Sussex Business Times - Issue 415

SBT

AUGUST 2017 ISSUE 415

FREE

SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

BOURNE TO BE THE BEST AS THE PLANS TO REGENERATE EASTBOURNE’S TOWN CENTRE AND SURROUNDING FACILITIES ARE NOW WELL UNDERWAY, SBT EXPLORES THE BENEFITS THIS REDEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE ON THE COASTAL TOWN

UNPAID INVOICES: GETTING THEM SETTLED

SBT GOT INTO CONTACT WITH SHWETA JHAJHARIA FROM THE LONDON COACHING GROUP, WHO EXPLAINS THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN GET UNPAID INVOICES SETTLED WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS

TEST DRIVE WE GOT BEHIND THE WHEELS OF THE AUDI A7

SPORTBACK AND THE JAGUAR F-TYPE

39 YEARS OF TAYLOR ENGLEY IN EASTBOURNE

HERE IN YOUR AUGUST ISSUE WITH A FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE, SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES DELVES INTO THE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE TOWN’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS ESTATE AGENTS, TAYLOR ENGLEY SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

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SBTWelcome MEET THE TEAM

Lee Mansfield, Managing Director/ Publisher

Jon Dawson, Sales

Clare Fermor, Operations Director

Amy Watson, Production Manager

Jess Saunders, Editor

Linda Grace, Subscriptions Manager

Tom Alexander, Web Designer/ Developer

CONTRIBUTORS

Phil Harris, Senior Management, FRP Advisory LLP

John Merrigan, Senior Advisor, Nestor Advisors

Thomas Webster, Managing Director at Guardian Advice

Steve Opie, Director of Finance, Spectrum Independent Financial Advice

Welcome to our August issue. As we fast approach the final quarter of 2017, the world of business in Sussex is steaming full speed ahead…

Events have taken over the business calendar throughout 2017 and while in this issue we take a look at the latest events from Network My Club and The Grand Hotel, we look forward to the Brighton Business Expo, set to take place in October this year.

Our cover feature this month focuses on Taylor Engley, who outline the company’s history in Eastbourne and speak of the forthcoming advances to the town.

Elsewhere in our August issue, we take a more detailed look at the upcoming developments of Eastbourne’s town centre, the A27 and the Devonshire Quarter, delving deep into the effects of such regeneration on local businesses. Meanwhile, our Health and Wellbeing section focuses on Prostate Cancer while our Finance section surrounds the issue of settling unpaid invoices – an issue many businessmen and women come across on an alltoo-regular basis. We also continue along with a focus on Brexit with help from Coast to Capital.

Alongside all of this, we provide you with our regular Ask the Expert columns and Made in Sussex feature, this month featuring Emma Cole, an Eastbourne-based Personal Trainer.

Also, for July’s motoring reviews, Sussex Business Times got behind the wheels of the Audi A7 Sportback and the Jaguar F-Type, putting both motors through their paces and reporting back on our findings. Of course, also included in this issue are our usual hotel and lunch reviews, this month featuring The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne and The Plough, plus your usual local, national, motoring and Chamber news sections.

Enjoy your August read!

Jess Saunders, Editor

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 3

SBTContents

Issue 415

SBT

AUGUST 2017 ISSUE 415

FREE

SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

BOURNE TO BE THE BEST AS THE PLANS TO REGENERATE EASTBOURNE’S TOWN CENTRE AND SURROUNDING FACILITIES ARE NOW WELL UNDERWAY, SBT EXPLORES THE BENEFITS THIS REDEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE ON THE COASTAL TOWN

UNPAID INVOICES: GETTING THEM SETTLED

SBT GOT INTO CONTACT WITH SHWETA JHAJHARIA FROM THE LONDON COACHING GROUP, WHO EXPLAINS THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN GET UNPAID INVOICES SETTLED WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS

TEST DRIVE WE GOT BEHIND THE WHEELS OF THE AUDI A7

SPORTBACK AND THE JAGUAR F-TYPE

39 YEARS OF TAYLOR ENGLEY IN EASTBOURNE

HERE IN YOUR AUGUST ISSUE WITH A FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE, SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES DELVES INTO THE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE TOWN’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS ESTATE AGENTS, TAYLOR ENGLEY SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

Cover: Taylor Engley

Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 007 Operations Director: Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 007 Sales: Jon Dawson jon@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 007 Editorial: Jess Saunders jess@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 019 Production Manager: Amy Watson amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk 01323 819 018 Web Designer/Developer: Tom Alexander 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 Gemini Print A1, Dolphin Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6NZ 01273 464884 www.gemini-print.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 2017 ©

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News

View the latest local and national business headlines.

Spending it

Kit out the workplace or home office with SBT’s selection of musthave office accessories and furniture.

Unpaid Invoices: Getting Them Settled

SBT got into contact with Shweta Jhajharia from The London Coaching Group who here, explains the ways in which you can get unpaid invoices settled within a matter of weeks.

NatWest’s Skills & Opportunities Fund: Celebrating Entrepreneurship Last month, SBT took to the Brighton Entrepreneurial Spark hub reception to celebrate past, present and the most recent Skills & Opportunity Fund winners from the South East.

Brexit: Will Businesses Suffer?

Brexit remains at the forefront of the business news headlines. Here in your August issue, we delve deeper into the effects of Brexit on the business community.

Bourne to be the Best

As the plans to regenerate Eastbourne’s town centre and surrounding facilities are now well underway, SBT explores the benefits this redevelopment will have on the coastal town.

A Unique Point of View

SBT caught up with Darren Jackson from Unique Garden Sanctuaries who, continuing with a focus on Eastbourne, here explains his expectations from the forthcoming developments on business.

Cover Feature: Taylor Engley

Sussex Business Times delves into the history of one of the town’s most prestigious estate agents, Taylor Engley.

Tried and Tested in Sussex

SBT took to Upper Dicker for lunch at The Plough Inn, whilst Managing Director, Lee Mansfield enjoyed an overnight stay at the very local Grand Hotel, Eastbourne.

Chamber News

Sussex Business Times has partnered with Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce again, providing insight on what to expect in the community in upcoming months.

Motoring

For August’s motoring reviews, Sussex Business Times got behind the wheels of the Audi A7 Sportback and the Jaguar F-Type.

Here, we report back on our findings.

Ask the Experts

Local Sussex business experts advise on relevant issues.

Made in Sussex

This month’s home-grown hero is Emma Cole Personal Trainer.

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SBTLocal News

Arundel Castle in West Sussex is set to host two nights of stunning al-fresco Shakespeare in its highlyacclaimed Collector Earl’s Garden this month, marking the culmination of the Arundel Festival.

The Castle, which is this year celebrating the 950th anniversary of its initial construction, will welcome the GB Theatre Company for two captivating performances of muchloved Shakespearian comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream on 25-26 August.

Set in Arundel Castle’s enchanting gardens, which are alive with thousands of colourful blooms, these shows offer theatre lovers an experience like no other.

A highlight of the annual Arundel Festival, Shakespeare in the Collector Earl’s Garden is now in its eighth year, with talented actors travelling from across the country to take to the specially crafted stage in front of the aptly titled ‘Oberon’s Palace’.

Tickets are priced from £16 for children and £26 for adults and can be purchased in person from Arundel Castle or online at www. arundelcastle.org.

Coffin Mew Celebrates Successful Merger Coffin Mew celebrated its successful merger with Charles Lucas & Marshall at the end of June by hosting a lavish event at the five-star Vineyard Hotel in Newbury.

More than 130 guests from across the Hampshire, Sussex and Thames Valley business communities attended the event, with representatives from each of Coffin Mew’s eight offices on hand to greet them.

Sound tracked by live music from the Quattro String Quartet, the event was an opportunity to network, meet the newly merged Coffin Mew team and raise a toast to the future of the new firm.

Speaking at the event, Miles Brown, CEO of Coffin Mew said: “The merger

Photo credit: Vervate

Spellbinding Shakespeare at Arundel Castle

is the start of great things for Coffin Mew. It helps position us as one of the largest law firms in the central South region with the strength and depth to meet the demands of all our existing and potential clients.”

For more information on Coffin Mew and its services, please visit: www.coffinmew.co.uk

Surrey and Sussex’s Mid-Sized Businesses Boost Profit by 40% New research from accountants and business advisers BDO LLP has revealed Surrey and Sussex’s top performing midsized companies have continued to forge ahead, reporting profit growth of 40% in the last year, despite the uncertainty caused by Brexit that has prevailed over the last 12 months.

The best performing company across both counties was Surrey-based Michael J Gallagher Contractors Limited with CAGR of 147%, followed closely behind

by SAV Holding (UK) Limited, also Surreybased. Two companies – SAV Holding (UK) Limited and Whiteline (Group) Ltd – have maintained their performance by

appearing in the list for the second year running.

Kevin Cook, partner at BDO LLP, said: “Despite their strong performance, mid-sized businesses are overlooked and undervalued by the Government. We would like to see policy makers create a more business-friendly environment by simplifying tax and investing in infrastructure.”

Richard Place Dobson Supports Next Generation of Accountants Crawley-based Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, Richard Place Dobson, are supporting the next generation of accountants with the combined ACA/ CTA qualification.

Team member, Jordan Keates, who has recently completed his AAT level 4, is the first in the organisation to embark on the new combined ACA / CTA qualification. Developed by the ICAEW and the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) the joint programme enables students to

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achieve both the ACA and the CTA in three to four years, which is less time than it would take sitting the exams one after the other. The qualification offers a unique and efficient route for students who want to specialise in one of three areas of tax.

Jordan said: “Knowing that I would like to work in tax, this was a perfect opportunity as it streamlined the way to achieving my goal of holding both qualifications. Ideally I would like to be ACA qualified in two years and CTA qualified in three.”

SBTLocal News Brighton Business Woman Makes Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35 List

Bumper Year for Heritage Awards A record number of Awards were presented at the 2017 Sussex Heritage Trust Awards by the President of the Trust, The Rt Hon Lord Egremont DL. There were 26 Awards and 16 Highly Commended projects announced this year, recognising many fine examples of conservation, preservation and rejuvenation projects across the two counties of East and West Sussex and the city of Brighton & Hove.

Over the past 19 years Sussex

Heritage Trust has presented over 350 Awards and the Awards scheme is now established as the most prestigious architectural and conservation awards programme in Sussex.

2017 winners included, the Hound Lodge in Goodwood, Chichester (Ptolemy Dean Architects), the i360 in Brighton (Marks Barfield Architects) and the Depot Cinema in Lewes (Burrell Foley Fischer LLP), the former Harvey’s Brewery depot site, which now houses a 3-screen independent cinema with community and film education facilities.

Local businesses support farming families

More than £1,500 has been raised to help farming charity, R.A.B.I (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Society), thanks to a fundraising event that was

supported and attended by a host of leading Sussex businesses including Knill James Chartered Accountants.

R.A.B.I. is a charity providing support for the members of the farming community throughout the UK. The event, which was held at Rathfinny Wine Estate in Alfriston and included a tour of the winery, raised funds through voluntary donations, which will go towards helping local farming families in financial difficulty.

Knill James Chartered Accountants in Lewes was one of the event sponsors.

Nick Rawson, Partner at the firm, said: “We are very proud to support R.A.B.I and the important work they carry out for UK farming. As a local business we are happy to help those who contribute greatly to the farming community.”

For more details please visit: www.knilljames.co.uk

Jess Stephens, a serial entrepreneur with two successful tech start-ups and exits under her belt, has won her place in Management Today’s big-hitter hall of fame, the ‘35 Women under 35’.

Stephens, who in her 20s held a management role in FTSE 250 company, Money Supermarket, is now Chief Marketing Officer at Brighton-based start-up TrustedHousesitters.

Since 2001, Management Today has been scouring the land for the country’s most promising young businesswomen and their famous 35 Women under 35 list has featured some of the most prominent women in every industry with alumni including Martha Lane Fox, Stella McCartney and Elisabeth Murdoch.

Jess said: “My entrepreneurial drive has been an accelerator in my career. Starting in my early 20s, my roots were in eCommerce marketing where I swiftly realised that the glass ceiling was not only present, but it would take years to even reach it if my career took a conventional route.”

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SBTNational News 80% of Women Believe Naming a Meeting Room After a Powerful Woman Could Help Combat Gener-Based Sterotypes

Kit Out My Office have undertaken a survey to understand whether or not naming meeting rooms after powerful women could help alter gender-based stereotyping.

The survey involved 1,693 female office workers across the UK. It found that 8 out of 10 women believed that naming a meeting room after a powerful female could help change perceptions.

In the UK, fewer companies are recruiting women to boardrooms than many other countries. For example, in 2016 57% of new recruits were female in France as opposed to only 29% in Britain.

Furthermore, the number of females on executive committees at FTSE100 companies has stayed flat since 2015.

The company asked respondents to provide a list of women in business that inspire them and who they’d like to see meeting rooms named after, and among the most popular were (JK) Rowling, (Queen) Elizabeth, (Mary) Berry, (Theresa) May and (Mary) Portas.

Worldpay Announces Merge Shopping On Mobile Towith TopUS-based £53bn firm Vantiv By 2024

Worldpay has announced that it is to merge with US-based firm Vantiv, following takeover approaches from two American companies.

Hayley Bevis, Partner and Head of Corporate at law firm Coffin Mew, commented in response to this story: “It is no surprise that Worldpay has received takeover approaches from two US companies and is now to merge with Vantiv. In our experience, the size of cross-border transactions over the last year has increased dramatically, as

has the appetite of overseas acquirers and investors since the result of the Brexit vote.

“From our discussions with overseas acquirers and investors, the interest in the UK’s fast-growth companies has been triggered by a number of factors including the favourable exchange rate, but also as a way of quickly expanding an overseas acquirer’s capabilities, experience, customer base and technological advances.”

Business Managers Urged to Deepen Understanding of the Gig Economy The gig economy may be getting a bad press in 2017 but business managers at global companies are being urged to understand it better after research suggested the practice will only grow in future. Whilst some industries, such as oil and gas, have a long history of supporting external ‘gig’ employees, it is the adoption of the practice by startups like Deliveroo and Uber that has caused controversy and fuelled interest in the practice.

Lisa Johnson, Global Practice Leader (Consulting Services) at Crown World Mobility says the focus in future should be on how to attract highly-skilled workers into temporary posts – and how to support them.

She said: “The news agenda has lingered on negatives but the gig economy refers in general to a work environment where temporary contract positions are common and companies use independent workers to fill short term engagements.”

Quantexa Furthers Global Expansion Quantexa has furthered its international expansion by opening a new office in Syndey, Australia. This builds upon their accelerated growth this year, which has seen the opening of their Brussels office in April and the doubling in size of their Global Headquarters in London.

Following on from their $3.3m fund raising earlier this year, Quantexa’s expansion reflects a growing customer

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base outside the UK. The Sydney office will put the company in closer proximity to its clients in APAC and forms part of its aggressive international growth plans. Quantexa can already boast an impressive client list that includes some of the world’s largest financial institutions, many of which have extensive presence in APAC. Commenting on the move, CEO Vishal

Marria said: “Being able to work closely with our clients and support them locally is essential. Extending our reach outside of Europe with the opening of the Sydney office starts to make this a practical reality.”

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Office Essentials Kit out the workplace or home office with SBT’s selection of must-have office accessories, furniture and some other slightly upgraded classics

IMAC PRO The all-new iMac Pro, with its gorgeous 27-inch Retina 5K display, up to 18-core Xeon processors and up to 22 Teraflops of graphics computation, it’s the most powerful Mac ever made.

Featuring a stunning new space grey enclosure, iMac Pro packs incredible performance for advanced graphics editing, virtual reality content creation and realtime 3D rendering. iMac Pro is scheduled to ship in December.

TEA BAG AND COFFEE POD MINI BIN Mini Swing Bin for Tea Bags & Coffee Pods A bit of a style icon in four designer colours, our mini bin sits neatly on your worktop or drainer, ready to clear away hot tea bags or coffee pods in super strong style. 9.95. www.houseofbath.co.uk

More details can be found at apple.com/imacpro

ELECTRIC WOODPRINT PENCIL SHARPENER

ANGLEPOISE TYPE 75 MINI LAMP

Keep you pencils nice and sharp at home and the office with this kikkerland Electric Woodprint Pencil Sharpener. £15. www.kikker landeu.com

The Anglepoise Type 75 Mini delivers perfectly pitched lighting and aesthetically pure style to those more petite office and home spaces. £105. www.decorelo.co.uk

JABRA SPEAK 710

EPSON WORKFORCE 4720DWF

Premium portable speakerphone with amazing sound for conference calls and music. Experience the omnidirectional microphone and HD Voice.

Ideal for voice, music and multimedia The omni-directional microphone provides 360-degree coverage and picks up sounds from any angle. Be mobile with a lightweight design (298 g), protective travel pouch and 15 hours of battery life. MRSP: £235. www.jabra.co.uk

The ideal choice for a home office; the Epson WorkForce 4720DWF is a 4-in-1 printer packed with plenty of features. Designed for business, it features a high-capacity paper tray, automatic document feeder and is able to print, scan, copy and fax.

This stylish printer also offers great value, coming with XL cartridges that allow you to print up to 2,600 black and 1,900 colour pages. £189.99. www.epson.co.uk

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STEELCASE GESTURE CHAIRS Steelcase Gesture Chairs are the first chair designed to support our interactions with today’s technology.

Research has been undertaken into the unique movements and gestures of the body and used as the inspiration behind the chairs design. Inspired by the movement of the body, Steelcase created a synchronised interface that together provides custom support for any posture. www.huntsoffice.co.uk

PLASMA SERIES CASE FOR MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO

The Plasma Series case for Microsoft’s new Surface Pro is the first UAG case designed for professionals who depend on their tablet in the field and in the office. The Plasma Series case features a360-degree rotational hand strap, and a built-in kickstand to transform the tablet into a laptop with ease.

Additionally, the case is compatible with the Microsoft Type Cover and Microsoft Surface Dock. MSRP: £79.99. urbanarmorgear.com

CONCRETE SMALL PLANTER AND PEN HOLDER Go green at the office! Ideal for succulents, this desk top planter is made of solid concrete.

The terraced base holds pens, business cards or other small supplies. £17.50. www.kikker landeu.com

EAST RIVER 15 OFFICE CHAIR Beautifully crafted from wood and steel frames and with luxuriously padded upholstery, the East River range of executive-style office chairs most assuredly means business. Chairs are height adjustable, come with tilt-tension reclining function and are upholstered in durable faux and bonded leather. £249. www.furniturevillage.co.uk

SOUTH STREET FULTON COMPUTER DESK In a wide choice of styles, finishes and sizes designed to fit beautifully into your study, home office or even your living room. Made in Germany from high quality materials including glass, aluminium and steel.Includes Large shelved cupboard with a sliding door, smaller cupboard has hinged door and 1 internal shelf. Easy, quick assembly. A Furniture Village online exclusive. £199. www.furniturevillage.co.uk

HANDMADE PEN BY BREWINO Handmade, noble pen mahogany, very elegant. Turned out of my hand, made for your hand! Made in Germany front loaded with with a particularly hard iridium point. This guarantees long life and a lot of writing pleasure. £34.87. en.dawanda.com

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Unpaid Invoices: Getting them Settled

For this month’s Finance section, Sussex Business Times got into contact with Shweta Jhajharia from The London Coaching Group who here, explains the ways in which you can get unpaid invoices settled within a matter of weeks “Creditors have better memories than debtors,” so said Finance Benjamin Franklin.

If your business is sitting on a pile of uncollected invoices, you’re perhaps thinking: “tell me about it.” You’ll know that chasing invoices is tedious, trying, and time-consuming, and

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at no time in your childhood did you say that your life’s ambition was to spend weeks, months, maybe even years being frustrated by ignored emails, unanswered voicemails and dodged phone calls. And it may be that, like many other business owners who find themselves in that exact position, you feel like it’s easier to throw in the towel than keep plugging away. After all, what can you do?

The answer lies in another great Benjamin Franklin quote… “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” It’s not enough to have a better memory than your creditor, you need a better system, and that system should be based on a four-week plan.

Before we get to that, let’s take a moment to study the cards you’re holding: unless an alternative period of

Money Matters

Adobe Stock ©

time is agreed, payment is late 30 days after the customer receives an invoice or 30 days after goods have been delivered or services provided (if later), and if another business is late paying for your goods and/or services, interest and debt recovery can be claimed. That’s according to Gov.uk.

The law is on your side. So, there’s no need for you to give up on the money your business is due; you earned it.

However, if your debt collecting system is flawed, persistence is not enough. As another super-smart guy, Albert Einstein pointed out, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is insane.

With this in mind, here is a simple four-week plan. It’s designed to give you an uncomplicated process that will simultaneously increase the number of paid invoices and eliminate unnecessary stress and use of resources.

“Whilst it is important to remember that everyone can slip up, and that there may be a reasonable explanation for your invoice not having been paid, it is equally important not to let the nonpayment slide”

Week 1 There are a number of reasons why a customer may be a week late paying your invoice: a genuine oversight; illness; a computer failure; the Royal Mail. That means, at this stage the appropriate action is a gentle nudge. All that’s required is a firm but friendly email reminding your client that their payment is overdue, and requesting that they arrange payment as soon as possible.

Most clients will appreciate the reminder—they’ve got paperwork to do too—and payment will likely be immediate.

Whilst it is important to remember that everyone can slip up, and that there may be a reasonable explanation for your invoice not having been paid, it is equally important not to let the non-payment slide. Be understanding, but be strict about sticking to your system. Do not wait longer than a week to send your friendly reminder.

Week 2 After another week has passed, it’s reasonable to assume that your gentle reminder email has been read. If that email has not resulted in payment of your invoice within 7 days, it’s time to make a phone call. Ideally, this will be made by a junior member of your team—at this time you’re not treating this as an urgent matter—and again, the communication should be friendly, but firm, and if appropriate may include an

offer to help with any issues that might be standing in the way of your invoice being paid. For example, if there is a legitimate reason behind the non-payment, such as the invoice being disputed, this can be addressed quickly rather than waiting until your customer’s query makes its way to the top of their to-do list.

Week 3 If three weeks have gone by and payment is still to be made, the matter should be passed to a senior member of your team, who should send another email. This communication will be sterner, advising that the matter will be escalated if the invoice is not paid within a week. Again, the offer to discuss any issues your client may have with the invoice should be made.

Week 4 Unless your customer has contacted you and discussed any difficulties they are experiencing, a senior member of staff should now call, pointing out the various communications that have taken place, emphasising the seriousness with which you view their non-payment, and making clear that if the invoice remains unpaid, you will proceed with legal action.

Depending on the circumstances, you will then have to decide whether to extend the deadline for payment, agree a payment plan, start legal action, or write off the invoice and move on.

Hopefully, written-off invoices will be few, and you’ll never have to involve a solicitor, but if that’s where you need to take the matter, better that that happens in four weeks, rather than you not knowing the situation you are in. As Benjamin Franklin also said, we are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ Londoncoachingg Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/BusinessCoachingLondon Google+: https://plus.google. com/+Londoncoachinggroup LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/ shwetajhajharia/

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Advertorial

Handelsbanken:

With interest rates at record lows for Advertorial some years now, and no sign of any immediate increases on the horizon, the market for longerterm fixed rate mortgages is again in the spotlight. Simon Howe, Branch Manager of Handelsbanken Brighton, gives us his views on the current interest rate environment.

Bank interest rates For more than seven years the Bank of England (BoE) base rate remained at the historical low of 0.5% - this compares to a BoE rate of 5.5% in December 2007, just before the global financial crisis hit. But following the Brexit vote, Mark Carney, Governor of the BoE, wasted little time in cutting rates again, to just 0.25% in August.

While a long-term low interest rate environment is deeply challenging for savers, the rates available to borrowers looking to take out a mortgage have rarely been so attractive. Low interest rates – especially falling interest rates - on mortgages typically indicate that providers and financial services companies expect the BoE rate to remain low for some time, but just how long is unknown. So perhaps it is not surprising that more people are considering longerterm fixed rate deals - not just for two or three years, but for five or even ten years.

Benefits of a lock-in There are clear advantages of locking into a longer-term deal, such as the security of knowing what you will be paying on

Simon Howe, Branch Manager for Handelsbanken Brighton

To Fix or not to Fix That is the Question

your mortgage, something likely to be especially important to first-time buyers, or those worried about managing a sudden increase in their mortgage payments.

A key driver that could see the BoE increase rates is runaway house price inflation, caused by very low mortgage borrowing costs. The BoE has indicated previously that if this happens, it would take steps to address this, for example, by increasing costs for lenders or raising capital requirements. If the economy continues to improve or exports and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rise, the BoE could also put up rates.

Traditionally fixed rate mortgages have been more expensive than variable rate deals, because you are effectively hedging against the market. However, as rates have fallen across the board the differential has also decreased.

Another benefit of long-term fixed rate mortgages is to avoid the costs of remortgaging on a regular basis. In recent years the charges levied on borrowers who move lender or remortgage have increased, as rates have come down.

Committing to a five or ten year fixed rate deal means borrowers will face these more rarely as a result.

Suitable for some but not all However, while fixed rate deals offer many advantages they won’t suit all borrowers.

If you lock into a long-term fixed rate deal and interest rates fall further then you won’t benefit. Borrowers who want to move their mortgage to another lender, or on to another deal before the fixed period is up, will face charges for doing so. As said previously, it may be possible to access more competitive rates with variable rate or discounted mortgage deals.

Alternatively, opting for a mortgage which is a mix of fixed rate and floating rate can be a way to dampen the effect of any rate rises, or benefit from any rates, while ensuring some security too.

However, it is important to note that a rise or fall in the BoE rate will not always be echoed by your lender.

Simon goes on to say: “A common mistake is to fixate on what the Bank of England does. Unless your mortgage specifically tracks the BoE Base Rate, a move in this will not automatically affect your mortgage rate. It may change at a different time, to a different extent, or even not at all. It’s always helpful to know exactly what type of arrangement you have. Always understand your small print!”

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk For14more information contact Simon Howe on 01273 779903 or email siho03@handelsbanken.co.uk

Tailor-made solutions We offer a high quality service to both corporate and individual customers, coupled with a flexible and innovative approach. We start from a blank canvas and build a bespoke solution, with all key decisions made locally by the branch.

Simon Howe - Branch Manager Tel: 01273 779937, Email: siho03@handelsbanken.co.uk

Handelsbanken Brighton 5th Floor, 2 Bartholomews Brighton, BN1 1HG Tel: 01273 779903 handelsbanken.co.uk/brighton

Handelsbanken is the trading name of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ). Registered Office: Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ), 3 Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1WY. Registered in England and Wales No, BR 000589. Incorporated in Sweden with limited liability. Registered in Sweden No, 502007-7862.

Head Office in Stockholm. Authorised by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen) and the Prudential Regulation Authority and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our authorisation and regulation by the www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 15 Prudential Regulation Authority, and regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority are available from us on request.

Business East Sussex

Solve your Funding Woes

Thanks to Europe

Business East Sussex looks at the latest funding it has access to and asks local businesses what is stopping them gaining access to capital

It’s a divorce to mimic one of Elizabeth Taylor’s – and yet Advertorial there seems to be no end in sight for the UK’s separation from Europe.

While Liam Fox is bedevilled by chlorinated chickens, the SME business community are voicing their concerns about a post-Brexit world. Many are now asking, in a Monty Python-style, “what has Europe ever done for us?” Well quite a lot it would appear in some quarters.

A survey commissioned by global insurer Hiscox has found that of the 500 businesses surveyed 38% had accessed EU funding in the last five years, many of whom expressed concern that ‘recent economic and political uncertainty has adversely affected business confidence.’

Banks are still the biggest ‘go-to’ for funding with three-quarters of businesses

surveyed stating they used bank loans to fund their businesses over the last five years. This is despite the arrival of new finance options for start-ups like crowdfunding and peer-to-peer loans.

More worryingly, what emerged from the survey was that one in five businesses (20%) was still unaware of the variety of funding options available to them. In order to help businesses through the apparent uncertainty of business funding, Hiscox has created an essential guide to funding for SMEs. Meanwhile Business East Sussex (BES), the region’s Local Growth Hub, is urging people to take advantage of Europe while we are still in it. How? You ask.

By taking advantage of the South East Business Boost, a new initiative which means BES will be able to give up to £1 million to local businesses of grants of up to £10,000 per business thanks to

For more information visit www.businesseastsussex.org.uk

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Business East Sussex

Brexit: the discussions continue

tapping into the European Regional Development Fund.

In England, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF) and part of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) have been brought together into a single Growth programme with individual operational programmes aligned to maximise support for jobs and growth.

The Growth Programme is delivered across England’s 39 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas, each of which has an ESIF Strategy to support local delivery. The £6 billion funds within the Growth Programme have been notionally allocated to LEP areas.

ERDF can fund activity such as support to SMEs, ICT, Low Carbon and research and innovation. ESF supports employment, skills and social inclusion.

Ian Smallwood said: “The South East Business Boost is a great opportunity that we are delighted to be able to offer here at Business East Sussex. Funding, or the lack of it for SMEs, can always be a contentious issue.

“We know that access to capital is the lifeblood of any business and through our work across the county

speak to hundreds of companies that have a difficulty of accessing capital to spend on big projects.

“That’s why the South East Business Boost is not to be missed. It’s virtually free funding for your business and an opportunity not be to be missed.”

In order to be eligible a business must be: • Small to medium-size business with under 250 staff and a turnover under €50m • Be spending on a project or purchase that has a long-term growth impact on the business (not day-to-day running costs) • Have, with our help, secured a grant offer letter from SEBB before starting the project.

The following sectors are not eligible for SEBB funding • Fishery and aquaculture • Primary production, processing and marketing of agricultural products • Coal, steel and shipbuilding • Synthetic fibres • Generalised education establishments • Charities and voluntary sector organisations not using a trading arm • Politically-affiliated membership organisations

So, following on from the June election Brexit discussions have begun in earnest.

However, it is food and the issue of a trade deal between the UK and the US which has come to the fore in recent weeks in the national media.

Many are concerned regarding the lower food safety standards in the US and much has been commented on about the US practice of chlorinating their chickens.

Senior EU figures have hit back at Liam Fox’s “ignorant and indigestible” claim that lowering UK food standards to allow the import of chlorinated chicken from the US is an insignificant detail.

European officials warned that Fox has failed to grasp the implications of continuing trade with the EU, should the UK lower its standards compared to the EU, where chlorine-washed chicken is banned.

Fox has dismissed the row as a minor detail of trade negotiations that have not yet even formally begun, but critics said it highlighted the complexity of the obstacles in post-Brexit trade negotiations.

Donald Trump has tweeted triumphantly that the US was working on a “very big and exciting” trade deal with the UK, a day after a visit from Fox to Washington, where he suggested lowering UK food standards may be possible to allow US imports of chlorinated chicken.

The US president said his administration was “working on a major trade deal”, adding: “Could be very big & exciting. JOBS!” Meanwhile , the UK economy is losing economic momentum, with figures estimating growth of 0.3 per cent for the second quarter of 2017.

This represents a slight improvement compared to the first quarter, when growth stood at 0.2 per cent, but yearon-year it has slipped from 2 per cent to 1.7%.

The growth figure for the second quarter was in line with expectations, and as Ben Brettell, a senior economist at Hargreaves Lansdown, points out are in line with pessimistic predictions that ‘inflation-squeezed consumers will cease to be the engine of UK economic growth’.

or call them on 0844 415 2260 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

17

Money Matters

NatWest’s Skills & Opportunities Fund:

Celebrating Entrepreneurship

Last month, Sussex Business Times took to the Brighton Entrepreneurial Spark hub reception to celebrate past, present and the most recent Skills & Opportunity Fund winners from the South East The NatWest Skills & Opportunities Fund was set up in 2015 to Education create opportunities for people in disadvantaged communities to gain qualifications, financial capability & entrepreneur skills or start a business.

Since then, over £3.9m has been distributed to good causes in England & Wales through the Fund. The Fund has already shared over £3.9m in funding since it launched back in 2015, providing grants of up to £35k to not-for-profit organisations across England and Wales that help people achieve qualifications, find work or start a business.

This year, the Fund is concentrating specifically on supporting organisations with projects encouraging financial capability and entrepreneurialism. The Fund is expected to reach many more

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people by the end of 2017, helping to build better lives and stronger communities.

Tim Boag, Chair of NatWest’s South East Regional Board, said: “Supporting not-for-profit community organisations is a crucial part of our commitment to making a real, long term difference for disadvantaged communities in the South East. Since we launched the Skills & Opportunities Fund two years ago, the projects we’ve funded across the South East have so far made a positive difference to more than 1,600 disadvantaged and at risk people. This includes supporting 23 new business start-ups, helping 80 people get into employment and another 234 achieve professional qualifications. In addition to the funding we will also look to partner with each winner through mentoring, volunteering and advice.”

The most recent winners of the Fund –

Entrepreneurial Spark

both of whom received a change at the Entrepreneurial Spark hub on Preston Road, Brighton last month – were Let’s Do Business Group and Citizens Advice Maidstone.

Let’s Do Business Group (South East) Limited, based in St Leonards-on-Sea, supports the economic development of Hastings and the wider East Sussex area by helping new and budding entrepreneurs. Its Business Builder project has received funding to provide start-up workshops, mentoring support, online training and specialist advice for deprived communities.

Deputy Chief Executive of Let’s Do Business Group, Sean Dennis also commented: “We are absolutely thrilled about receiving this award and would like to thank NatWest for choosing us. As the leading business support organisation in the region, we already have a long and successful track record of helping businesses start, grow and prosper. This programme really allows us to provide a far greater level and depth of support than we would otherwise be able to, which will enable candidates to develop the skills and knowledge they will need, from experts who have done or

are already doing it themselves. We will provide full application details shortly, but if anyone wishes to register their interest in the meantime, all they have to do is get in touch and we’ll take it from there.”

Citizens Advice Maidstone is working with Citizens Advice Tunbridge Wells, who both provide financial capability sessions, as well as free, confidential and impartial advice to residents in a wide range of locations and settings. They have received funding for their project, Make it Count, which will target residents and families living in isolated rural locations within the Boroughs of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells to improve their financial resilience and capability.

Citizens Advice Maidstone’s Chief Executive Officer, Bonny Malhotra also said: “It is fantastic to receive this funding which will allow Citizens Advice Maidstone to provide essential money management training to residents, helping them avoid falling into debt and manage paying their bills. We know we can make the biggest difference where we empower people to help themselves.

Our trainers will enable people to manage budgets effectively and provide one-toone support to maximise income and

increase their understanding of financial opportunities. We will provide sessions to more than 500 residents in the rural areas of both districts.”

Last month’s reception – starting off with a warm welcome and drinks and followed by a networking session for everyone in attendance – saw both organisations receive their well-earned cheques. Also in attendance as one of last year’s winners was Carole Dixon, Chief Executive of the Education Futures Trust, based in Hastings – one of the South East’s most deprived areas.

“The Education Futures Trust is a charity that works to improve the life chances of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The charity was established in 2012 to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in Hastings and the surrounding area,” she explained.

“The fund allowed us to deliver a bespoke programme for young people aged 14-21 years who are at risk of becoming NEET, or are already NEET. We were able to immerse the young people in nature, and teach them both survival skills (fire lighting, shelter building, knife work, conservation) and how to manage themselves better.

The funding enabled these young people to experience success: 42 of the 49 achieved an accredited qualification, 10 went into employment and 97% indicated that their confidence had improved.”

“NatWest advisers brought significant expertise to both the students and our staff, and the students’ self-esteem rose significantly as they were able to teach the visitors their woodland skills. For the young people the experience was life changing; 88% identified future goals and 94% became more connected with nature.”

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 19

Brexit

Brexit: Will Businesses Suffer?

Brexit is an abbreviation for ‘British exit’, referring Brexit to the UK’s decision to leave the EU during last year’s referendum.

The shocking (to some) result surprised pollsters and shook global markets, causing the British pound to fall to its lowest level against the dollar in more than 30 years. Since then, Brexit has continued to cause much controversy and confusion throughout the country, and the uncertainty of what is to come from the decision to exit the EU has left business owners and leaders concerned.

The UK is considered one of the best countries to start a business, but that could change due to the unknown effects Brexit could bring…

For starters, UK exports are sure to take a hit. Back in 2015, the UK exported £133 billion worth of goods to the rest of the EU, however, it’s been predicted that the UK will experience a loss of at least £4.5 billion a year without negotiating a new trade agreement with the EU before leaving. Of course, export businesses in the UK will be at the brunt of this as their costs will rise with the increased tariffs, resulting in businesses in the UK being less competitive in EU markets.

With regards to small businesses in particular, a survey of 1,143 SME decision makers, conducted by YouGov on behalf of packaging supplies company, Davpack, revealed that while the overwhelming majority (59%) of SME business leaders are not planning to cut costs ahead of Brexit, over a quarter anticipate it as being a financial cost.

Whilst the majority (59%) of SME leaders

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Adobe Stock ©

Following on from June’s General Election, Brexit remains at the forefront of the business news headlines. Here in your August issue, we delve deeper into the effects of Brexit on the business community

didn’t feel that their business would be likely to reduce costs over the next six months, 28% of those who said their business was likely to, cited Brexit as one of the reasons to cut costs. Despite the tight result, the 2017 general election result had a much smaller impact, with only 13% giving it as a reason to reduce costs. Whilst Brexit may not be on the agenda for most of the business leaders surveyed, however, marketing and advertising (10%), and professional services (11%) were at the forefront of areas to cut back on.

Another element worth mentioning here would be the impact on employment.

Since 2016’s referendum, the number of migrants in search of jobs outside the UK has massively increased and the UK’s rate of unemployment is set to increase to 6.5% - an equivalent to 500,000 lost jobs. Of course, skilled

workers – or lack thereof – has been an issue in the UK for a while now, and immigrants from the EU have been filling the void by introducing the all-important skills needed in industries such as engineering, construction and IT. Of course, it’s not all bad – now that the UK has decided to leave the EU, we as a country have the opportunity to make business deals with other countries around the world from scratch. Also, this gives the UK the option of not being forced to comply with EU rules and regulations and it will no longer be compulsory for the UK to pay billions of pounds in membership costs.

The list is endless and whether or not Brexit is a good or bad thing for the business world really is subjective and depends on the nature and aims of each individual company.

Coast to Capital

The Stormcloud that is Brexit… And why you should Steer into the Headwind

By Joshua Madden, Coast to Capital LEP

2017 (an increase of 2% from the previous year), the UK will be a competitive market going forward.

Nonetheless, dealing with uncertainty can be difficult, and it is important businesses know what they are capable of handling, and how to position themselves.

Forecasting multiple different scenarios provides a clearer idea of a business’ position and where it needs to go, so it is recommended for businesses to make these projections to best manage a developing situation.

Another big issue is accessing markets abroad. Despite Brexit, the EU will remain a primary trading partner of the UK, and whilst this means more paperwork and Adobe Stock ©

Many of us have been going to a lot of trouble to avoid using the dreaded ‘B’ word.

With such an unprecedented event and amount of uncertainty, it can be easy to consider a sharp economic decline in the UK a foregone conclusion. However, while Brexit indeed looms over us, there are many reasons to be confident that the UK will remain a strong place to do business, regardless.

Qualitative research conducted across the Coast to Capital region has shown that uncertainty is the largest contributor to anxiety in business decision-making.

Many are unsure what to expect in the short-term with anything from business growth to recruitment and skills.

However, the outlook in the long-term is largely optimistic, most businesses expressed high levels of confidence in the UK’s business-friendly practices and continued status as a hub of financial activity for global companies and markets.

Those businesses concerned about a cliff-edge for business activity need not worry; with more than 2,200 new inward investment projects recorded in 2016-

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Joshua Madden is an American currently studying Economics at the University of Brighton. Since serving in the U.S. Air Force and living abroad in Turkey, he has been working at Coast to Capital to research the impact of Brexit on businesses in the Coast to Capital region.

logistical considerations for exporters, it also represents an opportunity to enter global markets. One such opportunity is the Export ASEAN programme, supported by the Department for International Trade (DIT), who offer twelve hours of free advice for businesses on starting their export journey. This support is available not just for Asia Pacific countries, as businesses seeking to export to all global markets are welcome to participate.

There are also many seminars and workshops regarding every stage and aspect of exporting provided by the Chambers of Commerce throughout the region.

The strength of the British brand abroad speaks for itself and in many markets the sight of the Union Jack alone is enough to entice a consumer to take a strong, considered look at a product, due to the UK’s reputation for high quality, reliability, and value.

Brexit may represent a challenge, but few markets are as uniquely prepared to weather the issue as the UK, and how well she performs will depend largely on her businesses and how they take the helm and chart their own course in the world markets.

About us: Coast to Capital’s Growth Hub provides a free and impartial service that supports all stages and sizes of business with information, advice and guidance necessary to help grow your business.

To find out more visit www.c2cbusiness.org.uk, or email growth.hub@coast2capital.org.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 21

Bourne to be the Best Women in Business

As the plans to regenerate Eastbourne’s town centre and surrounding facilities are now well underway, Sussex Business Times explores the benefits this redevelopment will have on the coastal town, speaking to some of its residents and organisation representatives along the way

Eastbourne and Brighton are very different in size, which Insight of course means Brighton has the capacity to showcase some of the South East’s most loved restaurants, bars and attractions – from the seafront’s Sea Life Centre to the Royal Pavillion’s ice skating rink. Brighton has always been seen to sit ahead of Eastbourne in every sense of the word, but with the town’s upcoming regeneration and introduction of new shops and dining venues, it’s definitely creeping up on the success of its sister

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town. Back in 2013, Eastbourne was named as the fourth best place to live by the sea in the UK, beating Brighton into ninth. The poll revealed Broadstairs in Kent to be the best seaside home, followed by Dartmouth in Devon and Filey in North Yorkshire, whilst Brighton was five places back with Fowey, Cornwall, Topsham, Devon, Whitby, Yorkshire and Weymouth in Dorset, between the two Sussex entries.

While talks of Eastbourne’s redevelopment have been heard for quite a while, we’re fast approaching the time of completion as we step further into 2017. For those who don’t know, a first-

“Eastbourne has always punched above its weight to compete for the tourism and retail pound, but now, there is a regeneration revolution that is sweeping through the town” - Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce President, Tim Cobb

Bourne to be the Best

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pound, but now, there is a regeneration revolution that is sweeping through the town.”

Work on the much-anticipated £85 million Eastbourne Arndale extension is well underway, with demolition of shops in Terminus Road now complete and pile-drivers in action to prepare for the foundations. The new 170,000 sq ft scheme will bring an additional 22 new retail units, around 300 extra car parking spaces, seven restaurants and a ninescreen cinema to Eastbourne.

“National retailers have not always seen the benefits of trading in the town, but now things are changing fast,” Tim said. “Shoppers will soon be seeing the likes of Fat Face, Carluccio’s, Nando’s and Wagamama opening up in the town.

This is jaw-dropping news and will not only encourage Eastbourne residents to shop local, it will entice visitors from our neighbouring towns and cities.”

David Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council also commented in the midst of the town’s restoration: “This Arndale extension is fantastic news for the future of our town. The development of our town centre has been a long held ambition. We will be seeing new shops, restaurants and a multiplex cinema. When linked to the Devonshire Park project and business park at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne is undergoing a transformation unparalleled in decades.”

Preparation work began a while back to provide an additional 300 car parking

rate international standard conference facility, beautifully restored theatres and a major upgrade of world-class tennis facilities at Devonshire Park will combine with Eastbourne’s ‘jewel in the crown’ – a fantastic new shopping centre extension – to make the town the “go-to” venue for shopping, tourism and business.

Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce President, Tim Cobb said that the town was experiencing nothing short of a tourism and retail revolution that would see the complete regeneration of the town. He said: “Eastbourne has always punched above its weight to compete for the tourism and retail

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23

spaces to the Eastbourne Arndale Centre multi story car park. The twostorey extension to the car park is being built to cope with the increased traffic to the town once the £85 million extension to the shopping centre is completed.

The additional spaces will help to ease the current traffic issues in adjacent streets caused by queuing into, and out of, the Centre car park at peak times.

Level 6 of the car park, which provides 155 spaces, has been closed to allow work to begin. Next month, level 5 will also close but the rest of the car park will stay open for business as usual.

Work on the car park extension will be finished in September 2018.

It was also announced late last month that Eastbourne Borough Council has chosen Bistrot Pierre to operate the new Wish Tower restaurant. Bistrot Pierre offers Anglo-French dishes prepared every day using ingredients from local suppliers and artisan French producers. Open seven days-a-week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu in Eastbourne will include classic bistrot favourites such as steaks-frites,

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boeuf bourguignon, moules marinière and crème brûlée, along with dishes using fresh fish sourced from local fishermen.

Councillor David Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “It is great news that Bistrot Pierre will bring their Parisien dining experience to Eastbourne. The iconic Wish Tower location for Bistrot Pierre will rival any other seaside restaurant in the UK for superb food and stunning panoramic views of the coastline.”

“I am also delighted that following a special request by the council, the team at Bistrot Pierre has created a fish menu in recognition of our home by the sea.”

With construction for this new addition to the Sunshine Coast scheduled to begin early next year, the new Bistrot Pierre restaurant is anticipated to open in spring 2019.

The Arndale Centre’s second multistory car park in nearby Junction Road, has extended its opening hours to include Sunday while work is being carried out.

Work on the 170,000 sq. ft. extension, being funded by Arndale Centre owners Legal & General, is being carried out by

construction group Kier, which began work on site in January. Demolition work is ongoing while the installation of pilings will begin soon and is expected to take around six weeks. The extension will bring an additional 22 retail units, seven restaurants and a nine-screen cinema to Eastbourne. Two time-lapse cameras are recording the development every step of the way as it slowly changes the landscape of the town centre.

Neil Crawford, Head of Retail & Leisure Development for LGIM Real Assets, said: “It is very positive that we have reached the next stage of the development and can now start preparation work on the car park extension which will provide much needed additional parking for the centre. We are doing everything possible to keep disruption to a minimum and thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this essential work takes place.”

Demolition Man, Terry Spires and his colleagues have become something of a tourist attraction in recent months. The team from Best Demolition are in action six days a week, dismantling a row of

“‘The extension will bring an additional 22 retail units, seven restaurants and a ninescreen cinema to Eastbourne” empty shops near Eastbourne railway station to make way for the Arndale shopping centre extension. Shoppers, residents and tourists are finding perfect viewing spots in Ashford Road to witness the diggers in action.

Demolition finished at the end of July, and now the area will be flattened and piling work will begin to lay the foundations for the 170,000 sq ft extension that will house an additional 22 new retail units, seven restaurants and a nine-screen cinema.

For Terry and the team, it’s all in a

day’s work. “I’ve operated diggers of all shapes and sizes for the last 32 years.

I’ve worked on sewage sites, I’ve shifted pebbles on beaches, and I’ve helped build a terminal at Gatwick Airport,” he said.

“For the work on the Arndale Centre, I’m operating one of the largest diggers, with a 28m arm,” Terry continued. “It has a selector grab and 360 degree controls.

In short, this makes it possible to pick up the smallest of items and delicately extract it from the demolition site.

The demolition work is being managed

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25

Bourne to be the Best

by Kier Construction and Senior Project Manager, Kevin Watts said work was progressing at a good pace and praised the various teams involved: “The guys from Best Demolition are doing a great job,” Kevin said. “Everybody works as a team and we are all geared towards the day when demolition is completed and we move onto the building phase.”

Eastbourne Borough Council is also in the midst of creating a first class sporting, cultural and conferencing destination, known as Devonshire Quarter, that will offer excellent facilities for both residents and visitors. The £44million investment incorporates major improvements to the international tennis centre, the creation of a topflight new conference venue, the restoration of the nationally-important, listed buildings of the Congress Theatre, Winter Garden and Devonshire Park Theatre and dramatic public realm enhancements.

A new, world class players’ village recently opened at Devonshire Park ahead of the Aegon International to provide topflight facilities for women’s and men’s tennis. Eastbourne Borough Council and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) have jointly funded the impressive glass-fronted two storey building, which was designed by Levitt Bernstein and constructed by contractor Kier.

“This is a fantastic new facility befitting the prestige of the Aegon International

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and we look forward to the players enjoying all its various benefits next week,” said Councillor David Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council. “The development marks a major part of our work with the LTA to improve the tennis offer here, alongside the £44 million transformation underway to put Devonshire Quarter on the map as a firstrate international sporting, cultural and conference destination.”

The players’ village incorporates player changing rooms, fitness and physio suites, player lounges and medical

facilities, while other tennis improvements under the Devonshire Quarter scheme include a new show court, new practice courts and increased space around outside match courts allowing players to hit the ball harder and from further off the court when returning serve and during rallies. These enhancements are underpinned by the recent installation of a modern irrigation system that ensures Eastbourne’s famous grass courts remain in peak condition throughout the year.

Meanwhile, work has begun on the foundations for a new Welcome

Bourne to be the Best

Building, which is being created to establish Devonshire Quarter as a premier conference destination. This will provide conference halls, break out and hospitality areas, a cafe with views across the lawns and a fully accessible entrance to the Congress Theatre and Winter Garden, including lifts to every floor.

At the Congress Theatre, work will reinstate and enhance the stylish interior that was present when it opened in 1963 and replace the old heating and air conditioning systems. Additionally, the historic character of the 1875-built Winter Garden will be enhanced by the restoration of original features at the Grade II listed building; and both internal and external refurbishments have been completed at the Devonshire Park Theatre, one of the best examples of small Victorian theatre in the country. It really is all going on in Eastbourne!

In addition to all of these improvements to be made to Eastbourne, some surrounding areas will also be getting a revamp – Highways England has now committed to improve the A27. The A27 is the only major road along the south coast, linking Brighton, Worthing, Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton, and beyond, yet has earned the title of one of the most unreliable and troublesome roads in the South East.

Highways England have launched four package schemes as a means of reducing congestion on the A27, all of which aim to improve traffic flow, journey times, safety and accessibility, boost local economic growth and minimise the impact on the environment.

While there is only a limited amount that can be said on this matter at this moment in time, what we do know is that the

board is currently consulting on proposals to improve the A27 Junctions at Worthing and Lancing. This improvement scheme aims to expand the capacity of the road and junctions along the stretch of single carriageway in Worthing and the narrow dual carriageway in Lancing.

Equally, the A27 to the East of Lewes suffers from congestion due to the narrow carriageway and low capacity at junctions. There are limited overtaking opportunities, meaning that traffic regularly queues behind cyclists and other slow moving vehicles. This area of the A27 is another target for Highways England’s scheme to improve the road, and while consultations and proposed

options and preferred routes are still taking place, the road is set to be open to traffic in 2022. Meanwhile, similar issues are arising at the Arundel section of the A27 and as a result, it also suffers from congestion, particularly junctions at Crossbush, The Causeway and Ford Road. Its scheme aims to reduce congestion through Arundel by means of a new dual carriageway bypass and plans for work to start in April 2020 have been put in place.

The Chichester bypass area of the A27 in particular has an incredibly poor safety record, being among the worst 10% of UK roads for casualties. However, due to there being no agreed alternative route, funding for these improvements has now been retracted. Whether this will cause problems for the other areas affected by these schemes, we don’t know and as consultations and proposals continue, it’s important that Sussex businesses ensure they’re kept in the loop.

While the majority of the developments mentioned here promise to improve matters in this area of Sussex – such as the Arndale Centre’s regeneration in particular – it’s clear to see that some still raise questions and concerns as to whether or not the county will benefit.

What will come of Eastbourne and its surrounding areas once these huge changes have been made, we don’t know, but we’re definitely excited to find out!

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27

A Unique Point of View

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SBT caught up with Darren Jackson from Unique Garden Sanctuaries who, continuing with a focus on Eastbourne, here explains his expectations from the forthcoming developments on business Unique Garden Sanctuaries is a prestige business Advertorial based in the Eastbourne area of Sussex, focusing their efforts on creating outdoor rooms and garden sanctuaries for a broad array of clients. Despite Eastbourne being the company’s local town, Unique is dedicated to creating these high quality

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builds for clients across Sussex, Kent, Surrey and London.

For many local businesses, Eastbourne’s regeneration is likely to bring many more clients into the area – something Unique Garden Sanctuaries’ owner, Darren Jackson is hoping for.

Speaking of how the regeneration will change Eastbourne as a town, Darren said: “It’s frustrating at the moment because it’s a bit of a ghost town and there’s not a lot going on, but I think

once it’s all completed it’s, of course, going to encourage more people to move down here. As a result, I’d like to think it’s going to bring more clients for all local businesses. It’s certainly going to encourage younger people to visit the town centre more often.”

As mentioned elsewhere in this issue of Sussex Business Times, Eastbourne has always carried the stigma of being a town primarily for older people, but the current goings on and forthcoming developments

will surely change the town’s typical demographic?

“Eastbourne definitely needs this regeneration as the town’s young people are typically spending their money in other towns more suited to their age range, such as Brighton,” said Darren.

He continued: “It’s the same old thing; you’ll get seaside towns that become a destination for old people to retire and enjoy later life, or if they’re still working they’ll often commute down from the city.”

Naturally, you can get housing for much better value in seaside towns such as Eastbourne – Brighton being an exception. Buying property up in London can cost you anything around the £2 million mark, but for somewhere in Eastbourne – a little bit out of the ordinary – you might pay on average £400,000. Darren commented further: “Living in Brighton and Hove price-wise is also horrendous! It’s almost London prices, whereas you can get some absolutely beautiful properties down here in Eastbourne.”

“Obviously local work can be completed at a lower cost, so I’m hoping that the improvements due to go on in the town will bring in more clients.

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With an impressive town centre and beautiful Sussex downland countryside surrounding the area comes many opportunities for a business of this kind to grow.”

Commuting in and out of Eastbourne and its surrounding towns couldn’t come easier either – Polegate and Eastbourne train stations are in prime locations while the local bus service is also available. However, public transport

“The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. It really depends on what you personally view as your sanctuary”

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A Unique Point of View

may well need a slight update once the regeneration has been completed as a means of keeping up with the demand for access to the new and improved area.

Of course, in terms of the effects of these changes to his local area on his business, Darren said: “Whether you are looking for a home office to enable flexible working to achieve that elusive work life balance; additional living space for older children, relatives or guests; a space to indulge in a treasured hobby such as an art or music studio; a bar and decked area to entertain away from the home or simply your very own place to relax.

The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. It really depends on what you personally view as your sanctuary.”

Speaking of Unique Garden Sanctuaries in particular and as a large amount of people are finding that moving to a larger house or paying for extensions is too expensive, it’s looking promising for the already-established business. As teenagers return home from university for the summer to enjoy their ever-improving home town but cannot afford to manage their own property whilst on student fees, an outdoor space should be something to consider. Darren continued: “It’s definitely cost effective, that’s for sure… Depending on how the client would like it to be built, of course. There are many different specs and the beauty of what we do surrounds the fact that we are bespoke from the ground up.”

All materials used during the process of creating garden sanctuaries are very high-end materials, and there are

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different options depending on the client’s preferences. The company ensure all of their buildings are well insulated and getting heating and cooling right is one of the most important factors – clients want outdoor spaces that can be used all year round, so ensuring condensation and heating issues don’t arise is something they take very seriously.

While the majority of other businesses of this kind – and there are a fair few at this time – will only offer generic X, Y and Z products, Unique Garden Sanctuaries offer everything bespoke, taking a completely different approach, and with Adobe Stock ©

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28 years of experience in building and working with the public, they promise a flawless service. When asked about building regulations, Darren said: “while it’s compulsory to build to certain specifications and guidelines, they’re not very limited, so it’s a lot more flexible now. If you’re going for an extension or a loft conversion then you do need planning and building regs, and that in itself is time-consuming and expensive, but with a garden space then 9 times out of 10 you don’t need planning and if you do we’ll organise that anyway!”

The world of garden sanctuaries and outdoor spaces is now a huge industry, but Unique’s unique selling point is their extensive experience and knowledge in the trade. Darren concluded: “We have an amazing team of electricians, plumbers, carpenters and roofers, plus a team with a real good-quality skillset, who have been in the game for a minimum of 15 years. While business is going well and is growing more each day, we’ll definitely look forward to the expected demand for these spaces in our local area once the town’s developments have created a much more enjoyable place to live!”

With a promise to continually evolve and innovate, Unique Garden Sanctuaries is currently in the process of producing their brand new website and showroom in Westham, which will be available to view very soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Contact us: 01323 304 430

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX ISSUES Healys Construction team provide a wide and comprehensive range of legal services equipped to deal with all aspects of the construction process. Our contentious and noncontentious construction services are designed to help clients to deliver their projects efficiently and effectively, to prevent problems and to find practical solutions to any problems that may arise. We act for a range of owners, developers, investors, contractors and consultants.

OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: Banking & Finance Care Commercial Property Corporate Services Dispute Resolution Employment Family & Matrimonial Franchising

Hotels, Gaming & Leisure Immigration Insolvency Insurance IT & IP Media Medical Negligence Personal Injury

Probate & Will Disputes Professional Negligence Property Disputes Residential Conveyancing Retail Tax & Wealth Structuring Wills, Trusts & Probate

CONTACT US TODAY ON: 01273 685 888 - EMAIL: CONSTRUCTION@HEALYS.COM OR VISIT WWW.HEALYS.COM www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk BRIGHTON: 8 & 9 OLD STEINE, BRIGHTON, BN1 1EJ LONDON: ATRIUM COURT, 15-17 JOCKEY’S FIELDS, LONDON, WC1R 4QR

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Cover Feature: Taylor Engley

39 Years of Taylor Engley in Eastbourne Sussex Business Times delves into the history of one of the town’s most prestigious estate agents, Taylor Engley

In 1978 Graham Engley and the late Peter Taylor Cover established Taylor Feature Engley Estate Agents. 39 years on and having been through many changes to the industry and the economy, the company is still going strong.

The housing market is always a talking point with many varying opinions.

Currently, internet only competitors are putting the high street agent under the spotlight.

The process of buying and selling a property in essence is still the same as always. The way in which the industry operates has changed massively, however, it still comes back to a reliable business ethic and those that succeed offer a dynamic forward thinking agency.

We have seen prices and values within certain areas of the market increasing whilst others remain static. What is

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evident is that people are still moving.

Taylor Engley provides just this and their Director, Neil Robinson leads a team of 14 between the two offices. Amongst them, they provide a deep rooted commitment to the local community and have a proven track record of selling property whilst providing a realistic and quality service.

In 1995 Taylor Engley joined Cartus.

This independent Relocation Agent Network links agents across the country and provides a first class relocation service to those moving in or out of the area. Part of this service is providing key information to help this transition be a smooth one.

The firm offer their clients financial and mortgage services, lettings and property

“The firm offer their clients financial and mortgage services, lettings and property management, land and new homes as well as valuation and property marketing services�

Cover Feature: Taylor Engley

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management, land and new homes as well as valuation and property marketing services. In addition to this, they also provide advice on how to best prepare homes for sale and put clients in touch with local experts and tradesmen if required.

Taylor Engley deal with the whole spectrum of residential property, right through all price ranges, from the smallest studio flat to country mansions. They also deal with warden flats, building land, agricultural land, equestrian and agricultural property, investment property, property for conversion or development, coffee lounges, restaurants, hotels and guest

houses, pubs and garden centres… The list is endless!

Eastbourne has an increasing population and appears to be losing its ‘Gods waiting room’ nickname and now proves to be a location that offers something for everyone…

The town centre is currently undergoing a £85 million transformation. The 170,000 sq ft extension to the Arndale Centre will bring in an additional 22 new retail units, around 300 extra parking spaces, seven restaurants and a nine-screen cinema. There is also investment and development at the Devonshire Park complex to create a thriving and nationally important and recognised cultural and

already popular tennis destination. This project also includes the restoration of the 3 Listed Buildings – Congress, Winter Garden and Devonshire Park Theatres as well as re-development of the Wish Tower Restaurant.

Locals and visitors are already enjoying the new facilities along Eastbourne’s picturesque seafront. Princess Park provides a great place for people of all age groups and provides a new café and eatery. Across the road form this on the seafront is ‘Buzz Active’, which is a wonderful location for water sports.

Further along the seafront facilities include lifeguard patrolled safe bathing, seafront restaurants, showers, beach huts, cabins, sun loungers and deckchairs, a ‘kidzsafe’ wristband scheme and children’s attractions and play centres.

Anne-Marie Hall, Valuer and Negotiator at Taylor Engley Eastbourne, said: “The Sovereign Harbour, which I personally have been involved in for many years has really come into its own now and offers a completely new lifestyle for its residents. Development is still ongoing and Taylor Engley has been partnered with Sovereign Harbour New Homes and are still actively selling luxury new homes.

Elsewhere in the town, we are currently working on exciting new development projects and have a number in the pipeline for the near future, which we are preparing to launch.”

Eastbourne benefits from its prominent position at the foot of the South Downs and with this beautiful backdrop it enjoys its own unique micro climate. The South Downs National Park has much to offer and explore with Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters Country Park, Cuckmere Valley to name a few popular spots.

So, getting back to selling your property…. With so much to organise and plan you’ll be reliant on a good, reliable, focused estate agent who is competitive with selling fees, who does advertise on all prime property websites, who does have a high street presence and is open 7 days a week.

The Taylor Engley team is on hand to assist you with buying or selling your property whether it be in the near or distant future and we have an expert valuation team who will visit you for a no obligation market appraisal.

For further information contact Taylor Engley Eastbourne’s Anne-Marie Hall on 01323 745753 or email anne-marie@taylor-engley.co.uk

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Thorne Mill, Ninfield Road, Ninfield, Bexhill-on-Sea KEY FEATURES • Converted Mill and Granary • Open plan living • Four bedrooms • Four bathrooms • Study and sun room • Extensive attractive gardens • Swimming pool • Detached double garage and parking

One of the most recent properties to become available through Taylor Engley is a former windmill and granary located in the picturesque town of Ninfield, East Sussex. Thorne Mill, a smock mill, was built in 1870 and was once a working corn mill. Constructed with three pairs of burr stones, the property was reputed to be the tallest structure in Sussex, comprising of seven floors and stood at nearly 65ft. The windmill last worked in 1902 and was badly damaged in a storm in 1905. The timber above the base was removed in 1907 and subsequently; the mill was converted into a private dwelling.

The property has undergone an extensive refurbishment and offers a wide range of top class features; including a spacious and open plan kitchen, dining and living room, utility room, four 34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

plentiful bedrooms, four bathrooms, a study and a garden room. The property also benefits from a separate cabin, double garage and extensive parking opportunities – the property is accessible by a private driveway.

The living and dining areas sport inset spotlights, radiators and solid oak flooring, while the living room features a brick Inglenook fireplace with an electric log burning stove included within it.

Meanwhile, the four extensive bedrooms come in different formats – offering a variety of layout possibilities – and some of which come in hand with their own en suite bathrooms. The kitchen boasts a selection of base and eye level units with a complementary solid timber work top, comfortable breakfast bar area, freestanding stove with four ring ceramic

hob, glass and stainless steel extractor oven and integrated fridge/freezer.

There is direct access to the property from the decked entertaining area, gardens and pool. The private heated swimming pool itself is fenced off with timber balustrades and offers a solar pool cover and sheltered pergola seating area. Extensive lawn gardens are located to the front of the property with well-stocked mature borders and small orchard – plum, pear and two apple trees. Meanwhile, a gate to the front of the premises provides access to rear garden, private driveway and detached double garage.

Thorne Mill - £795,000

For further information on these properties, please contact Taylor Engley Eastbourne’s Anne-Marie Hall on 01323 745753 or email anne-marie@taylor-engley.co.uk

Old Camp Road, Summerdown, Eastbourne This property, located on one of the Sunshine Coast’s most sought after roads, is a well presented, detached family home now on offer The property is located in one of the finest residential areas of Eastbourne being within close proximity to the Royal Eastbourne Golf Course & the South Downs National Park. Schools for most age groups are within a one and a half mile radius & Eastbourne’s town centre is approximately one & a half miles distant.

The property proudly boasts a newly fitted kitchen, separate utility room, dining room, living room. five spacious bedrooms, en-suite shower room to master bedroom and family bathroom and integral garage. The ground floor has oak flooring throughout and bi-fold doors providing access to the garden.

One particular feature worth mentioning is the extensive lawned rear garden, which is approximately 170’ in depth which sits within attractive well stocked borders and mature trees and extensive patio area.

KEY FEATURES • Well presented detached five bedroom family house • Spacious lounge • Newly fitted kitchen/breakfast room • Dining room • Separate utility room • Integral garage • Family bathroom and en suite shower to master bedroom • Attractive and extensive 170’ rear garden • Garage and off-road parking • Chain free

Old Camp Road - £795,000

Upper Ratton Drive, Eastbourne Taylor Engley are also delighted to the market this four bedroom detached house located on the private Ratton estate in Eastbourne The property is positioned in the centre of an enviable double plot and surrounded by landscaped gardens. The property occupies a favoured location and is situated close to wooded downland countryside, Willingdon Golf Course and Willingdon Village with its local amenities are within a quarter mile. Eastbourne town centre with its mainline railway station, comprehensive shopping facilities, theatres & seafront is approximately 2.5 miles distant. Meanwhile schools for all age groups are also close by.

Double doors from the spacious entrance hall lead to a triple aspect living room (with coved ceilings, radiators, marble and decorative timber fire surround and hearth), open plan kitchen and breakfast room with all necessary features and utility room. Oak flooring and worktops can be found throughout this beautiful home, while a spacious master bedroom with an en suite can be located with views to the front and rear aspects of the house. Also on offer with this property is a fully landscaped garden with raised flowerbeds, a substantial area of lawn and timber summer house, a detached garage and off road parking for several vehicles together complete the property.

KEY FEATURES • Detached family house • Private Ratton Estate • Three/four bedrooms • Open plan kitchen/breakfast room and dining room • Triple aspect living room • En suite bath and shower room to master bedroom • Main bath and shower room • Landscaped gardens with patio and lawn areas • Detached garage • Chain free

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Upper Ratton Drive - £885,00

A Creative Catch

A Creative Catch: How Cyber Criminals Get Your Money

Last month we explored the methods that businesses can take to reduce the risk of falling victim to one. Here, we continue along the same lines as Director of Computer Eyez, Simon Smyth outlines the ways in which cyber criminals can get their hands on your money

Impersonation We’re so focused on email security, that we often forget the old-fashioned ways… Recently we received a letter from one of our suppliers informing us that they had changed their bank details and requested that we make further payment to that. Of course, this letter was not from said supplier. It was an attempted impersonation from fraudsters.

Lesson: Always contact the actual business if you receive any emails or letters asking to change bank accounts for suppliers.

Tagging along If you download an unauthentic product online, it’s possible that there is malicious content hiding somewhere in the download. Cyber criminals use this opportunity to infect your PC with malware such as spyware – a strain that observes your computer use anonymously for sensitive information, such as your bank details.

Lesson: Always download authentic, legitimate files.

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With the increase of techniques cyber criminals use to Cyber take your money, their creativity has increased also.

Below are some of the more creative ways that you can become victim to the new age criminals.

Facebook Identity Theft Facebook is a hacker’s best friend.

All it takes to infect your PC with ransomware or other malicious content is for you to click a link.

You probably wouldn’t click on a link from an untrusted source, would you? But what if that link was sent to you from a friend? Cyber Criminals impersonate your friends on Facebook, by copying their information and photos into a new account. They then send you a friend request in the hope you will accept. Next, you will receive a message from them telling you to ‘check out this link’ for ‘x’ reason. This link will have malicious content on the other side.

USB Drives Simply plugging a USB in means it has already bypassed the firewall and other defences. There are many reasons you might plug a USB stick with malicious content into your network. Recent research by Google shows that over 45% of people pick up USB drives they find on the floor by random and put them in their computers. The reason so many did it was because of altruistic intentions.

Although, once the USB was installed, they first looked at pictures rather than the CV, suggestion curiosity had a strong part to play.

Lesson: You can never be too cautious about who you befriend on social media.

To find out more information, call 01273 806211 or go to www.computer-eyez.com

Lesson: Stay away from unknown USB Devices.

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“EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE OPTION FOR DEVELOPING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS”

M L I F / Y H P A R G O T PHO S E C I V R E S D N A O STUDI Studio and services include: • Unbeatable rates • Private/dry hire or full creative team available • Corporate films on location or studio based • Editing suite will full Adobe Creative Cloud • Complete team on hand to assist • Production team on site • Comprehensive kit list • Make up/changing area for styling • Free Wifi • Lounge area with refreshment facilities & fridge • Male/female toilets • Studio and equipment rental or full creative team available

SHOOTING PORTRAITS, FAMILIES, PETS, PRODUCTS LARGE AND SMALL, OR FOR PRIVATE RENTAL

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 137

Contact the team at Life Studios to discuss your requirements or simply to enquire about hourly or day rates for professional hire: 01323 819007 or email contact@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Health & Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing:

Prostate Cancer It’s important for people to understand the signs and Health & Wellbeing symptoms of any illness so that it can be caught early, preventing more extreme harm further down the line. prostate cancer is something that affects a huge amount of men in the UK and particularly, the business community, and while many people shy away from the C-word, it’s crucial for men to understand what to look out for and know how to discover any of these signs.

Of course, it’s a known fact that only men have a prostate gland, and cancer of this kind is among the most frequent illnesses for men in the UK to develop.

For those who aren’t so clear – which probably includes a shocking amount of our readers – the prostate is usually the shape and size of a walnut, growing larger the older you get. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra. prostate cancer, however, can develop when cells in this area of the body start to grow at a fast and uncontrollable pace.

It often starts slowly, making some of the initial symptoms hard to distinguish, but of course as with any illness, people’s bodies react in different ways.

Symptoms often only become apparent when the prostate is large enough to affect the urethra. When this happens, you may notice things like an increased need to urinate, straining while urinating and a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied. While these symptoms should never be ignored, it’s more likely to be caused by something else, although ignoring the signs is never worth the risk.

The causes of prostate cancer are – like many illnesses – still unknown. The chance of developing prostate cancer increases as you get older and the

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For this month’s Health and Wellbeing section, we delve deep into one of the most common illnesses amongst men within the business demographic – prostate cancer

majority of cases develop in men aged 50 or older. For reasons not yet understood, statistics show that prostate cancer is more common in men of AfricanCaribbean or African descent, and less common in men of Asian descent. Men who have close male relatives whom have suffered with this kind of cancer are also at slightly increased risk.

As mentioned before, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with over 46,000 new cases being diagnosed every year – 128 men every day. Every hour, one man dies from prostate cancer, which equates to more than 11,000 men every year. You might be curious as to why this is relevant to business in particular, but this kind of cancer can become more frequent in men that spend their days sitting on a chair behind a desk; businessmen.

Symptoms often only become apparent when the prostate is large enough to affect the urethra. When this happens,

you may notice things like an increased need to urinate, straining while urinating and a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied. While these symptoms should never be ignored, it’s more likely to be caused by something else, although ignoring the signs is never worth the risk. Many men’s prostates get larger as they get older due to a non-cancerous condition known as prostate Enlargement, but symptoms that a cancer of this kind may have spread include bone and back pain, a loss of appetite, pain in the testicles and unexplained weight loss.

Sussex Business Times caught up with Mr Ammar Alanbuki, Consultant Urological Surgeon who recently joined the Urology team at The Montefiore Hospital in Hove. Here, he offers his expertise…

What does the process of checking for prostate cancer involve? Is it

Health & Wellbeing

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What are the treatments for prostate cancer?

A diagnosis of prostate cancer doesn’t immediately need treatment or an operation. In recent years, urologists have adopted a `watch and wait’ approach to men who have a localised, nonaggressive prostate cancer – that is, cancer within the prostate gland itself.

This means active monitoring to check the cancer doesn’t grow and therefore avoid invasive treatments, which can damage sex life and cause incontinence.

Men on an `active surveillance’ programme are monitored closely with blood tests, repeat scans and sometimes repeat biopsies to ensure it is safe to continue this approach. If the initial diagnosis shows the cancer to be localised but aggressive, or if the cancer has grown during `active surveillance’, you will be offered treatment such as surgery or radiotherapy.

For cancer that has gone beyond

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possible to carry out self-checks or always best to visit a doctor first?

If you have concerns about any changes in your normal urinary function, or pain or have a family history of prostate cancer, make an appointment with your GP. prostate cancer is not something you can check for yourself. Going to the toilet more frequently is often the trigger for men to visit their GP. As well as a rectal examination to see if the prostate gland is enlarged, a blood sample will be taken to test for prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. Don’t panic if your first PSA test is raised, it doesn’t necessarily mean cancer. Of those with a raised PSA level, only 30% are likely to have prostate cancer.

the prostate gland, there is a range of treatments from hormone therapy to painkillers to enable the patient to continue to lead a normal life.

With the exclusion of prostate cancer, what other common prostate problems are there?

Increased visits to the toilet, struggling to start and/or finish doing a wee or are getting up in the night several times?

Then you might have a problem with your prostate. While men will go to their GP with the fear this could be cancer, it is more likely to be a benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate which affects one in three men in their 50s.

The enlarged prostate presses on and blocks the urethra, causing bothersome urinary symptoms.

Lifestyle changes such as reducing the amount of liquid consumed before bedtime and avoiding alcohol and caffeinated drinks can

help. If symptoms continue, medication will be prescribed for up to a year, but after that, surgery may be necessary.

This could involve removal of part of the prostate, or using a new technique called Urolift which lifts or holds the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra.

Another prostate problem, more common in men aged 30-50, is prostatitis, which causes pain within the pelvic and genital area, and sometimes while urinating. If it comes on suddenly, it is likely to be an infection, which can be treated by your GP with antibiotics.

Chronic prostatitis (symptoms come and go) can be treated with painkillers and you may be referred to a urologist.

Mr Alanbuki holds clinics on Tuesday afternoons and during August and September will be holding free advice clinics on that day.

Phone 01273 828 148 for more details. www.themontefiorehospital.co.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 39

Martlets

Stylishly Spooky Ball for Martlets Dress to impress and enjoy the sophisticated glamour of the Martlets Hospice Halloween Ball at Brighton’s iconic Grand Hotel on Saturday 28th October

Raising essential funds for the Brighton & Hove charity, the Advertorial black-tie dress code will take on a subtly spooky twist with ladies in beautiful gowns and dapper chaps stylishly celebrating All Hallows’ Eve. Martlets cares for over 600 patients living through a terminal illness every year; supporting the majority of people in the comfort of their own homes.

Ball organiser, Emma Knight explained more about Martlets: “Thanks to the ongoing generosity of local people and businesses, we are able to provide free, full care for families in and around Brighton & Hove.

“We focus on what is best for each person and their family, so we shape our support around their individual needs which, alongside their clinical and psychological care, could mean holding Christmas in August or bringing pets in to visit.

“Carers may need practical support, advice on money matters, a bit of pampering or simply someone to talk to; whatever help is needed we’re there every step of the way.

“Martlets is here to support the people of Brighton & Hove and allow them to live their lives to the full.”

Emma continued: “We’re really looking forward to our Halloween Ball; it’s going to be the event to be seen at this autumn and we hope it will raise lots of money to support our work.

“We’ll be welcoming everyone with a glass of something sparkly amongst the cobwebs before a sumptuous dinner.

“Then our Master of Ceremonies will host an exciting evening of entertainment that includes an auction with an exclusive opportunity to bid on one of two bespoke mid-sized Snowdogs. It’s going to

be quite a night, with dancing to the incredible 29 Fingers until the small hours, and all money raised will help us to care for local families.”

H

www.themartlets.org.uk/events, contact Emma Knight on 01273 718785 or email her at emma.knight@martlets.org.uk

Tickets cost £80 each or £800 for a table of ten. To find out more please visit the Martlets hospice website

www.themartlets.org.uk

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Halloween Ball Saturday 28th October 2017 The Grand Hotel Brighton, 6.30pm e on a uniqu t u o s is m Don’t on one id b o t y it n u opport sive mini lu c x e o w t of !

Snowdogs

Sumptuous dinner, auction, entertainment and dancing until late Dress code: Black-tie with a subtly spooky twist £80pp / £800 per table of 10 incl. VAT

emma.knight@martlets.org.uk T: 01273 718785 www.themartlets.org.uk/Events

Registered Charity No. 802145

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Generously sponsored by

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25/07/2017 10:13

Silverback Studios

Great Relationships get Best Results for your Brand

Most businesses understand and acknowledge the important part good design plays in the success of their brand or product. Get it wrong and it could be damaging to your brand.

Cue Silverback Studios!

It is crucial to work with an agency that really ‘get it’ – one that gets Advertorial to know you as an individual, your business sector and ultimately, what your end goal is so that you can work together to ensure your communications are having the most impact possible and reaching the correct audience.

Companies that view their design agencies as a supplier rather than a collaborator and an extension of their own team are, in our view, missing a trick. The risk: a predictable and static end result.

The relationship between client and agency should not just be about a transaction of money in exchange for design work. A good working relationship genuinely gets better results. The design process needs to be their market. Our relationship with them inclusive; by working together as a team, continues to be strong. They rely on us and it allows the client and agency to bounce consider us to be an extension of their own thoughts off each other, which in turn, team. Last year we were delighted to work creates ideas that challenge convention and with Flint & Flame and celebrity chef and result in concepts that the client might not Brand Ambassador, Monica Galetti to brand even have considered. This isn’t something her own set of knives – The Galetti Range. that happens overnight but over time, by building a trusting relationship. Once the partnership has been established and the opinion of the agency is respected, it becomes the job of the agency to challenge the client further.

This has certainly been our experience at Silverback Studios. A Sussex-based kitchenware company wanted to bring the Hammer Stahl knife brand to the UK. Steve Mould With years of success in the USA, they Founder & Sales Director, Flint & Flame saw a gap in the UK market and asked us with Monica Galetti to create a launch campaign and branded communications. However, we felt that there was an opportunity to develop a new “ We put our trust in brand name for the company as well as the Silverback Studios to product. Our idea of going back to basics do the right thing for helped inspire us with a new name and the brand. With our strapline: Flint & Flame, Essential Elements knowledge of the sector of Healthy Eating. We created a logo and and products and their visual identity for the brand. Fast forward creative flair, we get great five years and the brand has become a household name and a leader within results every time!”

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At Silverback Studios, we pride ourselves on building long-lasting client relationships with small local companies like Flint & Flame as well as large, well known companies, such as Superdrug and Utility Warehouse. We have found that by really getting to know our clients, what is motivating them and what is best for their business, we can create designs based on true insight.

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BoB-Eastbourne17-A4-CMYK.pdf

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K N O C KO U T

FRIDAY

12:46

EVENTS

15

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P RO U D LY

PRESENTS

SEPTEMBER

2017 In aid of

Sponsored by

1967 - 2017

Our Annual Sporting Lunch at The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne featuring Special Guest Speaker C

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Geoff Miller - OBE -

Speaker: Geoff Miller OBE

In aid of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity in their 50th year supporting sick children across Sussex

TABLES OF 10

£750

Media Partner

MC: Comedian Adger Brown

T O B O O K C O N T A C T R Y A N www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk HEAL:

ryan.heal@rockinghorse.org.uk 01273 330044

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Bennett Griffin

New Announcements from Bennett Griffin

2017 has been yet another busy year for Bennett Griffin and here, Sussex Business Times covers some of the firm’s most recent announcements Kate Hallin

Peter Ames

Bennett Griffin – one of Worthing’s largest law firms – was News established in the town in 1990 following the merger of two existing local solicitor practices. Since then, the firm has earned itself an excellent reputation for providing both their business and private clients with expert, effective and timely advice.

Now, the partnership team at Bennett Griffin are excited to announce the promotion of one of their team members to Managing Partner as of the beginning of last month. The promotion follows the stepping down of previous Managing Partner, Stephen Hollamby who has managed the firm for a number of years and most recently through its move from Warwick Street to Liverpool Gardens.

Stephen will remain at the firm as the firms Risk and Compliance partner.

The partner succeeding Stephen is

Kate Hallin who trained with the firm initially in 2004 before going to gain experience elsewhere, returning to Bennett Griffin in 2015 to head up the Dispute Resolution team.

Stephen Hollamby said: “It is an exciting time for the firm, with our recent office move and some important strategic appointments in the last year or 2 I feel happy handing over the reins to Kate.

Kate knows the firm well having trained with us initially; she has the drive and enthusiasm to take us to the next stage.”

Kate is excited by the opportunity and is looking forward to driving the firm forwards whilst continuing to look after her team and clients.

Bennett Griffin have also announced that Peter Ames has joined their ranks from a prestigious London firm. Peter will join the commercial litigation team, giving Bennett Griffin one of the largest commercial teams in the town.

Peter is a City trained dispute

www.bennettgriffin.co.uk

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resolution lawyer with 11 years’ post qualification experience of large value and complex commercial, financial, fraud, and insurance disputes. Known for his practical commercial outlook, problem solving, and excellent communication skills, Peter also has significant experience in contentious regulatory matters and contentious insolvency.

Current clients include FTSE 100 companies, Regulatory Bodies (including the Solicitors Regulation Authority), and High Net Worth Individuals.

Kate Hallin, Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution team said: “I am really excited by Peter’s appointment, it will enable us to offer a full service to our commercial clients and we hope lead to some new clients working with us.”

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Working Lunch:

The Plough Inn For this month’s review, Sussex Business Times’ Jess Saunders and Amy Watson enjoyed a lunchtime bite at The Plough Inn, Upper Dicker The Plough Inn is a cosy 17th Century Lunch countryside pub, serving real ales, Review fine wines and an extensive pub grubwith-a-twist menu.

Located in the heart of Upper Dicker with the Michelham Priory and village shops very close by, The Plough Inn is the perfect venue for a business pitstop.

Also, being located close to the Weald Way and Cuckmere River means this pub is well-situated for walkers, making it suitable for both business goers passing through the village and families exploring the area on weekends.

What I loved the most about The Plough Inn was how it has kept its old,

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traditional look, making you feel as if you’ve gone back a few centuries. In the winter months you can snuggle up in front of their cosy log fires in the bar and restaurant areas, or during the warmer seasons, relax with a drink in the back garden; The Plough Inn boasts a large sunny country garden and superb safe play area for children. Their fashionable garden terrace – although not really in keeping with the rest of the venue style-wise – seats numerous tables and chairs, all of which offer shade in the form of parasols. We also explored the rear of the building to find a stand for bands to play on, and a fully set up marquee. We later found out from the owner that they were preparing for a huge wedding, and when enquiring, found that The Plough actually caters for occasions if all kinds.

Tried & Tested in Sussex

After browsing inside, we came to the realisation that the pub boasts various restaurant areas, offering different kinds of ambiance for its visitors. This is always a bonus as guests can choose to separate themselves from certain areas of the pub, or can choose a specific area that best suits their occasion for visiting. The Plough is also probably one of the only pubs left where you’ll find an outside window in the middle of the building, steeped with history – when the bar area was extended many years ago, the builders decided to leave the window in the wall, and it was re-discovered during more recent renovations. The interior design was dated yet somewhat endearing and kept in line with the traditional look the owners are quite clearly aiming to maintain. We chose to sit in the restaurant area at the front of the building next to a coved window, where we could see all of the goingson outside. If it hadn’t have been for the wind, we would have probably sat outside as it was quite a pleasant day.

Once we’d been seated and handed our menus and our drinks (refreshingly cold glasses of orange juice and lemonade and lime), it didn’t take long for both of us to decide on what we were going to try. Unfortunately and unoriginally, we’re both very much pub grub people and we tend to choose the same kind of dish no matter where we go, though this worked in our favour for this month’s review. For our starting courses, I opted for the BBQ Chicken Wings, Hickory Smoked Ketchup and Micro Herbs and Amy chose the Ciabatta Bread, Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

We ordered our mains at the same time, opting for the Bangers and Mash with Pork and Leek Sausages, Creamy Mash and Caramelised Onion Puree Jus, and

the Steak Burger and Chunky Chips, Emmental Cheese, Tomato, Baby Gem, Red Onion and Chef’s Burger Relish.

Our starters arrived to our table promptly, both of which were well presented. My only critiques at this point surrounded the table itself. There were sticky circles from the drinks that belonged to the people that sat there before us, and not much table decoration besides coasters – flowers or a candle and definitely some salt and pepper would’ve gone a long way.

Either way, this didn’t affect the tastes we were about devour. Both starting dishes were delicious – my Chicken Wings tender and flavoursome, and Amy’s Ciabatta Bread was a great start to her meal; crunchy and perfectly

“The Plough makes for a great location for a lunchtime bite or passing pit stop”

complemented by the dipping vinegar.

There was a welcomed pause between courses, and when our mains arrived we were even more impressed. My burger was presented well and the chips (crunchy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside) arrived in a container that represented a fryer, which I thought was a great touch. My burger was cooked to perfection, and Amy’s sausages were thick and meaty. It was easy to tell that The Plough source the very best local meat.

We were waited on by the same front of house staff member for the entirety of our lunch, and the service was faultless in terms of attentiveness and speed. We also got a chance to catch up with the owner after our meal, who was incredibly friendly and took time out of her (I’m sure) very busy schedule to chat to us before we left.

All in all, while it might not be the best location for a casual business meeting over lunch, The Plough makes for a great location for a lunchtime bite or passing pit stop. With traditional pub grub and picturesque settings, it offers a relaxing and casual atmosphere, surrounded by the beautiful East Sussex countryside.

Address: The Plough, Coldharbour Road, Upper Dicker, East Sussex BN27 3QJ 01273 733800

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 47

Hotel Review:

The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne For this month’s hotel review, Managing Director, Lee Mansfield enjoyed an overnight stay at one of Eastbourne’s most elite hotels – The Grand. Here, he feeds back on his thoughts Dominating Eastbourne’s famous seafront Review with it’s incredibly grand exterior, this magnificent 19th Century hotel is one of the finest of its kind, having previously welcomed Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Arthur Conan Doyle and King Constantine of Greece over it’s centuries of operation. The Grand Hotel itself boasts an incredible history…

A proposal to build a magnificent hotel at a cost of £50,000 was announced by the Eastbourne Gazette in 1874, and a year later, construction started. The result: a beautiful hotel in a superb position facing the sea, with views of Beachy Head and surrounding grounds and tennis courts.

The Grand Hotel was built when the upper classes ruled the land and took their holidays by the sea, sometimes months at a time, taking with them their entire staff.

During the Second World War however, Eastbourne was easy prey to air raids and the hotel eventually closed down and became a military headquarters In 1998 Elite Hotels acquired the

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property, and a complete refurbishment took place. The luxury 5-star accommodation, with 152 rooms, many of which overlook the sea, has been restored to its former glory and is now Eastbourne seafront’s most prestigious means of accommodation.

The Grand Hotel has received a vast array of awards and accolades during its time on Eastbourne’s seafront, all of

which they pride themselves on and are immensely proud of. Just some of these include TripAdvisor’s 2016 Certificate of Excellence Award, becoming a finalist in The Prestigious Star Awards 2015, Best Champagne List in the Champagne Tattinger UK Wine List Awards 2015 and nominations in the WeddingDates 2016 Wedding Awards.

Being located just outside of Eastbourne’s town centre and most loved facilities - placed just a short walk away from the mainline railway centre, theatres, town hall and shopping centre facilities – this venue is the perfect destination for a corporate overnight stay or a weekend retreat. Anyone that lives in Eastbourne or surrounding areas will know of its incredibly overpowering exterior – something that’s heightened when you’re stood right in front of it, and it’s safe to say that on first impressions, it lives up to its name.

We were greeted on arrival by the incredibly friendly and polite front of house staff, and it was clear to see that the professionalism of The Grand Hotel’s employees means we would be well looked-after during our stay.

Tried & Tested in Sussex

The hotel’s interior is just as extraordinary, although it’s safe to say it could do with a bit of an upgrade; the carpet, armchairs and just about everything else for that matter, are rather outdated. On the other hand, this plays a huge part in the hotel’s charm in my opinion, and making changes to elements such as this would cause the premises to lose a lot of it’s appeal. Our room was in keeping with the rest of the hotel – old fashioned carpets and general design, which made it all the more cosy. The room itself – one of the newly refurbished rooms, front-facing rooms overlooking the Devonshire Lawns – was immaculately kept, with fresh bed sheets, clean towels, dusted units and hovered floors. The bed was wonderfully comfortable, which was a godsend, and offered us a sound night’s sleep.

Once we’d settled into our suite, we made our way down to the bar area, which sits next to the pool, and I was hugely surprised to see how busy it was!

It was a lovely evening to sit outside, and so off we went to a table. We were hoping to order some pre-dinner nibbles, but anyone that knows Eastbourne will understand that eating outside in a town heavily populated by seagulls is a risky move… Instead we ordered a bottle of wine, recommended by a staff member.

While we’d normally opt for a Sancerre or a Chablis, we took the suggestion of a white Rioja – a great suggestion at that.

The Grand Hotel attracts an older demographic, which to me, was

surprising. We were among the youngest people there yet I fail to understand why there aren’t more young people indulging in the hotel’s atmosphere – the whole place was buzzing.

The Mirabelle restaurant boasted the perfect ambience for an evening meal, full to the brim with customers, music in the background at just the right level and intimate lighting. Our waiter for the evening was called James and I can’t stress enough the high level of service we received throughout our meal.

He was incredibly polite, friendly and knowledgeable on all of the food and drinks on offer – something that is always expected but rarely happens.

The Mirabelle restaurant came in hand with quite a limited, but equally delicious menu. For our starting courses, we opted for the Risotto of Cauliflower, Seared Scallops and Langoustine Bisque, and the Roast Gressingham Duck Breast Salad with Watermelon Radish and Enoki Mushrooms. For our mains, however, I chose the Pork Fillet dusted with Smoked Paprika, Morcilla Fritter, Broad Beans and Slow Roasted Peppers, while my wife went for the Pan Fried Chicken Breast filled with local Lobster & Basil, Leaf Spinache and Truffle Mash. Despite the amount of people dining in the Mirabelle restaurant that evening, our food arrived at out table in surprisingly good time, presented to perfection and tasting even more delicious.

For dessert, my wife opted for the Poached Apricots, White Chocolate and Star Anise Macaroon with Peanut Butter Marshmallow, while I went for the

chef’s specialty; the ‘Banoffee Soufflé’, which came in hand with Cardamom Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Sauce and Toffee Pecan Nuts. Both desserts were delectable – the perfect end to a lovely meal!

Before turning in for the night we took a relaxing stroll along the seafront and went for a drink at a nearby pub, before heading back to the hotel’s bar for one last beverage. This took us up to around 11pm, and seeing that the hotel was still so busy at this time of night was great to see.

Taking place in another of the hotel’s restaurants, breakfast was just as lovely as the food we devoured the night before, although not as busy, which was to be expected and the buffet boasted everything you could want – eggs, sausages, bacon, beans and more. It’s safe to say we left impressed, happy and satisfied.

Overall, The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne offered a great experience and is among our favourite hotels featured in Sussex Business Times to date. With impeccable service, beautiful food and homely, traditional surroundings, it made for the perfect overnight stay and receives a perfect five stars from us.

Address: The Grand Hotel King Edward’s Parade Eastbourne BN21 4EQ Telephone: 01323 412345 Web: www.grandeastbourne.com

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 49

Chamber News

NEWS

Sussex Business Times has partnered with Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce again this, providing insight on what to expect in the community in upcoming months

A New Era: Chris Coopey is our new President After 14 years of dedicated leadership from Peter Bennett, Worthing and Adur Chamber are entering a new era with a new President, Chris Coopey, who brings new ideas and exciting prospects. Chris is well known and highly respected in the local business community and will be a huge asset to the Chamber.

You will be hearing form Chris on a regular basis, here is a taste of what’s to come in Chris’s own words: “Having the great honour of being appointed to become the new President of the Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce, it is worth setting out my views of the role and the responsibilities that I hope to shoulder.

The chamber is blessed with a dynamic and resourceful CEO in the form of Tina Tilley. The Executive which supports her and me have between them a vast array of talents, experience and sound business sense. I’m happily confident that the bedrock of the chamber which includes

events, training, mentoring and socials is well catered for. The chamber has also a fine history of supporting charities and good causes around our area. So what then, you may ask, should be the role of the President?

Well for me, the role of the President will be very much around supporting the businesses of Worthing & Adur by becoming involved in the many forums and initiatives that can have a positive effect on the growth, profitability and sustainability of businesses located in our part of the South Coast.

I’m looking forward to leading the Worthing and Adur Chamber. We have some world class businesses on our patch who employ thousands of people locally and help make the chamber what it is. I’ll do my best to raise the profile of Worthing & Adur as a business destination and fight for the support from local and central government that these great businesses deserve.”

www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

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Chamber News

A27: Have your say – and this time it’s one you really must NOT miss The A27 is one of the issues that has dogged the economic well-being of the area over several decades.

Highways England announced a public consultation about the A27 Worthing and Lancing improvements scheme.

We cannot allow what has happened in Chichester (they have lost their A27 funding due to no agreed route). The money is not guaranteed, you NEED your voice to be heard.

It’s unfortunate the consultation period (19 July to 12 September 2017) falls over a time when it will be difficult to collate the views of the business community and may lead to a diluted response, for something that is of such commercial importance to our area.

The information below has been received from Highways England, we urge you to take this opportunity to make your views known.

Several public consultation events will be taking place up until Wednesday 6th September.

Full details can be found at www. worthingandadurchamber.co.uk/A27Developments In line with the Government’s 2015 Road Investment Strategy, Highways England has committed to improve the A27 between Worthing and Lancing.

The scheme aims to improve traffic flow, journey times, safety and accessibility, boost local economic growth and minimise the impact on the environment.

All responses to the public consultation will be considered by our project team.

The closing date for responses is 11.59pm on 12 September 2017. A report on the public consultation will be produced later this year.

Members of Highways England project team will be available at the public consultation events to discuss any queries that you may have. During the consultation information about the proposals the online questionnaire and supporting information will be available at www.highways.gov.uk/a27Worthing-andLancing For general queries email: A27WorthingandLancing Improvements@highwaysengland. co.uk

Do you make the most of your Chamber membership? or someone with a certain expertise or experience. Add to that our increasingly popular peer-to-peer mentoring scheme and you’ve got a ready-to-go support system that business owners, or those at the top, often miss out on.

Do you make the most of your Chamber membership? Or, if you’re not a member, have you thought about the value that membership of the Chamber - and the inherent benefits - can provide you and your business?

There are many ways in which you can make your Chamber membership pay for itself, and here’s just a few of them: Networking: It’s what we (and you!) do best. But, of course, you do have to take part to experience the benefits. It’s not just direct business leads you can create but beneficial partnerships with other like-minded business professionals.

For example, Clive Spring from Yoohoo Creative and Peter Wood from Eat Food Love Food met at our free Chamber Hub, and they’re now working together on a new joint venture.

Promotion: You’re looking at our newest, and possibly most visible, communication channel right now. We’ve lots of opportunities for members to tell us about their business, offer advice and specialist knowledge or just feature on our Spotted page. You can be the subject of one of our regular pieces (like the Spotlight or A Year in the Life of) or come to us with your own ideas. We’ll even

help you write it! One feature in Connect magazine could well justify the cost of your membership.

Training: Coming up over the next few months are our popular WiseUp2 workshops: bite-sized training sessions led by experts, and at extremely competitive rates. Attendance is not limited to just you; if you’ve a colleague who you’d like to send along, we’d love to welcome them! We’ll be offering learning in topics such as social media, tax, HR issues, Excel, time management and a whole lot more. Perfect for your team’s continuing professional development.

Support - we love nothing more than recommending our members to other members, external businesses and the public, whether you want a supplier

These are just a few of the ways that you can tap into the excellent benefits that the Chamber offers, and really get great value for money from your membership. If you’d like to discuss any of these opportunities with us, do drop us a line at info@ worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Date for your Diary: The Better Business Show is confirmed for Thursday 1st February 2018.

If you were there this year you won’t want to miss the show!

Stand bookings are opening soon so keep an eye on the website for booking details and for sponsorship opportunities!

Tel: 01903 203484 Email: info@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

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Test Drive For August’s motoring reviews, Sussex Business Times got behind the wheels of the Audi A7 Sportback and the Jaguar F-Type. Here, we report back on our findings

Audi A7 Sportback German car manufacturer, Audi has been designing, Audi engineering and producing luxury vehicles now since the early 20th Century, and Sussex Business Times jumped at the chance to get behind the wheel of the A7 Sportback.

Appearance-wise, the A7 Sportback is one in a million; sleek, modern and quite clearly, high end. Despite it being a sporty car, it’s plentiful in size and would make for a great family car as well as one suitable for longer corporate journeys. One feature that we were particularly impressed with was the door handles and their ability to light up at night time – something we haven’t seen in a review car to date. The front grille is of a nice size and doesn’t take away from the rest of the car’s sleek look, while the thinner headlights give it a slightly meaner look. Taking the size of it into consideration – this motor in particular is quite a machine – it’s an all round great car.

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With regards to the interior, you generally feel very low down when sitting in the driver’s seat and we found that we had to raise up the seat a fair amount in order to get a good view,

which in turn, made the clearance to the roof lining very tight. Controls found on the steering wheel include DAB radio settings, such as station change and volume change, and transition to

Motoring

the tiptronic gearbox. All controls are extremely easy to navigate, with the exception of the night vision setting, which we couldn’t quite work out for the duration of our time with this car. The boot is enormous and, quite frankly, almost pointless when considering who would be a likely owner of this car. However, of course more boot space is a must if using this for a family car, so it’s neither here nor there, really.

Drive-wise, the Audi A7 Sportback is incredibly smooth and sleek, but powerful. Meanwhile, the light steering makes such a large car feel so much lighter and smaller.

The car itself handles corners very well and sticks to the road like glue, most probably due to its four-wheel drive system. As mentioned earlier, this motor boasts a huge amount of power and efficiently pulls through every gear. The gearbox is pretty much perfect, with easy access to change between manual and tiptronic paddles on the steering wheel. Sport mode is a different kettle of fish – the dash lights up red and the engine growls. We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again; the speed of this car is exceptional for its size.

The A7 also comes with a large fuel tank, meaning refuelling stops shouldn’t be too frequent. Those looking to cover particularly long distances in one bound, however, should opt for the 3.0 TDI Ultra; it is the most efficient model and has the claimed potential to cover more than 900 miles on one tank of diesel.

While here at SBT, we’re huge fans of this Audi model, of course there are some downfalls, one of which being the lag when you put your foot down – nothing really changes for a while unless it’s in sports mode. Also, because of the size – and more precisely, the length – of this car, it’s very difficult to put into a parking bay, but I suppose if you’re used to driving cars of this size then it wouldn’t pose much of an issue.

All in all, this is a great car and the positives certainly outweigh any negatives. In our opinion, it’s well worth the cost, and Audi have hit the nail on the head with this model.

Jaguar F-Type

Jaguar is a British multinational car manufacturer with Jaguar its headquarters in Whitley, Coventry, owned by the Indian company, Tata Motors since 2008. Today, Jaguar cars are designed in Jaguar Land Rover’s engineering centres at the Whitley plant and at their Gaydon site in Warwickshire, and are assembled in their plants at Castle Bromwich and Solihull.

Having reviewed a number of Jaguar models for Sussex Business Times before, it’s safe to say we could hardly wait to get behind the wheel of this one; the F-Type.

Looks-wise, this car is stunning – sleek and of a high class. Spacious

for a two-seater saloon, the F-Type boasts an overpowering exterior and large alloy wheels. The door handles however, are slightly irritating as they seem to stick out and the red hard top roof nicely complemented the block white colour – it’s definitely a car that would turn heads in the street, that’s for sure. This car as a whole is among some of the slickest and sexiest cars aesthetically we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, and this is continued with the interior also.

The interior of this Jag model looks pretty basic with the addition to a couple of modern controls, air con, reversing cameras and digital radio. Despite the ‘basic’ look, the interior is smart with all controls and compartments being easily accessible – unlike some features of the Audi.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53

Motoring

On the other hand, there is next to no storage space, with just a small compartment between the two front seats, but of course not every car is going to have it all… What a dream that would be though!

With regards to the actual drive of the car, it pulls incredibly fast and handles bends and corners reasonably well, however this model can get slightly twitchy when going round steep corners, sometimes making us feel a bit uneasy. When in sport mode, the dash and interior lighting turn red, which is a great touch and gives a completely different feel to the car and the exhaust really growls as you up the speed. For what it is, and baring in mind its size in particular, in our opinion the engine is far too powerful. Of course, we had to have a go with the roof down as none of us have this luxury with our own motors, and unlike some convertibles, the roof comes down quickly and efficiently. Meanwhile, coming in hand with the active sport exhaust feature that makes the exhaust on this car incredibly loud, it might not be the best car to be driving around at night time in

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more residential areas, but then this is just common sense.

Of course, as with the Audi A7 and despite the fact that this is an allround beautiful car, there are some disadvantages. The boot space is almost non-existent as the spare wheel takes up almost all of the space, with only a small amount of room around the edges to store something the size of a pencil case – which is a real shame. Also, the F-Type isn’t great on

OTR price Engine capacity Transmission 0-62mph Max speed

fuel and we ended up going through a whole tank in just a few days – we can imagine that this could get rather pricey.

Normally we would give our opinion on which car wins the battle, but this just isn’t possible this time around – both are such different cars. If you’re looking for an all-round perfect family a saloon then the Audi wins hands down, but if a stunning weekend car is something you’re after, then the Jaguar is definitely for you.

Audi A7 Sportback £60,120 3L 8 speed tiptronic 5.2 seconds 155 mph

Jaguar F-Type £57,260 3L 6 speed manual 5.5 seconds 161 mph

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SBTMotoring News Volvo Cars Reports Global Sales Growth of 8.2% in 1st Half of 2017 Volvo Cars remains firmly on course for another record year in retail sales after posting an 8.2% increase for the first six months of the year. Total sales in the first half of 2017 amounted to 277,641 cars, compared with 256,563 cars a year earlier.

Global retail sales in June came in at 54,351 cars, an increase of 5.7% compared with the same month last year. Strong demand for the new 90 series cars continues to be an important factor in Volvo’s positive sales

Adobe Stock ©

UK Car Registrations Slip for 3rd Consecutive Month

The number of new cars registered in the UK declined for a third consecutive month in June as a new vehicle excise duty, which came into effect in April continued to smother demand.

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 243,454 new units were registered last month, marking a decrease of 4.8%.

Demand was down across private, fleet and business registrations, but registrations of more environmentally-friendly alternatively fuelled vehicles, that don’t run on petrol or diesel, remained robust.

“As forecast, demand for new cars has started to cool following five consecutive years of solid growth but the numbers are still strong and the first half of the year is the second biggest on record,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT. “Provided consumer and business confidence holds, we expect demand to remain at a similarly high level over the coming months.”

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performance, while the first-generation XC60 remains the best-selling model overall.

The United Kingdom recorded sales of 5,018 in June, up 4.0% over the same month in 2016.

Sales for the first half of 2017 amounted to 24,519 cars, an increase of 8.4% versus the same period last year. The XC60 is the best-selling model in the UK

so far this year, followed by the V40, XC90 and the V90.

New Fiesta Launches in the UK After eight years as Britain’s favourite car, Ford Fiesta is passing its sales crown to an all-new model arriving this month. The first new Fiesta to be unloaded was a fivedoor Titanium with premium B&O PLAY audio, 1.0-litre EcoBoost 100PS engine and eight-inch touch screen connectivity.

It was transported to a dealership in Birmingham, where most Fiestas are sold. Across the country, 1,000,000 Brits have ordered new Fiestas since 2008 and over 4,500,000 since the car first arrived in 1976.

Of the 120,000 Fiestas registered in

the last 12 months, 70% were fivedoor models, 90% petrol and 60% Zetec, while 20% chose the Titanium series.

Red, white and blue are three of the four favourite Fiesta colours among patriotic UK customers.

Around 22% of new Fiestas are sold in blue, 18% in black, 16% in white, 15% in red and 10% in silver. For the new Fiesta line-up on display in dealerships from this month, the Chrome Copper colour pictured plus new Blue Wave and Bohai Mint green shades are among the choices.

Volkswagen Starts Automotive Business in Iran Volkswagen will begin the sale of vehicles in Iran later this month.

Initially, Volkswagen’s Tiguan and Passat models are to be imported under a contract concluded with the Iranian automotive company Mammut Khodro. The Volkswagen brand will thus again have a presence in the Iranian market after more than 17 years, and is systematically developing further worldwide market potential.

The privately-owned local partner Mammut Khodro – also the official Iranian importer for the Group’s Scania

brand – will import Volkswagen brand vehicles into Iran and initially distribute them through eight dealers, focusing on the Teheran region.

“By returning to Iran, the Volkswagen brand is filling in another blank spot on the global automotive map. We are thus strengthening our international presence still further.

At the same time, we are taking our very latest models with premium features to our Iranian customers,” Anders Sundt Jensen, Project Manager for the Iranian market at Volkswagen, said.

Don’t let lack of finance hold back your dreams If you have a small to medium-size business (SME) or are a start-up based in East Sussex, we could help you fund a wide range of capital items to help increase sales, improve productivity and boost profitability. Grants of up to £10,000 available.

Terms & conditions apply

See businesseastsussex.org.uk/south-east-business-boost-sebb/ for details

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 57

SBT

ASK THE

SBT Ask the Experts is sponsored by

EXPERTS

WE ASK THE EXPERTS TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

EXPERT I want to wind down my business as tax efficiently as possible what are my options?

When a company/ LLP reaches the end of its useful life, selecting the correct procedure to distribute the reserves back to shareholders as tax efficiently as possible is key. If the company has assets of <£25,000 a Voluntary Strike-off (“VOS”) can be used. Where the assets are >£25,000 it may be more appropriate to place the company into Members Voluntary Liquidation (“MVL”). Using the wrong procedure can result in HMRC treating distributions to shareholders as income (taxed at a higher rate of

EXPERT

Equity release was the fastest growing sector of the mortgage market in 2016 in terms of customer numbers, the Equity Release Council says. But there is still a

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Phil Harris, Senior Management, FRP Advisory LLP up to 38.1%) or capital gains (a more palatable 10%, assuming entrepreneur’s relief applies).

What are the risks?

MVL - The liquidator is responsible for winding up the company’s affairs.

Voluntary Strike-Off VSO is used mostly for dormant companies that own assets of <£25,000 and have no liabilities. HMRC recognised that the costs of MVL may outweigh the tax benefits and enacted Extra Statutory Concession C16 (“ESC16”). ESC16 allows distributions of <£25,000 to be taxed as capital gains.

VOS - The directors remain responsible and are personally liable for any breach of process or illegal distributions.

Members Voluntary Liquidation MVL is appropriate where a solvent company/LLP has assets exceeding >£25,000 and may also have liabilities to deal with. MVL is a statutory process governed by the Insolvency Act 1986 (as amended). An insolvency practitioner is appointed to realise assets, pay liabilities and distribute to shareholders.

MVL – The Directors are required to swear a Declaration of Solvency and commit a criminal offence if they knowingly swear a false statement.

MVL - The Finance Act 2016 introduced an anti-avoidance rule classifying a distribution via MVL as income if a new company is set up within two years of the liquidated company and carries on substantially the same business with substantially the same ownership.

Tax planning with your financial advisors is essential to maximise the use of available reliefs and accounting periods.

Thomas Webster, Managing Director at Guardian Advice stigma attached to this ever-growing financial service.

If you are over 55 and looking to raise tax-free funds using the equity in your home, a lifetime mortgage could give you the freedom to enjoy your retirement. Here are the top 3 equity release myths we come across when advising: I won’t own my own home any more, so I might lose it: A surprisingly common misconception. People are regularly relieved to hear that a lifetime mortgage means they remain the owner of their home.

I don’t want another mortgage now. I can’t afford the repayments: The downside of discovering that the most popular equity release product is actually a mortgage! Doubts are often dispelled once learned that no

repayments are normally required until the borrower dies or goes into long term care.

I don’t want my children to be inheriting a debt: The ‘No Negative Equity Guarantee’ invariably comes as a pleasant surprise to people with little prior knowledge of equity release products.

If you or someone you know is interested in releasing equity in their home the first step is to find an independent mortgage advisor with the specialist qualifications needed to give advice on lifetime mortgages. Also look for your adviser to be members of the Equity Release Council as this means they voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics.

For more information, please visit: www.guardianadvice.com

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New rules that will affect buy-to-let mortgage applicants.

If you have a portfolio of rental properties you will find it harder to get a buy-to-let mortgage approved after September 30th. This is because guidelines issued by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to buy-to-let mortgage lenders will become mandatory.

EXPERT Is there a simple definition of corporate governance?

A key problem with the concept of corporate governance is that it conjures up images of bureaucracy and administrative burden that generally succeeds in creating misunderstanding, fear or just plain resistance.

My grandfather was a master carpenter and he lent me one phrase that I use every day in my advisory business: “Measure twice, and cut once.”

Amongst all the definitions of corporate

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Steve Opie, Director of Finance, Spectrum Independent Financial Advice At the moment these regulations should only be applied to those who have four or more mortgaged properties.

However, this may change and there is nothing to stop lenders now from applying the guidelines to applicants with fewer properties.

Going forward, when an application for a new mortgage is made, lenders will be obliged to scrutinise the whole portfolio to ensure that an additional financial commitment can be comfortably managed. While lenders may set slightly different thresholds, we expect this will mean that fewer applications will be approved.

To support new applications lenders will most likely want to see most, if not all, of the following: • Details of total mortgage borrowings • Income and expenditure • Copies of tenancy agreements

• Bank statements • Submitted tax returns • SA302 (summary of income reported to HMRC – available on request from HMRC) • Bank statements • A business plan including cash flow predications All this increased paperwork will inevitably mean that applications take longer to process but if your books are in good order before you start, it will help you get ahead.

You may also want to seek advice from an independent financial advisor who specialises in mortgages. They will help you to find a mortgage deal that best suits your financial position and support you through the application process.

To get in touch with Steve please call 0800 195 1066 or email him at steve@ specifa.co.uk

John Merrigan, Senior Advisor, Nestor Advisors governance, this for me captures the essence and is most understandable.

Measuring twice as much as you act is a sound ratio to take profitable actions in your business. Corporate governance simply ensures that there are procedures, policies and controls in the business to create the “second” measure, both written and more importantly culturally, like the habits of a skilled craftsman.

How can corporate governance help me to manage business risks?

Stepping back to review the critical internal and external risks in the business is often neglected because of the daily pressures we all face. The ability to show a prospective investor, bank or supplier that you have focused on risk management is proof of strong governance and gives them confidence.

I suggest assessing business risk in the following areas: Operations, Competition, Laws & Regulations, Human Resources & Succession, Intellectual Property & Trademarks, IT Systems, Working Capital Management, and finally Legal Structures of the company. Describe the risk of each, define the potential impact on the business and accordingly rank the risks by importance. Start to develop mitigation strategies (perhaps involving outside assistance or expertise) and allocate ownership of the actions to the management team. Bring these elements together in a single document - the Risk Register which should be reviewed monthly by management and at every board meeting.

John Merrigan, Senior Advisor jmerrigan@nestoradvisors.com

0808 901 9042 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 59

Events In Sussex

Call to Action: Brighton Business Expo 2017 Taking place at Brighton Racecourse Sussex on 5th October 2017 at 10:00am until Events 4:00pm, this free-toattend business show will provide you and your business with creativity and activity from both the seminar programme, featuring high-paced speed networking, and inspirational keynote speakers, as well as from a variety of exhibitors showcasing the very best of local and regional businesses. Exhibitors and visitors with an array of business advice and specialties will be present, making it the place to be this coming October.

One of the exhibitors set to attend this year’s Brighton Business Expo is Office Profile, who specialise in workplace consultancy and office interiors. Red Talidi, Business Development at Office Profile commented ahead of the event: “The B2B expos are of great value to Office Profile in that we are able to meet a great number of people and organisations all in one day.

“At the Business Expo’s we hope to be able to promote the Office Profile brand, raising awareness of our name and design and fit-out services, and to meet potential clients, suppliers or partners.

Brighton as a location is becoming a very important area of Office Profile.

We are currently seeing more and more businesses either setting up or relocating to the Brighton area, and being based close by in Gatwick means that we are able to service these clients easily.”

The Brighton Business Expo is still offering their stand packages for October’s event, so be sure to enquire before it’s too late!

Bronze Stand Package (£395) • 1m x 2m shell scheme stand with fascia and a name board

Partners for Brighton 60 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk Business Expo:

As we fast approach the date for yet another exciting event in the business calendar – the Brighton Business Expo 2017 – Sussex Business Times brings you all the information you need to know

Brighton Business Expo 2017 • Trestle display table • The exhibitor list with contact details • A copy of the delegate list with contact details • A listing on the expo website and in the show guide • Social media promotion leading up to the event Silver Stand Package (495) • 1m x 3m shell scheme stand with fascia and a name board • Trestle display table • The exhibitor list with contact details • A copy of the delegate list with contact details • A listing on the expo website and in the show guide • Social media promotion leading up to the expo Gold Stand Package (£595) • 2m x 2m shell scheme stand with fascia and a name board • Trestle display table • The exhibitor list with contact details

• A copy of the delegate list with contact details • An exhibitor listing on the expo website • A profile in the printed show guide • Social media promotion leading up to the expo Platinum Stand Package (£695) • 2m x 3m shell scheme stand with fascia and a name board • Trestle display table • The exhibitor list with contact details • A copy of the delegate list with contact details • An exhibitor listing on the expo website • A profile in the printed show guide • Social media promotion leading up to the expo Book your free visitor ticket today or secure your exhibition space from as little as £395. To enquire about exhibiting, please call 01273 286133 or visit www.b2bexpos.co.uk/ brighton

Sussex Giving for Sussex Children

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Here are some of the organisations we are in partnership with in 2017

For Outstanding Quality & Service

01273 464 884 info@gemini-print.co.uk www.gemini-print.co.uk Gemini Print, Unit A1, Dolphin Way Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 6NZ

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Money Matters

Connecting Businesses with Network My Club Network Albion and Network Fontwell have seen huge success in recent months in partnership with Network My Club and here, we provide you with an update of their most recent business events Network Albion Business Club It was yet another Events sell out at the Amex Stadium for the July networking breakfast, as over 100 delegates attended in the Heineken Lounge!

The morning was spent with guests networking, enjoying a delicious breakfast, and hearing from team GB ultra-runner, Dan Lawson.

Dan’s achievements are beyond the realms of imagination: in 2011 Dan ran the Brighton Marathon an incredible four times in a row, a breath-taking achievement for anyone. However, the following year Dan went four better and completed the Brighton Marathon eight times continuously, starting on the Friday night and ending on Sunday afternoon. In 2013, Dan set the record distance run on a treadmill over seven days, as he ran an incredible 521 miles.

An event well documented to raise funds for Albion In The Community.

The next challenge for Dan is a 400km race across the Gobhi desert in Asia, which you can keep up-to-date with by following his social media pages via @therunningdan.

The next Network Albion event takes place on Thursday 3rd August, 8:30-10:30am, and businesses are invited to book at www.networkalbion.co.uk Network Fontwell Business Club It was another enjoyable morning at Fontwell Park Racecourse for July’s networking breakfast, with a vibrant group of guests in attendance.

Delegates enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, quality networking opportunities and heard an insightful talk from motivational speaker, lecturer, mentor AND author, David Mellor!

David spoke about how after several

years working in the city for HSBC and Deutsche Bank, he set up his own company to help businesses implement strategies and ways of thinking used in bigger corporates, with a focus on leadership. Guests heard stories and quotes from David’s series of books, one of which, ‘Inspirational Gamechangers’, was an Amazon business best seller featuring research on some of most renown entrepreneurs in the world.

David also shared findings from a recent online survey he conducted, asking people to name their number 1 sales tip, of which David condensed to the current ‘Top 10 Sales Tips’. The top three found that authentic listening, remembering it’s all about the client, not about you, and building the relationship were the most common!

The next Network Fontwell event takes place on 10th August, 8:3010:30am, and businesses are invited to book at www.networkfontwell.co.uk

Learn more about Network My Club at www.networkmyclub.co.uk

62 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Benefits • A place at monthly networking events at the Amex Stadium • Company listing in the match day programme at every Albion home match (approx. 9,000 sales per match) • Full company profile page on Network Albion website • Exclusive use of Network Albion logo • Discounted access to attend or join other Network My Club groups throughout the UK

Cost

Annual Membership per Company £600+VAT (1 month free) or £55+VAT per month

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Save £60!

Benefits • A place at monthly networking events at Fontwell Park Racecourse • Company listing in the race day programme at each race meeting (approx. 3,000 sales per race day) • Full company profile page on Network Fontwell website • Exclusive use of Network Fontwell logo • 1 x use of corporate box at Fontwell Park for external meeting/conference purposes • 6 x tickets to a Fontwell Park race meeting, for your company to enjoy, entertain clients or reward staff • Discounted access to attend or join other Network My Club groups throughout the UK

Cost

Annual Membership per Company £385+VAT (1 month free) or £35+VAT per month

www.networkmyclub.co.uk or contact them on 01903 898025

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 63

Networking in Sussex

SBT

Society

Skating Star, Jayne Torvill Attends Lady Taverners’ Charity Lunch

Olympic skating star, Jayne Torvill was a special guest at the 16th anniversary seaside charity lunch organised by the Kent & East Sussex Lady Taverners at Eastbourne’s Grand Hotel.

The event raised £7,000 and also saw the official handover of a minibus for the Chailey Heritage School in Lewes, purchased through money raised at previous lunches in the town and the support of Sussex solicitors, Gaby Hardwicke; the main sponsor of the annual event. The focus of the Lady Taverners’ is fundraising for specially adapted minibuses and sport and recreation facilities for young people with special needs.

The sell-out lunch attracted 220 ladies and businesswomen from Eastbourne and surrounding areas. The event got off to a sparkling start with a drinks reception and the lunch featured a raffle and “The Flicks” tribute act.

Laura Collins, Chairman of the Kent & Sussex Region, said: “In our 30th anniversary year the theme of this year’s lunch is inspiration. I am amazed how far we have come from the first lunch with 60 ladies to what is now one of our major fundraising events. The focus has always been fundraising whilst having fun, and once again the lunch was a great success and the money raised will go a very long way to supporting our aims.”

The Lady Taverners is the fundraising arm of the sporting charity and club the Lord’s Taverners, which is famous for its charitable giving to cricket. Founded in 1987, over the years the Lady Taverners has raised more than £12 million and built up a network of 25 regions with nearly 1,000 members throughout the UK.

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Networking in Sussex

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Made in Sussex

Made in Sussex: Emma Cole, Personal Trainer For this month’s Made in Sussex feature, Emma Cole, an Eastbourne-based Personal Trainer, explains her journey in the health and fitness sector so far My business is personal training Brand and running fitness classes and I currently Focus specialise in helping people achieve their weight loss goals. My personal training is bespoke and can be tailored to help anyone achieve their fitness goals. There is no restriction on who can attend – my classes are aimed towards people of all ages and abilities. Personal training can be carried out at any location – whether this is at the Seaside Community hub, at home, or any outdoor areas – to suit the client. I am primarily based in Eastbourne, but do cover surrounding areas.

As well as one-on-one personal training I also offer a wide variety of classes such as; Legs, Bums and Tums, Circuit Training, Bootcamp and Mum & Toddler classes.

My journey into personal training began when I decided to change my own life through joining a local fitness club and changing my diet and lifestyle.

After attending classes and noticing the change in myself, I decided to volunteer at the fitness club to help others.

Following this, I decided to take the plunge and go to university to pursue a career in health and fitness. I attended Brighton University through The Training Rooms and gained my Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training in September 2016. Since attaining my qualification, I started my business through the power of social media, primarily Facebook and word of mouth.

I started to advertise my services by sharing my pages and posts with friends and my following organically began to grow. I think it’s hugely important for businesses to incorporate social media into brand strategies, and it’s one of the most important tools companies can use.

Health and fitness is not something I really considered until having children.

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•C •O •C •L AR Int Inc

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Pla We After my fourth child, which caused me to gain over four stone, I realised it was time for a change, for both my health and self-confidence. Once I began training and results started to show, I knew this is what I wanted to do with my career.

After attaining my Diploma, things took off quite quickly for my business.

I began with running 2 fitness classes a week for an hour, which had quite a good attendance from friends as well as new clients. During the Christmas period things began to quieten down for my classes, and then in January things really started to kick off again. Due to high demand in my evening classes, I had to come up with new ideas to accommodate for other people. Next was the Mum & Toddler classes, which came after I was approached by Little Stars Playgroup. We worked together to come up with the idea. Mum & Toddler classes involve ‘exercise and play,’ which involves Little Stars supervising the babies/ toddlers while they play and myself training the mothers. This class is once

a week during term-time, so it’s perfect for any busy mums looking to get some exercise in with the children around.

My business currently works around my children, as they are all currently in education. The majority of classes are in the evening, and I personal train during the day whilst the children are at school, and on weekends.

If I had any advice for those looking to kick start a career change later in life I would tell them to go for it! If I can change my career as a mother of four children at the age of 40, anyone can at any stage in their life. If you’re passionate enough about something, there is no reason you can’t achieve your goals.

For more information on Emma Cole’s fitness classes and personal training please contact her via email emmacolept@gmail.com or call on 07783201206. Alternatively, check out her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ emmacolepersonaltrainer

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