, especially so now as the internet and social media plays an increasingly key role in the everyday tasks people take on. One way in which businesses – big and small – can achieve this is by taking on employees with high levels of digital talent. BHS is just one retail company to carry out a long struggle with sales, resulting in its recent closure, meaning its department
38 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Money Matters
from shopping centres all over the country, including Eastbourne’s very own Arndale Centre. After holding its place at the Arndale Centre for more than 25 years, loyal customers and the Arndale Centre management in particular were sad to see the store leave the shopping centre. Bill Plumridge, Manager of the Eastbourne Arndale Centre, commented: “It was a very sad day for the Arndale Centre, for Eastbourne and for all the loyal BHS staff when the store closed. It had been part of the Centre since it was built and was one of our largest stores. We are currently talking to a number of parties about options for this unit and hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.” The remaining 22 BHS stores in the UK closed their shutters for the last time back in August this year (following on from the previous closure of 141 stores in recent months), bringing a close to the stores’ 88-year history on the high street. Starting out as an affordable store in south London back in the late 1920s, BHS went into administration
in April 2016, causing it to be the largest retail ‘failure’ since Woolworths’ similar situation back in 2008, resulting in over 10,000 people left without jobs. However, the closure of the stores has already seen some moving forward for the brand, as BHS has since launched as an online retailer, following in the footsteps of other successful online stores such as ASOS, Urban Industry, Missguided and many more. Vice-President Retail and Brand Solutions at RetailMeNot, operator of VoucherCodes.co.uk, Severine Philardeau said: “BHS’ move to becoming an
online retailer is not surprising and is reflective of the ongoing boom in the ecommerce industry. Online has become an integral part of the shopping experience and over the past year, retailers have continued to see a rise in online spending, growing by 15% in the UK this year alone. As a result, expectations are no longer the same – shoppers want convenience at their fingertips, and this is often translated in being able to shop on-the-go.” Sussex Business Times also got into contact with Managing Director of BHS International, David Anderson, who explained the ways in which BHS plans to re-build and maintain a good reputation for the online store: “The UK High Street has become incredibly competitive, driven in part by a consumer preference to shop online. For instance, some 40% of visits to the new BHS.com have been through mobile devices – something that was not available to customers before the previous company went into administration. The new BHS.com has been built very much with modern consumer requirements in mind. BHS had over one million loyal customers when it went into administration. So the first objective has been to reconnect with these people again and show them that at launch, we are offering them the products they liked the most from us. The products we launched with made up around 75% of the most popular products BHS sold online before it went into administration. We have since built on this with new and exciting Christmas and fashion ranges. “BHS successfully relaunched in the UK as an online retailer based on a completely new technology platform. We also have a completely new website with a clean, modern design and functionality that in our view differentiates us from the market. The new online platform is designed to be one of the most customer-friendly in the retail sector: customers can order and checkout with just two clicks, for instance. We will be much smarter online and continue to roll out the products that our customers want. Customer service is very much at the centre of the new BHS.”
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 39
Thurs 23rd Feb 2017
BRIGHTON AMEX STADIUM, BN1 9BL
the exhibition for mums on a mission AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY IF YOU OFFER • Mentoring and Coaching • Business Services: - Marketing, PR, Social Media, Web, Copywriting • A Franchise Opportunity • Business advice or support for start-ups • • •
• • •
and growing businesses You can offer Home-working and Flexible work opportunities or help mums find them Retraining Opportunities: - Universities, AAT courses, Digital learning etc Childcare: - Advice or options for childcare - Childminder training Tutor Training Financial Services Relevant Products - Telephone, Software, Internet, CRM solutions
#shoot forthe moon A child work & friendly bu exhibitisiness on
our 2016 exhibitors said...
90% 90%
“Mums Enterprise Roadshow has been a huge success.” Hannah Martin
“The Mums Enterprise Roadshow is set to become the leading event for working and startup mums in the UK.” Nicola Heulin
said we met or surpassed their expectations. said theywould exhibit again.
“Two great events, we hope to be part of future ones.” Pam Gordon
“Mums Enterprise have been so successful at translating the dream in to the reality and putting on two truly inspirational events to meet the needs and aspirations of the mums who attended.”
“If you want to meet and connect with Mums looking to start or grow a business then this event is for you.” Debbie Gilbert
Hannah Courtney-Bennet
our visitors said... “Mums this could change your life!”
Request an Exhibitor Pack email: missioncontrol@mumsenterprise.events 40 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk Call Lindsey: 01923 592255 Or visit: www.mumsenterprise.events/brighton-exhibitor
Helen
“I absolutely loved it. So so useful. It's given me tons of inspiration to get cracking on what I want to achieve.” Reena
7
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Taking the Autocue Challenge!
John Young is a regular face bringing us the news on our TV screens in Sussex each weekday evening. Here he shares the buzz he felt as he set up his own team-building company — sharing the adrenaline of newsroom life, and his portable autocue, with the county’s schools… and now, local businesses The thing about working in TV news is that it all happens Insight rather fast. You’re assigned your story in the morning — by lunchtime you aim to have found one, maybe two, interviewees to include in your report for the midday news — by 7pm you need to have rounded up all the key facts, pictures, the words and the guests, turned them into a balanced news item, and composed what you’re going to say live to the presenter in the studio. And then you go home, ready to do it all over again the next day. It’s a daily challenge and delight that seems to me to encapsulate the employability skills we all need. Deadlines. Dilemmas. Making a decision. So a few years ago, as I sat on a plane en route to a holiday after my father’s funeral, I decided I would take the plunge. I would use the money he’d left me to set up a small business. Where his had been about finance, mine would be
about those key skills. I would take that newsroom adrenaline — and distil it into an in-your-face experience for schools and, now, businesses. I call it Newsroom Bootcamp! On Monday 16 September 2013, it happened. After twenty-five years at the BBC, I went part time and, with its permission, created John Young Media. Now, with more than fifty state schools on my books, I’m offering an adult version to businesses. My workshops are not a BBC product, and this isn’t mediatraining, but it is an adrenaline filled team building adventure without the hassle of hiring a minibus and heading for an outward bound activity centre. The title came to me at the gym. ‘Newsroom Bootcamp!’ had an edge to it, with a sense of place as well as a sense of energy. Three years on, several thousand pupils of all ages have now put themselves through my Autocue Challenge, standing up before their peers to read words off a moving autocue with no rehearsal whatsoever. They’re usually pretty proud of the Certificate of Comfort
“My workshops are not a BBC product, and this isn’t media-training, but it is an adrenaline filled team building adventure without the hassle of hiring a minibus and heading for an outward bound activity centre”
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 41
Health
John’s top tips for getting the workforce you want: 1. Try to get involved in your local schools and colleges to let them know YOUR needs. Become a governor — or offer a stand at a Careers Fair they may be arranging. 2. Work with organisations who already exist to help — for example, Eastbourne’s Education Business Partnership (EBP), Sussex Business for Schools, a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Young Enterprise South East. 3. Don’t be discouraged if schools seem too busy to respond to you at first. Schools can be frantic places. The organisations listed above may be able to help. You can find out more about Newsroom Bootcamp for Business by calling John on 01273 606246 or 07850 188620, or at johnyoungmedia.co.uk. Zone Breach they’re presented with at the end. And that’s not the half of it. Through my news-based games, they discover the reality of the broader workplace. My Give Me Five game is quite simple. “Here are nine stories: in your teams, pick five for your programme. You’ve got six minutes. Go!” But then a phone will ring, with a cameraman appearing on the big screen to warn you he’s stuck in traffic, and won’t reach his story at all … the phone goes again, with pressure from a councillor who doesn’t want you reporting a local scandal … you spot on Twitter that there’s an emergency off the coast in the Channel … and so it goes on. Most of the pupils are punch drunk by the time the whistle finally goes and they declare which five stories their team would have run, and in which order. (There’s then a final twist … but to reveal that would spoil the surprise … ) As every business owner will know, you’ve got to meet your clients’ needs — and teachers are under more pressure than ever these days to prepare pupils for the world of work. Every business-
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person reading this will know it doesn’t One of the things I’d discovered a few always happen. To help both, I also years earlier, when on a year’s secondment created my Employability Express — a as a trainer at the BBC’s College of workshop that gives every pupil seeking Journalism, was that after each session, work experience or an interview a jolt. you need to ask what your delegates First, I ask who wants to read off the felt they actually learnt, not simply autocue, and pick whether they’d enjoyed two people who themselves. This helps “Be flexible. Every don’t want to, to me provide a one page teacher, every manager, report for teachers and go up first. I ask has different needs the class to list their managers, spelling out for their pupils or individual qualities just what their pupils and then ask for or staff have actually staff. Some want the hard examples gained. full bells-and-whistles of qualities. A Second, be flexible. package, some want phone rings, and it Every teacher, every more discussion and keeps ringing until manager, has different reflection” someone steps needs for their pupils or up for the final staff. Some want the full challenge — being interviewed by me on bells-and-whistles package, some want camera, watched by their peers. Sounds more discussion and reflection. What they tough? The feedback I gather from the all want is to feel they’ve been listened to pupils themselves tells me they’re grateful by me. they’ve been put through it. And finally, the biggest lesson of all for Over the three years I’ve spent running me — a lesson perhaps any businessman the enterprise as a small private business, or business-woman reading this article will I’ve learnt a few things about myself. understand — that to succeed, you’ve just First, that feedback and figures matter. got to step outside that comfort zone.
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Education
The Rise in National Minimum Wage
Following on from the recent increase in the national minimum wage, Sussex Business Times got in contact with Kelly Ball, Managing Director of Positive Outcomes – a provider of workbased training and apprenticeships – who explains what this means for businesses that run apprenticeship schemes
"When you bring an apprentice into your team, you will be introducing a wealth of enthusiasm, endeavour and fresh ideas"
On October 1st, the national minimum wage for apprentices Education under the age of 19 – or over 19 but in the first year of their apprenticeship – rose to £3.40 per hour. The new rate will see apprentices take home nearly £200 extra per annum. There has already been a surge in demand for apprenticeships throughout 2016, which has no doubt been helped by last year’s wage increase. This saw the national minimum wage rise from £2.73 to £3.30 per hour for apprentices and was the largest real-term rise in hourly rates since 2007. The government, which has pledged to create 3,000,000 more apprenticeships by 2020, believes that the rise in rates will further incentivise young people to consider an apprenticeship as a career option. The increase enhances the value of apprenticeships, highlighting the commitment from businesses to
“ENGAGING WITH AND EMPLOYING TOMORROWS WORKFORCE - PRESENTATIONS AND BREAKOUTS”
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develop young and dynamic workers. A rise in minimum wage also serves to broaden the appeal of apprenticeships, which in turn heightens the demand. The benefit to businesses offering apprenticeships is that they are likely to attract more applications, as more and more young people consider an apprenticeship as a viable option, which gives businesses a greater pool of talent to call upon. A structured and well-planned apprenticeship programme allows employers to train apprentices and embed skills that fit the specific requirements of their business – which, in turn, makes them invaluable to the future growth of the business. The employer has the opportunity to nurture and develop the apprentice in line with the skills that the business needs. Businesses should see apprentices as a malleable resource who they can instil their company’s ethos, training and high standards into. This could be an excellent way to get
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Education
"Businesses should see apprentices as a malleable resource who they can instil their company’s ethos, training and high standards into" your apprenticeship scheme off the ground. But if you’re serious about taking on an apprentice, I would advise that you talk to an expert. That way, help can be tailored to meet your specific needs as a company. Apprenticeships are a great way for businesses to invest in their future and ensure they maintain an experienced workforce. Apprentices learn on the job, benefiting from the knowledge and business practices of the existing team, while learning industry-specific skills. Hiring an apprentice is a great way for a business to promote growth. A report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) earlier this year found that apprenticeship opportunities in two-thirds (67 per cent) of small businesses leads to longer-term employment. The report highlights that SMEs are providing apprentices with a reliable pathway to stable and suitable full-time employment. But it’s not only apprentices who are benefiting from this, it’s also employers who are gaining valuable additions to their workforce. When you bring an apprentice into your team, you will be introducing a wealth of enthusiasm, endeavour and fresh ideas. Businesses should be embracing the chance to enrich their workforce. Here are my top three tips on how to grow your business through an apprenticeship:
1
The Grow Your Own Approach
Make sure you have a clear journey for your apprentice. This is a great way to make sure your apprentice develops into the employee you want them to be. But to do this you must have the end in mind, and work backwards. What role do you want them doing when they have completed their apprenticeship with you? And therefore what do they need from you to get there?
2
3
Productivity Reviews
Young adults are quick at tackling tasks, particularly when it comes to all things digital. They were brought up on social media, apps etc. It’s second nature to them. Apprentices are also quick and willing learners They don’t come with bad habits inherited from previous roles; more often than not this will be their first role.
Innovation sessions
Apprentices are full of ideas and enthusiasm, capitalise on this. We all know for businesses to thrive that innovation is key, include your apprentices in brainstorming sessions, or ‘future plans’ meetings, tap into the energy that your apprentice will bring.
Kelly Ball, Managing Director of Positive Outcomes
For more information on apprenticeships and the work that Positive Outcomes do, please visit www.positiveoutcomes.org.uk or call 0800 488 0488 to find out more.
2ND MARCH
2017
THE VIEW HOTEL EASTBOURNE
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 45 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Who’s Looking After You?
SBT takes a look at the topic of workplace healthcare, corporate medical insurance and how your staff should and can best be benefited from health schemes at work
Ensuring your staff’s wellbeing is a priority Health & in the workplace, so – running the risk Wellbeing of sounding like an insurance advert – it’s important to consider implementing a thorough and extensive corporate healthcare plan. Your staff work hard, but as with life in general, sometimes things don’t go to plan. A newly setup company, Specialists4Protection recently conducted research to support its launch and found a number of shocking statistics, including that only 31% of people claim to have advert student membership.pdf 1 25/10/2016 life insurance or death in service benefit through work. In addition, 44% of people C
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with children aged 18 or under, and/or who are married and in a long term relationship don’t have life insurance. This rises to 72% when considering those without critical illness cover. Of those people with life insurance, the vast majority were found to be hugely under-insured; around 23% of those with this cover only have the equivalent of one year’s salary, and a further 19% have two years’ income. The research with financial advisers also revealed that 8% have stopped selling life insurance over the past five years, and a further 8% have plans to stop in the future. The main reason for this is that 16:23 they want to focus more on selling investment products as this enables them
to strengthen their relationship with clients. Paul Litster, Managing Director of Specialists4Protection (www. specialists4protection.co.uk) said: “It’s alarming to see how many people who should have life insurance don’t, but also how under-insured most people with this cover are. If you have dependents, having adequate life insurance is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make, but many people tend to just pluck a figure from the air when deciding on their level of cover without working out what their loved ones would need should they die.” Employers of course don’t have any legal obligation to provide workplace
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healthcare, life insurance or corporate medical insurance but, while businesses that choose to go without benefits might see a short term boost, long-term success could be at stake if you decide to head down that road. David Jepps, Employment Lawyer at Keystone Law comments: “Employers don’t legally have to provide any private healthcare for employees. Their key legal obligation is just to pay Statutory Sick Pay.” He adds: “However, as employers grow they need to recruit well and must compete with larger employers for the best staff. Private health insurance is a ‘given’ benefit with larger employers and a crucial factor in whether a prospective new hire says ‘yes’. There are also the obvious benefits helping employees get better more quickly and to have flexibility with medical appointments.” Experienced and high quality employees often feel that they should, by rights, be offered a certain set of perks in their jobs. And heading the list of must-have benefits is health insurance. Many consider pension plans, disability insurance and a number of other benefits to be standard practise! But what are the legal obligations, benefits and potential issues involved? Brian Palmer, Employment Lawyer at Keystone Law explains: “The only legal obligation upon employers with regard to employee sickness is to provide statutory sick pay, which is a set at a low rate of £88.45pw. Employers often offer more generous contractual sick pay terms. In addition, in the competition to attract staff, many employers also provide private medical insurance (PMI) as a benefit to employees. As NHS resources become increasingly stretched, research suggests that half of employees (50%) say they find PMI personally valuable,
compared to 41% for occupational or workplace pensions. It is often more cost effective to buy PMI for a group rather than individually. “As the cost of PMI to employers continues to increase, employees should check carefully any restrictions on the terms of PMI such as the amount of any excess payable, level of outpatient cover and freedom of choice of specialists. When moving to a new employer, employees should ensure that their new employer offers comparable cover and does not exclude any pre-existing conditions.” We also spoke to Rachel Western, principal at Aon Employee Benefits, who gave us an overview of what workplace healthcare offers employees and employers, how employers can ensure they’re offering the right type of health insurance and and what the risks are if not enrolled in any schemes: “There is no key regulation around the provision of medical insurance. Clients who want
“As NHS resources become increasingly stretched, research suggests that half of employees (50%) say they find PMI personally valuable, compared to 41% for occupational or workplace pensions”
to ensure the health provision meets their workplace health requirements may have a wellness strategy that focuses on workplace health initiatives and ensure measurables exist to ensure it is meeting strategy objectives. “It is useful for companies to establish what their employee health risks are, the short and long term implications of these risks and what solutions they can utilise to combat them. Whilst common themes can emerge, these risks will be different by client.” “Health insurance in its own right does not provide a full strategy for managing workplace health as provision is rarely focused on workplace health issues but general medical issues also. We also find that workplace health issues impact other benefits and provisions and not just private medical insurance.” Workplace healthcare is something that should be considered by every company, and with no one answer across the board, employers should take into account the type of work and their employees’ needs. However, it seems we have a way to go, as Rachel adds: “From Aon’s Benefit and Trends Survey 2015 we established that 38% of corporates do not use any analytics to inform or drive their corporate health and wellbeing strategy. Where data is harnessed, it is most likely to be via absence data (49%).”
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Dinner Review:
Limetree Kitchen, Lewes Sussex Business Times’ Features Editor, Jess Saunders, enjoyed a three-course meal at Limetree Kitchen in Lewes Located on the quiet, cobbled Station Street in the town Review of Lewes, Limetree Kitchen posed the perfect appearance for a warm, or even romantic meal on a cold October evening. With the front window lit up with fairy lights, contrasting with the dismal winter weather, I could hardly wait to go inside. The waiter and barman, Craig, greeted us at the door and welcomed us in with a friendly smile. Unusually, we were given the opportunity to choose where we sat, although this was probably helped along by the fact that there were only three or four other customers in the building, which is to be expected at this time of year on a Thursday evening. The interior of the restaurant impressed me. It was a combination of modern and rustic; each table laid up with intimate candle lighting, polished cutlery and comfortable, cushioned chairs. The blackboards on the walls were plentiful with dishes that showed the true extent of the talented chef working there. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and the back wall was decorated using music sheets, which I thought added a unique
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feel to the restaurant; something I hadn’t seen before. The tables sported a wornout look, matching the door from the kitchen to the dining area. I appreciated that the dining area was separated from the main bar area, providing dinner guests with some form of privacy. Without knowing, I had chosen the table in front of the radiator, supplying us with the perfect level of heat throughout the evening while the wide variety of background music was played at a suitable volume. Craig supplied us with menus and a bottle of water before taking our drinks order. My guest went for the non-alcoholic option of Elderflower with ice, while I went all out and chose the Limetree Bellini cocktail, consisting of Prosecco, Peach Puree, Sugar Syrup, Raspberries and Sherbert neatly
decorating the top of the glass. It was soon after this that Craig took it upon himself to present us with an Amuse Bouche – Tomato Tartare and Smoked Ricotta on a crispy Tortilla with Red Basil. If I wasn’t already looking forward to the wonders the chef was going to cook up for us, this definitely did the job! Craig returned to our table shortly after with our desired drinks and asked if we were ready to order. I am always hesitant when considering a starter as I never want to take away from the main and dessert courses, so my guest and I opted for the selection of cured meats to share rather than selecting individual starters. It wasn’t long before it was placed neatly in front of us, and Craig offered to explain each individual meat, which we appreciated. It’s always nice to know where exactly your food has come from. The platter
“With overall outstanding service, beautifully presented and delectable food served to us in an intimate and cosy atmosphere, Limetree Kitchen made for a perfect evening meal”
Tried and Tested in Sussex
consisted of Wild Boar Prosciutto, Truffled Salami, Smoked Salami and Fennel Salami, decorated neatly with vegetables and piccalilli. As a confessed Salami fan anyway, I was in heaven. The sweet piccalilli perfectly complemented the different meats and Craig even provided us with complementary bread and butter. It wasn’t long before the platter was empty, with my guest and I fighting over who was going to eat the last piece. Craig – who was attentive throughout our meal without encroaching on our evening – was soon back to take our main course choices but I will confess, I had already decided on what I was going to have for my main course before even arriving at the venue. Just looking at the menu online was enough to whet my appetite! I opted for a medium-well Rib-eye Steak, served with hand-cut fries, Aioli and a Roquette Parmesan Salad and my guest; the Posh Fish and Chips, consisting of battered Hake Fillet, hand-cut Chips, Pea Puree and Tartare sauce. The presentation of both dishes was exquisite, almost to the point where I didn’t want to ruin it! My steak was the best I have ever had the pleasure of eating; tender and juicy and perfectly complemented by the aioli sauce. The fries were crisp and it was safe to say that the meal as a whole was plentiful, causing slight worry in my mind that I wouldn’t be able to manage a dessert. I gathered from the strange noises my guest was making that the Posh Fish and Chips was equally delicious and I could see from the other side of the table that it was hot right to the centre: proof of a well-cooked meal. A welcome pause was left before
he returned to take our dessert order. Undecided, we asked Craig what his recommendation was and trusted his suggestion, so we opted for the Lemon Verbena and Honey Pannacotta, Lychee Sorbet and Bee Pollen Honeycomb to share, still full to the brim from our previous courses but refusing to be defeated. The presentation was, yet again, amazing and the taste, even better. The Sorbet was incredibly refreshing and this, along with the sweetness of the Honeycomb and light Pannacotta, all infused together to make a delightful dessert. With overall outstanding service,
beautifully presented and delectable food served to us in an intimate and cosy atmosphere, Limetree Kitchen made for a perfect evening meal. I left with only one negative – the lack of parking, but this is to be expected when dining in the tiny town of Lewes. I would highly recommend Limetree Kitchen for anyone looking for a tranquil and intimate dinner and I will be sure to return soon! Address: Limetree Kitchen, 14 Station St, Lewes, BN7 2DA Telephone: 01273 478636 Web: www.limetreekitchen.co.uk
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Hotel Review:
The Bull in Ditchling
Address: The Bull Ditchling, 2 High Street, Ditchling, BN6 8TA Telephone: 01273 843147 Web: thebullditchling.com
Jenny Ardagh heads off to the village of Ditchling to stay in the newly named best pub in the UK Resting in the historic village of Ditchling, surrounded by the Review beauty of the South Downs National Park, The Bull is a wonderful example of good old-fashioned British comfort at its best. The stylishly converted pub is one of the oldest buildings in the village, dating back to the early 16th Century; still providing that hit of rustic atmosphere as soon as you walk in. My guest and I were warmly welcomed upon arrival, after having parked in the spacious and free guest car park, with a pot of tea and were informed of some exciting news. Having fought off strong competition from over 1,000 pubs in the UK, The Bull had claimed the title of Great British Pub at the Great British Pub Awards 2016 just the night before; so I was officially staying in the best pub in Britain! Suffice to say the staff were thrilled with this accolade, and it certainly heightened my expectations for the evening. After our tea, we were shown to our room – one of four individually designed guest rooms residing behind a fairly magical hidden door. Alongside the low timber beams, open fire, rustic wooden floorboards, dim lighting and slightly less than symmetrical-looking walls, the addition of a secret doorway was almost
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reminiscent of a drinking establishment straight out of a Harry Potter book, rather than just your standard local. I was very pleasantly surprised by the room (room four), which immediately evoked a sense of luxurious comfort as we entered. The double bed was furnished with a fur throw and all the cushions you could ever ask for, preceded by a sofa and large, vintage suitcase-come-coffee-table, before a flat screen television with a DVD player and a shuttered window looking onto the small streets of Ditchling. The bathroom
was contemporary and clean, if a little small – but that comes with the territory here – with a very large shower. A warning though, if you’re tall, you may struggle to fit comfortably under the shower head (fortunately, not a problem for me). The aim of the owners, Dominic Worrall and his wife, Vanessa, is to offer a ‘warm and welcoming pub with an understated, contemporary edge’, and this it certainly does; both in the rooms and the dining area, where my guest and I headed for our evening meal.
Tried & Tested in Sussex
We sat in what had quickly become our ‘usual’ spot, on a slightly rickety wooden bench and a more solid chair by the fireplace. Although quite chilly, the fire wasn’t lit, which was a bit of a shame. Nonetheless, I felt warmed merely by the atmosphere, with candles lit around us creating a particularly romantic mood (this is perhaps not somewhere to go in an evening should you need to read anything in detail). We went for a glass each of Ridgeview sparkling wine, as it only seemed appropriate to sample the local vineyard’s produce. This went beautifully with both of our starters: a rabbit terrine for my guest, and whipped goats cheese with beetroot and walnut for me. Both were presented very well. For main course, I decided to try the fish dish, which was skate – something I’d never tried before – with samphire, crushed new potatoes and roasted cherry tomatoes. My guest had a classic Bedlam ale battered cod fillet and hand cut chips with peas and tartare. Both pieces of fish were extremely fresh and full of flavour, with my potatoes accompanying the skate perfectly, and the cod batter apparently nicely crispy, alongside equally delicious accompaniments. Although very full, we both went for a dessert; I had a vanilla pannacotta and my guest had a berry cheesecake. I must admit, I was quite jealous of the cheesecake, which was indulgently rich and creamy but perfectly offset by the berries on top. I was a little disappointed with my pannacotta, which lacked flavour slightly, but couldn’t honestly say I needed a pudding at all! The restaurant had in fact been quite hyped up before my arrival, and indeed with the news of it being the best pub in the UK, my expectations were quite high. I would describe it as a pub meal with a difference, so if you’re looking for somewhere to keep that laid-back atmosphere but with an element of fine dining, this is the place to go. Equally, if you’re looking for a home-from-home overnight stay, The Bull is ideal. The rooms feel very private, with only four of them, so it suits a businessman or woman who desires a more quiet, undisturbed overnight stay. However, saying that, there was an element of noise come the morning with traffic building just outside and floorboards creaking as other guests walked by. Again, this is to be expected in an old building like this, and can be viewed as simply adding to the character.
“I would describe it as a pub meal with a difference, so if you’re looking for somewhere to keep that laid-back atmosphere but with an element of fine dining, this is the place to go” Breakfast was served from around 7 till 9.30 AM, and it was welcomingly quiet in the dining area. We were offered our choice of morning paper alongside the usual breakfast choices – of course, both my guest and I opted for the full English, which was well-sized and tasty. You can’t go far wrong with a fry up! The staff throughout our stay were extremely friendly, accommodating and professional, making us feel like we were guests in their home rather than paying customers. The pub as a whole
struck a perfect balance between looking after guests and not encroaching on personal space – a balance that’s fairly hard to strike in some more corporate focused hotels. I will reserve judgement on whether The Bull is indeed the best pub in the UK, in my eyes at least, as I can’t say that I’ve experienced that many, but I would certainly recommend it as an overall dine and stay experience, particularly if you want the comfort of home with the extra luxuries of a guesthouse or hotel.
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NEWS
Photos by www.simoncallaghanphotography.com ©
The Chamber is the voice of Brighton & Hove’s business people. It’s a voice that helps its members build successful businesses and be part of this great city’s community and economy. Brighton and Hove Chamber makes a guest appearance in Sussex Business Times this month, bringing us news from their members and about the Brighton Summit”
Camillla Stephens
Desires and Dreams: Finding your Business Vision
by Brighton Chamber member, Ruth Chapman, Business Development Manager at TDC (Trust for Developing Communities)
Are you ready to do business with desire? That was the challenge laid out by Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce in their key event of 2016, the Brighton Summit. The concept was simple: sometimes you need to go back to what is most important in business, beyond pure economics; the passion that got you started; the dreams that launched your product and your desire to succeed. An early networking breakfast kicked off the day, with delicious pastries from Sugardough and plenty of coffee. Brighton Summit always attracts a good
mix of businesses and with over 300 companies attending, the room was buzzing with conversation and new connections. The first of the keynote speakers set the tone for the day. Camilla Stephens and Mark Campbell, of Higgidy, were both well-qualified to discuss the power of business vision. Camilla founded the handmade pie company in her kitchen in 2003 and took the risk of selling her home to fund the business. Despite facing huge challenges along the way, the team have gone the extra mile to make the Higgidy brand successful
and have always stuck to their core values and vision for the company. They now turn over £24m a year, employ over 250 people and roll 4 miles of pastry each week - proof that success is a combination of desire and hard work. Following the keynote speakers were practical sessions, allowing businesses to harness what they had taken from the speakers and work on their own business vision. A choice of 4 practical workshops was offered, run by business leaders, providing tools and guidance in goalsetting, productivity, social media strategy or simply just working on what your vision
www.businessinbrighton.org.uk
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Chamber News
Marc Koska OBE
Photos by www.simoncallaghanphotography.com ©
should be. Later panel sessions, hosted by experts, approached the concept of business vision from a different angle, discussing the power of mindset, difficult decision-making and sharing your vision, either directly or in print. There was even the option to explore dreams, with a ‘desire hour’ full of dance, yoga, speed networking and virtual reality workshops. After a delicious lunch by Spade and Spoon, the second of the keynote speakers took to the stage. Luke Johnson, a man who has tried his hand in all manner of industries, now owns Brighton Pier. He spoke candidly about his successes, but also about the tests and failures he has met throughout his career. He reminded the room that in challenging times you need to be clever and innovative about who you are. The day finished on a real high (and that was before the Brighton Gin cocktails and live jazz!) with a truly inspirational talk from Marc Koska OBE. His company of just 5 people have saved countless thousands of lives by developing an
Auto-Disable syringe and educating people world-wide to stop the spread of disease through shared syringes. Marc’s phenomenal achievement summed up the aim of the Brighton Summit – think big, believe in what you do, work hard
and you can make it happen. A truly inspiring day. For more information about Brighton Chamber events see www.businessinbrighton.org.uk/ events
The Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign, which is led and managed by Brighton Chamber, has now signed up over 300 employers. This, in turn, has elevated nearly 3,000 salaries. Launched in 2012, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the living wage, and to support and encourage local businesses to voluntarily commit to paying their employees the current UK rate of £8.25 per hour. The Brighton campaign started as a result of the Living Wage Commission that met for six months in 2011. In February 2012 Brighton Chamber held a Big Debate about the living wage with local businesses, and in April 2012, the Living Wage Commission announced that a business-led campaign for a living wage would be led and managed by the Chamber. The campaign reached the milestone ahead of Living Wage Week, a national celebration of all things living wage, this year taking place between 30th October and 5th November. On Monday 31st October the announcement of the new UK and
Photos by www.simoncallaghanphotography.com ©
Local Living Wage Campaign Reaches New Milestone
Living Wage employer hiSbe
London Living Wage rates for 2016/17 were announced. The success of the campaign was recognised at the recent Brighton & Hove Business Awards, being one of the reasons behind the judges choice of Outstanding Brightonian. Sarah Springford, the Director of Brighton Chamber said: “It is such an honour
and an accolade to have received this award from the BAHBAs judges. And brilliant that the living wage and Brighton Chamber have been recognised in this way by the business community.” To find out more about the campaign, or to sign up for free, visit www.livingwagebrighton.co.uk
Tel: 01273 719 097 Email: admin@businessinbrighton.org.uk www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
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Motoring
Test Drive Peugeot 2008 Allure PureTech 130
The Peugeot 2008 represents the French brand’s small crossover model, of which there have been many in what can only be described as an exploding sector within the motor trade Launching the 2008 and technology, but unlike some of could be seen as a its rivals, the 2008 doesn’t offer a knee-jerk response four-wheel drive option. Peugeot’s Comfort to their rival, Grip Control system is very effective in Renault’s, Captur boosting traction on slippery surfaces and the C4 Cactus though, which you could argue gives from Citroën. All a close second to having four wheels of which have followed the Juke from doing their thing. Nissan and all aim to We first saw the 2008 offer SUV styling and a back in 2013, being later “The Allure 1.2 higher driving position updated in 2015 with PureTech 130 but with the price and better, more efficient a model that efficiency of a regular engines through the is continually hatchback. range, and again in 2016 First impressions of improving and for with revised exterior the 2008 Allure is that styling and improved the money, you it’s quite a laid-back tech on board. Now, you could do a car. It does give good get to choose between practicality and a plush five different trims; lot worse” interior, but you could be Access, Active, Allure forgiven for feeling that overall, it’s quite and, for 2016, a sporty GT-Line trim, as sedate. well as an Urban Cross special edition. The 2008 is based on the brand’s six power outputs (81bhp to 128bhp) 208 super-mini. Comfortable, refined and engine-wise, there are just two and it comes with proven mechanics engines on offer; 1.2-litre turbo petrol
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and a 1.6-litre diesel but with 81bhp to 128bhp options therein. As well as the standard five or sixspeed manual transmissions available, you can also choose a two-pedal system; either the ETG robotised manual or the EAT6 automatic. No four-wheel drive is available with the 2008 - instead you get a ‘Grip Control’ system with different modes to optimise the traction control according to what surface you’re on. Standard tech includes cruise control, air-con, LED daytime running lights and steel wheels, but you’ll need to step up to Active to gain a touchscreen with DAB radio and Bluetooth, as well as 16-inch alloys, front fogs and a leather wheel. The higher spec cars include pretty much every gadget you could
Motoring
compared to others in its class, and while that means fast response, it can make the car feel a little jittery on dual carriageways and motorways. Not ideal for those who see themselves covering large distances regularly. Space-wise, the rear seats fold in a 60:40 split, giving a completely flat load area. It’s easy to access the boot, too, as the load lip is lower to the ground than in many of its rivals. There’s also space under the boot floor, which offers extra, hidden storage room and the 2008 also carries a space-saver spare wheel as standard across the whole range, unlike most rivals, where you’ll find yourself paying extra, or now only have space for a puncture repair kit. All round, this isn’t a bad car at all. I think there are others in its class that I would choose over it but it does win in some certain areas. The ride position and height is a winner and it has a lot of space in it when compared to others. It’s a model that is continually improving and for the money, you could do a lot worse.
Technical Specifications OTR Price: £18,470 Engine: 3 cylinder petrol, 199cc 0-62: 9.3 secs Max speed: 124 mph Transmission: 6-speed manual Insurance group: 19 E
dream of, including parking sensors with a rear-view camera, sat-nav, leather and a panoramic glass roof. So far as the drive is concerned, the 2008 gives a comfortable, if slightly uninspiring drive. It’s some way from the most agile or sporty model in its class. Its higher driving position means there’s longer-travel suspension than in a super-mini, so you not only feel the benefits in terms of ride comfort, but with the visibility too. Take the 2008 out onto the open road and it keeps body roll under control pretty well. It rarely feels unstable, cornering confidently but definitely lacks the fun-factor and precision that you’ll find in rivals like one of SBT’s favourites, the Skoda Yeti. The steering wheel is small if
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Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer SRI NAV 1.6 CDTi Vauxhall’s Sports Tourer flexes its muscle in tourer class To drive, it’s a car that lives up to This is the first the hype. You could argue that it’s Vauxhall to grace quite an ‘ordinary’ car, but take a look the forecourt at Sporty at the price range. This is firmly in the SBT Towers in ‘ordinary’ bracket, which serves so some time, and many families and business types, and since hearing such actually, perhaps with the aesthetic great things about from the side-on, it’s a great looking the Astra Sports Tourer from our car with the best angle, like so many industry friends, it’s great to have the things, being from the rear. opportunity to put it to the test for a You could also argue that the Ford week. Focus Estate is Ours for testing more nimble to is, we believe the “Alloy wheels, drive and the best example of the Bluetooth connectivity, Volkswagen Golf range, the 1.6-litre Estate offers more diesel which offers DAB digital radio, the but the up a significant Intellilink infotainment comfort, Astra sits firmly 135bhp and offering system controlled in the middle of an impressive from a seven-inch these, combining combination the best of both of economy, touchscreen, airand performance, and conditioning and cruise worlds offering a great cost. control are standard on all-round motor. There are six trim The Astra is levels available; the all models” a little flatter Design, Tech Line, in the general SRi, SRi Nav, Elite driving stakes if compared to, say, the and Elite Nav, all of which are nicely Focus, but the Astra resists body lean loaded with tech and general creature in corners impressively well and has comforts. Alloy wheels, Bluetooth plenty of grip, too. You can tell that a connectivity, DAB digital radio, the lot of weight has been shaved from this Intellilink infotainment system controlled model and it’s generally sharper than from a seven-inch touchscreen, airits predecessor. conditioning and cruise control are The brakes take a little getting used standard on all models.
to as the feel in the pedal is slightly odd, but once you do get the hang of them, you’ll find that they’re impressively powerful. We believe that this car will be a hit with fleet drivers and reps that are busy crisscrossing the country on a daily basis as the comfort is at a level that definitely suits heavy mileage. The general drive is smooth and you really get the feeling that you could clock up many a mile without regretting your buy. Suffice to say that the Astra one of the best cars in its class to drive. It’s quiet and comfortable and we believe it sits happily amongst its competition, which would include the likes of the Ford Focus Estate, the Kia Cee’d SW and Toyota’s Auris Touring Sports. No more is the Astra an also-ran in its class. It’s quite simply one of the best cars you can buy in its range.
Technical Specifications Engine Size: 1598cc 0-60mph: 9.5 secs Top Speed: 127mph Alleged Economy: 72 mpg Road Tax: £20 Seats: 5
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SBTMotoring News UK Motor Trade Welcomes Nissan’s Decision to Build New Models in the UK In what has been seen as nothing short of a huge relief in the wake of uncertainty since the EU referendum, thousands of jobs have now been secured in the UK automotive supply chain. The UK industry received a significant boost with the recent announcement by Britain’s second largest car manufacturer that it will build two of its next generation models in Sunderland. 28,000 supply chain jobs in the UK are currently supported by Nissan, among a wider 78,000 dependent on all Britishbased vehicle manufacturers. The announcement that the next generation Qashqai as well as the new X-Trail, currently produced in Japan, will both be made in Sunderland provides certainty and confidence to invest for existing UK-based companies. It should also act as an incentive to companies not operating here already. SBT spoke with a supplier to gauge the general feeling and what the decision means for UK trade: John Barnett, VP Manufacturing and Supply Chain for Calsonic Kansei, which supplies a variety of automotive components for car manufacturers worldwide said: “We are a key supplier to Nissan in the UK and globally, with 1,400 staff in the North East alone, so the decision to build two new models in Sunderland is excellent news. A significant
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proportion of the components used to manufacture cars at the plant originate from us. In the future, the opportunities are now there for us to win even more business. It means we can look at reshoring some of our own supply chain back to the UK and gives confidence to global suppliers that the UK is still a good place to invest.” The news will also boost supply chain reshoring efforts to the UK, where there is an estimated £6 billion opportunity for component manufacturers as British-based vehicle makers increasingly look closer to home to pursue manufacturing efficiencies. Billions of pounds have already been invested in domestic supply chain networks to fulfil just-intime production needs and cut the cost of logistics. This trend is having an
impact, with the content of Britishbuilt cars rising from 36% to 41% over the past five years with the potential to reach 50% in the near future. However, the sheer rate of the industry’s recent growth has resulted in a skills shortage, and for success to continue this needs to be addressed. According to the Automotive Council up to 5,000 vacancies exist in UK automotive manufacturing, which have a significant impact on business operations. Two in five (41%) respondents to a recent supply chain member survey said that the availability of skilled workers, apprentices and graduates could impede their company’s growth over the next three years. Nissan’s announcement is great news for the UK Automotive and supply chain jobs, confirming Britain as a leader in automotive production, with recent comments made by the Secretary of State and Prime Minister also greatly encouraging. It is important that Government makes it a priority to safeguard the competitiveness of this important sector as we leave the EU. This means maintaining a competitive business environment, ensuring talent can be recruited from abroad and securing the benefits we currently enjoy in the single market, including tariff free trade unhindered by any customs bureaucracy. Watch this space for more.
SBTMotoring News Signature Harrods Caterham Launches Along with Signature Personalisation Programme The Harrods special edition car is now on sale exclusively in store and includes a host of special features, which demonstrate the breadth of options new Caterham buyers can add to their vehicles. The £59,999 Harrods special edition has been on display throughout October for Harrods Man month. The special edition Harrods Seven, a 420S under the skin, is painted in Harrods green, with a custom white stripe and gold pinstripe while, beneath the bodywork, the chassis has been powder-coated in gold. The car’s styling was created in conjunction with Harrods and its design team and buyers can pick one up in store along with their fashion and luxury items. Caterham’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, told SBT: “A Caterham Seven isn’t a car you need to buy, it’s
a car you buy because you want it. As such, we believe you should make it your own in every way. Guy Cheston, Media Director of Harrods, said: “Caterham is one of Great Britain’s most famous and instantly recognisable motoring brands and it has been a pleasure to partner with the team there. We wanted to make our Harrods car a real object of desire, so our Harrods touches are subtle and understated and, at the same time, reflect genuine quality.” Read more on www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Crawley Provides Welcome Pit-Stop for Veterans During Annual Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Drive a modern car from London to Brighton and the journey ought to take less than two hours. Attempt the trip in a pioneering veteran car with little or no weather protection and rely on technology that’s at least 110 years old and, well, it’s going to take somewhat longer. For the fearless drivers and their passengers that braved the journey from the capital to the coast on the first Sunday in November, a halfway halt is a welcome opportunity to fettle their cars and warm themselves with a hot drink. As has now become a tradition, the participating cars in the annual veteran run, supported by Hiscox and a Royal Automobile Club event, took a wellearned break at the Honda Gatwick dealership in Crawley. Upon reaching the half-way point
of the run, participants enjoyed the hospitality of The Harrods Stop at Crawley. The iconic Green Men from the famous Knightsbridge department store welcomed guests to enjoy a full service of refreshments from the Harrods Banqueting team, providing treats straight out of the popular Harrods Food Halls. Guests were also entertained by a lively jazz band and served by the ‘Harrods Butlers’. James Healy, Director of Store Operations, commented: “The Run is a great opportunity to celebrate veteran vehicles in the UK and, for us at Harrods, to celebrate our history as a store. Harrods has been serving customers across London for over 160 years, and it’s fantastic to have our veteran vehicles back on the open road.”
Sussex Town Named as Highest For Write-Off Warnings Shocking new figures announced by My Car Check show that Billingshurst in West Sussex is the worst place in the UK to buy a used car in terms of write-off risk. Billingshurst came top of the class, (or bottom, depending on how you look at it) with a staggering 42.48% of checks conducted there returning a write-off warning, compared to just 5.07% in Farnborough, Hampshire, just 30 miles up the road. Most write-off warnings Billingshurst, West Sussex Dewsbury, West Yorkshire Morden, South London Halifax, West Yorkshire Blackpool, Lancashire
42% 36% 35% 34% 34%
Least write-off warnings Farnborough, Hampshire 5% Sudbury, Suffolk 6% Burnham, Buckinghamshire 6% Treharris, South Wales 6% Maidenhead, Berkshire 7% Head of My Car Check, Roger Powell, said: “We have only recently started analysing our data by location and were surprised to discover a substantial variance in the write-off risk across large UK cities. Around 1 in 4 cars checked in London and Birmingham over the last year were found to have been written-off, compared to only 1 in 7 in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol. When you delve into the data for smaller towns the disparity is even more pronounced. Used buyers in Billingshurst face an alarmingly high 2 in 5 risk, whereas for buyers in nearby Farnborough the risk is only 1 in 20”.
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Rob Hilborn, Head of Strategy at Broadband Genie assistance? Help with other devices and services? Are they UK based? Downtime can result in real financial loss, and reliable ISP support can be especially important for smaller firms lacking dedicated IT staff.
What should I look for when choosing an internet service provider? Support is vital but often overlooked. When comparing packages ensure your chosen ISP offers a suitable level of support. Do you need 24 hour
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Should branding be considered a cost or an investment? I’ve been involved in strategic branding decisions at many levels; some slightly less strategic than others, ranging from airports and international tour operators to small businesses, start-ups and government initiatives. The thing that
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How do I know what broadband speed is right for my business? When selecting a broadband service, consider both the number of users and how it’s going to be used. A 17Mb ADSL connection can comfortably serve around 10 users for low-impact tasks such as web browsing and email, but a single large download or upload could slow things down for everybody. We would recommend fibre optic broadband for all but the smallest organisations. This will provide sufficient bandwidth to handle the demands of many employees and large file transfers without huge expense.
What can I do if broadband in my area is very slow? Some businesses, particularly those in rural locations, will find their choice of broadband is extremely limited. One alternative is line bonding. This combines multiple ADSL connections to provide a single fast line. Mobile broadband can also be considered in place of a fixed line service. Assuming there’s a strong signal, this is now capable of exceeding the performance of an ADSL broadband connection. If you’re in a remote location with not even ADSL broadband, there’s always satellite internet. This can provide impressive speeds anywhere in the UK without the need for a landline, though be aware that a satellite link has a very high latency so is unsuitable for some tasks such as remote desktop access. www.broadbandgenie.co.uk
Louise Hopkins, Director at Recenseo Ltd strikes me most, is how start-ups view their business – and the value of branding. Very often, a start-up company is already out there, networking, touting for business and trading, without a professional identity. Yet, when it comes to investing in a professional look and feel for their business and establishing their brand, they suddenly become the most cautious client in the world! They’re so nervous about selecting the ‘wrong’ logo for their business, they would rather continue trading with a graphic pinched from Google images or Vistaprint, which usually looks temporary, unestablished, unreliable and unprofessional. Don’t get me wrong. Your identity as a company is one of your top three assets and a careful decision needs to be made, but not at the cost of your
business, and so a little perspective is needed on the potential impact of this investment. You could go the other way, as we did several years ago when we rebranded our marketing business. We had all the knowledge, experience and tools a rebrand required, but we were so close to it, that it was hard to step back and get a wider perspective. We value our identity enormously and recognise the importance of investing in our brand. It was so important that we got it right. After extreme navel gazing, a few arguments, much discussion about values and goals, likes, dislikes and target clients, the expression “physician, heal thyself” sprang to mind. We started to advise ourselves as we advise our clients, suddenly the penny dropped and the solution was found!
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Tim Cobb, Cobb PR But what happens if it does? How can you make the best of a difficult and highly stressful situation? A crisis is an event that could have a damaging effect on your organisation’s reputation. Once your reputation is damaged, you could lose the faith and goodwill of your staff, customers, the wider general public and external organisations that you depend on. In extreme cases, it could mean the end of your organisation.
How can you avoid media carnage if your business experiences a very public crisis? Thankfully, the vast majority of Sussex businesses will never experience firsthand a media feeding frenzy caused by an incident, accident or issue that has arisen at your workplace.
EXPERT
What is the current state of play in the commercial property market? In Q1 2016, RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) reported that demand for commercial property in the UK was outstripping supply by a substantial 20%. By Q2, RICS’ South East Regional survey reported that commercial property
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So here are a few “golden rules” that we have built up over two decades of helping companies dig themselves out of a hole: 1. Don’t panic – get the facts 2. Work in a team… but one spokesman 3. Keep the information flowing 4. Be honest and open, accept responsibility when you need to 5. Apologise when necessary
6. Show what you’re doing to put things right 7. Review - next time you’ll be better prepared You can often head off a crisis by prompt action. But if you ignore the early-warning signs, you may find yourself dealing with public outrage. If people feel they are being kept informed, they feel less threatened by the situation and are more likely to trust you. Public outrage is your worst enemy, but the public will find it harder to be outraged at an organisation that is genuinely sorry for its mistake and is doing its best to put things right. Be honest and open. Accept responsibility and apologise if appropriate. For more information, call Tim Cobb on 01323 416 999 or email tim@cobbpr.com
Nick Leavey, Head of Commercial Property, Coffin Mew rents were at their highest ever, for the same reasons. Despite an anticipated 3% fall in rents across the country post-Brexit, property experts in Sussex are still reporting record sums, because of high demand and low supply. There is virtually no prime office stock in Brighton and Hove, Worthing and other parts of the county. Despite ongoing political and economic uncertainty, investor and developer confidence in Sussex remains high, so I am hopeful we will see more property being built. What alternatives could companies consider if they are struggling to find office space? If you’re struggling to find appropriate commercial space, there are alternatives available. Serviced Offices are a flexible
option with additional extras, which can be a good choice for start-up business, but can also be relatively expensive and potentially insecure. There are also Start Up Business Hubs which offer flexible options for qualifying start-ups. You could also look at smaller offices than you originally planned, and use them more flexibly, with staff hot-desking and working remotely. Alternatively, you could consider larger offices and then, if possible, sub-let the space that is not needed, but leave the option open to expand later. Two more extreme options would be to build your own property, if you’re feeling brave, or look at a virtual office - save on the cost, risk and hassle of leasing or buying a property; work remotely, but employ support services provided by an external company.
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Networking in Sussex
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Society
British Airways i360 launches menus championing locally sourced ingredients and takes SBT on its first flight
On 4th October, SBT was invited along to the British Airways i360 for its official launch of the restaurant menus and event spaces. ‘MasterChef: The Professionals’ winner, Steven Edwards championed the produce used within the delicious taster pots, which has been caught, reared and grown in the South Downs region. The Belle Vue, named after Belle Vue Field, the former name of Regency Square in the 18th century, is a 226-seat restaurant in the British Airways i360 beach building with extensive sea-facing terraces, designed by the attraction’s creators, Marks Barfield Architects. We got the chance to meet British Airways i360 Head Chef, Alan Parker before being shown the extensive event space and taking our first flight on the pod itself. Alan was tutored by Michelin starred French chef, Christian Tetedoie and went on to work at top restaurants including The Mirabelle in Eastbourne and The Savoy in London. He said: “All our core ingredients, such as meat, fish, cheese and bread are sourced locally from the best farms and artisan makers, and I have my own pastry chef on site. Our goal is to create high quality food and drink that makes British Airways i360 as much a food destination as a magnificent tourist attraction.” We also had the pleasure of chatting to Eleanor Harris, Chief Executive of British Airways i360, who said: “We believe there is a gap in the market for a destination beach-side restaurant in Brighton. Our vision for The Belle Vue restaurant is to serve the best of Sussex so that customers can enjoy food and drink that has been grown, reared, caught, brewed or produced in Sussex – the landscape which our visitors can enjoy at 450 feet.”
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Made In Sussex
Made In Sussex: Blue Sky Books
For this month’s Made in Sussex, Sussex Business Times caught up with Harriet Sergeant, Partner at online bookkeeping service, Blue Sky Books Could you give us a bit of background Brand on Blue Sky Books? Blue Sky Books is a Focus bookkeeping company that launched in April this year, dedicated to small businesses and start-ups. We are based in Chichester and are the sister company of Sheen Stickland Chartered Accountants, which has over 70 years experience in accounting. We use a cloud-based software called Xero – which is really intuitive and easy to use. We bring all the expertise and knowledge of accredited accountants but with the flexibility and simplicity of online bookkeeping software, which is what makes us different from most bookkeepers. This also means that our services can grow with our clients’ businesses as we have the resources and team to scale up their support and services as required. What was it that urged the set up of Blue Sky Books? We set up Blue Sky Books to provide cost-effective bookkeeping solutions for all early stage and small businesses that may have previously believed our services were out of their reach. We know that it can be quite daunting when starting a business to navigate the world of tax and VAT returns as well as trying to interpret what the figures mean, which is what inspired us to create this cost effective business solution. Having recently set up this service, we have first-hand experience of starting up in this current market, which helps us to relate to our clients.
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“We set up Blue Sky Books to provide costeffective bookkeeping solutions for all early stage and small businesses that may have previously believed our services were out of their reach” Could you tell us a bit about your services? We offer a whole range of services from initial set-up of Xero and regular bookkeeping through to producing annual accounts and business planning, depending on the size and budget of a business. We often find that many small businesses keep track of everything in spreadsheets which works fine until the business starts to grow, making it quite time consuming to file accounts. The software we use streamlines this process, allowing a small business owner to spend more time focusing on their day-to-day business. The services are managed via the cloud so that our clients can access their accounts anytime and anywhere just so long as they have an internet connection.
What advice would you give to other small businesses? Seek advice and support from others, whether it is invoicing, expenses, marketing or development. Networking is a great way to make business contacts and get an insight into how others cope with similar obstacles. It will also encourage word-ofmouth marketing, which will help build your customer base and business. We are hosting a series of free business workshops in Chichester aimed at small businesses. We will be offering advice and support on business essentials as well as updates on tax. These workshops will also give local entrepreneurs the chance to network with other like-minded businesses that will be in a similar situation. www.blueskybooks.co.uk
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